A Plain and Short TREATISE OF AN Apoplexy Convulsions Colick twisting of the Guts Mother Fits Bleeding at Nose Vomitting of Blood Stone in the Kidnies Quinsey Miscarriage Hard Labour Cholora Morbus AND Several other violent and dangerous Diseases that come of a sudden and require present Help SHEWING The Sick or By-standers what ought presently to be done Together with proper Remedies for each Disease and plain Directions for the use of them By J. PECHEY of the College of Physicians in London London Printed for the Author and Sold at his House in Basing-lane near Bread-street 1698. THE PREFACE HAving often considered that there are several Diseases so surprizing and withal so very vioent that the Patient is often dead or past all hopes of recovery before a skilful Physitian in many places can be called or advised with I thought a plain English Treatise of such kind of Diseases might be of general use and that it may suit all conditions of Men all by the frailty of Nature lying open to one or other of these suddain Incursions I have reduced it to a small compass that it may be the easier read over and that each Disease may be the soon er turned to upon any suddain occasion Ordinary Readers being as often at a loss in a large Book as Travellers in a Wood and it is composed in a small Character that as every one may need it so every one may be able to buy it and I have Written it in a plain Stile that every one also may be able to understand it This little Book may be an assistant to Charitable Ladies and Gentlewomen in the Country who like the good Samaritan have never an Hand but what is ready to help their distressed Neighbours here they may find plain directions and the most celebrated Medicines such as the LondonPhysitians most frequently make use of in these Diseases The Traveller and Sea-faring Man when they are far distant from Physitians and destitute of all other help may here also find releif The Medicines prepared by my self that are often mention'd in this Treatise are of great Vertue and Efficacy and have bin found Successful to admiration in cureing several of these Diseases And they keep good many Years and will endure the excess of Heat and Cold in various Climates Therefore very proper for those that live in the country and in the Plantations abroad or go to Sea And indeed every one that has been once seized with any one of these Diseases will undoubtedly wheresoever he dwells think it no small comfort and Security to have an approved Remedy ready at hand in time of need Chap. I. of Sleepy Diseases Coma Lethargy Carus and Apoplexy THese Four sorts of Preternatural Sleep proceed from the same Causes and require the same Methods of Cure and therefore shall be treated of together in this Chapter When any Person is seized with a Sleepy Disease the By-standers must endeavour by all means to rouse him by offering violence to all his Senses and therefore you must expose his Eyes to the Sun-beams or to a clear Light his Ears must be filled with violent Noises and Clamours and you must be sure to call him aloud by his own Name sharp things are to be blown up his Nostrils the sence of Touching must be revived by Rubbings Vellications plucking of the Hair binding of the Members squeezing of the Fingers together and the like he must be presently Blooded if he has Strength but his strength is not to be judged of by the present Circumstances but by such as he was in before the Disease seized him You must first Bleed in the Arm and then in the jugular Vein presently after give the following Vomit Take of the Blessed Wine one Ounce and an half of Carduus water one Ounce of spirit of Juniper-Berries two Drams Make a Vomit Inject two or three sharp Glisters in a Day Take of the Carminative decoction with Bay-berries and Juniper-berries ten Ounces of the Electuary of Bay-berries â—ne Ounce of Blessed Wine and Brown-Sugar each three Ounces of Câ—ymical Oyl of Juniper ten Drops Mix them and make a Glister If a Glister be not rendred in an Hour's time provoke the Belly by a Suppository Take of Hiera â—iâ—ra half an Ounce of Sal Gemma one Dram of Honey a sufficient quantity Make Suppositories The Spirit of Sal Armoniack must be held often to the Nostrils or my Cephalick Tincture which is one of the best Midicines in the World for Sleepy Diseases and indeed for all diseases of the Head and Spirits Things of all kinds that cause Revulsion must be used not only Frictions and Ligatures but also Cupping-Glasses set on the Back Shoulders Arms and Thighs but in an Apoplexy you must not apply Cupping-Classes to the Back or Hypochondres left the Muscles of the Breast and Belly should be contracted and so Respiration more hindred Cupping-Glasses applyed to the Head are counted very proper apply a Blistering Plaister with Euphorbium to the Neck Some according to the custom of the Antients hold a red-hot Frying-Pan to the Head at such a distance as it may burn the Hair but not the Skin Take of the Waters of Rue Balm and Black-Cherries