Cause of all continual Fevers not putrid If the Stomach by Dietetick Errors as in Eating or Drinking too much sour Fruit or Juices be over-charg'd with Acids it may prove hostile injurious and a morbisick Cause of that which we call the Heart-burning c. with sour Belchings and sometimes a Nauseousness even to Vomiting In this Case after the Operation of a gentle Emetick you may administer half a Dram of the Pouder of Pearl Crabs-Eyes or any of the Testaceous Pouders twice or thrice in a Day to absorb the peccant Acidity Chalybeates may be also safely administred Likewise in all Chronical Diseases caused by the over-sourness of the Juice of the Pancreas c. as aforesaid after general Evacuations the finest Filings of Iron turn'd to Rust may be given to half a Dram at a time in a stued Prune or any other Vehicle twice in a Day because the Stomach by its incisive Acidity together with other accidental or concomitant Acids doth penetrate the Particles of the Iron and rarifie its Vitriolick Salt which will not only help Digestion but kill Worms and circulates with the Blood and Lympha and will in time purifie the whole Mass of it But if Choler be peccant as aforesaid causing Fevers and other Acute Diseases then after Evacuation by Vomiting or Purging I commend acid Liquors and Juices as Lemons c. Also purified Niter may be given in all Fevers But here we may note That it is the Nature of all Acids to coagulate and thicken the Blood and its Serum wherefore we must be cautious that we do not let Blood nor give too many Acids in the Small-Pox and malignant Fevers because in these Distempers the Blood is preternaturally viscid and therefore it abounds with too much Acidity of which you may read more at large in the ensuing Treatise I come now to mention some choice Specificks for the Cure of Diseases for the Sake and Benefit of the Poor who have not Money to pay a Doctor for his long Receipts nor the Apothecary for Medicines SAlt Niter purified is an efficacious Medicine in the Cure of most Diseases it may be poudred with an equal Quantity of white Sugar and given to half a Dram at a time every six Hours in all Fevers the whole time of Sickness and also before and after because it is an acid Salt and contains in it a volatile incorruptible Sulphur and by reason of its Acidity it refrigerates the inflamed Blood and powerfully checks the preternatural Fermentation of it and preserves its natural Consistency For by the subtilty of its Spirit it insinuates it self into the whole Mass of Bloud and penetrates into all Parts and so strengthens and recreates the Heart as to make it resist and overcome all Putrefaction and therefore it is a great Antidote against the Plague and all contagious Fevers If it be dissolved in any liquid Vehicle and drank a little often it will dilute the Lixivial Salt of Choler and being mixed with proper Catharticks and Balsamick Medicines it will conduce much to the Cure of most Chronical Distempers also for it discusseth Wind opens all Obstructions and causes the vitious Humours to precipitate and to be evacuated both by Urine and Stool Quicksilver boil'd in Water with a few Raisons of the Sun to sweeteen it and the Liquor drank freely killeth Worms The Quicksilver may be boiled a thousand times and always have the same weight so that the Water partakes of Mercurial Irradiation by which it becomes destructive to Worms A strong Decoction of Ground-Ivy or Alehoof sweetned with Sugar-Candy and a quarter of a Pint of it taken twice or thrice in a Day helps Distempers of the Breast and Lungs and a strong Infusion of it in Aqua Vitae or Brandy cureth the Colick The Decoction of Herb Robert and Patronichia or Whitlow-Grass with Leaves like Rue given inwardly every Day 'till the Mass of Blood and Juices of the Body be impregnated with the Vertues of the Herbs cureth the King's-Evil The Juice of Penny-royal clarified and a little sweetned with Sugar-Candy and given the quantity of a Spoonful three or Four times in a Day cureth all sorts of Coughs Cows and Goats-milk boiled in an equal quantity of Water wherein unslak'd Lime hath been quenched and a little Cinamon and the young Bark of the Oak bruised and boiled in it 'till a third part be consumed cureth all kinds of Fluxes Glauber's Sal Mirabile is an excellent Lenitive Cathartick It may be safely given to Men Women or Children in all Diseases where purging is necessary The Dose is from half a Dram to an Ounce dissolved in warm Whey or Milk and Water A few Drops of rectified Oyl of Vitriol mixed with a quarter of a Pint of fair Water to a light Acidity a little sweetned with white Sugar and drank every Day for some time killeth Worms and quencheth Thirst in Fevers If you mix an Ounce of rectified Oyl of Vitriol with two Ounces of Oyl of Ben or pure Oyl of Olives stirring it 'till it be well incorporated you have a good Balsam to ease Pain and cure an Inflammation in any part by anointing once in a Day or two you may apply a Colwort-leaf or a Plaister of Diachilon or a Poultis of White-Bread and Milk with a little Butter in it to the grieved part after anointing but you must have a care that it does not touch your Linnen A strong Tincture of Catechu or Japonian Earth with half its weight of Jesuits Bark both in fine Pouder in small Cinamon-Water cureth Catarrhs and all sorts of Fluxes Take a quarter of a Spoonful thrice a Day in any Vehicle Sweating is good in most Diseases if Strength permits Virginia Snake-Root and the Root of Contra Yerva bruised and boiled in fair Water and sweetned with a little Sugar and given a quarter of a Pint every four Hours to any that are bitten with an enraged Viper soon cureth the Patient especially if you bathe the part bitten with the same Decoction without Sugar so hot as can be endured Gambogia finely poudred and mixed with an equal quantity of pure Niter and given to half a Dram at a time twice or thrice in a Week soon cureth the Yellow-Jaundice and Dropsies The best Gum Arabick given at least a Dram twice or thrice in a Day either in Pouder or dissolved in small Ale or any other convenient Vehicle doth wonderfully mitigate the Sharpness of Urine A strong Decoction of woody Nightshade a little sweetned with Sugar and given to a quarter of a Pint every Morning will purge gently and open all Obstructions and cure the Yellow-Jaundice Dropsies c. The Decoction of Hearts-Ease sweetned with Sugar-Candy cureth the Pleurisie and other Inflammations It is an excellent Antivenerian c. and therefore it may be a chief Ingredient in Decoctions to cure the French-Pox A Decoction of Groundsel is an universal Medicine for all Diseases coming of Heat It purgeth gently and if the Stomach be
