agitation and very fierce motion of the Animal spirits and by a continual and grievous Irritation urging about the beginning of the Spinalis medulla is the cause of an universal Convulsion or Epileptick-fit in which all the Muscles of the Body are most vehemently contracted The Irritation in a particular Convulsive motion or the Cramp which may be oft observ'd in the thigh or leg and other extreme parts may be also ascrib'd to the same sharp and sour flatuous Vapours carried to the beginning of the Nerves and Tendons of the said Members fretting and gnawing them sometimes with great pain The signs of Convulsions are manifest Signs The preceding signs of the Epilepsie are trembling sadness fearfulness vertigo numness debility of the senses troublesome sleep with great pain of the Head The signs of the Epilepsie presently approaching are a vehement shaking of the whole Body foming at the Mouth and a sudden deprivation of all the Animal functions 1. A Convulsion or Epilepsie being hereditary is incurable Progn 2. If a pregnant Woman be taken with either of them it is very dangerous and also after Abortion 3. Children are most subject to these diseases because they abound with abundance of moisture and flatulent Vapours in the Brain and because they have Nervorum poros angustos whereby the Brain is easily filled with such vapours and therefore we see that Children are often troubled with them young People more rarely and old Folks but seldom and we find that Children better suffer them than either of the other who frequently die of these fits especially of the Epilepsie when in their falling there follows snorting gnashing of the teeth a ghastly countenance much some at the Mouth involuntaria seminis effusio and great cryings out 4. Of all the kind of Convulsions Tetanos is the most difficult to cure because it is as it were composed of the other two kinds but if a fever happen in this or any other Convulsion the sick will suddenly recover because a fever dissolveth it but if a Convulsion should succeed a fever it is very dangerous especially from a wound or proceeding from venemous matter So likewise it is very dangerous if it be caused by taking of Hellebor When a particular Convulsion is caused Cure from a prick of a Nerve or Tendon as it may happen sometimes by the unskilfulness or precipitancy of the Chyrurgeon in opening a vein then most speedily pour into the wound or puncture the Oil of Turpentine with rectifi'd Spirit of Wine both actually hot as that famous Chyrurgeon Mr. Ambrose Parey adviseth in his ninth Book Chap. 11. of which I have had large experience with good success The like course may be taken with all other wounds of the nervous parts But if the wound of the Nerve or Tendon yield not to this medicine the same is to be cut asunder cross-ways seeing it is safer to lose the action of one part than that the sick should be exposed to the danger of a deadly Convulsion When the Nerves or Tendons of the Muscles are prickt by sharp splinters of bones the grievous pains succeeding soon cause a particular Convulsion of that part and at length an universal Convulsion will attend the Patient if there be not speedy help Wherefore if possible the sharp fragments of the bone must be cut away or if this have been neglected or could not be done and an universal Convulsion be feared you must hasten to amputation of the member For Necessitas non habet legem If a particular Convulsion be occasion'd by a hot Tumour or any other sharp pain which hath rais'd an inflammation let the pain be diminisht as well by internal as external Anodines and Narcoticks to allay the over encreas'd motion of the Animal spirits To this end you may give the sick two or three grains of Laudanum opiat at a time either in a Pill or dissolve it in a little Wine or other convenient Vehicle And if the ingenious and judicious Physician or Chyrurgeon do add a little volatile Salt either of Animals or Vegetables to his topical Medicaments whether fomentations Cataplasms or Ointments he will wonder at the incredible benefit for by the help thereof the Tumour will be mollified and dissolved the internal obstruction loosned and the pain eased If a Convulsion be caused by the taking of Hellebor or any other venemous matter administer an Antimonial vomit with all speed But if it be a Child give it ten grains of Salt of Vitriol or half an ounce of Oxymel of Squills with a drachm of Oil of Almonds After the operation of the Emetick and also at other times you may give some of this Julep Take of Black-cherry-water the Water of Iulep Line-flowers of each two ounces Briony-water compound Syrup of Peony of each one ounce Tincture of Castor half an ounce Confection of Alkermes one drachm Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three or four spoonfulls every fourth Hour Having briefly hinted at the Cure of particular Convulsions I come now to those more universal as likewise Convulsive motions and the Epilepsie And seeing there is little difference in the remote causes of them in the Body these diseases may for the most part be cured with the same Remedies 1. First then the peccant humours are to be temper'd and diminisht 2. The rising of vapours is to be hindred and their expulsion procur'd by sweat or insensible transpiration By which the over motion of the Animal spirits will be restrain'd and brought to tranquillity that is a more quiet motion