of Cure by the edge of a Syringotomus and a thread which joins the opinions of Celsus and of the later Chirurgeons XVI Yet Fistulae in ano in old Men deriving their original from some old Fluxion as from the Haemorrhoids of long continuance cannot safely be cured unless before the Wound be healed an Issue be made in the Thigh three or four inches above the Knee for evacuation of the matter daily gathered which used to be evacuated by the old Fistula Sâ—ultetus XVII Penetrating Fistulae are very easily and safely cured without an actual Cautery which some commend to consume the Callus in Fistulae if when the Syringotomus is passed through the Bloud be stopt and Haemorrhagie prevented and the Callus wasted with this Medicine Take of Mercury precipitate half a drachm Honey of Roses half an ounce For the sphincter according to Hippocrates lib. de Haemorrh may safely be cut any way without prejudicing its office if but an eighth part of it be left untouched otherwise an involuntary excretion of the faeces would follow and then most certain Death Idem Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. I have seen Fistulae of the Feet often cured with this Remedy First wash them with a Lye of Vine-ashes then use an Unguent made of Sugar Oil-olive Mercury and Wine each equal parts Borelâ—us 2. This wonderfully cures Fistulae if they be often washed and the hollow of them filled with an Arcanum mixt with Tincture of Aristolochia rotunda drawn with Spirit of Wine Faber 3. The Bulb of Cornflag mixt with Starch Vinegar and Foxes grease cures Fistulae and running Sores most effectually Laurembergius 4. This is highly commended by many Authours especially for drying up and healing a Fistula Take of Water of the Vine 2 ounces Malmsey wine 1 ounce Honey of Roses 10 drachms Myrrh root of Peucedanum each 2 drachms Sarcocolla Aloe Epatica each 1 ounce and an half Mix them Let them boil up onely once moderately and let it be injected by a Syringe into the Fistula Pâ—câ—ettius 5. A wonderfull Water for Fistulae Take of green Shells of Wall-nuts let them stand in the shade distill them Take of the distilled Water 7 pounds distill it again add of Honey 2 pounds distill it again and keep it for use Praevotius 6. After Universals are used some commend this Potion Take of Sanicle Mugwort Speedwell Saracene's Consound Winter-green each 1 ounce Savine 1 ounce and an half Horse-tail half a drachm Boil them in White-wine Make a Potion which if you would have more effectual in every Dose mix of prepared Crabs-eyes half a scruple For Savine and Crabs-eyes are very good to expell Bones Pus broken Veins and the like Senner 7. This is a most secret Medicine Take of Tops of lesser Centaury 3 handfulls Roots of greater Plantain fresh 1 pugil Leaves of Germander Scabious each 1 handfull New-wine 3 pounds and an half Boil them to half Let the Herbs and Roots be well pounded and strained out hard then boil them on a gentle Fire to the consistency of Honey and keep it Stokkerus 8. This is an approved Medicine for a Fistula Take of Leaves of red Cabbage and the Seeds of the same Roots of Madder each equal parts Bruise them in some Wine and boil them to a third strain out the Liquour and boil them to the consistency of Honey Give two spoonfulls morning and evening every day ¶ Filipendula and the Grains found at the end of its Root are good for the same Tulpius Fluor Muliebris or Womens Whites The Contents How it may be known from a Gonorrhoea I. The blame must not always be laid upon the Womb. II. Bleeding is sometimes good III. Cured within a month by taking a loosning Ptisan IV. Whether Diureticks be proper V. Whether they be always good VI. Every one must not be cured by a Sudorifick Diet. VII Astringents and Strengthners must be seasonably used VIII Issues in the Legs are good IX Sometimes it is caused by the use of Catharticks and Baths X. Those Women that have a dry Nose are usually subject to it XI The Womb must be strengthned XII A Malignant one imposes upon the Physician XIII Medicines I. SOme Women that are ill of a virulent Gonorrhoea hiding their fault under an innocent name pretend they are ill of the Whites because in both cases abundance of filth is voided But the Chirurgeon may easily distinguish the Whites from a Gonorrhoea and he may satisfie himself a Gonorrhoea will never be cured without Salivation Paraeus II. The cause which continually breeds the corrupt humour is sometimes in the Womb sometimes in other principal parts They are therefore grievously mistaken who ascribe the cause of all that comes from the Womb and of the suppression of the Menses to the Womb alone For in what Women cold Bowels or obstructed or scirrhous have caused Crudities an ill Habit or Dropsie the corrupted humour being poured into several parts of the body often falls upon the Womb and tending that way purges the Body which is done in some others by urine or stool Fernelius III. Seeing the Whites depend upon a Cacochymie and it being drawn to the Veins by Phlebotomy may infect the mass of Bloud there seems no room for Phlebotomy Besides since in this chronical Disease strength decays much and the Body is often brought to a consumption it appears it ought not to be farther wasted by Bleeding and be deprived of its Aliment Yet it is thus determined that if this Flux be not solitary and pure but be mixt with a little bloud and look red then bloud may be let As also if there be any great heat in the Liver or acrimony of the bilious juice joined with this Flux But in other cases especially when the case is grown inveterate it is better to abstain from Bleeding Rivâ—rius IV. A Woman of forty had been long troubled with the Whites after many Medicines tried in vain she was perfectly cured with taking a laxative Ptisan every day for a month The Composition was this Take of cleansed Senna 1 drachm Coriander-seed prepared and scraped Liquorice each 1 drachm and an half Spring-water wherein three drachms of Tamarinds and 1 drachm of Mastich-wood have been boiled one glass Infuse them cold for one night and let her take the colature two hours in the morning before she eat Idem V. There is no small difficulty to tell whether Diureticks be proper for they do not onely provoke urine but the menstrua by heating and attenuating the humours contained in the Veins Yet they are approved by all Authours and by Galen himself who used them in Boëthius his Wife The reason is because Diureticks provoke urine primarily and the menses secondarily and as it were by accident then the Kidneys draw the serous matter continually the Womb onely receives it Wherefore it is likely that
Bowels but onely from the obstruction of the veins that come to the Womb Frid. Hofmannus according to Minsicthus his advice Vomits must be avoided VII The Terms being near in some Viragoes and restagnating because of the narrowness of the Vessels do create a great deal of trouble to the ferment both of the first and second digestion so that thence there arises loss of colour in the face and other symptoms representing the green-sickness in Maids especially if over and above there be an Astral Influx that hinders the Terms the said Symptoms do not onely grow worse but the Cure also proves very difficult In the mean time at the beginning violent Expellers which onely disturb the morbifick matter and doe no good must be avoided but they must be moderately moving and also they must help the fermentation of the first and second Concoction Of which rank are Extract of the lesser Centaury Juniper Mugwort Species Dialaur Minsicthi Extract Splen Bov. Elixir proprietatis Paracelsi Vterinum Crollii if instead of Spirit of Wine Spirit of Baum and Sage be used adding toward the latter end a sufficient quantity of Salt of Mugwort for these things moderately provoke the Terms strengthen the concoction of the Bowels resist putrefaction and are good against Worms Frid. Hofmannus if there be any VIII Galen 5. Aphor. 46. says that if the Mouth of the Womb be compressed by a swelling the Terms must not be provoked The reason is because the swelling would increase and the Disease would be inraged by giving things to provoke the Terms Thus they are in errour who when the Vessels of the Womb are compressed either by a swelling or too much Fatness they do open the Saphoena and they do not see that the swellings increase Therefore the Basilick vein must be opened Sanctorius IX If the Terms flow not for want of bloud as after long Fevers great Evacuations and in any notable extenuation of the body they must not be provoked before the body be recruited with convenient restorative food before a sufficient quantity of bloud is bred and before the Disease the cause of extenuation be conquered which when done the Terms usually come of themselves But if it do not so fall out to the end Nature may be recalled to her duty bloud may be taken from the lower Veins according to the measure of the strength But we must take notice that every extenuation does not denote want of bloud but onely that which succeeds consuming Causes Riverius X. We must never use Remedies to provoke the Terms unless universal Evacuations were premised lest the humours being moved in great plenty to the Womb should increase the obstruction or being much attenuated should fall on other parts and produce much mischief So Schenckius reports that a Physician of Venice gave a Woman for the suppression of her Terms a Decoction before he had evacuated the Phlegm which was the cause of her Obstruction upon taking of which she fell into a Palsie Fortis XI But they must be given in a great quantity because much of their virtue is abated by the way from the Stomach to the Womb. Riverius XII If they be given at the going in or out of a Bath they exert their virtue the more powerfully because the Medicine gets into an open and warm body and yet much more effectually if they were given before bleeding in the foot Idem Some generous Remedies in a pertinacious Obstruction XIII Seeing the suppression of the Terms is caused for the most part by the obstruction and stuffing of the Vessels that go to the Womb and through the Womb we shall pursue this sort most And whereas we have shewn that this said obstruction is produced either by a viscid and glutinous Phlegm or by such a bloud it easily appears that inciding and detersion are indicated and required by the tenacity of the humour for its cure and the provoking of the Menstrua And both Acids and Aromaticks and things abounding with a lixivial Salt as well fixt as volatile and therefore fixt and volatile Salts themselves But because Acids serve to produce a glutinosity especially when they incline to Austerity therefore in curing of this Disease Aromaticks are deservedly preferred which Experience also it self testifies to be better than Acids Whether things be bitter or not but of various tasts they must be called Aromaticks And whoever is conversant in the Chymical mutations of things Natural he will find both far more powerfull things and more easie to be used than these things that are commonly used As Volatile Salts made of infinite things of all Bones Horns Hoofs Hair Bloud Urine Flesh and all parts of Animals whatever that is all Volatile Salts are good though I should prefer Oleous ones before the rest because they doe their work more kindly and successfully Whence also it is manifest that fixt Salts are less to be valued because since they are purer they operate the more violently And the said Volatile Salts may be conveniently used at any time and especially when all the bloud is glutinous at Dinner and Supper in a draught of Wine Beer Broth or any other liquour the Patient shall chuse But when the whole mass of bloud is not glutinous and pituitous though the said Volatile Salts may be used at meal-times yet they may be used to greater advantage at another time and especially when the Phlegm first dissolved by the motion of the body heat of the Air c. and carried to the Womb is by and by coagulated there again by the subsequent Cold for then it is good to take Volatile Salts upon an empty Stomach and also to dispose the body it self to a Sweat for so the virtue of the Medicines will the easilier penetrate to the farther end of the vessels and passages And above the rest I recommend Spirit of Sal Ammoniack to all when a stoppage of the Menstrua happens suddenly and lately upon heating and cooling of the body by benefit of which alone I have very well cured several in a short time by giving 3 4 5 or six drops as it is stronger or weaker in a spoonfull of Wine twice or thrice a day And not onely a Volatile Salt it self but all things also abounding with it whether Sudorificks or Diureticks are very proper It will be usefull also in a suppression that comes gradually to add such things to the Deobstruents that are used towards the latter end For Example make the following Apozeme Take of Root of Parsly Lovage each half an ounce shavings of Guajacum three drachms Saffafras half an ounce Juniper Berries two ounces Bay-berries half an ounce Scordium Penni-royal each half an handfull tops of lesser Centaury half an handfull Millet-seed two ounces Boil them in fair Water to 25 ounces of the Colature add of Syrup of Mugwort Carduus Benedictus each one ounce and an half Tincture of Cinnamon and Castor each half an ounce Oil
often seen a scruple or halt a drachm of it given by the Midwives of Goritia without any inconvenience It is given alive not killed For that which is killed sticks to the Stomach and Guts and causes cruel Symptomes yet it must be washed first in strong Vinegar mixt with Salt then it must be strained through a piece of Leather For so they that use it do cleanse it Matthiolus IX When delivery is hindred through the Mothers fauâ—t because the Ossa Pubis and Coccygis are not so movable by reason of Age it is good to soften them by degrees with an emollient fomentation which may very well be done two or three weeks before her time For so the Cartilages that knit the said Bones are by degrees soâ—tned and the Bones themselves part more easily For they scarce part asunder but give a little to make the passage for the Child more easie Therefore the steam of Emollient Herbs boiled received in a Perforated Chair will be good Such Fomentations do not only afford Women the foresaid benefit that is to cause the Child to come out with more ease and less trouble but after the use of them Women are not so apt to be lame when they are up again Because then the said Bones do give way with less violence and therefore the softned Cartilages do more easily return to their former state Which when they are left hard and parted by violence and in a manner severed from the Bones they do seldom return to their Pristine state but they leave the knitting of the Bones more lax Sylvius de le Boe. and Women more or less subject to halt X. In hard Labour it is a case that deserves observation Oftentimes the Child is born in a manner dead but before the Navil is tied by pressing the Blood in as if it had received nourishment it is restored to life again which otherwise had died D. G. Horstius told me he was at Rome when the Child was in the Midwife's Hand and the After-burthen remained in the Mothers Womb and she fell into a grievous Swooning so that one while she seemed to expire anon the Child was just dying when immediately the Midwife called out Wine Wine Greek Wine was brought she warmed a little of it and opening the Womans Mouth with a Stick she poured a Glass of it into her Mouth so the Woman came to her self again immediately and was as if she had risen from the dead and at the same moment the Child began to stir finely so that both survived and all was well Therefore in all Swooning we must not use Vinegar or Lavender Water as is done commonly but the best Aromatick Wine Which also Doctor Sittardus judged should be done unless the Swooning be with Vomiting for then it is not amiss not only to give Wine but to hold a Toste of Bread and Vinegar to the Nose â—â—lenander XI We must not only use things that have a virtue to facilitate Birth from an Elementary quality but such as have it from their whole Substance such as the Eagle-Stone which when I had ordered to be tied to the Thigh of a Woman in Travel after it had been there a while a huge monstrous Membrane came away with much ado but as soon as it was come away I ordered the Stone to be taken off for if it should have tarried long on it would have drawn out the Womb by its potent virtue which I found in the Wife of N. to whom being in hard Labour when the Women had tied a great Eagle-Stone to her Thigh and after she was delivered did not take it off her Thigh through carelesness and forgetfulness within a few hours her Womb came out Valleriola lib. 10. obs 10. and killed the poor Woman XII One Cause of hard Labour omitted by most yet often taken notice of by Arantius consists in the bad formation of the Ossa Pubis which are not aptly disposed that is broader than they should be and flat on the outside so that within they are rather gibbous than hollow and come near to the Os Sacrum and Coccyx and are so strait that the Child has no way to get out Then the business must be committed to Nature seeing there is nothing that the Physician can do Ferdinandus XIII Things that promote the Birth do operate as they either comfort Nature wherefore a draught of Malmsey Wine is good and Volatil Cordials â—nd all Spices Or they stimulate and make the motion quicker and they are watry and not altogether void of volatility such as Penny-royal Water Or emollient as Water of White Lilies Or Diuretick as an Emulsion of Gromil Seed and Violet Seed with some appropriate Water Hither belong Oyly things as Oyl of Amber Amber also it self and Saline things chief among which is Venice Borax Or they asswage and comfort the Nervous Kind the painful irritation whereof renders the Labour much more difficult Hither belong Cinnabarines Wedelius XIV But things to facilitate Birth must not be given unless the Child be near and Nature want help To which is requisite not only 1. That the space of nine months or 280 days be fully compleat but also 2. That there be true pains of Travel and 3. Which is chief of all That the Child be near the Birth for unless the Aperture expand it self it is in vain to irritate and solâ—icite Nature when she does not act since thereby she as hitherto acting well is disturbed so that endeavouring to eject the Child unseasonably that is by giving this Provocative she puts it in a bad posture and causes a Preternatural difficult Travel As otherwise the Midwives themselves also do in this very much offend while they encourage the Woman too soon provoke force and set them on a Stool Idem XV. The Midwife cannot foresee much less correct all the vitious postures Indeed it is easily ordered in a Book Change amend the situation of the Child but in so narrow a place it is scare possible to do it quickly and successfully For how can she amend what she does not sâ—e You will say Can she not feel I answer in so narrow a room she may be mistaken in her Judgment How often do Midwives judging only by feeling mistake the Shoulder or the Elbow for the Head Then how can the Midwife help Agrippa's or Children coming with their Feet foremost Ammannus Med. Crit. p. 559. What if the Child come double at the Hips How can she help this ill posture Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Amber given to Women with Child hastens the Birth wonderfully A certain Physician gave 1 scruple of Borax dissolved in a Decoction of Motherwort or Savine to Women in hard Labour Baricellus and he did wonders for quickly the Child came out alive or dead 2. Let the Patient tie the Root of Gourd to her Kidneys and she will presently be delivered After she is
that are Sleepy and in a Feaver than which nothing worse can be given Dodoneus pempt 2. l. 4. c. 7. for they do a great deal of harm and often kill the Patient Sterilitas or Barrenness The Contents The Cure of Barrenness in Women is performed especially by Fomentations and Purges I. What must be the Diet of them that are Barren through Salacity II. There ought not to be only one way of Cure III. For whom Stoves and Baths are good IV. Cured by eating of Polypi V. The reduction of the Mouth of the Womb when turned aside VI. Fumes and Steams are not good for the same Women VII The Cure of Barrenness from Fatness VIII Electuaries may be variously made up IX The efficacy of Sudorificks X. And of Bathes XI Conditions concerning Venus XII What the Virtue of Pessaries should be XIII Medicines I. MUch is written by Hippocrates libro de Sterilibus and in his Aphorisms of the causes of Barrenness and of its manifold Cure But Sect. 5. lib. 2. Epidem all the Cures of these causes are in a manner reduced to these 2 heads Fomentations and Purges The Barren saith he must Foment and Purge for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he there uses signifie a purging Medicine when it is used alone and nothing is added to it which may signifie some other sort of Medicine But by the name of Fomentation I would have understood whatever is applyed inwardly or outwardly by way of Cataplasm Irrigation Clysters Pessary or Fumigation as by the name of Purging I would have understood both Vomiting and Purging For every cause of Barrenness is either a fault of Composition or of Temperament or an Ulcer of the Womb or a Cacochymie of the whole Body Among the faults of the Composition of the Womb there is the smallness and grossness of the Womb the straitness and hardness of the mouth of the Womb so that it is not dilated sufficiently or a perversion of the Mouth of the Womb or the wideness of it so that it gapes and does not retain or straitness of the Vessels of the Womb so that for this reason the Menstruous evacuations do not come into it or the laxity of it so that they run too much out In fault of temperament there is too much heat which consumes the Seed or cold which does not concoct it or dryness which consumes the Seed and nourishment of the Fatus or moisture which hinders its retention which also Ulcers of the Womb do hinder Cacochymies when they are poured into the Womb corrupt the Seed when they are not poured they do not hinder Conception yet they make a bad juice for the Foetus and therefore either cause Abortion or a Diseased Foetus Vitiated Compositions if they be contracted from the first generation are usually incurable but if they are caused by other Diseases they may be Cured by curing of these Diseases Cacochymies require Purging All intemperatures of the Womb which are joyned with an Humour or with a Cacochymie of the whole Body and especially Ulcers require Purging and then Fomentations Affusions Insessions and Pessaries And all these things must for heat be cold for cold hot for moisture dry for dryness moist and for Ulcers such as the Cure of Ulcers requires Therefore it is evident that the whole Cure of barren Women consists in Fomentations and Purges Vallesius II. If a Woman Conceive not through Salacity which is caused by the acrimony and heat of Seed she must be fed with gross Diet such as thickens the Blood and the Seed It is good to eat Fruits as Pears Rondeletius Apples and Chesnuts which breed gross Humors and Vapors and retard that violence III. Many Women Conceive not because they have moist and foul Wombs so that they neither eagerly receive Seed nor are able to retain it which disposition indeed is contrary to that wherein they want the Menstrua that the Womb may be open for there is a two fold Cause why newly after the evacuation of the Menstrua Conception is easy in moist Women both because the Mouth of the Womb and the Veins and Arteries which end there having been opened remain so and because when the Womb has been newly evacuated it draws any Moisture more greedily This may easily be known by what comes out for mucous matter frequently comes from such Hippocrates lib. 2. Epid. sect 3. says this is cured by a dry course of Diet. Here by Diet must be understood the whole course of ones Life where in the whole Method of Cure is comprehended Because in this affection the Diet which consists in Meat and Drink is not sufficient The Cure must in this as in other Diseases be contrary to the Affection So that hence it is manifest that there is not only one way of curing barren Women as vulgar Physicians have perswaded themselves but that it is various and manifold according to the cause of Barrenness For it is proper only to moisten some and Heat others Vallesius and to cool and moisten others IV. Moist Women use Stoves and they that have a hard or cold Womb Bathes But they must use them a little before their Menses come Rondeletius V. Hippocrates lib. 2. Epid. sect 6. advises to give a Woman that she may conceive Polypi to eat roasted in the Flame very hot and almost half burnt and to beat Aegyptian Nitre and Coriander and Cummin together and to make Balls of them and apply them to the pudendum But this Cure is not proper for all Barren Women but only for such as are Cold and have but little Seed For the Polypus is a most salacious Animal and goes into a Consumption through too much coïtion and such things must needs increase Seed for they consist of such a juice and are apt to be turned into the same And what he here orders to be given is heating and therefore tentiginous Although I should leave out Cummin Vallesius because it wastes Flatulencies as does Rue VI. Among the faults of Composition it is evident from Hippocrates his Doctrine that the chief and most effectual Cause of Barrenness is the turning aside of the Mouth of the Womb the Causes and Cure whereof he shews lib. de sterilibus de Natura muliebr If the Womb turn on one side says he a Cough takes them the Pain ascends and the Womb lies like a Ball is sore when it is touched like an Vlcer And after many such things he orders to purge Women and to wash in warm Water and to use hot Things And a little after If the Womb be turned aside and the Mouth it self be awry c. When a Woman is so you must give her a Purge and wash with warm Water and foment her The whole therefore of the Cure in this Case consists in the reduction of the Womb to its former place which indeed cannot be done except either the Humors be purged by
