remit as also in other hurts of this principal part we see there succeeds long continued and lasting symptoms as you see in an Apoplexy and those affects which hapning to the Nerves do cause Convulsions as a Puncture Inflamation if they were in the Brain would not cause them but an Apoplexy and Phrensie although the Brain thus molested by consent also if the cause offending be great and follow continually not only irritating the Brain it self but also by its vehemency and frequency so hurting it that it contract also its proper disease then the contention of Convulsions lasts almost continually neither do the sick exactly come any more to themselves or the fit wholly cease till the Patient be quite dead Yet it may be also that from the same Cause as we shall by and by speak of that which is Poysenous both the Nervous kind and the Brain hurt together Convulsions may happen coupled together with other hurts of the Minde But that we may find out this part which is first affected and with which the Brain condoles if we consider the Symptoms viz. the inordinate motion and privation of senses that must be it which hath so great consent with the Muscles exercising voluntary motion and with the Brain communicating senses that that being hurt the Muscles are forced and the Brain ceaseth a while from its Function which we say is that Nervous kind because it proceeds from the Brain and ends in the Muscles under which Name we understand all the Nerves of the whol Body both within and without the Skul especially those endued with the sense of feeling and the Nervous parts which are compounded of them which are of most exquisite sense the which being so hurt that the Functions of the Brain are abolisht by sympathy and those of the Muscles augmented it must needs be that Convulsions follow which how it comes to pass we will Explain The offence of the Nervous kind 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 offense be great then the whol nervous kind rising up whiles it endeavors to shake off that with which t is offended doth together exagitate the Brain from whence it proceeds and draws it into consent so that that also feeling these affects of the Nerves whiles it endeavors to help them to expell the trouble driving the animall Spirits from it self into the beginning of the Nerves t is a while left destitute of its Functions no otherwise then we observe somtimes in a Syncope that the Heart without any proper affect of its own the Spirits wandring for some other cause doth cease from its Function til they return again In which effusion of the Spirits into the Nerves it happens that the motive Power doth continue in them not only as was declared formerly by also by reason of the plenty of Spirits of the Nerves the Muscles also are stirred up to exercise Motion but cheifly that inordinate and violent Motion in the beginning of Epileptical Fits is performed for this cause that whiles the nervous kind doth endeavour to expell this Offense it is contracted into it self and then again dilated and it forceth the Muscles of the whol Body into whose beginnings the Nerves are inserted by consecution to commit those inordinate Motions by pulling or drawing and then remitting them and that so long till the hurtfull Matter is expel'd 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 Limbes convulsed or artracted stiff and fixt for a while till at last they come wholly to themselves The which happens in a Catalepsie presently at the beginning no agitation of the Body foregoing perhaps because in that there is not so great an effusion of spirits into the nerves whenas in that somtimes some senses do yet remain and there is a less irritation of the Nerves whence it may be accounted a certain lighter sort of Epilepsie yet very seldom happning otherwise proceeding from the same cause which breeds an Epilepsie but which either doth less affect the nervous kind by irritation or else hath that propriety that it produces that stupidity or rigidness of the Members rather then Convulsions But that these causes of offense to the Nervous kind from whence an Epilepsie often proceds a Catalepsis more seldom are diverse and frequent it is no wonder whenas the Nerves by reason of their most exquisite sense are not only unable to endure great troubles or pains but also are so easily offended by the slightest that they cannot suffer the touch of a Body on which account whiles 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 That a Convulsion may be caused from a Wound made either in a Nerve or nervous part such cases frequently hapning do sufficiently declare yet not from every wound of a Nerve but only from that almost by which a Nerve is hurt by pricking Convulsions are wont to follow its function being there stirred up by reason of the offence which if the Nerve be wholly cut in two is rather abolisht 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 Inflammation or putrefaction from the corruption retained in the narrow hole of the Puncture of the Nerve and by the great pain from thence which for the most part do attend this affect or if the Wound happen from Iron of its own Nature an enemy to the Nerves commonly by reason of its Rust or because t is infected or a bite or blow of a poysenous Beast But also a nervous part being wounded especially in that place where the Nerves go 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 whiles the Chirurgion and lithotomist attempt a Section of the Body most commonly dangerous Convulsions succeed which a difficulty of swallowing going before which the Chirurgions so greatly fear calling of it as was said before a spasme of the Stomach is wont most commonly to foretell An irritation of the nervous Kind if it be vehement may also cause Convulsions the which proceeds either from the cause which because it torments the Nerves with grievous pain maketh Convulsions by accident or the
to be explained in the exiccation of the Muscles A vehement and lasting pression of a Member The Compression of a Nerve is the cause of a Palsie caused by a heavy burden or some other force especially in that place where the Nerves are greater or lie bare under the skin first of all the spirits being repulsed hindred and running up and down induceth the sense of Tingling in a stupidity by and by an abolition of motion and at length a perfect stupidity in the part into which the compressed Nerve is inserted this often comes to pass when at rest especially in the time of sleep one part lying long upon another as the body on the Arm one Foot on the other and pressing the same it renders the part immoveable and insensible and as they call it asleep but if that this compression be suddenly caused with a strong blow of a Nerve then there is only felt some stupidity yet mixt with pain and a sense of Tingling as this is often wont to fall out by chance in the stricking of the Elbow there where the Nerve lies almost bare and in the Ring-finger and little finger In vehement Ligatures of the Members chiefly if a Nerve be contained in the bandage the motion and sense of Feeling of the part do cease as also the recurrent Nerves being bound we shal shew that the Voice doth perish by and by in the defect of Speech The Vertebraes being luxated and the Bones of other Joynts if the neighboring Nerves be there prest a Palsie followeth the which yet can scarce be done because they easily give way as also other discommodities do ensue as in the luxations of the Vertebrae of the Neck Impediments of Breathing and Swallowing as we shal explain in their hurts but in the other Vertebrae of the back unless there be so great a luxation as doth vehemently press the spinal Marrow there is no Palsie caused as we see some Gibbus in whom many Vertebrae luxated do cause a crookedness of the Back which the marrow that is within it doth follow without a compression that they are yet no waies Palsied unless by chance one or two Vertebrae being vehemently forced forth making an acute Angle in the Back do press it the which scarce can be by reason of the firmness of the Back A Nerve being cut off by a Wound The hurt of a Nerve is the cause of a Palsie because then this continuation with the part is wholly taken away the Member becomes Palsied and Insensible also unless it receive sense from other Nerves that are yet unhurt the which also a Contusion of it doth often cause the Nerve being so hurt and filled with blood that it becomes unprofitable whence the spinal Marrow being so affected by a fall there oftentimes follows a general Palsie but at other times the Nerves being Contused elswhere a particular Resolution oftentimes also after a Contusion a Callus being left being left behind it that happens as hath been said Also from the Nerves affected Convulsions The cause of a particular Spasm is in the Nerves or particular Crampings of the Members may be caused not being filled with flegm as they would have it and have written that from the same humor sliding into the Nerves divers Diseases may be produced and that both a Palsie and Spasm may be caused but being irritated and molested from the same causes as hath been explained in an Epilepsie yet not being so grievosly hurt as to draw the Brain into consent for a general Convulsion or Epilepsie would be caused as this somtimes follows this particular Spasm especially if the greater Nerves be affected and the hurt be grievous in which particular Spasm also as in a Palsie according as more general or private Nerves are affected as there happens a Palsie so here a Convulsion of more or fewer parts and the parts of the Back being affected it manifests its self here in the inordinate Motions of the Back Arms and Hands which doth either very much Convel and Attract these Members in that called a true Spasm of them or only lightly draweth the Fingers Hands Armes or other Members and relaxeth them again in a Convulsive Palpitation therefore so called because it threatens true Convulsions Also the Conjugations or pares of Nerves being molested it often causeth that diseased crookedness and distorsion of the Mouth which they call a Dog-like Spasm or also that light Species of a Spasm which happens unvoluntarily to those that Cry and Laugh and that from a too great affection of the Mind the Spirits being poured forth thither with the Tears and forcing the Nerves as how this comes to pass and that from this cause only more grievous Convulsions do arise hath been explained in the causes of an Epilepsie and Catalepsie although these also generated from other things do produce not only that Spasm raised in the Mouth by the affections of the Mind and ceasing by and by as they remit but also a lasting and dangerous one such as that Sardonius Laughter was described by Cicero that killed folkes the which also being Supervenient in a general Convulsion together with other things is accounted for the worst sign and oftentimes when the Paroxysm is off it remaines stil by reason of an Alienation of the Mind as was said in an Epilepsie and also this Particular Convulsion presents it self not only in the foremention'd hurts of Motions but also in others and in the Motions of Breathing and Excrements if the Nerves destined for them be affected amongst which that difficulty of swallowing which the Chyrurgions cal the Stomach Spasm and which they so much fear in wounded People is wont to be very frequent as these shal be explained more rightly in their proper places A Muscle seeing it is the instrument of voluntary Motion In the Muscles or their Tendons is the cause of a Palsie a windy Spasm and other Species of Immobility which moves the Member if it be so affected that it can no more attract the Member then there is a resolution or Palsie or if its Disease be such that the Member be drawn against our will then there follows not a Convulsion of it properly called which we have said was only caused by reason of the Nerves but either a Convulsion improperly called viz. a Flatulent Cramp or that called by us a lasting and strong contraction of the Member which certainly a Nerve so smal a chord if it be compared with so heavy a Member cannot effect but so may a Tendon of a Muscle that is so strong But after this manner the Muscles almost proper to every part are hurt whence also only Particular resolutions or contractions of those parts do ensue or of one part only if its Particular Muscle be hurt or of more if one Muscle send Tendons to many parts yet somtimes also many Muscles being affected together also these more general hurts of the parts which they move do follow the
5 The Saints Duty to keep their Hearts c. 6 The Mystery of Spiritual Life Twenty one several Books of Mr. William Bridge collected into two Volumes Viz. 1 Scripture Light the most sure Light 2 Christ in Travel 3 A lifting up for the cast down 4 Of the Sin against the Holy Ghost 5 Of Sins of Infirmity 6 The false Apostle tried and discovered 7 The good and means of Establishment THE CONTENTS Of all the Five Books in the Three Tomes The CONTENTS of the First Book of the first Tome Page 1. CHap. 1. Of a Weakness of the Mind Page 1 Chap. 2. Of a Consternation of the mind Page 4 Chap. 3. Of an Alienation of the Mind Page 26 Chap. 4. Of a Defatigation of the Mind Page 47 Chap. 5. Of the the hurt of Feeling Page 50 Chap. 6. Of the hurt of Tasting Page 52 Chap. 7 Of the hurt of Seeing Page 56 Chap. 8 Of the hurts of Hearing Page 80 Chap. 9 Of the hurt of smelling Page 87 The CONTENTS of the Second Book of the First Tome Page 92 CHap. 1 Of the Weakness of Motion Page 92 Chap. 2 Of Impotency of Motion Page 93 Chap. 3. Concerning Depraved Motion Page 115 Chap. 4 Of the Defect of Breathing Page 119 Chap. 5 Of Breathing Depraved Page 131 Chap. 6 Of the Defect of Swallowing or passage by the Throat Page 138 Chap. 7 Of the Defect of Dejection or going to Stool Page 140 Chap. 8 Of the Defect of Pissing Page 141 Chap. 9 Of the Defect of Bringing forth Children or other things Page 144 Chap. 10 Of the Defect of Vital Motion Page 148 Chap. 11 Of the Depravation of Vital Motion Page 152 Chap. 12 Of want of Appetite Page 155 Chap. 13 Of Depraved Appetite Page 158 Chap. 14. Of Defect of Bleeding Page 160 Chap. 15 Of Want of Sweating Page 166 Chap. 16 Of want of Milk Page 167 Chap. 17 Of the Defect and Want of Copulation Page 168 Chap. 18 Of Lust or Lechery Page 172 Chap. 19 Of want of Conception Page 173 The CONTENTS of the Second Tome in one Book being the third of the whole Work CHap 1 Of the Greifs of the Sight Hearing Smelling and Tasting Page 187 Chap. 2 Of Feavers Page 187 Chap. 3 Of Head-Ach Page 235 Chap. 4 Of Pain in the Eyes Page 241 Chap. 5 Of the pain of the Ears Page 251 Chap. 6 Of the Diseases or Greifs of the Nostrils Page 253 Chap. 7 Of Greifs or pain of the Mouth Page 255 Chap. 8 Of Tooth-Ach Page 258 Chap. 9 Of Pain in the Jaws Page 263 Chap. 10 Of the Griefs or Pain of the Breast Page 269 Chap. 11 Of Pain of the Heart Page 277 Chap. 12 Of the pain of Hypochondria or Sides under the Ribs Page 294 Chap. 13 Of pain of the Belly Page 305 Chap. 14 Of pain of the Privities Page 391 Chap. 15 Of Diseases in the Fundament Page 393 Chap. 16 Of pain in the Habit of the Body Page 396 Chap. 17 Of pains in the Superficies of the Body Page 408 The CONTENTS of the third Tome in two Books Being the fourth and fifth of the whole Work The FIRST BOOK CHap. 1 Of Deformity Page 501 Chap. 2 Of Discoloration Page 513 Chap. 3 Of Extuberances or Swellings Page 540 Chap. 4 Of Defoedation or Defilement Page 580 Chap. 5 Of Consumption of the Body Page 598 The Second Book of the third Tome CHap. 1 Of the Voiding or Excretion of parts Page 607 Chap. 2 Of the Falling and Sticking forth of parts Page 610 Chap 3 Of Efflation or Sending forth of Wind Page 620 Chap 4 Of the Voiding of Seed Page 623 Chap 5 Of Voiding of Blood Page 626 Chap. 6 Of Excretion or Voiding of Matter Page 635 Chap. 7 Of Excretion or Voiding of Water Page 637 Chap 8 Of Spetting Page 643 Chap 9 Of Vomiting Page 647 Chap 10 Of Pissing Page 652 Chap 11 Of Dejection or going to Stool Page 660 Chap 12 Of filthy Excretions Page 674 Chap 13 Of the Voiding of Living Creatures Page 676 Chap 14 Of the Voiding of Living Creatures or Animata Page 681 Chap 15 Of the Voiding of earthy Bodies Page 683 Chap 16 The Voiding of things that get into the Body Page 686 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE Hurts of the Functions Containing the Hurt of the SENSES THe Senses are Internal or External we shall speak first of the Internal for they being hurt the External Senses and motions are somtimes offended the Internal Senses are three Imagination Reason and Memory which we call all together by the name of the Mind when these are hurt they either suffer all together or particularly The Functions of the mind are defective when they are Diminished or Abolished For by accident when the vital motion is hurt these Functions may cease as well as the rest in the whole Body but then they are refer'd to the hurts of vital motion and there explained The Functions of the Mind are diminished when they do not sufficiently act in their divers kinds as when there is dulness of Mind slow Wit Imprudence forgetfulness of which we shall speak in Imbecility of Mind the first Chapter Page 1. The Functions are abolished when they are not as in divers kinds of Sleep and Astonishments as when there is immoderate Sleep or profound Sleep Carus Lethargy Typhomania Devilish Sleep Sleep with astonishment Ecplixis Apoplexy Epilepsie Convulsion Catalepsis or Congelation Extasie Of which we shall speak under the title Consternation of Mind Chapter the second Page 4. The actions of the Mind are depraved when they are but not decently as they should be or more then they ought to be The internal Senses are preposterous in divers kinds as when there is Foolishness Drunkenness commotion of Mind Love Melancholy Hypochondriack Melancholly Madness devilish Possession fear of water Phrensie Paraphrenitis Saltus vitae of which under Alienation of Mind Chapter the third Page 26. The Functions are more then ordinary in Watchings and Dreams of which we shall speak in Defatigation of Mind Chapter the fourth Page 47. The external Senses are five Touching Tasting Sight Hearing Smelling these are either Defective or Depraved when out of order The kinds of Defect and Depravation of Touching are Numness or Stupor Formication false Sense of heat or cold Hâ—modia of which in Hurt of Touching Chapter the fifth Page 50. The Tast is abolished Diminished and Depraved in the defect of Tasting and in a Depraved or half Tast of which in Hurt of Tast Chapter the sixth Page 52. The sight suffers many inconveniences when either it is not or is diminished or is Evil as in divers kinds especially in Blindness Anaurosis Scoloma or Mist Amblyopia Catigo Evil sight in young or old Myopia Nyctalopia Vespertina Acies or Owle sight Hallucination Imagination Nubecula or Cloud Colours false Splendors Megrim Scotodinos of these in Hurt of Sight Chapter the seventh Page 56. The hearing also suffers in Surdity or Deafness thick Hearing Obaudition tinckling and
themselves and after they come to themselves they remember none of those things they have sufferd neither do they know that they have sufferd this evil unless they be told of it or suspect it by taking some signal from the marke of some hurt left behind as a Wound or Contusion All Motion also both voluntary which wholly depends on our power and that which is performed by help of Nature as breathing and evacuating and that of the Pulses which Nature alone performs continuing in all these Species distinguisheth the Epileptical from the Apoplectick and Syncopal in whom these motions do fail the Pulse only remaining in the Apoplectick The which notwithstanding being deprived in the Convulsive doth cause that they fal and use inordinate motions But they fall not by reason of a privation of the senses but because their whol Body at once and of a suddain is convelled so that unless they be forewarned by a Vertigo which is wont somtimes to go before it or being taught by Custome of the fit at a day or hour if it be wont to come at set times they have a care of themselves being seazed with it whiles they are upright they presently fall down like to the Apoplectick and those that fall into Swonings and as t is commonly said are free neither from Water nor fire but are in the greatest jeopardy by danger of the fall and if upon this account t is less danger for those who lying in their Bed by reason of some sickness cannot fall when the Convulsions come upon them yet they are more hazarded by the cruelty of the Disease So that every Epilepsie is horrible and abominable which the ancients therefore called the sacred Disease as sent by the Gods by way of punishment and others have Superstitiously imposed the Names of the Gods on it They also so stir their Body with inordinate motions That oftentimes t is all of a fire and the pulse becomes more swift and somtimes sweats break forth Wreathing and distorting their Back Neck Head Arms Feet into divers Figures and with them beating and shaking every thing in the way as the Bed Walls Ground bruising and wounding their own Limbs gnashing with their Teeth set and bitterly biting their Tongues if they be out rowling their Eyes about which being opened and very much drawn asunder as also the bending of the Face towards the hinder parts do usually give the first sign of the fit assailing which at length in the end of the fit lying as men wearied and astonisht they keep fixt and sterne til they come to themselves again Their breathing also is very unequal whenas somtimes they hold it for a while so that from the stopping of their breath and vehement striving they somtimes cast forth their ordure and Urine and seed to especiif it abound But at other times they fetch their Breath with difficulty and noise both when an Epilepsie of the Womb hath the said strangulation its companion and cause and when Flegm falling upon the Jawes and Nostrils hinders it and they bring forth a froth at the Mouth and Nose arising from Flegm confused and stirred there with the Air which happens not to the Apolectick and Strangulated unless they die saith Hippocrates and oftentimes they make a noise with crying out But these accidents which we have related as they come on a suddain so the fit ceasing they presently remit Yet somtimes certain relicks of them do remaine and the senses being yet weakned they cannot rightly understand Reason or remember any thing or an alienation of Minde coming upon it they do all things amiss and blaspheme or they break forth into a great Laughter perhaps that which Cicero calls Sardonian and that till a new fit return which is wont to attend these foretelling signs but before and after these fits some particular convulsions somtimes either went before or remain as a distortion of the Mouth a difficulty of swallowing or a spasme of some other parts as shall be explained in its place or that Spasme which they call Flatulent which somtimes also threatens Convulsions if it be by reason of the Nerves as shall be said as also that convulsive Palpitation which also caused from an affect of the Nerves doth oftentimes along while forego an Epilepsie and remain still in the Members after it and exercise it self or other Symptomes of motions do somtimes trouble them as with Gesticulations somtimes Dancings or some other disturbance of the Limbs and tremblings of them A Stupidity with Rigidness of Body is a rare and wonderful affect A Stupidity with rigidness is a Catalepsis which is called a Catoche or Catalepsis that is a laying hold off which they cal also a Congelation whenas they are as stiff as if they were frozen in which all the internal senses and external are suddainly abolisht but only the motion of the Body is depraved whenas they keep that form which the Body had before it was seazed on with this evil whether Lying Sitting or Going and being taken like a statue they cannot change it neither of their own accord nor by compulsion and with their Eyes open whence they have called it the watchful Stupidity yet blâ—hd and altogether speechless breathing in the interim not taken away or very much hindred nor the Pulse But it happens also in some A Stupidity with hearing remaining that though they lie rigid like a stock without motion and speech yet nevertheless they perceive those things which the standers by do speak off and can afterwards relate them which they have called Ecstatick But others remaining in the same state like to dead Men although they heard nothing A Stupidity with motion remaining nor saw not now being prickt fet nothing yet if any thing were put into their Mourh they swallowed it and being lift up do stand being forced do walk and keep their Members fixt in that posture as they are bent for them In a certain Woman thus taken only the Belly and Breast were very much moved all the rest of the Body being stupid The Causes In all the foremention'd kinds of Sleep and Stupidity with Languishing Convulsion or Rigor it must needs be that the Brain is affected whenas all motion and sense proceed from that Neither here as they would have it are the Functions diversely weakend as the former middle or hinder Ventricles of the Brain are hurt nor as the Brain is affected before or behind whenas the substance of the Brain doth on every part perform its Functions but as it is more or less hurt it looseth more or fewer Functions For if the hurt be great so affecting the Brain that all the senses be abolisht then it must needs be that motion also doth cease other Functions in the interim remaining which the Brain is not the cause of as the Pulse which the Heart yeids and whenas the motion of breathing is partly Natural partly Voluntary and therefore doth proceed from the Or-Organs
happen in a Catalepsis for the like reason since that it is a certain species of Convulsion If the cause of that doting sleep proceed from the Devil with which he deludes Witches 't is not our task to search out those hidden causes The Devil the cause of Daemonical sleep which the Witches attribute to the oyntments with which they anoint things by the Devils command or to Decoctions with which they dream they can cause Hail and draw Clouds from Heaven such as Eotis in Apuleins and Homers Circe did prepare by bruising together Garlick Wild Time and stinking Plants which we renounce By reason of a defect of animal spirits in the brain it must needs be also that a stupidity follow the functions of the brain being taken away which may happen upon a double account they being either wasted or at leastwise poured forth and extravagant The Animal spirits being wasted in the brain The Consumption of the animal spirit is cause of an Apoplexy if they were only impaired or too few whence follows a weakness of the brain its functions also must be weakned as hath been said in the Weakness of the mind but if they be altogether or so far consumed as that not only a weakness of the functions do follow but a total Oblition of them there wil be a grievous Apoplexy and suddenly killing the Patient of which we have oftentimes seen old men die of and the common People still hath believed it caused from a Flegmatick Humor as we see the vital Spirit being impared there follows a want of strength but being wholly consumed Death The Animal Spirits being shed or poured forth from the Brain into the Nerves continuous with the Brain for they can be extravagant no where else Too great a pouring forth of the Animal Spirit from the Brain into the Nerves is the cause of a Stupidity of divers kinds of a Catalepsis and Epilepsie whenas they can consist no where but in the Brain and Nerves then it happens that the Internal sense either all or some do cease according as a greater or less quantity of them leaves the Brain but the motive power is no waies abolisht since as those Spirits do yet persist in the Nerves neither are the Nerves left destitute of them as it comes to pass in a resolution their passage from the Brain to the Nerves being then hinderd furthermore since that the Animal spirit is contained also in the Nerves as well as in the Brain of which they are portions though the the Functions of the Brain may cease for a while yet they nevertheless may still for a time exercise the power of moving which they contain in themselves the which also we may very well guess doth proceed rather from the Nerves then the Brain in some creatures who excel more in motion then in the senses because they have none or a very little Brain but a marrow of the Back large and plentiful part of which also cut off from the rest yet nevertheless moves for a while and this is the true and Legitimate cause why the senses being abolisht yet motion nevertheless may persist for a time in sinding out of which both the ancient and moderne Physitians have so much tormented themselves and delivered their far different opinions viz. This effusion of the Spirits into the Nerves which proceeding chiefly from two causes produceth accidents somwhat diverse as shall presently be explained The first of which is the too much Vehement and Persevering operation of the internal Senses by which as in great passions of the Heart we see the vital Spirits so carried forth that thence follows a Fainting away and so if there be a dissipation of the Animal Spirits into the Organs of the external senses by a more vehement Cogitation and intention upon some thing it may come to pass that as men astonisht they may be lightly stupid and either by and by they returning again they may come to themselves or if they continue longer those diverse Species of a Catalepsis may proceed which we have demonstrated in the explication of the former kinds to have somtimes happen'd from too much Study or Love or some other great affects of the Minde especially Melancholly whence it came to pass that many have put a Melancholly juyce as the Cause of a Catalepsis In which if the Spirits being not wholly poured forth some portions of them remain in the Brain some Sences also wil remain the other ceasing and as they are poured forth into the Nerves Motion may also either at least remain or exercise it self with a rigidness without concussion if there be no contraction of the nerves as shal be said in an Epilepsie and this seems very likely to be the cause of the diversity of Species of a Catalepsis as we have shewed formerly in diverse Histories of it yet as also if the spirits be so carried forth by a violent affect of the Minde that for awhile they cannot recollect themselves we have seen them fal down like to the Epileptical their pulse remaining by which they were distinguisht from those that faint away and some when they made a speech or despute at great meetings by reason of the too great contention of the Minde and Senses fear somtimes or shame coming upon them the Spirits being troubled have sufferd the like from whence perhaps because the same was wont to happen for this reason at some meetings an Epilepsie was called the Comitial Disease In which vehement motions of the Minde as it may come to pass so it is commonly believed also that from Anger Convulsions may easily proceed which opinion happily had its rise because in those disposed the fit is by this means promoted unless perhaps this may happen by the stirring of Choller through Anger as we shal declare by and by But the other and more frequent Cause of pouring out the Spirit into the Nerves from whence follow the more grievous Symptoms of an Epilepsie and Catalepsis is an irritation of the Brain such a one by which its expulsive faculty stirred up rising to cast of that which is troublesome to it doth together drive forth the Spirits as Nature every where feeling pain and trouble is wont to thrust Spirits thither and together with them blood also oftentimes so powerfully that there follows an inflamation of that part which receives them Which trouble or irritation of the Brain indeed they demonstrate to happen rather by consent and compassion with some part then from its proper effect because we see Convulsions happen rather from an affect and Disease of another part Somtimes also far distant from the Brain then of the Brain it self as from a Nerve Prickt or some violent Medicine taken where as if it did happen from some grievous Disease of the Brain as indeed it must needs be a grievous Disease which must induce so vehement a Symptone the accidents of Convulsions which it causeth would not so soon
