things and that are indued with a styptic or binding vertue are equally to be avoided for these fix the Blood and bind it too much and hinder its very requisite Purgation both by the Lochia and by transpiration thorow the skin But rather though the Feaver be urgent give them decoctions powders and confections of things moderately hot of which sort are as is already said decoctions or Distilled Waters of the Flowers of Marigoids the Leaves of Pennyroyal Mugwort the roots of Scorzonera also Bezoartic Powders Spirits of Harts-horn fixed salts of Herbs c. If the Lochia should be stopt that their Flux may be again provoked must be indeavoured every way To the moving of this conduce frictions and ligatures about the Thighs and Legs sometimes Cupping-Glasses or Blisters about the Thighs or Hips also in the soles of the Feet also sometimes the opening a Vein in the Ankle is convenient in the mean time a fomentation of the hysterical decoction is to be applied about the Pubis or the Caul of a Weather or Sheep taken out warm may be layed to the bottom of the Belly and experience manifests that sometimes injections into the Womb are profitable If the Belly yields not it may be gently brought down with a violet suppository so called or an emollient Clyster of more strong provocations you must take heed because in Women Lying in even as in a Malignant Feaver from a copious dejection with loss of Spirits Life is quickly lost If with the suppression of the Lochia there be a notable perturbation of the Blood with vomiting thirst and wakings I have often known Laudanum mixt with Saffron given with happy success Instead of a cooling Julep this kind of mixture is convenient viz. take of water of Pennyroyal and Balm each three ounces of hysterical water two ounces of the Syrrop of Mugwort three ounces and an half of the tincture of Saffron two drams of Castor ty'd in a rag and hung in the glass one scruple mingle these and let them drink of this three or four spoonfuls oftentimes in a day 2. If notwithstanding the use of these Remedies the Feaver grows still worse and by degrees is increased with worser symptoms that besides the disorders of the Blood the Brain and nervous parts begin to be touched Medicines tho many of every kind may be tryed do little yea in this case the indications are almost the same with those made use of in the Plague it self forasmuch as the Lochia being for a good while suppressed they cannot easily be reduced or scarcely at all in the great confusion of the Blood and humors therefore it is convenient quickly to move a sweating to wit that the corruptions impressed on the Blood and nervous juice and restagnating from the Womb may be carried forth some how by sweat and insensible transpiration Therefore here Powders and Confections of Bezoar Spirit of Hartshorn or of Soot tinctures of Corals or Pearls help I have sometimes seen by the help of those kind of Medicines in a desperate case when the Pulse and other symptoms have appeared a little better some small hopes to shew themselves yet Cure rarely to follow but when the use of these Cordials were left off the sick with a weak Pulse and a Loosness presently arising have been precipitated to Death 3. When yet the business of the sick proves still worse when the Feaver being increased the Pulse is weak and unequal and frequent horrors and convulsive motions in the whole body with a delirium and stupefaction infest them then the Physitian having first made a Prognostication of Death may insist upon a few Remedies and those only Cordials and must wholly abstain from blood-letting scarification blistering or the use of Cupping-glasses for such administrations beget only an odium and blame that by so doing we are esteemed by some Women as wicked and cruel The Symptomatic Feavers of Women in Child-bed THE Acute Diseases of Women in Child-bed shew themselves not only according to the Figure of the aforesaid Feaver but sometimes they are beset with some signal symptoms to wit the Squinancy Pleurifie inflamation of the Lungs Dysentery Small-Pox or of some other kind and at that time they get the appellations of those Distempers It will not be here seasonable to repeat at large what belongs to the essences and natures of each but I shall briefly shew what these sicknesses being complicated with the distempers of Women Lying in contain peculiarly as to the Causes or Cures All these symptoms we suppose to proceed from a certain Coagulation of the Blood and from thence its extravasation But whilst the Blood is extravasated or put forth of the Vessels in one part its efflux however natural and critical is hindred in another wherefore it is dangerous lest whilst the Blood begins to be coagulated either in a particular or accustomed nest of Coagulation or universally in its whole mass the flowing of the Lochia be stopped which in truth for the most part happens and therefore these Distempers for the most part are deadly to Women in Child-bed yet the cause of their Death for the most part happens with some difference viz. in the Small Pox the flowing of the Lochia draws inwardly the malignity begun to be carried forth outwardly and forthwith compels the mass of Blood and the heart it self to be impoysoned with its evil and therefore in the Small Pox these purgings of the Womb are convenient to be stopped But in the Pleurisie Squinancy and the rest when the provocative of the Disease being fixed here or there in a particular place draws to it self the impurities of the Blood which ought to be separated or sifted forth by the Lochia and derives it streight from the Womb for that reason it increases the impurity of the Blood The Lochia being stopped in the Small Pox by the more universal manner or way of excretion may be shut forth of doors with the venemous Particles of the Disease which thing indeed does not succeed in the rest by reason of the minute and more sparing manner of excretion Of these the Squinancy Pleurisie and Inflamation of the Lungs by reason both of the great similitude of the Cause and analogy of the Cure may be considered together when any Woman Lying in is distempered with any of these it is to be supposed that besides the Infection gathered together in the time of being Big-bellied there happens a certain sourish disposition of the Blood by the means of which whilst that it self grows feaverishly hot certain Particles of it being fused with the sourness enter into congelation in this or that part like Milk growing sour and then to be coagulated The Blood being there frozen or congealed and hindred in its circuit stops the passage of the rest but the Blood being obstructed in its motion buts against the impediment and so being heaped up about it and driven forth of the Vessels grows into a tumour from thence presently whatsoever is
