Heaters are requisite And for this reason Cordial Medicines though they be hot must never be neglected in Diseases of the heart II. Without doubt Worms are bred in the heart and in its Caul This Disease is very familiar to Virgins and is known by prickings and pains of the heart and by Worms voided and not voided Convulsion is the Diagnostick Common Cordials whether hot or cold can doe little or nothing in the Cure In the beginning before there be Convulsions Bezoar-Stone may doe something if it be given with Salt of Tansie or of Dittany of Crete or the common from 4 grains to 8. The Specifick Cure is such Let the Worms be first purged away with this Take of Quicksilver purified and then mortified with fasting-spittle or juice of a Lemon about a Scruple Conserve of Roses half an ounce powder of Benzoin 2 grains But if any Man be afraid to take this let him onely infuse 1 drachm or 2 in cold water over night and pour it off next morning and drink it or let him take 2 or 3 ounces of distilled-water of Onions or Garlick for these things if they expell not the Worms kill them at least And when the Worms are voided if the Convulsion-fits return which is a most certain sign of a Worm in the heart let Specifick Extracts be given as of Garlick Horse-radish Water-Cresses of each 1 Scruple in some Broth or Pottage wherein Horse-radish has been steeped before By this method they are quickly cured If extracts be not at hand Hartmannus P. Chrâ—â—iâ—â— c. 111. let a like quantity of all the Juices be mixt together and 2 or 3 spoonfulls be taken every morning And their Salts rightly prepared doe the same thing A Medicine especially made use of by an eminent Physician Take some Juice of Garlick Horse-radish and Water-Cresses give it and the Patient will presently be cured Believe one that has experienced it it is true A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK IV. Of Diseases beginning with the Letter D. Deglutitio laesa or The Swallowing hurt The Contents The cure of strange things swallowed either sticking in the Oesophagus or got into the Stomach I. The Oesophagus freed from obstruction II. One that could not swallow sustained by Injections in at the Mouth III. The Cure of it hurt by the ulcerated Jaws IV. When a Pipe may be used to get down Food that cannot otherwise pass V. I. WHAT things contrary to nature are swallowed either come into the Stomach or stick in the Oesophagus This is an Instance of the former A Maid eighteen years old as she was eating swallowed a brass Pin with the Point downwards which sticking in the Oesophagus created cruel Pain When she had tried several things and continued a whole year in this Condition the Pin was by my advice thrust into her Stomach with a Shoomaker 's Wax candle thrusting it gently twice or thrice a-day and anointing it first with Oil of sweet Almonds which was done without pain and quickly after it got into the Stomach It has given no more trouble as yet A Woman as she was cheapning goods held a Farthing in her mouth and having forgot it as she was eating a peice of Cake that was offered her she swallowed it before she was aware Then she had a dull pain and Copperish taste in her stomach I being consulted because for some reasons I would not give her a Vomit ordered her constantly to use slippery and fat things and gave her from six to nine drops of rectified Spirit of Salt twice a-day so that by little and little the ill taste was abated and in a while the sad sensation ceased Here it happened as Theophrastus in his Book of Fire speaks pag. 142. That the Stomach melts money And acid Spirits are not so hurtfull to the Stomach but they lessen the weight of Brass and Silver by getting out their Vitriol so that afterwards they may pass the Guts more easily A Boy of twelve years of age swallowed an Imperial Spanish Half-crown that he had in his mouth which stuck in his throat the Chirurgeon tried as much as he could to get it out but all in vain so that he was forced to drive it into his Stomach which being done not without much trouble care was taken of the Oesophagus which was pained and almost wounded by giving Traumaticks and Paregoricks The Patient in the mean time as soon as the money was received into his Stomach was very well onely he had a pain in his throat and swallowed with difficulty nor has he found any trouble to this day the Silver having remained now nine years fixt in its place A Boy three years old when he had put two Links of a brass Chain an inch long in his mouth swallowed them unawares and as they stuck in his throat he roared out for pain but as soon as they were got into his stomach he seemed to all nothing but ate and drank heartily His carefull Parents searched the excrements every day for several weeks but in vain for they found nothing so they certainly concluded they were by little and little wasted in the stomach But the excrements were never observed to recede from their natural state The Boy lives now very well in health A Boy five years old when he had swallowed a leaden Seal that uses to be fastned to Cloth was troubled with grievous pain till it got into his stomach and was cured by giving him distilled Vinegar G. Wolfg. Wedelius Misc cur an 1672. obs 141. whereas at first his Parents were afraid of his life yet nothing of so broad and thick a piece could be observed to be voided but he is now very well And it was the best advice to give him distilled Vinegar because by dissolving the body of Saturn it turned it into Sugar II. One being very hungry was eating a boiled Hog's-foot and a piece of it with the bone stuck in his throat for two days A Chirurgeon turned a long piece of iron Wire like a Hook at the end put it down his throat by the Hook whereof the piece of the foot was caught Riverius cent 3. obs 71. and with main strength drawn out of his throat III. A man being taken with a true Quinsey had the upper orifice of his stomach so close shut with the Inflammation that he could swallow nothing at all While Remedies were using that he might be able to bear plentifull Bloud-letting and other Remedies for reparation of strength a Catheter was put into the Oesophagus and a Syringe fitted to it by which Broths were got into his stomach and Medicines also Idem cent 3. Obs 72. by help whereof he was cured of his Disease IV. One asked my advice saying he was troubled with Wolves in his Nose Flanderkins calls Snot concrete in the Nostrils Wolves which Nurses take out of Children with Pins heads and moreover that he had some pain in his Jaws which reached to the middle
drink are unfit for Generation And earthy things which precipitate and abate the motion of the Bloud and consequently of the Seed so among Vegetables Strawberry and Agrimony c. Terra sigillata Coral Bole Armenick Os Sepiae which and its Magistery is not amiss made use of for curing a Gonorrhoea all the Saunders c. And acids which obtund the vivid Sulphur of the Bloud and are also apt to hinder the glutinous consistency of the Seed Therefore all acids are commended So I have observed that Hepaticum rubrum or Crystalli tartari vitriolati and Santulati have done much good in abating nocturnal pollutions One by the constant use of Spirit of Vitriol whereby he endeavoured to correct the weakness of his Stomach had his pudendum and testes shrunk up and extenuated And Nitrous and Mercurial things in as much as they make the Seed fluid so nitrous things in general which also invert the Sulphur Thus one in Timaeus who was extreme libidinous at length by taking a large dose of Nitre ceased to be such But beside this Mercurials intimately possess an acid Salt rendring the Serum and Seed fluid exhaust the Nerves for business and are apt to weaken the musculous and nervous parts therefore Mercurius dulcis is highly commended in a Gonorrhoea simple and virulent Or finally Middling things which are apt to correct the motion of the Serum and Fluxions and so they moderate the Afflux mitigate the Acrimony by their balsamick virtue keep the consistence entire and strengthen the seminal Vessels cleanse them when ulcerate lax and virose and divert them another way such indeed as are proper for Catarrhs in general or for any known Fluxions of the Serum to wit Succinates wherefore I have observed that such diverting things for Example Essence of Amber joined with the Bezoardick Anodyne has very happily cured a Gonorrhoea Whither pertain also Sudorificks of the Woods c. For we must take notice that the class of such things as abate Seed has a great latitude they cause chastity they are proper for the Faults Fluxions and Ichorescency of the Seed wherefore they are convenient Wedelius de s m. fac p. 225. chosen with judgment in all Gonorrhoea's nocturnal Pollution simple and virulent in rampant Lust yea and for Women troubled with the Whites XIV Of the aforesaid things many applied outwardly conduce to temper the heat so leaves of Vine Willows Agnus Castus use to be applied outwardly leaves of Water-Lily which yet are of the lowest rank Saturnines deserve to be remembred here before all others which as inwardly they are adverse to Venus so outwardly they contribute much to the same end hence plates of Lead are usual not onely by reason of their native Coldness whereby they repell and allay but also because they extract the saline Acrimony as it were magnetically which we may gather from hence because every part affected under this leaden cover uses to be moist in which sweat the sharp Salt increasing the heat goes out continually and by its Acrimony endeavouring to dissolve the Saturn it visibly sticks thereto which plentifull attraction of Salt is made by benefit of the Mercury wherewith Saturn abounds Now Mercury does entirely love the company of the Salt and so it procures Exhalation and having first made an actual refrigeration Idem it causes a potential one XV. A certain Doctor of this City cures a virulent Gonorrhoea successfully with Cantharides which he steeps in Rhenish Wine giving the infusion tempered with some other Liquour but because in the beginning he could not go on with the cure without great torment and exulceration of the Bladder M. J. Matthial ad T. Barth Cent. 4. Ep. 55. at length he mixt it with Oil of sweet Almonds Syrupus Fernelii and juice of Mullein and so in three days sweetly removes the Disease by plentifull Urine ¶ I have in another place commended an Infusion of Cantharides for a virulent Gonorrhoea and difficulty of Urine the happy success whereof I have tried more than once But we must observe that the Cantharides lest they doe hurt must be used whole And when we make a Vesicatory the extremities may be taken off wherein there is a more gentle faculty which may be kept for this infusion to purge by Urine If this infusion be ordered in due manner T. Barth Ep. 54. it provokes Urine as far as I could ever observe without exulceration or torment so that there is no need of fat things XVI The virtue of things that diminish Seed varies according to the different Constitutions for as every Agent in general acts according to the manner of its reception so when Contraries occur in Authours for example that Agnus Castus Rue Mint do diminish Venus and provoke it do abate Seed and produce it these Effects must be ascribed to the difference of Bodies Wedeliuâ— So green Mint increases Venus dry abates it XVII This same virtue of theirs is different according to the state of the Seed and as simple wasting of it or astriction is indicated for all things are not convenient for all Persons Thus in nocturnal Pollutions cooling acids watry and gentle styptick things are proper In a simple Genorrhoea acid and nitrous things for lixivials whatever Practitioners deliver to the contrary must rather be avoided In a virulent one Merculiar ones in the beginning but acids and nitrous things are not so good Nitrous things are potent in abating Lust but they must not be made use of in the Flux The middling things are better for the Flux Idem than when it is stopt XVIII In diminishing of Seed we must have a care we run not into the other extreme or contrary Therefore in general Absynthiacks Saturâ—â—nes and other things which we have reckoned up are not so proper for new married Persons that is in a large quantity and in young People we must have a care how we meddle with them especially for such as are troubled with nocturnal Pollutions Nocturnal Pollution is a Disease of that age wherefore the Seed and its Orgasm should be checkt and its acrimony may be abated but it ought not to be extinguished I knew an old Man of Seventy of a hot Constitution who had been troubled with nocturnal Pollutions from his Youth to his extreme Old-age Idem and nevertheless he was blest with a numerous Issue XIX Mercurials rather increase the Flux of Seed than check it that is of themselves they make the Seed more fluid wherefore we observe that after the use of them and giving of Purges the flux of Seed is always as it were increased How proper therefore however it be in the beginning for a Gonorrhoea either virulent or simple given with a Purgative that is Mercurius dulcis yet this is done for the sake of abstersion mundification and diversion rather than for astriction Wherefore it is conveniently given in such a manner as that the Ulcer of the vesicae
callous However Caution must be used in giving Brine and Causticks with the observation namely of three conditions 1. In full strength Fortis consult 83. cent 2. 2. Not without Narcoticks mixt therewith after Galen's manner 3. That the Clysters be not kept above an hour as Aetius advises XX. Concerning the use of all Clysters we are wont to observe the abundance of their matter in detersive and washing ones the smallness in drying ones mediocrity in tempering ones and shortness of time in Causticks Idem ibid. And then the successive use of them so that a drier may always follow a detersive one and then an Anodyne if pains be urgent XXI This one thing and that of great moment must not be omitted that sometimes dysenterick persons retain their excrements several days both because Pain and Watching Symptomes familiar to this Disease dry extremely and because astringent Medicines which we make use of to stop the Flux render the Belly so costive that the Excrements are retained a long time to the great damage of the Patient although the Belly void bloudy matter often flowing from the Ulcer Zecchius consult 37. which indeed has been observed by no man as yet Wherefore in this case at certain intervals of time we must evacuate downwards either by loosning Clysters or by some gentle Purging Medicine XXII D. Pilonus never cured a Dysentery by Astringents because he observed that all who had it so stopped either relapsed or fell into a Fever or Pleurisie Nor did he use Sudorificks because he thought they increased the heat of the part transmitting and therefore he cured this Disease onely by Lenitives and Bloud-letting Velschius XXIII In a Dysentery from salt phlegm falling from the head we must act cautiously about astringent remedies for when these Dysenteries are protracted beyond fourteen days and more there are not wanting Physicians who think astringent remedies may be safely administred beyond the fourteenth day But they are in a great errour for a Dysentery from salt phlegm may remain as long as the intemperature of the head which breeds the salt phlegm and sends it to the Guts For a year ago I cured two Patients who fell into blear-eyedness and intolerable pains of their joints upon the unseasonable use of an astringent remedy administred in a Dysentery from salt phlegm Therefore in this case revulsion of the humour should be made to the nostrils and the head before or behind by Cauteries Sinapisms or Cupping-glasses The intemperature of the brain must be altered Saxonia and then Astringents may be used XXIV I do not disallow of astringent Powders whether of Roses Acacia or Pomegranate-flowers But if any one fear their sharpness he may take Terra Lemnia Samia or burnt Hartshorn they dry without any sharpness and bind moderately I put more confidence in these powders than in Pills or Bolus's which sometimes in a Bloudy-flux I have seen voided with the Excrements whole and unaltered Idem XXV Chalybeate-water Milk and Wine are not plainly to be rejected since either some coagulating Spirit or some astringent scalings of the Metal that stop the fluid humours are communicated to the liquour Yet I would with Platerus have this extinction moderate and not too often made since it is certain if much of the substance of the Iron be taken it loosens the Belly nay if it be taken plentifully it causes Vomit also And Steel must be given much more sparingly in a Dysentery than in a chachexy or obstruction of the Bowels because there is need onely of some small astriction and of no other effects of the Steel in this case Nor is there any difference between fresh Steel and that which has been often quenched The parts indeed of Iron that are communicated to the liquour at its first heating have a power to Purge But because Steel is of an homogeneous nature all its parts have the same virtue and the more of its substance is communicated to the liquour the more it Purges or Vomits Nor also is there any necessity to cast away the first water unless perhaps the Steel be not clean but have got some rust on the out-side for seeing this in the extinction may be communicated to the water it may not be improper to throw it away And I have thought good to advertise this that these chalybeate liquours must be used when they are fresh prepared especially if heated Steel have been often quenched in them For the substance of the Steel in the beginning and presently after extinction retains the nature of the Scalings but if it remain long in the liquour it is turned as it were into rust and then its faculty is rather to Purge Vomit and put the humours in motion than to stop them An instance whereof chalybeate Wines do give that are given for obstructions of the Liver and Spleen which if they be taken in any quantity Vomit and Purge For they are not given presently after the Steel is put in the Wine but they are set in the Sun or some hot place for some days and shaken together that the Steel may the better be dissolved But if the question be about giving Crocus Martis or prepared Steel in a Dysentery I should rather use a Crocus Martis made by the benefit of the fire onely and reverberation For it has not as yet got so vitriolate a Nature but to acquire it there is required another resolution and therefore it excells in an astringent virtue beyond any other All other preparations of Steel whether they be infusions of prepared Steel in Wine or in any other liquour or solutions with Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur or distilled Vinegar all of them favour more of a Vitriolick nature and the Croci this way prepared do participate something of the dissolving liquour and have united the salt of the Vinegar or the Aquae fortes to themselves And therefore although they have some astriction and strengthen the tone of the lax Bowels in cachectick persons yet because the faculties of opening fusing and melting the humours and if they be taken in any quantity of Purging and Vomiting prevail in them they have no place in a Dysentery but rather in obstructions of the bowels and in cachexies For seeing all the parts in these preparations into which Vitriol may otherwise be dissolved are not separated but are like Vitriol separated from the gross earth and a little calcined and therefore the Spirit of Vitriol is as yet mixt with the Salt in them it is no wonder if they open and sometimes Vomit and Purge since it is the property of Salt of Vitriol to doe so And if we may give crocus Martis thus prepared at all the dose must be very small lest it gripe the Guts by its Acrimony or Vomit or Purge Sennertus de Dysenteria as it happened to an Empirick in Forestus l. 4. obs 4. in Scholio XXVI After evacuation presently alteration and contemperation of the
inclose the heat with danger of pain and making it worse Hot things are more properly applied which make the skin lax open the pores and dissolve the serous humours that would break out into pustules The intemperature of the part is removed after the same manner in both cases not so much by opposing it with a contrary Sennertus as by taking away the cause ¶ In this case the use of moist things is prohibited for they presently cool actually although they may heat potentially and therefore they obtain the force of a repellent Therefore dry and digesting fomentations are best Hence it is that if a Patient through carelesness wash in the beginning of an Erysipelas Hoeferuâ— not knowing the Disease it will be exasperated swelled and the pain doubled ¶ We must have a care of things that are unctuous and have an emplastick virtue especially of Narcoticks for the sharp vapours exhale Crato 3 which if they be kept in sometimes corrupt the part ¶ It is a custome among our country people if they be taken with an Erysipelas to anoint the part affected with Oil of Bayes mixt with a little Quicksilver with which Medicine they prolong the Disease for while the Oil makes lax the Skin the Erysipelas spreads farther and farther so that you may see it overrun the whole Body on a sudden except you prevent the mischief thus i. e. unless you apply all round it a linen cloth wet in warm water which may defend the other parts If the humours that stick in the flesh be plainly extravasated they cannot flow for their thickness let the Physician therefore make them fluid with hot Medicines So an Erysipelas in the beginning is taken away by applying Spirit of Wine Walaeus V. I have seen an Erysipelas in the right cheek that was treated with suppurating Emplasticks turn to a Gangrene Again I saw a Chirurgeon with such Emplasticks who was taken with an Erysipelas in ano The reason is 1. Because the Cheeks Breasts Nose c. because of their softness are easily deprived of their innate heat When therefore strength is good and the humours are hot let Digesters not Suppuraters be made use of Sanctorius VI. This is a rule concerning Sleep When an Erysipelas is in the Legs or Thighs moderate Sleep is good But when it is in the Face we must refrain from Sleep as much as may be Crato VII Green Coriander and Barley-flower applied is a very good Medicine but not in the beginning because it is hot which its bitterness shews although it partake of moisture Fonseca VIII By the use of Linimentum simplex not yet rank and often changed I have cured innumerable Erysipelas's with success not neglecting universals and inward coolers In defect of this nothing is better than Oil of sweet Almonds nine times washt in a glass-bottle with Night-shade-water with which cold anoint the place till the violent heat be diminished Others commend Balsamus Saturni made with Linseed-oil and often anointed with a Feather This is the Description of Linimentum simplex Take of Juice of Night-shade fresh made Oil of Roses each 20 ounces Boil them to the consumption of the Juice Strain it and add to it Litharge of Gold Ceruss each 1 pound Mix them make an ointment according to art Scultetuâ— IX A Leech did a melancholick Woman a great deal of good who had an eating Erysipelas in her Leg for it drew out of the Veins thereabout the hot and adust bloud which had all along supplied the stubborn Ulcer with matter which being sucked out the rest of the trouble was easily over onely by applying Bread soaked in Water N. Tulpius X. The famous Veslingius cured a certain person of an ulcerated Erysipelas in his Leg when he had first purged the Body by touching it sometimes with a Feather dipt in Spirit of Vitriol He said that these sharp chymical Liquours were therefore applied to malignant and spreading Ulcers that the corroding humours may after a manner be mitigated and their violence broken after the example of Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Vitriol both which were very sharp and by their mutual acting one upon the other their mixture produces a far more gentle Medicine Veâ—schâ—us XI In the Blisters of an Erysipelas which by force of sharp and hot ichorous Juices use to break out Fallopius advises to prick them in the beginning adding this moreover that the place subject to the Fluxion should be prickt Which operation also pleases me yet I had rather doe it with a golden or silver Needle But you must also know this that they must not be prickt slightly but also clipt with Scissers that nothing of the Ichor may be left which being kept in a Bladder might by its contact spoil the part Severinus XII I knew a man about thirty five years old of the Senatory order whose Face was often invaded with bilious bloud and then was continually disfigured with an oedematous swelling the thinner parts of the humour being discussed By the advice of Physicians several remedies were tried altering Broths Whey Waters but all in vain I advised an Issue in the Arm it was made in the right Leg but to no purpose which by the persuasion of the Chirurgeon whose Wife had found the benefit of it in the like case he admitted And he has not been troubled with this Disease ever since the year 1673. to 1679. his Face falling and all signs of the Oedema being gone XIII A Countrey fellow had an inflammatory Erysipelas in his left Hand he anointed his Hand and Arm for some days with Oil of Roses upon which his Pain Inflammation c. grew worse so that his Hand was all over gangrened From whence it is clear that Oil is a great enemy to Inflammations as Galen 15. de simpl intimates Hilâ—anus ¶ In the year 1668. a Butcher's Wife of Geneva called Bourdillat anointed her Face that had an Erysipelas in it with the same Oil then she had a most filthy thick scab as white as milk which almost caused a Gangrene Therefore Fortis Consult 95. cent 1. bids us wholly abstain from oily and fat things because being heated by the heat of the part they may inflame it farther XIV I happily cured an ulcerated Erysipelas by the method prescribed of Rulandus cent 1. cur 43. One about sixty three years old was taken with an ulcerated Erysipelas in his feet with great pain and swelling 1. I thus purged the Body Take of Syrup of Roses Mont. 1 ounce extract of Spurge half a drachm Pectoral Decoction 1 ounce and an half Mix them A wash for the feet Take of Roses 4 handfulls Plantain 3 handfulls let them boil a little in a sufficient quantity of water When you take out your feet and have wiped and dried them with a soft Towel anoint them twice every day with the following Ointment Take of Litharge 3 ounces Vnguentum Populeon
follows and continues till the particles of the inflamed bloud be discharged to the Emunctories and be there turned into Pus like common Inflammations Now if the Inflammation be yet more remiss it usually produces Fevers which they call Pestilential as it often happens in the end of a Pestilential constitution till that sort of Fevers wholly disappear But not onely the presence of a Fever but the colour of the bloud that is let which is like pleuritick and rheumatick persons does favour this opinion and the adust appearance of Carbuncles not unlike the impression of an actual Pyrotick as also the Buboes themselves which as constantly follow the Inflammation as any sort of Tumours use to follow it and as most Inflammations terminate in an Abscess Moreover the season of the year in which an epidemick Plague for the most part arises seems to contribute its share toward this thing for at the same time Pleurisies Quinseys and other affections of an inflamed bloud are usually abroad But here some may inquire If the Plague consist in a certain Inflammation How comes it to pass that Medicines of a hotter rank such as almost all Alexipharmacks are are used with so great success both in the cure and prevention of it To this I answer that they onely give relief by accident namely by benefit of the Sweat which they raise whereby the inflamed particles of the Bloud are dispersed and cast out But if it happen that when they are given they be not able to move Sweat as it often happens presently the burning of the bloud more enraged by the additional heat openly proclaims their mischief I know also that hot Antidotes are every where cried up for Preservatives but with what advantage remains yet to be proved Yea Wine drank liberally and other stronger preservatives taken at set hours every day have cast several into this disease who otherwise Sydenham in all likelihood had remained safe and untouched II. All the Symptoms observable in the Plague do either confirm or prove that a lixivial Salt and that a sharp and volatile one does offend Now this must be shewn from Medicines that are used with good success both for its prevention and cure And whoever would gather any thing for certain from the Medicines that are used it is necessary for him onely to consider Simples or those that are least compounded About nine years ago when I every day visited many that were sick of the Plague I took nothing but a spoonfull of Vinegar soaked up in the crumb of bread for prevention sake and in the morning before I visited my Patients I used this sort of remedy for eight whole months and I never after perceived any harm from the Infection for the whole time But when this malady was by degrees removed and I had left off taking of Vinegar any longer I found afterwards a little Head-ach come upon me whenever I entred an Infected house although I knew it not and feared nothing I know indeed that very few can use Vinegar for some weeks as I did while some by reason of their peculiar melancholick constitution cannot persist in the use of it for many days Others use to commend a draught of Rhenish-wine or of old stale Beer in the morning I know there are not wanting some who commend simple Spirit of Wine or Treacle-water but I know it has done many harm which cannot be said of Acids at least in reference to the Plague Elixir proprietatis Spirit of Salt Sulphur or Vitriol taken in a little Beer or Wine is commended Acid fruits are also commended as Citrons Oranges Pomegranates Corinths c. the smell also of Vinegar in a Sponge is refreshing whether it be simple Vinegar or impregnated with some Spice or Aromatick Plant. So that if a Man compare the most effectual things for prevention of the Plague he will find that either all of them are Acids or made up with Acids Whence I think it is evident that an Acid is not onely desired against the Poison of the Plague but that the Poison is especially hit and resisted by it But for them to whom mere Acids are troublesome and grievous they may be mixt with Spirit of Wine So by means thereof Spirit of Salt is so allayed that almost all its acidity is taken off if one of them be often cohobated with the other and yet it ceases not to doe good in the Plague It is requisite therefore that in this case Medicines should be so accommodated to every ones peculiar temperament and constitution that no harm but a great deal of good may accrew to them To this purpose Medicines may be made up in divers ways and forms To this purpose also hot crude Tartar and the cream of it as also Sal Tartari vitriolatum may be used any way in Broth Wine Beer a Julep c. In one word Acids do conduce above all other things to the prevention of the Plague taken in a way most accommodate to every ones particular nature Since experience teaches that these things are very true my Opinion is by this very thing confirmed That our Acid is resisted by the Pestilential Poison to which since nothing is observed more contrary than lixivial Salt the Poison may deservedly be reckoned to consist in a lixivial Salt But because it is a swift and very efficacious Poison Fr. Sylvius de le Boë therefore I judge the same consists in a volatile and sharp Salt III. whether the method of curing a Pestilential putrid Fever require both Evacuations before or after the use of an Alexipharmack and whether Evacuations should be first Since these two questions have that coherence that one of them cannot well be parted from the other let them be decided together It is evident that not onely a Plethory and a Cacochymie but rather the very greatness of the Disease does indicate and require both Bleeding and Purging But every Disease is said to be great or small on a threefold account either because of the excellence of the part afflicted or of the violence of the Disease which the violence of the Symptoms doth shew or of its malignity or virulence But since a Pestilential fever first annoys the heart it partaking of a Poisonous Contagion and rages with horrible Symptoms a delirium Bubo and Carbuncle it ought not onely to be called great but the greatest of great Diseases and seems to require both Evacuations But this precept of sacred Hippocrates and Galen holds not perpetually in the cure of all great Sicknesses For if one be intoxicated with a poisonous Animal or outwardly with a poisoned weapon then Galen and Democrates judge there is a two-fold indication either by evacuating the poison or by altering But they determine that the evacuation must not be by Purging or Bleeding but by help of such Medicines as by their heating faculty may draw and get out the poison as Cupping-glasses Cauteries c. And the other indication for the
a Tertian ought to be thin and spare Wherefore it is commonly said That we must starve an Ague and common Experience testifies that by abstinence the fit is kept off beyond the usual time Two things especially should be observed about Diet. 1. That the Aliment be thin and that nothing sulphureous or spirituous be given for so the Conflagration of the bloud is lessened 2. That when the fit is upon one or coming no food be given Willis wherefore in abstinent persons the fit is lighter and sooner ended XXIV Not a few lusty young Men in a fit of a simple and exquisite Tertian have been killed in three hours space with abundance of clothes laid on them by such as onely had respect to the Cause Fernelius they being spent with thirst and sweat XXV If a Tertian ague because of the ill constitution of the Patient or through some errours in Diet or Physick be so settled that after a long continuance the fits grow still worse and if they be very weak with a continual lowness of Spirits Thirst and Heat with loss of Appetite want of Sleep a weak Pulse red Urine and full of Contents a little different Method of cure must be insisted on In this case we must first endeavour to take away the Dyscrasie of the Bloud wherefore the Patients must be kept onely with a thin Diet as Barley or Oat-meal grewel with opening roots boiled therein wholly abstaining from broth of meat Let the Belly if need be be kept loose with the use of emollient Clysters and omitting Catharticks I judge we must principally insist on digestive Medicines onely which may thin the Bloud and gently carry off its serous impurities by Urine and on strengthners which may strengthen the Bowels and recruit the Spirits To this purpose Apozemes well prepared of herbs and roots that are gently diuretick also Electuaries made of temperate Conserves with salt Nitre or the fixt of herbs and testaceous Powders and Spirit of Vitriol mixt therewith are very conducing When the Crasis of the bloud is a little amended as if the Urine be yellow and not so high coloured if sleep be quieter and thirst and heat abate then Remedies to stop the Ague fit may very properly be used wherefore febrifuge Epithemes may be applied to the Wrists and to the Soles of the Feet Also the Jesuits Powder or its succedaneum or Powder of bark of Ash Tamarisk or Gentian may be given in white Wine with Salts mixt with them After the fits are removed and the Patients are come to their strength and begin to have a Stomach and to concoct their Victuals gentle purges will be proper they must yet abstain from high feeding and from any thing that has flesh in it And no question Willis but they will recover every day without either strong purging or bleeding XXVI The time of feeding among the Ancients was the time of Intermission with Avicenna nine hours before the fit with us if the Patient be apt to faint and if it be summer time four hours before the coming of the fit Fortis that by the presence of the meat perhaps the ascent of the Bile may be stopt XXVII I have seen several young people and of more adult age cured of Tertians by the following food without any other Physick or Potion But we must diligently consider whether there be any obstruction of the Pores or condensation or constriction of Body For in Continual fevers which have their rise from bile wherein we are solicitous for the opening of the Pores it must not be given before evacuation of the whole After bleeding in Continual fevers it may safely be given Take a white Loaf three days old cut it into thin slices and infuse it in Endive water squeeze some juice of sowre Orange upon it then scrape some Sugar on it so that you may onely perceive it by your taste to be sweet and sowre Let the Patient eat bread in this manner on his well day twice or thrice and in the farthest declination of his fit before he sup any thing This food has a great virtue in it of abating the sharpness of the bilious humour Brudus de victu Febricit l. 3. c. 11. and besides it quenches the immoderate heat of the Stomach and Liver and strengthens both these parts XXVIII This food is much in use among the Spaniards it is cold and a little drying Boil Spanish Lentils in water with Parsly green Coriander Oil Salt and Vinegar with a little Saffron You may give broth of Lentils to any in Fevers except such as are sick of Quartanes whom though I think I cannot much commend them so I think they are in errour who forbid Lentils to all Patients taking it from Galen 2. der v. who says they are not meat for Man where he treats of a Pleurisie in which he forbids Lentils But letting alone a Pleurisie they will certainly be proper in a Tertian ague from citrine Choler if you consider the efficient Cause of the Disease and the quality it leaves in the parts Citrine Choler is a hot humour and of a thin substance the most penetrating of all humours Broth of Lentils produces the contrary qualities for it has a cooling and thickning virtue Moreover citrine Choler by its sharp penetration makes lean every part it falls upon Broth of Lentils not onely stiffens the part that it is not so easily pervious to the penetration but by its equal driness it takes away what is moist Besides Lentils are no improper food for such as in this Ague do sweat and are not relieved thereby And if you say that according to Dioscorides Lentils dull the sight of the Eyes are difficultly concocted and cause troublesome dreams all these things are attributed to Lentils not to their decoction We do not find these mischiefs in Spanish Lentils Dioscorides writes that the Stomach is ill after them but Spanish Lentils strengthen the Stomach and do not make it windy Italian Lentils are larger and whiter the Spanish are less and a little redish nor do they excite troublesome dreams as is delivered concerning them But if you will contend that the Spanish have any vitious quality it is corrected by the green Coriander Whenever therefore you have a mind to thicken the humours of the Body or stiffen the parts of the Body with heating them broth of Spanish Lentils may well be given in meat And if you make it with Parsly green Coriander Oil Vinegar Salt and Saffron you will make a food most agreeable to the ends aforesaid Idem ibid. temperate in the passive qualities declining to coolness in the active XXIX In a pure Tertian some of the Arabians judge Men must abstain from all meat wherein there is flesh yea they forbid little birds till an universal declination of the Ague Indeed if they forbad flesh on the day of the fit I should think they did well but if they hold it may not be
by stool their drinking it did them no good But they that kept it three hours and then voided it not by stool but by urine it did them much good Whence I gather that unless the Water pass by the Veins it does no good for Spitting of bloud nor preserves from a Consumption And that it may pass by the Veins it is required that it pass not presently Fallopius XVI That the aperture of the Vessel may be closed Astringent and agglutinant Medicines are very proper The chief of these is usually given in form of a Linctus so that in swallowing them some particles of them may fall upon the aspera-Arteria and more immediately communicate their virtue to the part affected But this way of energy seems not to be of much moment because the efficacy of these Medicines does especially and in a manner onely reach the seat of the Disease by the communication of the bloud Wherefore not onely Eclegmata but also Decoctions Powders and Pills of Traumaticks and Balsamicks are beneficially prescribed Willis XVII In Spitting of bloud and in those Diseases where we want astriction and strengthning spirituous attenuant aperient and sharp things are suspected But incrassating and earthy things which do not consist in the spirituous part but in the very matter and corporeal substance seem necessary Wherefore if Corals doe any good in such cases they doe it by their earthy corporeity whereby they moderately cool and astringe and perhaps moreover by some occult quality which yet without doubt adheres to the whole substance Entire and substantial Medicines if you separate them from their proper body do often put on an aliene and far different body and so what before did good Fr. Ign. Theirmuir cons 4. lib. 2. do now cease to doe good or even begin to doe harm XVIII Hence we may give a judgment of Tincture of Corals in which Artists in Chymistry think that virtue is eâ—â—inently vigorous which is attributed to the whole Coral that is while the pure being separated from the impure and its dregs does far more easily exert its virtues Now Dioscorides l. 5. c. 97. assigns to it a virtue moderately astringent cooling and of great efficacy against Bleedings But concerning its Tincture hear Ph. Grulingius his opinion in suo Florileg Hipp. c. par 19. c. 3. In the preparation of Coral Pearl and pretious Stones let every one have a care he be not deceived and reckon he has the true Tincture when he has onely a false and aliene one or that he has obtained the menstruum For there are some Tinctures as of lapis Lazuli which in redness may vye with Tincture of Corals And there are some menstrua that grow red of themselves Thus some do not blush to give Spirit of Vitriol tinged with red Roses for the coralline Tincture Although therefore the Tincture of Corals so called often have a colour red enough and the Coral be left in the bottom white yet it acquires this colour either from the Salt of the Vinegar as Sennertus will have it or from the sulphureous part of this Salt which easily joins it self with the Spirit of Wine by reason of its cognation as appears in the Tincture of Salt of Tartar or by long Digestion by benefit whereof many menstrua grow red and the Corals which after extraction appear white do in a little while after receive their red colour nor had they lost their inner colour yea the same Tincture may be made of white Coral and Crabs-eyes with the like menstrua It must be observed besides that in the common solutions of Corals Spirit of Honey is taken for the menstruum which by its acrimony dissolves Gold a little Therefore I cannot see how this coralline Liquour whatever it be or any other like it consisting of Spirit of Wine Salt of Tartar Vinegar and the like can doe good For for the most part they answer not the intentions they do not contemper nor astringe nor consolidate nor stop bloud but they make thin the humours sharpen open and now and then taken largely and inconsiderately they inflame cause thirst and by their acrimony do not a little offend the parts which they immediately touch You may add to all the mischievous avarice of the Apothecaries who to increase their Tincture of Corals mix the Corals with Sugar in a Frying-pan and rost them to redness then by digestion they dissolve them in some menstruum and draw not so much a Tincture of Corals as of rosted Sugar Idem ibid. XIX Bloud is stopt by Scaliger and Heurnius their Powder the Ingredients whereof are Seed of white Popy white Henbane and Bloud-stone But the use of it must not be long continued Frid. Hofmannus m. m. l. 1. c. 21. because of the Henbane-seed which is very hurtfull XX. Some as on experience do recommend Nettle-juice in the morning for several days But there are not a few things which render the truth of this suspected by me and though the kind of which there are several be not determined I believe it is the common stinging Nettle that is meant But 1. This is of very subtile parts and of a digesting nature wherefore according to Dioscorides it opens moves Urine and egregiously forces Women's obstructed menses 2. Taken inwardly it is of a sharp abstersive titillating quality 3. The Seed is in frequent use for raising of thick and viscid humours yea even of Pus in an Empyema of the Breast 4. It and its Seed according to Galen has some flatulency in it and is said to stimulate Venus If the Nettle therefore be of such subtile parts as to open force the menses and urine by titillation to give a stool by its sharp flatulency to provoke lust and if the Seed for its excessive heat be reckoned among eroding things how can the drinking of 4 ounces of the Juice for several days one after another doe good in this case But I think it is good for haemoptoïck and empyematick persons namely that the extravasated bloud coagulated in the Breast of them that have been long ill or turned into pus may be timely deterged and expectorated Wherefore I cannot say it is probable that the Juice of Stinging-nettle does good in the beginning for Spitting of bloud Tâ—iermair ubi supra as a peculiar Remedy that stops bloud XXI In other cases Linseed-oil is commended to be of great virtue as in a Peripneumony Phthisick Colick but especially in a Pleurisie according to Gesner 1. Ep. 49. I saith he have several times experienced that there is nothing better in these pleuritick Pains than to drink Linseed-oil and this presently eased respiration and promoted spitting Therefore it is carefully saved among us clarified in the Sun which clarifying is better than that which is made by lixivium or a rosted Onyon By anointing their Belly therewith or by covering it with a linen cloth wet in it they make the Belly loose but I
he relieved by Medicines I reckoned he was ill of a Dropsie in his Breast because there was no Cough nor Ratling no viscid and thick Spittle as in a true Asthma his Legs also were oedematous and his Belly began to swell He had not lain down in Bed for two months but sate panting and choaking in his Chair and was ready to draw his last Because I despaired of his Recovery I was unwilling to prescribe him Medicines but being prevailed on by importunity the next day I give him a Bolus of Calomelanos 1 scruple Diagridium half a scruple with Conserve of Roses It purged him seven times and he voided abundance of serous matter upon which he found much ease that day and breathed more freely After two days the same Medicine was repeated with the like success and the night following he lay down in Bed without any oppression of his Breast When the Swelling of his Belly was abated one might handle his Hypochondria and I found his Spleen big and scirrhous therefore I prescribed him Apozemes with Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Sulphur and Fomentations and Liniments to be applied to the Hypochondria with the foresaid Purge repeated every third day Which being continued for 15 days he was brought into a much better condition so that he thought he was perfectly cured but when one month was over all the Symptomes returned his Belly swelled more and in two months more he died Here the great efficacy of Calomelanos may be observed which was able to doe so much good in a mortal Disease Idem III. Sudorificks are very good to discharge the serous matter and I saw a Man of threescore cured by taking a Sudorifick Decoction of Guaiacum and and Sarsa for 15 days by causing Sweat with the vapour of Spirit of Wine Idem IV. It seems the safest way that the matter should be evacuated sensibly by opening the Breast And it should be done betimes according to Hippocrates 6. Epid. s 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cut watry gatherings quickly lest the Lungs be corrupted by the Water V. The ingenious opening of the Breast must not be past by which Hippocrates lib. de nat Mulieb propounds when he orders a Rib to be bored through in the middle for so the Water may by a Tent be more easily kept from running out all at once than by making Section in the intercostal Muscles Wherefore when Water is to be got out it is best to boar a Rib but when Pus is gathered in the Breast P. Martianus it will be best to cut in the Muscles VI. Evacuation of the Serum in the Breast must be attempted by Urine The Emperour Maximilian the Second found great benefit hereby who when he had laboured of a Dropsie in his Breast with a Palpitation of his Heart for twenty years he sometimes made 6 pounds of Water in one day and when that motion of the matter stopt he died Crat◠VII A healthy strong young Man being formerly accustomed to immoderate exercise of Body at length felt a fulness or as it were a puffing up in his Breast in so much that the left side of his Lungs seemed to be swollen and the Heart seemed to be thrust out of its place to the right side Afterwards on a certain day he felt as if some Vessel were broken within the cavity of the Breast and after that for half an hours time in that region not onely he himself felt something fall from aloft into the bottom of his Breast but it might be heard by the By-standers Therefore since it was without doubt that then this Noble person had a Dropsie in his Breast because the Lymphae-ducts a great number of which branch themselves all over the Lungs which run to their left side being broken dropt out their moisture into the cavity of the Breast after some Medicines had been tried without any benefit Tapping his side was unanimously resolved on Therefore after provision had been made for the whole the Chirurgeon applied a Cautery between the sixth and seventh Vertebra and the next day having cut a hole in the cavity of the Breast he put in a Pipe which being done immediately a thick liquour and white like Chyle or Milk ran out About 6 ounces onely of this were taken away at the first time and the next day as much The third day when a little larger quantity was let out he was immediately seized with a great languidness and was feverish and very bad for a day or two after it Wherefore till he had recovered his former temper and strength we thought good to let no more of this matter out But afterwards a little evacuation of the same being made every day the cavity of the Breast was almost all evacuated And yet he carries a Tap with a Spigot in the hole which being opened once in 24 hours a little moisture still runs out In the mean time he has a good Stomach he looks well and is strong and goes about his usual business After Tapping I ordered him Cordials and afterwards a Traumatick Decoction to be taken twice every day But there is a necessity for preventing filth from gathering in the Breast that this hole be left constantly open Willis instead of a Sink Hydrops Anasarca or A Dropsie in the Flesh The Contents In a simple one we may purge violently I. Sometimes Bloud-letting is good II. Opening and strengthning things must be given between Purges III. Whether such Diureticks are proper IV. Diaphoreticks must be given plentifully V. The efficacy of anointing with Oil of Scorpions VI. What Baths are proper and when VII When a Stove does harm VIII We must have a care how we apply Issues and Blisters IX Cured by Acupuncture X. The Efficacy and Choice of Chalybeates XI I. IN a simple Anasarca we may purge violently and it often does abundance of good And indeed from this Disease being sometime cured by Purging Empericks have good opportunity to brag of their Cures and some of their Medicines are indeed highly cried up for curing of Dropsies For forsooth if they chance ever to cure one or two of an Anasarca with specifick Hydragogues or Elatericks they have enough to set out themselves and their skill although they may kill an hundred Asciticks with the same Medicine Wherefore though Preparations of Spurge or Elaterium and other Hydragogues have sometimes done good in certain cases yet if they be given indifferently to all Hydropicks or at all to weak Constitutions and such as have bad Inwards either in tone or conformation they oftner kill than cure And the reason why Catharticks operate more successfully and effectually in this Disease than in other sorts of Dropsies is because in an Anasarca the morbid matter which is the Lympha resides partly in the mass of Bloud partly in the habit of the Body within the pores and vacuities among the ends of the vessels wherefore when a strong Purge is given it presently
Purgatives Experience teaches that evacuation by urine often succeeds better Rivâ—rius than that by stool VIII We may according to Sennertus use Mercurius vitae to carry off the Water though it be a Vomitory if it be made fixt by long Digestion for in Hydropicks it will not easily cause a Vomit The reason whereof according to him seems because in such abundance of Water the solid parts cannot be so vellicated Or because the Salt of the Serum fixes the volatility of Vomitories This is done in Gum Gotta Hoeferus Herc. Med. l. 3. c. 2. if it be mixt with Spirit of Salt or of Vitriol ¶ I do not question but more would be saved from the Jaws of Death if Nature were helped with a little stronger Remedies especially Mineral ones A Boy nine years old having been some months hydropick after a Cachexy was given over for desperate by others He was ascitick with an Anasarca I first of all advise Evacuation by Mercurius dulcis and Diagrydium which being repeated once or twice I make use of a medicated Spring in the neighbourhood which was nitrous and mixt with Sulphur and Vitriol I first applied it with new Sponges then I gave it in Drink and for a Bath sometimes also giving a Purge made of an Infusion of Leaves of Senna Agarick black Mechoacan Seeds of Carthamum with Currants Aniseeds c. in the foresaid Mineral water by benefit whereof not onely the Belly was loosned but store of Urine was voided his Belly falling by little and little so that in a few months time he was perfectly restored to health In like manner a Girle about three years old being puft up with an Anasarca all over her Body and utterly abhorring all Medicines was recovered by the use of Mercurius dulcis with a few grains of Magistery of Jalap when she was at Death's door and by giving the said Medicines several times she was plentifully purged without any trouble Horstius ¶ The Medicines of most moment are such as are made of Antimony as Mercurius vitae the Dose whereof at first must be 4 grains in extract of Hellebore or Coloquintida Afterwards if the strength will bear it it may be increased to twelve The use of it must be continued for some days especially in a confirmed Dropsie and when the tone of the Stomach is not spoiled In this case it causes no Vomit but onely purges downwards Hartmannus And in old People it causes a Procidentia ani IX I use Elaterium I begin with 1 grain and an half and afterwards I give 2 then 3 and to 5 but gradually nor must the Dose be increased unless the matter to be evacuated require it and the Disease will bear it This is the Receipt Take of Elaterium 2 grains Pilulae Aloephangini 1 scruple With Juice of Orrice make Pills Some Hydropicks cannot take Elaterium but they fall into a Syncope then it must not be given them They can neither bear Antimony nor Juice of Spurge Then I follow Aetius I take the root of wild Cucumber I cut it and reduce it to Powder I put it in generous Wine as in Malmsey and steep it in 12 or 14 ounces thereof for 3 days and I give this Wine with the Powder at 3 times for 3 days one after another Then I intermit for 3 or 4 days and I give it again for 3 days I intermit again and I give it again And so the Swelling abates without any trouble for this Root is corrected by the Wine which also strengthens the Stomach and Liver Capivaccius X. Fernelius in his Pharmacopoeia describes an Ointment which applied powerfully carries off the Water in the Dropsie and abates the Swelling of the Belly But you cannot make tryal of this and the like without discredit for the purgative virtue communicated to the Muscles and Membranes often causes a mortal loosness Riverius XI Diureticks must not be given till the Body be purged and made fluid for it is found by experience that the more Diureticks and things that thin the humours are given to Hydropicks the more they swell The hollow of the Liver must first be cleared from aquosity by stool before the gibbous part be cleared by urine I have seen diuretick Potions succeed ill in which there was Soldanella when the first ways had not been taken care of before and repletion removed But after evacuation of the whole they are admirable good XII Lixivia taken inwardly are not proper for all Hydropicks promiscuously Outwardly they are good to cleanse resist Putrefaction and to other ends They are proper indeed because by their diuretick virtue they cause urine for making of which Hydropicks are usually famous but not for all promiscuously Not for such as are consummate and make a red deep coloured urine and not for such as have a weak Stomach And in general the tone of the Stomach must always be observed in these men because it is greatly hurt by Lixivials the ferment dies which delights in an acid volatility and they increase the Salts which are there in great plenty already and threaten a mortification of the Bowels Wedolius XIII Sometimes Hydropicks do suffer a stoppage of Urine whereby not onely the water is increased in the Belly but there is imminent danger of sudden death Wherefore some potent remedy should be had in readiness as the taking of Cantharides inwardly which are most proper in an Ascites Hippocrates approves of them 4 de vict acut t. 124. But they must be given upon certain conditions 1. If in a Dropsie and in other cases also the Urine be so stopt that it will not yield to other Medicines Therefore because there is danger of Death we are forced to have recourse to the strongest remedies But we must suppose the Urine stops because of some fault in the Kidneys which is usual in Dropsies 2. Cantharides must be given whole for we give the belly to provoke Urine but lest they should do mischief we mix the wings and feet which parts hinder them from hurting the Bladder The conditions also must be observed proposed by Galen c. 23. l. 3. simpl that they be given in a small quantity and mixt with other Medicines especially such as defend the bladder Wherefore we may give one whole Cantharis with a scruple of Powder either of Rue or Spike or some such thing And some fat thing must be given to drink after it as four or six ounces of Broth of a fat Chicken In this manner they are given with benefit and safety I have seen some who have been given over by all recover by taking Cantharides Capivaccius XIV Any one would be apt to thinK that Diuretick Medicines were good to carry off Water from any place or hole in the body Indeed it is apparent from experience that they frequently cure an Anasarca and doe more good therein than any other remedies We must consider therefore what they can doe towards the
But if any one have a mind to use a lixivial Salt that effervescence may be made the less by it let him temper it first by other means that is by some volatile Spirit or Oil Wherefore Venice and common Soap are of great virtue in checking the effervescence Whenever the pituitous humour offends in viscidity then it must be incided and attenuated with acid and gummous things as the humour gives way to the one rather than the other which it is easie to experience or try Yea it is the part of a prudent Physician not to think he knows all things For it is the part of a prudent Man not to begin rashly but when he has observed in dubious cases by what the Patient is chiefly holpen he may proceed couragiously Therefore when by gentle procedure a remedy is found by means whereof especially the Patient is relieved then we may proceed more cheerfully in the use of it And divers Gums occur very convenient in this case Galbanum Sagapenum Ammoniack Opoponax and the like all or each of which may be used according as there shall be occasion and especially in form of Pills Among Acids which may also be given there occur divers Spirits prepared by Art of Salt Nitre Vitriol Sulphur and also Wine-vinegar distilled and sometimes not distilled wherein if the bulb of a Squill be infused it is called Vinegar of Squills and is an excellent Medicine in this and the like diseases arising from viscid Phlegm These things also are good for correcting of viscid Phlegm Mastick Amber and the volatile Salt made of it as also the sublimated Salt of Hartshorn Castor Myrrhe moreover Steel prepared the common way or Vitriol of it with which some Mens opening Pills are prepared Every volatile Salt conduces above all things to correct and amend the viscid Phlegm which has a virtue of reducing that humour insensibly to a mediocrity Wherefore I recommend to all the preparation and use of such Salts whether they be prepared in a dry form or in a moist In the mean time this must be observed that volatile Salts prepared in a dry form when they are very subtile can scarce be kept but do easily turn to Air it is better therefore to prepare them in a moist form or at least to keep them for use dissolved in moist and watry things The bilious humour offends especially by reason of a fixt lixivious Salt which will be amended and tempered most powerfully by Acids But because then at the same time an Effervescence is raised by reason whereof this Hypochondriack disease is produced it seems not so safe or convenient to make use of Acids unless they be tempered with a volatile Spirit by means whereof the violence of the Acid Spirit is not a little infringed so that a less effervescence is caused thereby For the contempering also of lixivial Salts Acids mixt with oily things may be made use of for all sharp things as well Saline as Acid are tempered with fat things In the mean time we must have a care of oily Acids when besides a lixivial Salt Sylvius de le Boë Oil abounds in the bile which especially is evident by a greater heat and febrile burning in the Body V. A Lenitive being premised the first preparative must be Julapium Acetosum about three ounces with half an ounce of Creme of Tartar finely powdered for they may well be mixt together When five days are over again a Lenitive must be repeated drinking upon it two pounds either of clarified Whey or Barley-water Then we must proceed to open obstructions and prepare the humours lodged in the veins To which purpose aperient and mundifying juices clarified may be prescribed since Medicines made with Honey or Sugar are good for few Hypochondriacks Thus the clarified juices of Borage Cichory Endive Mallows Hops and Ceterach may be given the next day after the Physick and the next day after that half a drachm of Rheubarb mixt with two drachms of Flos Cassiae may be given after which a full Glass of Cichory and Agrimony-water may be drunk Then the day after the juices may be repeated Fortis cons 28. cent 3. and so alternately the Rheubarb and the juices may be taken VI. For a successfull and more accurate preparation I am willing to abstain from sweet Syrups made of Sugar and Honey as also from very sower things since they puff up the bowels and increase the heat and these cause a fermentation in the humours Wherefore clarified juices of Borage Endive sweet Apples c. must be given to about three ounces in Broth altered with Mallow Borage Fortis Cichory root of Cinquefoil Cichory c. VII In the use of Preparatives we must consider whether an Acid or a Nidorous crudity be more troublesome to the Patient and conduce to this evil for although it may be bred of either yet as the accidents vary according to the one or the other so also the way of cure varies For in an Acid crudity we may use hot things but in a Nidorous one and where great inflammation is we must use temperate ones Sennertus VIII If the Disease be inveterate gentle Aperients can doe but little good yet they must be given first For experience has taught that these Aperients Creme of Tartar Tartarum vitriolatum Vinum Martiale Pulvis cachecticus have qualified the Disease but could never eradicate it The case is the same in medical Waters For used once a year they open the Inwards a little but do not take away the Disease it self It is necessary therefore that against an inveterate Hypochondriack Disease such things be used as may pluck up the Disease by the root such as Aqua Philosophica or Spiritus Vini Tartarisatus if in some convenient liquour it be so given as to begin with the least and to ascend to the highest drop from one drop to twelve and according to the precedent circumstances we must continue a while in one dose and we must add now a drop Hartmannus and then a drop to it IX Preparation by Syrups and distilled waters while the humours are attenuated and run to the parts obstructed makes the Obstructions daily worse for they tire the Patients and Nature too much Crato they hurt the Stomach grievously and manifestly destroy concoction X. Vinegar may be used but it must be sparingly and onely for relish-sake and reason tells us it must be used in cholerick rather than in pituitous persons lest the exuberant melancholick juice be fermented with the excessive sowreness and the swelling of the Spleen be increased or way be made for sowre Belching Martini XI Creme and Crystals of Tartar and Tartarum vitriolatum are so common now adays that several scarce prescribe any Medicines wherein some one of these is not put yea Tartarum vitriolatum is called by Crollius Vniversale Digestivum And I acknowledge indeed that Medicines made of Tartar have a great virtue in
several are voided Wherefore by Mountebanks it is usually vaunted for the best Remedy Idem VII When the virtue included is of a middle order or mixt with others So the Italians have an easie and no contemptible Medicine for the Worms it is Ly mixt with Oil-olive and they give it with good success Idem VIII They must be mixt with sweet things so they are strongly drawn downwards by a Milk Clyster so Medicines may conveniently be given with warm Milk that with this Vehicle they may take the Poison So Wormseed is taken with Bread and Honey that they may be allured in that manner So for the same end Spiritus Vitrioli Philosophicus is mixt with Sugar Idem IX They must be given upon an empty Stomach and another thing must not presently be given after them for when they have any other Food that which is ingratefull and contrary to them is neglected by them And this holds good especially in round Worms and it is not improper in broad ones Idem X. Mercurial Medicines want a Quickner but cannot so safely be given to Children Therefore Glauberus l. c. says That Mercurius Dulcis given to Children for Worms does usually unless they be all the stronger cause a Weakness of the Limbs For at that Age all things are fluxible and lax especially the Bones and Nerves but Mercury is an enemy to these and so easily hurts Idem XI Medicines must sometimes be changed lest the Worms should be used to them especially in a more grievous case where there are abundance of Worms and those Worms come not away Idem XII External things must be applied to the Navel and not to the Stomach unless they come near it Not onely because the Navel is more perspirable but because it is the Centre of the Abdomen and therefore when Worms are in the Guts the virtue of Medicines may more easily be communicated to them but these external things must onely be used for a help Idem XIII Anthelminthicks are not universal Medicines Langius and Haupmannus their hypothesis is sufficiently known concerning verminous putrefaction its being the Cause in a manner of all Diseases Pains and Ails and usually of Death it self concerning which there is extant a Piece called Haupmanni Pathologia animata But as it cannot be denied that Worms are among Causes of Diseases so to extend them to be a Cause of all Diseases is absurd Idem XIV Evacuation is usually made by three sorts of Medicines either by some sweet and lenient things by things which act by their whole substance or by strong Purgatives Sweet Lenitives do not carry off dead Worms Sweet things get Worms out because they are allured and got out with the sweet food which loosens the Belly Things that act by their whole substance carry off the live and dead without distinction And the strongest Purges are bitter so that at one and the same time they can both kill and carry off Therefore things that kill Worms are in vain given before Purgatives Saxonia XV. They are mistaken who to kill the Worms use any slight Medicines which have but a small virtue to kill them for Worms by their expulsive faculty expell bitter things that are but gentle We may observe this when Children are troubled with Worms and with a bilious Diarrhoea at the same time for Bile which is naturally bitter does not kill them Wherefore unless we have recourse to strong Medicines as to Aloes not washt or to a scruple of Mercury made into Pills with a little Aloes and Turpentine Sanctorius we doe nothing XVI To evacuate the matter of which Worms are bred that is Phlegm Species Hierae are reckoned good if it reside onely in the first ducts But if in the whole Agarick not Rheubarb which many use for though by its bitterness it be good to kill Worms yet it does harm as it purges Bile and not Phlegm and when the Phlegm is left Sleepiness Epilepsies Apoplexies and Death follow Agarick therefore is good becaâ—se it purges Phlegm and by its bitterness kills Worms Capivaccius XVII Women commonly give Wormseed in Comfits or the bare Seed mixt with Honey It is an excellent Remedy for Worms being greedy of sweet things devour the Honey and with it the Seed which kills them But because it is very hot it may be tempered if it be infused for two hours in Vinegar and then mixt with Honey boiled up to the form of an Electuary which Amatus commends as the best Medicine for the Worms Riverius XVIII When Worms are voided in acute Diseases as in burning Fevers and other Diseases of old Men and Children we ought not presently to turn all our intention on them as the good women and Physicians that humour such women do which is a reason why Patients die when the Disease is neglected Wherefore the Physician must carefully consider whether the Fever depends on the Worms or whether Worms be voided for some other reason which are always contained in the Belly And if you find the Fever comes from some other cause perhaps it is a quartan tertian or quotidian and if no symptome be very urgent they must be neglected or onely such Medicines given as are proper for the principal Disease and for the Worms â— cletius XIX Though in round Worms it be good to mix Purgatives with things that kill them yet in broad Worms it is better not to mix Purgatives at first with them because the Purgatives do not suffer things that kill the Worms to stay long in the Belly but quickly purge them off But if Medicines be first given to kill them they roll themselves round like a Ball and are so voided and the Party recovers Sennertus as the Authour lib. 4. de Morbis writes XX. The Medical Intentions are to kill the Worms to expell them to hinder a new growth of them and to prevent symptoms But first of all it is convenient to rid the Stomach and Guts of excrements and of food for the Worms by some gentle Purge for we may not give a Vomit lest the Worms should be drawn from the Guts into the Stomach where they might cause more mischief I know indeed it is the common opinion that we must use bitter things but I am quite of another opinion preferring sweet things far before them to withdraw the Worms from gnawing the Stomach and to dispose them for voiding by stool Wherefore I presently give four ounces of Manna in Broth altered with Cinnamon drinking three hours after it a dilute Mulsa made with Barley-water and that the Worms may be drawn downwards and the Guts washt in the evening I order a Clyster of Milk Butter and Sugar Then we must proceed to killing things as Oil of bitter Almonds of Peach Kernels Wine of Infusion of Scordium Spirit of Salt Oil of Sulphur Spirit of Vitriol and the Poison of Worms the distilled water of