the Heart the stomach being to ful they sleep unquietly the which happens also to them who suffer any other trouble in Diseases as to those that are very thirsty who watch by reason of the thirst or if these kind of people do sleep they are tormented also in their dreams with a desire to drink as it betides them also who are vext with a difficulty of breathing in divers Diseases of the Breast and in a Dropsie that they cannot sleep or if they do sleep being straitend with danger of suffocation they have also such Dreams The senses also being too much moved by themselves by a vehement intention of the minde upon some things the spirits being stirred at it comes to pass in vehement and lasting passions of the Minde viz. in Joy Anger Fear Sadness Love they are afflicted with too much watchings or if they do sleep nevertheless they are exagitated in Dreams with their affections and also so many Species and Images of things arising from the studies of divers Sciences Arts and human actions being apprehended and imprinted on the Brain do not only exercise the Memory of the waking so that they sleep less but being obsersant to them sleeping and moving the Spirits they spring forth again in their dreams And those things which we met withal either the same day or the precedent daies or a long while before do represent themselves either in the same form that they were in or from a mixture of them diverse forms springing up wonderful apparitions ofter themselves to us which either have not happend or are not to be found in Nature And hence it comes to pass that oftentimes such Dreams by reason of their enormity are thought portentous the Cause of which notwithstanding is Natural viz this commixture of formes as if one hath seen in the day time a fine Horse and a Man he may Dream that he fees a Centaure and the common People by Reason of the diversity of dreams which t is no wonder that they vary so according to so many conceptions of the Mind do perswade themselves by a great error that every one doth portend somthing Also the manner of lying by which the Animal spirits being moved are less quiet in their seats but do easier change their place make much for the causing of more Turbulent Dreams as we see this may be done in Members retained a long while in a non natural Scituation that suffer a numness by reason of the Spirits hindred and in a Vertigo from a wheeling of the Body by reason of the Spirits running up and down as we see it happens by lying one the Back especially the Head bending downwards the Spirits then from the Head penetrating more the Spinal Marrow and so causing motion and sense that though they be not wakend yet nevertheless they are more exagitated in their Dreams Also a Perturbation of the Spirits of the Brain A Perturbation of the Animal Spirits a Cause of Dreams from Impure Filthy Melancholick Vapors or Humors causeth Grievous and Turbulent Dreams and the like apparitions appearing in Sleep and as pleasant and merry Dreams do shew forth a healthful Constitution so these sad and borrid Dreams for the most part shew a Melancholick Constitution and oftentimes Diseases to come and in Diseases of this Nature generated of Melancholly and a Malignat matter together with other accidents of the Brain and Dotages they do vehemently Exagitate a man and also cause watchings but Dioscorides also writes that terrible Dreams are caused from certain things taken as if Beans Lentils Fitches be eaten and also if the seeds of Bind weed and Venemous Tree Trefoile be taken doubtless the Spirits being wont to be troubled by their strength they are cause Dreams A hot Distemper of the Brain A hot Distemper of the Brain is the cause of watchings and Dreams also heating the Spirits because it makes them unquiet may be the Cause both of Watchings and Preternatural Dreams which somtimes happens from hot Vapors proceeding from things taken as hot Meats and especially Wine which though it cause sleep by its Narcotickness yet it breeds unquiet Dreams a hot Evaporation from Humors or Excrements or the Bloody Humor it self inflaming the Brain as they do produce a pain of the Head so also Raving Watchings and Grievous Turbulent Dreams and such as resemble the Nature of the Humor oftentimes in Feavers in a Phrensie and other hot Diseases The Cure In the Cure we must respect the Cause and the Symptome The Cure of Dreams from a preternatural Cause but we have said the Cause of watchings and Dreams was from God the Devil Custome an Agitation and Perturbation of the Spirits and heat of the Brain The Dreams sent by God because they are good and nothing proceeds from God but what is good or tends to a good end we cannot nor onght not to change the tricks of the Devil are turnd away by Prayers Fasting amendment of life and a stedfast Faith Custome as a second Nature is not easily changed The Cure of watchings and Dreams from Custome but by a contrary Custome wherefore they that are wont to be raised at a certain hour of night let them go to bed later or some other way let them change this Custome and in time of sleep as much as they can let them abstain from deep thoughts also if Dreams do so accustomarily vex men that they are unquiet Skip Talk Walk then they are somtimes to be wakened by frighting for hence it comes to pass that that fear repeated at length offering it self to them in their Dreams doth rouse them up of their own accord and by degrees turnes them from this evil Custome As one that was wont to walk in the night being somtimes beaten with rods at length left off this Custome and that Cobler who because he thought in his Dreams that he was sowing and with opening his Arms as they are wont to do drawing their thred he smote his companion by him being oftentimes soundly kickt again by the same man feigning himself to Dream that he was riding at last he was freed from this Error But if they be compeld to watch or grieved with Dreams from the too great plenty of Spirits the Causes which exagitate them must first be turned away as if sleep be hindered by too much light or noise or they sleep unquietly these things must be declined by inducing of darkness and rest if affects of the Minde do cause it as hath been said in that Species of Alienation of Minde they must be corrected and those things be given which can bring gladness and also procure rest as Wine but especially if too great an intention upon some thing and Ratiocination made on it do hinder sleep and the minde cannot be drawn from it to take rest sleep is the easier procured after this manner The minde being called away from the former by the Meditation of another thing as we do observe those
that watch a nights if they be devoutly very intent on their Prayers to God forgetting other cares they do sooner fall a sleep but if some trouble make men watchful or disturbe them in their sleep as thirst then salt things which do cause that must be omitted especially at Supper and Sleep must be expected which supervenient is wont to quench thirst if it persevere it must be amended as shall be said in its place so also if they sleep unquietly by reason of fulness a sparing and sober Supper is wont to correct this fault and that chiefly if they sleep not presently after the taking of meat if a difficulty of breathing contracted by their lying down do so vex them that they cannot sleep they must be so placed upright that they may breath free And yet the Body may rest at shall be explained in a Dyspnaea as also if by lying on the Back they are troubled with grievous Dreams if they sleep on their side with their Head more lift up they shall be less oppressed If also a great pain in some Disease do hinder sleep as this is most frequent and that cannot be mitigated by any other means by soporiferous medicines we shall with the same labor procure sleep and mitigate pain because they induce a Stupidity rather giving them inwardly if great necessity do urge because so they do work more powerfully as with Wine or if we must use stronger Syrup of Poppy and other Opiates or we must use Vnguents applied to the Temples and Forehead such as Populeum and Lotions of the Feet which for the procuring of sleep also can do much as in Hypnoticks divers of that sort shall be explained If watchings or Dreams proceed from a perturbation of the Spirits The Cure of Dreams from a Perturbotion of the Spirits the Cause also must be taken away which if it proceed from Meat or Medicine we must have a care of making use of any Pulse and other things that Evaporate upwards if this happen from Vapors or Humors by diligently searching out what Excrement sends forth its vapors upwards what humor offends and being intent upon the emptying of these if there be a plenitude by Bleeding if a Cacochymie Purging by giving those things also which do repress vapors especially after supper and chiefly by the Diet at Supper being moderate taking care that the like be not ingendred nor ascend we shall compleat the scope of Curing If a distemper of the brain cause Watchings and Dreams and there is a certain hot evaporation from meat or chiefly from Wine as we have said cold things being taken at the end of meals as was said of Vinegar and other things which do actually refrigerate will correct it upon which account some if they drink cold Water when they go to sleep their rest is the sweeter but if this happen in diseases then those things which are convenient for curing the disease seeing they are cold wil also do good here especially if soporiferous and narcotick be mixt with those things which are applied inwardly and outwardly as hath been explained in Ravings and hot Head-aches CHAP. V. Of the hurt of Feeling The Kinds THe Sense of Feeling is first hurt Stupidity when it it is abolisht and it is called a Stupidity or Narce not for that reason as when the functions of the mind are abolisht we call it a Stupidity or stupidness of mind or when from the immoderate passion of the mind we say they are astonisht so that oftentimes though they be wounded yet they feel it not till they come to themselves again but here it is properly called Stupidity when a part is so deprived of the sense of feeling with which it was endued that it can no longer perceive the qualities of the thing objected and that either altogether not perceiving as if it were dead or otherwise very impairedly as if as it is commonly said it were asleep Otherwise a stupidity is general at once happenning to many parts of the body which most commonly happens in a Palsey motion being abolisht together with sense in which the palsied member either is wholly stupid or only in part somtimes a stupidity seizeth first before motion is abolisht and goes before a Palsey and at last ends it that general sttpidity is seldom found alone yet Fernelius testisies that he saw the like happen from Drunkenness in which the body was all over stupid A particular stupidity happens only to certain parts not only to those affected with a particular Palsey but that somtimes is wont to happen to parts that are not palsied sometimes in the Hands Feet Face as I had after an Epidemical disease a stupidity left me in part of my Hip for many years and perhaps that may happen intrinsecally in the Bladder and Fundament not only when they are palsied but also only the sense of feeling being abolisht they lose their goad and are not solicited to excretion to perform it rightly and it may be the cause why some are sometimes so slow to stool and piss as shal be said there but also in those parts endued with sense of feeling which are no waies moved with voluntary motion and therefore cannot be palsied as the Skin Membranes inward bowels Stomach Guts this solitary Stupidity may happen as wel as in others which are moved The sense of Feeling is depraved not when it is so affected by its object that there is a sad sensation which they call pain and refer it to the sense of feeling depraved but we because it then percieves its object such as it is and as it offers it self do think that pain is not to be refer'd to the depraved sense but rather to the simple accidents amongst the symptoms as we shal say in its place but when it perceives falsly and errs as it were as the other senses do when they think they See Hear Tast those things which are no waies such as are represented the feeling we say if it be thus affected doth perceive depravedly Such is that sense which from the touch of any thing feels it not rightly but the patt feels in it self somwhat else A Fornication as when they feel a certain running up and done through a part as it were of Ants whence the Modern have called this affect a Formication Also that other sence when a member touched with Air or Water they depravedly feel it to be affected and perfused A false sense of heat cold without and within as if they were excessively cold or bnrning hot To which also is added a new Species more rare first of all somtimes observed by me that is a troublesome sense of the Air or Water Hot or Cold about the Gullet and Stomach chiefly manifesting it self in swallowing a symptom somtimes befalling the Paralitical or Convulsed with difficulty of Swallowing Speaking Laughing Coughing as shall be shewed in them or also without the resolution of those parts very much tormenting
men only with this troublesom sense Hither also is refer'd the Sense of vehement and intollerable heat with which we have seen a Man troubled in his Jawes and Cheeks and a Woman also on the sides of her Tongue without any appearance even to the last very long for many years Which Sensation we may refer to the depraved sense of Feeling or if this happen the member being half stupid and nevertheless perceiving this trouble whence Archigenes called it a stupid pain not so unhansomly as he is reprehended for it by Galen we may at least refer it to the sense of Feeling impaired or hold it an Affect compounded of these Whither also we refer that troublesome sense which somtimes is wont to besall the Teeth in chewing which they call Haemodia Haemodia and count it a stupidity of the Teeth To which also seems due to be ascribed that sense of the highest pain which the Fingers being cooled even to a stupidity and suddenly again Heated reaching even to the roots of the Nails by reason of the praeceding stupidity yet because here happens a high and lasting Pain by reason of the sudden change and alteration we shal refer it to pains and there explain it The Causes The Cause almost of every true Stupidity lies in a Nerve which may be in every Nerve seeing every Nerve is endued with the sense of feeling and doth communicate the same to the part into which it is inserted with an influx of the animal spirit and communication of its own substance as we have taught in our Anatomical work the which being thus affected that communication is intercepted or wholly or in part impeded if this come to pass in a Nerve which being inserted into a Muscle together with the sense of feeling doth give it motion too it must needs be that both a Resolution and Stupidity do happen together as shall be said in a Palsey which when it comes to pass in a general Nerve affected and communicated to many parts there must needs follow also a more general hurt common to many Muscles An affect of the motary Nerve is the Cause of a stupidty hapning with a Palsie Resolution or without it and yet not only to them but also to the Skin and Membranes seeing from the Nerves of the Muscles branches carried to these parts also do bestow on them the sense of feeling but if it happen in some private Nerve carried to one part only then it must needs be that that only is hurt as this shal be more fully explained in the Resolution of Voluntary motion or a Palsey seeing this Function which is abolisht is the more excellent But from the forementioned affect of the same Nerve whether it be a general or particular one it may come to pass that Motion may languish or cease the sense of feeling remaining nevertheless either entire or at leastwise obtusely seeing for the exercise of motion there is required a greater firength of spirits than to feeling as also shal be explained in a Palsey Yet it may also come to pass that a Nerve being affected An affect of the sensitive Nerve is the Cause of stupidity without a resesolution there may only be a Stupidity motion still remaining in the part viz. if only a sensitive Nerve be affected which ends not in the Muscles but in the Skin or a Membrane or only in their other immovable bowels which eminent cutaneous Nerves we have shewed in the divisions of the great Nerves are only implicated in the Skin and Membranes and carried to the natural parts Nerves of the fixth and seventh conjugation do only communicate the sense of feeling to many of those parts which are not moved and other sensitive Nerves are carried from the motary Nerves inserted in the Muscles to those parts also which are not moved which sensitive Nerves or motary Nerves also being hurt but carried out of the Muscle then it happens that that part only becomes stupid into which they are inserted either altogether or in part according to the greatness of the hurt yet the cause of all which may be the same as that of a Resolution only differing in the diverse seat Also that Depraved sense of Formication so called The affects both of the motary and sensitive Nerves cause Formication with trouble in the parts may happen by reason of any Nerve whatsoever both Sensitive and Motary to wit then when the Animal spirit being retained a while in the stupid or palsied Member doth run back again into it with a certain force and violence the impediment being taken away for then about the extremity of the Member especially as about the Fingers whether the spirit is carried at the first violence or elsewhere also where it reacheth an itching and sense of pricking doth trouble them up and down the spirit every where pricking as it were and tickling the member so long til they being sufficiently flowed to it the part return to its ancient absolute sense of feeling the which also somtimes happens upon the strong percussion or smting of some sensible Nerve as on that which wound about the gibbous part of the elbow runs forth to the little and ring-finger which being violently forced by a fall these two fingers suffer that sense of Formication for a while til the Nerve which was comprest by the blow be dilated again and the spirit being sufficiently transmitted the which also may happen in other places in cutaneous Nerves As also a Nerve being filled with the Afflux of a cold humor The affect of a Nerve both motary and sensitive induceth a depraved sense of heat or cold the members which are affected do perceive a Sense of that Air or of Cold Water as we find with our Tongue the like cold air comes forth out of a hollow Tooth that is troubled with a cold defluxion The which hot Air or Water from the plenty and violence of a hot spirit which cannot pass a Nerve obstructed being there plentifully gathered together by its heat giving such a sense in like manner as was said of the Cold molests the member which it affects which as it may happen in all the Nerves that bring resolution also or stupidity so also it happens in them which from the sixth and seventh conjugation give motion and sense to the vital and natural parts it produceth about the Stomach and Gullet that heat we meet with as hath been said the Causes of which we shal more rightly explain in a Palsey seeing that doth either go before or accompany or follow these affects That the Cause of Stupidity may be in the Instrument of the sense of feeling An affect of the membranes skin producing stupidity without palsying to wit in the skin and Membranes seems very likely seeing their substance is made up of a Nerve dilated not when the native heat being wholly extinguished these parts die by a Gangrene but when they are stupid only so that
these instruments of sense either feel nothing or obtusely the which Fernelius hath writ hath somtimes hapned in the skin of the whol body as hath bin already said from Drunkenness in which case if Wine did not do this by its Narcotick vertue because it caused a general stupidity as hath been said in a Consternation of mind certainly it s Narctick faculty did manifest it self only in abolishing the sense of the Skin the which notwithstanding could scarce be done by Wine or other Narcoticks but also the vertue of the brain and Nerves must be dulied too and therefore after the Drunkenness was over perhaps by reason of the external coldness of the Air in which Drunkards oftentimes lie astonisht it might befall this Drunkard also his skin being thus stupified seeing the cold from without being a long while received perhaps may sometimes cause such a stupidity in some part of the skin which endured this cold for otherwise this can scarce happen from an internal cause bur how it hath hitherto been beleeved that the insensible and stupid skin of the Elephantiacal is rendred so from some internal cause and Disease of the skin that being prickt it feels not and upon what account that is true we shal declare in the Elephantiasis Neither could I ever find that by an external Narcotick applied to the skin that could be rendred stupid or free from pain that I might know somwhat certain I have applied a Mass of Opium mollified to a Gouty part full of pain but without any profit but what they write for truth that this may be done from the touch of a Torpedo not only taken in the hand but also if it be toucht with a Fishers Rod it wil stupifie his hand I seeing I observed no such thing at Moâ—tpelior where they handle and eat Torpedoes dare not affirm it for truth wherefore we say this disease is rare and which can scarce happen that the skin only became insensible the member which it covers not being stupid too by reason of the Nerve affected unless perhaps occasion be given when by reason of an impediment that the Skin being more thick and hard then that it can perceive the true feeling of any thing exactly we would call it the cause of that Stupidity the which notwithstanding is no waies a true Stupidity The Membranes also being Intrinsecally affected and Nerves not hurt too a Stupidity can scarce happen for their sake only And neither is that Stupidity which befals the Teeth or rather that trouble when the teeth are an edge from the Teeth alone An affect of the Nerves about the Teeth causeth a Haemodia because they are distitute of the sense of feeling as other Bones but that the Teeth are too much exasperated and refrigerated by the eating of acid and cold things which both by their thinness and coldness are enemies to the Teeth and Nerves that happens from the continuation of the Nerves and the sensible Membrane with their roots by which it comes to pass that the Tooth it self seems to feel The like Distemper may be imprest by contact on that part where the Teeth touch and so their feeling being changed as when the Teeth being prest in chewing they press them as swelling up thence ariseth that trouble some sense which they call the Teeth an edge The Cure The Cure of a Stupidity because it hath joyned with it other The Cure of a Stupidity from what cause soever and for the most part grievous Symptomes which proceed from the same cause it shall rather be explained in them that we need not repeat the same cure twice as if it be by fault of the Nerves as we have said that all Stupidity happens by reason of them and there be a resolution also the same cure is due to them both as shall be explained in a Palsie or though that be not yet present but only a Stupidity possesseth the part yet because it proceeds from the same cause as a Palsie doth whence they call Stupidity a Diminute or imperfect Palsey with the same labor the Cure of it also will be described there The sum of which Cure is this That if it be from a Humor it be emptied if from blood by the taking away of Blood by Revulsion and Derivation if from flegm or other Excrementitious Hnmors by purging it out with general and particular Purgers if from any other external cause by removing of that in the first place also by refreshing and strengthning the Nerves with things that alter Then that we Allure and Attract the Animal Spirit to the stupid part which is destitute of it by things that do it actually and potentially the which shall be explained in a Palsie and Atrophy because they attract the blood also amongst which these are chiesly used in the Cure of a Stupid Member By Friction of the Stupid part with the Hand applying also warm clothes by Application of Cupping-glasses with much Flame by Pication also often repeated and by other things that cause pain we allure the Spirits Also rubefying Sinapismes are used applyed to the â—ffected part anointings with divers hot Oyls amongst which that is chiefly commended in which Nettle-seed hath been boyled also Time Rue and other things appropriate to the Nerves are commended and other Oyntments which we are wont to use in an Atrophy we use here also Fomentations and Baths of warm water first a little warm by and by hotter are convenient increasing the heat by degrees to which we add somtimes Wine and Lie and oftentimes we boyle in it Time Rue Sage Chamomel and hot Seeds A Cataplasm of Pigeons dung Goose dung adding Bay-berries is approved of also with Oyls and Fat 's and hot Herbs The treading of Grapes if the Feet be stupid or if the stupid Member be thrust into a heap of fresh Grapes whiles they are hot or be dipt in new Wine are accounted for singular remedies in turning away the Stupidity Also the which forementioned Topick Remedies applied to the whol Body may do good if the Stupidity come from a too great refrigeration of the Skin and the Nerves lying under it And if a depraved or impaired sense of feeling arise in the said Formication or with a sense of that Air or Water The Cure of Formication and the false sense of heat and cold because here also is some Stupidity it shall be cured after the same manner But if in the same sense depraved the pain doth exceed the Stupidity as in the Stupidity of the Teeth The Cure of a Haemodia Tobe explained in the pain of the Teeth as also of the pain about the Nailes which they call Haemodia or in the pain of the fingers reaching unto the Nailes as hath been said the Cure shall be more rightly explained in the pains of those parts which are afflicted CHAP. VI. Of the hurt of Tasting The Kinds THe Tasting faileth because the Gustatory instrument doth not perceive at all
of vehement motion hath obtained not only its proper Nerves but also hath received another from the auditory Nerve for that cause breaking forth of the chamber of hearing by whose means the Tongue is continuous with that the which being hurt it comes to pass that the Tongue although the senses remain yet is not sufficiently moved to utter speech seeing a greater force is required for motion than to perfect the sense neither doth it hinder that that is only a sensory Nerve of which the Tongue is here deprived seeing we have often proved already that every Nerve hath in it a power of moving and Feeling the which it doth also exercise being carried to a convenient Instrument By reason of the Drum the Hearing is more commonly weakned if as we see in a Souldiers Drum covered with skin if it be not whole or not sufficiently retcht or too much The Drum wounded seeing it can no more resound breeds Deafness the which seeing it lies hid it seldom comes to pass unless an Ear-picker be thrust in perforce the vulgar think it may happen from the Insect Scolopendra which they cal in the German language Orenmettel as it were the Worm of the Ear which may easily creep in in Gardens but seeing if either that or any thing else which may hurt should creep in it is easily remedied this can scarce yet be done as neither from matter retained seeing that is wont presently to flow forth and I have often seen very much flow forth without any hurt unless by chance the Ulcer of the Ears be so deep that an abscess being made the Drum also is hurt If the Drum be slackly and conveniently retcht it can no more give a Sound which as it somtimes happens by force from a violent sound a Clamor made in the Ears or from the blow of a Gun shot off by the Ear so also by continuance of time long use and much hearing especially of great sounds being so often beaten upon and rendred slacker it makes difficult hearing in old folks which seems to be the frequent cause of their thick hearing The which also may happen from much moisture or Unctuosity of Oyl or other Liquors be often poured into the Ears the which is wont to be done somtimes for a long while to restore the Hearing lost for fome other Cause Also being too much retcht and so tied up that being beaten upon by the external Aire it cannot yeild at all it becomes unprofitable And this happens when either by reason of Age or after acute Diseases it is too much dryed and harden'd The which as it may befal all other Membranes so this also and by so much the easier and more frequently becauss it hath no moist Bodies neer it nor is not anointed with fat as many other Membranes are but is free unless in its compass where it grows to them And perhaps this is not the least cause of difficult Hearing which oftentimes is wont to grow upon the aged and is left in people recovering after Diseases Which Exiccation of the Drum Rhazes writes may happen after watchings and fastings The mutual Construction and Coarticulation or Conformation of the three smal Bones being Vitiated brings hurt to the Hearing which may happen from the Birth from implanted Causes or from violent Adventitious Causes as a blow fall and vehement sound the Drum to which they adhere being most commonly affected too In the divers Passages Cavities and Meanders meeting there if any thing be not right from the Birth doubtless it also offendeth the Hearing A cold Destemper as it is an enemy to the Nerves A cold Distemper is the Cause of the defect of Hearing Membranes and Bones so it is very hurtful to the structure of the Organ of Hearing which is composed of them and so much the more because the Eares alwaies lye naked and open to the external cold Aire and so are the easier hurt by external things as the cold winde especially penetrating through the Auditory passage even to the Drum and there cooling the hidden parts and the Nerve it self Whence somtimes Deafness and frequently an impediment in the Hearing have followed the which also is one of the principal causes why in cold places as the Alps and windy places they commonly are sooner sensible of a defect of Hearing the which also may happen from most cold water falling into the Eares by chance or in swimming And the too much use of Narcoticks The use of Narcoticks the cause of the defect of Hearing somtimes to the Eares doth so affect the Nerve not by cooling but by too much stupefying it that it can no more return to it self which last cause is to be refer'd to weakness The Cure The Cure of all the hurts of Hearing which are as Deafness thick Hearing Tingling Hissing Pulsation Fluctuation Noise is first to be fitted to the Cause Which we have said was either in the Brain affected either by it self or by consent from a Vapor or the object or in the outward Cavity of the Eare a Stoppage obstructions from external Causes or things fallen in or internal Humors Tumors or in the inner Chamber of the Hearing repletion or trouble from a Spirit Vapor Winde Humor or a fault of Conformation or Construction or a Distemper of all which we shall speak what is to be hoped and what to be done By reason of an affect of the Brain if the Hearing be hurt together with other senses and the cause lye there and not yet in the Instrument we must proceed after the same manner as hath been said in the hurts of the sight from the like cause as if this come to pass from a Vapor affecting the Brain by consent no other Remedies must be applied then those in a Vertigo which we said were convenient in a Depravation of the sight If the Hearing suffer a defect from some Impetuous external sound The Cure of the hurt of Hearing from a violent sound somtimes they return to themselves of their own accord otherwise hardly or never viz. when the Spirits are so dissipated that they can no more return back or not sufficiently Whence there is left a Perpectual tingling Or if the drum impulsed by the force of the Aire be too much hurt and laxt a Deafness or thick Hearing is ever after troublesome to the man Yet nevertheless by applying Cupping-glasses about the Ears and by Frictions and other hot things outwardly and inwardly appropriate to the Ears we must endeavor to draw back the spirit having respect to the constitution of the Body of which we will treat by and by If the Hearing be intercepted by the stopping of the Ears extrinsccally The Cure of the defect of Hearing from the stoppage of the Eares it is easily corrected by removing those things which hinder it whether they be only applied extrinsecally or they be thrust in a little way But Bodies fallen in or thrust in The Cure for things fallen
Arms Hands and Fingers to stand or go with the Thighs and Legs with the mandible which alone of all the Bones in the Head is firm to exercise most stronge Motions firmly to take things and devide them with the Teeth the Motions weaker then these are those which are perfected only in the fleshy and menbranous Members placed in the Face As to open and shut the Mouth and Lips the Ey-brows or Eyes also to move the Eyes the hurts of which Motions have two differences chiefly that either they are defective or depraved Voluntary Motions are defective because they are weakend by themselves or Abolisht for by accident also when by reason of pain in a part its Motion is omitted because it would increase the pain yet it is improperly said that it cannot be moved which case is to be referd to pains where also it shal be explained But Voluntary Motions are debilitated A Weakness of Motion especially the stronger when they are done with a certain weakness in its divers Kinds which are Sluggishness Weariness after labor a Spontanious Weariness which we will explain together in the first Chapter of the Weakness of Motion Voluntary Motions are abolisht Impotency of Motion both the strong and the weaker when they are not perfected at all or at least wise not so much as was needful as it is wont to come to pass in its diverse kinds the chief of which are a Palsy Spasme Contraction and their diverse Species as a Flatulent Spasme a Trisme a wreathing of the Mouth a Doglike Spasme a Gibbus Strabisme c. of which we will treat together under the title of Impotency of Motion in the second Chapter Voluntary Motions are depraved The Depravation of Morion chiefly the strong but with them the weaker also when they proceed not rightly or more then was fitting as it happens in some of its kinds which are chiefly Restlesness Trembling Palpitation Rigor Horror Retching Gaping Tinckling of the Eyes which shall be handled in Depraved Motion Chap. III. All motions of Breathing also are apparent to the senses and are perfected by divers Organs of the Breast Neck and Jawes and that two waies by drawing in and breathing out the Air which Motion we cannot intermit at our will when nature doth attempt it whence it shall be called Natural Respiration the other is performed only by breathing out the Air with a sound which with our will we can omit and it may be called a Voluntary Expiration or because it vtters a Voice Vocal expiration which also is twofold as it brings forth a Voice simply t is called a Voice but as it makes an Articulate voice t is called Speech the which three Respiration Voice and Speech do vary in that that either they are Defective or Depraved They are defective The defect of Respiration when they are not done or not sufficiently in many kinds of it which are Strangling Suffocation difficulty of breathing Asthma Suffocation of the Womb Night-Mare defect of Voice and Speech Stammering which we will describe together in the Defect of Respiration Chap. IV. They are Depraved when they are done Evil Respiration either not Naturally or Violently in divers kinds as are quick Breathing Sighing Yawning Hiccups Sneezing Cough Hoarsness which shal be explained in Evil Respiration Chap. V. The motions of Excretions under which we may comprehend not only those when some things is cast forth of the body which are naturally perfected by the passages of the body destined for it that fall under the sense and are done by our Will or at leastwise are regulated by it are the passage through the Gullet going to stool Pissing Bringing forth which motions in as much as they are functions of the body are somtimes defective when they are not done or not as much as was convenient somtimes they are depraved when they are not retained to the destined time which come to pass when the excretion is unseasonable or too much but because somthing is rejected in all of them we wil describe in the Rejections all such like natural excretions with those Preternatural but here we wil handle them in as much as these functions are Defective or are not performed One passage through the Gullet or Aesophagus is The defect of passage through the Gullet which is naturally inwards in swallowing but the other by compulsion outwards by vomiting of the kinds of both defects viz. the difficulty of Swallowing and Vomiting we wil treat in the Defect of passage through the Gullet Chap. VI. The one kind of defect of dejections which is performed partly by nature The defect of Stools partly by the wil viz. Costiveness of the Body shall be explained in Defect of Stools Chap. VII The Defects of Pissing The defect of Pissing which the Will effecteth partly and chiefly yet Nature helping which are an Ischury Dvsury are described in the Defect of Pissing Chap. VIII The two kinds of Defect of bringing forth which motion is made by the force of Nature our Will assisting which are a Difficulty of bringing forth and an Imperfect Birth shal be explained in the Defect of bringing forth Chap. IX Involuntary motions are not all of them but some only are conspicuous to the senses which Nature alone doth attempt either for preservation of life called Vital Motions or for Nourishment and are called Nutritive Motions or for Propagation of the kind and and they are named Motions of Generation from whence also proceed three kinds of hurts of Involuntary motions viz. of the Vital of Nutrition and Generation The Vital motions do manifest themselves in our strength and in the motion of the Heart and Pulse of the Arteries which are hurt in this that either they are Defective or Depraved They are defective when they are abolisht or impaired The defect of vital motion in the following kinds a failing of the strength a defect of Courage in the Agony of Death which we shal explain together in The Defect of Vital motion Chap. X. They are depraved when the motion of the Heart and Pulses are too much or amiss Vital motion depraved in these two kinds the Motion and Pulse of the Heart Depraved the Palpitation of the Heart of which we shal treat in the defect of Vital Motion Depraved Chap. XI The Motions of Nutrition or which are made for Nourishments sake being four to wit Attractive Retentive Concoctive and Expulsive cannot all of them be perceived by the Senses neither do we perceive how the Retentive or Concoctive works or when they are hurt by the proper hurt of that motion but we know it by other things which follow from thence But in Attraction we manifestly find that Motion when Nature desires Meat and Drink and in Excretion when Nature expels somwhat out of the Body by its proper force we plainly observe its motion as in other Excretions in which our Will is Auxilary to it whence we meet with
