We answer first That in an External Pain of the Head or the Pericranium there is for the most part if not always a sensation of soreness upon the least touching of it whereas if the Pain be internal there is no appearance of any such thing Now several great Anatomists as the most excellent Bartholin does affirm There belongs to the Skull both a Pericranium and Periostium whereas Fernelius says An external Pain of the Head does reach to the Roots of the Eyes it is supposed when the Pericranium is only afflicted but if the Periostium be only afflicted that sign will alwayes be wanting 13. Hitherto of the general Causes of Pain in the Part which are indeed the Effects of the more prime Causes there remains now that we shew the true Cause of Pain it self wheresoever it happens The original of all sense and motion is from the Brain from whence the Animal Spirits runing in their proper Chanels to wit the Nerves convey the same through and into all parts of the Body from Head to Foot the free Current of these Spirits according to their own natural Motion are only in Bodyes free from Pain but if the Motion be torrid by any kind of force or violence or if any part in which these Spirits abound be any wayes hurt whereby Motion is obstructed they flow thither in great hast and by an Irregular Motion to remove that obstruction but not being able by that mighty afflux of Spirits there is a Collision or beating one against another in the several Chanels of the Nerves by which Pricking them Pain is immediatly Excited and the magnitude of that Pain is according to the greatness of the Flux of these Spirits and the vehemency of their Collision XXXI The Prognosticks of a Cephalalgia 1. Where the Causes are simple from a simpe Intemperature of the parts whether it be with in or without the Skull it is always without danger and of no difficult Cure and an external Headach is always easier to be Cured than an internal 2. If it proceeds from matter abounding whether in the Periostium or Pericranium without the Skull or in the Menings of the Brain within the Skull the Cure is much more difficult than when it Rises from a simple Intemperature yet it is without danger unless the matter flowing Causes an Apostemation of the Brain which is for the most part mortal 3. That Headach which arises from consent in the Stomach will be as durable as the Cause from whence it proceeds and when the disaffection of the Stomach is removed the Pain of the Head will then Cease 4. If it proceed from Drunkenness it is without danger and commonly terminates in the space of twenty four hours If it proceeds from a Feaver or the French Pox its Prognosticks as to the danger in time of Cure are to be fetcht from the Prognosticks of those Diseases If it be in a sharp Feaver with thin and white Urine it is dangerous For that a strong sulpherous and violent hot Matter is sent to the Brain from whence there is danger of a Phrensy If it be without a Feaver it signifies according to Hippocrates in Coacis an Apoplexy or Epilepsy to be at hand For that much of a Saline sulphurious Matter cold and moist with a certain kind of Viscosity afflicts the Brain the same understand if the Headach be accompanied with a Vertigo or Deafness or Numbness of the Hands 5. If it be caused from a contusion Wound or Fracture of the Skull the danger is according to the greatness of the Cause in a simple Contusion or Wound it is without danger in a Fracture of the Skull there is hope of Life and Recovery while the Menings of the Brain remain unhurt but if they were hurt though the fracture be Cured and the Wound Healed there will be continually a return of Pain either at certain Periodical times or upon the least disturbance of the Brain the which can be no otherwise remedied then by perpetual keeping the Skull open with a Plugg 6. In a Headach proceeding from Repletion or matter abounding if Pus Snot or Water flow forth by the Nostrils Ears or Eyes there will be hops of a speedy and sudden Cure But if a strong Pain in the Head seises suddenly without Evacuation following or Mitigation of its Vehemency it is Mortal For it shews the destruction of the Animal Faculty which is now without sense of the matter Causing the grief moreover in a great Headach it is of evil Consequence to have the outward and extream parts cold For by the vehemency of the pain and heat by vertue of strong attraction to the part affected there may be danger of an Inflamation 7. If so be a vehement Headach feizes after the Cure of a Disease in the Visera or Bowels in the Thorax or Abdomen proceeding from Putrefaction it shewes a translation of the matter to the Brain from whence arises for the most part an Apostemation which is mortal XXXII The Therapia or Method of Cure and first of a Head-ach proceeding from a simple Intemperature of heat and dryness 1. The Method of Cure depends upon the Cause according to the Proverb sublata Causa tollitur Effectus if it be only external or outward and proceeds from a simple Intemperature of heat and dryness it must be Cured by the application of things cold and moist 2. In this Case you may anoint the Temples Forehead and parts pained with this Oyntment Take Oyl of Roses Oyl of Water-Lillies of each one ounce Oyl of Poppy-seed by expression half an ounce mix them and apply it leaving the Sick to his Repose but if the Pain be very vehement it will be good to mix with the aforesaid Oyls about an ounce of Vinegar of Roses then in this mixture dip Cloaths or Rose-Cakes applying them to the place afflicted binding them on 3. Or you may take fair Water making it moderately warm and with a Spunge dipt in the same you may Bath or foment the parts afflicted For thereby the Head will be humected the Pores will be opened and the hot fiery Particles which was the Cause of the Disease will exhale But in this last Case it will be never the worse if you mix with the warmed Water afore-said a half or third part of Vinegar of Roses 4. Inwardly the Sick may Take Conserves of Roses and Flowers of Water Lillies of each two ounces Lozenges of Sugar pearled an ounce and a half made into an Electuary with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Violets At Night going to Bed and the Morning following he may take this following Refrigerating Potion Take Waters of Endive and Succory of each three ounces Violet Water two ounces to which add syrup of the juyce of Citrons one ounce and a half mix them for two Doses 5. Let the Food be cooling and of good juyce such as Chickens Fishes of gravelly places and Rear Eggs and such Meats as are Souced and
succeeds long continued and lasting symptoms as you see in an Apoplexy Now those affects which happen to the Nerves which cause Convulsions as a Puncture Inflamation c. if they were in the Brain would not cause them but an Apoplexy and Phrensie although the Brain thus affected by consent also if the cause offending be great and follows continually not only irritating the Brain it self but also by its Vehemency and frequency so hurting it contracts also its proper Disease then the contention of Convulsions lasts almost continually as I not long since observed in a noble Lady nor does the sick hardly ever come any more to themselves or the fit wholy cease till the Patient is dead 4. Yet it may be also that from the same cause as we shall anon speak when we treat of that which is poysonous both the Genus Nervosum and Brain being hurt together Convulsions may happen coupled together with other hurts of the mind 5. But to find out the part which is first affected and with which the Brain consents we must consider the symptoms to wit the inordinate motion and privation of Senses which has so great consent with the Muscles exercising voluntary motion and with the Brain communicating sense that that being hurt the Muscles are forced and the Brain ceaseth a while from its function which we say is that Genus nervosum Or Nervous System because it begins in the Brain and ends in the Muscles under which name viz. of Genus Nervosum we understand all the Nerves in the whole Body both within and without the skull especially those endued with the sence of feeling and the nervous parts which are compounded of them which are of most exquisite sence the which being so hurt that the functions of the Brain are abolished by sympathy and those of the Muscles augmented it must needs be that Convulsions follow which how it may come to pass we will now immediately explicate 6. The offence of the Genus Nervosum not that which weakens its functions but that which by bringing trouble to it doth rather stir up its faculty if it be caused either in one place or more a Nerve or nervous part is affected and if the hurt be great then the whole Genus Nervosum or Nervous system rising up whilst it endeavors to shake off that with which it is offended doth together exagitate the Brain from whence it proceeds and draws it into consent so that that also feeling these disturbances of the Nerves whilst it endeavors to help them to resist and overcome the disaffection driving the Animal spirits from it self into the beginning of the Nerves it is for a season left destitute of its functions but no otherwise than we somtimes observe in a syncope that the Heart without any proper affect of its own the Spirits wandering for some other cause doth cease from its function till they return again 7. In which effusion of the Spirits into the Nerves it happens that the motive power does continue in them not only as was declared formerly but also by reason of the plenty of Spirits of the Nerves the Muscles are excited to exercise their motion but chiefly that Violent and inordinate motion in the beginning of Epileptical fits is acted for this cause that whilst the Genus Nervosum does indeavour to expel this hurt or disaffection it is contracted into it self and then again dilated forcing the Muscles of the whole Body into whose beginnings the Nerves are inserted by consecution to commit those inordinate and outragious motions by pulling or drawing and then remitting them and that so long till the offending matter is removed or expelled from them or by reason of dejection of strength and as it were weariness when they can no longer exercise Motion yet notwithstanding they retain their Limbs convulsed or attracted stiff and fixt for a while till at last they come wholly to themselves 8. This often happens in a Catalepsis presently at the beginning no agitation of the Body going before perhaps because in that Disease there is not so great an effusion of Spirits into the Nerves when as in that somtimes some senses do yet remain and there is a less iritation of the Nerves whence as it may be accounted as Platerus saith a certain lighter kind of Epilepsie yet very seldom happening otherwise proceeding from the same cause which breeds an Epilepsie but which doth either lâ—sâ—â—ffect the Genus Nervosum by irritation or else has that property to produce a stupidity or rigidness of the members rather than a Convulsion 9. But that these causes of hurt to the Genus Nervosum from whence an Epilepsy often proceeds a Catalepsis more seldom are diverse and frequent it is no wonder for that the Nerves by reason of their exquisite sence are not only unable to endure great hurts or Pains but also are so easily offended by the slightest that they cannot suffer the touch of a body for which reason whilst they are carried in the Body nature hath provided for them that they touch not the Bones neither are they joyned to any other parts besides those into which they are inserted from which notwithstanding they are not exasperated by divers incursions unless they be great and violent so that they be Convulsed of which sort are those which may happen to them from a Wound irritation or infection either acting singly or more of them together 10 That a Convulsion may be caused by a Wound made in a Nerve or Nervous part daily experience has confirmed yet not from every Wound of a Nerve but only or for the most part from a Nerve hurt by Pricking upon which Convulsions are wont to follow its function being thereby stirred up by reason of the hurt for which reason also if we cut off a Nerve Convulsed we cure the Convulsion caused in it but this molestation of the Nerve proceeding from the solution of its continuity is yet more increased by an Inflamation or Putrefaction from the Corruption restrained in the narrow hole of the Puncture of the said Nerve and by the great Pain from thence which for the most part does attend this affection if the Wound happen from Iron which of its own nature is an enemy to the Nerves commonly by reason of its rust or because it is infected or a blow or bite of a poysonous Beast 11. But also a Nervous part being wounded especially in that place where the Nerves goe under it and constitute the greater part of it as the Bladder being hurt at the Neck the Muscles about their beginnings either by chance or whilst the Chyrurgian and Lithotomist attempt an aperture of the place most commonly dangerous Convulsions succeed which a difficulty of swallowing going before so much feared by the Chyrurgian calling it a Spasm of the Stomach is wont most an end to foretell 12. An irritation of the Genus Nervosum if it be vehement may also cause Convulsions which proceeds either from
became lame and the use of all her Limbs was taken from her after about ten days her Pains vanished and she became absolutely Paralytick 2. Being in this Condition I thought fit to provoke sweating by this following Take mineral Bezoar one scruple of our new London-Treacle half a scruple Venice-Treacle half a dram mix them for a Dose It was given at Night going to bed and the sick sweat well during the time of her sweating this cordial Julep was given her to keep up her Spirits and preserve her from fainting Take Spirit of Saffron of the best Cinnamon-Water of each four ounces Angelica-Water Bawm-Water of each three ounces Juyce of Alkermes Syrup of Citron-Peels of each two ounces mix them Dose a spoonful or two now and then to prevent fainting This sweating was repeated four times at four days distance 3. In the Intervals of the sweating I prescribed these things Take Venice-Treacle a dram anisated Balsam of Sulphur twenty drops volatile Salt of Mans skull eight grains mix them for a Dose to be taken every Morning after which she drank a little glass of the Queen of Hungarias Water well dulcisied at Night going to bed she took this Take Oyl of sweet Almonds new drawn two ounces Syrup of Citron-Peels Syrup of Jujubes of each an ounce and half white Sugar-Candy in subtile Pouder six drams mix them for a Dose to be given at Night going to bed By the use of these things her Cold and Hoarsness were wholly taken off and she was somwhat amended as to her Paralytick Disaffection but yet far from a Cure so that I was forced wholly to apply my Mind to that 4. After therefore that her sweating was over I ordered her to take the volatile Spirit of Sulphur or Vitriol mentioned in the last Observation every day at least four five or six times a day in a glass of choice Hippocras somtimes also in Mead or Wine and somtimes in a glass of Ale as she liked best this she took from forty to sixty or eighty drops at a time as she liked best herself 5. And somtimes she took the said volatile Spirit of Vitriol in a glass of this following Docoction Take Guajacum rasped Acorus-roots of each six ounces roots of Angelica and of Peony of each nine ounces choice Sarsaparilla China of each eighteen ounces Coriander and Caraway-seeds of each four ounces Spanish Juyce of Liquorice three ounces Figs slit three pounds Spring-Water four and twenty quarts boyl all till the Water is half consumed then strain let it settle and bottle it up with a Clove slit and an ounce of white Sugar in each Bottle this she took as her ordinary drink during the time of her Cure 6. Lastly having very well bathed all the Back-bone and the Paralytick Members with the Powers of Amber and of Aniseeds mixed in equal proportion for about ten days Morning and Night and afterwards with Ox-Gall mixed with an equal quantity of the Powers of Rosemary this miserable Creature was in about twelve weeks time restored to her perfect health and strength to the admiration of all that saw her in that her languishing Condition VI. A Palsy in a middle-aged Man arising from drinking cold Water too plentifully c. 1. A Man nere forty years of age by being exposed to extream cold in the middle of Winter and being forced also to drink too plentifully cold Water was taken with a Paralytick Distemper almost of the whole Body so that what with the loss of his Sense of Feeling and impotency of motion he became helpless to himself 2 It would be worth the while to eâ—quire somwhat strictly into the cause of his Disâ—ase he being of a gross and fat Body and at the first seisure thereof afflicted with a most vehement Catarrh which being imprudently stopt before the morbifick matter was carried off or evacuated presently retreated and fell upon the Muscles and Nerves and this we should now do but that we have determined to treat thereof more amply in another place 3. However we shall not be wanting to the young Artist but will deliver in this place the sense of several learned Authors from the disquisitions of whom 't is hoped the ingenious Favourers of Truth may possible investigate her Foot-steps Thus from a cold Distemper or too much cooling of the Muscles and Nerves but cheifly those Muscles into which the affected Nerves are inserted a Palsy of those Parts whose Nerves are affected is said to succceed for that Cold being a very great Enemy to them either binds them up or condenses them so that the animal Spirit can no longer have a passage whereby their Function ceaseth 4. Now the Disaffection of the spinal Marrow or Nerve is that which deprives it of the animal Spirit the essential Agent of all natural Motions for being so affected it can neither any more communicate to the Muscles the Faculty or Power of moving nor to the sensible Parts the Power of Feeling and the remaining part of it from the place affected even to the part into which it is inserted becomes unprofitable 5. This is true also if the continuity with the part be dissolved for then the passage is interrupted or if the Nerves be so constringed that the animal Spirit which exacts a free passage through the nervous System can no longer flow through or fill it up or not so amply as it ought to do which somtimes happens if the Nerve be prest upon in any part whereby its substance is so condensed that the animal Spirit thereupon becomes interrupted and this is often caused from an afflux of humors chiefly such as are cold and pituitous and sâ—mtimes by a Blow Compression Ligatures c. 6. And as an Apoplexy which is a Palsy of the whole Body as we shall hereafter explicate is generated from a pituitous or a watery serous cold and moist Excrement of the Brain watering of it or pressing upon the original of the Nerves so this bedewing or otherwise afflicting the Nerves themselves causes a Palsy for falling from the Head not through the substance of the spinal Marrow but either descending through the Cavity of the Vertebrae of the Spina Dorsi which does contain the spinal Marrow and there stopping about the beginning or passage of it or falling down farther through the progress which the conjugations of Nerves pass in their entrance into the Body following the said conjugations and sticking here and there about the Nerves in what place soever this happens whether about the spinal Marrow or about the conjugations or branches of Nerves proceeding therefrom by bedewing or compressing them it produceth a Palsy either of more or fewer Parts according as a more general or particular Nerve is affected 7. For if plenty of humors flow theither in those narrow places and by their weight or taking up of place do compress the Nerves the animal Spirit must necessarily be intercepted in its passages and if this matter be long detained there it becomes
thicker and mucous and also by humecting filling and cooling the substance of the Nerves it destroys their proper Temper in that place and so hinder the free occourse of the animal Spirit so that the said Nerves cannot be filled therewith nor enjoy it whence also by the interposition of this morbifick matter in the place of the first disaffection the other branches of the said Nerve which are carried to and supply other Parts are also frustrated as to the exercise of their Functions so that if the hurt be great there must needs follow a perfect resolution of the Parts unto which those Nerves are communicated and that by so much the more lasting and pertinacious by so much as the hurt of the Nerve is greater and which Authors affirm they have found by dissection to be the true cause of a Palsy proceeding from cold moist and pituitous humors wherein the spinal Marrow has been swelled up with a watery humor so that in this case there is no need to conceit any obstruction in the Nerves which are made up of filaments nor any cavity which may admit that thick humor as some have foolishly thought 8. Also such a superfluous or excrementitious humor arising elsewhere than from the Brain being carried to the Nerves of certain parts or heaped up there does induce a Palsie proper to certain parts which somtimes also mixt with other acid and colerick humors or otherwise putrefying not only by humecting but also by iritating the Nerves does cause Pains and together with them a resolution of the part and somtimes withall ending in Convulsions and this somtimes happens in colick Pains Pains of the Mesentery Torments of the Limbs and other disaffections 9. The same also is thought to come to pass from extravasated Blood falling into these cavities of the Nerves and a long time retained there but this is very rare or seldom seen but a great and lasting pressure of a part caused by a heavy burthen or some other force especially in that place where the Nerves are great or lye bare under the skin may cause a repulsion of the Animal Spirits and hinder its afflux whereby a tingling and stupidity will be induced after a little while an abolition of motion and at length a perfect stupidity of the part into which the compressed Nerve is inserted 10. And this often falls out in lying especially in the time of sleep one part lying long upon another as the Body on the Arm one Foot on the other or sitting long upon the Buttocks in Bed without stirring by which such a pressure is made as oftentimes renders the part immoveable and insensible which the common people call a sleep this if the pressure be very long and the sense return not in some reasonable time causes at length a certain resolution of the part but this compression being sudden and caused with a strong blow upon the Nerve it only causes a stupidity mixe with Pain and a sense of Tingling but not a Resolution or Palsie as it is often wont to fall out in the accidental striking of the Eâ—bow there where the Nerve lyes almost bare 11. Somtimes also a Palsie is caused from too hard Ligatures of the Members chiefly where a Nerve is contained under the bandage for that the sense of feeling and motion of the part do cease and if the recurrent Nerves be too hard bound there is immediately a defect of speech and at length the voice is totally lost 12. Upon a luxation of the Vertebrae and the bones of other joynts if there be a vehement pressure of the adjacent Nerves a Palsie certainly follows but this seldom comes to pass because the Nerves in those parts for the most part gives way so that other disaffections commonly follow upon such like accidents 13. Somtimes also it comes to pass that a pituitous or serous humor a long time wasting and humecting the Tendons of the Muscles does make them to be too much relaxed whence follows a Palsie of that part but this cheifly happens in those places where many Tendons are carried in a straight or narrow place and void of much flesh as about the bending of the Joynts which are bound and joyned together with Ligaments as it were with Rings as in the regions of the Wrist and Instep where somtimes a humor retained by reason of the straightness of the place many small bones being also tyed together in the Carpus and Metacarpium as also in the Ankle and Instep humecting and relaxing the Tendons causeth that the Hands and Feet do continue Paralytick all their life time after 14. And although the Palsie may be overcome and cease in other parts of the Body yet it remains in those yea when the humor is wasted the Tendons remaining longer than is fit whence for ever after they carry their Hands and Feet hanging and when they strive to lift them up or to lay hold on any thing because nevertheless they can mâ—ve their Fingers or goe yet because they cannot do that by the benefit of the Musches they are wont to cast them up on high by the force or strength of the Arm or Thigh in which also many times appears an eminency like as it were a certain Tumor in the superficies of the Wrist or Ankle arising by reason of Extenuation which is wont to accompany the same the Bones bunching forth there but oftentimes this resolution of the Wrist is accompanied with a Contraction of the Fingers for that for want of nutriment the Ligaments and Tendons labour under an Atrophy whereby being wasted and dryed they become contracted or shortned 15. Hence it appeares that all the Causes of any kind of voluntary motion hurt is either in the organ sending or communicating the power of moving not in the principal part the Brain for men also the Internal Senses would cease together with the motion which comes not here to pass Therefore the cause is in the Nerve or in the Instrument which moveth a Muscle Or in the part which is moved as is already in part explained and shall be more fully in what follows 16. Seeing the Nerves under which name we comprehend both the Spinal marrow and Genus Nervosum which are part of the Brain every where repleat with the Animal Spirit do communicate the faculty of moving and feeling if they be so hurt that they can no more do that then one or more Muscles into which they are inserted looses also their power of moving not being any more able to attract or draw up the Members which they ought to move there presently follows a resolution of the same to wit they becomes feeble and unfit for motion 17. And if the hurt be vehement the sense of feeling is also taken away not only in the Muscle but in the skin drawn over it which receives sensory Nerves from the same Nerve which is hurt But if the hurt be not so great because greater force is required to exercise motion than
promiscuously for one and the same Disease viz. for a Resolution of the Nerves which is a loss of Sense and Motion in any Part of the Body 3. It is either perfect in which Sense and Motion are quite gone Or imperfect wherein Sense and Motion are only decayed or diminished and in this case if the diminution be but small it cannot be properly Paralysis a Palsy but rather Stupor or Torpor a numbedness which is commonly the Fore-runner of a true Palsy 4. A Palsy may be either from the hurt of the motive Faculty the sense remaining found Or from the hurt of the Sense the motive Faculty remaining well 5. A Palsy may arise either from a solution of unity in the Nerves as by a Bruise from a Fall or Blow or by a Wound or from a relaxation of the Vertebrae of the Back suddenly caused 6. It is either from Causes innate as 1. From cold pituitous humors which relax and dissolve the Tone of the Nerves 2. From straightness or narrowness of the Nerves caused by Obstructions Or by Constipation from some Tumor c. 3. From thin sharp serous and windy humors moved in the Bowels not only to the beginnings of the Orifices of the Nerves but to the very Muscles and Tendons Or from causes external and foreign as from Narcoticks and Poysons as touching the fish Torpedo immeasurable drinking strong Liquors taking of Henbane Poppies Opium Quick-silver Antimony Arsenick c. To these external Causes may also be added the excess of heat or cold by the first of which the Spirits are wasted and spent and by the latter of which they are obstructed in their passages by Congelation c. 7. It is either Idopathetick or by consent of Parts and that for the most part in a scorbutick habit of body CII The signs of a Palsy 1. The Pathognomick signs of a Palsy are the hurts of the motive and sensitive faculty for where the loss of motion and sense is there is certainly a Paralysis or Palsy 2. Where these Symptoms are universal there the Paralysis is universal if they afflict but one part only those part only suffers by the Palsy Somtimes it affects but one side of the body and somtimes it affects both 3. If the sense and motion be both wholly lost the Palsy is said to be perfect if they be not absolutely destroyed but only depraved it is but an imperfect Palsy and is rather a kind of Torpor Stupor or Numness 4. If the motion be only hurt and the sense perfect yet it is a Palsy so also if the sense be abolished and the motion remains but this kind of Palsy in my opinion ought rather to be called an Hemiplegia than that which only afflicts one side 5. Hence it appears that the kinds of the Palsy is easily known from the abolition of the motive and sensitive faculties according to the part or parts affected being discoverable by the Eye and the habit of the body in which it happens but the principal part affected or what first suffers is with more difficulty to be discerned being only known from Anatomical Learning which teacheth the original and distribution of the Nerves through all the parts of the body 6. If the right or left side of the Face has the Palsy and no other part suffers the Brain is only hurt in that part from whence the Nerves are brought which distribute their branches to those sides of the Face but if the parts under the Head be affected together with the Face then it is a sign that the Spinal Marrow is hurt as well as the Brain and if the parts beneath the Head are hurt and not the Face the fault is only in the Spinal Marrow and some of the Nerves springing from thence 7. If one half of the body only has the Palsy only one half of the Spinal Marrow and Nerves thence proceeding are affected but if the whole body suffers then is the whole Spine afflicted from its very original 8. Now the disaffection of the Spinal Marrow is that which hinders the afflux of the Animal Spirit the principal Instrum nt not only of sense but also of all natural motions for by reason of its discrasy it can neither communicate to the Muscles the faculty of moving nor to the Nerves the power of feeling for that the parts into which it is inserted become unprofitable 9. And this is true whether the passage of the said Animal Spirit is interrupted by a solution of Unity or Obstructed by a morbifick matter or otherwise constringed for by either of these hinderances the said Animal Spirit can no longer have a free passage through the nervous System flow through or fill it up or not so amply as it ought to do 10. In whatsoever place this hinderance happens whether about the Spinal Marrow or about the conjugations or branches of Nerves proceeding there from it causeth a Palsy either of more or fewer parts according as the Nerve affected is more general or particular 11. We shall now declare what Nerves affected do produce a Paralysis in each respective Part. If the Nerves nere to the Brain or in the beginning of their Passage from the Brain or the spinal Marrow lying next under the Brain be hurt or effected there is commonly a general Palsy wherein also breathing the Voice Speech and Swallowing with some excresive Motions do suffer hurt 12. But if the hurt is in the following production of this Marrow it makes those Members only paralytick into which its Branches of Nerves are inserted But the Palsy is so much the more general by how much the affect of the said spinal Marrow is nere to the Brain or original of the Nerves 13. If the Ey be affected with the Palsy the visive Nerves are originally hurt as also the Cerebrum adjacent it self If the Tongue is paralytick the Conjugation of Nerves serving the Tongue is hurt and the Speech is also defective and by reason of its Community with the auditory Nerve if the defect be so great as to cause a perfect loss of Speech then the sick is for the most part deaf also 14. If there be a Palsy of the Larynx Tongue Jaws Midriff as also of the Bladder and Fundament those Nerves which some Authors account of the sixth and seventh Conjugations are hurt about their original If there be a defect of the Voice the recurrent Nerve is affected If there be a defect in Swallowing the Nerves which go to the Muscles of the Jaws are hurt If there be danger of Suffocation the Nerves which go to the Midriff are hurt though the Midriff the Instument of Breathing can otherwise in some sort perform its Office for that it receives Nerves also from the spinal Marrow 15. If the Sphincters of the Bladder and Anus be paralytick from whence follows in the one an involuntary Pissing in the other a Relaxation of the Fundament the Conjugations of Nerves supplying those Parts are generally disaffected 16.
