aperitivi are given on purpose with Stomachicks and Aromaticks So we use to prepare our cachectick Powder of Pulvis stomachicus Quercetani of root of Aron Crocus Martis and Oil of Cinnamon For they correct Mars and help Nature to conquer him But sulphurate especially causes belching as being cruder therefore we use not to give Crocus Martis so much prepared the crude way as we give it first freed from the Atoms of Sulphur by a new calcination which is better more subtile and obedient to the heat of the Stomach a thing which must principally be observed in Hypochondriacks who are delicate and of a rare texture for these belchings swell like rotten eggs Septalius lib. 9. cant 58. commends this made into a Powder and prepared with Vinegar Wedelius XLIX We must have a care that we promote not the fermentation of the humours by Emulsions and consequently lest while we would cure Thirst Weakness c. we doe more harm than good Therefore in general whenever the orgasmus of the humours is in the lower Belly it is adviseable to abstain from them for as Hippocrates says unequal things ferment Wherefore in Hystericks where it concerns us to quiet the Symptoms and also in Hypochondriacks they cannot be proper Idem L. The quieting of the Paroxysms and of the most urgent Symptoms consists especially in checking the effervescence of the humours in discussion of the rising exhalations asswaging of Pain The effervescence will be stopt chiefly with Medicines that correct the acrimony of both humours the Acid pituitous and the Bilious which is owing to fat and spirituous things but variously mixt with other things according to the various manner of effervescence in each person Wherefore that Medicine which does one Man good often does another harm And it must be a temperate Medicine which must consist of much water and little oil but that so mixt with a volatile salt that it may mix with the water For all the skill lies here I repeat it The temperate Medicine must consist of much water as being a thing which by it self and a lixivious salt is fit to dilute an acid spirit and so infringe its strength To this water oil but a little must be added as being apt to temper both the lixivious salt and the acid spirit And because oil cannot be mixt with water but by means of a Lixivial Salt this must be there also but corrected and volatilized with a volatile Spirit because the same and a volatile spirit use to temper a lixivious salt and an acid spirit In such a Medicine therefore so tempered there occurr three things Water Oil and Volatile Spirit tempering the two Sharps Sylvius de le Boë the lixivious Salt and the acid Spirit LI. Among the Symptoms of this Disease I have observed that a sense and fear of Suffocation and Strangling is not onely peculiar to Women though it take them oftner than Men. I think this grievance has its rise from various exhalations and especially austere ones rising from the small gut to the upper mouth of the Stomach and so to the Gullet and causing a sense of Suffocation and Strangling in these parts But whenever part of these exhalations tends by the lacteal Veins to the thoracick Duct penetrates into the right ventricle of the Heart and into the Lungs and sticking there causes shortness of Breath no wonder if then either through want of proper Medicines or abundance of Exhalations the Patients are sometime suffocated and choaked which I remember once happened to one of my Patients abundance of austere Exhalations being translated to the Lungs with a violent hypochondriack Suffocation as the most urgent Symptome then and returning with such violence every Paroxysm that it would give way to no Medicines but caused Death And this Evil had been neglected at the beginning so much does it concern us to cure all things in time Certainly this Ail is often too much neglected not being sufficiently known to several Physicians and therefore the seldomer cured For curing of this volatile Salts are very good and amongst them Spirit of Sal Ammoniack which if it had no other virtues yet in regard to this Ail it ought to be esteemed by all Physicians Except in this case I do not remember any Patient of mine ever died of an hypochondriack Suffocation to whom I use in time to prescribe and inculcate volatile Salts which all persons may easily use even in their ordinary drink Whereas Castor which many use with good success is an ingratefull thing and is loathed by many The Cure of this multifarious Disease is performed first of all by discussion and suppression of all manner of Exhalations Secondly by correction of the humours whence they arise Thirdly And by the diminution of them where they exceed All volatile Salts and Aromaticks and especially oleous ones discuss all manner of Vapours Among which also Castor it self may be reckoned seeing it is part of an Animal or an Excrement which is the same thing seeing all the parts and each of an Animal abound with a volatile Salt And every particular humour as it offends in divers qualities must in a divers manner be corrected and diminished with its Purgatives But as often as a manifest sense of Strangling is urgent upon the Patient besides this Spirit of Sal Ammoniak Castor is also convenient and its Tincture as also distilled Oil of Mace and Amber if one two or three drops thereof be taken When these Exhalations are more glutinous or also more sharp then besides volatile Salts sweet Spirit of Nitre Oil of Orange Pill c. may be used When they are more watry and there is rather a faintness of Spirits than sense of Strangling then to the volatile Salts there may profitably be added aromatick Tinctures of Cinnamon Saffron Nutmeg Mace c. made with rectified Spirit of Wine not neglecting the taking of Hydragogues now and then to abate the watry humours Idem LII And Difficulty of Breathing comes in for its share which is grievous enough to many the chief cause whereof is various Winds and Vapours often produced by humours in the small Gut which being carried by the lacteal Veins and thoracick duct to the right ventricle of the Heart and so to the Lungs and tarrying there awhile so they both distend the Lungs and keep them distended and so hinder the playing of them and consequently respiration and therefore must be discussed with the same Medicines Idem Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Tartarus vitriolatus with extract of Fern and some convenient Water is an excellent deoppilative ¶ Take of Gumm Ammoniack 2 ounces and an half dissolved in Vinegar of Squills to the consistency of Honey Add of Powder of Spleen-wort Dodder each 1 ounce Oil of Capers 2 ounces of Violets 1 ounce of Bricks and Wax what is sufficient Make a Plaster and apply it Agricola 2. Diaspoliticum in hypochondriack melancholy
operate nothing at all which is an ill sign and such persons usually die But because according to Celsus Many things may well be done in a dangerous case which should otherwise be omitted therefore when the foresaid Remedies avail not we may come up to Antimonial Medicines especially those that are less violent such as Aqua Benedicta made of Crocus Metallorum which Purging both upwards and downwards brings away so great a quantity of Phlegm not onely from the Stomach and lower parts but from the Brain that sometime the Patient is cured by this Evacuation For I can truely testifie that I saw a Nobleman cured of an Apoplexy thrice in two years by this onely Remedy And although some condemn the use of Vomits in these cases yet we must rather trust experience which teaches us by daily experiments how comatous Children are with more speed and safety cured by Vomitive Salt of Vitriol Riverius than by any other Remedy XIV Here I must take notice of a frequent Errour in giving the Emetick Wine For timorous Physicians prescribe it in too small a Dose i. e. an ounce or an ounce and half at most and when they are frustrated of the effect expected Francisc Bayle Tract de Apoplexia c. 11. they blame and disparage the Medicine whereas to persons grown and of any strength it should be given to about three ounces in an Infusion of Senna XV. Walaeus saith that in the Apoplexy Clysters may be so strong of Coloquintida that they fetch the very bloud Nothing hinders it for Life must be saved and this Damage may easily be repaired And it may the better be done if the Apoplexy were caused by too much bloud XVI The Belly for Revulsion sake and to excite the dull Faculties may be provoked by administring sharp Clysters and Suppositories whereas otherwise they would scarce go to stool Suppositories because they provoke exceedingly and are quickly made and by reason Clysters cannot be kept for Senselessness are very convenient and should often be repeated Platerus in which some burning hot things since the Patient is without Sense will doe no harm XVII Some rub Hiera and Purging Electuaries on the Palate to no purpose in stead whereof it were better to use Confectio Anacardina Idem which inflames a little XVIII We rub the Palate with things that bring away Phlegm yet in that Quantity and Form that if they should fall on the Aspera Arteria they may not choak Take of Mustard-seed long-Pepper Pellitory of Spain powdered a like quantity mix them with as much Honey juice of Rue and Horseradish as is sufficient to make them into the form of an Ointment We leave out the Vinegar which some put in because it abates the strength of sharp things Idem as we see in Onions and Horseradish if they be eaten with Vinegar XIX Although the humour causing the Apoplexy cannot be cast out by Sneezing because it is not contained in the Ventricles yet in this most grievous and dangerous case we must try every thing that may remove the Matter However before Purging it is suspicious because by the motion of the Head and Breast there is a greater afflux of humours We may anoint the Nostrils with the same we anoint the Palate withall Platerus XX. Some provide Fumigations but they are not at all to be commended for they are dangerous to those that have difficulty of Breathing It is better to hold a little Rue Rondeletius or Castor or Galbanum to the Nostrils Some highly approve a Fume of Amber made immediately how destitute such are of Reason Crato learned Physicians can abundantly shew XXI Things taken inwardly are not to be neglected in the very beginning which encrease the Effervescency of the Bloud refresh the Spirits and raise the deficient Heat in Plethorick persons especially after bloud-letting in others both before and after The most spirituous and which abound with volatile Salt are best Such as are several sorts of Apoplectick Waters Spirit of Wine Tartarisate distilled Oils of Anniseed Rosemary Sage Cloves and the like with some Cephalick Water Volatile Salts especially bring great and present benefit that are separated and cleansed from all concretion of their Body such as are the volatile Salts of Sal Ammoniack Soot Bloud Hartshorn and which exceeds them all the volatile Salt of Vipers These Salts quickly pass through the whole Mass of Bloud Bay Tract de Apoplex and render it more fluid they infringe the force of Acids and dissolve grumous bloud XXII There are some who give Treacle or Mithridate to drink but under a great mistake because all the virtue of the Opium will not be lost though they be never so old To say nothing of the many Astringents are in them the strength whereof although it be qualified may be suspected because the humour that is the cause of the Disease and moistens the body of the brain is more deeply impacted by these Medicines Râ—ndeâ—etius It is better to give a Scruple or two of Castor which because of its unpleasantness less hurts the brain XXIII When a continual Fever for one Intermitting presages Death accompanies the Apoplexy as it should do it needs no other help If it be too low it increases the Disease if too high it spends a Man For a Fever cures no other Apoplexy Crato in Consil than that which comes of cooling the bloud of crude humours and a flatulent spirit But here the Prudence of the Physician present is required XXIV Holleriuâ—â— lib. curaâ— Sect. 29. One taken with an Apoplexy was raised by rubbing and Motion a Fever followed gentle enough but with a Delirium Being negligently cured and not raising what fell upon his Lungs he died the ninth day after his Fever and the tenth after his Apoplexy XXV The question is about the Posture of the Patient namely Whether he must presently be put to bed or be kept up a-while Some very carefully observe the latter nor without reason because certainly there will be a greater propensity to sleep in bed and the bloud by the heat of the Clothes will be in a greater ferment and the more it blazes the more recementitious matter it discharges into the disaffected Brain On the contrary while the Patient is thin clad and set in a Chair the bloud runs slower and while the Vessels subside they seem fitter to receive the humours from the Head than to send more thither Wherefore if the Patient have strength sufficient perhaps it were better to sit up six or eight hours till the flux of the morbifick matter be past and the course of the bloud be made more sedate by letting of bloud and by other remedies carefully administred But such as are weak and of a tender Constitution must as soon as they are seized be laid on a bed either in it or upon it His posture must be not on his back but with his head a little raised
In the Stone in the Kidneys although Hippocrates order violent Medicines such as Spurge to move the Stone yet I think it safer to use Lenients that may onely dilate the parts then more violent ones which perchance may draw greater plenty of humours to the Parts affected Wherefore as in prevention we must use gentle Medicines Mercatus de Praesi◠l. 1. c. 6. so I think we must use the same in the Cure VI. Crato consil 136. prefers the simple Decoction of Speedwell before all more generous inward Medicines for the Stone The use saith he of a Clyster made of the Decoction onely of Speedwell with Sugar will doe more good than any Medicines taken by the mouth You may put in the Decoction some fat of a Loin of Mutton of a Rabbet or a Capon that so it may make smooth if you can get none of these you may take some fresh Butter Therefore young Physicians may take notice that a great Medly of many Simples is not always necessary to make a Clyster I can safely attest my Patients have often found more benefit and ease in the Colick or Stone from a simple Clyster of Milk and Sugar in which after Crato's example I boiled either Speedwell or Chamaemil-flowers not Roman but the common S. Pauli Quadri◠p. 512. that is more temperate than the Roman than from Clysters of more ample furniture made of Pennyroyal wild Marjoram Rue Calamint c. Because these hot things by discussing do raise Wind whereupon the Pain encreaseth which is mitigated with Anodynes properly so called VII We must take notice that in Nephritick Pains Clysters must be given in less quantity than in other Distempers Zecchius Consult 50. lest the Quantity by distending the Intestines press the affected parts circumjacent and exasperate the Pain VIII Whether is a Vomit proper in this Disease There are many young Physicians who commend it for prevention to expell the tartarous matter before it be derived either to the Reins or Bladder Some admit it in the very fit because Nature seems to shew the way by reaching and vomit Hippocrates saith 6. Epidem that men are better after eruginous Vomit In my Judgment Vomit conduces by straining to the expulsion of the Stone or Gravel as it does to the Delivery of a Woman namely by the violent commotion of the whole Body and compression of the Muscles of the Belly But we must take diligent heed lest a Vomit be given to all persons without distinction of those that cannot bear one Tho. Bartholinus Cent. 1. Epist 55. and so Disease be added to Disease Severinus advised me to this Remedy for a pain in my Bladder but I was very near a Pleurisie upon it Mr. N. by his prescription took the Antimonial Wine with great success and lived very healthy after it IX As Diureticks in the Cure of this Disease are fit and necessary to get the Gravel and Stone out of the Kidneys so for prevention and in time of Health we must abstain from them lest while they provoke Urine they by use open those ways Rubaeus in Celsum l. 4. c. 10. and make a Passage to the Kidneys whereby all the crude and bad humours that are bred in the body may tend thither and afford matter to breed Gravel and the Stone ¶ I warn my Patient that he carefully abstain from diuretick Medicines and such as expell the Stone Crato consil 246. for unless this be done he will be certainly troubled with the Stone ¶ They that in calculous persons use hot Diureticks commit a mistake because such Medicines bring filthy matter with them and open the Passages Secondly they displace the Stone and make it unequal and rough Lest the Reins or Bladder should be hurt by the asperity of the Stone Sagacious and Prudent Nature hath clothed it with a mucous and slippery Phlegm lest it should pinch the live part Diureticks do much harm because they strip the Stone that was covered with viscid Phlegm which by reason of its raggedness doth so prick that in a short time it causes a mortal Ulcer attended with cruel Symptoms A certain Mountebank gave a Wretch troubled with the Stone most violent Diureticks which caused exceeding dreggy Urine the viscid Phlegm being scraped off which was as a bed to the Stone Sanctorius Meth. vit error l. 18. c. 4. He presently felt himself better but in a little time the Stone being naked and sharp ate and pierced through the sides of the Bladder upon which there presently came an Ulcer and that a Gangrenous one and I never saw a man die so violent a Death X. In the Stone both of the Reins and Bladder Diureticks to break the Stone must be given a long time after meat and on an empty Stomach and if it may be done after the body is purged for Diureticks are quickly carried to the Kidneys and they drag along with them the Food crude and inconcocted so they rather load the Reins and Bladder Frid. Hofmannus m. m. l. 1. c. 18. and encrease the matter of the Stone Therefore they doe very ill that boil Parsly-roots or some other Diuretick with their meat and eat it for their Dinner or Supper XI All Stones at least those that I have yet found are dissolved in the acid Spirit of Nitre whence I conclude none can imagine that the coagulation of Stones can proceed from an acid therefore from something contrary to it Now if a man do but consider the various things that promote the concretion of natural things he will find the virtue lie in austere things upon which score they give glutinosity and toughness to Fluids to which if the earthy and saline volatile parts be joined something not unlike the Stone will arise Fr. Sylvius Prax. l. 1. cap. 55. sect 50. Therefore I incline to the opinion that the earthy matter and saline volatile joined with the glutinous do by the help of the austere humour grow into a stone But the virtue of the coagulating Austere is infringed by the sharp Acid such as is found in the Spirit of Nitre ¶ When larger Gravel comes away and sinks to the bottom of the Urine and is laying the Rudiments and Growth of a Stone we must beside volatile oily Salts use things that dissolve the Stone among which we deservedly ascribe the first place to Spirit of Nitre seeing in it Stones are so easily and so manifestly dissolved and broken And the Spirit of Nitre may conveniently be dropt into ones common drink Beer Wine Broths c. Idem sect 91 92. to make them a little sharp and so be used a considerable time whose excellent Effect all will admire ¶ Diureticks to break the Stone must 1. Be apt to turn to Urine to wit as Helmont saith that they may touch the place affected 2. They must have power to dissolve the Stone 3. They must possess it in a specifick Propriety 4. They must be subtile
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
Stomach and the mouth of the Stomach and dispells Wind. When because of some febrile heat any mischief is feared from its heat it may be gently rosted in hot ashes when you have wrapped it in Hempen-hurds or otherwise But it must not be rosted as is usually done upon a Plate of Iron red hot not onely because the oily part perishes in this manner but by adustion it may easily acquire acrimony Llem XXXVI Mindererus Med. milit p. 246. has an elegant passage concerning Oils He says that Oils must be curiously excluded for several reasons 1. Because they hinder Consolidation you have an Instance in cutting a Vein for if you would open the Vein again in the afternoon you must dip the Lancet in Oil and the Wound it makes will not close presently The same also is done in Cupping-glasses and it is true indeed that Ulcers are made foul thereby which rather stand in need of drying and according to Galen Oils are an enemy to Ulcers as Wine is very much a friend 2. Because all Oils except of Linseed Popy-seed Hemp-seed and Sweet-almonds have something of Sharpness in them but these have little of it Which is demonstrable thus If a drop of Oil-olive be dropt into the Eye Wedelius de m. comp ext p. 87. it will smart as if Juice of Citron or Limon had been dropt in XXXVII Some reckon outward Medicines useless because their virtue cannot pass the Skin the Muscles of the Belly and other hindrances yea hurtfull because of the expression they make of the humours in the outside of the Body to the Intestines They vouch Galen for their Authority who 1. ad Glauc c. 14. affirms that the closer the Skin is the more the Flux is increased But these People may be opposed by experience which often shews that a Flux is stopt by the use of them But as to the use of them in fat People we must take notice that little benefit can be expected from them because they cannot penetrate therefore some Vehicle must be given them as Vinegar or White-wine lest by the grossness of their parts or their too great cold actual or potential they stop up their own way We must observe also out of Aetius that they cannot innocently be used in a Dysentery caused by Sharpness of Bile and in cancrous and malignant Ulcers Sennertus because they consume the watery part and leave onely the biting XXXVIII Although the word Dysentery denote the Bloudy-flux yet without any prejudice to its Etymology I will apply this name to this London Disease Every year usually about Autumn Griping of the Guts with a Loosness is rife The stools are watery and as it were limpid with a sudden decay of strength No evacuation promoted the cure of this Disease yea Bloud-letting Vomiting and Purging always did hurt and usually the proper Remedies were onely Cordials and those very hot ones that is such as abounded in Spirit and Sulphur or in volatile Salt Insomuch that Brandy a little burnt with Sugar was the common and as it were the epidemick Medicine and proved always in a manner successfull although used indifferently in the other that was bloudy Willis Pharm rat sect 3. c. 3. it was often found hurtfull XXXIX Gripes in the Guts without stools begun to invade People in the beginning of August 1669. and were as many at the end of Autumn as the Dysenteries which entred with them Now this Disease seizes a Man with a shaking and shivering which is followed by a heat all over the Body as is usual in Fevers and quickly after by a Griping in the Guts and then by stools but oftentimes there is no sense of a Fever going before All the stools are mucous and not stercorous except that sometimes a stercorous one is interposed and that without any notable pain Some streaks of bloud are mixt with these mucous stools In the mean time the Patient if he either be in the flower of his age or be heated with Cordials is in a Fever his Tongue being whitish and thick beset with slimy stuff and if he be violently heated then it is black and dry His strength is cast down his spirits spent and there is all the tokens of an ill-conditioned Fever This Disease causes not onely extreme pain and sickness but unless it be skilfully handled much endangers the Patient's Life For when the stores of vital heat and spirits are exhausted by frequent stools before the peccant matter can be thrown out of the bloud and when Cold in the extreme parts comes upon one the Patient will be in danger of death Since it may so be that various Species of Dysenteries may arise as there are of Measles and other epidemick Diseases proper to different Constitutions therefore they require in some things of right a different method of Cure to themselves That we may proceed to curative Indications When I had diligently weighed the various Symptoms that happen to this Disease I found it a Fever that is of its own kind turn'd inwards upon the Guts by means whereof the hot and sharp humours contained in the mass of bloud and putting it in agitation are discharged by the mesenterick Arteries upon the said parts and the orifices of the Vessels being laid open by the force of the humours making thitherwards the bloud is poured out by stool In the mean time by the importunate straining of the Guts which doe their utmost endeavour to expell the sharp humours that continually trouble them this mucus wherewith they are naturally smeared over is discharged together at every stool sometimes more sparingly sometimes in greater plenty Therefore the indications seemed to offer themselves of their own accord that first I should immediately make revulsion of these humours by breathing a Vein which done that I might moreover qualifie the rest of the mass also that I should carry off the said humours by Catharticks The first day assoon as I was called I advised the breathing a Vein in the Arm the same night I gave a Paregorick and the next morning this gentle cathartick Potion very familiar with me Take of Tamarinds half an ounce Leaves of Senna 2 drachms Rheubarb 1 drachm and an half Boil it in a sufficient quantity of Water In 3 ounces of it strained dissolve of Manna and Syrup of Roses solutive each 1 ounce Mix them make a Potion I usually prefer this Preparation with a small quantity of Rheubarb before any Electuary for although Rheubarb be designed to evacuate Choler and all sharp humours yet unless some Manna or Syrup of Roses or something of the same nature be mixt that it may amount to a fuller Purge it is not very proper But since it is obvious enough that the most gentle Catharticks and such as will but give a stool do encrease the Gripes and cause a dejection of spirits and an universal disorder in the Patient namely by the adventitious tumult whereby it stirs the bloud and
in the Lungs for those that were made purulent by a Catarrh falling on the Lungs when I observed it was odious not onely to the Patients but to the by-standers also and that it was distastefull to most by reason of its too much foetidness whether they used it by anointing outwardly or in Lozenges or Pills inwardly or any way else I have now for some years used Balsam of Peru in its stead to the advantage of my Patients I know Chymists do now correct it and take away the offensiveness of the smell by repeated distillation after washing it But I have found that after washing it is much weakned and does but little good wherefore I think we should rather use Balsam of Peru or the natural Balsam brought from Syria Heer obs 17. till we are taught how to distill an Oil of Amber without stink XXVII A Boy fell into an Epileptick fit once a day for fifteen days together The best Physicians thought it came from some disorder in his Head But the more Medicines they gave the worse the Disease grew so that in twenty four hours he had above one hundred and fifty fits yet they were small ones for he had onely a little commotion of his Head with a buble at his Lips Whereby notwithstanding they knew the Disease was not from any disorder in the head but by consent with the Stomach Trincavella l. 1. cons 25. Wherefore when they left off to trouble him with Physick and strengthened him the Child grew very well XXVIII I observed wonderfull shapes of Worms in an Epileptick Woman as she was athirst she drank greedily and frequently in her journey coming from Italy of any Water she met withall Her Epilepsie was very grievous with a swelling and an ill colour all her body over She was not relieved by Antepilepticks At length upon the repeated use of my Mercurial Pills she voided a great quantity of multiform Worms As soon as they were displaced her Epileptick-fits likewise ceased Bartholinus hist 7. cent 4. He also Cent. 6. Hist 20. produces the example of a young Man often troubled with Convulsions whose cure succeeded much better after his voiding of Ascarides XXIX A Youth about fifteen years old had a pain in his Pubes afterwards as his pain shifted to the left-side his Spleen grew presently ill and from Sympathy with it the Brain for he fell into most violent Fits of the Falling-sickness which came upon him onely by pressing the region of the Spleen with ones finger Among several Remedies nothing was better than Chalybeate-wine or black Hellebore Tulpius observ l. 1. c. 9. upon taking of which he voided so much black Choler that at last he came to himself XXX An Epileptick Maid was cured by the use of Vinegar and Water she took a glass of it every day in the morning and before the time of her Fit pure Vinegar When this disease was cured Riverius Cent. 4. Obs 1. she was troubled with a pain in her Limbs which also was cured by the use of the Bath XXXI I have known some young Men who might easily have been cured of this disease but because they would not abstain from Wine they became incurable All Men know that the Epilepsie affects the Nerves especially And because Wine turns sowre in all who have an infirm Stomach and a weak Brain and Vinegar is an open enemy to the Nerves hence Epileptick persons may easily gather how much they ought to avoid Wine and Venus Besides according to Aristotle and Averroes the Epilepsie is caused like sleep that is by a vapour Heer Obs 24. wherefore all vaporous things especially strong Wines should be avoided XXXII It is disputed by many Whether Apium be hurtfull for Epileptick persons That by Apium Parsly must be understood no Man will question who reads a passage in Pliny l. 20. c. 11. and Galen 2. de alim facult for this is the true garden or domestick Apium of the Ancients and ours is the Paludapium or Apium Palustre Pliny in the cited place says That if a Lying-in-woman eat Parsly the Child that sucks her will have the Falling-sickness Avicenna rejects Parsly especially from among Meats because by an innate property it causes the Falling-sickness And others following their steps forbid it Jacchinus is of another judgment opposing Galen and in a Counsel for an Epileptick Child allows of Parsly But an opinion that is held by so many learned Men must not be esteemed a figment it being without doubt founded on Experience which must be consulted They to whom it did no hurt were either not inclined to an Epilepsie or they used it onely as a Sauce and not as Meat So Galen in his advice allows one to taste it at least as he does Alexanders also by which notwithstanding the head is filled as he writes But the Ancients that are quoted speak of it taken as Meat Sennertus XXXIII In the cure of this Disease we are forced to leave the common method For the prescriptions of the Dogmatists in which they usually endeavour to carry off and totally eradicate the morbifick cause onely by Purges doe little or no good in the Falling-sickness yea they use often to doe harm I have known some eminent Practitioners who totally omitting the train of therapeutick intentions have betaken themselves to certain Empirical Medicines without any provision for the whole This sort of Practice though sometimes it succeeded well yet it would much more certainly have attained the proposed cure if by other Medicines also when the body had been rightly prepared all impediments had been removed Wherefore the Indications about the cure of the Falling-sickness will be either Curatory which respect the fit or Prophylactick which respect the cause of the disease As to the first general Evacuaters are scarce of use But the thing of most importance is to fix the animal Spirits that are too fierce and volatile and to suppress their explosions already begun To which ends two sorts of Remedies especially conduce that is 1. Things that give a check to the animal spirits when they are apt to be unruly and disorderly and that repell them as it were with a smell ingratefull to them and bring them into order which thing Medicines endued with a Volatile and Ammoniack Salt or with a Vitriolick Sulphur effect Such as are Salt and Oil of Amber Spirit of Bloud Hartshorn Soot Tincture of Castor c. for these taken inwards or applied to the nostrils often give relief and are thought to drive away the evil Spirits of this disease just as the fume of a Fishes-gall burnt drave away the Devil in Tobias 2. The Animal Spirits are either diverted or hindred from making their explosions when they are enticed and kept employed in some work familiar to them Wherefore when a fit is violent rubbing all the body over and continued often does good But the most of a Physician 's care lies in preservation that the cause