Diagnostick of this is very difficult so I think the Cure of it is no less rare When there is suspicion of it Saline Medicines especially seem to be of use and such of them must be given as are endued with a Volatil or Acid Salt And the same things must not be given together but these for some space of time and when they will do no good others may be tried 1. Spirit of Sal Ammoniack compound with Millepedes or distilled with other Antasthmaticks 3 Ounces The Dose from 15 Drops to 20 thrice a day in some Julep or appropriate Water 2. Spirit of sea-Sea-Salt or Vitriol impregnated distilled and often cohobated with Spirit of Wine and Pneumonick Herbs 3 Drachms The Dose from 15 Drops to 20 in the same manner 3. The Palpitation of the Heart is often a Convulsive Affection and is usually produced by the like cause and way of efficiency whereby other Hypochondriack and Asthmatick Diseases are usually produced The Cure whereof must in like manner be attempted by Antispasmodick Remedies c. Willis Saxonia mentions this last sort Praelect Pract. parte 2. cap. 1. It must be observed says he that it is caused by some fault in the Nerves alone nothing appearing amiss in the Brain Breast or Muscles Which I observed in my Brother whom I perfectly restored by the use of Treacle only applied to the beginning of the Spinal Marrow XVI The Trembling of the Heart which they commonly call the Passion of the Heart is a Disease distinct yea quite another from the Palpitation of it For in the Trembling the Carnous or Motive Fibres seem to be affected by themselves and the Morbifick cause does not in this as in the other Disease consist in the Blood or in the Arteries of the Heart The trembling of the Heart may be described to be a Spasmodick Convulsion or rather a Trepidation of it wherein the Motive Fibres do very quickly make only semicontracted and very speedy Systoles and Diastoles but abrupt and as it were half strokes so that the Blood can be brought into the Ventricles of the Heart and carried out only by small portions The formal reason seems to consist in this that the Animal Spirits belonging to some certain Muscles do start restless out of the Tendons continually into the Flesh and return and so in a perpetual vicissitude they repeat their Excursions and Recursions in the mean time when they are only exalted with small Forces so that they do not fill up the Carnous Fibres and they stay in these Fibres only a short time and although they make sometimes frequent efforts yet they are weak insomuch that the Members and Limbs are not moved out of their places by the Muscles so perpetually agitated and the Heart during its trembling how quickly soever shaken yet it is scarce able to drive the Blood about as is plainly manifest from the little and as it were tremulous pulse and a decay of all strength As to the Conjunct and Procartarctick Causes whereby namely the Muscular Spirits are made so instable or acquire this Desultory Faculty it seems that some Heterogeneous and Elastick Matter having past the Brain and Nervous Ducts then is carried into the Muscles and the Tendinous ends of them where mixing now and then with the Spirits it irritates them so that they can be quiet no where but run hither and thither continually and in the mean time they either omit or do not strenuously perform their proper Offices The cause of the trembling of the Heart is commonly laid upon the Spleen for it is vulgarly supposed that foul Vapours are by this parts being obstructed or otherwise amiss sent to the Heart which seising of it make it so shake and tremble yea as if it were in a cold fit This Opinion has gained some credit because Hypochondriacks or Spleneticks are found to be very subject to the Cardiack Passion But the reason why they that are reckoned Splenetick and Hysterick are so commonly troubled with the Passion of the Heart is the great affinity and intimate communication between the Splenetick and Cardiack Nerves so that not only the affection of one Part does draw another easily into consent but if at any time Spasmodick Matter falls upon the Branches of the Nerves belonging to the Spleen or Bowels in the lower Belly it seldom misses but the same in like manner scises those that belong to the Heart As for the method of Cure to be followed in the Cure of the Passion of the Heart because it is a Disease meerly Spasmodick therefore not Cardick but rather Cephalick and Nervous Medicines are indicated which yet according to the Temperament and Complexion of the Patient must be hot or moderate and sometimes of this sometimes of the other nature That I may comprehend the business in short three sorts of Medicines use to do the most good in this Disease Testaceous Chalybeates and things endued with a volatil salt Therefore first of all provision being made by evacuating the whole Medicines may be prescribed Idem which shall seem to be most useful Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Let a Man take this Potion inwardly which I have seen do good to a miracle Take of Water of Boragè 5 ounces Syrup of Borage 1 ounce Julep of Roses Cinnamon Water each half an ounce dissolved Pearl 2 drachm◠dissolved Gold 1 drachm Crato Mix them 2. Spirit of Balm alone cures the Palpitation of the Heart when the Body is purged Take of Regulus of Antimony 2 ounces the best Gold 2 drachms Melt them in a Crucible then reduce them to Powder add of red Coral Pearl each 2 drachms Mix them through a Sive Add the like weight of the best Nitre Burn them in a hot Fire for three hours Powder them very fine Wash it in sweet Water Put it into a Glass retort with the best Spirit of Wine and distil the Spirit cohobating it three or four times upon the Powder So it is prepared for an excellent Bezoardick Powder which in virtue excels the Bezoar-Stone The Dose half a drachm with Water of Carduus Benedictus Fabe◠Meadow-sweet or Balm It is given to drive out in Palpitation of the Heart Malignant Fevers and the Small Pox. 3. For the Palpitation of the Heart I ordered the following Bag to be applied to the Heart Take of dry Balm 4 handfuls the Cordial Flowers 1 pugil shred them grossly Make a Bag. When it was applied to the Heart the Palpitation ceased to a miracle There is an admirable virtue in Balm both taken inwardly and applied outwardly I took green Balm and Borage bruised them a little laid them upon a hot Tile sprinkled them with a little Rose Water and Vinegar and applied them to the Heart Forestus and the Palpitation of it ceased to the admiration of all Men. 4. The Juice extracted out of Weather's Hearts strengthens the Heart wonderfully Take the Heart of a Weather or a
Applications of other kind which ease pain may be outwardly applied Of the wandring Scorbutick Gout Concerning this affection Eugalenus Wierus Medicus Campensis and Gregorius Horstius have writ on purpose It is said to be very frequent in the North-parts of Holland of which they take a certain sign by applying a live Worm to the place pained for it begins immediately to leap wriggle and slide off and usually dies which indeed I have often by experience observed in this Disease among our own Country-men The reason of which experiment as I think is this we make the cause of the Pain and Swelling in the part affected to be because Saline or lixivial Feculencies that are left by the Blood and also by the Nervous Liquor in the same place do mutually ferment just as Spirit of Vitriol mixt with deliquated Salt of Tartar moreover as from such struggling and agitation of dissimilar particles Pain and Swelling are caused so indeed very sharp and as it were corrosive effluvia do plentifully fly out which kill the Worm when it is applied to the pained place just as if it were hung over these ebullient Liquors Because of the effect of this experiment the Cure of the Disease is managed by Worms that is by Medicines made of them which yet I know not whether taken inwardly they will as certainly cure the Disease as they applied outwardly are killed by the Disease However Worms as also Snails Sows and other exanguous Animals inasmuch as they abound with a volatil Salt so they often yield a Medicine effectual enough Henricus Petraeus tells of two Remedies for this Disease much used in Westphalia 1. Take 9 Worms bruised with 2 spoonfuls of Wine in a Mortar and strained through a Cloth to these add half a pint of Wine Take 3 spoonfuls Morning Noon and Night for several dayes 2. Take 2 or 3 sprigs of Savine Virgin Honey 2 spoonfuls Boyl them in a pint of Wine till it sink 2 Inches Let 4 or 5 spoonfuls of the colature be taken thrice a day A certain vulgar potion cited by Horstius is near of kin to the first Medicine it is called Potio Monasteriensis Take of Sage Betony Rue each 5 Leaves a little Savine and two roots of Devils bit Bruise them with water of Elder flowers and let the juice strained out be given to cause a Sweat The like prescription also is propounded by Medicus Campensis in Forestus Certainly in this Disease Aqua lumbricorum magistralis set down in the London Dispensatory is excellent good I have often used Spirit and Salt of Harts horn Spirit of Blood and flowers of Sal Ammoniac with good success Moreover Testaceous powders to wit of Crabs Eyes Corals Pearl and Vegetables which are reckoned Antidotes for the Gout as Root of Birthwort Leaves of Ground pine Germander and the like joyned with Antiscorbuticks are good for the cure of this Disease Beside outward Anodynes to asswage the pain which are used in form of Liniment Fomentation or Cataplasm oyl of Worms Frogs and Toads are often very beneficial I had it from an excellent Person who was very subject to this Disease that a water distilled off the Contents in the Stomach of an Ox newly killed and taken out and applied warm with Clothes in manner of a Fomentation does give most certain relief Of Convulsive and Paralytick Affections that usually come upon the Scurvy If at any time the Scorbutick Infection break into the Brain and Nervous kind and very much infect the irrugious Liquor of either Province for this reason indeed divers affections and especially Paralytick and Spasmodick ones usually arise namely according as the Morbifick matter brought by the regiment is either narcotick or explosive Which sort of affections although in this case they be Symptomatick yet when they grow worse they challenge to themselves both the name and better part of the Cure so that the Patient may be rather said to be sick of the Palsie or Convulsion than of the Scurvy Medicines also proper for these Diseases should be preferred before all other at that time however requisite for other intentions To cure such Diseases brought upon the Scurvy we should make it our business that Remedies appropriate to them may be rightly complicated with Antiscorbuticks Of an Atrophy and also the Scorbutick Fever which is either the cause or effect of it There are 3 kinds of causing depending in a certain order of one or more of which a Scorbutick Atrophy without a Consumption of the Lungs is usually produced to wit either the Chyle is perverted through the fault of the first wayes so that either not enough or not good is carried to the Blood Or secondly when it is brought thither yet by the fault of the Blood it is not rightly changed into Blood and nutritious juice Or thirdly the nutritious juice being rightly prepared in the mass of Blood through the fault of the Nervous Liquor is not rightly assimilated to the solid parts Remedies proper for this Symptome either respect the emendation of the first wayes or of the foresaid Humours As to the former it sometimes happens that through the broken tone or vitiated ferment of the Stomach what food is taken is not rightly concocted but turns into an useless putrilage For such ails gentle Catharticks Digestives and Strengthners may be used Yet the work of Chylification is oftner hindred by a Scirrhous Tumor rising sometimes in the Stomach sometimes in the Mesentery and other Parts thereabout In this case opening and dissolving things are proper the use of Spaws is before any other Remedy Moreover Fomentations Liniments or Plaisters must be outwardly applied Furthermore sometimes it happens that without any Tumor arising in the Bowels the lacteal Vessels are so much obstructed with a thick viscid matter settled in them that a sufficient store of Chyle though made laudable and with plenty sufficient cannot be carried to the Blood In this case the Belly is for the most part very loose the stools are white and like curdled Milk and not tinged with bile or stinking like other Peoples Excrements The reason whereof is because the depauperated Blood breeds but little yellow bile from the pouring out of which in the Guts the colour and stink of the Excrements proceed In this case Spaws are chiefly proper and when openers are given inwardly Liniments Fomentations and Bathings may be used outwardly For a Marasmus arising from the Blood 's degenerating from its frame these things are good Asses or Cows Milk diluted with Barley water or some proper distilled water often do good Broth or Milk with Snails boyled in them Moreover Waters distilled off Milk or Whey with Snails and temperate Antiscorbutick Herbs are very good in this case for this purpose also Decoctions of vulnerary and Antiscorbutick Herbs are taken with good success In the mean time frictions to the out parts may be used every day with Clothes bedewed with unguentum resumptivum or fresh Oyl of sweet Almonds and
all the Soldiers having the Scurvy who were besieged in a certain Castle were cured ¶ An Infusion of Brooklime and Scurvy-grass in Whey of Goat's Milk is a vulgar Medicine but does truly a great deal of good in the Scurvy ¶ Goose dung is also commended in this case Hofmannus from the juice of which Soldiers troubled with the Scurvy in a Siege found great relief 6. This is a Secret Take of the middle yellow rind of the root of Sloe-Tree 4 handfuls Pepper powdered 2 spoonfuls boyl them with Beer and Water with this Decoction hot wash the Mouth repeating it several times then Take of the juice of Water-Cresses pour to it some Wine mix them and keep them Jobus Kornthaverus wash and rub the Mouth and Gums often with this ¶ Take the juice of Squills rub the Teeth and Gums so the Scurvy is cured 7. Among Diureticks which are used for the Scurvy Penotus his opening Spirit bears the Bell from all others I make it thus Take the Spirit of Goslarian Vitriol 3 pounds and an half Salt of Tartar 2 pounds and an half calcined Flints 6 pounds put them in an Earthen Retort and destil them increasing the Fire by degrees let the caput mortuum be boyled and the Spirit be impregnated with the Salt when it is boyled out of which and Potters clay make balls which being put again into a Retort let them be destilled and the destilled Spirit be rectified and kept for use ¶ Cnoffelius thus prepared his Narcotick Arcanum Take of Vitriol finely pulverized and dried in a certain heat to whiteness half a pound pour to it 30 ounces of rectified Spirit of Wine set it in Horse-dung for a Month when it is poured from the Dregs distil it in Balneo Mariae till the residence of a yellow Liquor like the distilled Oyl keep this when it is cast forth This is far better and safer as the Author affirms then Laudanum Opiatum The Dose is 12 grains in some convenient Liquor 8. The common People in Holland commend a well known and easie Medicine made of the Leaves of Marsh Trefoil for most Scorbutick Persons especially such as are inclined to the Dropsie with very good success I gave to a certain Scorbutick Person who had a Palsie Consumption and Spots Simon Pauli an infusion of marsh Trefoil by the use of which alone he was perfectly well in 14 days I have done the same in others See before § XII XIII XIV Willis his Cure of the Scurvy Scroti Gangraena or a Gangraene of the Cod. A Man about 40 years old being drunk with Wine fell suddenly into a swelling of his Cod with an acute Fever and a sudden failure of Strength he got a Surgeon to cure it who when he observed the blackness of that Part and the exulceration of the whole Penis yea and danger because there was a manifest Gangraene being doubtful of the Cure desired the advice of a Physician When I was called having first given him a Clyster because he had not been at Stool for 2 dayes I prescribed him a Cataplasm of Scordium Rue Meal of Lupines and of Bitter Vetch with Oxymel Wine c. I gave him Diasenna Fracastorii and now and then Treacle-Water because I observed some Malignity communicated to the Heart for without it he could scarce breathe The next day when we took off the Cataplasm we found the outer Cuticle separated and the third day the Scrotum open of it self and about night ten pounds of Water run out The fourth day his Stones were all bare for the Scrotum was fallen away from the pecten to the perinaeum Here we advised what should be done and by drying and incarnating Remedies we prevailed so far in 14 dayes time that we had not only guarded the Stones Petrus Holtzemius with a Scrotum but Nature also had clothed the Scrotum with new hair the whole glans came again to the penis all the Ulcers of the penis were healed and he was able afterwards to act the part of a Man One forty years old a strong Man and of very good habit of Body when in Summer-time he had heated himself excessively and had drunk a great draught of cold Water was within a few dayes taken with a continual Feaver of which he was rather cured by the benefit of Nature than by Art in the mean time the intemperature and fault of his Liver remained wherefore a little after he fell into a Cachexy for he was first taken with a Jaundice then with a Dropsy Dr. Cronenburgius used all things necessary at last a serous Humor falling into the Scrotum they called Dr. Slotanus to consult Both of them use their utmost Industry in the mean time the swelling of the Cod ceases not but by degrees the Native heat being extinct it turns to a Gangraene in the Part. They scarify the Scrotum all over with a Lancet and wash it with Salt and Treacle dissolved in Vinegar not neglecting Vnguentum Aegyptiacum and a Cataplasm of meal of Lupines of Darnel Aloes Myrrhe Scordium and other things that resist putrefaction They prescribe a very good course of Diet Strengthners and Openers of obstructions inwardly and outwardly In the mean time when the Water ran plentifully out of the Scrotum the Patient grew better At length the gangrened Scrotum part of it fell away by the benefit of Nature and Medicines part also which was gangrened was cut off with a Razor so that the Stones might be seen bare the Ulcer remained open for some Months Fabritius Hildanus Cent. 5. Obs 77. In the mean time Nature by this way evacuated whatever excrementitious Humors were in the Bowels so that the Noble Parts were perfectly restored and the Patient fully cured of his Disease Singultus or the Hickup The Contents The Cure must be varied according to the variety of Causes I. A Periodical one which would only give way to Bleeding II. A Tedious one stopt III. The Efficacy of Opiates IV. To what Place outward Applications must be made V. Antimonial Vomits are best in this Case VI. Vomits repeated do good VII Medicines I. B. Sylvaticus gave to one that had had the Hickup grievously for seven dayes Hiera with Oxymel Rhodius when he had voided above 12 ounces of Phlegm he was perfectly well ¶ Several who have been almost killed with the Hickup after purging for 5 dayes with hiera piera Daretus have put an end to the Hickup ¶ One who had had the Hickup 20 dayes and was in great danger of Death was at length saved by an infusion of Mechoacan Epiph. Ferdinandus ¶ A Boy ten years old Hickuped day and night for 8 dayes I gave him water of Green-Nuts destilled with Radish first steeped in Vinegar Although he did not Vomit yet his Hickup ceased after the second Draught about night he was wholly freed of it Platerus ¶ A Surgeon falling Sick was in a little time so troubled with
not to the Breast We do the same also when the Mouth of the Stomach has an Inflammation because it rests upon the Spine along the Neck and Breast to the Belly Wherefore Nurses when Infants and Children are troubled with Vomiting and Turning of the Stomach they think the Gullet and the Mouth of the Stomach are convulse and they set a Cupping-glass to the Belly and they garter up the Skin about the twelfth vertebra of the Back they take it in their Fingers and lift it up or they force it into a Cupping-glass or Jug with Tow kindled as Aetius does Langius Ep. 44. l. 2. which one would think succeeded well and the Vomit stopt because the Gullet and Mouth of the Stomach were restored to their former seat VI. As often as hurtful or sharp Food or Physick or rather Poison is contained in the Stomach and causes the Hickup it ought to be expelled either by Vomit upwards a shorter way or by Purging downwards a longer way which may be understood also of any Humours in the Stomach or small Guts which cause the Hickup I prefer among Vomits Antimonials before all the rest both because they do with success evacuate all Humors promiscuously and because they are most amicable to Humane Nature Silvius de le Boe. reducing all the Humors in Man by some peculiar way to a very laudable State by degrees if so be that too great a quantity of them be not taken at once VII When after Narcoticks have been conveniently used and a Vomit taken and little or nothing is voided upwards or downwards and the Hickup continues if the signs of bad Humours being in the Stomach or in the Guts nigh which cause this Ail you may then safely either the same day but in a less quantity or the next day in little a larger quantity give a Vomit to the end the peccant Humors may either be further corrected or discharged upwards or downwards or both ways For so the cure of the Hickup will be performed safely not unpleasantly and soon enough which is truly rational and dogmatical relying especially on Experience and on sound Reason not on a faint and commentitious one and therefore on a false one Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. There are many who by affrighting People unawares in the Hickup obtain their end others advise to rub the Ear long with the little Finger Jul. Caesar Baricullus And Lysimachus has given out that Sprinkling with cold Water and holding ones Breath stops the Hickup 2. Among the stronger sort of Remedies for the Hickup there is Powder of Dittany if it arise from Cold or Wind with Cretan or Falernian Wine But a Decoction of Dill Alex. Benedictus about 3 Glasses of it drunk at once wonderfully stops the Hickup with pain Rod à Fonseca 3. This Fomentation is very good if Castor Pepper and Mustard boyled in strong Vinegar be applied with a Sponge to the Stomach 4. This is Aselepius his famous Remedy Take of Galangale Saffron Spikenard green Roses Mastiche each 4 scruples Asarum Aloes each 2 scruples Lat. à Fontae Opium 1 scruple with juice of Fleawort make little balls The Dose 1 scruple every Morning See § 1. of the Hickup Sitis or Thirst The Contents The Method of cure is not alwayes the same I. Sweet and Sugered things increase rather than quench Thirst II. The use of Nitre III. Medicines I. THirst is a Passion of the Mouth of the Stomach which is sometimes afflicted by Sympathy sometimes by it self If by it self all agree it must be removed by drinking If by Sympathy with the Lungs not drinking of Water but inspiration of cold Air alone is sufficient to asswage it Nor is it sufficient to know that the primary Affection is in the Lungs and the consent in the Stomach we must consider also whether the Thirst that is caused in the Stomach be proper by consent so as that it be partly caused and partly causing by reason of the Fomenting it by the Lungs for not only Coolers and Moistners should be directed to the Lungs but to the Stomach also Continuance of time and a soft habit declare that an Idiopathy is made Sanctorius l. 2. c. 7. Because that all Sympathy if it continue long and the part affected be soft becomes Idiopathy ¶ The Hermetick Physitians contend that immoderate Thirst comes from thirsty Spirits bred of sulphureous Impurities which will not be sated with simple Cooling and Moistning but with other Spirits analogous to themselves Thus we see in Ague-fits intense Thirst is a little stopt by drinking a great quantity of Water which yet more easily gives way to acid Spirits of Vitriol Riverius l. 9. cap. 4. Sulphur Salt and the like mixt with a far less quantity of Water ¶ If an irregular Thirst arise such as is usually caused by the Dropsie while the Stomach receives Nitrous Salt or a Putrid Vapor or Humor from the Peritonaeum it cannot be stopt by drinking but the plenty of the Salt or Nitrous Humor will be encreased whereby it is also encreased and exasperated but by such things as dull the Sense of the Mouth of the Stomach or qualifie and make gentle the Humors and Vapors so Starch and the Water of it so Mucilages and sometimes fat Things do good to Admiration Mercatus But when the faulty Thirst comes from the heat of the Lungs you may cure it by inspiration of cold Air and often Washing the Mouth with very cold Water ¶ Both watry things which dilute and carry to the Urinary Passages the lixivious Salt of the Bile and Acids which powerfully break and turn its Acrimony and Oyly things which smooth the same Acrimony to wit Milk and Emulsions made of Oyly Seeds â—r Sylvius l. 1 c. 1. cure encreased Thirst above all other things And the Watry things may conveniently be joyned both with the acid and Oyly ones and so they will do the more good ¶ It sometime happens that Thirst is encreased by the Serum where because Water abounds in the Body together with the lixivial Salt Frid Hofmannus m. m. l. 1. c. 19. plentiful drinking is not convenient but an acid Spirit such as Spirit of Salt aperitivus Penoti c. diluted taken by spoonfuls whereby the hurtful Acrimony of the lixivious Salt is powerfully amended ¶ The Cause of it is the Nidorous ferment of the Stomach made over salt and sharp as we see it happens in Feavers Salt Catarrhs the Dropsie c. The Stomach since it has a Coat common with the Gullet and Palate easily communicates it Quality to them and also causes Thirst Want of Moiststure is not sufficient to cause Thirst wherefore Thirst ceases not by drinking unless it carry along with it a Medium Analogous to seize the ferment Wherefore Acids quench a false Thirst just as Water quenches the Fire Idem l. 2. c. 4. Well rectified Spirit of Vitriol
rouses them into a new fermentation it drives Putrefaction from the Concrete although already begun and procures a firm concretion to it again That such alterations and freeings from corruption can be performed on Liquors made by Art every one knows and indeed in the Plague and malignant Diseases Alexipharmacks seem to perform the same Effect for these being taken often inasmuch as they exagitate the Blood continually and drive it into an higher ferment notwithstanding the influence of the hurtful miasmata or impurities they conserve its mixture intire yea after the malignity has made impression and the Crasis of the Blood begins to be loosened and dissolved in the manner aforesaid such Remedies being still exhibited for promoting Sweat or Perspiration inasmuch as they decoct the impurities of the received taint and induce a new fermentation opposite to the other corruptive one they often deface the Impetus or impressions of the pestiferous Malady As to the Cordials by which the too strait Compages of the effervescing Blood is loosened and opened for the setting at liberty the febrile Matter and other Recrements those are of affinity with some Diureticks and Diaphoreticks yea sometimes they are of common or reciprocal use inasmuch as the vitiated Crasis of the Blood sometimes cannot be relieved unless its Compages being first unlocked there lie open an exit for discharging the Serum by the Reins or the Pores of the Skin Saline Medicines do chiefly execute all these intentions of Cure for as we have otherwhere noted the opening of any Body whether liquid or solid is hardly performed but by a Saline key For commonly all concretion or compaction is from a Salt of one sort and the dissolution from some of another sort that snatches into its embraces the first Salt and then Precipitation is caused by some Salt of a different condition that destroys the Combinations of the former Therefore we reckon Salines among Cordials no less than among Diureticks and Diaphoreticks because there is the same reason in all In the first rank Cordials endued with a volatile Salt offer themselves and are justly preferable to all other as the Spirit of Hartshorn of Blood of Sal armoniacum compound viz. distilled with Amber Treacle and other Alexeteries the Spirit of Skulls digged out of Graves Hither may be referred also the Salt of Vipers the Powder of Toads closely calcin'd which I have known famous and very profitable in an Epidemick Pestilential Fever Such Remedies as these have recalled many from the very jaws of Death and indeed afford help often in a various and manifold respect namely first inasmuch as encountring either a fixt or an acid Salt and snatching them into their embraces they open the mass of Blood too much thickned and straitned by the febrile effervescence and so promote the Separation and Secretion of the Morbifick Matter And secondly in that they relieve the animal Spirits and rouse them up from their sluggishness to execute their Office to which may be added that in Malignant Fevers these Medicines subdue and often extinguish the poisonous Particles of the Morbifick Matter The Second place among Saline Cordials is of right owing to Remedies endued with an alkalisate or petrifying Salt for these are commonly reputed very notable Cordials Of this sort namely are the Bezoar Stone Perles Corals the Bone of a Stag's heart and the Horn of the same the Powder of Ivory the Eyes and Claws of Crabs and other Powders of Stones and Shells which common Experience witnesses to be often given with benefit And the reason of their helping seems to consist in this That the Particles of the Alkaline Salt in the Medicine encounter the Particles of the acid Salt within our Bodies and by and by do intimately cohere therewith and therefore destroy the ragings or whatsoever other undue combinations thereof To this Classis of Cordials are Bole-Armene terra Lemnia Sigillata and other chalky Medicines deservedly reckoned but not upon the account that they succour the labouring Heart as is vulgarly thought but because they destroy the Predominances of an acid or fixed Salt either in the Bowels or in the mass of Blood and by and by allay and correct the Enormities produced thereby Thirdly If I should exclude Acetous Medicines or such as are endued with a fluid Salt from this list of Cordials every one almost would tax me for these are esteemed by most to be notable Alexeteries against the Pestilence Wherefore in the cure of Malignant Fevers Treacle and Bezoartick Vinegars are highly cryed up yea Vinegar or Acetous things are usual Ingredients in Waters distill'd for that use for the same reason Spirit of Vitriol the juice of Citron Sorrel Pomegranats c. are reckoned for Cordials and Alexeteries and that indeed justly because these do excellently dissolve the Combinations of fixed Salt with adust Sulphur and master their outrages and therefore by such Remedies as these the Coagulations and Extravasations of the Blood that use to happen in Malignant Fevers are often prevented or cured Fourthly for the same Reasons for which the aforesaid Saline Medicines are reckoned for Cordials others also whose basis is a fixt Salt are reputed such or are put into their Compositions For seeing Salts of divers sorts are bred in our Body and they commonly pass from one state to another hence not one kind of Salt but Salts of different kinds ought to be given according as the intention is On what account Medicines endued with a fixt or lixivial Salt do take away or correct the Enormities of an acid Salt predominating within the Bowels or Blood was shewn above Fifthly A Nitrous Salt is justly numbred among Cordials as without whose Particles to be inspired with the Air in taking our breath the life of Animals cannot subsist but this being taken in at the Mouth as a Medicine is accounted a famous Antipyreutick in that it takes away Thirst and bridles the febrile Heat which yet it does not only by helping the mixture of the Blood but also its accension for we think that Nitrous Particles together with Sulphureous are requisite to constitute a flame and the more of the Nitrous there are the clearer and brighter the flame is Wherefore seeing a Matter which for the greatest part consists of Sulphur with Salt and Earth mixed being kindled sends forth but an obscure flame and such as is vitiated with Smoke and Sootâ— but if Nitre be added burns clear and calm with brightness We think 't is just thus in Fevers when the Blood being filled with adust Feculencies smokes with a suffocating heat rather than burns out Nitrous Particles being taken in at the Mouth and transmitted to the Blood make it by and by to burn brighter and clearer so that the Compages of the Liquor being unlocked both its serous and fuliginous recrements part the freelier from it But moreover some Medicines have the name of Cordials because they exert their vertue on the animal Spirits first and more immediately than
seeing these being taken into the Body do only like slak't Lime as it were whiten over the Stomach and Guts and oppress them by sticking long upon them undissolv'd or if they glide out of the Stomach by obstructing the Mesaraick Vessels and hindring Concoction they are apt to cause at length grievous Diseases I will confirm this by an Instance A Nobleman complained of a weight of his Breast and Stomach of a nausea want of Appetite with a lingring but continual Fever though he used a very good diet and Cordial and Cephalick Powders Although he were naturally weak yet I thought good to begin the Cure with some general Remedy and suspecting from his nausea that some crude matter stuck in his Stomach and its upper Orifice I got him to consent to take a gentle Vomit which wrought very gently twice upwards and thrice downwards In the afternoon I found him pretty well and he told me that he found great ease about his praecordia His Lady bringing out a Silver bason shewed me what he had Vomited which was about a quart of thick and viscid Phlegm in the bottom whereof there was a Powder like white ashes a Fingers thick for a sediment Looking upon his Stools also they likewise lookt just as if they had been mingled with a great deal of ashes Now several dayes before he had taken daily a precious Powder almost of the same colour made of the Magisteries of Perls and Corals of Harts-horn burnt and prepared and an Epileptick Powder Zwelf append ad animadv in Pharm Aug. p. m. 92. c. ¶ It is to be noted that the greatly cryed up Magisteries prepared of Coral Perl c. especially by the Oyl of Tartar answer not the promises of their Authors seeing by such preparation their vertue to temper fix and concentrate acids Franc. de le Boë Sylvius Pract. l. 1. c. 7. is broken if not quite abolished It is therefore better to use them only reduced into a fine Powder than so prepared or rather corrupted XXII In the dissolution of Perles it is a common errour to pour distilled Vinegar upon them For it is sure the Liquor that ascends in distilling of it is insipid and altogether unfit for dissolving of Perles and that which remains in the bottom after distillation by its corrosive vertue dissolves both Perles and other things and reduces them into a powder as it were and calcines them now this is not to draw out the Spirit of perles but to corrupt their whole substance The Bishop above-mentioned took often of such magistery of perl as this and when he was dead the coats of his Stomach appeared black and corrupted Marquess John's Lady had the same hap in whom the Coats of the Stomach were plainly eroded There is indeed hardly any Glass that it is kept in Monav. in Epist Scholtz Ep. 163. so firm but it will erode it and turn it to ashes XXIII Among Alexipharmacks Tormentil and Bole are worst for those who have a dry Belly Dunc Liddel l. 3. c. 5. for by their earthy adstriction they cause obstruction and putrefaction XXIV Lest those who are accustomed to the use of the Volatil Salt of Vipers find unexpected effects of it and such as are contrary to its Nature I would admonish them that they carefully avoid the mixing any thing with it that is very acid especially Spirits such as are those of Salt Vitriol Sulphur and the like M. Charras tr â—tat de vipera c. 9. for by those it would be fixed and its operation wholly hindred XXV Sulphureous Spirits kindle the Sulphur of the Blood Volatil Vrinous ones rarefie it and Acid Spirits tame and dull or blunt it All these used inwardly restore the heat and motion of the Blood encrease and vigorate its balsamick oleous parts whence Apoplectick Hysterick Cordial Spirits and the like revive the Spirits remove fainting and recall the languishing faculties But seeing both these and the rest are very active they are all of them to be given warily For being given unseasonably 1. they fill the head and intoxicate 2. they deject the appetite which yet being used moderately they are in their own Nature rather apt to restore by exciting the heat of the Stomach 3. they make men Phthisical and Hydropical the former by consuming the dewy Nectar of the parts the Serum and by making the Humours more acrimonious the latter by destroying the tone and temperature of the Viscera Whence Hofman in his Preface De medic Officin writes rightly that our Countrey Brandy whether it be made of the Lees of Wine or of Wheat or Spelt or of Juniper-berries is so hurtful to the Liver that in two or three months by bringing a colliquation it causes a Dropsie that is deadly to all that fall into it I have often observed the same thing my self that all those stout drinkers of Brandy have at length become phthisical or Dropsical or both But Vrinous Spirits rarefie the Blood and by making the Serum halituous and fluxile provoke sweat whence whensoever there is need of volatilising let these be at hand for they promote motion and heat far more powerfully than the Spirit of Wine they expell also whence they are very powerful in driving out the small Pox they drive away drowziness in the Apoplexy Epilepsie and fits of the Mother hence they are good in malignant diseases if any be but we must take heed that by too much rarifying we do not dissolve the Blood and hasten death Hence those admirable effects are to be referred hither that are here and there ascribed to them as Hartman relates of the Spirit of Soot that it has raised to life again those that were even a dying Neither yet is there any reason why we should so much esteem the Spirit of Vipers and Soot that is more stinking and ungrateful so as that we should attribute more to them than to others for as good as any are of the more Sulphureous and Bezoardick the Spirit of Ivory and Harts horn and of the purer the Spirit of Sal armoniack Lastly seeing Acids tame and blunt the Sulphur of the Blood acid Spirits do this in general yet these also vary in regard of special effects and qualities thus Spirit of Vitriol is hurtful to the Breast the Spirit of Nitre is an Anticolick the Spirit of Salt performs all the offices of an acid in the first degree as it were and indifferently Wedel Pharm p. 201. The rest are to be referred to these XXVI Such Gellies are to be chosen as are 1. new for old grow rancid and have an ingrateful and musty taste 2. such as are tender and whitish not the black dusky hard like horn or such as are not at all grateful or agreeable to the Stomach hence when not many years ago a very great quantity of Harts-horn Gelly was given to a Child of a noble Family lying ill of the small Pox by the advice of an eminent Physician
Hypochondriacal affection yet they are thick privately and in their retirement and besides the Saline volatile Parts there are also others whence the Symptoms vary widely thus Serum or Lympha so long as it is in its own Sphere and under the dominion of the Natural heat appears thin but when it slides out of the Vessels or out of the Body it waxes thick as is seen in Catarrhs Thus Aperients of this sort especially volatil are good in the Apoplexy when the original of the Nerves is obstructed also in stoppages of the Nostrils in intermitting Fevers or Agues in straitness of breath c. And in this case Purgers also are excellent seeing all of them have a saline melting Spur in them XI Aperients are indicated 4. by somewhat acid acrimonious austere sowr pontick when namely the Blood is fixed as it were by a preternatural acid when the juices are constringed by austere particles so that the Blood circulates not orderly nor its volatile Parts meet and part freely And in this case they are commonly called absorbing saturating and precipitating Medicines Whence also appears their very large use as for instance in vertiginous Distempers of the Head in the Epilepsie Apoplexy Palsie opening and absorbing Cephalick Cinnabarines are good especially those that make the Blood fluxil and for this very vertue are very comprehensive they are also profitable in Diseases of the Joynts Hip Womb also volatil Salts both alone and also when made more oily So in Diseases of the Liver and Spleen yellow and black Jaundice Scirrhus Dropsie ill habit and especially in the Hypochondriacal affection and Scurvy the same Medicines do the business For if it be asked How Medicines of Steel act and open 't is very well answer'd By absorbing just as Spirit of Vitriol Nitre Salt or aqua fortis it self being poured on Steel have their acid particles infringed are saturated grow sweet and turn to Vitriol for thus it is in the Body whence Corals also are commended by Glauber as an excellent Medicine in the Hypochondriacal affection taken to a scruple or half a drachm Thus the same are good not only in these affections but also in the Nephritick XII And these very Aperients consider'd generally act two wayes 1. by altering so that they correct the offending matter it self and re-establish the ducts passages and vessels 2. by evacuating in which regard Purgers also themselves are excellent Aperients for they also are indued with subtilty or thinness Hence is the practical rule In obstructions of the viscera we must not only open or not insist upon Aperients only but must also evacuate that that which is opened may be evacuated And in chronical Distempers these are to be used by turns first we must open then Purge and then again continue Aperients And this also is to be observed that Aperients being added to Purgers encrease their vertue XIII Now Aperients themselves are of divers kinds and as Montanus and experience testifie in general most of them exceed not the second degree of heat and they ought withal to be endued with a thick strengthening earthy substance that their heat be not so soon dissipated XIV In Aperients the active principles are predominant especially a fixed Salt and the Mecurial principles and aeral parts are mixt with the earthy and they are for instance 1. Acrimonious either with an aromatick energy or with the vertue of a volatile Salt as the five opening roots the roots of Burnet Aron Antiscorbutick plants Mustard the Arabian costus c. 2. Aromatick and oleous volatils as Menth Penyroyal Cinamon cubebs costus Mace carminative Oils volatil Salts oleous Antiscorbutick Spirits 3. Bitter as the roots of Cichory and Gentian Worm-wood Agrimony Germander Gum Ammoniack Aloes c. 4. Acid as pickled capers the volatil Spirit of Salt of Nitre of Tartar the Clyssus of Antimony which penetrate notably the juice of Citron the Cream and Crystal of Tartar mineral waters call'd acidulae 5. Watery which dilute temper and yield a vehicle Whey distilled waters 6. Absorbing fixed and lixivial as the Salts of plants the Tincture of Tartar which cleanse notably and purge the filth out of the veins Also earthy whether alkaline as Ceterach Liver-wort Crabs-eyes Corals Tartar vitriolate or vitriolate as vitriol vitriolum Martis crocus Martis aperitive the filings of Steel in substance tinctures of Mars In â—hort the most select Remedies of them are comprehended under a quaternary number and are either Martial Tartareous Vitriolate or Antimoniate XV. So also all Diureticks are aperient which are chiefly profitable when there is obstruction in the upper part of the Liver and when the malady is throughly wedded to the Blood XVI Now Aperients and Resolvents are more proper after Vniversals for otherwise the Humours are rather fixed and driven further in than the coats of the passages and vessels freed hence both purgers are convenient and also Blood-letting which is often very profitable in a great obstruction if there be present also a fault in the Blood XVII We must not insist only and continually on Aperients singly especially volatil but strengthners are to be intermixed otherwise the tone of the parts will be violated and the Body will be precipitated to a bad habit hence the hypochondriacal often use them in vain if they neglect tonicks withal and those mistake far more that by using volatil Spirits continually strive to overcome obstructions by them only XVIII There are to be mixt with Aperients such Medicines also as respect the part affected that the native heat of the parts may be preserved so Cephalicks are to be used for the head c. Thus as by the obstruction of the Kidneys a stone is bred so Aperients are good for it but such as dissolve the coagulum withal XIX Let them be given on an empty Stomach not with meat nor presently after for in general aliments are not to be confounded with Medicines and in particular Aperitives because they precipitate the chyme into the lacteal vessels and so increase the abstructions XX. Before all things we must see that they dry not too much whence moistening or liquid Aperients dilute and temper more and are greatly to be observed in diseases of the Liver Womb and Spleen I have often observed the contumaciously Hypochondriacal when they had been in vain long vexed with the stronger and drier Aperients to become very well upon the use of moistening ones whence Galenical Medicines are fitly mixed with Chymical and hence Mineral Waters have their vertue that they carry the dissolved Salts along with them But Pills are fitter where the viscera do more abound with excrementitious Humours To repeat these things summarily Aqueous and liquid Medicines dilute and temper more earthy absorb more saline drive more by Urine acid incide more G. W. Wedel de s m. f. 43. acrimonious attenuate and resolve more sweet cleanse more bitter do more strengthen withall XXI In all chalybeate Medicines this is alwayes to be
fine commending that saying of our Master's That in desperate cases 't is better to let our Patients dye than to kill them XXXVII 'T is a question where there be a Cautery without pain to which it is rightly answer'd if we speak comparatively That there is For those things that are of greater activity and forthwith corrupt the part cause little or no pain Crystals of Silver afford such a Cautery that are made of Silver with aqua fortis Moreover we see such a thing in the Body not only outwardly in a Gangrene and mortification where we may Mechanically and Elegantly as it were conceive such a like caustick Salt but also in a painless dysentery G. W. Wedel de s m. fac p. 64. when so great an Acrimony comes so suddenly on the membranous parts that it forthwith takes away all sense whence it is then absolutely mortal Cephalicks or Medicines for the Head See Book 3. Of the Diseases of the Head in general The Contents The distinction of Cephalicks I. Which are those that are called Volatil II. Which fixed III. Which of a middle nature IV. Cautions in their administration V. The hurt of Cephalick Waters Spirits c. VI. I. CEphalick Remedies respect either 1. the Membranes and Herves and their irritation tension which is very considerable in the Membranes and twitching and these are profitable in pains of the Head Falling-sickness Tremblings and Convulsive motions whether they be discutients or demulcents with a Balsamick Sulphureous vertue such as are paregoricks Germander Ground-pine Vervain Penny-royal Betony Rosemary-flowers Castor Amber c. or inverting and absorbing acrimony as chiefly Cinnabarines whence it appears how these very Medicines are good both in the Falling-sickness and Head-aches and also in pains of the Joynts in Pleuritick pains and so in the pains of any part of the Body The more correct Opiats belong hither also Or 2. they respect the Humours especially the Lympha or Serum and withal the Spirits and Vapours or thin Steams and indeed if these exceed in quantity then Evacuaters and diverters that are endued with a volatil oleous Sulphur such as are good in Catarrhs and repletion in the Vertigo Night-mare for some sort of Epilepsie in weakness of Memory c. as Peony wild Thyme Majoran c. but if they fail in their due quantity then Restorers Moisteners and diluters as inwardly watry Medicines Liquids Potions Decoctions drinking freely which are necessary ia Madness Melancholy too much watching if the Humours be acrimonious thin and salt then fixers and temperaters Or 3. they respect the Spirits which failing require Restorers volatil oleous Balsamicks in particular Ambergriefe Apoplectick Waters distilled Oyls c. which are profitable for prevention of the Apoplexy strengthen the Memory restore the Planet-struck c. But if the Spirits are unruly and too plentiful if they estuate and are enraged they are temperated by moisteners and restorers of the Serum by acids that restrain ratefaction nitrous Medicines that promote evaporation Opiats that tye as in Madness and Phrensie whence they are also good in want of Sleep Or 4. the vapours or halitus which being excessive preternatural and extraneous inasmuch as the Blood being too halituous or infected with a preternatural Sulphur just as we see in People drunk makes the Spirits turbulent are corrected as well by gentle aromaticks and strengtheners such as are vulgarly called Hinderers of Vapours from rising up to the Head and discussers of them as Coriander digesting powders that help concoction and strengthen the Stomach as also by acids which obtund the Sulphureous and Cholerick Humours as in Drunkenness But when these Vapours or halitus fail then roscid vapours all which yet is more rightly attributed to the Serum imbued with these qualities are restored both by moisteners whence in burning Fevers it is advisable to prescribe Epithems either of Rose-water only or Emulsions that notably moisten and cool and also by such things as breed an halituous Blood by gentle Aromaticks whence both Sennertus and Simon Pauli advise and experience her self also bears witness that want of Sleep in old Men is not so well helped by Opiates alone or by refrigerating Medicines as by sweet evaporating ones and such as are endued with an oleous Sulphur such as are species diambrae diamoschi and Wine it self which we have known some use with good success to the end namely that the Serum may be brought to its proper state and prevail by a resoluble Sulphur Or 5. Cephalicks respect the pores of the Brain it self either by opening of them when they are too much shut and obstructed or by shutting of them when they are too wide and gaping The pores of the Brain are opened by volatil Medicines especially Urinous if at any time they are depressed and closed up through the plenty of Humours or by subsidence compression or other causes and grant not a free passage to the Spirits as especially in the Palsie Apoplexy loss of Speech thick Catarrhs in which Distempers such Medicines as open the pores of the Nerves are of the greatest avail also in immoderate Sleep and the like Diseases Lethargy Sleeping Coma and others as for instance the Spirit of Sal Armoniack with which and the Spirit of the Lilies of the Valley I have cured a number of paralytick Persons sometimes also discussers are to be added And when the Pores are too wide they are closed both by Medicines that increase the Serum in substance and that bestow on the Blood a gentle resoluble Sulphur G. W. Wedâ—l de s m. fac p 80. whence they are good and are indicated both in want of Sleep raging deliriums Phrensie and in other intemperatures II. Cephalicks Volatils are 1. such as are endued with an Oleous Aromatick sweet Sulphur in one word Balsamicks as the Leaves and roots of Angelica the leaves of Rosemary Majoran Sage Rue the wood Sassaphras c. aad their Spirits Oyls and Volatil Oleous Salts And these are withal Paregorick and pacifie the irritated membranes and restore the fainting Spirits yea they correct also the hâ—litus or vapours and widen the pores 2. Vrinous Volatils as the most renouned Spirit of sal Armoniack the Spirit of Urine whence the tincture of the Sun and Moon or Gold and Silver do almost wholly borrow their vertue 3. Acid Volatils as the cephalick striated Spirit of Vitriol Aqua Apoplectica Mulicrum c. although these are more fixed as it were Helmont was almost the first that observed that Cephalicks commend themselves by their volatil Salt So also Conserves Condites and other preparations of Vegetables belong hither Idem III. Fixed Cephalicks are either earthy as Perles Corals Cinnabar or Acid or Nitrons or watry diluters and these are of use to absorb and dilute Acrimonious Humours that irritate the membranes to bind doze and pacifie the enraged Spirits and to procure liberty to the pores inasmuch as they absorb the Acrimony of the Humours IV. Cephalicks
themselves the mistura simplex alone may serve for an instance for neither the Spirit of Treacle of it self nor the Spirit of Tartar do so readily procure sweat as when the Spirit of Vitriol is joined to them for this doth promote both their activities So also the tincture of Bezoar without the addition of the Spirit of Salt or some other acid is less apt to cause sweat Now when the Blood curdles it becomes more gross viscid thick and glutinous whence acids by taming the Sulphur and hindring rarefaction as much as may be do in such case promote the separation of the serous Humour and by this means promote also its halituosity Whence these and the Diaphoreticks of the first class are profitable being chosen according to the diversity of Indicants even in divers kinds of Fevers especially also in the Pox Scurvy Leprosie and the like where the Blood being much too glutinous doth necessarily import a weight and pain of the membres These very Medicines also of this class have a great vertue to take away the grumousness of the Blood whence also the mistura simplex has no contemptible use in the palpitation of the heart it self also in the scab and many other maladies In a word in any faults of the mass of Blood arising from the quality and vitious excesses in motion ebullitions despumations c. diaphoreticks bear away the bell both restoring and depressing the ferment V. But inward Impellents have need of externals whence it is not enough to take a Diaphoretick Medicine but at least there is need that the ambient air should be warmer than usual and that the Body be cover'd as also that the pores be more dilated and the Humours fused But the business is never accomplished by externals alone unless when the matter sticks more betwixt the Skin and Flesh for in that case external impellents do more good Likewise when a particular tumour exerciseth and wearies some membre the same are useful VI. Nor avail they only in the abundance and repletion of Humours and impurities of the Blood but they also make the sluggish Humours more brisk and lively but they are chiefly good for resolving and attenuating of serous Humours and evacuating them by the pores whence the fixedness or volatility of the Medicines and the different state of the Blood varies their use There are some who always use antimon diaphoret only others cry the Spirit of Harts-horn up to the Sky others use the tincture of Bezoar especially the camphorated almost for all cases All these offend but chiefly the last for all cannot endure alike camphorated Remedies at least in so great a dose as greatly rarefies the Blood Camphor hath a notable place in invigorating the motion of the Blood but not where it is too much rarefied and Boils for in such cases it makes the watching thirst and heat to be greater whence it is better to use the tincture of Bezoar not so much camphorated or rather to have some other milder at hand VII Whensoever therefore resolution of the strength is feared and the Blood stands more in need of a Bridle than a Spur the more temperate bear away the bell and are to be preferr'd and on the contrary Lib. de febr So especially Hofman observes that in a certain Epidemical Fever joined with a colliquative Sweat Bole-Armen and sealed Earth were the only Remedies But if any should give the same alone to promote the motion and fermentation of the Blood he would make himself ridiculous VIII Where there is more need of Precipitation than Discussion the Patients are to be less compelled to Sweat yea Sweat being too much forced does less good even in continual Fevers Hence those do egregiously err in their Practice who in Tertians and Quartans by giving a febrifuge Powder before the Fit do continually prompt and almost compel their Patient to Sweat from whence we have observed that a fear of a Consumption and other no light Symptoms have sometimes arisen Hence in driving out the Small Pox also in malignant Fevers it is never adviseable to force the Patients too strongly to Sweat for by this means the Serum is too much consumed the Blood it self is more excited to ebullition and the endeavour of Nature that is acting aright unseasonably precipitated and therefore 't is better to continue a Diaphoresis or gentle breathing and to give Nature time than spoil all by forcing it is better to follow her to lead and not drive her that which Sweat performeth not a thin dewiness does IX They are less profitable wheresoever Serum is wanting yea and if it exceed they are not so good neither for as when it fails Hydroticks do more exhaust it so when it is superfluous they cannot alone conquer and evacuate it Hence for example in the distracted and other cholerick Persons also the rule now given holds whence in that case either the more temperate only are to be chosen or they are not to be given without watry vehicles that increase the Serum substantially which very thing holds of the drier sort of People in general Hence in hydropical Persons Diureticks and Purgers do more good than Diaphoreticks X. In Phlegmatick Diseases and where the first ways abound with vicious Humours and these are fixed there as it were they are not so good Hence Purgers and Vomiters are more universal Remedies as it were and after these when the thicker and more viscous Parts are taken away the thin 〈◊〉 remains is more fitly evacuated by Diaphoreticks Hence in all Fevers indeed Diaphoreticks profit greatly but in the intermitting that is diligently to be observed especially in the Quotidian The same thing is to be noted also in the Scab it self and in a Cachexie Diaphoreticks have but a secondary place lest they coagulate the Phlegm or Serum more that is already coagulated and too thick lest they disturb the Humours and more increase the impurities of the Blood Wedâ—i de san rac p. 170. which they should take away Diureticks The Contents Their nature and distribution as to their use I. Which of them are convenient when the Blood is too thick and tenacious II. What Medicines are agreeable for a too loose compages of the Blood III. When there is place for Saline Remedies IV. When we must use Sulphureous V. Their distinction as to their effect VI. They are not indifferently agreeable to all Affections and Humours VII For what Diseases they are especially convenient VIII How they expel the pituitous and serous Humour IX They ought for the most part to precede the use of Hydroticks or sweating Remedies X. The Humours often are to be prepared before the administration of Diureticks XI They have a faculty to separate serous Humours out of the mass of Blood XII All the Body may be drained by their help XIII They do not always prerequire the Preparation of the Humours and they may be given before the declension of the Disease XIV The same
are not fitting for all XV. Crudities do not always hinder their use XVI Let the Body be pure before the administration of them XVII Their success is doubtful XVIII They should be often used to make them successful XIX They are not to be mixed with Meats XX. The vertue of the cold Seeds is in the husk XXI Honey and Sugar increase their vertue XXII A safe Preparation of Cantharides XXIII The efficacy of volatil Salts XXIV Tartar requires but small Preparation XXV How the Roots of Asarabacca become Diuretick XXVI Some are gentle some strong XXVII When the stronger are to be used XXVIII I. THe Origins of many Diseases happen for want of a due separation of the Serum but as to this separation seeing there are faults of divers kinds the offence is for the most part either in defect or excess for sometimes the Serum does too pertinaciously adhere to the Blood and on the contrary sometimes it parts too soon from it and in this regard the Blood being not able to contain the Serum doth spue it out of the mouths of the Arteries in many places and almost every where and so depositing it in the viscera or the habit of the Body procures an ascites or anasarca and sometimes sending it off immoderately to the Kidneys it causes a diabetes When the Blood is too tenacious of the serum for the most part it is either over hot through a Fever having its compages too strict and the thicker Particles so incorporated with it that the thinner cannot easily get therefrom or being filled with scorbutick Salt and Sulphur it becomes very clammy and tenacious so that the serosities do difficultly slide out of the embraces of the rest And seeing the departure of the serum from the Blood is hindred or perverted so many ways Diuretick Medicines also are of a different Nature and Operation which yet may be distinguished 1. as to the End according to which they respect the mass of Blood or the Kidneys or both together 2. as to the Matter in which respect they are either Sulphureous or saline And these again are various according as the saline Particles are in a state of fixity fluor or volatility or are moreover nitrous or alkalizate 3. As to the Form these Medicines are of divers kinds Drinks Powders c. II. When the Blood through an incorporation and mutual combination of the fixed Salt with the Sulphur and Earth becomes so thick and tenacious that the watry Particles do not easily part from the rest the Diureticks which may loosen its compages and fuse the serum must be of such a sort as are endued with a volatil or an acid Salt for such Particles do chiefly dissolve the combination that the fixed Salt has entred into And seeing this disposition is common both to the Fever and Scurvy in the former the most proper Diureticks are both the temperate acids of Vegetables and also the Salt of Nitre the spirit of sea-Sea-salt of Vitriol c. likewise those endued with a volatil Salt as the spirit of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack the Salt of the juice of Vipers In a scorbutical Disposition when the Urine is both little and thick the juices of Herbs and both acrimonious and acid Preparations are of notable use also the salt and spirit of Urine Idem of Sal Armon of Tartar c. III. Sometimes the Blood keeps not its serum long enough within its compages but being subject to fluxions or rather coagulations and depositing the serum here and there in great plenty it raises Catarrhs or Tumours in divers places Or the Blood being habitually weak and withal dyscratick or intemperate namely inclining to sowrness is apt to coagulate as to its thicker Particles so that in the circulation the thinner being thrown off every where and falling upon the weaker Parts cause sometimes Cephalick or Thoracick Distempers sometimes an Ascites or Anasarca and from a like cause we think a Diabetes also springs For many dangerous Diseases which are mistakingly ascribed to the dyscrasies of the Viscera arise from this cause namely inasmuch as the Blood being of an evil temper and liable to coagulations cannot continue the thread of the circulation entire but in divers places deposits the Serum that is too apt to depart from it The Diureticks to be administer'd in this case are such as do not fuse the Blood but take away its coagulations as are those endued with a fixt volatil and also an alkalizate Salt moreover those that strengthen and restore the Ferment of the Kidneys as some sulphureous and spirituous For these purposes are sulphureous and mixt Diureticks the lixivial Salts of Herbs Shell-Powders the Salt and Spirit of Urine c. Hog-lice the roots of Horse Rhadish the seed of Smalledge Nutmeg Turpentine and its Preparations the spirit of Wine the vertue of all which is not to fuse the Blood and to precipitate the Serosities out of its mass these things acids chiefly do and in those cases often hinder making water but to dissolve the coagulations of the Blood so that its compages recovering an intire mixture and being circulated more quickly through the Vessels it resorbs the Serum that was every where extravasated and deposited and at length delivers it to the Kidneys to be sent off We shall shew afterwards how the Diureticks of every kind operate according to these two almost opposite ends of curing IV. As to saline Diureticks we must know that what Salts soever of a different state are mixed together do catch hold of one another and by and by are joined together and while they are so combined that other Particles which are loose from the mixture do retire by themselves or fly away This is seen when a fluid or acid Salt is joyned to a fixed or alkalizate also when a fluid or fixed is put to a volatil or acrimonious From this affection alone of the Salts does all the matter of all Solutions and Precipitations whatsoever depend Wherefore seeing the Blood and Humours of our Body abound with very much Salt which uses to be diversly changed from one state to another and thereupon to acquire a morbid disposition and seeing moreover there are divers kinds of saline Diaphoreticks namely such as are endued with a fixt fluid nitrous volatil and alkalizate Salâ— there will always be need of the great discretion and judgment of the Physician that the saline Particles in the Medicine differ from those in our Body In what manner this should be done we will set forth by running through all the kinds of saline Diureticks 1. Amongst the Diureticks imbued with an acid Salt are the Spirits of Salt or Nitre also the juice of Lemons and Sorrel White Rhenish Wine and Cyder are of greatest note with the vulgar and often perform that intention For these alone fuse the Blood and precipitate it into serosities as when an acid is poured into boiling Milk But this happens not alike to all nor equally to every
that when the Blood being weak or growing sowr does not either through the defect of Fermentation or the dominion of an acid and coagulative Salt circulate briskly enough and equably and so keep the superfluous Serum so long within it self as till it may deliver it to the Kidneys the foresaid Remedies by keeping the mixture of the Blood intire or restoring it when it faulters Idem conduce to the provoking of Urine VI. Helmont in his Treatise of the Stone c. 5. Sect. 17. thus distinguishes Diureticks as to their effects 1. Some sharpen the Urine with a corrosive Poison as Cantharides 2. Others provoke an acidity and leave it in the Urine and raise a Strangury such as is new Beer or Ale 3. Others make the Urine abstersive as acidulae or Mineral waters Vitriolum Martis Crabs eyes and also the Herbs that every where are called Diuretick and do all of them contain a volatil alkali or at least acquire it in Digestion 4. Some stimulate the sluggishness of the Archeus and increase in it the expulsive Faculty such as are Horse-rhadish Asperagus c. 5. Some refresh the Urine and Kidneys with a grateful smell as Mace Nutmeg Turpentine Mastich Juniper c. as if the Kidneys being comforted by the Odour became mindful of their office 6. There are some also which from a lixivial alkali pass under digestion into an acrimony that cleanseth the passages of the Urine like Soap and stimulate the expulsive Faculty and incide the filth that sticks to the passages of which sort are those which are gathered from Shells and Stones and the ashes of things appropriate and which alone seem to deserve the name of Lithontripticks or Stone-breakers especially if they be brought into a degree of volatility 7. There is a kind of Diuretick which in a small quantity pours forth a great deal of Urine from the whole Body as hog-lice and what things soever contain a volatil Nitre and which by their property excite the sluggish Kidneys 8. There is also a kind which is profitable for allaying Pains in the Kidneys comforting them when they hesitate such a vertue there is in Saffron Rhubarb and Cassia when they are deprived of their loosening quality I add those also which not only by an abstersive Faculty but also by a resolutive thrust forward incide and expel the tartareous dross as well out of the Hypochondres as Kidneys Thus Spirit of sea-Sea-salt and of Vitriol are not only Diuretick but do moreover dissolve the Tartar and bring it out by the urinary Passages Seeing therefore there is great diversity of them they are not every of them alike fit to be administred to every affection and morbifick cause but the nature of each is to be examined more accurately Thus in the Dropsie we fitly use those which are properly called Diureticks which make the Urine abstersive and incide the filth that sticks to the Passages and by their acrimony excite the expulsive Faculty but those are not to be used here which yield much watriness Likewise Diureticks properly so called are good when there stick thick tartareous Humours in the Hypochondres and all the Veins for these can attenuate resolve absterge and send them forth by Urine The morbifick cause also is to be well examin'd for we must first lessen its plenty through other places of excretion lest whil'st it rushes into the narrow Veins it obstruct them If there be acrimonious salt and other sowr Humours present in the Body their acrimony is first to be mitigated or contemper'd either by specifick digestives or other appropriate Precipitants lest they affect the rest of the Parts in their passage If lastly the urinary Passages also and other adjacent Vessels be either exulcerated or inflamed or labour under some such Distemper the vitious Humours stagnating in the Body are not fitly moved by Diureticks to these affected and weak parts unless the matter of the Ulcers be withdrawn both by Clysters and Catharticks When the viscera are obstructed unless the Diureticks be of that nature as to open and absterge the Humours withal they will procure a greater mischief to the Sick and often do so prejudice the Bowels appointed for Concoction that a Cachexie after a while ensues Fr. Hofman m. m. l. 1. c. 12. See an example in Horstius in Epist Med. s 8. VII It is to be noted that all Diureticks are not indifferently convenient in any distemper or Humour for the benefiting of the sick by provoking Urine but one is to be used in one Disease or offending Humour and another in another Some indeed are good for bringing out Choler and others phlegm offending by Urine Proper for Choler are the juice of Citron the emulsion of Barley Straw-berries the Spirit of Salt the Salt of Tartar vitriolated c. and for Phlegm amongst Chymical Medicines the volatil Salt of Urine and otherwise all volatil Salts the distilled oils of Juniper-berries of Amber c. yea and also the Acids commended just now for choler because they no less alter-Phlegm yea Acids drive it forth by Urine than do Aromaticks and such as consist of a volatil Salt as experience alone has taught us yet the latter are for the most part observed to be the better and fitter for restoring health seeing they not only correct Phlegm but also preserve the Choler in its natural state Franc. Sylv. de le Boe tract 6. § 251. But Acids though they incide Phlegm and promote its passing out by Urine yet they do withal infringe Choler and carry it from its natural state and in that respect hurt VIII Diureticks are most proper in those Diseases that are firmly rooted and have their foundation in a Tartareous Saline Dross in which it is profitable to evacuate by little and little the occasional cause of the Disease by the Urinary passages Thus in the Hypochondriack and Scorbutick we empty out of the Body those Tartareous Humours and preternatural Salts tinged with a Scorbutick ferment and springing from depraved digestions I say we empty these out of the Body more fitly by degrees by Diuretick aperitives otherwise called Antiscorbuticks Frider. Hofman m. m. lib. 1. c. 12. which withal saturate the force of the excited Salts than by bare Sudorificks or Purgers only IX By what means do Diureticks provoke Urine and together with it drive forth the pituitous and serous Humour seeing they differ very much one from another both in taste and smell and other sensible qualities That this may the more easily appear we must know that we here speak properly of those Diureticks that draw forth serous and Phlegmatick Humours abounding in the Body wherefore the reason of that superfluity is first to be considered which is seldom one alone but most often manifold For Serum or Phlegm abound in the mass of Blood either because they are not separated from it or because they are produced in so great plenty that they cannot be sufficiently separated and discharged from