only hurt the sense remaining firm it is now reasonable that we shew the cause of sense being hurt the motive faculty being sound and strong as is ordinary in such as are afflicted with an Elephantiasis Lepra Graecorum and Mania who often go naked lye cold in Frost and Snow or the middle of Winter and whose Skins are so numb and sensless that they feel not though prickt with Auls Needles or Pins or cut with Knives c. The true reason of this is because the Nerves replenishing the Skin the outer and primary Organ of feeling and the Membranes covering the Muscles by their various Ramifications and innumerable membranaceous Fibres which chiefly convey to the parts the sense of feeling are only hurt or chiefly suffer Whereas those greater Tendinous and Muscular Nerves who by their musculous and fleshy Fibres exert the motive faculty or in whom is seated the power of moving remain safe and unhurt Wherefore the loss or hurt of the sensitive faculty proceeds from a hurt of the exteriour and membranaceous Fibres either through some poysonous or malign Gas or extremity of cold benumbing them so that the Animal Spirit cannot as it ought to do irradiate them and hence it appears that the Nerves of the exterior Membranes are only hurt for that sense being lost the part or parts wast not as when deprived of motion but have a sufficient afflux of the Animal Spirit enabling them to perform their proper duty and to assimulate the nutritions juice brought to the said parts by the Arteries 32. Now out of what has been already said it appears that the extreamest kind of Palsy in which the motive and sensitive Faculties are both hurt or abolished is caused from a general affection of all the Nerves distributed into the part or parts affected as well the Cutaneous and Membranaceous Fibres of the Nerves as the Tendinous and Muscular whereby the Tracts or passages and ways of the Animal Spirit are in a manner compleatly shut up and all its irradiations intercepted or frustrated This may chance though rarely from the descent of the morbifick matter from the Brain into the oblong Morrow but very often from a notable hurt of the Back-bone by a Blow Wound or Fall from some high place whereby the Spinae Medulla being compressed or too much distended or writhed the passages of the Animal Spirit are mightily obstructed and in danger of perfect obliteration CIV The Judgments or Prognosticks of the Palsy 1. A Palsy coming from a cold and moist Cause or in a cold and moist habit of body especially in such as are extream Fat and have been so of a long time is very difficultly cured and if the Disease in such a person has been of any long continuance it seldom or never is cured 2. The cure is difficult or seldom or never performed if the Disease happens in old Age more especially if the Sick is Fat and of a cold moist habit of body 3. A Palsy wherein motion is abolished is much more difficult to Cure than that in which sense is only hurt in regard of the deep scituation of the Nerves for that the force of the Medicine cannot so easily reach them but that Palsy wherein both Faculties are hurt or abolished is yet much worse 4. Every Paralysis whither coming by degrees or happening by accident whether universal or particular though for the most part they are free from imminent danger yet they are long in curing 5. A Palsy coming after an Apoplexy is seldom cured and many times returns into an Apoplexy again by a new afflux of like matter into the Brain which is made lax and weak by the former Disease 6. If it comes from a Blow Fall Wound c. or upon an Apoplexy Lethargy Carus Convulsion Cholick Gout or other affects of the Brain or Genus Nervosum it will not quickly be cured or so much as easily give place to Medicines but for the most part remains uncurable 7. A Tremor or Trembling coming upon or after a Palsy is said to be healthful for that the passages of the Nerves begin somwhat to open themselves to make way for the Animal Spirit whereby Motion though at first after a trembling manner begins to be restored 8. If the Paralytick retains an actual native heat in it there is hope of Recovery but if it is always cold and cannot be induced to retain a natural heat the Case is desperate 9. If a total resolution follows upon a general obstruction of the original of the oblong Marrow or the Spina dorsi being extreamly hurt and that thereby both sense and motion are both taken away the Disease will scarcely admit of any cure 10. An Atrophy or want of Nourishment in the paralytick part with great paleness takes away all hopes of a Cure For it not only signifies an impotency and decay of the Animal Spirit but shews great danger of the extinction of the native heat 11. A Palsy happening in the Winter is cured with much more difficulty than that which happens in the Spring or Summer more especially if it happens in cold and moist Constitutions and in Aged people 12. They who are once cured of a Palsy proceeding from an evident solitary Cause do not so easily Relapse into the same as they who are cured of it arising from a Procatartick cause This seems to be Truth from the very reason of the thing and nature of the Causes 13. If the Ey on that side on which the Palsy happens be hurt thereby there is but little hopes of a Cure for it argues a great defect or want of Animal Spirits in the part or parts affected 14. A Palsy happening to Scorbutical or Cacochymical and very intemperate or surfeited Persons although otherwise of a strong body though the Distemper be not very great yet will it be with much labour and difficulty cured 15. A Palsy in the Legs and Feet is more easily cured than that in the upper parts because those Nerves are harder and stronger 16. A strong Feaver coming upon a Palsy is healthful for the extream heat thereof Rarifies and consumes or expels the morbifick matter and partly for the same reason a Diarrhoea or Loosness coming upon a recent and weak Palsy foreshews speedy Recovery for saith Rhasis I have seen many Paralyticks cured by a Diarrhoea CV The general method of curing the Idopathetick Palsy 1. We now come to the Therapeutical Considerations of the Palsy and first of an Idopathetick Palsy excited from a Procatartick cause or previous disposition of the body to such an indisposition wherein we are chiefly to endeavour the alteration of the habit of the body by rectifying the Discrasy of the Blood then to take away the morbifick matter offending and lastly so to strengthen the parts hurt that they may for the future be able to resist all other assaults of the Disease 2. The Palsy may happen in a hot or cold Constitution and therefore you are first wisely and
take for many days the following Purgation Take Extract of Mechoacan compounded Diagridium Alhandal Cambogia of each one grain Pil. Rudii five grains make five Pills with two drops of the Oyl of Citrons It did operate five times 6. Inwardly I did exhibite four drops of the following Oyls every Morning in Broth Take Oyl of Rosemary-flowers four and twenty drops of Marjoram of Lavender of each six drops of Oranges four drops of Anise of Fennel of each eight drops mix them She took it in Rosemary-Wine 7. By these she had great profit but at length being seised with a Convulsion she dyed Grulingius Curat 7. Cent. 1. XXIV An Apoplexy in old Age. 1. This Disease somtimes happens in extream old Age or in Men in whom the vigor of the Senses is small through the Defect of the Spirits and because the continual defatigation of the Brain may occasion a cold Intemperature therefore the use of these Medicines may greatly comfort 2. Take the Spirit of the best and most pleasant Wine one pound and half to which put the leaves of Bawm the flowers of Lavender Lilly-Convally of Rosemary of Borrage of each one handful Grains of Paradice two drams Cubebs Cinnamon Nutmegs of each one dram Let them stand the Vessel being well closed that nothing may evaporate afterwards strain them out by pressing and let the expression be kept for use In Winter when the Air is colder every Month about the Conjunction of the Moon dip a peece of white Bread in half a dram of this Spirit and let him swallow it in the Morning sleeping a little thereafter 3. In Summer he may take of the Water of Lilly-Convally or Carduus Benedictus likewise about the new Moon one dram of the following Pouder Take white Amber and grind it on a marble Stâ—â—e with the Water of black Cherries to this Pouder add as much of Diarrhodon Abbatis 4. These two Medicines are profitable for they correct the humors and check the Vapours and remove the Obstruction As to Diet great Care must be had therefore all Meats must be shun'd which breed pituitous and flegmatick humors such as Fish Pot-Herbs things made of Milk and Meats fryed somtimes Pills may be taken of Alephanginae or Mastich or Aloes Rosata 5. It is most convenient also that the melancholy humor be evacuated and corrected by proper Medicines a better way of evacuating this humor cannot be than by the Hemorroids Fomentations also are to be applyed made of the Decoction of Mallows and Lin-seed and inwardly a scruple of Aloes Rosata is to be taken 6. This melancholy humor is to be contemperated by the use of the Extract of the Juyce of Bawm and Borrage and a spoonful of the following Syrup before Dinner or Supper may be taken 7. Take Syrup of the Juyce of Bawm three ounces of the Juyce of Borrage two ounces of the Peels of Citrons half an ounce the Species Aromatici Rosati one dram Diamoschi dulcis as much mix them and let it be given in a Glass for repressing the Vapours after Meat this Pouder may be taken 8. Take Coriander prepared one ounce choice Cinnamon two drams Mastich one scruple Mace half a scruple white Bread toasted three ounces white Sugar half a pound mix them and make a Pouder In the Morning the Person may take from a quarter of an ounce to half an ounce of the Confection with the Oyl of Anise the Oyl of Caraway Amber also a Confect of Diamoschi dulcis and Diambrae and somtimes Treacle and Mithridate if these things be followed great Benefit will accrew to the Person Crato apud Sholzium Cons 35. XXV Of an Apoplexy 1. The Disease of the Apoplexy is nothing else but an Obstruction in the Original of the Nerve or Brain whereby the Passages of the animal Spirits which give Motion to the whole Body are shut up and the Heart is hindred to distribute and diffuse the vital Spirits from whence there comes a Resolution of the whole Body and is deprived of Sense and Motion as the Heart of Respiration 2. The proper Note and Chararcteristicon of this affect is known by Respiration which according as is more or less suppressed the Danger is so much the greater or lesser 3. We must first consider from whence the animal Spirits are thus impeeded the causes are many and various yet they may be included under these four the first is the bad Temper of the Brain which does not presently invade for the Imbecility of the Brain and of the animal Faculties the Understanding and Memory will be felt long before as also a Numness Somnulency Anger Oblivion with a pain in the Head and Noise in the Ears 4. If the Apoplexy be expected to flow from that Fountain then it will be needful to strengthen the Brain and the Brain if possible is to be purged by the Nostrils moreover you may purge the Brain by an Apophlegmatismus every Morning the Mouth is to be washed by Sage-Water with Salt and you may use every day this Confect which will refresh the Spirit 5. Take Species Diambrae Species Diamoschi of each one dram Sugar dissolved in Lavender-Water make a confection in little Balls you may eat one of them every Morning and you may rub the Almonds of the Ears with Rosemary-Water let him often chew Rocket and Caraway seed 6. This Remedy will be greatly useful for an Apoplexy arising from a second cause to wit from the obstruction of the Brain by a gross and viscid Flegm in this case let him swallow the bigness of a Bean every day of Treacle and Mithridate 7. Aniversary Purgations will be useful as also dayly Frictions first in the Hands and Feet and then in the Back 8. A third cause proceeds from thick gross Vapours disturbing the Spirits for by bad Diet which generates those Vapours the Head is filled and the Spirits are corrupted and dissolv'd and this grievous Affect is generated also Drunkards and great Wine Bibbers are very obnoxious to this Disease 9. The Brain is preserved from thick Vapours by observing diligently a good Diet too much Sleep Banquetting and fumous Meats are to be avoided the seed of Caraway and Rowls made of the Oyl of Caraway and Anise are good for removing the Vapours and by washing of the Feet in the Morning and Frictions the Vapours are much diverted Care must be had that Crudities be not accumulated in the Stomach for which Ambergrise is good 10. A fourth cause is from the too great plenty of Blood or of Flegm or of Melancholy if from Blood then beware of such things as do much augment is a Vein must be opened and Cupping-Glasses affixed to diminish the excessive quantity of the Blood 11. But if from Flegm or Melaâ—choly then these humors must be purged by exhibiting Sena the Brain is to be strengthned the Nostrils are to be anointed with the Oyl of Sage and Rosemary-Water is to be drawn up through the Nostrils and the following Gargarism
make a pouder Divide it into ten parts take a dose twice a day or twelve sows or Wood-lice bruised and White-wine put to them let the Juyce be wrung out make a Draught let it be taken twice a day 51. Now whilst these Medicines are inwardly taken it will not be amiss sometimes to raise Blisters with Vesicatories in the nape of the Neck and behind the Eares for so the serous and sharp humors are very much drain'd from the head 52. Besides Sneezing pouders and such as expurgate Rheum from the head often afford very considerable help 53. The drawing away of Blood from the Hemorrhoidal Veins of the Foot should sometimes be repeated yea and the Distemper requiring Plaisters and Cataplasms are advantagiously applyed to the Soles of the Feet It is also profitable to apply drawing Medicines about the Calves and Thighs Willis de Convulsivis Cap. 5. Observ 5. LONDON Printed for Th. Dawks and L. Curtiss The Chapter of the Vertigo continued Numb 20. L. A Vertigo with troublesom sleeps 1. John Elinger fifteen or sixteen years of Age was taken with a Vertigo and every Night he vehemently cryed out for that he was troubled with terrible things in his Sleep as if he should fall from some high Mountain 2. He was delighted in drinking of sharp or austere Wine and oftentimes suffered a relaxation of the Uvula and moreover he was afflicted with a vehement pain of the Head so that he was forced to keep his Bed for two days together 3. His Urine was very Cholerick thick troubled full of Sediment and a Spume or froth on the Crown thereof 4. I prescribed him the following Julep to be taken in three Mornings fasting Take Syrup of Staechas syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each two ounces Oxymel simple Honey of Roses strained of each six drams Aqua Langij one ounce Waters of Endive and sorrel of each two ounces Vervain and Rose-water of each one ounce and half mix them for a Julep 5. Afterwards these following Pills Take Pilulae Arabicae one dram with syrup of Staechas make nine Pills They profit much and in the heat of Summer he took this mixture Take Conserves of Roses and of Wood-sorrel of each an ounce mix them 6. Notwithstanding he had all this while a notable weakness in his Limbs with a Griping of the Bowels and pain of the Head besides his Vertigo so that he was not able to Rise from his Bed also he was bound in his Bowels for four days past with a very great Thirst 7. I prescribed this Decoction following with Prunes Take of the best Sena Raisons of each one ounce white Tartar two drams three of the Cordial flowers Roses excepted of each one Pugil seeds of Anise and Fennel of each one dram Ginger five drams Mallows Herb Mercury flowers of Camomil of each one handful Water a sufficient quantity make a Decoction with Prunes 8. For the Comforting of his whole Body he used this following gross Pouder Take the Aromatick species I suppose he means Cloves Mace Nutmegs and Cinnamon cut small two ounces Coriander Comfits Lozenges of Diarrhodon Abbatis and of Diamargariton frigidum Citron Peels candied of each five ounces mix all well together and make a gross Pouder by beating in a Mortar By the use of these Remedies he was made perfectly well Gabelchoveri Cent. 4. Observ 1. LI. A Vertigo arising by consent from the Stomach 1. A Senator of Herrenberg twenty eight years of Age complained of a Vertigo which he plainly perceived to arise from Vapours ascending from his Stomach to his Head 2. Of other parts of his Body he made no complaints his Urine was well coloured and frothy 3. I prescribed him these following Pills Take Pilulae Aggregativae one dram Diagredium three grains with syrup of Staechas make fifteen Pills the which he swallowed with six drams of Syrup of Roses Solutive 4. Morning and Evening he washed his Feet in the following Decoction Take Aron leaves Thyme Ground-Ivy Camomil flowers Water-Cresses boyl all in a sufficient quantity of Water to wash with 5. In his Food he used Pouder of Nutmegs and going to Bed he eat Carraway-seeds moistned in Vinegar of Roses and dryed again By the use of these things with a Regular Diet he was in a few days made well Gabelchoveri Cent. 4. Observ 56. LII A Vertiginous disposition with other Symptoms 1. A Noble Youth about eleven years of Age being afflicted from his Infancy with an Imbecillity and weakness of the Head was at a certain time taken so ill after Sleep w th the abovenamed Distempers together with a Stupefaction of the parts of Motion that he was not able to hold his Head upright 2. Sometimes after Eating he was seized with the sudden Dejection of his Strength a pain in his Eyes and a darkness of his Sight his whole Body was consumed with an Atrophia his Urine was crude the pain of his Belly great his Appetite was but small without heat and thirst and his Pulse but slow 3. Now the Reason or rather the Cause from whence this Imbecility or Weakness of the Head did proceed is for as much as there is a Penury or lake of Spirits by their Refluctuation to their proper Fountain and Center and that occasion'd by Sleep they are not so quickly and readily distributed and diffused again through the Organs of the Senses 4. There was a kind of Stupefaction upon all the parts of Motion because they need and require a greater flowing in of the Spirits than the Organs of the Senses from whence we may perceive that the same part having the same Nerves oftentimes can Retain the Sense without Motion 5. The contrary whereof falls not out unless there be one Nerve to Communicate Motion and another to Communicate Sense which thing is manifest in the fabrick of the Eyes 6. Why there was a sudden Dejection of the Strength after Eating appears from this the native heat being so weak as not to digest the Food Communicated crude Exhalations to the Principal parts which serve the Animal and Vital Facultys where chiefly in the Brain this accession of Weakness was bred as in that part least Capable to bear external Injuries because of the want and Penury of the Spirits 7. There was also a pain of the Eyes with a darkness of the Sight whereas this Evil did arise by consent of the Ventricle affecting with pain sooner the foreparts than the hinder parts perhaps because the Brain is more Capacious and soft and so more fit to Receive the Impression of Vapours 8. And there chiefly the Emunctores do concur to the separation of the Heterogenous matter from whence also a dark Sight is not difficully demonstrated while the weaker Animal Spirits are whirl'd about contrary to their Nature by the flowing in of the crude Exhalations 9. The whole being consumed with an Atrophia did proceed from the Imbecillity of the Concoction of the Bowels from whence came the crude Urine and Blood
gave of it and my Expectations in about ten or twelve times taking thereof the Youth was freed from his Epilepsy nor had he it ever any more XX. An Epilepsy in a Consumptive person 1. Whether the Epilepsy was the cause of the Consumption or the Consumption the cause of the Epilepsy I will not determine because their beginnings were so nearly together 2. This our Patient was about twenty four years of Age a young man formerly fleshy and of a good strong habit of Body to appearance before this Disease siezed him though now become exceeding thin and lean at the first coming of the fits they afflicted him but seldom as once every change and full of the Moon 3. But afterwards growing stronger upon him they came every quarter of the Moon and now at the time of undertaking of this Cure sometimes once or twice a day 4. 'T was an Epilepsy arising from the extream parts for he could feel it coming upon him in his Fingers and Toes a considerable time before it took away his Senses so that he could tell the by-standers that the fit was coming and also provided a place to fall down in 5. This Disease he told me crept so sensibly upon him and he could as easily discern it creeping up both his Legs and his Arm as if he had thrusted them down gradually into cold water 6. During this affliction as there was a pining of his whole Body so he had a very weak Stomach seldom desiring to Eat nor well digesting when he had Eaten For this purpose I gave him the following Emetick Take Crocus Metallorum six drams Salt of Vitriol two scruples mix and give it in a little Broth this wrought very well with him and gave him about eight Vomits and five Stools 7. The fifth day following I gave him a dram and half of my Catharticum Argenteum which wrought excellently both upwards and downwards 8. This done I caused him to take in all his Drink six or eight drops more or less of the Antepileptick Spirit of Vitriol or so much at least as might make this Liquor so sharp as he could conveniently drink it and this I ordered him to continue the use of for some certain time whereby his Stomach was comforted and strengthened and he began to eat his Food in good order 9. Morning and Evening I ordered him to take of this following Electuary Take Electuarium ad Tabidos four ounces Misleto of the Oak in pouder pouder of Male-peony roots and seeds Mans Skull levigated of each six drams native Cinnabar Pea-cocks dung pouder of the Liver of Frogs dryed of each four drams Musk in fine pouder one dram and half Ambergrise in fine pouder half a dram Civet half a scruple mix all together and with syrup of the juyce of Male-peony flowers make an Electuary according to Art 10. Of this he took the quantity of a Chestnut every Morning fasting and every Night going to bed which was continued for near a quarter of a year together 11. Outwardly his Stomach Hypochonders and Back-bone from the Vertebrae of the Neck down to the Os Coccygis was anointed with this following Balsam Take Oyl of Nutmegs by expression four ounces Oyl of Amber Oyl of Rosemary Oyls of Rue of Sage and sweet Marjoram all Chimical of each half an ounce mix them well together and anoint as aforesaid 12. His Head was shaved and bathed all over with the Powers of Amber Morning and Night over which was put this following Emplaster Take Rosin per Rosin Venice Turpentine of each four ounces Oyl of nutmegs by expression three ounces sheeps Suet ship Pitch of each one ounce Oyl of Amber two ounces and half Wax a sufficient quantity melt mix and make an Emplaster which apply over the whole Head after bathing as aforesaid 13. By the constant use of these Medicaments our Patient in the space of ten Weeks was perfectly Cured but he continued the use of the Medicines for some time after Observations from other AVTHORS XXI A Falling-sickness in a Child 1. A Boy three years old had a fit of the Falling-sickness from which he was freed with the Smoak of Tobacco 2. It was done by a Servant drawing it out of a Pipe and blowing it into the Mouth of the Boy being open the Child fell a Vomiting and the fit ceased Riverius Cent. 2. Observ 160. XXII The Falling-sickness in a young Maiden 1. I have often experienced and can testify the same by many Witnesses that Peony gathered under its proper Constellation viz. when the Moon is descendant in the sign Aries does remove the Falling-sickness only by external application 2. And I caused a certain Virgin of eighteen years of Age who had been troubled with this Disease from her Child-hood and dayly fits being in the Hospital to wear it about her Neck and Arms after which she was perfectly cured 3. Hence it is apparent of what consequence Astrology is in the practice of Physick Riverius Cent. 4. Observ 387. XXIII The Falling-sickness accompanied with a Dead Palsy 1. A Girl named Katherine Bognole ten years old of a flegmatick Constitution broad well-set Body was afflicted five or six Months with the Falling-sickness by fits almost every day yea sometimes twice or thrice in a day which was attended with a privation of motion and sence in her right Arm. 2. This Girl being brought into our Hospital in the month of December 1643. in the first place I prescribed her a potion purging flegm with a Cephalick Decoction which after some days was repeated and she used between whiles Preparatives and specifick Medicaments but without success 3. At length I gave her about two drams of Montagnana his Opiate four or five days together which being over she began to move her Fingers and soon after her whole Arm she was not so frequently taken with Fits of the Falling-sickness afterwards 4. So that within twenty days taking every Morning of the foresaid Opiate she was perfectly cured of both Diseases 5. The Opiate was made as followeth Take Roots of Male-peony Staechas Costus of each ten drams Agarick five ounces Pellitory of Spain Carraway-seeds Anniseed Assa faetida and Aristolochia Rotunda of each two drams and a half juyce of Squils and choice Honey of each one pound and two ounces let the juyce of squils and Honey boyl together over a gentle fire unto a good consistence then add the Pouders and make then all into an Electuary Let the Dose be two drams every Morning three hours before Meat Riverius Cent. 4. Obs 395. XXIV A Falling-sickness proceeding from the Mother 1. The Wife of Mr. Polemarchus de Sumenes was divers years together vexed with many Symtoms of the Mother which had a resemblance of the Falling-sickness 2. She tryed many Medicines prescribed by able Physicians but all in vain 3. At last by advice of a Woman she took the flesh of a Wolf brought into Pouder wearing a piece of the same flesh salted continually
Veins either with the juyce of Mercury-leaves or of Figs or with a Suppository of Hiera simple with the root of round Birthwort but so as that an emollient Fomentation be premised 13. Or if they cannot be opened enough or will not run it will be good to open the Vena Saphena in the left Foot and to let him Bleed as his strength will bear 14. While you apply these Topicks to the Cure of his Thigh you may apply Topicks to his Head and in the first place Errhina which may draw Snivel out of his Brain then use Frictions of his Head with bags of discussing seeds Millet and Salt fryed 15. After which his Head being shorn to the Skin lay on a Plaster of roots of Florentine Orrice with Hermodactyles and Mustard-seed which being poudered must be made up with Melilot Plaster and a sufficient quantity of Turpentine And afterwards use a stronger if need require 16. And to the same purpose Cupping-glasses sometimes without sometimes with Scarification may be fastned to the hinder part of his Head and you must continue the use of these things with the foresaid Diet of Guajacum till both the inward and outward parts of the Body shall be cleansed from bad humors 17. Setons in the hinder part of his Head and Issues in the Coronal Suture have not that attractive faculty as was said before nor can they perform as experience teacheth that which the other remedies are able to do and many times they most sadly torment the Patients to no purpose 18. When the body and all its parts have been thus accomodated if yet any suspition of the Falling-sickness remains those Medicaments may oppertunely be applyed which are known by their whole substance and hidden properties to Cure the said Disease Ex Consiliis Fernelij XXVIII An Epilepsy easily cured 1. A Maid that had the Falling-sickness was Cured by taking Oxycratum a draught whereof she took every Morning and before her Fit she drank pure Vinegar 2. After the Disease was cured she was taken with pains in her Limbs which were removed by hot Baths Riverius Observ 601. XXIX The Falling-sickness in a young Girl 1. A Girl of twelve years old was frequently tormented with the Falling-sickness for the Cure whereof many Remedies were used but all in vain 2. She was taken also with a Pleurisy for which she was at divers times let Blood and from that time she was never afflicted with the Falling-sickness Riverius Observ 609. XXX The Falling-sickness coming every day 1. Experimented and approved by the Testimonies of many sick persons among whom I shall speak of the rest else-where was the Daughter of David Schon a Joyner and Citizen of Lauginga who being ten years old did for the space of three months fall every day into Epileptick fits 2. For towards Evening she did suddenly fall down being deprived of Sense and Motion but after a short space of time she came to her self and would rise of her own accord 3. I being desired by the Damsels Mother undertook the Cure of this grievious cruel and long Disease after this manner Having well purged her Head I gave her to drink five days together in the Morning fasting and at the coming of her Fits three drops of the Oyl of Lignum Heraclium by the use whereof to the wonder of all that knew her and the Glory of God she was perfectly freed from that long lasting and dayly afflicting Disease which for these many years hath never troubled her since 4. To God alone be the Honour and Glory who have Implanted in the said Oyl an hidden force and faculty to Cure the Falling-sickness Rulandus Cent. 2. Observ 6. XXXI The Falling-sickness in a Child half a year old 1. Experimented upon the Child of John Reschinger Chief Register in the Monastery of Medinga near Lauginga being half a year old who Night and Day was many times vexed with grievious Epileptick fits 2. It foamed at the Mouth trembled was frighted its Eyes were drawn awry c. 3. Being called I gave it being near a fit seven drops of the Oyl of Lignum Heraclium by which God be praised the fit abated the Infant came to its self and was perfectly cured and never after troubled with the like Disease but from that time many years afterwards it lived well and free Rulandus Cent. 3. Observ 61. XXXII The Fallâ—ng-sickness arising from Blood 1. Gordonius a most expert Physician in his Chapter of the Falling-sickness professes that this Disease is incurable for he ingeniously confesses That he never saw any one cured in all his Life I as many other Authors have done have seen many perfectly cured by Physick 2. A Gentle-woman of Quality twenty four years old strong and full of Blood is taken with a dangerous Epilepsy for violently turning of her Eyes and fiercely writhing of her Hands she was moved with so great and so reciprocal a motion of her whole Body and Head with the loss of her understanding and senses that you would have thought her to be possessed with Devils 3. I address my self to the Cure like Saint George to fight with the Dragon I pour Venice Treacle mixed with the sharpest Vinegar into her Mouth and Nostrils I prescribed sharp Clysters 4. I bound her Thighs so hard as to cause pain and I applyed Cupping-glasses to her Ribs I put strong Errhines into her Nostrils Lastly when the seventh fit had cruelly afflicted her for the space of twelve hours and I feared the Disease would turn to an Apoplexy when the fit was over I opened the Vena Cephalica so called which is in the Arm. 5. After this evacuation the eight fit came much more gently and she had her Senses a little which seeing I let her Blood again more plentifully in the Head Vein of the other Arm. Having used these Evacuations and her Belly being liberally purged by the use of biting Clysters she recovered this so grievious Malady Zacutus Lusitanus lib. 1. Observ 18. XXXIII A Falling-sickness cured by a Caustick 1. I have seen a wonderful Case A certain man had a trembling in the Thumb of his left Hand a long time together 2. This ceasing when the venomous Vapour was risen from his Thumb into his Brain he was frequently taken with this Disease by fits the Physicians devised several ways to Cure the same 3. At last with an actual Cautery after the manner of the Ancients applyed to his diseased Thumb he was cured for there issued abundance of crude humors from the Ulcer Zacutus Lusitanus lib. 1. Observ 19. XXXIV The Falling-sickness cured by syrup of Tobacco 1. Wonderful are those things which are related by Monardus Clusius and others diligent Writers of Spices concerning the admirable Virtue of Tobacco in the curing of cold Diseases but that is more wonderful which I have experimented concerning its Power to Cure this Disease 2. I have known diverse grown persons and of years to whom I have been given many
