Distemper hath continu'd to a long durance it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous Passages of the Muscles that thereby Lameness and an Atrophy soon succeeds increasing the Weakness of all the Members of the Body till at length it ends in a Paralitical resolution of them 2. If a pregnant Woman or a Woman after Abortion be afflicted with this grievous evil it is very dangerous and many times mortal As for the Cure we must endeavour to ease the pain and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition The pain may be eased and diminish'd as well by internal as external Anodynes and Narcoticks to allay the violent Motion of the Animal spirits and abate the grievous Spasms succeeding The following Cordial Diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this Case Take the Waters of Fennel Peony Treacle of each one ounce Syrups of Stoechas Peony Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Tincture of Castor two drachms Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Cloves of each four drops Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent taking of this Volatile and Anodyne Sudorifick the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht and the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits will be reduc'd and brought to tranquillity by which the binding Constrictions of the Belly-ach will be the easier remov'd Bathing in this distemper hath been often us'd with admirable success for by the frequent use thereof the cutaneous and muscular Fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted Spasms but the pores will be also kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring Particles A natural Bath such as is in the City of Bathe is excellent but when it is not to be had an artificial Bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd For example Take of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Betony Chamomel Bays Rhue Time Hyssop Ground-pine Organ Penny-royal Sage sweet Marjoram of each six handfulls Flowers of Stoechas Chamomel Melilot of each four handfulls Roots of Pellitory of Spain Briony Master-wort Virginia Snake-root of each four ounces Spicknard Berries of Juniper and Bays of each two ounces Brimstone six pound Salt Niter two pound let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in twenty Gallons of Fountain-water till a third part be boiled away Let the sick be well bathed in it as often as strength will permit and let them sit therein as long as they may well bear the same Then let them be rub'd dry and remov'd into a Bed and let the affected parts be well anointed with this or the like fragrant Ointment Take Oil of Earth-worms Ointment of Orange-flowers Jessamy of each three ounces Oil of Mace by expression one ounce Oil of Juniper Bricks of each two drachms mix it As often as the Body is costive let a Suppository or carminative Clyster be administred to make it soluble Let the weakned parts be fortifi'd with the aforesaid unguent upon which apply a Plaster of Sylvius's carminative Emplaster spread on Leather which you may remove once in twenty four hours using warm frictions to the pained parts and apply the Plaster again and over it you may apply a Fox-skin drest which will keep the parts warm and conduce to the cure which course may be continu'd 'till strength be restor'd to the grieved Limbs CHAP. XI Of the Yellow Jaundice THE Yellow Jaundice is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab avicula quae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur quod ea oculos flavi vel aurei coloris habet It is also called Icterus in Latin it being a spreading of a yellowish Colour over the whole body It was the common received opinion of the Ancients that the chief cause of this Disease is an obstruction of the Cystick passage to the small Gut so that Choler is thereby wholly hindred in its natural descent wherefore it doth ascend to the Liver and so to the Bloud with which it is transfer'd to the habit and superficies of the body where it doth shew it self in its colours But it may be manifested from many observations and experiments both Anatomical and Practical that the Jaundice may be produc'd without an obstruction of the passage of Choler Although I suppose that the Jaundice may sometimes be rais'd by the aforesaid obstruction either by Choler it self most glutinous or lapidescent which I have had sufficient experience of having dissected several dead bodies in which I have found stones not onely in the Gall but Cystick passage also But on the contrary it hath been oft observ'd in dissecting Icterical people that the Cystick passage was not obstructed but the excrements were dyed yellow although not so much as usual Whence it is manifest that it may be bred without any obstruction in the passage aforesaid The causes then are either external or internal The external cause is the biting of a viper whose poison is of a subtile volatile and spirituous nature which doth soon render Choler over spirituous after the biting of the Serpent But the aforesaid poison being antipathetical to humane nature it doth presently endeavour to defend every individual part from the potent killing quality of the poison and therefore doth immediately send the balsamick bile to antidote the venome and in circulating with it the volatile salt of the Choler is broken by which it is less apt to effervesce with acids and therefore is easily joyned with the other humours being onely confus'd with the bloud by which the superficies of the whole Body becomes yellowish 2. Ebriety or the abuse of strong drink may be a procuring cause of this Disease because the volatile spirit of the drink may be too plenteously mixt with Choler which renders it spirituous by which it becomes less apt to effervesce with the acid juice of the Pancreas and hence most intirely to join it self with the other humours The internal cause is unexpected sorrow of mind by which all the humours become glutinous and viscous because the juice of the Pancreas is thereby made more tart It may be also caused by obstructions as is before mention'd either by Choler glutinous or lapidescent or by viscous phlegm c. If the cure be not hastened a Dropsie Cachexy or deadly pining will in a short time succeed If sorrow of mind be the cause it ought to be prevented as much as may be both by Philosophical and Theological reasons about any troublesome matters and by confirming the mind whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity This must also be observed in all other Diseases If Ebriety be the cause I commâ—nd Sobriety to cure it Sublata causa tollitur effectus If the humours be over viscous or glutinous the following Decoction will not onely alter and correct but mildly
