As for the Liver and the rest of the Parenchymaes which seem principally to consist of affused blood the nervous juice perhaps is not so necessary for their nutrition yet whereas the Muscles of the Abdomen spread over them have nerves from the Spinalis medulla which certainly can bring no nutriment from that dried fountain hence it comes to pass that the Viscera or Bowels inwardly surging do press the Muscles aforesaid and cause them to be stretched out as not growing with equal pace CHAP. VIII Of strumous Glondules or hard Kernels FUrthermore it happens that the Mesentery is affected with great Kernels and Strumous Tumours That the cause of this symptome may the better be known I shall briefly premit the Origine of Glandules The nervous Liquor being mingled by due fermentation with the Blood doth pass into a nutritious carnal substance but if the Nerve being replete and turgid shall pour forth its liquor which is very much like unto the white of an Eg into the interspaces of the flesh the matter so effused doth not any more make flesh through the defect of blood requisite hereto but is congealed ed into a Glandulous body very much like unto it self which from Observation is manifest For being about to make an Experiment on a Dog I pricked a nerve whereupon the dog was afterwards miserably wrested with Convulsions and about three months after I found a Glandulous concretion remarkable enough where that wound or Puncture before hand was inflicted which seems to arise from the nervous liquor flowing from the Puncture of the Nerve These things being premised whereas so much nervous liquor is transfered from the repleted brain through the Wandring Pair and Intercostol nerves into the Abdomen as cannot be changed into the substance of the Viscera that liquor is deposited into the interspaces of the Membranes whereof many occur and there procureth strumae or waddles in great number Neither only in the Abdomen but wheresoever the nerves springing from the brain which grow turgid with that Liquor do approach there strumous Tumours are to be seen yet such as vanish away shortly after the Cure of the disease For the nervous Liquor which being effused in so great plenty from the Brain through the nerves springing from thence did abound to the Generation of the Strumoe is now for the greatest part derived into the Spinalis medulla so that those Strumoe defrauded of nutriment in a short time are dryed away CHAP. IX Of the Crookedness of the Bones Dr. Glissons Opinion touching the same is set down IN this Affect also the Bones are wont to be bowed more or less especially those of the Cubit and Tibia The joynts also for the most part bend outwardly the Extremities of the Ribs where they are joyn'd with the Cartilages of the Sternum are knotty The Bones of the joynts protuberant likewise the whole Spine is variously inflected partly outwards partly inwards I do not conceive that this crookedness of the bones doth proceed from their Flexibility sith that Children afflicted with this malady have rather greater and firmer bones than others as shall more at large be declared But since this incurvitie of the benes is so notable we may be a little more prolix in the Disquisition thereof and first I shall produce the Learned Glissons opinion and then my own We may compare the Bones saith the famous man to which this crookedness useth to happen to a Pillar and not unaptly seeing that when they are erected they resemble a Pillar And from thence we deduce a demonstration that illustrates and makes the matter very plain Let the Pillar therefore consist of three stones a. b. c. placed over one another Fig. 1. We suppose it such a one as is perpendicularly erected on every side and of the same height If therefore you shall fasten in a wedge on the right side between the stones a. b. through the line f. d. The head of the Pillar namely the stone a. will of necessity be bended towards d. and will make an Angle in d. and the height of the Pillar on the right side will be higher than on the left as may be seen in Fig 1. In like manner if you drive in another wedge through g. e. into the stones b. c. the Pillar will be yet more bow'd and an Angle will be made in e. Now therefore the Pillar stands bent to the left hand as you see in the same Figure But if you build a Pillar of more stones and betwixt every two as hath been said a wedge be interposed on one side it will not resemble the Figure of a Pillar but the proportion of a Bow as is plainly perceived by the third Figure Now that we may accommodate these things to the present buisness if the bones aforesaid be more plentifully nourished and therefore do grow out more on that than the opposite side there is a necessity that that must grow crooked For here the over-plentiful nutrition of that side hath the same power after the same manner to bow the Bones as the interposed wedge hath to bow the Pillar fave that the wedge is fastened only in some places of the side of the Pillar and the over-plentiful nutrition of the side of the bone is commonly equally made according to the whole length thereof and because of this equal nutrition of the bone the bowing thereof doth exactly represent part of a Circle without Angles CHAP. X. The Authors opinion That the Bones in this Disease are sufficiently nourished but not the musculous Parts the extenuation whereof is the only Cause that the Bones are bowed as is illustrated by Example Of the inflexion of the Spine Why the Bones of the Thigh and Shoulder are very seldome bowed ACcording to this Hypothesis to wit the over-plentiful Nutrition of one side the Famous man indeed by an ingenious Comment doth demonstrate the crookedness of the Bones But by the leave of so great a Person how doth that over-plentiful nutrition of one side appear to us when as the blood wherewith the bones are nourished is not less equally dispensed in this Affect than it is in such as are healthful And were there any such inequality the over-plentiful Aliment would be admitted in by the hinder-part of the Tibia or Shank-bone as being less exposed to the Cold and softer and then the posteriour and elongated side of the bowed shank would be convex and the anteriour concave but it is quite contrary for the shank in this Affect is wont to stand out forward Yea further we may gather from the very Figure or shape of the bowed bones that they grow equally on both sides For the bones are after the manner of the Fourth Figure which may represent the Tibia or shank-bone where the concave part a. is just as long as the convex part b. For otherwise if the Tibia were formed as in the fifth figure the Thigh-bone b plac'd above it could not be sustained without a
