is called stupor corporis it being an Abolition of sense and motion through the whole Body The parts affected are the Brain Spinalis medulla and Nerves the motion of the Animal spirits through them being deprav'd The causes are either external or internal The external is much cold and moisture Cause which doth chill and over moisten the Head and extreme parts and this seems to prove Cause internal that phlegmatick and watry Humours abiding about the Ventricles of the Brain and Nerves may over moisten and perhaps so far loosen the Tunicles or Membranes of them that it may render them unfit to let the Animal spirits pass through them hence it is that sometimes one particular Member hath been Paralytick by too much Cold and Moisture and sometimes more parts have more or less lost sense and motion It is the opinion of most eminent Physicians both ancient and modern that the Animal spirits being severed from the Bloud in the Brain c. are from thence carried through all the Nerves to exercise the external senses and Animal motion which is continual and equal in healthy persons but changeable and unequal according to the divers diseases of the Body or Mind Wherefore when no Animal spirits are carried to the Organs of the external Senses or Animal motion the functions of seeing smelling tasting hearing and touching and the sense of heat as also of motion in the Palsie and Apoplexy cease all that time The Signs of the Palsie are manifest to wit deprivation of sense and motion of the Signs Paralytick parts the Eye and half the Tongue viz. of that side affected is much weakned and deprav'd The signs of the Apoplexy approaching are these a sudden crying out for help with an abolition of sense and motion 1. If the Palsie or Apoplexy do invade the sick in the decrease of the Moon and the Patient Progn be old 't is an ill sign 2. If the sick do snort and is droughty and cast spume or froth out of the Mouth and have great sweat with difficult breathing 't is mortal But if the Person be young and a strong Fever immediately happen 't is a good sign for the Fever consumes the superfluous moisture and makes a Dissipation of the gross and phlegmatick Matter 3. A Palsie coming after the Apoplexy is ill and many times turns to the Apoplexy again When any of the extreme parts be Paralytical Cure or when the Head is ill affected by the external coldness of Air Water or Snow or a stoppage of the Head be also bred thereby or the defect of the Animal spirits chiefly urge then the sick may be cur'd by driving out whatsoever cold has pierc'd into the Head or any other parts of the Body which may be done by spirituous and volatile Sudorificks for they do not onely alter and correct the cause of Cold and other Evils accompanying it but do also amend the harm entring into the Body containing and contained To this end I commend this following Form Take of Treacle-water one ounce Fennel-water Cordial to cause sweat and Epidemical-water of each two ounces Syrup of red Poppies and Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Bezoar-mineral Antimony Diaphoretick of each ten grains Laudanum opiat three grains Spirit of salt Armoniack twenty drops Oil of Cloves four drops mix it give the sick three or four spoonfulls of it and expect to sweat being meanly covered and a spoonfull every half hour afterward till the sweat break forth then give them some pure Broth with a little Wine in it whereby strength may be recreated and the Patient enabled to bear a Sweat longer for nothing so much helps the sick as a sweat continued mildly a while which experience hath often taught me For by the help of this spirituous and volatile and also Aromatick medicine or one like it the troublesome Cold and dulness of motion are discust They who let bloud in this Distemper caused Observation by external Cold or think they can carry out the Cause of this Evil either by vomit or siege put the sick into danger of death or at least of most grievous Evils But when phlegmatick and watry Humours stick about the Nerves c. And too much moistening and loosening their Membranes and Marrow be the cause of the Palsie and Apoplexy and if the same humours much abound in the Body then Phlegmagogues and Hydragogues may conduce to the Cure after Clysters and internal Aromatick Sudorificks Wherefore to begin the Cure of this you may first give this or the like Clyster which must be made strong Take of sweet Marjoram Betony Sage Penny-royal Clyster Hyssop Rue Mercury Marsh-mallows the lesser Centaury the Flowers of Chamomel and Stoechas of each half a handfull Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a quart of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and dissolve in it the Electuary Diaphoenicon benedicta laxativa of each half an ounce pil Cochioe twenty grains common Salt one drachm Oil of Rue two ounces mix it for a Clyster The next day if the sick have a Plethorick body you may draw bloud from either arm to eight or nine ounces If Phlebotomy cannot be done apply Ventoses with Scarification to the shoulders afterward sweat the Patient with the aforesaid Sudorifick Sometimes Suppositories may be used in stead of Clysters This may serve for Example Take the Powders of Coloquintida Salt-niter Suppository Hiera-picra simple of each one drachm Euphorbium half a drachm Honey boiled as much as will make it into a Suppository But if it appear that phlegmatick and viscous Humours do abound in the Body Purgers may be prescrib'd most conveniently in the form of a Pill because the Gums are most apt above all other Medicines to loosen and cut viscous Phlegm neither can they be easily dissolv'd in any liquour Let this or such a like form of Pills serve Take the Gums Amoniacum and Galbanum of each two drachms dissolve them in Vineger Purging Pills of Squills strain it and boil it to a due consistence then add Powders of Troches Alhandal Scammony Mastick of each one drachm Oil of Anise-seed eight drops make it into a Mass of Pills according to Art Let the sick take five or six small Pills of this in the morning fasting and an hour after drink some thin broth If the humours be more serous I commend this Electuary Take Juniper-berries one pound boil them in six pints of Fennel-water till Purging Electuary half of it be boiled away then add the Fruit of Tamarind eight ounces and pulp them both through a Sieve To which add Powder of Jalap and Scammony prepar'd of each three ounces Cinamon sweet Fennel-seed of each half an ounce white Sugar one pound make it into an Electuary according to Art The dose of this effectual Medicine is to half an
Armoniack twenty drops Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it let the sick take a spoonfull of it every quarter of an hour till they get some ease If the distemper hath persever'd long the peccant humours must be emptied out by purging and to educe them I prefer before all others Pills to be made of Gums seeing they loosen the glutinous humours and dispose them to be easier carried out For example Take of Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar Purging Pills half an ounce Powder of Scammony prepar'd Troches Alhandal of each two drachms Oil of Carraway twenty drops make it into a Mass for Pills Take five or six of these Pills in the Morning fasting twice a week They who abhor Pills may use an Aromatick and purging Decoction The following though bitter is very efficacious Take the five opening Roots of each one Purging Decoction ounce Roots of Angelica Berries of Bay and Juniper of each half an ounce the best Senna Orange-peel Carraway-seed Coloquintida of each one drachm Guiacum four ounces 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 Roses with Senna four ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick take four ounces of this bitter Decoction every other Morning which will by degrees diminish and mildly educe the hurtfull humours by purging But seeing not onely the cause ought to be removed but also the Symptomes asswag'd by refreshing the Heart you must administer cordial Medicines which have power to corroborate the Heart and to cherish and strengthen nature The following Cordial may be preferred in this Case Take the Waters of Baum Mint Borage Cordial Iulep Cinamon of each three ounces Syrups of Baum red Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiat Amber-greese of each ten grains mix it Let the sick take two spoonfulls of this rich Cordial every three hours which will