Or Take of the Water of Lime-tree-flowers Sage-water Black-cherry Water of each an Ounce Spirit of Hartshorn with Amber three Drams Spirit of Triacle camphoriz'd or Essence of Castor a Dram Essence of Opium a Scruple Syrup of Piony Flowers an Ounce Mix and give two or three Spoonfuls twice or thrice a day Take of the Water of the new Horns of a Hart two Ounces Spirit of human Brains an Ounce Spirit of human Blood a Dram and a half prepar'd human Skull a Dram volatil Salt of human Skull fifteen Grains volatil Salt of Amber half a Scruple Laudanum Opiatum three or five Grains Syrup of Arabian Stechas an Ounce Mix and use as above Take of the Water of Piony Flowers three Ounces Water of human Brains distill'd with Wine six Drams essential Spirit of human Blood a Dram and a half prepar'd Unicorn a Dram Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram Laudanum Opiatum a Grain and a half Syrup of Arabian Stechas an Ounce Mix and use as above Take of the Waters of Piony Flowers and of Limtree Flowers of each an Ounce rectify'd Cinnamon-water half an Ounce unburnt Hartshorn a Scruple native Cinnabar Mineral Bezoar of each half a Scruple Hysteric Laudanum five Grains Syrup of Piony Flowers half an Ounce Mix c. Take of the Water of Piony Flowers two Ounces Misselto of Hazel a Scruple native Cinnabar mineral Bezoar of each half a Scruple Hysteric Laudanum six Grains Syrup of Piony Flowers half an Ounce Dose a Spoonful twice or thrice a day Take of Fennel-water and Water of Lime-tree Flowers of each an Ounce Spirit of Sal Armoniac Spirit of Harts-horn with Amber of each half a Scruple Essence of Castor a Scruple Syrup of Poppies and Syrup of Arabian Stechas of each half an Ounce mix as above Take of the Water of Piony Flowers two Ounces Pennyroyal-water an Ounce Apoplectic Water or Langius's Epileptic Water six Drams volatil Salt of Hartshorn twelve Grains volatil Salt of Amber six Grains Syrup of Piony Flowers three Drams mix and use as above Take of Baum-water two Ounces Sage-water an Ounce Essence of Castor two Drams Spirit of Hartshorn with Oil of Amber a Dram Syrup of Piony Flowers half an Ounce mix c. As for Pouders Take of Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram volatil Salt of Amber twelve Grains Laudanum Opiatum prepar'd by Fermentation two or three Grains make a Pouder for two Doses For a Vehicle Take of Sage-water and Water of Lilly of the Valley of each an Ounce Spirit of Lilly of the Valley and Spirit of Black-cherries of each a Dram and a half mix Take of the Pouder of human Skull prepar'd without Fire a Dram Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram or two Scruples volatil Salt of Hartshorn twelve Grains volatil Salt of Amber six Grains make a Pouder for four Doses Or Take Cinnabar of Antimony fifteen Grains volatil Salt of Hartshorn Volatil Salt of Vipers of each four Grains Camphyr two or three Grains Make a Pouder as above Or Take of Diaphoretic Antimony Native Cinnabar prepar'd Amber of each eight or ten Grains Volatil Salt of Amber three or five Grains Laudanum Opiatum one Grain Make a Pouder as above Take Cinnabar of Antimony prepar'd Amber of each a Scruple Castor twelve Grains Volatil Salt of Amber Volatil Salt of Hartshorn of each half a Scruple Camphyr three Grains make a Pouder for three Doses Take of the Pouder of a human Scull prepar'd without Fire a Dram Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram Castor fifteen Grains Volatil Salt of Hartshorn Volatil Salt of Amber of each half a Scruple make a Pouder for three Doses The common Vehicle for these Pouders may be this following Take of the Water of Lilly Convally Black Cherry Water and Water of Limetree-flowers of each a Dram Essence of Rosemary-flowers or Essence of Castor from two Drams to three Drams Essential Spirit of human Scull a Dram Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers six or eight Drams mix c. As for external Remedies some are wont to apply Amulets of Elder or the Roots of Master-wort slic'd to the Thumbs and Toes or Rings of the Teeth of Sea-horses and the like Cephalic Bags Emplaisters Ointments and the specific Oils above-mentioned may be applied to the Back-bone Crown of the Head and the affected part But a special regard must be had to the peculiar Constitution of the Patâ—â—â—t for some are extremely offended by the approach of â—doriferous Oils Oil of Amber and Oil of Spike or the fat of a wild Cat may be applied to the Belly when the Disease is symptomatical both during the Paroxysm and at other times If the Epilepsy proceed from the Disorders of the Spleen the Emplaister de ranis cum Mercurio is very useful Upon other occasions a Compound-plaister may be prescrib'd thus Take of the Emplaister Diacalcitheos two Ounces Diachylum â—reatum an Ounce and a half Emplaister of Betony two Ounces Mix c. Crato's Plaister is likewise very proper for this purpose Thus far I have consider'd the Method of preserving from or preventing Epileptic Fits My next business is to shew what ought to be done during the time of the Fits If the Person be Plethoric let blood but take care to draw forth but a small