Arteries into all parts of the Colliquated Seed The Blood is first arayed with a white palish colour and afterward is clothed in Scarlet which proceedeth from Motion and Heat giving the Blood a red tincture as by an Intestine Motion causing an Effervescence in it as Fruits by long Coction acquire redness much resembling that of Blood especially those that are pregnant with an abundant Succus Nutricius And the rare method of Nature is very remarkable in the production of the different parts of the Body The fluid and soft parts of the Body are first formed wherein She beginneth with most moist and soft as next a kin to the fluid Seminal Liquor which is liquid is best disposed for immediate formation of moist parts whereupon the Vital liquor being Fluid is first generated in the ambient parts of the Seminal Matter as it is colliquated by the heat of the Uterus and afterward transmitted into the more inward Recesses when the Vein is formed as soft and membranous and so is the first formed solid part as having much affinity with the nature of Seminal Liquor CHAP. XXVI Of the Generation of a humane Foetus THis most noble part the Blood is first formed in the Seminal Liquor by whose influence and irradiation of Spirits The system of all parts of the Body are animated by Vital Principle seated in the Blood The system of all parts belonging to Animals are first animated as by a Vital principle much constituting them and giving vigor and heat to the Seminal Liquor in reference to the delineation of all Similar parts successively produced out of which all Organick as the Viscera and Muscles are formed which compleat the Animal and give it a power of augmentation and nutrition which is a kind of second and continued Generation quoniam ex iisdem principiis animal nutritur ex quibus generatur and the Blood much assisteth the Genital Liquor in its Architectonick Spirit in distinguishing one part from another and is that first Particle in which the Soul doth chiefly reside the prime Author of Life Sense and Motion Some Professors of our Faculty do give the primogeniture to the Brain Some Anatomists do give Primogeniture to the Brain Heart and Liver arising together out of three Bubles or Vesicles but this Hypothesis contradicteth Autopsy which is clear to those that curiously have inspected the several Processes of the Generation of a Chicken in which the prerogative of Primogeniture is due only to the Blood whose rays first dawn in the outward circumference of the Albuminous Orb and afterward diffuse themselves through all regions of it which is evident not only in an Egg but in the first Conception of every Animal The Blood first generated in the ambient parts of the Seed The first motion and progâ—ess of the Blood is carried by Veins into the center of it where the red Point or beating Vesicle is generated the first rudiment of the Heart from which many Fibres or Capillaries do proceed the first origens of Arteries and the roots of the Veins take their roots in the outward parts of the Seminal Liquor wherein the Vital Liquor beginneth its motion toward the beating Vesicle from whence it is impelled by Arteries into all parts of the Seminal Liquor The Vital Liquor may truly assume to it self the privilege of the first Genital Particle because it appeareth first in the circumference of the Seed The Blood first appeareth in the circumference of the Seed before any Veins or beating Point can be discovered in the center of it and it is very agreeable to reason that the Blood should be generated before the Veins beating Point and Arteries as the part contained is the principal and therefore the first in the order of Nature because the other parts are subservient to it and are propagated enlivened cherished and nourished by it as by a principle of Life and Heat as also Intestine and Local Motion and the beating Point Sanguiducts and Viscera The Blood is the first principle of Life Heat Intestine and local motion are so many Organs ministerial to the motion and depuration of the Blood which is the first Genital Part and the beating Vesicle its first instrument of motion plainly visible in the first conception of all Animals and appeareth less than a spark lifted up and down according to the reception and exclusion of Blood caused by Diastole and Systole distending and narrowing the Ventricles of the Heart and the Systole maketh the Pulsation produced by Contraction causing a Vibration of the Heart which is the same time imparted to all Arteries of the Body commonly called the beating of them So that the first step or period in the Generation of a Foetus The first step in the Generation of a Foetus is the Blood and its Receptacles is the Blood with its receptacles The Punctum Saliens The rough-draught of the Heart and Vessels the Veins and Arteries but the substance of the Heart consisting of two Auricles Ventricles and Cone with Vessels and Fibres lodged in the Compage of it is found in the third procedure of Generation The second period in the formation of an Embryo The second process of Generation is the production of a kind of Worm or Maggot is manifested in the production of a kind of Worm or Maggot and as it groweth into a clammy substance it seemeth to be divided into two parts the upper is Orbicular and seemeth to be distinguished into three Vesicles the Brain Cerebellum and one of the Eyes Another part of this Mite the first rudiment of the Body relating to a Foetus resembleth the Keel of a Ship A third period of Generation appeareth in formation of a kind of Keel as the first draught of the Spine and is a Superstructure leaning upon or accrescing to the Trunk of the Vena Cava all along its length And in the formation of the Head the Eyes first may be first discovered and the Delineation of the Body is made immediately after and out of the rough draught of the Spine the sides do arise as those of the Ship are built upon the Keel being formed of one similar substance adorned with white lines expressing Natures design of the Ribs as the first rudiments of them and out of the rudely Delineated Spine the Trunk doth grow and afterward the Bones Muscles and Limbs are distinguished into Joints These two rough Delineations of the Head and Body appear The rudiment of the Spine and Head do early appear and may be distinguished at the same time and afterward when they receive greater degrees of increase and perfection the Body doth far exceed the Head in dimensions In the first formation of the Trunk there is a great disproportion between the Body and Limbs which in time grow longer and longer Children new born have long Bodies and short Limbs and Children new born have long Bodies and short Limbs and would go
is not only exalted by gentle intestine Motion but more and more hightened by local too which is first of all performed in the seminal Liquor and as being a fluid Body cannot govern it self so that it is put under anothers dispose the covers of Membranes every way encircling it to confirm and secure it from extraneous Matter about these Membranes The Blood beginneth its first stage of Motion caused by the ambient heat of the neighbouring parts which colliquates the more spirituous portion of the seminal Liquor which becoming vital near the confines of it is afterward propagated in a gentle stream by channels cut through the viscide Matter uniting themselves in the Punctum Saliens as in a small Cistern so that the original of the Motion belonging to the vital Liquor is caused by extraneous heat without any impulse made from the Circumference to the Center from the outward part of the seminal Liquor adjoyning to the Amnion and Chorion passing through minute Ducts the first rudiments of Veins ending in the Vesicula Pulsans where by its tremulous Motion beginneth the first impulse of the Blood making Rivulets through different Channels of Arteries growing smaller and smaller toward the ambient parts of the seminal Matter whereupon this may be called the retrograde Motion of the Blood impelled by the Punctum Saliens from the Center to the Circumference But the first Motion springeth from the ambient parts of the colliquated Seed where the first rudiment of the Blood is discernible before the rough draught of the veins is made And when the Veins Heart Arteries Lungs of the Faetus are perfectly formed a greater current of Blood is transmitted out of the Vena Cava by the Foramen ovale in arteriam venosam and so conveyed into the Left Chamber of the Heart and thence impelled into the Trunk of the Aorta