ounce of the Electuary Caryocostinum Oil of Chamomel two ounces mix it for a Clyster Sour things and all that have a Lixivial salt either fixt or volatile and all Aromaticks do correct and amend the viscous Phlegmatick humours Let these forms serve for example Take the Waters of Baum and Mint of each three ounces Cinamon-water and aqua Coelestis of each half an ounce Syrup of Fennel and Mint of each six drachms Spirit of Salt as much as will make it of a gratefull taste mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often Take salt of Tartar vitriolated half a drachm Cream of Tartar one drachm white Sugar-candy two drachms make it into a fine Powder for four Doses which may be taken every morning and evening in white or Rhenish wine For the Rich you may prepare a medicinal Wine This may serve for example Take the Roots of Elicampane Calamus aromaticus of each one ounce of Rue Sage Vervain sweet Marjoram of each three handfulls Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed of each an ounce and half Orange-peel half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine It may be given to three or four ounces in the morning fasting with twenty drops of Elixir proprietatis you may also give it by it self at dinner and supper When the Wine is used fresh Wine may be put to the Ingredients for a second infusion But farther to correct and gently evacuate the viscous Phlegmatick humours This opening Apozeme is effectual Take of the five opening Roots of each two ounces Liquorish an ounce and half Guiacum half a Pound Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed the Berries of Bays and Juniper of each half an ounce Vervain Betony of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of Rain-water very hot for twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna of each four ounces tincture of Cinamon three ounces salt of Tartar vitriolated half an ounce mix it and give three ounces every morning fasting If there be need of stronger Physick you may administer these purging Pills Take of Extract Rudii pil foetidae Cochiae of each half a drachm Mercurius dulcis twenty grains mix it for three Doses If the pain be old and stubborn apply Vesiccatories to the Neck also Leeches to the Temples and Haemorrhoids or open the jugular or frontal Vein which hath often prov'd effectual Errhines Sternutatories and Apophlegmatisms may also be used and Ventoses with Scarification if need require Baths of Sulphur whether natural or artificial with Cephalick Herbs are good to bathe the Head and whole Body Some approve of the fume of Amber taken into the Mouth and Nostrils Also spirit of cranium humanum or spirit of salt Armoniack held to the Nose in a narrow-mouth'd Vial giveth present ease in all cold Pains of the Head Also you may touch the Nostrils and Temples with Oil of Amber or Nutmegs or apply this Epitheme to the Temples and Forehead with Linnen-rags Take the Waters of Vervain and Betony of each one ounce Vineger of Roses Ointment of Alabaster of each half an ounce Laudanum opiatum one scruple mix it Cold distempers of the head may also be corrected by hot Cephalicks quilted in a Cap for the Head Take of sweet Marjoram Stoechas Vervain Betony Sage Flowers of Chamomel of each one handfull Nutmegs Cloves Wood of Alloes the Roots of Galangal Cyperus Calamus aromat of each half an ounce let them be all beaten into Powder for a quilted Cap. Before you put it on let the Hair be shaved close and the Head gently rub'd for some time the better to open the pores Let the Sick abstain from fat and viscous Food and let the mind be compos'd to chearfulness If the Juice of the Pancreas abounding in the Body be over sour it causeth a vitious Effervescency being oppos'd by Choler and Phlegm in the small guts from whence sour and ungratefull vapours may be sent to the Stomach and thence to the Head If the humours be over sour the sense of hunger will be encreased notwithstanding the Pain of the Head This distemper is to be cur'd by giving those things which temper and amend the acid Juice in the Body and do prevent its encrease Those things abounding with either a lixivial or volatile salt do powerfully destroy this acid Juice as Pearl Crabs-eyes Coral Chalk Amber Bloud-stone Filings of steel c. Take this as a form of a Powder Take of Crabs-eyes Pearl red Coral prepar'd of each half a drachm white Sugar half an ounce let it be made into fine Powder for six Doses which may be taken morning and evening in two or three spoonfulls of the following Cordial Julep Take Waters of Baum and Mint of each three ounces Scurvigrass-water two ounces Cinamon-water Syrup of Worm-wood of each one ounce and half Oil of Juniper one drachm mix them together for a Julep of which you may also give two or three spoonfulls every fourth hour I prescribe no Purgers in this Distemper because I am taught by large Experience that the four Humours in the Body may be stirr'd up indeed but not purg'd unless with very great gripes which will doe more hurt than good The encrease of