set down it's Division Sub. divisions and Characters as followeth The Greater Measures A Gallon Measure contains 2 Pottles or 8 Pounds A Pottle 2 Quarts 4 Pounds A Quart 2 Pints 4 Pounds The Smaller Measures The Pint measure contains 1 Pound-Troy or 12 Ounces The ½ Pint 6 Ounces The ¼ Pint 3 Ounces The ha ¼ P. 1 Ounce and ½ The Ounce 1 Ounce The ½ Ounce ½ Ounce The said Measures are usually exprest by the Marks or Characters of the Weights to which they are applicable as by the subsequent Table which likewise as that of Weights preceding is sufficiently explanatory in it self doth manifestly appear 3. And so we come gradually to the Mensuration-Table it self and shall propose one Question the Resolution whereof will give light enough as touching the Use of it A Table of MEASVRES for Liquids   lb. ℥ ℥ ß 1 Gallon is equivalent to 8 96 192 1 Pottle 4 48 96 1 Quart 2 24 48 1 Pint 1 12 24 ½ Pint 0 6 12 ¼ Pint 0 3 6 ½ Quarter 0 1½ 3 1 Ounce 0 1 2 ½ Ounce 0 ½ 1 A pretious Liquor drawn off per Alembicum to the quantity of 3 Quarts 1 Pint 1 half Pint 1 quarter-Pint was repos'd unciatim or Ounce by Ounce for common Sale now it is demanded how many Ounce Bottles were requisite for it's reposition Answer 93. For   ℥  2 Quarts or 1 Pottle is answerable to 48 In all 93 Ounces 1 Quart 24 1 Pint 12 ½ Pint 06 ¼ Pint 03 ☞ Note that Oyl is lighter than Wine by a ninth part and Honey is weightier than Wine by the half So that whatever Measure containeth of VVine 9 Ounces receiveth of Oyl but 8 Ounces and is capable to hold 13 Ounces and an half of Honey POSTSCRIPT IT may be expected that I should add an Interpretation of the Grecian Roman and Arabian Weights and Measures for the better understanding of some ancient Authors but they being in these days altogether obsolete I shall at present superlede FINIS The most difficult Terms of Art belonging to the afore-going Treatise and Appendix Alphabetically Explained ABdomen The lowest Cavity of the Body called the Paunch or Belly severed within from the Breast by the Midriff and bounden above by the Heart-pit and beneath by the Share-bones Aliment Nourishment Alterants or Alteratives Medicines that change or alter the Discrasy or evil Disposition of the Blood Anodyne That easeth Pains Aperients or Aperitives Medicines that open or take away Obstructions Aphorisms Short general Rules Arteries Mensbranous Spermatical Vessels which by Pulsation conveigh away the Blood from the Heart to the Veins Ascites A kind of Dropsie wherein the Abdomen is swelled like a Bottle from a watriss humor contained within the Cavity thereof Dr. Willis Asthma It is a difficult pursie Breathing with a great shaking of the Breast and for the most part without any Feaver D. W. Astringents Binding Medicines Atrophy A Consumption of the Flesh when the same wasteth away and the Food taken in doth not nourish Bolus So much of an Electuary or other solid Medicine as the Patient may well take at one time in his Mouth Cacochymical humours i. e. Evil or vicious humours Carminative That expelleth Wind. Carotid Arteries Two Arteries in the Neck that go up to the Brain Cartilage It is a similar Part Cold dry and void of sense flexible and not so hard as a Bone called also a Gristle or Tendrel as of the Ear or Nose Chirurgical Belonging to Chirurgery Colature It is taken for any Liquor slrained or separated from its Feculency Sediment or more gross Ingredients Concoction ' Digestion Concretion A gathering together or congealing of any substance Corroborant or Corroborative Strengthening or confirming Costive bound in Body Cubit The two Bones of the Arm to wit The lesser above called Radius reaching from the Shoulder to the Elbow and larger below called Ulna reaching from the Elbow to the Wrist Dentition Breeding of Teeth Diaphoreticks Medicines that dissolve and send forth Humours by Transpiration or breathing through the Pores that is to say such as cause or procure Sweat Digestives Medicines that concoct digest or prepare the Humours to be corrected or evacuated Diureticks Medicines that provoke Urine or cause to piss often Dolour Grief Pain or Ache. Dose A quantity of Physick to be given at one time Edulcorated Sweetned or made sweet with Sugar Honey and the like Emeticks Medicines causing a Vomit called also Vomitories Empiticks Quacks Post-doctors or Mountebanks Enervation A weakning or enfeebling Epispastic Attractive or Drawing Fasciation Swathing Fonticles or Fontinels Issues Friction A rubbing of the Parts Glandules Kernels or soft spungy Substances in the Body appointed to receive excrementitious humours Hypnoticks Medicines that procure or conciliate Sleep Hypochondria That part of the Belly and Sides under the shorts Ribs Hypothesis The Cause Ground or Supposition whereon we rely in the framing of an Argument Intercostal Muscels Muscles placed between the Ribs in that form as in Fig. 10. Intercostal Nerves The ninth or last Pair of Nerves so called because it marches down by the Roots of the Ribs and betwixt every Rib it receives a Branch from the Spinal Marrow Jugular Veins Certain Veins in the Neck so called Laxative Loosening Liniment A soft Ointment Ligature Bandage or Swathing of any I art Medicament A Medicine Mesenterium The Mesentery It is a membranous Part situate in the middle of the lower Belly serving not only for conveying some Vessels to the Intestines and others from them but also it ties most of the Guts together so artificially that for all their manifold Windings they are not entangled and confounded The Veins it contains are called the Mesaraick Veins Muscle Is a dissimilar Part to wit whose Portions are neither of the same Substance nor the same Denomination for it is compos'd of Flesh Nervous Fibres and a Tendon and the proper Instrument of