with thirst heat wakings and at several turns with swoonings and cold sweats at this time being sent for I prescribed her Cardaic Remedies and such as moved the purgings of the Womb and also a Clyster to be given her at length the Flux of her Belly being provoked the Lochia also came down and the sick Woman being freed from the aforesaid symptoms and the more grievous Disease to wit the Remedies of the Nurses quickly grew well of her Feaver The more plentiful Flux of the Womb hapning to this Woman removed the Procatartic cause of a more grievous Disease wherefore when they had committed so many errors about the ordering her viz. first in stopping the Lochia then what might compensate their defect in hindring the Flux of her Belly yet the Feaver was only light and without any venomous taint impressed on the Blood the like to this I have known to happen frequently to wit when at first the purgings of the Womb have flown very plentifully afterwards when they have flown very sparingly and sometimes stopped the Women in Child-bed have escaped And by the way it is here to be noted that it is wholly dangerous to inhibit or at least divert and cross any motion of Nature incited tho irregular A Noble Gentlewoman about 20 years of Age indued with a smooth and full habit of Body miscarried twice in the space of a Year when she had again Conceived by the prescription of her Physician she provoked a Vomit once a month by drinking plentifully Posset Drink by which she was wont to cast forth much thick tough Phlegm also in the time of her being with Child he Let her Blood 5 times the time of her going being over she was brought to Bed of a Son with very hard Labour the Secundine came whole away and she purged notably on the second day whilst she was lifted upon her feet in Bed that the Sheets and the Blankets might be laid in better order she took Cold and by that means the bloody Lochia wholly stopped and only a little serous Water came away on the third day she began to complain of an acute pain in her right side to which the Women laid Bags of Camomil made hot with Bricks but the distemper grew worse with a bloody spittle on the fourth day of her being brought to Bed a most â—harp pain with a difficult breathing and very Laborious invaded her by the prescription of her Physician then coming to her from the neigbourhood six ounces of Blood was taken away out of the Basilic Vein and she felt sudden ease for 10 hours she was better in the middle of the night the pricking pain returned with its wonted fierceness at length other Physicians being called to Counsel they agreed that it was necessary to open a Vein again in the arm of the distempered side four ounces of Blood being taken away the pain remitted and the sick breathed better then by Diasphoretic Remedies she fell into a great sweat with a quiet sleep But the Pulse was made quicker and weaker also contractures of the tendons in her wrists appeared presently afterwards she talked idly and within 24 hours after she was last Let Blood she departed That this Lady fell into a Pleurisie with a Feaver upon the Lochia being suppressed the cause in some measure seemed to be the Letting of Blood so often in the time of her being with Child for by this means the Blood being accustomed to be eventilated at the arm afterwards growing hot leaving the Womb was carried violently towards the place of its letting forth where when it found not a passage it fixed in the neighbouring side as the next nest to the place of extravasation yea besides the usual manner of a Pleurisie there was no small malignity hapned to this Disease for the Blood being hindred from being let forth of the Vessels began presently to be corrupted in its disposition and in the third day of the Feaver was so much depraved that it could not be any longer fermented in the heart so as to Prorogue Life It was not so with the Wife of a certain Smith who was brought to Bed at what time her Children had the Small Pox in the same House and she her self as it seemed had taken the Contagion of the same Disease for on the second day after her Delivery they began to break forth with a feaverish heat and pain in her Loyns which indeed for three days whilst the Lochia moderately flowed arose rightly into little swellings altho the purging of the Womb was very copious at that time she had the Small Pox very thick all over her Body not only in the superficies of her skin but also they filled the cavity of her mouth and throat so that she could scarce speak or swallow The sixth day of her Lying in the Lochia flowed immoderately from whence presently fell upon the sick a frequent swooning with a flagging of the Small Pox Convulsions and other symptoms of an ill nature which threatned Death soon being sent for I prescribed half a dram of this Powder to be taken constantly every three hours in a spoonful of the following Julep viz. take of the Roots of Tormentil in Powder drams two of the best Bole Armonie dram one of the species of Hyacinth half a dram make a Powder Take of the Compound Water of Scordium of Dragons of Meadowsweet each three ounces of Therecal Vinegar one ounce of the Syrup of Corals two ounces of Harts-horn burnt half a dram make a Julep Besides I ordered to be boyled in her Broths and in every thing she drank the Roots of Tormentil by these Remedies the purging of her Womb was soon wholly stopped and the Small Pox by degrees being ripened came off without any grievous symptom Indeed this case was difficult and was cured with great danger viz. for either the Lochia or the Small Pox to have been restrained inwardly was very dangerous and yet the more full eruption of the one hindred the motion of the other so long as either moderately proceeded things being permitted to the conduct of Nature was moderately well but when one of them became ill the work of Art was required and it was requisite to bridle the Lochia but to provoke the Small Pox. CHAP. XVII Of Epidemical Feavers HAving meditated rather a Commentary than an intire Tract I had thought here to have concluded our Discourse of Feavers But forasmuch as certain Epidemical Feavers do often spread which observe no Laws nor can be brought to any certain rule of Doctrine but being irregular vary every year and for that reason as often as any of them increase or spread abroad presently it is called the new Disease therefore I thought it worth our while because general precepts concerning these Feavers are not to be delivered to subjoyn some particular Histories of some of this kind for out of the various provision of symptoms whereby they are wont to be noted the nature and the whole
hysterical water what will suffice to make 16. pills Let 4. of them be taken every sixth or Seventh day Take of the Roots of Polypodia of the Oak of sharp pointed-docks prepared of chervill cach ʒ vi of the male Paeony ʒ iii. of the leaves of Betony germander Chamipits Vervine the male Betony each i. handfull of the seeds of Cardamums and burdock each ʒ iii. let them be boyled in 4. pints of Spring water till half be consumed Let it be strained into a matrace to which put of the leaves of the best Senna ℥ i. of Rhubarb ʒ vi of Turbith gummed ℥ ss of Epithimum of yellow-Sanders each ʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. the yellow rine of the Orangeʒ ii let them digest close shut in hot Sand for 12. hours let the straining be kept for use sweeten it if there be need with what will suffice of the Augustan Syrrop or of Succory with Rubarb The Dose ℥ vi once or twice in a week Every day in which purges are not taken Remedies strengthning the brain and also the animal Spirits for the taking away the heterogeneous Copula or for the hindring them from running into explosions Remedies for a more hot temperament are to be administred which indeed ought to be prescribed and chosen according to the Constitution and habit of the Body and temperament of the sick for too lean bodys and such as being indued with a more hot blood medicines less hot and which do not trouble the bloud above measure ought to be given On the Contrary for phlegmatick and fat people whose urine is thin and watery and whose Blood is Circulated more heavily and Viscera's stuffed more hot Remedies and notably apt to ferment the humours are designed In the former Case let it be prescribed after this manner Coroborating medicines and specificks Take of the Conserve of the Flowers of Betony Tamarisk the male-Paeonie each ℥ ii of the Species of Diamargerit frigidaʒ iss of the powder of the Root of Paeonie and of the seeds of the same each ʒ 1. of red-Corall prepared ʒ ii of vitriol of steel ℈ ii of the Salt of Wormwood ʒ ii with what will suffice of the juce of Oranges make an Electuary take of it twice or thrice in a day drinking after it a little draught of the Julap hereafter prescribed Powders Take of Corall Red with the juce of Oranges beaten together in a glass or marble mortar and dry'd ℥ ss of the powder of misletow of the oake of the root of the male Paeonieʒ ii of perled sugar ʒ iii. make a powder the dose from ℈ i. to ʒss twice or thrice in a day Take of the Species of Diamargarit frigidaʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood ʒ iii. of the root of Cocowpint powderd ʒ i. mix them make a powder let it be divided into xx parts take a dose in the morning and at four in the afternoon Distilled waters and Julaps Take of the Roots of Butterbur ℥ i. dose ʒss to ʒ i. twice in a day Take of the Leaves of Burdock and Cocowpint each vi handfulls let them be cut and mixed together and so distilled The dose ʒ ii to iii twice or thrice a day after a dose of Electuary or powder Take of this water distilled ii pints of our steel prepared ʒ ii mix them in a Vial let it be taken after the same manner Take of the Simple water of walnuts and of black-Cherries each half a pint of Snalesʒ iii. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie ℥ ii the dose ℥ iss to two after the same manner Take of the shavings of Ivory and harts-horn each iii. drams of the roots of Chervill burdock Valerian each half an ounce of the leaves of Betony Chamepits harts-tongue the tops of Tamarisk each one handfull of the barks of Tamarisk and of the woody nightshade each half an ounce let them be boyled in two quarts of spring water to the consumption of the third part add to it of white-wine eight ounces strain it into a pitcher to which put of the leaves of brook-lime and Cardamine each one handfull make an Infusion warm and close for four hours Let the colature be kept close in glasses The dose ℥ vi twice in a day after a dose of some solid Medicine sometimes such an Apozme may be mixed with ʒ ii of our steel and taken in the same manner In the Summer time the use of spaw-waters is convenient and for want of them our Artificial ones may be taken Remedies in a more cold temperament If that for the reasons above-recited more hot Medicines are to be prescribed you may proceed according to the following method Take of the Conserves of Rosemary of the yellow of Oranges and Lemmons each ℥ ii Electuaries of Lignum aloes of yellow-sanders of the roots of snake-weed Contrayerva Angelica Cocowpint each ʒ i. of the vitriol of steel or of steel prepared ℈ iiii of the salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. with what will suffice of candied Wallnutts make an Electuary Let it be taken twice in a day to the quantity of a nutmeg drinking after it a dose of appropriate Liquor Take of the Roots of male-Paeony Angellica and red Coral prepared each ʒ ii Tablets of Sugar dissolved in the water of Snales boyled to the consistency of Tablets ℥ vi of the oyle of Amber lightly rectified ʒ ss make a sufficient quantity of Lozenges each weighing about half a dram take one or two twice or thrice a day drinking after it a dose of proper Liquor Take of the Roots of Virginian Snake-weed Contrayerva Valerian each ʒ ii Pills of red Coral and prepared Pearl each ʒ i. of winteran Bark and of the root of Cretian Dittany each ʒ i. of the Vitriol of Steel and Salt of wormwood each ʒ iss of the extract of Centauryʒ ii of Ammoniacum dissolved in histerical water what will suffice to make a pillulary mass of which take four pills in the morning and at four in the afternoon Take of the Spirits of harts-horn or Sut or humane Blood or of Sal ammoniack Spirits what will suffice take of them from 10. to 12. drops morning and evening in a spoonfull of Julap drinking a little draught of the same after it Take of the Leaves of Betony Vervine Sage Lady-smocks Cocowpint Burdock Distill'd waters each two hand-fulls of green wallnuts number 20. the rinds of six Oranges and of 4. Lemons of Cardamums and Cubebbs each ℥ i. being cut and brused pour on them of whey made of Cider or white wine six pints let them be distilled according to Art The dose ℥ ii or iii. twice in a day after a dose of a solid medicine Add to i. quart of this liquor ii drams of our Steel Take of the Water of Snailes and of earth-worms each ℥ vi walnuts simple ℥ iiii of Radish Compound ℥ ii of
ways are thought of whereby the Menstruum of water is made sharper and is rendred fit for the dissolving of any Bodies whatsoever For by means of the Bodies which it ought to dissolve and of the parts which it ought to receive in it self it is armed as it were with some Weapons with which it is able to unlock any Subject and to possess now these now those Particles The Menstruum of water is sharpned with Spirit Salt or Sulphur to wit either with each of these or with more of them joyned together we will first speak of the watery Menstruum with the various sharpning of it and afterwards of the fiery dissolvent Common water most easily dissolves the more simple Bodies except Sulphur and hides their Particles in its pores and passages it readily receives Salts of every kind and easily imbibes Spirits it loosens the frame of Earth and cherishes its more tender little bodies in its embrace but it is hardly mixed with Fat and Oyly things and receives not their Particles but by the coming between of others but drives them forth to its Superficies as not miscible or thrusts them down to the bottom Water in some measure enters the more compounded Bodies whose frame is somwhat loose and then receives into its bosom some not simple Particles but resembling the nature of the whole mixture hence most Vegetables also parts of living creatures and some Minerals being put into common water do impregnate it with a certain virtue and from most Metals by a long maceration it takes away some strength though but small Some Bodies are dissolved by water which yet a Sulphureous or Spirituous Menstrua leave almost untouch'd as the Gums Tragacanth Arabic c. also Salts and Sugar The first and most common way of sharpning whereby simple water may more easily enter the Bodies to be dissolved is that it be furnished with fiery Particles or darts of adventitious heat for so it is driven more deeply with a certain force into Bodies and destroys some thrids as it were the smallest mites in their most inward recesses Wherefore we are wont to boyl for a long while the matter to be dissolved in water or at least to infuse it in warm water by which means the more tenuious and certain subtil Particles which resemble the nature of the Subject are easily drawn forth and impregnate the water with the virtue of the whole mixture So much for the simple or natural Menstruum of water to wit for as much as its activity is wont somtimes to be promoted by fire or ascititious heat But this cannot be so simple but that it contains in it self some Particles of another kind as may be gathered from its easie Putrefaction for oftentimes it is impregnated with Spirituous Sulphureous or Saline breathings contracted from the Air or Earth that for the drawing forth the tinctures of very many things somtimes it excels an Artificial Menstruum for that Acidulous or Spawish waters Mineral waters Rain water and May Dew are of frequent use among Chymicks for the remarkable faculty of dissolving with which they are strong Besides 't is a vulgar observation that some waters most easily dissolve Sope and being throughly mixed with the same causes in the liquor a great spume or froth such if they be rubbed between the fingers feel soft and gentle but other waters which being handled with the hands are more harsh refuse the mixture both of Sope and Oyl and so are accounted unprofitable for the washing of Cloaths these sort of waters if they should be evaporated in a Glass oftentimes affix a Crust to its bottom and sides because they are impregnated more than they ought with Saline Particles with which when the Saline parts residing in the Sope combine the Sulphureous are carried away and they being excluded the pores are thrust forth as not miscible to the top of the Liquor When Flesh is boyled in these waters it grows very red which tincture indeed being thence contracted is a sign that those waters are somwhat imbued with Vitriol or some other kind of Salt But we will pass to Artificial Menstruas in which the watry Liquor is furnished with Spirit Salt or Sulphur being gathered apart or many of them together The Spirituous Menstruum of water is made when from a Body swelling with Spirits a clear and limpid water is distilled as from Wine or strong Beer or other Bodies truly Fermented and brought to exaltation The kind of dissolvent is hardly to be had so sincere but it is mixed with the Particles of more pure Sulphur and somtimes of a volatile Salt The former kind of Liquor is called Spirit of Wine which being subtil and very penetrating easily enters the Bodies and parts of Vegetables and also of living Creatures but hardly Minerals or not at all it extracts from many things not any Particles or resembling the Nature of the whole mixture as common water but chiefly Spirituous and Sulphureous the rest being almost untouched wherefore it is wont to be used for the resinous magisteria of Vegetables which it draws forth almost sincere or without mixture under the form of Gum or Refine in the mean time it is not so fit as common water for the extracts of Plants which are not so indued with Sulphur from Sulphureous things as Benzoin Sulphur Olibanum Styrax Amber and the like it draws forth excellent Tinctures It dissolves the fixed Salts of Herbs also of Pearls and Coral before prepared with Vinegar by a long digestion and receives their Tinctures into it self it leaves Sugar and Gums being dissolvable in water almost untouch'd But there is another Spirituous Menstruum that is sharpned with a volatile Salt such is the Liquor which is distilled out of blood Harts-horn or Soot it is far stronger than the former and cuts most Bodies except Metals into parts and oftimes destroys the forms of the whole mixture yea it most excellently dissolves secondarily the most fixed Metal to wit Gold being first reduced into a Calx by its proper Menstruum and reduces it into a Tincture or potable Liquor They are accounted Sulphureous Menstrua which are brought forth of Sulphureous Bodies under the form of an Oyl these are prepared either by distillation such as are chiefly the Oyl of Turpentine Juniper and the like or by expression such as are wrung forth of Olives Almonds and other Fruits or Seeds of Vegetables Things distilled are of more efficacy than preparations by expression either of them draw forth some Particles from Vegetables or Animals by the vertues of which these Oyls being impregnated they are made fit for Medicinal use Yea they are conveniently enough made use of for the extracting of the Sulphureous Particles of Minerals which somtimes they draw forth sincere or unmixt But if Oyl of Turpentine or Lin-seed Oyl draws forth by dissolving the combustible part of common Sulphur in the mean time the remaining Saline parts and untouched by the Menstruum grow into Crystals