to a due purgation three things are required 1. An effectual Medicine given in a due dose time and manner 2. The ways ought to be open otherwise there is either no purgation or such as is troublesome 3. The Humour ought to be disposed and it is so if it make no resistance against the Medicine as if it be not tough thick clammy or mixt with the Blood or other Humours whereby its motion may be hindred Therefore thin Humours are in their own Nature most easily purged out but they are mixt either with the Blood or other Humours or the ways may be shut and obstructed wherefore these are to be opened and then the Humours to be evacuated are to be separated from the rest Now concoction is twofold one wherein the Humours are reduced to benignity that they may nourish the other wherein they are made apt for expulsion If we speak of the first we must concoct thin Humours that they may return to mediocrity therefore they are to be incrassated If of the second thick Humours are rather to be attenuated because they resist that which would move them but not the thin because they are easily moveable as Galen in the fore-cited place teacheth But if thin Humours be mixed with the Blood they ought first to be prepared and whether they be so is known 1. by the Blood that is let if much ichor separate from it 2. When these Humours are separated there ensue Itchings Blains and Scabs 3. If the Urine be ruddy and thick it is a sign that thin Humours are mixt with the Blood but if it be plentiful Primiros l. 2. de Feb. c. 9. thin and clear it is a sign they are separated and prepared X. Whether ought an altering Medicine in one dose be so strong as the quality that it should change in the Body I answer if it can reach the part affected and that without the hurt or prejudice of the adjoyning parts then it is altogether lawful so a beginning Erysipelas that has seised but upon one part may be presently expelled by a strong cooler and the heat of the Stomach likewise But if it cannot conveniently reach to the part affected without having its vertue weakned and without the hurting also of the neighbouring parts we must alter by giving the Medicine at several times J. Walaeus m. m. p. 93. XI Let Alterations be made leisurely so as not to begin at the highest degree that is the third sometimes we alter in the fourth But let us begin at the first and proceed from the first to the second from the second to the third if the two first will not doe otherwise the highest degree would easily become familiar to Nature and afterwards she would not be helped by weaker things Idem p. 95. XII We cannot alter every thing with every Alterative for alteration is made by conjunction and perfection hence if Medicines be to alter 't is necessary that they be mixed with the Humours to be altered if they require to be mixed they ought to be like to the Humours not in respect of qualities for so they ought to be contrary but in respect of the constitution Therefore let those things that are oily in our Bodies be altered with oleous things the watry with watry the Salt with Salt Nor need we add hot things to hot if we say that Salt things are to be added to Salt for there are Salt things which are cold Idem ibid. such as Nitre and Borax XIII During concoction retentions of the excrements are profitable and evacuations hurtful as being contrary to concoctions Wherefore we must shun their practice who by continually soliciting evacuations by Clysters and other Remedies Valles m. m. l. 2. c. ult give no leave for concoction XIV The bilious Humour requires cold preparers yet these do so hinder purgation that we must sometimes abstain from them especially just before it is time to purge On which account even in cholerick and acute Diseases we must seek for an opportunity to give hot Medicines as the decoction of wild Majâ—ran Penniroyal c. We shall therefore use cold syrups for the Acrimony of the Humours but things that attenuate and incide when we would only make the Bodies fluid Mere. de praesid med to wit just before purging ¶ Choler both the natural excrementitious and also the preternatural and the excessive Sulphureous oleous parts of the Blood in a word a bilious cacochymie as it offends by its heat is digested by watry diluters sharpish and other temperate things but if it be too tough also by inciders G. W. Wedel des m. fac p. 12 and bitter things as in the Jaundise if too thin by sharpish and earthy mucilaginous things ¶ Choler is to be temper'd both on the account of its Acrimony and on the account of its volatility increased The Saline lixivial Acrimony of the Choler is most powerfully temper'd by acid and sowr things more gently by oily and spirituous which yet often it is not safe to use seeing they are apt to increase and cherish the burning of the Bile and Blood unless the oyls be first fixed Therefore the only safe temperers of the Acrimony of Choler will be acid and sowr things such as are amongst vulgar Remedies Sorrel Wool-Sorrel Plantain c. amongst Chymical I commend Alum and its Spirit as also the Spirits of Vitriol common Salt Nitre Sulphur c. distilled Vinegar as well simple as prepared with other things The too great volatility of the Choler may be diminished by fixers Sylv. de lâ— Boe Append. tract ◠§. 711. and especially by the even now mentioned acid and sowr things amongst which the Spirit of Nitre is perhaps the principal excelling all other acid Spirits in fixing XV. We must see that the unpleasantness of Apozems be not troublesome to Nature for it often happens that the Remedy is ungrateful to Nature and does more hurt by spoiling the appetite and overturning the Stomach than good by the impression of its vertues which neither does it bestow intire seeing through its ungratefulness it suffers a repulse from Nature and cannot be brought thither whither it was directed by the vehicle Therefore the Ancients out of so great a multitude of Remedies chose and brought into use a few that might allure Nature by their sweetness and by their pleasantness might imprint their vertues more deeply whilst they should be received into the more familiar embraces of Nature for Nature refuses unpleasant things as we may see in aliments Moreover they are to be disallowed when they are prepared besides the purpose for opening obstructions of the viscera to which the cause of the Disease is not referred but to the stoppage and constipation of the pores of the Skin whence there is a retenâ—ion of fuliginous excrements which is followed by putrefaction Add hereto that whereas they chiefly provoke Urine for of this vertue are the opening roots therefore called
Heer 's obs 1. de May. â—â—e Tr. de Aâ—thr with the addition of a spoonful of white Tartar cleansed by washing only and dried XXVIII The Salt of Tartar has a great opening vertue and may profitably be put in opening Apozems Opiats and Pills but its principal use is in a loosening Ptisan which is made of two drachms of Senna infused in eight ounces of cold water with a scruple or half a drachm of Salt of Tartar whereby the Tincture of the Senna is powerfully extracted so that this ptisan purgeth far more strongly than the common and being continued for many days looses all obstructions from which effect I have known stubborn Quartans often thoroughly cured by the use of this ptisan continued for fifteen days If you fear the Acrimony of the Salt of Tartar it may be corrected with the Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur as for half a drachm of the Salt let there be fifteen drops of the Spirit River Pract. XXIX Of the Spirit of Vitriol with the Salt or Spirit of Tartar is made Tartar Vitriolate which incides and attenuates cold and viscous Humours concocts crudities opens obstructions and cleanseth away the sticking matter and does all these things very effectually For if the Tartar of Wine have of it self no small vertue to open and absterge if Vitriol alone do this as natural acid and vitriolate Waters demonstrate which are very profitable in all Diseases that spring from obstructions much more is this to be granted to Tartar vitriolate where prepared and very well purified oyl of Tartar by pouring oyl of Vitriol drop by drop upon it is fixt not without excandescence But it is to be observed that if it be exactly prepared according to Crollius it will creatâ— a nausea G. Horst Dec. 9. probl 5. where is another preparation and in the more delicate often cause a vomiting through the over great quantity of the oyl of Tartar in respect to the Spirit of vitriol Therefore it will have the better operation when equâ—l parts are taken XXX The cream and crystalls of Tartar and Tartar vitriolate are so common at this day that many hardly prescribe any Medicines without putting some of these in them Yea Crollius calls Tartar Vitriolat an universal Digestive And I confess indeed that Medicines made of Tartar have a very great vertue in inciding and attenuating Melancholick and thick Humours and therefore in opening obstructions But whereas it often happens that in Hypochondriack Melancholy there are often found black choler and Salt and sowr Humours and such as are altogether Acrimonious and have the Seeds of fire as it were in them surely Tartar Vitriolate and such Acrimonious Medicines are not proper for such Humours seeing they do not blunt their Acrimony but those are rather to be used which temper the bad qualities of such Humours Sennert pract l. 3. p. 3. c. 3. and contrary qualities are to be opposed to contrary ¶ When sometimes there arise dreadful Symptoms from the use of Tartar vitriolate as Vomiting a pain at the Stomach Frid. Hofm clavis Schrod p. 610. c. it is not to be imputed to the Salt of Tartar but often to the impure Spirit of Vitriol XXXI Seeing volatil Salts may be drawn from all the parts of man with small trouble whereof therefore I conclude they consist none ought to wonder that amongst Alteratives and correctors of the depraved Humours of Men I often praise and commend Volatil Salts but such as are mild whereunto here also I deservedly give the preference in correcting and amending the hurts accrewing from the air any way infected Fr. Sylv. de le Boe p. m. 407. or from bad aliments that stay in the Body c. XXXII Viscid Phlegm is incided both by all Aromaticks and things that abound with a volatil Salt and also by Acids and most effectually by Aromatick Gumms Idem append Tr. 5. §. 571. as Galbanum Sagapenum Ammoniacum Bdellium Opopanax Mastich and the like ¶ Volatil Salts being taken for continuance even together with meat are good to prepare tough Phlem as not only inciding and correcting of it but driving part thereof to the ways of the urine and expelling of it in the form of sediment which yet fails by degrees in the urine and on that account yields an undoubted sign that the phlegm is corrected and overcome for the greatest part Idem pract l. 1. c. 30. ¶ Nothing does so incide and correct a too glutinous tough and clammy Blood as any volatil Salt used for a continuance at any time at dinner and supper with Wine c. Seeing every Chronical and tedious distemper draws its original from a phlegmatick Humour at least has the same joined with its cause which yields to no Remedy more easily or sooner than to volatil Salt used according to art Idem c. 43. §. 17 2◠¶ Phlegm as it is a concrete Serum so it requires attenuaters heaters resolvers or things that make it fluid with moisteners But note that we must not dry too much for so it becomes more concrete whence besides Aromaticks and bitterish Acids as Spirit of Vitriol Wedel â—â—id Phlegmaticks are very good yet not omitting heaters and moisteners XXXIII I have learned by some years experience that the consistence and from hence the glutinousness of the Choler as also of other Humours in the Body are increased by the frequent use of austere or sowr things and on the contrary that the same are lessened by a continued use of volatil Salts Acrimonious Aromaticks Idem c. 44. XXXIV The Salt or Vitriol of Steel gains the preference of all other Remedies because it opens obstructions strengthens the Viscera and corrects an hot intemperies the dose is from twelve grains to twenty with a Syrup or conserve c. The ungratefulness of its taste is amended by making it up into pills with the mucilage of Gum tragacanâ—h Let it be of constant use and therefore prepare a great quantiâ—y We give you here an easie preparaâ—ion that cannot be compared by Beguin and others take of oyl of vitriol or Sulphur half a pound of the Spirit of Wine a pound pour them into a new and clean frying pan or Iron dish and cover it wiâ—h a Board within fifteen days there will be a saline concretion which set in the sun that it may be throughly dryed moving it now and â—hen with an Iron spatula in the winter it may be dryed over a very weak fire or in a stove when the Salt is very well dryed put it up in a glass phial well stopt for if it be expos'd to the air it is apt to grow moist The pills made of it with the mucilage of Gum tragacanth will be made harder by adding a little of the Powder of the Gum it self and when they are made up keep them in a glass that they wax not moist River pr. l. 12. c. 5. This Remedy may be continued for
there is almost but one sort of particles namely saline or earthy the other being driven away for the greatest part of which sort in a special manner are Vitriolum Martis or the Salt of Steel and crocus Martis 5. For making Vitriolum Martis first of all the metal uses to be eaten by some very acid and corrosive liquor and to be dissolved into elementary parts in the dissolution the saline particles of the Menstruum hit upon the saline ones of the Iron and are intimately combined with them the other particles viz. the Sulphureous and saline being in the mâ—an time set aside and excluded from their fellowship then common water being poured on the solution the combined salts of both kinds are imbibed by the liquor and the liquor being filtrated and evapourated the salts run into crystals Such kind of salification succeeds well either with spirit of vitriol oyl of sulphur aqua stygia or other distilled stagma's of Minerals yea sal Armoniack only dissolved per deliquium dissolves Iron in the same manner and disposes it to crystallize Sal Martis or the salt of Steel being thus prepared has a sweetish tast with a certain rough stypticity and so far partakes of a vitriolick nature that it seems not to differ much from green coprose but being taken inwardly it does in some measure ferment the Humours and pretty powerfully constringe the nervous fibres This Medicine is not so proper in cold and phlegmatick cachexies because no particles of the sulphur are exerted but in hot intemperatures of the bowels with the prevailing of a dust sulphur also in the wandring scorbutical and unequal effervescences of the blood and nervous juyce being taken by it self or mixt with other Medicines for a Stimulus it is often used with success yet in more tender constitutions there is danger lest the tone and fibres of the stomach should be hurt by its acrimony and too great constriction 6. Lastly comes Grecus Martis adstringens prepared by a long calcination by the fire namely let the filing Scoria or plates of Iron be so placed in a reverberatory furnace that it may be continually beat upon by an hot flame the filing being thus placed will at first grow red after a sort and run together into hard lumps but after three or four days suddenly swelling into an higher heap it will become very light impalpable and of a curious purple colour In this preparation the sulphureous and saline particles whilst by the force of the fire they begin to be driven from the concrete do catch hold of one another and so being mutually combined grow into lumps yet afterwards these particles both saline and sulphureous being utterly put to flight and the fiery succeeding in their room the whole mass swelling in bulk and being made spungy as it were becomes exceeding light The Medicine thus prepared is in some cases of excellent use and inferior to no chalybeate namely in all extravasation and too great eruption of the serum and blood as in external and internal hemorrhagies in a diarrhaea and diabetes in a violent catarrh also in the beginning of an Ascites or dropsie I know nothing better But some may think that if this Medicine be destitute of saline and sulphureous particles there is nothing lest but a caput mortuum Answ 1. It s efficacy depends upon the fiery particles being included in the most fixed earth that break out within the body 2. The earthy particles being wholly destitute of the saline whereby they were very straitly held do very greedily desire to be reunited to the same or the like wherefore this Crocus Martis being taken into our body does snatch and close with all the salts it meets with and so while like a sponge it sucks up very many saline particles it takes away many enormities that arise chiefly from the fluor of the salts Tho. Willis patholog cerebr c. 11. upon this account burnt Hartshorn Spodium Antimonium Diaphoreticum c. do good XXXVI It is doubtful in what parts of it its astringent vertue and in what its opening and loosening consist and this we ought to know lest whilst we would bind we loosen and open Divers men think diversly I am of opinion that the opening vertue of Steel is not superficial but lies hid within and cannot be drawn forth but by many heatings of it and long preparations which may loose the strait compages of the Iron Hence I determine that the first infusions do bind that the strong and often repeated do open Thus chalybeate milk and wine bind if the extinction be moderate but when it is plentiful the belly is loosened by them through a larger quantity of the substance of the Steel mixed with them inasmuch as the opening vertue consists in its vitriolick part which cannot so easily be drawn out Therefore the oldest Iron that has been often heated is preferred because it may be more easily prepared and dissolved It also uses to be prepared by vinegar and wine and by the sharpest liquors to bring out the opening vertue that lies hid in it But water and milk and other soft liquors can draw nothing out of Iron and therefore they bind unless its vertue be drawn out of the fire in often heating of it Thus mineral waters that spring from Iron and vitriol Primiros l. 2. de febr c. 1. do open very powerfully which have not the substance of the Iron it self but only its more pure and spirituous part mixed with them by the subterraneous fire XXXVII Note that Chalybeate Medicines amongst which Augenius's Electuary of Steel is famous does operate more happily Augen if wine be diluted in Steel water and aliments boyled therein XXXVIII There want not some who make an Electuary of Steel with Agarick Carthamus seed Senna Mechoacan c. which practice is by no means to be admitted of for if the Physician intend to strengthen to open obstructions to unlock stufft parts and provoke sweat by inciding the thick humours and widening the pipes by exercise why will you procure a conâ—rary motion by provoking to stool Besides those that take Steel are wearied with exercise to make them sweat why therefore shall they on the same day be tormented with an evacuation by stool Moreover violence is offered to nature which is very much cast down by this inequality of motions 'T is better therefore by intervals to purge out the thicker part of the humours by stool resting two days from the chalybeate for that purpose whereupon some mild purger may be gâ—ven Nor did Galen l. de ther. cap. 16. Aetius tetrab 3. serm 3. Paulus lib. 7. tit de ferro Rhases and others use to mix Steel with purgers when they used it to waste great Spleens Zacut. Pr. h. p. 485. â—nd to root out stubborn obstructions XXXIX Cordials seem fitting to be mixed with Steel seeing it is an enemy to the parts and causes griping head-ach dryness of the mouth and
yellow or green are brought forth by every Medicine Moreover which is more if you go unto the Apothecaries Shops themselves and there examine the forms prescribed by Physicians you will often see that the most celebrated Physicians have used one and the same Medicine in purging many and divers Patients XCIX Yet from hence it follows not that any Purge may be used indifferently in any Distemper For the Humours that require to be moisten'd must have moistening Purgers as the Syrup of Roses solutive the Syrup of Senna many sorts of infusions of Violets c. Those which are thick and ought to be incided require Jalap white Mechoacan Scammony c. Nor matters it that Rhubarb evacuates yellow bilious Excrements Crocus Martis aperitivus blackish melancholick and also that Flowers of Antimony do tinge with a Saffron colour for it follows not from hence that the said Purgers do electively purge such like Humours for we must know that these colours are not naturally in the Humours but that they proceed from the Medicines as the Flowers of Antimony tinge the Humours by their Sulphur Saffron and Rhubarb heighten the yellowness of the Urine And if some things have this faculty without the Body to bring a certain colour upon things Frid. Hofman m. m. l. 1. c. 7. why may not Purgers themselves being resolved have the same effect C. The Purgative Faculty of Medicines sometimes lies hid in the resinous Part sometimes in the Salt Hence Rhubarb Agarick Jalap Turbith are very well extracted by the Spirit of Wine and their Extract purges very well But if you will extract Coloquintida whose vertue consists in a Salt you labour to no purpose for it operates chiefly in substance Walaeus p. 291. CI. The plenty of Medicines has made us poor If you examine all the Purgers that Authors have collected many of them are to be expelled out of that order so that we shall seem to be reduced to scantiness For there are some of them that either through their sluggishness or their vehemency are not to be used at all or very seldom and with great judgment The sluggish are Hyssop Turpentine Dodder of Tyme Polypody Lapis Armenus lapis Lazuli all which are to be expunged out of the Catalogue of Purgers nor are Turbith Hermodactyls to be admitted though otherwise enough famed and cryed up The juice of Violets does nothing The too violent are black Hellebore for it disturbs the whole Body you may make tryal of it by putting a little of the root of it in an Issue The seed of the American Rieinus Elaterium Gummi Gotte may be used but seldom Walaeus met meâ— p. â—2 May we not therefore at all use strong Purgers I answer that we may in two cases namely in the Dropsie and Melancholy c. CII Purgers as I have known by long Experience if they be mixt with aperient Medicines in a less quantity than may serve for Purging so that the vertue of the Aperients prevail do not at all move the Belly yea their vertue because it is of great activity being turned to the passages of Sweat and Urine by the vertue of the Openers â—rosp Martian comm in v. 214. l. 2. §. 2. de morbis does so increase the vertue of these latter that both together make a most effectual Remedy both to open and also to provoke Sweat or Urine CIII Whether may metallick Purgers be used safely enough for preservation I like very well the desire of Claudius Deodatus in his Panth. Hygiastic l. 3. p. 63. 6. that we would abstain from such as much as may be For though there seem to precede a due and convenient preparation yet it can hardly be says he but that some pernicious and poisonous qualities wherewith the said Metals abound should escape the hand of the most ingenious Chymist that prepares them and so being taken within the Body should if not suddenly yet in progress of time exert their vertue and privily and by stealth prey upon the Nectar of our life For adds he I have known but very few hitherto that having used this sort of Purgers familiarly Doring Epist ad Sennert 32 cent 2. have either come to a due and just old age or have not contracted a Cachectick constitution of Body CIV Vegetables need not always like Minerals a long preparation to open their compages or Body for these often operate more strongly while the mixtion is intire For those whose vertue consists in a subtil and volatil consistence ought not with much labour and Chymical preparation to be reduced into Extracts Magisteries or Quintessences because most of them as Rhubarb Manna Cassia Senna Myrobalans c. being reduced into Pills or Powder or infused or boiled in a fit Liquor do operate better and more easily which being vexed with too much Artifice do either wholly lose their Purgative vertue or exert it slowly and with trouble It is usual for drawing out the tinctures of Vegetables to impregnate the Liquor they are infused in with the Salts of Tartar or Wormwood for so the infusion soon gets a deep colour Though I do not condemn this Custom inasmuch as the fixed Salts of Herbs effervesce with the acid juices of the Stomach and Intestins yet we may detect the deceit that lies hid therein seeing the Salts do not draw forth that deep tincture but only cause it to appear for if you add the salt of Tartar to an infusion of Rhubarb Senna or other Vegetable that is already made and strained its tincture or colour will presently become deeper The reason whereof is that the Salino fixt particles being very obtuse do stuff the pores of the liquor so as that the beams of the light as they pass through are very much refringed and therefore any tincture being made deeper by the salt of Tartar becomes presently clearer and thinner by pouring in some Spirit of vitriol whose particles are sharp-pointed without the precipitation of any matter Yet however some of the Cathartick vegetables are mended by Chymical preparation for such of them out of which being full of Salt and Sulphur the active and benign particles may be separated from the remaining more dull and malignant and may be reduced into resinous or other kind of compendious Extracts I say a dissolution and new composition of these may be undertaken to good purpose Therefore for the due preparation of some Catharticks we extract the Sulphureous and some of the saline part with the Spirit of Wine as in the resinouS Magisteries of Jalap Scammony Mechoacan c. For some we use saline Menstruums Williâ— c. CV Yet I have met with some Instances of such as having taken such Spirit by the direction of a Physician have been very ill upon it undergoing notable gnawings of their Stomach and Intestines trembling of their Limbs weakness of the whole Body and more than a two days want of appetite The reason whereof in my opinion is that the
Symptoms XLI Very many commend Mercurius Vitae wonderfully for evacuating all vitious humours in the Stomach and all parts of the Body upwards and downwards and therefore they use it not only for the French Pox but also for the Gout Dropsie Agues Melancholy Madness and very many other Diseases Yet it is to be used warily as are also other Mercurial Medicins and not save when the Body abounds with many thick humours But let it not be given in lean cholerick and weak Bodies Sennert Cent. 1. Ep. 33. The Dose is from One Grain to Four or Five ¶ That this Pouder contains no Mercury in it is clear from hence because this being deprived of its Congelative Salts resumes the former species of Quick-silver and is all of it collected in the Retort Willis's Phar. p. m. 66. This Pouder being too fiercely Vomitive if it be ground with Sea-salt calcin'd and sweetned with often washing becomes far milder and safe enough XLII Mountebanks give Mercury Precipitate without choice for the long continued pains of the Pox the Dropsie Quartan Hypochondriack Melancholy and for cold Diseases of that kind and that to four or six Grains in the Yelk of an Egg or Mithridate and Treacle And as soon as any one has taken it all sorts of humours from the whole circuit of the Body burst forth upwards and downwards often with so great violence especially if the Body be weak that the Patients Spirits being exhausted and his faculties enfeebled he either dies suddenly or on the Day he takes it being without strength without Pulse without Voice he lies like one dead His Mouth is sometimes inflam'd by the contagion and his Gums contract putrid and very stinking Ulcers and in the most the throat becomes so swell'd that for many days they can swallow nothing at all Yea and in some the Mind is so alienated that a Fever arising Palmar de morb contag they die at length frantick Therefore let it be rejected out of the List of Catharticks as a most ready Poison and be banished by publick Laws XLIII Myrobalans should never be mixed with any strong Medicin because those violent things staying longer in the Body through the binding Vertue of the Myrobalans do sometimes bring great harm upon the Body Rondelet Cap. 36. l. 1. Wherefore those Medicins ought rather to be mixed with others that purge hastily XLIV Some that think themselves very wise order Myrobalans to be rubbed with Oil of sweet Almonds whether they be to be reduced to Pouder or broken grosly for Decoctions But indeed they do ill that chafe those Myrobalans with Oil that are designed for decoction for the Oil hinders at least the Water that is poured upon the Myrobalans from insinuating it self into them Zwelfer Pharm Class 2. and passing through their substance XLV Pills of Aloes whether those of Frankfort or others that they may operate rightly ought to be taken in three Doses at three times namely the first a little before or a little after a slight supper the second the next Morning the third the same day in the evening Thus as I my self have experienced and * Tom. 2. Obs 12. l. 2. Horstius witnesseth they must needs evacuate plentifully and pleasantly seeing one Dose drives forward another as it were Hoefer Herc. Med. l. 1. c. 5. XLVI Gummi Gotte is a powerful Hydragogue less violent than the root of Esula or Spurge Mesereum and Elaterium it vomits also The Dose is from two Grains to four or six though some imprudently give it to half a scruple The best preparation of it is to dissolve it in rectified Spirit of Wine and then by pouring common or Rose Water upon it it will be precipitated to the bottom Sylv. de le Boe m. m. l. 2. c. 9. The Pouder being of a very fine Yellow is called its Magistery and it becomes a far more excellent Medicin than when taken crude XLVII The chief use of the Salt of Tartar is in a loosning Ptisan which is made of two Drachms of Senna infused in eight Ounces of cold Water with a Scruple or half a Scruple of the Salt of Tartar by which the Tincture of the Senna is powerfully extracted River pract l. 11. c. 4. so that this Ptisan purges far more powerfully than the common XLVIII A. Spigelius relates that the use of the Pouder which Marcus Cornacchinus has recommended in a particular Book was prohibited at Rome under pain of being condemned to the Gallies because a certain Physician had formerly kill'd several with it But because by his own experiments especially in Tertian Agues he had found it not only an innocent but also a very wholsom Medicin he thought that hardly any other cause could be imagin'd than that that Person had not prepared his stibium according to Art Namely whilst he would make it a Diaphoretick by the Addition of Nitre without doubt he unskilfully reduced it into a glass whence proceeded those gripings and subversions of the Stomach with swoonings springing from Convulsion and other lethiferous accidents But the unhappiness of the Mistakers ought to have derogated nothing from the excellency of the Medicin Velschius Obs 98. ¶ Many preparations have been invented even in Purgers particularly in Scammony and Jalap the best amongst which is the Magistery made with six eight or ten pounds of the Spirit of Wine poured upon one Pound of Scammony or Jalap without the Addition of the Spirit of Vitriol or Salt of Tartar which rather hinder than further the extraction of the Rosm Indeed these very Magisteries are almost the same with Extracts save that seeing they are more globous and plentiful besides the extraction which is of the same Nature with Solution by pouring even simple Water upon them they are precipitated to the bottom if so be the Spirit of Wine be very well rectified for when the same is sufficiently drawn off they subside even of themselves So that they are the more depurate part of the Purgative or Alterative it self and so choicer and purer than the rest Hence we may learn what to think of sulphurated Scammony for though 't is to be confest that the Medicin for whose sake it was formerly so prepared viz. the three-headed Cerberus of Scammony Sulphurated Antimonium Diaphoreticum and Cream of Tartar mixed in a different quantity at pleasure is excellent in Fevers and other Diseases and that we have always experienced the use hereof to be safe yet the sulphurated Scammony is it self far better omitted and very profitably exchanged for its Rosin Whereof these are the reasons 1. Because that which is sought for is maimed 2. That which is not desired is retained The purgative Vertue is maimed which consists in a Sulphureous Salt Whence Helmont says truly That as much of acidity as the Scammony receives so much does it lose of its Vertue for every acid is in it self contrary to purging though by accident some especially the very
contributes indeed to the relish but serves chiefly for a stimulus to the ferment also pepper'd things Antiscorbutick plants the root of Aron the Mustard of the Italians c. These things correct an acid crudity and attenuate viscid phlegmatick Humours 2. Acids as Vinegar which being used moderately profits both in drink and fomentation Spirit of Vitriol simple and that of Copper which Chymists call sal esurinum the Spirit of Salt some not unadvisedly reduce the ferment we make Bread withal into pills and give it for helping the ferment of the Stomach these things correct a nidorous and phlegmatick crudity 3. Hither refer the coats of an Hens gizzard but hardly any constant help is to be expected therefrom unless perchance by accident inasmuch as they withal absorb the bilious Humours that pervert the ferment IV. When the ferment exceeds in an Acrimony either saline or bilious whither an hot intemperies also belongs it is corrected 1. both by blunting of it as fat things do in the boulimus or Dogs appetite and also by diluting it as watry things do and likewise by absorbing it as Lixives and earthy precipitants which are called Alkali's do such as are Crabs-eyes and testaceous Medicines Where note that these very things may also by accident by restraining as it were and reducing into order chiefly an acid Humour exceeding in the Stomach sometimes raise and reduce the appetite whether alone or mixt with acids as for example the tragea Stomachica of Quercetan or Birckman Thus I have very often observed that precipitating Powders viz. such as have been prepared of shells only with native Cinnabar have raised an appetite For regard is to be had both to the proportion of the Acrimony that exerts it self in the Stomach preternaturally for the ferment of the Stomach is not as it should be if it be excessively acid and also to the continuation of the use for all Lixives and Alkali's otherwise destroy the appetite and enervate the ferment whence in the boulimus the oyl of Tartar per deliquium is a secret Thus 2. the ferment is perverted 1. by sweet things because by their mucilage they obviscate and blunt its saline Acrimony 2. Acid Salts as for instance it has been observed that arcanum Tartari that is otherwise a very famed Medicine has by being too much used cast down the appetite 3. All nitrous things inasmuch as they both dissolve the heat and the saline menstruum whence in the continual use of Nitrous things we must see that they cause no disturbance in the Body 4. Saturnine or Lead-Medicines especially the sweet and earthy whence in the use of saccharum Saturni and the preparations thereof we must have a care we hurt not the Stomach 5. Strong urinous Lixives as the Spirit of sal Armoniack 3. and lastly the ferment is fixed and obtunded by Opiats which are not good for the Stomach as such and unless the ferment prevail Vomiting is apt to follow the next morning and by the use of Opiats the appetite is cast down For as the Stomach rejoyces in a Balsamick concocted and pure sulphur so it is prejudic'd by such as is inmature impure and ungrateful But these things that have been rehearsed are good in all excessive Acrimony whether it be with a diarrhoea or cholera as also in a Cardialgia or pain at the Stomach where besides Carminatives oleous and the more temperate anodyne Medicines are required they are good also in the hiccough heat of the Stomach or soda c. V. External Stomachicks ought to be 1. Acid as sowr leven vinegar 2. Aromaticks so called with Wine whether in the form of a Plaster or Cataplasm and they are chiefly resolvents and revellents as in an hiccough Vomiting likewise Carminatives Earthy things are not so profitable VI. Note that it is very good so to joyn and dispose Stomachicks that respect may be had both to the ferment and heat which is done by mixing both sorts together thus the sweet Spirit of Salt and thus Elixir proprietatis macerated with the Spirit of Sulphur is good VII In an hot and dry intemperies acids are to be avoided and things void of acrimony are to be used powders also are to be avoided unless they be very much diluted for otherwise they stick to the Stomach but mucilaginous things are good Hence the Spirits of Vitriol or Salt do cause a burning in the Stomach by spoiling it of its native fermental viscousness whence an erosion of it is apt to follow This happens chiefly in the cholerick and such as have first too much distended its Coats with drinking of Wine whence the acrimony is more intimately insinuated into its unfolded plaits VIII In altering the Stomach we must have a care we hurt not the other viscera whether we use inward or outward Remedies and especially that we hurt not the Liver which lies next to the Stomach which we shall do if we exceed the bounds of mediocrity IX The Stomach is not to be overwhelmed with plenty of any sorts of Medicines whether such as are design'd for it self or with others for as it receives the first benefit therefrom so also does it the first prejudice Thus in a certain Bishop was found the magisterie of Perles Gr. W. Wedel de s m. fac p. 97. in others other things X. As in all Medicines though destin'd for other Parts and Diseases we must have respect to the Stomach how it bears them and is affected by them so does that hold and is to be understood principally of Salts Indeed amongst Stomachicks Lixivi al Salts are also commended and prescribed as for instance the Salts of Wormwood and Juniper enter the Stomachick powder of Birckman and sometimes the same have place in the weaknesses of the Stomach but rather and almost only in case the ferment be tainted with a preternatural acrimony and then they must be used with other Aromaticks For by the confession of all this ferment is Saline and if it be asked to what classis of Salts it is to be referred it is deservedly referred to that of acids for it is somewhat acid in its farewel as we say yet it follows not from thence that every sort be it never so fixed and excessive helps the action of the Stomach but rather there arises from it a taint or crudity and the chyme grows not Spirituous And though sometimes when it exceeds with too great an acrimony it encrease the appetite yet it is vitious and the particles are not rightly parted from one another thereby whence in this very case in the appetentia canina and boulimus they profit more than any thing else Thus I once cured an Hypochondriacal Person that could not be satisfied with eating with the Oyl of Tartar per deliquium And the middle Salts do incide indeed and resolve but injure the tone of the Stomach if used too long and too plentifully whence Tartar Vitriolate and arcanum tartari being taken long and in
a large quantity hurt the same at length By which experiment we plainly see 1. that neither lixivial nor middle Salts are to be used longer or in a larger quantity than is fitting 2. We may gather from hence that the ferment of the Stomach is not acido saline in that sense as if it were of the nature of acid Salts but rather that it is Saline and amongst Salts may be referred to the acid though it be not so in its own Nature in the abstract But acid Salts though they come generally under another notion are as such grateful to the Stomach hence acidum Tartari comforts and strengthens the Stomach and hence also acid Spirits serve the same end very well But when acid Salts are modified by other accessories they do not do so well Idem pharmac p. 184. whence Alum and Vitriol rather hurt than help the Stomach because of the Mineral metallick Parts that are joyned to them Sudorificks See before Alexipharmacks Diaphoreticks The Contents They agree in vertue with Cardiacks I. Their differences as to their matter and faculties II. The efficacy of a Sudorifick Diet and where it has place III. Sudorificks are not profitable for every Humour without distinction IV. Lean Persons indure sweating well V. What Humours may be expelled by sweating VI. Wherein the vertue of some Sudorificks consists VII They are hurtful for some VIII Sweat is not to be provoked before the Humours are disposed IX We must but Sweat once a day and that in the Morning X. We must Sweat several times and not once for all XI Sweat is not to be provoked in acute Diseases XII All are not to be compelled to Sweat XIII Sweating is not to be continued too long XIV Though Sweat burst not forth all of a sudden yet it may come by degrees XV. Abstersion provokes it XVI Their efficacy to restore motion to the flagnating Blood XVII Hot drink taken whilst one is a Sweating promotes the Sweat XVIII Bezoardicum minerale is an effectual Hydrotick XIX Antimonium Diaphoreticum is but a weak Medicine XX. It ought to be newly prepared when used XXI Those that are in the use of a Guaiacum Diet-drink are to be purged every eighth day XXII How Sudorifick Decoctions make People fat XXIII 'T is not good to give a bolus of Turpentine with them XXIV Salts are Hydrotick XXV The vertue of Decoctions depends on the Diet that is ordered in the use of them XXVI How the Decoction of Guaiacum is to be prepared XXVII The first Decoction draws not all its vertue forth XXVIII China and Guaiacum are not to be mixt together XXIX A strict Diet is not necessary in the use of a Decoction of China XXX Sassaphras affects the Head too much XXXI Carduus bened is to be given in substance XXXII The opening Roots are sparingly to be added to Hydroticks XXXIII When an Hydrotick Medicine being taken provokes not Sweat it is not therefore hurtful XXXIV I. HYdrotick Medicines as to their ways of working and Operations have great affinity with most Cardiacks commonly so called insomuch that many of both kinds are of a common or reciprocal use Willis pharmac rat p. m. 194. and seeing they differ chiefly only as to their greater or lesser efficacy when we are bound to pass from one genus to the other generally we need only increase or lessen the dose and chuse the fittest times for administring of them II. As to the various both kind and preparation of the matter of which hydrotick Medicines are made they are generally either the integral or elementary parts of some mixt Body namely either natural Concretes are given in their whole substance either simple or extracted as when the Leaves Roots or Seeds of Carduus Contrayerva Angelica or the like are taken in Powder Decoction Conserve or Magisterie Or Diaphoreticks consist of the Particles of this or that element namely spirituous Sulphureous or Saline either simple or some prevailing over other as if a Salt Spirit or oyl be extracted from Carduus or other vegetable mineral or animal Body and be reduced into the form of a Medicine either by it self or with other Preparations We will briefly run over all or at least the chief species of them 1. Diaphoreticks whose vertue consists in the integral Particles of the whole concrete being unequally mixt seem to be indued with some one element more eminent than the rest viz. a Saline and to owe their vertue chiefly to it Now that Salt upon which the hydrotick vertue depends comes under a double state for in some Concretes it is volatil and acrimonious or bitter and in others Alkalizate and fixt in a sort 1. In the former rank are most Vegetables esteemed Antidotes by the Ancients such as are the leaves of Scordium Carduus Scabious Perwinkle the flowers of Marigold Chamomel the roots of Burdock Zedoary Galangal c. Also the confections of Mithridate Treacle Diascordium the decoctions of Guaiacum Box and the like are reckoned among these which kind of Medicines being taken into and dissolved in the Stomach make a tincture whose particles as being more hot and foreign excite the animal Spirits whence the praecordia being more briskly agitated do drive the Blood more rapidly about yea they enter into ferment the Blood that is in the Stomach-vessels and so whilst they make it to be carried back more hastily by the Veins towards the Heart they make it also to be driven more vehemently even so as to cause sweat by the Arteries into the habit of the Body 2. The other sort of Diaphoreticks which whilst they consist of the Integral parts of the Mixt have an Alkali Salt predominant are Stones and the Bony or Shelly parts of Animals and Vegetables as Bezoar Perls the Eyes and Claws of Crabs and the like whose Diaphoretick vertue proceeds chiefly from an Alkali Salt inasmuch namely as the particles hereof sometimes meeting with an acid Salt both in the viscera and Blood and effervescing therewith thereby cause the mass of Blood to be fused and its serosities to be separated and resolved into sweat 2. Hydrotick Medicines which after a spagirical analysis owe their vertue to these or those elementary particles being framed out of divers subjects and with a different preparation are chiefly either Spirituous or Saline or both together combined one with another or with some Sulphureous particles For such as are wholly or for the greatest part Sulphureous are less accommodate to this intention because such being generally offensive to the viscera do often cause a nausea and sometimes a Vomiting Moreover those which through plenty of Sulphur are oyly and fat do not so readily insinuate their Particles into the mass of Blood After what manner and by what affection of the Blood or Spirits this second sort do move a Diaphoresis we will inquire particularly And 1. to the Spirituous we refer hot waters and all sorts of Liquors endued with a vinous Spirit such as
with Steel-Medicines such as crocus Martis aperitivus vitriolatus saccharinus Quercetan's cachectick powder or his Stomachal mixt with Martials adding for instance the oyl of Cinnamon which does very commendably serve this intention 2. Bridlers and retarders whether the Blood be too serous and Acrimonious or cholerick unlocking and gnawing asunder the mouths of the vessels or whether it issue plentifully through the breach of some vessel or other hurts Now this excessive fermentation and turgescence is restrained both by watry coolers which temper and dilute the volatil saline and sulphureous parts abounding in the Blood and also by earthy and styptick things which precipitate separate bind and hinder the motion of the same as Plantane Shepherds-purse Corals Haematites and other things to be fetcht from astringents likewise acid and sowr things that do infringe and tame the said parts as the Spirit of Vitriol its tincture the tincture of Violets and Roses the styptick antiphthifick tincture of Garmannus which does good in the immoderate flux of the Terms and Opiats themselves All these I say benefit in the immoderate flux of the Terms or Lochia and also partly in the Whites III. Or 3. the genus nervosum and substance it self of the Womb as it is known that it is membranous has a very great consent with the head and is plentifully stored with Nerves Medicines of this sort are the Nervine enumerated under the Cephalick things endued with a volatil Balsamick Sulphur spirituous things pleasant things as Balm Rosemary Sage c. Castor Amber both which are full of an oleous volatil Salt c. and above all others Cinnabarines as it is certain by practical experience that native Hungarian Cinnabar does greatly relieve hysterical distempers and convulsive motions of the Womb likewise preparations of an humane secundine Ivory without fire and preparations of Harts-horn and the like whereby it appears that that Medico-practical rule That all Cephalicks are Uterines or that all Cephalick Herbs in specie do also respect the Womb and on the contrary does hold chiefly in this sense because of the society of substance and agreeableness or analogie of the nervous parts And these especially the comforting Aromaticks are Uterines and profit particularly in the hysterical suffocation and its various degrees and consequently in fainting swooning c. The same are approved in hard travail inasmuch as they either strengthen Nature and the Nerves as Cinnabarines or do withal stimulate as the oyl of Cinnamon of Amber c. Also in the pain of the Womb and fluor albus or Whites inasmuch as the compages of the Blood is too loose therein and the serous ichor outweighing the oily parts of the Blood is cast off through the looseness and weakness of the fibres accompanying whence such Uterines as are strengthening and the oleous Balsamick as Rosemary profit in this case From hence it is clear why Vinegar is called by Hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a Painer of the Womb namely because it is offensive to the Nerves because it fixes the Blood and depresses and subjugates its sulphur and saline volatil parts for otherwise when there is an intention to incide or to tame the Sulphur as in the amor insanus or in the immoderate flux of the Terms 't is very proper if it be not given in too large a dose IV. Or 4. the extravasated Humours stagnating about the Womb and flatus that arise from thence putrid filth c. which case indeed often happens and creates divers cruel Symptoms of this sort of Medicines are 1. Balsamicks resisting putrefaction Bitter Gummous and rosinous things Aloes Myrrh Scordium asa foetida Galbanum the essence of Amber of Myrrh of asa foetida the Uterine Elixir of Crollius c. 2. Resolvers of the cloddiness of the extravasated Blood whether already clodded or but a clodding as Chervil Crabs-Eyes Bezoardicum Martiale Antimonials and other such like do notably dissipate whatever stagnates and take away convulsive and hysterical Symptoms arising thence 3. Discussers Diaphoreticks and the more penetrating Sudorificks as tinctura Bezoardica the Spirit of Tartar mixtura simplex which it self also purges out putrid filth and Diureticks also themselves do notably cleanse the Womb. 4. Carminatives in a special manner for Carminatives are the best Vterines and as Practitioners have experimented the same things that are good for the Colick do also help fits of the Mother as the Carminative seeds Zedoary Galangal essentia carminativa with the Uterine Elixir the Tincture of Tartar Bezoardicum Martiale which are very excellent in the Hysteralgie and pains after travail And these are good in Uterine flatus which I have observed in a cacochymical Woman to be discharged out of the Womb like the flatus of the Belly and also in hysterical suffocations produced thence and from the putrid Blood stagnating there likewise when the flux of the Terms and Lochia are painful with anxieties pains of the back gripings c. V. It is a rule amongst Practitioners That the Womb is demulced by sweet things But it is hardly to be understood of sweet things that are actually such absolutely which indeed where the fermentation of the Blood is to be renewed have a notable use inasmuch as they promote its turgescence also in a fear of Abortion Honey is good outwardly or Bread soak'd in Honey and Sack yet where the Blood is to be bridled as in a too great flux of Blood and in other cases they rather do hurt So things sweetned with Sugar and Honey are naught for the hysterical for they raise disturbances and revoke and exasperate quieted symptoms VI. Acids which follows as a Consectary from what has been said and sweet things are neither alwayes to be abstained from nor to be used promiscuously This chiefly holds of Vinegar for it is but little furnished with Sulphureous Particles But such Acids as are Sulphureous withal as the Cephalick Spirit of Salt Nitre or Vitriol are more friendly to the Womb whence Syrupus Byzantinus Oxymel simple and that of Squils and other acids hurt the Womb but these being moderately Sulphureous may be used upon occasion This appears from Diet for if a Woman that has her Terms flowing eat Salads or other acid things they are stopt thereby namely because they are adverse to the tone of the Womb both as to the turgescence of the Blood and also as to its own Nervous substance VII In Women with Child Volatil Pellents are to be avoided whence if the case be doubtful whether a Woman be with Child or only her Terms are supprest we hardly use to rise higher than Steel Remedies which do not hurt but do withal strengthen Otherwise attemperaters and astringents are proper for them as to the Uterine Vessels and spirituous things as to the vital strength of the foetus VIII When we would open strong Pellents alone are not proper but moisteners withal are to be used where we would bind let not driers be
acid Humour appears from this If the Ail be alleviated by taking Acids Melancholick persons who have a good stomach after the use of Acids seldom recover We amend the loss of Appetite that depends upon some fault in the acid Humour with Acids and we see that Acids are good almost for all Diseases but those of the Breast Spirit of Vitriol is qualified by a mixture of Sulphur Vineger is good and Oranges and Lemons but people often take too much and then they fall into gnawing of the Stomach and much spitting a little Sugar qualifies them The season for giving them is in the state of Declination before Dinner not before Supper lest when their Appetite is raised they eat over-much and so be not able to bear the Assault of the Disease which is always more violent toward night nor to digest your Food the Seeds of Citrons and Oranges may both be eaten because of their Cordial Virtue The loss of Appetite which arises from decay of strength is seldom cured unless that Decay come of a cold Cause then hot and Aromatick things are proper In old Men that through weakness have lost their Appetite Valaeus m. m. p. 145. hot things are not so good inwardly as outwardly For taken inwardly in dry Bodies they create greater dryness Outwardly Oil of Mace is good and a Tost of Bread dipt in Malmsey Wine II. Rondeletius Pract. lib. 2. cap. 14. In all Loss of Appetite let the Food be given actually cold and if possible let it be set before the Patient when he is not aware of it Let such use bread well baked or a good while dried in the Air or dry Cakes well fermented and not too close III. When any one complains he never comes to his Meat with an Appetite it is advisable to make him fast till he have a stomach Vallesius 6. Epid. s 4. for starving breeds Appetite So when a Man cannot get sleep if he be forced to wake and nod standing before he be suffered to ly down he usually falls into a long and profound sleep IV. Want of Appetite in Women not with Child is cured better by Purging than Letting of Bloud for it arises of bad humours abounding in the Stomach and the whole Body In Women with Child bloud-letting is the better Cure Riverius for it is caused by retention of bloud while they are first breeding V. Because Choler dejects the Appetite by its heat to cleanse the stomach a Decoction of Tamarinds soure Prunes and Sebesten with syrup of Roses and Rheubarb should be given The morrow following this Medicine two hours before Meal let them drink a draught of cold water Rondeletius l. c. unless weakness of the stomach or something else do hinder Let them use soure Sauces and they may take a Tast of Salt things VI. But if Phlegm be the Cause after Evacuation it is best to give Acids but with detersive and salt things for what sweet things are detersive they satiate and are flatulent wherefore they are not good in this case unless a great deal of Vineger be added Idem so as they may scarce be perceived to be sweet VII For raising the Appetite Sylv. de le Boe Prax. Med. Append Tract 3. Sect. 210. which is often dejected in Consumptive Persons I think there is no better Remedy known as yet than Elixir Proprietatis if 4 or 5 drops of it be taken in Wine or some other convenient Liquor about half an hour before Meal VIII Sometimes I have known the Appetite recover of its own accord But that falls out for the most part either because of an exact Diet which sometime is rightly observed even by chance or of some notable Evacuations or Alterations that are spontaneous For when the noxious humours are conquered and amended or evacuated Idem Prax Med. Appen Tract 10. Sect. 739. the usefull and necessary ones by degrees recover their lost strength and then exert it Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians Petr. Fotest l. 18. Obs 8. 1. I steeped for a night some Leaves of Roman Wormwood and a Root or two of Dandelion a little bruised in Rhenish-Wine In the morning I strained out the Wine and gave it my Patient and which is wonderfull he voided a dead Worm and a living one and his stomach increased to a wonder 2. Peaches eaten before Meals get a stomach if it be lost through a hot cause Syrup of Peaches may be thus made Take of the Juice of Peaches scarce ripe 4 Pounds boil half away let the dregs settle then add of Pomegranate juice 6 ounces Sugar and a little red Sanders as much as sufficeth make a Syrup Idem Obs 9. The Dose 2 ounces morning and evening two hours before Meal If you want Peaches you may use Juice of foure Apples Fred. Hofman Meth. Med. p. 319. 3. In the loss of Appetite through weakness of stomach in the declination of a Disease Amber from 1 grain to 5 mixt with Faecula Ari is a specifick Also Ivory calcined without fire is very good 4. The best thing and which raises an Appetite above all others is Antidotus Thespesiana thus described by Galen Take of Smallage-seed 1 ounce and an half Myrrh Anniseed Opium each 6 drachms white Pepper 5 drachms Parsly Spikenard long Pepper each half an ounce Eusta Rud. Art Med. l. 2. c. 12. Castor Flowers of Juncus Odoratus Saffron each 3 drachms Cinnamon 2 drachms Cassia lignea half an ounce Mix them with boiled Honey make an Electuary Take about the quantity of an Hazle nut when you go to bed with 4 ounces of Water River prax Med. l. 9. c. 1. 5. Balsam of Peru is an excellent Remedy for this if some drops of it be given in Hippocras-Wine or some other an hour or two before Meal Diseases of the Anus The Contents The Way of putting it up when fallen I. We must abstain from too much Astringents II. We must spare the Sphincter in Curing the Fistula III. The Cure of the Condylomata by pricking IV. The Cure of the crested Haemorrhoids by Excision V. Medicines I. I Will propose a Way of Cure which at first sight will look ridiculous but what is of great use in the falling out of the Arse-gut Slap the Buttocks of your Patient with your flat hand five or six times or oftner that the Muscles Ani Levatores may immediately draw up the Intestinum rectum into its place Barbette Chirurgiae cap. 9. But before you thus beat your Patient it is requisite you anoint the Intestinum rectum with oil of Roses and Myrtle II. In curing the falling out of the Arse-gut you must abstain from too much Astringents lest by making the Body Costive and therefore causing greater straining Platerus you rather promote than hinder the falling of it out III. Riolanus Anthropogr lib. 2. reprehends almost all modern Surgeons in curing Fistula's which are very often bred in Ano
First wash the part well then lay on the following Liniment Take of Honey of Roses half an ounce oil of Vitriol 1 drachm mix them make an Ointment Herc. Saxonia l. 2. p. c. 25. 7. If the Ulcers be Malignant I use either Water of Tartar or Vitriol wherewith all malignant Ulcers are conquered River prax Med. l. 6. c. 5. 8. If there be no Inflammation the onely and best Remedy is Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur which in those that are grown may be used alone Dip a little Cotton bound to the end of a stick in it and give the Sore a light touch for so a simple Thrush is cured in a moment Sennert l. 2. p. 1. c. 18. 9. In Childrens Thrush this is an approved Remedy especially when it is malignant and Epidemick They hold a living Frog to the Child's Mouth that it may draw out the Malignity which when it is weary and dead they hold another and so on but this is a filthy Medicine Apoplexia or the Apoplexy The Contents Whether Bloud must be let I. The Jugular Veins may be opened II. When Fomentations must be used before Bloud-letting III. Bloud-letting not good for all IV. A Sanguine Apoplexy cured by bleeding in both Arms at once V. Where Cupping-Glasses should be applied VI. The Efficacy of Cupping applied to the fore-part of the Head VII Cured by Blisters VIII Shaking the Body and stirring them up to walk when proper IX Plucking the Hair bending the Fingers rubbing the extreme Parts c. whether of any use X. Whether a Man should be Purged XI Violent Purging is convenient XII Whether a Vomit may be given XIII The Vomit must be strong XIV Clysters must be very sharp XV. Suppositories should be given frequently XVI Apophlegmatisms of Hiera to be rejected XVII Vinegar should not be mixt with them XVIII Whether Sneezing be proper XIX Whether Fumes be proper XX. The Efficacy of Stillatitious Oils and Volatile Salts XXI The great Antidotes are not allways proper XXII Whether for the Cure a Fever should be raised and when it succeeds the Apoplexy whether it should be extinguished XXIII An Apoplexy negligently cured of a small one became Mortal XXIV What Posture is best XXV They that are past Hopes are not to be quite given over XXVI Medicines I. I Judge a Man may nay must according to Prudence and Art let bloud in every Apoplexy according to the Constitution of the Patient and quantity of bloud in the Vessels and that plentifully For so the Patient will endure the longer Sylv. de le Boë Pran l. 2 c. 21. and the Apoplexy will be easilier cured as experience testifies without which I know not whether upon consultation one would not be afraid to let bloud in ancient people When therefore the Physician dare not let bloud experienced persons advise well that Scarification should be used or at least Cupping with Scarification in stead of bloud-letting And because so great a Man as Sylvius relies here altogether on Experience but remains dissatisfied in his Theory as who pleases to consult the place cited may see I think it very pertinent to consider how exactly the excellent Wepfer hath laid down the Theory For to discover so abstruse and latent Causes he produces Anatomical Histories or Observations wherein the Phaenomena in Bodies of several who died of this Disease are declared In three that died Apoplectick the extravasated bloud was either gathered here and there into great Clods or had discoloured the substance of the Brain all over in another a Floud of Serum had overflowed the Brain within and without From these marks of this most occult disease thus discovered the Authour concludes the places principally affected are not the large Ventricles but the medullous substance of the Cerebrum and the Cerebellum which is every way porous and furnished with narrow passages as well that Vital Spirits may flow thither from the bloud as that the Animal may flow thence And indeed he concludes that the Cause of every Apoplexy wholly consists in these Two i. e. in one alone or both together namely either because the Afflux of bloud through the Arteries to the Brain is denied or the Efflux of Animal Spirits from the Cerebrum and Cerebellum through the Nerves and Spinal Marrow is stopt or for both these causes As to the First he proposes how the bloud may be stopt three ways i. e. First Either by reason of the Obstruction of the inner Carotid and Vertebral Arteries which happens in the bigger Vessels and especially about the Ascent of the Cranium from bloud concrete into grumous Lumps or in the lesser Vessels which cross the Brain from their being stopt with viscous Matter Or Secondly The influx of bloud is kept from the Brain by reason of the Compression of those Vessels which sometimes happens when the Paristhmia or Glands of the Neck are so swelled with Serous humours that by pressing the Arteries that pass under them they stop the passage of the bloud to the Head Or Thirdly The Afflux of Bloud may be hindred when a Vessel being opened within the Cranium the bloud is plentifully poured out which should otherwise go to the benefit of the Brain As to the other Cause of the Apoplexy i. e. the hindring the spirits in the efflux he reckons it is caused two ways either by obstruction of the Origination of all the Nerves caused by serous Matter or by sudden Compression of the same which either too great gathering of bloud in the Meninges or in some certain parts of the Brain or in its Ventricles or some phlegmonous Disposition do produce Seeing the Apoplexy according to the opinion of the Moderns consonant to the doctrine of Hippocrates arises from the stoppage of the Circulation of the bloud or as he speaks from the standing of the bloud and not as Galen would have it from the oppletion of the Ventricles of the Brain All hope of safety consists in a speedy revulsion and retraction of the Matter from the Head nor can there be found a Remedy which can so speedily avert derive nay and evacuate the humours from the Brain as Letting of bloud therefore we prefer it before all other means in curing the Apoplexy and we think it proper for all Individuals whether they be plethorick or no. The thing it self speaks for several Apoplectick persons have been restored and perfectly cured onely by letting of bloud When the bloud is taken from the Arm that also in the Jugular Veins is drawn downwards and then comes some portion of the Matter that is in the Sinus's which although often it be phlegmatick yet it is found not without bloud but may be removed and drawn back with it And for that cause unless some weighty reason hinder we order large bloud-letting in Apoplectick persons which may reach the humours above and remove them and sometimes we repeat it twice or thrice in each Arm that the Veins being emptied on each side