Voluntary Motion Nerve It is a simple Spermatical part called a Sinew Nervous Liquor It is the Nutritious Juice of the Nerves Nutriment or Nutrition Nourishment Opiates Meaicines wherein Opium is an Ingredient and is often taken for any Medicine that procureth Sleep Parenchyma A fleshly Substance and chiefly of the Liver Spleen and Lights Peritonaeum The inmost membranous Coat of the Belly Phlebotomy Breathing of a Vein or Blood-letting Phthisis or Phthisick It is properly a withering away of the whole Body arising from an Ulcer or other ill Formation of the Lungs Dr. Willis Pleura A thin Membrane that investeth the Ribs on both sides Prognostick A fore knowledge or understanding of the future State of a Disease founded on the due consideration of the present State Psoas Two great Muscles sited in the inward part of the Loyns Purulent Mattery or foul Corruption Respiration An Action whereby the Air is received in and driven forth of the Lungs called Breathing Scarification A cutting or Lancing Serositv Moisture Specifics Remedies proper to any one peculiar Disease Spine The Back-bone Spinalis Medulla The Pith of the Back-bone called the Spinal Marrow Sternum The Breast-bone Strumae and Strumous Swellings Hard Kernels or Swellings Tibia The Bone of the Leg called the Shank or Shin-bone Veneral-Evil The French-Pox or Modish Disease Ventricle The Stomach Vertebrae of the Neck The 7 Bones of the Neck behind the lowermost whereof is joyned to the uppermost Vertebrae of the Back which are in number 12. Vesicatories Medicines that raise Blisters Viscera The Bowels to wit The Heart Liver and Lungs Ung. è Succ. aperitivis An Ointment of Opening Juices The Index or Table of the CONTENTS THE Proëme Pag. 1 CHAP. I. Of the time when and place where the Disease Rhachitis had it's first Rise and who are most subject thereto Pag. 3 CHAP. II. Of the Signs or Symptoms of the Disease Pag. 4 CHAP. III. Of the Cause of the Disease That it consisteth not in the naughtiness of the Blood nor in the deprav'd Constitution of the Parts Pag. 8 CHAP. IV. That the Nerves as well as the Blood do help to nourish and this Disease doth peculiarly depend upon the Defect of the Nervous Influx Pag. 11 CHAP. V. The Definition or Description of the Rhachitis together with the Cause thereof Wherein is shewed that it proceeds not from the faultiness of the Brain but from the Obstruction of the Spinalis Medulla Pag. 14 CHAP. VI. The Reasons of the Symptoms and first of the too great augmentation of the Head Pag. 17 CHAP. VII Of the Swelling or puffing up of the Abdomen Pag. 18 CHAP. VIII Of Strumous Glandules or hard Kernels Pag. 20 CHAP. IX Of the Crookedness of the Bones Dr. Glisson's Opinion touching the same is set down Pag. 24 CHAP. X. The Author's Opinion c. Pag. 28 CHAP. XI Why the Breast grows straight or narrow and acuminated Pag. 38 CHAP. XII Of the Asthma Pursiness or shortness of Breath Pag. 41 CHAP. XIII From what Cause the Imbecillity of the Body doth arise Pag. 42 CHAP. XIV Why Elderly Persons are not molested with this Disease Pag. 44 CHAP. XV. The Prognostick of the Disease Pag. 46 CHAP. XVI The Method of Curing Pag. 49 CHAP. XVII The Use of Clysters and some Forms thereof Pag. 51 CHAP. XVIII The Use of Emetics or Vomitory Medicines and Forms thereof Pag. 55 CHAP. XIX Some Examples of Catharticks or Purging Medicines Pag. 57 CHAP. XX. Chirurgical Remedies Pag. 63 CHAP. XXI Specific Alteratives Pag. 67 CHAP. XXII Chymical Specifics also of Sweating and Bathing Pag. 78 CHAP. XXIII Of Remedies that correct the Symptoms Pag. 84 In the Appendix Of Medical Weights Pag. 1 Of Measures Pag. 12
Ρ'ΑΧΙΤΙΔΟΛΟΓΙΑ OR A Tract of the Disease RHACHITIS Commonly called the RICKETS Shewing the Signes Cause Symptoms and Prognosticks Together with a most accurate and ingenious Method of CURE Written originally in Latin according to a new-framed Hypothesis by that most learned Philosopher and Famous Physician Dr. John Mayow late Fellow of All-Souls-Coll in the Academy of OXON And now for the Benefit of his Country-men faithfully rendred into English By W. S. To which is subjoyn'd a profitable Appendix touching WEIGHTS and MEASURES us'd in the Composition of Medicines and exhibition of Medicinal Doses OXFORD Printed by L. L. for Th. Fickus 1685 TO The most Vigilant Industrious and Expert MIDWIFE Mrs MARY COOMES the Translator Wisheth all Happiness Worthy Patroness IT was an inviolable Decree among the Aegyptians that every Physitian should have but one Disease for his Province whereby is meant that he was to employ his utmost Industry in order to improve his Faculty for the good of Mankind And now adays too it is so far from being thought an Absurdity so to do that the best of Professors are not ashamed but esteem it requisite and highly conducible to make a particular Scrutiny into the knowledge of some one Distemper eminently above others according to the Inclination of their natural Genius Our learned Author is not herein to be excepted for albeit he was a person of extensive parts and was blest with a more than ordinary Capacity yet did he signalize his Practice by a more particular Enquiry into the true Cause and Cure of the RICKETS an after long Observation and Experience that others might reap advantage from his Labours and Study published a Tract of this Disease I having perused the same and well weighed what was written I was heartily solicitous to communicate it in our Mother-Tongue to Posterity that it might become more generally useful and diffusive to the Intelligence of such as have the Care of Children and particularly to Midwives who ought to be of good Understanding and to abound with great Notion relating to Medicines exhibited to Children touching whose Infirmities it is a most usual thing to have recourse to them Now having by the Divine Assistance compleated this Undertaking I did after mature Deliberation think fit to make a Dedication of this small Treatise to you having so great esteem for you that I blush not to acquaint the World in short that in what you Profess appertaining either to Women or Children before or in or after the Birth you are so well Experienc'd Dextrous and truly Judicious that you may be justly styled the Oxonian LVCINA or