of the Leg grating of the Bone dolour and imbecility of morion For one extremity of the Shin-bone by reason of the Fracture tended this way the other that way whence was the inequality of the Leg and when those two extremities hit upon each other the grating of the Bone was heard and when they with their sharpness pressed the Periosteum and adjoyning parts the first cause of dolour discovered it self but the second cause when the extremities of the broken Bone by their pressure compelled die Humours in the small passages of the bordering parts to stagnize wax acid and irritate the small Fibres But when the Fibrils were thus disturbed by the points of the Bones and acid Humours the Animal Spirits could not be determinated rather into this than into that Muscle but without distinction rushed into all disturbed parts and if though but in a small quantity they approached nigh to certain Muscles they could not enter and flow in by reason of the passages of those Muscles obstructed by the stagnizing Humours And although some Spirits had flowed into the same Muscles yet all their tendency was was to move one extremity of the cutting broken Bone to this party the other to another whence proceeded nothing but Vellication Pressure and Renovation of the dolour Hence the cause of the imbicility of motion is sufficiently manifest I being called presently set the Broken Bones and then my principal end was to restore the circulation of the Bloud and Humours for without doubt the Bloud was here and there stagnized Therefore to temperate the peccant Acidity I washed the affected part with Sprit of Wine in which a little Gum Ammoniac was dissolved and for the same end I applied a Plaister composed of Diapalma Bolus Spirit of Wine and Oyl of Camomil Then for retaining the Bones so lately set I used Ligatures and other things fit renewing these by certain intervals and so the Patient in six weeks time could again walk I am not willing in this place to say that a Fracture made transverse may more easily be retained than an oblique Fracture nor that it is for the most part accounted a good sign of restriction if the great Toe of the Foot directly respect the Knee seeing these things are well known Nor shall I endeavour to render a reason why the dolour is mitigated after the Bone is let because it is known that this is effected by removal of the first cause of the Dolour of which I so lately spake But before I conclude I purpose to shew how the Callus is induced which conglutinates the fractured Bones When the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours is again restored as well in the fractured Bone as elsewhere then certain Particles issuing from the Pores of the Arteries pass through the small passages of the Bone and when they come to the extremity thereof they can proceed no further by a right Line because the passages were interrupted by the Fracture therefore they turn to the sides where adhering to die Bone and each to other they constitute a Callus which again conjoyns the Bones This Callus in the aged and weak is difficultly generated by reason of the gross and viscous Bloud which cannot pass through the streight passages of the Bones Therefore in such a case the more gross Particles of the Bloud must be attenuated by Ê’j of the Stone Osteocolla daily taken Yea it will not be injurious if powder of the same stone be mixed with the Plaister that is externally applied But in our Patient the matter was far otherwise For the Callus extended it self to a very unseemly bulk wherefore I applied a Plaister of Frogs with Mercury to the end that this Plaister should so attenuate certain Particles of the Callus that they might fly away and also a good Ligature that it might so compress the Callus as no-nothing new might have access thereunto Thus I put an end to this Observation after I shall have told you that I commanded the Sick-man's Leg always to lie extended and took care that the Sole of the Foot might rest upon a small Pillow in the middle of which was an hole For otherwise as experience testifies a Gangrene might have invaded the bottom of the Foot because the Vessels and small passages of the parts are vehemently compressed by long lying There are some who in a Fracture of the Tibia as this was commend viscous things which I reject as noxious because in a body without exercise Obstructions do not a little augment which on the contrary should rather be diminished OBSERVAT. X. Of a Dislocation of the Shoulder A Man Thirty two years of Age falling from a Coach suffered a Dislocation in his left Shoulder so that the head of the Bone fallen into the inferiour part was the cause of a certain eminency there whilst on the contrary in the superiour part was discerned an unusual Cavity The Patient complained of very great pain and could not move his hand by the anteriour part to his Forehead nor by the posteriour to his Neck For the Bone fallen from its seat compressed the Periosteum and adjoyning parts whence arose pain which was augmented because in the small passages of the parts compressed and distorted the