of it be sure she is fruitfull If Barrenness be caused by any Disease afflicting either the man or the woman then Progn there may be hopes of Conception when health is procured but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman or the man not fit for Venus-School patientia est optima virtus In the cure you must endeavour to remove Cure whatsoever hindreth Conception Many things are antipathetical to fecundity as Jet Glow-worms Saphires Smaragds the Matrix of a Goat or Mule likewise Vinegar Mints Watercresses Beans c. all which I advise you to avoid and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause Conception and remove Barrenness The After-birth of a Woman dried and powdred and taken often a drachm at a time also the Stones and Liver of a Bore-pig the Juice of Sage the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied are all good There are many medicines prescrib'd in Authours to help Conception Quercetanus doth commend this infusion Take the Matrix of a Hare and the Stones of a Ram prepar'd with Whitewine of Cinamon Infusion Ginger Mace Cloves Seeds of Bishops-weed of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms Kernels of Fistick-nuts one ounce let them be all bruised and infused in a quart of Muskadel-wine for two or three days then strain it and add more Wine to the ingredients for a second infusion The following Electuary is also excellent Take the Roots of Satirion and Eringo Electuary candied of each one ounce candied Ginger and preserv'd Nutmegs of each two drachms Kernels of Hazle-nuts and Fistick-nuts of each half an ounce Powder of a Bull's-pizle of Ivory Seeds of Rocket Bishops-weed of each one drachm Species Diambroe Diamosc dulcis of each six drachms Confectio Alkermes one ounce and half with Syrup of the juice of Citrons make it into an Electuary according to Art Let the Woman take the quantity of a Nutmeg of it every night going to bed and drink a glass of Sack or Muskadel or of the aforementioned Infusion after it If a cold and moist distemper of the Body and Womb accompanied with the Whites be the cause look for the cure in its proper Chapter If it be caused by Witchcraft there are some things commended by Authours to be worn about the party against Fascination viz. the Pizle of a Wolf a Diamond a Jacinth-stone Rue Squills Sea-holly Sagapenum Amara dulcis Hypericon c. But above all let fervent and devout Prayers be put up to the Throne of grace for help and reject and despise Incantations or Charms and all other Diabolical means CHAP. XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage ABortion is called in Latin Abortus vel intempestivus foetus Because it is an untimely Birth the Child being brought forth either dead or alive before its fit time of deliverance This is the worst Symptom that attends breeding Women It may happen from the first Moment of Conception to the end of the sixth Month but it is most usual in the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth Month. The causes are either external or internal Causes The external Causes are a great excess in things nonnatural as too great Anger Fear and other Passions or else it may be through defect for if the Mother undergo Penury or Famine or lose much Bloud the Child wanteth Nourishment Many times things longed for and not obtained kill the Child Also strong purging Medicines that provoke the terms and all fetid smells falls blows lifting carrying dancing running riding or any other outward violence may be the Cause of Abortion The internal Causes may be the depravedness of the humours by which the Mass of Bloud becometh vitious also Acute or Chronick diseases especially of the Womb and also violent Coughing Sneezing Vomiting Convulsions and Fluxes of the Belly may loosen the Ligaments of the Womb and so cause miscarriage The signs of Abortion at hand are great Signs pain about the Loins and Share-bones sometimes with shivering the Breasts growing little and flaggy the Situation of the Child changed towards the Bottom of the Belly with a bearing down and evacuation of Bloud c. 1. Women who have moist and slippery Progn Wombs are most subject to miscarry but with little danger except it be the first Child and that very big 2. Much bleeding with fainting raving or Convulsions is for the most part mortal To prevent Abortion if there be an evil Cure disposition of the Body or Womb you must endeavour to remove it if the Woman hath a plethorick Body let a Vein be opened in the Arme especially in the first six months If ill humours abound purge often with gentle means This purging Infusion may serve Take of Cinamon Rhubarb Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised Purging Infusion and infused in four ounces of Plantain-water very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each half an ounce mix it and give it in the Morning fasting Also the Pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case If the Woman be troubled with a Rheumatick distemper accompanied with Wind and if she be pretty strong you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like Cordial Diaphoretick Take the Waters of Treacle Carduus Fennel Cordial to cause sweat of each one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Carduus Coral of each half an ounce Confectio de Hyacintho half a drachm Spirit of Niter six drops Oil of Cinamon two drops Laudanum opiatum three grains mix it and give to provoke sweat Let the Womb be strengthned with Cordial Astringents Those prescrib'd in page 239. 240. are excellent CHAP. XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth HArd labour may be called in Latin partus vel enixus laboriosus quod ipse nitendi pariendi actus The time of a natural Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours if the Womans travel continue longer time with vehement pains and dangerous Symptoms it may be called hard labour or difficult Travel in Child-birth There are various Causes of hard Labour sometimes tender Women by reason of pain Causes are very fearfull and do endeavour to hinder pains and consequently the Birth also Sometimes the Child being weak or dead and not following the Water in Due-time before the passage be too dry may be the Cause especially if the Mother be weak by reason of any Disease afflicting her or by too much Evacuation of Bloud or there be not sufficient Motion of the Womb and Muscles of the Belly Sometimes the Child's head may be too big or the passage too strait Also the Child may be turned in the Womb and the Hands Shoulders Back Belly or Buttocks c. may come forward to the Birth and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult The signs of
hard Labour are easily known Signs if the Child do stir and there be strong pains and no water appear the Secundine is strong If pains be weak and long before they return and more in the Back than Belly the Infant is weak If the Woman be little and her Husband big and full shouldred then there is a great Child which will cause tough work 1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dangerous Progn for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and many times both do lose their Lives 2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days the Child can hardly be alive and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late for if it be neglected it will cause Fevers Faintings Convulsions Sleepiness c. which are the Forerunners of Death 3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord it is a good sign of deliverance First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child Indications Take Waters of Baum Vervain Cinamon Cordial Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers Saffron of each six drachms Spirit of Saffron Confectio Alkermes of each one drachm mix it If the Child be situated on Os pubis it must be removed and all other unfit Postures must be rectified Then such things as hasten the Birth may be safely administred To encrease the Pains and further the Womans Labour I commend sneezing and also the following Medicines Take the Livers of Eels prepar'd with Cinamon-water Powder and dried one drachm Powder of Borax whitest Amber Mirrh Saffron Dittany of Crete round Birth-wort of each half a drachm mix it and give a Scruple of it at a time in three spoonfulls of this Julep Take the Waters of Vervain Mugwort Iulep of each two ounces