2. I gave him two doses of Emetick Wine each containing two ounces and a half then afterwards three drams of the following Pouder for six Morning doses in the time of the new Moon be taken in a convenient Vehicle 3. Take the roots of Male-peony Valerian Misleto of Hasle of each two ounce I was told that not long after by these he was perfectly cured Binningerus Cent. 4. Observ 49. CXXXVIII An Epilepsy in a Boy c. 1. A Boy for sixteen days together was every day taken with an Epilepsy most able Physicians believ'd that it was caused by the Motion of the Head but the more Medicines that were exhibited the more the Motion encreased so that in twenty four hours he had many fits though slight ones because there was a small commotion of the Head with foam about the Mouth 2. When they perceiv'd that the disease was not through the trouble of the Head but by consent from the Ventricle they desisted and forbore tormenting him with Medicines and gave him only Corroboratives so the Boy became perfectly well Trincavella Lib. 5. Cons 25. CXXXIX An Epilepsy in a Boy and in a Girl 1. A young man in a trance was taken with a violent Epilepsy his Face was red and swelled 2. The fit lasting to the third hour by my advice the Cephalica of the left Arm was open'd from whence the Blood broke out so violently that within some hours the whole might have been extracted 3. Immediately the fit left him and within three days space he was made whole without a relapse See Rhodius lib. 1. Observ 64. 4. A Girl about twelve years old was often taken with an Epilepsy 5. But being taken with a Pleurisy she was let Blood and from that time she was never taken with an Epilepsy See Riverius Centur. 4. Observ 38. CXL The Falling-sickness in a young Man 1. A young Man about five and twenty years of Age used to be taken for several months with the Falling-sickness 2. One of the Arteries of his Temples being let Blood by me we were in expectation that he would be well within four Months but he by drinking of Wine familiar to him brought the disease again upon him 3. A man aged forty three years was often used to be taken with Fits working from the Fingers end to the Forehead of which decease giving my advice because he was ruddy and a drinker of Wine I cut the Artery of his Forehead taking away from him above four ounces of Blood 4. But the Vein being open much Blood issued out by which accidental evacuation after many days he became well and appeared as free from his Distemper 5. A very Melancholy young-Man about ten or fifteen years old was taken with a violent Disease for the space of ten twenty or thirty days with a kind of Air or Vapour running from the inward part of the Arm to the upper parts but was much eased by opening the shining Veins in his Forehead Severinus Med. Eff. p. 46. CXLI Another young Man troubled with the Falling-sickness 1. A young man fifteen years old was Diseased about the privy parts afterwards when the violence of the pain fell into the left side his Spleen was immediately pained and so was his Brain which made him fall into the most violent fits of an Epilepsy when the Region of the Spleen was pained it siezed upon every Finger 2. Among many Medicines nothing was equevalent to Wine Chalibeated or Helleborated by the use of which he immediately cast up so much black Choller that at last he came to himself Tulpius Observ Lib. 1. Cap. 9. CXLII A Woman troubled with an Epilepsy 1. I observed in a Woman troubled with the Epilepsy strange shapes of Worms coming from Italy she most greedily and often drank of the Water she met with when she was thirsty 2. The Epilepsy was most violent with a swelling and black colour of the whole Body 3. Antepilepticks did her no good at length by the frequent use of my Mercurial Pills she avoided abundance of Worms of various colors as soon as they were cast out of the Body the Epileptick Fits ceased Bartholinus Hist 7. Cent. 4. CXLIII Of Epileptick persons c. 1. Commonly using the Oyl of Amber in Epilepticks Convulsives and persons subject to Vomiting who being full of filthy matter by the falling of a Catarrh into the Brest I observed them not only odious to the Sick but to all that were present being loathsom by reason of the ill savor of the matter cast forth whether they used anointing outwardly and Medicines inwardly Pills or any other thing 2. Now for some years I have used the Balsam Peruvianum with things most beneficial for the Sick I know Chymists now correct that and take away the ill savour thereof by using destillation after washing but I found the Medicament was much weakned with that washing and that it gave little relief afterwards 3. Wherefore I think it better to use the said Balsam or pure Syrian simple since we know how to destil the Oyl of Amber strong without any ill savour Heer Observat 17. CXLIV A remedy for the Epilepsy 1. The efficacy of the extracted spirit from Mans Skull is most certain for the Cure of an Epilepsy in a Child if five or six drops be given and more may be given to those more grown in years 2. So also the Volatile Salt which is found in the distillation of the same Liquor See Reusnerus Obs 154. in Epis Velschij SCHOLIA The THEORY of the EPILEPSY By the Author W. Salmon CXLV The Pathology of the Falling-sickness and first of the Notation thereof 1. The Names It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Epilepsia Morbus Comitalis Morbus Sacer Morbus Puerilis also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Morbus Herculeus and in English the Falling-sickness 2. The Definition The Falling-sickness is a convulsive Motion of the whole Body coming by Fits depriving the Sick both of Reason and Sense wherein the whole Body is contracted Galen calls an Epilepsy always a Convulsion but improperly For it is not a true Convulsion but a Convulsive Motion of the Body wherein both all the external and internal Senses are abolished 3. The Kinds or Differences First it is either Idiopathetick or Sympathetick if it be Idiopathetick the Cause is primarily in the Brain it self if it be sympathetick to wit by Consent it is either from the Stomach or other Viscera or in the extream parts secondly it is either Recent to wit but newly begun or Inveterate of long standing thirdly it is either mild or else strong and vehement fourthly it is either Periodical coming at a certain time or Irregular coming now and then at unawars fifthly it is either Accidental or Hereditary sixthly it is either in Infants or in people of years all which differences have some thing special in them in respect of the Cure the parts afflicted are primarily the Brain afterwards the original of
concluded That the middle of the Brain is always the primary Seat of the Epilepsy and that originally the morbifick Cause is stored up in that Region 30. But the Distemper growing inveterate it gradually spreads it self through the whole Brain enlarging its dominions after a wonderful manner scattering the Morbifick Matter every where up and down which subjects the whole much like Garrisons in Conquered Countries keeping the vassallated people under subjection 31. Its dominions being enlarged through the whole Head extends it self likewise to the nervous Appendix so that the semination of the Disease like lightning is diffused thorough the whole nervous Systeme but sometimes one Nerve is more affected than another whence Convulsions follow sometimes in one part somtimes in another 32. And if the nervous System be universally a like affected the Convulsion generally affects the whole Body 33. The Cause why Epilepticks fall down with violence is partly from the surprize and sudden coming of the fit whereby all their Reason and Sense is taken from them and partly from the Convulsion of the Nerves adjacent to the Head which being strongly contracted the whole Body is vehemently carried forth and falls violently 34. From these Contractions other parts become swelled and tumifyed as the Lungs maxillary Glandules both upper and lower out of which the Lymphatick Juyce being strongly pressed and squeesed forthwith the Spittle appears like foam at the Mouth CXLVIII The Prognosticks of an Epilepsy 1. The Epilepsy is a Disease hard to Cure if it be inveterate or of long continuance it is so much the more difficult and the Idiopathetick is harder to Cure than that which is by consent 2. That which is in Infants is of all the easiest to Cure and much more easy while it is Recent the Child having had but few fits 3. That which is Hereditary is never to be cured and antient Physicians were of the opinion that if it happened to people which were much in years that it was also incurable but experience has contradicted that 4. For we have known people above fifty years of age Cured but we confess it has been with great difficulty 5. In some persons it is cured without the help of Physick in whom siezing upon them young it has continued ten twelve or fourteen years but at their arriving at puberty or ripeness of age or in Virgins at the coming down of their Terms the Disease of its own accord has left the Patient 6. Though in this Case I am very apt to believe that there might be some congruous and benevolent Directions in Heaven of the principal Stars or principal Significators which might be adjuvant to the Native at that time 7. If all the Functions be abolished the Convulsion vehement and strong the Paroxysm of long continuance and Excrements flow forth of their own Accord the Cure will be exceeding difficult 8. If it comes from external Causes or evil Diet Surfeiting or Drunkenness the Convulsion mild and the fits not long the Disease will not be very difficult to Cure 9. Hippocrates says That an Epilepsy coming in Boys at fourteen years of age and in Girls before twelve is curable but after the age of twenty five it is incurable as appears by his Sect. 5. Aphor. 7. and of this opinion is Galen but the latter part of this Prognostick as we said before is not always true 10. A strong Epilepsy often kills the Patient in the fit or else turns into an Apoplexy by reason of the strength of the Symptoms whereby there is a great Concussion of the Brain and a profligation of the strength of the whole Body 11. Riverius tells us a strange kind of Story that somtimes the Concussion of the Brain will be so great in the fit that some pieces of the Bones called Processus Mamillares will come out of the Nostrils 12. If the Falling-sickness comes of Melancholy it commonly degenerates into Madness by which means the morbifick matter offends the very substance of the Brain it self whereby being corrupted it obfuscates or darkens the Animal Spirits whence comes a Melancholy Dottage 13. If the Epilepsy proceeds from a thick Lymphatick Juyce it for the most part degenerates into an Apoplexy or Palsey 14. If a Quartan Ague or a violent burning Feaver comes upon an Epilepsy it commonly Cures it because by the vehemency of the heat the Morbifick matter comes to be dissolved rarifyed and discussed 15. If the fits are often repeated and every time grow stronger and stronger the Animal Faculties will be quickly obliterated by reason of which the Vital Spirits come to be tainted from whence the Vital Functions comes by degrees to be profligated 16. And this seems to be by consent of the Nerves serving the Praecordia so that at length the whole Body languishing the Pulse being quell'd the Vital flame is not long after extinguished 17. The reason why this Disease often ends in a Palsy Madness or Melancholy is from the conformation of the Brain being depraved by the manifold and tumultuous rushings forth of the Animal Spirits whereby its natural state is so perverted that the morbifick Particles of another kind are admitted whereby the Animal Spirits are either fixed or become dull and sluggish being depressed by the Morbifick matter afflicting 18. If the Falling-sickness happens to Children and they be not freed from it about ripeness of age being overcome by a new and natural fermentation of the Blood the Disease will continue and 't is much if it be not incurable to Death CXLIX The Method of Curing the Epilepsy and first of the Cure of Infants 1. The Cure of the Falling-sickness in Children differs something from that in elder people for that in the latter strong Evacuations are commonly used which we cannot do in Children nor indeed is there that need and necessity because such a heap of morbifick matter cannot be supposed to be in them as is in those of elder years 2. The chief things we use to Children are Revulsives Discussives and Specificks 3. For Revulsion Blysters may be applyed to the nape of the Neck or behind the Ears or an Issue may be made behind the Ear whereby the Morbifick matter is plentifully drawn away or the Seton may be applyed to the nape of the Neck which may run for two three or four Months 4. Blystering Plasters also applyed to the soles of the Feet may be very profitable for by reason of the consent of parts they sometimes Cure to a miracle 5. Issues a so in the Arms and Legs are also approved of by many Learned and Experienced men if the Child be two or three years old Cupping-Glasses with Scarification may be applyed to the Shoulders Loins or both 6. I knew a Chyrurgian which lanced the Head and cut many deep flashes even to the Cranium whereby the Child bled extreamly after which he healed them forthwith up again upon which the Child recovered and had no more fits 7. If the Paroxysm be
Persons and in those especially where it is essential in the Head It begins to their apprehensions in the Ears with a great Noise and with a kind of Terror Fear Amazment and so descending to the Breast where it makes its usual Residence seizes the Arms all the extream Parts and immediately the whole Man wherein there seems to be a Suffocation or at least the sick is in great fear and dread thereof being so mightily oppressed with an extream Weight upon their Breast and Stomach which also holds fast the whole Body that they cannot breath or but with great difficulty and doubtless where this oppression is long it may be dangerous and from this cause it is that some dye suddenly in their Sleep and some go to bed and never arise or awake more which is caused from a too long compression of the animal Spirits and vital Spirits whereby at length there is a total Suffocation and from thence Death 3. In the time of the Paroxysm the sick endeavours to stir move and shake off his Burthen and to strive with vehemency but all in vain for when the Fit is off and the Man is come to himself he finds he is not moved a hairs breadth from the Posture in which he was first seised and yet he thought he strugled strongly with what opprest him and cryed out when indeed he never spake so much as one word but because of the great oppression about the Heart and Midriff and fear of Suffocation he commonly groans and thereby expresses the weight of his Affliction 4. In some Persons the Disease first seises them in their Hands and Arms and creeping up by degrees as before where it began in the Feet is suddenly seises the whole Body but making it residence upon the Thorax and Parts adjacent thereto it compresses all the Spirits endeavouring a Suffocation 5. Although the Disease in the Paroxysm so strongly seises the universal Man as to abolish all manner of external Motion yet it little hurts the Understanding and internal Senses nor the common Sense of Feeling for if any one being by do but touch or pull them though in the height of the Paroxysm the Patient immediately comes to himself and can perfectly remember and tell you all the Circumstances of his Affliction 6. As from the great oppression the sick groans so also are the inward Senses in many so disturbed as that they believe that it was a Spirit that held them Or that they are hag-ridden whence the Name or that some Witch or Devil somtimes in one Shape somtimes in another as of a Dog Cat Bear Lyon c. lies upon them and oppresses them and that they fight and and strive with them and will positively tell you and they also beleive it that they struck the Devil or Witch a notable Blow when indeed and in truth they never stirred their Hands or Arms as aforesaid an hair from their places 7. It differs from the Epilepsy in this for as that is always attended with convulsive Motions so this is always free from them being only accompanied with impotency of Motion as the Epilepsy is caused from a sharp matter stimulating the menings of the Brain so this is thought to be caused from some gross Vapours obstructing the Passages of the Brain It differs also from an Apoplexy in this for that Disease is accompanied with the abolition of all manner of Sense and Motion this only with an hurt of Motion the internal Senses still remaining though somtimes a little obfuscated or clouded XXIII The cause of the Incubus or Night-Mare 1. Fernelius and some others of his stamp will have the cause of the Incubus to be from thick flegm and Melancholy not in or afflicting the Brain but adhering to the Praecordia or compressing the Diaphragma and tumifying or extending the Lungs arising from Surfeiting Drunkenness Gluttony and crude or indigested humors filling those parts from whence gross vapours arising seise upon the fauces and Brain whereby is caused a suppression of the voice and a troubling obfuscating or clouding of the other senses whereby as in chains the Patient is held so fast that he cannot stir or move the least part about him 2. This I confess seems plausible at first sight if those passages out of the Stomach and other Viscera were plainly proved to be straight or immediate that so those affrighting exhalations might have a ready passage to the Cortex of the Brain but till these things are more plainly demonstrated by the Authors of this doctrine we desire a suspension of our assent thereto and that they would be pleased to answer us to these following Objections First whether Surfeiting Gluttony Drunkenness c. be the remote or proximate causes of this evil if the remote how comes it that upon the immediate prevarication the Patient is seised with a Paroxysm if the Proximate how is it that all persons or the greatest number of them abusings themselves in that kind are not forthwith taken with this Distemper for that we see the generallity of Man-kind thus prevaricating to be absolutly free therefrom yea though the most Debauched or Luxurious Secondly How comes it to pass that many time the most abstemious and selfdenying persons where those pretended causes can be no ways previous should after an extream manner be molested herewith and the most temperate persons be so afflicted as to be brought thereby into dispair or involved into some more dangerou Disease Thirdly Why every adherescencie to the Praecordia or compression of the Diaphragma should not cause the same thing and that in every person so afflicted but the contrary hereof is evidently manifest by quotidian Experience and that the persons so oppressed are for the most part taken with some other Disease Fourthly Why one should not rather be troubled with this Disease if the former doctrine be true after the eating of things windy and such things as are apt to generate vapours and exhalations as Onions Leeks Garlick Cresses Rocket Mustard c. than after the eating of things either insipid in their own nature Or which are of a constringing and binding quality being rather of a fixt than volatile property 3. But we are not singular in this judgment for the most learned Sennertus seems to discent somthing therefrom his words are these Et si verò quandoque istam Thoracis oppressionem hoc modo fieri posse non negamus tamen ea non est praecipua caussa nec semper á Cruditate Crapula verum etiam sine his alijs caussis fieri potest And he gives you the near or conjunct cause in these words Caussa proxima est obstructio meaturum Cerebri qui ad initium Spinalis medullae tendunt Spiritus animales organis Sensus ac motus deferunt à vapore crasso which doubtless is not far distant from truth 4. We affirm the Brain to be the principal part affected together with the Animal Spirits in the passages
great Bladders full of yellow matter he cut them off and they filled again a little after he found an Impediment when he began to speake in his pronunciation and he moved his Fingers and when he laid hold on any thing with his right Hand as his Pen to write it was weak And on the Thigh on the same side there was a Bladder full of yellow matter as before in his Face 2. All these Accidents ceased only his Speech was a little faltering which troubled him most because it was taken notice of when he preached 3. He desired my Counsel because he had used little Physick I prescribed these light but efficacious Remedies he drank this Wine made new because it was Vintage Take Ground-Pine dryed half an ounce Sage Worm-wood of each two drams Rosemary-Flowers Primroses of each a dram let them work in the Wine he drank often of it 4. And because he could not swallow Pills I ordered this Potion to purge him it is gentle least by working strongly it move the defluction and cause it anew as I have often observed it in the Palsy and Gout Take Rhubarb four scruples Mechoacan a dram and half Sena two drams infuse them in the aforesaid Wine of Ground-Pine strain and add Syrup of Roses solutive an ounce 5. He took a Bolus somtimes in the Morning of Ground-Pine and Sage boyled in Honey and preserved and drank after it a little Rosemary and Thym-Water 6. And used this Masticatory Take Cubebs a dram long Pepper half a dram Nutmegs a dram and half Mastick a dram Angelica seed half a dram Mustard-seed and Water-Crâ—sses of each a scruple Euphorbium three gâ—ains with Wax make a Masticatory to chew 7. He washed his Mouth often with Rosemary-Wine distilled and rubbed his Tongue with Mustard and washed it with Wine Platerus Observ Lib. 1. Pag. 135. XXXVI A Palsy and Convulsion 1. An eminent Physician of Frontinia was afflicted the foregoing Autumn with a very long lasting and double Tertian which continued to the beginning of Winter he was of a melancholy Complexion being forty years old he had fed in Lent upon bad Diet also had been troubled with grievous Passions of Mind 2. After Easter he began to be troubled with a Catarrh falling upon his left Shoulder-blade where he felt Pain a few days after he fell into a painful imminution of Motion and Sense in all Parts almost but especially in his Legs and Thighs 3. Moreover painful stretchings happened by Fits in the said Parts so that the Toes of his Feet were contracted and the Muscles near his Groins were streched like Cords 4. In his upper Parts especially his Arms he could stir himself more freely but in all Parts his Sense was obtuse and dull so that he affirmed he had little or no Feeling in his Nose and Face 5. He voided at his Mouth a thin humor which he said tasted sharp and harsh like Vitriol every day his Feaver was exasperated and during the exacerbation the tension of his Muscles his Fluxion and other Symptoms were encreased also his Breast was very much straitned so that he seemed to be stifled 6. At the beginning of this Malady he was twice let blood and twice purged and then went to the Balerucan Baths where he was four times put into the Bath for four days together and had his Head washed to no purpose 7. Being returned from the Bath he took my advice now I judged that this Disease of his proceeded from a wheyish humor flowing from his Brain into the Marrow of his Back and all the body of the Nerves and that the said wheyish humor was first gathered in his Hypochondria especially in the Meseraick Veins where a great quantity of melancholy humor was contained bred of foregoing causes 8. So that I conceived this Disease of his was an hypochondriacal affection whose Symptoms were that same Palsy and imperfect Convulsion bred of a wheyish humor shed into the aforesaid Parts 9. An Argument whereof was both the melancholick constitution of the Patient as also the flowing of such an humor from his Mouth in great quantity likewise the Feaver wherewith in a manner he was afflicted continually and as the Feaver encreased all the Symptoms encreased when as nevertheless a Palsy is wont to cure a Feaver proceeding from Flegm 10. Sennertus tells us That such Symptoms proceed from a melancholy humor treating of the Hypochondriacal Disease and of the Scurvy 11. This is no Palsy properly which is caused by the stoppage of the beginning of the Nerves but abusively so called being no total privation of Sense and Motion by stopping the influx of the animal Spirits through the Nerves but rather a deprivation of the sensitive motive Function because there is a painful Sense 12. I prescribed him an Apozem for many days together of temperate Aperitives purging him one day and altering another and applying an emollient and opening Fomentation to his Hypochondria a Liniment of the same faculty also blood-letting after the first Dose of the Apozem a Clyster being premised and a purging Medicament 13. He used for his Drink the infusion of Tamarisk-Bark Agrimony and Burnet 14. But the Blood which came from him appearing very full of bad Juyce he was let blood again He found no good by his other Medicaments but seemed to grow worse 15. When I visited him again being on the 24th of April I found him very weak with a continual slow Feaver which had nevertheless Paroxysms of a tertian Ague In which his Hypochondria were puffed up with wind by Fits especially his Spleen Somtimes also by reason of the said Wind his Midriff was so compressed that he would cry out he was choaked and stifled and having drunk a Cup of Water he belched twice or thice and was presently freed from the said Suffocation 16. A fatty substance did swim upon his Urine like Cobwebs and their sediments were of a mealy substance which kind of Urines are deadly according to Hyppocrates in the second of this Prognosticks 17. On his well day he did spit exceedingly and felt the humor trickle down between his Skull and Skin or the Muscles of his Face On the 29th of the same Month I visited him again being at the last cast his Pulse very small his spitting staid and his Breath stopt yet his Understanding was not hurt he dyed the next day following in the Morning Riverius Cent. 1. Observ 74. XXXVII A Bastard-Palsy 1. A vertuous Woman of Aix about fifty years old having suffered Abortion was at first troubled with a nummedness about her Belly which she easily perceived by putting her Hand upon her Belly 2. After the Abortion some Months she proved with Child and during the Course of her Impregnation the said nummedness seised also upon her Thighs and Legs and a far worse Symptom was added thereto viz an inability to stir them 3. After she was brought to bed many purging and sweating Medicines were used and many other heating and drying Remedies