quantity Then give a strong Emetic If the temporal Muscles or those of the Gullet are so affected that the Person cannot open his mouth or take down any thing you must open the mouth with a Spoon and throw it in or wet a Feather with the Emetic Syrup and a Grain or two of Mercurius Vitae and thrust it into the Throat If a Vomit cannot conveniently be given inject frequently sharp Clysters adding to them antimonial Infusions and volatil specific Salts Sneezing Pouders ought to be cautiously us'd during the Fit for they cause Convulsions In room of them put Spirit of Sal armoniac or of Urine to the Nostrils or drop it upon the Tongue The smell of Amber thrown upon the Coals is very effectual The external Parts may be rub'd but withal very gently If the Epilepsy proceed from any external Part Ligatures are very proper The Backbone may be anointed with specific Oils or Liniments In the mean while 't is not improper to throw into the mouth two or three spoonfuls of some Epileptic Mixture as above-prescribed If the Tongue be hurt by the Teeth throw upon it the Pouder of Crabs-eyes or anoint it with some vulnerary Extract and Sugar ART II. Of a Cramp or continu'd Contraction WHEN a nervous Part is affected continually and without interruption it becomes rigid and inflexible The Cause of this Irritation may be either manifest or hidden Of the former kind are the pricking of a Nerve immoderat Purging the unseasonable use of Mercurial or Antimonial Medicines external Violence drinking of Aqua fortis or acid Liquors for all Acids have a contracting Virtue as appears by Leather dip'd in an Acid. The hidden Causes are acute or malignant
can have admission This Dilatation is perform'd by the Air and Muscles The Midriff together with the Subclavian and Intercostal Muscles inlarge the Capacity of the Breast upon which there being no Vacuum the Air crouds into the Lungs and distends 'em to fill up the void space The Lungs being thus distended the blood empties it self into 'em and by vertue of the universal Salt of the Air its Mass is dissolv'd rarify'd volatilis'd and freed of its Steams This Admission of Air or Dilatation of the Lungs is call'd Inspiration And the Expulsion of it or successive compression of the Lungs forwarding the Blood to the left Ventricle of the Breast is stil'd Expiration the complex Action bearing the title of Respiration CHAP. I. Of Inspiration abolish'd or Suffocation SUffocation is a denying of admission to the Air. The Cause may relate either to the Passages thro which the Air is to pass or to the Lungs that are to receive it or to the Muscles that ought to dilate the Breast The Passages are embarassed by external Ligatures which if they be suddenly put on extinguish all manner of Sense in an instant by being fill'd with Water or drowning by Tumors and Inflammations in the Neighborhood of the Wind-pipe by swallowing bulky things that stick in the Gullet and press the Wind-pipe or bear down the Epiglottis by forcing things into the Wind-pipe by laughing or speaking in the time of eating by Hairs c. sticking to the Epiglottis and disturbing its motion or by a large Polypus in the Nose spreading its Branches to the Throat After strangling we endeavour to bring the Person to life by Blood-letting pouring down spirituous Liquors and rubbing the Joynts If the Suffocation is caus'd by being under Water we hang up the Person by the Heels that the Water may run out then apply a Toast soak'd in Spirit of Wine and exhibit Sudorifics or sometimes a gentle Vomit If any bulky thing stick in the Throat give 'em a blow on the Back and exhibit Oyl of sweet Almonds or Cassia If it stick in the Wind-pipe Coughing Sneezing and Vomiting will bring it up If a Bone stick in the Gullet let it be brought up by an Instrument or apply a suppurating Cataplasm or exhibit a Vomit A narrowness of the Passage caus'd by Aqua fortis is cur'd by the Mucilage of Quinces A sudden Suffocation affecting the Lungs immediately is caus'd by Narcotic Sulphurous Steams of New Wine or Ale new Plaistering Coal-Pits and other Mineral Fumes which destroy the Airy Spirit that should ferment the Blood and so cause its Stagnation in the Lungs and extinguish the animal Spirits producing Apoplexies Carus's and many dismal Symptoms For Cure let the Person be carried into free Air the Mouth open'd and Wind Artificially procur'd let a liquid Vomit mix'd with the Essence of Castor or Apoplectic-waters be thrown down the Throat Let Vinegar in which Castor is infus'd be exhibited by Spoonfuls If the Person be Plethoric open a Vein Apply outwardly Epithema's of Vinegar to the Scrotum and Testicles Blow Sneezing Powders into the Nostrils and rub the Temples and Nostrils with little Bags of Marjoram and Fennel-Flower-seeds infus'd in Vinegar Note Tho Vinegar be of admirable Efficacy against the Gas or Steams of Vegetables yet 't is not proper against a Mineral Gas Lastly The Causes of Suffocation relating to the Muscles of the Breast are their Paralytic Apoplectic Condition or Convulsions of the Larynx occasion'd by the Disorder of the Nerves of the Par Vagum and those of the Intercostal