Syrup of Saffron one ounce Confectio Alkermes one drachm Extract of Saffron six grains Oils of Cinamon Amber of each three drops mix it Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth as the stone Aetites Loadstone Storax the Eyes of a Hare c. held near the privities The time being come the Woman must be put into a posture which every Midwife doth understand and let her not labour too much till strong pains come and then let her resolve on patience and not be disorderly in the time of her Travel If she be faint you may give her some of the formention'd Cordial Julep to comfort her Let your hands be anointed with some Anodine Ointment After the water is broke if the Head cometh with the Face towards Anus receive it if not endeavour to place it right Then turn your Finger round about the Child's head gently to make way for the Birth If the Child cometh any other way you must endeavour to gain the Feet and bring it away with the Face towards Anus as before mention'd The Child being born you must bring away the Secundine gently by degrees after which put a Closure to the Woman to prevent Cold from entring the Womb. Then prepare her for the bed and give her some Sperma Coeti or Irish-slate in a little burnt White-wine with Cinamon If the Woman doth flood much or be troubled with after-pains give her some of the following Cordial Opiate Take of small Cinamon-water the waters Cordial Opiate of red Poppies Baum of each two ounces Syrups of Clove-gilliflowers white Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiat three grains Oil of Cinamon two drops mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often If the Child be born alive after the Navel string is secured give the Child ten grains of prepar'd Coral in a little Breast milk or black Cherry-water dulcifi'd with Syrup of Peony to which you may add a little Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn If the Child be troubled with gripes you may give it a little Powder of Anise-seed in the Pap. But if the Child be dead and the Labour gone or if the Child's head be very big and the passage too strait so that the Midwife cannot doe her Office you must then speedily implore the help of the Man-midwife as we are called If a Woman in Child-bed hath a costive Body give her a Suppository of Castile-soap or Honey boiled and after three or four days you may administer an emollient carminative Clyster Clyster If a Woman after hard Travel cannot hold her Urine bathe her secret Parts and Region of the Womb with this or the like Decoction Take of Plantain Comfry Shepherds-purse Tops of Brambles Penny-royal Rosemary Fomentation Sage Stoechas of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Gallon of Smiths-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen Stuphs Afterward anoint the grieved parts with this Linament Take the Ointment Comitissoe Oil of Mace by expression of each one ounce Oils of Earth-worms Foxes Lillies Goose-grease of each half an ounce mix it CHAP. XXI Of Nephritick pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder DIseases of the Reins are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. In Latin they are called morbus Renum which comprehends not onely any Ach in the Kidneys but also the Stone and Gravel in the Reins Nephritick pains may be caused divers Cause ways 1. First by a sharp salt matter or a sharp and serous Lympha in the Kidneys which doth easily concrete into a Stone especially when the Ferment of the Reins is much vitiated which may be known by those cruel torturing Fits that come by intervals 2. Worms in the Kidneys which for the most part arise from Bloud there corrupted may be the cause of pain 3. An Abcess or Tumour in the Kidneys following an Inflammation doth hinder the passage of Urine and is always accompanied with great pain 4. It may also be caused by glutinous Phlegm obstructing the fleshy parts of the Kidneys and hindring the separation of Urine so that it is not strein'd into the Funnels of the Reins as usual but is deprav'd and vitiated Whence the natural descent of the Urine through the Ureters into the urinal Bladder is also hindred The same also may happen sometimes by Observacion a stone sticking in the Funnel and stopping the entrance of the Ureters Although I think that Stones sticking in the Ureters themselves cannot long hinder the passage of Urine because it hath been found by experience in dissecting of dead Bodies that Stones near the bigness of a Doves-egg have been sticking in the Ureters by the sides of which Stones Urine descended freely which was evident because the Ureter was no were distended unless where the Stone did stick Neither was there any Urine contain'd in the Ureter above the obstruction besides when the Party was living there was no stoppage of Urine Those fits which come by intervals are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the Ferment of the Kidneys which generates crude salt and sharp matter which causeth those cruel Tortures
weakness or toughness of the matter Nausea Loathing is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Navis quod navigantibus proecipue contingit All loathing is either natural or adventitious The natural for the most part is common to Women with Child wherein 't is thought by some that the mind of the Child in the Womb is affected as well in this distemper as in the disease called Malacia or longing wherein if the Woman have not presently what the longs for wheresoever she first puts her hand on any part of her body in that part the Child is mark'd as we may see often by experience The adventitious loathing or that which cometh by accident is stir'd up in healthy People by prejudice they esteeming some sorts of food ungratefull or prejudicial to their Health and therefore their Stomachs loath them Sometimes nauseousness and loathing even to vomiting immediately follows Intemperance in eating and drinking which is dangerous That we may the better judge of the causes of this distemper let us first consider what is the natural Cause of Hunger by which we may the easier discover it I judge the chief Cause of natural hunger to be the remainders of food fermented in the Stomach and the longer it stays there it is still more and more fermented by the Spittle which is continually swallowed down and intermix'd with it and at length it raiseth a somewhat sour and gratefull Vapour which pleasingly affects the upper Orifice of the Stomach and so natural hunger seems to be produc'd And if food be with-held somewhat longer than ordinary then this hunger is increas'd even in healthy People which I think is promoted and augmented by the Juice of the Pancreas having a friendly Effervescency with Choler and Phlegm in the small Guts from whence sour and gratefull Vapours are sent to the Stomach which increaseth hunger and if food be seldom taken it may proceed to fainting fits Hence we may gather that if there be a Cause vitious Effervescency of the aforesaid humours in the small Guts then vitious Vapours are thence produc'd which rising up to the Stomach and other parts adjacent not onely diminish hunger but more or less deprave Thirst as also the senses of tasting and smelling hence it is that the sick do loath all sorts of food as soon as they smell taste or see it 1. Want of Appetite or Loathing is a digression Progn from the natural State and is therefore dangerous and is worse in Children than Adults because they require more Nourishment 2. In all diseases this is an evil Symptome and if the sick recover and want Appetite or loath their Food there is danger of a relapse This distemper either in healthy People or those that are sick may be cur'd Cure 1. First by freeing the mind from every prejudice 2. By correcting or purging out the vitious and peccant humours If the Humours incline upward they may be safely carried out by an Antimonial vomit and after the operation at night going to bed let the sick take this Cordial Opiate Take the Waters of Damask-roses Baum Cordial Opiat and Cinamon of each one ounce Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers red Poppies of each half an ounce Confectio Alkermes half a drachm Laudanum opiat four grains Oil of Vitriol six drops mix it But if the humours be very viscous and the Stomach be not nauseous let them be purged out by stool with such Medicines as have power to alter