And after the Foetus is born it is receptive of greater proportion of Aliment which being concocted in the Stomach is afterward imparted to the mass of Blood which being highly increased inlargeth its territories and quitteth the Anastomosis with which the Vena Cava correspondeth with the venous Artery so that the Foramen Ovale being shut up after the Foetus is born the Blood hath a free access to the right Chamber of the Heart before uninhabited which being straightened by the contraction of fleshy Fibres throweth the stream of Blood into the pulmonary Artery which is thence conveyed by the Veins into the Left Ventricle and afterward by the mediation of the Ascendent and Descendent Trunks of the great Artery and their fruitful branches to all parts of the Body giving them Life and Heat which is primarily excited in the vital Liquor from the heat of the Vterus which reviving its faint innate Heat colliquates and more and more expandeth one part of the Infant Blood after another by raising its gentle flame by soft Motion The heat of the Blood is exalted by Motion toward the Vesicula Pulsans by whose repeated Motions the heat of the Blood groweth more and more exalted as the Heart becometh more perfect and abler to make more strong vibrations the chief instruments of vital heat to which I conceive the intestine Motion of the Blood may somewhat contribute as the sulphureous Particles have an inbred heat and constant volatil inclinations to their flight were they not inclosed within the confines of Channels and detained by groser parts of other Elements which are enobled by the warmth and subtilty of the Sulphureous spirits ever acting upon the passive Elements subduing and raising them to some greater degree of assimilation by intestine Motion which in some manner is productive of innate heat in the Blood which is hightened or depressed according to the greater or lesser intestine agitations of the volatil sulphureous Particles which would soon grow faint and extinguished were they not supported and advanced by the repeated Motions of the Heart Blood as well as other Liquors is constituted of sulphureous and saline Particles The various principles of the Blood as its integral parts whence it may be reasonably inferred that the Blood compounded of them must consist of several unequal parts some subtle others gross some volatil others fixed Whereupon the vital Liquor is more or less disposed to Fusion and Attenuation as the more Intense or Remiss heat acteth upon the various Elements of the Mass of Blood and colliquates and attenuates the more subtle and less fixed parts rendring them more and more spirituous by divers periods and progressions so that these highly attenuated and exalted Particles are Entituled Spirits by reason of their great subtilty and agility not as they were Bodies existing of themselves separate from the purer and volatil saline and sulphureous Particles with which the vital Spirits have great affinity and concur as integrals of the Blood as being its more noble subtle and active parts sustained and exalted by Motion and Heat which being deficient these spirituous parts of the Blood lose their vigor and activity as being condensed and coagulated with the other more gross and fixed parts which is most conspicuous in extravasated Blood as being soon destitute of Heat as well as Motion Having in some sort described the Motion of the Blood and Heat as an effect and consquent of it I conceive it proper now to render you some account of the composition of it as it may be diversly considered according to the several Liquors some being constituent or Elementary others Vehicles or Recrements of the Blood as to the first the Red Crassament is fraught with hot oily Particles and the albuminous Liquor is impregnated with more mild volatil Salt The disagreeing Airy Earthy Oily and Saline Principles are founded in the different Christalline and Purple Liquors which are associated with Lymphatick and Potulent Matter the divers Vehicles of the Blood and as they concur in fusion making up the mass of vital Liquor cannot incorporate with each other without Solution and Liquation and more particularly no Oily Matter can embody with a Saline except they receive a most exact comminution A Comminution is made of the various Elements of Blood by a brisk Motion against the sides of the Ventricles breaking them into small Particles in some liquid substance as a Menstruum or Vehicle which is very well accomplished in the Ventricles of the Heart by a brisk Motion of dashing the Blood against its walls caused by many impetuous vibrations made by the repeated Contractions of the strong Fibres of the Heart so that all the different Elements of the Blood when they are reduced to minute Particles consisting of divers Figures and sizes do meet with Pores in the different Liquor answering them in proportion and the Magnitudes and Figures of the Elementary Atomes and Pores of the Blood are so exactly modelled in a fit likeness so that the configured Particles are embodied with each other in a most strict and near union of mixtion And Lastly
that the Spirit of Vitriol Salt or Vinegar cannot ascend out of the Still to the top of the Alembick unless it be forced up by an intense heat After this manner the phantasmes of Melancholick persons afflicted with adust Choler proceeding from Animal Spirits The cause and manner how Melancholy operates degenerating into an acide disposition do influence the whole Compage of the Brain and act in the Meditullium and are carried into the spaces of the neighbouring Filaments where the Animal Spirits exert their motions in a confused manner whence Thoughts perpetually arise which are much versed about one or but a few objects And when a great number of Spirits are confined within a narrow compass of the fibrous Compage of the Brain the phantasmes are very much enlarged beyond the true dimensions and small things rendred great and after the like manner when the visible images of things are represented by a Microscope they appeart much greater then they are in their own nature as the many Rays are united and concentred in a Convexe Glass so also the intentional species are configured in the Fibrous Compage of the Brain by the conflux of many Animal Spirits confined within a small circumference Of this we may have an Experiment in our Selves when we are fed with gross melancholly Diet or being clouded with the passion of sadness we become Thoughtful by reason the Animal Spirits do want a free Emanation we are made sollicitous of every small concern as if our whole happiness depended upon it Whereupon we are discomposed with great Fear and Anxiety conceiving our selves utterly lost in our vain apprehension when we are overcome with Melancholy And this melancholick Affection doth not only take its rise from an acide disposition spoiling the Crasis of the Animal Spirits Melancholy coming from an atrabilarian Humor but from an atrabilarian Humor carried with the Blood by the internal carotide Arteries into the substance of the Cortical Glands whereupon their nature is much debased and as losing their sweet temper and volatil saline disposition their Compage is rendred more gross and opaque so that it cannot be duly enlightened by the lucid Particles of the Animal Spirits And Melancholy is not only contracted by the fault of the Brain Melancholy flowing from the Praecordia and Blood and Animal Spirits but from the Praecordia and from the Blood endued with heterogeneous Particles highly fermenting in the noble parts of the middle Apartiment and thence transmitted by arterial Channels into the Brain where it maketh a great alteration in the nervous Compage as it is affected with gross atrabilarian Particles perverting the Crasis of the Brain and clouding the bright Ingeny of the Animal Spirits The Humors proceeding from adust Choler do much lessen the purity of the flame of Life in taking off much of its Activity and Spirit whereupon it moveth more slowly in its various Channels and contracteth gross Recrements associated with the Blood out of whose more mild parts debased by atrabilarian Humors producing grief and fear ill companions the purity of the Animal Liquor and Spirits is very much sullied often generating a sad Delirium The ill temper of the vital Liquor causing this timerous Disease The temper of the Blood producing a timerous disposition doth partly proceed from undue fermentation of the Blood in the Heart whereupon it groweth less oily and bountiful in its