nauseous it may cause Vomiting It is very safe and may be given in all Distempers where Purging is necessary The fresh Herb boiled in Milk 'till it be tender and then strained out and the Herb bruised and boiled in the same Milk with Crumbs of White-Bread or fine Oatmeal into the Consistence of a Poultis and a litle Oyl or Hog's-fat put to it and applied to any Inflamation or Swelling it will soon give Ease and either dissolve the Tumor or bring it to Suppuration Native Cinnaber finely powdred and washed from its volatile malignant Salt often in warm Water and rectified Spirit of Wine burnt over it two or three times doth Wonders in curing most Chronical Diseases The Dose is from ten Grains to twenty in any Vehicle Missleto dried and finely poudred with double its weight of white Sugar and a few Drops of Oyl of Amber mixed with it half a Dram of this Pouder given twice or thrice in a Day cureth Convulsions and the Epilepsie Crude Antimony flux'd at least an Hour with decrepitated Sea Salt in a strong Fire and afterwards washed from the Salt in warm Water is friendly to Nature and cureth Fevers The Dose is from five Grains to ten in any Vehicle The Jesuit's Bark finely poudred and given from half a Dram to two Drams or more at a time infused in Wine and drank at the going off of the Fit and afterwards every four Hours is such a Specifick for the curing of all Intermitting Fevers or Agues that it seldom fails especially if the Patient be well purged before he take it You must continue the use of it for at least ten Days that the Particles of the Pouder may be continually conveyed into the Bloud by which the Febritick Ferment may be destroyed Give the Sick a little Broth of Mutton or Chicken with a few Crumbs of White-Bread or any other Food easie of Digestion within half an Hour after the taking of each Dose which will mix with the Chile and the Bloud will be impregnated with the Vertue of it It also cureth all kinds of Fluxes Three or four Drops of the Juice of Ivy or of Asarabacca clarified and dropt into each Ear warm every other Night and the Ear gently stopt afterwards with Cotton or Wool will soon cure Deafness snuff up the Juices into each Nostril also to purge the Head Two Grains of each of the aforesaid Herbs dried and finely poudred and snuffed up each Nostril at Night going to Bed twice in a Week will purge the Head of Rheum and cure an inveterate Head-ach Tooth-ach and Inflammation of the Eyes c. The Syrup of the Juice of Buckthorn-Berries or of wild Cucumbers taken an Ounce at a time with two Drams of pure Nitre dissolved in Ale or Whey twice or thrice in a Week cureth the Dropsie The Pouder of Olibanum or Mastick or equal parts of both mixed with old Conserves of Roses and taken the quantity of a Nutmeg twice or thrice in a Day cureth a Catarrh especially if you blow some of the Pouder into the Throat every Night going to Bed to strengthen the Salival Glands Lapis Haematites or the Bloud-stone being applied to the bleeding part will stop the Hemorrhage It is likewise an excellent Medicine taken inwardly being repleted with the Primum ens Auri from which being finely poudred may be drawn a Gold-like Tincture with a strong Aqua Regis made of the rectified Spirit of Nitre and Sal Armoniack to which you may add four times the quantity of rectified Spirit of Wine Take twenty Drops of it in a Glass of Ale or Wine two or three times in a Day It cureth most Chronical Diseases The true Lapis Nephriticus cureth the Stone being prepared and taken after the same manner Ens Veneris is good to cure the Rickets three or four Grains of it may be given to a Child twice a Day in any Vehicle Half a Dram of the fine Pouder of Gum of Guiacum mixed with an equal quantity of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder given every other Morning in a Spoonful of Milk or Whey for thirty or forty days cureth the Venereal Pox and most other Chronical Diseases Oyl of Walnuts or Linseed-Oyl by expression either exhibited inwardly or given in Clysters to four Ounces at a time giveth Ease in the Stone and Collick c. A Dram of Oyl of Amber unrectified mixed with an Ounce of Populion cureth the Piles Purified Honey is a universal Balsam It cureth Sore-Eyes being spread on a fine Rag and applied mix it with Gargarisms for sore Mouths and with Injections for hollow Ulcers c. The gross Pouder of Mastick is excellent to smoke in a Pipe for a Defluxion of Rheum on the Lungs c. Saccharum Saturni dissolved in Water mortifies sharp Humors in the Eyes and all other Inflammations it is a great Anodine cures Burnings and Scaldings in a short time stops Bleeding and prevents Accidents in Amputations for it resisteth Putrefaction If you give half a Dram of it twice a day in any Vehicle it will soon quench the Flame of Lust. Half an Ounce of burnt Alum mixed with two Ounces of White-wine-Vinegar cureth an Inflammation in any part being spread on a Rag and applied Sulphur of Copper or Vitriol called Sulphur of Venus is an incomparable Anodine far exceeding any Opiate Roman Vitriol calcin'd to redness stoppeth all Fluxes of Blood in a moment and cures Wounds by the first intention You may dissolve half a Dram of it in three or four Spoonfuls of warm Water and dip a Pledget of Lint in it and apply it to the Wound keeping the Lips of it close But if the Wound be deep it must be injected with a Syringe Any other Vitriol is of the same Virtue but not so potent Half an Ounce of Quicksilver mixed with an Ounce of Pomatum spread on a long Linnen Rag two Inches broad and covered with another Linnen Rag for a Girdle worn for some time cureth the Itch. But you must purge once or twice in a Week to prevent Salivation The small Bone in a black Snail's-head used as an Amulet to hang about the Neck and Rings made of an Elk's-hoof or of the Teeth of a true Sea-Horse and worn continually are all of the same Virtue and cureth the Cramp The Hand of a dead Man or Woman being laid upon a Scrophulous Tumor and there kept 'till the Patient do feel the Coldness of it penetrate to the innermost parts of the Swelling it will dispel and cure it by often doing It likewise cureth a Dropsie of the Belly The Roots of Contra yerva or Counterpaison Virginia Snake-root and Zedoary all or either of them is good against the Plague and all contagious Fevers any way used Here followeth some Receipts of choice Medicines which I use in my own Practice Pulvis Balsamicus noster Our Balsamick Pouder TAke of Sarsaparilla grosly poudred four Ounces let it be infused in two Quarts of rectified Spirit of Wine for two
tegit Calvarium The third is a Pain on one Part of the Head before behind or on one side this is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hemicrania cranium and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dimidium There is little difference between Cephalaea and Cephalalgia only per Cephalaeam affectae partes multo redduntur quam in Cephalalgia debiliores These Distempers are caused by Halituous Vapours and Humours fuming up from the Stomach and other Parts to the Head 1. If the Pain be external so that the Signs combing of the Head be troublesome then the Pericranium is affected But if the Pain be internal reaching to the Eye-roots then the Dura mater is invaded with the peccant Humours 2. If there be pricking distending Pain with great Pulsation it is from sharp bilious Humours or Halitus but if the Pain be heavy it is caused from viscous Phlegm or Melancholy 1. If a violent Head-ach come suddenly Progn on a healthy Person and the Party become dumb and snort 't is a mortal sign unless a great Fever do immediately happen 2. If corrupt waterish Matter or Bloud do issue out of the Nostrils Mouth Ears or Eyes especially on the fourth Day the sick will suddenly recover but if the Pain be very violent and do suddenly vanish without a Crisis 't is doubtfull 3. If the Pain be without a Fever accompanied with noise in the ears deafness or megrim with numbness of the extreme parts an Apoplexy or Epilepsy is at hand 4. Those that have Cholerick stomachs are most subject to a Hemicrania and if it continue long it causeth weakness of the Eyes and sometimes blindness If the Head-ach proceed from Phlegmatick Cure Viscous humours abounding first give this Clyster Take of Vervain Betony Mallows Mercury Clyster of each one handfull Let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Quart of Posset-drink 'till half