it be certain that one Remedy has given relief in some one pestilential constitution yet it has been found to be useless in another which must be ascribed to the diversity of the pestilential poison Therefore some have likened it well enough sometimes to the Nature of a Viper Hemlock Monkshood and sometimes to the nature of the Asp See Quercetan in Pestis Alexicaco Sennertus says this is very usefull to perform the Cure aright Hence perhaps the specifick Remedy being unknown so many hundreds of Men dye when onely the vulgar Antidotes Treacle Mithridate c. are given that is the specifick nature of the Plague not being known before several have died Therefore we must not insist on one Remedy but they must be varied till a certain and specifick one be made manifest XXIV Juleps are very necessary yet we may not use them every where and always I never prescribed them without adding Sudorificks which the sequel will declare and this is the safest way For if the Patient use a simple cooling Potion when the Sweat runs plentifully both the Sweat often returns inwards and the Poison is communicated to the Heart whence at length Death follows Barbettâ— XXV The Sweat as it runs must be wiped off with a warm linen Cloth and such another linen Cloth must be put to the Breast for I have hitherto observed that Shirts and other Linen is never changed Barbette but with great harm yet its excessive moistness sometimes compells us ¶ Let the Patient when he has taken this Medicine compose himself in bed to promote a Sweat covering himself moderately that is with so many Clothes as he can bear without tumbling After half an hour if neither Sweat Vomiting nor a Stool follow let him take some Broth or Beer or Wine warm and let this be repeated ever and anon till you find some evacuation or other follow and that sufficiently But if after an hour or two none follow nothing hinders to give the Patient a new Medicine nay upon urgent hazard a third For this you must take notice of that unless after taking a Medicine whether sudorifick or vomitory either Sweat or Vomiting or Purging do follow or the Anxiety of the Heart be removed or at least diminished the Patient is in very great danger for it is a sign that there is a Pestilential poison either copious or very volatile or very sharp in the Body wherefore there is little hope But on the contrary if there be Excretion either upwards or downwards or at least plentifull Sweat and the Anxiety of Heart and Loathing abate and the Pulse grows greater and stronger we may hope well of a happy Cure And that it may be hastned both during the Sweat and when it is ended Cordials mixtures consisting chiefly of Acids may be given the Patients by spoonfulls at short Intervals to the end the Acid that is destroyed in them may be restored and that its consistence may be kept or restored to the Bloud without which it is not possible for any man to remain long alive And still as long as any sign of the yet urgent Plague remains in the Patient so long you must persist in Medicines that fix a volatile Salt temper a sharp one and restore the Acid lest the Poison neglected and left to it self recruit its strength and surprize the too secure Patient unawares and take him off Certainly by this way and method I have successfully cured many Patients But when it was neglected I have seen many perish and oftentimes the wilfull and careless although I admonished them in vain and so satisfied my own Conscience XXVI Sudorificks must be taken twice at least every day yea it will doe a great deal of good to use them thrice in 24 hours time There are found some who in the space of 6 hours give a new Sudorifick with great success Nor is there any reason slightly to desist from the practice of these Physicians although the Patient cry he is well for in a short time it will appear Idem the Disease has cheated you both ¶ Who causes not a Sweat four times or oftner in 24 hours in those that are taken with the Plague Roâ—fincâ—â—us truly he will doe but little good XXVII Diaphoreticks and Cordials especially Acids are in this case highly necessary most certain and therefore are the best for they bring consistence to the bloud expell malignity dissolve phlegm in the stomach and guts temper bile the cause of many mischiefs Nevertheless the variety of the Disease and its symptoms require them to be variously changed because otherwise they would not perform what they are able to perform in an acute Disease Barbette XXVIII Seeing the Pestilential poison should not onely be expelled but moreover does upon the account of its volatility and lixivial acrimony indicate its alteration and correction that is its fixation and contemperation we are not without reason solicitous about the matter of the Remedy indicated and which especially fixes the volatile Salt and contempers the sharp And I scarce know any such among Vegetables which are able to doe it nor among Animals so that we are forced to have recourse to Minerals as to our last refuge Among which it may be Tartar is one or rather its distilled Oil but because of its foetidness and several other reasons it cannot conveniently be made use of But among Minerals Salt-petre or Nitre can doe much towards the fixing of Volatile Salts for who knows not that Arsenick Orpiment Antimony and such like things consisting of a volatile Salt are fixt by the benefit of Nitre as well crude as first changed into an acid spirit It may therefore be used with good success in the Plague But the most excellent thing and which is worthy of a farther search is mineral Sulphur and that first fixed by Art whose excellency and efficacy in fixing a volatile Salt few have observed And I commend it to all men and I advise them to learn to prepare the best out of any subject whatever for they will have a most gratefull and excellent Medicine in the Plague and in very many other Diseases not onely fit to fix a volatile Salt Sylâ—ius de lâ— B e. but also to temper the same when it is too sharp XXIX Whether Garlick be convenient in the Pestilence for prevention and cure As for prevention if any one be accustomed to it in health without doubt it ought not to be left off for it were a piece of imprudence to leave off a custome in a pestilential constitution because it is not lawfull then to give an occasion of being sick But if he be one who sometimes uses Garlick and sometimes not and neither finds his Head ake nor himself hotter than ordinary after the use of it it may be allowed him I think as he used it otherwise especially in Winter time Reapers may serve for an instance who eat it with bread in the heat of
and the Patient's condition grows worse A Dysentery has its rise commonly from the like cause with the foresaid affections But in this because the extravasated bloud is presently voided nor being retained in the body does it create trouble there and corrupt still more and since this way of evacuation is near the uterine Flux and does not derive it another way Therefore less danger is feared in this Disease than in the foresaid Yet oftentimes this Disease is mortal to Lying-in Women because by the dysentery things attemperating the bloud and moderately astringent are indicated but these are observed too apt to stop the Flux of the Lochia Wherefore in this case till Lying-in Women are sufficiently cleansed let the cure of the other Disease be omitted let the violence of the Symptoms be restrained onely by assuaging things The Indications of the Small-pox do not onely differ from the abovesaid but are accompanied with such as are contrary one to another For the Flux of the Lochia requires to be stopt moderately yet in the mean time so as that the Efflorescence of the bloud and a gentle Transpiration may be continued For seeing in this Disease the poisonous ferment is twofold and the corrupt particles of the bloud are carried outward two ways we must have a care that the less and straiter part do not draw to its Threshold either all the matter or more than it can let out Therefore lest the Lochia running too freely should call in the Poison that is apt to fly outwards the Womens Diet must be a little altered and things that are alexiterick and astringent as root of Tormentil and Bistort must be boiled in their Caudles Also Powders Juleps and things that are endued with such a virtue must be given at due Intervals Moreover in this case the Women must by no means be allowed to eat flesh or the broth of it or to rise from their Bed But when rest both of Mind and Body is procured Willis and a Diet ordered of such things as do not exagitate the bloud the matter commonly may be wholly committed to God and Nature IV. It is much disputed whence the beginning of these Fevers should be computed that is whether from their very delivery or from the sense of a Fever Nevertheless it makes not much matter whether the controversie be decided this way or the other For because this Fever does not equably run through the usual stages of Putrid fevers nor will have a crisis nor admit the use of a Purging Medicine at all we have no reason to be at all solicitous Idem about its period or the measuring it out into days Febris Quartana or A Quartane-Ague The Contents Bleeding is proper I. Often Bleeding is hurtfull II. Bloud may be let in the beginning of the Disease III. Whether we may Purge in the beginning IV. The use of Vomits and the way te give them V. Whether we must Purge on the day of the Fit VI. Wherein the cure of a Quartane differs from that of other Agues VII Phlegm must be evacuated before the melancholick humour VIII The harm of too much Purging IX Cured by a decoction that is both Emetick and Hidrotick X. The efficacy of a Decoction of Turneps XI Whether it may be stopt with Amulets Narcoticks and Febrifuges XII Sometimes cured by Clysters XIII The benefit of Fomentation XIV Alteratives mixt with food operate more successfully XV. Sydenham's method of Cure by the Peruvian Bark XVI Through neglect of Remedies the Disease grows worse and death follows XVII I. THey are not to be hearkened to who do not allow of Bloud-letting in a Quartane-Ague unless the redundance of it appears by the signs of turgid Veins and other ways for there is always from the beginning a Plethora ad vires unless it follow other long Fevers And Galen's rule is worthy of great commendation 1 ad Glaucon where if the bloud that is first taken away appear black and foul he would have a greater quantity of it taken away but if it be red and pure he would have but a little taken away Riverius and bleeding to be repeated no more ¶ But although this rule sometime hold good yet it is not always true for as Avicenna 1. 3. tract 4. says Oftentimes the bloud begins to run thin but in the process of the evacuation it is thick and black because the bloud that was without was good and that within corrupt and putrefaction lies hid in the inner parts II. A young Man being tired out with a Quartane-Ague forced the Chirurgeon to take more bloud from him than was convenient for the disease or than he had strength to foregoe By which rash sort of remedy the Ague was so far from being abated that it was rather much increased and by exhausting the fountain of life it deprived the Body of its colour and comeliness leaving the Praecordia puft up his Legs swollen his Stomach weak and a continual loathing of Meat And he always remained so weakly that in the smallest Diseases he fell into most violent Symptoms continually Therefore Tulpius l. 4. c. 53. whoever you are do not rashly irritate a Quartane which kills no Man You cannot doe it scotfree but you may easily make it worse III. Their opinion is to be laught at who would have concoction tarried for before bloud be let because at that time it is more fluid and thin for it is better concocted and prepared if its quantity be first diminished Riverius IV. A Purge in the beginning must not be strong for we must deal gently with a Quartane-Ague all the beginning of it by reason the humour that is the cause of it because it is contumacious and resists expulsion unless it be abundantly prepared is irritated by strong Purges and being irritated it grows more fierce and instead of a single one it becomes a double Quartane Therefore Antimony and such things Enchâ—r Med. Pract. should not be used in the begining ¶ Yet we ought not always to fear Purging in the beginning of Quartans for if they arise from some other disease not well purged we should utterly purge out the evil by the root as Hippocrates 2. de morbis advises Otherwise some proceed here with so much scruple that they affirm we should not Purge at all because they have observed that Purges doe not any good yea they often wear out the strength without remedy by farther depauperating the Mass of bloud preferring such things as exalt and volatilize what is fixt and cause a spirituousness in the Mass of bloud such as are Spirit of Sal Ammoniack Flowers of Sal Ammoniack with faecula Aronis Salt of Tartar Volatile Spirit of sea-Sea-Salt c. V. The major part of Physicians agree in giving Vomits in the beginning of the Fit because Nature at that time is most prone to that evacuation And there is no question Riverius but to give a Vomit in the beginning of
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
discharging of the Abdomen As to this first of all it is manifest that no immediate passage is open from the Ascitick Pond though near to the Kidneys but what water soever is carried from the Abdomen thither it must of necessity be received back into the mass of bloud and then be poured out of it into the Urinary sink But how small a matter is it that the mouths of the Veins opening upon the superficies of the Bowels if they open at all can receive And this is all that Diureticks can doe they make the bloud by melting it and driving its serosities plentifully to the Kidneys when it is emptied to draw the water fluctuating in the Belly to it self In the mean time there is no less danger lest Diureticks given unseasonably while they put the bloud too much into fusion should drive the Serum forced to separate more into the nest of the Ascites than into the Kidneys and so rather increase than remove the floud in the Belly for it has appeared by frequent observation that it usually so falls out Wherefore when Diureticks are prescribed for the cure of a Dropsie we must have a great care of this contrary effect Truely it is for this reason that from the authority of the Ancients and practice found by experience Astringents and Strengthners are always mixt with Hydropick Medicines not that such things confirm the tone of the Liver as is commonly said but they preserve the crasis or mixtion of the bloud from being dissolved with too much fusion Wherefore in an Ascites which comes chiefly or partly because the frames of the Bowels and vessels and especially the Coats Glands and Fibres and the Interstices of them are stuffed with a serous humour and greatly swelled thereby as Catharticks so also Diureticks are proper and are often taken with good success inasmuch that is as by taking of them the Mass of bloud the Serum being copiously derived to the Kidneys that is emptied does take in by the mouths of the Veins the water stagnating near them and conveys it to the Urinary passage But on the contrary in a mere Ascites where the floud of water overflows the cavity of the Belly when the texture of the Bowels is free from any serous obstruction Diureticks are given either in vain or inconveniently inasmuch as they get nothing out of the pond of the Belly and by often putting the bloud into fusion do force the Water that is apt to drop in Willis with more impetuosity XV. All Diureticks are not equally proper for an Ascites and must not be given indifferently for we may observe that they who are troubled with this Disease do for the most part make little Urine but red and lixivial which is a sign indeed that the crasis of the bloud is too strict in such from a fixt and sulphureous salt exalted and combined together and therefore the Serum is not duely separated in the Kidneys which yet is left about the turnings and windings of the obstructed inwards and so discharged into the cavity of the Belly Wherefore in this state onely such things must be given to provoke Urine as do so restore and amend the constitution of the bloud that the enormities of the fixt salt and sulphur being removed the serous part may be separated and more plentifully discharged by the Kidneys For which purpose not acids or lixivials but things endued with a volatile salt are designed For I have often observed in such Patients when Spirit of Salt and other acid Stagma's of Minerals and when Salt of Tartar Broom and the deliquia or dissolutions of other things have done rather hurt than good that juice of Plantain Brooklime and other herbs abounding with a volatile salt also the expression of Millepedes have done much good Idem for the same reason Salt Nitre highly purified or Crystallum Minerale often does good XVI Oftentimes the Dropsie is caused without any fault in the Liver because of the weakness of the Kidneys which should draw the Serum and these passages cannot be opened by any the most generous Diureticks Therefore we must endeavour to cleanse these parts the neighbouring especially and also to restore the lost faculty by Fomentations Riolanus XVII But while Diureticks are taking Clysters must be given frequently of a decoction of Mercury Soldanella Centaury Fenil Bayberries with some Hydragogue Electuary Fortis Cons 69. cent 33. or Mel. rosar solut XVIII Men commonly reckon that Diureticks in a Dropsie do carry onely that matter to the Urinary Vessels which may fall into the cavity of the Belly and not that whith is gathered there already for it is no way possible for it to be evacuatal by Urine because if the matter residing in the cavity were to be evacuated by Urine it must of necessity enter the Viscera again which is impossible But this fear is without ground for they may be given with great benefit as they are able not onely to derive the serous matter which is as yet contained in the vessels and is about to run into the Belly but also to draw back into the Veins and Lymphatick Vessels that very Water which restagnates in the cavity of the Abdomen So Rondeletius c. 36. l. 2. saw a Woman in a Dropsie cured by flux of Urine But we must know 1. That the body must be purged before and made fluid 2. That they have this advantage that they can at the same time free the inwards from obstructions of which number are Spirit of Salt Urine and its Volatile Salt Spiritus aperitivus Penoti Tinctura aperitiva D. Moebii Salt of Wormwood coagulated with the Spirit of Salt Fel vitri with a decoction of River Crabs c. Helmont has noted a passage lib. de potest Medicam Sect. 32. which agrees with this I perceived saith he that all simple Salts pass by Vrine and the Guts and in the mean time dissolve the filth in these passages and make the expulsive faculty mindfull of its office 3. That they must be frequently used 4. That they must be often changed lest Nature accustome her self to them 5. That they must be given in Powder 6. That we must abstain from them in an Anâ—stomosis of the Veins and colliquation of the humours Hofmannus XIX Amongst hydragogue Medicines drinking of the Waters is chief And of all these the Spaw-water is best which promises certain health to Hydropicks even confirmed for it carries off the redundant water in the Abdomen by the way of Urine and wonderfully restores lost strength to the Stomach Liver and to the rest of the natural parts and so confirms it when restored that a Man after taking of this water repeated several times every day perfectly recovers his lost health XX. Sudorificks are reckoned among evacuating Medicines which as in an Anasarca they always doe good so in a Tympany and an Ascites sometimes they doe harm If that is driness of the Liver as it often does give
easily powdered The Slime of Snails also is good Platerus XLIX Michael Sterpinus a famous Chymist cured the Dropsie which was much swelled by making a hole in the skin of one Foot and applying a Seton for all the water ran and dropt out at it as by an Alembick Erasius got first of all three long Incisions made in the sole of the Foot that the water might run out which being done the Swelling of the Belly fell and then he used his hydragogue Wines Others make long Scarifications although these ways do not want danger I have found nothing safer than to apply Escharoticks to the calves of the Legs and while the water runs out to provide for a weak Liver Rousnerus obs 83. For so I have cured several of a Dropsie L. I have observed it is in vain to give Medicines for a Dropsie which arises from an Ague while the Ague lasts For you will find the Ague by this means firmer rooted in and the Dropsie not removed We must tarry therefore till the Ague be gone and then we must make haste to undertake the business Sydenham Hydrops Tympanitis or A Tympany The Contents Sometimes it must be cured with cooling things I. Purgatives doe more harm than good II. We must use things to discuss Wind modestly III. The nature of Topicks which doe little good IV. It arises from Wind pent up in the Stomach and Guts V. The Cure by Tapping VI. I. A Gross Wind is the cause of this Dropsie to the generation of which two things are required First Gross Matter and indeed usually black Choler For since they that have black Choler under the bottom of their Stomach abound with wind and sometimes belch much yea oftentimes the greatest share of their Food is turned into wind if the wind be detained it distends the Belly and may make this sort of Dropsie Nor must the cause of it be sought in the Liver onely but oftentimes in the first ways according to Aphor 4.11 Secondly an Efficient which is reckoned a weak heat but it is not simply such but onely in respect to the matter which it is not able to conquer and discuss Yea oftentimes it is preternatural and great enough and acts suddenly and violently upon all the matter and disturbs it this I reckon is what is usually done in a Tympany For if the heat were truly weak it would not act on the matter nor would wind be bred And so an Ascites and a Tympany differ in respect of their matter and the efficient For the matter in a Tympany is more melancholick and the heat is rosting and burning Wherefore also sometimes we must have recourse to cooling Medicines And Mercatus writes If all these Remedies that is hot things doe no good we must use Hippocrates his Advice and Prudence who when he had for several days used hot things in these Pains and found no benefit thereby Sennertus he passed to cold things with great benefit II. Purges are so far from doing any good in a Tympany that they rather exasperate it But Purgatives Hartmannus especially Mercurial ones do often remove that which is joined with an Ascites ¶ Almost the whole intention of Cure is directed against wind by evacuating the matter whence the wind arises Wherefore Purges are usually prescribed on purpose against the humour most suspected with great confidence though usually with very little or with bad success For this Disease as it appears from my observation uses almost always to be exasperated by Purgers especially strong ones and seldom or never relieved The reason whereof is sufficiently evident because when the nervous Fibres are irritated by a sharp Medicine the animal spirits re-iterate their irregular excursions and still increase more and more rather than abate Wherefore although frequent and large watry and windy stools be procured thereby yet the Belly swells more But though Medicine be so little able to doe good in this Disease yet it must not as if it did nothing or onely harm be wholly neglected but we should leave no Stone unturned some way or other to help the Patient that at length a Cure or at least an Alleviation may be obtained Therefore though strong Purges always doe harm and gentle ones are scarce ever able to carry off the conjunct Cause yet these latter because they a little abate the matter of the Disease and make way for other Medicines to exert their energies more freely ought to have their place in medical practice that is once in 6 or 8 days and at other times Clysters the use whereof is much more excellent may be given frequently Willis III. When the humours are evacuated and the strength refreshed we must endeavour what we can to discuss wind which the following Decoction will wonderfully perform Take of Album Graecum whole Barley each 1 ounce and an half boil them on a gentle fire in 3 or 4 pounds of French-wine till the Barley burst Then boil the Colature defaecated by residence to half then clarifie and aromatize it with a sufficient quantity of Cinnamon and sweeten it with Sugar The Dose five drachms thrice aday on an empty Stomach and he will break wind wonderfully and the Belly will fall by degrees But we must use these things moderately otherwise they will hurt most grievously A certain Woman miserably afflicted with a Tympany committed her self to a Physician for cure He being intent upon the discussing of wind onely gave her some very hot Electuary without giving her any other Medicine before She a little after found the rumbling of the wind greater and her gripes more troublesome she breathed with more difficulty and the old swelling of her Belly remaining a new one grew which elevating it self from the Cartilago Ensiformis where the first terminated did wonderfully distend the whole Breast and the tumours were parted with a pit between She died the third day after I was called I reckon the cause of the new tumour was the heating and extenuating virtue of the Medicine Fienus IV. Great things are expected from Topicks because they are applied to the Disease more immediately and by contact and because they dissolve or discuss tumours in other parts very well Yet not all Dissolvents nor indeed such as doe most good in other tumours are proper here For hot things which are held for Discutients whether they be used in Fomentation Liniment Cataplasm or Plaster doe often more harm than good in a Tympany for they open and dilate the ducts of the Fibres so that they lye more open to the incursions of spirits and they also rarifie the impacted particles so that when they possess a larger space the inflation and swelling are increased Willis ¶ While Medicines are taken inwardly Topicks also and external applications must be carefully applied not hot and discutient ones but things endued with particles of a volatile Salt and nitrous ones which namely destroy the combinations of other
14. cent 3. made with the Acid of Sulphur with Extract of Rheubarb Ammoniack c. V. In a new Jaundice Emetick Medicines while the Tone and Faculties of the Viscera are good often give relief inasmuch namely as they rid the Stomach of a load of Phlegm wherewith almost always it is burthened in this Disease Moreover by irritating the choledochal Vessels and by shaking all the hepatick ducts they both open their obstructions and make a passage for the Bile by the usual ways Willis VI. A Boy ill of a Dropsie devoured seven or nine Lice the Disease by degrees disappeared and in the room of it there followed Paleness excessive Appetite Atrophy and Death When his Body was opened there appeared an unusual cluster of Lice of a monstrous bigness If they doe any good at all in the Jaundice G. Hannaeâ—s Act. Domâ— an 1675. obs 23. they doe it by their Volatile Salt which makes the Obstructions to remove and the liquour necessary for our bodies to move more briskly VII I Judge whether there be an Obstruction of any Bilary Duct or no such thing can be supposed the Bile then undergoes a notable change by reason whereof it is carried more impetuously and copiously towards the bloud with which notwithstanding it is not so well mixt as it used but is onely confounded with it and therefore it more easily recedes from the bloud and not onely joins it self to the Skin and external parts but joins it self also to the Muscles and the Inwards and dies and tinges them with its colour For Bile naturally constituted both in the small gut and in the right Ventricle of the heart is not onely loosly but intimately mixt with the occurrent humours and so indeed that it cannot any more be separated from them Which union is made by reason of the effervescence of it in both places upon its meeting with an Acid. Both the said effervescences are either diminished or taken away The cure therefore of the Jaundice will consist in this First in taking away the more remote causes Secondly In correcting and removing the mediate causes glutinous Phlegm stopping the bilary duct c. Thirdly In amending the proximate cause corrupt and vitiated Bile being too spirituous and rendred unfit for effervescence that it may be carried again to the Guts Fourthly In taking away the discolouring of the Skin Glutinous Phlegm is corrected and incided with Aromaticks and volatile Salts When it is corrected Phlegmagogues carry it off which may also serve for Correction for Example Take of Root of Madder greater Celandine Smallage each half an ounce Flowers of Broom half a handfull Seeds of Columbine Parsly Anise each 2 drachms crude Tartar 1 drachm and an half Boil them in an equal quantity of White-wine and water what is sufficient In twenty ounces of the Colature dissolve of Syrupus Diacnicu Syrup of Cichory with Rheubarb each 1 ounce and an half Mix them Let the Patient take some of this Apozeme twice or thrice a day so as he may have two or three stools and may void the Choler together with the Phlegm When the Jaundice comes from the poison of a Viper or from any other then to correct and expell it all Sudorificks abounding with a volatile Salt are good which answer both Indications Hither conduces Antimonium Diaphoreticum to fifteen grains Bezoardicum minerale to half a scruple volatile Salt of Hartshorn or of any Animal got by distillation and if it be strong five or six drops or grains of it often given in some convenient liquour Treacle also is good and various preparations of Vipers The Bile of Ictericks that is depraved and vitiated and made too spirituous will be amended especially by oily and fat things by means whereof an aptitude to right effervescence is restored to the Bile Thus I have cured several of the Jaundice by giving them five or six ounces of a decoction of Hempseed in fat Cow's Milk boiled till it burst and strained twice or thrice aday Thus also having premised what ought I have several times successfully cured a Jaundice by giving one drachm of any Soap dissolved in warm Milk and Sugar once or twice a day Soap indeed seems to doe good as by its lixivial Salt it dissolves the obstruction in the intestinal Bilary duct which because it cannot be said of Hempseed which cures the same Disease I suppose is good First Upon account of the Lixivial Salt but fixt of which it is made as it being joyned to the Bile corrupted by its excessive spirituosity corrects and diminishes the too great volatility and spirituosity thereof by assuming to it self some share of the volatile Spirit luxuriant in the Bile And Secondly Upon account of the fat or oil but thick and not at all Aromatick or Volatile by means whereof it takes off the edge of the volatile and spirituous Salt which has the predominance in the Bile This opinion of mine seems to be confirmed by Saffron familiar in the cure of the Jaundice which being commended for its fatness in that very thing favours my opinion for Saffron is easily joined to a volatile Spirit Therefore volatile Spirits may be fixt and bound and brought to tranquillity with fat and oily things Whence it appears if when they are joined with the Bile in too great a quantity or exalted in it they cause a Jaundice by making it more volatile and moveable that this said volatility and mobility of Spirits must be conquer'd by oily things and such as cause gentle sleep and thereby the Jaundice must be cured The discolouring of the Skin goes away of it self but it 's sooner removed by subtile Sudorificks Sylvius de le Boë and things endued with a volatile Salt whether Sweat follow or not VIII In this class of Medicines whereby the Ictericious dyscrasie of the bloud is intended to be relieved Chalybeate Medicines seem to have a place of right wherefore they doe as great good in the Jaundice as in other diseases of Cachexy as well by opening the obstructions of the Bowels as by depressing the efferations of the Sulphur and fixt Salt and by volatilizing the bloud Therefore filings of Steel or its Powder the Mineral frame of it being dissolved or the Vitriolick Salt extracted may conveniently be added to Decoctions and Infusions Idem IX Hence it is that the Waters sometimes cure Ictericks to a miracle who have been left to the Prognostick Though also these drunk in a large quantity as they pass through all the Vessels do also open the hepatict ducts Willis how much soever stopt X. If a hot Intemperature of the Liver be the cause it must be altered whether it be with or without an Inflammation But this I advise that their counsel must not be taken who use external Medicines actually cold and astringent to the Liver for they hinder the passage of the Bile to the whole body Saxonia and so for an intemperature they raise an Erysipelaceous