Compleat Midwife What I have done as to the Appendix of Weights and Measures I nowise doubt but the same will prove more delightful and satisfactory than what in the Writings of any other English Author is yet extant So commiting the same to your Patronage I subscribe my self Yours in all Sincerity WILLIAM SVRY TO THE READER THose Things which are truly Glorious highly Divine do manifest this one grand Proof of their Excellency in that they continue perpetually Immutable not being subject to Alteration Now whereas this is a very great Perfection and to enjoy a long and prosperous Life is a superexcellent or surmounting and supreme Good justly then and not without cause do those Creatures which are in a mortal State aspire thereat and naturally desire to Be and to Live But since they cannot wholly and absolutely attain this yet thus much have they acquired ' viz. to have in some respect a Perpetual being not in Number but in Species which abideth ever For which reason the Birth and Procreation of Living Creatures are continuated by immutable Eternity that what cannot be preserved in singular Substance might at least persevere in Species For it falls out on necessity that every Individual whereas it perceives it self to be mortal and dissoluble wisheth to reserve something in its own Similitude in its stead in as much as in some degree it comforteth Languid and Declining Age and by which as it were growing young and fresh again it is in a manner perpetuated and made permanent Hence ariseth that Lust or Desire of Begetting which Nature hath imparted to all Living Creatures that their Species might be forever preserved Which being premised we come next to consider that as we want the absolute Perfection in this humane State of Immortality So likewise we are deprived of the benefit of constant Vigour Strength and Sanity which not only Decaying Age gradually supervening but a numerous Host of Diseases too which Sin hath intail'd upon the Race of Adam sufficiently confirm If therefore we respect ponder the Advantage Force and Faculties of all Arts none will be found more excellent more worthy or more to be wished for by the sons of men than that of Physick which as the learned Fernelius defines Est Ars ad humani corporis Sanitatem tuendam profligandosque morbos comparata It is an Art ordained to preserve the Health of mans body and to profligate Diseases This great gift hath the Infinite Being out of his boundless mercy bestowed on mankind that as he hath been pleased to necessitate a continuation of the Species so also this Temporal Life might not be altogether burthensome but by a seasonable Application of suitable Remedies all Diseases and Dolors from the Cradle to the Crutch whether Internal or External might be cured or at least alleviated Certainly then whatever is written on this Subject viz. Medicine presupposing it to be rationally deduced from the Fountains of Learning and Experience it must on necessity prove acceptable and that worthy old Adage Bonū quò communius eò melius affords us a good and profitable Plea for Translation For why should any thing that tends to a general Advantage be hid from Vulgar Apprehension Knowledge being the most delightful and commodious thing in nature T is undoubtedly great Pity that a Secret should be secured and fettered by the Padlock of a forraign Language whereas the same being ushered into the World by a Mother-Tongue might arrive to some wonderful Improvement and diffuse it self to the utmost Limits of Christian Charity That Author merits but small commendation who respecting more his proper Praise than the common Good of Man-kind emits a Tract into the World grudging his Works to be read by any others then such as shall being book-learned themselves admire his Eloquence and honour him with the Title of a Learned Man Such a one in my Opinion is like to the Sun obnubilated yielding most Light where there is least need of it Tho a person of great Learning deems it a kind of Trespass on his Parts so much to debase himself as to commit his endeavours to publick View in an inferiour Language yet if some other is pleased to render the same easy to the Apprehension of a Multitude which before was cōmodious but to few it not only not derogates from the Authors Credit but also may
enrich the Vnderstanding of many a one whose aspiring Genius otherwise perhaps might grow Languid for want of a Recruit A Judicious Brain is not hereditary to a Graecian or Latinist only Various Examples of men famous in Physick the Mathematicks yea most Arts and Sciences who never were grounded in any but their Mother-Tongue may be produced Not being a Linguist proves a man to be a meer Ignoramus no more than the Language of the Beast infers a good Conclusion to think or say every one that knows it to be a Cicero In truth the Veneration I have always had for Charitable Intentions was the strongest Motive that urged and inur'd me to this Enterprize And we are bound to confess whatever praejudicial Spirits dare depose to the contrary that Mankind can rarely be obliged with a more acceptable piece of Service then that of reducing one Language into another If therefore this noble Medicinal Art infer so great Commodity and Delectation if likewise as I have made it apparent from Translation so great Improvement accrew to most men and as I may boldly say to all Nations here mayest thou Reader divert thy Apprehension and improve thy Knowledge not with a mean but remarkable and late discovery viz. An Investigation of a Distemper called the RICKETS incident to Babes and Infants only whose Tenderness and Immaturity of Age and Vnderstanding as they impede the Exploration and Disquisition of the Diseases Origine so likewise add difficulty to to the Cure The famous Author when living much admired for his profound Knowledg and secure Judgment amongst his most ingenious Philosophical Tracts which largly recommend his Worth hath pitched upon a Scrutiny of this Eisease in all its parts Diagnostick Prognostick and Therapeutick as well Pharmaceutical as Chirurgical To be brief this Tract may justly bear the Title of Gemma Medica the Glory of whose Splendour the most Nebulous Aspect of frowning Zoilus connot diminish or obumbrate