Ounces Turbith Mechoacan of each an Ounce and a half Epithymum yellow Saunders of each an Ounce Coriander-seeds an Ounce and a half let them be slic'd and bruis'd and put in a Bag according to Art for four Gallons of Ale the Dose is from twelve Ounces to a Pound either every Morning or twice or thrice a Week CHAP. IV. A Cure for Over-purging or of Medicines that stay too much Purging or a Looseness Also the Cure of the London-Flux with Instructions in each Case TO prevent over-purging upon giving any Purging Medicine we must proceed thus Before we give a Purge we must first consider well the Constitution Strength and Custome of the Body to be Purg'd as also the Nature Dose manner of Working and ordinary effects of the Medicine to be given and then by comparing the one with the other we must proportionate the vertue of the Agent according to the bearing of the Patient Secondly whilst the Medicine is working let the Viscera where digestion is perform'd the Blood and the Animal Spirits be kept free from any other perturbation Wherefore during that time let not the Patient eat gross or viscous food or too great a plenty of any food which may offend the Stomach let him carefully avoid the admittance of any outward cold by which the Pores of the Body are shut up also let the mind be kept calm and undisturb'd free from all Cares and toilsome Studies Thirdly The Operation of the Medicine being ended we must appease the angry rage of the Animal Spirits and allay the effervescence of the Blood and Humours for which ends let an Anodine Medicine or a gentle Hypnotick be given according to the following forms Take Water of Cowslip Flowers two Ounces Cinnamon-water hordeated Syrup of Maeconium of each half an Ounce Pearls half a Scruple make a draught to be taken going to rest Or Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated two Scruples Diascordium half a Dram Pearls half a Scruple Diacodium what suffices make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep In case this Provision be either omitted or does not hinder a Purging Medicine from working to excess let the Patient presently be put into a warm Bed and be ordered as follows First Let either a Plaister of Mithridate be apply'd to his Stomach and to the whole upper Region of the Belly or let those parts be fomented with warm Linnen Cloaths dip'd in a decoction of Wormwood Mints and Spïces in red Wine and so wiung forth presently upon it let him take inwardly either a Bolus of Venice Treacle or a Solution of it in Cinnamon-water Moreover let him drink every now and then a spoonful or two of Burnt-wine diluted with a little Mint-water if he be troubled with Gripes give him a Glister of warm Milk with Treacle dissolv'd in it and warm frictions must be us'd to the remote parts and sometimes Ligatures to draw the Blood outwards and so keep it from too great a Colliquation and from discharging it self into the Cavities of the Viscera then in the Evening if there be strength and a pretty good Pulse let him take a Dose either of Diacodium or of Liquid Laudanum with some fit Vehicle As to other kinds of excessive Purging which are wont to happen without the Administration of a Purging Medicine for the most part they are meerly Symptomatical depending on other Diseases and their method of Cure is wholly the same as of those Diseases whose off-spring they are Nevertheless sometimes a Looseness or Flux seems to be a Disease of it self and because this kind of Distemper Raging almost yearly in the City of London is commonly accounted Endemious or a Disease peculiarly attending Inhabitants I shall here set down its method of Cure I have often and long observ'd that there are two and that very different kinds of that Flux usually call'd the Griping of the Guts which happens here almost yearly about Autumn In one of them the Stools are watry and in a manner cleer with a sudden failing of the strength in the other they are bloody but tolerable withal In the Year 1670. about the Autumnal Equinox a World of People here were seized with a most dangerous Flux though without Blood and joyn'd with a cruel Vomiting which presently caus'd great faintings and a total decay of strength For the Cure of this Disease no Evacuation did good nay Bleeding Vomiting and Purging always did hurt only Cordials and those of the hottest nature to wit such as abounded with Spirit and Sulphur or a Volatile Salt prov'd commonly of good effect insomuch that Brandy burnt a little with Sugar was a Popular and as it were Epidemick Remedy and in that sort of Flux was seldome given without success though in the other sort of Flux which carry'd Blood with it having been us'd without due regard it has often been found to be hurtful The method of Cure which I then took successfully enough with many and am wont still to take in the like case is after the following manner Take Venice Treacle from a Dram to a Dram and a half let the Patient take it in Bed and drink after it seven or eight spoonfuls of the following Julap and let him repeat this Dose every third fourth or fifth hour Take Mint-water Cinnamon-water hordeated of each three Ounces strong Cinnamon-water Plague-water Treacle-water of each two Ounces Powder of Pearls a Dram Sacchari Crystalin half an Ounce mingle them and make a Julap At the same time take a piece of Bread spread some Treacle on it and dip it in Sack or Red-wine warm'd and let it be apply'd to the Stomach as hot as it may be suffered and change it every now and then In the Evening if the Pulse and Breathing seem strong enough to bear it let the Patient take of Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty Grains in a draught of Plague-water Take Diascordium a Dram Liquid Laudanum half a Scruple Compound Powder of Crabs Claws a Scruple Cinnamon-water what suffices make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep To those to whom Treacle or Mithridate prove nauseous or disagreeing give a Dose of the following Powder or Spirit of Treacle every third hour with the Julap Take Compound Powder of Crabs Claws Roots of Contrayerva or Serpentaria Virgin of each a Dram Cinnamon Roots of Tormentil of each half a Dram Saffron Cochinele of each a Scruple make a Powder the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples Take Spiritus Theriacalis Armoniacus three Drams the Dose is a Scruple with the Julap every fourth hour or give that and the Doses of the Powder interchangeably one one time and the other the other After the same manner the Spirits of Harts-horne or of Soot may be given let the persons Drink be Ale or Beer with a Crust of Bread Mace add Cinnamon boil'd in it and sweeten'd or let it be Burnt-wine diluted with Mint-water let his Food be Chicken-broth Gruel or Panada with the shavings of Ivory Hartshorn
Heterogeneous Particles may be subdued and soon evaporate the Operation of a Narcotick intervening puts a stop to these endeavours of the Praecordia and consequently retards the Purification of the Blood and sometimes disappoints it As to other Excrementitious humours usually heap'd together in the Ventricle or the Intestines these also must be purg'd forth by Vomit or Seige before an Opiat be given For otherwise being there fixt they will stick more pertinaciously For the Fibres of those parts being stupified by the Medicine are not irritated as before nor do they readily set upon excretory Convulsions for expelling those drossy superfluities or perform it with any vigour Wherefore according to the ancient Precept If any thing be to be Evacuated let it be done before a Narcotick be given The Kinds and Prescripts of Opiats THe safest Narcotick and which is generally approv'd of by long experience is the Poppy and preparations of it Wherefore as often as we endeavour effectually and safely to provoke sleep the whole stress of the Medicine is Plac'd in Opium or Diacodium As to the Heads of white Poppies with the Seeds out of which Diacodium also Decoctions Emulsions and other Hypnotick Confections are made it plainly appears that these have much less of a Narcotick Sulphur in them than the concreted Juice of Opium and what they have of it is much more pure and innocent Wherefore we give oftner and with more safety Medicines made of these nor ought we to use Laudanum but when through the violence of Symptoms Diacodiats will not serve Again since these have in them less of virulency they do not want much preparation but either a simple Decoction or Infusion or Expression being made of them they may be apply'd to Physical use Now Opium is seldom prescrib'd simply and by it self but is wont to be corrected and compounded after a various and diversifyed manner of preparation that it may become a safe Anodine The wild Poppy has a certain Hypnotick vertue but much more mild and gentle than that other wherefore in certain cases it agrees excellently well and we may be more secure as to its use Of this a Syrup and a distill'd water is always ready prepar'd in Apothecaries Shops which in many continual Feavers are often given with good success and they are judg'd to have a certain specifical virtue in Curing the Pelurisy because they take away pains and by putting some stay to the Pulse abate the Feaverish boiling of the Blood Moreover a Tincture is made of its Flowers Infus'd in Brandy which is a famous Medicine amongst Empiricks and good Women and is averr'd to be good against Surfeits The reason of which effect seems to be that the Spirit of Wine frees the Contents of the Stomack from putrefaction and the Narcotick force of the Flowers prevents the Invasion of the Feaver I shall now set down certain Select Forms of Narcoticks which I shall also digest into certain Classes according as the Opiats have for their Basis either the Syrup or distill'd water of the wild Poppy or Diacodium or Laudanum Extractum or Liquidum or Pilul de Styrace or de Cynoglosso or lastly Philonium Take the water of wild Poppies and Cowslip water of each six Ounces Syrup of red Poppies two Ounces Sal Prunella half a Dram mix them Make a Julape the Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day in the Pleurisie Pains watching without a Feaver or any manifest Cause Take of Poppy water from four Ounces to six Let it be taken now and then by it self twice or thrice a day for the same intent Take Diacodium from half an Ounce to an Ounce Cowslip water three Ounces Treacle water three Ounces Make a Potion Take Carduus water three Ounces Diacodium half an Ounce Spirit of Hartshorn from half a Scruple to a Scruple Make a draught for procuring sleep and sweat Take Diascordium half a Dram Gascoins Powder a Scruple Diacodium two Drams mix them Let it be taken in a spoon Take Diacodium three Ounces Snail water an Ounce mix them It s proper in the Cough and Phthisick The Dose is a spoonful going to Rest and if need be take it again after Midnight Take London Laudanum a Grain Powder of Claws Compound from half a Scruple to a Scruple with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Clove-Gillyflowers Make three Pills to be taken going to Rest Take Laudanum a Grain Stomack Pills with Gumms half a Dram Make four Pills to be taken going to rest in the Colick Take Laudanum from a Grain to a Grain and a half Diascordium a Scruple Make a Bolus instead of Diascordium you may put the Confection of Alkermes or of Hyacinth Take Laudanum a Grain dissolve it in a spoonful of Treacle water add of Cowslip water two Ounces Make a draught Take of our Liquid Laudanum tartariz'd twenty Drops give it in a spoonful of Aqua Mirabilis or of Cinnamon water or of any other fit Vehicle It s proper in Colick Nephritick or Gouty pains Take Species of Hiera half a Dram of the foresaid Laudanum twenty drops Make four Pills let them be taken going to rest for Purging and easing pains of the Colick at the same time Take Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated from fifteen Drops to twenty Give it in a spoonful of small Cinnamon water for the Flux Take Conserve of red Roses an Ounce Venice Treacle Confection of Hyacinth of each two Drams Pulvis Pannonici Rubri a Dram Laudanum Cydoniated two Drams Syrup of Coral what suffices Make an Electuary the Dose is a Dram every fourth or fifth hour in a violent Bloody Flux with Gripes Take Pilul de Styrace from five Grains to six Lac Sulphuris half a Scruple Oyl of Anniseeds a Drop Balsam of Peru what suffices Make three Pills to be taken in the Cough Asthma c. Take Pilul de Cynoglosso from six Grains to eight Make two Pills to be taken going to rest for the same intents Take Philonium Romanum from one Scruple to two Conserve of Clove-Gillyflowers half a Dram mix them Make a Bolus to be taken going to rest It s proper for the Colick in a cold temperament I shall now say something concerning the Effects of the great Anti-Hypnotick Coffee Coffee though in some cases it be very profitable and Physical in others it is hurtful and unwholesome for we see that great Coffee-drinkers become lean and are very often subject to be Paralytick and grow impotent for generation Yet as to Affects of the Brain and the Genus Nervosum I very often prescribe this Drink for them For indeed in very many Cephalick Diseases and Infirmities viz. in Head-aches Giddiness the Lethargy Catarrhs and the like where with a full habit of Body and a cold temperament or one that is not hot and a watery Blood there is a moist Brain with a sluggishness and dullness of the Animal Spirits Coffee has often a very good effect for being daily drank it wonderfully clears and
which answering the Secondary Indication prescribes ripening and expectorating Medicines the Forms following are proper Take Linseed Oyl fresh drawn three Ounces Syrup of Violets two Ounces Hyssop water half a pound Mix them in a Glass take two or three Ounces thrice a day shaking the Glass first Take Olibanum powdred a Dram put it in an Apple made hollow and let it Roast in hot Embers Let it be eaten going to Bed and let the person do this three or four times Take Oyl of sweet Almonds fresh drawn Syrup of Maiden-hair of each an Ounce and a half Sugar Candy two Drams Bruise them in a Glass Mortar till they are throughly mixt Make a Linctus and take of it often with a stick of Licorice Take also a spoonful of it thrice a day in a draught of Posset-drink As to the rest the Remedies prescrib'd in a beginning Phthisick are good also here I shall now give you an example or two of Persons affected with a Peripneumonia Whilst I was writing these things I was call'd to one very ill of a Peripneumonia This Person being about Fifty Years of Age of a lean Body and a Bilious temperament upon taking Cold fell into a Feaver with a Cough a pain in his Brest and a difficulty of Breathing Having so lain ill four days without any Remedy or Physical Administration I found him in a high Feaver with a Thirst and mighty Inflammation of his Praecordia and fetching Breath with great Pain and difficulty his Thorax much labouring and being troubled with a wheezing in the Wind-pipe so that he seem'd manifestly in the very Agony of Death His Pulse though quick and troubled yet being strong enough I presently ordered eight or ten Ounces of Blood to be taken from him By which finding some ease after three hours intermission a Glyster being first Administred I ordered him to Bleed again to twelve Ounces Moreover I directed him to take twelve drops of Spirit of Hartshorn every sixth Hour with a proper Julape and betwixt whiles a Dose of the following Powder Take Powder of Crabs Eyes and Sal Prunella of each a Dram and a half Pearl a Dram Sugar Candy two Scruples Make a Powder divide it into eight parts He took also a Draught of a Pectoral Apozeme often at pleasure by the use of these things all the Symptoms began to abate within three days and the night following he sweated and slept a little The Day after he was Blooded again and afterwards the same Medicines being continued he perfectly recovered within four or five days The Blood taken from him was always in its surface viscous and ill coloured A Gentleman of a Sanguine Complexion and a strong habit of Body after immoderate drinking of Wine fell into a Feaver with a dangerous Peripneumonia so that thirst and heat very much pressing him and sitting upright always in his Bed or in his Chair and almost continually panting he had very much ado to draw in Air enough to support Life He being not able to lose much Blood at a time I drew Blood twice or thrice from him one day after another frequent Glysters were Administred Moreover Apozemes Julapes also Spirit of Sal Armoniack and Powders of Shells were given him by turns Within four or five days the Feaver abated somewhat and he began to breath better and to take now and then short sleeps though he complain'd still of a mighty heaviness upon his Breast and an intolerable oppression of his Lungs Wherefore bleeding being no longer safe I apply'd large Vesicatories to his Arms and Legs The Blisters in his Arms dry'd up in a short time but those on his Legs did not only continue open but ran mightily after five or six days and so for near a Month daily discharg'd a vast quantity of a most sharp humour In the mean time his Lungs grew better by little and little and at length were wholly freed of their incumberance Lastly The Blisters rais'd by the Vesicatories could very hardly be throughly Cur'd and not without frequent Purging CHAP. IV. Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of the Pleurisie THe Pleurisie is an Inflammation of the Pleura caus'd by a boiling Blood flowing into it through the Vertebral Arteries and there growing clammy with a continual and acute Feaver a pricking pain of the side a Cough and a difficulty of breathing When a Pleurisie commencing passes into a Peripneumonia or an Empyema or inclines to a Phthisick there is a proper method of Cure particularly set down in each of those Diseases for it But as to what concerns our present purpose Three Indications present themselves for a primary and simple Pleurisie viz. a Curatory Preservatory and Vital one The First Indication takes care that the Inflammation or Obstruction of the Blood in the Lungs be remov'd by all possible means as soon as may be Wherefore in a Pleurisie let a Vein be open'd and so the strength holds and the Pulse be strong let the Person bleed freely and truly it is much better to take a large quantity of Blood at first and every time after as often as there is need to repeat it than to Bleed often and to draw a a little at a time because a great many portions of the Blood grown clammy and degenerated into a viscous nature are gathered together about the part affected which unless withdrawn from thence upon a great emptying of the Vessels by a large emission of Blood so that the greatest part of them flow forth the bleeding will be frustrated of its desired affect It s all one in which Arm the Vein be open'd though it s now commonly done on the side affected But if by reason of the weakness of the Pulse and the failing of the Animal faculty you ought neither to Bleed at First nor to repeat it though the pain be very urgent then Cupping-Glasses with a Scarification being apply'd to the place griev'd may very well supply its place Moreover to take away the Inflammation of the Pleura besides an Evacuation of Blood by breathing a Vein freely or by Scarification its Serous and other Excrementitious humours must also be set upon and be gently purg'd forth of its Mass and from the Bowels by Siege Urine and Sweat Strong Purges are justly forbidden because they trouble the Blood and force it farther into the Places affected and Antimonial Vomits though approved by some are neither safe nor grounded upon reason Let Glysters be frequently or rather daily Administred nay and sometimes gentle Purges may be allow'd so the Feaver be not very great qualifying Julapes and Decoctions and things gently moving Sweat or Urine such as before prescrib'd for the Peripneumonia are also proper here Let all hot things of a sharp or smart nature whether they are Spices or things containing a Vinous Spirit be carefully avoided The Second Indication being for preservation and directed against the clamminess and effervescency of the Blood prescribes those Medicines which consisting of a Volatile
Phthisick For the Blood after the Vessells are emptyed as the Stomack when discharg'd Concocts and Assimilates all Humours that come into it better and more easily separates any Heterogeneous thing and sends it away But if the mixture of the Blood begins to be much dissolv'd or wholly to sink as in the Plague and Malignant Fevers we must utterly abstain from Bleeding for upon taking away of Blood the provision of the Spirits whose only business it is to preserve the Mass of Blood from Putrefaction and Corruption is diminisht So that all things presently tend to a pernicious Dissolution Moreover if the Discracy of the Blood be such that the more noble Principles viz. the Spirits Volatile Salt and Sulphur being deprest or spent the watery and earthy Particles have the Praedominancy the Blood must by no means be let forth but be preserv'd as the Treasure of Life Hence in a Dropsie Cachexia Consumption and other affects where the active Principles are mightily deprest you had as good cut a Mans Throat as open a Vein In the foresaid cases where the Crasis of the Blood is consider'd it 's easy to determine whether Bleeding be proper or not but in certain other cases as especially in a Putrid continual Fever when Life and Death depend on this point there is need of great Deliberation Now in this difficult case we must consider the State of the Blood the tendency of the Morbifick Matter and the strength of nature First as to the former if in a Putrid Fever the Blood boyling very much canses a mighty heat with Thirst Watchings and a parching heat of the Jaws and no free Sweat or Eruption of Pushes appears or is expected in any short time Bleeding is so plainly indicated that it were a crime to omit it But on the coutrary if in a weak Body a slow and remiss but continual Fever arises with a weak Pulse forbear taking away any Blood and let it be cleans'd by Transpiration Urine and Blistering In a middle State of the Blood let Bleeding being of it self indifferent be determined by other things Therefore in the second place we must consider the Tendency of the Morbifick matter or its Propension which matter if it lies dull in the Mass of Blood and unapt to separate and so as it frequently falls out a Translation of it to the head instead of a Crisis hapning it threatens the Brain and the Genus Nervosum Bleeding ought to be seasonably Administred for the prevention of these evils But if that matter mov'd with a sudden Impetus and either rushing inwards to the Viscera of the Belly causes a violent Vomiting or Flux or driven outwards brings forth the Small-pox Meazles or other Pushes every such Impetus of nature of good ought not to be disturb'd if evil must not be rendred worse by Phlebotomy For to let Blood in these cases is not only dangerous but very often also Extreamly Ignominious Thirdly concerning Bleeding in a doubtful case we must consider the strength of the Patient for in a sound Constitution a Vigorous Age the beginning of a Disease and whilst the Functions both Vital and Animal are in a vivid or indifferent State we may with confidence order Bleeding unless somthing indicates the contrary but when it is otherwise as to those conditions we must not inconsiderately proceed to that Evacuation Thirdly the disorderly Motions of the Blood viz. when being struck as it were with a Rage it either rushes violently or conveys offensive matter somtimes into one part somtimes into another it is excellently moderated or reduc'd by Phlebotomy wherefore for violent Head-aches all Convulsive or Sleepy Fits for Catarrhs Inflammations of the Eyes and for the Cough Asthma Fits of the Gout and of the Stone in the Kidneys or for Phlegmons Erisipela's and for many other affects caus'd by the Fluxions of the Blood or Serum Bleeding is commonly prescrib'd and that with good success for upon draining the Vessells the Blood getting a more free passage is Circulated calmly and undisturb'd Moreover whatsoever of this or of the Serum is extravasated is drunk up again and brought into its due course Having thus shewn you the effects both good and evil which happen to the Blood in its different State upon Breathing a Vein we must now enquire to what chief Diseases either of the whole Body or of some particular part that kind of Remedy had a most immediate regard to it And first as to general affects it 's well known that Bleeding is indicated by a hot and dry Distemper and forbidden by a cold and moist In every Fever it 's usually propos'd never in the Dropsie Next if we consider particular Diseases there is no region or part of the Body but some time may require it The Headaking the Brain opprest with Blood or Serum whence a world of evils spring the Inflammation of the Eyes Face Mouth and Throat all Diseases of the Brest and Praecordia to each of which the disorder of the Blood gives a Rise or affords Fuel also obstructions or inflam'd affects of the Liver Spleen and other Viscera so likewise both the overgreat fulness and athletick habit of the whole Body and the Tumours and Painful or Convulsive Passions of each particular Member seem to accuse the Blood as the Author of all the evil and require its Emission as it were by way of satistisfaction If at any time in these and may other affects Bleeding be manifestly indicated before we set upon it we must consider of these four things viz. in what place after what manner and by what instrument at what time and in what quantity the Blood ought to be let forth 1. As to the First though according to the Laws of the Circulation of the Blood there be little difference from what Vessel it be drawn so it be large enough yet because besides a general Evacuation of Blood somtimes a partial Derivation properly so call'd as when the Blood is to be drawn from some particular place where it is gatered together and likewise a Revulsion when it is to be withdrawn into this or that part are intended therefore in the Body of Man various limited precincts as it were are assign'd out of which Blood may be let according to occasion and for most necessary uses somtimes out of this somtimes out of that or the other If therefore at any time a general Evacuation of Blood be indicated the common or middle Vein of the Arm is best to be open'd for this being of a good largeness easily admits the Lancet and the Blood flows equally from the whole Body to its wide Orisice upon the free Emission of which not only the Plethorick Disposition is taken away but the greater Vessells being every where emptyed by this means the Bloood stagnating in any place is restor'd agin to Motion and if extravasated is drank up agin into the Veins Wherefore in great affects where the Blood gathered together in the Brain or about the
