from the party ready to die If lice be onely in the head in many it preserves their health because they consume much excrementitious humors Lice are engendred in the beginning of the Leprosie and in the second and third kinds of hectick Feavers If they breed much and that all over the body they are not onely very irksome but sometimes bring death The cure First for the prevention of lice and to hinder the breeding of them it will be very necessary to keep the child often changed and to comb often the head and to avoid all meats of ill juyce If the child be of any bignesse the body may be purged in this manner Take of Sene and Polipodium of each two drachmes Fumitory one drachme and a half Cream of Tartar a drach Licorice and Anniseed of each a drachme bruise the Polipodium and Licorice then infuse or steep them all in half a pint of water on hot embers and afterwards gently boyl them strain it and to the clear add of sirup of Roses one ounce let the child take every morning two or three spoâ—nfuls fasting and fast one hour after it then to take some warm posset-drink or broth Make a bath as followeth A Bath Take of Elecampane root bruised two ounces white Briony root bruised half an ounce Beets Mercury Sopewort Centory the lesser of each a handfull Lupines bruised one ounce Nitre half an ounce boyl these in water and make a bath for the head with which let the head be bathed morning and evening warm After bathing anoint the head once or twice a day if a strong child twice if a weak child but once with this oyntment following An oyntment Take of Stavesacre one ounce Wormwood Rue of each half an ounce Brimstone and Nitre of each two drachmes make all into powder and with two or three ounces of oyl of Bayes and one ounce of oyl of Wormwood make an oyntment Or take of Brimstone in powder half an ounce of Stavesacre in powder one ounce oyl of Wormwood two ounces and a half vinegar one ounce make all into an oyntment and use it as before is shewed Or take seawater or else Brine and strong lee of Ashes of each a quart Wormwood a good handful or two boyl it a while therein and afterwards wash the body or head therewith Many use stronger oyntments made with Arsenick or Quicksilver and white Hellebor but for young children it is not safe to use them This powder following is very good and safe A powder good and safe for Lice in the head Take of Coculus Indy a quarter of an ounce white Pepper a drachme beat them into a grosse powder and strew it into the heads of children for it will soon destroy the lice Or you may dip a comb in strong Mercury water or water made with Arsenick and so comb the childs head therewith CHAP. 3. Of the Scab and Itch. THe Scab and Itch is an infection of the skin sometimes with crusts or scabs sometimes dry sometimes onely in the head and sometimes in the whole body and doth much provoke to scratching The cause These come from the sharpnesse of the milk or from some salt humour abounding in the body and sometimes they bring this infection into the world with them The signes The signs are manifest Prognosticks If the Scab or Itch be small and do not hinder sleep it is the easier cured but if it do much molest and disquiet the childe in the night it is the more difficult to cure If they be of long continuance and have got a habit in the body they are not easily cured The cure For the cure of the Itch and Scab many use to give common Treacle which I do not approve of but rather advise to use flower of Brimstone morning and evening in milk or Posset drink Also sirup of Fumitory is good to give often half a spoonful thereof to children of growth If the head be scabby it is usual to anoint with burnt butter but this many times strikes into the body and makes the child sick You may anoint with this oyntment following An Oyntment Take oyl of Roses four ounces quick Brimstone in powder one ounce juice of Lemmons two ounces Rosin three ounces make all into an oyntment and anoint the head face or body with it but observe this that you do not anoint all over where the itch or scab is but anoint first at one place and when that is killed then use it to another place and so the rest one after another You may also anoint with the white Camphire oyntment or with Tarr and Hogs grease boyled together or you may use a decoction of Tobacco stalks boyled in water and vinegar If the Itch or Scab be hot and burning then use this oyntment following Take white lead and Lytharge of gold in fine powder of each five drachmes lee made of the ashes of a vine three drachmes oyl of Roses an ounce wax as much melt the wax and oyl first then put in the rest keeping it stirring and last of all add two yolks of eggs or rather the whites make an oyntment and use it See more in my book called Help for the Poor in Itch and Scab pag. 21 22. Cap. 23. CHAP. 4. Of the Falling sicknesse and convulsion THhese are diseases very incident to children newly born and because they are so neer of affinity I shall joyn them together The cause The falling sicknesse cometh sometimes by consent of the inferior or lower parts especially of the stomach and bowels when milk is corrupted in the stomach or hath an ill quality which doth often happen when the nurse is of an ill complexion or from the nurses ill dyet and to frequent drinking of wine and so ill vapors arise from the stomach too the brain and affect the membranes thereof or worms the Small Pox and Measels or Fevers may cause these fits or primarily it may come from the brain being ill affected Sometimes it may be Hereditary and come from the Parents Also vehement pains of the teeth whereby the brain is drawn into consent may cause convulsions in children Moreover sudden fears or beating the child may occasion these fits Some will have flegme to be the cause of the Falling sicknesse but if it were so then why might not old men whose brains are flegmatick have the Falling sicknesse and Infants as well as old men be taken with the Apoplexy which notwithstanding we see by experience doth not happen Therefore the falling sicknesse doth not proceed from flegme but rather from an occult and sharp quality which doth oppresse the membranes of the brain For although children do abound with flegme from whence suffocating rheumes and other diseases be bred yet doth not the Falling sicknesse follow except there be some venomous and corrupt vapour joyned therewith The signs The signs are manifest But whether it proceed from vitious or corrupt milk or from worms the small Pox or Measels breeding of