All Aromaticks and all things abounding with either a fixt or volatile Salt do not onely correct and by cutting amend the viscous phlegmatick humours but do powerfully temper and destroy the over acidity and tartness of the juice of the Pancreas To temper and diminish these humours I commend these medicines Take the Roots of Male-peony Valerian Infusion Missletoe of the Oak and Peony-seeds of each two ounces Castor half an ounce let them be all bruised and infus'd in Peony-water compound the Water of Line-tree-flowers of each one pint for the space of twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add Syrup of Peony and Stoechas of each three ounces Spirit of Castor half an ounce mix it and give three spoonfulls at a time every fourth hour with which you may mix Spirit of Salt Armoniack Elixir proprietatis of each six drops Also you may give the Patient half a drachm of the following powder in three or four spoonfulls of this Infusion with the aforesaid Spirit and Elixir Take of Crabs-eyes Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt prunella of each half an ounce volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salt of Amber of Man's skull prepar'd of each two drachms make it into a fine powder which may be taken half a drachm at a time morning and evening The peccant humours being temper'd and diminisht by the frequent use of the abovesaid medicines the inordinate
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
Antiscorbuticks The Hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the Scurvy the same medicines are proper for both The following Julep is both Diaphoretick and Diuretick and very profitable for the sick in these diseases to be taken two or three days in a week Take the Waters of Penny-royal Scurvigrass Iulep Treacle Syrup of the juice of Fennel of each two ounces Tincture of Castor half an ounce Oils of Amber Mace and Cloves of each six drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours This Electuary may also be prefer'd Take of Conserves of Scurvigrass three Electuary ounces Confectio Alkermes half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes two drachms Flowers of Salt Armoniack Tarter vitriolated of each half a drachm Spirit of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves twenty drops mix it and give two drachms morning and evening After the frequent use of this Electuary you may purge with this Powder Take Powder of Cream of Tartar half a drachm Salts of Wormwood Amber Purging Powder Scurvigrass Resin of Scammony of each ten grains mix it for two doses If the Patient like Pills better these may serve For Example Take Extract Catholicon Rudii of each ten grains Resin of Jallop Agarick Salt Armoniack of each six grains Oils of Amber Cloves of each two drops make it into eight Pills for two doses A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers Take of Water-cresses Brook-lime Scurvigrass Medicinal Wine Rue of each one handfull Roots of Polypodium Jallop Horse-radish Angelica Cream of Tartar of each half an ounce white Nettle-seed one ounce Orange-peel Cinamon Salt of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in three quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting In the Hypochondriack suffocation you may often hold to the Nostrils a glass with a narrow mouth containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack for by its sharp smell the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd both from that suffocation and from the Epilepsie If the Gums are putrified let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture mixed with some Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries Take Powder of Gum Lacca one ounce Tincture burnt Alome half an ounce the small Spirit of Salt Armoniack one quart let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour then filtrate it through brown paper and keep it for use If the sick hath a costive Body you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries this linament is effectual Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Linament Chamomel of each one ounce Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it with which anoint the parts affected This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time morning and evening Take the Barks of Ash and Capers the Roots of Tamarisk Polypodium Horse-radish Water against the Scurvy of each three ounces Water-cresses Scurvigrass Brook-lime Sorrel Centaury the less Harts tongue of each four handfulls Berries of Bays and Juniper Goose-dung of each one ounce the Seeds of Citrons Mustard Carduus benedictus Cloves Cinamon Nutmegs Ginger of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and digested in one Gallon of White-wine and two quarts of Spirit of wine being close covered for three days then distill them with a glass Still according to art and keep it for your use Frictions Ligatures Ventoses Sternutatories c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris Febris alba In English the Virgin 's Disease the White Fever and the White Jaundice because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud or it proceedeth from plenty of Cause crude viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the veins about the Womb by which the courses are supprest the veins of the Matrix being obstructed that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way