Disease XI Since it is difficult to know when stones arise from Bile no wonder if the cure of them look like an unheard of thing to many Physicians Yet because when stones after death are found in the Gall-bladder the rest of the Bile looks like Lees of Oil and is full of filth and subsiding dregs as I have several times seen voided by Vomit I should think that in such there were fear lest some part of the Bile might turn to stones whilst another turns to such excrements And therefore then Medicines should be used to dissolve these Bilious stones and to hinder any concretion Among things that dissolve Bilious stones I make no scruple to place Roots of Grass and the Herb it self either distilled or which I prefer boiled or bruised and the juice squeezed out of it making it palatable with Sugar since it is known by abundant experience that Cows and Sheep which in Winter feed on Hay and in whose Biliary duct a strong or calculous crust grows when in the Month of May they feed on green grass again are by degrees freed from that Ail A certain Argument that in green and fresh grass there is a virtue to dissolve stones which perishes when Grass is dried into Hay Spirit of Nitre also is good which I therefore commend in this case and especially when it is made sweet and mild with Spirit of Wine which may safely be taken to ten or twelve drops in this or the other drink several times a day Volatile Salts and especially oily ones Sylvius hinder a new concretion XII Although the black Jaundice come especially from some fault in the Spleen yet I think Platerus his opinion Pract. l. 1. tract 3. cup. 2. should not wholly be rejected Who judges that its cause is preternatural Bile corrupted in the mesaraick vessels and there growing black because it is not probable that such Bile can come from the Spleen seeing it has no cavity or Sinus there where it can be gathered nor does there come any vein from the Spleen by which it can be carried to the Cava Sennertus endeavours to reconcile this to the common opinion judging that black choler after it has been gathered in the mesaraick veins when abundance of it comes to the Liver is mingled with the yellow choler and gathered in the Gall Bladder and the colour of the yellow choler is changed thereby which unless it be evacuated by convenient ways is diffused with the bloud all over the body and causes the black Jaundice notwithstanding that there is no branch which reaches from the Spleen to the Cava because by means of the vena portae the humours gathered about the Spleen may reach to the Liver and may be derived to the rest of the body XIII Although there be some agreement between the Scurvey and the black Jaundice as both diseases come from some fault in the Spleen through the weakness of which in each of them the rest of the body is affected But notwithstanding since the manner of hurt as is manifest by divers signs is far different therefore it follows that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or principal thing capable of each disease to wit the Spleen is differently out of order This diversity introduces a diversity of cure inasmuch as in the Scurvey we have not regard simply to abundance of melancholick bloud and obstructions of the Spleen as we have in the Jaundice but we are forced to be most solicitous about a certain specifick corruption the proper matter of the Scurvey Horstius Probl. Dec. 7. Qu. 6. which requires its peculiar and proper remedies XIV Hippocrates 2 de morb n. 1. would have the veins under the Tongue opened in the black Jaundice Petrus Salius thinks this cure has respect to a Symptome not to the Cause which is store of black choler in the large veins But seeing this is a production of the external Jugular which is a branch of the superclavia and of the cava ascendens What should hinder when it is much exhausted that less of the greater bloud may be exhausted but that it may much alleviate this Disease Severinus since it does more nighly and quickly evacuate than the veins of the Armes Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians For the Yellow Jaundice 1. Augenius A drachm of Gum Ammoniack dissolved in 2 or 3 ounces of Oxymel or Hydromel given for four days or more five hours before Meal cures the Jaundice to a Miracle 2. One recovered onely by taking condensated juice of Cichory Bartholinus 3. One was cured of this disease by Conserve of Flowers of Broom and Marigold Borellus 4. Forestus A Decoction of Root of Celandine cures the Jaundice 5. Hayne A Decoction of Strawberry-leaves carries off the Tartar as I have often seen 6. A Decoction or the Powder Pauli or the Essence of Scorzonera-Root is very good in a contumacious Jaundice 7. Quercetanus The White Excrement of Chickens is a most certain Medicine 8. Take some Goose-dung dissolve it in Worm-wood-wine Drink it hot in the morning for three days and Sweat upon it Schmid Ileus or the Twisting of the Guts The Contents The true method of Cure I. Vomits sometimes doe good II. Sometimes very strong Purges are proper III. One caused by a Rupture in the Groin cured by Antimonial Clysters IV. It does not depend upon the stopping of the Guts V. If it come from Phlegm we must not immediately proceed to strong attenuants VI. Quick-silver may safely be given VII Hippocrates his way of cure by a Smith's Bellows VIII Some cured by drinking of Wine IX When Treacle may be given X. The efficacy of laxative and emollient Fomentations XI When a Bath is proper XII If it be in the small Guts what such Clysters should be used XIII Vnseasonable Fomentations and violent forcing back of the Gut often do increase the Disease XIV The Cure of the Colick turning into the Iliack Passion XV. A singular Cure of an Ileus XVI One caused by Incarceration of the Gut must be cured by Section in the Groin XVII Medicines I. IN the Iliack Passion the cause of inversion of the peristaltick motion of the Guts is usually thus Sharp and malignant humours are discharged by the bloud in a fever newly begun into the Stomach and Guts next at hand whereby the Stomach is first forced to invert its motion and with great violence to throw up the troublesome matter contained in it by the Mouth Then the small Guts joined to it being already weakned give way to the strong motion of the Stomach and with these the greater are drawn into consent the Stomach inclining to vomit leading the dance This Disease I call the true Ileus or Twisting of the Guts The method of curing it has hitherto been unknown whatever some may boast of the use of Quicksilver and Bullets which besides that they doe little good they often doe a great
them in sixteen pounds of Spring-water half away Idem Keep the Colature for use V. Chalybeate Medicines because they are reckoned among the more efficacious Remedies must seldom be omitted in these Diseases though they are not often given with much success for most Preparations of Steel in which the sulphureous Particles prevail inasmuch as they ferment the Bloud and put it into critical effervescencies do rather increase than diminish the impetiginous eruptions nevertheless the Salt Syrup Tincture and vitriolick Infusions as they fix the Bloud and check a little the efferations of the Salts do suit well enough the Intention now proposed but those that are not so strong can doe little good against so Herculean a Disease Idem VI. Wherefore when these and most other Remedies will doe no good many commend Salivation as the stoutest Champion and the onely one able to cope with so stout an Enemy But the event does not always answer expectation for I do confess I used this Remedy for four persons who were troubled with a grievous Itch which was obstinate to all other Remedies without any benefit One of them by anointing with Quicksilver and the other by Pills of Solar Precipitate bore plentifull Salivation for about twenty days in which time all the Scurf and Wheals vanished nevertheless to confirm the Cure a diuretick Drink of a decoction of Sarsa and often Sweating and convenient Purging between whiles was continued for a month And yet for all this when this course was at an end and when no signs of any Itch appeared within another month the Disease began to bud out again anew and in a short time grew to its wonted maturity Moreover when one of these had repeated this Medicine and another after two Relapses had a mind to try it a third time both of them after they had undergone so much despaired of any Cure Whence it is evident that the Venereal Disease though it be extremely malignant and cause most foul cacoethick Ulcers that eat the Flesh and Bones may more easily and certainly be cured than the Itch. Wherefore not undeservedly did the most famous Physicians of old reckon this Disease when confirmed and brought near to a Leprosie to be very difficultly if at all curable Idem VII And an event no whit better attends this Disease when it comes upon an inveterate Scurvy perhaps indeed the Intentions of cure may be more certainly gathered when the Scurvy is the basis or root of this Disease to wit to take the primary therapeutick Indication from thence and insist chiefly on antispasmodick Medicines But even of this sort those that are sharp and hot as Scurvy-grass Water-cresses Horseradish Pepperwort and other things that incite the Bloud too much as they dissolve the Crasis of it more and force the coagulating Tartar in more abundance to the Skin they are always found to doe more harm than good And for this very reason the use of Baths or Bathing in hot waters which evacuates by abundance of Sweat the Humours of the whole body and cleanses the Pores of the Skin though it may seem very good in this Disease yet it is so far from relieving that the Breaking out is usually increased and exasperated thereby For I have known several who not being very itchy have gon to Bathe and there bathed in the hot water and have returned from thence quite leprous Wherefore whenever this Disease is a supervening Symptome of the Scurvy let all sharp and elastick things be avoided and onely the more temperate ones be given endued with a nitrous or vitriolick or a volatile Salt The nitrous Salt is predominant in Crystallum minerale some Juices of Herbs or Decoctions and in some purging waters Idem VIII The Cucumber is endued with a nitrous virtue and by experience is found good against this Disease wherefore instead of Sallet it may be eaten plentifully and often Moreover let three or four of them be cut into Slices and be infused in four pounds of Spring-water close for a night to the clear liquour poured off add of Sal prunellae two or three drachms The Dose half a pound three times or oftner in a day For the same purpose also Decoctions of the leaves and fruit made in spring water are proper Idem IX Some cathartick mineral waters especially North-hall waters if you make an Analysis of them by evaporation do manifestly shew the nitrous Salt wherewith they are impregnated And I have several times found that the constant drinking of about four pounds of them every day for a pretty while together has done good in a slight Itch. Idem X. But Waters impregnated with a vitriolick Salt such as the Spaw-waters do far excell these nitrous ones and any other Medicines and doe far more good in curing the Itch. To such as have not an opportunity to take them I give common water impregnated with our Steel and so exactly resembling Spaw-waters for this Disease and with good success Because of their mineral Salts or at least some Mercurial Particles in them Tin and Antimony are in Vogue for curing the Itch and several use to prescribe them with other Medicines Raspings of Tin and Powder of crude Antimony may be infused in Beer for the ordinary Drink and they may be put into a Decoction of Sarsa and the Woods for this Disease XI The Viper and its Preparations do sufficiently set out the excellent virtue of a volatile Salt in curing the Itch yea the Leprosie it self Galen reports that this Medicine for this Disease was found out by a casual experiment Hither also may be referred the analogy taken from the nature of the creature whence it is gathered that it does good in this Disease for since the Viper every year casts its scaly slough therefore any one might think that its parts would be good to cast off the crusty skin in the Leprosie But not to attribute much to such things since it is apparent from frequent observation that viperine Medicines are good in the Itch and Leprosie the reason of the Cure must be ascribed to the volatile Salt with which this Animal abounds For the Particles hereof do destroy the fixt and acid Salts which are prevalent in the diseased and dissolve their Combinations Notwithstanding the Salt Spirit and Oil chymically extracted from Vipers by reason of the empyreumatick and exceeding elastick Particles which the Fire produces are not at all proper in this Disease as neither the Spirit nor volatile Salt of Hart's-horn Soot Bloud and the like Ammoniack Spirits because by exagitating the bloud and humours above measure they cause their Crases to be more dissolved and drive the corruption more to the Skin Wherefore the simpler Preparations of Vipers as a Decoction of their Flesh in water Drink impregnated with their Infusion or Decoction their dried Powders and Electuaries made of them may be advantageously prescribed against this Disease Moreover not onely the Flesh of Vipers
purge her it wrought moderately Nov. 23. She sweat again Nov. 24. She took twelve grains of Mercurius vitae again and it wrought six times Nov. 25. The caustick Water was applied again to her obscene parts and other places where there were deep and foul Exulcerations Novemb. 26. She purged with this Take of Mercurius dulcis half a scruple Diagridium half a scruple make it up with Conserve of Roses On Nov. 27 28 29 30. Decemb. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The sudorifick Decoction with the Sulphur auratum was continued On Decemb. 10. She was purged with this following Take of Mercurius dulcis 1 scruple and an half Diagridium 10 grains it wrought several times Decemb. 16. She took nothing On the 17th she repeated the former Dose of Mercurius vitae it wrought On the 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and 25th days Nature rested her self and she seemed perfectly well But to be sure on Decemb. 24. she repeated the twelve grains of Mercurius vitae and it wrought onely thrice On the 27th the same Medicine repeated gave onely one stool On the 30th she found no operation from it Horstius obs 10. and so she was perfectly cured of a most grievous Pox. XXXIV Some after universal Purging cure the Disease with these following Pills Take of Rheubarb 10 ounces 10 drachms Scammony 3 drachms Mix them pouring on Juice or Syrup of Lemons of Quicksilver tied up in a cloth so that it may run out in very small grains 2 ounces and 6 drachms and may be well killed with the same Juice and when it is well killed and mixt by often pouring on some of the same Syrup or Juice add of Wheat-flower 2 drachms Musk 1 drachm Make 5 Pills of a drachm and gild them well for according to Dioscorides Gold does admirably correct Quicksilver Let him take one every day before Dinner and take them for thirty days In the mean time let him take no other Medicine neither purgative nor applicatory But let him onely drink twice a week 1 ounce of Fenil-water and half an ounce of Aqua vitae Chalmeteus XXXV Though in giving a Vomit for the Cure of the Pox I should not think divers Medicines made of Antimony improper yet I think they cannot be compared with Mercurial ones if you do but except Mercurius Vitae which is truly an Antimonial Medicine for it may easily be reduced to a Regulus by melting it onely with Sulphur Unless therefore you have a mind to give a Vomit of Mercurius Vitae which is an excellent Medicine for the Pox you may use divers Medicines made of Mercury it self the Precipitates and Sublimates before mentioned Among the former the less fixt are to be preferred Among the latter Corrosive is strongest and most efficacious but it is certainly very dangerous And Precipitates that are less fixt do oftener cause Vomit than Sublimatum dulce they therefore must be preferred also In the legitimate use of all which things we must have a carefull regard to the peculiar constitution of every sick person and the different operations of Mercurial Medicines consequent to that Sylvius de le Boë XXXVI I know and that by experience that not onely the Decoctions of Roots Barks and Woods especially the Aromatick are good for correcting the peccant Acidity in the Pox but their lixivial Salts also and especially the volatile which I recommend to all that practise Physick as things that are good to correct viscid Phlegm which is peccant in the Pox. Idem XXXVII Since I think I have proved and abundantly evinced that the Venereal Poison consists in an acid spirit but very sharp mixt with the mass of bloud and as well infecting it as the rest of the humours that are bred of it it is manifest that the general Cure of the Pox consists in the correction of the acid and sharp spirit And because it is wholly preternatural in the expulsion of it The correction and amendment of the sharp Acid may be performed by all things that temper an acid Acrimony as well simple as compound Among Simples I reckon 1. Spirituous volatile things Spirit of Wine of Grain and any other got by distillation after a due fermentation of the mixture 2. All oily and fat things as Oil of Fruits and Seeds by expression Fat of various Creatures 3. Lixivial fixt Salts of the ashes of things burnt especially of Plants To which if any will 4. add watry things he may for me though they do not so much temper as they dilute an acid Spirit in which respect they do conduce when joined with the three things aforesaid and they notably infringe the strength of the Acid. Among the more compound things are reckoned 1. Volatile Salts arising from a lixivial fixt Salt and a volatile Spirit joined either by Art or Nature such as the volatile Salt of Hartshorn Urine of which sort is the Spirit of Sal Ammoniack Sal Tartari volatile c. 2. Hither are referred all aromatick Oils arising of a lixivial but volatile Salt and Oil e. g. Oil of Amber Hartshorn Aniseed Cinnamon Mace Cloves Majoran Rosemary c. Galbanum Myrrhe Mastick c. 3. Hither belong aromatick Apozemes made of the aromatick part of Plants especially boiled with Water Beer or Wine such as we frequently use in the Cure of the Pox. 4. Aromatick Tinctures extracted from the aromatick parts of Plants by Spirit of Wine whether by Infusion onely or Decoction or Distillation 5. To compound Medicines which temper the acid Spirit every Soap may be reduced made of a lixivial Salt dissolved in Water and Oil or Fat by long decoction which admirably tempers the acid humours upon account of both Ingredients especially if it be aptly joined with other liquours Milk to wit and such things 6. Hither refer Emulsions made of Water and of the soluble oily part of Seeds Of all which Medicines for the Cure of the Pox the most in use are Decoctions of two Roots and of so many Woods China Sarsa parilla Guaiacum and Saffafras to which both for gratefulness and for amending the concomitant symptoms and humours several things use to be added The Roots indeed temper the acid humour more weakly the Woods more strongly Which Woods moreover do yet effectually correct the pituitous humour with which the venereal Poison mingles and insinuates it self offending in its too great acidity which augments it in the body and makes it more viscid and so also promote the Cure of the Pox for daily experience makes it appear that they are longest and most difficult in curing in whom a very viscid pituitous humour known by the name of the melancholick humour has praedominance And we must persevere so long in the use of Alteratives and of things that as well temper the sharp acid humour as correct the pituitous and viscid when they are found to concurr till you observe them reduced to a good and laudable state by the functions once being hurt
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
of Amber eight grains Mix them Let the Patient take a draught of this Apozeme warm early in the morning and being well covered with clothes let her lye to Sweat but if within an hour after it do not come let her promote it by taking broth let her often repeat it and about the usual time of her Terms to the end the bloud also may at last be forced to the Womb. But if the said Phlegm redound not onely in the bloud but in the Head and Guts it will be good and beneficial now and then to abate and evacuate it by Phlegmagogues among which Agarick Turbith Hermodactyls Coloquintida c. are vulgarly commended And among the Chymical ones Sylvius de le Boë all Medicines made of Mercury are chief both praecipitate and sublimate especially Mercurius dulcis Among External Medicines Baths Fomentations and Fumes are deservedly commended from which either the arising Exhalations Vapours Fumes or the Penetrating Liquour do incide and attenuate the Phlegm or other glutinous humours sticking in the Orifices and Vessels of the Womb and causing Obstructions and so make them fluxible and apt to give way to the bloud then or afterwards desiring an exit or to go out with it Baths certainly in which Women use then to sit above the Navel do by their moisture insinuate themselves into the outer Neck of the Womb and then into the inner and do set loose and dissolve every glutinous humour whatever that so frequently sticks in the cavity of the inner Neck and that being within a-while removed thence they penetrate inwards and incide and dissolve and so make fit for efflux the glutinous humour there also that sticks to and in the Orifices of the Vessels of the Womb. But warm Baths are used that so they with more speed ease and efficacy produce their desired effect As to the Liquour of the Bath Water may conveniently be used and at the time of Use a little strong White-wine not Red may be added as also Spirit of Wine and Volatile Salt though this do not augment the Liquour so much as it promotes and intends the virtue of the rest of the things that are decocted As for the things that are to be boiled therein I commend aromatick Plants i. e. strong smelling ones that have a sharp and gratefull taste but especially those they call Hysterick But since drying Baths are observed not always to promote but often to hinder the Flux of the Terms here also Roots of Lilies Seeds of Line and Fenugreek c. will be proper to boil not onely to incide and conveniently to attenuate by the Aromaticks which are often too drying and therefore incrassating but also to mollifie For so the glutinous humours being partly attenuated partly mollified are more easily made fluid nay they are brought to a Flux and Efflux and so the high-way for the stopt bloud is cleared again and laid open But it is good for the Bath not to be over hot lest too much Sweat be caused whereby when the more serous parts of the bloud are exhausted the glutinous humours would be rendred more glutinous Nor must she continue long in the Bath for the same reasons for unless by means of it the Obstruction be removed quickly that benefit will scarce be obtained by tarrying long therein Fomentations are made of the same things with Baths and are applied to the Pudenda and that most fitly with Sponges or woollen Cloths but not with linen for they as well as Sponges soak up more Liquour than linen nor do they so easily let it run away besides they keep the heat of the Liquour longer in them without which Fomentations doe more harm than good Akin to these is the Vapour arising from a Decoction heated and received into the pudenda through an open Chair and so penetrating inwards Thus Exhalations doe good which may commodiously be made of Salt of Tartar or of any other fixt Salt and Sal Ammoniack which because it is most penetrant will doe very much good here and is deservedly preferred before many other things Idem XIV Pessaries and Uterine Clysters ought onely to be prescribed for Women that are married and that lye with Men but for Maids Nascalia Fomentations Insessions and Suffumigations Riverius XV. Suffumigations are approved of above all ways for so the Medicine acts most effectually and a Fume also of Spices brings down Womens Terms Aph. 28. 5. For the virtue of Medicines is abated in their passage when they are given in form of a Powder Potion Pills or Bolus before they get to the Womb which it is not when they are administred in form of a Suffumigation Besides since things that provoke the Terms are hot they often by the way hurt a hot Liver for the Terms are often stopt by the thickness of the bloud which is caused by a hot Liver And this way is preferred before the rest according to Galen because you may meet with some Women who will not endure Clysters or Pessaries who will admit Fumes and they penetrate more The onely hindrance is Weakness of the Head for some Womens Heads are easily disturbed by Aromaticks But in administring of a Suffumigation two things must be observed from Galen 1. That Women be girded 2. That the Fume ascend through a Pipe into the Neck of the Womb Capivaccius for so the Fume does not easily get into the Head XVI In a diminution of the Terms Mercurialis Cons 8. highly commends two Issues below the Knees on the inside And Cons 108. he says that an Issue below the Knees on the inside of each Leg is very effectual XVII I have hitherto observed that we must make no more haste than good speed and that more may be done by gentle Medicines than by strong That therefore the Cure may be safe Sylvius de le Boë we must abstain from all things that have any danger in them XVIII Avicenna orders when Women spit bloud because of a Stoppage of their Terms that they must be provoked by Bleeding Cupping Frictions and other such things yet not by Medicines that move the Terms but near the usual time we may add a spoonfull of distilled Savine Water or five drops of its Oil to a Decoction of white Saunders Guaiacum Box Rhodium root c. And outwardly at this time that is an effectual Remedy Hempen Thread newly boiled and still warm Fortis cent 2. cons 163. applied twice a-day for an hour to the region of the Womb for we may not go higher XIX The lower parts must be kept warm and the upper cold Women offend often herein when they cover the whole body with Bed-clothes and hereupon all the parts draw upwards and downwards Walaeus XX. Medicines must be given at the usual time of their coming For if a Physician should stimulate Nature in the full Moon that was accustomed to her excretion in the new he would then labour in vain unless he used most violent
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
with good success amongst which Diacuminum was very familiar with him Rhod. cent 2. obs 13. ¶ If Spitting cannot succeed the Matter is to be evacuated either by Sweat or by Urine or by Externals or a suppuration is to be endeavoured For provoking Urine Turpentine is commended in this case either alone or mixt with the Pouder of Lykyrrhize Give a drachm of it and let it be wash'd in the Water of Maidenhair to which add half a drachm of the Pouder of Lykyrrhize Yet these Diureticks ought not to be administred in every case but only when you see the Spitting does not proceed and that the Patient pisses plentifully For Hippocrates said 4. acut 28. that those Pleuritical and Peripneumonical Persons are treated amiss who spit nothing up unless they void much Urine Therefore when you see the propension of Nature you may come safely to Diureticks to Maiden-hair Saxon. Parsley Fennil to the cold Seeds where the Fever is urgent ¶ Hippocrates 2. de morb makes three differences of a Pleurisy according to the diversity whereof the Cure is to be varied Concerning the first kind he writes thus lib. 1. v. 233. But often if it be turned to the inferior parts it distributes a pain through the Veins to the Bladder and the Patient makes a great deal of Bloody Vrine In this place he sets forth in what Pleurisy the Morbifick Matter is not expelled by Spitting as is usual but by Urine a sign whereof is a pain extending it self by the Groins to the Bladder and the Patients making a Bloody Urine understanding that which is tinctured with a deep red which looks of a Bloody colour Seeing therefore this sort of Pleurisy has its Crisis by Urine not by Spitting he therefore advises the Cure to be performed by those things which provoke Urine for which purpose he gives Oxymel diluted with a good deal of Water Prosp Martian comm in v. 206. l. 2. de morb sect 2. namely Oxymel is Diuretick and by the coldness of the Water whereby it is diluted 't is very sit to temper Choler XXVIII In the Pleurisy and Peripneumony Nature which is the Curer of Diseases does sometimes purge out by Urine the Morbous purulent Matter contained in the Cavity of the Breast as Galen witnesseth 6. de loc 4. Therefore her Motion is diligently to be observed lest it be inverted by her Servant the Physician So that if it happen that Nature endeavours an Excretion by Urine we must make use of Diureticks as Heurnius persuades us cap. 3. de morb pâ—ctoral XXIX Hippocrates 4. acut gave to a Pâ—euritical Person in the beginning Oxymel with Panax or All-heal boil'd in it and strained as also to the Hepatick and such as were pained about the Midriff viz. to such as had Phlegmons or other collections of Humours in the Liver or Midriff namely to digest powerfully and to move Sweat or Urine or both This way of curing Pleuritical Persons by violently discussing Potions is not very much in use with our Physicians who after Bleeding Anointings and Pectorals pass to no other Remedy Yet I know one to whom some ordinary Fellow gave something of this kind in Drink who by having a plentiful Sweat raised was presently relieved his Breast loosened and he spit easily when it was now the seventh day of the Disease and he had begun to Expectorate nothing and was in danger to be strangled almost through difficulty of breathing Ignorant Fellows also who empirically undertake the Cure of some Diseases Valles 4. de ac p. 250. cure Pleurisies often by Sweating Medicins with good success ¶ A Boy of twelve years of Age was ill of a Pleurisy of his right Side he was bled five times and other things were prescribed On the seventh there was given him half a drachm of Chimney Soot in Carduus Water Within two hours after taking this Medicin all the symptoms which were grievous remitted very much and the Patient was much better Lazar. Riv. cent 2. obs 79. and afterwards recovered by degrees ¶ I have seen many and especially Women who for want of fitting Remedies were brought to extremity almost by a Pleurisy cured by taking once or twice of Quercetan's Apple in twenty four hours whereupon beyond expectation there follow'd either a plentiful Sweating or liberal Expectoration Indeed I could name several to whom being almost desperate I have prescribed this Medicin Idem cent 4. obs 88. and I never saw any event of it but good ¶ An obstruction of the Vessels by viscid Phlegm or Blood coagulated in them shall be cured by using inwardly and outwardly such Medicins as dissolve the offending Humour and make it fluxile again Amongst Internals Aromatick salts are the most profitable which are prepared of divers parts of Animals as all and every of them being endued with a notable vertue to dissolve all coagulated and congealed things and to reduce them to their former fluidity and likewise to provoke Sweat which being gently promoted withal a resolution of the coagulated Humours is more easily quickly and happily obtained Hence it is that often upon the seasonable giving of one Sudorifick prepared of the foresaid volatil salts or the like the Pleurisy which is an inflammation of the Side hath been happily cured without the opening of a Vein And hence it is that mixtures made of such things and taken seasonably a spoonful at a time by short intervals have soon safely and pleasantly cured both the Pleurisy and Peripneumony and also the Inflammations of other parts As for instance Take of the Waters of Parsley Hyssop and Fennil of each an ounce of Treacle Water half an ounce of the Spirit of Sal Armoniack half a drachm of Laudanum Opiate four grains of the Syrup of red Poppy an ounce mix them The Spirit of Sal Armoniack the volatil salt of Hartshorn or any other may be used and according to the greater or less acrimony thereof more or less of it may be added to the mixture and a greater or less quantity of the mixture may be taken at each time and the Body may be kept in a warm place to promote the Medicin on every hand and sometimes to facilitate Sweating though it is not needful to provoke Swear seeing that does no good but as the volatil and saline vertue of the Medicin penetrates then the easilier and quicklier to the part affected and obstructed To a Volatil salt may and ought to be referred Crabs Eyes the Jaws of a Pike Hartshorn c. seeing they abound therewith In this case also a l Metallick and Mineral Sulphurs but such as are fixt are profitable wherefore hither is referred also Antimonium Diaphoreticum brought to some fixtness though these things are good in this case on many accounts Nor are only the Volatil salts of Animals profitable here but all which are derived from the various parts of Plants called Scorbutical and Acrimonious and emulate the vertues of the same such as the Juices
