of Feavers which spread on many at once and by reason of the Contagion deadliness and conspicuous notes of virulency deserve to be called Pestilent or Malignant there are some others epidemical or popular which almost every year either in the Spring or Autumn rage in some Countries of which the Inhabitants for the most part of them are wont to be sick and not few especially of the Elder to dye In which notwithstanding no signs of Pestilence or Malignity appear neither does the Disease seem to spread from one and so to another so much by Contagion as to lay hold on many by reason of a predisposition impressed almost on all But these kind of distempers depend chiefly upon the foregoing Constitution of the year for if the season going before was very intemperate by reason of excess of cold or heat of dryness or humidity and so had continued for a long time it changes our Blood very much from its due temperature whereby it is apt afterwards to conceive Feaverish effervescencies and from hence a Feaver now of this Type or Figure now of that is produced which presently becomes Epidemical because it draws its beginning from a common cause wherewith the bodies of all are in a manner affected But such Feavers forasmuch as they depend upon the Blood having gotten a disposition now sharp now austere or of some other kind by reason of the temper of the year for the most part are of the rank of intermitting Feavers yet by a proper provision of Symptoms they are wont to be noted according to the peculiar Constitution of every year These are not able to be comprehended under a certain common rule or formal reason which may quadrat to the nature of each of these because they vary every year according to their several accidents However we will give you the descriptions of these kind of Feavers spreading of late years in this Region had at that time for some specimen of the rest and add it for a conclusion at the end of this Tract There yet remains to be ascribed to the rank of malignant Feavers some other private Feavers and participating of no Contagion of which sort chiefly are those which are wont to happen to Child-bearing women by reason of difficult and hard labour or by reason of the stoppage of their Courses Indeed it sufficiently appears by common observation that these are very dangerous and often mortal for if by the parts of the Womb being hurt or by cold being admitted or perhaps by any other cause the Courses are stopped and the humour which ought to be thrust forth shall be confused with the mass of the Blood it most wickedly infects it as it were with a certain venomous mixture that by that means presently a Feaver is excited which with an evil provision of Symptoms is very much beset viz. with heat and cruel thirst Vomiting pain of the Heart and watchings and for the most part obtains either no Crisis or a very difficult one because unless the wonted way of the flux of the Courses may be at length restored it is wont after the heat of the Blood hath been continued for some days to Communicate the evil to the Brain and nervous stock from whence by and by a Delirium Phrensie Convulsions and other most wicked distempers are most often induced which do not seldom end in Death but these sort of Feavers deserve a peculiar consideration which we have more fully determined to shew hereafter in a particular discourse concerning this business in the mean time we will undertake to propose some instances or examples of the Feavers but now delivered viz. of the Pestilent and Malignant The pestilent Feaver of late years hath more rarely spread in these Regions than the Plague it self of the only one of this kind which fell under our observation I will give you a brief description In the year 1643 when in the coming on of the Spring the Earl of Essex besieged Reading being held for the King in both Armies there began a Disease to arise very Epidemical however they persisting in that work till the besieged were forced to a surrender this Disease grew so grievous that in a short time after either side left off and from that time for many months fought not with the Enemy but with the Disease as if there had not been leisure to turn aside to another kind of Death this deadly Disease increasing they being already overthrown by Fate and as it were falling down before this one Death Essexe's Camp moving to the Thames pitched in the places adjacent where he shortly lost a great part of his men But the King returned to Oxford where at first the Souldiers being disposed in the open Fields then afterwards among the Towns and Villages suffered not much less For his Foot which it chiefly invaded being pact together in close houses when they had filled all things with filthiness and unwholsom nastiness and stinking odors that the very Air seemed to be infected they fell sick by Troops and as it were by Squadrons At length the Feaver now more than a Camp Feaver invaded the unarmed and peaceable Troops to wit the entertainers of the Souldiers and generally all others yet at first the Disease being yet but lightly inflicted tho beset with an heavy and long languishment however many escaped About the Summer Solstice this Feaver began also to increase with worse provision of Symptoms and to lay hold on the Husbandmen and others inhabiting the Country Then afterwards spread through our City and all the Country round for at least Ten miles about In the mean time they who dwelt far from us in other Counties remained free from hurt being as it were without the sphere of the Contagion But here this Disease became so Epidemical that a great part of the people was killed by it and assoon as it had entred an house it run through the same that there was scarce one left well to administer to the sick strangers or such as were sent for to help the sick were presently taken with the Disease that at length for fear of the Contagion those who were sick of this Feaver were avoided by those who were well almost as much as if they had been sick of the Plague Nor indeed did there a less mortality or slaughter of men accompany this Disease because Cachectic and Pthisical old men or otherways unhealthful were killed by it also not a few of Children young men and those of a more mature and robust age I remember in some Villages that almost all the old men dyed this year that there were scarce any left who were able to defend the manners and priviledges of the Parish by the more anciently received Traditions When this Feaver first began it was somthing like the figure of a putrid Synochus but it was harder to be cured and when it seemed to be helped by a sweat or loosness presently it was wont to be renewed again
with thirst heat wakings and at several turns with swoonings and cold sweats at this time being sent for I prescribed her Cardaic Remedies and such as moved the purgings of the Womb and also a Clyster to be given her at length the Flux of her Belly being provoked the Lochia also came down and the sick Woman being freed from the aforesaid symptoms and the more grievous Disease to wit the Remedies of the Nurses quickly grew well of her Feaver The more plentiful Flux of the Womb hapning to this Woman removed the Procatartic cause of a more grievous Disease wherefore when they had committed so many errors about the ordering her viz. first in stopping the Lochia then what might compensate their defect in hindring the Flux of her Belly yet the Feaver was only light and without any venomous taint impressed on the Blood the like to this I have known to happen frequently to wit when at first the purgings of the Womb have flown very plentifully afterwards when they have flown very sparingly and sometimes stopped the Women in Child-bed have escaped And by the way it is here to be noted that it is wholly dangerous to inhibit or at least divert and cross any motion of Nature incited tho irregular A Noble Gentlewoman about 20 years of Age indued with a smooth and full habit of Body miscarried twice in the space of a Year when she had again Conceived by the prescription of her Physician she provoked a Vomit once a month by drinking plentifully Posset Drink by which she was wont to cast forth much thick tough Phlegm also in the time of her being with Child he Let her Blood 5 times the time of her going being over she was brought to Bed of a Son with very hard Labour the Secundine came whole away and she purged notably on the second day whilst she was lifted upon her feet in Bed that the Sheets and the Blankets might be laid in better order she took Cold and by that means the bloody Lochia wholly stopped and only a little serous Water came away on the third day she began to complain of an acute pain in her right side to which the Women laid Bags of Camomil made hot with Bricks but the distemper grew worse with a bloody spittle on the fourth day of her being brought to Bed a most â—harp pain with a difficult breathing and very Laborious invaded her by the prescription of her Physician then coming to her from the neigbourhood six ounces of Blood was taken away out of the Basilic Vein and she felt sudden ease for 10 hours she was better in the middle of the night the pricking pain returned with its wonted fierceness at length other Physicians being called to Counsel they agreed that it was necessary to open a Vein again in the arm of the distempered side four ounces of Blood being taken away the pain remitted and the sick breathed better then by Diasphoretic Remedies she fell into a great sweat with a quiet sleep But the Pulse was made quicker and weaker also contractures of the tendons in her wrists appeared presently afterwards she talked idly and within 24 hours after she was last Let Blood she departed That this Lady fell into a Pleurisie with a Feaver upon the Lochia being suppressed the cause in some measure seemed to be the Letting of Blood so often in the time of her being with Child for by this means the Blood being accustomed to be eventilated at the arm afterwards growing hot leaving the Womb was carried violently towards the place of its letting forth where when it found not a passage it fixed in the neighbouring side as the next nest to the place of extravasation yea besides the usual manner of a Pleurisie there was no small malignity hapned to this Disease for the Blood being hindred from being let forth of the Vessels began presently to be corrupted in its disposition and in the third day of the Feaver was so much depraved that it could not be any longer fermented in the heart so as to Prorogue Life It was not so with the Wife of a certain Smith who was brought to Bed at what time her Children had the Small Pox in the same House and she her self as it seemed had taken the Contagion of the same Disease for on the second day after her Delivery they began to break forth with a feaverish heat and pain in her Loyns which indeed for three days whilst the Lochia moderately flowed arose rightly into little swellings altho the purging of the Womb was very copious at that time she had the Small Pox very thick all over her Body not only in the superficies of her skin but also they filled the cavity of her mouth and throat so that she could scarce speak or swallow The sixth day of her Lying in the Lochia flowed immoderately from whence presently fell upon the sick a frequent swooning with a flagging of the Small Pox Convulsions and other symptoms of an ill nature which threatned Death soon being sent for I prescribed half a dram of this Powder to be taken constantly every three hours in a spoonful of the following Julep viz. take of the Roots of Tormentil in Powder drams two of the best Bole Armonie dram one of the species of Hyacinth half a dram make a Powder Take of the Compound Water of Scordium of Dragons of Meadowsweet each three ounces of Therecal Vinegar one ounce of the Syrup of Corals two ounces of Harts-horn burnt half a dram make a Julep Besides I ordered to be boyled in her Broths and in every thing she drank the Roots of Tormentil by these Remedies the purging of her Womb was soon wholly stopped and the Small Pox by degrees being ripened came off without any grievous symptom Indeed this case was difficult and was cured with great danger viz. for either the Lochia or the Small Pox to have been restrained inwardly was very dangerous and yet the more full eruption of the one hindred the motion of the other so long as either moderately proceeded things being permitted to the conduct of Nature was moderately well but when one of them became ill the work of Art was required and it was requisite to bridle the Lochia but to provoke the Small Pox. CHAP. XVII Of Epidemical Feavers HAving meditated rather a Commentary than an intire Tract I had thought here to have concluded our Discourse of Feavers But forasmuch as certain Epidemical Feavers do often spread which observe no Laws nor can be brought to any certain rule of Doctrine but being irregular vary every year and for that reason as often as any of them increase or spread abroad presently it is called the new Disease therefore I thought it worth our while because general precepts concerning these Feavers are not to be delivered to subjoyn some particular Histories of some of this kind for out of the various provision of symptoms whereby they are wont to be noted the nature and the whole
more than men and some of them more then others are obnoxious to the passions called Histerick Further sometimes a violent Passion impresses on the spirits though moderatly firm this kind of dissipation and inordination so that afterwards they are able to suffer nothing strongly or to resist any injurie So it often happens that morbid impressions are affixed on the animal regimen by sudden fear or great sadness which can hardly ever after be blotted out for from hence women often contract first the Diseases named the Mother or from the Womb and men the hypochondriack and are for the most part still subject to them From these things it appears after what manner and for what Causes 2. How the morbific matter being admitted within the head is disposed the Spasmodick Matter is wont to be admitted into the Head now let us see next what is done with it afterwards if that this matter brought to the Brain induces the Convulsive distempers either not always or not altogether after the same manner 1. It sometimes happens that the heterogeneons and explosive Particles Sometimes it is carried back again from the brain are admitted into the Brain which notwithstanding are again exterminated without any great hurt and before they enter into the nervous stock for that the veins and Lympheducts or water-carrying Vessells often sup up what is superfluous and an enemy to the animall dominion and convey it forth of doors or dispose of it into Emunctuaries or Sinks Whilst such a matter is for a little while agitated in the brain its particles being affixed to some of its Spirits and at length striking against them cause the Virtego and the swimming in the head but because they enter not into the passages of the nerves Spasmodick Distempers do not follow 2. When the morbifick matter is admitted within the Head and not presently from thence sent back oftentimes it produces not its evill Sometimes it is thrust out into the nervous stock till it is inserted into the stock of the Nerves for the animal Spirits within the Brain being as yet strong and having got a more free space they evade the embraces of every heterogeneous Copula which indeed they are not able to do within the strait channells of the nerves Besides the morbifick matter it self if it cannot be sent away out of the Brain by the excretory vessells it is by and by sent forth to the System of the nerves as the more ignoble part Remaining in the brain causes the falling-sickness but if in spite of the force of the superiour faculties such a matter stays long within the brain it much infects the Spirits that inhabit it and induces the Epilepsie as shall be more particularly shewed hereafter but more often the hurtfull matter is thrown on the nervous stock from the brain without much harm to it but this happens to come to pass not always after the same way For truly the heterogeneous Particles being mixed with the nervous Liquor The spasmodic matter being fallen on the nervous stock and fallen towards the beginings of the Nerves do not indifferently enter all of them together or these or those as chance shall guide them but they are directed to the passages of some before others and that not without some Reason For we observe that the Convulsive Symptoms do choose for the most part one place in children another in riper years and a different one in more tender than in the more rebust In children who are not yet accustomed to the Affections of the Heart Afflict the foreparts of the Nerves in Children and exercise of the outward members whereby the morbifick cause may be further carried from the brain the Spasmodick matter runs more often into those nearest Nerves viz. the third fifth and sixth pares wherefore their faces and mouths and those parts are chiefly handled and it is rare and unusual for them to have their viscera and praecordia lifted up or affected with an inordinate motion as in those of riper years on the contrary in men of more advanced years Otherwise in those of riper years by its approach to the intercostals and the Nerves of the wandring pare it being more open to those of the spinal marrow which those nerves respect are wont to be more frequently pulled but yet with this difference that in the more tender and those who are very delicate and subject to passions and who by reason of the passions of the minde have very often their praecordia and viscera disturbed the Spasmodick matter more readily enters the more open passages of the interiour Nerves and therefore they are rendred more obnoxious to Spasmes stirred up in the Abdomen and the Thorax for hence it is that women are molested with the passions called Hysterical and some men with the hypocondriack as shall be more largely declared hereafter when we come to treat particularly of these Distempers After what manner it disturbs the spirits whilst it stays near the beginnings of the Nerves or being fallen more deeply into their passages When the Spasmodic matter falls upon the heads of some nerves or remaining there it creates only a giddiness and lighter Spasmes and leapings of those parts to which these Nerves belong or being slidden more deeply into the pipes of the Nerves it brings forth more cruel Convulsive Paroxisms but the same being dilated into the nervous processes is disposed through one or more of the branches of the stock or Trunk sometimes all and sometimes only those more open than the rest and by degrees cleave to the Spirits both within those Nerves as also to those planted within the hanging Fibres so that it is after the same manner and there is the like preparation in the disposition to Convulsive Paroxisms as if grains of Gunpowder were laid in a long train to be fired successively The Spirits after this manner imbred with an heterogeneous Copula are lodged within the Fibres interwoven with the membranes and Muscles but chiefly within the nervous foldings and when they grieved with too great plentitude or troubled on any other occasion are compelled to shake off their Copula the particles striking and leaping one against another hugely blow up the containing parts and so excite a motive force contrary to the commands and Laws of the Appetite and Nature The spirits enter into explosions by reason of plenitude or irritation Besides the Spirits once stirred up to the performing Convulsive motions begin their explosions from the one or the other extremity of the nervous System but for the most part at the end But they who are first explosed snatch or take with them their neighbours also praedisposed like a fiery train and so they propagate the begun affection with a long continued series of Spasms from one end to the other For a convulsion begun in the bottom of the belly or at the foot or hand creeps by degrees to the upper parts and for the