as is obvious to every one in the preparing the Balsam of Sulphur Mineral Bodies in which the bond of Concretion chiefly depends upon Sulphur as are the Fire-Stone Antimony common Brimstone and the like are in some sort dissolved by a Sulphureous Menstruum which draws forth of the Body Particles of the same kind the Saline being almost untouched wherefore Oyl of Turpentine Linseed c. draw forth a Tincture from these in the mean time Saline Menstrua such as are distilled Vinegar or Stygian waters profit little for the dissolving their Bodies but that these unless before Calcined hardly are touched But on the contrary where the frame of the mixture consists of a Saline bond such as are Iron Copper and the like Saline Menstrua as Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Salt c. receive in the dissolving the Particles of the same Nature into themselves the Sulphureous being almost untouched This plainly appears in the solutions of Metals but chiefly and remarkably in Camphire which Stygian waters reduce into a Liquor in form of an Oyl swimming on the Menstruum to wit they dissolve its frame and receive some Saline parts on which the Concretion depends into themselves in the mean time the Sulphureous being untouched they are gathered together apart on the Superficies of the Liquor There is somthing to be wondered at concerning Antimony to wit that its Concretion being very irregular that Mineral becomes exceeding unlike not only to other mixtures but also to it self for it is very lax nevertheless much compacted it lies open to the least injuries yet is almost impervious to the greatest so that it may equally number its losses with its Victories some of its Particles lie so loose that they are brought away by any Oyly Menstruum or by a common lixivium or Lie others in the mean while do so pertinaciously stick together that Aqua Fortis cannot touch them only Aqua Regia being poured upon it can know it which so strongly resists it that the fume raised up from thence presently obscures the whole Room wherefore there seem to be in this parts wholly of a different Nature some imperfectly mixt viz. Earthy and Sulphureous which are easily loosned by a fit solvent in the mean time others wholly Metallic perfectly mixt coming near in some sort to the Nature of Gold it self which therefore are only to be dissolved by a fit Menstruum of Salt The Saline Menstrua are of divers kinds and natures viz. of Vegetables Animals or Minerals Among Vegetables are eminent the sowr juices of Fruits and Herbs Counterfeit Vinegars acid Liquors distilled out of ponderous Woods as Guaiacum the Oak and Box in all which the Saline Particles having gotten a Flux either by Art or by Nature give a notable sowrness or the Vegetable Menstruum consists of Salts of Tartar or made by the cineration of Herbs and dissolved which by the Fire are very much whetted and acquire an acritude in these the Saline Particles are fixed and in a condition opposite to a Flux To the rank of Animals I refer the Spirit of Urine Harts-Horn c. which although they are impregnated with Spirits yet they take their chief forces from a Volatile Salt But the strongest Saline Menstrua are drawn forth of Minerals such are acetous Liquors which are most strongly forced by fire out of the Salts of Nitre Sea-Salt Alumn Chalcarth or Vitriol and such like Those which are drawn out of Vegetables as Vinegars and acid Liquors do best of all dissolve Corals Pearls Shells and Shelly substances because in these there is great plenty of Alcalizat Salt with which the fluid Salt which abounds in those kind of acetous Menstrua's desires to be most strictly united wherefore they being applyed to the body to be dissolved enter its pores and passages loosen the Complications of the Particles of the Alcalizat Salt and snatch them into their own Embrace Even after the same manner the fluid Salt in a Vegetable Menstruum approaches the Volatile Salt in the Horns of Animals These kind of Menstrua's do corrode some Mettals towards the Superficies but do not so potently unlock their bodies by dissolving as Stygian waters some Sulphureous subjects being before loosened by Calcination do enter aptly enough and from thence carry forth Saline Particles Wherefore for the Salt of Tinn Lead Antimony Soot and others being first reduced into a Calx we use distilled Vinegar The Salts of Tartar and the fixed Salts of Herbs although they serve for praecipitation rather than dissolution yet because they consist of sharp and very penetrating Particles they are of egregious use For watry Menstrua's are chiefly sharpned with these for the extracting of the Tinctures of Vegetables And altho bodies which abound with an alcalizat Salt as Pearls Coralls c. are left wholly untouched by reason of the Homogeneity or agreeableness of the parts in either and that also they but little gnaw only on the Superficies being put upon Mettals and grow together with their Salt and Sulphur into rust yet Sulphureous bodies they readily enter so they be loosened by the fire and unlock and pull assunder their joyntings or complexions wherefore for the making of the Milk or Magisterium of Sulphur the Salt of Tartar most excellently conduces Saline Menstrua's are most strong which are forced by distillation out of Minerals to wit out of Vitriol Niter Sea Salt Alumn Arsenick Acetous Liquors are distilled either from these single or from many of them mixed together which as they are of the highest sharpness like to fire readily enter most bodies but chiefly Metallic bodies and such as consist of a Saline bond and dissolve them easily into most small parts These Liquors are only Saline Particles which being driven by the force of heat from the embrace of their Earth having gotten by that means a Flux are converted into water as actual fire chiefly assaults Sulphureous bodies and by destroying the body draws to it self the Consimilary parts Stygian waters which are also called potential fire easily pull assunder bodies which very much abound with Salt as Mettals and break them inviolable by fire into most minute parts Concerning the Solutions of Minerals we may observe that their frame is not easily destroyed or loosened into parts as other Concretes of Nature but for this most strong Menstrua's and those chiefly Acetous distilled from Salts are required the reason of which is for that the Concretion of Minerals depends mostly upon great plenty of Salt binding the rest of the Particles as with a bond wherefore their substance is more solid more hard and compact and only gives place to a Saline Menstruum When any Mineral or Mettal is dissolved the fluid Particles of the Salt in the Menstruum most easily enter the most strict Complications of the fixed Salt in the mixture and impervious to any other solvent loosen them from their binding and snatch them into their Embraces after this manner the Particles of the Salts being
any Menstruum and that I had especially tryed many things about Iron after several experiments at length by a certain chance and almost thinking of somthing else I found out a preparation whereby without any Corrosive or Acid Liquor by the mediation only of a gentle heat the body of Iron is opened that being reduced into powder gives immediately a tincture to any Liquor that neither Salts themselves are sooner dissolved in common water By this means I am wont to prepare suddenly in great quantity Mineral waters which exactly resemble our Tunbridg Spaws and to render Wine Beer Milk or Whey with no trouble Chalybeated By this means Syrrops Tinctures Extracts or Magisteria out of Steel are most easily to be had Moreover plainly by the same Artifice Corals Pearls Eyes and Claws of Crabs and all shelly things are prepared that their powders presently impart to any Menstruum a tincture or the virtues of the whole Concrete And in this preparation no strange quality is introduced to the Subject nor its own proper quality lost When I had by this means learnt to unlock all Bodies whatsoever consisting of a Saline bond presently from the Analogy of this was made known the means of unlocking Subjects whose Concretion is wholly Sulphureous for I am wont so to prepare common Sulphur that its powder immediatly impregnates any Liquor with the tincture and virtue of Sulphur The Spirit of Wine suddenly contracts a deep colour and very red that being put into it Common water by the infusion or decoction of the same Powder is rendered clearly Sulphureous and gilds Silver and by this means from that Tincture a praecipitation being made of White Wine or Vinegar the Milk of Sulphur is easily prepared in great quantity Out of Sulphurated Wine by this infusion I make a Syrrop than which there is scarce found a more excellent remedy in the distempers of the Thorax By this means Tinctures Extracts Magistries are prepared from Sulphur with no labour and without any smatch of the fire By the same way preparations from Amber Benzoin and other Sulphureous things easily dissolvable in any Menstruum are composed But enough and too much of this we will now pass to the other great dissolvent of Nature CHAP. X. Of the Nature of Fire and by the way of Heat and Light WE may almost pronounce the same thing of Fire what the Philosophers of old did of the first Matter to wit that it was potentially every where and in all things but in none in act For among these sublunaries Fire hath got no existence of its own Nature or certain means of duration It is produced almost in every Subject but is retained long in none but it suddenly vanisheth and expires yea unless some external accidents oftentimes should concur for its production I think it had not at all been in the world Some have dreamed that its Sphear is scituate under the Moon but this was introduced only for the making the Hypothesis of the four Elements for such a thing seems consonant neither to Sense nor Reason That we may rightly search out the Nature of Fire we must seek in what Bodies it is chiefly to be found and how they are disposed and then we may proceed to the unfolding its essence The Subjects most convenient both for the producing and the maintaining of Fire are of that kind in which there are very many Particles of Sulphur and but only a moderate portion of Water Salt and Earth for these do hinder its inkindlings and being plentifully poured on it extinguish it being inkindled Wherefore Bituminous Fat and Oyly things quickly take flame so also Chips Straw light and dry Wood in the mean time Metals Minerals the glebe of the Earth Dung wet Straw and green Wood are hardly or not at all to be inkindled Secondly we observe that all the time Fire continues in the Subject Sulphureous Particles fly away in heaps and from the departure of these the substance of the burning body is by degrees destroyed in the mean time very much of Salt and Earth remains in the form of Ashes after the burning There is a third observation that when the Sulphureous Particles are wholly or for the most part flown out of any Subject the burning wholly ceases and the form of fire is quite destroyed nor can it be renewed in the remaining matter wanting of Sulphur Fourthly we will note that somtimes some Bodies conceive a burning without the advention of another fire only by their own effervency and by the intestine motion of the implanted Particles and of their own accord are reduced into Ashes as when wet Hay is layd up close it first grows hot then afterwards breaks forth into smoke and flame or the Wheels and Axeltrees of Carts or Wains being heated by too great agitation are inkindled According to these positions we may affirm that the form of fire wholly depends upon Sulphureous Particles heaped up in any Subject and breaking forth from it in heaps and that fire is no other thing than the motion and eruption of these kind of Particles impetuously stirred up For Sulphur is of an exceeding fierce and untamed Nature whose little bodies when the yoak of the mixture being shook off they begin to be thickly heaped together diffuse themselves on every side like a torrent break whatsoever obstacles are in the Subject destroy whatever comes in opposition or fling it down headlong Nor do they only unlock their proper Subjects but also lay open the gates and doors of any other Subject near that they can reach to and there incite to the like fury all the consimilary Particles of Sulphur and provoke them to an eruption wherefore fire every where inkindles fire The Sulphureous Particles while they heaped together within the confines of their Subject or on its Superficies are agitated with a rapid motion but are detained by the Embrace of other little Bodies from a more free eruption and more aggregated constitute the form of fire as is to be seen in burning Coals or in glowing Iron but when these sort of Particles fly away by heaps from the same Subject and bound together they produce flame which is only an heap or rather a torrent of the Particles of Sulphur flowing together and conjunctly flying away if Watery Earthy and Saline Particles are commixt with the Sulphureous breaking away and are able to disjoyn and separate them only smoke is excited which afterwards the Sulphureous little Bodies more plentifully breathing forth themselves and getting together breaks forth into flame The inkindling of Fire happens very many ways The first and most simple is when from hard bodies struck one against another but oftenest from a Flint struck against Steel sparks of fire break forth which being received in Tinder made of a Linnen Cloth burnt to blackness dilate themselves and then a Match or Sulphurated thing being applyed they cause the inkindling of a flame Secondly a fire often happens in dry Wood and dry
readily thrust out of the little spaces of the Menstruum and descend to the bottom We will in this place more sparingly insist upon instances of this nature because the more full handling of them belongs to the Chymical Work Precipitation is not only observed in the separation of a more thick matter from a serous latex and in the settling of the disturbed parts towards the bottom but somtimes the Particles shut up within the pores and passages of the Liquor are so small and subtil that being Precipitated they are not discerned by the sight neither do they quickly descend to the bottom but from their situation and position being variously changed the colour and consistency of the Liquor are diversly altered I was wont in times past to sport with the solutions of Vegetables and Minerals which being made by themselves were clear like Spring water and appeared bright being commixed shewed now a Black colour now a Milky Red Green Blue or some other kind The solution of Saturn or Lead being made with distilled Vinegar appears bright like common water if you add to this Oil of Tartar like clear water the mixture straight grows White like Milk If Antimony calcined with Nitre be boiled in Spring water the straining seems clear and almost without smell which yet being dashed by any Acid thing presently acquires a deep yellow colour with a most wicked stink Common water being imbued by an infusion of Mercury Sublimate is presently tinged with yellowness by Oyl of Tartar dropped into it Quicksilver and Sal Armoniack being beaten together and Sublimated in a Matrace by the heat of Sand go into a white powder this being soluted by melting shows like to clear Spring water which yet being smeared upon Brass or Copper appears like Silver and being lightly rubbed on brasen Vessels renders them as if they were perfectly silvered A solution of Calcined Tin being put to melted Salt of Tartar becomes bluish A clear infusion of Galls being mixt with a solution of Vitriol makes Ink if you add to this Spirit of Vitriol or Stygian water the black Liquor is by and by made clear like Spring water and this Oil of Tartar reduces again to Ink. And what is more wonderful if you write on Paper with the clear infusion of Vitriol and frame any Letters what you so write presently vanishes nor is there any marks of the Characters left but if you smear over the Paper with an infusion of Galls presently the Letters may be read as if wrote with Ink which yet with a Pen run over dipt in Spirit of Vitriol you may put quite out at once wetting and then again render them with wetting them with another Liquor of Tartar The Sky-colour Tincture of Violets being dashed with Oil of Vitriol becomes of a Purple colour to which if you add some drops of the Spirit of Harts Horn that Purple colour is changed into Green Brasil Wood being infused in common water leaves a very pleasant Tincture like to Claret Wine if you pour to this a little distilled Vinegar the Liquor appears clear like White Wine a few drops of Oil of Tartar reduces it to a deep Purple colour then if the Spirit of Vitriol be poured in it becomes of a pale yellow like to Sack if you add the Salt of Lead being soluted by deliquation the mixture grows presently Milky by this means you may imitate that famous Water-drinker who having swallowed down a great deal of Spring water was wont to vomit forth into Glasses placed before him diversly coloured Liquors resembling the ideas of divers kinds of Wines for Glasses being medicated with the aforesaid Tinctures so lightly that they may not be perceived by the standers by will not only cause the water poured into them to imitate every Wine but will exhibit the very Proteus himself of the Poets changed into waters and from thence putting on all colours and infinite forms If a Reason of these kind of appearances be asked it ought to be fought in the minute Particles contained within the pores of every Liquor which as to their site and position being diversly altered by another Liquor infused transmit variously the Rays of Light many ways break or reflect them and so make divers appearances of colours For when the Rays of Light pass through almost in right Lines they make a clear colour like Spring water but it in their passage they be a little broken the Liquor grows yellowish but being more refracted they cause a red colour if they are bowed back so as to be drained or that they cannot shew themselves a dark or black colour arises but if they are again reflected to the outmost Superficies of the Liquor they create the image of Whiteness after this manner we might variously Philosophise about other colours and their appearances the diversity of which and sudden alterations in Liquids depend chiefly on Precipitation because as the Particles conteined in the Liquor are driven somtimes more near by another infusion that they clasp themselves together somtimes are ordered into other series of positions the diverse representation of colours is made For Liquor being impregnated with little Bodies or Atoms or this Nature most minutely broken seems as an Army of Soldiers placed in their Ranks who now draw into close Order now open their Files and Ranks now turn to the left now to the right hand as is diversly shown in the exercising of Tacticks or the Art Military When two clear Liquors being mixed together shall make Ink it is because the Particles conteined in either approach near one another and as it were placed in their close Orders hinder the passage of the beams of light when afterwards this Ink is made clear by another Liquor poured in it is because the new Bodies of the thing put in disperse abroad the former close joyned Particles and drive them as it were into their open Orders CHAP. XII Of the motion of Fermentation as it is to be observed in the Coagulation and the Congelation of Bodies COagulation and Congelation of Natural Bodies no less than their Solution depend only on these our Principles The improportionate mixture of these and the exaltation and powerfulness of some above others are the cause of either Spirit and Sulphur being loosned from the bond do not only pull assunder the proper Subjects but they set upon whatever is next them and where they are mighty in number and strength they affect nothing more than divorces and separations from the rest of the Principles and suffer no delay but on the contrary Salts love to be united to the rest and to be made into hard and solid substances and being destitute of the Company of the rest presently to enter into new Friendships and desire only not to be joyned to any opposite If at any time they are more impetuously moved either by their own disposition or being soluted they destroy the substance of others this thing seems to be done for this end