wonderfully refresh and delight the sensible Stomach from whence the perfumed impressions will soon be communicated to the whole Body by which all the vital and animal Functions will be refreshingly cherished and strengthned and the Palpitation of the Heart eased and abated If the Patient hath a costive Body let a carminative Clyster be sometimes administred and if a Plethora concur let a vein be opened either with an Instrument in the Arm or by Leeches applied to the Haemorrhoids CHAP. V. Of an universal Languishing as also of Swouning and Syncope AN universal Languishing of the strength of all the parts and functions is sometimes observ'd to remain after some disease preceding not rightly cured especially when the Infirmity hath been grievous for then a weariness or defect of the Animal motion doth usually concur together with a weak or little pulse and dulness and debility of the internal and external senses whereby the sick continues weak and more languishing by certain intervalls than is natural All the kinds of Swounings may be divided for methods sake into two viz. the lighter kind and the most grievous The lighter kind of Swouning or fainting is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin animae defectio ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficere because it is an Imbecility or Feebleness of the Heart and Courage The most grievous and singular kind of swouning is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syncope concido to cut away quod praeceps virium omnium lapsus It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pulsus privatio because there is no pulse neither indeed presently in the fit is there any Animal or voluntary motion or respiration to be observ'd so that they are more like dead than living Creatures The signs of these fits approaching are Signs yawnings a Cardialgy Anxiety of Compression of the Heart griping and distension of the Belly tinkling in the Ears dimness before the Eyes and a Giddiness and at the approach of a Syncope there are often Convulsive motions with a cold and glutinous sweat and paleness of all the parts of the Body The causes of these distempers are either Causes external or internal The external are many as extreme weariness of the Body exceeding passions of the mind prolong'd hunger or thirst ungratefull smells the sight of any Person or thing that is envied too great effusion of Bloud Seed or Milk over great evacuation of the humours by Vomit Stool Sweat Urine c. It may also be caused by the biting or stinging of any venemous Creature and by any other vehement pain Sometimes it is produc'd by a great heat either of the Sun Fire Bath or Fever Any of these Causes mention'd being extreme may so change and diminish the natural effervescency and rarefaction of the bloud that the Heart it self is not thereby enough expanded and contracted So that the vital bloud cannot be sufficiently effus'd into the Arteries and therefore the Pulse is felt less and more languishing yea sometimes none The internal Cause is glutinousness encreased in the bloud and the other humours and sometimes an encreased Acidity in the Juice of the Pancreas Lympha and Spittle by which the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours becomes too slow hence the Ventricles of the Heart are not enough dilated which causeth the Pulse to be weaker than is natural for the effervescency of the bloud and humours being not potent enough cannot provoke the Heart to contract it self and therefore a Swouning or Syncope will inevitably ensue They who are much subject to a Swouning Progn or Syncope dye suddenly Those fits which are produc'd from some evident cause as vehement passions of the mind immoderate evacuations c. are less dangerous than those which come from an internal cause as glutinousness of the bloud and humours c. Which in a great measure hindreth its free Circulation through the Ventricles of the Heart whereby there is a sudden and swift sailing of the vital Spirits and consequently of all strength To cure an universal languishing as also a Cure Swouning and Syncope the phlegmatick glutinous and acid Humours must not onely be corrected but when they abound must be diminish'd and educ'd out of the Body Therefore to correct and amend the said humours abounding both in the universal Body and Bloud I will here set down some forms of select medicines for the sake of young Physicians The following Decoction is an efficacious Medicine Take the Roots of Elicampane Galangal Decoction Angelica Calamus Aromaticus the sive opening Roots of each one ounce Sage Baum Betony sweet Marjoram the Tops of Hore-hound Centaury Wormwood the Flowers of Rosemary Staechas Chamomel Clove-gilliflowers of each one handfull the Seeds of Anise Sweet-fennel Parsley Cardamoms Berries of Bays and Juniper of each two drachms Orange-peel Cinamon of each half an ounce Nutmegs one drachm let them be cleansed bruised and infused
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
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
natural Constitution also all the Functions being in time vitiated For the spinalis medulla being primarily affected all the Nerves which proceed from it in its passage through the spina Dorsi must of necessity be stupifi'd and vitiated with a loose Feebleness hence also all the nervous membranous and fibrous parts through which those Nerves are carried or inserted into must consequently be vitiated with an inward weak Slipperiness so that the very ends of the bones as well as all the Faculties of the Body bear a share in this Distemper When the Rickets is confirm'd in Infants it seems to have some affinity with divers other Diseases viz. a Chronical fever an extenuation or leanness of the Body and an Hydrocephalus and many more which are frequently complicated with this affect And indeed not onely this but most other Observatio Diseases in process of time do unite unto themselves other affects of a different kind and therefore for the most part there is a complication of Chronical diseases before Death The Causes are either external or internal Causes The external may be any of the Non-naturals exceeding either in excess or defect All things cold and moist do powerfully contribute to this Disease especially an over cold and moist Air which is most frequent in the Spring the Air being then cloudy thick rainy and full of vaporous Exhalations Hereupon the Children of those which inhabit near the Banks of the Sea or great Rivers Ponds or Marshes that are obnoxious to too much Rain or are fed with a great Number of Springs are more or less subject to this affect for by the Continuance of such cold and moisture the Bloud and Humours becomes too slippery and therefore in their Circulation they must unavoidably cause a softness and looseness in all the parts Also experience testifieth that those Children which are born and nursed near the Lead-mines in Derby-shire c. are generally affected more or less with a languidness of the Limbs For the Air being infected with noxiousmetalline Exhalations which for the most part fight against the inherent Spirits of the parts by a kind of venemous malignity by which the spirituous pulsificative Force of the external parts is extinguished and the strength of the Limbs and whole Body much weakned and diminish'd Hither we may also refer fine soft Linen applied actually cold and moist being not well dried by reason of the moistness of the weather to the Spine of the Back which is near the Original of the Nerves the use thereof being too long continu'd it cherisheth the Roots of this Disease in that tender Age. Likewise Aliments of any kind which are too moist and cold or too thick viscous and obstructive do manifestly cherish this Distemper And I am induced to believe that Ebriety in English people especially the Gentry and eating of much Flesh and not using frequent labour or exercise may be a reason why this Disease is more common and natural to Children in England than in other Regions perhaps far exceeding it both in cold and moisture as Scotland Holland c. wherein this affect hath not been observ'd to be very common And therefore ebriety and eating of much Flesh and defect of motion and want of exercise doth most frequently and most effectually concur to the production of it because the inherent heat in stupid and sluggish People is not sufficient to resist and expell the superfluous moisture by a due transpiration By which