Passages of her Breath were so much stopt with gross Fumes from the bad Mushromes XI I think it is no absurdity to say that Men sometimes have Fits like to Hysterick ones The Cause whereof proceeds from the small Gut in which through the vitious effervescency of concurrent Humors especially of a too austere pancreatick Juice Wind and Vapors of the same Nature arise And when they rise to the Oesophagus Blasius append ad Vessingii Anat. part § 190. they so straiten it that the Patients apprehend themselves in danger of Choaking XII In the greatest fear of Suffocation in Flatulent and hysterick Fits put the Patient's Feet in warm Water H â—ferus l. 21 c. 2. and you will immediately find him breathe better Suffocatio Affectus hysterici Hysterick Fits or Fits of the Mother The Contents Whether Blood may be let in the Fit I. Cuppping-glasses must not be set above the Navil II. Whether a Vomit be convenient III. Whether Purging IV. All hysterick Women are not benefited with stinking Things nor all offended with odoriferous things V. Whether Titillations and Frictions of the Pudenda be lawful VI. Whether the Mouth and Nose should be stopt VII Whether pouring cold Water upon the Abdomen may be Practised according to Hippocrates his Mind VIII This Disease must not alwayes be resisted by Heaters IX With what Caution Narcoticks may be used X. Sinapisms good to prevent the Fit XI The efficacy of Castor XII Perfumes as Musk and Amber whether alwayes hurtful XIII The efficacy of Musk taken inwardly XIV Remedies must be timerously administred to Women with Child XV. A Relapse must be prevented XVI The efficacy of Antimonium diaphoreticum XVII An hysterick Fit often mistaken for one of the Spleen XVIII Camphire is not good for all XIX Laudanum does Wonders XX. Medicines 1. IN a Fit from the retention of the Menses a Vein may be Breathed Not many days ago I had a Woman in Cure who was taken with a Fit eight times a day and another Physician who was there would not admit of Bleeding yet she was Bled against the Physicians Will and she Recovered immediately Wherefore in such a Case we may Bleed with boldness Capivaccius l. 4. c. 10. otherwise many Women might Perish II. Cupping glasses with much Fire must be set to the Thighs without Scarification and then to the Groin on each side for when they are set to these Parts they draw the Womb down because of the Ligaments But they must not be set above the Navil as some through a great Mistake do for either they will draw the Womb up or keep it up A Castro l. 2. c. 1. when it is so Yet they may be applied between the os pubis and the Navil on each side III. Aetius commends a Vomit but it may be a question whether it be convenient For if the morbifick Cause be lodged in the Womb it is scarce credible that it should be drawn to the Stomach through so many windings and turnings and so be evacuated To evacuate the antecedent Cause by reason it does not as yet cause a Fit will do but little good Besides Vomiting in the Fit draws the Humors upwards and disturbs those in the Womb and so may make the Fit the worse Nevertheless it is certain that a Vomit does good as well in the Fit as out of it for as Sneezing does good by the Motion and Agitation so does a Vomit for in the act of Vomiting not only the morbifick Humors which cause the Mischief are evacuated but also by the straining of the Muscles of the abdomen the Womb is forced downwards and the Vapors arising thence are dissipated And seeing the Womb is easily offended with all manner of things the Cause does not alwayes ly in it but sometimes in other Parts also which provoke the Womb by their cacochymie to inordinate Motions as hysterick Women often complain of ails in their Spleen Primirosius de morb Mul. l. 3. c. 11. If therefore the Cause ly any where else than in the Womb it may be excluded by Vomit and so it will be convenient as well upon account of the conjunct as antecedent Cause IV. I have long since by experience found that such Symptomes as these are much exasperated and increased and others also superadded by sharp and violent Medicines Wherefore it is my Advice Mercatus de indic Med. l. 1. c. 6. that you alwayes use gentle Medicines in them although the Fits be Violent by which Method I have seen several restored to Health beyond expectation Heurnius ¶ That the Womb is grievously affected by the Guts has been my Observation for when a Purge has been given to them that are subject to Fits they are usually most grievously afflicted ¶ If Fits arise from corrupt and poysonous Humors there is no better Remedy then often to purge the Body according to the Condition and Nature of the peccant Humor Here we must consider from what Parts such Excrements flow into the Womb and what they are that we may help so great an Evil. A Vomit seems here peculiarly convenient in my Opinion because when all the Excrements of the first ways are purged revulsion is made from the Womb but not so in other Causes Augenius because neither abundance of Blood nor Seed can be amended by Vomiting unless by Accident ¶ Pilulae faetidae majores though they be purging yet half a drachm of them may be advantageously given in the Fit for they evacuate gently and use not to purge Riverius till the Fit is first over so that you need fear no danger from the Working V. Camerarius in horto suo is the Author that Angelica with Zeodary given in Wine is an excellent Remedy against Fits of the Mother Which as Reason denyes to be good for every Hysterick Woman so Experience will prove that it is good for this and the other individual for some Hysterick Women are refreshed with grateful smells as Balsame Cinnamon Amber and Musk on the contrary some are brought into great danger by assa foetida Castor and the most common and famous Remedies for uterine Symptomes Of which Matter I shall produce two contrary but singular Examples A few years since I was called to a Matron who was taken with exceeding violent hysterick Symptomes To whom when I advised that they should besides a Galbanum Plaster which the Women had applied before I came give her also some Hysterick water and should hang about her Neck a piece of Castor tied in a thin Silk that they should burn some Partridge Feathers or toste some Nutmeg Then she replied with a whispering Voice Must I then who cannot bear the smell of an hysterick Plaister bear moreover these stinking Things Certainly I shall be Killed who use to be refreshed with the smell of a Nutmeg but unburnt Wherefore I carefully enquired of her whether or no she was offended with Spanish or Italian Gloves that smelled of
which Bonetus and Waltherus quoted ever were or are ever like to be in the English Tongue So that for this very Reason the Translation may deserve a higher Esteem among mere English than the Original among the Learned since these can understand the Principal Authours without an Interpreter the other cannot and so for want of one were it not for this Book might live in Ignorance of many Excellent things The Authour Bonetus is an ancient Dr. of Physick in Geneva a Man of great and succesfull Practice and of infinite Learning as other of his Works but this especially do shew He dedicated this to a Noble Personage of this Land as you may see before And how can we more gratefully acknowledge his kindness than by letting our Countrey-men understand how generous it is to all Men in his publishing so usefull a Work in Latine and in particular to our Countreymen in his dedicating it to a Noble Earl of our Nation Now because the Alphabetical Disposition of the Diseases according to the Latin Tongue will not be serviceable to the English Reader we have made an English Index whereby you may find the Disease which you want in the Book and then run but over the Contents and you will meet with your Case And after all I appeal to the Learned Whether these two Books both of which are valued by such when they are made One be not a Book of the greatest use in Physick that has ever been published in any Tongue and much more in English Farewell A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK I. Of Diseases beginning with the Letter A. Abortus or Miscarriage The Contents It ought not to be procured for the remedying of any diseases the woman with child is troubled withall I. How a simple voiding of bloud may be distinguish'd from it II. The distinction of its causes according to the times that the woman is gone with child III. The symptoms that use to accompany it require the providence of the Physician IV. How the concomitant Symptoms may be cured V. A prevention of it by frequent bloud-letting VI VII Plasters apâ—ly'd are not to be kept on long VIII When there is occasion for Adstringents and when for Looseners IX An instant Abortion is not always to be hasten'd from the example of one that was prevented X. When it is imminent medicines that are hot must be mixed with Adstringents XI Sometimes Adstringents are onely to be applied to the Loins XII Remedies applied below are safer than those taken in at the mouth XIII Wine to be abstain'd from XIV Medicines I. DAILY Observation shews that Women with child are subject to many and great distempers both Chronical and Acute which are made more dangerous and are harder to cure from their being in that condition especially Acute diseases as Fevers Aphor. 30. lib. 5. Pleurisies c. Hippocrates says that it is deadly for a woman with child to be seiz'd upon by any acute disease And according to Galen there is a double danger one from the Fever 's killing the Child another from the thin diet that is requisite for acute Diseases but is injurious to Women with Child as also from the necessity of the greater remedies such as bleeding and purging But some rash men if they see their Patient in great danger advise the procuring of Abortion Now Abortion is more painfull and dangerous than a natural birth from the violent divulsion of the unripe Foetus whence very many die some escape but not without grievous symptoms And the danger is the greater if the Foetus be pretty big as if the Woman be gone seven or eight months or if the Woman her self be feeble and weak or if she labour under dangerous acute Distempers Even healthfull Women never miscarry without danger some retain the Foetus so pertinaciously that no medicines will make them miscarry Wherefore their advice is pernicious that counsel the procuring of Abortion in acute Diseases 1. Because in many it is not easily done 2. It cannot be done but by dangerous Remedies and those often repeated which aggravate and heighten acute Diseases 3. Nor is it safe seeing Abortion it self is a dangerous and deadly affection as experience shews for by the aphorism above cited it is deadly to a Woman with Child to be taken with an acute Disease from the Fever the thin diet and the danger of Abortion now 't is bad to add affliction to the afflicted the Mother often perishes by destroying the Foetus with such Remedies 4. Even a natural Birth seldom gives any relief to several Diseases much less will Abortion cure any Disease especially such as is acute no it will rather make it worse unless the Foetus be already dead for then indeed 't is necessary to exclude it Yet we must not abstain from necessary helps as bleeding and purging which often prevent Miscarriage and if it sometimes follow upon the use of them 't is not to be imputed to the Remedies being duly administred but to the sharpness of the Distemper that is too hard for all Remedies or to the weakness of the Mother or lastly to the death or debility of the Foetus Hippocrates in his oath promises Primâ—os de vulg err l. 4. c. 53. that he will give no Woman any Medicine to procure Abortion 'T is the part of a Physician not to destroy but to preserve as much as he can II. Midwives ought to be very heedfull for it sometimes happens that a Woman with Child voids by her Womb much bloud and imprudent Midwives think that she has miscarried which yet is not so but onely a Miscarriage is imminent which whilst it is it ought to be prevented by Adstringents but if it be actually made then we must help by Looseners Wherefore Midwives ought to examine diligently the matter that comes forth whether it be bloud or flesh or geniture or the Foetus for by washing what comes forth in water one may easily discern whether there have been truly an Abortion or not Câ—â—ivace â—ract l. 4. c. 8. III. Serapio's opinion is to be noted He thinks if a Miscarriage happen in the first or second month that it is caused by wind or a preposterous agitation of the Mother breaking the slender fibres if it happen in the middle months that slimy humours which loosen the acetabula or saucers of the Womb are the cause of it and lastly if it happen in the last months that it is commonly caused either from want of nourishment or straitness of the Womb. IV. The Wife of N. miscarrying she first voided the Secondines with much bloud which brought her very low and weak the flux of bloud abating the next day she excluded the Foetus that was four months old after this she seem'd to grow better and cleans'd indifferently well onely what came away was very stinking and cadaverous On the seventh day she was taken with a high Fever and voided the placenta or womb liver
Physician a Drying and Sweating Diet he endeavoured to dry his Head with Bags Plasters c. he used Apophlegmatisms Sneezing yea and made an Issue behind in his Head all in vain At that time I was following my Studies at Paris he sent me a Description of his Disease to shew it to some famous Physicians I consulted severally with Monsieur Carolus Buvardus Chief Physician to Lewis XIII with Monsieur Curaeus de la Chambre Physician to the High Chancellour and with Monsieur Hurduynus de S. Jaques Physician to the Hospital of Charity They well considering the Constitution of the Patient declared The Disease was Sympathick arising from Fumes ascending from the Hypochondria affecting the Top of the Chimney i. e. the Gullet and that the tempering and exclusion of Melancholick Humours must be lookt after they prescribed him Spaw Waters the use of Chalybeates an Issue in each Leg and stopt up that in his head they order'd Leeches to the Haemorrhoids and other things to conquer the Melancholick Humours The Patient consented who a little after was rid both of his Melancholy and his Quinsey XXIII In this Controversie I think we must take great notice whether the Body abound with Bloud either naturally or because of the manner of living or of some accustomed Evacuation stopt for then I think we should bleed in the Ham or the Ancle and the same day if the Disease be urgent or the next to Breathe the Jecorary or Cephalick Vein and if the Disease abate not we must proceed to Bleed under the Tongue But if there be no such great plenty of Bloud Septalius Animad vers lib. 6. Sect. 113. I think it better not to meddle with the Veins of the lower parts but presently to open a Vein in the Arm and afterwards to bleed in the upper Veins XXIV But Bloud-letting in the Arm must be repeated not onely because it makes better Revulsion and causeth less weakness but because it is often observed that there is new afflux to the Part affected either from some other Part transfusing Matter Idem Ibid. Sect. 114. that it may ease it self of the burthen wherewith it is oppressed or by the Part affected drawing by reason of its pain and heat XXV And seeing some either in the Working of their Physick or that they naturally abhor it are apt to vomit it up again it is better always to give Potions than Pills or Bolus's for if they should happen to Vomit either a Bolus or Pills when they are suddenly and with great Violence forced to the Passage straitned with the Inflammation Idem Ibid. Sect. 115. there is no small danger of Strangling XXVI Bags that are made up with drying Powders to discuss in Inflammations of other parts must never be made use of in the Quinsey because by thickning the outer Skin Idem Ibid. Sect. 116. they rather hinder the Cure Therefore we must rather work with Moistners Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Aetius Tetrab 2. Sect. 4. c. 47. I have used in an Inward Quinsey a Gargarism of Mustard and have often delivered my Patients from danger 2. If the Swelling in the Neck will not soften J. Agric. Chirur. parv p. 802. burn an Owl in an open Pot to Powder a little of which you may blow into the Throat The Swelling will soften to admiration and break This is a Singular Secret 3. Bartoletus l. 5. part 2. c. 16. Duke Ferdinand's Powder is a great Secret in the Quinsey It is made of Mineral Crystal Cream of Tartar and Sugar For every half ounce of Crystal 1 ounce of Cream of Tartar and 2 ounces of Sugar are taken Tho. Bartholinus cent 4. hist 73. Blockwitius anat Samb Sect. 3. c. 12. 4. A Purple Thread wherewith a Viper hath been strangled is highly commended for the Quinsey 5. Let the Water or Decoction of Elder Flowers wherein is mixt a little Elder Honey and a few Leaves with one or two Jews Ears be Gargled This is recommended by experience Claud. Deodatus 6. Spirit of Nitre with Water of the Anodyne Salt Gargled hot is most excellent to allay the Inflammation Hartman prax chim 7. Take of Houseleek a sufficient quantity bruise it and strain it Take of this Juice 1 pint Sal Ammoniack half an ounce leave it in a moist place till the Salt be dissolved Distill it by an Alembick Wash your Tongue often with this Water 8. Galen Aetius Orobasius and all the Ancients commend Dogs-Turd White poudered and dried mixed with Honey and laid to the Throat Platerus 9. The Juice of Tree-Ivy swallowed gently from 3 drachms to half an ounce doth much good by repelling and digesting Eust Rud. Art Med. l. 1. c. 42. 10. This is an Excellent Remedy Take of Swallow's Nest 3 ounces Sapa 1 ounce Pulp of Cassia newly drawn 1 ounce and an half Mix them and apply it outwardly For it digests and asswages 11. This also is admirable which is made of the crum of a Loaf Milk Flowers of Roses and Chamaemil mixt together and applied after Bloud-letting Idem ibid. by virtue of which Medicine they use to spit plentifully and be much relieved Scultetus Armamen Chir. Obs 32. 12. This Gargarism is highly commended in all dangerous Quinseys especially in the beginning if the enflamed Jaws be often washed therewith Take of Saffron powdered 1 scruple and an half of the sharpest Vinegar 1 ounce Plantain Water 3 ounces white Sugar 2 drachms Mix them and make a Gargarism M. Joh. Wittichius Cons Med. 23. 13. Sennertus commends the Decoction of Berberry wood or of the inner Rind of the Hazle 14. Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn given with Sugar and a little of the Powder of a Boar's Tusk is the most present Remedy for the Quinsey and Pleurisie Anorexia or Want of Appetite The Contents It s Cure must be various according to the variety of Causes I. Food must be actually cold II. Fasting must sometime be injoyned III. It s Cure in Women with Child IV. It s Cure when caused by Choler V. When by Phlegm VI. In Consumptive Persons VII When Cured of its own accord VIII Medicines I. WOmen about sick persons desire nothing more than to remove this fault but they reckon that which is onely a sign of Health to be the Cause For this reason oftentimes the Physician is forced to provoke an Appetite It is lost 1. Because the Powers are weakned and the Bloud is not well concocted 2. Because for the former reason the acid Humour cannot be separated because of the thin Humours that are admitted We see this in them through whose Arteries noxious Humours together with the acid Humour are poured into the Stomach which often deceives Physicians while they ascribe the cause to the Intemperature of the Stomach or because it is corrupted and too thin That the loss of Appetite is to be ascribed to the fault of the
Fr. Sylâ—â—â— de le BoeÌ„ Tract l. 1. c. 2. than too violently seeing that Sudorificks mend and correct the bad humours though they expell them not And I still prefer liquid and spirituous things before gross ones though Antimonial how dry soever are excellent in this case to wit Antimonium Diaphoreticum Bezoarticum minerale c. IV. Seeing a depraved Appetite differs according to the diversity of the thing craved I will here propound its Cure onely in general which consists in cleansing the Bloud and other humours by amendment whereof the Pica ceases of it self Idem Prix lib. 1. c. 2. I have by experience found that Volatile Salts doe more good than all other Medicines I have yet tried because they provoke the Menses gently and kindly The suppression whereof is often the cause of the Pica V. A Man troubled with the Itch had also the longing Disease for three Months He had the Haemorrhoids and within two days the Disease left him Rhodius Centur. 2. Obs 57. For the matter residing in the Veins affected the Nerves of the Stomach which once removed the party was eased of that trouble Whence it is clear that in this Disease the matter doth not always stick in the Nerves Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians for Excess of Appetite 1. Take of Hiera simplex Galeni one Scruple Petr. Forest lib. 18. Obs 8. of Rhubarb well powdered a Scruple and half with Syrup of Roses solutive make it into Pills N o xv I have cured several of this Disease with these Pills onely taken for some time 2. Hartmâ—nnus prax Chymi aâ—r p. 100. The Philosophick Spirit of Vitriol divers times given in Pomegranate-Wine Syrup of Lemons or Tincture of Roses cures most perfectly 3. Senn. de Boul. m. If in a Boulimy one be troubled with Fainting it is good presently to give him Bread sopped in Wine 4. Weikardus Thesaur Phâ—rm l. 1. c. 11. Antiquity found not a more present Remedy for this eating Evil than Bread and the smell thereof For the Appetite depraved 5. I know Hor. Aug. 3. Epist Cons p. 425. that to give a Drachm and half of the Powder of the Seed of Ammi four days one after another doth admirably help a depraved Appetite for the Women are either cured or much better by it 6. Jul Caes Claud. in Empiriâ—â— Rational p. 238. These two things have great Efficacy in the longing Disease 1. Take of Walnut Buds four Ounces Aloe Socotrina one Ounce Juice of Agrimony half an Ounce Frankincense one Drachm Scoinanth two Drachms Mash them together boil them in water till the water be almost boiled away Then strain it and to what is strained out put as much Honey give one Drachm of this every other day 2. Take of Mustard-Seed half a Scruple of Pigeons Bones burnt to ashes one Drachm and a half Seed of Purslane one Drachm Cinnamon two Scruples Juice of Quinces two Ounces White Sugar three Ounces Mix them in a double Vessel over the fire David Herlic de cur gravid c. 16. 7. This is very good Take in the Month of May the first white Buds of the Vine bruise them and distill them by an Alembick Let a Woman with Child drink a little of this for three or four days and it will neither hurt the Child nor give it any Mark though she should not get what she longed for Jacob. Holler Inst Chir. p. 49. 8. A Decoction of the greater Chamaemil that is very like Southernwood will be of great use in this case for it surpasses all other sorts of Remedies Mercurial de morb Mul. p. 3â— 9. If Women labour under a depraved Appetite Aegineta commends the use of old and odoriferous Wine the Water of Shepherd's Rod especially drunk after Meals also Dill infused in Wine Schroderus 10. Sowre Pomegranates are good for the Pica in Women with Child The Leaves of the Vine are also good Troâ—ula de Regimin Praegnant p. 101. 11. If a Woman with Child long give her Beans with Sugar Arthritis Podagra or The running Gout and Gout The Contents The running Gout and Gout differ in their Causes and Cure I. What should especially be observed in the Cure II. Generous and extraordinary Remedies are required to cure the Gout III. A Gouty person cured by nailing his feet to a Block of Wood. IV. By violent knocking of one foot against the other V. The good of Bloud-letting VI. The Hurt of it in an inveterate Gout VII Whether Bleeding in the Foot be proper VIII Why a Vomit is proper IX Whether Purging be proper X. When you must Purge in the beginning of the Gout XI Violent Purgers often taken doe hurt XII For whom Caryocostinum is proper XIII Whether Hermodactyls should be used XIV Cassia is hurtfull XV. Diureticks good in the Scorbutick running Gout XVI Whether a Cure may be performed by Salivation XVII Whether drinking Vrine be proper XVIII After what manner Alteratives given in the Paroxysm do work XIX Whether Sudorificks be proper XX. Whether Milk be good against the Gout XXI What Preparatives should be used for prevention XXII Whether Narcoticks taken inwardly doe good XXIII In what the Virtue of Antipodagricks consists XXIV Whether Medicines outwardly applied doe good XXV The benefit by Application of Narcoticks XXVI Whether the use of cooling things be safe XXVII Whether Strengtheners should be applied XXVIII The nature of Discutients XXIX Whether it be possible to dissolve the Knots in the Gout XXX A thin Diet is proper XXXI Diet doeth more good than Medicines XXXII Exercise when convenient XXXIII Bleeding will doe little good in old Men. XXXIV Purging will doe none XXXV Vsed by Empiricks XXXVI Sweating must not be procured by Art XXXVII Things that help concoction are proper XXXVIII Remedies must be used constantly XXXIX A Milk Diet good if it can be continued in XL. Medicines The sum of William ten Rhyne's M. D. Treatise of the Gout I. HIppocrates l. de Affect Sect. 3. lays down the peculiar signs of the running Gout 1. Pains of the Joints with remarkable heat not in them onely but the whole Body over insomuch that men seem plainly to be in a Fever 2. The nature of the Pains which at the very first invasion are presently acute although sometimes they are more moderate 3. The running of the Pains from one Joint to another The essence of the running Gout consists in these Three things which distinguish it from the Gout for in this the heat is not so evidently perceived at the first as in the running Gout nor till the corrupt Humour in the Veins be transmitted to the out-parts And the reason of this difference arises hence because in the Gout the Disease is in the little Veins and the inner parts in the running Gout it lies outwardly and nearer the skin 2. In the Gout the Pains at least in the beginning are not so sharp and that by reason
in Oil and applied wonderfully eases the pain ¶ Let warm Sheeps-dung be long mixt with Goat's Sewet strow on it Powder of common Pitch Mix them and apply it warm without doubt it has a wonderfull effect ¶ A Clyster made of Dog's-turd boiled in Wine with a few Figs eases the pain of the Colick and Stone Joh. David Rulaâ—dus ¶ Hare's dung dissolved in Wine and drunk cures a desperate Colick 21. I do upon my credit profess that I have in one day cured the Colick coming of phlegm with 2 drachms of Diaphoenicon Saxâ—nia and 2 drachms of Spec-Hierae and presently took away the Pain 22. A Carminative Water made of Chamaemil is of great virtue in the Colick ¶ An Electuary or mixture of Garlick is good in the Colick ¶ A Cataplasm of Chervil is good Schroderus ¶ Ear-wax is a present remedy for the Colick if it be taken in drink Sâ—hwentfield 23. A Lark with her feathers burnt to powder in an earthen pot and three spoonfulls of it be drunk with hot water for two or three days is an incredible remedy for the Colick and all Pains of the Guts 24. Powder of the Huckle-bone of an Hog burnt Solenander given in Wine wherein Seed of Sermountain and Chamaemil-flowers have been steeped I have often tried to be an effectual remedy in this case Varignaâ— 25. A decoction of Coltsfoot in Water or Wine is a most effectual Remedy Welkardus 26. The white part of Hens dung powdered and given in Pansey or Pimpernel-water is a present Remedy especially for children Zimâ—ra 27. Cinquefoil dried and powdered and 2 drachms of it drunk in generous Wine is a present Remedy Colica Hysterica or the Hysterick Colick It s Description and Cure THere is a sort of Hysterick disease that vexeth some Women and is so exactly like a bilious Colick as well in the sharpness of Pain as in situation even then also yellow and green humours being cast up by Vomit that I must treat of it lest it be taken for the bilious Colick Women who are of a lax and crude habit of body do contend with this evil above others and they that have laboured sometime formerly of some hysterick affection or as it often happens they that have scarce escaped after difficult and laborious travel by reason of a large Child which hath too much exhausted the Mothers strength and nature A pain very little milder than in the Colick and Iliack Passion at first seizeth the region of the Stomach and sometimes a little lower which is attended with enormous Vomitings sometime of green matter and sometime of yellow And they accompanied as I have often observed with greater dejection of mind and despair than in any other disease whatever After a day or two the pain ceaseth which nevertheless within a few weeks returns more cruel than the fit before Sometime it is accompanied with a Jaundise conspicuous enough which in a few days vanishes on its own accord All Symptoms ceasing when the Patient thinks her self well enough the least commotion of mind whether it be raised by anger or grief to which in this case Women are very subject commonly recalls the pain the same may be said of walking or any other exercise unseasonably undertaken seeing by such causes Vapours are elevated in a lax and infirm habit of body When I say Vapours whether they be such or Convulsions of particular parts the Phaenomena may equally be solved either way These Vapours or Convulsions when they invade this or that region of the body produce Symptoms accommodate to the part they invade And therefore though they cause one and the same disease every where yet they exactly resemble many wherewith the wretches are tormented Which is clear from this disease that when it possesses the parts adjacent to the Colon is as like a bilious Colick as can be Nor is it less apparent in many other parts of the body affected in the same manner for example Sometimes it affects one of the Kidneys with a most violent pain whereupon follows Vomiting and sometimes also the pain being carried along the duct of the Ureter it resembles the Stone and when it is exasperated by Clysters and other Medicines that are lithontriptick and designed to void the Stone it long afflicts the Patient after one and the same tenour and now and then which is contrary to its custome because of it self it is without all danger brings her to her grave Moreover I have seen Symptoms produced by this disease that were altogether like the Stone in the Bladder It is not long since I was called out of my bed one night to a Countess my neighbour who was taken with a very violent pain in the region of her Bladder and a sudden stoppage of Urine And because I very well knew she was subject to divers hysterick diseases and therefore guessed she was not sick of that disease she took her self to be sick of I would not suffer the Clyster to be given her which her Maid was making ready lest her disease should thereby be increased but instead thereof and of Emollients as Syrup of Marshmallows c. which the Apothecary brought I gave her a Narcotick which presently put a stop to that Symptome Nor indeed is any one part of the body altogether exempt from the assaults of this disease whether internal or external as the Jaws Hips Thighs and Legs in all which it causes intolerable pain and when it departs leaves a certain tenderness that cannot endure to be touched just as if the flesh were sore beaten But as I have by the bye delivered some things pertaining to the history of the Hysterick Colick lest namely it should be mistaken for a bilious one so I shall by the way likewise touch certain things that make for the cure of the Symptome the pain which accompanies it For the radical cure which takes away the disease by taking away its cause is for another Speculation and Place Letting bloud and repeated Purgings which are most plainly indicated in the beginning of a bilious Colick have no place here except in the case hereafter mentioned For experience teacheth that the pain is exasperated and all other Symptoms grow more violent being helped on by the tumult which these things raise And thus I have more than once observed that the repetition of Clysters even of the gentlest has brought on a long train of Symptoms Reason also will second Experience which tells us that this disease is produced rather by some ataxy and inordinate motion of the Spirits than by any fault of the humours to wit if we well consider those circumstances to which for the most part it owes its original Such as are great and undue profusions of bloud violent motions either of mind or body and things of the like nature All which things forbid the use of those remedies whereby a greater perturbation of Spirits may be raised and instead