1657. I observed very many affected after this manner for when after an hot and dry Summer about the middle of Autumn an Intermitting Feaver generally raged the sick were wont suddenly to grow very ill in the middle of their hot fit and somtimes also in their sweating and the Sweat being struck in to be taken with Swooning but shortly after when a Choleric Vomiting followed they were eased Not only the signs and symptoms but the Procatartic or more remote Causes of this Disease clearly indicate that it takes its rise from the temper of the Blood being changed because Intermitting Feavers are most frequent in the season and places in which the Blood receives the greatest alteration from the Air viz. either in the Spring when the vernal heat shutting out the Winters cold causes the Blood before benumed and apt to be more slowly moved to begin to flourish and luxuriate in the Vessels and from thence to get a bilous and hot temper or in the Autumn when the Blood being torrified or roasted by the Summers heat and therefore its Spirits very much depressed and Salt and Sulphur exalted acquires now a sharp and Choleric now a binding and austere disposition wherefore at this season Feavers now Tertian now Quartan are frequent besides in some places there is that constitution of the Heaven that on all men whatsoever there comes either a Tertian or more frequently a Quartan Feaver although in the first offices where the Mine of the Disease is commonly believed to be lodged there be no congestion of humors by reason of an ill manner of living or sickly disposition Yea they most easily fall into this Disease who have their inwards firm and strong and who abound with a lively heat on the contrary those who by reason of a weak Concoction heap up Crudities in the first passages continually that they are prone to the Dropsie or Cachexia remain free for the most part from this Distemper to wit the Blood being made more watery like Wine degenerated into a tastless substance is altogether unapt to be fermented No less doth the Cure of Intermitting Feavers seem to prove this our Assertion whether it be Natural and Critical or Artificial and performed by the help of Medicines As to the first Intermitting Feavers are wont to be terminated after a twofold manner The first is when from the fits themselves the temper of the Blood is altered and oft times is reduced into its Natural disposition For when in every coming of the fit very much of Sulphur and adust Salt is burnt out and exhaled by Sweat the Liquor of the Blood by that means becomes more temperate and less torrid wherefore oftentimes this Disease is cured at six or seven periods and of its own accord ceases but if it be longer protracted and that the Blood being somwhat changed from the sharp and bilous temper or disposition is not restored to its Natural temper somtimes it degenerates into an Acid Watery and also Pontic or saltish temper from whence a long Tertian Feaver passes into a Quotidian or a Quartan also oftentimes because the Blood is greatly depraved by the long continuance of this Feaver the Jaundies or the Scurvy or the Cachexia follow The other manner whereby this Disease is terminated is when the change of the Air or the Country brings a notable alteration of the Blood for so Feavers begun at the times of the Equinoxes are ended about the time of the Solstices also the sick traveling into another Region often grow well As to the cure of it by the Institutions of the Medicines it uses to be done two ways viz. Empirically and Dogmatically and in this Disease Empirical remedies sought from Quack-salvers and old Women are more esteemed and oftentimes do more than the prescriptions of Physicians administred after the exact method of cureing Empirical Remedies which are said to cure Intermitting Feavers or Agues are of that sort which drive away the approaching Fit without any Evacuation and are either taken inwardly or are outwardly applyed where the Pulses chiefly beat viz. For the most part they are bound either to the region of the heart or to the hand-wrists or to the soles of the feet these sometimes are so commonly known to help that some have warranted the sudden cure of this Disease by these Remedies under the pain of some Forfeiture Wherefore it is worth our inquiry how these operate and by what way or means they stop the Feaverish accessions It is clear First that those which are outwardly applyed do immediatly impart force and action to the Blood and Spirits and when they drive away the Fit by preventing without the Evacuation of humor or any matter of necessity the reason of this effect consists only in this that by the use of these sort of Medicines the turgescency or swelling up of the Blood with the Feaverish matter and Fermentation are stop'd to wit from the Medicine tyed about the Body certain little Bodys or Effluvia are communicated to the Blood which do very much fix and bind together the particles of it or also as it were precipitate them by fusing and shaking them and by either way the spontaneous growing hot of the Blood is hindred as when cold water is put into a boyling Pot or as when Vinegar or Alum is flung into new and working Beer presently Fermentation ceases and the Liquor acquires a new tast and consistency whereby it becomes fit to be drunk as if it had been kept to ripen a long time But that these Ague-stoppers do work after this manner it is plainly seen because those which are of principal note do excell in a Styptic and binding force or else with a precipitating virtue hence Sea-salt Nitre Sal-gemmae the Juice of Plantan Shepherds-burse any binding Herbs pounded with Vinegar and the like bound to the wrists the root of Yarrow Tormentile also Campher hung about the neck are said to take away this Disease yea those also which are taken inwardly are of the same rank The Juice of Plantan Red-rose water Alum for that they fix and constrain the Blood a decoction of Piper Sal Armoniac or of Wormwood Spirit of Vitrial also a sudden passion of anger or fear forasmuch as they precipitate the Blood by fusing and shaking it do oftentimes hinder the Agues approach even as the Concussion and shaking much any Liquour or the infusion of astringent things into it hinder its spontaneous Effervescency and rage It is usual with some Empiricks for the cure of Agues to tye a little knot in a Linnen rag or a piece of Paper roled up so strickly to the wrists pressing hard upon the beating of the Pulse that the circulation of the Blood is somewhat hindred and by this means the Aguish fit coming on is driven away Very many by this way I have none to be most certainly cured of a tedious sickness the reason of which seems to be that whilst the Blood is hindred from its motion in
presence of the evident cause for either little Bodies of extraneous heat being confused with the Blood like water boiling over the fire make it to boil up or this Feaver is induced by motion or by reason of transpiration being stopped even as Wines made hot by motion or when too closely stopped in the Ton are put into a Fervor but what way soever an inflamation is first excited presently the Spirits become enraged and being moved hither and thither compel the Blood to boil up and to be inlarged into a greater space with a spumous rarefaction wherefore the Vessels are distended and the membranous parts hauled hence follow pain chiefly in the Head and Loins a spontaneous weariness and as it were an inflation of the whole Body If that with the Spirit of the Blood a certain Sulphureous part be also in some measure inkindled a sharp heat is diffused through the whole the Pulse is vehement and quick the Urine red also thirst watchings and many other symptoms infest the reasons of which are added hereafter Concerning the Solution or Crisis of the Ephemeran Feaver and of the not putrid Synochus three things are chiefly requisite viz. a removing of the evident cause secondly a separation and a scattering of the depraved or excrementitious matter from the mass of Blood Thirdly a quieting of the parts of the Blood and a restitution of them to their natural and equal motion and site According as these succeed now more suddenly now more slowly and difficully this Disease is finished in a shorter or longer time 1. The evident cause which for the most part is extrinsick is easily removed and the sick are wont presently to avoid the presence or assiduity of that thing and do perceive a sense of any thing that is hurtful none taking a Feaver from Wine will still indulge the drinking of it as soon as any one grows more than usually hot in a Bath or the heat of the Sun 't is a trouble to them to stay longer 2. As to the Excrementitious matter which ought to be scattered and separated from the Blood this is either brought from without as when the Blood is infected by surfeit drinking of Wine sitting in the Sun or from a too hot Bath with Effluvia or little dry and Fermentative Bodies or this matter is begotten within as when its Liquor is stuffed with recrements or adust Particles from the deflagration of the Blood Either of these matters ought to be separated from the Blood to be dispersed and either by sweat or insensible breathing forth to be thrust out of doors before the Feaver be appeased wherefore when as the pores are bound up and transpiration hindred the Ephemeran Feaver is longer protracted and somtimes passes from a simple Synochus into a putrid 3. The evident cause being removed and this degenerate matter dispersed there is required for the remission a quieting and reducing into order the parts of the Blood for diverse Particles of the Blood being after this manner confused and by reason of the Feaverish heat carried up and down they do not presently get again the former order of situation and position but it is needful that they be by degrees extricated and by little and little restored to a just mixture Although this Disease after the removing of the evident cause for the most part ceases of its own accord within a while yet some Medicinal Remedies may be administred with good success especially when there is danger lest the Ephemeran Feaver should pass into a putrid The chief intentions should be to suppress the fervor of the Blood and to procure a more free transpiration to the which conduce first a breathing of a Vein a slender diet or rather abstinency cooling drinks and a bringing away the filth of the Belly by Clysters Sleep and Rest greatly help above all the rest which if wanting should be procured in time by Opiats and Anodynes Verily altho the Histories and Observations of those distempered with an Ephemeran Feaver contain in themselves nothing very rare yet I shall subjoin an example or two in this place whereby the delineation or type of this Disease may be illustrated A certain young Gentleman about twenty years of Age endued with a strong habit of Body by the immoderate drinking of strong Wine fell into a Feaverish distemper with thirst heat and with a great burning of his Precordia being let Blood he drank a great quantity of fair water and upon it presently a plentiful sweat following he grew shortly well In this case the more thin portion of the Blood being heated by the Spirits of the Wine fell into a rage caused the whole mass of Blood to be shaken and its frame to be loosned more than t was wont and for that reason that hapned to be more dissolved by the Ferment of the Heart and to be as it were inkindled by the active Particles loosned from the mixture until the Vessels being emptied by Phlebotomy the raging Blood was cooled and by the drinking of the water its fervor was attempered then the hot Effluvia being involved together with the adust matter with a copious Serum and sent away by Sweat the Blood at length recovered its due temper Moreover an ingenious young man of a sedentary life and also very much addicted to the Study of Learning when he had for somtime exercised himself beyond his strength in the hot Sunshine he began to complain of the pain of his head a want of Appetite a heat of his Precordia and of a Feaverish distemper all over to whom for that he was wholly averse to Physick I ordered an abstinence from all things whatsoever unless from Small-Beer and Grewel on the second day and so more on the third the symptoms remitted by little and little on the fourth he went home freed from the Feaver without any Medicine CHAP. IX Of a Putrid Feaver SO much for a Continual Feaver which is raised from the most simple heating of the Blood or its lowest degree of inordinate heat that which depends on a greater degree of heat follows viz. when the Oily or Sulphureous part of the Blood being too much heated swells up above measure and as it were forced into a flame and therefore from the similitude by which humid things putrifying conceive an heat this kind of Ebullition of the Blood because it induces an immoderate heat is called a putrid Feaver which name ought to be retained without injury because that in this Feaver the Synthesis of the Blood as is wont to happen in putrifying Liquors is very much unlocked When the Spirits only grow inraged as in an Ephemera the frame of the Blood is somwhat set open and loosened that it is more dissolved by the Ferment of the Heart than is wont and more Particles than naturally use to do leap forth and diffuse a more intense heat but yet the mixture of the Liquor as to its chief parts is conserved But when the Sulphureous matter taking
all things grew worse with most strong wakings heat and thirst on the fifth day by a light sweat the heat somwhat remitted which yet a little before the evening returned with its wonted fierceness The night again was wholly without sleep with a continual tossing up and down of his Body In the morning by a little gentle sweating he felt a little ease in the evening an encrease again of all things more cruelly the night also was very unquiet about the beginning of the next day a sweat as before succeeded and a little more plentifully on this day was a manifest change towards health the heat and thirst was a little less vehement his Urine was less red with some Hypostasis thence for three days the Feaver leisurly declined yet every night he had a certain fit but more remiss than before on the eleventh day he sweated more plentifully and was perfectly Cured all the time of his sickness he used a most spare diet taking truly nothing of Aliment besides small Beer and Posset drink made of it he somtimes took drink and cooling Juleps of boiled Barly and distilled waters dayly if his Belly was not loose of it self an emollient Clyster was administred he used no other Physic besides to wit neither Purge nor Cordial But the Feaver being allayed he was twice Purged and from thence quickly grew well This Feaver was a Putrid Synochus as may be conjectured by the shivering about the beginning and then with continual heat thirst watchings and other symptoms grieviously infesting for many days but forasmuch as its intemperature was exasperated every night it might be called a continued Quotidian This Disease made its first assault without any evident cause because the Blood being little ventilated like Wine growing hot of it self had conceived an ardour from the exalted Sulphur the Choler flowing forth from the Choleduct Vessels and likewise the Purgings of the raging Blood being poured about inwardly as it is wont to do for the most part in Feavers presently stirred up troubles and disorders in the first passages therefore by reason of the excrementitious matter there heaped up there was procured a depletion and soon after the beginning a Vomiting notwithstanding which evacuation and likewise a more strong Purging of the Belly by Stool if administred the Feaver being wholly inkindled because they too much agitate the Blood and disturb greatly the Concoction of the adust Feaverish matter for that reason bring more damage for the most part than benefit to the sick The first station of this Disease viz until the whole Blood was fired was extended to the third day and then from thence when the Blood flaming forth was burthened with adust recrements its greater ebullition with a frequent endeavour of expulsion by sweat followed on the seventh day when the Blood for the greatest part had flamed forth and the adust recrements heaped up in its bosom to a fulness of swelling up began to be troublesom the critical motion was stirred up by which nevertheless that matter not being as yet wholly subdued nor ready for separation the Disease was not perfectly Cured but after another period the same increasing at last being stirred up on the eleventh day brought on that other and perfectly Curing swelling up in the days between because besides the recrements remaining after the deflagration of the Blood and reserved for a Crisis also from the Nutritious Juice not presently taking fire but after a peculiar manner depraved other matter in the bosom of the Blood apt to a swelling up was gathered together therefore from the continual increase and Flux of this there hapned to this Feaver continual fits such as are wont in Intermitting Feavers on set days and hours suffocating Catarrh For this kind of distemper as also the Cough with great spitting arises not for that the watery humor as is commonly said falls from the head into the throat and lungs but because the serous Latex is poured forth now from the pneumonic vessels immediately into the lungs now dropping forth from the Arteries opening into the larynx falls down on the breast on the third day from the same serous humor with a portion of the Blood being fixed in the side the acute pain arose for the Blood beginning to grow fervent when as yet it did contain in it self a crude matter and as it should seem somthing sour from the degenerate alible juice deposed the same because it could not cast it forth of doors by sweat by a proper lustration or purging through the intercostal Arteries into the membrane surrounding the Ribs and there as it is always wont in a Plurisie either by coagulation which may be lawfully suspected or by the shutting up of the vessels the Blood being intangled with the same matter is stopped in its motion then being increased in its bulk by a new coming still of the Blood it causes a break of the union and so an acute pain That in this sick woman the same kind of matter disturbing the mass of Blood with a portion of it extravasated was fixed about the Pleura it from thence hapned because the pain urging the urine was clear and not full of contents then when the vessels by reason of Phlebotomie being emptied they supped up again that matter into its mass before exterminated from the Blood the urine presently became troubled and again big with contents The pulse was unequal and intermitting because of the idiocrasie or proper disposition which she was wont to have in every intemperature for when I cured this woman of a Feaver many years before her pulse being unequal and intermitting had struck a fear in me and others of a sad presage concerning the event of the disease which however at that time as also in this sickness ceased prosperously without any horrid Symptom A strong young man and corpulent after immoderate exercise about the Summer solstice and then a sudden cold coming upon the heat found himself ill At first a want of Appetite nauseousness and cruel pain of the head as also thirst and a more intense heat than usual troubled him on the second day an acute pain invaded him â—n his right side with a Cough and difficult breathing Blood being presently taken plentifully from the Arm of the same side that pain remitted somwhat which yet in the evening returned being made more cruel by a Cough and bloody spittle The night followed without sleep and very unquiet on the third day he was again let blood besides Liniments and fomentations were applyed to his side Moreover pouders Juleps and antipleuretick decoctions being taken inwardly about night the pain almost wholly ceased Then by and by he was afflicted with a cruel headach and a vertigo on the fourth day a stream of Blood fell from his right nostril about two ounces by which the pain of his head clearly ceased and the vertigo but in the Evening the pain in the side before distempered returned with greater fierceness In the mean
