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
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-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
use of four things a little Harsh mixt with drink or Broth as beforesaid because they much conduce to restore by degrees the former consistency to the Bloud In Calentures Phlebotomy may be safely used CHAP. IX Of the Plague or Pestilence THE Plague or Pestilence is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvo quod vitam solvat It is called in Latin Pestilentia Pestis ex depascendo quod veluti incendium depascat It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 percutio hinc Angl. the Plague Pestis significat omne malum quod tam inanimis quam animatis mortem exitium repentino adfert The Plague is a contagious disease suddenly afflicting the Heart and all the vital animal and natural faculties with many grievous Symptoms The Cause is chiefly the sins of Mankind Cause provoking the great God to send this Pestiferous distemper as a judgment on them for their Impiety The Cause next to God's judgment is a sharp venemous and contagious volatile Salt in the Air very much heightned inspired with the Air into the Lungs or is swallowed down with the food or spittle into the Stomach it may also get in through the pores into the Body by which the acid liquor in all the conglobated glandules is weakned and made sluggish that it doth not circulate with its wonted force whence the natural consistency and rarefaction of the Bloud is diminsht and the separation of the Animal Spirits hindred and the vital strength is much opprest by which the Pulse becomes not onely little but also languishing till at length the Spirits are extinguisht and Death unexpected to many carries them speedily torrenti similis in fiery Chariots God knows where All the signs in Malign Fevers are common and much heightned in the Pest besides Signs many other grievous symptoms as Diarrhaea Hemorrhage at the Nose Ears Eyes Mouth and Secrets sometimes yellowness of the Eyes Buboes in the Groins Armpits and behind the Ears and in some white Bladders and Carbuncles also spots called the Tokens with raving c. 1. The Pest is deceitfull above all other diseases Progn therefore no certain prognostick can be drawn of it for many have died when there hath been great hopes of recovery and on the contrary many have escaped with mortal signs 2. A Bubo is less dangerous than a Carbuncle and it than the spots vulgarly the Tokens which most commonly portend Death wheresoever they are 3. Buboes incompassed with a blue or livid circle are most commonly a mortal sign especially if they suddenly disappear unless the Malign humour be sent to some other part and if with a Bubo behind the Ears there be pain of the Throat without inflammation 't is mortal 4. If a Carbuncle rise after a Bubo and look white with a litle push or tail at the end of it 't is dangerous except the Fever do very much abate and if after cauterizing or cupping the Carbuncle abate not in twenty four hours 't is a sign of Death approaching except matter appear and if Carbuncles seize the Stomach Guts Bladder or other Intrails it portends Death 5. Deliriums Drowsiness Heart-ach Trembling Convulsions great driness of Tongue are all bad signs also a Dysentery is most commonly mortal but a Hemorrhage at the Nose or Menses are not so dangerous To preserve from this Pestiferous distemper although transmigration in the fear of God may be lawfull yet let none think to escape by flying and so neglect their duties to God for 't is impossible to run out of his reach for he filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence wherefore let servent prayers be put up to God whose compassions fail not and then make use of an honest Physician 1. You must endeavour to purifie the infected Air with great fires wash the house daily and after sprinkle it with Vinegar and Fume either with Pitch Frankincense Mirrh Amber Benjamin Wood and Berries of Juniper c. 2. Avoid all passions watchings and immoderate exercise and venery 3. Eat nothing that is hard of concoction and use a moderate diet though easie of digestion and drink good sound Wine c. 4. Go not forth with an empty Stomach but always take some preservative against infection For example Take Spirit of Vinegar Julep of Roses of each one ounce mix it Vinegar Verjuice Oranges Limmons Citrons Pomgranats Barberries Quinces Wood-sorrel c. are all very good used as before directed in Malign Fevers This Poison must not be sent out by vomiting Cure or purging neither is phlebotomy allowed For it is known by manifold experience that the cure of the Pest is most happily instituted by Cordial Sudorificks rightly prepar'd of Antimony because it hath an admirable Sulphur in it whereby not onely sharpness is wonderfully temper'd but the Malign poisonous volatile Salt is thereby most safely driven forward and expelled by sweating out of the Body to which may be added other Cordials as followeth Take the Powders of Crabs-eyes Tartar Cordial Electuary vitriolated Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral of each one scruple Bezoar-stone of the East red Coral prepar'd Salts of Rhue Scordium of each half a scruple Venice-treacle two drachms Spirit of Salt ten drops mix it into an Electuary with confectio de Hyacintho Let the sick take half a drachm of this Cordial Electuary every three hours and drink three or four spoonfulls of this Cordial Julep after it Take of epidemical-Epidemical-water the Waters of Cordial Iulep Carduus Borage Scordium compound of each three ounces the Waters of Treacle Cinamon Syrups of the juice of Carduus and Limmons Syrup of Saffron of each one ounce Salt Prunella and Salt of Wormwood of each one drachm Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it for a Cordial Let the sick person take the aforesaid medicines till sweat is plentifully provoked then let the sweat be gently wiped off with warm linen cloaths In the mean while give the sick a little hot Chicken-broth or other Broth of fresh Meat temper'd to a gratefulness with some sour thing as was directed in Malign Fevers as Barberries Wood-sorrel Limmons c. You must persist in this course till the danger be over and some time after though the sick think themselves well lest the disease deceive you by a sudden surprize again There are many Cordial Confections always to be had ready at Apothecaries Shops as Mithridate Diascordium Venice-treacle London-treacle Treacle-water c. any of which may be used by the Rich or Poor for they will not onely cause sweating but also will temper and moderate the hurtfull acrimony of the volatile Salt before mentioned You may dip a hot Toast in aq prophylactica and apply it to the region of the Stomach and also tye some of it in a rag and smell to it If there be great drowsiness avoid Opiates and take the Cordial Julep without the Laudanum but if there be great Watching Vomiting Flux of the Belly or Hicket you may give it with the