new stock of the same Disease biginning to spring forth grew up in a short time to its wonted Maturity Moreover when one of these persons would repeat this Medicine and another after two returns of the Di2ease would try it a third time both of them at length despair'd of Cure after they had underwent so much Misery Whence it appears that the French-pox though Malignant in the highest Nature and causing most Filthy and Virulent Ulcers consuming the Flesh and Bones may much more easily and ceratinly be Cur'd than the running Scab The reason of ti is that the cause of the Pox consists in a Malignant and altogether Heterogeneous Miasin defiling and as ti were Poysoning the Blood and Nervous Liquor for some time though not wholly subverting their Crasis or utterly depraving them for the future Wherefore that Cure is perform'd by Salivation or a Sweating Diet extirpating all that Venom the Genuine Disposition of the Blood and Humours then remaining But in a deep sort of running Scab the Elementary and Originally composong Particles of the Blood are corrupted so that unless the Crasis and due Disposition of these be restor'd all sorts of Evacuations and Purgings of the Malignant and Venemous matter though never so fll and eradicative will effect little or nothing Wherefore it is not without ground that many famous Physitians formerly have judg'd this Disease when coufirm'd and drawing near to a Leaprosie to be hardly or never Cur'd 2. No better event attends this Disease when if succeeds an inveterate Scurvy Haply the intentions of Curing are somewhat more certainly pitcht upon when this effect is suppos'd to be the basis or root of that viz. the Terapeutick intention being thence taken we insist chiefly on Antiscorbutick Remedies but yet the more smart and hotter things of this kind as Scurvy-grass Cresses Horse-raddish Pepperwort and other things irritating the Blood too much in regard they more dissolve its Crasis and drive the Tartarous Concretions more plentifully to the Skin are always found rather prejudicial than advantageous And for this reason the use of hot Baths or Bathing in hot waters which in regard it evacuates the Humours of the whole Body by a most plentiful Sweat and cleanses the Pores of the Skin and mightily purges them amy seem to be very available in this Disease most commonly is so far from doing good that the Eruptions are wont thence to be mightily encreast and exasperated For I have known many persons not very much over-gone with the running Scab who going to our Bath to bathe themselves in the hot waters have return'd thence perfectly Leaprous Wherefore when this affect is a Symptom arising from the Scurvy all Smart and Elastick things being avoided let only the more temperate and such as are endow'd with a Nitrous Vitriolick or Volatile Salt be administred We shall give you some kinds and froms of each of these sorts In the First p ace things chiefly excelling in a Nitrous Sal are Chrystal Mineral the Juices or Decoctions of certain Herbs and some Purging Mineral waters Take Chrystal Mineral or Nitre purified to the highest degree an Ounce Flowers of Sal Armoniack a Dram bruise them together in a Glass Mortar give to a Dram thrice or four times in the space of twenty four hours Take Leaves of the great House-leek two handfuls being bruis'd boil them in two Pounds and a half of fresh Milk till it turn to Whey and Curd being strain'd let the clear Liquour be taken to a Pound twice a Day Take Leaves of Dandelyon six handfuls being bruis'd put them in a Glaz'd Earthen Pot with a cover which put in an Oven after the Bread is draum and let it stand for six or eight hours then the Mass being put in a strainer let the clear Liquour run out the Dose of which is from four Ounces to six thrice or oftner in a Day Cucumbers being endow'd with a Nitrous quality are found by experience to be good against this Disease wherefore let store of them be often eaten as a Sallet Moreover let three or four of them being cut into slices be infus'd and close stopt in three Pounds of fountain water all Night to the clear Liquour pour'd off add of Sal Prunella two or three Drams the Dose is half a Pound thrice or oftener in a Day for the same purpose also Decoctions of the Leaves together with the Fruit made in fountain water are proper Some Mineral Purging waters as especially those of North-hal being resolv'd by Evaporation mainifestly shew the Nitrous Salt wherewith they are imbued And I have sometimes found by expericence that dayly drinking about two quarts of them for many Days Cures a small running Scab 2. But as I have hinted before Mineral waters endow'd with a Vitriolick Salt as those of the Spaw and ours of Tunbridge and Astrope far exceed those Nitrous waters nay and all other Medicines and are of greater efficacy in the Cure of the running Scab To those who have not the conveniency of using these waters I ordinarily give with good success against this Disease common waters impregnated with our Steel and so most exactly resembling those Mineral waters It happens that Tin and Antimony by reason of their Mineral Salts or at leastwise by reason of the Mercurial Particles in them are extol'd by many for curing the running Scab and are wont to be prescrib'd with other Medicines Let Shavings of Tin and Powder of Antimony be infus'd in Beer for ordinary Drink they enter also the Decoctions of Sarza with Woods which are ordered against this affect The use of the Viper and preparations of it sufficiently recommend the excellent Vertue of Volatile Salt for the Cure of the deep sort of running Scab nay of the Leaprosie it self For it being manifest by frequent observations that Remedies prepar'd of Vipers do good in the running Scab and Leaporfie certainly the reason of the help it affords ought to be ascrib'd to the Volatile Salt with a great plenty of which this Animal is endowed For the Particles of this destroy the fixt and acid Salts predominating in the Blood of the Diseas'd and dissolve their Combinations Nevertheless the Salt Spirit and Oyl of Vipers Chymically extracted by reason of their Empyreumatick and mighty Elastick Particles which they draw from the Fire are not proper in this Disease so neither the Spirit or Volatile Salt of Harts-born Soot or Blood and other such like Armoniacks because by exagitating the Blood and Humours above measure they cause their Crasis to be more dissolv'd and their Corruptions to be driven forth more plentifully to the Skin Wherefore the more simple preparations of Vipers as Broaths of their Flesh boil'd in water Drinks impregnated with Infusions or Incoctions of the same and Powders made of the same dryed and beaten are rpescrib'd with more success against this Disease Moreover not only the Flesh of Vipers but of other kinds of Oviaprous Snakes being boil'd and eaten for ordinary Food
beget Catarrhs the Dropsie the Jaundise Melancholy and many other Affects Now if that extraneous thing be seasonably removed the Blood even as the Wine being free from that Extraneous Mixture soon recovers its former Constitution But each of those Liquors being for some time infected with Heterogeneous Contents at length degenerates from its due Crasis and consequently is not easily restor'd Again both Wine and the Blood fall from their due Temper for many other causes 1. Concerning Wines we may observe that sometimes the same do not come to a ripeness but for want of a Pneumatosis because the Spirits and other active principles of Salt and Sulphur being involv'd in such as are more Gross cannot clear themselves remain wholly Crude Wherefore they do not become Spirituous but being of a Gross consistency and of an ingrateful savour degenerate into a Flat Wine without strength Even so the Blood sometimes the Spirit and Sulphur being deprest remains Crude and Watry also without vigour and unapt for a sprightly accension in the Heart such a disposition causes the longing Disease and an Hydropical Diathesis 2. The Sulphureous part of the Wine being exalted above the rest causes an Immoderate Effervescency or an ebullition in the Liquor we call it a Fretting of Wines In like manner the Sulphureous part of the Blood being too much exalted and consequently apt to Boyl and be kindled in the Heart too much brings a Feverish distemper and is really the cause of many continual Fevers 3. Often in Wine the Spirit becoming faint and the Sulphur being bound the Saline part is rais'd to a State of flowing and praedominates over the rest wherefore the Liquor passes into Vinegar from such an Acetous disposition of the Blood Melancholy is caus'd 4 It 's a vulgar observation in Wines that besides that they degenerate into a Flat Wine or into Vinegar the same sometimes upon the Spirits being deprest and the Salt and Sulphur's being together exalted become either Rank or Pendulous or Mucilaginous we call it Wines become over Fretted or become Ropy In both changes the Spirit being brought under the Sulphureous and Saline Particles are joyn'd together and are above the other Elements and bring the Crasis of the Liquor to their nature But the thing is not done in both wholly after the same manner for in the former dyscrasie of the Wine the Sulphur is a little above the Salt and in the latter the Salt is above the Sulphur Nay and either of them being in power and having thrown off the Dominion of the Spirit takes the other to it and raises it above its due state Now it 's probable that the Blood is altered after the like manner in the Scorbutick affect as Wines when upon being overheated become over Fretted or become Ropy and we may conclude the Dyscrasy of the Blood which is the Parent of the Scurvy to be two fold as that of Wine viz. Sulphureo-Saline and Salino-Sulphureous For there being a very great variety of affects which are accounted of as belonging to the Scurvy all of them may be aptly enough reduc't to these two as it were chief heads or as the two fountains of the evil viz. First that the Blood being touch't with a Scorbutick taint either is very hot as in which the Sulphur having gotten the Dominion takes the Salt to it wherefore being become rank it Boyls disorderly in the Vessels and discharges continually from it self adust Recrements viz. the concretions of the Salt and Sulphur and disperses them every way which being outwardly spread produce Spots Wheals Pushes or Ulcers But being inwardly depos'd cause Vomitings Cardialgias Diarrhaeas or Dysenteries and also violent pains In this kind of Scorbutick rankness of the Blood only temperate remedies and frequent Bleedings agree and not Scurvygrass horse Raddish and other things of a smart and instigating Nature After the same manner as overfretted Wines are Cur'd by Racking them from the Lees and likewise by pouring Milk Amylum Ichthiocolla and other Lenifying things to them Or Secondly in the Blood which Foments the Scurvy the Salt having got the Dominion takes to it self the Sulphur wherefore it is not so hot but like Ropy Wine becomes thick and Mucilaginous as it were is Circulated slowly in the Vessels and is apt to stuff the Vessels as it passes through them Furring them with a Muddy Filth Such as are so affected for the most part being without Pushes or Cutaneous Eruptions become Dull Pursy and enervated are troubled with a Spontaneous Lassitude a Straitness of the Breast nay and are found obnoxious to Passions of the heart Faintings of the Spirits to a Giddiness and Convulsions And in this kind of Scorbutick disposition Hot remedies and such as are endued with a Volatile Salt nay and Galybeates which Fuse and exagitate the Blood are wont to be most of use after the like manner as Ropy Wines are dealt with to wit they ought to be very much stirr'd and agitated and also quicklime burnt Allom Lime Plaister Sea Salt Calcin'd and other things of a very smart nature are put into them I shall now shew after what manner the seeds of that Disease are laid in the other general humour viz. the Nervous Juice About the beginnings of a Scurvy till the Crasis of the Blood and the Tone of the Brain are wholly vitiated that Subtle Liquor which passes in the Brain and Nerves and is distill'd from the Blood coming to the Brain both as the Matter and Vehicle of the Animal Spirits is yet Spirituous and Sweet and not very unapt for any offices it ought to perform but afterwards from the Mass of Blood become depauperated and very much Effaete a much thinner Latex and inclining to a Sourness is distill'd Moreover from the Dreggy and as it were Rank or Muddy Blood Heterogeneous Particles and such as are very injurious to the Animal Oeconomy are sent and are admitted without difficulty into the Brain which is become weak and thence are diffus'd into its appendix both Medullary and Nervous with the Juice which passes in them Hence follow the Fallings and Eclipses sometimes Distractions and Painful and Convulsive Explosions of the Animal Spirits that happen in each of the Regions Wherefore the Palsey Convulsions a Giddiness Pains Tremblings and other Praeternatural affects of the Brain and Genus Nervosum are wont to ensue upon a Scurvy when deeply rooted Mean while we may observe in general that the Scorbutick Taint fixt in the Nervous Juice Consists in these three things viz. In some one of them or in all of them together viz. that the Liquor lying in the Brain and Nerves becomes much more thin or poorer that it degenerates from its Spirituo-Saline Crasis towards a Sourness that it is stuff't with Heterogeneous and Morbifick Particles As to the Prognostick of the Scurvy let your judgment in this case be wary long suspended and not rash for many as it has occurr'd to our observation accounted for desperate have recovered
affect is wont commonly to be described after this manner to wit that whereas they ought to be transparent subtle and light in Melancholy they become obscure opake and darkish so that they represent the Images of things covered as it were with a Shadow or obscurity But I conceive the state of the animal Spirits in raving is most aptly explicated according to the Analogy they bear with certain chymical Spirits as it will appear from what follows 1. Liquours chymically distilled are of divers kinds according as the active Elements are combin'd in them after various manners the most excellent of these by the consent of all is said to be in which the Spirit united to the Salâ—â—olatizes it and is again acuated and recieves somewhat of a firmness from it of this nature are conceived to be the great Elixir and the Liquour Alkahest and in truth in some sort are the Spirits of Blood of Harts-horn of Soot and the like they being very subtle volatile and penetrating and yet not inflamable or apt to be soon dissipated And indeed the animal Spirits enjoying a sound and meet disposition seem in some sort to be as the spirituous Liquour filled with a volatile Salt which is distilled from the Blood unless it be that to this a mighty Acrimony and Empyeuma are caus'd by the Fire of which the Liquour which is in the Brain and Nerves is wholly free 2. Other Chymical Liquours are too sulphureous and burning as Spirit of Wine and of Turpentine which consisting of Spirit and Sulphur combin'd together are easily inflamed and readily separate from others and take this way and that as they find a Passage of which kind of nature the animal Spirits in some sort participate in the Phrensy 3. Some Liquours or Spirits are produc'd by Chymistry in which the fixt salt being raised to a flowing has the Dominion of which kind are those which are distilled from Vinegar ponderous Woods and certain Minerals by a gentle Fire whose particles are very movable and restless but of a shorter activity so that the effluvia do not flow far from them and if they are distilled in Baleno nothing but an insipid Phlegm is raised into the Alembick And indeed we conjecture that the animal Spirits have such a kind of acetous Nature with the dominion of the fluid Salt in melancholy Affects as we shall by and by shew more at large 4. Some Liquours spagyrically drawn are sometimes extreamly sharp in which the wild Particles of a fluid Salt and of an arsenical Sulphur combin'd together are exalted as are the Stygian Waters distilled from Nitre Vitriol Antimony Arsenick Verdigrease and the like all which are of a wild very penetrative and invincible Nature so that their diffuse themselves to a great wideness and these kinds of Liquours aptly enough resemble the Disposition of the animal Spirits acquir'd in a Mania as we shall declare beneath But at present that we may deliver the formal nature and Causes of Melancholy we may opine that the Liquour distilled from the Blood into the Brain which filling and irrigating all the Pores and Passages of the Brain and its nervous appendix is both the Vehicle and Vinculum of the animal Spirits has degenerated from its mild benign and subtle Nature into an acetous and corrosive Disposition such as that of the Liquours drawn from Vinegar Box and Vitriol and that the animal Spirits which dispersing their Rayes from the Meditullium of the Brain both into its globous Substance and into the Systema Nervosum produce all the Functions of Sense and Motion both inward and outward are disposed in like manner as the Effluvia passing from those acetous Chymical Liquours Concerning which we may observe these three things viz. First that they are in perpetual Motion secondly that they do not flow far thirdly that they are not only carryed by open Passages but make new prosities in neighbouring Bodies and insinuate themselves into them From the Analogy of these Conditions concerning the animal Spirits it happens that melancholy Persons are always thoughtful that they comprehend only a few things that they form their Notions concerning them amiss you may find this fuller explained in Dr. Willis at large So much of the primary melancholy Affect viz. a Delirium raised through the faults of the Spirits residing in the Brain whose beginnings tho cheifly and often in a manner only proceed from the acetous Disposition of the Spirits yet afterward the conformation of the Brain it self is frequently taken in as a part of the cause viz. In as much as the Recrements of the melancholy Blood continually sent into it renders its substance more gross and opake and the primary Tracts or Paths of the animal Spirits being almost defac'd new oblique and devious Tracts are made so that tho there be a supply of the better sort of Spirits they cannot easily irradiate the Brain or presently recover their former Passages Melancholy is not only an affect of the Brain and Spirits residing in it but likewise of the Praecordia and of the Blood there kindled and thence sent forth into the whole Body and as it produces in the former a Delirium so here a Fear and Sadness but after what manner let us now see In Sadness in the first place the flamy or vital part of the Soul is straitned as to its circuit and is restrained within a less space and then consequently the animalor lucid part of the Soul contracts its Sphere and has less vigour but in Fear both are suddenly represt and made to stagger as it were and to contain themselves within very small spaces in both affects the Blood does not circulate and burn lively and with a full flame but being apt to be heapt together and to stagnate about the Precordia it causes there an oppression or fainting and in the mean while the Head and Members being destitute of its plentiful efflux languish Now that those Passions become habitual in melancholy Persons the cause is partly in the Blood and partly in the animal Action of the Heart for the Blood by reason of saline Particles exalted becomes less inflamable whence it is neither sufficiently kindled in the Lungs nor does it burn within the Ductus's of the Heart and Vessels with a flame sufficiently clear and plentiful but such as is apt to be represt and almost blown out by any puff of Wind hence in regard the vital Flame is so slender and languishing that it staggers and trembles at all Motion it is no wonder if a melancholy Person the Soul as it were subfiding and being half overwhelmed is always sad and tlmorous By reason of this saline discrasie of the Blood melancholy Persons are seldom troubled with a Fever but being seised with it they are more dangerously ill by reason of the irregular burning of the Blood Nor does it happen less through the fault of the Heart that melancholy Persons by reason of the course of the Blood being retarded or