as often as he took going to sleep Diascordium or any other more temperate Cordial for the continuing his sweat tho in a very little quantity the night following he was without sleep and in great disquiet and then in the beginning of the morning a bleeding followed by which means indeed the Small Pox being full come forth the Life of the sick was in great danger by reason of this occasion happening once or twice wherefore when I had found by observation his blood apt to grow immoderately hot by so light a provocation I instituted this method as occasion served All Medicines being let alone he took for the quenching his thirst small beer and simple Almond Drink at his pleasure for his food because he vomited back all Oatmeal Grewel or Barly Broth he eat only apples roasted tender and drest with suggar and rose water often in a day Nature being contented with this slender ordering and being seen to be disturbed with any other thing performed happily its work that the sick person grew well without any grievous symptom afterwards the Small Pox from thence ripening and then of their own accord falling off In the middle of the Autumn of the former Year a Gentile Young Man being indued with a sharp Blood and obnoxious to a frequent bleeding at Nose fell sick of the Small Pox his Blood of its own accord grew immoderately hot that the whealks very quickly broke forth over all his Body Posset Drink with Marigold Flowers and other usual things boyled in it also Juleps or any Cordials tho temperate and gently provoking sweat most certainly stirr'd up a Flux of Blood in this Person wherefore I ordered the like manner of Dyet as in the sick Person before cited by which he found himself better however in the very state or standing of the Disease when the Small Pox being fully come forth by reason of a more difficult transpiration the Feaver is wont to be somewhat renewed in all this sick Man fell into a most plentiful bleeding that after a large profusion of Blood the Small Pox began to flagg or fall After that Remedies very many were tryed in vain for the staying of the Blood at length a little Bag being hung about his Neck in which was a Toad dryed in the Sun and bruised he first and immediately perceived ease tho the bleeding was by this means stayed and not any more returning whilst he constantly wore this peculiar Medicine in his Bosom our sick Man still using a most thin and cooling Dyet grew quite well that indeed from hence it may appear that altho the Blood in this Distemper is apt to be greatly coagulated yet so long as the Vital Spirits being strong and robust are able sufficiently to execute their government they indeavouring by their proper strength or forces do best of all separate and thrust forth the congealed portions of the Blood as it were by a certain skilful separation and this work is most of all hindred when the same spirits are too much irritated by Cordials or more hot food and agitated into confusion But in the Plague it happens otherwise because in this if any delay be granted the Spirits themselves are presently profligated by the venom wherefore here they must fight close and quick when in the Small Pox the Physician does his business better by delay Concerning letting of Blood at the instant breaking out of the Small Pox it is very dubious formerly among our Countrimen this was esteemed a wicked business neither were they wont to admit of Phlebotomy under any pretext of necessity but of late experience having taught us in some cases it is found that to let Blood hath been wholly profitable and necessary which evacuation however if it should be administred indifferently in every constitution or when this need should be it should be performed in too large a quantity by that means oftentimes very great damage arises Some years before I visited a young Gentlewoman of a storid countenance and more hot temperature growing into a Feaver after the fourth month of her being with Child she was troubled with a cruel vomiting a most cruel pain of the Loyns besides with most strong heat and thirst her pulse was swift with a strong and vehement vibration or beating altho the Small Pox had never been in that place yet these symptoms gave no light suspicion of this Disease however its great effervescency indicated that Blood should be taken away wherefore I took away about six ounces presently upon which the heat remitted somwhat yet the vomiting with a cruel pain in the Loyns remained still At the hour of sleep I gave her a Cordial Bolus with half a grain of our Laudanum by which means quiet sleep followed with a pleasant sweat and an allaying of all the symptoms the next morning the Small Pox came forth with which altho the sick Gentlewoman was greatly distempered yet she grew well without any dangerous sickness or fear of miscarrying and went out her full time The last Autumn a strong Man of an active and robust constitution of body yet of a pale countenance and more cold temper fell into a Feaver on the second day he was tormented with heat and thirst and a most cruel pain in his Loyns when I had prescribed Blood to be taken in a small quantity the unskilful Chirurgion who was sent for took from him almost half a pound a little after the sick man began to be all over in a cold sweat on a sudden to loose all strength to be troubled with a shivering a weak Pulse and unequal and frequent swooning At this time being sent for I gave him a temperate Cordial to be taken frequently His Spirits and Pulse being thereby restored the Feaver was renewed which afterwards for some days yea weeks exercised the sick man after a very irregular manner for he was wont for three or four days to grow very hot also to be infested with thirst watchings headach and other symptoms then to be troubled all over with a copious and critical sweat by which indeed for half a days space he found himself better But from thence the Feaver still growing worse heaped together again new matter till it was dispersed by another Crisis and then another After that he had been thus feaverish for at least twenty days irregularly at length the Small Pox began to come forth in several parts of his Body here and there and then the Feaver wholly remitted yet within few days by reason of some errors committed in his Dyet very many of the whealks began to fall down again few of them only being brought to maturity However instead of the subsiding Small Pocks a mighty Bubo grew up behind his right Ear from which being soon ripened and broke a great plenty of matter flowed forth for many days and so at length the corruptions of the Blood unable otherways to be dissipated were carried forth by degrees and the sick Person recovered perfect Health
CHAP. XVI Of Feavers of Child-bearing Women VUlgar Experience abundantly testifies that the Feavers of Women lying in are very dangerous beyond the disposition of other common Feavers also that the same differ very much as to their essence from both a simple and putrid Synochus plainly appears from their signs and symptoms rightly weigh'd wherefore I believe it not to be from the matter to handle after malignant Feavers the acute Diseases of Women lying in being exceeding neer of kin to those for their mortality or perniciousness Yet before I shall enter upon the unfolding these Diseases it behoves us to consider their subjects viz. the Bodies of Women in Child-bed after what manner they are predisposed and by what provision they are made obnoxious to these kind of sicknesses Concerning this the first thing that offers itself is that the Flux of the menstruous Blood is wholly convenient to be suffered by human kind and at this time for Women concerning whose nature and original we shall not inquire in this place but it shall suffice to note that in them the particles of the Blood to be periodically thrust forth are very Permentative which if reteined in the Body beyond the wonted manner of Nature are very often the cause of many Diseases unless only when a Woman conceives with Child For all the time of her being big Bellied the monthly Flowers are stopped without any incommodiousness and in the mean time milk or the alible juice is disposed in great plenty about the parts of the Womb for the nourishment of the Child but after the Birth this daily suppression of the monthly Flowers is recompensed by a copious flowing forth of the Lochia or what comes away after the Birth and the milk within three days having wholly left the Womb springs forth plentifully into the Breasts at which time Women lying in are wont to be troubled with a small Feaver If that the milk be driven away from the Breasts it restagnates again towards the Womb and is thrust forth together with the Lochia under the form of a whitish humour In the mean time the Womb after the Birth becomes subject to various distempers for oftentimes its tone is hurt the unity is dissolved and many other accidents are induced which render Women lying in subject to danger wherefore that their acute Diseases may be rightly unfolded it is convenient for to consider chiefly these three things viz. first the nourishment of the Child or the Generation of Milk both in the Womb and in the Dugs and the metastasis or translation of it from one to another Secondly the purging of the Mothers Blood or the profluvium of the Lochia after a long suppression of the Menstrua Thirdly the condition of the Womb after the Birth and its influence on other parts of the Body And these being premised we will speak of the Feavers of Women lying in viz. both the milkie and the putrid called and that deservedly malignant by reason of its deadliness First the Milk and nourishing humour being heaped up in the parts of the Womb for the nourishment of the Child are of a like nature tho somewhat different in consistency Milk is indeed more thick because it ought to be received in at the mouth and to be kept in the Ventricle and afterwards it more thin portion to be conveyed to the mass of Blood The other alible Juice is more thin and like the water of distilled Milk because 't is immediately poured into the Blood of the Embryo thorow the umbilick Vessels without any previous digestion Either Juice is supposed to come from the Chyle fresh made in the mothers stomach what is reposed or laid up in the Breast is more thick and white by reason of the more thin or open strainer and coction in the greater Glandulas on the contrary it happens in the Womb ootherwise where the Glandulas are smaller and the Straining more close But there is a great disagreement among Authors concerning the passages by which this humor is carried both in the Breasts and into the Cake of the Womb. Some contend that Milk only is begotten of the Blood more plentifully cocted in the Glandulas which yet by reason of the immense dispense of Milk which consists not with the Blood this seems not probable Others affirm that the Chyle or Milkie humor is immediately conveyed from the Viscera of Concoction thorow occult passages without any alteration into either receptacles But in the mean time while these passages lie open it seems indeed to me more likely that from the meat taken into the Mothers Stomach a portion of the Chyle thence made is presently supped up into the Veins which having obtained the vehicle of the Blood before it be assimilated by it is said up in the Glandulas destinated here and there for the receiving of it being carried by the Arteries and lastly separated from the mass of Blood for as it appears that drink being plentifully taken presently passes thorow the whole mass of Blood and is rendered by Urine like water and as old Ulcers by means of the Blood coming between prey upon the nutritious humor from the whole Body and pour it forth under the shape of a putrified matter Why may not the alible Juice in like manner being strained by the Collander of the Glandulas before it has indued the colour of Blood go into a Milkie humour This indeed seems more probable because whilst the Milk is carried from the Womb into the Breasts and on the contrary passing thorow the mass of Blood it is wont to stir up a perturbation thorow the whole with a feaverish intemperance besides in the first days after the Birth when the Glandulas do less rightly perform the office of secretion Beasts who have not the Lochia give a bloody Milk which is drawn forth of their Udders that is mixt with Blood by reason of the plenty of it flowing forth together Secondly As to what belongs to the Menstrua being suppressed in the time of being with Child and the Lochia plentifully coming away after being Delivered we say that after the Conception of the Child the Menstrua ought to be suppressed by Divine Designation for that the flowing of them often causes abortion then because the Vessels are filled by a continual stilling forth of the alible juice into the parts of the Womb the mass of the Blood doth not arise into swellings up to be allayed by the menstruous Flux For the same reason Women for the most part have not their courses so long as they give suck Perhaps in some indued with a more hot Blood the monthly courses flow both whilst they are Big-bellied and in the time of their giving suck but that more rarely and is wont not to happen without trouble yet in the mean time the Menstrua being suppressed during the time of being with Child because much less of the nutritious humor is expended at that time for Milk they much more deprave the Blood
to vomiting let a more plentiful evacuation be procured by a gentle Emetie in the time of the fit The opening of a Vein and Purging ought not to be administred unless between the fits for whilst the Blood grows mainly hot or is resolved into sweat Nature ought not to be called back from the Work begun nor her endeavours to be disturbed by the prescriptions of Physicians wherefore after the 〈◊〉 being past and the sweat throughly finished a Purging may be instituted by a gentle Cathartic and the same afterwards sometimes repeated on the like occasion for by this method not only the provision of the excrementitious matter is brought away from the first passages but chiefly the choler-bearing Vessels being emptied the choler is copiously drawn forth from the mass of Blood and by that means the Blood is restored to its natural Crasis or disposition The Letting of Blood if it be indicated should be performed presently after the beginning for so its Liquor being too turgent or swelling up is eventilated whereby both the nutritious juice is less perverted and the fit urging it burns forth with a less heat together with the morbifick matter but otherwise if a Vein be opened after a long sickness when the Blood being made poorer and more watry more of the morbific matter is heaped together and does not rightly concoct and sift it forth it detracts much from the strength of Nature and nothing from the power of the Disease In the interval of the fits when there is no place for opening a Vein nor Purging let the Belly be kept loose by the constant use of Clysters also digestive Remedies of acetous or saline Liquors and Powders are to be exhibited of which sort are Cream of Tartar fixed Salts of Herbs Tartar Vitriolate Harts-horn burnt Spirit of Vitriol and Salt c. for these restore the lost or sleepy ferments of the Viscera purifie the Blood by fusing it also separate the morbific matter and as it were precipitate it also at this time between if pertinations waking infest the sick and overthrow their strength it may be lawful to administer anodyne and gentle narcotic Remedies but never in the fit for then they greatly hinder the subduing and sifting forth of the feaverish matter and draw out in length the fit that would end sooner These things are to be done about the interstitia or intervals of the fits but whilst the fit is urgent altho the sick then chiefly send for and call upon Physiicans yet at this time their prescripts are limited to a narrower space If Vomiting notwithstanding an Emetic being given still infest it may be more freely provoked either by simple Posset Drink or with bitter Herbs boyled in it But let the chiefest means of help be in temperating the heat and thirst which most grievously torments the sick in this Feaver For whilst the Blood growing hot with the morbific matter and being inkindled in the Heart leaps forth into the Lungs stirs up there a cruel Inflamation which requires a profusion of a cold humor as it were for the extinguishing the Flame wherefore they greedily desire without any measure drink for want of which the sick are almost killed with too great heat and their Blood being almost wholly rarified into flame and fume the thrid of Circulation is hardly continued wherefore drink ought to be wholly granted to those in Feavers which however if it be taken in too large a quantity it at first more disturbs the estuating Blood and at length brings confusion to the feaverish matter begun to be separated that from thence the Work of subaction and secretion is longer protacted and the fit is made longer also besides large drinking causes troubles in the Ventricle and by disturbing it and often provoking Vomiting hinders the breathing forth and calls inward the sweat breaking forth or perhaps already broke forth wherefore at first the heat of the Feaver being inkindled altho the sick be very thirsty let them only sip a little and abstain from drink as much as they can afterwards when the matter being burnt and subdued begins to be dissipated by sweat they may be more freely indulged as to this for so the sweating is greatly helped and the fit is sooner finished as to the nature of the Drink let them take sometimes Posset Drink sometimes Small Beer or Barly Water and sometimes simple Water or sharpned with the juice of Lemons In this case the use of Sal Prunellae is deservedly praised to be given in every Liquor for this with its nitrosity wonderfully allays the raging Blood and potently moves sweats I have often observed in the midst of a fit the sick wont to fall into a swoon or syncopy to whom presently they give Cordials or hot Waters that much increase the violence of the Feaver and bring forth more troubles than usual that the fit is more difficultly finished But these faintings for the most part happen either from a bilous humor suffused in the Ventricle or by reason of the sweat suddenly breaking forth and against these I always found the most present Remedy that either a feather being put down the throat Vomiting may be provoked or that Liquor being plentifully drunk a sweat may be again raised up also in the whole course of this Feaver I am wont never to give any Cordials or alexiteriums The Dyet in this Feaver ought to be only slender and not nourishing all sorts of Flesh or any thing prepared of them are wholly to be avoided for as these abound with Sulphur they give a more plentiful food as Oyl poured on Flame to the hot or enkindled Blood besides nothing spiritous as strong Waters strong Beer or Wine is to be yielded to but Decoctions or Broths of Oat-meal or Barly altered with cooling Herbs are chiefly to be used also Posset Drink and small Beer or Whey is to be given them at their pleasure for by this means when a very slender and watry nourishing juice is conveyed to the mass of Blood the soluted Particles of Sulphur burn forth sooner and with the less tumult also the recrements of the adust matter are more easily carried from the bosom of the Blood but if on the contrary a more rich or plentiful nourishment be administred the effervency of the Blood is thereby very much augmented and the Blood is more infected by the confusion or pouring in of the adust matter After that the Blood being much burnt forth by frequent fits and the Feaver being in its declination remits of its fervor and fierceness you must take heed lest the sick at length growing well fall not into a Cachexie or Scorbutic Distemper for the disposition of the Viscera being hurt and the Blood very much depauperated the alible juice though not scorched so as at first is not however rightly concocted and ripened into perfect Blood but by reason of the want of transpiration the serous excrements being imbued with a fixed salt are greatly heaped together