spirituous parts proceeding from too much exalted saline Atomes rendring the Blood gross and unactive whereupon the Blood transmitted out of the right Chamber of the Heart into the pulmonary Artery and substance of the Lungs as being too much burdened with fixed Salt cannot be duly attenuated and inspired with the elastick particles of Air so that we grow faint and sorrowful as our Blood wanteth a due intestine motion in the Heart and Lungs whereupon it groweth depressed in this Malady as overcharged with gross saline and sulphureous Particles whereupon arise variety of passions in the Heart as Fear Sorrow Faintness and panting in the most noble machine of motion which doth not only suffer by the ill crasis of the Blood clogged with ill effaete adust Choler and saline parts but the vital Liquor also is very much retarded as growing degenerate for want of a due circulation through all the apartiments of the body which is produced in this Disease by a slow and weak motion of the Heart coming from its disabled contractions of muscular Fibres caused by the defect of Animal Spirits not sufficiently acting the Nerves so that the Blood and Animal Spirits do disaffect and prejudice each other the atrabilarian Blood as affected with saline parts produceth gross Animal Liquor and Spirits and again the Animal Spirits being endued with an ill disposition do not duly influence the Cardiack Nerves whereupon the Blood and Animal Spirits do pervert each others Crasis in reference to purity vigor and activity The inordinate passions of the Mind as vehement love sadness Vehement Love discomposeth the fine temper of the Brain panick fear envy malice do very much disturb the oeconomy of the Brain and spoil the nervous Liquor and Animal Spirits in forcing them to run excentrick in reference to their common Sphaeres of the Interstices of nervous Filaments by making them depart into the Pores and Meatus of the substance of the Brain whence proceedeth the depravation of the various Faculties Trust and Reason residing in it Again The indisposition of the Blood proceeding from crude Chyme not well assimilated the Blood acquiring an undue Crasis as being mixed with a Chyme not broken into small Particles by the faint motion of the Heart as in Fear Sadness c. doth render the vital Liquor crude and full of fixed saline Particles as not well attenuated by the motion of Blood coming from the weak contractions of the fleshy Fibres of the Heart whereupon the ill-affected Blood doth make or spoil the production of laudable Animal Liquor and Spirits in the cortical Glands of the Brain The Blood also contracteth an ill temper by immoderate Exercise The Blood is distempered by violent exercise gross Diet of Salt Meats especially if they be dried in Smoke and the suppression of accustomed evacuations of Blood by the Haemorrhoids and Menstrua bleeding at Nose and of purging the serous Recrements by Vomiting and Stool all which do infect the Blood and render it Atrabilarian which afterward indisposeth the nervous Liquor and Animal Spirits The Antients did conceive the first rise of Melancholy to be seated in the Brain and other times in the Uterus and Spleen as to the Brain it may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the Brain hath its substance habitually vitiated by an ill nervous Liquor primarily flowing from the ill serous Liquor of the Blood out of which it is formed Others do imagine the seat of Melancholy to be in the Womb Some conceive the seat of Melancholy to be in the
the nitro-sulphureous Particles of the Blood enraging the Animal Liquor and Spirits The Third Indication is Vital The Third is Vital as it supporteth Strength and Life and denoteth restorative and corroborating Medicines and wholsome Diet easy of digestion as not being of too high a nourishment which ever feedeth the Disease rather then the Patient The Curatory Indication The means advised in the Curatory Indication is much assisted by the prudent conduct of Friends and Servants giving good Council sometimes and othertimes threats blows and bonds which often awe the servile refractory temper of Mad Men who else will not be governed in the taking of Aliment and Medicines and will not submit themselves unless they be over-powred by force to which they are as passive as Brutes with whom they hold some Analogy as destitute of Reason And nothing more reduceth this kind of Patients to a perfect understanding Severity is very powerful in the cure of Madness and perfect enjoyment of themselves then by the severe Treatment of their Bodies whereupon a high restraint rendreth them humble and submissive whereby the arrogance and fierceness of Mad People being subdued they return to themselves in the regular exercise of their rational and sensitive Faculties As to a course in Physick Free Bleeding is very proper in Madness nothing is more beneficial then free Bleeding which giveth an allay to the fierceness of it by taking away its quantity and height and abateth the tumultuary motion of the Blood and Animal Spirits through the fibrous Compage of the Brain to this end an apertion of Veins may be frequently celebrated if it be consistent with strength in the Arm The opening of the Temporal Artery is very good in this Disease Neck Veins of the Forehead and above all I conceive the opening of the temporal Artery may speak an advantage to the Patient in this Malady as it letteth out some of the enraged mass of Blood whose motion and fury is most eminent in the Artery and by this operation I have seen very good success in this Malady as it evacuates some part of the hot furious Blood that the rest may be the more easily contemperated by the application of cooling Medicines Vomitories are very beneficial in this Disease Vomitortes are very advantageous in Madness as it dependeth upon Blood tainted with nitro-sulphureous Particles often proceeding from the obstruction of the Liver Pancreas and other Viscera which are opened in reference to their excretory Ducts by the violent motion of the Stomach drawing the Guts into consent whereupon they violently contracting themselves upward in an inverted peristaltick motion do throw up Bile and acide Recrements out of the Intestines into the Stomach whereby the Blood being depurated giveth less annoyance to the Head Take of an infusion of Crocus or Sulphure of Antimony prepared with some grains of Tartar or some grains of White Hellibore or Mercurius vitae given in some proper vehicle Mercurial Medicines Mercurial Medicines often prove successful in Madness given with Purgatives or without as of Calamelanos of it self or quickned with some few grains of Turpeth Minerale move a salivation and often discharge an habitual Madness by reason sometimes a great evacuation of salival Liquor coming of it self without the help of Art doth cure a Maniack disposition Strong Purgatives do also speak a great advantage in order to the cure of this stubborn Malady as they depress the height of the fierce Humors Strong Purgatives are good in this Disease and lessen the quantity of the saline serous and sulphureous parts of the Blood and nervous Liquor conjunct causes of this Disease as the infusion of Black Hellebore in White-wine and Water prepared with Tartar and Seeds of Caraway or Coriander as the Decoctum Sen. Gereonis prepared with Epithymum Mechoacan Turpeth c. As also a Bolus of Extract of Helebore with Calamelanos c. As also Pilulae Coch. Min. Faetid Major hightened with some grains of the Trochichs of Ashandal or Resin of Scammony or Jalap The preservatory Indication hath relation to the cause of this Disease The preservatory Indication consisteth much in sweetning the mass of Blood and doth much take off the nitrous and sulphureous parts of the Blood and correct the Acrimony of the nervous Liquor and irregular motion of the Animal Spirits A Mineral of Cristal or Nitre well prepared as also Spirit of Sulphure The Blood may be allayed by Minerals or Vitriol incrassating the thin and hot mass of Blood and attemperating the raging quality are very beneficial in appeasing the violent motion of the Blood and the nervous Liquor and Spirits Chalybeat Syrupes Tinctures Electuaries mixed with cooling Medicines Chalybeatâ— are very proper in a Maniack disposition Diet-drink do speak a great allay to the furious Blood and extravagant motion of the Animal Liquor and its more refined Particles by drinking now and then a draught of Diet-drink made with Sarza or China in which the Flowers of Water-Lilies Cowslips or Lily of the