and it is perceived in the Back and Joynts and some parts of the Face somtimes also for the same reason as a Palsie doth by slackning so this by contraction doth prejudice the Speech and Voice which particular Convulsion certainly manifesting themselves in many places are the Foretellers and as it were the Preface and somtimes the beginnings of a general Convulsion or Epilepsie by and by to follow but sometimes are the relicks remaining after a Paroxysm of an Epilepsie that went before which is now cast off as hath been said in an Epilepsie And we have seen also in a certain man a certain Spasm of the Members that hath lasted twenty yeers somtimes abating a little somtimes contracting the Back Feet Arms and moreover with a pain running up and down wonderfully afflicting him so that at the least touch of any thing he would cry out and the pain beginning in that place discovering it self by a yellow speck which presently grew now it runs like an Air into the ends of his fingers by and by into the tip of his Nose and other outward parts at the touch of the which he cryed out and also that Spasm which they call Flatulent is oftentimes wont to molest many parts at once A flatulent Spasm and to be troublesom to certain men by Fits which doth not so much differ from a true Spasm both in the cause and danger Somtimes also Voluntary motions may fail apart An immobility of private parts or a particular Palsie Spasm Contraction is an impotency to exert or bend the body their parts being slackned or convulsed or contracted or otherwise hurt as being now about to explain these in particulars by what means it may come to pass we shal reckon up divers particular kinds of impotency of motion Somtimes a Raising up or Bending of the body cannot be performed the back being palsied which scarce happens to these motions of the back apart but also with other motions taken away too as hath been said in a general Palfie from this Spasm in the back it somtimes happens that t is convulsed as the senses being entire we have sometimes seen that by this means it hath a long time bent one upwards from the bed and again relaxing him smite the bed the which also may happen from a Contraction without a Spasm first of all in general that it cannot be bent and the body remain rigid stretched in that called a Tetanus or Rigor which name although they apply it only to the Back Convulsed A Tetanus Epistotonos Opistothonos are a species of contraction yet we also may apply it to that if it proceed from a Contraction or that it cannot be erected and they go with a crooked body and it inclines either to the foreparts in that called an Epistotonos or to the hinder parts in an Opisthotonos or to either side Also some part only of the Back being contracted its motion is somwhere stopt either some part of the Back bunching forth backwards in that called a Gibbus A Gibbus is a Species of Contraction or towards the sides or which seldomer happens it being bent forwards and that in every one more or less and a greater or lesser portion of it being carried thither whence they cannot erect the Body and they shew it short crooked with an uncomly figure of the breast the breast especially hanging out very much and the Back prest in and the Head inclining backwards if the Back be crookt to the foreparts but the Back appears immoveable also by another means it loosing its motion by a Contusion or Wound Going and Standing Holding things and Handling them somtimes cannot be deformed and that oftentimes the Thighes Arms being palsied but chiefly the Hands Feet and their Fingers and Toes their motions being taken away apart or many together as hath been shewed in a general Palsie and then one part or more so affected do languish and hang and cannot be moved but by the benefit of a sound part and because they are idle they are found cold and moist by the touch and somtimes are insensible or stupid after divers manners as hath been said formerly also some motions of them are sometimes hindred by a Spasm and certain parts causing them either more or fewer are troubled with it not only with that which is called Flatulent which doth so often cramp with the highest torment the Toes of the Feet and somtimes also other parts but also certain rudiments of a true Spasm do create trouble in these places for the same reason as a Flatulent one doth such a one as we have said in the causes of an Epilepfie hath sometimes manifested it self upon the taking of a violent Medicine and also the motions that are performby the Joynts do cease if these parts are contracted which if it be done singly is wont to happen to some one only whence they appear Crooked Bowed or Stiff which is a permanent and frequent evil in the Feet and Hands and their Fingers and Toes in those whom the common people call cramped The Contraction of those which the Germans call Contrakt is a Species of impotency to go or lay hold of a thing although when these parts are palsied and pendulous about the Wrist they are bound up and contracted in the Fingers and Atrophy moreover of the Hands supervening especially betwixt the Thumb and Fore-finger the flesh being wasted there and a conspicuous hollowness appearing an evil most commonly remaining after Collick pains this happens also with another fault of the forementioned parts in form and situation that they cannot be moved when either being abreviated or otherwise crooked bent or hurt in their length or about the Joynts they are found to have changed their scituation and that with pain of the place especially whiles they endeavour to move their Limbs there being joyned somtimes a heat with a tumor and somtimes a hollowness appearing in one part especially about the Joynts they and a certain proturberancy in the opposite place to it as we shal shew in the causes doth befall broken and luxated bones where also we shal explain how an Immobility of these parts doth happen with a Wound and other manifest Hurts Somtimes they cannot take things firmly and divide them with their Teeth when the inward Cavity of the mouth can no waies be shut An Impotency to Bite and Eat but remains open with the Teeth drawn asunder and the Mandible hanging down and that comes to pass without pain that being palsied which seldom happens particularly to that much less in a general Palsie or with pain and trouble that being palsied the mouth standing right or crooked if this come to pass only in one side somtimes there is some other eminent hurt or a solution of Continuity But at other times the Mandible cannot be opend and 't is exactly bound up or only in one side with the Teeth joynd together neither doth it suffer them
to take in meat or any thing else and it is either a Spasm called by a peculiar name Trismos if it befal this part Trismos a Species of Spasm or some other Contraction somtimes the Teeth being set on edg by this trouble they are hindred in chewing of meats Somtimes they cannot shut or open their Mouth An Impotency to open and shut the mouth or decently joyn and disjoyn their Lips which chiefly prejudiceth Sucking and Supping and then the Lips either are wanting or they hang down being palsied chiefly in a general Palsie seldom in a particular Palsie only of this part but most commonly it happens in the Palsie only of one side that this motion might not altogether perish seeing both the right and left part of the mouth joyned together makes one month one side of which being hurt the other remaining moveable doth draw the immoveable side then the Lips with the Cheeks hang down on one side only As also if they be convelled or contracted on one side they also are drawn thither upwards A wreathing of the mouth is a species of Spasm And because then in both sorts one part of the mouth hanging downwards or drawn upwards the mouth is rendred Oblique Wreathed as it is wont to appear in those that cry whether it be from a Resolution or Convulsion or Contraction they have called it a wreathing of the mouth But if the Lips with the Cheeks are drawn together on both sides in a Spasm then the Mouth is wont to be seen drawn transverse as in men Laughing or in Dogs when they gape being angered The Dog-like Spasm a species of Spasm and they call it a Dog-like Spasm as indeed Laughing also and Crying are kinds of a certain particular Spasm or Cramp seeing they do involuntarily so distort the mouth as by and by shal be said in the Causes Somtimes also they cannot cover and hide their Eyes with their Eye-lids An Impotency to open and shut the Eyes and the Eye remains bare and open and is more exposed to external injuries which evil some call Gessa and whom this befalls they rest not commodiously in sleep which is best acted with the Eyes shut Seeing being so hindred which discommodity may also come to pass by a Palsie for although it were palsied nevertheless it would remain collected in the upper part of the Eye for so the Eyelid ought naturally to be when it is not drawn whence also in the dead their Eyes remain open but this yet scarce happens unless the Palsie be altogether general as in the Apoplectical their Eyes continue open but as this sometimes happens from a Tumor which then also appears too so frequently that the Eyebrow and Eyelids when the Cheeks palsied do hang downwards do somwhat appear depending on the outer side also But if the Eye cannot at all be opend then the Eyelids drawn over the Eye and gathered together do hinder the sight but if they be only lightly drawn asunder then they are said to wink with their Eyes the which notwithstanding in some doth more rightly direct their sight than hinder it this also scarce happens from a Spasm that the Eye is wholly covered unless this fall out with an impediment of the motion of the Eye as shal be said by and by as it is that the Eyebrow is somwhat drawn down with the Cheeks yet somtimes that also comes to pass from some private hurt or Tumor of it which sometimes meeting in the Eyelid or Eye bring such an Impediment as shall be said there in sleep they wink naturally The rowling or moving of the Eye is scarce abolished An Impotency to rowl the Eyes unless in an Apoplexy with which those that are taken have their Eyes fixt and alwaies with the same aspect as hath been said there and in Convulsions also they appear Convelled Contorted and as they call it Broken Yet somtimes also a certain short Spasm or Cramp as it doth convell the other Members so the Eyes also with a certain pain not suffering them so long to be rowled as neither the Eyelids to be opened The which befals some rouzed out of a deep sleep that whiles they endeavor to open and move their Eyes seeing they are bound up as it were with a Spasm yet they cannot do it last but with Labour and Pain Somtimes also Squinting is caused Squinting a sort of Contraction rather by a Contraction from the birth than by a Convulsion the Eye being somwhat perverted and the Eye a little turned hither and thither looking upon one not streight but obliquely it rather gives a stern Aspect than hinders the Sight seeing the apple is scarce carried so far as to be hid by the Eyelids The Causes Every Cause of the kinds of voluntary motions hurt both of the stronger and weaker which we call impotencies is either in the Organ sending or communicating the power of moving not in the principal the brain for then also the internal senses should cease together with motion as hath been said in their hurts which comes not to pass here but 't is in a Nerve or the Instrument which moveth a Muscle or in the part which is moved as we shal now explain The Nerves under which name we comprehend both the Spinal marrow and Nerves seeing they are portions of the brain The cause of a Palsie in the Nerves every where ful of animal spirit which by conferring their proper substance on the parts with the spirit do communicate the power of moving feeling if they be so hurt that they can no more do that than one or more Muscles into which they are inserted loosing that power of moving and no more attracting the member which it ought to move there follows a resolution of it or Palsie that is it becomes languid and unfit for motion the sound part then as they say drawing the sick and if the hurt be vehement the sense of Feeling also is taken away too not only in the Muscle but in the Skin drawn over it which receives sensory Nerves from the same Nerve that is hurt Or if the hurt be not so great because greater force is required to exercise Motion then to confer the sense of Feeling this sense may subsist either whol or impaired yet the Motion being taken away as also if another cause moreover be joyned there may also be felt a pain or trouble too in the part although it be immoveable or hardly moved as we shall now describe both what Nerve and by what Disease affected doth produce the diverse Species of Palsies This hurt of the spinal marrow often happens seeing it is very much exposed to external injuries and because it lies under the Brain fit to receive its excrements which if it be affected in the beginning of its passage made by the Brain through the Back-bone next to the Brain by depriving all the Nerves which spring from that of the Animal spirit it
yet if a trembling arise from thence we advise the same Remedies especially the Topical mentioned in a Palsie which help the Nerves rather by strengthening and somwhat binding as Rondoletius wil have it than by affecting them with an eminent heat And we wash the trembling parts with the Decoctions before quoted If the trembling arise from Narcoticks and their force causes it how it must be broken hath been said in a Numness but if the Trembling remain the same Topicks shal be tried which by strengthening do heat also not because the Nerves are cooled by Narcoticks as they think but because when they are stupid they are stirred up by heat But if Drunkeness with Wine hath caused a trembling either it ceaseth of its own accord if it be not accustomary but if Drunkenness hath been already a long while continued the Trembling arising thence is hardly any more taken away especially when Drunkards have contracted so perverse a habit that unless they fil themselves again with Wine and are heated by it as hath been said in the Causes they are troubled more with the Trembling yet in the interim they may mend this perverse kind by Temperance and Sobriety of life also the Remedies that strengthen the Nerve wil do good both given and applied In that called a Rigor if it be gentle The Cure of a Rigor from acrid Humors or only a Horror seeing it doth not much trouble or continue long we need not take pains to correct it and also if it be vehement seeing Nature by that in the beginning of Feavers doth endeavor to expel the hurtful matter neither is it then easily to be curbed or Natures Motion to be hindred as neither if it go before a Crisis seeing Hippocrates saith a Rigor coming upon a Burning Feaver it s dissolved But if it so trouble the body together with a troublesome sense of Cold that the sick suffers it with a great deal of trouble and are weakned by it then 't is rather to be mitigated then wholly to be hindered seeing this cannot be done without dammage and the Rigor being wholly taken away the course of the whol Feaver is stopt or is caused that it is not decently so that though those Remedies which suffer not the Rigor to break forth are beleeved to cure a Feaver yet by retarding it they do rather cause that afterwards it follows worse or is changed into more grievous accidents unless perhaps that unprofitable Rigor persist rather from custom than the Morbifick cause which is already taken away for then also it must be wholly prevented as these things have been largely explained in Feavers Also by what means the Fit of the whol Feaver may be hindred with the Rigor hath been likewise taught in Feavers but for Mitigation of it the things following wil suffice If the body be somwhat actually heated for whiles we provide against cold also the Rigor is appeased which is with less hurt done in the Feet heating them with Cloaths or other waies as with warm water in a Brass Vessel or with Stones or Tiles heated and wrapt in a cloth Diverting the matter by Frictions and Ligatures of the extream parts we amend the Rigor That is â—â—fly performed by anoynting the Back-bone with any heating Oyls and proper to the Nerves As Take of Oyl of Chamomel Dill St. Johns wort each half an ounce anoynt it first besprinkling the hands with Aqua vitae Or after this manner Take of the flowers of Chamomel St. Johns wort the Leaves of Southernwood dried poudered each two drams Pellitory of Spain one dram pour as much Oyl of Nuts as to cover them Aqua vitae two drams boyl them strain it and anoynt the Back-bone Or of Juyces and Oyls Take the juyce of Mugwort Southernwood each half an ounce Oyl of Dill Rue each one ounce Aqua vitae two drams Saffron half a scruple boyl them a little make an Oyntment Many mix Treacle with Aqua vitae and Oyls and anoynt the Back-bone others if the Cold be great mix Spices The Oyntment of Spiders explained in Feavers as also other things exprest there do the same also with which also the soals of the feet are rubbed There are some who approve of Baths if the Feaverish heat hinder not and the Rigor lie highly hurtful of the Decoction of Pennyroyal Calamint Rue Southernwood Mugwort and the flowers of Chamomel and Melilot In Reaching and Yawning The Cure of reaching yawning from halituous Vapors seeing these can bring no dammage but rather do good there wil be no need of any Cure there unless in as much as if these together with a Spontaneous weariness do as signs foretel Diseases they do admonish us to apply Remedies that we may prevent them If from Yawning the lower Jaw be easily luxated we advise that they do somwhat repress it and gape not with such a wide mouth as also in reaching because it is uncivil too much to extend the Members we teach them somwhat to restrain their limbs for Civilities sake rather than any benefit CHAP. IV. Of the Defect of Breathing The Kinds IT is called a Defect of Breathing when it is either abolisht or is done with difficulty which may happen both to natural Breathing and to voluntary or vocal breathing forth in utterring the Voice and Speech The Breathing which is continually performed by vertue of the Heart Breathing abolisht in a Syncope naturally by drawing in and sending out of the Breath can no waies perseveringly be wholly abolisht while the man lives but for a time it may altogether cease in a true Syncope and in that which accompanies that which we call strangling of the Womb in which cases as long as the mind faileth in them as they call it or the Life or rather the vital motion so long no breathat all is perceived in them or it is so obscure that we can observe no breathing forth of the Air even with a Feathers laid to the Nostrils or shaddow of motion in a Cup ful of Water laid on their Breast but they lie like dead folks without all motion and sense But Breathing oftentimes proceeds difficultly when they fetch it with great labour and impediment and if this be with high streining so that they are in the beginning of Suffocation it is called Suffocation and strangling the which also wil follow if it did not cease In which danger because they are more conversant when they lie down to turn that away they are forced to breath upright with their Breast raised up and their Neck straight and then they are called Orthopneumatical and because if they move their body they they are more grieved their Breathing being made swifter they are compeld to be quiet but otherwise they Breath with less anguish yet difficultly also and it is simply called a Dispnoea Somtimes labouring more do send forth the Breath somtimes to draw it in at other times both being hindred together But a Dyspnaea or Strangling
and the whol feaver is taken away by giving that which prevents shaking But this cannot be done safely before the matter be prepar'd and purged for if the cause remain though the Feaver cease worse Symptoms may follow As Empericks find who ayming at nothing more but the Cure of the fit bring Cholicks Jaundies and Dropsies And somtimes we do willingly according to reason take away eth fit before the cause if it be so great that it destroythe strength or at least abate it with extraordinary Medicines yet so that we go on still Methodically to take away the cause And it somtimes hapens that after the cause is removed there are fits which come from custom or habit to prevent these at the first when they stretch and yawn we give things against shaking which we mentioned when we spake of depraved Motion Those things do it either by taking away the matter which getting by degrees into the body causeth the shaking or by stupifying the sences or by heating the body suddenly at first before the fit comes All these are to be done warily and not before preparation and purgation and then you may give either a specifical evacuation or stupefactive or an alterer or a Medicine made of all these together It comes to pass often that by large eating before the fit that nature removes from the cause of the disease to the Concoction of meat and hinders the fit Hence the German Proverb Sie haben das feber abgessen The same thing is done by evacuations when nature is busie to send Excrements upwards and downwards The fit is hindered by vomiting in the beginning of the fit because by it a revulsion is made of the matter from the Meseraicks to the stomach and the Feaver is quite taken away somtimes by throwing out the cause by the Stomach and Guts Gentle purges prevent the fit the same way but strong purges are dangerous to be given before it because they will work in the time of the fit and weaken as Agarick Senna with some alterers These are the best compositions that follow A Decoction Take Epithimum and Time Polypody and Senna each a dram Borage flowers a pugil boyl and strain and give a draught afore the fit with a little Wine This is best in a quartan Or a Pouder Take Senna three drams Turbith a dram Pepper a scruple Ginger half a scruple Cinnamon Myrrh each half a dram with Sugar as much as all make a Pouder for three Doses give one in white Wine afore the fit Helidaeus gives a dram of Agarick with juyce of Fumitory and Fennel Others mix a dram of Diagredium with three ounces of Syrup of Violets and give as much as a Chesnut an houre afore the fit Some give strong bodies the Pouder of Mercury with strong Vinegar Treacle and Sugar And the Chymists instead thereof give Mercurius dulcis or Mercurius vitae or Panchymagogum Rubrum Stupefiers are given afore the fit because they take away the sense of the parts and provoke sweat As Treacle a dram and an half or more or less in Wine is highly commended or in wormwood Wine Carduus Mints or Rose water some add Diatrionpiperion that of the three Peppers others Mirth as Dioscorides Also Panchrestum Nicolai with Wine or Methridate Dioscorides commends three or four leaves of Henbane with a dram of the seed thereof given in Sack at the beginning of the fit If you repeat it twice or thrice it is a sure remedy Also syrup of Poppies given afore the fit prevents it Also divers alterers do the same inwardly and outwardly and motion of the Body Inwardly we give both hot and cold Medicines Hot because they presently inflame the body and drive away shaking and then the heat which useth to follow the motion of the cold fit either goes away or is abated And hot things do it by dispersing the matter especially when it is thin And they cause sweat But vehement hot Medicines are not to be given before a Concoction of the matter least the thin be consumed and the thick remain and of a simple Feaver there prove a double or treble Ague or a continual Feaver This must be observed in giving of Treacle and other hot things and Stupefiers above mentioned Of hot things these by experience are found best Take Ginger half an ounce Pepper a dram Nut shels two drams boyl them in two pints of astringent Wine and to five ounces strained add an ounce of syrup of Violets give it two or three hours afore the fit and cover him to sweat Or Take Gentian roots an ounce Centaury tops and Serpyllum of each three drams boyl them in Wine and give a draught as abovesaid Or thus Take juyce of Calamints three drams or an ounce and an half of the syrup give it with Wine and Borage water Or this Take Gentian Centaury and Plantane water each an ounce and an half drink it with a drop of Oyl of Vitrial or some drops of spirit of Salt or Niter Or Take Plantane a handful Sorrel half a handful Vinegar and Treacle each four ounces Distil them give three ounces of the water half an hour afore the fit Or give three ounces of the juyce Plantane with an ounce of the juyce of Purslane half an hour afore the fit Or this Pouder commended in all Feavers though Pestilential Take Sugar candy three drams Ginger two drams Camphire a dram make a Pouder give a dram in hot water This Crato commends Another Take the Pouder of Cray-fish Mans skul and Ivory each a scruple Cinnamon half a dram Saffron a scruple give a dram in Wine A third Take Myrrh a scruple Pepper six grains Ginger half a scruple Sugar three drams give a dram or make Pills with juyce of Gentian An Electuary Take the Troches Rubiae of Nicolas a dram give it with white Wine or the Electuary of Asa in Mesue Trionphyllon Nicolai Electuary of Peter Arnold of Villanova Or Take Cinnamon two drams Pepper a dram Saffron half a dram Myrrh Storax Serapine each half a dram Benzoin three drams Gentian roots two drams with Honey make an Electuary give half a dram or two scruples two hours afore the fit Coolers do it somtimes and stop the fit but they are better external because they must be very cool which will suddenly hurt the Heart given inwardly Cold water drunk largely in the fit cures many Hence the Proverb Das feber abtrincken Two ounces of Pomegranate wine given in the fit removes it if you anoynt the Pulses with the Oyntments following A famous Physitian gives the Crystal mineral in a great quantity in Spring Plantane or Sorrel water in the fit Somtimes External things do it as excercise Applications Injections Amulets and Superstitious things Excercise doth it by heating the body and provoking sweat before the fit As Running Riding c. Instead of excercise in weak bodies you may rub them and cover them warm with cloths or use Oyntments before the cold fit Also
not to be referred to a preternatural Birth but to evil conformation or Deformity from the Birth as we shewed in Deformity The taking away of parts from the body The taking off of parts that constitute the Body although it may be a Disease in number diminished or if they come piece meal in magnitude diminished where we made mention of them yet they may be reserred hither As if the Eye be thrust out of its place or if any humor as the watery Crystal or glassie Humor of the Eye should flow forth or if part of the Brain should come forth at the Nose the Teeth pull'd out of the Mouth the tongue cut off the Lungs be spit up the Guts fall out as in the Haeretick Arrius by a divine Judgement rather then by a Natural Cause Or which is usual when from a wound any part of the Brain Lungs Liver or Spleen comes forth as we said in the Hurt of those parts The Causes The Causes of the Excretion or Voiding of an Infant or of any parts that constitute the body is the solution of Contiguity or things near or of Continuity as shall be shewed Natural Birth when the Child comes ripe and quick into the world The separation of the Vessels of the Child which were joyned to the Vessels of the Womb is the Cause of Natural Birth is when the child 〈◊〉 so grown that the Mother can no longer contain it but it must have have more Air for life and more nourishment and if it should grow bigger it could not get out of those strait Passages Therefore provident Nature ariseth and moveth it by the expulsive Faculty separating the Veins and Arteries by which the bed of the Infant or Secundine was joyned to the womb without any hurt even as the stalks of ripe Fruit fall easily from the tree driveth down the Iâ—â—â—ant by the help of the Mother and so brings it forth not without pain labor sweat and bleeding by reason of the opening of the Veins in the Womb and Secundine more or less in all Women In a preternatural Birth The separation of Vessels before the Child is ripe is the Cause of Abortion when the Child is sent forth unripe by Natur 's force dividing the Connexion of the Vessels there are somtimes less accidents then in a Natural if the Child be small But if there be this Separation of Vessels by a greater force and solution of continuity and tearing which stirrs up Nature to the work there are greater accidents as Pains and Bleeding There are divers Causes of the dividing of the Vessels The Separation of the Vessels by the violent Motion of Body or Mind is the Cause of Abortion and spurring of Nature to the work which procure Abortion if the Child be shaken by violent Motion of the Body so that the Vessels by which it hangs to the womb are divided Nature especially when near the time will send it forth so it may be driven down by leaping as Hippocrates speaks of the tyre-maker that cast away her Child voluntarily also it may come by other violent motions especially of the lower parts by riding running or other violent Motion It may come also with pressing of the Belly by some external Injuries or with strong tying of the Muscles of the Belly or from couging vomiting neesing crying scowring by which also in a Natural Birth the Delivery is helped As the Excrements of the belly so the Child also may be driven down in a Convulsion made by the compression of the Muscles and a violent motion of the body As we saw one that without Sense aborted in the fit of a Convulsion and wondered when she came to her self what had been done to her Belly Also Nature stirred up by Passions of the Mind through the vehement Agitation of the Spirits will cause Abortion as by Fear Anger and other Passions hath been ordinarily seen especially if they swound for then the Child is deprived for that time of vital Spirits with the Mother from whom it receives them When Nature is stirred up by things taken or applied Abortion caused by stirring up of Nature it voided divers things and so also the Child as by the use of purging Medicines which force Nature violently so that not only the Excrements but the Child also is voided Also by the use of those things mentioned in the want of Terms and bringing forth either taken in or applied to the womb by opening the Passages and provoking the womb by a Propriety to provoke Terms or driving down the Child Abortion may be caused The expulsive Faculty is compelled somtimes by humors that burden the womb to void not onely them but the Child also especially by blood which if it be too plentiful for the nourishing of the Child and not consumed by it about the Veins of the Womb it burdeneth Nature which labours to throw it out and sometimes the Terms comming upon a Woman with Child the Child is also sent forth with them Therefore when women with child have their Terms they are in danger to miscarry Or if the Terms be provoked by opening a Vein in the Foot the same may happen and therefore women with Child must not be let Blood in the Foot Also the Terms will sooner be provoked if the blood be thin cholerick or foul and unfit to nourish the Child When the womb is moistned with water so that it is too loose to hold the Child that it is the chief cause of Abortion as some say And if it were so it must needs be without it and moisten the Orifice of the Neck of the womb which is close shut in women with Child because it cannot be in the womb whose cavity is filled with the Child and if it could be there it could not so loosen it nor can it do it when in the Neck of the womb because it cannot remain there and there must be a greater cause of Abortion then that The chief Abortion is from a dead Child Separation of vessels by a dead child is the Cause of Abortion because then Nature labours to void it as being burdensom the causes of dead Children are divers As external force to the belly being great as a Stroak or Contusion Want of Nourishment by which it decaies and at length dieth this is not easie for while the Mother liveth the Veins can scarce be so empty that there is nothing for the Child Moreover though the Mothers blood be impure and foul the Child will have the best of it hence it is that we have observed that women in Ptysicks and Hecticks have gone their time and brought well But it may happen that if a woman with Child have her Terms violently and long the Veins of the womb and all other parts will be so exhausted that the Child must want Nourishment And this is so if for the Causes aforesaid the Child being alive the Vessels are separated from them of the womb