them drink a gentle Emetick of wine of squills or salt of vitriol when even the sicK are troubled with a striving to Vomit of their own accord but if the other Evacuation or down-wards shall seem better to be tryed they ought to take an Infusion of Rhubarb or the powder and Syrrop of succory with Rhubarb or of Roses with agaric and very often by these Remedies timely applyed I have seen the Convulsive Distempers in Children to be cured besides in this Case Clysters are frequently used but external Medicines are not to be omitted to wit fomentations oyntments plaisters applyed to the Belly Take of the flowers of Cammomel cut very small ii handfulls let them be put into two little bags made of fine Linnen or Silk which being dipped in warm Milk and wrung out may be applyed successively to the abdomen or lower region of the belly Take of the tops or flowers of Mallows in like manner but small let them be fryed in fresh butter of hogs Lard and in the form of a Liniment or a Cataplasm applyed to the Belly CHAPTER V. Of Convulsive Diseases of Ripe Age arising chiefly by reason of the Nervous origine being affected ALthough Convulsive Distempers which happen to those of riper years being known by other Names also are commonly reputed of some other stock and are wont to be referr'd to the passions called Hysterical Hypochondriacal or Colical or to the Scorbute yet if the matter be a little better consider'd it will easily appear that some Convulsive Symptoms both in Men and Women do come from the Brain which Convulsions properly and truly challenge to themselves the Name But these as we have already mentioned may be distinguished after a various manner by the manifold seat of the morbifick Cause but chiefly into these three kinds viz. Into Spasms or Convulsions stirred up by reason of the origine of the Nerves being chiefly affected into others being stirred up Three kinds of Convulsions hapning to those of riper years by reason of the extremities or ends of the Nerves being possessed by the morbifick matter and lastly into such from whose head the morbific matter descending fills the whole passages or the most part of some certain Nerves or of all together Therefore that we may proceed to unfold the Convulsions Distempers arising from the Nervous origine distinguished arising from the beginnings of the Nerves being affected take notice here that the morbifick matter beseiging the beginnings of the Nerves doth sometimes chiefly flow into the first pair of Nerves to wit which respect the Muscles of the eyes and face and from thence the contractions and tremblings now of the Nose Cheeks or Lips now of the Eyes or the distortions of the mouth follow Secondly 1 According to the various Nerves being affected sometimes the wandring and intercostal pair do chiefly imbibe the Heterogeneous particles and then Inflations or Contractions of the Abdomen and Hypochondria and also the palpitation of the Heart trembling difficult and interrupted breathing an intermitting pulse and other Symptoms of the middle and lower Belly do very much infest Thirdly but sometimes the morbifick Cause being placed lower affects chiefly the spinal marrow and therefore the outward members and limbs are rendred obnoxious to inordinate leapings forth and contractions Further in very many Cases of this nature because the Animal spirits being explosed about the origine of the Nerves do inordinately leap back towards the Encephalon for that reason to all Convulsions almost being excited by this means the Vertigo also the scotomie or giddiness the tingling of the eares and sometimes the amased Insensibility or falling down of the Spirits are joyned or follow But as we may Conjecture from the various figures of the Convulsive distemper it seems that the Convulsive matter hauling those or these nerves 2. According to the Various places of the same Nerves being affected or many of them together is lodged either about their beginings only so that the Spirits in that place being often explosed a frequent and very troublesome Vertigo arises besides tremblings and a short faintness about the Praecordia swoonings and often leapings and light contractions in the Viscera or muscles are felt Or Secondly the explosive particles being dilated to the beginings of the nerves enter more deeply into their processes and not seldom being slidden down into the nervous foldings belonging to the Praecordia or the Viscera of the lower belly or also to the exterior members procure there other as it were nests of Convulsive distempers that as often as the Spirits about the nervous origine are driven into explosions presently fits as it were hysterical asthmatical or otherways Convulsive arise in the Abdomen Thorax or Limbs Examples of these and by what means they are made shall be anon more clearly delivered In the mean time the spasmodic matter flowing into the pipes of the Nerves when it is transfer'd even to their processes and remote enfoldings yet forasmuch as it hath still its chief mine about the nervous original therefore after very grievous Convulsions of the Viscera or members a great perturbation of the Brain follows thereupon with a tingling of the eares a vertigo and often an Insensibility or amased excurtion of Spirits but sometimes the morbific matter as to the greatest part being translated to the farthest ends of the nerves from thence they become free or clear about their beginings For I have observed many who whilst at the begining they were infested with the vertigo often fainting away with fear head-ach and heavynesse about the hinder part of the head to have felt about the Praecordia or viscera only light inflations or tremblings but afterwards suffering more cruel Convulsions about these parts they did not complain of the former distempers of the Head By what maens the convulsive matter flows into the Nerves If it should be further demanded concerning the Convulsive matter from what place it should be brought and by what ways carried towards the beginings of the Nerves and what kinde of Settlement and as it were cherishing nests it there obtains we say that although we cannot detect the footsteps and manifest passages of this matter yet so much may be collected from certain observations and the analogie of things it may be supposed there are these two distinct manner of passages whereby the Convulsive particles being first poured out into the Brain and Cerebel from the blood are from thence carried towards the beginings of the Nerves viz. First sometimes this matter being imbibed by the Brain and Cerebel and by degrees passing thorow the pores of either slides into the Trunk of the oblong marrow whose tract being also overcome by it together with the nervous juice it slides forward towards the original of the Nerves and is heaped up neer their heads or within the medullarie trunk it self or within the annularie Prominencies in which places either a long while subsisting it stirs up frequent Vertigoes
heaviness and torpor of her head in some measure but about noon all the clouds being discussed she was wont to obtain a fair and screne disposition of her whole head untill the next morning the same Symptoms would return again Who shall rightly weigh these Symptoms need not suppose them vapours arising from the womb or spleen and in those seek for the morbific cause in vain which truly may more certainly be placed in the head it self for it seems that by reason of a great sadness which happens often to women at the beginning a great debility together with a vitious taint was impressed on her brain so indeed that the animal spirits derived to the brain and Cerebell brought with them heterogeneous particles of a mixt kinde viz. Partly narcotick of stupifying and partly explosive or rushing forth which kinde of Copula when they had more plentifully conceived through sleep they were stirred up to the shaking of it of by mere fullness as soon therefore as the woman was awakened the same spirits being moved either a bending downward being made below they were depressed upon the beginnings of the Nerves and there being explosed they excited Convulsions of the viscera or leaping back towards the middle of the brain and being there struck off they brought in those frequent and terrible Insensibilities In truth this distemper was somewhat akin to the Epilepsie but that the morbific matter was not as yet stayed within the regal palace of the brain or its middle part so that there it might infect the spirits within their Fountains but yet the same heterogeneous Copula did cleave more strictly to them dissociated or disjoyned below and dividing themselves into various and lesser rivolets according to the beginnings of the Nerves In the mean time the spirits whereby they might shake off that matter being often explosed caused the stupor and Insensibility but bending to some other place they rushed upon the beginnings of the Nerves for that reason caus'd those Spasms or Convulsions of the viscera But that the fits come only in the morning after a plentiful sleep the reason was because the heterogeneous Copula of the spirits coming to them with the Nervous juce was at that time gathered together to a fit fulness for explosions which being then wholly shaken off the sick person remained therefore all the rest of the day free from the distemper till the next day when the nights sleep had brought to the head a new supplement of morbific matter the like fit returned in the morning which perhaps as the sleep had been shorter or longer was moved now within the brain now near the nervous origine But it may be observ'd that Convulsions have arisen from the nervous origine An Observaon of a distemper as it wre hysterical in a man being chiefly affected not only in the female sex as the weaker and more lyable but sometimes these kinds of distempers have been excited in men from the like procatartic cause Some years since being hastily sent for from a stranger who lodged in this Citty at first sight I suspected that he was possess'd and believ'd that he had more need of Exorcisms than of Medicines He was about Forty years old who had now for about three years at certain set times of the year been wont to be troubled with convulsive Motions whilst he by chance lodg'd here for a few days about his occasions by reason of a great sadness he had a fit of his sickness greater than usuall He was wont for two or three days before-hand to feel the coming of his disease to wit from a great commotion within the forepart of the head almost a continual Vertigo and frequent dimness of his eyes But the fit coming on him at first his eyes were variously roled about and inverted then a certain bulk like a living animal was seen to creep from the bottom of his belly upwards towards his heart and breast and from thence to his head I my self pressing his belly with my hand felt very plainly this kinde of motion and as long as I hindred this round thing from ascending with both my hands and all my strength he found himself indifferently well but as soon as this swelling creeping upwards by degrees had reached the head presently the members of the whole body were cruelly pull'd together that he would dash himself against the walls or posts as if possest by an evill spirit He could hardly be held and restrain'd by four strong men with all their force but that he would leap from them and fling out his arms feet and head here and there with divers manners of motions when he ceased from leaping forth or strugling his members would be strongly extended and his muscles stiff as if troubled with the Cramp or stiff extension such a fit would last about a quarter of an hour then coming to himself he would talk soberly and walk about in his Chamber he knew what he had suffer'd and ask'd pardon of the standers by presently after he began to draw his eyes inward and swiftly to role them about then presently the convulsive distemper returning acted the like Tragedy as before and after this manner he would have five or six of these kinde of convulsive fits within three hours space In the midst of one of these fits a vein in his Arm being opened and a large orifice made the blood flowed out slowly and was seen presently to be congealed and so indeed that being received into the dish it did not flow about after the manner of Liquors with a plain and equal superficies but like melted fewet drop'd into a cold vessell one drop being heaped upon another it grew to a heap The reason of the aforesaid Case If this strange distemper had hapned to a woman it would presently have been said that it was the mother or histerical and the Cause of it would have been laid on the fault of the womb especially for that the ascent of something like a bulk began the fit from the bottom of the belly But when this common solution which most often is the mere subterfuge of Ignorance cannot be admitted in this case it seems most congruous to reason to referr all these Symptoms to the evill affections of the brain and nervous stock For truly it may be plainly gathered that the cause of the disease did lye hid in the head it self by the Symptoms preceding the fit which did denote a very great agitation of the spirits within the head that inflation of the brain and heavy swimmings which constantly came just as the fit was coming upon him the turnings of the eyes manifestly argue that heterogeneous and explosive particles did adhere to the spirits dwelling within the Encephalon near to the beginnings of the Nerves So that this case comes near to the nature of the Epilepsie excepting that the spirits within the middle of the brain did not admit an heterogeneous Copula nor being explosed in
the diseaâ—e suâ—… either nephâ—… begâ—…ings of the Nerves As to the morbific matter or explosive Copula which cleaving to the spirits flowing within the head and with them derived into the nervous passages is often the cause of the distempers commonly termed of the Womb we say that this as in other kinds of Convulsions is the heterogeneous particles poured forth from the blood which yet are wont to be affixed to the spirits flowing into the beginnings of the nerves cheifly for two causes to wit either by the fault of the spirits themselves or by the force of the matter it self instances of either kinde are ordinarily met with It sometimes happens that the animal spirits planted within the brain and in the passage leading from it to the praecordia are very much disturbed by a sudden passion as of fear anger sadness c. And forced into disorders and that by that means they being driven out of their orders do acquire to themselves heterogeneous particles whereever met with and combine with these that by and by for that reason they acquire an explosive disposition as we have already declared Further in the second place sometimes the morbific matter it self being made more fierce and strong in spite of the succour of the animal Aeconomie or rule is poured forth into the brain and its appendix from the bloody mass which cleaving fast to the spirits presently disposes them into explosions This is ordinarily discerned in the evil crises of feavours also in some malignant distempers also in Scorbutic and other Chronical diseases ill cured An ill or weak constitution of the brain or nervous stock whether it be hereditarie or acquired by reason of an ill manner of living very much cherishes these causes For in bodies so disposed both the animal spirits from every light occasion are moved in Confusion and the passages of the brain and nervous System more easily lye open for the running in of the heterogeneous and explosive matter In truth for this reason women are more obnoxious to convulsive distempers than men and some women then others as we will shew more largely hereafter But altho these kinde of passions of women called hysterical most often proceed from the fault of the head or from the morbific cause arising within the Encephalon yet sometimes such distempers are stirred up Or near the womb or other Inwards by reason of a Cause beginning somewhere else viz. Now in the womb now in the other Bowells and of this Convulsive Pathologie there are chiefly two heads viz. 1st Sometimes it happens that a Tumour or an ulcer This last happens after a twofold manner or a congestion of sharp humours arises in the membranous parts about the womb or planted about the other Viscera and often irritates the parts so distemper'd by reason of the breaking of the union into painfull Convulsions then forasmuch as the animal spirits placed round about and those inflowing Either by reason of the dissolution of the union are moved into frequent disorders they at length getting to themseves heterogeneous particles sent either from the distemper'd part or from some other place are disposed to convulsive assaults and when first of all the convulsive motions happen only in the neighbourhood of the affected place to wit that the bulk ascending in the lower part of the belly or its swelling up be only perceived afterwards they are propagated by the passage of the nervous bodies and by the consent of the convulsion there begun leasurely into the other viscera of the lower belly then to the praecordia and lastly into the head it self and the distemper being thus by little and little delated to the spirits inhabiting the brain they moreover having gotten in their proper Sphear an heterogeneous Copula retort the same back to the viscera and so the morbific cause being made reciprocall is begun at either end of the nervous Trunk Some time past I have seen a noble virgin in whom a small Tumour arising with most cruel pain below the Os pubis did stir up huge Convulsions first in the lower belly and afterwards ascending to the Praecordia and head were at length stretch'd to the outward members for once or twice in a day after that great pains did torment her in the affected part the abdomen and by and by the hypochondria were wont to be lifted up then difficulty of breathing on an Insensibility succeeded and presently the distemper being brought outwardly most horrid Convulsions and Contractions of the members and Limbs followed Sometimes it also happens that convulsive symptoms are induced in Child-bearing women by reason of some hurt or evill brought to the womb Harvie Relates that wonderfull convulsions were caused by the injection of some sharp thing into the womb So sometimes tho rarely it happens that a morbific matter or explosive Copula is fixed to the spirits dwelling about the extremities of the nerves and near the womb immediately from the place there affected and without fault of the brain There yet remains another case or manner of affecting 2. Or by reason of an obstruction of the Nervous juice by which the convulsive disposition is produced from the fault or the parts lodg'd at a great distance from the brain tho in the mean time the taint which is the cause of this distemper is often mediately communicated to the brain it self to wit when at any time the nervous juice is hindred somewhere in its motion or circulation from thence stagnating in the nervous parts and loading them does often bring in a convulsive disposition So when some usual Evacuation whereby the superfluities of the nervous Liquor were wont to be sifted forth is stopp'd as from Issues suddenly shut up or old ulcers dryed up without a purge many fall into convulsive distempers Yea it may obtain here some place what is wont commonly to be noted for a cause of the hysterical passions in maids and widdows to wit the untimely restraint of the seminall humour which ought to be bestowed about the pleasure of Venus at least if they receive help from the state of a conjugal Life it therefore happens because the restagnations of the nervous humour which often fix a taint to the brain and nervous stock by this means are prevented Moreover the nervous juice flows back towards its beginning because its passage is somewhere shut up by a swelling or cancrous Tumour Lastly in this City a notable instance of this kinde of distemper hapned viz. A certain maid of 12. years of age had contracted an hernia or burstness hence by the order of her Mother she wore a truss ill fitted for a fortnight not without great pain and torment a little hard knot much pressing upon the glandulas of the Groin within this space when before she was perfectly well she began to complain of a giddiness and heavy dulness of her head and so a little after she felt convulsive and as it were hysterical distempers
Valves A part of the brain made like folding doors so called Van Helmont A Famous Dutch Doctor Vapid Dead decay'd without tast or smack Vegetation A growing or putting forth or flourishing as a Plant. Vegetal Belonging to such a growing or flourishing Vegetable That which hath life and groweth but not sense as herbs and trees Vehicle That which carrieth or beareth another thing as the blood is of the animal spirits Vena Porta See Porta Vena Vena Cava See Cava Vena Venous Belonging or appertaining to a Vein Ventricle Is the stomach or that part which receives the meat and drink being swallowed down and which hath in it self the virtue of digestion Ventricles Of the heart two notable little hollows caverns on each side of the heart Ventricles Of the Brain several notable caverns therein Vermiculations Creeping like a Worm or motions like the creeping of a Worm Vernal Belonging to the Spring or in the time of the Spring Verberation A beating or striking Vertigo A diziness giddiness and turning round within the head A certain disease which causeth a turning within the head Vertebral Belonging to the joynts of the back-bone Vertebrae Those several joyntings and knittings of the back-bone or chine so called of Anatomists Vesicatories Medicines that raise or cause Blisters where applied Veterans Old Soldiers or any thing that hath served long in a place Viaticum Voyage provisions as meat and drink upon a journey Vibration A shaking striking or quavering Vicinity Neighbourhood or nearness of dwelling or being Viscid Clammy or sticking like Bird-lime Viscosity A clamminess or glewiness Viscera Are the chief Entrals or Inwards as Heart Liver Lungs Spleen the Bowels c. Vitriol Copperas a certain Mineral found in several Countreys used in Medicines Vitriolic Belonging or appertaining to Vitriol Umbilic Belonging to the Navel or of the likeness or shape of the Navel Undulation A wavering like the waters where one follows upon the heels of the others Unctuosity An oyliness or juiciness Unctuous Oylie or juicy Volatile That easily flies away or that is apt to flie or vanish Ureters The pipes or passages by which the Vrine passes from the Reins to the Bladder Urinary Belonging to the Vrine or the passages of the Vrine Uterine Belonging or appertaining to the Womb. Uvea The fourth thin membrane of the eye called also Chorion W. Wezand The Windpipe or Throat X. Xeroeus Wine A Spanish Wine so called I suppose they mean Tent. Here ends the Table of hard names THE FIRST INDEX or TABLE WHEREIN IS Alphabetically digested the principal matters contained in the Treatises of Fermentation and Feavers A. AGues Of Agues Page 68. The reason of the Ague fits 69 70 71. The signs of the Disease 72. Of the Cure of the Ague 74. Of the double Tertian or Quartan 75 Of a Tertian Ague or Feaver 77 Some symptoms of the Disease 78 Its Cure 79 80 Histories of the Disease 81 82 Of Quotidian Agues 82 Their Cure 83 Of a Quartan Ague 84 Causes of it 84 Why it usually begins in Autumn 85 Its Cure 86 Aurum fulminans What it is 40. B. Beer How made by Fermentation 20 Blood The Blood Anatomiz'd 57 58 Compared with Wines 61 The motions and heats of the Blood 64 The difference of the Fermentation of Wine and the Blood 64 The difference of the Blood growing hot in Feavers 90 Of the inkindling of the Blood in a burning Feaver 109 How the Blood is infected by Poysons 121 and its several mutations thereby ibid. Of the great heat of the Blood in malignant Feavers 131 Of Blood-letting in the Small-pox 146 Blood Menstruous see Menstruous Blood Bread How made by Fermentation 20 Buboes In the Plague 126 127 C. Carbuncles Of Carbuncles in the Plague 126 127 Catarrhal Epidemical Feavers see Feavers Causon Or Burning Feavers 109 Cautions Concerning putrid Feavers 110 111 Concerning the Plague 128 Chrystilisation Of Salts how made 49 Chyle The Concoction of the Chyle in the Ventricle is made by Fermentation 14 Coagulation What it is 49 Congelation What it is 49 A second manner of Congelation 51 Of artificial Congelation ibid. Crisis Of a continual Feaver 91 Of a putrid Feavor 96 Cure Of Agues 74 79 80 83 86. Of putrid Feavers of every kind 110 Of the Plague 128 Of Pestilential Feavers 133 134 The Cure of the Small-pox 143 144 145 Of the Milkey feaver 151 Of the Malignant feaver of lying in Women 154 155 Of the Symptomatic feaver of Women in Child-bed 157 Of Epidemical feavers 167 168 171 176 177 178. Cyder How made by Fermentation 24 D. Death And Putrefaction of Bodies 26 Diarrhea Of a Diarrhea in Feavers 1â—4 Dysenterie Of a Dysenterie in Feavors 104 Of a Dysenterie in Child-bed Women 157 E. Earth Of the Chymists what it is 5 Ephemera Or a Feaver of a days continuance 91 Epidemical Feavers see Feavers Essential Putrid Synochus what it is 109 F. Feavers Of Feavers in general 57 Of Intermitting Feavers or Agues see Agues 68 Of continual Feavers 89 What causes continual Feavers 89 The several kinds of continual Feavers 91 Of the Feaver for a day ibid. The cause of it and of its Crisis ibid. An History of such a Feaver 92 Of a putrid Feaver 93 Four seasons to be observed in it 94 The causes of it ibid. A Prognostication of the Disease 97 Of the Crisis of a putrid Feaver ibid. The symptoms and signs of putrid Feavers 99 100 Of the putrid Synochus or continual Feaver 107 Of the symptomatic putrid Feaver ibid. Of the slow Feaver 108 Of the symptomatical Feaver from an Vlcer or a Consumption of the Lungs ibid. Of an Essential putrid Synochus 109 Of the Causon or Burning feaver ibid. The Cures of putrid Feavers of every kind 110 Histories of several putrid Feavers 112 113 114 115 116 117 118. Of a Pestilential or Malignant Feaver in general 119 Of a malignant Feaver in specie 131 How it differs from the Pestilence ibid. A description of malignant Feavers ibid. A difference of them 133 Causes of them ibid. The Cure of them 133 134 Of Feavers Epidemical of another sort 134 An History of a Pestilential Feaver 134 135 An History of a Malignant Feaver 136 137 Of the Feavers of Child-bearing Women 147 Of the Milkey Feaver 150 The causes of it 151 Its Cure ibid. Of a putrid Feaver in Women lying In 151 A figure of the Disease 152 153 The causes of it ibid. It s Cure 154 155 Of Symptomatic Feavers of Women in Childbed 156 The general reason of them ibid. The Cure of them 157 Histories of acute Feavers in Women lying In 158 159 160 161. Epidemical Feavers 163 A description of an Epidemical Feaver in the year 1657. ibid. The causes of it 164 The differenee of it from other Feavers 166 A Prognostication of it ibid. Of the Cure of it 167 A description of a Catarrhal Epidemical Feaver in the year 1658 169 The causes of it 170 The symptoms of it and the cure of it