Line-seed the roots of Althaea of each one ounce Ammoniacum Serapinum dissolved all Night in White-Wine of each half a dram Frankincense Mastick of each two drams Oyl of Foxes one ounce Wax half an ounce make a Cere-Cloth according to Art spread a small quantity of this Ointment upon Leather according to the largness of the wounded Member by which Remedy the Person found himself to be much better 3. We have given you several Examples of Persons that have been taken with the Palsy by this or the like Accidents Some by Bruises Blows and Wounds in the Head and Neck have fallen first into a light Apoplexy then into a Palsy the History of which and their proper Cures as also their Causes and Signs we have given you in their peculiar Places 4. We have likewise told you how difficult or rather incurable this Disease is which is most evident in old Men who are scarcely ever freed from it 5. If a Trembling and Feaver follow upon a Palsy and that also which comes from a Blow or Wound provided the Nerves be not too much bruised and torn it is possible that such a Palsy may be cured but on the contrary a Palsy that is occasioned by some signal Contusion or tearing asunder of the Nerves is really incurable 6. Avenzoar according to the Judgment of Galen says That if the Nerves which serve Respiration be wounded there is emâ—nent danger of sudden Death 7. If the resolved Member grow nothing less nor is weak nor corrupted there is some hopes of a Cure but on the contrary if it grows discernably feebler and smaller and the native Colour perishes it portends no good nor easy Cure to the Patient 8. In the Cure of a Palsy or the resolution of the Nerves from a Wound or any other extrinsical Cause the whole Body is to be purged or Blood is to taken or both is to done and the Humors which have their influx upon the resolved Part are to be diverted and strict Rules of Diet which have been above prescribed are to be followed 9. Proper Topicks should be also set against this mighty Disease outwardly diverse Remedies are to be applyed and made use of in a Palsy proceeding from a Wound such as Emplasters Cataplasms Ointments Fomentations Cupping-Glasses and the like 10 Guido did use this one Liquor very well described by Mesues in the Passions of the Heart with which the whole Back is anointed and it is this Take choice Myrrh Aloes Spikenard Sanguis Draconis Frankincense Mummia Opobalsamum Opopanax Bdellium Carpobalsamum Ammoniacum Sarcocolla Saffron Mastick Gum Arabick liquid Styrax of each two drams or two drams and half choice Labdanum Castoreum of each two drams and half Musk half a dram choice Turpentine the weight of them all pulverize those which are to be pulverized let them be all mixed with the Turpentine then put them into an Alembick which distil over a gentle Fire and receive for Vse the subtil Liquor 11. Guido de Cauliaco did add to this pretious Liquor Herbs proper for and dedicated to the Palsy and as he witnesses it did help more effectually Petrus Forestus Lib. 6. Observ Chirurg 20. C. A Palsy cured by Paracelsus 1. One saith he was troubled with the Palsy whom I cured only with the Essence of Wall-Flowers drawn with the Spirit of Wine 2. Note First it is to be supposed that this Essense was either a Tincture drawn from the dryed Herb with the best rectified Spirit of Wine such as will fire Gun-Pouder Or otherwise such an Essence as is made of the Juyce of the Herb with an addition of Spirit of Wine as we have taught in our Doron Medicum Lib. 1. Cap 15. Sect. 2. § 1. where you shall receive further Satisfaction Salmon 3. Note That as to the use of the Medicament it is possible that he might as well give it inwardly in any proper Vehicle good against the Palsy as apply it outwardly to the Part by Bathings and Fomentations Salmon 4. A compleat Palsy or benummedness and loss of Motion A Boy fifteen years old falling down a stone pair of Stairs had his Arm and Leg benummed and void of moving whose Neck with the hinder Part of the Head and all the Back-bone I anointed with this following Ointment 5. Take Fox Grease two ounces Oyl of Earth-Worms one ounce Oyl of Bricks half an ounce mix them together and anoint therewith It was accordingly done and in short space no Wound Swelling or Palsy appeared in him Paracelsus SCHOLIA The THEORY of a PARALYSIS or PALSY By the Author W. Salmon CI. The Pathology of the Palsy and first of the Notation thereof 1. The Names It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Paralysis Resolutio Nervorum and in English the Palsy Paralysis à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est resolvi dicitur for that the Nerves and the Muscles in whom also the Nerves are inserted are so resolved and weakned that they are wholly unfit to exercise the Motum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or voluntary Motion 2. The Definition Est videlicet Paralysis motus in Parte una vel pluribus abolitio nonnunquam Sensus simul aboletur ob Spirituum animalium ad motuum spontaneum necessariorum Defectum Sennertus Paralysis Resolutio Nervorum est ubi aut totum Corpus excepto Capite aut alterutrum Latus aut Corporis duntaxat aliqua Pars videlicet Pes Manus aut Lingua Motu ac Sensu simul aut Motu tantum privata est Joel Paralysis describitur nempe quod sit Partium nervosarum à debita tensitate Resolutio sive Relaxatio cujus ratione Motus Sensus nempe aut alter tantum simul uterque in toto Corpore vel in quibusdam Partibus debito more exerceri nequit Willis A Palsy is a loss of Sense and Motion in some Parts of the Body by reason of the stopping of the Conduits or Passages of the animal Spirits Riverius Among these Willis his Definition is the most ample viz. that it is namely the Palsy a Resolution or Relaxation of the nervous Parts from their natural or due Habit by which means Motion and Sense to wit either the one only or both together in the whole Body or in some Parts can not be exercised after their due Manner But Joel wil have it that if the whole Body together with the Head be affected it is not a Paralysis but an Apoplexy and indeed most Authors say That an Apoplexy is an universal Palsy of the whole Body 3. The Kinds or Differences It is either universal call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which the whole Body the Head excepted is affected Or particular called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which some Part or Parts are seised therewith 2. It is either on both Sides of the Body called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or on the one half or Side of the Body and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But some Authors use all these Terms
If the Palsy is in the Legs the Nerves affected are about the bottom of the spinal Marrrow and the Vertebrae of the Os Sacrum And thus we must seach out for the place whence the Nerves spring which are dispersed to those Parts which are afflicted with the Palsy 17. From these things it is apparent what Conjugations of Nerves are most afflicted and that in universal Palsies there is for the most part an affliction of the whole Genus Nervosum or nervous System which many time comes to pass from the effects of Poyson and the Contamination of the neurotick Juyce by the fuliginous Vapours of Arsenick Antimony and Quick-Silver 18. Galen relates a Story of a Man who in a cold stormy Time by wraping his wet Cloak about his Neck was taken with a Palsy in his Hand And of another who had a Palsy in three of his Fingers occasioned by a Fall from his Chariot upon his Back whence he concluded that some part of the Nerves of the seventh Vertebrae were hurt in their original to which place applying the means after he had in vain opplyed Medicines to the Fingers he compleated a Cure 19. The Signs of the Causes of a Paralysis are drawn from the primary Causes the Diseases aforegoing the Temperament and Habit of the Patient and therefore when external cold and moist Causes go before as also old age a pituitous habit of Body cold Weather cold and moist Diet or an Apoplexy has preceeded they are Signs of a paralytick Disposition nere at hand 20. Moreover a Catarrh long flowing and at length suddenly stopt without taking away the morbifick Matter is a sign of an approaching Palsy unless the matter of the Catarrh be suddenly conveyed some other way for otherwise it commonly falls upon some noble Part or diverts it lelf to the original of the Nerves in the Brain and of this Case we have had two or three singular Examples all incurable CIII Of the various Causes of a Paralysis or Palsy 1. The general Causes of a Palsy are all those which hinder the Passage of the animal Spirit into the Nerves and Muscles which by how many ways and by what Artifice those hinderances are done we shall in what follows more particularly declare 2. A Paralysis therefore happens when the animal Spirit does not sufficiently invigorate or actuate the Nerves and their Ramifications which is caused either by an Obstruction of the Passages by which they should flow to the respective Parts or from the imbecility and paucity of the said Spirits whereby either their activity is hurt or they are wanting so as that the Nerves can not be sufficiently repleat or filled up therewith 3. Hence the Variety of Palsies comes from great and universal Obstructions a compleat and perfect Palsy arises in which both Motion and Sense are both abolished and this comes not only from the substance of the matter obstructing but also from a malign Quality affecting even the Spirit it self this Obstruction of the Passages of the Spirits happens either in the first Sensory to wit the streaked Bodies or in or nere the medullar Trunks Or in the Nerves themselves to wit either in their beginnings or middle or ends viz in the very Fibres themselves 4. If the first Sensory or spinal Marrow is affected it either obstructs the whole Spine whence comes an universal Palsy below the original Obstuction Or one half thereof whence comes a Palsy only on one Side Or it obstructs the original of the Nerves of some particular Coâ—jugation or Pair either on one Side alone or on both at the same time whence a Palsy is caused in this or that particular Part or Member only 5. Now these Obstuctions are made either 1. by a forrein Matter impacted in them Or 2. by Constipation and Compression from matter abounding without them and that may be either from some particular Tumor offending in Magnitude whereby the Nerves are constipated or compressed Or from a large Flux of Humors out of the Vessels flowing upon and overpowering them Or 3. by solution of Unity by a Bruise or Wound Or 4. and lastly from the excess of heat and cold the Spirits being also in part wasted by the one and as it were congealed by the other 6. An Obstruction in the first or common Sensory or streaked Bodies causes either a general Palsy or a Palsy of one Side And this is the chief Reason why such-like Palsies follow upon an Apoplexy Lethargy or Carus for that in those Diseases the Conduits of the callous Body are at first affected from whence upon the passing off of those Diseases there is many times a Translation of the morbifick Matter into the marrowy Passages of one or more of the Corpora striata whence it is that the Afflux of the animal Spirit into the Genus Nervosum is hindered either in one or both Sides And here if the Obstructions be very great Sense and Motion both are abolished but if not the motive Faculty only suffers loss And if it be but a very small Obstuction the motive Faculty has only been deprived or diminished not taken away 7. But why Sense should not be hurt as well as Motion in every Palsy is manifest as aforesaid from the Magnitude of the Obstuction For if the Obstruction is truly so great as to deprive any Member or Part totally of the animal Spirit then Sense and Motion both cease for that they both are performed and invigorated by the same Nerves and Fibres within the same marrowy Passages But if the Obstruction is small then a small Portion of the animal Spirit is distributed so much as may manage the sensitive Faculty but the motive is hurt forasmuch as it can not be performed but by a larger Proportion or Measure of the said Spirit 8. Moreover a Palsy may be caused not only from the Obstructions of the Corpora striata but also from the Compression of the same by Blood extravasated within the inferiour Cavity of the Brain or a large quantity of Lympha or serous Matter lying upon the same and pressing them together by which means the medullary Conduits will be so straightned as to hinder the Afflux of the Spirit into the same 9. But somtimes the morbifick Cause affects the oblong or spinal Marrow though rarely by an Obstuction yet somtimes by Constipation and Compression and somtimes by a Solution of Continuity whereby a Palsy is excited Now Obstructions are not here so easy to be made for that the obstructing Matter in the Head does not easily fall beyond the Corpora striata but the poysonous Miasms may affect the Spirits and so cause a kind of Paralysis Hemiplegia a Numness or depraved Operation of the Part or Parts 10. But in either the oblong or spinal Marrow especially the latter a Palsy may be excited from a Compression or Solution of Continuity by a Bruise Apostume or Wound by means of which the Blood or serous Humor may flow within the Hollowness or
Chanel of the Spine so as to straiten the spinal Marrow and stop up the Passage of the Spirit And this may come to pass from a hurt of the Vertebrae by Distortion or Extremity of Cold in hard Weather by the latter of which a Congelation is somtimes bred from whence paralytick Diseases somtimes arise 11. And if any of these Accidents seise upon any of the greater Nerves or their Ramifications the same thing is caused for that which is bitterness in the Fountain will be bitterness in the Streams also 12. The Matter or Particles causing the Obstruction descending from the Cerebrum into the oblong Marrow falling upon the begining of the Nerves which spread themselves into some of the Muscles of the Face and by obstructing the Passages of the Spirit excite a Paralysis of the Tongue Eyes Eye-Lids Lips Jaws and other Parts From whence the contrary Muscles being contracted a Cramp or Convulsion is stirred up in the opposite Part. 13. The same Particles being carried forth into the spinal Marrow spreads it self somtimes into all its Conjugations or Pairs and somtimes into some particular Nerves of the same from whence a Palsy of all those Parts into which those Nerves or their Ramifications distribute themselves And in all those Parts whether in the Neck Hands Arms Legs or Feet where a Paralysis is caused from the Resolution of some particular Nerve or Nerves if all the Nerves of the same Part or Parts be not resolved but the opposite Nerves be free from the paralytick Affect there is always a Contraction of the same as in a particular Cure before-going we have observed 14. As the imbecility of the Animal Spirit often causes Paralytick Symptoms without any great Obstruction so that imbecility or impotency may be caused by an afflux of malign Particles from Narcotick stupefactive or poysonous Steams whether internal or external arising from Opium or Opiates the Deadly Night-shade Aconitum Mercury Antimony Bismuth Arsenick c. any of which if they kill not yet many times induce paleness weakness tremblings and a relaxation or resolution of the Nerves and musculous parts And the same may be caused from the fumes of Aqua fortis and Aqua regis unadvisedly taken up the Nostrils 15. Such like malign Particles as these whether proceeding from the aforesaid Fountains or from a scorbutick and cacochymick habit of Body passing through the brain and its medullar appendix seize upon the nervous Conduits and thereby not only contaminate the Animal Spirit but also the Neurotick juice whereby both the sense and the power of moving in a very short time comes to be obliterated These upon their first approaches only induce Paralytick Symptoms as stiffness or numbness and withal cause a weakness in the part but at length being plentifully cast into the Nerves and as it were tumultuating there they fix themselves up and down and so perfectly obstructing the passages of the Spirit cause an absolute and durable Palsy 16. Galen and many other Physicians his followers affirm a thick glutinous cold flegm to be the morbifick matter of a Paralysis but such alike substance is impossible to pass through the brain much less the Neurotick Cavities by reason of their exceeding smallness from whence it is manifest that the proeguminine proximate or conjunct cause of a Palsy is malign and very subtil Atoms or Particles which contaminating the Spirits whether in the Brain callous or streaked Bodies the oblong or spinal Marrow the original of the Nerves or their several and various ramifications do infallibly excite a Palsy and in those part or parts which have a sympathy consent or community with the parts first affected 17. But that such thick cold flegm or a watery humor in the Brain is not the cause of the Palsy is manifest for that these humors commonly find another vent to wit by the Nose Eyes and Pallat And where there is a Dropsy of the Brain in which the Brain saith Willis and the tops of either Marrow do as it were swim in Water yet are not such for that reason disposed to the Palsy unless the Water by its weight make a compression of the Marrow 18. The Procatartick remote or foregoing causes remain now to be enquired into and they are either Accidental or Habitual The Accidental are manifest as a Bruise Wound Luxation and extream heat or cold without any previous or habitual disposition of the Body besides which and the conjunct cause which is either a Compression or Solution of Unity there is no other 19. The Procatartick habitual cause is always a malign extraneous matter generated and heaped up together which being suffused into the Organs of sense and motion obstructs the marrowy of nervous passages and somtimes withal profligates the Spirit by mere contact or effects both together whence by reason of the cutting off of the Animal Spirit a Palsy is excited in the congruent parts 20. This cause depends upon a double antecedent cause viz. one more remote which is a disaffection of the Blood and Lymphatick juyce generated in themselves or taken from the Stomach Intestines and Mesentery which conveys to the Head a morbifick matter the other more near which is a brain of evil disposition or conformation being either too weak or too loose and resolved or otherwise of evil conformation whereby it easily admits of forreign heterogene and malign Particles 21. The morbifick matter being brought to the Brain induces a Paralysis either primarily for that those heterogene and malign Particles are chiefly disposed for the exciting or stirring up a Palsy And with all that they are conveyed gradually and in small proportion for otherwise should there be a great afflux together they would first cause an Apoplexy or Carus or excite Convulsions the Cholick Gout or Scorbute and then at length a Palsy Or Secondarily which is most common after some of the aforenamed Diseases a slow and long Feaver immoderate Grief a Consumption Atrophy or Wasting and some other Distempers for the most part Chronical wherein the natural and vital Faculties being thereby very much hurt and the strength at length worn out enervations and resolutions of the whole Body or of some Members often-times succeeds 22. A Palsy for most part follows after long and continued Convulsions or convulsive Motions as Epilepsies for that the Nerves and Muscles in several Members are mightily debilitated so that the motive Faculty is as it were only through infinite weakness abolished the sick becoming first Lame then wholly helpless for that the morbifick matter being continually thrust into the passages of the Cerebrum and its medullar and nervous Appendix does at length so weaken and dilate them that it gives a free course to those malign and heterogene Particles by which the Palsy is certainly induced 23. So also after a frequent and long Cholick which cruelly tormenting and returning by intervals causes other cruel and almost continual pains in the other Viscera of the Abdomen from whence through the
purchased to my self great Applause which was performed as follows 4. I advised the same Evening I came to him to wash his Feet before Sleep with the Decoction of Camomil Marjoram Origanum Sage and Roses the middle Vein was opened and the Superficies of the Blood was covered with a thick and mucilaginous Flegm and from that time he did no more complain of the Catarrh which accompanied this Disease 5. Now to draw away the pituitous humors from the Brain these following Pills were exhibited Extractum Pil. Cochia Pil. Aureae Pil. sine quibus Crollius his Panchimagog Extract 6. Far more special Emundatories of the Brain first a Masticatory is to be used as that of Agarick and Mastich with Pyrethrum Nutmegs Cubebs 7. A Gargarism was next of the Decoction of Hysop Carthamus-seeds Agarick with Oxymel 8. Pills for driving the mucilaginous Matter from the Brain were of the natural Balsam Aloes Gum Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar of Squills made up with the Salt of Wormwood and Magistry of Pearl by the use of which he found much good Thonerus Lib. 2. Observ 1. XXXVII An Apoplexy ending in a Palsy of the right Side with a Convulsion of the Mouth 1. A Man of a melancholy disposition was taken with an Apoplexy which ended in a Palsy of the right Side Arm and Foot having Sense without Motion accompanied with a Convulsion of the Mouth and stammering of the Tongue 2. The Original of the Nerves residing in the Basis of the Brain were obstructed and irrigated with flegmatick humors which afterwards flowing down from the hinder Cavities of the Brain by the Vertebrae of the right Side and conveying themselves into the substance of the Nerves deprived the above mentioned Members of Motion and intercepts the passage of the animal Spirits 3. Now for exterminating these wheyish and flegmatick humors adhering to the Brain and Nerves I prescribed Hydromel laxativum 4. Take Elecampane Fennel Cloves of each two drams Hysop Betony Carduus Benedictus Bawm Rosemary flowers Sage-Gout-Ivy of each one pugil the leaves of Sena one ounce Agarick newly trochiscated three drams white Gum of Turbith two drams Hermodactils one dram and half Galangal one dram Aniseed two scruples and half with a sufficient quantity of Sugar for two quarts make Hydromel 5. Every other day a quarter of a pint more or less may be taken according to Age and Strength these following Pills were next prescribed 6. Take Extractum Pil. Cochiae one scruple ex Panchymagoga Crolii Pil. Aureae of each half a scruple with Sage-Water make fifteen Pills 7. The Reliques of the Matter in the Genus Nervosum may be resolved and discussed by Sweat Take Ambros's Decoction four ounces generous Wine two ounces mix them 8. Having taken this Sudorifick every Morning within 12 days he was perfectly recovered 9. The Anhaltine Cephalick Spirit in Broth is good for comforting the Brain as also the following things 10. Take Treacle Water Aqua Cephalica Mirabilis Langii of each half an ounce Aqua Antepileptica Langii one ounce Confectio Alkermes a dram or in place thereof Confectio Diambrae one dram mix them 11. Or Take the Species Diambrae one dram the Juyce of Alkermes one scruple the Oyl of Amber rectified four drops dropt into Sugar two ounces and half dissolve them in black Cherry-Water mix and make Lozenges or Rowls Thonerus Lib. 2. Observ 3. XXXVIII Preservatives from an approaching Apoplexy 1. A certain Woman about the age of fifty being sensible of a cold in the Brain in the Winter and being over and above afflicted with a Catarrh did fear a Fit of the Apoplexy 2. Corroboratives being desired were given her which are as follows Take Conserves of Rosemary-flowers Bawm of each six drams Marjoram half an ounce confected Nutmegs two drams Confectio Alkermes one dram mix them 3. Morning and Evening the following are to be used Take the flowers of Marjoram one handful Rosemary-flowers Sage of each half an handful Arabian Stoechas one pugil Nutmeg one dram Cloves Mastich of each half a dram Styrax Calamitae wood of Aloes of each one scruple with a little Cotton and Silk make a round Cap She said she found great good thereof Thonerus Lib. 2. Observ 6. XXXIX Of the Apoplexy Stupefaction and Palsy of the Tongue 1. John Vogel one of the Aldermen of Langinga being eight and forty years old having for a long time the Head-ach accompanied with a heaviness and weariness of the Body was at last suddenly taken with an Apoplexy For he suddenly fell down lay senseless as a Block without speaking or stirring though called upon by his Name pinched and pricked he could not hear nor perceive nor answer nor feel any thing 2. While he lay in this wretched Condition I was sent for and calling upon God for assistance I understook the Cure of this formidable and acute Disease which was managed after this manner 5. I took of my sneefing Pouder the quantity of a Pease which I blew with a Quill into either Nostril at Morning Noon and Night with which he sneezed very strongly And his Brain was very well purged so that in the space of one day he recovered both Sense and Motion For he could see and knew the By-standers he could hear them speak and beckoned by way of answer but he could not as yet speak 4 In the mean while that I used the sneezing Pouder his Sneezings being over I put up Oyl of Amber with a Feather into his Nostrils which did exceedingly comfort his Brain 5. After I had used these two Remedies aforesaid I gave him half a spoonful of the Oyl of Lignum Heraclium by degrees which with the use of other Remedies did much advance the Cure 6. Having now by these three Remedies through Gods Blessing perfectly recovered his Sense and Motion so much as that he was able both to eat and drink and to walk freely and easily up and down yet the Palsy and the loosness of his Tongue continued near upon two days so that what he could not utter by Words he wrote with Chalk upon a Board 7. In order to restore him to the Motion of his Tongue I drew plenty of Blood for his Veins were very full out of the Cephalick Veins of both Arms. 8. The day following I purged his Head and whole Body with this Purge Take Extract of Esula one dram Fountain-Water five ounces mix strain and let him drink it cold This wrought to purpose 9. While I used these things against the Palsy of his Tongue I ordered once every hour to smear his Tongue all over with the aforesaid Oyl of Lignum Heraclium and by these proper Remedies in the space of a day and a night beyond all Peoples expectation he began to speak articulately and distinctly and he that was before dumb began all of a sudden to speak well through the great Goodness of God Rulandus Cent. 2. Observ 6. XL. An Apoplexy from Worms 1. There was a Man who was
Causes and of the hope of Cure which we shall consider in the Pathology of each Disease in particular Next of the Therapia or particular method of Curing which Let this Scholia containing l m n o p q be placed immediately after K. and Page 36. in each particular place also shall be at large declared 8. But before we attempt this we are to consider that both Bodies of Mankind as also Medicaments are for the most part hot or cold viz. hot and moist or hot and dry which Physicians call a sulphurious saline Habit or cold and moist or cold and dry which they call a saline sulphurious Habit according to which Habits proper Medicaments are to be destinated 9 However the principles of Physick as they relate to Mans Body or to Medicaments are necessary to be known or at least wise in what Sense Naturalists and Chymists apprehend them In Man there is a Body a Spirit and a Soul these united make the compleat Man these in their Natural State free from disorders perturbations or irregularities renders him in perfect Health If they never so little vary from their Natural State it is in order to Diseases and a final dissolution of the Compositum 10. But whereas we speak here of Body Spirit and Soul we intend a Body Spiritual although we call it Natural But we understand it Spiritual only in opposition to the primary external appearance or outward form as for example in a vegetable suppose Rosemary in its primary external form the Body consists of Stalks Leaves and Flowers but when by the ART of the Chymist an Extraction is made you have a pure subtle and volatile Oyl wherein its Energy Virtue and Power answers to the Life and Soul of Man its Volatility Flame and Oleosity to the Spirit and its material Substance to the Body viz. that Body which we call Natural in opposition to a thing truly Spiritual although it is indeed a Spiritual Body in its kind in respect to its first Earthy or natural form or appearance this Conjunction of Principles in Maâ— is that which Philosophers call the Archaeus the Archaeus of Nature or the Archaeus in Man 11. Now as to the Principles of Medicaments Here Philosophers much vary some as Doctor Willis make five Principles viz. Salt Sulphur Mercury Water and Earth but these five we have proved in our Pharmacopaeia Londinensis lib. 6. cap. 1. to be only three viz. Salt Sulphur and Mercury excluding his Flegm and Caput Mortuum Others as Paracelsus Crollius make but three as indeed they are and these three we make but one as the Body Spirit and Soul in Man make but one Archaeus so the Salt Sulphur and Mercury of all mixt Bodies make but one only true Principle which for distinction sake we in like manner call Potestates or the Powers 12. In proof whereof we say this That we deny not but that as to the outward appearance a Chymist may Extract a Salt in form of Salt a Sulphur in form of Oyl and a Mercury in form of Spirit to which he may give the Names aforesaid but these Names rather respect their form of appearances than the true Nature For he must necessarily grant me that in all Salts as there is a Body so there is an Oleaginous Property which is Sulphur and an Energetick Virtue which is the Mercury or Spirit unless they will deny any Virtue or Power in the said Salt at all So likewise in the Sulphur or Oyl who so Blind as cannot see or feel a Body there which Body by their own Concessions Answers to their first Principle of Salt its oleaginous and flamy property argues their second Principle or Sulphur and its subtilty volatility and penetrating quality argues the third Principle which is Mercury or Spirit Again in the Mercury or Spirit there is no less a Body seen than in the Salt and Oyl which Body demonstrates their first Principle as aforesaid viz. Salt Its Inflamility demonstrates their Sulphur or second Principle and its Energetick or penetrative Power and Force makes manifest their third Principle which is Mercury or Spirit 13. Hence it appears That the Principles of all things are really but one though subsisting under three several forms and Subsistences For Salt is only the Body Spirit and Soul Concentrated the Sulphur is the Salt Spirit and Oyl embodied in a more subtle appearance and the Mercury is the Salt Oyl and Spirit expanded or dilated as may be said to an Infinity 14. So that it is manifest that those three are but one though some may object that they are three different Principles from the Nature of their Operation mistaking the way and manner how they exert their Powers and Forces which is not from the different Nature of the things or Principles so called but from their manifestation or manner of subsistance and appearance this is apparent in an Iron Tool if it be sharp with a Point it only Pricks if it has a sharp Edge then it Cuts but if it has neither Point nor Edge it only Bruises and yet notwithstanding the substance is but one though the forms or appearances be many from whence follows their particular way or manner of action 15. Thus much as to Principles which is what we understand of them and how we would have the Physician understand us through all this following Work viz. What we mean by the Archaeus and what we mean by Potestates or Powers through which the Energy of Medicaments are conveyed in order to the Healing of the Diseases incident to Mankind 16. The Pathology of Diseases we shall explicate under a six-fold Consideration viz. The Name Definition Kinds Signs Causes and Prognosticks of the same afterwards the Therapia shewing the various Ways and Methods of Cure first general according to the three-fold acceptation of Diseases secondly particularly in respect of the various Causes producing 17. This as the Preamble to what we intend We shall now come to shew the Order in which every Disease shall be handled First Diseases of the Head Secondly Diseases of the Thorax or Breast Thirdly Diseases of the Abdomen or Belly Fourthly Feavers Fifthly Diseases of the extream parts viz. Tumours Wounds Ulcers Fractures and Dislocations 18. Diseases of the Head are either first In the Menings secondly In the substance of Brain thirdly In the Cavities of the Brain fourthly in the Cutaneous Teguments of the Head fifthly In the Parts of the Head as Eyes Ears Nose Mouth Palate c. 19. Diseases in the Menings of the Brain are chiefly the Chephalalgia the Cephalaea or old Head-ach the Megrim or half Head-ach Diseases in the Cavities of the Brain are chiefly a Vertigo Catarrh Epilepsia Apoplexia Palsy Convulsion Trembling Incubus c. Diseases in the Substance of the Brain are the Phrensy Melancholy Madness loss or hurt of Memory sleepy Diseases c. Diseases in the Skin or Covering of the Head are the Alopecia Ophiasis Baldness Lousiness Scald-head Wounds of the
