vitall Heat is decayed and the Body oppressed with cold and moist Humours The other Cause you may discover in those whose Bladder nor Sphincter is no ways distempered but they imagine when the Quantity and Sharpnesse of the Vrine stirreth up the expulsive Faculty that they are pissing against the Wall and so get a custome of it which cannot be cured by Medicines The Sphincter Muscle may become weak or loose by Youth old Age decay of vitall Heat by the Palsy in Women from Diseases of the Womb or hard Labour cutting for the Stone or any Wound there or deep Vlcer This Disease is easily known and the cause thereof is as easily discovered if it come by Wound Vlcer old Age or the like it is apparent If it come by consent of other parts the Diseases of those parts are obvious as the original If neither of them appear consider the cold and moist Temper of the part which is known by the internall and external causes and the Effects upon them depending as Softnesse of the Body Whitenesse and Loosenesse of the Nervs about the privityes Childhood Age evill phlegmatick Concoction and such like In old Men this Disease is incurable because the vitall Hant cannot be repaired In Children Nature worketh the cure when they grow elder by drying up the superfluous Humidity and knitting the Muscle but if a man continue so till the Age of twenty or twenty five he is incurable If involuntary Pissing come to a man sick of an acute Feaver Death is at hand If this Disease come by a Wound or Vlcer or any other manifest Disease the cure depends upon the removing of them otherwise the cure is wrought by amending the cold and moist Distemper and the Loosenesse of the Sphincter Muscle First you must purge the cold and phlegmatick Humours add to your phlegm-Purgers such Medicines which purge and leav a binding Quality behind it as Rubarb Myrabolans and the like Then give Medicines that knit the part and dry the Humours Take of the Roots of Comphry and Cypresse of each half an Ounce Cypresse-Nuts and Myrtles dryed of each two Drachms Coriander Seed prepared red Corall Amber and Shavings of Ivory of each one Drachm the Seeds of Plantane Rue and Acorn cups of each two Scruples powder them and with the Sirrup of Comphry make an Opiate and give the Quantity of a chesnut Morning and Evening or drink half a Drachm of the powder in red Wine Sweating Medicines are much cōmended Things proper for the cure of this Disease are the Brain and Stones of a Hare burnt the Throat of a Cock Snails and Egg shells Mice fryed or dryed to powder Hogs Hoofs powdered Agrimony and the Gizzards of Hens in powder Apply Medicines to the Privityes that are hot strengthning and astringing Let him drink the Decoction of the inward Bark of an Oak of Sloes and such like and let him avoid drink to bedward You must allay the Symptomes which may accompany this Disease as Feavers Thirst Watchings Consumptions c. by the Remedies laid down in their proper chapters CHAP. LXVIII Of the Stoppage of Urine and Strangury THe Stoppage of Urine and the Strangury are Diseases which differ onely in degree the first is called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iscuria is when the Urine is totally stopped when little is voided then it is called Stranguria The first is caused by an Obstruction in the Nerv which helpeth the expulsive Faculty of the Bladder by the Palsy or some sleepy or stupifying Disease A cold Distemper of the Bladder dulling the Sense thereof may be the Cause Sometimes an Inflammation or Tumor in the Muscle of the Bladder may stop the Passage the Stone some thick humor clod of Blood or the like Sometimes by long holding of Water by which the Bladder is so stretched that it cannot contract it self to open the Passage Sometimes the Bladder is empty no Urine cometh to it this is called a bastard Iscuria and may be caused by some hurt in the attractive or expulsive Faculty of the Roins The attractive Faculty is hure by some Stoppage in the Reins or emulgent Veins The Reins may be obstructed by the Stone thick Phlegm or the like the emulgent Veins by abundance of Blood or Water Sometimes the watry humour is spent as in Feavers or sent to some other part as in the Dropsy by which means the attractive Faculty of the Reins is hindered The expulsive Faculty of the Reins is hindered by the Stone Phlegm or clods of Blood Diag The Disease is easily known the Causes thereof may be obtained If it come by long holding the Urine the Patient is able to inform you If there be a stoppage in the part the use of the Catheter or fearing Candle and the ingenuity of the Artist will discover the Nature of the stoppage If the Passage be stopped by the Stone the Symptoms of the Stone have gone before If a Caruncle there hath gone before a Gonorrhaea or an Vlcerin the passage of the Yard If clods of Blood stop the Passage the Patient hath formerly voided Blood and clotted Blood will stick to the Catheter The Strangury is thus known there is neither Weight Tumor or Extension about the Privityes but rather an Emptinesse the attractive or expulsive Faculty of the Reins is obstructed as aforesaid Prognosticks are thus made This Disease is ever dangerous if it continue above seven dayes it is deadly The same judge if the Patient hath Hiccough or Tenasmus accompanying this Disease or if it came by a Wound or Blow upon the back-bone or if his Breath stink of Pisse The Cure of both these consisteth in removing the Causes If it proceed from the fullnesse of the emulgent Veins bleeding is good if from Diseases of the Reins or Ureters seek the Cure out of the Chapters that treat of the Pain Inflammation or Stone in the Kidneys If it depend upon the Inflammation of the Bladder see the 64 Chapter If upon the Stone fastned in the Neck of the Bladder lay the Patient upon his back with his Thighs lifted up move him hither and thither till the Stone fall out of the Passage if that will not do make use of the Catheter If the Stone lyeth in the Passage of the Yard bathe the Yard in warm Milk or Oyl labour to get it out with your fingers if it will not come out bind the Yard on each side and make an Incision on the upper side of the Yard If a Caruncle stop the Passage Medicines which are proper to take it away must be conveyed to the part with a Wax-Candle If Phlegm obstruct purge it with Medicines convenient and when you see occasion give such as provoke Urine The Chapters of the Stone of the Bladder or Kidneys will direct you how to prepare them as also Clisters Fomentations Unguents and the like CHAP. LXIX Of the Scalding of the Urine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dysuria in
that there is a Necessity that it be cut off You must begin the Cure with such Medicines that may discharge the Guts and Bladder of their Exerements that they may not hinder the Reduction of the womb Then let her ly upon her Back with her Thighs wide asunder and draw up her Knees and let her with her own hands or by the help of a Mid wife thrust the womb inwards or that you may drive it in farther and hurt her lesse make a Pessary of linnen cloaths and with it thrust up the womb first anoint it with the Oyl of Lillyes and if it be swelled use a Fomentation of Althaea common Mallows Fenugreek and the like Before you repose the womb to its place anoint it with the Musilage of Comphry Roots or Infusion of Gum Traganth or any thing that is of a glowing Nature When it is up let the woman ly with one Thigh over the other and put up toward the Neck of the womb a little wool wetted in ted wine or Rosewater wherein Acatia and Hypocystis hath been dissolved Rodericus à Castro adviseth the Physitian to come with a red hot Iron and to make as if he would thrust it into the womb Avenzoar and Zacutus Lusitanus after the use of all means and devices by this Stratagem reduced the womb that is having laid her down as before said and one held down her Thighs and another her Breast then put her into a great fright by setting Mice or Frogs to run up her Legs and Thighs by this fright the womb hath been reduced into its proper place for by this means Nature contracteth her self for fear and draweth the womb with her Then lay a plaister against Ruptures on the Region of the womb and Groins and have a care that you keep the Body that it be not costive nor too soluble To conclude all the Medicines externall and internall prescribed against the immoderate flowing of the Menstrues are here good but beware you use them not when the Courses should flow and lest by the frequent use of such Medicines they should be hindered your Patient being young having her Courses monthly be sparing in the use of them but rather let her wear a Trusse CHAP. LXXIX Of Barrennesse BArrennesse or Sterility is an impotency of Conception the principall causes thereof are four first when the Woman doth not conveniently receiv the Man's Sperm into her Womb and this happeneth by divers causes viz. If the Woman be too young and the Neck of the Womb too strait for the Man's Yard the same happens to elderly Virgins being not exercised in actions tending to Generation their genitall parts become flaggy withered so streight that they canot easily admit of the Man's Yard some are lame and crooked that they cannot ly in a fit posture some have a cold Distemper in the Womb that they are dull and have no delight in the act others are very fat which causeth a Streightnesse in the passage or their Bellyes being big hinder their due conjunction with the Man Want of love between a Man and his Wife is a great cause Diseases in the Womb or the adjacent parts hinder the Reception of the Seed The second cause of Barrennesse is when the Woman doth not retain the Seed of the man in her Womb for sometimes the Womb is moist and slippery and full of excrementitious Humours by which means the Sperm doth easily slide back again and the Orifice of the Womb is so loose flaggy that it cannot contract it self to hold the Seed or it may be so slack that it cannot contract to do its Office and this Slacknesse may be occasioned by a breaking of the Fibres of the Womb one from another in hard Labour or Abortion to say all the Whites or any moist