His Hypothesis touching the Crookedness of the Bones is undeniable and not to be paralleled by the bravest Aesculapius this refined Age can produce Accept hereof kind Reader with as much Candour as I have with Chearfulness Translated it and in so doing thou wilt highly recompence me for my Pains and encourage me to Publish something else shortly which will not be less worthy thy perusal In the mean time Farewell and enjoy these Fruits of my Labour which will tend both to thy Pleasure and Profit Thine in all honest Endeavours W. S. ERRATA PAge 26 Line 16. for 1. r. 2. p 35. l. 17. r. grow not only p. 35. l. 22. for inflicted r. inflected p. 47. l. 15. for to r. too p. 64. l. 14. for affect r. effect p. 75. l. 13. for half an Ounce r. half a Dram. p. 76. l. 6. for a Scruple r. half a Scruple p. 90. l. 14. for efer'd r. refer'd fig. 1. fig. 2. fig. 3. fig 4. fig 5 fig. 6. fig 7 fig. 8. fig 9 fig 10 fig. 11. A Tract of the Disease RHACHITIS commonly called the RICKETS The Proeme THe Renowned GLISSON is the onely man as far as I know who hath wrote any thing touching the Rickets which may seem to be very strange since a Disease for the most part doth scarcely spread so much as the ill habit of writing concerning it And truly so accurate a Treatise of this Disease lately set forth by Dr. Glisson and the Authority of so great a man might deter me from writing did I not believe him to be such an one as would willingly pardon a lover of the Truth tho now and then dissenting from him Yet whereas I am making hast along with him to the same Goal it must needs be that most an end I trace the same Footsteps Wherefore by leave of so great a Person I may lawfully repeat since it cannot be otherwise some things declared by him already CHAP. I. Of the time when and Place where the Disease Rhachitis had its first Rise and who are most subject thereto THis Disease had its first rise in the Western parts of England above Forty years ago But afterwards as it is the custome of Diseases and evils to spread themselves further it infested the Cradles of Infants but more seldome in the Northerne Countries throughout all England Therefore they are Infants who chiefly are sick of this disease and they are more frequently vexed therewith from the sixth month after the Birth to the eighteenth and from a year and a half to the end of two years and a half so that for the most part the time of its Invasion are those two years which presently ensue the age of six months from the Birth CHAP. II. Of the Signs or Symptoms of the Disease THe Diagnosis or knowledge of this Disease as of others doth depend upon the understanding of the Symptoms which are these that follow 1. The proportion of the parts is irregular viz. The Head bigger than it ought to be 2. The Face over-fat 3. The Wit too acute in respect of the Age. 4. The external Members chiefly the musculous lean and extenuated 5. The Skin loose and flagging 6. The Bones for the most part bowed and those about the Joynts standing out and knotty 7. The Spine or Back-bone is varioufly inflected 8. The Breast is straight or narrow 9. The Extremities of the Ribs knotty 10. The Abdomen somewhat puffed up and stretched out These things are outwardly observed but inwardly 11. The Liver is perceived over-large as also most of the Parenchymaes or fleshy substances 12. The Ventricle and Intestines rise into a greater Bulk than in those who are sound 13. The Mesenterium is affected with Glandules too great if not with Srumae or Waddles These are the Symptoms within the Abdomen within the breast 14. The Lungs are discerned stuft and tumid and the same sometimes purulent strumous and very often growing fast to the Pleura 15. The Jugular Veins and Carotid Arteries are sometimes found larger than their just proportion but the Brain is faulty only as to its Proportion and massy Bulk 16. Lastly to these is added an Enervation of almost all the Parts also a certain drowsiness and Impatience of Labour and Exercise For the little Children cannot play except sitting and with much ado can stand on their feet And at last in the Progress of the Disease the burthen of their Head can hardly be sustained by their weak neck These are the so many and so great Symptoms of this Malady In the next place we must search out what may be the fruitful cause or mischief of so numerous an off-spring CHAP. III. Of the Cause of the Disease That it consisteth not in the naughtiness of the Blood nor in the depraved constitution of the Parts FIrst We suppose the Cause of this Disease not to consist in the vitiated Influx of the blood for so the whole mass of blood would be corrupted which since it is indifferently conveyed to every part the more impure
body in this Affect and awkerdness to any motion altho the extenuation of the Muscles doth in some measure make way for this Symptome yet this alone seems not efficacious enough since the impairing of strength is greater than according to the Extenuation of the Muscles For the sick cannot stand on their feet neither in the Progress of the disease are they able to sustain the weight of their head Wherefore we must investigate some more remote cause of so great Imbecility which indeed can be no other than the defect of the Animal Spirits inevitably ensuing the said obstruction of the Nerves For the Animal sprits are not requisite or necessary for nutrition alone but also for motion And so at length we have as it were from a Fountain deduced the Symptoms of this disease from the obstruction of the Spinalis medulla CHAP. XIV Why elderly Persons or those of riper years are not molested with this Disease BUt here may arise a Querie How comes it to pass that adult or Elderly Persons are never infested with this Malady whereas they as well as Infants may suffer Obstructions of the Nerves as it happens in the Palsie and other the like distempers I answer altho perhaps Children are chiefly obnoxious to this disease yet those of riper years are sometimes troubled with this Affect under a different name Nevertheless because the aforesaid Symptoms for the greatest part do never befall Elderly People this doth not arise from the difference of the Disease but of the Age. For whereas the massy Bulk of the Head the