came to me at Lausanne I advised him to a Seton likewise by which Remedy chiefly under GOD he was cured Hildanus II. Syrupus de Erysimo Lobelii called Syrupus Praedicatorum is commended which the Author says is Laudatissimus Arteriacus and he writes hist Stirp pag. 103. that by taking of it he cured a young Woman who had had a Hoarsness ten years and that others who have laboured of a tedious and almost incurable Hoarsness have been cured by this Syrup of Hedge-Mustard And I do affirm that I have often experienced the goodness of this Medicin in a very difficult Hoarsness after a Catarrh And therefore all Shops should have it ready prepared Take of green Hedge-Mustard the whole six handfuls Root of Elecampane Colts-foot then full of Juice Lykyrrhize of each one handful and an half of the Cordial Flowers Flowers of Rosemary Stoechas or Betony of each â—alf an handful Aniseeds six drachms Stoned Raisins two drachms Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Barly Water and of Hydromel and Juice of Hedge-Mustard of each six ounces to two pounds or three Add to the Colature a sufficient quantity of Sugar S. Schultzius Misc Cur. ann 72. obs 153. Make a Syrup according to Art III. I have observed that a most grievous Hoarsness which lasted for several months with a total deprivation of Voice was cured only with Spirit of Sal Ammoniack by giving a few drops of it every day in the ordinary Drink And from the singular Cure of this particular Hoarsness I reckoned it had its rise from a Saline Muriatick Spirit not so much eroding the parts allotted for Voice as disaffecting them some inexplicable way which would not give way at all to gross Medicins but yielded easily to this Spirituous one That is since common Medicins that were proper to correct and carry off Salt Muriatick or Acid Humours were almost used in vain in this loss of Voice I might very well think it was not produced by the gross and Corporeal Humours but by some in the form of a Spirit or Exhalation And therefore that it must in like manner be cured with Spirituous Medicins but sub-contrary and therefore with Salts not fixt but volatil which had a power to correct and amend both the Acid Salt Muriatick and Glutinous Humours and the Spirits and Exhalations of them and therefore with Spirit of Sal Ammoniack which the good success and Cure confirmed though it went on but slowly Sylvius de le Boe. Renum Affectus or Diseases of the Kidneys The Contents We must be prudent in the use of Diureticks I. Whether the vertue of outward Applications reach them II. Many Diseases ascribed to other causes derive their original from some fault in them III. Renum Inflammatio or an Inflammation of the Kidneys What Vein must be opened in an Inflammation of the Kidneys IV. A Purge is proper in the declension of the Disease V. Cassia is hurtful VI. Suppositories are better than Clysters VII Repellents and Attrahents must not be put in Clysters VIII When Diureticks are proper IX When the Kidneys may be opened in the Loyns X. External Coolers must not be abused XI Renum Intemperies or Intemperature of the Kidneys Drinking of warm Water is goad for a hot Intemperature of the Kidneys XII Cooling Topicks must often be renewed XIII Renum Prolapsus or a slipping forward of the Kidneys It is difficult to know when the Kidneys are slipt forward XIV Renum Ulcus or an Vlcer of the Kidneys Sometimes a Vomit is good for Vlcerated Kidneys XV. Some Purgatives do harm XVI Whether it be good to drink Milk XVII Horehound is an Enemy XVIII An Vlcer is very difficult to cure XIX Renum Dolor or Pain in the Kidneys A desperate pain of the Kidneys eased by opening of the Hemorrhoids XX. Clysters must have no windy things in them XXI Renum Imbecillitas or Weakness in the Kidneys The signs of Weakness in the Kidneys and its Cure XXII I. WE must never go to work with Diureticks especially with violent ones in Diseases of the Kidneys See Tit. of Diureticks BOOK XIX II. Although Galen 6. Epidem sect 1. comm 6. write that Medicins applied to the Kidneys are of no use both because their substance is very thick and because of the many parts that lie over them which hinder the vertue of the Medicin from penetrating Yet this is no sufficient Obstacle because Medicins by long application do at length exert their virtues upon the inmost parts as the same Galen 6. Zecchius cons 78. tuend sanit cap. 14. has observed III. The Noble Lord N. forty five years old had been troubled for some months with a salt Catarrh about his Genitals and Anus After he had been more than enough tormented for three whole months with the severity of his Disease and with Medicins he repaired to me as to his last refuge I reckoned that the cause of this Disease ought not to be laid to the alone intemperature of the Liver as is now the custom of Empiricks but to the bad constitution of the Kidneys because of which a salt Excrement being long detained in the Body uses to breed such things and that Openers not Coolers ought to be made use of For often a ter immoderate or unseasonable Venery and in such as live upon a gross feculent and salt Diet the Kidneys are affected in this manner Hereby the Expulsive Faculty being spoiled and the passages of the Kidneys obstructed the salt Excrement is forced to go back by the Veins and is cast off thence by sweat through the Skin where according to the various nature of the thing whence it proceeds sometimes it is dissolved sometimes coagulated sometimes it is of one nature sometimes of another But in a short time the said Nobleman recovered his health by the means following The first day he took tincture of Corals and Specificum Stomachicum which some take to be the Flowers of Sal Ammoniack both of which purge the Blood and strengthen the Inwards the Kidneys especially To make the first region clean I gave Decoctum Catholicon purgans and refrigerans for several days Outwardly Balsamus Saturni and Calcinatum majus dulcificatum in a short time compleated the Cure Poterius cent 2. cap. 64. Renum Inflammatio or an Inflammation of the Kidneys IV. Blood must be let in the Arm when the Inflammation is new with a flux of Humours and plenitude of the whole as Forestus obs 30. l. 24. says But it must not be done when the Inflammation is of any continuance and no Fluxion of Humours or plenitude of Body with it because it is then requisite that the Matter be evacuated and derived by the next places which is by Bleeding in the lower Veins Horstius V. Though a Purge be not proper in the beginning lest the disturbed Humours should flow more to the parts affected so that if a violent loosness come at that time it must
Sudorifick Decoction will be far more effectual Take of Wood of Guajacum Misletoe of the Oak of each two ounces common Water four pounds Mix them Make an Infusion twenty four hours then boil half away Keep the Colature for three Doses It must be given in the Morning an hour before you would sweat first giving this Bolus Take of Extract of Elecampane Root one scruple Flower of Brimstone half a scruple Mix them Make a Bolus Let him sweat in a Stove that the Head may sweat notwithstanding the danger of Suffocation which is usually objected for that holds good only when the Orthopnoea is present But if the Breath grows short in the Stove as it sometimes happens in the first days let the Patient presently go to Bed and sweat and afterwards sweating will be well born a longer time even in a Stove When the sweat is ended that the drying of the Lungs may be compleated Purging Sulphureous Waters must be given for ten or twelve days And they will be very good to pump the Head withal Fortis X. Spirit of Sulphur is given for an Asthma But here we must distinguish between one Idiopathick for which Spirit of Sulphur may not be used and one Sympathick fixt about the Hypochondria for which Spirit of Sulphur may give its assistance This Spirit will be of greater virtue if it be distilled with Gum Ammoniack F. Hofm XI When an Orthopnoea is present we must act with great caution lest the Patients be suddenly killed with unseasonable Remedies Yea seeing the Physician cannot always be present the Patient must be instructed how he may be a Physician to himself Therefore when an Orthopnoea is coming this must especially be observed that at that time the Expectoration of the Matter must not be attempted but by Internal and External Laxatives it must be carried from the Bronchia to the Cavity of the Lungs For while we endeavour to get up the Catarrhal Matter that falls from the Head and rises from the other Cavities we bring the same in more abundance to the Bronchia whereby the passage of the Breath being wholly stopt the Patient is quite strangled I have observed this to have happened twice to Physicians Wherefore first of all Rest must immediately be prescribed using only Frictions to the lower parts to hinder the ascent of the Matter sticking in the Cavity Then let Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn without Fire be in readiness of which he may take about half a spoonful between whiles The Cawl of a Wether c. may be applied to the Breast and to make it more laxative it may be sprinkled with Oil of sweet Almonds Or a great Sponge may be applied to it dipt in a decoction of Mallow Root Marshmallow White Lily Lykyrrhize and Fenugreek Seeds which must not be quite wrung out and it must be often applied pretty warm nor must it be suffered to grow cold But when the Fit is going off some gentle Expectorant must be given to wit when the Matter begins to be concocted and to be discharged out of the narrow Bronchia for then ease will be found by coughing and excretion of the Matter Fortis Asthmatis Therapia or the Cure of an Asthma XII In the Cure of an Asthma there are two primary Indications the Curatory and the Preservatory The first teaches what must be done in the Fit that the Patient may be delivered out of present danger The other shews what must be done out of the Fit for removing of the Morbifick Cause lest this Disease return often or violently Therefore when the Fit is upon one we must endeavour 1. That in respect both of the Air and the Lungs more free breathing may be procured and 2. That the Organs of Respiration may be recalled and checkt in their spasms begun and usually stubbornly persisting As to the former let the Patient be placed with his Body upright in an open and airy place free from Fumes and from the Breath of the by-standers Then we must do our endeavour that the Lungs being made free from all stoppage and Internal Oppression and also from External Compression may fetch the Breath and let it go again freely To these ends that the swelling of the lower Bowels may not press upon or straiten the Praecordia the Belly must be emptied with a Clyster the clothes must be opened And moreover because in this case People are usually oppressed either by the Blood being too Turgescent within the Pneumonick Vessels or by Serum falling from the Arteries and Glands upon the Tracheal Ducts the rage of both Humours must be appeased Therefore if the strength will bear it and if the Pulse be strong enough Bleeding is often proper Moreover things that discharge the Serum and Superfluities of the Aestuating Blood by Urine and Sweat must be carefully used To which end Apozemes c. which they call Pectoral are highly serviceable And Testaceous Pouders Preparations of Millepedes Spirits and Volatil Salts are taken with success And in the mean time beside these things such must be given as open and smooth the passages of the Windpipe and cause Expectoration and which may moreover if there shall be occasion stop the Catarrh that falls down upon them to which end Linctus Pectoral Decoctions and Fumigations are proper As to the other intention of Cure to wit that the Organs of Respiration may quietly return from the Spasms they are fallen into to their ordinary Functions unless this follow spontaneously after the Aestuations of the Blood and Serum in the Lungs are quieted For we have shewn not only by Reasoning but by Observations that a Convulsive Asthma is often caused when the Morbifick Matter falling upon the Pneumonick Nerves sticks somewhere in their passages especially about their Plexus Vpon which when abundance is gathered and begins to disperse and move for that reason the Spirits thereabout and such as are affluent to the Organs of Respiration are disturbed and driven into irregularities and by and by those Spirits affect others that dwell in the Pectoral and Pulmonary Fibres and excite them to irregular and Asthmatical Spasms we must use Antispasmodicks and Anodynes for Medicins that are usually given in Hysterick Fits use to do good in a Convulsive Asthma Spirit of Hartshorn Sooâ— and especially of Sal Ammoniack distilled with Gum Ammoniack also Tinctures of Gum Ammoniack Sulphur Castor Asa foeâ—ida Syrup of Gum Ammoniack Sulphur Oxymel of Squiâ—s and the like which because they are either of an ingrateful smell or taste they do as it were dissipate the Sprits and withdraw them from tumults and sometimes do much good But if the Spirits raging in this manner cannot be quieted we may proceed to Narcoticks that when some are dispersed the rest may be reduced to good order For unless the stoppage of the Lungs with great oppression at the Heart do hinder Opiates sometimes do much good In horrible Fits of this Disease when other Medicins would do
Millepedes that is either in form of a dry Pouder or of a distilled Liquor seldom fail of success for such recall the superfluities of the Serum from the Head and Nerves and carry them to the Urinary Passages Gentle Purges are also good as is a decoction of an old Cock and other things appropriate to an Asthma See the Section following Willis XXI Of all the dire Symptoms of Scorbutick Persons difficulty of Breathing and straitness of the Breast coming by Fits are the worst I think they for the most part arise either from a sudden stagnation of the Blood that is just growing grumous in the narrow passages of the Lungs or from a Convulsive irritation of the Nerves which serve the Organs of Respiration In the first case there is an exceeding distention of the Lungs and thence as it were an immobility with a sublivid redness in the Face a dimness of sight swooning a low weak intermitting Pulse accompanied with despair of the Patients recovery But in the later case the Pulse of the Heart and Arteries is not very irregular the Party is troubled with a dry Cough together with an anxious straitness about the Heart and deep sighs stopping the Breath For when the Blood because of its thickness stagnates in its Circulation through the strait passages of the Lungs such things are proper as by powerfully attenuating inciding and moving it do restore it to a requisite fluidity and to a more expedite Circular motion 1. Carminative Clysters for Revulsion 2. Blood-letting where there are signs of a Plethora for so when the Blood is diminished the rest will more easily be attenuated and will pass the straits of the Lungs with a quicker motion 3. Hot Thoracicks mixt with Antiscorbuticks of the same virtue Tincture of Saffron Elecampane Castor Elixir Proprietatis Confectio Alkermes Flowers of Sal Ammoniack Benzoin Volatil Salt of Vipers Horse-dung Spirit of Sal Ammoniack A spoonful either by it self or in some convenient Vehicle in a small but a repeated Dose for these do excellently keep off the Fit by keeping the Blood from Coagulation For it is found by Experience that Coagulated Blood is dissolved by a Volatil Salt diluted with Water and besides Volatil Salts there is not any thing found fit to prevent or dissolve this Coagulation For a Scorbutick Asthma from a Convulsion of the Pneumonick Nerves See the foregoing Section Antispasmodicks promise a Cure which are experienced to have the faculties of dulling suppressing and discussing this irritating acrimony of the Humours or Vapours For this these things are cried up Spirit of Sal Ammoniack Hartshorn Soot Castor Spiritus Lavendulae compositus mixt with appropriate Liquors and taken in repeated draughts while difficulty of Breathing is urgent Castor also Galbanum Asa foetida and their Tinctures drawn with Aqua Raphani compos or Lumbricorum But in such a shortness of Breath which threatens to choak the Patient there is no more present Remedy See Charleton Section XII than a few grains of Laudanum Opiatum dissolved in good Canary Wine and infused till the Tincture is extracted and a spoonful of it given now and then Rheumatismus or a Rheumatism See Febris Rheumatismi comes Book VI. and Lumborum Affectus Book X. The Contents The excellency of Blood-letting I. When Purgations must be prescribed II. The benefit of Diureticks III. Sudorificks are not proper at all times IV. We must take care to strengthen the parts V. Cured in a young Man VI. I. BLood must be let every day at the beginning till the Disease and pains abate Nor is it any matter if you Bleed for ten or twelve days or for more since it is peculiar to this Disease for the Patient not to be weakened by Bleeding Therefore it is my custom when I prescribe Bleeding so often to add this restriction that it be continued every day till the pains be abated or the strength be much wasted and when no decay of strength arises upon it Patients do freely admit it The condition of the Blood causes this Tolerance which comes out always very putrid Experience shews the benefit since by repeated Bleeding the Disease which in its own nature is long is often conquered in a short time Besides a large Haemorrhagy supervening often cures it Riverius II. Purging in the beginning increase and state of this Disease gives no relief yea it does harm As it happens in all Inflammatory Diseases But in the declension it is necessary and must often be prescribed and with gentle Medicins that the Cacochymie restagnating in the Body may be carried off If gentle things be insufficient wholly to eradicate this Disease which is often contumacious we must if there be no Fever have recourse to stronger things I have always cured this Disease when other things could not do the work by giving about twenty grains of Mercurius dulcis six times sublimed with ten grains of Scammony or Resin of Julap Idem ¶ One Clyster made of Emetick Wine cured a Woman of this Disease Idem III. In Rheumatick Diseases when a bad and sharp serous Matter bred by a hot intemperature subservient to Sanguification is discharged into the External habit of the Body with a wandring pain of the Bones and with a sense of heat and heaviness all over the Body and sometimes also into the inner parts Diureticks are very good to dry it up and that by Hippocrates his advice lib. de Humor Do not shut up says he the dissolved Humours within but dry up the superfluous and when you have a mind co carry them off or otherwise it is best to use Attenuants because so you may more easily purge them by Stool or by Vrine than if you had restrained them and kept them in by Astringents And by Galen's consent 15. Simplic 13. By Diureticks says he the Blood is not only attenuated but is melted and separated just as in Milk in which what is serous and thin is separated what is thick is curdled and exactly united Frid. Hofm IV. Sudorificks as well as Purgatives do no good but much harm in the beginning increase and state Ordinary Physicians experience this who mistaking it for a true Catarrh and being tired with the contumacy of this Disease have recourse to these things whereby the Disease is doubled and the pains are increased But in the declension Generals premised and when there is no Fever Riverius they do much good V. After sufficient Evacuation yea at the very time of Evacuation we must endeavour to strengthen the principal Parts and the whole Body And these Strengtheners must be cooling by reason of the hot intemperature of the Liver the original of a Rheumatism There is great store of them I shall propound four that are very effectual and not ungrateful 1. Tincture of Corals two ounces whereof may be taken two hours before Breakfast in the morning those days when no other Medicins are used 2. Conserve of Hips which is grateful to
In the performance of these tasks necessary to Sleep the order is not alwayes one and the same for sometimes the Animal Spirits do first and of their own accord forsake these spaces the Nervous juice running immediately into the vacant places And sometimes the Nervous juice mixt plentifully with the Serum first invades these passages driving thence the Spirits though against their will and forcing them inwards But the operation of Coffee seems contrary to both these effects for immediately upon drinking of it its adust Particles that are very nimble and restless being carried into the Blood do put its Liquor a little in fusion and force the serous Liquor to the Kidneys and habit of the Body Moreover when they arrive at the Brain they easily open its Pores which by their mobility they keep very open whilest they joyning with the Spirits despoyl them of all their other Particles as well Sleepy as Nutritious and so being light and fleet do put them every where into motion and cause them to be expanded through the whole compass of the Brain when it is free from all gravative oppletion and obstruction Yet in the mean time while the Spirits are in this manner constantly and unweariedly exercised the Nervous juices are deprived of access and assimilation their stores are not sufficiently and after their wonted manner recruited indeed the old Spirits are rendred more nimble and unwearied but the recruits of new ones are diminished Hence it may most easily appear that this drink though in common use and in some cases very useful and medical perhaps in others is hurtful and not so wholesome And that the matter is so not only reason but vulgar observation does commonly shew in as much as excessive Coffee-drinkers oftentimes grow lean and subject to the Palsie and impotency to Venus The first effect is so frequent and every where known that we only therefore forbid them the drinking of Coffee because it inclines to leanness Because when the Blood by continual and too frequent use becomes sharp and retorrid it is therefore less fit for to nourish As to the Diseases of the Brain and Nervous kind I reckon that when I am sometime called to cure them no man prescribes it to be drunk so frequently as I for it is my custome to send them more to the Coffee-Houses than to Apothecaries Shops Truly in most Cephalick Sicknesses that is Head-ache Vertigo Lethargy Catarrhe and the like where there is a moist Brain but a slowness and torpidness of the Animal Spirits with a cold constitution or not very hot and a watry Blood Coffee is often drunk with advantage for drunk every day it clarifies and illustrates both parts of the Soul and dispels all mists of the Functions whatever But on the contrary they that are lean and of a Cholerick Constitution or Melancholick who have a sharp and retorrid Blood a hot Brain and too eagre and restless animal Spirits ought altogether to abstain from that drink because it further perverts the Spirits and Humours and renders them altogether unapt and unable to undergo any Functions For I have observed many who have not had sufficient plenty of Spirits and besides troubled with the Vertigo palpitation of the Heart trembling of the Limbs or numbness have been worse as to those Diseases upon drinking of Coffee and have presently perceived an unusual languidness in their whole Body Willis V. A Maid about 20 years old was about the beginning of Autumn held with a double Tertian for 12 dayes and was cured of it by Remedies Her Fits returned again but some new Symptomes came in the Fit namely much Sleep redness of Face prominence of Eyes a pricking pain in the left side and a great difficulty in swallowing I suspected an hysterick affection was complicated with the Ague fit and I prescribed her hysterick Remedies notwithstanding which the Disease continued After a few dayes the Symptomes returned without the Ague which confirmed my opinion for the pain of her left side went to her right sometimes pricking pains appeared in divers parts of the Abdomen with a pain in the Stomach and loathing and sometimes a Fit of the Mother Before the Fit came she took by my advice 4 little Pills of Laudanum and a little after the Fit came but within 2 hours when the Laudanum began to work all things abated she was well the whole Night whereas the foregoing she had been tormented Riverius Cent. 2. Obs 20. Hence this Paradox may be gathered that a Sleepy Disease may be Cured by the use of Laudanum VI. In a Coma our chief endeavour must be to prevent the efflux of new morbifick matter into the Brain and to discuss and get out what is got thither already Moreover the animal Spirits must be awakened and all torpidness and sleepyness taken from them To this end we must Purge Bleed Cup Blister make application of revulsives and discutients give Cephalick Medicines and such especially as are indued with a volatil Salt and use several other wayes of Administration But if this Disease follow some other Sickness or come upon any Man whose Body is already much wasted his Blood vitiated or much depauperated we must first consider well of Bleeding and Purging before we do either nay for the most part we must abstain from them yet sometimes that the conjunct cause of the Disease or the matter fixt in the Brain may be put in Motion it may be convenient to take away a small quantity of Blood either by setting Leeches to the Fore Head or Temples or by Cupping and Scarifying the Shoulders Willis VII I saw a lusty young Priest taken with a Coma after a relapse into a Fever with a tremor in one side without sense for want of Strength in the Parts When he had taken a very sharp Clyster with 3 drachms of Coloquintida and 2 ounces of Honey of Roses and Salt in it without any effect Praevotius ordered him 7 Blisters which doing little good J. Rhodius Câ—nt 1. Obs 36. they proceeded to make a cautery in his Head behind upon which he amended VIII The strong scented stillatitious Liquor of Lavender rubbed on the Forehead and temples revives those that are taken with a small Catalepsis a Hemiplexia and now and then with the falling Sickness and oftentimes with Swooning But where there is plenty of Humours especially if they be mixt with the Blood the use of this is not safe nor of any composition drawn off Wine in which such Herbs Flowers or Seeds and certain Spices have been macerated which most People give indifferently For by the use of these hot things which fill the Head the Disease is increased and the Patient indangered especially when Bleeding and Purging go not before I thought fit to give this caution because commonly some unlearned Physicians and over bold Apothecaries do immediately give such Compositions and things of the like nature not only to Apoplectick Persons but also to those
as by washing of the Head are good for the Cure of this Disease for by Bathing plenty of Sweat is provoked and the antecedent matter of the Fluxion is discharged And by washing of the Head the Brain is strengthned and dried The peculiar way of using them is described by Penotus and is very much commended Nothing does so much good in Deafness even after the use of an Hundred Remedies as for the Patient first to cleanse his Body well and then purge his Head and wet his Head with Sulphureous Bathes in this manner Let him wear upon his Head as it were a Cap of large Sponges sowed together coming down to his Eye brows and below his Ears Let him sit under the current of the Bath and turning a Cock let him receive the water which soaked up by the Sponges will keep the Head warm with its continual heat and opening all the sutures of the Head and commissures of the Ears it will take away the Vapours or will wast by exhalation the matter impacted in the Nerves and auditory Passages or will so displace it that it will quickly go away It is convenient for him to sit thus twice a day for two hours and then presently to sweat in Bed and to use a thin diet of Flesh Brothes Riverius and he must abstain from all Wine unless it be very small If any one insist upon the use of the Bathes I utterly disapprove of putting the whole Body into the Sulphureous water because of the frequent effusion of Blood by the Haemorrhoids but especially because of the Stone for which the heating of the Kidneys and Loyns is very bad I think it sufficient if the Head the Body being first well purged be watred from on high all cautions observed which the Physicians there present shall give My Lord seems to abhor the thick fuliginous Air of the Bath An Embrochation from on high by some proper Instrument will serve instead thereof out of which some Cephalick Decoction may run at a Cock prepared with a Barber's Lixivium adding Malmsey Wine upon the Head shaven and covered with a Cap made of soft Sponges with other things which may keep the Liquor from the Parts below and may deliver it into a bason near it This irrigation also may be received upon the sutures of the Head naked which when the season of the year is heat Th. de Mayerne confilio M. S. pro Comite Denbigh done once or twice a week wiping and drying the Head very well after it will be very good It is used daily by the Italians X. In Deafness from pituitous matter some Topical Medicine must be put into the Ears which at first must have an inciding and detersive and then a drying faculty that the Humour which is in the Ears may be attenuated and cleansed and then the Membrane may be dried Therefore let a Tent dipt in Oxymel of Squills be put especially in the Night time for Medicines must not be poured in Fortis tom 2. Cent. 1. cons 79. lest the auditory passage be hurt as Galen 3. K. T. 1. advises but they must be got in with a Tent or a Probe wrapt in Wool Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. A Decoction of Castor and Laurel-berries mixt with a little Vinegar and dropt into the Ear is admirably good Donatus ab Altomari ¶ Ants Eggs bruised will cure the most inveterate Deafness 2. Praevotius has Saffron and Cloves with juice of Woodbind for a Secret Thom. Bartholinus with which I use to mix Rose-water dip Cotton in it and put it into the Ear. 3. This Tent is a most effectual Remedy Take of Coloquintida white Hellebore each 1 scruple Euphorbium half a scruple Mix them Make a Tent with Honey juice of Onions or Radish and keep it in for some dayes Capivaccius 4. In the diminution of the Sense of Hearing Take of Leaves of Carduus benedictus dried 1 handful sprinkle them with wine then pour some Carduus benedictus water to them and destill them in a Glass Warm a little of this in a Spoon and hold the Head a little on the contrary side then let it run out again Crato and keep the Ear always stopt with Cotton and Musk. 5. Snails with long Ears and an exquisite touch if they be boyled in water and salt and after they are dried be destilled with Oyl of Amber or Fenil or Castor The Oyl that comes off is admirable for the recovery of Hearing Deodatus 6. The Steam of boyled Beans received into the Ears is said to be a present Remedy ¶ Nothing is more certain than spirit of Turpentine if you drop a few drops into the Ear. Grulingius 7. If it come from gross Humours obstructing the Auditory Nerves destilled oyl of Chamomil flowers is a generous Remedy Joel a few drops whereof may be dropt in warm 8. Take the fat of an Eel as she is roasting on a Spit and it drops from her mix it with its own Gall keep it in a Glass when there is occasion drop a drop or two in the Ear. It is a specifick Medicine for Deafness by what means soever it comes Dominicus Leo. 9. After the Tympany is cleansed and some Liquor poured in that discusses wind nothing is better than the Urine of an Hare dropt in warm the frequent use whereof has done several good Tulpius 10. Several who had been long Deaf have been cured with this One gave diaolibanum and he made a steam under the Ear of a Decoction of hot Herbs if it came from a cold matter but of cold Herbs if it came from hot matter and he fomented the Ear with the simple Decoction Afterwards he dropt in this Take of white Hellebore Castor Pellitory of Spain nitre each a like mix them all and boyl them in wine till the wine be almost consumed strain it and drop a little of it hot into the Ear and keep it there an hour afterwards give some sneezing of powder of white Hellebore or Pepper When the Patient begins to sneeze let him hold his Nose violently Villanovanus that he cannot breathe when he sneezes Syncope Leipothymia or Swooning or Fainting The Contents Whether one may be let Blood in a Swoon I. One arising from afright cured by Bleeding II. Some dye for want of Bleeding III. Vinegar of Roses is not good for all IV. How Medicines must be poured in when People cannot swallow V. Swooning caused by the Spleen cured by looking to it VI. By what virtue Medicines act that cure it VII If it come from the Stomach things concentrating the Spirits are proper VIII The efficacy of Aromatick Oyls and Volatil Salts IX Spirit of Roses does not cool X. They that dye away must not be quickly buried XI All Swoonings that proceed from the wasting of the Spirits must not be cured one and the same way XII If it proceed from pain Narcoticks are sometimes
proper XIII Medicines I. WHether may Blood be let when People are in a swoon In a spurious Syncope which the stopping of the Blood in the Veins breeds which according to Hippocrates and Galen l. 4. acut must be esteemed twofold one from store of Blood in the greater Vessels another only from the Carotides and jugulars Blood must immediately be taken away ere it being deprived of its Spirits become concrete and the Disease be incurable as much as convenient considering the strength and fulness of the Body Which when done and a spare course of diet is followed we must divert what is contained in the Body to the lower parts and afterwards what concrete Blood there is we must make it fluid with drinking hot things and by gently rubbing the whole Body But in this case it is very rare that one can make the Blood fluid unless the Spirits be much stronger than before for if not or if the Pulse be bad it is a sign that the Blood is then concrete in which case we must wholly abstain from Blood-letting and make use of such Remedies as may make the concrete Blood fluid as Hares-rennet in water and Honey or water and Honey with Marjoram boyled in it with the addition of a little Oxymel or half a drachm of Treacle or Mithridate dissolved in the said water But if you be certain that the Blood is not concrete you can no way sooner bring the Patient to life again than by letting him Blood Which when you have done once if the Patient bear it well and if the Blood run high you may try the Remedy again till you find the Patient relieved but if no Blood will come you may reckon it is concrete and you need try no more II. A Woman as she saw her Husband fighting with his Neighbour fell into a Swoon I was called and by my order she was cured by Bleeding In this sick Woman the Blood had for fear and grief retired to the Heart as to a tower by which when the Heart is suffocated I have observed several have died both because the vital faculty is extinguished by too great abundance and because the Spirits cannot pass through the Vessels for want of which the extream parts grow dead In so great decay of Spirits let the Physician never omit Bleeding But â—f by reason of extream loss of strength and the abolition of the pulse in a manner the Physician be doubtful let Cupping-glasses be set to his Hips and Thighs with scarifications instead of Bleeding Fontanus III. It often counterfeits an Apoplexy but without ratling nor does it leave a Palsie behind it If it return often violently at length it oppresses and suffocates the Heart not only because the excursion of the Blood is intercepted by the plenitude of the Vessels but because some thick substance of the Blood being forced within the Ventricles of the Heart oppresses it which causes an Asphyxy in the motion of the Heart and Arteries This Disease is as frequent among the Germans as the Apoplexy from their athletick habit of Body which is contracted from their continual good fellow-ship and drinking Yet they take no care to take down that plethorick habit by Bleeding liberally And so no wonder if through such abundance of Blood Riolanus they fall into an Apoplexy or a Cardiack Syncope IV. Vinegar of Roses is not good for every Syncope for seeing contrary causes must needs be removed by contrary Remedies therefore it is manifest that the dissolution of the Spirits must be cured one way and their suffocation or infection another Wherefore we conclude with Capivaccius 2. pract cap. 9. that a Syncope coming from a dissolution of the Spirits may be very well taken off by the use of cooling things applied especially to the Forehead Face region of the Heart and Wrists in which case Vinegar of Roses is proper for Vinegar penetrates and Roses cool and concentre the Spirits But if suffocation be the cause attenuation and dissolution of the Morbifick matter is of necessity required which cannot at all be done by cooling things wherefore here we must have recourse to Cresses Nigella Mithridate Cinnamon water rubbing the extream parts c. If there be Malignity we must provide for the Heart by Bezoarticks No wonder then if in the absence of Physicians Patients often dye in a Swoon For it may so happen that the Spirits which are otherwise suffocated may by applying some common cooling Remedy be further conglobated about their principle and by this means the vital faculty may be utterly suppressed Horstius V. When a Patient is liker to one dead than alive so that he can neither open nor shut his Mouth much less swallow any thing as he should then it will be the best way to take some Aromatick Oyls either simple or compound mingled only and stirred together a little with rectified Spirit of Wine or more nearly joyned together by a greater artifice and long circulation and pour 3 or 4 drops into the Patient's Mouth and sometimes more and especially by a Silver or Golden pipe into the Throat to the end they may penetrate both into the Stomach and Guts from whence the cause of so grievous an evil is often dispersed to all parts and into the Pipes of the Lungs to the very Blood that sticks in the Pulmonary Vessels Sylvius de le â—oë and so correct and amend this urgent harm VI. A Noble-man complained to me that he immediately fell into a Swoon as he turned himself on his left Side and his Spirits were so far gone that he was got out of it with much difficulty When I inquired into the cause I reckoned some Melancholick Humour having some ill quality in it sent a poysonous Vapor from the Spleen to the Heart which must be the cause of this Malignant Symptome nor was I deceived in my conjecture For when he was put in a right course of Diet after his Body had universally been purged of Melancholy and particularly his Spleen by giving Medicines to open the Obstructions thereof and his Heart strengthened Riverius he was cured of it VII In a Swooning Fit sometimes such things must be given as powerfully concentrate the Spirits and acid Vapors and sometimes such as discuss glutinous ones Subtil things to the end they may penetrate to all parts may be mixt with them such are Spirituous things and volatil and Oyly Salts especially such as are prepared by art of divers parts of Animals or of certain Plants These are good Aromatick Tinctures drawn by means of rectified spirit of Wine from divers Spices or from any Aromatick parts of Plants or Animals either by infusion alone or also by destillation for example Take of water of Mint Fenel each 1 ounce Scurvy-grass Aqua vitae Matthioli each half an ounce Laudanum opiatum 2 grains Syrup of Mint 1 ounce oyl of Cloves Nutmeg destilled each 2 drops Mix them Give it by spoonfuls Let no