Valley may be boiled and it being strained may be sweetned with Syrupe of Water-Lilies or Lime-Flowers or Lily of the Valley Whey Clarified prepared with the Flowers of Water-Lilies Betony Clarified Whey prepared with Water-Lilies Cowslips c. may be given for an ordinary drink in this case As also Emulsions prepared with the cooling Seeds White Poppy blanched Almonds c. may be of great use Decoctions of the tops of Borage Bugloss fragrant Apples Decoctions of Borage c. the shavings of Ivory the Flowers of Borage Violets Cowslips Water-Lilies c. are very profitable As also Apozemes of Pimpernel having a Blew Flower St. Johns-wort c. Electuaries also prepared with Conserves of Flowers of Water-Lilies Electuaries Lily of the Valley Cowslips cooling Seeds powdered as Powder of Haley c. made up with Syrupe of Water-Lillies drinking immediately after it a draught of cooling or specifique Apozeme The vital Indication hath a regard to the preservation of Strength Cordiaâ—â— as the said Electuary As also an Electuary made with Sage Flowers Rosemary Paeony Cowslips Water-Lilies which contemperate the hot disposition of the Brain and corroborate it After which a draught may be taken immediately prepared with Flowers of Betony Rorismary Sage or Tey and the like sweetned with Syrupe of Cowslips or Water-Lilies In point of Diet all strong and full nourishment is to be avoided as keeping the Blood high and enraged wherefore it is more reasonable to advise a thin Diet of Water-gruel Barley-Cream thin broth of a Chicken Mutton Veal c. Hypnoticks may be proper in this Disease And by reason Sleep is very requisite to compose the unquiet Animal Spirits gentle Hypnoticks may be advised of Cowslips or Red Poppy-water or that of Lime-Flowers or Lily of the Valley with some Cinnamon-water distilled with Barley and Syrupe of Poppy In reference to Madness proceeding from the biting of
deflowred by rendring it gross and viscide vulgarly called Phlegme and is truly undigested Chyle which being accompanied with these fixed saline and acide Ferments doth make if less abundant a Bradupepsy or Dyspeysy if very exuberant an Apepsy the Dog-like Appetite Pica Malacia and severe Vomitings caused by the tender Fibres of the Stomach irritated by the acrimony of these sharp and acide Ferments rendring the nourishing Liquor crude This indigested Juyce is transmitted through the Intestines and the mesentrick and thoracick Milky Vessels the subclavian Veins and Cava into the right Chamber of the Heart wherein the Chyme being gross cannot be well assimilated and thereby giveth a thickness and a disposition of stagnancy to the Blood Difficulty of Breathing proceedeth from an ill Chyme stagnated in the substance of the Lungs lodged in the Viscera and afterward the crude Chyme being impelled with the vital Liquor out of the right Ventricle of the Heart by the pulmonary Artery into the substance of the Lungs produceth a difficulty of Breathing and being long extravasated in the spaces between the Vessels causeth a Peripneumonia an inflammation of the Lungs and this indigested Phlegme the product of an ill Concoction accompanying the Blood being also transmitted by the ascendent Trunk of the Aorta and afterwards by the internal Carotides The crude Chyme dispersed into Cortexe processes of the Brain is productive of Soporiferous Diseases into the Membranes of the Brain creates sometimes a Phrenitis and great pains of the Head and if the crude Chyme be dispersed into the Cortex and Medullary Processes of the Brain it is productive of Soporiferous Diseases as Lethargick Comatose Carous and Apoplectick Distempers But if crude Chyme A Leucoph'egmatia may proceed from a crude Chyme lodged in the Muscular parts Crude Chyme transmitted with the Blood into the Membranes and into the Interstices of the Nervous Filaments doth generate a Rheumatisme associated with Blood be impelled out of the Left Ventricle of the Heart into the descendent Trunk of the Aorta and Intercostal Arteries into the Pleura it produceth a Pleurifie And if the ill-Concocted alimentary Liquor incrassating the Blood be carried by the greater Trunks into the smaller Branches and Capillary Arteries into the Interstices of the Vessels seated in the Muscular parts it generates a Disease called Leucophlegmatia Other times these Saline and Acide Particles of the Ferments make the same impression in the Chyle which being transmitted with the Blood into Membranes covering the Muscles and the Interstices of the Nerves seated in the Carnous parts do produce high afflictive Pains called by the Modern Physicians a Rheumatisme These sharp Particles discomposing the Ferments of the Stomach The Concoction is vitiated by an ill salival Liquor flowing out of the Oral Glands produce an ill qualified alimentary Liquor which being embodied with the Blood is carried by the external Carotides into the Maxillary and Oral Glands where it is secerned from the Blood and discharged with the Salival Liquor by excretory Ducts into the Cavity of the Mouth wherein the Aliment being prepared by Mastication is infected and afterwards vitiated by a new Afflux of saline and acide Particles ejected the extremities of Arteries and Nerves inserted into the Oral Glands and from thence transmitted by excretory Vessels into the Mouth An Instance of this Distemper may be given in a worthy Member of the Colledge of Physicians who was long perplexed with universal pains raging in all parts of his Body proceeding from Serous and Nervous Liquor debased with saline and acide Particles which Nature discharged frequently out of the Oral Glands in great quantity into the Mouth wherein the salival Liquor being vitiated tainted the masticated Aliment and indisposed it for Concoction Whereupon these Serous and Saline Recrements Nature often attempteth to evacuate by the Nerves as well as Arteries The Saline Recrements are evacuated as well by the Nerves as Arteries into the Salival Glands Apepsia when little or no Mutation is made in the Meat An imperfect Conconction is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is very slow in operation into the minute Conglomerated Glands besetting the Palate and Tongue to free her self from these ill Companions which conversing with Salival Juyce disturb the first rudiment of Digestion above in the Mouth and the greater elaboration of it in the Ventricle below That the disaffections of the Stomach in reference to Concoction may be more clearly stated I will make bold to propound the various kinds of ill Digestion the First is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where little or no alteration is made in the Aliment out of which very little or no Alimentary Liquor is extracted The second kind of ill Concoction is made when the Aliment hath a longer stay in the Stomach then is fit or when all the Meat and Drink do not admit a laudable Concoction which is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a slow or imperfect Concoction wherein the alimentary Juyce is very gross and crude The third sort of ill Concoction is made when the Aliment degenerates into a putrid or faetide Chyle which is the worst of kinds called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the depraved action of the Ventricle where the alimentary Extract is despoiled of its amicable Disposition acquiring a corrupt Nature destructive of the Blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a total disappointment of Nature in point of Concoction A pepsy is made aut à Vitiata Conformatione aut mala temperie aut Fermentis male dispositis wherein the Stomach is rendred destitute of its more noble Operation and End the extraction of Chyle as being able to make little or no impression upon Meat and Drink which remain unaltered in the Stomach proceeding from an ill temper or a vitiated Conformation a violated union of parts and sometimes for want of laudable Ferments or from an External Cause too great a quantity or from the ill quality of Meat and Drink An Apepsy is contracted also when the Tone of the Stomach is lost An Apepsymay proceed from the lost Tone of the Stomach caused when the current of animal Liquor and Spirits is intercepted in the Origen of the nervous Fibrils produced sometime by the compression of them caused by the tumor of the adjacent parts in the inflammation of the Dura and Pia Mater compressing the extreamities of the Nervous Fibres Seated in the Ambient parts of the Brain whereupon the Fibres of the Stomach derived from the Par vagum being destitute of their Liquor and Spirit do lose their Vigor and Tenseness Or Secondly when the beginning of the minute Nervous Fibres is obstructed by the grossness of the animal Liquor so that its course is totally suppressed as in an Apoplexy or its due motion slackened in more gentle soporiferous Diseases of a Coma Carus Lethargie and the like so that the animal Liquor is not propagated through the Fibres of the Cortex and other parts
