from the Head being carefully administred profited nothing so that death soon followed His Skull being opened the Vessels leading to the Meninges were full of Blood and very much distended as if the whole Mass of Blood had flowed thither so that the bosoms being dissected and opened the Blood presently rushing forth flow'd to the weight of several ounces above half a pint Further the Membranes themselves being distemper'd thorow the whole with a fiery Tumor appeared discoloured These coverings being taken away all the infoldings of the Brain and of its Ventricle were full of a clear water and its substance being too much watred was wet and not firm Without doubt in this case the incursion of the heated blood into the Meninges and the heaping of it up there exciting the Phlgemon or fiery swelling was the cause of the Headach and of the following Delirium Then the Blood being accumulated there when it could not circulate flung from it self plenty of Serum by which the whole inward part of the Head was over-flowed so that the Disease at first perhaps curable by Phlebotomy from thence afterwards became mortal I remember another Academick who after a long Headach under the temporal Suture tormenting him perpetually for three weeks together immediately fell into a deadly Apoplexie His Head being opened a fiery swelling had grown in the Meninges near the place where the pain was from which being ripened and broke the filthy bloody matter falling on the Brain had distemper'd its substance with a rottenness and blackness Besides these invincible causes detected by Anatomy I observed more chances after the same manner as of other sick people by which we may conclude its Aetiology to be the same or very near of kin with the signs and symptoms of the like nature and but now described But although a continual Headach especially if it be without intermissions for many weeks is not without danger yet we ought not therefore to despair of its Cure because the cause of this how fixed and immoveable soever it seem oftentimes by the long use of Medicines and sometimes without them is helped by Nature and time however in a case almost desperate there is need of some Medicines lest the present Distemper should pass into a worse to wit a Soporiferous or Convulsive Thus much for a Continual Headach it now remains that we should propose some more rare examples and instances of the Intermitting Therefore that we may let alone here the Headaches whose fits being wandring and uncertain proceed from the Blood or Serum rushing on the distemper'd places as cases very well known and commonly seen we shall now shew you now some select Observations of this Disease either periodical or caused by the consent of some Inward As to the first we have shown the periodical fits of the pains of the Head to be produced by the nutritious Humor or by the nervous Juice we shall now shew you Examples of either A venerable Matron of about forty five years of Age of a lean habit of Body and indued with a Cholerick Temper after she had lived for a long time obnoxious to Headaches wont to be caused occasionally she began about the beginning of Autumn to be troubled with a periodical pain of the Head This Distemper invading her about four of the Clock in the Afternoon was wont to continue till midnight when being wearied with pain and watching she was compelled to sleep then afterwards awaking out of a profound sleep she found her self well again She being sick after this manner for three weeks suffered the daily fits of this Disease and forbore to take any Medicine which she greatly abhorr'd but at length her Appetite being lost and her strength worn out being forced to seek for Cure after letting blood and a gentle Purge she took twice a day for a week or two the quantity of a Chestnut of the following Electuary and grew perfectly well Take of the Conserve of the Flowers of Succory and Fumitory each three ounces of the Powder of the Root of Aron Compound two drams and a half of Ivory one dram and a half of yellow Sanders and of Lignum Aloes each half a dram of the Salt of Wormwood one dram and a half of Vitrial of Steel one dram of the Syrup of the Five Roots what will suffice to make an Electuary In this Case that after a disposition to the Headach the fits of the Disease became at length periodical after the manner of intermitting Feavours the cause without doubt was the assimilation of the Chyme or nourishing Humor into Blood being hindred because when its provision being received into the Mass of Blood could not be overcome it was wont after a little stay to disagree and with its particles to grow hot therefore presently the Blood swelling up that it might shake off the incongruous mixture laid aside its recrements as in other parts so especially and with a greater sense of trouble into the before weak Fibres of the Meninges or hurt in their conformation This Matter being poured on the Head or rushing of it self thorow the sensible Fibres or growing hot with the Juice watering them raised up the fit of the pain but now described which continued until the heterogeneous particles growing hot with their mutual coming together were either subdued or exhaled A very comely Woman tall and slender being for a long time grievously obnoxious to distempers of the Head was wont sometimes to be troubled for many days yea weeks every day as soon as she awaked in the Morning with a most Cruel Head-ach afflicting her for three or four hours and in the mean time she was vexed with a weight of her whole Head a numness of her sences and a dulness of mind which kind of Distemper together with the pain like discussed Clouds vanished before noon and left her quiet and calm Then again the next morning it possessed her Head like a dark Cloud For the Curing of it I prescribed the use of Purging Pills Phlebotomy sparingly besides a Blistering and Spirits of Harts-horn or of Sut with Cephalic Juleps or Waters That in this Lady otherways than in the other sick Lady the pains of the Head rather followed after sleep than were healed by it the reason seems to be because in this morning Headach the Morbific Matter resided in the nervous Juice whose more notable crudity and fuller aggestion about the Head happen immediately after sleep as we have elsewhere shown at large But the other Evening fits of this Disease depended upon the fulness and swelling up of the nourishing Liquor within the bloody Mass and therefore happening so many hours after dinner was not allayed but by sleep which quiets the disorders of the Blood It doth no less clearly appear that the fits of the Headach do arise sometimes by consent from other parts viz. the Womb Spleen Stomach c. and though the complaints and
when the Sun is in the Equinox the light on the Horizon and have neither perfect night nor perfect day so these only enjoy a kind of twilight betwixt sleep and waking The Waking Coma is rarely a Disease of it self but for the most part it is a symptom coming upon other Diseases as the Feavour Phrensie Lethargy and the like wherefore it requires not a Curatory Method peculiarly but there is only need that to the Remedies prescribed for the first or primary Disease there should be added other Cephalicks which may dispel these clouds and meteors of the Brain or if both will not be expelled together the same Medicine which cherishes the parts of the one getting the better will immediately overcome the other so in the Waking Somnolency it is convenient to procure either perfect sleep or perfect waking and in this case I have often given Narcoticks with good success CHAP. VI. Of the Incubus or Night-Mare THUS much concerning the morbid exorbitancies of irregular sleep and waking which are almost proper and as it were of the region of the Brain and affect not the Cerebel but rarely and that secondarily and collaterally as hath been shown But there remains a distemper commonly called the Night-Mare in Latine the Incubus which is both peculiar to this Region and also seems in some measure analogical to the sleepy diseases forasmuch as its fits arise for the most part from sleep by reason of the Animal Spirits being bound in the Cerebel or suppressed their eclipse or interruption though short about the exercise of the vital function is induced That the subject nature and causes of this Disease may be the better known we shall first consider its Phaenomena or the appearance of it The fits of the Incubus or Night-Mare for the most part and indeed only falling on one in sleep are used to be excited mostly after the stomach is loaded with undigested meats and lying on the back in Bed They who labour with it seem to feel the hurt chiefly in the Breast and about the Praecordia for respiration being suppressed and very much hindred they think that a certain weight lying heavily upon their Breast doth oppress them which weight mocks their imaginations with the Image of some spectre or other and this whilst they think to shake off or put away by the moving of their Body or members they are not able to stir themselves any way But after a long space and sometimes till they are almost dead they at last awake with a strugling about their heart and being more fully rouzed from sleep the imaginary weight suddenly vanishes and the motive force of the body is restored but for the most part a trembling of the heart remains and frequently a swift and violent beating of the Diaphragma Then the fit being over the deception of the phantasie conceiving the horrid image of the Incubus or spectre is perceived The common people superstitiously believe that this passion is indeed caused by the Devil and that the evil spirits lying on them procures that weight and oppression upon their heart Though indeed we do grant such a thing may be but we suppose that this symptom proceeds oftenest from mere natural causes though what they are and in what place the Morbific matter doth subsist is not agreed on among Authors nor indeed is it easily to be assigned Because the imagination is deceived and the error being propagated further into the senses themselves so imposes on the sight and feeling that they believe they plainly see and feel a monster of this or that shape or figure lying upon them and for that the loco-motive faculty of the whole body is hindred in the mean time some have placed the seat of this Disease wholly in the Brain and would have the oppression of the breast to be merely phantastical But although we grant the monstrous shape of the Incubus which is conceived to be a mere dream the Precordia to be truly affected is apparent and the motion of the Pulse and breathing is suppressed or hindred for that the heavy weight of the breast is plainly felt by most in their waking yea and when thorowly fresh awaked and when that is removed the tremblings of the Heart and Diaphragma and inordinate motions follow whence it follows that these parts labour and suffer a real hurt Wherefore others that they might the more easily unloose this knot dividing the Morbific Cause assign a portion of it to the Brain and another to the Breast for they say that the motion of the Lungs are hindred by a viscous and very gross humor impacted about them and that doth excite as it were the oppression of a bulk lying on them with want of breathing then Vapors being raised to the Head do fill the principal Nerves and so hinder the loco-motive force which opinion no more likely than the conceptions of those troubled with the Night-Mare deserves not to be assented to because there are not any signs of this humor heaped up about the Praecordia which appear before or after the fit yea when this region is very much burthened as in the Phthisis Asthma or Dropsie of the Breast the Incubus does not therefore infest more frequently or more grievously Further it appears not how the matter heaped up in the Praecordia should be only troublesome in sleep or by what passage or way the Vapours from thence so suddenly inducing want of motion should be elevated to the Head Wherefore the Reason or Aetiology of this Distemper I think to be taken or judged of far otherwise Therefore this heavy weight or load lying on the breast seems indeed to be left because the motion of the Heart and the organs serving for breathing is hindred for from the motion of the heart ceasing or being hardly performed the Blood in its bosoms and in the breathing or Pneumonick Vessels statgnating and being there very much streightned a sense of as it were a weight opresses the region of the breast which also seems therefore the more grievous because the Lungs Diaphragma and Muscles of the Thorax being hindred in their motions and as it were bound together at the same time with the heart do labour with a great endeavour to exercise or to put forth themselves But the most hard question yet is concerning the Cause by reason of which the motion or action of the Praecordia is suppressed or hindred This seems impossible to be done by matter impacted in the organs themselves of which indeed there must be a very great deal to suffice for the hindrance of so many parts and some signs of it at least would appear somewhat out of the fit wherefore it seems that we may rather say that the action of those parts are hindred because the influx of the animal spirits are hindred or suppressed This is frequently done in Convulsive Distempers as we have elsewhere declared and have clearly shewed by
into disorder by too great a motion and confused fluctuation run inordinately into the heads of the Nerves of the wandring pair and for that reason stir up Convulsions and Convulsive motions in the Bowels Thirdly 'T is observed that the Vertigo comes upon Drunkenness as a known symptom and that to those unaccustomed the drinking though moderately of Wine or strong Ale also the taking of Tabaco easily induces the same affection the reason of which is because from the Liquor or vapour so taken certain fierce particles and untameable are carried into the Brain by the passages of the Blood and nervous Juice which being improportionate and incongruous to the Animal Spirits drive them hither and thither from their wonted tracks of flowing and reflowing or ebbing and so move them into whirlings and turnings about These are the chief occasions or solitary evident causes which do use to bring the Vertigo or turning round in the Head to some men how sound of constitution soever they be which kind of effect these occasions produce forasmuch as the Animal Spirits being disturbed beyond their set courses and orders are moved inordinately fluctuating here and there both within the passages of the Brain and also some of them like a thred broken off from their wonted irradiation into the nervous Stock For these being always reciprocal depend mutually one of another to wit a perturbation of the Spirits within the middle part of the Brain and their flowing forth into the nervous Stock being hindered for from what ever cause either effect is induced the other immediately follows A turning round of the body going in a Coach or in a Boat or Ship also Drunkenness and the unaccustomed fume of Tabaco compel the spirits in the Brain to fluctuate and shake disorderly which for that cause are presently inhibited from their wonted flowing into the Nerves that those so affected can hardly go or stand in like manner on the contrary looking from on high passing over Bridges a languishment or syncope falling on them recal the spirits from their wonted emanation who for that cause tumultuating within the Brain or being moved inordinately cause a Scotomy or dizziness or a turning round of the objects These things being thus premised concerning the Vertigo raised up by reason of an outward accident or from a solitary evident and non-natural cause we shall next inquire how and by what means it is wont to be induced from an intrinsick and preternatural cause Concerning these take notice that the Vertigo is sometimes a symptom depending upon some other Distemper placed sometimes within the Brain and sometimes without it but sometimes this is a Disease of it self which being raised up within the middle part of the Brain becomes very troublesome and often terrible and very hard to be Cured As to the former many Cephalick Diseases or such as belong to the Head viz. Acute pain the Lethargy Epilepsie Carus Apoplexy with many others do often accompany the Vertigo to wit because the equal expansion of the Spirits in the Brain and therefore their irradiation into the nervous Stock from such like various Morbific causes are easily hindred or disturbed as shall hereafter appear when we deliver the Aetiology or reason of the Vertigo as it is a Disease of the Brain But sometimes this symptom is wont to be produced by reason of other Distempers placed a long way from the Brain and that chiefly by two ways or means For first it is usual for a dizziness to arise by reason of the flowing of the Blood being suddenly called away from the Brain as in a Syncope or Swooning great want coming near it wicked hard labour great Haemorrhagies or expence of blood long fasting in passions of violent sadness and fear yea by reason of other occasions when the motion of the blood is deficient or fails in the heart so that the affected are proclive to faintings and swooning away presently because the tribute of the vital liquor is withdrawn the animal Spirits growing deficient in the Brain withdraw their radiation from the nervous Stock for when their spring is cut off those that remain leaping back from their emanation wander about confusedly in the Brain and very often stir up the Vertiginous Distemper Secondly an inordinate recourse or flowing back of the Animal Spirits from some inward or from some outward member often causes the Vertigo forasmuch as the Spirits being disturbed from the affected part by a long series thorow the passages of the Nerves at length disturb others inhabiting the middle part of the Brain and drive them into the like disorders for this cause it is that sharp humors gnawing or pulling the Fibres of the Ventricle because the infestous and irritative matter being moved in the Spleen Pancreas or Intestines causes light dizzinesses in the Brain I have known from an accute pain an Ulcer or a mortified Inflammation in the Foot or Arm frequent tremblings and failings though short in the Brain to have been induced Whilst that the conceived inordination of the spirits is transferred from the distemper'd part thorow the Nerves into the Brain a certain Formication or tingling or as it were the ascent of a cold air is seen and perceived wherefore the cause of this Distemper is commonly ascribed to Vapours arising up to the Head which error we have elsewhere sufficiently confuted Further many are wont when they have fasted or stayed long beyond their hour of dineing to have a dimness before their eyes and their heads to have a turning and then afterwards those clouds vanish having eaten a little this does not so happen according to the vogue of the people for that wind or vapours ascend to the Head from the empty Stomach which the aliments being taken in do immediately suppress but because the Fibres of the Ventricle and the nervous Filaments or little strings being destitute of the nervous Juice with which they desire to be watered are wont to enter into corrugations or wrinklings and light Convulsions which kind of Convulsions and disorders of Spirits for that they are continued thorow the passages of the Nerves into the Brain produce the Vertiginous Distemper which as soon as the Fibres of the Stomach remit their wrinklings ceases of its own accord For this reason I have known some by a Vomit being given tearing the coats of the Ventricle to have been taken with a cruel Vertigo yea I do suspect that this Distemper does sometimes arise from meats of ill digestion and ungrateful to the stomach But the Vertigo is not only a symptom but sometimes a primary Disease of it self whose nature that we may the better search into we ought to inquire into its subject the formal reasons and causes of it and then these being found out and truly unfolded we will proceed to its prognostick and Cure Without doubt the immediate subject of the Vertigo are the Animal Spirits which every one labouring with this Disease
pain of the Head is wont to be accounted the chiefest of the Diseases of the Head and as it were to lead the troops of the other Affections of that part for that it is the most common and most frequent symptom to which indeed there is none but is sometimes obnoxious so that it is become a Proverb as a sign of a more rare and admirable thing That his Head did never ake The Headach though it be a most frequent Distemper hath so various uncertain and often a contrary original that it seems most difficult to deliver an exact Theorie of its appearance containing the solutions of so manifold and often opposite things This Disease being constant to no temperament constitution or manner of living nor to no kind of evident or adjoyning causes ordinarily falls upon cold and hot sober and intemperate the empty and the full bellied the fat and the lean the young and old yea upon Men and Women of every age state or condition Hence because they cannot satisfie any one sick with this Distemper with the causes of it most commonly they say they all proceed from Vapours Further the Cure of this Disease is more happily instituted not so much by certain Indications as by trying various things and at length by collecting an Extempory method of Healing from things helping and hurting Wherefore if I should go about to untye this hard knot by drawing forth the matter more deeply and more accurately I must ask for pardon if I am carried by a long compass thorow the various Series and Complication of Causes and if at length by any means the Aeriology or the Reason of this Disease may be fully detected a more certain way to its Cure may be opened Therefore that we may go on more fully to institute this Pathology or shewing the Causes or symptoms of this Disease we ought first of all to unfold the Subject and the formal reason of this Disease together with the Causes and differences then to subjoyn the Curatory method and to illustrate it with some more rare Cases and Observations As to the former as all pain is a hurt or violated Action or a troublesome sension or feeling depending on a Convulsion or a Corrugation of the Nerves the Subject of the Headach are the most nervous parts of the Head that is the Nerves themselves as also the Fibres and Membranes and such as are more and most sensible seated both without and within the skull But the parts of this kind which are affected with pain are first the two Meninges and their various processes the Coats of the Nerves the Pericranium or skin compassing the skull and other thin skinny Membranes the fleshy Panicle of the Muscle and lastly the skin it self As to the Brain and Cerebel and their Medullary dependences we affirm That these Bodies are free from pains because they want sensible Fibres apt to be wrinkled and distended the same for the like reason may be said of the Skull 2. But whensoever pain is excited any where about the nervous parts of the Head its formal reason consists in this That the Animal Spirits being drawn one from another and put to flight cause the containing Bodies to be pulled together and wrinkled and so stir up a troublesome sension or feeling But that which so distracts the Spirits that from thence a troublesome feeling arises is some improportionate thing rushing upon the Spirits themselves or on the Bodies containing them which entring the Pores of and spaces between the Fibres pulls them one from another and so drives the spirits dwelling there into disorder 3. As to the differences of the Headach the common distinction is That the pain of the Head is either without the Skull or within its cavity The former is a more rare and a more gentle disease because the parts above the Skull are not so sensible as the interior Meninges nor are they watered with so plentiful a flood of Blood that by its sudden and vehement incursion they may be easily distended or inflamed above measure Secondly The other kind of Headach to wit within the Skull is more frequent and much more cruel because the Membranes cloathing the Brain are very sensible and the Blood is poured upon them by a manifold passage and by many and greater Arteries Further because the Blood or its Serum sometimes passing thorow all the Arteries at once both the Carotides and the Vertebrals and sometimes apart thorow these or those on the one side or the opposite bring hurt to the Meninges hence the pain is caused that is interior which is either universal infesting the whole Head or its greatest part or particular which is limited to some private region and sometimes produces a Meagrim on the side sometimes in the forepart and sometimes in the hinder part of the Head There are many other differences of this Disease to wit That the Pain is either light or vehement sharp or dull short or of continuance continual or intermitting its approaches sometimes periodical and exact sometimes wandring and uncertain Also by reason of the Conjunct Cause which as shall be declared by and by sometimes is the Blood sometimes certain excrements of it as either the Serum or nourishing juice or vapours or wind sometimes it is the nervous liquor sometimes a congression or striving of it with the bloody liquor The Headach may be called either bloody and that either simple or else serous vaporous or otherways excrementitious or else Convulsive from the humor watering the nervous Fibres and irritating them into painful Corrugations Concerning these that we may proceed methodically we shall rehearse in a certain order the various kinds of this Disease with their Causes and it seems good that we distinguish the Pain of the Head to be either accidental or occasional and habitual The former is wont to be excited without any foregoing cause or previous disposition by the solitary evident cause as when an Headach happens almost to all men after the drinking of Wine Surfetting lying in the Sun or vehement exercise also in the fitts of Feavours to wit forasmuch as the Blood being incited more than it was wont and boiling up immoderately very much blows up and distends the Membranes it passes thorow yea the Serum and Vapors copiously sent forth from it then growing hot and rushing on the Membranes pull and provoke the nervous Fibres Secondly The habitual pain of the Head hath some procatartick or more remote Cause fixed somewhere by reason of which it is troubled either constantly or often so that though it sometimes intermits yet it often returns of its own accord and is excited also upon every light occasion but this whether it be continual or intermitting hath neither always nor only the Suffusions or too great Evaporations of the Blood or Serum for the Conjunct Cause although these are often present where notwithstanding they are rather
discoursed concerning the former of these we shewed that the essence of Sleep did consist in the corporeal souls withdrawing it self by little and little and contracting the sphere of its irradiation left destitute and as it were shut forth of doors the outmost compass of the Brain or its shelly part and so the exterior and all the organs of sense and motion from the emanation of the spirits so that they for refreshment sake being called inward lye down and give themselves to rest in the mean time the Pores and passages of the outward part of the Brain being free and empty from the excursions of the spirits are prepared for the coming of the nervous Liquor stilled forth from the Blood for a new provision of Spirits In accustomed and natural Sleep these two causes conspire and happen together as it were out of a certain mutual compact of Nature viz. at the same time the Spirits give place the nervous Humor enters but in unnatural sleep or that which is extraordinary sometimes this cause and sometimes that is the former for the Spirits being wearied or called away first withdraw themselves and so offer an entrance to the nervous humor heaped up before the doors or else the nervous humor driving to those places more plentifully and as it were making its way by force repels the Spirits and entring into their passages does as it were drown them we have particularly assigned the various occasions of either of these and after what manner they come to pass Concerning the eclipse or desect of the Memory we need not speak much here because it is wholely from the same cause as immoderate Sleep to wit the exclusion and an interdiction for a time of the passing up and down of the Animal Spirits from the exterior passages of the Brain full of some humor Preternatural Sleep or an insatiable sleepiness which is the chief symptom in the Lethargy and sleepy Diseases seems to arise wholely from the same causes as non-natural Sleep carried forth only with greater force or energy to wit either the Animal Spirits being first distemper'd leave the outward compass of the Brain and give an entrance not only to the nervous but to the serous and some other vicious Humor or else the superfluous and excrementitious humors together with the nervous break thorow the cortical doors of the Brain and as it were overflowing its Pores and passages drive thence and repel the Spirits sometimes this is chiefly the cause sometimes the former and sometimes both together We shall first speak of that which is the more frequent cause of the Lethargy to wit the eruption of either too much or too incongruous humor upon the confines of the Brain and then afterwards of the departure of the Spirits from the affected part I have often found by Anatomical observation that the Lethargy doth arise from the Serous heap rushing into the outward infoldings of the Brain and entering into its Pores and Cortical passages for in many dead of this Disease I found the spaces between the foldings of the Brain full of clear water yea and its outmost substance soft and infirm from too much wet moreover in some I found the interior cavities swelled with water and the whole frame of the Brain overflowed with a Dropsie or rather a flood When therefore in a great and mortal Lethargy it hath appeared that it has been after this manner we may well suspect in a lesser and cureable sleepiness that the out-borders of the Brain are at least too much watered with humor and the tracts of the Spirits overflowed especially if there appear any signs of water or of Serum abounding about other parts of the Head A grievous sleepiness is wont to be excited not only from the Serum being too much or from the over plenty of any other Morbific humor but sometimes from its malignity for it often happens that a certain infestous and virulent matter is instilled from the Flood into the Brain which entering the Pores of the Cortical substance profligates the Spirits and either extinguishing them or driving them away inwards so that this region being left destitute of them a sleepiness and forgetfulness succeeds There is none almost who hath not taken notice that this often happens in malignant and ill handled Feavours also in the Scorbutick Cachexie the Yellow Iaundice and certain other Chronical Diseases oftentimes a sluggish and vapid or tastless water is sent in instead of the subtil and spirituous nervous Juice that is the parent of forgetfulness and of sleepiness This Conjunct Cause of the Lethargy to wit the heaping up of too much Humor or too incongruous within the shelly part of the Brain depends upon other Causes to wit more remote leading causes and also evident causes As to the former they are wont to be in fault both when the Blood supplies the distemper'd part with Morbific matter and also because that the Brain it self too easily admits it For indeed the Blood transfers to the Head in some a great quantity of a watery humor and in others of a salt or scorbutical humor also again in others excrementitious humors and deadly to the animal government sometimes taken from these bowels and sometimes from those and as occasion serves instills them together with the nervous Juice out of the Arteries on the outer borders of the Brain and there by little and little insinuating this kind of Morbific Matter by a long congestion causes a dark cloud or else by a sudden transportation of it overflows at once all the outward part of the Brain and drives away the inhabiting Spirits like a Sea breaking in and compels them to run more inwardly But indeed the Morbific Matter how copiously or infestous soever it be and poured on the Head doth not induce the Lethargic Distemper unless the very weak or vicious constitution of the Brain be also in fault for if this be strong and of good temper it easily resists the assaults of all those yea it bears without hurt the errors and enormities in thâ— six non-naturals Those who have this part too humid or too cold as Children and old Men also those distempered with Cacochymical Humors the Dropsie Scurvy or Humors gathered about the mouth of the Stomach are very prone to sleep and sometimes fall from a stronger Evident Cause into a continual drowsiness Besides those who have a weak Brain and their Pores too lax or open that by that means the feculencies obtruded from the Blood find a more easie passage often become obnoxious to sleepiness yea and to the Lethargy for such as are given to Surfeiting and Drunkenness are wont presently after to fall asleep which weakens the tone of the Brain and fill and too much open its Pores with a crude and filthy Juice so that when it hath been for a long time accustomed by reason of these occasions to admit into them the Serous superfluities it afterwards refuses
inkindled in the Lungs or doth it burn with a plentiful and enough clear flame within the passages of the Heart and its vessels but is apt to be repressed and almost blown out with every blast of wind Hence when that the vital flame is so small and languishing that it shakes and trembles at every motion it is no wonder if that the Melancholick person is as it were with a sinking and half overthrown mind always sad and fearful By reason of this kind of saltish Dyscrasie of the Blood Melancholicks rarely have a Feavour yet being taken with it by reason of the irregular burning of the Blood they are more in danger No less doth it come to pass by the fault of the Heart that Melancholick persons become sad and fearful by reason of the course of the Blood being retarded and called back from thence for because that Muscle is actuated but with an inflowing of weak and enormous Spirits it cannot perform its contractions strongly enough and constantly whereby the Blood may be driven forward into the whole body without stop or leaping back So the Blood and the Animal Spirits affect one another mutually with a reciprocal evil and bring hurt one to the other That is the Melancholick Blood consisting of Saline Particles carried forth together with Sulphureous begets Animal Spirits indued with an Acetous nature as hath been shown and these Spirits wrongly performing the offices of the Vital Function cause such an evil disposition of the Blood to be increased Thus much of Melancholy in general viz. of its Essence Conjunct Causes and chief Symptoms together with the reasons of them Before we proceed to the kinds and differences of this Disease we ought to explain from what kind of causes both Procatartick and Evident it is wont to arise and to be cherished and first from whence either part of the Soul viz. both Animal and Vital doth acquire their morbid dispositions First we say the former of these to be Acetous like to the Spirit of Vitriol or Vinegar and this to be Salino sulphureous or Atrabilary or Melancholick further as the one doth cherish the other so they at first beget one another For sometimes Melancholy beginning and for a long time persisting from the Animal Spirits being disturbed and driven into a certain confusion causes the Melancholick disposition of the Blood and sometimes also the Blood at first contracting this evil disposition perverts the nature of the Spirits That Melancholy doth very often arise from the Animal Government every common body doth sufficiently note to wit forasmuch as the Animal Spirits conceive inordinations from violent passions of the mind in which when they remain long they bend the whole Soul yea and the Body from their due temper and constitution So especially destroying Love vehement sadness panick fears envy shame care and immoderate study are wont oftentimes to excite this Distemper For by reason of these kinds of occasions the Animal Spirits being thrust down beyond their wonted paths of expansion and remaining in their error by reason of the assiduity of Passion at last they go into these deviating tracts which afterwards observing they are hardly reduced into their former due ways Then forasmuch as for that reason the motion and vigoration of the Heart as hath been shewed is lessened therefore the Blood is defective in its due temper and sanguification and is from thence made more fixed and Salino-sulphureous and the Animal Spirits coming from it are but degenerate into a sourness and so the Blood being depraved by the latter encreases to the Melancholick disposition begun from the Spirits No less often doth it come to pass that the seeds of Melancholy being at first laid in the Blood do at length impart their evil to the Spirits For this reason some are made obnoxious to this Disease from their Parents But an inordinate living long intermission of wonted exercise usual evacuations as of the Menstrual Blood or the Piles or bleeding at the Haemorrhoidal Veins also the Seed or the Serous Matter being suddenly suppressed and many other occasions easily infect and foul the Blood and render it Melancholick whose depraved disposition is of necessity communicated to the Spirits But we cannot here yield to what some Physicians affirm that Melancholy doth arise from a Melancholick humor somewhere primarily and of it self begotten and they assign for its birth several places to wit the Brain Spleen Womb and the whole habit of the Body for besides for that no such mines of such an humor appear unless perhaps some be planted in the Spleen moreover the Blood it self is it which conceives at first the Melancholick intemperance or any other by it self and then deposes the Recrements of the same nature in proper emunctories or receptacles For neither is the yellow Bile or Choler laid up in the Gall-Bladder or the black Bile so called or Melancholick humor in the Spleen unless the bloody Mass begets those humors before hand If at any time these or other Recrements being any where laid up are received of the Blood they produce its effervescency or growing hot but not presently or easily its intemperature Therefore because sometimes the original of Melancholy is ascribed to the Head and the intemperature of the Brain from these to wit too hot and accused to be from those too cold I rather think it ought to be affirmed that this Distemper doth sometimes at first begin from the Brain and the Soul dwelling in it because Hippocrates also plainly asserts it 6 Epidem Sect. 8. T. 58. For distinguishing Epileptical and Melancholick persons beings made so together or else successively as to the formal reasons of the Diseases he saith The defluxion which floweth from the Brain from the ill affection state or temperament thereof if it flows into the Body causeth the Falling-sickness if into the cogitation or the mind Melancholy So in Melancholy he grants the Soul distinctly and as it were apart from the Body or Brain to be affected Secondly Because sometimes the original of this Disease is deduced from the Womb it is not to be thought that the Melancholick humor is there at first generated but the occasion of Melancholy doth proceed from thence either bacause the whole Blood being infected and made degenerate by reason of a stoppage of the Menstrua strives to go into a Melancholy Dyscrasie or intemperature or because by reason of the provocations of Venus or Lust being restrained not without great reluctancy of the Corporeal Soul the Animal Spirits being for a long time forced and restrained become at length more fixed and Melancholick Thirdly It is a common opinion and also ours that sometimes Melancholy is either primarily excited or very much cherished from the Spleen being evilly affected and so from thence is called by a peculiar word Hypochondriack as we have shewed at large in another Tract of Convulsive Diseases But the Blood is first in fault begetting in
it self fom the beginning Melancholick foulnesses deposes them in the Spleen which receiving again after their being exalted into the nature of an evil Ferment is more vitiated in its disposition by their foulness Fourthly But besides it is said there is another kind of Melancholy distinct from the Hypochondriack and the former that is begotten in the whole Body together this is nothing else than the Mass of Blood being degenerated from its true nature by reason of errors in the six non-naturals and for many other occasions doth acquire at Atrabilary or Melancholick disposition that is where the Spirit being depressed the Sulphureous Particles together with the Saline and also with some Earthy are carried forth for the Melancholick disposition of the Blood is very much a-kin to this Sulphureous-saline which we have shewed oftentimes to excel in some kind of Scurvy For what causes and upon what occasions this is wont to be produced may be sufficiently known from the Aetiology of that Disease being at large explained The differences of this Disease may be easily gathered from what hath been said for in respect of its first subject which is sometimes the Soul sometimes the Body or rather the Blood it is called either Animal or humeral Melancholy Again it is impressed according to that with various powers to wit it is first impressed either on the Rational Will or the sensitive concupiscible or irascible Appetite also it is divided into very many kinds as it is employed about diverse things to wit either Sacred or Magical or Humane the huge cense or bead-roll of which is almost infinite the chief of which that are wont to come within the Cure of Medicne are Religious Amorous and Jealous Melancholy 2. By reason of the temperament of the sick according to which the Particles of the Melancholick blood being made sometimes Sulphureous sometimes Saline or Earthy the Spirituous being depressed are exalted more or less a Delirium or sadness fury or stupidity are more or less variously joined to Melancholy 3. The Disease is either continual or intermitting according to the conjuct cause either stronger both the Hypostasis of the Spirits and also the bloody Mass being both together vitiated or else lighter and less deeply fixed so that the Distemper'd sometimes are well enough for many days or months yet apt to relapse upon any great occasion 4. In respect of the hurt Imagination there are very many types of Melancholicks to be met with yea almost innumerable yet the chief difference of which is that some are dilirious in all things and others in one thing only The Prognostick of this Disease though as to health or death it is for the most part safe yet by reason of the event it is very uncertain For some quickly grow well others not of a long time and others are never cured This Distemper suddenly excited from a solitary evident cause as a vehement Passion is far safer than by leasure invading after a long Procatarxis or foregoing cause For the former if the evident cause be presently removed often ceases of its own accord or with a little help but in this latter for that the Mass of Blood and the whole heap of Animal Spirits are departed from their due disposition and not rarely the conformation of the Brain as to the tracts of the Spirits is altered The Cure very difficultly and not under a long time succeeds Melancholy being a long time protracted passes oftentimes into Stupidity or Foolishness and sometimes also into Madness further sometimes it brings on Consulsive Distempers or the Palsie or Apoplexy yea sometimes a violent Death As to the Cure there is little or no hopes if the Distemper'd being very contumacious and refractory reject all Medicines and every method of Physick Further there is scarce any better thing to be expected from them who lying sick with only imaginary Diseases take all Remedies and require still more and of diverse kinds to be given them As the Cure of Melancholy as it is always difficult and long so it is wont to be mighty intricate and perplexed for that it ought to be diversly and variously instituted in respect of the evident Procatartick and Conjunct causes of its kind also by reason of the Symptoms daily arising Neither is it only behoveful oftentimes to change the Remedies and Method of healing but also variously to make use of between whiles warnings deceits flatteries intreaties and punishments But first of all the Evident Cause of this Disease if any noted thing went before should be inquired into and if it may be either presently removed or else its removal to be in some sort feigned Further the affections of the mind being vehement and stirred up from thence are either to be appeased or subdued by others opposite Wherefore to desperate Love ought to be applied or shewed indignation and hatred Sadness is to be opposed with the flatteries of Pleasure Musick a desire or vain glory or also a pannick terror In like manner as to the rest of the Passions you must proceed to quiet or elude them The Curatory Method accommodated for the healing of Melancholy suggests many other indications the chief of which and to which the rest may be the better placed are these three commonly noted viz. Curatory which respects immediately the Disease and its Conjunct Cause Preservatory which cuts off the Procatartick and Evident Causes and Vital which is imployed about conserving of strength As to the first Indication the intention of the Physician is so much to lift up make volatile and corroborate the more fixed or dejected Animal Spirits that being also apt to go backwards or out of the way that afterwards they may irradiate more freely being stretched forth the whole Brain with a full and not broken beam for the Acts of the Imagination Judgment and other principal faculties and so lively actuate the Praecordia and make them to vibrate or beat strongly that the Blood being more plentifully inkindled it may be projected from thence without stop or stagnating into the whole Body Therefore for the healing of the Spirits first of all it is to be procured that the Soul should be withdrawn from all troublesome and restraining passion viz. from mad Love Jealousie Sorrow Pity Hatred Fear and the like and composed to chearfulness or joy pleasant talk or jesting Singing Musick Pictures Dancing Hunting Fishing and other pleasant Exercises are to be used They who care not for Sports or Pleasures for to some Melancholicks they are always ingrateful are to be roused up by imploying them in more light businesses sometimes Mathematical or Chymical Studies also Travelling do very much help moreover it is often expedient to change the places of habitation in their native soil Those who will still stay at home are to be warned that they take care of their Houshold affairs and that they should govern their Family that they should
build Houses plant and order Gardens Orchards or Till the Ground For the mind being busied with necessary cares or duties puts aside and at last deserts more easily vain and mad cogitations Melancholy persons are seldom to be lest alone for that then they indulge their airy phantasies and speculations and suffer them to continue longer The Soul sinks down inwardly and leaving the body enters into a certain Metamorphosis and puts on a new shape and oftentimes different from humane manners Wherefore the Distemper'd ought to be disturbed almost always with the discourses of their familiar Friends to wit that the Animal Spirits being called outwards may be solicited from their diversions into their former and accustomed tracts But if the sick be seduced with phantastical illusions and imagine some prodigious things of themselves and firmly believe them their mind is to be drawn from them by artificial inventions very many causes and examples of this sort of Cure are to be found in Books and a discreet Physician may institute the like as occasion serves Although a fresh Melancholy may be cured sometimes by the mere discipline and institution of the mind and Animal Spirits yet in a long or inveterate where the Spirits have contracted an acetous nature and the Blood an Atrabilary or Melancholick disposition and that the Brain is hurt as to its Pores and passages other Indications called Preservatory are required for the taking away of the Procatartick causes Concerning this thing the Medical intentions are first that the Blood be reduced to a better temper and genuine to wit a spirituous saline then to enliven the Brain and to render it bright and clear its Pores being unlocked and also to corroborate the Animal Spirits and to excite them into a lively flowing forth For which ends the following method I think good to propose which notwithstanding ought to be varied according to the various constitutions of the sick The taking away of Blood has place almost in all Melancholicks and sometimes it is often to be iterated For the adust and liveless Blood being at times drawn away a new and more spirituous comes in its place Concerning the quantity place and manner of celebrating this Remedy Authors have various opinions but the motion and the affections of the Blood being truly weighed it will at first suffice to take a moderate quantity out of the Arm and afterwards if need be a lesser or to draw it from the Sedal Veins by Leeches How the Salvatella Veins being opened as is said should bring such notable help to Melancholicks I confess I cannot understand perhaps it may help them if the Melancholick persons be firmly perswaded that this Phlebotomy will cure them before any others the frequent opening the Hemorrhoidal Veins invites Nature to an endeavouring afterwards for that evacuation which succeeding of its own accord as Hippocrates says does not seldom Cure this Disease Purging for that it draws back the nourishment of the Disease from the firsts ways and removes the impediments of other Remedies ought to be celebrated at the beginning and repeated at intervals But that some think for the sooner rooting out of this Disease Hellebore or Elateriums are chiefly to be used and cite Hippocrates for their Author we apprehend if the success be minded those things do not ordinarily agree with yea more often do hurt to the sick For indeed more strong Purgers do not take away the cause of the Disease to wit the Dyscrasie of the Blood but rather encrease it besides they more debilitate and strike down the Animal Spirits before dejected But Hellebore was so often prescribed by Hippocrates because in his Age other Catharticks were scarcely known or at least they were not in frequent use But now it is thought much better gently to draw forth the receptacles of the humors by more gentle and easie Purgers and to cleanse only the Viscera and the first ways without any great commotions of the Blood and Spirits Vomiting Medicines as in most Cephalick Diseases free from a Feavour are wont to help after a peculiar manner in all mad Distempers The reason of this partly consists in this because the viscous load of the Ventricle which as we have elsewhere shewn doth very much burthen the Soul being purged forth the Spirits by that means being more free expand themselves more lively and chearfully Further forasmuch as Vomiting presses together and evacuates the neighbouring receptacles of the humors to wit the Gall Bag the passage of the Pancreas and the Glandulas of the Mesentery procures that their contents be not transferred into the Head Take Oxymel of Squills one ounce and a half of Wine of Squills one ounce of the Syrup de Peto two drams mix them and make a Vomit if it doth not work or but slowly provoke Vomiting with a great deal of Carduus Posset-drink Take of the Decoction of the middle bark of Elder four ounces of the Salt of Vitriol one scruple to two scruples of Oxymel simple three drams mix them and take it after the same manner To robust and well-set persons may be given of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or of Mercurius Vitae also the Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht or the Sulphur of Antimony Take of the Root of Polypodium of the Oak half an ounce of Epithimum three drams of Sena half an ounce of Tamarinds six drams of the seeds of Coriander three drams of yellow Saunders two drams let them be boiled in fourteen ounces of Spring-water till it comes to ten ounces adding to the Colature or when it is strained of Agarick two drams of Rhubarb one dram and a half being clarified add of the Syrup of purging Apples two ounces let six ounces be taken and repeated within three or four days Take of the best Sena three drams Epithym Rhubarb each one dram and a half of Yellow Saunders half a dram of Coriander seed two scruples of the Salt of Wormwood half a dram of Celtick Spike a scruple put these into white Wine and the Water of Pipins of each four ounces kept close all night to the liquor being strained five ounces add of the Syrup of Epithimum six drams of Aqua Mirabilis two drams mix them and make a Potion In strong bodies or hard to work on may be added to these of the strings of black Hellebore macerated in Vinegar one dram or two For those who had rather make use of Pills Boluses Powders or Syrups take the following Take of the Pil. Tartar of Quercitan or of Amber of Crato half a dram of the Resine of Ialap or of Scammony six or eight grains or Tartar vitriolated half a scruple of Ammoniacum dissolved in Aqua Mirabilis what will suffice to make a Pill let four be taken going to sleep and unless they work first one in the morning following Take of Calamelanos of the extract of black Hellebore each one scruple of the Resine of Ialap six grains of
and too much inflamed afterwards burning forth get to themselves Saline Particles and so in like matter get a most sharp and as it were a Stygian nature wherefore the Feavour then ceasing the Fury becomes fixed and continual 2. The disposition of Madness hath no less frequently its roots in the bloody Mass and is at length produced into act to wit when as the Blood being depraved and becomes Nitro-sulphureous it either perverts the nervous Liquor as also the Animal Spirits or supplies them but evilly Which kind of taint of the Blood is either hereditary or acquired First It is a common observation that men born of Parents that use sometimes to be mad are obnoxious to the same disease and though they have lived above thirty or forty years prudent and sober yet afterwards without any occasion or evident cause they have fallen into Madness The reason of which is for that the Blood at that time bending from its due temper by degrees into a Nitro sulphureous affords to the Head Animal Spirits and also the nervous juice participating as hath been said of a most sharp nature We have formerly shewn that in our Complexion Elementary Particles do persist during life apart from the secondary afforded by nutrition and have their times of crudity maturity and defection wherefore we suppose the morbid seeds do ripen into fruit according to the periods of Ages Further we take notice that oftentimes the fruits of Diseases of this kind do remain ripening for a long time or perpetually as long as life yet sometimes falling off as it were of their own accord do wither away then sometimes in another tract of time from the infection being left new fruits do spring up and by little and little rise up to their height Wherefore Hereditary Madness is sometimes continual and sometimes intermitting Its fits are wont sometimes to come again after a shorter time and sometimes after a longer interval Secondly As the foregoing Cause of Madness sticking in the Blood is oftentimes innate or original so sometimes the same is by degrees begotten either by an evil manner of diet or by the suppression of usual evacuations or by reason of a Feavour going before or for some other causes and at length being brought to maturity breaks forth into Madness It is an usual thing in great want of sustenance that some poor people being constrained to feed only on very disagreeing meats and of ill digestion become at first sad with an horrid aspect louring and dark and a little after Mad. The Haemorrhoids and the after flowings of Women in Child-bed being restrained in their flux or some evil and foul running Ulcers being suppressed dispose some towards this Disease Further those who originally or by acquisition are indued with a more sharp temper and with fierce manners and threatning countenance by reason of the dispositition of their Blood being nigh to a Nitro-sulphur are in danger to fall into Madness from some strong evident cause Thirdly Venomous Ferments being insinuated to the Blood and nervous juice as first of all from the biting of mad Animals or by the taking of some poisons are wont to stir up Madness Concerning the reasons of the former we have proposed our conjectures in another place Of late a very Noble Lady and to be credited told me from her own knowledge that a certain Gentleman having eaten at dinner time the tender leaves of Wolfs-bane in a Sallad with other herbs in the Evening found himself ill and complaining of a great unquietness and agitation of his Blood and Spirits he desired his Friends to send for a Chirurgeon to let him blood or that otherwise he should grow Mad which indeed as he said came to pass for before he could be let blood he fell into Madness and dyed in a nights space This kind of deadly Distemper so suddenly happened for that this poison had not only perverted the Blood and Animal Spirits as to their temper but had slain or beat them down immediately with its malignant Ferment Thus much for the formal Reason and Causes of Madness The primary Symptoms of it we have mentioned to be a Delirium and a Fiâ—ry the reasons of which appear clear enough from what has been already said To these we may moreover add Boldness Strength and that they are still unwearied with any labours and suffer pains unhurt of which we will speak briefly Mad-men are not as Melancholicks sad and fearful but audacious and very confident so that they shun almost no dangers and attempt all the most difficult things that are The reason of which is because the Animal Spirits being very fierce and provoked both fortifie the Imagination that no object may seem greater or bigger than it is wont to be and actuate also the Praecordia with vigor so that they cast forth the Blood strongly and swiftly and drive it forwards lively to the utmost borders of the Body In this Distemper the Soul endeavours to be carried forth and to lâ—ap beyond the compass or sphere of the Body and so striving on every side against the incursions of any exterior things bears it self without fear Secondly Mad-men are still strong and robust to a prodigy so that they can break cords and chains break down doors or walls one easily overthrows many endeavouring to hold him The certain cause of which is because in the Blood and nervous juice of Mad people are contained Particles as it were Nitro sulphureous or otherways most sharp and as it were Stygian from whence the Animal Spirits are indued or are strong with an Elastick or Explosive force stupendous great and far beyond what 's natural Thirdly it is observed that Mad men are almost never tired for although by playing mad pranks and striving many days and nights they strongly exercise their members and live in the mean time without sleep or eating yet they scarce languish at all nor desist from their agonies for want of strength Which without doubt comes to pass for that the Animal Spirits though very moveable and Elastick are not however volatile and easily dissipable but by reason of the Saline Particles being depressed from their volatileness into a flux being joined with the Sulphureous become firm and more fixed and therefore continue longer in their activity In like manner as we have observed in Aqua fortis which though it be contained in a vessel that 's open perpetually sends forth very many Effluvia's and yet still retains its substance unwasted and its corrosive force otherwise than the spirit of Wine or Blood the virtue of which soon evaporates In the fourth place almost for the same reason Mad-men what ever they bear or suffer are not hurt but they bear cold heat watching fasting strokes and wounds without any sensible hurt to wit because the spirits being strong and fixed are neither daunted nor fly away Further the blood having gotten a Nitro sulphureous
