with those intermitting having some fits and again remissions so that they are not intermitting but still remain continual These fits come sometimes every day sometimes the third and sometimes the fourth day whence it may deservedly be nam'd either a Quotidian Tertian or Quartan continual Fever These Fevers upon the account of their divers causes may not unfitly be distinguish'd into Cholerick and Lymphatick Fevers And because under the general name of Lympha we do not onely comprehend that Lympha which goes from the conglobated Glandules and other parts to the Heart but also the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle it self proceeding from the conglomerated Glandules and also the Liquour that ariseth from the three-fold sway of the Guts all mixt together with Lympha and the bloud in circulating with it Hence may Lymphatick fevers be subdivided into glandular pancreatick and salivary Fevers All these Fevers may differ something according to the divers Constitution of other humours together being in the Body But I shall wave the nice descriptions and differences of Fevers and let the dextrous and judicious Physician put a difference between them as their Symptoms shall direct and indicate for though there are many sorts of continual Fevers not putrid yet the Cure is almost the same in all I shall therefore in a few words mention some of their differences taken from the more grievous Symptoms oft accompanying them after the example of famous Practioners and chiefly great Platerus and the most famous Helmont and judicious Sylvius c. 1. First let us take notice of the exceeding heat and most urgent burning which Symptomes attend some Fevers It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doth signifie Causes burning in which the sick is very dry and thirsty which is hard to be quenched This heat is not of the essense of the disease but proceedeth from the inflamed spirits as is before mention'd in page 98. Neither doth the great thirst in Fevers proceed from heat and driness as in a true and natural thirst but from some excrementitious matter which adhereth to the sensitive faculty of the internal membrane of the Stomach which is common to the Throat Mouth and Lips as that famous Physician and ingenious Anatomist Doctour Alexander Read did well observe which is also the cause that those parts are always afflicted in this dry and thirsty distemper In this Symptome Choler is peccant not onely in a salt Acrimony but also an inflamable oiliness hence the Pulse is very great and over frequent c. 2. Raving may be oft observ'd in many Fevers which is grievous to the sick for some time chiefly when the Fever is malign or epidemical The cause of this is Choler peccant as aforesaid which so diminisheth the viscousness of the Juice of the Pancreas that it causeth a vitious Effervescency with it and being made sharper it produceth a humour not much unlike black Choler which causeth the Head-ach and Watchings and hence Ravings and at length sometimes Convulsions and Death it self There are many more Symptoms belonging to continual or synochal Fevers 1. As first a speedy wasting of several parts of the body caused by Choler the Cure whereof may be referred to the Cure of a Hectick Fever 2. A malignity which suddenly dejecteth the vital strength without manifest cause which for the most part is Epidemical But of this I intend to treat particularly in Chap. 8. of this Book 3. The last Symptome which I shall here mention is seldom observ'd in which all the time of the disease the external parts are cold while the internal parts burn and therefore 't is called by the Latins Lipyria febris and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia destituitur Lipiria febris ardore externo Some think this distemper consists of a double Fever Cholerick and Pancreatical and not without reason because such like vapours may be continually rais'd in the small guts by the Juices of the Pancreas universally over-sour which may be confus'd onely with the Mass of Bloud and breed a sense of cold in the habit of the Body whilst a burning heat is stir'd up in the internal parts by a Fever caused by Choler more oily than sharp The cause of every continual Fever not Cause putrid is sometimes Choler vitiated sometimes Lympha together with the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle and many times all these together are ill affected These vitiated humours flowing always to the Heart cause a continual Effervescency in the right Ventricle of it whence the Pulse is continually produc'd more frequent against nature Fevers in Children are caused either by the Food abounding in quantity or by some vitious quality of it or from an ill disposition of the digestive ferment Milk is the general Food of Children and there is such a propensity in its own nature to curdle that if it be not quickly digested it obeyeth the acid Ferment of the Stomach and is soon coagulated like new tough Cheese and if it be not speedily vomited up it begets a putrefactive Ferment which produceth terrible Symptoms as griping scouring vomiting c. I know a Woman that had a young Child Hystory about a Month old which was taken very ill with Convulsions after which followed a thorough Thrush with a Fever accompanied with the aforesaid Symptoms as griping c. which continu'd many days till the whole body was so maciated that it was in a total Atrophia and when there was no hopes of recovery the Nurse gave the Child a little of the infusion of the Antimonial Cup which caused it to vomit up a Curd three or four inches long very green and as tough as new Cheese After which the Child did wonderfully recover and grow fat Continual acute Fevers are oft times accompanied Progn with a secret malignity and therefore dangerous parvoe febres quandoque valde malignoe The Stomach in continual Fevers is Pars affecta most commonly primarily affected through undigestion or else from Excrements not being separated and orderly evacuated which causeth an irregular Ferment or nonnatural heat in the Stomach which though begun else where is much aggravated by vitiating Juices found in this first Elaboratory of decocting Nature For as in humane frame the first heat of Nature preparatory to all her depending motions is the digestive heat for Chylification in the Stomach so likewise the corrupting or exasperating of the same either by the sour Ferments or too much of the overflowing Gall is the Cause of most Fevers Therefore in the beginning of the Cure Cure evacuation by vomiting never ought to be neglected by the carefull Physician provided it be duely timed because then most commonly it removeth the sole cause of the feverish Intemperature without the help of any other means And here I commend Antimonials well prepared before all others seeing that Antimony as well rightly prepar'd as administred serves no less to purifie Man's body than
Vera Effigies Roberti Iohnson Praxis Medicinae Reformata OR THE Practice of Physick REFORMED BEING AN Epitome of the whole Art Wherein is briefly shewed The true Causes Signs Prognosticks and Cure of most Diseases Published for the Benefit of all Persons By Robert Johnson Med. Professor Medicina Experientiâ Ratione fundari debet LONDON Printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhil 1700. TO THE READER IN this little Tract I have bestowed some Pains in searching out and proposing the true Causes and Cure of Diseases Which I hope will induce other Ingenious-spirited Artists to a farther Enquiry that so the Art of Physick may be the better illustrated and many things in it that are yet obscure may be made known The Chief End of Physick is to maintain and recover Health wherefore I think it would be more for the Honour of all Learned Physicians to employ themselves in the Improvement of the Materia Medica which have been hitherto too much neglected than to content themselves with a formal Way of Practice For Diseases cannot be cured by Scholastick Twattle or Fine Words but by good Remedies The great Platerus Helmont and the famous Franciscus de la Boe Sylvius c. did endeavour to reform the Practice of Physick and excelled many others their Contemporaries in the most difficult Cures yet because they had recourse to Chymical Remedies in the Cure of many Diseases the more lazy Tribe of Physicians made it their Business to traduce them Truly there are too many such carping Zolius's at this Day who envy Glory to all except themselves from whom I must expect the same Fate I can do no more but pray for them Lord forgive them for they know not what they do From the lower-most Door on the Right-hand in Norfolk-street in the Strand THE INTRODUCTION Containing the CAUSES and CURE OF DISEASES In GENERAL AS ALSO Some Choice SPECIFICKS for the Cure of DISEASES THE Causes of Diseases depend on Lympha any way vitiated because it will in time corrupt the whole Mass of Blood Quicquid enim sive Bilis sit sive Pituita sive succus Pancreaticus sanguisve menstruus Lympham reddere potens acriorem dolorem morbos facile causat parte affecta male sese habente This is the Hypothesis of most eminent Physicians both Ancient and Modern Spittle being continually swallowed down and adhering to the Gut the more fluid part of it is dissolved by the continual Conflux of Choler and the Juice of the Pancreas or Sweet-bread in the small Guts If Choler which abounds with a bitter volatile Lixivial Salt be mixt with the Juice of the Pancreas which is naturally sourish as hath been sufficiently evinced by the indefatigable Industry of the most ingenious Anatomist Regnerus de Graaf they must of necessity stir up an Effervescency in their Concourse there As long as the aforesaid Humours are well tempered the Effervescency will be mild and friendly to Nature and therefore cannot be perceived in healthy People The Humours rising from this mild Effervescency pierceth into the Lacteal Veins and circulates with the Lympha to the Heart and seems to give the natural Consistency to the Bloud The more viscous part of these Humors passeth by degrees to the thick Guts and being there mixed with the Excrements makes them more viscous and yellow and helps the Excretion of them But if there be an Obstruction of the Lacteal Ducts or Branches of the Panereas or Sweet-bread by reason of viscous Flegm which being separated from the Bloud by the Glandules of the Pancreas is there collected by degrees it is sent from thence in too large a quantity to the main Duct or Pipe thereof which detaineth the Juice of the Pancreas contrary to Nature which ought continually to flow into the small Guts The Juice of the Pancreas being compelled to stagnate or stand still in its passage quickly grows acrimonious because the volatile Spirit which is naturally conjoin'd to it to temper it doth gradually fly away by which it becometh more acrid and acquires a putrefactive Ferment whence at length it makes way through the obstructing Flegm and is effused into the small Gut called Duodenum where meeting with Choler peccant in a Lixivial Salt Acrimony it stirs up a vitious Effervescency or preternatural Ferment which raiseth acrimonious Humors and halituous or flatulent Vapours which are carried through the Lacteal Veins and Thoracick Passage and so through the Vena Cava ascendens to the right Ventricle of the Heart from whence it circulates with the spirituous Blood and Lympha vitiating and corrupting the whole Mass of it with its fermental Acrimony Which is the Cause of most Chronical Diseases as the famous Franciscus de le Boe Sylvius hath accurately observed If the acrid Humours do affect the Head it may cause most Distempers incident to it as Head-ach Convulsions Epilepsie Palsie Apoplexy c. If it invades the Lungs it causeth Difficulty of Breathing Inflamations Ulcers and Phthisis or Consumption If it penetrates the Membrane Pleura it causeth the Pleurisie If it possesseth the Joints it causeth Arthritick Pains or the Gout which hath its Name from the Part affected If there be a Defluxion of acrid Humors on the Reins Bladder or Womb it may cause Inflammations Ulcers or Cancers in them If it be conveyed to the obscene Parts especially after too much impure Coition it may cause malign Eruptions c. If the Lympha becomes very acrid in the conglobated and conglomerated Glandules and if Nature be over-burthened by its plentifulness it may be the Cause of Catarrhs Rheumatisms Scrophula c. If acrid Humors be luxuriant in the Blood and Lympha it may be the Cause of all Eruptions as Itch Scabs Erisipela's Leprosie c. Acrimonious and flatulent Vapours may be the Cause of all Ague-Fits with all their Symptoms as in the beginning Horror Chilness Cold Shaking c. then follows Reaching Yawning and Vomiting c. At length these sharp halituous Vapors are carried to the right Ventricle of the Heart and by their Acrimony alters and troubles its Vital Effervescency and by over-stirring the Heart causeth a more frequent Pulse and many times produceth grievous Symptoms as great Heat and Thirst Difficulty of Breathing Raving Heart-ach Swooning and all other Symptoms that happen in all Intermitting Fevers If Choler become peccant not only in a Lixivial salt Acrimony but also an inflamable Oyliness the Humours that are produced from its vitious Effervescency with the too tart Pancreat Juice and over-viscous Flegm in the small Guts will be the more acrid and fervid and circulating with the spirituous Blood and Lympha to the Heart will cause an Effervescency in the right Ventricle of it which will stimulate and incite it to a more forcible Motion whence the Pulse is continually produced more frequent against Nature after which follows great Heat and Burning c. and therefore may be called a Fever so that this may be the
it hath also acquired that Name in which they cannot stir nor call for help though they have a great desire and do strive very much to cry out but are possessed with a panick fear The cause of this distemper is most commonly Cause intemperance in eating and drinking especially in the Night whereby crude halituous Vapours are bred in such plenty that nature cannot disperse nor dissolve them before sleep and therefore they are raised up to the Ventricles of the Brain by which imagination sense and motion are all depraved The giddy motion is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. obscuritas oculorum In Latin 't is called Vertigo ex vertendo quod Caput vertere videtur Vertigo In this disease the Animal spirits are wrong mov'd which makes the sick believe that not onely all things they look on go in a Circuit about but their Head and other parts seem to turn round which many times causeth them to be in danger of falling or tumbling headlong The cause of the giddy motion is either Cause external or internal The external are either an intent looking at any object that turns round or about especially if very remote or a frequent turning about of the Body it self The internal cause is the ascent of flatuous Vapours to the Head together with the spirituous part of the Bloud and carried with the Animal spirits into the passages of the Brain and Cerebellum by which the motion of wheeling about is communicated to the Animal spirits and anon carried to the Cristalline humour of the Eyes by the Optick nerves and so a Giddiness seems to be produc'd For the Cure of these diseases seeing they are the Forerunners of the Apoplexy and Epilepsie I refer you to those excellent Medicines prescrib'd for the Cure of them Let such as are subject to these distempers be very sparing in their diet let them avoid all Herbs Roots and Fruits that are windy and all viscous and gross diet such as is of hard Concoction Let the external Causes be remov'd and the internal causes corrected Sublata causa tollitur effectus CHAP. V. Of the Lethargy Coma Carus and Catalepsie or Catocus THE Lethargy is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est ab oblivione Lethargus inertia Because in this disease the sick is very forgetfull and slothfull In this distemper there is a very great Signs propensity to sleep accompanied with a Symptomatical Fever and sometimes with the Hiccough with difficulty of breathing dulness of the Head and many times a deprivation of the Senses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sopor altus is an insatiable inclination to sleep the sick being called unto Coma. they open their Eyes and answer but presently fall a sleep again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called in Latin crapularis redundantia because it is sometimes caused Carus by surfeiting end drunkenness It is deep and profound sleep whereby imagination sense and motion are all depraved In these there is no Fever in which they differ from the Lethargy Catalepsis vel Detentio is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a with-holding or restraining because in this distemper the mind with the senses and motion are all suddenly surprized so that the sick remain stiff and immoveable in the very same posture in which they were taken with their Eyes open The causes of these diseases are either Causes external or internal The external causes are gross food idleness spirituous wine or any other inebriating liquour taken in excess and sometimes by the Air inspir'd which is defil'd by the Smoak of Coals or other mineral Fumes by which the Air may be infested The internal cause is a Narcotick force mix'd with the Animal spirits bred by degrees in the Body by the frequent use of opiats not well corrected which not onely dulls the mind but causeth a sluggishness of the whole Body for the Animal motion being deprav'd the external as well as internal senses will be thence soon infected and defil'd These diseases are all very dangerous