with thirst heat wakings and at several turns with swoonings and cold sweats at this time being sent for I prescribed her Cardaic Remedies and such as moved the purgings of the Womb and also a Clyster to be given her at length the Flux of her Belly being provoked the Lochia also came down and the sick Woman being freed from the aforesaid symptoms and the more grievous Disease to wit the Remedies of the Nurses quickly grew well of her Feaver The more plentiful Flux of the Womb hapning to this Woman removed the Procatartic cause of a more grievous Disease wherefore when they had committed so many errors about the ordering her viz. first in stopping the Lochia then what might compensate their defect in hindring the Flux of her Belly yet the Feaver was only light and without any venomous taint impressed on the Blood the like to this I have known to happen frequently to wit when at first the purgings of the Womb have flown very plentifully afterwards when they have flown very sparingly and sometimes stopped the Women in Child-bed have escaped And by the way it is here to be noted that it is wholly dangerous to inhibit or at least divert and cross any motion of Nature incited tho irregular A Noble Gentlewoman about 20 years of Age indued with a smooth and full habit of Body miscarried twice in the space of a Year when she had again Conceived by the prescription of her Physician she provoked a Vomit once a month by drinking plentifully Posset Drink by which she was wont to cast forth much thick tough Phlegm also in the time of her being with Child he Let her Blood 5 times the time of her going being over she was brought to Bed of a Son with very hard Labour the Secundine came whole away and she purged notably on the second day whilst she was lifted upon her feet in Bed that the Sheets and the Blankets might be laid in better order she took Cold and by that means the bloody Lochia wholly stopped and only a little serous Water came away on the third day she began to complain of an acute pain in her right side to which the Women laid Bags of Camomil made hot with Bricks but the distemper grew worse with a bloody spittle on the fourth day of her being brought to Bed a most â—harp pain with a difficult breathing and very Laborious invaded her by the prescription of her Physician then coming to her from the neigbourhood six ounces of Blood was taken away out of the Basilic Vein and she felt sudden ease for 10 hours she was better in the middle of the night the pricking pain returned with its wonted fierceness at length other Physicians being called to Counsel they agreed that it was necessary to open a Vein again in the arm of the distempered side four ounces of Blood being taken away the pain remitted and the sick breathed better then by Diasphoretic Remedies she fell into a great sweat with a quiet sleep But the Pulse was made quicker and weaker also contractures of the tendons in her wrists appeared presently afterwards she talked idly and within 24 hours after she was last Let Blood she departed That this Lady fell into a Pleurisie with a Feaver upon the Lochia being suppressed the cause in some measure seemed to be the Letting of Blood so often in the time of her being with Child for by this means the Blood being accustomed to be eventilated at the arm afterwards growing hot leaving the Womb was carried violently towards the place of its letting forth where when it found not a passage it fixed in the neighbouring side as the next nest to the place of extravasation yea besides the usual manner of a Pleurisie there was no small malignity hapned to this Disease for the Blood being hindred from being let forth of the Vessels began presently to be corrupted in its disposition and in the third day of the Feaver was so much depraved that it could not be any longer fermented in the heart so as to Prorogue Life It was not so with the Wife of a certain Smith who was brought to Bed at what time her Children had the Small Pox in the same House and she her self as it seemed had taken the Contagion of the same Disease for on the second day after her Delivery they began to break forth with a feaverish heat and pain in her Loyns which indeed for three days whilst the Lochia moderately flowed arose rightly into little swellings altho the purging of the Womb was very copious at that time she had the Small Pox very thick all over her Body not only in the superficies of her skin but also they filled the cavity of her mouth and throat so that she could scarce speak or swallow The sixth day of her Lying in the Lochia flowed immoderately from whence presently fell upon the sick a frequent swooning with a flagging of the Small Pox Convulsions and other symptoms of an ill nature which threatned Death soon being sent for I prescribed half a dram of this Powder to be taken constantly every three hours in a spoonful of the following Julep viz. take of the Roots of Tormentil in Powder drams two of the best Bole Armonie dram one of the species of Hyacinth half a dram make a Powder Take of the Compound Water of Scordium of Dragons of Meadowsweet each three ounces of Therecal Vinegar one ounce of the Syrup of Corals two ounces of Harts-horn burnt half a dram make a Julep Besides I ordered to be boyled in her Broths and in every thing she drank the Roots of Tormentil by these Remedies the purging of her Womb was soon wholly stopped and the Small Pox by degrees being ripened came off without any grievous symptom Indeed this case was difficult and was cured with great danger viz. for either the Lochia or the Small Pox to have been restrained inwardly was very dangerous and yet the more full eruption of the one hindred the motion of the other so long as either moderately proceeded things being permitted to the conduct of Nature was moderately well but when one of them became ill the work of Art was required and it was requisite to bridle the Lochia but to provoke the Small Pox. CHAP. XVII Of Epidemical Feavers HAving meditated rather a Commentary than an intire Tract I had thought here to have concluded our Discourse of Feavers But forasmuch as certain Epidemical Feavers do often spread which observe no Laws nor can be brought to any certain rule of Doctrine but being irregular vary every year and for that reason as often as any of them increase or spread abroad presently it is called the new Disease therefore I thought it worth our while because general precepts concerning these Feavers are not to be delivered to subjoyn some particular Histories of some of this kind for out of the various provision of symptoms whereby they are wont to be noted the nature and the whole