Temples and Nostrils The Arch-Dutchess of Austria had frequent experience of the Virtue of this Medicine 14. Take Oil of Cinnamon Cloves and Lavender Jo. Bap. Van Helm Tract de Febribus c. 15. p. m. 778. if you know how to change them into Volatile Salt you have got as effectual a Remedy as can be expected from these Simples in an inveterate Vertigo Palpitation Apoplexy and such cases 15. The following Aqua Vitae or Quintessence preserves a Man from yea cures him of the Apoplexy if a spoonfull of it be taken every morning Take of Conserve of Rosemary Flowers Lavender each two ounces of Balm Sage each one ounce of Species Diamoschi dulcis Diambrae each two drachms of the Root of Peony the Seed of the same of Cinnamon each half an ounce of Saffron a drachm of Castor Rocket Seed each two drachms Franc. Joel Oper. Med. Tom. 1. l. 1. Sect. 3. p. m. 91. Apoplexiae curatio of Sugar Candy half an ounce of Juniper Water distilled four pounds bruise them and mix them let them stand Infused in the Sun or some warm place for a Month distill it in Ashes let the dry Matter be taken out of the Glass and pounded and let the distilled Water be poured on it again let them stand in a warm Infusion fourteen days and then distill them in Balneo Mariae 16. I gave a Noble Apoplectick Woman who could not speak for three days Spirit of Black Cherries and she presently recovered her Voice Mr. Thomas Kesler tractatu German 200 process chim processu 53. 17. Essence of Amber with Apoplectick Water Conrad Kunrad Medull distill part 1. p.m. 202. 248. is a most excellent Remedy for an Apoplexy 18. Tincture or Essence of the Amaethist is both an excellent Preservative and Cure The Dose is to fifteen drops 19. Take of Flowers of the Linden-tree and Lilly of the Valley as much as you please Bay-berries two ounces beat them all well together till they be in a kind of Mass Then take some juice of Violets mixt with Sugar pour it on the Mass mix them well and strain the juice hard out Take this and half as much Salt of Wormwood dissolved into Liquor Distill it by a Retort rectifie the liquor that comes over drive it through a Retort again and then bring it over an Alembick that there may be no Phlegm and you will have a most excellent Spirit of which you may give half a spoonfull Idem p. 2. p. m. 137. ad Apoplex with a little Cinnamon or Linden-Flower Water to an Apoplectick person It gives present help and preserves a Man his whole Life from the Apoplexy 20. For the Apoplexy Phil. Muller mirac chim lib. 5. p. m. 83. Take of the best Aqua Vitae one Pint of Juniper Berries two handfulls bruise them and Infuse them in the Aqua Vitae for three days strain it out and put into it of Sage Pennyrial Cresses Saffron each one drachm give a little to the Patient and he will presently recover his Speech 20. Felix Platerus tract de function laes cap. 2. saith That Chymists give the Extract of Sage in Apoplexies as a great Secret Joh. Popp. Tract de Febribus malignis c. 3. de Apoplex 21. A sure secret for the Apoplexy and loss of Speech Take of Oil of White Amber seven grains of Ambergrise and Musk each eight grains of the Water of Lavender Betony each half an ounce of the Water of Marjoram one ounce mix them and make a Liquor which when taken the Speech will be restored 22. The following Water is of admirable Virtue in comforting the Brain and Nerves It powerfully helps the Memory sharpens the Wit strengthens the Judgment Whâ—ther it be taken inwardly or the Part affected be chafed with it it doeth much good Guernerus Rolfinkins Ord. Meth. Med. special consultatoriae l. 2. Cons 25. 17. Every Dose may be exalted with some grains of Magistery of Pearl or Specifick of Antimony Take of the Leaves of Sage with the Tops and Flowers of Marjoram Lily Conval Balm Hysop Lavender each two handfulls of Rosemary Vervain each half an handfull of the Root of Leopards-bane one ounce of Nutmeg Galangale Cinnamon each one ounce of Bayberries Juniper-berries each three ounces of Herb Paris one ounce of Caroway-Seeds Cubebs Cardamome each half an ounce of Whitewine as much as is sufficient Let them be well bruised and Infused for some days or let them stand fourteen days in Horsedung Then distill it in Balneo Mariae Dan. Sennert l. 1. par 2. c. 33. p. m. 665. de Apoplexia 23. Confectio Anacardina as it is proper in all cold diseases of the Brain so in this especially given either alone if the Patient come to himself and can take solid Medicines or dissolved in Aqua Vitae Also distilled Oil of Nutmegs if dropt into the Nostrils and Ears and the Palate be rubbed with it is highly commended 24. A Mineral Antapoplectical Water Take of Creme of Tartar one pound of the Mineral of Antimony a pound and an half Let the Acid Spirit be distilled by a Retort with a moderate fire which let be rectified Take of this six ounces add thereto of Spirit of Venus made of Verdigriece three ounces of the burning spirit of Saturn distilled from his Sugar an ounce and half of the volatile sulphureous Vitriol rectified by the acid spirit four ounces Mix them for use It is an excellent tart Water much to be desired in all Apoplectick Epileptick and Soporous cases It may safely be given to Children in Fits from one drachm to two in some gratefull Vehicle Appetentia nimia depravata Or The Appetite too great and depraved The Contents We must not use too much fat things in allaying it I. Narcoticks must be used cautiously II. A depraved Appetite cured by Sweat III. By Volatile Salts IV. By running of the Haemorrhoids V. Medicines I. FAt and clammy things stay too great hunger yet they are more proper in the beginning when we would provoke Vomit but when the Vomit becomes violent they must be omitted We must also have a care lest we use them over much and the Patient be brought into a contrary condition therefore when the Patient begins to mend Sennertus Fat things and which hinder concoction must be omitted II. But Narcoticks are to be used with caution and strong ones avoided as the Infusion of Mad Nightshade made in Wine which immediately destroys all appetite of Food in the most voracious person Yet strong Wine and Brandy may be used which according to Platerus take away hunger not so much by heating as stupifying As Treacle and Mithridate by the same narcotick quality he thinks do take away the dog-like Appetite Idem III. It is good in the depraved Appetite sometimes to cause a gentle Sweat But we must have a care that the Patient be not stifled with Clothes for it were better not to sweat at all
Fr. Sylâ—â—â— de le BoeÌ„ Tract l. 1. c. 2. than too violently seeing that Sudorificks mend and correct the bad humours though they expell them not And I still prefer liquid and spirituous things before gross ones though Antimonial how dry soever are excellent in this case to wit Antimonium Diaphoreticum Bezoarticum minerale c. IV. Seeing a depraved Appetite differs according to the diversity of the thing craved I will here propound its Cure onely in general which consists in cleansing the Bloud and other humours by amendment whereof the Pica ceases of it self Idem Prix lib. 1. c. 2. I have by experience found that Volatile Salts doe more good than all other Medicines I have yet tried because they provoke the Menses gently and kindly The suppression whereof is often the cause of the Pica V. A Man troubled with the Itch had also the longing Disease for three Months He had the Haemorrhoids and within two days the Disease left him Rhodius Centur. 2. Obs 57. For the matter residing in the Veins affected the Nerves of the Stomach which once removed the party was eased of that trouble Whence it is clear that in this Disease the matter doth not always stick in the Nerves Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians for Excess of Appetite 1. Take of Hiera simplex Galeni one Scruple Petr. Forest lib. 18. Obs 8. of Rhubarb well powdered a Scruple and half with Syrup of Roses solutive make it into Pills N o xv I have cured several of this Disease with these Pills onely taken for some time 2. Hartmâ—nnus prax Chymi aâ—r p. 100. The Philosophick Spirit of Vitriol divers times given in Pomegranate-Wine Syrup of Lemons or Tincture of Roses cures most perfectly 3. Senn. de Boul. m. If in a Boulimy one be troubled with Fainting it is good presently to give him Bread sopped in Wine 4. Weikardus Thesaur Phâ—rm l. 1. c. 11. Antiquity found not a more present Remedy for this eating Evil than Bread and the smell thereof For the Appetite depraved 5. I know Hor. Aug. 3. Epist Cons p. 425. that to give a Drachm and half of the Powder of the Seed of Ammi four days one after another doth admirably help a depraved Appetite for the Women are either cured or much better by it 6. Jul Caes Claud. in Empiriâ—â— Rational p. 238. These two things have great Efficacy in the longing Disease 1. Take of Walnut Buds four Ounces Aloe Socotrina one Ounce Juice of Agrimony half an Ounce Frankincense one Drachm Scoinanth two Drachms Mash them together boil them in water till the water be almost boiled away Then strain it and to what is strained out put as much Honey give one Drachm of this every other day 2. Take of Mustard-Seed half a Scruple of Pigeons Bones burnt to ashes one Drachm and a half Seed of Purslane one Drachm Cinnamon two Scruples Juice of Quinces two Ounces White Sugar three Ounces Mix them in a double Vessel over the fire David Herlic de cur gravid c. 16. 7. This is very good Take in the Month of May the first white Buds of the Vine bruise them and distill them by an Alembick Let a Woman with Child drink a little of this for three or four days and it will neither hurt the Child nor give it any Mark though she should not get what she longed for Jacob. Holler Inst Chir. p. 49. 8. A Decoction of the greater Chamaemil that is very like Southernwood will be of great use in this case for it surpasses all other sorts of Remedies Mercurial de morb Mul. p. 3â— 9. If Women labour under a depraved Appetite Aegineta commends the use of old and odoriferous Wine the Water of Shepherd's Rod especially drunk after Meals also Dill infused in Wine Schroderus 10. Sowre Pomegranates are good for the Pica in Women with Child The Leaves of the Vine are also good Troâ—ula de Regimin Praegnant p. 101. 11. If a Woman with Child long give her Beans with Sugar Arthritis Podagra or The running Gout and Gout The Contents The running Gout and Gout differ in their Causes and Cure I. What should especially be observed in the Cure II. Generous and extraordinary Remedies are required to cure the Gout III. A Gouty person cured by nailing his feet to a Block of Wood. IV. By violent knocking of one foot against the other V. The good of Bloud-letting VI. The Hurt of it in an inveterate Gout VII Whether Bleeding in the Foot be proper VIII Why a Vomit is proper IX Whether Purging be proper X. When you must Purge in the beginning of the Gout XI Violent Purgers often taken doe hurt XII For whom Caryocostinum is proper XIII Whether Hermodactyls should be used XIV Cassia is hurtfull XV. Diureticks good in the Scorbutick running Gout XVI Whether a Cure may be performed by Salivation XVII Whether drinking Vrine be proper XVIII After what manner Alteratives given in the Paroxysm do work XIX Whether Sudorificks be proper XX. Whether Milk be good against the Gout XXI What Preparatives should be used for prevention XXII Whether Narcoticks taken inwardly doe good XXIII In what the Virtue of Antipodagricks consists XXIV Whether Medicines outwardly applied doe good XXV The benefit by Application of Narcoticks XXVI Whether the use of cooling things be safe XXVII Whether Strengtheners should be applied XXVIII The nature of Discutients XXIX Whether it be possible to dissolve the Knots in the Gout XXX A thin Diet is proper XXXI Diet doeth more good than Medicines XXXII Exercise when convenient XXXIII Bleeding will doe little good in old Men. XXXIV Purging will doe none XXXV Vsed by Empiricks XXXVI Sweating must not be procured by Art XXXVII Things that help concoction are proper XXXVIII Remedies must be used constantly XXXIX A Milk Diet good if it can be continued in XL. Medicines The sum of William ten Rhyne's M. D. Treatise of the Gout I. HIppocrates l. de Affect Sect. 3. lays down the peculiar signs of the running Gout 1. Pains of the Joints with remarkable heat not in them onely but the whole Body over insomuch that men seem plainly to be in a Fever 2. The nature of the Pains which at the very first invasion are presently acute although sometimes they are more moderate 3. The running of the Pains from one Joint to another The essence of the running Gout consists in these Three things which distinguish it from the Gout for in this the heat is not so evidently perceived at the first as in the running Gout nor till the corrupt Humour in the Veins be transmitted to the out-parts And the reason of this difference arises hence because in the Gout the Disease is in the little Veins and the inner parts in the running Gout it lies outwardly and nearer the skin 2. In the Gout the Pains at least in the beginning are not so sharp and that by reason
sate to table before he had scarce eaten one mouthfull he was forced to drink which I have observed in several to be a certain sign of a Dropsie coming upon them from the too great drought of the Liver depending upon the heat some fore-runners whereof I saw in his cachectick face Because he desired to drink the Spaw-waters for he refused other Medicines he fetched them sometimes from Griesbach where the Well is and kept them at home and according to my advice when he had over heated himself with Wine he accustomed himself to drink of them to quench his preternatural thirst which the Wine had caused I gave him leave to go to the Wells and to drink the Waters as others use to doe After this manner the use of the Spaws did both him good and others that laboured of the like intemperature of Liver which the Vulgar abuse thinking them to be good in most desperate Diseases and drinking them by Quarts Platerus Observ l. 3. p. 8. whereby the natural Parts and nervous Kind for which sharp things are bad are hurt besides they are very bad for the Breast and therefore for all that are troubled with a Cough and Shortness of breath Sometimes I have prepared artificial Spaw-waters which I have given for a Cachexy and they have done good ¶ The drinking of natural Vitriolick Spaw-waters continued for some Weeks is very good to correct the Heat of the Liver if it be used in time before the Dropsie invade a man and the Water be gathered in the Legs and Belly for when it already falls out of the Veins by reason they encrease its store they will doe no more good but will rather encrease the Swelling in the Dropsie Iâ—em Praxeos l. 3. especially if as they usually then do they piss but little and yet in the mean time drink much which therefore I have observed hath hurt a great many people VII Sweating with a Decoction of Guaiacum in a Stove or in Bed cures a Cachexy But in a Cholerick one you must sweat in a Stove with a gentle heat In a Melancholick one with a little more intense And in a Phlegmatick one with a most intense Heat that is as great as the Patient can endure without fainting This Cure is proper for such a Cachexy as happens to Maids or Women from Grief eating of crude things or drinking cold liquours but not for elder persons in whom it is bred by the use of strong Wine Hippocras Muskadel Salt and peppered Meats and such heating and drying things for since in this case the Liver is exceeding hot and dry and that there is great store of the Atrabilarious humour in the first and second region that is in the Veins of the Liver Spleen Mesentery and in the greater Veins and Arteries Enchirid. Med. Pract. Bathes are more proper than a Stove for a hot and dry Liver requires to be moistened and not to be dried And an Atrabilarious humour is but enraged and irritated by using hot things and profusion of Sweat VIII It is worth observation that a Cachexy in persons troubled with the Stone in the Kidneys has had its original from an Ulcer in the Kidneys when the purulent matter by reason of the obstruction in the Ureters regurgitating into the Kidneys and infecting the Bloud Sennertus hath infected the whole habit of Body IX It often falls out that a Man's Body becomes swollen turgid and languid and then the timorousness of the Physician grounded on no reason predicts danger But they may very properly be cured in a short time by Sudorificks used internally and externally The cause of this Evil hath not its rise from the Intemperature or weakness of those parts that the Ancients called Noble Besides it may easily be distinguished from the Dropsie which the said parts do cause for although the Patients be very sluggish and lazy yet they are oppressed with no anxiety of heart they breathe freely and from an open Breast and their Belly swells not much The watry matter is gathered first in the face and limbs and if the tumid parts be prest with your finger experience will shew that the parts are not so full as in a true Dropsie Barâ—â—tte Anâ—t â—ract c. 14. wherefore some that are ignorant of the true cause ascribe this Swelling to Wind. The Lymphatick Vessels being compressed broke or some other way obstructed so that the natural motion of the Lympha is hindred do cause the Ail X. When N. who was troubled with the Pox and a Water Rupture had been cured of both hâ—s Diseases by anointing with Mercury after the same example he ordered one Aldr. de Aldrighettis a strong Woman of a full Age that was swollen with the White Dropsie to be likewise anointed Binodius cent 3. obs 9. She made much Urine without any Salivation yet she felt a little pain in her Neck and perfectly recovered Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. In an inveterate Cachexy I anointed the Belly and Feet which were swollen more than ordinary with the following Liniment Take of the tops of green Dwarf-elder green Cranes-bill Sauce alone Flowers of Roman Chamaemil each 2 ounces fresh Butter 1 pound let them boil well Strain them out and add of distilled Oil of Tartar rectified Oil of Wax well rectified Oil of Caroways rectified each 3 drachms Mix them and make a Liniment to be used as abovesaid Jâ—h Lud. à Fâ—â—â—den â—â—iâ— arbâ—r â—â—â—ae p m. 53. And take of this Cordial often every day Take of Cinnamon-water 3 ounces Oxymel of Squills prepared according to Zwelfer 2 ounces Spirit of Vitriol dephlegmed 24 grains Mix them for use This water which I always kept as a secret was wonderfully commended by all people 2. Phâ—l Gruâ—iâ—gius Mâ—d. Pract. l 3. parâ— 3. c. 2. Joh. Jonstonius Idea Med. pract l. 12. c. 4. tâ—â— 2. The Essence of Crocus Martis and a Mixture of it do in curing a Cachexy excell all other Remedies 3. The Water distilled off fresh Walnut-tree roots cut into little square pieces steeped in Whitewine 24 hours sweetned with Sugar-candy and exposed to the Sun for some days taken in 3 ounces weight using exercise after it cures the Green-sickness in Maids 4. Take of the finest filings of Steel 1 ounce Jâ—s Quâ—rcetanâ—s Pharm Dogm rest p. 321. faecula Ari 1 drachm and an half Ambergryse half a drachm Essence of Coral of Pearl each half a drachm Amber prepared Cinnamon each 4 scruples Sugar what is sufficient Mix them and make a Powder It is the best remedy for pale and depraved colours as for Cachexies in Women Men Maids younger or elder if the body be prepared and purged 15 days before one after another I have had admirable experience of this Powder in curing all Cachexies 5. Chalybeate Salt is very good for a Cachexy Schroderus 6. When the Body is purged Wormwood taken any way is excellent good to strengthen the
that they may spread every way 5. They must be amicable to nature lest they destroy all 6. They must not be very hot You should rather give such things as consist of an abstersive virtue from a volatile Alkali and an acid and that by their gentle sharpness do incide and cleanse the filth of the urinary passages as also by their sweet fragrancy affecting the Reins do hinder the dregginess of the Ferment and so prevent all occasion of the Stone Such things also are good as asswaging the Pain of the Kidneys do better fit them to expell what is hurtfull Frid. Hofmanus m. m. l. 1. c. 12 such as Saffron and Cassia and Rheubarb deprived of their purgative Faculty ¶ I will relate what I have observed concerning Spirit of Vitriol in the Stone of the Kidney and Bladder Diureticks are of two kinds one aperitive and the other incisive Aperitives draw the matter to the Kidneys and therefore if these be affected are very suspicious because we draw the matter to the part affected But Incisives carry not the matter to the Kidneys but onely by inciding subtilize and so the matter being made subtile passes the Kidneys Hence it is and I ever use it with success that if in the beginning I give Spirit of Vitriol to break the Stone or cut the gross humour I quickly see a happy Issue And the Spirit of Vitriol though it be diuretick yet it onely incides upon which subtiliation while the matter passes out the Urine appears more copious and it is truly a Diuretick by accident not that it carries ought to the Kidneys but because the matter when it hath no impediment finds an easie passage And that is attempted in vain after the third or fourth day which may be done the first without which the Pain is prolonged three or four days to the great damage of the Patient for then we must stay for universal Evacuation Panarolus Pent. c. 3. obs 41. which in this case is not necessary in the beginning but may very conveniently be celebrated when the Pain is over XII Of which Diureticks nevertheless distinction must be made Hofmannu◠ibid. that in the first place the milder be used and the more temperate before we arrive at the sharper which do enflame the Archaeus of the Liver and Reins XIII In the use of Medicines that break and expell the Stone we must take notice that they must not be used once or twice onely but oftner till the obstructed passages be opened And while they are given the Reins and Bladder must be fomented with Baths Fomentations Unctions and Cataplasms that they may work the better And also some liquours that are of thin parts such as vinous White-wine must be given now and then and internal Emollients Riverius Laxatives and Smoothers of the passages must be made use of that the ways may be open and the acrimony of other Medicines may be qualified XIV Medicines that attenuate the Stone without violent heat conduce much to health for the hotter sort of things consume the finer parts and leaving the grosser do harden the Stone and draw new matter to the Reins and Bladder from the whole Body Heurnius Therefore rather let them be of tenuious parts and cold XV. Some in the retention and interception of the Stone in the Ureters do commend the Powder called Pulvis Lithontribos and some stronger things which before purging the whole body do drive many bad humours from above to the Kidneys whereby the Stone is not onely firmer fastened in the Ureters Fabricius Hildanus but internal Inflammations are also bred and Death it self follows which I have tried XVI Gainerius hath taken notice that we must observe first to join piercing Remedies with those for the Stone as Cinnamon Nutmeg 2. To add such a thing as may strengthen the virtues of the Medicine to the end they may play upon the Stone with their whole strength as Mastick and Gum. 3. That they have fineness of parts to pass the better 4. Heurnius Something that takes off acrimony may be added as Roses Liquorish Linseed XVII Whether is Spirit of Turpentine proper for the Stone in the Kidneys It is good for it is a dispersing Medicine penetrates deep and hath an excellent virtue in purifying the Bowels dissolving gathered Tartar and discharging it by Urine yet lenitive Purgers should be made use of before we come to the continual and daily use of it Although in the use of Turpentine it self in substance this is not requisite because it hath it self a purgative virtue especially when it is mixt with powdered Rheubarb according to Crato's description in Scholtzius cons 152. It helps by its temperate heat whereby it befriends the parts destined to concoction for which reason it is good for those that are troubled with the Stone as it helps concoction that so the peccant matter may the better be separated from the Bloud Gr. Horstius Probl. Dec. l. 8. q. 1. You may see in Amalus cent 1. curat 63. the History of a Monk who every morning for several months swallowed a piece of Turpentine as big as a Nut fasting and was so cured of the Stone and Gout when other Medicines would do no good XVIII They are in errour who always use attenuating and inciding Medicines as if there could be no Gravel without a fulness of gross humours and as if there were not some very cholerick persons to be found who have their bloud and other humours very thin and are troubled with the Stone For I am of the opinion that there is no one living but hath so much grosness of humours that if it stay in the Kidneys Sanctorius Meth. l. ◠c. 7. may cause the Stone And that there is so much Phlegm in a man that is not phlegmatick as may make up one Stone XIX When the Stone is voided although all danger be over yet I use for two or three days following to procure a perfect abstersion and cleansing of the Reins Fortis consult 96. cent 3. by giving a Bolus of our Turpentine washed in Mallow-water with Liquorish powder and drinking upon it an Emulsion of Melon-seeds made with Mallow or Barley water but very thin XX. A certain person fell into grievous pain in his left side under the bastard Ribs attended with vomiting much Bloud as often as he stooped it returned upon him so that he grew very weak upon it Dr. Moebius judged there was some large Stone lodged in the left Hypochondrium and that by moving it the Bloud was extravasated in so great quantity powred into the Stomach and then vomited up He durst not prescribe things to force the Stone lest when the Vessels were unstopt they should open wider and by farther vomiting of Bloud his life might be endangered Therefore he gave him calcined Harts horn for several days in some fresh broth He ordered the pained part to be fomented with Mallow leaves Chamaemil flowers
into its natural posture he remained dull as it were stonied yea sometimes he staggered And although he had an Issue made for it in his neck and right arm yet he found no good by them He tried the Leaden waters to no purpose Praevotius advised him with good success to medicinal wines Turpentine with Castor a decoction of box China root Misletoe of the Oak Mastick Tree Sage and Groundpine Velschius Obs 14. Besides Treacle with Sugar of Roses And among external things Goose grease with Spirit of Rosemary applied with Scarlet to the nape of his neck after embrocation Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians Accorombonus de Catarrho 1. I affirm I have seen several cured by the continual use of Diacodium who have been in manifest danger of a Consumption from a thin and salt Catarrh ¶ Take of Cloves Cinnamon Mastick Mace Benzoin each 1 drachm Cipresnut red Coral Pomegranate flowers each 2 scruples mix them make a powder and apply it to the Coronal suture both I and others have often tried the virtue of this powder and we have found it stop destillations in so short a time Idem that it has appeared wonderfull both to our Patients and us 2. The tincture of Luna is very good for destillations Agricola Take of Spirit of Vitriol 4 drops Tincture of Luna 8 drops Water of Mother of Time half an ounce Oil of Amber 5 drops Mix them give it every day ¶ This is a secret for Catarrhs never enough to be commended Take of white Sugar 3 pounds Root of Liquorish Elecampane Flower de Luce each 2 ounces Spring-water 24 pounds Boil them filtre them well To 8 pounds of the Colature add of the herb Speedwell Maiden-hair Lung-wort Scabious Horehound the cordial flowers Colts-foot red Poppy each 5 Pugils Roman Nettle seeds and of seeds of Carduus benedictus Anise Fennel each half an ounce infuse them 2 days and boil them again to a third add of Gum Guaiacum China root each 2 ounces Cinnamon lesser Cardamome Cloves each 3 drachms boil them over a gentle fire for an hour Idem filtre them and strain them Drink of it four or five times a day 3. In a suffocative Catarrh I use with great success water of Violets or Colts-foot Bartolettus with white Spirit of Sulphur dropt in drop by drop in danger of suffocation and I have delivered several from imminent danger 4. Take of Aloes Penniroyal Calamint Mint Citron rind Petr. Bayrus each a like quantity make a powder incorporate it with Ladanum and a little Acacia and apply it to the Coronal suture having first shaved off the hair 5. Terra Lemnia or Bole Armenick with wine is a most excellent Remedy in a cold Catarrh Alex. Benedictus for they effectually hinder suffocations 6. A decoction of Turnips with butter and Sugar is very good or if there be any wind in the Turnips Crato it may be corrected with a drop of Oil of Aniseeds ¶ In a salt Catarrh I have found this a most wholesome remedy A Decoction of Honey with Roses which is made thus Take of pure water 6 measures Honey half the quantity boil it and scum it put a bag full of dry Roses in it and boil them for a convenient time Drink of it every morning Also red Bole Armenick laid upon the Tongue and Palate at night especially stops and dries a Catarrh and wonderfully strengthens the head Idem so as it seems an Inchantment it is as good as any Treacle 7. A Lohoch of Oak of Jerusalem in diseases of the Breast is excellent for the Destillation falling on the Breast it is made thus Take of the juice of Oak of Jerusalem Scabious Speedwell Colts foot each half a pound Barley Cream 3 ounces Sugar half a pound Gul. Fabricius Boil them to the consistency of a Syrup add of Species Diaïrews simp half an ounce powder of Anniseeds 2 drachms Flower of Brimstone 1 drachm Mix them 8. This is very good Take of Rosemary Marjoram Nigella red Roses Cloves Nutmeg Goclenius Indian Spike each half a drachm Make a Powder take it in a Pipe fasting like Tobacco 9. In a thin suffocative Catarrh destilling violently upon the Asperia Arteria and raising a continual cough Graba in Elapâ—ograplica a little burnt Hartshorn held onely in the Mouth or put upon the Tongue is accounted an excellent Remedy for the Catarrh is presently thickned and the cough comes but seldom ¶ Oil of Amber hath an admirable efficacy to stop a Catarrh if some powdered Amber be put in a bag and heat in Spirit of Wine and sprinkled with some drops of Oil of Amber and applied to the Crown of the head Idem the nostrils and Temples being both anointed with it at the same time 10. This is an exceeding good sternutatory to dry and stop the Catarrh and strengthen the Brain Petr. Michael de Heredia Take of Darnel Seed of Nigella Castor each 1 scruple Marjoram Rosemary Sage each half a scruple Musk 4 grains Mix them make a powder and snuff it up Linseed infused in strong white Wine Vinegar then dried and strowed upon some coals its fume received by the nostrils doth wonderfully stop a defluxion ¶ The destillated water of flowers of white Dittany is also a celebrated Remedy snuffed up into the Nostrells ¶ This promotes expectoration of the thick matter Take of the powder of Elecamparte seed half an ounce Savine seed 2 scruples Honey 2 ounces fresh Butter 3 ounces Mix them 11. Frid. Hofmannus Sassafras wood is of excellent use in this disease so that it is reckoned the true and proper Alexipharmack of Catarrhs especially if it be infused with Spirit of wild Time which is done thus Take of field Mother of Time destill it from strong wine let it stand a few days and destill it from fresh Mother of Time and then infuse Sassafras wood in it ¶ Nothing stops immoderate Catarrhs better than the following Cataplasm Take of sowre leaven 2 ounces Amber powdered 2 drachms make a Cataplasm and apply it to the Crown when it is shaven ¶ Also in a suffocative Catarrh Tacamahaca dissolved with some Oil of Mastick spread upon lether and applied to the Crown of the head when it is shaven is very good 12. For a Catarrh with hoarseness I have had good success in this Medicine of Forestus Gt. Horâ—tiuâ— Take of Liquorish juice white Sugar each 2 drachms seeds of Purslain Cucumber Melon Citrul each half a drachm Aniseed Gum Tragacanth each 1 drachm Penidy of Sugar 2 drachms and an half Make them into sublingual Pills ¶ I have had experience to my honour of this Electuary in several in difficult expectoration which threatned a Consumption Take of Elecampane Root Quinces boil them with Honey and add some flower of Brimstone ¶ In thin destillations I successively use Pilulae de Styrace Cratonis 13. Pope Adrian's Wine is highly
and apply it to the aking tooth ¶ To preserve the teeth the inner rind of Barbery steeped in Water and to wash the mouth therein is very good in the morning ¶ Also Spirit of Vitriol mixt with Water is very much commended because it preserves the teeth from putrefaction and whitens them For a drop or two of Spirit of Vitriol mixt with Sugar or Honey of Roses cleanseth the teeth wonderfully Joh. Crato and helps putrid teeth and gums and Ulcers of the mouth 10. Take Oil of Cloves half an ounce dissolve in it of Camphire half a drachm then add some Spirit of Turpentine four times rectified mix them A drop or two with a little Cotton put in the hollow tooth presently stops the Pain Osw Croâ—â—â—us Basâ—chym 11. The Salt of the fruit of the Fir-tree which is called the fixt Stone of the Jovial-tree is good for the Tooth-ach if it be dissolved in a little Vinegar and held a while in the mouth ¶ Take of Wild-poppy Hen-bane Sweet-williams Baum each a like quantity make of them a Crystal Salt put a few grains of it in a hollow tooth It is a certain Remedy Mich. Crugner 12. Take dried Hops rub them a little put them in strong Vinegar boil them a little and strain them Wash the mouth and gums with the Liquour for it is wonderfull Tob. Dorâ—crellius 13. The Quintessence of Coloquintida is a great Secret in curing and easing the Tooth-ach The Dose is half a drachm or a drachm in some Broth or Syrup Pet. Joh. Faber ¶ The chymical Salt of Lizards cures the Tooth-ach admirably 14. A Turnip rosted in the ashes and applied hot behind the Ears is held for a Secret Certainly it repells violently and cures the Tooth-ach effectually as I have had experience and can testifie also of others Fienus 15. Take the leg or thigh a Toad cleanse it from the flesh Leon Fioravantus Rub the aking teeth with the bone and the Pain ceases in a moment 16. The Tooth-ach vanishes when the Archaeus is mortified which is done by sharp Remedies as the root of Pellitory of Spain and of the Nettle with the red flower Franc. Oswald Grembs the white substance whereof being scraped and applied to the tooth wonderfully mortifies its raging 17. The Secret of the King of Poland In a clear day powder a Load-stone and calcine it in a glazed Pot till it wax green Of this with Meal Wine and Gum Tragacanth make Lozenges to put into the teeth which in a moment stop their aking ¶ Take a clove of Garlick Philip. Grulingius a little Treacle a clean Cobweb Mix them make a Plaster apply it for some hours to the median Vein on that side the teeth ake on the most violent Pain ceaseth and returns not in some years 18. If some Oil of Box in Cotton-wooll be put with a Probe into a hollow tooth J. Caldere de Heredia it presently takes away Pain 19. Fill a Womans Thimble full of Salt of Ashe and apply it to the temporal Arteries where you find them beat in a short time it makes a knot in the Artery Riolanus whereby the flux is intercepted IV. For Loosness of teeth 1. I have had frequent experience of this Take Pomegranate flowers unripe Galls dried Roses and Spurge with a little Alume boil them in Vinegar and harsh Wine till a third onely remain Hold the Decoction hot a long time in the mouth Alex. Benedictus 2. Take of Acorns 1 drachm Galls half a drachm burnt Alume Acacia each 2 scruples Red-rose flowers 1 handfull Berph Gordonius Boil them in a quart of Red-wine Let the teeth be often washed with this Decoction Arn. Villanovanus 3. Pimpernel-root chewed fastens the teeth wonderfully V. For Black Foul and Bleeding Teeth 1. There is not a better remedy than a Pumice-stone red hot and quenched in White-wine twice and the third time left till it be cold and then without any farther quenching beaten and washed If the teeth be rubbed therewith it makes them exceeding white Pet. Bayrus 2. Take of dried Rosemary powdered Whitebread powdered each 2 drachms red Coral prepared 1 drachm Alabaster half a drachm mix them make a Powder with which rub the teeth every day and wash the mouth with Rosemary-water In a short time you will find the admirable efficacy And. Libâ—vius VI. For Drawing of teeth 1. Dock-root heat in ashes and continually applied to the tooth draws it out in a short time ¶ Also burn Earth-worms and powder them and having scraped the tooth round about strew it on plentifully and in a day and a night it falls out of it self Therefore use it confidently for it is celebrated often as a Mystery Aetius 2. Clear the tooth a little from its place with a Pen-knife and then strew on it Powder of Euphorbium For this if any thing will draws out bones Or Juice of Spurge mixt with Meal may be put in the tooth and the rest fenced with Wax For Spurge-juice makes the teeth to swell After 2 or 3 days the tooth will be so loose that you may take it out with your fingers Joâ— Heurnâ—us or with an Instrument easily 3. To make the teeth fall onely gut a Lizard and drie it Octav. Horatianus and touch the tooth or the hollow of it with the Powder and it will presently drop out 4. Take a grain of Mastick or Frankincense fit for the hole stop it well carry it day and night but take it out in the morning and wash the mouth with Water something salted a Decoction of Sage or of burnt Harts-horn Put in another grain and continue it so long till the tooth fall out piece-meal Aâ—dr Libâ—vius and this is done without any hurt 5. Bastard Hellebore has a virtue beyond all other things to make teeth fall if you rub them with a bruised leaf Riverius but you must have a care what teeth you touch for they will all fall out 6. Gum of Ivy that grows on an Oak draws out any tooth ¶ Some affirm upon certain experience that if you take a Whelp 3 or 4 days old and cut off his left Ear and with the bloud anoint the teeth Joh. Stenâ— Sâ—robelâ—â—â—gâ—â—s all that are anointed will fall out in the night Diabetes or The Piss-pot Dropsie The Contents Bloud-letting is not proper I. When a Vomit is proper II. Purging is proper III. What Purgers are proper IV. Whether Diureticks be proper V. Sudorificks are suspected VI. Narcoticks are good VII Astringents are not always proper VIII Too much are hurtfull IX Sylvius his Cure X. It must be cured by restoring the tone to the bloud XI Sometimes it proceeds from a cold Liver XII The Cure of it in a young person XIII In a spurious one we must not cool XIV Quinces breed the Diabetes XV. Whether a Bath be proper XVI One quickly cured XVII We
Diaphoenicon frigidum applied hot to the whole Belly is most excellent in any Dysentery the same also may be applied in the beginning 7. Take pure root of Tormentil grosly bruised 6 ounces Pour to it in a glass Body of Tormentil water 16 ounces Let it simmer on a gentle Fire then let it cool and pour off and separate the Decoction carefully from the Root add of fine Sugar half a pound Set it in Sand and with a gentle Fire reduce it to the consistency of a Syrup Then add of the Tincture Oil or Liquour first precipitated with distilled Vinegar and then with Spirit of Vitriol of Corals Mich. Crugnerus mix it well and keep it It is a most excellent Remedy in the Bloudy-flux 8. Oil of Walnuts cures a Flux miraculously if it be taken inwardly and the Belly be anointed therewith ¶ This is reckoned a Secret in stopping Fluxes of the Belly If you take of the Juice of unripe Grapes 10 spoonfuls boil it a little after it is clarified drink a third part of it for it presently stops the Flux and strengthens the Bowels Claud. Deodatus 9. They say Cudweed boiled in Wine is an effectual Remedy Dioscorides 10. Boil a Crab with Wine and Pepper take off the Shells and dry them the Powder of the simple Shell taken twice every day cures any Flux specifically It may also be mixt with other things It is an experienced thing ¶ Distilled water of Celandine drunk Tob. Dorncrellius powerfully stops any Flux as I have heard one say upon his certain experience 11. There is no more present Remedy than Vva quercina in Powder Christoph Engelius for any Bloudy-flux I have cured some of desperate Dysenteries onely with it 12. The Cawl of a Wether fried in Oil of Roses and applied Franc. Osw Grembs is an excellent Remedy to stop the fury of it 13. A linen cloth dipt in the bloud of a Hare not killed by a weapon but in hunting by the bite of a Dog and dried and kept for use if it be made Lint of and given in Wine it cures the Dysentery Yea the Soldiers in Germany when they have killed a Hare in the aforesaid manner dry her in the smoke and give her in drink and so cure the Bloudy-flux infallibly Van Helmont 14. The Liver of a Wolf prepared that is when it has been steeped 3 days in very strong Vinegar and then dried in an Oven upon a Tile is highly commended 15. The Pisle of a Cat is a most certain Remedy in this Disease Frid. Hofmannus the Shavings of it may be mixt in some Electuary 16. It is admirable that Colcothar the Caput mortuum of Vitriol should possess a quality to cure a Bloudy-flux that is if they that are afflicted with the Bloudy-flux do go to stool upon it Christ Langius it cures them This is confirmed by many observations of D. Michael 17. Half a drachm of Crystal finely powdered and prepared taken in some convenient Water is a singular Remedy for a Dysentery Joh. Langius especially for one arising from porraceous and yellow choler 18. I have observed it by experience and beyond all doubt that 2 drachms of Filipendula root given either in Wine or the Yelk of an Egg is good The leaves and roots of which Herb I have often found to doe both the same thing ¶ I have found this Potion doe a great deal of good Take of Syrup of Popy 1 ounce of dried Roses half an ounce Diamargariton frigidum half a drachm burnt Ivory half a scruple Water of Plantain Horse-tail each 2 ounces ¶ This is excellent good to ease pain Take of Acacia Hypocistis the inside of a Quince Sumach Galls each 1 drachm red Coral burnt and washt with Rose-water 1 drachm and an half Opium 1 drachm Cinnamon Cyperus each 1 drachm Syrup of Roses what is sufficient Make a solid Electuary of which make Pills Lud. Mercatus whereof you may give a scruple or half a drachm 19. An Egg boiled in Vinegar and eaten Oribasius stops all Fluxes of the Belly 20. The Feet of a Partridge rosted and one drachm of the Powder given in Coriander water when there is a Fever and when there is none Joh. Praevotius in black Wine cures even a raging Dysentery 21. The dung of a Dog that eats bones dried and powdered and put in a little chalybeate Milk is good for a Dysentery given for 3 days morning and evening I can safely swear I have cured above an hundred of the Dysentery with it in one year as Christopher Landrinus can testifie Joh. David Rulandus 22. The Fruit of the Linden-tree yields an effectual Remedy for any Flux of the Belly Valesc de Taranta as Camerarius testifies 23. The lesser Plantain given with an equal quantity of Daucus is a singular Remedy Gul. Varignana 24. This is very much commended If the Patient for 3 or 4 days morning and evening sit over a red hot Plate of metal upon which 1 ounce of the best Turpentine or Pine Refin must be thrown ¶ This is an admirable one especially in Childrens fluxes if every day morning and evening the Child's anus be fumed with the Powder of young Asses dung carefully dried in an oven and strewed upon red hot Coals Benedict Victor ¶ The following Fomentation also is highly commended Take of Balm 1 pound Mullein 1 handfull put them in a long bag which afterwards boiled in a like quantity of styptick red Wine and strong Vinegar to a third must be applied warm to the Seat 25. Many reckon Cresses seed given alone or mixt with other things a singular Remedy in the Bloudy-flux Arn. Weikardus 26. This is a singular Remedy for any Flux of Bloud Take Frog-spawn and dip a linen cloth at least thrice in it dry it in the shade and doe so thrice Which cloth so prepared and dried you may use Apply a piece twice as large as the place where-out the Bloud flows Keep this as a Secret ¶ This is a singular Remedy for the Bloudy-flux Break a new Egg into a new earthen Pot then take a like quantity of Honey Vinegar and Oil mix them all together and bake them Eat them and you will find a good effect Marc. Ant. Zimara Dysuria or Sharpness of Vrine The Contents It must be cured variously according to the diversity of the cause I. A Vomit is proper II. The benefit of Clysters III. Cassia sometimes suspected IV. Diureticks sometimes hurtfull V. It arises sometimes from the defect of the humour that moistens the urinary passage VI. Sometimes from the site of the Bladder altered VII Sometime from the glandulous Body too much dried VIII Medicines I. A Man threescore years of age was sick of a violent Sharpness of Urine some placed the cause in his Bladder others in his Kidneys But when he was dead of an Apoplexy there was no fault observed in
were provoked to it died of the violence and tediousness of their Epileptick fits who undoubtedly might have been delivered from death if the excretion of the Hemlock roots which Nature endeavoured had been timely facilitated with Vomits by some skilfull Physician Santorellus Antipr l. 21. c. 10. favours this opinion and advises to vomit upon taking poison at the mouth and says the use of them is both safe and proper because they immediately cast out the Poison Seasonable Vomits did two Girls and two Boys good who had swallowed Arsenick Also from Faber Lyncaeus Hist 12. to a young man who had swallowed Mercury sublimate And there is not a Practitioner who making little reckoning of the Convulsions commends not Vomits and if the case will allow it who gives them not upon taking Poison And use has taught that the sooner they are given the more speedy and firm health is restored but if they hastened to Alexipharmacks death was hastened Wepferus de cicutâ—â—quat p. 319. or the Disease with its Symptomes prolonged as it happened to one in Timaeus l. 7. casu 4. XIV If by reason of an Epilepsie caused by Hemlock or Poison continuing a long time or having many fits in short intervals we cannot endeavour the evacuation or expulsion of it out of the Stomach the President of the nervous systeme must be averted from those tumults and as he wanders must be reduced into the way by such things as are usually given in fits of the Falling-sickness and of the Mother such as are things that awaken the drowzy Senses Let things be held to the Nose that breathe some acrimony made of Savory Penny-royal Rue Marjoram Flowers of Lavender Rue Seeds of Angelico Rue Lovage Mustard Berries of Laurel Juniper Pepper Cloves Assa foetida Castor and the like tied in a knot and steeped in Vinegar or Wine Balsam and Oil of Amber of Rue The urinous Spirit of Sal Ammoniack is excellent for this awakening which they say the most excellent Dr. Sylvius always carried about him that it might be at hand in sudden cases of this Nature Indeed I hold such topicks near to the Nose but by no means anoint the Nostrils with them or put them deep in because when they are anointed or thrust in I have known them very troublesome a long time after let Matches of Sulphur be held to the Nose let the contracted fingers be opened by a strong man Idem p. 324. let sharp Suppositories and Clysters be given let the teeth be opened c. XV. In an Epilepsie and the Vertigo especially if matter be supplied from the whole when this is first diminished Diureticks do conveniently carry off the reliques of the humours by way of Urine chiefly if it be sympathick and not inveterate which at once open obstructions dissolve the matter Frid. Hâ—imannus m. â— l. 1. c. 12. and carry it off such as Hartman's Antepileptick Spirit volatile Spirit of Vitriol which is contrary to it by a peculiar faculty XVI A Maid was often taken with Epileptick Convulsions One who thought there was fraud in the case and that she counterfeited the Disease that he might detect the cheat put live Coals into her hand She perceiving nothing endures all the burning of the coals Hereupon so great a wound was made by the fire in the Palm of her hand that a Chirurgeon could scarce heal it in some months time In the mean time a Fever invaded her which as soon as it was kindled all her convulsive motion ceased afterwards For Hippocrates in Coacis 2. Aphor 26. judged aright that it was better for a Fever to come upon a Convulsion Bartholimus Cent. 2. Hist 68. because it attenuates and discusses cold and tough humours stuffed in the Nerves as Galen comments upon it XVII Sternutatories may both cause and keep off an Epilepsie The first is evident from instances of those that by the continued use of sneezing powders in dimness of sight thickness of hearing c. have brought Epileptick motions upon themselves The other is evident from their efficacy because they relieve the head and discuss what is troublesome in it In this place and upon this occasion I will relate what I have very often observed in Epileptick persons namely that sneezing sometimes precedes sometimes follows an Epilepsie For I have seen in some people before the fit took them several sneezings and those frequent enough twenty thirty or forty often precede and that for a day or two every hour so that they have been forced to stop the sneezing by applying warm milk and afterward this ingrate and hated Disease has followed in as much namely as it darts its acrimony inwardly upon the meninges and then shakes the Cover of the Brain by consent also it passes to the out parts and the very Nerves of the Nostrils and is as it were shaken off by Nature that it may free it self of this unhappy Disease In others I have seen the Paroxysm end with this very explosion and excretion attempted at least in as much as the rest which nature can subdue and cast outwards is dismissed and exploded another way without any great Vellication Since therefore if two things doe the same it is not the same thing truly it behoves the Physician to help Nature yet so as not to hurt her and therefore he should be very carefull h w he uses them 1. They must be mild for Nature abhors strong ones and if she be forced violently upon what she would doe of her self she does it forced and as it were against her will 2. They must be Cephalicks which may also strengthen the head by their sweet smell Or things good for the Nerves as powder of the Flowers of Lily Convâ—l Castor Amber 3. If the Patient abound with humours and be not so very sensible in which case the Disease may very easily be brought upon one by any irritating thing 4. If the fit be very strong and there be a want of sense or a detention of the principal faculties more than the Convulsive motion 5. Wedelius de S.M. Fac. p. 210. And therefore they must be given to raise one out of the fit or in the declension of it Hence it is that Aurelianus denies Sternutatories to be good for Epileptick persons XVIII I do not permit the use of stinking smells but upon urgent necessity for it is better that the fit should be lengthened out and spent by degrees than to fill and make heavy the head with stinking smells and defile the substance of the Brain and Spirits Therefore do not use them unless the fit have held some hours C. Piso and other more gentle means have been first tried in vain ¶ The main controversie is about the Agate Stone for Dioscorides says the Fume of it brings the Falling Sickness Trallianus Aetius Pliny Caelius and others affirm the same Avicen and Mesae are of the contrary judgment that it is good for an epileptick
of the disease being removed or the root cut away all the fruits may wither The Medicines requisite to this intention may be reduced to these two heads chiefly 1. That the fewel of the Disease supplied immediately from bad bloud or the nervous juice and more mediately from the bowels and first ways Then 2. That the evil disposition of the brain and of its inhabitants the Spirits which is peculiar to the Epilepsie may be removed As to the first thing indicated in this case Vomits Purges Alteratives Bleeding Issues c. are proper in as much as the impurities are withdrawn from the bowels and humours and their dyscrasies amended And although they cure not the Epilepsie yet they remove impediments they raise nature and excite her to encounter the enemy also they prepare the ways so that Specificks may more certainly exert their Virtues As for Specifick Medicines onely which indeed though not always are reckoned to reach the cause of the Epilepsie it is wonderfull by what power of acting they use to doe good in this disease seeing they are taken without any sensible evacuation or even perturbation in the bowels or humours following thereupon If we may guess since we hold that the procatarctick cause of the Epilepsie consists in a heterogeneous conjunction arising in the Spirits those inhabitants of the brain and inciting them to preternatural explosions it will follow that what things resist or remove such a cause must be of such a nature as that by strengthening the Brain and contracting its pores they exclude that conjunction and so fix the Spirits which are up and down the middle of the brain by dissolving their conjunction that they will not any more be apt and inclined to those irregular explosions Not unlike it may be to Aurum fulminans which if it be ground with Sulphur or be sprinkled with Spirit of Vitriol it loses its fulminant virtue And indeed we may discover such properties either one or both in most Antepilepticks for Poeony Misletoe of the Oak Rue Lily Conval with many others have a manifest astriction in them so that it is very likely their particles taken inwards and so carried in the vehicle of the bloud or nervous juice to the Brain do so contract and shut up its pores which are too lax and open that for the future they do not at all lie open for any passage of the morbifick matter Moreover because these concretes do breathe out as it were an Armoniack or dissipative scent therefore they are said to depurate the animal Spirits and to fix and strengthen them when they are deprived of their heterogeneous conjunction This virtue depurative of the Spirits proceeding from the Sal Ammoniack is apparent in remedies which are fetcht from the animal and mineral families such as are preparations of Man's Skull Bloud Amber and Coral as the other astringent virtue is more powerfull in the parts and preparations of Vegetables Willi◠Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. If you cut the great Toe of the sick party any where and anoint the lips of him that is in the fit with the bloud that drops from it Aetius he will be raised immediately according to Didymus 2. Salt of Corals preserves Children egregiously from Gripes and fits ¶ Pills of Salt of Vitriol are highly commended in the Falling sickness ¶ This is famous for the Epilepsie Take of Cinnabar of Antimony 4 ounces pour on it Spirit of Vitriol first let it stand in digestion 14 days till it become like Gold distill it in a strong fire by a Retort and an elegant Spirit will come out which keep Then take Roots of Angelico Pellitory of Spain Poeony each 1 ounce Flowers of Rosemary Cassidony Lavender Lily Conval each 1 ounce leaves of Marjoram Scordium each 1 handfull Shavings of Elk's Horn Man's Skull Castor each 1 drachm and an half Diamoschu dulcis half an ounce mix them pour to them the best Spirit of Wine till it stand 4 inches above let them be digested in a close vessel in Balneo vaporoso till the Spirit of Wine grow as red as bloud pour it off by inclination draw it off per Balneum till it grow as thick as honey if there be 6 ounces of it add 2 ounces of the Spirit of Vitriol abovesaid Jo. Agricola Digest them in Balneo vaporoso for a month keep it The dose is one or two scruples in a little Lavender or Poeony water ¶ Oil of Wine mixt with tincture of Corals and a few drops of it given to Children presently take away the fit 3. This is a singular and experienced Plaster Take of white Amber Frankincense each 1 drachm and an half Galbanum Opoponax each 1 drachm and an half Misletoe of the Oak 2 drachms Ambergreise 6 grains Musk 3 grains Seed of Male Poeony half a drachm Labdanum 1 drachm and an half a little Oil of Nutmegs Caspar Amthar Bestrew it with powder of Cubebs when you have spread it and apply it to the coronal future 4. I can certainly affirm that I saw an Epileptick person above twenty five years old cured onely by the use of 2 ounces of Weezle's bloud with 1 drachm of Vinegar ¶ Take the Stones of a wild Boar or of a tame one that uses Venus and also the Stones of a Cock dry them in an Oven and powder them let there be 2 ounces of the Boar's stones and 1 ounce of the Cock's then add twice as much Sugar Horat. Augenius Let the Patient take some of this Powder with all his Meat you will find it a most absolute remedy 5. It has been found by frequent observation that children have been preserved from fits by giving them 3 drachms of Syrup of Cichory with Rheubarb as soon as they were born before ever they had sucked Milk J. Caes Baricellus ¶ I gave my own children 2 Scruples of Juice of Rue with a little Gold and by God's blessing they are free from Fits 6. Many of our Country Folks have the bloud of the Epileptick Person himself among their secrets as a singular remedy for an Epilepsie For in the very fit they take away a little bloud from a vein in his Arm and they give it him to sup with a rear Egg. Which experiment has freed not a few from the Fit immediately and has rendred them free from it ever after But after this Liquor they give him Cordials and Bezoardicks to lay him to sweat for so the matter of the Convulsion being stirred and disturbed by his own bloud is discussed and evacuated by sweat ¶ A most noble and sure Antepileptick Powder Take of Man's Skull burnt Man's Bones burnt each half an ounce Powder of the Bones of great green-Lizards 2 drachms Misletoe of the Oak Root and Seed of the Male-Poeony gathered in the decrease of the Moon each 1 drachm prepared Antimony Hoof of an Elk an Ass each half a drachm White Sugar 4 ounces Mix them
¶ Also a Sponge wet in water wherein the greater Pine-nuts bruised have been boiled Joh. Manardus is very good if the face be washt therewith 6. A piece of white Vitriol dissolved in such a quantity of water as the Eyes may bear may be used with success ¶ This Ointment is accounted singular for an Epiphora Take of Verdigriece 12 grains Camphire 1 drachm prepared Tutty half an ounce fresh Butter which must be melted with Rose-water and boiled a little 6 drachms Mix them make an Unguent put a piece about as big as a Pease into the greater corner of the Eye and let the Eye-lids be slightly anointed Platerus 7. In this Disease especially if it arise from a cold humour Water of Golden-rod wherein burning Frankincense has been extinguished is commended Sennertus 8. This Powder wonderfully restrains Tears Take the Shell of Citrine Myrobalans infuse them in Rose-water for two days dry them and powder them infuse them again three or four times in Rose-water Keep it ¶ Take dried Rue boil it in Honey and Vinegar strain it through a linen Cloth when it is strained anoint the Eyes with it it will most certainly restrain Tears ¶ This is a singular Remedy Burn some Frankincense and extinguish it often in Rose-water Joh Stâ—â—herus Drop it into the Eyes 9. This is a most experienced thing Wash the Eyes three or four times a day with Water wherein Gold smiths quench their Gold and Silver or their Tongs This will be better if a little Frankincense Mastick Aloes and Litharge be first boiled in it ¶ And this is an admirable thing Take of Juice of Fenil Pomegranate Sorrel Celandine purified Honey each 1 ounce Beat them together in a Brass vessel and let them stand in dung for 2 days Lapis Calaminaris and Antimony each half an ounce may be added Make a Collyry Erysipelas or St. Anthony's-Fire The Contents Respect must be had to the malignant quality joined with it I. Bloud must be let II. Purging is convenient onely towards the end III. We must use topical Medicines with caution IV. It refuses Suppuraters in soft parts V. Sleep must be avoided if it seize the face VI. When Coriander is proper VII An experienced Topick VIII Leeches good in an ulcerous one IX An ulcerous one in the Leg cured by anointing it with Spirit of Vitriol X. The Cure of the Pustules by pricking XI One that came often in the Face cured by an Issue in the Arm. XII One anointed with Oil caused a Gangrene XIII The Cure of an exulcerated one XIV How Frog spawn water may be used XV. Medicines I. IT is commonly believed it has its rise from yellow Choler but some of the Moderns rather derive it from thin bloud for 1. The Colour is a token rather of bloud than bile which is red when it ought to be pale or yellow as is manifest in the Jaundice 2. Although the Colour be vehement enough yet it is not so sharp as in Diseases arising from yellow Choler wherefore it is not so frequently exulcerated as Ring-worms and other Tumours caused by bile and when it is exulcerated it is not so much from its own nature as from the alteration of it 3. They are seldom obnoxious to it that are of a hot and dry constitution lean brown or black which is most suitable to breed yellow Choler but they rather that are sanguine fat fleshy and red 4. The fleshy parts the Thighs Legs Face Neck Breasts and the like are oftner affected than others 5. This Disease comes most between thirty and forty years of age about which time there is most bloud in the body But yet the cause must not be ascribed simply to fulness but rather to a depraved and peculiar quality of the bloud which proceeds from the putrefaction and corruption of its thinner part for Nature being stimulated by that malignant quality drives the vitious humour to the outside of the body A sign whereof is that this Disease seizes one like the Pestilence so that they who never had it before think they are taken with the Plague till the Disease shew it self in some part Hence it is the common practice when the Paroxysm comes and the Rose appears to take Medicines which help Nature's motion and drive the matter from the inner parts to the outer as Treacle Mithridate Water or Rob of Elder These Medicines taken in the beginning are approved on where plenty of humours is not urgent Sennertus otherwise it is safer to remove the antecedent cause II. Celsus especially commends Bloud-letting whom Paulus lib. 4. follows Galen 14. meth 2. ad Glauconem seems averse to it But I follow Reason rather than Authority for it is an acute Disease which must quickly be opposed a kind of Inflammation from the thinner Bloud or at least its Ichor and the hottest of it But in such a Heat who dare omit Bleeding or fly to other Remedies and neglect it since it draws from the part where the fluxion is evacuates helps transpiration and readily draws out the bilious bloud as it lies in the Veins If a sincere Erysipelas occur arising from Bile alone such as Galen supposes and if a bilious Cacochymie redound in the habit of body then Bleeding may be let alone for fear of the ebullition of cholerick humours III. Although Galen 13. m. m. seem to approve of Purging yet we must proceed to it with great caution and not till the declension lest the humours being stirred run to the part affected Wherefore after the seventh day Electuary of Juice of Roses with Cassia may be given and after it some pounds of Whey Fortis IV. The Ancients and most Writers of Chirurgery do very much use Coolers even Water it self the coldest of all yea they also mix with them Astringents and Stupefiers as Henbane Mandrake Opium Hemlock But the Modern reprehend this common Cure not without the suffrage of reason and experience for since the sharp matter exciting the Rose is not without malignity if its going out be hindred by these very cooling binding and repellent things it returns inwards and seizes the nobler and inner parts to the hazard of life hence a Phrenzy comes from an Erysipelas in the Head struck in Finally by these things the matter is shut up in the part affected whence putrefaction and suppuration which is often attended by a Gangrene Which thing since it often happens from the cure of the Greeks and Arabians they admonish us that the part may be so far cooled as that the heat may remit and the Patient confess himself not to feel so great a heat with the turning of the red colour into a livid But it may easily fall out that before sufficient caution can be used in this case such dangers may already be at hand Wherefore the case seems not to differ much from that of Burns For if a burnt part be dipt in cold water it does but
and what did harm The violent Head-ach and the propensity this Disease had to fix pains in the Sides as also bloud like that of Pleuriticks presently taught me that there was no small Inflammation in this Fever nor yet that it could bear that plentifull Bleeding which is proper for a Pleurisie for after the Bloud had been let the first or at least the second time it wholly lost the sizy colour wherewith the surface of it was covered nor was the Patient relieved by repeated Bleeding unless perhaps the Disease turned into a true Pleurisie which sometimes fell out after a Regiment hotter than it ought to be Now when I was deterred from repeated Bleeding both by Experience and Example although it was clear that this Fever was not a little inflammatory nothing remained whereby its Heat might be quenched besides Clysters often repeated and cooling Medicines But beside these symptoms which openly bewrayed Inflammation that Phaenomenon of stupidity familiar to this Fever did fully indicate that Clysters should continually be repeated whereby the febrile matter which so readily got into the Head might be diverted from it Moreover they were substituted in the room of repeated Bleeding which the peculiar nature of this Disease could not well endure and supplied its defect in quietly and gradually tempering the Bloud and carrying off the morbifick Cause Farther I thought large Epispastick Plasters applied behind to the Neck were of more use in this Fever than in others wherein the febrile matter did not seize the Head so much For by the violent pain and heat which the said Epispasticks usually impress on the part whereto they are applied the matter which otherwise would ascend to the Head is derived to the place so affected To these means and a Regiment conducing to the same end of cooling the Bloud the Disease at length did as it were naturally and of its own accord give way how much soever it raged if a man encountred it in any other method which was clear to me from Experience For when the edge of the Disease was taken off by the foregoing Ebullition and the Patient was out of Gun shot and secure from those violent Symptoms which depended on it we found nothing better than to let the Disease take its own course and gradually abate of it self which ever succeeded better with me than to attempt any violent evacuation whatever at such a time In the mean time I forbad my Patient flesh but gave him as much small Beer as he would drink And there was one thing more which must not be forgot in describing the Regiment of this Disease because upon the credit of manifold experience it turned to the Patient's advantage namely that the Patient kept every day up from his bed for some hours or if his weakness hindred that he put on his cloaths at least and lay upon the bed with his Head somewhat high For when I considered the great violence wherewith the Fever was carried to the Head and the inflammatory disposition of the bloud also it came into my mind that the Patient might reap some advantage from the posture of his Body if namely it were such as that the heat might not at all be encreased by what was circumambient which it must of necessity be if he kept in bed continually nor the violence of the bloud tending towards the Head promoted seeing thereby the heat of the Brain would be encreased and therefore the Animal Spirits heated and exagitated upon which there would be a more vehement vibration of the Heat and an encrease of the Fever I found the foresaid method by Bleeding and Clysters succeed most happily but it always had not onely anomalous and ill natured Symptoms but a dubious Issue when it was provoked by Diaphoreticks In the mean time that tacit Delirium grew eminent which though indeed sometimes I have seen it come of it self yet by the over diligence of Nurses mis-employed in causing Sweat for the most part it was invited For by this means the morbisick matter which in this sort of Fevers refused to give way to Sweat being violently moved was at length raised to the Head to the great hazzard of the Patient I could not conquer the stupidity very familiar to Children when the Disease came first although I left no stone unturned and took to my assistence repeated bloud-letting in the Armes Neck and Feet Vesicatories Cuppings Clysters Diaphoreticks of all sorts c. At length after I had bled in the Arm and drawn a Blister in the Neck and given two or three Clysters of Milk and Sugar in the first days of the Disease I resolved to try nothing farther but onely that I forbad the Patient Flesh and all spirituous Liquors whatever In the mean time I diligently attended Nature's method that insisting on her footsteps I might at length learn to conquer this Symptome In the mean while the Disease which I was watching withdrawing safely though slowly at length vanished Therefore I reckoned I was to insist on this Method in all Fevers which I thenceforth had the cure of This I know by diligent observation that in this Fever the said Symptome after general Evacuations I say after Bleeding and Clysters used to be successfully conquered by Time alone A Phrenzy came upon this Fever but rarely in which the Patient slept neither night nor day he could no way be ruled and it took him away in a few days unless the inflammation were stopt And here Spirit of Vitriol did me service above all other things which after Bleeding and a Clyster or two I gave to be dropt into small Beer for his ordinary drink This in a few days procured sleep and having conquered all Symptoms restored the Patient Sydenham Obs in Acut. p. 317 c. which indeed I could effect by no other method And this was abundantly made out to me by often repeated Experience Febris Cardiaca or The Heart-Ague See Febris Syncopalis It s Description and Cure HEart-agues occur being accompanied with unspeakable and oftentimes intolerable pain about the upper orifice of the Stomach and they are especially grievous in this Symptome whether vomiting concur or not sometimes they are Epidemick The Pancreatick juice breeds them when it has got a corrosive faculty by stagnation especially when sharp Bile concurs and a potent Effervescency happens upon their conflux whence very sharp Vapours arising to the upper orifice of the Stomach they sharply fret and corrode it So bitter a pain at the Heart will be cured by Opiates especially which may be added to divers Medicines according to the diversity of other Symptoms that concur therewith because they assuage both the sharps Sylvius de le Boē Prax. l. 1. c. 30. which are the cause of this Disease Let them be taken often and in a small quantity till you obtain what you desire Febris Catarrhalis or A Catarrh Fever The Contents The Description and Cure I. It arises from the Mesentery II. I. THE