Humours stagnized waxed acid and shook the small Fibres He could not move his Arm as formerly because the head of the Bone thrust from its former Cavity no longer as before enjoyed an hollow and slippery place requisite for its motion also hence was the occasion that the Animal Spirits could not enter through the small passages obstructed by the stagnizing Humours and compressed by the dislocated Bone into the Muscles and excite them hence it happened that no motion could be because the head of the Bone did more and more compress the parts adjoyning whence arose a new excitation of dolour which also induced no small impediment to the due performance of motion I being called to the Sick reposited the dislocated Bone and then the motion presently returned there was indeed some dolour present because the acid Humours stagnizing did as yet in some measure irritate the Fibrils nevertheless the pain was very much diminished because the head of the Bone now contained in its proper Cavity did no longer press upon the sensible parts The Bone being set I endeavoured by things temperating Acidity to dissolve the stagnizing Humours and restore to them their due Circulation wherefore I washed the affected part with Spirit of Wine in which Gum Ammoniac was dissolved and applied a Plaister composed of Spirit of Wine Bolus Diapalma and Oyl of Camomil and then put Lint wrapt up like a Ball under the Arm-pit and by this means the Patient was healed in a short space of time Peter Pigraeus a French Author and Chyrurgeon worthy of praise commends Astringents to a Bone lately reposited but be it spoken with the leave of so famous a man in this he is egregiously deceived For Astringents augment Obstructions
could that Fume excite such horrid Phoenomena's Answer Thus The Stalk being hollow within and perforated onely with a very small hole and also outwardly compressed on every side by the Boys hand the more volatile and less cohering Particles were forced from within outward but seeing all those could not at once pass out together the one urged the other and so were driven out far more swiftly No otherwise than as we see Water forced out of a Syringe though the Pistil be but gently or very slowly thrust forwards or as we discern by an easie compression of the sides of Bellows the Air through the Pipe or Nose thereof is driven out with very great force But some one may perhaps ask me of what nature those dusty Particles are To him I answer They are Accido-corrosive and sharply cutting That such Acid-Particles are in this Stalk is sufficiently evident by the frequent use thereof in stopping Bloud For when a small part of this Stalk is put into a sanguiferous Vessel wounded the Bloud is stayed partly by reason of the stringy Particles folded one within the other and closing the Orifice of the open Vessel and partly by reason of the Acid-Particles of that hollow Stalk which coagulate the Bloud as Milk is coagulated by an Acididity infused Therefore these Acid-Particles with great force driven through the aforesaid Stalk deeply penetrated into the Pores of the Eyes and interior-Superficies of the Eye-lids and so with their cutting sides excited the Nervous Fibres there dispersed to a motion more vehement by which Vehemency the Mind first perceived the sense of pain which was augmented by that Distention which took beginning thus The Pores being obstructed by the Particles of that Stalk the Vapours wanted their natural Exit and so were collected within the small Pipes of the Membranes in the form of Humour which in a very short time waxed sowre by reason of the Acid-particles of the said Stalk acting as a Ferment no otherwise than as we see any sowre Ferment taken in a small quantity to convert a great mass of Dough into its own Nature These Acid-Particles I say with the acuteness of their sides forcibly striking upon the Nervous-Fibres drew to those parts a more copious influx of Animal Spirits than usual whence arose certain slight Contractions which notwithstanding proved sufficient in some measure to impede the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours circulating through the small Veins of those circulating parts For they were in this case helped by the Vapours within the Veins of those parts converted into Water When the Bloud conteined in the Capillary Vessels and the Humours in the Veins were thus stagnized they likewise in the aforesaid manner waxed sowre and were coagulated and by that means rendred more unapt for Circulation Hence it is sufficiently manifest whence the Redness and Tumour of the Eyes and Eye-lids had their Original But whence proceeded that continual efflux of sharp Tears From the aforesaid the true cause thereof is easily gathered and it is thus Certain Acid-Particles forced from within that hollow Stalk had entred the Pores of the Glandules and Lachrymal Vessels and there by their irritation exciting certain Convulsions did continually force out Tears But whence were they imbibed with a more than usual sharpness There is no mortal Man who by the taste onely finds not Tears to be Saline wherefore