the Nerves 41 42. The difference of the motions of a Muscle 1 How the motion of a Muscle is made 2 Muscle Its motion see motions N. Nerves Sometimes Convulsive motions are received from the ends of the Nerves 6 How the morbific matter is thrust forth from the brain on the Nerves 7 The Nerves in Children and those of riper years differently by the morbific matter ibid. How the morbific matter falling on several parts of the Nerves affects the spirits 8 How the beginnings middle and ends of the Nerves are affected in Convulsions 9 10 11. The nervous System secondarily affected in the Epilepsie 15 Distempers arising from the origine of the Nerves distinguished 31 By what means the Convulsive matter flows into the Nerves 32 Wherefore Convulsions begin from the extremities of the Nerves 38 Of such Convulsive motions beginning from the exmities of the Nerves and within the nervous infoldings 41 42. The infoldings of the Nerves the seat of Convulsive matter 45 The Liquor of the Nerves causes Convulsions 46 The scorbutick disposition of the juice of the Nerves causes universal Convulsions 60 61. The cause of the Hysterical passion most commonly begins about the beginnings of the Nerves 79 The nervous juice obstructed a cause of the fits of the Mother 81 The Hypochondriacal distemper belongs to the Nerves 91 The Nerves sometimes the cause of the Convulsive Astmah 104 Nurses Of Infants how to be ordered to cure Children of Convulsions 29 O. Observations Worth noting in the Falling-sickness 21 In Convulsions in Men and Women 33 34 35 36. In Convulsions arising from the extremities of the Nerves and nervous infoldings 32 43 44 45. In some Epidemical Feavers 55 56. A rare observation 59 An observation of a broken Convulsive distemper 61 62. Observations on a continued Convulsive distemper 66 68 69 70 71. Observations on the fits of the Mother 83 84. Anatomical observations of the distemper of the Mother fits 85 86. Observations on Hypochondriacal persons 95 96. Observations on the Convulsive Astmah 104 105 106. Opinion Of Gassendus of the explosion of the animal spirits 3 Of Dr. Heighmore of the Hysterical passion 77 His opinion of the Hypocondriacal passion examined 91 Oyntments For the curing Convulsions in Children 29 P. Pills For the Epilepsie 23 For such as are troubled with Convulsions 41 Plasters For the Epilepsie 24 Powders For the Epilepsie 23 For Convulsions in Children 29 For Convulsions in Men and Women 40 Poyson Of Convulsions arising from poyson 46 Prognostications Of the Epilepsie 18 Purges For the Epilepsie 22 For Convulsions in Men and Women 39. R. Remedies Great for the Epilepsie 24 Remedies for a cold constitution troubled with Convulsions 40 For an hot constitution troubled with Convulsions ibid. Repletion And emptiness not the cause of Convulsions 3 S. Scurvy Of universal Convulsions arising frow the Scurvy 60 Sneizing Powders for the Epilepsie 24 Spasms See Convulsions How they differ from Convulsive motions 1 Specificks In what their virtue consists in the curing the Falling-sickness 20 Several Specificks for the Epilepsie 22 Specificks for curing Convulsions in Men and Women 40 Spirits For such as are of an hot constitution and troubled with Convulsions 41 Spirits The Animal spirits the instrumens of regular motions in the body 1 The explosion of the Spirits makes the motion of a Muscle 2 Gassendus his opinion of the explosion of the animal Spirits 3 How the Spirits are disturbed by the morbifick matter falling on the several parts of the Nerves 8 How the Spirits are exploded by reason of irritation ibid. The Spirits in the middle of the brain the primary subject of the Epilepsie 14 15. Spleen Its use 92 93 Its influences producing the Hypochondriacal symptoms 94 Steel Medicines and their preparations 99 100 101. T. Tablets For such as are troubled with Convulsions 41 Tarentula Of Convulsions arising from the biting of the Tarentula 47 Why Musick allays the poyson of the Tarentula 47 Teeth Breeding sometimes causes Convulsions in Children and why 27 28. How to cure such Convulsions coming of Teeth 30 Tenasmus What it is 11. Three kinds of it 12 Tetanon What it is 1 V. Vomits For the Epilepsie 22 For Convulsions in Men and Women 39 St. Vitus Dance described 48 The reason of it ibid. W. Waters Distilled for the Epilepsie 24 For Convulsions in Men and Women 40 41. Witchcraft A cause of universal Convulsions 48 How falsly imputed and how to know Convulsions coming of Witchcraft 49 Womb How affected in the fits of the Mother 81 Not always in fault in those fits 82 Worms A cause of Convulsions in Children 30 FINIS
another not exactly twenty four hours but either sixteen or thirty hours in a Quotidian and in a Tertian not forty eight but forty or fifty six more or less or thereabouts it comes to pass that every other fits happen before and the others after Noon To which also may be added that the different manner of eating which the sick use very often produces great inequalities of figures that somtimes the fit is redoubled twice in a day as I have often observed in Cachectical men or full of ill humors and living disorderly but it doth not seldom happen that Intermitting Feavers repeat fits which do neither observe the same distance nor bear altogether the figure of the same mode I have many times observed in a Quartan Feaver that besides the set comings or Accessions returning on the fourth day about the same hour some wandring and uncertain fits did infest the sick that somtimes on the day preceeding the wonted fit somtimes on that following it another fit tho lighter was excited anew with shivering Heat and Sweat exactly like the figure of an Intermitting Feaver and nevertheless the primary Accession returned at its accustomed time This for the most part is wont to happen either from diet evilly instituted chiefly from surfeit and drinking of Wine or else from Medicines wrongfully administred The reason of which unless I am deceived consists in this The mass of Blood being wont to be filled to a swelling up with the Fermentative matter at a set time often by reason of some errors in eating and drinking heaps up more matter than can be easily dissipated in one fit and when it unequally Cooks the same Fermentative matter it often happens that it first shakes off its superfluous or more thin part as it were by a certain skirmish in a more light fit but dispels the more thick after the primary Accession as yet remaining in the Blood by a Feaverish Fermentation arising anew And when the fits in an Intermitting Feaver redouble after this manner either become more remiss for that the same matter in either is only divided and eventilated by two accessions Besides when this Fermentative matter or Nutritious Juice depraved in its circulation is continued partly in the Arteries and Veins with the Blood and partly in the Nervous stock and solid parts it may happen that both humors do not ferment at once but a great part of one may be dispersed in one fit and then a great part of the other in another fit CHAP. IV. Of the kinds of Intermitting Feavers and first of a Tertian WE shall easily accommodate to our Hypothesis delivered in the former Chapter concerning the nature and beginning of Intermitting Feavers all the Phaenomena which belong to it and the reasons of them But as those which are of this sort do not observe the same space of Intermission or of return and their figures as to the appearances of their signs and symptoms do not altogether happen after the same manner therefore according to the diversities of these and especially from the distance of the fits the various species and differences of Intermitting Feavers are assigned The chiefest division of them is into Tertian Quotidian and Quartan We shall here remark the chief things worthy of note concerning each of them It is called a Tertian Feaver not which is accomplished at the distance of three days but inclusively from the day in which one Fit begins from thence the other returns on the third In the mean time if the Fits be sometimes longer viz. protracted almost to twenty four hours and the Remissions anticipated also by their accessions or comings of the Fits the space is oftentimes less by a night and a day This Disease is commonly distinguished into exquisite and spurious The exquisite or exact Tertian Feaver is which begins with a vehement shaking to which succeeds a sharp and biting heat which goes off in sweat and its Fit is finished in twelve hours and that the perfect intermission follows In the spurious or bastard Tertian the cold and heat are more remiss but the Fit is often extended beyond twelve hours yea often to eighteen or twenty These differ as to the various disposition of the Blood which is in the former more torrid and sharp therefore perverts the alible Juice from Crudity towards an adustion wherefore a more vehement Effervescency is stirred up but as the matter more equally burns forth it is sooner finished In the latter besides the adustion the Blood abounds with too much serous humidity wherefore the nourishing Juice degenerates into a Crude matter and therefore less apt to be overcome and to burn forth wherefore its Fit is gentler and more unequal but is not finished but in a longer space The Essence therefore of a Tertian Feaver consists in this That the Blood like Beer brew'd with too high dry'd Mault being too sharp and torrid does not rightly subdue and ripen the alible Juice which is taken in from crude things eaten but very much perverts it into a nitrous-sulphurous matter with which when the mass of Blood is filled to a swelling up like new Beer stop'd up in Bottles it conceives an heat From the flux of this nitrous matter which blunts the heat and vital spirits and pulls the nervous parts first the cold with shaking is excited then the vital spirit geting strength again this matter growing hot in the Blood begins to be subdued and inkindled in the heart from whose deflagration an intense heat is diffused thorough the whole body then its reliques being separated and involved with serum are sent away by sweat This torrid Constitution of the Blood consists in this That 't is impregnated more than it ought with particles of Sulphur and Salt wherefore the Procatartick causes which dispose to this Disease are an hot and bilous temperament a youthful age hot dyet as an immoderate use of Wine and spiced Meats but especially in the Spring and autumnal feafons of the year when the Blood as all vegetables is apt to flower and to ferment of its own accord By reason of these occasions the liquor of the Blood is want to be thorowly roasted and to be changed into a cholerick temper and when it departs from its natural Disposition so much that it perverts the nutritious Juice into a matter plainly Fermentative the beginning of this Feaver is induced which sometimes happens from this intemperance being leasurely increased and brought to the height but more frequently an evident cause raises up this disposition into act and we ascribe the origine of this Disease to some notable Accident Wherefore lying on the Ground or taking cold after sweating or transpiration being any ways hindred also a Surfit or a perturbation of the Stomach from any thing inordinately eaten and lastly What things soever stir up an immoderate heat in the Blood bring the lurking disposition of this Disease into act for that from every such occasion the nutritious Juice being heaped in the
growing hot and which constitutes a distinct kind of continual Feaver is excited from a certain malignant and invenomed Ferment by which when the mass of the Blood is imbued and the Spirits and the Sulphureous part together conceive an heat and their burning is not sooner appeased than that either that malignant matter be consumed and cast forth of doors or else a certain coagulation and as it were putrefaction of the Blood from its corruptive venom is induced by which both circulation is hindered and the Vital Spirit extinguished This malignity is wont to arise either from a certain contagion received from without or from some infection begotten within us according to these ways the malignant Feaver Small-pox Measels and also the Plague draw their beginnings and by their contagion far and near set upon many There are therefore three degrees or manners of growing hot by which the kinds of continual Feavers are determined From the subtil portion of the Blood made hot or the Ebullition of the Spirits the Ephemera arises as also the Synochus of one or more days by the Sulphureous or Oily part of the Blood being too hot and inkindled the putrid Feaver is stirred up then thirdly upon an invenomed taint infecting the Blood and congealing its Liquor malignant Feavers depend In every one of these by the depravation or rather corruption of the Alible Juice fresh carried into the Blood the various fits inequalities and critical motions arise But before I enter upon the several kinds of a continued Feaver it is requisite for me to consider how the growing hot of the Blood in a continual Feaver differs from that other which constitutes Intermitting Feavers I say therefore that the growing hot of the Blood in an Intermitting Feaver depends only upon the commixtion of a certain Fermentative matter and not rightly miscible with the Blood and on its growing up to a fulness of boiling over Because of this heat with the Blood in the Vessels and of the deflagration in the Heart the fit is induced because of its growing cool the intermission follows that in the coming between of the fits neither the Spirits nor Sulphur become outragious but the bond of the mixture being kept whole the Liquor is circulated in the Vessels equally and without trouble on the contrary in a continual Feaver the disorders of the Spirits and of Sulphur of either or both together by their proper Ebullition also without the mixture of any other stir up the Ebullition of the Blood wherefore there are required for an intermission besides the difflation or cooling of the Excrementitious matter a deflagration of the inkindled Blood and a reduction of it to its due Temper The Constitution of the Blood in a continual Feaver is of the same sort as of Wines when they grow hot upon too rich a Lee to wit are mighty in Spirit and grow turgid with exalted Sulphur and therefore they conceive a Fervor and greatly boil up of their own accord without the mixture of any other thing In an Intermitting Feaver the Blood is moved after that manner as Wines when they conceive an heat because of somthing poured to them that is not miscible with them Moreover in this Feaver the disposition of the Blood is of that sort as of Wines when in their decay and declination they become ropy unsavory or acid to wit in which the Spirit is depressed that in the mean time either Salt or Sulphur or both together appear above the rest and infect the whole Liquor with their disorder An Intermitting Feaver for the most part is free from danger because the constitutive parts of the Blood altho they should somwhat change their disposition however keep the bond of mixture and whilst they are in power are circulated equally in the Vessels yea they pervert the nutritious Juice into a matter not altogether besides Nature but rather infesting with its fulness and turgescency In a continual Feaver besides the intemperance the mixture of the Blood and constitution of the Liquor are somwhat loosned and its corruption easily follows wherefore this Disease often ends in death further the nourishing Juice is depraved into a matter wholly vitious and altogether infestous to Nature CHAP. VIII Of the Ephemera or Feaver for a Day I Have said the least degree of heat which induces a continual Feaver is placed in the subtil and Spirituous part of the Blood being too much agitated and heated for this like the Spirit of Wine boils up on every light occasion and conceives a fervor by a too great motion of the Body or perturbation of mind by the ambient heat as of the Sun or vapours by hot things taken inwardly as the drinking of Wine and the eating of peppered meats and being irritated by such like For the Spirits of the Blood easily take fire and being impetuously moved are not presently appeased but they move throughly other Particles of the Blood variously confound and snatch them into a rapid and disorderly motion also from this motion of the Spirits the Sulphur or Oily part of the Blood is more boiled forth somwhat more dissolved and somthing more fully inkindled in the Heart by which means an intense heat is raised up in the whole Body But forasmuch as Sulphur is inkindled and inflamed only by small parts and not in the whole that fervor of the Spirits is quickly appeased and ceases wherefore the Feaver which is excited by this means for the most part is terminated within twenty four hours and therefore is called an Ephemera or a Feaver of a day If that by reason of a greater heat of the Spirituous Blood it is prolonged further it rarely exceeds three days and is called an Ephemera of more days or a Synochus not putrid but if it should happen to be lengthned beyond this time this Feaver easily passes into a putrid viz. from the dayly Ebullition of the Spirituous Blood the more thick Particles of the Sulphur at length begin to take fire and involve the whole mass of Blood in its Effervescency even as the Spirit of Turpentine being shut up in a Cucurbit and being put into a Sand Furnace if it be forced with a moderate heat boils up gently as the Blood in a Feaver of a day but if the heat be made more strong the Liquor grows impetuously hot till it breaks forth into a flame to which the inflamation of the Blood in a putrid Feaver may be very aptly compared The Days Feaver and Synochus simple rarely begin without an evident cause Besides what hath been but now said immoderate Labour Watchings a sudden passion of the mind a constriction of the pores a Surfeit also a Bubo or inflamed Sore a Wound the coming down of the Milk in Child-bearing Women are wont to induce them The procatartic Causes which dispose to this are an hot temper of Body an active habit a sedentary life and difuse of exercise The chief beginnings of this Disease depend upon the
but for the most part after the deflagration of the Blood continued for six or seven days this remitting and instead of a Crisis the adust matter being translated to the Brain the sick for a long time keeping their Beds with raging somtimes but more often with a stupefaction with great weakness and somtimes with Convulsive motions scarcely escaped at last About the middle of the Summer besides the Contagion and frequent burials this Disease betrayed its malignity and pestilential force in open signs viz. By the eruption of Whelks and Spots because about this time in many there appeared without any great burning of the Feaver an unequal weak and very much disordered pulse also without a manifest expense of Spirits their strength presently became languishing and very much dejected In others sick after the same manner appeared little Blisters or Measles now small and red now broad and livid in many Buboes as in the Plague about the glandulas of these some died silently and unforeseen without any great strugling of the Spirits or Feaverish burning excited in the Blood in the mean time others by and by becoming furibundous whilst they lived suffered most horrid distractions of the animal Spirits Those about to escape from this Disease without any laudible Crisis unless they were the sooner freed by a sweat provoked by Art the Brain and nervous stock becoming distempered at length with a benummedness of the senses tremblings vertigo debility of the members and Convulsive motions did not grow well but of a long time after During the Dog-days this Disease being still infestous began to be handled not as a Feaver but as a lesser Plague and to be overcome only by Poyson-resisting Remedies letting of Blood was believed to be fatal to this Vomits and Purges somtimes tho not often were made use of but the chiefest means of Cure were accounted to be procured by Alexiteriums and timely sweat For this end besides the prescripts of Physicians to be had at the Apothecaries some Emperical Remedies deserved no small praise then first of all the pouder of the Countess of Kent began to be of great esteem in this Country also of no less note was another pouder of the colour of Ashes which a certain Courtier staying by chance in this City gave to many with good success and to others approving of the use of it he sold it at a great price the sick were wont having taken half a dram of this in any Liquor to fall into a most plentiful sweat and so to be freed from the virulency of the Disease That Diaphoretick whose preparation I afterwards learnt from the Cousen German of the Author was only the pouder of Toads purged throughly with Salt and then washed in the best Wine and lightly calcined in an earthen Pot. The Autumn coming on this Disease by degrees remitted its wonted fierceness that fewer grew sick of it and of them many grew well till the approach of the Winter when this Feaver almost wholly vanished and health was rendred to this City and the Country round about fully and wholly Thus you have seen the beginning progress and end of this Feaver at first only a Camp Feaver but at length became Pestilential and Epidemical That at first the Disease began in the Souldiers Camp may seem to be imputed not only to their nastiness and stinking smells but in some sort to a common vice of the Air for as these Feavers come not every year their original may be ascribed partly to the peculiar Constitution of the year Because by that means a more light intemperance of the Air being contracted tho it did not affect the more healthful Inhabitants yet in the Army where evident causes viz. errors in the six non-naturals very much happen to the general procatartic cause there is a necessity for these kind of sicknesses easily to be excited For the constitution of this year was in the Spring very moist and slabbery almost with continual shours to which a more hot Summer succeeding and the infection of the Feaverish Contagion here first increasing still grew worse and disposed all Bodies the more for the receiving it wherefore that this Disease was almost proper to this Region and at this time Epidemical the seed of it ought to be ascribed to its first rising from the Army being quartered round about But forasmuch as it afterwards being made Pestilential and very Epidemical it infected most of the people living here and killed not a few the reason was the evil affection of the Air which because of the intemperance of the year being unwholsom besides by the continual breathing forth of stinking vapours from the Souldiers Camps and the quarters of the sick it became at last so vitious that the infection of the Feaver being dispersed in it was greatly exalted and arose almost to the virulency of the Plague Diemerbrochius relates from the like Camp Feaver arising in the Summer at Spires afterwards another Malignant and Pestilential and then the Plague it self to have accrewed Also it was a sign that this Feaver of ours became at last equal to the Plague it self besides the great force of the Contagion and the frequency of Burials most wicked distempers of the Blood and nervous Liquor being brought presently upon all by it because strength being suddenly overthrown the weak intermitting pulse the creeping forth of measly Blisters the eruption of Buboes argued the Coagulation and corruptive disposition of the Blood besides the Delirium Madness Phrensie Stupefaction Sleepiness Vertigo Tremblings Convulsive motions and divers other distempers of the Head shewed the great hurt of the Brain and nervous stock That the figure or Idea of this malignant Feaver may be painted to the life very many observations or histories of sick people are easily to be had of the many examples of this Disease I shall only mention a few which hapned some years since in the house of a venerable man and as with a mournful slaughter so not without some admiration About the Winter Solstice in the year 1653. a youth of about Seven years old without any manifest cause found himself ill being troubled with a pain of his Head Sleepiness and mighty Stupefaction with it he had a Feaver tho not strong with an ordinary burning which grew more grievous only by wandring fits somtimes once somtimes twice in Twenty four hours space presently from the beginning he slept almost continually also he was wont in his sleep to cry out to talk idly and to leap often out of his Bed being awakned and somtimes of his own accord awaking he presently came to himself and constantly called for drink his Urine was red and full of Contents his pulse equal and strong enough in his wrists appeared light contractures of the tendons and in his neck and other parts of his Body some red spots like Flea-bites At the first was ordered a light Purgation and a frequent taking down of the Belly by the use of Clysters he daily