crookedness of the Bones and some other Symptoms proceed from the enormous augmentation of the Parts it is altogether impossible that adult persons and such as are grown to the highest Pitch to wit such as have attained their full growth should grow irregularly and for that reason the Bulk of the Head is not augmented beyond measure in elderly persons sick of this disease as it is in Children because the head is at full growth which the Laws of Nature it self deny to exceed But altho the parts cannot be enormously augmented in those that are elderly yet the disease sufficiently discovers it self by extenuating the same which one thing in such viz. adult Persons it can only do CHAP. XV. The Prognostick of this Disease comprehended in Seaven Aphorisms AS to the Prognosis Praescience or Prognostication of the Event of this Disease of it self for the most part it is not mortal yet sometimes the Symptoms waxing grievous it degenerates into a Phthisis Consumption Hectick-Feaver Dropsie of the Lungs or Ascites and so at length it proves deadly to the Patient But a more easy Prognostick may be instituted from the Rules following 1. If this Disease lay hold on the Patient before the Birth or presently after it is then most dangerous and for the most part Lethal 2. By how much the sooner after the Birth this Affect invades the Infant it is so much the more dangerous 3. By how much the more the Symptoms of the Disease grow worse and worse viz. If there be to great a disproportion of the Parts and very great extenuation so much the more difficult is the Cure 4. If this Affect have the aforesaid Diseases joyned with it it scarcely ever terminates in Health 5. Whosoever are not cured before the fifth year of their Age they are sickly all their life time afterwards 6. The Scab or Itch coming upon this Disease confers much to the Cure thereof 7. We need not doubt of their Health in whom the Symptoms of the Disease are not increased but rather diminished CHAP. XVI The Method of Curing AFter that we have made enquiry into the Cause and Prognostick of this Disease it now remains that we come to its Precaution or prevention and cure Whereas then the cause of this Affect doth consist in the obstruction of the Spinalis medulla and the Imbecility of the nerves thence descended the Principal Indications as well preservatory as curatory are that the nerves be strengthened and the Obstructions prevented or taken away to this end Medicaments Cathartick Phlebotomy also Digestives Diuretics Diaphoretics and Specifics may be made use of whose Forms and manner of Using we shall set down below As to what belongs to the Cure of the Disease in the Institution thereof we must begin with Purgation which is so much the more convenient in this Affect for that Phlegmatic Humors are for the most part congested in the lowest Belly in great abundance and the inward parts of the Abdomen are frequently affected with strumous Tumours Purgation may be ordained by Clysters Emeticks or Purging Lenitives CHAP. XVII The use of Clysters and some Forms thereof IF the Belly be Costive or infested with Colical Torments let Clysters be frequētly made use of which are not meerly solutive but moreover also let them be compounded of Alterants and Corroboratives We will describe some forms thereof A Laxative Anodyne and Carminative Clyster Take of the Leaves of Mallows Mj. the Flowers of Melilot Cammomil Elder of each Pj. Annis-seds and Fennel seeds bruised of each half a dram Boyl them in a sufficient Quantity of new Cow's milk To 4.5 or 6. Ounces of the Colature add Brown Sugar and Syrup of Violets or Roses of each one Ounce mingle them make a Clyster to be injected Luke-warm a long while after Meales Another Take the Root of Marsh mallow bruised half an Ounce the Leaves of Mallows and Pellitory of the Wall of eaeh half a handful the Flowers of Chammomil and Elder of each a small handful Carminative Seeds two drams boyl them in a sufficient Quantity of Posset-Ale To 5 or 6 Ounces of the Colature add of the Lenitive Electuary or Diacassia half an Ounce Fresh Butter six Drams mingle them make a Clyster to be injected luke-warm Corroborant Clysters may be made after this manner A Corroborant Clyster Take of fresh Stone-horse dung one Ounce and an half Flowers of Rosemary and Sage of each a small handfull of Juniper berries two Drams Annis-seeds and Fennel-Seeds of each half a Dram Digest them warm and close stopt with a sufficient quantity of Posset Ale In 4 5 or 6 Ounces of the Colature Dissolve of brown Sugar one Ounce Fresh butter six Drams mingle them make a Clyster Moreover six Drams of Calabrian Manna may be added if you see cause Another Take 20 or 30 washed Hog-lice to which being bruised pour on 4. or 5. Ounces of Posset-drink made with White-wine In the Expression dissolve of Brown Sugar one Ounce Venetian Turpentine dissolv'd in the white of an Egg one or two Drams Mingle them make a Clyster to be injected luke warm CHAP. XVIII The use of Emeticks or Vomitory Medicines and some Forms thereof IF the Ventricle be loaded with vitious Humours and they tend upward let Emeticks be exhibited nevertheless so as in the Prescription thereof Consideration must be had of the tender Age. Let the Vomitories consist rather of Salt
blood would affect all of them more or less which notwithstanding in this infirmity never happeneth For the Head as also the Bowels are well disposed only more than usually great yea the very Parenchymaes which chiefly consist of affused blood whereas they are found very much like to those of the Healthful they in like manner argue the blood to be good and laudable For it were absurd to assert I know not what Elective attraction whereby the head and bowels well disposed do attract all the good blood but send away the bad into other parts For this Attraction were there any would be from all parts alike since to every part there is a congruity and necessity of good blood which are thought to bring to pass a motion of that kind Secondly we affirm the Foundation of that Affect not to consist in the depraved constitution of the parts themselves as if the parts molested with frigid and moist Intemperature were unapt for receiving the Heart's influx For whence doth