Sect. 5. he advises if a Fever come upon a Woman in Childbed to raise a Fever which must be understood of a Convulsion from Repletion which is familiar to Women in Childbed so a Fever is not improper as it consumes the Humours and dries the Nerves But seeing a Fever once kindled which the Arabians allow to be an Ephemera cannot be so moderated as not to transgress its Limits for a small one is to no purpose and oppose the disease and not hurt Nature we must think of safer remedies and indeed of bloud-letting in childbed-Childbed-Women which may be more safely done because it is without suspicion of Putrefaction which it is the nature of a Fever to cause Besides more strength is required to undergo a Fever than letting of bloud IV. Hippocrates 5 Aphor. 21. and 3 de morbis in a Tetanus without an Ulcer approves of a large profusion of cold water in the heat of Summer which Galen accommodates to other kinds of Convulsions that is by help of the innate heat forced inwards which consumes the matter of the disease or by shaking the Body and so removing the Humour sticking to the Nerves Paul says that this remedy is disapproved by latter ages Yet Valescus de Taranta l. 1. c. 21. used it and cured two of a Tetanus in this manner He caused the Patient to be held upright by four Men and poured 24 Buckets of Water upon his neck and all his lower parts and presently set him before the fire and half an hour after anointed him from his neck to the end of his Back-bone his Loins and Arms with Vnguentum Dialthaeae Martiatum Agrippae and oil of Castor afterwards he gave him some Chicken-broth to drink and so they both recovered V. Hot things are not convenient for a Convulsion caused by an Imposthume nor for one caused by a hardness left in the conclusion of an Imposthume because so the thick Humours turn as hard as Stone nor for that which is caused by a hot Vapour or biting It remains therefore that they are good for one caused by crude and phlegmatick alimental humours not for crude ones and such as are unfit for coction which hot things would make harder Which Galen 2. aphor 29. explains saying that a Fever cures a convulsion caused by glutinous and cold Humours whereby people are nourished For such Humours grow thin by virtue of hot things and partly turn into sweat â—nd vapour and partly into the substance of the thing nourished but crude and vitreous Humours with hot things do turn into knots and Scirrhi They err also who in a convulsion caused by alimental phlegm use hot things because neglecting method they consider not the cause and what is urgent For it often comes to pass that the virtue of the Nerves is so weak that it can doe more in indicating it s own preservation than the phlegmatick cause can in its removal For Galen 5. aphor 2. says Hot things resolve the substance of the Nerves Experience hath often taught me Saâ—ctoriâ—â— Mâ—th V. E. l. 15. c. 8. that people convulse through repletion with cold Humours have been killed by using hot things VI. A Military Man had his whole right Arm shot off with a Cannon-Bullet When it was cured a kind of Convulsion followed in which the Head was drawn to the right-side and his Jaws quivered He advised with several and when I came to him and he related to me all his Ails it came into his mind that some latent Venereal Poison might produce this Evil for he said before he was wounded he had a violent Gonorrhoea which nevertheless was perfectly cured I therefore advis'd him to try the Remedies for the Pox and having first Purged and Sweat him I rubbed him with Mercurial Ointment which raised Salivation Ozias Aâ—mar apud Riverium abs 10. and after the third day of his Salivation those Contractions and Convulsions ceased and the Patient was never troubled more with that disease VII In a Tetanus and other Convulsions of the neck Rondeletius l. 1. meth c. 37. says That a vein should be opened which is seen stand out in the first vertebra of the Neck ¶ Mercatus l. 1. Pract. c. 15. confirms it in a Convulsion arising from thick and viscid humours which being opened he says All the phlegmatick humour that contracted the Muscles is drawn out by derivation from the Neck But that vein is obscure Bartholiâ—us cent 4. hist 33. by reason of its smallness and in dignity gives place to the axillar VIII As to what concerns the way of Cure in general to be used for these strange Convulsions it will not be easie either to assign Remedies equal to these Herculean Diseases or a method of cure that is certain and confirmed by frequent experience for besides that these cases seldom occur we may moreover observe that the self-same Medicines which did this Patient good at this time will doe another or the same at another time no good at all The reason whereof seems to be by reason the cause of the disease consists in the discrasies of the nutritious juice which liquour is not always perverted one and the same way but it gives a different sort of morbid disposition out of the manifold combinations of Salts and Sulphurs and now and then it changes it Wherefore in such most grievous affections not every common Medicine in an Apothecary's Shop must be used but Magistralia and things proper for the occasion must be prescribed according to the appearances of these strange Symptoms A gentle Vomit Purging and Bleeding may first be celebrated and may be repeated several times as there shall seem occasion And as for Specificks and Medicines appropriate to such cases seeing the chief Indication is to amend the crasis of the Nervous Juice we may try several things and search out their Virtues by their effects therefore it is lawfull to try what remedies endued with a Volatile or Armoniack Salt can doe To this purpose Spirit and Salt of Hartshorn Bloud Smoak Flowers and Spirits of Sal Armoniack may be used When these things doe no good we may come to Chalybeates Tinctures and Solutions of Coral and Antimony may be given Which sort of Medicines must be given in such a dose and form and so often as that they may make an alteration in all the bloud and Nervous Juice Moreover if such things have no success we must proceed to Alexipharmacks which are good against the poison and malignity communicated to the humours It is very probable Willis Patholog Cer◠〈◊〉 c. 9. Medicines that are good for people bit by a Viper or mad Dog or such as are taken inwardly against Banes and Poisons may also be of use in the above-said Convulsions See also the method of Gr. Horstius in his Tract de morbo convulsivo epidemio ¶ Add to these things made of Cinnabar whose efficacy Hofman extolls in his Clavis Schraederiana against the Epilepsie and all grievous diseases
as we see it falls out in bloud vessels for the proper aliment of every part is indued with a conglutinating faculty because more or less tenacious and viscous Aches arising in the Limbs and especially in the upper part of the Arm that are most troublesome at night after the redundance of the serous humour if there be any is diminished by Hydragogues and Sudorificks also may be taken away by anointing the part affected with the following liniment Take of Vnguentum Martiatum Oil of Worms each half an ounce Oil of Amber 1 scruple Mix them But if the pain be increased either by this liniment or onely with clothing we must use this following Take of Vnguentum Popul Nervinum each 2 drachms Oil of white Lilies 3 drachms Mix them But if the same pains affect the Hip and have so seized the lower part of the Spine especially that the Body can scarce be â—eared upright and moved Balsamus Sulphuris Terebinthinatus is most excellent if the part affected be anointed with a few drops of it with which in one night I have cured several miserable persons Fr. Sylvius VII A Woman lay ill of a violent pain about her Hip caused by a fall anointing with Oils gave her no ease By chance I had some Melilot Plaster ready I ordered it to be spread on a cloth and to be applied about night in the morning she could rise and sit at the Table whereas before she was not in the least able to stir her self I have several times applied the same to people that have got aches by a fall Thonerus Observ and with success VIII When the same woman was troubled with a great pain about her shoulders shooting through her whole right arm caused by a deep scarification the Knife being thrust deeper in than it ought when other things would doe her no good she used this Take of Oil of Earth-worms half an ounce Badger's grease Fox-grease each 2 drachms Mix them Anoint the scarified places And rub the arm with water distilled of Swallows and Castor hot When the same woman was tormented night and day with a violent pain in her right arm beginning at her shoulder and extending it self all over the arm with a swelling and she could not lift it up in a few days the pain and swelling were dissolved by the following means Take of Emplast Diacalcit 1 ounce Melilot half an ounce Mix them Spread then on a cloth A Maid being tormented with a pain in her right arm was cured in one day with a Plaster of Gum Tacamahaca as several others where the cause was not hot M. N. was tormented with an intense pain in her Loins caused by a Defluxion Take the crum of a white loaf steept in Cow's milk then passed through a brass sieve adding Yelks of Eggs and fresh butter and the following Oil Take of Oil of Chamaemil Dill white Lilies each 2 ounces oil of Earth-worms 1 ounce and an half Of which take what is sufficient for once and apply it hot with a cloth She presently sound ease A Widow 70 years of age had a violent pain in her loins Take of Ointment of Marshmallows Anodyn each 2 scruples fat of a Rabbet 1 drachm and an half Oil of Scorpions 2 drachms Mix them The pain presently ceased In Aches of the armes and feet I have often found fresh Cows dung with Oil of Roses doe good A Woman with Child was tormented with a kind of convulsive pain in her thighs Take Oil of Swallows with Castor 1 ounce Treacle water Cephalick water Spirit of Lily Convall each 2 drachms Mix them Chafe it warm She was quickly well A Woman was troubled with a rackinig pain in her right Arm from her Shoulder to her Fingers ends so that she cried out Take Oil of Earth-worms half an ounce Fat of a Man's Skull of a Badger each 2 drachms mix them She was quickly restored A Noble-man was cured of a chronical pain in his right arm by applying Oxycroceum Plaster having used other things to no purpose Two great men who had been long afflicted with a violent pain in their Shoulders were at last cured with this remedy Take Soap dissolve it in Aqua vitae and apply it This cured a Woman of a violent pain in her feet Take of Vnguent Alabastr Anod each half â—n ounce Oil of Worms 2 drachms Camphire 2 grains Idem mix them IX In mitigating and driving away all pains of the nervous parts coming from a cold cause and from Contusions Balsam of Peru seems to have the preheminence because of its amicable and peculiar faculty in strengthening the Nerves and dissolving any inherent matter A woman after a Palsie in her left side was tormented with a very bitter paâ—â— all over her Chine and in the Knee and Toes of her left Leg and had a kind of convulsive motion in them but she was quite rid of her trouble in three or four times anointing A Merchant was troubled with a very grievous Sciatica and when other Ointments were in vain he anointed the place affected with this Balsam hot to his great comfort A Maid had pricked her right hand with a spindle after the Chirurgeon had cured the wound she was much pained and when other Ointments did no good she was cured by anointing with this Balsam When I felt some trouble from a Contusion of my right Hand which lasted above a month Iâ—em it went away at thrice anointing Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Fat and Marrow Pet. Joh. Faber if they be converted chymically into Oil are accounted a present Remedy to ease pains 2. An excellent Oil to allay all pains in children Take Oil of Dill Chamaemil each 6 drachms Rue liquid Styrax each 3 drachms powder of Cummin-seed 1 drachm and an half Let them boil up once Leon. Favellinus Strain it and keep it for use wherewith the pained place may be anointed 3. Sulphur vitrioli Anodynum is an excellent Anodyne Take of Hungarian Vitriol what is sufficient boil it in distilled water for an hour throw in pieces of plated Steel boil it for an hour so an excellent Sulphur will be extracted from the plates brush it off with a brush into hot water it may be repeated to a total extraction Edulcorate this Sulphur with Rose-water and keep it Joh. Pharamunâ— Rheumelius The dose is three or four grains with Syrup of Popies it assuages all pain and causes sleep 4. Take of the second rind of green Elder boughs scraped off with a Knife 1 handfull boil it in sweet Oil with water to the consumption of the water when it is strained add a little Wax to it Observ Riverio communic Make an Ointment It assuages all pain caused by Blisters and is an excellent remedy 5. Lapis Prunellae dissolved in some liquor as in Night-shade water is of great efficacy in assuaging any pains Rolfinck whose true cause is inward or outward
should be treated not onely as grievously wounded men but as having got a febrile indisposition from the disturbed frame and temper of the bloud Because the bloud in them has long since been too much exalted and being as it were touched with an impure Infection upon the accession of any sulphureous fewel it quickly takes fire After Diet the second care is lest the pores be closed or the Lochia stopt by carelesly admitting the outward Cold For upon a very small occasion when the order of transpiration is altered the bloud which was before effervescent is disordered And the Womb also at the approach of the Air contracts it self and the mouths of the Vessels so that the Lochia are stopt from running wherefore I would have Women kept at least five days in Bed The third intention remains that the flux of the Lochia may be continued by a gentle proritation of the bloud The cure departs far from the method used in Putrid fevers For in this we must not expect that the bloud touched with a febrile burning should cool gradually and then that it should conquer the adust recrements gathered in its mass and separate them by crisis But rather as is done in a Malignant fever assoon as the bloud begins to be in an immoderate ferment it is convenient that it be gently stirred by Diaphoretick Medicines and that its heterogeneous and impure mixture be cast out Wherefore among the vulgar and that not amiss it is the custome presently to give Sudorificks By this means the Bloud being eventilated its Effervescence is stopt and the Lochia that are apt to be stopt by the agitation of the bloud are provoked to run When therefore a Lying-in Woman is first taken with this Fever we must forthwith doe our endeavour that the fewel may plentifully be subtracted from the burning bloud by a prescribed Diet and forbidding of flesh and broth thereof In the mean time all cold and styptick things must be equally avoided for they fix and thicken the bloud too much and hinder its purging which is very requisite both by the Lochia and by cutaneous transpiration But rather although the Fever be urgent let moderate hot things be given Decoctions or distilled waters of Marigold flowers leaves of Pennyroyal Mugwort roots of Scorzonera and Bezoartick powders Spirit of Hartshorn fixed Salts of herbs c. If the Lochia be stopt we must doe all our endeavour that their flux may be again promoted If the Belly be bound it must be loosned with an emollient Clyster We must have a care of too violent provocation for it is manifest that in Child-bed as well as in a Malignant fever by much going to stool the strength is spent together with a fainting of the Spirits If at any time with a suppression of the Lochia there be a disturbance in the bloud vomiting thirst and watching I have known Laudanum mixt with Saffron often given with good success 2. If notwithstanding the use of these Remedies the Fever still grow worse and be sensibly encreased with a worse apparatus of Symptoms as if besides Disorders in the Bloud the Brain and Nervous parts begin to be affected Medicines though many of several sorts be tried are oftentimes able to doe but little good yea in this case the Indications do co-incide with those that are to be used in the Plague it self since the Lochia when they have been some time stopt cannot easily or scarce at all be brought again in a great confusion of bloud and humours Therefore it is good to quicken the motion by Diaphoreticks namely that the corruption impressed on the bloud and nervous juice and restagnating from the Womb may in some measure be cast off by sweat and insensible transpiration Wherefore here Bezoartick Powders and Confections Spirit of Hartshorn or Soot Tincture of Corals or Pearl are good I have seen sometimes a little hope appear by the help of these Medicines with the Pulse and other Symptoms growing better for a little while yet the cure seldom succeeded but when the use of these Cordials was left off the Patients forthwith died with a weak Pulse as soon as ever a Loosness came 3. While the condition of the Patient does still grow worse as when wich the encrease of the Fever the Pulse is weak and unequal and there are frequent shakings and convulsive Motions in the whole Body with a Delirium and Stupidity then the Physician having first given the prognostick of Death must insist on a few remedies and those generally onely cordial and let him abstain from Bleeding Scarifying Blisters and Cupping-glasses for such administrations onely beget hatred and calumny so that for that reason they are accounted as Executioners and hard hearted among the Women III. The acute Diseases of Lying in Women are sometimes attended with some notorious Symptome that is Quinsey Pleurisie Peripneumony Dysentery Small-pox and the like and then they carry the names of these affections I judge that all these Symptoms proceed from a certain Coagulation of the bloud and from an Extravasation of it But while the Bloud is extravasated in one part all its natural and critical Efflux is stopt in another wherefore there is danger lest while the bloud begins to be coagulated either in a particular and usual focus of congelation or universally in its whole mass the running of the Lochia be forthwith stopt which truly usually happens and therefore these Diseases are usually mortal to Lying-in Women Among these the Quinsey Pleurisie and Peripneumony because of the Analogy of their Cause and Cure may be considered together When a Lying-in Woman is affected with any of these at the very first we must endeavour that the Bloud which is fixt any where and begun to be extravasated may be restored to circulation and not cause an Imposthume because Lying-in Women are very seldom when they are taken with these Symptomatical Fevers cured either by abscess of the matter or spitting Wherefore internal Remedies which melt the bloud and free it from Coagulation must be used such as are especially Diaphoreticks full of a volatile Salt as Spirit of Harts-horn Soot Urine and also the Salts themselves also testaceous and bezoatick powders Lapis prunellae Decoctions and Juleps of Vegetables that provoke the Menses or Urine among which things appropriate to the Womb may be mixt not neglecting things externally discutient In the mean time let the impetuous motion and immoderate effervescence of the bloud be put far away and the recrements thereof be still carried downward by all means possible frictions c. By bleeding if the plethory be great in the whole and the inflammation very acute in any part And if necessity be urgent in the Arme after this another bleeding in the Legs if it can be admitted may follow But I must caution you that you must be very carefull how you practise bleeding in these cases for unless it give ease which I know seldom so happens presently the Pulse grows weak
the greatest part of these humours will go to the urinary passages Idem VI. There are some that maintain all manner of Womens Whites may be cured by diuretick Medicines but they are in a manifest errour The causes must be distinguished and according to the various nature of them different methods of cure must be insisted on This Disease comes sometimes from the fault of the whole body and sometimes of the womb When the whole body is full of an ill habit or cacochymie or the Liver is obstructed or the Spleen or Stomach is weak or the Head supplies excrements then the womb may be thus troubled We must consider what humours abound hot or cold and how they are affected For it shews they are hot when this excrement is sharp and scalding so as it eats whatever part it touches and sometimes causes itching and Ulcers or chaps with a sense of heat besides when it is stinking and yellow It will doe well to consider here the temperament natural and acquisititious the preceding causes the habit of the body and season of the year Contrary signs will indicate contrary humours When therefore the flux in the womb comes from these causes when hot and bilious humours abound I most suspect this method of cure by Diureticks For who can think that a hot Disease can be removed by very hot and drying Medicines for suppose that evacuation made by Diureticks may doe some good certainly greater damage will ensue from increase of the quality Indeed it is my custome to reduce such bodies to a good state Universals premised with a Ptisan well prepared adding the greater cold Seeds And I do profess I have often cured with Asses and Goats milk uterine fluxes that have been given over by other Physicians in thin bodies with sharp humours This is my peculiar method The first four days I give a quart of Milk that the whole Body may be well purged and 10 two quarts for fifteen days but boiled and the days following to forty one in which time I generally found they were cured I give Milk chalybeate A most certain and rare Remedy But if the humours be cold and there be obstructions in the Bowels if there be a cold intemperature of the whole or of the principal parts who will deny Diureticks given according to art Does any one doubt but they have a deobstruent heating cutting and cleansing faculty Augenius VII Hippocrates 2. de morb Mul. vers 116. among divers sorts of Uterine fluxes propounds the yellow flux in which what is voided is like a rotten Egg when the white and yelk are mixt together from a mixture of which a yellow colour arises which indicates vitelline Bile Hippocrates cures this Flux thus First he purges upwards with Hellebore and then downwards that the whole body may be rid of the Cacochymie Secondly he orders a moistning and temperate Diet which may cool and qualifie the hot and sharp humours Then he gives astringent Medicines which may stop the flux and he changes the Diet into a contrary course If the Disease do not give way to these things he returns to the former Diet which he orders to be continued so long till the acrimony of the humours abate which the heating of he Ulcers the abating of the Inflammation and what is voided will shew for then he finishes the Cure by Exsiccants and Astringents Let the Moderns consider this method of cure who go the contrary way to work for they order a drying Diet first and give a decoction of the same faculty to drink And after they have by this their way of Cure brought the sharp fretting humours to the height of acrimony they betake them to a contrary method and turn their whole intention to cooling and moistning For they do not observe that by giving Medicines in the beginning which are actually moist and potentially dry they commit a double errour because they increase the humours by actual humidity which should rather be diminished by evacuations and by the drying and hot quality the hot and sharp quality of the same humours is intended and the hot intemperature of the Bowels if there be any is increased and by this means they give assistence to the Disease and its Cause And when as afterwards they betake themselves to coolers and moistners they commit other two faults for by coolers they clog the body full of sharp humours and by moistners they dissolve the humours which had formerly been dried by the preceding exsiccation Martianus câ—m in cit loc whereby they make the Patient every day worse VIII Astringents must-never be used till the antecedent matter be well evacuated and derived otherwise those humours retained run to the more noble parts and cause grievous symptoms As Galen writes it befell Boëthius his Wife whose Belly swelled with the preposterous use of Astringents the serous humours being retained which used before to be evacuated This also must be observed that while we use Astringents the antecedent matter may be diverted another way and the breeding of it hindred Riverius IX They do not advise ill who in the Whites order Issues in the Hips and in the inside of the Legs for so they affirm the Whites are amended while the serous matter is averted to the crural Veins They are good especially if the Disease be inveterate From Galen 5. Aph. 56. it is evident that among the causes which hinder monthly purgation this is not the least when the humours incline some other way than to the womb like as he said that some excretions whether natural or made by Art as Ulcers do make revulsion of and derive the bloud from the womb and transfer it to other parts The same judgment may be given of vitious humours falling upon the womb Do not we also know from Hippocrates that making much water in the night signifies that one goes but little to stool Quâ—ius de Quaesitis X. I have observed in Women that were never before troubled with the Whites they have followed the taking of a Purge when Nature by taking one has been excited to other excretions and that many Women when they have been bathing have contracted this Disease not by Contagion but because by the constant use of the Bath as Nature discharges the excrements by Sweat so also the same by this excretion expells especially what is too thick to be carried off by Sweat Platerus XI The Arteries of the Nose and partly also the Veins discharge their excrementitious humidities into the spongy parts about the Nose and Jaws for these Vessels are divaricated in the flesh of the Nostrils and Jaws like Spiders-webs and sweat out a kind of dew just as water sweats through earthen ware before it is glazed But how comes it to pass that many void little or nothing at the Nose I answer that very few are found who are of so happy a temper as to be void of excrements This Driness of the Nose and