Reins appeared most sound and firm but the right Kidney was almost consumed a small heap of the Glandâ—la's being only left all the Vessels and the Vreter being joined together and wholly shut up so that no Urine at all had passed there of a long time The left Kidney being large enough contained within the cavity and its passages a great heap of Sand or Gravel and little Stones besides there was a round hard and whitish stone fallen into the Vreter three inches deep and there fixed and had wholly shut out the passage of the water the Membrane of the Vreter where the Stone stuck was become so thick and callous and so free from pain that here it could by no means be moved either upwards or downwards It seems in this case that when the coagulated Particles of the Blood and nervous juice to wit the Saline fixed and the Acetous meeting together at first in the Reins did stir up for a while the Distemper of the Stone afterwards by the use of the abovesaid Powder the saline Particles being still thrust forward into the habit of the Body and not easily rendred heaped together the Goutish seed plot in the Joints the Reins being in the mean time free But at length when by the drinking of his own Urine the saline Mine was brought back into the Reins the Disease of the Gout was changed into the mortal Disease of the Stone CHAP. XV. Of the Colick Passion IT has been mentioned in the former Chapter by what right we have referred this Disease among the Distempers of the Brain and nervous Stock to wit both in respect of the Symptoms urging which are pain and Convulsive motions as also from the reason of the cause by Charles Piso placed in the head and truly not improbably Concerning the word Colick from the Intestine called the Colon we shall not strive for that it is supposed though wrongfully to be chiefly affected in this Disease The Distemper may be described That it is an hauling or notable pulling of some parts of the Abdomen or the Belly from whence a very acute pain arises and with it for the most part a Vomiting as also Convulsions and Contractions almost of the whole Viscera of the Belly are wont to be joined And for that the Navil and its neighbouring parts are sometimes as it were with a Perforation or boring thorow drawn inwards and sometimes swell out with an inflation or blowing up and as it were with a great leaping forth the Intestines by an inverse motion of the Fibres are oftentimes pulled together upwards wherefore the Belly being extreamly bound together renders little or nothing yea although it be often provoked by Clysters it doth not easily part with its contents It appears clearly that the Ventricle with the Duodenum and the bladder of Gall are in like manner pulled by Vomiting and by the casting forth of great plenty of yellow or green Choler Sometimes the Vreters and the bladder of the Urine are so contracted that in all the fit the Urine is wholly suppressed or but very sparingly rendered Besides a Vertiginous Distemper of the Head frequently preceeds or follows the fits of this Disease yea the Colick growing worse and inveterate oftentimes causes pains in the outward members and at length ends in the Palsie Therefore forasmuch as very many parts are wont to labour in this Disease we shall inquire which is primarily affected and by what means the other suffer then what is the conjunct cause of the Disease in what place it subsists and from whence it draws its original As to the part primarily or first of all distemper'd though the Disease being urgent the whole region of the Belly is wont to be disturbed yet its primary seat ought to be placed where the pain chiefly infests and pertinaciously sticks But this by the consent of very many Physicians is said to be some where in the Gut Colon. Wherefore Celsus saith That the Colick is a Distemper of the greater Intestine which also reason seems to perswade something for whether the Morbific Matter is supposed to be heaped up in the Cavities of the Intestines or to be wholly fixed in their Membranes certainly there are extant deep little Cells in the folds of the Colon for its receptacles and thick coats of this Intestine in which the peccant humor may be deeply fastned But indeed this opinion to which we cannot easily assent as also the denomination of the Distemper seems to have grown in credit in the Schools of the Physicians from this only because we ordinarily observe that the Intestines enter into pains and torments being irritated by wind medicines Choler and perhaps other humors contained within their cavities hence as it is obvious may be inferred that the Colick pains do arise from the sharp and provocative contents of the Intestines and especially of the Colon. But if it were so without doubt those things which loosen the Belly and draw forth plentifully the wind and the dregs or Faces should give certain ease the contrary of which often happens to wit by some more violent or often Purging the Disease has grown worse Wherefore that the seat of this Disease and the nature of it may be truly known we ought first of all to distinguish here concerning the torments of the Belly or pains commonly esteemed for Colicks to wit these are either meerly occasional arising from a solitary evident cause and ordinarily happen without any previous disposition to some men and especially to those who being of a tender constitution have very sensible Fibres and Spirits quickly dissipated after this manner disagreeable or unwonted eating or drinking also medicines taking of cold and many other alterations about the six non-naturals oftentimes excite great perturbations with pains in the Viscera of the lower part of the Belly which kind of Distemper ought to be esteemed not the Disease but only Symptoms excited from a manifest cause But besides the Colick properly so called happens to some not only produced by an accidental cause but falling upon some men predisposed by a peculiar right depends wholly upon a foregoing cause ripened by degrees The more grievous fits of this Disease for the most part have their periods and observe the changes of the Air and Year further being excited they do not easily give place to any Remedies nor quickly pass over but notwithstanding the use of Fomentations and though the Belly be taken down very much by Clysters or Purging they oftentimes continue with great fierceness for many days and sometimes weeks The pains in every fit still repeat the same part and are followed with a concourse for the most part of other the like Symptoms But the pains of the Colick though they have not the same seâ—â— in all but sometimes exercise their cruelties under the Ventricle sometimes about the Navel or the Hypochondria and sometimes in the lower part of the Belly or about
the matter is something diverse and not the same that is wont to excite the so different Distempers of either under the same roof In the Passions called Hysterical we have largely declared in a former Treatise That the Animal Spirits being burthened with an Elastick Copula are let off or as it were exploded one from another and so the containing bodies are unwillingly forced into irregular or preternatural Motions But in the pains of the Colick the same Spirits by reason of the matter troublesome to them and improportionate being provoked and so pulled and distracted one from another do put the sensible Fibres into very troublesome Corrugations or wrinkling themselves together By what means this comes to pass in the pains of the Colick also what are the conjunct and the foregoing causes of this Disease and the reasons of the Symptoms we shall a little further explain Therefore we shall suppose that for a Seed-plot or Mine of the Colick Distemper some Recrements of the nervous humor being fallen from the Brain thorow the Nerves and slid down into the Mesentery and other infoldings of the Abdomen are there heaped up which if they be thick and very viscous so that they cannot be received by the Lymphaeducts or water-carriers and so sent away or that they cannot sweat forth by the small shoots of the Vessels into the cavities of the Intestines stagnating in those parts and being by degrees heaped together do arise at length to a provocative fullness then this matter growing more degenerate by standing and becoming more infestous grows turgid occasionally or of its own accord or perhaps grows hot or ferments with a Saline fixed humor poured forth thither from the Blood torments the shoots of the Nerves and the nervous Fibres of which the Mesentery hath an infinite number with very troublesome and painful Corrugations which kind of Distemper of these doth not plainly cease till the hot or Fermentative matter being shaken off or pressed forth into the cavities of the Intestines is at length overcome Further forasmuch as from the Mesentery and its Infoldings nervous shoots and Fibres are most thickly put forth into the bottom of the Ventricle the bladder of the Gall the Choledoch passages all the Intestines and on every side almost into all the Viscera of the whole Abdomen therefore whilst the Colick matter grows hot or ferments in its Mines it there stirs up torments and oftentimes most cruel pains and together with them in many other Membranous parts Cramps and Convulsive or painful Contractions are every where excited Hence by reason of the Mesentery being primarily distemper'd a most sharp pain under the Navil shews it self like as if a stake were driven thorow it or a wimble a boring it then round about almost in the whole Abdomen or lower region of the Belly by reason of the Intestines being variously drawn down or backwards in diverse places together wandring pains run about hither and thither and by reason of the motions of the Fibres being disturbed or inverted both in these and also in the urinary Vessels the Belly is almost always bound up and sometimes a suppression of the Urine or a rendring but a very little succeeds yea also the Duodenum the Gall-Bladder with its passages and the bottom of the Ventricle being distemper'd with a Spasm or Cramp and their Fibres drawn upwards from thence frequent Vomiting with a copious casting forth of yellow or green Choler doth infest during the fit But some do contend that this Bile or Choler which is sometimes cast forth as green as a Leek is the material Cause of the Disease and that abundance of it dropping or distilling forth into the Viscera doth excite the Colick pains in the Intestines I say that this humor about the beginning of the fit is contained without any offence in the Bladder or bag of the Gall but afterwards by reason of the Convulsions of the Viscera being from thence pressed forth and as it were drawn or stroked out into the Stomach it is carried from the distemper'd Ventricle by Vomit but there perhaps meeting with some other acid humor it acquires a greenish colour yea sometimes a blackish as we have sometimes found by Anatomical observation And indeed it appears clear from this because those who are of a more cold temperament and beget little Choler when they are sick of the Colick cast forth by Vomit little or nothing of the yellow or green Bile and yet they are wont to be vexed with as cruel and sharp pains as others In the fit of the Colick to the pains of the Belly most cruel pains raging about the Loins in the bottom of the back are very often joined which certainly cannot arise from the irritation of any Intestine But it may be easily conceived that these are excited from the Morbific cause implanted in the Mesentery forasmuch as some most noted Nerves belonging to the Loins enter into the greatest nervous infolding of the Mesentery hence not only painful Convulsions are delivered by consent from one part to another but besides it is probable that some Recrements of the Back and Loins are derived by this passage into the Mesentery and in some measure for this reason Scorbutical people are so very obnoxious to pains of the Belly and to a Flux Thus much concerning the nature and seat of the Colick as also of its conjunct cause and of the Symptoms of the same coming into act As to what belongs to the foregoing cause it consists chiefly in these two things to wit first of all for that many Recrements are heaped together in the nervous Liquor and secondly because they being chiefly received from the Nerves destinated to the Viscera of the lower Belly and brought into the Mesentery constitute the Morbid Mines there 1. The former of these happens for the most part from the fault and vice of the Brain to wit because this admits together with the nervous liquor Heterogeneous Particles and infestous to the Animal Regiment within its borders besides also for that it doth not send away presently these and other ordinary Recrements by convenient sinks Wherefore the incongruous matter when it cannot be otherways carried from the Brain it most easily rushes into the most open Nerves of the wandring pair And for this Reason it is that Women from every inordination of the Brain frequently contract the disposition called Hysterical to wit because the Recrements of the nervous Liquor whether they are Spasmodick or Convulsive and Elastick or letting off or painful or provocative only being more apt to be deposed into the wandring pair so ordinarily excite Convulsive Symptoms like to the Colick 2. Because this matter running into the pair of the wandring Nerves is laid up in the Mesentery or in other Infoldings within the Abdomen the reason is that in these nervous Infoldings many and large Nerves of the same conjugation are at last terminated wherefore if the
acquired 34. what natural instinct brings to them ibid. some examples and instances of it ibid. Brutes in some things are taught by the impressions of sensible things 35. the direct sensible Species creates in them the Phantasy and memory ibid. the reflected the Appetite 36. by example imitation and institution also 37. how far 't is they are able to know ibid. their Syllogisms 38. their raciocination what and how vile 39 A Burning-Glass placed before a dark Chamber declares how light is made 77 C. CAros how it differs from the Lethargy and Apoplexy 136. its seat a little deeper in the Brain than that of the Lethargy ibid. it s conjunct cause ibid. 't is either a primary Disease or comes upon other distempers ibid. its prognosticks 137. its cure the same with the Lethargy and Apoplexy ibid. its Histories ibid. Cartesius and others their opinions concerning the Souls of Brutes 3 Coma waking its description 141. its causes shown ibid. more often a Symptom than a Disease ibid. V. Caros Colick whence its denomination 225. why counted among the Diseases of the Nervous stock ibid. its description ibid. its seat not always or often in the Gut Colon neither in its Cavity or Coats ibid. it s conjunct cause are not the contents of the intestines nor the humour impacted in the Membranes 226 the Nervous Liquor seems most of all to contribute to its cause ibid. its seat and part affected 227 228. why pains of the Loins often come upon Colick pains ibid. in what the foregoing cause consists ibid. the evident cause 229. the differences of this disease ibid. its prognosticks ibid. its câ—re ibid. to 233. its Histories 233 234 Corporeal Soul the subject of the rational 41. after what manner 't is affected in melancholy and madness 191 Custome its force 89. a notable example thereof ibid. D. DEafness sometimes proceeds from the loosness of the Drum 73 Declination of age disposes some to foolishness 211 Delirium what it is 179 its formal reason ibid. its causes either from the blood or ex teriour Spirits planted in the Nervous Stock 180. by what and how many ways it is caused by the blood ibid. how it proceeds from the irregularities of the exteriour spirits 181. its prognosticks ibid. its cure ibid. the primary Phaenomena of a melancholick Delirium and from what dispositions of the Spirits they proceed 188 Desire and aversion chiefly imploy the Soul 51. how excited c. ibid. to 53 Digby and others their opinion of the Souls of Brutes 3 Dreams what they are 93. sometimes excited by the Spirits inhabiting the Brain sometimes inhabiting other parts viz. the Stomach c. 94. they sometimes stir up local motions ibid. Drunkenness and looking down from high places c. how they cause a Vertigo 146 E. EAR and its uses 71 72 Eating is a certain solution 62 Epicurus and his late followers opinion that the Soul is made of Atoms 2 3 Epilepsy its seat the middle of the Brain which is the seat of the Apoplexy also 161. Eye its description and reason of its diverse conformation inquired into à p. 78 to 86 F. FEar its character c. 53 54 Feeling more thick but most ample of all the senses 60. its kinds c. from 60 to 62. what its proper organ 168 Fire its definition agrees by its causes and essences with the Soul of Brutes 5 Fishes why they rejoice rather in the Water than Air ibid. they breath by the Gills ibid. Flame V Fire part of the Soul 22 31 33. its difference from light 76 Foolishness V. Stupidity G. GAssendus his assertion of the Soul 4 according to him every body is either lâ—cid or illustrated 77 Gometius and Pereira deny the Souls of Brutes to have sense and perception 2 Gout a distemper of the Nervous Stock 214. its subject its appearances rehearsed ibid. parts affected 215. morbiâ—ick matter not any simple humour ibid. in its mine two humours concur and mutually grow hot exemplifyed how ibid. the Blood full of a fixed Salt as it were its feminine the Nervous Liquor being sharp the masculine seed 216. its foregoing causes ibid. 217 218. the evident causes of the goutish fit 218. whence the debility of the Ioints 217. differences of the Gout 219 wont to be complicated with the Scurvy and Stone and the reason of that shewed ibid. its prognostick ibid. cure ib. a notable history of the Stone converted into the Goâ—t and of the Gout into the Stone 224 H. HEad-ach the most common and chiefest affection among diseases 105. its causes so manifold that they can hardly be methodically recited ibid. hence its cure often instituted empirically ibid. what things belong to its pathology ibid. its subject ibid. it s formal reason differences and kinds 106. either within or without the Soul universal or particular ibid. many 〈◊〉 differences noted ibid. an habitual one hath always a more remote cause besides the evident ibid. its causes a p. 107 ad 110. arising from the Nervous Liquor it chiefly infests in the morning 108. how stirred up by many humours meeting together and growing hot ibid. the habitual one chiefly depends on the fault of the Nervous humour 109. its kinds noted at large 112 113. how it seems to arise from the Spleen mesentery or womb ibid. its prognosticks 113. cure from 114 to 125. Histories ibid. a continual headâ—ach not to be accounted incurable 123 Hearing its excellency as to use and activity performed at a distance c. 69. its organ described 71 Heart hardned what it is 47 Histories of head-achs from 121 to 125. of one killed presently by taking too large a dâ—se of Opium 128. of Lethargick 232 c. of continual sleepiness 135 137. of long waking 140. of the Vertigo 151 152. of the Apoplexy 160. of the Palsie 174 175 176 177. of the delâ—rium or Phrensy 187. of Melancholy 197 198. Histories of mad people are to be sought in Hospitals for mad people 208. A notable History of the Stone converted into the Gout and the Gout into the Stone 224. of the Colick 233 234. of a mortal madness from eating the leaves of Wolfs-bane 204 Hope 53 54 I. IMages light and colour are of the same substance 75 Imaginary Metamorphosis of melancholick persons 200 Imagination V. Phantasy Incubus or Night-mare its seat in the cerebel 142. its description ibid. it most often proceeds from natural causes ibid. its seat falsely placed in the Brain ibid. the Praecordia truly labour in this Disease ibid. its cause doth not stick partly in the Brain and partly in the Breast ibid. its next cause is the hindrance of the inflowing of the Spirits to the Praecordia 143. this not in the parts affected nor Nerves themselves but in the cerebel where the first spring of the spirits is ibid. from whence the sense of the weight and loss of motion proceeds ibid. why the fit being so grievous is so often ended without leaving any evil ibid.
whence the trembling of the Heart and Praecordia after the fit ibid. the Incubus of it self rarely dangerous ibid. its prognosticks 144. its Cure ibid. how infants and boys obnoxious to this Disease ought to be handled ibid. Insects appear to have fiery Souls because they want sulphurous and nitrous food 8 Instances of passion merely Physical 46 Instinct natural what it is 34. what it brings to Brutes ibid. examples of it ibid. it dictates to them what 's wholesome what not 35. leads not only to simple actions but to very complicate ones ibid. yet those always and in all of one kind only ibid. how 't is wont to be compared with acquired notions 37. and with the impressions of sensible things ibid. with habits learned from example or institution ibid. with notions learned from experience and imitation ibid. Intellect in man presides o're the imagination c. 38. and discerns its errors sublimates its notions and divests them from matter and contemplates immaterial substances judges and directs its propositions deduces from these others more sublime thoughts beholds it self by a reflected action and contemplates other things remote from sense as God c. 39. it depends upon the Phantasy 41. by reason of the various constitution of this and the Brain Souls seems unequal 42 Issues made upon or near the distemper'd place help little 119 K. ALL Knowledge from sense 57 L. LEthargy its seat the same with that of Sleep and Memory 125. its Fits are call'd by this name ibid. and the soporiferous disposition also 126. of which are various kinds ibid. its causes ibid. to 128. what things belong to its theory 129. the chiefest of its symptoms ibid. by what means the other faculties of the Soul as the knowing desiring and locomotive are affected ibid. it s evil reaches also to the cerebel ibid. hence breathing often hurt or altered ibid. which proceeds â—ot from the inflammation of the midriff ibid. its Fever from whence ibid. and 130. none dyes without one ibid. its prognosticks ibid. its cure 131 to 133. Histories ibid. its ends or limits as to the places distempered are constituted ibid. some sleepy distempers lesser than it the Caros greater ibid. Light Colours and Images the same substance 75. Light and Flame their differences 76. wherefore Light either reflected or refracted goes forward only in streight lines ib. it can pass through a Chamber in the mean time not to be perceiv'd ibid. 't is primary or secundary ibid. the differences of these 77 Lobster its Anatomy 11 12 Local motion stir'd up by the appetite 36 Love how excited 50. it and hatred transitory passions 51. its object set up like an Idol in the Phantasy and worshipped 50 Love-madness 199. reasons of its symptoms ibid. Lucid part of the Soul 22. shines diversly 31. alteration of the flamy part impressed by it 32 Lungs how differ in Birds and four footed Beasts 17. for what end perforated in Birds ibid. M. MAdness and Melancholy are a-kin 201. the subject of Madness are the Animal Spirits the disposition of which are like to Stygian Water ibid. three chief accidents in Madness which are also to be found in Stygian Water 201 202. the conjunct cause of Madness what it is ibid. the original of Madness either from the Spirits themselves or from the Blood 203. it begins from the Spirits from two occasions ibid. by what means it comes upon Melancholy 204. how upon a Phrensy ibid the original of Madness sometimes from the Blood ibid. it is either hereditary the reason of which is shown 204. or acquired and so either by reason of errors in the six non-naturals or by reason of Poysons ibid. History of a mortal Madness from eating the leaves of Wolfs-bane ibid. the reasons of the symptoms of Madness explained 205. wherefore mad-men are audacious ibid. from whence their immense strength ibid. wherefore they are never tired ibid. wherefore they are not easily hurt ibid. the differences in respect of the original magnitude and time ibid. the prognosticks ibid. the cure from the indications of continual Madness 206. the curatory indication as to discipline ibid. as to Medicines ibid. the preservatory indication consists in altering Medicines as whey c. specificks c. ibid. the vital and curatory indications 208 Melancholy its definition 188. 't is a distemper of the Brain and Heart ibid. its Examples or Types various and almost in finite ibid. 't is either universal or particular ibid. the primary Phaenomena of a melancholick Delirium and from what disposition of the Spirits they proceed ibid. as they are compared to light they are call'd opacous or full of darkness 189. these kind of Spirits in Melancholy compared to those in Chymical Liquors ibid. they are not like the Spirit of Blood as they should be nor like the Spirit of Wine for such is rather in the Phrensy ibid. but these are like acid Spirits distill'd out of Salt Vinegar Box and such like ibid. the formal reason of Melancholy aptly represented by acetous Chymical Liquors ibid. there are three chief affections of these which agree with the Animal Spirits in Melancholy 190 191. in Melancholy after the Spirits being for some time vitiated the conformation of the Brain becomes also hurt 191. in this Disease the affection of the Praecordia as to fear and sadness is delivered ibid. after what manner the corporeal Soul is affected in Melancholy and Madness ibid. the cause of either depends partly on the Blood and partly on the Animal action of the Heart ibid. the Procatartick causes of Melancholy are partly the acetous nature of the Spirits and partly the Melancholy discrasie of the Blood and the distemper begins sometimes from this sometimes from that 191 192. how it begins from the Spirits and the Animal Government 192. by what means it arises from the Blood ibid. Melancholy doth not arise from any atrabiliary humour heaped up in some pâ—ace or mine ibid. by what means according to the Ancients 't is said to arise from the Head ibid. how from the Womb ibid how from the Spleen ibid. how from the whole Body 193. the differences of this Disease in respect of its first subject and by reason of the temperament of the Sick and in respect of its next cause as it is singular or conjunct and in respect of the imagination being diversly hurt ibid. its prognosticks ibid. in the Cure the evident cause is first to be removed ibid. and herein are three primary indications first Curatory c. 193 194. secondly Preservatory c. 149 altering Medicines are here of greatest moment and not purging as the Ancients thought 196. Histories of this Disease 197. particular Melancholy is excited by reason of two sorts of affections concerning good or evil 199 Melancholick persons their imaginary Metamorphosis 200 Metamorphosis imaginary of melancholick Persons 200 Millepedes notably help in the cure of the head ach 118 N. NEmesius attributes sense and perception to corporeal Souls and farther the
the second enunciation 39. how little the Brutes Soul can do in respect of man 40. Authors for two distinct Souls in man ibid. which reason also dictates 41. the rational does not exercise the Animal faculties nor obliterate the sensitive by its coming nor transmute it into a mere power ibid. by what bond united to the Body ibid. the corporeal its subject ibid. created and poured into the formed Body not propagated extraduce 42. plurality of Souls in man manifested by their differences ibid. the rational of it self without affections and how it governs and orders them and the Phantasy 43. in things to be known the corporeal obeys it but not in things to be done and inclining it self to the flesh fights against it ibid. how 't is reduc'd to obedience ibid. it oft seduces the mind ibid. it s twofold state 45. its lucid part feels or perceives the impulse of all objects and is moved by them 56. after what manner the corporeal Soul is affected in Melancholy and Madness 191 Spirits their distinct offices in various provinces c. 24 25. how they receive sensible species so very divers 57. the Animal the immediate subject of Sleep 87. for what causes they lye down of their own accord 89. compell'd into sleep by Narcoticks 90. their penury perswades to sleep ibid. the distemper of the Animal Spirits being after a diverse manner as it is the cause of the Phrensy so it is of Melancholy Madness and Stupidity 188 compared to light they are opacous or full of darkness 189. these kind of Spirits in Melancholy compared to those in Chymical Liquors for they are not like the Spirits of Blood as they should be nor the Spirits of Wine for such are rather in the Phrensy but like acid Spirits distâ—â—â—â—d out of Salt Vinegar c. ibid. Stygian Waters like the Animal Spirits in Madness ibid. three chief affections of acetous Chymical Liquors which agree with the Animal Spirits in Melancholy 191. after the Animal Spirits in Melancholy being for some time vitiated the conformation of the Brain is also hurt ibid. how the Animal Spirits acquire a disposition like to Stygian Water 202. the original of Madness either from the Spirits themselves or from the Blood 203. it begins from the Spirits for two occasions ibid. Squinting whence it comes 82 Stupidity arises chiefly from the failing of the imagination and memory 209. wherefore the Organs of these faculties labour in this Disease ibid. chiefly the Brain first as to magnitude and by reason of figure ibid. as to substance or texture 210. its evil conformatiâ—â— as to its pores and passages whence Stupidity sometimes proceeds from both of them being in fault together ibid. what the antecedent causes of foolishness are ibid. ripeness and the declination of Age dispose some to foolishness 211 great hurts of the head sometimes cause dâ—ting or want of ingenuity ibid. and frequent Drunkenness ibid. and vehement affections ibid. and the more grievous Diseases of the head ibid. the differences of this Disease 212. how Foolishness and Stupidity differ ibid. Stupidity its degrees ibid. the prognostick ibid. if from an hurt of the head evil ibid. if excited from a Lethargy it admits of Cure ibid. sometimes 't is cur'd by a Fever ibid. the Cure requires both a Master and a Physician 213. what the Labour of the former ought to be ibid. what the Medical intentions are ibid. what kinds of remedies are shown ibid. T. TAngible species immediately carried either to the cerebel or to the stroaked Bodies 61. and from thence go forward sometimes to the other faculties ibid. Taste of kin to feeling c. 62 63 Tears their matter 80 Touch the same Nerves are observ'd to serve for its sense and motion 63 V. VEnus an enemy to the Brain and Nerves 55. necessary to the preserving of the individual 62 Vertigo its seat 145. a description of it ibid. the causes and manner of an unnatural one ibid. why looking down from on high and passing over Bridges cause it 146. how Drunkenness causes it ibid. from what causes the preternatural one is wont to be excited ibid. sometimes 't is a symptome of other cephalick Diseases sometimes 't is excited by reason of the distemper of other distant parts viz. from the Stomach Spleen c. 146 147. not by reason of Vapors elevated from these parts 147. its immediate subject is the Animal Spirits ibid. it s formal reason ibid. it s conjunct cause 148. is seen by things helpful and hurtful ibid. the more remote foregoing cause ibid. the differences of this Disease ibid. its prognosticks 149. the Cure ibid. the curatory method shown 150. why vomiting Medicines are so much noted in this and other Diseases of the head ibid. what is to be done out of the Fit for prevention sake ibid. cases and examples of the sick in three Histories and the reason of the case of the second History described 151 152 Vices of the Brain noted 148 W. IN Waking the Spirits inhabiting the cerebel are disturbed with the Spirits of the other Regiment 93. why those being disturb'd perform their offices better whilst these lye quiet in sleep ibid. a double consideration of waking 95 Long Waking of two sorts 't is either the symptom of other Diseases or a Disease it self 138. how many ways the unquiet or elastick Spirits stir it up 139. its causes assign'd ibid. its Cure and History ibid. Natural Waking its cause consists in the restlesness of the Spirits and the openness of the cortical part of the Brain 138 Want or paucity of the Spirits oftentimes the cause of the spurious Palsie 166 Watching preternatural depends either upon the restlesness of the Spirits or the openness of the cortical part of the Brain 139 Weeping its causes and the manner of its being made described 80. wherefore a bewailing is oftentimes joyned with weeping ibid. wherefore it comes from sudden joy 81. why mankind only or chiefly weep ibid. Wise and strong men why not always begotten of wise and strong men 210 Withering or blasting of Trees like the Palsie 164 FINIS Advertisement DOctor Willis's Practice of Physick being all the Medical Works of that Renowned and Famous Physician Containing these Ten Treatises following viz. I. Of Fermentation II. Of Feavers III. Of Urines IV. Of the Accension of the Blood V. Of Musculary Motion VI. Of the Anatomy of the Brain VII Of the Description and Use of the Nerves VIII Of Convulsive Diseases IX Pharmaceutice Rationalis the first and second Part. X. Of the Scurvey Wherein most of the Diseases belonging to the Body of Man are treated of with excellent Methods and Receipts for the Cure of the same Fitted to the meanest Capacity by an Index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual Words and Terms of Art derived from the Greek Latin or other Languages for the benefit of the English Reader With a large Alphabetical Table to the whole With Thirty Copper Plates Done into English
what meaâ—â— in the Brain The History of one presently kill'd by taking too large a Dose of Opium Sometimes a Lethargy arises from Narcotick Particles begotten in the Body Even as Convulsions from a nitro-sulphureous or explosive matter What things belong to the Theory of the Lethargy Its symptoms The chief of which are a sleepiness and oblivion By what means the other faculties of the Soul to wit the knowing desiring and locomotive are affected The evil of the Disease reaches also to the Cerebel Hence breathing is often hurt or altered This proceeds not from the Inflammation of the Midriff From whence the Lethargick Feaver Not from Phlegm putrifying in the Brain Nor is the former always the cause of it in the Lethargy Lib. de Morb. Convuls Cap. viij p. 96. More often the effect of this Disease proceeds from the Organical Circulation of the Blood being hindred or altered How none dyes without a Feaver The Prognostick of the Lethargy When the Disease is desperate When it is only so When some hope may be conceived From whence more hope may be had Whence more of hope than of fear A red Swelling coming upon a Lethargy sometimes cures it Lib. 9. of Convulsive Diseases The Cure of the Lethargy Phlebotomy almost always necessary Outward Administrations Internal Rememedies Iulep Spirits A Powder A Vomit or Purge How they are indicated When to be avoided Starification Catharticks Erthines Sneezing Powders and Apophlegmatisms c. A Blistering applyed to the Forepart of the Head very much helps The first History The reason of this A second History The third History The Cure described Sleepy Diseases do not arise by reason of the Ventricles of the Brain being filled with water The ends or limits of the Lithargy as to the places distempered are constituted Some sleepy Distempers lesser than that viz. Sleepiness and the Coma The Caros is greater than it Continual Sleepiness described It s Seat assigned In what respect it differs both from the Lethargy and the Coma. The conjunct cause of Sleepiness What the deluge or Anasarca of the Cortical part of the Brain is To which happen an heaping up or as it were a stagnation of the Blood about the compass of the Brain Also a Torpor or Sleepiness of the Spirits The Cure of Somnolency An History The 〈…〉 Sick 〈◊〉 The sleepy Coma. The reason of it The Coma is either a primary Disease or it comes after other Distempers The Cure of it when it is a Disease of it self The Cure of the Coma as it is the symptom of another Disease In Lib. Of Convulsive Diseases Chap. viij 3 Of the Caros How it differs from the Lethargy and the Apoplexy The Seat of the Caros is a little deeper in the Brain than that of the Lethargy It s Conjunct Cause The Caros is either a primary Disease or it cometh upon other Distempers The Prognostick of the Carus The event of this Disease is various sometimes it passes into an Apoplexy Sometimes into the Palsie It s Care is the same with the Lethargy and the Apoplexy The first History Another History Long Waking is either the symptom of other Diseases or else is a Disease of it self The cause of natural Waking consists in the restlessness of the Spirits and the openness of the Cortical part of the Brain In like manner also preternatural Watching depends upon one or both The former means described by shewing how many ways the unquiet or elastick Spirits stir up long waking First Because being recalled for Sleep into the middle part of the Brain they grow tumultuous Secondly Because being called back into the nervous Stock they impetuously leap forth And so either into the interior Nerves serving the Praecordia and Viscera Or into the Spinal Marrow and the exterior Nerves The causes of the aforesaid Distempers assigned The Cure of them declared The second sort of thorow or long waking arising both from the too much openness of the Brain and from the unquietness of the Spirits its foreleading Cause Which also causes waking in Melancholick People For the same reason Coffee causes waking An History shewing an example of this Disease A description of the waking Coma The cause of this Distemper shewn It is more often a symptom of other Distempers than a Disease of it self The Seat of the Incubus is in the Cerebel A Description of it It most often proceeds from natural causes The Seat of this is falsly placed in the Brain The Praecordia truly labour The cause doth not stick partly in the Brain and partly in the Breast The next cause of this is the hindrance of the inflowing of the Spirits to the Praecordia This not in the Parts affected Nor in the Nerves themselves But happens in the Cerebel where the first Spring of the Spirits is From whence the sense of the Weight proceeds Whence loss of motion proceeds Wherefore the fit being so grievous is so soon ended without leaving any evil Whence after the Fit the tremblings of the Heart and the Praecordia The Incubus of it self rarely dangerous The Prognostick of the Incubus The Event of it is shewn It s Cure Infants and Boys obnoxious to this Disease how they ought to be handled The Stat of the Vertigo A Description of it The Causes and the Manner of the non-natural Vertigo The Reasons of them shewn Why looking down from on high and passing over Bridges cause a turning round in the Head How Drunkenness A perturbation of the Spirits in the Brain and a revocation of them from their flowing into the Nerves depend mutually on one another From what causes the preternatural Vertigo is wont to be excited Sometimes the Vertigo is a symptom of other Cephalick Diseases Sometimes it is excited by reason of the Distemper of other distant parts viz. from the stomach spleen c. and so by two means 1. Either by reason of the Flood of the Blood being kept back 2 Or by reason of an inordinate recourse or flowing back of the Spirits towards the Brain Not by reason of vapours elevated from these parts is it excited The immediate Subject of the Vertigo is the Animal Spirits The mediate the Callous Body It s formal reason It s Conjunct Cause 1 From the perturbation of the Spirits 2 From their ways or passages being obstructed This is seen by things helpful and hurtful The more remote foregoing cause of the Vertigo consists both in the vice of the Bloud and of the Brain The Reason of the former explained The vices of the Brain noted The differences of this Disease It s Prognostick The Cure of the Vertigo There are three chief intentions of healing 1 To take away the root or feeding of the Disease 2 To remove the procatartick causes 3 To take away the Conjunct Cause The Curatory Method as shewn Why vomiting Medicines are so much noted in this and other Diseases of the Head What is to be done out of the Fit for prevention sake Electuary A
Observations and firmly stablished better solve all the Phoenomena of the Sick viz. They declare more aptly the Causes of the Symptoms and shew the Reasons of Curing more accommodate to every Disease But as to the Remedies and Therapeutic Method althô we follow not exactly after the manner of others the Ancients we have nevertheless rejected nothing ratified by grave Authority or approved by daily Experience and besides we have added many things found out Emperically and Analogically by the Moderns Althô it is neither our Hope or Ambition that these should be pleasing to all yet what is my last wish I doubt not but that this may be an help to many for the illustrating the Medical Science and for the more happy Curing of Cephalick Diseases Farewel OF The Soul of the Brutes The First Part PHYSIOLOGICAL SHEWING Its NATURE PARTS POWERS and AFFECTIONS CHAP. 1. The Opinions of Authors both Ancient and Modern are recounted WIth what Pleasures and with what Delight beyond other things the Contemplation of the Soul hath drawn to it self the Wits of Men and most profoundly Exercised them appears even from hence that almost none of the Philosophers of whatsoever Sect they were and of every Age who have not laboured in the search of it But indeed how hard and abstruse it is and with what dark Blackness not less than the shades of Hell it self this Knowledge of the Soul is over-shadowed may be gathered from this because they are opposite and uncertain concerning it yea almost as many Men as there are so many several Opinions have they Published that truly 't is no unjust Complaint of the Soul that she understands all things but her Self Nevertheless in this Age most fruitful of Inventions when that so many Admirable things not before thought on as it were another Ancient World unknown are discovered about the building of the Animal Body when new Creeks are daily found out new humours spring up and altogether another Doctrine than what hath been delivered by the Ancients concerning the use of many of the Parts hath been instituted why may we not also hope that there may be yet shewn a new disquisition concerning the Soul and with better luck than hitherto Therefore however the thing may be performed I shall attempt to Philosophise concerning that Soul at least which is Common to Brute Animals with Man and which seems to depend altogether on the Body to be born and dye with it to actuate all its Parts to be extended thorow them and to be plainly Corporeal and that chiefly because by the Nature Subsistence Parts and Affections of this Corporeal Soul rightly unfolded the Ingenuity Temperament and Manners of every Man may be thence the better known as also the Causes and formal Reasons of many Diseases as of the Phrensie Lethargy Vertigo Madness Melancholy and others belonging rather to the Soul than to the Body as yet hidden may in some part be discovered Then Secondly because the ends and bounds of the aforesaid Corporeal Soul being defined the Rational Soul Superior and Immaterial may be sufficiently differenced from it nor is that Argument admitted so easily confounding them together whereby some deserving very ill of themselves have affirmed the Souls of Man and the Beasts only to differ in degrees of Perfection and so that either alike must be either Mortal or Immortal and alike propagated ex traduce or from the Parent Wherefore that the Dignity Order and Immortality of the Rational Soul discriminated from the Corporeal may be vindicated and likewise that we may make a way to the remaining Pathology or Method of Curing of the Brain and Nervous Stock in which not only Parts of the Body but often the animal Spirits yea sometimes the whole sensitive Soul seems to be affected altho we have formerly unfolded according to our slender Ability not after this manner the Descriptions and Uses of the Brain and Nerves Therefore at present we shall endeavour to deliver a certain Doctrine of the Soul previous to the shewing the Doctrine of the Diseases of those Parts But here it will be first expedient to rehearse the Opinions of others or at least the chiefest and most noted among them From which being put together if not what the Soul truly is may be made known yet what many considering it have thought of it and from thence a little more certain search of it we may enterprize And indeed if we would grow wise concerning the Soul only out of the Pleas of Authors and the Writings of Philosophers of every Age we should be intangled in a Labyrinth of Opinions following for truth mere Phantasms and for the genuine Idea of the Soul as it were the Apparitions of divers Specters But that we may reduce the various Opinions whatever have been declared both of the Ancients and Moderns to some certain Heads it will be fit that we observe some did affirm it to be Corporeal others Incorporeal In either Kind we meet with great diversity of Opinions For first of all among those who thought it Incorporeal some affirmed it to be a Substance existing of it self and immortal others without Substance having only an accidental form Those who believed the Soul an Incorporeal and Immortal Substance differed also among themselves The Platonists and Pythagoreans said the Souls of all living Creatures to be a certain Part of the Universal Soul of the World and that they were depressed or immerged in this lower Body as in a Sepulcher and therefore the Soul when the Animal received Life was not born but dyed for as much as by this inferior Birth it was divided from the simple and undivided fountain of Nature Further they thought that the same Soul so demersed did wander from one Body being dead to another and so by a various Metampseuchosis did inhabit or was a guest sometimes in the Bodies of Men and sometimes of Beasts The Manichees asserted That all Souls being taken out of the Substance it self of God did actuate Terrestrial Bodies and going from hence again returned into God himself The Origenists different from either taught that Souls were Created from the beginning of the World and at first to subsist of themselves then as occasion serv'd that Bodies being formed they enter'd into them being begun and actuated them during Life and that at length they returned to their private or singular Substances The state of which Souls tho some attributed it only to Humane Souls yet there were others who granted the like Immortality to the Souls of the Brutes yea and of Plants On the contrary Nemesius but untruly saith That Aristotle affirmed the Soul to be Incorporeal but without Perfection and Mortal when he had designed the Entelechia or Perfection of every living thing as to wit She as it were arising up of her own accord from Power only of matter rightly disposed understands nothing else but it s own Crasis or Temperament resulting from the mixture which as
both these benefits requisit for the Spirits to wit their sedation and refreshment are granted and almost only to Animals in Sleep For althô in Waking pleasant sensible Objects do something please the Spirits and that the nourishing Liquor supplied from Aliments newly received in may something cherish them yet a fuller refreshment and quieting by which they are sufficiently fortified for the lively performing the Animal Functions are not obtained but in Sleep for then the Spirits being at leisure for some time from Motion get to themselves new stores and in the mean time the Brain like a dry Sponge imbibing most greedily the nutritious Liquor takes it for Provision for it self which after a little space it dispenses to the several Parts both of its proper Regiment and also of its Appendix yea plenty of the Spirits and their food being somewhat exhausted the Brain as it were another Stomach seems to be hungry after Sleep greatly to desire it and not to be satisfied unless it daily enjoys it and that in its wonted measure for in the space of every Night there is a certain Necessity of Sleeping for so many hours as we have formerly accustomed our selves to if at other times as after Eating an evil Custom indulges Sleep we afterwards more hardly want it than our Dinner for the privation of due Sleep or what often accustomed to is as it were a fasting to the Brain by which if long affected that and its Nervous Appendix languish as it were for hunger Therefore for the taking of Sleep by which the Brain may be filled with the Nutricious Humor and the Spirits wearied or exhausted by Motion may be refreshed a certain Law of Nature or Necessity is incumbent upon us and calls it upon us oftentimes against our Minds But this kind of Disposition being innate to most Animals and chiefly to Man whose Spirits are most of all employed is the Final or Procatartick or more remote Cause of Sleep but its formal or Conjunct Cause consists in these two things viz. in the Vacation or Rest of the Spirits and in the Irrigation or watering the Parts containing them by which as common to either Affection a relaxation follows from a Tensity or Inflation of the Brain and Nervous Parts As to the evident Causes or occasions by which Sleep is wont to be introduced first we must distinguish concerning Sleep That it is either Natural or Ordinary which every one enjoys daily for so many set hours and its accession and duration depends upon either Conjunct Cause existing together in Act viz. at the same time the Spirits remitting their tasks sink down and the nourishing Humour flows into the Brain then this being sufficiently watered and they refreshed Waking returns Or Sleep is not Natural or Extraordinary which for some occasions follows in an undue measure and inconvenient time Concerning preternatural Sleep we shall speak more properly of it in another place when we shall treat of Soporiferous or Sleepy Diseases But as to the Non-natural we have observed that it is of a double Kind according to the Complication of the Conjunct Cause For either the Spirits first lye down and so the Brain imbibes more copiously the apposite Liquor or first the Brain is too much moistned with Humor and so the Spirits being as it were drowned are forced from their watches For when the Blood every where washes the Cortex of the Brain by almost innumerable Ramifications of Vessels a certain spirituous Water from these bloody Rivulets always stands at the Door and is ready to be instilled into the Medullar Substance of the Brain which for as much as it is copiously received within presently overwhelms the Spirits and obstructs their passages and so Sleep being call'd upon every Animal Function ceases for a time yet lest this should be too frequently and untimely done the Animal Spirits so long as they are lively and active inflate the Substance of the Brain and keep it extended so that the Spirituous Liquor which is also Soporiferous is not admitted but only in a small quantity such as may suffice for the exciting of Sleep But if either the Spirits being weary lye down of their own accord or are compelled by the boyling Blood coming impetuously to the borders of the Brain to give place to it the aforesaid Liquor rushing in on heaps produces almost invincible Sleep Wherefore according to which either the Animal Spirits open the doors of the Brain of their own accord or the Nervous Liquor besieging them impetuously breaks thorow The Prophases or evident Causes of Sleep are of this or that rank there are many Kindes of both of these and ways of being done the chief of which we shall briefly touch upon First In the first place therefore there are many Causes for which the Animal Spirits begin of their own accord to keep Holy-day among which the force or power of Custom obtains the chief place For when we have accustomed our selves to Sleep at certain set hours the Spirits about the same time as it were dismissing the force of their Motion leaving presently all work and External Commerce retire inward and indulge themselves with Rest The reason of which is because the sensitive Soul for as much as it is void of all Science and proper direction determinates this or that thing to be done by outward Accidents and Circumstances wherefore the Animal Spirits in what path they are once led unless they be hinder'd will repeat to an hair their former tracts Hence it is that we both Sleep and also Awake at set and wonted hours also we expect and hardly can pass by the same times of Dinner and Supper So solemn the manner of Nature is to do the same thing which it did before and till being taught new things it is the manner of its Government constantly and exactly to observe the old An Example of this Kind of Natural assiduity is admirable which was told me for certain of a Fool living some years in our Neighborhood who thô he were silly and foolish yet did he know exactly without any sign the interspaces of the Hours and as often as the space of an whole Hour was elapsed as if he had been a living Clock he would presently personate the like Number of the Hour with so many hoarse founds and no business or employ about any other occupation could make him omit this Task He at the beginning was wont to imitate aloud by making a noise every stroke of the sounding Clock and as often as he heard the sounding of the Bell of the Clock presently he cry'd One Two Three c. repeating successively the several Pulsations hence it hapned afterwards that the Animal Spirits by daily imitation being accustomed to be stirred up to such a Motion according to the set spaces of Time at length they were able to distinguish the same Periods of their own accord nothing directing as if the sliding