things which cause a Plethory and a Vertigo viz. all vehement commotions of the Mind great Anger afflicting Phansies and Melancholy Imaginations cold Air Winds as also gross and thick Air with a cold do afflict the Head and Nerves 7. Those who are afraid of Diseases in the Nerves they would do well to be advised to keep carefully the Head Neck Feet and Stomach from Colds and that they would not suddenly strip themselves in the cold Air after they come out of a hot place or when they begin to sweat and that they would beware of the Beams of the Moon and the Sun because they fill the head with Vapours and breed both a Vertigo and Catarrh 8. Secondly But if the Vapours and the Repletion of the Head be increas'd you may use the Pills above-prescrib'd the number of which you may increase or diminish as you see occasion 9. By the pouder of Nigella you may draw out some part through the Nostrills and the water of Marjoram may be taken to drive out the pouder which you may take twice into the Nostrills before meat and thereby cleanse them If your pouder be too strong you may make use of the water only 10. Take Roman Nigella infused in Vinegar a day and a night furthermore being dried let him take a dram and an half of the pouder the Waters of Marjoram and of the Elder of each one ounce and mix them 11. Thirdly To dissipate Vapors Let the head be washed in the morning with herbs afterwards mentioned put into the Lye of Ashes the head being afterwards dryed with warm cloths Take the leaves of Stoechas of Lavender Anthos of each one pugil and a half Indian spicknard one dram roots of Asarabacca three drams the leaves of Sena two drams Agarick one dram Betony and vervain of each an handful and an half Marjoram one pugil let them be bruised and put into a Lixivium and boiled as aforesaid 12. And this odoriferous Pomander which follows will be very usefull if the Smell morning and evening be taken up the Nostrills for that Odor dries and dissipates the Vapors and strengthens the head Take pure Labdanum two scruples Gallia Moschata one Scruple Lignum Aloes Storax Calamita of each half a scruple Mastich Olibanum Gum of Juniper bitter Costus of each five grains Ambergr se Musk of each one grain Let them all be subtilly pouder'd and with the Muscilage of Tragacanth extracted with Marjoram water make Pomanders 13. The Confection following is very Excellent for strengthning both head and stomach which may be used with the rest but every morning take the Quantity of a Walnut it is pleasant and effectual and preserves the head and Stomach from many Diseases and it is this Take Cheb Myrobalans condited of each five drams green Ginger preserv'd Calamus Aromaticus condited Citron peels confected of each half an Ounce Orange-Peels candied three drams Eringo condited five Drams Indian Nutmegs preserv'd two drams Roots of Bugloss condited Cichory condited of each half an ounce Conserves of Rosemary-flowers Peony-flowers Bawm of each two drams Powder of Ey-bright one dram Cinnamon in gross pouder one Scruple as also Mace in gross pouder half a dram mix them all together and make a Confect 14. Lastly This pouder will be very useful if you be much troubled with the Vertigo Take Pouder of Ey-bright with the flowers half an Ounce Mace steep'd in Vinegar one dram Coriander prepared four Scruple Betony one scruple Cubebs half a Scruple Sugar Candy six drams and mix them Of this let a dram be taken in the morning either by it self or with the crums of Bread or in a rear Egg or in boyled Ale Also Fennel-seed cover'd over with sugar and chew'd in the Morning is good for it dissipates the Vapors and preserves from the Vertigo and clears the sight 15. But if there be any Indications or Symptoms of an Apoplexy this following powder will be very good Take of white Amber prepared two drams of the Roots of Peony species Diarrhodon abbatis of each half an ounce and mix them And then take one dram every month the day after the new Moon with a little Cinnamon-water or the Spirit of Wine Whosoever shall continue the use of this Remedy at the time appointed they may have their Bodies delivered from the Apoplexy and many other Symptoms Consil Medic. Scholzij Obs 113. ex Casp Hofmanno XXXVII A Vertigo Scorbutical and fainting of the Spirits 1. The Vertigo often comes upon an Inveterate Scurvy to which is wont to be added a fainting or assiduous sinking of the Spirits and almost a continual fear or dread of it Also a Stupor or stiffness in the Members with the sense of a pricking here and there running about them 2. These kinds of Distempers proceed from the sinking of the Animal Spirits in the Original Fountain and sometimes of them which are contained in the Nerves both the Cardiack and those serving for the Moving of the parts and when they fail in the Brain and nervous stock being much surrounded with a Scorbutick Salt they are not easily cured 3. Cephalick Remedies such as are convenient in the Vertigo and Paralytick Disaffections excited by themselves are to be administred with Antiscorbuticks mix'd therewith first therefore fit Catharticks being exhibited as such as are convenient in the Scurvy you may proceed with Specifick Remedies against the said Vertigo after this manner 4. In the beginning of the Cure open the hemorrhoidal Veins in the Fundament by Leeches and unless any thing gainsay Let it be several times repeated Then take of the Pouder of male Peony-roots four drams Red Coral levigated two drams Man's skull Elks-claws prepared of each one dram mix them Dose from half a dram to a dram 5. Take of the best Sugar in Aqua Peoniae compound or in water of wild Radish and boyled up to a Consistency eight ounces of the best rectified Oyl of Amber half an ounce make thereof Tablets and take of them from one dram and half to two drams morning and evening drinking after it a draught of the following distilled water 6. Take Scurvy-grass brook-lime Garden-cresses Lillies of the Valley Sage Rosemary Betony of each three handfuls green Wall-nuts four pounds Rinds of Oranges number six Limon peels number 4. fresh roots of Male-Peony half a pound being bruised and cut put to them the flegm of Vitriol one pound Whey made with Cider five pounds distill them after the common way to dryness letting the whole water be mixt together The Dose from three ounces to four five or six Willis de Scorbut cap. 9. XXXVIII A Vertigo Scorbutical in the highest degree 1. A man about 40 years of Age of a Melancholy habit afflicted for many years with the Scurvy was often sensible of divers and manifold Symptoms thereof at various seasons of the year 2. There was seen about his thighs large black spots and marks as if proceeding of strokes pains of the Belly with a loosness often afflicting
and Nervous stock 13. For truly it may be plainly collected That the Cause of the Distemper lay hid in the Head it self by the Symptoms preceeding the Fit which did Demonstrate a very great agitation of the Spirits within the Head 14. The Inflation of the Brain and heavy swimmings which came just as the Fit was coming on him and the turnings of the Eyes did manifestly denote that heterogeneous and explosive particles did adhere to the Spirits dwelling within the Encephalon near to the beginning of the Nerves 15. So that this Case comes near to the nature of the Epilepsy excepting that the Spirits within the middle of the Brain did not admit an Heterogeneous Copula nor being explosed in another place did they outragiously break forth there for during the fit the sick person was still in his Senses or had the use of his Memory 16. But the Morbifick matter being more abundantly laid up in the Head from whence it descended into the Pipes both of the exterior and interior Nerves it had placed mines of explosive Seeds very diffusive into the Viscera both of the lower and middle Belly and also in the exterior Members 17. So that when the Animal Spirits began to be explosed near the beginnings of the Nerves presently from thence others inhabiting the Mesenterick enfoldings and then others in the other nervous enfoldings interjected from the utmost bound even to the Head being explosed in order did even continue the Convulsions from one part to another until they came to the Head it self 18. But presently being translated from thence to the spirits dwelling in the Spinal Marrow and appending Nerves the most strong Convulsions of the Muscies and Members of the whole body followed that ascent of the 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 when we come to Discourse of Hysterick Passions 19. If it be asked for what reason that the Convulsive Paroxism 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 Disease being there fully raised upwards for it is so for the most part whether the entrance of the Disease begins in the bottom of the Belly or about the middle of the Abdomen the Hypocondria or Praecordia for that the Convulsion is wont to creep by degrees from those places towards the Head 20. I say for the Solution of this these two Considerations are offered viz. in the first place we consider that when some whole series of Spirits are disturbed those who reside in the extreamest bounds are first destituted of their original Influence wherefore they before others grow outragious and 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 numbness with a sence of pricking or tingling is first felt in the Fingers or Toes from whence by degrees it creeps upwards to the part affected 21. Secondly The other is which is the cause rather of this Distemper viz. That the Spirits being ready for explosions when they are contained within the Nervous Pipes one or more as so many little distinct Tubes they require a sufficient ample space in which they may be able very much and indeed successively to be rarified 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 Encephalon for that cause they stir up the Vertigo 22. The more open explosions 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 open foldings or terminated in more Fibres largely dispersed abroad 23. Then those Spirits being explosed there is room made presently for others succeeding in order wherby in like manner they may be explosed 24. Hence we may observe whilst the exterior Spirits are explosed if a ligature or hard compression being made the succession of others into the same space or their progress towards the exterior parts be intercepted the Convulsion is wont to be hindred that it cannot ascend upwards 25. Wherefore when a Numbness being arisen from the farthest end of the Finger or Toe creeps to the superior parts with a tingling or with a cold Air and at length reaching the Brain causeth most horrid Convulsions if after the motion is begun the Arm or Thigh be strongly tyed the Spasm or Convulsions not being able to get over the bound place is hindred from coming to the Head 26. Yea it is usual for Hysterical Women as soon as the swelling in the Belly or the ascent of the bulk in the Abdomen is first perceived to gird strongly their Wasts with swathing bands and so oftentimes they prevent the Precordia and Region of the Brain from being disturbed by that same Convulsive Fit 27. But that the Blood let out in the midst of the Fit was soon congealed it falls out ordinarily so in Convulsive and Apoplectical Diseases as the most famous Heighmore has observed out of Hendochius 28. But that some from hence argue That Convulsions depend on the thickness of the Blood and stagnation its motion being impeded cannot be allowed because the blood drawn from those that are obnoxious to Convulsions a little before the Fit is dilated with Serum and fluid enough 29. Wherefore we may judiciously think That the Congelation is caused by the Paroxism it self because in Convulsive motions and immoderate contractions of the Nerves and Viscera the inter-flowing blood by the exhalations of its Spirits and Serum is somewhat losened in its mixtion and therefore in some sort coagulated not unlike Milk which by reason of too much agitation and separation of the parts one from another grows into Butter wherefore this kind of Coagulation of the blood seems rather to be the Effect than the Cause of the Convulsions 30. In order to the Cure of this Distemper That Learned Man makes the first Indication to be to draw away the matter enkindling the Disease viz. that the blood might no affix its Heterogeneous particles either begot in it self or received from other parts as the Viscera on the Head or Brain for this purpose Evacuations are first to be performed 31. Vomits for the most part bring help here such are the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum Salt of Vitriol Vinum sciliticum which may be given at first then almost the next day a quantity of Blood may be taken away 32. After which you may give this following gentle Cephalick Purge Take Pil. de succino Cratonis or Pil. Tartari Bontij two Drams
mistakes in Meat especially troubles of Mind Cares and Drinking of Wine being also born of Parents who were troubled with Catarrhs was taken with a distillation from the Head into the whole right side of his Body with a certain unmoveableness of the Tongue the Arm and Leg of the same side 2. All these Accidents were Cured by convenient Medicines only a certain heaviness sence of weight in the Arm and Leg of the same side remain'd hindering him that he was not able to go through with his usual Dutys 3. Besides he complained of a certain impediment of the Head insomuch that when he cast his Eyes up or down to the right or to the left and placed his Head again in its natural position he remain'd as if he had been stupid and in a swound yea and would stagger sometimes 4. For the remedy of which although he had Cauteries or Issues upon the hinder part of his Head and his right Arm yet no remedy redounded from thence and sometimes also in Vain he used the Bath waters 5. Prevotius with fortunate success advised him to take Physical Wines to use Turpentine with the Oyl of Castoreum the Decoction of Box-tree China viscus quercinus Mastich-Wood with Sage and Chamepytis besides Treacle with Sugar of Roses 6. And for outward Medicines he applyed Goose-grease with she pure Spirit or Oyl of Rosemary upon Scarlet Cloth to the nape of the Neck Velchius Obs 14. CXXXVI A Catarrh with a Cough 1. A Catarrh and a greivous Cough happen'd to a Gentleman about the twenty fifth year of his Age what he brought up he evacuated with vehemency so that nothing remain'd within him it kept him four years 2. Hellebor did not agree with him but a moderate Dyet to make lean his Body to eat Bread abstain from Bitter Salt and Fat things from the juyce of Silphium or Benjamin from all raw Herbs and to walk much took no Milk but drunk pure Oyl of Sesamus mixt with pleasant Wine 3. Hence it is manifest that the Catarrh proceeded not so much from the multitude of Excrements in the whole Body or in the Brain either as from the intemperature of the Brain it self so that the Excrements caused not the Intemperature so much as the Intemperature the Excrements 4. For if the Excrements had been the first cause of the Distemper purging would have been medicinal but because the first original was Intemperature and an intemperate Brain from which the very food which he took unadvisedly contracted the matter of the distillation Hellebor was not advantagious but abstinence from meat and to pine away with hunger 5. For the aliment so detracted from the Brain causing a want there remain'd less matter to distill and the Brain through abstinence from food was exsiccated and in this manner it fell out that the moist intemperancy of the Brain was stopt 6. Besides he receiv'd hurt from hot sharp salt and fat Meats for such besides their heat are of that quality to whet the passages of the Breath and cause Coughing for sharp things are unpleasant to the Stomach Salt things cleanse and knaw and salt causes moisture 7. The juyce of Silphium or Benjamin was hurtful because 't is very sharp or biting hot and windy by which the Head was made hot and filled again with humors and therefore the distillation run more raw Herbs were hurtful because by them the thick humour Replenishing the Head is elevated the drinking of Milk was not convenient because offensive to those who are troubled with the Head-ach and that for the same reason because it easily excites sorrow in them and therefore by those troubled with Catarrhs are to be avoided 8. Much walking was necessary for it causes dryness but we must include in due season for any man troubled with such distempers walk to much he perceives more hurt thereby then if he move not at all 9. Rubbing also and moderate watching was advantagious his Food was Bread every manner of way wholsom and harmless except taken with immoderation he drunk black wine because in my opinion it makes the moysture of the body not so fluent as white Wine doth but this I Question because 't is much more replenishing then white wine and and purges less by Urine and Sweat 10. He likewise found relief by a potion of sweet wine and pure and green Sesamus good wine is pleasant and convenient for those that are troubled with the Cough and those troubled with hard excrements also Sesamus by reason of the sweet humour which it produces which potion is more fit for the passions of the Breast then for a Catarrh proceeding from the Intemperature of the Brain for it could give but small relief to the Brain but 't was so far beneficial that nothing of the distillation remain'd within Vallesius Comment in loc citat SCHOLIA The THEORY of the CATARRH By W. Salmon the Author of this Work CXXXVII The Pathology of the Catarrh and first of the Notation thereof 1. The Name It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Catarrhus and in English Distillation of Rhume 2. The Definition A Catarrh is a flux of Rhume to the Throat and Mouth coming sometimes from the Head sometimes from the Lungs sometimes from Stomach translating the preternatural or superfluous juyce to various parts of the Body as the Eyes Ears Nose Joynts c. 3. The Kinds A Catarrh is commonly but two-fold one in a sulphureous saline discrasy of the Blood or a hot and moist habit of Body the other in a saline sulphureous Dyscrasy of the Blood or a cold and moist Constitution of the Body in which latter Case it is for the most part Complicated with the Scurvy in the first Case the flux of Rhume is for the most part thin being rarifyed by the two great heat of the Body in the latter Case the humor or Rhume is for the most part thick being condensed by reason of the too cold habit and disposition of the Body CXXXVIII The signs whereby a Catarrh may be known 1. The Pathognomick sign or sign peculiar unto and accompanying this Disease is the flux of Rhume to the part or parts afflicted in the Mouth it is known by the perpetual filling with a moist humor either thick or thin and a continual disposition to Spit in the Nose and Eyes by a continual running of them upon the parts of the Throat as the Tonsilae or Amygdallae the Pharynx or Larynx the Gums Joints c. 2. It is known by the Tumor or Swelling of the part and for the most part is accompanied with Inflamation and pain 3. If the flux be to the Mouth and Throat it is either gentle or violent if it be gentle it Causes only a continual Spitting but if it be fierce or vehement it causes a dangerous Suffocation or at lest an Obstruction of the Lungs from whence often ensues shortness of Breath difficulty of Breathing and a vehement Cough 4. If it falls
two days 1. Galen says that the Falling sickness being a Convulsion of all the parts of the Body which is not perpetual but returns at some certain intervalls consisting in the Brain or some other part affected the humour stopping the passage of the Animal spirits which are contain'd in the Ventricles of the Brain whereby follows such a Concussion of the Nerves as forcibly to expel that which is held in the ventricles or what is delated there from any other part must needs do great hurt 2. Those who are troubled with this disease you may perceive not only to be afflicted with a Convulsion of the whole Body but also with such a deprivation of the functions of the external Senses as that they cannot see hear nor speak 3. Their looks are stern their Eyes and Mouth drawn awry and they snort while they Breath and the reason why they make this noise when they breath is because there is no passage for the Breath through the narrow and inequal places which are filled with flegm 4. The Trachea Arteria to wit near the Larynx being fill'd with the gross humour there must needs be a snorting kind of noise especially if the humour abound and the place be narrow by which the Breath should pass 5. Another reason is when the pituitous humor descending from the Brain contain'd in a hollow place with which the Breath is mixed and by expiration is emitted causes such an agitation of the humour the native heat which is the Vehicle of all the powers assisting as that in the act of breathing there appears a great noise which grows greater and greater according to the accession and force of the humour 6. If according to Galen snorting be an Indication of an Apoplexy how more justly may we referr it to be an indication of the Epilepsy 7. This snorting which is nothing else but a sounding Breath emitted and received into the Aspera Arteria is deducible from two Causes as first from some thick gross humour or dark vapour which obstructs the Breath of which kind of distemper Plinius Nepos relates that Plinius Veronensis died 8. And it was occasion'd thus the latter going up to the Mountain Vesuvius to look on a prodigious flaming Cloud his breath was obstructed by a gross dark vapour by reason of the narrowness of the passage and his great snorting he could not draw his Breath and so died 9. Lastly it proceeds from the too great siccity or driness of the Aspera Arteria or the want of strength as is discernable in those that are near death or in those that are Peripneumonick or Pleuretick or in those that are troubled with acute Feavers so much concerning snorting which happens in the disease of the Falling-sickness 10. Now by these Accessions the mind and the internall senses are for the most part hurt it is evident also That the Brain being hurt and its Ventricle being obstructed there follows an obstruction of all its actions according to Galen 11. What wonder is it then if the Animal spirit which sit as Ruler of both senses and motion be viciated and all the Internal and External senses be hurt and this is certainly the cause why the Reason Cogitation and Memory in those that are taken with the Falling-sickness do not proceed regularly 12. For the faculty of the Brain and its Instrument the Animal spirit being possessed of of the Disease and being intent and earnest to overcome it is rendred less able to perform its several functions and offices 23. A wonderful weariness and weakness redounds from the Accession of this humour which happens upon this Account because Nature in this great Contest labours to be rid of so hurtful a Distemper by which battel there is a great resolution both of the native heat and the spirits from whence they become pale weak and dejected 14. And this Accession in the sick person proceeds rather by consent from the Ventricle and Belly fill'd with much flegm than the property and and primogenious affection of the Brain as the manner reason and celerity of the Cure 15. Where the Evil comes from the primogenious affection of the Brain chiefly in declining Age either never or in a long tract of time that affection is wont to be cured 16. According to Hypocrates's mind those that have the Falling-sickness before the ripeness of Age meet with an alteration but if the Disease trouble till the twenty fifth year the sick dies 17. A great and habitual hurt is indicated in the principal part where the affection continues so long that either it is with great difficulty or not at all cured 18. Why about the end of the Accession there appears much spume or froth in the mouth there is this reason for it 19. The matter contain'd in the Brain obstructing the Ventricle falling down is carried by that pipe to the mouth which ending on the palate from the middle Ventricle of the Brain derives its Excrements 20. It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek Infundibulum in Latin Colatorium among Anatomists 21. The matter being detruded from this part and mixed to the spirituous substance makes a spume or Froth for indeed according to Galen all spume proceeds from the mixture of two substances one spirituous and the other moist 22. The mixture of these is thus both of them are broken and divided into many and those procreate little small bubbles the violent motion either of both or of one makes the mixture sometimes of the frothy substance with the watery as also a strong heat as is experienced in the sea that is moved with the winds which according to the Impetuosity of the motion it is more or less furious and frothy 23. Now because the Disease is fierce and sharp and is accompanied with many bad symptomes by which it is fear'd the sick person may fall into an Apoplexy not only because of the plenty of the matter filling the Ventricles of the Brain but also the greatness and duration of the Epileptick fits for she continued almost a day in one perpetual fit or Accesion 24. She must be help'd according to Hippocrates in one day if the Disease be Acute procrastination in such is Dangerous 25. Therefore we count it best to bring back the matter again from the principal part and to Expurgate the same the Head is to be strengthened and the sick reliev'd by Efficacious and opportune Remedies 26. Also the humour is to be caried down to the inferiour parts by a smart Clyster and the Cephalick vein is to be opened and because the matter did swell by a vehement obstruction and had possessed the Brain we must succour the principal part 27. The description of the Clyster is as followes Take the four Emollitives for the Belly was constipated when she was taken with the Epilepsy of each a handful Hyssop Betony sweet Marjoram Bawm Centaury the lesser of each half a handful the seeds of