the acid Juice may be prevented by abstaining from the use of acids Let the Patient's diet be moist and fatty as fat Broths Jellies aromatiz'd c. When the Head-ach proceedeth from a hot cause if the Patient be costive first give this Clyster Take of Mercury Violets Lettice Mallows Dandelion of each one handfull Damask Prunes twenty let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two pints of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Electuary lenitive one ounce and half Oil of Lillies two ounces mix them for a Clyster After its operation you may open a Vein and draw eight or nine ounces of bloud Some Authours will not consent to Phlebotomy in any Head-ach except the Pain be intollerable but I have had sufficient Experience that it may be done safely in any Pain of the Head Elixir proprietatis taken in Wormwood-wine to the quantity of half a drachm at a time a little before meat doth wonderfully conduce to amend the vitious quality of Choler Choler may be evacuated by vomit most commodiously by Antimonial preparations Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce Oximel of Squills half an ounce Give it in the morning But if the Patient be averse to vomiting the Choler may be evacuated by stool by this or the like Cathartick Take of Baum-water one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrup of Roses solutive the best Manna of each half an ounce Powder of Cream of Tartar twenty grains Diagredium ten grains mix it for a Potion which may be given in the morning fasting Also these most gratefull Tablets of Scammony may be
wound or puncture the Oil of Turpentine with rectifi'd Spirit of Wine both actually hot as that famous Chyrurgeon Mr. Ambrose Parey adviseth in his ninth Book Chap. 11. of which I have had large experience with good success The like course may be taken with all other wounds of the nervous parts But if the wound of the Nerve or Tendon yield not to this medicine the same is to be cut asunder cross-ways seeing it is safer to lose the action of one part than that the sick should be exposed to the danger of a deadly Convulsion When the Nerves or Tendons of the Muscles are prickt by sharp splinters of bones the grievous pains succeeding soon cause a particular Convulsion of that part and at length an universal Convulsion will attend the Patient if there be not speedy help Wherefore if possible the sharp fragments of the bone must be cut away or if this have been neglected or could not be done and an universal Convulsion be feared you must hasten to amputation of the member For Necessitas non habet legem If a particular Convulsion be occasion'd by a hot Tumour or any other sharp pain which hath rais'd an inflammation let the pain be diminisht as well by internal as external Anodines and Narcoticks to allay the over encreas'd motion of the Animal spirits To this end you may give the sick two or three grains of Laudanum opiat at a time either in a Pill or dissolve it in a little Wine or other convenient Vehicle And if the ingenious and judicious Physician or Chyrurgeon do add a little volatile Salt either of Animals or Vegetables to his topical Medicaments whether fomentations Cataplasms or Ointments he will wonder at the incredible benefit for by the help thereof the Tumour will be mollified and dissolved the internal obstruction loosned and the pain eased If a Convulsion be caused by the taking of Hellebor or any other venemous matter administer an Antimonial vomit with all speed But if it be a Child give it ten grains of Salt of Vitriol or half an ounce of Oxymel of Squills with a drachm of Oil of Almonds After the operation of the Emetick and also at other times you may give some of this Julep Take of Black-cherry-water the Water of Line-flowers of each two ounces Briony-water compound Syrup of Peony of each one ounce Tincture of Castor half an ounce Confection of Alkermes one drachm Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three or four spoonfulls every fourth Hour Having briefly hinted at the Cure of particular Convulsions I come now to those more universal as likewise Convulsive motions and the Epilepsie And seeing there is little difference in the remote causes of them in the Body these diseases may for the most part be cured with the same Remedies 1. First then the peccant humours are to be temper'd and diminisht 2. The rising of vapours is to be hindred and their expulsion procur'd by sweat or insensible transpiration By which the over motion of the Animal spirits will be restrain'd and brought to tranquillity that is a more quiet motion All Aromaticks and all things abounding with either a fixt or volatile Salt do not onely correct and by cutting amend the viscous phlegmatick humours but do powerfully temper and destroy the over acidity and tartness of the juice of the Pancreas To temper and diminish these humours I commend these medicines Take the Roots of Male-peony Valerian Missletoe of the Oak and Peony-seeds of each two ounces Castor half an ounce let them be all bruised and infus'd in Peony-water compound the Water of Line-tree-flowers of each one pint for the space of twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add Syrup of Peony and Stoechas of each three ounces Spirit of Castor half an ounce mix it and give three spoonfulls at a time every fourth hour with which you may mix Spirit of Salt Armoniack Elixir proprietatis of each six drops Also you may give the Patient half a drachm of the following powder in three or four spoonfulls of this Infusion with the aforesaid Spirit and Elixir Take of Crabs-eyes Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt prunella of each half an ounce volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salt of Amber of Man's skull prepar'd of each two drachms make it into a fine powder which may be taken half a drachm at a time morning and evening The peccant humours being