amend and evacuate the vitious humours For example Take of the Decoction of Senna Gereonis Purging Decoction four ounces the best Manna Syrups of Epithymum Roses Solutive with Senna of each half an ounce mix it for two Doses to be taken in the Morning fasting After purging the Stomach must be strengthned which may be done by this excellent Diet-drink Take the Roots of China Sarzeparilla of Diet-drink each eight ounces Guiacum two pound Cinamon Mace Nutmegs of each one ounce Raisins of the Sun stoned one pound Anise-seed Liquorish of each one ounce and half let them be bruised and infused in two Gallons of Fountain-water very hot for the space of twenty four hours then boil it to the consumption of the third part strain it and add Syrups of Cinamon and of the Juice of Rasberries of each four ounces mix it and let it be put into Bottles The sick may drink four ounces of it three times in a day Also candied Ginger and Nutmegs preserv'd are good to corroborate the Stomach a little of either of them may be eaten before the taking of the Diet-drink You may anoint the Stomach with Oil of Mace by expression after which apply a Plaster Stomachicum magistr to the Region of the Stomach CHAP. IV. Of the Hicket or Hiccough THE Hicket is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin singultus ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum gula quod fere gula fiat vel a sono gulae It is called in English a Sobbing or Yexing being something like the Clocking of Hens with Chickens This disease was thought by the Ancients to be a deprav'd motion of the Stomach onely by which it striveth to expell something which is hurtfull but experience doth manifest that it is a convulsive Motion of the Midriff and not of the Stomach because in this distemper expiration is deprav'd and this is chiefly perfected by the Muscles of the Belly both by drawing down the Breast and compressing all that is contain'd in the Belly and driving them forward towards the Midriff and so compelling it upward its proper motion together concurring by which a greater straitness is made in the Breast which causeth the Lungs also to be straitned and consequently the Air contain'd in them to be suddenly expir'd 'T is true in this distemper the Stomach is primarily affected by sharp Vapours Wind or humours whencesoever proceeding which piercing to the membranous Centre of the Midriff provoke it by pricking or corroding to perform that convulsive motion in which the Diaphragma is contracted with a great force towards the Region of the Stomach which suddenly and violently driveth it forward and outward the convulsive Motion soon ceasing and again often repeating The causes of the Hicket are either external Cause or internal The external are hurtfull sharp and poisonous food or medicines taken into the Stomach by which the Midriff is soon affected and compelled to this violent and presently interrupted convulsive Motion The internal cause riseth up out of the small Gut by the vitious Effervescency of the humours there meeting from whence sharp halituous or windy Vapours are rais'd to the upper Orifice of the Stomach by which it is soon corroded and thence the sharp flatuous Humours or Vapours are presently carried through the Vessels of the Diaphragma and sticking in its substance do corrode its sensible parts and compell it to that Convulsive repeating contraction of it self When the
or three Days then press it out very hard and add the same quantity of Sarsaparilla as before do this for eight or ten times the ostner the better add to the Spirit of the best Gum of Guiacum in fine Pouder half a Pound the Balsam of Peru and Tolu of each two Cunces mix them all together in a Glass Resort lute a Receiver to it and digest it for ten days then draw off all the Spirit with a gentle heat in Balneo Mariae when it is cold break the Retort and take out the Pouder and keep it for use It is an efficacious Medicine against the Rheumatism Gout Venereal Pox and all Chronical Diseases The Dose is half a Dram in a Spoonful of Whey or Milk or any other Vehicle every Morning fasting or mix it with an equal quantity of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder and give it every Morning and Evening for some time Electuarium Antiscorbuticum nostrum Our Electuary against the Scurvy c. Take of the Berries of Bays Ivy and Juniper of each four Ounces the Seeds of Dwarf-Elder Burdock Ash Broom Peony Gromwel the Bark of Elder of each two Ounces Let them be all bruised and boiled in the Juices of Elder-Berries and wild Cucumbers of each one Pound the Juice of Buckthorn-Berries four Pound 'till half of it be boiled away then press it out very hard and boil it to the Consistence of a Pulp to every Pound of it add an equal quantity of white Sugar and boil it again 'till it be almost as thick as an Electuary then dissolve in it whilst it is very hot the same weight of pure Nitre as there is of Sugar To every Pound of the Electuary add four Ounces of Balm of Gilead two Ounces of our Balsamick Pouder before mention'd one Ounce of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder and two Drams of Oyl of Juniper mix all together according to Art It is an excellent Cathartick in all Diseases which requires Purging for it potently evacuates all vitious Humours promiscuously out of the Body it cureth the King's-Evil Rheumatism Gout Dropsie Scurvy dry Belly-ach and all curable Diseases The Dose is from two Drams to an Ounce It may be given in the form of a Bolus or dissolved in Ale Whey or any other liquid Vehicle and taken in the Morning fasting Sal Chalybis noster Our Salt of Steel or Iron Take the finest Filings of Iron or Steel rectified Oyl of Vitriol of each one Pound mix them together in a large Earthen-Pan well glazed let it stand for two or three Hours then pour into it two or three Quarts of fair Water and it will presently effervesce and the Salt will stick about the Pan take it out and keep it for use Tinctura Chalybis The Tincture of Iron or Steel Take the finest Filings of Iron or Steel four Ounces rectified Spirit of Nitre half a Pound mix them together in an Earthen-Pan well glazed when the Effervescency is over let it cool and add to it Spirit of Wine rectified five Pound mix it well together then filter it through brown Paper and keep it for use Both of these Medicines are great Aperitives opens all Obstructions cures the Rickets Green-sickness Stoppage of the Terms Yellow-Jaundice c. they strengthen the Stomach kills Worms and purifies the whole Mass of Blood You may give from half a Scruple to half a Dram of the Salt in any Vehicle every Morning The Tincture may be taken from ten to forty Drops at a time in Beer Ale or Wine Aqua Styptica nostra Our Stiptick Water Take of pure white Vitriol Roch-Alum of each four Ounces let them be poudred and calcined in a Crucible 'till it be red-hot then quench it with Wine-Vinegar and calcine it again Take it out of the Crucible and dissolve it in a Gallon of Spring-water add to it two Ounces of Saccharum Saturni then strain it and keep it for use It cures the Itch and all other Eruptions the grieved Parts being wash'd with it three or four times in a day It likewise cureth hollow Ulcers and Fistula's the Gonorrhaea in Men and the Whites in Women You may inject it with a Syringe warm twice in a day AN INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS Comprehending all the Diseases of this BOOK The Contents of the First Book Chap. Page I. OF the Head-ach 1 II. Of the Palsie and Apoplexy 13 III. Of Convulsions and the Epilepsie 22 IV. Of the Night-mare and Vertigo 35 V. Of the Lethargy Coma Carus and Catalepsie or Catochus 38 VI. Of the Phrensie and Madness 44 VII Of Catarrhs 55 The Contents of the Second Book Chap. Page I. OF Shortness of Breathing 69 II. Of the Pleurisie and other Instammations 72 III. Of the Consumption or Phtisick and Hectick-Fever 83 IV. Of the Palpitation of the Heart 92 V. Of an universal Languishing as also of Swouning and Syncope 96 VI. Of Fevers in General 103 VII Of Intermitting Fevers 116 VIII Of Malignant Fevers and the Calenture 124 IX Of the Plague or Pestilence 129 X. Of the Small-pox and Measles 136 The Contents of the Third Book Chap. Page I. OF the thirsty Disease 141 II. Of Hunger vitiated or of a depraved Appetite 144 III. Of want of Appetite or loathing of Victuals 148 IV. Of