hissing in the Ears as in Hurt of Hearing Chapter the eight Page 80. The Smelling is also Abolished Diminished or Depraved as in defect of Scent and Depravation of scent of these in Hurt of Smelling Chapter the ninth Page 87. CHAP. I. Of a Weakness of the Minde The Kinds of it A Weakness of the Minde may be said to be whenas any one is less able in Apprehension or Wit in Judgment or Reason and Memory then an ingenious and industrious Man Which somtimes happens in Diseases at other times befals those that are not Sick but otherwise Well of which we will here Treat But somtimes these internal senses are all of them together dulled Dulness of the Minde and both Wit Judgment and Memory fail and then it may be called a dulness of the Minde Otherwise some want Wit when they scarcely learn to speak Of slowness of Wit and they apprehend Learning and other Arts with difficulty and it may be called a slowness of Wit Somtimes they are void of Judgment Imprudence a defect of judgment in judging of those things which they have apprehended and this may be called Imprudence For the most part the Memory is weakned when they hardly retain those things which they have apprehended and learned and it s called Oblivion of which fault many do complaine Oblivion especially the Aged and therefore Physitians have made mention of that only almost in their Cures The Memory impaired under their Titles of the Memory impaired whereas the defects of the other internal senses also have the same Causes and the same Cure which we shall at once apply to them all The Causes But the Brain which is the organ of these senses The Part affected is here affected the which notwithstanding is not so vehemently hurt that these internal senses are wholly abolisht or together with them the external senses also and motion as it doth happen in grievous hurts of the Brain But that more or fewer senses are weakned and those more or less that happens according as the whol substance of the Brain is affected or only part of it not as the formost middle or hindermost ventricles are affected as some would have it furthermore these things vary according to the Nature of the Disease with which the Brain is afflicted as shall be said Some have contracted and derived this weakness Haereditary from their Parents by inbred Causes Weakness a Cause of the Mindes weakness whence it often comes to pass that as the ingenious and industrious do beget their like so drones beget drones which is easily collected by their Signs that they were such from their Infancy and had such Parents This happens to some by reason of Age whence old folks become for the most part forgetful and somtimes dul by reason of the defect of native heat unless it happen from some distemper of the Brain as shall be said by and by A Concussion or blow of the Head leaving behind it some weakness in the Brain may also be the cause of it Also too great a shedding of Blood from what part of the Body soever or some other too great evacuation exhausting the Spirits on which score also too much Venery doth very much impare the senses especially the Memory Also a Disease of long continuance destroving the native heat especially of the Head as after a Carus also after Melancholy and Convulsion we have seen men become very forgetful Or a Malignant Disease or proceeding from some Poyson of which nature perhaps that was which given to Ulysses companions by Circe took away the remembrance of all things past the which also somtimes Love Potions have done and the unhappy use of Narcoticks may do the like One writes that by reason of a Wound struck deep into the seat of the Eye one did so far loose his Memory that he was fain to learn a new the grounds of learning whenas before he was skilled both in Greek and Latin Also when the Functions of the Minde are more remisly imployed then the native heat growing dul with idleness and not brought into act they proceed but singgishly Which also may happen upon the contrary reason to wit if the Minde be disquieted with too much study thoughts watchings cares Yet when the Memory for the most part is first hurt especially in the aged their judgment notwithstanding continues acute That it doth not happen to them only by reason of weakness though by this means also it may happen may be elegantly collected thus because their Minde which through the whol space of their life hath received so many Species Images and Conceptions of things is so overwhelm'd with them that it cannot long retain those new ones which it receiveth as if there were no more place left for them whence also it comes to pass that old men do firmly retain to the last those things which they apprehended when young but those things which they treat and think of now strucken in Age they indeed do easily conceive and they judg right and well but they presently forget them again in like manner after some sort as we see most old men to see and judg of things far distant more rightly then of those neer hand the which notwithstanding doth proceed from another cause as we shall explaine in the weakness of the Sight Furthermore and if the Minde be distracted with divers Studies and be overwhelm'd at once with many things it comes to pass that the sense being Intent on many things is not only less fit for each particular but also that while these things do confound one another and one is hindred and obscured by another as when two griefs molest one part the more vehement is wont to obscure the other the Memory of that which is weakest doth presently also vanish The imperfection of the instrument also doth make the internal senses more languid The fault of the instrument is a Cause of the weakness of the Minde In tender Infants whose Brain is yet more soft and fluid and not yet perfected by grouth it performs but dul operations In those of riper age also if the Brain hath not obtained its just bulk and then for the most part they have a smal Head An uncomely Figure of the Brain and a perversion of its Scituation caused either by Nature or by Violence doth cause the same which is hardly known unless the Head answer to the form of the Brain The Temperament of the Brain changed from its Natural state The temper of the Brain changed doth cause a weakness of Minde as yet not producing more grievous Diseases of the Brain doth also cause that sluggishness of the internal Senses And that especially when it is more moist then it ought to be by Nature which Physitians hold to be the chief cause of the Memory impaired and that because in a more moist Brain and therefore softer the Images of things imprinted can less remain But we
each one scruple wax a little Make a Liniment There are some who anoint the head with Confection Anacardine dissolved in spirits of wine Quilts and Caps also are worne night and day of things that strengthen the head of which in their place Amulets also do help if not by their own virtue at least waies by imagination as the tongue of a Lapwing hanged about one is thought by Rhases to take away forgetfulness The Amethist stone worne about one doth quicken all the senses as one writes and also that the Berill stone worne doth cause a good understanding In a dry constitution of the brain The Cure of Memoryimpaired by the driness of the Brain whence they say the memory is impaired if the body be foul it must be purged as was said of Melancholy whenas in pure bodies medicines applyed do more rightly operate Let it be moistned with meats of good-juyce such as are described in the Hectick and Melancholical Let him abstain from all drying things and immoderate evacuations especially Venery then which nothing is more hurtful He may use this Electuary at times Take of the Conserves of the flowers or Roots of Succory Bugloss Borrage Violets Maidenhair Betony each one ounce and an half Of the pouder of Diatragacantum frigidum and Triasantalum each half a dram with syrup of Violets make an Electuary Let him take the quantity of a Chesnut or one dram and an half Or let him use these kind of Tables Take of the Flowers of Bugloss Burrage Violets of each one scruple the leaves of Marjoram half a dram male frankincense one dram the Skul of a man burnt half a dram with Sugar dissolved in Violet and Rose Water make Tablets The Topicks mentioned in melancholly must be applied to the head especially this Lotion of the head and feet is very profitable Take of the Decoction of the Head and Feet of a Weather as much as is sufficient adding the herbs Bugloss Burrage Violets with their flowers if they may be had flowers of Roses Betony for hot things must be mixt with cold when we moisten as was said in melancholy each one handful Boyl them This following also is good Take of the roots of Marshmallows half a pound the herbs Betony Marjoram each one handful flowers of Violets Roses Chamomel Melilot Lavender each one pugil Boyl them in milk to wash the Head Also such an Unction is commended especially after the Lotion Take Oyl of sweet Almonds Roses each one ounce the fat of a Drake half an ounce one white of an Eg Milk half an ounce stir them together for a Liniment Chap. 2. Of a Consternation of the mind The Kinds VVE cal that a Consternation of the mind when the Senses either only opprest or almost wholly taken away either they sleep after a non-natural manner or are Stupid and that either with a languishing and resolution of the body or with an Agitation or Convulsion of it or with a Rigidity or Stiffness which four are the chief and highest Kinds of Consternation of mind particularly here to be explained That is a preternatural sleep which lasts longer then a natural and then 't is called immoderate and which doth more lull the Senses and therefore 't is called profound somtimes too great a propension to sleep or a very proprofound sleep happens to them that are well at other times it befals them in Diseases and somtimes without somtimes with a Fever somtimes also it invadeth with Ravings or with Stupidity Too great a propension to sleep in those otherwise well is a frequent fault in some men Immoderate sleep not when this befals certain natures by reason of their Age as in Infants and old folks 't is accustomary and good or by reason of the Country in which 't is natural for some to sleep night and day but when it proceeds from a cause that ought not to be whence not onely too long indulging to sleep by night they rise late in the morning but also by day time especially presently after taking of meat and chiefly in a hot place or season they are so forced to sleep that it is altogether necessary for them to sleep to which some are so prone that though they do no waies at all compose themselves to it but do somwhat to shake it off Profound sleep yet notwithstanding they fall asleep in that very work and I have seen one of them even when he drank at Table and moved the cup to his mouth in that posture fallen asleep or doing somwhat else he was wont to sleep in that form of body Profound sleep somtimes doth steal upon sound men after drinking of Wine in Drunkards or some other Narcotick taken which is not lasting if the use of them hath been gentle but if more vehement 't is turned into a Stupidity as shal be said there In a Disease heavy sleep is called Caros Coma Cataphora Lethargus Veternus Subeth in which as in that naturall they sleep with their Eyes shut and Body prostrate but in that that the internall Sences and by consequence the externall do not only rest as in a naturall sleep but are as it were overwhelm'd they are more or less dulled so that they can scarce or never be roused up and being wakned they complain of no Pain onely that they feel their Head heavy and weighty and so fall asleep again The motion also of the body is more languid yet not abolisht as in the Apoplecticall with a resolution of the Limbs neither is their breathing hindred as in them but free and easie unless in some it be depraved with yawning and noise their pulse also although it be weaker yet it doth not cease as in a Syncope Sometimes a Fever is joyned with Sleep which if it begin together with this Sleepiness with a Fever is a Lethargie it hath obtained the name of a Lethargie which notwithstanding is common to the rest also in which besides the signs of sleep a preternatural heat of the body a quick pulse a deep dyed Urin declare a Fever present but also a Caros somtimes following a Fever and is its Symptome Besides these Species of Sleep there is one also found in which though there be the greatest propension to sleep Sleep with Deliration and they express the same by lying down with their Eyes shut notwithstanding they watch and divers shapes and apparitions are presented to them or if they do sleep they are troubled with divers horrible dreams which afterwards when they awake they declare who being forced do hardly lift up their Eyes and look upon him that toucheth them but know him not and though they do feel and are moved yet they cannot rise out of the bed and do the work of one awake this they call a Cataphora or a sleepless Coma Some cal it a Typhomania as it were an astonisht madness neither may it unfitly be called a Raving sleep and be refer'd to Delirations or a heavy
sleep with terrible dreams another Species of it is described the common people call them Exstatical as if they were taken with an Extasie Hither also may be refer'd the Daemoniacal sleep of Witches Diabolical sleep in which they think that they are carried through the Air feed deliciously dance and lie with the Devil and waking they continue in the same error I have seen another kind somwhat like to these in a certain Baron who for a long time astonisht and sleepy Sleep with Stupidity did nothing according to reason he would ask for no meat nor take it unless thrust in by force neither would he go to bed unless compel'd but all day long leaning with his Arm on the Table and with his eyes shut he sate as one asleep neither would he answer any thing unless asked and often admonisht and then that which was little to the purpose A Stupidity with a Languidness or Resolution of the body is called Obstupescentia Ecplexis or an Apoplexy and t is an affect in which they do not sleep Stupidity with a resolution is an Apoplexy but astonisht they lie stupid like stocks all the Sences alike and motion also being abolisht together which accidents are somtimes more mild at other times more grievous in which both the internal and external senses are taken away together whence they have understanding of nothing neither do they see though some of them do seem to look upon a man with fixt eyes neither do they hear a noise neither do they show any sign of sence though you prick them or burn them Also being deprived of all motion of the body in a moment they fall down and all their members being resolved do languish they neither speak nor swallow breathing only remaining and that very obscurely the blowing forth of which from the mouth or nostrils can somtimes hardly be discern'd by the motion of a piece of Cotton applied to them or the motion of the breast to detect that by the motion of a cup of water placed on the breast or the breath is drawn with a great deal of difficulty and noise as in dying people the pulse being in the interim full and strong in this difficulty of breathing but discovering it self to be very unequal and that so long till their Senses returning tthey come to themselves again which happens in a gentler species of it or if it be more grievous they continue resolved or if it be worst of all their breath being wholly taken away they are by and by choaked froth then flowing out of their mouth A Stupidity with a Convulsion or vehement agitation of body is called an Epilepsie and 't is an A Stupidity with Convulsion is an Epilepsie disease in which all the Senses are suddenly taken away and the whol body for a time is shaken and pulled with an inordniate motion assailing a man by turns or fits which because it doth suddenly apprehend one hath the name of Epilepsie because it puls him the name of Convulsion of which we meet with chiefly two different kinds in as much as one is of Continuance another Short The Diuturnall is that which lasts long and whether it happen before the age of youth and doth not leave them when that comes or whether it begins first after that age for the most part it assails the sick for the whole life time somtimes at certain times hours daies months years or changes of the Moon whence 't is also called the Lunatick Disease whose Functions because it doth not suddenly destroy them but only weakens them by degrees therefore it comes to pass that when they are free from the fit they can nevertheless go about their business and because they fall if they be taken with this evil whiles they are about their business hence also it is called the Falling sickness and whenas their sudden fall and horrid symptoms are wont to strike a great terror so that some from the apprehension of it only have presently fallen into the same affect and upon that account most men do fly the sight of them and if it happen in a Congregation of people as in our age in assembles the company is dissolved amongst the Ancients their meetings upon the same cause were dissolved whence called by them the Comitial Disease which name it retains which also by reason of its pertinacy was called the Great Sontick and Herculean Disease and 't is to this kind to which they have applied the name of Epilepsie rather than to the rest when notwithstanding it agrees with them all The Short and not so continued Cinvulsion is which either presently ceases or at leastwise is not protracted so long as the former which again as 't is either Gentler or Worse is divided into two Species The Gentler though it be not free from danger is accounted that whose cause is neither great not persevering as that which happens to Infants when their Teeth first break forth or Worms disturb them and by amd by ceaseth and that which befalls Virgins before their Courses flow but they coming it remits and that which betides great-bellied Women chiefly at the first month but at the middle time of their going or after the birth presently ends This that they might not bring fear by the dreadful name of the Falling-sickness because it often happens in Child-hood they call the Childrens Disease mitigating the cruelty of the Disease by the smoothness of the name The Worse and highly dangerous Species is which following grievous diseases as Wounds Fevers pains of the Collick and others at any age somtimes with one or two fits somtimes with more and that continual or somtimes with intermitting accessions doth perplex the Patient with a terrible aspect and for the most part kil him or if he be helped yet somtimes it leaves behind it the worst of symptoms as Contraction of the Limbs hurts the Voice and Senses or other discommodities which Species they call a Convulsion or Spasm only not an Epilepsie when notwithstanding those affected with this Species are no less suddenly taken in this case than the Epileptical and cal that general to difference it from a particular Convulsion or Spasm of which kind also there may be found in the Senses being unhurt only some parts are convelled we shall shew in the hurts of motion But this Species if it happen to Children as it is wont often to kill them both Infants and of riper years they call it also the Childrens Disease The accidents in all the Species of an Epilepsie both continued and short do almost concur the same and they may as well vary in all as well those which are observed in the hurts of the senses as of motion For all the Internal senses and by consequence the External too are abolisht in all the whol time they are possest with the fit they understanding judging or feeling nothing at all wherefore they refrain not from violent motions though thereby they hurt
of both motions both the Midrif and Lungs t is no wonder that that also if the Brain be very much hurt so that all Voluntary motion do cease as it comes to pass in the Apoplectical the Midrif or Muscles of the Breast then contributing nothing to Motion but the Lungs only after a sort moving themselves stil and whils they are dilated and filled with Air which they do by their prover Natural motion a little lifting up the Breast do a little while Persevere but very much hinderd and difficult so that unless that hurt of the Brain do speedily cease the Patient must needs be choaked breathing being wholly taken away but when voluntary motion is not wholly taken away with the senses that then respiration doth remain still more free But if the Brain be affected with a less affect compared to the former by which the senses are only opprest as in a sleepiness or gentle Stupidity then motion though it do rest a little by reason of Sleep and Consternation yet nevertheless it doth persevere or if this come to pass only by reason of the spirits of the Brain only extravagant as shall be said in a Convulsion and Catalepsis that motion doth also continue and they sooner return to themselves as shall be explained how this comes to pass in the Particular causes from which these proceed But the causes of all Consternation of Minde that happen are either some offect so hurting the Brain which gives Sense and Motion by it self or by consent that these its Functions do more or less fail as are Distemper Repletion from a flegmatick or sanguine Humor some eminent hurt a Tumor a distemper of the Brain proceeding from a Vapor or Malignant quality or a defect of the Animal spirits of the Brain of all which causes and their effects we will now treat in Particular A cold Distemper only without matter altering the Brain A cold Distemper the Cause of Stupidity a Moist of immoderate Sleep because it is wont to hurt the Functions may make it Stupid And if it be Moist too which is seldom without matter it may also cause Immoderate Sleep as somtimes by Reason of Age or the continuance of a Disease a distemper left in the Brain doth make men perpetually Prone to Sleep or as it was said in the Weakness of the Minde more dul which we have taught doth happen rather by reason of Weakness then Coldness Or induced by other causes especially from the cold external Air the North Wind blowing outwardly cooling the Head or by the Pores percing to the Brain it may cause a great Stupidity They write also that a watchful Stupidity or Catalepsis may arise from a Cold and dry distemper congealing the Spirits but whenas the Spirits cannot be congealed or if they could be then a greater Stupidity would follow we cannot at all allow of this That Convulsions are somtimes caused from Dryness which they call Inanition is a common opinion which doth not happen in this Convulsion but in a Particular one as we shall there explaine Flegm is very often the cause of Sleep and Supidity under which Name we comprehend all the Watery Cold and Moist Excrements of the Brain which immoderately heaped up within the Skul as the Brain doth ever and a non heap up such things from Flegmatick blood varried up to it and the weakness of the part if it be supprest and flow not forth through the passages appointed for it then if it perfuse the substance of the Brain with a large humor and cool it it causeth a Carus Or if by its long impulse it so moisten the same that that great bulk of the Brain becoming more soft and lax do suddainly flow abroad and sink and press the original of the Nerves at the basis of the Skul proceeding from the Brain and stop the passage of the Animal spirit it procures a grievous Apoplexy As when Flegm doth suddainly fill the Ventricles or Cavities of the Brain not by obstructing whenas the Animal Spirit is not seated in them but every where in the substance of the Brain and Nerves neither doth it pass through the Ventricles but after the same manner by oppressing the basis of the Brain it may also induce an Apoplexy the which notwithstanding if the humor descending from them do follow the course of the Nerves may end in a Palsie That all these things are thus in a Carus and Apoplexy we have learnt from the dead because this humor hath somtimes flown from their mouths in a plentiful manner And we have observed also by diligent dissection that the thick Membrane of the Brain open'd in some abundance of Humor hath presently lept forth by the Region of the Head and descended even to the Breast and the very substance of the Brain in a certain old Woman which died of an Apoplexy dissolved like to Cream after the same manner hath run all over her Face But we know that these affects proceeded from the Cause by the precedent constitution of the Body especially in old Age which is Obnoxious to this evil and from a cold constitution of the season and Air and because they have first complained of a heaviness in the Head and a weight with slaggishness darkness of the sight and also of a want of that accustomary voiding of Flegm by the Nose and Mouth and because in the dead of an Apoplexy especially oft times a great quantity of Flegm flows forth by the said passages From the same Flegmatick Humor obstructing the passages of the Brain many have written that as an Apoplexy so also an Epilepsie may be caused and therefore as in that so in this that all the senses are abolisht but do presently return again because the Brain by concussion doth speedily shake it of and then that motion with the senses doth no way cease here as is an Apoplexy because the Ventricles are not altogether but only in part obstructed or as others will have it the former only are obstructed the hindermost being unhurt so that a portion of the Spirits may nevertheless pass by to the Nerves Which though it may be condemned for many things yet let it suffice to have brought this especially to destroy this opinion viz. that if a sufficient quantity of the Animal Spirits did not descend the Functions of the Brain would rather follow to be impared in sense and motion then partly abolisht partly depraved and that if Flegm were the cause and that suddainly shaken of from the Brain did flow down it would induce that Palsie which is wont to follow an Apoplexy for the same Reason They teach that Flegm putrifying in the Brain doth Cause a Lethargie and a Feaver its companion is kindled from thence but whenas we have shewed in Feavers that from the Putrefaction of Flegm especially in the Head that a Feaver can in no wise be kindled and we find no reason how the same Flegmatick Humor being putrified by its coldness
which by it self stimulating the Nerves by a manifest Quality and causing Pain or none together with it doth convell them which cause proceeds either from Medicines or internall Humors as Blood Choler and Flegm molesting the Nerves by their proper substance or by a Vapor only But Convulsions are chiefly caused by occasion of pain either if the Torments be unreasonable and of long continuace such as in Cholicks do often cause Convulsions or if they trouble Bodies endued with most exquisite sense and which by reason of their Tenderness do hardly undergo such torments on which account also Infants not only in diverse sorts of sicknesses but when they begin to breed Teeth being exasperated with pains are often times convulsive and also immoderate Tickling made in the like Bodies because that also gives trouble and a sad sence experience doth testisie hath caused Convulsions in some nay t is confest by all that even a light Tickling caused by Wormes creeping up and down the Gutts and Stomach and sucking them with their Mouths doth move in Infants not only horrors and scratching of the Nose but also light epilepticall Convulsions Medicines taken which stimulates the expulsive Faculty of the stomach and Guts if they excite those parts too much as they cause a convulsive Motion which is by Hiccoping so if they be very biting and burning as those things put up into the Nose they move Sneezing and so a purging Faculty especially joyned to them by which they sollicite Nature at once very much both by Vomit and stool by reason of their eminent efficacy they often produce Convulsions such as happen from Hellebore and the use of other things and those deadly too if by too much insinuating themselves into thee parts they cease not to exagitate them but not yet deadly if when they first begin to sollicite Nature being repulsed by her they be cast forth upwards and downwards as I have observed from the use of Antimony and Asarabacca some feeling only forerunings of a Spasme in their Thighes but others also convulsive to have returned to themselves Corrupt and putrifying Blood if it be carried into the nervous kind by affecting of them may also cause Convulsions As it sometimes happens from a blow of the Head penetrating the Skull yet not deviding the substance of the Brain whence rather an Apoplexy would follow but only wounding the Membranes of the Brain the Blood then being poured forth and retained under the Skull which putrefying infects the Membranes of the Brain with a maligne quality by consent of which and also that sinking and possessing and affecting 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 Imposthumations are somtimes wont to follow a Phrenzie that went before Choler of all humors is wont to be the chief both the Yellow and the Green and Black which by its acrimony is wont to stimulate and irritate the Nerves and nervous parts the which also by its thinness it easily enters which in Pains of the Colick doth cause those Convulsions not only because it breeds these Torments but also because insinuating it self into the Stomach and Guts it doth too much sollicit them with a kind of caustick vertue which Convulsions last as long as this acrid humor ceases not to irritate that there is no need to fancy any other reason that it is far fetcht to the Nerves if it ought to cause Convulsions and also if a Convulsion proceed from anger they think it may happen by reason of the boyling and effusion of Choler although that rather proceed from this too much motion of the mind stirring up the spirits as was said before Also from thin salt and acrid flegm falling down from the brain into the spaces through which the Nerves are carried and pulling of them an Epilepsie may be caused as in a Palsie somtimes bedewing the Nerves it first causeth Resolutions afterwards by its acrimony which it either had before or by putrafaction hath newly acquired soliciting the Nerves it raiseth those Convulsions which sometimes follow Palsies which sneezing arising from the same flegm distilled also from the Brain into the Nose is wont to go before and foretell whence perhaps the custom of praying after sneezing took its first rise whenas they had somtimes observed that sneezing was a forerunner of an Epilepsie Also filthy and acrid vapors especially if some malignity be joyned as shal be said being raised in the body and especially pulling the beginning of the Nerves or else where solliciting especially the greater do beget an Epilepsie which they say is caused by consent such as are from vitious corrupt and putrid meats humors excrements worms collected in the stomach guts womb veins in divers diseases of those parts or of the whol body as those raised from Fevers which do produce Convulsions which are wont to follow these diseases But those things which cause Convulsions by a poysonous and pernicious quality are various which according to the divers nature of the poysons and as they are either inimicous only to the nervous kind they do infect that only or also the brain together with that do produce either Convulsions or the brain being hurt also other accidents which somtimes also after the Epilepticall fit is over do continue in the hurts of the senses especially in an alienation of mind and depraved motion as hath been said Amongst which poysonous causes that somtimes also offers it self which by its propriety and private hurt brings forth the accidents of a Catalepsis rather than of a true Convulsion yet because 't is a disease very rare it evidently shews that seldom such a venenate quality is raised in our body which may produce such an effect in the body as also that which causeth true Convulsions is most often but of what kind soever that be its Fountain and Original somtimes lurks intrinsecally in the brain or bowels or in the veins or babit of the body and sometimes extrinsecally to the body Fernelius witnesseth that he hath found by disection an Epilepsie of long continuance caused in the Brain from the corruption or imposthumation of the membranes of the brain and by reason that a filthy vapor raised from them at set times entring the ventricles did cause the fits but that these things do cause rather short and deadly than long continued Epilepsies and not because they send a filthy vapor to the Ventricles but for another reason hath been demonstrated formerly whenas if they did possess the substance of the brain or its Ventricles and so much hurt them they would induce rather an Apoplexy than Convulsions In the interim notwithstanding we do no waies deny the cause of an Epilepsie oftentimes to lie in the head and we confess we meet with many faults within the Skul both in the membranes of the brain and in its substance also or in its humors which raging with