temper'd and diminisht by the frequent use of the abovesaid medicines the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits in Convulsive and Epileptick fits will be the better reduc'd to a calm and voluntary motion by the help of volatile and spirituous Sudorificks mixt with Anodines and Narcotick medicines us'd in a small quantity and at times which two will be expedient to be given together because then they will the better circulate to the Animal spirits and temper and educe the hurtfull flatuous Vapours For which I commend the following form Take of Treacle-water Fennel-water of each one ounce Syrup of Peony Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar mineral Crabs-eyes in powder of each ten grains Laudanum opiat four grains Tincture of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves three drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack ten drops mix it and let the sick take it being well cover'd with cloths whereby the sweat will the easier come forth If the Body be costive let it be made soluble by a Clyster or Suppository such as is prescrib'd in the cure of the Apoplexy As often as the Stomach is nauseous or the sick inclines to vomiting let the Emeticks before mention'd be carefully administred and likewise three or four days before the full of the moon But if the sick be averse to vomiting and Pills or Potions are more acceptable take the following as Examples Take of Extract Rudij pil foetidae ex duobus of each a drachm and half Castor black Hellebor prepar'd of each half a drachm Salt of Amber twenty grains Oil of Rosemary twenty drops with Syrup of Stoechas make it into a Mass for pills of which you may give half a drachm twice a week Also this purging Infusion is very effectual Take of the best Senna Rhubarb and Cream of Tartar of each an ounce and half Liquorish and the five opening Roots of each one ounce Guiacum China-roots of each six ounces Missletoe of the Oak Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed Bay-berries and Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be all bruised and infused in Black-cherry-water and the Water of Line-tree-flowers of each a quart very hot for the space of a Night then strain it very hard and add Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated half an ounce mix it Let the sick take four ounces of this purging Infusion every morning whereby the viscous humours and flatuous Vapours
Suffocation especially when they become Cachectick or of ill habit of Body and also they are cured with the same medicines that Women are cured with when they are vexed with this distemper therefore I think this suffocation may be more properly called Hypochondriacal It may be called the Mother of the Scurvy because the vital Principles in this disease are seduced to declension and deviation from their rectitude the digestive offices being all depraved The causes of these diseases are either external or internal The external are sometimes a sedentary studious and melancholy life by which the vital Principles do receive much prejudice decay and fall off from their functions and become languid and feeble also the Air being infested with noxious Vapours is a procuring cause of these distempers for such Air being drawn into the Body by inspiration doth commix with the spirits and debilitate and deprave the faculties from whence Scorbutick and Hypochondriack effects do ensue and as the Body is perspirable or impervious these diseases are more or less varied and remitted in their Symptoms and therefore the constipation of the pores prohibiting transpiration is a partial organical cause of preternatural Spots in the Scurvy which appear chiefly upon the Thighs and Legs not from the gravity of the material cause and ponderous propension of gross matter downwards but because those parts are more weak in their assimilation being remote from supply of vital Spirits therefore they have the first tokens of defection The internal Cause is a vitious quality of all the humours and also of the Animal spirits which are confus'd with the bloud and communicate their faultiness to it by which the bloud is also vitiated so that the nourishment of the Body is deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant in which the colour of the native Skin and especially of the face languisheth and is changed pale In these diseases not onely the appetite of food but its fermentation is also deprav'd wherefore Anxieties about the Midriff and Hypochondries and a pressing pain of the Heart will soon follow For when the food is ill fermented and driven forward through the small Gut it is confus'd with the Juice of the Pancreas and Choler which are a like vitious the Pancreatick juice being too sharp and acrid and the Bile over thick and salt from whence the separation of usefull and unusefull parts is not onely corrupted but also by the vitious Effervescency of these humours are rais'd manifold halituous Vapours which do not onely increase the fore describ'd Anxiety but being carried to the Heart do breed a Palpitation of it whence it circulates through the Lungs and causeth a difficulty of breathing and thence being driven every way it causeth a weariness in all parts of the Body and if an Acrimony of the humours do concur then it is manifested internally with pain The cause of the inordinate effervescency of Bloud in the Hypochondriack suffocation is not onely the unequal flowing of Lympha but also of the Liquour rising out of the threefold humours vitiously effervescing in the small Gut from whence vitious Vapours are sent to the right Ventricle of the Heart and procure a great Confusion and disturbance in it hence followeth a notable Palpitation of the Heart by which sometimes the Effervescency of Bloud seemeth to cease in the right Ventricle for a time with its motion and pulse and also respiration is taken away to outward