joyned therewith Those sores and ulcers of the mouth in children that are black and with crusts or scales are worst of all and many times prove mortal The cure In the beginning we must use astringent or binding and repelling or medicines to drive back afterwards medicines binding but withall discussing If there be onely heat and inflammation then we must use cooling means and a little binding If these sores come from the fault of the milk then the Nurse must keep a good Dyet and avoid all hot sharp and salt meats Give the child often sirup of Mulberries with hony of Roses and if need be with Oxymel If they be red then use medicines moderatly binding as sirup of dry Roses sirup of Purslain sirup of Grapes Sorrel Citrons and Mulberries with the powder of Lentils Sumach and red Roses If they be yellow use cooling meanes as sirup of Violets sirup â—f Purslain c. Or take the juyce of Lettice Purslain Nightshade of each half an ounce mix them together and use it with a feather Or take of red Roses and Violets in powder of each a drachme Hony one ounce and a half or as much sirup of Mulberries mix them together and use it Or take of Plantain water half an ounce hony of Roses and sirup of Mulberries of each half an ounce mix them together and wash the childs mouth often with it Or take of French Barly half an ounce Agrimony Plaintain red Roses of each a handful boyl these in water strain it and in six ounces thereof mix of sirup of Mulberries half an ounce hony of Roses one ounce and a half and if there be need you may add half a drachme of Allom which will make it more cleansing Or take of Rosewater or Plantain water one ounce hony of Roses half an ounce oyl of Vitriol so many drops as may make it sharp mix them together and wash the mouth therewith CHAP. 8. Of fevers in Children CHildren are many times taken with burning fevers as well as with Quotidian Tertian and quartain Agues The cause The cause of fevers in children may arise from corrupt milk for when the milk doth putrifie choller is stirred up and also the rest of the humours are inflamed from whence cometh fevers Sometimes fevers may proceed from the breeding of teeth sometimes from pains inflammation and overmuch watching as Hippocrates witnesseth Hip. Aph. 3. 25. The Signs The signs of a Fever in children are these Great heat and drynes rednes of the tongue and throat want of rest urine red sometimes thick and sometimes thin quicknesse of the pulse much inquietnesse and many times raving and idle talke if they be of any bignes If fevers come from the breeding of teeth then you have the signs in the Chapter of breeding of teeth The Prognosticks These fears being but gentle are not dangerous for the cause being taken away they soon cease but if the milk continue long corrupt and vitious then children are much indangered by these fevers If sharp fevers come upon children while they breed their teeth they are seldom taken with convulsions sometimes fluxes of the belly and great watchings accompany these fevers whereby children are soon suffocated The cure If the fever proceed from corrupt milk then choller doth abound the mother or nurse therefore must use cooling and moistening means as broth or posset-drink made with Lettice Endive Sorrel Violet leaves straberry leaves c. Also Almond milk made with the four cooling seeds and Barly water are very useful The mother or nurse must abstain from Wine hot water and all hot spices and may use some purging means as Manna two ounces thereof may be taken in broth or clear posset drink or three ounces of sirup of Roses solutive or one ounce or one ounce and a half of Cassia in the same you may give the child often sirup of Violets sirup of the juyce of Citrons half a spoonful at a time or Take one ounce of sirup of Violets and add to it as much Endive water and give the child a spoonful at any time A Julep Or take of Borrage water four ounces sirup of Violets or sirup of Citrons one ounce and a half spirit of Vitriol five or six drops mix them together and let the child take often two or three spoonfuls at a time If the body of the child be bound you may put up a Violet comfit or two first anointed with a little oyl or give one ounce of sirup of Roses solutive more or lesse according to the age of the child in posset drink in a morning Or give half an ounce of Manna dissolved in posset drink Anoint the back and ridge of the child with oyl of Violets mixed with a little wax And anoint the stomach with some of this oyntment following An oyntment Take oyl of Roses and Mastick in powde of each half an ounce red and white Saunders in powder red Coral in powder of each x scruple wax two drachmes make an ointmen and use it as before mentioned A Pultis Or take of red Roses in powder two drachmes the juyce of plantain Housleek and Endive of each half an ounce with the