pertinaciously will be deceived whilst they imagine the knowledg of every Disease and the prognostication of it cannot be found out but by inspecting the Vrine and esteem a Physician of little worth unless he undertakes to divine from the Vrinal as from a Magical Glass But indeed as to what belongs to the precepts and rules whereon the reason of Judgment by Vrine doth depend there are many collected by diligent observation that are extant and from thence establish'd with good reason and judgment yet for as much as the signification of Vrines is by some too largely extended to particular Cases very many uncertain things interwoven and some obnoxious to deceit and others plainly false therefore who shall confidently pronounce concerning the business of the Sick by the judgment only of the Water deserves rather the name of a jugling Quack than of a Physician But this Doctrine concerning Vrines abounds so ordinarily with errors that the observations which belong to its practice are either wrongfully made or not well reduced into method We may lawfully suspect that the observations are not rightly made because perhaps from one or two particular cases oftentimes a general Rule is established For Example sake because some Hydropical people render a thin and watry Vrine therefore it is affirmed such sort of Vrines necessarily denote a Dropsie when also in some other diseases such like Vrines are made and sometimes in the Dropsie the Vrine are thick and full of redness Also as it is most commonly received that Vrines on which a cream doth swim as on water that hath Tartar boyled in it doth denote a Consumption which is most uncertain because this sign is more proper and familiar to Hypochondriacks than to Consumptive people And how many dye of Consumptions without this Besides what is generally asserted to wit that in all diseases whatsoever Nature doth make known the Disease by the Vrine is altogether false because sometimes sick people make their Vrine like healthful people and sometimes those who are very well in health by reason of some accident perhaps from the meats eaten have suspected Vrine varying from the natural state or condition As to what belongs to the method or doctrine delivered by most concerning Vrines they seem to be altogether Empirical and nothing rational for the naked differences of Vrines are rehearsed and are wont to be distinguished according to their colour consistency and contents thence are opposed to the several species of these pathologick significations collected only from more rare observations when in the mean time the causes of the appearances nor of the preternatural alterations in the Vrines are not assigned as they ought to be nor is the signification of the Vrines applyed to the Causes of diseases but only to the Disease or Symptom and therefore it is most often deceitful and uncertain because the same morbifick Cause and signification of the same Vrine may in like manner mediately respect at once divers Diseases and Symptoms As for Example a thin and watry Vrine most often immediately denotes Indigestion or a defect of Concoction in the Viscera nevertheless by reason of that condition of Crudity the Green-sickness in Virgins sometimes the Dropsie or the white watery phlegmacy sometimes Head-aches and many other diseases arise But the task which you have required of me Worthy Sir to wit That the notions which in times past we have discoursed together and conceived concerning Vrines as it were collected notes and what have since fallen under my own knowledg by my proper study and observation concerning this thing should be fram'd into a little Treatise and that I should write a plain and new method of Vrinoscopie I confess the work greater than can well be performed by our own proper strength however I have resolved as much as I am able to obey you therein But that a doctrine or method concerning Vrines may be instituted beyond the vulgar and plainly Empirical manner of Philosophising there shall be these two heads of our Discourse To wit First that the Anatomy of Vrine may be delivered of what elements and parts it consists and also its genesis in our Body to wit by what Concoction this kind of Liquor is made and then by what secretion of some Particles from others Secondly That the inspection of urines in the Vrinal may be truly unfolded and what may be the Rules and the Certitude of Vromancie or divination of the Vrine OF URINES CHAP. I. Of the Elements and chief Accidents of Vrine WHEN the Liquor of the Urine being either fresh rendred from the body or putrified by a long digestion is exposed to a spagirick Analysis it is wont to be resolved into these parts or principles In the Distilling first ascends whatever of a vinous spirit is in it diluted with water but yet in fo very small quantity that it is not easily to be perceived by the taste it self To this follows a watry liquor large enough in proportion with which are mixed some more loose particles of Salt and Sulphur especially Thirdly There is stilled forth a very penetrative water which is commonly called the spirit of Urine but in truth almost without any vinous spirit and is chiefly phlegm highly sharpned with Salt and therefore it ascends last as in the distillation of Vinegar but forasmuch as the salt of Urine is volatile but that of Vinegar only in the Flux therefore the liquor stilled forth which is greatly impregnated with its particles is very acid That which is imbued with the saline Particles of the other is exceeding sharp and pricking It is a sign that this kind of Spirit of Urine as it is commonly known ows its sharpness chiefly to the Salt because though it be most subtil it will not take fire but being put to it extinguishes it After the humidity is wholly exhal'd another portion of Salt remains with the earth in the bottom of the cucurbit to which if a more hot fire be made that Salt will be sublimed into the Alembick and the earthy feces only remain This kind of Anatomy of Urine plainly shows that the Elements of which its liquor is composed are a great deal of Water and Salt and a little of Sulphur and Earth and a very little of Spirit The saltness in Urines is perceived by the taste and touch it comes nearest to a Nitrous salt in savour It is drawn indeed from saline particles of things eaten which being more plentifully exalted by the concoction in the Bowels and the circulation in the Vessels for the most part go into a volatile Salt That is truly Salt and Spirit by reason of the long accompanying of either together are gathered into a most strict bond and therefore it happens that the Salt it self otherways fixed is carryed up on high and rendred able for motion as it were by the wings of the other Urines contain in them more or less of Salt according to the disposition of our body and have it either more
and from thence passes thorow the Ureters into the Bladder and so is carryed forth of doors From the origine and lustration of the Serous Latex but now described it plainly appears that the Urine ought to answer to the quantity of the liquids taken in somewhat a lesser proportion perhaps under a third part which plainly shews the disposition and strength of the Viscera serving for Concoction as also the temper and distribution of the Blood it self and after a sort of the nervous juice moreover it carries with it signs of the affections of the Urinary passages The quantity of the Urine declines often from this Rule so that sometimes it superabounds also sometimes is deficient and either for a short time may consist with a disposition not much unhealthful but if these kind of distempers continue long they argue a sickly condition Concerning these we shall speak among the appearances of the Urine in a diseased condition of the Body we shall now next consider the colour of a sound Urine The Urine of Sound People which is rendred after Concoction is finished in the Body is of a Citron colour like Lye a little boyled which without doubt proceeds from the Salt and Sulphur of the nutritious juice and the Blood dissolved in the Concoction and boyled in the Serum This colour doth not arise only from Salt as some would have it because the Liquor impregnated with Salt unless it be evaporated to a certain thickness will not grow yellowish Also Salt of Tartar being dissolved by melting continues still clear What may be objected concerning the Lye of Ashes I say there the whole Sulphur is not consumed by burning but the Citron colour arises from some saline Particles and others Sulphureous burnt and sticking together in the Ashes and then infused or boyled in the liquor Neither doth the Urine of sound people acquire this same colour from Sulphur only because Sulphur in a watry Menstruum is not dissolved unless by the addition of Salt nor will it give any tincture of it self but if Salt of Tartar and common Sulphur be digested together in water or if Antimony be boyled in a saline Menstruum both liquors will by that means grow yellow like Urine after the like manner the saline and sulphureous Particles of Aliments being incocted and most minutely broken in the Serum by a Digestion in the Ventricle and Intestines and by a Circulation with the Blood in the Arteries and Veins impart to it a Citron Colour This kind of dissolution of Salt and Sulphur by whose means the Urines are made of a Citron Colour is first begun in the Bowels and afterwards perfected in the Vessels and very much depends upon the Concoction performed in the Ventricle and the Intestines For here by the help of heat and of ferments the Aliments taken are chiefly subdued the bond of mixture being broken the saline and sulphureous Particles being most smally broken and made small go into a milkie Cream and from thence the Serum remaining after that Concoction and distribution of that milkie juice becomes of a Citron colour after the same manner as when the Salt of Tartar and common Sulphur being dissolved together and mixed with some acid thing indue a milkie colour then the contents being separated by setling the remaining liquor grows yellow like Lye If that the aliments by reason of an evil disposition of the Ventricle are not rightly digested in the first Concoction as in the Longing Disease or Pica the Dropsie and other ill dispositions of the Bowels usually comes to pass the Urine also is rendred crude clear and almost insipid like Fountain water but if by reason of the ferments of the Viscera being more than duly exalted or otherways depraved as in the Scurvy Hypochondriac distemper or Feavourish intemperance the particles of things eaten are too much dissolved in the first Region by that means Urines are rendred red and thick The Serum as hath but now been said being imbued with a lixivial tincture in the first Concoction and confused in the Blood so long as it is circulated with it it is yet further Concocted and acquires a more deep colour for the particles of the Blood being roasted and scorched although for the most part they are laid aside into the Gall bag yet being in a manner boyled in the Serous Latex they heighten its colour hence the Concoction being ended the Urine which is first made is more Pale and that which is last more Red. That which is made after long fasting is yet more high Coloured Where the Blood is more cold as in Cachectical people the colour of the Urine is made less where the Blood grows raging with a feavourish Heat and is roasted the Urine grows highly Red. Concerning the Urines of sound people it is worth observation that which is made after plentiful Drinking hath no tincture but is pale like water of which we shall enquire by what means the Serous Latex so suddenly slides away out of the Ventricle contrary to what is vulgarly believed and passing thorow all the Chyliferous passages then the Veins Arteries the bosom of the Heart it self and the turnings and windings of the Veins and Ureters is put forth of the Body within so short a space moreover how it comes that the Urine being so precipitately made contrary to most other things is not only changed into no Colour in its passage but it also loses its own proper For as the Proverb is Our Drink goes thick in and comes forth thin or We Drink thick Beer and Piss clear Concerning this we say that besides the long wandring of the nourishing juice to wit whereby after some stay in the Ventricle it slides into the Intestines and from thence thorow the milkie Vessels into new passages and thence is carried into the Veins which carrying about cannot be quickly performed it is most likely that there is another nearer passage of the same Nutritious Juce whereby indeed it may be conveyed immediately and without delay to the Mass of Blood and perhaps to the nervous Liquor and therefore after fasting there immediately follows a most quick refection of strength and spirits after Eating and especially after Drinking which indeed cannot be thought to be made by the Spirits and Vapours also from such drinking the Urine is presently rendred and indeed sooner than it can be thought that the Mass of the Chyle can be sent out of the bosom of the Ventricle wherefore it is not improbable that when the Alimentous Liquor is entred the Ventricle presently the more thin portion of it which consists chiefly of Spirit and Water is imbibed by its Spongeous Membranes and from thence being instilled into the little mouths of the Veins it is presently confounded with the Blood flowing back towards the Heart For of this opinion though not very stubbornly I always was That the Chyme was in some measure immediately derived from the Ventricle and Intestines by the branches of the Vena Porta
through the Tunnel into the Palate and above or more forward through the mammillary Processes into the Nostrils But if the structure of these parts be a little more diligently searched into there is no body who presently will not easily think that by neither of these ways the excretion of any humor can be made for neither from the pituitary Glandula through the Wedge-like bone nor from the mammillary Processes through the holes of the Sieve-like bone is there any manifest aperture or opening to be perceived But in very truth we do suppose that the brain is in some measure purged by both these Emunctories for that objection may be answered That the translations of Humors in living Creatures are easily performed through places that seem impervious or unpassable for while the Pores and passages in all the parts of a living Creature are dilated by spirit and heat they transmit the rain of the Serum as through the fine texture of a woolen Cloth This plainly appears from Arthritick distempers in which the serous Latex creeps by degrees through the nervous bodies and passing through very small spaces makes a falling down of humors sometimes upon these parts and sometimes upon others so that it is obvious that the Membranes and nervous Processes drink in the serous humors like Sponges and then by a light compression render them by heaps as is manifest in the Tooth-ach for as often as a Bodkin or Instrument is put up into a hollow Tooth clear water will come out plentifully Indeed in the body of a living Creature the passages of humors are not only made through open passages and chanels but the thinner and more watry Latex creeps through the solid and smooth bodies of the Nerves as also the Fibres and the Membranes as through the holes of a Filtre and so is transferred through imperceptible straits from place to place I sometime knew in the Impostume of the Lungs the humor to have been derived through the Membranes growing to the Pleura from the bag into an Issue made in the side and so the spitting ceasing the disease that seemed otherwise incurable was healed by such a way of Evacuation Why in like manner may we not suppose the serous humors falling down from the Ventricles of the Brain into the pituitary Glandula and the mammillary Processes to be carried away through the Nerves or Membranes passing through here or there Concerning the Tunnel the thing is probable enough because the position and structure of this seem to shew that some humor is carried out of the Ventricles of the Brain towards the pituitary Glandula For this part is so constituted that a falling down of the humors may be made from every angle and recess of the interior Brain and its Appendix into its aperture or opening And as in several Animals the figure and site of the Ventricles vary very much as we have already shewn yet in every one of them all the Ventricles of the Head whatsoever they be have their openings gaping towards the Tunnel But that this Kernel or Glandula to which the passage of the Tunnel is inserted receives and carries out the serous humors seems also to appear from hence because it admits not only those falling from the brain into its Pores but also those secreted from the blood ascending into the brain For that in many four-footed beasts certain Vessels are inserted to this Glandula from either Carotidick Artery which intimately enters its substance a sign of which is that Ink being injected into the Trunk of either Artery dyes with a black colour the wonderful Net if it be there and oftner the interior substance of this Glandula whence it may be argued that the office of this Glandula is to receive the superfluous serosities and it receives not only those sent away in the return from the brain but sometimes preoccupies or prevents them and is wont to derive them from the blood before it is carried to the brain And therefore this Glandula is very small if the superfluities of the Serum be derived to it only from the brain but greater if they come to it also from the blood to wit as it executes either one or a double office as we have already shewn at large But as to what respects the way of passing through to wit by which the humors deposited in this Glandula are carried out the vulgar Opinion is that they do come away through the holes of the bone beneath into the Palate wherefore in those kind of Animals who have the wonderful Net and many of its shoots enter this Glandula more holes are made in the underlying bone Further if you take away the ditch or gutter of the Wedge-like bone or the seat of this Glandula cut off from the Skull and pour water upon its holes being made bare from the Membrane it passing presently through the substance of the whole bone will suddenly still forth through other holes lying open in the sides of the bone Yet this Experiment concludes nothing for the Opinion proposed because these holes are wholly wanting in some Creatures and very much in an humane Skull in those who have them as in a Calf especially it is observed that the same are filled by some hollow Vessels into which if a black liquor be cast by a Syringe that passing through the substance of the bone will go into many other Vessels lying under the bone and at length into the Trunk of the Jugular Vein which certainly is a sign that the humors are not carried from hence into the Palate But as to the Vessels which cover over the holes of the bone and which more abundantly lye under the same they seem to be either Veins or Lymphaeducts But among these it is lawful to conjecture the chief means of Excretion whereby the serous humors laid up in the pituitary Kernel may be carried out to wit that they are remanded back from it as from most other Glandula's or Kernels into the mass of blood In a Calf the thing lies open to ocular inspection nor is it to be doubted of other Animals who have the admirable Net because as the arterious branches so also the veinous reach to this Glandula which sup up not only the humors deposited from the Arteries but also those falling from the Ventricles of the Brain Yea it may be lawfully believed that in a Man also a Horse and in other Creatures who want the strange or wonderful Net there are other Lymphaeducts or Water-carriers or some such kind of Vessels as are seen in the head of a Calf that most certainly carry the humors from this Glandula We cannot so easily find out their footsteps because before these break out of their dens the tracts of the Lymphaeducts if there be any would vanish Nor can we find out these Vessels in all as in a Calf by injection because the holes of the bone by which as by the leading of a thread the injection arrives at and dyes the