arise this so great an Humiditie and Coldness of some parts in comparison of the rest since all of them are irrigated with the like hot blood and spirits alike For neither do I suppose the frigiditie innate to the parts but to be preternaturally in them neither truly must we believe the parts themselves to withstand their own nutrition For those operate nothing in the Act of nutrition but only receive the nutriment brought to them by toleration So that I certainly believe there is no other unaptness in the parts whereby they become not nourished except Obstructions only by means whereof they cannot take Aliment Wherefore the cause of this Malady cannot be in the constitution of the parts them selves nor is it reasonable to judge Humidity the cause of the disease but rather the Effect CHAP. IV. That the Nerves as well as the Blood do help to nourish and this disease doth peculiarly depend upon the defect of the Nervous Influx HOwever whereas the parts are really Cold. and tho largely supplied with blood good enough are not nourished We must altogether conclude that something else besides the blood alone is requisite to heat and nutrition Whatsoever this be there is a necessity that it be carried through some of the Vessels The Arteries conveigh the blood the Veins carry back that which is brought and the Nerves only remain which can conveigh the Liquor or at least nutritious spirits But that no man may doubt whether the Nerves carry any thing necessary to nutrition I shall alleage an Experiment known to every body to wit if a Nerve serving to any part be cut off from it not only the sense of that part but also all manner of nourishment is utterity lost insomuch as the same for the time to come shall become as it were withered But however this nervous Liquor alone doth not perform the whole duty of nutrition For besides it the blood diffus'd through the Arteries obtains not a small part as to nourishing Forasmuch as the nervous juice being mingled with the blood doth cause a certain Effervescence or Heat whereupon the matter meet for the nourishing of the parts is precipitated and through the defect of this nervous liquor 's influx tho the blood in this affect be pretty laudable yet wanting its due ferment it is neither available te excite due heat in the parts nor to execute the office of Nutrition CHAP. V. The Definition or Description of the Rhachitis together with the Cause thereof Wherein is shewed that it proceeds not from the faultiness of the Brain but from the obstruction of the spinal Marrow FRom what hath been said we need not be affraid to affirm that The RHACHITIS is a Disease arising from the unequal distribution of the Nervous Liquor through the defect or superabundance whereof some Parts defrauded of Nutriment are attenuated other parts being over-cloyed therewith grow too bulky But this Vice of inequality consists not in the Influx of the Brain for from this fountain being vitiated meet nutriment would accrew to no part at all and truly the Head and other parts which partake of the nerves that have their original from the Brain do enjoy Nutriment laudable enough tho in too great abudance yet whereas those Parts which have Nerves springing from the spinalis Medulla do become lean it is certainly manifest that altho in the brain as it were the publick store-house shop or work-house of the whole body an increase or store of vital spirits ample enough is elaborated yet the Spinalis medulla as it were the Princely road or high-way tending from that mart or empory is altogether overcharged and incumbred by thick and glutinous humours whereby the Passage for the nervous nutriment is blocked up whence it cometh to pass that the Nerves which descend from the Spinal marrow being destitute of that nutritious liquor bring no aid at all to the languishing parts which they approach Hence comes an Atrophy and very great extenuation of those parts So at last 't is reasonable that we determine this to be the cause of this malady and the rather for that the reason of all the symptoms proper to this disease may more clearly and easily be deriv'd from this Fountain as frō what follows shall be manifest CHAP. VI. The Reason of the Symptoms and first of the too great Augmentation of the Head IN this affect it falls out that the head is increased to an unreasonable bigness which indeed from our supposition must needs be For the nutritious liquor of the brain is wont in a great measure to be discharged on the Spinal Marrow but that Passage now being stopped the whole is distributed to the nerves descended from the brain Hereupon whereas the head doth acquire too liberal an increase of nutriment from those nerves turgid with nutritious juice it must on necessity be advanced to an extraordinary bigness From this cause also the countenance in respect of the Age is over-big and the wit too acute for as the spirits being exhausted do render us dull and languid in like-manner plenty thereof congested in the brain maketh us wise and witty CHAP. VII Of the swelling or puffing up of the Abdomen THe inward Parts of the Abdomen are wont for the most part to exceed their just proportion there is indeed the like reason or cause for this as there is for the symptoms of the head For t is very certain that these Plexus or foldings of so many nerves serving to the lower most belly as chiefly of the Wandring Pair and Intercostal Nerves are the Ofl spring of those which are descended from the Brain That now it is no wonder if the aforesaid Viscera enjoying more plentiful nourishment brought unto them by the said nerves do grow larger For altho the Intercostal Nerves receive Branches from the spinalis medulla such as can bring unto them no nutritious Liquor yet that too liberal influx of the brain doth abundantly recompense for this defect