CHAP. XVI Of Feavers of Child-bearing Women VUlgar Experience abundantly testifies that the Feavers of Women lying in are very dangerous beyond the disposition of other common Feavers also that the same differ very much as to their essence from both a simple and putrid Synochus plainly appears from their signs and symptoms rightly weigh'd wherefore I believe it not to be from the matter to handle after malignant Feavers the acute Diseases of Women lying in being exceeding neer of kin to those for their mortality or perniciousness Yet before I shall enter upon the unfolding these Diseases it behoves us to consider their subjects viz. the Bodies of Women in Child-bed after what manner they are predisposed and by what provision they are made obnoxious to these kind of sicknesses Concerning this the first thing that offers itself is that the Flux of the menstruous Blood is wholly convenient to be suffered by human kind and at this time for Women concerning whose nature and original we shall not inquire in this place but it shall suffice to note that in them the particles of the Blood to be periodically thrust forth are very Permentative which if reteined in the Body beyond the wonted manner of Nature are very often the cause of many Diseases unless only when a Woman conceives with Child For all the time of her being big Bellied the monthly Flowers are stopped without any incommodiousness and in the mean time milk or the alible juice is disposed in great plenty about the parts of the Womb for the nourishment of the Child but after the Birth this daily suppression of the monthly Flowers is recompensed by a copious flowing forth of the Lochia or what comes away after the Birth and the milk within three days having wholly left the Womb springs forth plentifully into the Breasts at which time Women lying in are wont to be troubled with a small Feaver If that the milk be driven away from the Breasts it restagnates again towards the Womb and is thrust forth together with the Lochia under the form of a whitish humour In the mean time the Womb after the Birth becomes subject to various distempers for oftentimes its tone is hurt the unity is dissolved and many other accidents are induced which render Women lying in subject to danger wherefore that their acute Diseases may be rightly unfolded it is convenient for to consider chiefly these three things viz. first the nourishment of the Child or the Generation of Milk both in the Womb and in the Dugs and the metastasis or translation of it from one to another Secondly the purging of the Mothers Blood or the profluvium of the Lochia after a long suppression of the Menstrua Thirdly the condition of the Womb after the Birth and its influence on other parts of the Body And these being premised we will speak of the Feavers of Women lying in viz. both the milkie and the putrid called and that deservedly malignant by reason of its deadliness First the Milk and nourishing humour being heaped up in the parts of the Womb for the nourishment of the Child are of a like nature tho somewhat different in consistency Milk is indeed more thick because it ought to be received in at the mouth and to be kept in the Ventricle and afterwards it more thin portion to be conveyed to the mass of Blood The other alible Juice is more thin and like the water of distilled Milk because 't is immediately poured into the Blood of the Embryo thorow the umbilick Vessels without any previous digestion Either Juice is supposed to come from the Chyle fresh made in the mothers stomach what is reposed or laid up in the Breast is more thick and white by reason of the more thin or open strainer and coction in the greater Glandulas on the contrary it happens in the Womb ootherwise where the Glandulas are smaller and the Straining more close But there is a great disagreement among Authors concerning the passages by which this humor is carried both in the Breasts and into the Cake of the Womb. Some contend that Milk only is begotten of the Blood more plentifully cocted in the Glandulas which yet by reason of the immense dispense of Milk which consists not with the Blood this seems not probable Others affirm that the Chyle or Milkie humor is immediately conveyed from the Viscera of Concoction thorow occult passages without any alteration into either receptacles But in the mean time while these passages lie open it seems indeed to me more likely that from the meat taken into the Mothers Stomach a portion of the Chyle thence made is presently supped up into the Veins which having obtained the vehicle of the Blood before it be assimilated by it is said up in the Glandulas destinated here and there for the receiving of it being carried by the Arteries and lastly separated from the mass of Blood for as it appears that drink being plentifully taken presently passes thorow the whole mass of Blood and is rendered by Urine like water and as old Ulcers by means of the Blood coming between prey upon the nutritious humor from the whole Body and pour it forth under the shape of a putrified matter Why may not the alible Juice in like manner being strained by the Collander of the Glandulas before it has indued the colour of Blood go into a Milkie humour This indeed seems more probable because whilst the Milk is carried from the Womb into the Breasts and on the contrary passing thorow the mass of Blood it is wont to stir up a perturbation thorow the whole with a feaverish intemperance besides in the first days after the Birth when the Glandulas do less rightly perform the office of secretion Beasts who have not the Lochia give a bloody Milk which is drawn forth of their Udders that is mixt with Blood by reason of the plenty of it flowing forth together Secondly As to what belongs to the Menstrua being suppressed in the time of being with Child and the Lochia plentifully coming away after being Delivered we say that after the Conception of the Child the Menstrua ought to be suppressed by Divine Designation for that the flowing of them often causes abortion then because the Vessels are filled by a continual stilling forth of the alible juice into the parts of the Womb the mass of the Blood doth not arise into swellings up to be allayed by the menstruous Flux For the same reason Women for the most part have not their courses so long as they give suck Perhaps in some indued with a more hot Blood the monthly courses flow both whilst they are Big-bellied and in the time of their giving suck but that more rarely and is wont not to happen without trouble yet in the mean time the Menstrua being suppressed during the time of being with Child because much less of the nutritious humor is expended at that time for Milk they much more deprave the Blood
Lungs and also to be apt to grow into clodders and to be coagulated that if yet worse distempers of the Brain and nervous stock follow and the Pulse should become weak and unequal you may pronounce the business almost deplorable but if as sometimes tho it more rarely happens after the Feaver being inkindled and grievously threatning either the Flux of the Lochia returns or a Diarrhea with ease succeeds some hope of health may be admitted tho the same be at the last cast Concerning the Cure of these kind of Feavers there lies a very great task upon the Physitian because any Physick is esteemed with the vulgar not only unprofitable but also hurtful for Women in Child-bed wherefore Physicians are rarely sent for unless when there is no place left for remedies and the opportunity of all profitable means be wholly past If that perchance they should be present about the beginning of the Disease it will not be easie to procure health to the sick by vulgar Remedies but whatever they should attempt unless it should bring help it would be said by the Women and others about the person to be deadly and the only cause of her death that in truth there is wont to happen to us less of profit or more of ignominy about the Cure of no other Disease as in this But the method of curing even as in Contagious Diseases ought to be instituted twofold to wit Prophylactic or Preventive and Therapeutic or Curative The former of these delivers precepts and cautions whereby Women Lying in may he preserved from the assault of Feavers the other suggests Curative intentions whereby the sick if it may be done may at length recover health 1. Although this Feaver be somewhat Malignant it is not caught by Contagion and there is no fear of the sicks receiving outwardly any invenomed taint notwithstanding all Women in Child-bed have an innate mine of virulency and from the evil of this as it were the tinder of most high Malignity they ought to beware wherefore they need an exact ordering to wit whereby after the Birth the impurities of the Blood and humors may be rightly purged forth without danger of a Feaver also that the evil affections of the Womb may be healed and that the strength being broken and debilitated by the Labour may be restored after its due manner For these ends these three things are chiefly to be inculcated for prescripts by Physitians First I judg it necessary that a most exact manner of Dyet be commanded to Women in Child-bed to wit that they be wholly fed with Oatmeal Candle made sometimes of Beer and sometimes of Water and White-wine mixt together also with Panada and other light nourishers for a week at least because they are much emptied therefore it may be lawful for them to sup often but nothing of solid or more strong food is to be given For I have diligently observed that these Feavers have been oftenest induced by the eating too soon flesh or strong Broths or Food Forasmuch as Women Lying in ought to be handled not only as those that are grievously wounded but as those that have got a feaverish indisposition from a disturbed disposition and temper of the Blood For with them the Blood being already too much carried forth and as it were touched with an impure infection most quickly catches Flame by the access or means of any Sulphureous thing Secondly after Dyet the care will be lest the Pores be shut up by the incautiously taking cold from without or that the Lochia should be stopped for upon the least occasion the manner of transpiration being changed the Blood first growing hot conceives disorders also the Womb being touched by the blast of Air contracts it self and shuts up the mouths of the Vessels whereby the Lochia flow forth less wherefore for five days at least after being Delivered I would have Women wholly to keep their Beds I know that 't is a common custom to raise them from Bed on the third day but by that means I have known many that have fallen into Feavers and in truth if we desire to keep Women in Child-bed from all danger the safest means will be that they may be kept long in their Beds Thirdly concerning preservation the intent remains that by causing a gentle provocation of the Blood in Women Lying in the Flux of the Lochia may be continued for this end Midwives are wont if after a difficult Labour they fear that evil to give them Sperma Ceti or powder of Irish Slate or Saffron steeped in White-wine Moreover to make them Oat-meal Candle that may more fuse the Blood of Water and White and Rhenish Wine mixed together in which they boyl or in posset drink also Marigold Flowers leaves of Penyroyal or Mugwort there are many other kinds of administrations extant about the ordering Women in Child-bed which being commonly known I willingly pass over here The Cure of the subsequent Feaver of Women in Child-bed is far from the usual method in Putrid Feavers for in this it is not to be expected that the Blood being touched with a feaverish burning should by degrees burn forth and the same should be separated by a Crisis but rather as it is done in a Malignant Feaver as soon as the Blood grows immoderately hot it is convenient for it to be moved by gentle Diaphoretick Remedies and its heterogeneous and impure mixtures to be carried forth of doors wherefore among the common people it is a custom and that not bad to give to feaverish Women Lying in sudorificks presently by this means the Blood being eventilated its effervency is allayed also by reason of its agitation the Lochia apt to be restrained are provoked into a Flux There is great difference among Authors from whence the beginnings of these kind of Feavers ought to be computed viz. whether from the Birth it self or from the first sense of growing feaverish however it matters little whether it be after this or that manner For since this Feaver runs not the usual stadia or courses of the Putrid neither hath a Crisis nor wholly admits the use of Cathartic or Purging Remedies we need not be solicitous so much for the days concerning its period and mensuration But yet as to the Curative indications it will be of use only to distinguish what is to be done in the beginning increase and end of this Disease also what we ought to indeavour whilst there is some strength remaining as also what when 't is oppressed and very much dejected When therefore any Woman in Child-bed is first taken with this Feaver whose assault is known from the milky Feaver because for the most part it begins with a shivering you must presently let it be your work that the more plentiful sustenance may be drawn away from the burning Blood and as I have already admonished that the flesh of living Creatures and Broths made of them be utterly forbidden yet in the mean time all cold
things and that are indued with a styptic or binding vertue are equally to be avoided for these fix the Blood and bind it too much and hinder its very requisite Purgation both by the Lochia and by transpiration thorow the skin But rather though the Feaver be urgent give them decoctions powders and confections of things moderately hot of which sort are as is already said decoctions or Distilled Waters of the Flowers of Marigoids the Leaves of Pennyroyal Mugwort the roots of Scorzonera also Bezoartic Powders Spirits of Harts-horn fixed salts of Herbs c. If the Lochia should be stopt that their Flux may be again provoked must be indeavoured every way To the moving of this conduce frictions and ligatures about the Thighs and Legs sometimes Cupping-Glasses or Blisters about the Thighs or Hips also in the soles of the Feet also sometimes the opening a Vein in the Ankle is convenient in the mean time a fomentation of the hysterical decoction is to be applied about the Pubis or the Caul of a Weather or Sheep taken out warm may be layed to the bottom of the Belly and experience manifests that sometimes injections into the Womb are profitable If the Belly yields not it may be gently brought down with a violet suppository so called or an emollient Clyster of more strong provocations you must take heed because in Women Lying in even as in a Malignant Feaver from a copious dejection with loss of Spirits Life is quickly lost If with the suppression of the Lochia there be a notable perturbation of the Blood with vomiting thirst and wakings I have often known Laudanum mixt with Saffron given with happy success Instead of a cooling Julep this kind of mixture is convenient viz. take of water of Pennyroyal and Balm each three ounces of hysterical water two ounces of the Syrrop of Mugwort three ounces and an half of the tincture of Saffron two drams of Castor ty'd in a rag and hung in the glass one scruple mingle these and let them drink of this three or four spoonfuls oftentimes in a day 2. If notwithstanding the use of these Remedies the Feaver grows still worse and by degrees is increased with worser symptoms that besides the disorders of the Blood the Brain and nervous parts begin to be touched Medicines tho many of every kind may be tryed do little yea in this case the indications are almost the same with those made use of in the Plague it self forasmuch as the Lochia being for a good while suppressed they cannot easily be reduced or scarcely at all in the great confusion of the Blood and humors therefore it is convenient quickly to move a sweating to wit that the corruptions impressed on the Blood and nervous juice and restagnating from the Womb may be carried forth some how by sweat and insensible transpiration Therefore here Powders and Confections of Bezoar Spirit of Hartshorn or of Soot tinctures of Corals or Pearls help I have sometimes seen by the help of those kind of Medicines in a desperate case when the Pulse and other symptoms have appeared a little better some small hopes to shew themselves yet Cure rarely to follow but when the use of these Cordials were left off the sick with a weak Pulse and a Loosness presently arising have been precipitated to Death 3. When yet the business of the sick proves still worse when the Feaver being increased the Pulse is weak and unequal and frequent horrors and convulsive motions in the whole body with a delirium and stupefaction infest them then the Physitian having first made a Prognostication of Death may insist upon a few Remedies and those only Cordials and must wholly abstain from blood-letting scarification blistering or the use of Cupping-glasses for such administrations beget only an odium and blame that by so doing we are esteemed by some Women as wicked and cruel The Symptomatic Feavers of Women in Child-bed THE Acute Diseases of Women in Child-bed shew themselves not only according to the Figure of the aforesaid Feaver but sometimes they are beset with some signal symptoms to wit the Squinancy Pleurifie inflamation of the Lungs Dysentery Small-Pox or of some other kind and at that time they get the appellations of those Distempers It will not be here seasonable to repeat at large what belongs to the essences and natures of each but I shall briefly shew what these sicknesses being complicated with the distempers of Women Lying in contain peculiarly as to the Causes or Cures All these symptoms we suppose to proceed from a certain Coagulation of the Blood and from thence its extravasation But whilst the Blood is extravasated or put forth of the Vessels in one part its efflux however natural and critical is hindred in another wherefore it is dangerous lest whilst the Blood begins to be coagulated either in a particular or accustomed nest of Coagulation or universally in its whole mass the flowing of the Lochia be stopped which in truth for the most part happens and therefore these Distempers for the most part are deadly to Women in Child-bed yet the cause of their Death for the most part happens with some difference viz. in the Small Pox the flowing of the Lochia draws inwardly the malignity begun to be carried forth outwardly and forthwith compels the mass of Blood and the heart it self to be impoysoned with its evil and therefore in the Small Pox these purgings of the Womb are convenient to be stopped But in the Pleurisie Squinancy and the rest when the provocative of the Disease being fixed here or there in a particular place draws to it self the impurities of the Blood which ought to be separated or sifted forth by the Lochia and derives it streight from the Womb for that reason it increases the impurity of the Blood The Lochia being stopped in the Small Pox by the more universal manner or way of excretion may be shut forth of doors with the venemous Particles of the Disease which thing indeed does not succeed in the rest by reason of the minute and more sparing manner of excretion Of these the Squinancy Pleurisie and Inflamation of the Lungs by reason both of the great similitude of the Cause and analogy of the Cure may be considered together when any Woman Lying in is distempered with any of these it is to be supposed that besides the Infection gathered together in the time of being Big-bellied there happens a certain sourish disposition of the Blood by the means of which whilst that it self grows feaverishly hot certain Particles of it being fused with the sourness enter into congelation in this or that part like Milk growing sour and then to be coagulated The Blood being there frozen or congealed and hindred in its circuit stops the passage of the rest but the Blood being obstructed in its motion buts against the impediment and so being heaped up about it and driven forth of the Vessels grows into a tumour from thence presently whatsoever is