having not passage doth return to the greater Vessels and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours by which they are in time vitiated and a Cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused for the Bloud and natural humours being indued with a vitious quality the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant whence likewise not onely the fermentation of Food but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd wherefore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart c. troubleth the sick as well before as after Food taken in This distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air c. and sometimes great fear and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression also aliments and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly In these diseases the Urine cometh away Signs crude thick and less colour'd because the phlegmatick watry humours abounding incorporating with the Bloud do diminish the desired effervescency so that the separation much less excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine doth not follow If the Hypochondries be afflicted and the veins of the Womb obstructed there will be great loathing of wholsome Food and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten as Ashes Salt Coals c. which is called Pica and in Women with Child Malacia of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated page 145 146. 1. These distempers are sometimes of long Progn continuance causing much weakness and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted and if they do conceive they bring forth weak and sickly Children and those that are very melancholy are in danger of falling into madness or other grievous affects as Palpitation of the Heart Swouning Vertigo Epilepsie Apoplexy c. 2. If the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the Womb and have not been of long continuance it may be easily cur'd 3. Bleeding at the Nose is sometimes beneficial but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes Ears Mouth or Bladder it is preposterous from whence may arise other bad Symptoms In the cure of these distempers such medicines Cure are to be selected which will mildly and by degrees alter correct and evacuate tough and glutinous Phlegm seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it either wholly or at least in part for by the frequent use of such medicines the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution especially by the help of good Food easy of digestion in the mean while not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nannatural things An obstruction
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
Cause of all continual Fevers not putrid If the Stomach by Dietetick Errors as in Eating or Drinking too much sour Fruit or Juices be over-charg'd with Acids it may prove hostile injurious and a morbisick Cause of that which we call the Heart-burning c. with sour Belchings and sometimes a Nauseousness even to Vomiting In this Case after the Operation of a gentle Emetick you may administer half a Dram of the Pouder of Pearl Crabs-Eyes or any of the Testaceous Pouders twice or thrice in a Day to absorb the peccant Acidity Chalybeates may be also safely administred Likewise in all Chronical Diseases caused by the over-sourness of the Juice of the Pancreas c. as aforesaid after general Evacuations the finest Filings of Iron turn'd to Rust may be given to half a Dram at a time in a stued Prune or any other Vehicle twice in a Day because the Stomach by its incisive Acidity together with other accidental or concomitant Acids doth penetrate the Particles of the Iron and rarifie its Vitriolick Salt which will not only help Digestion but kill Worms and circulates with the Blood and Lympha and will in time purifie the whole Mass of it But if Choler be peccant as aforesaid causing Fevers and other Acute Diseases then after Evacuation by Vomiting or Purging I commend acid Liquors and Juices as Lemons c. Also purified Niter may be given in all Fevers But here we may note That it is the Nature of all Acids to coagulate and thicken the Blood and its Serum wherefore we must be cautious that we do not let Blood nor give too many Acids in the Small-Pox and malignant Fevers because in these Distempers the Blood is preternaturally viscid and therefore it abounds with too much Acidity of which you may read more at large in the ensuing Treatise I come now to mention some choice Specificks for the Cure of Diseases for the Sake and Benefit of the Poor who have not Money to pay a Doctor for his long Receipts nor the Apothecary for Medicines SAlt Niter purified is an efficacious Medicine in the Cure of most Diseases it may be poudred with an equal Quantity of white Sugar and given to half a Dram at a time every six Hours in all Fevers the whole time of Sickness and also before and after because it is an acid Salt and contains in it a volatile incorruptible Sulphur and by reason of its Acidity it refrigerates the inflamed Blood and powerfully checks the preternatural Fermentation of it and preserves its natural Consistency For by the subtilty of its Spirit it insinuates it self into the whole Mass of Bloud and penetrates into all Parts and so strengthens and recreates the Heart as to make it resist and overcome all Putrefaction and therefore it is a great Antidote against the Plague and all