of it be boiled away then strain it and dissolve in it one ounce of the Electuary Caryocostinum Oil of Chamomel two ounces mix it for a Clyster Sour things and all that have a Lixivial salt either fixt or volatile and all Aromaticks do correct and amend the viscous Phlegmatick humours Let these forms serve for example Take the Waters of Baum and Mint of Iulep each three ounces Cinamon-water and aqua Coelestis of each half an ounce Syrup of Fennel and Mint of each six drachms Spirit of Salt as much as will make it of a gratefull taste mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often Take salt of Tartar vitriolated half a drachm Cream of Tartar one drachm Powder white Sugar-candy two drachms make it into a fine Powder for four Doses which may be taken every morning and evening in white or Rhenish wine For the Rich you may prepare a medicinal Wine This may serve for example Take the Roots of Elicampane Calamus aromaticus of each one ounce of Rue Sage A medicinal Wine Vervain sweet Marjoram of each three handfulls Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed of each an ounce and half Orange-peel half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine It may be given to three or four ounces in the morning fasting with twenty drops of Elixir proprietatis you may also give it by it self at dinner and supper When the Wine is used fresh Wine may be put to the Ingredients for a second infusion But farther to correct and gently evacuate the viscous Phlegmatick humours This opening Apozeme is effectual Take of the five opening Roots of each two ounces Liquorish an ounce and half Apozeme Guiacum half a Pound Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed the Berries of Bays and Juniper of each half an ounce Vervain Betony of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of Rain-water very hot for twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna of each four ounces tincture of Cinamon three ounces salt of Tartar vitriolated half an ounce mix it and give three ounces every morning fasting If there be need of stronger Physick you Purging Pills may administer these purging Pills Take of Extract Rudii pil foetidoe Cochioe of each half a drachm Mercurius dulcis twenty grains mix it for three Doses If the pain be old and stubborn apply Vesiccatories to the Neck also Leeches to the Temples and Haemorrhoids or open the jugular or frontal Vein which hath often prov'd effectual Errhines Sternutatories and Apophlegmatisms may also be used and Ventoses with Scarification if need require Baths of Sulphur whether natural or artificial with Cephalick Herbs are good to bathe the Head and whole Body Some approve of the fume of Amber taken into the Mouth and Nostrils Also spirit of cranium humanum or spirit of salt Armoniack held to the Nose in a narrow-mouth'd Vial giveth present ease in all cold Pains of the Head Also you may touch the Nostrils and Temples with Oil of Amber or Nutmegs or apply this Epitheme to the Temples and Forehead with Linnen-rags Take the Waters of Vervain and Betony of each one ounce Vineger of Roses Ointment Epitheme of Alabaster of each half an ounce Laudanum opiatum one scruple mix it Cold distempers of the head may also be corrected by hot Cephalicks quilted in a Cap for the Head Take of sweet Marjoram Stoechas Vervain For a'quilted Cap. Betony Sage Flowers of Chamomel of each one handfull Nutmegs Cloves Wood of Alloes the Roots of Galangal Cyperus Calamus aromat of each half an ounce let them be all beaten into Powder for a quilted Cap. Before you put it on let the Hair be shaved close and the Head gently rub'd for some time the better to open the pores Let the Sick abstain from fat and viscous Food and let the mind be compos'd to chearfulness If the Juice of the Pancreas abounding in the Body be over sour it causeth a vitious Effervescency being oppos'd by Choler and Phlegm in the small guts from whence sour and ungratefull vapours may be sent to the Stomach and thence to the Head If the humours be over sour the sense of Signs hunger will be encreased notwithstanding the Pain of the Head This distemper is to be cur'd by giving Cure those things which temper and amend the acid Juice in the Body and do prevent its encrease Those things abounding with either a lixivial or volatile salt do powerfully destroy this acid Juice as Pearl Crabs-eyes Coral Chalk Amber Bloud-stone Filings of steel c. Take this as a form of a Powder Take of Crabs-eyes Pearl red Coral prepar'd Powder of each half a drachm white Sugar half an ounce let it be made into fine Powder for six Doses which may be taken morning and evening in two or three spoonfulls of the following Cordial Julep Take Waters of Baum and Mint of each Cordial Iulep three ounces
sorrow of mind or great passion be the Cause it ought to be prevented as much as may be both by Philosophical and Theological reasons about any troublesome matters and by confirming the mind whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity This ought to be observed also in all other Diseases If Ebriety be the cause I commend Sobriety to cure it Sublata causa tollitur effectus If the humours be over viscous or glutinous the following Decoction will not onely alter and correct but mildly educe the peccant humours by which the Jaundice may in a short time be cured Take of Rhubarb the Roots of Madder Smallage the greater Celandine of each Decoction one ounce the Flowers of Broom one handfull Hemp-seed two ounces the Seeds of Anise Parsley and Columbines of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms white Tartar three drachms let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine and Fountain water of each three pints till the third part be boiled away then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces mix it Let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day till the viscous phlegm and Choler be sufficiently evacuated and the natural colour of the body restored As oft as the Jaundice is caused by the poison of a Viper or any other venemous thing whatsoever you must administer as soon as possible a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome The following will serve to both indications Take the waters of Carduus Fennel Fumitory Sudorifick of each two ounces treacle-Treacle-water Syrups of the juice of Carduus red Poppies of each one ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Venice-treacle half a drachm Bezoar-mineral Antimony diaphoretick Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Spirit of Salt-Armoniack six drops Laudanum opiatum six grains mix it and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat and after it breaks forth give a spoonfull or two now and then to promote it Also this Decoction or one like it may be prescrib'd for the Icterick patient it being both Sudorifick and Diuretick Take the Roots of Scorzonera Juniper of Diuretick Decoction each two ounces Roots of Master-wort Sassaphras of each half an ounce Berries of Juniper and Bays of each one ounce and half Seeds of Nettles Hemp and Columbines of each one ounce shavings of Harts-horn three drachms the tops of Carduus Scordium Scabious the lesser Centaury of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of the juice of Carduus four ounces Treacle-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms mix it and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours Soap of any sort conduceth to the cure of the Jaundice upon a twofold account both by reason of its fixt lixivial Salt and also by reason