Distemper of the Womb may be the cause of Barrennesse Thirdly want of sufficient Nourishment of the Womb to cherish the Seed may be the cause of Barrennesse and this comes to passe by any Distemper of the Womb that doth corrupt the Seed a cold Distemper extinguisheth a hot Distemper dissipateth the Spirits in the Seed a moist Distemper hindereth the Seeds coming to its due Thicknesse and a dry Distemper consumes and drinks up the moisture of the Seed Some say Witchcraft and Charms may be the cause certain Meats and Poysons many things are antipathetical to Faecundity as Vinegar Mints Water-cresses Beans and such like Jet Glow-Worms Saphires Smaragds the Matrice of a Goat of Mule malignant Diseases may corrupt Seed and hinder Conception as stinking Ulcers the French Pox leprous Infections and the like The fourth thing that hinders Conception is when the Woman wants fit materialls for the formation of the Embrio to augment the same and this chiefly dependeth upon want of seed menstruous blood and this defect happeneth to those that are too young or too old the determined approved age is from fourteen to 50. Likewise the materials may be ill disposed through evill diet which cannot breed blood or good seed Diseases weakening nature may cause the same Add to all these causes a disproportion or unsureablenesse between the man's Sperm and the Woman's that is when the man and the Woman are of one Complexion by which means the seed of either of them partake of the same excesse that is that they are either too hot or too cold hence it cometh to passe that the same Woman who could never have a Child by her Husband after his Death hath Children by another man and a man by another Woman Sometimes a man and Woman live ten years or more together and have no Children and afterwards the woman conceaveth and bringeth forth and this cometh to passe by the change of Temperature caused by years I should now lay down the Signs of all these causes but most of them are evident to the Senses and the rest he who cannot discover hath not a Head befitting a Physitian therefore to abbreviate the work I shall leav it to the search of the Ingenious and trouble the Reader with a few Rules left by the Ancients to try whether a Woman be naturally barren or no Hippocrates adviseth to wrap the Woman close in Blankets and burn some Perfume under her and if the Smell proceed through her Body to her Mouth or Nostrills then certainly she is fruitfull The same Author adviseth to put a clove of Garlick peeled into her womb or Galbanum and if the Smell come to her Head or Mouth judg that she is fruitfull Amatus Lusitanus to try whether a Woman be fruitfull or no giveth a Drachm of Hares Runner dissolved in warm water to the Woman being in a Bath of hot water fasting and if the Woman findeth pains in her Belly he judgeth her fruitfull if she hath no pain he judgeth her barren Some steep Barly in the Urine and if it shoot within ten dayes they judg the Woman fruitfull Before you try these uncertain conclusions upon the Woman
little and flaggy she feels a heavinesse about the Loius and Hips she hath no appetite to eat nor desire to stirr she hath a shivering by Fits she hath Streightnesse of the Sides and Belly above the Navell and a pain in her Head plenty of Milk flowing from the Dugs shews that the Child is weak and danger of Abortion If pains about the Reins Loins and Share torment the Woman then know that Abortion is hard at hand the same judg if Blood or Water burst out and flow and the Scituation of the Child is changed from the middle of the Belly to the Bottom If any of these or the like Symptoms befall a Woman with Child after any externall cause of Abortion as Blow Fall c. let the Woman betake herself to her Bed and take such Medicines which prevent Abortion Prognosticks of Abortion are thus made Women are more endangered by Abortion then by a naturall and timely Birth because in a timely Birth the Vessels and Ligaments are loosned and opened of their own accord but in Misearriage they are broken in sunder the like you may perceive between the Stalk of ripe and unripe fruit Women many times become barren by Miscartiage because the womb is rent and its natur all disposition much altered Much bleeding seconded with Convulsions raving and fainting is alwayes deadly If an Inflammation of the Womb follow Abortion it is deadly In young Women who never bore Child before it is worst because the passage is narrower and they more unaccustomed to pains The bigger the Child is the more the danger Women who have moist and slippery Wombs do often miscarry and with little danger To prevent Miscarriage you must before and after she is with Child endeavour to remove all evill dispositions of the Body or Womb that may cause Miscarriage if Blood abound open a Vein purge the peccant Humours strengthen the Womb but if the Woman be with Child beware how you bleed except it be in the first month and the Body full of Blood and in this case let Purges be gentle and often reiterated To conclude to streng then the Womb fetch Medicines from the 73 Chapter CHAP. LXXXI Of hard Travel in Child-birth HArd Labour is when more vehement Pains and dangerous Symptomes happen to Women in Travell and continue a longer time There are divers causes some whereof may be assigned to the weakness of the Womans Body Leannesse or Drinesse as well as Fatnesse of the Body her Age or Sicknesses as the Stone or preternaturall Tumor in the Bladder or any Disease of the womb Other causes may be assigned to the Child when its Body or Head is too big when there are two or when the Child is dead or when it endeavours to come forth with his Feet Hands Back Belly or Breech c. A cold and dry Air and Northern Wind streightneth the Body and driveth the Spirits inward and is obnoxious to the Child's first entrance into the world If the Air be more hot then ordinary it is as bad as the former for it dissipates the Spirits exhausts the Strength and introduceth feavourish Distempers into the Bodyes of Mother and Child Meats of a hard digesture or astringing quality taken a little before the time of Delivery Sleepinesse and Sortishnesse the Retention of Excrements all vehement Passions of the Mind want of an expert Midwife and Women to assist the labouring Woman may be causes of hard Labour Hard Labour is easily known to the Woman herself to the Midwife and the Assistants The time of a naturall Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four houres if the Woman continue a longer time it is hard Labour If her pains be weak and long before they return and more about her Back then Privityes the causes may easily be known many you may gather from the Relation of the Woman in Travell her Leannesse Weaknesse Fatnesse and Age is perceived Diseases of the Womb and Bladder may be known by their proper Signes The Bigness and disorderly Posture of the Child is soon seen by an expert Midwife If the Child be dead you may know it by these Signs the Breasts of the Woman become flat and flaggy her Eyes hollow and troubled her Face and Lips are of a pale and leaden colour her Belly is cold there is a Sense of Weight there is no Motion felt though you apply somthing wetred in the Decoction of Tansy warm to her Navell When the Woman turnes the Child sways that way like Lead If the after-Birth come away before the Child it is a Sign of the Death of the Child And if the Child cometh not away it soon putrifieth and stinketh and stinking Moisture floweth from the womb and their Breath stinketh Hard Labour is dangerous for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and sometimes both do lose their lives Sleepy Diseases and Convulsions if they befall a Woman in Travell death is at hand If the Woman be in Travell above three dayes it is likely the Child will dy If the Woman fall a sneezing in her Travell it is good saith Hippocrates If the Child be dead the danger is exceeding great especially if it be not brought soon away for it will cause Feavers Faintings Convulsions dead Sleeps and death it self In difficult Labour first all causes which hinder the Birth must be removed if it be possible then such things as further the Birth must be administred An Ounce of Oyl of sweet Almonds and a Drachm of Confectio Alchermes given in Broth is good Burn white Wine with a little Saffron and Cinnamon afterwards dissolve a little Alchermes this I have found very powerfull to hasten the Birth If you find this Medicine too gentle make a Julep of more efficacy thus Take of the Water of Mugwort and Vervain of each two Ounces the Sirrup of Maiden-hair one Ounce Confectio Alchermes half a Drachm Dittany of Creet and both Birth worts of each one Scruple Oyl of Cinnamon five Drops mix them and make a Potion Oyl of Amber fifteen Drops or the Extract of Saffron five Grains may be either of them mixed insteed of the Oyl of Cinnamon Provoke sneezing and open the lower Veins if need be Then let the Midwife anoint the Mouth of the womb with the Oyl of Lillyes and Sweet Almonds and the like and foment the Belly with a mollifying Decoction and in a dangerous case give a sharp Clister Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth as the Stone Aetitis Loadstone and Storax held neer the Privityes the Eyes of a Hare taken out in the month of March and dryed use it as the Stones and when the Woman is delivered take them away lest it draw out the Womb. Some commend the Gall of an Hen applyed to the Navell If the Child be dead give the same things before mentioned but it is convenient to make them stronger by adding Savin Water and the Leavs of Savin dried the Troches of Mirrh