ʒ ii of Sugar Candy ℥ viii dissolved in what will suffice of the Antiepilepticall water of Langius Make a Confection of which take twice in a day the quantity of a Nutmeg These powders by adding to them the Salt of Amber and Harts-horn Pills with what will suffice of Balsome Capivi may be formed into a pillulary Mass of which may be taken iii. or iv pills in the morning and evening drinking after them a draught of some appropriat Liquor Or of those sorts may be prepared an Elixir of which may be taken viii drops to x. twice in a day in a spoonful of a proper Julup drinking a little of it after it Take of Hungarian Vitriol vi pints Elixir let them be distill'd with a glass retort in hot sand for 24. hours then let the same retort being defended or done over with Clay be put with a large receiver in a reverberating Furnace that the acid spirits may be forced with a most strong fire till they come forth The whole Liquor being distilled let it be drawn off in hot sand in a lesser glass retort and let there be poured into the Matrace of the roots of Male-Paeony cut into pieces and dryed ℥ iiii of the seed of the same ℥ i. of humane Skull prepared of Elks claws and Red Corall each ℥ ss Missletow of the Oak ʒ ii let it digest with a gentle heat for several days to the extraction of a tincture the Liquor being decantated let it be drawn off in a glasse Retort to a third part remaining being stilled forth keep it by it self to those Remains pour of the rectified Spirit of wine a little quantity impregnated with the Infusion of the same ingredients and let it digest for six days in horse-dung the dose of which is ℈ ss to ℈ i. The distilled Liquor may be given from half a spoonful to a whole spoonful for the same Intentions Or let there be prepared an oyl out of the Salt of Venus or Copper according to the description of Henry Van Heer 's and given as there prescribed Among the specifick Remedies Emperical Remedies which when the former shall not be profitable ought also to be tryed are the Livers of Frogs the Gall of a Bore dryed with Urine The powder of Bryony Root The powder of a Cuccow of Crows the runnet and lights of a Hare the Liver of a Wolf stones taken out of Swallows the Liver of a Kite the Eggs of Crows with many more to be dayly taken with food or Medicine a famous Catalogue of which is extant of Henry Van Brays a Physitian of Zutphen and from which prescripts for poor people may be taken easie to be prepared and without great cost Whilst these kinde of Remedies are to be taken inwardly according to the aforesaid method some outward administrations being applyed bring help and are deservedly admitted to part of the cures therefore allways Issues are made in this disease in one fit place or other and also more often Veficatories or Blisters Amulets hung about the neck or born at the pit of the Stomach Amulets are thought to be useful The fresh Roots of Paeony cut into little squares and being strung like bracelets and hung round about the neck and as soon as they are dry let new be put in their places and they being reduced to powder may be taken inwardly Take of the roots and seeds of Paeony each ʒ ii of an Elks claw and humane Skull prepared each ʒ i. of Missletow of the Oak ʒ ss let them be beaten into gross powder and sowed in a piece of red silk and like a little bag let it be hanged about the neck An Amulet of a stalk of the Elder found growing in the Willow-tree is greatly Commended Plasters It agrees with some to have their heads shaven and a plaster applied to the fore-part Take of the root and seeds of Paeony of Castor Missletow of the Oak of humane-skull most finely powder'd each ʒ i. of betonie plaster ℥ ii Caranna Tacamahacca each ʒ ii Balsum Capive what will suffice make a mass and let it be spread upon leather make a plaister for the suters of the Head Let the Temples and Nostrills be often anointed with Oyl of Amber by itself or mixed with oyl Capive Sternutories or sneezing powders Sneezing Powders and such as purge the head of Rhume are to be used dayly in the Mornings Take of white Helleboreʒ i. of Castor and Euphorbium each ʒ ss the leaves of sweet Marjorum and Rue each ʒ ii make a powder make a decoction of Sage or Hyssop with Mustard dissolved in it with which gargle the mouth and throat A Glister may be sometimes used as need shall require Sometimes the more solid Medicines are ro be moistned with liquids or they ought to be drunk after them for which end distilled waters should be at hand Julups Tinctures or Decoctions which are endued with a certain Specific Virtue against this Disease Distill'd Water Take of Hungarian Vitriol four pound of the powder of fresh humane-skull four ounces of the root of Paeony sliced six ounces let them be bruised together in a morter put to them either of Spanish wine or small white-wine or wine made of the juce of black-Cherries a quart being fermented in a vessell let it be distill'd in a glass retort in hot sand Take of the shavings of box-wood of Hungarian vitriol each two pound of the Missletow of the Oak or the Common-Missletow leaves three handfulls of Rue two handfulls being bruised together put to it of Spanish wine 4 pints Let them be distill'd in a glass Cucurbit with hot sand Iulaps Take of Common Vitriol six pound of the root of the male-paeony six ounces of the Missletow of the Oak one ounce of Green-walnuts viii ounces being cut and bruised let them be distilled in a glass-pot a glass alembick being placed upon it in hot sand Take of this Liquor one pint of black cherry water and of the water of the flowers of the toil or Line-tree each half a pint of white-Sugar ℥ iiii mix them and make a Julup the dose ℥ ii to iii. twice or thrice in a day Oxymel of squills also an hony-decoction with Hysop are much praised by the Ancients Or an Apozem of this kinde may be prepared of which may be taken ℥ iiii to vi or viii twice in a day Apozems Take of the roots of male-paeony Angellica Imperatoria Valerian each ʒ vi of the leaves of Betony Sage Lilly of the Valley Penny-Royall each one handfull of the seeds of Rue Nigella each ʒ iii. Paeony ℥ ss of Raysons ℥ iii. of Liquoris ℥ ss being cut and bruised let them be boyled in vi pints of Spring-water to the Consumption of the third part Towards the end add of black Cherry-wine half a pint or ten ounces strain and keep it in close Vessells The dose is from vi to viii ounces twice in a day after the
as yet included within the scarce hollow gums hence the blood being hindred in its Circulation causes a tumour and so presses the nerves and also pours on them the more sharp particles of the Serum by which being notably pulled or hauled they are tormented with Corrugations and painfull Spasms Therefore when so cruel pains happen to children from their breeding Teeth it is no wonder if a feavour and also Convulsive motions sometimes follow the former of these happens both for as much as the blood being hindred about the pained part is not circulated with its wonted and equall course wherefore it becomes inordinatly moved in the whole Body and besides because Spasms being stirred up somewhere in the nervous stock the corrugated and contracted nerves presse together and pull the Arteries and by that reason stir up irregular and feavourish fluctuations in the Blood But sometimes Couvulsions happen in breeding Teeth both because the blood growing hot sends forth heterogeneous particles to the animal government and so stirs up the spirits into explosions and besides also when this acute pain and as it were a Lancing follows upon the teeth being about to cut it communicates a very troublesome and irritative sense from the affected parts to the first sensorie presently from thence the motion of the rage is retorted by the same or other neighbour nerves which by reason of a praevious disposition doth not rarely become convulsive Besides these two occasions of Convulsions which are wont to be chiefly and more often in children to wit the times of Infancy and breeding Teeth this Distemper also is excited at other Times very often and for other Causes For in whom the Seeds of the Spasmodick Disposition is sown they sometimes unsold themselves presently after the birth and are ripened into morbid fruit or else lying hid for a while they now come before the breeding of Teeth and follow a long time after it and by reason of other evident causes to wit either external or Internal of which sort are a sickly or breeding nurse milk Coagulated in the stomack or degenerating into an acid or bitter putrifection a feavourish distemperature of the head Ulcers or wealks of other parts suddenly vanishing the Changes of the aire the Conjunctions oppositions and aspects of the Sun and moon and such like they at length break forth into Act from an uncertain event Concerning these there is no need that we should particularly discourse When all the Children of a man dwelling in the neighbourhood dyed of Convulsions within the space of three months at length to prevent that fatal event they sought for remedies for a child newly born I being sent for a few days after the being brought to bed first advised the making an Issue in the nape of the neck then that the next day after a leech being applyed to the jugular veine of each side two ounces of blood should be taken away besides that about every conjunction or opposite aspect of the Sun and moon about five grains of the following powder should be given in a spoonfull of Julap for three days morning and evening Take of humane Skull prepared of the root of the male Paeonie each ʒ i. of the powder of Pearls ʒ ss of white sugar ʒ i. mingle them and make a very fine powder Take of the waters of Black Cherries ℥ iii. of the antiepileptic of Langius ℥ i. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie ʒ vi mingle them also I order'd that the nurse at the same times should take a draught of whey or posset drink in which were boyled the seeds and roots of the male Paeonie and the leaves of the Lilly of the Vally the Infant for about four months was well but then began to be troubled with Convulsions at which time the same Remedies being administred both to the child and to the nurse in a larger dose vesicatories also were applyed behind the eares and blood was taken by the sucking of a Leech from the jugular veins within two or three days the child grew well afterwards whenever within four or five months the Convulsions return'd it was cured again by the use of the same Remedies After half a year the Convulsive motions wholly ceased but a painfull Tumour arose about the lower part of the Spinae dorsi or back-bone from which proceeded a certain distortion of the Vertebrae or joynts of the back bone and a weakness of the legs and at length a Palsie It seems in this case that the Spasmodic or Convulsive matter being wont to come upon the brain first and beginings of the nerves entring at last the Spinal marrow and being thrust out at its further end it wholly stopt up the heads of the appending nerves and shut out the passage of the Spirits to wit because other narcotick and more thick had joyned themselves to the explosive particles The Curatory Method against the Convulsive Distempers in Children IT is to be endeavour'd either to prevent the Convulsive passions threatning Children and Infants or to cure them being already begun For if the former children of the same parent were obnoxious or lyable to Convulsions that evill ought to be prevented timely The Preservation of Infants from Convulsions by the use of Remedies to those born after It is usuall for this end to put into the mouth of the child newly born some antispasmodick Remedy assoon as it begins to breath from hence some are wont to give them some drops of the purest hony others a Spoonfull of Canary sweetned with Sugar and some again oyl of Sweet Almonds fresh drawn to some may be given half a Spoonfull of epileptic water or one drop of oyle of Amber Besides these first things given to Infants which certainly seem to be of some moment certain other Remedies and means of Administrations ought to be used to wit let one spoonfull of Liquor proper to this distemper be drunk twice a day as for example Take of the water of black Cherry and of Rue each ℥ i ss of the Antiepileptic of Langius ℥ i. of the Syrrup of Corall ʒ vi of prepared Pearl gr xv mix them in a Viol. On the third or fourth day after the birth let an Issue be made in the nape of the neck then if it be of a fresh Countenance let a little blood to about ℥ i ss or ii ounces be taken by the sucking of Leeches from the jugular veins having a care lest the blood should flow out too plentifully in its sleep let the temples and the hinder part of the neck be gently rub'd with such a like oyntment Take of oyle of nutmegs by expression ʒ ii of Capive ʒiii of Amber ℈ i. Let an Amulet be hung about the neck of the roots and seeds of the greater Paeonie a little of the hoof of an Elke being added to it Moreover antispasmodick Remedies should be dayly given to the Nurse The Method of Curing to be used to the Nurses Let her
take morning and evening a draught of whey or posset-drink in which the roots and seeds of the male Paeonie and sweet fenill seeds are boyled Take of the Conserve of the flowers of Betony of the male Paeonie and of Rosemary each ℥ ii of the pouder of the Root and flowers of the male Paeonie each ʒ ii of red Corall prepared and of the whitest amber each ʒ i. of the roots of Angelica and Zedoarie prepared each ʒ ss with what will suffice of the Syrrop of Paeonie make an Electuarie let her take morning and evening the quantity of a Nutmeg Take of the powder of the root of Male-Paeonyʒ ii the seeds of the same ʒ i. make a powder of the whitest Sugar ℥ iii. dissolved in the water of the flowers of the Line-tree and boyled to tablets of the oyl of Amber ℈ i. make tablets according to Art each weighing ʒ ss let her eat one every sixth hour Also let her keep to an exact dyet If any Infant be actually afflicted with Convulsions because that an Issue operates little and slowly it will be expedient to apply blistering plaisters The Cure of Infants sick with Convulons to the nape of the neck and behind the ears and unless a more cold temperament should gain-say it let blood be drawn with Leeches from the veins Let Liniments be used about the Temples Nostrills and hinder part of the neck and plaisters also laid to the bottoms of the feet Clysters that may keep down the belly should be dayly administred besides let specifick Remedies be inwardly taken often in a day to wit every sixth or eighth hour Take of the oyl Capive of Caestor each ʒ ii of Amberʒ ss make a Liniment Oyntments Take of the plaister of Oxycrocia two parts of dissolv'd Galbanum one part of oyl of Amber ℈ i. make a plaister for the soles of the feet Let there be given of the powder of Ammoniacum according to the description of Reverius twice or four times in a day Take of humane skull prepared of the seeds of Paeony of an Elks claw Powders of Pearls prepared each ʒ ss of Amber greese gr vi make a powder the dose vi grains in a spoonfull the Liquor hereafter described three or four times a day Or Take of humane Skull prepared of pearls each ʒss of the Salt of Amber ℈ i. of the Sugar of Pearleʒ i. the dose ℈ ss Or Take of the Spirit of harts-horn iii. drops let it be given every sixth or 8th hour in a spoonfull of the Julap below prescribed To the children of the poor may be administred the powder of the Roots of wild Valerian ℈ ss to ℈ i. let it be given twice a day in a spoonfull of milk or appropriate Liquor Vntzerus greatly commends the Gall of a sucking whelp to wit that the whole juice of the gallie-Bag being taken forth be given to the child to drink with a little of the water of the flowers of the Tile or Line-tree A learned Physitian lately told me that he had Known many Cured with this Remedie Besides Empericks are wont to cause the bigger children after they have drank the gall to eat also the Liver of the whelp broyled Liquors Iulaps distill'd waters and other appropriate Liquors may be prepared after the following prescripts Take of black-Cherry water ℥ iii. of the Antiepileptical water of Langius ℥ i. of perlate sugar ʒ ii mix them Take of the green Roots of the male Paeonie cut into little peeces ℥ vi of Hungarian Vitriol ℥ viii of humane skull ℥ ii of the Antiepileptic water of Langius half a pint mix them and let them be distilled in a glass retort in hot sand the dose i. spoonfull to ii Take of the fresh roots of the male Paeonie cut ℥ iiii being brused in a Marble morter pour to them of Spanish-wine lib. i. make a strong expression add of manus Christi pearled ℥ ss let it be kept in a close glass The dose i. Spoonfull or ii twice in a day Convulsions by reason of breeding of Teeth When Convulsive motions happen by Reason of the difficulty of breeding Teeth this Symptom as it is secondary and less dangerous so the Cure does not always require the first or chief labour of healing but sometimes we are rather carefull to remove it by allaying the pain and the feavourish Distemper wherefore both the patient and the nurse oughr to use a slender and refrigerating Diet the Teeth being about to break thorow the Gums their passage should be made easie by rubbing or cutting them and also Anodynes should be applied to those swelled and grieved parts Clysters and taking away blood are often used it behoves to cause sleep and to attemper the feirceness of the blood some times antispasmodick Remedies are made use of but the more temperate and such as do not trouble the blood and humors Vesicatories or Blistering plaisters because they aptly evacuate the serum too much poured forth on the Head oftentimes bring help Spasms or Convulsions caused from other occasions When Children are troubled with Convulsions not presently after they are born nor by reason of the cutting of their Teeth but for other occasions and accidents the cause of such a Distemper for the most part subsists either in the head or somewhere about the Viscera of Concoction When the former is suspected as it is wont to be manifested by signes which argue a Serous Colluvies too much heaped up within the Head the former Remedies allready recited ought to be given in a larger dose besides in those who are able to bear purging sometimes a Vomit or a light purge is prescribed Wine and Oxymel of squills also Mercurius Dulcis Rhubarb and Resin of Jalap are of approved use As often as the Cause of the Convulsive Distemper seems to be in the Viscera either Worms or sharp humors stirring up the torments of the Belly are understood to be in fault By reason of worms Against Worms a purge of Rhubarb or Mercurius Dulcis the Resin of Jalap being added is ordained sometime past a Child being miserably afflicted with Convulsions that he seem'd to be just dying I gave him a dose of Mercurius Dulcis with Resine of Jallap with his stools which were four he voided xii worms and presently grew well Take of the root of Verginian Snake-weed in powder ʒ i. of Corall Calcined to a whitenessʒ ss a powder ʒ i. the dose from half a scruple to one scruple twice in a day continued for three days drinking after it a decoction of Grass-roots Take of the species of Hieraʒ i ss of Venice-Treacleʒ ii make a plaister for the bottom of the belly or apply to the Navel a plaster of Galbanum If the Convulsive motions are suspected to proceed from an irritation of the ventricle and intestines made by sharp humours a gentle purging either by vomit or stool or both successively ought to be instituted For this end let