may be commodiously mixed an Emulsion of Peony seeds of which a Lambitive being made by adding of Sugar and given to the Child before it be suckled is made a a profitable Preservative against the Epilepfie as some write Things that stupefie the Nerves because by dulling their sense they cause them to be less affected with their trouble when they are irritated and for that reason are not so easily convulsed if the Gentler of them be given in Grievous and Dangerous Convulsions which proceed from an acrid and malignant matter I have often found by experience they have done very much good upon which account I think Treacle and other Opiates to be convenient in Convulsions which in this case practitioners allow of to strengthen and heat the Nerves not only because they do infringe the povsonous cause of an Epilepsie but because also they do in a manner lay asleep the Exquisite sense of the Nerves Experience hath proved that those things which do change and alter the constitution of the whol body and make as it were its Temperament new as in many long continued desperate Diseases so also in a long continued Epilepsie and otherwise incurable they may somtimes do somwhat singular which are perfected by great changes and new evacuations made in the body By change of Age it sometimes happens whenas the temperament of the body either is changed too as that which invaded in Child-hood is cured when Youth comes and that which first happens to those of ripe age if it cease not in old age yet it undergoes some change so also the change of the Country especially if it be from a place where this disease is Popular or otherwise from an unhealthful to a healthful place it brings much help for the cure of this evil and a change of the sex as it were which by eunuchism makes the body which was virile and masculine to be effeminate done by the ancients by Gelding hath been commended as the last Remedy in an Epilepsie New and not yet accustomary evacuations especially those natural ones of seed and blood coming at their due time whenas they do also very much alter the body 't is no wonder that if the years of youth beginning the Epilepsie doth then cease not only by reason of the change of age but also because that then they begin to eject seed and Maids have their menstruous blood flow and the Haemorrhoides breaking forth in some natures the same sometimes ceases and the Epilepsie forsakes Great-bellied Women after they are delivered and wel purged the which whenas Physitians see succeeds well by these like Purgations which nature attempts they also in a desperate Epilepsie make triall of divers evacuations ordered oftner by chance than method By reason of the Symptomes of which sort we meet with divers in the sundry kinds of consternation of minde besides the lawful cure which is due to removing the cause the which being taken away they also cease presently when they are urgent we must administer some things the chief of which to which we ought to have respect are Suffocation Falling Violent motion Sleep and Stupidity Dotage Weakness From a suddain and unexpected fall the Apoplectick and Epileptick are in very great danger by which oftentimes dashing their head they are killed or otherwise grievously hurt unless by custome or a Vertigo going before the Epileptical be forewarned of the time and then by sitting or lying do prevent their fall Danger of suffocation hangs over those that are sick of a grievous Apoplexy because they are not troubled only by reason of breathing hindred but also by an impediment that their Teeth being fast set and their mouth shut the free passage of the Air is intercepted Therefore their Teeth must be presently opened and if they yeeld not easily they must be puld a sunder by an instrument thrust in by force and keeping that between them we must have a care that they be not shut again and it must be hard that they do not bite it off for which purpose either a bone or hard piece of wood will serve ' whatsoever we light on first as spoones for the most part are most readily found for this use whose handle may be interposed the which if they cannot be thrust in betwixt the Teeth already closed they must be parted by a dividing Instrument made for that purpose and by interposition of that as was even now said they must be kept that they be not joyned or if they cannot be disjoyned thus neither then a Tooth or two must be pulled out then the Body must be so placed that the Breast being less prest may be moved more freely yet we must not stir it too violently whiles we move it whence follows quick breathing the which whenas they cannot so speedily perform they are suffocated as it often happens for want of care We shall prevent the Epileptical from wounding themselves or otherwise hurting by that vehement commotion and Agitation of the Body if by interposing soft Cushions Clothes we take care they hit not their limbs against hard things for it is no waies safe either to hold them or to bind them seeing the matter of the Epilepsie is shaken of and discust by motion and because in such like Convulsions of the Body they bite also and somtimes vehemently wound their Tongue we must put presently between their Teeth before they be shut not our finger which standers by offentimes rashly do with danger but an instrument as this in the Apoplectical ought to be done for fear of Suffocation so in the Epileptical to relieve the Tongue when as they are no waies endangered of suffocation and if the Tongue be already laid hold on by the Teeth we must succour it with a dividing Instrument Sleep and Stupidity in these affects if they continue long or returne often do oppress the Native heat therefore the Apoplectical also being taken with to much or profound Sleep and a vehement Stupidity they must be roused now and then and hinder'd that they relapse not which may be done by moving the outward senses with strong objects that they may force and provoke the internal ones into act thus the hearing is moved with crying in the Fares making a high sound and noise the sight with much shining of light and fire the tast with bitter and sharp things the smel with stinking things mentioned before but especially the feeling seeing it doth very much move the sence if it be done with pain in parts endued with exquisite sense as in the Skin by pulling the hairs Burning Pricking doth very much rouse them up which also may be done by irritating the Nostrils which have an excellent sense with ordors and other things which move sneezing too by which the Body shaken is more roused up as also if we stir up the Eyes with a suddain light and prick them with other things that move Tears also we may sollicite the belly with suppositories to excretion
apparitions do appear to them as wel in the light as darkness but it is better that they be kept in a place somwhat obscure Their meat ought to be cooling and moistning such as is convenient for the Feverish season'd with herbs and other cool things as Lettice Endive and the like also with the juyce of unripe Grapes and Vinegar and other cold juyces and seeing these Delirous know not what they do and oftentimes do not devour their meat only but also other abominable things we must not humor them but when the Diet ought to be Slender we must withdraw it and they must be fed with Barley Prunes and other lighter things Let their Drink whiles they rage be Water taken of it self or first prepared with boyling to which we may mix Syrups as was said before for preparation and alteration sake Those things which concern sleep motion and the affects of the mind shall be explained now in the Symptoms For the symptoms which happens besides Raving are others also supervenient to them both by reason of the disease of the head and of the Fever accompanying to which we ought to have respect Watchings by reason of the excessive heat of the brain are common and hurtful to them which in general are corrected with the same Remedies that resist the disease as hath been said seeing they cool and moisten especially the external ones to which upon that account are added things soporiferous and privately for their sake soporiferous medicines are given mix with Cordials as shal be said in its place Inordinate motions do so disturb them by reason of their depraved imagination that they endeavor by all force to rise out of the bed and to cloath themselves and if they be not restrained to make an escape whence oftentimes being void of reason they fall from a high place and kil themselves which unquietness is likewise amended by things given to cause sleep seeing the mind being at rest the body must needs rest also and that they may be restrained which is very hard seeing madness makes them strong they are oftentimes bound in bonds the which notwithstanding somtimes when they are angry upon that account and more fierce we ought to loose them and give them way a little yet using great caution that they hurt not themselves nor others A Suppression of the Urin is a Symptom peculiar to them whenas being so intent upon their imaginations they feel not the provocation of the Urin and therefore care not to make it by the retaining of which the Bladder being too much filled and distended afterwards voids the water with a great deal of difficulty the which we must cure by seasonably admonishing them and shewing the Chamber-pot and by applying external Remedies of which we wil treat of in the retention of Urine The driness blackness of the Tongue which denote the highest burning of a Feaver is corrected as shal be explained in its place Thirst doth very much torment them by reason of their heat it is corrected by altering things cold and moist especially given in their Drink as hath been already said and shall be said in thirst in general Their weakness and overthrow of strength known by the Pulse seeing their unquietness otherwise stirring them up doth seem to add strength to them as hath been said is repaired by a course of Diet and cordiall medicines used inwardly and outwardly as also with them already mentioned To undertake to Cure Folly bred in a man from his birth by an evil conformation The Cure of Folly from an evil conformation and distemper seeing it is impossible to fashion otherwise the parts once formed were to attempt to wash and make a Blackmore white as also it is impossible to change any thing if this happen from a perverse temperament the which notwithstanding is somtimes amended by the change of age by Gelding as hath been said in madness where also custom may do much by which it came to pass that Cimon for love of Iphigenia when he knew his foolish behaviour did displease her by little and little changing of them from a Fool became a wise man as this whether true or fabulous is agreeable to reason If madness be sprung from Putrefaction The Cure of madness from putifaction a speck Worms in the brain or a Speck or Worms as they would have it by reason of vapors sent from thence to the brain we can scarcely fit a Cure for these which are almost hid from us yet if that Cure which was described in madness arising from a melancholly humor be also applied here it wil be no fault but if the malady be grievous 't is incurable CHAP. IV. Of a Defatigation of the mind The Kinds VVE call that a Defatigation of the mind when the internal senses are exercised more or longer than 't is convenient or when they rest not at the time prescribed them by sleep which is the rest of the mind or not sufficiently as it comes to pass when they sleep not in too much Watchings or when they sleep but unquietly by reason of grievous dreams the which both in the sound and sick do somtimes cause weakness create trouble and increase diseases Too much and preternatural Watchings are Watchings when they sleep not at all for some daies months or not sufficiently fill up the term of seven or eight hours or more according to the custom of natures seeing Children sleep more than they wake These whether they be symptoms of Diseases or happen without them do at last bring hurt seeing they heat the spirits by their too much use and exagitation whence it happens that the humors also are set on fire especially the hot ones and the same are at length consumed And hence must needs follow at last a weakness of some functions of the body as the animal spirits being wasted there is some defect of the internal senses and by consequence of the external also chiefly of the sight seeing for the exercise of that there is need of so great a quantity of spirits and then by a certain consecution there being a dissipation made of the vital spirits also there follows a languishing of the whol body and the natural spirits being offended too the natural actions are hurt and chiefly concoction not because sleep as they think doth digest but because concoction that it may be rightly performed wanting more plentiful spirits and heat for want of them is for the most part offended sooner then the other actions And also immoderate watchings do bring troubles and pains to certain parts and that because not only â—he spirits are heated but the humors also by infection from them whence the spirits and blood by too much watching growing hot first of all in the Head a pain of the Head redness of the Eyes and hot tears flowing thither an itching doth befall the watchful that they are often forced to rub their Eyes and if they last long and the mass
less behold things somewhat remote Sight not rightly judging of things unless close to the Eyes is Myopia there are some who unless they apply close to their Eyes things somewhat smal or writings as it is commonly said touch them with their Nose they cannot rightly discern or read them beholding them with askew and closed eyes who from their cradle even unto old age for the most part seeing after this manner are called Myopes some of which are helped by the benefit of Spectacles others not We meet also with another weakness of Seeing Nyctalopes when at night by the light of a Candle they see little or nothing almost but in day time by day-light they perceive no impediment in their sight which they call Nyctalopes the Latines call Lusciosi But it happens also in some that they see in the Night in the dark without light more acutely than in the day time The Evening Eye-sight as Owls a rare disposition which they call the Evening Eye-sight for we would rather retain those names which are usual and rightly design the things then confound them amongst themselves as commonly they do signifying many things by one name The Seeing is depraved first of all when things are represented unto it otherwise than they are indeed Hallucination as if they see those things which are single for double as somtimes it fares with Drunkards who behold streight things for crooked or some other way things under a false shape which fault is called Hallucination Secondly if they think and Imagine with themselves that they see things that are not whence they call this affect Imagination Imagination as it happens when in an Alienation of mind and Ravings as hath been said there they think that they see divers apparitions whiles they are waking such as otherwise they are wont to meet with in Dreams or that Flies or Gnats fly up and down Nubecula a species of Raving Straws Locks of Wool adhere to things the which also sometimes is wont to happen to those no waies besides themselves nor otherwise sick that the same insects or locks of Wool and filaments Spiders webs and the like small things and Atomes seem to appear to one Eye or to both together in which because for the most part they think that they see also a little Cloud this fault is called Nubecula Thirdly hither belongs that false vision when also without any hurt of the mind other colors then are Colors a Species of Imagination are offerd to the sight now red then yellow Brightness a kind of Imagination or green or some other way representing themselves with a ful light the same appear coloured like a Rainbow in the compass and as it were the circle of the flame of a Candle or of some other thing lighted or Brightness like lightning or other shining bodies obscure the sight Fourthly to the depravation of sight these also must be referd when the things which they behold although they be firm and stable yet they think that they are carried about driven round and wheeled about so that though they know this is a false imagination yet when from that turning round of things the sight doth no more perceive a firm seat where the body may subsist that also stumbles staggers somtimes also if the pavement on which he stands seems to him to be inverted as if he also were inverted with it unless he be sustained or kept up he falls and suddenly rusheth down and beats the Earth with his Feet whiles he endeavors to stay himself all the other senses being nevertheless entire by which sign this fault called Dinos or Vertigo is easily distinguished from an Epilepsie Apoplexy Syncope with which those that are strucken do presently also fall on the ground But besides this unquiet Vision those troubled with a Vertigo there comes also sometimes another depravation of it A Vertigo with Iminginations which we have called Imagination and a little Cloud and upon this account they have named these imaginations A beginning or smal Vertigo a Cloud or other bodies or Colours also with them offering themselves to the sight the which notwithstanding if it doth happen for the most part it is wont to go before a Vertigo Somtimes also a darkness of the sight which we have formerly called Scotoma doth accompany a Vertigo A Vertigo with darkness in Scotodinos when also the Eyes being shut nevertheless al things are objected to the Internal sense as if they were turned round and then the Disease compounded of them both is called Scotodinos All which Depravations of the sight for the most part happen no fault being conspicuous in the Eyes unless it be offerred in that when a strange color doth somtimes appear with which the Eye is indeed extrinsecally coloured whether this be in the Sound or Sick The Causes The Cause of all the declared Accidents of the Sight is either in the part communicating the visive power viz. the Brain The part affected or consists in the Instrument receiving that power and also the species of external things to wit the Eye which when as it consists of many more parts then the other Organs of the senses and humors also in every one of them some causes prejudicing the fight may arise First of all in the visory or net-like Nerve implanted into the Eye and the principal Instrument of Seeing then in the three humors that fil up the Eye and serve the visory Nerve last of all in the Membranes themselves that constitute the Globe of the Eye and intrinsecally distinguish the humors If the Cause lie in those places where they are pervious to the sight as about the Black of the Eye and where only if the impediment of seeing do consist it may be seen and known for if it be elsewhere it is so hidden that it doth no waies appear to those that behold the Eye As all Senses may be hurt by reason of the Brain so also Seeing is weakned The Cause of the Hurt of seeing in the Brain both if it suffer a Disease General or Special and especially in that part where the optick Nerves come forth or those Nerves themselves produced from the Brain and carried unto the Eyes are affected which affects may be various A Cold Distemper sometimes breeds Blindness the other senses being somtimes unhurt A cold Distemper of the Brain is the Cause of Blindness or weakness of sight if the Forehead and Eyes being much and a long time refrigerated by cold wind which being less cover'd are the more exposed to the injuries and the cold penetrating even to that part where the optick Nerves have their original the said parts are so hurt that they become Blind or there remains afterwards a certain weakness of sight which I have seen befall a noble Matron in the Head-ach from the too much application of Oxyrrhodines actually most cold who all her life time could no
waies recover her sight any more that this also doth happen if the whol brain be hurt by the same distemper hath been shewed in a stupidity but then the rest of the senses are abolisht too and it s easily known by that whence the cause proceeds as if it be from externals 'tis plain of it self That a Hot Distemper of the Brain doth bring together with a Depravation of the Mind also A hot distemper of the brain is the cause of error of the sight and of Imagination a Hallucination of the sight and the said Imagination in which various false Images of things are offerred to the sight hath been said in a Phrensie As also it hath been explained there A malignant distemper in the brain is the cause of error in the sight that that distemper which ariseth from the Perturbation of the spirits in the Brain from Malignant humors together with Madness and Melancholly doth likewise represent false Apparitions to the sight Too much Driness of the Optick Nerve induced by burning Feavers the easier into that Nerve A dry distemper of the Brain is the cause of blindness seeing it is thick doth produce a Blindness remaining after these Feavers The beginning of the Nerves being comprest or bedewed as we have shewed that an Apoplexy is caused in which all the Senses are taken away at once so also if this be only about the rise or meeting of the Optick Nerves or in the other carriage of them out of the Eye which then must needs be from an afflux either of a bloody or flegmatick humor it is somtimes wont to happen that a Blindness doth suddenly follow if the humor presently fall down thither But more commonly the Optick Nerves being irrigated or too much moistened by the watry flegmatick excrements of the Brain which in this middle seat of the Basis of the Brain where the optick Nerves break forth alwaies flow down to the Infundibulum which is next to these Nerves and together with the Nerves and neer them break forth into the Chamber of the Eye and amplitude of the Nostrils a darkness of sight is wont to happen in old folks and flegmatick or if they be refrigerated by the same humor or be comprest in those streights rather then obstructed as they would have it a blindness also is wont to follow which abolition or weakness of the sight together with the hurt of the rest of the senses happens if this fault be extended to their rise or progress in the Basis of the Brain or the sight only is abolisht if that seat chiefly be affected and that commonly in both Eyes by reason of the meeting of the Optick Nerves and their short passage to the Eye that is rare that one Nerve only can be so affected the which doth proceed from flegm or a waterish humor as is sufficiently manifest by the signs of that humor abounding in the brain and it is easily known also that a Nerve is affected when nothing appears in the Eye which can bring such loss or Obscurity of the sight neither have we found this sign to be true which they have thought most certain to wit if the unsound Eye being comprest the Apple is not dilated this comes to pass by default of the Nerve because the influx of the Spirit into the same is impeded seeing the animal spirit doth not distend the Eye like wind neither fils it up but persists in the netlike Nerve Hither also shal be referred that not unusual Cause The Contusion of the visory Nerve in the brain is the cause of blindness but by no man as I know rightly described of that blindness which is somtimes left after grievous and frequent Convulsions the which is not from an afflux of humor as they would have it but because in those great Convulsions by the Convulsion fits of all the parts and the Eyes also in which they also oftentimes appear convulsive and very much stretcht out and bowed down the Optick Nerve growing to them being thus attracted and too much distended and that being wreathed too and hurt and the passage or visory spirit being hindred it happens that the Eyes are deprived of Seeing and that it proceeds herefrom we have found out by diligent examination and consideration The Substance of the Brain being hurt as by an Apoplexy there is a privation of all the senses The solution of continuity in the visory Nerve of the Brain is the cause of Blindness so a Nerve being contused or wounded there which some do testifie hath somtimes happened from a puncture made by the Forehead a manifest Blindness by reason of the Solution of Continuity or a Callus left hath suddenly happened and so from a blow A Weak Constitution of the Brain the spirits being dissipated and wasted by reason of old Age or by some grievous and long continued disease too much evacuations especially of Blood and Seed whence is a great effusion of spirits and immoderate Venery for that reason doth very much prejudice the sight A Weakness of the Brain the Cause of weak Sight also by reason of too much Watchings as hath been said there it induceth an Amblyopy or weakeness of sight and also of the other sensenses especialy of those that have a more subtile object as of Hearing often familiar to old folk as appears in these external causes of them remaining in those that are recovering and accustomary to those that live intemperately Besides this cause which proceeds from a defect of spirits which there can be no doubt we can by no means be induced to feign another here in the thickness or thinness or subtilty of the Spirits as many indeed do propose these things with more subtilty than truth out we are moved by many things to dissent from them seeing the animal spirit being wel nigh aethereal doth no waies suffer such changes but is most easily dissipated as no man neither hath ever dared so much as to fansie the Vital Spirits to grow thick or be attenuated as also wesee unless now the defect of seeing happen from the Spirits its other discommodities whence things far distant or neer are less truly discerned do happen rather from the fault of the Instrument as by and by shall be explained not by reason of a certain thickness or subtilty of the spirits as they have thought seeing they are so subtile that they cannot be more subtile Divers sorts of hurt of the sight are wont to proceed by reason of the perturbation or agitation of the spirits of the Brain and the brain also being affected by consent with them as if being mixt with a hot subtile vapor A preturbation of the spirits of the brain by vapors is the cause of error and Imagination with an alienation of mind either turbid or malignant they do not only pervert the mind but corrupt also the sight so that they think they see many things which are not as if from the
boyling hot whiles it is empty and the vapors then being hindred are the more freely carried upwards it happens that the said accidents are troublesome to the cholerick whiles they are yer fasting and that upon the taking of meat because the vehemency of Choler is abated and the vapors represt they grow milder and at last cease the which happens also the vapors in the head being discust of their own accord and so much the sooner by how much they are more subtile till new evaporations being made these evils do return but it is known that this proceeds from Choler by the bitterness of the mouth and gnawing at the mouth of the stomach which they call the heart and by other signs of this humor which also somtimes brings with the same labor a pain of the Head too with a Vertigo The same vapors proceeding from the Mesaraick Veins in which the cholerick juyces are wont oftentimes to abound as hath been shewed elsewhere as by those vapors raised from the same place and carried upwards by the Veins and Arteries intermitting Feavers hypochondriacal Melanchollies do invade a man by intervals so also they oftentimes raise the said symptoms which is done the vapors being carried upwards from thence through the Veins and somtimes through the Arteries which are annext to the Mesaraick Veins then especially when those vapors are subtile that they induce rather these accidents than Perturbations of the mind which hath been shewed do rather proceed from their malignity the which therefore do somtimes produce Vertigoes only or as they are qualified Images and Scotomies together with them or without them which we had rather alleadg as the truer cause than Pretend Crudities from which Wind rather than these like Vapors are generated But also from some other seat of the body these like vapors raised from a thinner blood through the Veins and Arteries may cause the same as from that part which is about the Womb as the Courses being stopt this symptom also doth happen as other also oftentimes upon this account and from some part of the Foot or of another member a vapor proceeding like to some Air being carried upwards as we have observed it hath been the Cause of an Epilepsie so also of a Vertigo whence somtimes Vertigoes go before an Epilepsie and presage that wil presently follow when from the like vapors vellicating the Brain Epilepsies also may be caused as shal be said in its place But the cause of these diseases sometimes consists in the Head it self in which not only spirituous hot and plentiful blood collected may cause the same as hath been said formerly but also from humors contained there the like Vapors raised and mixt with the spirits may produce these accidents which we do beleeve doth arise rather from the Blood of the Vessels and Ventricles of the Brain and the humors mixt with it than from flegm the which also we do not deny to be a cause of the Vertigo but not because it sends forth vapors but after this manner now to be explained 'T is certain that a Repletion of the Brain caused by a watry humor The Fluctuation of a watry flegmatick humor in the Brain is the cause of a Vertigo as well that Serous as Flegmatick doth cause that Vertigo which is wont to precede and threaten an Apoplexy or Carus which being frequent and of long continuance unless it be prevented is wont to terminate in these Diseases with great danger of life but it doth not this by cooling and moistning the brain seeing this agitation of the spirits which is in a Vertigo would so rather be hindred than promoted but this comes to pass when filling up the windings and spaces of the Brain by its great plenty filling the Skul and also generating plenty of Wind which are oftener ingendred from waterish humors than Vapors it waves in it for then as in the cover of the heart water abounding doth cause a Palpitation of the heart when it is stirred so here also it every where filling the Brain when the Head is moved the humor being stirred and following the motion of the Head as we have said of the spirits it gives such a sense to the head which doth sufficiently appear by their relation who complain of such a fluctuation and the Skul being opened we have often found an immense plenty of this humor as hath been said in an Apoplexy and in him in whom even now we said that the Arteries too were grown hard we have found so great plenty of it that the Skul being opened it hath come forth by floods the which together with that obstruction of the Arteries producing a double cause of the Vertigo made it so lasting and incurable in which that humor for continuance watring the Brain had bred that Carus of which he died But it is known that this is the cause of a Vertigo not only from that sense of fluctuation but also from other signs of flegm abounding explained in a Carus and Apoplexy to which those that are prone become at once sleepy and more stupid and at last fall into these Diseases unless prevented By occasion of the Visory Nerve implanted into the Eye and dilated like the form of a Net The Visory or Net-like Nerve in the Eye is the cause of the hurt of seeing most discommodities of the fight do happen seeing that is the principal Organ of seeing and that for the most part by consent of other parts when by reason of them it is disappointed of those things which are required to Seeing viz. the spirit and the proper object or else it cannot rightly enjoy them for otherwise being immersed in the Eye 't is so grounded that 't is scarcely troubled with any disease unless by consent of the Brain It is disappointed of the Animal spirit either altogether in blindness A Privation of the animal spirit in the Net-like Nerve is cause of Blindness or darkness of sight or in part in a weakness of the sight by reason of the Optick Nerve such as are Distemper Compression Hurts and Weakness proceeding rather from the defect of spirits than that fansied thickness and subtlty of them The same happens also the spirits flying from the visory Nerve towards their beginning in the Eye prest a long time and by consequence the Net-like Nerve by reason of humors filling up the Eye it sometimes happens that they are afterwards so long blind til the spirits return again And also the spirits being too much idle in the visory Nerve and as it were laid asleep or being retreated when there is no use of them the Nerve it self being made dull in those who being kept in darkness for a long time as in Prison or other dark places have seen nothing for a long time when they return into the light they scarce recover their fight or slowly or never any more And seeing the Animal spirit hath a constant need of the vital this by swooning