may make it stronger if you see occasion by adding red Arsenick and Sandarach to it Mercury precipitate and applyed with Honey of Roses with a Tent is good You may make an Ointment thus Take of Letharge of Silver one drachm Ceruss three drachms Pomegranate Peels and Allum of each two drachms Verdegreese and Orpiment of each one drachm powder them and in good old white wine boil them to the thickness of Honey put in a little Oyl of Myrrh and reserve it in a Leaden Box and use it as the forenamed Medicines The sence of Smelling is either diminished abolished or depraved either by Obstruction or Astriction Cold moist and Flegmatick Distempers may either dull or abolish the sence of Smelling Hence Defluxions upon those parts do hinder the sence Flegm obstructs and hindereth the sensible passages viz. the Nostrils and the Pores of the Brain the insensible Passages and the Processus Mamillates or Sarcoma and Polypus may hinder the senceby obstructing the Nostrils Smelling is hindered by Astriction when Flegm gathered in the fore-part of the Brain doth compress the Mamillares as was said before in the compression of the Optick Nerves Sometimes this Sence is depraved by some putrefaction or ulcer in the Nose or the Menings or some of the parts official to this Sence and thereby hindereth it or some stinking Vapour arising from some other part of the Body may hinder the exercise of this Office as the Tongue is depraved by Choller and maketh all things that is tasted seem bitter the signes are these Slimy Flegm coming from the Brain and cold and moisture oppressing the Brain shew Flegm to be the cause If it be from Sarcoma or Polypus it is easily discovered If the matter causing the obstruction be contained in the Nostrils the speech is hurt also but it is not so if it be in the Mamillares or the fore-part of the Brain The Cure is diverse according to the diversity of causes I shall say nothing to it onely give you this general Rule If it come from a Defluxion you must proceed as you are instructed in the cure of a cold Catarrh If from obstruction or compression of the Mamillares I shall refer you to the Chapter treating of the cold distemper of the Brain for the Cure In the 9th Chapter of this Book treating of a defluxion I told you if it fell into the Nose it is a cold Coryza I think it not amiss if I here speak a word or two of the nature and cause of it This Defluxion is caused either by overmuch heat which doth dissolve the crude Humours gathered in the fore Ventricles of the Brain or else by cold which doth compress and squeez the aforesaid Humours This is easily known by the Humours flowing through the Nose and of all Catarrhs it is the most easie to cure For the Cure repair to the 9th Chapter to which add the Vapour of Marjarom and Red-Rose Leaves boiled in Vinegar taken into the Nose It the Distemper be cold Take Frankincense Mastich Nigella and the like thrown upon a Chafingdish of Burning Coals and do as before I shal now speak a word or two of Neesing vulgarly sneezing which though it be looked upon but as a slight effect not worth mentioning hath by reason of a sharp Defluxion proveth not onely troublesome but dangerous And hence came the Custom of saying God bless you God save you or Christ help when a man sneezeth Sneezing is a swift motion of the Brain by which the Breath is drawn up unto the Brain to force out that which doth offend for Sneezing belongs to the Natural Expulsive Faculty of the Brain and its Membranes as it is with the Cough which doth by its natural motion free the Arteries of the Lungs from Flegm which obstructeth them But the proper cause of Sneezing is a sharp Humour which doth provoke the inside of the Nostrils as 't is verified by snuffing up sharp things into the Nostrils which Humour cometh from the Brain or some inferiour parts sometimes the coldness of the Air doth act upon and compress the Brain and causeth a sharp Humour to fall into the Nostrils which provoketh Sternucation The knowledge of this Disease is manifest outward causes appear and by the signs of the parts affected As to the Prognostick it is naturally and essentially without danger accidentally it may prove hurtful namely in the beginning of Coryza it hindereth the concoction of the Humours by its violent motion sometimes in Feavers it is violent and causeth bleeding and is prejudicial to the Patients strength In the Plurisie and all Diseases of the Lungs it is bad because it violently pulleth those parts and causeth a greater inflammation Yet if there be Flegme got into the Gristles of the Lungs which a Cough cannot get out then is Sneezing helpful For the most part it is friendly to healthy people and promiseth help in Feavers It is good in Apoplexies and always welcome to women in travel or troubled with fits of the Mother If Sternutation become Symptomatical you must remove the external cause or internal from whence it cometh by Evacuations Derivations Revulsions and Discussions and if you see cause you must bleed use Frictions Ligatures and Cupping In the mean time you must labour to take away the sharpness which provoketh to Stenutation Let your Patient snuff up warm milk warm water or warm water and Butter mingled the Oyls of Roses sweet Almonds and Violets which will afford much comfort to the diseased Of bleeding at the Nose CHAP. XIX THis disease is called Haemorrhagia and it is either organicall or common the organicall is either the opening of the Vessels called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the rarefaction of them called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The common disease is also twofold either the breaking of the Vessels called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Erosion called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood offending either in quantity or quality is the cause of these distempers Somtimes externall causes concur as wounds strokes falls vehement exercise drunkennesse long staying in the Sun It is also either Criticall or symptomaticall Criticall when nature dischargeth her self of superfluous blood sometimes in health sometimes in Fevers and somtimes from an inflammation of the Liver or Spleen Symptomaticall is when filthy blood caused by the weaknesse of the Liver in a Cronical distemper is let go by reason of the debility of the retentive faculty or by the strength of the expulsive faculty expelled as unprofitable and unnecessary If the blood flowes by reason of the vein broken the blood is thick and floweth continually if the vein be only opened the blood is thinner and floweth by fits If the veines be eroded or gnawen asunder the Patient hath had a salt Catarrh or Ulcer or Cacochymia The causes are easily distinguished by their signes viz A red face and eyes with heavinesse signifieth plenty of blood If choler or Melancholly be the cause the blood is
Humours oppressing the Stomach and afterwards strengthen it You must evacuate the Humours eitherby Vomit or Stool give no Vomits but to those who are easy to vomit Of Purges Pills are most profitable because of their long continuance in the Stomach the last Booke will furnish you with purging Medicines If the Humours in the Stomach be tough you must dissolve them with Hony of Roses Oxymel and the like Beware how you administer Pills which are strong in operation lest they draw Humours from other parts to the Stomach If the Liver be very hot you may be let Blood otherwise not and in this case you must administer such things as cool the Liver After sufficient Purging you must come to strengthen the Stomach internally and externally Take of the Sirrup of Wormwood and Quinces of each two Ounces the Sirrup of Citron Peels one Ounce Cinnamon water four Ounces the Spirit of Sulphur ten Drops mix them and let the Patient take a Spoonfull or two Morning Noon and Night or oftner as necessity requireth Quercetanus his Sirrup of Cinnamon is very good See the last Book If the Disease be of long continuance let the Patient make use of the Guajacum Drink prescribed in the Second Chapter of this Book the bath of Bath is profitable in this Case But if a hot Liver attend a cold Stomach as it often doth your Medicines ought to be the more temperate Zechius commendeth this Bolus Take of washed Turpentine two Drachms Powder of Mastich half a Drachm Aromaticum Rosarum half a Scruple make a Bolus and let the Sick take it two hours before Meat Candied Nutmegs and Ginger is good and it is convenient for the Patient to drink his Beer warm This Liniment is good Take of the Balsom of Peru three Ounces the Oyles of Nutmegs Wormwood and Mastich of each one Ounce mix them and anoint the Stomach Also with these and other ingredients which have a heating and expectorating Quality you may make Unguents and Plaisters to be applyed to the Stomach CHAP. XXXV Of a depraved Appetite The Appetite is depraved two wayes Either in Quantity or Quality If it be depraved in Quantity Nourishment is desired in greater quantity then Nature would it is called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Latines Fames Canina whence we call it Dogg's Appetite It is depraved in Quality when things which are not Food but vitious and unwholsome are desired This is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First those that are troubled with the Dogg's Appetite do feed insatiably and afterwards some do vomit like Dogg's some do purge and others do digest it and if they have not more presently are sick The part affected is chiefly the mouth of the Stomach The Cause containing is Sense of sucking and vehement pulling which stirrs up the Appetite Vicious Humours sticking to the mouth of the Stomach by their too much Coldness Sharpness or Sowrness do bind wrinkle and pull the mouth of the Stomach and so beget a false Appetite Melancholy sent from the Spleen to the Stomach if it exceed and be praeternaturall causeth an unnatur all Appetite It may be caused by want of Food and Emptiness caused by too great Evacuations by which the Veins do continually suck Somtimes it cometh from Wormes in the Stomach which devour the Chilus The Hermetick Physitians do attribute it to a sharp salt and devouring Spirit or Faculty in the Stomach which doth readily consume what ever Meat is taken as Aqua Fortis doth quickly dissolve the fixedst Mettals the hardest Stones into Liquor and by this meanes doth not allow Nature a lawful and necessary bound of Nourishment The Disease it self needs no other Signe then the devouring of Meat The signes of the Causes may be easily found they which manifest a cold Distemper and sharp Humours in the Stomach are belching and sharp vomiting crude Ejections want of Thirst and