white of an egg and some Barly flower make a pultis and apply it to the stomach Anoint the temples and wrests with oyl of Roses and oyl of Populcon of each a little quantity mixed together If the fever proceed from breeding of teeth use means to help nature herein as in the first Chapter CHAP. 9. Of the small Pox and measels Of smal Pox and Measels are diseases that most children are troubled with first or last They are both of one nature and proceed from one cause saving that the measels are ingendred of the inflammation of blood and the small Pox of the inflammation of blood mingled with Choler What the small Pox are The small Pox are spots red pustules appearing in the skin with a continual fever stirred up or excited from the strength of the expulsive faculty and ebullition or boyling of the blood What the Measels are The Measels are spots or risings upon the outside of the skin in some parts more or lesse with a Fever by reason of the strength of of the expulsive faculty and heat or boyling of the blood The difference between the small Pox and the Measels At the first appearing they are so like one another that you can hardly discern the difference The Measels most times come more suddenly the face the skin of the whole body looks redder and the rednes continues longer without rising there being joyned therewith most commonly a greater itching and pricking But the small Pox come not forth so suddenly neither is the skin so red nor doth the colour stay so long and the pimples rise higher neither is the itching and pricking so much and at length grow white The cause There are two chief causes thereof First the reliques and impurity of the mothers blood with which the child was nourished
the brain Let the nurse take often of this pectoral decoction Take of Figs and Jujubes of each twenty in number Sebestens thirty in number Raisons of the sun stoned ten drach Licorice 2. drachmes Maidenhair Hyssop and Violets of each an ounce boyl them in three pints of water to the consumption of the third part then being strained give it as before If the child be bound you may give it sirup of Roses Manna or Cassia And give the child oyl of sweet Almonds with white Sugar candy which will not onely loose the belly but ease the Cough If shortnesse of breath proceed from fulnesse of the stomach and hypochonders then give the child some Hony mixed with a little Fenegreek seed and Comin seed in powder Afterwards give the juyce of Fennel in milk or sirup of Jujubes or sirup of Maidenhair or make Almond milk with some Pine kernels in Colts foot water or Scabious water and sweeten it with sugar Candy Or Take one ounce of sugar Pellets and being dissolved in two ounces of Hyssop water warm them on the fire and give a spoonful often of it Or you may give sugar Candy and Hyssop water in the same manner If the child be of any bignes you may give it often pectoral Roules or Trosses to eat or sugar Pellets Let the breast be anointed morning and evening warm with oyl of sweet Almonds mixed with Capons grease or sweet Butter or with the oyntment called Pectorale Or Take of the oyntment called Resumptivum oyl of sweet Almonds of each one ounce Capons grease and Goose grease of each two drachmes mix them together and use it To dry up the Rheume lest the childs headclothes be perfumed with the powder of red Roses and Frankincense at night And you may bath the childs feet with a decoction made with Rosemary Sage Marjoram c. And afterwards anoint the feet with oyl of Bayes or oyl of Costus warm And because the Rheume sometimes falls down by the rough artery so that the nostrils of the child are dry and much stopped therefore you must anoint the same with fresh Butter or put up some therein or with oyl of sweet Almonds or with this following Take of the juyce Beets of and Marjoram of each two drachmes of the juyce of Chickweed half an ounce oyl of sweet Almonds one ounce mix them together and anoint the nostrils therewith or put up Basil Cloves or Marjoram in powder into the nostrils to provoke sneesing that thereby the matter which flowes down by the rough Artery may flow out of the nose If the Cough hinder the child from sleeping give it at night of sirup of Jujubes sirup of Violets and sirup of white Poppy of each a like quantity mixed together or give Conserve of red Roses if the child be of any bignesse CHAP. 13. Of vomiting and weaknesse of the stomach MAny times the childs stomach is so weak that it cannot retain any sustenance taken The cause The cause hereof is either abundance of milk which the child greedily sucketh or the ill quality of the milk or worms from whence ill humours are stirred up and so cause vomiting It may also proceed from flegme falling down upon the stomach but this is more rare in children and doth not often happen The signs If it come from abundance of milk sucked the Nurse may soon know it besides the childe after vomitting is better If it proceed from the corruption of the milk 't is known by the quality thereof for the milk is yellow green or of some other bad colour which is vomited up and hath an ill savour or smell also the milk of the Nurse is not good If worms be the cause then you have the signs in the Chapter of worms The Prognosticks Vomiting in children is most times little dangerous for it is a common saying among women that those children are most lively and vivacious that being young do vomit and there wants not reason to second this opinion for the child being newly born hath some vitious humours in the stomach which was collected in it's mothers womb and then receiving fresh nourishment from the Nurse which it was not accustomed to moreover the stomach being lax