some great Cause which because it torments the Nerves with grievious Pain maketh Convulsions by accident or the which stimulating the Nerves by it self by a manifest Quality and causing Pain or none together with it doth convell them which cause proceeds either from Medicines or internal humors as Blood Choller Flegm molesting the Nerves by their proper substance or by a Vapour only 13. But Convulsions are caused chiefly by reason of Pain either by reason of the greatness and long continuance of the Torment as in Cholicks from whence often arises Convulsions or if they vex and molest Bodies endued with most exquite sence and which by reason of their tenderness do uneasily and difficultly endure such Pains on which acount also Infants not only in divers kinds of sickness but when they begin to breed Teeth being exasperated with Pain are oftentimes taken with Convulsions and also immoderate Tickling made in the like tender Bodies because that also gives trouble and a sad sense experience doth testify hath caused Convulsions in many and by this Artifice a certain Man murthered five or six Wives one after another and being dead pretended they died in Convulsions which was true the Convulsion being excited by an immoderate Tickling which the Devil prompted him to for the love of Money sake he getting a new portion with every wife at length it was discovered and the man was hanged for the exercising of his Art And it is confest by all that even a light Tickling caused by Worms creeping up and down the Guts and Stomach and sucking them with their Mouths doth move in Infants not only horrors and scratcing of the Nose but also light Epileptical Convulsions 14. Medicines taken which stimulate the Expulsive faculty of the Stomach and Guts if they excite those parts too much as they excite a Convulsive motion which is by Hiccoughing so if they be very sharp biting and burning as those things put up into the Nose they excite sneezing And so a purging faculty especially joyned to them by which they solicite Nature at once very much both by Vomit and stool produce Convulsions such as happens by Hellebor Euphorbium Aron-roots flowers of Antimony and other like things and those deadly too if by too much insinuating of themselves into the parts they cease not to exagitate them but not yet deadly if when they first begin to solicite Nature being repulsed by her they be cast forth upwards and downwards as I have observed from the use of Vitrum Antimonij and Asarabacca some feeling only forerunings of a Spasm in their Thighs but others also Convulsive to have returned again to themselves 15. Corrupt and putrifying Blood if it be carried into the Genus Nervosum or Nervous system by its disaffection may cause Convulsions as it somtimes happens from a blow of the Head penetrating the Skull yet not dividing the substance of the Brain whence rather an Apoplexy would follow but only wounding the Membrains of the Brain with a Malign quality by consent of which and also that sinking and possessing the beginning of the Nerves produced from the Basis of the Brain it breeds Convulsions which follow Wounds of the Head which sort of Convulsions also in Apostems are sometimes wont to follow a Frenzie which went before 16. Choler of all the humors is commonly the principal as well the Yollow as the Green and the Black which by its Acrimony is wont to stimulate and irritate the Nerves and Nervose parts the which also by its thinness it the more easily enters which in Cholick Pains does cause those Convulsions not only because it breeds those excruciating pains but also because insinuating it self into the Stomach and Guts it doth too much provoke them with a kind of Caustick vertue or force which Convulsions last as long as this acid humor ceases not to irritate so that there is no need to fancy any other reason that it is far-fetcht to the Nerves if it ought to cause Covulsions Also if a Covulsion proceeds from Anger they think it may happen by reason of the boyling and effusion of Choler although that rather proceeds from too great a motion of the mind stiring up the Spirits 17. From thin salt and acrid Flegm also falling down from the Brain into the spaces through which the Nerves are carried and pulling of them an Epilepsie or Convulsions may be excited As in a Palsy somtimes moistning the Nerves it first causeth Resolutions afterwards by its Arimony which it either had before or by putrefaction has newly acquired provoking the Nerves it somtimes excites those Convulsions which sometimes follow after a Palsie which sneezing arising from the same acrid humor distilling also from the Brain into the Nose is wont to go before and Presage whence some think the custome of praying God save you after sneezing took its first rise for that it had been observed that sneezing was somtimes a fore-runner of an Epilepsy or Convulsion 18. Filthy and acrid Vapours also if some malignity be joyned being raised in the body and especially plucking and twitching the begining of the Nerves or else where provoking and irritating especially the greater do beget Convulsions which they say are caused by consent or Compassion as we may better speak in Our Dialect such as are from Vitious corrupt and Putrid meats humors Excrements Worms collected in the Stomach Guts Womb Veins in divers diseases and disaffections of those parts or of the whole Body as those raised from Feavers all which do produce Convulsions and which are usual to follow those diseases 19. But such things which excite Convulsions from a Malign and Poysonous Quality are various which according to the Divers nature of Poysons and as they are either inimicall only to the Genus Nervosum they do infect that only or the Brain also with it and so produce Convulsions where the Brain being hurt or disafected withall other accidents do continue in the organ of the Senses after the Convulsive fit is over especially in an Alienation of mind and depraved motion Among these Poysonous causes that sometimes offers it self which by its propriety and private hurt brings forth the symptom of a Catalepsy rather than of a true Convulsion Yet because it is a Disease very seldom happening it evidently demonstrates that seldom such a Venenate Quality is raised or breed in us which may produce or excite such an affect in our Bodies but very often that which stirs up Epilepsies and Convulsions Now of what kind soever that is its fountain and original somtimes lurks intrinsecally in the Brain or Bowels or Veins or in the habit of the Body and somâ—imes Extrinsecally to the Body 20. Somtimes Convulsions vehement and of long continuance have been caused from the corruption or Apostemation of the Membranes of the Brain by reason of a filthy vapour raised from them and at set times entring the Ventricles of the Brain as Fernelius once observed in the dissection of an Epileptick yet
vomiting 5. By and by the same distemper being leasurely translated to the superiour parts excited â—nsensibility to which shortly after convulsive motions succeeded in the whole body and that so strongly that the sick party could scarce be held by three or four strong men 6. These kind of fits were at first wandring and only occasionally excited they would come as often as the pain of her Breast was excited by some manifest cause afterwards these Convulsions did more often infest her and at last became habitual and periodical twice in a day to wit they were wont to come again constantly at so many set hours after eating 7. And when after this manner the sick person had been miserably afflicted for six months she began at length to be troubled and molested with a Vertiginous Distemper of the Head exercising her almost continually for which malady when a fomentation of Aromatick and Cephalick herbs had been a good while administred to her Head she became better as to the giddiness but then she was perpetually infested with a new and admirable symptom viz. an empty cough without spitting night or day unless when she was overwhelmed with sleep 8. After this worthy Virgin had tryed without much benefit divers Medicines and remedies prescribed by several Physicians she was at last helped by making use of the most temperate Bath at the Bath then being presently married after she had conceived and was brought to bed she grew well by degrees 9. If the reasons of the whole Disease and its accidents be enquired into without doubt the convulsive distemper was first of all excited from the tumor or pained place of the Brest the cause of which was partly the most sharp sense of Pain being impressed from its fibres and nervous parts and partly from the Heterogeneus Copula being affixed on the spirits inhabiting those fibres and Nerves 10. For truly it may be suspected that the most sharp humor impacted in the tumor which perhaps had in some sort flowed thither by the passages of the Nerves being repercussed by the use of Topicks had entred the fibres and nervous filaments or little strings disposed thorough the whole border or neighbour-hood and so the Heterogeneous and Explosive Copula had struck upon the spirits for the shaking off of which as often as by Pain they were excited they entred into convulsive explosions and together with them other Spirits flowing within the neighbouring Nerves by consent of the forms as it often happens were exploded after the same manner 11. Then the convulsive distemper when it first had begun in the extremities of the Nerves being continued through their passages even to the Head was wont to cause the insensibleness and from thence leaping back upon the whole nervous system the convulsive motions of the limbs and all the members were excited 12. The fits about the begining of the sickness being excited after this manner By reason of Pain from the distempered part were carried secondarily to the Brain and its appendix But afterwards when the spirits inhabiting those places being often explosed by sympathy had so loosened and weakned the Pores of the containing parts that there lay open a passage within the same for all Heterogeneous particles to enter with the Nervous juice the convulsive Procatarxis or more remote cause also increased in the Head 13. And the spirits inhabiting the Encephalon being infected with an Heterogenous Copula they themselves begun the convulsive fit or at least afforded the first instinct to its assault which did return for the most part at such set hours after eating because the morbifick matter was carried in together with the nervous juice almost in an equal dimension 14. In truth in such cases where the Convulsion being general doth possess almost all the parts of the whole Nervous system successively we may suspect that the animal spirits had contracted an Heterogenous and expulsive Copula in the whole nervous stock which when it is risen at the set time to a fullness incites the spirits themselves at the appointed time in like manner to explosions and the same explosion being begun some where is propagated in order to all after the manner of a fiery enkindling 15. As to that empty Cough which succeeding the fomentation of the Head exercised this sick person almost incessantly for many months it seems that this symptom should depend altogether from the nervous origine being distempered and not at all on the stâ—ffing of the Lungs for she did not avoid any thing with the Cough 16. And if at any time that force of Coughing was violently restrained presently she was troubled with the sence of choaking in her Throat so that it is very likely the morbifick matter laid up near the nervous origine being rarifyed and stirred by the fomentation entred more deeply into the heads of the Nerves appointed for the Lungs and stirred up in their fibres and filaments perpetual Convulsions after the like manner as when the nervous juice which waters the fibres and tendons of the Muscles being made sharp and degenerate induces to those parts continual leapings and contractions 17. Hence when a Convulsion or spasm was stopped in some branches of the distemper'd Nerves so as she could not Cough presently the convulsive motion runing into other branches of the same neighbouring Nerve stirred up that choaking in the Throat I will here propose another example of a Convulsion arising from the extremitys of the Nerves being affected Willis de morbis convulsivis cap. 6. Observ 1. LVI A Convulsion in an ancient Gentlewoman 1. A noble matron of fifty years of age after her Courses for about half a year had left her she began to complain of a pricking pain in her left pap then afterwards that distemper leaving her she was ill about the Ventricle for there arose a hard and schirrous tumor with a sad pain 2. Upon this came an inflation of the Stomach with difficulty of Respiration a nauseousness and frequent vomiting then the Disease encreasing with a more sharp pain runing about here and there she fell into convulsive distempers of the Ventricle 3. In that place she was almost continually afflicted with Convulsions variously runing about just as if her Ventricle had been torn in peices besides a constant perturbation of mind with thirst and watchings and frequent deliquium of spirits and as if she had been just dying all which symptoms she plainly perceived to arise from that tumor in her Ventricle 4. They saw that all vomitory cathartical antiscorbutical and Hysterical Medicines did her no good but were rather hurtful and troublesom she received some benefit by letting Blood by Leehes and by the use of Asses-milk And by the long drinking of Spaw-waters she was much eased 5. The aforesaid symptoms which commonly are ascribed to the Hysterical passion and the vapours from the Womb here plainly appear to have proceeded from a tumor arising about the bottom of the Ventricle 6. For that the Blood
Almonds are very agreable as also the Conserves of Violets the flowers of Water-lillies Nenuphar and Borrage 13. If the Belly be not in good temper you may administer a Clyster let it be such a one as is both emollient and nutritive made of the broth of Mutton Capons and Hens with the Yolks of four Eggs and a little of the powder of Saffron Mace and Cinnamon-water 14. The part affected and the marrow of the Back is to be anointed with the following things Take Mans fat the Oyl of Violets and sweet-Almonds of each two ounces the juyce of Earth-worms three ounces mix and apply them warm 15. If the Convulsion be by consent that is to say if it proceed from pain inflamation and tumefacton then the pain is to be asswaged the inflammation is to be extinguished and the tumefaction of the Member is to be resolved and dissipated in which Case the following Oyntment is agreeable even to a wonderful manner 16. Take Oyl of Sage Dill Cammomil Foxes the juyce of Earth-worms Mans grease of each two ounces Oyl of Turpentine Aqua vitae of each one ounce Saffron one dram mix them and make a Liniment 17. Ambrosius Paraeus who deserves eternal Encomiums does exceedingly commend the following Liniment to be used in Diseases of the Nerves chiefly those which arises from a cold cause Take Sage Ground-pine Marjoram Rosemary Rue Lavender of each one handful the flowers of Cammomil Melilot Dill-Hypericon of each two pugils Bay and Juniper-berries of each two ounces the roots of Pyrethrum two drams Mastick Benjamin of each one ounce and half Turpentine one pound Oyl of Earth-worms Dill and Whelps of each six ounces Oyl of Turpentine three ounces Mans-grease two ounces Crocus one dram white Wine one pound and half Wax a sufficient quantity bruise those that are to be bruised and pulverise those that are to be pulverized afterwards let them be boyled in a double vessel with the several Oyls and grease above mentioned and then make a Liniment according to Art adding in the end three ounces of Aqua vitae 18. But if the Convulsion proceed from evil and malignant vapours afflicting the Brain and other noble parts the digestion and suppuration of the Wound must be accelerated and although cold defensitives impede the Elevation of the vapours yet because thâ—y retard the suppuration of the wound and â—urt the Nerves they are not to be used but with great judgment 19. This one thing I shall add that to those Liniments which are applyed to the Wound there be always added some Treacle Mithridate and the Bezoar stone 20. Mithridate also Treacle the Bezoar-stone Harts-horn and other Alexipharmacks taken in at the Mouth does agree very well an Epithem is to be applyed to the region of the Heart as also to his Wrists Fabritius Hildanus de Gangrena cap 26. LXXIV A Convulsion in a fat Man 1. A man fat thick and flegmatick about the age of five and thirty having after supper a great pain in his Head was suddenly taken with an universal Convulsion through his whole Body insomuch that I never before had seen the like 2. For his Leggs and Arms were not only convulsed but also the muscles of his Breast yea a most violent Convulsion had seized the whole Body he lay speechless with his Mouth shut if he had been pricked there followed a contraction of the Hands and Feet but he had some Sense so that it did not appear to be an Apoplexy 3. This Fit continued two whole days and three nights till Death gave him a Quietus est 4. Coming to him at night I ordered Frictions and Ligatures and having by an Artifice opened his Mouth I ordered Oxymel to be put into his Mouth as also a sharp Clyster to be injected 5. In this difficult Case I did press earnestly for consultation with Cornelius Ericius my Colleague whose Sentiments of the Disease and of the Necessity of the Clyster which was prepared was the same with mine 6. We agreed in giving him for a gentle Purge for he was very phlegmatick one dram and half of Pil. Cochiae dissolved in a little Sage-Water by this he had three stools yet he continued as he was 7. At night returning again we anointed the whole Nape and the whole Back-bone with the Oyl of Turpentine mixed with the Oyl of Foxes and we did exhibit again Pil. Cochiae but was nothing the better 8. Afterwards the following Sternutatory was prescribed Take white Hollebore black Pepper Staves acre of each one scruple and half beat them into a fine Pouder and then by a Quill put it up into the Nostrils 9. But this also did no good for it did not cause Sneezing which without Controversy was a mortal Sign at the same time his Teeth being opened a little of the following Compound was poured into his Mouth very often 10. Take the Conserve of the Flowers of Rosemary one ounce Mithridate half an ounce choice Treacle three drams Oxymel simple and Squills of each half an ounce Syrup of Staechas half an ounce mix them neither was any thing the better by this for he dyed the third night Petrus Forestus Lib. 10. Observ 103. LXXV A Convulsion arising from a pain in the Joints 1. A certain noble Woman having a long time kept her Chamber by pains in the Joynts and growing thereby flegmatick she was sadly afflicted almost every year with the Gout and at length the pituitous matter being imbibed in the Nerves she had a mighty Convulsion 2. Among many things we prescribed for Diet this one thing we thought convenient to be taken in stead of Wine viz a kind of Mead made of the Decoction of Marjoram Sage Betony with a little Cinnamon and Honey 3. We did commend frictions of the Vertebrae and Neck and that she would avoid all perturbations of the mind and to keep the Body always in a good Temper we ordered for her the following Clyster Take roots of Marsh-Mallows white Lillies of each half an ounce Sage Betony Hysop Rue of each one handful the Flowers of Carduus Benedictus Rosemary Cammomil Centaury the lesser Herb Mercury of each one handful and half Staechas one pugil Carthamus-seed half an ounce Caraway and Fennel-seed one dram and half Polypâ—dy half an ounce Bran one pugil white Agarick one dram and half boyl them all together in common Water to one pound of the straining I add Benedictum laxativum half an ounce Electuary of Hiera Picra three drams Oyl of Lillies Oyl of Cammomil of each one ounce and half with a little Salt make a Clyster 4. But if this will not do because of the hardness of the Belly I would advise a more emollient Clyster of the Decoction of Mallows and Marsh-Mallows c. 5. The minoration of the pituitous matter being made by Pil. Hierae simplex we endeavoured for the better Evacuation of the same to render the matter more thin and fluxile by Syrups made of the Decoction of Sage Marjoram
Mastich of each two drams gum-Juniper Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar of each half an ounce juice of Citrons one ounce and half and two drams Yellow Wax five ounces and half make an Emplaster which being spread upon linnen is to be applied to the Feet about the Heel twice a day renewing it this had a good effect 6. Here follows an Ointment for the Hands Take Mans-fat Bears and Wolves fat of each two drams Badgers fat three drams dissolve add the Oyl of Foxes two drams mix them being removed from the fire add the Oyl of Annis half a dram Oyl of Wax half an ounce By these things we did her so much good that she could stretch out her Hands take Food and walk 7. Lastly for greater strengthning we advised to the use of a Bath of the decoction of Herbs with a mixture of Mineralds the form of the Bath is thus Take Alum Sulphur Bay-berries of each one pound the Berries and tops of Juniper the leaves of Sage of each one handful bruise them all in a mortar then being put up into a bag boyl them all in water for a bath The half of this mixture is to be used for one bathing and it is to be continued for three days Thonerus lib. 2. Observ 5. XX. A Pain and Contraction of the Back 1. A Gentleman being miserably afflicted with a Pain and Contraction of the Back from a defluxion upon the Nerves was freed by the following Oyntment 2. Take Vnguentum Aregon Martiatum Agrippae of each two drams Oyl of Cammomil Oyls of Dill and Lillys of each one dram Oyls of Earthworms and of Foxes of each one dram and half Badgers-fat Mans and Foxes grease of each half a dram mix and anoint the parts with it warm Thonerus lib. 2. Observ 3. SCHOLIA The THEORY of CONTRACTURES By the Author W. Salmon XXI The Pathology of Contractures or Contractions and first of the Notation thereof 1. The Names This Disease is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contractio the Contraction or shrinking up of a part as also from the parts which are contracted which are for the most part the Nerves or Tendons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contractio Nervi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nervus contractus and from the Effect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nervus corneus vel callosus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Callus Tendinum A Callous and horn-like Nerve or Tendon 2. The Definition A Contraction is a preternatural Tumor in a Muscle hardning and shrinking up a Nerve or Tendon in the same whereby the Parts adjacent are attracted to it and as it were bound up so as they cannot be stretched out 3. The Kinds or Differences Somtimes but one Nerve or Tendon is contracted Somtimes many as in a Contraction of the Wrist and other Joints where many Tendons meet It is either new and not wholly confirmed or confirmed and of a bone-like hardness It differs also according to the Scituation of the Parts in some the Contraction is in the Arm against the Elbow in others the Fingers are contracted in some the Hams are contracted in others the Toes and in some the Musculus latus which causes a wry Neck XXII The Signs of a Contracture 1. The principal Signs of a Contracture are manifest by the Definition as 1. Tumor in the Muscle 2. a hardning of the Nerve or Tendon 3. a shrinking up or shortning of the same 2. Where these three Symptoms of a Contracture happens there is also for the most part an Attraction or drawing up of the adjacent Part but this is more or less eminent according to the Magnitude of the Contraction 3. If one Tendon only be contracted the Tumor is not only the less but the Attraction almost inconsiderable but if many Tendons or Nerves be contracted the Tumor is the greater and the Attraction very manifest to the Senses 4. If the matter contracted be very hard so as that it is arived to a boney or horn-like hardness the Disease is then confirmed but this is most common where the Nerves or Tendons are very small or slender by reason of which they the more easily admit of Arefaction 5. Lastly a Contracture is known by feeling there being always an external hardness of the Part not much unlike to the streining of a Cord or Bow-string and this for the most part in the hollow or bending of the Joint XXIII Of the Causes of a Contracture 1. The Causes of a Contracture are manifold though the first and prime Cause is or can be but one to wit a deficience or cutting off of the animal Spirits and a siccasion or drying up of the neurotick Juyce and this may be somtimes caused by a Scirrhus or Node arising from the Excrements in the Muscles especially about the Tendons where many meet near the Joints as is often-times to be seen in the bending of the Elbow Wrists Ham c. wherein the Hand in the one and the Foot in the other are drawn upwards the one inwards as it were the other outwards or backward 2. It somtimes also comes to pass by a Callous in a Muscle Nerve or Tendon which may be caused from a Wound by which they were wounded wherein though they were not wholly cut in two yet by the gathering together of the lips of the Wound it contracts or shortens the body or tail of the Muscle and causes that Part into which it is inserted to be more or less bound up the which also has somtimes come to pass in a wound of the temporal Muscle wherein the Mouth was so drawn up that it would scarcely admit any thing of Food although the most liquid And in this case it is clear that there is a cutting off of the animal Spirits and while Nature is endeavouring to restore the Part whereby to entertain the Spirits in their Channels she by reason of their absence and loss of the neurotick Juyce forms only a Callous whence is the generation of a matter which perpetually obstructs the Motion and Course of the said Spirits and consequently of that softning Juyce which in part contributes to the constitution of the said Nerves and Tendons 3. There being thus a Siccation of the Muscles or the Tendons and with them somtimes the Nerves inserted into them being as it were wrinckled shrunk or bound up they become hardned and resemble a Callous so as that they cannot be extended or bent and so in what Scituation they remain in the same posture also they keep the member into which they are implanted fixt and immoveable which is either more or less contracted according to the urgency of the first Cause and these things somtimes come to pass in old Age or by reason of too much and long continued Labour which too plentifully exhausting the animal Spirits causes the Parts to become stiff and diversly crooked with a kind of horney hardness of the part as may be seen in the Hands and Fingers of such as continually use hard work or hold hard
to confer the sense of feeling then this sense may be either perfect or hurt in part though the motive faculty be totally abolisht these things being thus premised and considred we shall now declare what Nerve affected does produce a Palsie in eack respective part 18 The spinal marrow lying under the Brain and being ready to receive its excrements is often hurt and very much exposed to manifold Injuries which if it be affected in the beginning of its passage from the Brain through the Back-bone by depriving all the Nerves which spring from it of the Animal Spirit it creates a general Palsie in which all voluntary motions cease as well the stronger of the Body as the weaker of the Face 19. Besides the former breathing also the Voice Speech and Swallowing with some excretive motions do suffer some hurt more especially if the prejudice be nere to the Brain and great because the conjugations of the Nerves do issue forth there from the beginning of the spinal Marrow and they also are hurt as we shall shew hereafter But if in the rest of the production of this Marrow there happens any such detriment to the Back then by taking away the motive Faculty from those Nerves only which are under it it makes those Members only Paralytick into which they and their branches are inserted 20. Therefore from the hurt or defect of the Members it is manifest what Part of the spinal Marrow is first in the prejudice which in what place so ever it is if the prejudice be on both sides the cause is in both but if only in one side as the said Spinae Medulla is perceived to be truly distinguished that only side becomes Paralytick now the Palsy is so much the more general by how much the said spinal Marrow is more or neerer affected towards the Brain or original of the said Marrow 21. If Pairs of Nerves proceeding from the spinal Marrow be disaffected then according as a general Nerve communicating Nerves to many Parts or a special one communicating to some only is seized with the Disease so more or one part suffers a resolution by which also we may easily find out what Nerves are affected knowing beforehand which are communicated to each part of the Body 22. And hence many particular resolutions may be made in the Members which have received Nerves from the Pairs of the Spinal marrow yet not in all because the Muscles moving the Brest chiefly the Midriff and those of the Belly being also compelled by a necessity of breathing especially seeing breathing is caused also from the help of natural motion do nevertheless perform their office in Paralytick parts both in respiration and excretion of Excrements 23. And therefore Authors affirm That the Midriff does receive Nerves not only from the spinal Marrow but also from some particular conjugations of Nerves now besides those Parts the rest which are moved by the Muscles may suffer a resolution withall 24. The disaffection of the Nerves which are derived from the Brain and do communicate motion shew a Paralysis in those Parts to which those Nerves are peculiar and by a Palsy of the Part the Nerve affected is known If the Nerves of that conjugation derived to the Muscles of the Eye be affected there is a Palsy of the Eye the which nevertheless cannot easily be done in this Nerve unless the Cerebrum adjacent be hurt as it comes to pass in an Apoplexy 25. But more commonly the conjugations of Nerves replenishing the Face Ey-lids temporal Muscles and Lips are affected whence there is oftner a resolution of the Lips and Ey-lids but seldom of the lower Jaw for that the temporal Muscle doth receive more Nerves If the Nerves of that conjugation serving the Tongue be hurt the Tongue then suffers a Palsie and the Speech becomes defective and then by reason of its communication with the auditory Nerve if the defect or hurt be so great that the sick becomes wholly Dumb they then are for the most part deaf also 26. The same may happen in those Nerves by some Authors called the sixth and seventh conjugations which coming from the Brain and being joyned into one descending Nerve and communicating the sense of Feeling to many inferiour parts and giving also motion to the Muscles of the Larynx Tongue Jaws Midriff as also to the Muscles of the Bladder and Fundament if I say it be hurt about the Original or somewhere in its Progress it produces a Palsie of the parts into which it is inserted if they be moveable but in other parts a certain kind of stupidity 27. Hence if the recurrent Nerve be hurt there is a defect of the Voice if the Nerves which go to the Muscles of the Jaws be hurt seeing Swallowing is caused by them and not by the Fibres of the Oesophagus as some Authors have thought there is presently a difficulty of swallowing with some difficulty of breathing If the Nerves which go to the Midriff be hurt there is much danger of suffocation especially in a violent sending forth the Breath as in calling aloud or in a vehement Cough being then unable to express it though otherwise the Midriff the Instrument of breathing which receives also Nerves from the Spinal marrow can in some sort perform its office those Nerves being hurt in which case if the sense of Feeling be hurt the sick feels a heat and tingling about the Stomach and other internal parts chiefly among the greater Nerves 28. But if there be a certain general disaffection of the same conjugation then both the Sphincters of the Bladder and Anus with the rest of their Muscles will be Paralytick from whence will follow in the one an involuntary pissing in the other a relaxation of the Fundament conjoyned with the said Paralytick Distemper as hereafter in some other places we shall explicate more at large 29. From what has been said it may be easy to determine not only in this but in any other Paralytick Patient what conjugations of Nerves are most afflicted and that in universal Palsies there is for the most part an affliction of the whole Genus Nervosum or nervous System which oftentimes happens from the contamination of the nervous Juyce by the Poyson of Mercury or Quick-silver 30. It remains now that we give you the History of this cure which truly was great but performed by ordinary means First I instituted a Diet of Guajacum Sassafras and Sarsaparilla such as that in sect 1. § 17. and 18. aforegoing of which the Patient drank nerely a pint every Morning and Night and then a meaner or weaker decoction of the same ingredients in new water for ordinary drink to be taken at meals unless now and than a glass of Hippocrass 31. Next I caused the sick to be purged once every fifth sixth or seventh day as I saw occasion somtimes with the tincture of my Family Pills and somtimes with a Tincture of Sena and Rhubarb made in small Cinnamon water after this