hysterical water what will suffice to make 16. pills Let 4. of them be taken every sixth or Seventh day Take of the Roots of Polypodia of the Oak of sharp pointed-docks prepared of chervill cach ʒ vi of the male Paeony ʒ iii. of the leaves of Betony germander Chamipits Vervine the male Betony each i. handfull of the seeds of Cardamums and burdock each ʒ iii. let them be boyled in 4. pints of Spring water till half be consumed Let it be strained into a matrace to which put of the leaves of the best Senna ℥ i. of Rhubarb ʒ vi of Turbith gummed ℥ ss of Epithimum of yellow-Sanders each ʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. the yellow rine of the Orangeʒ ii let them digest close shut in hot Sand for 12. hours let the straining be kept for use sweeten it if there be need with what will suffice of the Augustan Syrrop or of Succory with Rubarb The Dose ℥ vi once or twice in a week Every day in which purges are not taken Remedies strengthning the brain and also the animal Spirits for the taking away the heterogeneous Copula or for the hindring them from running into explosions Remedies for a more hot temperament are to be administred which indeed ought to be prescribed and chosen according to the Constitution and habit of the Body and temperament of the sick for too lean bodys and such as being indued with a more hot blood medicines less hot and which do not trouble the bloud above measure ought to be given On the Contrary for phlegmatick and fat people whose urine is thin and watery and whose Blood is Circulated more heavily and Viscera's stuffed more hot Remedies and notably apt to ferment the humours are designed In the former Case let it be prescribed after this manner Coroborating medicines and specificks Take of the Conserve of the Flowers of Betony Tamarisk the male-Paeonie each ℥ ii of the Species of Diamargerit frigidaʒ iss of the powder of the Root of Paeonie and of the seeds of the same each ʒ 1. of red-Corall prepared ʒ ii of vitriol of steel ℈ ii of the Salt of Wormwood ʒ ii with what will suffice of the juce of Oranges make an Electuary take of it twice or thrice in a day drinking after it a little draught of the Julap hereafter prescribed Powders Take of Corall Red with the juce of Oranges beaten together in a glass or marble mortar and dry'd ℥ ss of the powder of misletow of the oake of the root of the male Paeonieʒ ii of perled sugar ʒ iii. make a powder the dose from ℈ i. to ʒss twice or thrice in a day Take of the Species of Diamargarit frigidaʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood ʒ iii. of the root of Cocowpint powderd ʒ i. mix them make a powder let it be divided into xx parts take a dose in the morning and at four in the afternoon Distilled waters and Julaps Take of the Roots of Butterbur ℥ i. dose ʒss to ʒ i. twice in a day Take of the Leaves of Burdock and Cocowpint each vi handfulls let them be cut and mixed together and so distilled The dose ʒ ii to iii twice or thrice a day after a dose of Electuary or powder Take of this water distilled ii pints of our steel prepared ʒ ii mix them in a Vial let it be taken after the same manner Take of the Simple water of walnuts and of black-Cherries each half a pint of Snalesʒ iii. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie ℥ ii the dose ℥ iss to two after the same manner Take of the shavings of Ivory and harts-horn each iii. drams of the roots of Chervill burdock Valerian each half an ounce of the leaves of Betony Chamepits harts-tongue the tops of Tamarisk each one handfull of the barks of Tamarisk and of the woody nightshade each half an ounce let them be boyled in two quarts of spring water to the consumption of the third part add to it of white-wine eight ounces strain it into a pitcher to which put of the leaves of brook-lime and Cardamine each one handfull make an Infusion warm and close for four hours Let the colature be kept close in glasses The dose ℥ vi twice in a day after a dose of some solid Medicine sometimes such an Apozme may be mixed with ʒ ii of our steel and taken in the same manner In the Summer time the use of spaw-waters is convenient and for want of them our Artificial ones may be taken Remedies in a more cold temperament If that for the reasons above-recited more hot Medicines are to be prescribed you may proceed according to the following method Take of the Conserves of Rosemary of the yellow of Oranges and Lemmons each ℥ ii Electuaries of Lignum aloes of yellow-sanders of the roots of snake-weed Contrayerva Angelica Cocowpint each ʒ i. of the vitriol of steel or of steel prepared ℈ iiii of the salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. with what will suffice of candied Wallnutts make an Electuary Let it be taken twice in a day to the quantity of a nutmeg drinking after it a dose of appropriate Liquor Take of the Roots of male-Paeony Angellica and red Coral prepared each ʒ ii Tablets of Sugar dissolved in the water of Snales boyled to the consistency of Tablets ℥ vi of the oyle of Amber lightly rectified ʒ ss make a sufficient quantity of Lozenges each weighing about half a dram take one or two twice or thrice a day drinking after it a dose of proper Liquor Take of the Roots of Virginian Snake-weed Contrayerva Valerian each ʒ ii Pills of red Coral and prepared Pearl each ʒ i. of winteran Bark and of the root of Cretian Dittany each ʒ i. of the Vitriol of Steel and Salt of wormwood each ʒ iss of the extract of Centauryʒ ii of Ammoniacum dissolved in histerical water what will suffice to make a pillulary mass of which take four pills in the morning and at four in the afternoon Take of the Spirits of harts-horn or Sut or humane Blood or of Sal ammoniack Spirits what will suffice take of them from 10. to 12. drops morning and evening in a spoonfull of Julap drinking a little draught of the same after it Take of the Leaves of Betony Vervine Sage Lady-smocks Cocowpint Burdock Distill'd waters each two hand-fulls of green wallnuts number 20. the rinds of six Oranges and of 4. Lemons of Cardamums and Cubebbs each ℥ i. being cut and brused pour on them of whey made of Cider or white wine six pints let them be distilled according to Art The dose ℥ ii or iii. twice in a day after a dose of a solid medicine Add to i. quart of this liquor ii drams of our Steel Take of the Water of Snailes and of earth-worms each ℥ vi walnuts simple ℥ iiii of Radish Compound ℥ ii of