and except they are speedily cur'd they will soon Progn hurry the sick into the Boats of Acheron or devouring Jaws of Death But if a Phrensie cometh immediately after any of them it cureth the Patient with little help of medicine To cure these diseases let the drowsie Animal Cure spirits be stir'd up and rais'd from sleepiness and stupidness by potent external Objects which may sharply move the external senses let the sick be kept in a light room and be often called upon very strongly and let sharp smells be applied to the Nostrils such as Spirit of Salt Armoniack Harts-horn c. Also sharp spices or salts should be put into the mouth and gentle frications us'd with warm Cloaths to those parts that are affected with Numness The Animal spirits may be freed from the Narcotick force mingled with them and likewise slothfulness and sleepiness may be by little and little diminished by the frequent use of sharp volatile Salts and all Medicines endued with an Aromatick biting such as Pepper Cloves Castor Garlick Horse-radish Mustard Scurvigrass c. Of which you may make diversity of Medicines for example Take the Waters of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each two ounces Syrup of the Iulep Juice of Scurvigrass one ounce Tincture of Castor two drachms Oil of Cloves four drops mix it and give the sick two or three spoonfulls every two hours This decoction is also very effectual Take the Roots of Horse-radish the best Decoction China of each two ounces Roots of Galangal half an ounce Scurvigrass Hedge-mustard of each one handfull Cloves one drachm let them be all cleansed bruised and infused in White-wine and Fountain-water of each a quart for the space of a Night very hot the next morning boil it gently for half an hour then strain it and add Syrup of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick lying in bed meanly covered take often in a day five or six spoonfulls of this decoction whereby a light sweat may break forth to ease them By the frequent use of these medicines the Animal spirits will not onely be freed from their drowsiness but even the Narcotick force bred in the Body either in the length of time or received in from without may be corrected and by degrees gently educ'd by insensible transpiration So that at length these dangerous distempers may happily be overcome Let Clysters and Suppositories be often administred as need requires Those prescrib'd in page 17 18. in the Cure of the Palsie and Apoplexy are very effectual here If strength and age permit let a vein be opened in either Arm or Foot as you shall see cause for generally Authours consent to it besides Experientia docet Let Ventoses with or without Scarification be applied to the shoulders and hinder part of the Neck And let Sternutatories be
the Liver it may be cur'd by driving forward the serous Liquour out of the Body by Sudorificks and Diureticks and also by tart strengthning things that repair the hurt of the loosened Vessels The Diuretick decoction of China before mention'd is excellent in this case to be taken as is there directed Also the following Diaphoretick may be sometimes used with good success Take the Waters of Treacle Cinamon of Sudorifick each half an ounce Plantain-water two ounces distill'd Vinegar three drachms Confectio de Hyacintho Diascordium of each one drachm Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm Syrups of Mirtles dried Roses of each six drachms mix it for two doses Also the Powder and astringent Julep prescrib'd in page 192 193. is excellent to corroborate the loosened Vessels c. Anoint the Belly with the Oil of Quinces Mirtles Roses Wormwood c. mixed with unguent Comitissae which is also good in all Fluxes of the Belly CHAP. X. Of the dry Belly-ach THIS cruciating disease may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin Spasmus Abdominis quod sub umbelico est ad Pubem and because of the additional Torments it may be also named Tormen Abdominis quod dolore torquetur Abdomen This disease doth also need as well the Name as the invocation of Miserere mei Deus the sick being in such extreme misery that 't is incredible to all but them that have endur'd it The most urgent and exquisite pain under this affect being in that most tender and sensible part viz. the Belly may seem to have some Alliance with the Iliack or Colick passion and indeed they are sometimes its Concomitants but much different from it The causes of this lamentable Distemper Causes are either external or internal The external general occasional cause is contracting Cold in the Region of the Belly c. which doth cramp not onely the Muscles of the Abdomen but also the tender Fibres of the Intestines cruciating all the affected parts with obdurate Contractions which is more aggravated when the Moon doth come to opposition with the Sun Which may be also observ'd in all Spasms and convulsive motions that about the full of the Moon the tide of such nervous diseases doth rise highest Especially in those places where the direct aspects of the nocturnal luminary have the most power which demonstration will evince to be between the Tropicks which many of our Mariners who have sailed that way can tell by wofull experience Another external procuring cause of this grievous disease is a mineral Gas ascending from the Caverns of the Earth infesting the Air with its poisonous Fumes whereby not onely the tender fibrous and nervous parts of the Belly are oft times crampt with Convulsive spasms but the mineral Fumes being inspired with the Air into the Body produce most eminent apparent evils as the Corruption of the Chyle into porraceous and adust Choler from whence followeth irritating Vomitings and the Constipation of the Belly with obdurateness of the excrements which inflames the Bowels and entails Signs a Symptomatical fever with a heavy and slow pulse and as the pain doth aggravate more and more there is want of sleep and rest with other uneasiness and commotions of Body and Mind as the Operatours in Chymistry have sometimes experience of to their cost and trouble in mineral preparations for if a Vessel chance to break the sharp and acid Vapours or Gas of the mineral immediately seiseth the Animal spirits of all that are in the Elaboratory by which they are mov'd unequally against the will through the Nerves to the Musculous parts which causeth Convulsive motions with trembling and shaking of the Limbs and other accumulated evils The like grievous Symptoms though not so violent happen to many People that inhabit near the mineral Mines in Hungaria and also in some Places of England as Derbyshire c. Where there are Lead-works from whence mineral Fumes continually ascend from the separating Oar which infesteth the Air and is a great producer of such Convulsive effects At the first seisure of this evil the Muscles of the Abdomen and sometimes those of the Breast and Back through contractions prove hard and painfull as in our ordinary Cramps which Symptoms will evince that these Vapours are peccant in an acid Acrimony The internal Cause is also sour Vapours arising most commonly out of the small Guts which the concurring symptoms consider'd and weighed with an attentive mind will confirm for these Vapours being sharp are driven forward into the Nerves and gnawing them with great pain aggravate and produce this Convulsive spasm 1. If this miserable and afflictive Distemper Progn hath continu'd to a long durance it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous Passages of the Muscles that thereby Lameness and an Atrophy soon succeeds increasing the Weakness of all the Members of the Body till at length it ends in a Paralitical resolution of them 2. If a pregnant Woman or a Woman after Abortion be afflicted with this grievous evil it is very dangerous and many times mortal As for the Cure we must endeavour to Cure ease the pain and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition The pain may be eased and diminish'd as well by internal as external Anodynes and Narcoticks to allay the violent Motion of the Animal spirits and abate the grievous Spasms succeeding The following Cordial Diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this Case Take the Waters of Fennel Peony Treacle Diaphoretick Opiate of each one ounce Syrups of Stoechas Peony Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Tincture of Castor two drachms Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Cloves of each four drops Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent taking of this Volatile and Anodyne Sudorifick the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht and the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits will be reduc'd and brought to tranquillity by which the binding Constrictions of the Belly-ach will be the easier remov'd Bathing in this distemper hath been often us'd with admirable success for by the frequent use thereof the cutaneous and muscular Fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted Spasms but the pores will be also kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring Particles A natural Bath such as is in the City of Bathe is excellent but when it is not to be had an artificial Bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd For example Take of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Betony Chamomel Bays Rhue Time Hyssop Bath Ground-pine Organ Penny-royal Sage sweet Marjoram of each six handfulls Flowers of Stoechas Chamomel Melilot of each four handfulls Roots of Pellitory of Spain Briony Master-wort Virginia Snake-root of each four ounces Spicknard Berries of
sorrow of mind or great passion be the Cause it ought to be prevented as much as may be both by Philosophical and Theological reasons about any troublesome matters and by confirming the mind whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity This ought to be observed also in all other Diseases If Ebriety be the cause I commend Sobriety to cure it Sublata causa tollitur effectus If the humours be over viscous or glutinous the following Decoction will not onely alter and correct but mildly educe the peccant humours by which the Jaundice may in a short time be cured Take of Rhubarb the Roots of Madder Smallage the greater Celandine of each Decoction one ounce the Flowers of Broom one handfull Hemp-seed two ounces the Seeds of Anise Parsley and Columbines of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms white Tartar three drachms let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine and Fountain water of each three pints till the third part be boiled away then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces mix it Let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day till the viscous phlegm and Choler be sufficiently evacuated and the natural colour of the body restored As oft as the Jaundice is caused by the poison of a Viper or any other venemous thing whatsoever you must administer as soon as possible a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome The following will serve to both indications Take the waters of Carduus Fennel Fumitory Sudorifick of each two ounces Treacle-water Syrups of the juice of Carduus red Poppies of each one ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Venice-treacle half a drachm Bezoar-mineral Antimony diaphoretick Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Spirit of Salt-Armoniack six drops Laudanum opiatum six grains mix it and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat and after it breaks forth give a spoonfull or two now and then to promote it Also this Decoction or one like it may be prescrib'd for the Icterick patient it being both Sudorifick and Diuretick Take the Roots of Scorzonera Juniper of Diuretick Decoction each two ounces Roots of Master-wort Sassaphras of each half an ounce Berries of Juniper and Bays of each one ounce and half Seeds of Nettles Hemp and Columbines of each one ounce shavings of Harts-horn three drachms the tops of Carduus Scordium Scabious the lesser Centaury of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of the juice of Carduus four ounces Treacle-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms mix it and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours Soap of any sort conduceth to the cure of the Jaundice upon a twofold account both by reason of its fixt lixivial Salt and also by reason of its fatness or oil for the Lixivial Salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated Choler and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous Salt ruling in Choler The following mixture is very effectual Take of Hemp-seed two ounces Soap two Opiate drachms bruise the seed and boil it in half a pint of new Milk till half of it be consumed then strain it and add Syrup of Saffron half an ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it and give half of it in the morning fasting and the remainder at night going to bed CHAP. XII Of a Cachexy AN ill Habit of Body is called in Greek Cachexia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitus It may be called in Latin mala corporis habitudo There are many causes of this Distemper which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd Symptoms It doth accompany all Chronical Diseases as Dropsies of all kinds Hypochondriack suffocation Scurvy Pox and Gout c. for it doth spare none neither Peer nor Peasant of any age or sex but it most frequently seizeth on Women when their monthly terms are supprest The cause is either external or internal The external cause is either bad Diet a long time receiv'd or for want of good refreshing Food after sickness for the Stomach being weak cannot digest course Diet by which the nutriment of the Body doth by degrees become peccant in quality vitiating the humours and Bloud it self so that an ill nourishment of the Body doth follow The internal cause may be the suppression of the Terms in Women which is more or less corrupted about the Womb having not its natural evacuation from whence the whole mass of Bloud is indued with a vitious quality by which the nourishment of all parts of the Body is deprav'd Also Choler and the juice of the Pancreas which are always confus'd with the Bloud being alike vitious or peccant in quality do not onely corrupt the separation of usefull and unusefull parts but by the vitious effervescency of these humours manifold flatuous vapours are rais'd which do not onely increase anxieties about the Midriff but being carried to the Heart there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof and in circulating through the Lungs it causeth a Dyspnoea or difficult breathing and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the Body it doth breed a general weariness in all parts But when the vitious humours abound together in plenty then several kinds of the Dropsie at length succeed if not the universal Body groweth lean by degrees From what hath been said the production of every Cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious Physician The signs are paleness of the Face shortness Signs of breath palpitation of the Heart and often apressing pain of it accompanied for the most part with a lingring Fever either continual or intermitting or compounded of both in which the Urine is crude or watry at length there is a weariness of the universal Body which in some doth pine and become lean but in others the Body doth swell and is turgid If this Disease be not helpt in time it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious Progn that it will puzzle the wisest and most experienced Physicians to cure it for by the long continuance thereof phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous on which all Chronical or prolong'd Diseases depend besides all the other humours are by degrees vitiated which incorporate with the Bloud and diminish its effervescency so that the separation and excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine do not follow from whence many grievous symptoms succeed which oft proves mortal The cure of every Cachexie will consist in Cure the correction and amendment of the Bloud any way vitiated If flegm be tough and glutinous it must be corrected and evacuated for which