autem coctio elaboratioque alioqui frustra esse ut conditi sinus quatuor quos partes esse cerebri nobilissimas omnes admittant quum ex eorum compressione vulnere praecipitem mortem quotidie observamus If these Animal Spirits consisting of volatil parts should be formed in these Sinus of the Brain they would be so unconfined in these larger rooms where embodying with Air they would soon exhale through the Os Spongiosum and the freer Cavities of the Nostrils Learned Diemerbroeck giveth this account of a Student in Law dead of a wound made in the Right Ventricle Saith he Aperto prius Cranio gladium ingressum fuisse orbitam unius oculi in oculo nempe majori ipsi oculo tamen illaeso per superiorem dextrum Ventriculum penetrasse hic tamen juvenis nullis actionibus animalibus privatus fuit quod certum indicium erat Spiritus e Ventriculo per latum vulnus effluxisse mente sanus bene videns audiens gustans omnesque partes bene movens ac cum sociis convenienter bono cum judicio quacunque de re disserens vixit per decem dies atque tum supervenienti febre vehementiore bidui spacio extinctus est Ingenious Descartes his Opinion is near akin to this saying in his First Book De Homine circa finem Spiritus Animales per arteriolarum plexus Choroeidis angustias e sanguine arterioso separari in glandula pineali atque ex ea infundi in Ventriculos nec alio modo differre a spiritibus vitalibus The Animal Spirits are not generated in the Glandula Pinealis quam sint tenuissimae partes aliis separatae alio duntaxat nomine donatae If it were granted which is very improbable That the Animal Spirits creeping through the small channels of the Plexus Choroeides should be separated in the Glandula Pinealis yet the acute Author would meet with a greater difficulty how this very minute Gland furnished only with a small Carotide branch could propagate such a large store of Animal Spirits to accommodate the large territory of the Brain and the greater outlets of the Nerves derived from it with which the Glandula Pinealis holdeth little or no correspondence having only two small Nerves peculiar to this Gland which do no where perforate the Skull as subservient to any other part And last of all The Animal Spirits do not differ from the Vital according to Descartes the Authors words do assert the Animal Spirits not to differ from the vital being only thin Particles separated from them and only called by another name which Opinion I humbly conceive doth labour under great difficulties because the Animal Spirits are of a different ingeny and disposition from the vital these being of a more hot and sulphureous Nature and the other consist of a more delicate gentle heat and mild temper founded in an Albuminous Matter composed of temperate qualities and soft saline Particles seated in the more refined parts of the Animal Liquor which is as much distinguishable from Blood as the Red Crassament is from the serous Juyce which is separated from the vital Liquor not in the Glandula Pinealis but in the Cortex of the Brain And the Animal Spirits are not to be considered in an abstracted notion as denuded from a Subject but to be taken concretely as they involve a matter with which they coexist The Animal Spirits are the most refined Particles of the nervous Liquor because the Animal Spirits are nothing but the most spirituous and active parts of the nervous Liquor to which they are most intimately united giving it vigor and perfection After the same manner as the Spirit giveth life and briskness to Wine without which it groweth faint and pawl losing its gust and usefulness and name being called no more truly Vinum but Vappa and as Blood being long extravasated is bereaved of its nimble spirituous Particles and degenerates into an earthy substance at once losing its nature and name and cannot be well called Sanguis but Cruor in like manner the Compage of the nervous Liquor being loosened and the bond of mixtion untied the tone of the Animal Liquor is wholly lost when its noble and generous vigorous parts the Animal Spirits quit their subject so that the nervous Juice is turned into a Recrement at the approaches of death at once giving a period to Sense and Motion the sad effects of a Spiritless Animal Liquor when it is not improved with store of milder volatil salt superabundant in the ambient parts of the Brain Again these serene lucid Particles cannot formally reside in the dense opaque parts of the Blood but in the more Transparent Cristalline body of the nervous Liquor highly exalted with most clear Particles of the Animal Spirits do illustrate the Two Hemisphaeres of the Brain and the Nerves streaming out of them with their brighter Rays Last of all Sylvius his Opinion that the Animal Spirits are generated in the Cortical Vessels of the Brain Sylvius in his Fourth Disputation and the 25th Thesis affirmeth the Animal Spirits to be elaborated in the vessels branched through the ambient parts of the Brain according to his own subsequent words Suspicamur sanguinem a corde per Arterias Carotides cervicales sursum appellentem partim transire in ipsam cerebri cerebellique substantiam Medullarem ad eorundem vivificationem nutritionem partim secundum ipsorum superficiem deduci per ramos ipsarum Capillares ad Spirituum Animalium elaborationem which he farther explaineth in the 29th Thesis Suspicamur praeterea per Capillarium Arteriolarum poros penetrare sanguinis partem spirituosam in Cerebri cerebellique corticem cinerum hinc in mediam substantiam albicantem atque in hoc transitu liberari parte sui aquea penitissime ipsi adhaerente non absimili modo illi quo per spongiam Oleo imbutam cerebri Medullae sub pingui hactenus Consimilem secernitur separatur uti loqui solent Chymici rectificatur a suo phlegmate Spiritus vini purissimus Spiritui Animali natura sua proxime accedens And here I cannot but admire Sylvius his excellent simile wherein he endeavoureth to illustrate the rare work of Nature in the production of Animal Spirits by the ingenious Art of Chymistry in drawing off the Spirit of Wine but in this the witty Author seemeth to fail in asserting the elaboration of the Animal Spirits to be performed when the most spirituous part of the Blood insinuateth it self through the Pores of the capillary Arteries into the Cortex and thence into the Medulla of the Brain where he saith it is separated from its watry parts by the unctuous substance of the Brain and after the manner of the spirituous Particles of Wine drawn off from its Phlegme in distillation by a Spunge besprinkled with Oil and may saith he nearly approach the nature of Animal Spirits which are not as I conceive with this Learned Authors leave the most
spirituous sulphureous parts of the Blood The Animal Spirits are the more mild parts of the nervous Liquor transmitted out of the capillary Arteries into the substance of the Cortex but the more mild and delicate Particles of the serous Liquor drawn off from the more fierce sulphureous Red fibrous parts of the Blood which are returned in circulation by the Jugulars and the more gentle spirituous parts are left behind being separated in the Interstices of the vessels of the cortical Glands and thence transmitted into the extremities of the tender Fibrils implanted into the Cortex The manner how the Animal Spirits are generated And this Discourse fairly bringeth me from the place wherein the Animal Spirits take their first rise to the manner how they are propagated by secretion and to the Matoria substrata out of which they are generated which is not the Purple Liquor as it is highly concocted by great heat and repeated circulations whence it groweth exalted with quantities of hot oily qualities or on the other side for want of regular motion and due heat is depressed with Crudities growing gross with Recrements or rendred acrimonious with fixed saline Parts or depauperated by serous Faeculencies Wherefore the vital Liquor impelled out of the greater Cisterns of the Heart into the lesser Chanels of the ascendent Trunk of the Aorta and thereby the more minute Rivulets of the carotide Arteries are not only implanted