the common shaking and contention the mass of humours oppressing both these parts is discharged To these Reasons the Experience of several People in Fevers consents who being faln into a Carus incurable by other helps have by causing a Vomit as by a Divine Wand been recalled from the jaws of the Grave But the question is concerning the choice of a Vomit for some traduce Stibium how artificially soever prepared as Stygian Others again adore the Infusion in white Wine as the most august Palladium of Apollo's Art on which all their hopes rely Hippocrates in procuring a Vomit did very much use white Hellebore which is poisonous and strangling but since its correction is unknown to posterity Menjoâ—tius Dissert 1. we have no reason to reject Antimony as a safe succedaneum to it XX. You will say For what reason do Physicians and especially Germans give sweating potions immediately in the beginning of the Disease when there is a thickness and crudity of the humours and that to the manifest ease and relief of the Patient I answer That their intention is to draw out onely the ichorous part of the Bloud in which as in the principal Subject the Putrefaction is founded For seeing the Ichor stagnates in all the Veins even in the capillary being mixt together with the Bloud for penetration sake as its conductor and inseperable companion it is certainly most readily expressed and transcolated through the Skin by Sudorificks because of its thinness Joseph de Medicis But do not think that they so relied on Sudorificks as to abstain from all other Physick XXI Alexipharmacks must be very much varied and mixt according to the various degree of Malignity or putrefaction according to the different intenseness or remisness of the Fever and the different Complexion Sex Age and other Circumstances of Patients left to the Physician 's prudence I onely will give you this caution when the Fever is most violent you must insist chiefly on Coolers and Acids avoiding things hot and diaphoretick which are proper when the Fever is more remiss and the malignant quality gives the most trouble Alexipharmacks of the third class Diaphoreticks to wit and Sudorificks must not be given but in the state of the Disease and declension except some poisonous quality seem to prevail over the Putrefaction chusing such things as are least hot And there are various degrees of them for some are hotter as Angelica Zedoary Dittany Treacle Treacle-water which should never be given when the febrile heat is at the height but then onely when it is very remiss and signs of Malignity very prevalent But other things are indued with less heat as Scabious Carduus benedictus Meadow sweet Scordium which may safely be given even in the height of the Fever And these things should especially be distinguished in Practice If the violence of the Symptoms be great new Treacle may be convenient because of the strength of the Opium as yet prevailing whereby the violence of the Symptoms is assuaged and the heat of the humours restrained Two grains also of Laudanum Opiatum mixt with Alexipharmacks especially in the beginning or increase of the Disease where Treacle is suspected is very good for by its narcotick and fixing virtue the boiling Spirits which are noisome to the Heart are as it were coagulated and the morbifick matter which while it is in flux is most destructive is stopt and remains in a manner unmoved that afterwards Nature being not provoked having gathered strength may more easily apply the virtue of Alexipharmacks to her self And a Physician should have divers Alexipharmacks in readiness and should change them by turns lest Nature be too much accustomed to one and the same thing constantly used and should elude its virtue Besides the nature of the poison is not always one and the same but is very different according to the variety of Bodies so that what does one good will doe another none If at any time Nature being oppressed and in a manner conquered by the malignity of the Poison is able to doe nothing but submits her Neck as if her Hands were bound any the strongest Diaphoreticks may be given in a larger Dose that the depressed strength of the Heart may be quickned as with a Spur Then Treacle-water or Bezoardicks and such as are powerfull and have a more penetrating virtue which may be encreased by the addition of Camphire must be used Riverius XXII Our modern Innovators who endeavour to proscribe Gems Pearl Corall and all Cordials in general from medical use and who cure all Fevers even the malignant onely by Bleeding and simple cooling Juleps may be convinced at least by this experiment about Corall and Pearl because if they be raduced to powder and infused in Vinegar juice of Lemon Spirit of Vitriol or Aquae fortis they take away the Acrimony of these Liquors Whence we may see that the same Medicines taken inwardly do assuage the Acrimony and Malignant quality of the humours and reduce them to a moderate quality They that have tasted solutions of Pearl or Corall made in juice of Lemons c. know this very well Idem ¶ Here the futility of several Physicians must be reproved who therefore vaunt the virtue of Pearl and Corall for sweetning as they talk the churlishness of the Humours because Vinegar when a dissolution of them is made therein grows sweet For it appears that the salt wherewith the dissolvent is imbued is united to the Pearl and the Liquor indeed is left sweeter but the dissolved Pearl is made so sharp by the addition of the Salt that after precipitation they stand in need of carefull ablution Suppose therefore the Stomach be infected with such Dissolvents and that after the dissolution of the Pearl that is taken there be another humour in the Stomach answering to Oil of Tartar whereby they may be precipitated truly the Salt that is mixt with these dissolvent humours when the menstruum as is usually said is gone will be joined to the Pearl and together with it will fall into the bottom of the Stomach but there it will doe no less mischief than formerly because keeping its old acrimony it onely changes its seat But which should especially be observed the so highly extolled Magisteries of Pearl as without the Body they are not farther soluble even by the sharpest Liquor so without doubt within the Body they can no more be dissolved by any humour be it never so sharp And then all these things signifie nothing to the humours that are in the veins far distant from the Stomach Menjortius XXIII Diaphoreticks are much in vogue among the Germans and Paracelsus highly commends this remedy in the Plague and Malignant fevers and among other things an Aqua vitae several times distilled in such a way as that half the Phlegm may be left which is thus tried to wit by putting a little of it in a Pewter Dish and setting it on fire if
no fatness be left let it be distilled no more but if any be left let it be distilled till none remain and give half a drachm of this in 4 ounces of warm Barley-water To this purpose I have used Elixir vitae magni Ducis and essentia Theriacalis ejusdem in the same quantity to 2 drops Nor is there any reason why any one should reprehend the use of these Medicines as being very hot because the heat of them is easily dispersed and penetrates to the principal parts and carries off the infection of the humours by sweat besides we must use these hot things after taking of cold ones for Malignant and Pestilential Fevers must sometimes be cured by virtue of the fire Fonseca coâ—sult 47. tom 1. ¶ In a great decay of strength hot strengthning things need not much be feared so as out of dread of encreasing the Fever that we should be unwilling to deliver the Patient from imminent danger of Death seeing we must always have greatest respect to what is most urgent for when the strength of the Heart has been a little refreshed what hot strengthners have inflamed more than ordinary may be afterwards qualified by violent Coolers as Sal Prunellae and Spirit of Vitriol mixt in Juleps and ordinary drink This method observed by a prudent Physician does happily succeed even in the giving of hot Alexipharmacks and Sudorificks Riverius ¶ As to Bezoardick Medicines which take away the poisonous quality of the humours Treacle Mithridate Confectio Hyacinthi without all controversie they are better than any other Which though in some Pestilent fevers they be disapproved because they are hot yet I have observed that more benefit than hurt is got from the use of them Therefore Galen in Lib. de Theriac ad Pisonem allows Treacle in Malignant and Pestilential fevers Whose advice I approve so the Fever be not of an exceeding Burning kind Zecâ—hius Câ— sulâ— XXIV In Malignant fevers before the breaking out of the Spots you may sometimes observe the Hands of the sick far beyond the Wrist or the Feet far beyond the Anckle or both to be discoloured with a colour strange and different from that of the whole Body but momentany and fading and sometimes they are very red And such Patients do then complain of a great burning in their extreme parts and ask for cold things or some Crystal although the rest of the Body be not so remarkably hot which indeed is a mortal sign But if the heat rage yet more in their Limbs and gain strength then the Hands of such feverish persons in two or three days space without any other manifest cause are consumed with such an Atrophy as usually appears in their hands that are wasted with the Consumption you shall seldom observe that such recover especially them whose Hands are black and blew or of some dull colour Of which thing I give this reason following the example of the Excellent Spigelius namely That there are usually more and more apparent Anastomoses of the Veins and Arteries about the extreme parts as in parts remote from the fountain of Heat and which therefore stand in need of more hot and spirituous bloud And hence it comes to pass that the Bloud which is evacuated out of the hand is much more fresh coloured and redder than what is evacuated out of the Arm because the arterious bloud is here also ever evacuated By means of which Anastomoses that admirable Circulation of the bloud is performed But now if this Circulation be hindred in the extreme parts by the bloud being boiled by the preternatural febrile heat and made fibrous and tough like to dregs of Oil how should it be but as standing waters corrupt that so the whole substance of the Bloud in humane Bodies should be corrupted When even in fenny places ponds c. we observe sometimes green sometimes black sometimes red water is either gathered or corrupted but most frequently Marshes and the woody parts of Houses lying under the Penthouse or Eaves of the House or the plastered Walls between grow green because of the Rain abounding with the volatile Salt of grass and herbs got out by the heat of the Sun and the like reason may be given for other corrupt Waters For they are variously tinged with the volatile Salt of the Earth which must not be denied it but then corrupted by the heat of the Sun in Marshy places and they as it were counterfeit and falsly represent rust of Iron Bole Armenick Ochre May not therefore likewise that most vitious and corrupt bloud in the live Body of People sick of Malignant fevers appear livid and having lost its rosie colour of necessity most filthily mar the beauty of the Skin in the outside of the hands and feet When therefore the bloud or the mass of bloud grows tough in the foresaid manner so that the Circulation of the Bloud does I will not say wholly cease but is in part hindred two Phaenomena appear either the parts mentioned are siezed with an occult Gangrene and therefore they are scarcely recovered whose extreme parts are seized first with a manifest and pertinacious Heat and by and by are very red black and blew all which things have their latitude and degrees and when these things are over the sick are not so violently burnt as before or they do not perceive themselves so but the heat falsly abates and appears more gentle the Pulse also is apparently better but falsly because the bloud is tougher and flower to motion and Death is at the door Or a strange colour which is momentany easily vanishing and fading appears in the extreme parts of them that are sick of a Malignant fever But I divine that this portends that corruption of the bloud is in making or will shortly be which is analogous or like to the gangrenous Ichor but that the Salt rendred in some measure fixt in the Mass of bloud and especially in the said places most remote from the heart may be made volatile again by Alexipharmacks that is prepared Hartshorn especially and also shavings of crude Hartshorn shavings of Greenland Unicorn volatile Salt of Hartshorn Salt of Vipers Urine Ash Amber and the like Wherefore the famous Rulandus who was ignorant indeed of the Circulation of the bloud yet nevertheless in the Hungarian Plague highly commends Chymical Salts affirming that they doe as much as any other Medicines towards the expulsion of its latent fomes and saying How much soever you endeavour to assuage the Symptoms or to strengthen or refresh the Body you labour but in vain the fountain still remaining Nature therefore being strengthened by the help of these Alexipharmacks and volatile Salts discharges that partly fixed Salt in the mass of bloud being now made volatile by the Arteries into the Veins whereupon there appears not any one remarkable broad spot but many and innumerable appear fresh when the circulation of the bloud is restored plentifull sweat all the Body
them that are of a gross habit of Body and this affrighted me as much from the repetition of it I used frequent purging instead of bloudletting which is well enough substituted in them that have an abhorrence of large and repeated bleeding Therefore I proceeded thus I ordered him to be bled in the Arm as he lay in Bed and I would not suffer him to rise for two or three hours seeing all taking away of bloud which in some measure spoils and destroys the whole compages of the Body may by this means more easily be endured so that a Patient can bear it better if ten ounces be taken from him in Bed than if he lost but six or seven after he is risen The next day in the morning I give him the following Potion Take of Cassia extracted 1 ounce Liquorish 2 drachms fat figs No. 3. Leaves of Senna 2 drachms and an half trochiscated Agarick 1 drachm Boil them in a sufficient quantity of water In 4 ounces of the Colature dissolve of Manna 1 ounce Syrup of Roses solutive half an ounce The day after I use to let Bloud a second time and one day intermitted I order the Cathartick Potion now prescribed to be given again and so to be repeated by-turns till the Patient perfectly recover Those days he does not purge I advise him to use the pectoral Decoction Oil of sweet Almonds and such things In the mean time I keep my Patient from Flesh and Broth thereof and especially from all Spirituous Liquours whatever instead whereof I allow him Ptisane of Barley and Liquorish and small Beer also if he desire it for his ordinary drink And this indeed was the way to conquer this bastard Pleurisie which arose from a pituitous matter gathered in the Bloud through Analogy with Winter and discharged into the Lungs wherein not onely repeated Bleeding but Purging also was indicated otherwise than in a true Peripneumony which I judge is clearly of the same nature with the Pleurisie and differs from it onely in this that a Peripneumony affects the Lungs more generally Moreover we cure both Diseases by a Method perfectly alike that is by Bleeding above all other things and by cooling Medicines This bastard Peripneumony though it be a little like a dry Asthma both as to difficulty of breathing and other Symptoms also yet it may well enough be known from an Asthma because in the Peripneumony manifest signs of a Fever and Inflammation shew themselves which never appear in an Asthma although they be less by much Sydenham and more obscure in this sort than in a true Peripneumony Febris Pestilens Pestis or A Pestilential Fever the Plague The Contents Wherein the Essence of the Plague consists I II. Whether the Plague ought to be methodically cured by Bleeding Purging c III. Whether Bleeding be proper in the cure IV. Whether Bleeding be good for preservation from the Plague V. What Vein must be opened in the cure VI. It must be cautiously used in hot Countries and omitted in cold ones VII When there is a Bubo a Vein must not be opened VIII Whether we may Purge IX X. We may purge in a Bubo XI Purges in the Plague must be gentle XII When they that are sick of the Plague must be Purged XIII Whether a Vomit be proper XIV The benefit and condition of Evacuaters XV. In private Pestilential fevers violent hot expulsive Medicines are hurtfull XVI For whom hot Chimical Medicines are hurtfull XVII The Western Bezoar-Stone should be preferred before the Eastern XVIII Whether Bole Armenick be good in the Plague XIX When Treacle may be given XX. Whether the use of Spirit of Vitriol be safe XXI A true and proper Antidote is not yet found XXII We must not trust to one Alexipharmack XXIII Hidroticks must be added to cooling Juleps XXIV The way of wiping off the Sweat and the Regiment when a Hidrotick is given XXV Hidroticks must be given frequently XXVI Cordials which ought to be Acid must be varied XXVII The efficacy of Acids in its prevention and cure XXVIII Whether Garlick may be admitted for prevention XXIX Camphire must be used with caution XXX Spices are pernicious in the preservation XXXI The efficacy of Narcoticks and the way of giving them XXXII A preservatory method for a Physician that visits people infected with the Plague XXXIII Although the Symptoms abate the Patient is not out of danger XXXIV The benefit of Cauteries in preservation XXXV At what time they must be put in use XXXVI The excellent use of Salt and Salt things in the preservation and cure XXXVII Salt fish is good XXXVIII The Diet. XXXIX XL. Whether Wine may be given in a Pestilential fever XLI A Suppository is to be preferred before a Clyster if the body be costive XLII The restitution of the lost appetite with what and when it must be procured XLIII We must provide for our safety by flying cautiously XLIV The habit of a Physician in the Plague-time XLV What such the lodging of the infected person should be XLVI Sydcnham's way of curing the Plague XLVII Whether Narcoticks be good for watching and Head-ach XLVIII In a Loosness we must abstain from Acids XLIX Sylvius his method of curing the Plague L. The cure of the Plague is performed with very few remedies LI. Vomits may be mixt with Hidroticks and these with Acids LII A pestilential fever requires a cure contrary to other Fevers LIII They that have Swellings arise without any other Symptome no Physick is requisite for them LIV. I. AS for what concerns the Essence of the Disease I do not undertake exactly to define it But because the rise of all similar Diseases is usually derived from some fault of either the first or second qualities which is as far as we can go in this obscurity of things I almost think that the Plague is a peculiar kind of Fever which has its original from the Inflammation of the more spirituous particles of the Bloud because in their tenuity they seem most proportionate and adequate to its most subtile nature Which if it be in the highest subtilty whereof it is capable as in the beginning and state of the Epidemick constitution it suddenly and before one is aware dissipates the innate heat and destroys the Patient The dead Bodies in the mean time of those that die so suddenly of the violence of this disease are all over beset with purple spots because the fibres of the Bloud are broken by the violence of the intestine conflict and its frame wholly dissolved And this Tragedy is acted by the extreme subtilty of this flame even without any febrile ebullition of the bloud or any precedent sense of other sickness Otherwise than for the most part it happens where the morbifick cause is not so subtile and does as it were strike at life with a blunter weapon But such sudden death seldom occurs For as in other Fevers cold and shaking for the most part invades Men and heat
does not therefore follow that they come from infection Although when the season is truly pestilential and there are Seminaries in the Air all Diseases contract malignity Crato XVII I observed in the Pest at Berne which was abroad anno 1629. that Essences Waters Elixirs and very hot Medicines of false Chymists did harm to many if not all that it was my fortune to see and did but very few good For by them the bodies of our People who feed on flesh fare high and live idly and therefore are either plethorick or cacochymick were rendred very fit to receive the poison Fabr. Hildanus XVIII I have several times experienced Bezoar stone to be most excellent both in my self and other sick people It is two fold Oriental and Occidental That is preferred if it were genuine for it is usually so artificially adulterated that the cheat can scarce be known Wherefore I am more willing to use the Occidental because it cannot so easily be adulterated as the Oriental For seeing it consists of many shells or scales I cannot see how Art can easily imitate Nature When I and my Wife were last Summer taken with the Plague I used the Occidental with good success Idem XIX It is questioned whether Bole Armenick be good for the Plague If we had Galen's Bole which he so highly commends for drying without astriction I should count nothing better But this of ours which all Learned men do now agree is red Ochre dries with Astriction Wherefore lest a dangerous Errour should be committed I think it best to abstain Montanus consult 116. We may instead of it use burnt Hart's-horn c. XX. I say Treacle is very convenient with this distinction The Pestilential fever either offends more in a manifest quality I mean in Heat than in an occult that is a poisonous one It is indicated by great Thirst a dry rough and black Tongue Heat sometimes apparent to the Touch for these Fevers are often gentle to the Touch then I use to deny Treacle Or it afflicts the sick more with a poisonous than a hot vapour which may be discerned by the absence of the foresaid Symptoms and the presence of some Symptoms which savour of Poison Then I give Treacle with great success Or thirdly the poisonous and hot qualities are equally joined which I know when the accidents savour of Heat and Poison alike and then I prescribe Treacle but corrected with Conserve of Roses Violets the acid of Citron c. What I have said of Treacle Claudinus Respons 4. I would have the same understood of Mithridate ¶ In that many mix Treacle with Frankincense I cannot commend them because the Head is often oppressed therefore the matter must be diverted from that part Crato XXI The use of Spirit of Vitriol is rejected by Johannes Baptista Sylvaticus first because Vitriol according to Galen and Dioscorides is of a corroding and sceptick quality but such a Medicine is not safe in a pernicious Disease I answer That all things are not competible to the Spirit which are so to the Vitriol All that is drawn from a thing does not retain the nature of the primigenial substance therefore it cannot possess the same qualities Many parts of the Vitriol are separated from the spirit in preparation The Spirit alone has a corroding quality but not when mixt with other things this is common to it with Vinegar Juice of Lemons c. Mineral Waters have their virtue from Vitriol yet they are beneficially drunk Secondly The frequent use of them is suspected which is otherwise necessary to conquer so great a Disease I answer There is no danger if it be mixt with convenient liquours Thirdly It will create Nature a Trouble and divert her from her work because it is an efficacious Medicine in a small quantity I answer It will hinder no more than the Physician while he resists the Cacochymie with Medicines Fourthly Physicians say It is exceeding hot I answer The Heat is corrected when its Atoms are separated by the mixture with another liquour in such a proportion that an hundred Atoms of Water are intermixt with ten or twelve of Spirit Fifthly Galen 10. Method suspects the use of Vitriolate waters in Putrid fevers because applied to the Skin they cause an Astriction of the Pores and impart Heat to the Body I answer he rejects their external use because Transpiration is hindred by them Sixthly There are other safer Medicines which resist Putrefaction I answer it is a safe Medicine taken in a just measure and with judgment There are infinite Witnesses of its benefit few say it does harm It is not yet made appear that there are safer Medicines Seventhly The excessive Astriction which is found in the Vitriol is found also in the Oil but Astringents are hurtfull in Fevers I answer It is not so great as to doe â—urt there seems rather none to be in it But all Acids do not bind but attenuate deterge and open obstructions However grant it do bind there is no danger from thence because the attenuating cutting and deobstructive parts prevail Eighthly although it resist Putrefaction open Obstructions and cause plentifull Sweat yet it is not proper in Pestilential fevers because it acts not safely seeing by its Acrimony it increases the Fever and does violence to Nature I answer I deny a noxious sudorifick virtue joined with its heat and attenuative virtue it is not used as an Hydrotick but as a Resister of Putrefaction nor does it hurt in heat if it be well diluted Ninthly the Mine is uncertain from whence the Spirit should be drawn and Chymists do not agree which they ought to chuse I answer They do agree that the Goslarian is proper but that the factitious which is made of Mars or Venus is more noble and that the Hungarian is most noble Tenthly there is a disagreement among them about its form some call it Oil others Spirit and others Water or Phlegm I answer This distinction is known to skilfull Spagyrists The Oil is for the most part thicker nor need any danger here be feared Eleventhly the preparation renders it a dubious Medicine for it is either drawn without addition or it has something mixt with it so that we know not whence the effect comes I answer Rolfinâ—â—ius l. de Sebr c. ult It makes no matter whether it be subjected to Vulcan's trial with other things or alone XXII He that contends there is no Alexiterium for a pestilential poison overthrows the Principles of natural Philosophy from which it is evident that all things are made of contraries by contraries and that the vicissitude and instability of humane matters does depend on the repugnance and disagreement of principles Since therefore the peculiar Remedy for the Plague and the proper Alexiterick of the poisonous Bane does yet lye hid in Nature's Womb we must of necessity flye to the common Alexitericks for Poisons and to Cordials Palmarius XXIII Although
those of his own Tribe Medicines especially made use of by Eminent Physicians in various Fevers and Agues In Fevers properly so called 1. OIL of Antimony is good almost for all Fevers Agricola ¶ And Spirit of Sal Ammoniack 2. This is a most excellent food in a Colliquative Fever Take the finest flower of Spelt put it in an earthen Vessel with which and Sugar make a stratum super stratum till the Vessel be full The proportion must be 4 ounces of Sugar to a pound of Flower Bake this in an Oven till it be dry Take 3 ounces of this meal mix it with broth of flesh and a fourth part Rose-water and white Saunders half a drachm Augenius Make a Ptisan Of which let the Patient take as often as he pleases 3. Take a piece of Cyprian Vitriol infuse it in 5 pounds of water drink 6 ounces of this blew water every morning for 6 days Borellus if the Patient vomit he will be cured within ten days 4. The Sengreen called Vermicularis bruised with Vinegar and Barley-flower and applied to the right hypochondrium in a Fever that is not excessive burning does much good Believe the experienced ¶ If the Fever be not very burning make two bags of Barley flower as big as ones back and apply one to the whole back Crato when it grows hot expose it to the Air and apply the other 5. Oil Salt or Magistery of Mother of Pearl first made with distilled Vinegar or precipitated with Spirit of Vitriol is an excellent Sudorifick and Antifebrile if it be mixt with Essence of Antimony Crugner made of Antimonium Diaphoreticum I call it Mixtura Antifebrilis Diaphoretica 6. Butter of Pearl is a stupendous and very effectual remedy for the cure of a Hectick Faber 7. Take clear Aloes the best Myrrh and the best Saffron each 1 ounce and an half Let the two former be powdered fine Put them in a capacious and strong Glass seal it by melting the neck of the Glass distill it in a moderate heat lest the Glass break till you see the whole mass concrete at the bottom and the clear Oil to circulate with the water on the sides of the Glass then open the neck of the Glass and pour in some Cinamon Water and distill them in wet Sand Van Helmont upon which scalding water must gradually be poured till nothing more will come over the Alimbeck and with this Medicine I have cured both Quartans and Continual Fevers 8. It is found by experience that Burnet infused in warm Water presently cures a continual Fever ¶ Water distilled off Water Melon is a great Medicine with some for it presently quenches the heat of the bloud ¶ The water of Gourd is excellent in burning Fevers A fresh Gourd is coated with fresh Paste it is baked in a hot Oven with bread and the water which is found within it is kept or a whole Gourd is cut in pieces put in a new earthen Pot is baked and strained out Heurnius and a little Sugar is added 9. In burning Fevers Bezoardicum Solare Martiale Lunare Joviale or Antihecticum Poterii are very good to stop the ebullition of the bloud Hofmannus and they are good in periodical continual Fevers 10. This is a certain experiment in burning Fevers Take Speedwell Mousear each half an ounce Make a Powder infuse it in Wine Kornthaverus let it stand a Month. Let him drink often of it it expells heat and cures any Fever 11. Nitrum Vitriolatum that is the coagulated Spirit of Vitriol is good in all Fevers Mynsiâ—ht 12. Take of Spirit of Vitriol Urine each one pound Mix them distill them by retort and a Crystalline Butter will ascend Of which give one scruple mixt with 3 ounces of water or phlegm of Vitriol to the sick party It is so excellent a Medicine that it has saved many mens lives Poppius for it extinguishes the internal preternatural heat 13. Sal Prunellae from half a scruple to half a drachm is an excellent alterative and much exceeds others if it be dissolved in Carduus Benedictus water and drunk it cools powerfully and quenches thirst ¶ Acidum Tartari Aluminatum has a secret virtue in opening obstructions Rolsinccius and especially in curing Tertian agues 14. Take of choice Manna as much as you please distill it by a Cucurbit with a gentle fire you will have an insipid Spirit Schroderus an excellent Sudorifick in all Fevers 15. The Water or Phlegm of Alume is much esteemed by some in all sorts of Fevers where if it were mixt with its Spirit it is like Angelus Sala it would be more effectual 16. Take of Mucilage of Quince seeds Fleawort seeds Oil of Violets fresh butter washt each 1 ounce white Wax what is sufficient anoint the Spina dorsi Ben. Vict. Faventinus It is admirable good in Fevers of such persons as cannot take Medicines In a Malignant Spotted Pestilential Fever and the Plague 1. In the Plague and after taking of Poison the Essence of Antimony is very good ¶ Mercurius vitae fixatus is very good in Pestilential Fevers ¶ Also the flowers of Antimonium diaphoreticum are an excellent remedy in Pestilential Fevers ¶ An excellent Bezoardick Vinegar Take of the root of the greater Fern Butter-bur Angelica Tormentil Elecampane each 1 ounce Powder of Serpents red Myrrh shavings of Harts-horn each 1 ounce flowers of Marigold Tunica each 2 pugils seeds of Sorrel Citron Carduus Benedictus each 1 drachm and an half Saffron 1 drachm Terra Sigillata Venice Treacle each 1 ounce and an half The best Vinegar 4 pounds Mix them set them in the Sun You will make a Vinegar than which nothing is more effectual 1 spoonfull whereof taken in the morning will preserve you safe from the Plague that day ¶ Vinegar of Antimony The dose 1 scruple that day you take it it preserves you from the Plague ¶ Spirit of Nitre is of great use in Malignant Fevers ¶ This diaphoretick mixture is of great efficacy in Malignant Fevers Take of Spirit of Terra Sigillata 1 drachm Tartar half a drachm Treacle 1 drachm Magistery of Coral J. Agricola Pearl each half a scruple Water of Carduus Benedictus Citron each half an ounce Mix them Make a draught for 2 doses 2. Our Country people in the Plague time defended themselves onely with Vinegar of Marigolds and they escaped without danger Bartholinus 3. A certain Man cured several of the Plague onely by applying a piece of the Monocerot's horn and with an infusion of it in common water for their ordinary drink and he gave this for prevention for they that used such water Bo elius were not infected with the Plague 4. Some say who have tried it that if in the beginning of a Pestilential fever one drink 2 or three ounces of Juice of Marigold Champegius and cover himself with Clothes he will
scruple leaves of Gold and Silver each N o 3. Make a Powder The Dose in preservation 1 drachm Forestus in the cure 4 Scruples 13. This is an excellent preservative against the Plague Take of Sugar-Candy powdered 4 ounces imbibe it with dulcified Spirit of Salt which is thus made Take Spirit of Salt and Spirit of Wine each equal parts sublime them three or four times by a retort and they will unite inseparably and grow sweet to the form of an Electuary of which take one drachm in the morning fasting Gockelius it will keep off all Putrefaction 14. In a Malignant Fever this is a great secret Nitre steeped in Vinegar of Roses and Juice of Prick-madame applied to the Pulses asswages heat and pain Hayne 15. Heinisius his Pestilential Oil which is made of rectified Oil of Amber Frid. Hof mannus Citron and Camphire the dose from five drops to half a scruple does wonders in Pestilential Fevers 16. I have observed that Bezoardâ—cum minerale is not onely of use in Malignant and Spotted Fevers and the Pleurisie Horstius but is also a present remedy in the Plague Neukrantz 17. Contrayerva-Root is a most excellent Sudorifick in Spotted Fevers 18. Take the Rinds and Seeds of Twelve Lemons Juice of Scordium three pounds Juice of Sorrel Galangal Scabious Carduus benedictus each 1 pound shavings of Hartshorn four ounces old Treacle 6 ounces being cut and bruised mix them together distill them in Balneo The dose 1 ounce by it self or mixt with other Liquours Riverius 19. The Volatile Salt of Hartshorn has an excellent diaphoretick virtue in burning Malignant and Pestilential Fevers Rolfinccius 20. A Liquour against the Plague Take of the burning Spirit of Juniper-berries 8 ounces rectified Spirit of Tartar Spirit of Stag's bloud each four ounces Spirit of Vitriol 20 drops Cinamon Angelica Myrrhe each half an ounce Laudanum opiatum 2 drachms infuse them in Balneo for twenty hours then let the thin be poured off the thick by inclination and keep it This liquour wonderfully resists the Plague and other sorts of Poisons The dose from 15 drops to 20. 21. This Powder is highly commended for cleansing infected houses yea and for preserving them from the Plague if it be used for a fume morning and evening Seâ—nertus Take of Juniper-berries four handfulls Rue Elecampane-root outer rind of Birch Savine Goats-horn rasped each two handfulls leaves of Oak Myrrhe each 1 ounce Mix them Make a powder ¶ I have formerly given this powder in the Plague with good success Take of Bezoar-stone twelve grains Bone of a Stag's heart 1 scruple prepared Emerald prepared Jacinth each 7 grains Make a Powder for two doses in some convenient water Idem 22. They say that Scabious with Nitre and fresh Hog's lard Virdo is a divine remedy to discuss a pestilential Carbuncle 23. The Air must be corrected with a fume of Ram's or Goat's-horn for there is a great and a peculiar safeguard in this and it defends ones clothes ¶ The Place where people sick of the Plague have lain and are taken out is cleansed from the contagion by nothing better than crude Sulphur if it be burnt in the room close shut and the fume be kept in some time and then the Windows set open Weikardus to let it out In Tertian Agues and Quotidians 1. This hath been experienced in Tertian Agues Take of Juice of Gentian condensated 1 drachm or of the liquid 1 drachm and an half Chicken broth 3 ounces Spec. Diarrhodon Abbatis and Aromat Rosat each 1 Scruple Augenius Drink it 2. For Tertians Take a draught of the best White-wine boil it half away and then drink it it will cause one to Vomit much Water I have cured many so Borellus 3. This is experienced for a Bastard-Tertian Take Spiders Webs cleansed mix them with Vnguentum Populeon and make them into six Pills two of which must be applied to the Pulses of the Temples two to the Pulses of the Arms Claudinus and two to the Pulses of the Feet laying Vine-leaves upon them and binding them on three hours before the Fit 4. One may very well purge on the Fit-day I have often tried it and in most the event always answered In Tertians I doe this after the third or fourth Fit in Quotidians later Crato 5. Chamaemil-water drawn off the Juice is an excellent remedy for long and pertinacious Agues if one ounce be given in the morning fasting for two or three days I have often experienced it Rod. à Fonseca 6. I have not found a better remedy as well for preservation as cure of Tertian Agues than Oxysaccharum simplex which resists putrefaction because of the Vinegar and Juice of Pomegranate or Syrup of Lemons For by taking some of it every day I preserved my self from an Ague and others have cured themselves of Agues by it ¶ I have found by long experience that Carduus benedictus is good in a Quotidian Ague Forestus though most use it amiss in all Fevers 7. Juice of Water-Cresses Vinegar Kornthaveruâ— each what is sufficient with a little Salt Give two or three Spoonfulls before the Fit in all Agues 8. The fixt Salt of Wormwood becomes a more generous Medicine if when it is dissolved in Cichory Water as much Sal Prunellae be added and then they be coagulated together according to Art Half a drachm or a drachm-weight given them that are sick of a Tertian in warm Beer sweetned with a little Sugar to make them sweat stoutly is a Medicine much to be preferred before the Antifebrile Crollii made of Shells In Quartane Agues 1. Spirit of Sal Ammoniack is an excellent Secret in a Quartane Ague The dose is from 5 drops to 10 in Cichory-water 2. Agricola The powder of a Man's Skull given in drink to one when he knows not of it has been experienced to cure Quartane Agues 3. Sal Ammoniack seven times sublimed Benedictuâ— and made quite spiritual taken in a draught of Wine or Beer warm let him Sweat 8 days in the morning This is excellent good for Quartans De Bry. 4. This is an experiment against a Quartane Take of Seed of St. John's-wort 2 drachms Ashes of Man's Skull 1 drachm Mix them for 3 doses 3 hours before dinner Crato 5. Some reckon this for a great secret They take 2 drachms of Leaves of Betony powdered in an Egg four hours before the Fit and they repeat it three or four times on other days And certainly it is admirable good in an inveterate Quartane 6. After Universals Rod. à Fonseca I anoint the Chine with Oil of Chamaemil and Dill each alike mixt and hot beginning at the Neck down to the Buttocks and after anointing I wrap him in warm Linen and when I have done this thrice not onely the cold Fit but the Ague ceased Forestus 7. A scruple
or half a drachm of crude Alume in the water or decoction of lesser Centaury if it be given 5 hours before the Fit and Sweat if possible provoked Grulingius I cannot sufficiently commend it in a Quartane 8. I use to drive away Quartane Agues with a Plaster of a few dissolving and abstersive things Van Helmont and it never failed me 9. In a Quartane Ague the following Plaster was the Secret of the Prince of Anhalt which sometimes so extracts the febrile Infection that now and then it raises blisters Take of Pepper Salt Saffron Garlick which is covered with earth of each alike what is sufficient Beat them in a Mortar to the form of a Cataplasm put a little in a Rag and apply it to the out-side of the Ring-finger of the left hand take it off the same hour it is applied and repeat it before the Fit Hertod 10. Flowers of Sal Ammoniack are excellent in a Quartane ¶ Roots of crude Asarum though crude they provoke Vomit with great perturbation yet boiled in Water and not in Wine they are changed into a deoppilative Diuretick which the Spiciness that lies in it does shew D. Oheimius fled to this as to his last refuge in tedious Fevers depending on inveterate Obstructions of the Hypochondria Hofmannus 11. Against a Quartane as a famous thing I recommend distilled Oil of Pepper 4 drops given with extract of Gentian Also Flowers of Sal Ammoniack or the Salt thrice sublimed with extract of Spleenwort or lesser Centaury Also Spirit of Nitre prepared with Sulphur Also Spirit of Vitriol of Mars and Venus given in Gentian or Treacle-water And outwardly I must highly commend Sage Christ Langius Rue and Shepherds-purse with Vinegar applied to the Pulses 12. I was in fear of the Fourth Fit of a Quartane and before it came I drank a little Spirit of Wine or Aqua vitae sweetned with Sugar and I saw no Fit but had an end of my Ague to my great joy Lotichius 13. One that was ill of a double Quartane was cured with 3 doses of an infusion of Senna in Aqua Riverii febrifuga which is nothing else but Spring-water with Salt of Tartar whose wonderfull effects we experience continually in all long Fevers and in diseases coming from Obstructions ¶ Extract of Germander with Salt of Tamarisk made into Pills Riverius is commended as a most excellent Medicine for a Quartane 14. I have often tried the following Medicine with success Take of Leaves of Elder Sage Dovesfoot Rue each half an handfull Marigold 2 handfulls Salt and Wine alike a third part Beat them together Rondeletius apply it to the Wrists before the Fit Remove them when there is occasion 15. I can say from my own experience that if Seed of St. John's wort be bruised Varignana and given in Wine before the Fit it does much good Fistula or A narrow and long Vlcer The Contents The cause of its pertinacy I. A palliative Cure sometimes lawfull II. The cure of them must not always be undertaken III. All do not admit of a Cure IV. The force of a hot and dry Air in curing of them V. Vnder the Armpit cured with actual fire VI. One in the Breast with a decay of the Os sternum must not be cured by burning this bone VII One with an erosion of the Collar-bone cured VIII One cured by eating things IX Fallopius his Syrup efficacious in the cure X. It must not be filled with Hellebore XI One in the nether Jaw cured by drawing of a Tooth XII One in the right Pap eaten out XIII When one in Ano requires a palliative cure XIV Whether the cure by a Thread be safe XV. Fistulae of long standing in old Men must not be cured XVI The consumption of the callus by Medicines without actual fire XVII Medicines I. THe Daughter of N. after a grievous pain in her Loins fell into a troublesome Fistula in her Groin which by continual running wasted her body so that in a short time she departed this life The cutting of her up shewed an evident Caries in a bastard-rib which continually sent out a sharp ichor into the flesh below which being eroded there came a long and anfractuous Fistula which was beyond the Skill of Medicine You may see the defect of the same Art in Fistula's of the Anus whose beginning sometimes runs very high either to the Loins or the Vertebrae of the Breast or sometimes to the Shoulders whose inaccessible Caries the tortuous winding of the fistula does hinder from being searched with a probe which also hinders injections designed to cleanse the Ulcer and does exclude the Hand which might take out the vitiated Bone Which nevertheless not being timely taken away the Patient dies before his time and the fistula deriving its original from a remote Caries does obstinately resist the Physicians cure Whose lips though you clip open and ampliate which yet is very good in cutaneous fistula's nevertheless you will lose your labour and you can never come to the farthest end of these sinuous windings from whence so many branches and so frequent rivulets descend by muscles and tendons which lie deep that though a Probe be never so dextrously put into such a tortuous fistula Tulpius obs 28. l. 3. yet it can never reach or remove the Caries that is the cause of a continual fistula II. The cure of fistula's is two-fold one fictitious false and palliative the other true Of the Palliative Galen makes mention lib. de Tum p. n. c. 4. and Avicenna 4. 4. tr 4. c. 2. When the fistula is dried up within and healed on the outside a sinus or hollow place remaining within which is performed by putting drying Medicines into it by keeping a good Diet and by purging of the superfluous humours By this means the Sinus is closed for a time the orifice healing up But afterwards when any moisture is gathered in it an Abscess is formed again and the fistula returns I do not deny I sometimes use this false cure for the Patient's consolation For having purged the body and ordered a spare diet I leave off Tents which I had a long time put in such incurable fistula's and apply a new Sponge wet in some Mineral water and wrung-out or in some lixivium or Lime-water By this means the whole was closed outwardly so that the fistula seemed to be cured the Patients being dismissed This sort of cure sometimes wanted success sometimes not for the integrity and soundness of the Skin conduces much to the cure of external Diseases because the natural Heat expires by the Aperture and the natural functions of the part are not performed But when the orifice is stopt the natural heat is kept in then it performs aright the work of concoction it digests and discusses excrements Aquapeâ—dens so that sometimes the sinus fills up which it would not have done if the fistula had
them is suspected XXIV Styptick water put into the Nostril not so effectual as Powders XXV How far the virtue of it reaches XXVI A Medicine put into the Nostrils that stops it in a moment XXVII Stopt by immersion of the whole body in cold water XXVIII By constant drinking of Wine XXIX After Swooning XXX By a Fright XXXI By compressing the interstice of the Nostrils XXXII By antispasmodicks XXXIII Stopt by Colcothar XXXIV By pressing it with the Finger XXXV By a Causâ—â—ck XXXVI A Secret to stop Bloud XXXVII Remedies confirmed by Experience XXXVIII The use of chalybeate Waters XXXIX A scorbutick Bleeding stopt with Spirit of Vitriol XL. Comfrey root mixt with some other things loses its glutinous virtue XLI The virtue of Laudanum Opiatum XLII Narcoticks are dangerous XLIII For what sort Ischaimous Medicines are most proper XLIV Whether stopping of the Nose be commendable XLV The way to stop Bloud when it comes from the Arteries XLVI XLVII What way Bloud following the amputation of a Limb may be stopt XLVIII Not always stopt then with a red hot Iron XLIX Prevention by letting of bloud and purging L. Whether the Patient must be kept in bed or up LI. Medicines I. THERE is a twofold Consultation first Whether Bloud ought to be stopt which is the most difficult The second How For all Bleeding ought not to be stopt but some must be stopt and some must be helped some must onely be let alone because some is very wholsome some pernicious Certainly if one bleed after a blow or a fall there is no danger in stopping the bloud Wherefore we may use Astringents and moderate Coolers Unless it happen that a Man is full for then bloud must be let or we must suffer it to run in some measure When the bloud runs onely by reason of abundance you have no reason to stop it for by letting it run the abundance is abated when that is abated the Bleeding stops of it self unless in the mean time some great Vein be broken for then there will be need of an Emplastick and Astringent such as Galen's Medicine which is one of the best When the Bleeding is because of some malignant quality either alone or with abundance then the Physician is at a stand because the case is either way dangerous for if it be not stopt by reason of the impotency of the retentive faculty which the Irritation causes it runs to faintness especially seeing he that is very cacochymick cannot bear any large evacuation and quickly faints If it be stopt because the malignant bloud cannot rest quiet in any place it falls violently upon some inner part which happens to be weakest as it fared with an old Man who after he had bled abundance of thin bloud for he looked very greenish in the face and the bloud was stopt by proper means died of a Pleurisie Therefore what must be done in so doubtfull a case Surely what Hippocrates 6. Epidem sect 3. advises When you have let it alone a little you must incrassate drily and about the part you must use a white and dry thing it may be Galls and Alume in Powder He says you must let it alone a little that is we must not presently stop it but let it run a little Certainly for what cause soever even an external one the Bleeding begins it must be permitted a little before you stop it For Bloud-letting is good not onely for a Plethory but a little for a Cacochymie a Blow and a Fall and we are willing to have the bloud run a little in any green Wound But as in Cacochymies bloud must be let sparingly because they have not wherewithall to support it so also spontaneous Bleeding must be let alone a little If therefore you see one bleed where signs of a Plethora are let him alone till the Bleeding stop of it self though the Man should faint But if a Man bleed who looks pale and green or pale or pale and black have a care you let him not bleed much or till he faint for it is very dangerous for such Men to faint But if you suffer it not to run much how will you hinder it from falling upon some part Surely by Incrassating drily Which I explain thus It happens that People are in danger two ways by abundant Bleeding and by a slow and small Bleeding For I knew a Woman who continually bled drops of bloud for above six months and while she tarried so long a time for help but sound no benefit by all the Physicians did she died We must therefore cure them both in the same method those that bleed much and that bleed little except what the different indications do require And one difference of indications here is that which is common to all other Diseases that quick Diseases must be quickly cured and others more slowly Beside this there is another difference in the manner of Cure For where the bloud comes by little and little I can by no means think it must be let alone to run by little and little but rather that that bloud should be taken from the Arm or Leg as other things do indicate by opening a Vein which would have come away had you let it alone because if you let it bleed slowly and let it alone a long time the Man will be more hurt by his custome of Bleeding than he will receive good by Evacuation of what is redundant And in this first Rule Hippocrates seems to treat of Bleeding fast But what follows But in others you must not incrassate so much but you must use a dry white Medicine such as Galls and Alume may be understood of both Bleedings For in both cases whether I say it bleed slow or fast when it is caused by a corrupt and thin bloud it is good to use things that thicken and make slow the motion of the bloud And because besides these things it is necessary to make application of things that stop we must reckon that Hippocrates in these last words understood local Medicines in the former things to be taken by the mouth Therefore he says you must incrassate drily that is use Medicines and Meats that dry and thicken And there are two sorts of things that doe this one by thickness of parts and astriction as Pap made of Starch and Lentils Syrup of Myrtles c. others make flow the motion of the bloud without thickness and astriction by giving it a certain thickness by accident by cooling or by cooling and drying the first we use for slow Bleeding the latter for sudden For in Bleeding fast it is too long to tarry for relief from eating Starch or Pears But then drinking of cold Water or a Decoction of Cinquefoil which I use very cold may do good Yet the taking of thick and astringent things does by little and little thicken the bloud and so may doe good in slow Bleeding But the use of such things seems hurtfull because it either causes
obstructions or increases preceding ones whence much damage may follow and it hinders Purging if it so happen that there be occasion for it afterwards Therefore as much as may be I avoid the use of such things Nor do I allow them to wounded persons nor to such as are troubled with Bleeding except such as bleed for no other cause but the thinness of bloud especially them whose bloud is corrupt In these unless there be manifest obstruction of the Bowels we must use thickning Diet and Medicines And the greatest share of such a Diet is to drink very little because driness thickens the bloud If there be a thinness of bloud without any manifest obstruction we may use thickning Meats and astringent and thickning both Meats and Medicines But if there be any obstruction it is better to use a dry Diet without thickning and cooling and dry Medicines And if any Bowel also labour of a cold intemperature we must abstain from all these things using onely a dry Diet as rosted flesh good and tender and little drink and if the caâ—e require it we must give Potions contrary to the aforesaid that is hot and thin ones that they may open But we must place all our hopes in other Remedies that is in Revulsions Frictions Ligatures Cupping-glasses and then in local Medicines I use to make a Powder of Gall Alume Flowers of Pomegranate wild and planted Comfrey and Mastick which I order to be blown into the Nostrils violently for it presently comes to pass Vallesius comm in eum locum by its mixture that the Bloud congeals and violently stops the Veins for the Bloud it self is fibrous and stopping II. S. a Clergy-man sanguine and lusty having been subject to bleed at his Nose from his youth fearing some mischief thereby when he was grown up for prevention he stopt it by hanging a certain Amulet about his Neck whereupon he was taken with an Apoplexy and twelve hours after he was dead Hildanus cent 3. obs 11. abundance of Bloud ran out at his Nose and Mouth III. It being presupposed that immoderate Bleeding comes either through some fault in the Moveable or Bloud or in the containing and conveighing Vessels we say that all Ischaimous Medicines respect the Bloud it self inwardly indeed inasmuch as they check Rarefaction and Ebullition either Precipitants earthy things of all sorts of Coral Bloud-stone Spodium c. Or tempering things that are watery and cooling as Water of Shepherd's purse Plantain Purslain Water-lily Frog-spawn Phlegm of Alume c. Or coagulating and congealing Acids as Tincture of Roses Violets and acid Spirits Thus I have cured some scorbutick persons who were frequently taken with Bleeding at the Nose onely with Spirit of Vitriol joined with the Tincture of Violets For Acids obtund and invert the volatile and too moveable particles and do as it were fix concentre and hinder them from overflowing And things that incrassate and astringe the ichorescent Bloud inasmuch as it is too serous sharp and fluid wherefore we may partly hope for Remedy from strengthning and tonick things and partly from strong astringents and concentring things So in a manner all red Roots stop Bloud Tormentil Bistort Alkanna Heurnius his Powder is excellent for Spitting of bloud Take of Seed of white Henbane white Popy each 1 drachm Bloud-stone red Coral each half a drachm Campâ—ire half a Scruple Give half a drachm morning and evening sometimes he adds Terra Lemnia and with Conserve of Roses he makes an Electuary And fixing things the common Remedies of all Fluxions Wedelius de sâ—m sâ—ct p. 531. Laudanum opiatum c. IV. Both Revellents and things that cause a motion the contrary way are good outwardly So Venaesection is conveniently made in a contrary part So a dry Cupping-glass is set to the Nape of the Neck an Arcanum among the Moderns Ligatures are made in the extreme parts c. and cooling Repellents either actually such or potentially as Oxycrate S. Pauli Quadr. Botan p. 508. says that Starch and Bole-armenick mixt with the white of an Egg spread upon some combed flax of such a length that it may reach beyond the Coronal Suture to the root of the Nose if it be applied to the Vertex along the Sagittal Suture does upon his frequent experience stop Bleeding at the Nose A sudden Fright as it suddenly recalls the bloud from the circumference to the centre and a Leipothymie supervening stops bloud Sudden application of very cold Water Vinegar or Ice to the Nape of the Neck does the same And Astringents and Compriments as Bloud-stone and other things as well by actual cold as potential constriction from their Martial and earthy particles held in the Hand or under the Arm-pits I have known the Root of Cockle held a little while under the Tongue stop onely a slight Bleeding but not a violent one A piece of Money thrown into cold Water first and then tied hard to the Forehead to compress the Vessels and cool is good Idem V. Ischaimous Medicines that respect the passages and pores of the Vessels which being any way opened it is absolutely necessary that the bloud left to it self must run out Inwardly indeed they are the same which we have spoken of already Consolidants Astringents and Agglutinants Outwardly they are Compriments for though the compression of the opening it self may seem onely to give momentany relief which ceasing the Bleeding returns yet by this means the Lips being constantly prest Nature may attend healing wherefore it is a Remedy proper enough Thus the Wound of a bled Vein is stopt a whole day onely by the compression of a Spleniolus so the Bleeding of other Wounds is stopt onely with Binding if a Chirurgical hand can come at them An Example hereof Virulam has Histor Nat. cent 1. n. 66. in the Prince of Orange the orifice of whose Wound was stopt with Mens Thumbs for two days other things being in vain So some Haemorrhagies of the Arteries cannot be fully cured but onely by Compression And things that stop bloud upon which account the Fuz-ball is famous wherefore Van Horn Microtechn writes that if it be tough and soft and cut into slices and the slices be squeezed in a Press they are able sufficiently to stop any Haemorrhage especially if some stegnotick Powder be strewed on them One in Grulingius cent 1. cur 42. was cured by the Powder of Egshels wherein Chickens had been hatched And Astringents that are watry austere and sharp So pieces of a fungus growing on Birch stopt an external Haemorrhage to a Miracle according to Crollius and things that coagulate and reduce the Bloud as it were to a Crust for it is glutinous and another glutinous thing meeting with it as it comes out glues up the Vessels See an Example in Platerus Obs l. 3. p. 725. of a Malefactour who had his Hands cut off and the stumps immediately clapt into a Cock newly opened alive upon which the bloud wholly stopt
At length if Bleeding continue obstinately we must proceed to Escaroticks which by burning the extremities of the Veins do cause a crust and stop bloud Nevertheless much caution must be used about them because when the Eschar falls the Veins open again and so the Bleeding is usually removed And among such things burnt Vitriol has the principal place which besides that it makes an Eschar is most effectual to stop any Bleeding ¶ Causticks and Corrosives Riverius as Sublimate Arsenick Aqua fortis and Colcothar must not be commonly used both because they irritate the membranous edges of the Wound and also cause very violent Symptoms and so Death it self indeed in the beginning they close and bind the Veins by reason of their pontick styptick parts but then they shew their corrosion wherein they are prevalent and communicate it to the part Yet we must take notice that some of the gentler sort as Colcothar may be used and Aqua fortis sometimes yet then it must be more in the lesser Vessels and Openings than in the larger But we must not as some doe extend it to a red hot Iron Wedelius XXII Some things stop bloud as Vinegar and Spirit of Vitriol in bleeding at the mouth after opening a Vein c. So White Vitriol and Alume may for the same reason doe good for they have a constipating faculty also But we must not trust sharp things alone Idem XXIII If a powder or liquour must be put into the Nostrils let the Mouth be kept full of cold Water especially when the Medicine has a caustick virtue in it lest any of it might fall down through the Palate into the Mouth And the Patient must lie backwards with his head But if the Nostrils be stopt and the bloud run down the Gullet the Nostrils must be cleared and let him hold cold Water in his Mouth Sennertus XXIV The snuffing up of Roses and Myrtles is much suspected by me as all other powders should be avoided for fear of Sneezing in stead whereof the space between the Eye-brows should rather be anointed outwardly with Oil of Mars Fortis XXV Among Liquids a solution of Vitriol made in Spring-water is not onely chief but may serve for all the rest Some commend it for a great secret and a most certain stopper of bloud Indeed this same applied to a green wound inasmuch as by corrugation it closes up the extremities of the torn vessels powerfully stops the bleeding But this application in bleeding at the Nose where the bloud being brought to the Mouths of the Arteries should be received by the Veins inasmuch as it equally or rather more stops the Veins than the Arteries it often does little or no good as I have often found by experience But indeed seeing water put into the Nostril does not sufficiently stick to the Mouths of the Vessels but is washed off by the bloud as it comes out before it can exert its virtue therefore it is more expedient either to snuff up a Styptick powder or to thrust a tent dipt in Vitriolick Water or by it self or filled with some astringent powder to the root of the Nose I often use either Crocus Martis calcined very red or powder of Vitriol camphorate or the Vitriolick Soot scraped off the bottom of a Brass Kettle the dust whereof I have often tried with good success in this case Willis XXVI The use of that Styptick Liquour which a Frenchman three years ago carried all over Europe is at this day very well known We have reason indeed to commend the invention in wounds made by a cut but in a prick we find it not so beneficial Besides I have often found it useless in stopping of bleeding at the Nose that is where the sides of the wound can touch every where it is of value but that otherwise it is dull the following example does shew One was wounded in a Duel in the inside of his right-Arm a little above his Elbow The Sword had made a large and deep wound to the very Arm-pit having cut the Artery also The Chirurgeon dressed the wound till the eleventh day when all on a sudden the bloud burst out in such abundance that the Patient swooned Therefore he used the Styptick-water which being for several days now and then injected the bloud at length stopt but Convulsions followed his Arm swelled and he died the eighteenth day When his body was opened the Artery was then indeed found open but the passage which the Sword had made was stopt about the Artery with clots of bloud which the Styptick-water had made so that the bloud could not come out ¶ In the year 1677. Borrichius in the Month of December I saw it used for a bleeding at the Nose whereby the bloud stopt indeed but attended with terrible Symptoms A Maid 18 years old a Merchant's Daughter of Geneva by name Volaire fell into a continual Fever she had in 24 hours two Fits the second day she had a bilious Diarrhoea with bleeding at the Nose whereby she lost two pounds of bloud that day I was called the third day and in my presence two Pottingers were filled within an hours time each of which held nine ounces I order a Vein to be opened in the Arm glutinant things to be applied Linen clothes wet in posca to be laid round the neck c. When all things were in vain and the bloud ran full stream a Chirurgeon thrust a Cottontent wet in the foresaid Water into her Nostrils upon which indeed the bloud stopt but a violent Head-ach followed and a great dulness at the bottom of her Forehead and the Fever grew higher but after bleeding her in the Foot cupping and scarifying her in the back and loins bleeding her with Leeches in the forehead under the ears and in the temples the eleventh day the Fever Head-ach and oppression of her Lungs wherewith she had been troubled ceased Hence it is clear a haemorrhage may not rashly be stopt and rather by Repellents than Stypticks XXVII A tent made of the common broad flat ischaimous fungus put into the hollow of the Nostrils to the place of the wound stops all bleeding in a moment like an inchantment This singular administration must be observed a tent is made of it with this observation that the smooth part must be turned inward and the spongy dusty part outward a thread must be gently tied to the lower part and hang out a little thrust it into the Nostrils by degrees Rolfinccius cons 2. lib. 3. If respiration be hindred thereby then a Goose-quill may be put in the middle of the tent and so both ends are answered XXVIII A robust and plethorick young Man upon lying with his Wife in the heat of Dog days was taken with a violent bleeding at the Nose After having tried many things in vain since he was in danger from the heat of his bloud I ordered him to be dipt in a
which in this case there is not a better remedy Willis XL. Among other Symptoms that are produced by the hypochondriack Disease and the Scurvy frequent bleeding at the Nose is not the least A Scorbutick Man 55 years old being afflicted with various scorbutick Symptoms was at length taken with a great bleeding at his Nose which by often returning did very much weaken him all things were in vain that therefore the too fluid and sharp Serum of the bloud might be tempered and the separation of it from the rest of the bloud might be hindred I gave him Spirit of Vitriol mixt with Essence of Violets to moderate the acidity The business was immediately done and now the Disease has tarried away these two years Two other Hypochondriacks when one of them had every morning a rising of humours from his stomach and the other had a bleeding at the Nose at uncertain times found benefit by the same Medicine But in a double Quartane inclining to a Dropsie accompanied with bleeding at the Nose the bloud being ebullient in every new Paroxysm this Medicine proved not altogether so successfull nevertheless by little and little Wedelius Misc cur ann 72. obs 106. the bleeding at the Nose gave over Therefore praise is due to these Acids because they coagulate a Bloud too fluid and attenuate it when grumescent XLI I will here reveal to Candidates in Chirurgery a singular secret concerning Comfrey-root of which Tragus formerly made mention but very briefly namely the Root of Comfrey dried and powdered is dissolved in warm Spring-water and well shaken together till the water grow a little clammy with the viscousness of the Comfrey Which most simple Medicine skilfull Chirurgeons prefer before many other Compounds both for bleedings and fractures and dislocations But if with these powdered roots you mix the White of an Egg or Bole Armenick the mixture will grow grumous the Bole consuming or as it were imbibing S. Pauli the glutinous part of the Comfrey XLII Laudanum Opiatum is a most present remedy for bleeding as well inwardly to stop the ebullition as outwardly dissolved in some liquour and snuffed up the Nose I gave a Man that was ill of a Symptomatick bleeding in a malignant Fever 3 grains of it in conserve of Roses Horstius l. 10. obs 3. with good success XLIII Narcoticks in Bleeding must be used with great prudence and not but upon urgent necessity For they extinguish the innate heat and fix and congeal the spirits about the Membranes of the Brain whence comes an Apoplexy H. Petraeus Nosol Harmon p. 230. and an interception of the vessels and vital Spirit between the heart and the brain XLIV Ischaimous Medicines are most proper for a simple haemorrhage for acomplicate one secundum quid So they are proper in haemorrhagies of the Nose Wounds Arteries the Menses Haemorrhoids Spitting of Bloud making of Bloudy-water Dysentery c. But if any other special Disease be joined with it that limits the use of them and we must look to it principally So a Dysentery and a Bloudy-water after the Stone require a proper Medicine for themselves not absolutely things that stop bloud but with respect to the Stone and to other causes also which when they are answered by their proper remedies the bleeding it self is also stopt And besides it is evident they are not proper for any bleedings at all to any other end than when they primarily indicate astriction as for example Wedelius de S. M. fac p. 237. it would be a foolish thing in a Pleurisie or Spitting of Bloud to stop it The reason is the same in other cases XLV Hither also may be referred the violent stopping of the Nose for by it in this case nothing farther is done than that the bloud regurgitates into the Mouth And therefore this is the same as if one would repress the violence of fermenting Must by stopping the bung of the Vessel It were better to remove and precipitate the Orgasm which being removed it is easily stopt Idem XLVI Some tye a piece of Silver-money upon an Artery wounded in the Wrist Yet this Ligature which must be very strait for a lax one does not at all stop the bleeding seems to be very dangerous for fear of a Gangrene in the hand and Mortification allowing thereupon Wherefore I think Mens safety might be better provided for if all Chirurgeons in fortuitous Wounds of the Wrist or in opening the Arteries there on purpose had an instrument in readiness made of several plates of Iron perforated with several holes that cotton and a linen cloth over it may be quilted into it and fitted to the Arm like a sleeve and that it may open and shut This by strongly compressing the cut Vessel with its umbellated Screw stops the dangerous flux of Arterious bloud In my time there lived at Padua an experienced Arteriotomist who for the cure of violent and pertinacious Head-aches did often by the advice of Physicians open the Arteries of the Wrist with very good success and having taken away the quantity of bloud prescribed and compressed the wound so close with the said Instrument that not one drop of bloud came nor did any mischief supervene which might otherwise have been feared from the violent compresion of the vessels If therefore contrary to the expectation either of the Chirurgeon or the Patient an unskilfull and rash Barber should cut in stead of the Basilick Vein the Artery that accompanies it whence oftentimes either life flies out with the bloud or an Aneurism arises which being ill handled may be the cause of Death I advise that beside the remedy proposed by D. Greg. Horstius Chirurg Observ 1. an instrument be applied to the Artery hurt in the bending of the Arm with a Bill like that for the Wrist which has immediately stopt the bleeding by compressing the Artery and has safely hindred the breeding of a dangerous Aneurisma I in defect of such an instrument have applied a whole Peach-stone and tied it fast down upon Arteries that have been wounded through imprudence with good success In Switzerland they compress Arteries that are broken or cut by chance or art with the convex woody shell of a Wallnut Scultetus and with success XLVII If Bloud come from the Arteries the cure is very difficult First therefore let us by Venaefection hinder the Bloud from coming into the Artery for so the violence of the flowing Bloud is stopt Then let us stop the Artery upon which the greatest difficulty in the whole business depends for we can either touch the place where the Artery is or we cannot If we can touch the Artery then we press and close it with the finger So in Bleeding at the Nose we stop the Bleeding by pressing the jugular carotid Artery or if we can make a Ligature we have recourse to it But if we cannot touch the place where the Artery is we use Coolers in the Vessels and