or old milk be better V. Whether a Nurse who has her menstrua should be rejected VI. Whether great or small Breasts should be preferred VII Whether a Nurse must always be interdicted coition VIII When a fault in the Milk must be amended IX The way of making Pap. X. When the Child should be weaned XI Purging by the Nurse's milk XII It must always be done by gentle things XIII The way of giving Medicines by force XIV Their Diseases are very hard to cure XV. Affectus or The Diseases Ani Procidentia or The falling out of the Arse-gut If it be with Inflammation Cupping-glasses are good XVI The use of Astringent Powders XVII A Torpedo applied is a fallacious Medicine XVIII Cauteries must be applied in a pertinacious falling XIX How it must be put up when hindred by mucus XX. Aphthae or A Thrush See Aphthae BOOK I. Where Cupping-glasses must be set XXI If it be malignant we must have regard to the Age. XXII Ingratefull things must not be put into the mouth XXIII Whether Pomegranates be hurtfull XXIV Sometimes there is need of stronger Medicines XXV Whether Butter be proper XXVI A grievous one cured by the use of Laudanum XXVII Atrophia or Want of Nourishment See Atrophia BOOK I. The enumeration of the Causes XXVIII The Cure of one caused by a cold humour XXIX The Cure of it accompanied with the Rickets XXX The Cure of one complicated with a Loosness XXXI One caused by Worms XXXII The Cure of it from Bewitching XXXIII Aurium Dolor Inflammatio or A Pain or Inflammation of the Ears See Aurium Affectus BOOK I. Whether Cupping-glasses must be applied and Issues made XXXIV Water must never be poured into them XXXV Whether the White of an Egg be convenient in an Inflammation XXXVI Catarrhus or A Catarrh See Catarrhus BOOK III. Whether pouring Water upon the Head be safe XXXVII Diureticks sometimes doe good XXXVIII Claudicatio or Halting The Cure of it when it comes without putting out of joint XXXIX Convulsivi Motus Convulsive Motions See Convulsio BOOK III. Convulsion following Dentition cured by Bloudletting XL. The prevention of one imminent XLI The Cure of an actual one XLII When it 's caused by breeding of Teeth how it may be prevented XLIII In this case procuring of Sleep and taking of Antispasmodicks does good XLIV The Cure when the Cause lies in the Head XLV The Cure when it lies in the parts of the lowest Belly XLVI The Cure when it comes from the Stomach and Guts XLVII Dentitio or Breeding of Teeth A Hare's Brain is good XLVIII A spurious Dentition XLIX The chirurgical Cure of a difficult Dentition because of the hardness of the Gums L. Diarrhoea or A Loosness Stopt by putting a Child that was weaned to the Breast again LI. Whence green stools come LII Quassatio Vertebrarum Dorsi or A Wrenching of the Back The way to restore it LIII Epilepsia or The Falling-sickness See before Convulsion Cured by purging the Meconium or Ordure it is born with LIV. Whether burning the hind part of the Head be good LV. When and for whom it is convenient LVI It must be done with great caution LVII LVIII The efficacy of Aniseeds LIX The use of Antepileptick powders is not safe LX. Febris or A Fever Scarification is to be preferred before Venaesection LXI The danger of Leeches LXII Caused by a sharp Milk LXIII A lingring one from Obstructions LXIV Spirit of Sulphur may not be given them LXV Hernia or A Rupture See BOOK IX Hydrocephalus or The Dropsie in the Head When we must proceed to Chirurgical Operation LXVI LXVII Where Section must be made LXVIII Apertion must not be made upon the temporal Muscle LXIX The Humour must be evacuated by little and little LXX What such the Ligature must be LXXI A Tumour from a sharp Ichor must be otherwise cured LXXII Cured onely by Swathing LXXIII An Issue in the hind part of the Head dangerous LXXIV A Contusion in the Birth mistaken for a Hydrocephalus LXXV Imperforati or They that are Imperforate Cautions about the Cure LXXVI Labiorum Affectus or Diseases of the Lips The Cure of their Chapping LXXVII Sometimes it requires generous Remedies LXXVIII A scabby Swelling which would onely give way to an Issue between the Shoulders LXXIX Linguae Fraenum or Tongue-tiedness It must not rashly be cut LXXX LXXXI It is tied in very few LXXXII Vnseasonable cutting prejudicial both to the Nurse and the Child LXXXIII Maculae Naevi or Marks and Moles They may be amended LXXXIV The Cure by anointing with the bloud of the Secundine false LXXXV They must be taken off with caution LXXXVI Obstructiones or Obstructions Whether Purges must always be given before Aperients LXXXVII The right use of Aperients LXXXVIII Whether we may use Chalybeates LXXXIX The right administration and preparation of them XC The moderate use of Wine sometimes necessary XCI Oris Inflammatio or An Inflammation of the Mouth Whether Honey of Roses be convenient XCII Pavores or Frightfulness Whether Wormwood be good XCIII Scabies or The Itch. It must not be rashly cured XCIV When the Cure must be undertaken XCV What Remedies must be used XCVI When Topical Medicines are proper XCVII Scrofulae or The King's-evil Great caution must be used in the Cure XCVIII Seiriasis or An Inflammation of the Brain and of its Membranes attended with a Hollowness of the Mold of the Head which in Greek they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of the Eyes a burning Fever Paleness Driness of the whole Body and loss of Appetite It is peculiar to Children It may be called Head-mold-shottenness most properly It requires a different Cure from an Erisipelas XCIX Care must be taken in the use of external Coolers C. The way of applying things CI. Tussis or A Cough The Cure of a Spasmodick one CII Whether the Breast ought to be anointed CIII It must sometimes be cured by Bloud-letting CIV Varae Tibiae or Crooked Legs They are often cured of themselves without Chirurgery CV Variolae or Small-pox See BOOK XVIII Ventris Dolor Tumor or Pain and Swelling of the Belly Often caused by touching of the Navel-string when it is cut CVI. By Milk CVII Hardness from obstruction of the Vessels how to be cured CVIII Vermes or Worms See Lumbrici BOOK X. They must be killed before they be carried off CIX Sweet things must be mixt with bitter CX Clysters must be sweet CXI Medicines must not be violent CXII They must be given when the Stomach is empty CXIII The efficacy of Coralwort CXIV They are easily dissolved CXV The Cure is not the same when there is a Fever as when there is none CXVI How they must be killed when there is a Loosness CXVII Whether a Decoction of Guaiacum be proper CXVIII Whether Treacle may be given CXIX Quicksilver not proper for all Ages CXX The way of giving Aloes CXXI Crudities which breed them must be taken away CXXII Vigiliae or Want of
insensible transpiration by Urine or Stool But these are seldom seen in Children for in them the dissipating heat or consuming drought usually waste the humidity that should nourish The external cause is either the aestuating dissipating heat or the violent cold extinguishing the heat or the use of Salt meats XXIX If the heat appear as it were extinct by a cold disease or humour then indeed Children are usually very hungry although sometimes their stomachs are squeamish that is when Phlegm putrefies or becomes mucilaginous and the more they cram the leaner they grow Moreover they are of a white colour and though their body be extenuated their eyes face and feet swell being forerunners of another mischief You cannot heal this disease by change or increase of diet but by such things as waste and concoct the Phlegm and make the heat more brisk In which case it is good for Children when they are weaâ—â—ed to take a very little Wine with Biscoct-bread or in drink so it be much diluted for it concocts phlegm and crude juices corrects the cold intemperature and excites the heat Aromaticks are also good which if they cannot be given a sucking Child you mix them in all the Nurses victuals for they thin the Milk and make it pass easily XXX There is a Disease very frequent in these Countries in which Children that suck and those that are weaned are consumed with an Atrophy to a Skeleton onely the Belly as if there were a soft Parenchyma lying underneath being swelled and so far like the Rickets but that there is not such a tension of the joints and for the rest it comes without any concourse of Worms or of any other cause but onely through some fault in the lacteal ducts and glands For the method and cure of the common Consumption turning to an Ascites of a Tympany and the like Diseases sometimes used in this case has not been sufficient Nor yet afterwards have the remedies usually prescribed in a more accurate method for Schirrhi and abscesses of the mesentery wâ—ich indeed are rather the products of the inveterate Disease Laxatives Purgatives Aperients and Strengthners and external Anointings Bathings c. been found to satisfie expectation or to hinder those that are so held from being carried off at last by an Hectick with a supervening Epilepsie colliquative Flux Lientery and other Symptoms Within these few years a little Daughter of N. was brought to me than whom in all my practice I have not seen one more Consumptive she had taken an infinite number of Medicines Being much intreated and the case being desperate after I had given the Prognostick I happened I know not how upon Tinctura Martis aperitiva Vitriolata and upon Arcanum duplicatum which it may be might go nearer to the root of the Disease than any usual things for all their known energy Therefore we gave for the first week every day and for the next every other day in the morninâ— 2 drops of the Tincture for every year of her age and at 4 a clock in the afternoon likewise for every year of her age 1 grain of the Arcanum And so in a few days she began to be better in plight and in a short time after Nature recollecting her self of her own accord she was perfectly restored and is at this day brisk and corpulent enough After which Observation being farther confirmed by reason I have after that to this very day cured several in the same manner without the help almost of any other Remedies And this Martial Tincture is made of Vitriol of Mars made with Spirit of Wine and of the Acid of Tartar each 4 ounces boiled sufficiently in 3 pounds of Steel water and insensibly exhaled in stirring to the thickness of Honey which by pouring on 3 pounds of Spirit of Wine is dissolved by digesting little sediment if all things have been done as they ought being left And so the liquour is saturated and after little or no abstraction or exhalation is set by for use and it may be farther tinctured if you please with essence of red Popy Dan Ludovâ—â—i Eâ—â—emâ—r Câ—â—â—m aâ— 3. obs 251. You may have Arcanum duplicatum in Schroder Pharmac l. 3. p. 474. and Hofman in Clavi p. 344. XXXI A Boy two years old was brought to me Anno 1567. the Son of Mr. David Merveilleux Counsellour to the most Serene Prince of Longeville my intimate Friend consumed with a great Atrophy together with a Loosness His Breast was diaphanous if it were held to a Candle He was given over by all especially by a City Pastor who practised Physick I believed he was not desperate because he had a liveliness in his eyes And he was recovered by taking Milk in which red-hot Flints had been quenched adding Sugar of Roses and a little terra sigillata Within a month he throve upon it now he is a lusty Man and follows the Wars XXXII Sometimes Childrens Atrophy comes from Worms which are bred under the Skin in fleshy parts of corrupt nutriment This is an approved cure Take 1 ounce or 2 of Bryony-root boil it in Lye of Oakashes till it grow like pap Anoint the Body of the Child with this either in a stove or in some warm place then the Worms put out their heads at the pores and then presently tâ—e Skin must be shaven with a Razour for so the heads are cut off the Worms and the cause of deficieâ—t nutrition is removed And this operation must be performed once and again namely till it be evident that all the worms are gone Then the Children must be bathed often in Bathes of a decoction of a Sheep's-head and Feet Mallow Marsh-mallow Pellitory and Linseed c. XXXIII And there are not wanting some who affirm that Women witches suck children lean In which matter which I leave for others to discuss it is enough to know that they are emaciated because we find children are bewitched because perhaps they are infected with the Touch Sight and Breath of some infected maleficious Body For their tender bodies are easily made worse by any thing But how comes it to pass that a beautifull and healthy child presently grows worse discoloured and lean You must know that such a sudden change may happen in children either because the child by its innate principles is at the very perfection of health according to the indigence of its Age beyond which it cannot go one degree nor continue in the same then it must needs go into a worse state At which time I think we should use no Remedy but it may be hoped that by a good moderation of life and diet he may be brought to the utmost extent of Age which he is able to live while Nature grows stronger and the body arrives at a more solid state by the same action of Nature For so it happens to us all while we commit no errour in our life otherwise that alteration is a fore-runner of some Disease at hand Or again
negligent and those that look after them put them too soon to their feet it gives great occasion to this mischief in Children and Youths oftentimes the same separation of the head of the Thigh-bone from the neck of the bone happens and it is commonly taken for a disjointing This errour in Diagnosticks often hinders the cure and costs the Patient dear In both cases indeed extension is necessary but it were far better to know the very truth of the matter Rolfinccius and by judgment to comprehend it Convulsio or A Convulsion XL. Let no man wonder that I persuade to Bleeding of young children since Bloud as far as ever I could observe hitherto may as safely be taken out of their Veins as out of old peoples And indeed it is so necessary that without bloud-letting we cannot certainly cure some Symptoms which befall children for example How can we cure childrens Convulsions when they are breeding their Teeth which come upon them in the ninth or tenth month with Swelling and Pain in the Gums when the Nerves are pressed upon and irritated by the Teeth whence these Symptoms arise without letting of bloud which alone is far to be preferred in this case above the most famous Specificks that are yet known Some of which doe harm by their adventitious heat and while they are believed to oppose the Disease by some occult quality they militate against it with their manifest heat Sydenham and kill the Patient XLI It is incumbent on us to prevent Convulsions in children or to cure them as they are beginning For if the former children of the same Parent have been subject to Convulsions that mischief must be prevented in them that are born afterwards by the timely use of Medicines To this end it is usual to give the child some antispasmodick Medicine as soon as it is born some give it a few drops of the purest Honey others a spoonfull of Canary-wine with a little Sugar others a spoonfull of Oil of sweet Almonds others one drop of Oil of Amber or half a spoonfull of Epileptick Water Some within three or four hours after the child is born make an Issue in the Neck then if it be of a fresh colour they draw one ounce and an half or two ounces of bloud from the Jugulars by Leeches having a care that it do not bleed while it is a-sleep Let the Temples and Neck be gently rubbed with such an Ointment Take of Oil of Nutmegs by expression two drachms Ol. Capivii three drachms Amber one scruple Hang a piece of Elk's hoof or Paeony root about the Neck The Nurse must take Antispasmodick Medicines constantly Willis XLII But if an infant be actually taken with a Convulsion because Issues operate but slowly and little it is expedient to make a Blister in the Neck or behind each Ear and unless a cold constitution hinder Bloud must be taken from the jugular Veins by Leeches Liniments must be applied to the Temples Nostrils and Neck and Plasters to the Feet Clysters which may loosen plentifully must be given every day Every sixth or eighth hour specifick Medicines must be taken inwardly Vntzerus highly commends the Gall of a sucking Whelp taken in a little Linden-flower-water A Learned Physician told me that he has known several cured with this Remedy Idem XLIII When Convulsions proceed from difficulty in breeding of Teeth as this Symptome is secondary and not so dangerous so in the Cure our chief and principal aim need not be directed to it but sometimes we may be solicitous for easing of Pain and for removing the febrile intemperature Wherefore both the Patient and his Nurse must use a spare and cooling Diet the Gums where the Teeth are coming out must be rubbed or cut open and when the parts are swelled and pained Anodynes must be applied Clysters and Bleeding are often proper in this case Idem XLIV Sleep must be procured and the raging of the Bloud laid In the mean time Antispasmodick Medicines must be used but temperate ones and such as do not disturb the Bloud and Humours Blisters because they evacuate the Serum that is apt to be poured into the Head often give relief Idem XLV When children are taken with Convulsions neither presently after they are born nor upon their breeding of Teeth but upon other occasions and accidents the cause of such an Ail does usually reside in the Head or somewhere about the parts of Concoction When there is a suspicion of the former as usually it appears from signs which argue that too much serous matter is gathered about the Brain the Remedies beforementioned ought to be given in a little larger Dose Moreover such as bear Purging well may sometimes take a Vomit or a gentle Purge Wine and Oxymel of Squills also Mercurius dulcis Rheubarb and Resin of Jalap are of great use Idem XLVI When the cause of the Convulsion appears to be in the Bowels or when Worms or sharp griping Humours are found to be in fault for the Worms a Purge may be given of Rheubarb or Mercurius dulcis with a little Resin of Jalap Formerly I gave a Boy that was strongly afflicted with Convulsions who was ready to die a Dose of Mercurius dulcis with Resin of Jalap He had four stools and voided twelve Worms and quickly recovered Idem XLVII If we suspect that the Convulsion proceeds from the irritation of the Stomach and Guts by sharp Humours we must either purge or vomit gently or doe both one after the other To this purpose gentle Emeticks must be given of Wine of Squills or Salt of Vitriol if the Patient at any time have an inclination to vomit But if you shall rather think fit to purge an Infusion or Powder of Rheubarb Syrup of Cichory with Rheubarb or of Roses with Agarick must be given And I have often seen the Convulsion cured in children by giving these Medicines in time Moreover in this case Clysters must be given frequently But we must not omit to apply external Medicines Fomentations Liniments and Plasters to the Belly Dentitio or Breeding of Teeth XLVIII Experience testifies that a Hare's Brain is good to breed Teeth for by its coolness it helps to temper the heat of the Gums and by astriction strengthens those parts perhaps it does it by a specifick property but it may be doubted because here a hot attenuating virtue seems rather requisite than a cold astringent one since the coming out of the Teeth would be helped thereby I answer That things temperately cold and moderately astringent do strengthen Nature so that the Heat having thereby got a temper may more commodiously perform its operation Horstius XLIX Strobelbergerus lib. de Dentium Podagra mentions a certain bastard Dentition when some Swellings bunch out in the back part of the Gums when children make a noise and sibilation as they suck the Milk The Physician may be ascertained of this spurious Dentition if he
easily be drawn into the Stomach and could not well be killed Idem CXII It is worthy observation that Medicines accommodated to the killing of Worms must by no means be violent for besides that the Stomach is offended by them the Worms being disturbed grow more enraged and cruel Idem CXIII The onely time to take all Medicines is when the Stomach is empty because if Medicines be given when the Stomach is full their virtue which is otherwise weak is dulled and almost extinguished Idem CXIV There is no Medicine which is so generally proper for killing of all Worms nor â—o present a Remedy as that they call Coral-wort or Sea-moss For Mountebanks use this Medicine and they doe Wonders with it so that I have seen an incredible quantity of humours sometimes voided with this onely Medicine Idem CXV Our Countrey Women think that all children have the Worms But when none are voided they say they are turned to putrid humours And they are not much out for as Worms inclosed in a Vial glass and covered up in warm Dung do presently turn to slime why may not the same be done in our Bodies whose heat answers to the heat of Dung Pachequur ad Riv. obs 57. when the Worms are killed with bitter Medicines CXVI Sometimes Patients have a Fever with the Worms and sometimes they have none When they have a Fever the coolest Medicines must be chosen When they have no Fever we may use hotter things Mercurialis CXVII And it is sometimes necessary to kill the Worms and stop the Loosness which the Worms cause Wherefore we must use detersive bitter things and not astringent ones lest the Worms when they are killed be retained and putrefie Let therefore Clysters be made of a Decoction of Lentils or Lupines and a Decoction of Colewort to which we may add Roses Myrobalanes or such things Rondeletius CXVIII It may be queried Whether Medicines that evacuate insensibly be proper in these cases as among others a Decoction of Guaiacum Without doubt if we consider the place where the matter of Worms resides the use of such Medicines will be no way convenient for this evacuates matter in the habit of the body Worms are bred in the Guts But notwithstanding since the Wood has a Bitterness in it and the Decoction of it is sharp and very bitter I think it an usefull Medicine for that it not onely by drying may consume the crude humours of the Stomach and Guts but is also able by its great bitterness and acrimony to kill these Animals And therefore a Decoction of the Wood may be usefull both for prevention and cure Mercurialis CXIX Galen indeed forbids Treacle to children because of the thin Texture of their body and the abundance of Heat for fear of dissipating the Spirits Yet I saw at Rome the excellent Dr. H. Savianus give it to children of two years old And I in imitation of him have given it several times to my own children when they were troubled with the Worms Wherefore I think the use of it need not so much be feared Jordanus de Peste Tract c. 7. CXX Quicksilver is good for the Worms in children but it is after they are three years old The dose for these is three grains For the first seven years seven or eight grains For the elder sort half a scruple They that are of a soft and very tender habit of body can scarce bear it but they that are of a fat and gross habit do easily For those in a Fever it is given in Grass-water for them without in Wine It is given alive not killed for so it sticks to the Stomach and Guts and causes cruel Symptoms But it must first be washed in very sharp Vinegar and then strained through a thick Leather Brassavclus Matthiolus and Frisimelica used it so Water wherein it has been steeped does the same and brings no inconvenience Augenius CXXI I know nothing that preserves children so well from Worms as frequently to mix Aloes with their Meat It may be done by gilding small Pills which for the smalness are scarce sensible Give four or five of them according to the nature of the child Augenius CXXII Because children usually are very subject to Worms which are easily bred of Crudities caused by cramming and corruption of the Food Therefore some Medicine which yet may not cause a worse mischief must be made use of for strong things especially in dubious cases must never be used Let therefore four ounces of water distilled off the Juice of Goats-rue suffice or a draught of Rose-water with Juice of Citron or Lemon or Broth altered with Sorrel adding the Juice of Citron Fortis Vigiliae or Want of Sleep CXXIII Want of Sleep in children is a Disease different from want of Sleep in old people because it is an absurd thing to think that this can rise in children from that cause namely because of Driness which causes want of Sleep in grown people Therefore it is well judged by all Physicians when children cannot sleep that it proceeds from nothing else but from Meat corrupted in the Stomach from whence while sharp Vapours are constantly carried to the Brain they piercing the Membranes hinder Sleep therefore the whole stress of the Cure lies especially upon correcting the Stomach that it may not corrupt the Meat and that Sleep may be provoked by all means Mercurialis CXXIV Whether is Saffron good in want of Sleep It seems not convenient because it heats and dries 2. It excites the Senses 3. It causes a mobility of Spirits wherefore it is said to refresh the Senses But note it must not be prescribed alone in this case but mixt with a cooling Syrup to which it adds penetration Therefore 1. It heats and dries alone but mixt with other things it procures Sleep by raising gratefull Vapours 2. Therefore it onely excites the Senses by it self 3. With hot Cordials it revives the Heart by introducing a mobility of Spirits but not when mixt with cold things Horstius CXXV Things to procure Sleep cannot very safely be given children because they dull their Wits Nurses therefore doe very ill in giving them Syrup of Popy that they may provide for their own ease Hypnoticks should rather be given to them than to children but they must be moderate as sweet Almonds Sennertus Lettuce Popy seed c. Vmbilici Inflammatio Tumor or An Inflammation or Swelling of the Navel CXXVI In a Swelling of the Navel from the bursting out of a Gut or the Cawl when external Remedies doe no good we must proceed to cutting or burning About cutting the same way almost is laid down by Celsus and Paulus But we must remember what Celsus says that Sucking children must by no means be cut but more adult children Besides the bodies of all children are not fit for cutting but such as are of a good habit of body
several are voided Wherefore by Mountebanks it is usually vaunted for the best Remedy Idem VII When the virtue included is of a middle order or mixt with others So the Italians have an easie and no contemptible Medicine for the Worms it is Ly mixt with Oil-olive and they give it with good success Idem VIII They must be mixt with sweet things so they are strongly drawn downwards by a Milk Clyster so Medicines may conveniently be given with warm Milk that with this Vehicle they may take the Poison So Wormseed is taken with Bread and Honey that they may be allured in that manner So for the same end Spiritus Vitrioli Philosophicus is mixt with Sugar Idem IX They must be given upon an empty Stomach and another thing must not presently be given after them for when they have any other Food that which is ingratefull and contrary to them is neglected by them And this holds good especially in round Worms and it is not improper in broad ones Idem X. Mercurial Medicines want a Quickner but cannot so safely be given to Children Therefore Glauberus l. c. says That Mercurius Dulcis given to Children for Worms does usually unless they be all the stronger cause a Weakness of the Limbs For at that Age all things are fluxible and lax especially the Bones and Nerves but Mercury is an enemy to these and so easily hurts Idem XI Medicines must sometimes be changed lest the Worms should be used to them especially in a more grievous case where there are abundance of Worms and those Worms come not away Idem XII External things must be applied to the Navel and not to the Stomach unless they come near it Not onely because the Navel is more perspirable but because it is the Centre of the Abdomen and therefore when Worms are in the Guts the virtue of Medicines may more easily be communicated to them but these external things must onely be used for a help Idem XIII Anthelminthicks are not universal Medicines Langius and Haupmannus their hypothesis is sufficiently known concerning verminous putrefaction its being the Cause in a manner of all Diseases Pains and Ails and usually of Death it self concerning which there is extant a Piece called Haupmanni Pathologia animata But as it cannot be denied that Worms are among Causes of Diseases so to extend them to be a Cause of all Diseases is absurd Idem XIV Evacuation is usually made by three sorts of Medicines either by some sweet and lenient things by things which act by their whole substance or by strong Purgatives Sweet Lenitives do not carry off dead Worms Sweet things get Worms out because they are allured and got out with the sweet food which loosens the Belly Things that act by their whole substance carry off the live and dead without distinction And the strongest Purges are bitter so that at one and the same time they can both kill and carry off Therefore things that kill Worms are in vain given before Purgatives Saxonia XV. They are mistaken who to kill the Worms use any slight Medicines which have but a small virtue to kill them for Worms by their expulsive faculty expell bitter things that are but gentle We may observe this when Children are troubled with Worms and with a bilious Diarrhoea at the same time for Bile which is naturally bitter does not kill them Wherefore unless we have recourse to strong Medicines as to Aloes not washt or to a scruple of Mercury made into Pills with a little Aloes and Turpentine Sanctorius we doe nothing XVI To evacuate the matter of which Worms are bred that is Phlegm Species Hierae are reckoned good if it reside onely in the first ducts But if in the whole Agarick not Rheubarb which many use for though by its bitterness it be good to kill Worms yet it does harm as it purges Bile and not Phlegm and when the Phlegm is left Sleepiness Epilepsies Apoplexies and Death follow Agarick therefore is good becaâ—se it purges Phlegm and by its bitterness kills Worms Capivaccius XVII Women commonly give Wormseed in Comfits or the bare Seed mixt with Honey It is an excellent Remedy for Worms being greedy of sweet things devour the Honey and with it the Seed which kills them But because it is very hot it may be tempered if it be infused for two hours in Vinegar and then mixt with Honey boiled up to the form of an Electuary which Amatus commends as the best Medicine for the Worms Riverius XVIII When Worms are voided in acute Diseases as in burning Fevers and other Diseases of old Men and Children we ought not presently to turn all our intention on them as the good women and Physicians that humour such women do which is a reason why Patients die when the Disease is neglected Wherefore the Physician must carefully consider whether the Fever depends on the Worms or whether Worms be voided for some other reason which are always contained in the Belly And if you find the Fever comes from some other cause perhaps it is a quartan tertian or quotidian and if no symptome be very urgent they must be neglected or onely such Medicines given as are proper for the principal Disease and for the Worms â— cletius XIX Though in round Worms it be good to mix Purgatives with things that kill them yet in broad Worms it is better not to mix Purgatives at first with them because the Purgatives do not suffer things that kill the Worms to stay long in the Belly but quickly purge them off But if Medicines be first given to kill them they roll themselves round like a Ball and are so voided and the Party recovers Sennertus as the Authour lib. 4. de Morbis writes XX. The Medical Intentions are to kill the Worms to expell them to hinder a new growth of them and to prevent symptoms But first of all it is convenient to rid the Stomach and Guts of excrements and of food for the Worms by some gentle Purge for we may not give a Vomit lest the Worms should be drawn from the Guts into the Stomach where they might cause more mischief I know indeed it is the common opinion that we must use bitter things but I am quite of another opinion preferring sweet things far before them to withdraw the Worms from gnawing the Stomach and to dispose them for voiding by stool Wherefore I presently give four ounces of Manna in Broth altered with Cinnamon drinking three hours after it a dilute Mulsa made with Barley-water and that the Worms may be drawn downwards and the Guts washt in the evening I order a Clyster of Milk Butter and Sugar Then we must proceed to killing things as Oil of bitter Almonds of Peach Kernels Wine of Infusion of Scordium Spirit of Salt Oil of Sulphur Spirit of Vitriol and the Poison of Worms the distilled water of