of its fatness or oil for the Lixivial Salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated Choler and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous Salt ruling in Choler The following mixture is very effectual Take of Hemp-seed two ounces Soap two Opiate drachms bruise the seed and boil it in half a pint of new Milk till half of it be consumed then strain it and add Syrup of Saffron half an ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it and give half of it in the morning fasting and the remainder at night going to bed CHAP. XII Of a Cachexy AN ill Habit of Body is called in Greek Cachexia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitus It may be called in Latin mala corporis habitudo There are many causes of this Distemper which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd Symptoms It doth accompany all Chronical Diseases as Dropsies of all kinds Hypochondriack suffocation Scurvy Pox and Gout c. for it doth spare none neither Peer nor Peasant of any age or sex but it most frequently seizeth on Women when their monthly terms are supprest The cause is either external or internal The external cause is either bad Diet a long time receiv'd or for want of good refreshing Food after sickness for the Stomach being weak cannot digest course Diet by which the nutriment of the Body doth by degrees become peccant in quality vitiating the humours and Bloud it self so that an ill nourishment of the Body doth follow The internal cause may be the suppression of the Terms in Women which is more or less corrupted about the Womb having not its natural evacuation from whence the whole mass of Bloud is indued with a vitious quality by which the nourishment of all parts of the Body is deprav'd Also Choler and the juice of the Pancreas which are always confus'd with the Bloud being alike vitious or peccant in quality do not onely corrupt the separation of usefull and unusefull parts but by the vitious effervescency of these humours manifold flatuous vapours are rais'd which do not onely increase anxieties about the Midriff but being carried to the Heart there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof and in circulating through the Lungs it causeth a Dyspnoea or difficult breathing and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the Body it doth breed a general weariness in all parts But when the vitious humours abound together in plenty then several kinds of the Dropsie at length succeed if not the universal Body groweth lean by degrees From what hath been said the production of every Cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious Physician The signs are paleness of the Face shortness Signs of breath palpitation of the Heart and often apressing pain of it accompanied for the most part with a lingring Fever either continual or intermitting or compounded of both in which the Urine is crude or watry at length there is a weariness of the universal Body which in some doth pine and become lean but in others the Body doth swell and is turgid If this Disease be not helpt in time it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious Progn that it will puzzle the wisest and most experienced Physicians to cure it for by the long continuance thereof phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous on which all Chronical or prolong'd Diseases depend besides all the other humours are by degrees vitiated which incorporate with the Bloud and diminish its effervescency so that the separation and excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine do not follow from whence many grievous symptoms succeed which oft proves mortal The cure of every Cachexie will consist in Cure the correction and amendment of the Bloud any way vitiated If flegm be tough and glutinous it must be corrected and evacuated for which
infused in two quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb six ounces mix it and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting If any like Pills better I commend the following Take the Resins of Jallop and Scammony Purging Pills Tartar vitriolated Mercur. dulcis of each half a drachm Oil of Juniper one scruple make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine of which you may give twenty grains at a time in the morning fasting The following Pills are also very effectual Take of Elaterium Gambogia Resin of Jallop Pills of each ten grains Oil of Nutmegs six drops make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine for two doses The obstructions in the Lacteal veins or Lymphatick vessels may be cur'd by Medicines that do powerfully cut and happily open the said obstructions This Aromatick Sudorifick may be commended for these intentions Take the waters of Treacle Scurvigrass Sudorifick Fennel of each one ounce waters of Parsley Fumitory of each two ounces distill'd Vinegar half an ounce Syrups of the juice of Carduus and the five opening Roots of each six drachms Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Amber Beans Worm-wood of each one scruple Spirits of Salt Armoniack Niter of each twenty drops mix it and give four spoonfulls of it every two or three hours After the Vessels are freed from the noted obstruction by the medicines before-mention'd or such like they will be easily consolidated again by conglutinating food in which you may boyle the Roots of Comfry Plantain and Solomon's Seal for the more quick and easie cure In a Tympany the dulcifi'd Spirit of Niter is excellent being taken in Broth or Sack three or four times in a day from six to twelve drops at a time for it doth correct both Phlegm and Choler and hinder Wind in its rise and dissipate it when it is bred Also the following exemplary Julep doth curb and discuss Wind remaining as well in the Stomach as Guts Take the Waters of Mint Fennel of Carminative Iulep each four ounces the Carminative Spirit of Sylvius Syrup of the juice of Mints of each two ounces Laudanum opiat eight grains Spirit of Niter one drachm Salt of Amber half a drachm Chymical Oil of Mace ten drops mix it and take three or four spoonfulls every three hours You may prepare a Medicinal Wine for the rich very beneficial in Dropsies Take the Seeds of Anise Fennel Caraway Medicinal Wine Coriander Berries of Bays and Juniper of each two ounces Salt of Tartar half an ounce let them be bruised and infused in three pints of White-wine for three days then strain it and add Spirit of Niter half an ounce Salt of Amber two drachms Syrup of Mint three ounces mix it and take four or five spoonfulls of it often Sweating is very profitable in all Dropsies either in Bed with the forementioned Sudorifick or in a Bagnio or Hot-house by which the water standing beside nature in any part of the Body will by degrees be emptied through the pores of the Skin Also it may be necessary especially in persons more elderly to use warm Baths That which is prescrib'd for the cure of the Belly-ach in page 201 202. is also very profitable in Dropsies into the which it may be agreeable to descend at evening before Bed-time and there to continue so long as the Patient can well endure without fainting after which Frications may have their proper use and great benefit And to strengthen the cutaneous Fibres and restore their true tone for their better service of the offices of Nature let the affected parts be anointed with the following fragrant Balsamick Ointment Take of Flanders Oil of Bays Nerve-oil Ointment Oil of Earth-worms of each two ounces Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it