manifest Obliquity of the body as may be seen in the said Figure Let us then investigate some other cause of this crookedness and that the matter may the more clearly appear the following things are briefly to be premised 1. We affirm that in this Disease the Bones are not to be numbred omong the affected parts in respect of Nutrition for they are not nourished or do they grow less than in those that are healthy as we have found by observation For we find that the blood alone is sufficient for their nutrition and that there is no need of the nervous Juice as in the nourishing of the other parts For since the bones are deemed to have no sense or feeling as in themselves it is withall to be thought that they have little or no commerce with the Nerves 2. We take it for granted that in this Affect the musculous and nervous parts do in nowise wax bigger by reason of the defect of the nervous Liquor that is requisite for their nutrition These things being premised let a. in the sixth Figure be the Shank-bone b the muscles affixt to it behind and constituting the calf of the Leg. Whereas therefore the Shank-bone doth increase and grow longer yet the same being held down as it were with a string by the muscles which grow not with equapace insomuch that it cannot grow straight there is a necessity that that bone should stand bent like a Bow being stretch'd out by the Fibres of the muscles which are shorter Let us illustrate this our Hypothesis by Example If a Cord or String be fasten'd to a young growing Tree at the top and towards the root but in such manner as the same be not bent thereby as in the seventh Figure is described I no ways doubt but that Tree will become bow'd as it grows after the manner of the eighth Figure For this demonstration doth depend upon this Mathematical assertion viz. If a Line assigned to certain bounds be stretched out longer within the same bounds or limits it must on necessity of a straight line become a crooked one Which is the very same that happens to the bones in this Affect And this may further be confirmed in that bowed bones always respect or bēd towards the muscle annexed to them on the concave part as a Bow doth its string as may be seen in a shank which beareth forward and is Convex but in the hinder part that respects the Muscles it is concave this same also doth take place in other bones from a strong Argument that the bones are not otherwise inflected by the Muscles than a bow is by its string From which a reason may be sought why Women-Quacks are wont with success daily to rub the concave side of the bones and not the convex viz. The Muscle sited on the concave side of the bone is nourished and increaseth the nutritious liquor being more plentifully caled forth by this kind of Friction that now it is no marvel the string being stretched out lōger if the bone extended and bowed by it be withall relaxed and become straighter And from this cause they that are cured of this disease grow for the most part very tall in Stature for the Bones grow not as in others but also whilst they become straight of crooked ones they are much more elongated The Spine also is variously in flicted partly inwards and partly outwards which ariseth from the various Position of the Muscles in divers parts of the Spine The Spine to wit in the Superiour part by the muscles outwardly affixt is bowed inwards but in the inferiour part by the muscles Psoas inwardly annexed and very strong it is bent outwards as in the ninth Figure is shewed wherein a. a. is the Spine b. the Muscles affixt outwardly and bowing the Spine in the superiour part inwards and c. the internal muscles of the Loyns called Psoas bending the same outwards In like manner also I suppose this cause or reason of Crookedness takes place not only in this Affect but likewise in other cases For if at any time it falls out in tender Age that any muscle through deffect of nutriment be extenuated the bone to which the same is annexed must needs be bowed thereby In the Thighs and Shoulders where the Bones are equally restrained by muscles fastned on every side those being posited in aequilibrio or equal poize are rarely bowed in any part but since they cannot be stretched out in length they must as they do on necessity grow out in bigness and sometimes also become knotty CHAP. XI Why the Breast grows straight or narrow and accuminated MOreover it happens in this affect that the Breast becomes straight and accuminated and this Symptome in like manner may easily be illustrated by our Hypothesis For The Ribs cannot enlarge their Arches unless the Intercostal muscles be also extended as may be seen in the tenth Figure where the Proportions of the Ribs a. a. a. a. cannot be elongated unless the intercostal muscles be likewise stretched out or enlarged But we take it for granted that the said muscles in as much as nerves are imparted to them from the Spinalis Medulla cannot be lengthened through defect of Aliment Ergo neither can the Ribs nor yet the Breast grow wider For whereas the Ribs are nonrished yet being stayed by the said muscles that they cannot be augmented as to longitude they must needs as it comes to pass grow Knotty But neither is this Augment suitable to the provision or plenty of Aliment wherefore the anteriour extremities of the Ribs are yet further lengthened to an edge for there remains but this one way of increasing as in the eleventh Figure is shewn wherein let a a be the Ribs whose extremities b b grow outwardly to an edge for they cannot be bowed inwards since it would be much contrary to their natural Site Likewise the Muscles of the Abdomen conduce not a little to the narrowness of the Breast which as we said being extenuated and tighted do draw the inferiour Ribs to which they are fastned downwards and so straighten the Breast With the self same reason may be demonstrated the vices of the other bones to wit whereas the joynt-bones in the Wrists and Ancles cannot be bowed by reason of their brevity they do bunch forth into knots or nodes But let what hath been said touching the crookedness of the bones suffice CHAP. XII Of the Asthma Pursiness or shortness of Breath in this Affect IT is no wonder if the Lungs which have not room to dilate themselves are stuft with clotted blood as it falls out and puft up by reason of the aforesaid straightness of the breast Hereupon sometimes they become purulent and for the most part grow fast to the Pleura and and from this cause the Asthma and difficulty of breathing do afflict the Patients CHAP. XIII From what Cause the Imbecillity or Feebleness of the Body doth arise AS to the very great feebleness of the