these in their passage with the acid Particles there inherent were invaded with a certain sudden Effervescency These things being by me for some small time considered of I soon ceased to admire that that Fume should be the cause of so great Evils thence ensuing and also at that time discerned that the Cure would not be difficult For I knew that hot Milk coagulated by an Acidity if digested with some fit Salt would again be dissolved in the space of one hour Like wise I knew Vinegar was easily deprived of its sharpness by infusing Crabs-Eyes or Lithargyry therein Also I understood the reason of that Effervency which is excited by commixion of the Saline Oyl of Tartar with the Acid Oyl of Vitriol Hence I concluded that the Bloud coagulated by Acidity might again be made fluid and the sowreness temperated by Crabs-Eyes Lithargyry and many other Medicines containing much Salt such are White-Vitriol Gum Ammoniac Sagapenum Galbarum c. Therefore I being called the third day after the Boy was hurt instilled hot into his Eyes some Drops of a certain Collyrium compounded of White-Vitriol and other things mixt with convenient Waters and upon the Eye I applied a Plaister of Gum Ammoniac Galbanum Sagapenum Lithargyry c. spread upon a Linnen-cloth This I changed daily twice and commanded the Boy should be kept in a dark place by which means in the space of two Weeks he recovered his pristine Sanity OBSERVAT. II. Of the use of an Issue and its way of Operating A Young Maid Thirteen years of age had for several years been afflicted with dolour and redness of her Eyes and tumour of her Eye-lids which after sleep were closed together by a viscous Humour concreted into a Rosin-like matter This Ophthalmy for a long tract of time was attempted to be cured by two Surgeons but not overcome I being afterwards sent for judged the cause of the Disease to be the too great Acidity of the Bloud and a Ferment of the same nature produced from that Bloud and firmly inherent in the Pores of the Eyes and Eye-lids there causing the Bloud in the Capillary Vessels and the Humours in the small Veins to become too acid and be coagulated and stagnized For from these few signs it was not difficult to judge of the aforesaid apparent Symptoms Moreover I firmly perswaded my self that the Maid might soon be cured provided that Acidity could be temperated and expelled by the Pores of the Eyes and Eye-lids and that acid Bloud purged out of the Body wherefore I used a Collyrium consisting of Medicaments containing much Salt and besides that applied to the Eyes a Plaister made of like things But I did little good by this method for so soon as any part of that Ferment was rendred temperate and cast out shortly after a new Ferment arising from the Bloud succeeded in place of the former Seeing this I for several weeks purg'd the maid twice a week but in vain At length I found the Assertion of the famous Silvius which is written in the first Book of his Praxis Chap. 2. in the 26 Section to be most true viz. That there are scarcely any purging Remedies at least known to us which can purge out acid Humours from the Bloud Finding the matter thus I judged it high time to betake my self to the searching out of better Remedies and whilst I was occupied in consideration thereof the following Experiment came seasonably into my mind and it is this When you have a Compound of Water and Oyl mixt and would separate the one from the other proceed thus If you would
is vulgarly called Mouldiness or Mucor dispersed through the whole internal part of the Leg from the Ankle to the Knee and had I at that time had at hand a good Microscope I might have there discerned many Plants with their Stalks Leaves and Flowers in excellent order disposed springing up from the Leg of the man yet living no otherwise than as a Fungus or Mushroom is wont to arise from the Earth The Sick-man in the mean while eat not any thing and was every day afflicted with a Fever often coming and vanishing At length on the 14th day of March at four in the Morning he slept well his Pulse before death often intermitting which also may easily be understood to proceed from Acidity But his whole Mass of Bloud was infected therefore here Phlebotomy could in no wise be admitted for three days before the Sick-man died his left Foot also from the great Toe to the Ankle was infected with a Sphacelus and both his hands for 24 hours before his death were cold as Ice though after return of the Fever they again waxed warm Now that to this Evil I applied convenient Remedies will I suppose be very apparent by this viz. that the Sphacelus which at first good advice being neglected had in four hours space ascended from the great Toe to above the Knee after the application of my Remedies had not ascended in the space of two Weeks above one hands breadth OBSERVAT. V. Of an Erysipelas of the Leg. A Man Forty years of age was invaded with a Fever which vanished the 12th hour after the Assault then the Sick-man began to complain of pain and redness of his right Leg. In some solid part of this man lay hid a a certain acid