spaces of time had been measured out by the wheels of a Clock Secondly The Animal Spirits being wearied by the hard labour of the Body or too serious intention of the Mind indulge themselves with Sleep of their own accord For when after immoderate exercise by reason of Heat and Sweat flowing forth the Spirits plentifully exhale and those which are left being as it were poured forth and distracted one from another as soon as those have left them they presently lay aside all work that they may Concentre themselves within and recollect their forces for the like reason after vehement study or long Contention of the Mind by reason that the Animal Spirits become very much tyred we grow Sleepy yea sometimes serious Meditation and when imployed with Hearing chiefly of Sacred things and great Attention procures an invincible Sleep the reason of which is not that the Spirits are so much consumed or wearied but because they are gathered together in two great heaps in the Brain and so with them too great plenty of the Nervous Humor is poured in whereby the Brain is overflowed Hence also it is that if presently after Eating Reading or Philosophical Lectures be attended to they shall cause Sleep sooner than an Opiat to wit because these more grave Exercises of the Mind both convey more plentifully to the Head the Blood and at the same time the Spirits Concentre together on every side towards the middle Part of the Brain wherefore from the Blood coming to its border a mighty heap of Nervous juice is admitted in by which the Spirits are presently overturned and their spaces stuffed up the contrary happens as often as any one after a full Banquet shall go to the Theatres to see Plays for the Spirits being stretched forth by delectation blow up and distend the Brain so that the coming in of the Sleepy Humor thô heaped up at the Door is kept out Thirdly We may observe that the Animal Spirits when delighted with a soft Harmony are invited inwards from the Organs of the Senses and being there recreated slide into Sleep So a certain Musical and soft modulation of the Voice the gentle murmur of Waters the soft whispering of the Wind also pleasant Fancies as when we Imagine our selves to be in a green Meadow or splendid Houses because by this means the Spirits gently Concentre together Sleep is wont to creep upon one Fourthly There remains another manner of introducing Sleep to wit when the Animal Spirits are oppressed by Narcoticks or Opiats taken inwardly or applied outwardly and so are inhibited the exercise of their Function For Opiats because they Poison the Spirits extinguish their forces as Water poured upon Fire or Sulphur laid on the Kitchin Fire and cause a Torpor or Numness wherefore if they are more largely taken that they cannot be overcome by the Spirits put to flight who by little and little being recollected renew the Systasis of the Soul a deadly or perpetual Sleep follows Fifthly To this rank ought to be referred the Penury or evil Constitution of the Animal Spirits for when they are either deficient in Plenty or are dull and Torpid that they can neither tolerate daily or hard Exercises nor actuate the Brain nor defend it against the Inundations of the serous Humors from thence are wont to be induced a Torpor or Numness and frequent Sleepiness of the Animal Faculty as is to be observed in Dropsical and Scorbutical People but the Consideration of this Kind of Torpor we shall refer to another place where we speak of Soporiferous Diseases 2. Another Kind of evident Causes by which Sleep is introduced consists in this that the Brain is first affected then by its Consent the Animal Spirits being half overthrown betake themselves to rest these Kind of Effects are chiefly brought in when an heap of Serum is poured in upon the Brain from the Blood too much stuffed with a watery Humor which watering it with too much moisture rushes overs its Pores and Passages and as it were drowes the Animal Spirits flowing in them Such an Inundation of Spirits is produced either from a too great taking in of Food whence the Blood swelling up above measure with the nourishing Humor too much puts down upon the Brain the plentiful provision of Nervous Juyce wherefore presently after a more full feeding or drinking men become Sleepy or also the Blood as to its Temper being made more watery moistens the Brain as it were with a perpetual shower and so renders those affected continually Sleepy as is wont to come to pass ordinarily in Dropical and Scorbutical People To these may be added and oftentimes is partly the Cause the imbecillity or weakness of the Brain and the loosness of its Pores so that they gaping too much most easily admit the serous heap whereby Sleepiness is brought in For it is observed That Drunkards especially such as drink Wine fall asleep with it on the least occasion and not only become Drunk but also Drowsie or Sleepy The reason of which is that when the passages of the Brain are more often and untimely unlocked with the Particles of the Wine at length become so feeble that the Blood growing hot above measure pours forth its Recrements upon the Brain and so causes from thence a torpor or stupidness therein These are the chief means whereby Sleep is effected when it is excited by reason of the overflowing of the Nervous juyce and as it were the over-turning of the Animal Spirits But as to these it hath been far otherways taught by the Opinion of the Vulgar to wit that fumes and vapors are raised up from the Chyle or Humors growing hot within the Viscera of Concoction which cloud the Brain and so cause a Numness But this Opinion easily falls since the Circulation of the Blood and the more plentiful Suffufion of it on the Brain have been known and that the rather because a passage from the Stomach into the Head thorow so many Inwards and bony Cloysters like stops seem impervious or not passable for the sending up of fumes Without doubt much the greatest part of the Humor with which the Brain is watered and the Spirits inhabiting it over-turned during Sleep is carried by the Arteries and distilled in immediately from the Mass of Blood But althô we deny vapors elevated from the Stomach to the Head to cause Sleep yet by reason of some affections of the Ventricle it manifestly appears that Sleepiness is induced for as much as Opiats being taken they begin to operate oftentimes presently and before the virtue or any of their Particles can come to the Brain by the passage of the Blood This also appears because we become Sleepy from more gross Meats and of ill Digestion which stay long in the Stomach and burthen it The reason of which seems to be because when as the Corporeal Soul or a principle portion of it is the immediate
instead of the Evident Cause than the Conjunct but beside an evil procatarxis or a certain predisposition is always affixed to the part affected or wont to be distemper'd by reason of which the aforesaid Causes also the inordinations of the Nervous Liquor and the meeting and growing hot of it with the bloody Serum or the Nutritious Juice raise up the fits of pains Although the more remote Cause of the Headach be manifold and diverse so that its several kinds can scarcely be number'd yet for the constituting it these two to wit either one or both of them do chiefly or for the most part lead the way viz. First The evil or weak Constitution of the affected part Secondly Then because of the more easie and ready heaping up of the Morbiâ—ic matter in it As to the former the parts of the Head obnoxious to pains are the Nervous Fibres belonging to the Membranes Tendons the Musculous flesh and other sensible Bodies the Morbid provision of which consists in their evil conformation or debility Of these that the former is sometimes innate and hereditary appears from hence because the Disease is often delivered from the Parents to the Children and seems to be done chiefly by this means because the covering of the Head being made more thick or more close than it ought neither the humors nor the vapours do easily pass thorow wherefore being by these restrained and hindred in their Motion and so heaped up the Meninges Pericranium and other sensible parts being too much stuffed or inflated or hauled receive pains to which happens that sometimes by reason of the original intemperance of the Brain the Humors or Vapours about the parts hanging like an arch over it are variously heaped up together 2. But it more often comes to pass that the Vices of an evil Conformation by which these or those parts of the Head are disposed to the Headach are contracted anew and that by a various kind of production for sometimes by Cold taken by reason of the Northern winds Snow or Rain the Pores of the skin in some region of the Head yea and the nervous Fibres themselves are so closed up or otherwise perverted or weakned that they are not able to bear the outward air nor the agitations of the Blood or Humors but presently the Headach arises Nor is the predisposition of the Headach less rarely produced in the disorderly useing the six not natural things For the Blood being stirred up above measure upon any cause whatsoever impresses by its boyling up or by the insinuation of the Serum or Vapours a breaking of the unity in some nervous parts or some other sort of hurt for which reason as there is a present Headach by and by stirred up so afterwards there is a disposition to the same upon every light occasion But oftentimes a disposition to the Headach not easily blotted out is induced by a vehement Passion Surfeit Drunkenness also by a blow wound or contusion of the Head so that either the proper or excrementitious humors being heaped up and standing in those parts being afterwards moved of themselves or growing hot with other inflowing juices stir up inflations or painful haulings or pullings Yea I have known Inflammations Imposthumes Whelks Scirrhous tumors growing to the Meninges with the Skull and other Diseases of an evil conformation excited in the Membranes of the Brain by which at first for a long time frequent Headaches and most cruel and then afterwards a sleepy and deadly distemper hath been induced the cause of the Disease not detected but after death by Anatomy and indeed it is to be suspected that inveterate and pertinacious pains in the Head which return and dayly become more tormentive in spight of all Remedies depend upon some such invincible cause 2. Not only an evil conformation or the breach of unity but also sometimes a meer weakness or enervation renders some parts of the Head obnoxious to the Head-ach for when as the Fibres are somewhere so infirm that they are neither able of themselves to rule the proper humor nor to resist the incursions of a strange humor the part so disposed by reason of any light occasion is moved into painful wrinklings These kind of debilities of the Fibres sometimes external accidents as the excess of cold or heat sometimes also errors in Dyet or living as Surfeit Drunkenness and especially sleeping at noon moreover great Catarrhs and a long lodging of a sharp Serum are wont to bring in So much for the primary more remote cause of the Headach which is also fixed and rooted The other cause of it secondary and moveable consists in a ready and easie heaping up of the Morbific matter about the predisposed parts from which come the fits of pains and their approaches But as the matter is manifold it is wont to be heaped up after a diverse manner and to excite pains which affect after a diverse sort This as we have said is either the Blood or its Serum or the nourishing Juice or the nervous Liquor Every of these being variously disposed or imbued with feculences or dregs are by degrees heaped up about the predisposed parts of the Head sometimes before the fit and sometimes that coming they are plentifully cast down But sometimes one only humour with its plenitude and acrimony distends or provokes the sensible Fibres sometimes more meeting together by their mutual growing hot pull or haule the Fibres and so stir up painful Convulsions We shall briefly take notice of the several kinds of these with their signs and the manner of their being made When therefore a part of the Head as chiefly the Meninges or some region of the Pericranium is predisposed by reason of an evil conformation or debility to the Headach the approaches or fits of the Disease are wont to be excited by reason of the various incursions or coming together of the following humors sometimes of this sometimes of that humor and sometimes of many together 1. Sometimes the Blood it self being incited into a more rapid motion and boiling up into the Head is straitned or stopp'd in its passage about the predisposed places and from thence being by and by heaped up there distends the Vessels greatly blows up the Membranes and pulls the nervous Fibres one from another and so brings to them painful corrugations or wrinklings For this reason those obnoxious to the Headach are forced to shun all occasions by which the Blood should grow hot above measure as drinking of Wine Exercise Baths c. 2. The Serum being more copiously heaped up in the bloody Mass oftentimes conceives a sudden Flux either of its own accord through meer fulness or stirred up by an evident cause and so presently running forth from the Blood doth not only rush into the Lungs but very often into the Head and being poured upon its Membranes or Muscles is copiously heaped up about the parts predisposed to
the Head-ach and there induces painful Corrugations and Inflations Further the Serum carries with it infestous Recrements as sulphureous saline sharp acid bilous or melancholic or of some other kind and fixes them to the nervous Fibres which cause an acute or dull a shorter or a longer pain The Headaches arising by reason of this kind of remote cause infest more grievously in the Winter time in a moist Air and in a Southern Wind Moreover Catarrhs of the Face Mouth Larynx and of other parts oftentimes accompany this Disease 3. The nourishing Juice or fresh Chyme being carried from the Blood to the solid parts and laid upon them by reason it becomes improportionate to some parts of the Head evilly disposed is wont to excite periodical fits of the Headach For this provision being laid up near some nervous Fibres because it cannot be assimilated begins to trouble them or burthen them after some stay and at length provokes them into wrinklings to expulse that which troubles them An Headach proceeding from such a cause as I have observed in many doth dayly come at so many hours after eating and continues a like space of time yea the times alter according to the manner of taking their repast both as to the quality and quantity and so also the fits of the pains are wont to vary 4. The nervous Liquor is a cause of pains by its inordination as oftentimes in other parts so also not seldom in the Head for this either degenerating from its temper or being imbued with dregs or filthiness does not pass thorow so freely the nervous Fibers but is apt to stagnate and to be heaped up in them to an irritative fulness and that chiefly within the Fibres made weak beforehand or of an evil conformation such as are sometimes the Membranes of the Head because in these predisposed the watering Liquor being hindred in Motion easily arises to an aggravating or provoking fulness so that the Fibres being so filled like the stomach too much crammed enter into Convulsions and painful wrinklings for the putting away their contents nor do they cease from them till they are freed of their burthen which notwithstanding afterwards being heaped up again sometimes sooner and sometimes later cause from thence others and so again other fits of pains The Headach arising from such a cause springs oftentimes without any notable turgescency of the Blood and gently and as it were of its own accord without any errors in dyet or living yet sometimes it may sooner arise by reason of disorders in the non-naturals and other accidents This is wont to come more often in the Morning and after long sleeping when the nervous Fibres have drunk in this humor more largely In the aforesaid Headaches the Morbifick matter is made up for the most part of one singular humor and so the fits of the pains are something more gentle and oftentimes sooner pass over But there is another Cause of this Disease when two humors like divers kinds of Salts meet together and grow mutually hot and so from the strife of dissimilar particles the Fibres are very much pulled and moved into very acute and cutting pains and are most commonly longer infested with them In this case one of the champions is always the nervous liquor but the other either the serous water or the nourishing juice We exempt the Blood because it only washes the passages of the Nerves and does not enter them deeply but the nervous humor by reason of the vices but now recited sometimes of it self pulls the containing Fibres and provokes them into painful Convulsions If that another humor either the Nutritious or Serous for both of them are wont to be guilty being little of kin be plentifully poured upon this so predisposed and copiously heaped up within the Fibres presently all the particles being raised up strive among themselves and so by a mutual effervency notably distend and haule the Fibres that from hence from their being long and greatly wrinkled most sharp and long remaining pains are induced Whether it be this or that humor meeting with the nervous juice that causes the Headach may be easily known from the proper irregularities above described of either peccant humor by it self By what means and for what more remote causes the humors either Nutritious or Serous offend as often as meeting with the Nervous humour contained within the Fibres move the fits of pains shall be declared anon in the mean time I think it sufficiently appears that the more frequent and habitual Headaches are produced chiefly by the fault of the nervous liquor because this is most intimate both with the Fibres themselves which are wrinkled and the Spirits which are moved into painful distractions also because the pains of the Head sometimes arise without any disorder or tumult of the Blood Serum or nourishing Juice and these being emptied or allayed after what manner soever oftentimes the Headach most pertinaciously continues But concerning the nervous Liquor when it is the cause of the Headach we observe that its fault is sometimes universal and sometimes private for sometimes it doth acquire its evil from the distempered part to wit forasmuch as being constrained to subsist or stagnate within the Fibres hurt by their conformation it is so perverted that at length being infested fermenting either by it self or with some other humor it irritates them into painful Corrugations Yet sometimes and especially in the more grievous Headaches we may suppose that the whole Mass of the nervous Liquor is in fault but the nervous parts of the Head partake of its evil before any others in the whole Body because these are the chief and nearest springs of the nervous Liquor and are also highly sensible wherefore the nervous Liquor when ever it is vicious either swelling up of its own accord or growing hot by another humour being poured unto it within the Meninges and other Membranes of the Head more than in the other parts of the Body becomes painful The thing appears to be so because a long and grievous Headach is wont to be Cured not so much by Remedies applyed or proper for the Head as by those which restore the Crasis or Constitution of the nervous Juice and the bloody Mass and such are Chalybeats or Steel Medicines and Antiscorbuticks or Medicines against the Scurvy Which certainly argues that the nervous Liquor where-ever it is in fault thorow the whole Body chiefly punishes the parts of the Head Thus much for the causes of the Headach both the procatartick or foregoing and the Conjunct there yet remain others more remote called Evident which raise up the former and provoke them into act or the painful means of affecting But they are of a various kind and of a divers operation to wit Whatever things are apt first to transfer the Morbific matter from another place into the part affected or secondly to move it before lodging in it
Inflation a Rumbling or some other Perturbation of the distemper'd Spleen happens in the left-side that the Headach as if raised up by it by and by frequently suceeds hence presently 't is the voice of the people that these Vapours being sent forth from the disturbed Spleen stir up the pain of the Head But indeed we may grant that the Headach arises sometimes from the default of the Spleen yet reject this opinion that it ought for this cause to be imputed to Vapors but indeed either to an evil Ferment transmitted into the Blood from the Spleen or from a Convulsion from thence communicated to the Head by the Nerves because in the Spleen evilly affected the Melancholic humor being degenerate sometimes into a Vitriolic Nature sometimes a biting sometimes a sharp or otherways infestous is oftentimes heaped up which of its own accord being shaken forth by reason of plenitude or occasionally by reason of some perturbation and being confused with the Blood impresses a Fermentation upon it by which its Liquor rushing by it self on the Membranes of the Head or growing hot with the nervous Liquor causes painful pullings or haulings Further it is no less probable that sometimes a Convulsion being excited in the nervous Fibres which are very much disposed about the Spleen brought thence by the passages of the Nerves of the wandring and Intercostal pair and continued to the Head impresses the like Distemper to the Membranes predisposed to it 3. A reason may be also rendred according to the same Pathology to wit either from an evil Transmission of the Ferment or a continuation of the Convulsion for Headaches which are said to be raised up by consent from the Liver Mesentery the Womb and other parts The habitual Headach the Aetiology or the Reason of which we have already sufficiently handled is yet divided into certain kinds to wit it is either Continual or Intermitting but the periods of this are sometimes determined to a certain time and are sometimes wandring and uncertain we shall speak briefly of each of these 1. Sometimes therefore it happens that some are afflicted with a Continual pain of the Head to wit for many days or months little intermitting unless when sleep helps in which case we suppose that there is not only present a Procatartick or leading cause but also a Conjunct somewhere fixed and constant For besides that the parts affected or that are wont to be affected are weak and their watering liquor much depraved is apt to stagnate or to grow hot with other humors there is moreover oftentimes excited in them a breaking of the unity to wit an Inflammation a red and painful swelling a Scirrhous tumor or Imposthum or of some such kind about which whilst the humors of divers kinds do meet together and are heaped up there arise almost perpetual pains by reason of the nervous Fibres being continually pulled or hauled These kinds of Headaches do not rarely end in sleepy distempers and at length deadly for when I have opened the Heads of many dead of these Diseases the signs or footsteps declaring the aforesaid kinds of Morbific causes have appeared some examples of these shall be added hereafter 2. The habitual Headach is for the most part Intermitting whose sits as they are certain and Periodical or coming at a set period of time are wont often to return in the space of half a day and night or once in twelve hours Some more rare cases I have known which exactly repeating the Fits came every other day yea once in a week or a month It is an usual thing for Headaches that seem to be driven away to return again about the Equinoxes or Solstices to wit because at these times the Blood and Humors conceive greater Turgences or risings up than are wont and therefore are more apt to grow hot with the watering Liquor of the nervous parts of the Head and to renew the wonted fits of pains But when about these times of the year Headaches return they are not prorogued by a longer accession for a great while but for the most part having gotten subordinate periods they are wont to infest at some certain standing hours for the space of twelve hours When therefore a Periodical Headach hath its daily fits for the most part the reason of these as of Intermitting Feavors ought to be sought from the fault of the Morbifick Matter arising to a plenitude at a set time and then growing hot For it may be supposed that the proper Liquor is perverted somewhere about the Membranes of the Head and the nervous Fibres evilly disposed or doth not well pass thorow them wherefore when the nourishing Juice placed also on the same parts from the Blood is not presently assimilated nor doth well agree with the other humor at length from both of them heaped up together and disagreeing a mutual growing hot arises and from thence a painful pulling of the Fibres but for that the fits of the pains are not always at the same distance after Eating but arise in some sooner and in others later and sometimes before sleep and sometimes after the cause is that partly the offices of Concoction and distribution of the Aliments are performed sometimes sooner sometimes later and partly because in these the nervous Liquor and in those the nutritious Juice is most in fault wherefore as the fulness of this happens sooner and of that later so the times of the fit vary we shall illustrate these afterwards with observations made concerning the cases of sick persons 3. When the fits of the intermitting Headach are wandring and uncertain the Procatarxis or foregoing cause of the Disease is neither great nor constant nor is the Evident Cause continual Wherefore when that either cause is oftentimes absent and one of them often wanting the fits of the Disease are not tyed to certain times but in some they are as it were by chance and accidental in others in whom a predisposition to this Distemper is a little more firmly rooted the pains of the Head more frequently molest and are ordinarily excited by reason of various occasions yea and for some they are wont to be most certainly expected The reasons of the fits so variously happening appear clearly above from the Aetiology delivered of this Disease besides the whole business shall be illustrated anon by examples CHAP. II. The Prognostick and Cure of the Headach SO much for the Causes of the Headach which being so various and diverse and their Series so perplex'd and intricate it will not seem easie to keep one Method concerning all cases of the Sick whereby we may be led presently to the true knowledge and Cure of this Disease nor is there less difficulty concerning its Prognostick But common experience affords some observations from which it may be gathered that the Cure of this Sickness is sometimes easie sometimes difficult or scarce possible so that from thence it may be
lawful to declare the event of the Disease either safe or very dangerous or wholely uncertain Truly if any one enjoying formerly a perfect Health should fall into something a cruel Headach and of some long standing by reason of a more strong Evident Cause as drinking of Wine Surfeit Venus immoderate Exercise or such like forasmuch as the fore leading Morbid Cause is not as yet firmly laid we may pronounce such a Distemper to be safe enough and not pertinacious But if the Morbific disposition should be inveterate so that for many years the fits repeat often of their own accord and upon every light occasion this though not dangerously sick yet we predict it not easie to be Cured Further the Cure will be yet more difficult if Hypochondriack or Hysterical Distempers oftentimes troublesome are oft wont to excite the Headach at every turn or if the taint of an inveterate Venereal Disease be rooted in any distemper'd part If that the pain of the Head shall be not only inveterate but almost continual that we might suspect it to arise from an Inflammation or a Scirrhous Tumour an hot Swelling an Imposthum or Worms there is none or very little hope of Cure especially because the sick will refuse great remedies as Salivation or opening the Skull which if they be made use of perhaps at any time with any fruit or success yet the former and this two for the most part are wont to be tedious to the sick before they can effect any thing worth the trouble and expectation The pain of the Head either Continual or Periodical if it be great and hath joyned with it a Vertigo Vomitting or other Convulsive or Soporiferous Distempers shews a suspicion of great danger even which often passes into a deadly Apoplexie and not seldom into an Epilepsie Palsie Blindness Deafness and other funestous and incurable Diseases The Curatory method of the Headach comprehends many Indications and those of a various kind according to the manifold Species Causes and differences of this Disease which will not be an easie thing here to set down and rehearse in order The accidental Pain of the Head with the remote Evident Cause and its consequences ceases for the most part of its own accord or at least is taken away by letting of Blood Rest and Sweat The habitual Pain by reason of the diversity of Causes viz. both the Procatartick and also the Conjunct suggests also different intentions of Healing we shall here briefly touch upon the chief of these and to which all the rest may be placed In every habitual Headach whether Continual or Intermitting there are two chief scopes or intentions of Cure to be met with to which all the other Curatory intentions ought to be aimed and by which we should provide against either Cause of the Morbid Procatarxis 1. To wit in the first place that all the Tinder or inkindling of the Disease be cut off you must endeavour that both the matter flowing to the distempered places of the Head or those evilly disposed or apt from thence to flow to them be supprest or called from thence to another place then moreover that Convulsions in other places excited and that are wont to be propagated from thence into the Head be prevented 2. Then secondly it must be indeavoured if it may be done that the Disease it self or its Conjunct Cause may be rooted out that the places of the Head predisposed to Headaches whether they be only enfeebled or hurt in their Conformation whilst they are defended from the frequent Excursions of the infestous matter may recover their former state and vigour Which kind of Indication though it be very seldom suddenly or wholely performed yet sometimes the Cure is by degrees laboured out by diligence and care however fixed and rooted the Morbid matter be As to what appertains to the first scope of healing which is first and especially to be regarded we said that the Matter or Humours which are wont to be gathered together about the parts of the Head predisposed to the Headach and to excite the fits of the Disease are either the Blood or the Serum or the nourishing or nervous Juice or Liquor Moreover with every one of these Vapours and Effluvia's as also Recrements sometimes Bilous sometimes Melancholic sometimes Acid Salt Sulphureous and of some others of a various kind taken into the Blood from the Viscera sometimes from those and sometimes from these we have shewed to be transferred by its passages into the Headâ— against the force and incursion of all these Medicinal fortifications are to be instituted 1. And in the first place if the leading cause to pains or a disposition thereto lye about the Membranes of the Head for that the Blood being hot and apt to rise up rushes by heaps into the Membranes of the Head and when it cannot easily pass thorow them distending the Vessels above measure and pulling the nervous Fibres excites the fits of this Disease whose signs are a Sanguine temperament heat and a flushing or redness about the head and face also an high pulse and shaking with veins distended with Blood presently it must be endeavoured both that the Blood be made more sedate that it may not be so readily moved into rage or swelling up as also that it be not incited and boiling up may not be carried with a greater tendency or inclination into the Head than into other parts nor in like manner be compelled to stagnate by reason of the bosomes of the Meninges being too full Wherefore if the fit infests long let blood in the Arm or the Jugular Vein out of the fit sometimes it is expedient to take Blood from the Sedal Veins with Leeches to wit by this means that the Blood by chance boiling up may be brought down towards that place to which it often tends of its own accord Let there be Medicines of Vinegar Rosecakes and Nutmeg or some other Epithems or Medicines of the same nature applyed to the Head Also give to drink Iuleps Emulsions or Decoctions which allay the fervour or madness of the Blood Let the Belly be cooled and kept soluble by the use of Clysters Moreover for prevention use at times Whey or Spaw-waters also drinking of Water a thin and a cooling diet help the shunning of Wine spiced Meats Baths Venus violent motions of the mind or body yea and of all hot things is to be ordered Then for the fixing of the Blood its Effervescencies or growing hot must be prevented for which Distilled Waters Juices of Herbs or Decoctions Electuaries Powders and especially Crystal Mineral are in frequent use There is no need here to add a method or particular forms of Medicines when in this case almost every body labouring is wont to be his own Physician being taught by frequent experience from things hurting or helping 2. It is rarely that the Blood alone or only by it self is
but that would rather have caused sleepy distempers or deadly Convulsions than the Headach If that a red swelling or pustles or a burning boil should be in the enfoldings of the Head I know not if those Tumors exposed to the open Air would more easily evaporate or whether Remedies applyed to those naked places would effect any thing or not because if the pains arise by reason of the Meninges being beset with little whelks a Scirrhous or a Callous Tumor I think the opening of the Skull will profit little or nothing But letting this alone till it is practised we shall pass over to other things and now in the next place we shall consider whether Salivation for the Curing old and confirmed Headaches is to be administred Indeed if the pains of the Head arise from the Venereal Disease no doubt but that evil Remedy ought to be applyed to that evil Distemper But having tryed that kind of remedy in Headaches arising from other Causes I found not the harvest worth the pains and I confess some examples in those kind of cases have terrified me from that method A certain noble Lady whose sickness is below described for the Curing of a cruel and continual Headach underwent a plentiful Salivation three times viz. the first by a Mercurial Oyntment by the counsel of Sir Theodore Mayern and afterwards twice by taking the lately famous Powder of Charles Huis without any help I wish not with some detriment for afterwards for many years even to this day the disease being by degrees increased she suffer'd under its heavy tyranny It happened somewhat worse so that noted man Doctor G. D. to whom a Mercurial Oyntment was applied for his akeing Head for the Cure of an old Headach by which a Salivation being excited and the Disease not Cured he fell into blindness Indeed these kind of effects from Quicksilver rashly given every one rightly weighing its operation on an humane body ought to fear For the Mercury I shall not say is malignant or wholely venomous because it brings little or no hurt its particles being united so that oftentimes a great quantity may be taken safely enough yet the Mercurial little bodies being divided and separated one from another whether it be done by Chymical Salts as in the Mercury sublimate and precipitate or by straining thorow the Pores of the Skin when they are anointed immediately become fierce and untameable and stir up before any other Medicines great perturbations in the humane body They sometimes bring trouble first to the nervous parts whereby oftentimes happen by reason of the Fibres of the Ventricle Intestines and other Viscera's being pulled or hauled Torments horrid Vomitings sharp and frequently Bloody-stools Heart-burnings Swoonings and other most terrible Distempers a little after the Medicine is given Yet sometimes the particles of the Mercury when they are not presently dissolved go forth without any great hurt to the Bowels and before their strength be deduced into the bloody Mass. Therefore they easily enter into this being highly active and unfolding themselves on every side and immediately infecting the whole shake it and frequently when fully dissolved stir it up into a great burning Then the Blood that it might put away from it self the incongruous little bodies Fermenting delivers the same which way it can and boils it with the humors contained within its bosom to wit the Serum and the nourishing Juice and so endeavours with those imbued with that preternatural mixture to put it off But this succeeds not plentifully enough by Urine and Sweat because the meltings of the Blood by the particles of the Mercury boiled in it like the ladder of a Wash-Ball become more clammy and thick so that they cannot pass thorow the fine strainers of the Reins and the Skin but oftentimes breaking forth unless hindred into the Caeliac Arteries go forth by exciting a Diarrhoea or Dysentery but by that the intent of Salivation is hindred or frustrated but more often the Liquor imbued with the Mercury remaining within the Blood in a manner also infected is carried about with it hither and thither impetuously thorow the Arteries and Veins and is separated into various parts and either breaks forth what way it can or is forced upon the Bowels Membranes and other parts oftentimes with great hurt Also it is seen that some Mercurial particles do penetrate the Brain and insinuating themselves into the nervous Juice are diffused not only into the whole Head but into all the nervous parts and so in some measure ferment the nervous Liquor But in the mean time the Mercurial Serosities residing in the Blood are laid up for the greatest part into the Glandula's which are the nearest Emunctuaries of the Arteries wherefore when the Glandula's about the parts of the Mouth by which great plenty of Serum is destinated for spittle being both many and great are there placed and that from these passages lye open by the Excretory Vessels into the cavity of the Mouth surely by this most certain way the invenom'd liquor of the Blood finds a passage forth when it cannot easily elsewhere Wherefore a spitting at the Mouth being excited the Blood long Fermenting casts forth whatsoever is extraneous and not agreeable either that lyes in its bosom or that it licks up elsewhere from the Bowels or receives from the solid parts or from other humors like working Ale or Wine thorow the Salival passages and innumerable pipes opening every where into the Mouth Further it is most likely as the purgings of the Blood so also of the liquor watering the Head and the nervous Appendix being excited by the Mercury entering therein are also put forth by this way to wit by the Salival passages Therefore a Salivation induced by Mercury if by chance it succeeds rightly it sometimes takes away difficult and untameable Diseases not to be dealt with by any other Remedies because this operation thorowly purges the Blood and nervous Juice and other humors by a long purgation destroys all exotick Ferments overcomes the enormities of the Salts and Sulphures yea and shakes and oftentimes carries forth the Morbific matter where-ever remaining or impacted But this Medicine is not without danger forasmuch as the Mercury becoming enormous and carrying with it abundance of most sharp and as it were poisonous Serum rushing on the noble parts and especially the Head with the Medullary and nervous appendixes or on the Lungs and parts about the Heart brings to them an incurable and sometimes a deadly evil Wherefore in a more grievous and old Headach there is danger lest the indisposed Fibres should be more irritated by the Mercury going thorow them with much and corrosive Serum and should move them into more painful Convulsions and wrinklings further lest it should invade the Brain by a great falling of the Humors upon the Head by which means as it often happens to the Brain sleepy and Convulsive distempers are caused I should have said many
things more concerning this but that we expect shortly to be made publick by the Learned Physician Doctor Needham an exact method of Salivation and a full account of it as to its measures and effects and its benefits and hurt There is yet a celebrated Remedy remaining among Chirurgical helps viz. a cutting or opening an Artery This was of great esteem among the Ancients and some of the Moderns make use of it and very much cry it up But it appears to our observation that this so cry'd up success most often fails Nor no wonder because reason holds not at all on which the Ancients depended that the Arterious Blood was different from the Venous or that of the Veins and was in greater fault and more rageing and therefore to be let forth Nor indeed is there any reason wherefore the Blood being drawn from the Artery rather than from the Vein near the pained place should bring ease but rather on the contrary more help ought to be expected from opening of the Vein because the Artery being emptied receives and draws nothing from the distemper'd part but the Vein being opened draws from the place of the effused Blood and from its whole neighbourhood and oftentimes sups back and renders to a Circulation the Blood and other Humors heaped up and stagnating near the nest of the Disease But however that we may not recede too much from the practice of the Ancients we shall grant that sometimes it may be helpful though attributing nothing to the section of the Artery and not immediately yet causally and only by consequence and by accident to wit forasmuch as the ends of the Artery being cut grow fast together so that the passage of the Blood by that way is shut up for the future from hence when as a lesser provision of Blood is carried by the Artery towards the place and the like still carried away from it by the Veins it therefore sometimes happens that the nest of the Morbific Matter sometimes lessened and its mine is by degrees consumed For this reason this administration oftentimes succeeds happily in diseases of the Eyes Further Farriers make use of the like practice for the Curing of evil tumors in the Legs of Horses to wit they take and bind the Artery by which the Matter flows to the distemper'd part and in the mean time that which was impacted partly evaporates and is partly supped up by the Vein And I have heard that the same has been try'd by our Harvey and not without success for the Curing also of Strumous and Scirrhous Tumors in the humane body I might here subjoyn many other kinds of Remedies yea also the prescriptions and forms of Medicines which are wont to be administer'd for the Curing of Headaches both by Physicians and by Empericks but enough of these are to be had in Physical Books It will be to our purpose that after the delivering the Aetiology or the reason of this Disease so confusedly shown and its Therapeutic or Curatory part sufficiently shadowed for the more clear illustrating of these things that we add some more rare cases of sick persons and examples of a continual and most grievous Headach which also for an invincible cause was oftentimes deadly A Woman of about fifty years of age after she had labour'd for about six months with a most grievous pain in the Head troubling her almost perpetually under the Sagittal Suture or the seam that goes thorow the length of the Skull dividing it into two parts yielding to no Medicines or method at length fell into a Lethargy with a partial resolution of her members from which notwithstanding being shortly recovered by timely Remedies she awaked with the Headach as cruel as before moreover within two or three weeks after relapsing into the sleepy distemper she departed this life Her skull being opened there grew from the side of the third bosom to the Membranes a Scirrhous Tumor three fingers broad by the coming between of which both the Dura mater for a little space was grown to the Pia mater and the sanguiferous Vessels which should open there into the cavity of the bosom were stopped up Further the cranklings or turnings in of the Brain both the exterior and the inward cavity was filled with a clear water From these things being observed the invincible and at length deadly cause most clearly appeared to wit the most sensible Fibres of the Meninges being continually pulled and torn partly by reason of the breaking of the unity and partly from the humor belonging to the Nerves being there heaped up and stagnating together with others flowing thither and growing hot with it were provoked into Convulsions perpetually or painful Distentions Afterwards when the Blood being for a long time hindred in its circulation by reason of that Tumor or that at least it could not pass thorow it by any means sent copiously away from it self the Serous Water as its manner is whereever it finds an hindrance and at length a Dropsie in the Brain was raised which was the cause of the deadly Lethargy I remember I have seen the like case in another whom I have opened Further as I think the disease in many troubled with Headaches doth depend on the like invincible cause I will however describe one example yet living of this kind of Distemper Some years since I was sent for to visit a most noble Lady for above twenty years sick with almost a continual Headach at first intermitting She was of a most beautiful form and a great wit so that she was skilled in the Liberal Arts and in all sorts of Literature beyond the condition of her sex and as if it were thought too much by Nature for her to enjoy so great endowments without some detriment she was extreamly punished with this Disease Growing well of a Feavour before she was twelve years old she became obnoxious to pains in the Head which were wont to arise sometimes of their own accord and more often upon every light occasion This sickness being limited to no one place of the Head troubled her sometimes on one side sometimes on the other and often thorow the whole compass of the Head During the fit which rarely ended under a day and a nights space and often held for two three or four days she was impatient of light speaking noise or of any motion sitting upright in her Bed the Chamber made dark she would talk to no body nor take any sleep or sustenance At length about the declination of the fit she was wont to lye down with an heavy and disturbed sleep from which awaking she found her self better and so by degrees grew well and continued indifferently well till the time of the intermission Formerly the fits came not but occasionally and seldom under twenty days or a month but afterwards they came more often and lately she was seldom free Moreover upon sundry occasions or evident causes such as
the change of the Air or the year the great Aspects of the Sun and Moon violent passions and errors in diet she was more cruelly tormented with them But although this Distemper most grievously afflicting this noble Lady above twenty years when I saw her having pitched its tents near the confines of the Brain had so long besieged its regal tower yet it had not taken it for the sick Lady being free from a Vertigo swimming in the Head Convulsive Distempers and any Soporiferous symptom found the chief faculties of her soul sound enough For the obtaining a Cure or rather for a tryal very many Remedies were administred thorow the whole progress of the Disease by the most skilful Physicians both of our own Nation and the prescriptions of others beyond Seas without any success or ease also great Remedies of every kind and form she tryed but still in vain Some years before she had endured from an oyntment of Quicksilver a long and troublesome Salivation so that she ran the hazard of her life Afterwards twice a Cure was attempted though in vain by a Flux at the Mouth from a Mercurial Powder which the noted Emperick Charles Hues ordinarily gave with the like success with the rest she tryed the Baths and the Spaw-waters almost of every kind and nature she admitted of frequent Blood-letting and also once the opening of an Artery she had also made about her several Issues sometimes in the hinder part of her Head and sometimes in the forepart and in other parts She also took the Air of several Countries besides her own native Air she went into Ireland and into France There was no kind of Medicines both Cephalicks Antiscorbuticks Hysterical all famous Specificks which she took not both from the Learned and the unlearned from Quacks and old Women and yet notwithstanding she professed that she had received from no Remedy or method of Curing any thing of Cure or Ease but that the contumacious and rebellious Disease refused to be tamed being deaf to the charms of every Medicine Further this so long possessing the out-parts of the Head though it could not invade the cloysters of the Brain yet when I visited her unfolding its ends in some other parts of the nervous kind it had begun to stir up most cruel pains in her members and also in her Loins and bottom of her Belly as is wont to be in the Rheumatism and in the Scorbutick Colick If we should inquire into the Aetiology or the Causes of this inveterate Disease we can suspect nothing less than that the Meninges of the Brain being from the beginning more lightly touched had afterwards contracted an habitual and indelible vice It appears by the History that the distemper at first arose from a Morbific matter which was translated into the Head after an ill cured Feavour Then perchance by reason of some hurt brought to the Membranes the tone of the Fibres was so much endamaged that afterwards the Humors flowing in them both the nervous and others being heaped up to a fulness or growing hot by mere aggravation raised up the fits of the Headach But at length the diseased cause growing worse by reason of the frequent fits it seems that the unity of those Fibres were so much broken that from thence little Tumors or Scirrhous knots or swellings being riased up in all the exterior Meninge or in a great part of it produced pains almost continual and those apt to be made worse or imbitter'd upon every light occassion Certainly it seems most likely that the invincible and permanent cause of so long and yet not deadly Headach proceeds from some such thing viz. a Scirrhous Distemper of the Dura mater the Pia mater being in the mean time safe For from any other cause if there had beee a conflict of Nature and Medicine with the Disease either a quick death or a joyful victory had far sooner been obtained A noted Gentleman of about forty years of Age strong and healthy going a journey for a whole day in a continual rain the wet beating on the hinder part of his Head caught cold and the next day he began to feel a pain in that part which in a short time after becoming very bitter afflicted him night and day and kept him almost continually without sleep For the Cure of this Distemper Phlebotomy Purging Glisters Blisterings and Remedies to cause rest yea and many others of every kind though diligently applyed by the Counsel also of many Physicians helpt little or nothing When the Disease notwithstanding these grew every day worse after a fortnights time preternatural swell'd kernels and painful arose all about his Neck the pain in his Head nothing remitting Further the Tendons of his Neck being very much distended and stiff became very troublesome to him to which in a short time succeeded Convulsive motions and a sudden leaping of the Tendons in several parts with a delirium and at length the sick person worn out with pains and watching yielded to death Though we had not leave for the dissecting the dead body yet it may be suspected that both the Pericranium and the Meninges in the hinder part of the Head cloathing the Cerebel where they are more thick and very nappy were first affected and then from thence the evil was afterwards communicated to the whole Head and wandered into all the nervous stock when as in those Membranes transpiration was hindred from the cold and the wet and also the tone of the Fibres very much hurt it is probable that the nervous Liquor watering them being then hindred in its motion and stagnating did burthen the containing bodies then that being depraved in its Complexion grew hot with other humors flowing thither and being at length coagulated with them grew together into Scirrhous and Strumous Tumors and so laid the copious seed-plot of a most grievous Headach Then afterwards when through watching and perpetual pains a great inordination of the Spirits and a great Discrasie of the Juice watering the Head were produced for that reason the knotty Concretions in the Neck the stifness of the Tendons and at length Convulsions and Convulsive Motions followed in the Brain and in the whole nervous Stock and so when as the animal oeconomy or regiment was much decayed and that the motion of the Praecordia could not be continued the vital flame expired Sometimes deadly and incurable Headaches are no less raised up from a fiery swelling and Imposthum than from these kind of knots and little pimples of the Meninges Sometime since a young man of the University whenas he had complained for a fortnight of a most grievous pain in the Head incessantly afflicting him it was at length increased by a Feavour and afterwads waking Convulsive motions and talking idly followed at which time a Physician being sent for letting blood Clysters Plasters Revulsives Blistrings also internal Remedies which call away the Flux of the Blood and Humors
motion and emanation lye down in a profound and inextricable sleep but they are hindred either by the proper vice of themselves because having taken or being distemper'd by some Narcotick they are as it were coagulated and become immoveable or because their exterior tracts or paths in the Brain are obstructed and possessed by some strange guest so that there is no fit space granted them for their expansion The symptoms of this Disease which now come in order to be explained the chief are Sleep and forgetfulness or a cessation of every other knowing or spontaneous function unequal and slow breathing a Feavour and oftentimes the distemper growing worse Convulsions a leaping of the Tendons and at length universal and deadly Cramps or Convulsions As to the too former of these we mentioned before that Memory is deficient altogether for the same reason as Sleep exceeds to wit forasmuch as the Spirits inhabiting the outward part of the Brain being either bound up or expulsed from their tracts do not irradiate or beam forth from the Callous Body into the Cortex or shelly part of the Brain by which imagination or waking is made nor do they being carried inwards and repeating their former footsteps represent the Ideas or Images of things before acted Indeed Sleep Watching and Memory are affections of the same parts and places of which it is no light sign and which vulgarly appears by experience that Opiate Medicines by which Sleep is provoked being often given hurt the Memory Yea I my self knew one having taken a strong Hypnotick or Medicine to cause sleep after being sick with a Feavour lived many nights and days without sleep and almost wholely lost his Memory especially as to any thing long past As to what respects the other faculties of the Corporeal Soul to wit the Imagination Appetite or desire Sense and Motion although no Narcortick or sleepy chains are cast upon the Spirits destinated to these offices and that the Pores and passages of the interior Brain within which they are wont to expatiate are seen to be open enough yet these Spirits because during the fit they are denied their commerce with the others bound up of themselves lye down and are overcome by Sleep For as a continual sleepiness beginning about the root of the sensitive Soul to wit the Cortex or shelly part of the Brain immediately its whole province is obscured as it were with a veil to wit the knowing desiring and self-moving part of the Soul and also the intellect it self its windows being every where shut up hardly speculates or beholds any thing Further the power or force of this Disease is seen to be extended to the other part of the sensitive Soul presiding o're the Cerebel and its Regiment wherefore during the fit of the Lethargy the respiration and Pulse are altered for that becomes unequal and slow sometimes drawing the breath deep and long sometimes short repeated and as it were double and this being great and swift diffuseth a feavourish heat thorow the whole body The reason of the former if I am not deceived is this to wit that the same Morbific Cause which infects the outward part of the Brain and its inhabitants infects also in part the Cerebel and the Spirits there serving for the motions of the Precordia which being by that means disturbed and hindred though they omit not thir tasks yet they perform them difficultly and with interruption hence the Diaphragma and Muscles of the Thorax do not so easily and swiftly as before perform their Systoles but laboriously and with a longer straining or endeavour and sometimes with repeated tryals or forces This kind of unequal long and difficult breathing frequently happens also in a Phrensie wherefore some judge the cause both of this and that to be from the inflammation of the Midriff or Diaphragma but amiss because the symptom in both these Cephalick Diseases depends on the Cerebel participating the hurt of the Brain grievously distemper'd As to the Feavour of one troubled with a Lethargy to be known by the great and quick Pulse hot breathing with a burning of the Tongue and Mouth without any heat in the extream parts some deduce this from the same cause as the Lethargy to wit either from Phlegm putrefying in the Brain or from a cold inflammation of the Brain Others on the contrary affirm the Feavour to be the primary effect and thence the Morbific Matter to be carried into the Head from the burning Blood Concerning these we grant that a Lethargy comes often after a Feavour but we can say nothing of the Phlegm putrefying in the Brain or of its frigid Inflammation which is as much as to say icy fire for if this be malignant or of evil custom happening also to Children old Men and other Phlegmatick Scorbutick or very Caecochymical persons or such as are full of ill humors about the height of a Disease not well Cured oftentimes in the place of a Crisis the feavourish matter being snatch'd into the Head induces a cruel and oftentimes a deadly Torpor or sleepiness which notwithstanding ought not to be esteemed the symptom of the Disease but of that Feavour After this manner I have often observed and elsewhere have particularly described that Soporiferous Feavours and as it were marked with a certain sleepiness have raged and become Epidemical at sometimes by reason of the evil constitution of the year But it is no less usual when a Lethargy is the principal distemper for a Feavour to follow and to owe to it as much its original as its Cure for a Feavour beginning after a continual sleepiness that being shaken off or discussed ceases soon of it self such a Feavour we think to arise not from the Blood growing hot by reason of the strife of intestine particles but because of the impulse of the containing and neighbouring bodies variously altering and disturbing its course For indeed the right temper of the Blood very much depends not only on its particles being truly mixt and overcome but also upon the motion impressed on the Heart and the Vessels or the Organical Circulation to wit that its Liquor may every where flow with an equal and alike flowing and ebbing which if finding any where a stop or Remora it be retarded its motion is made more impetuous and with a Feavourish tumult in the whole channel besides This manifestly appears in violent passions acute pains a breaking of the unity in all which the Blood being obstructed in one place or straitned it is snatched more vehemently in others and conceives a Feavourish heat for this cause to wit lest the thread of its circulation should be broken on which life necessarily depends wherefore as the Proverb says None dyes without a Feavour For how poor or deficient soever the Blood is and that the strength of all the moveing parts are weak yet in the instant agony of Death by the mere impulse of