or loose moist and weak it soon happeneth that the milk is corrupted Therefore if these vitious humours be cast out by vomit it is far better then if they were retained in the stomach If vomiting proceed from abundance of milk there is lesse danger and most times after vomiting the childe is better If from the corruption of the milk it is worse because thereby may follow other dangerous symptomes If vomiting continue long it is dangerous because it may bring an Atrophy or leannesse of the whole body and so death at length If that which is vomited be white and flegmatick 't is better then if it be yellow green or blackish The cure If vomiting proceed from too great plenty of milk sucked then let not the childe suck so often nor so long If it come from corruption of the milk then the fault of the milk must be mended as is before declared and that which is corrupt must be cleansed by the use of syrupe of Roses solutive or hony of Roses solutive Now that the stomach of the childe which is weak and loose may be strengthened you may use syrupe of Mints syrupe of Qâ—inces c. Or A powder or lohoch Take of wood Aloes red Coral Mastick of each half a drach Galangal half a scruple make them into powder and give of it to the child in milk as much as will lye upon two pence or three pence at a time or make a lohoch or licking medicine thereof with syrup of Quinces and give it often to the childe Marmalade of Quinces also is very good for the child or a Quince rosted tender and given with Sugar and Cloves in powder Apply outwardly to the stomach the plaister of a crust of bread the Cerot called distomachale or a crust of bread wet in Muscadel Or Take oyl of Mastick oyl of Quinces oyl of Mints oyl of Wormwood of each half an ounce oyl of Nutmegs by expression half a drachme Cloves in powder a scruple mix them together and anoint the stomach therewith morning and evening warm Or Take of red Roses half a handful Mints a drachme Cyperus roots and Myrtle berries of each two drachmes Boyl them in red wine and bathe the childes stomach therewith warm Or Wet a spunge or wollen cloth therein and lay it warm to the stomach Or Take Mastick Frankincense red Roses of each two drachmes Cloves a scruple make them into powder and with the juice of Mints or the distilled water thereof make a Pultis and lay it to the stomach Or Take of oyl of Mastick or oyl of Wormwood two ounces wax one ounce and a half Cloves Mace and Cynamom in powder of each two drachmes make all into an oyntment adding thereto a little Vinegar Anoint the stomach with it
digestion If the Infant suck or not and the flux be of some continuance means must be used to stay it and such means as first cleanse and then bind the body as sirup of Roses solutive or hony of Roses solutive Clysters may be used A Clyster Take of Barly water made with steel four ounces red Sugar one ounce mix them together and make a Clyster Where the humours are cleansed and the flux doth proceed from a hot cause give sirup of dry Roses sirup of Quinces sirup of Mirtles sirup of red Coral c. Or give the powder of Mirtles with a little Dragons blood or give Sorrel seed Plantain seed or red Roses in powder with the yolk of an Egg rosted at the fire Or Take of Mullein flowers red Roses of each half a small handful of Comfry roots the greater and Tormentil roots of each a drach bruise the roots and boyl them all in water strain it and to three ounces of the clearest add one ounce of sirup of Quinces and give the child often of it or take Nutmeg and Mastick in powder of each a scruple give it at twise with the juyce or a scruple of Quinces Or Take Acorn cups Sorrel seed and the kernels of Raisons dryed of each a drachme white Poppy seed half a drachme make them into powder and give ten grains or twenty grains of it morning and evening in sirup of Quinces or sirup of red Coral Outward means must be used also Take oyl of Mirtles oyl of Roses oyl of Mastick of each one ounce with half an ounce of wax make an ointment and anoint the belly therewith morning and evening warm Or Bath the belly with a decoction made of red Roses Mullein Plantain in red Wine Or Take red Rose leaves Mullein of each a handful Cipres roots two drachmes Mastick half an ounce make them into grosse powder and make a quilt or bag which being boyled in red Wine apply it warm to the belly Or Take of the pulpe of Quince boyled in red Wine 4. ounces of tosted bread wet in Vinegar one ounce and a half with a little oyl of Mastick make a Pultis and apply it to the belly and stomach warm Or lay to the belly a plaister of a crust of bread or the Cerot called Stomachale If it come from a cold cause and that the excrements be white give sirup of Quinces with Mint water Some commend the maw of a Kid or Hare if ten grains thereof be given and the child to take no milk that day least it curdle in the stomach but give it bread boyled in water with Rosewater and Sugar Apply outwardly Mints Wormwood Mastick and Comin seed Or Take of Rose seeds one ounce Comin seed and Annised of each two drachmes make them into powder and with oyl of Mastick oyl of Wormwood and a little wax make an ointment and use it warm to the belly Or Apply Mints boyled in red Wine to the stomach or a crust of bread wet in Mint water or make a quilt or bag of Mints Wormwood red Roses Mastick Nutmegs and Cloves and apply it to the belly CHA.P. 18. Of Costivenes or stopping of the belly AS Children are often troubled with fluxes of the belly so are they many times troubled with stopping thereof The cause It may proceed from extream cold and drynesse of the belly which happens to some children from their birth or from tough and flegmatick humours which