Betony Rosemary Origanum Calamint Staechas Marjoram wild Time of each half a handful roots of Acorus new Orris of each an ounce and half Bay-berries Pellitory of Spain Cubebs Nutmegs the three Peppers of each half a dram flesh of Squills an ounce roots of wild Cucumbers two drams Ground-pine Germander of each a pugil live Sulphur powdered half an ounce Oyl of Castoreum half a pound Oyl of Bays of Rue of each two ounces Aqua vitae half a pint Orange flower-water three ounces the strongest-Wine a quart boyl all these till the Wine is consumed to the strained liquor add Sagapenum Opopanax Bdellium of each two drams Castoreum two drams Mace Nutmegs Storax Cloves Lignum Aloes of each two drams long Pepper half a dram Balsam two ounces Oyl of Liquid Amber one ounce Vnguentum Martiatum Aregon Agrippae of each an ounce Oyl of Tiles of Turpentine of each two ounces Oyl of Mace of lignum Guajacum of each one ounce Oyl of the Pepers of Rosemary of Anise of Salt Angelica of Sulphur of Thyme of each an ounce Oyl of Euphorbium an ounce and half grease of a wild Cat Goose grease of each two ounces Badgers grease three drams Vipers grease a dram Oyl of Foxes an ounce Marrow of a Cows leg two drams juice of Dwarf-Elder Sage Bawm of each two ounces mix all and with a sufficient quantity of Wax melted in the foresaid Oyls reduce them to the form of an Oyntment of a middle consistency Zacutus Lusitanus lib. 1. Observ 34. XXIII A Palsy after Child-birth 1. Though the Palsy be a Disease bred of cold and clammy Juyce yet it somtimes arises from an humor somwhat hot in which case all Physicians grant Blood-letting to be necessary 2. But if the Palsy arise after Child-birth the menstrual Blood being suppressed out of what Part Blood is to be drawn those that write of Womens Diseases do not determine although it is a doubtful Question and full of difficulties 3. I remember that I have seen Women that have had a real Palsy in their Legs when after Child birth their Courses have not flowed in such a measure as might answer to the fulness of their Blood 4. These Women being taken with a burning Feaver the Physicians tormented with Purgations and local Remedies applyed to the Parts affected and exceeding hot Baths being extreamly affraid to let any blood 5. For if Blood be taken from the Arm it suppresses their Courses if from their Feet the Blood will be drawn to the Parts affected and the humors rushing violently down they make the Disease worse 6. But because this Disease took its original from a vapourous matter transmitted from the Womb to the original of the Nerves breeding in them an obstruction stopping the way by which the animal Spirits descend and hindering the sense and motion of the lower Parts and she had not been duly purged after her Child-birth and the Feaver hence arising was urgent and the Woman being ruddy of a musculous and well compacted Body and having broad Veins full of Blood I boldly took a good quantity of Blood from her right Ankle after which Evacuation the cause of the obstruction being taken away she began to move her Feet and so being let blood again in her other Foot her Legs recovered their sense and motion Zacutus Lusitanus Lib. 1. Observ 35. XXIV A Palsy in a Man of seventy years of age 1. A certain lusty and strong Souldier being in the seventieth year of his age having in the Eastern Countries served forty years in the Wars and consequently being much wasted and broken with hard marching and labour worn out with watchings and stricken in years he seemed of a thin Body and spare of Flesh yet his Body was musculous his Colour fresh his Veins large and full of Blood and as himself related he had during his past Life been troubled with few Diseases and those gentle which commonly were terminated and cured with bleeding at the Nose to which he was subject at the approach of the Spring all which proceeded from the abundance of Blood as his hot and moist Complexion declared 2. This Man was taken with a Palsy on his left Side which arose as it appears from what had been said from the plenty of Blood obstructing and the moisture thereof slackning his Nerves for he had a deep Redness in his Face and he voided red Spittle mixed with snotty Flegm and that without any Cough or straining 3. Being called to him although in regard of his age the Disease seemed incurable or at least it would continue long yet I entred upon the Cure in this manner having in the first place injected an emollient Clyster I drew Blood from the Basilica Vein of his right Arm. 4. And a great Company of Remedies being prepared to attenuate Heat and strengthen visiting him in the Evening he told me he found some sense in his palsied Arm and Leg. 5. I growing bolder though he was in years opened a Vein again on the following day and putrifyed Blood being voided he said he had his Feeling perfectly in his Arm For which cause since he was better and his bodily Forces were more vigorous the Burthen being taken off and the Passages being opened being let blood again the next day he began to stir his palsied Members 6. And lastly after the fourth blood-letting without any external Medicament applyed to the Parts by the motion of his Arm and Leg it appeared that he was perfectly cured Zacutus Lusitanus Lib. 1. Observ 36. XXV A Palsy of the Eye-lids 1. A certain Person travelling in the depth of Winter through the Snow fell into a Palsy of his Eye lids for they lost their sense insomuch that he could not move either his upper or lower Eye-lids for they stuck so closs together that they could not be parted but with an Instrument or with a Mans Nails for him to see 2. This Man after general Remedies respecting his whole Body and Head and diverse particular Applications was chiefly helped by an Ointment made of Balsam mixt with Aqua Vitae Zacutus Lusitanus Lib. 1. Observ 59. XXVI A Palsy of the Tongue cured by opening the Veins under the Tongue 1. The Flesh of the Tongue is soft rare lax like a Spunge which is covered with a very thin Membrane common to the Mouth and Palat into which the Nerves of the third and fourth conjugation are disseminated 2. These being palsied and the fault being communicated from the Brain viz. the way being intercepted and stopped by thick Blood and the free Passage both of the moving and sensitive Faculty being hindered a certain young Man fell into a Palsy of the whole Tongue for it wholly lost both Tast Motion and Speech 3. This Man tryed many Remedies which are wont to be contrived for an universal Palsy These things being done he had an Issue made in the Nape of his Neck and drank a Decoction of Ebony many days together 4. He took many times
without any Effect so that she had been now two years troubled with this grievous Infirmity in the Part aforesaid the Sense of Feeling was not quite taken away but only impaired but all motion was quite lost 4. Yet there is one thing peculiar and well worth the observation that when her Legg were drawn forth by her Servants or were aâ—y other waies stirred presently they became still and convulsed in manner of a Tetanus to which is added a certain convulsive motiâ—n like that of persons which have the Falling-sickness which is wont also frequently to take her of it self by fits 5. And when she is taken with these symptoms she perceives a kind of motion in her Hypochondria moreover she is frequently afflicted with wandring pains possessing divers parts but especially her Chest so that somtimes the fore-part other whiles the hinder part now the right anon the left part of the Chest is troubled with these runing Pains this is the History of the Disease related by the Patient herself who returning from the Baths which she had used in vain desired my advice 6. I could have indeed wished that the Disease had been more exactly described by those skillful Physicians who had her under Cure to the end that the nature of so most intricate and difficult a Disease might be the better known and the Cure more solidly undertaken by a diligent disquisition of all the Circumstances thereof 7. Yet I shall not forbear to gratifie the desire of the Patient in shewing my opinion submitting the same to the judgment of those most expert Physicians who are able to take Cognition of all the particularities of the said disease and to see perfectly into the nature thereof 8. I conceive therefore that it is no true Palsy arising from a flegmatick humor loosning and resolving the Nerves but rather that it is a mixt Disease consisting partly of a bastard Palsy and partly of a Convulsion 9. Now these bastard Palsies compounded with distention and Convulsions of the Nerves are in those inferior Parts often produced by Cholerick Melancholick or wheyish humors contained in the Hypocondria or other parts of the lower Belly and translated into the Back-bone 10. From which seeing the Nerves to arise which bring motion and sence into the parts as also into the Muscles and skin of the Belly it is no wonder that the animal Actions of these Parts are very much hurt this may be confirmed by a large discourse the judgment of Authors and by Experience but unto such learned Men it may suffice to declare a few things which make this conjecture of mine sufficiently probable 11. In the first place therefore it must be taken as a certain and unquestionable truth that all deprivation of sense and motion does not draw its original from the flegmatick humor but that it proceeds somtimes from a hot and dry distemper and humors following such a constitution 12. This may be confirmed by the opinion of Trallianus alone who in the 16. chap. of his 1. Book alledges such a cause and confirms it with a clear example in these words I knew truly a Man that was palsied through sorrow much care and fasting and having taken Hiera-picra he became so bad that he could not stir at all and was near to death unless he had been altered to the contrary both with all kinds of moistening things and potions and meats and other things that might reduce him to his right temper especially with Baths and frequent anointings with Water and Oyl with mutation of the Air to a temperate kind and to use all kind of cheerfulness 13. A story not much unlike to this may be seen in Forestus his 97. Observ of his tenth Book of a certain young Man who being deprived of motion from his Thighs to the Feet with an extenuation and non-nutrition of the said parts and growing continually worse and worse by the use of hot and drying Medicaments prescribed by other Physitians at last he was cured by the above mentioned Physitian only with moistening Medicaments which were partly taken-in and partly applyed externally 14. Moreover it is a thing long since observed amongst practitioners that there is a cholerick Cholick which does frequently degenerate into a Palsy and that such a Palsy proceeds from Choler no Man doubts 15. And lastly that from a Melancholick and wheyish humor symptoms are produced very like the Palsy and Convulsion is every where related by such Authors as have written of the Scurvy and the Hypochondriacal Disease as you may see in Sennertus where he explains the symptoms of the aforesaid Diseases in his Book of the Scurvy and of the Hypochondriacal Disease 16. Now that those Impairments of sense and motion which afflict this honest Woman does proceed from adult and hot humors we may in the first place Conjecture from such things as help and hurt For seeing she received no good by heating and drying Medicaments but was always worse after them it follows that they were no ways contrary to the Disease 17. And this was the only way whereby Trallianus and Forestus in the foresaid Histories came to the knowledg of a Palsy proceeding from an hot and dry distemper 18. Secondly That this Patient has a dry distemper may be hence collected in the causticks applyed to divers Parts and Issues made thereby afforded very little humor and were quickly dried up 19. Thirdly Palsies which proceed from Flegm draw their orginal from the Brain as the fountain of that humor and those parts which are near the Head are commonly first and most of all hurt 20. Whereas in the Patient there are no signs of any humor flowing from the Head nor is there any hurt in her upper parts so that her Arms Hands and other upper-parts do perfectly perform their Actions 21. Fourthly the first Insult of the Disease did cause a dullness of the sense of feeling in her Belly and the Muscles of the Abdomen which shews that the Nerves which spring out of the Back-bone through the Vertebrae of the loins were first hurt and that afterwards the Disease was propagated to the Nerves which arise from the Os Sacrum and crept along to the Thighs and Legs 22. Whence may be gathered that the humor offending transferred from the parts contained in the lower Belly unto those Nerves just as in a Palsy following after the Cholick such a like translation is wont to happen 23. Fifthly pains afflicting divers parts especially about the Brest and those so fleeting do argue that sharp and biting vapours are carryed from the Hypochondria into those parts as like pains in such as are troubled with Hypochondriacal Melancholy do most frequently happen 24. Sixthly as often as the Patient's Feet and Legs are stirred a stretching and trembling motion does presently arise which argues that the matter impacted into the Nerves is thin and moveable and consequently put into agitation by the least stirring by that means causing tensions and vibrations of the
the soundest Parts but as it is said before it must be moderate least the sick be too much cooled 3. Where the Palsy is begotten by degrees and of a long continuance breathing of a Vein is not convenient afterwards a Clyster being injected we did digest the peccant matter with the following Decoction 4. Take the Leaves of Hâ—sop Sage and Marjoram Cowslips Gout-Ivy Bay-Leaves of each one handful make a Decoction and in one pound of the straining add Syrup of Hoar hound of Hysop of Staechas of each one ounce mix them for three Doses to be taken in the Morning 5. In the mean time I ordered that this Composition made of Water and Honey should be drunk in stead of Beer for some days Take Hysop four handfuls Sage Rosemary of each two handfuls boyl them in Water to one pound and half add a sufficient quantity of Honey make Mellicratum for a Drink 6. Immediately after I gave these following Pills Take Pil. Hiera Alephanginae Agarick trochiscated of each one scruple with Sage-Water make five Pills 7. He ought not to use Cassia Manna Whey and Syrup of the Infusion of Roses as things not having Efficacy enough although we ought not to use things that are of operation too strong in the beginning of a Disease 8. I prescribed afterwards these following Pills Take Pil. Faetidae Pil. Cochiae of each one scruple choice Turbith and Castoreum of each half a scruple Troches-Alhandal two grains with Sage-Water make seven Pills let them be taken after going to bed 9. The Body being first well purged then I ordered such things as were proper for purging the Head Take Nutmeg Pyrethrum white Pepper of each one dram Hysop half a dram Raisons one dram with Honey Mastick being added make a Masticatory 10. Then let Errhines be made of the Juyce of Beets Marjoram Rue Coleworts with Honey clarified to be drawn up the Nostrils 11. Afterwards he may use Consects of the roots of Acorus Peony Conserves of Rosemary-Flowers of Sage Mithridate Treacle Diamoschu and Castoreum a little being added let him take in the Morning Treacle one dram with Wine to provoke Sweat 12. Lastly we must come to Topicks the Nape and paralytick Members being first rubbed with a hard Cloath which you may anoint with an Ointment made of Aregon of Martiatum Oyl of Costus of Nard and of Cats 13. This latter is to be made thus Take a very fat Cat fed in the Kitchin which being unskin'd and exentrated and the Head struck off put for a whole Night in Aqua Vitae then in the Morning stuff the Cavities with Leaves of Bays Sage Rue Lavender Rosemary moreover you must stick therein also Lard and Cloves when you have thus done roast it before a gentle Fire that which drops forth esteem it for a most convenient Liniment and the Member which is affected is to be rowled up carefully in Foxes or Cats skins 14. By these Remedies this Man and many others were restored to perfect Health 15. Likewise some paralytick Persons have used with advantage a Decoction of Guajacum such herbs being added as strengthen the Nerves to wit Cowslips Gout-Ivy Betony Lavender Rosemary 16. Some have ordered where other Remedies have not availed that they repair to Baths where the Water comes from Sulphur or Alum 17. The Bath may be made of a Decoction of a live Fox Sulphur Salt Sage Dwarf-Elder Mint Mugwort Bays and the like 18. A Fox either dead or alive boyled in Oyl gives a dessipating Vertue to the said Oyl we have also made use of live Dogs cut in small peices and put in Oyl of which good has been got Petrus Forestus Observ 82. Lib. 10. de Cerebri Morbis LV. A Palsy easily cured 1. These vulgar and common Medicines have been profitable to many Take simple Aqua Vitae wherein digest for some time Marigold-Flowers Mace Castoreum with a little Saffron they give one spoonful thereof 2. You may rub the resolved Members in the same Liquor others take some handfuls of the Leaves of Sage boyl them carefully in Wine till the half or two parts of three are consumed of this Wine strained they give in the Morning one ounce or two Castoreum one scruple or two scruples being dissolved therein 3. The Back-bone as also the Part affected when they are made warm by Friction must be anointed in the Morning with the Oyl of Costus well prepared to which I would have added the distilled Oyl of Nutmegs and Cloves 4. The Oyl of Bricks Petroleum the Oyl of Turpentine and Junipers will also be convenient Reinerus Solenander Cons 20. Sect. 2. LVI A Palsy variously cured 1. Some have it for a Secret to anoint the affected Members with the Fat that falls from an old Gander roasted in the whole Belly is sewed up first Bdellium Galbanum Opopanax Ammoniacum and the Flesh of a Fox 2. But I have also used Sinapisms with great Success Foxes skins undressed the Pouder of Nutmegs Cardamoms and Ivy first macerated in hot Water then afterwards dryed in the Shadow fumigated and applyed are of great use 3. Outwardly for the Head I have found by Experience that first a double Cucupha is very good made of Cephalick Flowers the Wood of Aloes Nutmegs and the like 4. Another is a Bath made of a Lye prepaped of the Ashes of Juniper and a Decoction of the Cephalick Herbs of Elder and Cloves Julius Caesar Claudinus Consul 135. LVII A Palsy in the Tongue 1. The following Remedies were exhibited to a Man who had a Palsy in his Tongue accompanied with an Indisposition of his whole Body Take Fountain-Water six ounces Oyl of Vitriol a sufficient quantity to correct the Crudity of the Water let the Person take each hour one spoonful of this Water 2. Now that this Disease might be vanquished I prescribed this Cathartick Potion Take the Extract of Colocynthis to the bigness of a Filberd-Nut the Whey of Milk two ounces mix them and drink them warm upon which a plentiful Evacuation of the Belly followed 3. The Impediment of the Tongue stil continuing the third day after the first Purgation I did repeat the Evacuation of the Body which was so replet with humours LVIII A Palsy coming on a sudden 1. A certain Widdow whilst in good Health and eating at her own Table was taken suddenly with a Palsy which deprived her both of sense and motion in the one half of her Body insomuch that she could neither move her left Hand or Foot yet her Intellectuals remained undisturbed 2. There came to her an Emperick who in stead of doing her good did do much hurt the third year of her Palsy I being by Marriage nerely related to her endeavoured to do her all the good I possibly could though I could not root up this Disease and restore her to perfect Health again 3. Yet I attempted these following things for precaution Take Conserves of the Flowers of Betony Sage Rosemary Cowslips of each an ounce the Pouder of
Expression three ounces chymical Oyls of Rosemary of Rue of Sage of sweet Marjoram of Oranges of Limons of each a dram and half Oyl of Sassafras and of Rhodium choice Musk of each one dram Ambergrise half a dram mix them perfectly and make a Balsam to anoint with Morning and Night 7. Every Morning fasting I caused him to take three or four spoonfuls of this following Water of Sennertus called Aqua Carbunculi in his Institutes Lib. 5. Par. 1. Sect. 3. Cap. 5. which is thus prepared Take flowers of Rosemary of Lilly-Convally of Violets of Borrage of each six ounces red Mint one ounce Marjoram Lavender Sage of each three ounces Nutmegs Mace Ginger Cloves Cinnamon Cardamus Grains of Paradice Cubebs Galangal Juniper-berries Misleto of the Oak Hasle-Bark Peony-seeds Raspings of Harts-horn of each one ounce Elks-hoof half a dram the Ingredients being cut and bruised affuse thereon Malago Wine two quarts waters of Damask-Roses of Straw-berries and of Spicknard of each three pints let them stand in Infusion for a Month in a cold place then draw off the spiritous water according to Art 8. Half an hour before Dinner he took a Wine-Glass full of this Liquor Take Nutmegs Mace Cubebs Ginger Zedoary of each half an ounce Cinnamon Galangal Cloves Calamus Aromaticus Jamaica-Pepper Florentine-Orrice Virginian-snake-root Contrayerva roots and seeds of Peony Rocket-seed of each two drams Rosemary and Lavender flowers of each two handfuls and half infuse them all in a gallon of Rhenish-Wine for fourteen days then distil off the Water in a Copper-Vesica acccrding to Art 9. Every Night going to bed by reason he was of a scorbutick habit of Body I caused him to take two or three ounces of this following antiscorbutick Water of Sennertus Take Barks of Tamarisk of Ash of Caper-roots Polypody of the Oak of each one ounce Gentian six drams roots of Elecampane of Aron of each half an ounce roots of Crow-foot cut small a pound and half Germander Gout-Ivy Carduus Benedictus of each an handful Troches of Wormwood and of Capers compound of each one ounce infuse them all for four days in Whey of Goats-Milk three pints Rhenish-Wine two quarts afterwards add Juyces of Scurvy-grass of Water-Cresses of Brooklime of Fumitory of each eight ounces and distil a Water according to Art 10. Once a week for six weeks together I purged him with my Family-Pills with Aloes for that they eradicate the Scurvy and carry off the Matter of a Catarrh almost to a Miracle Moreover the liquid Errhine at § 4 above mentioned I used to him three or four several times one days distance being between by this means the morbifick matter was compleatly carried off and the Patient confest himself to be more pleasant and lightsome than he had been for some years before 11. But that we might so secure his Health that these Fits might no more return upon him considering he was of a cold moist and pituituous habit of body and subject to a Rheumatism or Catarrh I caused him for five weeks or more to drink a Diet-Drink made of Guajacum Sarsaparilla Sassafras Juniper-berries Anise Coriander and Caraway-seeds with Raisons and Figs according to the ususal manner following my Counsel and using this means he was so well cured that he was perfectly freed from his Disease IX An Apoplexy in a cold and moist scorbutick habit of Body 1. A Woman about forty years of age of a cold moist and scorbutick habit of Body was of a sudden seised with a Fit of the Apoplexy in which both Sense and Motion were abolished and she lay like one that was dead for no Life could for a Season be perceived in her 2. Being sent for whilst in the Paroxysm I caused to be put into her Mouth this Mixture Take Spirit of Angelica half an ounce Tincture of Castoreum Syrup of Male Peony-flowers of each two drams mix them This was put into her Mouth and part of it was forced down her Throat 3. And that we might cause the Head to purge or evacuate for she had before hand complained of a heaviness and giddiness of her Head for some weeks before this Accident happened to her I caused to be blown up her Nostrils this following Sternutatory Take of the best Spanish Tobacco one ounce Cloves Ginger white Hellebor of each two drams roots of Pyrethrum of Cambogia of each one dram Cubebs Zedoary of each half a dram make all into a fine Pouder This wrought well and brought from her Head much cold and viscous Matter by means of which in a little more than half an hour she began to stir and move herself yet knew no body 4. Her Fore-head Temples Nostrils and Nape of the Neck were anointed with this Oyl Take Oyl of Ben one ounce chymical Oyls of Rosemary Sage Lavender Savin Sassafras Marjoram Penny-royal Juniper berries of each one dram mix them This comforted both the external and internal Senses and without doubt was in part a means of her more speedy Restauration 5. But by reason her Body was bound for about two or three days contrary to her natural Custom and Use I prescribed this Clyster to be administred Take Mutton-Broth a pint Honey Oyl Olive of each three spoonfuls Infusion of Crocus Metallorum three ounces mix them and give it warm This in about half an hour came away bringing with it some few hardned Excrements I caused it in half an hour after to be repeated again and that brought away more of such like hardned Excrements with some softer seeing this I prescribed a stronger Clyster to be exhibited about four hours after which might have Power to empty the Foeces and cleanse the Bowels 6. It was thus made Take Mutton-Broth twelve ounces Solution of two drams of fine Aloes in Spring-Water two ounces Tincture of Colocynthis one ounce Infusion of Crocus Metallorum three ounces Oyl of Roses Honey of each two ounces mix them to be exhibited warm This wrought well 7. By the using of these Things in about six hours time she was perfectly recovered out of her Fit but complained vehemently of her Stomach and that the Oppression was as great as if a Load of Lead lay there she desired that if possibly it might be removed for otherwise she should not be able to subsist under the burthen of it and therefore earnestly craved a Vomit 8. After a little consideration I thought good to gratifie her desire accordingly the next day I prescribed this following Emetick Take Radish-water four ounces Infusion of Crocus Metallorum six drams Oxymel of Squils an ounce mix them This was given in the Morning fasting and it wrought exceeding well giving her five Vomits and three Stools and the fourth day after it was repeated again with very good success By these two Vomits she confest the heavy load at her Stomach was wholly removed 9. But that which was thought to be one main cause of her Distemper was the Obstruction of her Courses which had been stopt upon her