means the Circulation of the Bloud is become slow and lesned and the production of the vital heat very feeble and weak so that nature is thereby forced to permit all the parts of the Body to be affected with a certain softness looseness and internal lubricity more than is meet which do sufficiently evince that this is an efficacious cause and a part of the essence of this Disease Hence we may easily infer that the Children of such Parents are more inclined to this distemper than others who drink moderately and eat less Flesh and are more active and lively The internal Causes are excrementitious Humours luxuriant in the Body especially Phlegm and serous humours retained and vitiated being naturally cold and moist and little spirituous and affected with an internal slipperiness wherefore upon a superfluous accumulation of these humours the production of this affect succeedeth because thereby a Colliquation of the parts and a dissipation of the inherent Spirits will be easily introduced whereby all the parts will afterwards be rendred obnoxious to this cold and moist Distemper Many diseases preceding this affect may be the cause of it especially those which do extenuate and much weaken the Body as all Fevers c. And also all cold and moist phlegmatick and cachochymick Distempers which will induce a stupour and dulness in the affected parts and cause obstructions Also any great Pain Inflammation Tumour Fracture Luxation or any other preternatural affect that hinders the standing and playing of the Child may be some cause of this Disease Presently after the beginning of the Disease Signs a kind of slothfulness and numbness doth invade the Joints and by little and little is increased so that daily they are more and more averse from motion besides in the beginning of this affect there is usually observ'd a certain laxity softness and flaccidity of all the first affected parts after which followeth a great debility languidness and enervation of all the parts subservient to motion so that for the most part they speak before they walk which is vulgarly held to be a bad Omen and if it vehemently increase they do not onely totally lose the use of their Feet but can scarce sit with an erected posture and their weak and feeble Neck can hardly sustain the Burthen of the Head In the progress of the Disease the Head and Face increaseth in bigness but the fleshy parts below the Head are daily more and more worn away There is also observ'd in this affect certain swellings and knotty excrescencies about some of the Joints these are chiefly conspicuous in the Wrists and somewhat less in the Ancles and in the tops of the ribs the Bones in the Armes and Legs and sometimes the Thighs and Shoulder-bones wax crooked the Teeth come forth slowly and with greater trouble than usual and at length the Breast becomes narrow and the Abdomen swollen with an extension of the Hypochondriacal parts which hindreth the free motion of the Diaphragma downwards and by consequence doth somewhat interrupt the breathing so that respiration becomes difficult accompanied with coughing the Pulse being also weak and small and in the increase of the Disease all these signs become more intense and evident and many and more grievous are daily accumulated 1. If this Disease be light and gentle the Progn Children affected therewith may be easily restored to health sometimes by the sole benefit of Age the vital heat being increased and summoned forth to the external parts by
is incurable according to Ovid Tollere nodosam nescit medicina Podagram But if there be no Knots in the Joints and the Patient is laborious and the Body is for the most part soluble and there be swelling of the Veins called Varices then it may be happily cured 3. If it becomes habitual to the sick the morbifick Idea is implanted in the vital Spirit and transfer'd through the seed which makes it Hereditary The Cure of the Gout will consist Cure 1. First in defending the afflicted Joints as well against future Pain as freeing them from that which doth molest at present 2. In the universal amendment of the juice of the Pancreas 3. In the correcting and evacuation of the vitious Choler 4. In the altering and diminishing of Phlegm any way peccant To asswage the present Pain I commend the following Medicaments which will conduce much to mitigate the sharpness of the acrimonious humours in all Gouty people and ease the part affected When there is excessive heat you may bathe the Gouty part with this Fomentation very hot with wollen Stuphs which must be often renewed Take the Waters of the Spawn of Frogs Fomentation Fumitory Elder of each one quart Vinegar of Mary-golds one pint Opium Camphire of each half an ounce mix it according to Art But when the Pain is more corroding than burning I commend the following to be used as the former Take of Treacle-water half a pint the Waters of the Spawn of Frogs Parsley of each one quart Opium Camphire of each half an ounce mix it After Bathing with either of these apply this Cataplasm Take Powders of the Roots of Marsh-mallows Pultess Flax-seed Barley-meal of each four ounces new Milk three pints boil it to the Consistence of a Pultess and add Oils of Flax-seed Earthworms the Ointment Martiatum of each three ounces Camphire half an ounce mix it according to Art Where exceeding heat doth concur and the Body abounds with sharp Choler instead of sweet Milk you may substitute Butter-milk Also a Pultess made of the Crums of White-bread new Goats or Cows milk and Saffron with Oil of Lin-seed and Earth-worms may be deservedly commended to asswage any Pain If the sick be very phlegmatick and impotency of motion doth afflict more than pain then Opiats may be omitted and things more Aromatical may be used in all external Applications The following Pultess or one like it may serve for Example Take the Powders of Orris-roots the Cataplasm Flowers of Chamomel and Elder Cummin-seeds Barley-meal of each four ounces the Tops of Wormwood Mints of each four handfulls boil them in two quarts of water of the Spawn of Frogs to the Consistence of a Pultess when it is almost cold add Treacle-water Oils of Chamomel Earth-worms of each three ounces mix it Also the Root of Briony and Cuckow-pintle bruised and made into a Pultess with Cow-dung is excellent If you add Volatile Salts of Animals or Vegetables to your Medicines whether Fomentations Cataplasms or Ointments they will be the more effectual You may prepare an excellent Volatile Salt of Earth-worms of great Virtue for the Gout which may be resolved into Liquour by fermentation and putrefaction If the Gouty Patient do abound with Phlegm or the Juice of the Pancreas exceed in an acid Acrimony causing a corroding Pain it may happily be mitigated and remov'd with Balsam of Sulphur made with Oil of Amber with which let the grieved part be embrocated and it will forthwith raise a very hot Effervescency which will presently cease again and remove the great Pain in a moment even to admiration After the pain is over you may apply one of the former Cataplasms or some Anodyne Ointment to comfort and by degrees restore again the membranous parts The following Linament may serve for Example Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Linament Saint John's-wort of each one ounce Chymical Oils of Rosemary Rue of each twenty drops mix it Afterwards you may apply a Plaster of De minio cum sapona In the mean time inward means to take away the Cause and ease the pain must not be neglected If the Patient have a plethorick Body after a Stool hath been procured by a Carminative Clyster with Electuar Caryocostinum c. Let a Vein be opened Bloud drawn from the Vena poplitis or sciatica Vein hath been succesfull in the sciatica But Leeches applied to the Hemorrhoidal veins are effectual in all Gouts Two or three days after bleeding you may administer the following Pills Take of Pills Hermodactils faetidae ex Purging Pills duobus Mercur. dulcis of each one scruple mix it for two doses and give them in the Morning fasting Or you may give half a drachm or two scruples of pul Arthriticus in any convenient Vehicle But if the sick be inclining to vomit administer an Antimonial Emetick You may purge and bleed so often as you see occasion Issues near the part affected and also to raise Blisters upon the part have been found by experience to be very effectual Also bathing and sweating in nitrous or sulphurous Baths either natural or artificial are much