man wonder here that Laudanum opiatum is added For I maintain that Opium has an excellent virtue in hindring and restraining the vitious effervescency of sharp Humours both in the small Guts and in the Heart and elsewhere without which effervescence noxious and sharp Vapors could not easily be raised and produce Swooning Fits To this mixture many very efficacious things may be added made of divers parts of Animals Tincture of Castor Spirit of Salt of Sal Ammoniac of Urine the Volatil and Oyly Salt of Blood Bones Horns Hoofs The Oyls must be rectified and not only in part be freed from their Empyreuma Sylvius de le Boë but made more penetrating and potent The rectification must be made with Spirit of Wine tartarisate VIII We must observe that when Swooning proceeds from the offence of the Stomach things that call out the Spirits are not proper but rather things that repel them to the Heart as throwing cold water or Rose water in the Face Fortis IX In fear of Swooning and in small Faintings accompanied with troublesome cold the following Mixture may be prepared of Shop Medicines a spoonful to be given often between whiles Take of water of Mint 2 ounces Aqua vitae Matthioli 1 ounce or Tincture of Cinnamon half an ounce oyl of Cloves 6 drops Scurvy-grass 1 ounce Mix them I do not only commend volatil Salts and Aromatick Oyls from Experience but because reason perswades the same drawn from the analysis of the Salts and Oyls and from the efficient cause of this Hypochondriack suffocation that is viscid and acid Phlegm or viscid and acid or austere Vapors compared together For these Salts and Oyls have a virtue to dissolve and incide every Viscid to temper and correct every thing acid and austere and to discuss and dissipate whatever is balituous and windy X. Spirit of Roses refreshes the Heart and Brain and revives the Spirits one drop or two perfumes a great quantity of Water Therefore in Swooning and Fainting the Dose of it is from 5 drops to half a Scruple or a whole one But some mistake and give it cool when yet it is as hot as other Spirit and is fully separated from the cooling parts of the Roses For we must know that simple Medicines made of Vegetables have for the most part the virtue of the Plants whereof they are made and may be put to the same uses Sylvius de le Boe. unless these Plants have different parts Therefore Rheubarb in substance binds XI We must have a care of such Patients that we think not of burying them presently for several have come to themselves in the Grave Let this one Instance suffice In the year 1582. my Host at Cleves who lives at the Sign of the Eagle told me that 17 years before he was taken with a most grievous acute Disease and at length he fell into such a Swoon that all men thought he had been Dead that Johannes Wierus was called to him and found that his Soul was not then separated from his Body and therefore ordered him to be covered up warm in Bed and Cordials to be given him and while he was busie about the recovery of his Patient the Friends were preparing for the Funeral but the next day he came to himself Hildanus XII All that faint for want of Spirits must not be brought to themselves one and the same way for it is necessary to consider in what manner the cause makes its impression and to oppose that For although all immoderate evacuations dissipate the Spirits yet you must cure one way if it proceed from too much Sweating another way if from a Loosness another if from loss of Blood and another if from Vomiting For they that Faint for Sweating or great heat and have a weak retentive faculty are easily raised by throwing a little cold water or Rose water or Vinegar not all over their Skin but only their Face and Hands and that suddenly both that the Skin being condensed the Spirits may not wast so much and that the Patient by the sudden retrocession of the Spirits may be the sooner raised and for the same reason you must take care to cool the Air by throwing such cooling things on the Floor and by Fanning it that the Skin may be made close and the Spirits be thickned Which Remedies you must not use if a loosness be the cause of Swooning for by throwing cold water the Humours are driven inwards which it is requisite to draw outwards Nor must you do it if one faint for plenitude or obstruction But if it arise from some passion of the mind which may draw the Spirits outwards you may use the same Remedy as if it came from Pain or Evacuation In the same manner also you must raise the Patient by pulling him by the Nose especially if the Humors purge downwards If it proceed from Vomiting you must bind heat and rub the Legs if from a Looseness the Arms. Those that Faint for loss of Blood you may raise by the same revulsions and by applying warm wine to the stones in a Man and to the Breasts in a Woman But you may fetch these and all others again by such things as revive the Spirits as white thin odoriferous Wine diluted with steel water If it be occasioned by Sweat by using Sudorificks or holding new baked Bread besprinkled with them to the Nose But in looseness of the Belly Bread in red Wine is of great moment if there be neither internal Inflammation nor a delirium nor any heat Epithemes and sprinkling of cold water by turns and intervals lest all efflux of Vapors might be stopt The use also of cooling astringent things is good such as the juice of a Pomegranate But let them that Faint for Sweat abstain from frictions and Wine except to smell to To them that Faint for Vomiting you must give a draught of old white or black Wine especially if it arise from crude and viscid juices as a draught of cold or hot water if the Humour be bilious sharp or salt All which things you must do except the revulsions if the Patient Faint through violent heat XIII They that are subject to Swoon because of Pain passion of the Mind and diaphoretick evacuations must use such things as allay pain but that which does most good is a thing that stupefies a little for either by stupefying the Sense or procuring rest it stops the Flux a little till the Spirits are recruited and are able to defend the Patient from the cruelty of the Pain and other accidents But because in these Persons the Spirits are extream low Mercatus I advise to use them sparingly and with caution Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. It is good in all Swoonings to apply a large Cupping-glass with much flame to the left Shoulder J. Caes Claudinus 2. When the Body is purged Spirit of Wine rectified and perfumed with Amber and Musk and
Alexipharmacks after And the Vomits must not be strong and malignant but gentle and made of such things as have a smoothness in them as water with common Oyl of Sesamum Nuts c. that if the Poyson have any Acrimony or Corrosive virtue in it it may be taken off and the internal parts guarded as it were against it such as the said Oyls or fat broth with a Decoction of Broom-flowers Milk Butter Radish and the like Nor is it sufficient to provoke Vomit once but it must be continued so long till no more signs of the strength of the Poyson in the Stomach can be found Sennâ—rtus from taste smell reaching pain and biting X. But Alexipharmacks or Bezoarticks are either 1. Resisters of putrefaction and things that preserve its oyly parts safe that it may not turn flat and that by inflaming and inlivening it and indeed the more volatil such as bitter Aromatick Oyly and Balsamick things are Angelica the Carline thistle Zedoary Myrrhe Opobalsamâ—m Juniper berries c. sharp Volatils Sulphureous and Saline things as Plow-man's treacle Garlick Camphire c. Spirit of Harts-horn Ivory c. and acid by concentrating penetrating together Juice of Citron Vinegar Acetum Bezoarticum And these are especially proper in Epidemick Diseases arising from a thorow putrefaction as the stench of dead Bodies also for Fevers in Lying-in-Women both for prevention and cure also in the biting of a mad Dog and of Spiders XI Or. 2. They hinder Ichorescence resolution and too great rarefaction of the Blood and so respect the tie and as it were the individual copula and conjunction of the Serum and Blood whether they be a little austere Astringents in which respect Tormentil and Bistort are Famous but not so convenient for costive People Or Mucilaginous as Cornu corvi Philosophicum Gelly of it Scorzonera or earthy Absorbents and precipitaters of the resolutive ferment as burnt Hartshorn Vnicornu fossile Bezoar stone Oriental and Occidental and the Bezoarticks of the Chymists which have no peculiar Alexipharmack virtue but only to soak up and disperse wherefore we must not alwayes trust them Or Acids which obtund the Sulphur of the Blood as acid Spirits volatil Spirit of Salt compound Spirit of Salt and Nitre c. Or Opiates which indeed especially joyned with other things deserve to be reckoned among Bezoarticks so they be given as they should and at a due time For if any thing do it certainly Opiates preserve the Bond of the Serum and Blood inviolable wherefore Treacle made without Opium does not cause Sweat nor answer expectation And these are very good especially in the Sweating Sickness a Malignant Epidemical Dysentery and in other Malignant Diseases where there is heat in the Bowels XII Or 3. They promote Serum and its motion and hinder its coagulation and thickning by boyling if I may so say such as besides some of the foresaid things that make it fluid as Salt or Nitrous things or volatil both Urinous and Mercurial ones as native Cinnabar Cinnabar of Antimony Mercurius fixus diaphoreticus For it must be observed as a rule In Malignant Fevers wherever the Serum is as it were coagulated and then no Sweat can be got but all things are burnt up as it were Cinnabarines prudently mixt with other Bezoardicks do mightily promote its fluidity But if the Blood incline to dissolution and ichorescence they must be wholly avoided nor are they safe or to be trusted in the convulsive motions which then follow from which very thing a vast difference in their power of acting arises And things that increase it in substance or quantity and refresh and dilute it as distilled waters Decoctions Infusions and especially Emulsions which in Malignant Diseases are of great advantage to this very end For unless this Serum be restored which it may be by plentiful drinking so it be not too much all endeavours besides are to no purpose and sleep especially cannot be recovered but a violent delirium must of necessity arise from continual waking and then convulsive motions These things are good in general for Poysons either given designedly or taken by mistake by defending the Heart and preserving the tone of the Blood inviolable and for Malignant and Pestilential Fevers Hungarian Spotted Fevers of Lying-in-Women Small Pox and Measles and such contagious and ill natured Diseases XIII No one Alexipharmack does equally resist all Poysons and therefore no more must be attributed to any than what experience can testifie There are indeed three of general use which a good Physician cannot be without The Bezoardick Tincture in a liquid form Treacle and Mithridate in a middle form whither the like Electuaries Orvietan c. may be referred very antient Medicines approved by so many ages and therefore though they be made up of a strange Medly of Ingredients not lightly to be rejected In a solid form Bezoartick powders but great prudence is required in giving them XIV The promiscuous use of Alexipharmacks is not convenient therefore the distinction of them according to their strength is necessary into Volatil Middle and Fixt Therefore Weisselius in Crato's Epistles 248 wisely distinguished such Medicines into a twofold Classis namely Of Absorbents or of Hydroticks and Sudorificks properly so called which except it be done a great deal of ambiguity and controversie must arise yea and by this means the application will be worse than Empirical XV. In the beginning Volatils are most needful for greater penetration and quicker discursion Also where the Malignity is intimate when nature ceases from expulsion of the Fever Spots Small Pox or Measles or these exanthemata seem to go in with difficulty of Breathing oppression at the Heart c. In the progess more fixt ones where namely there is most need of alteration and precipitation especially about the state and declension when the Tumult is laid Watry things are of a middle nature and may be joyned to either XVI The more temperate and mild are most proper for Women with Child Infants and weak Persons and where the Blood enclines most to Ichorescence Wherefore when Treacle is not proper Diascordium Fracastorii as a more temperate one has place Where there is no place for Tinctura Bezoartica though it may be qualified there a Bezoartick powder may be given For if too Volatil things be given to such the rarefaction of the Blood is the more increased and so further mischief may arise XVII Poyson is not removed only by Sweat for the Serum must not be wasted too much Wherefore neither hot things alone nor temperate things alone nor sweating alone with any Medicine whatever is sufficient In which thing both the vulgar are mistaken who think they can do all things with powder of Carduus Benedictus or Harts-horn and the Physicians also who weary their Patients with continual Sweating for all things should be done according to Nature's duct and indication XVIII We must not trust too much to Medicines made of Serpents
Also Emplastrum de baccis lauri is very effectual in expelling of Wind. â—â—â—nertus For Intemperature 1. In a cold intemperature of the Stomach I have long experienced this Plaster to be of wonderful virtue Take of Diachylum majus Pitch or Turpentine each 2 drachms Diarrhodon Abbatis 2 drachms as much Wax as is sufficient Make a Plaster and apply it to the Stomach ¶ Oyl of Fir Indian Balsame and oyl of Mastich are also wonderful good in a dry cause Mercatus 2. Crocus metallorum Absynthiacus is excellent good in all Diseases of the Stomach Mynsichr 3. In a hot and moist intemperature of the Stomach I have often with success used this Electuary of Steel Take of prepared Coriander half an ounce Species Diatrion Santalon 2 drachms Roses powdered 1 drachm prepared Steel 6 drachms Sugar dissolved in Rose water what is sufficient Mix them Make an Electuary 4. This is an effectual Cataplasm in a cold intemperature of the Stomach which Rhases ad Almansorem makes of Styraz Spike Wormwood Calamus Aromaticus and Mastich sprinkled with old Wine and juice of Quinces ¶ In an intemperature of the Stomach coming from thick bile when it sticks fast to the Coats of the Stomach there can scarce be a better Remedy than Hiera ¶ In a cold and moist intemperature the following water is good which is good for a weak Stomach purges it of slimy Humours cures a Cachexy and hinders the breeding of Worms Take of Gentian lesser Centaury each 3 ounces Galangal Cinnamon Mace Cloves each 1 ounce flowers of Sage St. John's-wort Rosemary each half an handful white Wine 4 pounds Sennertus Digest them 8 dayes and then destill them 5. Flowers of Roman Wormwood and tops of Melilot boyled in Wine and strained The Colature drunk is highly commended in a cold intemperature of the Stomach ¶ Syrup of Carduus Benedictus is reckoned a present Remedy in a cold and moist Stomach if taken warm in the Morning Weikardus Ventris Dolor or the Belly-ach See the Colick Book III. Vertigo or Swimming in the Head The Contents The Method of Cure I. Whether a Vein may be breathed II. A Vein may he breathed in the Fit III. What Vein must be bled IV. Sweating may do good V. Arteriotomy sometimes does good VI. Issues Setons Burnings when and where they are proper VII Cured by an Issue in the Leg. VIII Whether we may Purge IX We must use gentle things X. Vomits are good XI Errhina do no hurt XII When Repellents may be applied XIII What Posture of Body should be used XIV Medicines I. AN accidental Vertigo or any that is new is for the most part cured by Bleeding and Purging sometimes For the cure of one that is habitual and inveterate there are three Medical Intentions 1. When all the matter for the Disease to feed upon is taken away we must endeavour to preserve the Brain free from new afflux of Morbifick matter for which purpose when a right course of Diet is ordered sometimes bleeding and a gentle purge given frequently at intervals will be convenient Let a dry and airy place be chosen let immoderate and unseasonable sleep and study be avoided let him abstain from Mornings and Evenings draughts instead of the former let him drink Tea or Coffee made with a few leaves of Sage mixt with them let an Issue be made in the Leg or Arm and sometimes let the Haemorrhoid Veins be opened let the Party affected alwayes rise betimes and every Morning wash his Temples and Fore-head with cold water and rub it with a course cloth 2. The second Intention will be to take away the procatarctick causes wherefore we must endeavour both that the cacochymick Dyscrasie of the Blood and the weak and too lax constitution of the Brain may be amended For the First Medicines that are powerful alteratives as temperate Antiscorbuticks chalybeates and sometimes Spaw-waters or Whey are proper To which because of the latter thing indicated cephalick Medicines must alwayes be added such namely as are made of Coral Amber Man's skull Male Paeony root Misletoe Peacock's dung c. 3. The third Intention which is properly curatory takes away the conjunct cause which nevertheless when the procatarctick are removed usually ceases of it self For if the approach of all extraneous matter into the Brain be prevented there will nothing remain but pure Spirits which having got liberty and room enough within the callous body they disperse themselves thence every way However for this scope of cure we must give now and then Medicines endued with a volatil Salt whose very subtil and active particles recreate the Animal Spirits such as especially are spirit of Harts horn Soot Sal Ammoniac impregnated with Amber Mans Skull c. Tinctures of Coral Amber Antimony Elixir of Paeony and the like Moreover it may not be amiss to adumbrate the method of cure a little more particularly in showing what must be done upon account of the cure in the Paroxysm and what for preservation out of it 1. As for the first although the coming of the Vertigo how cruel soever it seems have for the most part no danger in it and goes often off of it self because the Patients think they will dye and do desire the aid of Medicine in such a case after a Clyster has been given let Blood if the Pulse indicate it Then apply a blister to the Neck and smell to strong things as Castor spirit or volatil Salt of Harts-horn Urine or Sal Ammoniack These Spirits also may be given twice or thrice a day with a convenient dose of Cephalick decoction at the hour of sleep take a bolus of Mithridate with powder of Castor The next day if the Disease be not gone let him take a gentle Purge Or if the Patient be enclined or easie to vomit let him take a Vomit than which there is scarce a better Remedy 2. And now we must consider what must be done out of the Fit for the cure of an inveterate and almost continual Vertigo Therefore when I have put the Patient in a course of Bleeding and Purgeing according to his constitution and strength it is my custome to advise him to take a Vomit once a Month if nothing contra-indicate For which end the weaker sâ—rt after they have stuffed their Stomachs with slippery meats may take 2 or 3 ounces of Wine or Oxymel of Squils and afterwards drink store of Carduus posset drink till they vomit Others may take a Vomit of Salt of Vitriol or Sulphur of Antimony or infusion of Crocus Metallorum As for Issues Blisters Bleeding the Haemorrhoids Plasters or Caps for the Head also Plasters to the Feet or Wrists for revulsion or derivation sake let the Physician consider whether they be needful And because all things agree not with all People the Physician must try divers Medicines and various Methods sometimes one sometimes another The Vertiginous may drink for their ordinary drink
upon the Blood and so erect vigorate and compose either some Portion or the whole subsistence of the sensitive Soul that was too contracted depressed or otherwise disturbed And indeed this kind of Remedies do in a sort affect the heart it self although remotely in that seeing the whole sensitive Soul is elevated and expanded wider by giving of them the Spirits also that are appointed for the Praecordia flow the more plentifully into them and actuate them the more briskly and therefore the Pulse that before was weak or faltring by and by beats more strongly and the Blood is driven about with the greater violence This sort of Medicines are fitly enough reduced to two Heads and as they are gentle or rugged attain the same scope namely they either erect and confirm the animal Spirits by cherishing and as it were gently and softly stroaking of them or else by vexing and as it were spurring of them they drive them into quicker and sometimes more regular Motions The Cordials of the first sort as soon as they are swallowed nay sometimes being but tasted exert their Vertue and by a grateful appulse recruit the Spirits that reside in the first ways then by the continuity of these the same ovation being communicated successively to the other Spirits shortly undulates through the whole Compages of the sensitive Soul so that both the Brain and also the Praecordia being irradiated with a fuller influx of the Spirits exulting as it were they perform their Functions more briskly and chearfully For this purpose taking heed of the too great incitation of the Blood serve the Waters commonly called Cordial also the Preparations of Mosch and Amber and the Aromatick Powders that are mixt with them Such things as have a grateful savour or smell or are pleasant to look upon inasmuch as they recreate the animal Spirits are reckoned also among Cordials In the mean time other Cordials of this Classis the first ways and mass of Blood being almost untoucht seem to operate first of all in the Brain of which sort are some Cephalicks so called which though they be less grateful to the Palate or Stomach and hardly ferment or exagitate the Blood yet illustrate the Brain and exacuate and strengthen the Inhabitants thereof the animal Spirits Of this Nature seem to be Sage Betony Rosemary Vervain c. There are another sort of Cordials that operate in a different manner and help wholly on another account those namely do not gently cherish the animal Spirits and cause them to be expanded equally but rather irritate them and make them run and be carried this way and that way to the end namely that they being inordinate before and unequally dispersed crowding in some places and thin in others and therefore intermitting or perversely acting some offices of their Functions especially within the Brain or Praecordia may be disturbed and more agitated by an ungrateful Medicine which in such a case is a very good Remedy in that being thereby roused as if they were lash'd they leave their former disorders and of their own accord return into regular order Thus it is usual in swooning fainting oppression or spasm of the Heart and in almost any other failings languors or irregularities of the Spirits to give inwardly Spirit of Hartshorn of Soot of Sal Armoniack or Tincture of Castor or Asa foetida with other Liquors or to hold to the Nose these and the like as especially volatile Salts and Empyreumatical Chymical Oils Besides it may be sometimes good in sudden Defections of the Soul to sprinkle cold water on the Face to pinch the Nose very much to shake the Body and sometimes to strike a box on the Ear. Such Administrations as these give help inasmuch as they rouse up the animal Spirits being oppressed or distracted or employed otherways than they should and command them being expanded Willis and mustered as it were to their former Offices II. Seeing in almost all Diseases diminution of Strength as being more urgent draws to it self a curative Indication and perswades that before all things roborating and comforting things should be given the Sick 't is no wonder that Physicians are often instigated to appoint such But if you inquire of them what those comforting things are they produce divers Blandiments of the Tongue Confections and Aromatick Spirits never regarding whether they be hurtful to the Patient or not nor understanding that these things that please the Palate are often prejudicial to the Stomach For can these things be comforting that are administred while the fomes of the Disease still survives how shall the Citizen fortifie himself that has received unto him a domestick Enemy stronger than himself If the Disease bring a man down that was strong and in good health how will it suffer him to be fortified when he is brought down I speak not here of specifick Cordials I let those alone also that recruit and illustrate the Spirits and hinder their resolution these are not to be deprived of their due esteem but I censure only the abuse of comforting things Now those which are truly such are those that subduing the Morbifick causes add strength to the Bowels that by correcting the Ferments if any of them were weak and restoring them to their pristine vigour make them again mindful of their wonted office In which matter we have the consent of Sennertus in his Paralip ad Institut p. m. 79. admonishing That comforting or strengthning Medicines ought to be such which preserve and restore the Instruments of each Faculty to wit the Substance Temper and Spirits of the Part and that take away the Causes that violate them and that therefore respect is always to be had to the Cause of the Disease and the weakness of the Faculties and heed is to be taken that whilst we strive to please the palate of the Patient and to recruit his Spirits we do not encrease the Cause of the Disease and so also the very debility of the Faculties especially by such things as in their whole kind are foreign and have no congruence with the Spirits nor are grateful to the weak Ferments of the Viscera As to the usual Juleps without the conjunction of prevailing acid Spirits Electuaries and Emulsions and other Medicines of that Nature that easily Ferment it is certain that they are very grateful to the Well and to such as are in the declination of Fevers where the Ferments of the Viscera have again in some measure attained their pristin vigour as Galen testifies Comment 5. Epid. 14. but they are naught for the Sick and hurtful in most Diseases of the Stomach and Womb for these being in a preter-natural state are only delighted with bitter acrimonious and acid things other Medicines are quite opposite to the Ferment of the Stomach and so make the Digestions more difficult Sugar a common Ingredient in Cordial Juleps c. being Chymically dissected passes partly into a most ardent Spirit partly into a Corrosive
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
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
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
an exact mixture of the lixivious Salt and acid Spirit whereby the acidity is overcome that is always hurtful and is the primary cause of gnawing in convulsions c. For the subtil lixivious Salt of the Baths being in a manner volatiliz'd is the best and perhaps the only thing for coagulating the more subtil acid Spirit Therefore it will be the office of Art to imitate nature and to render the lixivious Salt volatil and fit for coagulating the subtil acid Spirits Fr. Sylvius Pr. l. 2. c. 23. § 236. and withal for curing the distempers arising thence XVII We must abstain from hot Baths whilst obstructions are present in the hypochondres the mesaraick Veins stuffed with tartareous juices and the mass of Blood impregnated with Salts that are as yet with wild acrimonious and acid for by the Bath these might be melted and fused and being so Frid. Hofm m. m. lib. 1. c. 11. might be carried into other parts and more principal viscera and there raise other more grievous Symptomes Caputpurgia or Purgers of the Head Errhines or drawers out of Phlegm by the Nose and Ptarmicks or Sneezing Medicines See Capitis affectus in genere or Diseases of the Head in general Book 3. The Contents The Nose is the Emunctory of the Head I. Ptarmicks and Errhines operate by irritating the Membrane of the Nostrils II. How Ptarmicks and Errhines differ III. Errhines respect especially the private or peculiar fault of the Nostrils IV. Ptarmicks relieve the Head V. When they are chiefly to be used VI. What Distempers they are bad for VII They are owing to the Humours VIII When Errhines are to be used and when Apophlegmatisms IX White Vitriol is an effectual Errhine X. I. WE take it for granted that the Nose is the Emunctory and van as it were of the Brain for whatsoever some have imagin'd to the contrary concerning the publick use of this Sierce which is destin'd for the service of the whole machin yet by the opinions of the Ancients and the experiments of the more sagacious Moderns it is certain that the fountain indeed of Catarrhs is not to be sought for in the Brain but in the inseparable companion of the Blood the Serum for of Blood and Serum as of hot and moist do the elements of life consist or in the abundance of the Lympha separated by the glands into which the Lymphatick Vessels either end or arise therefrom But to affirm that the Brain is altogether free priviledged and exempt in Catarrhs Wedel de s m. fac p. 228. See Willis cer Anat. c. 12. is to deny that it is water'd with Serum which is absurd or that it is not affected in a coryza or other Catarrhs which is against experience II. The reason of the activity and operation of Ptarmicks and Errhines consists in the solicitation irritation and twitching of the sensible Membrane of the Nostrils by an external cause hence whatsoever things do more nearly affect and as it were tickle this Membrane the same do move excretion either simply or with sneezing Thus not only a feather put up the Nose causes sneezing as also even the unequal afflatus of the ambient air the Sun-beams c. but also especially all those things that are communicated to the Nostrils which are endued with a saline quality and acrimony whether fixed as white vitriol or volatil So all acrimonious things and all Purgers are Ptarmicks Idem III. The more the saline goads are left to themselves the more they stimulate the less they are left to themselves or the more obtuse they are the less they stimulate The former are called Ptarmicks that is which stimulate with Sneezing the latter Errhines that melt the Humours without Sneezing Hence that the saline spicula may approach the Membrane of the Nostrils the more intimately Ptarmicks are given in powder or in a dry form for so they operate more and the more finely they are powder'd the more strongly so that they differ not but in degrees The saline spiculum touching the Membrane of the Nostrils on this manner three things follow 1. The irritation it self 2. The fusion and liquation of the Humours Idem 3. The excretion it self IV. Errhines are more used for the private service of the Nostrils Ptarmicks more for that of other Parts Errhines are most useful and profitable in a Coryza Ozoena Polypus for cleansing dissipating and procuring a free passage for the Humours V. Sneezing Medicines ease the Head both in general and also in special when the Body is evacuated and the antecedent fewel taken away for they are not good when the matter is too plentiful and stagnating Whence in a Coryza and Catarrhs they take place rather in the declination and state Idem than in the beginning when all things are crude VI. They are chiefly of use when the faculty is asleep as it were in the Watch-Tower of the Body Hence if they operate not when they are exhibited they often signifie the faculty to be even dead which I have often seen in Child bed Women and others in as much as Nature is no longer sensible of the goad nor actuates which holds good also in others Idem as for instance in Purgers VII When those parts are indisposed that necessarily concur to sneezing Sternutatories are not proper whence they do harm in venereal pains of the head in fractures in luxations of the Ribs Idem Ulcers of the Lungs Spitting of Blood Ruptures c. VIII Ptarmicks are owing to the Humours for the bringing out the Serum that stagnates about the coasts of the Brain and withal discuss whatsoever sticks there Hence they are rather to be used in distempers arising from a positive cause than from a privative and hence also they are not so convenient in too much driness and for the Cholerick and Melancholick but more for the Phlegmatick in whom the Serum is more plentiful the coagulation whereof it is the chief property of these kind of Medicines to hinder Idem IX Few know when Phlegm is to be drawn from the Brain by Errhines and when by Apophlegmatisms or when by both By Errhines and so through the os cribriforme is to be drained away that snivel that is collected in the space betwixt the right and left part of the Brain and is sent into that space from the Cortex of the Brain By Apophlegmatisms and so through the os Sphenoides that must be drawn out which is collected in the Ventricles that are made for this purpose Hofman in Instit ex Riolano and is driven thither from the Medulla of the Brain X. I have found that white vitriol dissolved in simple or some cephalick Water and applyed gently with a feather to the nostrils does in a due quantity liquate Catarrhs according to ones wish and draw them forth so that I have sometimes happily used it even to Infants new born that were hardly able to suck and were