same disease did fall upon our Countrey men here and there also at other times for that of late in this City all the younger people of a certain family were sick of it yea I remember that some time past very many laboured with such a feavour Out of the many histories and examples of sick people which it rendred when it was epidemical I will here propose one or two A strong and lively young man about the beginning of the spring 1661 falling Observation 1 sick without any evident cause without any great heat or thirst he became suddenly weak and as if enervated with a dejected appetite and languor of spirits Cathartick Remedies Antipyretics or allaying of heat digestives and also antiscorbuticks and others of various kindes administred by the prescriptions of the most famous Physitians availed nothing But notwithstanding the sick man hitherto languishing with a slow and wandring feavour with a quick and feeble pulse a deep-colour'd urine had kept his bed a fortnight besides being reduced to the greatest leanness he complained of a giddiness and as it were the fluctuation of a sound in his head and a tingling noyse in his ears Altho he was troubled with a great stupor yet his sleeps were mightily troubled and broken with delirious fables After four days when the feavour was not yet declined it was thought good to take away four or five ounces of blood by Leeches from the sedal veins from hence the feavour began to be much exasperated for a great intense heat with thirst watchings and almost continual tossing of the body also the tongue dry and scurfy appeared then quickly a troublesome cough with abundance of discoloured spittle followed to him were administred almond and barly-drinks with temperate bechicks or things to stop coughing boyled in them water of milk distill'd with snails and pectoral herbs the shelly-powders prepared nitre and often Cordial opiats which notwithstanding scarce giving any help the sick man still became more weak when in this manner being sick above two months space the feavourish distemperature and cough also dayly growing worse he seemed near death at length a voluntary sweating arising so that every night or every other night he sweat abundantly and from thence finding himself better using then the aforesaid Remedies he grew well within six weeks Till I had seen many sick people after the same manner I suspected this disease to be alltogether an hectick feavour with a consumptive disposition of the Lungs but when I saw many others at that time fall sick ordinarily after the like manner I easily instituted the Aetiologie or national account of this feavour such as I have already described to wit that the blood because of the intemperature of the year and perhaps from errors in dyet The reason of it had contracted a vitious procatarxis or remote cause Then it growing feavourishly hot and presently carrying its impurities to the brain and so depraving the juice watering it and the nervous stock induced the vertiginous distempers with a stupor a languishing of spirits and an atrophy of the whole body but so long as the blood did transfer its recrements from its own bosom into the brain and nervous appendix the feavourish heat continued more gentle and milde But afterwards when the tending downwards of the morbific matter by the opening of the hemorhoid veins was drawn away from the brain the same being first retained within the bloody mass increased the feavour then being poured on the Lungs excited the cruel cough with plentifull spittle but forasmuch as the flesh of the Lungs remained free from putrefaction as soon as the serous water was sent away by a more plentifull sweating the sick man became free both from the feavour and phthisis or Consumption that seemed so deplorable Observation 2 In the mean time whilst he lay sick I visited another about 12. years of age after the like manner affected But this when I was firâ—t sent for having been sick above a month was reduced to the leanness of a Skelliton besides he was troubled with a vertigo with a noise in his ears and deafness and also with a violent cough with yellow and as it were consumptive spittle his pulse was quick and feeble his urine red and thick his appetite much dejected his spirits so languid and his strength so cast down that he could not keep out of his bed I gave this youth to drink often in a day water distill'd from milk with snails and temperate herbs besides I ordered him an open decoction such as is in use for the Rickets to be daily taken instead of his ordinary drink by the help of which Remedies he was restored to his health in a months space At this time I was sent for to many other people of every age and sex distemper'd by the same disease now clearly Epidemical for it running thorow whole families not only in this City and the neighbouring parts but in the Countries at a great distance as I heard from Physitians dwelling in other places increased very much Those for the most part labouring with this feavour so be they were otherwise whole grew well by the fit use and order of medicine and dyet but it hapned very often but ill to those who were indued with a weakly constitution of brain and nervous stock or broken with age but not seldom the case of the sick became dangerous because the Physitians were not wont to be sent for presently after the beginning of the disease yea scarcely before it had more deeply spread abroad its roots and the opportunity of healing was past Observation 3 For that reason this feavour became very deadly in the family of a certain Noble man among his children originally obnoxious to Cephalic distempers About the vernal Aequinox a Boy of about eleven years of Age began to be sick At first without any vehement heat or thirst a dejection of appetite and want of strength came upon him Besides an almost continual giddiness did trouble him with a frequent danger of fainting that he often thought he was just dying By the advice of a certain woman attending him they dayly gave him Clisters then when from the foulness of the mouth and Tongue manifest signes of a Feavour appeared this Emperick on the fifth day gave him a vomit of the Infusion of Crocus metallorum and on the seaventh day a Cordial powder being administred she incited the sick youth covered with blankets to sweat his skin hardly began to be moist but presently he began to talk idly complained that his Cap was fallen into the water by and by becoming speechless within four hours whilst I was sent for he expir'd before I came Observation 4 A little while after the same disease fell upon his yonger Sister whose sickness however because it was accompanied with a frequent and humid Cough was thought at first to be only a taking of Cold but within a few days this Cough became plainly Convulsive so that
then when the evident causes daily fixing the infection more on the bloud and humours did happen upon this remote hereditary cause for there were many chances and unfortunate accidents which continually brought sadness and melancholly upon this Gentleman indeed therefore the nervous Liquor being imbued above measure with a fixed and Scorbutic salt became highly sharp and irritative like aqua fortis or the Stagma's of Vitriol and so continually incited the Spirits and the bodys containing them into Corrugations and contractions just as the aforesaid Liquors when poured upon worms do the same thing Why this Distemper grew worse by the use of the Baths But that this disease leasurly at first increasing was quickly brought into a much worse condition by the use of the hot Bathes the reason easily appears It is known by experience that the hot Bathes do very much exalt and quickly bring to the hight the Sulphureous-saline particles in the humane body and otherwise morbid which abound in the Bowells and humours viz. do render them more fierce by agitating them throughly and force them from their first passages into the blood and from thence into the Brain and nervous stock yea and joyn together those that were before seperate and idle and incite them into a certain fermentation wherefore those who are hereditarily obnoxious to the Gout or Stone and have not as yet suffer'd any fits of those distempers very often feel the fruit of either disease in themselves to grow ripe soon by the use of the Bathes When therefore in this sick person both the blood and Liquor watering the Brain and nerves were imbued both with narcotick or stupifying and convulsive particles and also when they did degenerate from their sweet and balsamy Disposition that towards a saltish and this into a sour Ciaemul of a Stagma of Vitriol the use of the hot minerall waters was so far from bringing help that on the contrary these evills for that very cause presently grew all very much worse and the Disease proceeding from the humors being so depraved as to their temper and mixture could never be cured by any medicines no easier than vinegar may be reduced into wine When this Gentlemans body being at last dead of the Phthisis or Consumption was opened by me we could finde but very few foot-steps of these kinde of most grievous Symptoms Hence as it appear'd the Palsie and Convulsion did not depend so much on a thick and copious matter heaped together somewhere in mines as of an evill affection of the animal Spirits who are subtle and Invisible I will lay forth what was worthy taking notice of in the anatomy of this person Things worthy to be noted in the body being dissected The Abdomen being opened the Caule as is wont to be in most who dye of a Consumption and other Chronical Diseases was putrified and almost consumed In the mean time the Ventricle Intestines Pancreas and Mesentery were well enough to wit the membranes were firm well coulour'd and free from any ulcer or hard swelling There grew to the greater Intestines certain excrescencies like to the ears of a mouse for that there were very many of these kinde of things out of either side of the Colon and right intestine they shewed like twins at certain distances like the branches of Trees The like I formerly found in a Consumptive person The Reason of this seems to be that the nourishment in Consumptive people though it be deficient about the more solid and outward parts yet sometimes within neer the fountains of the nourishing juice performs more than it ought and for that cause superfluous and unnaturall additions grow forth The milt or Spleen which always is thought ill of and of most Physitians condemned for being the Principal cause of the Scurvy and of all other distempers appear altogether blameless and free from any fault For as in most sound people we observed it was of a darkish Colour soft and of an equal superficies free from any obstruction or swelling indued with vessells and fibres distinct and firm enough out of its substance flowed black biood when it was cut The Liver which indeed might be wondred at was indifferently well neither was it from so long and grievous a sickness become harder then usuall or scirrhous or planted with little whelks but it was somewhat big and of a darkish colour The Kidnys though free from any ulcer or gravell were not however free from fault for in the middle of the right Kidney was seen a great cavity distinct from the Tunell and much greater then it full of clear water the like I have very often found in hydropical people But indeed this perhaps arose from the serum deposited in that kidny that could not easily be strained thorow its passages and pores for that the serum subsisting therein had in the beginning made for it self a little den which afterwards by degres was inlarged and when for this Reason the secretion of the serum and its passing forth by the ureter were something hindred its Latex restagnating into the blood brought in the grievous trouble to the head which indeed was the rather to be suspected because also the left Kidny being mightily extenuated and consumed contained many Cisterns and Cavities full of clear water The Lungs growing on every side to the Sternum or part of the breast where the ribs meet sides and Diaphragma seem'd without any distinction of Lobes of one substance only of putrid spongy flesh staâ—fed throughout with a frothy or ichorous matter without doubt the sick man had not contracted this evill so long before to wit when he was not able to perform any exercise of the Body nor stay in bed that it might breathe out any thing more freely the faeculencies and recrements of the blood which were wont to evaporate thorow the skin being layd up in the Lungs were the cause that they grew together among themselves and with other parts and did vitiate their tone and conformation wholly so that a Consumption being at last arisen was the effect and product and not the cause of the rest of the distempers wherewith he had bin a long while miserably afflicted In either ventricle of the heart blood was concreted into a solid whitish substance and bak'd like flesh which being formed neer the Cavities and processes of the vessells of the Heart resembled the figure of a Serpent with a manifold divided tail than which indeed nothing is more usual in many dead People after long sickness The reason of which is that the Blood being without life from long sickness and from thence circulated slowly about the Praecordia begins to stand or stagnate in the heart and depending vessells and by that means is congealed leasurely into this kinde of fleshy Concrete When the Skull was opened we sought among its contents the chief Cause of the Disease The first thing that occurr'd was the bulk of the brain was less than it should be
and the blood did drink up the same from the nourishing juice sent as a supply from the Bowells These being thus supposed we must consider in what space of time the bloody mass is filled with those morbific particles and then in what measure it pours them forth into the nervous Liquor As to these that it may the better appear after what manner it was done in the case of this sick person you must know that she took in 24. hours space only at one time a full meal to wit after the second fit was ended she supped moderately about 7 of the Clock the rest of the day wanting an Appetite she hardly took any food therefore it is probable that the morbific matter was poured forth together with the nutritious provision into the bloody mass chiefly in the night time and that more plentifully than that all could presently be derived into the nervous Liquor The heterogeneous particles which are first conveyed from the blood newly satisfyed into the nervous Liquor being heaped up to the fulness did excite the first fit the coming of which therefore was longer delayed because both one space is required wherein the blood and then another wherein the brain and nerves are to be filled after this fit was over because the blood yet full containing in it self more particles of the same kinde pours them suddenly on the nervous juice therefore the other fit is induced within thrice the space of the former but this being ended because both the bloody mass and the nervous juice are wholly freed from their burthen the sick person finding her self better than at any other time took her food greedily enough but after that when to the next following fit first the bloody mass and then the nervous juice ought to be filled with the morbific matter therefore 10. hours are required for this double task but forasmuch as there is only need for the second fit that the other particles should be derived from the bloody mass yet full into the nervous juice therefore for this effect a much less space doth suffice viz. of 6 hours After I had seen this Lady who had labour'd for many weeks with these kinde of periodicall fits I order'd that three hours before the second fit The Curatory Method ten ounces of blood should be taken out of the vein on the foot which being done the coming of the fit in the evening being expected quite left her neither did it return at all afterwards but the other fit observing its former time dayly returned till the Patient being let blood a little before its coming remained that day free from the disease which however returning the day after according to the same manner exercised her for many months In the mean time because the cold of the winter was very great she forbore for some time the use of remedies but the spring coming on this honourable Lady being brought to Oxford was Cured by the following method First I gave her this Cathartick and I took care that it was repeated every 6th or 7th day Take of the Sulphur of Antimony grains 6 of Mercurius dulcis 1. scruple of the Resine of Julap gr iv of ginger gr vi let them be beaten together in a morter then adde of the Conserves of Violets i. dram make a bolus It was wont to provoke two or three vomits and three or four stools The flux of her Terms came constantly in great abundance at the set times wherefore when the blood seem'd very plentifull and hot I order'd phlebotomy twice or thrice in the midst betwixt the times of her Terms Besides every day that she did not purge she took twice in a day 4 pills of the following mass drinking after them a little draught of the Julap below prescribed Take of the Roots of the male-Paeony â„¥ ss of Virginian snakeweed Contrayerva Cretic Dittany each Ê’ iâ—i of humane skull prepared Ê’ i ss of an Elks clawÊ’ i. of red Corral prepared of the powder of Pearls each Ê’ i. of the salt of Wormwood Ê’ ii of the salt of CorrallÊ’ i. with what will suffice of the syrrop of the flowers of the male-paeony make a mass Take of the water of the flowers of the male-paeony of black Cherries and of Wallnuts each â„¥ iiii of the antiepileptic of Langius â„¥ ii of the syrrop of the flowers of Paeony â„¥ i ss of Castor tyed in a knot and hung in the glass Ê’ i. mix them and make a Julap When she began to loath the Pills they being omitted she took twice a day to wit in the Morning and the Evening about one scruple of the following powder in a spoonfull of Julap drinking after it 4. or 5. spoonfulls of the same Take of Bezar-stone of either white Amber of Pearls prepared of red Corrall each ℈ i. of humane skull ℈ ii of the root of Virginian snakeweed and the seeds of Rue each Ê’ ss mingle them and make a powder let her take ℈ i. Morning and Evening with a dose of the above-prescribed Julap Then when also this medicine began to be tedious to her she used the pills or the Elixir proprietatis and also sometimes for many days the Spirits of Harts-horn At last she began to be helped by that powder being daily taken for some space In the mean time whilst this method of healing was ordained her hair being shaven from her head it was covered only with a thin covering She wore upon her Belly an Hysterical plaister mixed with Galbanum for her ordinary drink she took a Bochet of Sarsa and China the roots of the male-Paeony and other proper things infused in Spring-water and boyled Within a month the Fits were something remitted then being by degrees made gentler and lesser at length they almost quite ceased unless that at the time of her Terms one or two fits of the disease was wont to trouble her Further she labour'd with an almost constant giddiness and queasiness of Stomach in the middle of the Summer she drunk astrop-Astrop-waters for a fortnight and was perfectly well But as for the means in generall to be shown for the Cure of these admirable Convulsions it will not be easie to assigne either fit remedies for this herculean disease or a certain method of Cure approved by often experience for besides that these like cases are seldome met with it is likewise observed that the same Medicines which at this time were helpfull to this sick person being given to another or to the same helpt nothing at another time The reason of which seems to be because the cause of the Disease consists in the discrasie or evill disposition of the nervous juice which Liquor is not always perverted after one and the same manner But by the manifold combination of the salts and Sulphures it gets a morbid nature of a various manner and kinde and oftentimes changes it wherefore in the most grievious distempers of this kinde not the vulgar medicines taken from the