the Hiccet or Hiccough 152 V. Of Belching 156 VI. Of Vomiting and of the Cholerick and Iliack Passion 158 VII Of Pain in the Stomach and of various Pains of the Guts as Colick c. 168 VIII Of Worms 179 IX Of Loosenesses or Fluxes of the Belly 185 X. Of the dry Belly-ach 196 XI Of the Yellow-Iaundice 202 XII Of a Cachexy or ill Habit of Body 207 XIII Of Dropsies 211 XIV Of the Scurvy and Hypochondriack Suffocation commonly called Fits of the Mother 222 XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses 231 XVI Of the immoderate menstrual Flux and the Whites in Women 237 XVII Of the Falling down of the Womb and Fundament 242 XVIII Of Barrenness 245 XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage 249 XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth 252 XXI Of Nephritick Pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder 257 XXII Of extraordinary Pissing 269 XXIII Of involuntary Pissing commonly called Pissing in Bed 272 XXIV Of the Stoppage of Urine and the Strangury 274 XXV Of the scalding or sharpness of Urine 277 XXVI Of Venereal Affects 279 XXVII Of the Rachites or Rickets 288 XXVIII Of the Gout and Rheumatism 303 Praxis Medicinae Reformata OR THE Practice of Physick REFORMED BEING AN Epitome of the whole Art Wherein is briefly shewed The true Causes Signs Prognosticks and Cure of most Diseases BOOK I. CHAP. I. Of the Head-ach THE Head-ach may be divided into three Kinds The first is the momentany Head-ach it Cephalalgia is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caput and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dolor The second is an inveterate Head-ach and is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod
Scurvigrass-water two ounces Cinamon-water Syrup of Worm-wood of each one ounce and half Oil of Juniper one drachm mix them together for a Julep of which you may also give two or three spoonfulls every fourth hour I prescribe no Purgers in this Distemper because I am taught by large Experience that the sour Humours in the Body may be stirr'd up indeed but not purg'd unless with very great gripes which will doe more hurt â—â—an good The encreâ—â—e of the acid Juice may be prâ—â—â—nted by abstaining from the use of acâ—â—â— Let the Patient's diet be moist and fatty as fat Broths Jellies aromatiz'd c. When the Head-ach proceedeth from a hot cause if the Patient be costive first give this Clyster Take of Mercury Violets Lettice Mallows Dandelion of each one handfull Damask Clyster Prunes twenty let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two pints of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Electuary lenitive one ounce and half Oil of Lillies two ounces mix them for a Clyster After its operation you may open a Vein and draw eight or nine ounces of bloud Some Authours will not consent to Phlebotomy in any Head-ach except the Pain be intollerable but I have had sufficient Experience that it may be done safely in any Pain of the Head Elixir proprietatis taken in Wormwood-wine to the quantity of half a drachm at a time a little before meat doth wonderfully conduce to amend the vitious quality of Choler Choler may be evacuated by vomit most commodiously by Antimonial preparations Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce Oximel of Squills half an ounce Give it in the morning Vomit But if the Patient be averse to vomiting the Choler may be evacuated by stool by this or the like Cathartick Take of Baum-water one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrup of Roses solutive Purging Potion the best Manna of each half an ounce Powder of Cream of Tartar twenty grains Diagredium ten grains mix it for a Potion which may be given in the morning fasting Also these most gratefull Tablets of Scammony may be prepared and kept for use Take Cristals of Tartar two ounces Scammony one ounce white Sugar four Troches ounces with Gum Dragon dissolv'd in Rose-water as much as is sufficient let it be made into Troches according to Art Half a drachm of these Troches may be given to a Child with carefull governing a Man or Woman may take two drachms of them They who are fearfull of Scammoniats though safe and potent let them take the following infusion Take of choice Rhubarb two drachms Cream of Tartar one drachm infuse them Purging Infusion in four ounces of Endive-water for a night then strain it and add Syrup of Roses solutive Syrup of Cicory with Rhubarb of each half an ounce Cinamon-water two drachms give it in the morning fasting This Electuary is also an excellent Cholagogue Take the Pulp of Damask-prunes ten ounces Powder of Scammony Cream of Tartar Electuary of each two ounces Rhubarb ten drachms Cinamon half an ounce yellow Sanders two drachms the best Manna Syrup of Cicory with Rhubarb of each eight ounces mix all together into an Electuary according to Art The Dose is from two drachms to half an ounce taken either in a Bolus or dissolved in a sufficient quantity of Endive-water or any other convenient vehicle These excellent Medicines do not onely purge Choler abounding but purify the Bloud and other Humours and here we may note that if a purging Medicine do not operate according to Expectation it may safely Observation be repeated the same day without any danger If the Head-ach be accompanied with a great Fever and Thirst be augmented the following Medicines will much conduce to asswage it Take of Barley-water two pints Cinamon-water two ounces Syrup of Violets four Iulep ounces salt Prunella half an ounce mix it and give the sick three or four spoonfulls of it often This Tincture is also very effectual Take of Barley-water two pints Red-rose-buds Tincture one ounce spirit of Vitriol twenty drops or as much as is sufficient to make it of a good Tincture let it infuse all Night then strain it and add Syrup of Jujubes four ounces mix it and give three or four spoonfulls every three hours If an Emulsion may please better take this following form Take of sweet Almonds one ounce the Emulsion four greater Cold-seeds of each half an ounce white Poppy-seeds two ounces let the Almonds be blanched and all well beaten in a stone Mortar then with four pints of Barley-water make an Emulsion strain it and add Syrup of the Juice of Limmons Diacodium of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces of which let the sick drink often four spoonfulls at a time You may also have a little fine Sugar and salt Prunella equally mixt which may be kept in the Mouth to deceive the Thirst. But where rest is hindred by the Choler abounding and cannot be obtain'd by the Emulsion which gently procureth sleep you may dissolve two grains of Laudanum opiat in two or three spoonfulls of it and give it at night or you may order this or the like Julep Take the Waters of Lettice Water-lillies of each two ounces Syrup of red Poppies Iulep one ounce Cinamon-water half an ounce Laudanum opiatum four grains Oil of Vitriol six drops mix it and give four spoonfulls of it to cause sleep This Epitheme may be applied to the Temples and Fore-head with Linnen-rags Take the Oils of Violets and Water-lillies of each half an ounce the waters of red Roses Epitheme Lettice and Houseleek of each two ounces Vineger of Roses half an ounce mix it You may also anoint the Temples and Fore-head with this Ointment Take the Ointment of Alabaster Populion Ointment Oil of Mandrakes of each half an ounce mix it Let the Patient's diet be Mutton or Veal-broth without salt When a salt Catarrh or the like spittle is the cause of Thirst augmented you may administer a Pill of Styrax or Cynoglosson which will temperate the saltness of the humours and if salt serous matter abound in the Bloud you may purge it by Stool and Urine for which there are variety of Medicines prescrib'd in the Chapter of Catarrhs CHAP. II. Of the Palsie and Apoplexy THE Palsie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a solvendo eo quod nervorum genus resolutum facultate animi Paralysis defluere prohibita sensu motuque destituatur It may be also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. dimidia Apoplexia In Latin it is called nervorum resolutio vel relaxatio It is a Privation of sense and motion of one side of the Body or of some particular part The Apoplexy is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoplexia ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 percutior attonitum reddo In Latin 't