ready to be suffocated through obstructions of their Nostrils as it often happens In which case when neither oil of sweet Almonds dropt into the Nose G. Wolf Wedel Misc cur ann 3. observ 14. nor Majoran Water instilled thereinto had any success this Medicine accomplished my desire Cardiacks or Cordials See Alexipharmacks before The Contents Their nature and differences I. V. When to be used II. The abuse of Volatils III. IV. The abuse of Moschates VI. I. SEeing those are Cordials that succour the labouring Heart we will premise 1. That the Heart and Blood are fellow causes and are not to be severed as some do 2. That the Blood consists of two parts a calidum or Blood so called by way of excellency and an humidum or serum in which two alimentary Humours our Life and Health consists nor is there any other innate heat or radical moisture besides these indued with their vigour and vital ferment 3. We shall call those Cordials that dispense the Blood and heat whereof the Heart is the fountain and do dispose the consistence of the Serum and the motion and vigour of both They are therefore such as either 1. rarifie the Blood when it seems to fail in its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or brightness and is weak when its Sulphureous and volatil Mercurial and Spirituous particles are either obtuse or not vigorated in a sufficient degree such as these are good in languishings of the Heart lassitude with malignity old age Paleness Cold Cachexie Ague-fits weakness anxieties when the motion of the Heart fails as it were as it does often in malignant Fevers when there is a recourse of the malignity to the Heart or in driving out the Small Pox or Measles c. Of this sort are 1 Sulphureous volatils and those either Spirituous as the Spirit of Roses the apoplectick water of Roses Brandy c. or oleous indued with a volatil oleous roscid Sulphur which use to be called in one word Balsamicks as Lignum Aloes Camphor Myrrhe all Odoriferous things which have an immediate commerce with the Spirits Spices Cinnamon Cardamom oil of Cinamon Mosch Amber also Treacle Mithridate 2 Saline Lixivials as Salt of Worm-wood of Scordium of Carduus Bened. c. which together with a precipitating vertue do natably also rarefie the Blood and reduce it into order whence they are excellent febrifuges and sudorificks 3 Vrinous Saline Volatils which are almost the most powerful of all as the Spirit of Harts-horn of Sal Armoniack of Soot of Vipers of Hart's or Mans Blood these also being mixt with oleous and so being made oleous volatil Salts have the same vertue Hither belong also fetid Medicines whether Sulphureous chiefly or also Urinous which are good in Fainting and Hysterical Fits and the like Observe that the rarefaction of the Blood denotes two things 1. the restauration of the failing Spirits which is chiefly done by Balsamicks and Sulphureous 2. the vigorating of the motion and fluxility of the Serum chiefly which is especially done by Salines Or 2. Such as hinder rarefaction which as the abovesaid restore the Sulphureous Balsamick and Mercurial volatil Particles in the Heart and Blood so these depress blunt and precipitate them when they are too fierce and high and they are either 1 Aqueous diluting and restoring the Serum the defect whereof renders amongst other things the rarefaction greater as temperate Cordial waters the water of Endive Sorrel aq Herc. Saxon. frigida Whey c. which being dispersed through the Blood do somewhat enervate the volatil Parts Whereby it is clear that Juleps and Small beer also it self ought to be granted in a larger quantity in Fevers and the Patients are not to be so strictly compelled to thirst Or 2. Aci d which are of the chiefest rank among these whence it may be for a rule An acid tameth or dulleth Sulphur as the juice of Citron and Pomegranate acid mineral Spirits the Tinctures of Violets Roses c. Or 3 Nitrous which in like manner infringe and debilitate Sulphur promote its exaltation and notably attemper it and vigorate the Serum restoring it to it self as Lapis Prunellae nitrum antimon perlatum c. Or 4 Earthy absorbing and precipitating as Corals Perles pretious Stones Bezoar c. And these maintain their place in all kinds of Fevers and are excellently good for other bilious ebullitions for Choler doth most of all rarefie the Blood as in Distempers proceeding from anger in Madness deliriums Phrensies burning Fevers c. Or they respect the consistence of the Blood and are 3. such as hinder its resolution and preserve its consistence that is ready to be violated whether by concentrating the Sulphur as acids whence these are most especially convenient outwardly in hindring the resolutions of the Spirits and are good in Swoonings colliquative sweats and when the Blood is turning to Ichor with Mador c. such as are those already mention'd but especially simple Vinegar and Vinegar of Rue c. also things actually cold outwardly cold water the water of Roses Or by attempering the Serum as watery Medicines especially Emulsions which have somewhat Mucilaginous in them whence they are of very great use in Malignant Fevers especially where watching and delirium are urgent Or by strengthning as it were the band of each the Serum and Blood by gently concentrating and collecting of them as Mucilagâ—nous and earthy Astringents also temperate Balsamicks as for example Harts-horn prepared Philosophically Ivory prepared without Fire Gelly of Harts horn Bole-Armene Sealed earth balaustins and amongst hot things Cinnamon vitriolum Martis which enjoy also an earthy quality Hither belong also Opiats themselves for it is found by the experience of Practitioners that Laudanum Opiatum is very conveniently given in the resolution of the vital Spirits and Blood but only in a small quantity that by this means the further dissolution of the Spirits may be hindred We have seen wonderful effects thereof in the Fainting Hysterical and others These may be mixed either with Spirituous analepticks as confectio Alkermes that by this means both the dissolution may be hindred and matter supplied to the Spirits or with earthy absorbents and resolvents that on this manner also the consistence of the Blood may be respected Or 4. They are resolvents that hinder dissolve and dissipate the clodding and as it were curdling of the Blood whereby it is stopt as it were in its motion they hinder the incoction of the Serum and so by removing also some impediments mediately help its rarefaction and they are both the Balsamicks already spoken of and also some resisters of putrefaction as likewise watry diluters but especially terrene Medicines which otherwise are profitable in falls from on high Pleurisie c. viz. Corals Crabs Eyes antimonium diaphoreticum c. Acids also for these are of a middle nature as it were both coagulating the dissolved Blood and dissolving the coagulated For in both cases the Blood does clod as it were
the said spirit of Nitre whether pure and simple or made sweet seeing most of the Medicines vulgarly known are Aromatick and in that respect heighten and increase after a sort at least the acrimony of the Bile whither I refer Volatil Salts themselves of what kind soever all which give place to Nitre Hence our Physicians are so solicitous about prescribing Medicines for discussing of wind being often taught by sad experience that such as have been given have not a little hurt their Patients through the Bile's being made more acrimonious the heat increased in the body by them The reason of which effect all such are ignorant of as know not both the nature and reason of each effervescence the hot and the cold which things being understood Idem Append. Tract X. Sect. 608. the reason of the burning caused by the use of Carminatives is easily perceived and which is the chief thing the way is also perceived how this evil may be prevented IV. Opiats hinder the generation of Flatus better than most other Medicines such as Treacle Idem Tract 9. Sect. 254. Mithridate Philonium Romanum Requies Nicolai c. V. In this respect they are good with diaphoreticks that they discuss and resolve whence there are many diaphoreticks that are also carminatives as the carline-thistle zedoary antimonium diaphoreticum c. which are so much the more excellent that they both resolve and also expell by sweat and perspiration And they are either 1 halituous rarefiers which by their thinness and their subtle and volatil vertue of attenuating heat and correct the Phlegm whether insipid or especially Acid such as are both chiefly volatil oleons things or Medicins endued with a Subtil Balsamick Sulphur married with a volatil Salt which both restore the debilitated heat for an heat comparatively weak is the Father of flatus and the Mother is a watry or Acid cold and viscid Humour or Phlegm actuated into vapours penetrate every where by their habituous vertue and by this their subtil and volatil vaporosity help the explosion of the thicker vapours that are generated as for instance the four carminative Seeds all Aromaticks especially the roots of zedoary galangal and their distilled oils And also volatil Acids as the Spirit of Salt simple and sweet which we have sometimes observed to have removed the Colick like a charm But these same oleous volatils or Medicines indued with a volatil oleous Sulphur are also paregorick nervine and demulcing whence withal they do very well help the pains tensions of the Membranous parts that arise from wind And these are very good both outwardly and inwardly in many distempers as the Colick Vertigo fits of the Mother and in the griping pains after Child-Birth wherein in particular the roots of zedoary and galangal are profitable in the flatus of the Womb the rupture wherein both by mine own and Helmont's experience the four greater carminative hot Seeds are excellent in the noise in the Ears c. VI. Or 2 they are absorbing and temperating such as not only saturate the prevailing Acid dry up the Humours and precipitate the vapours arising thence but likewise if rarefied bile concur also they tame the same and in one word break these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Powers and restrain the Seminal Ferment of the flatus and the wild exhaling gas yea if there be an excessive heat joined and so a Phlogosis or Inflammation of the Viscera accompany as in the Hypochondriacal they respect the same too Such as these are both earthy Precipitaters and Diaphoreticks as especially Antim Diaphoret Shells and Crabs-eyes prepared c. and also chiefly Nitrosalines and Alkalines likewise Tartar vitriolate the tincture of Tartar Arcanum duplicatum c. Refer hither Mineral Waters or Acidulae the Clyssus of Antimony c. These are chiefly good in the bilious Colick Hypochondriacal flatus Tympany Fevers Palpitation of the Heart Vertigo and the like And it is to be noted that these things may also be given mixed where we would withal Precipitate and also stop Pains as chiefly in the Cardialgia or pain at the Stomach in which case I have often with great success given the Oil of Cloves with Shells prepared in a dry form with essentia carminativa and the Essence of Castor in a liquid c. VII Or 3 they are such as strengthen the concoction and heat and corrupted Menstruum of the Stomach whether they be Precipitaters and Inciders as the root of Aron Ginger c. or other Aromaticks and Balsamicks fitted for whatsoever excess For as the Stomach is always to be taken notice of in flatus and as the same do usually arise from the frustrated action thereof so these very Stomachicks also are deservedly reckoned among Carminatives and these are particularly good in Belchings Hiccough Cardialgia Inflations after Meat c. VIII The thinnest and potentially hot volatils are not to be used in all flatulent cases especially in the Hypochondriacal for whom the more temperate are for the most part better which may allay the Inflammation or Phlogosis of the Viscera that is fed by saline and nitro sulphureous Particles whence temperating and refrigerating things themselves seem requisite in this case for the destruction of the flatus in as much as by this means the natural heat will be set to rights IX They are not good if there be a driness in the Intestines and hard Excrements cause Obstruction for in both cases unless there be first an evacuation of the Matter and a sufficient depletion they are all not only in vain but they also precipitate the Patient into a far worse state Crato Cons 177. writes that some in the Colick do very badly hasten presently to discuss the flatus by giving Carminatives which indeed in a lighter Colick do answer desire but in the more vehement generally hurt X. As the productive Causes of flatus vary so does their Cure whether they spring from an internal cause and the faculty hurt as they call it or from an external errour Thus as Pulse Pot-herbs things abounding with excrementitious moisture things sweet fat or crass and slimy feculent c. breed flatus so by obviating crudities that is by precipitating them by Acids Aromaticks c. according as the Case is must we endeavour the Cure G. W. Wedel de s m. p. 174. Cauteries Fontanels Inustions Setons The Contents What humours Fontanels or Issues drain out and from whence I. They are not available in all Diseases II. Where they are to be made for revulsion sake III. Whether there be a set time for keeping of them open And whether there be always fear of danger from closing of them IV. The Efficacy of an Issue V. Cautions about the Issues that are wont to be made in the ordinary places VI. Conditions requisite to make them profitable VII Certain unusual places in which they may be made with benefit VIII The Profitableness of perforating the Ear in many Diseases
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
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-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
in the Urine by little and little and in that very respect yields an undoubted sign that the greatest part of the Phlegm is corrected and overcome Which I would have to be taken notice of here for the sake of the Juniors because there are some Seniors who being less versed in the preparation of the more powerful volatil Salts and therefore also less accustomed to observe their virtues do make slight of them not without some suspicion of envy Franc. Sylvius de le Boë pract lib. 1. cap. 34. Thus many find fault with those things they do not understand nor will be at the pains to learn XXV Let Tartar with its off-spring carry the Bell amongst Diureticks and let it be of the choicer sort and as if it had been crystallized of it self what hinders why it should not be given washed only as we have long and securely used to do even with the shining red without any depuration invented by some Mens too great officiousness which manifestly carries away the most subtil part as the remaining water that serves for the solution of many things teaches but not wholly the arenosities or if any fear some feculency which yet is very full of volatil Salt let him depurate it only once and that warily as it commonly comes under the name of Acidum Tartari without the vain affectations or separate repositions of the white D. Ludovici pharm 386. cream or crystals that are indeed indifferent XXVI The Roots of crude Asarum though they cause Vomit with great anxiety yet being boiled in water and not in Wine they are changed into a deoppilative Diuretick and a Remedy for slow Fevers which shews that there is an aroma hid therein To this as to the only Remedy did D. Oheimius fly in long continued Fevers that depended on inveterate obstructions of the Hypochondres Frid. Hofin m. m. l. 1. cap. 12. XXVII Now amongst Diureticks I observe that two sorts are recommended by Authors some more gentle that bring no force upon the Body and others more violent which finding no noxious Humours in the Body to act or put forth their vertue upon or that may also blunt them do bring harm to the Body yea expel pure Blood and sometimes the Soul with it together with the Urine and therefore these are dangerous and suspected by me and I think we should neither use them rashly nor often Amongst these are first the Scorpion the ashes whereof being burnt are given in Wine even according to the Ancients to provoke Urine Secondly Hog-lice whose juice they give pressed out with Wine Thirdly Cantharides whose use is frequent enough in a virulent Gonorrhoea See their preparation § 23. Fourthly May worms that are black Sylv. de le Boë m. m. l. 2. c. 1â—â— very stinking and powerfully provoke Urine in the Feet-gout XXVIII But we must note that these latter Diureticks are not so proper for bringing out by Urine Humours abiding in the Blood or otherwhere as for expelling the Urine already separated so that the gentle Diureticks are more universal and to be used in all cases these latter more particular and more proper in some certain Distempers These latter inasmuch as they sometimes drive forth pure Blood instead of Humours from the Blood or offend otherwise are deservedly reputed dangerous Medicines and therefore not to be used but with great continual and prudent caution yet they may be sometimes but prudently used where the more gentle have been given in vain and where a great malady urgeth always attending to the effect which as long as 't is good their use may be persisted in Idem but assoon as the least hurt is observed we must cease from their further use Emmenagogues or provokers of the Terms See Mensium suppressio Book XII The Contents They either respect the wayes I. Or the coagulated Blood it self II. Or they promote its rarefaction III. Or they stimulate and do both IV. Or they restore the Blood it self V. They are not to be given to Women with Child VI. They are not to be given to all indifferently VII The order to be observed in the use of Remedies VIII I. MEdicines provoking the Terms respect either the wayes which namely ought to be free in all the microcosmick Common-wealth such as are both all Aperients except the acid and nitrous which namely are contrary to the other intention unless the same be so directed that under the dominion of others they may assist the action of the same Baths also do greatly help here which both by their gentle heat and their notable vertue to moisten do very well open the passages Likewise suffumigations that loosen the Pores and draw away mucus belong hither as for example Timaeus in his Counsels commends the suffumigation of Coloquintida received into the Womb by a Funnel which Remedy takes place after Bathing And therefore by experience your Emmenagoga denote nothing else but specifick uterine Aperients II. Or they respect the Blood it self the state whereof as the Terms do in a special manner shew so do they altogether follow the condition thereof Now those are notable Emmenagogues which promote the motion of the Blood which in specie they do two manner of wayes either first they take away the impediments that fix as it were and coagulate the Blood which are two acid Humours and Phlegmatick or coagulated Serum amongst these are Martial Medicines for instance Crocus aperitivus Sulphuratus with Salts Quercetan's Cachectick powder his Stomachick powder yea some give the infusion of the crude filings of Steel or Gold with the same intention that they may absorb and repress the constringing acidity but those Steel-Remedies are best that have withal a faculty to moisten as the tincture of Steel pomated or cydoniated which are excellent the tartareous tincture of Steel and the like that at the same time both the driness may be respected and the deficient fermentation of the Blood promoted and others that liquate fuse resolve and attenuate the coagulating Serum or Phlegm such as are bitter things and others of thin parts III. Or Secondly they promote its rarefaction and stimulate that upon the excitation and exaltation of its Sulphureous and volatil Saline particles it may become the more active and losing its sluggish lentor or clamminess may take up more room in quality and motion to which belong all Balsamicks volatil and mean as well Sulphureous for instance Saffron Myrrh Bay-berries Savin likewise the distilled oyls of Savin Cinnamon Balm Saffron c. as Saline fixed and volatil Salts the tincture of Tartar Borax salt of Mugwort of Salt and Vitriol c. the Spirit of Sal Armoniack Harts-horn the volatil Salt of Amber Hence is this practick rule appropriated to both intentions Those things that provoke urine do for the most part also provoke the Terms IV. Or they both stimulate and rarefie and hither belong even Purgers themselves inasmuch as they do not only attenuate and bring out the
be emptied I add that whilst they draw from the Hemorrhoidal Arteries 't is very like that the Heart will be wonderfully helped thereby Rolfink de febr p. 274. See §. 3. Hepaticks or Medicines for the Liver See Hepatis affectus or Diseases of the Liver The Contents They respect either its Vessels Ducts and Pores I. Or the Choler which is either to be restored II. Or temper'd III. Or its tone IV. What and how sweet things help V. How Steel-Remedies profit VI. The too much use of Aperients is hurtful VII Astringents have not place always VIII The abuse of Syrups hurteth IX I. HEpatick Remedies respect either its Vessels Ducts and Pores in the concrete respect being likewise had to the Lymphatick Vessels and Gall-Bladder or the Choler which it separates and transcolates or its tone fibres and parietes or Parenchyma Aperients do chiefly respect the Ducts for this Bowel is principally and above all others subject to Obstructions because of the very numerous Vessels that it has so that the chief Hepaticks are Aperients Hither belong also Diureticks which unless there be withal an over dry intemperies or if there be such of them as are more dilute are most agreeable to the Liver Thus to repeat only a few 1. Bitter things are profitable that cleanse cut and attenuate the clamminess of the choler 2. Others of thin Parts whether Aromaticks as calamus Aromaticus Spicknard c. or Acids as red Liverwort Mineral Spirits 3. Absorbents Lixivials and especially Steel Remedies And these have a notable use in Obstructions in a too mucilaginous choler Jaundise Dropsie Cachexie and the like II. Moreover those that respect the Choler do either restore it if it be sluggish and defective or bridle it when it exceeds and is impetuous lessen it when it abounds and mitigate it when it boils and burns as it were Those that restore the Choler are 1. Partly contrary to those that restore the Ferment of the Stomach and are for the most part the same which encrease the heat of the Stomach namely Sulphureous Balsamicks as all Aromata or Spices likewise spirituous as Wine and its Spirit 2. Partly the same being endued with a volatil and simple and with an oleous acrimonious Salt as Mustard Erysimum or Hedge-Mustard Water-cresses which are like a spur to it for Choler consists chiefly 1. of Oleous Sulphureous Bâ—lsamick Parts 2. of volatil Saline both which are immersed in a little watry mucilage and limited with watry Particles Hither belong also sweet things which encrease choler and that by contributing partly mucilaginous clammy parts whence also the same are said to breed Obstructions partly Sulphureous also if they happen upon an hot and dry Body And these are good in an Anasarca as also partly in an Ascites a serous Cachexie loose Tumours and where in other cases there is need of rarefaction of the Blood for such things as then more intimately rarefie the same do exalt choler They likewise profit the Phlegmatick that have no gall as it were III. Having hapned to mention sweet things we must see why Galen 8. de Comp. Med. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writes that Raisins are familiar to the Liver in their whole substance and why the same thing is not equally attributed to sugared things That familiarity of Raisins with the Liver gave foundation to the Electuary of Raisins in Riverius that notably strengthens the Liver The reason may be because they temper the fluxility and sluggishness of the choler and kindly moisten withal which sugared things do not do IV. And the choler is temper'd and bridled when it exceeds both by accident by certain openers as Preparations of Succory where note that some things are called coolers which yet are hot as we may see by these mention'd inasmuch namely as they loosen the stoppages and cleanse gently withal partly evacuating Cholagogues and also per se by 1. Diluters thus when choler offends the Whey of Goats Milk with a little Cinamon c. is good whether the anima of Rhubarb be taken with it or the clyssus of Antimony be dropt into it both which I use with success hither belong mineral Waters Potions c. Now these very Diluters are a vehicle to Aperients whence note that in the Jaundise such Aperients as dilute more and in the Dropsie such as dry more profit most And those very Aperients that are diluters withal do set the lympha at liberty and make its motion free and withal restore the Serum which is and is called the bridle of choler 2. Bitter things which both cleanse and open the Pores of the choler so that it is hastened more to the Guts and evacuated the vertue of Wormwood Aloes and Rhubarb is known 3. Acids hither belong acidum Tartari red Sanders or the red Liverwort of Dresden because these do tame and blunt the Sulphureous part of the choler and fix and enervate the volatile Saline 4. Earthy and absorbing Remedies especially the Nitrous and Alkaline thus also lixivial Salts themselves belong hither likewise Shells Corals Perles species and Pouders c. likewise Nervines themselves or Cinnabarines which I have found profitable in Diseases of the Liver and I have happily cured a stubborn Pain of the right Hypochondre with Tetters breaking out all the Body over with these especially For it is to be noted what Experience testifies that earthy Medicines do precipitate and absorb both choler or cholerick Humours and also acid and even serous Humours whence we cannot absolutely conclude that wheresoever Alkaline Medicines profit there an acid offendeth for Experience witnesses that the earthy profit in many Patients and Diseases where by the consent of all an acid offendeth not but the choler regurgitates and is frothy which they dissociate inhibit and bridle in its preternatural motion V. Lastly The tone and fibres of the Liver are strengthned both by 1. Moderate Astringents whence it is a common opinion among Practitioners that it delights in Astringents 2. Absorbers especially Steel ones and the vitriolated that are made of these 3. Correcters of any excessive temper but chiefly a moist and consequently a loose Hence Mercurials also and Mercurius dulcis in particular is greatly commended by which with a Bezoartick Steel Remedy Sennertus writes that one was cured who was given over in a Dropsie that on no other account than because Mercurius dulcis makes the Serum fluxile whence it opens Obstructions cures Loosness by diverting the Serum another way and thence evacuating it by convenient ways c. Thus Antimonials likewise are good inasmuch as they notably precipitate and dry discussing the superfluous Humours VI. So Steel-Remedies do chiefly perform this whence there is a caution given concerning their use by Gul. Gilbert in his Book of the Load-stone 1. cap. 15. who sayes that Steel is granted in loose Livers and moist Maladies because it dries also in the Green-sickness over-grown Spleens namely where moisture abounds but he denies it greatly in
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
to eat little Ulcers in the Skin for Issues Where note that both the lixivial Salt and acid Spirit obtain their notable acrimony from the fire seeing both are prepared from a saline matter by the force of a sharp fire Now seeing no such or so great fire can be kindled in our Body as is needful for the making of an acid Spirit it is not to be supposed that any acid Spirit is properly prepared in the Body but only principally separated and freed from the temperating Impediments viz. Oil and volatil Spirit A pretty pure acid Spirit has often been observed in the Body even without the use or abuse of any thing that has been manifestly acid Thus diverse-coloured stools are observed in Infants yet commonly of a various green and smelling acid whence doubtless Epileptick Fits have their origine from an acid Spirit fermenting in the small Guts with the choler Thus torturing Pains in any part of the Body that sometimes arise like lightening on a sudden or otherwise rack cruelly yield a certain Argument that there is an acid Spirit separately in the Body that is very moveable and gnaws the sensible Parts So rottenness of the Bones shews that there is a too pure acid Spirit in the Body which is clear from the intolerable Pains that often go before and which can only be deduced from acidity Namely the acrimony arising from a lixivial Salt abides more fixt in the same place and seems to burn the Part affected while an acid Spirit is judged to hit or tear or perforate by repeated gnawings the Part that is seised upon by it This conjecture of mine has been confirmed by spittle that has sometimes been so acid as to set the Teeth on edge like other acids taken into the Mouth The matter of acid Humours is supplied to the Glands from the arterial Blood wherein that there are acid Spirits is evinced both by its coagulation into clods when it is let out of the Vessels and also by the corrosion and consumption of the Bones that is made by the arterial Blood in an Aneorism The acrimony of an acid Spirit is temper'd chiefly by a volatil Spirit that sweetens the same being easily united to it Thus Spirit of Wine being cohobated with Spirit of Salt does so lenifie the same that it is then called sweet by Artists The same is temper'd by all sweet things but these do more difficultly unite with it if it were not for the lixivial Salt that is mixt with the fat For as an acid and volatil Spirit are easily joined throughly with one another and an Oil is easily mixed with a lixivial Salt so on the contrary a volatil Spirit and lixivial Salt do more difficultly combine together Idem Disput Medic. vij § 43. seqq and the most difficultly of all an acid Spirit and Oil. ¶ Though all acrimony seem to produce a sense of heat in sensible Parts yet from the cure there appears to be a different acrimony one indeed joined with heat and another destitute of it And seeing we have not only discover'd two sorts of acrimony that are found in our Body but besides from their conflux because of other things that are joined with them a double effervescence is observed to be produced both an hot and also a cold which are not only manifest to sense and therefore distinct from one another but yielding to different Remedies and so also differing from one another It may deservedly be queried what sort of heat that is which uses to accompany now and then for instance the flux of the Terms whether that which has its rise only from an hot effervescence or also from a cold or whether from each acrimony offending without such an effervescence By neglecting this question and the clearing and determination hereof we should undertake an Empirical rash and often a pernicious cure For seeing the heat may be produced from divers causes it is also to be cured diversly according to the diversity of the cause And if any object that I have taught that both sorts of acrimony may be allay'd and temper'd by the same Medicines both spirituous and oily and watry and that therefore it matters little what acrimony offend seeing the same Medicines are profitable in both cases I answer that both sorts of acrimony are indeed temper'd by the same Medicines but not alike quickly and powerfully seeing oily Medicines do both more easily and quickly and powerfully temper a lixivial Salt as on the contrary spirituous volatils an acid Spirit so that though all things that temper either sort of acrimony are always administred with Profit and especially when there want signs that may demonstrate sufficiently whether of them do primarily and chiefly offend yet as often as it can be known which offends it is better to use chiefly those Remedies that are especially conducible to the tempering of it which as it is sometimes known from concurring signs and symptoms so it is frequently concluded from the different operâ—tion of the Medicine that is given that is à juvantibus vel nocentibus from helpers or hurters according to the golden axiom of Practitioners The heat therefore that is produced for instance from the menstruous Blood in the ways through which it is poured forth has sometimes yea indeed often its rise from an acid Humour that is in the Womb and which comes forth with the Blood whether it make none or an hot effervescence therewith If the acid Humour that is found preternaturally in the substance of the Womb cause no effervescence with the menstruous Blood there will rather be felt a troublesom gnawing than a true heat in the Parts affected But if the same acid juice do cause an hot effervescence with the menstruous Blood then there will be raised an heat and often a redness also even in the extreme Parts and both will be observed when the acid does either notably gnaw only or also burns withal but as often as the offending matter is more gentle or more broken then we cannot so distinctly conclude in what regard the acrimony offends I am therefore of opinion that in the heat that accompanies the flux of the Terms an acid always offends Idem Prax. l. 3. c. 3. § 416. seqq whereto is sometimes joined a more or less cholerick Blood whence the said heat uses to be diversly changed and felt ¶ An acid acrimony is temper'd by several oleous things by Oil it self any sort of Milk Broth of flesh especially such as is fat Emulsions prepared of divers sorts of Seeds especially of sweet Almonds Moreover by sweet things Sugar Honey Raisins and sometimes by spirituous things or others that concentrate an acid such as Corals Perles A lixivial and aromatick acrimony such as is in Pepper Cloves Rocket and the like is temper'd by both the aforesaid oily and sweet things yet 't is safer to abstain wholly or in a great measure from them A Salt acrimony such as is in