each three Ounces of Compound Peony-water and Compound Syrup of Peony each one Ounce and an half of Tincture of Caster one dram of Spirit of Sal Armoniack half a dram mingle them make a Julop Give four or five Spoonfuls often or ten drops of my Cephalick Tincture in two Ounces of Compound Peony-Water or in a small Glass of Canary In the general Cure of these Diseases you must take notice that in those which poceed from Blood Medicines that heat the least are to be used But Bleeding is to be used freely and afterwards a vein in the Forehead is to be opened and things that purge Choler are to be mixed with those that purge Flegm If the Brain be very much cooled the Sick after universal Evacuations may use Tablets made in the following manner Take of Ambergrease half a Scruple distilled Oyl of the Seeds of Anise Cinnemon and Nutmegs each three drops of Oyls of Cloves one drop of Sugar dissolved in Orange Flower-Water four Ounces make Tablets Let him take a Dram or two every Morning and let him be sure to take twenty drops of my Cephaclic Tincture in two Ounces of Compound Peony-water at Bed-time three Nights before the New Moon It is also proper to hold a Nutmeg often in the Mouth and to chew it and perfumes are often to be held to the Nostrils especially Apoplectick Balsam or my Cephalick Tincture Spices are to be used with Meats and the following digestive Powder after Meals Take of the Seeds of Coriander Sweet-Fennel Caraways each fifteen grains of White Amber one drâ—m of the yellow Peel of Citrons and Flowers of Rosemary each one dram and an half of Nutmegs half a dram of White Sugar three ounces Powder them grosly and give half a Spoonful after Meals
If from too great a quantity of Blood a sleepy Disease is feared the Patient must be sufficiently Blooded and the utmost endeavours must be used to make the Hemorrhoids flow than which nothing can be more advanâ—agious Purging must be also ordered to prevent a Relapse Take of the Pill of Amber and of the lesser Coeh each two scruples of the best Castor six grains of Oyl of Amber a sufficient quanty mix them make 12 Pills take six for a Dose and the other six three days after Or take my Pills which are excellent in these diseases After Purging let the Sick use the following Medicine Take of the Conserves of the Flowers of Male-Peony and of Rosemary each one Ounce of the Bark of Citron Candied â—â—x drams of the Species call'd Diambra aud Dianâ—bos each one dram of Castor Powdered two scruples of compound Spirit of Lavender half a dram with a sufficient quantity of the Syrups of Gilly-flowers and of compound peony make an Electuary Give the quantity of a Nutmeg Morning and Evening daily and let the Sick take two spoonfuls of Black Cherry-water and ten drops of my Cephalic Tincture Morning and Evening presently after the use of the Electuary Take of Amber Powdered one ounce sprinkle the fourth part of it upon the Head every night at Bed time Chap. II. Of Bleeding at Nose Bleeding at the Nose comes at any time of the Year and afflicts those chiefly that are weakly and of a very hot Constitution and more frequently when they are Old than when they are Young In this Case you must do all you can to restrain the violent heat and ebullition of the Blood from whence arises the said unusual Extravasation and to turn the fore of it another way To which end Bleed often in the Arm and take away Blood freely order also a Cooling and Thickening Diâ— as three parts of Fountain-water and one of Milk boyled together and drank Cold roasted Apples Barly Broaths and such like things as are made without Flesh order the Sick to keep from Bed for some time daily and give a gentle cooling Glister every day and let it not be once omitted Give also a draught made of half an ounce of Diacodium and Cowslip-water at Bed time to quell the fury of the Blood but because a sharp humour often accompanies Bleeding at Nose and the like which being mingled with the Blood furthers it's motion and opens the Orifices of the Veins besides revulsion and cooling I usually give the following Purging potion when the Disease is even at it's height Take of Tamarinds half an ounce of sena two drams of Rhubarb one dram and an half Boyl them in a suffâ—cient quantity of water to three ounces of the strained Liquor add of Manna and Syrup of Roses solutive each one ounce make a Potion and after it has done working I give at Bed time a draught made of two ounces of water of Red Popies and one ounce of Diacodium and when the Bleeding is gone quite off I give the Patient some purging potion again As to outward Applications a Linnen Bolster dipt in cold Water wherein Sal prunella has bin disolved may he applyed to the Nape of the Neck and to both the sides of it often in a day and after Bleeding and Purging the following Liquor may be used Take of Hungarian Vitriol and Allom each one ounce of Flegm of Vitriol half a Pint Boyl them till all is dissolved filter the Liquor when it is cold and seperate it from the Cristals that