depends for the most part upon fire yet somtimes we perceive it to be produced in some subjects and that in a very high degree without its being actually inkindled A most known instance of which thing is quick Lime sprinkled with water which also Stygian waters shew being mingled with Iron the Butter of Antimony and with the Salts of the stagma of Vegetables The learned men Gunter Conringius Hogelandus and almost all that have touched on the Doctrine of Fermentation have delivered the effects of this Nature as especial examples of Fermentations wherefore it will be worth our labour to inquire somthing concerning each of them but on this condition which I also have observed in other disquisitions that I willingly let alone the opinion of others for a Traveller had rather drink at the Fountains themselves I will then as briefly and succinctly as I can dispatch the business Quick-Lime is made of the Lime Stone also of many others excepting only such which consist of a reddish and as it were sandy grain being Calcined in a close Furnace for many days with a reverberating fire by this means the frame of the mixture is loosned that it goes into a friable matter or that may be crumbled which by reason of the high astriction or binding Nature in which it excels serves most excellently for the making of Cements for Walls This Calx or Lime being taken from the Furnace reteins still the form of Stone and seems cold to the touch but water being poured thereon it swells up and grows wonderfully hot sending forth smoak that it burns all Bodies that are put into it besides it falls of it self into a white dust To which Particles this motion and heat ought to be ascribed viz. whether to those implanted in the Lime stone or to the others acquired by the fire doth not easily appear but that we may loose this knot if we can I have instituted this Analysis of quick Lime I put about half a pound of it into a large Cucurbit then water being poured thereon I fitted the little Head with a capacious Receiver by and by within five minutes of an hour the matter began to swell and to grow very hot then a smoak and a breath being raised all the Vessels became so hot that I could scarce touch them with my hands A clear water Distilled forth into the Receiver about six Ounces which was not sharp but of a Styptic or Astringent sweetish tast the remaining powder in the Cucurbit I boiled with common water and the Lye thereof made I endeavoured to boil away with a gentle Fire while it did evaporate there gathered together on the Superfices of the Liquor a white and crusty little skin also of a sweetish tast and the same being taken away presently a new one succeeded the humor being at last wholly exhaled there remained in the bottom nothing that was sharp or salt We may Collect from this that this heat doth not proceed from the implanted Principles of the Lime stone viz. either Saline or Sulphureous however moved within themselves for only a sweetish Salt was to be found in it which was also Volatile and it is a sign that there is not much Sulphur in the Limestone because by a long Calcination the form of the mixture is not quite destroyed nor its substance wholly broken wherefore it is very likely that whilst these stones are burnt in the Furnace some Particles of Fire do strictly cleave to the Saline and so reside in that mixture as it were strangers which whilst they lie a sleep and continue idle and being separated one from another by the coming between of Earth although they are very many do not raise up heat For all heat depends upon motion but when water is poured to it those fiery Particles being thrust out of their Cells flow together and fly aways by heaps from that Inn so breaking forth by Troops they cause a very intense heat and because diluted with water only a smoak and not an actual Fire It is a sign that little Bodies of fire or fiery Particles do stick a long while in matters Calcined because Iron Instruments according as those Particles are driven forth of their pores more or less leisurely or by heaps become soft or hard tough or brittle moreover it is observed that bricks or fresh Earthen Vessels being dipped in water cause a certain hissing also Tobacco Pipes if one end be put into water and the other brought near to the Ear yield a certain sharp noise and rumbling add to these that fixed Salts being Calcined or having suffered a Flux by the Fire become far sharper also Stygian waters by reason of those kind of little Bodies involved therein which afterwards leisurely evaporate perpetually send forth sharp fumes and when these are poured upon Saline Calxes not only an Ebullition is raised by reason of the disagreeing Particles of the Salts which strike one another mutually whereby they might be more strictly combined but besides heat and smoak succeed which for the most part arise from the fiery Particles being shuck out of their Dens But it is not easie to give a reason why quick Lime and no other Concretes retain so copiously those kind of fiery Particles and yield a strong heat water being poured on them T is plain enough that when the Sulphureous Effluviums of Fire forasmuch as they are most penetrating enter all Bodies whatsoever brought near affect them after divers manners those which are more lax and stuffed with active Principles are destroyed wholly by burning and because their substance decays the fiery Particles as Soldiers in a City spoiled by themselves do not continue long in the ruined place but go farther and move their Tents but where the Concretion of the Subject is very compact and that its Elements cannot be so pulled in pieces by the fire that they rather grow stiff as is seen in Metals Glass Bricks and other things made hard either by boiling or fusion the fiery Particles entered in being received in an incommodious Inn presently go forth again and therefore few are wont to stay in mixt things of this kind or in things fused or Calcined but if fire be so applyed to the more hard Concretes of which sort are most stones and shelly Concretes that the bond of the mixture be unlocked some parts viz. the Watery and Sulphureous are driven away and so some spaces are made hollow very fit for the receiving any stranger in the mean time that the frame of the matter be not wholly destroyed but that it may continue its compacted and stony form which flows not away together with its Particles and ever threatens its ruin in such a Subject chiefly the Particles of fire possessing the spaces of the parts flown away copiously remain and there cleaving close to the Saline little Bodies being detained one from another by the coming between of the earthy lie quiet which notwithstanding afterwards being violently driven from those