approv'd of That which is prescrib'd in the Chapter of the Belly-ach is very effectual which may be used as is there directed I might fill a Volume with receipts against the Gout but I shall onely commend the following water or spirit to be often taken inwardly in any fit Vehicle the quantity of half a spoonfull at a time Take the Roots of Orris Angelica Saffaphras Water against the Gout of each two ounces the Tops of Ground-pine Penny-royal Sage Mother of Time the Flowers of Saint Johns-wort Chamomel Prim-roses Rosemary Lavender of each three handfulls the Berries of Bays and Juniper of each one ounce Castor two drachms let them be all cleansed bruised and infused in six quarts of Spirit of Earth-worms compound for the space of twenty four hours then distill it in an Alembick according to Art The Rheumatism is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rheumatismus ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo it being a distillation of Rheumatick humours not onely affecting the Joints but the adjacent parts yea sometimes the whole Body especially the Muscles Membranes and Periostium of the Thighs Legs and Hip-bones The humour is of a very malign Nature and soon causeth a Cariosity of the Bones if it be not prevented The Cause is the same with the Gout but sharper Cause 'T is seldom mortal but may be of long Progn continuance with great Pain so that the Sick cannot endure to be touched In the Cure of this Distemper Phlebotomy Cure must be often repeated and carminative Clysters often administred Foment the pained parts with stale Urine made very hot wherein Castle-sope is dissolved after which anoint with this following Take Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oils of Linament Guiacum Bricks of each two ounces in which dissolve Opium one ounce Spanish Sope four ounces
Annise-seed and Cloves of each ten drops mix them By the frequent use of this Julep or such like the hurtfull humours and vapours will not onely be corrected and amended but a new Production of them will be hindred and both Body and Mind reduc'd to a more quiet frame These Pills will be also usefull to correct more and mildly educe or expell the vitious humours Take of Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar Purging Pills of Squills Powders of Mastick Troches Alhandal Rozin of Scammony and Jallop of each one drachm Powders of Castor Mirrh and Saffron of each twenty grains Oils of Cloves Harts-horn Balsom of Sulphur with Oil of Anise-seed Spirit of Salt Armoniack of each ten drops beat them all into a Mass for Pills of which you may give half a drachm at a time in the Morning fasting It will be convenient to take these Pills twice a week for the better vanquishing the rebellious and redoubl'd humours Also let Antimonial vomits rightly prepar'd be sometimes administred they being endued with an universal force of cleansing Man's body from all harm and impurity By these forms any judicious Practitioner may easily invent other prescriptions in some things to be varied as the disease requires Thus having premis'd a rational and dogmatical cure of these grievous diseases confirm'd by experience I think it my duty once for all to admonish the honest Physician and others who attend the sick to be often seeking the Lord for a Blessing on the means And if all refuge fails to take the Advice of the Apostle James in the 5th Chapter and 14 and 15. verses This was the Custome of the Primitive Christians without doubt and I wish it were more in use amongst us at this day for God is as able to heal the sick now as he was then for he is the same yesterday and to day and for ever I thank God I have had some experience of his great goodness and mercy extended towards some of his poor Creatures by means of this ordinance when all other help of medicine c. have prov'd unsuccessfull for which uni Deo trino Gloria CHAP. VII Of CATARRHS THE Catarrh is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo It is called in Latin distillatio because it is a defluxion of excrementitious and sharp Rheumatick humours from the Head into most parts of the Body invading not onely all the conglobated and conglomerated Glandules by which the Circulation of Lympha and Spittle are deprav'd But also the Nerves which causeth intense or vehement pains and inflammations in the parts ill affected which is most commonly attended with a Symptomatical Fever especially if the Rheum be thin and sharp and do flow very violently And seeing this distemper is not enough explain'd in Authours either ancient or modern I therefore God prospering my indeavours will bestow some pains in searching out and proposing the true causes and effects of it which I hope will induce other liberal and ingenious spirited Artists to a farther inquiry after the occult causes not onely of these but other obscure diseases daily occurring in practice that so by little and little many things in the Art of Physick as yet most obscure and confus'd may be illustrated and most commodiously explain'd Experience confirms that there are many kinds of Catarrhs some are more thick others more thin some acid and salt others more sweet some Rheums are hot and sharp flowing more violently other cold and pituitous flowing but slowly hence it is that some Catarrhs are attended with Fevers and some without The causes of Catarrhs are either external Cause or internal The external cause is from external sudden Cold shutting the pores of the skin hindring the discharge of sweaty Vapours by insensible Transpiration for if the usual ports of the skin do deny passage to the sweat it will in a little time condense and thence become sour by which the extreme parts are chilled which doth manifest it self by a shivering as any one may experimentally observe after taking Cold. These humours having not vent through the porous skin which is absolutely necessary by the habit of the Body they are conveyed to the Head together with the Lympha through the Lymphatick Vessels The internal cause arises from pituitous humours gradually collected besides Nature in the conglobated Glandules observeable about the Plexus Choroides in the side Ventricles of the Brain and elsewhere perhaps in the Tonsils and all the rest of the small Glandules about the trachoea Arteria hence the Lympha becomes sourish salt as is tasted in a Coryza Whence also we may probably conclude what way soever the conglobated Glandules are hurt that the Lympha declines from its natural State and Quality And as its depravation is milder or sharper more grievous or lighter pains are thence bred of which we have many times an ocular demonstration in the flowing down of the Rheum through the Nostrils which is oft so sharp that it doth corrode the skin and superficies of the face where it comes If it be in quantity moderate it is conveighed to the infinite little salivary Ducts or Chanels in the conglomerated Glandules which open into the palate of the mouth and there pour out the salival Liquour which they contain which is either swallowed down into the Stomach or else it is evacuated by spitting and if Nature be overburthened by its plentifulness it is also sent forth by the Nostrils But if the Lympha becomes more sharp acid and salt in the Glandules before mention'd it produceth first a stoppage and burthensome Pain of the Head which overcomes the retentive and provokes the expulsive faculties so that Nature being driven to most violent motions doth extravasate and intravasate the Rheumatick humours hic ubique a Capite ad Calcem through the most abstruse and inconspicuous passages of nature so that it is the opinion of many learned Physicians that a Catarrh is the original of many diseases incident to humane Bodies 1. Catarrhs happening to Children are dangerous especially if there appear plenty of Progn humours because they abound with moisture and are full of excrements Wherefore if a sudden defluxion happens to any of a tender age desperate accidents may follow 2. If the Rheum flow through the Nostrils it is but gentle if to the Throat 't is worse but if to the Lungs worst of all and if it becomes inveterate it is very hardly cured In the Cure of Catarrhs the Head is Cure chiefly to be taken care of because the Rheum doth continually flow from it therefore the Head ought to be corroborated and the superfluous moisture thereof to be dried up And likewise the part or parts to which the Rheum flows must be strengthned the vitious quality of Lympha and the other humours is to be corrected and their plenty diminisht As Catarrhs consist of a different matter and afflict divers parts so they require diversity of