sometimes rise To the remaining Liquor add a twelfth part of Oyl of Vitriol And put a tent dipt in this Liquor into the Nostril from whence the Blood flows and keep it in two days Rags moistened in this Liquor and applyed stop Blood from what parts soever it flows Spitting of Blood which betwixt Spring and Summer befalls weakly People of a hot Constitution whose Lungs are infirm and rather Young People than Old is almost of the same nature with the Bleeding at the Nose and requires almost the same Method of Cure only it will not bear Purging by which especialy if repeated the sick is apt to fall into a Consumption but Bleeding used often a Glifter injected every day a draught made of Dâ—a odium taken at Bed-time and a Dyet thickening and cooling will do the Business effâ—ctually Chap. III. Of Vomiting of Blood VOmiting of Blood from what cause soever it arises is very dangerous for if too great a quantity of Blood be evacuated their is danger of Death if it coagulate in the Stomack and corrupt there it occasions â—ainting It must be cured by Medicines that cause a Reâ—ulsion of the Blood from the Stomach and by such as attemperate it and stop the opening of the Veins And first because an orderly Diet is of great use in this case the common Diet ought to be astringent and cooling as Barley-broths Almond and Rice diet Water-gruel and especially Starch boiled in Milk whereunto may be added a little Rose-water hard Eggs may be also used dipt in Vinegar also Bread dipt in Water and Chicken Broath with Wood-sorrel Purslain and Plantian boyled in it But at the beginning of eating some astringent things should be taken as a Quince baked under the ashes Medlars or the like Let the Sick abstrain from all Salt Pepper'd and Fryed Meats and also from such things as yield a great deal of nourishment unless the Weakness of the Sick requires that they should be taken sparingly He must drink but little and when he does it must be Water wherein iron has bin quenched with a little juice of Lemon in it The Sick must not expose himself to the Winds nor to the rays of the Sun he must Sleep moderately and his Body must be kept open Bleeding must be used sparingly and it must be repeated The Members must be rubbed and bound and cleansing Glisters must be injected Cupping-glases must be applyed to the Buttocks Legs and Loins Let two spoonfuls of Vinegar and Water mixed be given if there be a suspition of clotted Blood for by the use of it it may be easily disolved and driven from the Veins of the Stomach and they will be stop'd thereby foment the Region of the Stomach also with it cold Let the Sick take Morning and Evening four ounces of the juice of Plantain cold Take of old Conserve of Roses and of Comfry Roots each one ounce of Marmalade of Auinces half an ounce one Myrobalane candied troches of Amber and Lemnian earth each two drams of coral prepared and of Saffron of Mars each one dram with Syrup of dryed Roses make an Electuary and let the Sick take the quantity of a Nutmeg Morning and Evening Troches of Amber do not only bind but also disolve clotted Blood and therefore are frequently to be used Tincture of Coral made with the juice of Lemons is also very good But when the Blood is evacuated violently and cannot be stoped by the
Mother and an Inflamation which is suddenly communicated to the Belly which thereupon becomes much swelled and blown up there happens also a great difficulty in Breathing Choakings Beating of the Heart Fainting Convulsions and often Death it self if the Suppression continues And if the VVoman outlives it she is in danger of an Abscess in the VVomb and afterwards of a Cancer or there may happen great Imposthums in the Belly also the Gout Sciatica and Lameness or an Inflamation and Abscess in the Breast The Causes of the Stoppage of the Child-bed Purgations proceed either from a great Loosness or strong Passions of the Mind also from great Colds and cold Drink To bring the Child-bed Purgations well down let the VVoman avoid all Perturbations of Spirit which may stop them let her ly in Bed with her Head and Breast a little raised keeping her self very quiet that so the Humours may be carried downwards by their natural tendency let her observe a good Diet some what hot and moist and apply the Plaster mentioned in the Chapter of Vapours to her Navel Take of the Conserves of Roman Wormwood and of Ruâ— each one Ounce of the Troches of Myrth two Drams of Castor English Saffron Volatile Salt of Salarmoniak and of Assafoetida each half a Dram with a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of the five opening Roots make an Electuary Let her take the quantity of a large Nutmeg every third Hour drinking upon it three or four Spoonfuls of the following Mixture Take the Waters of Pennyroyal and Balm each three Ounces of Compound Briony Water two Ounces of Sypup of Mugwort three Ounces and an half of Saffron two Drams of Castor tyed up in a Rag and hanged in the Glass one Scruple mingle them If these things are