Ferment which by some cause or other was thence expelled and forced into the Mass of Bloud in which it excited that Inimical Fermentation which is known by the name of a Fever But when that Ferment was circulated with die Bloud perhaps certain Particles thereof stagnized and inhered within the Cutis of the right Leg which Particles in a short time compelled all the other Particles of that acid Ferment to recede from the Bloud and approach to them almost after the same manner as one Magnet causeth another to approach to it self Those Particles there inherent and sufficiently corroding the small Fibres excited dolour in the Leg But the Redness took beginning from the Bloud stagnized in the Capillary Veins by reason of the coagulation beginning and proceeding from Acidity as we perceive a sufficiently intense redness in the Face when the Neck and Veins there contained are by a Collar or any other thing too much constringed To this affect we give the name Erysipelas But how came the Fever so soon to vanish when the Erysipelas appeared I answer Because at that time the Sanguinous Mass was freed from that acid Ferment which then passed into the Leg. This Disease I entirely cured in two days space with one onely Lavament temperating the Acidity which consisted of Spirit of Wine Camphire Lithargyry Chalk Salt-prunella c. being firmly perswaded that these Phoenomena's had derived their Original from Acidity OBSERVAT. VI. Of Varicous Vlcers of the Leg. A Virgin aged Forty years having for a long series of time devoted her self to an ill habit of Diet and among other inimical Foods she too much delighted to eat things viscous Vinegar and other sowre things in the Summer-season also often putting her Feet into cold Water she had now for Fifteen years been afflicted with a Varix of her left Leg extending it self from the Sole of the Foot up to the Knee and also with two Ulcers nigh the inward Ankle of the same Leg deep sordid and very dolorous and for the most part filled up to the top with a certain sharp and thin matter and often having round about them an Erysipelas attending Many Physicians and Chyrurgeons for a long time in vain attempted the cure of these Ulcers yea also that most famous Practitioner of Feium Lord of Cranenburg From the too great quantity of acid and viscous Meats assumed the Bloud of this Maid was rendred gross and apt to stagnize wherefore a certain portion thereof conveyed to the left Leg there stayed and resided about the small Valves of some Vein the Membranes of which by a great abundance of Bloud there congested were so distended that the Humours passing out from the small Arteries dispersed among the Membranes of that Vein for among the Membranes of the Veins you may by a Microscope discover small Arteries Veins and Nerves and undoubtedly there are also present small Lymphatick Vessels and wandring through the small Cavities of the same Membranes could not freely pass but stagnized there and thrust themselves between the Interstitiums of the small Fibres in so great abundance that they not onely enlarged those Interstitiums but also denied passage to the Animal Spirits from the small Nerves gliding into the aforesaid small Cavities and otherwise in some sort constringing the Vein and in it producing a certain Peristaltick motion for promoting the Circulation of the Bloud in the Vein and so the Bloud in that Vein in some sort stagnizing and above measure distending the Membranes thereof was the cause of the aforesaid Varix But why should that Varix rather present it self to sight in the Leg than elsewhere I answer Because die Veinybloud must there ascend by a Perpendicular way to the Horizon and besides this way is in some measure closed up by the Garters we are wont to use to retain and keep up our Stockings so also the same was here occasioned by this Maids too often putting her Feet into cold Water Therefore the Bloud in greater abundance than was fit congested in this Vein distended the less resisting parts of the Membranes of the same more than other more gross parts and so formed to itself certain Recesses and especially about the small Valves in which die Bloud now of its own nature become much too acid contracted to it self a greater Acor because it stay'd too long there without Circulation But many of the more acid Particles of this Bloud penetrated the more distended and consequently more rare parts of die Varix that is through those Recesses and so the small Fibres being there irritated and afterwards cut in sunder great dolour was excited and soon after two very painful Ulcers which by the breaking of more-small Fibres were rendred very deep Those acid Particles pertinaciously adhering in the pores of the Lips and bottomes of the Ulcers they converted the as yet sincere Humours into acid which being unable to continue their Circulation were by the Humours continually following them forced outwards into the Cavities of the Ulcers which they usually filled almost up with a sharp acid and thin Humour yet not so thin but that in the mean while certain more viscous and more stringy Particles were mixt therewith which with their strings entangled each within