sense The symptoms and signs of these diseases are very many yet are never seen to concur in one and the same Body The usual signs are pain of the Head palpitation of the Heart puffing up of the Stomach Loathing Vomiting Belching Hicket Cough Tumour and Putrefaction of the Gums with much spitting looseness and blackness of the Teeth and sometimes great pain in them the breath stinketh and is sometimes fetched with much difficulty also Convulsions Palsie Gout Dropsies and all other obstructions sometimes the Colick and trembling and looseness of the Lims with red purple spots dispersed also the Pleurisie pain of the Hypochondries and also of many of the external parts as the Neck Arms Hands Thighs Legs Feet and Anckles with laziness and often faint sweats there is also sometimes malign Ulcers dry hard Tubercles Erisipelas and Edematous tumours with many others which to enumerate were to comprehend an universal Genus of Atomes within a very narrow Limitation 1. These diseases for the most part are of long continuance and are seldom cured and therefore may be called the disgrace of Physicians 2. If the Patient hath a continual pain and giddiness of the Head it doth threaten an Epilepsie or Apoplexy 3. The more aged the sick are the more grievous are the Symptoms and the more dangerous and difficult to be cured 4. Vomiting Flux of the Belly and Hemorrhoids if they are moderate are hopefull signs of recovery In some Regions these diseases are complicated with most other distempers or at least do easily degenerate into them by which they are rendred the more difficult of curation As for the Cure of these stubborn and rebellious diseases the sick must observe a good diet without which Physical means will profit but little and here we may also observe that no Aliments or Medicines whether altering or purging will be very profitable unless specifick Antiscorbuticks be mixed with them The best Antiscorbutick simples are the Roots of Horse-radish Butter-bur Liquorish Dandelion Scorzonera China Zedoary Angelica Elicampane Polypodium the five opening Roots the Wood and Bark of Guiacum and Sassaphras the Herbs Scordium Scurvigrass Brook-lime Water-cresses Sorrel Rue Fennel Golden-rod and Penny-royal Fruits of Oranges Limmons Pomcitrons Pomgranates Apples c. Seeds of Mustard Angelica Radish and Juniper-berries cum-multis aliis of which may be prepared diversity of good medicines both Chymical and Galenical The volatile Salts both of Animals and Vegetables are excellent to open all obstructions and temper the humours Also Elixir proprietatis the Spirit of Salt Armoniack Horse-radish and Scurvigrass the Spirit of Niter and of Salt dulcified Salt of Steel Wormwood and Tartar Oil of Juniper Cloves and Cinamon are all Specifick Antiscorbuticks The Hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the Scurvy the same medicines are proper for both The following Julep is both Diaphoretick and Diuretick and very profitable for the sick in these diseases to be taken two or three days in a week Take the Waters of Penny-royal Scurvigrass Treacle Syrup of the juice of Fennel of each two ounces Tincture of Castor half an ounce Oils of Amber Mace and Cloves of each six drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours This Electuary may also be prefer'd Take of Conserves of Scurvigrass three ounces Confectio Alkermes half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes two drachms Flowers of Salt Armoniack Tarter vitriolated of each half a drachm Spirit of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves
part at least If any consider the several things that promote the growing together of natural things they will find that such force is in tart things whence the Glutinousness and Toughness of fluid things is wont to be produc'd to which if earthy and volatile salt parts be join'd something will be produc'd not much unlike Stones I incline therefore to this opinion that an earthy and salt matter join'd to that which is glutinous groweth together into Stones by help of a tart humour Also Gravel of all kinds that is usually seen in the bottom of Urine testifieth that the conglobated Glandules are all affected by a frequent external Cold or else by sour things taken in and when the Gravel is great it is then near to the Nature of Stones yea sometimes groweth together into Stones especially in cold phlegmatick Bodies where for the most part it giveth Stones their first rising and daily cherisheth their production and increaseth them and the more especially where a glutinous stone-making faculty doth concur in the Body Many Histories mention that Stones are produced from a stone-making Spirit or Breath out of the Earth which hath turned the Bodies of Men Beasts and other things into Stone Riverius in his last edition quoteth Aventius Annal. Bavar lib. 7. Anno 1343. who saith that above fifty Men with many Cattle were turned into Stone Ortelius telleth the like story that whole Herds in Russia have been turned into Stone And Camerarius reporteth that in the Province of Chilo in Armenia at the blast of a South-wind which happeneth four times in a Year whole Troops of Horse have been turned into Statues of Stone standing in the same warlike Posture in which they were marching Children are most inclinable to this Monster in Nature because they have much moisture and weak digestions which generate Crudities Stones are generated in many parts of the Body as the Gall Reins Bladder c. I once opened a Woman that had sixty four Stones in her Gall. I also dissected another whose Ureters were stony and out of her Gall I took out a large Stone and a small one about the bigness of a Hazle-nut out of the Neck of the Gall. 1. These distempers are very dangerous and bring many sad Symptoms to the afflicted Patient as great pain inflammations exulcerations long watchings weakness fevers suppression of Urine and Death