into the Coats investing the Brain but also into the substance of the cortical Glands as so many Compages made up of many distinct vessels of Arteries Veins and minute nervous Fibrils interspersed with very many small spaces interceding the Vessels into which the Blood being transmitted the more gentle Cristalline parts of the Succus nutricius impregnated with mild volatil saline Atomes are secerned from the more fiery sulphureous and fixed Salt of the Red Crassament in the cortical Glands which are so many Colatories of the Animal Liquor so that the more refined parts of this choice Succus are separated from the grosser and more adust parts of the Blood which is performed in the ambient parts of the Brain where this soft nervous Liquor meeteth with Air first transmitted through the Os Ethmoeides into the Ventricles and thence through the Pores of the Medulla into the secret passages of the Cortical Glands in which the pure and subtle Particles of Air do incorporate with the depurated Succus Nutricius and highly attenuate it rendring it more fluid and volatil till at last the Succus Nutricius is more and more inspired with new spirituous aethereal Particles of Air exalted with solar and other planetary influences and is more and more impregnated with mild volatil Salt imparted from the Cortical Glands so that the more subtle active Particles of this refined Succus are called the Animal Spirits But some may enquire in what Subject these Animal Spirits are lodged The subject of Animal Spirits is the nervous Liquor To which it may be replied in the Nervous Liquor which I conceive is not a subject of Inhaefion because the Animal Spirits do not exist in the nervous Liquor Tanquam accidens in subjecto sed tanquam substantiale in substantiali tanquam anima in corpore the Animal Spirits being the Form and the Nervous Liquor the Matter which receiveth its vigor and activity from them The Animal Spirits do not subsist of themselves Learned Diemerbroeck denieth the very existence of the Nervous Liquor and maketh the Animal Spirits to subsist of themselves separate from it And according to this notion of the Animal Spirits abstractly taken from any subject he giveth this definition of them Sunt autem Spiritus Animales halitus invisibiles tenuissimi ac volatiles potissimum ex salsis sanguinis particulis paucissimisque sulphureis maxime volatilibus in cerebro confecti Whereupon according to this Learned Author the Animal Spirits being most thin invisible and volatil steams and having no subject to confine their high volatility their spirituous subtle airy Particles will easily insinuate themselves through the Interstices of the Vessels seated in the Cortical Glands and thence pass through the Os Ethmoeides into the Nostrils wherefore to solve this and many other Phaenomena which may arise and peplex this improbable Opinion I humbly conceive with the Authors pardon that it is more reasonable to apprehend the Animal Spirits to be seated in the nervous Liquor as their proper subject in which they are confined when they move from part to part within the Interstices of the Filaments constituting the Nerves CHAP. XXXIX Of the Corpus Callosum HAving discoursed the Cortex of the Brain and the Animal Liquor and Spirits generated in it the next in order to be treated of is the Corpus Callosum The Corpus Callosum may be divided from the Cortex the more white and compact part which according to Bauhinus may be easily divided from the Cortex in a Brain newly dissected after death In the upper Surface of the Brain under the Sagittal Suture is formed a great Fissure in which is lodged the great Process of the Dura Mater made of its Duplicature and like a middle Wall it rendreth an equal partition of the right from the left side of the Brain The two Hemisphaeres of the Brain are united in the Corpus Callosum dividing it into two Hemisphaeres which unite themselves in the Corpus Callosum and giveth a reception to every distinct Particle of the several Anfractus of the Brain serving as it were for a Covering and Seeling for the Fornix the Medulla oblongata and its various Processes This large Medullary Process is thick and deep in the fore part of the Brain The Connexion of the Corpus Callosum The rise of this Process where it is affixed with two small Processes to the two Apices of the Medulla oblongata called the Lentiform Processes from which it is conceived to take its first rise and extending it self toward the hinder part of the Brain groweth thinner and thinner at last closing with the Caudex of the Medulla oblongata by the interposition of thin Membranes and Vessels The Figure of the Corpus Callosum The Figure of the Corpus callosum according to Learned Vesalius is long and narrow and hath in the upper part a very smooth Convex Surface somewhat resembling the prominence of the top or sides of the Brain but the lower Surface cannot be discovered except the left and right Ventricles be opened and then the lower Surface hath a flexure all the length of the Corpus Callosum and is not one and simple as the upper was because to the length two Surfaces are drawn hollowed like the fourth part of a Circle and in the middle of these two Surfaces appeareth a Tuberculum extended in the manner of a straight line having a Convex Surface downward by reason of its Prominence and more and more contracting it self into a less compass is called
Tripes standing upon the substance of the Brain with three Legs two of them bending downward toward the Base of the Brain and the Third being united to the Septum lucidum interposeth between the lower region of the anterior Ventricles and extendeth it self forward toward the Nostrils so that some and not without some shew of Reason have derived the Origen of the Fornix from them This admirable Process from its different Surfaces and arched Figure was called Fornix by the Antients whose gibbous region above is overspread with numerous Fibres which running overthwart in various Flexures do make the Arch of the Fornix CHAP. XLIII Of the Corpora Striata THe Corpora Striata upon the Dissection of the Brain The Corpord Striata are the Origens of the Medulla oblongata seem to be lodged within the Ventricles but upon a true inspection are found to be seated without them and I humbly conceive that they are the Origens of the Medulla oblongaâ—a whose Heads so incline one towards another The Connexion the Corpora Striata that they are almost conjoyned And from the Angles by which they approach each other the Fornix is derived with a double Origen The Figure of the Corpora Striata And the Corpora Striata seem to be united by a transverse Medullary Process but their Terminations or lesser parts of these Lentiform Processes are more acute being turned backward and do after a manner form two sides of a Triangle to whose anterior Surface the Corpus Callosum is conjoyned for a good space When the Brain is Dissected and so brought to a Plain that the Lentiform Processes being the tops of the Medulla oblongata are laid bare The Corpora Striata are endued with variety of streaks if you cut them in the middle where they are fastned to the Corpus Callosum you may plainly discover great variety of Streaks making their progress several ways upward and downward forward and backward in parallel lines Dr. Willis giveth a good description of the Corpora Striata in these words Ne quis dubitet quin istae striae velut ductus sive canales factae à natura fuerint pro Spirituum Animalium è corpore Calloso in Medullam oblongatam The use of the Corpora Stridta contra itu redituque These Streaks of the Corpora Striata are formed by Nature as so many Chanels for the free egress and regress of the Animal Spirits out of the Corpus callosum into the Medulla oblongata The Structure of the Corpora Striata And I conceive the Corpora Striata to be a texture of Vessels and their Streaks to be so many Filaments out of which it may seem probable that the first rudiments and productions of the Olfactory and Ocular Nerves are formed and afterward propagated to the Medulla oblongata seated near the Corpora Striata The Corpora Striata are the Origen of the Medulld Spâ—nalis And it is farther conceived by Learned Dr. Walter Needham that the Corpora Striata are the first Origens of the Medulla spinalis a system of numerous nervous Filaments the rudiments of the Vertebral and other Nerves which receive their first rise and original from the Medulla spinalis The Corpora Striata though they are outwardly invested with a white Membrane