is more easie to be had than Broom and it is well accounted of in this Disease I usually order 1 pound of its Ashes to be infused in 4 pounds of Rhenish-wine cold adding a pugil or two of Leaves of common Wormwood I order 4 ounces of the Liquour strained by filtration to be constantly drunk by the Patient in the morning at five in the afternoon and at night By which Remedy alone I have seen Dropsies cured which have been reckoned desperate in such whose Constitution has been too weak to bear purging But when the water that we may hasten to the second Intention which is the proximate cause of the Disease is now wholly evacuated we are come for the most part but half way of the Cure unless the weakned bloud which was the first original of the Disease be helped by long and constant taking of heating and strengthning Medicines whereby a new product of water may be prevented For though it may so happen to young People oftentimes that when the water is well purged out they recover without any other Remedy because their natural heat being then rid of the load and pressure of the water may supply the place of the said Remedies yet in elder People or them that have no very sound habit of body it is altogether necessary that presently when the evacuation of the water is finished they have recourse to the use of those Simples that heat and invigorate the bloud Among which those things I have formerly recommended in the Cure of the Gout whether they respect the Remedies themselves or the six non-natural things besides those which shall afterwards be spoken of are proper unless that Wine from which we must wholly abstain in the Gout does not onely no harm in the Dropsie but a great deal of good if it be used for Mens ordinary drink seeing these two Diseases agree in this that the same strengthning Medicines oppose the original cause of either of them Moreover to satisfie this intention of which we are now treating namely the strengthning of the bloud whether the evacuation of the water be procured as before by a Diuretick a Purge or a Vomit it is altogether necessary that the Patient as much as the case requires be obliged to drink Wine while he is under Cure so he begin not to drink Wine before the passages be a little opened and way made for the water or at least strong Beer instead of Wine seeing all thin and cooling Liquours how pleasant soever they be to the Palate which is ever in a manner thirsty in this Disease do make the Patient more phlegmatick and augment the water these therefore must seldom or never be allowed And on the contrary generous Liquours so they be not distilled spirits promote health so far that sometimes they alone restore it when lost as in the beginning of the Disease before the Belly be much stretched with water especially if they be impregnated with heating and strengthning Herbs For the poorer sort whose Purse will not afford better Medicines strong Beer in which a sufficient quantity of root of Horse-radish Leaves of common Wormwood garden Scurvigrass lesser Centaury and tops of Broom have been steeped is by my Advice used for their ordinary drink and may serve instead of all For the richer sort Canary Wine may be impregnated with the same bitter Herbs a draught of which may be taken twice or thrice a-day among the forementioned Medicines Or if this please not the Palate so well Wormwood-wine may be drunk in its stead of which the Patient may take nine spoonfulls after taking two drachms of the digestive Electuary described Tit. de Arthritide Book I. at Medicinal hours that is morning four in the afternoon and night This Electuary far surpasses any other strengthning Medicine in satisfying this Intention But here it is of great moment that the Patient drink sparingly of any small Liquours seeing all of them whatever they be give increase to the water so that wholly abstaining from drink has cured some And therefore if the Patient must sometimes be indulged these Liquours he must drink them very sparingly Notwithstanding because this Disease is accompanied with great thirst which abstaining from small drink does increase it will be proper for the Patient to wash his mouth often with cold water sharpned with spirit of Vitriol or let him keep some Tamarinds in his mouth or chew Lemon but swallow neither of them because of their Coldness which is not so proper for the Disease But among strengthners Steel in the Cure of a Dropsie beginning deserves not the last place for it invigorates and heats the bloud Which is the reason why Garlick is so good in this case for I have known a Dropsie cured with it onely omitting Evacuaters by other Mens Prescription not mine For it must be observed that the Dropsie which has onely swelled the Feet or the Belly also but moderately does not presently require a Cure by Emeticks and Catharticks but often gives way to these said heating and strengthning Liquours But above all things it must be seriously observed that whenever we set upon this Disease onely with strengthners or Lixivials also the Patient must by no means be purged either with a gentle or strong Purge so long as we are endeavouring to strengthen the Bloud For a Purge will pull down what a strengthner has built up which every one must be forced to acknowledge who has observed that the Swelling which by the use of strengthners began to abate does presently increase after Purging For although when we desire to satisfie the intention of getting out the Water it would not be amiss also now and then to give strengthners yet when our whole business is to strengthen the bloud it is altogether necessary to abstain from Catharticks It is to be observed also that the Patient is not always cured though we satisfie both Indications that is though the water gathered in the Belly be wholly got out and Heaters and Strengthners also be given afterwards to prevent a new product of Water For it often happens that an Ascites which has lasted many years by the long incubation of the Water upon the Inwards has perverted and as it were perboiled their substance And has utterly corrupted both the Bowels themselves and the neighbouring parts breeding preternatural Glands and Bladders turgid with Sanies and turning all things contained within the cavity of the Abdomen into a kind of putrilage as Dissection of Bodies of such as have died of an inveterate Dropsie has made manifest When the Disease is arrived at this height it contemns all the helps of Art as far as I see Nevertheless it is the Physicians duty since he cannot certainly know what harm is done to the Inwards as yet to endeavour the cure by all means by Evacuating as well as Strengthning Medicines And he must neither be discouraged nor must he discourage his Patient We must endeavour to doe this
them l. 2. serm 2. c. 10. yet not till the Body and first ways be exactly purged XXVII There are some who for several years in the beginning of Autumn and Spring have their Spleen swell with a pain in the Hypochondrium and a livid colour all over their body growing worse and worse which nevertheless is often cured by voiding abundance of Urine as black almost as Ink for a week Martini XXVIII The errour of the Physicians of our age must not be imitated who either give onely heating and drying things for breaking and dispersing of the Wind neglecting in the mean time the Intemperature of the Liver in which case indeed it is very likely the Disease is much increased Or if obstructions in the Spleen be urgent they cure by violent Coolers and Moistners wholly neglecting Digestives and things that are able to open and soften its obstructions Idem XXIX Asses Milk is good made purgative with Diagridium and three pounds of it taken for eight or ten days every morning for it will temper the heat of the Liver Sylvaticus and will purge hot humours ¶ It will not be amiss to take two pounds of Asses Milk with two drachms of Cream of Tartar Idem XXX But it must be taken as soon as it is milked with Sugar in it but by no means with any Bread lest it tarry too long in the Stomach and fill the Head the taking of it must be continued for forty days In the mean time lest any gross part of it should curdle in the Mesentery and stick there every ten days one ounce of Cream of Tartar dissolved in Broth may be taken Fortis cent 3. cors 29. to the end those ways may be cleansed XXXI Concerning these words Aph. 64. 6. It is bad to give Milk to them whose Hypochondria are swelled and rumble it must not be passed by that he joined these two Symptoms to shew that Milk may be given to such whose Hypochondria do onely rumble and to such who have them onely swelled For if the Liver swell with Bile Milk is proper so lib. de in t eff v. 225. in the second Hepatitis from Bile flowing into the Liver from which it grows hard and painfull he gives not onely Asses Milk or Goats to purge but he gives Cows Milk also for several days to temper the Bile In like manner when the Belly rumbles without any swelling Milk is not prohibited because if the rumbling be caused by Bile running up and down the Belly it may be good to give Milk Wherefore Hippocrates forbids giving of Milk when the swelled Hypochondria do also rumble for these things depend on abundance of Wind having its rise in the Hypochondria for which Milk is bad not onely because it is windy but also because since persons so affected are subject to acid corruption Martianus Comm. in cit Aphor. the Milk in their Stomach through analogy easily turns sowre XXXII If great heat be found in the Hypochondria an hour before Meat half a pound or a pound of Whey made of Goats Milk may conveniently be given which both tempers the heat and cools the veins of the Mesentery and wastes the matter which is the cause of this obstruction but the use of it must be continued for eight or fourteen days And that it may doe no damage but may be more effectual convenient Powders or Pills may be used before the Whey Take of root of male Fern Cinquefoil Wormwood Carduus benedictus Germander Spleenwort Agrimony each 1 drachm With Syrupus Acetositatis Citri make large Pills Give six or ten of them Or make an Extract of these Powders So the Whey will have more power to open and penetrate and it will doe less harm by cooling But it must of necessity be taken in a large quantity especially when the Stomach is not very weak namely three pounds or more And let one glass be drunk after another sipping it and after taking the Whey he must walk to the end it may insinuate it self and may carry off the matter that causes the obstruction by stool and urine Nor need the large quantity be feared For if it must pass the Veins and be voided again presently by stool and urine a great quantity is required So Bath and Spaw-waters must be drunk in a great quantity Sennertus XXXIII Concerning Spiritus vitrioli Martis there is a question whether it perform in Hypochondriacks the same that other Chalybeates do Since there is no small alteration of the Substance and other Acids are Enemies to Melancholicks and exalt black Choler I think truly it does not doe all things that other Chalybeates doe my reason is because other Chalybeates give a stool but this does not which must be ascribed to the change of the Substance Yet nevertheless I make no question but it is good for Hypochondriacks because of its aperient virtue Nor does its Sowreness hinder for onely the excessive use of Acids hurts Melancholicks and exalts black Choler on the contrary their moderate use is proper Idem XXXIV I think Elixir proprietatis is very good for them for by reason of the Aloes and Spirit of Sulphur it egregiously opens the obstructions It corrects the putrefaction of the humours not onely because of them but because of the Saffron and Myrrhe It egregiously discusses Wind because of the Myrrhe and Spirit of Wine chiefly And it strengthens the Heart and Stomach by its whole Substance Idem XXXV Crocus Martis tinges the excrements which denotes the extraction of the Vitriol the sating of the austere humours and in a word the actuating of the Medicine just as by the mixture of Vinegar and Galls in water Ink is produced But if the excrements be not tinged it is a sign unless a very small quantity be sufficient that the Medicine is not well actuated Wedeliu◠XXXVI You write that in hypochondriack Diseases Antimonium Diaphoreticum is commended Indeed I should not wholly reject it had it any portion of the Nitre left in it for so it would be far fitter of open obstructions of the Vessels But if it be wit◠out Nitre I am afraid lest when the thin humours are spent Doringius ad Sennert cent 2. ep 30. the gross and earthy ones grow harder and increase the obstruction ¶ Do you doubt whether it consume onely the thin humours or attenuate and put in fusion the gross ones also I affirm the first and now the same may also beneficially be given for gross humours also but I affirm it with a distinction For the gross humours are either already actually tartareous or onely mucilaginous and phlegmatick in these I allow it in the former I deny it A scorbutick Man was cured by me whose bloud when it was let grew like a gelly in water And among other things I gave him Antimonium Diaphoreticum Sennertus Epist 35. XXXVII If an austere pancreatick Juice be bred which frequent
occasions an Inflammation and Gangrene which are often increased or produced by fomentations applied amiss and overhot as also by a preposterous and violent rubbing of the swelled part and by the violent forcing back of the swollen Guts Sylvius XV. A young Man twenty four years old of a melancholick constitution fell into the Colick which after many things had been tried in vain degenerated into the Iliack passion with straitness about the Heart he swallowed a leaden Bullet of 2 drachms weight well covered with 1 drachm of Quicksilver and lest it should hurt his Jaws or raise a Ptyalism it was artificially wrapt up After three hours he broke wind and had ease Mâ—lchior Fribe in Misc cur on 1672. obs 96. and the fourth hour there followed two stools in which he voided above six pounds of matter of party colours yet he recovered without any harm XVI A poor Woman after an ill course of Diet fell into an obstruction of the Belly which lasted three weeks so that she brought up the excrements at her mouth as in an Ileus Divers things were used without any benefit At length she often drank the Juice of Bardorffe Apples that were rotten to about six pounds upon which she grew loose and the Woman narrowly escaped Death XVII If the Iliack passion be joined with a Rupture a supervening mortal sign whereof is the vomiting of the Chyle and Excrements when the Gut Ileon is slipt into the Scrotum after the falling down of which Hippocrates never saw any Man recover the onely way of Cure if there be any is as soon as the violent pain of the left side of the Scrotum reaching vomiting and such things have convinced you of the Gut Ileon being slipt Then without delay the very same day the ligament or vinculum inguinis must be cut in sunder with a Razor that is where the peritonaeum is joined with the Groin by a coat Duretus comm in Holletium or the testicle of the same side may be cut out Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. A Decoction of Dill is admirable good though Men do vomit after drinking of it Bread must be put in warm water and immediately warm pieces of it must be give to eat Aegineta 2. This gives great ease Let 4 ounces of Wine of Crete and 16 ounces of Oil be boiled together to the consumption of the Wine this given for a Clyster mitigates pain causes sleep softens the excrements Benedictus and breaks wind 3. The Bloud of a Bat anointed on the hypochondria by admirable experience is reckoned to stop the pains of the Twisting of the Guts Joël 4. They that are held of this Disease are wonderfully relieved although they vomit their ordure if they eat pieces of hot bread dipt in oil They will be saved though they were in a manner dead Oribasius 5. Spirit of Turpentine given inwardly egregiously dissolves the Tartar and causes the Excrements to descend and pass the natural way Petraeus 6. If the Disease come from thick and viscid Phlegm a Decoction or Infusion or Water of Radish is highly approved and also strong Wine in which inciding and attenuating Herbs have been boiled Rhudius Inappetentia or Want of Appetite The Contents Phlegm which is the Cause of it must be heated by little and little I. It requires rather the correcting some fault in the Liver than in the Stomach II. Whether Spirit of Vitriol recovers an Appetite III. See Diseases of the Stomach BOOK XVIII I. BILE and Phlegm especially hinder the sense of Appetite Concerning Phlegm it must be observed that it as it is cold indicates heating things yet it must not be done all at once and on a sudden lest the humours being suddenly dissolved breed wind and be distributed into the whole Body and cause obstructions wherefore here we must act with caution and first of all we must take care that the Patient eat and drink sparingly and use an attenuating Diet. Salt Meats also may be given the first mess because Salt has an inciding and attenuating virtue and afterwards things that have a detersive faculty may be used such as the decoction of Cabbage boiled but a little But first of all to attenuate let Oxymel be given with a fourth part of Honey of Roses afterwards that Medicine which is called Diatrion Pipereon and that the simple which is onely made of the three sorts of Pepper for although Pepper heat violently yet it is of thin substance and parts which are therefore quickly discussed and therefore doe the Liver no harm Sennertus II. Loss of Appetite and loathing of Flesh especially follows the excessive heat of the Liver for Physicians are under a mistake who when their Patients loath Fesh so that they can scarce bear the smell of it think the Stomach is onely ill Flowers of Cichory must be given either preserved with Sugar or fresh and the obstructions of the mesaraick Vessels must be helped For Flowers of Cichory do not onely help a hot Liver but they excite the faculty of the Stomach and free from obstructions ¶ Roots of Cichory especially the wild have as much virtue in them and more Crato III. There are some who perfectly abhor the use of Spirit of Vitriol as appears from Sylvaticus controv 48. and others who infer several inconveniences from the noxious qualities of common Vitriol not prepared and not separated from its impurities but to no purpose for it is one thing to consider what Galen and Diascorides say where they onely speak of crude Vitriol another to consider prepared Vitriol of which there is great variety so that it alone to several Hermeticks may seem sufficient to furnish an Apothecaries shop The question here is concerning Spirit of Vitriol which is now-a-days frequently used That it conduces much to check great putrefaction both Experience and Crato apud Scholtzium do testifie though greater caution must be observed in dry Bodies than in moist We likewise daily experience that it does much good in a dejected Appetite then especially when the internal parts of the Stomach are as it were lined and obstructed with pituitous and mucilaginous excrements so that the Spirits which cause hunger that is the innate heat of the Stomach is oppressed and rendred unfit to perform its operation As it contains in it self a penetrating inciding and cleansing virtue so it attenuates digests and consumes the mucilaginous matter and crudities Wherefore consequently it excites the hungry Spirits that before were buried as it were which produce the usual effects in extimulating the sense of the orifice and breed hunger Horstius Infantium Regimen or The Regiment of Children The Contents The umbilical Vessels must be tied neither too strait nor too loose I. Whether Children new born should be washed in hot or cold Water II. They must not be swathed too strait III. Whether the Mother's milk be always best IV. Whether new
There are several Medicines 9. χ. Ï„. too violent for young Children Therefore I rather commend Galen's advice 3. Euporist that is to use Smith's-water Idem and Powder of burnt Snails XVIII The same Galen 2. de Simpl. writes that several have written that a Torpedo applied is good for the falling of the Arse-gut But he subjoyns that he had tried that remedy in vain Powder of a Serpent's slough is also very good Idem XIX But if these Medicines will not perfectly cure it the followers of the Arabians commend the making of two cauteries in the end of the Spine that is near the Rump one on each side Which remedy nevertheless I would advise onely to be used in adult ones and when other things will doe no good XX. It is often hindred from going back into its place by the Mucus wherewith it is covered which you must absterge not with brine as some have advised because the sense of the part will not bear it but with Sugâ—red-water especially with Rain-water or with Water of Honey much diluted which you must doe often and wrap up the Anus in clothes wet with water Aphthae or A Thrush XXI Because a Thrush is usually attended with great Inflammation and consequently draws the humours from the body and increases the disease thereby Therefore it will be good to apply Cupping-glasses but to the buttocks or the end of the back by which one may evacuate as much bloud as the age and habit of the body will bear Mercurialis XXII If the Thrush be malignant we must oppose the pravity but we must have regard to the Age and the tenderness of the body We may not therefore in this age use those remedies which an elder might bear And the Medicine may be such Take of Scordium finely powdered 1 drachm Pomegranate Pills finely powdered 2 scruples burnt Alume 1 scruple Honey what is sufficient Mix them Idem XXIII But we must observe whether powders or whatever else be given it is necessary that it be mixt with some thing that is gratefull to the palate for there the Gustatory faculty is placed and we must have great regard to the Taste Wherefore as may be seen in Galen 6. de Med. local the Ancients made up their Medicines for the Thrush either with Sapa or Honey Idem XXIV If the Child be big because it is very material to have the pravity checkt presently lest it grow to spreading Ulcers we must endeavour to take away all malignity immediately with strong Medicines which the juice of Pomegranates and especially of sowre ones does admirably Which Theophrastus says does in a wonderfull manner preserve from putrefaction And though the Pomegranate by Dioscorides be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet we must not say with Ruellius it is hurtfull to the mouth which is very false but that it is ungratefull It appears indeed from experience that it is unpleasant and ungratefull nevertheless it is very good to stop a putrid Thrush Idem XXV But it often so happens that this Medicine does not suffice wherefore we must proceed to stronger In which case in those of elder years we may use either Aqua Aluminis magistralis or Vnguentum Aegyptiacum or flos aeris corrected with Diamoron all which things must not be used but upon great necessity The reason is because according to Galen 6. χ. Ï„. in the palate there are two wide passages one of which goes to the Lungs the other to the Stomach wherefore it is very dangerous if any poisonous Medicine get into these parts Therefore he said that Vitriol must not be used in Medicines for the Mouth because of the imminent danger if any part of such a Medicine should get either into the Stomach or Lungs Besides when we must use some such Medicines it will be best to use them in such a form as cannot go farther than the Palate as when a malignant Thrush is touched with Oil of Vitriol or of Sulphur or with Sublimate water XXVI Whether is Butter good for a Thrush Idem It is good in the beginning but it may be questioned 1. Because fat things make Ulcers foul 2. By its heat it might increase the Inflammation 3. It does not at all agree with other Medicines which must be used in the progress of the Disease I answer 1. The argument holds good in deep Ulcers which must be deterged 2. Fresh Butter is reckoned temperate because of the serous humidity mixt with it 3. Nor does it hinder that other Medicines are of other qualities because in the progress we dry and deterge more XXVII Horstius A Boy about four years old had a very sharp Fluxion upon his Tongue and Jaws so that he had an infinite number of white Ulcers very painfull with a great inflammation he could swallow nothing he had no sleep but roared continually he was lean and almost quite consumed Honey of Roses with Spirit of Vitriol which did others good did him none He had a plentifull Loosness with much porraceous bile A Bliâ—er did him much good but his pain and roaring continued and a serous sharp humour ran out of his mouth continually the pain and inflammation drawing more and more At length I gave 1 grain of Laudanum in broth whereby the pain was eased a gentle sleep procured which afterwards continued moderate and came at due hours Then his fluxion into his mouth ceased and he began to recover Riverius Atrophia or want of Nourishment XXVIII There are four causes of Leanness in Câ—ildren First Ineptitude of Aliment Secondly Want of Heat whose office it is to concoct it Thirdly Obstruction of the passages by which the Aliment passes to its elaboratories or whereby it is carried from them to the parts to be nourished Fourthly Any cause that is able to waste dissipate and melt the fat and flesh To the ineptitude of Aliment the condition of the Milk belongs which is either afforded in far less quantity than it should or is so thin that it is dissipated by the heat or of its own nature it is of little Aliment because it has but little of the butyrous substance and much of the other Or when it is bitter salt c. which Nature is therefore averse to So want of Innate Heat causes an Atrophy a thousand ways because it is able neither to concoct laudable Aliment or if it be it does not distribute it or does not assimilate it when distributed c. Thus Childrens bodies are also emaciated because the ways chanels and pores of the Elaboratories and the Flesh are obstructed corrugated fallen flat compressed or some way or other straitned Of which cause we must have a great care Then the cause which wastes the fat and flesh is either internal or external internal whatever is unable to contain the substance that should nourish as it happens in fluxes of bloud or of any other good substance or it dissipates by sweat
press the child behind the Ear with his finger for it will presently cry out for Pain This Evil wants not danger the best course to get it away is to anoint often the external region of the Ears especially behind with Hare's fat and the Gums frequently with Oil of sweet Almonds L. It often happens that all Medicines doe no good because of the hardness of the Gums or the weakness of the Child Therefore in such a case before mortal signs supervene I would advise the Chirurgeon to open the Gums with a Pen-knife where the Teeth swell to make way for the Tooth and to ease the Gum which Remedy I have tried with good success in several of my own children This is better than as the Nurses doe to scratch and tear the Child's Gums with the Nails The Duke of Nevers had a Boy who lately died at eight months of age when I with the Physicians who were there did narrowly enquire into the cause of the Patient's death we could find no other but the excessive hardness of the Gums which was not meet for that Age for so the Teeth could not make their way Of which opinion this was an Argument that when we had opened the Gum with a Penknife all the Teeth appeared ready to cut Parae ◠onely they wanted a little of this help Diarrhoea or A Loosness LI. I had a Boy about three years old under cure for a long and desperate Flux of the Belly sometimes dysenterick sometimes lienterick for which I used many things both internal and external but in vain At length when there was little hope and the Mother was brought to bed again I persuaded her to put her new born Daughter to another Nurse and to give her Son of three years of Age suck again She followed my advice and the business succeeded so well that by degrees the Loosness stopt and he recovered his strength so that now he lives lusty and well Hildanu◠LII Sometimes childrens bellies are loose from the corruption of Milk which degenerates into a porraceous or green colour In which sort of Flux though it may be questioned whether it may be stopt because it looks of such a colour as is reckoned altogether preternatural yet we must not think so in children since the Greenness proceeds from the rosting heat which portends always destruction but from the quality of the Milk and mixture with a bilious Serum Wherefore the Loosness must not be stopt but the Stomach must be strengthned Mercatus and alteration must be made ¶ Because sometimes sowre green excrements use to come from children with or without curdling we must consider why such things appear in children and smell so sowre when they are otherwise well Since it is certain that the Greenness in them comes not from adustion as in hot Diseases of the Liver and Veins I am bold to affirm that the greenness comes from cold but not from cold matter onely but from heat and cold that is from a bilious and a pituitous matter For oftentimes such excrements appear in children which have a hot Liver and breed much Bile and a cold raw Stomach which causes that sowreness in the excrements For it is certain that neither the greenness nor sowreness can come from Bile alone and therefore Bile comes from the heat of the Liver nor do they come onely from Phlegm and crude Milk but from both these together with Bile going altogether into the belly and by the natural heat of the belly the corruption of the white Milk and yellow Choler being matter unfit for Chyle a corruption is made which degenerates into an excrement of a green colour ¶ Sylvius derives these green stools from an acid sharp Bile turning green which change of colours is no strange thing to Diers And he says the green colour is owing to an acid partly by reason of the sowre smell which always attends it and partly from the change of the Bile into a green colour by some Acid. And he places that Acid in the Pancreatick Juice contracted partly from the bad Diet of the Mother and partly of the Nurse He places the Cure in the correction and tempering of the Acid. Quassatio vertebrarum Dorsi or A Wrenching of the Back LIII Galen 3. de Artic. text 2. reckons up four Luxations of the vertebrae of the Back among these he reckons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a wrenching when the joining of them is loosned they remaining in their places They that are troubled with this complain of a Pain in their Back and their Stomach their Appetite is gone some People Vomit their Head akes a febrile Heat takes them yea oftentimes a violent Fever equal in Symptoms to a malignant one The cause is imputed to the Mother's carrying some great burthen or inordinate motion of her Spine This is their way of cure in Germany They set a piece of Wax-candle lighted to the childrens Navel and set a Pot upon it like a Cupping-glass and they let it stick there till it fall off of it self Sennertus Epilepsia or The Falling-sickness LIV. Most children have abundance of bilious meconium when they are born which I use carefully to purge otherwise the following nutriment is corrupted and Milk is coagulated whence come Gripes and because of malignant Vapours arising an Epilepsie follows If this connate excrement be rightly purged either by the Strength of Nature or by Medicines children are preserved but if not they are either troubled or killed with an Epilepsie I use Syr. Ros mosch or Elect. de Manna Rager Misc cur p. 996. ¶ I have seen children taken with an Epilepsie together with Gripings and green stools This was helped not by Antepileptick Powders nor by fearing the hind part of the head but by cleansing the first ways with Mel. rosar solut and Syrup of Cichory with a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol LV. For childrens Epilepsie the Italians burn the head behind and make an Issue there for evacuation of the humour Celsus l. 3. c. 23. approves of it and Rondeletius because it may doe good in an Idiopathick one but not at all in a Sympathick one Others as Sennertus disapprove of it because of the Pain it would put the tender bodies of Infants to which therefore can neither well bear Purging nor Bleeding But the case is not the same for Catharticks exert their violence upon the Bowels and by their malignity may easily hurt the substance of Infants which is easily dissolved But Causticks are onely once applied to the external parts and evacuate the noxious humours slowly without great pain Primitosius ¶ As well for the cure as prevention of this Disease Physicians have found a present Remedy Burning of the Head behind which as it is very safe so also it evacuates the troublesome Phlegm and makes revulsion interception and derivation of it with manifest benefit For the said inustion though J. B. Sylvaticus contr 87. dissuade
with Purslain Pachequus obs 56. Riv. com Sorrel and Lettuce Also the Heat must be drawn outwards by applying Animals split in the Back LXIV If a lingring Fever arise from Obstructions there is nothing better according to Montanus cons 10. than an Infusion of Rheubarb in Endive-water He says he never met with a Fever from obstructions which was not cured with this Remedy if the use of it were constantly kept to The Infusion of Rheubarb now in common use is made of half a drachm or a drachm of it grosly bruised and tied in a bag and infused in two or three pounds of Spring-water cold for a day The use of it may be continued a month or more according to the contumacy of the Disease LXV We must not give Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur and the like to sucking children in Fevers or any other Distempers as we find them commended by Practitioners in their Books seeing by taking them Milk is curdled in the Stomach Hofmannus Hydrocephalus or The Dropsie in the Head LXVI In an Hydrocephalus if abundance of water be gathered without the Cranium the use of Medicines both internal and external is usually vain for as strong internal Medicines are not proper for this age so moderate or weak ones doe no good the case is the same in externals Wherefore we can have no hopes in any thing but in a sensible evacuation of the humour Now this evacuation must be made by Chirurgery i. e. by Section in performing of which we must observe what Aetius and Paulus write that if the Swelling have an high top it must be cut at once but if it be broad it must be cut at two or three times and places Mercurialis LXVII Some make running Ulcers with Caustick Medicines which Cure childrens heads cannot well bear though they be good in other cases Others advise Burning round the head in divers parts which sort of Remedy they are far less able to bear because the substance of the Brain is very tender Besides the water will neither be discharged quickly nor as it should And it is certain that the Skull if the water abide there long will be prejudiced which makes it more dangerous And Mercatus disapproves of Mercurialis his opening the Head in two or three places because the water is too suddenly discharged which is prohibited in these Diseases LXVIII It must be observed also that Section must always be made in the nethermost part because evacuation may much more easily and readily be made when the water has declivous places to run out at Idem LXIX You must moreover have a care you do not cut near the temporal Muscle till the water fall to one side of it and then you must open carefully in some remote part and apply upon the apertion Lint with the White of an Egg and Oil of unripe Roses Mercatus LXX When Section is made the humour must not be evacuated at once but by little and little And if this must be done in a Dropsie of the Belly it ought much more to be done in a Dropsie of the Head Mercurialis which is the seat of animal Spirits LXXI Aetius his advice must be followed if children be strong that Medicines must be strait tied down but if they be tender and weak it will be enough to cover the wounded place with soft Wooll or a very soft light Cap. Idem LXXII If the tumour proceeds from the Ichors of other humours which tumour Avicenna calls Atas he advises that the Nurse be fed with cooling things as Ptisan and Barley-water to apply Oil of Violets to the Head and to abstain from Bathing because bathing with warm water heats the Head more Idem LXXIII A child newly born was ill of an Hydrocephalus all over his Head with a great dilatation of the Sutures I cured this Disease perfectly onely with Guido's Swathe made in form of a Cap wherewith the whole Head was rolled the two ends being tied in a knot The said Swathe was renewed every day and within fifteen or twenty days the Swelling vanished Formius obs 6. LXXIV And you must have a care in this case how you make an Issue behind in the Head for by communication of Veins the water may easily fall on the Tendons and Muscles of the Neck upon which it may be feared that mortal Convulsions and other Diseases may grow It is better in a strong child to make an Issue in the Arm when other Remedies will doe no good Mercatus LXXV Sometimes a Contusion happens in the child's head by reason whereof a great Swelling full of Bloud arises to which the name of Hydrocephalus suits but improperly And it is caused either by the Midwife's fault who bruises the child's head in the Delivery or by reason of some vessels being open by the forcing of the child to get out some of the Serum and thinner part of the bloud going out by it And it may be the Nurses fault in letting the child fall and dashing it against a thing or in binding the head-bands too strait whereby the veins and arteries that are then tender are compressed This serum and bloud is diffused between the Skull and the Skin sometimes upon the crassa meninx and sometimes upon the Brain it self If the Contusion be flight it may be discussed by the help of Fomentations and Liniments of a Decoction of Roses Flowers of Melilot and Chamaemil adding a Liniment of Oil of Roses and St. John's-wort mixt together Guillemeau de educatione infantium cap. 17. or applying a Plaster of Diachalcit and Diachylum Ireatum But if the Contusion be great it will be in vain to try to dissipate it by Discutients according to Experience ¶ I have a Daughter called Elizabeth thirteen years old born before her time that is fifteen days before the feventh month By reason in the Birth she could not force because of her Weakness the whole affair depended upon the Mother and the Midwife But the Midwife drawing out the Girl by main force so bruised her head that for two months after she was born she voided clotted black bloud at her mouth nostrils and ears In the mean time whatever Food she took it was not given her by the breast but in a spoon She was swathed double round her body while her Nails were wanting But when the time was over that she ought to have remained in the Womb she began to take the breast and to thrive In the eighth month she began to pronounce some words And this present year 1681. she is brisk and well and almost fit to marry Imperforati or They that are Imperforate LXXVI It was Albucasis his Judgment that Midwives ought very carefully to search children when they are new born and if the hole be stopt to open it gently with their Finger or with an Instrument and then to lay on Wooll wet with Wine and Oil then to cure it with Unguents to
both at once XIV Sometimes very strong Medicines are required XV. Rheubarb sometimes does harm XVIII Wormseed often does harm XIX The Cure when there is a Fever is different from that where no Fever is XX. Purgatives are useless to kill broad Worms XXI When we must use sweet and when bitter things XXII Acid things are not always proper XXIII Medicines I. ANthelminthicks doe their work chiefly either 1. By killing the Worms and they are things that resist Poison For whether we consider them as things that are bred by equivocal generation by means of putrefaction or of an animated character and seed or Egg yet it is certain they are fed in and with putrefaction Therefore such things are 1. bitter and balsamick for as they do excellently defend the body from Putrefaction so also they are the principal things in this case and all bitter things are Anthelminthick as among compounds Elixir proprietatis Pilulae Rufi c. And 2. Acids as Vinegar especially acid Spirits as of Vitriol c. not onely because they resist putrefaction but because they destroy the motion and heat of the Worms And therefore are good especially to be taken inwardly Thus onely a vitriolated tincture of Violets did excellently in a Boy who was almost killed with the Worms Thus also all Nitrous things kill the Worms because they are bitter resist putrefaction and because of an Acid Salt that is eminent in them Therefore Soldiers put Gunpowder to their Shirts to prevent Lice And 3. Sharp things pregnant either with a Volatile Salt alone or with Oil. Wherefore Garlick is reputed to be famous for the Worm in the Heart If any one carry Camphire about him he is never troubled with Lice also Spirit and Volatile Salt of Hartshorn powerfully kill Worms And these things do not onely kill Worms by irritating them but because of their exceeding Penetration whereby they are adverse to their Life and to putrefaction And 4. Terreous Alkaline and other Lixivial fixt Salts as Coral-wort the Powder of which Empiricks sprinkle on Earthworms and so kill them burnt Hartshorn Salt of Wormwood and Carduus Benedictus though they doe it not so powerfully yet nevertheless they belong to this class G. W. Wedelius 5. Watry things give onely a vehicle to the rest unless they be signed with some Mercurial Character All these things destroy the animated seminary annihilate and greatly resist it II. Or 2. By Suffocating they hindring transpiration wherein the life of Worms and Insects consists Such are all oily and fat things which obstruct the Pores and check Ventilation and so as it were suffocate such as Oil olive of sweet and bitter Almonds And though these be commonly too weak and we cannot so well trust these alone for killing of Worms yet they are of excellent use to make other things work better Idem III. Or by Melting and Destroying Such things as dissolve annihilate and corrupt the mucous and glutinous substance of them and also by their acrimony are as a kind of Poison to them Such are especially Mercurials Nothing under the Sun is so much an Enemy to Worms and to every animated Seminary as they are for they consume their aliment and as it were kill them in an Ideal antidote at least as appears in the decoction of Quicksilver For it is not onely adverse to them in Substance though crude it does not so easily expell them because it easily passes them by Wherefore it may be ground with twice as much Sugar in a glass Mortar very fine Also Mercurius dulcis may very fitly be given And also which is Helmont's experiment water whether simple or specifick boiled with Mercury as if it were influenced by some Mercurial Star though by the boiling the Mercury loose nothing it is very effectual against Worms But we must take notice that Glauberus p. 2. fumi Philos p. 79. condemns shaking of Quicksilver with water or beer and especially because it is said that the water is irradiated not corporally but onely virtually intimating that the subtile particles of the Mercury are by the shaking confounded with the Sulphur and that this may be demonstrated by the settling He adds also that he never saw a good operation whether from Infusion or from Mercurius dulcis But this virtue cannot be denied it though it must be acknowledged that Mercury is better at killing than expelling of Worms So also Cinnabarines kill Worms wherefore though not so well some go so high as to affirm that Cinnabar of Antimony if there be any antepileptick virtue in it it is onely in a Sympathick Epilepsie arising from Worms Idem IV. Or throwing them off by disturbing them Wherefore it is certain that all Purgatives properly so called are Anthelminthicks especially those they call Cholagogues These because they act in a twofold manner not onely as they are bitter sharp and resinous all which things are enemies to the Worms but also as Evacuaters and as they irritate their exit they are the best and the noblest Medicines of all to drive Worms out of the Body especially Aloes Coloquintida or Trochiscs of Alhandal Rheubarb Spec. Diaturbith cum rheo which Heer observat 26. writes very well that they are most excellent Medicines Wherefore if there be any instances of great Worms being voided all or most of them at least Idem were performed by Purging V. There are yet two other Anthelminthicks which we cannot safely nor ought to trust to be added to these ordinary ones which are yet sufficiently commended by grave Authours 1. Sweet thiâ—gs which though as a surfeiting Food they may kill Worms accidentally by repletion yet these things do not hinder the breeding of them anew So some give raisins to Children troubled with Worms and Sennertus says a Decoction of Sebesten is a most experienced Medicine if it be given to Children every day before meat So they hold that Honey and other sweet things doe no harm but good in Worms because they easily turn to Choler and so are rather enemies to Worms But it is evident that sweet things do not turn to Bile equally in all so that they doe no good in Worms unless by cheating them and insnaring them so as they may suck in Gall and Poison instead of Honey Idem VI. Whatever divers affirm that Earth-worms dried and given do by a certain property expell the microcosmick Worms which might be deduced from the mucilaginousness that is in them and from transpiration being hindred by consequence or from their volatile Salt yet to say nothing that sufficient experiments are yet wanting it is uncertain whether Worms that were voided out of the Body when they are prepared and taken again do expell those of their own kind nay the quite contrary may be produced seeing it is certain that Seeds of Worms are by this means propagated and Worms are rather bred according to the experience of many Authours notwithstanding that upon taking such a Powder
Garlick and Onions I take care of the symptoms and especially their gnawing for sometimes by gnawing the mouth of the stomach they cause Death in this case we must act with gentler things and abstain from bitter sharp and other such troublesome things instead of which a Pint of Milk or more with Sugar may be given for being enticed they leave off gnawing and turn to the Milk as being sweet and amicable to them Fortis XXI The acid Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur and the like are commonly used to kill Worms which I do acknowledge have the faculty to incide Phlegm and kill the Worms if a few drops be mixt with the ordinary drink and the taking of them be continued for some time But they are not good for all alike because they augment the Acid in the Body and the Appetite which is oftentimes too great in Children Wherefore unless they be very thirsty also I had rather use volatile Salts Sylvius de le Boë and bitterish Plants See BOOK IX Tit. Of Childrens Diseases Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. The most effectual Remedy for Children and others is to put a piece of salt Flesh the Fat being scraped off into the anus in form of a Suppository and to let it be in as long as it can be endured then to give a Clyster of Brine or a Decoction of Centaury and we must often repeat this Remedy Aetius 2. Spirit of Turpentine is a good Medicine for the Worms ¶ Nothing is better for killing of Worms than Wine and Spirit of Wine Bartholinus 3. The seed and distilled water of Purslane is an excellent Medicine to kill Worms Baricellus 4. St. John's-wort is a Specifick for Worms in the Stomach applied in manner of a Cataplasm Quercetanus and given in Broth. 5. Coral-wort is a most excellent Remedy against all Worms The Dose 1 drachm ¶ The seed also of Santonicum Tansie Primerose-root Scordium and Goats Rue are good ¶ Fern is commended especially for killing of broad Worms from which a water is distilled or half a drachm of the powder is given to Infants 1 drachm to those that are a little elder and to those that are of ripe years 3 drachms in water of Goats Rue which kills the Worm without any trouble Above all compound Medicines Diaturbith cum Rhabarbaro is commended in Trochiscs Among temperate things Sebesten is the most tried Medicine a Decoction of which may be given to Children every day Sennertus 5. I have often observed this to be very effectual in killing and expelling of Worms Take of Coloquintida 1 drachm Oil extracted out of Coloquintida seeds half an ounce Treacle half an ounce Myrrhe Aloes Dittany Gentian Tormentill Wormwood each 1 ounce Make them into powder and with a Bull 's Gall and Rose-vinegar make an Unguent to be laid all over the Belly and Navel Vid. Vidiu◠Luxatio or Putting out of joint The Contents Reposition must not be attempted before the Inflammation be laid I. Nor if a Ligament be broke II. Strengthning Applications must not cool and dry III. The Cure of a luxated joint when it falls out after restitution IV. If an Inflammation supervene when Reposition must be made V. The Reduction of the Spine luxated inwards VI. The Reposition of the luxated Thigh must not always be attempted VII The Restitution of the Shoulder slipt into the Armpit VIII The Luxation of the Os Coccygis restored IX Contusions of the Nerves which we call Strains must not be treated like Luxations X. Medicines I. IT is not without reason that Celsus l. 8. c. 11. advises that whatever in Dislocations is displaced must be replaced before Inflammation But if a Chirurgeon was not called at the beginning so that the part is swelled and inflamed a thin Diet must be prescribed and the Body must be purged of bad Humours A Vein also if it be necessary must be opened and Repellents must be applied to the part affected till the Severity of the Inflammation is a little abated then the Operation must be tried but care must be taken that all things be done gently they that doe otherwise oftentimes occasion great symptoms and sometimes death it self A Girl leaping often to the ground had wrenched her feet a little and when a Pain and Inflammation arose an Empirick was called who so extended and wrenched her feet to and again that the pain and inflammation increasing Abscesses followed and round the Joints of the feet in divers places sinuous Ulcers out of which a ferous Humour ran The Pain in her Joints was so great and pungent that she could scarce stir her feet and was not able to walk Hildanus II. Before the Chirurgeon undertake the Reposition of any luxated part it is necessary that he first try well whether a Ligament be broken For if he understand this because the part cannot move it is more adviseable to hold his hand than rashly to undertake the Cure Walaeus to the Ignominy of the Art III. Swathes that besides Astriction they may also keep off an Inflammation must be wet in a Mixture of austere Wine and Oil of Roses because when they are dry they do not stick well Others besmear them moderately with Ceratum Hippocratis humidum which Galen l. 6. de Comp. Med. per Gen. c. 4. describes And here Medicines must be avoided which are made of astringent Powders and whites of Eggs because they either cool and dry the joint too much so that the bending of it is hindred or they stop the passing out of the influxed humours The Ceratum is made of one part Wax and two parts Oil as for example white Wax one ounce Oil of Roses two ounces Scultetus IV. A Joint slips out again for three Reasons 1. When it is not well replaced and the Ligaments are not well dried 2. When there is any Tumour after an Inflammation 3. When some Humour runs to the Joint which makes lax the Ligaments The first Cause requires great Driers The second Emollients and Discutients The third requires the worst after provision for the whole Burning than which nothing is better for it will waste 1. the moisture by the Crust which makes a hollow Ulcer and being covered with a Cicatrice contracts the relaxed part for by Burning we heat dry and digest the Humours But note 1. We must burn the place on which the Bone falls as if the Shoulder slip below the Ala under the Armpit If the head of the Thigh be luxated forwards it must be burnt before in several places 2. Nervous parts Ligaments Veins Arteries and Glands to which Fire is an Enemy must not be burnt 3. We must not burn with Irons which make a little Eschar 4. The Joint must be kept quiet for several days Idem V. The time of extension is laid down by Hippocrates de Articul § 64. to be immediately after luxation while the part is still
to treat of the Cure of a Spina ventosa because no Authour has made it his business to explain it The matter of this Disease is Phlegm The place affected always the Joints never the places between the Joints primarily which if they ever be affected it is by Sympathy This is the way of its generation If Phlegm designed for the Nutrition of the Bones putrefie or grow sharp first it corrupts the Bones without any pain and then the Periosteum after the Bones A sign of it is a cutting sharp and pricking Pain so that the Patient says he is as it were prickt with a Thorn whence the Disease is called Spina And while the Patient is vext with this Pain and the Periosteum is eroding there is no Swelling as then But when the Bone is first corrupted and after that the Periosteum the Pituitous Matter having a free passage into the fleshy parts causes a Swelling in the Joint at first soft and lax and without Pain of the same colour with the Skin which being laid open grows harder because more humours flow thither the thinner part of which exhales and the thick remains out of which there comes a serous matter and the Bone appears to be corrupt by a Probe I have observed both Men and Women are subject to this Disease till they are twenty five years â—â—d not elder unless it took them before and was not then cured The Pathognomick Signs are Pains at first like the pricking of a Thorn the Joints being affected Youth a soft lax tumour which gaping pours out a Serosity and if any Pus come out it is bred of the carnous parts The Disease is hard to cure both because of the constant Conflux of Matter and the Corruption of the Bone which the worse it is the more difficult the Cure One beginning is easilier cured than an old one but it will never be cured till the Fluxion is removed and till all the corrupt Bone is taken away either by Fire or the Knife As to the Cure as soon as ever the Patient feels a pricking Pain like a Thorn in the Joints of his Hands or Feet in his Armes or Knees though this be rare or in his Ankles presently though no Swelling appear it must be cut from which we must not take away our Probe till we find the unevenness of the Bone which is a sign that the Periosteum is corrupt Then the first Indication is to remove the Caries of the Bone namely to scrape it off without which neither Ulcers nor Wounds can be healed When the Caries is removed Flesh must be bred and then it must be cicatrized after the usual way But if by reason of the depth of the place abrasory Instruments cannot be got in we must burn with actual Fire When therefore the hole is dilated by Section prepared Sponge Gentian-root or Pith of Elder an Iron Pipe must be put into it then the corrupted Bone must be burnt with a hot Iron till the skilfull Artist thinks it will separate quickly then you must prosecute the rest of the Cure as before But because it sometime happens that the whole space between two Joints is corrupt in a Finger or Toe especially in Children in this case neither Fire nor the Knife will doe but in their stead we must use a small Trepan and bore it in the middle from which with Scissers made neatly for the purpose the sides must be cut off and the whole Internodium must by little and little be taken away with a Volsella and the empty place in time is filled with Flesh which in Children grows hard and serves instead of a Bone though when the whole Internodium is taken away the Finger is shortned because the Muscles are drawn to their Head and the Softness of the Flesh gives way Now if a Physician be called when Solution of Unity is made by the pituitous Matter grown sharp by putrefaction the whole Cure must be directed to the removing of the corrupt Bone by the Contrivances and Cure before proposed in which sometimes two three or more small Bones are taken out But in scraping burning or taking out a Bone we must take heed not to hurt the Tendons for fear of Convulsions This is the topical Cure of this Disease whereto must be premised the Care of the whole body by Medicines that purge Phlegm yea by giving a Decoction of China Sarsa Guaiacum and the like Marcheâ—ti to dry VI. Bones are subject to several Diseases especially to a Caries which because it is bred divers ways These ways deserve notice Preternatural Humours upon whatever cause whether special or general they penetrate the bone sometimes they cause an Ulcerous Hypersarcosis with moistness of the Bone sometimes they produce a Cancer of the Bone or a Spina Ventosa which are Diseases that must necessarily be distinguished And because no Physician has designedly described them I have a mind to communicate what Reason and Experience have taught me The cause of an Ulcerous Hypersarcosis with a moistness of the Bone is Preternatural Phlegm which taking away the temper and hardness of the Bones the Flesh cannot be sustained by this soft foundation whereupon it loses its natural consistence its constant nutriment from the bloud turns to a soft and spongy Sarcoma this by degrees increases and at length Ulcerates whereby the Tendons Ligaments and Nerves are corrupted and the whole Limb is endangered In this case you can doe no good with Medicines till you come to the ground of all the Bone for when the Bone is cured presently the Ulcer will be cured and the Flesh will come to its self Here is occasion therefore for deep Incision to come at the Bone But if the excrescence be too big extirpate it If you find it grow again apply a flat actual Cautery having ever regard to the Bone Barbette VII The cause of a Cancer in a Bone is a sharp Humour corrupting first the Bone and then the Periosteum Here is an Ulcer both of the flesh and skin which cannot be cured till you have first cured the Bone The hole of the Ulcer is very small the lips are pale the flesh is soft and a little swelled but it does not grow again of it self as we said in an Ulcerous Hypersarcosis and here we must cut to the very Bone lengthways and then apply things to correct the corruption as Euphorbium Spirit of Vitriol mixt with Spirit of Wine c. The Powder of Turpentine boiled till it is hard is excellent in this case mixt with Vngu Fel. Wurtz or Aegyptiacum An actual Cautery is also sometimes necessary The cure is hastned also when instead of a tent of Lint Pith of Elder is used because this imbibes the sharp and thin Humours and so an opportunity is afforded to Nature for doing her work more commodiously And since these Diseases do usually depend most upon an intemperature of the mass of Bloud so that when one Cancer is almost cured another
when weak in a dark For there is some diversity of Natures in this case the dark disturbing some more and the light others And some when they are in a somewhat lightsom place imagin they see many things which they do not see take one thing for another and conceive various Images from Objects wherefore such a Patient is to be kept in the dark On the contrary if he be afraid in the dark let him be kept in the light Idem XXIII When the Frantick are raging mad order them to be bound and look you come not near them because they have sometimes killed their Physicians And at Venice I knew a Mad Man that kilâ—'d two Priests Add hereto That by such Ligaments there is made a diversion of Matter from the Head Saxon. prael pract c. 3. and the Frantick hardly ever rave when they have their Bands upon them c. XXIV In a Phrensy there sometimes happens a suppression of Vrine on the sixth day a continual Fever being present which suppression if the Physician endeavour to remedy he mistakes for this suppression does oft indicate a Crisis by sweat Therefore it is not to be cured Hippocr 6. Epidem 1. but to be committed to Nature acting well lest she being disturbed by unseasonable Diureticks the Patient be brought to his end an Instance whereof is given by H. ab Heer obs 5. But if the Diureticks be of such a nature as to be withal Diaphoretick opening inciding and moving of Tartar such as the Antepileptick Pouder of Hartman the admirable effects whereof I have many times experienc'd in an Epilepsy and other Diseases of the Head and in Madness it self especially if the said Diseases arise from the Juice of the Nerves being too dull acid and vapid as it were in this case Medâ—cins full of a volatil Alkali salt are the most available such as the Spirit of Hartshorn of Mans Blool rectified of Soot But if the Nervous Liquâ—r be too acrimonious and salt or the Effluvia steming from the estuating Blood drive the Animal Sprits into distractions such Remedies which consist of a Volatil acid are given with success Frid. Hofm m. m. l. 1. c. 12. as the Voatil Spirit of Vitriol the opening Striated Spirit of Penotus the Philosophical Spirit of Vitriol Phthisis or Consumption The Contents The Curative Indications I. The cause of the Malady is not to be derived always from the Head II. We must provide for the whole Body by effectual Remedies III. Whether Bleeding be sometimes profitable IV. We must Purge with strong things at the beginning V. In the progress with such as are more mild VI. At what season Vomiting is sometimes convenient VII Diureticks are hurtful VIII The fluxion upon the Lungs is first of all to be stopt IX Whether the Waters call'd Acidulae and Baths be hurtful X. The Lungs are to be cleansed before the consolidating of the Vlcer XI We must use driers in respect of the Vlcer notwithstanding the Fever XII Whether the Sugar and Conserve of Roses be profitable XIII The excellency of Suffumigations XIV We must provide at the same time for both Fever and Vlcer XV. Milk is not to be denied because it breeds Phlegm XVI How it may be hindred from becoming either nidorous or sowr upon the Stomach XVII Things that absterge strongly are hurtful XVIII Whether Ros solis be profitable XIX Temperate Acids are profitable XX. Sulphureous Remedies do not always relieve XXI The Excellency of Balsam of Sulphur XXII Lac Sulphuris is but of small efficacy XXIII Vlcers of the Lungs cured by Vulnerary Injections XXIV The profitableness of Vesicatories XXV The profitableness of Fontanels XXVI When and where Causticks are to be applied XXVII A Phthisis cured in the beginning by Issues under the Arm-holes XXVIII A Phthisis cured by a Seton in the Neck XXIX A Bath is not profitable to all XXX Antimonial Medicins free the Blood from Pus XXXI The efficacy of a dry Air. XXXII Changing of Air is not profitable to all XXXIII Whether Snails be profitable XXXIV The cure of a Phthisis from a Native Disposition XXXV A peculiar Cause of a Phthisis XXXVI The cure of a Pulmonary Phthisis XXXVII Leanness cured by repeated Bleeding XXXVIII The danger of a Tabes avoided by a flux of the Hemorrhoids XXXIX The lost Appetite how to be recalled XL. What Wine to he chosen for drink XLI Medicins I. THough the Matter that causes the Cough destil not from the Head upon the Lungs by the Wind-Pipe yet drilling sometimes out of the sides of the Wind-Pipe and falling down into the Cavities of the Lungs it produces that Disease which is commonly known by the name of a Catarrh For the Wind-Pipe besides a Nervous and Musculous Coat has also a Vasculous and Glandulous one into this last are deposited superfluous Humidities from the Blood which bedew the whole Wind-Pipe Now if at any time the mass of Blood be too much fused and precipitated into Serosities as upon catching cold drinking acid things c. hereupon presently a great deal of watry Matter sweats out of the Glands of the Wind-Pipe and the mouths of the Arteries into its Cavities which soon causes Coughing and Spitting Whilst these things are moderate and only the superfluities of the Blood are expelled they often turn rather to profit than benefit because thus the mass of Blood and the Lungs themselves are cleansed But if these Affections being prolonged the Serous Humour being every where deposited in the Ducts of the Wind-Pipe shall at length begin to be alter'd towards Putrefaction then the motion and crasis of the Blood are perverted and the Humour is plentifully deposited out of the mass of Blood which first of all enters the little Bladders annexed to the small Branches of the Wind-Pipe and at length fills and somewhat distends them and by and by the sides of one two or more of them being burst there is made an Vlcer The Curative Intentions are chiefly these three 1. To hinder the dissolution of the Blood which is the root of all the mischief 2. Presently and sufficiently to evacuate the corrupt Matter gathered in the Lungs by Expectoration 3. To strengthen and dry the Lungs that have their unity dissolved or are too lax and moist that they may not be still more and more corrupted and receive more and more the Morbifick Matter As to the first indication let these three things be procured 1. That the Mass of Blood may contain and assimilate all the Nutritious Juice that is afforded to it and may be so proportioned therewith as that it offend neither in quantity nor quality Wherefore above all things let it be order'd that People that Cough and are Phthisical abstain very much from Drink and take Liquids or Spoon-meat but in small quantity so that the Blood being weak in its Crasis may the more easily subdue the Minute Portions of the fresh Juice and retain them within its Compages whilst
of a spoonful or a spoonful and an half Take of Salt of Tartar 1 ounce small spirit of Wine 1 pound and an half Let them be digested till it grow yellow Then when it is poured off the dreggs infuse therein of leaves of black Hellebore steeped in Vinegar 1 ounce yellow Sanders 1 drachm the yellow rind of Oranges 1 drachm and an half Make a hot and close digestion for 3 dayes Let the clear colature be distilled in Balneo to half and let the remaining Liquor be kept for use Or Take of the root of sharp pointed Dock Polypody of the Oak Nettle Chervil each 6 drachms leaves of Eupatory Speedwell each 1 handful Sanders white and yellow each 1 drachm and an half Carthamus 1 ounce Tartar of white Wine half an ounce boyl them in 2 pounds and an half of Spring-water to half Add of Rhenish wine 1 pound and let it be presently strained To which put of the best Senna half an ounce Rheubarb 6 drachms leaves of black Hellebore half an ounce the yellow of Oranges two drachms Make a close and warm infusion for 12 hours Let the Colature be kept in a Glass stopt The Dose from 5 drachms to 6. Within 4 or 5 dayes they may be repeated as occasion shall require Too often and violent purging destroys the strength spoils the Bowels and in the mean time removes not the Disease After once or twice purging if bleeding be indicated let it be done in the Arm or in the Haemorrhoid Veins by Leeches It is not much matter which Vein is opened for the opening of the Salvatella is not of such moment as is commonly believed All the tedious controversies among Authors about bleeding the Jecorary or Cephalick or any other which should be best are at an end since the Circulation of the Blood is known Phlebotomy is indicated by the plenty and badness of Blood which it is better to take away in small quantities at several times than to take a great deal at once For when the Sanguineous Liquor becomes very impure it is more certainly amended by no sort of Remedy than by letting of it often and in a small quantity because as often as the old corrupt Blood is taken away new which is better and more pure succeeds In the interim care must be had that it be not taken away in too great a quantity at once for when its store is hastily diminished sanguification fails so that a Dropsie or Cachexy follows Therefore since the greatest pains in Physick should be bestowed upon eradicating the cause of the Scurvy especially and upon its own account for this end moreover Digestives and Specifick Remedies or Antiscorbuticks as we intimated but now must be used at all times except the purging dayes to which if there be need Diaphoreticks or Diureticks may be added There are in Authors many sorts of Receipts of Medicines that perform these Intentions I have a mind here to recite some of the choicest which I have thought good to distinguish into two Classes according to the twofold nature of the Scorbutick cause namely the Sulphureo-Saline and the Salino Sulphureous Dyscrasie and first of all I shall treat of those that are proper for the latter sort of Distemper that is where need is of Medicines endued with a certain incitation and very full of volatil Salt Digestive Remedies which restore the ferment of the Stomach and help the functions of it and other parts serving for chylification and Antiscorbuticks or Specificks which remove the Dyscrasie of the Blood are either joyned in the same composition or at least are taken successively on the same day Among Digestive Medicines there are justly reckoned Cream of Tartar salt and tincture of Crystal Tartarus Vitriolatus Chalybeatus Elixir proprietatis Mixtura simplex The use of any of these twice aday does much good Moreover you may easily mix magisterial Tinctures and Elixirs of divers sorts both digestive and appropriate to the Scurvy with the two following Menstrua Take of rectified Spirit of Vitriol 6 ounces alkalisate Spirit of Wine 16 ounces Mix them and distill them in a Glass retort with 3 Cohobations Keep it for use in a Glass well stopped Elixir proprietatis is better made and more easily with the said Menstruum than the common way Take of Winter Bark Lignum Aloes lesser Galangal root each 2 drachms Cinnamon Cloves Cubebs each 1 drachm Seed of Bishopsweed Cresses each half a drachm When they are bruised pour on them the foresaid Menstruum till it stand 3 Inches above Digest them in a body in a sand Furnace 6 dayes Keep the Colature in a Glass well stopt The Dose is 20 drops in Canary or some proper Liquor twice a day Take of the whitest Amber Gum Ivie Carannae Tacamahacae each 1 drachm Saffron half a drachm Cloves Nutmeg each 2 scruples When they are bruised pour on them the foresaid Menstruum and draw the Tincture according to art The Dose is 20 drops as before Take of blew Salt of Tartar 4 ounces digest it in a body with 1 pound of Alkalisate Spirit of Wine to the extraction of the Tincture This may be another Menstruum with which you may make Elixirs out of Gums Spices c. in the same manner as you did with the former Menstruum While these sort of Medicines are given Evening and Morning another sort of Medicines that are Antiscorbutick must be given at medical hours that is at eight before noon and four after which for the most part we give in a solid and liquid form together taking the solid first and drinking the liquid upon it There are several forms and compositions of both sorts ELECTVARIES Take of conserve of Scurvy-grass Roman Wormwood Fumitory each 2 ounces powder of Winter's Bark root of Angelica Wake Robin each 2 drachms Species diatriωn Santalωn 1 drachm and an half powder of Crabs Eyes 1 drachm salt of Wormwood 2 drachms With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Citron rind make an Electuary Take of the Conserve of Scurvy-grass leaves Brooklime made with an equal quantity of Sugar each 3 ounces Troches of Capers of Rhubarb each 2 drachms salt of Wormwood Scurvy-grass each 1 drachm With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Juice of Scurvy grass make an Electuary I usually prescribe Conserves of the outer Peels of Lemons and Oranges of the purple flowers of the Ash-Tree of the flowers and leaves of Lady-smock of the root of sharp pointed Dock and English Rhubarb made with an equal quantity of Sugar which being mixt either among themselves or with other Conserves and Powders may go to the making up of such Electuaries as these Take of the Conserve of the yellow of Oranges of Lemons of flowers of Ash each 2 ounces root of Contrayerva 1 drachm and an half lesser Galangal half a drachm root of Aron 2 drachms Species Aromat Rosat 1 drachm salt of Wormwood 2 drachms With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Nutmegs make an Electuary The Dose of these