Galen commendeth a Cataplasm of Snails bruised with their shells and laid upon the Navel But a Pultess prepar'd of the ingredients of the Bath and applied to the affected parts will be more effectual to discharge the Ichorous water Or you may make a Cataplasm after this manner Take the tops of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Pulcess Worm-wood Chamomel of each two handfulls Horse-radish-roots four ounces let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of the juice of Wild-cucumbers till they are very tender then strain it and beat them very well and add Barley-meal one pound and with the same liquor boil it into the consistence of a Pultess Let the Patients diet be drying and let them drink moderately you may infuse Juniper-berries Tamarisk and Elicampane-roots in their ordinary drink And for the benefit of those Physicians and Chirurgeons that live in the West-Indies there groweth almost every where in moist places a large Cane much like the Sugar-cane the Planters generally call it the dumb Cane because they that taste it are presently dumb and unable to speak for two or three hours after which the Tongue returns to its former use and volubility without any prejudice The reason why this remarkeable Plant doth so affect the Tongue upon the touch of it is its power of attracting such plenty of moisture into it as doth distend all the Vessels thereof and render it immoveable till the crouded moisture be gradually discharged Hence we may conjecture and indeed experience teacheth that of this Plant may be prepared diversity of medicines as Cataplasms Oils Ointments c. Which will be effectual to attract and easily and kindly discharge the swollen part of the Ichorous water which may be used for some time after the evacuation of it the better to prevent a farther accumulation or return of the Disease Likewise may medicines be prepared by a skilfull Artist of this Plant very effectual to be taken inwardly not onely against Dropsies but the Scurvy Gout c. If these choice medicines are not to be had and nothing be effected by other means A harmless Paracenthesis may be instituted in the Dropsie of the Breast or Abdomen provided the Apertion be made by such a little hollow instrument as is describ'd in page 81 82. of the Cure of the Pleurisie for by such a small wound there is no danger to the sick But this operation must not be delay'd lest the humour collected get an hurtfull Acrimony and by degrees corrode and corrupt the Membrane and hence the substance of all the parts contain'd and so make the Disease incurable CHAP. XIV Of the Scurvy and Hypochondriack Suffocation commonly called the Fits of the Mother THE Scurvy being a Hypochondriack disease it will not be amiss to treat of them together The Scurvy is called in Latin Scorbutus it is a Complication or Concatenation of Diseases generated by the Conjunction of divers Causes contributing to a scorbutick Deformity The Scurvy is generated or planted essentially in the vital Principles or digestive Offices and therefore it is not discerned by sense but the effects are distributed throughout the Body and
of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours and again make them fluid All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs and also volatile Salts prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals but also of scorbutick Plants such as are the juice of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass Garden and Water-cresses Dandelion c. conduce before all others to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coagulated or Bloud clotter'd as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated and conglutinated in humane bodies and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity and moreover to move sweat which together being mildly promoted the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours c. will be obtained much easier and sooner An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practitioners Take the Waters of Treacle Dandelion Cordial to cause Sweat Parsley Scurvigrass Fennel Syrups of Hedge-mustard white Poppies of each half an ounce Spirit of Salt Armoniack Harts-horn of each ten drops Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it The following is also very effectual Take the Waters of Fennel Hyssop of each two ounces distill'd Vinegar six drachms the carminative-Carminative-water of Sylvius half an ounce Syrup of the five opening Roots one ounce and half Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm Sperma Coeti Mummy Antimony Diaphoretick of each one scruple Laudanum opiat four grains mix it Let the sick often take two spoonfulls of either of these mixtures especially in bed to promote the power of the medicine and to facilitate a sweat by the help whereof the mention'd power of the Sudorifick will the better come to the place of obstruction and will attenuate loosen and make fluid the matter obstructing the whole Mass of Bloud will also become more fluid and moveable being rarefi'd by the volatile Salt of the medicine If the Patient be plethorick let the Saphoena vein be opened for by opening and breathing a Vein the motion and circulation of the Bloud will be the better restor'd for a larger space being made for the universal Bloud it will circulate more swiftly and potently The phlegmatick viscous humours must be corrected and evacuated by Phlegmagogues The following medicines are of great efficacy Take of Salts of Mugwort Ash Amber Tartar vitriolated of each ten grains Powder Powder of Cream of Tartar white Sugar-candy of each half a drachm mix it and give it in white Wine in the morning fasting The next day you may administer the following Pills Take of pil foetidoe ex duobus of each half a drachm Amber prepar'd Steel Borax Purging Pills Mercur. Dulcis of each one scruple Mirrh Castor Saffron of each twelve grains Oil of Cloves Spirit of Salt Armoniack of each six drops make it into ten Pills for two doses which may be taken in the Morning fasting If a medicinal Wine be acceptable to the sick the following or one like it may be used Take the Roots of Horse-radish the five opening Roots of each one ounce Savin Medicinal wine Vervain Penny-royal Hyssop Calamint Mugwort of each one handfull Senna Cinamon sweet Fennel-seeds Juniper-berries Orange-peel Liquorish of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in one Gallon of White-wine for three days then strain it and keep it for use You may add more wine to the ingredients so long as there is any Aromatick taste Four or five spoonfulls of this Wine may be taken two or three times a day with which you may mix Salt of Tartar vitriolated ten grains Elixir proprietatis six drops If you expect a laudable success you must persevere awhile in the use of these or such like medicines CHAP. XVI Of the immoderate menstrual Flux and the Whites in Women THE monthly terms being immoderate may be called in Latin mensium fluxus immodicus And the Whites in Women Alboe mulierum fluxiones The causes of too many Courses are either Cause external or internal The external Causes may be by an Ulcer in the Matrix or some outward Violence and sometimes by too much Coition The internal Causes are either a sharp serous humour abounding in the Bloud increasing its fluidity or else an over great heat in the Womb stirring up a more potent and therefore a swifter rarefaction of Bloud provoking an expulsion of it either by breaking or some other preternatural opening of the vessels of the Womb. The white Flux of the Womb