external Causes of Refrigeration If defect of Nourishment is the Cause the Patient is Lean and there are Causes present or a foregoing of the decay of Moisture If Wormes be the Cause in the Chapter of the Wormes their signes shall be spoken of Prog If this Disease come from external Causes or from Wormes it is not dangerous Judge the contrary if it follow Emptinesse and great Evacuations or if the Patient doth vomit or purge much for then the Body for the most part falleth into a worse Disease To cure this Disease you must purge by Vomit or Stools taking the Caution in the last Chapter the Phlegmatick and Melancholy Humours sticking to the Stomach Then you must labour to strengthen the Stomach with internal and external Medicines prescribed in the former Chapter Six graines of Ambergrease taken in a reere Egg hath a special Quality to strengthen the Stomach and cure the Disease Narcotick Medicines by dulling the exquisite Sense do sometimes cure the Disease but must not be used till all other meanes fail and then advised by an able Brain Hippocrates saith that Wine and Aqua vitae is good and experience teacheth that Oyl and Fat things are seldom given without Successe Pica and Malacia is a depraved Appetite by which unprofitable and hurtfull things are desired It is caused by the eating of evil Meats by which the Stomach is disposed for the production of Melancholy and Phlegmatick Humours hence divers Apperites of evill things are engendred Some desire things that are sowr sharp bitter and cold as Vinegar Juyce of Lemmons and Orenges cold Water Snow Ice unripe Fruits and the like Some do desire earthly dry and burnt things as Nutmegs Cloves Cinnamon and other Spices Salt Ashes Coles Chalk Tobacco-Pipes Lime Oat-meal Tar Candles and such like This Disease happeneth for the most part to Women with Child or to Maids which have the Green-sicknesse who having their Termes stopped and staying corrupteth the Body and ascending infecteth the Stomach and taketh the Appetite from its Natural Condition Sometimes though seldom Men and Boyes are thus troubled Fernelius speaks of a Noble man who having an extraordinary Appetite to Lime did devour a piece as big as his fist without offending his Stomach or Bowels The Cause of this Disease may be found out by the things desired For if they desire Coles Salt or the like we may conclude that the Disease depends upon salt and burnt Humours This Disease is Chronical and of Continuance but is seldom dangerous yet somtimes if the Stomach cannot be reduced to its former Condition Obstructions Evill habits Dropsies and Cardialgiaes are produced The more contrary to Nature the things desired are the farther distant is the Stomach from the Natural Temper If you aim at the Cure it differeth not from the former but you must consider the variety of the Bodyes affected If this Disease happen to a Man it hath its original from the Obstruction of the Liver and Spleen and you must seek
the Cure in their proper Chapters If Women with Child are thus affected be sparing in giving Medicines for fear of Miscarriage for the most part they are freed of it in the fourth Moneth If the Green-sickness in Maids be the Cause of this Effect seek the Cure in the Chapter of the Green-sickness CHAP. XXXVI Of the Thirsty Disease This Disease is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Sitis Morbosa The immediate Cause is Want of moist Nourishment Drinesse of the Stomach and other parts which maketh the Stomach sensible of their wants It is caused by those things which have a Power to consume and dry up the Moisture of the Stomach and whole Body It is caused also by Propriety or Sympathy by Propriety when the Moisture of the Stomach is altered or drawne forth by a hot dry salt sharp or filthy Humour contained in his Cavity By Sympathy when the whole Body or some particular Member having lost its Moisture doth suck Moisture from the Stomach For the Veins having lost their Moisture endeavour to recruite themselves with the Stomach's moisture as it happeneth in Feavers Inflammations of the Liver Lungs and a hot and dry Distemper of the Reins causeth Diabetes or a continual Pissing and is accompanied with great Thirst and therefore is called Dipsacus The outward causes also are all such things as heat and dry the use of salt sharp and spiced Meats Excess of old rich Wine Watchings or immoderate Evacuations The Sons of Hermes conclude that praeternatural Thirst is caused by thirsty Spirits bred of sulphureous Excrements whose Thirst cannot be satisfied with ordinary cooling Medicines unlesse the sharp spirits of Vitriol Sulphur or Salt be added to them The Knowledge of the Disease is easy of the Cause and the Part affected not difficult Of the Disease the Patients Complaint for want of Drink will inform you Likewise the Cause may be distinguished by the Tasts which are hot dry salt bitter sharp and the like Lastly the Tasts do not onely distinguish the peccant Humour but also that the part affected is the Mouth of the Stomach but if Thirst come by consent from other parts the Signes of those Diseases will be manifest The Thirst which comes from external Causes is easily quenched with Drink that which comes from internal Causes are more or lesse dangerous according to their differences Thirst accompanying Feavers ends with them and their Cures shall be set down in their proper places Thirst in a Dropsy is not allayed but rather encreased by Drink and is most dangerous If it be caused by immoderate Evacuations Suppress the Evacuations and restore the Empty Parts with cooling and moistning Medicines such as are prescribed in the Cure of the Feaver Hectick and Marasmus CHAP. XXXVII Of evill Digestion The Concoction of the Stomach is hurt three wayes viz. it may be diminished depraved or abolished Concoction diminished is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 depraved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fault of Concoction is either in the Organ Object External or Internal things The fault in the Organ comprehendeth all Diseases in the Stomach For since digestion is made in the Stomack by a moderate natural Heat if it want its Moderation the digestive Faculty is hurt A cold Distemper of the Stomach if it be gentle diminisheth the Heat and weakneth Concoction If it be greater it abolisheth it A hot distemper in the Stomach depraveth the Faculty and causeth difficult Concoction Though these Distempers are somtimes simple yet many times they are joyned with Matter as Phlegm and black Humours caused by Hypocondriack Melancholy which cause Crudities sowr Belchings Rumblings Winds and the like The fault of the Object is thus considered when the Nourishment which is the proper Object of the Stomach offendeth in Substance Quantity Quality or Time Nourishment offendeth the Stomach in Substance when it is too hard and difficult to be concocted In Quantity it offendeth the Stomach when either too much is taken at once that the natural Heat cannot digest it but some part of it remaineth Crude Lesse taken then Nature requireth becometh Crude also when it is dryed or burnt in a Cholerick Stomach In Quality Food offendeth when it is either too hot or dry or too cold moist and windy for the Stomach In respect of Time Nourishment may offend the Stomach If a Man contrary to his order in Diet doth eat liberally a little before he goeth to Bed this may hurt concoction External or internal Meanes may hurt the concoctive Faculty Namely an Aire too hot may dissipate the natural Heat an Aire too cold may dull it Immoderate Excercise especially after Meat draweth the Heat from the Stomach to the External parts and drives the imperfect Chylus into the Guts and so weakens Concoction Costiveness of the Belly or a Flux immoderate Watching or sleep in the day time deep Study upon a full Stomach Sadness and other Passions of the Mind do hinder the Actions of the Stomach The Hermetick Physitians add another Cause for they say and not without reason that a sharp Liquor sent from the Spleen to the Stomach which hath a great power to dissolve in its Natural State causeth a laudable Concoction that concoction is not made by Heat onely For Meat boyled in a Pot with a strong Heat many dayes is not dissolved and Bones in a Doggs Stomach are quickly dissolved Likewise Fishes do quickly dissolve their Meat though they have no actuall Heat Birds do quickly concoct the hardest Seeds and small pebble Stones and they have a Spleen round about their Maw and that there is a dissolving Spirit inhaerent in the Gizzards of Birds the Physical practice doth prove being often used in Medicines to help Concoction dissolve the Stone and the like The Signes of a diminished or abolished Concoction is the same differing onely in Degrees viz. sowr Belchngs Vomiting or Purging forth of Food either not well or not at all concocted Weight Extension and Inflammation of the Stomach the Patient sensible of some cold Cause going before and is worse by taking of cold things the Urine thin pale like Water and sometimes thick and red If the concoctive Faculty be depraved the Patient is sensible of stinking Belchings and the like Tast in the Mouth of Heat and Thirst and is prejudiced by Hot things If it come from external Causes the Patient or some about him will be able to demonstrate it if it come by consent from other Parts their Signes must be considered Concoction hurt by consent from other Parts is easier cured then that which is proper to the Stomach onely that which cometh from external Causes is cured easiest of all Concoction diminished though it be not the worst yet it bringeth many inconveniencies as the Chollick Chachexy and somtimes the Dropsy Concoction abolished is worst because all Parts are frustrated of their Nourishment and deadly Diseases follow as the Lientery Dropsy Atrophy