the belly and groin yea also let them be often provoked to sneezing it is convenient to give some in the middle of the fit a draught of simple cold water or in which Champhir had been dissolved Preservatory 2. The preservatory Indication comprehends these three Intentions viz. In the first place to take away or to derive to some other place the impurities of the blood apt to be poured forth on the brain and nervous stock Secondly to fortifie the brain and so to strengthen the indwelling spirits that they may either not at all receive or may easily shake off the heterogeneous Copula Thirdly to amend whatsoever is enormous in the womb and contributes to the convulsive disposition 1. The first Intention is performed by purging and phlebotomy and other common ways of purifying and purging the blood and humours If there be opportunity for an emetic I judge it best allways to begin with it especially in Cacochymicks or bodies full of evill humors in the longing disease and Pica and in such whose great load of viscous phlegm stuffed within the folds and coats of the ventricle hinders the virtues of other medicines The next day after the Vomit unless any thing bids the contrary let blood be taken in women of a hotter temper presently from the Arm and afterwards if need be from the foot or from the sedal veins with Leeches but in bodies troubled with obstructions and less hot let blood be taken more sparingly and more rarely and only in places scituate below the womb After these Evacuations if they are to be ordered rightly performed once within six or seven days a purge is to be prescribed according to the following forms Take of pill-fetida major Ê’ i ss of the resine of Julap xii grains of Tartar Vitriolat and Castor each ℈ i. of ammoniac dissolved in hysterical water what will suffice to make xii pills for iii. doses Or take of the resine of Jalap gr xviii of CalomelausÊ’ i. of Castor ℈ i. make a powder let it be divided into iii. parts for iii. doses let it be given in the pap of a roasted apple or in Conserves of Borage so those induced with a more hot temperament a dose of extract or our solutive syrrop may conveniently be administred for the revulsion of the morbific matter from the head Issues made in the calf of the leg or thigh and sometimes vesicatories legatures and painfull rubbings are wont to be administred But not only a purging of the blood and a revulsion of its recrements from the head but an alteration of its Liquor and reduction of it to its due temperament have here a place Wherefore in some hysterical people steel Medicines help in others the use of Spaw-waters or whay in others the baths are wont to be signally profitable The second Intention to wit the rectification of the brain and animal spirits is performed with Cephalic and properly anti-convulsive medicines which indeed ate to be diligently exhibited almost every day when they do not purge or bleed since there are various species of such like Remedies and several manners of administrations we will here add some of the more choice forms Take of the Lees of bryony Assa fetida Castor each Ê’ i. of the Salt of Coral Amber Tin each Ê’ ss of Galbanum dissolved in hysterical water what will suffice to make a Mass dose half a scruple to ℈ i. morning and evening drinking after it a dose of proper liquors Or Take of the seeds of Wilde-parsnips of nettles each Ê’ ii of vitriol of SteelÊ’ i. of the extract of Gentium featherfew each Ê’ i ss with what will suffice of the syrrop of Mugwort make a mass let half a dram be taken after the same manner If the form of a powder pleases better Take of the Roots of Virginian snakeweed and Contrayerva each Ê’ i ss of Coral prepared of Pearls of white-Amber each Ê’ i. mingle them make a powder Dose ℈ i. to half a dram morning and evening with an appropriat Liquor Opiats are Composed after this manner Take of the Conserves of the flowers of the Lilly Convallis of the male-paeony of betony each â„¥ ii of the seeds of Paeony of red Coral prepared each Ê’ ii of the powder of Cretic DittanyÊ’ i ss of the salt of wormwoodÊ’ ii with what will suffice of the syrrop of the rinds of Citrons make an Electuary The dose morning and evening the quantity of a nutmeg After the same manner may be given to poor people Conserves of the Tree of Life or of the leaves of Rue twice in a day The Liquors appropriat against the hysterical affections and to be drunk after the aforesaid Medicines are either distilled waters which are to be taken by themselves or with other things in form of a Julap or decoctions or tinctures and Infusions Take of the water of Mugwort and of penny Royal each half a pint of histerical water â„¥ iiii of the Tincture of Castor â„¥ ss of the Syrrop of Coralls â„¥ i ss mix them The dose from â„¥ i to â„¥ i ss with any of the medicines afore described Take of the leaves of Penneroyall of Fetherfew of either Southernwood of Calaminth of Nep and of either Horehound each i handfull of the Roots of Bryonie â„¥ iiii of the seeds of Parsnips â„¥ ii cut and brused put them into white-wine or Cider six pints and so distill them according to art Take of the Root of the male Peony Angelica Valerian each â„¥ ss of the leaves of mugwort ground Pine Calaminth Peneroyal and Missletow of the Oak each i handfull of the Seeds of either wilde Parsneps eacâ—Ê’ iii of Raifins i. handfull let them be boyled in 4 pints of Spring-water to the half add to it of white-wine lib i ss strain it and keep it in close vessells The dose â„¥ iii or 4 twice in a day Take of the wild-Parsnep Seeds brused â„¥ ii of Castor â„¥ i let them be put into a Glass with i quart of white wine The dose â„¥ ii twice in a day 3. As to the third Intention which inhibiting the disorders of the womb doth promote the cure of the passion called hysterical I say first of all what in times past was believed concerning the Cause and scope of curing the disease that the womb did ascend therefore that it ought to be reduced into its right place is altogether fictitious as we have elsewhere shown The falling down of the womb or its coming forth oftentimes happens but rarely or never produces the hysterical Distempers Besides the dislocation of the womb in childbearing Women sometimes happens presently after their bringing forth to wit when the body of the womb being made Capacious and newly emptied doth not sink down or fall within the Tunnel in its right place but upwards inclines now to the right side now to the left and there being drawn together like a purse is folded into a great bulk which kinde of bulk remaining long nigh
aforesaid Convulsive Symptoms The Curatory Method to be used against the hypochondriacal Distempers requires chiefly these four generall Indications viz. In the first place The Method of Curing the Hypochondriac Distempers that the Impediments of the Cure may be taken away the Intention of which chiefly respects the purging and preserving the first passages Secondly it must be endeavour'd that the obstructions of the Spleen may be Corrected Thirdly that both the recrements of the bloody mass may be purged forth and that its due disposition may be restored Fourthly and lastly that the enormities of the brain and nervous stock and also of the watering humour and the inhabiting Spirits contracted by the fault of the blood and Spleen may be amended or taken away when any of these Intentions or all of them together shall be endeavoured at fit times should be chosen in which each being singly proposed may be performed without any neglect or hindrance of the rest 8. As to the first Indication when a great load of crude or adust matter is wont to be laid up in the first passages and when the tone of the Ventricle us'd to be spoyled and its ferment variously perverted against every one of these kindes of evills you must bring timely help with fit remedies therefore gentle and moderate evacuations both by Vomit if it prospers well and by Stool ought to be administred For such whose stomach easily casts forth its contents upwards I perswade that once in a month Vomiting should be several times provoked by taking Liquor of Squills or Salt of Vitriol or by drinking plentifully small beer posset-drink or warm water in the time between a gentle purge and only a little moving is to be orderd often For this end The pills Tartareous of Bontius or Stomach-pills with Gums or our solutive extract may be of use Take of the best Senna ℥ i of Rhubarbʒvi of Epithimʒiii of yellow-Sandersʒii of the Salt of wormwoodʒii of Celtic Spikeʒi being cut and brused let them be digested in x ounces of White wine and as much of fumitory water for 48 hours let the clear straining be evaporated with the heat of a gentle bath to the consistency of an extract adding towards the end of the powders of Senna of Rhubarb and cream of Tartar each ʒii let them be brused together in a glass morter and reduced to the consistency of Pills The Dose ʒss ℈ ii or ʒi the Remedies respecting the tone and ferment of the ventricle as they are manifold and divers out of them the most fit or commodious for the Disposition of the Ventricle are to be chosen for to this bitter things to that Saltish to another sharp and perhaps biting things are desirable Among the number of these kinds of medicines which are commonly called Digestives are Elixir Proprietatis Tinctura Sacra powder of Aron Compound Salt of Wormwood Cream of Tartar Tartar vitriolat Vitriol of Steel with many others Besides these inward Remedies also external applications do often bring help Because the Stomach being ill affected a fomentation of white-wine with wormwood century and other bitter plants boyled therein also oyntments or plaisters often bring help Concerning which there will be no need here to discourse particularly and to prescribe forms of the Medicines themselves 2. The second Indication for the mending the vices of the Spleen to wit if there shall be in the same any obstruction Tumour or pain or simple dyscrasie or Intemperament is wont to be performed or at least attempted by Remedies both internal and exrernal Those which are of the former Sort fall in with those indicated in the 3d place to wit with such as for the purifying the Blood is intended because when chiefly or almost all that which is carried or born to the Spleen is done by the passage of the blood the irrigularities of the Latex of this as well as of that Inward by a Social labour ought to be cured with the joynt strength of Medicines by what means is shown by and by In the mean time some external Applications under the form of a plaister or an oyntment or a fomentation more neerly and immediatly respect the body of the Spleen and often bring notable help forasmuch as they discuss tumors and allay the Convulsive Distempers and quiet them Great plenty of these kinde of outward medicines are every where extant among Authors the choyce of which ought to be made according to the various passions of the Spleen or the divers Constitutions of the Patient so that there will be no need here to shew their particular forms 3. The Remedies indicated in the 3d place to wit which take away the dyscrasies or evill temper of the blood contracted from the vice of the Spleen and also clear the primary fault of the Spleen are of a manifold and divers kinde and manner the choice of which ought to be administred according to the various infection of this or that of these some are compounded and prepared according to the prescription of Physitians as Electuaries Powders Apozems Tinstures Infusions and the like others more simple as whey asses milk Spaw-waters and Bathes There are two chief Cases of sick people in which magisterial Remedies ought to be all accommodated according to their strength and quallities to wit either the blood is thick coldish and earthy with the Spleen being obstructed which requires more hot fermenting and chiefly Chalybiate medicines or the blood being clearly adust and hot ferments too much and together greatly troubles the hypochondria and in them the blood and humours boyl up in which state Remedies only temperate and allaying the fermenting and immoderate boyling of the humours are to be chosen where chalibiats are wholly to be avoided When therefore to a cold ventricle cold discrasies or evill temperaments of the blood and Spleen also happen I am wont to prescribe according to the following forms Take of the Troches of Rhubarb of the Powder of the root of Aron of winteran Bark each ʒii of the root of virginian Snakeweed Centrayerva Diatrion Santulon of Crabs eyes each ʒi of the extract of Gentian of Century each ʒiss of ammoniae dissolved in the water of Earth-worms what will suffice to make a mass of Pills let them take 4 pills in the morning and at 4 a clock in the afternoon drinking after them a little draught of wormwood-wine or chalibiate wine with moderate exercise Take of the Conserves of the yellow of Oranges and of Lemons each ℥ iii of preserved mirabolans n. ii of the Species of aromaticum Rosatum of winteran Bark each ʒii of the Salt of wormwoodʒii of the vitriol of Steelʒi or Steel preparedʒiii with what will suffice of the Syrrop of Citron rines make an Electuary To be taken twice a day drinking after it a draught of wormwood-wine or of the Infusion of the herb or flowers of Tamarisk For those who are not pleas'd but with medicines in an elegant form and in a very
aforesaid Cases those fits of the Asthma did wholly depend on the Convulsive matter being fallen into the nerves serving to the stretching forth of the Lungs which cleaving to the Spirits and being by them struct off or explosed by reason of plentitude or irritation caused the Praecordia to be lifted uywards and as it were inflated and by that means hindred from its reciprocal motion An Asthma sometimes exciteed by reason of the Bronchia being Convulsively affected Moreover we suppose that such a kinde of Convulsive Dyspnaea or difficult breathing is sometimes excited by reason of the bronchia of the Trachea or the sharp arteries of the Throat being too much streightned and often almost drawn together we have shown in our discourse of the Nerves that very many branches of nervous fibres and of the nerves do every where embrace all the ramifications of the asper Arterie and bind them about which nerves if it happen that they being possessed by the morbific matter should be irritated into frequent Convulsions for that reason it follows that the channells or passages which they compass about must be greatly bound together and in some places wholly shut up There was a very choyce Virgin of a tender constitution and of a flourishing Observation 3 countenance scarce past the second lustre of her Age i e. about 12. years old that began to be grievously tormented with Asthma fits and before she was entrusted to my cure she had liv'd obnoxious to them at least 4. years sometimes she remained free from any fit of this disease for two or three months yet oftentimes by reason of errors in Diet or the great mutations of the year or the air she fell into most cruel fits of the Dyspnaea or difficult breathing So that her Lungs being inflated and carried upwards towards her throat and there held almost in a continual Diastole she could hardly nay not at all breathe in the mean time for that respiration might be somehow made the Diaphragma and the muscles of the breast were exercised with repeated endeavours of motions This kinde of fit by degrees remitting within 7 or 8. hours at length gave over but then after a week or two it was wont to come again either of it self or from any the least occasion after that the force of the Disease its matter being bestow'd on very many of these kinde of fits pass'd away this excellent virgin was well enough for many weeks yea sometimes months after and breath'd freely without any fault of the Thorax For this person I instituted this following method Spring and fall and now it is more than two years since she has had any fit of this Distemper Take of our Sulphur of Antimony gr vi of Cream of tartar vi grains mix them Let it be given in the pap of a rosted apple with this medicine she was wont to vomit 4. or 5. times four days after she took this cathartic which was wont to be repeated twice after 6. or 7. days between Take Calomelun xii grains of the Resin of Jolop v. grains of castor gr iiii with what will suffice of Ammoniac dissolved make iii. pills every day besides she took morning and evening of the tincture of Antimony grains xii in a Spoonfull of the following Julap drinking after it 6. or 7. Spoonfulls of the same Take of the water of Snailes â„¥ vi of earth-worms â„¥ iiii of water of penny-royal and rue each â„¥ iii. of hysterical water â„¥ iii. of Castor tyed in a knot and hung in the glass Ê’ss of white-sugar â„¥ i. mix them in the glass and make a Julap About the Autumn of the last year another noble Virgin being sick after the same manner viz. with a Periodical Asthma I was sent for to cure her Observation 4 who received great help by the aforesaid Remedies being used in a little lesser dose and the same repeated at the first of the Spring In these Cases also nothing seems to appear more clearly than that the cause of the Disease without any phlegm or viscous humour being impacted in the Lungs as is commonly beleeved doth subsist within the nervous stock and that this kind of Dyspnaea or difficult breathing meerly convulsive is excited by reason of the Pneumonic nervs being possessed by the Convulsive Distemper The verity of this may be yet more clearly evinced by an anatomical observation An Anatical Observation lately Comunicated to me by the learned Physitian Doctor Walter Needham That most famous man told me that he knew a Butcher of Wallsallen in the County of Stafford who when he had been long sick of a periodical Asthma returning within 14. or 20 days at farthest at length he dyed in a fit The Body being opened all his Viscera appeared sound chiefly his Lungs neither were there to be seen any signes either of excrement gathered together in the Bronchia or of the blood restagnating in the veins this only hapned besides nature that the bladder of the gall contained in it many stones But added he the causes unknown to us certainly not Conspicuous to our eyes were to be attributed to the nervous stock being affected Sometime past I was consulted with about a noble child Anoiher Anatomical Observation who being about 12. months old was grieviously afflicted with Convulsion fits and as it were Epileptic of which he quickly dyed I often observed that whilest the Convulsion of the outward parts intermitted he was taken with a cruel sobbing or hooping Cough from whence I suspected that the morbific matter was no less fixed in the breast than in the brain But after its Death the body being opened the Lungs well furnish'd appeared clear from any fault that it clearly appeared that this cough meerly Convulsive was excited by reason of the Distemper of the nervous stock As to what respects the Remedies and curatory means which ought to be used in the aforesaid cases when that convulsive Symptoms come upon the Cough or difficulty of breathing first excited from the default of the Lungs and so by reason of the taint communicated to the brain it must be carefully heeded that Convulsive medicines be aptly compounded with those respecting all the Intentions of the Thorax Yea that sometimes these sometimes those being given by themselves may between whiles fill up the times of curing it will not be needfull in this place to bring the bechic or Pneumonic medicines and forms of them since an immense company of them are extant every where among Physical Authors It will be sufficient for our purpose to add a method of medicine also some more select Remedies convenient for the Cough and Asthma meerly Convulsive The cure of the Convulsive Cough As to the former Distemper which is most familiar to children the cure is difficult and for the most part not to be performed but of a long time The chief Indications will be to purge forth both the serous and sharp humours from the blood and Viscera that