are as it were rowled up with the excrements and cleave so fast to the bowels that they are hardly voided or from corrupt milk with which the childe is nourished from whence tough and flegmatick humours are bred in the stomach which cometh to passe by reason of the weaknesse thereof as also when the mother or nurse feed upon tough meats and drink but little for it seldom happeneth that children are fed with such dyet except grown children or it may come from the intemperate heat of the Liver spleen or reins of the childe whereby the excrements become dry or it may happen when Choller that comes from the gall and should be carried down to the bowels is turned some other way The Signs The signs are manifest If it be from a natural drynesse then the childe is constantly bound and stopt If tough and thick flegme be the cause the excrements that are voided are mixed with the same If there be any error in the Mother or Nurse by ill dyet that is easily known If it be from the heat and drinesse of the Liver and Spleen or Kidneys it is known by those signs that shew the heat of those parâ—s If Choller be turned an other way and that be the cause then the excrements are white and not dyed at all with Choller and the skin of the child looks yellow The Prognosticks Children that are much bound in their bodies have seldom their health well and it is far better for youth to have their bellies loose then bound ill vapours arise from the excrements to the whole body and cause gripings of the belly pain of the head and many other distempers The cure First let the Mother or Nurse use a loosening dyet and such things as are mollifying And let them take also Manna Cassia or sirup of Roses or a little Hony in the morning If the child be of some reasonable growth then you may give it Manna or Cassia as from two drachmes to one ounce or if it be young you may give it half an ounce or one ounce of sirup of Roses Suppositories also made of Hony and Salt and put up into the body are good and safe or Violet comfits anointed with oyl and so used or Clisters may be given as take common oyl two three or four ounces of brown Sugar two or three drach the yolk of an egg Salt three or four corns make a Clyster and administer it Or Take of Marsh-mallowes half an ounce common Mallowes Pellitory of the Wall of each half a handful Cammomil flowers Linseed and Fenigreek bruised of each a drachme boyl them in sufficient water and take of the strained liquor three four or six ounces according to the age of the childe in which dissolve of Cassia two three or four drachmes common oyl one ounce or one ounce and a half with the yolk of an egg make a Clyster You may anoint the Navil of the childe with Butter or oyl of sweet Almonds either alone or mixed with a grain or two of Scammony or Coloquintida The Gall of an Ox or Cow laid upon a clout and so laid on the Navel causeth loosenesse or a plaister made with the gall of an Ox a rosted Onyon and Butter mixed together and applyed warm to the belly doth the same If you desire stronger means then take the juice of Walwort and Mildust boyl them together and apply them warm to the Navel CHAP. 19. Of Worms AMong all the diseases that are incident to children this of Worms is not the least There are
in use as Aloes Sea-mosse Wormseed c. The manner of giving them you may see in my Book of the nature of Simples Wormseed and Figs Wormseed and hony or wormseed and muscadine is a very good medicine for children that are of some bignesse if you give it in the morning fasting and let them fast one hour after it Give this powder following Take of Wormseed and mosse of each a drachme and a half white Dittany roots and Tormentil roots of each half a drachme make all into powder and give it from ten grains to a scruple or more in any convenient liquor Or Take of Wormseed two drachmes Seamosse Harts horn burnt of each a drachme Piony root white Dittany magister of Coral of each a scruple make all into powder and take it as before If a Fever be joyned therewith then use medicines more cooling and such as resist malignity as the juyce of Lemons and Oranges Vinegar Harts horn Bezar c. Or make this Potion Take of the distilled water of Grasse four ounces sirup of Citrons one ounce sirup of Violets half an ounce spirit of Vitriol two or 3. drops mix them together for a Julep and give a spoonful or two thereof at any time Also note that in killing worms bitter things be given at the mouth and sweet things administred by Clysters for by the bitter things they descend lower and feeding on the sweet they are soon brought away after the giving of any medicine to kill worms you may give a Clyster of milk and Sugar or this following Take of Raisons in number ten Figs in number seven boyl them in water strain it and in 4. or 6. ounces of the decoction dissolve of Sugar one or two ounces Note also if one medicine do not bring away Worms that you must use variety of medicines or continue one medicine for some time as about the full of the Moon give your medicine at the least two or three dayes together Give a spoonful of sirup of Succory with Rubarb for divers mornings together Before you give medicines to children for the Worms it is convenient to give sweet and fatty things as milk Hony Sugar c. And it is very profitable to mix sweet things with such medicine as we give for the Worms Outward means to kill worms Outward means are to be used also as you may boyl Wormwood and Centory Peach leaves and Lupins in water and apply them warm to the belly or apply Cumin seed with Ox Gall or Bulls gall or anoint the belly with the oyl of Savin or oyl of Rue morning and evening warm Or Take of London Treacle or