afterwards apply a Plaister of Tacamahacha Also the Decoction of Guajacum given for many dayes is good and afterwards purge Phlegm if there be occasion The cholerick Chollick is cured also by giving of emollient Clisters and such as temper the Acrimony of the Humours as the Decoction of Camomil Violet leaves Endive the Seeds of Faenugreek Linseed Hens-grease Goose-grease Oyl of Roses Cessia and the like Foment the Belly with an emollient and cooling Decoction and aroint it with a Cataplasm made with the Meal of Linseed Faenugreek and Barley boiled in Oyl of Camomil and Roses Cool the Liver outwardly by Epithems and inwardly by Juleps made of Poppy Lettice Succory Endive Sorrel Violets and the like forget not to add a little spirit of Vitriol to your Juleps If the pain be violent use Narcoticks afterwards purge the Humour with such Medicines which purge gently or strongly according to the strength of your Patient and the Degree of his Distemper CHAP. LXIIII. Of the Iliack Passion This Disease is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Iliaca Passio in Englsh the Iliack Passion from the Gut Ilion which is chiefly affected in this Disease But because the other Guts are capable of the same it is rather derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to be rowled or girt about and therefore the Latines call it Volvulus or Convolvulus It is a praeposterous motion of the Intestines the Guts are obstructed nothing passeth downward sometimes the Excrements are brought up into the Stomach and issue out at the Mouth The Intestines have a natural Motion downwards which is compared to the Motion of Earth-Worms which move the parts of their Bodyes succesfully by which they carry the Faeces and Excrements downwards The expulsive Faculty of the Guts is sometimes too vehemently stirred up the Passage being obstructed that by a violent motion the Excrementitious Matter is cast upwards so that not onely the Chylus and Excrements but also Clisters and Suppositoryes are violently snatched up and vomited Any thing which causeth the obstruction of the Guts as hard Dung long retained grosse Vapours Inflammations Tumours or the like may be the Cause of this Disease Sometimes an Ulcer in the Guts may be the Cause when the Excrements touch the part ulcerated it pricketh it so that the Faculty is provoked not to let so noxious a thing passe but driveth it upwards the other Guts by Sympathy assisting forceth it into the Stomach which also by a Peristatick inverted Motion casteth it out by Vomit The Diagnosticks of this Disease are partly common to those of the Chollick and partly proper or peculiar to it self Common Signes are the Belly bound and puffed up Pain in the Abdomen loathing vomiting difficulty of Breathing and Pissing want of Rest The peculiar Signes are a violent Pain great Distension a hard Tumor in the Hypogastrium nothing voided downwards an irregular vomiting of Choller Phlegm and Chylus at last the Excrements are vomited up The Signes of the causes are thus gathered If Inflammation of the parts cause the Disease it quickly cometh to the height an intense Feaver with vomiting as aforesaid If hard Dung in the Bowels be the Cause there went before Constriction of the Belly it is of longer Continuance the Pain not so violent at first nor the Feaver so great if any If Wind or Phlegm be the Cause for the most part the Chollick preceded and the Signes thereof are laid down in the preceding Chapter This Disease is dangerous more or lesse according to the Causes and Symptoms that which is accompanied with the Strangury or that irregular vomiting before mentioned for the most part is deadly If there be a remission of Symptoms and things taken at the mouth find passage downwards there is hopes of recovery What belongs to the cure of this Disease must thus be considered viz. If hard Dung obstruct the passage you must often inject emollient and laxative Clisters in the mean time give Medicines inwardly of the same Nature mixing with them such as strengthen the Stomach and Vital parts having read thus fair you cannot be ignorant how to prepare them by this means I cured one in this Condition who went not to Stool in sixteen or eighteen dayes You may likewise apply Fomentations Liniments and Cataplasms of an emollient Nature to the Belly If you find the Body flatuous and in much pain administer the Medicines prescribed against the Chollick If the Guts be inflamed you must open a Vein and draw as much Blood as the strength of the Sick will bear Administer cooling and emollient Clisters and other Medicines prescribed in the 42 Chapter for the inflammation of the Stomach If he vomit not give him warm Water and Oyl of Violets for it is a good Revulsion Let his drink be Barly Water and sometimes give in a draught thereof two ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds and if the Pain be violent use Narcoticks Let him abstain from Food for it turns to no good Nourishment let him now and then take a spoonful of Broth and drink such things as are before mentioned If the Bowels fall into the Cods and cause this Disease you must foment the part with emollient Oyls and relaxing Decoctions giving emollient and carminative Clisters then let the Patient ly with his Heels higher then his head and gently thrust them back and keep them up with a Trusse If there be a Circumvolution of Hoisting of the Guts Hippocrates prescribeth this as the last Remedy namely to apply a payr of Bellows to the Fundament and blow into the Belly and afterwards to give an emollient Clister this hath been proved by many able Physitians and highly commended Others have commended the taking of Quicksilver in a great Quantity which hath cured when all other means have failed CHAP. XLV Of the Flux Lientery and Coelick Passion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lientery is a Flux of the Belly in which the Meat is quickly sent through the Body undigested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Coeliack Passion is when the Meat comes forth crude and impertectly digested these two differ onely in degrees and their Cures are the same This Disease is not to be referred to concoction-hurt onely but to the Debility of the retentive Faculty for the Meat is not long enough receined to be concocted hence it appeareth that the Disease cometh from a fault of the Stomach as well as the Guts The Causes of this Disease are referred to three Heads First a cold Distemper of the Stomach and Liver which generateth flegmatick and glutinous Humours which cover the wrinkles of the Stomach that it cannot retain the Food Though Retention be made by the astringing Quality yet it operates by fit Instruments viz. the Roughnesse of the inward Coat of the Stomach which Roughnesse being taken away and the wrinklesfilled up by the Humours aforesaid the Retention is hurt and the Meat slippeth away without Concoction Secondly sharp Humours prick and twitch
and it will be more powerfull it a little Bolearmenick Sanguis Draconis and Terra Sigillata be given with it Among a multiplicity of Medicines which are astringont and proper for this Diseale I shall insert but one or two Zecheus doth highly commend this following Electuary Take of Gum Arabick and Gum Tragant of each two Drachms Corall of both sorts Eg-shells burnt Harts-horn Dill Seeds Amber of each four Scruples Hony of Roses as much as will make into it an Electuary give half an Ounce in the Morning and fast two howers after it This Julep I have found of great virtue Take of the distilled Water of Plantane red Roses Oak Leavs and Knot grasse of each four Ounces infuse therein a whole Night of the Flowers of Comphry Buglosse and red Roses of each one Pugill strain them out and make it sharp with Oyl of Vitriol with the Sirrup of Comphry and red Roses make a Julep for four or five Mornings Draughts Whatever part sendeth pblegmatick Matter to the Womb you must seek its cure from its proper Chapter To conclude the Medicines prescribed in the former Chapter are good against this Distemper Outward Remedies as Fomentations Unguents Fumes Pessaryes and Injections such as are prescribed in the Chapter aforesaid are usefull here CHAP. LXXV Of the Mother THis Disease is called the Hystericall passion Uteri Strangulatio by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we call it the Mother and Strangling of the Womb. It is caused by the Seed menstruall Blood or other excrementitious Humors retained besides the intent of Nature in the Womb and there putrified and corrupted breedeth venemous and malignant Vapours which arising doth afflict divers parts of the Body Now these Vapours do not alwayes afflict but when they are stirred up by some cause the most noted are sweet odours sweet meats eaten anger terror and grievous passions of the mind these and such like bring Women subject to this Infirmity into their Fits wherein their breathing is impaired sometimes to appearance abolished the Body becomes cold their Speech gone and Pulse intercepted so that they ly for dead and sometimes have been laid out for burial and yet have revived Sometimes these choaking Fits are not so extream yet is accompanied with other hystericall Symptomes as Vomitings Ravings Convulsions Swoonings and the like Sometimes the Patient feeleth herself as it were choaked by an halter or rope this is caused by abundance of Vapours and Winds ascending from the Womb sometimes seconded by hypocondriack Melancholy which Vapours compressing the Diaphragma and Lungs hinder Respiration and the Patient feeleth herself as it were strangled Others will have it proceed from the Nature of the malignant Vapours whose property is to cause Suffocation Sometimes she loseth her Breath without pain or sense of Strangling by reason of the stupefactive Power of these Vapours which taketh away the vitall Action from the Heart and so hindreth Respiration For Nature having ordained the drawing of Breath to cool the Heart and the Heart is extreamly cooled by these venemous Vapours having no need of the cool Air Breathing ceaseth For the vitall Spirits being destroyed the Animall which are made of them must needs lose their functions We may also say that these venemous and stupisying Vapours do fly up and assault the Brain and hinder the Influx of the animall Spirits whereby the Motion of the Diaphragma and the Muscles which serve for Respiration are hindered Likewise the Womb being filled with these flatuous Vapours doth