the other and sticking in the Superficies of the Ulcers rendred them very sordid Thus far we have explained how certain and acid Particles have passed through the aforesaid Recesses unto the near adjacent Flesh now 't is time to observe that many more acid Particles were from those Recesses forced into the sanguineous Mass circulating with which they entred into the Ulcers rather than into other parts by reason of the acid Ferment lurking there after the same manner as we shewed in the Second Observation Thus was the abundance of acid Humour filling the Ulcers and from them proceeding augmented The Erysipelas which for the most part surrounded the Ulcers derived its Original also from the Acidity there inherent When I had for sometime well weighed all these things in my mind I at length converted my endeavour to the cure of the Varix as the first Original of the Evil which if in things profitable it be lawful to use the Terms of Art may be called the Procatartick or primitive Cause therefore from the Varix opened with a Lancet I drew forth several ounces of stagnized Bloud acid and black Then I proceeded to the sanguineous Mass infected with the acid Ferment which may be called the anticedent Cause according to the subtilty of die Wits of our time which more regards the Pomp of vain Words than things themselves and by a good Diet instituted began to correct that prohibiting all things viscous and acid by a Powder temperating Acidity daily taken consisting of ℈ j. of Crabs-eyes and the same quantity of White Coral After this I set about the Ulcers themselves in the bottoms and Lips whereof lay hid an acid Ferment which if it be the pleasure of some may be called by the Name of a Conjoyned Cause The principal thing that remained for me to do was to temperate and remove that Ferment and gradually and without sense to depress the Lips of the Ulcers to the bottom for from this last business I promised to my self a threefold Utility First I knew that the cavities of the Ulcers being thus removed none of that acid and at least in some part Viscous Humour could be there collected which by reason of its viscous and stringy Particles had before rendred the Ulcers sordid and through its acid and cutting Particles daily more and more excavated them there being always in the Cavities of them a great abundance thereof continually congested But if this Humour have access to the Ulcers it must be cast out presently after its coming there to the sides of the Ulcers their Lips being strongly depressed by some hard and heavy Body superposited Secondly I was certain by this means to restore the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours in which is sited a great part of the cure of Ulcers For the Lips of the Ulcers being not prominent as before over the Superficies of the bottoms I could discern it was possible to be effected that the Humours circulating through the small passages contained in the Lips of the Ulcers which before by reason of those passages obstructed did flow into the Cavities of the Ulcers would now find out their own way through other passages in the bottoms of the Ulcers and so again renew their Circulation which cannot as before be impeded by the ambient Air because that is sufficiently repelled by the same body which depresseth the Lips of the Ulcers that being sufficiently thick solid and hard to answer my purpose Thirdly In cure of Ulcers and Wounds I have often observed that an Eschar to be generated never took beginning from the Center or any adjacent parts of Ulcers or Wounds but always begun from the extremity of the ambient Cutis by reason of the similitude of Superficies which is found between the Cutis and the Eschar Hence I firmly perswaded my self that the Ulcers first freed from their acid Ferments and Filths and rendred plain in the aforesaid manner their pristine Circulation being restored would in a short time be covered with an Eschar Therefore I prepared certain fit Medicaments temperating Acidity to resist the peccant Ferment lying hid in the Ulcers and that as the saying is I might with one Brush whiten too Walls I formed of them two Cakes sufficiently hard and thick and somewhat larger than the Ulcers so that they would also cover a small part of the Lips and those I laid upon the Ulcers and with a sufficiently strict Ligature firmly bound them on and left them so for 12 hours which being elapsed I could soon discern that the hope I had of them conceived failed me not For I found the Ulcers wholly plain freed from all filths and conspicuous with a pleasing redness and little or nothing painful Whereby being almost wrapt into admiration I concluded that the acid Ferment in the Ulcers for the most part was and the remainder would in a short rime be temperated After a few days Circulation being restored certain well-known Particles passing out through the Pores of the ambient Cutis firmly adhered to the extremity thereof having a like Superficies with the Cutis it self Thus we plainly understood