Fever seeing all the mischiefs to continue vigorous I advised to take eighteen ounces of Blood from him whereupon they all began so to decline that two days after there remained no foot-step of them From another Youth that was sick of the same disease but without a Looseness I ordered a pound of Blood to be taken When I order'd it it was the fourth day of his sickness but the second after the eruption of the Exanthemata and on the fifth day from the beginning of the disease he returned again to his usual occupation ¶ But in curing Exanthemata that arise without a Fever or which precede it such as were observed in many in the Summer of the Year 1575 both in Women and Youths and grown Men namely very thick Prominences all the Body over that were broad hard reddish or pale such as those caused by the stinging of Nettles sometimes with itching sometimes without seeing there is no Physician almost but presently flies to the proposed remedy there is therefore nothing remaining to speak of these save that it is an errour to Purge before Bleeding seeing the said disease for the most part happens from the effervescence and redundance of the Blood and in case of costiveness Clysters are to be used What I have said of Exanthemata breaking forth with a defective Crisis take the same things as spoken of Parotides Bubo's and other Abscesses of the like sort breaking out before the due time namely that it is best to let Blood in such case viz. Leon Botallus lib. de curat per s m. cap. 5. When the Fever neither grows less nor increases upon their breaking forth for this I have found to be very profitable in many c. XXX Phlebotomy uses often to amend the mixture and temperature of the Blood but in a manifold or several respect For 1. If any Heterogeneous thing be confounded with its Mass namely which can neither be rightly subdued nor easily separated and thrown off the Blood that flows out upon opening a Vein does often carry forth so much of that Matter with it that the remainder may either be conquered or expelled 2. The Blood departing from its temperature is often restored by Venesection for when its Mass hath degenerated from a fixt Sulphur or Salt or from both of them exalted together into an Acrimonious Salt or Salino-Sulphureous by letting forth a portion of the Blood there presently arises a new fermentation of it and often there is caused such a change of all the particles thereof that thereupon the Spirits do a little emerge with the Volatil Salt and recover their dominion the fixed Sulphur and Salt being subjugated as they ought to be For this reason it is that Bleeding often brings great help not only in Fevers but moreover in the Scurvy Jaundise yea in the beginning of a Phthisis or Consumption for the Blood after the Vessels are emptied like the Stomach unloaded does better concoct or assimilate all the humours received into it and what is Heterogeneous it the easilier separates and dischargeth But if the Crasis or mixture of the Blood begin to be much loosed and spoiled as in the Plague and Malignant Fevers abstain wholly from Venesection because by letting of Blood the store of Spirits is diminished which alone can free the Mass of Blood from putrefaction and corruption and so all things tend presently to a destructive dissolution Moreover if the Dyscrasie of the Blood be such that the more noble principles to wit the Spirit volatil Salt and Sulphur being depressed or wasted the watry and earthy particles are predominant the Blood ought by no means to be let out but to be preserved as the treasure of life Because when the Spirits are but few every loss of them causes all the faculties to stagger and strengthens the disease as in a Dropsie Cachexy Consumption and in other diseases where the active principles are greatly deprest to open a Vein is almost the same thing as to cut a mans Throat In the aforesaid cases where the Crasis of the Blood is respected it will be easie to determine whether Bleeding be convenient or no but in some others as especially in a continual putrid Fever when life and death turn upon this hinge there needs the greatest deliberation We must consider the state of the Blood the tendency of the morbifick Matter and the strength of Nature 1. If in a putrid Fever the Blood aestuating very much shall raise a great heat with thirst watching and drought in the Throat and there appear no eruption of plentiful Sweat or of Exanthemata nor is shortly expected Venesection is so plainly indicated that it is not lawful to omit it But on the contrary if in a languishing Body there arise a Fever that is slow and remiss yet continual with a weak pulse abstain from Bleeding and get the Fever off by Sweating Urine and Blistering In a middle state of the Blood and of the Fever Bleeding is indifferent of it self and it is to be determined by other respects Therefore 2. We must consider the tendency of the morbifick Matter or its impetus which if it be sluggish in the morbifick Matter and unfit for Secretion and so as it often uses making a translation into the Head instead of a Crisis threaten the Brain and Nerves Bleeding is seasonably made use of for preventing these mischiefs But if this matter being suddenly excited into a violent motion and either rushing inwards into the Viscera of the lower belly cause cruel Vomiting or dysenterical distempers or else being driven outwards seem about to produce the small Pox Measles or other breakings forth every such Impetus of Nature if good ought not to be disturbed if bad not aggravated by Bleeding For in these cases to let Blood is not only dangerous but oftentimes ignominious 3. As to Bleeding in a doubtful case we must moreover have regard to the strength of the Patient For in a sound constitution Youthful age the beginning of a disease and when the faculties both vital and animal are as yet in a brisk and indifferent condition Bleeding ought to be confidently prescribed Willis posth oper sect 3. c. 1. unless something contra-indicate But when it shall be otherwise as to these conditions proceed not rashly to this evacuation XXXI Avicen denieth that Blood is to be let in the beginning of diseases because thereby the noxious humours are then extenuated and impelled through all the Body and are so mixed with the pure Blood that nothing of the offending humour is brought forth with the wholesom juice lib. 1. fen 4. c. 20. Likewise lib. 3. tr 2. c. 7. in the cure of the Foot-gout and Sciatica he would not have us to let Blood in the beginning Because Phlebotomy says he stirs up the humours and makes them run into the Body and does not extract that which is necessary to be extracted So lib. 4. tr 2. cap. 42. in the cure of a burning Fever he
and that Galen is to be understood of that which is soft and gentle XVII When the Blood stagnates and stops in its Vessels motion is most happily procured to it by Sudorificks sometimes by Venesection by the help of those the Blood is not only made more fluid and moveable but the same is moreover actually moved and more and more rarefied by the volatil Salt that is in them and by its stay alone does by degrees loose the Blood more or less concreted by its own acid Spirit and therefore agitates it Whence a more frequent and greater pulse uses to be the companion of sweat for whilst the volatil Salt of Sudorificks arrives at the right ventricle of the heart and the Blood there becomes more rare and does not only of its own accord seek an exit for it self but by further widening the ventricle of the Heart it excites the same to both a more frequent and stronger contraction of it self Sylv. de le Boë pract l. 1. c. 34. §. 29. and therefore moves the Blood more that before was somewhat deficient in its motion and promotes its course every way from the Heart XVIII Not only Medicines taken inwardly yea and hot drink drunk freely provoke sweat but many external things also Thus the air alone heated by art and making a dry bath in a stove or sitting by a good fire powerfully draw forth sweat and when a watry humidity is redundant in the Body it is driven forth by sweat this way easily and happily enough but so is not a sowr or acid or Salt Muriatick Humour though a glutinous Humour may thus also be both attenuated and expelled by sweat if so be it be continued long enough lest the same Humour being dissolved by the fire and driven all about be again coagulated in the capillary Vessels and there breed obstructions and many mischiefs that follow thereupon Idem m m. l. 1. c. 11. § 27. XIX Bezoardicum minerale is prepared of the Butter of Antimony by pouring thereon the Spirit of Nitre or aqua Stygia Where it is to be observed that whilst these two liquors are mixed together the Salts meeting by and by with one another are strictly combined and in the mean time the Sulphureous particles which are in great plenty being utterly excluded fly away carrying some saline Bodies with them raise an heat and very stinking smoak these being driven away the saline that are left are more strictly combined with some earthy ones of the Antimony and at length having undergone the fire that the Emetick Sulphur may wholly exhale and the corrosive stings of the Salts may be destroyed they make an excellent Diaphoretick inasmuch namely as the different Salts of the Medicine do meet with the Salts of our Body with which being joined the compages of the Blood and Humours are loosened Willis â—harm rat p. m. 208. so that there lies open a free passage to the serous recrement The dose is from a scruple to a drachm XX. Though a certain preparation of Antimony be called Diaphoretick I know not to what sort of its particles this vertue can be attributed and I have often in vain expected such an effect from this Medicine It is often profitably given to stay fluxions of the Serum or Blood because this earth being deprived of its proper Salts does imbibe strange acid Salts which it meets with by chance in the Body which kind of vertue Crocus Martis prepared by a reverberatory fire seems to obtain from the like cause XXI Antimonium diaphoreticum is rightly given with the species de hyacintho pulvis ruber Pannonicus and others for the promoting of expulsion But we must note that it ought to be rightly and newly prepared for as it grows old it returns to its own Nature and Emetick vertue Wherefore I advise never to mix Antimony with those Powders but at the time when you are about to use them Ign. Franc. Thiermair cons l. 1. c. 7. for till then 't is best to keep them apart XXII Let Physicians be mindful that those who are engaged in a Diet of Guaiacum if they be not Purged every 8th or 10th day and unless they go to stool every day once Heer de Acidulis p. 100. do incur very grievous Symptoms XXIII Most now esteem that Paradox for truth that Decoctions of Guaiacum Sarsa Sassafras China and the like make People fat Which Horat. Guargantius in his resp medic p. 235. thus explains These Decoctions do attenuate indeed and dry up naughty and excrementitious Humours but leave the good and profitable untoucht Therefore they bring no hurt to the wasted and emaciated For seeing leanness and a fleshless habit proceed from bad nutrition and bad nutrition from acrimonious and salt Humours which consume the sweet and profitable Blood and hinder the Fat from being agglutinated therefore it follows that when those vitious juices are consumed by the foresaid Decoctions the Body is of course rightly nourished and fatned Thus far Guargantius Arcaeus's way of curing Phthisical People by a Decoction of the Wood is well known whereby he affirms they are not only hurt but also grow fleshy XXIV There are some who with an hydrotick Decoction give a Bolus of Turpentine and Ground-Ivy c. but I like not the raising of two motions at the same time therefore rather make a Bolus of the powder of Harts-horn Fortis Cent. 1. Cons 65. Vipers and some appropriate Salt XXV Besides Opium Salts promote Sweat namely by their fusory quality but 't is necessary they should be depurated whence common Salt and sal gemmae promote it not at all All Herbs that contain much Salt in them drive forth also much sweat as Wormwood Carduus bened being given in a sufficient Dose XXVI It is an error of the Moderns to use Decoctions with water for fluxions seeing it is clear that whatsoever Remedies are taken under the form of drink though they be of a dry Nature yet they alwayes increase moisture in the Body especially if they be taken at Meals Now I guess that the Physicians our predecessors were deceived by the Diet that uses to be prescribed to them who use hydrotick Decoctions Who having observed that some troubled with long continued destillations were cured thereof by a Decoction of Guaiacum or sarsaparilla or the like which they had taken for the cure of the French Pox brought in Decoctions of drying Woods and Roots which had not at all been used for this purpose before for the cure of Destillations and the cure succeeded happily as long as they observed that exact Diet of thoroughly-baked Bread or Bisket with Raisins limited to a certain quantity and wholly abstain'd from drinking of Wine But after that our Physicians indulging the complaints of their Patients began to allow them Flesh Eggs and Wine it has been seldom observed that Destillations have been cured by these Decoctions which is an evident argument that the Catarrhs were cured
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
1 ounce and an half of the four greater cold Seeds Marshmallow each 6 drachms Spec. Lithontrip Elect. Ducis Justini each half a drachm burnt Eggshells Cinnamon each 3 drachms Cloves 2 drachms then strain them well out distill them in Ashes If you take 2 drachms of this Water it doth wonders in suppression of Urine breaking and expulsion of the Stone to which if you add its own Salt in a convenient quantity Idem p. 186. it will become a far more excellent Medicine 7. The following Syrup is an excellent Remedy leaving no calculous matter behind in the Kidneys if after Purging 2 spoonfulls of it be taken twice or thrice every week in the morning Balthasar Brannerus de calculo Take of the juice of Speedwell half a pound of ground Ivy 3 ounces of Purslain 1 ounce and an half let the expressed juices when they are strained be made into a Syrup J. Caes Claudinus 8. This is a familiar Medicine with me The extract of Millepedes made with hot Water The dose 2 ounces Crato l. 6. Cons 79 l. â—0 9. Draw the juice out of Purslain dry it and make it into Pills give 1 drachm of it it expels the Stone to a wonder ¶ The distilled Water of a Man's Urine or a Bull 's if the Patient doth not loath it conduces wonderfully to the breaking of the Stone and provoking of Urine ¶ Let the Patient eat 9 or 10 Hazle-Nuts well picked before dinner and supper for I have found by certain experience that not a few who have been afflicted with the cruel tortures of the Stone for a long time by eating of Hazle-Nuts have been cured ¶ Strawberry-water with the Kernels of Hazle-Nuts bruised taken in a morning so as you can sleep upon it is good for prevention ¶ In a most grievous pain and heat of the Kidneys I have found this plaster help to bring away the Stone with a great deal more ease Take 9 Crabs boil them in a sufficient quantity of Water or Milk bruise them and boil them and squeeze out the Juice Steep the Crum of a White Loaf in this Juice add the Yelks of 2 Eggs fresh Butter and Oil of Violets what is sufficient mix them spread it on a linen cloth and apply it to the Reins and Ureters ¶ For the Stone Take of the best Malmsey-Wine 3 pounds Peach-Stones N o 100 Bitter Cherry-Stones N o 200 fresh Elder-flowers 8 ounces Bruise them and let both them and the flowers be infused in the Malmsey-Wine but let there be two several Infusions one for the Stones and another for the Flowers let them stand a day in Infusion and then distill them Drink four or five ounces of this Water it quickly breaks the Stone so that it is voided by Urine ¶ I prefer Eringo Roots candied or steeped in White-wine and Syrup of the Juice of Speedwell before all though I am not ignorant that the Roots of Brier and Rest-harrow doe much good when the Stone is manifest ¶ In the Stone of the Kidneys the following Cataplasm I find doth wonderfully asswage pain and force out the Stone with great benefit and success Let Pellitory of the Wall be boiled with Parsly-Roots let the Roots when they are squeezed out be cast away and add 8 or 9 Onions roasted in Ashes pour on some Oil of bitter Almonds and in very grievous pains Oil of Scorpions Crato in consiliis ¶ For the Pain of the Kidneys caused by the Stone there is nothing better than a Decoction of Speedwell and the inspissated Juice does as well 10. There is a fungus growing to Stones Claudius Deodatus called Lyncurius which dried powdered and given in Diuretick-Wine doth so purge the Reins that a Stone will never grow again there which is confirmed by manifold experience 11. Pet. Joh. Faber The Sap of the Birch-Tree hath a wonderfull property by nature while it admirably moistens our Balsamick Spirit that is the coagulatour of the Stone and by its radical moisture doth hinder that by its dryness and heat it does not coagulate the useless and volatile Sordes of our Liquours 12. Jacob. Fontanus One kept the following Clyster for a great Secret Take a pound and an half of decoction of Millet and give it 13. Christ Gâ—â—â—iâ—onius Ceâ—s Med. 125. In the Stone this is a more powerfull Remedy if a Hare be cut in pieces put in a new pot well luted and baked in an Oven and then powdered Aetius and Sextus Platonicus do prove this to be a very proper Remedy for if this powder be put in Water or Wine and the Stone be put in also you will see the Stone dissolved in a short time And we have experienced it not onely good to break the Stone but to prevent it to which powder we add some Turpentine Liquorish juice or Oxymel of Squills 14. Fresh Oil of Hazle-Nuts drawn by a Press Casp Cald. de Heredia is commended by the daily use whereof a certain Physician attests he hath seen several Stones voided The dose is 3 ounces 15. Freder Hofmannus m. m. l. 1. c. 12. Motherwort is an excellent thing in all diseases of the Kidneys for according to Montagnana it is a secret Medicine that hath a power beyond all others to purge away Urine and the Stone 16. Wolf Hoferus The bloud of a young Fawn dried and given in a drachm weight wonderfully expells the Stone according to our own experience 17. The Root of the herb Vervain bruised Joh. Marquardus and drunk in good Mede a little warm doth not onely help those incredibly that are troubled with the Stone but quickly reduces whatever it is that hinders the Urine 18. Christ Gâ—aerinonius cons 126. Juice of Lemons hath helped many in the Stone which when carefully cleared and taken in Malmsey-Wine I have experienced not hurtfull to the Stomach but most effectual to purge the Reins However if the Stomach should receive any harm let the juice be distilled by an Alembick and then it is a most safe thing 19. Lud. Mercaetus de Calâ—â—lo p. 736. The flower and seed of Star-thistle are highly in request among the People whose force and efficacy in purging the Reins and Bladder we daily find more and more if 2 ounces of its distilled Water be taken in the morning 20. Joh. Bap. M nanus coâ—s 194. Let the Patient take Sugar of Roses an hour before meal the whole year through for it is an excellent Remedy for the Kidneys 21. Carolus Piso A certain Noble Matron found the admirable virtue of Golden-Rod first made known by me in innumerable Nephritick persons with happy success 22. Take Wheat and boil it till it swell or burst Hercul Saxoâ—ia put it hot into a bag and apply it You may trust this as a secret 23. Goats Bloud mixt in a Mortar with Barly Alex. Trallianus l. 3. c. 34. and applied as a
his upper parts or have his Head inflamed or if his Head ake or he be phrenitick or if he have a great Ulcer which cannot safely be irritated I avoid Physick as much as I can knowing for certain that it affects the Head Sleep shews this which presently seizes them that have taken a Purge If I can I content my self with sharp Clysters and a low Diet. Vallesius 2. Epid. 6. p. 225. VIII In an Intemperature of the Head with Melancholy always some Moistner must be mixt with Purgatives Nor may a Purge be prescribed till the body be first moistned IX The Ancients said that Sneezers and Apophlegmatisms were indicated by excrementitious humours gathered in the Ventricles and substance of the Brain This latter Age thinks not that these parts do empty the humours gathered there by the Nose and Palate nor that what is evacuated is excrements of nutrition gathered in the Meanders of the Nostrils and Membranes of the Palate and Jaws but in some mens opinion they are bilous phlegmatick melancholick and serous humours derived thither partly by the Arteries from the whole body and partly from the Salival ducts Rolfinccius meth med specialis p. 605. For this reason they are indicated by the cacochymick impurity of the bloud diluted with much Serum that its flowing into the Brain it s farther mixture with the circulated bloud and its approach to the more noble parts may be prevented X. If you make use of Sneezers to unload the Brain in its Intemperature with Phlegm you must abstain from violent ones as Powder of white Hellebore Root of Lily Conval and the like because of the great agitation they cause in the Brain convenient onely for such as are in a Lethargy or Apoplexy it is sufficient if you onely put a Fibre of the Root into the Nostril and then pull it out again XI Some think that the use of Ptarmicks does rather encrease than hinder a defluxion of humours from the head to the breast and that this should not be used but in case of extreme necessity and universals premised But in my opinion they are grievously out seeing in great and sudden suffocating defluxions they are very properly and succesfully used Quercetan Phrâ—m degm resâ—â—t c. 18. For Nature hath ordained these Chanels for the emptying of the Brain whom Art imitating doth so promote that in an open and free passage through this same way the course of the serous humours is expedited and turned back Avicenna uses a certain vaporous Sternutatory made of very strong Vinegar in which he dissolves a little Castor the steam whereof causes violent sneezing XII As much Extract of Tobacco made with Aqua vitae as a Pease laid on the Tongue brings off a great deal of Phlegm Riverius Exceed not this quantity for if it get into the Stomach it will cause grievous vomiting XIII As often as the Head is indisposed by outward Cold of the Air Water or Snow or the Nose doth run or they be troubled with a defect of animal Spirits so often I have observed my Patients succesfully and quickly cured if as quickly as may be that be driven out of the Head again which was got into it or any other part of the body and was hurtfull to them And this either by one Sweat or which I prefer by several but they must be spirituous and volatile because they must be such as not onely alter and correct the cause of the Cold and of other evils attending it but amend whatever amiss is introduced into the body contained or containing For this purpose I commend the following Receipt Take of Water of Fumitory Fenil each 2 ounces simple Treacle or any other Aromatick water 1 ounce Spirit of Sal Ammoniack 20 drops Oil of Cloves 3 drops Bezoarticum minerale half a drachm Laudanum Opiatum 2 grains Syrup of red Poppies 1 ounce mix them Let the Patient take two spoonfuls of this Medicine and when he is moderately covered expect a Sweat which he will facilitate and obtain his desire if every half hour he take as much of it till the Sweat burst out for then he must use it more seldom and sparingly he must use now and then some plain broth with a little Wine in it to repair his strength and make him the more able to sweat the longer for nothing does them so much good as a gentle Sweat sometime As often as the natural and competent Secretion of the animal Spirits is hindred by an inward or aguish chilness or by any other that without an Ague fit doth now and then seize a man so often by the like Sudorifick rightly used the Sweat arising sometimes sooner sometimes later the desired Secretion of the animal Spirits so necessary to humane felicity is sooner or later restored for by help of this or the like spirituous Sylâ—ius â—â—ax med l 2. cap. 1. sâ—ct 21. ad 36. volatile and aromatick Medicine the hurtfull and cold Vapour is discussed and dissipated in Sweat or insensible Transpiration which caused that dulness in the sense and liftlesness in motion And whoever in such an internal or external Cold do think to cure by Bleeding Vomiting or Purging they cast their Patients into greater hazards even of Life it self as I have observed more than once c. XIV The natural temperament of the Brain seeing it is very moderate we should therefore use both inward and outward Medicines for the Head with great caution lest while we change its native temper we bring some great mischief on this most noble part Wherefore their boldness is not to be approved of who attribute so much to those Waters called Aqua vitae being made of violent hot things that they affirm all Diseases of the Head may be both prevented and cured by the use of these same Waters not considering that most Diseases of the Head do come rather from hot causes than cold especially in those persons that are either in their youth or manhood Besides in our Germany the way of most mens living is such that there is scarce one in a hundred who gathers not a particular Plethora in his Head Whence it happens if the use of Aqua vitae be prescribed to one of these men that it seeing it is altogether vaporous immediately gets into the Head and disturbs it being full of various humours and disposes it either to the Epilepsie Apoplexie or to dangerous Catarrhs But that this opinion does not want experiment you may understand from this that those Apoplectick persons to whom these Aquae vitae are given Oethaeus apud Schenckium do almost all of them dye or grow worse as I have often observed and do find it observed by others XV. Some prescribe an Issue in the Coronal Suture to be made with a Cautery and do commend it for drawing out and evacuating the humours from the Brain and its Cover Although this is very familiar in some mens practice yet I have
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
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
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
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
kindly warmth may on this manner be continued for some while and so affect and demulce for some continuance the pained part Or fat things all of which do this unless something hinder their Application so the common Anodyne Ointment consists of meer fats so the yelks of Eggs are deservedly reckon'd among these Anodynes I say all fats are good for this and it is all one almost which you take for there is hardly a farthing to chuse III. 2. By Medicines repelling and hindring the afflux of humours which as the former demulce so do these dull the sense of the Part Hither belong all that are actually and potentially cold as for instance Tract de Nive Bartholin relates that the Colick was cured by applying ice for the heat is thereby concentred and the consequent irritation and intension of the Pain remits IV. 3. By digesting Remedies which have a gentle vertue of heating and discussing and strengthen the Native heat and procure the dissipation of the viscous matter through the opened Pores and these are properly Paregorick V. Hither belong in specie Nervine Medicines which by their Balsamick vertue are grateful to the Brain and demulce the Part and take away the preternatural acrimony whether they be spirituous thus Pains are often driven away only by Brandy or Vrinous so Spirit of Sal Armoniack either by it self or with Spirit of Wine eases Pains so the Spirit of Hartshorn the volatil Spirit of Earth-worms and the like do greatly asswage Pains of the Nervous or Membranous Parts or mixts such as our renouned Nervine Liniment of Aqua Magnanimitatis the volatil-Spirit of Earth-worms and of Hartshorn or Armoniack conjunctly And these indeed are good in Pains of all sorts yet not after one manner nor for all Parts VI. Thus the spirituous and digesting the less fat and the middle sort of Emollients are more profitable to the membranous Parts and Joynts So Emollients are more convenient where the ways are to be loosened withal as in the Stone and in Inflammations that tend to Suppuration digesting and spirituous where we would discuss more So Repellers are more convenient in safe and dry places as the Head but less in the soft and moist as the Breasts Seeing therefore there is a great latitude of these Anodynes are to be discriminated well and varied according to the nature of the Parts and Diseases in which very thing a Physician differs from Mountebanks and the vulgar who whilst they would do good do a great deal more hurt But we must note for the Explication of these things VII That Opium is more convenient inwardly than outwardly not but that it may be applied this latter way but because it chiefly respects the cause it is generally used the former And if it be used as a Topick it acts no otherwise than by demulcing digesting and mollifying and by communicating part of its Effluvia to the Blood but the rest that we have reckoned up are rather applied outwardly VIII Narcoticks except the actually cold being applied outwardly take not away the sense of the Part they repel not but discuss mollifie and digest for that hypothesis of the Ancients was false that determin'd Narcoticks to be cold and that by the application of them the sense of the Part is intercepted taken away and dies which is against Experience for Opium being applied and worn for twenty four hours or more is so far from taking away the sense that it rather mollifies Hence Henbane being boiled with Milk does greatly asswage scorbutical Pains but it does it chiefly with its mollifying and digesting vertue in like manner we have seen a Plaster of Henbane very much to help Pains to discuss and promote Suppuration as there was occasion There is the same reason of Hemlock whence it is vainly objected by some that the use of the Plaster of Hemlock is not safe in a Scirrhus of the Spleen because it rather congeles Therefore that Hypothesis is to be turn'd out of the Medical Court and yet it is not to be denied that a Sulphur which they call Narcotick is found in these very Medicines which is communicated to the Blood partly even in outward application IX External Narcoticks and Anodynes that asswage Pain do also by accident procure sleep but except those of Poppy they are not equally used for procuring sleep but Opiats do both For where Pains cause watchings when those are removed these also by the same means are taken away But it is unlawful to give Hemlock Henbane or Mandrake inwardly for they contain a Sulphur that is impure indigested inimical to Nature not kindly Now to internal X. Anodynes and Narcoticks differ only in degree but neither all Anodynes nor all Narcoticks are Hypnoticks For the binding of the sense which is properly called Narcosis or stupefaction if it be meant of inward Medicines is owing to the binding of the Animal Spirits so that they do not flow into the Parts but are detained by a Narcotick vapour as by a band so that internal Anodynes by increasing the Dose may be made Narcoticks and on the contrary XI Yet there are some Anodynes that are not equally Narcoticks such as do indeed mitigate the acrimony of the Humours and take away the Pains that depend thereupon and by accident also sometimes procure sleep but they cause not sleep by a primary intention as for instance the Anodyne Sulphurs commonly called Narcotick of Metals and Minerals such as lodges in native Cinnabar of which I have seen some notable Effects that the aking of the Teeth Head and other Nervous Parts has been stopped thereby whence Cinnabarines are good in all great Pains as taking away the tension and twitching of the genus membranosum and absorbing and precipitating the acrimony if there be any and so they are most convenient in the Gout Pleurisie Stone c. XII That the manner of the action of somniferous Medicines in specie or of these Narcoticks in general and especially of Opiats may appear the more clearly we say that it consists not in a Salt nor a Mercury but in a Sulphur and that 1. indeed kindly and 2. easily resoluble I say in a Sulphur which is clear in the Inflammability fatness smell c. of Opium Saffron and the like also from the Oil which it is easie to draw from them by Distillation and that kindly that we may remove all those from internal use that are not endued with such an one but an immature indigested fetid one or one that is inimical to Nature notwithstanding that these very things by this very Sulphur are apt to induce sleep yea death and easily resoluble both in it self and also in respect to the Body In it self inasmuch as such Medicines have withal either a volatil Salt as Opium Saffron whence arises their resolution in the Stomach or Exhalation and their quicker evaporation and easie communication to the Blood or a watry vehicle as Emulsions Brandy for it is very well