ascend towards the upper parts as it were by a convulsive Motion which causeth a Compression of the Midriff and Muscles of Respiration Sometimes these sharp and malignant Vapours ascend to the Head and disperse themselves into the membranous parts and cause divers pains pricking and smarting and sometimes stretching and swelling sometimes they cause pains beating like the Pulse Sometimes the Falling-Sicknesse cometh from the Womb by reason of sharp and malignant Vapours which having gotten a powerfull Acrimony do sharply smite the nervous parts These Vapours assaulting the Heart the Heart laboureth to expell them hence ariseth Palpitation Likewise it causeth a great Pulsation in the Back The Stomach doth oftentimes suffer much by this Distemper according to the Nature of the Humours afflicting or part of the Stomach it gets possession of as Want of Appetite or a depraved Appetite that is destring Food which Nature disdains as Coals Chalk c. Loathing of Meat Vomiting Belching Hiccough and pain in the Stomach If in the Womb menstruall Blood is retained it floweth back by the Voins into the Liver from thence shed abroad into the whole Body hence cometh Swelling Feavers and other Diseases If it flows back to the Spleen Swelling Stopping Melancholy and hypocondriacal Diseases are bred Lastly Women have pains in their Loins Thighs and other parts which are caused by these Vapours conveighed from the Womb. Therefore to know this from other pains mark well the Signes of this Disease Much may be gathered from what huth already been said remembring this you must not expect all the Symptomes in one but some in one and some in another the Breathing faileth Sense of Strangling Coldnesse of the Body the Pulse ceaseth and the like which I have mentioned before There goeth before the Fit a Noise in the Belly below the Navill Belching Inclination to Vomit Wearinesse Stretching the Face pale and wan As it gathers Strength it bringeth Suffocation or Choaking afterwards all the vitall animall Actions are depraved diminished and as it were abolished the Womb may be felt in divers parts of the lower Belly gathered round like a Ball tossing and tumbling to and fro When the Fit begins to be over a moist Humour floweth out of the Womb the Body beginneth to be warm they have a Colour in their Face they open their Eyes they sigh they begin to move and so by degrees are freed from the Fit Signs of the Causes are thus known If the Seed corrupting in the Womb hath been the Cause there hath preceded those things which might gather together or excrease Seed and cerrupt it in the Womb as flourishing Age high keeping and an idle life Sanguine Complexion and ripe for Generation or one formerly accustomed to the Actions of Generation and left it of if any such fall into this Disease and have their monthly Purgation well you may judge that Corruption of Seed is the Cause If it come from the Putrefaction of menstruous Blood the Menstrues are stopped or come not down well and the Woman wanteth no carnall Embracements If evill Humours be the Cause the Woman enjoyeth camall Excercise and hath her monthly Purgation but her Body is full of evill Humours Prognosticks we make thus This Disease is seldom mortall but of long continuance the Patient is in great danger if it continue long because Respiration being so often hurt there is danger that the native Heat be suffocated Young Women when they come to bear Children for the most part
examine the man and see if the fault be not in him It is known thus if the man be unable to raise his yard if he want Sperm if he hath a swelling in his Stones or if he have the Running of the Reins he is not fit for Venus School If the man be of an effeminate Spirit if he hath no Beard if he be long casting forth his Seed and taketh little delight in the act and the Woman in the act feeleth his Seed cold be sure the man is unfruitfull Or Causes which may make the Seed unfruitfull have preceded Prog These that conceave not by reason of tendernesse of age have great hopes to live to have better successe but if she live above forty and never conceaved she hath little reason to hope If Barrenness be caused by Fatnesse or any Distemper or Disease whatsoever if the Woman can procure Leannesse or have her Distemper removed she may conceave But if Barrennesse be caused by evill shape of the Members it is likely to continue In the cure you must endeavour that whatsoever hindereth may be removed If tendernesse of age be the cause let her wait the time in the mean while let her refuse carnall Embracements lest her genitall Members be spoiled If it be caused by Age that is incurable by weaknesse of Nature you may endeavour to strengthen the Body and revive the Spirits but it is difficult If the Body be too corpulent or too manly you must extenuate moisten and cool If any Distemper of the Womb hinder Conception labour to remove the Distemper If a hot Distemper be the cause cure it as a hot Distemper of the Liver If drinesse be the cause use a restorative Diet such as is prescribed in the Chapter Of the Hectick Feaver If it be caused hy Witch-craft next to fervent and devout prayers to god and a confident despising and slighting of Charmes and Witch-crafts let the Woman wear the Pizzle of a Wolf about her or the Adamant or Hyacinth Stone which are much commended against Fascination likewise Sea Onions Sea Holly Sagapenum Rue and St John's Wâ—rt which some call the Divell driver are of great efficacy But for the most part a cold and moist Distemper of the Womb and of the Body being accompanied with the Whites is the cause whose particular cure you may find in its proper Chapter You must purge the cold phlegmatick Humours you must make Issues in the Arm Neck or Thighs and give such things as strengthen the Womb. Some things there are which have a peculiar virtue to cause Faecundity and remove Barrennesse viz. the After-Birth of a Woman dried and beaten to powder and given to the quantity of a Drachm The Stones of a Bore pig and the Liver which was farrowed alone without any more in that Litter Half a pint of the Juyce of Sage taken a quarter of an hour before the Woman enjoy her Husband it is best for her to take it soon after she hath had her monthly Purgation Rejecting the multiplicity of Medicines which I might here insert I shall content my self and the Reader with one or two of the best of them and first an excellent Electuary may be made thus Take of the Roots of Eringo and Dogs Stones called Satyrion candied or preserved of each one Ounce Green Ginger candied half an Ounce Pine and Filbert kernells and Pistachios of each six Drachms one preserved Nutmeg the Seeds of Rocket and Water-cresses of each two Drachms Ashes of a Bulls Pizzle the Reins of the Sea Scinkos and Shavings of Ivory of each one Drachm Confection of Alchermes three Drachms the Powders Diambra and Diamoshe Dulce of each one Ounce and an half Ambergreese half a Drachm with Sirrup of preserved Citrons make an Electuary and let the Woman take the quantity of a Chesnut to Bedward twice or thrice in a week and drink a glasse of Sack after it Quercetanus doth much commend this Decoction following Take of the Stones of a Ram prepared with Wine and dryed the Matrix of a Hare prepared in the same manner Mace Cinnamon Cloves white Ginger and Seeds of Ammeos of each two Drachms Saffron a Drachm and an half Hazell-Nut kernells and Pistachios of each three Drachms boil them in a quart of Muscadine till a third part be consumed let her take three or four Ounces of it for three dayes together three houres before Meat then let her upon the fourth day have Geniall Embracements with her Husband Likewise externall Medicines as Pessaries Injections Fumigations such as have power to cleanse dry and strengthen the Womb may be applyed the afore-going Chapters will direct you CHAP. LXXX Of Miscarriage ABortion or Miscarriage is the bringing forth of a Child either dead or alive having not attained to the just Term of growth which it ought to have had The Causes are either externall or internall the externall causes do either kill the Child deprive it of its naturall Nourishment or loosen the bands by which the Child is fastened in the Womb. Things that kill the Child are the Stink of a Candle or such abominable Smells such things as are antipatheticall to the Womb and provoke the Courses strong purges or the Child may be killed by violent Commotions of the Mind as Anger Sadnesse Terror c. and many times things longed for and not obtained kill the Child If the Mother undergo Penury or Famine or lose much Blood the Child wanteth Nourishment The Bands by which the Child is fastened to the Womb may be loosned by violent Excercise dancing running riding being jumbled in a Cart or Coach by some fall lifting or carrying any thing which causeth a violent motion of the Belly as Coughing Sneezing Vomiting Convulsions c. or immoderate Copulation Internall causes of Abortion may be attributed to the Humours to the Child to the Womb. Humours offend in excesse or defect in excesse in a plethorick and full constitution when more Blood flows to the Womb then is requisite to nourish the Child and flows to the Veins so the Courses flowing provoke the expulsive Faculty and drive forth the Child Defect of Humours fit to nourish spring from such causes which destroy the Nourishment or draw it from the Child as long fasting loathing and vomiting up of all Food immoderate bleeding at the Nose Womb or Haemorhoids or a Loosenesse or any thing that makes the Body lean or weak The causes attributed to the Child are if the Child be over great if there be more then one for the womb overladen doth exclude the Child before the fit time likewise if the Child be dead Nature desires to be rid of it In respect of the Womb if it be any way diseased or defective that it cannot open as the Child groweth bigger or if it be moist or slack it cannot contain the Child but Abortion must necessarily follow Abortion when it happens is known there are signs preceding it which do foretell Abortion to follow her Breasts grow