with those intermitting having some fits and again remissions so that they are not intermitting but still remain continual These fits come sometimes every day sometimes the third and sometimes the fourth day whence it may deservedly be nam'd either a Quotidian Tertian or Quartan continual Fever These Fevers upon the account of their divers causes may not unfitly be distinguish'd into Cholerick and Lymphatick Fevers And because under the general name of Lympha we do not onely comprehend that Lympha which goes from the conglobated Glandules and other parts to the Heart but also the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle it self proceeding from the conglomerated Glandules and also the Liquour that ariseth from the three-fold sway of the Guts all mixt together with Lympha and the bloud in circulating with it Hence may Lymphatick fevers be subdivided into glandular pancreatick and salivary Fevers All these Fevers may differ something according to the divers Constitution of other humours together being in the Body But I shall wave the nice descriptions and differences of Fevers and let the dextrous and judicious Physician put a difference between them as their Symptoms shall direct and indicate for though there are many sorts of continual Fevers not putrid yet the Cure is almost the same in all I shall therefore in a few words mention some of their differences taken from the more grievous Symptoms oft accompanying them after the example of famous Practioners and chiefly great Platerus and the most famous Helmont and judicious Sylvius c. 1. First let us take notice of the exceeding heat and most urgent burning which Symptomes attend some Fevers It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doth signifie Causes burning in which the sick is very dry and thirsty which is hard to be quenched This heat is not of the essense of the disease but proceedeth from the inflamed spirits as is before mention'd in page 98. Neither doth the great thirst in Fevers proceed from heat and driness as in a true and natural thirst but from some excrementitious matter which adhereth to the sensitive faculty of the internal membrane of the Stomach which is common to the Throat Mouth and Lips as that famous Physician and ingenious Anatomist Doctour Alexander Read did well observe which is also the cause that those parts are always afflicted in this dry and thirsty distemper In this Symptome Choler is peccant not onely in a salt Acrimony but also an inflamable oiliness hence the Pulse is very great and over frequent c. 2. Raving may be oft observ'd in many Fevers which is grievous to the sick for some time chiefly when the Fever is malign or epidemical The cause of this is Choler peccant as aforesaid which so diminisheth the viscousness of the Juice of the Pancreas that it causeth a vitious Effervescency with it and being made sharper it produceth a humour not much unlike black Choler which causeth the Head-ach and Watchings and hence Ravings and at length sometimes Convulsions and Death it self There are many more Symptoms belonging to continual or synochal Fevers 1. As first a speedy wasting of several parts of the body caused by Choler the Cure whereof may be referred to the Cure of a Hectick Fever 2. A malignity which suddenly dejecteth the vital strength without manifest cause which for the most part is Epidemical But of this I intend to treat particularly in Chap. 8. of this Book 3. The last Symptome which I shall here mention is seldom observ'd in which all the time of the disease the external parts are cold while the internal parts burn and therefore 't is called by the Latins Lipyria febris and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia destituitur Lipiria febris ardore externo Some think this distemper consists of a double Fever Cholerick and Pancreatical and not without reason because such like vapours may be continually rais'd in the small guts by the Juices of the Pancreas universally over-sour which may be confus'd onely with the Mass of Bloud and breed a sense of cold in the habit of the Body whilst a burning heat is stir'd up in the internal parts by a Fever caused by Choler more oily than sharp The cause of every continual Fever not Cause putrid is sometimes Choler vitiated sometimes Lympha together with the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle and many times all these together are ill affected These vitiated humours flowing always to the Heart cause a continual Effervescency in the right Ventricle of it whence the Pulse is continually produc'd more frequent against nature Fevers in Children are caused either by the Food abounding in quantity or by some vitious quality of it or from an ill disposition of the digestive ferment Milk is the general Food of Children and there is such a propensity in its own nature to curdle that if it be not quickly digested it obeyeth the acid Ferment of the Stomach and is soon coagulated like new tough Cheese and if it be not speedily vomited up it begets a putrefactive Ferment which produceth terrible Symptoms as griping scouring vomiting c. I know a Woman that had a young Child Hystory about a Month old which was taken very ill with Convulsions after which followed a thorough Thrush with a Fever accompanied with the aforesaid Symptoms as griping c. which continu'd many days till the whole body was so maciated that it was in a total Atrophia and when there was no hopes of recovery the Nurse gave the Child a little of the infusion of the Antimonial Cup which caused it to vomit up a Curd three or four inches long very green and as tough as new Cheese After which the Child did wonderfully recover and grow fat Continual acute Fevers are oft times accompanied Progn with a secret malignity and therefore dangerous parvoe febres quandoque valde malignoe The Stomach in continual Fevers is Pars affecta most commonly primarily affected through undigestion or else from Excrements not being separated and orderly evacuated which causeth an irregular Ferment or nonnatural heat in the Stomach which though begun else where is much aggravated by vitiating Juices found in this first Elaboratory of decocting Nature For as in humane frame the first heat of Nature preparatory to all her depending motions is the digestive heat for Chylification in the Stomach so likewise the corrupting or exasperating of the same either by the sour Ferments or too much of the overflowing Gall is the Cause of most Fevers Therefore in the beginning of the Cure Cure evacuation by vomiting never ought to be neglected by the carefull Physician provided it be duely timed because then most commonly it removeth the sole cause of the feverish Intemperature without the help of any other means And here I commend Antimonials well prepared before all others seeing that Antimony as well rightly prepar'd as administred serves no less to purifie Man's body than
later if so be that their continuance and the grievousness of Symptoms daily accompanying be diminish'd There is great diversity among Authours concerning the Causes of intermitting Fevers which I shall not insist on but in a few words will set down the true Causes of them The causes then are either external or Causes internal The external Cause of Agues is a stop of the usual necessary discharge of fermenting humours the porous skin being shut by external sudden cold denies passage to the constant discharge of the sweatty humours which happens most commonly about Autumn and likewise when any comes suddenly out of a hot Climate into a cold Region for the sweatty Vapours being detain'd by the Constipation of the skin or shutting of the Pores the same condense and thence become sour which chills the external parts and causeth the shaking or shivering cold fit at the first invasion of this disturbing Foreigner after which the inflaming Ferment of Choler being exasperated doth act its part and having gain'd Dominion it doth rarefie the Bloud by degrees whence the Pulse becomes greater and stronger which is increas'd by an irritation of the Acrimony of Choler and the rarefaction of the Bloud at the Heart for the heat and burning in the Heart and thence in the whole Body is increas'd by Choler successively over-ruling The internal Cause of Agues or intermitting