Branch as in the case of Hysteric and Hypochondriac fits Poyson or eating a sort of strangling Mushrooms Venery c. The Cure is perform'd by Essence of Castor Volatil Salt of Amber Camphyr Opiats and such Medicines as we use against Hysteric and Epileptic Fits Vomits Oxymel of Squills and Venice Treacle are Specifics against the poysonous Mushrooms CHAP. II. Of Inspiration deprav'd or difficult Breathing ART I. Of Asthma's AN Asthma is a frequent difficult Respiration attended by a perplexity in the Breast and sometimes a Cough and Snoring Sometimes 't is so violent that the Patient cannot breathe unless he stand upright and then 't is call'd Orthopnaeia The general Cause of all Asthma's is the Constriction of the Vesicles of the Lungs The particular Causes are various Some Asthma's are moist proceeding from vicious Matter provoking the Lungs and Wind-pipe to Contractions and frequently attended by coughing spitting and snoring tho not always Others are Dry occasion'd by the Convulsions of the Organs of Respiration or dryness of the Lungs without the influence of any deprav'd humor The Matter that gives rise to the moist sort is frequently lodg'd in the Stomac and first Passages and by distending them presses the Lungs and Diaphragm Hence wind and acid Crudities such as Hypocondriac or Scorbutic Persons are generally lyable to frequently cause a difficult Breathing in a Morning when they lye upon their backs in Bed Or after eating especially at Night or after Drinking Wine Dropsies also distending the Muscles of the Belly and Crouding the Blood with serum may occasion a difficulty of Breathing If the matter lodge in the Lungs 't is either Originally bred within 'em or transfer'd thither from other Parts If it be bred there it proceeds from the Depravation of the Nutritious Juice of the Lungs and Wind Pipe occasion'd by Mineral Steams or Vicious Air or the Viscidity and Sharpness of the Lymph that waters ' em For if their Nutritious Juice be perverted it degenerats into a tartareous hard or otherwise Noxious matter Imposthumes and Ulcers in the Lungs may also be reckon'd as Causes of this Kind of Asthma If the Peccant humor be not bred in the Lungs it proceeds either from serum thrown upon 'em or the Bronchia or Blood stagnating within ' em The former cause takes place sometimes in the Declensions of Feavers or when the Pores of the Body are stop'd The latter in a Redundancy of Blood Suppression of the Terms or Piles in Cachectic Persons whose Blood is Glutinous and Stuff'd with Crudities and consequently requires more time for Rarefaction in the Lungs in the case of sudden fear or Drinking of Cold Water immediatly after the Blood has been rarify'd by a Violent heat Any Acid matter that 's apt to Coagulat the Blood may also produce the same effect As for dry Asthma's They may proceed from a preternatural form of the Back and Breast or from Stones and Schirrus's in the Lungs But the more Notable Cause is the Convulsions of the Organs of Respiration especially the Diaphragm occasion'd by the disorders of the lower Belly as in Hysteric or Hypochondriac Fits the Contorsion of the Backbone Nephritic Arthritic and Gouty Pains Or in General any Acid humor irritating the Nerves whether in the Abdomen or Brain But especially in the Abdomen for the Nerves of the Par Vagum and those of the Inter-Costal Branch furnish both the Belly Breast and Neck
Clysters in the beginning of the Disease However for mitigating these Symptoms let Cataplasms of Rue-leaves Raddish-roots Salt Pigeons Dung and Elder Vinegar be applied to the soles of the Feet and palms of the Hands or the Temples and Forehead fomented with the dissolution of Nitre in some convenient Water or anointed with the Ointment of Alabaster and express'd Oyl of Poppies but so as to have a care of stopping the Pores and hindering transpiration Inwardly exhibit the emulsions of the Cold Seeds Poppy Seeds c. Anâ— add Opium to the other Specifics after the first two or three Days are elaps'd If a Drousiness and inclination to sleep attend the Pest let Opium Treacle and all Compositions partaking of it be avoided let Tincture of Caster and Vinegar be frequently taken inwardly and applied to the Nose or Frankincense Bayberries and Pepper beaten up with the Yelk of an Egg be applied to the Fore-head A symptomatical bleeding at Nose is cur'd by applying a Toad under the Arm-pits washing the Hands and Feet with Vinegar applying to the Forehead Neck and Temples Cataplasms of Chalk and Potters Clay beat up with Vinegar and giving inwardly large quantities of Nitre Spirit of Vitriol Spirit of Salt and Opiats mix'd with astringent Juleps After the Bleeeding is stop'd a gentle laxative may be exhibited if other Circumstances allow of it Thirst is also abated by Nitre especially Nitrum Antimoniatum or clarify'd Whey with Juice of Citrons mix'd with the Spirit of Salt and Gelly of Hartshorn A gnawing at Heart and vomiting is cur'd by the following Electuary Take of the Conserve of Mint vitriolated Conserve of the Pulp of Citrons of each an ounce and a half preserv'd Citron-peel and Diascordium of each six drams