Laudanum prescrib'd for it will much conduce to ease the sick of all these symptoms If there be a Bubo apply a strong Vesiccatory and when the Blister is well raised open it and dress it with Mustard and Basilicon of each equal parts after cure it according to Art If there be a Carbuncle apply Leeches or Ventoses with scarification or the Actual or Potential Cautery after which often apply Mithridate 'till the Eschar be separated then dress it with Unguent Basilicon and Aegyptiacum or else you may use Butter of Antimony 'till the Ulcer be well cleansed and fitted for the last consolidation which may be performed by any desiccative Medicine CHAP. X. Of the Small-pox and Measles THE Small-pox and Measles are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin Morbilli quasi parvi morbi vel parvorum morbi They are also called Variolae Pustulae ex vario vel varium facio quod cutis fit varia Because the skin is of various forms These distempers are most commonly attended with a Malign Fever which oft proves Epidemical Contagious and Mortal and therefore may justly be termed Pestilential The Small-pox is a cutaneous Eruption or large Pustules something like to Warts on the Skin with Inflammation which in few days comes to suppuration if the sick recover The Measles are little Pustules in the Skin with a deep redness and may be best perceived by feeling they are usually discussed in five or six days without suppuration There is an other sort of Pustules or Tubercles like little Bladders incident to Men Women and Children which are without Inflammation or redness and also without a Fever Some call them Cristals others Blisters but Country people call them Swine-pox Hen or Chicken-pox c. To these also may be referred those red fiery spots which break out about the fourth or fifth day in Malign Fevers all over the Body and if the sick recover they vanish about the eighth day after which the Cuticula cometh away in flakes this is commonly called the Scarlet Fever The signs of the Small-pox approaching Signs are pains of the Head shining before the Eyes with redness and swelling of the Face and sometimes bleeding at the Nose also a grievous pain of the Back which reacheth to the Neck with great heat and pricking all over the Body there is often loathing of the Stomach and vomiting with trembling of the Heart great terrour in sleep difficulty of breathing and sometimes raving and convulsion The cause of the Small-pox and Measles Causes is an ill quality or impurity of the Mothers bloud with which the Child was nourish'd in the Womb which doth communicate pollution and defile the mass of Bloud and after the Child is born when there is an ill disposition of the Air proportionable to the disease there followeth a peculiar effervescency or ebullition of the Bloud and other humours by which nature is inraged and provoked to cast forth the impurity The excrementitious matter is either thin or thick if it be thin the Measles follow if thick the Small-pox are produced And if there be a Malignant constitution of the Air it causeth not onely a purging forth of the corrupt matter of the Bloud c. but corrupteth the whole mass of Bloud and so produceth a dangerous and Epidemical Small-pox If they come out red and soon ripen or Progn turn white being round pointed and outward in the skin if the voice and breathing be free without any grievous symptoms there is no danger but if there be a great Fever which is not abated after their eruption with great thirst and difficulty of breathing also black or bloudy Urine or Stool Hemorrhage at the Nose Mouth c. doth signifie a great acrimony and malignancy of the bloud that nature is compelled to evacuate it by such preposterous ways and are most commonly mortal signs So likewise if it be long e'er they come out and they be green blewish or black and sink in again the sick is in great danger of Death As for the Cure of these distempers if they be Malignant or Epidemical let the same Cure means be used as is prescrib'd in Malignant Fevers but if there be little or no sign of Malignancy you may first administer an Antimonial Emetick and after its operation give this or the like Cordial Take the Waters of Carduus Dragons Cordial Iulep Treacle Scordium compound of each two ounces Venice-treacle two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Limmons Carduus Saffron of each one ounce Confection of Hyacinth one drachm mix it for a Cordial Let the sick take two or three spoonfulls of this every half hour till a sweat be promoted after sweating keep the Patient in a warm Room till the danger be over Before the Eruption if there be eminent signs of a Plethora and the sick be adult Phlebotomy may be used with good success Phlebotomy Bezoar and Gascoign's Powder and Diascordium are commonly used in these Diseases You must endeavour to defend the inward parts with the pectoral decoction to which you may add a little Saffron Also a Saffron Stay in which is put a few Sows called Millepedes bruised is excellent to defend the Throat For the Eyes this water is good Take the Waters of Plantain white Roses Water for the Eyes of each three ounces of Camphire Saffron of each ten grains mix it Or you may use Womens milk and Saffron If the Throat and Mouth are inflamed make a Gargarism with Plantain-water and Gargaris Syrup of Mulberries To defend the Nose put up this with a rag or feather Take of red Rose-water Vinegar of red Roses of each one ounce Powder of red Nodulas Saunders Camphire of each one drachm mix it When the Small-pox begins to dry anoint them often with Oil of sweet Almonds and Oil of the Yelks of Eggs which will prevent their pitting OF DISEASES OF THE BELLY BOOK III. CHAP. I. Of the Thirsty disease THIS is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sitio to be thirsty In Latin 't is called sitis morbosa Thirst is the first natural Passion of Mankind and also of Beasts as is manifest by their first sucking milk out of the Breast to asswage it The causes of thirst augmented are either Cause external or internal The external are the Air over heated by the Sun over salt Food too much exercise of body vehement passions of the mind as much anger c. prolong'd watches the Body either too costive or too loose much sweating Urine voided too plentifully any notable Evacuation of Bloud Milk or Seed c. The internal Cause is deduced for the most part from too sharp Choler carried down into the small Gut where it raiseth such an Effervescency with the Juice of the Pancreas flowing thither that thence are elevated salt Vapours to the Stomach and Gullet and there produceth a sense of drought It
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
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
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