used presently upon the Suppression they generally take it off Chap. XIV Of Quinsey A Quinsey comes at any time of the Year especially between Spring and Summer and chiefly seizes Young Men and such as are of a Sanguine Complection and Red Haired People more than any other The Sick shiver and shake presently a Fever follows and a little after a Pain and Inflamation of the Jaws and if the Sick be not presently relieved he can neither-Swallow nor draw his Breath so that he is under the Apprehension of being Strangled by reason the Jaws are stoped by the Inflamation and Swelling There is great danger in this Disease for it sometimes destroys a Man in a few Hours In order to the Cure Bleed presently in the Arm and take away a large quantity of Blood and presently afterwards open the Veins under the Tongue and then touch the inflamed parts with Honey of Roses made very sharp with Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur and the following Gargarism must be used often not in the common way for it must be kept in the Mouth without motion till it wax hot and then it must be spit out Take of the Waters of Plantain Roses and Frogs spawn each four ounces the Whites of three Eggs turned to a Water by beating of White-Sugar-candy three drams make a Gargarism The Patient must also take daily of the Emulsion to be mentioned in the cure of a Pleurisie the next Morning bleed again unless the Fever and difficulty of swallowing abate and defer purging till the next day but if both these are lessened give presently the Lenitive Purge mentioned in the Chapter of the immoderate Flux of the Courses If the Fever and other Symptoms are like to be troublesome after Purging they will be quelled by Bleeding repeated as before and by applying a large and strong Blister to the Neck and by a Glister of Milk and Sugar injected every Morning except when the Sick purges through the whole course of the Disease the use of all kinds of Flesh and their Broths are to be forbid and the Patient must be dieted with Oatmeal and Barley broths roasted Apples or the like and he must drink Small-beer and he must keep from Bed some Hours every day Chap. XV. Of a Pleurisie THis Disease is very frequent and comes at any time but especially betwixt Spring and Summer it chiefly seizes those that are of a Sanguine Constitution and often Country People and those that are accustomed to hard labour it most commonly begins with a shaking and shivering and then heat drough restlesness and other symptoms of a Fever follow After a few Hours but sometimes it is much longer before this symptom comes the Patient is seized with a violent pricking pain in one of his sides about the Ribs which sometimes reaches towards the Shoulder-blades sometimes towards the Back-bone and sometimes towards the Breast he Coughs frequently which occasions great pain so that sometimes he holds his Breath to prevent Coughing the matter which is spit up at the beginning is little and thin and often sprinkled with particles of Blood but in the process of the Disease it is more and more concocted and mixed with Blood Tho' this Disease has an ill Name and is of it self more dangerous than any other yet if it be well managed it is easily cured and indeed as certainly as other diseases As to the cure ten ounces of Blood must be taken presently away from the Arm of the side affected then presently after Bleeding give the following draught Take of Red Poppy-Water four ounces of Salprunella one dram of Syrup of Violets one ounce mingle them â—ake a draught Take of Sweet Almonds number seven of the Seeds of Melons and Pompions each half an ounce of the Seeds of White-Poppies two drams beat them together in a Marble Mortar pouring gently upon them a pint and a half of Barley-water of Rose-water two drams of Sugar-candy half an ounce mingle them make an Emulsion give four ounces every fourth hour Pectorals must also be taken frequently Take of the Pectoral decoction a quart of the Syrups of Violets and Maiden-hair each one ounce and an half mingle them make an Apozem Let him take half a pint thrice a day Take of the Oyl of Sweet-Almonds two ounces of the Syrups of Violets and Maiden-hair each one ounce of Sugar-candy half a dram mingle them make a Linctus of which let the Patient lick often in a day Oyl of Almonds by it self or Linseed-Oyl is often used with good success As to diet you must forbid all Flesh and the Broaths of it tho' never so thin but the Patient may be dyeted with Oaten and Barley Broaths and Panada and let him drink of a Ptisan made of Barley-water and the Roots of Sorrel and Liquorish aud sometimes Small-beer Anoint the pained side Morning and Evening with the following Ointment applying upon it a Cabbage-leaf Take of the Oyl of Sweet-Almonds two ounces of Ointment of Marsh-mallows and Pomatum each one ounce mingle them make an Ointment The Sick must persist in the use of the said Remedies through the whole course of the Disease If the pain be very violent you must take away ten