hath been formerly expounded it sooner offends the sight than it can bring a change after that manner as hath been said from influx of humors as they have thought it hath already been declared that it cannot come to pass but from a vehement impulse of of the spirits by straining if the eye being dilated the apple also were inlarged yet the same ceasing it would by and by return to its natural largeness The Cure The Cure of all these hurts of sight viz. of Blindness an Amblyopy of that which we have called the old and young mans sight of a Myopie Nyctalopie evening sight of Error Images a Scotoma Vertigo and the rest is ordered in relation to the cause which is as hath been said either in the Brain the affects of that bringing hurt not only to the sight but also to other Senses or privately and chiefly prejudicing the sight to wit a Hurt Contusion Driness Refrigeration Agitation and trouble of the spirits or a repletion from a watery humor or it is an affect of the Net-like Nerve caused by consent or Diseases especially organical in the humors membranes of the eye to wit a defect of the humors of the Eye the situation of the hole of the Grapy Coat or Apple or a perversion of the humors of the Eye and a change of their substance the smalness or too great largeness of the Apple a white speck appearing from a Suffusion Albugo or Skar and a pannicle spred over the Eye or a humor as Choler Blood matter collected in the Eye concerning which we shal explain in order what is to be done and foretold in every one of them If the hurt of Seeing be by fault of the Brain The Cure of the burts of the sight with the ober senses if they be by fault of the Brain and that be general not only viriaring the sight but also taking away impairing or depraving the other senses also both internal and external and by consequence prejudicing also the sight the Cure as also the whole handling of them hath been explained in these general hurts As in an Apoplexy Blindness hapening together with the other abolitions of the senses in a madness and Raving Aparitions Images and Vertigoes which are supervenient to them also with other accidents and in a weakness of the mind the weakness of sight which accompanies the defect of the internal senses But if these diseases consisting yet out of the Eye in the Brain or Optick Nerve do chiefly hurt the sight The Cure of the proper defects of the sight if they be by reason of the optick Nerve yet lying in the Brain they shal be handled here and according to the nature of the Cause the Cure or prediction must be ordered If therefore the sight be taken away by some eminent hurt or by a Wound about the Eye forced even to the Optick Nerve as we have said hath sometimes hapned no other hurt following it that Blindness wil be incurable And if also blindness be induced the Optick Nerve being contorted by Convulsions as hath been said unless the sight return of its own accord within some few daies as I have seen it come to pass the Recovery is desperate as afterwards I have observed them to remain Blind the whole time of their life Neither wil there be any hopes of Cure if Blindness be left by too much driness of the Optick Nerve after most Burning Feavers seeing those things which we have said ought to be applied outwardly to the Forehead and Head for to moisten in the weakness of the memory contracted by driness although they be convenient here also yet for the most part they profit little and can hardly put forth their strength unto the Nerve And also if Blindness be caused by external cold from Wind or by the application of cold Oxyrrhodines seeing cold is wholly an enemy to the Nerves that hurt is almost incurable yet the Forehead and Head must be fomented and anointed with things actually and potentially hot and chiefly sweer things must be ayplied to the Nostrils which are hot and do reach neerer even to the Nerve the forms of which Remedies we have already explained in a Stupidity caused by cold Neither is there any health to be hoped for if that long continued Vertigo be caused by fault of the Arteries hardned The Cure of a rare Vertigo happenning from the Arteries of the Brain being hardned as we have said hath somtimes been found the which notwithstanding seeing it can scarcely be guest at while the man liveth to foretel any thing certainly of it were rashness till after death dissection being made the cause of the evil being discovered may excuse the Physitian But if a Vertigo be caused by an Agitation of the spirits in the brain only The Cure of a Vertigo caused by an agitation of the spirits of the Brain from an external cause by reason of a motion of the Body or only of the Mind no other cause intrinsecally concurring the cause ceasing that also ceaseth of its own accord and the sooner if by a contrary motion made the spirits be reduced and stopt as if a Vertigo be caused by turning round of the body to the right or left side by an opposite motion to the left or right side it ceaseth the sooner In whom also lying on the Back doth good the which notwithstanding if the Vertigo proceed from an internal cause or from drunkenness it doth rather provoke it if it cease not so Frictions of the extream parts do help and Sleep comming upon it takes it away But if this Agitation and Perturbation of the Spirits arise from Vapors carried upwards The cure of a Vertigo Scotoma and Imagination caused by Vapors whence are caused Vertigoes and Scotomies and Imaginations either severally or together then the Humors which are contained either in the Stomach or the Mesaraick Veins about the Womb or else where in the Habit of the Body and somtimes in the Head it self from which these Vapors rise which we have said were cholerick sanguine impure rather then flegmatick seeing we have shewed that Flegm doth cause a Vertigo and Amblyopy for another reason must be purged forth and diverted together with the Vapors by letting of Blood Scarifications Frictions Cauteries Vomits and Purges and that with things given inwardly and applied outwardly and by Course of life these Vapors must be inhibited as followeth Letting of Blood by opening the Shoulder-vein of the Arm is good in the Plethorick not only if the fewel of the evil lie else where in the Blood but also if either plenty or spirituous Blood abound in the head and be a Cause of the Vertigo for seeing in the Cavities of the Brain both the blood of the Arteries and Veins is confounded by opening a Vein the spirituous blood also may be drawn forth in which if the whol evil almost do lie the principal scope of the Cure is in bleeding and for that
the outward sound is various so is this also the diverfities of which as of that cannot otherwise be rightly explained unless by comparison and names are given to them almost by an Onomatopaeia And one Species of it is more frequent A tinkling of the Ears is a species of Obaudition which is called a tinkling of the Ears when that sound doth express in the Ears the noise of a little Bell for the most part gives a shril sound when it is struck upon and as the Names sounds it tinkleth Another is a Hissing of the Ears a sound which is heard Hissing a sort of Obaudition and yet not rightly resounding as si the first syllable of the word sounds and as wind when it passeth forcedly through a narrow hole A third Species is a Pulse A Pulsation in the Ears is a sort of Obaudition or Pulsation in the Ears a sound such as offers it self whiles a thing is lightly beaten upon by a blow or sall of a drop of water by course and the first syllable of the Name Pul doth seem also somwhat to signifie it A fourth is a Wave or Fluctuation in the Ears A Fluctuation in the Ears is a sort of Obaudition a sound not unlike to that which is from Waves striking one against another or against other things caused by intermitting courses which also the beginning of that word Fluc doth Elegantly express Besids these sounds those which offer themselves after another manner or are made by a mixture of these they are called by a general name a noise in the Eare. The Causes Every cause of the defect and depravation of hearing is either in the part sending as the Brain The part affected or in the Instrument receiving as the hollow of the Eare. A general fault of the Brain as it brings hurt to the rest of the senses The hurt of hearing from a fault of the Brain so also to the hearing and if it arise in particular about the beginning of the Auditory Nerve or its progress into the Chamber of hearing it doth prejudice the hearing rather then the rest and this befals it either by proper fault some Disease or weakness of it or by consent by reason of Vapors or its proper object A grievous and vehement Disease of the Brain proceeding from a cold Distemper Repletion Eminent hurt as it doth either abolish or debilitate the rest of the senses so also the hearing The which also oftentimes happens from a weakness of the Brain the spirits being wasted and dissipated by reason of old age or of a great Evacuation or some grievous and long continued Disease that even as the sight is hurt upon this occasion so also the Hearing is weaken'd All which how they come to pass hath been said in a Weakness and Consternation of Minde also a hot distemper of it as it is wont to deprave the Minde and the Sight so also in raving it doth not only offer various apparitions to the Eyes but also it represents sounds to the hearing which they think they do hear especially as shall be said by and by the Arteries then beating vehemently in the Ears From a Vapor not yet breaking into the Chamber of the hearing as shall be significd by and by But affecting the Brain as the Minde is depraved and false imaginations are offer'd to the sight so also if it trouble that part where the Auditory Nerve comes forth it may represent false sounds to the hearing for the same reason as hath been said in the error of Sight As we have said the sight is affected with its proper object so also the Nerve being offended and the spirits dissipated by a violent and too great sound penetrating suddainly and abundantly through the Eare even to the Brain somtimes Deafness hath ensued or the Spirits returning but not sufficiently a tinkling in the Ears hath been left which sound also if it be caused with a greater violence may bring dammage also by hurting the Organ of hearing as shall be said by and by By default of the Auditory Instrument The hurt of Hearing from default of the Eare. that receiveth that outward sound the Hearing is hurt divers waies because this Organ also which we cal by the Name of the Eare is composed of many parts as Membranes little bones and the Auditory Nerve all whose several faults may prejudice the Hearing Which we will explain not as we have done in the Eye beginning with Particular parts and a scribing their faults to them but distinguishing the whol passage of the Eare into two Cavities viz. the outward and the inward we will set forth what Diseases occurring in them both do hurt the Hearing The outward Cavity of the Eare which they call the Auditory passage being Extrinsecally open wide and Conspicuous ending even at the Membrane of the drum with which it is stopt containing nothing otherwise in it self besides Aire and admitting the outward sound if it be stopt up or obstructed by divers external Causes occurring or by internal Humors or Tumors whether wholly or only in part or it be otherwise hurt then it happens that the Hearing is hurt which causes also occurring here can only be perceived by our senses or if they lurke more inwardly they may be searcht out by putting in a Probe and if any thing come forth from thence they may be known by that voided forth If the outward Cavity of the Eare be wholly shut up by external Causes which otherwise naturally can no waies be shut as the Eye as it comes to pass the hindermost Cartilage of the Eare being prest A stopping of the Eare is the Cause of the hurt of Hearing either by Application of the Hands or of other Bodies or by the water whiles in swimming the Head is cover'd in it or the Eares being obstructed by some gross matter thrust in or fallen in as by a Kernel or by some living creature which do wholly stop up their Cavities or by water which fallen in doth wholly fil them up the Hearing is so hinder'd that they do not perceive the outward sounds either at all or not rightly as one Eare or both are more or less stopt Unless perhaps that sound be somwhat perceived another way and by another Artifice as by the Mouth we have said may be done holding an Instrument in their Teeth that gives a sound Which we think happens upon a double account both by reason of the Similitude and Consent of the substance of the Teeth in hardness which is almost stony and in smoothness with the Bones of the Chamber of Hearing which bones are very like to the substance of the Teeth and that the sound might be the better caused in them they are most hard and stony and so with the little bones of the Hearing it self endued with the same substance and by Reason of the Nerves lying under the Teeth which are carried thither from the Nerves of the Tongue
only two kinds of the Hurts of the Motions of Nutrion that fall under the Sense of Apetency and Excretions The Motions of Apetency are hurt in the desire of Meat and Drink when they are defective or depraved The Appetency is Defective when there is lictle or no Appetite to them of which faults Defect of Appetite which are chiefly an Anorexy Want of Stomach or Nauseousness Apositia Want of thirst or a loathing of certain meats we will treat in the Defect of Appetite Chap. XII The Appetite is depraved when it desires either too much The Appetite Depraved or that which is not convenient of whose kinds which are a Boulimy Dog-like Appetite immoderate Thirst a Pica we wil treat in The Appetite Depraved Chap. XIII Of the manifest Motions of Excretions which Nature alone doth perfect as necessary serving to Nutrition one is of the Blood another of the Serum another of Milk the hurt of which three Humors Kinds of Excretions do consist in this sufficiently or they are Deprvved when they are made immothat either they are Defective when they are not made or not derately or out of season in which two seeing alwaies somwhat flowes forth in that voided we wil explain such like depraved Excretions together with all the rest as wel natural as preternatural things which do not offend in defect but because they are made what way soever that comes to pass in the hurts of Excretions but here we wil treat of them in as much as these Functions are defective The Cessation and Diminution of a natural afflux of Blood whose kinds are The Defect of natural Haemorrage a Suppression of the Courses aand Haemorrhoids a Defect of Purgation after bringing forth as also of other Haemorrages shal be handled in the Defect of a natural Haemorrhage Chap. XIV One Kind of defect of Sweating out the Serum shal be explained in the Defect of Sweating Want of Sweat Chap. XV. One kind of Deficiency of Milkshal explained in the Defect of giving Milk Chap. Want of Milk XVI The Involuntary motions which are made for Generation or Procreation sake whose hurts are conspicuous are conversant only about the act of Venery and Conception For of Bringing forth we have formerly spoken because the Will doth help that The act of Venery which is perfected by the appetive motion of Nature rendring the Members fit to exercise that Act and by voiding of Seed in both as wel the Male as Female somtimes is Defective somtimes Depraved Somtimes it is so Defective that it cannot be performed in an Impotency Defect of the act of Venery Languidness Imperfect Venery or Hindred or Extinct ' of which we wil treat in the Defect of the Act of Venery Chap. XVII It is Depraved when they Covet it too much in Lasciviousness Salaciousness Venereal madness a Priapism of which we wil handle in Salaciousness Chap. XVIII Conception which is performed by the motion of Nature Attracting Retaining Defect of Conception and Forming the Seed in a Woman only is Deficient or Depraved It is Defective when it is not as in Barreness or not as we we would have it in Defect of Procreating Males or Females of which we wil treat in Defect of Conception Chap. XIX It is Depraved when it is done ill which Disease seeing it can scarce be known and fals not under the Senses til that which was ill conceived be cast forth we shall rather treat of that in things rejected together with Abortion and the rest of Excretions CHAP. I. Of the Weakness of Motion The Kinds VVE call that a Weakness of Motion when they exercise sluggishly or slowly or hardand with some trouble the Voluntary motions of the body and amongst these especially the stronger which have need of strength that they may be accomplished for if upon another account a defect befall them that they are not sufficiently performed seeing they happen from the same cause also from whence we shal shew an Immobility doth proceed they shall be explained there But this of which we here treat either is an accustomary Sloath or a Weariness supervenient after labour or a Spontaneous Weariness foregoing Diseases Sluggishness Sloath Slowness Idleness Sluggishness loathness to do any thing is accustomary to the weaker sort either by Nature all their life time or to Infants and old Folks by reason of their age or those recovering after a Disease for some time or alwaies after and other while it is familiar to the stronger sort also by reason of Laziness with which they are more delighted and do accustome themselves to Sloath all which can hardly endure heavy labour nor persevere long in undertaking it being rather intent on Rest and Sleep A Weariness or Defatigation after Labour makes that they are not only unfit for the same labours which they have formerly undergone and for undertaking of others but they feel also a troublesomness stil remaining for a while not only when they do somwhat but when they rest also to wit that sense of stupidity in their Limbs too much agitated which they call Formication Tingling and a certain Distension as if they were dry or bound up and therefore they are hardly and with trouble bent or extended whence Galen hath elsewere called it a Squallid Weariness Or if they be Cacochymical they perceive that painful sense of which we shal speak by and by in a Spontaneous Weariness this doth more or less show it self according as the whol body or its parts have been strongly exercised seeing the whol body is somtimes so cast down by weariness that even in rest or lying down the weariness doth not wholly cease seeing in that too there is some attraction or extension of the Members by the Muscles whence they are forced by night variously to toss their body that they may find a fit situation for their body in which they may commodiously rest and sleep but sometimes certain parts which endure the labour do only feel it as the Feet after a long Journey the Arms after long continued blows the Hands not only after Stronger motions but also as I have often experienced by long and much writing as also I have observed that the Mandible may be wearied by much speaking and that the weaker motions also of the Eyelids Lips Eyes may be tired even this doth manifest because those that are Weary can scarce lift up their Eyelids a sure sign of Sleepiness and Weariness A Spontaneous Weariness that is not proceeding from Labor but hapning of its own accord such as Hippocrates teacheth doth threaten or forego Diseases doth manifect it self in the Limbs with a certain sense of pain which either offering it self in the superficies of the Skin and the Flesh under it grows worse by touching expressing some sense in the parts and that is either of an Ulcer and it is called an Ulcerous Elcodis weariness or of an Inflammation and it is called an Inflamatory Phlegmonodis
makes a general Palsie in which all Voluntary Motions cease as well the stronger of the Body as the weaker of the parts of the Face And besides these Breathing the Voice and Speech Swallowing also and some Motions of Excretions do suffer some hurt as hath been said if the hurt be neer to the Brain and great because the Conjugations of the Nerves do issue forth there from the beginning of the spinal Marrow and then also are hurt as shall be said by and by but if in the rest of the progress of it there happen any such hurt to the Back then by taking away that faculty from those Nerves only which are under it it makes those Members Palsied into which they are inserted by whose hurts it is easily known where the cause lurkes in the spinal Marrow which in what place soever it is if the hurt be in both sides the cause is in both if only in one as the spinal Marrow is perceived to be truely distinguisht the Cause only in that side makes a Palsie and by so much the more general by how much that is affected more towards the Original If paires of Nerves proceeding from the Spinal marrow be hurt then according as a general Nerve communicating Nerves to many parts or a special one communicating to some only is seazed with the Disease more or one part suffers a resolution by which also we shall easily find out what Nerves are affected if we know which are communicated to every part and hence many Particular resolutions may be made in the Members which have received Nerves from the paires of the spinal marrow yet not in all because the Muscles moving the Breast especially the Midrife and those of the Belly also being compeld by a necessity of breathing especially seeing breathing is caused also by the help of natural Motion do nevertheless perform their office in the palsied in respiration and casting forth of Excrements hither also makes somwhat that the Midrif doth receive Nerves not only from the spinal marrow but also from the conjugations of Nerves as shall be said as we shall declare things further in the defect of Respiration besides which parts the rest which are moved by the Muscles may suffer a resolution The Contractions of Nerves derived from the Brain that do communicate Motion if they suffer a Disease then that part is hurt to which the Nerve hurt is peculiar and by the Palsie of the part the Nerve affected is known as if that called the second Conjugation of Nerves derived to the Muscles of the Eye be affected there is a Palsie of the Eye the which nevertheless can scarce be done in this Nerve unless the neighbouring Brain be hurt as it comes to pass in an Apoplexy but as more commonly the Conjugation of Nerves carried to the Face Lips Ey-lids and temporal Muscle being affected there is a resolution of the Lips and Ey-lids but seldom of the lower Jaw seeing the Temporal Muscle doth receive more Nerves and if the Nerve of the Tongue called the third Conjugation doth suffer the Tongue being Palsied the Speech suffers a blemish and then commonly by reason of its communication with the Auditory Nerve if the hurt be so great that they become wholly mute they are Deaf also The same may happen in that conjugation of Nerves which they call the sixth and seventh which falling from the Brain and joyned into one descending Nerve and communicating the sense of Feeling to many Interiour parts and giving also Motion to the Muscles of the Laryux Tongue Jaws Midrife also to the Muscles of the Bladder Fundament if it be hurt about the original or somwhere also in its Progress it breeds Palsies of the parts into which it is inserted if they be moveable in others a certain sense of Stupidity and hence if the recurrent Nerve be affected there is a defect of the Voice and Speech if the Nerves which go to the Muscles of the Jaws be hurt seeing swollowing is caused by them and not by the Fibres of the Oesophagus as they have thought there follows a difficulty of swallowing and also there comes some Impediment in Breathing if the Nerves which go to the Midrife be hurt and that especially in violent sending forth the Breath when they would utter a great Voice or are compeld to Cough for then not being able to express it they come into some danger of Suffocation because otherwise for the perfecting of moderate breathing the Midrife which causes it seeing it doth receive also from the Spinal marrow as hath been said it can nevertheless in some sort perform its office although these Nerves be hurt in which hurts of Motions an offence of the sense of Feeling being joyned that sense of heat and tingling doth so much molest the sick about the Stomach especially where the Nerves are greater and about other internal parts as hath been said but if there be a certain general hurt of the same Conjugation because then both the Sphincters of the bladder and Anus and the rest of its Muscles are Palsied an involuntary Pissing moreover and a relaxation of the Fundament is coupled with the other Species of a Palsie as we shall explain all these more at large in the defect of breathing and of Excretions and in the difficulty of swallowing But the Disease with which the spinal Marrow or Nerve is possest The Diseases of the Nerves from whence a Palsie is is that which deprives it of the Animal spirit which it hath need of to exercise its Function for being so affected it can neither any more communicate to a Muscle the power of moving nor to the sensible parts the power of Feeling if the Nerve be wholly destitute of that and the remaining part of it from the place affected even to the part into which it is inserted becomes unprofitable As it comes to pass if its continuity with the part be broken for then this passage is interrupted or if the Nerves be so straiten'd that the Animal spirit which requires a free passage through them can no longer pass through them or fil them up or not sufficiently seeing though it be most thin and subtile and doth Illustrate the Nerves like the rayes of the Sun yet nevertheless it may be hinderd as the Sun Beams also may as this happens if it be so prest in any part of it that its substance doth wholly sink down or if its substance be so condensed that also by this means the passage for the spirit is intercepted And also the same may fal out if some part of the Nerve do so labor of a distemper that it can no waies perform its Function as how these Diseases viz. A Solution of Continuity a Straitness of the Nerves a Condensation and simple distemper or with an Afflux of Humor and Repletion or with a preternatural Tumor or some fault of the Organ do proceed from Internal or External Causes to wit a Flegmatick humor or Bloody or from
thither and that they may divert the humor from the Nerves possessed with it diligently observing the place wherethe cause of the evil lies especially if this be about the Marrow of the Back the Cupping-Glasses being fastned a little below descending by degrees to the palsied member they oftentimes free the Nerves from it Instead of which Rubefiers and blistering Remedies stronger than these do effect the same more strongly Of which they are wont to apply the stronger Vesicatories or instead of them Causticks and Setons to the hinder part of the Neck which they call the Nape which wil be then most convenient if in a general Palsie the cause be neer to the Brain although also it doth good if the cause lurk there about the beginng of the spinal Marrow in a Hemiplegia because it calls it forth and moves it from its place and also Causticks applied to the Arm do revell the humors If a Palsie be caused from a Watry Flegmatick or Serous humor The Cure of Palsie or Spasm from other humors mixt with acrid cholerick humors not only bedewing the Nerves but also irritating them as after Colick pains we have said it doth most frequently happen in our age with Pain and sense of tingling then the Cure as long as the Colick pain lasts shall rather be applied to that and those evil humors must be purged forth as hath been said there and those things ought rather to be applied and given which by lenifying the Nerves may hinder Convulsions into which it is wont easily to terminate as hath been said in Convulsions in the interim not rashly foretelling any good event because if Convulsions be supervenient it is wont easily to kill but if that other Disease ceasing that do accompany these Palsies they do remain in many or particular parts then the same cure must be administred which hath been explained in a Flegmatick Palsie It hath been shewed that from Blood a Palsie cannot be caused especially a lasting one which if it be as Practitioners have writ because then the Blood consisting yet in the Veins easily goes back by its part inverted if it be caused by the perverse Scituation of it and by and by ceaseth or if it be from a Plenitude it will be Cured by bleeding and by other things that revel and derive If from too much Refrigeration of a Muscle and Nerve by the external cold for concerning that which is caused by a flegmatick Humor hath been spoken already not only a Stupidity as that happens The Cure of a Palsie from cooling but also a Resolution of the Member be caused then as hath been shewed in a Stupidity it is corrected by things actually hot applied by degrees and by Frictions by which unless it cease those Topick Remedies which have been explained in a Flegmatick Palsie viz. anoynting Fomentations and Baths according as their form is appliable to the part affected will here also take place If a Flatulent Palsie be caused from Wind The Cure of a Flatulent Spasm from Wind. therefore so called whether they be the cause of it or if it be caused from the too much astriction of the Muscles by increasing of it they render it more vehement and lasting Then if this happen but seldom it can signifie no evil because it proceeds from a manifest cause too much Motion or Refrigeration and therefore it is neglected but if it return often because it breeds great trouble and weakness the Limbs because it hath an internal cause accompanying it plenty of Wind and an undecent Connexion of the Muscles as hath been said it must not be neglected because somtimes it can scarce be wholly taken away Which if it molest not only in the Feet and Joynts but also elsewhere as in the Back or lower Jaw or Mouth it wants not its danger of falling to an Epilepsie and therefore as hath been said there we must provide against it betimes But in other Causes the following Remedies shal be used both for prevention out of the sit if it return often or in the fit if it continue which dispel Wind and Relax the bound up Muscles There are given to hinder the Product of Wind and to discuss it as well in course of Dyet as in purging Medicines heating and strengthning such us in windy cases especially of the Stomach we shal explain in their proper places There are applied to the Muscle affected which we know by the bunching forth of the place and pain those things in the fit which are Actually or Potentially heating and discussing Wind do help by Lenisiing and Relaxing the part But out of the fit those things which do also by strengthning the part with a light astriction provent the often returning Disease by using almost the same which in a Flegmatick Palsie and true Contractions we have shewed to be the gentler and have there described them Anointings are made with Oyls of Chamomel Lillics Dill or after this manner if the part must be strengthend too Take of Oyl of Chamomel or another of those three one ounce of Foxes or Worms Mastick of each half an ounce Mix them anoint the part hot your Hands or the part being first moistend with Aqua vitae Oyl of Guaicum anoynted with Aqua vitae and Sage helps speedily Or make Plasters amongst which Martiatum is convenient The Waters and Balsom Oyls explained in a Palsie are convenient amongst which simple Aqua vitae applied alone gives present help if it be hot Treacle dissolved in Aqua vitae rather then in Oyls as they teach and anointed will profit very much Fomentations Incessions Baths reckond up in a Palsie and Contraction will do good being actually or potentially hot Amongst which a Lie may be applied as shall be said in the Gout for prevention sake because it confirmes the Lax parts and those which receive the Humors or Wind adding some things that strengthen This Plaster is very much approved Take of Wormwood Penny-royal of each one handful Bay-berries one pugil Cummin half an ounce Bruise them boyl them in strong Wine and Honey Make a Cataplasm The Bags prescribed in a Palsie being first bedewed with Wine will do good also or thus when by strengthning we would prevent the evil Take of the flowers of Chamomel Melilot Roses Bran Juniper or Bay-berries of each one pugil Myrtles half a pugil Orrice roots half an ounce seeds of Faenigreek Carawaies Cummin of each three drams Salt one pugil for a Bag. A Bag may quickly be prepared for use only of Millet Bran and Salt Hot Skins and other the like things are convenient Also gentle Friction with the Hands or hot Cloths By drawing back the part affected we shall make the fit shorter or that it presently cease if the Muscles that are involuntarily violently extended or bent and by that drawing the Member we do voluntarily endeavor by a contrary motion and straining of the Muscles which are opposed to the diseased ones to draw them back