often begin the same on occasion or encrease them being begun 2. As to the Principles of which the mass of Blood consists in its mixture and what Proportion they have in it We do not allow of the Opinion of the Ancients That the Mass of Blood consists of the four Humours viz Blood Flegm Choler and Melancholy and that according to the Eminency of this or that Humour the divers Temperaments are form'd and that by reason of their fermentings or Exorbitances in a manner all Diseases arise nor has this Opinion been so generally used for solving the Phenomena of Diseases since the Circulation of the Blood and its other Affects before unknown came to light and since those Humours consist of other Principles viz. Choler of Salt and Sulphur with a mixture of Spirit and Water and Melancholy of the same with an addition of Earth and since the Blood is immediately composed of these kind of Principles and is wont to be sensibly resolved into them I have rather chosen omitting the vulgar Acceptation of the Humours to make use of these known Principles of the Chymists for explicating the nature and affects of the Blood therefore there are in the Blood as in all other Liquors apt to ferments a great deal of Water and Spirit a small Proportion of Salt and Sulphur and somewhat of Earth I shall briefly run over these Principles and endeavour to shew after what manner they constitute the Consistency Properties and Affects of the Blood 1. The Spirits which without Dispute have the first place are the subtle and most volatile part of the Blood their Particles being always expanded and endeavouring to fly away exagitate the grosser Corpuscles of the rest in which they are involv'd and keep them always in a motion of Fermentation by the Effervescence and even Expansion of these in the Vessels the liquor of the Blood continually boyls and the rest of the Principles are kept in an orderly Motion and in an exact Mixture if any thing that is heterogeneous or unapt for mixture comes into the Mass of Blood presently the Spirits being troubled in their Motion make an Effort exagitate the Blood and make it boyl vehemently till that which is extraneous and immiscible with it be either subdued or reduced or driven forth 2. From the Dissolution of Sulphur in the Blood it is likely that the ruddy Tincture of the Blood arises For sulphureous Bodies above all others give the highest saturated redness to a solving Menstruum and if at any time by reason of too much Crudity the Sulphur is not dissolv'd the Blood becomes pale and Watery that it scarce gives a redness to Linnen The mass of Blood impregnated with Sulphur together with Spirits is very fermentative and when the sulphureous part is raised and abounds too much in the Blood it perverts its Crasis from its due state that thereby the Blood being deprav'd or rendred bilous does not rightly concoct the nutritive Juice or being wholly inflamed falls into heats and burnings such as arise in a continual Fever For the Sulphur being too much exalted and growing more turgid than it ought raises mighty Effervescensies in the Blood and those whose Blood is plentifully impregnated with Sulphur are very obnoxious to Fevers by reason of the Particles of this incocted in the Nutritive Juice and thence applyed to the solid parts Fatness Softness and Tenderness happen to our Body 3. We discover Salt in the Blood by the Taste which is there highly volatiz'd by circulation and if at any time in the Blood by reason of an ill digestion the saline Particles are not duely exalted but continue crude and for the greatest part fixt thereby the Blood becomes thick and unapt for circulation so that obstructions are engendred in the Viscera and solid parts and serous Crudities are every where heapt together but if the Spirit being depress'd or fainting the Salt is exalted too much and comes to a flowing an acetous and austere disposition is brought on the Blood such as is observ'd in scorbutical Persons and in such as are troubled with a quartan Ague also from the Salt by this means variously coagulated the Gout Kings-evil the Nephritis the Leprosie and a great many Cronick Diseases arise When the Salt is exalted in a due measure the saline Particles restrain the wild efforts of the Spirits and especially of the Sulphur wherefore those who have the Blood well saturated with a volatile Salt are least subject to Fevers and so also those who are often let Blood are more apt to Fevers 4. By the earthy Particles in the Blood it s too great volatilisation is stay'd and it s over quick accension is hindred Moreover from the terrestrial Particles of the Blood and nutritive Juice the balk and increase happens to the Body 5. On the watery part of the Blood its fluidity depends for hereby its stagnation is hindred and the Blood is circulated in the Veins without growing thick also it s too great conflagration and adustion is qualified and its heat is allayed What we have said even now concerning the Principles of the Blood and the Affects to be drawn from thence will appear more clear if we consider a little the Blood according to its sensible Particles and compare it with the Liquours which are frequently in use among us Now those Liquours which have the greatest Analogy with the Blood are Wine and Milk as to its wayes of Fermentation and Effervescence it is most aptly compar'd to Wine as to its Consistency Coagulation and Separation of the parts from each other it is compar'd to Milk First therefore we may observe concerning Wine that as long as it is included in a Vessel its subtle and spirituous Parts continually exagitate and refringe the more gross and render them apt for an exact mixture that which is heterogeneous and unapt to be subdued is sever'd by effervescence mean while the depurated Liquour gently fermenting is in perpetual motion whereby all the parts expand themselves every way and pass by a constant circumgiration from the top to the bottom and again from the bottom to the top by the particular fretting and refraction a great many effluvia's of Attoms part from the Liquour which if they are kept in by a Vessel close stopt the Liquour ferments too much and often makes the Vessel flye in pieces So the Blood within the Veins is prest on by a constant circulation the vital Spirit subtilises refringes and presently subdues the grosser Particles drives forth that which is heterogeneous and immiscible mean while from the refraction and working of the Parts and Corpuscles the Effluvia of heat constantly flow forth and evaporate by the Pores upon the closing of which if transpiration be hindred presently by reason of the too great effervescence of the Blood a Fever is kindled Secondly we observe concerning Wines that they grow turgid if any thing that is extraneous and of a fermentative Nature be mixt with them nay that
on her Back in the Bed settling her self to sleep on a sudden she complained that the same Symptoms pervaded her whole Body together and presently upon it fell into a Delirium all the night without sleep howling and crying she talkt light-headed on the day following she lay with her Eyes open without Motion or Speech in the Evening again as the Fever increast the Diseased grew raving that she could scarce be kept in her Bed and so for three dayes sometimes she lay delirous orying and howling sometimes stupid as it were without Motion or Speech but still she was troubled with convulsive Motions about the Tendons of the Muscles on the tenth day she feteht her Breath deep and short with a weak and as it were formicating Pulse in the middle of the night she dyed A Learned Young Man of a thin habit and a pale Countenance in the beginning of the Spring not being conscious of any errour in Diet began to complain of a Lassitude and a Debility in walking also of a Drowsiness of his Head and a Sleepiness on the second day he was withall tormented with a Thirst a loss of Appetite and a burning of the Praecordia on the third day a Physician being called he took a Vomitory after which when he had thrice vomited and had voided five times by Seige hot and bilous Excrements he became somewhat more cheerful and the following Night slept indifferently well on the fourth day he bled a little at Nose afterward the Thirst and Heat were very much increas'd the Urine was ruddly with a copious Sediment and somewhat of an Hypostasis but because after signs of Concoction in the Urine there appear'd an effort of Nature opprest as it were for voiding something without a sufficient Evacuation therefore seven ounces of Blood were taken away and thereupon he seemed to be very much relieved Nevertheless in the Evening all things grew worse and thence forward for three dayes the Fever seemed still to be rendred more intense on the seventh day he complained of a great Drowsiuess in his Head and of a Dimness in his Eyes in the After-noon a very large Haemorrhagie happened that through the vast loss of Blood the strength of the Diseased was almost wholly spent and there was an extream need of physical aid for stopping the Blood for this purpose when Blooding in the Arm Ligatures Evithems applyed both to the Head and the lower part of the Belly and a great many other Remedies the instantancous occasion of Cure pressing for it prescribed by all Persons were tryed in Vain at length by the persuasion of a Woman being there by chance a red hot Iron was held to the Nose as it dropt and on a sudden upon the receiving of the Fume of the burnt Blood into the Nostrills its Flux was stopt I have known this Remedy used since in many others with good success by that copious Haemorhagy the contrinual Fever came to a Crisis tho an intermittent Quotidian followed it which afterward was soon cur'd according to the Merhod above delivered A Matron sixty years of Age lying a certain night in Sheets not well dryed began to be ill first she was affected with a suffocating Catarth that through the serous Mass of filth distilling on the Larynx she could soarce breath much less fleep the next day after she had a Nauseousness and a want of Appetite with somewhat of a Thirst and an Excess of Heat on the third day an acute Pain seized her fide with a Cough and an increase of the Fever the Urine was ruddy and clear with a laudable Hypostasis the Pulse was uneven and intermitting A Phyfician being called ten Ounces of Blood were taken away also on that day a Clyster being giv'n she purg'd freely about night the Pain vanish'd and she slept indifferently the Urine then was ruddy troubled and filled with Contents On the fourth day the Fever was somewhat more increast in the Evening the Cough was very troublesome being followed with an acute Pain in the same Side as before the Urine was again with an Hypostasis the Pain upon letting Blood again soon ceas'd On the fifth Day the Fever was somewhat more remiss yet the Night was restless with a Heat and a Tossing of the Body but without Pain the next Morning she sweated freely and was relieved afterward by a thin Diet used for some Days and being once pnrged she recovered without a Relapse It is worthy to be observ'd that the Pain pressing the Urine was clear and with an Hypostasis nor was it troubled by the Cold which nevertheless the same being appeased presently grew thick and more ruddy and fill'd with Contents A robust Young-man and well in Flesh about the Summer Solstice after immoderate Exercises and then a sudden Cold coming upon the Heat fell ill First he was affected with a loss of Appetite a Nauseousness a violent Pain of the Head also with a Thirst and a Heat more intense than usual On the second day an acute Pain in the Right-side with a Cough and a difficult Respiration seized him Blood presently being plentifully drawn from the Arm of the same Side that Pain somewhat remitted which nevertheless returned more violently in the Evening with a Cough and a spitting Blood the night past without sleep and very restless On the third day Blood was taken away again and moreover Liniments and Fomentations were applyed to the Side pained Antipleuritick Powders Juleps and Decoctions were inwardly taken about night the Pain in a manner wholly ceas'd presently after the Diseased was affected with a violent Head-ach and a Vertigo On the fourth day he bled two ounces of Blood at the Nose after which that Affect of the Head clearly ceased but in the Evening the Pain returned in the Side first affected with a greater Fierceness mean while the Pulse was low and weak that when it was consulted concerning letting Blood there was danger lest the dejected Strength would not admit of such a Remedy wherefore Blood being taken only in a small quantity it was prescribed that a Fomentation and Cataplasmes should be diligently applyed to the Side moreover that twenty Drops of Spirit of Harts-horn should be given in a Spoonful of a Cordial Julep and that the same should be still repeated every six Hours he sweated plentifully that Night and the Pain very much abated the Spittle was but little sprinkled with Blood which wholly ceas'd within a Day the Pain also vanishing by Degrees the Diseased took twice a day a Scruple of the same Spirit of Harts-horn and perfectly recovered within a few Days without a Relapse CHAP. XI Of the Malignant or Pestilential Fever in general BEsides the Continual Fever such as above describ'd and which arises by reason of some Principle in the Blood exalted too much and disproportionate with the rest there is another Species of it which is raised by reason of the Blood being tainted with some venemous Miasm and thereupon ready to incur
their Bodies which are very tender and by reason of the Labours of Child-birth and the Exclusion of the Foetus are all full of open Pores are too unwarily expos'd to the open Air for most being impatient of their Bed put on their Cloaths and rise from it within a day or two or sooner than they ought thereby presently the Pores of the Skin being presently stopt and the Air getting into the Uterine Parts tanspiration is check'd and often the Lochia are suddenly stop'd either of which suffices to raise a feverish effervescence The conjunct Cause or formal Reason of this Distemper comprehends chiefly these three things to wit there are present first a mighty Dyscrasie of the Blood that growing very hot from a Fever occasionally rais'd it does not burn evenly nor does is subdue by degreeds the adust Recrements and purge them forth critically moreover the boyling Blood is presently loos'ned in its Mixture and its Texture being loos'ned it declines toward Corruption hence when it has a little abated of its Heat the Spirits being cast from their Governance are driv'n into Confusion mean while the sulphureous Particles become masterless and exorbitant wherefore the Strength fails without a manifest Cause the Pulse becomes weak and disorderly Tho from the Deflagration of the Blood a great many adust Recrements are heap'd together yet nothing is duely concocted or separated but Nature being greatlyopprest altho the Diseased continually sweat they often receive no ease thereby but the Febrile Matter which ought to be purged forth being conveyed into the Head and Genus Nervosum causes there very sore Perturbations of the animal oeconomy Secondly The Tragedy of this Disease for a good part of it is ascribed to the nervous Juyce forthwith turning sharp and therefore rendred disproportionate to the Brain and its Appendix for this being defiled with a Taint contracted from the Blood does not gently irrigate and mildly inspire its Subjects but as when an Infusion of Vitriol is pour'd on a Worm mightily vellicates and irrtates into Contrqactions and as it were into Motions of Trepidatons and Leapings those tender Parts and sometimes wholly overthrows their Functions hence Contractions severe Convulsions a Delirium Watchings sometimes a Stupor and sleepy Affects happen to Women after Delivery Ihirdly whilst these things are done often a third Troop of Symptoms infest the Diseased to wit for that the Womb being some way hurt moves it self disorderly and is struck with a Contraction in these or those Parts thence presently by the Membranes nad nervous Ductus's convulsive Motions pervade the whole Region of the Abdomen wherefore the Viscera and Hypochondres are blowen up Belchings and violent Vomitings are raised afterward the Affect creeping upward and possessing the nervous Parts of the Thorax a difficult and uneven Breathing a Palpitation of the Heart a sense of Choaking in the Throat by reaon of the Muscles there drawn together and other Symptoms are raised throughout the whole upon the same Injuries being communicated to the Brain The Fevers of Women afte Delivery are scarce ever free from danger tho sometimes it happens for them to be cur'd about the first beginnings by a thin Diet and upon restoring the flowing of the Lochia but if the feverish Distemper has laid deep Roots that the Blood be wholly kindled and boyls immoderately we can give but an ill Prognostick and there will be a greater Cause of Danger if besides a Heat diffus'd through the whole the Diseased are seised with a frequent Shivering if they are affected with a great Restlessness and Watchings with sudden Concussions of their Bodies or Contractions of the Tendons if on the third or fourth Day they complain of a ringing of the Ears with a great Repletion of the Head you may presently gather that a great Evil is at hand to wit a Mertastasis of the febrile and offensive Matter into the Brain nor is less to be feared if there lyes an Oppression and Load on the Praecordia that the Diseased cannot freely breath nor draw their Breath deep nor form the bottom of the Thorax but only from the upper part of it and that short and with a Blowing so that in the mean while the Diseased are forc'd to fit upright and to move themselves this way and that after a restless manner for this argues the Blood to stagnate about the Heart and Lungs also that it is apt to grow clotty and to be coagulated and if worse yet Affects of the Brain and Genus Nervosum ensue and the Pulse becomes weak and uneven you may declare the Case to be desperate but if as if sometimes falls out tho rarely after a Fever is kindled and threatens severely either a flowing of the Lochia or a Diarrhoea happens with Relief some Hope may be admitted Concerning the Cures of these kinds of Fevers a Physician has a very hard Task because among the Vulgar all Medicines to Women in Child-bed are accounted not only useless but likewise very hurtful wherefore Physicians are selfom called but when there is no place left for Medicines and the occasion for a useful Assitstance is wholly past and if they are present about the first beginnings of the Disease it will not be an easie thing to procure Health to the Diseased by vulgar Remedies and whatsoever they try unless it gives Help is affirmed by old Women and those that are about them as pernicious and the only Cause of their Death that in reality there is wont to accrue to us about the Cure of no Disease less benefit and more Disgrace than of this Now the method of Cure even as in contagious Diseases is twofold to wit Prophylactick and Therapeutick the former of these delivers Precepts and Cautions with which Women in Child-bed are preserved from the Incursion of Fevers the other suggests curative Intentions with which the Diseased if it may be recover again their Health 1. Tho this Fever however malignant it be is not accus'd of Contagion and there be no fear in those that lye in of a venemous Miasm being received from without nevertheless all Women in Child-bed have an innate Minera of Virulency and ought to have a care of the mischief of this as a Fomes of a mighty Malignity wherefore they have need of an exact Governance that after Child-birth the Impurities of the Blood and Humours may be duely purg'd without the danger of a Fever and that the evil Affects of the Womb be healed and that the Strength broken and debilitated by Child-birth may be duely restored For these ends these three things are to be chiefly inculcated in the Praescripts of Physicians First I think it necessary that a most exact form of Diet be ordered Women in Child-bed to wit that at least for a Week they wholly feed on Oat Broths sometimes prepar'd with Ale sometimes of Water mixed with White-wine because they are much emptied therefore they may sup often of them but let nothing of a solid or strong Food
viz. such as are prepared of Tartar Sulphur the fixt Salts of Herbs of burnt Harts-horn also of the Claws or Eyes of Crabs For Example Take Cream of Tartar three drams Salt of Wormwood a dram and half the Dose is half a dram in an aperient Decoction twice a day out of the Fit Or Take Cream of Tartar two drams Powder of Crabs-eyes a dram Nitre purified half a dram mix them let it be giv'n after the same manner Or Take burnt Harts-horn two drams Spirit of Vitriol as much as the Powder will receive by imbibing the dose is a Scruple It is of excellent use when those that are in the Fever are troubled with Worms These kinds of Remedies promote the Secretion of the febrile Matter and restore the almost lost Ferments of the Blood and Viscera The second Intent to wit the due Management of the Diseas'd in the Fits comprehends many things first a neat Form of Dyet ought to be ordered that a large heaping together of the degenerate Juyce for a Matter for the Fit may be hindred wherefore let the Diseased feed only on a thin Food let them wholly abstain from Flesh or Broth made of it from Eggs generous Wine and all rich Fare being content only with Barley or Oat Broths Panada Whey and small Ale in regard a more plentiful Dyet is not concocted or assimilated but it oppresses the Stomach and being mixt with the Blood it troubles its Liquour and forces it to boyl vehemently as the Fit comes on and during the while it lasts unless it be for quenching Thirst let no Food be taken but for qualifying the Heat and Drought cooling Juleps and Decoctions and especially small Ale and Whey ought to be allowed Secondly a little before the feverish Access is expected let a gentle Medicine be given which either may keep off the Fit by preventing it or may render it easie by procuring an easie Sweat For this Use the febrifuge Potion of the Learned Riverius does well made of Carduus Water with Oyl of Sulphur and Salt of Wormwood Or take Cream of Tartar Salt of Wormwood Nettle Seeds of each a Scruple let it be given in a Decoction of the Roots of Sorrel When the Fever begins to decline and the Fits are a little more remiss Febrifuge Epithemes outwardly apply'd often stop the febrile Accesses tho in the mean while as long as the Fits return let the Diseased be so managed that every Access the feverish Matter heap'd together in the Blood may be wholly blown off wherefore when a Sweat happens with difficulty let it be a little raised with temperate Medicines also let the Diseas'd be kept in Bed with a gentle Sweat for many hours nor let them be permitted to rise too soon for I have often observ'd that the Diseased have still grown worse because being impatient of lying in Bed they put on their Cloaths before the watery Effluvia were exhal'd enough Thirdly as to the Symptoms and particular Accidents with which the Diseased are wont to be troubled in this Fever a great many of them are sufficiently provided against with the Remedies and Method of Cure hitherto deliver'd against the Thirst Burning the Roughness of the Mouth and Tongue Vomitings the Loosness a Swooning or danger of Fainting the Prescripts commonly used in other Fevers may aptly enough be transferr'd hither But the Things which in this Disease seem to require a peculiar Method of Healing are chiefly the Affects of the Head and Brain with the Genus Nervosum by which unless seasonably obviated the Diseased are soon brought into a great danger of Life Concerning these kinds of Evils of the Head the Indications are of two kinds If it appears by a Drowsiness a Sleepiness a Vertigo or a Head-ach that the nervous Juyce is too dull and as it were vapid and therefore that it does not vigorously enough actuate the Brain and nervous Bodies besides the Remedies above deliver'd and especially the Vesicatories Medicines full of a volatile Salt excellently conduce in this Case wherefore Spirit of Harts-horn of Blood also the Salts of the same are of excellent Use but if the nervous Liquor be too sharp or the Effluvia sent from the boyling Blood drive the Animal Spirits into Distractions those kinds of Remedies of volatile Salt are given with benefit in somewhat a less quantity Moreover a frequent Letting Blood and Medicines allaying its fervour do good as Emulsions Whey pure Water plentifully drank let Opiates be used in this Fever with great Caution for the Frenzy appeas'd by them is oftentimes chang'd into a Lethargy or a deep Stupor FINIS THE TABLE A. AChes in the Head see Headach Ach in the Belly see Belly Aches or Pains in the Limbs hapning by Night their cure p. 361. Ague see Fever Alexipharmicks see Cordials Anasarca its Description p. 167. Whence it proceeds ibid. The least dangerous of Dropsies ibid. The two chief Scopes of curing it ibid. Hydragogue Medicines of good use in curing it p. 168. How Catharticks work in this Disease ibid. Lixivial Medicines the best Diureticks in this Disease p. 169. Some Praescripts of them ib. Diaphoreticks of use when the swelling begins to abate p. 170. A Praescript of them ib. p. 171. Outward Administrations to be used in this Disease ib. p. 172 173. Medicines for Preservation against this Disease p. 174 175. An Instance of a Person falling into this Disease and recover'd of it p. 176. Antidotes see Cordials Apoplexy where seated p. 420. What the Word Apoplexy imports p. 421. Two kinds of it ib. The various Invasions of the Apoplexy and the causes of them ib. p. 422. The Subject of this Disease ib. Its Prognosticks ib. p. 423. The Therapeutick Method for removing the Fit ib. p. 424. The prophylactick or preservatory method with Praescripts of Medicines p. 425 426. Instances of Persons seis'd with the Apoplexy ib. p. 427. Ascites its Description and whence it proceeds p. 150. what to be considered in order to its Cure ib. Catharticks often do well in it p. 151. An Enumeration of hydragogue Emeticks and Purgers and Prescripts of them ib. p. 152 153 154 155. Diureticks when proper in an Ascites ib. p. 156. What Diureticks proper ib. Diaphoreticks of little or no use in an Ascites p. 157. The best Remedies when we will not proceed to an Incision are Clysters and Plaisters ib. An Incision in whom to be admitted p. 158. An Instance of a Woman cur'd of an Ascites ib. p. 159. Asthma or difficulty of Breathing its description p. 126. Two primary Indications in the method of Cure ib. What to be done in the Fit ib. p. 127 128. What to be done out of the Fit for Preservation ib. p. 129 130 131. Two Instances of Persons troubled with the Asthma and the Methods used with them ib. p. 232. Asthma Convulsive see Cough Asthmatick Fits hapning in the Scurvey their Cure p. 353 354. Atrophia Scorbutick its Cure p. 363 364. B. BElly-ach in the