Nature they either pursue their functions or the nervous Fibres every where erect themselves and put forth their utmost endeavours that they might drive forward the Blood flowing in them and Circulate it with a rapid motion I once visited an illustrious Lady who for some time had been miserably afflicted with Colick and Convulsive distempers and quite worn out and at length fell suddenly into a deadly Lethargy When I perceived her Pulse to beat strongly I prescribed that four ounces of Blood should be taken out of the jugular Vein which immediately leap'd from the opened Vessel with such force that I believe if it had been suffered the whole Mass of Blood would have flowed thence for the next day after her dead body being opened I found scarce four ounces more of Blood in her whole Body and yet she dyed thus in a Feavour The reason of the Lethargick Feavour is wholely the same which is seen to arise only from the Vital Organs being very much incited by labouring Nature and therefore vehemently driving about the Blood The prognostick of the Lethargy is shut within a strait limit for the fit of the Disease being for the most part acute is soon terminated either in Death or health and for the most part it is wont to give more of fear than of hope If it comes upon a malignant Feavour or hard to be cured or if it comes upon other Cephalick or Convulsive Diseases as the Headach Phrensie Madness Epilepsie or also upon a long and grievous Colick or Gout the Physician can predict nothing but evil nor is it less to be feared if it happen in a Body full of evil Humors or one long sick or in an old Man In like manner it is an evil omen if the sick being presently overwhelmed with a great Torpor or stupidness and almost Apoplectick cannot be awakened and if he breaths unequally and slowly or with a great snorting then the Disease increasing and the sick troubled with tremblings Cramps leapings of the Tendons and at length with Convulsive Motions it is to be esteemed desperate or without hope But if the Distemper be excited without any great foregoing Cause with an only Evident Cause as a Surfeit Drunkenness or by the use of Narcoticks a blow on the Head or some not deadly stroke we may expect the event to be less deadly or mortal Then if the Distemper arising from such occasions happens to a Body before whole and strong if it does not wholly take away the Sense and Memory at the first assault and after a short time the symptoms begin to remit a little of such a sick person you ought not to despair In every Lethargy if any Cause of the Disease is seen to be cut off and removed so that if by the help of Medicines or the instinct of Nature copious and helpful evacuations by Sweat Urine or by Stool do follow with ease or help or if by applying of Blistering Plasters a great deal of water flows forth if a swelling or great whelks or pustles break out behind the Ears or in the Neck if frequent sneezing happens or water flow from the Eyes or Nose thence a certain hope of health may be expected Hippocrates l. Coac c. 145. mentions a Cure of the Lethargy to be often made by the distemper of the Thorax saying That many Lethargicks that are stuffed with Phlegm have recovered Which words are wonderfully wrested by Interpreters Mercurialis understands by suppuration the putrified matter of the Disease to be evacuated by the Ears and Nostrils Prosper Martianus will have Hippocrates to be understood in the word Lethargy not the disease of the Head but of the Breast But wherefore are all these subterfuges when it often happens that the Morbific matter at first fixed in the Head and stirring up a continual sleepiness or Lethargy the same being thence supped up by the Blood and deposited in the breast doth produce an Empyema or a spitting like those whose Lungs are wasted In the description of a Soporiferous Epidemical Feavour which raged in the year 1661. we noted the same to have happened to many Concerning the Cure of this Disease for that it has no respite or truces it is not to be deliberated on after a sharp Clyster being given let a Vein be opened presently for the Vessels being emptied of Blood they are more apt to sup up the Serum or other Humors deposited in the Brain Further in this case I advise rather to open the Vein in the Neck than that in the Arm. Because by this means the Blood being very much heaped up within the bosoms of the Head and perhaps standing still is more easily reduced to an equal Circulation Letting blood being performed immediately other remedies of every kind are to be made use of Let Vesicatories or blistering Plasters be applied largely to the Neck and Legs anoint the Temples and Face with Oyl of Amber or Cephalick Balsoms lay over all the Feet a Cataplasm or Poultis made of Rue Crowfoot and Pepperwort with black Sope and Bay-salt use hard frictions or rubbings to the Members frequently apply to the Nostrils Salt of Urine or Spirits of Sal Armoniac Then let there be administred Cephalick Remedies Take of the Water of Poeony Flowers of black Cherries Rue and of Walnuts simple each three ounces of the Water of Poeony Compound two ounces of Castor tyed up in a rag and hung in the glass two drams of Sugar three drams mix them and make a Iulep let it be given about four or five sponfuls every three or four hours also with every Dose of this give twelve or fifteen drops of the Spirits of Amber or of Sal Armoniac or a paper of the following Powder Take of the Powder of the Root of Poeony the male of a Mans Skull of the Root of Virginian Serpentworth or Snakeweed of Contrayerva each one dram Bezoar and of Pearl each half a dram of Coral prepared one dram make a Powder and divide it into twelve parts Further here it is to be considered whether an evacuation either by Vomit or Stool should not be made I know that this is variously controverted among Authors and I have also known it performed with various success which being weighed and laid together I shall briefly propose my opinion If the Lethargy should arise upon a Surfeit or a late Drinking or if from taking some disagreeable things or Narcoticks presently let a Vomit be given wherefore you may give Salt of Vitriol with Wine and Oxymel of Squills or in strong bodies an Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or of Mercurius Vitae with black Cherry water Let it be given and if it doth not work of it self provoke Vomiting with a Feather thrust down the Throat But if the fit of the Disease comes upon a Feavour or any other Cephalick Distempers or if it be raised up primarily or of
two Beds in one and the same Chamber overwhelmed with a most profound Sleep which had oppressed them the day before after they had eaten some roots which they had dug up in the Garden being it seems Henbane which they took for Parsnips After they had both Oyl and Oxymel poured down their throats and a Feather thrust down a great way that made them vomit I prescribed for them tincture of Castor with a spoonful of Treacle-water which Remedies I had then about me to be given them at every turn all night besides that they should anoint their Nostrils and Temples with the same Tincture and if it might be done that a strong Clyster should be given them the following day the old Man first and afterwards the Son awaking returned to themselves the sleepiness being almost wholely shaken off In these distemper'd after the reliques of the Narcotick were cast out by Vomit left they should do further hurt there was only need that by fit Medicines among which Castor deservedly is esteemed to be contrary to the venom of Opiates the Spirits being excited should be set free from the sleepy poison afflicting them CHAP. IV. Of some other sleepy Distempers viz. a continual Somnolency the Coma or heavy Sleeping and the Caros or a deprivation of the Senses IN the former Chapter we have fully shown what doth belong to the knowledge prognostick and Cure of the Lethargy properly so called But we did not only therefore affirm that the seat of this Disease was in the unequal compass the cranklings or infoldings of the outward part of the Brain because we had there assigned the repository of the Memory and the porch of Sleep although we might from hence conclude it but besides because it hath appeared so to me from Anatomical observations very often that the Lethargy does not arise as is commonly thought from the interior Ventricles of the Brain being distemper'd for we have known these to be frequently overflown with water and sometimes distended with extravasated Blood and yet the sick whilst they lived were free from the Coma or any great stupidity I must confess that sometimes the Dropsie of the whole Brain causes the continual sleepiness but in this case not only the internal Cavity but also the Intersitia or the spaces between the outward Infoldings are filled with a flood of waters The Lethargy therefore being confined to the outmost borders of the Brain we so constitute its limits that those circlings about being almost wholely possessed together with the interspersed Marrow perpetual and inexplicable Sleep or hard to be rid of with oblivion or forgetfulness is induced in the mean time the middle part of the Brain or the Callous body from whence the Animal Spirits irradiate or beam forth into all parts both sensible and motional being almost unhurt for the total eclipse of this causes the Apoplexy as shall be shewed hereafter But indeed on either sides of these ends or limits other soporiferous distempers are ordinarily found which though of kin to the Lethargy yet some of them are lesser than it as Somnolency or continual sleeping and the Coma only one is greater as the Caros Therefore we shall now and in order speak briefly of every one of these as also of some opposite passions viz. thorow waking and the waking Coma and first of Continual Sleepiness Most Authors call this not a Disease but an evil habit or a sleepy disposition for the distemper'd as to other things are well enough they eat and drink well go abroad take care well enough of their domestick affairs yet whilst talking or walking or eating yea their mouths being full of meat they shall nod and unless rouzed up by others fall fast asleep and thus they sleep continually almost not only some days or months but as it is said of Epemenides many years wherefore we ought to believe this a Disease and worthy of Cure which defrauds one of more than half his life The seat of sleepiness as that of the Lethargy is to be placed in the outward part of the Brain but with this difference that the material or conjunct Cause of this Distemper though it vexes or troubles always without doors yet it penetrates less deeply than the Lethargy yea it disturbs or affects almost the whole superficies of the Brain or the mere Cortical substances of the infoldings the included marrow being almost untouch'd in which respect it differs not only from the Lethargy but the Coma also for in the Distempers which we described though continual sleep presses on them yet 't is easily broken off then besides being fully awakened they remember many things and converse with their Friends though immediately prone again to sleep whence it appears that the cause of this Disease sticks only in the outer border of the Brain nor does it enter deep into its compass as other sleepy distempers do But indeed it may be suspected that while the Blood every where washing the border of the Brain with thick rivulets and instils every where into it a subtil water for the matter of Spirits oftentimes a great plenty of water flowing thither with it and entering together the Cortex and remaining there mightily fills it and like an Anasarca in the Body swells it up But this Cortical or shelly part being swelled up after this manner and as it were dropical so presses the Medullary infoldings every where lying under it that the expansion of the Spirits being hindred by reason of the Pores of the exterior part of the Brain being something bound up sleepiness is induced to which it happens that the Blood that by reason of the Cortex of the Brain being intumefied with water as it were between the Skin Circulates less expeditiously thorow all the neighbouring parts and so is apt to fill the Vessels and bosoms and to stagnate in them by which means it comes to pass that the exterior border is yet more compressed and so the spaces requisite for the emanation of the Spirits are also more streightned Indeed this appears to be part of the cause from hence because this kind of sleepiness by reason of the Blood not freely circulating in the Head and therefore apt to stagnate is wont to make red the Face with a certain blueness and blackness Further whilst the subtil Liquor which is for the matter of Spirits passing thorow this pond or deluge heaped together in the Cortex of the Brain goes forward into the Marrow lying under it is probable that with it do creep thorow some extraneous and as it were very small Narcotick particles which growing to the Spirits immediately render them torpid or stupid and prone to sloth of their own accord This Distemper as I have observed in many is not very dangerous for as it often happens it is wholely Cured or at least remaining for many years without the Carus or Apoplexy which is wont to be feared it doth
Brain may be prevented and also that what is already impacted may be discussed or taken away Further the Animal Spirits ought to be rouzed up or excited and all sleepiness or stupidity shaken from them For this end ought to be applied Purging Blood-letting Cupping-glasses Blistering Plasters repelling and discussing Topicks and Cephalick Medicines to be given and chiefly such as are impregnated with a Volatile Salt and many other means of administrations already recited But if this Disease coming upon other Distempers happens to a person whose Body is already much worn out the Blood vitiated or greatly depauperated you must seriously deliberate before taking away of Blood or Purging yea also abstain very much from them Yet sometimes that the Conjunct Cause or matter of the Disease impacted in the Brain may be put into motion it may be expedient to take away Blood moderately either from the Forehead or Temples by Leeches or from between the Shoulders by Cupping-glasses and Scarification Here Blistering Plasters are in chief esteem to be applied not only to the hinder part of the Neck or Head but to the Legs and Arms and other parts of the body by turns Further let there be given frequently the Spirits of Harts-horn of Sut of Sal Armoniack Amber or a Mans Scull Coral and others impregnated with other Cephalicks with a Iulep or any other proper Liquor The forms or Receipts of these and of other Remedies used in these cases together with the Histories of the sick and examples of Cures are extant in the description of the aforesaid soporiferous Feavor so that there is no need to inculcate here again the same or such like There yet remains an other sleepy Distemper or kind of Lethargy or continual sleeping commonly called Carus which is greater than the Lethargy and somewhat lesser than the Apoplexy and is so near akin to this that it often passes into it but yet it is wont to be differenced from either For those sick with the Carus breath well for the most part and when they are strongly pulled they move their Members sometimes lift themselves up open their Eyes and often speak which Apoplectical persons do not yet the same though excited or moved do scarcely understand any thing or plainly discern in which respect they are distinguished from such as have the Lethargy From these it appears that the Conjunct Cause of the Carus doth penetrate deeper towards the middle part of the Brain and hath its seat in the outmost border at least of the Callous Body wherefore the Animal Spirits being restrained from their wonted expansion within this Emporium the acts of the Imagination and Memory cease and although the Species being impressed from a more strong sensible is directed inwards and oftentimes the local motion is retorted to it yet because this impression reaches not to the Callous Body by reason the Spirits are there amazed or stupefied the sick know nothing what they feel or do The Conjunct Cause of this Disease therefore is very often the same but somewhat more strong than that of the Somnolency Coma and Lethargy The Morbific Matter is seen to possess both the Cortex of the Brain and the Marrow lying under and being carried forward some greater bosoms of the middle part and the upper borders of the Callous body yea sometimes as this matter is partly carried forward by degrees these Diseases arise and every next is but the augmentation of the former But sometimes the Morbific Cause without any gradual progress thorow these parts affects the middle part of the Brain at the first assault and there as it is more lightly or more deeply placed causes the Carus or the Apoplexy In which case it is not to be thought that the whole compass of the Callous Body like the Cortical part of the Brain should be possessed by the soporiferous matter because it is sufficient this matter rushing into any one place and invading some part of the middle Marrow that presently for that reason an Eclipse or at least a beating down of the Spirits follows in all that region After this manner it is wont to be when the Carus comes upon a malignant or ill handled Feavour or upon the Headach or some Convulsive Distempers or when it is excited by a blow on the Head or by a fall or by reason of an Imposthum broken in the Meninges for by reason of these accidents the interior Marrow of the Brain is wont to be so pressed together shaken or otherways altered that presently the tracts or paths of the Spirits are obliterated or blotted out The prognostick of the Carus for the most part is but evil especially if this Disease comes upon a malignant or a long continued a gentle and not Cured Feavour or on a Woman in Childbed no less danger is also threatned if it follows after other Cephalick Diseases or is excited by reason of a Wound in the Head but yet in these cases all hope of Cure is not presently to be cast off for I my self have observed some sick after this manner and esteemed desperate or past all hope to have recovered The event of this Disease is wont to be various either in Death or in health The Carus passes not rarely into a soon killing Apoplexy that after first the animadvertive faculty being lost with a short breathing and without motion then by reason of the evil being transmitted to the Cerebel there follow alterations of breathing and the Pulse and quickly death it self But sometimes the Morbific Matter setling more deeply and falling from the Callous Body into the streaked Body one or both together the Brain clears up a little so that the sick look about them talk and know things yet in the whole body besides a Palsie or Dead-Palsie on one side follows but so that life is not out of danger for oftentimes when the Brain begins to be restored the Cerebel grows worse that for that cause the Spirits there being evilly disposed or affected which perform the offices of the vital function and merely natural either Convulsions are stirred up in the Bowels and Precordia or deadly impediments of the Pulse and respiration yet sometimes when the Morbific matter is not so plentiful nor very malignant it is partly supped up into the Blood and partly shook off so that the sick grow perfectly well again The Curatory Method suggests the same intentions of Healing and requires wholly the same Remedies as those which are wont to be administred in the Lethargy and the Apoplexy Wherefore there will be no need to add here a company of Indications nor to heap together a great pile of Medicines But what seems more to the purpose that I give you one or two Histories of sick people of which I have many by me A known person of about forty years of Age who having through Intempernace lost his health took I know not what Medicines
or shuts up their passages Hence it follows that preternatural Waking or that which is immoderate depends upon these two either on one or both together for either they being grown too outragious and as it were struck with a fury will not lye down of themselves or the nervous Liquor doth not so fill and stop up the Pores of the outward part of the Brain that from thence the Spirits may be compelled inward to rest Examples of both of these are ordinarily to be met withal And first of all we shall take notice that the Animal Spirits sometimes becoming outrageous and so Elastick or shooting forth or otherways enormous that they will not only not lye down and be quieted but scarce be contained within the proper sphere of their emanation wherefore being spread abroad in continual waking so fill the Brain and keep it extended that the nervous Juice though it lyes heaped up at their doors cannot be admitted but if it enters of it self and the Spirits are called back inwards from the Cortex of the Brain presently they being forced thither or tumultuating within the middle part of the Brain raise up many and often most horrid phantasies whereby sleep is driven away or directing thence their declination further into the nervous Stock there stir up great disorders which continually drive away and break off Sleep though it seems ready to creep upon them As to the former of these I have often observed that some being disturbed with waking were afraid to sleep though desiredly coming upon them for as soon as they shut their eyes to sleep presently leaping up they would cry out they should grow mad with a multitude of confused phantasms so that they were necessitated to abstain from sleep Secondly whilst the Spirits become more outrageous and are for sleep sake recalled towards the interior compass of the Brain sometimes they convert their rage into the nervous Stock and then tumultuarily rushing in upon the Nerves destinated for the Precordia or the Inwards raise up inordinations in the respective parts hence in those thus distemper'd as often as they shut their eyes to invite sleep either tremblings leapings and binding up of the heart with loss of Spirits and breathing stopped or inflations and rising up of the Bowels with a sense of choaking and other symptoms commonly called or taken to be Hysterical follow or else secondly the Spirits being recalled from their watches and turning on the nervous Stock transfer their rage sometimes on the spinal Marrow and the Nerves reaching from thence into all the exterior Members Wherefore in some whilst they would indulge sleep in their beds immediately follow leapings up of the Tendons in their Arms and Legs with Cramps and such unquietness and flying about of their members that the sick can no more sleep than those on the Rack Once I was consulted with for a noble Woman who was in the day-time cruelly tormented with the pain about the heart and Vomiting but in the night she was hindred from sleep though it seemed to approach by reason of these kind of Convulsive Distempers invading her with it nor indeed could she sleep all the night unless she had before taken a large Dose of Laudanum wherefore this Medicine at first being permitted her only twice a week afterwards she took it daily for three whole months contracting by it no hurt either in her Brain or about any other function and when in the mean time by the use of other Remedies the Dyscrasies of the Blood and the nervous Juice were amended and the Animal Spirits were made more benign and gentle she having after that wholly left off her Opium could sleep indifferently well These kind of sleep-destroying Distempers stirred up either within the middle part of the Brain or within the nervous Stock either more inward or more outward do depend wholly on the evil constitution of the Animal Spirits for those who ought to be gentle clear and bright and to actuate gently the containing bodies and to influence them with a benign influence become sharp and fierce and like Effluvia's sent from Stygian Waters unable to be restrained do distend them too much and refuse to be governed by the command of the will and to be quieted by sleep yea being restrained in one place they immediately grow tumultuous in another Such a constitution of the Animal Spirits proceeds from the acid and oftentimes as it were Vitriolick Dyscrasies of the Blood begetting it and of the nervous Juice cherishing and increasing it as shall be more fully shewed hereafter when we speak of madness In the mean time as to what belongs to the Cure of thorow or long waking which we but now described because it cannot be long tolerated therefore those things which may bring present ease ought first to be administred for this end those things which sooth the Spirits and gently moderate their disorders are convenient as those commonly called Anodynes viz. Distilled Waters Decoctions Syrups and Conserves of the Flowers of Water-Lilies Cowslips Mallows Violets Hearts-ease of the leaves of Willow Lettice Purslain also Emulsions or Juicy expressions If that the unquiet Spirits will not be allayed by gentle flatteries you must compel them into quietness as it were with bonds and strokes plenty of them ought to be diminished and the places also to be inlarged in which they may expand themselves in freedom and without tumult and quitted from the intanglements of other Humors to wit of the Blood and Serum For which ends sometimes the opening of a Vein is convenient and Blisterings are always to be made use of also Diacodium and Laudanum if it be convenient are frequently given and in the mean time whilst that Opiates give some truce to the Disease the cause of it ought carefully to be rooted out by the use of other Remedies as much as may be wherefore such as take away the sharpness of the Blood and nervous Juice and render a sweetness to them are to be administred day after day in Physical hours In which rank are shelly Powders Apozems and Distilled Waters Alterers made out of temperate Antiscorbuticks the more gentle prepared Chalybeats Spirits of Harts-horn and of Sut and almost before all other things the Tincture of Antimony is much esteemed There remains another sort of thorow or long Waking the cause of which in some if not in the greatest part consists in almost a continual openness or too much gaping of the Pores or passages in the Cortex of the Brain For besides that the Animal Spirits becoming sharp and somewhat outragious refuse to lye down of their own accord and to indulge rest moreover no stop or yoke is imposed upon them from the nervous Liquor entring into the Pores of the Brain but being free and quitted of all burthens they are also expanded within the exterior spaces of the Brain every where open wherefore for this cause those troubled with long Waking
feel no sleepiness or heaviness in the fore part of their head no desire or approach of Sleep I have known some distemper'd after this manner who when they had lived for many nights continually without Sleep seemed still chearful active strong in their stomach and ready for business and not to want Sleep The cause of this without doubt is because the burnt and melancholy Blood supplies the exterior part of the Brain with a nervous Juice that is not soft and favourable but too much parched and stuffed with adust particles which for that reason is apt neither to stay long within the Pores of the Brain nor gently to embrace and hold the Animal Spirits Further the Spirits themselves procreated out of it become of their own nature too Elastick and unquiet so that they are not easily setled or are prone of their own accord to Sleep But these more fixed do not readily fly away nor being wearied do suddenly grow faint but indure for a long time without any great refection and yet remain lively Concerning this waking disposition of the Animal Spirits as it is the same in Melancholicks we shall have an opportunity of speaking of it more largely hereafter We may also here take notice that for the same reason to wit that the adust Particles of the Melancholick and torrid Blood being poured into the Brain together with the nervous Juice causes waking the drinking of Coffee also in use formerly among the Arabians and Turks which is drunk by our Country Men either Physically or out of wantonness all sleepiness being driven away doth produce unwonted waking and an unwearied exercise of the Animal faculty that some having a necessity to study late in the night or presently after drinking or a full meal by drinking a due quantity of this Liquor become still waking and perform any hard task of the mind without sleepiness Surely the cause of this is because this drink insinuates adust particles of which it is full as may be perceived both by the smell and taste immediately into the Blood and then into the nervous Juice which still detain the pores of the Brain open by their agility and inquietude and add to the Spirits all sleepiness being shaken off certain provocatives and madness by which they are excited to a longer performance of their offices Further we shall deliver afterwards where we speak of Melancholy those things which belong to the preventive Cure of this long waking or the removing of the Morbific cause In the mean time for the taking away immediately this symptom as often as it is grievously troublesome we noted that Opiates were little profitable for a bare Dose being given doth rarely cause sleep and render the sick more weak and languishing It often better succeeds if they go to bed and take some soft and pleasing Liquor as our own Ale clear and mild or Posset-drink with Cowslip Flowers boiled in it or an Emulsion of Melon Seeds and Almonds in a great quantity to wit two or three pints I was some times past consulted with about an old Hypochondriacal person who besides other Symptoms usual in that case was for many years obnoxious to frequent very troublesome and noisie belchings he was wont every day two or three times for about two hours continually to belch with such a noise that he might be heard far and near at a great distance But sometimes for a week or two and sometimes for a month this belching would be changed into a long waking for having that Distemper much remitted this Gentleman was kept without sleep almost whole nights and when he had thus been for three days and sometimes more perfectly waking he seemed not to want sleep and complained not of sleepiness dulness or languor of spirits And when Narcoticks rarely brought to him any help he took sometimes in the evening a Posset made of Ale and Canary Wine and night coming on he sometimes drunk Distilled Waters by the use of which oftentimes he got some sleep then afterwards his waking perfectly vanishing by degrees his belching returned Hence it appears there was but one cause for either to wit the adust particles and irritative being poured forth from the bloody Mass sometimes into the coats of the Ventricle and sometimes into the Cortical part of the Brain Secondly besides these distinct Distempers of Sleep and Waking or their inordinations there remain other conjunct or complicated irregularities of them in which the acts of either function are prevaricated together Which indeed is observable in that Distemper or affection called the Waking Coma of which we shall now speak briefly Those sick with the Waking Coma although they are continually prone to Sleep yet they can scarce sleep at all but after the manner of Tantalus up to the chin in the Lethaean River to tast which as soon as he stoops down the water slides away from him and sinks lower For they feel a cruel heaviness in their Heads with a sleepiness or numness of all their senses and faculties that they hardly endure to turn themselves in their Bed or to be disturbed by the by-standers with talking and expect they shall presently fall into a sweet sleep but when they would indulge it and endeavour strongly to embrace it various phantasms rolling about in their mind keep them still waking neither are they suffered to take any sleep at all which seems to them to be still at hand Upon this not seldom follows a Delirium that whilst the sick lye with their eyes shut they perpetually talk absurd and senseless things and fling about hither and thither their Arms and Legs excessively and being raised up they look about them doggedly It is an usual thing for those sick of Feavours to remain a whole night as it were drowned in sleep and in the mean time are scarce silent a minute of an hour but murmur various things to themselves also sometimes cry out houl and leap out of Bed If the reason of these be inquired after we may say that the Pores and passages in the Brain which are the walking places of the Spirits are very much possessed with a thick and so periferous matter poured forth from the Mass of the Blood that the Spirits being very much hindred from their wonted expansion and mutual commerce an heavy and invincible sleep seems to hang over them but because some sharp and highly active particles like so many goads cleave to these Spirits they are perpetually incited into motion and so some of them break thorow the ways howsoever fast shut and stopped with mounds and run forth either directly or obliquely as they can and thus such motions of theirs however confused and diverted by reason of impediments and not able to exercise compleatly the Animal function yet they easily drive away or hinder its cessation and rest for this reason indeed such who are distemper'd with this Disease are like those living under the Pole who only see
evident cause so that oftentimes the distemper'd are well enough but by reason of their evil manner of living or other accidents they become Vertiginous but sometimes this Distemper becoming habitual they are found to be obnoxious to it almost at all times Secondly As to the feat of this Disease there is a notable difference for this is sometimes more outward as is seen happening in the Callous body and hath almost only the tumults and failings of the Spirits and the wandring inconstant and often confused acts of notions and sense in the forepart of the Head but sometimes the Morbific matter falling down more backward about the streaked bodies stirs up the Scotomy or turning of the Head and a loss or failing of the motive function that oftentimes the Eyes are darkened and they reel or stumble and their Legs fail them As to the prognostick of this Disease the symptomatick or accidental Vertigo yea almost all the others while fresh are free from much danger and are easily to be Cured But the habitual and almost continual although great danger and suddenly to fall is rarely threatned yet because it admits of only a difficult and long Cure it so tires out both the Patient and the Physician that before the Disease can be Cured they both become weary of one another The primary Vertigo being placed before or more outward which hath scarce a darkness or falling accompanying it is more safe and healable but is often changed into an inveterate Headach and sometimes also it is cured of it self by an Haemorrhage or bleeding at the nose or by a flowing down of the Haemorrhoids it is also oftentimes taken away by Medicine The Vertiginous Distemper arising behind and intercepting the beamings forth of the Spirits into the Nerves is far more dangerous and oftentimes passes into an Apoplexy or a Palsie or into Convulsive Diseases There does not properly belong to the symptomatick Vertigo any Curatory Method There it is only needful to joyn some Cephalick Remedies discussing the clouds of the Brain and quieting the disorders of the Spirits to those other primary indications or rather that we may speak to the capacity of the vulgar which ought to be done sometimes though feignedly let some Medicines contrary to Vapors be added The accidental Vertigo or any other fresh or newly taken may be healed with Phlebotomy and a gentle Purge and sometimes iterated but that the Disease may be more certainly extirpated let there be besides administer'd carefully Cephalick Remedies such as are anon described For the Cure of an habitual Vertigo and become inveterate there ought to be instituted almost the like method as is against most other Cephalick Diseases which suggests these three chief intentions of healing viz. in the first place must be endeavoured that the root or nest of the Disease may be cut off and that the brain may remain free from any new flowings in of the Morbific matter for which end a right order of dyet being commanded sometimes letting of blood and most often a gentle Purge in the intervals are convenient Let a dry and open air be chosen let immoderate and untimely sleep and study be shunned let morning and evening draughts be wholly abstained from in the place of the former let a draught of Tea or Coffee with Sage leaves boiled in it be given Let an Issue be made in the Leg or Arm and sometimes let the Hemorrhoidal Vessels be kept open with Leeches let the distemper'd rise early in the morning and wash every day the fore-part of his Head with water and also his Temples and rub them with a course cloth Secondly The second curatory intention is to take away the Procatartick or more remote foregoing causes wherefore endeavour that both the Dyscrasie or evil disposition of the Blood may be removed and also that the weak and too loose constitution of the Brain may be mended For the former altering remedies chiefly are convenient as temperate Antiscorbuticks and sometimes Spaw Waters or Whey To which always may be added for the latter indication Cephalick Medicines to wit such as are prepared of Coral Amber humane Skull the root of the male Poeony Misleto the dung of a Peacock and the like the forms of which we shall shew you by and by The third Intention which is properly curatory endeavours to take away the Conjunct Cause of this Disease which however the Procatartick Causes being removed for the most part ceases of it self for if the coming of every extraneous Matter into the Brain be cut off there will remain nothing but pure and clear Spirits and they having gotten open and free spaces within the Callous Body will from thence flow forth on every side However for the scope of healing this you must prosecute it with the former with Medicines indued with a volatile salt whose particles being very subtil and active do refresh the Animal Spirits of which sort are chiefly Spirits of Harts-Horn Sut of Sal Armoniack c. impregnated with Amber and humane Skull Tinctures of Coral Amber Antimony Elixir of Poeony c. These things being premised concerning the Vertigo in general it will seem to the purpose to draw or shadow forth the Curatory Method particularly and as it were to direct you by a thred and in the first place is shewn what is to be done for the Cure in the fit and what out of it for prevention 1. As to the first although the invasion of the Vertigo seem cruel it is for the most part without danger and easily passes over of its own accord In such a case if the Pulse shews it let Phlebotomy be made use of after having given a Glyster but because the sick think themselves dying and expect medicinal help in that case let there be Blisters made in the Neck and stinking things held to the Nose as Castor the Spirits or Salt of Harts-horn or Urine or of Sal Armoniack Further let these Spirits be given twice or thrice a day with a convenient Dose of Cephalick Iulep going to sleep let them take a Bolus of Mithridate with the Powder of Castor let them take the next day if the Distemper doth not yet vanish a light Purge or if the sick be prone or easie to Vomit an Emetick than which a better Remedy can scarce be taken Take Pills of Amber twenty five grains of the Resine of Ialap six grains of Tartar Vitriolated seven grains of the Balsom of Peru what will suffice to make four Pills to be taken going to bed or early in the morning Or Take of the Sulphur of Antimony five grains of the Cream of Tartar half a scruple of Castor seven grains make a Powder Let it be taken with care expecting to Vomit That Vomiting Medicines do oftenest help in the Vertigo besides the testimony of Authors appears plain enough also from common observation and besides since those troubled with the Vertigo do often Vomit of their
same is wholly darkened and suffers a full eclipse The word Apoplexy denotes percussion and by reason of the stupendous nature of the Disease containing as it were something divine it is called a Sideration or Blasting for those taken with it being as it were Planet struck or with an invisible Numen fall suddenly to the ground and being deprived of sense and motion and the whole animal function ceasing unless that they breath they lye a long time as if dead and sometimes yield to death But if they revive oftentimes they are taken with an universal Palsie or else of one side The immediate subject of the Apoplexy and the nearest are the Animal Spirits inhabiting that region of the Brain where the principle faculties of the knowing or understanding soul reside to wit the Callous Body but we conclude the mediate subject to be the middle part of the Brain because from hence the instincts of all spontaneous motions proceed and in this the perceptions of all sensible things are terminated by what means the Cerebel and Praecordia and all the other parts both Animal and Vital are secundarily affected we shall shew anon when the symptoms of this Disease and their reasons are delivered Upon the coming of the Apoplectick fit all the acts of every spontaneous and knowing function to wit which depend upon the brain it self are forthwith hindred and cease the reason of which is because the Animal Spirits being suppressed in their chief place of meeting to wit the Callous Body both their next motion of expansion in that place as also their flowing forth into the nervous appendix is wholly defective For therefore by reason of such an eclipse of them in that place an immediate and an universal darkness is caused in the whole animal region which is under this government yet in the mean time the Pulse and respiration as also the motion of the Ventricle and Intestines are after a sort performed either perfectly and freely or at least interruptedly and with pain forasmuch as their actions proceed wholly from the Cerebel which is not at all or but little hurt by the Morbifick matter But it will seem difficult to be explained after what manner and from what causes the Animal Spirits are so suddenly and all at once suppressed and as it were extinguished about their first spring of emanation so that all sense and motion depending thereon ceases every where Concerning this there are many and diverse opinions of Authors whilst some place the cause of the Apoplexy in the Heart and others in the Brain then some lay the fault on the intemperance of that and others on the evil conformation of this Further the obstruction of the Brain is said by some to cause the Apoplexy in the greater Ventricles by others in its Pores or lesser passages then the obstruction being taken for the cause of the Disease and wholly binding up the lesser Pores of the Brain is said to excite the fit either because the afflux of the blood for the begetting of Spirits is hindred from those parts or because the flowing forth or emanation from thence of the Animal spirits is kept back It would be a tedious thing to examine the opinions of every one and to consider the weight of their reasons The Theory of this Disease seems to be very exactly delivered by the famous Webferus for in the first place for the finding out of its so abstruse and hidden causes he brings Histories or Anatomical observations in which the Phaenomena are declared in many dead Carcases of those dying of this Disease to wit in three struck or blasted he had found the blood extravasated or out of the Vessels here and there in great clodders and had largely marked the substance of the Brain in another the Serous Colluvies had overflowed the whole head both without and within the Skull From these footsteps of this most hidden Disease thus detected the Author concludes That the principal places affected are not the greater Ventricles but the middle marrowy substance of the Brain and Cerebel which is every where porous and indued with very small passages both that the vital spirits may flow in thither from the blood and that the animal may flow forth But indeed he affirms That the whole cause of every Apoplexy doth consist in these two viz. either in one of them or both of them together to wit either because the flowing of the blood thorow the Arteries to the Brain is deny'd or else by reason that the flowing forth of the Animal Spirit from the Brain and Cerebel thorow the Nerves and Spinal Marrow is prohibited or for both these causes together As to the former he proposes a threefold means whereby the blood may be hindred viz. First Either by reason of the obstruction of the inner Carotid Arteries and of the Vertebrals to wit which happens in the greater Vessels and chiefly about the ascent of the Brain from the blood concreted into cloddery pieces or in the lesser Vessels which pass thorow the brain from a Viscous Matter planted in them Or Secondly the flowing in of the blood is detained from the brain by reason of the compression of those Vessels which sometimes happens because the Paristhmia or Kirnels of the hinder part of the Neck do so swell up from a Serous heap of watry Humors that by pressing together the Arteries passing thorow shuts forth the passage of blood to the Head Or Thirdly The bloody flood may be hindred because a Vessel being preternaturally opened within the Skull great quantity of blood is poured forth which should otherways go to the benefit of the brain As to the other cause of the astonishing Disease viz. from the flowing forth of the Spirits being hindred he affirms that may be caused by two ways to wit either by reason of the obstruction of the beginning of all the Nerves caused by a serous inundation or by a sudden compression of the same which is caused either by an heaping up of too much blood in the Meninges or in some parts of the brain it self or in its Ventricles or else by a disposition of the Phlegmonodes These most ingenious reasons indeed seem to challenge our assent for that more probable or more likely are not easily to be brought but because we think some of these are to be altered and others to be added therefore we shall here institute though not a different yet somewhat another reason of this Disease And in the first place though we grant that the flowing in of the blood may be sometimes denyed to the Brain yet we do not believe that it only happens after the aforesaid ways nor that for that reason the Apoplexy doth arise We have elsewhere shewed that the Cephalick Arteries viz. the Carotides and the Vertebrals do so communicate one with another and all of them in several places are so ingraffed one in another mutually that if it happen that many
of them should be stopped or pressed together at once yet the blood being admitted to the Head by the passage of one Artery only either the Carotid or the Vertebral it would presently pass thorow all those parts both exterior and interior which indeed we have sufficiently proved by an experiment for that Ink being squirted in the trunk of one Vessel quickly filled all the sanguiferous passages and every where stained the Brain it self I once opened the dead carcase of one wasted away in which the right Arteries both the Carotid and the Vertebral within the Skull were become bony and impervious and did shut forth the blood from that side notwithstanding the sick person was not troubled with the astonishing Disease wherefore it may be doubted whether the blood excluded from the Brain by reason of some Arteries being obstructed or compressed doth bring forth this Disease Certainly there is more of danger that the cause of the Apoplexy should be from its too great incursion and extravasation within the Brain as it was in the three Apoplectick people cited by the Author and that not only because the marrowie substance of the Brain was deprived of the Blood coming to its use for such a defect might have been supplied by the other Vessels extending their branches every where but rather because by the extravasated Blood and not seldom being concreted into an hard and mighty bulk the marrow of the Brain is pressed together the passages of the Spirits being by that means shut up But indeed though we deny this to the afflux of the blood into the Brain being hindred in any part only yet it may be granted to its total exclusion for therefore we have often noted a want of all motion to be caused which Distemper however hath been rarely taken for the astonishing disease but rather is wont to be called a Syncopy or Swooning away or the Hysterical Passion If at any time the motion of the Heart be wholly suppressed presently the Blood being retained without the Brain the Animal Spirits fall down even as the light vanishes when the flame is put out The action of the Heart is stopped or hindred either by reason of the improportionate flowing in of the Blood as in the violent passions of fear or sadness or by reason of the Animal Spirits which serve for its motion being denyed by the Cerebel This we think to happen sometimes because of the Cardiack Nerves being Distemper'd with a Convulsion or otherways bound together after which manner it is usual in Convulsive and Hysterical Passions sometimes for the outward parts as the Arms and Legs and sometimes the Inward to wit the Praecordia and Viscera one after another to be affected but a want of motion follows the inordinations of these in which the sick lie for some time without motion or sense with a small or seldom beating Pulse as if dead Which indeed so seems to come to pass by reason of the Cardiack Nerves being contracted at that time and so the Spirits which were about to flow being suspended though we believe such a want of motion sometimes to be produced by the mere confusion of the Spirits within the Brain but in this case the heart it self is lively enough moved and the Pulse is also strong and landable But besides it seems most likely that the motion of the Heart is ofen suppressed or inhibited by reason of the Animal Spirits destinated to the vital function being suppressed in the fountain it self to wit within the Cerebel We have mentioned this to be done in the Distemper of the Incubus but without doubt it ought to be attributed to this cause for that I have observed in some a failing of the Spirits with a sudden privation of all the Animal functions to follow upon a great weight in the hinder-part of the Head in which the sick become senseless and immoveable with the Pulse and breathing very much lessened and scarce perceivable and lye quite cold for many hours yea oftentimes a day or two more like dead than living persons I have known sometimes those distemper'd to be stiff and cold Pulse and breathing to be thought quite gone and to be indeed esteemed quite dead and put into their Coffin yet after two or three days to have reviv'd again but whoever awakes out of this fit whether it be of short or long continuance does not for that reason fall into a Palsie or half Palsie of one side as those for the most part do who are distemper'd with the Apoplexy Further no doubt but that many die from such a Morbific cause whose death wrongfully hath been ascribed either to the mortal Syncopy or to the Apoplexy properly so called Truly the case afterwards described can only have the like reason given for it Wherefore though it may seem a Paradox yet it is not incongruous to reason that we affirm that there is a twofold Apoplexy one in the Cerebel which we but now described the other seated in the middle of the Brain into the causes of which and the manner of it we shall now inquire But here in the first place we must distinguish concerning the various assault or fit of this Disease to wit forasmuch as sometimes being excited without any previous disposition or Procatarxis from a sudden and solitary cause it is often invincible and for the most part mortal against this there can be no preventive method of healing or preservatories instituted and the Curatory method which is wont to be taken proves very oft ineffectual Or Secondly the Apoplectick fit having an antecedent cause or previous Procatarxis is brought into act by reason of various occasions or evident causes As to what belongs to the blasting or being stricken of the former kind to wit suddenly and unthought of its conjunct or next cause is either a great solution or breach of the unity happening some where within or near the middle of the Brain by reason of which its Pores and passages being obstructed or pressed together the whole emanation of the Spirits is suppressed or else it is an huge and sudden profligation of the Spirits or an extinction of those dwelling in the Brain We shall shew the formal reasons of both of them particularly and the several ways of their being affected Extravasated Blood the breaking of an Imposthum and a great flood of Serous humor plentifully flowing forth are wont to effect the greater breach of the unity within the Brain From Blood effused or extravasated within the Brain and there either growing together in clodders or striking on the affected places doth often times cause mortal Apoplectick fits as I my self have proved by Anatomical inspection in some others besides the instances brought by the famous Webfer but such Morbific extravasations of the Blood within the Brain proceed either from an external cause as a fall from on high or by a blow on the Head or by hitting it