Nettle each 2 ounces Brooklime 2 ounces bruise them in a Mortar with 10 ounces of the whitest Sugar then add of Scales of Iron very finely powdered 1 ounce powder of white and red Sanders each 2 drachms With a sufficient quantity of juice of Nettle make an Electuary The Dose is the quantity of a Nutmeg twice a day Take of the destilled water or Decoction of some temperate Anti-scorbutick two pounds of our preparation of Steel 2 drachms Mix them in a glass The Dose is 3 or 4 ounces Take of Nettle tops Leaves of Brooklime each 4 handfuls When they are bruised strain out the juice keep it in a Glass The Dose is 2 or 3 ounces twice a day with some distilled Antiscorbutick water Of faults in the Mouth arising from the Scurvy Whenever the Scorbutick Infection has seized the Mouth so as the Gums swell and the flesh of them become fungous immediately Remedies which drive away putrefaction from them must be diligently used Among these Washes for the Mouth and Liniments are of especial use both when the Disease begins about these Parts and when it grows worse which nevertheless as they respect divers intentions so they use to be diversly prepared to wit the flesh of the Gums when it first swells must be freed from the Incursions of a Salt and corrupt Blood and Serum afterwards the Flesh grown flaccid and shrunk from the Teeth must be defended from putrefaction and that it may stick closer to the Teeth there must be astriction for these and other intentions Gargarisms or Mouth-washes of divers sorts may be used Of all which the chief ingredients are Vegetables boyled and Minerals infused The Herbs and Roots that are boyled in some proper Liquor either Water or Wine are for the most part either sharp or bitter or styptick and then such Decoctions are impregnated either with a Volatil Lixivial Vitriolate Chalybeate or Aluminous Salt 1. When therefore the Flesh of the Gums by reason of a defluxion of Salt and corrupt Blood and Serum first begins to swell and grow fungous Take of the middle rind of Elder Elm each half an handful Leaves of Savory Sage Rocket Cresses each 1 handful Roots of Pellitory of Spain 2 drachms being shred and bruised boyl them in 3 pounds of Lime-water to the consumption of a third part If edulcoration be required add of Honey of Roses 2 ounces Make a Gargarism Or take of tried Vitriol 1 ounce our Country People call it Captain Green's powder Spring-water 2 pounds mix them in a Glass shake it and when the Liquor is settled and clear use it Or Make a Ly of ashes of Broom or Rosemary or of calcined Tartar or Nitre in 3 pounds of this boyl of the Leaves of Savory Time Rosemary Sage each 1 handful Let the colature be poured upon 2 handfuls of Scurvy-grass Leaves Make a hot and close Infusion for 3 hours strain it again and keep it to wash the Mouth often in a day For the same intention also Liniments at times and especially at Night may be applied that their virtue may be communicated to the Patients even while they sleep There is exstant a Famous prescription frequent among Authors and approved by long experience Take of Leaves of Columbine crisp Mint Sage Nutmeg Myrrh which yet sometimes is omitted each 2 drachms burnt Allum half an ounce Virgin Honey 4 ounces or what is sufficient make a Liniment according to Art 2. If at any time the flaccid Flesh of the Gums part from the roots of the Teeth a gentle scarification is often used moreover let the Mouth be washed with this Decoction Take of tops of Bramble Cypress Leaves of Sanicle Ladies smock each 1 handful boyl them in water wherein Iron has been quenched 3 pounds to the consumption of a third add to the colature of Honey of Roses 2 ounces Mix them Such a Liniment as this may be applied Take of the powder of Florentine Orrice Leaves of Sage St. John's-wort each 2 drachms bole Armonick Sal prunellae each 1 drachms Virgin Honey hot what is sufficient incorporate them well by stirring 3. When the Gums are putrid and corrupt and the Teeth are rotten and loose and send out a nasty stink stronger Medicines and such as exceedingly resist putrefaction may be used an Infusion of Camphorate vitriol or lapis Medicamentosus are especially proper in this Case Or Take of root of Gentian round Birthwort cut each half an ounce Leaves of lesser Centaury Sea Wormwood Savory Columbine each 1 handful boyl them in some lime or lixivial water and sometimes wherein Iron has been quenched or Allum dissolved 3 pounds to the consumption of a third part To the Colature add 2 or 3 ounces of crude Honey Mix them 4. If the falling of the Teeth be chiefly feared Take of the bark of the root of the wild Sloe-Tree 1 ounce Tormentil and of Bistort whole each an handful Pomegranate rind and flowers each half an ounce boyl them in 3 pounds of Spring water the best Honey 2 ounces Mix them Take of Camphorate Vitriol burnt Harts-horn each 1 drachm Nutmeg half a drachm the best Honey what is sufficient Make a Liniment Or Take of the Powder of root of Bistort Pomegranate rind Bole-Armonick burnt Allum each 1 drachm Honey of Roses what is sufficient add of Spirit of Vitriol 1 scruple Make an oyntment 5. If at any time as is sometimes usual putrid and deep Ulcers seize the Gums or other Parts of the Mouth the foresaid stronger Medicines must be often used Moreover a rag dipt in Vnguentum Aegyptiacum dissolved in Spirit of Wine or in an Infusion of lapis medicamentosus or Sublimate may sometimes be applied In these cases the Cure must be left to a skilful Surgeon Of Pains that usually infest the Legs and other Limbs sometimes at Night especially Against these Pains because sometimes they are very bitter beside the general method of curing the Scurvy specifick Remedies and such as oppose this Symptom are indicated therefore in such a case when a man has been well purged and bled if need be it is convenient to set upon the Disease both by Medicines inwardly and applications outwardly As to the former things that move Sweat and Urine often give relief inasmuch as they carry another way the lixivial and acid recrements of the Blood and Nervous juice which used to meet in the part affected especially if such things be used as vindicate both these Humors from that bad disposition as well saline as acid Testaceous powders of Crabs Eyes mandible of a Pike also Spirit and Flowers of Sal Ammoniack Spirit of Blood Tincture of Antimony Coral Decoctions of root and seed of Burdock Groundpine Germander are very good Which sort of Remedies may be taken with distilled Antiscorbutick waters twice or thrice a day Distilled water of Horse-dung adding Scurvy-grass Brooklime Iva arthritica and the like does sometimes a great deal of good In the mean time Fomentations Liniments Cataplasms or
a Miracle XI Blisters applied to the Hips are of use to prevent Fits But I have often observed that Sinapisms applied to the Hips 2 or 3 hours before the Fit have diverted it Fortis which is a Remedy of less trouble XII Like as where the said Suffocation is urgent Castor is deservedly preferred before many other things and its Tincture with rectified Spirit of Wine and Spirit of Sal Ammoniack so where Cold is very urgent as well outwardly as inwardly as in a Syncope and Diseases of that nature above all things that I have hitherto yet known I commend the destilled oyl of Cloves which is not ingrateful nor do I disapprove of the oyl of Turpentine which is less grateful seeing mixt with Spirit of Vitriol it raises an effervescency accompanied with great heat Let this mixture serve for an example Take of Water of Penny-royal 2 ounces Theriacalis simplex 6 drachms Tincture of Castor 2 drachms destilled oyl of Mace of Amber each 3 drops Syrup of Fennil half an ounce Give it by spoonfuls it is good also in Hypochondriack Diseases One scruple of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac may be added to this mixture which will make it much stronger or a narrow mouthed Glass containing the said Spirit Sylvius de le Boe. prax l. 1. c. 19. may be held to the Nose for by its sharp smell People are got both out of Fits and the falling sickness XIII I observed in a Matron a most grievous Aphony often returning with Convulsions She had been Barren many years and upon the approach of her Menses was taken with a most grievous Fit of the Mother then with a small Epilepsie at length with partial Convulsions of Hands Feet Back and horrible ones all the Body over She upon using of proper foetid uterine Medicines fell into more grievous Symptomes for which cause we fell to Perfumes Musk to wit and Amber and we gave them in a small quantity with other Cephalick strengthening things with good success Which should also be observed in other Hysterick Women that is in such whose Head and Nervous kind has been weakned in their youth by Epileptick Fits Horstius ◠1. Obs 26. or some other cause XIV A Woman was afflicted with most cruel Symptomes Head-ach Belching contraction of the Body pain in her Groin gnashing of her Teeth sometimes falling to the ground speechless her Mouth shut so that she could not open it and all these things from the fault of her Womb. She having tried many Medicines to no purpose an old Woman coming in gave her 13 grains of Musk and as many of common Dragon's blood in 4 drachms of Orange flower water she was cured and never after had any Fits Solenander Sect. 5. cons 5. §. 10. I have given the same Medicine in the like case and it alwayes did good I have given it several times XV. In the cure of a pregnant Hysterick Woman we must take great care that Remedies be prudently administred and that violent and very foetid things be not given lest abortion be caused And the business must be done more by external than internal things Riverius XVI Aetius well advises that a Woman when she has recovered her health should not wholly be neglected but for preservation sake she should use Medicines at certain intervals especially at suspected times so that the use of them should not wholly be left off but the quantity abated XVII I and Dr. Dobritius had a Woman under Cure of Fits of the Mother who had a very foul Body She was taken about Night especially with a straitness about her Stomach her Heart was oppressed and almost all her Limbs had a tingling in them her Head also aking Various things were tried by us the Humours were prepared evacuated strengthning things were given yet we did no good At length through my perswasion we gave her Antimonium diaphoreticum upon taking of which she began by degrees to amend We continued it for a Fortnight in which time she was so much relieved that because she was better and grew weary of Medicines she had rather commit the rest to Nature than longer insist on Medicines I ascribe her recovery chiefly to the Antimony She indeed is well now but not without complaints of a weariness in her Limbs Doringius XVIII We often meet with Women who think they are ill of the Spleen when they are Hysterick By Hysterick Affections I mean these Symptomes that happen not in the Womb it self but in other Parts which have a Sympathy with the Womb for the Womb has some Sympathy with all the Parts especially with such as are contained in the Abdomen to which it is joyned by its Veins Arteries Nerves Membranes and by its Ligaments from whence because of some vitious Blood Seed or other Humours foul vapours expire into other Parts And there is a very great Sympathy between the Spleen and Womb by the Arteries whence come Hypochondriack Ails rumblings and pains of the Belly And this Sympathy is so frequent and familiar that many say they are only Sick of the Spleen Trimirosius when the Disease is in their Womb. ¶ A Maid of a Melancholick nature had for several years been troubled with violent Fits that returned often Most Physicians thought this mischief came from Malignant Vapors bred in the Spleen and rising to the Diaphragm It so happened that the Patient was held almost a whole Night with so violent a Fit that they thought she would dye every moment I suspecting it to be a Fit of the Mother gave her compound Balm water which is much in use among us I poured 2 or 3 spoonfuls of it into her Mouth she came to her self to a Miracle Thonorus Obs 2. l. 3. p. 185. and all her difficulty of Breathing ceased Whence we knew it was an Hysterick Fit XIX I was called to a Matron who was dangerously ill of Fits I found her lying with her Eyes shut and speechless I immediately prescribed her Aqua matricalis de Melissa Composita instead whereof through the Apothecaries mistake Aqua matricalis camphorata was sent a spoonful of which when I had poured into her Mouth she began to complain as well as she could What do ye do Then all her Head burnt as hot as Fire But when the other de Melissa Composita was brought and given the Sick Woman she immediately recollected her self began to open her Eyes and to speak and was recovered to her former health Now though Camphire in some Hysterick cases be no ignoble Medicine yet you may find many Women to whom it is an Enemy especially such as have a hot Head for by reason of its volatil Spirits it presently flies to the Head Idem Obs 3. This Patient was of a Sanguine Complexion and ruddy Countenance XX. Laudanum is admirable in Vapors that Sympathically annoy the Brain especially in Fits of the Mother mixt with Hystericks Madamoiselle de la Font after
to revive And these were so much the more irregular and showed so much the more intense putrefaction by how much the matter of which they were bred was more thick and faeculent As to the Cure I have admired at the quite contrary Indications which this Disease seems to intimate to me For on the one hand it was clear that the Symptomes which depend upon too great Inflammation were immediately produced by a hot regiment as a Fever Phrensy Purple Spots c. to which this Disease above all other is subject And on the other hand an over cold regiment did hinder the Swelling of the Hands and Face which is here very necessary and render the Pustules more flat After I had much and often revolved these things anxiously with my self I at length understood that it was possible to help both these inconveniences together at the same time for by allowing the liberal use of water boyled with Milk of small Beer or of some such other Liquor it was in my power to check the internal rage of the blood and on the other hand by keeping the Patient constantly in bed not putting out so much as an Arm I could by the gentle heat thereof promote the elevation of the Pustules and the swelling of the face and hands Nor is this Method inconsistent with it self for the blood when the eruption is at an end is reckoned to have discharged the inflamed Particles into the habit of the Body and not then to want provocatives to a further secretion of the matter so that since then the whole stress of the business lies in the habit of the Body and in ripening the Abscesses we must only take care on the score of the blood that it may be preserved from hot Vapours struck in from the flesh beset with Pustles and on the score of the Pustles that they may be brought to maturity by the gentle heat of the external parts But then how happily soever this Method of mine had succeeded in other Confluent small Pox yet in these of this Constitution my Method failed me so that most of these that were very ill of them died whether they used the Method now recommended by me or a hotter Regiment and Cordials Therefore I fully understood that something was yet wanting beside these things which might conduce either to the checking of ebullition of the Blood or to raise the Pustules and the Swelling of the Face and Hands that is that something was wanting which might be sufficient to conquer an intense Putrefaction which was observed to be higher in these than in any other At last Spirit of Vitriol came into my mind which I thought might satisfie both intentions both the resisting of putrefaction and stilling the rage of the Blood Wherefore leaving the Patient to himself till both his pain and inclination to Vomit which use to go before eruption were ceased and all the Small Pox were come out at length on the 5th or 6th day I ordered Spirit of Vitriol to be dropt into small Beer to a moderate acidity for his ordinary drink to drink his pleasure but more freely when the Fever of maturation was at hand which drink I ordered him to take every day till he was perfectly recovered This Spirit as if it had been Specifick for this Disease did check all Symptomes to a miracle The Face swelled sooner and far higher The interstices of the Small Pox inclined more to a red colour like a Damask Rose The small Pustules grew great at least as big as that sort would bear The Pustules also which otherwise had appeared to be black did here discharge a certain yellow matter resembling an Honey-comb Then the Face was instead of black tinged with a deep brown colour They ripened sooner and run through all the other times sooner by a day or two And all these things came to pass if they drank freely of the foresaid Liquor Wherefore whenever I observed that the Patient refused to take a quantity sufficient to conquer his Symptomes I gave him now and then this Spirit mixt either with some Syrup in a spoon or with Syrup and distilled water added to it that the more sparing use of this Liquor might be compensated I have reckoned up the divers conveniences of this Medicine Inconvenience indeed I could never yet observe any the least arise from it for although Salivation be usually stopt on the 11th or 15th day by it instead whereof some stools about that time do serve yet the Patient will be less endangered by these than by it because they that are sick of the Confluent Small Pox are chiefly in danger because in these dayes the Spittle being made viscid choaks a Man which indeed a loosness in this case helps which will either cease of self or at least when there is no danger from the small Pox it may be stopt by drinking Milk and Water and by taking of Narcoticks In the mean time the Patient being laid in his Bed and his Arms covered I would not suffer him to have more Clothes on him than ordinary I allowed him also to move himself from one part of the Bed to the other as he pleased to prevent Sweats to which he was much inclined notwithstanding this Remedy in the mean time he lived upon Oat-meal and Barly grewel and sometimes a roasted Apple Towards the latter end if either the Patient were faint or sick at his Stomach I indulged him 3 or 4 spoonfuls of Canary Wine And after the 5th or 6th day I ordered him being a grown Person for Children had no need of it a Paregorick draught to be taken every Evening betimes that is 14 drops of liquid Laudanum in Cowslip water On the 14th day I suffered the Patient to rise from his Bed on the 21th I got him let Blood and then I purged him twice or thrice which being done the Patient's Face looked better and of a more lively colour than theirs used to do whom this Disease had handled ill Besides the method here recommended does not suffer the Face to be disfigured with Scars Sydenham which proceed from hot and enraged Humours eroding the Skin XXXV The Small Pox must not be neglected but an exact account must be taken of them and a sollicitous cure must be insisted on First when they are Epidemical and one or more Children are taken with them in the same House and there are more yet that have not had them and indeed for prevention sake from so grievous and difficult a Disease 2. Upon the account of them in whom while the Fever is urgent the Humour that produces the Small Pox is moved up and down the Body with the Blood 3. When Spots and Pustules are come out all the Body over and they begin to be inflamed and to hasten to suppuration 4. When the same Small Pox are in suppuration or cease to suppurate 5. When signs remain of a Humour that produces the Small Pox not sufficiently expelled
which must be separated from its Faeces 3 grains a day may be given for a Dose in Speedwell Water Kircheruâ— 10. This is proved by certain Experience if any one have swallowed Leeches or eaten Mushromes or any poysonous thing let him immediately drink warm Vinegar with a little Salt Kunrad and he will presently be cured by Vomiting 11. Against Opium Let Mustard and Castor be taken in equal quantities and put into the Nose Mercurialis to cause Sneezing 12. Treacle with â—xymel Simpl. or Scylliticum satisfies all Indications for none that ever took this after eating Mushromes died of them Panarolus but all through GOD's Blessing recovered 13. A Decoction of Linseed corrects all Erosions of the Stomach caused by taking Cantharides Platerus and it is reckoned their Antipharmack 14. Against Quicklime the Gall of a Roebuck from 1 scruple to 1 drachm taken in warm Water is an Antidote as also a scruple of Deer's Gall given the same way ¶ Against Gypsum 1 drachm of Mice dung in Wine ¶ Against Aqua fortis Mucilage of Quince seed Marsh-mallow and Gum Tragacanth drawn with Rose water and mixt with Honey of Roses and of Violets ¶ Against Antimony besides Treacle bole Armenick and Oyl of Cloves ¶ Against Arsenick Fossile Crystall powdered 1 scruple taken in Oyl of sweet Almonds also Oyl of Pine-nuts 3 drachms given in drink also juice of Mint 2 drachms ¶ Against Minium burnt Ivory 2 drachms in Wine also Treacle and Mithridate ¶ Against crude Mercury filings or leaves of Gold also juice of Burnet and Wine ¶ Against its Fume a draught of Wine wherein Rosemary Staechas Arabica and lesser Centaury have been boyled as also a draught of Sage and Zeodary water ¶ Against sublimate and precipitate fine powder of Crystal 1 drachm with Oyl of sweet Almonds also 2 drachms of Oyl of Tartar or salt of Wormwood ¶ Against Cinnabar burnt Ivory 2 drachms given in Wine ¶ Against Mushromes Hen's dung or ashes of Vine-branches with a little Nitre drunk with Honey and Water warm Sowre Pears are commended whether green or dry and if they be eaten before Mushromes or boyled with them they render the Mushromes harmless Treacle also is good But let a Man especially use Honey in his Meat which is a peculiar and proper Antidote against Mushromes ¶ Against Napellus Take of the Flies of Napellus they are blew Flies which sit and live upon no other Plant of the like Nature with this N o. 20 Birthwort Bole Armenick each 1 drachm Make a Powder ¶ Against Wolf's bane Opchalsamum 1 drachm ¶ Against Henbane Pistachio-nuts eaten and drunk ¶ Against green Coriander roots of Swallow-wort in Wine ¶ Against Euphorbium Citron seed in Wine wherein Elecampane root has been boyled also terra sigillata Emerauld prepared Crystall c. ¶ Against white Hellebore powder of the Flowers or roots of white Water Lily or Parsnep seed 2 drachms taken in Wine also Treacle ¶ Against the bite of a Viper Bezoar from half a scruple to 1 drachm boyled in Wormwood Wine and given Also Garlick Leeks Onyons Rue Treacle Mithridate Antidotus Matthioli which some highly commend the Dose is 3 drachms in some Cordial water ¶ Against a Scorpion besides the live Scorpion taken and bruised and applied to the Wound and Oyl of Scorpions the Milk of a Fig-tree dropt into the Wound is good ¶ Against the biting of a Leech Agrimony bruised and applied ¶ Against a Spider the Catkins of the Walnut-tree dried in an Oven from 1 drachm to 2 given in Hydromel or white Wine also Treacle and Bole Armenick taken in Vinegar also the dry Reâ—â— of the Fir-tree Against Cantharides Penny-royal taken either in Substance or in Decoction also Terra Lemnia 2 drachms or Winter Cherries N o. 10 with Wine ¶ Against the Venome of Flies Bees and Wasps the Animals themselves bruised and applied to the Part also live Sulphur mixt with Man's spittle Rue or the Milk of the Fig-tree applied to the Place And if there be need Coriander may be given inwardly with Sugar ¶ Against the Brain and Blood of a Cat half a scruple of Musk taken frequently ¶ Against Milk curdled on the Stomach Vinegar simple or of Squills also the juice of Mint new drawn also Milk of the Fig-tree given with Wine and Vinegar also the Runnet of any Animal ¶ Against the poysonous Sweat of any creature Take Bole Armenick Terra Sigillata Bay-berries each 1 drachm the Runnet of a Roe-buck or instead of it of an Hare half a drachm Myrrh leaves of Rue each half a drachm with clarified Honey make an Electuary Senâ—ertus Take 2 drachms every day 15. All things premised that ought it is the best way to drive out the Poyson to the Skin to which purpose this is a most excellent Water Take of Aqua theriacalis camphorata 1 drachm and an half Liquor of Tartar corrected Spirit of Vitriol each half a drachm the oyly Liquor of red Corall 1 drachm Oyl of Turpentine 5 drops of Juniper 4 drops Essence of Celandine half a drachm Water of the root of Colts foot Eryngo each 1 ounce of Elder flowers Wall Gilliflowers each half an ounce red sweet Wine 2 ounces and an half Vid. Vidius Mix them Destill them in Balneo Keep it for use Ventriculi affectus or Diseases of the Stomach See Stomachicks Book XIX The Contents Whether Topicks must be applied for the strengthning of it I. What such the things that are applied to the Back should be II. Plaisters should not be long kept on III. What dry Things are applied must not be cold or astringent IV. An Instrument to scour a foul Stomach V. It admits of an Incision VI. When the Stomach is ill the Diet must be thin VII The Cure of an unaequall Intemperature VIII In a hot Intemperature we must take care of the Liver IX A Vomit is most convenient for an Intemperature with an Humor X. The Efficacy of Hiera in cold Diseases with Phlegm XI Strong Purges are hurtful XII We must use Heaters with caution XIII When Wormwood Wine may be given XIV How far we may heat the Stomach XV. Things with Vinegar in them are not proper in every Crudity XVI A Caution about digesting Powders XVII Strengthning Powders do harm upon account of the Sugar XVIII The use of Pepper is strengthning the Stomach XIX When the drinking of hot or cold Water is good XX. Spirit of Vitriol is hurtful XXI Whether Spirit of Vitriol of Venus be proper XXII All strong destilled Things are hurtfull XXIII Destilled Aquae vitae help not Concoction XXIV Strong smelling Things must not be added to digestive Powders XXV Things that heat the Stomach if the Liver be hot must be taken after Meat XXVI Wormwood worn under the Soles of the feet cures a cold Stomach XXVII Over hot things applied do hurt XXVIII Wine rather hinders Concoction than helps it XIX An austere Wine in a dry Intemperature
c. 5. when the Stomach will not retain the Meat sayes it is best either to drink Wine cold or else very hot Which yet must so be understood as when the stomach is either empty or full of Phlegm we must abstain from cold Things which according to Hippocrates are enemies to the Nerves and then hot drink nourishes the innate heat and concocts crude Phlegm but when one is full Rubaeus comm in loc cum then he must use cold Things wherewith by antiparistasis the heat is gathered and made stronger XXI I have known some who have endeavoured to consume and dry up the matter with Oyl of Vitriol because it most violently dries and cleanses and indeed at first the Patients find benefit for they perceive by using of it that the Stomach is astringed their appetite encreased and the matter of the Fluxion abated but I know at length they have become Cachectick to say nothing of other Diseases Truly I have ever suspected the caustick Virtue which remains in that Oyl prepared even according to the Doctrine of Paracelsus I have indeed used it sometimes in Diseases proceeding from very crass Phlegm but I would perswade no man by the continued use of a few drops to spoil the moderate heat of the Stomach which is designed for Concoction and corrupt the goodness of the Blood For if we may make our conjecture of internals from externals what is it that boyls in the Chimney but heat And that Acids corrugate the Mouth of the Stomach and excite Appetite we know from the use of Vinegar Such therefore as constantly use this Oyl although they may flatter themselves for a time in the goodness of their Appetite and drying up of Defluxions yet at length and in process of time they are forced to acknowledge Gr. Hofmâ—nus to their sorrow the harm done to their Stomach and other Parts XXII For strengthning of the Stomach Chymists likewise commend Spirit of Vitriol of Venus which they call the Hungry Acetosity of Venus or Spirit of Hungarian Vitriol And they write of it that it is of such Virtue that it consumes all the Impurities that are in the Stomach whether Tartareous or Sulphureous and strengthens the Stomach so much that it is able to concoct all things But all this is hyperbolical And though it be often given with advantage yet Caution is necessary for it must not be used in every weakness and Disease of the Stomach but where there are gross and tartareous Humors which it consumes and afterwards by Astriction strengthens the Stomach But we must have a care that we do not over do it and that the radical moisture of the Stomach be not dissipated and wasted by it which often happens upon the unseasonable and excessive use of Spirit of Vitriol Sennertus XXIII All strong destilled Things must be avoided which seem indeed to do good but they shorten life because they far exceed the degree of innate heat and all Remedies ought to consist in Mediocrity For the gentlest Medicines in a diseased and languishing Stomach want not danger Crato cons. 106. especially in old People XXXIV It is the Custome of some that if at any time they eat any thing hard of Digestion or that will surfeit presently to drink some generous destilled Water as aqua vitae or the like to help Concoction but this is done not without hazard of Health for seeing the said Meats use not to be digested but by a long stay in the Stomach such Waters as these do by their penetrating and permeable Virtue carry these Meats not yet well concocted into the Veins whence proceed crudities and obstructions Thus Physicians do aright forbid the giving of Diureticks with Meat or immediately after Meat lest they carry the crudities of the Stomach to the urinary Passages And the reason is the same in Waters that are taken to promote Concoction because of the great aperient Virtue they are indued withal Therefore Rondeletius cap. de palpitatione We may saith he give such things inwardly as heat the Stomach and discuss Wind which thing must be observed for 3 or 4 hours before Meal we may give things that heat much and discuss Wind so the Liver be not very hot such as diatrion pip dianis aromat rosat diagalanga and the like These things should not be given immediately before Meal because by their heat and tenuity they would presently hurry with them the Aliment half crude to the first wayes Hence it is evident that they are in error who give very hot Powders after Meal which should be moderately hot Aetius l. 3. serm 1. c. 24. says neither this nor any other Medicine which penetrates much must be taken after Meal for some crude Meat is distributed and digested with it and causes Obstructions The use of it is convenient after rubbing in the Morning two hours before Exercise and Bathing What we said of things difficult of Digestion is applicable to things easily corruptible such as horary Fruits They are likewise in an Error who when they find Wind and Crudities upon their Stomachs drink these Waters to heat and strengthen the Stomach for by the tenuity of their substance they easily penetrate into the Bowels and increase their Intemperature whereupon their Disease afterwards encreases You will object Physicians prescribe Pepper bruised grossly and that Aetius used Wormwood for hypochondriack Winds but Pepper doe good this way because it reaches not to the Bowels but only strengthens the Stomach and therefore heats not the Liver Then its heat is extinguished and quickly dissipated in the first wayes and it cleanses and carries off sharp Humors Wormwood is good because it binds the Stomach and helps bilious not phlegmatick Humors which afford matter for this Disease by its detersion Primirosius and carries them off by stool and Urine XXV This must be observed concerning those they call digestive Powders that too strong things are not convenient in Diseases of the Head caused by Fumes It is best therefore to make them of things that are not much scented and to abstain from such things as have Musk Amber Saffron and other Things that fly to the Head in them But I blame such as put Liquorish in them for although it quench Thirst and have a little Astriction in it yet sweet Things make lax the Mouth of the Stomach and breed Wind. I also blame them that add Nutmeg and Mace because they are oyly Things and all such subvert the Stomach It is not amiss also to add Faenil and Seseli seed to Powders that discuss Wind and to digestives ones as also to other Powders because they attenuate the visory Spirits but we must be sparing in the use of Cummin Carroway and Rue seeds because of the too ingrateful taste of Cummin and the too great acrimony Let them be steeped in Vinegar Rondeleâ—â—â— if Powders be made for digestion of Meat XXXVI The breeding of much Matter in the Stomach
Grate-Iron and having suffered about eight Weeks under ill Chirurgery was commended to my Care The Ulcer was with loss of substance and sanious with some pituitous swelling in the Lips and Parts about it I dressed it with unguent basilicon mixt with Praecipitate 1 drachm of it to an ounce of the Unguent I applied over it a Plaster of diachalcit sprinkled with a little Vinegar and a Compress wrung out of Oxycrate then rowled it up with the expulsive Bandage the Cure indeed consisting mainly in the well rowling the want of that causing frequently crudity in the Ulcer By the use of it both the Influx was restrained and the member strengthened and with the help of the Unguent aforesaid it was digested as the Lips flatted by virtue of Compression it incarned and by Vnguent tutiae and Pledgits dipt in Lime water cicatrized in few dayes without Purging or Bleeding XXXIV A Gentleman of about twenty years old of a good habit of Body put himself into my hands for the cure of an Ulcer on his right side the breadth of the palm of the Hand It was occasioned by a burn and had been bigger The cause why this remaining part of the Ulcer did not cicatrize was most evident it being over-grown with loose Flesh I applied Pledgits of a mixture of unguent basilicon with two parts Aegyptiacum upon it with Bandage but observing it not to yield to that so soon as I designed I levelled it with the Caustick stone and after separation of the Eschar digested the Ulcer with unguent basilicon and Mercury precipitate and afterwards cicatrized it XXXV A young Man by some accident bruised the back of his Hand it inflamed and apostemated and after some while terminating in a sinuous Ulcer and underneath corrupting the Bone I was consulted and advised the way of dressing it but that method not being observed other Bones of the Hand became carious and the Hand in great hazard of being lost Upon which he was commended to my care Sir Alex. Fras being present I took off the dressings made a search with a Probe and felt the Bones leading to the two middle Fingers bare rough and as I suspected rotten The Orifice being small I applied a Caustick large enough to make way for the taking out those bones then divided the Eschar and dressed up his Hand with Digestives Emplaster and Bandage Sir Alex. Fras prescribed him a vulnerary decoction and left the prosecution of the cure to me As the Escar separated I saw the Bones leading to the two middle Fingers black and softned with putrefaction I laid hold on the one with my forceps and pinched it into pieces with much ease bringing part of it away I fomented the hand with a Decoction of Wormwood in Wine dissolved a little Aegyptiacum in some of it washed the Ulcer and applied a Dossil dipt hot in it upon the Bone and unguent basilicon over the Escar I then pinched out what was most rotten dressed the remaining ends of them with a mixture of unguent Aegyptiacum Spirit of Wine and extract of Scordium actually hot with an armed Probe applied Pledgits of the same upon the Bones rubb'd the loose flesh in the Ulcer with a Vitriol stone and laid unguent diapomphol upon Pledgits over the tender edges of the Ulcer By this way of dressing I deterged the Ulcer and at several times pinching out those rotten Bones that led to the two middle Fingers disposed the rest to cast off During which I laid the Ulcer higher open to the joynt of the middle Finger which knuckle I also found rotted to pieces and took out what would come easily away then dressed the remaining Calies as the other in the Hand and after some time made a separation of the Caries there Having the while digested and healed the Ulcer I first laid open I also cicatrized this part and dismissed the Patient well cured as I thought But some while after he came to me again with a Tumour upon that Knucle of the middle Finger from some remaining splinter of a Bone I laid it open and took that out While I was curing this I observed a small opening with a Tumour near it as big as a small Hazle-nut upon that part of the Bone which led to the Fore-finger I opened this by Causticks and discovering part of the Bone black pinched it off and dressed the remaining end with Aegyptiacum scalding hot upon an armed probe I kept the Ulcer open with Dossils prest out with Spirit of Wine till I made separation of it then cured this Ulcer also And from that time which is more then 5 years he hath continued well and his Hand is firm and strong Nature having supplied that loss of Bones with Callus But he beareth the Marks of the Disease Idem p. 188. which will assert the truth of what is here delivered XXXVI A Daughter of a substantial Citizen laboured under an Abscess in the Region of her left Kidney and was long treated by a bold Empirick who promised Cure but after all his endeavours the Child languishing under the Ulcer sometimes by the great discharge of matter by Urine and other times through the suppression of it great pains were stirred up within the Body and outwardly in the Abscess I being consulted observed the external Abscess took its Original from the Ulcer within the Kidney and required another manner of dressing its Cure being the work of time I proposed the laying it open to the very part where the matter passed forth from the Kidney To which purpose I applied a Caustick upon the Sinus below divided the Escar and dressed it up with Lenients Then after separation and digestion of the Ulcer searching the same with my Probe I found the Sinus run up above the Orifice which being also laid open I discovered the passage into the Kidney and felt the side of the last short rib bared by the matter in its passing our I dressed the Ulcer with mundif ex Apio and healed up the remaining Sinus's above and below to the very Arpeture While I was doing this work Doctor Barwick was consulted to help us in the Cure by Internals who prescribed a Traumatick decoction of Sarsa c. with the more temperate Plants and balsamick Pills to contemperate the Humours During my disposing of this Ulcer to retain a Cannula the Matter discharged by Urine in great quantity and the Patient was as sorely afflicted and had the same Symptome that others have who are diseased with Ulcers or Stones in their Kidneys but after vent was given by a short Cannula oâ— Lead she recovered Having continued the use of the Cannula some months I removed it and kept a Pea just in the opening and by red Sparadrop and compress retained it on then left her to her Mother to dress and only called sometimes when they gave me notice of their wants After a year or thereabout that she had kept this fontanell open the internal pains and discharge
Aristolochia rotunda ¶ This is a sure Remedy for Ulcers with worms in them Take of Savin 2 handfuls Camphire half a drachm the middle rind of an Hazle 1 pugil Boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Wine pour it into a Vessel put the Ulcerous Foot into it and immediately little Worms will come out Swimming upon the Liquor Repeat this several times Joh. Agricola and the Ulcers will be cured 2. Black earth Snails which are found creeping among the leaves and grass without Houses in Spring time Enzelius mashed together and applied to Ulcers soften all Ulcers wonderfully 3. To inflamed Ulcers apply the narcotick Spirit of Vitriol which is made of calcined Vitriol and Spirit of Wine mixt together and putrefied in a close Glass for a Month. This Spirit separated is good not only to allay all Inflammation Faber and pains of Ulcers but of the Gout it self 4. I take water Frogs and hang them in a Cucurbit so as they may not touch the bottom and burn and so the water which is drawn off get a strong Smell I put fire under it and draw it off gently in Sand and keep it for use For it is most precious in malignant and cancrous Ulcers also in a Polypus Ozaena and in Ulcers of the pudenda and sedes it extinguishes Inflammation and corrects malignity I put not out the fire till they be perfectly dry and no more water will come over but I keep that which comes last by it self for it smells something strong and is not so grateful in Ulcers of the Mouth and Nose The Frogs thus dried I put into a melting crucible and burn them to white ashes They are good not only to stop Blood Guil. Fabricius but in all malignant and sordid Ulcers for if they be strewed thereon they cleanse and correct malignity 5. This is a most excellent Oyntment Take of Oyl of unripe Roses 6 drachms Myrtle unguentum populeon each 3 ounces leaves of Plantain Nightshade each 1 handful shred them and mix all together let them stand 8 dayes shaking them every day then strain them add to the colature of wax 4 drachms Mix them upon the fire till they melt stirring them with a stick when it is warm add of Litharge of Gold 6 drachms Ceruss 2 drachms prepared tutty 2 drachms Camphire 1 drachm and an half Mix them in a Mortar for 2 hours Eust Rhudius 6. The root of Dragons is excellent for Cacoethick Ulcers 7. The juice of Pimpernel with the purple flower Poterius with the Herb bruised and applied to malignant Ulcers perfectly cures them Rhumelius 8. Mercury precipitate corrected is a singular Remedy against all Ulcers 9. Many in a deplorable condition have been happily freed from their Ulcers by a decoction of Mint wherewith the Ulcers are washed Morning and Evening and afterward some powder of Rue strewed on Mart. Rulandus ¶ Oyl of Sulphur and Emplastram Diasulphuris anoynted and applied does the same 10. Some cure the most desperate Ulcers with this mixture They take of Mercury sublimate 1 drachm they powder it very fine they pour to it the best rectified Spirit of Wine 1 pound They set it in a Glass Body in Sand till the Sand grow hot and the Spirit of Wine burn They boyl also a drachm of Lignum Guaiacum in 3 pints of water half away when the water is cooled and filtred they add the said Spirit of Wine Sacâ—â— which mixture is applied with lint and tents to the Ulcers 11. Take of Salt of Litharge it is prepared as Sal Saturni with destilled Vinegar 1 drachm Spirit of Turpentine 2 drachms macerate them in hot Ashes till the Liquor grow red It is of admirable vertue in inveterate Ulcers Tumours Schroderat and Wounds 12. I have often experienced the following Plaster to be good Take of Vnguentum diapomph diapalma griseum each 1 drachm gum Elemi 2 drachms Saccharum Saturni 1 scruple a little Wax Mix them and make a Plaster ¶ Spirit of Wine especially is excellent in deterging and cleaning putrid Ulcers Sennertus and therefore should be mixt with other Medicines 13. The following unguent is effectual in absterging Ichors and foulness of Ulcers Take of juice of Parsly half a pound Myrrh 2 drachms Turpentine 1 drachm and an half Boyl them all together make an unguent wherewith rags and tents may be smeared and put into the hollow of the Ulcers Valleriola this cleanses well without any harm Vomitus or Vomiting The Contents Bleeding is good for some I. The efficacy of a Cupping-Glass II. It must sometimes be cured by Vomiting III. The efficacy of Clysters in stopping one IV. When nourishing ones must be given V. Cured by Elixir Proprietatis VI. Stopped with Medical Waters VII With a draught of cold Water VIII The way to stop it when caused by corrosive Poysons IX How when caused by a Malignant quality X. In Scorbutick Persons it is better stopt with Milk than with astringents XI How it may be stopt when the meat is cast up because of the depression of the Cartilago Xiphoides XII The stopping of it when a Vomit works too violently XIII A periodical vomiting of black Choler stopt by the use of Lenitives XIV One caused by a great laxity of the Stomach cured by eating of biscoct bread XV. The cure of one caused by the obstruction of the Arteries of the Spleen XVI A pertinacious Vomiting of Meat from the palsie of the Mouth of the Stomach XVII Some is stopt by a Narcotick mixt with a Purge XVIII Cautions about anoynting the Stomach XIX Plasters are better than Oyntments XX. When the Stomach refuses necessary Medicines how they may be kept XXI The cure of one coming from a Malignant Fever XXII When Meat may be given XXIII Some Vomiting is Idiopathick some Sympathick XXIV The cure of it when something is bred in the Stomach XXV When it comes from a sharp and hot matter XXVI From the fault of the Stomach that corrupts what it takes XXVII From the resolution of the Stomach and the nerves being affected XXVIII How Laudanum must be given XXIX Medicines Barbette I. BLeeding must of necessity be celebrated in an Inflammation of the parts otherwise it does harm ¶ A young Man of a good habit upon the breaking in of a hot matter out of the right Hypochondrium fell suddenly into vomiting and could be cured by no means but by Bleeding though the Physicians were very doubtful about it for after it the intemperature of the Liver ceased A Seaman who had a vomiting and an appetite could not stop it by setting a Cupping-glass to the bottom of his Stomach but only by taking away some Blood for when the hot evaporation of the Liver was abated Rhodius which did pierce the upper orifice of the Stomach the Patient recovered II. A Countryman 34 years old fell into frequent vomiting after his Meat which lasted for some dayes so that he
Acidulae and pretend that they can do as much by a certain salt powder given to a few grains believing that the Stomach is offended by the great quantity of water which a little powder cannot do But this is a mistake for this is the prerogative of mineral waters that they do not offend the Stomach though taken in a large quantity in the mean time they pass through all the Vessels and whatsoever vitious matter they meet with they wash and cleanse it away which a few grains of any salt powder cannot do if one consider the great number of Mesaraick Vessels to which a few grains bear no proportion so as that the salt should be distributed to them all to say nothing of that singular mixture that is made by Nature which Art cannot imitate and that the vertue is not seated so much in any fixt salt as in a volatile Spirit which easily vanishes Sennertrâ— pract l. 3. part 5. sect 1. cap. 6. Nor must we rashly pass judgment of the qualities of these Waters for if we see that they consist of v. g. Alum Sulphur Iron Nitre c. we must not presently conclude Therefore they have the same vertues with the Minerals they consist of For according to Hippocrates lib. de vet medic In Man and other Mixts there is bitter salt acid insipid which being mixt and contemper'd are neither discerned nor offend But when any one of these shall be separated and exist by it self then it both becomes conspicuous and affects a Man and so obtains another vertue of affecting Hence gather that the qualities of Mineral Waters are to be enquired after by experience rather than by reason and that they are an Empirical Medicine whereby divers and contrary Distempers are cured See an example of artificial Acidul in Platerus's Observations lib. 3. p. 610. where he sayes that some mix Spirit of Vitriol with Acidulae that they may acquire an acidity but I have observed that that has prov'd prejudicial to many Willis sayes that he can make Artificial as effectual and grateful as the Natural XXII It is the opinion of some that it is convenient to boil Victuals in Mineral Waters but I do not approve of it 1. because the use of Medicaments ought not to be continual for by that means they become so familiar to Nature that they will effect little 2. Nature is not perpetually to be tir'd with Medicines but at Dinner and Supper time to be refreshed with mere aliments that she may endure the cure which is sometimes wont to last three four or five Weeks 3. Medicaments do infect aliments and these on the other hand dull the vertue of those 4. Mineral Waters do in no wise pass into the nourishment of the Body and therefore if they should be detained too long by the Food they would be corrupted for through the thinness and purity of their substance they are easily alter'd 5. If Victuals should be boil'd in the Waters it should either be for profit but then they would have but little vertue or for necessity but if they be drank twice aday they are taken in a quantity sufficient either for evacuation or alteration or lastly for pleasure Sebis p. 617. but so by boiling they lose their grateful taste c. XXIII Your Mineral waters commonly called Acidulae for the most part are wont to spring from a mixture of the Spirit of Vitriol sal Nitre and Alum which Minerals are indeed sometimes found simple but more often mixt more or less with other Minerals in the Bowels of the Earth especially with Iron There is great plenty of these Springs in divers Countreys in those especially that abound with Iron Mines Germany alone affords near a thousand as Bernhard Varenus affirms in his Geograph general cap. 17. lib. 1. But in Britain the more Famous are those of Barnet Epsom Tunbridge Astrop Scarburgh and that which springs out of S. Vincent's Rock near Bristol And the excellent vertues of these Acidulae both in reducing the over-fervent Blood to a just temper and also in cleansing it gently from Sulphureo-saline impurities both by Urine and Perspiration yea and in opening obstructions of the Bowels are so well known not to Physicians only but also to the unlearned multitude that they need not be published by me Nor need I stand in prescribing rules in the due use of them for that is done by others But I think good to intimate this in general that the Dose is to be increas'd or lessen'd daily according to the quicker or slower passage of the Waters observing a due regiment in the mean time both in Diet and Exercise and that a longer or shorter time is to be spent in drinking the Acidulae according to the greater or lesser Euphory and emolument of the drinker Gualt Charlton de Scorb p. 184. Adstringents The Contents The same are not convenient in all Cases I. III. How Medicines made of Mars astringe II. Respect is to be had to the Parts and Humors III. We must take heed of binding too much IV. In Diseases of the Breast we must astringe sparingly V. Whether there be astringent Clysters VI. In some Cases that require Astriction Openers c. are of use VII We must not rely much on Crocus Martis for astriction VIII When Tormentil is to be preferred before Bistort IX I. THe Universal and common Indicant for Astriction is the loosness of the solid Parts chiefly and next of the moist or in particular 1. The loosness of the Parietes Walls or Sides of the Parts hence Astringents are convenient in strengthning the Bowels when they are too loose and hence they are called and are Tonicks So Astringents also conduce to the moderating of the consistence of the Blood and resisting of Putrefaction whence many of them are also Alexipharmacks For the essence of malignant Diseases especially the Plague seems to consist in the resolution of the Blood when its consistence is so perverted that it is not sufficient for Vital actions but the Serum and Blood are parted of which sort are both Acids and mucilaginous precipitants and also Balsamick diaphoreticks 2. The rarity of the Pores 3. The mobility of the humors 4. The solution of the unity of the Membranes and Vessels 5. The consequent eruption of the humors sometimes of the Blood and Serum Now astringents that are owing to these Indicants are of divers kinds which although they all agree in uno tertio and intend one and the same end yet as Galen notes 3. de sang miss c. 15. this or that Astringent Medicine besides its astriction has several other qualities and therefore cannot obtain altogether the same effect or Different effects are observed to proceed from different Astringents For that which astringes besides astriction is either Acrimonious or Fat or Sweet or Bitter or Salt or Acid whereby is manifestly intimated what difference there is in the choice of Astringents for this or the other purpose In
general Astringents are cold and dry and according to Cartes their vertue consists in a certain thickness and figure of Parts whereby they constringe the Parts of another Body like a wedge or twine them like Fiddle-strings Therefore the active principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury are less vigorous in them or at least are immersed in earthy Parts and as it were fixed And they are either 1. Earthy drying and absorbing which astringe with biting as bolus Arm. Corals lapis haematites terra sigillata Chalk crocus Martis c. or 2. Sowr and Austere as Bistort Tormentil Alum Vitriol c. which abound with an astringing austere Salt either vegetable or metallick with earthy Parts or 3. Acid as Vinegar the spirit of Vitriol Simple and Martial of which we must note first that acid Astringents are more proper for fluxil Humors both in the Vessels and out of them which they coagulate as it were and fasten but not so proper for the Pores and Parietes whence they are convenient inwardly in Hemorrhagies as suppose of the Nose Thus we have cured Scorbutical Hemorrhagies with Spirit of Vitriol in regard Acids do in this manner coagulate the fluid Blood but Acids are not so convenient for the Pores or Parietes rather for coming thither they incide dilate and exasperate the humors the more Secondly therefore we must not always rely on acid Astringents for they do not so constringe the Pores as do austere sowr and other stypticks but they are withal indued with a thinness of Parts whence those that use to give Acids in dysenteries diarrhaea's spitting of Blood and wheresoever the Pores of the Parts or the Membranes are affected as to their substance can seldom boast of any good effect Or 4. They are Emplastick whether oleous which obstruct the Pores or gummous mucilaginous viscid and emplastick properly so called as Gum Arabick sanguis draconis Mastich and Farinae or Flowers 5. Some also are sweet as Chestnuts some bitter as Aloes c. Or 6. Balsamick withal being endued with a Sulphur immersed in terrene Parts whether implicitly another quality predominating whence Medicins properly called cold are also astringent as galls acacia Pomegranate rinds c. or explicitely as Aloes which used outwardly astringes Myrrhe Nutmeg the rind of Frankinsence Cinamon which latter indeed are hot and joyned with Acrimony yet through their manner of substance in regard it has both an Emplastick vertue and drying earthy Parts they are astringent so the caput mortuum from the distillation of Cinamon-water powerfully astringes but they are commonly improperly called so for they are either not used inwardly for astringing as Aloes or they benefit by strengthning the heat withal and also confirming the Parietes on which account Nutmeg stays vomiting Or 7. They are Escharoticks which do not properly astringe any more than the former but inasmuch as they consume the flowing humor and induce a Crust upon the Parts they come to leave an astriction behind them even as Fire is used to stop the hemorrhagies of the Vessels in the cutting off of Limbs so Lime Spirit of Vitriol and Vinegar have place in some cases Or 8. they are Figents such as are Narcoticks and Opiats II. Medicines made of Mars Steel or Iron are of a middle Nature and are used both for opening and binding But note that such of them as are more vitriolated and have the metallick Salt more explicit open more and such as are more terrene and changed into ochre bind more III. Internal Astringents must be agreeable both to the Parts for which they are designed and also to the humors and cause for some are more proper than others Thus Aromatick astringents are more agreeable to the Stomach as Nutmeg Treacle c. Which if they be not to be used alone are at least to be mixed with others For it is most true that Armatick astringents are better for the Stomach and therefore for diarrhoea's dysenteries and vomitings Acids also are more agreeable to the Stomach for Vinegar is good for the Stomach both to foment it withal and to drink unless there be some erosion in it or in the Intestins yet even then Acids are good outwardly In Diseases of the Lungs Resolvers are to be mixt with them of the Liver penetrating Acids of the Head Balsamicks So if the matter be too Fluxile and Acrimonious Mucilaginous Astringents are more proper if malignant as in an Epidemick dysentery Bezoardicks are to be added or Astringents endued with that quality are to be chosen as Tormentil Terra Lemnia c. So if there be an acrimony of the Humors and a strong irritation of the membranous Parts fixers are to be mixed with astringents for in this Case both these being mixed together perform that more happily which one could expect from either of them alone So for example Opiats do indeed stop Diarrhoea's and dysenteries and Astringents left to themselves stop the same but seeing Opiats do more fix the Humors and Astringents more defend the Parietes of the irritated Parts hence Laudanum Opiatum mixt with a Styptick Powder is of greater efficacy because it attends both and so fulfills the intention the more happily Where the Parts are to be defended the terrene profit more IV. We must never astringe too much lest the Pores subside too much and by that means can hardly be relaxed Hence also in a Dysentery for example from the too great use of Astringents there often arises anxiety dangerous Ulcers c. for Fluxes often require rather to be moderated than stopt and all things are to be done according to natures direction wherefore Aromatick Resolvents or Openers are profitably mixed with Astringents V. In Diseases of the Breast in general we must astringe sparingly both because the tone of the Lungs rejoyces in laxity and also because the viscous hot or bilious Matter may easily be expelled to the heart because of its vicinity hence they are not good in a squeaking small voice straitness of the Breast difficulty of Breathing and Asthma Inflammation of the Lungs or Pleurisie For they incrassate the Humors the more fasten them in the Part and make them unfit for expectoration yea bring on a suffocation VI. There are no astringent Clysters properly so called because all moisture injected into the streight gut as being strange to it irritates it even water it self yet they are called astringent and those are prescribed which by a certain mucilage restore the mucus of the intestines that was fretted off and are made of milk Deer-suet c. such as Minderus chiefly commends yet even this way they dilute and temperate rather than astringe VII In some Cases though the Flux cease and so likewise the mobility and eruption of the Humors yet astringents are so far from benefiting that they rather hurt for instance the immoderate flux of the Terms especially in the hypochâ—ndriacal is often caused from an obstruction of the Vessels whereby the Blood cannot circulate freely whence
perform their other Offices more strongly than the former They are also Balsamick such as preserve the vigour of the Blood intire and avail to long life Hot in the third degree à priori are those wherein volatile or fixt Salt do more eminently predominate with or without an accession of Sulphur whence belong hither for instance 1. all volatil Salts as of Scurvigrass Cresses asarum c. 2. lixivial Salts or the fixed Salts of plants 3 acids which have also an acrimonious virtue 4. acrimonious and biting things as Pepper Burnet 5. stronger Aromaticks as Cloves Mace c. A posteriori those which alter manifestly sensibly and with hurt as it were if there be any excess so that neither the tongue can endure them long without trouble nor the body in any great quantity Whence these rarifie the Body more increase its Sulphur and volatil Salt tame the fixing Humours take away a cachexie discuss wind open the pores of the Nerves and so are good in the Palsie are antiscorbutick powerfully break the Stone refresh the weak Spirits and rouse the Apoplectical and Hysterical Hot in the fourth Degree à priori are those which have a more acrimonious and almost caustick Salt whether volatil as Onions Pepper-wort or fixed as Mercury sublimate which predominates over the Sulphur it self although present whence such are 1. most acrimonious 2. rubifying 3. eroding hence they afford vesicatories and potential Causticks that erode and corrupt more strongly A posteriori those which are of the greatest activity most vehement and as it were instantaneous operation and not without great hurt Yet these also have their certain mansions for Arsenick operates more powerfully and sooner than Onions c. IV. Medicines cold à priori are such wherein there are no volatile hot acrimonious aromatick or aereal particles but the active principles particularly the Sulphur and Mercury are more sparing or subjugated and the Salt in like manner is either absent or has attained a fluor and is remarkable for inverted acid particles or else they are such in which the passive principles water and earth are found more prevailing and the acid Salt as aforesaid Cold Medicines are opposed to hot even in their actions so for example acids fix the bitter and acrimonious obtâ—nd the oily and so forward A posteriori those which being referred to our heat do not encrease it but demulce it when it is un governable and bridle choler For as the hot rarefie the Blood exalt the Sulphur with their sharp darts and acuate the volatil Salt so the cold do concentre the same depress its Sulphur and fix and coagulate its volatile Salt Those chiefly are in this place reckoned for cold that are Vnivocally such which for example either dilute and demulce as 1. watry whence Juleps the whey of Goats milk the decoction of Barly the juice of Birch of Quinces and other acidulous juices which most of them are such in the first degree and others moistning withal do notably cool so also all mucilaginous and purely gummous are cold as the white of an Egg Tragacanth Harts-horn Aloes Mans-Skull Gellies the root of marsh-Mallow Gum Arabick the four greater and four lesser cold Seeds which have a certain oiliness but such as is watry and temperate Or they tame and infringe the Sulphur and volatile Salt as 2. Acid juice of Citron Sorrel Berberries and 3. nitrous Pellitory Mercury Spinach Orach Violet Or they respect ebullition and motion as precipitants as 4. earthy for example plants the flowers of Balaustins parts of this nature of Animals and Minerals also Woods as Sanders Oak and especially those which are properly called earthy as bole Armene terra Lemnia c. Stones as crystal jacinth and those which are of an alkaline Nature Or they constipate and constringe as 5. austere styptick sowr which are examples of the third degree Tormentil snake-weed the rind of Pomegranats acacia or the juice of Sloes hypocystis Or they plainly destroy as 6. poisonous which are endued with an excrementitious earthy and watry and with a stinking and impure Sulphur and so induce a contrary consistence on the Blood as Hemlock Henbane Stramonea or apple of Peru whence they are poisonous As Medicines hot in the fourth degree kill by eroding so those cold in the same degree by suffocating and coagulating Medicines cold Aequivocally and energetically are those which either dissipate and procure the exhalation of Sulphureous soots as prevailing by a volatil Sulphur and being themselves hot as Spirit of Wine camphor or take away the Cause as well the fermentation and ebullition as obstructions as openers Such namely as are Sulphureous are all of them heating unless they serve for dissipation and hot exhalation on which account they cool by accident the Lixivial Saline do more rarefie the Blood and so do also heat it but the Acid do concentrate and refrigerate the same the mean as Tartar vitriolate are of a middle nature but they rather commonly heat cut Phlegm c. especially common Salt So that the cold may be referred to the summa Genera as it were as consisting of watry earthy and non-lixivial Saline particles V. Here the question may be determined whether Acids be cold or hot For there are not wanting some that affirm them to be hot arguing from their acrimony biting and that corrosive vertue that they are endued with Those that maintain them to be cold produce their effects also that are manifestly cold as for example that acid Spirits allay thirst and cool the Body by blunting the bilious Humours Here seems necessary a distinction first between the hot Sulphureous and the hot Saline secondly between the external use and the internal or between that which belongs to the solid parts and that which belongs to the moist and spirituous The hot Sulphureous that is those which have Sulphur predominant chiefly with a volatil Salt do all of them increase our natural heat but those that want Sulphur and possess a fluid Salt as Acids have indeed acrimonious cold biting particles but he would be absurd that should use them for restoring or invigorating the innate heat or the Sulphur and volatile Salt Whence although in their external use they cause an erosion in the solid Parts and through their acrimony cause the Parts to be pained and grow red which very thing we may also observe in a more tender Stomach and from a larger Dose as the Patients do sometimes perceive an aestus and heat from the unwary use of the Spirit of Vitriol yet with relation and respect to the Blood to our heat or to the Heart they are and are deservedly called cold Others determine that they cool by accident inasmuch as being joyned with cold vehicles by their penetrating vertue they make those more apt to cool others otherwise as for instance that they cool by the perspiration of the fiery heat c. There is the like reason also of the nitrous for through the disposition of
and exterminate from the vital jurisdiction divers inveterate kinds of Fevers and other Diseases that arise from thence The defect of the felleous Ferment is made up by bitter things as Wormwood Centaury Agrimony Card. Ben. Fumitory and the roots of Succory and other Aromatick bitter ones Its excess is corrected by the acids reckoned up above For the Fermentation of the bile unless it be in a right state gives occasion to divers Calamities in the windings of the Guts When the Sulphureous part is sometimes exalted in the mass of Blood from a febrile Ferment and is too luxuriant and the Crasis of the Blood perverted from its due state so that it is all in a flame hot and boiling then that febrile Ferment as the most urgent is first to be destroyed by precipitation which is done in intermitting Fevers by tartareous Medicines by lixivial Martials married to acid Spirits in continual by Bezoardicum s and c. of Gold and Steel which do wonderfully bridle the ebullition of the Blood whose vertue arises not only from the Antimony and Mars and Sol but also from the Spirit of Nitre which is fixt abundantly in these which the increase of the weight teacheth its refrigerating and Anodyne vertue remaining safe which is known to few which yet is made more apparent when all the Nitre is turn'd into a most white Earth by the operation declared by Helmont Poterius's Alexipyreton that springs from the same Fountain is no less powerful Now the cause of that ebullition is a febrile and poisonous Ferment which being removed the Disease is most quickly and safely banished But this is done neither by Purgers nor by Bleeding which two are Impairers of the Faculties but by specifick anti-febrile Remedies that fix the febrile matter by Diaphoreticks and Diureticks to which if specifick Alexeteries be assisting you have a true Alexipharmack not only of all malignant Fevers but also of the very Plague it self In the mean time the febrile aestus or fervour is to be demulced with the acid Spirits of Mars tinctura Bezoardica Gelly of Hartshorn and Ivory with the Juices of Pomegranats Corinths c. the tinctures of Roses Violets and Borage prepared with the Philosophick Spirit of Vitriol and a little of the Spirit of Rasberries c. When the saline Parts in the Blood through bad digestion and fermentation are not spirituous enough nor are rightly exalted but remain crude and fixt are at their own liberty and suffer a fluor the Blood not only becomes thick and unfit for Circulation but acid also austere and acrimonious so that it is thereby corrupted and being coagulated breeds Obstructions in the Viscera and tartareous crudities are every where heaped up from which proceed the Hypochondriacal Distemper the Scurvy running and fixed Gout Stone Dropsie Leprosie and most Chronical Diseases In this vicious disposition those Medicines are good which exalt and volatilize what is fixt and promote an inflation in the whole mass of Blood In this case Evacuators profit nothing at all but by depauperating the Blood more waste the faculties without remedying those Medicines avail more that are fill'd with a temperate and mild volatil Alkali such as Stone-crop Fumitory Germander Centaury Celandine Scurvigrass and the more penetrating as the salt Spirit of Sal Armoniack of Hartshorn Soot Man's Blood Hart's Blood the volatil Salt of Tartar Arcanum tartari with the volatil Salt of Vipers c. respect being had to the circumstances are of notable use Hither also are to be referr'd Decoctions of Roots and Herbs impregnated with a volatil lixivial Salt so that the more excellent these are in this degree the more easily and plentifully also do they correct the preternatural acidities in our Body Preparations of Steel and Tartar give great hope of Health here also for these besides that in the Stomach the Fountain of Digestion and Archive of Life they correct and prepare the said Acidities which otherwise might be hostile in the habit of the Body they also imbibe and precipitate the wild Salts in the Blood and withal unlock the Vessels that are here and there obstructed Precipitating Medicines work after a Positive manner while they are spirituous and have a singular Balsamick vertue by the benefit whereof they so strengthen the power of the Natural Ferments and their innate Balsamick saltness that Nature her self can now again rise up against the Crudities and digest or precipitate or separate them After this manner ought the universal Remedy to operate if any had it Maurit Hofman Meth. Med. lib. 1. c. 19. or for want of it other comforting Spirits reduced to the greatest volatility Anodynes Narcoticks See Hypnoticks The Contents Some Anodynes are external some internal I. The external act either by mollifying II. Or by hindring an afflux of humours III. Or by Digesting IV. Nervine Anodynes V. The same agree not to all Parts VI. Opium is better inwardly than outwardly VII How Narcoticks take away the sense of the Part. VIII How they take away Pains IX Anodynes and Narcoticks differ only in degree X. Some Anodynes are not alike Narcotick XI The vertue of Narcoticks depends on the Sulphur XII Opium is a notable Anodyne XIII How it eases Pains XIV It stops Fluxes of the Serum and Blood XV. It is convenient for thin humours not thick XVI It is not to be given where there wants Serum XVII In Malignant Diseases it is to be joyned with Bezoardicks Ibid. Opium is the best Sudorifick XVIII Let it be given in a due Dose XIX The internal use is often better than the external XX. Let not the Patient be very weak when he takes it XXI Cold things being applied are an effectual Anodyne XXII The Preparation of the Oil of yelks of Eggs and Almonds XXIII I. THat we may the better proceed in rehearsing these it is necessary to premise a distinction betwixt internal and external Anodynes for according to the place of application does their manner of working vary also Both of them indeed loosen the tension and vellication of the Membranous Parts but after a much differing manner II. For outwardly this is perfomed 1. By Emollients that are such as to their operation whether they be Mucilaginous things whence a cheap and familiar Poultess in all Pains is made of the crumb of white Bread Milk Saffron the yelk of an Egg c. So live-Earth worms being applied do notably asswage the Pains both of a Whitlow and also others of the Nervous Parts on which account I have sometimes cured the greatest Pains of the Back only by bruising and applying these Or watery tepids or hot and moist things so Baths Fomentations and the like Topicks do loosen and digest by a kindly warmth and so do egregiously demulce So Hippocrates in a Pleuritick pain applied warm Milk in a Bladder to the aking side for although the vertue of the Liquor cannot throughly reach this Membrane yet neither is there need of it for it suffices that a