let alone there till the Ear and parts adjoyning swell then the Tent must be moved a little that the water which is gathered may run out When this is drawn out the Swelling of the Ear will fall T. Bartholinus and the Ophthalmia will be laid XI Hippocrates Aphorism 17. 6. commends Purging And Galen in comment And this is one Example of those things which are evacuated spontaneously and beneficially which the Physician must imitate Reason and Experience agree with it because Inflammations and Pains of the eyes are caused by very sharp and salt humours which must be carried off from the eyes by Purging and it has usually good success On the contrary one would think Purging should be rejected because Bloud not Cacochymie offends the redness and inflammation are witnesses Therefore Hippocrates 2. Epid. Sect. 2. tract 18. says Bloudletting cures a Quinsie and Bleer-eyedness Besides Purges disturb and put the Humours in Motion and drive them into the weak parts which are inflamed or in pain For a Solution we must know that an Ophthalmia or a pain in the eyes comes either from a Defluxion or a Gathering When Humours come from the Head or the Parts underneath and from the whole Body both the Head and the whole Body must be Purged Therefore Hippocrates lib. de Visu says Purging of the Head and the lower Belly is good for an annual and epidemical Bleereyedness For such an one indicates that there is matter continually sent from a Cacochymie either in the whole or in the Head whence arise the ends of Purging But when there is onely a Plethora Bloud must be let according to Hippocrates his advice in the same place For some such pains letting of bloud is good if the body abound with Bloud But where the Disease comes from a Gathering Purges doe plainly harm and not good for the eyes are weakned by them and through weakness their proper aliment degenerates into a bad juice And we may very well say that such Diseases of the eyes as are effects onely of an Intemperature and plenitude of the Head are irritated by Purges and the greater share of the fluent Humour runs to the eyes For the Brain sometimes uses the eyes as its proper Emunctories to purge it self which if they be disaffected do readily receive the Excrement But when the mischief arises from the Bowels below and from the impurity of the Belly it is safe to give a Purge Moreover you may not be much out if you say Hippocrates in his Aphorisms spoke of gentle Medicines and a spontaneous loosness But in other places of â—trong Elaterick Medicines which with their acrimony and heat hurt the eyes XII Indications for applying of Local Medicines are taken chiefly from the place affected For the laxity of the part the sensibility aptitude to suffer sympathy and vicinity especially of the pupil and humours of the eyes all these things will not permit us to apply any thing that is violently repercutient or resolvent For things that are too bitter and astringent though they be highly repercutient yet they irritate and exasperate these parts of the eye and cause greater pain And such things as are over-hot and sharp do resolve indeed powerfully but they increase the Inflammation and exterminate the part from the proper temperature of the eyes Mâ—ntanus Therefore things moderate in each faculty must be applied both in repelling and discussing ¶ Repellents must be such as by their excessive Coldness and Astriction may not condense the Coats of the eyes and shut the pores nor such as may exasperate the eyes by their driness nor such as may increase pain upon either score Therefore let Lenients be mixt with cold and astringent things as Milk Saffron Sarcocolla The same things must not be over-tough lest they grow hard and clammy and stick too close to the eyes And therefore though the White of an Egg beaten up with Roâ—e-water or the like be a most proper remedy to repell yet we must see that we mix nothing with it to make it hard and stick to the eyes Let Medicines also which are put in the eyes be carefully cleansed from their filth and very finely powdered and sifted that no asperity may be in them nor biting Therefore if their biting depend upon heat let them be often infused in water of Roses Endive Barly or Womans Milk If up â—n coldness let them be infused in a decoction of Raisins Sennertus Fenugreek or Melilot with sweet Wine Gutta Serena Visus Imminutio or a Blindness without any visible cause Diminution of Sight XIII If this Disease come of Humours gathered in the fore-part of the Brain which compress the Nerve it may the more easily be cured â—o Hildanus cent 5. obs 19. reports how a certain Man lost his â—ight by a Vomit who was cured by taking another For the Humours were driven to the Optick Nerves by the first and were removed by the second The easiness of the Cure shewed the matter was not fixt in the substance of the Nerve but onely lay on the outside of it XIV A malignant Vapour from the Womb cast a Woman with Child into such bitter Contractions of the Nerves that she was delivered and knew it not Besides she lost her Sight though there was no fault to be seen in the outer Coat of the eye which could never be cured without effectual remedies of all which Vesicatories applied to the inside of her Thighs did her most good by means whereof the bloud that tended upwards was drawn down so effectually Tulpius that she escaped Blindness XV. A young Woman fell into a Gutta Serena She resolved to fast her self to death and would take nothing but what her Husband forced her to take She persisted in this condition for a year and was made very lean her innate heat for want of food feeding upon her natural moisture and on that moisture also which caused the Gutta Serena So the Patient recovered her Sight and recovered by a restorative Diet. Formius XVI We reade how some Blind Men have recovered their sight and that suddenly by a wound transverse the Forehead some by a loosness coming suddenly The cause was nothing but a compression of the Optick Nerves by the Vessels near them that is by the Veins and Arteries being swelled with Bloud which were emptied by the Wound Wherefore sometimes and with very good success in the Blindness which they call Gutta Serena I open the middle vein in the Forehead Spigelius and let it bleed as long as it will XVII I am of Platerus his opinion who thinks that hurts of the Sight which are commonly ascribed to some fault in the Spirits may rather be ascribed to the ill Site of the Crystalline Humour or some faults in the other humours which often happen in young Men in whom there is no fault or want of Spirits to be seen and such faults may be amended by help of Spectacles
dissuaded him from medling with it Severinus Med. Eff. p. 113. though it put him to continual trouble VI. Ptilosis is a callous red thickness of the Eye-lids often accompanied with the falling off of the Hair a contumacious and tedious Ail the Cure whereof I once experienced by pricking of the little Veins in the outside of the Eye-lid which rise as it were into Varices and many others came to me whom I always cured the same way Among the rest a Religious Man who for six months could find no benefit by any Medicines was thus quickly cured that is Idem p. 79. by frequent pricking with a Needle VII I have often cured an Ectropium by Scarification And an Ectropium according to Celsus is a fault in the upper Eye-lid which turns up a little and comes not down far enough to shut or in the lower Eye-lid which is not drawn high enough but turns back and hangs down and cannot joyn with the upper And both are caused by some inward Disease and by a Scar and this not without defect in the Eye-lid which if it be too defective says Celsus no Cure can restore it So He indeed but I found that an Eye-lid inverted after the Cure of a Carbuncle so that all the lower Sinus of the Eye lay much open was amended by cutting the Circle of the Deglabrated Eye-lid And this happened to a Capuchine who by such cutting recovered the beauty of his Eye almost entirely Idem who had been despaired of by the Surgeons Palpitatio Cordis or the Palpitation of the Heart The Contents Whether Bleeding be good I. Where Blood must be lâ—t II. When Cupping-Glasses must be applied to the Back III. A Caution in applying Vesicatories IV. Whether Attenuants be proper for the cause V. When we must abstain from Diureticks and Hydroticks VI. Sweet sented things are not proper if it comes from the Womb. VII If it come from Wind we must avoid Syrupus de Pomis VIII Caused by a Worm IX A violent one in an Hypochondriack Woman quickly discussed X. If it come from abundance or heat of Blood how such things must be used XI The Efficacy of Issues XII We must continue long in the use of Medicines XIII Cured by drinking Whey and bathing in fresh Water XIV Willis his way of Cure XV. The trembling of the Heart differs in the Causes from the Palpitation XVI Medicines I. ALthough oftentimes Wind be found in this Malady yet because there may be Wind in a Spurious Palpitation which proceeds from the heat of Blood or inundation of the Pericardium it is not safe at the first coming of it to apply hot things Wherefore if the mischief arise from the heat of Blood first of all according to Galen's Opinion Blood must be let In them who labour of an Inundation of the Pericardium never unless very sparingly and seldom only that what oppresses the Spirits of the Heart may be moderately subtracted and that the Fever which perhaps for want of convenient Ventilation increases may not gain ground and I think this is what must chiefly be done in a Spurious one Mercatuâ— thinks Blood-letting hurtful because its Indicant namely abundance of Blood does not at that present offend For who will affirm that Flatuous Matter which is the immediate cause of this Affection can be taken away by Blood-letting Yet Galen 5. loc aff c. 2. intimates the contrary when he affirms that all who are ill of a Palpitation of the Heart are cured by bleeding and attenuating Food and Physick Which Tenet is not without reason for when abundance of Blood is in fault it indicates plentiful detraction lest the Spirits be suffocated But if there be no great Plenitude yet Bleeding is convenient Horstius Dec. 5. Prob. 3. because the Disease in respect of the part affected is great for a principal part is affected where we must take care by Revulsion that abundance of Humours do not run more to the Heart which is otherwise debilitated II. The Palpitation of the Heart as is very apparent to me is usually caused by a Melancholick Humour Hor. Augenius l. 10. de Sist c. 11. that is by consent with the Hypochondria in Splenetick Persons wherefore I always did my Patients a great deal of good by setting Leeches to the Haemorrhoid Veins III. When in time of the Fit the strength is not able to bear Bleeding we must use Leeches and Cupping-Glasses As for the place Rhases 7. cont applies Cupping-Glasses to the Back Avicenna disapproves them because they raise Palpitation by drawing the Blood to the Breast This contradiction is thus taken away Cupping-Glasses in Plenitude of the whole applied to the Back with much flame and deep Scarification especially if they be large use to raise this Tremulous affection of the Heart Therefore in this case they must be set to the lower parts But when the Body is evacuated by Medicines and Bleeding small Cupping-Glasses gentle Scarification with a little Flame applied to the Back do good for they draw the Vapour Wind and Blood from the Center to the Circumference Saxonia IV. For Revulsion of the Matter in a tedious and frequent one Issues and Blisters either in the Arms if the Matter fall from the Head or in the Legs if it be essential or transmitted from the lower parts to the Heart are good Concerning Vesicatories Mercurialis cautions us not to use Cantharides because they have a faculty malignant and adverse to the Heart but rather Crow's-Foot Flammula Jovis c. V. Where the Matter is sanguine almost all agree in this that Extenuating Syrups should be given Being swayed by Galen's Testimony 5. de loc aff 2. who treats a Palpitation with Blood-letting and Extenuating Medicines And they take their Matter for Extenuaters from Lib. de Palpit c. 5. where he reckons up all hot Medicines endued with an Attenuant virtue Penny-royal Calamint c. This Operation is to me suspected yea dangerous seeing Wind may be bred of a hot cause where Cacochymie or Plenitude is The place is in Galen 4. acut 9. For if hot Attenuants be given in abundance of Blood Wind and Vapours will be raised and they will increase the Palpitation Therefore Attenuants may be chosen but they must be cooling as Ptisane Oxymel Syrupus acetosus simplex acetositatis Citri c. And I believe Galen 5. de loc aff must be understood of Attenuating Meats and Diet not of Attenuating Medicines but of true Extenuaters And such are they which diminish Blood either of themselves or by accident Of themselves Venae-Section and all Evacuation of Blood All Purging by Vomit or Stool Sweat or Urine diminish Blood By accident a spare Diet Labour Friction Bathing The place is in Galen 2. aphor 28. where under the name of Attenuating Medicines all these things are understood And truly in abundance of Blood it is good to extenuate Saxonia that is to let Blood and diminish it VI. L.
Kid dry it stick a few Cloves in it put it in an Earthen Vessel set it in an Oven in which the Heart dissolves into juice Crembs Give it the Sick to drink 5. The following Water is a great Secret Take of Hearts of Hogs of Harts each N. 2. Cut them in pieces Add of Cloves Galangale Seed of Basil each 2 drachms Flowers of Bugloss Rosemary Borage each 2 Handfuls Let the Spices and Seeds be cut and bruised after a gross manner Put to them as much Malmsey Wine as is sufficient Digest them for 24 hours Distil them The Dose Herlicius half an ounce with Sugar 6. A piece of fine White Bread sopt in Wine of Crete Joel and eaten is admirable for strengthning the Heart and stopping its Palpitation 7. In a Palpitation from a cold Cause true Rhapontick is of incredible Efficacy if 2 drachms of it be taken in Wine or if Wine wherein the same Rhapontick Mercatus All-heal Aristolochia rotunda or Faenugreek has been inâ—used be drunk Paralysis or the Palsy The Contents Sometimes Blood must be let I. Vomits are sometimes good II. If it come from Phlegm whether we must purge in the beginning III. At first we must go to work with gentle Medicines IV. Whether Oxymel may be admitted among Preparatives V. Whether Sudorificks may be given VI. Or Treacle or Mithridate VII Why sometimes Sudorificks do hurt VIII How Sweat must be raised when External Pains accompany a Palsy IX Diureticks to be preferred before Hidroticks X. Clysters must not consist of over emollient things XI The use of Bathes sometimes hurtful XII How they do good in that which follows a Colick XIII Insensible Evacuants must be violent XIV Cure by Salivation is not good for every one XV. One cured by Salivation XVI Whether we may raise a Fever XVII When it comes from External Humidity a must quickly be cured XVIII There is no harm in making Decoctions Infusions c. with Wine XIX Whether Confectio Anacardina be safe XX. Sinapisms and Blisters when proper XXI Vrtication good XXII Topical Medicines must be applied to the Original of the Nerves XXIII They must not exceed in heat XXIV A Palsy from an External Cause cured by an easie Remedy XXV Oyly Medicines are not proper for all XXVI The Cure must be varied according to the variety of Causes XXVII It may be caused by Bile and Blood XXVIII That which comes from a Melancholick Juice must be cured with Chalybeates XXIX Ceasing after voiding of Worms XXX That which follows the Colick requires not the Cure of the Origination of the Nerves XXXI How by Pications we may help the Atrophy of the Limbs which follows XXXII The continued use of Infusions is excellent XXXIII Medicines I. SOme mention Venaesection which yet unless there be a Plethora seems not proper because here is not the same danger of extinguishing the Vital Flame as in an Apoplexy But yet if the Blood appear not to circulate conveniently and that from above small Pulse and short Breath I think Venaesection altogether necessary for the same Reasons which we propounded in the Apoplexy See Tit. Apoplexy Book I. And I recommend these two Signs taken from the Pulse and Respiration to be carefully observed by all Men because they are the principal Signs of the Blood 's Restagnation about the Ventricles of the Heart Sylvius de le Boe. and of danger of Suffocation ¶ Although Medical Writers do usually respect Pituitous Matter yet since it is manifest that it sometimes arises from Plenitude of Blood this may be let boldly I speak this because some fear to do it reckoning that a Palsey always comes from Phlegm I know a Woman who when she had been let six ounces of Blood could not be cured but when some pounds had been let she was cured though some Physicians were afraid of so great a quantity And I know two Men who by bleeding in great quantities and at several times were cured Therefore in a Sanguineous Palsy Blood may be let boldly not once only but oftner not in one place but several But if in the Palsy there be not a Legitimate Sanguine but a Spurious Plenitude Blood must be taken away yet sparingly as Aetius Paulus Alexander and Celsus are of Opinion For the last l. 3. c. 27. writes That Bleeding and Purging are good for Paralyticks In this case it must be let sparingly only to about six ounces Yet this must be observed That is the Palsy seize all the Parts of the Body but the Head the Haemorrhoid Veins must be bled If one part be free Blood must be let in that Saxonia II. Vomits sometimes do abundance of good in curing the Palsy namely because they substract Matter from the Conjunct Cause and they do not always drive further the Matter impacted into the Nerves but make Revulsion of it shake it and often break it into pieces so that when the continuity of the Mass is broken the Animal Spirits themselves do easily dissipate the Particles of the Morbifick Matter Willis when they are parted asunder III. There is a Controversie between Rhases and Avicenna whether we may Purge in the beginning Avicenna before giving of Purgatives propounds Preparatives and gentle Medicines Rhases at the very first uses Pilulae Cochiae and consequently strong Purgers I thus compose that Controversie When the Palsy is new through some great fault in the Head as after an Epilepsie or Apoplexy I am of Rhases his Opinion presently to give a Purge The Reason is plain for there is danger of the return of the Epilepsie or Apoplexy which we must immediately prevent by giving a Purge But if the Palsy be old in a determinate part without hurt of the Brain Avicenna's Judgment must be followed first a Lenitive must be given Saxonia and then Preparatives IV. In the Palsy our Ancestors observed this that in the beginning it must be treated with gentle Medicines and not with very violent ones whether taken inwardly or applied outwardly Certainly I have sometimes observed That a Palsy of one side has followed that which was only in a part and sometimes an Apoplexy has followed this the abundance of Noxious Matter being agitated in the Head more than it should be when any one has endeavoured to carry it off by a sharp Medicine And there is a great Error oftentimes committed in that when the Head and Body are not well purged such Medicines are given as by their heat and motion easily get into the Head and there they put the Humour into Fusion and Fluxion which Nature by rest and a good Course of Diet Solenander would have at length overcome and concocted Experienced Physicians know this V. I do not disapprove of Oxymel with other Preparatives although Vinegar be an enemy to the Nerves as they are dry parts but when they are imbued with and full of Pituitous Juice Vinegar is not hurtful Saxonia and especially diluted with
light and the hope of a living Soul dies with the Big-bellied Woman as the Emperor l. 10. Digest tit 8. speaks By whose fault Whether the Magistrates as without whose consent that Operation cannot be performed Or the Surgeons who are afraid of Vesalius his fortune who when he was cutting open the Breast of one whom he thought had been dead found the Heart then beating For it is necessary that the Section be made almost in the very point when the Mother expires or while the Infant does still stir and leap Nor does it any good to keep the Mothers Mouth open with a Key for it is a vulgar error to think that the Child lives by the Respiration of the Mother The third case is when a live Child is cut out of the Mother alive This is truely a Caesarean Birth but how dangerous this Operation is any one may easily see And though it must be acknowledged there may happen a necessity of making such a Section yet so many and such Circumstances must be observed that in the interim in this hazardous case no Man dares put his Hand to this Operation for fear of the disgrace For it is a thing worth the observation that after Roussetus there was never found an Eye-witness they were all Ear-witnesses only except Doringius who in an Epistle to Hildanus affirms that in his presence the Womb which was slipt into the Groin was cut open and a lively Infant was taken out but that three days after cutting the Mother died Which thing the Excellent Rolfinccius p. 182. Dissert Anat. writes happened to himself who therefore dissuades this Operation in a living Woman But I should earnestly persuade the cutting out of the Child if it could be known by signs that the Infant had broke its Cell and got into the Cavity of the Abdomen Van Horne as Histories do prove Roussetus may boast as he pleases of a Caesarean Birth and may proclaim it secure from danger I once attempted it but was so terrified with the unhappy event Rolfinecius Diss Anat. l. 1. c. 13. for the Woman died within four days taken with Epileptick Convulsions when the Wound that was made did promise well that while I live I shall never advise this Operation for fear that they who are decreed to die should be reported to have died by the Physicians hand But when I went about the work with Hooks and Pliers neatly made I never went away without accomplishing my desire to the admiration of the By-standers III. In difficulty of Travel Angelus Sala gives Mercurius Vitae a very strong Vomit to Big-bellied Women and I have imitated him in the like cases Frid. Hofmannus always with good success IV. Among Causes of a hard Labour this is omitted by all Writers that I have read to wit When the Childs Head just as the Mother is ready to be delivered pitches forward above the Os Pubis This is a thing truly not undeserving the notice for how much stronger the throws of Travel are and the more she labours so much less able will she be to bring out the Child unless the Childs Head be put upwards towards the Mothers Back â—arbette and then be directed downwards besides the Bone by the Midwifes hand V. Riverius his Judgment was That a Caesarean Section must never be practised while the Mother is alive because while she is alive her delivery is never despaired of He proves it by the instance of a Woman at Mompelier who had hard Labour and when she was dead the Child was found dead but yet delivered whence it is evident that the Child may be born at the very last throws when the Mother dies away because of her pains which she has undergone Wherefore no wonder if Hildanus procured sleep and strength to a Woman in Travel who was just ready to beat her last by giving her 1 drachm of Confectio Alkermes in 2 ounces of Syrup of Red Poppy and Water-Lily and Borage Water and most happily relieved her He said also That a great Wound in the Skin cannot be cured without Sewing nor in the Womb which is moister than the Skin and it has no proper Substrate Matter to breed a Callus VI. In a Woman that died after her delivery the Womb was found torn by the coming out of the Child The Midwives said that her Womb had a very narrow mouth a most violent Potion was given her by a certain Matron to force away the Child by which her pains and throws were so increased and the Child forced so violently that making its way by main force but finding the passage too strait it tore the Womb. From whence it is clear that this kind of Remedy must not be used but with great caution and not till we have first considered whether the Womb be fit for it and whether the Child lie right Hildanus cent 1. 64. before the Potion be given VII Sometimes the Mother goes with Twins one of which is dead and that always comes out the first the other alive presently follows Here I shall relate to you something of this nature which perhaps may seem wonderful to you that so you may know how to behave your self in delivering of Twins For once it so happened that in my presence the Mother earnestly contended with the Midwife that the Child was alive which she said she felt to stir on the contrary the Midwife urged that the Child was dead from many outward signs But at length it happened when that Child was delivered which was reckoned dead in the Womb and the Secundine was taken away with it that presently another live Child came out with its Secundine although before we could perceive nothing like it by outward signs Therefore they were both in the right for the Mother when she affirmed she felt the Child stir did not think she had had two in her Belly And the Midwife when she contended that the Child was dead did little think that another must have followed See I pray how variously things happen And let it be a Maxim to you not to use as some are of the mind an Instrument in delivering a Child for nothing is more certain than the Hands nothing more secure and gentle But to return to my former Story When the dead Child was delivered entire alone we searched if by any signs we could find out what had caused the death of the Child whether it was the Mothers fault or it came by some External violence We took the After burthen entire but corrupted extended it with our Hands and held it to the light We thought we saw something livid and contused in the right side of the Chorion such as comes after receiving a blow so that the Veins in that part were altogether corrupt and broken Car. Stephanus l. 3. c. 2. Anat. Then we concâ—uded that the Child was killed by a blow about the Mothers Womb. VIII Although I never used Quick-Silver yet I have