the certain Rudiment of that Eschar which had in the space of five Weeks fully closed either Ulcer for it every day increased more and more Afterward I every year once opened the aforesaid Varix and drew from it lib. j. of Bloud by which means those Ulcers never after opened any more In the mean while to the Erysipelas which I had almost forgot I applied a four-doubled Cloath moistned in a mixture prepared with Water of Elder-Flowers Spirit of Wine Camphire and Saccharum Saturni for temperating the peccant Acidity which being effected all Symptoms of the Erysipelas ceased together with the burning before induced by the acid Particles when with the acuteness of their sides they oftner than usual invade the small Fibres But whence was it that these Ulcers could not be healed in so great a space of time by so many Physicians and Chyrurgeons though men well in years I answer Those men by reason of their age contemning the solid Reasonings of others would never approve of any thing but their own experience Experience without true Reason can profit little For as among a thousand humane Faces no one is found exactly in all things like to another so among so many Diseases there is not one which in all things wholly agrees with another Moreover it is very credible that the Bloud and internal Parts of one man do no less differ from the Bloud and internal Parts of another than the External Whence again ariseth the various Temperament of men the variety of which requires various Remedies and besides Experience sound Judgement in the Physician that he may know how to make choice of this or that and other Remedies instead of either Now plainly to shew the Case as it is those Physicians and Chirurgeons directing their Conceptions according to a certain vain and unprofitable Theory and Philosophy could neither
quantity of white shining Pus but when I would by pressure with my finger in some measure further the efflux of the Pus behold soon after a piece of a Tobacco-pipe equalizing the length of the Middle-finger presented it self to sight which with an Instrument I drew out of the lately-made Orifice The Pus being gradually evacuated I in a short space of time healed this Affect after the manner of other Abscesses so that in this Cure nothing hapned worthy of observation But the piece of Tobacco-pipe unexpectedly issuing out of this Abscess gave occasion to the By-standers not onely of admiring so rare a Phaenomenon but also made them presently to fly to the Devil and his Inchantments The Ignorant and therefore superstitious and miserable vulgar men presently hasten to the Devil the accustomed but impious Asylus of their ignorance when any Effect presents it self to them the like of which they never before saw If they see any thing the cause of which they know not they do not presently ascribe that to the Devil having often before beheld the same so the stupendious actions of that Belching out of Fire which cannot but be known by all the Inhabitants of these Regions are by them accounted natural and not taken for delusions of the Devil viz. because these are such things as they have often seen though they cannot render a reason of them being wholly ignorant of the cause So sometime since there was an Italian at Lugdunum in Batavia who after the drinking a great quantity of clear Water vomited up the same into various Chrystalline Vessels not limpid as before but it was in every of the Vessels of a diverse colour and taste This effect frequently seen excited the people ignorant of the cause to so great admiration that they uttered not so much as one Whisper about the Devil But Mr. Overcamp presently found out the cause of this Phaenomenon as he relates In primogenito Ingenii sui Partu viz. that in the Chrystalline Vessels he both saw and smelt divers subtile Oyls which in one Vessel tinged the Water with one colour in another with another Not without reason did Virgil say Felix qui potuit Rerum cognoscere Causas He was happy that knew the Causes of things For they being known we shall not much wonder at Phaenomenons before seen much less with the decieved Vulgar refer them to a certain imaginary power of the Devil whereas it is well understood that the Common people seldom have any regard to the causes of things But omitting these what was the reason that a piece of a Tobacco-pipe came forth of this Affect whereof we are now writing When I had well examined the Patient I by him understood that about six Months before when he walked in the streets taking Tobacco he fell down and internally hurt his Jaws with the Pipe from which hurt abundance of Bloud did often flow out viz. because a piece of the Pipe broken off deeply forced into his Jaw first produced this Haemorrhagia and afterward the above-recited external Abscess below the Ear out of which when opened the piece of Pipe was taken OBSERVAT. VII Of a small Stone contained in the Vrinary Passage A Little Boy five years old suddenly complained of a pain of his Yard and could not make water I as I then judged with an Iron Probe touched a small stone as big as a Pepper-corn