Mithridate half an ounce mix it with the juice of Wormwood spread it on leather and lay it to the belly Or Take of Pills called sine quibus half a drachme Wormwood in powder a drachme Myrrhe and Aloes in powder of each two scruples Lupins in powder a drachme and a half with Ox gall make a plaister and lay it to the belly CHAP. 20. Of Ruptures or Burstings The cause CHildren are often troubled with this disease and that chiefly male children and the cause may be from too much crying coughing and too frequent going to stool In elder children it may come by too much motion of the body as running or leaping by a fall or riding astride for the Rim or film of the belly in children is but weak and doth soon break or grow loose and so the guts fall into the cods The signs The signs are manifest The Prognosticks The Rupture in children is more easie to cure then in Elder persons and that because the Rim of the belly is as yet more soft and so is sooner joyned together Some hold that all watery Ruptures are worse to cure then the Rupture wherein the guts fall into the cods but in infants 't is not so for experience doth witnesse that the watery Rupture is cured soon with fit means as they grow up to any bignesse The cure In Ruptures of the bowels care must be had that the childe be loose bellyed and that it take not too great plenty of nourishment wherby the belly may be distended or swollen also the child must be kept from crying and from all vehement motion For the cure hereof lay the childe upon his back that his head may be lower then his feet and gently reduce the bowels with your hand into their due place but first let the place be anointed with oyl of water Lillies or oyl of Cammomil then apply this Pultis following A Pultis Take of Plantain leaves and Sanicle of each half an ounce meal of Lentils and Lupins red Roses of each three drachmes Olibanum a drachme Allom half a drachme make them into powder and take part of it and with the white of an egg beaten make a Pultis and apply it warm or make this Plaister A Plaister Take of the oyntment called Desiccativum two ounces Mastick Olibanum Sarcocol Cypresse nuts in powder of each a drachme with a little wax and oyl of Mastick make a loft plaister apply it to the place and binde it on or get a Trussand put on Or you may apply a Plaster of the plaister called Emplastrum ad Herniam Or take the leaves of thorough wax and the root of great Comfrey bruise them and apply it warm on a linnen cloth after twelve hours put on fresh and so apply four or five one after another Or take great Comfrey root bruised and cleansed apply it as the former Inward means Inward means are also very necessary as give the childe five or ten grains of Osmund oyal or water Fern more or lesse as the childe is in bignesse in milk or pap morning and evening or give as much of the herb called Rupturewort Or Take Sanicle Plantain of each half an handful Egrimony a handful Comfrey root the greater half an ounce boyl them in about a pint of water strain it and being sweetned with Sugar give the childe often to drink of it Or Take Comfrey the greater and Knotgrasse of each a handful Boyl them in milk and give the childe often of it Mous-ear in powder is very profitable being given in milk or pap So is small Moonwort boyled in red wine alone or boyled with Comfrey and so taken Thorough wax also taken in powder or decoction helpeth Ruptures Be sure the bowels be wel put up before inward or outward means be used If the Cod be swollen of reason of water use oyl of Elder oyl of Rue or oyl of Bay or make Pultis of Bean flower Linseed Fenegreek Camomil flowers Elder flowers and Cumin seed in powder and with a sufficient quantity of oil of Elders make it up Let the childe be kept in bed and as quiet as may be and to avoid all windy and watery meats CHAP. 21. Of swelling or coming forth of the Navel The cause THis may happen when the Navel is not well bound and when it is cut too long or when the
Rim of the belly is loosened and from thence watery and windy humours get in and causeth the Navel to swell which is caused from too much crying of the childe or coughing or it may come to passe when the Rim of the belly is broken or when the Navel is ulcerated and the guts fall down to the Navel which disease is called properly Exomphalon and Omphalocele The signs The signs are manifest The Prognosticks If the Midwife do not rightly cut the Navel of the childe but leave it longer then is meet this is not to be helped but yet 't is more troublesome then dangerous This disease being not of long continuance is easily cured but continuing long it is hardly cured and many times remains uncurable If it be not cured in Infants it may in grown years especially if the bowels being fallen down be inflamed bring the Iliack passion and so death A History And now while I am writing this I have a Patient about fifty years of age who for many years had a Rupture of her Navel and and on the 26. of this August 1652. she was taken with the Iliack passion who vomited very much and on the 27. day she vomited up her excrements neer a bason full at a time and though Clysters were administred to her yet all in vain for they come still away without any thing else and whatsoever she took at the mouth came up again so on the 30. day she dyed The cure If therim of the belly be onely relaxed or loosened binding and strengthening means are to be used but if broken then vomiting and consolidating means are to be used Let the child be kept from crying and use all means to quiet it and to bring it to rest If there be a Cough use means to mitigate the same and let the child avoid all vehement motion Bathing is not