be applied XLII Fomentations are to be used prudently XLIII Emplasticks are not to be added to Liniments XLIV Whether we may use a Bath XLV Whether Sleep be to be kept off XLVI How to distinguish a Pleripneumony from either Pleurisy or Peripneumony XLVII A Pleurisy has its Crisis sometimes by Vrine XLVIII All the Reliques are to be exterminated for fear of a Relapse XLIX How to cure the false Pleurisy of Phthisical Persons L. A Pain like to that of a Pleurisy is induced by divers Causes LI. A Pleurisy resembling the Colick LII A Pleuritical pain arising from Worms is to he cured by such things as kill them LIII A Bastard Pleurisy from a Serous Humour LIV. A Malignant Pleurisy having its seat in the lower Belly LV. The knowledge and Cure of a Bastard Pleurisy proceeding from a salt Humour LVI The Cure of the Pain that attends upon a confirmed Peripncumony an Abscess or Vlcer of the Lungs LVII The Cure of a Pain raised from a Vomica of the Lungs LVIII Medicins I. IT is an Opinion commonly received among Physicians That that continued Fever which joins it self as a Companion to the Pleurisy has its rise from a Phlegmon of the Membrane that lines the Ribs on the inside and is near the Heart and so in respect of the Pleurisy comes under the notion of a Symptom Nor does this Opinion altogether displease me In the mean time I think on the other hand that a Pleurisy comes under the notion of a Symptom in regard to that essential Fever with which the Patient was first taken namely before ever the Pleurisy superven'd but when this comes on the former Fever seems to lay down its genius or rather to be changed into a Pleurisy which now from the aforesaid Phlegmon acquires to it self a new Fever and is attended by it and this later Fever springing thus walks hand in hand with the Pleurisy and stands and falls with it Indeed I think it would be very hard for any upon diligent examination to produce an Instance of a Pleuritical Person who was taken with a Pain in his Side which is so full a sign of this Disease before he was sensible of some attack of a Fever at least a more light one For that Pain sometimes indeed invades sooner sometimes later but as far as I could hitherto observe never but after a Fever and hence in compliance with mine own opinion I number a Pleurisy amongst the accidents that follow a Fever Now I suppose a Pleurisy arises from the precipitation of the Febrile Matter into the Pleura or Intercostal Muscles and that this happens indeed in the very beginning almost of a Fever whilst the Matter is as yet crude and unsubdued by a fit ebullition and so unprepared for a due separation by more convenient places And this mischief is very oft introduc'd by the unseasonable use of hot Medicins as the Countess of Kents Pouder c. and with the intent generally to provoke Sweat in the first invasion of the Fever Because Nature being disturbed by this means is compelled to expel the Humours as yet crude by any way that lies open and so the Febrile Matter is sometimes carried with violence into the Membranes of the Brain whence comes a Phrensy sometimes to the Pleura whence a Pleurisy especially where the Age and Temperament and the Season of the year betwixt Spring and Summer do also concur Therefore for the removal of this Symptom I use this method Forthwith I order if the Case permit it Blood to be let liberally out of the Arm on the same side with the pained side and by and by some fitting Ointment to be applied to the Side I also use Pectorals diversly accommodated according to the Circumstances of the Case But Oil of Sweet Almonds newly drawn is the best amongst these For ordinary Drink I enjoin Beer that is small and not at all sharp or a Ptisan of Barley Lykyrrhize and a few Aniseeds Moreover on the following days repeating Venesection I order to Bleed freely as the Case is Truly I seldom give over Bleeding till I have evacuated forty ounces unless somewhat indicate to the contrary And though one may not without some shew of reason be afraid that so great an emission of Blood should be dangerous yet the Blood it self that is taken away after it has stood a while will make these fears vanish seeing it is very corrupt at least after the first time and almost of the same colour with true Pus Add hereto that you will not find the Patient weakned proportionably to the great loss of Blood But we must admonish that there is need of Cautions that Clysters be not injected through the whole course of the method nor that any thing be added to the Pectoral Medicins which has a loosening vertue for the more bound the Belly is the more safely shall we repeat Phlebotomy on the contrary if you take but half that quantity of Blood I have mention'd and use Clysters and Looseners withal you shall bring the Patient in danger of his Life whether it be because Nature cannot bear both Evacuations in so short a space or upon some other account and this holds not only in this Disease but also perhaps in all others wherein the Cure turns upon this hinge Venesection Indeed in treating this Symptom I have often attempted to establish some way of Cure which might not proceed to so great a loss of Blood namely either by resolving the Humour or evacuating it by promoting Expectoration but I have not yet had the fortune to find any practice so available as the forementioned Sydenham II. Venesection is good in the beginning of a Pleurisy because it keeps the Blood that is somewhere hindred in its Circulation from too great an Effervescence but chiefly because seeing the Vessels are much emptied by this means they receive again whatsoever Humours were thrown off and so the Blood that begun to stagnate in the part affected and make it fluxile Likewise the Remedies that help most at the beginning of this Disease are such as hinder the Coagulation of the Blood or dissolve it whilst it is a Coagulating such as those which do very much abound with a Volatil or Alkalizate salt namely the Spirit of Soot Blood Hartshorn also the Spirit and Salt of Urine the Pouder of the Claws and Eyes of Crabs of a Boars Tooth or the Jaw-Bone of a Pike are of notable use Amongst the Vulgar 't is customary to give an infusion of Horsedung which Medicin indeed I have known often to help in almost deplorable Cases In the mean time all Acids because they coagulate the Blood more and hinder Expectoration do very much hurt in this Disease Willis de febr c. 11. ¶ Seeing Bleeding is the most powerful Remedy it is never to be omitted even in Women with Child or when they lie in while their Lochia or Terms are a flowing for Experience has taught that Women
your Hand and the Foetus being caught by the Legs must be pulled out For in this case we must proceed no otherwise than if some House were on fire in which case we break open the Doors if they be shut There is only this way of safety both to the Woman and her Burthen Obstetrix Gallic in obs and the omission of it hath been destructive to many XXIII The Wife of N. thirty years old in the beginning of her ninth Month received a slight blow on her Belly and the next day moving her Arms strongly in making a Bed there began a small flux of Blood from her Womb which continued for two or three days but ceased betwixt whiles But on the twelfth day after there flow'd out so great plenty of Blood that in three or four hours time she was brought very low First Bleeding her in her Arm astringent Clysters were order'd her but the Flux continuing and the Patient perceiving no motion of the Foetus whence we thought it was dead and that the Womb endeavouring to free it self of an unprofitable Burthen contracted it self continually and expelled the Blood but yet that it did not perform that motion so strongly as was necessary for the Birth we judg'd it necessary to use all art for provoking the Birth that the immoderate profusion of Blood might be stanched which otherwise was like to bring the poor Woman to her end Wherefore a Clyster was ordered of the Emollient decoction with Catholiâ—on and Diaphoenicon of each six drachms of the Oil of Lilies three ounces with a drachm of Salt with which she was well purged and presently after she had parted with it the Flux of Blood was much lessened which may seem strange seeing such Clysters are likelier to increase the Flux But I think this happened from hence that the Womb was pressed by Excrements contained in the streight Gut from which oppression so soon as it was freed it begun to collect it self and to restrain that preposterous motion that it might betake it self to a more natural But seeing after the Clyster was parted with the Womb attempted nothing but the Efflux of Blood still continued and it was evident the Foetus was dead to exclude it there was given a drachm of the salt of Vitriol in four ounces of Bugloss Water which seemed proper in two respects First Because by raising a Vomit the Womb was also irritated to exclusion because in Vomiting all the parts of the Abdomen do violently contract themselves Secondly Because the salt of Vitriol is endued with a very great astringent vertue whereby it may conduce to the stanching of Blood She Vomited twice pretty sorely and cast up much Bilious Phlegmatick and Serous Stuff and a little after her Travailing Pains came on which having continued for four or five hours this Potion was given to further the Birth Take of Dittany of Crete both Birthworts and the Troches of Myrrhe of each half a scruple of Saffron and Cinamon of each twelve grains of Confectio Alkermes half a drachm of Cinamon Water half an ounce of Orange Flower Water and Mugwort Water of each an ounce and half Upon the taking of this within a quarter of an hour with very strong and twice or thrice repeated strainings she excluded the Foetus whose Skin beginning to putrefy seem'd torn in divers places A little while after she excluded the Secundines also half-rotten her Lochia flowing moderately after that Riv. cent 3. obs 24. XXIV There is great difficulty about the use of Astringents and on that account the Cure is very difficult for if we retain the Blood by things that astringe then we run into more cruel symptoms because the clodded Blood being retained breeds six hundred times more grievous symptoms according to 6. aph 20. For as much as Blood in the Vessels is friendly to Nature so much injurious does it become afterwards when extravasated for it becomes like Poison How must we proceed therefore I answer That all Internal Remedies ought to be astringent and the External especially about the region of the Belly and Womb by no means astringent for by that means they should be destroyed languishing especially when they void clodded Blood Epiph. Ferdinand hist 3. yet Astringents may be applied to the Reins Pruritus or Itching The Contents A stubborn Itching cured by Issues I. A scabby one cured by Scarification II. I. MR. N. having been ill for some months of a Sciatick pain and a troublesom or rather painful itching almost all over his Body and could hardly go any longer leaning on a Staff I advised him to empty his Body of bad Humours for he was very Cacochymical and to free his Viscera from obstructions But he being averse from Physick I made two Issues one in the left Arm and another in the right Ham by the benefit whereof the Sciatick pain and also that very troublesom itching remitted by degrees And the acrimonious salt and naughty Humour the immediate cause of each Distemper being by the help of Nature plentifully discharged by the Issues it caused for some months pains in the Hams by twitching the Nervous parts Hild. cent 4. obs 75. II. An old Nun being almost for two years troubled with a scabby itching of her Hands which she used almost to tear in pieces with scratching when it could be allayed by neither Internal nor External Medicins Severin med eff p. 76. I cured it by making frequent Scarifications Puerperarum affectus or the Diseases of Childbed Women The Contents When Venesection is to be used I. The manner of Purgation in their Acute Diseases II. Cooling Alteratives are necessary when they fall into a Fever III. The allaying of the After-pains by giving the Pouder of the Secundine IV. When the pains arise from Wind how they may be allayed V. They have ceased by a cold draught VI. Eggs are hurtful VII Wine is to be denied VIII If they be costive how they are to be loosened IX Sleep is not to be granted presently after delivery X. Of the Fevers of Childbed Women see Book 6. The After-pains ought to be allayed XI They cannot be cured unless the cause be known XII I. AUthors disagree much about Venesection in the Acute Diseases of Childbed Women there are scarce two to be found that agree in the same opinion Omitting Circumlocutions I shall in the following Theorems propound here that opinion which comes nearer the mind of the wiser Physicians and succeeds the more happily in practice An Acute Disease invades a Childbed Woman either in the beginning or in the middle or in the end of her lying in If it happen in the beginning and the Woman be plentifully purged no other Evacuation of Blood is to be attempted than that which is directed by Nature working rightly and conveniently But if her Purgations be supprest or diminished let the lower Veins be opened and let Blood freely because then the Evacuation ought to be large according to
Funnel whose straiter end was to reach to the Genital parts At the same moment of time she also received the same smâ—ak in at her Nose and Mouth from another Pot which having penetrated the Woman presently cries out I must needs go to Stool which she had hardly spoken but there was heard such a hâ—zzing as when Gun-Poud r contained in some narrow Case or Squib is set on â—irâ—â— which Wind having thus burst forth forthwith in the vâ—ry moment the Woman was freed from her pain Being thus informed by Experience I have sometimes since then in the like case found the same Remedy profitable and beneficial Sâ—â—ander 〈◊〉 â— cons 1â— sect 29. VI. My dear Wife Johanna Spanhemia being always cruelly griped after her delivery which Gripes no art could allay although all things which use to be propounded were tried at length in the month of May 1675. being happily brought to Bâ—d of a Boy and but just laid down in her Bed being very thirsty after the pains of her Travail she extorâ—ed from her Nurse a draught oâ— very â—old Pâ—â—sâ—n whâ—n her Gripes were just a coming which were wholly repressed by this Remedy without any prejudice I had lately the opportunity to try the same with good success in a Cholerick Woman the Wife of a Clock-maker whose name was Morellus her Purgations flowing very well afterward Whether was the Orgasm of the Blood by this means appeased which was making an hasty exit and distending the Vesselâ— being turgent in them or irrâ—tating them by its acrimony Such a Drink may be very profitable in the Cholerick by tempering the heat of the Blood VII Those do amiss who give Child-bed Women potch'd Eggs betimes in the morning and before Meals for seeing Hippocrates 1. de morb mul. sect 2. vers 156. approves of them when the Purgations flow immoderately it is an evident argument that they have a vertue to stop them so that by their use the Purgations may be stopt when they flow as they should do than which nothing can be imagined more hurtful Martianus VIII Old and racy Wine is not safe for Child-bed Women at the beginning because the Pains of Travail are follow'd by a great Perturbation of the Humours in the Body which might be carried up into the Head by the drinking of Wine 'T is also suspected lest some harm might accrew from it to the parts which belong to the Womb or are adjoining from whence an inward Inflammation might arise Idem IX From the weakness of the Muscles of the Abdomen which contribute much to the expulsion of the Excrements Childbed Women are very subject to be Costive and not only from their continual keeping their Bed as is vulgarly supposed For from the preceding Travail the Muscles of the Abdomen are as yet weak In which case Looseners are given in vain from the too great use whereof the Coats of the Stomach become too slippery whence concoction is injur'd Something oâ— Turpentine or Aloes or Rhubarb are more convenient for these Hoefer Herc. med l. 3. c. 5. which both stimulate the Belly and have a friendly stypticity X. Cautious Women that attend upon Women in Travail will not permit them to sleep presently after they are deliver'd lest whilst they sleep too much Blood should flow out without notice Idem l. 7. c. 5. XI Those Physicians are deceived that following the Opinion of some Women think that Womens After-pains are therefore profitable because the flowing of the Lochia is promoted thereby the contrary whereto often happens seeing sometimes they do not flow though these pains be never so violent Add hereto that many Women have no such pains and yet nevertheless their Lochia flow and that indeed far better than when those pains are urgent Those are likewise deceived that follow Women in an Opinion that these pains do seldom or never follow upon a Womans delivery of her first Child but only upon the second and that they become greater and greater every time a Woman lies in For daily Experience shews the falsity hereof at least in these Countreys where yet many are possest with this opinion which is not only erroneouâ— but also hurtful especially the former because by this means the Cure of these pains is neglected and hindred by many esteeming them to be profitable though the neglect of them have so often been the cause of death to many Childbed Women Sylv. prax l. 3. c 9. sect 2 4. XII Wherefore it is of concern to know the true cause of the said Pains Seeing they follow upon the delivery the most frequent cause thereof is deservedly to be derived from those things which use to happen to Child-bearing Women in he time of their Travail Now there are two things which are the most observable the exclusion of the Foetus and the separating of the Secundines from the Womb and their exit out of it In the exclusion of the Foetus that is in the very delivery 't is sufficiently known that pains are caused but such as grow less afterwards and vanish by little and little But the After-pains we are speaking of are quite of another nature beginning a ter the delivery is over As to the separation of the Secundines from the Womb as also their exit out of it Women are sometimes wont to be pained anew thereby because they are often knit pretty straitly and firmly to the Womb and grow so to it that they can hardly or not at all be separated therefrom without the tearing either of themselves or of the Womb. Now none is ignorant how acute pains are felt in excoriated and torn parts especially as oft as any Liquor and chiefly that which is acrimonious and biting approaches them Whence it is no wonder if after the strait connexion of the Secundines with the Womb and the violent pulling off of the same and so Excoriation of the Womb and the afflux and efflux of the Lochia great pains be caused there But it is to be noted that those pains chiefly afflict Women both that are delicate and of an exquisite sense and have their Secundines also straitly knit to the Womb not to be separated therefrom without violence We must observe moreover if the Cure of these pains be neglected that every time a Woman is brought to Bed they are sorer and sorer which perhaps has given rise to that Erroneous Opinion concerning these Pains which was mention'd above Lastly we must observe that Women with Child do either hasten or are hastened too much to their delivery so that before the Foetus is come to its full maturity and the Secundines prepared for an easie separation from the Womb the Birth is precipitated whence both the Foetus is expelled with difficulty and the Secundines separate from the Womb and pass out of it with the like difficulty Add hereto that in these Countreys many Women with Child do too much indulge themselves in the use of Aliments that
are of too thick and glutinous a substance from which alike Blood being produced knits the Secundines straiter to the Womb whence seeing the Blood grows more and more glutinous 't is no wonder that the Secundines should stick closer to the Womb every Labour than other Therefore the primary cause of the pains after delivery is the too strait connexion of the Secundines to the Womb and thence the tearing of them from the Womb and so the Excoriation of the Womb But a second cause and which joins it self to the former is the Blood of the Lochia flowing through the torn and excoriated parts of the Womb and biting and gnawing of them And though all Blood whilst it moistens the excoriated and torn parts of the Womb causes pain in them yet the same pain is not a little increased when the Blood is more acrimonious than usual from any cause either through an acrimonious serum mixt with it becoming so by the Bloods stagnating every where and therefore also in the Vessels and Sinous Caverns of the Womb. Other causes may also contribute as cold taken in the time of Labour which stops the Lochia in part or wholly whence the same Blood being made more acrimonious by its stay causes a pain in the Womb whether there succeed an Inflammation or only the Serum flow forth and that little and sharp biting and gnawing violently the inner parts of the Womb. Cruel pains are likewise caused by Flatus distending both the Womb it self and also the thick Guts that border upon it Moreover as a Fever is oft raised from violent pains in the Womb indisposed through hard Labour or by an Inflammation thereof so every Fever produces pains in the Womb that is when it is first indisposed the which we see to happen in any other part The Physician may guess at the true causes of After-pains besides other things from the manner of the pain for if they be rending and return and afflict more grievously by Intervals he shall judge them to arise from acidity and saltness abounding in the Blood and carried to the Womb If they be beating and burning he shâ— l suppose that the Blood stays and stagnates in the Womb and that it inclines to an Inflammation or is already inflamed If they be distending and the lower part of the Abdomen shall be observed to be stretched he shall guess that the pains are produced from Wind. So when the Lochia have been before the pains 't is probable that these spring from the suppression of those at least partly When they flow too plentifully he shall guess that the Vessels or large Orifices of the Womb are torn especially if the Secundines were separated therefrom with difficulty If the Belly be bound and there be rumblings in it suspect Flatus When it is loose and especially when the Patient has many Stools with griping t is probable the Pains have their rise from Acrimonious Humours that are carried not only to the Guts but also to the Womb as also if the privity be withal eroded and excoriated Wherefore as oft as the After-pains have their rise from the tearing and excoriation of the Womb through the violent expulsion of the Secundines so often are such Medicins to be used as lenify and consolidate the Excoriation for which purpose all that are called Vulneraries are deservedly commanded amongst which when there is withal an over large flux of the Lochia those that are somewhat astringent are to be chosen to which both Anodynes and Narcoticks will be profitably joined by the help whereof the vertue of the foregoing is not a little increased and the pain allayed If the Blood of the Lochia be more serous and sharp let it be tempered with Anodynes which are to be used chiefly in the form of Emulsions adding sometimes Opium or Laudanum Opiate after which if the strength can bear it give a gentle Hydragogue and after that a Sudorifick made of such things as astringe gently as Avens Tormentil c. When the same Blood is rendred more acrimonious by its stay then because the acrimony which is then produc'd is acid things that temper the said acrimony are to be used but so as that they increase not the afflux of Blood whence amongst aromata or Spices those are to be chosen which are least acrimonious but are most kindly and withal gently binding If the Lochia be supprest from taking cold and the foresaid pains proceed from hence those Medicins are to be used which cure the suppression of the Lochia If notwithstanding that the Lochia flow yet these pains be produced then Sudorâ—ficks will be profitable such as are not very Aromatick nor much astringent lest the Flux be either increased too much or stopt adding Opiats that ease the pain and increase the vertue of the Sudorificks If an Inflammation of the Womb be begun from a suppression of the Lochia it is to be cured by both inward and outward Remedies Idem Puerperia or Womens Childbed Purgations The Contents The Secundines or After-birth are expelled by Sneezing I. Strong Frictions of the Abdomen do hâ—rt II. Whether it be safe to Vomit III. When to cut â—â—e Navel-String IV. They are to bs drawn forth warily V. Whether a Suppuration of them be to be promoted and expected VI. 'T is better to extract them by the Hand than to expel them by Medicins VII They have been expelled by the application of Astringents to the Belly VIII What is to be done when they are retained and the Lochia flow immoderately IX Though a piece of the Placenta stay behind there is not always danger of Life X. A piece excluded by the help of a decoction XI A Secundine brought out by a decoction of Chervil XII Sleep is to be kept off when the Lochia flow immoderately XIII When they are retained what Vein is to be opened XIV When they are supprest they are to be moved diversly according to the diversity of the Causes XV. When the Flux is too great how it is to be stayed XVI A suppression of them cured by bleeding in the Arm. XVII The same quantity of the Evacuation is not to be expected in all XVIII If they flow plentifully in the Birth it is not to be endeavoured that they should be kept flowing long XIX How to recall them when they are supprest by taking cold in Travail XX. 1. AMongst External Remedies expelling the Secundines Hippocrates gives the chief place to Sternutatories l. 2. Epid. sect 2 and aph 5. 49. Galen gives the reason aph 5. 35. that by their vehement shaking and toffing they partly excite Nature and partly shake off such things as closely adhere to the parts of the Body Namely when the Brain is violently moved all the Viscera are shaken as well as it and the Muscles of the Belly are contracted which contribute notably both to the expulsion of the Foetus and also of the Secundines Yet here is need of caution let Medicins precede that