is an excrementitious humour flowing from it This distemper is subject not onely to Women but sometimes to Maids also These humours may be bred in the Cause of Whites Womb either by a cold or hot distemper therein The cold doth render it unable to digest its nourishment A hot Distemper corrupteth it hence cometh this excrementitious humour Also Abortion Contusion Inflammation Imposthume or Ulcer in the Womb may weaken and dispose it to breed such humours The signs that distinguish between this Signs Distemper and an Ulcer in the Womb and Gonorrhoea are these 1. If there be an Ulcer there the Womb will not admit of Coition without pain and the matter which floweth from her is stringy and more digested and sometimes bloudy 2. In the Gonorrhoea the seminal matter cometh in a small quantity and seldom except it be gotten by acting with an unclean Person then the Urine is sharp with many other malignant Symptoms All long Hemorrhagies of Bloud are dangerous Progn especially those of the Womb If it be caused by exulceration and be in elderly Women 't is incurable The white Flux is not very dangerous but is often difficult of curation especially in old Women because they abound with Phlegm and 't is hard to divert the humours from this Chanel it being the sink of the body through which the superfluous humours of a healthy Woman are every month evacuated If this distemper continue long it may breed great evils as Barrenness Falling out of the Womb c. These diseases may be both cured by the Cure same medicines If the courses have continued too long the following mixture will soon stop the flux of Bloud and will cure most ruptions of vessels Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of Astringent Iulep each three ounces cinamon-Cinamon-water Syrups of Mirtles Quinces of each one ounce and half distill'd Vinegar one ounce red Coral prepar'd one drachm Dragons Bloud one scruple Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give three spoonfulls every four hours When the flux of Bloud is stopt you may purge with the following Take of Manna one ounce Powder of Purge Rhubarb tosted Cream of Tartar of each half a drachm Resin of Jallop four grains mix it and take it in broth If the Patient like Pills I commend the following Take Resins of Jallop and Scammony extract of Rhubarb Agarick Salt of Amber Purging Pills Powder of Dragons-bloud of each ten grains Oil of Mints six drops with Syrup of
hard Labour are easily known Signs if the Child do stir and there be strong pains and no water appear the Secundine is strong If pains be weak and long before they return and more in the Back than Belly the Infant is weak If the Woman be little and her Husband big and full shouldred then there is a great Child which will cause tough work 1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dangerous Progn for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and many times both do lose their Lives 2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days the Child can hardly be alive and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late for if it be neglected it will cause Fevers Faintings Convulsions Sleepiness c. which are the Forerunners of Death 3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord it is a good sign of deliverance First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child Indications Take Waters of Baum Vervain Cinamon Cordial Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers Saffron of each six drachms Spirit of Saffron Confectio Alkermes of each one drachm mix it If the Child be situated on Os pubis it must be removed and all other unfit Postures must be rectified Then such things as hasten the Birth may be safely administred To encrease the Pains and further the Womans Labour I commend sneezing and also the following Medicines Take the Livers of Eels prepar'd with cinamon-Cinamon-water Powder and dried one drachm Powder of Borax whitest Amber Mirrh Saffron Dittany of Crete round Birth-wort of each half a drachm mix it and give a Scruple of it at a time in three spoonfulls of this Julep Take the Waters of Vervain Mugwort Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Saffron one ounce Confectio Alkermes one drachm Extract of Saffron six grains Oils of Cinamon Amber of each three drops mix it Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth as the stone Aetites Loadstone Storax the Eyes of a Hare c. held near the privities The time being come the Woman must be put into a posture which every Midwife doth understand and let her not labour too much till strong pains come and then let her resolve on patience and not be disorderly in the time of her Travel If she be faint you may give her some of the formention'd Cordial Julep to comfort her Let your hands be anointed with some Anodine Ointment After the water is broke if the Head cometh with the Face towards Anus receive it if not endeavour to place it right Then turn your Finger round about the Child's head gently to make way for the Birth If the Child cometh any other way you must endeavour to gain the Feet and bring it away with the Face towards Anus as before mention'd The Child being born you must bring away the Secundine gently by degrees after which put a Closure to the Woman to prevent Cold from entring the Womb. Then prepare her for the bed and give her some Sperma Coeti or Irish-slate in a little burnt White-wine with Cinamon If the Woman doth flood much or be troubled with after-pains give her some of the following Cordial Opiate Take of small Cinamon-water the waters Cordial Opiate of red Poppies Baum of each two ounces Syrups of Clove-gilliflowers white Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiat three grains Oil of Cinamon two drops mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often If the Child be born alive after the Navel string is secured give the Child ten grains of prepar'd Coral in a little Breast milk or black Cherry-water dulcifi'd with Syrup of Peony to which you may add a little Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn If the Child be troubled with gripes you may give it a little Powder of Anise-seed in the Pap. But if the Child be dead and the Labour gone or if the Child's head be very big and the passage too strait so that the Midwife cannot doe her Office you must then speedily implore the help of the Man-midwife as we are called If a Woman in Child-bed hath a costive Body give her a Suppository of Castile-soap or Honey boiled and after three or four days you may administer an emollient carminative Clyster Clyster If a Woman after hard Travel cannot hold her Urine bathe her secret Parts and Region of the Womb with this or the like Decoction Take of Plantain Comfry Shepherds-purse Tops of Brambles Penny-royal Rosemary Fomentation Sage Stoechas of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Gallon of Smiths-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen Stuphs Afterward anoint the grieved parts with this Linament Take the Ointment Comitissoe Oil of Mace by expression of each one ounce Oils of Earth-worms Foxes Lillies Goose-grease of each half an ounce mix it CHAP. XXI Of Nephritick pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder DIseases of the Reins are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. In Latin they are called morbus Renum which comprehends not onely any Ach in the Kidneys but also the Stone and Gravel in the Reins Nephritick pains may be caused divers Cause ways 1. First by a sharp salt matter or a sharp and serous