but very rugged contained in the Urinary passage How this Stone should infer so vehement dolour and stop the Urine I purpose not at this time here to explain Fit Instruments by many Authors commended in this case were now by me made use of but in vain What then was to be done I presently gave to the sick Child two spoonfuls of the following Mixture ℞ Antinephretick Water Water of Stone-Parsley Of Fennel of each ℥ j. Fernelius his Syrrup of Althea ℥ ss Crabs-eyes ʒj Salt Prunella ʒ ss Salt of Bean-stalks ℈ j. Mix these Then I commanded the Mother to apply her mouth to her young Son's Yard and suck for some time as much as she could and by this means the Stone was in a short time drawn forward to the extreamity of the Ureter from whence then it was easily drawn out with the Forceps and so this little Boy was quickly safely and pleasantly freed from this so very painful Affect We must speak with the Vulgar but not judge with them according to the common Proverb I said the Mother sucked though in the mean while I am certainly perswaded that Sucking effects little but all Motion is made by Pulsion It is true the Mother applying her Mouth to the Yard and strictly closing it round about with her Lips caused the Belly to swell by contraction of the Diaphragma and so the external Air by its pressure forced the small Stone to the extremity of the Yard contained in the mouth of the Mother which did so much the more easily happen because that little Air contained in the Mothers mouth by the heat there existing rarified and so being more weak than the external Air forced from the swelling Abdomen made the less resistance as rarified Air contained under a Cuppin-glass made hot prevents not the subjected Cutis from being lifted up into a Tumor the pressure of the external Air contributing thereunto This Propulsion of the Stone was also not a little furthered by the almost continual agitation of the Tongue commodiously applied But no man should here wonder that the pressure of the Air hath so great force for this effects many other things much more wonderful and is the cause that two Brass-Hemispheres from which the Air hath been in a great measure removed by a Wind-Instrument do so very firmly adhere each to other that the weight of a Thousand pounds would not be sufficient to separate them again whereas they may very easily be disjoyned when the Air is again intromitted as I with my eyes have beheld at Lugdunum in Batavia in the Laboratory of Burcher de Volder a most acute Professor of solid Philosophy in that place If any man desires to know more of these things let him consult the Magdeburgic Experiments adorned with Brass Figures OBSERVAT. VIII Of a Contusion suddenly healed A Man about Thirty years of age in a Tennis-Court received a Ball with great force struck by a Racket just upon his right Eye whence exceeding great dolour presently arose The Patient remembred that he had seen others after the same manner hurt to be presently healed by cold Water onely applied immediately after the stroak therefore he presently to the contused part applied his Handkercheif moistned with cold Water and when that waxed warm he again dipped it in other fresh cold Water The next day after this hurt his Friends that had heard of his misfortune came to visit him but seeing both eyes very sound and well they were amazed having before firmly perswaded themselves that the eye which had received so vehement a stroak
which before I finish this Observation I purpose to declare by an Example A new-married Virgin when she and her Bridegroom were the first time in Bed together boldly handled those parts of her Husband which Adam as the Scripture witnesseth presently after his Fall covered with Fig-leaves and so by the Truss he wore perceived he was afflicted with an Hernia whence she driven almost to madness passionately uttered these words You may be ashamed so impiously to deceive your Lover O miserable wretch that I am what Counsel shall I take I am certainly undone Can such a distempered Body satisfie a Maid in the flower of her Age having not as yet accomplished her eighteenth year No I am totally lost and had rather die than live longer with you The Husband in the mean while seriously pondering the matter at length with kind and good words returned her this Answer My Love my Sweet-heart be of good cheer and drive from thee this vain and superfluous care for I promise you by the effect to prove my self a Man sufficient so that you shall never afterward have cause any more to complain of this matter Nine Months were scarcely elapsed before Experience confirmed the Husbands words by Twins which his Wife was delivered of who never after durst so much as whisper any thing of her Husbands imaginary impotency OBSERVAT. IV. Of a Suppurated Tumour of the Breast A Woman giving Suck had for several days laboured with an hard red and painful Tumor sited in the superior part of her Breast Paracelsus his Stiptick Plaister being applied the Tumor was quickly suppurated and spontaneously opened and much laudable Pus did for some time issue out thence