may also pierce through the lacteal Vessels and so to the Heart and infect the Bloud too much with its Saltness whence the Spittle and the other Humours also become too salt by which a great Thirst is stirred up and augmented The signs are manifest for the Patient's Signs complaint for want of drink will inform you This distemper may be cured by such acid Cure Liquours and oily Emulsions which will dilute the Lixivial Salt of Choler and potently change its Acrimony and asswage its sharpness and deduce it to the Bladder The following Julep may serve for Example Take Tincture of Red-roses Barley-water Iulep of each twelve ounces Cinamon-water two ounces Syrup of Violets three ounces Salt Prunella two drachms mix it and give the sick three spoonfulls every two hours This Emulsion is also of great Virtue not onely to restrain Thirst but mildly to procure rest also Take of French-barly boiled four ounces Emulsion sweet Almonds blanched white Poppy-seeds of each two ounces let them be well beaten in a stone Mortar then with two Quarts of Barley-water the Waters of Cinamon and Fennel of each two ounces make an Emulsion to which add Julep of Roses four ounces Syrups of Violets and the Juice of Limmons of each two ounces mix it Let the party thirsting drink a moderate draught of this Emulsion often in a day which will be very acceptable You may also make gratefull Troches or Pellets of Sugar and Salt Prunella to be kept in the Mouth to deceive the Thirst. If salt serous matter abound in the Body purge it by Stool or Urine This gratefull Medicine may serve for both intentions Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce Parsley Purging Infusion China of each two ounces Dandelion Agrimony of each one handfull Senna one ounce Rhubarb half an ounce Agarick Turky Turbith Jallap of each three drachms Cinamon Cloves of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine for the space of twenty four hours then strain it and add Syrup of the five opening Roots four ounces of which you may give the sick four ounces every third day in the morning fasting If there be a salt Catarrh it may be temper'd with Pills of Styrax you may administer a Pill every Night going to bed Let the Patient's diet be Mutton or Veal-broth without Salt CHAP. II. Of Hunger vitiated HUnger may be called the Appetite of Meats as Thirst is of Drinks It may be many ways deprav'd viz. when it is augmented diminish'd or abolish'd Hunger augmented may be deprav'd two ways either in quantity or quality if it be in quantity there is more Nourishment desired than the Stomach can digest This distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fames quod affatim edatur It is called by the Latines fames canina and in English Dog's appetite because in this distemper the sick do feed insatiably after which some do purge and vomit like Dogs and are presently hungry again and sick if they do not eat If hunger be deprav'd in quality then vitious things which are not Food as Coals Ashes Clay Turfs Leather and I know not what are desired This is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pica also Pica in Latin ab ave Pica vel quod varia appetant ut Pica varii est Coloris vel ex eo quod Pica terram mandet If this distemper be in Women with Child Malacia it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin also Gravidarum malacia which is an inordinate longing in them of which I shall treat more at large in the Chapter of the Hypochondriack suffocation Hunger diminish'd is caused of too fat and Cause viscous Spittle swallowed down by little and little into the Stomach and being unfit to promote the fermentation of Food it passeth into the small guts and there generates viscous Phlegm like to it self which doth not onely dull the moderate acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas but thereby at length all the acidity in the Body becomes less sharp and dull Choler also being too fat arising from the small Gut to the Stomach doth there corrupt both the remainders of Food and Spittle and prostrates their gratefull acidity by which means the Appetite becomes dull These causes being complicated if they be most grievous will at length quite take away and abolish Hunger The cause of Hunger augmented is sometimes Cause worms in the Stomach which devour the Chylus but most commonly it is caused by the over-sourness of the Juice of the Pancreas abounding in the Body and chiefly in the small Gut whence it sendeth sour Vapours to the Stomach which do potently urge and increase the sense of hunger The cause of hunger deprav'd in quality Cause as Pica c. in Women is the suppression of their monthly Courses which is more or less corrupted about the Womb and having not its natural Evacuation it returneth and in circulation is mixed with the whole Mass of Bloud by which it is all vitiated and deprav'd and so produceth a Cachexy or ill habit of Body which in time corrupteth all the other humours from whence not onely hunger but all the functions are deprav'd Hunger augmented needs no other sign Signs than the devouring of Food The signs of Hunger deprav'd in quality are also manifest as the longing desire for those things which are not food as Coals c. before mention'd If these distempers continue long they Progn are difficult of Curation because the sick will easily fall into a Cachexy Dropsie Consumption Vomiting Fluxes c. Hunger increas'd may be cur'd by giving those things which destroy and do temperate and amend the over acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas and do prevent its increase There are variety of Medicines proper for these intentions prescrib'd in the 6th and 7th pages of the first Book If hunger be diminish'd or abolish'd it may be cur'd by Medicines that correct and educe the viscous Phlegmatick humours of which you may be throughly furnish'd in the 3d. and 4th pages If hunger be suddenly diminish'd by Choler either over fat or abounding in plenty Cure it may commodiously be evacuated by an Antimonial Emetick Many other proper Medicines are set down in the 8th and 9th pages CHAP. III. Of want of Appetite or loathing of Victuals WAnt of Appetite is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appetitus In Latin 't is called inappetentia because in this distemper the sick hath no desire after food but their minds are averse to yea they loath most kind of meat and drink which sometimes riseth to that height that it takes away their strength This differs from vomiting onely in degrees it being a desire to vomit up whatsoever troubles the Stomach but cannot either by reason of
sorrow of mind or great passion be the Cause it ought to be prevented as much as may be both by Philosophical and Theological reasons about any troublesome matters and by confirming the mind whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity This ought to be observed also in all other Diseases If Ebriety be the cause I commend Sobriety to cure it Sublata causa tollitur effectus If the humours be over viscous or glutinous the following Decoction will not onely alter and correct but mildly educe the peccant humours by which the Jaundice may in a short time be cured Take of Rhubarb the Roots of Madder Smallage the greater Celandine of each Decoction one ounce the Flowers of Broom one handfull Hemp-seed two ounces the Seeds of Anise Parsley and Columbines of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms white Tartar three drachms let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine and Fountain water of each three pints till the third part be boiled away then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces mix it Let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day till the viscous phlegm and Choler be sufficiently evacuated and the natural colour of the body restored As oft as the Jaundice is caused by the poison of a Viper or any other venemous thing whatsoever you must administer as soon as possible a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome The following will serve to both indications Take the waters of Carduus Fennel Fumitory Sudorifick of each two ounces Treacle-water Syrups of the juice of Carduus red Poppies of each one ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Venice-treacle half a drachm Bezoar-mineral Antimony diaphoretick Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Spirit