convenient for hereby the Navel is made more loose Both Nurse and Children must avoid all windy and flatulent meats Let the belly be kept so loose that ther may not be too much straining of the body in going to stool Then if the rim of the belly be loosened and wind extend the Navel Take of Comin seed Bayberries Lupines in powder of each half an ounce with red Wine make a Pultis and apply iâ— warm Or take Cow dung in powder Barly flower and Bean flower of each one ounce Comin seed in powder half an ounce with the juyce of Knotgrasse make a Pultis and apply it to the navel Or Take Cow dung and boyl it in milk and lay it to the navel Or make a bag with Comin seed and Spikenard then boil them in red Wine and apply it to the navel laying a bolster thereon binding it hard with a swade band If the rim of the belly be broke then use those meanes set down in the Chapter foregoing CHAP. 22. Of inflammation of the Navel The cause SOmetime the Navel of the child is inflamed which happeneth after the cutting of the Navel and especialy being exposed to the cold air The Signs This is known by swelling and hardnesse of the Navel by rednes heat and beating thereof The Prognosticks If this disease be taken in time it is easily cured But if it be not soon cured a Fever will follow If the inflammation turn to an impostume and break and the bowels falling down many times it brings death to the child The cure Let the Navel be anointed with oyl of Roses or with ointment of Roses mixed with Populeon ointment Or Take of Mallowes boyled and bruised one ounce Barly meal half an ounce Lupines and Fenegreek in powder of each two drach with a little oyl of Roses make a Pultis and apply it Or Take Spikenard half an ounce being in powder Turpentine 3. ounces with oyl of sweet Almonds one ounce make an oyntment and use it If it come to suppuration or matter Take of Turpentine half an ounce the yolk of one Egg oyl of Roses two ounces mix them together and use it morning and evening Or Apply a Plaister of the oyntment called Diapompholigos or of the same oyntment and the ointment called Desicativum Rubrum mixed together CHAP. 23. Of the swelling of the Cods The cause Many times the Cods of children are swollen which may happen by reason of water or wind and by too much motion of the child The signs are manifest The Prognosticks This disease although it be easily cured in children yet if it be inveterate many times it proves dangerous and hinders generation The cure Let the cods be anointed with oyl of Lillies oyl of Camomil or oyl of Dill. Or apply this following Take Cow-dung boyl it in milk and apply it warm Or Take a quart of Ale-wort boyl it with crums of bread leavened and one ounce of Comin seed bruised or in powder with a sufficient quantity of Bean flower make a Pultis and apply it warm Or Take Linseed and Fenegreek bruised or in powder of each one ounce Camomil and Hollihock bruised or cut small of each a handful boyl them in water then with a sufficient quantity of Bean flower make a Pultis and lay it on warm If there be any inflammation and it be at the beginning you may take a handful of Plantain leaves bruise it and with the white and yolk of an Egg and a little oyl of Roses make a Pultis and apply it twise in a day If the pain be very extream and the child be strong and of a reasonable growth take of Henbane leaves bruised one handful Mallowes as much boyl them in water till they be tender then with Bean flower Barly flower oyl of Roses and oyl of Camomil make a Pultis and apply it warm otherwise if the pain be not very great use no repercussives or such medicines as strike in the humour or drive the matter back for that will be dangerous CHAP. 24. Of falling of the fundament The cause THis disease happeneth when there is a relaxation or resolution of the muscles which closeth the fundament Now the cause hereof is too much moistnes softnes which doth frequently follow a flux of the belly or it may come from a sodain cold or by too much straining when children go to stool especially when the body is bound whereby the fundament cometh forth and cannot return into his place again which doth easily happen in children because their bodies are moist and soft and the muscles as yet but loose and languid or weak The signs are manifest The Prognosticks If the fundament fall or go out by too much straining in going to the stool it is more easily cured if means be used in time But the longer the fundament hath been out the more harder it will be to reduce it in again If it proceed from too much moisture it is more difficult to cure especially if the flux of the belly be joyned therewith for the disease can hardly be cured till the flux be stayed moreover those necessary medicines
De Morbis Querorum OR A TREATISE OF The Diseases of Children WITH Their Causes Signs Prognosticks and Cures for the benefit of such as do not understand the Latine Tongue and very useful for all such as are House-keepers and have Children With the Contents of the several Chapters as also an Alphabetical Table of all the Diseases mentioned herein By ROBERT PEMELL Practitioner in Physick at Cranebrooke in Kent May the 29. 1653. LONDON Printed by J. Legatt for Philemon Stephens at the guilded Lion in Pauls Church-yard 1653. The Authour to the Reader Kind Reader PRomise is a debt In my Book of the nature of Simples I did promise to do something more that might be helpful to young Practitioners as also to the Vulgar I have therefore taken some pains to write concerning the diseases of Children and have handled them methodically that so it might be more useful and profitable to such as shall Read the same And because I see my glasse runs apace and I know not how short my time is therefore I have made the more hast and taken the present advantage yet have I not made it my hoc age my onely busines but have done it at rapt hours Whatever I have done I now offer it to thy view and submit to thy Charitable censure desiring my good will and affection may be accepted December 1. 