Feavers In the Bastard add Agarick Catholicum Diaphaenicon Sena and such as the judicious Physitian shall judg suitable in respect of the Patient's Constitution and the Humors offending But to every Medicine cream of Tartar may be added for it openeth cleanseth and cools If the Patient be subject to vomit go that way to work as I said in the last Chapter Open a Vein draw Blood as often or as much as you see occasion Prepare the Humours with Juleps as you are taught in the last Chapter then purge If the Humours be stubborn and the Fit continue make a Decoction of Wormwood and Century with cool Herbs to qualify the Heat it is much commended after the use of that purge again If there be a Distension under the short Ribs apply an emollient attenuating and strengthning Fomentation What ever part of the Body is ill disposed have a regard to that in all your Medicines The Spirit of Sulphur is much magnified for extinguishing the Heat of Feavers and if the Humours be thin it sends them forth by Sweat give from half a Scruple to a Scruple in four Ounces of Purslane Water Or you may give it thus Take of Salt of Wormwood half a Drathm Spirit of Sulphur a Scruple Carduus Water four Ounces mix them and give the Patient to drink when the Fit approcheth and lay him to sweat Those things which are usually laid to the Wrists by the common people are not to be despised I shall not insert them nor more Receipts for the cure of this Ague First it being my cheifest end to describe the Causes and Signes of Diseases Secondly almost every womans Head is full of Medicines against an Ague CHAP. LXXXVIII Of the Quotidian or every day-Ague THis Ague is caused by Phlegm putrefying in the first Region of the Body therefore all things that breed Phlegm in the Body may be the Cause thereof The Diagnostick signes are such as testify Phlegm to abound in the Body as white colour pale dull Sense Softnesse and Fatnesse Profoundnesse of Sleep and Droaming of Water It comes with a cold shlvering little or noe shaking and for the most part it comes in the Night After the cold Fit the Patient feels Heat but mildly not scorching little Thirst the Pulse is small seldom and slow there is a Distension about the short Ribs the Fits appear more intense or remisse last longer or shotter as the Phlegm is simple or mingled with other Humours the Fit commonly lasteth twelv hours and then leaveth a feavourish Fit behind it Sometimes it lasteth twenty four hours and is almost like a continuall Feaver There is a difference found in respect of the Nature of the Phlegm for salt Phlegm makes the Patient thirsty sharp Phlegm hungry sweet Phlegm sleepy If the Phlegm hath no Tast it maketh him without Appetite Acid or glassy Phlegm by reason of its Coldnesse causeth shaking This Disease for the most part continueth long and is not without danger because it sometimes degenerates into a Cachexia Dropsy or Lethargy The Diet and Medicines must be such as have an extenuating cutting and dividing Quality The Cure must be performed almost in the same Manner as the bastardly Tertian Zacutus Lusitanus doth much commend the Decoction of Roman Wotmwood and Camomill Flowers if five or six Ounces be adminisred And the Decoction of China and Guajacum for many dayes but beware it dry not too much CHAP. LXXXIX Of the Quartane Ague AN intermitting Quartane is caused of Melancholy putrifying in the Body There are two sorts of Quartan Agues viz. a Legitimate and a Bastard Quartane a Legitimate is bred of naturall Melancholy which is the carthly part of our Nourishment in quality cold and dry The bastard Quartane is bred of preternaturall Melancholy which is bred of adust Choller and is hot and dry or by Melancholy mixed with adust Choller A Quartane Ague is either single double or triple the single is that which comes every fourth day The double is when two Fits happen upon two dayes one after another and the third day none The Triple Quartane is when Fits come every as in a Quotidian and double Tertian Diagnostick Signes of a Quartane are the Ague coming every fourth day and Melancholy abounding in the Body it begins with gaping and stretching heavinesse of the Body shivering and shaking follows as if it would break the Patient's Bones The Pulse is seldom and slow the Urine watry thin and white after a while it is higher coloured and thicker The bastard Quartane for the most part follows other Feavers or Agues by which Adustion of Humours is made and in it the Feaver Heat and Thirst is more violent and all the Symptomes are greater because the Humours are thinner A double Quartane is known by the course of the Fits A triple Quartane is distinguished from a double Tertian or Quotidian by Melancholy abounding and by the course of the Fits and chiefly in this that at first it was a simple or double Quartane Prognosticks are thus made This of all Agues is the longest of Continuance some continue half a year some a year and some longer It is good in this Ague for the Patient to void black Urine The bastard Quartane is not of so long continuance as the Legitimate because it proceeds from thinner Humours then the other The Legitimate is not so dangerous as the other which hath many times dangerous Symptomes especially if the Liver Spleen or any of the interior parts be damnified because it is sometimes degenerated into a Dropsy If any aged above sixty fall into the Quartane Ague it proveth mortall If the intermitting Quartane degenerate into a continuall it is for the most part deadly To bleed at the Nose in a Quartane Ague is but a bad Sign because the morbifick Humours are too thick for such an Evacuation If a bloody Flux come upon a Quartane Ague and continue but a while it is good A bastard Quartane is cured almost with the same Medicines which have been prescribed for the Cure of a Tertian to them adding such Medicines as regard Melancholy and free the Spleen from Disaffection Seeing the Legitimate Quartane is caused of Humours that are cold and dry thick and earthly we must use Medicines that do heat moisten and attenuate Let the Patient's Diet be heating and moistning of good Juyce easy of digesture and of thin substance as rear Egs yong Animals and Birds of Mountains Fishes of stony Rivers among Herbs Borrage Buglosse Spinach Fennell Parsly and Turneps Crato doth much commend the Broth of Turneps of Fruits Almonds Apples stewed Prunes Figs Raisons Dates and Pine-kernells Let him abstain from all Meats which are of a thick and clammy Substance and of hard digesture let him drink small Ale or Beer let him eat moderately and on the Fit day six hours before the Fit cometh let him be very moderate in drinking for much drink fills the Spleen and makes the Disease rebellious Having thus
the defects and Eclipses of the Sun and Moon and unusuall Meteors especally blazing Starrs Above all causes let us not be unmindfull of the strict severe Judgment of God for the sinnes of Mankind For many times he is pleased to punish our Sins and Offences by this Judgment as the Scriptures do frequently prove To these non-naturall causes afore mentioned we must add the Retention of Womens Courses the Haemorrhoids in men or some usuall Evacuation Idlenesse or too much Sleep Anger Sadnesse or other Passions of the mind Signes that shew the Pestilence approaching are taken from the presence of Causes before mentioned Those Bodyes are disposed to receive pestilentiall Infection which have collected evill Juyces and Diet and have had a praeposterous use of the non-naturall things afore specifyed The cheif Signes which shew the Body to be infected the Hâ—art is much afflicted Cardialgia and Heart-burning and pain about the Mouth of the Stomach sometimes great Thirst exceeding the Measure of the Patient's Heat somtimes Want of Thirst yet a vehement Feaver and Drinesse of the Tongue Want of Appetire and abhorring of all Meat and vomiting up what ever Food Drink Juleps or Emulsions is given and their Thirst continue and the Tongue black A frequent and inordinate shivering which comes divers times in a day Wearinesse and Heavinesse of the whole Body Pains of the Head Watchings and Ravings Some are very drousy and sleepy then judge that the Brain is full of phlegmatick Excrements To some there happen cholerick Fluxes which stink very much Frequent Sweats small short and unprofitable do break forth the Heat is mild and gentle to the Feet because the Disease is caused rather by a malignant and venemous Quality then by Putrefaction Rednesse of the eyes and sometimes a frowning or a furious look Sometimes abmndance of Worms are voided which shew a great Putrefaction The Urine is sometimes like the Urine of a sound man if a malignant Quality doth rather offend then Putrefaction sometimes it appeareth thick troubled and high coloured and hath a thick red and scattered Sediment On some purple Spots like Flea-bitings Carbuncles and Risings in the Groin behind the Ears and under the Atmpits Those Spots upon the Bodyes of the dead which are of a Lead-colour or black do especially denote the Pestilence No certain Prognostick can be drawn of this Discase therefore the discreet Physitian ought to suspend his Judgment of the issue thereof For many have died notwithstanding many hopes and testimonyes of recovery and on the contrary many have escaped with most mortall signes Yet it is lawfull for the Phisitian to give his conjecture thus If the Pulse keep a Tenor and equality there is some hopes on the contrary if it be inordinate unequall and contracted it is dangerous If the Pulse be like the Pulse of an healthy person it is dangerous because it is a sign that Nature doth not labour to concoct the Humours for her own deliverance Raving is not dangerous if it be lessened by Sleep but if it turn to dotage and continue there is little hope Contractions convulsive and trembling Motions are deadly for it shews that the Brain is mortally wounded and that Nature is overcome by the Disease Deafnesse at the beginning is dangerous but in the state of the Disease it is not so for many times health follows Sneezing is laudable Heart-burnings Hiccoughs and extream Loathing do portend danger and that the Stomach is over mastered by the Malignant quality of the Humours