began to nauseate him I prescrib'd after the following manner Take Powders of Tormentil Roots of Contrayerva Bole Armenick Alexiteriated of each a Dram Pearl Red Coral prepar'd White Amber of each half a Dram make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram in the following distill'd water Take Tops of Cypress and Myrtle of each four handfuls Leaves of Meadow-sweet Burnet St. Johns-wort Avens of each four handfuls Roots of Tormentil Bistort of each six Drams Red Rose-flowers four handfuls Kermes Berries four Ounces Cinnamon Mace of each one Ounce Being all slic'd and bruis'd together pour to them Red Florence Wine and Red Rose water of each four pounds distil all in a common Still let the whole Liquor be mingled and sweetned with Syrup of Coral He took also three or four times a day of the following decoction three or four Ounces Take Roots of Avens and Scorzonera of each an Ounce of Tormentil two Drams Hartshorn burnt and powdred six Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams Tops of St. Johns-wort a handful Flowers of Red Roses and Balaustiae of each a pugil Boil all in three pounds of fountain water till it comes to two adding towards the end of the boiling of Red Lisbon wine four Ounces let it boil close cover'd for an hour then let it be strain'd through Hippocrates Sleeve Every night he took a Scruple of Liquid Laudanum in three Ounces of the Bloody Flux water ev'n now describ'd with three Drams of Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers in it His common drink was a decoction of burnt Hartshorn with Barley a Crust of Bread Mace and Cinnamon to a Pint and a half of which a Pint of new Milk was added He took the Purging Infusion a second time by the use of which and the things before mentioned within ten days the Feaver left him and the Flux became much more gentle which though without Gripes or much Blood yet still continued with the little pieces of Flesh the fragments of Membranes and a bloody Phlegm or Gelly which daily came from him Therefore to strengthen and heat the intestines the following things were given Take Tops of St. Johns wort Leaves of Perwincle and Mousear of each a handful Red Rose Flowers two pugils Boil them in the Broath of a Sheeps Guts To a pound of the Liquor strain'd add Oyl of St. Johns-wort two Ounces Honey of Roses an Ounce and a half mingle them for two Glysters whereof one was given him in the Morning the other at five a Clock in the Afternoon He wore Emplast de minio Paracelsi upon him Belly He took moreover twice a day three Ounces of Juice of Plantain wrung forth with water of Scordium and Plague water He eat also every day a Quince made hollow and fill'd with the Powders of Olibanum Mastick and Balsam of Tolu and so rosted in the Embers By the constant use of these Remedies he grew perfectly well within a Month. About the same time another robust young man fell into a dreadful Bloody Flux from the first day he was seiz'd frequent stools and very bloody presently brake forth with violence being accompanied with a Pain and Gripes Moreover a strong Feaver with a cruel Vomiting Thirst and Wakings molested him These Symptoms being a little mitigated with Opiats a Delirium and a Vertigo with an intermittent Pulse and horrible extensions and contractions of his Limbs presently seiz'd him this hapning because the malignant matter which was inwardly restrain'd presently flow'd into the Brain and Nerves Nevertheless as often as the Looseness and Vomiting return'd these affects were presently appeas'd On the fifth day Vomiting up a bloody matter he complain'd of a great torture in his Stomach and of a Pain as though it were Ulcerated and in truth I suspected that there might be a beginning of some Inflam'd Blisters or Ulcers in it as it usually happens in the Intestines but by giving him Emollient Broths with Milk in them his Vomiting and the tortures of his Stomach soon ceased his Flux in the mean time encreasing He took that night of Diacodium an Ounce Cowslip water and small Cinnamon water of each an Ounce and a half by which Medicine he was so much reliev'd that in twenty four hours space his Vomiting and Pains left him and he was only troubled with a few Stools and having a good indifferent Pulse and frequent Sleeps he was pretty well yet the following night though he took again the same Opiate his Flux return'd and that with very frequent Stools and bloody as before The next day after he took an Infusion of Rhubarb with Mirobalans Red Saunders and Cinnamon He often voided Bilous and very sharp Excrements but without the least of Blood then in the Evening he took Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty five Grains in a good spoonful of Cinnamon water hordeated he had moderate and quiet Sleeps Afterwards loathing any more Medicines he took only an Opiate every Evening sometimes of one sort and sometimes of another and in a short time grew very well CHAP. V. Instructions concerning Diuretick Medicines or such as work by Vrine with Diuretick Prescripts THe chief Scopes or ends of Diuretick Medicines are as follows First If at any time the Blood becomes so compact and tenacious from a fixt Salt Sulphur and Earth fermented together and mutually combin'd in it that the Watery Particles do not easily separate from the rest Diureticks fit to loosen its Texture and to fuse the Serum must be such as excel in a volatile or acid Salt for such Particles chiefly dissolve any coalitions caus'd by a fixt Salt But in regard this disposition is common both to a Feaver and the Scurvy in the former affect the most proper Diureticks are the temperate Acids of Vegetables also Sal Nitre the Spirits of Sea-Salt of Vitriol c. And likewise such as have a Volatile Salt as the Spirits of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack Salt of Amber of Vipers and others of this kind which we have also rang'd amongst Diaphoreticks In a Scorbutick disposition when the Urine is but in a small quantity and thick the Juices of Herbs and preparations both of a sharp or tart and acid nature are of excellent use also Salt and Spirit of Vrine of Sal Armoniack of Tartar c. Secondly Sometimes the Blood does not retain the Serum long enough within its Body but either being obnoxious to Fluxions or rather Coagulations it deposes it here and there in a great abundance even more than enough whence it breeds Catarrhs or Tumours in many places Or the Blood being become of a weak habit and withal of a depraved constitution to wit inclining to a sourness its apt to coagulate as to its more gross Particles so that the more subtle Particles being every where thrown off in circulating and falling on the weaker parts cause sometimes distempers of the Head or Breast sometimes an Ascites or Anasarca And we shall hereafter shew how a Diabetes happens from
parts Let one be taken in a convenient Liquor thrice a day Take Sal Prunella two Drams Salt of Amber a Dram Make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day Take Sal Prunella Crabs Eyes Salt of Wormwood of each two Drams Mix them the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day It s also well known that Powders of Shells and of certain Stones containing an Alchalisate or Petrifying Salt sometimes promote an evacuation by Urine For Powders of Egg-shells of the Claws and Eyes of Crabs have been to some a present Remedy in great suppressions of Urine and if we enquire into their manner and way of working we shall soon find that these Medicines do not fuse the Blood nor sensibly precipitate it wherefore it must be said that these things in a fourish Dicrasie of the Blood and Humours sometimes prove Diuretick inasmuch as closing with the Acid Salts they bind them and keep them under so that the Blood being free from fluxions and coagulations drinks up again the extravasated Serum and conveys it to the Reins Prescripts of Diureticks that have an Alchalisate Salt for their Basis TAke Powder of Egg-shells from half a Dram to a Dram Give it in a draught of Whitewine or of Posset drink or of a Diuretick decoction twice a day Take Powder of Crabs Claws or of Crabs Eyes two Drams Salt of Amber Sal Nitre of each a Dram Nutmegs half a Dram Make a Powder the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples in a fit Vehicle Or let the said Powder be mixt with as much Venice Turpentine as will suffice and make it into small Pills The Dose is three or four Evening and Morning Not only Saline but likewise some Sulphureous and Spirituous substances justly take place amongst Diureticks these often producing the like effect Many substances of the Larix Tree as chiefly Turpentine and things prepar'd from them the Oyls drawn by distillation from Juniper Nutmegs Wax and other Pinguous substances taken inwardly move in many persons a large Evacuation by Urine and this carrying a smell like Violets I have known that in some Hydropical and Scorbutical Persons Brandy and Strong waters nay and strong Wine freely drank have caus'd a Purging by Urine The reason of all which is that when the Blood being weak or turning sour or what for want of fermentation or through the predominancy of an Acid and Coagulative Salt in it has not so sprightly and continued a Circulation that it can contain the superfluous Serum within it self till it delivers it to the Reins The afovesaid Remedies forasmuch as they preserve the mixture of the Blood entire or restore it when faultering conduce to the promoting of that evacuation by Urine Take Ivy Berrys Juniper Berrys Laurel Berrys fresh gather'd of each half a pound wild Carrot-seeds four Ounces Nutmegs two Ounces all of them being bruis'd together put to them in a Glass Retort of Venice Turpentine one pound Rectified spirit of Wine four pounds distill all in a sand Furnace with a moderate heat till it grows dry carefully avoiding an Epyreuma and you will have a spirit and a yellow Oyl both of them egregiously Diuretick The Dose of the Spirit is from a Dram to two or three Drams of the Oyl from half a Scruple to a Scruple in a fit Vehicle To the remaining faeces in the Retort pour Tincture of Salt of Tartar one pound let them digest for many days close luted in the sand Furnace that a red Tincture may be drawn from it The Dose of which is from a Scruple to two Scruples or a Dram in a fit Vehicle Take Millepedes prepar'd three Drams Nutmegs one Dram being bruis'd pour to them the purest Spirit of Turpentine and Tincture of Salt of Tartar of each six Ounces distill it with a gentle Bath heat and you will have a Spirit Oyl and deliquium of Salt of Tartar each of them notably endow'd with a Diuretick force CHAP. VI. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing too much Purging by Vrine and particularly the Diabetes or Pissing Evil. IN a Diabetes as in most other affects there are three Primary Therapeutick Indications viz. Curatory Preservatory and Vital The first of these regarding the Disease and attempting to stay the too great Effusion of Urine cannot be accomplish'd without the second which aiming at the cause of the Disease endeavours to preserve and restore the mixture and due Crasis of the Blood Wherefore as to the Cure of this Disease the chief intentions of healing must be to keep the Blood from fusion and in case that happens to take it away First the fusion of the Blood is prevented so its gross and aqueous parts reciprocally contain each other and do not readily and abruptly sever themselves which thing is effected by Incrassatives commonly so called whose viscous and glutinous Corpuscles being admitted into the Mass of Blood strongly adhere to its Active Particles and so part them from each other and hinder them from mutually combining betwixt themselves or with Saline Particles coming from elsewhere as might otherwise happen through fluxions In this respect Rice Amylum Mucilaginous Vegetables also Gumms and some Rosins are wont to give relief in this Disease Secondly To restore the Blood after fusion those sorts of Remedies are indicated which dissolve the concretions of Salts so that all the Elementary Particles in it coming again to be at liberty recover their former places and so restore the Crasis of the Blood to its first vigour Now it s well known that this effect is produc'd in coagulated Milk by the addition of a fixt volatile or a nitrous Salt to it also by the infusion of Spirit of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack and the like The reason of which doubtless is that whilst the Salino-fixt volatile or nitrous Particles being in a sufficient quantity put into the Milk meet with the Acid or Precipitatory Particles and are combin'd with them the other Saline Particles which before were bound being now freed and diffus'd through the Mass of the Liquor loosen the Sulphureous and Earthy Parts combin'd betwixt themselves and disperse them every way so that all the Particles being again equally mixt mutually contain themselves and are contain'd yet because Saline Medicaments are accounted by many to be always Diuretick We do not give them lightly or without consideration for the Cure of a Diabetes though in this Disease I have prescrib'd the Tincture of Antimony with good success And a water of the Solution of quick Lime with the Raspings of Sassafras Aniseeds Raisins and Liquorish according to the vulgar Receipt is highly commended by some The Vital Indication is made good in this Distemper by a thickning and gently cooling Diet and by temperate Cordials and chiefly by apposite and seasonable Hypnoticks A Nobleman in the vigour of his Age became very prone to an excess of Pissing and when for many Months he had been us'd at times to undergo this great Flux of Urine
Crystal Mineral two Drams Salt of Amber a Dram Salt of Hartshorn a Scruple Mix them the Dose is from fifteen Grains to twenty twice a day with the distill'd water Of the intermitting Pulse and its Cure AMong the Passions of the Heart the intermitting Pulse may justly be numbred because in this affect or at least in some kind of it the Heart it self labours though in somewhat a different manner than in its panting or trembling for in these it is ill dispos'd and irregular as to its motion but in that as to its rest this being sometimes twice longer than it uses to be in its ordinary course This intermitting Pulse or over-long Cessation of Motion in the Heart does not proceed from the mixture or Crasis of the Blood but only from the irregular dispensation of the Animal Spirits from the Cerebellum into the Nerves that pass to the Heart and thence into its Tendons which irregularity happens because those Nerves are somewhat obstructed Although this Affect being very often without present hurt or danger does not require an over-hasty Cure yet for preservation sake lest some great Diseases follow it Remedies and a method of Cure ought to be used at least for the whole remainder of the Persons Life let him keep to a Diet well ordered in all respects Moreover let some gentle Course of Physick be prescrib'd him to be constantly observ'd Spring and Fall viz. That all the Seminal Roots of Diseases founded in the Brain or apt to be there engendred may be taken away as much as may be for this end we here direct you to the Prophylactick method with the Medicines prescrib'd by us elsewhere against the Fits of the Apoplexy CHAP. XI Instructions concerning Opiats or Medicines that cause Sleep with their good and ill Effects together with Prescripts of them OPiats exert their Force not by raising vapours to the Head nor by opening the Pores of the Brain for any vapours or other Soporiferous matter to be admitted into it but only by destroying some of the Animal Spirits so that the residue being in a consternation or forc'd inward or at least called back from their wonted Emanation into the nervous parts quit their office or in some measure remit of it The Narcotick force of Opiats consists in this that as the Animal Spirits are most subtile Corpuscles compos'd of Spirit and a volatile Salt united together and exalted to a very high pitch so Opiats on the contrary consist of a fetid Sulphur that is of a Sulphur together combin'd with a fixt Salt and an Earthy matter and carried up to a most high degree in like manner Which sort of Concrets are well known to be so contrary to the subtile Texture of the Animal Spirits that sometimes they put them to flights or subvert them at a distance by meer Effluvia's which are very hardly or indeed not at all perceivable by the smell Opiats given in a small quantity chiefly and in a manner only regard those Spirits to which the particular charge of natural and ordinary sleep is committed the rest being either untouch'd or little letted by them Wherefore after a Dose of Laudanum is taken both the inward and outward senses are bound but the Pulse Respiration also the functions of Concoction and Separation are continued after their usual manner and after some time the Spirits of the first employ return to their wonted Post But if an Opiat be stronger than it ought it extends its Force father into the Province of the Animal government so that an over-great Dose of it being taken the Appetite for the most part is dull'd Respiration is much streightn'd and rendred not only difficult but likewise uneven or interrupted and sometimes also the motion of the Heart is so far debilitated that the Pulse presently grows weaker with a cold Sweat a deadness and an Eclipse as it were of all the faculties so that a perpetual sleep sometimes follows this Medicine The good Effects of Opiats FIrst then Opiats are most properly and necessarily Indicated in case of want of sleep for then being seasonably and duly Administred they give a refreshing repose Secondly In Delirous affects Opiats are given with good effect though sometimes they rather do hurt than good as we shall shew hereafter because the Spirits being then mov'd with too much eagerness within the Brain and as it were struck with a rage and passing their wonted bounds the Opiats repress them and make them quietly retreat into their former stations Thirdly Opium is accounted of most excellent use for appeasing all sorts of Pains For since Pain cannot be caus'd or continued but a great plenty of Spirits must always abound in the part affected in case the Nerves are so clos'd that the passing of the Spirits to the place griev'd be hindred or much diminish'd which Opium effects it follows of necessity that the Pain must cease For the Particles of this Medicine besetting the extream parts of the Brain do not only quell the forlorn Spirits in its outmost part but likewise strongly suppress them in their Original source within the Brain and in the midst of the Cerebellum and consequently hinder their Emanations from thence into the Genus Nervosum so that during the Energy of the Opium they are sent more sparingly and thinly into the Precordia and Viscera nay and into all other parts Hence the Pulse and Breathing remit of their vehemency and frequency many times also all the Members and Limbs are seiz'd with a Languor and Lassitude Moreover hence the Viscera before irritated into Convulsions either tending to Excretions as by Vomit or seige or causing Pain as in the Colick or Stone depose their disorders Again the good effect of Narcoticks is notoriously known in the Cure of the Scorbutick Colick In Pains of the Gout they also do excellently well and so in the Pain of the Stone in the Bladder which Disease when it cruelly torments Old Men and cannot be Cur'd by Cutting admits no ease from any other Remedy but from Narcoticks Wherefore in this case I have advis'd some to the constant and daily use of Laudanum and Diacodium which they have put in practice to the great comfort of their life receiving no hurt thereby though sometimes augmenting its Dose they have taken to a great quantity Fourthly Opiats are seasonably given if at any time the Pulse or Breathing are more quick or vehement than they ought for when in Feavers the Motion of the Heart and Lungs being made more intense give a most rapid Circulation to the Blood so that it is greatly perverted both as to its Accension and as to its Crasis and is not able to separate its drossy Excrements which are so throughly mixt with it After a Narcotick is given presently the Impetus of those parts is somewhat broken so that the Blood coming then to a gentle and moderate Circulation diffuses a less intense heat and being loosen'd in its Texture it purges its Serum