ounces syrup of Betony and Stoechas of each half an ounce mix them By which Potion he had four Stools the next day we did dissolve in another Dose half a dram of Pilulae Cochiae which did moderately purge In the third Dose we gave him one dram of Pilulae Cochiae and then he was sufficiently Purged and began to grow always better and better 13. After these large Purgations we came to use a Sudorifick which was after this manner Take choice old Treacle one dram the Water of Marjoram one ounce mix them let it be taken very early four or more hours before meat and it will cause an universal Sweat through the whole Body 14. These things being had and done we come now to give Directions about anointing both of the Head and Feet first after this manner Take the Oyl of Elder of Foxes of Costus of each one ounce the Oyl of Spicknard two drams mix them Take Aqua Vitae rectified one ounce the Water of Sage half an ounce some drops of this Oyl are to be mixed when they are about anointing the parts very early 15. Afterwards for better strengthening of the parts seeing he found himself every day much better he took the following Potion every Morning Take Cinnamon one ounce Ginger one ounce Cloves Nutmegs of each one scruple boyl them in almost one pound of Wine and Water adding one ounce and half of good Honey mix them 16. This following Claret he took for his daily drink Take choice Cinnamon three ounces white Ginger two drams Cloves three scruples boyl them in twelve pound of Marjoram-water to the Consumption of a third part to the Colature add a sufficient quantity of the juice of Citron and so much Sugar as shall sweeten it 17. A certain Lady told us That Speech was restor'd to one that was apoplectick and paralytick by Peony-leaves put under the Tongue which we agreed to nevertheless by using continually Oxymel of Squils and syrup of Stoechas with the mixtures of Conserves of Rosemary-flowers Sage the Species Diambrae the Species Diamoschi and the like He recovered his Speech a good Diet being also instituted 18. Yet one could easily perceive by what he spoke that he had been grieviously afflicted with a severe Apoplexy 19. Lastly That an absolute Cure might be consummated we prescribed the following things for anointing the Paralytical Arm and Leg every Morning with a long Frication Take Sage Bay-leaves Marjoram Poley Calamint Origanum of each two handfuls the flowers of Rosemary Stoechas the Marrow of the Indian Nut Schaenanthus Cyprus Cloves Galangal Myrrh the wood of Aloes of each three drams Cinnamon one ounce the roots of the true Acorus the roots of Walwort of each one ounce and half Turpentine one pound shake them together and the Turpentine being put to distil them in Balneum Maris with Mallago Sack to which add the Gum Elemi and Styrax Calamita of each three drams Earthworms washed clean in Malago Sack four ounces by these Medicines he was cured Forestus Lib. 10. Observ 78. XVII Of an Apoplexy in a Man terminaing in a Palsy occasioned by a wound in the Head from an Arrow 1. The fifth day of his Malady having an Invitation from his Friends I went to see him whom I found to be afflicted with an acute Feaver and the half of his Body to be taken with a Palsy he was also Dumb he did Snort and had a perpetual Drowziness and Sleepiness neither could he feel when he was pricked 2. Being inform'd that he had lain five days in this lamentably bad condition to wit Dumb without Sense and Motion and that he had not all that time so much as one Stool I ordered him the following Clyster for his Feaver 3. Take herb Mercury Beets Violets Sage Betony red Colworts Stoechas of each one pugil Aniseed two drams Dill one dram make a Decoction in one pound of Water strain it then add Diacatholicon six drams the Electuary of Hiera Picra half an ounce Cassia three drams the Oyl of Violets because of the Feaver and the hard faeces the Oyl of sweet Almonds Camomil of each one ounce the yolk of one Egg Salt one dram mix them and make a Clister by which he did Evacuate thrice the same day also I ordered Cupping-glasses with Scarification to be put to his Shoulders for diverting the Blood 4. Immediately after the Injection of the Clyster and the application of the Cupping-glasses For by them a sufficient quantity of blood was drawn forth and the faeces purged to the admiration of several persons he began to speak yet the Palsy still remained in one side But I had almost forgot to acquaint you that there was a Resolution of the Bladder of which I shall speak anon his Chyrurgeon proceeded after this manner 5. He first infused Oyl of Hypericon into the Wound and then dipt a Cloath in Oyl of Roses made with the Addition of Wine and applyed hot to the Wound afterwards he did cleanse wipe off and consolidate In the mean while we prescribed for his Feaver the following things make a Decoction of Barley cleansed Endive Succory Lions-tooth Betony Damask Prunes and the like the Syrup of Roses being added for sweetning presently the following Julep was ordered 6. Take syrup of Endive syrup of Succory with Rubarb Honey of Roses of each half an ounce the Waters of Endive of Bugloss of Betony of Borrage of each two ounces with half a dram of Diarrhodon Abbatis Let it be aromatized without Musk it was twice repeated and every day the following Suppository was taken for keeping the belly soluble 7. Take pouder of Hiera Picra one dram Diagridium Pouder of Colocynthis of each three grains a little Salt with a sufficient quantity of Honey make a Suppository by the use of these Remedies he began to grow better and because he had an Aversion to drinking of Beer I prescribed him this Julep for his Thirst 8. Take Betony-Water one pound Bugloss Water two ounces sugar Candy boyl them This he took for his Drink for the space of six or seven days now although he had Recovered his Speech Sense and Motion he fell afterwards into another Symptom to wit the Muscles of his Bladder wanting strength he could not make Water 9. Therefore I directed that his Secret parts should be anointed with the Oyl of Scorpions and that the following Emplaster be applyed both to the Breast and Privy-parts Take green Pellitory and green Chervil of each two handfuls boyl them in Water to a softness being bruised add of the Oyl of Scorpions one ounce fresh Butter one ounce and half mix them make a soft Cataplasm to be applyed warm to the Breast which being done he presently rendred his Water 10. And because of the Palsy in one side which hindred him from Motion I enjoined the anointing of the nape of the Neck the Back-Bone and Legg every Morning with the Oyl of Foxes Camomil and Earth-worms for strengthning of the resolved Members
of the Members and that the serous humours which the Nerves had imbibed might trouble him no more we applyed a dry Stupha every Morning for a whole month 16. Our Sudorifick Antimony was given him to cause him to Sweat at length by the foregoing Medicines we delivered our Patient both from the Apoplexy and Palsy and a thin and light Diet being oâ—served still by him he yet lives in perfect health Petrus Johannes Faber Cur. 40. L. An Apoplexy in a young Girl 1. A Girl ten years of Age after bathing of her self fell into an Apoplexy which proceeded from a flux of gross humors into the Vessels and parts of the Head wherein consisteth the feeling and moving of the whole Body 2. She snorted much in her Sleep and trembled all over her Body I cured her with Oleum Cranij humani giving it with Spirit of Vitriol in Lavender-water Paracelsus LI. An Apoplexy in an elderly Man 1. One Caspar Mayr a Carpenter in the City of Lauginga being about fifty years of Age was taken with a strong Apoplexy of which through the help of God I cured him 2. Being called to him I exhibited the following Sternutatory Take Meal of Darnel pouder of Nigella-seeds pouder of white Hellebor of each a scruple Marjoram Rosemary Sage of each half a dram Musk two grains make all into a subtile Pouder 3. Of this Pouder about the quantity of three pease was blown up into his Nostrils with a Quill by which he sneezed strongly 4. After the Sneezing I gave Oleum Heraclinum to about half a spoonful to be swallowed by little and little by virtue of which almost miraculously he presently came to himself began to speak and know the By-standers 5. Being asked concerning his Disease how he was taken he answered he knew not how he was affected nor that he was deprived of all Sense and Motion however being now fully come to himself he called to mind that before he was taken with this Disease he was afflicted with a pain of the Head and a streightness of the Brest 6. And indeed through the mercy of God he recovered his perfect Health beyond the opinion of all men Martinus Rulandus Cent. 7. Cur. 44. SCHOLIA The THEORY of the APOPLEXY By the Author W. Salmon LII The Pathology of the Apoplexy and first of the Notation thereof 1. The Names It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à percutiendo in Latin Apoplexia and in English the Apoplexy a word denoting percussion wherein after a wonderful and admirable manner the sick is struck dumb and sensless 2. The Definition Est omnium corporis partium motus ac sensus repentina privatio omniumque animalium functionum interceptio Joel It is defined by Riolanus to be an abolition of Sense and Motion with Respiration hurt which at last brings snorting and suffocation by reason of thick flegm flowing out of the Funnel and obstructing the Larynx or Wind-pipe which does oftentimes and unexpectedly invade a Man or follow some other sleepy Disease all the Ventricles of the Brain but especially the fourth being obstructed wherein unless the matter be discussed in the Spinal Marrow Death unavoidably follows Anot. lib. 4. cap. 2. Fernelius saith That an Apoplexy is a Disease bred by an obstruction of the Rete Mirabile the afflux of arterial Blood out of the Heart into the Brain being thereby intercepted Willis saith Apoplexia vi vocis percussionem denotat propter stupendam affectûs naturam quasi aliquid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continentem Sideratio appellatur namque ea correpti tanquam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut numine invisibili perculsi subitò ad terram concidunt atque sensu motu privati totâque functione animali nisi quod respirant cessante quasi exanimes aliquandiu jacent quandoque mortem obeunt sin reviviscunt saepenumero paralysi universali aut hemiplegiâ afficiuntur The Sense of the word Apoplexy denotes percussion and by reason of the stupendious quality of the Distemper containing as it were somthing super-natural it is called a Sideration or Blasting for those struck therewith being as it were Planet-struck or struck with an invisible power fall suddenly on the ground and being deprived both of Sense and Motion and the whole Animal Function ceasing save that they breath they lye for a long season as if Dead and somtimes dye indeed but if they revive they are many times taken either with an universal Palsy or else with a Palsy of one side Riverius saith It is a most deep sleep and a total privation of Sense and Motion breathing excepted wherein the Sick neither opens his Eyes answers nor feels when he is hurt breathing also with difficulty Apoplexia morbus est gravissimus qui primò caput obsidet protinus ac subitò sensu motu universum corpus privat ita ut exitus spiritus animalis a cerebro prohibeatur vitalis aditus à corde ad cerebrum praepediatur à percutiendo nomen habet quôd qui ea laborent veluti de coelo percussi videantur Avicenna apoplexiam definit quod sit otiositas sensus motus per interceptionem spiritus sensitivi motivi ab oppilatione ventriculorum cerebri The Apoplexy is a Disease suddenly depriving the whole Body of Sense and Motion and causing all the Animal Functions to cease breathing only excepted wherein the Sick lies for a season as if Dead 3. The Kinds or Diferences 1. The Apoplexy is either accidental coming of a sudden and falling indifferently upon any Man though not at all predisposed thereto for which no preventive method can be instituted Or it is habitual from a constant disposition in some Men because of which they are at first only exercised with light approaches thereof or rather Symptoms afterwards the Paroxysms are evident but gentle but at length they become more grievous and of which at last they for the most part dye 2. The Apoplexy is distinguished according to its degrees as Sennertus teacheth Lib. 1. Par. 2. Cap. 23. into gentle strong and strongest The gentle is that in which the Sick breaths freely and easily becomes sensible again The strong Apoplexy is that wherein the Sick breaths with very great difficulty and as it were with violence snorting and foaming at Mouth The strongest and most dangerous is that in which all Sense and Motion immediately cease through the whole Body the breath also being stopt in these there is neither snorting nor foaming but the Sick lyes as if perfectly Dead and they ought not to be buried before three days be over for it has been found that in that space of time some so seized have revived again 3. The Apoplexy is also two-fold according to the place the one is seated in the middle of the Brain the other in the Cerebellum 4. It is either from causes conjunct and procatartick or from causes evident as some external violence LIII The signs of an Apoplexy 1. The person before
Swoons sometimes falls suddenly and sometimes by degrees Sense Motion and Voice being many times taken away sometimes only diminished respiration alone and that with much difficulty remaining 2. The Sick sleeps deeply and as it were snorts or snores the loosned Members being lifted up fall down with their own weight in the manner of dead Persons and their Eyes are either wide open or shut 3. The Pulse in the mean season is strong and full which has deceived many in the Prognosticks of this Disease and there is many times a relaxation of the Sphincter Muscle of the Anus and Bladder 4. An approaching Apoplexy is seldom accompanied with any praevious signs save in some persons a Lethargy or Vertigo has sometimes gone before for which cause they are called the Fore-râ—nners of this Disease as also Dimness of Sight the Incubus Tremor of the whole Body gnashing of the Teeth in sleep and heaviness of the whole Body 5. Moreover they are often times seized with this Disease in taking of Tobacco which thing has been many times observed by several Authors 6. This Disease is distinguished from a Carus for they who have a Carus have their Senses remaining neither is the invasion of the Disease so sudden 7. It differs from a Lethargy because it is without a Feaver and stirring and from the Suffocation of the Mother or Hysterick Passion and Swooning fits because it is observed with a laxity of the Members a fullness of the Pulse and a countenance keeping its colour and without a cold Sweat which in a Syncope is always observed to be cold and clammy 8. But in this Disease the Sick for the most part suddenly falls all the Senses and Mâ—tion as also the Voice being in a moment taken away the breathing only as aforesaid and that with difficulty remaining 9. The Sick seems to be in a deep sleep and many times as it were Dead for that the respiration is so weak as not to be discerned and they lye without stiring or moving any Member neither speaking hearing seeing nor feeling although pulled thrust or prickt 10. They gape for the most part with their Mouths their Eyes closed but sometimes wide open and they keep the colour of their Face all the Members of their Body being lax and pliable not stiff or contracted 11. Sometimes they foam or froth at Mouth and many times there comes forth a bloody kind of froth or Spittle and sometimes clear blood it self as I once observed 12. From these Symptoms appearing in the Sick it is that some Authors have defined the Apoplexy to be a stupidity joyned with a resolution of the parts for that being as it were astonished they lye stupid like stocks all the Senses alike and motion also being abolished together 13. But these accidents are sometimes more mild at other times more grievous in which both the internal and external Senses are taken away together whence they understand nothing nor have any perceivance of any thing or shew any sign of Sense though you prick or burn them LIV. The various causes of an Apoplexy 1. One of the chief causes of an Apoplexy assigned by Authors is Blood out of its Vessels stopping and compressing the Ventricles of the Brain and that falls out either from the Rupture of a Vein in the brain or an over fullness of the Vessels or some great bruise or confusion of the Head or from some cut or punctured Wound by which the Veins of the Brain are hurt or broken and so let forth their blood 2. Barbet saith It is caused from a thick Lympha for the most part obstructing the Nerves and Deckers saith Not only from the thicker Lympha but tough flegm or matter contained in the Brain and obstructing the parts by reason of a fall from on high or by concussion or a blow as Fabritius Hildanus observes Cent. 6. Observ 11. Or by sadness and sudden consternation of the mind as the same person proves it Or from blood obstructing a suppression of some accustomed Hoemorrhage by the Nose or Fundament going before as the said Hildanus Cent. 4. Observ 11. relates Or from Blood extravasated chiefly from a Wound of the Brain it self 3. The Seat of the Apoplexy is without doubt within the more inward recess of the Brain to wit the Corpus Callosum and the proximate and immediate subject of the Disease is the Animal Spirit inhabiting therein for that the Understanding Imagination and common Sense are so deeply affected as to be perfectly darkned and to suffer a total Eclipse But the mediate subject of this disaffection is thought to be the middle part of the Brain because from thence the instincts of all spontaneous motions proceed and in this the perceptions of all sensible things are terminated 4. For upon the approach of the Paroxysm all the acts of every spontaneous and intelligible Function which depend upon the Brain it self are forthwith hindred and cease for that the Animal Spirits being suppressed in their chief place of meeting which is the Callous body their next immediate motion of expansion in the same place as also their afflux into the nervous Appendix is wholly obliterated whence comes that sudden and universal darkness or total Eclipse in the whole Animal Region which is subject to its disposition 5. However in the mean season the Pulse and Breathing as also the motions of the Ventricle and Intestines are in some measure performed viz. either freely or faultily and with pain because their actions proceed wholly from the Cerebellum which is not at all or but little hurt by the morbifick matter Now if the disaffection be so great as that all the Senses be abolished whence motion also does cease yet the other Functions which are not so much the Off-spring of the Brain may remain as the Pulse which is excited by the Heart and the breathing which is partly from a natural and partly from a voluntary act excited from the Organs of both kinds of motion to wit both of the Midriff and Lungs 6. And therefore it is that though the Brain is extreamly affected so as all voluntary motion does cease the Midriff or Muscles of the Brest contributing then nothing to the motion yet then the Breathing is managed or performed by the natural or spontaneous motion of the Lungs wherein after a sort they contract and dilate themselves but this act of breathing is then with difficulty for that it is performed but with one half of its Organs And therefore if the disaffection or hurt of the Brain does not speedily pass off because the Lungs are not able long to perform the whole duty of Breathing Suffocation will infallibly succeed for that the faculty in both kinds will be wholly abolished 7. Now after what manner the Animal Spirits are so suddenly and all at once suppressed or as it were extinguished about their original of Emanation so that all sense and motion depending on them ceases every where remains to be enquired
constringed Pores the said Nerves became relaxed as it were and weakned so that the animal Spirit which ought to be more strickly bound-up becomes dilated and spread abroad and thereby the muscular Motion is either hurt or depraved And this must needs be when the Spirit which is the prime or essential cause thereof is contaminated weakned and dilated and the Nerves which are the instrumental cause of the said motion are watered as it were with a heterogene matter relaxed and made unfit for the performance of their Functions 13. And truly not in a much different way do Poysons promote the same disaffection but more dreadful in their Operation for being received into the Stomach and being subtillised by the fermentative quality thereof their spiritual Parts separate themselves from the more earthy and thereby make a Conjunction with the animal Spirit either mediately by immersing themselves in the Mass of Blood or immediately by insinuating themselves into the nervous Tunicles of the Stomach whence arises besides the weakning contamination and dilatation of the Spirit and a relaxation and hurt of the Nerves a debility in the Stomach it self with a hurt of its proper Functions by which the original matter for the generation of Spirit becomes both depraved and diminished which not a little contributes to the said relaxation for there being not a sufficient generation thereof it follows that there must be a deficiency in the Nerves the Channels and Condit-Pipes of the said Spirit and the proximate Instrument of muscular motion whence a Tremor is immediately excited 14. Thus also the Fumes of mineral Poysons being drawn up the Nostrils and penetrating the Brain may more easily and immediately contaminate the animal Fountain from whence those fuliginous Vapours being conveyed over the whole Genus Nervosum or nervous System not only foul and fully its Crystal-like Streams but confuse and obfuscate its limpid and translucid matter corrupting even the nervous Juice it self the very support and stay of the Neurotick Frame thereby causing not only a relaxation of the substance of the Nerves and diffusion of the Spirit out of its proper Current but also many other evil Symptoms besides 15. But how this thing should somtimes come to pass by the only handling of Quick-silver is yet more admirable and deserves our farther consideration How easy it is for Quick-silver to insinuate it self into the Pores and to difuse it self into all Parts of the Body especially the upper Parts as the Head and Brain I think is sufficiently known almost to all and that common experiment of whitening Gold by treading of the naked Foot upon Quick-silver the Gold in the mean season being held in the Mouth is somthing of demonstration By what Artifice the Mercury is conveyed to the Mouth I will not possitively determine though it may be more than probably conjectured its Ascension might be by way of Fume The whitening of the Gold is a proof of the matter of fact but if any should object that the Gold attracted or drew up the Mercury and that if the Gold had not been held in the Mouth the Mercury would never have ascended to this we answer first that the possibility of the penetration of the Mercury is demonstrated from the whitening of the Gold whether the Gold attracted it or no. Secondly that it is probable the Mercury might have ascended to the Mouth and Head as well without the Gold as with it only with this difference that in its ascention meeting with the Gold it fixed there whereas had the Gold been wanting those particles of the Mercury which fixed themselves upon the Gold might have gone further and have seised the very Brain it self Thirdly that it has been confirmed by manifold experience that those who have frequently and long but handled Mercury have contracted such a Tremor whereby they have wholly lost the use of their Limbs and the Affection incurable to boot by which we think the matter is beyond dispute 16. How a sudden consternation by Fear or Extasy of Joy should produce such an effect is yet more worthy our inquiry Truly these are Passions which first fix themselves in the apprehension and thereby breed a perturbation of the animal Spirit but immediately seize and exercise their fury upon the Heart and Vitals And here in both cases the Heart is dilated or as it were opened and the Blood and Spirits by a certain flux enter it in the first case by filling it to support and fortify it as much as may be against the danger of the evil appendent in the second case to augment and maintain the fulness of the Joy coâ—ceived which flux being vehement and immeasurable leaves the extream Parts of the Body destitute as it were whereby being deprived of great part of their nourishment and support a feebleness immediately seizes upon them and a Tremor forth with as a consequent thereof for being thereby emptied in part a diffusion of the remainingt part of he Spirit is made whence follows a forceable relaxation of the Nerves Now when this is extream or vehement from the magnitude of the Joy and Fear the flux of the Blood and Spirits being more impetuous or greater than the dilatation of the Heart whereby it is unable to receive all that are sent on that occasion hence it is that oftentimes not only a Tremor but a Suffocation immediately follows and a tâ—tal extinction of the vital Flame For as the Flame of a Lamp is nourished and maintained by the Oyl which continually feeds it yet will that Flame be extinguished by a suffocation thereof through an afflux of too much Oyl drowning the same as well as by a detention or with holding of its proper nourishment 17. Hence also the reason is apparent how the loss of Blood should produce the near cause thereof for if a Tremor be immediately produced from a large Dâ—ffusion Dilatation Dissipation Diminution or loss of Spirits it is evident that it must also follow upon the loss of Blood for that the Blood is the Vehiculum of he vital Spirit the progenitor of the animal and according to the diminution of the Blood such in proportion is the diminution of the Spirit which being largely taken away must necessarily leave a feebleness and weakness upon the Parts from whence it is detracted thereby disabling them for performing their wonted Functions 18. Now that Tremor which follows from a hurt or puncture of the Nerve is caused from compression wherein the animal Spirit is stopt or straightned in its course or flux and so is forced out of its domicil by means of which diffusion a dilatation and relaxation of the Nerve ensues causing a weakness and feebleness of the Part whereby it is uncapable of perforing of its Functions and in this case somtimes a numbness and want of feeling goes a long with it which in a proper Sense can be nothing but a Palsy of the Part of which in the next Chapter we shall largly treat 19.
So likewise there is made an exâ—eeding compression of the Nerves when they are vehemenâ—ly extended or strained by Force beyond their natural Composure whereby the Channels of the animal Spirit are straightned or made narrower and so forced to diffuse it self into the adjacent fleshy Parts whence it comes to pass that as soon as there is a relaxation of the extension there is also a relaxation of the Nerve which being defective in Spirits is immediately weakned and taken with a Tremor But this as we said before seldom lasts long for that there being no real obstruction in the Organ there is in short time a new supply of Spirits whereby the hurt occasioned by the Force is again repaired XXII Of the Prognosticks of a Tremor or Trembling 1. A Tremor proceeding from watching want of eating or drinking two much exercise light fear or joy or distemper of the mind is for the most part without danger and when the causes cease it ceases 2. A Tremor coming from an internal cause although of it self it is not mortal or otherwise dangerous yet it is apt to degenerate into an Apoplexy Lethargy Convulsion or Palsy whereby it becomes the more perilous 3. The more vehement the Tremor is and in the more noble Parts so much it is the more evil and the longer its continuance so much the more doubtful is the Cure and if it be on the left side according to Avicen it is yet the more evil for that it is observed that the innate heat of those Parts more easily fails or is diminished 4. A Tremor in old Persons is seldom or never cured because of the great imbecility of the Brain and animal Spirit and for the most part it ends in Death 5. An hereditary Tremor or that which comes from long drinking of vast quantities of Wine Brandy and other errors of Diet more especially in those who have by nature the Organs of the animal Spirit very weak are very seldom cured and they either remain in the same state or it encreases upon them with Age. 6. If a Tremor degenerates into a Convulsion it is dangerous and for the most part mortal unless the Convulsion can be suddenly removed for that as some think there follows a great exsiccation of the nervous Parts whereby the free afflux of the Spirit is prejudiced and from the privation of which an opposite habit is begot 7. A Tremor in a burning Feaver often presages a Delirium for by reason of the ardent heat whereby the Blood is inflamed gross Vapours are mixed with the Spirits in the Brain and Cerebel whence comes a confusion and hurt of the Senses which is not without danger 8. A convulsive Trembling in the extream Parts chiefly in the Hands is dangerous and so much the more if it be attended with a Consumption of the whole Body 9. A Tremor in a slow long or lingring Feaver is less dangerous but in a vehement burning and acute Feaver it is not without peril and in this case if a Delirium follows with a Convulsion it is mortal 10. A Tremor in a Phrensy and Melancholy arising from yellow choler changed into Atrabilis is very dangerous if not mortal because of the malign quality of the humors as Hippocrates in Coacis testifies which are inimical to the original of the Nerves and the whole Genus Nervosum 11. A Tremor hapning to a Woman in Child-bed by reason of the Secundine or After-birth is of very evil consequence for it signifies a putrefaction and malignity of the humors which contaminate the animal and suffocate the vital Spirits 12. A Tremor hapning in an Apoplexy or Lethargy is very dangerous so also if it comes from emptiness or extream evacuation whereby the Spirit is exhausted and diminished and the natural heat dissipated and at length abolished A Trembling of the lower Lip presages vomiting to be at hand XXIII The Therapia or Method of cure of a Tremor or Trembling 1. In order to the cure of this Disease we must have respect to the causes 1. The Procatartick or external causes ought in the first place to be removed 2. The Matter generating the vital and animal Spirits ought to be augmented 3. The Brain Cerebel and Genus Nervosum ought to be corroborated and strengthned 4. The Body and the fleshy Parts if emaciated and wasted ought to be restored and conserved 2. If therefore the external or remote cause of a Tremor shall proceed from great drinking of Wine Brandy or any other external cause or causes before enumerated to which the sick has been accustomed they ought immediately to be removed for otherwise what ever we shall do to promote the Cure will be in vain But whereas we forbid those to drink Wine Brandy c. whose Disease has been caused thereby yet by reason the sudden abrupt and total prohibition of those Liquors might be of immediate evil consequence we must prescribe somthing else to be used in stead thereof And therefore in stead of the Liquor to which the sick has been accustomed let him drink Hydromel Metheglin or Mead but with great moderation and temperance 3. Or in stead thereof he may take this Take Hydromel or Mead twelve quarts Betony Sage Rosemary of each four handfuls sweet Marjoram Penny-Royal Mint of each one handful bruise and infuse four and twenty hours then boyl gently one hour cool strain let it settle decant off the clear and bottle it up with two Cloves split and put into each Bottle Or thus Take fair Water fifteen quarts white Sugar seven or eight pounds pure Sal Prunellae an ounce and half dissolve all together in the Water and make it boyl for an hour being almost coâ—â— work it up with Ale-yest putting into it in a Bag with a Stone in it and these following things Take Coriander-seed Sage Rosemary Marjoram Penny-Royal Mint of each four ounces Ginger bruised Juniper-berries Bawm of each three ounces Jamaica-Pepper Anacardiums of each two ounces Cloves Nutmegs â—f each one ounce bruise what are to be bru sâ—d and let them work in the Liquor two or three or four days the working being over let it stand to grow fine two or three weeks or till you see it is very pure and clear then bottle it up and let the sick take it moderately as their câ—nstant drink 4. If the Disease proceeds from any venene or poysonous cause you must give such things as are Antidotes against the Poyson and Malignity If it proceeds from pestilential Poyson you may give this following Take Extracts of Saffron Contrayerva Virginian snake-root Gentian Zedoary of each an ounce Castoreum in fine Pouder five drams Bezoar oriental two drams and half Musk one dram Juyce of Alkerns a sufficient quantity to make it into a soft Electuary of this the sick may take the quantity of a Hazel-nut or Nutmeg three times a day viz. Morning Noon and Night drinking after the same a little glass of one of the former Liquors If the Patient be