head moreover a leaping up of the tendons in her wrists also she had sudden concussions of her wholy Body yet still her loosness held to her were administred by the prescripts of several Physicians Cordials and other Remedies and kinds of Administrations carefully but nothing profited her Pulse being more weak and her strength leisurely wasting she died on the ninth day after she was delivered This Feaver very much depended upon the vitious provision of the Body as the procatartic cause for I have often observed that it fares ill with Women Lying in who when Big bellied devoured fruit and any unwholsom trash and living without motion or exercise indulged themselves with ease and rest the Blood by reason of the previous Cachexie conceived a burning without any evident cause as it were of its own accord But growing hot laying inwardly still its recrements and impurities caused the Diarrhea neither yet was its mass made more pure by its almost continual excretion yea rather being still more depraved in its mixtion or crasis the Blood at length wholly departed from its proper disposition and became unable to be fermented in the heart whereby heat and breath might be every where dispersed The loosness excited by the motion of Nature was untowardly stopped especially by the use of astringent things for this I have often observed never to be done without paying for it because the Flux of the Belly has cured some that have been ill but in this Lady and in many others as has abundantly appeared to our experience altho it did not take away the Feaver yet it freed her from the more grievous distempers of the Brain and nervous stock from whence this sick person was wholly free from a Delirium nor was struck with Convulsive motions till reduced almost to extremity The Mother of a Family and a Gentlewoman about 36 years of Age or upwards being with Child of her seventeenth Child was troubled and very anxious lest she should die of that Child-bearing But God favouring she was delivered well enough of a Son and for three days after she was very cheerful on the fourth day when she had eaten more than she should do of a Chicken a little before night she fell into a feaverish Distemper with vomiting and a stopping of the Lochia all night she lay restless and without sleep the next morning she had four stools and seemed somewhat eased about Noon about which time I came to her she complained again of heat and thirst as also a palpitation of the heart and of the ascent of some substance in her throat her Pulse was quick and small her Urine red the Lochia scarce appeared I ordered her Juleps Cordials and things to purge the Womb besides a fomentation for the bottom of her Belly also her Legs and Feet to be rubbed often with warm Wollen Cloaths at going to sleep I gave her of Laudanum one grain with Saffron Pouder half a scruple in a spoonful of Treacle-water She slept well and the Lochia came down plentifully and by that means with a slender dyet and continuing to provoke moderately the Flux of the Womb for a few days she became very well The immoderate eating of flesh as an evident and almost only sufficient cause without any great provision or vitious predisposition induced the Feaver The Lochia restagnating into the Blood increased its intemperance and presently brought troubles upon the nervous kind but in the mean time the Blood altho growing hot did not undergo any great corruption but when the recrements heaped up by the Surfeit were sent forth by the loosness and the Blood the Lochia being restored began to be purged forth again after its wonted manner this Feaver wanting a further malignant ferment quickly vanished A noble Lady young and fair was brought to Bed of a second Child and for six days as to the Lochia and other accidents she was well and wholly free from the suspicion of any intemperature she ate flesh daily and rising from her Bed was brisk and chearful in her Chamber on the seventh day without any manifest cause a shivering came upon her with a Feaver and a lessning of the Lochia but not suppressed to the tenth day after her Delivery she was only moderately feaverish whilst the purgings of the Womb yet flowed she remained free from any grievous symptom but then although she was greatly feaverish she was more cheerful than ordinary and seemed more confident of her health at Night she slept little or nothing the morning following at which time I first visited her she clearly raved the Lochia were stopped also her whole Body was shaken with horror the tendons in her wrists were pulled together so that I could hardly distinguish her Pulse which in the mean time was weak unequal and very quick I said she would die quickly unless God should miraculously restore her by his Divine Power however six grains of Oriental Bezoar being given her in a spoonful of Cordial Julep brought upon her a plentiful sweat with a better Pulse then other Cordials being given wiâ—â— due intervals gave some little hopes tho I doubted they would not continue aâ—tâ—r four hours from the time that I came the sick Lady had of her own accord a great Stool and presently her strength wholly failed her and within half an hour she died When there hapned nothing of ill to this Lady as to her Delivery or Womb so pernicious a Feaver and so suddenly Mortal could not happen without a great and malignant procatarsis of the Blood and humors whether a more full Dyet or taking Cold or any other evident cause gave a beginning to this is uncertain because the Women and Nurses helping her knew of no manifest occasion of her sickness The Feaver being inkindled the infection of the Blood could not be wholly carried away by the purging of the Womb tho long continued tho for that reason the more cruel symptoms came not presently upon her yet the evil still lurked within and the Disease being very acute shewing it self with a swift motion on the fourth day when Nature should have indeavoured a Crisis the matter of the Feaver being moved but not overcome as it were in a moment overturned at once the Brain and nervous parts whence Death was to be expected and suddenly followed A Woman well known who had scarce passed the twentieth Year of her Age of a florid countenance and slender Body after her being brought to Bed when the Lochia flowed immoderately made use of some astringent Remedies by the counsel of those about her by which means they were wholly stopped but a Flux of her Belly succeeded which when it had increased for three days the Women gave her other things for the stopping her Loosness nor were they frustrated in the success in the mean time in the place of the former evil they had brought a most dangerous Feaver and distempers as it were hysterical for the unhappy Gentlewoman Lying in was troubled
formal reason of these kind of distempers may somewhat appear Since therefore of late years within a short tract of time three popular Diseases have spread in these Countrys I will add as a Crown to this work the several Descriptions of them made at those times when these Feavers raged A Description of an Epidemical Feaver spreading about Autumn in the Year 1657. taken in the middle of September WHilst we meditate the Description of a Feaver at this time cruelly raging it is fit that following the example of Hippocrates we first consider the foregoing constitution of the Year its intemperance and excess of qualities For Epidemical Diseases and commonly excited among the people are from a common cause such as the habit of the Year and by that means contracted a disposition of the Blood by which many are alike affected But that we may draw the matter from the beginning the last Spring and the time succeeding it even to the end of the Summer was all that half years space extremely dry and hot but especially after the Summer solstice the heats were so intense for many weeks following that day and night there was none that did not complain of the heat of the Air and were almost in a continual sweat and were not able to breath freely About the Calends of July this Feaver at first sporadical or particular began to break forth in some places that perhaps one or two were taken in the same City or Village In many it imitated the likeness of an intermitting Tertian viz. the Fits returned every other day which yet infested the sick with a most intense heat without any cold or shivering going before Vomiting and Choleric Stools plentifully hapned to most sweat succeeding but difficultly and often interrupted whereby the feaverish fit rarely ended in a remission but that all the time between the sick continued languishing and weak with thirst and restlessness in some when the business began to grow better after three or four fits cold and shivering began the fits and the Feaver became an exact intermitting Tertian But in most the Feaver still grew worse and presently became of an evil nature and difficult Cure with a depraved provision of symptoms for when the sick were highly heated in their fits and hardly sweated they were wont to commit errors which daily increased the strength of the Disease because by reason of the inpatience of the sick and the unskilfulness of Servants the sweat being interrupted which should have ended the fit of the Feaver after one fit was scarce finished another presently succeeded and so the Disease was wont to have wandring and uncertain periods without any intermission betweene and afterwards to pass into a kind of continual Feaver The condition of which sometimes being very dangerous with an evil affection of the Brain and nervous stock so that oftentimes a Lethargy or Delirium or not seldom cramps and Convulsive motions were excited About the month of August this Feaver began to spread far and near among the people that in every Region and Village many were sick of it but it was much more frequent in the Country and smaller Villages than in Cities or Towns It was still like an intermitting Feaver unless that it seemed more infestous than that is wont and with more cruel fits and shorter intermissions and therefore was called the new Disease besides it underwent the note of a certain malignity and gave knowledg of its Contagion and Deadliness insomuch that it crept from house to house infected with the same evil most of the same Family and especially those familiarly conversing with the sick yea old Men and Men of ripe Age it ordinarily took away If you respect the nature and essence of the Disease this Feaver properly should be referred to the rank of intermitting Feavers for the fits returned at set times also for the most part they began with cold and shivering and oftenest with vomiting and by and by a most intense heat proceeding they were finished at last with a sweat The Urine in most appeared of a flame colour thin in the fits with some hypostasis without it more thick and with a redish sediment altho with a most copious sweat and often iterated the Disease was not cured which might be expected in a continual Feaver yea the distemper continued exceeding long for many days sometimes months tho much evacuation almost daily hapned by vomit and sweat which we observe frequently in an intermitting Feaver rarely to happen in a continual out of the fit at any time of the Disease a purge was profitably instituted which in a Synochus before the sign of concoction were a wicked thing to attempt besides that this Feaver was of the intermitting kind it seems to appear from hence because very many recovered of it that scarce one of a thousand died which I scarce ever knew in an Epidemical Synochus About the first beginnings of this Disease it appeared very like to an intermitting Tertian altho afterwards in some by reason of the vitious provision of their body and errors committed in Dyet and sweating it seemed to change into a continual for in whom the fits were not rightly concluded nor ended in a remission by reason of the morbific matter not being throughly dispersed their Blood was continually hot from whence it came to pass that the fits sooner returned and continued longer till at length by reason of the plenty of matter and the languishment of Nature the Blood being made weaker endeavoured no longer to swell up and to separate the feaverish matter at set hours but to subdue it by little and little with a continual effervency We are to inquire concerning the causes of this Disease what may be the leading evident and conjunct cause viz. by the means of which it spread so generally and became Epidemical through all England by what means and for what occasion it was wont to be excited in all men and lastly what kind of alteration of the Blood and humors being induced brought forth this kind of Feaver with such a provision of symptoms and conserved it in the Act. I know it is easie to place wholly the cause of this so popular Disease in the malignant constitution of the Air to wit that the Particles of the Air in which we breath were infected by a certain extraneous Infection and not agreeable to our Nature the little bodies of which Infections being admitted within did ferment with the Blood and humors and so in most brought in this Feaver almost with the same appearance of symptoms For who dares deduce the original of a Disease so generally raging from a less public fountain or refer to any other place the received causes of Diseases than to that nest of Vital Air on which every one seeds But whilst I more attentively consider the thing it seems to me that its stem and as it were its first beginnings are to be sought a little deeper To wit that this Feaver is
and now fixed in the Bowels now in the extreme parts bring forth various Distempers Wherefore in a long languishing of the sick or otherwise for the sake of being sooner well Remedies should be given them which volatilise the Blood or hinder the stuffings of the Viscera or if stuffed may open them and their ferments as if extinct restore for this use those Remedies and Preparations chiefly help which are commonly called Digestives and Antiscorbuticks with which being timely administred I have known very many weak pale and as it were without Blood suddenly to recover a liveliness and vigor The Description of a Catarrhal Feaver Epidemical in the middle of the Spring in the Year 1658. taken the fourth of June AN equally intense Frost followed the next Winter the immoderate heat of the foregoing Summer so that no one living could remember such a Year for either excess both of heat and cold From the Ides of December almost to the vernal Equinox the Earth was covered with snow and the North wind constantly blowing all things without doors were frozen also afterwards from the beginning of the Spring almost to the beginning of June the same Wind still blowing the season was more like Winter than Spring unless now and then a hot day came between During the Winter unless that a Quartan Feaver contracted in Autumn infested some among our Countrimen there was a moderate state of health and freedom from all popular Diseases The Spring coming on an intermitting Tertian as used to do every year before fell upon some About the end of April suddenly a Distemper arose as it sent by some blast of the Stars which laid hold on very many together that in some Towns in the space of a Week above a thousand people fell sick together The particular symptom of this Disease and which first invaded the sick was a troublesome Cough with great spitting also a Catarrh falling down on the palat throat and nostrils also it was accompanied with a feaverish Distemper joyned with heat and thirst want of appetite a spontaneous weariness and a grievous pain in the Back and Limbs which Feaver however was more remiss in some that they could go abroad and follow their affairs in the time of their sickness but complaining in the mean time of want of strength and of languishing a loathing of food a Cough and a Catarrh But in some a very hot Distemper plainly appeared that being thrown into Bed they were troubled with burning thirst waking hoarsness and coughing almost continual somtimes there came upon this a bleeding at Nose and in some a bloody spittle and frequently a Bloody Flux such as were indued with an infirm Body or men of a more declining Age that were taken with this Disease not a few died of it but the more strong and almost all of an healthful constitution recovered those who falling sick of this Disease and died for the most part died by reason of the strength being leisurely wasted and a serous heap more and more gathered together in the Breast with the Feaver being increased and a difficulty of breath like those sick of an Hectic Feaver Concerning this Disease we are to inquire what procatartic cause it had that it should arise in the middle of the Spring suddenly and that the third part of Mankind almost should be distempered with the same in the space of a Month then the signs and symptoms being carefully collated the formal reason of this Disease also its Crisis and way of Cure ought to be assigned That the Northern Wind is most apt to produce Catarrhs besides the testimony of Hippocrates common experience doth make known but why Catarrhs did not spread at least in some peculiar places all the Winter and Spring but only in one months space and then joyned with a Feaver this Distemper should become Epidemical doth not so plainly appear I know many deduce the cause from the unequal temper of the Air at that time which altho for the most part very cold yet the North Wind sometimes lessening there would be a day or two very hot between wherefore from this occasion as from cold taken after the heat men should commonly fall sick But indeed for the exciting the Distemper so suddenly rising and commonly spreading there is required besides such an occasion a great foregoing cause or predisposition tho the other might suffice perhaps for an evident cause for to distemper them with this sickness for we ought to suppose that almost all men were prone to the receiving this Disease otherwise no evident cause could have exercised its power so potently on so many wherefore it seems very likely that this Disease had its Origine from the intemperance and great inordination of the year and as the Autumnal intermitting Feaver before described was the product of the preceding immoderate heat so this Catarrhal Feaver depended altogether upon the following part of the year being so extremely cold For the Blood being now throughly roasted by the very hot Summer and prone to the Feaver before described then being made more sourish by the Autumn urging it and apt for a Quartan Feaver afterwards being a little eventilated by reason of the strong cold of the Winter and hindred from its due perspiration retained yet its Dyscrasie or evil disposition and readily broke forth on the first occasion given wherefore when the Blood in the middle of the Spring as the juice of Vegetables being made more lively and also begun to flower and grow rank by reason of the stoppage being still continued was straitned in its Circulation and easily made prone to a feaverish effervescency and as the serous Water redounding in the Blood could not evaporate outwardly because of the Pores being still straitned by the cold restagnating within and chiefly falling upon the Lungs where it might be moved about instead of an outward breathing forth excited the so frequent and troublesom Cough The Original therefore and formal Reason of this Disease are founded chiefly on two things to wit that there together hapned a greater effervescency of the Blood than usual from the coming on of the Spring season and also a stoppage or great constriction of the Pores excited by the too great cold of the foregoing season that therefore there was not a free space granted to the Blood flowring or luxuriating in the Vessels The business being after the same manner as if Wine begun to grow hot should be put up into close shut Vessels for by this means either the Vessels or the Liquor were in danger to be lost Wherefore that we may contract the thing in short the cause that this Disease begun in the middle of the Spring having presently spread largely seised very many was not the blast of a malignant Air whereby the sick were distempered as if struck with a blasting but that at this time the Blood being inspired by the constitution of the Spring and so luxuriating and apt to grow hot was contracted
Fire and to renew it by little and little with spirit and vigor in a long time yet in the mean time after the heighth of this Disease when the Blood being made more weak and impure could not expel forth of doors this feaverish matter or adust recrements by a critical motion it often transferred it to the Brain and therefore about the height of this Feaver a torpor and stupidity of spirits sleepiness vertigo tingling of the ears tremblings and convulsive motions with a great oppression of the whole animal faculty were most often induced Men of a more cold temperament or in years who were taken with this Disease altho they were but little feaverish were wont however to be in greater danger of Life because in these besides the disposition of the Blood not easily reducible also what was gathered together in the fits that was extraneous and not to be mixed was hardly subdued and difficultly sifted forth of the mass of Blood wherefore both the Blood was still more notably depraved in its Crasis and in every fit more infected by the impure mixture Moreover the nervous Liquor was greatly perverted from its due temper and defiled most badly by the adust recrements continually poured on the Brain Therefore when old men melancholic or otherways sickly persons fell into this Feaver they became presently after its first assault stupified and for the most part vertiginous Tho in the fits the heat was not very sharp and piercing they were however very unquiet and still tossing about oftentimes they talked idly and at random after a long burning either no sweat or only partial and often broke off followed whereby the fit was not fully helped but that in the whole intervals the sick were thsrsty and remained very ill with a driness of the mouth a scurfiness of the Tongue and a suffusion of a viscous filth After some fits their strength being exceedingly cast down they were wholly fixed to their Beds or rise only for a little while could scarce stand or set a foot before another to move from place to place or able to walk in the mean time they laboured with a languishment a difficult breathing a nummedness of senses and a great debility of the whole nervous stock The Urine in most was highly red of a more deep colour and of a thicker consistency than in a common Tertian The Pulse whilst the strength was not wholly cast down for the most part was strong and equal afterwards when the sick became very languishing it was weak and unequal and oftentimes intermitting to which also constructures of the tendons and convulsive motions in the wrists being joyned were for the most part prognosticks of Death Those who leisurely being debilitated declined towards Death some little time before they died lay for the most part without speaking or knowing those about them as it were stupid and it rarely hapned in this Feaver that any one about to die was so perfect in their memory and intellect as to dispose of their Family affairs or to take leave of their friends But it hapned to those who escaped from a deep languishment and almost desperate condition not quickly or suddenly to recover from their manifest evil disposition but lying a long while wavering stupified and without strength that Nature at length not but after a doubtful and difficult strife got indeed scarcely the better of the Disease and then recovered strength by degrees and health lingringly and slowly If the nature and formal reason of this Epidemical Feaver but now described be demanded we say that this as that of the former year properly is an intermitting Feaver for what commonly spread bore that figure altho some here and there more rarely had it continual which we shall by the way mention by and by The seed plot or seminary of this need not be derived from the air being infected with any Infection but rather its leading cause is to be sought from the undue constitution of the year and from thence an indisposition of our Blood being acquired Because in the Spring and Autumn intermitting Feavers have yearly sprung up and increased to wit for that our Blood like to the juice of Vegetables is wont to be more lively moved than usual and to flower at those times Wherefore if the mass of Blood by reason of the foregoing season of the Summer or Winter should be altered from its due temperature and should contract either a sharp or atrabilous disposition or of any other kind its evil dispositions begun before are chiefly ripened about the Equinoxes to wit when the Blood more freely fermenting if that it hath departed from its natural disposition doth not so easily sanguifie but that it will be apt to pervert the alible juice poured to it into an extraneous and feaverish matter When therefore this year had not very much declined from a right constitution as not only the Dog-days going before but that the two solstices and the equinoxes were wholly intemperate it was no wonder if intermitting Feavers more frequent than usual and those noted with some unusual symptoms did increase about the Autumn That therefore an intermitting Epidemical Feaver raged at this time I judg it not to be attributed to the fault of the present Air but to the irregularities of the foregoing season yet from what causes and occasions some symptoms proper to this Feaver and distinct from the common rule of intermitting Feavers did arise will be worth our Inquiry I have already said that the provision that made this Feaver so deadly consisted in two things chiefly viz. the temper of the year now extremely cold then upon it very hot then that it had variously perverted the disposition of our Blood and had distempered the pores of the skin with an undue constitution According to the reasons taken from either I shall endeavour to explicate the accidents of this Disease and to assign the causes of its appearance 1. First We shall observe that the type of this Feaver was various to wit in some with a continual heat in others with an eruption of spots but in most intermitting and like a Tertian and sometimes tho rarely a Quotidian repeating the fits every day or every other day the cause of this diversity we impute to the more strong and potent morbific procatarxy of this year which produced in the Autumn a more common intermitting Feaver than it was wont wherefore in some perhaps indued with a more praved habit of Body it stirred up Feavers something malignant and in whom it caused intermitting Feavers according to the wonted manner of the season it made them to be noted with a peculiar appearance of symptoms 2. Those taken at this time with the Epidemical Feaver whether it was continual or intermitting suffered presently evil Distempers of the head viz. now they were wont to be infested with cruel head-ach now with a stupor or too great distraction of the Animal Spirits The reason of this is that the nervous