it self 2. Pain from acrid Lympha c. may be cured in those that are young if the strength be not too much dejected nor the Disease hereditary That we may now address our selves to the Cure of these grievous Diseases I would advise those who are not very skilfull in the Art of Physick to forbear giving of any thing in these Distempers without the Advice of an experienc'd Physician for I believe many Stones have been bred in those Bodies who before were free from it and were onely troubled with Nephritick pains by the frequent taking of ill Medicines for many Remedies have been invented to dissolve the Stone but experience teacheth that they are most of them inimical to the Reins and Bladder and debilitate their Ferment The solvent of the Stone ought to be homogenious and so singular that it submit not to any digestions or fermental Powers through which it passeth in its way to the parts affected for the Virtue of all common Remedies taken at the Mouth are alter'd and transmuted in passing three digestions For acid things from which much hath been hoped as soon as they are past the Stomach lose their acidity and are converted into a saline Nature so that the dissolving Power of the acid is wholly transmuted before it gets either to the Reins or Bladder Likewise those Medicines which are injected into the Bladder with a Syringe ought to be agreeable to its Ferment that it may not be painfull thereto for if but a small quantity of any sharp Medicine be injected it stirreth up an intolerable Strangury it being wholly foreign to the Ferment of the part And seeing the Stone and all other Distempers of the Reins and Bladder are wont to be bred and increased in length of time the Remedies which you administer must be long us'd before you may have experience of their effects I will here set down some choice Medicines not onely to hinder the increase but to dissolve small Stones in humane Bodies if they be long enough us'd Amongst which we may deservedly attribute the first place to Spirit of Niter seeing Stones of any kind are so easily and manifestly broken and dissolved by it which may commodiously be mixt in any ordinary Drink or Wine and Broths c. to a light acidity whose excellent effects all may admire If the Patient have a costive Body you may give the following Lenitive three or four times in a week Take of Cassia newly drawn one ounce Venice Turpentine half an ounce Crystal prepar'd Salt of Tartar vitriolated of each one drachm Oil of Juniper Spirit of salt Armoniack of each four drops Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it for two doses The following is also very effectual Take of Cio-turpentine half an ounce Powder of Rhubarb one drachm the Yelk of one egg mix it for two doses give it in the morning fasting and drink four ounces of this Julep after it Take the Decoction for Syrup of Marsh-mallows one quart the waters of Horse-radish Pellitory of the Wall Speedwell Winter-cherries Syrups of Marsh-mallows and the five opening Roots of each two ounces Crystal prepar'd Salt Prunella of each half an ounce tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms Spirit of Niter twenty drops Laudanum ten grains mix it and give four or five spoonfulls of it often This Powder is also excellent Take Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms Powder of Crabs-eyes Salts of Pigeons-dung Broom Beanstalks Wormwood of each half a drachm mix it and give twenty grains of it every morning and evening in the foremention'd Julep If the Patient be plethorick Phlebotomy may be used with good success If a Stone chance to stick in the Ureter which causeth numbness by its pressing upon the Muscle Psoas and the Nerves In this Case apply a Ventose on os Ilium which may bring the Stone by degrees into the Bladder afterward anoint the parts grieved with Rabbets fat If the Stone in the Bladder be very big there is little hopes of dissolving of it wherefore if the Patient being in continual pain be willing to submit to Lithotomy I advise them to make choice of an experienc'd Artist lest by Precipitancy the Operatour neglect to cleanse the Bladder after the Extraction of the Stone by the neglect of which many have generated the Stone again and have been forced to endure that dreadfull operation the second and sometimes the third time under which many have died and others who recovered have never held their Urine In other Nephritick pains if the fleshy parts of the Kidneys be obstructed they
pain is in them But if that part of the small gut which riseth up from the Loins and Mesenterie Towards the left Hypochondrium be afflicted with rendings and distensions with a notable hardness this is attributed to the Spleen even by some Physicians although without any solid reason when indeed this distending pain is altogether Hypochondriacal If the pain be in the Gut Ileon it is thence called Iliaca Passio which hath been already treated of Whatsoever pain is rais'd in the Gut Colon may be called Colica Passio These may be distinguish'd from one another chiefly from the situation of either Gut For the Gut Ileon is for the most part contorted hither and thither up and down about the region of the Navel and from thence a little upward but the Colon from the Navel downward the pain of the Cholick generally pressing to the bottom of the Belly as well as to each side and the Back c. according as the Gut is writhed which is almost in the manner of a Roman S. being roll'd to the Navel and from thence with a remarkable winding through the middle of the Belly it is writh'd to the left kidney and groin and so down to the Os sacrum and bladder and ends in the right Gut whence the pain rising in the circuit and circumference of the Belly below the Navel may truly be called Cholical Sometimes there is a hot distending pain with pulsation and inflammation in the latter part of the thick Guts called Rectum and this