Medicine the disposition of the Blood was very much hurt and when at first it was prone to a bilous Dyscrasie that it hardly did assimilate the alible Juice from this evident cause it forthwith degenerated that it wholy perverted the Nutriment into a Fermentative matter and so conceived the Feaverish disposition It is a common opinion that a Tertian Feaver can scarce be cured without a Vomit wherefore some Medicasters are wont under the pretext of the necessity to give to all whatsoever labouring with this Disease tho languishing and weak an Emetick Medicine not without great danger of life and those whom they judge wholy unfit for such a Medicine they leave as not easily cureable to Nature But as I have often found the contrary by experience this sort of practice is evilly instituted yea I rather judge for the cureing of a Tertian Feaver that Vomits are rarely or never to be required unless in a strong Body and very easily prone to Vomiting and when the Ventricle happens to be burthened with excrementitious matter but instead of it that a gentle Purge by which the load of the humors may be pleasantly brought away may be of better use because a Purge in this case doth the same thing as a Vomit to wit it evacuates the choleduct Vessels that the Bile being plentifully exhausted from the Blood the Feaverish Dyscrasie is mended But when the galish humor being emptied forth into the Ventricle is cast out upwards from thence there is great hurt brought to the stomach and a mighty perturbation excited in the whole Body But if that humour be inticed downwards by a gentle Purge it is sent forth of doors without any trouble Then if to a gentle Purge once or twice repeated be added a very slender dyet without flesh it often answers the preservatory Indication that there needs no other Remedies for the taking away the cause of this Disease but that these being rightly performed shall render beneficial those things which being either inwardly taken or outwardly applyed stop the Feaverish accession By this sort of plain and easie institution of Medicine viz. A Purge of the infusion of Senna and Rhubarb a slender dyet and a Febrifuge or Ague-resisting Topick laid either to the wrists or the breast I have known very often and in a very short time Tertian Feavers cured without the use of any other destroying Physick yea a thin dyet only with Amulets timely administred hath very happily cured Big-bellied women and also very weak old men whose strength could not bear Purging I have so often made tryal of this method with good success that I doubt not but that a Tertian Feaver may as easily be cured as any other Disease if it be at the begining handled after this manner viz. before the temper of the Blood be more hurt by an evil manner of Dyet or by Medicine untowardly administred For the truth of this thing I will relate this following History A certain noble young man indued with a bilous Temper had caught an intermitting Tertian Feaver upon the approach of the Fit he Vomited forth much yellow and greenish Choler then he was troubled most grievously for many hours with a great pain of the Heart and most strong Heat and Thirst On the day of the intermission there was taken from this person with whom I was by chance by my prescription eight ounces of Blood and in the afternoon was given an Emollient Glyster he also used a most slender Dyet viz. only made of Barly He took every night going to sleep this Opiate viz. Conserve of Roses vitriolated half a dram of Diascordium a scruple also every morning of the Salt of Wormwood a scruple in a spoonful of the Juice of Orange but when these did not succeed for the Fit returned somwhat more remiss but with cruel Vomiting as at first besides for that this sick person extreamly abhor'd a Vomitory Medicine because not long before this from a very gentle Emetick he had Vomited almost thirty times until being distempered with the Cramp and Convulsions he was brought into great weakness with hazard of his life therefore the day following the aforesaid Fit I gave him a Potion of an infusion of Senna Rhubarb and yellow Sanders with Salt of Wormwood in spring-Spring-water by which he was Purged ten times with ease In the morning after and three hours before he expected the Fit I put to his wrists an Ague-resisting Medicine and took from him six ounces of Blood by which means he mist his Feaverish Fit and then being again Purged after the same manner became perfectly well If that the Tertian Feaver by reason of the evil Constitution of the sick or because of errors in Dyet or committed by Physick hath more deeply rooted it self that after a long sickness the Fits still grow worse and the sick extreamly languish with want of Strength Thirst and almost continual Heat want of Appetite wakeings weak Pulse high colour'd Urine and very full of Contents the Curatory method ought to be a little otherways instituted In this case first it is to be endeavour'd that the Dyscrasie of the Blood may be taken away wherefore the sick are to be fed with slender Aliments only as Barly broth or Grewel with opening Roots boiled in it flesh-broth being wholly laid aside the Belly is to be kept loose if need be with the use of Emollient Clysters besides Purges being omitted only digestive Medicines which fuse the Blood and bring away gently the serous Impurities by Urine also comforting Remedies which corroborate the Viscera and cherish the Spirits are chiefly to be insisted on To this end Apozems are fitly to be prepared of Herbs and Roots gently Diuretic also Opiats help very much of temperate Conserves with Sal Nitre or the fixed Salt of Herbs with shelly powders and the Spirit of Vitriol mixed together When the disposition of the Blood is somwhat mended that the Urine is clearer and less coloured also sleep quieter with a remission of thirst and heat following then may be profitably administred Remedies to stop the Feaverish fit wherefore Ague-resisting Amulets may be applyed to the Wrists or to the Soles of the Feet also the powder of Peruvian Bark or of somthing instead of it or also of the Barks of the Ash-Tree Tamarisk or Gentian with Salts mixed with them and drunk in White-Wine after the comings of the fits are taken away and the sick being to get strength and desire Food and in some measure to digest it gentle Purges may be of use but let the sick still abstain from a more plentiful Diet or participating of Flesh and they will shortly after recover perfect Health without any violent Purge or Phlebotomy CHAP. V. Of the Quotidian Intermitting Feaver BEcause of its affinity to the Tertian Feaver and likeness of fits the Quotidian or dayly Feaver comes next viz. whose Accession is wont to return every day It is the opinion of some that this sort of Feaver