Confection Alkermes two drams Salt of Wormwood a dram with the Juice of Quinces Make an Electuary In the mean while foment the Stomac with a mixture of the Spirit of Wine Apoplectic-water Venice Treacle and Camphyr or anoint it with express'd Oil of Nutmegs and the distill'd Oyls of Wormwood and Mace and apply afterwards the Plaister of Caranna or that of Tacamahac mix'd with Venice Treacle and Balsam of Peru. A Looseness or griping of the Guts attending a Plague are accounted for by exhibiting Diascordium Opium absorbent Powders Extract of Treacle or that of Tormentil Camphyr Vinegar and dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt A suppression of Urine happening about the Crisis is a token of critical sweats If it assault the Patient at any other time let the Pubes be anointed with Oyl of Scorpions and Ointment of Marshmallows and all blistering Plaisters omitted Swooning palpitation of the Heart and anxiety proceeding from the Stomac are alleviated by absorbent Powders If they proceed from clotted Blood or the convulsive motion of the Spirits let the Confection Alkermes Castor Spirit of Harts-horn and that of Sal-Armoniac be exhibited externally sprinkle the Face and Temples with cephalic mixtures join'd to Castor and Vinegar of Roses A Prunella or Quinsey is mitigated by applying outwardly to the Neck a Bag quilted with Elder-flowers and Safron sprinkl'd with Spirit of Sal-Armoniac or gargling the Mouth with the Decoction of Germander Self-heal and red Roses in Barley-water mix'd with Nitre and Sal-Armoniac As for the Spots resembling Flea-bitings which frequently appear in the Back Arms and Legs the above mention'd Sudorifics especially Myrrh Castor Camphyr and the volatil Salts are most proper All manner of Cold must be carefully avoided and the Body rub'd all over every Day with a Bag of hot Salt or salt Petre and cupping-glasses frequently applyed to the Back Arms and Legs and frequently taken off SECT XVI Of Disorders relating to the motion of the Blood from the Heart to the Extreme Parts HAving thus dispatch'd the Disorders relating to the Fermentation or intestin motion of the Blood we come now in order to consider those of its circular progress The Blood receiving new Life in the Lungs throws it self with fresh vigour into the left Ventricle of the Heart inlarges its Capacity and distends its Fibres This distention or irritation of the Fibres of the Heart occasions an unwonted crowd of Spirits which repair thither from the Brain contract the whole Heart straiten its Cavity and impetuously squeeze out the Blood into the great Artery In like manner the distention of the Artery caus'd by the eruption of the Blood solicits the Spirits to sally out and contract their offended Fibres and drive the blood forwards 'till it arrive at the Veins thro' which it steers an easie Course to the Heart moving without offence or irritation from narrow Passages into broader Channels so that the Veins whose Tunicles are soft and not over-touchy are in no danger of being provok'd to Contractions by a languid impoverish'd Mass This successive contraction and dilatation of the Heart and Arteries call'd by the Ancients Systole and Diastole the former occasion'd by the Spirits repairing to them and the latter by the violent irruption of Blood are what we call the Pulse This we generally inquire after where the Arteries are most accessible viz. About the Wrists Temples and Ancles in order to discover the state of the Blood And if we find the Artery much dilated by turgid Blood we call it a large Pulse if the if the Blood move forcibly and impetuously we term it strong if the Arteries yield to the touch and do not seem to resist or rebound we stile it a Soft Pulse If the Blood move swiftly the Pulse is Frequent and if the Heart and Arteries be suddenly and much irritated 't is Quick Now Small Weak Hard unfrequent and flow Pulses are the direct reverse of these Circulation is of use to renew the strength of the Blood in the Lungs and supply all the Parts of the Body with Nourishment For 't is the united Mass of Blood and Chyle that furnishes the spermatic parts with Chyle or milky imperfect Blood and those that are sanguin with finish'd Blood according to the natural Demand of the respective Parts CHAP. I. Of the Palpitation and trembling of the Heart WHEN the Blood circulats thro' the Heart it occasions a regular Systole and Diastole But a palpitation of the Heart is a disorderly convulsive unequal vehement Contraction and sometimes scarce perceivable in the Arteries tho' at other times exalted to that pitch that it makes an audible noise A trembling of the Heart is a weak imperfect Contraction Both are equally owing to the irritation of the Heart but with this difference that a palpitation is attended by a violent and resisting strength and a trembling by a yielding weakness This irritation is sometimes the effect of the sharpness or over-bearing quantity of Serum or of Worms in the Heart-purse or of little Wheals or Excrescences within and about the Heart or great Arteries sometimes it proceeds from little Clotts of Blood left by the vicious Mass in the Heart or from a provoking Acid prevailing in the Mass of Blood as it passes along or