of Myrtles or Mastick two ounces Bruise them for a Cataplasm A Cautery also or Vesicatory applied on the part doth powerfully dissolve and calls forth the moisture with which the Joynts being possest are easily Luxated Some write that the juyce of Prim-roses given by the Mouth doth help in Luxations If an Organical fault do cause Immobility The Cure of Immobility by fault of the Organ and it be from the Birth it is incurable because we cannot fashion the parts otherwise but if it be from an adventitious cause the Tendons being too much Relaxt and Lengthened by some force or humor the same Topick means wil do good as in the said Palsie especially the flegmatick one But if they being too much bound that a slatulent Spasm be caused the Cure hath been explained in Winds but if there be a true Contraction and lasting the same Cure as that for Driness wil be convenient as hath been said CHAP. III. Concerning Depraved Motion The Kinds WE call that Depraved motion when Voluntary Motions especially are exercised either Immoderately or unseasonably or otherwise undecently as it comes to pass when the Members that perform those Motions are Restless or Cramped or Tremble or Beâ—â— or are Shaken by a Rigor or are Extended by reâ—â—â— and yawning or otherwise moved by twinkling The Members are said to be Restless when they are acted too much Restlessness and rest not as when men besides themselves mad men and phrenitical do exercise such various and violent motions and angry furious folks do things so headlongly but chiefly those who labor of that disease called Vitus his Dance do tire their Feet with Running and Jumping beyond measure of whom we have spoken in an Alienation of the mind Those also that lie by it in other Diseases both Waking and Sleeping are somtimes very unquiet and it is properly called Inquietude and he that is sick of it is called Assodis it is a Symptom of many Diseases that overthrows the strength with which they that are affected somtimes toss their body variously hither and thither whence they have called it jactation and some Jectigation somtimes they often raise themselves up somtimes continually exercise their hands and feet retract them change them Somtimes they rowl to the Feet which in acute Diseases with which this is a familiar accident Hippocrates reckons it amongst the deadly signs in the healthful also such like restlessness is wont to be troublesome both to them Waking and Sleeping whether also may be referd that unseasonable Night-walking in Dreams of which hath been spoken in Watching The Members are said to be convelled A Convulsion when they exercise those inordinate Motions as hath been said in a general Convulsion or Epilepsie and it happens also in a particular Spasm especially in that Species in which the Members are yet agitated and their motion is not yet stopt they being attracted by a Convulsion as in that called a Convulsive Palpitation hath been shown in a particular Cramp The Members are said to tremble when they are stirred upwards or downwards with an inequal motion A Trembling and it is called Trembling which then is caused chiefly when we would use them which sometimes tremble more somtimes less which often happens in the Hands when somwhat is to be laid hold on and sometimes in the Feet which tremble as they stand and sometimes in the Head which continually is moved hither and thither somtimes the lower Jaw becomes tremulous the which often happens before Vomiting which it presageth we have seen a Citizen of ours Tremble in all the parts together even from his birth unto his old age with his Arms Hands Fingers Feet with which he danced as it were while he went with his head also which he shaked and with his Jaw with which he chewed as it were The Members are said to beat or pant not when they are shaken A Palpitation being about to do somthing as in a trembling but when they are somwhat attracted involuntarily and are again relaxt as in Convulsive Palpitation we have formerly said it doth come to pass after the same manner which Palpitation may be referred to that Species which they call the flatulent Spasm having almost the same cause as shal be said and therefore it may be called a flatulent Palpitation yet more gently exercising the Members rather than strongly drawing them as the other doth seeing the Members are properly said to palpitate when the Muscles and the Skin over them are somwhat lifted up and sink again and that with pain for the most Part and trouble the Members in the interim not being attracted or very little We say the Members are shaken by a Rigor A Rigor when there is a certain Convulsion of the whol body or of its parts almost as it befalls those that tremble but with a certain sense of cold and involuntarily whence it is called a Rigor as in the beginning of the Fits of intermitting Feavers the whole body by this means is extended bowed shaken oftentimes so strongly that the Teeth knocking together make a Noise which they call the Gnashing of the Teeth and continual Feavers also do invade with the like Rigor and somtimes when a Crisis is at hand it is a foreteller of it at other times the Agitation is lighter and then it is called Horror or shivering in which a greater sense of cold runs through the body Horror and the hairs stand upright and the pores bound up make the Skin rough and somtimes Cold only doth molest a man as hath been said in Feavers but also out of Diseases a Rigor or Horror like unto these doth somwhat shake the Body from External cold Fear and sometimes a Rigor ariseth from external Causes without Cold. In that called Reaching the Arms especially with the back are very much extended Reaching and bowed with a vehement opening or drawing asunder of the Mouth which they call Gaping the which also may be caused apart these two if they trouble often without occasion do presage Diseases or are Prefaces to the Fits of Feavers beginning but otherwise out of Diseases they are signs of sloth or they arise from some Imagination as shal be said We call that Nyctation when the Eyes are forced to twinkle Nyctation that is the Eyelids fall down and they are coverd with them and can hardly be kept open as it happens in the slothful when they are full and heavy to sleep somtimes also it happens in Diseases The Causes The Causes of these Kinds of Depraved motion may be various in the Brain Nerves Muscles and Members either an agitation of the Spirits a Perturbation or Irritation Distension Weakness The Spirits stirred by the affections of the Mind do cause a heat in the Brain A perturbation of the Mind is the cause of restlesness or being troubled by a Mixture of Humors Vapors by Alienating the Mind and offering divers imaginations do cause that they
bodies fall into the rough Artery being it is of exquisite sense Things falling into the rough Artery cause a Cough and cannot so much as have a touch of them a cough is caused and it is greater if the things be rough or sharp As it is when in eating or drinking any thing goes the wrong way in at the Larynx or Wind-pipe as it often happens to them that speak when they are eating which enlargeth the wind-pipe Water Wine or a crum of bread gets in or the like which cause coughing by which they are sent out at the mouth or Nose Also dust or pouder may be drawn into the Wind-pipe and cause the same And if the like be snuffed or drawn into the Nose with the breath Things snuffed into the Nose the cause of neezing being sharp and pricking they cause neesing as Pepper Pellitory Hellebore or sharp juyces And if they get into the Wind-pipe with the Air they cause coughing Also things that burn the Jaws Things held in the mouth cause spitting and prick the mouth chewed or held therein provoke spittle as Pellitory Stavesacre and the like A watry humor thin or thick A humor from the Brain causeth a Cough simple or mixed with choler which is salt or is chewed in a Catarrh if it fall into the Wind-pipe it causeth a Cough which is greater according to the quantity or sharpness of the humor And it continues when the Flux continueth and is rather dispersed than sent forth by coughing All these are milder when the humor is watery and not sharp as when it falls at night only and is easily spit up the next morning Also the same humor falling from the head into the mouth or Wind-pipe causeth a hauking which brings it into the mouth and so sends it forth A humor from the head is the cause of hauking If it be tough and sticketh long it causeth a hoarsness by making an inequality in the part which hinders the voyce or it lies under the Tunicle and swels it Use of Quick-silver is the cause of spitting When filth is sent hither from the whol body it causeth a constant spitting as after anoynting with Quick-silver by which means an ulcer may be caused which may cause hoarsness If the humor from from the head be sharp and thin An humor from the head is the cause of sneesing and flow to the Nose it causeth by pricking neesing and often sniffling in the disease Coryza and if it continue Inflammation and ulcers from the heat of the humor When Blood falls into the Jaws it is hauked out Blood falling down is the cause of hauking and cough when into the Lungs it is coughed out And if it be sharp and about the Nose it causeth neesing which foregoeth bleeding at the Nose Also Flegm in the Lungs from their crude nourishment causeth coughing which continues according to the toughness as we shewed in Asthma Flegm or Gravel in the Lungs the cause of coughing As also stones or gravel growing there especially if they be in the greater branches of the Wind-pipe where the sense is more exquisite and laboureth to get forth Also matter in the Lungs causeth coughing Matter in the Lungs the cause of a cough of flegm long conteined and ripened or of excrementitious blood without an Ulcer for which cause in the Pleurisie and Peripneumony it is gathered rather from the Inflammation of the Lungs than strained through the Lungs from the breast which causeth coughing as I shal shew there somtimes it comes from an Ulcer or Imposthume of the Lungs and 't is alwaies spit up in Consumptions In all which if the matter be white concocted and temperate the Cough is milder but if yellow green black sharp or stinking it is worse Also the matter in a Pleurisie and Peripneumony sweating through the Lungs at the first causeth a Cough Matter and blood in the Lungs cause a Cough And Blood in the passion of Blood-spitting Evil Vapors causeth Hickets If the Midriff in malignant Feavers be troubled with evil vapors and stir'd to send them forth it is contracted and suddenly relaxed as we shewed in Convulsions and causeth the same in the Hickets as we see in deadly Diseases And in a burning Feaver when the Midriff is dried this cannot be but a dfficulty of breathing If the Midriff be wounded with the Stomach it causeth depraved motion for the Midriff lieth upon the stomach and hath the same Tunicle with the Stomach and the Nerves therefore it must needs consent therewith And when the stomach laboureth to expel any the Midriff moves to resist it with the other Muscles of the breast as it doth assist the Muscles of the belly to press down the Excrements by stool If any thing offending the inward sides of the stomach only The pricking of the stomach is the cause of Hickets be to be cast off the motion of the Hicket is sufficient by which the Midriff shakes the stomach and helps the expulsive faculty that it may cast the matter sticking thereto into the hollow of the stomach and mix it with the rest And then the pricking ceaseth and also the motion of the Midriff except the matter cleave again to the stomach and then the Hickets return The Stomach is pricked thus by sharp things or such as burn or are enemies unto it as Pepper Onions Purges Poyson stinks or cholerick malignant humors there bred or sent thither When the stomach is offended by consent of the inward Tunicle Heart-burning the cause of Nesing nature strives to disburden it by a stronger motion which is Neesing by which they which have pain at the Heart are suddenly refreshed because the matter is by that means shaken into the stomach And by the same consent not only with the stomach The Cause of Cough and Sneesing from stomach and Guts but guts and bowels adjacent there is a dry cough as it appears in Children that have the Worms which cause a dry Cough by their disturbing of the stomach and Colon and somtimes Neesing before which the Nose itched by the consent of the same Tunicle And in other obstructions of the bowels the Midriff being burdened with their weight there is a dry Cough Belching is a stronger motion than Hickets for the Midriff helps the stomach Wind the cause of Belching when it is filled with Wind to throw it out which swels like the matter that caused it When the matter is more solid as meat and Drink and humors Trouble in the stomach the cause of Vomiting there is a stronger motion of the Midriff and Muscles of the breast by Vomiting by which the stomach is not only forced but turned by which the matter and air is sent forth with great noise by an unaccustomed way This Vomiting is caused by things in the stomach that offend in quantity or quality as we shal shew in Excretion and things cast out Also the
strieghtened within or stopped by a Tumor The Cure of difficult swallowing from a Tumor Inflammation or Desluxion or hurt by things taken in if there be pain the Cure shal be mentioned in the pains of the neck If it be pressed by external Injuries or loosning of the Spondil From Compression of the Gullet in regard it hinders breathing which is the greatest danger we shewed in Respiration what should be done If Vomiting be profitable to prevent Diseases The Cure of hard Vomiting as Avicen commends it once in a month or oftener or if it be necessary in Diseases to expell things that trouble the Stomach and if it be difficult by reason of the unfitness of the Constitution by reason of the short neck and streightness of the breast and mouth of the stomach it is often inconvenient to force it But if in such natures it is necessary and there be striving without success We have shewed in divers Diseases where Vomiting is required how to provoke it by filling the Belly and subverting it as they call it and tickling the Jaws and Throat We shal shew in Cardialgia or Heart-burning The Cure of difficult belching how that imperfect Belching with heat of stomach is to be cured CHAP. VII Of the Defect of Dejection or going to Stool The Kinds THere is a Defect of natural Excretion of Excrements from the Belly and it is called Constipation or Astriction or binding of the Belly Belly-bound In which either nothing is voided and the Belly is wholly stopped Or the Excrements are voided seldom or less than is fit or with great labor and straining This is somtimes in sound people whose nature is to go seldom to stool Or according to Hippocrates it comes from the change of age so that they who are in youth loose-bodied are bound in old age and so contrarily In others it is from an evil custom and life as shal be shewed and is the cause of diseases It is a Symptom in divers Diseases both of the lower belly joyned with Heart-pain Colick Jaundies Ruptures and other accidents And of the Head with pain giddiness and the like And in Feavers this is a familiar symptom And in other diseases it is so usual that it is the first and last symptom of which the Patient complaineth The Causes The Guts containing the Excrements must needs be afflicted in every Constipation or binding either primarily when they are stopped or secondarily when they have lost their expulsive faculty When the Guts are straitned so that the passage of the Excrements is hindered the Belly is bound And this straitness may come from astriction or Convolution We call it Astriction when the Guts have lost their slippriness Driness of Excrements is the cause of Constipation or binding and are dried and wrinkled or when they are bound and made straiter Hence is it that Driers Binders sower and sharp things taken as they astringe the Gullet and wrinkle the Jaws so if they be taken imoderately especially fasting they stop the Guts and their passages and bind the belly And this may come from long fasting and too much evacuation And from heat that drieth the guts or rather the Excrements as we shal shew Some say that the Guts may be pressed and stopped by a Tumor in the Mesentery but we think it not to be possible because when a Woman is with child that great Tumor dorh not cause constipation without some other accident The thin Guts are somtimes so rouled together in the disease called Convolvulus Convolution or rouling together of the Guts the cause of Constipation or Costiveness so that they are closed and the Excrements cannot descend but are vomited up either with pain called Ileon when the Guts are inflamed or with repletion of excrements without Inflammation as we shal shew in pains But this is most usual in Ruptures when the Guts fal into the Cods from the breaking of the Peritonaeum by reason of the evil position of the Guts There is an ordinary Constipation from the Obstruction of the Guts with proper Excrements Obstruction of the Guts by excrements is the cause of Constipation not only when they abound but when they are dry hard thick clammy and hinder the Excrements that follow This is usually in the Orifice where the thin Guts use to open themselves into the thick by reason of the straitness there where they have been so fixed that the constipation hath been deadly as we have observed in Anatomy This is often in the Colon in the great turning thereof before it comes to the Rectum by the hard dung reteined and stopping and binding the Belly with the pain of the Colick And somtimes such hard dung is in the Arse-gut and not voided without great straining or help of Art The dung grows hard when the meat is too solid and dry as we see in Dogs that eat bones especially when they drink little The same comes from the use of hot and dry meats And it is in hot natures when the Liver and parts adjacent are too hot in whom if they go not every day to stool through long sitting riding or lying in the bed because the excrements fall down better when the body is upright or moved the Excrements grow hard from their internal heat that drieth them Hence it is that Senators Riders and old Men complain of costiveness And as it comes from moderate heat so may it come from hot diseases and Feavers From fasting also the Guts and excrements that remain may be dried not only in the time of fasting but after if they be very hungry And that because nature being exhausted draws whatsoever chylus or humor is in the meat to recruit her by the Mesaraicks and so leaves the Excrements dry and hard Hence it is that after a long Disease when the Patient eats much he complains of a constipation And though they who nourish wel have rather a dry than moist belly the Guts can scarce be so stopped by any thing but Excrements Stopping of the Guts by other things besides excrements is the cause of constipation for things that are swallowed though great and hard if they pass the Gullet may also pass the Guts except they stick in the Fundament And what is written of the stone in the Guts it is rare and can scarce be so big as to stop the Guts except dung as they say be turned to a stone If the Guts lose their pricking and the expulsive faculty doth not move them Loss or Dulness of sense is the cause of Costiveness our wil is also at rest being not admonished thereby and there is no dejection This is when the Guts either feel not or very little from the fault of the Nerves of the sixth or seventh conjugation from whence the Nerves of the Guts arise And in a general stupefaction they suffer with the other Nerves and there is no dejection as here in particular The same
over all the Body do suffer divers waies The Senses in the Face as Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting have not such great pains as the Sense of Feeling and are sooner allayed Of these we shall speak in the first Chapter Page 187. The sense of Feeling which is through the whole Body hath divers greivous and continuing pains as Heat Cold Itching Tickling Pricking Burning Cutting And we shall shew their differences as they are through the whole Body or the parts thereof All the parts of the Body that have the sense of Feeling can scarse be pained at once Yet many parts together or some outward parts as the Skin may have a general pain And when the Body is weak or loose albeit it seemeth to be pained all over yet because the Patient complaineth rather of want of Motion and strength you may seek for the Cure thereof in our Treatise of Weakness and defect of strength and Motion when the whole Body hath a distemper if it be great all sensible parts may be offended And this cannot come of a cold distemper so that every part is at the same time affected except it be deadly but of a hot So in Feavers all the parts of the Body are inflamed and all sensible parts are offended of this we shall speak in the Feavers the second Chapter Page 187. There are pains of all sorts of some parts of the Body And these are either hidden or more manifest in divers parts The hidden pains are inwardly in the four distinct parts of the Body The Head Neek Breast and Belly and the Cavities thereof and are distinguished according to those parts The pains which are in the inward part of the Head within the Skull shall be spoken of in the third Chapter Page 235. Of the pains of the Head The pains that are in the inward Cavities of the Face shall be described as followeth The pains in the Eyes shall be spoken of in the fourth Chapter Page 241. Of Pain in the Eyes Those in the Cavities of the Ears in the fifth Chapter Page 251. Of the Pains of the Ears Those of the Nose in the sixth Chapter Page 253. Those of the Mouth in the seventh Chapter Page 255. Those of the Bones of the Mouth in the eight Chapter Page 258. Of the Tooth-ach The pains which are in the inward parts of the Neck shall be spoken of in the ninth Chapter Page 263. Of the Pain of the Jawes The pains which are in the Cavity of the Breast shall be treated of in the tenth Chapter Page 269. Of the Pain of the Breast The pains which are in the Cavity of the Belly or Panch shall be thus treated of The pains which are in the upper part about the Heart shall be spoken of in the eleventh Chapter Page 277. Of pains of the Heart Those on the Sides shall be spoken of in the twelfth Chapter Page 294. Of Hypochondriak pains The other Pains shall be spoken of in the thirteenth Chapter Page 305. Of pains of the Belly Other pains in the parts adjoyning to the Belly manifest themselves by things voided as by Stools or Urin of these we shall speak in the treatise of things cast forth Other pains which are in certain holes and parts thereof shall be hear declared The pains in the inward parts of the Privities shall be mentioned in the fourteenth Chapter Page 391. Those in the Arse shall be spoken in the fifteenth Chapter Page 393. The pains that are outward in the Body are more manifest and are thus distinguished Some are more deep and profound these shall be spoken of in the Pains in the Habit of the Body sixteenth Chapter Page 396. Those which are more outward and higher and appear more shall be mentioned in the seventeenth Chapter Page 408. Of the Pain of Superficies of the Body CHAP. I. Of the Griefs of the Sight Hearing Smelling and Tasting The Kinds ALthough that Irksome sense which the Touching feeleth be properly called Dolor yet we may call them molestations or Troubles which the other Senses endure by that name when the Function is not lost but offended This comes diversly to the Sight Hearing Smelling and Tasting from whence there are divers kinds which are easie to be perceived but not to be described or named The Offence of the Sight or Hearing The Insuavity of the Smelling or Tasting The Dolor of the Sight or Hearing we call The offence of them and and the Dolor of the Smelling or Tasting we call insuavity or want of Rellish The Causes These four mentioned dolors of the Senses comes from the violent quality of their objects which doth strike upon or disturb them from the object of the sight by Brightness of the Hearing by Grating of the Smelling by Stink from the object of the Tast by its unsavoriness A Splendor or great Light if it be vehement Splendor or Brightness causeth the offence of Sight as of the Sun or Flame or come suddenly to the Eye as of Lightening molesteth it Hence it is that men shut their Eyes at the sight of them And the sense of Feeling perceiving the molestation in the Eyes and Nose caussneesing to shake them off as we shewed in Sternutation Also Light when it is discolored and shines much and long and strikes much upon the Sight is an enemy unto it A great Noyse by Crying Ringing of Bels Noyse hurts the Hearing Trumpeting or Drumming or otherwise coming suddenly especially neer the Ears as of a Musket or Cannon hurts the Hearing A strong Stink or Smel as of Soot or things burnt A Stink hurts the Smelling or from Excrements molesteth the sense of Smelling And somtimes by twiching of the Nostrils and provoking their sense of Feeling they cause neezing and by offending the Neighbor Pallate and Tast they cause Loathing and Vomiting An unpleasant and ungrateful savor as bitterness or extream saltness or sourness or the like coming externally from things taken in or from external humors or exhalations An evil Relish is the cause of Insuavity sent to the sense of Tasting causeth molestation and also offendeth its sense of Feeling The Cure Take away the Cause and the Effect ceaseth If it be external which useth to offend all the four Senses it either quickly ceaseth or may be allayed If internal which only hurteth the Tast it is amended by purging of evil humors and repressing of stinking vapors If offence remaineth by an impression upon the senses it is to be cured by evacuations and things that alter and change the impression as too much Light by Darkness offensive Colors by such as please the Eye Stinks by Sweets evil Relishes by savory meats as we shewed in the depravation of the senses CHAP. II. Of Feavers The Kinds AFeaver called Puretos is a Disease in which the whol body is inflamed with a preternatural heat which continueth it begins with cold and shivering and brings forth divers molestations and symptomes There are two chief kinds of Feavers
Head I suppose that that pain or sence of weight before and behind comes from the brain offended in the part from whence the Nerves and Marrow proceed The Disease which is in the meninges of the brain or the sensible parts thereof where the Nerves begin which causeth Head-ach is either manifest when a hot distemper inflames the parts or cold when it plucketh them or solution of continuity stretching or otherwise hurting Or it is a hidden quality which is offensive to these parts The helping Cause is the disposition of these parts to suffer From which cause if they be little the Disease is less if great or more causes meet the Disease is greater A hot distemper is often the cause of Head-ach A hot diflemper of the Brain causeth Head-ach for the Head as I shal shew easily is inflamed by reason of the plenty of spiritful blood and is pained by a preternatural heat And the rather when there is a matter which raiseth the heat to stretch and disturb it Or if there be an evil quality in them that offendeth the brain as it is usually from a hot vapor or humor from blood and choler The Head being uppermost easily receives Vapors Vapors going to the Head cause Head-ach especially thin these heat and pul and give occasion to Head-aches by consent This comes from outward scents but it is rather the return of an old pain which was usual than a new And sometimes from things eaten that with their Vapors strike the Head These may cause new Head-aches if they fil the Brain as in Drunkards who are pained in their Heads from the thin hot vapors of the Wine that heat and prick rather than stretch the Brain by a force as I shal shew contrary to the Brain and Nerves This pain comes after sleep from the stupifying or Narcotick quality of the Wine and the heat remaining and continues till the Vapors are thrown out by Snorting Vapors sent to the Head from hot cholerick and putrid humors in the Veins cause the Head-aches in most Fevers and out of Fevers they cause the fits of the Hemicrania or half Head-ach And Choler in the Stomach sending Vapors causeth Suffusions and Vertigoes or Giddiness and also Head-ach by consent Much spiritful Blood conteined in the large cavities and passages of the Brain Bloood in the Head causeth Cephalalgia by stretching or if it be hot by inflaming it causeth a Dotage or by heat a Cephalalgia or bloody Head-ach called Soda This is Cholerick Melancholick or Flegmatick as the blood abounding is thick or thin This Blood comes into the Head from a plethory in the Body which is from divers causes Or it is drawn thither by the heat of the Sun or Baths Noyse Coughing Stroaks Falls or great motion of the Body or Mind and made hotter Especially in hot Diseases this is a Symptom especially in Fevers in which the blood inflamed with the spirits in the Head as it is also in the great Veins hence comes Head-ach in all Fevers or from the Vapors for in Fevers the Head is made hotter as wel as the body We know when head-ach comes from blood from things foregoing and from the beating pain and redness of the Eyes and other causes Also if such excrementitious Choler as comes pure from the Ears separate from the water go to the Brain and Meninges it makes a pricking but it can scarse get thither without moisture nor doth it then cause pain because in the Jaundies except other causes happen there is no Head-ach A cold Distemper may cause head-ach A cold distemper of the Brain causeth Head-ach as wel as pain in the Nerves by binding and biting and by its adverse contrary quality to every sensible part This may come from flegmatick excrements of the Brain cooling the membranes and not the Brain for then there would be sleep or astonishment as in the Defluxion called Coryza there cometh somtimes actually cold water from the Nose and then the pain of the Head ceaseth Also pain riseth from some external actual Cold either because it astringeth or is otherwise an Enemy to the Head from the Air or Wind or cold things applied to the Head these cause Head-ach if they pierce inward And a little cold external in such as are used to have the Head-ach and to keep their heads warm if they stand bare wil cause the Head-ach therefore they defend their Heads Caps and long Hair And they who are offended easily with heat take off their Hair and say that if it be long they perceive the head-ach to trouble them as we have observed in old Men and bald-pated who use to be night and day bare-headed Also by accident external Cold by driving the external heat inward especially when from a cold place one suddenly removes into a hot may cause Head-ach rather by heating than cooling the Head Solution of Continuity manifest by external causes as a stroak Distention and Twitching in the Brain is the cause of Head-ach or Wound that pierceth to the Meninges make an inward Head-ach with an outward But distension and twitching pains are caused by Vapors and hot humors and flegmatick excrements abounding in the Brain cause the same not so much by their plenty as by their coldness and sharpness which they have by corruption or saltness And this Headach is joyned with a heat and is before or behind as the humor producing it is in the fore or hinder cavity and it is heavy like a weight with stretching and twitching And it is shorter when the excrements stay not and longer when they do and somtimes a Giddiness or Defluxion doth go before or accompany it And the plenty of these excrements being waterish thin sharp and hot as we shewed in Coryza with Head-ach flowing from the Eyes and Nose shew the cause And we have seen abundance of these humors voided not only at the Nose but Ears which have cured an old Ach. Any quality that is an Enemy to the Membranes of the Brain will cause pain in them first A quality which is an enemy to the brain causeth Head-ach and then in the Head either by a hidden force or a manifest quality As Narcoticks afflict the Brain with their evil quality being taken and also cause pain of the Head when they which took them come to their senses and it continues And Drunkards are not so much hurt by the heat and vapor of the Wine as by its evil quality and after Beer we find Head-aches caused from the Hops which are narcotick and stupefactive by which quality we observe that Hops are destructive unto Flies And we have often observed that Head-ach easily comes after the use of Opiates And after the use of other things not narcotick but otherwise offensive as of Saffron Smallage seed not only much taken but smelt to Also Head-ach as other diseases of the Head may come from evil vapors or humors as in melancholly and
Rosewater two ounces boyl them These Ulcers and the thrush and Ulcers of the Nose are cured by being gently touched with Aqua fortis Potential Cauteries also of Lime and Wine Lees are good to touch Ulcers if by art you can keep them from the sound parts but an actual Cautery is more certain if it be used suddenly for an Eschar wil be made and when that is gone the Ulcer will be cured CHAP. VIII Of Tooth-Ach The Kinds THe Tooth-ach is any pain in or about the Teeth and it is either a true Tooth-ach or such only as a little disturbeth A true Tooth-ach is in or about one tooth Tooth-ach only somtimes in more seldom in the Fore-teeth but in the sides and commonly but on one side somtimes on both somtimes in the upper somtimes in the lower jaw seldom in both This is the proper Tooth-ach which is often and grievous This pain is in Infants that breed their grinders Tooth-ach in Children which breed Teeth which they declare by crying and restlessness and it is known by the redness and hear of the Cheek and when the teeth appear out of the swollen and open Gums there is also a little Feaver known by hear and other signs Somtimes convulsions but not so dangerous as when they come from other causes There is also a tooth-ach which comes to people of all Ages from which few are free especially such as have hollow or broken teeth This is often violent and lasteth long or returns often with stretching and beating which they suppose they feel in the tooth it self which is pained The Gums are then very hot and red somtimes swollen with the Cheek also which being swollen the tooth-ach abateth somtimes there is an Impostum at the bottom of the tooth and when that breaketh the tooth-ach ceaseth and there cometh fotth foul and stinking matter And the Ulcer somtime remaineth long after or turns hollow peircing the lower Jaw and opening it self outwardly sending forth waterish and somtimes thick matter for a long time Somtimes when these appear not there is a great pain in the teeth such as we use to feel at our Fingers ends in cold weather In this the Patient spits much and if the teeth be hollow he seems to feel a cold Air coming from them to his tongue when he toucheth them there with There is a kind of tooth-ach when a tooth is drawn Pain of the Teeth when a Tooth is drawn somtimes greater somtimes lesser but usually it is gone after the tooth is drawn except by the violent motion of the part or hurt of the Instrument or when a little part is only drawn out there be a pain after There is a Molestation rather then pain in teeth at the time of eating Numness of the Teeth called Haemodia in the disease called Haemodia this is a presfing of the teeth when one is longer then another The Causes It is certain that that part is affected in in the tooth-ach which hath the sense of feeling and that most exquisitely The part affected because the pain is great But we have shewed that the teeth want all senses because they are all the hardest of bones neither have they a Periostum or Skin about them as other bones have and there is no Nerve that goes into them Therefore not the tooth but that part which is sensible and which is near the tooth must needs suffer and the reason why the tooth is thought to ake is because the part affected is so near unto it The part is commonly a membrane which compasseth the holes in which the teeth are fixed and which is next to the roots of the teeth to which the Fibers or smal branches of the Nerves which go to both Cheeks are so joyned that they cause an exact feeling so that the pain seems not to lie deep but as it were in the very tooth Also the Gums and the Periostia or Membranes under the Jaws if they be hurt seem to communicate pain to the teeth The Diseases with which these parts affected cause a seeming pain in the teeth are either a hot or cold distempers or Irritation or Solution of Continuity A hot distemper with Flux of blood and Inflammation also somtimes afflicting these Membranes A hot distemper and Inflammation causeth Tooth-ach causeth the tooth-ach so called not only by heat and stretching but by swelling in a strait place which causeth the teeth being hard to press upon them this is a stretching and beating pain which though the beating be in the little Arteries under the Membraâ—es which beat upon the teeth yet it is so manifestly felt that Galen thought this beating and Inflammation also was in the tooth it self which cannot be because the tooth is a solid bone having neither Veins nor Arteries and therefore can neither be inflamed nor beat though he wrote that he experienced this in himself Moreover if there be a Flux of blood upon the Gums or Periostium under them as is usual in the beginning or continuance of the pain which raiseth a new Flux the pain is increased and the more if there be an Impostum till it be broken and made an Ulcer and send forth matter The cause of this Flux is as of other Fluxes Namly fulness and heat of blood or pain that was before from another cause which raiseth the Flux and doubleth the pain or other external causes A cold distemper by its enmity to the Nerves and Membranes A cold distemper causeth Tooth-ach afflicting these parts causeth also pain called also the tooth-ach from the Vicinity or nearness It is so bitter and often that it is no wonder the vulgar say that cold is an enemy to the teeth This comes from external causes as Air Meats or Drinks that are cold that suddenly cool the teeth and make the Membranes adjoyning sensible thereof And it comes sooner when the tooth is hollow or broken and the cold strikes presently to the Membranes Hence it is that bad teeth are soonest pained and the pain is thought to be in the teeth though they are dead and not as formerly which no reasonable man will say can be sensible This comes also from a cold flegmatick Defluxion not upon the tooth which cannot receive it but upon the Membranes underneath And there is then a tooth-ach without signs of heat but of cold as if cold wind come from the hollow tooth as I shewed Except the pain causeth a Flux of blood and then heat tumor and impostume may follow Also Irritation of this very sensible Membrane Irritation or provocation is the cause of Tooth-â—ch may cause this pain called the Tooth-ach This comes to the Membrane from the proper tooth when it is broken or discovered from its place or otherwise unuseful then it hurteth the Membrane in chewing or keeps them from chewing on that side This also may come from pricking the hollow tooth or from hard meat gotten into it in chewing