in the mean while to the Aperture I applied Arctaeus his Balsam of which this is the Description â„ž Sheeps-Grease Gum Elemi Venice Turpentine of each â„¥ ij Oyl of St. Johns-wort â„¥ j. ss Wax Ê’ij Red Sanders Ê’j Mix and liquifie all strain the Mixture and make a Balsam I did also apply Paracelsus his Stiptick Plaister and upon that laid a small Bag made hot which was first filled with Rye-flower for softening the remaining hardness and so this Tumor was healed in the space of a few days I shall not at this time explain how the Imposthume was produced Pus generated the Ulcer cleansed and many other things of which I treated above but onely signifie that I here contrary to the vulgar custom used no Tents and for good reason viz. because they in many cases like this of ours do commonly infer more detriment than ease or benefit for they are wont by their pungent property to hurt the Bottom of the Ulcer and render the Lips of the same callous and in the mean while can do no good because the Pus is very often found happily enough to issue out without their help Not onely in this Imposthume but also in many others I have observed in the first days after the apertion of the Tumor a white shining Pus to flow out but afterwards a certain pellucid yellowish oyly and somewhat viscous Juice at the sight of which being taught by frequent experience I have been accustomed to judge the Evil would in a short time be healed and that they do egregiously err whosoever they be that seeing this above-described Juice would keep open Imposthumes by thrusting in Tents Now that you may more easily give credit to what is here mentioned I shall endeavour by solid Reason to confirm this Experience The issuing out of a white shining Pus for several days from an open Imposthume is caused by an acid Ferment with which the Interiour Superficies of the Imposthume is imbibed mixed with the nutritive Juice by reason of the interrupted passages falling into the Cavity of the Tumor but when this acid Ferment is removed then the nutritive Humor presents it self sincere to the sight viz. pellucid yellowish oyly and somewhat viscous That this oyly Liquor at first pellucid acquires a white colour by its admixion with Acidity will undoubtedly seem strange to no man that hath even but once in his life seen how soon Oyl-Olive after it hath been mixed with Vinegar presents it self white to the sight OBSERVAT. V. Of an hard Tumour of the Breast dissolved A Matron giving suck one very cold Night exposing her left Breast as she lay in Bed to the then freezing Air the next day complained of a great Tumor of the same Breast hard and very painful which continually increased Some days were elapsed before my Advice was asked This Tumor was twice a day anointed with unsalted Butter mixt with common Chalk and over all was applied hot a small Bag filled with Rye-flover and in the mean while for several days the Patient suckled her Infant By the help of these few and not much compounded Medicaments this Tumor was happily removed By reason of Cold admitted the Milk stagnized in certain Glandules was coacervated and waxed acid whence as may be easily judged that hardness and dolour derived their Original Chalk mixed with unsalted Butter temperated the Acor of the stagnizing Milk and so dissolved whatsoever was coagulated in the Glandules the small Bag filled with Rye-flower applied hot to the part in the mean while contributing help How far Chalk is available for correcting acid Humors you may easily discern when you mix the same in a Glass with Vinegar because immediately after the commixion of both you shall see and hear an egregious and very manifest although as to our touch cold Effervescency and afterwards you will find the sharpness of the Vinegar not a little diminished OBSERVAT. VI. Of very great Torment of the Abdomen A Maid aged Forty years had now for six Weeks passed complained of a most vehement dolour yet not far extended but exercising its Tyranny in a very small part of the Belly and day and night most cruelly tormenting the Patient who had used very many Remedies both Internal and External She was purged and had a Vein opened but in vain so that after the use of these she almost despared of recovering her pristine Sanity in the mean while the External Cutis in the pained part could not be distinguished from the sound parts of her Belly I being called with my Knife cut a small Wound which is vulgarly called an Issue and kept that open by a Pea put in and daily renewed The next day after the cutting that Issue the Patient had ease of her pain which from day to day did more and more lessen so that it was wholly removed quickly after One Month after the Issue made I permitted it again to close up and so this sick Maid was in a short space of time freed from this exceeding Torment and remained well Some Acido-corrosive Particles in the affected part were perhaps separated from the other Particles of the sanguiferous Mass with which so long as they lay involved they could not exercise their sharpness So Nitre put upon the Tongue infers little or no