are augmented more or less according to the strength and debility of parts to resist or consent and be depraved The Hypochondriack suffocation is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel quod Hypochondriacus ad Hypochondria pertinet vel sub cartilagine fita fit It is called by the Latins Hypochondriaca melancholia The Ancients thought that this was an uterine disease in quibus mulieres uteri fuffocatione laborant and therefore it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin morbus Hystericus vel Hysterica passio and in English 't is called Fits of the Mother it being most subject to Women from the suppression of their monthly Courses But because men are also molested with longing and suffer often both the Sense and Disease of Suffocation especially when they become Cachectick or of ill habit of Body and also they are cured with the same medicines that Women are cured with when they are vexed with this distemper therefore I think this suffocation may be more properly called Hypochondriacal It may be called the Mother of the Scurvy because the vital Principles in this disease are seduced to declension and deviation from their rectitude the digestive offices being all depraved The causes of these diseases are either external Causes or internal The external are sometimes a sedentary studious and melancholy life by which the vital Principles do receive much prejudice decay and fall off from their functions and become languid and feeble also the Air being infested with noxious Vapours is a procuring cause of these distempers for such Air being drawn into the Body by inspiration doth commix with the spirits and debilitate and deprave the faculties from whence Scorbutick and Hypochondriack effects do ensue and as the Body is perspirable or impervious these diseases are more or less varied and remitted in their Symptoms and therefore the constipation of the pores prohibiting transpiration is a partial organical cause of preternatural Spots in the Scurvy which appear chiefly upon the Thighs and Legs not from the gravity of the material cause and ponderous propension of gross matter downwards but because those parts are more weak in their assimilation being remote from supply of vital Spirits therefore they have the first tokens of defection The internal Cause is a vitious quality of all the humours and also of the Animal spirits which are confus'd with the bloud and communicate their faultiness to it by which the bloud is also vitiated so that the nourishment of the Body is deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant in which the colour of the native Skin and especially of the face languisheth and is changed pale In these diseases not onely the appetite of food but its fermentation is also deprav'd wherefore Anxieties about the Midriff and Hypochondries and a pressing pain of the Heart will soon follow For when the food is ill fermented and driven forward through the small Gut it is confus'd with the Juice of the Pancreas and Choler which are a like vitious the Pancreatick juice being too sharp and acrid and the Bile over thick and salt from whence the separation of usefull and unusefull parts is not onely corrupted but also by the vitious Effervescency of these humours are rais'd manifold halituous Vapours which do not onely increase the fore describ'd Anxiety but being carried to the Heart do breed a Palpitation of it whence it circulates through the Lungs and causeth a difficulty of breathing and thence being driven every way it causeth a weariness in all parts of the Body and if an Acrimony of the humours do concur then it is manifested internally with pain The cause of the inordinate effervescency of Bloud in the Hypochondriack suffocation is not onely the unequal flowing of Lympha but also of the Liquour rising out of the threefold humours vitiously effervescing in the small Gut from whence vitious Vapours are sent to the right Ventricle of the Heart and procure a great Confusion and disturbance in it hence followeth a notable Palpitation of the Heart by which sometimes the Effervescency of Bloud seemeth to cease in the right Ventricle for a time with its motion and pulse and also respiration is taken away to outward sense The symptoms and signs of these diseases are very many yet are never seen to concur in one and the same Body The usual signs are pain of the Head palpitation of the Heart puffing up of the Stomach Loathing Vomiting Belching Hicket Cough Tumour and Putrefaction of the Gums with much spitting looseness and blackness of the Teeth and sometimes great pain in them the breath stinketh and is sometimes fetched with much difficulty also Convulsions Palsie Gout Dropsies and all other obstructions sometimes the Colick and trembling and looseness of the Lims with red purple spots dispersed also the Pleurisie pain of the Hypochondries and also of many of the external parts as the Neck Arms Hands Thighs Legs Feet and Anckles with laziness and often faint sweats there is also sometimes malign Ulcers dry hard Tubercles Erisipelas and Edematous tumours with many others which to enumerate were to comprehend an universal Genus of Atomes within a very narrow Limitation 1. These diseases for the most part are of long continuance and are seldom cured Progn and therefore may be called the disgrace of Physicians 2. If the Patient hath a continual pain and giddiness of the Head it doth threaten an Epilepsie or Apoplexy 3. The more aged the sick are the more grievous are the Symptoms and the more dangerous and difficult to be cured 4. Vomiting Flux of the Belly and Hemorrhoids if they are moderate are hopefull signs of recovery In some Regions these diseases are complicated with most other distempers or at least do easily degenerate into them by which they are rendred the more difficult of curation As for the Cure of these stubborn and rebellious Cure diseases the sick must observe a good diet without which Physical means will profit but little and here we may also observe that no Aliments or Medicines whether altering or purging will be very profitable unless specifick Antiscorbuticks be mixed with them The best Antiscorbutick simples are the Roots of Horse-radish Butter-bur Liquorish Dandelion Scorzonera China Zedoary Angelica Elicampane Polypodium the five opening Roots the Wood and Bark of Guiacum and Sassaphras the Herbs Scordium Scurvigrass Brook-lime Water-cresses Sorrel Rue Fennel Golden-rod and Penny-royal Fruits of Oranges Limmons Pomcitrons Pomgranates Apples c. Seeds of Mustard Angelica Radish and Juniper-berries cum multis aliis of which may be prepared diversity of good medicines both Chymical and Galenical The volatile Salts both of Animals and Vegetables are excellent to open all obstructions and temper the humours Also Elixir proprietatis the Spirit of Salt Armoniack Horse-radish and Scurvigrass the Spirit of Niter and of Salt dulcified Salt of Steel Wormwood and Tartar Oil of Juniper Cloves and Cinamon are all Specifick
natural Constitution also all the Functions being in time vitiated For the spinalis medulla being primarily affected all the Nerves which proceed from it in its passage through the spina Dorsi must of necessity be stupifi'd and vitiated with a loose Feebleness hence also all the nervous membranous and fibrous parts through which those Nerves are carried or inserted into must consequently be vitiated with an inward weak Slipperiness so that the very ends of the bones as well as all the Faculties of the Body bear a share in this Distemper When the Rickets is confirm'd in Infants it seems to have some affinity with divers other Diseases viz. a Chronical fever an extenuation or leanness of the Body and an Hydrocephalus and many more which are frequently complicated with this affect And indeed not onely this but most other Observatio Diseases in process of time do unite unto themselves other affects of a different kind and therefore for the most part there is a complication of Chronical diseases before Death The Causes are either external or internal Causes The external may be any of the Non-naturals exceeding either in excess or defect All things cold and moist do powerfully contribute to this Disease especially an over cold and moist Air which is most frequent in the Spring the Air being then cloudy thick rainy and full of vaporous Exhalations Hereupon the Children of those which inhabit near the Banks of the Sea or great Rivers Ponds or Marshes that are obnoxious to too much Rain or are fed with a great Number of Springs are more or less subject to this affect for by the Continuance of such cold and moisture the Bloud and Humours becomes too slippery and therefore in their Circulation they must unavoidably cause a softness and looseness in all the parts Also experience testifieth that those Children which are born and nursed near the Lead-mines in Derby-shire c. are generally affected more or less with a languidness of the Limbs For the Air being infected with noxiousmetalline Exhalations which for the most part fight against the inherent Spirits of the parts by a kind of venemous malignity by which the spirituous pulsificative Force of the external parts is extinguished and the strength of the Limbs and whole Body much weakned and diminish'd Hither we may also refer fine soft Linen applied actually cold and moist being not well dried by reason of the moistness of the weather to the Spine of the Back which is near the Original of the Nerves the use thereof being too long continu'd it cherisheth the Roots of this Disease in that tender Age. Likewise Aliments of any kind which are too moist and cold or too thick viscous and obstructive do manifestly cherish this Distemper And I am induced to believe that Ebriety in English people especially the Gentry and eating of much Flesh and not using frequent labour or exercise may be a reason why this Disease is more common and natural to Children in England than in other Regions perhaps far exceeding it both in cold and moisture as Scotland Holland c. wherein this affect hath not been observ'd to be very common And therefore ebriety and eating of much Flesh and defect of motion and want of exercise doth most frequently and most effectually concur to the production of it because the inherent heat in stupid and sluggish People is not sufficient to resist and expell the superfluous moisture by a due transpiration By which means the Circulation of the Bloud is become slow and lesned and the production of the vital heat very feeble and weak so that nature is thereby forced to permit all the parts of the Body to be affected with a certain softness looseness and internal lubricity more than is meet which do sufficiently evince that this is an efficacious cause and a part of the essence of this Disease Hence we may easily infer that the Children of such Parents are more inclined to this distemper than others who drink moderately and eat less Flesh and are more active and lively The internal Causes are excrementitious Humours luxuriant in the Body especially Phlegm and serous humours retained and vitiated being naturally cold and moist and little spirituous and affected with an internal slipperiness wherefore upon a superfluous accumulation of these humours the production of this affect succeedeth because thereby a Colliquation of the parts and a dissipation of the inherent Spirits will be easily introduced whereby all the parts will afterwards be rendred obnoxious to this cold and moist Distemper Many diseases preceding this affect may be the cause of it especially those which do extenuate and much weaken the Body as all Fevers c. And also all cold and moist phlegmatick and cachochymick Distempers which will induce a stupour and dulness in the affected parts and cause obstructions Also any great Pain Inflammation Tumour Fracture Luxation or any other preternatural affect that hinders the standing and playing of the Child may be some cause of this Disease Presently after the beginning of the Disease Signs a kind of slothfulness and numbness doth invade the Joints and by little and little is increased so that daily they are more and more averse from motion besides in the beginning of this affect there is usually observ'd a certain laxity softness and flaccidity of all the first affected parts after which followeth a great debility languidness and enervation of all the parts subservient to motion so that for the most part they speak before they walk which is vulgarly held to be a bad Omen and if it vehemently increase they do not onely totally lose the use of their Feet but can scarce sit with an erected posture and their weak and feeble Neck can hardly sustain the Burthen of the Head In the progress of the Disease the Head and Face increaseth in bigness but the fleshy parts below the Head are daily more and more worn away There is also observ'd in this affect certain swellings and knotty excrescencies about some of the Joints these are chiefly conspicuous in the Wrists and somewhat less in the Ancles and in the tops of the ribs the Bones in the Armes and Legs and sometimes the Thighs and Shoulder-bones wax crooked the Teeth come forth slowly and with greater trouble than usual and at length the Breast becomes narrow and the Abdomen swollen with an extension of the Hypochondriacal parts which hindreth the free motion of the Diaphragma downwards and by consequence doth somewhat interrupt the breathing so that respiration becomes difficult accompanied with coughing the Pulse being also weak and small and in the increase of the Disease all these signs become more intense and evident and many and more grievous are daily accumulated 1. If this Disease be light and gentle the Progn Children affected therewith may be easily restored to health sometimes by the sole benefit of Age the vital heat being increased and summoned forth to the external parts by
often snuft up into the Nostrils to provoke sneezing Take the Roots of Pellitory of Spain white Sneezing Powder Hellebor of each half a drachm Castor Nutmegs white Pepper of each twenty grains Flowers of Lillies of the Valley one drachm beat them into a fine Powder If the Stomach be foul and the sick incline to vomit give this or the like Take the decoction of Horse-radish two Vomit ounces the infusion of crocus metallorum Oxymel of Squills of each half an ounce Oil of sweet Almonds newly drawn two drachms mix it and give it in the Morning But if the sick had rather take Pills or Potions let the following serve Take Extract Rudii pil foetidoe ex duobus Purging Pills of each half a drachm Powder of Castor twenty grains Oil of Cloves six drops with Syrup of Stoechas make it into Pills for three doses You may give them twice a week in the Morning fasting This purging Infusion is also very effectual Purging Infusion Take of the best Senna Rhubarb Polypodium of each half an ounce Mechoacan Agarick Turkey-Turbith of each three drachms Ginger Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and infused in eight ounces of Ale very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive of each one ounce Spirit of Castor twenty drops mix it for two doses Let the affected parts as the Head c. be bathed with this or the like fomentation Take the Roots of Master-wort Angelica Fomentation Zedoary of each three ounces Bay-berries Juniper-berries of each four ounces Sage Marjoram Rue Rose-mary Betony Flowers of Lavender Melilot Chamomel of each two handfulls let them be all cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine-vineger and Fountain-water of each three quarts till half of it be boiled away After bathing anoint the hinder part of the Head with this Oil. Take of Oil of Rue Marjoram of each Oil. half an ounce Oil of Amber Rose-mary and Bricks of each two drachms Oil of Bays Euphorbium Castor of each six drachms mix them For Revulsion let the soles of the feet be washed with Salt and Acet Scillitic Vesiccatories may also be applied to the Coronal Suture and behind the Ears or upon the Shoulders Neck Arms Thighs c. Avoid all vaporous and phlegmatick Nourishment CHAP. VI. Of the Phrensie and Madness THE Phrensie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phrenitis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mens quia mentis morbus The Phrensie is an inflammation of the Brain and Meninges both the dura and pia mater causing an acute continual Fever which remains from the first moment of its invasion to the last of its duration thence a delirium and raving Madness together with great trouble of mind afflicts the sick in a superlative manner Madness is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 insanio 't is called in Latin amentia furor insania Mania It is a furious alienation of the mind or a vehement delirium without a Fever in which it differs from the Phrensie I know there are not wanting the works of great Physicians who have written very learnedly of these diseases but omitting the opinion of others I shall in a few words relate that which seems true to me to be the cause of these furious distempers None who are ingenious Searchers of Truth and have weighed accurately with an attentive mind both the fabrick and ways or Vessels of the containing Body and the natural motion of the Bloud and other humours will deny that almost innumerable diseases do arise from the vitious effervescency of over fat Choler the too tart Pancreat juice and over viscous Phlegm flowing together in the small guts for by this vitiated mingling not onely hurtfull humours are produc'd but often wind and halituous Vapours causing much harm to humane Bodies Wherefore I judge when Phlegm is very viscous or otherwise vitious and the juice Cause of the Pancreas too tart and harsh sharp halituous Vapours are thence produc'd elevated from the small guts because of a vitious effervescency there rais'd and thence continually ascending to the Head and with the spirituous Bloud circulate into the Ventricles of the Brain by which the Animal spirits are vitiated and troublesomely mov'd and hindred of natural rest and tranquillity therefore 't is no wonder that the Empty mind of the sick is thereby disturb'd and at length the sick become distracted and mad But if Choler be predominant these vapours become very cholerick and acrimonious which rarifies the Bloud by degrees more and more so that at length the heat and burning Fever in the Heart and thence through the whole Body is encreased by Choler successively over-ruling which causeth the Phrensie No marvel then if heat pain and inflammation and pulsation of the Head do chiefly vex the sick in this grievous distemper seeing no part of the Body hath so many Arteries and receives so much Bloud as the Head wherefore the pulsation of the Temples is felt more troublesome than elsewhere because of the remarkable windings of the Brain through which great Arteries are carried from whence great watchings and at length raving Madness do molest the sick But there still remains something requisite to be set down as the chief cause of these and most other distempers which ought not to be despis'd either by Jew or Gentile seeing we have the word of God for it and that is the crying sins of Mankind continually drawing God's Judgments on them You may reade the 28th Chapter of Deuteronomie where the Prophet Moses enumerates the many diseases with which God would smite the Children of Israel for the wickedness of their doings whereby they had forsaken him And not onely they but we also shall be subject to these grievous distempers and eternal destruction also if we do not turn to the Lord by unfeigned repentance except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish saith our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in Luke 13. 3. Verse Those poor creatures who have been miserably afflicted with these furious diseases and happily recovered can tell by sad experience that they have been many times hurried almost to desperation by the cunning wiles and temptations of Satan which hath prevail'd on many to lay violent hands on themselves from which let us pray libera nos Domine 1. The Phrensie is a most acute and dangerous Progn disease insomuch that it ends most commonly in seven days for in that time it either terminates by the recovery of the sick or else they go over the threshold of the other world 2. If the Phrenetical party hath a Crisis either by sweating bleeding at the nose or Haemorrhoids c. or a tumour appear behind the Ears there is hopes of recovery but if the sick gnash with his teeth and his Excrement and Urine be whitish and no Crisis appear 't is