Lympha in the Kidneys which doth easily concrete into a Stone especially when the Ferment of the Reins is much vitiated which may be known by those cruel torturing Fits that come by intervals 2. Worms in the Kidneys which for the most part arise from Bloud there corrupted may be the cause of pain 3. An Abcess or Tumour in the Kidneys following an Inflammation doth hinder the passage of Urine and is always accompanied with great pain 4. It may also be caused by glutinous Phlegm obstructing the fleshy parts of the Kidneys and hindring the separation of Urine so that it is not strein'd into the Funnels of the Reins as usual but is deprav'd and vitiated Whence the natural descent of the Urine through the Ureters into the urinal Bladder is also hindred The same also may happen sometimes by Observacion a stone sticking in the Funnel and stopping the entrance of the Ureters Although I think that Stones sticking in the Ureters themselves cannot long hinder the passage of Urine because it hath been found by experience in dissecting of dead Bodies that Stones near the bigness of a Doves-egg have been sticking in the Ureters by the sides of which Stones Urine descended freely which was evident because the Ureter was no were distended unless where the Stone did stick Neither was there any Urine contain'd in the Ureter above the obstruction besides when the Party was living there was no stoppage of Urine Those fits which come by intervals are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the Ferment of the Kidneys which generates crude salt and sharp matter which causeth those cruel Tortures
or three Days then press it out very hard and add the same quantity of Sarsaparilla as before do this for eight or ten times the ostner the better add to the Spirit of the best Gum of Guiacum in fine Pouder half a Pound the Balsam of Peru and Tolu of each two Cunces mix them all together in a Glass Resort lute a Receiver to it and digest it for ten days then draw off all the Spirit with a gentle heat in Balneo Mariae when it is cold break the Retort and take out the Pouder and keep it for use It is an efficacious Medicine against the Rheumatism Gout Venereal Pox and all Chronical Diseases The Dose is half a Dram in a Spoonful of Whey or Milk or any other Vehicle every Morning fasting or mix it with an equal quantity of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder and give it every Morning and Evening for some time Electuarium Antiscorbuticum nostrum Our Electuary against the Scurvy c. Take of the Berries of Bays Ivy and Juniper of each four Ounces the Seeds of Dwarf-Elder Burdock Ash Broom Peony Gromwel the Bark of Elder of each two Ounces Let them be all bruised and boiled in the Juices of Elder-Berries and wild Cucumbers of each one Pound the Juice of Buckthorn-Berries four Pound 'till half of it be boiled away then press it out very hard and boil it to the Consistence of a Pulp to every Pound of it add an equal quantity of white Sugar and boil it again 'till it be almost as thick as an Electuary then dissolve in it whilst it is very hot the same weight of pure Nitre as there is of Sugar To every Pound of the Electuary add four Ounces of Balm of Gilead two Ounces of our Balsamick Pouder before mention'd one Ounce of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder and two Drams of Oyl of Juniper mix all together according to Art It is an excellent Cathartick in all Diseases which requires Purging for it potently evacuates all vitious Humours promiscuously out of the Body it cureth the King's-Evil Rheumatism Gout Dropsie Scurvy dry Belly-ach and all curable Diseases The Dose is from two Drams to an Ounce It may be given in the form of a Bolus or dissolved in Ale Whey or any other liquid Vehicle and taken in the Morning fasting Sal Chalybis noster Our Salt of Steel or Iron Take the finest Filings of Iron or Steel rectified Oyl of Vitriol of each one Pound mix them together in a large Earthen-Pan well glazed let it stand for two or three Hours then pour into it two or three Quarts of fair Water and it will presently effervesce and the Salt will stick about the Pan take it out and keep it for use Tinctura Chalybis The Tincture of Iron or Steel Take the finest Filings of Iron or Steel four Ounces rectified Spirit of Nitre half a Pound mix them together in an Earthen-Pan well glazed when the Effervescency is over let it cool and add to it Spirit of Wine rectified five Pound mix it well together then filter it through brown Paper and keep it for use Both of these Medicines are great Aperitives opens all Obstructions cures the Rickets Green-sickness Stoppage of the Terms Yellow-Jaundice c. they strengthen the Stomach kills Worms and purifies the whole Mass of Blood You may give from half a Scruple to half a Dram of the Salt in any Vehicle every Morning The Tincture may be taken from ten to forty Drops at a time in Beer Ale or Wine Aqua Styptica nostra Our Stiptick Water Take of pure white Vitriol Roch-Alum of each four Ounces let them be poudred and calcined in a Crucible 'till it be red-hot then quench it with Wine-Vinegar and calcine it again Take it out of the Crucible and dissolve it in a Gallon of Spring-water add to it two Ounces of Saccharum Saturni then strain it and keep it for use It cures the Itch and all other Eruptions the grieved Parts being wash'd with it three or four times in a day It likewise cureth hollow Ulcers and Fistula's the Gonorrhaea in Men and the Whites in Women You may inject it with a Syringe warm twice in a day AN INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS Comprehending all the Diseases of this BOOK The Contents of the First Book Chap. Page I. OF the Head-ach 1 II. Of the Palsie and Apoplexy 13 III. Of Convulsions and the Epilepsie 22 IV. Of the Night-mare and Vertigo 35 V. Of the Lethargy Coma Carus and Catalepsie or Catochus 38 VI. Of the Phrensie and Madness 44 VII Of Catarrhs 55 The Contents of the Second Book Chap. Page I. OF Shortness of Breathing 69 II. Of the Pleurisie and other Instammations 72 III. Of the Consumption or Phtisick and Hectick-Fever 83 IV. Of the Palpitation of the Heart 92 V. Of an universal Languishing as also of Swouning and Syncope 96 VI. Of Fevers in General 103 VII Of Intermitting Fevers 116 VIII Of Malignant Fevers and the Calenture 124 IX Of the Plague or Pestilence 129 X. Of the Small-pox and Measles 136 The Contents of the Third Book Chap. Page I. OF the thirsty Disease 141 II. Of Hunger vitiated or of a depraved Appetite 144 III. Of want of Appetite or loathing of Victuals 148 IV. Of the Hiccet or Hiccough 152 V. Of Belching 156 VI. Of Vomiting and of the Cholerick and Iliack Passion 158 VII Of Pain in the Stomach and of various Pains of the Guts as Colick c. 168 VIII Of Worms 179 IX Of Loosenesses or Fluxes of the Belly 185 X. Of the dry Belly-ach 196 XI Of the Yellow-Iaundice 202 XII Of a Cachexy or ill Habit of Body 207 XIII Of Dropsies 211 XIV Of the Scurvy and Hypochondriack Suffocation commonly called Fits of the Mother 222 XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses 231 XVI Of the immoderate menstrual Flux and the Whites in Women 237 XVII Of the Falling down of the Womb and Fundament 242 XVIII Of Barrenness 245 XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage 249 XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth 252 XXI Of Nephritick Pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder 257 XXII Of extraordinary Pissing 269 XXIII Of involuntary Pissing commonly called Pissing in Bed 272 XXIV Of the Stoppage of Urine and the Strangury 274 XXV Of the scalding or sharpness of Urine 277 XXVI Of Venereal Affects 279 XXVII Of the Rachites or Rickets 288 XXVIII Of the Gout and Rheumatism 303 Praxis Medicinae Reformata OR THE Practice of Physick REFORMED BEING AN Epitome of the whole Art Wherein is briefly shewed The true Causes Signs Prognosticks and Cure of most Diseases BOOK I. CHAP. I. Of the Head-ach THE Head-ach may be divided into three Kinds The first is the momentany Head-ach it Cephalalgia is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caput and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dolor The second is an inveterate Head-ach and is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod
the Liver it may be cur'd by driving forward the serous Liquour out of the Body by Sudorificks and Diureticks and also by tart strengthning things that repair the hurt of the loosened Vessels The Diuretick decoction of China before mention'd is excellent in this case to be taken as is there directed Also the following Diaphoretick may be sometimes used with good success Take the Waters of Treacle Cinamon of Sudorifick each half an ounce Plantain-water two ounces distill'd Vinegar three drachms Confectio de Hyacintho Diascordium of each one drachm Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm Syrups of Mirtles dried Roses of each six drachms mix it for two doses Also the Powder and astringent Julep prescrib'd in page 192 193. is excellent to corroborate the loosened Vessels c. Anoint the Belly with the Oil of Quinces Mirtles Roses Wormwood c. mixed with unguent Comitissae which is also good in all Fluxes of the Belly CHAP. X. Of the dry Belly-ach THIS cruciating disease may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin Spasmus Abdominis quod sub umbelico est ad Pubem and because of the additional Torments it may be also named Tormen Abdominis quod dolore torquetur Abdomen This disease doth also need as well the Name as the invocation of Miserere mei Deus the sick being in such extreme misery that 't is incredible to all but them that have endur'd it The most urgent and exquisite pain under this affect being in that most tender and sensible part viz. the Belly may seem to have some Alliance with the Iliack or Colick passion and indeed they are sometimes its Concomitants but much different from it The causes of this lamentable Distemper Causes are either external or internal The external general occasional cause is contracting Cold in the Region of the Belly c. which doth cramp not onely the Muscles of the Abdomen but also the tender Fibres of the Intestines cruciating all the affected parts with obdurate Contractions which is more aggravated when the Moon doth come to opposition with the Sun Which may be also observ'd in all Spasms and convulsive motions that about the full of the Moon the tide of such nervous diseases doth rise highest Especially in those places where the direct aspects of the nocturnal luminary have the most power which demonstration will evince to be between the Tropicks which many of our Mariners who have sailed that way can tell by wofull experience Another external procuring cause of this grievous disease is a mineral Gas ascending from the Caverns of the Earth infesting the Air with its poisonous Fumes whereby not onely the tender fibrous and nervous parts of the Belly are oft times crampt with Convulsive spasms but the mineral Fumes being inspired with the Air into the Body produce most eminent apparent evils as the Corruption of the Chyle into porraceous and adust Choler from whence followeth irritating Vomitings and the Constipation of the Belly with obdurateness of the excrements which inflames the Bowels and entails Signs a Symptomatical fever with a heavy and slow pulse and as the pain doth aggravate more and more there is want of sleep and rest with other uneasiness and commotions of Body and Mind as the Operatours in Chymistry have sometimes experience of to their cost and trouble in mineral preparations for if a Vessel chance to break the sharp and acid Vapours or Gas of the mineral immediately seiseth the Animal spirits of all that are in the Elaboratory by which they are mov'd unequally against the will through the Nerves to the Musculous parts which causeth Convulsive motions with trembling and shaking of the Limbs and other accumulated evils The like grievous Symptoms though not so violent happen to many People that inhabit near the mineral Mines in Hungaria and also in some Places of England as Derbyshire c. Where there are Lead-works from whence mineral Fumes continually ascend from the separating Oar which infesteth the Air and is a great producer of such Convulsive effects At the first seisure of this evil the Muscles of the Abdomen and sometimes those of the Breast and Back through contractions prove hard and painfull as in our ordinary Cramps which Symptoms will evince that these Vapours are peccant in an acid Acrimony The internal Cause is also sour Vapours arising most commonly out of the small Guts which the concurring symptoms consider'd and weighed with an attentive mind will confirm for these Vapours being sharp are driven forward into the Nerves and gnawing them with great pain aggravate and produce this Convulsive spasm 1. If this miserable and afflictive Distemper Progn hath continu'd to a long durance it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous Passages of the Muscles that thereby Lameness and an Atrophy soon succeeds increasing the Weakness of all the Members of the Body till at length it ends in a Paralitical resolution of them 2. If a pregnant Woman or a Woman after Abortion be afflicted with this grievous evil it is very dangerous and many times mortal As for the Cure we must endeavour to Cure ease the pain and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition The pain may be eased and diminish'd as well by internal as external Anodynes and Narcoticks to allay the violent Motion of the Animal spirits and abate the grievous Spasms succeeding The following Cordial Diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this Case Take the Waters of Fennel Peony Treacle Diaphoretick Opiate of each one ounce Syrups of Stoechas Peony Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Tincture of Castor two drachms Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Cloves of each four drops Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent taking of this Volatile and Anodyne Sudorifick the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht and the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits will be reduc'd and brought to tranquillity by which the binding Constrictions of the Belly-ach will be the easier remov'd Bathing in this distemper hath been often us'd with admirable success for by the frequent use thereof the cutaneous and muscular Fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted Spasms but the pores will be also kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring Particles A natural Bath such as is in the City of Bathe is excellent but when it is not to be had an artificial Bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd For example Take of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Betony Chamomel Bays Rhue Time Hyssop Bath Ground-pine Organ Penny-royal Sage sweet Marjoram of each six handfulls Flowers of Stoechas Chamomel Melilot of each four handfulls Roots of Pellitory of Spain Briony Master-wort Virginia Snake-root of each four ounces Spicknard Berries of