of the following Electuary drinking after it seven spoonfuls of the Julape Take Conserve of red Roses three Ounces Conserve of Hipps and Comphrey of each an Ounce and a half Dragons Blood a Dram Species of Hyacinth two Scruples red Coral a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of red Poppies Mix them and make a soft Electuary take at Night and early in the Morning a Dram and a half drinking after it a draught of the following Julape at other times let him take it with a stick of Licorice Take of the Waters of Plantain and of the Spawn of Forgs of each six Drams Syrup of Coral and of dry'd Roses of each an Ounce Dragons Blood two Scruples Mix them made a Julape CHAP. III. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing a Peripneumonia THe Peripneumonia is an Inflammation of the Lungs with an Acute Feaver a Cough and a difficulty of Breathing it is caus'd by a rushing of the Blood into the Ductus's of the Lungs and its being there inflam'd and obstructed The Primary Indication in order to the Cure of a Peripneumonia is that the Blood forc'd into the Vessels of the Lungs and causing there an Obstruction with an Inflammation be thence discust and restor'd to its former Circulation which if it may not be done the Second Indication will be that that matter be duly Concocted or Suppurated and with all expedition voided by Spittle 1. Whilst the former Indication holds good the Intentions of Curing will be these following In the First place That the excessive current of the Blood to the part affected be cut off or some way hindred Secondly We must endeavour that the matter stagnating in the Lungs or extravasated be suck'd up again by the Veins into the rest of the Mass and restor'd to its Circulation Which the better to effect Thirdly The Blood must be freed of its clamminess or viscous nature whereby its fluidity is hindred And Fourthly We must obviate by fit Remedies those Symptoms that are very pressing viz. the Feaver Cough Watchings and difficulty of Breathing But if notwithstanding all this the other Indication must be pursued we must add to the Remedies before mentioned such as they commonly call Maturating and Expectorating Medicines 1. To satisfy the First and Second Intentions together Blooding is requisite almost in every Peripneumonia nay sometimes it ought to be often repeated For the Vessels being emptied of Blood they do not only withdraw the matter which maintains the Disease but likewise drink up again what was forc'd into the part affected Wherefore if the strength holds and the Pulse be of a sufficient vigour its good to bleed freely at the very beginning but otherwise you must do it in a moderate quantity and repeat it now and then as occasion requires In this Distemper the Vein should always be open'd with a large Orifice and the Blood should not only Issue forth in a full stream but its running should be continued for otherwise if in the midst of bleeding whilst the vitiated Blood flows forth the Orifice be stop'd with the Finger as some are wont to do to prevent fainting when it s open'd again a pretty good Blood will Issue forth next the vitiated Blood if any such be remaining being fallen back and not presently returning to the Orifice Besides Bleeding many other Remedies are here to be us'd viz. such as repress the turgid motion of the Blood and empty its Ductus's whereby the Morbifick matter may be drank up again Wherefore a very thin Diet is prescrib'd consisting almost meerly of Barley and Oat-meats And though Catharticks are wholly forbidden because they strongly exagitate the Blood and force it more violently into the part affected Nevertheless Glysters ought to be daily Administred which gently ease the Belly and draw the dreggy Excrements of the Blood downwards Moreover qualifying Julapes and Apozemes which allay the fervour of the Blood and pleasantly lead off its superfluous Serosities and likewise gently open the passages of the Brest are taken with good effect The Third Intention of Curing which has regard to the takeing away of the obstructing clamminess or viscous nature of the Blood it perform'd wholly by those Remedies which loosen its over-close Texture and dissolve the Combinations of its Salts And truly those Remedies which Reason and Analogy might dictate in this respect are us'd even at this time after a long expeperience For Powders of Shells the Tusk of a Boar the Jaw-bone or a Pike and other things endow'd with an Alkalisate Salt also Sal Prunella are prescrib'd by all Practitioners both Ancient and modern I have known Spirit of Sal Armoniack and of Hartshorn to have done great good in this Disease And for the same Reason it is viz. Because of the good effect of the Volatile Salt that an Infusion of Horse-dung though a vulgar Remedy has often given great relief Fourthly As to the Symptoms and their Cures a great many Remedies appropriated to these are Coincident with the former For the same Julapes and Apozemes which appease the fervour of the Blood and also restore the Animal Spirits are in most common use against the Feaver To which also in respect of the Cough and the diffculty of Breathing temperate Pectorals are joyn'd The greatest difficulty is what must be given against want of sleep it at any time the Person be very much molested by it For Opiats adding to the prejudice of Respiration which is under some stress from the beginning of this Disease may scarce be taken with safety nay sometimes they become pernicious Wherefore Laudanum's and the stronger preparatious of Opium must be utterly avoided in a Peripneumonia though in the mean time Anodines and the more gentle Hypnoticks as especially the Water and Syrup of red Poppies are not only allow'd but accounted Specificks in this Disease and in the Pleurisy Moreover we may sometimes use Diacodiats so the strength holds and the Pulse be strong and in a good temper For the pain of the Brest if at any time it proves troublesome its proper to use sometimes Oyntments Fomentations and Cataplasms The Secondary Therapeutick Indication whereof the Intentions are to Concoct and to discharge by Spittle the matter sticking in the Lungs since it cannot be discust or drank up again requires Medicines commonly call'd Maturatives and Expectoratives but they must both be temperate to wit such as rather appease than exasperate the Thirst and Feaverish heat We have given you before in the Chapter of the Cough the kinds of these Medicines which are properly call'd Pectorals We shall now set down the choicest Prescripts and most proper for this affect Prescripts of Medicines 1.2 Medicines Conducing to the First and Second Intention are prescrib'd according to the Forms following TAke Water of Ladies Thistle ten Ounces of red Poppies three Ounces Syrup of the same an Ounce Pearl prepar'd a Dram Make a Julape the Dose is six spoonfuls every fourth hour Take the Waters of Black-Cherries Carduus Benedictus
ends the following Method and Forms of Medicines may be us'd Take Aloe Rosata a Dram and a half Flowers of Sulphur a Dram Salt of Amber half a Dram Tar what suffices Make Pills in number twenty four take four in the Evening every Night or every other or third Night Or Take Gum Ammoniacum and Bdellium dissolv'd in Vinegar of Squills of each half an Ounce Flowers of Sulphur three Drams Powder of the Leaves of Hedg-mustard and of Savory of each half a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Diasidphur or of Oxymel of Squills Make a Mass form it into little Pills and take three every Evening Or Take Millepedes prepar'd two Drams Flowers of Benzoin half a Dram Salt of Amber two Scruples Extract of Elecampane half a Dram Castoreum half a Dram Saffron a Scruple Venice Turpentine what suffices Make a Mass and form it into small Pills take four every Evening and Morning unless when you Purge If Pills are not grateful or the foresaid Medicines will not do then let the following be try'd to free the Lungs from obstruction Take Spirit of Gum Ammoniacum distill'd with Sal Armoniack three Drams Syrup of the Juice of Ivy three Ounces Magisterial water of Snails and of Earth-worms of each an Ounce Tincture of Saffron two Drams Mix them take a spoonful going to Bed and early in the Morning Or Take Tincture of Gum Ammoniacum three Drams The Dose is from fifteen Drops to twenty in a spoonful of Oxymel or Syrup of ground Ivy. Or Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams The Dose is from seven Drops to twelve or twenty at the same hours with a fit Vehicle After the like manner also other Spirits endow'd with a Volatile Salt and mixt with Pectoral Syrups and Cephalick waters may be usefully prescrib'd Morning and Evening Instead of a Mixture or Asthmatical Julape of distill'd waters of the shops the following Magisterial may be prepar'd to be us'd frequently and upon several occasions Take Roots of Elecampane Florentine Orris Angelica Masterwort of each four Ounces of Briony a pound Leaves of white Horehound Hyssop Savory Penny-royal ground Ivy of each four handfuls fresh Juniper and Ivy Berries of each a pound Lawrel Berries half a pound Seeds of sweet Fennel Caraway Annise Lovage Dill of each an Ounce Cubebs two Ounces long Pepper Cloves Mace of each an Ounce all of them being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Brunswick Beer eight pounds distill them with common Organs Let the whole Liquor be mixt and when it s used let it be sweeten'd at pleasure with Sugar or the Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy or with Oxymel Moreover instead of Oxymel or of any common Pectoral Syrup let the following Forms of Medicines be prescrib'd which are more appropriated to an Asthma And in the First place the Syrup of Elecampane invented by Horatius Augenius and afterwards recommended by Platerus Sennertus Riverius and other famous Practitioners shall be set down here and ought to be frequently made use of Take Roots of Elecampane and of Polypody of the Oak prepar'd of each two Ounces Currans two Ounces Sebestens in number fifteen Coltsfoot Lungwort Calaminth Savory of each a handful one large Tobacco Leaf Licorice two Drams Seeds of Nettles and of Cotton-plant of each a Dram and a half boil them in Wine and Honey diluted to a pound and a half and with the like quantity of Sugar make a Syrup Let it be taken either by it self in the Form of a Linctus or a spoonful at a time Mornings and Evenings or put a spoonful of it to a Dose of the distill'd water or Apozeme Take Roots of Florentine Orris and of Elecampane of each half an Ounce Garlick pill'd four Drams Cloves two Drams white Benzoin a Dram and a half Saffron a Scruple being slic'd and bruis'd let them digest warm in a pound of rectified spirit of Wine for twenty eight hours To the straining add of the finest Sugar a pound put it in a silver Bason on hot Coles then the liquor being fired keep stirring it as long as it will burn and then the flame going out it will become a Syrup let it be given after the same manner as the former Moreover in this place we may aptly insert the Decoctions of an old Cock so much commended by famous Physicians both ancient and modern for the Cure of the Asthma These Broaths are of two kinds viz. with or without Purgers and we find various and differing sorts of both amongst Practical Authors though I shall only give you a form or two Without Purgers this is a common Form Take Roots of Elecampane and of Florentine Orris of each half an Ounce Leaves of Hyssop and of Horehound dry'd of each six Drams Carthamus-seeds an Ounce Anniseeds and Dillseeds of each two Drams Licorice slic'd and Raisins cleans'd of each three Drams let them be prepar'd and sewed up in the Belly of an old Cock which must be boil'd in fifteen pounds of fountain water till the flesh falls from the Bones strain it and let it settle The Dose of the clear Liquor is six Ounces with an Ounce of Oxymel simple or if you would have it purge in each draught dissolve fresh Cassia and Manna of each half an Ounce Let it be taken for many days together sometimes for a whole Month. Riverius prescribes a good Form of this sort of Purging Broath Take Roots of Elecampane and of Florentine Orris of each a Dram and a half Leaves of Hyssop and Coltsfoot of each a handful Licorice slic'd Raisins clean'd of each two Drams Figs in number four Senna cleans'd three Drams Roots of Polypody of the Oak Carthamus-seeds of each half an Ounce Anniseeds a Dram and a half Boil them with a third or fourth part of an old Cock according to art and make a Broath for one Dose to be taken in a Morning let it be continued for twelve or fifteen days I shall now give you a Relation of a Person who was subject to fits of this Disease which were meerly Convulsive and of another who was subject to fits of the same which were partly Convulsive and partly Pneumonick A Noble Man of a tall Stature and full and strong grown having bruis'd is left Side by a fall found himself injur'd upon it and afterwards fell into an Asthmatick Distemper so that now and then though at no set times First a pain would seize him about that place and presently after a great straitness of Breath followed with a vehement and long continued straining of all the parts of Respiration so that during the Fit the Patient seem'd to be in the very Agony of Death I was first call'd to him after he had lain ill of such an Asthmatick Fit for two days and was look'd upon as almost past Cure Nevertheless finding his Lungs to be without hurt our Prognostick bid us still hope well and presently other Physicians being joyn'd with me in Consultation it was
Make a Mass and form it into Pills Certain Hydragogue Electuaries are now every wher much in use amongst Practitioners and especially one given us by tye famous Sylvius and another by Zwelfer This that follows likes us well Take Rosin of Jalap two Drams Tartar vitriolated a Dram Extract of Rhubarb two Drams of Esula a Drm and a half Roots of the lesser Galingal a Dram bruise them very well And lastly add Conserve of English Orris Flowers four Ounces and with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Peach Rlowers Make an Electuary the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram and a half or two Drams I might here give you many other Purging Hydragogues but Catharticks do not always Cure the Ascites nay they often make it worse and if you insist too long upon them render it Incurable Therefore now let us enquire whether Diureticks will do good in this case or not And truly any Man might easily be induc'd to believe that Medicines provoking Urine contribute very much towards the Evacuation of Waters from any part or Cavity of the Body In reality its manifest by frequent experiments that they often Cure the Anasarca and give relief in it before all other Remedies Let us see therefore what they can do for draining the Cavity of the Abdomen As to this its manifest in the first place that there is no immediate passage open from the Ascitical Mass of Waters to the Reins how near soever they lye to them but whatsoever waters are conveyed from that Mass to the Reins must of necessity be first of all drank up again into the Blood and be thence discharg'd into that receptacle of the Urine Now little is it that the small Mouths of the Veins if haply any of them are open can receive And this is that only thing which Diureticks are able to perforem viz. By fusing the Blood and driving its Serosities to the Reins in a plentiful manner to make it draw to it self being so drein'd the Waters floating in the Belly In the mean time there is no less danger lest Diureticks unseasonably given whilst they fuse the Blood too much drive the Serum which is forc'd to part from it into the watery Mass of the Ascites more than into the Reins and so rather to increase than remove that deluge of the Belly And truly I have frequently observ'd that this sometimes happens and 't is for this reason tha the Ancients always mixt Astringents and Corroboratives in their Medicines for the Dropsie not that such as is vulgarly said strengthen the tone of the Liver but preserve the Crasis or Mixture of the Blood from being wholly dissolv'd by too much fusion Therefore in an Ascites which happens chiefly or in part by reason that the Serous humour stuffs and mightily swells the Compages of the Viscera and Vessels and especially the Tunicles Glands and Fibres themselves and the spaces betwixt them even as Cathartieks are proper so are also Diureticks and are often taken with success for as much as by the use of these the Mass of Blood is drein'd the Serum being deriv'd to the Reins in a plentiful manner and readily receives into it self those waters every where stagnating about the Mouths of the Vessels and conveys them to the Urinary Common-shore But on the contrary in a true Ascites where the Textures of the Viscera being free from such stuffings with Serum the filthy Mass of Waters fills the Cavity of the Belly Diureticks are given either to no purpose or with prejudice because they fetch out nothing of the water stagnating in the Belly and very often by fusing the Blood drive the waters more violently thither being apt to distil into it of their own accord In an Ascites all Diureticks of every kind are not equally proper nor ought to be indifferently give for it is to be observ'd that Persons troubl'd with this Disease make little Urine which is also reddish and resembling as it were a Lixivium which is a sign that the Crasis of their Blood is so close bound by reason of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being exalted and combin'd together in it and consequently that its Serum is not duly separted within the Reins which nevertheless is thrown off in the Involutions of the Obstructed Viscera and so is depos'd in the Cavity of the Belly Wherefore in this case we must give only those things to move Urine which so restore and corredct the Constitution of the Blood that the Irregularities of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being taken away the Serous part may be separated within the Reins and sent forth in a more plentiful manner For which end not Acid or Lixivial things but such as are endow'd with a Volatile Salt are proper for I have often observ'd in such Patients that when Spirit of Salt and other Acid distill'd Liquors of Minerals and when the Deliqia or Solutions of Salt of Tartar of Broom and of other things have rather done hurt than good the Juice of Plantain of Brooklimes and of other Herbs abounding with a Volatile Salt also the expressions of Millepedes have given relief For the same reason Sal Nitre throughly purified or Crystal Mineral has often a mighty good effect You may find Forms of Medicines proper for this use in our preceding Tract where we have set down Examples of Diureticks in which both Volatile and Nitrous Salts are the Basis Moreover to this place belongs that notable Experiment with which Johannes Anglus says he often Cur'd an Ascites from a hot Caus which Medicine also the most experienc'd Physician Dr. Theodore Mayern usually prescrib'd in the like Case and was wont to extol It is as follows Take Juice of Plantain and Liverwort and fill an earthen Pot with it to the Brim then stop it very close and put it in a hot Oven as soon as the Bread is drawn and make a gentle Fire round the sides of the Pot to continue the heat of the Oven after it is boild strain the Liquor and being sweeten'd with Sugar let it be drank Mornings and Evenings and it Cures In Imitation of this I have often prescrib'd with success after the following manner Take green Plantain Leaves four handfuls Liverwort and Brooklimes of each two handfuls being bruis'd together pour to them of small Compound Raddish water or of some other Magisterial water half a pound wring it forth hard The Dose is three Ounces thrice a day Diaphoreticks though most efficacious in an Anasarca yet are of little or no use in an Ascites for being unseasonably given they often cause a great prejudice to the Patient without doing him the least good because by heating the Blood they make the waters floating in the Cavity of the Belly to grow fervid and to boil as it were so that the Spirits and Humours are mightily troubled by the Vapours thence rais'd and so a disorder of all the functions follows and the Viscera themselves being sodden as it were are very much
Convulsive Inflation of the Membranous Parts and Viscera by reason of the Animal Spirits being driven into those Fibres in too great a plenty and there hindred from a Recess through the fault of the Nervous Juice obstructing it To which affect a gathering of Winds in the empty places is consequently added for compleating it That we may have timely notice of its beginning we must understand that there are some previous affects which dispose to it as especially a Hypochondriack Colick Hysterick and sometimes an Asthmatick disposition And if after frequent returns of Fits in any of these Distempers a tumour of the Abdomen follows though never so small at first a Tympany is presently to be fear'd A Tympany seldom kills of it self but after it has continued a long time to make more sure work it joyns to it self at length an Ascites as a forerunner of death In order to the Cure of a Tympany as in most other Diseases there are three primary Indications whereof the first and always the most pressing being Curatory endeavours to remove the tumour of the Abdomen by recalling the Animal Spirits from that Convulsive extention and reducing them to order The Second being preservatory keeps those Spirits or others from inordinate excursions into the Nervous Fibres of the Belly and at the same time corrects the faults of the Nervous Liquor accompanying them as to its Crasis or Motion The Third is Vital and by removing the Symptoms that are most pressing relives and upholds as much as may be all the functions that are opprest or weakned The First Indication is always of chiefest moment the whole stress of the Cure consisting in it but it s very difficult to be perform'd For it does not readily occur to us with what remedies or ways of Administration it ought to be attempted Bleeding has no place here but in a manner always is shun'd as hurtful also Catharticks for as much as they irritate the affected Fibres and trouble the Spirits and drive them more violently into those Fibres do rather increase than diminish or Cure the tumour of the Belly So likewise Diaphoreticks force the Spirits together with the Morbifick Particles deeper into those Fibres from which they ought to be summon'd forth and withdrawn The chief means of Cure seems to be plac'd in the use of Diureticks and Glisters and great things are likewise expected from Topicks because they are apply'd more immediately and by contact to the Disease it self and because we see they excellently dissolve or discuss tumours in other places but all dissolvents are not proper here even though in other tumours they are very Medicinable For those that are hot being accounted discussors most commonly rather do hurt than good in a Tympany whether they are us'd as a Fomentation or Liniment or apply'd in the Form of a Cataplasme or Plaister For they both open and dilate the Ductus's of the Fibres so that they lye more open to the Inroads of the Spirits and at the same time rarify the Particles sticking in them so that they coming to occupy a greater space the Inflation and Swelling of the Belly is augmented Lastly as to Alteratives even of those which do good against other affects of the Genus Nervosum only some few are proper in a Tympany for where the Morbifick matter sticking within the strait Ductus's cannot be driven forwards or quite through Elastick Medicines by fastning the matter deeper render the obstruction still greater or more fixt Wherefore the Spirits of Harts-horn Soot Sal Armoniack and so Tinctures Elixirs and other Medicines endowed with a Volatile Salt or Particles otherwise active do not only cause a very troublesome heat and drought in persons troubled with a Tympany but also make the Abdomen swell more because they trouble the Spirits and fuse the Blood and Nervous Juice so that the Particles deposed by each of these are forc'd into the parts affected Nowwithstanding Physick can do so little against this Disease we must not cease to move every stone in order to Cure or give ease to the Patient Therefore in the First place because it is the Custom to begin with Evacuatives though strong Catharticks always do hurt and the more gentle are scarce ever able to carry off the Conjunct Cause yet these latter for as much as they withdraw somewhat of that which feeds the Disease and prepare the way for other Medicines to exert their Energies more freely ought to have their turns in the Practice of Physick viz. once in six or seven days and at other times let Glisters the use of which is much better he frequently Administred Hydroticks being forbidden let moderate Diureticks be diligently plyed to which at the same time let such things be joyn'd which regard the altering and reducing of the Spirits and Humours which truly make up the chiefest part of Pharmacy for a Tympany Moreover in the mean time let not the use of Topicks be neglected We shall set down certain Select Forms of Medicines appropriated to each of these ends For a Medicine gently loosening use the Laxative Wine prescrib'd for a Tympany by the famous Greg. Horstius in the Fourth Book of his Observations Chap. 30. or instread of it let the following be prescrib'd in a shorter Form Take Flowers of Peaches and of Damask Roses of each two Pugils of Broom Elder and the lesser Centory of each a Pugil Leaves of Agrimony and Sea Wormwood of each a handful of the best Sena an Ounce Rhubarb six Drams Carthamus-seeds half an Ounce of Dwarf-elder two Drams yellow Saunders three Drams Galingal Roots two Drams being slic'd and bruis'd sew them up in a Silken Bag and put it in a Glass with two pounds of Whitewine Saxifrage water a pound Salt of Tartar a Dram and a half let them stand for forty eight hours then let the Patient begin to drink it taking about four or six Ounces every third or fourth day In a hotter constitution let the following Form be given which I have sometimes try'd with good success Take of Purging Mineral waters eight pounds Salt of Wormwood two Drams let it evaporate with a gentle Bath-heat to two pounds To this I use to add of water distill'd from Purgers with Wine four Ounces The Dose is from four Ounces to six Or to that Liquor evaporated to two pounds add of the Roots of Mechoacan and Turbith of each half an Ounce Rhubarb six Drams yellow Saunders two Drams Cloves a Dram Let there be a close and warm digestion for two hours filter it warm through lawn paper the Dose is three or four Ounces Glisters are of frequent use in this Disease because they loosen the Belly without any great irritation of the Fibres Take water of the Infusion of Stone-Horse-dung with Cammomile Flowers a pound Honey of Herb Mercury two Ounces After the same manner also let Decoctions or Infusions be prepar'd of Dogs-turd with Carminatives Take of the Emollient Decoction a pound Sal