prefer'd Take the Waters of Hyssop Fennel of Pectoral Iulep each two ounces Cinamon-water distill'd Vineger of each half an ounce Syrup of Hore-houud one ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm mix it and give two or three spoonfulls every two hours If the Lungs be ulcerated the Cure thereof will be promoted if you add two or three drops of Balsam of Sulphur with Oil of Annise-seed to every spoonfull that you give of the aforefaid medicine or in any pectoral Decoction it must be given oft in a day the better to finish the Cure In all Catarrhs if the Rheum have been long you may use a Decoction of China which will wonderfully temper the humours or you may add lign sanctum sassaphras sarsaparilla c. which will dry up the Rheum by degrees The sharp humours being temper'd and the matter of Rheum partly evacuated by Phlegmagogues and Hydragogues c. outward means that dry up Rheum are likewise to be used as Caps for the Head Perfumes Errhines Sternutatories Masticatories Apophlegmatisms c. Ventoses with Scarification may be also applied to the Neck and Shoulders and Fontinels may be made in the Neck and Arm for they have been often profitable in Catarrhs Also Vesiccatories applied to the Coronal future and inter scapulas will avail much Let the Temples and parts adjacent be anointed with Oil of Amber Oil of Nutmegs c. and let the Fume of Amber or Mastick be often drawn up into the Nostrils Also a Sternutatory such as is prescrib'd in page 21. in the Cure of the Palsie is very effectual to cause sneezing twice or thrice in a day A Cap may be also quilted for the Head of the following things with Cotton-wool and red Sarcenet Take of sweet Marjoram Betony Baum For a quilted Cap. Bazil Red-rose buds of each half a handfull the Berries of Mirtle and Juniper the Seeds of Peony and white Poppy of each one drachm Calamus aromaticus Nutmegs Cloves Frankincense Mastick Styrax calamitis Laudanum of each two drachms let them be all beaten into a gross Powder for a quilted Cap. Also this following Powder may be prepar'd to fumigate the Head and Cloaths morning and evening Take of Olibanum Styrax calamitis Amber Powder to fume the Head c. of each two drachms red Roses Coriander-seeds prepar'd Mastick Gum of Ivy Cloves Mirtle-berries white Poppy-seeds of each one drachm let them be all beaten into a gross Powder Also this Masticatory may be often used Take of Mustard-seed Roots of Pellitory Masticatory of Spain Master-wort Capers Mastick Amber of each one drachm let them be all beaten into a gross Powder and tye up some of it in a Linen-rag and chew it in the mouth every day before Dinner and Supper Or you may chew either Mastick Amber or the Root of Pellitory of Spain by it self which will draw the serous humours away by spitting Errhines may also be used they are either moist or dry the dry are made with Pepper Betony Rosemary Stavesacre c. The liquid are made with the Juices of Rosemary Ivy Beets Mercury sweet Marjoram c. And it may here be noted that when Rheum doth flow down to the Throat Lungs c. then Errhines may be used but when the humours flow to the Eyes Nose c. then use Masticatories for a Revulsion Revulsio enim est humoris fluentis attractio in partem contrariam The Spirit of Salt Armoniack held to Note the Nose in a narrow mouth'd Glass doth wonderfully conduce above all others not onely to dissolve the viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the Glandules But also temperates the acid Saltness of Catarrhs Plaisters may be also applied to the Head being first shaved to dry up the Rheum and strengthen the Brain This may serve for Example Take of the Plaisters ad Herniam and Plaster for the Head Cephalick Taccamahac of each half an ounce mix it and spread it on leather and apply it to the Head Let the Rheumatick live in a warm and dry Air and use a drying Diet with moderation in eating drinking sleeping and all other things Jejunet vigilet sitiat qui Rheumata curat BOOK II. CHAP. I. Of Shortness of Breathing SHortness or Difficulty of Breathing is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. afflo calidum ori Asthma It is a disease in which the Bronchia of the Lungs are so stuffed with viscous Phlegm that the sick can hardly breathe but with wheasing blowing or puffing and do make a great noise with snorting in which the Diaphragma and intercostal Muscles are violently moved If the Lungs onely are stuffed it is without snorting and is then called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro In this the conduits of the Lights are much stopped causing hardness or straitness of breath and pursiness But if the Patient fetcheth breath with much difficulty with the Neck stretched upright it may then be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rectus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro i. e. erecta cervice spirare The cause of this disease is the Juice of Cause the Pancreas growing more sour by its obstruction joined to viscous Phlegm in the small gut by which it becomes more flatulent and being stir'd up in its effervescency with Choler it riseth to the Thoracick passage by the Lacteal Veins and so to the Heart and Lungs and filling the airy conduits thereof and sticking there it causeth a breathing with snorting The same humour is also carried to the Stomach which causeth many sour Belchings in this distemper and if these flatuous humours become more sharp than viscous so often as they come to the Lungs they pierce into the sharp Artery and do so provoke and molest it that thereby the Lungs are compelled to cough by which the Expiration of Air is deprav'd If there be much moisture contain'd in Progn the sharp Artery it will be the easier expelled by the help of coughing but if the Trachea Arteria be affected with driness then nothing is spit out though with great and much labour but the universal Body is wearied in vain with indeavouring to cough whence there is sometimes raised a vehement Pain both of the Head and Hypochondries and other parts yea sometimes a Rupture is bred by it and the Urine and Excrements are thereby often involuntarily extruded 2. If this disease be not speedily removed it will prove chronical and hard to be cur'd unless the Patient be young and of a strong constitution for otherwise it will end in a Cachexie or Dropsie An Asthma or wheasing Anxiety may Cure happily be cured in the beginning by an Antimonial vomit especially in those who do vomit easily because the Phlegmatick humours which are contained in the sharp Artery c. are thereby
Armoniack twenty drops Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it let the sick take a spoonfull of it every quarter of an hour till they get some ease If the distemper hath persever'd long the peccant humours must be emptied out by purging and to educe them I prefer before all others Pills to be made of Gums seeing they loosen the glutinous humours and dispose them to be easier carried out For example Take of Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar Purging Pills half an ounce Powder of Scammony prepar'd Troches Alhandal of each two drachms Oil of Carraway twenty drops make it into a Mass for Pills Take five or six of these Pills in the Morning fasting twice a week They who abhor Pills may use an Aromatick and purging Decoction The following though bitter is very efficacious Take the five opening Roots of each one Purging Decoction ounce Roots of Angelica Berries of Bay and Juniper of each half an ounce the best Senna Orange-peel Carraway-seed Coloquintida of each one drachm Guiacum four ounces let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of Roses with Senna four ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick take four ounces of this bitter Decoction every other Morning which will by degrees diminish and mildly educe the hurtfull humours by purging But seeing not onely the cause ought to be removed but also the Symptomes asswag'd by refreshing the Heart you must administer cordial Medicines which have power to corroborate the Heart and to cherish and strengthen nature The following Cordial may be preferred in this Case Take the Waters of Baum Mint Borage Cordial Iulep Cinamon of each three ounces Syrups of Baum red Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiat Amber-greese of each ten grains mix it Let the sick take two spoonfulls of this rich Cordial every three hours which will wonderfully refresh and delight the sensible Stomach from whence the perfumed impressions will soon be communicated to the whole Body by which all the vital and animal Functions will be refreshingly cherished and strengthned and the Palpitation of the Heart eased and abated If the Patient hath a costive Body let a carminative Clyster be sometimes administred and if a Plethora concur let a vein be opened either with an Instrument in the Arm or by Leeches applied to the Haemorrhoids CHAP. V. Of an universal Languishing as also of Swouning and Syncope AN universal Languishing of the strength of all the parts and functions is sometimes observ'd to remain after some disease preceding not rightly cured especially when the Infirmity hath been grievous for then a weariness or defect of the Animal motion doth usually concur together with a weak or little pulse and dulness and debility of the internal and external senses whereby the sick continues weak and more languishing by certain intervalls than is natural All the kinds of Swounings may be divided for methods sake into two viz. the lighter kind and the most grievous The lighter kind of Swouning or fainting is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin animae defectio ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficere because it is an Imbecility or Feebleness of the Heart and Courage The most grievous and singular kind of swouning is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syncope concido to cut away quod praeceps virium omnium lapsus It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pulsus privatio because there is no pulse neither indeed presently in the fit is there any Animal or voluntary motion or respiration to be observ'd so that they are more like dead than living Creatures The signs of these fits approaching are Signs yawnings a Cardialgy Anxiety of Compression of the Heart griping and distension of the Belly tinkling in the Ears dimness before the Eyes and a Giddiness and at the approach of a Syncope there are often Convulsive motions with a cold and glutinous sweat and paleness of all the parts of the Body The causes of these distempers are either Causes external or internal The external are many as extreme weariness of the Body exceeding passions of the mind prolong'd hunger or thirst ungratefull smells the sight of any Person or thing that is envied too great effusion of Bloud Seed or Milk over great evacuation of the humours by Vomit Stool Sweat Urine c. It may also be caused by the biting or stinging of any venemous Creature and by any other vehement pain Sometimes it is produc'd by a great heat either of the Sun Fire Bath or Fever Any of these Causes mention'd being extreme may so change and diminish the natural effervescency and rarefaction of the bloud that the Heart it self is not thereby enough expanded and contracted So that the vital bloud cannot be sufficiently effus'd into the Arteries and therefore the Pulse is felt less and more languishing yea sometimes none The internal Cause is glutinousness encreased in the bloud and the other humours and sometimes an encreased Acidity in the Juice of the Pancreas Lympha and Spittle by which the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours becomes too slow hence the Ventricles of the Heart are not enough dilated which causeth the Pulse to be weaker than is natural for the effervescency of the bloud and humours being not potent enough cannot provoke the Heart to contract it self and therefore a Swouning or Syncope will inevitably ensue They who are much subject to a Swouning Progn or Syncope dye suddenly Those fits which are produc'd from some evident cause as vehement passions of the mind immoderate evacuations c. are less dangerous than those which come from an internal cause as glutinousness of the bloud and humours c. Which in a great measure hindreth its free Circulation through the Ventricles of the Heart whereby there is a sudden and swift sailing of the vital Spirits and consequently of all strength To cure an universal languishing as also a Cure Swouning and Syncope the phlegmatick glutinous and acid Humours must not onely be corrected but when they abound must be diminish'd and educ'd out of the Body Therefore to correct and amend the said humours abounding both in the universal Body and Bloud I will here set down some forms of select medicines for the sake of young Physicians The following Decoction is an efficacious Medicine Take the Roots of Elicampane Galangal Decoction Angelica Calamus Aromaticus the sive opening Roots of each one ounce Sage Baum Betony sweet Marjoram the Tops of Hore-hound Centaury Wormwood the Flowers of Rosemary Staechas Chamomel Clove-gilliflowers of each one handfull the Seeds of Anise Sweet-fennel Parsley Cardamoms Berries of Bays and Juniper of each two drachms Orange-peel Cinamon of each half an ounce Nutmegs one drachm let them be cleansed bruised and infused
in two quarts of Fountain-water for a night then boil it gently till a third part be consumed strain it and add Syrup of Mugwort Staechas tincture of Cinamon of each two ounces mix all together Two or three ounces of this Decoction may be taken at any time twice in a day either before or after meat that so the power of the medicine may mildly mix and incorporate it self not onely with the food but with Spittle in the Stomach and also with the threefold humour flowing together in the small Guts and thence with the universal bloud and humours in all the Veins and Arteries whereby the desired amendment and correcting of them will be performed sooner easier and more happily If any like a medicinal Wine better they may infuse the aforesaid Ingredients in a sufficient quantity of White-wine and drink it daily both at dinner and supper time These choice Medicines may be continued for some time but when the sick is weary of them you may use the same Ingredients in the form of a Powder or Electuary or make them into Troches with Syrup of Staechas Mugwort c. Or you may make use of those compound Powders which are to be sold at the shops viz. Spec. Diambr Diagalangae Dianthos c. all or either of which may be used as aforesaid If any will be better pleas'd with Pills than other Forms you may prescribe these or some like them Take of Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar Purging Pills two scruples Powder of Amber Mastick of each one scruple Frankincense Mirrh Castor of each ten grains Vitriol of Mars prepar'd to whiteness half a drachm Chymical Oil of Mace eight drops beat them into a mass for Pills Let the Patient take four or five of there Pills in the morning fasting or at night an hour after supper whereby the viscous phlegmatick and acid humours will be potently corrected and temper'd which being done the peccant humours may be effectually educ'd with these hydragogue Pills Take Gum Sagapenum prepar'd with Vinegar Purging Pills half a drachm Rosin of Jallap Gambogia of each one scruple Oil of Juniper four drops mix them into Pills Four or five of these Pills may be administred at a time or more or sewer as the sick is more difficult or easie to be purg'd When a swouning Fit or Syncope is near approaching give those things that will powerfully concentrate the sour flatuous vapours and discuss the glutinous Phlegm The following Volatile and Aromatick Cordial will conduce much to this purpose Take the Waters of Mint Fennel Betony Cordial Iulep Scurvigrass Cinamon of each one ounce Syrups of Borage Mint of each six drachms Tincture of Castor Confection of Alkermes of each two drachms Salt of Amber one drachm Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops Laudanum opiat Amber-greese of each six grains mix it The sick may take two or three spoonfulls of this Cordial in time of the fit and likewise both before and after which will much repair both the Vital and Animal strength which is wont not a little to languish in these fits None but they who have try'd will be easily