Suppression of all Evacuations in the beginning and state of the Disease is good provided that the Malignity doth not settle in the head or near any Principal part The Urine that is like the Urine of a healthy person is bad the same judge if they be thin thick confused or troubled Urines which have a laudable sediment and well concoct are good and shew a strong naturall Faculty to expell the Venome An Urine black or blew fat and oyly with a black or blewish setling shews a wasting of the Body and is a deadly Sign Sweats seldom portend good though it happens on a criticall day unlesse it doth much diminish the Feaver Sometimes a Loosenesse of the Belly at the beginning is good and sometimes it is a deadly Sign Spots the more laudable the colour is the better if they be black or Lead-colour and go in again it is dangerous Carbuncles and Buboes the farther from the Heart the better and the sooner they ripen the safer The Cure ought to be two-fold first to preserve those from it who have it not secondly in healing those that have it First to preserve take away the causes both internall and externall If the Body be plethorick let Phlebotomy abate it If full of evill Humours let them be purged If obstructed let means be used to open Obstructions If the Body be in a good state labour to keep it so If it be too moist babour to dry it and avoid all moist Nourishments and much drinking eat no Fish Meats made of Milk nor Herbs walk not in the South Air or neer Lakes nor in the Night fleep not too much If the Body be weak use a restorative Diet. If the Air be too hot labour to cool it as we taught you in continual Feavers if it be too moist correct it by fires and fumes as also to consume and dissipate the infection of the Ayre make fires and fumes of sweet Woods and other sweet sented ingredients as Cypresse Wood of Aloes Juniper Storax Labdanum Mirrhe Benjamin yellow Sanders Ireos Storax Frankinsence Cinnamon Cloves Red-Rose-leaves Calamint Bayes Rosemary and such like Let the common sort of people and the poorer sort carry Rue and Angelica to smell to and take in the morning fasting and when they go abroad Mithridate's medicine Mithridate Venice-Treacle and such like Let the Rich man use of this Pomander Take of Labdanum and of the Rinds of Citrons of each one drachm of the three kinds of Sanders of each half a drachme Wood of Aloes flowers of Buglosse Nenuphar Rose leaves of each two Scruples a lipta Muscatae half a scruple Cloves and Marjoram of each one scruple Zedoary root one scruple Benjamin one drachm Storax Calamita one drachm and an half Camphir half a drachme Musk and Ambergreece of each sour Grains Powder them and with the Musilage of Gum-dragant made in Rose-water make a Pomander and let them make use of this Preservative Take of Bolearmenick prepared half an ounce of Cinnamon three drachms of white Dittany the roots of Angelica Gentian and Tormentill of each two drachms the root of Zedoary Red Roses of all the Sanders Harts-Horn the leaves of Scabious and flowers of Buglosse of each one drachme of Juniper-berries Nutmegs and bone of a Stags Heart of each half a drachm of Pearls prepared two Scruples of Saphir Jacinth Emerauld Ruby and Granate prepared and leaf-Gold of each one scruple powder them all and with Syrrup of Vinegar or Lemons make
an Electuary and take a Scruple or two in the Morning For the cure of those that are sick let the same course of Diet be observed as was prescribed in continuall Feavers and it the body be plethorick open a Vein How much bloud to take away and how often to bleed let prudence be your director If you judge it necessary apply Cupping-glasses to the shoulders back and hips and vesicatories applyed to the neck and Arm-pits and Groyns are seldome without admirable successe and a Cataplasme of Snails or Radishes laid to the feet are good First altering Juleps are good to prepare the humours made of such things as are prescribed for the Cure of continual Feavers to which add Antidotes which have a specifick property to fight against the venemous quality as the roots of Tormentill Cinkfoil Scorzonera white Thistle the leaves of Scordium Carduus Scabious Meddow-sweet Flowers of Marigolds Lemons and Citrons Odoriferous Apples Harts-horn the juice or Syrrup of Lemons Pomegranats Citrons Vinegar the spirit of Sulphur and Vitriol In the whole course of the cure Antidotes must be given of which there are four sorts or degrees the first resist the venemous quality and besides are cold dry and astringent by which they strengthen the Heart hinder putrefaction and the venom from spreading over the body of this sort are Bolearmenick Terra Sigillata the roots of Bistort Cinkfoil Tormentill c. The second sort by their coldnesse and tenuity do resist putrefaction and restrain the venemous quality as the juice of Lemons spirit of Sulphur and Vitrioll and all other acid things The third sort are such as are hot and Diaphoretick which expel the venome from the Center to the Circumference from the Heart to the outward parts by sweat and of this sort are Angelica Zedoary Dictamnus Meddow-sweet Scordium Carduus Scabious Treacle Mithridate Treacle-water The last sort are such as by a speciall quality without excesse do oppose the venemous quality as Bezoar-stone Harts-horn Unicorns-horn Troches of Vipers and such like Of these and Simples of the like nature may many Medicines be composed which must be diversly varied and mixed according to the different degree of malignity and putrefaction according to the intension and remission of the Feaver according to the divers Temperaments Sex and Age of the Patient the determination of which depends not upon any certain rules but upon the Prudence and head-piece of an able Physitian In the Malignant and spotted Feaver if putrefaction be greater then the vonemous quality the medicines of the first second or fourth order do best agree in the beginning and Augment of the Feaver and those of the third viz. Diaphoreticks and sweating medicines in the declination but if it be the Plague and the venemous quality exceed the putrefaction let Diaphoreticks be used first as for the forms of particular medicines let the Physitian vary them according to the different degree of heat putrefaction and malignity Let the Physitian take care to strengthen the Heart also by outward applications of Cordiall Epithems and let the Carbuncles and Borches be suppurated broken and healed by the expert Chirurgious Art CHAP. XCI Of the Small Pox and Measels THe Feaver which attends the Small Pox and Measels may be justly termed Pestilential for it is epidemicall contagious and many times mortall I need not write any thing of the difference between these two viz. Pox and Measols for every Woman knows it There is another sort of Pustules come out upon children like bladders without inflammation or rednesse and without a Feaver some Physitians call it the Crystalls we call it the Blisters The cause of the small Pox and Measells was in the Mothers Bloud with which the child was nourished in the Womb and is hence chiefly gathered because among thousands of men it is hard to find one who once in his life hath not had these diseases For in the blood be it never so pure some impurities are found which doth communicate pollution to the parts of the child and defile the Masse of bloud and being provoked by some occasion viz. a certain disposition of Ayre proportionable to the disease the bloud boils and purifieth it self and the parts and the impurity is cast forth Understand that these impurities do not substantially remain in the body for then they would corrupt in a little time but an evill quality is by them imprinted upon the parts When this ebullition beginneth the excrement is twofold either thin or thick if thin the Measels follow if thick the small Pox. And another reason is this Sometimes the Air is inclinable to the one and sometimes to the other Again the Pox is either Perfective or corruptive the Perfective is when the corrupt impure and excrementitious part of the bloud is cast forth by nature the rest remaining pure and the Patient is restored without Physick the corruptive Pox is not onely the corrupt bloud purged forth but the most pure bloud corrupted which is occasioned by a malignant constitution of the Ayre and so produceth a dangerous and Epidemicall Pox which is sometimes a forerunner of the Plague In respect of the naturall constitution of the body they come forth more or lesse sooner or later and sometimes they seize upon the internal as well as external parts as the throat Lungs Guts Liver Spleen c. Signes which declare the Pox at hand are pain in the head and beating about the Temples troubled and terrified in sleep sometimes ravings and Convulsions hoarsnesse cough and difficulty of breathing heat and pricking all over the body pain of the back shining before the eyes the face red and swelled If they come out soon and easily ripen there is no danger the same judge if the symptomes are not great and the voice and breathing is free If they come out red afterwards white round pointed and outwardly in the skin there is no danger The contrary to these are signs of a deadly and dangerous Pox viz. a great Feaver which is not abated at their comming out difficulty of breathing great thirst a loosnesse or bloody flux because the malignant humours have their recourse inward which is contrary to nature a bloudy Urine or stool bleeding at the Nose Gums or other parts are commonly deadly signs for they signify the extream acrimony and malignancy of the Bloud that nature is forced to void it in such a preposterous way Pox long comming out shews the contumacy of the Humour or Weaknesse of Nature if they be many great double and united they shew abundance of Humours hard ones shew the Thickness of the Matter flat ones shew the Weakness of the expulsive Faculty if there be a black Spot in the middle it shews the malignity of the Humours the like judge if they be green blewish or black and they are all bad Signes but it is worse if they sink go in and the Tumor falleth for it signifieth the Retirement of the Humours inward and few in this