both by too much resolution and by too much coagulation Hence we must note that acids being joyned with Bezoardicks do by their penetrating vertue strengthen the Bezoardick and Sudorifick vertue as for instance the mistura-simplex where neither the theriacal Spirit nor the Spirit of Tartar do so much move sweat much less the Spirit of Vitriol yet these being joyned together promote it notably Hither may be referred what was said of the first class of rarefiers And these are good also in palpitation of the Heart Fainting away Malignant Fevers c. And such Medicines as perform these things eminently namely that defend and preserve the consistence of the Spirits and Blood that it may neither decline to a state of fusion resolution and ichorefcence nor of coagulation I say such as these are properly and are called Bezoardicks All diaphoreticks also do the same thing and especially Alexipharmacks Nor hinders it that these and especially the temperate are not carried immediately to the Heart it is enough that they vibrate their operations presently out of the Stomach into the Blood whose crasis is hereby changed and whose energie and affection results to the Heart yea such Cordials do often respect and take away at least the antecedent cause G. W. Wedel de s m. fac p. 93. however their operation obtains their end in the Heart II. Where there is great debility of the faculties we must not presently flee to comforting Cordials nor indeed to them alone but the causes are to be removed whether there be a Plethora suffocating the Spirits or a Cacochymie defiling them whence often either Bleeding or Purging will do the business The vulgar are here mistaken Idem p. 96 III. Let all Volatils consist within the bounds of Mediocrity both in Diet and Pharmacy and that both in the Sulphureous and Urinous So those that in their youth drink too much Wine or Brandy do in their following age hereby lose the strength of their Stomach inasmuch as their decreasing heat does hence require some stronger heater so also Medicines with Camphor Idem and distilled oyls do often hurt IV. Hence we must never so rarefie as not to mind at the same time the consistence of the Blood that it may be brought to a natural state Nor must we so use Resolvers as not to observe the tone and due rarefaction of the Blood Whence those offend who for instance in Malignant Fevers exhaust their Patients only with volatils and perpetual sweats when they ought to discuss indeed and preserve the rarefaction but to temper it when it is too much So those who use Resolvents more unwarily easily make the compages of the Blood too lax so that the Spirits perish as it were and dissipate which must be noted in particular of Cinnabarines for they do most of all resolve the Blood But do nothing too much and in all cases having premised universals tonicks are to be interposed and moderate astringents V. Comforting Cordials are to be rightly distinguished whence where Serum for instance is wanting scarce any thing will do so much good as actually moist and watery things without omitting acid or nitrous Medicines and on the contrary let us not give one thing for another nor confound the same VI. We must not rely too much on moschated Medicines which do greatly rarefie the Blood for while they too much exalt and heighten the Mercurial particles instead of comforting they easily hurt Nature and commonly they do more good outwardly than inwardly or at least unless when seasonably given Idem they have their use but then they must be used rightly Carminatives or discussers of wind The Contents The way how to know to discuss wind or to hinder its generation depends on the knowledg of its production I. X. The preservatory and curatory Indications II. Many while they endeavour to dissipate flatus produce them III. VIII Opiats discuss them IV. Carminatives are either halituous and rarefying V. Or absorbing and tempering VI. Or they help the heat and ferment of the Stomach VII The hot and thinnest are not always to be used VIII They are not good in driness of the Intestines and where the excrements are hard IX They are to be varied according to the variety of causes X. I. Wheresoever flatus are those things contribute to their excretion that take away the impediments through which they inhere the more firmly in the parts viz. the clamminess and glutinousness of the Phlegm from which they are produced and such as are Aromatick and abound with an Aromatick oil Now I think that flatus are truly discuss'd inasmuch as their very tenacious matter is incided and broken whence the pituitous matter that was distracted and distended into flatus subsides and falls into a little globule of Phlegm For it seems to be done in the same manner as when Boys are wont to raise bubles through a straw-Pipe from soap dissolv'd in water The bile being joined to the glutinous Phlegm by rarefying of it distracts it into flatus which by further rarefaction at length are broken of their own accord and so by and by the Phlegm that was before distracted and rarefied consides and returns to its former Nature and consistence the action of the Bile ceasing then through want of matter to act so upon unless it can insinuate it self into some other piece of Phlegm Sylv. de le Boe Meth. Med. lib. 2. c. 21. which it may distract into flatus and rarefie in like manner II. The production and mischief of flatus is to be corrected 1. by gently cutting the more glutinous flegm 2. by discussing and dissipating or otherwise suffocating these flatus 3. by correcting the acrimony of the bile that is the Efficient cause of the flatus And the Phlegm after it is loosed by the bile and turned into flatus must be gently incrassated again but not be made very glutinous The Phlegm may be incided by volatil Salts and all Aromaticks and most Acids but these are chiefly good where there is fear to encrease and heighten both effervescencies both in the heart and in the small Gut in which case 't is adviseable to abstain from volatil Salts as also from Aromaticks both lest the store of flatus be increased and also lest the bile be made either more acrimonious or more volatil Among those Acids the chief place is to be given to the Spirit of Nitre as well pure as sweet seeing it not only cuts glutinous Phlegm but also discusses and breaks the flatus yea and also tempers the acrimony of the bile and fixes it when it is too volatil This Spirit of Nitre may fitly be taken in ones usual drink or any other Medicinal one and that indeed in an indifferent quantity whereby neither a nausea may be caused nor its operation be either too strong or too weak III. As to the discussion of the Flatus themselves already raised and in being I know nothing comparable to
evacuated at least by accident Therefore when Galen denies that the whole Body is diminished by friction he means not in that manner as Purgers evacuate Rub. in cap. 14. l. 2. Celsi in comparison whereof he there speaks IV. Scratching is profitable for many Diseases for it calls out to the Skin from the viscera and discusses thence Valles in Epid. p. 686. in short it is as beneficial as hard friction Glands or Suppositories The Contents Their too great length is unprofitable I. They empty not from the Guts only II. I. IT is to be noted that it is unprofitable to make Suppositories so long as they are commonly made seeing they irritate not the expulsive faculty save only in that part where they touch the podex or extremity of the Arse-gut therefore 't is better to shape them shorter Mereat ex Rondelet and about as thick as ones Finger II. If Suppositories be made of the stronger Medicines they may evacuate even out of the Mesaraick Veins yea out of the whole Body for experience witnesseth this by which it is manifest that Suppositories made of Hellebore have had the same operation as if it had been taken inwardly by the Mouth Grumos solventia or dissolvers of congealed Blood The Contents They respect either the hindred circulation of the Blood I. Or the coagulated Blood it self Acids dissolve concreted Blood II. I. DIssolvers of clods of Blood are of a middle nature as it were betwixt Diaphoreticks and Diureticks for here we apply H. Saxonia's Rule who * Praelect pract part ◠c. 38. § 3. sayes Those things which mollifie the stone the same attenuate clods of Blood For as the very grumefaction supposes 1. Blood extravasated that is slid for a certain time and space out of the Vessels its circulation being hindred whether that be in fieri or in facto that is whether the Blood be but now a sliding or be already slid 2. Blood ready to coagulate inasmuch as without its proper element and sphere it putrefies corrupts and remains unmoved so those things which loose and fuse it when concreted so that it may either be received again into the Veins or if it be no longer capable of returning to its former state and nature it may be dissipated and evacuated I say those very Medicines do perform their operation two manner of wayes chiefly for they respect either 1. the hindred motion and circulation of the Blood whether it rush of its own accord into some certain and definite weaker part as in Inflammations or by the breaking of the Vessels and some outward hurt it be thrown out of the Vessels and be collected somewhere And of this sort are all Diaphoreticks in a special manner as well volatils that enjoy a thinness of parts which make the Blood more fluxile and cause it to return into order by quickening its motion and making it more subtil and rare as Balsamicks Myrrhe Zedoary and likewise fixts as antimon diaphoretic hence the tincture of Bezoar the Spirit of Harts-horn mistura simplex antimon diaphoret Zedoary opium c. are excellent in this case and bring present help And these profit likewise in the former case in all kinds of Inflammations of the Pleura Liver c. new wounds in new falls from on high imposthumes that are a breeding c. in regard by this means the coagulation and concretion it self is hindred and is destroyed in the blade as it were for assoon as the circulation is reduced into order a collection is no longer to be feared II. Or 2. the coagulum or coagulated Blood it self being now of a greater consistence and finished as it were whither belong divers resolvers ranked under Nephriticks whether Sulphureous as sperma ceti which is a notable resolvent in this respectis excellent in an Asthma or Saline of these both 1. Acids such as are simple Vinegar and Vinegar of Squills oxymel scillit the juice of Lemons Spirit of Vitriol And so our Thesis stands unmoved Acids resolve coagulated Blood whence it may peculiarly be here noted to discuss these things more throughly that Acids are not so proper in the first degree to wit while the Blood is extravasating or rushing somewhither with a Rheumatism unless by a secondary intention and under the Dominion of Volatils for then they more promote the coagulation which they commonly call repelling as in the second where the extravasation or coagulation is already made and also 2. Alkali's and Alkalines as Crabs-eyes and other Diureticks and Lithontripticks and those Herbs which for this very Alkali are called Traumaticks or Wound-herbs and their juice decoction essence c. Whence the reason is clear why in the Pleurisie according to Helmont himself the same are accounted specificks which are otherwise good for coagulated Blood namely that the matter may be so far resolved as that it may be expectorated These things are good in falls from on high whence pulvis ad casum Augustan is famous So also Goats Blood to say nothing of Crabs-eyes is an Antipleuritick Gr. W. Wedel de s m. fac p. 183. dissolving clodded Blood and the stone chiefly through the volatil Salt that it is furnished with The opening of the Hemorrhoids The Contents How the latent Hemorrhoids may be called forth I. The opening of them in Children and Youths is unprofitable II. Leeches rather draw from the Arteries than Veins III. Leeches may be used when they are newly caught IV. They may be set on with ones hand only V. Their Tail is not always to be cut off VI. They are not to be pulled of by force VII They leave no malignity behind them VIII The mouths of the Vessels are to be sought that they may be set upon them IX They sometimes drain Blood from a great depth X. They draw the thick also XI How they are to be got out when they creep in at the Arse hole XII Whether Nature should be accustomed to a flux by applying Leeches XIII Which Hemorrhoids the internal or external be to be opened XIV Such evacuation agrees not alike to all Countreys and Natures XV. Whether they are to be opened in affections of the Womb. XVI Whether to be opened with a Lancet XVII Whether they draw any thing from the Spleen XVIII How they profit in malignant Fevers XIX I. ONe being troubled with the Pain of the Hemorrhoids by Intervals and having them always cease at the expulsion of the black Blood through defect of this evacuation fell into a melancholy When no Remedies could provoke the retarded evacuation and Leeches had been thrice applied in vain as sucking only from the external Veins I coming advise to set them on again but first to set on a Cupping-glass that might comprehend the whole anus This invention was of that moment that the orifices of the Veins that lay hid within Zacut. M.P. pag. 6. prax admir l. 2. Obs 83. strutting out there followed a large flux
the Conserve of Rosemary Flowers Balm and the like to drive away troublesome watchings from them Now the reason of this is the same with what Hosman gave of flower-de-luce namely because Mosch and Ambre are fumous or vaporous ¶ Opium appeases watchings and procures sweet sleep if so be the watchings proceed not from over great driness in which case they do no good given alone but they do very well with moisteners so that by this means the Brain is both demulced and made drousie especially in old men and otherwise where the watchings arise from over great driness defect Acrimony or other indisposition of the Lympha Whence washings of the Head and Feet c. belong hither as also other vehicles of Opiats and promoters of their vertue Wedel de s m. fac p. 205. ¶ We may safely use the somniferous sponge of Heurnius 2 met c. 7. seeing those that are made to sleep by it presently awake upon its being taken off or if they continue to sleep too long they may be easily awaked with another sponge steept in the decoction of wild thyme boiled in Vinegar together with Majoran Smallage and sweet Fennel Seed applied to the Nostrils Sim. Pauli quadrip Botan cl 2. tit Iris. XXII As cold soporificks hurt in Diseases of the Breast by thickning the Humours and making them unfit for expectoration so Flower-de-luce does excellent well in these Diseases XXIII Seeing 't is easie to offend in using too great a quantity of Opium it will be the part of a prudent Physician to behave himself warily in the giving of Opium and Opiats and rather to give them at several times a little at a time than to give much at one and the same time with danger to the Patients Sylv. de le Boë Prax. l. 2. c. 22. §. 113. especially seeing the same yea better effect may be obtained from the same Opiat given at several times than all at once XXIV Although the Narcotick stupefying vertue of Opium differ widely from the pacative vertue of the Anodyne prepared of Vitriol which induces only a natural sleep and no stupefaction which I would have well noted of all that desire at any time to practise Physick with commendation yet I will explain the nature of each The Narcotick vertue of Opium seems indeed to be extended to the Animal Spirits but the pacative vertue of Vitriol to the effervescent bile which I think Helmont then calls the fury of the Archeus Let all therefore seek that Anodyne of Vitriol and esteem it for a great secret when they find it for it performs wonderful things in curing divers most difficult Distempers Idem §. 31. XXV As to the Heads and Seeds of white Poppy of which Diacodium as also decoctions Emulsions and other Hypnotick preparations are made it is very plain that these are far less endued with a Narcotick Sulphur than the concrete juice of Opium and what thereof is in these is far more pure and harmless wherefore we do oftner and more securely give Remedies made up of these For it is not good to ascend to Laudanum unless when through the vehemence of Symptoms Diacodiats will not do Moreover seeing these contain less of virulence in them they need not much preparation but may be used in Medicine being only boil'd or infus'd or sqeezed But Opium is very rarely prescribed simply and by it self Willis phar Rat. p. m. 317. but is wont to be divers ways corrected and compounded that it may become an Anodyne safe enough XXVI When other things have been used in vain to procure sleep then comes Opium The vulgar are afraid of it as present poison whereas being rightly prepared and given in a convenient dose it is an innocent and wholsom Medicine The Ancients indeed have writ that it is a poison but that is only when it is taken in too great a quantity but thus there is nothing so wholsom which by abuse may not become hurtful Now there are divers sorts of poisons some are such in their whole substance which kill however or in what dose soever they are taken others only in quantity otherwise they may profit as Purgers and such things are given in that quantity as to overcome Nature thus milk curdled in the Stomach or juice of Lettuce are said to be poisons But among those things which are called Somniferous Opium is the most innocent 1. Because our Opium is generally the Meconium of Dioscorides which is made of the juice of the leaves and heads of Poppy but Opium is a tear Now Meconium is far less effectual than Opium whence it must be given in a larger dose than Opium to hurt 2. We must note from Galen 5. simpl 18. that of Narcoticks some moisten as Hemlock Mandrake and these are hurtful others dry and these are taken inwardly without harm And 1. de Symptom caus he writes Those things which cool and moisten cause not sleep but a Coma stupefaction and Carus but those which dry as Opium are less hurtful Therefore according to the opinion of Dioscorides and Galen we need not to be so afraid of Opium taken moderately Primiros de vulg error 4. c. 44. XXVII The Ancients who thought that Opium hurt by its excessive coldness used altogether hot Medicines to correct it such as Pepper Pyrethrum or bastard Pellitory Saffron Castor Euphorbium and the like but they were induced to correct Opium in that manner by a false Hypothesis and they made no good preparation of their Medicines To speak only of Philonium Romanum heretofore a sufficiently frequent Medicine experience hath taught that through the admixture of so many hot Medicines it can hardly be swallow'd but it will burn the Throat and cause an heat therein and being mixt in Clysters but even to half a drachm it has in some caused a great heat in the lower Belly and streight Gut To day it is very usual to make an extract of Opium with Spirit of Wine impregnated with spec diambr. aromat ros or the like or let such Spirit of Wine be added to the extract of Opium as also distilled Oyls and Cordial waters as we may see in the various preparations of Laudanum * See Schrod pharm l. 4. cl 2. c. 394. Some find fault with this preparation of Opium because it does equally deposit into the Spirit of Wine the stinking and poysonous Sulphur which remains in Opium even after its having past the fire yea being more attenuated by the Spirit it sooner exerts its Malignity and insinuates more intimately into the Parts Whereto they add this also that there is a certain Narcotick vertue in Wine These therefore find out another way to prepare and correct Opium They cut Opium into small pieces and dry it so long in dishes set over hot ashes or other gentle heat as till the stinking Sulphur exhale and the Opium breath out a sweet and grateful smell and may be powdered betwixt ones Fingers which
Wedel de s m. fac p. 85. demulce defend alter Preparers of the Humours See Aperients and Alteratives The Contents Whether they be always necessary before Purging and what kind of Preparation is requisite I. When Nature is oppressed by Humours offending both in quantity and quality how to be made II. As the Crudity of the Humours depends on their disgregation so their Concoction is to be expected from Temperature and Vnion III. Things that are thick from adustion are otherwise to be prepared than those that are thick from crudity IV. Preparation may and ought to be made by outward Applications V. Whether and what Humours are to be altered VI. They may be given at any time VII How thick Humours are to be prepared VIII Whether thin need Preparation IX When the Alteratives ought to be as strong as the quality to be altered X. Let alterations be made by degrees XI Let there be an Analogy between the alterative and thing to be altered XII Concoction is not to be interrupted by the giving of looseners XIII Whether the bilious Humour be always to be prepared by cold things XIV The abuse and hurt of Apozems XV. Barley water is not to be put in Apozems XVI When Laxatives are hurtful XVI Before Purging let the Body be made soluble rather by a Clyster than Syrups XVII With these Strengthners are to be administred XVIII Infusions are better than Decoctions XIX All distilled Waters are naught for the Stomach XX. Chymrical Openers are to be preferred before Galenick XXI Aliments that one is used to will not supply the place of Medicins XXII Whether the Spirit and Oil of Vitriol be good in Fevers XXIII The Medicins of Tartar are not universal Digestives XXIV When the crystals of Tartar and when the cream to be given XXV The deceit in making of the Crystals XXVI There is often more vertue in crude Tartar than in its Cream XXVII The efficacy of the Salt of Tartar XXVIII The correction of Taâ—tar vitriolate XXIX To whom that and other Preparations of Tartar are hurtful XXX Whence the efficacy of volatil Salts depends XXXI They very well prepare tough Phlegm XXXII The glutinousness of choler is excellently corrected by their means XXXIII and XIV The efficacy and correction of the Salt or Vitriol of Steel XXXIV Steel is diversly to be prepared according to the nature of the obstructing Humour XXXV How to draw out of it its several vertues of binding opening purging and vomiting XXXVI How the action of Chalybeates is to be promoted XXXVII Whether Purgers may be given with them XXXVIII Whether Cordials XXXIX Cautions in the use of Chalybeates XL. How Nitre cools XLI Oxymels and Hydromels are better than Syrups XLII Dryed herbs have other vertues than green XLIII In the correcting of Phlegm Sugar and Medicines prepared with Sugar do hurt XLIV An hurtful abuse of Wormwood XLV When to be used for the concoction of the Humours and the strengthening of the Stomach XLVI Some Preparers are universal others particular XLVII How Choler is to be prepared XLVIII and XIV The correcting of Salt Phlegm and Serum XLIX How a melancholick cacochymie is to be corrected L. How atrabilary Humours LI. The Correction of acrimonious Humours is various according to their difference LII We must take heed lest in altering one Humour the rest be injured thereby LIII How to bridle the too great effervescence in the small guts and heart LIV. The Pancreatick Humour is to be prepared before evacuation LV. How to correct the too great fluidity or the over thick consistence of the Blood LVI I. THe more Ancient Physicians to whom many of the Moderns also assent as they believed an elective Purgation so they ordered a Preparation of the Humours previous and as it were necessary to it on which account in Books of Practice as often as a Cathartick Medicine is prescribed a long series of Preparers destin'd for every particular Humour is proposed in a solemn manner and with a certain pomp as it were whose use although it be very specious seems not at all profitable because such Humours are not truly in being as we have otherwhere clearly shewn Notwithstanding seeing Purging is not convenient at all times nor in every condition of the Body to perform it right both a fit time and some sort of preparation is requisite and both these respect as well the first ways as the mass of Blood As to the former if at any time the Stomach be either buâ—thened with a load of viscous Phlegm or be troubled with the estuation of turgid bile Purging is often undertaken to none or ill purpose unless these contents be either first swept out by giving a Vomit or their burthening and effervescence be corrected by Digestives And as to the latter viz. the Blood Purging is often unseasonable and sometimes also incongruous and in neither of these cases are those which are commonly called Preparers but only Alteratives convenient because those imaginary Humours are not to be disposed towards evacuation but the Blood it self ought to be reduced either from a troubled and confused to a sedate state or from a weakness or dyscrasie to a vigour and equable temperament When the Blood estuating froâ— a Fever is disturbed in its mixture Purging is always found hurtful and therefore it is condemned by Hippocrates and the Ancients and no less when its mass being languid and weak rises not to a due Fermentation Moreover when the Blood is beyond measure cholerick or watry or is too much inclined to coagulations or fusions Purgers are for the most part so far from removing such faults or depravation that they oftener increase them So that in these cases altering Remedies are rather indicated those namely that may destroy the undue separations or combinations of the Salts Sulphur and Serum Willis and take away their oâ—her enormities II. Sometimes Nature is over-whelmed and choaked by the plenty of Humours sometimes she is only pricked and irritated by their quality or both of these happens viz. that both the plenty of Humours and also their hurtful quality oppresses Nature Thus if together with a very great febrile effervescence the Patient feel wandring Pains in divers Parts and also suffer divers changes of heat in his Face and other parts so that one while some part of his face look red and anon pale and lastly be very restless and ill at ease which depends on the serous Humour irritated with a febrile Ferment besides Bleeding and Purging the cure must be begun with specifick antifebriles and temperate Antiarthriticks Diaphoreticks and Diureticks which may like Nature precipitate the matter that infests by its quality And at length when the Symptoms are allayed the occasional cause is to be eradicated by Purging Frid. Hofman m. m. l. 1. c. 7. and a relapse to be prevented III. Every alteration makes not the Humours crude but only that if we consult Hippocrates which is apt to cause a disgregation in them for
diuretick capillary herbs the cold Seeds c. they are unseasonably administred in the beginning and augment of a Fever and they are given at no other time now a days whereas Diureticks should never be administred in these but when the matter is concocted and the Disease in its declination Besides it is ridiculous with so great labour and cost to prepare a Remedy that is unpleasant and of an uncertain effect when we may with great security and freedom use with an easie boiling and light expences those things that have been approved by the Ancients and confirmed by the Moderns Omitting those therefore let us use Mead Oxymel c. Oxymel alone is commended as resisting putrefaction attenuating thickness exterging clamminess penetrating to the Skin and not encreasing the Fever nor will it rake the Guts or cause coughing or affect the Nerves if you lessen the Vinegar and increase the Honey In the Melancholick and in Hysterical women Mead is to be made use of and if it seem to turn to choler Augere Ferrer castigat â—ap 14. make it very dilute of the waters of Endive Succory c. or instead of Honey use Sugar c. XVI Those plainly doat that order a great quantity of Herbs Roots c. to be boiled in the water of Barley thoroughly boiled for a thorough Decoction of Barley is Ptisan and it has too solid a consistence to admit the consistence of so many things And if you boil it more slightly the water will be flatulent and it will also make that promiscuous decoction soon apt to corrupt ¶ Martian denies that a slight Decoction of Barley is flatulent Idem cap. 28. XVII Those that in acute Diseases continue laxative Apozems enervate the strength and deviate quite from the true way of curing which commands that at the beginning we should lessen the matter afterwards incide the thick things that obstruct Idem ibid. and deterge the clammy and open the obstructions themselves XVIII The Body will be soluble or slippery if on the day before the Patient is to take an Infusion of Senna or other Purge he take a Clyster of the Decoction of Fluellin mixed with Capon or Cock broth and a little Sugar added Johan Crato Consil 37. apud Scholtzium this will do more good than if he weaken his Stomach for many dayes with Syrups XVIII By the long use of Apozems that dissolve Phlegm the Phlegm which plentifully stagnated in soft Bodies especially of Women and Cachectick Persons is first attenuated then dissolved into water which descending by its weight fills the capacity of the lower Belly which we see happen through the unwary giving of Purgers whereby the Belly is so swelled that all think there is a Dropsie Wherefore that Patients that are full of thick Phlegm may not incur this danger let the Skilful Physician daily before he gives his Apozems premise a little of the troches of Wormwood of Capers of Maudlin c. That some have faln into a Dropsie by Syrups that have been too inciding is noted by Averroes 7. Collig Henric. ab Heer 's Spadacr cap. 10. Heurn Meth. l. 3. c. 7. and l. 2. c. 17. XIX There is a new but wholsome way of infusing Herbs in Fevers where there are great obstructions for Infusions pass into the Veins more easily than either decoctions or distillations Now this infusion is twofold one when the Medicine is put into hot water and the Vessel presently shut and we set it upon warm ashes to continue the warmth of the water and then it is strongly strained out the other is more ineffectual when we put it into water that is not hot Heurn meth m. l. 1. and let it stand therein for a Night c. XX. All distilled waters are cold even the water that is distilled from the hottest simple as suppose from Calamint which bites the Tongue like Pepper and yet heats not but cools And I have seen some that have been inflamed by drinking the decoction of the Indian wood Montan. consult 42. to be greatly cooled by Calamint water ¶ As much as may be let us abstain from distilled waters as from those things that are very offensive to the Stomach Claud. l 2. de integr c. 6. XXI The Ancients gave tedious decoctions long Infusions and Apozems the Moderns consulting for tâ—e delicate and curing per compendium prefer before these digestive powders of Magisteries Salâ—s Essences and divers other preparations Horstius tom 2. p. 193. in the Hypochondriack Melancholy prâ—sâ—ribes this for a digestive Take of the Magistery of red Corals a scruple of the Magistery of the Sponge-stone half a scruple mix them Give this in a decoction of Turnips with the rinds on that through the bitterness of these the decoction may open Hoâ—fer Here. med l. 3. c. 3. penetrate and incide the more powerfully ¶ If any that is taught to understand more than the vulgar shall bend his mind to Chymical preparations and more effectual Remedies and therefore more safe if so be they be rightly administred we will commend to him both Tinctures and Extracts and also Oils prepared by art likewise Volatil Salts but chiefly oleous to be got by art out of most parts of Animals and convenient for use Which being generally less ungrateful than the vulgar Medicines and taken in a far less quantity and operating more quickly and kindly and also more effectually than they are deservedly desired by the sick that are afflicted enough of themselves so that it is unbecoming a Physician that would be esteemed compassionate yea it is inhumane not to be willing to help when he can the infirmity loathing and nausea of the Sick by a more grateful Medicine but to chuse rather to be continually adding affliction to the afflicted Wherefore I think the more kind are to be preferred before those surly Physicians Fr. Sylv. Pract. l. 1. c. 34. §. 103. and a compliance is to be made both by the Physician and his Medicines to the natural infirmity and sometimes peevishness of the Sick c. XXII Those err who for cooling Alteratives give those things that are very commonly eat as Succory and Lettuce I say they err because Nature being used to them has contracted such a friendship and familiarity with them that there is no strife betwixt them and consequently no benefit to be expected For some when they are well will eat a whole Plate full of Lettuce or Succory every day and therefore 't is an idle thing to believe that Men who have for a long time been nourished by Lettuce and Succory Sanctor meth l. 4. c. 13. can be cooled by two or three leaves XXIII J. B. Sylvaticus Contr. 46. rejects the use of the Spirit of Vitriol in Fevers because it may colliquate the tender flesh and pâ—ejudice the substance of the part by dissolving the primigenial moisture 1. Because Galen and Dioscor say that it partakes of a corroding and septick quality I
answer In the preparation many parts of the Vitriol are separated from the Spirit whence we cannot observe all the effects in the Spirit that are seen in the Vitriol intire and some may be seen in the first that are not taken notice of in the latter Vitriol vomits the Spirit stays vomiting So Sulphur is inflammable its Spirit not so yea it rather resisteth a flame The Spirit of Vitriol hath an eroding faculty if given alone but that is common to it with other Liquors as Vinegar the juice of Citron c. Your Acidulae or Mineral Waters are drunk with profit that have their vertue from Vitriolick Spirits It is safely given in convenient Liquors It s hotness is corrected while its particles are severed by a mixture with Water or other Liquors in that proportion that an hundred particles or atoms of Water are mixed with ten or twelve of the Spirit 2. The Medicine was not known to Antiquity yea * x. m. c. 2. 11. c. 9. Galen suspects the use of Vitriolate waters in putrid Fevers because being applied to the Skin they both cause an astriction of its pores and too much heat the Body Answ We must not therefore reject it because it was not known to Antiquity Galen disallows of the external use of Vitriolate Waters because they constringe the Skin 3. He says there are safer Medicines Answ The Spirit of Vitriol is safer if it be taken in a due quantity That it has done good in Fevers there are innumerable witnesses few say that it has done â—urt It does not as yet appear that there are safer Medicines 4. The too great astriction that was in the Vitriol is also in the oyl now astringents do harm in putrid Fevers Answ The astriction in the Spirit is not so great as to do harm there rather seems to be none in it all acids do not astringe yea they attenuate deterge take away obstructions loosen the Belly it cures the flux of the Belly not by binding but by strengthning and condensating there proceed indeed effects from densation that are like to astriction but are not astringents and acids are different But suppose it astringe there is no danger from thence for the inciding attenuating and opening parts are by far the more powerful 5. Viâ—riol is poyson according to Dioscorides Answ It is Poyson in a large sense in which all things that kill by their quantity are called deleteries c. Rolfinc Ep. de febr c. 136. where more objections are made ¶ Spirit of Vitriol being given indecently and too long puts on the nature rather of a Poyson than a Medicine Being added to Humours that boil already enough of themselves just as if you mix this Spirit with the Gall of some Animal Rolfinc cons 2. l. 4. p. 405. it causes greater disturbance and procures a quicker ascent of vapours XXIV Chymists make Universal and general Digestives of Tartar as 1. It s cream and Crystals 2. The magistery of Tartar vitriolate 3. Misiura simplex But these are not truly such it is safer to rank them in the number of particular Digestives They are not good in a bilious Cacochymie and for salt sowr and acrimonious humours In those they may increase the ebullition and do harm They are more profitable for a simple cacochymical melancholy but not so good for a Pontick and Acrimonious which has the seeds of fire in it As much as they avail to incide thickness so much they irritate fervid and adust humours and hurt by inflaming Rolfinc meth gener c. p. 477. They are in some sort good for phlegmatick humors XXV The Cream and Crystal of Tartar absterge incide thick and tartareous Humours open obstructions and loosen the Belly and either of them is a pleasant Medicine if a drachm thereof be given in the broth of flesh or in boyled water with a little butter in it with three four or five grains of Diagridium or extract of Scammony it will give the liquor a somewhat acid taste The Crystals are not so acid nor so diuretick as the Cream and therefore they are safelier given when the body is not purged Sennert Epist 28. cent 1. the dose is from a scruple to a drachm XXVI As to the Crystal of Tartar let the younger Physicians note that it is of greater efficacy than is commonly believed seeing we seldome make use of it in our practice through the carelesness of Apothecaries and deceit of Pseudochymists or those common distillers that sell chymical Medicines to Apothecaries none whereof almost is sincere but all adulterate The carelesness of Apothecaries is for the most part so great that they chuse rather to buy the Crystal of Tartar of those distillers than make it themselves though no preparation of Medicines in the whole art be easier because it is sold them at a low price whereas it would stand them dearer to make it Now the cheat lies in this that those Impostors put in their decoctions but a little Tartar and a great deal of Alum not that Tartar is dearer than Alum but because Tartar yields but a little quantity of Crystals whereas Alum will all of it run into them Hereby are Physicians disappointed of their end seeing Alum is indued with an astringent vertue that is contrary to the opening faculty that is desired by them And another hurt is done this Medicine that this sort of Crystals is drawn out by decoctions made in Brass pots whereby the malignant quality of the Brass is imprinted upon the Medicine For it is a very well known and vulgar precept of pharmacy that acids be not boyled in brass vessels because they easily penetrate and draw a certain tincture from the brass that is very hurtful But the Crystals of Tartar are very acid and by some are named Acidum Tartari And yet this errour is very commonly committed even by the Apothecaries themselves for almost all that make these Crystals with their own hands use brass vessels so that I have seen some Apothecaries have Crystals of Tartar of a Sea-green colour from the Verdegriese that had been drawn from the Vessel wherein they had been made Therefore Physicians will consult for their own conscience for their esteem and the health of their Patients if they make Apothecaries make the crystal of Tartar with their own hand and in Glass Iron or earthen Vessels River pract l. 11. c. 4. XXVII Though I leave every one to his own judgment and experience in the use of Tartar yet by long use I have found that there is more of an opening and loosening faculty in Tartar it self than in its cream or crystals drawn by the solicitous hands and thoughts of Chymists seeing in boiling and by so many washings its purgative vertue that rests chiefly in its earthy and saline parts does most of it vanish inâ—o the thin air I prescribe opening herbs that are defin'd for the Spleen or Liver to be boiled in pottage
Purgative parts of the Spirit have returned by way of precipitation in the Stomach or Intestins to the former habit of their rosm especially if any thing was drunk cold upon it and the precipitated Particles sticking in the coats of the Guts cause griping and a weakning of the Faculties whence they often create Swoonings Convulsions and Tremblings and unless they be absterged in due time and their fierceness be dulled superpurgations Idem CVI. There must needs be some salino-sulphureous stimulus in Purgers that may solicit Nature to excretion for we observe that the vertue of Purgers is obtunded by Acids which is a manifest sign that by this means their saline and sulphureous stimuli are infringed Thus Hellebore Coloquintida yea Antimony it self or rather its crocus and glass are corrected and mitigated by the Spirit of Vitriol or distilled Vinegar CVII There are not a few even Practitioners who think that purging Medicines as often as they operate not when they are taken hurt very much which Opinion I now laugh at because Experience hath taught me the contrary c. For Purgers if they be given duly that is in convenient quantity time and measure will always benefit never hurt the Sick though they do not presently purge out any of the offending Humours Sylv. Append tract ◠§ 234. See the title of Sudorificks for in such case they alter and correct them and prepare them for a kindly evacuation afterwards CVIII If Choler abound in the Body in the Spring-time seeing it is to be feared lest by the following heat of the Sun it be poured too plentifully out of the Gall-bladder and many Diseases arise hence a Prudent Physician will lessen the choler and that chiefly by Stool as a more accustomed way and a more easie manner but not by Vomit unless in those that use to vomit and do it easily who are commonly made to vomit even by Catharticks themselves Idem m. m. l. 1. c. 15. CIX That Antimonium Diaphoreticum hath a Faculty to open Obstructions is true but it does not this of it self but when it is mixed with Purgers For it is certain that Antimonium Diaphoreticum being joined to other Purgers does increase their Purgative vertue so that a less dose of them may serve without any griping of the Belly As for instance If to half a scruple of the root of Jalap you add three or four Grains of Antimonium Diaphoreticum Frider. Hof man Clav. Schrod p. 306. it will work as much as if you gave a Scruple of the Root alone Purgers The Contents The fermentation of Purgers varies their Dose and Vertues I. Whether Aloes open the mouths of the Vessels II. Whether it purge the whole Body III. Whether it hurt the Liver IV. Whether to be given presently after Meat V. Whether it need correcting VI. Whether to be washed VII It is hurtful in a dry intemperature VIII The correction of Agarick IX The Seed of Carthamus hardly purges X. Cassia is a Purger and not a Lenitive XI Cautions in the giving of it XII Whether it be diuretick XIII To whom it is hurtful XIV Catholick or general Purgers XV. How to correct Coloquintida XVI Dwarf Elder Elder and Flower-de-Luce hardly purge XVII Hellebore needs a stimulus XVIII It is commmly given in too small a dose XIX Purging Ointments to anoint the Belly with are not safe XX. Whether Extracts be to be preferred before the Substance XXI The vertue and manner of giving Crystals of Luna XXII The great Hierae are not safe XXIII Hydragogues are for the most part hurtful XXIV How Jalap is to be given XXV It should not be given when the humours are in motion XXVI It is safer to use it than Scammony XXVII How its Rofin is to be used XXVIII Whether it operate in Infusion and Decoction XXIX Whether Lapis Lazuli be of the Number of Purgers XXX To whom Manna is hurtful XXXI At what hour to be given XXXII Whether it evacuate only thin humours XXXIII Cautions to be observed in its use XXXIV Mechoacan is an Excellent purger XXXV Wine hinders its operation Ibid. How Merc. dulcis mixt with Merc. vitae becomes a Cathartik XXXVI 'T is safe to use Mercurius dulcis XXXVII Mercurials are the best Chymical Hydragogues XXXVIII The vertues of Merc. dulcis XXXIX Other Purgers are to be joined with Mercurials XL. Mercurials are not proper for all XLI The Virulence of precipitated Mercury XLII Myrobalans are not to be mixed with strong purgers XLIII Whether to be chafed with the Oil of sweet Almonds XLIV How gentle Pills of Aloes are to be taken XLV A neat preparation and correction of Gummi Gotte XLVI The efficacy of a Laxative Ptisan XLVII Pulvis Cornachini is a safe medicin XLVIII The temperature and correction of Rhubarb XLIX It s substance purges more than its infusion L. Its purging Vertue is not taken away by roasting of it LI. It affects the head LII Scammony when diluted with Broth is very hurtful LIII It is the best Purger being rightly corrected LIV. How it is to be given XXV When Senna gripes LV. What Dose is sufficient LVI It is not offensive to the Stomach LVII The correction of Turbith Vid. Sect. IX In what time the Infusion Syrup and Honey of Roses are to be finished LVIII Whether the Syrup of Roses be a Lenitive or a Purger LIX The Syrup of Roses made of several Infusions does not cool LX. Syrup of Violets made of repeated infusions is to be preferred before that made of their juice LXI The abuse of Wormwood-wine Where is treated also of the abuse of Purges and Clysters LXII Wine is fittest for preparing potions of Resinous things LXIII Simple Extracts are better than compound LXIV Extracts are somewhat sluggish in their Operation LXV A Caution about infusing Senna and Rhubarb LXVI Potions made of Electuaries are more certain and safe than those that are made of Infusions LXVII 1. IF purging Medicins be given alone they ought not to exceed the highest Dose if they be given with others if there be no fermentation neither then is the Purger to be given beyond its highest Dose But if there be a fermentation we may exceed the highest Dose because the Vertue of the Purgers is refringed by fermentation Thus the highest Dose of pilulae foetidae is a Drachm and an half wherein Euphorbium is given to fifteen Grains whereas the highest Dose of it self alone ought not to exceed twelve Grains But these Pills unless they be fermented are not to be given in this Dose The Hiera of Alexander is compounded of Aloes Agarick Polypody Opopanax Sagapenum Hellebore Coloquintida Scammony But some make a doubt of Scammony For Alexander adviseth when we give a Purge to mix nothing with it for a Stimulus such as is Scammony for the Purge is rendred unprofitable by the Scammony or Stimulus For when we would purge Phlegm or Melancholy which matters are purged with difficulty 't is not beneficial
could never be stanched by any Remedies no not by a Cautery it self but the Patient died of it Idem Obs 66. XI Scarification in general is very much suspected by some whence also Grembs in Arb. ru in t l. 3. c. 1. § 48. disallows of Scarification pretending that a no small hindrance of long life is the bad custom of Venesection and Scarification which hath so prevailed that in some Families they use Scarifications once a Month and Venesection twice a year whereby they lavishly spend the treasure of life But experience says the contrary for some may be found of Sixty yea I have known some of Seventy that even from their Childhood have used this Remedy without hurt Nor is that true That he who has once scarified must necessarily continue it all his life long unless he will precipitate himself into danger of his life I knew one sayes D. Mabius that when he was a Boy of about Eight years old being subject to frequent Ophthalmies and Fluxions upon his Eyes by the advice of a skilful Physician used Scarifications twice a Month till he was Ten years old with good Success And when these Diseases ceased he left off the Scarifications also without falling into any Disease Fr. Hofman m. m. l. 1. c. 18. and is still alive and healthful and sprightly XII There arise a great many Veins from the Loins which you cannot plainly see unless you cut the Skin from that Part wherefore Scarifications of the Loins are very good to revell from the upper Parts and in some Countreys those Veins are opened if they appear to the Phlebotomist Riolan Anthropogr l. 2. c. 6. if we will believe Platerus in his Anatomy XIII We must not make incision with too sharp a Launcet which a Surgeon once doing in a Boy thinking that by that means he should do it with the less Pain caused a great Convulsion for often either the Membranes under the Skin or the Nerves are hurt besides that the thick Blood is not evacuated thereby but only the thin as Hippocrates lib. de Medico teacheth who for that reason bids us use Launcets that are crooked at the end and not very narrow yea sometimes serous and sanious Humours become viscid and thick whence there is danger they should stay in the too narrow gashes That the Scarification should be made by drawing the Knife along and not by stabbing it in Rubeus in Celsum lib. 2. c. 11. Experience shews and Reason perswades XIV 'T is certain that in foul and Cacochymical Bodies there are often raised malignant Defluxions upon several Parts I order'd dry Cupping-glasses to be applied to the Buttocks and Back of one infected with the Pox for a cruel pain in his Head which having done one by the Loins grew into so great a bulk that for the Tumour and great redness he that made the Application was forced without my advice to Scarifie it But he could never heal up the Ulcer yea a virulent Humour flowing out by it and Blisters full of black Blood being raised there arose a Gangrene spreading deep upon the Spine Zacut. Prax. admir l. 3. Obs 67. and thereupon Convulsions all which brought the man to his end Spleneticks The Contents They respect either acid sowr Humours I. Or the acrimonious saline lixivial II. Or the tartareous and viscid Phlegmatick sliminess of the Blood III. How Steel-remedies profit the Hypochondriacal IV. They profit not all alike I. Volatils often hurt V. Acids are often beneficial VI. The Spleen requires strong Aperitives VII How Steel remedies are to be used VIII I. AS the Liver does more dispense the Sulphur of the Blood so does the Spleen its salt and serum Now Spleneticks and Hepaticks are good together and they are commonly one and the same hence likewise Aperitives chiefly belong hither Spleneticks respect either I. acid austere humours that fix the Blood and induce Melancholy Dullness c. such as are 1. all aqueous diluting and mitigating Remedies chiefly Nitrous Medicinal Waters Whey which besides their Salts borrow the greatest part of their vertues from their watry Particles 2. Gentle aromatick and bitter things ranked under Hepaticks 3. Fixt Lixivials and volatâ—l Alkali's thus the Salt of Wormwood of Centaury the tincture of Tartar Spirit of Sal Armoniack Antiscorbutick Plants c. belong hither For as those acid Humours concentrate and fix the Blood so these very volatil Saline and Sulphureous do set at liberty subtilize and volatilize it so that from that Lye that it was reduc'd unto it is again invigorated 4. Earthy Medicines coming towards the nature of Alkali's and Resolvents Thus Helmont extols Crabs Eyes boiled in Wine and that have acquired a lixivial taste Thus also Glauber affirms that the Powder of Corals does profit the Hypochondriacal only because they absorb an acid thus the filings of Steel even taken in substance profit And hence also as good as all and a Panacea of the Hypochondriacal are 5. Steel-remedies the reason of whose action is no other than that by absorbing they invert saturate sweeten and render profitable those acid Humours No otherwise than as aqua fortis and acid Spirits being poured on Steel grow sweet their Particles being blunted and turning to Vitriol These very Remedies are profitable on this account in Hypochrondriack Melancholy in Pains of the Hypochondres Cachexie the beginning of a Dropsie Scurvy palpitation of the Heart Swooning c. Vitriolate Remedies themselves belong hither also both those which are originally such and chiefly those which are regenerated of Steel as Vitriolum Martis c. which after their manner do also absorb strengthen and saturate also acid pontick Humours II. Or 2. Acrimonious saline lixivial humours whether they be more eminent apart or concur in Predominancy with acids And such Remedies indeed besides watry diluents which are common as it were consist of 1. Acids in regard they fix as it were the volatility of the serum and are profitable in the too great Hemorrhagies of the Cachectick and Scorbutick as by these means I have cured some that have been so affected 2. Austere Remedies which do concentrate the same as it were and hinder a too great rarefaction as the anti-phthisical tincture of Grammanus styptick Powders c. and they are good when the Serum is too fluxile in colliquative Fluxes immoderate Sweats in which case there is sometimes place also for Opiats 3. Earthy things inasmuch as these also absorb and precipitate as has been explained elsewhere Among Spleneticks Ceterach or Spleenwort c. are good as in other cases so in inflammations anxieties and pains at the Stomach c. of the Hypochondriacal III. Or 3. the tartareous and viscid Phlegmatick â—â—iminess of the Blood immersed in a greater or lesser quantity of serum such as are chiefly 1. Acids Whence it is not unreasonable to think that even mineral acid Spirits do sometimes much if not all in curing the Hypochondriacal affection for they
incide and attenuate mucilaginousness especially the Spirit of Salt these also free the first ways from that notable mucilage that lines the Stomach which they carry either to the passages of Urine or dispose to go out by stool 2. Alkalines and Enixa which on this account are called Saponaries these do notably carry away and absterge the Lees of the Blood as Helmont speaks the tincture of Tartar the arcanum of the same Tartar vitriolate c. 3. Aromaticks as others so especially carminative which use to profit both inwardly and outwardly in those cases yea both the now mentioned things do so conspire as it were in this third vertue that they procure a free course to the Blood and that the Serum be not hindred in its office whence also bitter things and other belong hither these also correct that dullness and deficient spirituascencâ— and aerescence of the Stomach or rather of the chyle and do especially avert Scirrhus's of the Spleen and are of principal efficacy in Quartan Agues and its Symptoms that arise from hence For it cannot be but when either the Blood is too much fixed by acids or the oily Balsamick particles of the Chyle are not separated slimy thick tartareous excrements must be bred and be fasten'd here and there but especially in the Spleen 4. Hither belong also Abstergers Diureticks and Nephriticks likewise for it is certain both that in the Hypochondriacal a gravelly sandy matter that proceeds from the tartareous muddiness of the Blood is separated with the Urine and also that most who are troubled with the stone are Hypochondriacal withal and that antihypochondriacks are proper for these also IV. From these things it is clear both that any specificks in general and in particular spleneticks and Antihypochondriacks are not all of them proper for all Persons for like as either austere and acid Humours or Lixivial Volatil and middle such as chiefly cause colliquative sweats or the muddiness of the Blood offend more so likewise doth the application of these vary so as that if a man proceed in order and apply them promiscuously he shall rather load the Patient with Symptoms than relieve him V. Volatils as well others as Antiscorbutick do often hurt the Splenetick and even the Scorbutick themselves This is clear from what has been just now alledged for if the Hypochondriack person have a Blood that is full of Saline Lixivious and Alkaline atoms if he be troubled or abound with an over fluxil and volatil Serum those thing indeed are not good whence 't is an errour to administer Antiscorbuticks indifferently Hence I have often seen all the Symptoms that were hardly allayed as preternatural heat watchings c. raised anew by the Spirit of Scurvigrass which had also been used hand over head for the extracting of other Aperitives for instance of Steel VI. Acids are often good and so it cannot be said simply He is hypochondriacal therefore no acids are to be given him Hither belongs Lipsius's Encomium of the Spirit of Vitriol Cent. 1. Epist 81. for when through a sedentary life he had contracted a great sliminess of Blood whence also he voided by Stool glassie Phlegm he used the Vinegar of Vitriol with no bad success Likewise temperate and absorbing and diluting Remedies are profitably administred to these Hence Servius Inst Med. c. 3. I have sometimes benefited the Hypochondriacal rather by cooling than healing Medicines by Whey Mineral Waters and other things whereby the heat of the Hypochondres might be temper'd and so neither are these things to be administred without the active nor those without these temperate Remedies The Serum is to be attended to in all cases that it be neither defective nor abound too much with saline Particles VII But the Spleen requires stronger Aperitives than the Liver This is the affirmation of Galen which though Mercatus oppugn and grant it only of the external use yet it is true where either the Spirits and Blood are fixed or sliminess is Predominant in the Blood hence for instance the Spirit of Sal Armoniack is very profitably given to the melancholick even in drink VIII Those must use motion that take Steel-Remedies and the Excrements of the Belly are to be considered Motion I say must be used that the sluggish Humours may be excited and the Medicine may be better actuated and descend but this is principally to be meant when they are taken in a dry or solid form for then unless motion be used they do not work well And the Excrements must be consider'd because they are tinged by Steel-Medicines so that they are voided black because of the Vitriol that is drawn out of the Medicins which is a manifest token that there has been a resolution thereof made And it is to be noted that they are not to be given in substance and a dry form except the Stomach be strong G. W. Wedel de s m. sac p. 107. so that if I may so say it can bear and concoct them Sâ—illicidium or Pumping The Contents It is a very effectual Tâ—pick I. We must have regard to such Indications as forbid it II. To whom hot Baths are hurtful III. How cold Stillicidia are to be used IV. To what Parts they are chiefly beneficial V. What Part of the Head is to be exposed to them VI. The manner of administring them VII The Patient must not sleep the whilst VIII What things are to be applied afterwards IX I. STillitidium or Pumping commonly called Daccia and Gutta and improperly by some Embroche which signifies Perfusion from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wet is that form of Medicine whereby there is made a destillation of a liquid Humour from on high like a showr upon some part It is agreed by all that this Stillicidium excells any other form of external Medicine as to its activity and that indeed justly because through the motion of the matter falling from on high the Skin waxes hot and the Pores are opened whereby is made the greater impression The occasion of inventing this Remedy was twofold the one the resistance of the Distemper as to other forms and manners of acting through the stubbornness of the matter or it s too deep situation the other the disposition of the Part it self to which the Remedy was to be applied when through the obstacle of the Bones it suffers not the vertue of a Medicine to reach to the part affected unless it be administred with motion on which account Galen 13. Claudin Append c. ult Meth. c. 22. commends this manner of administration chiefly in the Head II. The Prohibents are many and 1. a Plethora and Cacochymie 2. An Ulcer and all solution of unity yea and sometimes an evil composition of the Parts But it is particularly forbid for the Head by a vertiginous Distemper by a suffocating Catarrh or an hot Catarrh because seeing upon the account of this it ought to be cooling it might do a great deal of harm to the Brain
then the pipe of the Guts through which the Gall-bladder and Pancreas discharge themselves and the mouth it self into which and by which the Salival glands unload themselves and sometimes the Stomach it self with the small Guts are no less to be esteemed for its circumference than the external Skin through which the sweat is expelled and the Piss-Bladder by which the Urine is evacuated Reason does not only argue this to be probable and likely but experience proves it to be true which hath more than once assured others as well as my self from the excellent success and great benefit of the Patients that Humours offending in the Body are expelled at the same time and by the same Medicine both by vomit stool sweat and Urine Which experience hath taught to be profitable in not a few distempers such experience I mean as is certain and consenting to solid and sound reason And that the same may be safely and with good success done in the Plague Sylv. Append Tract 2. §. 594. I make no doubt See Book 6. under the Title of a Pestilential Fever VII Lest any should think that Choler only does affect to pass upwards by Vomit daily experience teacheth us that both insipid and salt and acid water as well thin as thick yea tough phlegm is vomited up by many of their own accord in abundance which where it is observed to be done if nothing gainsay 't is convenient to follow the said guidance of Nature that is to promote the motion of the Humours that is spontaneously made upwards Now I reckon that the Humours are moved upwards spontaneously that is by Nature as often as being carried through the Pancreatick and Bilarie duct into the small Gut and meeting with the phlegm produced chiefly from the spittle that is continually swallowed or with the aliments Medicines or poisons that are taken in and are sliding out of the Stomach through the pylorus they raise an effervescence as well with one another as with these and that such as through which they are driven upwards to the Stomach in some and that either a less or larger part Idem tract 6. §. 163. or altogether VIII Let such Vomits as are strong be given especially to delicate Bodies and weak Stomachs after meal But if you would have a plentiful evacuation in such as are more strong give them on an empty Stomach especially Antimonials whose vertue is soon dulled Prepare the more tough Humours by Inciders Openers Oxymel with some Syrup made acid by the Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur by bathing by long fomentation of the Hypochondres for many days and after give a Vomit After every Vomiting give some fat broth In vomiting foment the Stomach with some relaxing fomentation and afterwards with a strengthening one Ex sâ—hedis Dom. Turqueti de Mayerne At night if there be need let Laudanum be given the next day some Conserve Tablets or strengthning Wine IX The Ancients used Vomits frequently and purging by stool but seldom and Hippocrates for prevention never used purging by stool but always by Vomit as appears from 3. de diaeta and l. de insomn For because it cannot be so manifest what Humour abounds most whilst no Disease does as yet appear he therefore purges by Vomit whereby not only that Humour which is agreeable to the Medicine is brought forth Prosp Martian com in v. 153. l. de nat hom but also any other whatever which happens to abound in the Body ¶ Because the Stomach gives to all and receives from all therefore does Hippocrates use vomiting for prevention whilst a Disease of any part is imminent Idem comm in v. 136. l. de insomn X. Some refuse Vomitories because we are not so accustomed to them as the Ancients as if in our age no Disease had its Crisis by Vomit or there were not to be found men who vomit very easily both of their own accord and by Medicines whence we daily observe that many sick persons after they have been physick'd a long time in vain by rational Physicians have been wholly cured of most stubborn Diseases by taking Antimony or the like violent Remedy given by some Empirick nor are men in more danger by the use of these than by our Benedicta's commonly so called which though they be gentle and easie yet are even they observed sometimes to cause deadly superpurgations For the harms that proceed from a Medicine depend not altogether on its strength but its unfit use whence a Physician does no less harm by giving a weak Medicine to him that needs a strong one than if he gave a strong one and perhaps one that works upwards to him that has need of one that is gentle and works by stool Yet I deny not that purgings upwards are far more uneasie in the very act of Vomiting than purgings downwards so that the Patients think themselves even ready to dye yet when the evacuation is over the clean contrary follows seeing those that have been purged by Vomit are presently better and are made more chearful and ready to perform all operations they are not thirsty they have a good appetite and are very quickly recruited the contrary whereto happens to those who have been purged by stool Nevertheless Physicians now adayes preferring pleasantness before all things Idem comâ—â— in v. 231. l. 3. de morb without any regard to the Disease or season or any thing always prescribe purging by stool to the great prejudice of art XI We must take heed of purging too Acrimonious or corrupt Humours by vomit for the sense and excellency of the mouth of the Stomach can hardly endure the contact of the vitious matter unless it be first very well prepared Mercat de ind med l. 1. c. 9. and mixt with other lenient and moist Medicines XII Vomitories require their just and exact dose for being given too sparingly they lose their vertue and purge by stool It is a sign of a just dose if yellow and green stuff be vomited up and it is a sign of too small a dose if only waterish and white Humours be cast up Now those colours were not in the Humours before but are brought upon them by the Medicines Thus children vomit up the milk colour'd Walaeus whereas it was white before XIII What some affirm that a Vomit taken in never so great a dose works no more strongly than if it were taken only in a moderate quantity is wholly untrue and an experiment thereof is not to be made without danger for if there be more particles of the Medicine they will also imbue the more fibres and entring deeper into them will provoke them the more grievously Willis phaâ— p. m. 5â— so that more cruel and frequent convulsions of the Stomach must necessarily follow XIV It is not safe to agitate the Stomach with violent vomiting Medicines nor is it good to use ones self to them seeing no wise man will make a piss-pot of a pot
we draw not a tooth at the time of a defluxion head-ach swelling of the Gums or when they ake violently And the Chirurgeon must be admonished that he pull it not out violently and forcibly that is at one pull left a great concussion of the Brain or breaking of the Jaw be occasioned Riverius pract l. 6. c. 1. which is attended with a great Haemorrhage or Fever and sometimes Death XXV Some Physicians would persuade a Man that an artificial tooth may be put in the room of one that is pulled out and that it will stick as fast as any other tooth that it will be clothed with the flesh of the Gums and will serve to chew with But he that considers the teeth have Life that they receive Veins Arteries and Nerves that they are sensible and ake Riolanus Enchir. l. 4. c. 8. and are fastened with ligaments will never affirm it XXVI A certain Nun when she had got a tooth which was longer than any of the rest to be cut short thereby to avoid the deformity presently fell down dead in a Convulsion and Epilepsie But a Nerve appeared in that part where the tooth was cut off Casp Barthol Inst Anatom XXVII A bony fungus sometimes grows out of the hole of a drawn tooth so big that it fills the mouth Riolanus Enchir. p. 309. and at last choaks a Man unless prevented by cutting it out and burning it Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians I. For Rottenness of the teeth 1. If the Corrosion come of Worms a Medicine is made of Leek-seeds mixt with Wax Rod. à Fonseca receiving the fume into the mouth 2. This is a most excellent Remedy Take of the Roots of Mastick-tree Cinquefoil sharp Dock each 1 drachm boil them in very sharp Vinegar to a third Petr. Forestus Add to it strained of Salt half a drachm Wash the teeth with it 3. A tooth taken out of a dead man's Jaw if you touch a rotten tooth often with the root of it will cause the tooth to fall out piece meal in a few days Hartman 4. Take of Myrrh Aloe Epatica each 3 ounces Henbane-seed 2 ounces and a half Nettle-seed 1 ounce Saffron 2 ounces Nutmeg 1 ounce Mix them make a Powder pour on it some Spirit of Wine let it stand in a hot place for some days then distill it by an Alembick in which dissolve of Balsam of Sulphur a twelfth part and you will have as excellent an Elixir as ever was used wherewith the Gums must once a-day be anointed It is a most certain preservative of the teeth against Rottenness Joh. Poppius 5. For the Hollowness of the teeth if it proceed from a hot cause Camphire is excellent good whether it be applied as a Plaster Eustach Rud. or the hollow tooth be stopt with it 6. Take of Powder of Myrrh 2 scruples Gum Juniper 1 scruple Alume half a scruple with a sufficient quantity of Honey make it into a liniment with which the rotten and hollow teeth must be rubbed every day ¶ To get out hollow teeth some commend the fat and powder of green Frogs that live upon Trees Dan. Sennertus if it be rubbed on the teeth II. For the Falling of them A tooth of a Man who died through decay of strength not taken off by a violent death or an acute disease Van Helmont causeth any tooth in a living Man to wither and fall out onely by touching it III. For the Tooth-ach 1. Take of Gum Tragacanth 2 drachms Hyssop half an ounce Pellitory of the Wall 3 ounces mixt with Honey and Salt and burnt to a Coal in a Pot Pepper 4 ounces beat them very fine and pass them through a Sieve and then use it which if you doe the teeth will neither ake nor grow loose nor will the gums be inflamed or bleed nor will Caruncles grow thereon nor will they be troubled with defluxions And besides the breath will be sweet and the teeth clean Act â—arius 2. Take of Juice of white Bryony-berries one pound and a half Bark of the root of a Mulberry-tree an ounce and a half boil half away It must be held hot in the mouth give it 7 days one after another He that uses it shall never be troubled with the Tooth-ach ¶ Take the Skin of an Adder burn it and beat it make it up with Oil about as thick as Honey or take the Skin it self unburnt rub the teeth therewith and they will fall out ¶ This is Andromachus his Medicine which asswages the Tooth-ach within an hour Take of Pepper Aetius Pellitory of Spain Juice of Spurge Galbanum each equal parts put it in the hollow teeth 3. If the teeth be touched with the Radius of a Sea-parsnip and the gums scarified Jul. Caesar Baricelius the Tooth-ach quickly ceases 4. Some rub the teeth of Scorbutick persons with the branch of Willow and set it in the smoak of the Chimney and as the branch dries the teeth are cured ¶ I have tried several Medicines and could onely find benefit from Alume which I melted in a Saucer and powdered and with Nutmeg and a sufficient quantity of Honey made it up into the form of a Liniment wherewith now and then I anointed the aking tooth and with good success for the Tooth-ach ceased and I rested well ¶ A Pill of Philonium Romanum put in the tooth having first washed the mouth with Lapis Prunellae dissolved Tho. Bartholinus never failed me 5. Paulus writes that the Tooth-ach is effectually cured with a Decoction of Fern-root in very strong Vinegar ¶ This is certainly experienced Alex. Benedictus that the root of Self-heal dried and rubbed on the Gums of the aking teeth till they bleed cures the Tooth-ach 6. One could find no ease by any remedy till he put Betony in his Nose and then he was cured ¶ Shepherds-purse bruised and the quantity of a Hazle-nut put in the ears is a good and experienced remedy Garlick also bruised with a little Salt and applied to the Thumbs raises Blisters out of which Water runs whereby the Defluxion is derived from the teeth and the Tooth-ach taken away ¶ A Plaster of Burgundy Pitch with Powder of Nutmeg applied to the Temporal Artery hath cured several ¶ Knives touched with a Load-stone Petrus Borellus cure the Pains of teeth ears and eyes onely by the Touch. 7. Take Mastick-seeds and bruise them put them in a Rag and hold it to the inside of the teeth It hath a wonderfull virtue of drawing out viscous humours J. Theod. de Bry. asswaging and at length of curing the Tooth-ach 8. In curing the Tooth-ach nothing is better than Oil of Turpentine with Powder of Camphire Jul. Caes Claudinus the Oil whereof also is very effectual 9. Take some Pellitory of Spain powdered half as much powder of Cloves steep them in Spirit of Wine wet a folded Rag in it