perswaded of the wonderfull efficacy of the aforesaid medicines not onely in preventing but in diminishing and soon curing Swounings and the Syncope When either of these fits urgeth or is upon the party you must use those outward things which may stir up the external senses as frictions of the external parts shoutings in the Ears also make a smoak with Amber or Partridg Feathers at the nose or hold the Spirit of Salt Armoniack in a narrow mouth'd glass to the Nostrils You may also wring the Fingers and pull the Hair c. If you have not a Cordial ready give Cinamon or Treacle water or the Apoplectick or Antepileptick waters or for want of them Brandy Aqua vitae or strong Wine may serve CHAP VI. Of Fevers in General A Fever is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel a feritate morbi that is from the fierceness of the disease It is called febris in latin a fervore quasi fervens because it is a hot distemper A Fever is a nonnatural heat which may be so termed because it is more than nature requires for the continual management of her vital functions for when nature is grieved or over-burthned by any distemper there is a strugling endeavour of nature her self to remove it which causeth this non-natural heat It may be called the Prince of diseases because it is the general door through which most of humane mortals take their exit of this world The cause of the preternatural frequency of the pulse is either a permanent and over rarefaction of the bloud or any sharp sour or salt vapour carried to the Heart corroding the internal substance of it by which the Archaeus or vital Airy spirit of the Heart is provoked to allarm all the faculties and powers both vital and natural that it may the more couragiously resist its invading Enemy so that the spirits are thereby much stirred up and inflamed from whence proceedeth a Conflagration or vitious Effervescency of the Bloud and Humours throughout the whole Body Fevers are either continual or intermitting A continual Fever is that which remains from the first moment of its invasion to the last of its duration When a continual Fever is very mild and remains but one day it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies quod diem durans It is called in Latin Diaria Ephemera febris This Fever is often excited by sudden passions of the mind as vehement anger c. and also by our abode too long in the Sun or by vitiously using any other of the six nonnatural things so called for which there is no great need to prescribe Medicines for a Cure it being not difficult the very nature of such a Fever terminating it self most commonly by a breathing sweat especially if you substract the Patient from the inflammatory Cause If the Fever continues longer it may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuo From whence it is called in Latin febris continua quae nullas hujusmodi mutationes habet quae accessiones videri possint sed unicam modo accessionem a principio usque ad finem nullis exacerbationibus distinctam The continual Fever is also called Homotona quae fimilem calorem ad finem usque servat It is also called Acmastica quae continuo crescit intenditur A Synochus or continual Fever may be divided into two sorts viz. that which is not Difference putrid called in Latin Synochus non putrida and that which is putrid called Synochus putrida In a Synochus non putrida the bloud and other humours is a little sharper than is natural and the heat somewhat great and vaporous declining a little to the nature and manner of those called putrid Continual Fevers are oft times mixt or compounded
Gold But if the Patient's body be costive and there be eminent signs of a Plethora or great fulness of Bloud then let a carminative Clyster be first administred and after its operation let a Vein be opened and draw seven or eight ounces of bloud at a time and if there be occasion let it be reiterated for I always prefer it s repeated less diminution as need requires sometimes instituted in the same day before great evacuations made suddenly which hath brought many Evils to the sick It matters little what vein be opened unless in Women because of the monthly Terms either at hand or hindred And seeing it is the duty of every honest Physician to be Natures helper he ought to endeavour to remove all impediments whereby the sick may be cured more quickly safely and pleasantly without demurs to magnifie the Cure and inflame the reckonings Wherefore since the first curative intention of most Fevers is the discharge of the first turgent Monitor from the Stomach and adjacent parts by vomiting as is before said Let the Patient upon the discovery of the assaulting Enemy take an Antimonial Emetick and if one doth not suffice let it be reiterated by which the Morbifick matter will be evacuated nature calmed and the contemperating of the incited or enraged nonnatural heat will be the easier performed But here the Sex is to be consider'd the Female not so well enduring this evacuation Cautio because Emeticks cause great Commotions and flatuous Vapours in them which may also prevent or corrupt natures own intentions in her great discharge of turgent humours Wherefore administer no Emetick to them except they vomit very easily but rather let the peccant humours be diminisht or emptied out gradually by the following decoction to be taken twice a day to three or four ounces Take the Roots of Parsly Fennel Plantain Purging Decoction Peony Dandelion Succory of each two ounces the Leaves of Endive House-leek Fumitory Damask-roses of each one handfull Let them be cleansed bruised and infused for a Night in one quart of Fountain-water very hot then boil it gently till a third part be consumed strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each two ounces Powder of Cream of Tartar and Tartar vitriolated of each two drachms Oil of Sulphur twenty drops mix it all together This pleasant Medicine will conduce much to correct the salt sharpness of Choler and will also amend its Oily inflameableness and separate it from the Bloud and mildly dispose it and the rest of the abounding humours to be voided out by stool After these Evacuations give the sick the following Medicine twice a day in a little thin broth or Water-gruel Take Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn Volatile Powder Tartar vitriolated of each six grains mix it This excellent volatile Medicine is both abstersive and Diuretick and will cleanse the Stomach and Intestines of the remaining Sordes and expell them by Urine In the Declination of the Fever if sleep be wanting this following Julep will much avail both to cause rest and refresh the spirits Take the Waters of Carduus benedict Fennel Cordial Iulep of each two ounces Treacle-water Syrup of red Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiatum six grains Salt of Wormwood half a drachm Spirit of Salt twenty drops mix it and give the sick three or four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent use of this Cordial Julep or one like it all pains will be eased nature quieted and relieved and the importunate thirst allayed But if thirst still urgeth give the dulcified Spirit of Salt or of Niter in Posset-drink and all the Liquids they take from six to ten or twelve drops at a time If you fear there be any Malignancy in the Fever give the sick eight or ten grains of Bezoardic mineral every fourth hour in a spoonfull or two of the aforesaid Julep or good sound Canary-wine to keep the Patient in a breathing sweat As for the Cure of Fevers attended with grievous and furious raging and watchings c. I refer you to the Chapter of Phrensies which is full to this purpose I shall now give some directions to young Physicians and Nurses and so conclude this Chapter of Fevers in general 1. First give no Opiats in the beginning of a Fever because they tye up the Archaeus of the Stomach and first passages thereby hindring it from expelling the occasional cause of the Disease 2. Give the sick neither Mithridate nor Diascordium as is the common custome nor apply it to the Wrists nor Stomach nor any thing else that is nauseous whilst Nature and the Disease are strugling but if the Patient tends to coldness you may moisten a piece of Rose-cake or a tost of stale Bread in Sylvius's Spirit or for want thereof in Brandy dulcified and apply it to the Stomach twice a day which will revive nature and fortifie it against the invading Enemy 3. Give no meat whilst the disease is on them for the Stomach is not fit to receive it neither hath it strength to digest it and therefore it will become a recruit or supply to the Disease except it be speedily vomited up again 4. If it be a Child give it not any Milk and if it Suck wean it for Milk is the first matter and foundation of this disease in them neither give it Beer nor water nor any cooling things to correct the heat because it will weaken nature and strengthen the Disease But hot Posset-drink turn'd with White-wine or sound Beer with a little Vinegar may be drank liberally after the Cause is removed 5. If the sick be Adult you may give two parts of Water and one of good Wine either French Wine or Sherry but Malaga or any other sweet Wine is not so good 6. When the Patient begins to recover the plainest broths and gruels are the best till then a little is too much and if you did use Salt and Vinegar instead of Spice and Sugar it would agree better with them CHAP. VII Of intermitting Fevers AN intermitting Fever is that which returns after intervalls sometimes longer sometimes shorter in divers Fits whence according to the divers space of every access or fit the same gets also divers Names for if a new Fit return daily answering the precedent in proportion it is called a Quotidian If it comes every other day it is called a Tertian If the fit return after two days intermission it is called a Quartan and so forward although Quintans Sextans c. are seldom observ'd And here you may note that intermitting Fevers do but seldom return in the exact Observation intervall of natural days of twenty four hours but return quicker or slower for the most part wherefore then they are said to anticipate the expected time for some hours which is disliked or to come later which is commended by some Although it matters not whether the fits anticipate or come
approv'd of then such things as cut and purge phlegm downwards may be administred for example Take of pil faetidae one drachm Mercur. Purging Pills dulcis Powders of Troches Alhandal Scammony prepar'd Tartar vitriolated of each half a Scruple Salts of Amber and Worm-wood of each one Scruple Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Amber of each ten drops with Syrup of Buckthorn make it into a Mass for Pills Take four or five of these Pills four hours before the coming of the fit which will both cut and purge the viscous Phlegm out of the Body and also educe other peccant humours After purging or vomiting let the sick often take the following Powder in a glass of generous Wine or in two or three spoonfulls of the Cordial Diaphoretick before mention'd to provoke sweat as is there directed Take Volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salts of Powder Amber Worm-wood and Carduus Tartar vitriolated of each ten grains Sugar of Pearls the weight of them all mix them for two doses You may take a dose of it two or three hours before the access of the fit which will wonderfully conduce to dissolve the obstruction and cause a breathing sweat Let these evacuations be as often reiterated as occasion requires If the intermitting Fever hath continu'd long or the sick hath a Plethorick body let a vein be opened By these few forms the young Practitioner may easily invent other effectual Medicines in some things to be varied as the distemper requires CHAP. VIII Of Malignant Fevers IN the Chapter of Fevers in general I told you that Synochal or continual Fevers were without any fit to their last and complete ceasing and likewise I did distinguish them into putrid and not putrid Those that are not putrid have little or no malignity in them but the putrid are always accompanied with malignity A malignant Fever differs from others in Difference this that it draws its putrefaction immediately from its own matter putrefaction being joined with it from whence the vital strength is suddenly and unexpectedly dejected or far more grievous Symptoms occur than are wont to be observ'd in such a like disease Malign Fevers are either more acute ending in few days or longer continuing more days And they are either contagious and epidemical raging among many in the same time having a common cause as the Air or Food vitiated c. Infecting others or else they are not contagious Among contagious Fevers we may not Calenture neglect to speak something of a Calenture because it is a contagious distemper assaulting not onely those which use the Sea but also many that live near the Sea-shore in Sea-port Towns c. are subject to it The signs of this disease are a great pain Signs of the Head sometimes with violent raging fits and delirium the rest of the Body being in good temper the sick do fancy the Water to be a green Meadow and will indeavour to get into it The cause of a Calenture is the intemperature of the Climate together with ill diet causing strong obstructions and an ill habit of body by which flatuous vapours are encreas'd in the body and in time ascend to the Head The cause of the malignity in this and all other putrid fevers is a sharp volatile salt Cause of Malignity in the Air which is drawn into tbe Lungs by degrees and weakens the liquor of the glandules which is naturally sourish and makes it sluggish and of little force whence the natural consistency of the bloud is diminish'd and the separation of the Animal spirits often hindred The sharp volatile salt aforesaid may be also swallowed down with food or spittle into the Stomach or it may enter the pores of the body by which not onely the liquor of the glandules but the bloud also may be infected hence depends the variety of symptoms which may be observ'd in these Diseases In Malign fevers there oft precedes a light Signs shivering after which a gentle heat soon follows the pulse is frequent and unequal though little and weak and sometimes deficient the sick is often drowsie and possest with a kind of Lethargy and when they sleep they are often vex'd with turbulent dreams they are often grip'd in the Stomach and troubled with loathing and vomiting accompanied with the Head-each raving giddiness c. also there is great thirst weariness and unquietness of the whole body sometimes there happens cholerick and fetid loosnesses and also a haemorrhage at the nose or womb doth often concur 1. If tumors in the glandules and spots and Progâ— little pimples divers both in colour and greatness do break forth in many parts of the body they are signs of great malignity 2. If the sick get no ease after sweating promoted by Art there is little hopes of recovery also if the extreme parts soon wax hot and again are presently cold 't is an ill sign First to preserve and defend the body from Cure all malignity and infection in time of contagion I commend the frequent and moderate use of sour and tart things mixt with all things potable for the Patient's drink or food as Barberries Quinces Oranges Pomgranates Limmons Wood-sorrel Verjuice Vinegar c. In the beginning of malign Fevers and also the Calenture if a loathing urgeth part of the acrimonious volatile salt adheres to the tunicles of the Stomach wherefore in this Case first administer an Antimonial Emetick which is well prepared mild and fixt because it hath an admirable sulphur in it whereby any sharpness is wonderfully temper'd and the Malign Poison is thereby in part sent out by Vomit and Stool After the Operation of the Emetick let a Cordial Sudorifick be presently administred that the remaining part of the Malign Poison may be driven forward and expelled most safely and commodiously out of the Body The following Cordial may serve for example Cordial Sudorifick Take of Epidemical water Spirit of Vinegar of each one ounce The Waters of Treacle and Cinamon of each half an ounce the Waters of Carduus Scabious of each two ounces Syrups of the Juice of Carduus Clove-gilliflowers of each one ounce and half Antimonie Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral of each one drachm Venice-treacle two drachms mix it Let the sick take a quarter of this Diaphoretick Julep and dispose the Body to sweat and after half an hour take one or two spoonfulls more and so go on till a profitable Sweat follow In the interim if the sick be thirsty let them drink a little warm Broth temper'd to a gratefulness with juice of Oranges Citrons or Verjuice c. whereby the breaking forth of the sweat will not onely be promoted but also the hurtfull Acrimony of the peccant Salt will be corrected and asswaged After this excellent medicine hath been sufficiently and rightly us'd so that you perceive the Malign Poison to be carried out of the Body yet you must persist in the moderate use of it as likewise in the