contagious Fevers If it be dissolved in any liquid Vehicle and drank a little often it will dilute the Lixivial Salt of Choler and being mixed with proper Catharticks and Balsamick Medicines it will conduce much to the Cure of most Chronical Distempers also for it discusseth Wind opens all Obstructions and causes the vitious Humours to precipitate and to be evacuated both by Urine and Stool Quicksilver boil'd in Water with a few Raisons of the Sun to sweeteen it and the Liquor drank freely killeth Worms The Quicksilver may be boiled a thousand times and always have the same weight so that the Water partakes of Mercurial Irradiation by which it becomes destructive to Worms A strong Decoction of Ground-Ivy or Alehoof sweetned with Sugar-Candy and a quarter of a Pint of it taken twice or thrice in a Day helps Distempers of the Breast and Lungs and a strong Infusion of it in Aqua Vitae or Brandy cureth the Colick The Decoction of Herb Robert and Patronichia or Whitlow-Grass with Leaves like Rue given inwardly every Day 'till the Mass of Blood and Juices of the Body be impregnated with the Vertues of the Herbs cureth the King's-Evil The Juice of Penny-royal clarified and a little sweetned with Sugar-Candy and given the quantity of a Spoonful three or Four times in a Day cureth all sorts of Coughs Cows and Goats-milk boiled in an equal quantity of Water wherein unslak'd Lime hath been quenched and a little Cinamon and the young Bark of the Oak bruised and boiled in it 'till a third part be consumed cureth all kinds of Fluxes Glauber's Sal Mirabile is an excellent Lenitive Cathartick It may be safely given to Men Women or Children in all Diseases where purging is necessary The Dose is from half a Dram to an Ounce dissolved in warm Whey or Milk and Water A few Drops of rectified Oyl of Vitriol mixed with a quarter of a Pint of fair Water to a light Acidity a little sweetned with white Sugar and drank every Day for some time killeth Worms and quencheth Thirst in Fevers If you mix an Ounce of rectified Oyl of Vitriol with two Ounces of Oyl of Ben or pure Oyl of Olives stirring it 'till it be well incorporated you have a good Balsam to ease Pain and cure an Inflammation in any part by anointing once in a Day or two you may apply a Colwort-leaf or a Plaister of Diachilon or a Poultis of White-Bread and Milk with a little Butter in it to the grieved part after anointing but you must have a care that it does not touch your Linnen A strong Tincture of Catechu or Japonian Earth with half its weight of Jesuits Bark both in fine Pouder in small Cinamon-Water cureth Catarrhs and all sorts of Fluxes Take a quarter of a Spoonful thrice a Day in any Vehicle Sweating is good in most Diseases if Strength permits Virginia Snake-Root and the Root of Contra Yerva bruised and boiled in fair Water and sweetned with a little Sugar and given a quarter of a Pint every four Hours to any that are bitten with an enraged Viper soon cureth the Patient especially if you bathe the part bitten with the same Decoction without Sugar so hot as can be endured Gambogia finely poudred and mixed with an equal quantity of pure Niter and given to half a Dram at a time twice or thrice in a Week soon cureth the Yellow-Jaundice and Dropsies The best Gum Arabick given at least a Dram twice or thrice in a Day either in Pouder or dissolved in small Ale or any other convenient Vehicle doth wonderfully mitigate the Sharpness of Urine A strong Decoction of woody Nightshade a little sweetned with Sugar and given to a quarter of a Pint every Morning will purge gently and open all Obstructions and cure the Yellow-Jaundice Dropsies c. The Decoction of Hearts-Ease sweetned with Sugar-Candy cureth the Pleurisie and other Inflammations It is an excellent Antivenerian c. and therefore it may be a chief Ingredient in Decoctions to cure the French-Pox A Decoction of Groundsel is an universal Medicine for all Diseases coming of Heat It purgeth gently and if the Stomach be
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
Laudanum prescrib'd for it will much conduce to ease the sick of all these symptoms If there be a Bubo apply a strong Vesiccatory and when the Blister is well raised open it and dress it with Mustard and Basilicon of each equal parts after cure it according to Art If there be a Carbuncle apply Leeches or Ventoses with scarification or the Actual or Potential Cautery after which often apply Mithridate 'till the Eschar be separated then dress it with Unguent Basilicon and Aegyptiacum or else you may use Butter of Antimony 'till the Ulcer be well cleansed and fitted for the last consolidation which may be performed by any desiccative Medicine CHAP. X. Of the Small-pox and Measles THE Small-pox and Measles are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin Morbilli quasi parvi morbi vel parvorum morbi They are also called Variolae Pustulae ex vario vel varium facio quod cutis fit varia Because the skin is of various forms These distempers are most commonly attended with a Malign Fever which oft proves Epidemical Contagious and Mortal and therefore may justly be termed Pestilential The Small-pox is a cutaneous Eruption or large Pustules something like to Warts on the Skin with Inflammation which in few days comes to suppuration if the sick recover The Measles are little Pustules in the Skin with a deep redness and may be best perceived by feeling they are