Emollient Vegetables such as Camomile Night-shade Water-Lillies c. They apply Emulsions to the Forehead and Temples or Liniments made of the emollient Oils Sanctorius affirm'd that all these external Applications were of no use Primerosius was of the same Opinion CHAP. II. Of Excessive Sleep SLeep is accounted preternatural when the Spirits do not repair to the external Organs in their wonted Season but continue lock'd up within the Brain If a scarcity of Spirits and extreme Weakness occasion a shutting of the Eyes 't is not properly Sleep but Swooning As in the case of hysteric Fits and Weakness after Child-birth there first appears as it were a violent Inclination to sleep which presently terminates in Swoonings If the Sleep be so profound that the Person does not wake when jogg'd or call'd upon but remains destitute of all Sense and Motion except Respiration 't is call'd a Carus and if it proceed from any internal Cause is a sort of Apoplexy and requires the same Cure The external Causes are excessive Drinking smoaking Tobacco using Narcotic Medicines the Steams of sulphurous Minerals or fermenting Liquors or new Plaistering upon the Walls of the House and such like When the Person doats in his Sleep and readily answers upon a Call but continues sensless and presently drops asleep again 't is call'd a Sleeping Coma. If the Fancy be awake while the external Senses are shut up by Sleep and attended by frantic Outcries and irregular Motions of the Members of the Body 't is call'd a waking Coma which seldom comes alone but is generally follow'd by Phrensies and Convulsions and disappears upon their Removal Sometimes the strength of Imagination is such that while the Person is asleep he not only speaks and moves but gets up and walks about and attempts many fearful things that when awake he would shrink to think of This is rather a natural Infirmity than a proper Disease It is influenc'd by the Moon and seems to be near akin to Hypocondriac Melancholy If the sick Person be seiz'd with a sleepy Coma and withal a slow Feaver and a forgetfulness of what he does speaks or demands 't is call'd a Lethargy which is the only sleeping Distemper that requires Consideration in this place The immediat Cause is the dulness of the Spirits The remote Causes are 1st A Paucity of Spirits occasion'd by Bleeding Venery Watching Fatigue c. 2dly A watry or pituitous Humour separated from the Blood by the Glandules of the Brain that blocks up the Passages and drowns the Spirits Thus Children Hydropic and Arthritic Persons and those of a Phlegmatic moist Constitution are ofttimes obnoxious to this Distemper The Stone in the Kidneys or any thing that suppresses the evacuation of the Serum will give rise to a Lethargy 3dly Narcotic Medicines and sulphurous Liquors or poisonous Fumes which stupify the Spirits by making such alterations in the Humors of our Body as are apt to produce a Numness Thus the very Humors of our Body turn Narcotic and have the like influence upon the Spirits as new Wine by fermentation acquires a stupifying Quality which formerly it had not 4thly The stagnation of the Blood Contusions or Tumors in the Brain which compress the Spirits and straiten their Passages Sleep distinguishes these Distempers from all others The particular Symptoms that distinguish one sleepy Distemper from another may be gather'd from what is already said As for Prognostics Sleep in general is a bad Omen and is more or less to be suspected according to the degree of sleeping A Coma is very dangerous in the height of an acute Feaver If the Feaver intermit or be accompany'd by evacuations 't is less hazardous except it happen in the beginning A Lethargy generally brings Death in seven days If the sick Person survive the seventh day he recovers If 't is follow'd by evacuations by Stool by the Nostrils the Ears or salivating Glandules 't is a tolerable sign especially if the Feaver and other Symptoms relent If the Symptoms are heighten'd and the Body in the interim oppress'd by other Distempers especially those of the Head together with cold Sweats 't is a desperat Case A Phrensy preceding a Lethargy makes it mortal whereas if it follow after 't is a sign of Recovery If a Trembling succeed it portends ill If it come of its own accord without the impulse of an external Cause 't is mortal In the Method of Cure we must have regard to the remote Causes abovemention'd If a Lethargy proceed from a prevalency of serous or pituitous Humors in the Blood and consequently in the Brain Blood-letting is for the most part necessary both by way of Aversion Derivation and Revulsion It may be repeated according to the former strength of the Patient 'T is better to bleed often and draw forth but little at a time than to take it all at once In the beginning of a Lethargy from this Cause 't is not improper to inject the following Clyster Take of Wormwood lesser Centory and Rue of each a handful Pellitory Roots three Drams Pulp of Coloquyntida ty'd in a Bag from half a Dram to a Dram boil them