is either with a troublesome rending as in the internal or blind Hemorrhoids or else it is a corroding pain accompani'd with more or less itching perpetually provoking to siege as in the Tenesmus which oft times follow a Dysentery or bloudy flux In these various pains of the Guts there is one while a hot burning with pulsation and other whiles a cold chilness seemeth to be fixt pricking and as it were boring the bowels sometimes there is a distension of the bowels pressing them with a sense of weight wonderfully writhing and contorting them with such a tearing corroding pain that the sick cannot give an explanation of the grief and misery which they endure The causes are either external or internal The external are wounds or contusions caused by external violence The internal causes are divers sometimes Worms may be the cause But a burning pain is produced either by an obstruction of the Capillary veins of the Stomach or Guts by which the bloud is forc'd to stand still in the vessels till at length after a great distension the vessels burst and the bloud is effus'd which breedeth an inflammation and a manifest pulsation about the part affected by which it may be distinguish'd from any other Kind But for the most part a burning and corroding pain riseth from Choler too fat powerfully and vitiously raising an effervescency with the juice of the Pancreas too acid as experience teacheth in outward things for if you pour Spirit of Vitriol to oil of Turpentine it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning This burning pain is chiefly felt in the region of the Loins because there is the conflux of Choler and the juice of the Pancreas and from thence ariseth vitious sharp vapours which produce griping pains of the Stomach and pricking pains in the Guts as also other wandring pains therein If the pain be chill and cold it is caus'd from the juice of the Pancreas very acid and sharp which raiseth a vitious effervescency with Choler not oily and phlegm together as we may observe if we mix Spirit of Vitriol with any volatile Salt not oily how it will raise an effervescency coupled with a notable Chilness and Coldness onely sensible hence we may conclude that the operation of the acid Spirit in producing cold is much promoted by phlegm The cause of the Colick is over viscous phlegm mixed with Choler peccant both in its Saltish acrimony and volatile oiliness by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into Wind and if the excrements are contain'd beyond their course they harden and adhere to the Gut whereby the natural ferment is vitiated and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd and being shut up and remaining in the Cavity of the Gut Colon it causeth a violent distension and contraction of it But if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the Pancreas over sharp acid and harsh then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected urging and writhing from place to place according to the winding or rolling of the Gut If this wind pierceth through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly it expandeth the Peritonaeum and so inflateth the whole Abdomen and causeth a Tympany These Distempers are all dangerous and sometimes mortal especially if a violent Fever be complicated with them We must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes A burning corroding pain may be cur'd by tempering too fat Choler with Acids as Spirit of Niter c. being mixt with Opiates For example Take the Waters of Fennel Fumitory Sorrel Succory of each three ounces Cinamon-water distill'd Vinegar Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiatum ten grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick often take a Spoonfull of this Julep till the heat and pain be diminished and sleep be procured The following Emulsion is also profitable and therefore may sometimes be given for a change Take the four greater cold Seeds white Poppy-seeds of each one ounce French Barley boiled four ounces with two quarts of Barley water let it be made an Emulsion and add to it Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Salt prunella half an ounce Spirit of Niter thirty drops mix it and give four Spoonfulls every two or three hours If Choler be two plentifull let it be educ'd with this or the like mild Cholagogue Take Damask-rose water two ounces Manna Diaphaenicon Electuary of the juice of Roses of each two drachms Tartar Vitriolated ten grains mix it and take it in the morning The Cholagogue Electuary of Sylvius is also excellent of which you shall have the receipt at the latter end of the Book Chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the Pancreas Lixivial Salts both fixt and volatile are excellent in this Case as also any Aromatick Spirit of wine Treacle water c. with which may be mix'd Coral Pearl Crabs-eyes Antimon Diaphoret c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat The following forms may serve for example Take the waters of Treacle Fennel Syrup of the juice of Carduus of each half an ounce powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Wormwood of each ten grains mix it and give it the sick to cause sweat You may also give some of this