great deal of Pus were cured in a little time by this Remedy In both out of the hole made in the Skin by Section there flow'd in three or four days time pure Pus and from that time their spitting such Matter diminished And after that Efflux increasing daily had continued for some time the spitting ceased wholly and the Patients grew quite well II. A Gentleman of a middle Age that was robust before and always healthful without any manifest cause grew to be betwixt well and ill as it were for being without Pain Vomiting or Cough at least that was any thing considerable he became in a little time languid without appetire uninclinable to sleep thirsty and hot about his Heart After that divers methods of Cure had been tried in vain the Disease shewed it self at length for whilst one night being more restless than usual he turned himself strongly in his Bed an Abscess breaking of a sudden in his Lungs he expelled by Cough a vast quantity of very stinking Pus The Vomica being burst such Medicins were diligently given as might cleanse and heal the Abscess might purify the Blood and clear the Lungs and deliver them from an imminent Tabes as my Tinctura and Spiritus Diasulphuris together with Pectoral and Vulnerary Decoctions and distilled Waters Likewise Linctus and Balsamick Pills were taken from day to day in a constant method and betwixt whiles Clysters and gentle Catharticks and Diureticks were interposed First Vaporations then Suffumigations both Sulphureous and Arsenical were used morning and night After that these had been used long and diligently without benefit he consented at length to the opening of his Side On the left side of his Sternum there appeared a Tumour betwixt the fifth and sixth Vertebra In stead of a Caustick I applied hereto a Suppurative Plaster and in three days the top of the Tumour became red and soft out of which being opened the next day there first flow'd a thin Ichor and a while after yellow and concocted Pus and afterwards it continued to flow more plentifully From that time his stinking Spittle decreased and in fourteen days quite ceased the Morbifick Matter finding both a more easy and more convenient exit by that hole Though by the effect it was manifest that the Duct of that Orifice did lie open inwardly into the Breast and perhaps to the middle of the Lungs yet no Liquor that was injected by Syringe could penetrate or be driven thither so secret and very intricate are the passages which Nature forms for her last relief that no hurtful thing can enter in by that way whereby the Morbifick Matter is expelled That Aperture of his Side was at length changed into an Issue and a Pease or Wooden Pill being put in it every day it continued to pour forth Ichor plentifully for half a year and the Nobleman in the mean time getting quite rid of his Pectoral Infirmity and recovering his robust habit of Body became quite well in every respect At last the Issue being translated into his Arm he carried neither the Disease nor the Issue any longer in his Breast Idem An Intermitting Pulse The Contents The cause depends sometimes on the irregular motion of the Animal Spirits I. An instance of a Pulse returning upon the voiding of a Worm II. I. THere are two distinct Reasons of the breeding of this Affection for though the Pulse intermit sometimes because the Heart for that time ceases from motion yet when we judge by our feeling it seems to intermit sometimes in the Wrist whilst the Heart is felt to beat very frequently and incessantly in the Breast because when that passion its tremor urges only a very small portion of Blood is cast forth into the Aorta in every Diastole Wherefore the Aorta being empty and flaggy and wanting a load to promote that it may nor act often in vain it sometimes intermits its contraction Moreover in Malignant or deadly Fevers if at any time the Pulse be frequent and weak it now and then also intermits not that the Heart ceases sometimes from motion for it does then especially labour incessantly but in as much as the Blood is not poured forth into the Aorta in a sufficient quantity at every Diastole so that this having not enough to bestow its labour upon idles sometimes But moreover the Pulse does sometimes intermit because the contraction of the Heart it self is suspended for some turn or its pause is twice as long which indeed any one shall easily perceive in himself or in another by laying his Hand upon his Breast yea those who labour under a weight or oppression of their Breast do plainly perceive of themselves how often their Heart ceases from motion Moreover this Affection does every where seise upon not so much the languishing and those who are ready to die or are dangerously sick as those who are strong enough and in most regards very well Wherefore it ought not according to the Vulgar Opinion to be taken always for an altogether destructive sign From what has been said I think it appears that the cause of this Affection depends not on the mixture or crasis of the Blood but only on the irregular dispensing of the Animal Spirits out of the Cerebel into the Cardiack Nerves and from thence into the Tendons of the Heart For we may suppose that through those Nerves being somewhat obstructed the Animal Spirits descend not to the Tendons of this Muscle in a sufficiently full stream or Influx wherefore when their store is a little defective the Pulse of the Heart ceases now and then for one turn till being by and by recruited with a fresh store of Spirits its action may be renewed Though this Affection do oft want present inconvenience or danger and requires no very hasty Cure yet for preservations sake lest more grievous Diseases follow some Remedies and Curatory Method ought to be used at least let the Diet be rightly ordered in every regard during the remainder of the Patients Life Moreover let a light Course of Physick be prescribed to be observed solemnly every Spring and Fall namely to the end that as much as may be any Morbid Seminaries cast into the Brain or apt to be bred there may be taken away and prevented Hither we refer the Preservatory Method and Medicins which use to be prescribed against Fits of the Apoplexy Willis II. Mr. N. a Man of sixty was ill of a Dysentery for many days and afterwards of a Tertian Ague and at length when he seem'd to begin to recover his Pulse appeared to be intermitting for three or four days with anxiety of mind and dejection of his Spirits The Cause betray'd it self which was a Worm as thick as ones Finger and half as long as ones Arm upon the voiding whereof the Pulse returned to its former state River cent 3. obs 3. A GUIDE TO THE Practical Physician BOOK XV. Of Diseases beginning with the Letter R. Rachitis the
Chesnuts Apples Rice boyled in Milk Pine nuts c. make the Spirits thick Rondeletius p. 1002. V. A certain Nobleman came to me to request a Remedy for his Impotency He was able to lye with elderly Women but was insufficient to get a Maiden-head because at the very first touch he lost his Seed but it was weak and watry like whey He was of a good habit of Body and Fleshy I said because I could not in so healthy a body see any other cause of his Impotency that I thought he had an Ulcer in the Intestinum rectum and that from thence the Parastatae and the other Vessels necessary for the preparation and ejaculation of Seed being continually blasted with a putrid vapor were not sufficient to breed so much Seed as was sufficient for a long tension of the Member and a florid coition While they wondered that I should mention such a cause I told them I had formerly seen the same case in Italy and that I remembred I had read of the like in Hist Mirah Marcel Donati I immediately ordered a Suppository only of Honey and it came out besmeared with much Pus Then I ordered some brine to be injected by a Syringe which he said after several injections that is when the Ulcer was cleansed made him smart much I judged when the Ulcer was healed H. ab Heer 's Spadac Obs 10. that he would be well But he neglected the Cure and died VI. I have learned from Soldiers that while they were led through Rivers so as that water came up to their genitals Ph. Salmuth that they were thereby made more Effeminate VII They are not to be harkened to who after over much Venus forbid bleeding Of which opinion I was formerly whilest I follow'd my Masters rules to a tittle from which I immediately declined when I begun to act my reason with Judgment and to the great benefit of several who either immediately or the next day after coition have fallen into grievous Feavers and tedious pain in the Kidneys From whom truly I did not take much less blood then if Coition had not preceeded taking my Indication rather from the nature of the Disease and its greatness and from the fulness of the Veins than from a false opinion of superfluous evacuation Because the languidness of strength which follows coition is not caused so much by evacuation of the sanguineous matter although Seed be bred of Blood as from the wasting the strength of the Body by the toil and heat which necessarily attend Coition But admit that not only the vital Spirits but also the animal and natural be spent sooner and in greater plenty by superfluous Venus than by any other laborious exercise of the Body Whether therefore is there so great an evacuation made of the matter that is in the venous kind that if Inflammations arise in the Kidneys which are often caused by too much Coition blood should not be let when the said Inflammations are raised by afflux of hotter Blood into the said parts and the Loins that are heated with too much motion Certainly no yea it ought to be taken away immediately while it is fluid lest being by long staying fixt to the part it cause an abscess Nor must we spare Bleeding if a Feaver take one without pain of the Loins if the greatness of the Disease require it since they that are given to Venus for the most part fair high Botallus to enable themselves Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians Against Salacity 1 Glow-worms which shine in the Night if they be eaten take away Venus wholly ¶ It is a peculiar Remedy if 3 drachms or half an ounce of Coriander be taken with a little water and Sugar 2. Omitting purging this Decoction is very much commended Take of white water Lilly 1 ounce and an half Purslain Lettuce Mint each 1 handful Rue 3 drachms seed of Agnus castus 1 drachm and an half flowers of white water Lilly 1 pugil boyl them in water P. Forestus To one pound of the Colature add of Syrup of Poppy of water Lilly each half an ounce mix them 3. Destilled Oyl of Rue is excellent taken inwardly and applied outwardly Hartmannus in a few drops 4. The use of Salt Nitre in the water of water-Lilly morning and evening is admirably good Hofmannus in too great Salacity 5. This is an excellent Remedy Take Oyl of Roses 1 drachm and an half Chamomil half an ounce juice of Nightshade or Housleek or Purslain half an ounce Argenti spuâ—a and Ceruss each 2 drachms a little Wax and Vinegar Mix them N. Piso make an Unguent 6. The immersion of the virile Member in cold water makes it immediately fall Fel. Platerus Against Impotency 1. Take the Patient's Urine as much as you please boyl it in a pot covered Joh. Agricola and if any one have bewitched him he that did it will be in great anxiety will discover himself and take off the Inchantment 2. If a live Mullet be suffocated in Wine and a Man drink of it J. Caes Baricellus Athenaeus holds he will be unable to use Venery 3. Take of Mel Anacardinum fresh Butter each half an ounce Boyl them together till they grow thick stirring them well The dose is the quantity of a Pease as you go to bed It excites Venus wonderfully 4. If the right great Toe be anointed with Oyl in which Cantharides have been dissolved P. Bayrus it will cause an admirable erection 5. Orchis Root whose Root is cover'd with a red skin but is white within Crollius does powerfully excite Venus especially given in Wine 6. The continual use of Essence of Amber is of admirable efficacy in curing Impotency to Venus Pet. Joh. Faber For there is nothing more effectual for restoring the innate Spirits 7. Extractum Diasatyrionis is most excellent in this case Rod. à Fonseca yea and the Extract of the Roots of Satyrion it self if a Pill of it be given is excellent to excite coition 8. Partridges dung dissolved in its Gall Grulingius and anointed on the Glans does wonderfully encrease Venus 9. The sperm of a Stag killed in Coition is a great arcanum to provoke Venus Hofmannus 10. Take of Oyl or Essence of Saffron 8 or 10 drops a little Aurum fulminans well edulcorated let it be given in Malmsey Wine when the party goes to bed It strengthens Venus to admiration Cunrad Kunrath ¶ Essence or Tincture of Salt impregnated with Sol is an excellent strengthener in Impotency 11. Nettle seed boyled in Butter and given for 3 dayes powerfully helps in Coition Joh. Marquardus 12. This is a most effectual Unguent Take of Oyl of Elder 1 drachm Pyrethrum Euphorbium each 1 drachm Musk 5 grains let the Palms of the Hands Hieron Mercurialis the Soles of the Feet and the Genital be anointed 13. Nothing is found more
effectual than the anointing the Region of the Womb with Oyl of flying Ants which is thus made Riverius Take of flying Ants two ounces infuse them in Oyl 40 dayes in the heat of the Sun 14. This is a Venereal Arcanum of great virtue Take of Civet 2 grains anoint the Glans therewith Guern Rolfinc It is a wonder with what strength it tickles and erects the Mans member and with what pleasure to the Woman that scent is received so that it is accounted by some as a secret 15. Hazle Nuts long steeped in Honey are very good for the distension of the Penis ¶ Also the tongue of a Goose in its whole substance stimulates Venus Rondeletius 16. This is an admirable Unguent for Coition Take Oyl of Frogs Oyl of Caepae caninae Oyl of winged Ants Oleum sesaminum each 1 drachm Pyrethrum Staves-acre Nettle-seed each 1 drachm and an half let them be powdered and boyled in the foresaid Oyls add of Wax what is sufficient Make an Oyntment Wherewith the Stones Reins perinaeum and pecten must be anointed ¶ If you would render a Woman very delectable and so as to love you much in Coition take of Euphorbium Pyrethrum Cubebs and Pepper each a like quantity powder them and incorporate them when you would lye with a Woman anoint the Yard and do the work Salivatio Morbosa or a morbid Salivation The Contents Its Causes and Cure I. When it is spontaneous sometimes not to be stopt II. I. WE at this time can speak far more clearly and distinctly then they of old concerning Salivation since not only the Passages and Vessels that carry the spittle into the Mouth are known to Anatomists not long ago but also the parts in which the same is prepared or separated from the blood to wit the Glands and not indeed the conglobated ones to and from which Lymphatick Vessels are carried but conglomerated ones which are endued with certain ways and ducts thorough which they pour their liquors that are useful for the Body into some determinate cavity As therefore in the natural and healthy state of Man only spittle is carried from the conglomerated maxillary Glands into the mouth so oftentimes in his preternatural and morbid state either a pituitous and viscid Sylvius de le Boe. App. ad prax tract 3. § 306. or a serous and thin humour is carried along with the Spittle Especially in these Countries salivation comes frequently of it self not only to Infants when they are breeding their Teeth but to many Scorbutick and Melancholick Persons who turn great spitters And I have often seen the same happen in a Thrush ¶ The Humours that are most frequently evacuated of their own accord by Salivation are for the most part pituitous as well the thin as the glutinous Sometimes also they are acid and salt for such are easily and intimately mixed with Phlegm and all these have some affinity with Spittle But as it happens to many Melancholick Persons that they void abundance of thin Spittle and therefore they are called Spitters So a great many old Men who are full of Phlegm and that glutinous enough do in like manner void abundance of Spittle but thicker and insipid whereby indeed they suffer some trouble but no great harm But there are not wanting some from whom not only gentle and almost insipid but sharp yea extream sharp humors sometimes more fluid sometimes more tough run out at their mouth which not only corrode and corrupt linnen and woollen Cloathes but any Leather and every Night for a long time and for many years most miserably afflict the Patients till their death and at last are the cause thereof I have seen several such and when to my grief I never see any of them Cured either by my self or others although now and then I have given some ease bâ—t never performed a Cure and most of them do find sharp Vapours arise from the lower parts which most miserably rack the Head about the Temples these cruel rackings are usually attended with the Flux of a most sharp humour out of the Mouth whereby the Gumbs and other Parts about the Mouth are corroded rather then consumed And such Persons are seldom eased by Purges but find more benefit from Anodynes and Narcoticks Idem Meth. Med. l. 2. c. 13. and other things which temper and concentrate sharp humors II. And as all the sorts of Spontaneous Salivation are Symptomatick so I have frequently observed in these Countries Spontaneous Salivations but critical ones and such as happily rid the Patients of chronical Diseases And no wonder for as all chronical Diseases have their rise from a tenacious thick glutinous and viscous Phlegm or at least have it joyned with their primary cause and the rise of this same Humour is mostly owing to Spittle so the evacuation of it with the Spittle seems more easie seeing when it is joyned with the mass of Blood it is again separated from it of its own accord Idem Ibid. that it may be voided with the Spittle Scabies or the Itch. See Book 8. Habitus vitia The Contents The way of its Original is not one and the same I. Whether bleeding be proper II. Purging is necessary and the Indications for Cure III. It must not be killed when the Blood is impure IV. The Blood must first be purified V. If there be obstructions they must be removed VI. A contumacious one gives way to Sudorificks VII Yet they are not proper for all VIII Cured by Cupping-Glasses IX By an Issue in the right Arm. X. Whether a Quick-silver Girdle be dangerous XI A pertinacious one gave way to a Mercurial Purge XII Cured by the use of powder of Vipers XIII The Cure of a volatick Itch. XIV I. AS to what concerns pustulous Eruptions as the Glandulous humour may be depraved several wayes so especially these three and therefore usually falls into a coagulative disposition with the Serum that is newly poured out of the Blood First of all the Blood it self being very impure and also dissolved leaves its corruption and recrements plentifully in the cutaneous Glands which there assuming the nature of a more corruptive ferment do ferment and variously coagulate with other juices that either come thither or pass that way and so produce not only Itches but several sorts of Leprosies Therefore often and constant eating of salt Fish or Flesh and dried in the Smoak or the Sun also incongruous Drinks and Poysons do commonly cause cutaneous eruptions and those often times horrible ones Secondly the humour gathered in the cutaneous Glands sometimes by mere stagnation becomes not only Itchy but oftentimes Corruptive wherefore not only they that have been long kept in Prison but also they that have lived a Sedentary Life and are used to filth and stink live obnoxious to these Diseases inasmuch as the Cutaneous Liquor being not at all eventilated is corrupted by mere stagnation and so obtains the nature of a
a Miracle XI Blisters applied to the Hips are of use to prevent Fits But I have often observed that Sinapisms applied to the Hips 2 or 3 hours before the Fit have diverted it Fortis which is a Remedy of less trouble XII Like as where the said Suffocation is urgent Castor is deservedly preferred before many other things and its Tincture with rectified Spirit of Wine and Spirit of Sal Ammoniack so where Cold is very urgent as well outwardly as inwardly as in a Syncope and Diseases of that nature above all things that I have hitherto yet known I commend the destilled oyl of Cloves which is not ingrateful nor do I disapprove of the oyl of Turpentine which is less grateful seeing mixt with Spirit of Vitriol it raises an effervescency accompanied with great heat Let this mixture serve for an example Take of Water of Penny-royal 2 ounces Theriacalis simplex 6 drachms Tincture of Castor 2 drachms destilled oyl of Mace of Amber each 3 drops Syrup of Fennil half an ounce Give it by spoonfuls it is good also in Hypochondriack Diseases One scruple of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac may be added to this mixture which will make it much stronger or a narrow mouthed Glass containing the said Spirit Sylvius de le Boe. prax l. 1. c. 19. may be held to the Nose for by its sharp smell People are got both out of Fits and the falling sickness XIII I observed in a Matron a most grievous Aphony often returning with Convulsions She had been Barren many years and upon the approach of her Menses was taken with a most grievous Fit of the Mother then with a small Epilepsie at length with partial Convulsions of Hands Feet Back and horrible ones all the Body over She upon using of proper foetid uterine Medicines fell into more grievous Symptomes for which cause we fell to Perfumes Musk to wit and Amber and we gave them in a small quantity with other Cephalick strengthening things with good success Which should also be observed in other Hysterick Women that is in such whose Head and Nervous kind has been weakned in their youth by Epileptick Fits Horstius ◠1. Obs 26. or some other cause XIV A Woman was afflicted with most cruel Symptomes Head-ach Belching contraction of the Body pain in her Groin gnashing of her Teeth sometimes falling to the ground speechless her Mouth shut so that she could not open it and all these things from the fault of her Womb. She having tried many Medicines to no purpose an old Woman coming in gave her 13 grains of Musk and as many of common Dragon's blood in 4 drachms of Orange flower water she was cured and never after had any Fits Solenander Sect. 5. cons 5. §. 10. I have given the same Medicine in the like case and it alwayes did good I have given it several times XV. In the cure of a pregnant Hysterick Woman we must take great care that Remedies be prudently administred and that violent and very foetid things be not given lest abortion be caused And the business must be done more by external than internal things Riverius XVI Aetius well advises that a Woman when she has recovered her health should not wholly be neglected but for preservation sake she should use Medicines at certain intervals especially at suspected times so that the use of them should not wholly be left off but the quantity abated XVII I and Dr. Dobritius had a Woman under Cure of Fits of the Mother who had a very foul Body She was taken about Night especially with a straitness about her Stomach her Heart was oppressed and almost all her Limbs had a tingling in them her Head also aking Various things were tried by us the Humours were prepared evacuated strengthning things were given yet we did no good At length through my perswasion we gave her Antimonium diaphoreticum upon taking of which she began by degrees to amend We continued it for a Fortnight in which time she was so much relieved that because she was better and grew weary of Medicines she had rather commit the rest to Nature than longer insist on Medicines I ascribe her recovery chiefly to the Antimony She indeed is well now but not without complaints of a weariness in her Limbs Doringius XVIII We often meet with Women who think they are ill of the Spleen when they are Hysterick By Hysterick Affections I mean these Symptomes that happen not in the Womb it self but in other Parts which have a Sympathy with the Womb for the Womb has some Sympathy with all the Parts especially with such as are contained in the Abdomen to which it is joyned by its Veins Arteries Nerves Membranes and by its Ligaments from whence because of some vitious Blood Seed or other Humours foul vapours expire into other Parts And there is a very great Sympathy between the Spleen and Womb by the Arteries whence come Hypochondriack Ails rumblings and pains of the Belly And this Sympathy is so frequent and familiar that many say they are only Sick of the Spleen Trimirosius when the Disease is in their Womb. ¶ A Maid of a Melancholick nature had for several years been troubled with violent Fits that returned often Most Physicians thought this mischief came from Malignant Vapors bred in the Spleen and rising to the Diaphragm It so happened that the Patient was held almost a whole Night with so violent a Fit that they thought she would dye every moment I suspecting it to be a Fit of the Mother gave her compound Balm water which is much in use among us I poured 2 or 3 spoonfuls of it into her Mouth she came to her self to a Miracle Thonorus Obs 2. l. 3. p. 185. and all her difficulty of Breathing ceased Whence we knew it was an Hysterick Fit XIX I was called to a Matron who was dangerously ill of Fits I found her lying with her Eyes shut and speechless I immediately prescribed her Aqua matricalis de Melissa Composita instead whereof through the Apothecaries mistake Aqua matricalis camphorata was sent a spoonful of which when I had poured into her Mouth she began to complain as well as she could What do ye do Then all her Head burnt as hot as Fire But when the other de Melissa Composita was brought and given the Sick Woman she immediately recollected her self began to open her Eyes and to speak and was recovered to her former health Now though Camphire in some Hysterick cases be no ignoble Medicine yet you may find many Women to whom it is an Enemy especially such as have a hot Head for by reason of its volatil Spirits it presently flies to the Head Idem Obs 3. This Patient was of a Sanguine Complexion and ruddy Countenance XX. Laudanum is admirable in Vapors that Sympathically annoy the Brain especially in Fits of the Mother mixt with Hystericks Madamoiselle de la Font after
thus He orders the deaf Persons to go into the Bath in the Morning that the Veins which are behind the Ears may swell with the heat of the Bath afterwards he cuts them thus turgid and takes away as much Blood as he thinks fit Oethâ—â—us apud Schanckium to the great benefit of such as are troubled with thickness of Hearing III. If any one be deaf who has a hot and dry Head I would not purge his Head It is sufficient to take away the matter below and hinder it from ascending for so the Head may easily be cured and so I would do nothing to the Head neither give sneezing nor gargarisms much less pump it Montanus Cons 152. nor any thing else IV. In a very stubborn Disease we must proceed to Fluxing with Quick-silver that if possible the matter that causes the Disease may be purged by the Mouth for Deafness caused by the Pox is so cured and perhaps where that is not the cause Fonscâ—s it may also be thus cured ¶ Reason tells us as much for Quicksilver softens and discusses hard Tumours and most powerfully dissolves Humours that are concrete and settled in the Parts and so perhaps may dissolve Phlegm concrete in the Ear when it will not give way to other Remedies Yet this Remedy must not be tried but in a desperate case for its event is very hazardous and dubious because the Brain is much damaged by anointing with Quick-silver so that either deafness or thickness of hearing takes some who are cured by fluxing although as is said before Deafness caused by the Pox is sometime cured by fluxing Riveriuâ— And fluxing well managed after sufficient purging seldome leaves any hurt in the Brain V. The cure ought not to be the same in Child-Bed Women such as are upon recovery from Sickness and others by reason of the diversity of causes affords divers Indications for cure For in Women in Travel the animal faculty does its utmost to deliver the Child therefore there is a great Influx of animal Spirits about the spinal Marrow to be distributed into the Nerves of the Muscles of the lower Belly This intense violence of motion is the cause why the origination of the Nerves especially about the hind part of the Head is affected to wit where the spinal Marrow descends Now the Nerve of the fifth Conjugation which is allotted to hearing has its original there and by a very short duct is inserted into the inner Ear. Whence it is plain that in such straining it may suffer also and that thick and viscid Humours may after Travel be gathered about its insertion because of the faintness of the innate heat and the Womans weakness by reason of her violent commotion and seeing upon other accounts the animal faculties are weak in lying in and pregnant Women And such as are upon recovery have their concoctive and alterative faculty weakned wherefore there is a produce of many Vapors from the weak heat which when they get into the Organ of hearing cause a depraved sense In lying in-Women therefore it must be our care that they cleanse well we must have regard to the whole by preparation and evacuation of the Humours not neglecting outward applications that the matter gathered about the Organ of hearing may be cut discussed and spent In convalescents it is sufficient that the innate heat be fortified But if the Disease go not away of it self Horstius prob 4. dec 3. gentle dissolvents should be used VI. The cure of Deafness and Noise should be attempted rather by dry than moist things because by actual humidity the Tympane is made lax the implanted Air is thickned and the cause of the Disease increased Wherefore suffumigations of Saffron Myrrhe Styrax Benzoin and Frankincense are approved by Hercules Saxonia Panthei lib. 1. cap. 20. And Joh. Zwelfer has regard to the Tympane Aqua Acouistica Mindereri sayes he if it must be made use of I think neither it nor any thing else should in any quantity be poured into the Ear seeing the Membrane expanded upon the annulus and the little Bones underneath called the Tympane is very thin so that very easily it may totally be destroyed and eroded by pouring in of sharp Liquors and so the hearing be quite destroyed Therefore I think it more advisable sayes Schneider lib. de Cathar special p. 99. that a piece of a wheaten Loaf new drawn out of the Oven be sprinkled with this water and applied and bound hot to the Ear that so the heat of the bread and the spirituous water acting together the gross Humours which obstruct the auditory Nerves and Passages may be incided attenuated and evacuated by insensible transpiration or being driven back to the palate by spittle Wherefore in such cases it would not be amiss to take this water into ones Mouth for the greater attenuation and attraction of the gross Humours from the auditory passages got within the Tympane which can never get out at the Tympane without hurting and eating it through VII Joel l. 2. pract S. 2. commends for Deafness all things requisite premised a Sudorifick draught of Theriaca Andromachi and Rue water Osw Grembs l. 2. c. 1. § 11. in imitation of him commends a Sudorifick cure of a Decoction of the Woods to consume the moisture of the Brain This I have proved by experience that if deaf Persons have a thick and cold Humour impacted in the auditory Nerve or in the Tympane all things requisite being premised Bathing is good to sit in water up to the Navil not too hot but only that the parts may be warm and the Blood rendred more fluid A little after 2 or 3 drops of Apoplectick Water must be dropt into the Ear on the side affected and so you will see your Patient cured out of hand For the Sick say Hofmannus that after the use of this they feel as if something had fallen out of their Ear. VIII Oyl of bitter Almonds is commended indeed in Deafness and a Noise in ones Ears But because of the windings in the Ear we must be cautious in the use of it For when it is got to the Membrane of the Tympanum because it cannot easily be wiped out S. Pauli Quadrip Botan p. 19. it makes the Membrane lax and so does not only not cure but encrease Deafness ¶ It is my opinion that no unctuous things should be dropt into the Ears lest the membrane of the Tympane growing thick should make dull the hearing whose excellence consists in dryness All Membranes whether they be softned with oyl or be often wetted are puffed up and grow white If it be thought good to use any Oyls Th. de Mayerne confilio pro surdo M. S. the exhalation of them is sufficient without pouring in of the substance by which evaporation the implanted Air when inspissated will be sufficiently attenuated with the adventitious IX Sulphureous and bituminous Bathes as well by way of Bath