against some hard thing and the like or from an inward cause to wit for that the Blood being sharp and thin and the little mouths of the Vessels and the places between being too loose it growing more than ordinarily hot either of its own accord or occasionally and flowing forth thorow these easily breaks into the soft and yielding substance of the Brain Further although we have assigned the seat of this Disease in the Callous Body yet the blood because effused somewhere nigh or above it because it compresses the underlying Marrow by intumifying the distemper'd places causes the Apoplectick fit Secondly An Imposthum or Ulcer is rarely wont to be excited within the Brain but often in the Meninges and almost for the same occasions by which the extravasation of the blood happens while it is ripening it causes only an Headach or heaviness but when it is broke the filthy stuff flowing from it into the shelly part of the Brain gnaws and putrâ—â—ies it and then by degrees instilling its putrid particles and very infeâ—tous to the Spirits into the middle or marrowie part of the Brain raises up at lasâ— the fit of the astonishing disease Thirdly The Serous heap or deluge being poured forth from the blood into the Head though rarely or never of it self yet sometimes by reason of more strong evident causes runs so suddenly into the Brain that filling and stuffing soon all its Marrowie Pores causes astonishment or deprivation of sense and motion And this I have known to happen to some from drinking of sharp thin Wine or Spaw-waters and sleeping upon it and I have observed the like effect from a long and total suppression of Urine also in Haemorrhages or fluxes of blood being suddenly stopped And lastly the Serous Recrements in malignant Feavours being translated to the Head by a critical transposition often causes a mortal senselessness or becoming speechless Another kind of evident causes from which sudden blasting or being smitten is wont to be caused consists in the sudden profligation or extinction of the Spirits which indeed doth not seldom or rarely happen from strong Narcoticks or Medicines causing sleep and also from the immoderate drinking of hot waters Though we have already discoursed concerning the use and effects of Opiates I cannot however pass over their way of affecting assigned by that most famous Doctor Webfer This Learned Man affirms That Narcoticks only do too much open and dilate the Pores and passages of the Brain and as it were open the doors of it before fast shut whereby every extraneous and incongruous thing is admitted into the Chamber or sleeping place of the Spirits together with the subtil liquor poured forth from the blood and so by a violent incursion dissipates their ranks and orders But indeed it appears from what hath been above said that Narcoticks do not only or always operate so for we have shewn that whilst they are yet within the Ventricle they often cause sleep and sometimes death it self Besides it should follow from thence that Opiates being often given should bring still a greater evil because by dilating more and more the Pores of the Brain they cause a much more easie entrance to all manner of impurities but truly it is clear enough that Narcoticks are most hurtful at the first time being taken and afterwards being often taken do little hurt so that some accustomed to Opium will devour a great quantity of it without hurt which is certainly a sign that this doth not so much alter the conformation of the Brain as that it doth immediately agitate or work upon the Animal Spirits whom at first because so very improportionate to them it slays with a mere blast then afterwards there being a certain familiarity between them and this Medicine it disturbs them not Thus much concerning the causes of the accidental and sudden Apoplexy which falls indifferently upon all men though not at all predisposed for which also there can be no preventive Medicines instituted and it is rarely that it is cured But besides we observe that this Disease is sometimes habitual and that it remains as a constant disposition in some men by reason of which at first they are exercised only with light skirmishes but after some time they become more grievous and of which at last for the most part they dye Concerning this therefore we shall inquire 1. what the Conjunct Cause of this Disease may be and the formal reason of it 2. In what the Apoplectick Disposition or Procatarxis of the Disease consists Then 3. What Evident Causes it hath 1. As to the first we may suppose upon the coming of the Apoplectick fit that a certain matter before heaped up and dispersed in the compass of the Brain at length doth descend into its middle or marrowie part and there doth assault all the Spirits and suppress and beat them down in the very fountain of their emanation Although it doth not plainly appear whether they effect it either by stuffing only the Pores of the Marrow or by driving away the Spirits themselves or by inflicting on them a numness notwithstanding it is likely that it may be done by either of the ways And indeed we say the medullary Pores of the Brain may be somewhat stopped or obstructed because the same matter which at first setling on the Callous Body caused senselesness being sliden down from thence lower into the Callous Body and then stuffing its Pores is wont to excite the Palsie of one side But yet we may not conclude that the sideration or being struck doth arise only from the Pores of the Brain being stopped because then the fit would oftentimes creep on them gently and by little and little forasmuch as all the Pores cannot be possessed by the inflowing matter at once but successively and some after others But when as this Distemper leaps upon one suddenly and like lightning what can we conceive less than that the Spirits are struck down as it were by a blast from the malignant contact of the matter rushing upon them For it seems that its particles descending on every side from the compass of the Brain into its middle part or the Callous Body and entring it from every part do presently fill the passages how strait so ever they be and drive to flight hither and thither the Spirits and compel them into a close place who being then beset and reduced to a strait corner when they can neither resist long or are able to penetrate into other Pores possessed by the Morbifick matter at length are struck flat down letting go every function of the knowing soul but then they do not easily nor quickly rise up again because they are not able to quit themselves from the embraces or bonds of the malignant matter nor pass any where into empty or open places wherefore they lie long suppressed till at length sometimes perhaps that matter though leasurely is dssâ—pated or supped up into
the Blood or issuing forth from the little Pores of the Marrow slides forward into the Ventricles of the Brain or at length that matter sliding a little lower and being impacted on the Streaked Bodies either one or both of them causes the Hemiplegia or half Palsie or the Palsie In the mean time as the Spirits within the Callous Body grow free and getting wider spaces they resume their wonted offices which they indeed execute until new matter springing again in the compass of the Brain and being by degrees increased descending into the Callous Body brings on another fit out of which if the Spirits get not by either of the aforesaid ways being wholly discomfited they perish by degrees If you should ask after the nature or disposition of this Morbific matter it may be suspected that the Animal Spirits in the Apoplexy are plainly affected after another manner than in Convulsive passions to wit those obnoxious to this blasting obtain a Copula contrary to the explosive that is Vitriolick rather than Nitro-sulphureous and so by it their spiritous-saline particles are wholly fixed and are hindred from entring into any motions or explosions even as when the Vitriolick particles being beaten and combined with the fulminating gold they quite take away its explosive or letting off virtue and congeal and render immoveable all other active particles like the blowing of a freezing air The Animal Spirits seem to be not unlike the same and their Copula's have divers sorts of adjuncts some of which induce an Elastick and very explosive virtue as in the Convulsive Distempers and others a stupor numness or immobility as in the sleepy Diseases and also in the Apoplexy and Palsie Thus much concerning the Conjunct Cause and formal reason of the Apoplexy as to its Procatartick or fore-leading Causes they are much after the same manner as in most other Cephalick Distempers to wit both the Blood is in fault for that it affords to the Head extraneous particles and very contrary or as it were destructive to the Texture or constitution of the Animal Spirits either begotten in it self or taken from some other place and then the Brain is in fault for that being weak in its disposition and so its Pores and passages too dissolute and lax so that it always and easily admits without impediment the Morbific matter poured forth from the Blood There is no need that we should here reherse or unfold particularly the peculiar reasons of either and the various ways by which it is done but we shall rather referr you to what we have already said very largely concerning the foreleading causes of the inveterate Headach and also of the Lethargy Further the like or the same evident causes which were noted in those Distempers and in other sleepy Diseases ought here to be taken notice of to be shunned carefully by Apoplectick people From what hath been said the differences of this Disease may be easily known 1. What we mentioned but now The Apoplexy is either accidental which is suddenly and at once excited without any foregoing cause and almost indifferently in all from some strong evident cause or it is wont to be esteemed habitual which depending upon a previous disposition hath frequent fits by reason of several occasions 2. From the reason of the subject this Disease is said to be proper either to the Brain or Cerebel or common to both previous and frequent Scotomies or dizziness with mists before the eyes and the Distemper of the Vertigo denote the Brain more obnoxious to this Disease A frequent Night-Mare intermitting Pulse often Swooning and failing of the Spirits argue the Cerebel to be evilly disposed 3. In respect of magnitude it is either universal every function both merely natural and the spontaneous ceasing or it is partial this or that part being affected by it self then for that the faculties of either now all now many only yet none excepted suffer an eclipse for in either regiment the morbific matter descending to the middle or marrowie part possesses sometimes all its whole substance sometimes part of it to wit the fore part hinder or middle part 4. In respect of the antecedent cause the Apoplectical disposition is either hereditary or innate or acquired by means of an evil dyet or other accidents The prognostick or fore-judging of this Disease is always denounced deadly or dubious for the Apoplexy is never without present or future danger But it is worst of all in which besides the abolition of all the spontaneous functions the Pulse and breathing also are either deficient or are performed laboriously and then for the most part it happens with a foam at the mouth and snorting upon which comes a sweat which is often like melted greace and indicates a very sudden death to be at hand Those who are blasted or strucken and are presently deprived of Pulse and breathing and a little after growing cold and seem dead or without any life are not presently to be had from bed or left destitute of Medicinal helps further though there be no hopes of life they ought not to be buried under three or four days because such do sometimes revive again either of their own accord or by the use of Rememedies which certainly comes to pass not because a vital heat is at last stirred up in the heart for it is not there extinguished altogether but because the Morbific matter being discussed or evaporated from the Cerebel the motion of the heart is restored like a Clock when the weights are put on In the Apoplectical fit if any help follows upon letting of Blood there is hope of health But if after this and other Remedies the Distemper continues without intermission above the space of a night or a day or grows worse the case is desparate If after the first speechless fit being over the sick person becomes more nummed and duller and distemper'd with a Scotomy and frequent Vertigo it is a sign that he will be obnoxious to more fits of this astonishing Disease for the aforesaid distempers proceed from the Morbific matter already laid up in the compass of the Brain and there flowing sprinklingly and thence descending thorow the very small Pores only into the middle part which matter whether Vitriolick or Narcotick growing to a greater fulness calls on this blasting or being suddenly smitten The Therapeutick Method is either Curatory for the taking away the fit when it is upon one or preservatory to prevent it that it may not return the former belongs to every Apoplexy the other only to the habitual The assault or fit of this Disease being come if it proceeds not from some outward or vehement hurt of the head although it is not known whether it be excited or no from an invincible cause such as the Blood being let forth of the Vessels or the breaking of an Imposthum in the Brain yet we ought carefully to endeavour the Cure of it And because the
changed therefore instead of the Electuary let there be substituted for two or three weeks sometimes the Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Amber or Coral or else impregnated with humane Skull or Castor sometimes Elixir of Poeony or Tincture of Amber or Coral or Elixir Vitae of Quercitan or the simple mixture also instead of it may be drunk compounded Waters or Water of black Cherries or Walnuts or the simple Waters of Rosemary or Lavender sometimes a draught of Posset-drink with Flowers of the male Poeony or the Lilies of the valley boiled in it or a draught of Tea or Coffee in the morning let the water of which it is prepared have such ingredients first boiled in it or let Chocolate be prepared after this same manner Take of the Powder of the Root of the male Poeony of humane Skull prepared each half an ounce of the Species of Diambrae two drams make a Powder to every paper add of the Kirnels of the Cocoe Nuts one pound of Sugar what will suffice of this make Chocolate take of it half an ounce or six drams every Morning in a draught of the Decoction of Sage or of the Flowers of Poeony or such like Take of the Powder of the Root of the male Poeony of humane Skull prepared each one ounce and a half of the pick'd Root of Zedoary Cretick Dittany Angelica Contrayerva each two drams make a fine Powder of them all add to it of the yellow of Orenges and Lemons Candied each two ounces let all be beaten to a Powder take about half a dram or a dram an hour before and after meals For ordinary drink let a Vessel of four gallons be filled with ordinary Ale in which six handfuls of white Horehound dryed had been boiled of Anacardine and Cardomums cut and beaten each one ounce and a half of it make a bag to hang in it First of all a very strict dyet ought to be ordered let a temperate dry and open air be chosen let good and wholesome meats be eaten and slender meals Let suppers be sparingly taken or none at all Let noon-sleeps drinking bouts and other customary things about the non-naturals be shunned I could here propose many Histories of Apoplectical persons to wit of some who were once or twice touch'd and yet living and of others who have dyed at the first assault or in the second or third fit The most Reverend Father in God the Lord Gilbert Archbishop of Canterbury recovered of a grievous Apoplectical Fit six years ago God prospering our medicinal help to whom we render eternal thanks and from that time though he sometimes suffer'd some light skirmishes of the Disease yet he never fell or became speechless or senseless But we shall not stay upon this or other examples to unfold them largely because there is nothing in them very rare that may illustrate the Aetiology of this Disease Some of their dead Carcases I have dissected but only of such as the cause of death was from some former great hurt of the head as some blow or by means of some blast in all which the extravasated Blood or an Imposthum was the cause of their death We have been prohibited often by their Friends from opening those dying of an habitual Apoplexy who expecting to have them revive again held it as a deadly thing and so wholly forbid Anatomy But I shall here relate a notable Anatomical observation taken about five years since at Oxford An ancient Divine an honest and a godly Man indued with a fat body a short and brawny Neck being long unhealthy and living a sedentary life contracted a very Scorbutick evil disposition being troubled with a difficult and laborious breathing with an heaviness of the Head and unwonted numness was scarce able to endure any thing of labour or exercise more than that he daily went and came from his Chamber to the Chapel and Hall one Morning he came to the Chapel a little before Prayers begun and while he was on his knees he was suddenly struck and immediately became speechless and senseless and fell on the ground but being carried thence and his cloaths taken off he was put into a warm Bed I and other Physicians being presently sent for and coming as soon as we could possibly we found him not only without Pulse sense and breathing but all his Body cold and quite stiff nor could he be recalled to life or heat by any Remedies or ways of administrations though used for some time by which we suspected that the Pulse of his heart was wholly hindred at the first stroke and that its flame being put out presently all motion of the Blood was suppressed The next day seeing the Carcase dead enough and stiff we opened it nothing doubting but that the Distemper so suddenly mortal would shew clear marks of it within the Head But there or in any other part was not the least shadow of this most cruel Disease The Vessels watering the Meninges were moderately filled with Blood without any Inflammation or Extravasation The Brain the Cerebel and the oblong Marrow with all their processes and prominences appeared every where thoroughout firm and well coloured both without and within nor was there any Serum or Blood poured forth any where within the Pores or passages nor yet within the greater Ventricles nor heaped up yea the Choroeidal Infoldings placed both within the cavity of the Brain and behind the Cerebel seem'd free from all fault so that the Morbific matter equally thin and subtil like the Animal Spirits whom it affected remained wholly invisible and we could only argue its presence by the effect But lest this should lye hid some where without the Head after the contents of the head were diligently inspected we came to the Breast where the discoloured Lungs being through the whole stuffed with a frothy matter manifestly shewed the cause of the short and difficult breathing But the Heart was sound and firm enough free from any obstruction or fleshy Concretions Further neither in the neighbouring parts or in others about the Viscera was found any Imposthum or Ulcer by whose contact or stink the Heart could be suddenly oppressed or the Vital Spirits if this be possible might be choaked Wherefore in this case nothing could be suspected else but that the Animal Spirits implanted within the middle of the Cerebel were put to flight and as it were extinguished suddenly by some malignant or narcotick or otherways deadly Particles so that the motion of the Heart presently failing like the first moving wheel in a Clock or Watch immediately all the other functions their impulses being taken away wholly ceased CHAP. IX Of the Palsie THE middle of the Brain or the Callous Body to which we have assigned the seat of the Vertigo and Apoplexy seems also to be the primary distemper'd place in the Epilepsie Concerning which as also concerning Convulsie Diseases since we have elsewhere largely treated we shall
opening them any longer But we shall rather pass to the other conjunct cause of the Palsie which more immediately affecting the Animal Spirits and sometimes striking down and as it were extinguishing them by mere contact or as it were by a malignant blast brings in a resolution or loosening in the respective parts What we before affirmed in the Apoplexy we now again do the same in the Palsie that there are deadly Particles not only oppilative or stopping but sometimes Narcotick or Stupefactive and as it were extinguishers of the Spirits which kind of affection if it be strong causes sometime Paralytick Symptoms without any great obstruction of the ways The breath or steams of Antimony Mercury or Auripigment often causes weaknesses tremblings and loosening of the Members in such as are long conversant among the Furnaces of Chymists and of Metals We may in like manner believe that in some Scorbutick and very Cacochymical people heterogeneous Particles and as it seems of a Vitriolick nature passing thorow the Brain and its marrowy appendix do enter into the nervous passages together with their watering Juice and cast down some handfuls of the Spirits in them or suppress their motion Hence suddenly arise stupors numness or looseness in the Members or Muscles sometimes in these sometimes in those and soon after vanishing in one place presently spring up again in another But at length when these sort of Particles being abundantly poured forth into the Nerves and laid up in heaps they become variously fixed here and there and moreover shut up the ways of the Spirits and so cause a fixed and permanant Palsie And indeed in every Palsie made by obstruction the Morbific matter is not thick and cold Phlegm as Galen and many other Physicians have asserted for such doth not pass thorow the Brain much less the nervous passages but it seems to consist of most subtil and very active Particles though infestous or deadly to the animal regiment But indeed the Palsie happens in Men no otherwise than the blasting or burning or withering in Trees because some winds being indued with very frigid or cold blasts to wit with a Nitrous or a Vitriolick Spiriâ—â— when they blow upon the green and tender sprigs of trees cause them suddenly to wither for that the tender stalks like Nerves every where inter-woven with the sprigs and leaves are bound together by the blast of the malignant air so fully that they receive not any more the Juice sent from the Trunk or Root by reason of which defect they wither Much after the same manner extraneous Particles and as it were Vitriolick being admitted within the organs of sense and motion for that they at once bind up the Pores or cast down or suppress from motion the Animal Spirits cause in the respective parts as it were a withering or drying up But this is not so caused by mere Phlegm or a Serous â—â—ood as plainly appears because those indued with a moist and cold Brain have always their Nose and Eyes moist with the distillation of a snotty or watry humor yea those who are troubled with a Dropsical Brain in which the Brain and the tops of either Marrow do as it were swim in water are not for that reason disposed to the Palsie unless by the pressing together of the Marrow We have hitherto described the various cases of the Palsie and the means by which it is caused together with their â—everal formal reasons and conjunct causes As to what belongs to the other causes of this Disease we must first distinguish that it is either accidental or habitual The former happens to some from a solitary evident cause such as a stroke wound bruise and excess of either heat or cold without any previous disposition and besides this and the conjunct cause which for the most part is a compression or breach of the unity it hath none The habitual Palsie depends upon a Procatartick cause which is always an extraneous and as it were a Vitriolick matter begotten somewhere before and heaped up which being from thence suffused into the organs of sense and motion for that it stops up the marrowy or nervous Tracts or sometimes profligates the Spirits by mere contact or effects both together brings forth loosenings in the respective parts by reason of the influence of the Spirits being deny'd them This kind of Procatarxis or foregoing Cause depends upon a twofold antecedent or secret leading cause to wit one remote which is a vicious Blood carrying to the Head a Morbific matter either begotten in it self or taken from the Bowels or some other place and the other more near which is an indisposed Brain to wit weak and too lax or loose or otherways evilly made and so easily admitting heterogeneous or strange and deadly Particles The Morbific matter being brought to the Brain sometimes induces the Palsie primarily but more often secondarily and not but after other Diseases first excited The reason of the former to wit that the habitual Palsie be a primary Disease and by it self requires these two things viz. That the heterogeneous Particles be disposed chiefly for the causing or stirring up the Palsie then that they be admitted by degrees and but in small quantity for if they enter in great heaps they would first cause the Carus or Apoplexy and if they be not of a plain Vitriolick nature or quality when having passed thorow the Brain they come to enter into the organs of Sense and Motion they would first occasion in them Convulsive and painful Distempers yea sometimes the Colick Gout or Scurvy first and then at length the Palsie 2. The secondary Palsie often succeeds Distempers for the most part Chronical after the natural and vital faculties being by them very much hurt a slow and long Feavour strength being at length worn out causes oftentimes enervations or resolutions of the whole Body or of some Members Long and immoderate sadness a Consumption a Scorbutick Atrophy or wasting being long fixed in Bed unhealthy old Age yea and many other passions after a notable evil first brought to the Brain and nervous Stock at length brings on the Palsie But indeed this Disease more frequently comes upon some other Distempers either of the Brain as chiefly the Carus and Apoplexy or of the nervous stock and such chiefly are the Scurvy Convulsions Colick and Gout By what means it succeeds Cephalick Diseases we have already shewed in this and how the Scurvy in another tract we shall now inquire how it is often the off-spring of the other three 1. We have shewn already that the Spasme or Cramp or Convulsion doth sometimes bring in the Palsie to wit when from contrary or opposite Muscles being one of them loosened and the other pulled together Further it is an usual thing for those who are long obnoxious to Convulsive Distempers to suffer at length debilities in some members and at length resolutions or want of motion I
as if they were enervated and cannot stand upright and dare scarce enter upon local motions or if they do cannot perform them long yea some without any notable sickness are for a long time fixed in their Bed as if they were every day about to dye whilst they lye undisturbed talk with their Friends and are chearful but they will not nor dare not move or walk yea they shun all motion as a most horrid thing Without doubt in these although the Animal Spirits do after a manner actuate and irradiate the whole nervous Stock yet their numbers are so small and in so few heaps that when as many spirits ought to be heaped together somewhere in it for motion there is great danger lest presently in the neighbouring parts their continuity should be broken Wherefore when the spirits inhabiting the Brain are conscious of the debility of others disposed in the Members they themselves refuse local motions for that it would be too difficult a task to impose on their companions wherefore the sick are scarce brought by any perswasion to try whether they can go or not Nevertheless those labouring with a want of Spirits who will exercise local motions as well as they can in the morning are able to walk firmly to fling about their Arms hither and thither or to take up any heavy thing before noon the stock of the Spirits being spent which had flowed into the Muscles they are scarce able to move Hand or Foot At this time I have under my charge a prudent and an honest Woman who for many years hath been obnoxious to this sort of spurious Palsie not only in her Members but also in her tongue she for some time can speak freely and readily enough but after she has spoke long or hastily or eagerly she is not able to speak a word but becomes as mute as a Fish nor can she recover the use of her voice under an hour or two In this kind of spurious Palsie arising from the defect or rather the weakness of the Animal Spirits than from their obstruction it may be suspected that not only the Spirits themselves as to their first numbers of them and particular originals are in fault but besides that sometimes the imbecillity and impotency of local motion doth in some measure also depend upon the fault of the explosive Copula suffused every where from the blood into the moving Fibres For indeed from a very Cacochymical blood or full of juice and for that cause vappid and liveless as the Animal Spirits are but few that are instilled into the Brain so it is probable that those themselves derived from the Brain into the Nerves being disposed at length within the muscular Fibres do meet with other Nitro-sulphureous Particles which we have somewhere shown to be necessarily required to the Musculary motion from the so vitious blood that are but dull and degenerate from the Elastick power wherefore indeed the Spirits being concreted so evilly within the Muscles even as Gun-powder being full of more thick feculences rarely and weakly perform the acts of explosions As to what belongs to the other species of the Palsie in which the sensitive faculty is also affected we say that this is hurt either by it self or together with the motive and such an hurt of both together doth almost only happen forasmuch as the passages and ways of the Spirits are more firmly shut up so that whether they tend forward or backward all their irradiation is intercepted That sometimes happens though rarely from the Morbific matter fallen down from the Brain into the oblong Marrow but more often by reason of a grievous hurt of the Spine or Back-bone as from a fall from on high stroke or wound inflicted on them For from such occasions by compressing the marrowy cord or by too much distending or writhing it all the tracts of the Spirits are blotted out Sometimes the sensitive faculty is hurt by it self the motive being still safe this is sufficiently obvious and the reason very clear of the organs whose Nerves are only sensible to wit as of the sight hearing tast and smell But indeed that in the extream habit of the body or members the touch or feeling sometimes perishes the loco-motive power being unhurt as is ordinarily discerned in Lepers those distemper'd with the Elephantiasis and some Mad-men who are wont to go naked and lye on the ground whose skin and musculous flesh are so benumned that they feel not the gashes made in their flesh with a Pen-knife nor Needles any where thrust into them this I say seems very hard to be unfolded But as to this it may be said that perhaps the same Nerves carry the instincts of motions and the impressions of sensible things forward and backward or to and fro but that the same Fibres which are loco-motive are not altogether or chiefly sensible We have elsewhere shewed that its power is performed by the tendinous and musculous Fibres but the sensible Species is almost only received by the membranaceous Fibres wherefore the outer skin is the primary organ of feeling after this the Membranes covering the Muscles and lastly those constituting the Viscera are somewhat affected by the Tangible object Wherefore the loss or hurt of feeling arises by reason of an hurt brought to the exterior Membranes to wit when the Fibres of these are obstructed by a Vitriolick matter or are benummed very much by excess of cold so that the Animal Spirits which ought to receive their impressions are excluded from their organs And indeed from hence it appears that these inhabiting the exterior Membranes are only affected because sense being lost the members wither not as when deprived of motion but remain full and round which is a sign that the Animal Spirits entring still the Nerves and fleshy Fibres do contribute their virtue to the office of nourishment after what manner we have already shewn but when motion is lost the Spirits are almost wholly banished from those parts and the flesh consumes because the nourishing matter though carried thorow the Arteries is not assimulated We have largely discoursed of this in our Treatise of the Nerves The Theory of this many-form'd Disease being now at length finished its kinds and differences all or at least the most and chiefest of it together with the reasons of each of them being rehearsed in order we shall shew next those things which belong to its prognosticks and Cure 1 Every Palsie whether accidental or habitual and either of them whether universal or partial or whether suddenly excited or by degrees if it happens that the knowing and vital faculty be unhurt it ought not to be accounted an acute Disease but being free from sudden danger admits a long Cure or at least an endeavour of it 2. This Disease coming from a solitary evident cause as from a stroke a fall wound c. or coming upon the Apoplexy Carus Convulsion the Colick
or other Distempers of the Brain or nervous System if it be not in a short time altered for the better or gives not place to Medicines it remains for the most part incureable 3. If that a total resolution follows from a total obstruction in the beginning of the oblong Marrow or from the Back-bone being vehemently hurt and that sense and motion are both taken away the Distemper is hardly or scarce at all to be Cured 4. Those who are once cured of a Palsie arising from an evident solitary cause do not so easily relapse into the same as when the Disease depends upon a procatartick cause 5. A Palsie happening to men of years to Cacochymical very Scorbutical and intemperate persons although the Distemper be not very great is difficultly Cured As the Palsies are manifold and are from diverse causes so the Cure is not to be instituted always after one manner but after a various method to wit appropriate to every kind of this Disease For the most part there are these three kinds of it or rather there are three means of healing of which there ought to be had concerning the Cure of this Disease now this now that or now another to wit because resolution whatever or in what place soever it be is either caused 1. from an external accident as a stroke a fall a wound excess of cold or the like suddenly Or 2. It succeeds to some other Distemper as the Apoplexy Carus Colick or a long Feavour Or 3. It is primary and a Disease by it self by degrees excited and depending upon a procatartick cause or a previous provision Concerning each of these we shall speak particularly 1. Therefore when the Palsie is caused by reason of some accident with a vehement hurt there are not many intentions of healing but only that the part hurt may recover its pristine conformation And first of all that the Blood and other humors flowing to it being weak and distemper'd and staying there might not increase the hurt Phlebotomy is most requisite in this case and presently to be celebrated then the belly being made slippery by the use of Clysters and a slender dyet if the matter requires it let there be instituted either easily digested meats or moderate Hydroticks or water meats to wit that whilst the sick is kept in bed he may continue in a gentle sweat that all the superfluities may copiously exhale from the hurt part and that the Spirits being gently agitated may repeat their former ways and tracts within those Pores and passages so unlocked by the warm Effluvia's For this end the Powder ad Casum described in the Augustan Pharmacopoea or as it is in ours is of common use let there be given of Irish Slate to the quantity of about a dram in a draught of white Wine warm'd or of Posset-drink made of it and repeated every six or eight hours Besides if there be at hand the Decoctum Traumaticum let it be taken ever now and then frequently in Posset-drink or a Decoction of the Roots of Madder or of Butter-bur or of St. Iohns-wort Flowers Further in the mean time let the distemper'd part be carefully lookt to which may be easily known partly from the hurt inflicted and partly from the loosened members If there be any thing dislocated in it you must take care that as soon as it can it may be put again in its place if a Tumor Contusion or a wound be excited they are to be succour'd by Balsams Liniments Stuphes or Fomentations or Pultesses But if nothing preternatural appears outwardly let a Plaster of Oxycrocium and of Red-lead each alike what will suffice be laid upon it and let the sick be kept quiet and in a moderate heat for three or four days If the resolution remains confirmed and the afflux of new matter be not feared let more resolving and discussing Remedies be applied to the distemper'd places wherefore make use of Fomentations and hotter Oyntments yea natural Baths if they are at hand or at least artificial Sometimes it may be expedient for the distemper'd Members to be wrapped in Horse-dung or in warm grains and to be kept so for some time and lastly between whiles besides the use of these to add Clysters and gentle Purges But if no help follows these administrations the sick ought then to be handled with the like long method and with the same Remedies as those that have an habitual Palsie or any other coming upon other Diseases and confirmed which means of Cure for every common Palsie more deeply rooted shall be shewed anon 2. When the Palsie coming upon a Feavour Apoplexy Carus or other Cephalick or Convulsive Diseases is greatly and suddenly excited first the Physician ought to endeavour the taking away of the conjunct cause which hath almost ever its seat in the oblong or spinal Marrow Wherefore at the beginning of the Disease Blood-letting and Purging if nothing shews the contrary Clysters Vesicatories Cupping-glasses Sneezing Powders Oyntments and other administrations used in Cephalick Diseases to wit which by any means may shake off or pull away the deadly matter fixed to the Medullary Trunk or to the little heads of the Nerves coming from it are to be made use of If that at first the force of Medicine effects nothing within fifteen or twenty days for that the Distemper is radicated and become habitual it must be expunged by a long method and equally by preservatory as well as curatory Indications of which we shall speak anon 3. The habitual Palsie depending upon a procatartick cause whether it be in fieri or in disposition or whether it be made or in the nest or bird either requires a peculiar means of healing There are two chief causes of the former in both which the Curatory Method respecting only the fore-leading Causes is designed after the like manner to wit whether any falling dangerously ill of the Palsie or growing well of it relapses into danger the same Remedies almost are to be insisted on The intentions therefore of healing are First That the offices of Chilification and of making of Blood be rightly performed and matter for the procreating the Animal Spirits be supplied both laudable and sufficient to the Head then Secondly That the Brain being still firm and well made the heterogeneous Particles being excluded it may admit all that are fitting and rightly exalt then into Animal Spirits For these ends I think convenient to propose the following method which ought to be varied according to the various constitutions of the sick In Spring and Fall that they enter into the ordinary course of Physick yea the whole year besides some Remedis are in constant use Blood-letting is not always convenient to all men But though we forbid this it is not for the same reason with the Ancients supposing the Palsie to be a cold Disease but because the Animal Spirits are both procreated out of the Blood and
become also Elastick in the motional Fibres by reason of the bloody Copula therefore if plenty of this be taken away they grow weak and deficient Which thing indeed I have observed in many and for the most part languishings and tremblings to have been begun in the Arm out of which the blood had been taken However in some indued with a sharp and hot blood and apt to flame forth too much though disposed to the Palsie it is sometimes convenient to let blood a little and sparingly About the Aequinox a Purge ought to be instituted and after due times between to be iterated three or four times But first if nothing oppose let a Vomit be given of the Salt of Vitriol Sulphur of Antimony or an Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or of Mercurius Vitae then let there be taken Pills of Amber or of Aloephanginae by it self or with the Resine of Ialap every seventh or eighth day At other times we prescribe Cephalick Remedies such as in the sleepy Diseases viz. Electuaries Powders Spirits and Volatile Salts Tinctures Elixirs with distilled Waters and Apozems sometimes these sometimes those or others Let Issues be made in the Arm or Leg yea in fat people and such as are full of ill humors in both together or between the shoulders Let them drink all the year medicated Beer of Sage Betony Stechades Sassafrass Wood and Winterines Bark Wine and Women ought to be forbidden or but moderately to be used If that the Palsie be excited after a previous disposition either of one side or in some members and that it still continues notwithstanding the first attempt of Medicine a long and complicated method is always requisite and oftentimes doth not suffice for not only the Disease or its conjunct cause or its foregoing severally but all together ought to be opposed for which ends Phlebotomy being for the most part interdicted only a gentle Purge and rarely is convenient Besides some chief Cephalick Medicines and Antiscorbuticks are wont to help against the foregoing cause of this Disease But all of this sort are not convenient to all yea as we have observed in the Scurvey according to the various Constitutions of the Sick there are also Remedies of a diverse kind and virtue For to Cholerick Paralyticks to wit in whose sharp and hot Blood there is much of Salt and Sulphur and very little of Serum the more hot Medicines and indued with very active Particles are not agreeable yea are often hurtful which things notwithstanding are very profitable to Phlegmatick persons whose Blood is colder and contains much of Serum and but few active Elements Wherefore for this twofold state or condition of sick persons it seems convenenient that we institute here a double Method of Cure and two classes of Medicines of which these may be given to cold Parlyticks and those to the hot In the former case for the taking away the Procatartick cause after Vomiting and Purging being rightly instituted I was wont to prescribe according to these following forms Take of the Conserves of the leaves of the Garden Scurvy-grass of Rocket made with an equal part of Sugar each three ounces of Ginger Candied in India half an ounce of the rinds of Oranges and Lemons Candied each six drams of the Powder of the Claws and Eyes of Crabs each four scruples of the Species of Diambre two drams of Winterens Bark one dram and a half of the Roots of Zedoary the lesser Galingal of Cubebs the Seeds of Water-Cresses Rocket each one dram of the Spirits of Scurvy-grass Laevender each two drams of the Syrup of Candied Ginger what will suffice to make an Electuary Take of it about the quantity of a Walnut at eight of the Clock in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon drinking after it a pint of the following Decoction warm or Coffee with the leaves of Sage boiled in it six ounces of or â—per Wine three ounces Take of the shavings of Lignum Sanctum six ounces of Sarsaparilla and of Sassaphras each four ounces of white and yellow Sanders of the shavings of Ivory of Harts-horn each half an ounce infuse them according to art and boil them in sixteen pints of Spring water till half be consumed adding of Crude Antimony in Powder and tyed in a rag four ounces of the Root of the Aromatick Reed of the lesser Galingal each half an ounce of the Florentine Iris one ounce of Cardamums six drams of Coriander Seeds half an ounce six Dates make a Decoction to be used for ordinary drink Going to sleep and first in the morning let a Dose of the Spirits of Sut or Harts-horn or of Armoniacal Amber or of Blood c. be taken with three ounces of the following distilled water Take of the leaves or roots of Aron one pound of the leaves of Garden Scurvey-grass of the greater Rocket of Rosemary Sage Savory Thyme four handfuls of the Flowers of Lavender three handfuls the outer rinds of ten Oranges and six Lemons of Winterans Bark three ounces of the roots of the lesser Galingal of Calamus Aromaticus the Florentine Iris each two ounces of Cubebs Cloves Nutmegs each two ounces all being cut and bruised pour to them of white Wine and of Brunswick Beer or Mum each four pints distil it in common Stills and let all the liquor be mixed together Sometimes in the place of the Electuary may be taken for fifteen or twenty days a Dose of the Tincture of Sulphur Turpentined of the Tincture of Antimony or of Amber Also sometimes Elixir Proprietatis or of Poeony let them be taken in a spoonful of distilled Water drinking after it three ounces of the same Also sometimes the following Powders or Lozenges may be taken by turns in the medical course Take of the Powder of Vipers flesh of Monpillier prepared one ounce of the hearts and livers of the same half an ounce of Species Diambre two ounces make a Powder take one dram once or twice a day with the distilled Water three ounces or with Viper Wine with a Decoction of the leaves of Sage of the root and seeds of the Burdock and the Candied roots of Eringo made of Spring-water what will suffice and boiled to one moiety six or eight ounces in the Morning warm expecting to sweat after it Take of Bezoartick Mineral Solar half an ounce of Cloves powdered two drams mingle them make a Powder and divide it into twelve parts let one be taken after the same manner twice in a day between these kind of Remedies gentle purging may be often used Take of the Powder of the picked roots of Zedoary the lesser Galingal each half a dram of Species Diambre one dram of the Powder of the seeds of Mustard Rocket Scurvygrass Water-Cresses each half a dram make of them all a fine Powder add to it of the Oyl of the purest Amber half a dram and with white Sugar dissolved
in the compounded Poeony water and boiled up to the consistency of Lozenges six ounces make Lozenges according to art weighing each half a dram Eat of them three or four twice in a day drinking after every Dose of the liquors before mentioned Take of the Powder of Virginian Snakeweed two drams of the lesseâ— Galingal one dram of the gummed extracts of the remains of the distillation of the Elixir Vitae of Quercitan two drams of the Flowers of Sal Armoniack or the most pure Volatile Salt of Sut or Harts-horn one dram of the Balsom of Peru one scruple of the Balsom of Capivus what will suffice to make a mass let it be made into small Pills involved in the Species Diambre The Dose is half a dram evening or morning Take of the Resine or Gum of Guaicum three drams of the Species Diambre one dram of the Chymical Oyl of Guaicum rightly rectified one dram and a half of liquid Amber what will suffice to make a mass let it be formed into Pills to be taken after the same manner If that the Palsie happens in a Cholerick temper or to a young Man it admits only of milder Medicines and all the more hot things and Elastick do but imbitter the Disease The following forms are in use for the taking away of its foregoing cause Take of the Conserves of the Flowers of Betony of Fumitory of Primroses each two ounces of the Species Diambre one dram of Ivory Crabs Eyes and Claws each four scruples of the Powder of the Flowers of Poeony two drams of Lignum Aloes of yellow Sanders each one dram of the Salt of Wormwood one dram and a half and with the Syrup of the Flowers of Poeony what will suffice make an Electuary The Dose is two drams twice in a day drinking after it either the simple water of the Flowers of Aron or of the following Compounded Water three ounces or of the Decoction of Sage with the leaves of Tea infused in it four or six ounces Take of the Roots of Aron or Cuckopint of the male Poeony Angelica Imperatoria each half a pound of the Flowers of Sage Rosemary Marjoram Brooklime Water-Cresses each four handfuls of the rinds of six Oranges and four Lemons of Primroses Cowslips Marigold flowers each three handfuls let them be all bruised and cut and pour to them of new Milk six pints of Malaga Wine one quart distil them in common Stils and let the whole liquor be mixed together Sometimes instead of the Electuary may be taken between whiles for fourteen or fifteen days of the Syrup of Steel of which let one spoonful be taken in three ounces of the distilled Water It may be made after this manner Take of the whitest Sugar dissolved in black Cherry Water and boil'd up to a consistency eight ounces adding to it of our Steel in Powder three drams let them be stirred together over the fire and then by degrees pour to it of the Water of Rosemary warm twelve ounces let it boil gently for a quarter of an hour scumming it and pouring it forth warm thorow an hair sieve or strainer There may be also made steeled Lozenges after this manner to wit with Sugar sufficiently boiled with Steel adding of the Chymical Oyl of Amber or of Rosemary half a dram and presently let it be poured forth that it may flow into a consistency of Lozenges The Dose is two drams twice in a day drinking after it of distilled Water or of the following Apozem six ounces Take of China Root one ounce of the shavings of Ivory Harts-born each half an ounce of white and yellow Sanders of the Wood of the Mastick-tree each half an ounce let them be infused in warm water and close stopt for a whole night six pints in the morning add to them of the Roots of Chervil of sweet smelling Avens of Broom and Parsley each one ounce and a half of the dryed leaves of ground Ivy Sage Germander Betony each one handful of Coriander seeds three drams let them be boiled till half is consumed then add to it of white Wine half a pint and strain it into a jugg upon the leaves of Water-Cresses bruised two handful Let it infuse warm and close shut for two hours strain it again and keep it in a close Vessel well stopt In the Scorbutick Palsie the Juices and expressions of Herbs do often bring notable help Take of the leaves of Brooklime Water-Cresses and Plantan fresh gathered each four handfuls bruise them together and pour to them of the distilled Water but now described eight ounces squeese the juice strongly forth and keep it in a glass and take of it twice or thrice in a day three or four ounces At the extream Physical hours viz. Morning and Evening may be taken these following Pills Take of Millipedes prepared three drams and a half of Pearls one dram and a half of the Root of the Cretick Dittany one dram Venice Turpentine what will suffice to make a mass let it be formed into small Pills the Dose is half a dram drinking after it a draught of the distilled Water For ordinary drink let there be prescribed either a Bochet of Sarse China yellow Sanders c. or small Ale with the dryed leaves of ground Ivy boiled in it and of Sage with the Wood of Sassafras infused therein 2. Whilst these things are doing for the taking away the foregoing cause of the Disease there is no less a curatory care required for its conjunct cause to wit that all obstructed places being opened they might admit the Animal Spirits free from stupefaction and that they may pass freely thorow There are two chief kinds of Remedies which conduce to those ends viz. one particular and private to be applied to the distemper'd places to wit that by Fomentations Oyntments Plasters and such like outward applications the sleepy Spirits might be awakned and their passages opened the other universal to wit that the Blood and Spirits and the other humors and the active Particles flowing in the whole Body being very much agitated and put into a rapit motion like a torrent they might cast down and remove all impacted heaps or stays by which the Spirits are obstructed The administrations used to the distempered parts are so ordinarily and commonly known that it were superfluous to insist here on the describing them more largely First Liniments made out of Oyls Oyntments and Balsoms are to be applied according to the temper of the Patient more or less hot and with frictions or strong rubbing twice a day Sometimes before these are made use of Fomentations made of Cephalick Herbs or spices boiled in Spring Water adding to it sometimes Strong Waters Wine or Bear or their Lees. Further oftentimes it is convenient to make about the distemper'd places Blisters and to use Cupping-glasses and Medicines to take away the hairs and to raise pimples Little Bags and Plasters often help Moreover
part of his Neck an immense quantity of water flowed and from that time even till he dyed it still flowed forth hence as I suspect he became so waking by reason of the watry humor being so greatly drawn away from the Brain The head of this dead Man being opened the interior cavities of the Brain or all the Ventricles being filled to the top with clear water appeared as if they were distended yea the medullary cord it self about the top of the Back-bone seemed to be drowned and compassed about with water laid up there Without doubt for this reason the Pains and Convulsions so cruelly tormented him in his Loins Members and all over his Body and by reason of the deluge in the Ventricles he became obnoxious to blindness of his sight and to frequent loosenings of his limbs Nevertheless hence no Lethargy but a waking was induced by reason of the waters being so much derived from the compass of the Brain by the Blistering Plasters He had also a Dropsie in his Breast by reason of his Lungs being much vitiated His Liver appeared of a mighty bulk besprinkled every where with white spots and almost without blood so that to these faults of the Viscera the vices of the Blood and nervous juice ought in some measure to be ascribed CHAP. X. Of the Delirium and Phrensie THUS much concerning Cephalick Diseases by which the Animal Functions by themselves and as they are Corporeal without any respect to the Animal Soul are wont to be hindred or perverted In some of which viz. the Vertigo and Palsie the Intellect for the most part remains clear and lively and in the rest like the eye placed in an obscure place it beholds the species either not at all or a few objects only of a more rude appearance but is not easily snatched into any great error or fury which kind of symptoms are ordinarily induced by reason of other Distempers of the Head and of the Spirits inhabiting it of which we are now about to treat For if at any time the Imagination is so disturbed or perverted that it falsly conceives or evilly composes or divides the species and notions brought from the Sense or Memory presently for that reason the intellect beholds or forms conceptions and thoughts only deformed distracted one from another and very confused Which indeed are represented to it from the Brain evilly affected and as it were monsters from a multiplying or distorted Glass As there are many ways by which the Imagination and by consequence the mind and will and the other powers of the superior soul are wont to be perverted or depraved all of them are noted by the common word Foolishness or talking idly But this Distemper is distinguished into shorter which is called a Delirium and into a longer or continual which is either conjoined with a Feavour and termed Phrensie or it happens without a Feavour and then their is joyned with it either raving sadness or stupidity and so it is divided into madness melancholy and morosity or foolishness we shall speak of each of these in order and first of the Delirium and Phrensie Although the Delirium is not a Disease of it self but only a symptom proceeding from other Distempers yet because it happens in some of them that for the most part it is cured by Remedies appropriate to it therefore it will not be amiss for us to inquire a little more strictly into the causes and nature of it This word taken after an especial manner is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a going crooked or out of the right or straight way and denotes an hurt of the same Animal Function such as ariseth in fits of the Feavour Drunkenness and sometimes in the passions called Hysterical and induces men for a short time to think speak or do absurd things either some of these or all of them together The Delirium is excited forasmuch as the Animal Spirits being either too much irritated or acted into confusion are carried tumultuously into disorders hither and thither within the globous compass of the Brain where the Phantasie and Memory have their seats and so whilst the various images of the imagination and the memory being excited at once are confounded together they object only incongruous and absurd phantasies to the rational Soul and so both the acts of the intellect and the will are only inordinately chosen or drawn forth In like manner it happens by reason that the Animal Spirits being moved within the middle of the Brain or the Callous Body that incongruous conceptions and confused thoughts are objected to the rational Soul as in a long circumgyration or turning about of the body the images of visible things are carried to the common sense whence all things seem to be turned about and sometimes to be lifted up and sometimes to be depressed to the ground that nothing is beheld stable or standing in its due place and position In a Brain rightly disposed the motion of the Animal Spirits are performed as it were in certain numbers ways and measures whilst some Spirits are raised up in these tracts others lye still in those and so they succeed one another in their motions and the several acts of every faculty are made distinct like so many wavings of water in a River but in the Delirium all the Spirits leap forth at once and meeting one another tumultuously or variously laying hold on one another are agitated like mad Bacchanals Further even as these being struck with such a fury within the compass of the Brain do stir up manifold and very much disturbed cogitations so whilst they are carried without its confines into the nervous original they produce incongruous speeches absurd gestures of the body and members and not rarely Convulsive motions But for that such a rage of the spirits otherways than in the Phrensie or Madness presently grows cool and their tumult being over none of their wandring tracts are imprinted in the Brain the Delirium soon passes over and the distemper'd come immediately to themselves again without any marks left of their foolishness or idle raving If it be demanded from whence this short fury is impressed on the spirits inhabiting the Brain that the Reins of the mind being shaken off they turn thus all things upside down in their government we say that they conceive this kind of inordination from a twofold reason to wit this rage or madness is brought immediately to them from the blood washing the frame of the Brain or some Animal Spirits outwardly dwelling in the nervous Stock enter first of all into some disorder then the same being communicated by the nervous passages affecting in like manner the spirits there inhabiting stirs them into a Delirium There are various causes and kinds of either of these the chief of which we shall here touch upon and first shall be shewed how and for what occasions the Blood being either