in common Water To nine Ounces of the strain'd Liquor add Electuary of Hiera with Agaric one Ounce Ox Gall thicken'd a Dram Volatil Salt of Amber half a Dram and the yelk of one Egg or if you design to make it very sharp half a Dram of Sal-gem mix for a Clyster Or Take of Asarabacca or Tobacco Leaves the Herb Rue the Flowers of lesser Centory Flowers of Arabian Stechas of each half a handful Bryony and Gentian Roots of each half an Ounce Pulp of Coloquyntida ty'd in a Bag a Dram and a half boil them in common Water or human Urin in seventeen Ounces of the strain'd Liquor dissolve of Electuary of Hiera and Agaric one Ounce Ox Gall thicken'd a Dram Essence of Castor two Scruples make a Clyster Or Take of the Pouder of Hiera with Agaric a Dram and a half Mice Dung Ox Gall thicken'd of each a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Honey of Rosemary Flowers or Honey of Rue make a Suppository to be anointed with Oil of Myrrh or Coloquyntida If these prove ineffectual 't is proper to apply a blistering Plaister as Take of the Pouder of Spanish Flies from a Scruple to two Scruples Pouder of Euphorbium from half a Scruple to twelve Grains Castor in Pouder from fifteen Grains to a Scruple with half an Ounce or an Ounce of Capital Lees make a blistering Plaister to be appli'd to the pit of the Neck or behind the Ears or to the back of the Head or to the Arms or Legs 'T is a very effectual Medicine in this Case If the Patient reap any Benefit by these prescriptions then 't is time to prescribe Vomits and Purges The Antimonial Vomits are best As for purging Medicines Take of Castor two Scruples and prepar'd Scammony one Scruple mix for two Doses to be exhibited in Oxymel Or Take of Quercetanus's
Feavers Inflammations Gout Arthritic and Hypochondriac Fits in which the prevailing Acid fixes in tendinous parts and renders them stiff Collections of Serum in the Brain and Worms in the Guts which are for the most part accompany'd by swellings of the Belly Sometimes a flatulent serous Humour affects the Muscles and causes a Contraction Sometimes the offending Cause is lodg'd in the contracted part and sometimes elsewhere As for the Cure the universal Evacuations are first in order especially the injection of sharp Clysters The internal Specifics are the same as in the case of an Epilepsy For external use all spirituous and oily things are proper but such of 'em as are more penetrating than viscid or unctuous are prâ—â—erable as the Oil of Worms per deliquium Or Take of the Oil of Orris Oil of Earth-worms of each two Ounces Castor in Pouder four Scruples mix them by continual shaking and anoint the contracted part without intermission till the Convulsion cease The Oil that drops from a rosted Goose the Spirit of Wine with Saffron Spirit of Triacle camphoris'd with Castor the Decoction of stale Urine with white Bread mix'd with a small quantity of Assa faetida Oil of Amber mix'd with Roâ—k Oâ—l when the occasional Cause is of a cold nature are much approv'd for the same use Or Take of Oil of Turpentine Oil of Earth-worms of each an Ounce and a half Human Fat one Ounce the Fat of Dogs half an Ounce make a Liniment Or Take of human Fat three or four Ounces distill'd Oil of Turpentine three Drams Oil of Juniper Berries two Drams Oil of Spike half a Dram make a Liniment Or Take of Oil of Turpentine half a Dram distill'd Oil of Cloves six Drops Mucilage of Briony as much as sufficeth for a Liniment When a Nerve is prick'd by an error in Blood-letting the Wound must be dilated and distill'd Oil of Turpentine or of Wax or of Bricks drop'd into it warm If the Wound be large apply the following Plaister Take of Euphorbium a Scruple Turpentine half an Ounce with Wax make a Plaister If after scarifying or letting of blood the Part swell and ache anoint it frequently with the following Liniment Take of the fat of Foxes fat of Badgers of each three Ounces distill'd Oil of Spike half an Ounce Oil of Mastic two Drams Wine two or three Drams mix 'em before the fire and use it hot If the Part be livid swell'd and affected with pain apply the following Cataplasm Take of the Herbs Agrimony Chervil and Flowers of Chamomil of each a handful Roots of Larks Spur three Ounces Roots of Solomon's Seal an Ounce Linseeds Fenugrecseeds of each half a Dram Boil them in a sufficient quantity of Water to the consistence of a Cataplasm If the Convulsion proceed from a Wound in the part drop into it the Balsam of Sulphur with Turpentine and anoint the part with Oil of Worms and distill'd Oil of Turpentine If it be caus'd by a poisonous Animal anoint with Oil of Scorpions apply scarify'd Cupping-glasses or an actual Cautery to the part or the magnetic arsenic Plaister and give inwardly Triacle with Gentian in order to procure sweat If it be occasion'd by violent Purgation give Triacle with Opiats For a windy Cramp take a rough Cloth hot and dip it into Spirit of Juniper Berries or rectify'd Spirit of Wine and rub the part or foment it with Spirit of Triacle and Juniper Water In case of extremity apply the following Ointment Take of fresh Goose-tallow four Drams distill'd Oil of Cloves