usually discussed in five or six days without suppuration There is an other sort of Pustules or Tubercles like little Bladders incident to Men Women and Children which are without Inflammation or redness and also without a Fever Some call them Cristals others Blisters but Country people call them Swine-pox Hen or Chicken-pox c. To these also may be referred those red fiery spots which break out about the fourth or fifth day in Malign Fevers all over the Body and if the sick recover they vanish about the eighth day after which the Cuticula cometh away in flakes this is commonly called the Scarlet Fever The signs of the Small-pox approaching Signs are pains of the Head shining before the Eyes with redness and swelling of the Face and sometimes bleeding at the Nose also a grievous pain of the Back which reacheth to the Neck with great heat and pricking all over the Body there is often loathing of the Stomach and vomiting with trembling of the Heart great terrour in sleep difficulty of breathing and sometimes raving and convulsion The cause of the Small-pox and Measles Causes is an ill quality or impurity of the Mothers bloud with which the Child was nourish'd in the Womb which doth communicate pollution and defile the mass of Bloud and after the Child is born when there is an ill disposition of the Air proportionable to the disease there followeth a peculiar effervescency or ebullition of the Bloud and other humours by which nature is inraged and provoked to cast forth the impurity The excrementitious matter is either thin or thick if it be thin the Measles follow if thick the Small-pox are produced And if there be a Malignant constitution of the Air it causeth not onely a purging forth of the corrupt matter of the Bloud c. but corrupteth the whole mass of Bloud and so produceth a dangerous and Epidemical Small-pox If they come out red and soon ripen or Progn turn white being round pointed and outward in the skin if the voice and breathing be free without any grievous symptoms there is no danger but if there be a great Fever which is not abated after their eruption with great thirst and difficulty of breathing also black or bloudy Urine or Stool Hemorrhage at the Nose Mouth c. doth signifie a great acrimony and malignancy of the bloud that nature is compelled to evacuate it by such preposterous ways and are most commonly mortal signs So likewise if it be long e'er they come out and they be green blewish or black and sink in again the sick is in great danger of Death As for the Cure of these distempers if they be Malignant or Epidemical let the same Cure means be used as is prescrib'd in Malignant Fevers but if there be little or no sign of Malignancy you may first administer an Antimonial Emetick and after its operation give this or the like Cordial Take the Waters of Carduus Dragons Cordial Iulep Treacle Scordium compound of each two ounces Venice-treacle two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Limmons Carduus Saffron of each one ounce Confection of Hyacinth one drachm mix it for a Cordial Let the sick take two or three spoonfulls of this every half hour till a sweat be promoted after sweating keep the Patient in a warm Room till the danger be over Before the Eruption if there be eminent signs of a Plethora and the sick be adult Phlebotomy may be used with good success Phlebotomy Bezoar and Gascoign's Powder and Diascordium are commonly used in these Diseases You must endeavour to defend the inward parts with the pectoral decoction to which you may add a little Saffron Also a Saffron Stay in which is put a few Sows called Millepedes bruised is excellent to defend the Throat For the Eyes this water is good Take the Waters of Plantain white Roses Water for the Eyes of each three ounces of Camphire Saffron of each ten grains mix it Or you may use Womens milk and Saffron If the Throat and Mouth are inflamed make a Gargarism with Plantain-water and Gargaris Syrup of Mulberries To defend the Nose put up this with a rag or feather Take of red Rose-water Vinegar of red Roses of each one ounce Powder of red Nodulas Saunders Camphire of each one drachm mix it When the Small-pox begins to dry anoint them often with Oil of sweet Almonds and Oil of the Yelks of Eggs which will prevent their pitting OF DISEASES OF THE BELLY BOOK III. CHAP. I. Of the Thirsty disease THIS is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sitio to be thirsty In Latin 't is called sitis morbosa Thirst is the first natural Passion of Mankind and also of Beasts as is manifest by their first sucking milk out of the Breast to asswage it The causes of thirst augmented are either Cause external or internal The external are the Air over heated by the Sun over salt Food too much exercise of body vehement passions of the mind as much anger c. prolong'd watches the Body either too costive or too loose much sweating Urine voided too plentifully any notable Evacuation of Bloud Milk or Seed c. The internal Cause is deduced for the most part from too sharp Choler carried down into the small Gut where it raiseth such an Effervescency with the Juice of the Pancreas flowing thither that thence are elevated salt Vapours to the Stomach and Gullet and there produceth a sense of drought It
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
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
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