evening in a little draught of the prescribed Julap half an ounce of Diacodium to which succeeded a moderate sleep without the wonted Convulsions following which kinde of effects from opiats exhibited in the like case I have often experimented for the quenching her thirst I gave her a Ptisan with diuretick Ingredients boyled in it by the use of these she was very much eased in a short time But what proved a great benefit to her was that an Imposthume in her ear breaking of its own accord powred forth at first a yellow matter and afterwards for many days a great plenty of thin Ichor or Excrement by which Evacuation the Convulsions of the Viscera and Praecordia wholly ceasing the disease was perfectly Cured As to the Reason of the aforesaid sicknesse without doubt it seems that those Distempers were excited by the serous colluvies layd up within the Bounds of the Head for the translation of that humour into the head brought at first both the Disease and the Secretion or flowing of it out thorow the Emunctuaries of the ear took away all the Symptoms Besides when the morbific matter had brought in to the Spirits planted about the beginings of the nerves a Disposition somewhat explosive they though being struck as it were with madness they were continually troubled yet so long as leaping back towards the Brain they obtained a space in which they might be more freely expanded or stretched forth they did indeed only more vehemently exercise the Phantasie and without farther trouble did only cause watchings But when by sleep sometimes Creeping upon her the excursion of the unquiet Spirits were restrained towards the Brain which indeed necessarily happens when we sleep the nervous Liquor within the pores of the brain at that time being more plentifully admitted they tumultuarily rushing upon the heads of the wandring pair and intercostall Nerves troubled the whole series of Spirits flowing within the passages of those Nerves and so caused the aforesaid Convulsions about the Praecordia Viscera and muscles of the Throat I have known many both Men and women sick after this manner who when they have been troubled with an headach an heaviness of the hinder part of the head or a Vertigo have while they slept felt forthwith in their Praecordia or Viscera or in both together perturbations as it were Convulsive which indeed happens from the bending downward of the tumultuating Spirits being reflected from the brain upon the beginings of the Nerves But that the use of opiats brought a pleasing sleep to this sick person without the wonted Convulsions following the reason was because the animal spirits as unquiet and furious as they were yet by the Intanglement of the narcotick Particles they were bound as it were in chains that afterwards without any resistance they were overcome by sleep I have indeed very often happily cured most grievous fits of Convulsions both Asthmatical and as it were hysterical by administring Opiates Observation 2 An honest woman M. G. of 67. years of Age yet of a florid countenance and fat in body when she had been a while obnoxious at first to a swelling of the face and very grievous fits of the headach she fell through the great cold of the winter into a very troublesome Vertigo with a trembling of the heart a fainting away of the Spirits and a frequent striving to vomit being lay'd in her bed if she opened her eyes or turn'd her from one side to another she was presently troubled with a notable gididness or swimming in the head with swooning and effectless vomiting Visiting this woman I doubted not but that the cause of her sickness was the Convulsive matter being translated from the exterior region of the head to the most inward recesses of the Encephalon by whose inspiration or heterogeneous Copula the animal spirits being touched while they leaped forth inordinatly towards the brain they excited the vertiginous Distemper and while they rushed tumultuarily upon the heads of the nerves the Scotomie disorder of the Praecordia and endeavouring to vomit A large Vesicatory or blistering Plaster being applyed to the nape of the neck and behind her ears Clisters dayly administred also the use of Spirits of harts-horn frequently and of a Cephalick Julap cured her within a few days Observation 3 A noted man about 34. years of Age when he had been for a long time subject to a Cough with great and thick spitting besides having the pores of his skin very open he was wont to sweat continually and every night to be wet with it about the begining of the spring he perceived those usuall evacuations to happen more sparingly in the mean time he Complained of a fullness of his hands and feet and as it were a certain swelling or puffiing up so that he feared a dropsie was coming upon him beside he was troubled in his head with a giddinesse and frequent Vertigo A little while after this evill increasing light contractions and sudden Convulsions were ordinarily excited about his Lips and other parts of the mouth and face also presently after the morbific matter as it should seem flowing upon the beginnings of the wandring pair and intercostal nerves he was afflicted with the trembling and leaping of the heart with frequent fainting away of the vital spirits as if a Leipothymy or swooning was falling upon him I know that very many ascribe these Convulsive passions so grievously infesting the Praecordia to the vapours rising from the spleen but it seems much more reasonable to deduce there from the Convulsive matter layd up within the brain and rushing upon the beginnings of the Nerves because a shifting or translation of some excrements from some other parts to the head goes before and that it is so layd up within the compass or bounds of the Encephalon the almost continual vertiginous distemper and the Convulsions of the parts of the mouth and face testifie it plainly wherefore I thought good to prescribe to this man Remedies according to the method hereafter shown I might be able here to propose many observations of this nature in whom the morbific matter subsisting neer the beginnings of the nerves stir up light Spasms or Convulsions only of the Viscera or members with a Vertigo But because a portion of this matter descending from the head enters more deeply the pipes of the Nerves and so strows the tinder or enkindling of explosive seed as it were gunpowder about their middle and ultimate processes and enfoldings it will be to the purpose to add some examples of this kinde A certain young maid E.L. tall and hansome sprung from sound parents and Observation 4 her self as far as might be Perceived originally healthfull after she had serv'd a master long sick being a long time and almost continually with him and was forced to watch whole nights very often and also at other times so that she never slept but short and interrupted naps she at length begun to complain of an heaviness in
another place did they tumultuously break forth there for during the fit the sick person was still in his senses or had the use of his memory But the morbific matter being more plentifully laid up in the head when from thence it was slid more deeply into the pipes both of the Interior und Exterior Nerves it had placed mines of explosive seeds very diffusive in the viscera both of the lower and middle belly and also in the exterior members so that when the animal spirits began to be exploded near the beginnings of the nerves presently from thence others inhabiting the mesenteric enfoldings and then others in the other nervous enfoldings interjected from the outmost bound even to the head being explosed in order did even continue the Convulsions from one part to another untill they came to the head it self but presently the explosion being translated from thence to the spirits dwelling in the spinal marrow and Appending Nerves the most strong Convulsions of the muscles and members of the whole body follow'd But that that ascent as it were of a bulk or substance which very often was perceived in the lower belly about the beginning of the Convulsions proceeding from the spirits within the mesenterick enfoldings being brought into explosions shall be more largely declared anon when we come to treat of hysterick passions In the mean time if it be ask'd for what reason that the convulsive paroxysm beginning in the part of the head near the beginnings of the Nerves presently the spirits dwelling in the outmost parts as many as are pre-disposed for that Symptom enter into explosions and so transfer the convulsive Distemper being there fully raised upwards for it is for the most part so whether the entrance of the disease begins in the bottom of the belly or about the middle of the abdomen the Hypochondria or praecordia for that the Convulsion is wont to creep by degrees Wherefore the Convulsions begin from the extremities of the Nerves from those places towards the head I say for the solution of this these two considerations are offer'd to wit in the first place we consider that when some whole series of spirits is disturbed those who reside in the extreamest bounds are first destituted of their originall Influence wherefore they before others grow tumultuous and begin to grow irregular hence it is when the Nerve of the arm or thigh is strained hard by leaning on it that the wonted Influence is hindred that a numness with a sense of pricking or tingling is first felt in the fingers or toes from whence by degrees it creeps upwards towards the places affected Secondly the other is and rather the reason of this distemper to wit that the spirits being ready for explosions when they are contained within the nervous pipes one or more as so many distinct little Tubes they require a sufficient ample space in which they may be able very much and indeed successively to be rarefied and expanded which thing because it cannot be easily performed within the Trunks of the Nerves from the beginning towards the end therefore while the Spirits about the nervous origine being first struck off leap back towards the Encephaleon for that cause they stir up the Vertigo the more open explosion of the spirits for the most part begins about the inferior passages of the nerves or at their extremities where the Trunk of the nerve is either dilated into more ample foldings or terminated in more fibres largely dispersed abroad then those Spirits being explosed there is room made presently for others succeeding in order whereby in like manner they may be exploded Hence we may observe whilst the exterior Spirits are exploded if a Ligature or hard Compression being made the succession of others into the same space or their progress toward the exterior parts be intercepted the Convulsion is wont to be hindred that it cannot ascend upwards wherefore when a numbness as medical Histories testifie being arisen from the farthest end of the finger or toe creeps to the superior parts with a tingling or like a cold air and at length reaching the brain causes most horrid Convulsions if by and by after the motion is begun the Arm or thigh be strongly tyed the Spasm or Convulsion not being able to get over the bound place is hindred from coming to the head yea it is usuall for histerical women as soon as the swelling of the belly or the ascent of the bulk in the abdomen is first perceived to gird strongly their waists with Swathing-bands and so oftentimes they prevent the Praecordia and the region of the brain from being disturbed by that same Convulsive Fit But that the Blood being let out in the midest of the fit was so soon congealed indeed it very ordinarily happens to be so in Convulsive and Apoplectical Distempers as the most learned Heighmore hath first noted out of Hendochius Wherefore the blood is soon congealed in convulsive distempers But that some from hence contend that Convulsions rely altogether upon the thickness of the Blood and stagnation its motion being hindred cannot be granted Because the blood taken from those who are subject to convulsions a little before the fit is dilated with serum and fluid enough wherefore we may lawfully think that that Congelation is caused by the paroxysm it self because in Convulsive motions and immoderate Contractions of the Nerves and Viscera the interflowing Blood by the exhalations of its spirit and serum is somewhat loosened in its mixtion and therefore in some sort coagulated like as when milk by reason of too much agitation and separation of the parts one from another grows into butter wherefore this kinde of Coagulation of the Blood seems rather to be the effect than the Cause of the Convulsions The Curatorie Method AS to the Cure of these kinde of Convulsive Distempers which in women or men proceed from the morbific cause lying upon the beginnings of the Nerves The first Indication will be to draw away the tinder or inkindling of the disease viz. to hinder that the blood may not affix on the head the heterogeneous particles either begot in it self or received elsewhere from the Viscera For this purpose an evacuation both by catharticks and blood-letting unless something contradict is wont to be benificially prescribed Vomiting most often brings help wherefore Emeticks of the Infusion of Crocus metallorum or of the Salt of Vitriol or wine of Squills Emeticks is to be taken at the beginning Then almost the next day the taking away of Blood either by phlebotomy in the Arm or by Leeches in the Sedal veins is to be performed then afterwards a gentle purge of pills or solutive Apozems is to be ordained and timely repeated Take of the pills of the Amber of Crato or of the Tartar of Bontiusʒ ii Purges of the Resine of Jalap gr xvi of Caster ℈ i. of the oyle of Rosmary or Amber ℈ ss of gumm-Ammoniac disolv'd in
so that indeed they being drawn one from another and here and there inordinately moved induce convulsive distempers which are accompanied now with the contractures now with the languishing and resolutions or loosning of the containing parts But why the painfull Convulsions which are raised by the bite of the Tarantula In what the reason of the Musicks allaying the symptoms consists being presently allayed by musick are wont to turn into dancing does not so plainly appear That some affirm this little animal for that by the testimony of Aristotle it should be most wise to be delighted with musick and for that reason its venom being impress'd on man by fermenting the humours to induce the like love of musick I say this conjecture will not satisfie a minde desirous of Truth because that supposes a musick-loving nature in the spider and the same to be communicated to man by a matastasis or as it were a certain metempsychosis or transmigration of soul both which are taken upon trust and little satisfactory but it may be rather said that the venome inflicted on the nervous liquor by the bite of the Tarantula is too gentle to be able to extinguish wholly the Animal spirits or to dissipate them very much asunder and to compell them into more cruell explosions but only to put them to flight and to incite those flying here and there into lighter and somewhat painfull Convulsions and that the Musick with its flattering sweetnesse doth congregate together and mutually associate with ease the spirits so dissipated wherefore when as the same spirits by reason of the Infection sticking to them are apt to involuntary and Convulsive motions the melody disposes them delighted together and directs them to such Convulsions that entring the bodies of the nerves by a certain Course and Order they are carried as it were in certain prescribed limits and compasses until at length the particles of the venome being quite evaporated and the fury and rage of the spirits being worn out they wholly shake off that madnesse For truly musick doth easily carry men sound and sober whether they will or no or thinking of another thing into actions answerable to the sound of the harmony that presently the standers by at the first striking up of the Fiddle begin to move their hands and feet and can scarce nay are not able to contain themselves from dancing Let none therefore wonder that in men bitten by the Tarantula when the animal spirits being moved as it were with goads they are compelled to leap forth and wander about hither and thither willingly if they are excited to dancing and composed measures at the stroke of an harp so that as in these distempers the spirit of the musick as it were inchanting the outragious spirits and in some measure governing and changing their convulsive motions serves instead of an Antidote for that the animal spirits being very much and for a long while exercised after this manner wholly shake off the Elastic Copula contracted by the poyson or otherwise and they being very much wearied at length rest from that madness or its incitation A description of the dance of St. Vitus That which is called the Dance of Saint Vitus is an evill akin to this concerning which George Horstius relates that he had spoken with some women who for some years visiting the shrine of St. Vitus which is in the borders of Vlme did there exercise themselves even night and day with dancing and discomposure of minde till they fell down like people intranc'd by which means they seemed to be restored to themselves that they felt little or nothing for a whole year till about the time of May following when by the inquietude of their members they fay'd they were so far tormented that they were forced to go for their health sake yearly to the aforesaid place about the feast of St. Vitus Horst Epis Med. sect 7. de admirandis Convulsionibus The reason of it Indeed it is a usuall thing as I have observed both for men and women to be sometimes tormented with this inquietude of their members and as it were with a fury or madness that they have been forc'd to walk till they were tyred as also to dance leap and run about here and there that by this means they might shun the grievous trouble and sometimes faintings away which were about to invade them The reason of which seems to be that the animal spirits forasmuch as they being incited by an heterogenious Copula in the whole nervous kinde become fierce and altogether unbridled which so to exercise and tire out there is need both that they themselves may be tamed and that the explosive Copula may be shaken off Vniversall Convulsions from Witchcraft That Convulsive distempers are sometimes excited by witch-craft is both commonly believed and usually affirmed by many Authors worthy of credit and indeed as we do grant that very oftentimes most admirable passions are produced in the humane body by the delusions of the Devill forasmuch as he to cause wonders by which he might rule by the subtletie of working insinuates to the sensitive soul or the constitution of the animal spirits heterogeneous Atoms or little Bodies and so adds now spurs or pricking forward and now casts chains on its functions and now carries them to mischief also by some means he enters himself into the humane body and as it were another more mighty soul is stretched thorow it actuates all the parts and members inspires them with an unwonted force and governs them at his pleasure and incites to the perpetrating of most cruel Which are commonly but falsly so thought and supernatural wickednesses yet all kinde of Convulsions which besides the common manner of this disease appear prodigious ought not presently to be attributed to the inchantments of Witches nor is the Devill presently or allways to be brought upon the stage For indeed as often as a childe or relation of some man of the richer sort is by chance taken with most cruell and unusuall Convulsions for the most part it falls out that by and by the next old woman is accused of witchcraft she is made guilty and very hardly or not at all the wretch escapes the flames or an halter when in the mean time the disease proceeding from causes meerly natural may be easily Cured by no other Exorcism The reason of them than Remedies usually prescribed against convulsive diseases In truth the animal spirits being indued with a more cruell explosive Copula and being strucken by it all of a heap together obtain so much strength and vigour beyond their proper and wonted power as the flame of gunpowder has above the burning of the common flame so that those who obnoxious to this disease out of the sit may be govern'd lifted up and moved at pleasure with the light help of one man when the same is upon them make nothing of the utmost endeavours and force of at