half a Scruple distill'd Oil of Cinnamom five drops Mix for an Ointment Volatil Anti-acids Milk and such like temperat things are proper for the Convulsions which proceed from an internal Acid. ART III. Of Trembling TRembling resembles Convulsive Motions and when it follows Epileptic Fits partakes of their Nature Some particular Members are apt to shake after drinking or sudden Passion but this is a lesser sort of trembling For some are universal some particular some greater and some lesser It do's not proceed from any weakness of the moving Faculty but from the joint Action of several Muscles that are either Antagonists or imploy'd in different Motions of the Member which is occasion'd by the almost equal Incursions of the Animal Spirits whereas upon the Will 's injoining a particular Motion they ought to repair more copiously to the Muscle whose Office 't is to perform the commanded Motion than into its other Companions that are supposed to rest The Animal Spirits are apt to commit this Error when disorder'd by Passion or over-fix'd by the use of Narcotics or excessive drinking of Wine But oft-times the Spirits themselves are innocent and the fault lies either in the Nerve or the Muscle If any Obstruction or Irritation happen at the head of the Nerve the Spirits design'd for the Muscle are diverted another way If the Fibres of the Muscle be contracted dry misplac'd or not so accessible as they ought to be the regular â—rrival of the Spirits is prevented Thus mercurial Steams immoderat Venery Cold drinking of cold Liquors suppression of wonted Evacuations and malignant Feavers are wont to occasion a Trembling Trembling is easily distinguish'd from a Palsy by the performance of the voluntary motion and from Convulsions by this that it never appears but when a voluntary motion is attempted If it succeed to a Palsy it prognosticats a Recovery If it proceed from internal Causes it ought not to be neglected If it be hereditary of a long standing or accompany'd by old Age it seldom admits of a Cure If it terminat in Convulsions or approach to their Nature If attended by Doating in Burning Feavers If it succeed to Child-birth or happen in a Lethargy or Apoplexy it portends ill If the under-lip quaver it betokens Vomiting The occasional Cause must be diligently inquir'd for and remov'd So the method of Cure must be calculated for the various Causes In general it requires cephalic and nervous Medicines such as are us'd against Palsies Convulsions and Apoplexies Sage is a noted Specific in this case it may be eaten with food infus'd in Ale or a Spirit or Essence taken from it and mix'd with Castor which may be us'd inwardly often The Hands or Part affected may be fomented with this Spirit or an infusion of Sage in Wine or Water us'd for a wash Baum is next its Leaves infus'd in Wine or Spirit of Wine make a useful Medicine for this purpose Juniper-berries their Spirit Oil Rob Infusion in Wine or Spirit of Wine and the infus'd Berries in substance are very sovereign in this case After due Evacuations there is nothing so proper as a Diet-drink of the Decoction of Woods especially of Juniper Wood. Nutmegs Cinnamom Cloves Castor and its Preparations the â—rains of Hares rosted c. are mightily esteem'd Peacocks Dung infus'd in Spirit of Wine is a sovereign Remedy against Trembling in old Age. The Oils of Hazelwood and Boxwood are also very
Urine in which case Take of Pellitory of the Wall two handfuls of Parsley the whole Herb one handful Boil them in Water Bruise them into a Pulp and with two Ounces of Oil of Scorpions make a Cataplasm to be applied to the Pubes Or Let the Pubes and Perinaeum be fomented and then anointed with the following Liniment viz. Take of Cony Fat or Ointment of Marshmallows an Ounce Oil of Scorpions half an Ounce Mix c. Of Melancolic Deliriums THE Doatings of Melancoly are free from a Feaver They ought to be heedfully distinguish'd from the Melancoly it self which is a principal Disease arising from internal Causes attended by a sorrowful fullen peevish pensive Humour an unaccountable Straitness and Anxiety of the Breast a proneness to Anger and a facility of being frighted Whereas those are for the most part occasion'd by external Causes The Epithet of Melancoly is join'd to them not as if Melancoly and Grief were inseparable Companions for some are merry and sportive but because they proceed from a vicious fix'd acid Humour which the Antients call'd Melancoly All Persons seiz'd with this sort of Doating have peculiar Symptoms and Humours according to the variety of their Objects and the manner in which they are carried out in pursuit of ' em But in general they all jump in the following Particulars 1. The Mind and Thought are always confin'd to one Object or one Set of Objects 2. Fear and Anxiety still haunt them tho they imagin themselves rich Monarchs c. and seem to be tickl'd with the Fancy yet still the Joy is but short-liv'd and Fear Vexation and Trouble fill its room 3. They all sleep little or none at all or if they happen to sleep are still haunted with fearful Dreams and scaring Phantasms 4. All of 'em have their