as Powder of Coral and Pearl black Cherry Water or Water of Cowslip Flowers or Poppy Water and others sweetning and cherishing the spirits These being thus premised concerning the first and most light manner of foolishness or talking idly we will proceed to its higher degree viz. the Phrensie which is far longer and more durable than the former Distemper In the Delirium a perturbation of the Spirits inhabiting of the Brain being excited is like a waving of waters from a stone flung into a River but in a Phrensie their commotion seems as it were the storm of waters raging in a tempest The Phrensie is defined to be a continual dotage or deprivation of the principal faculties of the Brain arising from an Inflammation of the Meninges with a continual Feavour To this Disease there is another of kin viz. the Paraphrensie commonly called or additional Phrensie whose cause is not an inflammation of the Membranes which cover the Head but as they affirm of the Diaphragma Further in either Distemper as also in the Pleurisie but falsly it is affirmed that the Feavour doth arise as it were only symptomatical from the same conjunct cause viz. from the Inflammation of some part But indeed that the Phrensie doth rather succeed the Feavour and is produced because the boiling blood doth transfer its adust or burnt recrements to the Head Hippocrates long since and now every common body observes to wit for that the Urine of one sick of a Feavour being changed from a troubled and thick into a thin and waterish Urine shews a Phrensie at hand Wherefore from hence the cause of this Distemper is concluded to be a translation of the Feavourish matter into the Brain But as to the conjunct causes of the Phrensie and Paraphrenesis we may easily shew that the former doth not always proceed from the Inflammation of the Meninges nor this latter from the Inflammation of the Midriff I have often seen in Anatomical Dissections the Meninges yea sometimes also the exterior compass of the Brain beset with an inflamed tumor and the sick not distemper'd with a Phrensie but on the contrary with a stupidity and have dyed with a Carus or some other sleepy Diseases And truly that it is so reason plainly declares for the Meninges being inflamed and by that made more tumid press together the Brain very much and about its compass shut up the ways and passages of the Spirits so that the functions of waking and memory being hindred the Lethargy as it appears de facto necessarily follows Nothwithstanding far otherways in the Phrensie all the passages and Pores of the Brain for the excursions of the Spirits seem to be too largely open because the Images hidden or laid up are raised all at once out of the utmost and all the places of the memory which together with others suggested from the Phantasie to the common sensory tumultuously bring forth such manifold and highly confused notions There is only wanting to the sensitive soul for its expansion to be straitned or loosened within the Head which certainly the inflammation of the Meninges would effect rather than that it should be dilated above measure and that all the Pores of the Brain should be unlocked and carried beyond its wonted compass Perhaps it may happen from a long continuance of this Disease that the Blood being greatly heaped up within the Vessels of the Meninges and there stagnating that it may at length bring forth an Inflammation in them and then for that reason we may suspect because it often so falls out that the Phrensie doth pass into the Carus or Lethargy of which phrensical persons often dye No less do we reject the Inflammation of the Diaphragma which cause of the Paraphrenesis Galen in times past and moved by this authority most Physicians in every age since asserted Anatomical observations plainly prove the contrary Some time since dissecting the dead Carcase of a Maid dying of a sudden Leipothymy or swooning away we found in the fleshy part of the Diaphragma a great Imposthume with a bag full of filthy matter and watery little bladders yet she was not troubled ever with a Delirium or Phrensie Some time since also when we had made an Anatomical Inspection of a Gentleman of the University of whom we have made mention in a late Tract who dyed of a long spurious Pleurisie it manifestly appeared that a great Imposthume being ripened in the Pleura and the intercostal Muscles and broke inwardly that a vast plenty of matter had flowed forth into the cavity of the Thorax which gnawing the Diaphragma lying under had made a great hole in it nor was this man however in all his sickness Delirious or Frantick Wherefore I think this Distemper scarce ever to be produced from such a cause but that opinion seems to arise from hence because oftentimes in a true Phrensie together with a continual raving the motion of the Diaphragma is wont to be hindred or perverted as is gathered from the unequal and difficult breathing to wit sometimes anhelous or breathing short and as it were suspended sometimes short and swiftly repeated with sometimes a double breathing which kind of symptoms and also at the same time the alienation of the mind are said to proceed from the Midriff being inflamed and for that reason convulsed wherefore the Ancients called the Diphragma Phrenes But there was no need for this if they had consider'd that the whole action of the Diaphragma doth depend upon the flowing forth of the Animal Spirits from the Cerebel and therefore there is a necessity if the Phrenetick matter invading the Brain some part of it should with it rush into the Cerebel that besides the raving the motion also of the Midriff though of it self innocent should be altered as we have shewed elsewhere more largely Therefore the formal reason of the Phrensie seems to consist in this that the Animal Spirits being at first very much irritated in the whole Brain are driven into inordinate very confused and also impetuous motions so that the acts of every Animal Function are depraved and variously perverted and at the same time very many Ideas of things being raised up out of the memory the old are confounded with the new and some evilly joined or wonderfully divided are confounded with others the imagination suggests manifold Phantasms and almost innumerable and all of them only incongruous and the common sensory represents the images of sensible things distorted double or incoherent that hence the mind and the will choose or pick out nothing but ridiculous and impertinent conceptions and passions and cause the actions of the body to become almost only irregular Moreover the spirits being struck as it were with madness tumultuate not only in the Brain but also in the Cerebel and every where in the nervous Stock wherefore Frantick people not only talk idly but breath unequally speak aloud strike with their fists fling about their hands
and feet yea and stretch forth all their members with a mighty strength and a most strong force that indeed the whole Soul seems to grow hot and furious in the whole body to be mad or rather as it were to be inflamed with a sudden burning And truly a Phrensie cannot be more aptly defined than that it is a burning or inflammation of the whole sensitive soul or animal spirits as to their whole Hypostasis or Constitution This burning always beginning from the spirits inhabiting the Brain and wandring from thence into the other parts of the sensitive soul seems to receive from the Blood first growing hot and raging with a Feavourish fire both the first incentive matter and then the constant food of the burning For indeed it is probable that the blood burning Feavourishly doth pour forth on the Brain sometimes sulphureous Particles together with the spirituous which being half inflamed and after a sort burning forth penetrate together with the others and from thence immediately entring into all the marrowy and nervous passages adhere every where to the spirits and so render them being inflamed highly rageing and implacable Certainly it is more likely that the Phrensie is rather excited after this manner by an inflammation of the Spirits than from that of the Meninges or of the Brain which more surely causes an Headach or Lethargy than a Fury as we have frequently found by Anatomy And indeed that it is so is not only ours or any new opinion but that great follower and best interpreter of Hippocrates Prosper Martianus who hath affirmed the same thing almost in express words viz. Comment on his Book De Morbis 3. vers 99. pag. 151. he says That Hippocrates doth call the Phrensie a Delirium with a Feavour which is continual and depends upon a firm and stable Distemper to wit from an inflammation of those parts which serve to institute Nature Reason and the Mind For so the Animal Spirits whose viciousness cause the Delirium do not grow hot as it were by a simple quality but are altered as to their substance This Man manifestly distinguishes between heat and flame and affirming that to be in respect of quality and this an alteration in respect of substance plainly ascribes the cause of the Phrensie to the inflammation of the spirits He has in the same place more things apposite to our matter to wit that the containing cause of the Phrensie was not the inflammation of the Meninges but of the Spirits whose substance is indeed altered that is forasmuch as it is become fiery such a continual Delirium is excited I have oftentimes compared the production of the Spirits from the Blood into the Brain to a Chymical Distillation of which it is observed if the spirituous sulphureous liquor be provoked with too strong fire that in Distilling it sometimes takes fire and ascends in the Alembick with a very great flame This is known of Oyl of Turpentine of it self or with the Flowers of Sulphur to the great loss of some In like manner we may believe that the blood growing more strongly hot doth often communicate also a burning to the Spirits distilled out of it viz. that some half burnt Particles do insinuate themselves into the Pores of the Brain which rushing into all the passages of the Spirits both there and in its appendix every where inkindle the Spirits and compel them into most swift motions almost like Lightning But because the Phrensie doth not come upon all Feavours but only on those highly burning the reason is plain by what follows to wit the closure of the Brain ought to be so shut up that not only any extraneous thing might not be poured into them but that the more intense flame of the Blood however burning it be and though planted round about might not be able to break thorow wherefore some distemper'd with a burning Feavour although the Blood grows hot thorow the whole the Bowels burn the Marrow rages the Tongue and Jaws rosted like a coal yet the Brain being still firmly shut up all the Animal Functions remain whole and sound But on the contrary others who have a weak and too loose a Brain and their Blood more sulphureous than it ought become Phrensical not only from a burning Feavour but sometimes from a more gentle visit By reason of what foregoing cause and for what occasions or evident causes this is wont to happen is the next thing we shall inquire into Hitherto hath been shown that the immediate subject of the Phrensie is the sensitive Soul or the Hypostasis of the Animal Spirits and that the formal reason of the Disease doth consist in their Inflammation and that the conjunct cause is the sulphureous particles poured forth from the Blood into the inclosures of the Brain and there continually inkindling the Spirits and now it is no difficult matter to assign its procatartick or foregoing causes which we find partly in the Blood and partly in the Brain and its inhabitants The previous disposition of the Blood disposing to the Phrensie is sometimes simple sometimes twofold the former is an hot sharp or bilous constitution of it to wit that contains very many sulphureous Particles in it self which are apt to inflame the Blood in a Feavour more than ought to be and to insinuate its burning into the Brain This disposition when it is very potent and active often produces this Disease of it self but for the most part there is another disposition of the Blood which helps that former and renders it more efficacious to wit that besides the sulphureous and inflameable Particles there are others sharp and penetrative which enter into the Pores and open them so that the former more easily enter in or are introduced This the saline little Bodies conjoined with the sulphureous do in a manner effect hence Cholerick and Melancholick persons growing Feavourish are more prone to become furious but much more do the Heterogeneous Particles implanted in the Blood and moved by a Feavour open the doors of the Brain and intromit all that are inflameable wherefore a Phrensie frequently comes upon the Small-Pox and malignant and Pestilential Feavours The other provision to a Phrensie which is of the Brain consists partly in its temper and conformation and partly in the disposition of the Spirits inhabiting it As to the former those indued with an hot and dry Brain are found to be most prone to a Phrensie not because that constitution is more obnoxious to an inflammation or burning for to this it is less apt but because in such a Brain otherwise than in an hot and moist or cold and dry the Pores and passages are more open and too much gaping and so give an entrance to the incentive matter suggested from the Feavour which besides they much more easily admit if the Spirits being very fugacious or apt to flight or pathetick or passionate are upon every light occasion ready to fall
juice of Wood-Sorrel make an Electuary let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken often in a day In the Phrensie not only the Belly but also the Bladder and their offices ought to be thought on and often solicited or provoked Wherefore the sick are to be warmed and the Urinal given them and asked to make water but if they will not or cannot let the region of the yard below the belly be bathed with a Decoction of Pellitory of the wall Elder Flowers and of the Seeds of Parsley and wild Carrot Seeds or daucus with a Spunge and after the Fomentation anoint it with Oyl of Scorpions and Oyntment of Dialthaea In a long suppression of Vrine you may put up to the bladder a piece of Wax Candle The Histories and cases of Frantick people are so many and so diversly described and so accurately by Hippocrates in his Books De Epidem that there seems little need here to add others especially because it would be an immense work and tedious to relate the various manner and cases of Mad-men In the mean time as to the event of the Disease there is great diversity for that for the most part the Feavour being cured the Phrensie ceases by little and little or else that having no or an evil Crisis either death or a long raving follows But that our Hypothesis of the Inflammation of the Spirits may be illustrated I shall propose here one more rare instance I was one time sent for to Cure a Maid that was strong and having a Feavour was highly raging being continually bound in her Bed I took from her a great quantity of Blood and caused it to be again iterated I often took down her Belly with Clysters yea I ordered all the other administrations in order usual in this case in the mean time she took Iuleps Emulsions and Hypnoticks But these little or nothing availing she continued still for seven or eight days without sleep and furious perpetually calling and bauling for cold drink wherefore an Hydropick being granted her at her pleasure yea to satiety she was nevertheless not any thing less quiet or thirsty I therefore bid them for that it was Summer time that in the middle of the Night she should be carried by Women forth of doors and put into a Boat and her Cloths being pull'd off and she tyed fast with a Cord should be drenched into the depth of a River the Rope being tyed only about her middle that she might not be stifled in the Water but there was no need of that for the Maid of her own accord fell to swimming that scarce any Man could do it better who had learned the art After about a quarter of an hour she came forth of the Water sound and sober and then being had to Bed she slept and sweat very much and afterwards without any other Remedy she grew well This Cure succeeded so happily and so suddenly forasmuch as the excess both of the Vital and the Animal flame being together immensly increased was taken away by a proper Remedy for the more intense Fire to wit by the moistning and cooling of the Water CHAP. XI Of Melancholy AS the Phrensie arises from the burning of the Animal Spirits as we have elsewhere shewn or as Prosper Mart. seems to affirm from their substance being inflamed so indeed other Distempers of raving arise from their substance being altered by other ways and from their genuine nature being changed from a spirituous-saline into an acetous or sharp disposition like to Stygian Water or else into a liveless which therefore are either Melancholy or Madness or Foolishness or Stupidity of which we shall now speak in order and first of all of Melancholy Melancholy is commonly defined to be a raving without a Feavour or fury joined with fear and sadness From whence follows that it is a complicated â—istemper of the Brain and Heart For as Melancholick people talk idly it proceeds from the vice or fault of the Brain and the inordination of the Animal Spirits dwelling in it but as they become very sad and fearful this is deservedly attributed to the Passion 〈◊〉 the Heart It would be a prodigious work and almost an endless task to rehearse the diverse manner of ravings of Melancholy persons and there are great Volumes already of Histories and examples of this sort and more new and admirable observations and examples daily happen Fabulous antiquity scarce ever thought of so many metamorphoses of men which some have not believed really of themselves whilst some have believed themselves to be Dogs or Wolves and have imitated their ways and kind by barking or howling others have thought themselves dead desiring presently to be buried others imagining that their bodies were made of glass were afraid to be touched lest they should be broke to pieces There are extant manifold and various kinds of the Imagination so depraved concerning which may be commonly observed That the distemper'd are Delirious as to all things or at least as to most so that they judge truly almost of no subject or else they imagine amiss in one or two particular cases but for the most part in other things they have their notions not very incongruous We shall first inquire into this more universal Distemper for that the Imagination is prevaricated concerning very many things to wit by what causes and with what difference of Symptoms this is wont to come to pass afterwards we shall speak of the special raving or idle talking Although the universal Distemper of Melancholy contains manifold Delirious Symptoms yet they chiefly consist in these three 1. That the distemper'd are almost continually busied in thinking that their Phantasie is scarce ever idle or at quiet 2. In their thinking they comprehend in their mind fewer things than before they were wont that oftentimes they roll about in their mind day and night the same thing never thinking of other things that are sometimes of far greater moment 3. The Ideas of objects or conceptions appear often deformed and like hobgoblins but are still represented in a larger kind or form so that all small things seem to them great and difficult After this manner the Phantasms in the Brain evilly affected are objected to the Intellect almost after the same manner as the visible images are shewed to the Eye by the interposition of some Optick Glass to wit where every object appears an horrid and huge monster and for that reason a small portion only of the visible matter or thing being increased to that immensity is received by the aspect then by reason of its horrid and unusual appearance the image being once conceived is not easily or suddenly let go we will now consider by what affection of the Brain and Spirits these appearances happen Here we shall first of all inquire into the disposition or preternatural Constitution of the Animal Spirits For inasmuch as they are after an irregular manner they always
It easily occurs if the reason of these be inquired into that the Latex watering the Brain and nervous Appendix doth contain in it self together with a subtil Spirit great plenty of volatile Salt Therefore when this is so depraved that the Spirit being depressed the Saline Particles degenerate into a flux and acquire to themselves little Sulphureous bodies it becomes plainly Corrosive and Stygian Wherefore malignant humors and Ulcers chiefly happen in the nervous parts and their Emunctories and there are excited upon any light occasion as when a small hurt happens to the Breast of a Woman a Cancer follows because indeed the nervous humor being hindred somewhere in its passage doth there stagnate presently the Spirit being depressed or flying away the Saline Particles degenerating from a volatile to a four nature get to themselves soon after strange companions and snatching either Eartâ—y or Sulphureous little bodies or of some other kind begin to congeal into Sâ—â—â—hous Strumous or Cancrous Tumors And when after this manner by the stagnating of the nervous Liquor and by its getting an heterogeneous concretion the Mine of a Tumor is blown up in some part and the supplements of the same liquor are continually perverted into the like nature of viciousness to which also happen the Melancholâ—ck impurities poured forth from the Blood and other humors which with their joined forces encrease the rage even as when diverse Salts and Sulphurs are destilled together and constitute in the distemper'd part a Septick matter and like to the Escharotick or crusting up of Stygian Water According to this reasoning or Aetiology the irregularities of these kind of Tumors as also the appearance of the Kings-Evil are most aptly unfolded If that the nervous Liquor so corrosive and made degenerate doth not grow into Tumors flowing into the nervous Fibres it is wont to cause here and there most cruel Pains and Cramps But as this Liquor of the Nerves being depraved after this manner stirs up the aforefaid Distempers in the nervous parts so it is not difficult to conceive that the same water for that it is for a Vehicle of the Animal Spirits flowing in the Brain doth acquire together with those Spirits a Corrosive and as it were a Stygian nature and for that reason excites Madness The depravation of the Animal Spirits together with the juice watering the Brain or the disposition of Madness is wont to arise after various ways and for diverse causes but truly for the most part this Distemper as we have observed of Melancholy begins either from the Spirits themselves or else from the Blood First Madness beginning from the Spirits arises sometimes from an evident solitary cause as a violent Passion sometimes also it proceeds from a foregoing cause lying in the Brain as when it comes upon Melancholy or a Phrensie We shall a little weigh the reasons of either case and the various manner of their being made 1. As to the former when a vehement affection puts any one besides himself that happens to be made thus either because the Animal Spirits are too much overthrown and hurried into confusion or because they are elevated above measure and endeavour to stretch themselves forth beyond their sphere First The Spirits are wont to be cast down by a violent and terrible Passion so it often happens that some being struck with a panick fear by seeing a true or an imaginary Spectre or Ghost afterwards fall into a perpetual Madness Further some by reason of some notable disgrace or repulse others by reason of their hopes of obtaining their Love being suddenly and unthought of frustrated and others by reason of a rash breaking their oaths or vows and violated Conscience being first highly troubled in mind anon become Mad. The reason of which is because the Animal Spirits being driven beyond their orders and wonted passages and put into confusion do make for themselves new and devious ways which entring into immediately they bring forth delirious Phantasms in the mean time the Saline Particles of the nervous juice the spirituous being depressed depart from their volatileness and suffering a flux assume to themselves the Sulphureous little bodies poured forth from the Blood into the then weak and open Brain From whence this Liquor being most sharp like Stygian Water and the Animal Spirits becoming fierce and very much incited become furious Secondly Sometimes the Animal Spirits whilst they are too much elevated almost after the same manner induce both to themselves and the nervous juice the mad disposition Hence Ambition Pride and Emulation have made some mad the reason of which is because whilst the Corporeal Soul swelling up with an opinion and pride of its own excellency lifts up it self and endeavours on every side to expand or stretch it self forth most amply beyond the border or sphere of its body the Animal Spirits being tumultuarily called into the Head will not be contained within their wonted bounds but being there broken and diversly reflected by reason of their too much excretion are compelled into new and plainly devious tracts wherefore both they being thrust forth from the course of their proper emanation and also the nervous Liquor do quickly acquire a sharp and incitative Disposition as was said but now for that reason Madness follows Thus much concerning Madness excited by reason of a solitary evident cause but this Disease doth also arise from a Procatartick cause preexisting in the Brain and chiefly from Melancholy or the Phrensie going before in that the Animal Spirits with the nervous juice being a little more exalted and in this a little more depressed acquire the disposition of Madness As to the former it is a vulgar observation that sudden and great Melancholy is for the most part next to Madness the reason of which is because when the Animal Spirits together with the nervous liquor degenerate into a sourness are perverted there only wants the accession of Sulphur by which they afterwards getting a Stygian nature may induce Madness as when an acid Liquor distilled out of Vitriol or Salt by the addition of Sal Nitrosus becomes Aqua fortis but indeed in a great passion of Melancholy because the Spirits being disturbed the passages of the Brain are too open the Sulphureous Particles carried from the Bilous and Rancid Blood find an easie entrance and so the former sour or acid disposition turns into a Stygian or Maddish Hence it is observed if any one of a more hot temperament falls into a Melancholick Delirium with fear and sadness forasmuch as the Sulphureous Particles in its humors are joyned to the Salts being depressed into a flux that sadness and thinking at the beginning very readily a short time after becomes madness Secondly for that also a Phrensie often ends in Madness the reason is almost the same with the former but inverted to wit because in a Phrensie the Spirits and the nervous Liquor becoming Sulphureous
Dyscrasie is incapable of any other sudden mutation wherefore although insensible transpiration be hindred and other usual evacuations suppressed or the supplies of the nourishing juice degenerated yet neither a Catarrh nor Feavour nor Atrophy or evil digestion easily comes upon Madness For in this Distemper although the Particles of the Blood do greatly swell up yet by reason of the abundance of Salt they do not conceive a Feavourish burning Even as also Aqua fortis though it grows very hot and burns other subjects yet it self is not at all inflamed but rather resists burning The differences of this Disease are easily gathered from what hath been before said for first as to its beginning it is either occasional which sometimes quickly ceases the evident cause being taken away presently or habitual depending upon a foregoing cause lying in the Blood and that either hereditary or acquired Secondly by reason of the magnitude Madness is either highly furious that the distemper'd ought to be bound or lock'd up lest they should attempt any mischief to themselves or others or else it is more gentle in which the sick being conversant with others abstain from any malice or hurt Thirdly In respect of time Madness is wont to be long or short continual or intermitting Fourthly As to the various kinds of Deliriums the shapes or types of this Disease are almost innumerable all which to run thorow is neither possible nor worth the while but most commonly the distemper'd are mad alike in all things or else chiefly as to one particular thing having their judgment concerning other matters for the most part right As to the Prognostick of Madness if the distemper'd be not obnoxious to a Feavour nor any other Diseases besides nor easily hurt by external accidents the Disease is not mortal of it self yet the Cure is very difficult because there is made a great alteration in the Blood and Spirits and the sick resist every method of healing and are enemies to Physicians and to themselves If Madness be inveterate or hereditary or is caused by the biting of a Mad-Dog it is hardly or not at all to be cured What is excited upon some occasion or from a solitary evident cause or succeeds a Feavour also upon which comes a Manginess Whelks the Haemorrhoids or spots in the skin is easily cured Those who are obnoxious to this Disease at intervals about Midsummer or when the Dog Star arises are in greatest danger also those who are altered according to the changes of the Air or when long cold and foul weather are opposite in the constitution of the Heaven As there are two kinds of Madness to wit Continual and Intermitting so the means of healing ought to be twofold 1. The Curatory method to be administer'd as to continual Madness suggests the commonly noted three primary Indications viz. The first Curatory which respecting the Disease it self endeavours to correct or allay the furies and exorbitances of the Animal Spirits Secondly Preservatory which being levelled against the causes of the Disease endeavours to take away or amend the sharp and Nitro-sulphureous Dyscrasies of the nervous Juice and the Blood as also the Stygian disposition of the Spirits Thirdly Vital which directs such a means of dyet and restraint which is only fit in this Disease for the nutritive and vital function to have and be sustained with The first Indication viz. Curatory requires threatnings bonds or strokes as well as Physick For the Mad-man being placed in a House convenient for the business must be so handled both by the Physician and also by the Servants that are prudent that he may be in some manner kept in either by warnings chiding or punishments inflicted on him to his duty or his behaviour or manners And indeed for the curing of Mad people there is nothing more effectual or necessary than their reverence or standing in awe of such as they think their Tormentors For by this means the Corporeal Soul being in some measure depressed and restrained is compell'd to remit its pride and fierceness and so afterwards by degrees grows more mild and returns in order Wherefore Furious Mad-men are sooner and more certainly cured by punishments and hard usage in a strait room than by Physick or Medicines But yet a course of Physick ought to be instituted besides which may suppress or cast down the Elation of the Corporeal Soul Wherefore in this Disease Blood-letting Vomits or very strong Purges and boldly and rashly given are most often convenient which indeed appears manifest because Empericks only with this kind of Physick together with a more severe government and discipline do not seldom most happily cure Mad folks But indeed this more sharp handling is not convenient for all Mad people but to the most furious Others more remissly Mad are healed often with Flatteries and with more gentle Physick In most Mad folks the taking away of Blood copiously ought to be in the beginning of the Disease as it is the common practice and vogue of the people And indeed while there is strength the opening a vein ought to be repeated sometimes in the Arm sometimes in the Neck Vein Forehead or Foot and sometimes it is expedient for the Hemorrhoidal Vessels to be opened by Leeches for these evacuations being timely made both the raging of the Spirits and the lifting up of the Soul are best of all suppressed then besides the Dyscrasies or evil habits of the Blood for that what was sharp and Corrosive in it being drawn forth a new and gentler comes in its place are amended That Vomiting Medicines are highly profitable for the curing of Mad people it is almost a Proverb so that the most part of Hellebore yea almost all Anticyra is allotted to them By what means Emeticks do often help in Cephalick Diseases we have shown already Quack-salvers in this case give with success many times though rashly and with danger a large Dose of Stibium But Chymical things are here more convenient both because they move more strongly and because also the sick may be more easily deceived by them Take of the Sulphur of Antimony eight grains to ten of the Cream of Tartar half a scruples mix them together by pounding them make a Powder let it be given in a spoonful of grewel or if it be to be given deceitfully to one not knowing of it let it be put into a bit of white Bread and so let it be taken in Milk or Broth. Let this Vomiting Medicine be often repeated to wit once in four days Take six or seven grains of Mercurius Vitae let a Powder be made and given after the same manner The Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht and of Hercules Bovius and other various preparations of Mercury may be given after the same manner Aurum vitae or the Solar Precipitate also the Lunar Precipitate are esteemed by Chymists for specifick Remedies against madness and indeed
this Disease with Histories and Examples or to describe the manifold Types of it but rather let them go to the Hospitals of Mad people where they may behold not without a wonderful spectacle as it were a new and monstrous nation of men contrary to rational people and as it were our Antipodes all which if they were gathered together in one place and that all Madmen and Fools were joyned to them I know not whether this world would not be equally divided between them and the sober and prudent Thus much concerning the cure of continual Madness The intermitting either has perfect lucid intervals in which the sick return to themselves or the fury only ceases the Delirium being still lest insomuch that the distemper'd become gentle and tractable yet still they continue amiss as to their imagination and judgment and speak and do many absurd or incongruous things and afterwards sometimes again become furious The Cure of either of these Distempers as to the Curatory Indication is the same as in continual Madness so that there is no need to shew here any other Medicines or method But as to what respects the Prophylaxis or Preservatory Indication by which the means of healing is instituted out of the fits cautions and threatnings are to be given them in whom only the Fury intermits the Delirium remaining the very same Remedies of Medicine which we have prescribed for the taking away the foregoing cause of Melancholy are convenient In Madness which perfectly intermits as to all its Symptoms at the chiefest convenient times to wit Spring and Fall they ought to enter into a solemn course of Physick and besides there is a continual need of looking to or governing the sick both as to diet and to their manner of living that they may be always preserved in an equal and a moderate temper and also that as soon as the signs of the approaching fit appear its coming may be hindred by Blood-letting and by administring of Medicines Therefore in the times of the Aequinoxes let Blood be taken out of the Arm and seven or eight days after out of the Hemorrhoidal Veins by Leeches Let Purges and Vomits be given twice or thrice at due intervals Moreover between whiles let them take in order altering Remedies at Physical hours The Formulas or Recipes of these are set down both in this Chapter and in the former for the cure of Melancholy Let the dyet be slender and of good digestion as concerning exercise or motion sleep and other non-naturals let them be all moderate When the approach of Madness is seen to be at hand and constantly before the Summer Solstice let Phlebotomy be celebrated with Vomiting and a more slender or sparing diet CHAP. XIII Of Stupidity or Foolishness STupidity or Morosis or Foolishness although it most chiefly belongs to the Rational Soul and signifies a defect of the Intellect and Judgment yet it is not improperly reckoned among the Diseases of the Head or Brain forasmuch as this Eclipse of the superior soul proceeds from the Imagination and the Memory being hurt and the failing of these depends upon the faults of the Animal Spirits and the Brain it self We have before clearly shewed that the Rational Soul doth subsist in a sensitive or corporeal Soul and that its principal seat is the Imagination Further from this and the Memory either the notions themselves or their occasions of all things are supplied which the Mind beholds wherefore when it happens that these Corporeal Functions are defective or hindred forthwith the eye of the Intellect as if covered with a vail is wont to be very much dulled or wholly darkned Therefore that the reason of Foolishness and Stupidity may be rightly delivered first we ought to inquire by what means and from what causes the Imagination and the Memory are often defective or fore-hindred That we may proceed methodically concerning these hither ought to be referred what we have discoursed before concerning the Functions of the Corporeal Soul and their subjects and instruments we have at large declared that the Callous Bodies or the middle of the Brain is the seat of the Imagination and the Cortical Marrows of the Brain the seat of the Memory and further that the Animal Spirits are the immediate organs of either Wherefore because their powers being hindred which are the first or chief movers of any other Function both rational and sensitive the Imbecillity and dulness of the mind the slowness of the ingenuity stupidity and madness at length do often arise the fault is either in the Brain it self or the Animal Spirits or both together and at first now these now that 1. As to the Animal Spirits we have largely enough declared of what sort they ought to be of their proper and genuine nature and what they are by reason of their preternatural disposition in the Phrensie Melancholy and Madness But besides which we before mentioned it may be suspected that these Spirits being sometimes almost destitute of active Particles become as it were liveless or vapid to wit when the spirituous Particles ought to excel and to get to themselves volatile Salts in Stupidity both these together with the Sulphureous being too much depressed they are almost drowned and overwhelmed with the watery and terrestrial For indeed Fools are not so dull or of such thick understanding as their soul seems to be indued with and their Animal Spirits are rather formed of clay than their Heart There are many occasions or evident causes by which the Animal Spirits acquire so deadish a texture the chief of which we shall touch on by and by 2. But it doth not frequently come to pass that Stupidity is excited by the mere solitary fault of the Spirits or of the Corporeal Soul it self but more or rather the Brain it self is found to be first in fault For as there are many things requisite by which this exact subject or machine of the Animal Function is constituted if by chance any thing of them be deficient or depraved it easily follows that such so distemper'd have little wit First It is a vulgar observation That the wit and ingenuity doth depend somewhat on the magnitude and figure of the Head and consequently of its Brain for as to its bulk it is a Proverb that it argues little of Brain or too much Foolishness And although this does not always happen yet it does for the most part The reason of which is because in a little Brain but a few Spirits are begotten and exercised but in a greater consisting for the most part of a vile or base texture or frame it is less fitted for the quickness or sharpness of the mind Secondly The genuine and best figure of the Brain ought to be globous to wit for the end that the Spirits may be poured forth with an equal efflux on every side from its middle part to the whole compass and may be from thence retorted
do any thing knowingly As to what belongs to the Prognostick Stupidity being contracted from the birth or hereditary or happening from unknown causes if it still persists to ripe age it is almost never healed but when it happens that Children being at first dull and almost insensible by reason of the complexions of both their Brain and Spirits being ripened they are made ingenious and docil enough This Disease excited from an evident solitary cause as from an hurt of the Head or a violent passion also coming upon an inveterate Epilepsie if it continues for some time it is afterwards incurable What succeeds a Lethargy and any other sleepy Diseases depends chiefly on the hurt of the Memory and sometimes vanishes of its own accord those Distempers being cured Therefore when in these cases the cure of Stupidity is instituted here are convenient almost the same method of healing and Remedies which we have prescribed in the Preservatory Indication of the Lethargy the chief intentions of which are that the Animal Spirits being freed from any torpor or benummedness cut forth or frame Pores and passages within the translucid Brain and may be expanded truly in them Sometimes a Feavour has cured some Fools and stupid and render'd them more acute Huartus tells of a certain man that was a Fool in the Court of Corduba that being distemper'd with a malignant Feavour came so much to himself in the midst of the Disease and with that judgment and discretion that the whole Court stood in admiration and so remained his whole life afterwards one of the most prudent men of his time We our selves have known a certain man of a very blunt Boeotick or dull wit who talking idly in a Feavour most suddenly brought forth most acute speeches and seasoned with a great deal of salt or ingenious wit Further we before spoke of a generous old Gentleman who having lost his memory and so the use of discourse received great help by the distemper of a Feavour happening afterwards the reason of which seems to be because the feavourish burning sometimes rarefies and dispels the darkness covering the Brain As to what respects the cure of this Disease Stupidity whether innate or acquired if it be not plainly Madness or Stolidity uncapable of all learning though it may not be cured yet is often wont to be amended Wherefore it must be the work both of a Physician and a Teacher that the wit of such that are so affected may be somewhat trimmed and they being at least brought to the use of reason in a little measure may be accounted out of the number of Brutes For this end because dull or senseless Beetles or the more dull Loggerheads or Blockheads do not readily learn the common notions of things no more than Children the first elements of letters therefore they are to be instituted in all things by the frequent care of a Master and the same things are again and again to be inculcated to them For by this means the Spirits though slow and torpid are a little sharpened by perpetual exercise and they being continually excited in the Brain how rude and crasse soever they be do cut forth at length for their expansion some tracts or passages though more imperfect But that this may the more happily and easily succeed medical Remedies ought to be administred which may purifie and volatize the Blood and nervous Liquor together with the Animal Spirits and also that may clarifie the Brain and render it as it were Diaphanous For the purifying the Blood let there be sometimes administer'd a gentle Purge and Phlebotomy in a small quantity if there be strength several times for that end also Issues are convenient in the Arm or Leg or both for the driving the filthiness from the Brain In fat folks and such as are indowed with a moist Head let them sometimes be made between the shoulders Further some in this case cry up with wonderful praises a Trepaning by which the Brain may more freely breath forth and evaporate Let their diet be light and attenuating their dwelling in a free air and dry their sleep moderate After these have for some time been administred in the ordinary and usual manner if that in the left part of the breast there is no beating of the heart in the Arcadian youth or if there be no sign of hopes it will be in vain to spend labour and pains and Medicines any further on them but if by the use of these any signs of help or any hopes appear sometimes it will be to the purpose to add to these altering Remedies to be daily taken at medical hours for a long time The Recipes or Formula's of these are already delivered in our Pharmaceutice for the taking away the foregoing causes of most Cephalick Diseases and thence may be taken moreover what do besides respect this particular case we think here good to add being some magisterial Receipts Take of the Spirits of Armoniacum succinated or with Amber six drams let it be given from fifteen to twenty drops Evening and Morning in three spoonfuls of the following distilled water drinking after it seven spoonfuls of the same Take of the fresh leaves of Misletoe of the Apple tree six handfuls of the lesser Sage Rosemary Savory the greater Rocket Mother of Thyme Calaminths Penyroyal Marjoram each four handfuls of the roots of Angelica of Imperatoria each six ounces of Zedoary the lesser Galingal of the Aromatick Reed of Winterans Bark each two ounces of Cloves Nutmegs Mace Cinnamon Ginger each one ounce of Cubebs Cardamums Grains of Paradise each six drams all of these being cut and bruised small together pour to them twelve pints of the best Canary let them be digested cold and close shut in a vessel for three days then distilled according to art let the whole liquor be mixed together and sweetned with Sugar when it is taken The Dose is two or three ounces After the use of the Spirits of Armoniack for fifteen or twenty days other Medicines about that time may have their turns such as Spirits of Harts-horn of Sut Humane Skull Tinctures of Coral Antimony Castor Amber the Elixir Vitae Quercitani Elixir Proprietatis Spirits of Lavender c. Or Take of the Conserves of the flowers of the Lilie of the valley six ounces of the roots of Acori veri preserved six drams of Ginger preserved in India of preserved Nutmeg each half an ounce of Species Diambrae two drams of Lignum Aloes yellow Saunders the pickt roots of Zedoary of Cubebs of Iamaica Pepper each one dram and a half of Coral prepared two drams of the Syrup of Candied Ginger what will suffice make an Electuary The Dose two drams Morning and Evening drinking after it of the distilled Water three ounces For those whose Brain is too abounding with moisture let them drink every Morning a draught of Coffee with Sage leaves
boiled in it For those who have their Animal Spirits too poor and liveless let them take Chocolate as we have described it above which seems most profitable For ordinary drink let small Ale or Beer be prepared in a vessel containing three or four Gallons and after it has work'd put into it in a little bag these following things Take of the leaves of Sage the sharp leaved and dryed four handfuls of Cubebs one ounce of Cloves and of Nutmegs bruised c. Mix them according to art Outward Applications have also a place here such are a quilted Cap Plasters and Liniments and sometimes let these sometimes those or others be administer'd Take of the flowers of the Lily of the valley Rosemary flowers Stoechadoes each one handful of Celtick Spike two drams of the roots of Cypress the lesser Galingal the Florentine Iris each three drams of Labdanum Benzoin of Toluvian Balsam of Amber each two drams of Nutmegs Cloves Mace Cinamon each one dram and a half make of them all a fine powder quilting it in a Cap with silk between Take of the Plaster of Floris unguent so called two ounces of Tachamahac of Carranae of the Balsom of Tolu each three drams of the Powder of Amber Myrrh each two drams of Cloves Nutmeg Mace each one dram being all liquefied or melted together let them be made into a mass of which make a Plaster spread it on leather and the head being shaved put it to it Take of the Oyl of Palms half an ounce of Capive Balsom three drams of the Balsom of Peru one dram of the Oyl of Nutmeg by expression two drams Oyl of Amber half a dram make an Ointment for the Head I might here add many other Medicines and ways of Administrations but in this almost desperate case where oftentimes no Remedies are wont to help and the Cure never perfected these may suffice CHAP. XIV Of the Gout AMong the Diseases of the Head and the nervous stock we may refer hither some Distempers that are chiefly wont to infest the Feet and the Belly to wit the Gout and the Colick That the seat of either is in the nervous parts we may very well conclude from the primary Symptom to wit pain The cause of this latter Charles Piso has affirmed to exist within the Head and Fernelius affims the same of the other Wherefore we shall endeavour to deliver the Pathologie of either together with the apposite means of healing them and first we shall speak of the Gout The name of the Gout denotes plainly its subject because that it is almost only Articulate or is in the space where the heads of two or more Bones meet together This Disease is wont to be excited more frequently about the Internodia or knittings of the Bones of the Feet because this part being greatly declining and remote from the Praecordia and the fountain of Heat receives readily the Morbisick matter and does not easily overcome it or quickly put it off Yet the Gout often happens in the jointings of the Hip or huckle bone the knee the bending of the arm the shoulder the wrist the ancle and of other parts The fits of this Disease which are almost ever intermitting invade either wandringly or periodically which being finished sometimes sooner sometime more slowly the intervals happen lucid or quiet enough presently after the first assault of it for the most part pains arise without any tumor though afterwards about the height of the Disease the distemper'd part often swells up the pains in the beginning yield to no Remedies but are made more cruel by Catharticks and are not presently put to flight by Topicks or wont to be allayed The Fit most often falls upon one without any previous distemper but suddenly yet sometimes there will be an heat of the blood or a little feavourish distemper going before The disposition to this Disease is sometimes hereditary and sometimes acquired by reason of an evil manner of living The occasions or causes which being wont to move this disposition stir up the Gouty pains are all violent alterations or passions inflicted on the humors or spirits Hence Surfeiting immoderate drinking especially of sharp and thin Wines transpiration being hindred wrath or indignation immoderate Venus or Lust sadness also the changes of the air and of the year and any great mutations ordinarily induce fits of this Disease Those obnoxious to this disease are sometimes in danger to be distemper'd also with the Stone or Gravel in the Reins and so on the contrary those obnoxious to the Stone are wont to be troubled with the Gout Yea the Gout growing grievous it every where heaps up about its nests to wit in the joynts a calculous or stony matter and there excites a stony or hard bulk The distemper'd parts whose pains are stirred up in the hauled Fibres for the most part are the Periostea or the heads clothing the Membrane of the Bones and perhaps the Tendons and Ligaments there planted about But sometimes the pain in these parts wholly depends upon a breach of the unity and this proceeds from a certain matter being impacted in those Bodies or lying upon them first of all we shall inquire what sort of morbific matter this is secondly from whence it comes and thirdly by what means it so stirs up periodical Gouty Fits by breaking the unity in them As to the Morbifick Matter it seems first that it is not the Blood or nervous juice of it self nor is it one only simple humor laid up a part from the others We deservedly excuse the Blood from this censure because these pains only infest Bodies for the most part without Blood yea and almost them only For although in the neighbouring parts by reason of the course of the Blood being hindred sometimes a tumor happens with an inflammation yet this is not the Disease but a Symptom and for the most part comes upon the Gout Further it appears that the nervous juice how ever sharp or biteing or pricking or pulling it is supposed to be does not excite of it self the pains of the Gout because then the Distemper would cause pains also or as much in some other passages of the nervous parts and also in the Internodia or knittings of the Bones It is improbable for the same reason that any singular excrementitious or superfluous Humor or Matter deposited from the Blood or nervous juice to cause the pains of the Gout For if such were only carried thorow the Nerves it would excite pains by order and a continual tract not first in the feet or extream joints but by irritating the nervous Stock in its whole journey If that according to the opinions of Hollerius Sennertus and other Moderns it be affirmed that some impurities falling off from the heated Blood and received by the joints is the material cause of the Goutish pain then it should follow that all who are greatly