1652. Thine to serve in what I may Robert Pemel Medicus The Contents of the several Chapters OF Vlcers and sores in childrens heads Chapter 1. Of Lice Chap. 2. Of the Scab and Itch. Chap. 3. Of the Falling sicknesse and Convulsion Chap. 4. Of pain in the ears with inflammation Chap. 5. Of breeding and coming of Teeth Chap. 6. Of inflammation of the mouth and throat with ulcers and sores thereof Chap. 7. Of Feavers Chap. 8. Of the small Pox and Measels Chap. 9. Of watching out of measure and want of rest Chap. 10. Of fear starting and terrible Dreams Chap. 11. Of Rheume the Cough and shortnesse of breath Chap. 12. Of Vomiting and weaknesse of the stomach Chap. 13. Of the Consumption or leannesse and of the Rickets Chap. 14. Of the Hicket Chap. 15. Of Gripings and fretings in the belly Chap. 16. Of loosenesse and flux of the belly Chap. 17. Of Costivenesse and stopping of the belly Chap. 18. Of Worms Chap. 19. Of Ruptures and Burstings Chap. 20. Of swelling or coming forth of the Navel Chap. 21. Of inflammation of the Navel Chap. 22. Of the swelling of the Cods Chap. 23. Of falling of the Fundament Chap. 24. Of the Stone and difficulty of making water Chap. 25. Of Pissing in bed Chap. 26. Of the disease called Saint Anthonies fire or wilde fire as also of burning and scalding Chap. 27. Of fretting chafing or galling of the skin in the groines Chap. 28. Of the diseases of Children CHA.P. I. Of Ulcers and sores in Childrens heads CHildren are many times troubled with running sores and ulcers in their head both when they suck and when they be weaned The cause The cause hereof are excrementitious humors thin and sharp or they proceed from a mixt humour partly thin and sharp and partly thick and melancholy and altogether salt and nitrous from whence these ulcers and sores look sometimes white sometimes red sometimes yellow and sometimes black alwayes salt and fretting whereby they cause itching and from thence they are forced often to scratch Now these humours are gathered together or produced partly in the womb from the impurity of the mothers blood whereby the infant is nourished partly from the vitiousnesse or corruption of the milk whereby the infants are nourished either from the mother or nurse The signs are Manifest These sores and ulcers if they be but gentle and easie are judged to be very healthful for children because nature expelleth ill and noxious humours from the inward parts to the outward and if they dry up many times children fall into fears and other diseases Hippocrates * De morb sac fol. 139. saith that if ulcers or sores arise in the heads of children or in their ears or face or in any other part of their body they are freed from the falling sicknesse These ulcers are many times cured without means as strength and age increaseth If they continue long and run much it is to be feared least these exulcerations pierce to the skul and brain If these ulcers continue long and grow crusty and black they are hard to cure The cure Concerning the Cure care must be taken that such things as are cooling and binding be not used Let the Nurse use a good Dyet and abstain from all sharp and salt meats and such as breed vitious or bad juyces as Onions Garlick Leeks Peese Beans Raddish salt Beef Porke c If the Nurse have need of purging give her a purge of the Electuary called Confectio Hamech or Diacatholicon and let her use Burrage Buglosse Fumitory Sorrel Succoâ—…y c. Or sirup of any of these The child if of any bignesse may take the sirups likewise or half an ounce of Manna or more according to its age A Bath First let the childs head be bathed with a decoction of Mallows and Barly or with a decoction of Dock roots mallows Celendine the greater Wormwood Fenegreek Cicers Lupines Beans c. If there be need of greater cleansing you may boyl the foregoing herbs in wine or make a Lotion with decoction of Marshmallow roots made with Urine of the infant alone or mixt wih Barly water Then anoint the head with oyl of Roses and oyl of bitter Almonds mixed with a little litharge of gold or silver in fine powder or take of the juyce of Beets and Celendine the greater of each one ounce Hogs grease two ounces boyl them together a while then being almost cold put in of Brimstone in powder a drachme make an ointment with which anoint the parts affected morning and evening Or wash the head with Sope-suds made strong If these ulcers eat to the skul then use hony of Roses mixed with a little spirit of Wine and afterwards the powder Birthwort and natural Balsam CHAP. 2. Of Lice breeding in Children IF persons of years do live nastily and not change often they soon become lousey But t is very familiar for Children to breed Lice The cause They arise from a hot and moist matter which putrifieth in the skin or pores of the body Sometimes they are bred by eating of Figs in grown persons because they ingender bad juyce The signs The signs are apparent for the lice are bred both nhead and body The Prognosticks This disease is a foul and filthy disease and very troublesome because it causeth a constant scratching but especially if they breed in the whole body as many times it happneth Lice are wont to leave those that are ready to die and to creep away in heaps which surely cometh to passe because that hot moist nourishment which bred them is wanting and noysome vapours arise