use of four things a little Harsh mixt with drink or Broth as beforesaid because they much conduce to restore by degrees the former consistency to the Bloud In Calentures Phlebotomy may be safely used CHAP. IX Of the Plague or Pestilence THE Plague or Pestilence is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvo quod vitam solvat It is called in Latin Pestilentia Pestis ex depascendo quod veluti incendium depascat It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 percutio hinc Angl. the Plague Pestis significat omne malum quod tam inanimis quam animatis mortem exitium repentino adfert The Plague is a contagious disease suddenly afflicting the Heart and all the vital animal and natural faculties with many grievous Symptoms The Cause is chiefly the sins of Mankind Cause provoking the great God to send this Pestiferous distemper as a judgment on them for their Impiety The Cause next to God's judgment is a sharp venemous and contagious volatile Salt in the Air very much heightned inspired with the Air into the Lungs or is swallowed down with the food or spittle into the Stomach it may also get in through the pores into the Body by which the acid liquor in all the conglobated glandules is weakned and made sluggish that it doth not circulate with its wonted force whence the natural consistency and rarefaction of the Bloud is diminsht and the separation of the Animal Spirits hindred and the vital strength is much opprest by which the Pulse becomes not onely little but also languishing till at length the Spirits are extinguisht and Death unexpected to many carries them speedily torrenti similis in fiery Chariots God knows where All the signs in Malign Fevers are common and much heightned in the Pest besides Signs many other grievous symptoms as Diarrhaea Hemorrhage at the Nose Ears Eyes Mouth and Secrets sometimes yellowness of the Eyes Buboes in the Groins Armpits and behind the Ears and in some white Bladders and Carbuncles also spots called the Tokens with raving c. 1. The Pest is deceitfull above all other diseases Progn therefore no certain prognostick can be drawn of it for many have died when there hath been great hopes of recovery and on the contrary many have escaped with mortal signs 2. A Bubo is less dangerous than a Carbuncle and it than the spots vulgarly the Tokens which most commonly portend Death wheresoever they are 3. Buboes incompassed with a blue or livid circle are most commonly a mortal sign especially if they suddenly disappear unless the Malign humour be sent to some other part and if with a Bubo behind the Ears there be pain of the Throat without inflammation 't is mortal 4. If a Carbuncle rise after a Bubo and look white with a litle push or tail at the end of it 't is dangerous except the Fever do very much abate and if after cauterizing or cupping the Carbuncle abate not in twenty four hours 't is a sign of Death approaching except matter appear and if Carbuncles seize the Stomach Guts Bladder or other Intrails it portends Death 5. Deliriums Drowsiness Heart-ach Trembling Convulsions great driness of Tongue are all bad signs also a Dysentery is most commonly mortal but a Hemorrhage at the Nose or Menses are not so dangerous To preserve from this Pestiferous distemper although transmigration in the fear of God may be lawfull yet let none think to escape by flying and so neglect their duties to God for 't is impossible to run out of his reach for he filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence wherefore let servent prayers be put up to God whose compassions fail not and then make use of an honest Physician 1. You must endeavour to purifie the infected Air with great fires wash the house daily and after sprinkle it with Vinegar and Fume either with Pitch Frankincense Mirrh Amber Benjamin Wood and Berries of Juniper c. 2. Avoid all passions watchings and immoderate exercise and venery 3. Eat nothing that is hard of concoction and use a moderate diet though easie of digestion and drink good sound Wine c. 4. Go not forth with an empty Stomach but always take some preservative against infection For example Take Spirit of Vinegar Julep of Roses of each one ounce mix it Vinegar Verjuice Oranges Limmons Citrons Pomgranats Barberries Quinces Wood-sorrel c. are all very good used as before directed in Malign Fevers This Poison must not be sent out by vomiting Cure or purging neither is phlebotomy allowed For it is known by manifold experience that the cure of the Pest is most happily instituted by Cordial Sudorificks rightly prepar'd of Antimony because it hath an admirable Sulphur in it whereby not onely sharpness is wonderfully temper'd but the Malign poisonous volatile Salt is thereby most safely driven forward and expelled by sweating out of the Body to which may be added other Cordials as followeth Take the Powders of Crabs-eyes Tartar Cordial Electuary vitriolated Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral of each one scruple Bezoar-stone of the East red Coral prepar'd Salts of Rhue Scordium of each half a scruple Venice-treacle two drachms Spirit of Salt ten drops mix it into an Electuary with confectio de Hyacintho Let the sick take half a drachm of this Cordial Electuary every three hours and drink three or four spoonfulls of this Cordial Julep after it Take of Epidemical-water the Waters of Cordial Iulep Carduus Borage Scordium compound of each three ounces the Waters of Treacle Cinamon Syrups of the juice of Carduus and Limmons Syrup of Saffron of each one ounce Salt Prunella and Salt of Wormwood of each one drachm Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it for a Cordial Let the sick person take the aforesaid medicines till sweat is plentifully provoked then let the sweat be gently wiped off with warm linen cloaths In the mean while give the sick a little hot Chicken-broth or other Broth of fresh Meat temper'd to a gratefulness with some sour thing as was directed in Malign Fevers as Barberries Wood-sorrel Limmons c. You must persist in this course till the danger be over and some time after though the sick think themselves well lest the disease deceive you by a sudden surprize again There are many Cordial Confections always to be had ready at Apothecaries Shops as Mithridate Diascordium Venice-treacle London-treacle Treacle-water c. any of which may be used by the Rich or Poor for they will not onely cause sweating but also will temper and moderate the hurtfull acrimony of the volatile Salt before mentioned You may dip a hot Toast in aq prophylactica and apply it to the region of the Stomach and also tye some of it in a rag and smell to it If there be great drowsiness avoid Opiates and take the Cordial Julep without the Laudanum but if there be great Watching Vomiting Flux of the Belly or Hicket you may give it with the
there are variety of choice medicines prescrib'd in the fourth page of the cure of diseases of the Head in the use whereof you must persevere for some time or else the laudable success and happy wisht for cure will be expected in vain Any other humours that are peccant in quality by which the bloud is vitiated must be alter'd and reduc'd to their natural Constitution by selected Medicines which will amend and empty them out by degrees In the interim good Food which is easie of digestion and wholsome nourishment must not be neglected whereby nature may be cherished and health by degrees procured Those Medicines which are prescrib'd for the Cure of the Dropsie and Scurvy are proper for this Disease wherefore I shall forbear prescriptions here CHAP. XIII Of Dropsies THE Dropsie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hydrops ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aqua quod nomen sumpsit ab aquoso humore Cutis The Ancients have assigned three sorts of Dropsies 1. The first is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ascites uter pellis 'T is called in Latin aqua intercus ex inter cutis because the Water is between the Skin and the Flesh. This is the most proper Dropsie in which the Abdomen Secrets Thighs and Legs are affected 2. The second is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod tumor est ad similitudinem tympani vel tympani sonum referens As this is the most rare so 't is the most cruel and afflictive 3. The third is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caro quod hydrops toto corpore diffusus It is also called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 album 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 phlegma vel pit uita because it is caused of white Phlegm gathered in all parts of the Body Some Authours make a difference between Anasarca and Leucophlegmatia that Anasarca is caused by a serous humour and Leucophlegmatia by a phlegmatick and more viscous humour but all Dropsies except Tympanies seem to me to be little less than a distinction of degrees of one and the same Disease Cause The Ancients did take the Liver to be the chief part male-affected in these distempers but Helmont who was happy in a remedy to cure it doth severely reprove them and is so bold to tax the whole Schools with the ignorance of Anatomical dissections he having inspected many Carcases of dropsical Persons of whom he makes distinct mention doth assert the Livers of them all no-way vitiated and therefore he concludes the Liver faultless in dropsical affects and he derives the Cause of Dropsie to be an obstruction of the Kidneys with the Stone or Gravel and so the water which should be transferr'd through the Kidneys to the Bladder to be evacuated by pissing is forced into the Cavity of the Abdomen But experience teacheth that Dropsies may be caused many ways wherefore I shall betake my self to a more evident description thereof The causes of Dropsies are either external Cause or internal The external Cause is the Constipation of the porous Skin impeding transpiration whereby the discharge of sweaty Vapours through the Habit of the Body is lessned and interrupted hence what moisture is usually carried off by sweating doth rebound inwards and condense into an Ichorous water and is there by degrees aggravated and increased through the hindrance of the necessary transpiration till at length a great quantity of water is accumulated and stagnating in the affected parts in time may work farther alterations on the subjected Bowels Matter of fact hath evinced this to me having cured several Hydropical patients onely by sweating and external applications The internal Cause of the Dropsie may be over viscous Chyle or Phlegm of the Guts coagulated in the lacteal Veins and causing an obstruction in more or fewer of their Branches so that the Liquour rising either from the continual Conflux of Choler the Juice of the Pancreas and the Phlegm of Spittle or else from Chyle or from drink plentifully drunk being stopt and intercepted in its motion it doth by degrees more and more distend the Vessels that at length they burst and the moisture receiv'd into them is poured out between the Membranes of the Mesentery and presently after into the Cavity of the Abdomen This disease is sometimes suddenly produc'd by much drinking in a burning Fever join'd with an urgent and permanent Thirst. After the same manner though difficult to be known may a Dropsie of the Breast be caused viz. by an obstruction of the lateral Lymphatick Vessels by glutinous Phlegm carried together with Lympha into the said Vessels and there coagulated by which the motion of Lympha is hindred so that the Lymphatick vessels being much distended by the great quantity of Lympha gathered in them at length they burst and the Lympha piercing through the Pleura into the Cavity of the Breast procureth a Dropsie in it The cause of a Tympany is wind together Cause of a Tympany with a serous humour piercing through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly and being there detained it is more and more rarified by which the Peritonoeum is not onely expanded but the whole Abdomen inflated and violently distended The signs of Ascites are swelling and Signs of Ascites fluctuation of the Belly difficult breathing a dry Cough accompanied sometimes with a symptomatical Fever and great Thirst. The signs of Anasarca are weakness faintness Signs of Anasarca and swelling of the whole Body which being pressed with the Finger it doth pit and leave an impression breathing is also difficult with a continual Fever In a Tympany the Belly is distended and Signs of a Tympany being struck upon there is a noise like a little Drum 1. Every Dropsie is difficult of Curation Progn especially if it hath been of long continuance 2. If the Hydropical persons have a good digestion and void more moisture both by stool and urine than they either eat or drink it is a hopefull sign of recovery e contra Dropsies may be cured by strong Hydragogues Cure Sudorificks and Bathing and sometimes by a Paracenthesis or boring the Belly The Best Hydragogues are prepared of Elder Dwarf-elder Jallop-roots Elaterium Gum-gutty Crystals of Silver c. of which you may prepare purging Infusions Pills c. for example Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce Dwarf-Elder Purging Infusion Madder Liquorish the five opening Roots of each one ounce the tops of Saint John's wort Centaury the less Agrimony the best Senna of each one handfull the Barks of Capers Ash Tamarisk Cinamon of each six drachms Flowers of Beans Elder Dwarf-elder Broom of each half a handfull seeds of sweet Fennel Parsley Gromwell Juniper-Berries of each one ounce and half Cloves Salt of Tartar of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and
infused in two quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb six ounces mix it and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting If any like Pills better I commend the following Take the Resins of Jallop and Scammony Purging Pills Tartar vitriolated Mercur. dulcis of each half a drachm Oil of Juniper one scruple make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine of which you may give twenty grains at a time in the morning fasting The following Pills are also very effectual Take of Elaterium Gambogia Resin of Jallop Pills of each ten grains Oil of Nutmegs six drops make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine for two doses The obstructions in the Lacteal veins or Lymphatick vessels may be cur'd by Medicines that do powerfully cut and happily open the said obstructions This Aromatick Sudorifick may be commended for these intentions Take the waters of Treacle Scurvigrass Sudorifick Fennel of each one ounce waters of Parsley Fumitory of each two ounces distill'd Vinegar half an ounce Syrups of the juice of Carduus and the five opening Roots of each six drachms Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Amber Beans Worm-wood of each one scruple Spirits of Salt Armoniack Niter of each twenty drops mix it and give four spoonfulls of it every two or three hours After the Vessels are freed from the noted obstruction by the medicines before-mention'd or such like they will be easily consolidated again by conglutinating food in which you may boyle the Roots of Comfry Plantain and Solomon's Seal for the more quick and easie cure In a Tympany the dulcifi'd Spirit of Niter is excellent being taken in Broth or Sack three or four times in a day from six to twelve drops at a time for it doth correct both Phlegm and Choler and hinder Wind in its rise and dissipate it when it is bred Also the following exemplary Julep doth curb and discuss Wind remaining as well in the Stomach as Guts Take the Waters of Mint Fennel of Carminative Iulep each four ounces the Carminative Spirit of Sylvius Syrup of the juice of Mints of each two ounces Laudanum opiat eight grains Spirit of Niter one drachm Salt of Amber half a drachm Chymical Oil of Mace ten drops mix it and take three or four spoonfulls every three hours You may prepare a Medicinal Wine for the rich very beneficial in Dropsies Take the Seeds of Anise Fennel Caraway Medicinal Wine Coriander Berries of Bays and Juniper of each two ounces Salt of Tartar half an ounce let them be bruised and infused in three pints of White-wine for three days then strain it and add Spirit of Niter half an ounce Salt of Amber two drachms Syrup of Mint three ounces mix it and take four or five spoonfulls of it often Sweating is very profitable in all Dropsies either in Bed with the forementioned Sudorifick or in a Bagnio or Hot-house by which the water standing beside nature in any part of the Body will by degrees be emptied through the pores of the Skin Also it may be necessary especially in persons more elderly to use warm Baths That which is prescrib'd for the cure of the Belly-ach in page 201 202. is also very profitable in Dropsies into the which it may be agreeable to descend at evening before Bed-time and there to continue so long as the Patient can well endure without fainting after which Frications may have their proper use and great benefit And to strengthen the cutaneous Fibres and restore their true tone for their better service of the offices of Nature let the affected parts be anointed with the following fragrant Balsamick Ointment Take of Flanders Oil of Bays Nerve-oil Ointment Oil of Earth-worms of each two ounces Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it Galen commendeth a Cataplasm of Snails bruised with their shells and laid upon the Navel But a Pultess prepar'd of the ingredients of the Bath and applied to the affected parts will be more effectual to discharge the Ichorous water Or you may make a Cataplasm after this manner Take the tops of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Pulcess Worm-wood Chamomel of each two handfulls Horse-radish-roots four ounces let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of the juice of Wild-cucumbers till they are very tender then strain it and beat them very well and add Barley-meal one pound and with the same liquor boil it into the consistence of a Pultess Let the Patients diet be drying and let them drink moderately you may infuse Juniper-berries Tamarisk and Elicampane-roots in their ordinary drink And for the benefit of those Physicians and Chirurgeons that live in the West-Indies there groweth almost every where in moist places a large Cane much like the Sugar-cane the Planters generally call it the dumb Cane because they that taste it are presently dumb and unable to speak for two or three hours after which the Tongue returns to its former use and volubility without any prejudice The reason why this remarkeable Plant doth so affect the Tongue upon the touch of it is its power of attracting such plenty of moisture into it as doth distend all the Vessels thereof and render it immoveable till the crouded moisture be gradually discharged Hence we may conjecture and indeed experience teacheth that of this Plant may be prepared diversity of medicines as Cataplasms Oils Ointments c. Which will be effectual to attract and easily and kindly discharge the swollen part of the Ichorous water which may be used for some time after the evacuation of it the better to prevent a farther accumulation or return of the Disease Likewise may medicines be prepared by a skilfull Artist of this Plant very effectual to be taken inwardly not onely against Dropsies but the Scurvy Gout c. If these choice medicines are not to be had and nothing be effected by other means A harmless Paracenthesis may be instituted in the Dropsie of the Breast or Abdomen provided the Apertion be made by such a little hollow instrument as is describ'd in page 81 82. of the Cure of the Pleurisie for by such a small wound there is no danger to the sick But this operation must not be delay'd lest the humour collected get an hurtfull Acrimony and by degrees corrode and corrupt the Membrane and hence the substance of all the parts contain'd and so make the Disease incurable CHAP. XIV Of the Scurvy and Hypochondriack Suffocation commonly called the Fits of the Mother THE Scurvy being a Hypochondriack disease it will not be amiss to treat of them together The Scurvy is called in Latin Scorbutus it is a Complication or Concatenation of Diseases generated by the Conjunction of divers Causes contributing to a scorbutick Deformity The Scurvy is generated or planted essentially in the vital Principles or digestive Offices and therefore it is not discerned by sense but the effects are distributed throughout the Body and