as with a fine Vail yet they are rendred more beauteous within with a variegated substance composed of White streaked with Black which give a mutual foil as so many contrary Colours sporting themselves as different Rays illustrating each other The Black is made up of a number of Filaments and the White of a pulpy substance interlining the vacuities of these oblong Fibres which take their progress all along the length of the Corpora Striata The Progress of the Animal Spirits according to Dr. Willis And according to Learned Dr. Willis do run up and down to and from the Medulla oblongata as so many Chanels wherein the Animal Spirits are transmitted from the Corpus callosum to the Corpora Striata and Medulla oblongata and as the Renowned Author will have it from it to the Corpus callosum This Hypothesis is grounded upon a conceived circulation of the Succus Nutricius in the Brain but I most humbly conceive with deference to the Excellent Author that the Filaments do wholly descend from the Corpus callosum to the Corpora Striata Medulla oblongata and Spinalis So that according to the Structure and Position of the Fibres The outmost Spirits have no retrograde motion in the Brain The Nervous Liquor in which the Animal Spirits reside streameth from the Cortex through the various Medullary Processes to the Base of the Brain and from thence hath no retrograde motion by reason as I conceive the great design of Nature is to supply the Nerves springing from the Medulla oblongata and Spinalis with Animal Spirits and Liquor So that all the numerous Nerves do receive their fruitful streams of Succus Nutricius from the Brain Cerebellum and Medulla spinalis as so many Fountains transmitting several Rivulets into the whole Body giving Sense Motion and Nourishment in some degree to all parts which do expend so large a proportion of Nervous Juice that no superfluity is left in the Base of the Brain and its adjacent parts to supply a Retrograde motion which if granted would hinder the descending current of the Animal Liquor and Spirits toward the lower Region of the Brain And the contrary descending and ascending streams of the Succus Nervosus and its Spirits would much impede if not wholly obstruct each others opposite motions And farthermore it is not needful that any return of the Nervous Liquor impregnated with Animal Spirits should be made from the Base of the Brain to the more inward Recesses and Cortex when there is a production of Animal Liquor continually made out of the albuminous part of the Blood in the ambient parts of the Brain and thence propagated downward to the several Medullary Processes to invigorate and nourish them as they pass to the lower Region of the Brain Medulla spinalis and Cerebellum to act the fruitful Nerves springing from them with Spirits and Vigor CHAP. XLIV Of the Medulla Oblongata and its appendant Processes HAving treated of the Cortex Corpus callosum Fornix the Ventricles Plexus Choroides and Corpora Striata it follows in course that I should speak somewhat of the Medulla seated in the Base of the Brain and its appendant Processes To this eminent Process the Corpus callosum is conjoyned by the interposition of the Corpora Striata The Connexion of the Medulla oblongata and to its Caudex †T. 48. immediately And also to it are appendant many smaller Processes the Thalami Nervorum Opticorum the Natiform to the Processes and their Protuberancies called Testes and the Pons Varolii or Processus annularis which encircles the Medulla oblongata And to the hinder part of it is appended the Cerebellum and to its Anterior Region the
and Sinus in the Medulla of the Brain and by tearing in pieces the tender Fibrils do interrupt the due progress of the Nervous Liquor and Animal Spirits closing in a doleful Catastrophe of an Apoplectick Fit Renowned Webster giveth an instance of this case An instance of an Apoplexy happening in an old Woman of Seventy years which being quickly taken away by an acute Apoplexy and her Skull being taken off he discovered a large Cavity in the stance of the Brain reaching forward toward the Forehead and upward to the Processus Falciformis and much backward toward the Occiput and downward beyond the middle of the Brain The longitude of this unnatural Sinus was Four Inches in breadth Two and half in depth and Eight in length containing near a pound of extravasated Blood that had issued out of the lacerated carotide Arteries which did not proceed from any outward accident as this profound Author saith there having been no contusion or fracture discoverable in the Skull but I conceive from the greater source of Blood protruded out of the larger Carotides into the smaller Capillaries branched into the Medulla which had been more and more dilated by the Rivulets of Blood till the coats of the Arteries were over-much distended and thence growing thinner and thinner at last cracked in pieces and the streams of confined vital Liquor were forced through the breaches of the Arterial Coats into the substance of the Brain and made great Furroughs and Channels in it and by tearing up the Medullary Filaments did divert the natural course of the Animal Liquor and Spirits from the Nerves A Daughter of Mr. Lewis one of the Navy-Office Another case of an Apoplexus a Person of a Plethorick Constitution was highly afflicted with a great Head-ach which afterward degenerated into a Sopor and was much alleviated upon Blood-letting and then she fell into a Rheumatisme placed in the Muscular part of the Limbs And in order to ease her I designed to open a Vein a second time but was prevented by the importunate dislike of her Friends giving an advantage to her distemper to re-assault her Brain with a fresh pain of her Head accompanied afterward with a great Sopor whereupon I made a Prognostick That the distemper would determine as I apprehended in an Apoplectic Fit unless she was relieved by an immediate opening a Vein which I conceived the proper means to preserve her but her Friends highly interposed and hindred my intention of Bleeding her whereupon in a few days the Sopor grew more violent attended with a Stertor and then the Patient falling into a violent Apoplectick Fit died in Twelve hours And after a competent time her Head being opened the Coats of the Brain were swelled and a large quantity of serous Matter was found in the substance of the Brain As to the cause and progress of the Disease The cause and progress of this Disease I conceive it to be after this manner Free Rivulets of Blood overcharged with serous Particles being impelled out of the Carotides into the Membranes and substance of the Brain produced the Head-ach and Sopor which were much mitigated upon Bleeding whereupon the Blood freely retired from the Brain by the Jugulars into the Cava and Chambers of the Heart and thence was carried upward again by the ascendent Trunk of the Aorta and subclavian and axillary Branches into the Limbs causing great pains in the Shoulders and Arms and at the same time another portion of Blood was conveyed downward by the descendent Trunk of the Aorta and Iliack Arteries into the Thighs and Legs which being reconveyed by the Iliack Veins and ascendent Trunk of the Cava into the Ventricles of the Heart and from above by the axillary Veins and descendent Trunk of the Cava into the Sinus of the Heart and from thence again a quantity of Serous Blood was impelled by the Aorta and Carotides into the Coats and substance of the Brain highly compressing the Filaments and thereupon wholly suppressing the descent of the Animal Liquor into the roots and bodies of the Nerves Another cause may be assigned of an Apoplexy The immoderate use of Opiates may produce an Apoplexy seated in the Cortex of the Brain the immoderate use of Opiates as Learned Webster would have it by too great a dilatation of the pores of the Brain exposing it to a violent incursion of ill humors brought along with the Blood and giving a disturbance to the regular motion of the Animal Liquor But I humbly conceive with the leave of this Learned Author that Opiates do rather obstruct and shut up the Pores of the Brain then immoderately open them and make ill impressions upon the Animal Liquor and by incrassation and fixation of the Spirits in taking away their volatil airy elastick Particles do unbrace the natural Tenseness of the fibrous parts of the Cortex and by consequence do take away the vigor of the Nerves of the whole Body whence the motion of the Heart groweth weak from its distorted Fibres attended with