observed that after the taking of them the Body is to be exercised with walking about that by this means the vertues of the Medicine may be better deduced into act And that walking is to be continued for two hours which being over let the Patient take some broth wherein some opening Herbs and Roots have been boiled River Pract. lib. 11. cap 4. Aphrodisiacks or Increasers of Seed The Contents Aphrodisiacks do either encrease Seed substantially I. Or they stimulate Opium is an Aphrodisiack either inwardly II. Or outwardly III. Medicines that raise flatus provoke not Venery IV. How to be provoked in old Men. V. Comforting and gently stimulating things are to be mixed with Aphrodisiacks VI. They take away also impotency caused by Witchery VII I. APhrodisiacks are either 1. strengthners or increasers of Seed substantially Spirituous restoratives and helpers of the native heat aliments of good juice of easie digestion and of much nourishment Of Medicines some may be referred hither that respect the slippery and frothy character of the Seed as the root of Satyrion and other bulbous roots Artichokes Ambergriese Valleriola commends Cocks stones And these take place more in old Men or in such as have weak and few Spirits as in those that are recovering from Sickness for as there concur to a fruitful coition both a spirituous consistent plentiful and as it were turgent seed and also a vigour of the Genitals so the Medicines already spoken of do chiefly satisfie the former requisite II. Or 2. Stimulating 1. Inwardly such as by their heat and chiefly by their acrimonious oleous Salt make the Seed more turgid spirituous and acrimonious so that it causes the greater titiliation and impetus and on this account requires an exit and such also as strengthen the Musculous Parts and serve erection Such are 1 all aromata or spices and Balsamick Sulphareous and aromatick things that are of the same nature with these Cardamoms Cinnamon Saffron Cloves c. in particular all Pepper hence Solenander sect 4. cons 7. gives half a drachm of Pepper with three ounces of Milk and half an ounce of Sugar Yea Opiats themselves are to be referred hither whether alone or made up into Pills with Musk and Ambergriese for it is certain by experience that Opium is a most approved Aphrodisiack and perhaps can do more than any other and it is so much the more to be commended in that it both strengthens and stimulates and hinders the dissolution of the Spirits 2 Oleous and Spirituous things for whatsoever things intend the natural heat or the volatil and Sulphureous Parts of the Blood the same do also excite Venery or at least do contribute something towards it whence aqua magnanimitatis comes into this number Aqua vitae satyriated Aqua vitae of Matthiolus oyl of Cinnamon preparations with Ambergriese Musk and Civet confectio Alkermes complete c. operate this way 3 Other saline and acrimonius things that are not aromatical for as Venus is said to be born of the Salt Sea so saline things do also notably stimulate Mercurialis cons 48. l. 1. commends Borax Likewise such things as are indued with a very biting Salt that may be melted into the genital Parts stimulate strongly whence Cantharides are the strongest amongst these stimulaters so Purgers themselves become aphrodisiastick upon the account of this very stimulus See Platerus lib. Observat for by the acrimony of the Medicine the seminal vessels may be easily irritated through their vicinity Or 4 things of a middle nature for hither belong such as have not so plain an acrimony and may be referred partly to the alimentary class and partly to the Medicamentous for example boletus cervinus which we have observed to be more dull an Harts pizzle the flesh of the Sea-skink The Indian Chocolad deserves chiefly to be remembred which both increases Seed and adds a stimulus III. 2 Outwardly such as strengthen heat and stimulate for example the express'd oil of Nutmeg and the distilled oil of Mace Cloves c. Minsichtus's oil of pismires Cantharides being warily added Some anoint the yard with Civet Solenander used to anoint it with Goats gall with good success and so did Schenkius IV. It is commonly reported of Aphrodisiacks that Flatus or wind is necessary to Venery but though in Boys erection or distension of the Penis may seem from Flatus and these may concur by accident yet they cannot nor ought not to be reckoned among Aphrodisiacks those things indeed that excite the Spirits stir up Venery and so make the Seed turgid but so do not those things that breed or excite wind V. Venery is not so much to be exstimulated in old men by peppered and acrimonious things as the vital vertue to be supported by things that recruit the Body it self for you shall in vain exstimulate that Seed which is not there moreover in old men exstimulating Aphrodisiacks do often loosen the Belly through the consent that is betwixt the Seed-Bladders and the intestins so that unfortunate old-men-lovers do often upon the taking of such confortatives with a ridiculous effect filthily beray both their bride and the bed VI. Things that strengthen and gently stimulate are fitly mixed with aphrodisiacks namely so as that the Body be well pamper'd with good chear and such Medicines be made use of as comfort the vital faculty and yet have a gentle Stimulus withal whence belongs hither Electuar diasatyrion but we find two Remedies chiefly approved the one more mild and restorative viz. Chocolad the other stronger viz. the rotulae confortantes of Minsicht We have observed that confortatives alone without stimulaters or these without those have not had the desired effect But when we speak of stimulaters we mean those that are gentle for those that improvidently use Cantharides are often affected with a strangury and an unspeakable heat of Urine and a Bloody Urine the Remedy and antidote whereof is milk and cooling emulsions VII Aphrodisiacks take away also that impotency that is caused by Witchery In this case indeed there may be exhibited such things as use otherwise to be commended against incantations especially the essence of St. John's-wort taken with the essence of Satyrion a little before the Twilight also other things as many have been restored by pissing upon new Brooms or through their wedding ring the shavings of Goats-horn are good and also the decoction of Columbines according to Hartman to wash the genitals withal So we have observed it likewise to be taken away by pissing through the hole in a plank that has been made by beating out a knot in the Wood. But I my self have restored some bewitched and tied up in this manner by Aphrodisiacks alone G. W. Wedel de s m. fac p. 220. particularly by the stimulating rotulae of Minsicht and Chocolad already commended Arteriotomy or opening of an Artery The Contents It may be safely done I. How it may be securely done II. What Arteries may
Viscera their Chylification and Tone especially Steel Remedies and also Antiscorbuticks themselves are profitable to the Arthritical because these take away the antecedent and feeding Cause viz. the acrimonious Salts and procure the breeding of a Balsamick and sweet serum Unless this be observed it is in vain to think of curing the Arthritical for herein does both their Preservation and Cure consist Now these very Remedies are good both in the Arthritis or Joint-gout the Sciatica or Hip-gout the Feet-gout the Hand-gout and in catarrhal Defluxions and the like 3 Resolvents such as render the serum fluxile the chief among which are Cinnabarines that do greatly hinder coagulation and both upon other occasions and especially in this case make the serum fluxile But these as also Mercurials outwardly are chiefly good in Pains of the Joints and others that arise from the Lues Venerea where Emplast de ranis with Mercury benefiteth II. Or 2. the Nerves whither we refer the Membranes Ligaments and Fibres which namely suffer are debilitated and irritated by the afflux of the offending Humours and such are the same as are reckoned under Cephalicks and so all Cephalicks are Arthriticks because the Nerves have their Origine in the Head But the Medicines that are as it were properly owing to the Joints and come under the title of Arthriticks are 1. those which are endued with a Balsamick oily sweet and roscid Sulphur so Germander Ground-Pine Rosemary Sage and Gumms whence belong hither Galbanetum Paracelsi Castor Euphorbium Nor hinders it that all these are not indifferently agreeable to Arthriticks because of their heat for if you consider the afflux of Humours and the heat arising thence Germander and Ground-Pine are commonly only used for them in the first place especially in the fit but whereas the Ligaments and Nerves are cold hence in other cases the joints do also sometimes altogether require such things And the same besides the Gout are good also for the Palsie Atrophie Wounds of the Joynts and Nerves and especially for the serous ichor of Ulcers which practical Experience teacheth ought not nor cannot be so well cured with Astringents as with such as strengthen the Part that its due nourishment may be actually communicated to it Contraction also and weakness of the Parts from Wounds Fractures c. yield to these Nervine Remedies yea even Ulcers themselves often cannot be healed till the tone of the Part affected be restored by such like Nervine Medicines 2. Those that are endued with a fixt Sulphur that is friendly to Nature for whatsoever Symptoms arise in general from salt acrimonious acid Spicula and are allayed by a sulphureous viscosity and a power of demulcing that is friendly to Nature come into this number especially Cinnabarines which do both singularly comfort and respect all the Pains of all the Nervous Parts and chiefly the torments of the Joints especially if they be joyned with Opiats These therefore are good for the Arthritical both as they respect the Serum and as they are indued with the said Sulphur 3. And seeing volatil Salts are also indued with an oily Sulphur these likewise may be fitly given inwardly upon that account and outwardly both these and also spirituous volatils do service hence Spirit of Hartshorn and of Sal Armoniack being duly used comfort the Joints Thus Aqua magnanimitatis or the Spirit of Pismires is in this case advisedly used outwardly but Earth-worms do especially belong hither which have a sweet mucilage in their substance interwoven with Saline volatil Parts hence being given in substance in Potions they demulce the Nervous Parts and when applied outwardly they have almost always done their office whence they are chiefly commended in the wandring Scorbutick Gout Now these things are good in all Pains and Anxieties but especially in the Joint-gout Feet-gout c. and the Maladies that arise therefrom III. Or 3. they respect the urgent Pain it self that arises from the tension and twitching of the Membranes of which sort are inwardly the forementioned Emulsions also Cinnabarines and Anodynes all which do good Service especially if at the same time provision be made for the fountain of the evil it self by Medicines depurating the Viscera and for the acrimony of the Serum by other Remedies Outwardly also there are allayers of the Pain amongst which omitting all the rest we only name 1 Paregoricks thus topicks of sweet Milk fine Flower Saffron c. are commended and other like fomentations 2 Spirituous Sulphureous and Urinous Nervine Remedies for Nervines are the best of all topical Arthriticks whence not only the recited Nervine Vegetables have place in some cases but also chiefly Preparations of Earth-worms and Pismires such as are the before-mentioned Spirits the volatil Spirit of Earth-worms Aqua magnanimitatis Spirit of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack the Oil of Soap c. IV. But we would have it to be noted that the tone of the Joints is to be preserved whence too hot and dry internal Medicines such as exhaust the Serum too much as they are to be avoided in the Stone so also in the Gout There is namely a proportion of the Serum to be observed the thinner Parts of it are not to be exhausted while the thicker are left that is not the serous Parts which are the vehicle indeed but withal the bridle of the Bile while the saline acrimonious are left Hence those are much in the wrong that undertake to cure Arthritical Persons by sweating only caused by external Impellents as by the heat of a Bath c. without using internal Specifick Impellents V. But we must not remedy the Joints alone without taking care of the whole nor the Viscera alone neglecting the Joints For seeing the Joints receive and pay for the Vices of the whole hence in vain as the vulgar Opinion is do we undertake the cure unless the saline acrimony be removed or unless the fountain be stopped as I may say Whence all Topicks are often in vain nor do they any of them give constant ease Nevertheless we must see withal that the Joints themselves be not neglected whether they be more hurt by external cold or by Venery Wine and other things VI. As to Topicks we must note in general this Practical Axiom That they often exasperate the Pain and Disease inasmuch as they do not so much demulce the impacted matter nor so much comfort the afflicted Archeus as make the torment of the Malady greater so that although the Symptoms seem sometimes to abate yet there ensue more torturing Pains or other Symptoms spring from thence Yea hence those that profit at one time hurt at another and so some may be used for defence and strengthening but others better let alone VII Hence Repellents or Astringents or aqueous alone have no place in Pains of the Joints for they weaken the Part the more and are inimicous to the Nerves and Joints which is to be understood of acids themselves also Hence that which Pliny
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
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
The cure of difficulty of breathing LII Medicines I. SEeing the humours the cause of the Disease lodge in the branches of the Porta if they could be opened in the same manner as the branches of the Cava may be any where the vitious humours might be conveniently evacuated by them together with the bloud But there is no such convenience nor does any branch of the Porta reach to the extreme parts of the body except the haemorrhoidal branch which reaches to the Intestinum rectum Therefore if this be opened it cures this disease most happily because it evacuates the vitious humours gathered in the branches of the Porta But this scarce ever happens successfully unless Nature opens these haemorrhoids of her own accord or thrust out the humours thither and be accustomed to evacuate the vitious humours that way For if this should not be done but the external haemorrhoids should be opened by Art then that which Riolanus takes notice of happens and the bloud that offends in the Porta is not evacuated but the good bloud out of the Cava which offends not And the internal Haemorrhoids if it can conveniently be done may be opened even in those in whom they never ran nor swelled that the vitious humours latent thereabout may be evacuated by them and that Nature may accustome her self to evacuate the vitious bloud this way which oftentimes even of her own accord uses to evacuate the vitious humours gathered in the branches of the Porta to the Patient 's great benefit But though we acknowledge the difference of the Haemorrhoid veins laid down by the most learned Men that is that the Internal arise from the Porta and the External from the Cava And though we admit also that they cannot conveniently be opened for evacuating of the melancholick humour except they be opened spontaneously by Nature yet we think that even by the External haemorrhoids black and other bad humours may be evacuated which are gathered about the Spleen and Liver For since the Ancients were not ignorant of these veins as having them obvious before their Eyes and having often burnt them and in the mean time they affirm that the seculent matter of the Liver black Choler is evacuated by the Haemorrhoids that the Haemorrhoids are the best remedy for melancholy and good for them that are troubled with black Choler that they cure a hardned Spleen hence it easily appears that Experience taught them that black and other bad humours gathered about the Spleen and Liver in the branches of the vena porta are evacuated by them And that it is so every one that pleases may observe daily in his practice For if he inquire into them that find benefit by the Haemorrhoids he will find they are all Hypochondriack If moreover it be inquired whether Haemorrhoids run the Internal or External He will understand that in most the external do run and do also benefit Hypochondriack Patients but that the Internal are seldom opened and therefore that not onely a Plethora but also a Cacochymie and vitious humours are evacuated by them And although sometimes also some thin humours and red bloud seem to be evacuated by them yet it is not pure but serous and salt and an Ichor also runs without any bloud But not onely gross and black humours are gathered in the branches of the Porta but also oftentimes serous and salt ones And although the Internal and External Haemorrhoids have their rise from different Veins yet because they are inserted into the same Intestinum rectum that there is some communication of these Vessels and that their mouths meet one another and that vitious humours are communicated from the Internal to the External Haemorrhoids and discharged by them the thing it self and what daily befalls Patients speaks since we see that even the running of the External Haemorrhoids does much good to those that are ill of Hypochondriack Diseases Sennertus II. Though the melancholick and adust humour which is the most obstinate be infected with no putrefaction nor easily take it and therefore is not so fit for concoction yet it is no less exasperated and made more earthy and gross and therefore rendred no less unfit for exclusion and concoction than a Cancer is by digestive and abstersive remedies Mercatus applied sinistrously and amiss III. Preparation is performed by Attenuants and Aperients yet without any great heating or drying because for the most part there is a certain heat and driness of the meâ—araick vessels and these parts and all near the lower orifice of the Stomach have something like an Inflammation in them In which case they offend who having regard onely to Wind with which Hypochondriacks abound do use hot and dry Medicines whereby the Disease is rather exasperated Nor on the contrary are coolers and moistners without some opening convenient seeing it is always proper to remove the Obstructions which are in those parts Yet where much watry matter is mixt hot things must not be omitted And so as the condition of the humour is various in this Disease and according as this or the other part is most hurt so the cure requires one while hot things another while not so hot or even moderately cooling and moistning all which things nevertheless must be opening and attenuant Sennertus ¶ There are two principal cases of Sick persons whereto magistral remedies must be accommodated according to their strength and quality Namely either the bloud is thick and cold and earthy with an obstructed Spleen which requires hot fermenting Medicines and especially Chalybeates Or the Bloud being plainly adust and hot ferments above measure and the Hypochondria do also aestuate very much and the bloud and vapours boil up in them in which state onely temperate and quieting Medicines are indicated which may stop the immoderate fermentation of the humours where Chalybeates must altogether be avoided Willis IV. The alteration of the peccant humours will be various both according to the variety of the humour and according to the fault of every humour The humour is both pituitous and bilious The pituitous offends especially when its acidity or viscidity is increased The augmented acidity of the pituitous humour will be corrected first of all with a lixivious Salt and with all things endued with a lixivious Salt Such as all Salt extracted out of the Ashes of Plants as also Coral Pearl Crabs eyes filings of Steel c. For while by the means of these things an effervescence is made with the Acid Phlegm the Acid humour is coagulated with them But because an excessive effervescence is urgent in this Disease which causes many Symptoms we must have a great care lest it be irritated rather than checkt and amended by taking things that produce a new effervescence which will be done by using first of all these things by which an Acid Spirit is rather concentred than coagulated such as Chalk next to which are Crabs-eyes Coral and filings of Steel
but that such Inflammations as cannot be prevented may come quickly to suppuration And indeed 1. that the manifold mischiefs subsequent or concomitant to Imposthumes may be avoided 2. That the Imposthume being contained in a little room the fewer parts may suffer damage 3. That by the Pus continuing long in any one place and growing gradually more and more corrupt more parts be not hurt and especially Vessels because the hurting of them prejudices health far more than the corruption of any flesh For we must take notice that in every suppuration besides the bloud it self or Milk that must be turned into Pus the neighbouring and circumjacent parts are often corrupted but first the fleshy and soft and the membranous more slowly and therefore the vessels themselves which being more firm and tenacious use longer to resist corruption and corrosion Hence whenever after an Inflammation and a subsequent suppuration an Imposthume in the Breasts is opened either by art or of it self and some of the lactiferous Tubuli are also hurt whether this come by a great Suppuration or by the Chirurgeon's thrusting his Lancet too deep into it the Milk comes out at ways where it should not that is by the Orifice of the opened Imposthume and not by the Tubuli of the Nipples Idem XV. And as we must endeavour that all these things may be done so also we must doe what in us lies to draw the Imposthume to the external parts and to the surface of the Body for Imposthumes that lie deep in can neither be opened of themselves nor by Art unless with the hurt of several parts When they open of themselves this happens because the Pus makes its way slowly to the surface of the body which in the mean time corrupts several adjoyning parts also and now and then the vessels When Imposthumes are opened by Art it comes to pass that while the Penknife must be forced deep in the Chirurgeon may easily cut some Lactiferous ducts and so occasion the coming out of the Milk by improper ways And this must therefore be especially avoided because the cure of the Imposthume or rather of the Ulcer remaining after the Imposthume is open is far flower for vessels and ducts continually pouring out Milk are difficultly and slowly healed and closed with flesh because hollow Ulcers remaining after an Imposthume cleanse and fill slowly And the effusion of Milk by the said Ulcer cannot be cured till the said broken or eroded vessels be healed with new flesh or at least so fenced with it that it may give a natural passage to the Milk Idem if any such thing can be Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. The soft Leaves of Ash boiled in Water and bruised and applied hot asswage the Pains of sore breasts Aetius and the constant use of them does wonderfully discuss ¶ Drinking the juice of River Crabs for 5 days in Asses Milk and eating the Crabs for 5 days Such a Period seven times performed makes the Cancers very mild so that afterwards they may be cured by the use of simple Epithemes 2. This is an approved Unguent in an exulcerated Cancer Take of Oil of Roses of unripe Olives each half a pound Goat's and Calf's Suet Ointment of Roses Vngu Popul each 2 ounces and an half Juice of Nightshade Plantain Sorrel each one ounce and an half Pomegranate-wine 2 ounces and an half Boil them on a gentle fire to the consumption of the Juices Strain them Put to them of Ceruss 2 drachms and an half Litharge 5 drachms burnt Lead Antimony each 10 drachms Tutty 1 ounce and an half white Wax what is sufficient Arcaeus Make a soft Ointment 3. Oleum Saturni excells all other things it takes off the malignity of the Cancer asswages pain and often cicatrizes exulcerate Cancers Mania or Madness The Contents Frequent Evacuations are necessary I. We must come to white Hellebore II. The Cure by Salivation III. The Efficacy of Nitre IV. It has been cured by Arteriotomy V. The virtue of actual Cauteries VI. We must fly to Trepanning VII It has been cured by scraping off the Skin and Pericranium in part VIII As also by Guelding IX A Madness proceeding from a Turgency of Seed cured by frequent Venery X. The Cure by Infusory Chirurgery XI The use of Laudanum is profitable XII What form of Diet is convenient XIII I. LIke as experience hath taught that other Diseases bred of some malignant matter are sometimes cured by many Evacuations as the French Pox so I have often seen Empiricks cure several of Madness proceeding from a malignant matter by very great and frequent Evacuations such namely as had been left off by other Physicians and I have oft experienced the same my self Bleeding seeing it may evacuate not onely the bloud but together with it the matter of the Disease lurking in the Veins will be the chief and principal Remedy in Melancholy and Madness Which though I know many have not taught yea that some have disallowed yet I have known by long observation that innumerable have been cured this way by those who have profest the Cure of these Diseases who by opening Veins twenty times yea sixty times have so recovered those that were quite mad or melancholick that they have since then liv'd now a long time very well compos'd And they used not to be solicitous in chusing a certain Vein but they open'd this or that in the Arm or Foot and sometime otherwhere indifferently Which kind of Remedy neither ought we to neglect Platerus tom 1. c. 3. though we should use it with greater prudence II. We must come to the more generous Purgatives especially to the more frequent use of black Hellebore yea even of white yet not in substance but in infusion made with Wine yet so that a drachm of the root of white Hellebore be onely infused for the first time in white Wine without boiling the second time boil it but onely gently then boil it more strongly and strain it hard and so proceed by degrees to the strongest Medicines for in this Cure we must persist a good while and that the humours may be brought forth the more easily without danger of suffocation they are to be soften'd and attenuated by bathing the whole body in sweet water not too hot having Mallows Marshmallows Chamaemel-flowers Fenugreek-seed c. boil'd in it and after taking the Hellebore he may drink upon it five or six ounces of Barley Ptisan Sylvat cent 2. cons 53. III. The Evacuation of the whole body by Mercurial Salivation though it be quite rejected by many yet may it be used with benefit for the Cure of Madness Great hope is placed herein when other things have not succeeded Holfinccius cons 8. l. 2. IV. Nitre is commended not without reason for seeing this Malady has its original from the impurity heat and restlesness of the Spirits Nitre does not onely clarifie all thick Smoak and
fumous Flame Sennertus Pr. l. 1. par 2. c. 15. but also fixes things that are volatile V. I remember Arteriotomy has cured some of their Madness that were kept in our Hospital of the Incurables among others a young man of Bologn c. VI. In Madness and Phrensie actual Cauteries are commended by many both Ancients and Moderns nor are they afraid of applying them to the coronal Suture for they are persuaded that the hot and accended Vapours are dissipated out of the Head by exhalation when the skin of the Crown of the head is burnt A Mad-man says Gordonius whilst he kept the Wound of his Head open was free from his Madness which he fell again into assoon as the Wound was healed up Gariopontus bids us cauterize both sides of the Occiput Dodonaeus saw a Mad-man cured by a Cautery applied to the Nape of his Neck The fiery heat of the Spirits seems to dissuade us from it as if they would be more kindled thereby but Epiph. Ferdinandus appealing to experience 'T is wonderfull says he how the Brain is cooled and foul and dark Vapours dissipated by it Rolf. meth p. 413. ¶ That which I have found to profit greatly are Issues for if an Issue be made and be kept open either in the Nape of the Neck or upon the Coronal Suture 't is certainly very profitable because not onely black and hot Vapours are dissipated and brought forth by those holes but it also cools and consequently that black and adust humour is emptied But not onely does an Issue or two in the Head help but if some be made in both Arms and both Legs also they relieve wonderfully And I know that a young Nobleman here at Padua being mad after infinite other Remedies was at last restored to his right mind by four Issues in his Arms and Legs Mercurial l. 1. c. 16. VII The last refuge in this Disease is to apply a Potential Cautery betwixt the Coronal and Sagittal Suture which is let alone till it have so far eroded as that the Bone is laid bare then let the Skull be opened with a Trepan Hartman Pr. Chym. c. 3. l. 2. and let the place remain open for a month VIII I have seen a Mountebank who at the middle of the Coronal and Sagittal Suture scrap'd off the Skin with a Penknife till the Bone was laid bare Severin Med. offic p. 84. and by keeping the Ulcer long open cured some IX A Youth being mad after the use of the most powerfull Remedies as Antimony Arteriotomy and Trepanning was at last guelt whereupon his Madness ceased Form ap River obs 32. but it degenerated into a Melancholick doating X. A Mad woman at Padua speaking always of Venereal things Barthol cent 2. hist 69. being kept in the Hospital and often laid with by the Servants recovered XI A Patient thirty four years old seven or eight years ago became mad upon a disappointment in Love where he had conceived an hope of a vast fortune The first exorbitance was very violent and lasted for ten months without any lucid interval but afterwards recovering his right mind by degrees he was married But before he had been married a year he relapsed and has divers times for these six or seven last years returned to his right mind But it is to be observed 1. That that Indisposition never lasted less than eight or ten months without any relaxation notwithstanding all that could be done 2. That a Person of great fame undertook to cure him and used Venaesection in the Feet Arms Head even till eighteen times and bathed him forty times to say nothing of applications to the Sinciput and Potions But instead of amending the Disease seemed to be made worse by these Remedies His Phrensie was always periodical and never remitted but by little and little And the Remission happened rather when nothing was done to him than when he was toiled with Medicines Last of all about four months ago he relapsed into a delirium in a place about twelve miles distant from Paris where he was shut up yea tied with bands But notwithstanding all the care he one time got loose and escaped being quite naked and ran directly to Paris on a dark night D. Montmorius being moved with Pity resolved to get him into one of the Hospitals but withall thought of Transfusion of which some experiments had been already made But as to the Cure of so great a raving we did not think our selves sufficiently instructed by experience to dare to promise it and our conjectures went no farther than to think that perhaps the fresh Bloud of a Calf might asswage the heat and ebullition of his Bloud if it were mixed with it Therefore on the ninteenth of December D. Emeresius opened the crural Artery of a Calf and made all the necessary Preparations and having let ten ounces of bloud out of a vein in the right Arm of the Patient we could transfuse into it no more than about five or six ounces of the Calf's-bloud because his violent posture and the crowd of Spectatours interrupted us In the mean while the Patient as he said felt a great heat in his Arm and Armpits and perceiving him going to swoon we presently stopt the bloud that was a flowing in and closed up the orifice Yet after two hours he ate his Supper and though he was dull and sleepy betwixt whiles yet he past that night over with the usual exorbitances Yet the next morning we found him less raving whence we believed that by repeating the Transfusion there would a greater alteration be made in him Therefore we prepared our selves to repeat the Transfusion at six a Clock in the evening in the presence of many skifull Physicians Bourdelot Lallier Dodar de Bourges and Vaillant But because the man seemed to be very lean and it was not probable that his bloud offended in quantity after having spent three or four days without sleep or refreshment in the cold running naked about the Streets we onely took two or three ounces of bloud from him at this time and after we had placed him in a convenient posture we performed this second Transfusion in his left Arm more plentifully than we had done before for considering the bloud that remained in the Calf after the operation the Patient must needs have received more than a pound of bloud As this second Transfusion was larger so were its effects quicker and more considerable Assoon as the bloud entred into his Veins he felt the same heat all along his Arm and in his Armpits which he had done before His Pulse was forthwith raised and a while after we observed a great Sweat sprinkled all over his face His Pulse at this moment was very much altered and he complained of a great Pain and Ilness at his Stomach and that he should be presently choaked unless we would let him go The Pipe whereby the bloud was derived into his Veins was