Antiscorbuticks The Hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the Scurvy the same medicines are proper for both The following Julep is both Diaphoretick and Diuretick and very profitable for the sick in these diseases to be taken two or three days in a week Take the Waters of Penny-royal Scurvigrass Iulep Treacle Syrup of the juice of Fennel of each two ounces Tincture of Castor half an ounce Oils of Amber Mace and Cloves of each six drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours This Electuary may also be prefer'd Take of Conserves of Scurvigrass three Electuary ounces Confectio Alkermes half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes two drachms Flowers of Salt Armoniack Tarter vitriolated of each half a drachm Spirit of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves twenty drops mix it and give two drachms morning and evening After the frequent use of this Electuary you may purge with this Powder Take Powder of Cream of Tartar half a drachm Salts of Wormwood Amber Purging Powder Scurvigrass Resin of Scammony of each ten grains mix it for two doses If the Patient like Pills better these may serve For Example Take Extract Catholicon Rudii of each ten grains Resin of Jallop Agarick Salt Armoniack of each six grains Oils of Amber Cloves of each two drops make it into eight Pills for two doses A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers Take of Water-cresses Brook-lime Scurvigrass Medicinal Wine Rue of each one handfull Roots of Polypodium Jallop Horse-radish Angelica Cream of Tartar of each half an ounce white Nettle-seed one ounce Orange-peel Cinamon Salt of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in three quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting In the Hypochondriack suffocation you may often hold to the Nostrils a glass with a narrow mouth containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack for by its sharp smell the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd both from that suffocation and from the Epilepsie If the Gums are putrified let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture mixed with some Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries Take Powder of Gum Lacca one ounce Tincture burnt Alome half an ounce the small Spirit of Salt Armoniack one quart let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour then filtrate it through brown paper and keep it for use If the sick hath a costive Body you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries this linament is effectual Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Linament Chamomel of each one ounce Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it with which anoint the parts affected This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time morning and evening Take the Barks of Ash and Capers the Roots of Tamarisk Polypodium Horse-radish Water against the Scurvy of each three ounces Water-cresses Scurvigrass Brook-lime Sorrel Centaury the less Harts tongue of each four handfulls Berries of Bays and Juniper Goose-dung of each one ounce the Seeds of Citrons Mustard Carduus benedictus Cloves Cinamon Nutmegs Ginger of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and digested in one Gallon of White-wine and two quarts of Spirit of wine being close covered for three days then distill them with a glass Still according to art and keep it for your use Frictions Ligatures Ventoses Sternutatories c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris Febris alba In English the Virgin 's Disease the White Fever and the White Jaundice because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud or it proceedeth from plenty of Cause crude viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the veins about the Womb by which the courses are supprest the veins of the Matrix being obstructed that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way having not passage doth return to the greater Vessels and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours by which they are in time vitiated and a Cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused for the Bloud and natural humours being indued with a vitious quality the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant whence likewise not onely the fermentation of Food but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd wherefore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart c. troubleth the sick as well before as after Food taken in This distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air c. and sometimes great fear and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression also aliments and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly In these diseases the Urine cometh away Signs crude thick and less colour'd because the phlegmatick watry humours abounding incorporating with the Bloud do diminish the desired effervescency so that the separation much less excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine doth not follow If the Hypochondries be afflicted and the veins of the Womb obstructed there will be great loathing of wholsome Food and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten as Ashes Salt Coals c. which is called Pica and in Women with Child Malacia of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated page 145 146. 1. These distempers are sometimes of long Progn continuance causing much weakness and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted and if they do conceive they bring forth weak and sickly Children and those that are very melancholy are in danger of falling into madness or other grievous affects as Palpitation of the Heart Swouning Vertigo Epilepsie Apoplexy c. 2. If the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the Womb and have not been of long continuance it may be easily cur'd 3. Bleeding at the Nose is sometimes beneficial but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes Ears Mouth or Bladder it is preposterous from whence may arise other bad Symptoms In the cure of these distempers such medicines Cure are to be selected which will mildly and by degrees alter correct and evacuate tough and glutinous Phlegm seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it either wholly or at least in part for by the frequent use of such medicines the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution especially by the help of good Food easy of digestion in the mean while not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nannatural things An obstruction
of it be sure she is fruitfull If Barrenness be caused by any Disease afflicting either the man or the woman then Progn there may be hopes of Conception when health is procured but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman or the man not fit for Venus-School patientia est optima virtus In the cure you must endeavour to remove Cure whatsoever hindreth Conception Many things are antipathetical to fecundity as Jet Glow-worms Saphires Smaragds the Matrix of a Goat or Mule likewise Vinegar Mints Watercresses Beans c. all which I advise you to avoid and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause Conception and remove Barrenness The After-birth of a Woman dried and powdred and taken often a drachm at a time also the Stones and Liver of a Bore-pig the Juice of Sage the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied are all good There are many medicines prescrib'd in Authours to help Conception Quercetanus doth commend this infusion Take the Matrix of a Hare and the Stones of a Ram prepar'd with Whitewine of Cinamon Infusion Ginger Mace Cloves Seeds of Bishops-weed of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms Kernels of Fistick-nuts one ounce let them be all bruised and infused in a quart of Muskadel-wine for two or three days then strain it and add more Wine to the ingredients for a second infusion The following Electuary is also excellent Take the Roots of Satirion and Eringo Electuary candied of each one ounce candied Ginger and preserv'd Nutmegs of each two drachms Kernels of Hazle-nuts and Fistick-nuts of each half an ounce Powder of a Bull's-pizle of Ivory Seeds of Rocket Bishops-weed of each one drachm Species Diambroe Diamosc dulcis of each six drachms Confectio Alkermes one ounce and half with Syrup of the juice of Citrons make it into an Electuary according to Art Let the Woman take the quantity of a Nutmeg of it every night going to bed and drink a glass of Sack or Muskadel or of the aforementioned Infusion after it If a cold and moist distemper of the Body and Womb accompanied with the Whites be the cause look for the cure in its proper Chapter If it be caused by Witchcraft there are some things commended by Authours to be worn about the party against Fascination viz. the Pizle of a Wolf a Diamond a Jacinth-stone Rue Squills Sea-holly Sagapenum Amara dulcis Hypericon c. But above all let fervent and devout Prayers be put up to the Throne of grace for help and reject and despise Incantations or Charms and all other Diabolical means CHAP. XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage ABortion is called in Latin Abortus vel intempestivus foetus Because it is an untimely Birth the Child being brought forth either dead or alive before its fit time of deliverance This is the worst Symptom that attends breeding Women It may happen from the first Moment of Conception to the end of the sixth Month but it is most usual in the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth Month. The causes are either external or internal Causes The external Causes are a great excess in things nonnatural as too great Anger Fear and other Passions or else it may be through defect for if the Mother undergo Penury or Famine or lose much Bloud the Child wanteth Nourishment Many times things longed for and not obtained kill the Child Also strong purging Medicines that provoke the terms and all fetid smells falls blows lifting carrying dancing running riding or any other outward violence may be the Cause of Abortion The internal Causes may be the depravedness of the humours by which the Mass of Bloud becometh vitious also Acute or Chronick diseases especially of the Womb and also violent Coughing Sneezing Vomiting Convulsions and Fluxes of the Belly may loosen the Ligaments of the Womb and so cause miscarriage The signs of Abortion at hand are great Signs pain about the Loins and Share-bones sometimes with shivering the Breasts growing little and flaggy the Situation of the Child changed towards the Bottom of the Belly with a bearing down and evacuation of Bloud c. 1. Women who have moist and slippery Progn Wombs are most subject to miscarry but with little danger except it be the first Child and that very big 2. Much bleeding with fainting raving or Convulsions is for the most part mortal To prevent Abortion if there be an evil Cure disposition of the Body or Womb you must endeavour to remove it if the Woman hath a plethorick Body let a Vein be opened in the Arme especially in the first six months If ill humours abound purge often with gentle means This purging Infusion may serve Take of Cinamon Rhubarb Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised Purging Infusion and infused in four ounces of Plantain-water very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each half an ounce mix it and give it in the Morning fasting Also the Pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case If the Woman be troubled with a Rheumatick distemper accompanied with Wind and if she be pretty strong you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like Cordial Diaphoretick Take the Waters of Treacle Carduus Fennel Cordial to cause sweat of each one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Carduus Coral of each half an ounce Confectio de Hyacintho half a drachm Spirit of Niter six drops Oil of Cinamon two drops Laudanum opiatum three grains mix it and give to provoke sweat Let the Womb be strengthned with Cordial Astringents Those prescrib'd in page 239. 240. are excellent CHAP. XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth HArd labour may be called in Latin partus vel enixus laboriosus quod ipse nitendi pariendi actus The time of a natural Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours if the Womans travel continue longer time with vehement pains and dangerous Symptoms it may be called hard labour or difficult Travel in Child-birth There are various Causes of hard Labour sometimes tender Women by reason of pain Causes are very fearfull and do endeavour to hinder pains and consequently the Birth also Sometimes the Child being weak or dead and not following the Water in Due-time before the passage be too dry may be the Cause especially if the Mother be weak by reason of any Disease afflicting her or by too much Evacuation of Bloud or there be not sufficient Motion of the Womb and Muscles of the Belly Sometimes the Child's head may be too big or the passage too strait Also the Child may be turned in the Womb and the Hands Shoulders Back Belly or Buttocks c. may come forward to the Birth and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult The signs of