is only a double Tertian and doth arise from a dispersed matter having gotten a twofold Nest to which I cannot assent and I suppose its begining is to be attributed to a peculiar Dyscrasie of the Blood In this the symptoms of cold and heat are more remiss but its fit is longer continued and oftentimes it is wont to last eighteen or twenty hours This Feaver for the most part follows a Tertian for when the Vital Spirit is very much flown away by the frequent deflagration of the Blood and the Feaverish disposition still remaining the Blood is made weaker it doth not concoct the nourishing Juice or ripen it but perverts almost the whole into a Fermentative matter wherefore it comes sooner to its increase and is gathered together to a plenitude of swelling up within double the time than at first But because the congested matter participates equally of crudity and adustion therefore the heat of the burning is lesser and more unequal and like green wood laid on the fire slowly burns for which reason the fit endures longer Somtimes it happens that a Quotidian Feaver doth arise without a Tertian going before viz. when a Feaverish disposition falls upon a Cacochymic Body or full of evil humors and stuffed with depraved Juices for then the Blood being poor in Spirits perverts in a greater measure the nutritious Juice and in a shorter time gathers to a fulness of swelling up But that which begins an every days Ague oftentimes changes its figure and becomes a Tertian just as a Tertian often goes into a Quotidian because between these Feavers and their causes there is a great vicinity and the constitution of the Blood being a little changed it makes a transition from one to another A Quotidian Intermitting Feaver is not so easily cured as a Tertian For whether it comes at first simple or follows upon another Intermitting Feaver it is still excited from a stronger cause and argues a greater dyscrasie of the Blood which will not presently give way to Remedies But also if this Feaver be of long continuance or comes upon another Chronical Disease it has most often adjoyned to it besides the taint of the Blood the infirmities of the inwards to wit the Blood being spoiled easily affixeth its impurities by degrees heaped up on the Viscera whilst it passes through their Meanders from hence it is that in a Quotidian Feaver the weight of the Ventricle an extension of the Hypochondria Obstructions or Tumors now of the Liver now of the Spleen or Mesentery are joyned together but these kind of distempers are not the cause of the Feaver as is commonly believed but only its product Wherefore in this Feaver besides the simple method of Cure which is shown in the Tertian many other intentions or coindications come under consideration to wit that the Ventricle be cleansed from its load of humors the stuffings of the Inwards freed Infirmities corroborated and that together with these the Dyscrasie of the Blood may be mended and the Accessions of the Feaver may be restrained must by all means be endeavoured from whence by reason of these kind of various intentions we come to the Cure by a longer way In this case Vomits if strength will bear them are of benefit before all other Medicines also Purges whereby the assiduous supply of Excrementitious matter may be drawn forth are often to be repeated Besides these digestive Remedies openers of Obstructions such as restore the Ferment of the Viscera and Blood and correct their evil dispositions are frequently to be administred Wherefore the fixed Salts of Herbs and their Extracts Acid Spirits of Minerals and somtimes preparations of Steel do very much help concerning these main things the task will be hard when by reason of the manifold evil many things are to be done together yet by reason of the assiduity of the Feaverish fit there is leisure for the sick to use few only In Distempers so complicated tho the reason of the method requires the impediments to be first removed and then to Cure the Disease yet I have known this kind of Feaver beset with many other distempers in a Body full of humors often Cured without method and by an Empirical way viz. after a light provision of the whole Ague-resisting Remedies being outwardly applyed have at first stopped the Feaverish fit that then there was time for the Curing the other distempers and more happy occasions of healing were granted I lately visited a Noble Lady who being long indued with a Cachectical habit of Body a month after her lying in being weak and languishing was taken with a quotidian Intermitting Feaver after six or seven fits of it her strength was so much cast down that she could scarce rise out of or sit up in her Bed nor able to take never so little Food tho very slender but upon it most grievous molestations were raised up in her stomach besides the Region of her Ventricle and left Hypochondrium was wholly beset with a hard shining tumor and cruelly painful by reason of her strength being mightily cast down there was no place left for Evacuation but the use of Clysters also her Stomach being very weak loathed all other Remedies unless very grateful and only in a very small quantity In this difficult case circumscribed between narrow limits of Curing I counselled these few things to wit that twice in a day she should take this mixture viz. The magisterial water of Earth-worms two Ounces of Elixer Proprietatis twelve drops Moreover I ordered to be applyed to her Ventricle a Fomentation of the Leaves of Sea-Wormwood Centaury Southernwood with the Roots of Gentian boiled in White-Wine in an open Vessel also that after the Fomentation a Cake of Tosted-Bread and dipped in the same Liquor should be worn upon her Stomach besides Ague-resisting Medicines were ordered for her wrists and with these Remedies only she mist her Ague fit on the third day and remained free from it afterwards then by the use of Chalybeat Remedies she became perfectly well within a short time CHAP. VI. Of a Quartan Feaver IN a Quartan Feaver the period is longer than in the rest to wit which is extended to the fourth day inclusively also its continuance uses to be longer and its cure harder because this Disease is protracted for many months yea oftentimes for years and seldom or scarce at all is cured by Medicines The Fit for the most part begins with cold and shaking to which a very troublesome heat succeeds but more remiss than in a Tertian Sweat for the most part concludes the Fit At the first coming of the Disease the Fits are more grievous and very infestous and keep the sick in their Beds yea they make them lose their strength and vigour of Body But afterwards the trouble is more easily born so that the Fits are suffer'd out of Bed and somtimes in a Journy or being about any business If it continue long it induces the Scurvy or Hypochondriac