at all hapned the reason was because the nervous juice being slow and as it were mucilaginous and therefore heavy in its motion was not defaecated or cleared as the blood by a critical effervescency nor easily conceived that kinde of fermentation by which the pure might be separated from the impure Indeed I have known a sickness much like to this example to be often excited in our Country and to invade whole families especially children and the younger people Some years since a populary or childish feavour very much infesting the Brain and nervous stock exceedingly spread in this country yea almost thorow all England The History of which Disease being described in that time in which it raged viz. in the year 1661. I think it worth our pains to insert in this place of our Convulsive Pathology For from hence it may appear by what means and from what causes the Convulsive Symptoms which come upon any feavours are wont to be excited A Description of an Epidemical Feavour chiefly infestous to the Brain and nervous stock spreading in the year 1661. IN this Country before the last Summer viz. 1661. The hystory of an Epidemical feavour raging in the year 1661. we had been free for above two years from any popular disease unless such only as usually come in some places but then before the Summer Solstice the small-Pox a distemper here rarely Epidemical being rise in many places raged very much After that Summer which was extreamly hot and dry an Autumn moister then usual followed and after which a most mild winter almost without any cold in all which space the Earth was hardly covered with snow or was ever hard frozen It s procatartick or more remote cause above three or four days so that within a few weeks after the winter Solstice the Trees began to bud and the vernal plants to break forth from the bosom of the Earth and to flower and also the birds to build nests to this mild season not eventilated at the beginning of the spring by the nitrous little bodys that were wont to be blown from the North a filthyness of showrs and almost continual wet succeeded After the vernal aequinox a certain irregular and unaccustomed Feavour seised upon some here and there which within a month became so Epidemical that in many places it began to be called the New Disease Raging chiefly among children and youths it was wont to afflict them with a long and as it were a Chronical Sickness yea sometimes old men and men of middle Age though rarely were seised by it and those indeed it did sooner and more certainly kill The symptoms The Distemper at first invading any one did creep on them so silently that the beginnings of the sickness were scarce perceived for arising without immoderate heat or more sharp thirst it induced in the whole body a great debillity with a languishing of the Spirits and a torpitude or numbness of the function The Stomack was ready to loath any victuals and to be grieved at any thing put into it and yet not easie to vomit The sick were unfit for any motion and only lov'd to be idle or to ly down upon the Bed within a short time also sometime at the first coming of the Disease they complained of a heavy vertigo a tingling of the ears and often of a great tumult and perturbation of the brain Which kinde of Symptoms were very often esteemed as it were the peculiar signe of the approach of this Disease if in some those had been wanting or hapned to be more remiss instead of the head being affected after that manner the disease took more deep root in the Brest with an excited cough as shall be told by and by But whilst the brain and the nervous Appendix being after this manner affected the animal Spirits presently from the beginning of the sickness were benummed a slow and as it were hectick feavour was inkindled throughout but yet the effervescency of the blood which was hardly continual but flitting and uncertain was according to the disposition of the blood it self in some more intense in others more remiss and therefore thirst the white scurf of the Tongue and other Symptoms which accompany a feavourish distemper did more or less infest them sweating did not willingly follow nor could it easily or by a light thing be caused by Art yea neither this nor any other evacuation as it were critical at any time succeeding did suddenly help this disease but it persisting for many weeks and sometimes months reduced the sick to the highest Atrophie or wasting of all parts and often infected them with an incurable Consumption About the increase of the disease which hapned in most within eight days if the Distemper as it was often wont did settle chiefly in the head and nervous System most grievous Symtoms in their Dominions viz. a plain Phrensie or deep stupidity or Insensibility did molest them For I often observed in many children and not seldom in women after seven or eight days from their falling sick that their knowledge and Speech failed them and so the sick have lain for a long while yea sometimes for the space of a whole month without any taking notice of the by-standers and with an involuntary flux of their excrements but if they continued in some sort the use of Judgment and Reason they laboured with a frequent delirium and constantly with absurd and incongruous Chymera's in their sleep But in Men and others of a hotter temperament from the morbific matter instead of a Crisis being translated to the brain a Fury or dangerous and oftentimes deadly phrensie did succeed But if neither Stupidity nor great Distraction did fall upon them swimmings in the head Convulsive motions with Convulsions of the members leapings up of the tendons did grievously infest them In almost all the sick the belly was for the most part loose casting forth plentifully now yellow now thin and serous excrement with a great stink it was rarely that vomiting fell upon any one The urine in the whole process of the Disease unless when the morbifick matter being caried more plentifully into the Brain did threaten a phrensie was highly red so that some by reason of the deep colour of the water judg'd this feavour to have been plainly Scorbutick which notwithstanding appeared to be otherwise because antiscorbutic Remedies of which indeed many and almost of every kinde were tryed were little or nothing beneficial It was most of all to be admired how soon after the beginning of this Disease the flesh of the sick consumed and they reduced to the leanness of a Sceleton when in the mean time there was no great heat that might by degrees consume the solid parts nor any violent evacuation which might greatly take them down Besides these evills molesting the region of the head a distemper no less dangerous oftentimes fell upon the breast For in some tho not in all a cough very troublesome
feavour a phrensie or madness should come remedies appropriate to those distempers are made use of 2dly But if either with or without this sort of displeasure In the Cough brought to the head the Lungs also have taken the evill of this disease so that the sick not yet free from the feavour seem to fall into a waisting or Consumption with a troublesome cough with abundance of thick and often discoloured spittle Medicines commonly prescribed for such kinde of Distempers are convenient enough wherefore pectoral Decoctions Electuaries syrrops distill'd waters of milk and snails and other remedies of the like nature ought diligently to be made use of the forms of which may be found in the before-described Cases Thus far we have described the continual feavour for the most part convulsive and arising no less from the fault of the nervous juice then of the blood I will here further propose an example of a disease having the likeness of an intermitting feavour but radicated chiefly in the nervous juice the nature of which kinde of distemper for that it is very rare and truly pertinent to our convulsive Pathologie will appear from the following history A noted Woman very young A very rare Observation and indued with a more weak constitution of brain and nervous stock and for that cause very obnoxious to convulsive distempers after she had conceived with child about the fourth month of her being big from cold being taken she was grievously afflicted with Astmatical fits and besides with a frequent sinking down of her spirits but by the use of remedies indued with a volatile salt she grew well within a fortnights space but after that about 14. days an unwonted and truly admirable distemper fell upon this Gentlewoman One morning awaking after an unquiet sleep that night she felt a light shivering in all her body as if she had had the fit of an Ague frequent yaunings and reatchings with an endeavour to vomit followed thereupon then her urine which was but now of a citron colour and of a laudable substance became pale and waterish and was rendred at every turn to wit almost every minute of an hour moreover about her loins and hypochondria and in other places pains with light Convulsions running about here and there were excited which kinde of symptoms plainly convulsive with her frequent making of a lympid urine continued in the Morning allmost to Evening in which space of time a great quantity of water at least three times more then the liquor she had taken was rendred in the mean time neither was the heat great nor did thirst trouble her nor was her pulse encreased In the evening the aforesaid distempers ceased and her urine became citron colour and moderate and besides all night she enjoy'd a moderate sleep then the morning following about the same hour the fit returned accompanied altogether with the like symtoms and so dayly acted the same Tragedy The reason of it Visiting this Gentlewoman after she had been sick in this manner for 12. days I framed the Aetiologie of the aforesaid case to wit that this disease chiefly radical in the nervous stock did depend upon the effervescency and flux of the humour watering the nervous parts For it might be suspected that this water being diffused from the blood made degenerate by reason of the suppression of her Terms upon the brain and nervous stock became more sharp and serous than it ought to be and for that cause incongruous to the containing parts wherefore being gathered together to a plenitude by the nights sleep it did stir them up or provoke them for the expulsion of it every where into wrinklings and contractions hence shiverings yaunings streachings and wandring pains were excited in the whole body Furthermore from the sollid parts after this manner contracted and shaken not only the nervous Liquor but also the nutricious every where laid up in the sollid parts but not truly assimilated were shaken off and then either Latex being exterminated from its receptacles and received by the veins or Lymphaducts or water-carrying vessells was render'd to the Mass of blood from whose bosome before it had acquired a lixiviall tincture from it being at last cast forth by the reins constituted a clear and Copious urine But that this distemper observed such exact periods the reason is because the nervous water being supplyed with an equall dimension did arise to a fulness of running over dayly at the set time Therefore also the urine appeared concocted and yellow before and after the fit because then its matter consisted only from the serum of the blood Afterwards during the convulsive fit the limpid humour being shaken off from the solid and nervous parts and passing quickly thorow the blood adulterated the colour and the quantity of the urine I prescribed to this big-bellied woman Phlebotomie and besides a powder composed out of Corall pearls ivory and other Cardiacks to be taken thrice in a day in a proper Liquor morning and evening she took of the tincture of Antimony 12. drops whose singular effect in the too great flux of urine I have many times experienced By the use of these all the symptoms ceased in a short time CHAPTER IX Of Vniversal Convulsions which are wont to be excited because of the Scorbutic disposition of the Nervous juice Vniversal Convulsions by reason of the Scorbutic disposition of the nervous juice THus much concerning universal Convulsions diffused thorow the whole nervous kinde which come upon feavours and especially concerning the Convulsions which are wont to be excited in the commonly called malignant hectick Feaevour There yet remains which was proposed in the third place for us to shew by what means and from what causes universal Convulsions are induced without poyson or feavourish infection by reason of the scorbutick or otherwise vitious dyscrasie or evill disposition of the nervots juice For indeed the Liquor watering both the nerves and the nervous parts sometimes disceding from its naturall disposition is so much stuff'd with heterogeneous and explosive particles that the animal spirits admitting an incongruous Copula every where growing to themselves are irritated into continuall as it were cracklings or convulsive explosions These kinde of Affections of the spirits Two kindes of these viz. Separate and Connex or joyned together are either divided or separated between which no Communication or dependency intercedes viz. When many parts of the body are troubled at once with so many Convulsions proper to themselves which do not come successively one from another but are terminated in the same muscle or member where they begin After which manner I have known some sick people who have had their muscles and tendons all at once in their whole body perpetually to leap forth with so many distinct Convulsions Or Secondly the Convulsive Distempers which are excited in the whole nervous kinde together are continued or connex which succeed one another with a certain perpetual vicissitude continued
as it were ulcerous disposition of the pallat and Oesophagus I prescribed that she should drink every morning her own urine fresh made this whilst it was very Saltish was wont to give her great ease but at sometimes her urine flow'd from her thin and plentifully which being nothing salt but like to sour vinegar from the drinking of that she received little or no benefit The Reason of the Case but now described seems not much unlike the former unless that in this sick Gentlewoman the explosive particles had enter'd into more passages of the nerves to wit besides the appendixes of the spinall marrow into those dedicated for the office of breathing and also by fits into those designed for the motion of the Tongue and almost perpetually tormented the Spirits abounding in them with Rage or fury But that the Cure of this Disease hapen'd by the falling down of the sharp humour into the emunctories of the mouth and throat we may from thence gather that the material Cause of this was the heterogeneous particles and as it were nitrous begotten in the blood which when from thence being passed thorow from the brain they were carried into the nervous stock caused the aforesaid Distempers But assoon as by the help of Remedies the more plentifull provision of that matter was hinderd and the morbifick particles allready produced both from the blood and the Brain and nervous stock were derived into those emunctories of the head the Convulsive Distemper presently ceased and within a short time such a Crisis or secretion still remaining the perfect Cure of the Disease followed Forasmuch as the urine being of it self very salt and as it were lixivial became at some times sourish which did not give any help as the former to the sourness of the throat it may hence be gathered that the salt particles of the blood and humours coming away by the urine had a twofold state or condition to wit of fixedness and fluedness wherefore the serum imbued by them became now of this now of that nature for it seems that the Saline particles being degenerate within the mass of the blood remained fixed and rendred the urine for the most part Lixiviall but those which flowed without the blood in the nervous juce or were laid up about the solid parts did degenerate into a flux or acetousness and therefore from these being derived into the emunctuaries of the mouth that noted sourness of the mouth and Oesophagus proceeded moreover when these kinde of particles being gathered to a fullness in the nervous juce and solid parts did swell up and arising to a fluxion boyled up into the blood presently these being sent away from thence in heaps thorow the Reines rendred the urine increased in quantity sourish But forasmuch as the Saline particles being of a divers Condition and that those of the same kinde could not be mingled together they mutually moved against one another and break their forces therefore the salt urine and not the sour healed the sourness of the throat It appears by a vulgar experiment that the most sharp Spirit of Vitriol by the mixture of the Salt of Tartar or any other lixivial grows very milde yea and yet from thence appears that the acid humour sweating out into the parts of the mouth and throat of this Gentlewoman came near the nature of sharp Vitriol because the fume of Tobacco being taken at the mouth of the sick person was wonderfully sweet as it happens to such who have beforehand tasted Vitriol Because we treat here of admirable Convulsions which do not ordinarily happen and whose nature and causes ly deeply hid for the better illustration of these kinde of Distempers we will yet shew one or two more Cases no less wonderfull than the former About ten years since I visited the daughter of a certain Nobleman troubled Observation 3 after that manner with Convulsive motions that some thought her possessed with an evill Spirit This Virgin about 16. years of age fair and well-made yet begotten of a paralytick Father without any evident Cause about the winter-solstice began to fall ill At first she was troubled though not in any grievous manner with an head-ach and giddiness for many days then she felt now in one of her arms and then in another a trembling and sudden Contraction which kinde of Convulsions returning often that day endured scarce a moment the next day sitting nigh her Sister in a Chair suddenly leaping out she fetch'd one or two jumps and many others successively with wonderfull agility at the distance of many feet then when she was come to the farther part of the Chamber she stood leaping a great while in the same place and every time to a great height when her legs were quite tired with leaping she fell on the floor and presently she flung her head here and there with wonderfull violence as if she would shake it from her neck As soon as she ceased from this motion for weariness presently the same fury invaded her hands and feet so that she was forced strongly to exercise these members by striking the walls or posts or by beating the pavement when by reason of shame or modesty due to her friends and by-standers she did hinder her self with great violence from these motions for all the while she was her self and spake soberly the distemper being sent inwardly she was very much infested with a mighty oppression of the heart with a bemoaning and very noisefull sobbing then when she would ease her self she was forced presently the fury being transmitted to the muscles of the outward Limbs either to leap about or to fling here and there cruelly her head or arms or also to run about the Chamber most swiftly or to beat the ground with her feet because these kinde of vehement motitions of her Limbs or viscera in the Tragedy of the distemper did mutually relieve themseives returning as it were in a round Coming the 5th day after this Lady had been sick The Curatory Method I gave her a vomit of the fusion of Crocus Mettallorum wine of squills and salt of Vitriol by which she vomited 7 times cancker'd oile or choller in a great plenty with the mixture of a sharp and as it were vitriolic humour The next day ten ounces of blood was taken from the Saphana vein besides she took twice in a day antidotes of the powders of pretious Stones of humane skull and the root of the male paeony By the use of these within a week she seem'd to be cured she continued for many days afterwards free from the aforesaid distempers But after two weeks at the time of the full Moon she fell into a relapse of the same disease more cruell than before for besides those wonderfull leapings and vehement Conversions and roulings about of her head and members she was forced besides to fetch often a most rapid course round about the Chamber she began at this time from the praescripts of others
shops or dispensatory are to be prescribed but magistralls as cause arises according to the appearances of the admirable Symptoms A gentle vomit Purge blood-letting ought in the first place to be ordained and to be repeated as often as shall seem fit As to specisick medicines also and appropriate in these cases when the chief Indication shall be to mend the temper of the Nervous juice you may try many and by their effect judge of their virtues Therefore it may be lawfull to try what the Remedies indued with a volatile or armoniac salt may effect For this end the spirits and salts of Harts-horn Blood soot and the flowers and spirits of Sal-armoniac are taken These helping nothing you must come to Chalybiats or Steel medicines the tinctures and solutions of Corall and Antimony are given which kinde of medicines are exhibited in such a dose and form and so often that some alteration may be made by them on the whole blood or nervous juce Further If successe shall fail in such like you must then proceed to Alexipharmaca which help against poysons and the malignancy impressed on the humours to wit to institute from these decoctions and distilled waters of vegitables powders Conserves and other preparations and to compound variously some with others and to administer them diversly It is likely that those kinde of medicines which are wont to be helpfull to such as are bitten by a viper or a mad Dog or that have taken woulfs-bane or poyson may be usefull also in the aforesaid Convulsions It may be lawfull here according to the example of Gregory Horstius in his tract of the malignant Convulsive disease and also of wonderfull Convulsions to prescribe magisterial Remedies in the form of a purging Electuary and also of a powder and Convulsive Antidote and to compound them variously partly of simple Alexipharmacks or poyson resisters and partly of Antiepilepticks or things good against the falling Evil. CHAPTER X. Of the Passions Commonly called Hystericall THE hysterical passion is of so ill fame among the Diseases belonging to women that like one half damn'd it bears the faults of many other Distempers For when at any time a sicknbss happens in a womans body of an unusual manner or more occult original so that its Cause lyes hid and the Curatory Indication is altogether uncertain presently we accuse the evill influence of the womb which for the most part is innocent and in every unusual Symptom we declare it to be something hysterical and so to this Scope which oftentimes is only the subterfuge of Ignorance the medical Intentions and use of Remedies are directed A description of the hysterical passion The Passions which are wont to be referred to this cense or order are found to be various and manifold which rarely happen in diverse women or which come wholly after the same manner The most Common and which commonly are said to constitute the formal Reason of the hysterical distemper are these viz. A motion in the bottom of the belly and an ascention of the same as it were a certain round thing then a belching or a striving to vomit a distention and murmur of the hypoehondria with a breaking forth of blasts of winde an unequall breathing and very much hindred a choaking in the throat a vertigo an inversion or rolling about of the eyes oftentimes laughing or weeping absurd talking sometimes want of speech and motionless with an obscure or no pulse and deadish aspect sometimes Convulsive motions in the face and Limbs and sometimes in the whole body are excited But universal Convulsions rarely happen and not unless this disease be in the very worst state Because for the most part the Tragedy of the Fit is acted without Contraction of the members only in the inferior belly Thorax and head to wit in some of them or successively in all women of every age and Condition are obnoxious to these kinde of Distempers to wit Rich and poor Virgins wives and widdows I have observed those Symptoms in maids before ripe age also in old women after their flowers have left them yea sometimes the same kinde of Passions infest men as plainly appeared by the example already shewed As to the causes of those symptoms most ancient The causes of the Symptoms inquired into and indeed Modern Physitians refer them to the ascent of the womb and vapours elevated from it The former opinion although it plead antiquity seems the less probable for that the body of the womb is of so small bulk in virgins and widdows and is so strictly tyed by the neighbouring parts round about that it cannot of it self be moved or asccnd from its place nor could its motion be felt if there were any as to that vulgar opinion or Reason taken from the vapours we have often rejected it as wholly vain and light for just reasons elsewhere But we judge the passions but now described do neither always nor at all proceed from the ascent or the vapours of the womb and that indeed other very famous Physitians have already determined For in times past Charles Piso and of late the most learned Highmore have vindicated the womb from all fault and the passions which are commonly call'd hystericall are thought by this latter to arise from the blood most impetuously rushing on the Lungs and by the other from a serous colluives heaped together neer the origin of the Nerves How probable this latter opinion doth seem shall appear from what follows But as to the opinion deliver'd by Doctor Highmore concerning this thing tho it be far from our Custom to contradict any ones opinion and that it is almost unlawfull for me to diffent from this famous man yet because our Pathologie standing on a contrary basis viz. the cause of the hystericall distemper being imputed more immediately to the nervous stock than to the blood will seem to be only asserted unless we shew the Reasons which combat against that hypothesis and forours therefore taking leave here we will try more exactly either opinion put as it were in a ballance In the fit therefore commonly called hysterical this famous man supposes Doctor Highmores Opinion Examined the blood for that it is thin flatulent and with a certain effervescency to rush too much in heaps into the pneumonick vessells and the vessells of the heart and in them to broyl up impetuously and so to stuff up the lungs and very much to aggravate them that neither they can exercise their motion nor that the blood can be drained from the bosom of the heart Hence from the blood stagnating in the Praeoordia a great oppression difficult breathing and often none with a melting of the vital Spirits were wont to be inferred then the diaphragma that it might give place to the Lungs more and more distended and that breathing at least might be some way made is carried downward with a mighty and long continued Diastole and so by pressing down the Intestines it