hard Labour are easily known Signs if the Child do stir and there be strong pains and no water appear the Secundine is strong If pains be weak and long before they return and more in the Back than Belly the Infant is weak If the Woman be little and her Husband big and full shouldred then there is a great Child which will cause tough work 1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dangerous Progn for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and many times both do lose their Lives 2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days the Child can hardly be alive and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late for if it be neglected it will cause Fevers Faintings Convulsions Sleepiness c. which are the Forerunners of Death 3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord it is a good sign of deliverance First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child Indications Take Waters of Baum Vervain Cinamon Cordial Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers Saffron of each six drachms Spirit of Saffron Confectio Alkermes of each one drachm mix it If the Child be situated on Os pubis it must be removed and all other unfit Postures must be rectified Then such things as hasten the Birth may be safely administred To encrease the Pains and further the Womans Labour I commend sneezing and also the following Medicines Take the Livers of Eels prepar'd with Cinamon-water Powder and dried one drachm Powder of Borax whitest Amber Mirrh Saffron Dittany of Crete round Birth-wort of each half a drachm mix it and give a Scruple of it at a time in three spoonfulls of this Julep Take the Waters of Vervain Mugwort Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Saffron one ounce Confectio Alkermes one drachm Extract of Saffron six grains Oils of Cinamon Amber of each three drops mix it Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth as the stone Aetites Loadstone Storax the Eyes of a Hare c. held near the privities The time being come the Woman must be put into a posture which every Midwife doth understand and let her not labour too much till strong pains come and then let her resolve on patience and not be disorderly in the time of her Travel If she be faint you may give her some of the formention'd Cordial Julep to comfort her Let your hands be anointed with some Anodine Ointment After the water is broke if the Head cometh with the Face towards Anus receive it if not endeavour to place it right Then turn your Finger round about the Child's head gently to make way for the Birth If the Child cometh any other way you must endeavour to gain the Feet and bring it away with the Face towards Anus as before mention'd The Child being born you must bring away the Secundine gently by degrees after which put a Closure to the Woman to prevent Cold from entring the Womb. Then prepare her for the bed and give her some Sperma Coeti or Irish-slate in a little burnt White-wine with Cinamon If the Woman doth flood much or be troubled with after-pains give her some of the following Cordial Opiate Take of small Cinamon-water the waters Cordial Opiate of red Poppies Baum of each two ounces Syrups of Clove-gilliflowers white Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiat three grains Oil of Cinamon two drops mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often If the Child be born alive after the Navel string is secured give the Child ten grains of prepar'd Coral in a little Breast milk or black Cherry-water dulcifi'd with Syrup of Peony to which you may add a little Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn If the Child be troubled with gripes you may give it a little Powder of Anise-seed in the Pap. But if the Child be dead and the Labour gone or if the Child's head be very big and the passage too strait so that the Midwife cannot doe her Office you must then speedily implore the help of the Man-midwife as we are called If a Woman in Child-bed hath a costive Body give her a Suppository of Castile-soap or Honey boiled and after three or four days you may administer an emollient carminative Clyster Clyster If a Woman after hard Travel cannot hold her Urine bathe her secret Parts and Region of the Womb with this or the like Decoction Take of Plantain Comfry Shepherds-purse Tops of Brambles Penny-royal Rosemary Fomentation Sage Stoechas of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Gallon of Smiths-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen Stuphs Afterward anoint the grieved parts with this Linament Take the Ointment Comitissoe Oil of Mace by expression of each one ounce Oils of Earth-worms Foxes Lillies Goose-grease of each half an ounce mix it CHAP. XXI Of Nephritick pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder DIseases of the Reins are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. In Latin they are called morbus Renum which comprehends not onely any Ach in the Kidneys but also the Stone and Gravel in the Reins Nephritick pains may be caused divers Cause ways 1. First by a sharp salt matter or a sharp and serous Lympha in the Kidneys which doth easily concrete into a Stone especially when the Ferment of the Reins is much vitiated which may be known by those cruel torturing Fits that come by intervals 2. Worms in the Kidneys which for the most part arise from Bloud there corrupted may be the cause of pain 3. An Abcess or Tumour in the Kidneys following an Inflammation doth hinder the passage of Urine and is always accompanied with great pain 4. It may also be caused by glutinous Phlegm obstructing the fleshy parts of the Kidneys and hindring the separation of Urine so that it is not strein'd into the Funnels of the Reins as usual but is deprav'd and vitiated Whence the natural descent of the Urine through the Ureters into the urinal Bladder is also hindred The same also may happen sometimes by Observacion a stone sticking in the Funnel and stopping the entrance of the Ureters Although I think that Stones sticking in the Ureters themselves cannot long hinder the passage of Urine because it hath been found by experience in dissecting of dead Bodies that Stones near the bigness of a Doves-egg have been sticking in the Ureters by the sides of which Stones Urine descended freely which was evident because the Ureter was no were distended unless where the Stone did stick Neither was there any Urine contain'd in the Ureter above the obstruction besides when the Party was living there was no stoppage of Urine Those fits which come by intervals are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the Ferment of the Kidneys which generates crude salt and sharp matter which causeth those cruel Tortures
and should all the Gravel and Stone come away the pain would not be the less untill the Kidneys themselves be reduc'd to their right temper For many in perfect health have voided much Gravel at a time without the least pain and therefore it is evident that Gravel is onely the product and not the producer or primitive cause of this pain The Symptoms of Nephritick pains are Signs so much like that caused by the Stone that they cannot be easily distinguished for the signs of both are great pain of the Loins loathing or vomiting there being a great consent between the Reins and Stomach The Patient often pisseth bloudy water and when the Reins are ulcerated the matter is often evacuated with the Urine Wherein the force of concreting or growing Cause of the Stone together of Stones in divers parts of the Body consists is not enough known I will freely declare what I conjecture in this obscure matter whereby I may according to my power the more help others that are ingenious to search out this hidden truth All the Stones that are generated in the Body may be dissolved in the sour Spirit of Salt Peter or Niter whence I conclude that the Coagulation of Stones cannot be expected from an acid Spirit as such therefore from another somewhat contrary to it in part at least If any consider the several things that promote the growing together of natural things they will find that such force is in tart things whence the Glutinousness and Toughness of fluid things is wont to be produc'd to which if earthy and volatile salt parts be join'd something will be produc'd not much unlike Stones I incline therefore to this opinion that an earthy and salt matter join'd to that which is glutinous groweth together into Stones by help of a tart humour Also Gravel of all kinds that is usually seen in the bottom of Urine testifieth that the conglobated Glandules are all affected by a frequent external Cold or else by sour things taken in and when the Gravel is great it is then near to the Nature of Stones yea sometimes groweth together into Stones especially in cold phlegmatick Bodies where for the most part it giveth Stones their first rising and daily cherisheth their production and increaseth them and the more especially where a glutinous stone-making faculty doth concur in the Body Many Histories mention that Stones are produced from a stone-making Spirit or Histories Breath out of the Earth which hath turned the Bodies of Men Beasts and other things into Stone Riverius in his last edition quoteth Aventius Annal. Bavar lib. 7. Anno 1343. who saith that above fifty Men with many Cattle were turned into Stone Ortelius telleth the like story that whole Herds in Russia have been turned into Stone And Camerarius reporteth that in the Province of Chilo in Armenia at the blast of a South-wind which happeneth four times in a Year whole Troops of Horse have been turned into Statues of Stone standing in the same warlike Posture in which they were marching Children are most inclinable to this Monster in Nature because they have much moisture and weak digestions which generate Crudities Stones are generated in many parts of the Body as the Gall Reins Bladder c. I once opened a Woman that had sixty History four Stones in her Gall. I also dissected another whose Ureters were stony and out of her Gall I took out a large Stone and a small one about the bigness of a Hazle-nut out of the Neck of the Gall. 1. These distempers are very dangerous Progn and bring many sad Symptoms to the afflicted Patient as great pain inflammations exulcerations long watchings weakness fevers suppression of Urine and Death it self 2. Pain from acrid Lympha c. may be cured in those that are young if the strength be not too much dejected nor the Disease hereditary That we may now address our selves to Cure the Cure of these grievous Diseases I would advise those who are not very skilfull in the Art of Physick to forbear giving of any thing in these Distempers without the Advice of an experienc'd Physician for I believe many Stones have been bred in those Bodies who before were free from it and were onely troubled with Nephritick pains by the frequent taking of ill Medicines for many Remedies have been invented to dissolve the Stone but experience teacheth that they are most of them inimical to the Reins and Bladder and debilitate their Ferment The solvent of the Stone ought to be homogenious and so singular that it submit not to any digestions or fermental Powers through which it passeth in its way to the parts affected for the Virtue of all common Remedies taken at the Mouth are alter'd and transmuted in passing three digestions For acid things from which much hath been hoped as soon as they are past the Stomach lose their acidity and are converted into a saline Nature so that the dissolving Power of the acid is wholly transmuted before it gets either to the Reins or Bladder Likewise those Medicines which are injected into the Bladder with a Syringe ought to be agreeable to its Ferment that it may not be painfull thereto for if but a small quantity of any sharp Medicine be injected it stirreth up an intolerable Strangury it being wholly foreign to the Ferment of the part And seeing the Stone and all other Distempers of the Reins and Bladder are wont to be bred and increased in length of time the Remedies which you administer must be long us'd before you may have experience of their effects I will here set down some choice Medicines not onely to hinder the increase but to dissolve small Stones in humane Bodies if they be long enough us'd Amongst which we may deservedly attribute the first place to Spirit of Niter seeing Stones of any kind are so easily and manifestly broken and dissolved by it which may commodiously be mixt in any ordinary Drink or Wine and Broths c. to a light acidity whose excellent effects all may admire If the Patient have a costive Body you may give the following Lenitive three or four times in a week Take of Cassia newly drawn one ounce Venice Turpentine half an ounce Crystal Purging Bolus prepar'd Salt of Tartar vitriolated of each one drachm Oil of Juniper Spirit of salt Armoniack of each four drops Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it for two doses The following is also very effectual Take of Cio-turpentine half an ounce Powder of Rhubarb one drachm the Yelk of one egg mix it for two doses give it in the morning fasting and drink four ounces of this Julep after it Take the Decoction for Syrup of Marsh-mallows Iulep one quart the waters of Horse-radish Pellitory of the Wall Speedwell Winter-cherries Syrups of Marsh-mallows and the five opening Roots of each two ounces Crystal prepar'd Salt Prunella of each half an ounce tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms
Juniper and Bays of each two ounces Brimstone six pound Salt Niter two pound let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in twenty Gallons of Fountain-water till a third part be boiled away Let the sick be well bathed in it as often as strength will permit and let them sit therein as long as they may well bear the same Then let them be rub'd dry and remov'd into a Bed and let the affected parts be well anointed with this or the like fragrant Ointment Take Oil of Earth-worms Ointment of Ointment Orange-flowers Jessamy of each three ounces Oil of Mace by expression one ounce Oil of Juniper Bricks of each two drachms mix it As often as the Body is costive let a Suppository or carminative Clyster be administred to make it soluble Let the weakned parts be fortifi'd with the aforesaid unguent upon which apply a Plaster of Sylvius's carminative Emplaster spread on Leather which you may remove once in twenty four hours using warm frictions to the pained parts and apply the Plaster again and over it you may apply a Fox-skin drest which will keep the parts warm and conduce to the cure which course may be continu'd 'till strength be restor'd to the grieved Limbs CHAP. XI Of the Yellow Iaundice THE Yellow Jaundice is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab avicula quoe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur Icterus quod ea oculos flavi vel aurei coloris habet It is also called Icterus in Latin it being a spreading of a yellowish Colour over the whole body It was the common received opinion of the Ancients that the chief cause of this Disease is an obstruction of the Cystick passage to the small Gut so that Choler is thereby wholly hindred in its natural descent wherefore it doth ascend to the Liver and so to the Bloud with which it is transfer'd to the habit and superficies of the body where it doth shew it self in its colours But it may be manifested from many observations and experiments both Anatomical and Practical that the Jaundice may be produc'd without an obstruction of the passage of Choler Although I suppose that the Jaundice may probably be raised by an obstruction of the Meatus Hepaticus for if there should be a great stoppage in this Vessel by any glutinous or lapidescent matter the Choler that is generated in it may possibly regurgitate there being no Valves to hinder it and thereby become mixed with the Blood by which means it may in a short time be conveyed over the whole Body But if the Meatus Cisticus should be stopped by a small stone c. as I have sometimes seen in dissecting Icterical Patients where I observed that the Excrements were not dyed so yellow as usual yet it is impossible that there should be any regurgitation of Choler to the Liver out of the Gall by reason of the three Valves looking from without inwards which do potently hinder the recourse of it and although the Meatus Hepaticus is without Valves yet seldom in a Jaundice is either that passage or the Ductus Communis obstructed but many times wider as the most ingenious Salmon hath accurately observed Wherefore that we may the better judge Cause I. of the true Cause of this Disease let us first consider that Man's Body abounds with an Animal salt which doth circulate with the Blood through the whole Body so that not onely the internal but superficial parts are replenished therewith 2. Secondly it is the Nature of Volatile and Animal salts to sublime and upon their mixture with other fit Bodies to excite or stir up new appearances of Colours according to the Nature of the Salt for if a solution of Salt of Tartar be mixt with a solution of sublimate in fair Water it gives in a moment a reddish yellowish or orange tawny Colour although both the solutions be as clear as Cristal and with Armoniack salts in proper liquors may be made many Colours to appear From whence we may judge that if the Animal salt of Man's Body become too volatile or be too much sublimed which may be done either by the biting of an enraged Viper or by the power of poyson or from the over heating of the Body by violent exercise or by exceeding sorrow of mind or great passion or by excessive drinking of hot liquors or from burning Feavers whereby the universal Body comes to be inflamed the Spirits vehemently agitated and thereby the Volatile saline Principle to be violently moved out of its Place or Domicil to the Circumference of the Body but meeting with the viscous Juice of the Cutis is there hindred from flying away and being dissolved and mixt with the Cutaneous Humidity it excites the Jaundice whether yellow black or greenish according to the Colour of the Poyson which the Patient hath casually taken or predisposition of the Body to so notable a mutation Hence it is that many who have been in perfect health have been suddenly invaded with this Disease some by the biting of an enraged Viper others by running a race c. who immediately after were all over as yellow as if they were dipt into the Juice of Saffron and yet notwithstanding it could not be judged that the Gall-juice was either affected or disaffected in the least measure for it cannot in reason be supposed that the Venome or Poyson of the Viper should be so particularly directed to the Gall to work such an effect in so short a time as to distribute that viscous heavy Juice so universally over the whole Body much less can any one imagine that either the drinking of strong liquours or any violent exercise c. should any ways so operate upon the cholerick Humour as to volatize it and so immediately disperse it universally over the whole humane Frame for it is impossible that the glutinous Substance of Choler should be dispersed in so short a time to all the superficial Parts of the Body Therefore it is more probable that the volatile Animal salt of the Body being moved and carried out of its Domicil by the extream heat of the internal Parts and violent Motion of the Spirits and being mixt and dissolved with the cutaneous Juice as is before mentioned doth not onely excite the Jaundice but may possibly be the Cause of Purple Spots in the Spotted Feaver as also of many other sudden and great Changes in the Bodies of humane kind The Jaundice invading a Patient in a Fever before the seventh viz. the Critical Progn day is dangerous if it comes upon an Inflamation of the Liver or a Schirrus and the Cure be not hastned a Dropsie Cachexy or deadly pining will in a short time succeed If it be critical upon acute Feavers nature Cure effects the Cure if it be symptomatical the Cure depends upon the Cure of the Disease by which it comes If it be essential from the obstruction of the Meatus Hepaticus the obstruction must be opened If