twenty drops mix it and give two drachms morning and evening After the frequent use of this Electuary you may purge with this Powder Take Powder of Cream of Tartar half a drachm Salts of Wormwood Amber Scurvigrass Resin of Scammony of each ten grains mix it for two doses If the Patient like Pills better these may serve For Example Take Extract Catholicon Rudii of each ten grains Resin of Jallop Agarick Salt Armoniack of each six grains Oils of Amber Cloves of each two drops make it into eight Pills for two doses A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers Take of Water-cresses Brook-lime Scurvigrass Rue of each one handfull Roots of Polypodium Jallop Horse-radish Angelica Cream of Tartar of each half an ounce white Nettle-seed one ounce Orange-peel Cinamon Salt of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in three quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting In the Hypochondriack suffocation you may often hold to the Nostrils a glass with a narrow mouth containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack for by its sharp smell the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd both from that suffocation and from the Epilepsie If the Gums are putrified let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture mixed with some Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries Take Powder of Gum Lacca one ounce burnt Alome half an ounce the small Spirit of Salt Armoniack one quart let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour then filtrate it through brown paper and keep it for use If the sick hath a costive Body you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries this linament is effectual Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Chamomel of each one ounce Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it with which anoint the parts affected This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time morning and evening Take the Barks of Ash and Capers the Roots of Tamarisk Polypodium Horse-radish of each three ounces Water-cresses Scurvigrass Brook-lime Sorrel Centaury the less Harts tongue of each four handfulls Berries of Bays and Juniper Goose-dung of each one ounce the Seeds of Citrons Mustard Carduus benedictus Cloves Cinamon Nutmegs Ginger of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and digested in one Gallon of White-wine and two quarts of Spirit of wine being close covered for three days then distill them with a glass Still according to art and keep it for your use Frictions Ligatures Ventoses Sternutatories c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris Febris alba In English the Virgin 's Disease the White Fever and the White Jaundice because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud or it proceedeth from plenty of crude viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the veins about the Womb by which the courses are supprest the veins of the Matrix being obstructed that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way having not passage doth return to the greater Vessels and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours by which they are in time vitiated and a Cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused for the Bloud and natural humours being indued with a vitious quality the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant whence likewise not onely the fermentation of Food but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd wherefore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart c. troubleth the sick as well before as after Food taken in This distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air c. and sometimes great fear and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression also aliments and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly In these diseases the Urine cometh away crude thick and less colour'd because the phlegmatick watry humours abounding incorporating with the Bloud do diminish the desired effervescency so that the separation much less excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine doth not follow If the Hypochondries be afflicted and the veins of the Womb obstructed there will be great loathing of wholsome Food and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten as Ashes Salt Coals c. which is called Pica and in Women with Child Malacia of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated page 145 146. 1. These distempers are sometimes of long continuance causing much weakness and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted and if they do conceive they bring forth weak and sickly Children and those that are very melancholy are in danger of falling into madness or other grievous affects as Palpitation of the Heart Swouning Vertigo Epilepsie Apoplexy c. 2. If the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the Womb and have not been oâ— long continuance it may be easily cur'd 3. Bleeding at the Nose is sometimes beneficial but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes Ears Mouth or Bladder it is preposterous from whence may arise other bad Symptoms In the cure of these distempers such medicines are to be selected which will mildly and by degrees alter correct and evacuate tough and glutinous Phlegm seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it either wholly or at least in part for by the frequent use of such medicines the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution especially by the help of good Food easy of digestion in the mean while not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nonnatural things An obstruction of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours and again make them fluid All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs and also volatile Salts prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals but also of scorbutick Plants such as are the juice of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass Garden and Water-cresses Dandelion c. conduce before all others to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coagulated or Bloud clotter'd as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated and conglutinated in humane bodies and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity and moreover to move sweat which together being mildly promoted the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours c. will be obtained much easier and sooner An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practitioners Take the Waters of Treacle Dandelion