Fevers is an obstruction of one or more of the lateral ducts or branches of the Pancreas or Sweet-bread by reason of viscous Phlegm which being separated from the Bloud by the Glandules of the Pancreas is there collected by degrees whence it is sent in too large a quantity to the main duct or pipe thereof which detaineth the Juice of the Pancreas contrary to nature which ought continually to flow into the small Gut called Duodenum The Juice of the Pancreas which is naturally sourish being compelled to stand still in its passage quickly grows more acrimonious or acid because the Volatile Spirit which is naturally conjoin'd to it to temper it doth gradually fly away by which this Juice becoming more sharp and acid acquires a putrefactive Ferment whence at length it makes way through the obstructing Phlegm and is effused into the Duodenum where meeting with Choler it stirs up a vitious effervescency or preternatural Ferment from whence comes the Ague fit with all its Symptoms as in the beginning Horrour Chilness Cold Shaking c. then presently follows Reachings Yawning and Vomiting c. At length acrimonious and flatulent Vapours raised by the aforesaid vitious Effervescency are carried through the Lacteal veins and Thoracick passage and so through the Vena cava ascendens in what form soever to the right Ventricle of the Heart and by its Acrimony alters and troubles the vital Effervescency and by over stirring the Heart causeth a more frequent Pulse and many times produceth grievous Symptoms as great Heat and Thirst difficulty of breathing Heart-ach Raving Swouning and all other Symptoms that happen in all intermitting Fevers The nature of viscous Phlegm is such The cause of the Return of the fit that though it be pierced through by the Juice of the Pancreas too acid and acrimonious yet it doth presently run together and unite again and so repairs and renues the obstruction that was in part opened and the Juice of the Pancreas being stopped as before grows sour by standing still as aforesaid so that it forceth through the Phlegm that stopped its natural passage and so produceth a new fit sooner or later as the Phlegm obstructing the lateral passage of the Pancreas is pierced through by the foremention'd Juice For if the obstructing Phlegm be not very glutinous and the Juice of the Pancreas be plentifull and acid a new fit of an intermitting Fever will return in the space of twenty four hours and therefore 't is called a Quotidian Quotidian But if the Phlegm be very viscous and plentifull and the Juice of the Pancreas be little in quantity and also tart and obtuse so much the slower will the new fit of the intermitting Fever be produced so that it is sometimes three sometimes four days before the returning of the fit from whence it is called a Quartan or Quintan c. So likewise as oft as the obstructing Phlegm and the Juice of the Pancreas are in a medium viz. The Phlegm more glutinous and plentifull than in the Quotidian but not so much as the Quartan as likewise the Juice of the Pancreas is more in quantity and more acid than in the Qutartan but not so plentifull and acid as in a Quotidian so oft new fits of intermitting Fevers will return almost every other day from whence they may be called Tertians which much differ in their Symptoms beyond what other intermitting Fevers do although none of them return in the exact intervall of the Days or Hours before mention'd but return quicker or slower for the most part The Cure of all intermitting Fevers will Cure be perform'd 1. First if the glutinous coagulated Phlegm which is the cause of the obstruction be cut and dissolv'd and wholly carried out of the Body 2. If the increas'd Acidity and Acrimony of the Juice of the Pancreas be temper'd and corrected 3. If its vitious Effervescency with Choler c. In the small Gut behindred and amended Phlegm obstructing will be cut most commodiously with Aromaticks and any Volatile Salt This Volatile Aromatick Julep may serve for Example Take the Waters of Carduus Parsley Fennel Fumitery Succory Treacle Cinamon Cordial Iulep of each one ounce Syrup of Carduus the five opening Roots of each an ounce and half Powder of Crabs-eyes Tartar vitriolated of each one drachm Salt of Amber Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm Laudanum opiat ten grains Oil of Cloves six drops mix it Take a spoonfull of this Volatile Medicine often in a day throughout the whole Cure using some exercise that thereby the whole Body may grow warm and the force of the medicine being disperst over all the Body may come at last to the lateral passages of the Pancreas and dissolve the obstruction Three or four hours before the coming of the fit you may give three or four spoonfulls of the aforesaid Cordial which will not onely cause a breathing sweat but will temper and correct the increas'd Acidity and Acrimony of the Juice of the Pancreas and hinder and amend its vitious Effervescency with Choler c. in the small gut which will conduce much to a Cure Three hours before the return of the next fit administer an antimonial Emetick which is in this case proper before all others for by the help thereof not onely Choler abounding but also phlegm obstructing will be expell'd to the small gut and thence to the Stomach and at length by the mouth and the straining to vomit doth many times procure a stool or two which is very beneficial But if the sick be a Female or vomiting be prejudicial or not
use of four things a little Harsh mixt with drink or Broth as beforesaid because they much conduce to restore by degrees the former consistency to the Bloud In Calentures Phlebotomy may be safely used CHAP. IX Of the Plague or Pestilence THE Plague or Pestilence is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvo quod vitam solvat It is called in Latin Pestilentia Pestis ex depascendo quod veluti incendium depascat It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 percutio hinc Angl. the Plague Pestis significat omne malum quod tam inanimis quam animatis mortem exitium repentino adfert The Plague is a contagious disease suddenly afflicting the Heart and all the vital animal and natural faculties with many grievous Symptoms The Cause is chiefly the sins of Mankind Cause provoking the great God to send this Pestiferous distemper as a judgment on them for their Impiety The Cause next to God's judgment is a sharp venemous and contagious volatile Salt in the Air very much heightned inspired with the Air into the Lungs or is swallowed down with the food or spittle into the Stomach it may also get in through the pores into the Body by which the acid liquor in all the conglobated glandules is weakned and made sluggish that it doth not circulate with its wonted force whence the natural consistency and rarefaction of the Bloud is diminsht and the separation of the Animal Spirits hindred and the vital strength is much opprest by which the Pulse becomes not onely little but also languishing till at length the Spirits are extinguisht and Death unexpected to many carries them speedily torrenti similis in fiery Chariots God knows where All the signs in Malign Fevers are common and much heightned in the Pest besides Signs many other grievous symptoms as Diarrhaea Hemorrhage at the Nose Ears Eyes Mouth and Secrets sometimes yellowness of the Eyes Buboes in the Groins Armpits and behind the Ears and in some white Bladders and Carbuncles also spots called the Tokens with raving c. 1. The Pest is deceitfull above all other diseases Progn therefore no certain prognostick can be drawn of it for many have died when there hath been great hopes of recovery and on the contrary many have escaped with mortal signs 2. A Bubo is less dangerous than a Carbuncle and it than the spots vulgarly the Tokens which most commonly portend Death wheresoever they are 3. Buboes incompassed with a blue or livid circle are most commonly a mortal sign especially if they suddenly disappear unless the Malign humour be sent to some other part and if with a Bubo behind the Ears there be pain of the Throat without inflammation 't is mortal 4. If a Carbuncle rise after a Bubo and look white with a litle push or tail at the end of it 't is dangerous except the Fever do very much abate and if after cauterizing or cupping the Carbuncle abate not in twenty four hours 't is a sign of Death approaching except matter appear and if Carbuncles seize the Stomach Guts Bladder or other Intrails it portends Death 