a great difficulty of Breathing flowing from the flabby Fibres of the intercostal Muscles proceeding from the nervous Liquor dispirited by Narcoticks Mrs. Jane Reynolds a young Gentlewoman being passionately in love and not succeeding well in her Amours as she conceived took Twelve pills of Opium in so many Cherries An instance of an Apoplexy produced by Opium every Pill as I apprehend contained about Ten grains of Opium an hour after she had taken the Pills she began to be dozed and giddy and although an hour after she swallowed the Pills she took great quantities of Oil and Medicines to provoke Vomiting yet without success she being hard to vomit in time of her health and upon this sad occasion the Fibres of her Stomach were so stupified and relaxed by the Opium that they could not contract themselves to expel the Vomit Two hours and less after she had taken the Opium a great Stupor seized her Brain Opium stupified and relaxed the Nerves and rendred the Muscles of the Gula so Laxe that she wholly lost the use of it being not able to swallow and immediately after was afflicted with a great difficulty of breathing which grew higher and higher so that the Muscles of the Scapula were drawn in to the assistance of the intercostals and Diaphragme which being not able of themselves to perform their duty in respiration were attended with a high Stertor which was more and more aggravated from Twelve at Night till Five in the Morning about which time Nature being too much over-born quitted all farther contests Two hours after the Head being opened and the Brain being divested of its coverings the carotide Arteries did much exceed their natural Dimensions and their spaces of the Vessels swelled with undue proportions of Blood though a good quanty of it was discharged by the venous Ducts into the Third Sinus full of Blood which the Head lying low was
former and let it be sweetened with the Flowers of Lime Paeony or Lily of the Valley If the Child Suck Cephalick Medicines may be given to the Nurse Cephalicks may be advised for the Nurse if the Child Suck made of the Roots of Paeony and the Seeds of Goats Rue and Caraway boiled in Posset-drink As also an Electuary made of Conserve of Lime-Flowers Lily of the Valley Sage Paeony to which may be added the Powder of Missetowe of the Oak Paeony roots Castor made into a due Consistence with the Syrupe of Lime-Flowers or Lily of the Valley drinking after it an Apozeme prepared with the Roots of Angelica Paeony Flowers of Betony Rorismary Lime Lily of the Valley and after its strained it may be sweetned with the Syrupe of Paeony or Cowslips Powders may be advised for the Nurse composed of the roots of Valerian Powder for the Nurse White Amber Misletowe of the Oak of the hoof of a Bufalo Castor c. mingled with White Sugar and given in a spoonful of the Apozeme prescribed drinking after it a good draught of the same And to an Infant may be given Black Cherry or Rue Water A Cephalick Julape for a Child mingled with Compound Paeony or Compound Briony-water or with some drops of Spirit of Lavender or Spirit of Hartshorn and the like sweetned with some Cephalick Syrupe Amulets of the roots of Paeony Castor Amulets of the shavings of the hoof of a Bufalo mixed with Oil of Nutmegs by expression may be hung about the Neck of the Child troubled with Convulsions Blistering Plaisters are very proper in Convulsive motions If the Infant be actually in a Fit a blistering Plaister may be applied to the Nucha or to both sides of the Neck The Cephalick Plaister without Euphorbium or of Galbanum may be applied to the Feet The Powder of Gutteta according to Rivier The Powder of Gutteta or one compounded of a Humane Skull of Pearl of the hoof of a Bufalo c. may be given in a few grains in the following Julape made of Black Cherry simple Paeony or Goats Rue-water mingled with a small quantity of Antiepileptick Water of Langius and sweetened with the Syrupe of Lime-Flowers The roots of Valerian Paeony Lime-Flowers c. Infusions of Cephlicks may be infused in Canary and being strained off may be given in a very small quantity with White Sugar-candy or a Distillation may be made in a Glass retort with the heat of Sand of the roots of Valerian Paeony Lime-Flowers vitriol of Hungary the Skull of a Man in Compound Paeony water and the distilled water may be given in a small quantity sweetened with Syrupe of Betony or Lime-Flowers or if it seem to be too strong it may be allayed with the simple water of Paeony or of Lime-Flowers or of Lily of the Valley Some of the Gall of a Sucking Puppy taken in a small quantity of simple Paeony-water or of Lily of the Valley may be very proper in Convulsive Fits Oil of Castor Bathing the Chine with Spirits or Oil is of great use Leeches applied behind the Ears are good in Dentition As also blistering Plaisters Anodynes and Narcoticks are good in violent pains of the Teeth Medicines good for to destroy Worms Amber mixed with the compound Spirit of Lavender may be very proper to anoint the Chine of a Child afflicted with Convulsive motions In Convulsive motions proceeding from breeding of Teeth Blood may be taken away by Leeches set behind the Ears and Blistering Plaisters may be applied to the Nucha or sides of the Neck and Anodynes and Narcoticks may be used in violent pains of the Teeth whereupon the Gums may be rubbed or cut with some sharp instrument to make way for the eruption of Teeth In reference to Convulsions coming from Worms Rubarb infused in Wine Beer or Ale may be proper or some grains of Calamelanus given in extract of Aloes or with Rubarb mixed with some very few grains of Jailape In a Child of a strong Constitution and of some years Wormseed or Salt of Prunel Tartar or any bitter or salt Medicine will destroy Worms A Plaister made of Colocynth A Plaister may be applied to the Navel in this case Aloes macerated in juyce of Wormwood the Gall of an Ox all mixed and embodied with Bees-wax may be applyed to the Navil of the Child CHAP. LXXIII Of the Palsey THE noble Compage of the Brain being a systeme of numerous fine Fibrils branched through the Cortex Corpus callosum Fornix Corpora striata Nates Testes Medulla oblongata Cerebellum and its Processes and through the Medulla Spinalis as an elongation of the Brain These innumerable minute Fibrils of the Brain Cerebellum The Fibrils of the Brain and Cerebellum are composed of many Filaments In the exercises of Sense and Motion the Fibres are rendred tense and Medulla Spinalis being the constituent parts are framed of many small Filaments whose Interstices are receptive of the Animal Liquor and Spirits by whose spirituous and elastick Particles the Fibrils are rendred plump tense and fit to exert the acts of Sense and Motion which are also imparted to the Nerves of the whole Body as so many outlets of the Brain and the continuation of its fibrous Compage the first Origen and rudiment of all nervous Divarications overspreading and invigorating all the Apartiments of the Body with their select Liquor and their more refined Particles giving Sensation motion and nourishment The Faculties relating to the said Operations are lessened depraved The lessened or abolished or depraved Functions come from errors of the Brain or abolished by the errors of the Brain as being a systeme of innumerable Fibrils containing the nervous Liquor and its Spirits giving vigor and tenseness to the fibrous frame of the Brain and its appendices which are chiefly hurt in reference to Sense and Motion in Two disaffections either as they are depraved by Convulsive motions or when pain ariseth in point of Sense The Function of Sense or Motion are lessened or abolished in the Palsey The descriptiâ—on of a Palsey or when the Functions of Sense and Motion are very much lessened or abolished in a Palsey causing an impotency in the Limbs when the fibrous parts of the Brain and Limbs lose their vigor and tenseness A Palsey may admit this description That it is a resolution or relaxation of the fibrous Compage of the Body proceeding from defect of a due tenseness of the nervous Filaments whereupon the Faculties of Sense and Motion cannot exert their due operations in some or all parts of the Body A resolution happens to the nervous parts when the Succus Nervosus The cause of the resolution of the Nerves and its spirituous Particles are denied an access to the fibrous parts of the Brain Cerebellum and Medulla Spinalis or when the Animal Spirits losing their due volatil or elastick parts do not influence the Nerves with