vertebra A barber-Surgeon would cure it with Emplastrum Sticticum but quickly of a very broad wound it became a narrow fistula deep and exceeding painfull Idem IV. Some admit of vulnerary Potions only in those wounded parts to which they can reach as in the Gullet Stomach Guts where in a manner they serve instead of Applications but in external parts they reject them First because there is no mention of them in the Writings of the Ancients Secondly because of their distance they can never come to the Limbs and Head Thirdly because among the Medicines whereof they are made there are both hot and opening things as Betony Speed-well Carduus Benedictus c. and astringent things as Comfrey Wintergreen Horsetail Tormentil c. so that it is not evident of what faculty they ought to consist Fourthly because most of them are astringent they will do more harm by obstructing the Bowels than they can do good Indeed it must not be denied that little mâ—ntion is made of these Medicines among the ancient Physicians but this is not sufficient to reject them for the Moderns have found out many usefull Medicines which were unknown to the Ancients And though they do not touch the wound as topical medicines do yet they may reach to the wound by the Veins Neither because of the astringent virtue that some of them have need we fear that therefore we cannot reach to the out parts or that they will breed obstructions in the inwards for this inconvenience may be avoided by the mixture of other things with them which have an opening vertue Nor then are the vertues of all Medicines to be esteemed from the first qualities or those that depend upon them but from their specifick qualities which Experience alone suggests These Potions sayes Paraeus lib. 18. c. 28. though they do not purge noxious Humours by stool yet they are very effectual in cleansing of Ulcers and preserving them from the filth of excrementitious Humours in purifying the Blood and in cleansing it from all Ichores and impurities in knitting broken bones and restoring the Nerves to unity And by and by These Medicines by their admirable and almost Divine vertue so purge the Blood that by it as by a fit and laudable matter flesh or any other substance that is lost may readily be restored and the part recover its pristine unity And the thing that these Medicines do is to wast the exceeding moisture of the Blood which is not so fit for glutination to afford good matter for the generation of flesh and by moderate astriction to hinder any fluxion to the wounded part Sennertus V. But although such Potions do wonders yet great Symptomes and especially Dropsies of the Limbs do follow the unseasonable use of a traumatick decoction For since from some plants it has a great vertue of drying binding and agglutinating and from others and from the wine which is its vehicle of heating It is evident that it is then improper when we should attend suppuration and digestion which is thereby hindred and kept back moreover the Blood and Humours are heated and pains and Inflammations arise But when the wound is digested and suppurated sufficiently and free from all Symptomes when there is place for abstersion mundification and consolidation then they become a good Medicine It must also be observed that because they greatly bind and dry they are very bad for such as are ill of obstructions of the Bowels for by the same virtue they retain the excrementitious Humours in the Bowels hence Gripes hypochondriack winds and a thousand other inconveniences arise Wherefore the Body must be prepared before the use of them VI. Caesar Magatus l. 1. de vulner c. 38. and Septalius following him l. 8. Animad Med. disapprove of the old way of curing wounds used hitherto by all Physicians and Surgeons who every day at least once do cleanse and wipe them and when they have applied new Medicines bind them up again And they blame Galen that passing by the indication of most moment he was only intent upon the lesser that is abstersion of the excrements and filth the cause that breeds them being neglected and all care of conserving the temperament and innate heat of the part Which and the strength of the part if they be taken care of they think there will be a far less increase of excrements And they think the heat of it will be cherisht and strength will be added to it if it be hindred from expiring and its quality be preserved Which they think they are able to obtain by making up the defect of a natural covering with a Medicine analogous and familiar to the temper of the part by means whereof the heat may be cherished and its quality may be helped by its like Whence they gather that for to defend this heat wounds must be seldom opened lest the ambient Air do hurt them But since the same Persons confess that most grievous wounds have been cured by the old way of cure and they cannot deny but this new one has only place in simple wounds and where the wounded party is of a good habit of Body where great Vessels are not hurt and the Nerves are whole Besides there are many wounds by their own confession which Nature is not able to cure unless the impediments be removed by a Surgeon as if the Body be Cacochymick whence comes great store of excrements which cause Pain Corruption of the Part Inflammation Worms proud flesh and the like Finally since the exceptions exceed the rule which very rarely allow the use of this new way we must insist upon the old one approved for many ages VII Some reject the use of Tents in wounds 1. Because they need not be used to keep open the orifice of the wound when it is always open whether the Physician will or no nor to make the Medicines stick to the sides of the wound seeing they may be so melted as conveniently to be dropt in 2. They are troublesome to the part therefore Nature alwayes endeavours to expell them 3. They cause pains whence come new fluxions 4. when they are full with bad Humours they hurt the wounded part And they hinder evacuation of the Pus which being kept in grows worse 5. Hippocrates and Galen are silent concerning them On the contrary they seem necessary 1. That the orifice of the Wound may be kept open and that there may be a passage for the Pus 2. That the Medicines may touch the wound every way and reach to the bottom 3. That the upper part may be hindred from closing before the bottom of the wound be filled For a decision we must know that in wounds which are superficiary streight and that breed little pus they are not necessary nor should the cure of the wound be retarded by putting them in But if the wound be deep oblique and if much pus be bred they are altogether necessary that a passage
to either Sex to loosen a costive Belly or to ease gripes being used in Clysters yet some women are offended with its smell and especially those that are subject to fits of the Mother S. Pauli Quadrip Botan class 3. p. 306. wherefore for the most part I refrain from it in prescribing those Clysters that are appointed for that Sex XXXII Mercury is reckoned by some amongst Emollient herbs which Hofman following Marc. Virgilius and Brassavolus thinks it ought not to be but he will have it to be put in the rank of indifferent purgers Lib. 2. de Medic. offic cap. 147. But commonly sayes he 't is put in Emollient Clysters True but that it may be though it be no Emollient but do only help the Emollient action by abstersion For like Beet Colewort and such like it has something nitrous whereby it stimulates the Belly Hence Cartes observes that the leaves of Mercury will do the same thing as the leaves of Senna and hence also it is that Clysters of mel Mercuriale have a notable vertue to provoke to stool S. Pauli Quadr Bot. p. 398. therefore 't is better to use that Honey than the dry leaves XXXIII In making decoctions of Emollient and cooling Herbs we must see that they be newly gathered Two years ago upon taking a Clyster in a Fever whose decoction was made of herbs gathered the day before I had presently a great pain arise at my Stomach which was followed by a swooning Of which I could gather no other reason than the nidour and stench ascending up my Guts that arose from the Herbs that were musty and half rotten XXXIV As to the manner of composition it is to be noted that there is no need of any curious composition seeing the too great variety of Roots Leaves Seeds Flowers and Fruits to which afterwards oyl and other things are added makes the Clysters have a bad smell and so by their nidour they disturb Womens Wombs and affect also Mens heads and the Mouth of their Stomach Seâ—mert Instit l. 5. Part 3. Sect. 3. c. 24. whence at this day we see the most famous Physicians do often profitably prepare Clysters of one Plant or a few Seeds XXXV When Purgers do not their office Practitioners inject a Clyster neither rightly nor safely says Oribasius for the Guts being distended with the Purge and the Humours rushing thither the Remedy is forbid entertainment wherefore by his advice it will be better to put up a suppository made of Honey with half a drachm of Salt Heurn m. m. l. 2. c. 21. or however let the Clyster be but very little in quantity XXXVI It is almost incredible how effectual Clysters made of the oil of sweet Almonds are against the Colick and Paresis Yea when strong and irritating Clysters have been given in vain after the Belly has remained obstructed for five or six days I have often commanded when people have been delirous in the acutest Fevers to administer nine ounces of that oyl alone in a Clyster whereby the hard faeces being softned and evacuated the Belly has sometimes been rendred so quick afterwards as if they had drunk Hellebore or other the strongest Purge yea it has still continued loofe otherwise than it use to do after other Clysters which not being fatty are injected in acute and Malignant Fevers S. Pauli Quadrip Botan p. 14. in all which I think we should abstain from Purgers XXXVII That Tabaco has a vertue to purge upwards and downwards those experience that against their will swallow its smoake If the same smoak be puff'd into a glass full of Beer or Wine it does the same Hence an ingenious person instead of the decoction for Clysters learned to put this smoak up the fundament and happily procured stools in all distempers where a Clyster is needful Let two Pipes be filled with Tabaco after the usual manner then light them and turn the Mouths of their Heads one upon the other then put the smaller end of one up the Fundament and holding the smaller end of the other in your Mouth you may blow the Smoak up into the Guts By which artifice any one may give himself a Clyster and there needs not such a pother with Decoctions seeing by this Smoak Nature seems to be sollicited to excretion happily and readily The Smoaks of other powders also might be injected in this manner according to the necessity of the urgent Diseases in the Guts T. Barthol Cent. 6. Hist 66. where also a more convenient instrument is described A like instrument may be made for the Womb for modest Maids and Women that they may themselves as there is occasion either purge alter or strengthen it Idem ibid. XXXVIII It is to be remembred here that Clysters are not wont to have that good success in old Men they have in young as Sydenham tract de febr has observed on the account that their Nerves being weaker may easily be hurt and resolved by Emollients Wedel de comp med ext p. 90. Yet that holds not universally if we regard also the strengthning of the Nerves and prescribe them not oftner than is fitting XXXIX Medicines fetched from the Class of Minerals do far exceed other Purgers that come into the composition of Clysters whether we would asswage pains raised from cold causes crudities flatus Mucilaginous Tartareous and Gritty Humours or would expel Worms draw forth the stinking filthiness and putrefaction of the Humours or would more strongly purge all Humours but yet without too much heating such as is wont to be caused by Hierae Logadii or Pachii diacolocynthis benedicta laxativa and others of this kind which most use to rouze up their Patients in comatose and sleepy symptoms and affections whereas the exceeding heat of these Medicines rather strengthens the Disease and fills and wearies the Brain with a greater quantity of Vapours rather than lessens them by scattering of them This happens not in those other Remedies which being wholly destitute of those manifest and hurtful qualities do put forth rather formal and spiritual effects than material The Medicine which I speak of is crocus metallorum If any be fearful of these Medicines because he has not tryed them nor understands them and therefore do not approve of giving them by the Mouth yet I think he cannot be so stupid as to be against the giving of them in Clysters especially if he be acquainted with the very notable effects which they perform gently indeed but most soveraignly and in the mean while give no disturbance either by the ingrateful smell of oyls or by any thing else as for the most part happens in the vulgar Clysters Their price is also less for half a drachm or at most a drachm of the before-mentioned Remedy is enough which is to be steeped in four or five ounces of some convenient Water or Wine for a night or longer and so mix the clear infusion with some broth in a sufficient
is little and sticks not firmly to the sides of the Womb that has not as yet acquired a thickness capacious enough to suck up and contain the Blood that is as yet fluid about the Womb in the Hypogastrick Vessels by Bleeding in the Foot it may be recalled as in the Menstrual Purgation and so be withdrawn from the Womb Riolan anthropogr l. 6. in fine and therefore an Abortion would follow IV. The Diseases that seise upon Women not with Child as Vomiting want of Appetite and the like in them need Purging rather than Bleeding because they are caused by a Cacochymie abounding in the Stomach and the whole Body But in Women with Child they need Bleeding more because they are caused by the Blood retained from the very beginning of their being with Child And Experience hath taught that the Vomitings which often afflict Women with Child in the first Months are aggravated by Purgations but are much relieved by Bleeding yea are wholly removed if it be repeated every Month till the symptom wear off River V. According to Hippocrates aph 1. sect 4. one would think that we should reckon Purging to be safer than Bleeding for he there permits Purging in a certain case and time but on the contrary concerning Venesection he writes absolutely 5. aph 10. that it causes Abortion But Purgers do cause a great agiration and generally have a quality that is injurious to the Body and besides provoke the Terms and cause Gripings Whereas on the contrary Bleeding is administred with less perturbation of the Humours nor does it hurt any otherwise but as it deprives the Foetus of its aliment which fear is vain if there be a Plethora And it appears by Experience that Bleeding has better success than Purging when there is present the same reason of Indicants and Permittents Add that many Acute Diseases spring from plenty of Blood for which Bleeding is the properest Remedy VI. Hippocrates aph 1. sect 4. hath defined the use of Purgation in Women with Child Women with Child are to be Physick'd if the Matter be Turgent in the fourth Month and till the seventh but these later more sparingly But we must have a care when the Foetus is very young or when it is full grown Galen in comment says that Foetus are like to the fruits of Trees Now these when they are newly shaped or set have but weak Stalks and therefore they easily fall off when a violent Wind shakes them but afterwards when they are grown somewhat bigger they are not so easily shaken off the Trees and yet when they are come to their full growth and are ripe they fall off of their own accord and without any extrinsick violence In like manner Women suffer Abortion in the first and last Months because in those Months the Foetus is not so firmly knit to the Womb. But in our times Purgers are administred almost in every Month of their being with Child in Diseases which are produced by a predominance of Excrements and a Cacochymie when the Matter is turgent or concocted as often as there impends greater danger on the part of the Cacochymie than from the commotions raised by the Purge Physicians have been made bolder herein upon the account of the gentle and harm ess Medicins that we use now adays as Rhubarâ— Myrobalans Cassia Manna Senna Agarick and the like Yet we must always have regard to Hippocrates's opinion that Purgers may be given more safely in the middle Months but are to be used more waâ—ily in the first and last River ¶ Being with Child hinders Purgation for fear of Abortion and though even Acute Fevers be present and the Matter be Turgent yet the offending Humours may be corrected and evacuated by divers Remedies without strong Purgers For such Medicins are common at this day as prepare the Humours and bring them to the ways of the Ducts without making use of any violent Remedy And we must know that in the Diseases of Women with Child there is sometimes a very great fermentation of the Blood because of some Preternatural ferment raised in the mass of Blood which Purging Medicins as such can no ways bridle and moreover 't is very doubtful as yet whether that fermental Effluvium will follow the guidance of the Purgers See Zacut. M. P. H. l. 3. hist 14. Fr. Hofm m. m. p. 53. Schenkius obs l. 4. p. 554. VII Cassia is not to be given to Women with Child as no more are most Diureticks because through the nearness of the Womb with the Bladder which they provoke to expulsion they may do much harm Besides Cassia by its superfluous moisture relaxeth the Womb and weakens the Cotyledons and 't is also suspected for breeding Wind. Zacutus thinks that it may be so corrected by the addition of Spices and Carminatives as to become harmless but Experience witnesseth that it is not sate to use it VIII And the Evacuation that is made by Clysters is altogether unsafe because it may cause Abortion by compressing the Womb. When therefore there is need of them and Women have been accustomed to this kind of Remedy they ought to be made up in a less quantity and to be made of those things which are endued with a vertue rather to mollify and loosen than to purge strongly IX The use of Pills ought always to be suspected both because they disturb the Body more and also because of the Aloes which for its notable bitterness is offensive to the Foetus and is believed to open the mouths of the Veins But if its use seem necessary at any time in the more grievous Diseases of the Stomach which are often wont to afflict Womâ—n with Child in their first months of being so let it be well washed with Rose-Water that its acrimony may be taken away or let it be mixt with astringents and strengtheners as Mastich and the like X. Diureticks because they are apt to provoke the Terms also ought to be suspected and if the necessity of the Disease do sometimes require them let the more gentle be chosen XI The drinking of Acidulae or Mineral Waters is to be denied viz. the Medicinal drinking not the extraordinary wherein a draught or two is granted for pleasure or to quench thirst First because by opening inciding attenuating and absterging they provoke the Terms whereby Aliment is withdrawn from the Womb Secondly because the Belly is thereby loosened but things provoking to Stool are hurtful aph 34. 5. and 27. 7. Hereby the Foetus is deprived of Aliment the bands whereby it is tied to the Womb are loosened and the Foetus is offended by the frequent stench of the Excrements as they pass by XII Sudorificks if they be of the milder sort may be safely used Experience teaching that they are beneficial to Women with Child that are infected with the Pox or Plague or the like Diseases for when there are vitious Humours in the Body if Nature be not infirm such thâ—ngs help
more than they hurt and Nature joins her self as a Companion with the Medicins against the Morbifick Causes which being banished the Spirits and Faculties are restored XIII Concerning a Bath Avicen thus admonishes But if superfluities be multiplied in them 't is fitting they bathe often But indeed it is naught unless towards the later end of the ninth month for it dejects the Spirits softens and loosens the bands that contain the Foetus breeds Crudities and which is worst provokes the Terms by unlocking the Vessels and fusing the Blood But to sit in a Bath is profitable for those who are near their labour for by it the Womb is dilated the neighbouring parts are softned and an easy passage is granted to the Foetus XIV As often as a Woman with Child is struck with some violent affection of mind a fright anger or sadness whereby there is danger she should fall in Travail before her time first a Vein must be opened in her Arm especially if she be Plethorick and a small quantity of Blood taken that is if her strength and Spirits permit otherwise let her drink a Glass of Wine c. Secondly Let the Spirits and Humours that are disturbed and rossed all the Body over be allayed by Anodynes and Opiates administred prudently sometimes Aromaticks and sometimes Acidish Medicins being added according to the diversity of the Disease Thirdly If any other Disease as Fluxes of the Belly Vomit c. follow let such Remedies be used as are proper for them Sylv. XV. A very thin Diet is not to be prescribed to Women with Child in Acute Diseases lest the Foetus be defrauded of due nourishment and yet we must not pass to that which is very thick lest the Fever be increased thereby Therefore we must keep a mean and a thinner Diet is to be prescribed in the first months and a thicker and somewhat more plentiful in the last months for the necessity of the Foetus If we err any way 't is safer to err in too full than in too spare a Diet for health is to be expected from the strength of tâ—e Mother and Foetus XVI I have more than once obsâ—rved that the use of Butter has been hurtful to Women with Child P Borell obs 26. cent 3. as also to those who are subjâ—ct to Fits of the Mother wherefore I advise them to abstain from it XVII Some disapprove of Exercise because it hâ—ats dissolves the Spirits raises a Fever causes thirst and procures abortion by precipitating the Foetus But these things are to be understâ—od of too much or unseasonable Exercise otherwise that which is moderate discusses the Excrements that are collected by idleness relieves the Faculties that are oppressed by the plenty of retained superfluities diffuses the Blood and Spirits to the Members whereby the whole Body becomes vigorous But let it be omitted in the first month because the Foetus is then contained but by weâ—k bands In the second let it be seldom and slow In the third more brisk In the fifth sixth and beginning of the seventh more frequent In the later end of the seventh the eighth and to the middle of the ninth abate of it Whether it may be granted when her full time is at hand see the Title Partus XVIII Women with Child that labour of a Pica or depraved Appetite are not to have the same things prescribed them which are convenient for others for neither Purgers nor other Medicins that absterge violently are to be used for fear of miscarriage For seeing this symptom happens chiefly in the first months it follows that we must proceed warily especially seeing Hippocrates forbids purging about that time And in the fourth month about which time it would be safer to use Medicins the Malady ceases of its own accord the Matter being either spent by frequent Vomitings or much alter'd by the concoctive faculâ—y seeing such Women eat little because of the loathing that is joined with it the stronger attraction of the Foetus helping which through its growth draws and spends much Blood at that time Therefore this Malady is no otherwise to be remedied but by a convenient Diet ordered for attemperating of the offending Matter by a slight abstersion and gentle provocation to Vomit namely if Nature incline that way not neglecting those things which may serve to strengthen the Stomach inwardly and outwardly Horst probl 6. dec 19. ¶ The Pica of Women with Child admits of neither Purging nor Vomiting but only requires those things that Corroborate the chief of which are the Water or Salt of Cinamon and of Orange or Citron rinds with the magistery of Corals and Perls If the thing they long for cannot be got Hartm prax Chymiatr c. 133. that the Foetus may suffer no prejudice presently give her to drink some of the Water of white Vine or Briony XIX The Vomiting of corrupted Meat and of other Humours cannot hinder Bleeding Johan Raymund Fort. consult 60. centur 4. seeing it self is the Remedy of Vomiting See before Sect. IV. XX. If Nausea and Vomiting be very urgent and be very afflictive to Women with Child so that there be fear lest some greater mischief supervenâ— Opiats and Narcoticks may be used as both tempering the acrimony of the Humours and also bridling their vitious Effervescence likewise dulling all sense and so powerfully restraining and staying over great and troublesom Vomiting and by the help of these they are reduced to a convenient tranquillity and their Stomach and small Gut are strengthned by which means both other altering Remedies and also even Aliments themselves may be taken with the better success For indeed all these things are taken in vain while a violent loathing and vomiting continue Sylv. de le Boe Prax. l. 3. c. 6. which is to be wholly allayed before either Aliments or gently altering Medicins can be retained XXI We must act cautiously and with premeditation in stopping of Vomiting for we must not do that unless in case of evident necessity Fortis cons XXII If a Flux of Blood happen to a Woman with Child that is hastening to the time of her Travail by which she is much enfeebled the mouth of the Womb is to be closed without delay lest the ambient Air draw forth a greater quantity of Blood and the Spirits that are spent are to be recruited that she may be able to bear the pains of her Travail Now her Travail is not to be promoted either by things taken in at the mouth or by Clysters for by these the flux of Blood would be increased but 't is necessary to pull forth the Foetus by force putting your hand up into the Womb. The weakness of the neck of the Womb whose Ligaments are relaxed favour this operation so that the mouth thereof gapes as if often pains had preceded Unless the Waters break forth of their own accord the Membranes that contain the Foetus are to be gently burst by