moreover this plainly convinces from the cure of the Gout by torture or cutting of the part For Authors worthy to be believed have told us in their writings that the Member being cut off in which the sickness uses to be or greatly wounded that the Disease has ceased without any relapse in like manner as a most grievous Tooth-ack and continual is most often cured by pulling out the distemper'd Tooth If that the Goutish humor were as it is commonly said a Cholerick or a Phlegmatick humour or any other merely Excrementitious it flowing afterwards to some other member after the former distemper'd were cut off would there excite a new Morbific Mine but this happens only in some accustomed joints for that this or that part is become more weak and so admits into it self the more easily all other filthy portions and neither assimilating nor sending them away suffers them to increase into a Morbific Mine Further the Recrements also of the nervous juice that are sharp and acetous fall down more readily into the same part by reason of its debility But to the Saline Procatarxis or foregoing cause of this Disease lying in the Joints not only the weakness of the distemper'd member but much more and first of all the evil disposition of the Blood doth help We shall weigh a little the reasons and the manner how it is done of either 1. And in the first place the fault of the Blood is that its elementary Particles and chiefly the Saline are not in a fit state or condition For they ought to be within the mass of the Blood in the middle betwixt a fixed and a volatile constitution they are called fixed so long as the Sulphur and Earth being combined do pertinaciously adhere to them as it is observed in fresh and raw Urine from which you shall not easily draw by distillation either Salt or Spirit But the saline Particles are votatilised when leaving the Sulphur and Earth they adhere to the spirituous and with them fly away as it is seen in the spirit of Urine being distilled after a long digestion Then there is a middle constitution between these when the Saline Particles are so loosned and dislocated from the Sulphureous and Earthy Particles that upon occasion they may be easily laid hold on by the Spirituous and ascend together with them as it is in Urine putrefied by digestion from which with a very little heat you may force out Spirit and Salt In like manner the Saline Particles in a living body seem first of all to be in a degree of fixity within the Chyle from which notwithstanding through Concoction in the Bowels being rightly made they begin to come forth a little Secondly these are made volatile in the nervous juice And Thirdly they are of a middle constitution in the bloody mass to wit which are exalted by a continual circulation or digestion so that they are in some manner volatile that being associated partly with spirituous particles and distilled forth with them into the Brain they go into Animal Spirits and partly going into the nutritious juice together with the sulphureous and others they increase in their nourishing the solid parts But sometimes it happens that the saline Particles at least not all are not rightly exalted within the bloody mass but remaining in a state of fixity give a beginning or cherishing to many Diseases That we may say nothing of the Scurvy Dropsie and many others we only say for the present it may be suspected that the first seeds of the Goutish distemper depend upon this cause for when the nervous juice being destinated to the heads of the bones where it is chiefly received ought to consist of very much Salt there is a necessity that its Particles because they are too fixed and thick cannot be admitted presently into the Pores and passages should increase into a Morbific Mine Besides that more easily and more often happens if the weak or broken Fibres of the bodies planted near cannot by wrinkling themselves shake off what is troublesome or superfluous As to the secret leading or evident causes from which the nutritious liquor being brought from the blood to the joints is imbued too much with a fixed Salt and by reason of which these parts become too prompt and easie for the receiving what is improportionate to them the chief of these for that they are various and manifold we will briefly touch upon 1. And first of all an hereditary disposition is wont to produce either evil For those troubled with the Gout for the most part beget Gouty Children and this Disease descending from the Parents to the Children is wont not only to have the like fruits in both and also to ripen about the periods of the same age but for the most part it hath its first roots in the same members and observes every where the like progresses concerning the reason of which I think we have already said enough being the same as other Diseases propagated ex traduce or from the Parent 2. But indeed the Gouty disposition is brought in oftentimes without any original fault by reason of an evil manner of living and errors in the six non-naturals For those who are given to Surfeiting and drinking much and indulge their appetites by an inordinate eating and drinking and especially if they feed on salt and spiced meats and guzle down great plenty of Wine easily contract this Disease For by this means the Chyle is indigested and indued with very unfit and untameable Particles and so ill prepared in the Bowels and then from a more liberal drinking of Wine saltish settlements and heterogeneous feculences or dregs which subsist somewhere in the first passages being too much exalted are carried into the Blood to which enormities of living if a sedentary life idleness or sleeping at noon be added so that the superfluities neither exhale nor the Saline impurities are dissipated by exercise but left to settle about the jonts certainly too much of this Alchalisate seed is sowed for a plentiful harvest of this Disease of the Gout 3. The debility of the little Joints and Goutish disposition is not only hereditary but excited frequently by reason of various occasions The falling down of the Morbific matter often induces this for if by chance it happens that at first the fit of the Gout comes in this or that part afterwards the peccant humor more easily falls down into the same member and quickly constitutes as it were a nest where the Eggs may be continually laid up Besides a solution or breach of continuity also or some hurt inflicted on any joint by wet or cold by a blow or putting out of joint oftentimes stirrs up the Goutish disposition Secondly But indeed as the Blood brings a Saline Mine for the Morbid seed and the Joints receive and hide it readily yet this provision without the coming of the other seeds is like an addle Egg
wholly barren and unfruitful because for the constituting of this Disease into act it is required that the nervous liquor by chance swelling up or growing turgid pours forth Saline impurities of another condition to wit acetous falling away with a certain effervescency or heat and as it were a firing of the other Mine Wherefore we think good to set down this other foreleading cause of the Gouty Disease in the nervous humor and its acetous or sharp affluxions or flowing to the parts And indeed that the Saline Particles of this Liquor degenerating from a volatilization to a flux do become acid we have shewed by very many instances and reasons both formerly and also in this Tract But for the provision of this Disease it is not requisite that the whole Mass of the nervous juice should be acetous but it is sufficient that some portions of it in the Brain or elsewhere in the nervous stock being depraved or that its Recrements laid up here and there had contracted this kind of Nature from which afterwards growing turgid when as the acid Particles run together to the Saline Mine laid up in the Joints they stir up the Gouty fit after the manner aforesaid But truly it manifestly appears that acetous fluxions being brought from the nervous humor do frequently happen by a notable instance or experiment often cited by me viz. I have often observed That those obnoxious to the passions or pains of the Nerves have suffered or felt a light rigor or stiffness in their whole Body which is a corrugation or wrinkling of almost all the nervous parts and then presently the Convulsive Distemper would follow at which time the Urine was rendred very copiously and clear which being without any lixivial or nitrous savour which otherwise it always has was very sharp like mere Vinegar indeed by this most clear sign it appears that the humor being risen up to a fulness in the nervous parts and moved by its swelling up doth bring in the Convulsive Distempers and when a portion of the same sweating or dropping forth is laid up in the Glandulas immediately being reduced thence into the Blood by the passage of the Veins and Lymphaeducts it did excite the flood of the sharp Urine Indeed in like manner from the same humor swelling up in a lesser measure and still remaining within the nervous passages and setling in the Joints we think the Gouty fits do arise Indeed it is an argument that part of the Goutish matter doth proceed from the Brain and Nerves because for the most part those obnoxious to this Disease do complain a little before the fit of an heaviness of the head and of a dulness with a Vertigo and sleepiness but as soon as they begin to suffer the pains of the Gout as if the Clouds were blown away from the Brain they enjoy a more free understanding with a great and unwonted sharpness of wit Besides when as there are sometimes many Saline Mines of this inveterate Disease deposited in diverse Members it is observed that the pains do very much invade first the superior places and then by degrees descend to the rest wherefore when perhaps at first the Vertebrae of the neck were troubled a little while after the shoulders or other members of the Arm were possessed then the Disease reached to the Loins or the Hips and lastly the joints of the Legs and so to the lowest joints sometimes these and sometimes those The Evident Causes which in respect of the nervous liquor stir up the Gouty Fits do either pervert the Particles and portions into an Acetousness or else stir them up before degenerated into Fluxions 1. Acid liquors as thin Wines Cyder stale Beer experience being mistress are to be shunned by Gouty persons more than a Mad-Dog or a Snake For these kind of Drinks do not only bring into act the cause of this Disease but contribute more Acetous Particles by carrying them to the Brain and nervous Fibres to its nest and increase the Morbific matter 2. Immoderate or unseasonable exercises of the Body violent passions immoderate Venus and a disorderly feeding and whatsoever besides greatly disturbs the spirits and humors or shakes them and by that means stir up the fluxions of the nervous juice or its recrements induce the pains of the Gout 3. Usual evacuations being suppressed also taking of cold and wet for that by this means the blood and by consequence the nervous liquor conceive effervescencies and fluxions do bring on the fits of this Disease 4. For the same reason the changes of the Heaven and of the Air as also the Tropicks of the year are wont to bring on the pains of the Gout so that it is become a Proverb That Gouty persons carry their Almanack in their joints and deduce most certain Prognosticks of the weather from their pains For as often as the humid constitution of the year or the blowing of the Southern or the Northern Winds or Snow are at hand they are wont to predict these from the coming of their pains Further every Quarter of the Year especially Spring and Fall they are more grievously tormented Wherefore the Aequinoxes are always religiously observed by them The reason of these consists partly in this forasmuch as insensible perspiration is variously altered by reason of the mutations of the Air and Year therefore the Effluvia's which are wont to transpire being restrained do ferment the Blood and the nervous Humor and easily stir them up into Goutish Fluxions Besides the humors of our Bodies even as the Sap of Vegetables and other natural and artificial Liquors do diversly grow hot about the changing of times and enter various states or conditions of either fixation or sometimes of volatileness or of a flux The chief differences of this Disease are taken from the distemper'd places and so there are ordained as it were distinct species of the same to wit the Chiragra or Hand Gout the Ischia or Hip Gout the Gonagra or Knee Gout and the Podagra the Foot or Toe Gout in the mean time pains are wont to be excited in some other members and are noted by the common name of the Gout Whether the pains of the Teeth or of the Loins and pains of other parts ought to be referred hither we have not now leasure to inquire This Distemper as to its original is said to be hereditary or acquired as to the temperament of the sick it is Hot or Cold or Sanguine Cholerick or Phlegmatick to wit because the Blood being hindred in its circuit about the distemper'd places sometimes an Inflammation or a watry swelling come upon the pains As to the relation of other Diseases the Distemper of the Gout is either singular or else complicated with other Diseases and chiefly with the Scurvey or the Stone Of which kind of combinations because they are intimate and frequent as if they were of kin to this Disease
it will seem to the purpose for us to inquire into the reasons A long Gout oftentimes gets to it the Scurvey and some Scorbutick Distempers are so like the Gout that they are not easily distinguished The reason of the former is both the like Dyscrasie of the Blood in either Distemper depending upon a fixed Salt as also for that Gouty people being for a long time fixed either to their Bed or Chair the Scorbutick disposition easily comes upon them Secondly The Scorbutick Distempers which imitate the Gout are the Rheumatism and the wandring Scorbutick Gout the reasons and causes of which and how they may be discerned from the Gout we need not repeat here having already delivered them in our tract of the Scurvey The Gout hath so near a relation to the Stone or Gravel in the Reins that either distemper as if they had the same original most often meet together for scarce any is sick of the Gout but is found to be also obnoxious to the other Disease Further an inveterate Gout is wont to excite stony Concretions in the Joints such as the Stone doth in the Reins Hence I think it is most likely that the Stone or Gravel in the Reins doth arise from a like if not wholly the same cause that we assigned for the Gout to wit the Saline fixed matter being deposited from the Blood in the Reins doth grow hot with the acid humor being there poured forth thorow the nervous passages and by that means doth frequently induce Nephritick pains or of the Reins then from either matter being coagulated after growing hot doth form the Stone For the illustrating this Pathology farther here being no place for it it shall be deferred to another time Every Body is wont to give a Prognostick of the Gout to wit that it is safe enough but most hard to be Cured 1. As to the former this Distemper is not only free of it self from danger but on the contrary preventeth most other Diseases For Gouty people by reason of the Saline fixed Dyscrasie of the Blood are little obnoxious to Feavours but for the most part live free from a Consumption and other more grievous Distempers of the Bowels or Head because the Recrements of the Blood and nervous Juice are continually laid up in the Joints 2. But as to the latter the so great difficulty of Cure the reason is that for the taking away the foregoing cause of this Disease there is required a most perfect amendment of a double Humor viz. of the Blood and nervous Juice to wit that they may beget no Saline fixed or plainly acid Particles and moreover a restitution of the weakned Joints neither of which can ever be easily obtained And besides this it happens that the Conjunct Cause of this Disease subsists in places greatly at a distance so that the virtues of no Medicine are able to reach them Sometimes it happens by reason of the Fluxions of the Gouty Matter being suppressed or beat back that sometimes torments of the Ventricle of the Bowels and of the Belly sometimes a straitness of breathing an Asthma or other Distempers of the Breast and sometimes also an Apâ—plexy and other sleepy or Convulsive Diseases are excited which being observed it may be objected that the Mine of the Gout is not the same as we but now described because its Saline part if it were the same which is destinated for the nourishing of the Joints would not be from thence expelled or deferred or laid up elsewhere then as to the other part to wit the laying up of the acid seeds in the accustomed place it seems that it should not be easily repercussed or of it self suppressed in its way or any where else translated to be very hurtful to any part But indeed it is easie to reply to this that an acetous portion of the Gouty Matter may be repelled or suppressed flowing thorow the nervous passages and so it being poured in to other parts doth oftentimes excite most grievous evils Indeed the nervous Liquor and its Recrements for that they consist of very subtil and active Particles upon every light stop or repulse are driven into diverse deflections and flowings moreover when these grow turgid or meet with the Particles of humors of another kind and grow hot with them they stir up various Distempers or such as are painful and Convulsive and not rarely because the dissimilar Particles are mutually coagulated sometimes Strumons sometimes Cancrous or otherways malignant Tumors arise Instances very remarkable of these kind of effects we have shewn in our Treatise of Convulsive Diseases But especially concerning a Maid who by reason of the Inguinal Glandulas or the Kirnels about the Groin being hardly pressed and hurt with a Truss for a Rupture fell into a Vertigo and Convulsive Distempers and shortly after had great Scropulâ—'s or running Sores growing on the same side in the Neck After the same manner by reason of the Goutish Mine being restrained from its wonted place and suppressed within the nervous Passages or otherways translated sometimes most wicked Distempers arise Whilst I was writing these I was sent for to a Noble Matron who sometimes past being obnoxious to the Gout and that very much after about three months last past she had laboured almost continually with a languishing of the Ventricle with a queasiness â—auscousness and vomiting at length I know not upon what occasion falling into frequent swoonings or loss of spirits a little after she was troubled with a Vertigo with a loss of memory and sometimes with a light Delirium and when she had continued thus for some days and free in the mean time from the Gout and growing well in her stomach she eat with an appetite broth twice or thrice in a day and once a day flesh meat and digested it without any trouble by this manifest sign indeed it appears that the Recrements of the nervous humor which were wont before to fall down by the Spinal Nerves into the Feet to the Mine of the Gout afterwards being deposited in the Ventricle thorow the Nerves of the wandring pair and the Intercostals did stir up the continual troubles in it which at last partly restagnating in the Brain and being partly translated into the Cardiack Nerves or those going to the Heart those last Distempers of Swooning of the Vertigo and the Delirium succeeded The Curatory method suggests three primary Indications the first of them Curatory to be administer'd only in the Fits for the allaying the pains and for the sooner ending of them Secondly Preservatory being destinated for the intervals of the fits endeavours the taking away of the foregoing cause of the Disease that the fits of the pains may more rarely or less or not at all be repeated Thirdly Vital which institutes by what kind of food and by what Remedies strength may be sustained in the cruel Torments and life be prolonged and also refreshed or
the Loins yet as often as they are repeated in the same sick person they mostly observe the same nest For the unfolding the Aetiology of this Disease it is not enough to affirm that the Intestines are pulled either by their sharp contents or irritated by the Blood and other humors poured into them and breaking the continuity For as to the former it is extreamly improbable that the Bile or Choler or Phlegm or the Pancreatick Juice or any other simple humor or growing hot or fermenting with others should be able to excite such fixed cruel and long continuing pains Besides because the Intestines being besmeared with their own dung cannot be easily pricked by the Contents though sharp nor are they wont to be exasperated by them insomuch that the sharpest stools which oftentimes fetch off the skin at the Fundament very little trouble or not at all the passages of the Guts further these being grievously provoked whatever is troublesome contained in their cavity is easily shaken forth and either by driving it forward upwards or downwards is quickly thrust forth as is plainly perceived in the Disease of the Choler and other Dysentrick Distempers nor indeed is there almost any loading of these provoking the Membranes and stirring up pains which may not be exterminated or carried forth of doors by one purge or other Then secondly as to what respects the suffusions of the Blood or Serum within the coats of the Intestines by which an Inflammation or painful Tumors are excited Indeed we grant that sometimes it may so come to pass yea I have known it by ocular inspection but from thence we have observed not the Colick but the Iliack passion to have been excited For when I have opened several dying of the Iliack passion I found almost in all that the cause of the Disease and of their Death was an Inflammation or Ulcer of some Intestine neither is this any wonder because a Solution of the continuity in a very tender and highly sensible Membrance doth stir up Convulsions and painful Corrugations or wrinklings together and so continual and cruel that therefore the Peristaltick motion of the distempered Intestine whereby the dung or dregs of the Belly are carried forward toward the Anum or Arse-Gut should be hindred and wholly inverted Therefore that we may thorowly inquire out both the Matter and Mine as also the seats and the ways of flowing to them of this Disease of the Colick by some other means it may deservedly be suspected that it is the nervous Juice and its Recrements and that the rather because this passion hath so intimate an agreement or consent with the other Distempers of the Brain and the nervous Stock as we have already shewed Charles Piso hath affirmed That as most distempers of the whole Body so also the pains of the Colick are excited by a Serous heap or deluge gathered together in the head and he contends that the seat of this Disease is neither in the coats nor cavities of the Intestines but in the Peritonaum or inner rim of the Belly and that the cause sticks wholly in the Brain near the original of the Nerves To wit he supposes which he saith he hath found by Anatomical observation The serosities laid up in the hinder region of the Brain to beset the little heads of the Nerves of the wandring pair and so some of the utmost branches and shoots of them inserted into the Peritonaeum or inner rim of the Belly by the Caul to move into Convulsions and from the contraction or drawing together of this most cruel pains both in it and in the underlying Viscera as it were breaking them to pieces to be excited For the proof of this opinion he brings an example of a certain man dissected being dead of a most grievous fit of the Colick in whom the hinder region of the head near the Cerebel was so much drowned with a clear water as also the nervous original of the wandring pair that the marrowy substance appeared very much moistened like wet Paper Sect. 4. Chap. 2. But indeed though we should grant that the Colick should arise from the humor of the Brain and from the default of that watering the nervous parts yet we think that this painful passion is excited not after that manner as this Author has laid down Because we think neither the seat of this Disease to subsist in the Peritonaeum nor its primary cause to be within the head For as to this although the Morbifick matter being heaped up in the head near the origine of the Nerves doth sometimes produce in the parts at a great distance Numnesses Cramps and Convulsive motions as we have elsewhere shewn by many instances with the reasons of the Distemper yet it is much otherwise in a very cruel pain such as the Colick is wont to be For as to this being excited which always proceeds from a breach of the continuity it is required that the dolorifick cause or improportionate object should be fixed in the distemper'd member itself or at least a certain part or portion of it Neither is it sufficient to say that the Convulsion proceeds from a remote cause and so the pain from the Convulsions For although pain oftentimes doth produce Convulsive motions yet these do not produce pain of themselves at least great and continuing long Wherefore in the pain of the Colick the matter drawing asunder the sensitive Fibres and pulling them one from another and so provoking them into painful Corrugations or wrinklings doth not still stay in the Brain but descending from thence thorow the nervous passages towards the Intestines seems to be heaped up somewhere in their neighbourhood nigh to the pained parts and there either growing turgid or swelling up by reason of their fulness or growing hot with some other humor do bring in the fits of this Disease We indeed reject the Mine of the Colick from the Peritonaeum because this Membrane being very thin and gifted but with very few and only small Vessels is neither capable of any great affluxions of Humors neither can it self though pulled together be able to urge the Viscera lying under it into pains by compressing or drawing them together But the Morbific matter being slid down from the Head by the Nerves into the Belly finds very convenient nests in the Mesentery in which very many and great Nerves have there their noted infoldings and distributions Wherefore as this part is very sensible and very much obnoxious to the flowings in of the humors of the nervous Stock it may be deservedly affirmed to be the seat of this Disease of the Colick We have shewn formerly the causes of some Convulsive motions in the Abdomen which are commonly called Hysterical to lye hid in the Mesenterick Infoldings moreover in the same places we did then assert That the Colick pains had sometimes their nests and confirmed it sufficiently by Anatomical observation But
Recrements of the nervous humor subsiding here as it were upon its bottom neither can be drawn back by any of the Vessels nor pass into the cavities of the Intestines there is a necessity that it must erect in this part it s morbid nests The evident causes are of a double kind to wit first those that do injury to the Brain and nervous stock by causing a greater provision of the Morbific matter or secondly those which by agitating or shaking the Blood and humors stir up the Mines gathered together and before quiet and provoke them into painful heats or fermentings It would be tedious here to examine the manifold and diverse occasions by which the Colick pains are brought upon those predisposed for these often are caused by great inordinations in the six non naturals and the mutations of the Air and the Year and moreover by what help should be expected by the untimely administring Medicines themselves From what has been said the differences of this Disease may be easily known For first by means of the causes we have shewn the Colick to be either accidental which is caused by reason of the Intestines being provoked by sharp contents such as we but now described it Secondly By reason of the place affected the Colick is sometimes superior sometimes inferior sometimes lateral or of the side as the Morbific matter is fixed either sometimes in this part sometimes in that part of the Mesentery or in other infoldings of the Abdomen Thirdly By reason of the sickly condition and temperament of the sick it is called a Bilous or Cholerick a Phlegmatick or a Melancholick Colick also either simple or Scorbutick not that these imaginary humors excite of themselves the Colick but according to the dispositions of the Body distemper'd various Symptoms are made or caused to vary As to its Prognostick it is commonly known that the accidental Colick to wit excited from a solitary evident cause is most often safe and with an easie matter cured but the habitual as to its disposition it is very difficult to be rooted out so that the fits may no more return and its fits sometimes are pertinacious notwithstanding Remedies and sometimes continue many days yea weeks and months 2. The Colick disposition frequently succeeds long intermitting Feavours and continual being evilly handled for that the nervous Liquor being highly vitiated gathers together many Recrements which are deeply deposed into the Infoldings of the Abdomen as it were the more open receptacles Further for this reason an Epidemical Feavour rages some years to which the Colick is joined as its Pathognomonick or peculiar Symptom hence in like manner a long and grievous Scurvy causes also the Colick because it perverts the nervous liquor 3. After the Colick pains have raged for sometime in the Belly they fall oftentimes into the Loins and then the Disease increasing or growng worse they enter upon the members and the muscles almost all in the whole Body and at length oftentimes end in the Palsie which certainly is a manifest sign that the Morbific matter is not carried by the Arteries but by the Nerves and that its subject or seat is not the cavities or the coats of the Intestines but the nervous Infoldings of the Mesentery For because the Lumbary pains or those of the side do come upon the torments of the Belly besides that the Nerves of either place communicate the cause is further for that the Morbific matter being much increased in the Head slides down not only into the wandring pair but also into the spinal Marrow and entring into it and setling in its bottom causes pains to arise in the Loins and afterwards in many other Nerves which proceed from the Spine or Back-bone and in other Members and Muscles distemper'd lastly it brings in the Palsie by the passages of the Nerves being stuffed by the Morbific Matter heaped up to a plentitude in them 4. The more cruel Colick and very much raging whose cause is an Inflammation or an Imposthum of some Intestine for the most part induces the mortal Iliack Passion The Curatory method in the Colick as in most intermitting Diseases suggests three primary Indications The first of which Curatory to be administer'd in the fit respects the allaying of the pains and for the sooner and more easie taking away the coming of the Disease Secondly Preservatory which shews the taking away the cause of the Disease without the fit that the fits may not be often repeated or more grievously infest Thirdly Vital which supplies Remedies for the preserving of strength in the torments and most cruel Cruciations and for the cherishing of the Spirits Concerning these we shall speak a little more sully in order 1. We almost only respect the Curatory Indication in the accidental Colick for the evident cause which is an irritation of the Intestines by sharp contents being removed the pains for the most part cease of their own accord nor do they return without the like occasion Wherefore for the quick curing of this Disease the practice is well enough known to every common person among the vulgar to wit presently to administer softning Clysters Topick Anodynes and Narcoticks to which if a Feavour be joined or feared letting of blood is often used with success We shall set down forms of these and the order of using them in the Cure of the habitual Colick Therefore for the healing of this Distemper in the fit there are two chief Intentions to wit both to take away the painful breach or solution of the unity and to allay the burning or growing hot of the Fibres and the Spirits in them For the former you must endeavour both that the matter impacted in one or more Mines may be shaken off or subdued and also that a flowing in of new matter may be hindred The second Intention which ought chiefly and continually to be insisted upon is performed by Anodynes chiefly and Narcoticks After what manner and by what Remedies every one of these are methodically to be done we shall now shew you Most often the Cure of the pain of the Colick and that rightly is begun with a Clyster Let this at first be gentle and only emollient by which the Corrugations or the wrinklings of the Fibres may be allayed and the burning Spirits flattered or pleased For this end warm Milk with Sugar or Molossus or Syrup of Violets is convenient as also Emollient Decoctions of Mallows Marsh-mallows Mercury with the Flowers of Melilot and Elder with the Oyl of Almonds or of Olives also a Decoction of a Sheeps-head or Calves-feet sometimes a Clyster of mere Oyl of Olives or of Linseed Oyl is wont to help before any others But if the more gentle Clysters do not loosen the Belly nor are easily ejected there must be given such as will more provoke and press or as it were stroke forth the humors by the little mouths of the Arteries For which end
much more profitably to be given by which when the Blood is poured forth and its serosities plentifully precipitated the nourishment of the Disease is cut off and the bloody Mass being emptied receives part of the Morbific matter so that its reliques are more easily shaken off For this end Take of the best Spirit of Tartar rectified half an ounce let half a dram be given twice or thrice in a day in a spoonful or two of the following Iulep drinking after it five spoonfuls of the same Take of the Water of the leaves of Burdock or of Aron or of Arsmart one pint of the Water of the flowers of Elder and of Chamomil each four ounces of the compound water of Gentian of the compound Water of Raddishes each two ounces of Sugar six drams mix them together After the same manner as the Spirit of Tartar may be given in a just Dose sometimes the Tincture of the Salt of Tartar sometimes the simple mixture or the Spirit of Sal Armoniack succinated or impregnated with Amber Take of Millepedes prepared two drams of the flowers of Sal Armoniack Tartarized one dram of the Oyl of Nutmegs half a scruple of Turpentine what will suffice make a Mass and let it be made into Pilâ—s take three or four once or twice in a day drinking after it a Dose of the Iulep or of the following distilled water five or six spoonfuls Take of fresh Millepedes or Hog-Lice cleansed one pint and a half the outer rind of six Oranges and of four Lemons six Nutmegs let them be cut small and add to them one pound of the crumbs of stale white Bread all being bruised together and well mixed pour to them four pints of new Milk and of Sack one quart let them be distilled according to art and the whole liquor mixed together you may sweeten it with Sugar or the Syrup of Violets as you please In a long and pertinacious Colick to those who are of a more cold temperament and Viscera Purging Spaw Waters or Whey with the Syrup of Violets are wont to be given oftentimes with great help for both liquors where they are agreeable being plentifully drunk refrigerate the stomach and the hot Intestines and presently loosen and help them in their painful Cramps and wrinklings or from the Convulsive winds or blasts that extend them besides they chiefly help as I suppose for that they tame and subdue the Saline Particles of another nature insinuating themselves into the Morbific Mine and other Saline and irritative Particles inhabiting it and oftentimes carry them forth by Purging In this Disease as all things are not convenient for all men yea neither the same thing always for the same person there is dayly need of the careful observation of a prudent Physician that by the co-indications from things taken that hurt or help a right method of healing may be instituted and varied as occasion serves 2. The Vital Indication ought to be joyned to the Curatory and that between whiles For when the sick being afflicted with torture watching Vomiting and abstinence almost continual often fall into languishment and sometimes in danger of their lives Remedies which sustain strength refresh the Spirits and procure some truces against the fierceness of the Disease to wit Cardiacks or Cordials and Hypnoticks or such as cause rest have here their turns Take of the Water of the flowers of Chamomil and of Elder each four ounces of Barlyed Cinnamon and of the whole Citron each two ounces of Pearl powdered one dram of Sugar three drams make a Iulep take of it five or six spoonfuls Take of the Powder of Pearl and of Crabs Eyes each one dram let it be divided into four parts let one part be given twice or thrice in a day with the Iulep or with a Decoction of the roots of Contrayerva Take of the Conserve of Clove-Gilliflowers one ounce of the Confection de Hyacintho of Alchermes each two drams of Pearl powdered half a dram of the Syrup of the juice of Citrons what will suffice make a Confection give of it the quantity of a Nutmeg three or four times in a day with the Iulep In less hot Constitutions Spirits of Harts-horn of Sut of Sal Armoniack impregnated with Amber also the Tincture of Antimony or of Coral do oftentimes give notable help Opiates are of necessary use in the Disease of the Colick without which the sick cannot live nor the Physicians nor those who attend them be at quiet or have any leasure time Take of the water of Cowslip flowers three ounces of the Syrup of Poppies half an ounce of Aqua Mirabilis two drams mix them and make a draught to be given going to sleep If the pains be very strong and yield to no such Remedy prepared Opium and its compositions ought to be given The Laudanum of Paracelsus or the London Laudanum Pills of Styrax or of Hounds-tongue are convenient a Solution of Tartarisated Opium from sixteen to twenty grains is much used by me Which Medicine indeed I have given with very good success to some that for a long time have been miserably vexed with this Disease sometimes a great while every night or every other night 3. The Preservatory Indication hath only place in the intervals of the fits and endeavours the taking away the present foregoing cause of the Disease and hindring it for the future so that the fits of the pains may seldom or never afterwards return For which end the Blood and the nervous liquor ought to be purified leâ—t they should beget the morbific matter and conserved in its due temper and the Brain and the nervous Infoldings of the Abdomen corroborated leâ—t they should too readily receive it For these ends a strict dyet being ordered let them enter into a course of Physick Spring and Fall such as we prescribed for the prevention of the Gout Vomiting in this case is never to be omitted if it be agreeable to wit by which the Emunctories of the Viscera being emptied the Recrements of the Blood and the nervous Liquor which otherwise would augment the morbific matter may be received more plentifully besides the nervous Infoldings and all the parts are so shaken that nothing of that which is about to go into the Mine of the Disease is suffered to stagnate or to be heaped up there Let Purging for three or four times with due intervals and also in a hot Constitution Phlebotomy be celebrated moreover let altering Remedies and especially Chalybeats or such as are made out of Steel when they do not Purge be daily taken at medical hours But before all other Remedies whatsoever the drinking of Mineral Waters such as come from Iron for a month in the Summer time is wont to give the greatest help But when these are drunk you must take heed that they be rendred well and quickly by Urine or Stool lest if they should chance to stay long in the body
by running into the Head or Feet as they often do they should cause a Vertigo or the Gout Take of our Tincture of Steel one ounce and let fifteen to twenty drops be taken twice in a day in seven spoonfuls of the following Iulep Take of the Waters of the leaves of Aron and of Burdock each half a pound of the Magisterial of Earth Worms of Gentian compound of Poeony compound each two ounces of Sugar half an ounce mix them After the same manner here deservedly have place the Tincture of Antimony and of Amber yea and many other altering Remedies above prescribed for the Distempers of the Head may also be used for the preservation from the Colick whose foregoing cause proceeds from the Brain As to Charles Piso's Observation by which he endeavours to prove that the cause of the pain of the Colick remains wholly in the Brain because he had found a Serous deluge in the Head of a certain person dead of that Disease I say that this Serum being heaped up in the head was the remote and antecedent cause of this Disease and not the conjunct cause But indeed it is probable that from this first spring a certain portion of this superfluous and sharp Serum did descend by the nervous passage into the nervous Infoldings of the Abdomen and there constitute the Mines of the Colick Distemper Further although the Morbific matter there sliden down because of the tenuity of the parts and the smallness of the nests can rarely be seen with the eyes yet I have plainly seen and handled such a Mine of this Disease become inveterate and very cruel not long since in the Mesentery opening the dead body of a certain Gentlewoman of whom I have elsewhere made mention Being sometimes since consulted with concerning the curing of a Reverend old Man grievously obnoxious for many years to the Disease of the Colick I administer'd to him the same method of healing and the Remedies I but now described by the use of which he found himself much better after a month or two and within half a year he seem'd to be perfectly well so that he lived afterwards wholly freed from any fits of the pains But the Colick disposition had not long ceased and he had omitted the usual course of Medicine but he suffer'd about his throat a resolution or loosning in the Muscles serving for swallowing which troubled him oftentimes so that he was in danger to be choaked by Food and chiefly by liquid things sticking in that place Against this evil receiving help by Antiparalytick Remedies he continued from thence six or seven years in moderate health at last being taken the first time in the midst of a journey with an Apoplexy he dyed It is obvious enough in this case that the Recrements of the nervous liquor that were wont to be deposed about the nervous Infoldings of the Abdomen did at first stir up the Distemper of the Colick then the same being shut forth from that part getting another nest for themselves about the Ganglioform nervous Infoldings of the Throat brought in the resolution or short Palsie of the Oesophagus and lastly by reason of the same matter restagnating in too great a plenty in the middle part of the Brain that deadly senslesness followed A certain cunning and crafty little Lawyer about fifty years of Age was wont to be troubled for many years with a periodical Headach and with a stupor or numness of his Senses and a great weight of his head about the middle of Summer labouring very much with the aforesaid Distempers he perceived a sudden ease from the applying of Topical Remedies but a little after he was taken with a very cruel Colick then being the first time whose fit fell upon him with so much cruelty that his strength suddenly failing he fell into frequent swooning fits with a cold sweat which fit notwithstanding by leasure vanished within twenty four hours without any breaking of wind or going to Stool But after that he suffer'd frequent fits and became obnoxious to the Disease all which as I was carefully informed for the most part were usher'd in with a pain of the Head with a Vertigo and amazedness or stupidity and from hence he was wont to presage the pains of the Colick would very suddenly follow In a certain fit which lasted for twelve days with great cruelty the sick person himself observed and told me that whilst the distemper troubled him in his Belly he felt no trouble in his head but the Colick pains remitting presently the Vertigo returned with the Headach from which reciprocal translation of these Symptoms from the Head into the Belly and so on the contrary from the Belly to the Head we may lawfully argue that the same Morbific matter flowing in the nervous Passages falling down sometimes below brought in the Colick Passion and sometimes above and restagnating caused those distempers of the Head Hither may be referred what Charles Piso hath accurately observed concerning himself being wont to be affected with Cephaâ—ick distempers and the Colick pains by turns and with a mutual dependency Sect. 4. C. 2. p. 355. Not long since a certain studious young Gentleman and living a sedentary life began to complain of a great stupidity of his senses and a dulness as also of a great weight of his Head and almost continual sleepiness further his Ventricle or Stomach was become so slothful and stupid that he wanted all manner of Appetite whilst a Cure was instituted against this evil disposition by Remedies which roused up the Spirits and shook off their burthens this Gentleman fell into a most cruel Colick Passion which he was never obnoxious to before from which a most cruel pain like the boreing of an Auger possessed the middle of the Abdomen his Navil being drawn inwards and notwithstanding the daily use of all kind of Remedies it continued for three weeks with great cruelty that in the time he could take no rest but what he received from Narcoticks nor could he receive any ease from his pains unless by an hot fomentation Certainly in this case it is plain enough to every one that the impurities of the nervous liquor being gathered to a certain fullness was the immediate or conjunct cause of the whole sickness which matter subsisting first in the Head brought in the notable stupidity of the Brain and the oppression of the Animal Function then being fallen down by the passage of the Nerves into the nervous Infoldings of the Abdomen caused that cruel and daily Colick FINIS A TABLE A. AFfections how wont to be iterated and how allayed or obliterated 49. they are more than eleven 54. the two primary affections or gestures of the Soul are pleasure and grief 48 Altering Medicines are of the greatest moment in the cure of melancholy Diseases and not purging Medicines as the Antients thought 196 Anatomy of an Oyster 9. of a Lobster 11 Anger its
character 54. 't is of kin to boldness ibid. Animals reduced into classes 7. as Fire and Light are chiefly energetical in mechanical things so in Animals In perfect ones there ought to be many senses 56 Animal spirits what they are 23. to what compared ibid. they abound in an objective and an active virtue 24. they are the efficient cause of sense and motion 56. a most swift communication of them implanted within all the parts ibid. an opposite tendency of them effect both sense and motion ibid. they pass through the sensible species and not the effluvia of the object penetrate even to the head 59. they actuate the Rainbow of the Eye very much 85. they are the immediate subject of sleep 87. and the immediate subject of the Vertigo 147. their distemper being after a diverse manner as it is the cause of the phrensy so it is of Melancholy Madness and Stupidity 188. from what disposition of them the primary Phaenomena of a melancholick Delirium proceed ibid. as they are compared to light they are call'd opacous or full of darkness 189. these kind of spirits in melancholy compar'd to those in Chymical Liquors ibid. they are not like the spirit of Blood as they should be nor like the spirit of Wine for such is rather in the Phrensy ibid. they are like acid spirits distill'd out of Salt Vinegar Box and such like ibid. Stygian Waters are like the nature of the Animal Spirits in madness ibid. three chief affections of acetous Chymical Liquors which agree with them in Melancholy first the effluvias falling away from these Liquors are perpetually in motion in like manner also the Spirits in the Phantasy of a Melancholick Person thence the effluvias from acetous Chymical Liquors do not proceed far in like manner the imagination of a Melancholick Person though always imployed comprehends only a few things and therefore every thing is conceived with a greater Image than it should be Lastly effluvias from acetous Liquors do not evaporate so much from open Pores as they make new and in like manner whilst the Animal Spirits form new tracts in the Brain produce unwonted and incongruous notions 190 191. after they have for some time been vitiated in melancholy the conformation of the Brain is also hurt 191. how they acquire a disposition like to Stygian Water 202. they are the subject of Madness 201 Antiscorbutick Medicines good for pains in the head 116 Apoplexy its seat 153. a description of the disease ibid. its subject ibid. the spontaneous functions only deficient in it ibid. the opinions of others concerning this disease ibid. the theory of this disease is best shown by Webser 154. a reason added by the Author ibid. a twofold Apoplexy 155. The Theory of the former delivered ibid. this disease either accidental or habitual ibid. the cause of the former 156. an extinction of the Spirits comes from opiates or immoderate drinking of hot Waters ibid. the formal reason of the habitual Apoplexy ibid. what its conjunct cause is 157. it consists in the Pores of the Callous Body being suddenly stopp'd and the spirits being driven away by the contact of malignant matter ibid. what the nature or disposition of the morbifick matter ibid. the procatartick cause of the habitual Apoplexy ibid. the differences of this disease 158. its prognosticks ibid. the curatory method ibid. what is to be done in the fit and in what position the sick ought to be kept ibid. Phlebotomy and other administrations noted as Vomiting-medicines Comforters Cupping-glasses hot or glowing Iron 159. the preservatory method ibid. purging and bleeding Spring and Fall ibid. Cephalick remedies ibid. Spirits and Tinctures Lozenges Tea Coffee and Chocalet prepared how to be made and taken 160 a medical Ale ibid. Examples and Histories of Apoplectical Persons ibid. an Anatomical observation 161 Appetite it stirs up local motion 36. the Appetite Imagination and Phantasy in the callous Body of the Brain 25 Approach of the sensible object is made either by contact or effluvias sent forth or by reflected or repercussed particles of the Air Breath or Light 56 Arguments and Reasons of very many Authors perswade that the Soul of Brutes is not only Corporeal but Fiery 5 Artery cutting what it may profit in the head-ach 120 121 Authors for two distinct Souls in man 40 B. BAths when their use is hurtful to the Palsy 173 Bewailing wherefore oftentimes joined with weeping 80 Blasting or withering of Trees like the Palsy 164 Blood animated but hardly sensible 55. its disorders allayed by sleep 92. it performs its offices which are the generation of the Animal Spirits and nourishing the parts better in sleep ibid. how it excites the head-ach 108. the Blood and its contents are sometimes the means of the conjunct sometimes of the evident cause in head-achs 109. for what causes it is wont to be moved and bring hurt to the distempered head ibid. it delivers to the head the morbifick matter received from any other part 110. its inordinations how they may be taken away and prevented 114. its exclusion from the Brain does not easily happen because all the Arteries communicate one with another and some of them supply the defects of others 154. its total exclusion from the Brain sometimes happening causes a terrible Syncope 155. which depends oftnest on the motion of the heart being hindred and so either by reason of the Cardiak Nerves being bound together or by reason of the Spirits in the Cerebel being hindred from their flowing into the Nerves ibid. the original of madness either from the Blood or the Spirits themselves 203 Bloody Brutes why some more hot some more cold 13 Bloodless Creatures whether they have Fiery Souls ibid. Brain and Cerebel 2. Roots of the sensitive Soul 23. a twofold action in the Brain and its Appendix of begetting and dispensation and of Exercise and Government 24. the reason and manner of the former ibid. an exact anatomy of the Brain through its corticated or shelly part 25. the Brain and Praecordia the two Roots of the Soul 48. vices of the Brain noted 148. its distempers wherein the reason is hurt as wel as the other Animal functions 179. what its indisposition is to the Phrensy 183. the Procatartick cause of the Phrensy partly in the Brain 184. Melancholy a distemper of it and the Heart 188. its conformation is hurt after the Animal Spirits being for some time vitiated in melancholy Diseases 191. the Brain labours in stupidity as to its magnitude and figure 209. as to its substance or texture 210. and in its evil conformation as to its pores and passages ibid. Bridges passing over them looking down from on high places and drunkenness how they cause a turning round of the head 146 Brutes their various kinds with their Souls described 7. all their Souls after the manner of Fire want a twofold Food viz. a Sulphurous and Nitrous 6. the more perfect Brutes are indued with knowledge either inbred or
use of an inferiour reason 3 Nervous Liquor how a cause of the head-ach 108. the habitual head-ach depends chiefly upon its fault c. 109 wherefore it oft-times becomes corrosive c. 202 Nutritious juice how it excites the head-ach 108.110 111 O. OPâ—ats how they cause sleep 128. how they operate in the Ventricle or Brain how as assigned by Webfer 156 P. PAlace or seat of the humane mind in the Phantasy 41 Palsie what it is 161. its seat ibid. it s conjunct causes 162. in the Palsie either motion or sense only or both together is hurt ibid. spontaneous motion is abolished by reason of the ways being obstructed either in the beginnings or middle passages or about the ends ibid. the ways are obstructed by impletion or compression or by a breaking of the unity ibid. an obstruction in the streaked Bodies causes the universal Palsie or the Palsie of one side ibid. why sense is not hindered as well as motion in every Palsie 163. why all Muscles of the Eyes and Face are not loosened in an universal Palsie ibid. a compression of the streaked Body sometimes stirs up the Palsie ibid. a paralytick obstruction doth sometimes happen in the oblong and spinal Marrow ibid. a Palsie often succeeds Stupidity ibid. a Palsie sometimes from the pressing together of the Marrowy chord ibid. sometimes from the unity being broke 164. the seat of the Palsie sometimes in the Nerves themselves which are either obstructed or compressed or the unity broken ibid. an obstruction sometime in the beginning of the Nerves sometimes in the middle or in their utmost processes ibid. the other conjunct cause of the Palsie ibid. in every Palsie the matter is not so thick or cold as it is vitriolick and other ways infestous to the Spirits ibid. the blasting or withering of Trees like the Palsie ibid. the more remote foregoing causes of the Palsie ibid. the Palsie is either a primary Distemper and a Disease of it self or secondary coming upon or succeeding other Diseases ibid. why the Palsie often succeeds convulsive Diseases ibid. why the distemper of the Colick 166. why the Gout ibid. the evident causes of the habitual Palsie ibid. want or paucity of Spirits oftentimes the cause of the spurious Palsie ibid. for which reason old men are obnoxious to this Disease 167. also scorbutical Persons and such as are full of ill humours ibid. also others long sick ibid. hence some dare not venture on local motion others endeavouring cannot bear it long ibid. the second kind of Palsie in which motion and sense are hurt at once ibid. the third kind in which sense only is affected 168. why feeling is sometimes lost and motion safe ibid. the Prognostick ibid. the Cure 171. Histories and Examples of Paralyticks 174 Paraphrenesis what it is 181. its conjunct causes 181 182. wherefore breathing is hurt in this Disease ibid. its Prognosticks 184. Cure 185 Parts of the corporeal Soul 22. parts serving for hearing how they differ in man and some four-footed Beasts 74 Passions their History from 45 to 55 Phantasy or imagination the power thereof in Brutes 38. 't is often deceived ibid. in man 't is the intellect presiding over the imagination V. Intellect the seat or palace of the humane mind in it 41. the pleasing of it and the senses cause sleep 90 Phantastick desires are immense 52 Phrensy V. Delirium Platonists and Pythagoreans affirm'd the Soul of Brutes to be an incorporeal substance 2 Pleasure and Grief the two primary affections of the Soul 48. they affect the two roots of the Soul viz. the Brain and Praecordia ibid. and 49 Praecordia wherefore and how esteemed the seat of holy affections 47. why call'd the seat of Prudence and Wisdom ibid. they and the Brain the two roots of the Soul 48. they truly labour in the Incubus 142 Prototype of a sound by and by stirs up innumerable Ectypes 70 Pupil of the Eye in some round in others longish the reason inquired into 83. its colour in some black in others grey reddish or otherwise colour'd the reason shewn ibid. R. REasons of very many Authors perswade that the Soul of Brutes is not only corporeal but fiery 5. the reason of good and evil either concerns the corporeal Soul by it self or united to the Body or subjected to the rational 45. reasons of Colours and Images unfolded 77. reasons of the symptoms in Love-madness explained 199. of Tumors and Vlcers in the Kings Evil c. 202 203. of symptoms in Madness 205. why wise and strong men are not always begot of strong and wise men 210 S. SAlivation in inveterate head-achs without suspicion of the Venereal Disease whether it ought to be administred 119. the means and manner of salivating by Mercury unfolded 119 120 Sense what it is 56 57 to 60 Serum how it excites the head-ach 108. its evacuation through its right way being suppressed brings its Flux to the head 110 Sight the most noble Sense 75 77 78 Sleep unknown or greatly controverted what it is 86. Schneiderus's opinion that it is an inorganical faculty of the Soul ibid. its subject not the whole Body 87. the Animal Spirits its immediate subject ibid. all the Spirits injoy rest but not in sleep c. ibid. it s immediate subject is the knowing part of the sensitive Soul ibid. the mediate are the Bodies contemning it 88. its formal reason and beginning ibid. and causes 89. 't is either natural not natural or preternatural ibid. by what and how many ways it begins from the Brain first affected 90. not from fumes ibid. its matter conveyed only by the Arteries 91. why raw and indigested meats induce sleepiness ibid. how it seems to begin in the Eyes ibid. the effects thereof 92. why those that sleep are apt to be cold outwardly ibid. the Blood performs its offices better in sleep ibid. what it affords to the lucid part of the Soul ibid. benefits of sleep noted ibid. Soul the contemplation thereof whereto it conduces 1. divers opinions of the Soul 2 3. three things to be considered in the Soul of Brutes 6. various kinds of Brutes Souls described c. 7. Insects have fiery Souls c. 8. whether fiery Souls in Bloodless Creatures 13. the corporeal Soul in man subject to the rational 18. a double subject of the Brutal Soul 22. whence two parts thereof c. ibid. the sensible part divisible 23. the Animal Spirits constitute its Hypostasis ibid. its beginning 29. frames it self before the Body and increases with it ibid. the Bodies duration depends upon it ibid. like flame it has its trepidations c. 31. as strong in sense and motion as a machine 32. if immaterial also rational ibid. the common sensory not the whole Soul 33. 't is like a self-moving musical Organ 34. the rational far exceeds the Brutal how both joyn'd in man and how they frequently disagree 38. the rational Souls priority ibid. the first act of either is simple apprehension ibid.