of Salt-Armoniack six drops Laudanum opiatum six grains mix it and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat and after it breaks forth give a spoonfull or two now and then to promote it Also this Decoction or one like it may be prescrib'd for the Icterick patient it being both Sudorifick and Diuretick Take the Roots of Scorzonera Juniper of Diuretick Decoction each two ounces Roots of Master-wort Sassaphras of each half an ounce Berries of Juniper and Bays of each one ounce and half Seeds of Nettles Hemp and Columbines of each one ounce shavings of Harts-horn three drachms the tops of Carduus Scordium Scabious the lesser Centaury of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of the juice of Carduus four ounces Treacle-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms mix it and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours Soap of any sort conduceth to the cure of the Jaundice upon a twofold account both by reason of its fixt lixivial Salt and also by reason of its fatness or oil for the Lixivial Salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated Choler and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous Salt ruling in Choler The following mixture is very effectual Take of Hemp-seed two ounces Soap two Opiate drachms bruise the seed and boil it in half a pint of new Milk till half of it be consumed then strain it and add Syrup of Saffron half an ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it and give half of it in the morning fasting and the remainder at night going to bed CHAP. XII Of a Cachexy AN ill Habit of Body is called in Greek Cachexia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitus It may be called in Latin mala corporis habitudo There are many causes of this Distemper which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd Symptoms It doth accompany all Chronical Diseases as Dropsies of all kinds Hypochondriack suffocation Scurvy Pox and Gout c. for it doth spare none neither Peer nor Peasant of any age or sex but it most frequently seizeth on Women when their monthly terms are supprest The cause is either external or internal The external cause is either bad Diet a long time receiv'd or for want of good refreshing Food after sickness for the Stomach being weak cannot digest course Diet by which the nutriment of the Body doth by degrees become peccant in quality vitiating the humours and Bloud it self so that an ill nourishment of the Body doth follow The internal cause may be the suppression of the Terms in Women which is more or less corrupted about the Womb having not its natural evacuation from whence the whole mass of Bloud is indued with a vitious quality by which the nourishment of all parts of the Body is deprav'd Also Choler and the juice of the Pancreas which are always confus'd with the Bloud being alike vitious or peccant in quality do not onely corrupt the separation of usefull and unusefull parts but by the vitious effervescency of these humours manifold flatuous vapours are rais'd which do not onely increase anxieties about the Midriff but being carried to the Heart there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof and in circulating through the Lungs it causeth a Dyspnoea or difficult breathing and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the Body it doth breed a general weariness in all parts But when the vitious humours abound together in plenty then several kinds of the Dropsie at length succeed if not the universal Body groweth lean by degrees From what hath been said the production of every Cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious Physician The signs are paleness of the Face shortness Signs of breath palpitation of the Heart and often apressing pain of it accompanied for the most part with a lingring Fever either continual or intermitting or compounded of both in which the Urine is crude or watry at length there is a weariness of the universal Body which in some doth pine and become lean but in others the Body doth swell and is turgid If this Disease be not helpt in time it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious Progn that it will puzzle the wisest and most experienced Physicians to cure it for by the long continuance thereof phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous on which all Chronical or prolong'd Diseases depend besides all the other humours are by degrees vitiated which incorporate with the Bloud and diminish its effervescency so that the separation and excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine do not follow from whence many grievous symptoms succeed which oft proves mortal The cure of every Cachexie will consist in Cure the correction and amendment of the Bloud any way vitiated If flegm be tough and glutinous it must be corrected and evacuated for which
of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours and again make them fluid All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs and also volatile Salts prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals but also of scorbutick Plants such as are the juice of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass Garden and Water-cresses Dandelion c. conduce before all others to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coagulated or Bloud clotter'd as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated and conglutinated in humane bodies and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity and moreover to move sweat which together being mildly promoted the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours c. will be obtained much easier and sooner An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practitioners Take the Waters of Treacle Dandelion Cordial to cause Sweat Parsley Scurvigrass Fennel Syrups of Hedge-mustard white Poppies of each half an ounce Spirit of Salt Armoniack Harts-horn of each ten drops Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it The following is also very effectual Take the Waters of Fennel Hyssop of each two ounces distill'd Vinegar six drachms the Carminative-water of Sylvius half an ounce Syrup of the five opening Roots one ounce and half Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm Sperma Coeti Mummy Antimony Diaphoretick of each one scruple Laudanum opiat four grains mix it Let the sick often take two spoonfulls of either of these mixtures especially in bed to promote the power of the medicine and to facilitate a sweat by the help whereof the mention'd power of the Sudorifick will the better come to the place of obstruction and will attenuate loosen and make fluid the matter obstructing the whole Mass of Bloud will also become more fluid and moveable being rarefi'd by the volatile Salt of the medicine If the Patient be plethorick let the Saphoena vein be opened for by opening and breathing a Vein the motion and circulation of the Bloud will be the better restor'd for a larger space being made for the universal Bloud it will circulate more swiftly and potently The phlegmatick viscous humours must be corrected and evacuated by Phlegmagogues The following medicines are of great efficacy Take of Salts of Mugwort Ash Amber Tartar vitriolated of each ten grains Powder Powder of Cream of Tartar white Sugar-candy of each half a drachm mix it and give it in white Wine in the morning fasting The next day you may administer the following Pills Take of pil foetidoe ex duobus of each half a drachm Amber prepar'd Steel Borax Purging Pills Mercur. Dulcis of each one scruple Mirrh Castor Saffron of each twelve grains Oil of Cloves Spirit of Salt Armoniack of each six drops make it into ten Pills for two doses which may be taken in the Morning fasting If a medicinal Wine be acceptable to the sick the following or one like it may be used Take the Roots of Horse-radish the five opening Roots of each one ounce Savin Medicinal wine Vervain Penny-royal Hyssop Calamint Mugwort of each one handfull Senna Cinamon sweet Fennel-seeds Juniper-berries Orange-peel Liquorish of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in one Gallon of White-wine for three days then strain it and keep it for use You may add more wine to the ingredients so long as there is any Aromatick taste Four or five spoonfulls of this Wine may be taken two or three times