5. Deliriums Drowsiness Heart-ach Trembling Convulsions great driness of Tongue are all bad signs also a Dysentery is most commonly mortal but a Hemorrhage at the Nose or Menses are not so dangerous To preserve from this Pestiferous distemper although transmigration in the fear of God may be lawfull yet let none think to escape by flying and so neglect their duties to God for 't is impossible to run out of his reach for he filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence wherefore let servent prayers be put up to God whose compassions fail not and then make use of an honest Physician 1. You must endeavour to purifie the infected Air with great fires wash the house daily and after sprinkle it with Vinegar and Fume either with Pitch Frankincense Mirrh Amber Benjamin Wood and Berries of Juniper c. 2. Avoid all passions watchings and immoderate exercise and venery 3. Eat nothing that is hard of concoction and use a moderate diet though easie of digestion and drink good sound Wine c. 4. Go not forth with an empty Stomach but always take some preservative against infection For example Take Spirit of Vinegar Julep of Roses of each one ounce mix it Vinegar Verjuice Oranges Limmons Citrons Pomgranats Barberries Quinces Wood-sorrel c. are all very good used as before directed in Malign Fevers This Poison must not be sent out by vomiting Cure or purging neither is phlebotomy allowed For it is known by manifold experience that the cure of the Pest is most happily instituted by Cordial Sudorificks rightly prepar'd of Antimony because it hath an admirable Sulphur in it whereby not onely sharpness is wonderfully temper'd but the Malign poisonous volatile Salt is thereby most safely driven forward and expelled by sweating out of the Body to which may be added other Cordials as followeth Take the Powders of Crabs-eyes Tartar Cordial Electuary vitriolated Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral of each one scruple Bezoar-stone of the East red Coral prepar'd Salts of Rhue Scordium of each half a scruple Venice-treacle two drachms Spirit of Salt ten drops mix it into an Electuary with confectio de Hyacintho Let the sick take half a drachm of this Cordial Electuary every three hours and drink three or four spoonfulls of this Cordial Julep after it Take of Epidemical-water the Waters of Cordial Iulep Carduus Borage Scordium compound of each three ounces the Waters of Treacle Cinamon Syrups of the juice of Carduus and Limmons Syrup of Saffron of each one ounce Salt Prunella and Salt of Wormwood of each one drachm Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it for a Cordial Let the sick person take the aforesaid medicines till sweat is plentifully provoked then let the sweat be gently wiped off with warm linen cloaths In the mean while give the sick a little hot Chicken-broth or other Broth of fresh Meat temper'd to a gratefulness with some sour thing as was directed in Malign Fevers as Barberries Wood-sorrel Limmons c. You must persist in this course till the danger be over and some time after though the sick think themselves well lest the disease deceive you by a sudden surprize again There are many Cordial Confections always to be had ready at Apothecaries Shops as Mithridate Diascordium Venice-treacle London-treacle Treacle-water c. any of which may be used by the Rich or Poor for they will not onely cause sweating but also will temper and moderate the hurtfull acrimony of the volatile Salt before mentioned You may dip a hot Toast in aq prophylactica and apply it to the region of the Stomach and also tye some of it in a rag and smell to it If there be great drowsiness avoid Opiates and take the Cordial Julep without the Laudanum but if there be great Watching Vomiting Flux of the Belly or Hicket you may give it with the
juice of the Pancreas too acid as experience teacheth in outward things for if you pour Spirit of Vitriol to oil of Turpentine it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning This burning pain is chiefly felt in the region of the Loins because there is the conflux of Choler and the juice of the Pancreas and from thence ariseth vitious sharp vapours which produce griping pains of the Stomach and pricking pains in the Guts as also other wandring pains therein If the pain be chill and cold it is caus'd from the juice of the Pancreas very acid and sharp which raiseth a vitious effervescency with Choler not oily and phlegm together as we may observe if we mix Spirit of Vitriol with any volatile Salt not oily how it will raise an effervescency coupled with a notable Chilness and Coldness onely sensible hence we may conclude that the operation of the acid Spirit in producing cold is much promoted by phlegm The cause of the Colick is over viscous Cause of the Colick phlegm mixed with Choler peccant both in its Saltish acrimony and volatile oiliness by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into Wind and if the excrements are contain'd beyond their course they harden and adhere to the Gut whereby the natural ferment is vitiated and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd and being shut up and remaining in the Cavity of the Gut Colon it causeth a violent distension and contraction of it But if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the Pancreas over sharp acid and harsh then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected urging and writhing from place to place according to the winding or rolling of the Gut If this wind pierceth through the Guts Observation into the Cavity of the Belly it expandeth the Peritonoeum and so inflateth the whole Abdomen and causeth a Tympany Tympany These Distempers are all dangerous and Progn sometimes mortal especially if a violent Fever be complicated with them We must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes Cure A burning corroding pain may be cur'd by tempering too fat Choler with Acids as Spirit of Niter c. being mixt with Opiates For example Take the Waters of Fennel Fumitory Iulep Sorrel Succory of each three ounces Cinamon-water distill'd Vinegar Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiatum ten grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick often take a Spoonfull of this Julep till the heat and pain be diminished and sleep be procured The following Emulsion is also profitable and therefore may sometimes be given for a change Take the four greater cold Seeds white Emulsion Poppy-seeds of each one ounce French Barley boiled four ounces with two quarts of Barley water let it be made an Emulsion and add to it Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Salt prunella half an ounce Spirit of Niter thirty drops mix it and give four Spoonfulls every two or three hours If Choler be two plentifull let it be educ'd with this or the like mild Cholagogue Take Damask-rose water two ounces Purging Potion Manna Diaphaenicon Electuary of the juice of Roses of each two drachms Tartar Vitriolated ten grains mix it and take it in the morning The Cholagogue Electuary of Sylvius is also excellent of which you shall have the receipt at the latter end of the Book Chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the Pancreas Lixivial Salts both fixt and volatile are excellent in this Case as also any Aromatick Spirit of wine Treacle water c. with which may be mix'd Coral Pearl Crabs-eyes Antimon Diaphoret c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat The following forms may serve for example Take the waters of Treacle Fennel Syrup Cordial Diaphoretick of the juice of Carduus of each half an ounce powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Wormwood of each ten grains mix it and give it the sick to cause sweat You may also give some of this Cordial Julep to uphold the Spirits when they sweat Take of Tincture of Cinamon the Carminative Cordial Iulep Spirit of Sylvius of each half an ounce the waters of Mint Baum of each two ounces Syrups of the juice of Oranges Clove-gilliflowers of each one ounce Laudanum opiat four grains Oil of Cloves six drops mix it and give two or three spoonfulls of it often Let Sylvius's Carminative Plaster be spread on Leather and applied to the region of the Stomach and Navel As for the cure of the Cholick let an Emollient Cure of the Cholick Clyster which discusseth wind be given often at least twice in a day Take the roots of Marsh-mallows one Clyster ounce Pellitory of the Wall Mallows Marsh-mallows the Flowers