badness also and corruption of meats in hot stomacks especially may cause the bovling of the stomach as when the hot-burning juyce of the meat boyleth in time of concoction if there be a violent motion at that time which disturbeth the stomach and confuseth the meat therein it sendeth forth a burning vapor like a flame from the bubles that break This vapor laboring to come forth by belching as we have shewed in difficulty of belching gets into the sensible streight passages of the mouth of the stomach and then burneth it and when it is discussed the pain ceaseth and when a new vapor ariseth as we see in the boyling of Hasty pudding the heat returns and so long till the concoction is finished or some drink is taken to quench it or to allay the sharpness of the juyce from whence the vapors arise The stomach is often provoked also from Choller yellow or green or from Melancholly and if it stick fast it knaws and burns it This choller breeds in the stomach from things eaten which have evil juyce or breed choller or is sent into it by the gut called Duodenum and causeth knawing and biting especially when the stomach is empty in those called Picrocholi or men of a sharp cholerick constitution If this choller get into the substance of the stomach the burning will be longer As it may from the gall touching it for that part of the stomach that lyeth upon the gal and close unto it may be dyed yellow thereby so that the staine may reach to the inside of the stomach as we have often observed in Anatomyes of such who had alwaies burning stomacks This is usual with them who have much choller in their Gall which being washed passeth through the bag that holds it and infects all the parts near inwardly and outwardly as I have often seen And this is most in them whose stomach is seldom empty but alwaies gorged Or in such who writing or the like bend their body so that they violently press the stomach upon the gall and as it were squeeze it at which time also the burning is greater Also the pian must needs be great and burning and dangerous The Erysipelas of the Stomach when there is an Erysipelas of pure choller in the substance of the stomach This is a sad disease with continual vomiting If the stomach be cut or prickt from swallowing of Thorns Needles or Grass as drunkards have often done there is not only a knawing but pricking and rearing pain The stomach is also pained from malignant and venemous humors in other diseases and there is also fainting The weak constitution of the stomach called weakness of stomach The weak constitution of the Stomach causeth the weakness thereof which others call a distemper which weakneth and causeth not pain because it causeth slow concoction and crudity from thence produceth divers Symptoms as lost Appetite loathing belching Cachexy and the like mentioned elsewhere and pains by reason of Excrements that come thiether and the Cardilaea or Imbecillity of the stomach This weakness of stomach is from want of natural heat either at the first birth or by old Age or from long diseases by which the stomach hath been often weakned or from great Evacuations and Venery which have weakned the whol body and the stomach also Or from coldness and moistness which makes the stomach loose or from dryness by which it cannot fitly embrace the Food This distemper may come from external or external causes or diseases that change the temper of the stomach to be cold moist or dry which causeth imbecility Somtimes it comes from a fault in the Organ or part it self As when it is too thin from too much distention through gluttony or drunkness For the thicker the stomach is the better it concocteth as we may see in birds whose thick stomach concocteth the hardest things If the stomach be naturally hot or by use of hot things in youth The hot constitution of the stomach causeth the hot distemper sooner then they ought to use them or made so by a disease which hath shriveled it though it be not a disease of it self if it be rightly ordered yet it is a cause why some meats sooner corrupt and turn into choller and sharp humors and so by accident causeth a Cardialgia which comes from such humors This disposition of the stomach is known chiefly by thirst and delight in sour things and distast of sweet So that hot sharp and salt things and wine they leave and digest the hardest meat soonest and the other easily corrupteth In almost all diseases The cause of pain of the Stomach is in the Nerves with great pain the stomach suffereth by consent of the Nerves of which the mouth of the stomach is ful Hence it is that in the colick and stone and other pains in parts distant as of wounds and contusions we see not only the Appetite lost but a pain in the stomach so that if they receive a wound when the stomach is full they vomit Also the stomach being of most exquisit sense doth easily receive an injury though never so smal and is greatly offended at a great by reason of the Nerves So that there is often a Syncope or swounding moreover by reason of this consent of the Nerves in great passions of the mind there is a Head-ach from the stomach offended and other hurts as loss of Appetite and the like The pains of the Gut called Colon which is at the bottom of the Stomach The cause of Heart-knawing is in the Colon. and joyned unto it by the Caule are referred unto Heart-pains also because they are in the region or lodge of the Heart As if the Colon be stretched by Wind and Excrements it comes to pass that the pain seems as if it were in the stomach yet it stops not long but runs to the sides downwards And in other pains of the Heart we find that they go upwards and are about the stomach so that some pains of the Colon seem to be pains of the stomach Hence it is that when they lye long a bed in the morning and sleep not because the Excrements which they use to void presently when they arise being retained in the upper part of the Colon not being able to go down while they are in bed do pull and twich the Colon and provoke the Stomach by consent and there is Loathing and Heart-pain which ceaseth when they are up and the Excrements descend especially if they break Wind downward or go to stool And hence it is that after a purging Medicine when it begins to work and the evil Excrements pass through the upper part of the Colon till they have a stool they feel a noise and Heart-ach often so that they swound and vomit and the pain returns when they again to stool All these things shew that the Cause is not in the Stomach but the Colon For if it were in the stomach it would
singular Vertue And instead of Skins they use Pillows which have no Quilts but Down especially of Goose-feathers to the Stomach night and day if it can endure them for to help their weak concoction And when they are first made that they may work better upon the Patient they dip them in wine or some proper Decoction or Juyce and strain them and then dry them before they are applied Or they quilt into those Pillows some Stomach-pouders mentioned but we rather use Baggs as we shewed in external Applications Hollerius commends twice dyed Purple for a Stomacher shaved or towed to raggs to stuff a Pillow instead of wool It is a good Remedy against a cold Stomach to lay the stomach of a wife or husband or of a child unto it all night which was Davids remedy or a warm hand Or a Dog which is better then another Creature for his Familiarity It is good also after Evacuation to roul the stomach by degrees to keep it down Also to draw wind from the stomach apply Cupping-glasses to the Navel If weakness come from dryness without heat of which we spake in the hot Constitution thereof when the Stomach is bound and hard The cure of weakness of stomach from dryness and cannot stretch in regard this comes not but from some great Cause especially to old folk when the whole Body is dryed or in a Hectick in which the whole Body is extenuated or long fasting as in a melancholy woman which would take nothing for fear of being poysoned because age cannot be cured nor Hecticks easily so in these Dryness of Stomach is incurable in others it is hard and there is no way but general moistning of the Body as in Hecticks By Meats Drinks Conserves and other things prescribed in Hecticks which moisten and relax the Stomach And that will cure if it come from long famine provided the Stomach be not too dry When the Natural Constitution of the Stomach is hot The preserving of a hot tomach by Nature that it turn not to a Disease though it be not yet a Disease yet because it is apt to turn so from hot meats which cause thirst and burning and will easily be there corrupted and turn into Choler it must be prevented by good Diet. They that are subject to this must abstain from meats that easily corrupt as Fat 's especially of Fishes and Milk and Eggs which turns into Choler and Spawn of Fishes especially of Barbles which the vulgar think do purge And from other Meats and Fruits which though of easie concoction yet are hurtful in this Constitution As other things are good which a weak Stomach cannot concoct Spiced Meats must be avoided and poudered and Meats long kept which are rancid especially fat or mouldy as wild flesh or Venison or rotten or mouldy Cheese which are very pleasant to these Constitutions by reason of their great Appetites so that they count stinking mouldy and worm-eaten Cheese full of Mites for a great Dainty which is their great enemy while their Stomach is so burning hot Also sweet Meats are too hot and subject to crruption and easily turn into Choler which are Naturally or Artificially so which are known by their Scent as sweet wine and Fruits Melons Figgs and the like and such as have evil Juyce and that will soon corrupt as Cowcumbers Also Herbs as Water-cresses wild Parsley Onions Leeks Garlick after the eating of which they belch Hiccup and are burned Things that are temperate inclining to cold are good for them as Lettice Endive Bugloss Spinach and the like and Fruits Also cold water hurts not them as others alone or mixed with wine Sour things are best as sharp wine and fruits and such as were mentioned in cholerick Stomachs Thirst and Feavers Also divers medicines are good which are there mentioned when the stomach being hot inclineth to a dissease The use of sharp Spaw-waters changeth often the Nature of such Stomachs and succession of Age but by the use of hot things they will be then hurt though not so much as in Youth If the Stomach suffer from the Nerves when other parts are pained The cure of Cardialgia from the Nerves you must apply the remedies to the original of the Evil rather then to the stomach If the stomach suffer from too exquisite sense there must be more wariness least it be quickly disturbed And if it be we must stupefie the Sense by Narcoticks And if the Heart suffer as they say which is of the stomach from the Nerves in a passion of the Mind the Nerves must be refreshed and then the Cardialgia will cease VVhen wind or Excrements are retained in the colon The cure of a cardialgia from the colick and there is a Cardialgia in the said region of the Heart when they come away the pain ceaseth If they come not away use Clysters as in the Colick as that of oyl Honey and wine when the pain comes from a purging Medicine lying long in the colon If there be Heart-ach or pain in the said lodg of the Heart The cure of cardialgia from the Midriff from the Midriff because there is difficulty of breathing which is most troublesome we shewed in Dyspnaea or difficulty of breathing what is to be done CHAP. XII Of the Pain of Hypochondria or Sides under the Ribs The Kinds WE call that the Hypochandriake pain which is in the Sides of the Belly to the Back or on either side not in the outside fleshy or Musculous part of which we sake in Superficial pains but deep under the Bastard or short Ribs and thence are called Hypochondriak Of these Hippocrates often spake The Empericks mention these pains in the Diseases of the bowels under the short Ribs and call it the pain of this or that Bowel These differ first in respect of heaviness or burning pricking or tearing A dull pain which is heavy A heavy dull pain in the Hypochondria which increaseth some times by stretching and pricking is in the right or left side And there is either no hardness or tumor to be felt or seen or both appear under the short Ribs or between them And the Ribs are bent outwards more then usually And there is also a pressing pain of the stomach and difficulty of breathing and other Symptoms as want of Complexion in the Face with palenese in a Cachexy yellowness and blackness in the Jaundies or a tumor of the Belly and Feet in a Dropsie These accidents are more terrible then the pain and therefore we shall here speak of them also Under the right and left Hypochondrion by the Back bone seldom on both sides there is a heavy pain in the space between the Loyns which groweth greater this is called the stone in the Kidneys or Lithiasis The stone in the Kidneys is called Lithiasis This pain increaseth upon motion of the Body especially when the Back is bent with the body and at lying down when the part is
of the disease is taken away by pissing you must not stop it In other violent pissings that weaken as in Diabetes which is seldom seen The Cure of Diabetes which consumeth the body and causeth thirst you must speedily stop them first hinder the increase of Serum and then evacuate it otherwayes after correct the thinness heat or sharpness with things that thicken cool and asswage Also stop and astringe the passages and stupesie the sense of the bladder As we shewed in hot Pissings and use these following with respect to the Disease accompaying them If the Disease hinder not in full Bodies let blood Also give cooling and gentle astringing Clysters with the Decoction of Rhubarb and Myrobalans and stilled Waters of Roses Plantane with glutinating things as whites of Eggs Mucilage of Fleabane Quinces or Infusion of Gum Traganth in proper Water Let the Diet be sparing only that which will keep the strength Let them beware of four things salt sharp burning and hot Spices all which provoke urin Let them rest and not heat the Reins by lying upon their backs Purges to derive the Whey and Serum from the Veins to the Guts and so to hinder the plenty of urin are good because when men purge they piss little and often pissing in sound men doth signifie the need of purging and in Diseases it shews that the Body is not sufficiently purged These must be gentle if the strength abate and astringent with Rhubarb Myrtles Citrons Syrup of the Infusion of Roses with other astringent Syrups Decoctions or Waters as in the Dysentery Sweating is good to send the serum through the Habit of the Body and derive it from the Veins and so to abate Urin. And it must be provoked betimes when we fear too much pissing before the strength be abated There are divers Drinks that thicken bind and cool and heating Meats as Bread Pulse of Wheat Starch Groats of Barley hulled as Ptisans of Rice Almonds divers wayes prepared Lentils boyled Almonds Nuts roasted Chesnuts also gross and clammy Flesh Whites of Eggs Lettice Endive Bugloss Purslane Also Broaths of Corn and Flesh Milk steeled water Emulsions of Almonds thick binding Wine with water of Myrtles Bugloss or the like Also Syrups of Myrtles dryed red Roses Juyce of Sorrel and others that bind and heat not Or this Decoction Take Comfrey roots and of both Buglosses each one ounce Plantane leaves two handfuls Cordial flowers one handful dryed Pomegranate flowers yellow Myrobalans each half an ounce Myrtle seeds one dram Plantane Dock Purslane and Sorrel seeds each one dram boyl them in six pints of red Wine Let him drink thereof Plantane and Shepheards-purse-water and the like if there be heat are good Also candied Comfrey roots Myrobalans Quinces Elicampane old Conserve of Roses Also Mucilages of Fleabane Quinces Infusion of Gum Traganth in Rose or plantane water given half an ounce with Sugar or convenient Syrup Also pouders with sugar of Roses red Wine or other Liquors That of Acorns only is excellent or mixed with Lentils husked and baked Or this Take Coriander seed two drams Agrimony one dram red Roses half a dram red Sanders Cinnamon each one scruple Spikenard half a scruple With Acorn-cupps Galls Pomegranate flowers Or Take Frankincense Amber each one dram and an half Myrrh two scruples the Ashes of burnt Ox or Hoggs or of other domestick Creatures Bladders half a dram make a Pouder Another Take yellow Myrobalans Date stones burnt each two drams Bay-berries Rose seeds Pomegranate seeds or of Myrtles each one dram plantane and purslane seed red Roses Gum Traganth or Arabick each half a dram Acacia and Dragons blood each one scruple with burnt Ivory and Camphire make a pouder Or Take red Coral and Bole each one dram and an half Bloodstone half a dram make a pouder give it alone or with the other the fourth part of this To these you may add pouders and ashes of living creatures which have a propriety mentioned in involuntary pissing and others as wild Rue seeds and leaves Mints Calamints Myrtles Dates Snakeweed Tormentil and Elicampane The Chymists in the Cure of Diabetes and Dysentery extol the Essense of Crocus Martis according to Crollius and the tincture of Smaragds which Hartman commends and shews how to prepare it in his Practice of Chymistry And they also extol to admiration the tincture and salt of Coral If the Urin prick give Stupefactives as Syrup of Poppies Philonium Persicum which also bindeth and the like Treacle is commended against Diabetes and they say it quenceth thirst which being hot it cannot do but it may help by its Narcotick Quality Externally apply Coolers to the Reins and Binders as the Oyntment mentioned in the Inflammation of the Reins and Liver beginning thus Take Oyl of Roses Quin. c. to which you may add Oyl of Violets Water-lillies Juyce of Lettice Mints Also Oyl of Earth-worms which is thought to stop pissing by a propriety Also Seeds of plantane purslane Camphire Also the cooling Oyntment there mentioned and that of Roses the Cerot of Sanders made of Oyl of Roses Sanders Roses burnt Ivory Bole and Camphire The repelling Epithem mentioned in the Inflammation of the Reins and Liver is also here good and this of rose-vinegar And that mentioned which begins Take water of Nightshade and Lettice c. to these you may add Sorrel and Wormwood-water with Bole and Spike A Fomentation or Bath for the reins is made of the decoction of plantane Shepheards-purse Mullein Violet-leaves Mallows Water-lillies Vine leaves Roses Pomegranate peels and flowers Sumach Bar-berries Myrtles Roses c. with Smiths-forge-water or Iron-water You may make Cataplasmes of the same with Barley-meal and the Oyls mentioned and Earth-worms If Heat of Urin come from Irritation in the neck of the bladder The Cure of scalding urin or passage of the Yard it is more easily cured then when it comes from an Ulcer in the passage of the Yard If it come from an Ulcer in the neck of the bladder it is most difficult because the heat of the urin will not be gone till the ulcer be cured which is very seldom done If it come from the Stone it is not cured till that is taken away And if there be many causes together and the heat comes both from the ulcer and urin it is worse and worse when there is a stone there which cannot be voided As for the Cure we shall first speak of scalding Urin from Irritation And if there be an ulcer because then the urin is muddy we shall treat of it in turbulent Pissing As also if it come from a Gonorrhaea we shall speak of it there And lastly we shall shew the Cure of it when it comes from the Stone If pissing be hot from heat and sharpness of Urin The Cure of scalding pissing from heat of urin only from things taken or from the mixture of humors with the heat of the reins it must be cured by taking away
shewed the force in Elephantiasis And for Figgs they thought from the likeness of the seeds to Lice that they bred them but were deceived VVashing often with Lye rubbing and combing the Head is good to take away Grease and Dandrough and in other parts of the Body VVe use strong Dryers and Cleansers to the Disease it self to kill the Lice and take away filth that breeds them which are bitter or sharper They cannot do it by being taken inwards But some eat Garlick or drink it with the Decoction of Organ to kill Lice and Worms And some Countrey-fellows eat Garlick to keep off the flies Outward things are best to kill them and take away Itching as Lotions for the Head and other parts As this Take Birthwort one ounce and an half Hellebore roots half an ounce Beets Arsmart Wormwood Horehound Tamarisk Tops of the lesser Centaury each one handful Staphisager Lupins each half an ounce Berries of the Spindle-tree and Agarick two drams boyl them in Lye And wash the part affected It is stronger with Salt Allum or Niter or Vinegar especially of Squills When we wash the Head we use things proper for it as Bettony Sage French Lavender For Lice in the Eye-brows wash with Vinegar and Aloes and Salts A Pouder to drive Lice from the Hair Take Staphisager two drams Salt three drams Aloes one dram Cinnabar two drams The Oyntment also of Quick-silver mentioned is best here for it kills infaillibly all sorts of Lice and Itch. It may be thus made Take Quick-silver one dram Turpentine two drams Hoggs grease Butter or Oyl six drams make an Oyntment Or instead of Quick-silver use two drams of Cinnabar which is made of Quick silver and Brimstone Or for the Lice in the Hands use one dram of Sublimate instead of Quick-silver There are other Oyntments of Staphisager and Grease Thus Take Staphisager half an ounce white Hellebore one dram and an half Pepper Niter each one dram Grease Butter or Oyl with a little Wax make a Liniment To these add some of that with Quick-silver or one dram of Sandarck The usual Oyntment in shops is this Take Staphisager white Hellebore Salt Quick-silver Hoggs grease Oyl of Bayes Soap and Vinegar Another Oyntment of bitter things Take Aloes two drams Myrrh Gum of Ivy each one dram Hogs gall or of an Ox one dram and an half Quick-brimstone Allum each one dram Oyl of Wormwood or bitter Almonds as much as will make a Liniment A Paste made of Ox gall or other Gall and Meal of Lupins and held in the Hands long kills the worms there The linnen Clouts that Gold-smiths use when they guild Silver with Gold and Quick-silver applied to the part kill Lice insaillibly The Fume of Henbane seed taken into the Palm of the Hands kills the worms there But we suppose it rather allayes the Itch as anointing with the Oyl of Henbane seed or Poppies or Syrup of Poppies or a little Opium dissolved in Aqua vitae Smoak your Cap with Tobacco and the Lice will be killed Also Tobacco ashes and Piss cureth Crab-lice The worms in the Hands are picked out with a needle not thrust in deep to wet the part and hinder the sight of them And then wash the Hands with Wine or Vinegar Salt Allum or Niter often A very fine Comb will take them out of the Head Or a rubbing Brush which is invented for that purpose with which Women daily cleanse their Childrens Heads CHAP. XIV Of the Voiding of living Creatures or Animata The Kinds THose Bodies are called Animate which live are nourished and grow like Plants and yet have no sense or motion They are preternatural and so is the Voiding of them These are chiefly from the Womb and the Fundament There is an insensible and unmoving Body called a Mole sent forth from the womb A Mole without shape being soft flesh without bones full of veins covered with a skin Somtimes it is more membranous and still without shape such as I saw voided by a woman through the use of a Pessary after eigteen years barrenness Somtimes it is like a Sea-star as I have seen and cast into the water to the great amazement of the Beholders and somtimes it is of other forms This casting forth of a Mole is like a mischance or abortion before or after the time with such striving and voiding of blood And the accidents before are like those of Women with Child We spake of the Tumor of the Mole and its accidents and causes in the Tumors of the Belly The like but seldom come from the Fundament The long Membrane from the guts called Fascia The broad worm or fillet of the Guts called Taenia of divers kinds One is like a long Ribband like the smal Guts as long as they but not hollow a fingers breadth this they cal a flat worm but it is a Taenia or Fillet of the guts nothing like a worm nor is it alive or moveth coming forth so long that the Patient is frighted least his Guts should come forth In which there are black stroaks a fingers space distant all a long like the Vertebrae or Spondils This Taenia The Gourd-worm though very long is of many little parts which may be divided and they are like the Seeds of Gourds and are so called from thence This is seldom whole but in pieces every one of which is called a Gourd-worm but they are only pieces of the long Fillet or Fascia There is another kind of Taenia as long as the rest The Ligula or round point from the Guts but not so broad round like a worm and even called Ligula or a point it moveth not seldom seen from men but usually from doggs whol or broken not coming forth till it be drawn out There are no accidents of this Disease but the sudden fright and the Patient is well Except there be a greediness before and a heaviness in the Belly And if any part remain and stink the Symptoms are worse then if worms died in the Belly The Causes The Cause of these Bodies breeding is either Seed or Chyle VVe shewed in the Swelling of the Belly Conceiving of imperfect Seed is the cause of a Mole that imperfect Seed caused a Mole And the cause of voiding it is that of Abortion the expulsive faculty of Nature burdned with the preternatural weight which divideth the Vessels by which it grows to the womb and sends it forth the proper way And the sooner when there is external help Of which we spake in Abortion As we shewed long worms bred of Chyle that is too thick or fat The Chyle is the cause of the Taenia and Gourd-worm so if it be so much that it be in the thin Guts from the Stomach to the Colon growing thereto that Membrane called a Taenia is caused This Chyle is not in the whole compass of the Guts but in some part as broad as it comes forth only there where the
conformed or labour of a Distemper they may also dammfie the Hearing which faults because they are hidden we cannot attain to them by our senses but know them only by their signs If the Artery which goes under this part be filled with a plentifull or hot spirit or it be too much agitated in it then a strong pulse being made in the Ears there is a beating sound in the Ears the which notwithstanding is more manifestly felt when the Ear is shut as hath been said formerly and if it be more vehement when it is open it also depraves that sound which comes from without the which as it comes to pass that the pulse is more intense by the vehement heat of the body in the rest of the Arteries so here also in the Artery of the Ear as it is felt after strong exercise sometimes in Baths and also in acute Diseases pains of the Head this pulsation creates trouble in the Ears the same also happens by motion and violent agitation of the spirits as we see in a swooning beginning the spirits flying away and the same ending those returning again there is felt a pulse and tingling in the Ears by which from the relation of the Patient we know that swooning is at hand the which also happens in many affections of the mind by reason of the same commotion of the spirits A thin and subtil vapor as it can enter the smallest passages so doubtless it doth sometimes penetrate hither through the narrow holes of which sort we have shewed in our Anatomical work that there are six that do end in this inner chamber of hearing and transmit their vessels and so they may not only deprave the Brain by affecting it as hath been said formerly as also we have shewed formerly that the sight is depraved by Vapors only assaulting the Brain and not entring the Eye seeing there is no way for them but also by reason of the said holes some of which end hither from the inward parts of the Skul others meeting without the Skul do not reach hither also seeing there are many waies 't is certain they may come even to the Organ of Hearing which when it comes to pass it must needs be that a Hissing Tingling and noise is offered to the Hearing and this is more commonly the cause of preternatural Sound than an influx of humor as shal be said by and by seeing it is often wont to come to pass in Drunkards or others and in many Diseases from Vapors somtimes thinner and cholerick as they call them and somtimes thicker that their Ears for that cause do tingle and make some other noise which doth last long the vapors persisting for a time or they being presently dissipated it doth vanish And this is the chief cause why after a Crisis in acute Diseases which accompanied with a pain in the head amongst other symptomes the Hearing in those that recover health doth suffer some hurt oftentimes of long continuance the matter which was then the conjunct cause of the Disease of being resolved out of the Veins into Vapors and emptied by sweats and insensible transpirations and part of it breaking out of the head through the aforesaid waies into the capacity of the Hearing and staying there awhile Wind or Air may cause the same which if it break into this inner chamber of the Hearing and be carried through a narrow way as it were by force it makes a hissing if through another hole so framed as it is wont to be fashioned in a pipe it causeth a tingling but if it run through larger passages and through the windings of that place it makes some other noise this often happens if it be driven thither by force as when the Nostrils being prest and the Spirit or the Air being vehemently impulsed we would blow our Nose Somtimes it comes to pass that part of it doth break through the hole from the largeness of the Nostrils to the double channel of the Organ of Hearing as we have shewed in our Anatomical work and doth raise a Hissing or Tinglingt that oftentimes lasts long Somtimes the Air breaking forth again the same way presently it ceaseth which comes to pass the sooner by swallowing often as I my self have often experienced this Wind also in the chamber of Hearing may be raised from an internal cause if from excrementitious moistures collected about the Periostia of the Skul and converted into Wind they be heaped there whence in ancient Head-akes and Pains of the Head and about the Bones in the French Pox a Tingling of the Ears is very troublesome A humor falling down or purged from the Head into this inner Cavity of the Ear through the hole which admits the Auditory Nerve A humor in the inner chamber of hearing is the cause of the defect of hearing as if it be plentiful it causeth Deafness or thick hearing so if it be subtile and little it depraves the Hearing and if this happen from a desluxion of it it comes suddenly if it be heaped up there by degrees this hurt also grows by degrees all which for the most part do beget a Disease of long continuance and persevering seeing the humor is hardly discust here but this proceeds from a Catarrh which falls down also to other parts and somtimes from the head to this part and it is known by the signs of that not only in that hurt but also by other appearances the which is familiar to the aged by reason of their plenty of excrements and accustomary to some natures from their Infancy that it molest the Organ of Hearing as it may come to pass by reason of the Country as in the Alpine Regions we see that many for this reason have difficult hearing from their Birth or presently in process of their age together with the Kings-evil familiar with them for the like cause and also in acute Diseases by a Crisis chiefly as hath been said formerly not only the cause of the Disease converted into a Vapor doth enter this chamber but also oftentimes part of the excrementitious or cholerick humor doth fall into it somtimes pure somtimes mixt with Blood stil as some would have it and breeds a more pertinacious hurt than if it were caused by a Vapor Default of the Confomation and structure of the Organ of Hearing is also hurt which seeing in this inner chamber 't is made up of the auditory nerve The fault of conformation in the inner chamber of Hearing and its parts is the cause of the defect of Hearing the Drum and three Bones and Labyrinths of this chamber in which soever that happens it may hurt the hearing By reason of the Auditory Nerve not rightly formed or carried from the Birth it somtimes falls out that they are born deaf and we know that it happens by reason of the Nerve because most of them are also dumb seeing the Tongue which wanted many Nerves for the sense of Tasting Touching and the exercise