of it self untameable and not to be overcome by any Remedies From this observation that a Cautery accidentally and by chance being made on this sick party freed her from the fits of the Disease it may be inferr'd that fontanells or Issues may be profitably administerd in the Cure of the Epilepsie for wheresoever an emissary is opened for the constant carying away of the serous water both from the blood and nervous juce there very many heterogeneous and morbifick particles flow out with it that therefore the brain might remain free The Daughter of a Brewer of Oxford had been very obnoxious to a Rheume Observation 2 falling into her eyes from her Infancy otherwise strong and sound enough also accustomed dayly to hard labour about the 14th year of her age she began to be tormented with Epileptick sits of which she suffered neer the greater changes of the moon especially then returning Being asked to endeavour her Cute I gave her a Vomit of precipitate Solar and orderâ—d it to be renewed three days before every new and full moon besides that she should take at every turne for four days after the Vomit twice in a day a dram of male-Paeonic root in powder with a draught of black Cherry water By these remedies the fits so long intermitted that the Disease seem'd to be Cured Afterwards when they returned again she was again recovered by the use of those medicines and then the menstruous flux breaking forth and observing its true periods she remained for the future free from that disease The Therapeutic or Curatory Method IN the Curing of the Epilepsie I judg it fit to begin with a Cathartick and if the sick can easily bear vomiting first let an Emetick be administred and for several months let it be repeated four days before the full of the Moon For infants and youths may be prescribed wine of Squills mixed with fresh Oyle of Sweet Almonds or also of Salt of Vitriol from half a Scruple to 1. Scruple For those of riper years and of a stronger Constitution may be prescribed the following forms of Medicines Vomitories Take of Crocus mettalorum or of Mercurius vitae gr iiii to vi of Mercurius Dulcis grain xvi ℈ i. let them be brused together in a mortar mix it with the pap of a rosted Apple or of Conserve of Burage â„¥ i. make a Bolus or you may take an Infusion of Crocus Mettalorum or Mercurius Vitae made in Spanish wine from â„¥ ss to â„¥ i ss or take of Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht gr iv to vi who are of a tenderer constitution let them take of the Salt of Vitriol ℈ i. to Ê’ ss and half an hour after let them drink severall pints of posset drink then with a feather or finger put down the throat let vomiting be provoked iterate it often The day following the vomiting unless any thing shall prohibit let blood be taken out of the Arm or from the haemorhod veins with a Leech then the next day after let a purging medicine be taken which afterwards may be repeated constantly four days before every new Moon Purger Take Refine of Jalop ℈ ss Mercurius Dulcis ℈ i. of Castor gr iii. of Conserve of the Flowers of Paeony â„¥ i. make it into a Bolus Take pill faetida the greater ℈ ii of Hysterica what will suffice make thereof v. pills Take of the strings of black hellebore macerated in Vinegar dry'd and powder'd â„¥ ss of Ginger ℈ ss of the Salt of Wormwood gr xii of the Oyl of Amber drops ii make a powder let it be given in the pap of an Apple Take of the powder of Hermodactils compound â„¥ i. of humane Scull prepar'd gr vi make a powder let it be given in a draught of the decoction of Hyssop or Sage On those days that they do not purge especially about the time of the changing of the Moon let there be administred Specifick Remedies morning and evening which are said to cure this Disease wirh 〈◊〉 certain innate and secret virtue of these there are extant a very great company and are prescribed in various forms of Compositions Specificks The most simple Medicines which Experience hath found to be very Efficacious are the root of the male Paeony and the seeds of the same Take of the Root of the Male Paeony dryed and powder'd â„¥ i. to ii or iii. let it be given twice a day in the following Tincture Take of the leave of Messletow of the Oak â„¥ ii of the root of Paeony slic'd â„¥ ss of Castor â„¥ i. let them be put into a close Vessel with simple water of Betony or Paeony and white-wine Each lb i. of the Salt of Missletow of the Oake or the Common Missletow â„¥ ii let them digest close in hot sand for ii days let them take â„¥ iii. with a dose of the aforesaid powder Poor people may take of the aforesaid powder in a decoction of Hysop or Castor made with fair water and white-wine At the same time let the Root of Paeony be cut into little bits and being strung upon a thrid hung about the neck Also let the Roots being fryed in a pan or boyled tender be eaten dayly with their meat Take of the Roots and Seeds of the male Paeony each â„¥ ii of Missletow of the Oake of the hoof of ElkÊ’i each let them be fliced and brused and put into a thin silk bag and hang at the pit of the Stomack Among the spicificks this powder is greatly commended by many Authors Powders Take of Castor Opoponax Dragons blood Antimony and the seed of Paeony each alike make a powder of which may be taken â„¥ ss to â„¥ i. every morning with wine or some proper decoction or with black Cherry water Take of a mans Skull prepar'd â„¥ i. of Missletow of the Oake of Counterfeit Cinaber of an Elks Claw each â„¥ ss so mingle them The dose is ℈ ss to ℈ i. If the form of powder be distastful to any one or if it should become loathsome by the long use of it Electuaries Pills Troches Spirits and Elixirs each of which agree with specifick medicines are wont to be prescribed Take of the Conserve of the male Paeony of the Lilly of the Valley each â„¥ iii. Electuaries of the seed and root of the male Paeony powder'd each Ê’ ii prepared CorallÊ’ i. of the powder of Pearls and of humane Skull prepared each ℈ ii of the salt of Missletow of the OakeÊ’ i ss with what will suffice of the Syrop of Corall make an Electuary let them take of it morning and evening the quantity of a Nutmeg Take of the powder of the root of the male Paeony â„¥ i. of the seeds of the same â„¥ ss of Missletow of the Oake of an Elks claw of humane Skull prepared each Ê’ ii of the roots of Angelica Contrayerva Verginian Snakeweed each Ê’ i. of the whitest Amber of Calcined Corall each Ê’ i. of the Common Salt of Missletow