of Melilot Chamomel of each two handfulls the Seeds of Anise sweet Fennel Dill the Berries of Bays and Juniper of each one ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Whey till half of it be consumed then strain it and add Electuary Diaprunum Cariocostinum Benedicta laxativa of each half an ounce Oils of Dill Chamomel Roses of each six drachms Oil of Harts-horn ten drops mix it for two Clysters The smoak of Tobacco may be blown into the Clyster-bladder and given with it with good success Besides a Clyster may be made of Canary wine or warm Cows Milk and a little Honey or Malossus and given sometimes to soften the hard excrements and to dissolve those that are too viscous whereby they may be the easier evacuated and also Wind invited to an easie outlet To drink the Decoction before prescrib'd will much conduce to ease the sick also of the same ingredients you may make fomentations and Cataplasms But if the Patient do not care for the trouble of such medicines you may anoint the Belly with this ointment Take Ointments of Marsh-mallows Martiatum Ointment Oils of Capers white Lillies of each one ounce Oil of Bricks half an ounce mix it After which apply a large Plaster of Sylvius's Empl. Carminative Empl. to the Belly The following Julep taken often by spoonfulls will much conduce to ease the pain and discuss the wind Take the Waters of Mint Scurvigrass Fennel Carminative Iulep Lovage Penny-royal of each one ounce the carminative Spirit of Sylvius Tinctures of Cinamon and Castor of each half an ounce Syrups of Mint Fennel and Mirtles of each six drachms Oil of Mace distill'd ten drops Spirits of Harts-horn and Niter of each twenty drops Laudanum opiatum ten grains mix it for a Julep The Oil of Harts-horn is a very Potent though ungratefull remedy in this disease Also the Balsam of Sulphur made with Oil of Anise-seed Amber or Juniper is excellent in vanquishing this rebellious distemper After the violence of pain is abated you may purge the Body
bottle it up for the Child 's ordinary drink In the Cure you must endeavour to resist all symptoms as Fluxes Worms Venereal affects breeding Teeth with great pain c. In any Flux Gripes or urgent pain you may give half a grain of Laudanum opiat dissolved in any convenient Vehicle so often as necessity urgeth If Worms or venereal affects be fear'd you may sometimes adminster this gentle purging Bolus Take of Mercur. dulcis six grains Diagredium Purging Bolus Rezin of Jallop of each three grains with Syrup of Roses solutive make it into a Bolus give it in the morning fasting In your Broths and Panadoes you may boil Harts-tongue Ceterach Liver-wort Maiden-hair Sage the Bark of Tamarisk red Sanders Saffron the Roots of China and Sarseparilla c. but let all things be made acceptable to the Palate All kinds of exercise unto which Children are accustomed may be usefull in their time and season as Rocking Going Swinging Playing c. Also Frixions are excellent in which begin at the Spina dorsi and rub with a course warm linen Cloth and also under the Short-ribs and afterwards all other parts let it be done gently to cherish and incite the natural and vital heat and attract the Nourishment to the affected parts External Medicines may be also applied to strengthen the weak parts as Emplasters Ointments c. These forms may serve for Example Take Ointments of the opening Juices Linament Tobacco Marsh-mallows Oils of Capers Wormwood Elder Earth-worms Bricks Balsam of Peru of each half an ounce mix it With which let the weak parts be anointed with a warm hand before a Fire Take the Plasters Nervinum De minio ad Plaster Herniam of each one ounce the Carminative Plaster of Sylvius Balsam of Peru of each two drachms mix it and spread it on thin Leather It may be applied to the Back or any other weak part after anointing If the Lungs be affected anoint the Breast with the following Ointment Take the pectoral Ointment two ounces Pectoral Ointment Oil of Mace by expression Oil of Violets of each half an ounce mix it After which apply a Plaster They that desire more variety of Medicines c. let them peruse that excellent and learned tract of the Rachites written by the famous Doctours and Fellows of the College of Physicians at LONDON Ornari res ipsa negat contenta doceri CHAP. XVIII Of the Gout and Rheumatism THE Gout is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab Arthritis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Articulus quod Articulos infestet hence it is called in Latin Articularis morbus it being a Disease of the Joints This is a general Name for all Gouts or when all or most of the Joints are affected But when any particular Joint is infested with a Gouty distemper it doth from thence take its denomination For if it invadeth the Jaw-bones it may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maxilla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soevio quod maxillarum usum impediat It being for the most part accompanied with a fierce and cruel Pain And so likewise if it invade any of the rest of the Joints If the Vertebroe of the Neck c. be affected it may be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 collum vel cervix c. That which molests the Shoulders may be fitly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humerus c. If it affects the Collar-bones you may call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clavis vel clavicula c. That in the Elbow may be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cubitus c. The Gout in the Hand is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manus c. That in the Hip may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coxa c. quod ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lumbus In Latin Coxendicum dolor quod coxendices proecipue infestat If it be in the Knee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 genu c. If in the Foot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soevio Quod pedum usum impediat which may be added to every particular This and all other Gouts are most commonly accompanied with a fierce cruel tormenting pain and thus much if not too much of the Names of the Gout The Causes are either external or internal Causes The external Causes are Gluttony Drunkenness immoderate Venery Idleness external Cold and excess or defect of any of the non-naturals The internal Cause of all Arthritick pains is the Juice of the Pancreas too acid and sharp which raiseth a vitious Effervescency with Choler c. whereby a Fermental sharpness is increased and when it is exorbitant it is sent forth into the extreme parts and meeting with that seedy Glue which is between the Joints doth not onely affect it with its fermental Acrimony but is also the grand Cause of the virulent tormenting pain and inflammation in the part affected But seeing the pains are different not onely in divers People sick of this Distemper but also the Pains of the Gout are divers in the same sick party we must therefore as well by reason as experience search into the true Cause thereof Therefore in as much as the present molesting pains are not always freed with the same medicines no not in the same fit much less all that are Gouty We may hence consider that divers humours as Choler Phlegm c. are diversly mixt and fermented with the Juice of the Pancreas which is peccant in a sour Acrimony being the primary Cause of all Gouts And here we may note that this over acid Observatio humour doth molest the sick chiefly in the beginning of the fit with a corroding pain but after a while when Choler by its exceeding heat hath gotten the Predominancy it causeth a divers burning pain according to the diversity of its faultiness But if viscous Phlegm be predominant the pain is much dull'd and the motion of the part hinder'd with a phlegmatick Tumour rather than an acute pain which ought to be accurately observ'd by every ingenious Artist When the Gouty humour hath invaded Signs any joint there is presently an unusual heat and more exquisite sense in it than formerly so that the least touch of any hard thing doth hurt the part and the longer it continues the more the Pain increaseth with redness and swelling of the part affected and most commonly attended with a Symptomatical Fever 1. The Gout is a Chronical disease attended Progn with violent Pain but is seldom mortal except in very weak Bodies that are much decay'd by Sickness or old Age. 2. If it continue long till the Joints are knotty it