lucid Intervals 5. The Disease is more apt to disappear or remit upon some sudden alteration of Diet or any other such occasional Cause than by all the force and application of Art 6. The Source of the Disease is always seated in the lower Belly Upon which account Vomiting is the most sovereign Remedy 7. The Cure never succeeds without abating the immoderat Watchings 8. Foolish Deliriums are ofttimes cur'd by foolish Remedies which serve only to rectify the Fancy as a Man imagining Serpents to be in his Belly was cur'd by conveying Serpents into his Excrements and giving him occasion to think that they were voided by himself We may read a great many such Instances in Thonerus Platerus Forestus c. The Seat is referable only to the Imagination or Fancy which receives the Ideas of Objects convey'd thro the external Senses and stamp'd upon the Spirits Now if these Animal Spirits degenerat from their lucid temperat Quality and perform uncouth awkward Motions the rational Soul must needs consequently entertain it self with sutable Ideas Tho this kind of Delirium be different from Melancoly it self yet it do's not invade any but such as have a Melancoly disposition of the Blood and Spirits which by the way is the true reason why it do's not always follow where its ordinary Causes take place Suppose we then that a melancoly Person meets with an Object which is extreamly agreeable or disagreeable to him and is forcibly stamp'd upon the mind by the introduction of some violent Passion Love Grief Fear c. as if a Hypocondriac Person be molested with a murmuring noise in the Guts resembling the croking of Frogs This fills him with fear and amazement It determines the Spirits to new Passages which they are unwilling to forsake The Idea of the frightful Noise still haunts his thoughts till at length by the repeated and continu'd Rack and inuring the Spirits to that unwonted particular Motion of Thought the Rational Soul is brought into a habit of entertaining and dwelling upon that Subject and so the Person is insensibly wrought into the fix'd Opinion that Frogs are lodg'd in his Belly Now that the Spirits being forcibly driven into new Channels are apt to persist in the same course and are unwilling to return to their wonted Devoirs is evidently made out by the Influence of Passion or any weighty Concern upon Watchings or the Dreams of sleeping Persons which is only owing to the proneness of the Spirits to retain the same new Passages as the preceding Business and the Commotion it occasion'd had so effectually cut out for ' em The verity of this advance may be likewise evinc'd by the many Instances of Persons liable to this Distemper The Doating that follows Melancoly being thus accounted for our next business is to offer the Causes of Melancoly it self They are either external or internal The former are such Objects as are apt to occasion violent Passions which immediatly disorder the Spirits and consequently the Blood and first Digestion The latter are such Circumstances of Diet and way of living as alter the Juices of the Body which impart the respective quality to the Blood and Spirits This Constitution of the Blood and Spirits is ofttimes natural and hereditary arising from the nature of the Seed for so much as most of our Humours and Propensity to particular Passions is owing to the natural Idio-sincrasy of the Blood and Spirits All melancoly Dispositions that have a tendency to Doating owe their immediat Original to some vicious Fermentation or Digestion in the first Passages The remote Causes may be sometimes external sometimes internal but they never reach the length of Doating till they have stamp'd a vicious Character on the Belly and its Entrails Some imagine a Chymeric Melancoly proceeding essentially from the Head but if they view the matter throughly they 'l find cause to acknowledg their Error 'T is usual to ascribe Melancoly to the Spleen And doubtless in melancolic Constitutions the Spleen may be damag'd by the Stagnation of the Blood in the Arteries and may serve to exasperat the Disease it being a part enrich'd with good store of Nerves and communicating with the wandring and intercostal Pair cannot well miss of being prejudic'd by the membranous Convulsions that Hypocondriac Persons are subject to But originally the Spleen is faultless and the principal Cause must needs be a vicious Acid bred in the first Passages that thickens the Blood and destroys its due Fermentation This is evinc'd both by the Symptoms and Method of Cure The former are a voracious Appetite a constipated Belly and Acid Belchings the visible Effects of an Acid sculking in the Stomac or first Passages As for the Cure it turns upon absorbent Anti-acid Medicines The Blood thus perverted by the prevailing Acid stands accountable for the difficult Respiration beating of the Heart and the like Symptoms It is not so productive of volatil lucid Spirits as otherwise upon which account they become stiff and more fix'd and consequently apt either to move irregularly in the Brain or still to retain the same course of Motion In the former case the Doatings are wandring and