divers Conformation inquired into The Pupil of the Eye in some round in other longish The reason of this inquired into The Colour of the Pupil in some black in others gray reddish or otherways Coloured The reason of this shown The Parts of the Eye are the Coats and Humors The Coats greater or lesser The greater are three The Sclerotick The Albugine grows to this The Sclerotic Coat is in some round and in others depressed The Vessels of this Coat The Coat Chorocoeides Is black in most Animals but not in all A Portion of this in most Brutes is of a diversified Colour otherwise than in Man The reason of this is shown The Rainbow of the Eye is described and its use declared The strength and irradiation of the Eye from the Rainbow The Animal Spirits actuate it very much The Retine Coat It s description and use The Humors of the Eye Three Chrystalline It s description and uses The watery Humor and its uses described The glassy Humor Its uses The plenty of the glassy Humor varies according to the Figure of the Chrystalline Humor Sleep Necessary for all Animals What it is unknown or greatly Controverted The Opinion of Schneiderus He affirms Sleep to be an inorganical faculty of the Soul The Subject of Sleep not the whole Body The Animal Spirits are the immediate Subject of Sleep All the Spirits enjoy rest but not in Sleep The Spirits only arising from the Brain and who are the Authors of voluntary Functions enjoy Sleep Not those Procreated in the Cerebel Tâ—e immediate Subject of Sleep is the Knowing Part of the sensitive Soul The Mediate are the Bodies containing it The formal reason of Sleep The beginning of Sleep is in the Cortical part of the Brain which is also the seat of the Memory The Causes of Sleep First what the final is To wit a refection and quieting of the Spirits The formal Cause of Sleep consists in the Rest of the Spirits and in the watering of the containing Parts The evident Causes Sleep either Natural or not Natural or Preâ—ernatural Sleep not Natural sometimes begins from the Spirits being brought low Sometimes from the Cortex of the Brain being too much watered For what Causes the Spirits lye down of their own accord The force of Custom A notable Example of Natural Custom or Assâ—duity 2 The Spirits being weary lye down on their own accord The pleasing of the Senses and the Phantasie cause Sleep The Spirits are Compelled into Sleep by Narcoticks Their Penury or want perswades to Sleep By what and how many ways Sleep begins from the Brain first affected When its Compass it overflow'd by the Serum coming to it To which may be added the iâ—â—â—cilliâ—y of the Brain and loosness of the Pores Sleep not from fuâ—â—s or vapoâ—â—s The Matter of Sleep conveyed only by the Arteries Why raw and indigested meats induce Sleepiness That happens by reason of the Consent which is between the Stomach and the Brain and which it has with the whole Soul besides How Opiats Cause Sleep whilst they operate in the Ventricle How Sleep seems to begin in the Eyes Of the Effects of Sleep 1 Towards the Vital or Flamey part of the Soul The Blood is more inkindled and inflamed in Sleep than in Waking Wherefore those that Sleep are apt to be Cold outwardly 2 Sleep allays the disorders of the Blood Whither they are induced by the conteining Bodies The Internal boyling up of the Blood is also allayed by Sleep The Blood performs its Offices which are the generation of the Animal Spirits and the nourishing of the Parts better in Sleep Sleep is not to be yielded to presently after Eating Such Sleep burts the Lungs and Brain Makes the Spirits more dull and gives evil nourishments What Sleep affords to the lucid part of the Soul It refreshes the wearied Spirits inhabiting the Brain And allays them being out of order The Spirits inhabiting the Cerebel are disturbed in Waking with the Spirits of the other Regiment Why those being disturbed do perform their Offices better whil'st these lye quiet in Sleep Other benefits of Sleep are noted Hence Chyâ—ification and other functions merely Natural are performed best of all in Sleep Of Dreams What they are They are sometimes excited by the Spirits inhabiting the Brain Sometimes by Spirits inhabiting other Parts to wit the Stomach Spleen Genitals Dreams sometimes stir up local Mocions Of Waking A double Consideration of it 1. As it follows upon Sleep Waking is either Natural or Violent The Essence or formal Reason of Waking The Pain of the Head the chiefest and most common affection among Diseases The Causes of it manifold and very diverse that they 〈…〉 be methodically recited Hence it is that its Cure is often instituted Eâ—pirically What things belong to its Pathology The Subject of this Disease The formal Reason of it The differences and kinds Pain is either without or within the Skull Or universal or particular This either before behind or on the side Many other differences of it noted Of which the chiefest is that it is either occasional or habitual The reason of the former unfolded The habitual Pain of the Head hath always a more remote Cause besides the evident Cause The evils or the weak Constitution of the affected part and the easie flowing in of the morbific matter concur to this more remote cause The Parts of the Head predisposed and their vices viz. an evil or weak conformation are noted The former often times is innate and hereditary But more often is contracted anew And chiefly from Cold Also by reason of the inordinations in the six non naturals By accident From internal Corrections 2 The debility of the distemper'd part is also a more remote cause of the Headach which outward accidents and errors in feeding and other Distempers are wont to produce The other part of the more remote Cause secondary and moveable consiâ—ting in the flowing iâ— of the morcific matter This matter is either the Blood or its 〈◊〉 or the nutritioâ—s or nervous 〈◊〉 Which sometimes alone sometimes â—â—â—ing together 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 How the Blood excites the Headach 2 How the Serum 3 How the nutritious Iuice 4 How the nervous Liquor is a cause of this Disease The Headach arising from the fault of the nervous Liquor infests chiefly in the Morning 5 How many humors meeting together and mutually growing hot stir up Headaches The habitual Headach depends chiefly upon the fault of the nervous hamor The fault of the nervous liquor is either universal or particular proper to the place distempered The more remote or evident Causes of the Head-ach are noted Of which sort are first those which move the morbific matter flowing from another place to wit either the Blood or Serum or nourishing juice and stir it up within the places affected of the Head The Blood and its contents in Headaches are sometimes the means of the Conjunct sometimes of the Evident Cause For
what Causes the Blood is wont to be moved and to bring 〈◊〉 to the distempered Head The Blood delivers to the head the morbific matter received from any other part A Flux of the Serum sometimes from meer fullness Sometimes from other Causes Sometimes the watry humor suffering a flux offends the Head Hence in those that have the Headach as in Convulsive Diseases there is often a clear and copious Vrine The recrements of other parts often carried violently to the head with the Serum The evacuation of the Serum thorow its right ways being suppressed brings its flux to the Head 3 The nutritious juice sometimes the cause of the Headach either 1 Because it is carried with the Blood into the Head 2 Because not being agreeable to the blood it stirs up its effervescency Sometimes the evident causes of the Headach are Convulsions somewhere begun and continued by the passage of the nerves into the Head Convulsions beginning after off are sometimes signs of an Headach shortly to follow Sometimes also the cause of it Coâ—vniâ—â—â—e Headaches seem to arise so from the Viâ—â—era not from Vapours But this sympathetick Distemper perâ—â—ps proceeds elâ—ewhere by reason of an evil ferment communicated to the blood So sometimes it seems to be caused from the Ventricle The Head and the Stomach intimately conspire and mutually affect one another 2 How the Head-ach seems to arise from the Spleen The like reason is for this Disease arising from the Liver Mesentery or Womb. The kinds of habitual Headach are noted It is either Continual â— Intermitting The Fits of the intermitting either periodical or certain â—â— iâ—certain and wandring The prognostick of the 〈…〉 is â—asie or diffiâ—â—lt to secured also the 〈◊〉 of the Disease safe or dangerous By what signs we may pronounce it safe and easie to be cured By what difficult By what scarce possiâ—le By what dangerous Accidental Headach easily cured The habitual affords more indications Two chief scopes of Cure 1 To cut in two the Bed â—â— Root of the Disease 2 To root out the Conjunct Cause The â—â—st or Tinder of the Disease the blood serum nourishing juice nervous Liquor and the Recrements caried thorow the Blood How the inordinations of the Blood may be taken away and prevented The pain of the Head from the serous heap â—ow to be cured Phlebotomy Purges Pills Purging Powders An emetick Powder An Apozem A decoction of woods A Cephalick Decoction impregâ—ated with the Tincture of Coffee Tâ—e Headach from other barious mixt with the serum how to be cured The Headach arising from any Inward how to be cured Rais'd up from the fault of the nourishing Iuice how to he handled Frequently follows the Small Pox and Measles Easily cured An Electuary A Iulep Antiscorbutick Remedies good for it The Headach raised up from the vice of the nervous humour how to be cured It s fault either private or particular Or universal and then letting of blood or stronger Purges are not convenient Remedies called Cephalicks proper here Of which sort are these which are convenient in Disâ—ases of the Brain and in these kind of Headaches A great many of these every where to be found in Physical Books An Electuary Iulep A distilled Water Tablets Tinctures Spirits The use of millepedes notably helps The other part of the conjunct Cause consisting in the weakness or evil conformation of the distempered part how to be handled We are not to despair of the Cure Here those Medicines are only profitable that cut off the inkindling or root of the Disease Chyrurgical Remedies chiefly help here of which are 1. Plasters Medicines raising Whelks and Blisters Liniments Fomentations and Bathings help not An Embrocation or a dipping of the head in cold water oftentimes helps Issues Issues made upon or near the distempered place help little The opening of the Skull cry'd up by many but rarely or never attempted Whether salivation in inveterate Headaches without any suspicion of the Venereal Disease ought to be administred The means and manner of salivation by Mercury unfolded Salivation not always safe wherefore to be suspected in Headaches What the cutting of the Artery may profit in this Disease Nevertheless in this Distemper it is often helpful and by what means is shown Farriers use the like practice And perhaps it may be convenient for the curing of strumous or running humours such as the Kings Evil. The History of a continual and a deadly Head-ach A continual and inveterate Headach passing into a Lethargy A second History of an incurable Headach in a most noble Lady labouring with it for twenty years Remedies of every kind for the curing this Headach try'd in vain Conjectures concerning the reason of this cruel Disease A third History of a deadly continual Headach A conjecture concerning the reason of the Disease A fourth History of an Head-ach excited from a fiery Swelling or an Inflammation of the Meninges An History of an Headach raised up from an Impostâ—ume in the Meninges A continual Headach we always to be accounted incurable An intermitting Headach whose Fits are uncertain are so frequent that we need shew no instances of it The sixth History of a periodical intermitting Headach The Cure of the same The reason of this Case unfolded The seventh History of the same Distemper excited by the default of the nervous Liquor The Cure of it The reason of the Case unfolded An Instance of an intermitting Headach which seem'd to be excited from the womb The eighth History of an intermitting Headach seeming to aâ—ise from the Stomach A reason of this Case delivered The like reason is for other Headaches seeming to arise from the Spleen Liver Mesentery c. The Seat of the Lethargy is the same with that of Sleep and Memory to wit about the Shell of the Brain By this name both the Fits of the Lethargy are called And also the soporiferous disposition or Sleepiness Of which there are various kinds The continual Sleepiness the Coma c. In every Lethargick Distemper there is an excess of Sleep and a defect of Memory The essence and causes of natural and non-natural Sleep rehearsed The causes of preternatural Sleep are An infartion or obstruction of the outward part of the Brain and a recess of the Spirits from thence Sometimes this sometimes that is the cause The Lethargy oftentimes from the serous heap overflowing the outward part of the Brain And sometimes from a Dropsiâ— of the whole Brain Not only a plenty of humour but the malignity often causes this Disease The proâ—atarctick causes of the Lethargy In what respect they are in fault Both the Blood begetting evil humours and sending them to the Brain and the Brain too easily receiving them Vpon what occasions the Brain is prone to the Lethargy The evident causes of this Disease Another conjunct cause of the Lethargy consists in the afflicting the Spirits with some narcotick How opiates causes Sleep How they operate in the Ventricle 〈…〉
distilled Water Tablets Chalybeats or Steel-Medicines Spirits Powders Cases and Examples of the Sick The first History The second History The Reason of the Case described The third History The Seat of the Apoplexy A Description of the Disease It s Subject The spontaneous Functions only deficient in the Apoplexy The opinions of others concerning this Disease The Theory of this Disease is best shewn by the famous Dr. Webfer Another Reason given by the Author The Exclusion of the Blood from the Brain does not easily happen Because all the Arteries communicate one with another and some of them supply the defects of the others A total Exclusion of the blood from the Brain sometimes hapning causes a terrible Syncopy This depends oftenest on the motion of the heart being hindred and so either because of the Cardiack Nerves being bound together Or By reason of the Spirits in the Cerebel being hindred from their flowing into the Nerves Hence there is a twofold Apoplexy one in the Brain the other proper to the Cerebel The Theory of the former delivered This Disease either accidental or habitual The cause of the former is either a great breach of the unity in or near the middle of the Brain Or a sudden stupefaction or extinction of the Spirits 1 A Solution of the unity either from blood let forth of the Vessels Or 2 From an Imposthume or the breaking of an Vlcer Or 3 From a Deluge of the Serum An extinction of the Spirits from Opiates or from immoderate Drinking of hot Waters The operation of Opiates as it is assigned by the famous Webfer The formal reason of the habitual Apoplexy 1 What its Conjunct Cause is It consists in the Pores of the callous Body being suddenly stop'd and the Spirits being driven away by the contact of malignant matter What the nature or disposition of the morbifick matter is The procatarctic Cause of the habitual Apoplexy The differences of this Disease Its Prognosticks The Curatory Method What is to be done in the Fit In what position the Sick ought to be kept Phlebotomy Other ways of Administration noted Vomiting Medicines Comforters Cupping-glasses Hot or glowing Iron The preservatory Method Purging and Bleeding Spring and Fall Cephalick Remedies An Electuary A distilled Water Lozenges Spirits and Tinctures Tea Coffee and Chocolate prepared how to be made and taken A Powder Medical Aâ— Examples A very rare History An Anatomical Observation The middle of the Brain which is the Seat of the Apoplexy is also the Seat of the Epilepsy The streaked Bodies the Medullar Trunks and the Nerves are the Seat of the Palsy what the Palsie is It s Conjunct Causes are Obstruction of the passages and the Impotency of the Spirits In the Palsie either motion or sense only or both together is hurt Spontaneous motion is abolished by reason of the ways being obstructed either in their beginnings or the middle passages or about the ends The ways are obstructed by Impletion or Compression or by a breaking of the Vnity An obstruction in the streaked Bodies causes the Vniversal Palsie or the Palsie of one side Why sense is not hindred as well as motion in every Palsie In an universal Palsie why all the Muscles of the Eyes and Face are not loosâ—ed A Compression of the streaked Body sometimes stirs up the Palsie A Paralytick obstruction doth sometimes happen in the Oblong and Spinal Marrow A Palsie often succeeds stupidity or becoming foolish A Palsie sometimes from the pressing together of the Marrowy Cord. Sometimes from the unity being broke The Seat of the Palsie sometimes in the Nerves themselves which are either obstructed or compressed or the unity broken 1 An Obstruction Sometimes in the beginning of the Nerves 2 Sometimes in the middle 3 Or in their utmost processes The other conjunct cause of the Palsie to wit the impotency of the Spirits Often arises from narcotick or vitriolick Particles by which the Spirits are put to flight In every Palsie the matter is not so thick or cold as it is vitriolick or other ways infestous to the Spirits The blasting or withering in Trees like the Palsie The more remote foregoing causes of the Palsy which are two 1 More remote to wit a vicious Blood and for that reason pouring forth a deadly matter upon the head 2 Nearer to wit a weak and loose Brain admiting the evil Particles The Palsy is either a primary Distemper and a Disease of it self Or secondarily viz. Coming upon or succeeding other Diseases Wherefore the Palsie often succeeds Convulsive Diseases Wherefore the Distemper of the Colick 3 Wherefore the Gout The evident Causes of the habitual Palsie Want or paâ—city of Spirits oftentimes the Cause of the Spurious or Bastard Palsy For this Reason Old Men are obnoxious to this Disease 2 Also Scorbutical Persons and such as are full of ill humours 3 Also others long sick Hence some dare not venture on local motion Others endeavouring cannot bear them long The Impotency of the Spirits proceeds in some measure from the default of the explosive Copula 2 The kind of Palsy in which Motion and Sense are hurt at ones 3 Kind in which sense only is affected Wherefore feeling is sometimes lost and motion safe What is the proper Organ of feeling The Prognostick of the Palsy It s Cure Three means of healing according to which this Disease is 1. Either accidental 2. The off-spring of another Disease 3. Habitual 1 The Cure of the former A Powder for a Fall Topicks to be applyed to the Distempered part 2 How the Palsie coming upon another Disease is to be cured The Cure of the habitual Palsie Whilst it is In fieri or doing The Intentions of healing respect the Blood and the Brain Bloodletting A Purge Cephalick Remedies 2 How the Disease in habit is to be cured Bloodletting and Purging cautiously and rarely to be admitted Altering Medicines ought to be given with choice How the Palsy is to be healed in a cold temperament Electuary Coffee A Decoction Spirits A Distilled Water Tinctures and Elixirs Powders Lozenges Pills How the Cholerick or hot Palsie is to be cured An Electuary A Distilled Water Chalybeats or Steeled Medicines A Decoction The juice and expressions of Herbs Pills Topick and particular Remedies Vniversal Remedies 1 Diaphoreticks They are not to be administred indifferently to all They often hurt the Cholerick Sweating Medicines Stoves Baths Natural Baths When the use of Baths is hurtful in the Palsie Salivation Vomitories Histories and Examples of Paralyticks The Example of the Palsie habitual excited of it self The first History The Reason of it The second History more rare and notable An Anatomicâ— Observation â— which the Caâ— is explained â— The third History The Reason of this The fourth History The Câ—rt expoposed The Reason of it The fifth History shâ—wing when the Baths are hurtful An example of the Palsie from a Lethargy The Distempers of the Brain follow in which Reason is hurt as
well as the other Animal Functions Who are said to be Foolish or to talk idly This is either shorter as the Delirium or longer and with a Feavour called Phrensie or without a Feavour as melancholy madness stupidity What the Delirium is It s formal Reason The Causes of the Delirium 1 Either from the Blood Or 2 From exterior Spirits planted in the nervous Stock By what and how many ways the Delirium is caused by the Blood 1 By reason of its too great heat 2 By reason of untameable Particles carried from it into the Brain 3 By reason of malignant Particles suffused from it 4 By reason of Effluvias or venomous Particles obtruded also on the Brain 5 By reason of its afflux being denied to the Brain How a Delirium proceeds from the irregularities of the exterior Spirits The Prognostick of a Delirium It s Cure Of the Phrensie what it is The Paraphrenesis Their Conjunct Causes The Phrensie not from the Inflammation of the Meninges The Paraphrenesis not from the Inflammation of the Diaphragma Wherefore breathing is hurt in this Disease The formal Reason of the Phrensie This Disease proceeds from the burning of the Animal Spirits The Inflammation of the Meninges stirs up rather the inveterate Head-ach or the Lethargy than the Phrensie Prosper Martianus also asserts this Chymical Spirits in their distilling are sometimes inflamed So the Animal Spirits What the Indisposition of the Brain is to the Phrensy The Procatartick Causes of the Phrensy which are partly in the Blood and Partly in the Brain The evident causes of the Phrensie The differences of it The Prognostick The Cure of the Phrensie Phlebotomy Clysterâ— A Iulep An Apozem A Drink Hypnoticks External Medicines causing Sleep Epithems The means for the preserving of strength Cordials The Histories of sick persons in Hippocrates Lib. Epidem A notable History The Distemper of the Animal Spirits being after a 〈◊〉 manner as it is the cause of the Phrensie so it is of Melancholy Madness and Stupidity The definition of Melancholy That it is a Distemper of the Brain and Heart Its Examples or Types various and almost infinite Melancholy is â—ither 1. Vniversal or 2 Particular The primary Phaenomena of a Melancholick Dâ—â—â—rium From what disposition of the Spirits they proceed As they are compared to Light they are called opacous or full of darkness These kind of Spirits in Melancholy compared to those in Chymical Liquors 1 They are not like the Spirit of Blood as they should be 2 Nor like the Spirit of Wine Such rather in the Phrensie 3 But these are like acid Spirits distilled out of Salt Vinegar Box and such like 4 Stygian Waters are like the Nature of the Animal Spirits in Madness The formal Reason of Melancholy aptly represented by acetous Chymical Liquors There are three chief affections of these which agree with the Animal Spirits in Melancholy 1 Effluvias falling away from these Liquors are perpetually in motion In like manner also the Spirits in the Phantasie of a Melancholick person 2 Effluvias from acetous Chymical Liquors do not proceed far In like manner the imagination of a Melancholick Person though always employ'd comprehends only a few things And therefore every thing is conceived with a greater Image than it should be 3 Effluvias from acetous Liquors do not evaporate so much from open Pores as they make new And in like manner the Animal Spirits whilst they form in the Brain new Tracts produce unwonted and incongruous Notions In Melancholy after the Animal Spirits being for some time vitiated the Conformation of the Brain is also hurt The Affection of the Praecordia in this Disease as to fear and sadness is delivered After what manner the Corporeal Soul is affected in these two passions The cause of either depends partly on the blood and partly on the Animal Action of the Heart The procatartick Causes of Melancholy are Partly the acetous Nature of the Spirits and partly the Melancholy Dyscrasie of the Blood The Distemper begins sometimes from this sometimes from that How it begins from the Spirits and the Animal Government By what means this Disease arises from the Blood Melancholy doth not arise from an atrabilary humour heaped up in some place or mine By what means according to the Antients it is said to arise from the Head How from the Womb. How from the Spleen How from the whole Body The Differences of the Disease 1 In respect of its first Subject 2 By reason of Temperament of the Sick In respect of the next Cause as it is singular or conjunct In respect of the Imagination diversly hurt The Prognostick of this Disease The Cure of the Disease The evident Cause first to be removed Three primary Indications 1 Curatory The healing of the Spirits is best performed by admonitions and artificial inventions concerning the business of Life Yet oftentimes there is need of Medicine besides The Preservatory indication concerning the Procatartick Causes of the Disease Phlebotomy Purging Vomiting Vomitories Purgers Pills Powders Syrups Altering Medicines are of the greatest moment and not pargiâ—g Medicines as the Antients thought An Electuary A Iulep A Distilled Water Lozengâ—s An Apozem Spaw-Waters Chalybâ—ates Steeled Medicines Whey Broths Iuices of Herbs A Bath Hypnoticks The first History An Example of Melancholy beginning from the Spirits The Cure The second History An Example of Melancholy arising from the Blood The Curatory Method proposed Vniversal Melancholy De Morbis Convulsivis Cap. 2. Particular Melancholy is excited by reason of two sorts of Affections concerning Good or Evil. Love-Madness The Reasons of Symptoms in mad Love Iealousie Superstition and Desperation The reason of the Symptoms The imaginary Metamorphosis of Melancholick Persons Madness and Melancholy are akin The Subject of Madness are the Animal Spirits The dispositionâ— of which are like to Stygian Water Three chief Accidents in Madness Which are also to be found in Stygian Water 1 The Particles of this are always in motion And in like manner the Animal Spirits in Mad-men 2 The Effluvia's of Stygian Water every where make new Pores and Passages In like manner also the Animal Spirits in Mad men 3 The Effluvia's of Stygian Water are diffused far In like manner as the Animal Spirits in Mad-men What the Conjunct Cause of Madness is How the Animal Spirits acquire a disposition like to Stygian Water It is shewed in the first place that corrosive and as it were Stygian Particles are begot in the humane Body Wherefore the Nervous Liquor oftentimes becomes corrosive Because the volatile Salt most easily degenerates into an acid and most sharp with the acquired Sulphur Hence the Reasons of Tumours and Vlcers in the Kings Evil and the Cancer are given Hence also the Madness of the distempered Spirits The Original of Madness either from the Spirits themselves or from the Blood It begins for two occasions from the Spirits 1 By Reason of a violent Passion by which They
are either too much cast down Or elevated above measure 2 Madness beginning from the Spirits succeeds Melancholy or the Phrensie 1 By what means it comes upon Melancholy 2 How upon a Phrensie 2 The Original of Madness sometimes from the Blood 1 It is either Hereditary The Reason of which is shewn 2 Or acquired and so either By reason of errours in the six Non-naturals Or by reason of Poysons An History of a Mortal Madness from eating the leaves of Wolfs Bane The Reasons of the symptoms of Madness explained 1 Wherefore Mad-men are audacious 2 From whence their immense strength 3 Wherefore they are never tired 4 Wherefore they are not easily hurt The Differences 1 In respect of the Original 2 By reason of the Magnitude 3 In respect of Time The Prognostick The Cure What the indications are of continual Madness 1 The Curatory Indication As to Discipline As to Medicine Phlebotomy Vomiting Medicines Purging Medicines The preservatory Indication Altering Medicines Whey An Expressions An Electuary A Iulep Distilled Waters Specificks A Decoction and Infusion of Apples Other Chirurgical Remedies 3 The vital Indication Histories and Examples of mad people are to be sought in Bedlam or Hospitals for mad people The Cure of Intermitting Madness The Curatory Indication Preservatory Stupidity arises chiefly from the failing of the Imagination and Memory Wherefore the Organs of these Faculties labour in this Disease 1 As to Magnitude 2 By Reason of the Figure 3 As to its Substance or Texture 4 The evil conformation of the Brain as to its pores and passages 3 Stupidity sometimes proceeds from both of them being in fault together What the Antecedent Causes of Foolishness are 1 An Hereditary Disposition Why strong or wise men are not always begotten of strong and wise Man The first Reason A Second Reason 2 Ripeness and the Declination of Age dispose some to Foolishness 3 Great hurts of the Head sometimes cause Doting or want of Ingenuity 4 Frequent Drunkenness 5 Vehement Affections 6 The more grievous Diseases of the Head oftentimes excite Foolishness The Differences of this Disease How foolishness and stupidity differ Degrees of stupidity The Prognostick of the Disease Evil if from an hurt of the Head What is excited from a Lethargy admits a Curt. Sometimes it is cured by a Feavour The Cure requires both a Master and a Physician What the labour of the former ought to be What the Medical intentions art What kind of Remedies are shewn 1 Evacuating Remedies 2 Altering Medicines Spirits A Distilled Water Tinctures Elixirs An Electuary Coffee Chocalate Physical Beer Outward Applications A Cap or quilted thing for the Head A Plaster A Liniment The Distempers of the Gout and Colick are Distempers of the nervous Stock The Subject of the Gout Its appearances rehearsed The parts affected The Morbifick Matter It is not any simple or singular Humour suggested from any of them In the Mine of this Disease two humours concur and mutually grow hot In like manner as when the Spirits of Vitriol are poured upon Oyl of Tartar A Vitriolick Matter partly supplied from the Nervous Liquor Either Matter growing degenerate or depraved turns to the Gout 1 From the Blood for that it becomes full of a fixed Salt 2 From the nervous Liquor for that it is acetosous or sharp The former is as it were the feminine Seed of the Gout The other masculine The Procatartick or foregoing Causes of the Gout 1 A Mine of fixed Salt laid up about the Internodia or Knitting togegether of the Bones This Matter is not meerly Excrementitious nor a Bilous or Phlegmatick Humour To this previous procatarxis to wit a fixed Salt the Discrasie of the bloud and the debility of the Distemper'd Member doth help What the Saline Particles of the bloud ought to be to wit in a middle state between fixation and volatilisation When being too fixed they become Morbifick And so they bring forth the Scurvy Dropsie and other Diseases and especially the Gout The Saline fixed or Arthritical Disposition of the Blood proceeds from various Causes 1 Sometimes it is Hereditary 2 Oftentimes acquired by reason of an evil manner of living From what Causes the debility of the Ioynts is excited 2 The other foregoing Cause of the Gout from the acetous part of the nervous humour Such an acetous disposition does not come upon the whole Mass of the nervous humour but only some portions or recrements of it It is shewn that acetous fluxions do proceed from the nervous humour And so part of the Gouty Mixt is sent from the Brain and Nerves The evident Causes of the Goutish Fit 1 The drinking of sharp Liquors 2 Immoderate Exercise 3 Evacuations being suppressed 4 The Circulations of the Heaven Air and Year The differences of the Gout 1 As to the places affected 2 As to its Original 1 In respect of other Diseases It is wont to be complicated with the Scurvy 2 With the Stone The Reason of this is shewed The Prognostick of this Disease The Gouty Matter being restrained or any other way translated oftentimes excites dangerous Distempers The acetous recrements of the nervous Liquor do chiefly effect this The first Instance of such aâ— Effect A second Instance The Cure Three primary Indications 1 Curatory for the allaying the pains in the Fits 1 For the taking away of the Breach of the Continuity Phlebotomy Purging Forms of Purges Vomiting Altering Medicines or such as preserve from the Gout Pills An Electuary 2 The Spirits ought to be allayed or quietâ—d 1 By Topick Remedies Pultesses A Fomentation Outward Narcoticks Resolving Topicks consisting chiefly of Saline Particles even analogic or correspondent to the Morbific Mine Forms of these Plasters in the declination of the Fit Opiates 2 The preservatory Indication out of the Fit Usual Purging and Vomiting Phlebotomy Altering Medicines called Antidotes of the Gout Pills A Distilled Water Tinctures Powders Medicated Beer A Milk Diet. Drinking of ones own Vrine A notable History of the Stone converted into the Gout and on the contrary of the Gout into the Stone The reason of this shewed by Anatomical Observation Why the Colick is counted among the Distempers of the Brain and the nervous Stock From whence the denomination A description of the Disease The seat of the Disease is not always or often in the Intestine or Gut Colon. viz. neither in its Cavity or Coats Pains commonly taken for Colicks These are merely accidental or habitual These latter are properly the Disease The conjunct cause of the Disease are not the Contents of the Intestines Not the humors impacted in the Membranes The nervous Liquor seems most of all to contribute to the cause of this Disease Charles Piso 's Opinion cited and examined The seat of the Morbiâ—ick Matter not in the Brain The part primarily affected in the Abdomen not in the Peritonaeum But more rightly it seems to be the Mesentery Where the seat of the Distempers called Hysterical often lyes hid The Colick-mine is affirmed to be within the nervous and other mesenterick infoldings of the Abdomen From which planted thereabouts the Colick Symptoms are excited The yellow or green Bile or Choler that is cast forth by vomiting in the Colick-Fits is not the material cause of this Disease Wherefore pains of the Loins often come upon the Colick pains In what the foregoing cause of this Disease consists 1 The nervous Liquor is in fault because the Morbifick Matter is gathered together in it 2 The nerves of the wandring pair and their mesenterick Infoldings because they receive into themselves this matter The evident causes of this Disease The differences of this Disease It s Prognostick The Cure 1 The first Indication Curatory What the chief Medical intentions are in the Fit For the most part Clysters are to be begun with Which are at first to be gentle afterwards more sharp Clysters Fomentations Pultesses An Oyntment Cold Fomentations Opiates Evacuating Medicines Vomiting Medicines Purges Salivation Baths Diureticks Mineral Purging Waters 2 The Vital Indication suggests Remedies Cardiack Hypnoticks 3 The Preservatory Indication by which are indicated Vomiting Purging Altering Remedies The Objection of Charles Piso solved The first History The Reason of it The second History The Reason of it The third History The Reason of it shew'd
the whole Body and Parts not only many and distinct but after a manner dissimilar But that some object that the Soul of the Beast because it perceives or knows that it feels to be immaterial for that Matter seems to be incapable of Perception that indeed had been likely if that Perception should pass beyond the limits of Material things or higher than what inspires them which things are usually attributed to Natural Instinct or Idiocrasie or peculiar Temperaments that I may omit Sympathies and Antipathies But who should be the Betrother I profess the great God as the only Work-man so also as the first Mover and auspiciously present every where was he not able to impress strength Powers and Faculties to Matter fitted to the offices of a Sensitive Life The Pen in the hand of the Writer Disputes Intreats gives Relations of things and is in the mid'st between things past and things to come and why should we not believe that greater things than any of these may be done when the Skill of the Deity is present Lastly If any one shall affirm that most subtle Substance and wholly Etherial which serves for the Vital Oeconomy or Government to be immaterial for that it enters upon the sluggish Disposition of inanimate Bodies let him remember to be indulgent to me if by chance I call it material for that it subsists very much below the Prerogatives of Reason But I shall not stand upon these things for truly I have prepared a far othergates defence to wit I speak not from the Tripos like an Oracle nor from the Chair but as one of a low form I play not the Prophet or Dictator but the Philosopher neither do I plant an Opinion but propose an Hypothesis and open my Iudgment Geometry has its Demonstrations in it self we are Skill'd in that part of Philosophy where it aboundantly suffices to have brought Logical Proofs Surely he only certainly pronounces who professes his Errors and whil'st he Philosophizes about Man remembers himself that he is a Man But that according to the Adage that I should declare some to be rather sick in Soul yea first and chiefly than in Body otherways than the Schools of Physicians which refer the Primary Seats of all Diseases into solid Parts Humors and Vital Spirits or innate Heat I say from our Hypothesis to wit that this Soul hath a material Subsistence extended equally with the Body and peculâ—ar Parts Powers and Affections may be concluded that it is found obnoxious also to preternatural Diseases and not seldom wants Medical help Moreover That the Corporeal Soul doth extend its Sicknesses not only to the Body but to the Mind or rational Soul which is of an higher linage and that it often-times involves it with its sailings and faults I think is clear enough in our Pathology or Method of Curing Further for the proving these two distinct Souls to be together and subordinately in Man as much as Authority and the force of Reasons can I think is there proved which Opinion is so far from that I need to fear it should be censured for Pernicious or Heretical that on the contrary we hope it is altogether Orthodox and appears agreeable to a good Life and Pious Institution from hence the Wars and Strivings between our two Appetites or between the Flesh and Spirit both Morally and Theologically inculcated to us are also Physically understood for that I see and approve the better things and follow the worser and this The Flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh. So generally comes to pass in us for as much as the Corporeal Soul adhering to the Flesh inclines Man to Sensual Pleasures whil'st in the mean time the Rational Soul being help'd by Ethical Rules or Divine favours invites it to good Manners and the works of Piety Further from hence the chief Arguments is brought against Epicurism and Atheism for that it is moved by the force of Reasons our Sensitive Soul even as that of the Brutes miscarrying the other perpetually survives for truly being perswaded of an after and Eternal State why doth it not make it its whole business that it may live more happily in it or at least not miserably But also that it may be objected that there cannot be therefore two Souls in Man because many forms cannot actuate at once the same Matter It may be answer'd that the Supream form of the same Subject doth sometimes subordinately include many others but specifies it only a Compound Also the Corporeal Soul being subordinate to the Rational subsists immediately in the Humane Body and this Superior is in the same that mediating It would be a much more difficult solution of this hard Business if the Inferior Soul of Man common to that with the Brutes should be also affirmed to be immaterial for by what knitting together can two independent Souls subsist in the same Body being from thence separated and Combined by no common Bone into what place can they depart severally Certainly as to reason it is more probable and to the Humane government more agreeable to affirm that one most subtilly Corporal Soul is joyned immediately to the Body and is intimately united and that by the intervention of this Soul another immaterial residing in its Bosom inhabits the Body and is the supream and principal form of the whole Man But that after Death the Corporeal Soul being extinct this survives and is Immortal That the Corporeal Flameous and lucid Nature of this Soul and its Parts and Affections may be the better known I have thought it necessary to describe the Vital Organs both of all Kinds of living Creatures by the Action of which the Lamp of Light is maintain'd and also to shew plainly laid open even to their intimate recesses and least and secret Passages the Brains both of the more perfect Brutes and also of Man The Anatomy of which being manifold not being able to perform it only with my own hand and Skill being also almost continually interrupted by my Practice the Famous and Skilful Anatomist and Physician Dr. Edmond King was much helpful to me by his assiduous and notable assistance and labour Also that learned Man and my most intimate Friend Dr. John Masters Skilful in Physick and Anatomy imployed much of his Labour and Diligence in the same Business Out of his various Zootomie or Anatomy of the more perfect Beasts and many-flower'd dissection the wonderful things of God are very much made known for as much as in every the smallest and vilest little Animals not only the Face and Members but also the inward Parts as it were the Hearths and Altars for the continuing the Vital Fire shew them to be of a most Elegant and Artificial and plainly Divine Structure As to our Pathology or Method of Cure I must confess that in delivering the Theory of Diseases leaving the old way I have almost every where brought forth new Hypotheses but what being founded upon Anatomical
it self by reason of some foregoing cause before lying in the Blood or Brain then a Vomit or Purge being given at the beginning when the matter is flowing doth oftentimes more hurt than good because the Humors whilst in motion are more shaken and agitated and when they cannot be subdued and brought away they drive them into the distempered part On the second day if the numness doth not remit let Phlebotomy be repeated if the Pulse shew it fitting or else instead thereof take forth blood from the Shoulders after Scarification by Cupping Glasses then a little after if nothing hinders let a Vomit or Purge be administred Take of the Sulphur of Antimony five grains of Scammony sulphurated eight grains of the Cream of Tartar six grains mingle them make a Powder let it be given in a spoonful of the afore prescribed Iulep Or Take of Scammony sulphurated twelve grains of the Cream of Tartar fifteen grains of Castor three grains make a Powder and let it be given after the same manner In the mean time let altering Medicines or such as derive the matter from the place the same or such like be still continued On the third day and afterwards ought to be applied such things which are forbid at the beginning of the Disease for fear of a new Fluxion viz. Errhines or things that Purge the Head at the Nose Sneezing Medicines or Powders Apophlegmatisms or Medicines which draw the Humors from the head by the mouth Further it is then sometimes expedient to apply the warm intrails of some animal new killed to the forepart of the Head after the hair is clipped or shaven off and often changed also sometimes to foment those places with a Discussing and Cephalick Decoction or Fomentation but before all other Topicks I have known great help brought from a large Vesicatory or Blistering with many running sores made all over the compass of the Head I saw two sick with the Lethargy after the Disease held long and that not only the Memory but almost all knowledge was lost Cured chiefly by this Remedy for in both of them the â—â—eyed places when they could not be easily covered poured forth great plenty of thin matter about half a pint every day It will not be needful to set down any more Medicines of this nature being commonly and every where to be had it now remains that we illustrate what we have said with some Histories of sick people which I shall here add A Country-man about thirty years old of a Phlegmatick Complexion something inclining to Sanguine being a long time obnoxious to frequent Headaches about the beginning of Winter became sleepy and very stupid and one day whilst he was following the Plow in the Fields lying down on the ground he fell into a profound sleep and when he could not be awakened by his servant and others calling him he was carried home and put to bed his Friends in the mean time expecting that after he had finished his sleep he would awake of himself After the space of twelve hours being past when he could not be awakened by pulling thumping noise and other means they sent for me as soon as I came I applied Blistering Plasters large ones all about the hinder part of the Neck then taking from him about sixteen ounces of Blood I caused him to take a strong Clyster and his Face and Temples to be anointed with Oyl of Amber and Frictions and painful Ligatures to be applied to his Legs Also I prescribed him to take oftentimes in a day Spirit of Sut with a Cephalick Julep Notwithstanding he lay all that day stupid without any sense and if being provoked by some strong or hard pulling he lifted up himself a little and opened his Eyes presently falling down again and shutting them he fell into his continual sleep again About Evening I took care to have Cupping Glasses with a great flame to be applied to his shoulders which done he began a little to awake and about that time he had a great stool and very much Serum flowed forth from the Blisters the Plasters being taken off then we had great hopes of his health And therefore at every turn remedies being applied that night awaking in the morning following he knew his Friends and answered aptly to those who interrogated him But as yet the whole cloud was not vanished but that being sleepy he remained several days oblivious till at length being purged twice he perfectly grew well This case has the exact type of the Lethargy properly so called where for the conjunct Cause it had an heaping up of abundance of Serum about the compass of the Brain and then a breaking in of it into its infoldings and when by a timely use of Remedies the flowing in of new matter was hindered and that which lay upon the part was partly supped up into the Blood and partly being rarified into Vapours and Effluvia's was shaken off the Cure of the Disease quickly and wholely followed An Oxford Gardiner being sick of a Feavour about the height of the Disease instead of a Crisis he fell into a continual Sleep and lay drowned in it for three or four days so that he could not be awakened by the use of any Remedies But at length his Head being shaven Blistering Plasters were applied all over his Head and many running sores left open and awakening he recovered the use of his senses a little But his Memory being almost wholely lost he became so stupid that he remembered the name of no Man nor their words and remained like a Bruit When he had thus remained foolish for the space of almost two months and still very sleepy the cloud began a little to be dispelled and at length he returning to his wonted labour was in indifferent good health but he never had afterwards the same vigor of mind and wit as he had before this Disease In this case you have an example of a Lethargy coming upon an ill Cured Feavour in which the Morbific Matter by a sudden translation of it into the outward part of the Brain had for a little while filled not only all the Pores and passages but also had so hurt their Conformation that the Spirits being for some time excluded and at length freed they could not recover their former paths or wonted tracts till of a long time after I remember very well the example of a Lethargy arising from the use of Opiates in a Country Village where I lodged by chance one night by reason of the foulness of the weather For being about to go to bed mine Host asked me if I would visit two poor people his Neighbours distemper'd after a wonderful and miserable manner When I shewed my self ready to do the office not only out of Charity but led also by curiosity I was carried willingly into a small and poor Cottage where I found the Father an old Man and his Son both of them in