ʒ ii of Sugar Candy ℥ viii dissolved in what will suffice of the Antiepilepticall water of Langius Make a Confection of which take twice in a day the quantity of a Nutmeg These powders by adding to them the Salt of Amber and Harts-horn Pills with what will suffice of Balsome Capivi may be formed into a pillulary Mass of which may be taken iii. or iv pills in the morning and evening drinking after them a draught of some appropriat Liquor Or of those sorts may be prepared an Elixir of which may be taken viii drops to x. twice in a day in a spoonful of a proper Julup drinking a little of it after it Take of Hungarian Vitriol vi pints Elixir let them be distill'd with a glass retort in hot sand for 24. hours then let the same retort being defended or done over with Clay be put with a large receiver in a reverberating Furnace that the acid spirits may be forced with a most strong fire till they come forth The whole Liquor being distilled let it be drawn off in hot sand in a lesser glass retort and let there be poured into the Matrace of the roots of Male-Paeony cut into pieces and dryed ℥ iiii of the seed of the same ℥ i. of humane Skull prepared of Elks claws and Red Corall each ℥ ss Missletow of the Oak ʒ ii let it digest with a gentle heat for several days to the extraction of a tincture the Liquor being decantated let it be drawn off in a glasse Retort to a third part remaining being stilled forth keep it by it self to those Remains pour of the rectified Spirit of wine a little quantity impregnated with the Infusion of the same ingredients and let it digest for six days in horse-dung the dose of which is ℈ ss to ℈ i. The distilled Liquor may be given from half a spoonful to a whole spoonful for the same Intentions Or let there be prepared an oyl out of the Salt of Venus or Copper according to the description of Henry Van Heer 's and given as there prescribed Among the specifick Remedies Emperical Remedies which when the former shall not be profitable ought also to be tryed are the Livers of Frogs the Gall of a Bore dryed with Urine The powder of Bryony Root The powder of a Cuccow of Crows the runnet and lights of a Hare the Liver of a Wolf stones taken out of Swallows the Liver of a Kite the Eggs of Crows with many more to be dayly taken with food or Medicine a famous Catalogue of which is extant of Henry Van Brays a Physitian of Zutphen and from which prescripts for poor people may be taken easie to be prepared and without great cost Whilst these kinde of Remedies are to be taken inwardly according to the aforesaid method some outward administrations being applyed bring help and are deservedly admitted to part of the cures therefore allways Issues are made in this disease in one fit place or other and also more often Veficatories or Blisters Amulets hung about the neck or born at the pit of the Stomach Amulets are thought to be useful The fresh Roots of Paeony cut into little squares and being strung like bracelets and hung round about the neck and as soon as they are dry let new be put in their places and they being reduced to powder may be taken inwardly Take of the roots and seeds of Paeony each ʒ ii of an Elks claw and humane Skull prepared each ʒ i. of Missletow of the Oak ʒ ss let them be beaten into gross powder and sowed in a piece of red silk and like a little bag let it be hanged about the neck An Amulet of a stalk of the Elder found growing in the Willow-tree is greatly Commended Plasters It agrees with some to have their heads shaven and a plaster applied to the fore-part Take of the root and seeds of Paeony of Castor Missletow of the Oak of humane-skull most finely powder'd each ʒ i. of betonie plaster ℥ ii Caranna Tacamahacca each ʒ ii Balsum Capive what will suffice make a mass and let it be spread upon leather make a plaister for the suters of the Head Let the Temples and Nostrills be often anointed with Oyl of Amber by itself or mixed with oyl Capive Sternutories or sneezing powders Sneezing Powders and such as purge the head of Rhume are to be used dayly in the Mornings Take of white Helleboreʒ i. of Castor and Euphorbium each ʒ ss the leaves of sweet Marjorum and Rue each ʒ ii make a powder make a decoction of Sage or Hyssop with Mustard dissolved in it with which gargle the mouth and throat A Glister may be sometimes used as need shall require Sometimes the more solid Medicines are ro be moistned with liquids or they ought to be drunk after them for which end distilled waters should be at hand Julups Tinctures or Decoctions which are endued with a certain Specific Virtue against this Disease Distill'd Water Take of Hungarian Vitriol four pound of the powder of fresh humane-skull four ounces of the root of Paeony sliced six ounces let them be bruised together in a morter put to them either of Spanish wine or small white-wine or wine made of the juce of black-Cherries a quart being fermented in a vessell let it be distill'd in a glass retort in hot sand Take of the shavings of box-wood of Hungarian vitriol each two pound of the Missletow of the Oak or the Common-Missletow leaves three handfulls of Rue two handfulls being bruised together put to it of Spanish wine 4 pints Let them be distill'd in a glass Cucurbit with hot sand Iulaps Take of Common Vitriol six pound of the root of the male-paeony six ounces of the Missletow of the Oak one ounce of Green-walnuts viii ounces being cut and bruised let them be distilled in a glass-pot a glass alembick being placed upon it in hot sand Take of this Liquor one pint of black cherry water and of the water of the flowers of the toil or Line-tree each half a pint of white-Sugar ℥ iiii mix them and make a Julup the dose ℥ ii to iii. twice or thrice in a day Oxymel of squills also an hony-decoction with Hysop are much praised by the Ancients Or an Apozem of this kinde may be prepared of which may be taken ℥ iiii to vi or viii twice in a day Apozems Take of the roots of male-paeony Angellica Imperatoria Valerian each ʒ vi of the leaves of Betony Sage Lilly of the Valley Penny-Royall each one handfull of the seeds of Rue Nigella each ʒ iii. Paeony ℥ ss of Raysons ℥ iii. of Liquoris ℥ ss being cut and bruised let them be boyled in vi pints of spring-Spring-water to the Consumption of the third part Towards the end add of black Cherry-wine half a pint or ten ounces strain and keep it in close Vessells The dose is from vi to viii ounces twice in a day after the