a day with which you may mix Salt of Tartar vitriolated ten grains Elixir proprietatis six drops If you expect a laudable success you must persevere awhile in the use of these or such like medicines CHAP. XVI Of the immoderate menstrual Flux and the Whites in Women THE monthly terms being immoderate may be called in Latin mensium fluxus immodicus And the Whites in Women Alboe mulierum fluxiones The causes of too many Courses are either Cause external or internal The external Causes may be by an Ulcer in the Matrix or some outward Violence and sometimes by too much Coition The internal Causes are either a sharp serous humour abounding in the Bloud increasing its fluidity or else an over great heat in the Womb stirring up a more potent and therefore a swifter rarefaction of Bloud provoking an expulsion of it either by breaking or some other preternatural opening of the vessels of the Womb. The white Flux of the Womb is an excrementitious humour flowing from it This distemper is subject not onely to Women but sometimes to Maids also These humours may be bred in the Cause of Whites Womb either by a cold or hot distemper therein The cold doth render it unable to digest its nourishment A hot Distemper corrupteth it hence cometh this excrementitious humour Also Abortion Contusion Inflammation Imposthume or Ulcer in the Womb may weaken and dispose it to breed such humours The signs that distinguish between this Signs Distemper and an Ulcer in the Womb and Gonorrhoea are these 1. If there be an Ulcer there the Womb will not admit of Coition without pain and the matter which floweth from her is stringy and more digested and sometimes bloudy 2. In the Gonorrhoea the seminal matter cometh in a small quantity and seldom except it be gotten by acting with an unclean Person then the Urine is sharp with many other malignant Symptoms All long Hemorrhagies of Bloud are dangerous Progn especially those of the Womb If it be caused by exulceration and be in elderly Women 't is incurable The white Flux is not very dangerous but is often difficult of curation especially in old Women because they abound with Phlegm and 't is hard to divert the humours from this Chanel it being the sink of the body through which the superfluous humours of a healthy Woman are every month evacuated If this distemper continue long it may breed great evils as Barrenness Falling out of the Womb c. These diseases may be both cured by the Cure same medicines If the courses have continued too long the following mixture will soon stop the flux of Bloud and will cure most ruptions of vessels Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of Astringent Iulep each three ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Mirtles Quinces of each one ounce and half distill'd Vinegar one ounce red Coral prepar'd one drachm Dragons Bloud one scruple Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give three spoonfulls every four hours When the flux of Bloud is stopt you may purge with the following Take of Manna one ounce Powder of Purge Rhubarb tosted Cream of Tartar of each half a drachm Resin of Jallop four grains mix it and take it in broth If the Patient like Pills I commend the following Take Resins of Jallop and Scammony extract of Rhubarb Agarick Salt of Amber Purging Pills Powder of Dragons-bloud of each ten grains Oil of Mints six drops with Syrup of
Rhubarb let it be made into twelve Pills for three doses After purging these Astringents will be profitable Take of Cinamon the Roots of Bistort Tormentile Astringent Electuary Rhubarb Seeds of Plantain Dill Flowers of red Roses Balaustins red Coral sealed Earth whitest Amber Harts-horn Gum-dragon and Arabick of each two drachms Saccharum Saturni Dragons-bloud Salt Prunella of each two scruples Laudanum opiat Camphire of each ten grains let them be all finely powder'd and searced and with Honey of red Roses Syrups of Quinces and Comfry of each equal parts let it be made into an Electuary according to Art Let the sick take the quantity of a Nutmeg of this Electuary every morning and evening either upon the point of a knife or dissolve it in two or three ounces of red Wine to which you may add a few drops of Tincture of red Coral and drink it This Julep is also of great virtue Take the Waters of Comfry Plantain Astringent Iulep Oak-buds Knot-grass red Wine of each four ounces in which infuse red Rose-buds Balaustins Flowers of Comfry Bugloss of each one handfull for the space of twenty four hours then boil it gently for half an hour strain it and add Tincture of red Coral Syrups of dried Roses Comfry and Mirtles of each two ounces Oil of Vitriol twenty drops mix it and take six spoonfulls every three hours Let the Region of the Womb be anointed with this Linament Take Unguent Comitissoe Oil of Mirtles Linament of each one ounce Saccharum Saturni one drachm Camphire ten grains mix it After the part is anointed let this Plaster be applied Take the Plaster against Ruptures Diapalma Plaster of each one ounce the carminative Plaster of Sylvius half an ounce mix it and spread it on leather and apply to the region of the Womb. In the Whites let this be used for a Fume Take of Olibanum Amber Cloves of Fume each half a drachm red Rose-buds Balaustins of each two drachms beat them all together into a gross powder put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles and let the Woman sit over it CHAP. XVII Of the Falling Down of the Womb and Fundament IF the Womb falleth down it may be called in Latin Procidentia Matricis So likewise if the Fundament cometh down it is called Procidentia Ani. The Causes of these distempers are either Cause External or Internal The External Causes may be any violent exercise with much striving also falls or blows on those parts also bathing in cold water c. The Internal Causes are serous and phlegmatick humours a Dysentery with a Tenasmus the Whites continuing long a violent drawing the Child or After-birth out of the Womb also much Sneezing or Coughing especially in Child-bed to conclude all things that may cause a Rupture or relaxation of the Ligaments of the Womb or sphincter Muscle of the Anus may be the cause of these griefs In a Procidentia Ani there is always a Signs mucous and purulent dejection from a phlegmatick viscous and sometimes also a sharp acid humour adjoining about the seige which often causeth a troublesome Ulcer by fretting In young people these distempers may be Progn easily cur'd if they have not continued long and do not come very far out and be not ulcerated But if there be a Rupture of the Ligaments of the Womb it is incurable likewise great pain and inflammation are very difficult and if either the Matrix or Anus be Gangrenated it is mortal without speedy amputation You must begin the Cure with removing Cure the symptoms and discharging the Guts of their Excrements either with Clysters or Lenitives Then anoint the part with some astringent Oils and endeavour to reduce it gently by degrees The manner of the reduction every ingenious Artist knows and therefore needs not any directions When the Womb is reduc'd it may be kept with a Pessary fram'd of Cork as thick as necessary and cover'd with Wax mixed with a little Castor and Assafoetida which may there continue If there be pain and inflammation let the part be bathed with this Take the Flowers of Chamomel Elder of Bath each one handfull Marsh-mallow-roots one ounce Seeds of Flax and Foenugreek of each half an ounce boil it in two quarts of Milk till half be consumed then strain it and add Malaga Wine one pint mix it Let Stuphs be moistned in this and wrung out and applied hot after which apply a Plaster of ad herniam to the lower part of the Belly Before you reduce the Anus anoint it with Oil of Mirtles and bestrew it with Powder of Album Groecum or the following Take of red Roses Pomgranat-rinds Cypress-nuts Powder Mastick Crocus Martis burnt Lead of each half an ounce beat them all into a fine powder A Bag quilted with the following astringents and applied hot to either griev'd part three times a day will conduce much to keep it up Take of Plantain Sanicle Buds of Oak For a quilted Bag. and Medlar red Rose-buds Balaustins of each one handfull Roots of Comfry Tormentil Bistort Cypress-nuts Seeds of Anise sweet Fennel of each one ounce beat them all into a gross powder Inwardly may be given Astringents and