happens that the Vessells having this ill Conformation are likewise affected with Convulsions so that the Muscular Fibres of the Vessels being disorderly contracted cause sudden and violent Sallyes of the Blood somtimes upwards and somtimes downwards and consequently Eruptions For I have observ'd in some when the Current of the Blood has been slender enough with a low and weak Pulse that the Convulsions of the Vessells beginning in some place and carried forward as a Wind running here and there in the Body have driven the Blood vehemently though never so low of it self and forc't it into violent Eruptions And in these cases when opening a Vein and Medicines cooling and qualifying the Blood have done no good we have found the greatest relief from Narcotick's Anticonvulsives and Ligatures To speak now of Bleeding by Art we generally observe that Physick in some cases imitates nature in others exceeds it and often regulates it and reduces it when it acts amiss though there are some cases in which nature far exceeds the efficacy of Art in Excretions of Blood I shall speak briefly of each of these First therefore in whatever affects Spontaneous Eruptions of Blood use to do good if at any time these fail Physick the Handmaid of nature aptly suplys its place by Phlebotomy therefore if haply the Blood by reason of its Sulphur being too much at liberty and exalted is kindled too much upon opening a Vein the superfluity of that Inflammable fuel will issue forth So likewise immoderate Turgescencies of the Blood by Reason of some unsubduable substance gotten into it are allay'd by this means Wherefore Bleeding is presently ordered both against continual Fevers which proceed from the former cause and against such as intermit whose fits are from the latter And so as often as an accustomed Evacuation at set times which is stopt or a humour struck back from the outward parts or a sudden stoppage of the Pores or if a Surfeit Drinking of Wine and other Accidents of this nature by crowding the Blood with Heterogeneous Particles cause a Turgescency in it Phlebotomy is usually a most present Remedy Secondly Physick does not only imitate nature in letting forth of Blood but often exceeds it nay and frequently aids it and reduces it when it labours and acts amiss For if at any time the Blood taking a Head rushes in a Body to one part and there either presently breaks forth in a disorderly manner or being gather'd together in a large quantity causes an Inflammation a Vein being open'd in some remote part stops that Praeternatural Salley of the Blood and often puts an end to the Eruption or Inflammation Wherefore in the Plurisie Sqinancy Perpneumonia in Spitting or Vomiting Blood when nature either yields it self overcome or bing sturck as it were wiht a Rage seems to lay violent hands on it self Chirurgery withdrawing the Blood to some other place and letting it forth restores all things when almost in a loft Condition Moreover Physick often moderates or reduces nature when too profuse or extravagant in the Effusion of Blood for in Truth all immoderate Eruptions of Blood must be stay'd rather than promoted Again in regard in the Plague Small-Pox and Meazles broken forth and in Malignant Fevers a Spontaneous Eruption of Blood always foreboads ill Therefore in those affects Stiptick Medicines restraining the Eruption of Blood are more proper than breathing a Vein Nevertheless there are some cases of an Effusion of Blood by nature which Physick can no way imitate nor supply by Phlebotomy if haply they fail In Fevers about the Crisis of the Disease viz. after the Digestion of the matter that is its preparation for Separation a Spontaneous Eruption of Blood in regard it comes in a due nick of time is far better than any Bleeding by Art the due season for which is unknown And so a flowing of the Menses and Haemorrhoides hapening by the Instinct of nature is much more Advantageous than if Blood be caus'd to flow thence by Art There is this notable difference betwixt Blceding by opening a Vein and a Spontaneous Eruption of Blood that in this the Blood flows in a manner wholly out of the Arteries and in the other Evacuation it 's drawn only out of the Veins So far of Phlebotomy compar'd with a Spontaneous Eruption of Blood I shall now shew its use and effects both good and evil in the Practice of Physick Therefore in the first place let us shew in general what sort of alteration this Evacuation causes in the Mass of Blood and then to what Diseases either of the whole Body or of particular parts it most immediately has respect to Concerning the first it 's obvious that the Blood after Breathing a Vein is altered both as to its quantity and as to its Temper and Crafis and as to its Motion The first and most common Indication for Breathing a Vein is that by this Administration the Mass of the Blood be lessen'd Hence even the vulgar growing to an overful habit of Body cause themselves to be let Blood to remove that Plethorick Disposition but though the evils of that affect are remov'd or prevented by nothing better yet the necessity or this Evacuation ought to be avoided as much as may be Because the Blood is rendred by it more Sulphureous and less Salt and consequently it disposes Men to a Feverish habit and to grow Fat Moreover the great Remedy Bleeding if made common on every slight occasion will become of no effect in grand Distempers when it is needed To which we may add that according to the observation of the vulgar the more familiarly any one uses Bleeding the oftner he will want it For the Blood being let forth to avoid an overgreat fullness the rest of the Mass soon rises again to a Plenitude though it 's worse in its Crasis For by this means being much berest of its Balsamick Salt which preserves it from Putrefaction Instead of it it 's more fill'd with a Fatning and Inflammable Sulphur 2. Phlebotomy amends the Mixture and Temperament of the Blood in sundry respects First if any Heterogeneous thing be gotten into its Mass which can neither be mastered nor easily separated and sent forth upon opening a Vein the Blood flowing forth carries with it often a great Portion of that matter So again the Blood declining from its Temperament is often restor'd by Phlebotomy for when its Mass upon the exaltation of the Sulphur or fixt Salt of both of them together is degenerated into a sharp Salt or Salino-Sulpureous nature a Portion of the Blood being drawn out presently it ferments anew and often there is such a change made of all those kinds of Particles that thence forwards the Spirits with the Volatile Salt begin to rise again and recover their Dominion keeping he Sulphur and fixt Salt under as they ought to be Hence Bleeding gives often great relief not only in Fevers but likewise in the Scurvy Jaundise and even in a beginning
Medicines it either terminates immediately in Death or is chang'd into some other Disease viz. a Palsy Stupidity or Melancholy for the most part incurable Concerning the Cure of the Falling-sickness the Indications as vulgarly set forth are either Curatory having regard to the Fit and either keep it off as it is coming or soon force it off when it has seiz'd Or they are Prophylactick and regard the cause of the Disease which if they remove its accesses will be kept off for the future As to the first intention general Evacuatives have scarce place nor ought a Vomit or Purge and very seldom Bleeding to be us'd in a Fit if the person continues depriv'd of Sense a long time Clysters are sometimes wont to be administred but the chief thing to be done is to fix the Animal Spirits which are too Exorbitant and Volatile and to suppress their beginning Explosions For which ends two kinds of Remedies chiefly conduce viz. First Such as repress the Animal Spirits apt to rise to an Exorbitancy and to shoot and repel them by a certain Fumigation as it were ungrateful to them and force them into their due course Which Medicines endow'd with a Volatile and Armoniack Salt or also with a Vitriolick Sulphur will effect Of which kind are Salt and Oyl of Amber Spirit of Blood of Harts-horn of Soot Tincture of Castoreum and the like For these being inwardly taken or held to the Nostrils often give relief nay and are thought to drive away the evil Spirits of this Disease even as in Tobit the Fume of the Gall of a Fish burnt did the Devil Secondly the Animal Spirits are diverted or hindred from entring upon Explosions when they are allur'd to and kept imploy'd in some work that is usual to them wherefore in the Fit Frictions us'd over the whole Body and continued for some time often do good But as to raising up persons seiz'd and wholly restraining the Arms and Leggs from the Convulsive motion or binding them in this or that Posture as some people use to do and so as to blowing Sneezing-powder into their Nostrils and pouring strong Cordials into their Mouths or applying Cupping-glasses and Scarifications and dealing roughly with the Diseas'd by other ways of Administration thus disturbing the course of the Fit I say this sort of practice is very often ill taken in hand because by this means Nature is doubly toil'd viz. both by the Disease and no less by standers by and Servants whereas it were much better to let the Fit pass according to its course that so the Diseas'd might escape with one affliction Truly the greatest care of a Physician and efficacy of Remedies is in the Prophylactick part of this Disease that its cause being taken away or its root cut off all the Fruit may wither The Medicines requir'd for this Indication have regard to many intents which nevertheless may be reduc't to these two chief heads viz. First that the fuel of the Disease supplyed immediately from the vitious Blood and Nervous Juice and more mediately from the Viscera and first passages be cut off And then Secondly that the evil Disposition of the Brain and Spirits in it which is peculiar to the Epilepsy be remov'd As to the first thing indicated here Vomits and Purges and other both Evacuatives and Alteratives nay and Bleeding and Cauteries have place for as much as by these means and ways the Impurities both of the Viscera and Humours are drawn away and their Discrasy is corrected For though these Medicines and Physical Administrations seldom or never Cure the Epilepsy alone yet they remove Impediments raise up Nature and stir her up to set upon her Enemy They also prepare the passages that thereby Specifick Remedies may more certainly and efficaciously exert their Vertues Wherefore when the Cure of this Disease is attempted Spring and Fall and at other fit seasons by Secrets and Arcana's it's usual to use betwixt whiles those sorts of Medicines As to Specifick Remedies which are affirm'd even alone though not always to reach the cause of the Epilepsy and to overcome it of which kind are the Male Peony Mistletow of the Oak Rue Castoreum Elks-hoof preparations of Mans Scull Amber Coral with many others In regard these things are taken without any sensible Evacuation or even Disturbance following in the Viscera or Humours it seems strange by what formal way or Vertue of working they are wont ever to do good in this Disease If there be any room for conjecture in this intricate and obscure thing in regard the Procatarctick cause of the Epilepsy consists in the Heterogeneous Combination hapning to the Spirits in the Brain it follows that those things which overcome and remove such a cause are of such a Nature that by strengthening the Brain and constringing its Pores they keep off that Combination and so fix and as it were constipate the Spirits that abound in the middle of the Brain leaving their Combination that they are no longer apt and prone to irregular Explosions After the like manner haply as when the Powder of Aurum Fulminans ground with Sulphur and sprinkled with Spirit of Vitriol loses its fulminating Vertue And in truth we may conjecture nay in some measure discover that these kinds of properties to wit one or both of them together are in many Antiepileptick Remedies for the Peony Mistletow of the Oak Rue Lillies of the valley with many others excel in a manifest sort of Astriction whence it is very likely that their Particles inwardly taken and so by the Vehicle of the Blood or Nervous Juice convey'd to the Brain so constringe and close its over Lax and Gaping Pores that they no longer lie open for the entrance of the Morbifick matter Moreover because these concrets breath forth an Armoniack as it were and dissipating vapour therefore the same are said to purify the Animal Spirits and to fix and corroborate them having left their Heterogeneous Combination This Vertue of purifying the Spirits proceeding from the Armoniack Salt shews it self most in Remedies taken from Minerals and Animals such as are the preparations of Mans Scull Blood Amber and Coral as the other Astringent Vertue appears most in the parts and preparations of Vegetables There is no need for us here to set forth a compleat Method of Curing the Epilepsy with exact Forms of Prescripts because general Precepts and excellent Remedies are every where to be had amongst Authors and a prudent Physician will easily accommodate both the Indications and that plentiful Apparatus of Physick to particular cases of sick persons But because we give a clearly new Theory of this Disease a Therapeutick Method also adapted to the same ought to be here given Which we shall presently fully delineate after I have given you a story of a person troubled with the Epilepsy The Daughter of an Alehouse-keeper at Oxford had been very subject from her Infancy to a Catarrh falling on her Eyes being otherwise strong and
in the Groin or on the Thighs or Calves of the Legs viz. sometimes in this part sometimes in that to wit that the little Sores made here and there flowing continually may plentifully discharge the Serum filled with Heterogeneous and Morbid Particles Moreover Remedies gently conveying the Serum to the Reins and Urinary passages are often given with good effect for this purpost let Diuretick Apozems ans Julapes be ordered according to the following Forms Take Roots of Scorzonera Chervil Grass Eringo's preserv'd of each six Drams one Apple slic't Leaves of Burnet Meadow sweet of each a handful Raisins an Ounce and a half burnt Harts-horn two Drams being slic't and bruis'd let them boil on a clear Fire in four Pounds of Fountain-water till a third part be consum'd to two Pounds of the clear Straining add Syrup of the Juice of Citrons or of Violets two Ounces Sal Prunella a Dram and a half make an Apozeme the Dose is from four Ounces to six thrice a day Or let that Straining be pour'd on fifteen sineet Almonds blanch and on the four cold Seeds of each a Dram being lruis'd make an Emulsion according to Art Take water of Dragon-wort and of black Cherries of each four Ounces of Scordium compound two Ounces Treacle-water an Ounce and a half Syrup of Clove-gillylowers two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol twelve drops wake a Julape Let Sal Prunella be giben often in a day in small Beer or Whey from half a Dram or two Scruples Moreover in this Fever Medicines gently promoting Sweat especially such as restore the Animal Spirits and free them from any Heterogeneous Combination are of excellent use Wherefore either let Powder of Pearl or Spirit of Harts-horn or of Blood be given in a small Dose twice a day viz. Morning and Evening Let Glysters be injected alniost daily and if it seems convenient let a gently loosning Medicine be repeated twice in a week Let none but a thin Diet be ordered viz. such as is wont to be in other Fevers Flesh or its Broath being wholly forbidden let the Sick eat only Oat or Barley-broath let his Drink be small Beer or Whey But if notwithstanding any Physical provision the Morbifick Matter gets possession of the Brain or Lungs or both of them together so that a failing and disorder of the Animal faculty or also a violent Cough come upon the Diseas'd we must consider what is to be done in either state of the Disease rais'd after this manner to an ill condition for then the Curative Indications ought to respect a stupor or madness or the Cough and at length if the Disease being upon declining these Symptoms remit let appropriated Remedies be given against the Atrophia it being as the last fortress of this Disease 1. Therefore if the Morbifick Matter as it frequently is wont being brought to the Head causes there a Stupor or Sleepy affects Remedies ought to be carefully administred which draw it to another place and derive it some way or other from the Head and likewise such as raise up the Animal Spirits and make void the impure Combination Wherefore in this case let the use of Epispasticks be very much encreast outwardly let Spirit of Harts-horn be given every sixth hour in somewhat a large Dose let Blood be drawn again from the Jugular Veins the Salvatella or also from the Veins of the Fundament by Leeches If the affect does not remit the Hair being shav'd off let Emollient Fomentations be often applyed to the Head Moreover let Cupping-glasses Plaisters and Cataplasms be applyed to the Soles of the Feet and other ways of administration such as are vulgarly indicated for Curing a Stupor ought to be us'd In like manner if to the evil or defect of Crisis in this Fever a Frensy or Mania Supervene let Remedies appropriated to those affects be administred 2. But if together with or without this Detriment brought on the Head the Lungs also are injur'd by the Disease so that the Diseas'd not yet freed of their Fever seem to have fall'n into a Consumption or Ptizick with a troublesome Cough much and thick Spittle and that often discoloured Medicines commonly indicated in such affects are proper wherefore Pectoral Decoctions Lohoch's Syrups Waters of Milk and Snails distill'd and other Remedies of this kind ought diliently to be us'd The Forms of which are to be found in their above written cases Hitherto we have describ'd a continual Fever for the most part Convulsive and taking its rise both through the default of the Nervous Juice and of the Blood I shall now set before you an example of a Disease resembling an intermitting Fever and chiefly radicated in the Nervous Juice A fine Woman of a very tender Constitution and a weak temper of the Brain and Genus Nervosum and consequently very subject to Convulsive affects after she had conceiv'd about the fourth Month of her Child-bearing upon taking cold was most sorely afflicted with Asthmatick Fits and likewise with frequent Faintings of the Spirits But by the use of remedies endowed with a Volatile Salt she grew well of these Distempers within a fortnight nevertheless after six weeks were past an unusual and very wonderful affect seis'd this Lady On a certain morning awaking after her sleep which had been somewhat troubled that night she felt in her whole body a light shivering as tho' the fit of a Tertian Ague were coming upon her Frequent Gapings and Retchings follow it with a frequent straining to Vomit Then her Urine which just before was of an Orange colour with a laudable sediment became pale and watery and was very frequently voided viz. every munute of an hour Moreover about the Loins and Hypochondres and in other places pains with light Convulsions passing from one place to another were rais'd Which kind of Symptoms being manifestly Convulsive with the frequent making of Limpid Water continued from the morning almost to the evening In which space of time a vast quantity of Urine viz. thrice more than the Liquor drank was made In the mean while the Heat became not more intense nor did Thirst seem pressing nor was the pulse rais'd In the eveing the foresaid affects ceast and the Urine came again to be of an Orange colour and in a small quantity and she enjoyed a moderate sleep during the whole night and then the next morning the Fit returned near the same hour accompanied whol'y with the like Symptoms and daily acted over the very same Tragedy Going to see this Lady after the had lain ill after this manner for twelve days I judged that this disease being chiefly rooted in the Genus Nervosum depended on the effervescency and flowing of the Humour that lies in the Nervous parts to this Breeding person I Prescribed Bleeding and to take twice a day a Powder made of Coral Pearl Ivory and other Cordial things in an appropriated Liquor morning and evening she took twelve drops of the Tincture of Antimony the effect whereof I
Pains and bitter Tortures chiefly infesting her by night one while in the Shins another while in the Arms In regard she was with Child she had been forc't to leave off a course of Physick often begun in order to its Cure After he last Child-birth her Lochia flowing plentifully she continued for many days faint and weak with a difficult Respiration and being out of Breath upon any motion A Month after being deliver'd being taken out of Bed and attempting to walk she fell into a most severe difficulty of Breathing with a Trembling of the Heart and a frequent Fainting of the Spirits Being presently put to Bed she continued almost for a whole day still Trembling and continually Panting Moreover the lower Limbs as though Death were at hand being quite chill'd waxed not warm by any Frictions or Applications of warm'd Cloaths At length after near four and twenty hours upon the frequent giving of strong Cordials she was better about the Praecordia though there followed near the right Groin in the top of the Thigh a very acute Pain reaching even to the Leg and within a few hours a pretty hard swelling resisting the touch possest all that space Being call'd at this time the Diseas'd still fetching her Breath short and with difficulty presently having order'd a Clyster to be forthwith injected I gave her twelve drops of Spirit of Hearts-horn in a spoonful of the following Julape Take Water of Snails six ounces Hysterick Water four ounces Water of Wall-nuts simple and of Pennyroyal of each three ounces Sugar one ounce Castoreum tyed in a Rag and hung in the Glass a Dram. These Medicines were repeated every sixth Hour I ordered a large vesicatory to be applyed to the inward part of the Thigh then in the Evening in regard during this whole Fit she had continued without Sleep I gave her of Laudanum a grain Pearls powdred six grains confection of Alkermes without Musk half a dram she slept quietly and there next Morning she was much relieved the pain and swelling of the Thigh somewhat abated also while she lay quiet in her Bed she was well about the Precordia but sitting upright or turning on one side presently she seem'd almost ready to dye through straitness of Breath she continued the use of the Spirit of Harts-horn and of the Julep to be repeated every sixth hour for many days Moreover because she was press'd with Thirst and made water always in a small quantity ruddy and filled with contents she took twice a day a Dose of the following Julep to six Drams Take roots of Grass Chervil preserv'd Eringos of each six drams shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each two Drams burnt Harts-horn a dram and a half Raisins two ounces one Apple slic'd Licorish two drams and a half being slic'd and bruised let them boyle in three pounds of Fountain Water till a third part be consumed then four ounces of White-wine being added to it let it be strained into a Flagon to which put Leaves of Scurvy-grass and Brooklimes of each a Handful Salt of Wormwood two drams make a close and warm infusion for three Hours let the straining be kept in Vessels close stopt Sometimes every day sometimes every other day a Clister was administred By the use of these things she seemed to grow better daily so that within a weeks space arising from her Bed she was able to sit up two or three Hours by the fire in her Chair but if she kept from her Bed or walkt a little more than was fitting she was presently wont to fall into a straitness of Breathing or a fit of the Asthma so that on a certain day having stayed out of Bed too long she underwent a violent fit of the Disease and was affected with a difficult Breathing a trembling of the whole Body and frequent Swoonings Being called again by reason of this Relaps of the sick Lady I gave her Spirit of Harts-horn to twenty drops with the Julep above prescribed and in the Evening a dose of our Laudanum and as thereby she found her self better about the Precordia Pains and Swellings succeeded in the right Thigh and Legg such as before had paned in the left I ordered also vesicatories to be applyed to that Thigh and besides the Remedies hitherto mentioned she took twice a day of our Wine of the Juice of Scurvy-grass four ounces with two ounces of the Magistral Antiscorbutick Water Moreover I ordered her to be purged with our Solutive Syrup above prescribed which doing well I ordered it to be repeated within three or four dayes By these Remedies she grew well within a Month. A Noble man about the thirty third year of his Age seeming to be of a sanguine Temperament tall and slender of a very acute Wit and quick understanidng tho he had used himself for a long time to immoderate and excessive Studies together with a disorderly way of Diet yet being still sprightly and full of vigour he seem'd to enjoy a sound Mind in a sound Body a little more than two years since when he had greatly tired himself by dancing a whole Night with Friends and in the Morning being put in a cold Bed in a Room that was too moist and having slept a little he began to be sick for upon his awake he fell into a mighty troublous Passion about the Precordia with terrible Swoonings as though he were ready to dye After a draught of Wine and some cordial Remedies taken he was a little better but he often relaps'd so that all that day both himself and his Friends dreaded either a swoon without returning to himself or an imminent Apoplexy Moreover after that this Fit of the Disease was past yet still he lived obnoxious to daily passions of the Heart and upon any great Error committed in Diet he was wont to be afflicted again with a violent fit Notwithstanding the use of Remedies the Disease growing worse within a few Months did not only infest the Precordia but in the whole habit of the Body Expansions sometimes of heat sometimes of cold moreover in the Limbs a numbness or formication or light Convulsions and sudden contractions were raised but of late besides the Symtoms hitherto mentioned which still greatly molest the Noble Person he is moreover sorely afflicted with a frequent Vertigo and with Distractions and Failings of the Spirits residing in the Fore-brain insomuch that he is forc'd to abstain from the Studies and Politick Employs to which he has been always addicted and even from any strong intention of the Mind for otherwise he feels both in the Head and in the genus nerevosum these troublous Passions that he may fear either an invasion of the Apoplexy or horrible Convulsive Affects a great fit of this Disease pressing upon him the Ventricle also for the most part is disturbed Moreover he has often found ease after a Vomit either hapning of its own accord or raised by the help of an Emetick Medicine Hence some
either proceeds from a serous filth discharged from the Blood on the Cortex of the Brain or from a stupefaction inflicted on the Spirits there residing and then this affect by how much less it is than the Lethargy by so much is it accounted less dangerous but more commonly this Disease ensues upon other Cronick or acute distempers viz. the Head-ach Convulsions and most frequently upon Fevers of an ill crisis especially in Children old and phlegmatick people Some years since in an Epidemick Fever hapning through the affect of the Nerves which we have elsewhere describ'd as I observed some to be Lethargical so many to be troubled with the Coma of whom a great many recover'd the morbifick matter being conveyed from the Head into the Breast Moreover in other cases this affect being of a doubtful event betwixt hope and fear requires the sedulous care of a prudent Physician In a Primary Coma the Therapeutick method suggests to us the like and in a manner the same intentions of healing as in the Lethargy As to the morbifick matter we must endeavour both that its new afflux to the Brain and that which is already sticking in it be discuss'd or drawn away Moreover the Animal Spirits ought to be raised up and all drowsiness or stupefaction ought to be shaken off from them For this end we must order Purging Blooding Cupping-glasses Vesicatories Revulsing and discussing Topicks give Cephalick Medicines and especially such as are endowed with a Volatile Salt and use many other ways of administrations before-mentioned But if this Disease ensuing upon other affects happens to any Person whose Body is much worn away the Blood vitiated or greatly depauperated we must seriously deliberate concerning letting Blood and Purging before we order them nay and for the most part we must abstain from them tho sometimes that the conjunct cause of the Disease or the matter sticking in the Brain may be put in motion it may be convenient to draw Blood in a small quantity from the Forehead or from the Temples by Leeches or from the Shoulder-blades by Cupping glasses with a Scarification Vesicatories have a chief place here not only to be applied to the Neck or Head but to the Legs and Arms and to other parts of the Body by turns Moreover let Spirit of Harts-horn of Soot or of Sal Armoniack impregnated with Amber Mans Scull Coral and other Cephalick things be frequently given with an appropriated Julep or other Liquor Forms of these and of other Medicines usual in these cases together with stories of sick Persons and examples of their Cures are to be found in the description of the foresaid sleepy Fever so that I need not here again inculcate the same or the like There remains yet another sleepy affect or kind of the Lethargy vulgarly called a Carus which being greater than the Lethargy and somewhat less than the Apoplexy is so allyed to this that it often passes into it but is wont to be distinguished from both for those that have the Carus for the most part breath well if at any time they are hard pinched they move their members sometimes raise up themselves open their Eyes and often speak which Apoplectical Persons do not do but the same tho stirred or roused up scarce understand or plainly discern any thing in which respect they are distinguished from those that have the Lethargy From what is said it seems to be manifest that the conjunct cause or morbifick matter of the Carus penetrates somewhat more deep toward the middle of the Brain and to have its seat at least in the outward border of the Corpus callosum and sometimes as that matter gradually advances from one part to another the Diseases before-mentioned successively arise and each last is only the encrease of the other But sometimes the morbifick cause without a gradual progress through those Parts at the first assault affects the middle part of the Brain and there as it sticks shallower or deeper causes a Carus or Apoplexy In which case it must not be thought that the whole circumference of the Corpus Callosum as also of the cortical part of the Brain is possest by the soporiferous matter for it suffices that rushing into any one place it has seized some part of the middle for thereupon presently in all that Region follows an eclipse or at least a prosternation of the Spirits The Prognostick of a Carus for the most part is ill especially if the Disease happens upon a malignant or long continued or a slow Fever not determined or on that which happens in Childbirth Nor is less danger threatned if it succeeds other Cephalick Diseases or is rais'd by reason of a wound in the Head though in these cases sometimes there is a Cure The event of this Disease either for death or recovery is wont to be various The Carus often passes into an Apoplexy which soon kills so that after the loss first of the animadversive faculty in a while a deprivation of sense and mortion and then by reason of the taint convey'd to the Cerebellum alterations of the Pulse and Respiration and in a short time Death it self follows But sometimes the morbifick matter sinking deeper and falling from the Corpus Callosum into the Corpus Striatum one or both together the Brain becomes a little clear so that the Diseas'd look about them speak and know things nevertheless in the whole Body besides the Palsey or Hemiplegia ensues Neither are thus things in safety as to Life for often when the Brain begins to be restor'd the Cerebellum is worse so that thereupon the Spirits which execute the offices of the Vital and meer Natural function being there ill affected either Convulsions in the Viscera and Praecordia or mortal lettings of the Pulse and respiration are caus'd tho sometimes when the morbifick matter is neither too redundant nor too malignant it is partly drank up again into the Blood and partly discuss'd so that the Diseased perfectly recover The Therapeutick method suggests the same intentions of Healing and indicates altogether the sanie Remedies which are wont to be used in the Apoplexy Wherefore it will not be needful to set down here Classes of Indications or to heap together a mighty mass of Medicines but that which seems more to the purpose I shall here propose a story or two of Persons diseased whereof I have a great many ready to relate A worthy man about forty years of age having lost his health through intemperance when he had begun to use I know not what Remedies prescribed by an Empirick fell into a Carus haply because the morbifick matter being stirr'd and agitated by the Medicine rush'd into the Brain Going to see him the second day I found him buried in a profound sleep and almost insensible for tho upon hard pinching or pricking he opened his Eyes and mov'd his Limbs yet presently falling asleep again he perceiv'd nothing at all of what he did or endur'd
a serous glut of filth gets by degrees into the Brain together with the Nervous Juice and when at length it has penetrated deeply into it it defiles these pure Medullae and greatly stuffs its Pores So that the Animal Spirits do not display their beams with a light that is clear and full but such as is weak and broken with many little Clouds as it were scattered here and there In an habitual and inveterate Vertigo the conjunct cause comprehends both these as it appears from the things that give relief or prove offensive For I observe that that affect is altered for the better or worse on two kinds of occasions For whatsoever things inwardly taken engender turgid Particles and such as are too exorbitant and apt to be troubled as Wines Strong Waters pepper'd and flatulent meats in a manner always affect vertiginous Persons nor do they find less injury by reason of occasions by which the Brain is fill'd and stuffed as are surfeiting sleeping at Noon or too long in the morning a Southerly Wind a moist misty and thick Air a low seated and marshy habitation and on the contrary the same are very much relieved by a thin and light Diet a clear Air and an open Country exposed to the Winds If we enquire into the procatarctick Cause of this Evil viz. for what morbid predisposition this double evil is wont to be brought on the Spirits residing in the middle part of the Brain we find that here both the Brain with the nervous Liquor and the Blood with the Humours residing in it are in the fault It is a common fault of the latter that degenerating from its due Crasis into a sharp or otherwise vitious temper it perverts the nutritive juyce and likewise heaps together within it a Serum and filthy dregs of various kinds which it is ready to discharge on the Head The fault of the Brain is that its temper is moist and weak its texture loose and not firm and has its Pores more open than they ought and too much gaping so that any heterogeneous and elastick Particles and likewise serous or otherwise morbid recrements being sent from the Blood into the Head are easily admitted into the Brain together with the nervous juyce and by reason of its passages being too open descend without obstacle into the midst of it viz. the Corpora callosa and striata Moreover such as are of a tender Constitution easily contract this vertiginous disposition for the Spirits of the Brain being weak and unable to resist foreign incursions yield a passage to any matter coming thither Again to others tho robust Persons a disorderly Diet a sedentary Life frequent surfeiting also immoderate Sleep and Studies likewise the Scurvy an inveterate Cachexia Fevers of long continuance and other Cephalick Diseases often bring this ill habit of the Brain As to the prognostick of this Disease every new Vertigo for the most part is void of danger but being habitual and continual tho it seldom threatens a great or imminent danger yet because it admits not but a long and very difficult Cure it most commonly so tires both the Diseas'd and the Physician that before the Disease can be cur'd one grows weary of the other A primary Vertigo seated in the fore-part of the Head which scarce at all causes a dizziness or falling on the ground being more safe and curable is often chang'd into a Head-ach sometimes also it goes off of its own accord by a bleeding at the Nose or a Flux of the Hemorrhoids and is often removed by Physick A vertiginous affect arising in the hinder part of the Head and intercepting the irradiations of the Spirits into the Nerves being far more dangerous often passes into an Apoplexy or Palsey or into Convulsive Diseases A Therapeutick Method does not properly belong to a Symptomatick Vertigo It will only be necessary that certain Cephalick Remedies for discussing the Clouds of the Brain and appeasing the disorders of the Spirits be joyn'd to the first things indicated or rather to speak according to the capacity of the vulgar which we must sometimes tho only for shew that certain Medicines against vapours be added to them An Accidental Vertigo or any other that is new for the most part is cur'd only by Blooding and a gentle Purge sometimes repeated Nevertheless for the more certain extirpation of the disease let Cephalick Remedies likewise such as shall presently be written be carefully administred For the Cure of an Habitual Vertigo and such as is become inveterate in a manner the like method ought to be ordered as against most other Cephalick Diseases Which suggests these three chief intents of Healing viz. first we must endeavour that all fuel of that Disease being cut off the Brain may continue free from any new afflux of morbifick matter for which end a due form of dyet being ordered sometimes bleeding and very often a gentle Purge given at due intervals of time will conduce Let a dry and well ventilated Air be chosen let immoderate and unseasonable sleep and studies be shunn'd let morning and evening draughts be wholly forborn Instead of the former let a draught of Coffee or Tea be given with the Leaves of Sage boyl'd in them let an Issue be made in the Leg or Arm and sometimes let the Hemorrhoid Vessels be open'd by Leeches Let the Person affected always rise early in the morning and wash his Temples and Sinciput with cold Water and rub them with a course Cloth The second Therapeutick Intention will be to remove the Procatarctick cause of the Vertigo wherefore let it be endeavoured both that the Cacochymical dyscrasy of the Blood be taken away and that the weak and over-lax constitution of the Brain be corrected In order to the former Remedies powerfully altering as temperate Antiscorbuticks Chabyleats and sometimes Spaw-waters or Whey are proper To which always by reason of the latter thing indicated let Cephalick Medicines viz. such as are prepar'd of Coral Amber man's skull the root of male Peony Mistletoe Peacocks dung and the like forms of which we shall presently give you be added The third Intention and which is properly curatory attempts the taking away of the conjunct Cause of this Disease tho it ceases for the most part of its own accord upon the removal of the procatarctick Causes For if the passage of every extraneous matter into the Brain be cut off nothing will hinder but that the Spirits being as pure as may be and having gotten free and open spaces within the Corpus callosum may flow thence every way However that we may prosecute this scope of curing together with the former we must also interchangeably use Medicines endow'd with a volatile Salt whose Particles being very subtle and active refresh the animal Spirits of which kind chiefly are the Spirits of Harts-horn Soot Sal Armoniack impregnated with Amber man's skull c. the tinctures of Coral Amber Antimony the Elixir of Peony c. These
things being thus premitted concerning the Vertigo in general it seems likewise proper for us to delineate a therapeutick method more particularly and to give an orderly process of it And first it shall be shewn what is to be done in the Fit for curing it and then what out of the Fit for preservation 1. As to the former tho an invasion of the Vertigo how violent soever it may seem for the most part is free from danger and often passes off easily of its own accord yet because those that are affected with it fearing themselves a dying desire Physical Aid in such a case if the Pulse indicates it a Clyster being premitted let bleeding be ordered then a Vesicatory being applied to the Neck let strong-smelling things as Castoreum Spirit or volatile Salt of Harts-horn Vrine or Sal Armoniack be presently held to the Nostrils moreover let those Spirits be given twice or thrice a day with a convenient dose of a Cephalick Julep going to bed let a bolus of Mithridate with powder of Castoreum be taken the day following if the affect be not yet gone let a gentle Purge be given or if the Diseas'd be inclined or easie to vomit let an Emetick be taken than which there is scarce any Remedy more excellent Take Pillulae de Succino twenty five grains Rosm of Jalap six grains Tartar vitriolat seven grains Balsam of Peru what suffices make four Pills to be taken going to bed or early in the morning or Take Sulphur of Antimony five grains Cream of Tartar half a scruple Castoreum two grains make a powder to be taken with governance expecting a vomiting That Vomits often do good in the Vertigo besides the testimony of Authors it sufficiently appears also by common observation and since vertiginous Persons vomit often of their own accord hence an opinion has grown amongst many that the cause of this Disease lies hid in a manner alwayes in the Stomach but we have shewn elsewhere that this is otherwise and that the vomiting frequently happens by reason of the Spirits being troubled in the Brain Now the reason why Emeticks do good in this Disease is that by this kind of Medicine both a very great Revulsion is made of Humours from the Brain and that the Spirits there being in a tumult are presently restrain'd When the Membranes and Fibres of the Ventricle and the Viscera placed near it are twitcht various Humours viz. the nervous serous lymphick pancreatick and bilous are drawn into those Parts and so dreined that the Brain continues free from their Incursions nay and easily throws off a great many then sticking in it Then as to the animal Spirits we have shewn elsewhere that there is alwayes a very great communication and intimate accord betwixt those that reside in the Stomach and those of the Brain so that a grateful or ingrateful affect of the Stomach from things taken causes erections or dejections of the Spirits residing in the Brain Opiats whilst remaining in the Stomach bring a sleepiness so in the Vertigo and other Cephalick Diseases it will not conduce a little to the redressing and regulating of the Spirits in the Brain when all in confusion and mightily agitated if their consociates or relations be put in a consternation within the Ventricle by an irritating Medicine for whilst for the aid of these a great many are call'd from the Brain the others remaining remit of their disorders and resume their ancient Offices doubtless it is chiefly for this reason that Emeticks often give great Relief in affects of the Mania insomuch that certain Empiricks use in a manner those alone 2. But returning from this small digression let us consider what is to be done for curing an inveterate and almost continual Vertigo out of the Fit therefore in the first place a method being ordered concerning blooding and purging to be us'd and repeated at fit intervals of time according to the Constitution and strength of the Patient I also use to advise that a Vomit if nothing indicates the contrary be taken once a Month for which end to weak Persons after the Stomack 's being fill'd with light food let Wine and Oximel of Squills be given to two or three ounces and afterwards let posset-drink with Carduus leaves boyl'd in it be drank in a great quantity and let it presently be thrown up again with a spontaneous or forced vomiting To others let an Emetick be given of Salt of Vitriol or of the Infusion of crocus Metallorum Concerning Issues Vesicatories the opening of the hemorrhades also of a Plaister or Cap to be worn on the Head and of topicks to be apply'd to the soles of the Feet or to the Wrists for revulsion or derivation let a Physician deliberate Take Conserve of the Flowers of male Peony six ounces powder of its Roots an ounce Peony seeds powdered two drams Amber Coral Pearl powdered of each two drams and a half Salt of Coral a dram Syrup of coral what suffices make an Electuary The Dose is a dram and a half or two drams in the evening and early in the morning drinking after it three ounces of the following distilled Water Take fresh leaves of Mistletow six handfuls roots of male Peony Angelica of each a pound and half the white dung of Peacocks two pounds Cardamum bruised two ounces Castoreum three Drams all being slic'd small and mixt together pour to them of White wine or of Whey prepar'd of it eight pounds distill it with common Organs let the whole Liquor be mix'd Take powder of the root of male Peony half an ounce red Coral prepar'd Species Diambroe of each a dram and half powder of male Peony flowers fresh bruised and dried in the Sun a dram make a powder to which add of double resin'd Sugar dissolved in Peony water and boyled to a consistency for Tablets ten ounces make Tablets according to Art weighing half a dram let one or two be taken often in a day Because all things do not agree with all Persons but a Physician ought to assay divers Medicaments and insisting on a various Method at one time to try these Medicines another those therefore I shall here set down certain forms of another kind Take our Syrup of Steel six ounces let a spoonful be taken in the Morning and at five of the Clock with three ounces either of the distilled Water even now described or of some other Cephalick Water or take from fifteen to twenty drops of our Syrup of Steel with a draught of the same distilled Water twice a day I have known these things to have given great Relief to many Sometimes let doses of the Spirits of Soot Harts-horn or Sal Armoniack impregnated with Amber Coral or Mans Scull or let tincture of Amber Antimony or Coral be daily given after the same manner Take Powder of the Roots of male Peony an ounce and a half Peony Seeds Coral prepared white Amber of each three Drams Pearl prepared Powder of male Peony
is either in fieri or in its disposition or in facto or in its habit both require a peculiar way of Cure Of the former there are two chief cases in both of which the Therapeutick method regarding only the Procatarctick causes is ordered after the like manner to wit whether any Person be in danger of being seiz'd with the Palsey or recovering from it be in hazard of a relapse we must insist in a manner on the same Medicines Therefore the Intentious of Curing must be first that the functions of Chylification and Sanguification being duly perform'd a laudable matter for the generation of Animal Spirits be sent to the Brain in a sufficient plenty and then secondly that the Brain being still firm and of a due conformation admits into it and duly exalts into Animal Spirits all apt particles excluding such as are heterogeneous for these ends we have thought good to propose the following method which ought to be varied according to the various constitutions of the Diseased Spring and Fall let solemn courses of Physick be entred upon nay and the whole year besides let some Remedies be constantly used Bleeding is not generally proper for all Persons and if we forbid this it is not for the same reason with the Ancients supposing the Palsey to be a cold Disease but because the Animal Spirits are both engendred from the Blood and become elastick within the moving Fibres by reason of a sanguineous combination therefore if the store of this be lessened too much they will fail and flag Which truly I have observed in many and that for the most part in the Arm from which the Blood was drawn languishings and tremblings have begun Nevertheless a spare and moderate Bleeding sometimes agrees with some that are endued with a Blood that is hot and sharp and apt to too great effervescencies tho they are disposed to the Palsey About the Equinoxes purging ought to be ordered and to be repeated by due Intervals three or four times but in the first place let a Vomit if nothing indicates the contrary be given of Salt of Vitriol Sulphur of Antimony or an Infusion of crocus metallorum or Mercurius vitae afterward let Pillulae de succino or Aloephanginae be taken by themselves or with Rosm of Jalap every seventh or eighth day At other times let Cephalick Remedies such as we have prescribed for the sleepy affects viz Electuaries Powders Spirits and volatile Salts Tinctures Elixirs with distill'd Waters or Apozemes viz. sometimes these sometimes those or others be frequently used Let Issues be burnt in the Arm or Leg nay in gross and cachectical Persons together in both or near the Shoulder-blades Let a Physick-drink of Sage Betony Stoechas the wood Sassafras Winters bark c. be drank the whole year Wine and Venus ought either to be forbidden or to be allowed only sparingly But if the Palsey after a previous disposition in the whole or in one side or in certain members throughly seises and notwithstanding the first encounter of Physick comes on again for its cure a long and complicated method which is alwayes requisite often times does not suffice for not only the Disease or its conjunct or procatarctick Cause severally but all together must be assaulted for which ends blooding for the most part being forbidden only a gentle purge and that but now and then is proper Again and indeed chiefly against the Procatarxis of the Disease Cephaliâ—â— and Antiscorbutick Medicines are wont to do good but not all of these kinds agree with all Persons but as we have observed in the Scurvey according to the various Constitutions of the Diseas'd the Remedies also must be of a differing kind and vertue for with bilous paralyticks in whose sharp and hot blood there is much Salt and Sulphur and very little Serum hot Medicines and such as are endowed with very active Particles do not agree nay often prove offensive to them which nevertheless prove greatly beneficial to phlegmatick persons whose blood is colder and contains a great deal of Serum and a few active Elements Wherefore according to this two-fold state of the Diseased it seems fit for us to propose here a double method of Cure and two Classes of Medicines whereof this will do well to be given to cold paralyticks and the other to such as are hot In the former case for the removal of the procatarctick Cause after a Vomit and a Purge duely ordered I advise to be prescribed according to the following forms Take Conserve of the leaves of Garden Scurvy-grass and of Rochet made with an equal part of Sugar of each three ounces Ginger condited in the Indies an ounce the yellow coats of Oranges and Limons preserv'd of each six drams powder of the Claws and Eyes of Crabs of each four Scruples species diambroe two drams winters-bark a dram and a half roots of Zedoary the lesser Galingal Cubebs the seeds of Garden-cresses rochet of each a dram Spirit of Scurvy-grass and of Lavender of each two drams Syrup of the conditure of Ginger what suffices make an Electuary Let the quantity of a Walnut be taken at eight a clock in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon drinking after it a pound of the following decoction or six ounces of the Tincture of Coffee with the Leaves of Sage boyled in it or three ounces of Viper-wine Take Raspings of Guaiacum six ounces Sarzaparilla Sassafras of each four ounces red and yellow Saunders shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each half an ounce infuse them according to art and boyle them in sixteen pounds of fountain-Water to a half adding Crude Antimony powdred and tyed in a Nodulus four ounces roots of Calamus Aromaticus the lesser Galingal of each half an ounce Florentine Orris an ounce Cardamum six drams Coriander seeds half an ounce six Dates make a Decoction and let it be used for ordinary drink Going to Bed and early in the Morning let a dose be taken either of the Spirit of Soot or of Harts-horn of Sal Armoniack succinated of Blood c. with three ounces of the following distilled Water Take of the Leaves or Roots of Aron a pound Leaves of Garden Scurvy-grass the greater Rochet Rosemary Sage Savory Time four handfuls Flowers of Lavender three handfuls the outward rinds of ten Oranges and six Limons Winters bark three Ounces Roots of the lesser Galingal Calamus Aromaticus Florentine Orris of each two ounces Cubebs Cloves Nutmegs of each an ounce all being slic'd and bridsed pour to them of White-wine and Brunswick Beer of each four pounds let them be distilled with common Organs and let the whole Liquour be mixt Sometimes instead of the Electuary for fifteen or twenty dayes let a dose of the Tincture of Sulphur terebinthinated or the Tincture of Antimony or of Amber sometimes also let the Elixir Proprietatis or of Peony be taken in a spoonful of the distilled Water drinking after it three ounces of the same Sometimes also let the
for her sake mean while he does not only neglect the care of Domestick or Publick Concerns and even of his own Salvation but being frustrated of his Desire often layes violent hands on himself or if he be content to live and survive pining away both in Body and Mind he almost deposes man for the use of right Reason being lost omitting Meat Drink and Sleep and the other necessary offices of Life he yields up himself wholly to sighing and sobbing and to a mournful habit and gesture of Body If we enquire into the reason of this affect we easily find that the Corporeal Soul of Man being obnxious to violent Passions when it is wholly carried forth into an Object most dear to it viz. a Woman belov'd and is not able to get and embrace her it is delighted or contents it self with nought besides also paying no obedience to the Rational Soul it wholly grows deaf and does not hear its Dictates and crowding the Imagination only with Tragical Notions it dulls the edge of the Understanding Moreover in as much as the Praecordia a plentiful afflux of Spirits be ing denied to them fail as to their Motions the Blood heap'd together in the Sinus's of the Heart and apt to stagnate causes there a great heaviness and oppression and consequently Sighs and Groans mean while the Face and outward Members by reason of the afflux of Blood and Spirits withdrawn from them grow pale and languish hence it is commonly said of Desperate Lovers that their Heart is broken to wit in as much as this Muscle being not vigorously enough actuated with the Animal Spirit vibrates slowly and weakly and does no longer send forth the Blood with vigour into all the Parts Such disorder of the animal Function as an excessive Love brings concerning the Acquisition of its Object the like in a manner is brought by Jealousy concerning the keeping of the same when gotten so that always viz. both in the Fruition and in the Desire Res est solliciti plena Timoris Amor. That Soul if it be not secure of its most dear prey presently growing troubled casts a Cloud and Darkness on its own sereness and afterward being infected with a bilous Tincture every Object seems to it ting'd of a yellow colour for as a ferment of the Stomack grown sharp perverts all things taken into it into its own Nature so the affect of jealousy once risen turns all Accidents and Circumstances to a food for its own venom and since in this affect the sensitive Soul being bent awry as it were does not become conformable to its Body therefore the oeconomy of the Animal Vital and vegetative Functions being depraved the jealous Man raves and pines away Superstition and despair of eternal Salvation are wont to imprint almost the like affects of Melancholy on the sensitive Soul the Blood and the Body as Love and Jealousie but somewhat after a differing way of affecting for in those the Object whose acquisition or loss is in danger is wholly immaterial and its affect being first conceiv'd by the Rational Soul is imprinted on the other Corporeal Soul in the prosecution of which if this readily obeys then no disturbance of the mind of Man arises but if the Corporeal Soul shewing a reluctancy as it often falls out the Rational still presses with advice and threats presently that growing troubled stirs the Blood and Spirits in a disorderly manner opposes the Corporeal goods and delights to the Spiritual presented by the Understanding and endeavours to draw the man to its side And as thus there is a continual bickering between the two souls and sometimes the Will is superiour sometimes the Sensitive appetite prevails at length a Court of Conscience is set up by the Mind where every act is narrowly examined By reason of these frequent variances of the Souls the Animnal Spirits as being too much and almost continually exercis'd being often commanded and as it were distracted now this way and now that way at length fall somewhat from their vigour and good disposition and at last being become fixt and melancholick in as much as they are with-held from their wonted Expansion they form bye and unusual Tracts in the Brain and so bring a Delirium with a mighty Fear and Sadness in those kinds of affects the corporeal Soul being violently drawn away as it were both separates from the Body and being modified according to the character of the Idaea imprinted is wont to assume a new Species either Angelical or Diabolical mean while the Understanding for as much as the Imagination suggests to it only disorderly and monstrous Notions is wholly perverted from the use of right Reason After a like manner of affecting as this it happens that some melancholy Persons undergo imaginary Metamorphoses either as to their Fortunes or their Bodies viz. Whilst one imagines himself and acts a Prince another a Beggar another believes himself to have a Body of Glass and another thinks himself a Dog or a Wolfe or some other Monster for after that the corporeal Soul being affected with a long continued melancholy the Mind being blinded is wholly fallen both from it self and the Body she affects a new species or Condition and as much as in her lyes really assumes it CHAP. XI Instructions and Prescripts for curing Madness or the Mania AFter Melancholy it remains for us to treat of Mdness which is so far ally'd to the other that these affect often change turns and each passes into the other for A melancholy disposition growing worse brings a Fury adn a Fury coming to abate often ends in a melancholy disposition Since Madness raised withot a Fever and with â—â—â—ighty annoyance of the animal Function is wont to be continual and long-lasting its next and immediate subject must be the animal Spirits which being affected not per consensum nor by another thing forcibly moving them but per se and habitually fall from their proper and genuine Dissposition viz. salino-spirituous into a salino-sulphureous nature resembling Aqua Stygia as we have hinted before and consequently they exert none but disorderly Actions and continue so acting amiss for a long time to this their Fault haply the Brain the Blood or other parts contribute something but the Spirits themselves are first and chiefly in the fault Concerning Maniacal Persons we must observe that thefe three things are in a manner common to them all viz. First that their Fancies or Imaginations are perpetually occupied with the raging of impetuous Thoughts so that mumbling to themselves or crying out and yelling they talk aloud various things both Day and Night Secondly that their Motions or Conceptions are either incongruous or are represented under a false or erroneous Species to them Thirdly that with their raving a Boldness and Fury are most commonly joyned contrary to what it is in melancholy Persons who are always astected with a Fear and Sadness The Depravation or maniacal Disposition of the animal Spirits together
the animal Spirits being very exorbitant and vehemently moved both fortifie the Imagination that no Object seems greater or more terrible to it than usual and actuate the Praecordia with Vigour so that they strongly and swiftly convery the Blood and briskly drive it into the outmost bounds of the Body In this affect the Soul strives to outgoe and to springit self as it were beyond the circumference of the Body and so making an effort every way it bears it self undaunted against any incursions of exteriour things 2. The Reason why mad Persons are strong to a miracle is that Particles as it were nitrosulphureous or otherwise very sharp or as it were Stygian ar contained in their Blood and nervous Juice whence the animal Spirits excell in a stupendous and incredible elastick or explosive force far above the natural 3. It is to be observed that mad Persons are hardly ever wearied for tho by raging and striving they strongly exercise their Limbs for many dayes and Nights and in the mean while live without eating and sleeping they scarce at all faulter nor desist from their strugling through a failure of Strength which doubless so happens for as much as the animal Spirits tho very movable and elastick yet are not volatile and easily dissipable but by reason of the saline Particles depress'd from their volatility into a flowing state and being combin'd with the sulphureous ones become firm and fixt and therefore hold out veryling in their Activity 4. Almost for the same reason many Persons how much soever they suffer or are afflicted are not hurt but endure Cold Heat Watchings Fastings Stripes and Wounds without any sensible dammage because the Spirits being strong and fixt do not faulter nor flye away Moreover the Blood having got a nitrosulphureous dyscrasy is incapable of any other change wherefore tho insensible transpiration be stopt and other solemn evacuations are supprest or supplyes of te nutritive Juice are deny'd neither a Catarrh nor Feaver nor an Atrophia or Cacochymia lightly ensue upon Madness for in this affect tho the Particles of the Blood are grown very turgid yet by reason of the store of Salt they do not take to a feverish Flame As to the prognostick of Madness since the affected are never obnoxious to a Fever nor to oter Diseases besides nor are easily hurt by outward Accidents it is not a mortal Disease of it self but is very of Cure because a great alteration is to be made in the Blood and Spirits and the Diseased are refractory to any method of Cure being Enemies both to the Physicians and themselves If the Madness be inveterate or hereditary or be caus'd by the bite of a mad Dog it admits of a perfect Cure with difficulty or not at all that which is rais'd through some occasion whether it be from an evident cause alone or comes upon a Fever also on which the Itch Small Pox Hemorrhoids or Varix's happen is more easily Cured Those that are obnoxious to this Disease at times are very much in danger about the Summer Solstice or in the Dog days also in great changes of the Air as when long colds or heats are changed into opposite constitutions of the Heavens Since there are two kinds of Madness to with a continual and intermittent one the method of Curing also ought to be twofold 1. The Therapeutick method to be used in a continual Mania suggests to us the three primary Indications so vulgarly known viz. the first Curatory which regarding the Disease if self endeavours to correct or appease the furies and exorbitancies of the Aniaml Spirits The second preservatory which levelling at the causes of the Disease undertakes to remove or amend the sharp and nitrosulphureous Dyserasies of the Blood and the Nervous juice and the Stygian disposition as it were of the Spirit The third Vital which directs such a way of Dyet and resumptive nourishment that both the nutritive and vital functions may be able to be carried on and maintain'd as is barely necessary in this Disease The first Indication viz. Curatory requires Discipline viz. threats bindings or stripes as well as Physick and therefore the mad Person being put into a House fit for that purpose let him be so managed both by the Physician and prudent attendants that he be kept in a manner always in his due behaviour and in meet gestures and motions either by advice chiding or by punishments now and then inflicted on him and indeed there is nothing more efficacious or necessary for curing mad Persons than that they always dread and stand in awe of certain Tortures as it were for by this means the Corporeal Soul being somewhat deprest and restrained is forced to remit of its haughtiness and exorbitancy and therefore afterward grows mild by degrees and is reduced to order Wherefore mad men are sometimes sooner and more certainly cured by punishments and tortures in a pent up room than by Physick or Medicines But withal such a course of Physick also ought to be us'd which may restrain and bring down the haughtiness of the Corporeal Soul Wherefore in this Disease Blooding Vomitories and Catharticks how strong soever they are and given at rovers and boldly very often do good Which indeed manisestly apperars because Empyricks only with this kind of Physick together with governanace and a severe discipline often successfully cure Mad-men Tho this rough way of handling does not so well agree with all mad persons but chiefly with such as are raving mad oters being more remissly mad are often cured by fair usage and gentle Medicines But in most mad persons it is both the common voice and general practice to bleed plentifully about the beginning of the Disease and indeed it will be good now and then to repeat it as far as the strength will bear and sometimes to perform the operation in the Arm sometimes in the Jugular Vein Forehead or Foot and sometimes to open the Hemorrhoid Vessels by Leeches For these evacuations being seasonably made both the exorbitancies of the Spirits and te haughtiness of the Soul are excellently supprest and likewise the Dyscrasies of the Blood are corrected in regard that a new and more mild springs up in the place of that which was taken away being sharp and corrosive That Vomits also do great good in curing mad persons it is past even into a Proverb so that all Hellebore nay all Anticyra is assign'd to them After what manner Emeticks often do good in Cephalick Diseases we have shewn before Quacks in this case giving a large dose of Stibium tho it be rashly and dangerously yet have often success In truth Chymical things best agree here both because they move more powerfull and because the Disased may be deceived more easily by them Take sulphur of Antimony from eight grains to ten Cream of Tartar half a scruple mix them by grinding them together make a Powder let it be given in a spoonful of Panada or if it must be