wonted tasks of Influence and so provoke them ready to be exploded in such disorders yea and as a flame put to them do somewhat inkindle them but on the contrary stinking things repress the spirits drive them back from excursions and exorbitances and compell them into order yea like sulphur mixt with aurum fulminans take away from them their explosive force What we have hitherto said of the passions called from the womb hysterical will yet more clearly appear if for the Confirmation of our Hypothesis we shall add arguments taken from anatomical observations I will therefore lay before you a notable Case by which the former reason and Causes of the convulsive distempers may be very much illustrated A very noble Lady of a most curious shape Observations and highly indued with a virtuous disposition of minde and manners of late lived near to this place who being for many years obnoxious to convulsive distempers for that she had originally or hereditarily contracted this sickly disposition and had experienc'd the fruits of this morbid seed almost every lustre of her age but chiefly as often as she was with child for she very frequently miscarried was wont to be tormented above measure with convulsive passions as it were hysterical because presently after the restraint of her monthly flowers the heterogeneous particles being translated to the brain and nervous stock caused fits of this most cruell distemper After she had newly conceived in the first months according to her old custom she was presently molested with convulsive distempers about the nineth week of her big belly from taking cold she fell into a dangerous feavour in which very acute pains tormenting her in her loyns and bottom of her belly for many days seem'd to threaten an abortion but these pains as the event shew'd rather to be termed Colical proceeded from a sharp humour falling down into those parts from the brain by the pipes of the nerves for towards the declining of the feavour this matter being somewhere else translated a great loosness or Diarrhaea pains of the feet and as it were an ulcerous disposition succeeded As soon as this Lady became well from her feavour and those pains the convulsive distempers returned for every morning wakeing from sleep she was wont to suffer Convulsions and cruel contractions about the parts of her face and mouth as also in her armes and thighs which symptoms without doubt did arise from a serous heap or gathering laid up in the head about the beginnings of the nerves and by them imbibed together with the nervous juice more deeply in sleep and when afterwards the same matter was carried by the pipe of the interior nerves into the foldings of the Mesentery and loyns most cruel pains of those parts and also fits as it were hysterical did most grievously infect her But these convulsive motions of her face and members after a little time ceased but yet she still remained weak and without strength with a pale countenance an infirm and trembling gate and desirous only of congruous food and hot Liquors about the end of the third month at which time she was wont continually to miscarry her menstrua broke forth which coming away for two or three days together with little pieces of broken membranes she expected to miscarry But that flux ceasing pains as it were of one in labour in her abdomen and loyns as before arose and for the space of a week tormented her day and night at length having used a bath of Emollient herbs and afterwards put to bed to sweat she brought forth the burthen of her womb the conception so coming away with mighty pain was about the bigness and like the figure of a Turkie egg the exterior coat of it was torn and broken the interior remaining whole contained about half a pint of clear water and nothing else besides there appeared no shape of a childe or any rudiments that it would ever be one Afterwards for 4. or 5. days her flowers flowed forth with some pieces of broken membrances in the mean time pains with their wonted fierceness tormented her and when the space of a week being elapsed they left not off of themselves remedies at length were sought to allay them To this end first Liniments Fomentations Baths and Clysters were often administred also medicines purging the filth of the womb on which the cause of all the evill was cast were taken inwardly Short intermissions of her tortures followed upon the use of the former but then the distemper returned with great trouble yea the disease much increasing in three weeks time got many other horrid symptoms for besides the pains in her belly and loyns which became more cruel every day also she was shortly after tormented in her back neck shoulders as also in her arms and thighs with most cruell pain and that more bitterly as soon as she was warm in her bed besides she was afflicted with a frequent giddiness vomiting and nauseousness and often in a day with most grievous convulsive fits viz. First a bulk was seen to ascend in the bottom of her belly and presently it lifted up her whole belly forceably by and by respiration being restrained an Insensibility with a dead countenance succeeded after that she had thus lain as one dead for three or four minuts of an hour she was wont suddenly to leap up that she could hardly be held down or kept by those standing by then follow'd cruell contractions and distortions in all the parts of the mouth and face as also in all the members of the body These symptoms were indeed judg'd to be hysterical because this noble Lady so lately had miscarried But weighing every one of these I was at last of this opinion that the cause of either fit viz. Both the dolorifick and the convulsive did depend wholly on the evill affection of the brain and nervous stock and that without any fault of the womb for that a sharp humour being heaped up within the head did from thence descend thorow the passages of the Nerves into parts at a great distance which lodging upon the membranes and fibres and fermenting with the humour flowing in from the bloody mass did irritate them very much and so stir'd up most cruel pains Then afterwards when the heterogeneous and explosive particles being admitted with what humour within the head and entring into the nervous passages did cleave to the spirits therefore the convulsive disposition then breaking forth into grievous fits was induced as shall be by and by more largely laid open Instituting Curatory Intentions according to this kinde of Aetiology I order'd to have blood taken from this sick Lady at what time she most grievously laboured out of the Saphena vein and within two days to be given her a gentle Cathartick and that to be reiterated once or twice in a week Also on other days Morning and Evening I gave her spirits of Harts-horn and at other hours twice or thrice in
sorts of Convulsions in Children 30 Of Convulsive Diseases in those of ripe age 31 Three kinds of such Convulsions ibid. Histories of such Convulsions 33 34 35 36. How the Convulsive matter flows into the Nerves 32 Why Convulsions proceed from the extremities of the Nerves 38 Why the blood is soon congealed in Convulsive distempers 39 How to cure Convulsions in Men and Women 39 40 Of Convulsions from the extremities of the Nerves and the nervous infoldings 41 42. Reasons of such Convulsions so coming 42 Histories of such Convulsions 42 43 44 45. Of Convulsions arising from the nervous liquor 46 Three kinds of causes of universal Convulsions ibid. Of Convulsions arising from poysons and sorcery ibid. Of Convulsions caused by the biting of a mad Dog 46 47. Of Convulsions from the Tarentula 47 Of Convulsions coming by Witchcraft 48 The reason of them ibid. What Convulsions argue Witchcraft 49 Of universal Convulsions from Feavers ibid. And the reason of the symptoms ibid. A description of an epidemical Convulsive disease in Hassia 50 The reason of it ibid. Of universal Convulsions from the Scurvy 60 The kinds of such Convulsions 61 The nature of the broken Convulsion ibid. An History of it ibid The reason of the symptoms and cause of the disease 63 Why it grew worse by Baths 64 The nature and manner of continued Convulsive distempers 66 Histories of such ibid. The Cure of them 67 68 71 75. Of Convulsions from the Hypochondriacal distemper 90 Convulsive Diseases see Epilepsie Of Convulsive diseases of those of ripe age 31 Of an epidemical Convulsive disease in Hassia and the reason of it 50 The nature of a continual Convulsive disease 66 The cure of such Convulsive diseases 67 68 71. Of a Convulsive Cough see Cough Convulsive Matter how it flows into the Nerves 32 Convulsive Astmah see Astmah Copula Praeternatural a cause of Convulsions 4 The explosive spasmodic Copula not from the blood but from the brain 5 Cough Convulsive 102 An example of it ibid. It s Cure 106 Cramp Or Tetanon what 1 D. Diet To be prescribed in convulsive Feavers 59 Dog Convulsions from the biting of a mad Dog 46 E. Electuaries For the Epilepsie 23 For Convulsions in Men and Women 40 Elixirs For the Epilepsie 23 Emeticks See Vomits and Purges Emperical Remedies for the Epilepsie 23 Emulsion For a convulsive Feaver 59 Epilepsie Or Falling-sickness when made 7 The Epilepsie a chief kind of Convulsion 12 Its description and history of the disease 12 13. The seat of the disease 13 The difference of Authors about it 13 14. The primary subject of the disease 14 15. The Epilepsie affects the Nerves secondarily 15 The differences of the Epilepsie 16 The conjunct cause of the Epilepsie where only it consists ibid. Other differences of the Epilepsie 17 Why those troubled with the Epilepsie fall down with violence ibid. Why troubled with the foam at the mouth ibid. Why beat and knock their breasts 18 Prognostications of the disease ibid. How changed into other diseases ibid. Of the Curatory part of the Epilepsie 19 22 23. In what the virtue of specificks consists in their curing the Epilepsie 20 Histories of the Epilepsie 20 Explosion What is meant by it 2 F. Falling-sickness See Epilepsie Falling Down violently in the Epilepsie why 17 Feavers Of universal Convulsions from Feavers 49 A description of an Epidemical Feaver infesting the brain and nervous stock 1661. 51 Its cause and symptoms ibid. Why it chiefly invaded Women Children and phlegmatick persons 54 Why hardly cureable ibid. Filling And irritation causes of Convulsions 9 Foaming At the mouth in the Falling-sickness how it comes 17 G. Gassendus His opinion of the explosion of the animal spirits 3 H. Histories Of the Epilepsie 21 Of Convulsions in Men and Women 33 34 35 36. Of Convulsions arising from the extremities of the Nerves and nervous infoldings 42 43 44 45. Of some Epidemical Feavers 55 56. Of a rare Convulsive Feaver 59 60. Of a broken Convulsive distemper 61 Of a continued Convulsive distemper 66 67. 68 69 70 71 72. Of some troubled with Mother-fits 83 84. Of Hypochondriacks 95 96. Of Convulsive Astmahs 104 105 106. Hypochondriac Passions often proceed from Convulsions 33 Of the Hypochondriack distemper 90 A description of its affections ibid. This distemper belongs to the Nerves 91 The causes of it ibid. Dr. Heighmores opinion of it examined ibid. The Reasons of the Hypochondriacal symptoms 94 The influences of the Spleen thereupon ibid. The cure of this disease 97 Hysterical Passions often proceed from Convulsions 33 Of an Hysterical distemper in a Man 37 The reason of it 38 Of the Hysterical passion commonly called the fits of the Mother 76 A description of it 76 77. The causes of the symptoms 77 Dr. Heighmores opinion of it examined ibid. This distemper chiefly belongs to the brain and the nervous stock 78 The cause of it chiefly about the beginnings of the Nerves 79 And afterwards displayed through the whole ibid. The reason of its symptoms ibid. From whence the diversity of the symptoms happen 80 The more remote cause of this disease ibid. How the Womb is assected in the Histerical distemper 81 The Womb not always in fault in these fits 82 An account of this disease taken from some Anatomical observations 85 86. The cure of the Hysterical distemper 87 88. How to preserve one from it ibid. I. Infoldings Of the Nerves the seat of Convulsive matter 45 Intentions In curing the Hysterical passion 88 89. Irritation A cause of Convulsions 4 How the spirits are explosed by irritation and how it causes direct and refected Convulsions 9 The irritating cause distinguished ibid. How it affects the beginnings of the Nerves 10 How the extremities and middle parts ibid. Julaps For the Epilepsie 24 For Convulsions in Men and Women 40 For an Epidemical Convulsive Feaver 59 L. Liquor Of the Nerves a cause of Convulsions 46 Liquors To cure Convulsions in Children 30 Lungs Affected a cause of the Convulsive Astmah 103 M. Medicines Of steel see steel Medicines Method Of curing the Epilepsie 22 23. Of curing the Convulsions in Children 29 Of curing Convulsions in Men and Women 39 Of curing some Epidemical Feavers 57 58. When insensibleness or madness accompanies them 59 Of curing a continued Convulsive distemper 67 71 73 75 168. Of curing an Hysterical distemper 87 88. Of curing Hypochondriacal distempers 97 Of curing the Convulsive Cough 106 Of curing the Convulsive Astmah ibid. Minenges Not first affected in the Epilepsie 14 Mother Fits See Hysterical passion Mortifick Matter of Convulsions how disposed in the head 7 How sometimes carried from the brain into the Nerves ibid. When it causes the Epilepsie ibid. How it affects the spirits falling on the Nerves and how it causes continuals Convulsions and how by fits ibid. Motions How regular motion is made 1 Of Convulsive motions ibid. Of Convulsive motions in Children 25 Of Convulsive motions beginning from the extremities of
171 A description of an Epidemical Feaver arising in the Autumn of the year 1658 171 The nature and formal reason of it 174 A Prognostication of it 175 The Cure of it 176 177 178 Fermentation What it is Page 1 What in Minerals 10 What it is in Vegitables 11 Of Fermentation in Animals 13 Instances to illustrate the doctrine of Fermentation 14 Of the Ferment in the Ventricle 14 Of Fermentation in Artificial things 17 What Bodies are fit for Fermentation ibid. What promotes Fermentation ibid. The end and effect of Fermentation 18 19. Of Fermentation that tends to perfection 19 Of Fermentation that tends to the dissolution of Bodies 26 30. Of Fermentation in the precipitation of Bodies 45 Of Fermentation in Coagulation and Congelation 49 Of Fermentation of the Blood in Feavers 57 Fire What it is and its nature 36 Flux Of the Flux in Feavers 104 G. Glass See Vitrification Gunpowder The nature of it and how made 41 H. Habit Of the Body in putrid Feavers 100 Head Pained in Feavers 103 Heart Pained in Feavers 104 Life proceeds first from the heart 13 Heat What it is 38 Histories Of Agues 81 82 Of an Ephemera or Feaver for a day 92 Of putrid Feavers 112 113 114 115 116 117 118. Of the Plague 130 131. Of a Pestilent Feaver 134 135. Of another Epidemical Pestilent Feaver 136 137. Of the Small-pox 145 146. Of acute Feavers of Women lying In 158 159 160 161. Of several Epidemical Feavers from 163 to 171 Hysterical Fits why Women more subject to them than Men 152. I. Indications Concerning putrid Feavers 110 Inflamation Of the Lungs an effect of the putrid Synochus 107 Inflamations in the Plague 127 Intentions For the Cure of a Tertian Ague 80 For curing the Ephemera 92 Intentions for the cure of every sort of putrid Feavers 110 For the curing Epidemical Feavers 176 177 178. Judgment Or Prognosticks of the event of a putrid Feaver 197 L. Life First proceeds from the fermenting of the spirit in the heart 13 Light What it is and how made 39 Lochia What they are and their use 148 M. Measles Of the Measles 144 What they are ibid. Malignant Feavers see Feavers Mault How made by Fermentation 21 Menstrua The two chief for the dissolution of bodies fire and water 30 Menstruas of several sorts 32 33. Menstruas for Gold and Silver 34 Menstruous Blood its use and why it flows not in Women with Child 147 Meteors What they be 10 Milk In the Breasts how made 147 148. Minerals How they ferment 10 Moldiness Whence it is made 28 Mustiness Whence it comes 29 N. Nitre What it is 40 O. Opinions Of Philosophers concerning the principles of things 2 P. Peruvean Bark used to cure Agues 86 Pest See Plague Pestilential Feaver see Feavers Plants How they germinate 12 Plurisie An effect of the putrid Synochus 107 Plague Its nature 122 Whence its rise 123 Of its propagation by Contagion 124 Its description 125 Of its signs and symptoms 126 Its Prognosticks 127 128. It s Cure 128 129 130. History of it 131 Pox See Small-pox Powder Of the Jesuites a peruvean Bark and its nature 86 87. How it operates 87 88. Poysons How they distemper the body 119 How they work on the Animal spirits and nervous liquor 120 Their various properties ibid. Precipitation What it is and how made 45 Principles Of natural things 1 What he means by principles 3 The principles of the Chymists ibid. Prognostications In the Plague 127 128. In the Small-pox 142 Prognostications of Epidemical Diseases 166 175. Prognostications from the Pulse 105 106. From Vrins 107 Pulse To be considered in a putrid Feaver 105 Prognostications from it 105 106. Purple Spots in the Plague 127 Putrefaction How made 26 Putrid Feaver its description 93 S. Salt A principle of the Chymists what it is 5 Salt in the Blood 60 Salt-nitre What it is 40 Salts How Chrystallised and the reason of the operation 49 50. Signes Or symptoms of life and death in a putrid Feaver 98 Signs and symptoms of the Plague 126 Signs of a Pestilential or Malignant Feaver 133 Signs of the Small-pox 141 Small-pox The causes of them 139 140. Signs and symptoms of the Small-pox 141 Prognostications of the disease 142 Its Cure 143 144 145. Histories of it 145 146 Indications of the Small-pox in Child-bed Women 157 Spirits Of the Chymists what they are 3 Spirits in the Brain wrought by Fermentation 16 Spirits of the Blood 59 Spots In the Plague 127 Squinancy An effect of the putrid Synochus 107 Sulphur A Chymical principle what it is 4 Of common Sulphur 40 Sulphur in the Blood 59 Swooning In Feavers 103 Symptomatick Feavers what they are 107 108. Symptoms And signs chiefly to be noted in a putrid Feaver 99 Symptoms to be observed in a putrid Synochus 100 Synochus Putrid its chief symptoms 100 Its kinds and cure 107 T. Tongue Why covered with a white crustiness in Feavers 102 V. Vitrification Of Vitrification or the making of Glass 50 Vomiting Of Vomiting in Feavers 106 Urines Of Vrines in Feavers 106 Prognosticks from Vrines in Feavers 107 W. Water A principle of the Chymists what it is 6 Wind The North-wind apt to produce Catarrhs 169 Wines How made by Fermentation 22 Womb Of the falling down of the Womb in Women lying In 149 Of the distempers of the Womb at that time ibid. THE SECOND INDEX or TABLE WHEREIN IS Alphabetically digested the principal matters contained in the Treatises 1. Of Urines 2. Of the Accension of the Blood 3. Of musculary motion 4. Of the Anatomy of the Brain and 5. Of the description and use of the Nerves A. ACcidentes Of Vrine Page 1 2. Aire Stuffed with nitrous particles 27 More nitrous in Winter than in Summer ibid. Anatomy Of the Brain 55 Anatomy of Vrine 1 Animal Spirits see Spirits Appetite How stir'd up 91 Arteries Of the Carotidic Artery 71 Of its ascension into the skull 72 Experiments of injecting Liquors into the Carotidic Arteries 72 Of the Carotidic Artery in Fowls and Fishes 76 77. The reason of the joyning together of the Arteries ascending into the Brain 82 The difference of the passage of the Artery passing through the skull in Man and Beast 84 Of the Arteries Carotides in an Horse 85 Of the Vertebral Artery 87 Why the Carotides Arteries differ in a Man and Horse from other Beasts 88 How the Nerves like Reins bind the Trunk of the Hepatic Artery 168 Of the Arteries belonging to the Spine or Back-bone 179 180. B. Blood Of the inkindling of the Blood 24 Several opinions of the heat of the Blood 26 27. Blood the life of the soul 25 The Blood very hot in living Creatures and for what reason ibid. How the Blood cometh by its heat 27 Effluvia of the Blood like the soot of flame 29 The Blood requires Ventilation ibid. How the Vital flame is inkindled in the Blood 30 The reason of the change of the colour of the