Strengthners but not in time of the courses those prescrib'd against the immoderate flowing of the Terms are good CHAP. XVIII Of Barrenness BArrenness is called in Latin Sterilitas It may be called in English Unfruitfullness it being an impotency of Conception We reade in the Scripture that the Women of old did think it a reproach to be Childless and therefore when Elizabeth had conceived who before was Barren she said the Lord hath taken away my reproach among Men as you may reade at large in the first Chapter of Luke's Gospel Very few Women in a Marriage state but desire Children yea some would give all they have in the world for a Child and are very impatient if they do not Conceive Rachel said to Jacob in Gen. 30 ver 1. give me Children or else I dye I will now briefly shew you what may be the cause of Sterility 1. First want of Love between a Man and his Wife way hinder Conception 2. Any malignant distemper in the womb may corrupt the Seed and be the cause of Barrenness Some are of opinion that Witch-craft may be the cause But to conclude the Whites or any moist distemper of the Matrix may be the cause of Barrenness Sometimes the cause is in the Man for if he doth want Sperm or is unable to erect his Genital by reason of any weakness or distemper in his Secrets or if he be effeminate and taketh little or no delight in the act of Venery he is not fit for Venus School There are some Rules left by the Ancients to try whether a Woman be naturally Barren or no. Hippocrates adviseth to put a Clove of Garlick or a little Galbanum into her Womb and if her Breath do smell
and should all the Gravel and Stone come away the pain would not be the less untill the Kidneys themselves be reduc'd to their right temper For many in perfect health have voided much Gravel at a time without the least pain and therefore it is evident that Gravel is onely the product and not the producer or primitive cause of this pain The Symptoms of Nephritick pains are Signs so much like that caused by the Stone that they cannot be easily distinguished for the signs of both are great pain of the Loins loathing or vomiting there being a great consent between the Reins and Stomach The Patient often pisseth bloudy water and when the Reins are ulcerated the matter is often evacuated with the Urine Wherein the force of concreting or growing Cause of the Stone together of Stones in divers parts of the Body consists is not enough known I will freely declare what I conjecture in this obscure matter whereby I may according to my power the more help others that are ingenious to search out this hidden truth All the Stones that are generated in the Body may be dissolved in the sour Spirit of Salt Peter or Niter whence I conclude that the Coagulation of Stones cannot be expected from an acid Spirit as such therefore from another somewhat contrary to it in part at least If any consider the several things that promote the growing together of natural things they will find that such force is in tart things whence the Glutinousness and Toughness of fluid things is wont to be produc'd to which if earthy and volatile salt parts be join'd something will be produc'd not much unlike Stones I incline therefore to this opinion that an earthy and salt matter join'd to that which is glutinous groweth together into Stones by help of a tart humour Also Gravel of all kinds that is usually seen in the bottom of Urine testifieth that the conglobated Glandules are all affected by a frequent external Cold or else by sour things taken in and when the Gravel is great it is then near to the Nature of Stones yea sometimes groweth together into Stones especially in cold phlegmatick Bodies where for the most part it giveth Stones their first rising and daily cherisheth their production and increaseth them and the more especially where a glutinous stone-making faculty doth concur in the Body Many Histories mention that Stones are produced from a stone-making Spirit or Histories Breath out of the Earth which hath turned the Bodies of Men Beasts and other things into Stone Riverius in his last edition quoteth Aventius Annal. Bavar lib. 7. Anno 1343. who saith that above fifty Men with many Cattle were turned into Stone Ortelius telleth the like story that whole Herds in Russia have been turned into Stone And Camerarius reporteth that in the Province of Chilo in Armenia at the blast of a South-wind which happeneth four times in a Year whole Troops of Horse have been turned into Statues of Stone standing in the same warlike Posture in which they were marching Children are most inclinable to this Monster in Nature because they have much moisture and weak digestions which generate Crudities Stones are generated in many parts of the Body as the Gall Reins Bladder c. I once opened a Woman that had sixty History four Stones in her Gall. I also dissected another whose Ureters were stony and out of her Gall I took out a large Stone and a small one about the bigness of a Hazle-nut out of the Neck of the Gall. 1. These distempers are very dangerous Progn and bring many sad Symptoms to the afflicted Patient as great pain inflammations exulcerations long watchings weakness fevers suppression of Urine and Death it self 2. Pain from acrid Lympha c. may be cured in those that are young if the strength be not too much dejected nor the Disease hereditary That we may now address our selves to Cure the Cure of these grievous Diseases I would advise those who are not very skilfull in the Art of Physick to forbear giving of any thing in these Distempers without the Advice of an experienc'd Physician for I believe many Stones have been bred in those Bodies who before were free from it and were onely troubled with Nephritick pains by the frequent taking of ill Medicines for many Remedies have been invented to dissolve the Stone but experience teacheth that they are most of them inimical to the Reins and Bladder and debilitate their Ferment The solvent of the Stone ought to be homogenious and so singular that it submit not to any digestions or fermental Powers through which it passeth in its way to the parts affected for the Virtue of all common Remedies taken at the Mouth are alter'd and transmuted in passing three digestions For acid things from which much hath been hoped as soon as they are past the Stomach lose their acidity and are converted into a saline Nature so that the dissolving Power of the acid is wholly transmuted before it gets either to the Reins or Bladder Likewise those Medicines which are injected into the Bladder with a Syringe ought to be agreeable to its Ferment that it may not be painfull thereto for if but a small quantity of any sharp Medicine be injected it stirreth up an intolerable Strangury it being wholly foreign to the Ferment of the part And seeing the Stone and all other Distempers of the Reins and Bladder are wont to be bred and increased in length of time the Remedies which you administer must be long us'd before you may have experience of their effects I will here set down some choice Medicines not onely to hinder the increase but to dissolve small Stones in humane Bodies if they be long enough us'd Amongst which we may deservedly attribute the first place to Spirit of Niter seeing Stones of any kind are so easily and manifestly broken and dissolved by it which may commodiously be mixt in any ordinary Drink or Wine and Broths c. to a light acidity whose excellent effects all may admire If the Patient have a costive Body you may give the following Lenitive three or four times in a week Take of Cassia newly drawn one ounce Venice Turpentine half an ounce Crystal Purging Bolus prepar'd Salt of Tartar vitriolated of each one drachm Oil of Juniper Spirit of salt Armoniack of each four drops Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it for two doses The following is also very effectual Take of Cio-turpentine half an ounce Powder of Rhubarb one drachm the Yelk of one egg mix it for two doses give it in the morning fasting and drink four ounces of this Julep after it Take the Decoction for Syrup of Marsh-mallows Iulep one quart the waters of Horse-radish Pellitory of the Wall Speedwell Winter-cherries Syrups of Marsh-mallows and the five opening Roots of each two ounces Crystal prepar'd Salt Prunella of each half an ounce tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms