or thrice a day in a spoonful of the following distill'd Water drinking seven or eight spoonfuls of the same after it Take Cypress Tops six handfuls Clary Leaves four handfuls the outward Coats of twelve Oranges Cinnamon Mace of each an Ounce the Roots of Cyperus and the lesser Galingal of each half an Ounce being slic'd and bruis'd let them be put into eight pounds of Brunswich Beer and distill'd in an ordinary Still Take Tincture of the Balsam of Tolu extracted with the Tincture of Salt of Tartar an Ounce the Dose is twenty Grains with the same Vehicle the Tincture of Wormwood prepar'd with the same Menstruum may also be try'd Take Powder of the Leaves of Wormwood and Myrtle dri'd in the Sun in the Summer time of each two Drams Cinnamon Flowers of red Roses of each a Dram Cubebs Roots of the lesser Galingal of each half a Dram red Coral prepar'd a Dram make of all a subtle Powder then with six Ounces of double refin'd Sugar dissolv'd in cinnamon-Cinnamon-water and boil'd up to a consistency make it up in little Cakes weighing half a Dram let one or two of these be eaten often in a day as the person pleases Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated four Ounces Myrobalans condited six Drams Ginger condited in the Indies half an Ounce Species of Hyacinth two Drams the reddest Crocus Martis one Dram Syrup of Corals what will suffice make of all an Electuary the Dose is a Dram twice a day drinking after it a little draught of the distill'd water In the debility or resolution of the Ventricle by reason of the Nerves being somewhere else abstructed Paralytick Remedies joyn'd with Stomachicks must chiefly be insisted on Take Elixir Proprietatis Tartariz'd an Ounce the Dose is a Scruple twice a day with the water above prescrib'd The Tinctures of Salt of Tartar of Coral of Antimony may be us'd after the same manner In this case also the sweet spirit of Salt tht spirit of Sal Armoniack or its Flowers are of great effect Moreover Vomits Purges and even Diaphoreticks are often successively administred I have known this Distemter sometimes happily Cur'd by Bathing in our hot Baths at Bathe CHAP. III. Instructions concerning Purging with prescripts of Purges AS Nature often Purges it self according to three Degrees so there are three Degrees of Purging by Medicine The first is soft and easie gently expelling any loose matter contain'd in the Ventricle and the Intestines The second reaches not only that but Purges likewise other humours from the Bilous and Pancreatick Passages and from the Mouths of the Vessels The third performs all this and that in a more full manner and going yet farther strongly Purges from the Blood and consequently from the Nervous Juice and other parts an Excrementitious matter which is brought by the Arteries into the Intestines As for what concerns the choice to be us'd in Purging Medicines though we do not approve of those cry'd up Classes of Medicines appropriated to this or that Juice or Humour yet we do not think that all Purges are indifferently to be us'd in all cases but that there is need of a strong Judgment and a wary circumspection in a Physician that according to the strength of his Patients their temperament the state and ability of the Viscera their bearing custome and fancy and so according to the nature of the Disease its time and quality he prescribe a Purge more gentle or strong and that of hot things or temperate gentle or more smart and in a solid substance or a liquid or something of some other certain kind and form as he shall see good A Purge therefore being not convenient at all times nor in every state of Body to proceed as we ought we must take a fit season and use a certain preparation and both these have regard to the first passages and to the Mass of Blood As to the first if at any time the Stomach be loaded with a Mass of viscous Phlegm or troubled with the boiling of Turgid Choler a Purge most commonly either becomes of no effect or does hurt unless those contents are first of all cleans'd forth by a Vomit or unless their oppression and effervescency be corrected by digestives As to what regards the Blood a Purge is often unseasonable sometimes also inconvenient and in neither of these cases Preparatives commonly so call'd but only Alteratives are proper for the business is not to dispose those imaginary humours for evacution but the Blood it self ought to be reduc'd from its troubled and confused state to a calm condition or from its debility and fall'n Crasis to its vigour and ev'n temperament Whilst the Blood Feaverishly boiling is disturb'd in its mixture Purging is always found hurtful and so whilst its Mass being become languid and weak does not arise to its due fermentation that sort of Evacuation is no less forbidden Moreover when the Blood is too bilous or watry or too much inclin'd to Coagulations or Fusions Purges for the most part do not take away those its defaults or depravations but most commonly encrease them Wherefore in those cases altering Remedies are rather Indicated which may destroy the undue Separations and Combinations of the Salts Sulphur and Serum and take away other their enormities Of these Digestives and Alteratives which supply the place of common Preparatives we shall speak particularly hereafter The chiefest Compositions of Purging Medicines being Potions Powders Bolus's Electuaries Morsels or Tablets and Physick-Ales or Wines we shall here set down certain of the more Select Forms of each of them and those of a threefold kind according as the operation of the Medicine ought to be gentle mean or strong to which in the fourth place we shall add Prescripts of easily prepar'd Purges for poor People 1. Gentle Potions Take Rhubarb slic'd three Drams yellow Saunders half a Dram Salt of Tartar a Scruple make a cold Infusion all Night in Cichory water and White-wine of each two Ounces and a half to three Ounces of Cleer straining add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb half an Ounce Cinnamon water two Drams make a Potion 2. Mean Potions Take of the best Senna three Drams Rhubarb Troches of Agarick of each a Dram and a half yellow Saunders two Scruples Salt of Tartar half a Dram Coriander-seeds a Dram let them have a close Infusion all Night in Spring-water and White-wine made warm of each three Ounces to four Ounces of it strain'd add of the Purging Syrup of Apples an Ounce Aqua Mirabilis two Drams make a Potion Or Take the decoction of Senna Gerionis four Ounces Syrrup of Roses Solutive an Ounce Cream of Tartar half a Dram Cinnamon water two Drams make a Potion Take the best Senna Cassia Fistula Tamarinds of each half an Ounce Coriander-seeds two Drams boil all in ten Ounces of spring-Spring-water till a third part be consum'd strain it and Clarifie it with the White of an Egg add to it the Syrup of Apples
Ounces Turbith Mechoacan of each an Ounce and a half Epithymum yellow Saunders of each an Ounce Coriander-seeds an Ounce and a half let them be slic'd and bruis'd and put in a Bag according to Art for four Gallons of Ale the Dose is from twelve Ounces to a Pound either every Morning or twice or thrice a Week CHAP. IV. A Cure for Over-purging or of Medicines that stay too much Purging or a Looseness Also the Cure of the London-Flux with Instructions in each Case TO prevent over-purging upon giving any Purging Medicine we must proceed thus Before we give a Purge we must first consider well the Constitution Strength and Custome of the Body to be Purg'd as also the Nature Dose manner of Working and ordinary effects of the Medicine to be given and then by comparing the one with the other we must proportionate the vertue of the Agent according to the bearing of the Patient Secondly whilst the Medicine is working let the Viscera where digestion is perform'd the Blood and the Animal Spirits be kept free from any other perturbation Wherefore during that time let not the Patient eat gross or viscous food or too great a plenty of any food which may offend the Stomach let him carefully avoid the admittance of any outward cold by which the Pores of the Body are shut up also let the mind be kept calm and undisturb'd free from all Cares and toilsome Studies Thirdly The Operation of the Medicine being ended we must appease the angry rage of the Animal Spirits and allay the effervescence of the Blood and Humours for which ends let an Anodine Medicine or a gentle Hypnotick be given according to the following forms Take Water of Cowslip Flowers two Ounces Cinnamon-water hordeated Syrup of Maeconium of each half an Ounce Pearls half a Scruple make a draught to be taken going to rest Or Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated two Scruples Diascordium half a Dram Pearls half a Scruple Diacodium what suffices make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep In case this Provision be either omitted or does not hinder a Purging Medicine from working to excess let the Patient presently be put into a warm Bed and be ordered as follows First Let either a Plaister of Mithridate be apply'd to his Stomach and to the whole upper Region of the Belly or let those parts be fomented with warm Linnen Cloaths dip'd in a decoction of Wormwood Mints and Spïces in red Wine and so wiung forth presently upon it let him take inwardly either a Bolus of Venice Treacle or a Solution of it in cinnamon-Cinnamon-water Moreover let him drink every now and then a spoonful or two of Burnt-wine diluted with a little Mint-water if he be troubled with Gripes give him a Glister of warm Milk with Treacle dissolv'd in it and warm frictions must be us'd to the remote parts and sometimes Ligatures to draw the Blood outwards and so keep it from too great a Colliquation and from discharging it self into the Cavities of the Viscera then in the Evening if there be strength and a pretty good Pulse let him take a Dose either of Diacodium or of Liquid Laudanum with some fit Vehicle As to other kinds of excessive Purging which are wont to happen without the Administration of a Purging Medicine for the most part they are meerly Symptomatical depending on other Diseases and their method of Cure is wholly the same as of those Diseases whose off-spring they are Nevertheless sometimes a Looseness or Flux seems to be a Disease of it self and because this kind of Distemper Raging almost yearly in the City of London is commonly accounted Endemious or a Disease peculiarly attending Inhabitants I shall here set down its method of Cure I have often and long observ'd that there are two and that very different kinds of that Flux usually call'd the Griping of the Guts which happens here almost yearly about Autumn In one of them the Stools are watry and in a manner cleer with a sudden failing of the strength in the other they are bloody but tolerable withal In the Year 1670. about the Autumnal Equinox a World of People here were seized with a most dangerous Flux though without Blood and joyn'd with a cruel Vomiting which presently caus'd great faintings and a total decay of strength For the Cure of this Disease no Evacuation did good nay Bleeding Vomiting and Purging always did hurt only Cordials and those of the hottest nature to wit such as abounded with Spirit and Sulphur or a Volatile Salt prov'd commonly of good effect insomuch that Brandy burnt a little with Sugar was a Popular and as it were Epidemick Remedy and in that sort of Flux was seldome given without success though in the other sort of Flux which carry'd Blood with it having been us'd without due regard it has often been found to be hurtful The method of Cure which I then took successfully enough with many and am wont still to take in the like case is after the following manner Take Venice Treacle from a Dram to a Dram and a half let the Patient take it in Bed and drink after it seven or eight spoonfuls of the following Julap and let him repeat this Dose every third fourth or fifth hour Take Mint-water Cinnamon-water hordeated of each three Ounces strong Cinnamon-water Plague-water Treacle-water of each two Ounces Powder of Pearls a Dram Sacchari Crystalin half an Ounce mingle them and make a Julap At the same time take a piece of Bread spread some Treacle on it and dip it in Sack or Red-wine warm'd and let it be apply'd to the Stomach as hot as it may be suffered and change it every now and then In the Evening if the Pulse and Breathing seem strong enough to bear it let the Patient take of Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty Grains in a draught of Plague-water Take Diascordium a Dram Liquid Laudanum half a Scruple Compound Powder of Crabs Claws a Scruple Cinnamon-water what suffices make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep To those to whom Treacle or Mithridate prove nauseous or disagreeing give a Dose of the following Powder or Spirit of Treacle every third hour with the Julap Take Compound Powder of Crabs Claws Roots of Contrayerva or Serpentaria Virgin of each a Dram Cinnamon Roots of Tormentil of each half a Dram Saffron Cochinele of each a Scruple make a Powder the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples Take Spiritus Theriacalis Armoniacus three Drams the Dose is a Scruple with the Julap every fourth hour or give that and the Doses of the Powder interchangeably one one time and the other the other After the same manner the Spirits of Harts-horne or of Soot may be given let the persons Drink be Ale or Beer with a Crust of Bread Mace add Cinnamon boil'd in it and sweeten'd or let it be Burnt-wine diluted with mint-Mint-water let his Food be Chicken-broth Gruel or Panada with the shavings of Ivory Hartshorn
propose that known Medicine Take Salt of Wormwood a Scruple Carduus water three Ounces Spirit of Vitriol or Oyl of Sulphur a Scruple Syrup of Violets three Drams Make a draught to be taken three or four hours before the Fit Take the waters of whole Citrons and of Wood Sorrel of each half a pound Salt of Tartar a Dram and a half Juice of Limmons two Drams Sugar half an Ounce mix them make a Julape the use of it is in Anomalous Fevers which though always burning have daily returns of sharp fits The Dose is three Ounces twice a day The last rank of Cordials and truly in some respect the chiefest is of Alexipharmicks because these are more vital than the rest But Alexipharmicks being either for preservation or for Curing In the first place we shall set down Select Medicines to be given to persons whilst yet in a state of health against the Infection of the Plague or any Malignity whatsoever omitting in the mean time what is usually ordered concerning the alteration and rectifying of the Ambient Air And then in the second place we shall give you Select Forms of Prescripts to be used after the Contagion is taken 1. Antidotes for Preservation TAke Conserve of the Leaves of Rue four Ounces Mithridate and Confectio liberantis of each an Ounce Confection of Hyacinth two Drams Salt of Wormwood two Drams and a half Pulvis pannonici rubri half an Ounce Bezoartick Vinegar what suffices Make an Electuary the Dose is the quantity of a Chesnut thrice a day Take Powder of the Roots of Virginia Serpentary Contrayerva Zedoary Species liberantis of each two Drams Camphire two Scruples Sugar dissolv'd in Bezoartick Vinegar and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets six Ounces Make Tablets according to art each weighing half a Dram let one or two be eaten often in a day Take Roots of Virginia Serpentary three Ounces boil them in three pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd to the straining add of the best Honey two Ounces Venice Treacle an Ounce dissolve it warm and close cover'd and strain it The Dose is two or three spoonfuls three or four times a day Take Flowers of Sulphur four Ounces melt them in a Crucible then put into it by spoonfuls one after another Salt of Wormwood four Ounces stirring them together 'till the whole Mass grows red then add the Powders of Aloes Myrrh Olibanum of each a Dram Saffron half a Dram stir them again for a quarter of an hour till they are incorporated the Mass being cool'd and put on a glass plate let it stand till it dissolves into an Oyl like a most beautiful Ruby The Dose is from ten drops to twenty in an Ounce and a half or two Ounces of the Bezoartick water twice a day Or pour to the said Powder some spirit of Wine rectified on the Roots of Contrayerva and Virginia Serpentary till it cover them three fingers over draw forth a Tincture The Dose is from twenty drops to thirty in a fit Vehicle Or Take of the same Powder half an Ounce pour to it of the best Canary two pounds let it dissolve close cover'd and warm The Dose is a spoonful twice or thrice a day After the Contagion is receiv'd and the Crasis of the Blood is vitiated and begins to corrupt the same Medicines are still proper to be taken but in a greater Dose and oftner Moreover the Vinegars and fixt Salts of Herbs are very often added with good success to Alexipharmicks because by them the Coagulations of the Blood are resolv'd and then all Heterogeneous Particles evaporating and the other being brought into a due mixture its liquor at length recovers its former state and keeps it There being innumerable Medicines in the Books of Physicians for this end I shall here only set down a few Antidotes for Curing TAke of the Bezoartick water two Ounces and a half Bezoartick Vinegar half an Ounce Venice Treacle a Dram mix them by shaking them in a Glass Make a draught let the person take it and sweat upon it Take Gascoins Powder Roots of Contrayerva and Virginia Serpentary of each from a Scruple to twenty five Grains Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of Treacle water drink after it a little draught of the same or of a Cordial Julape Take Powder of Teads prepar'd Powder of Crabs Claws Compound of each half a Dram Make a Powder give it after the same manner Take Bezoartick Mineral half a Dram Venice Treacle a Dram Camphire six Grains Bezoartick Vinegar what suffices Make a Bolus to be taken after the same manner Take the waters of Wood Sorrel and Dragon-wort of each four Ounces Water of Scordium Compound two Ounces Treacle water and Bezoartick water of each an Ounce Powder of Pearl a Dram Syrup of Clove-Gillyflowers or of the Juice of Citrons two Ounces spirit of Vitriol twelve drops Make a Julape the Dose is three Ounces often in a day sometimes by it self sometimes with other Medicines CHAP. X. Of the Passions of the Heart and their Remedies AFter Cordial Medicines vulgarly though improperly so call'd it now follows for us to treat of the Passion of the Heart in which the Heart is really ill affected and therefore requires true Cordial Medicines Under that name two affects somewhat differing betwixt themselves are commonly denoted to wit The trembling of the Heart and its panting In both affects the motion or beat of the Heart seems to be disorderly and in a manner Convulsive but the irregularity of the first consists in the frequency of its Vibrations and of the other in their vehemency As to the Cure of the panting of the Heart since its Causes are various and manifold its Cure also must be various for what some affirm that those sorts of Remedies vulgarly call'd Cordials which are reputed to revive the Heart and to relieve it when ill affected are proper in any of all these Cases it is contrary both to reason and common experience We say then that the palpitation or panting of the Heart proceeds either from the fault of the Blood or of the Arteries belonging to the Heart If it happens through the fault of the Blood the chief intent of Curing must be to raise the Blood to a better Crasis it being then become too watery and unmeet for accension and fermenting and to exalt or encrease its active principles which are then depress'd or diminish'd for which end spirituous Medicines also saline Medicines of all kinds Sulphureous and especially Chalybeates conduce And to this place may be referr'd those things which are wont to be prescribed in the Pica or longing Disease in the Leucophlegmatia and in the cold Scurvy Take Conserve of Sea Wormwood the outward yellow Coats of Oranges and Limmons of each two Ounces Powder of Winters Barke two Drams Species of Diacurcuma a Dram Steel prepar'd with Sulphur three Drams Salt of Wormwood a Dram and a half with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
Tablet Sugar an Ounce and a half Juice of Licorice diluted and strain'd what suffices Make a Mass for Troches 7. Tablets TAke Species Diatragacanthi frigidi three Drams Powder of red Poppy Flowers Lac Sulphuris of each half a Dram Sugar dissolv'd in Poppy water and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets four Ounces Make Tablets weighing half a Dram. Take Species Diaireos and of Fox Lungs of each three Drams Flowers of Sulphur Elecampane Roots of each half a Dram White Benzoin a Dram Make a fine Powder and Oyl of Anniseeds a Scruple Sugar dissolv'd and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets eight Ounces Make Tablets weighing half a Dram. 8. Powders THese though seldom yet sometimes are given in a Cough and affects of the Lungs with good success Take of the Reddish tops of ground Ivy what suffices being bruis'd let them be made into a Cake and presently dry'd in the Sun then reduce it into a fine Powder and keep it in a Glass this Plant retains its vertue with its smell and colour excellently well for a long time beyond all Conserves and Syrups and is of wonderful efficacy in a great and obstinate Cough Give from half a Dram to a Dram twice a day with a distill'd water or Pectoral Decoction After the same manner Powders are prepar'd of other Pectoral Plants and are given with good success Take Cup-moss three Drams Lac Sulphuris a Dram Sugar-candy half a Dram Make a Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram twice a day This Powder is proper for those that are troubled with a Convulsive or Chin-Cough Take Flowers of Sulphur Olibanum Ceruse of Antimony of each two Drams divide it into twelve parts Give one Mornings and Evenings in a spoonful of some fit Vehicle 9. Pills TAke Aloes Rosat or rather Pilul Ruffi Flowers of Sulphur of each a Dram and a half Flowers of Benzoin a Scruple Juice of Licorice diluted with water of Snails what suffices Make a Mass form it into little Pills let four of them be taken at Night repeating the Dose every Night or every other Night Take Powder of Elecampane Roots Licorice and Flowers of Sulphur of each a Dram Flowers of Benzoin half a Dram Tar what suffices Make a Mass and form it into small Pills the Dose is three or four at Night and early in the Morning Take Millipedes prepar'd two Drams Powder of the Seeds of Nettles and Burdock-seeds of each half a Dram Oyl of Nutmegs drawn by distillation a Scruple Salt of Amber half a Dram Juice of Licorice what suffices Make small Pills let three of them be taken at Night and in the Morning 10. Decoctions THese are taken either by themselves or with Milk added to them Among those of the first kind the Pectoral Decoction according to the London Dispensatory first presents it self which is to be taken twice a day from four Ounces to six or eight Take Leaves of ground Ivy Maiden-hair Harts-Tongue Coltsfoot Agrimony of each a handful Roots of Chervil Butchers-broom of each an Ounce Seeds of Carthamus and sweet Fennel of each half an Ounce boil them in six Pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd adding towards the end either of Licorice three Drams Raisins ston'd two Ounces and six Jujubes or of the best Honey three Ounces Make an Apozeme Scumming off the Froth and Clarifying it with the white of an Egg. The Dose is six Ounces warm twice or thrice a day Decoctions to be taken with Milk are us'd Mornings and Evenings instead of a Breakfast and a Supper according to the manner following Take great Daisie Flowers a handful Snails cleans'd in number three Candied Eringo Roots half an Ounce Barley three Drams boil them in a Pound and a half of fountain water to a Pound Take from six Ounces to eight warm adding as much of Milk and afterwards let the quantity of this be encreased by degrees After the same manner let Cup-moss also the Leaves of ground Ivy St. John's-wort and of other Pectorals be boild and taken with Milk Decoctions of Woods frequently conduce very much to the Cure of an obstinate Cough especially being taken constantly for some time instead of Beer as an ordinary Drink Take Roots of Sarzaparilla four Ounces of China two Ounces red and white Saunders of each half an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Let them infuse according to Art and boil in eight Pounds of fountain water to four Pounds adding to it of Licorice six Drams Raisins ston'd an Ounce and a half In a Phlegmatick or cold Constitution add Raspings of Guaiacum 11. Distill'd Waters EVery Man may make many and different Forms of these as occasion requires and according to the Constitution of the Patient they may choose sometimes Milk alone sometimes Milk with some part of Wine sometimes Ale or Brunswick Beer I shall give you a Specimen of these as follows Take Leaves of ground Ivy Hyssop Pennyroyal of each four handfulls Snails half boil'd in their shells two Pounds Nutmegs slic'd in number six All of them being small shred together pour to them of new Milk eight Pounds Distil them in common Organs the Dose is three Ounces twice or thrice a day by it self or with some other Medicine When it s taken let each Dose be sweeten'd with Sugar-Candy or with Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy. In a Constitution that is not hot especially if there be no fervent heat of the Blood or Praecordia to six or seven Pounds of Milk add of Canary Wine a Pound or two and in a Phlegmatick or Aged Body instead of Milk let the Menstruum be Ale or Brunswick Beer Moreover in the Winter when Snails are not easily or scarce at all to be gotten the Lungs of a Lamb or of a Weather may properly enough supply their place and sometimes also those of a Calf half boil'd and slic'd very small and let them be distill'd with the foresaid Ingredients and added to a fit Menstruum in common Organs or a Rose-still In this Classis where it s treated of a Cough not yet arrived to a Phthisick we may aptly range the Convulsive or suffocating Cough of Children commonly called the Chin-Cough This Disease chiefly assaults Children and Infants and at certain times viz. in the Spring especially and Fall it s usually Epidemical The Diseased have frequent and very cruel fits of Coughing in which the Organs of Respiration do not only greatly labour but likewise being affected with Convulsions variously interrupt suspend or pervert their Actions But for the most part the Diaphragm being seiz'd with Convulsions by it self or by the impuise of other parts obstinately so continues for a very long space sometimes its Contraction and sometimes its Dilatation that Inspiration or Expiration being hindred for a time the Vital Breath can scarce be drawn at all so that the Coughers cry out as though they were strangled and their Countenance turns black through the Stagnation of
the Blood If haply those Organs being not so much seiz'd with Convulsions they can Cough out freely nevertheless they are still fore'd to Cough with violence and so long till theia strength fails them Though this Cough seldom kills or proves very dangerous yet it is very difficult to be Cur'd and oftner ceases of it self as the year changes then it is conquered by Medicines The reason is that we must not only in this as in an ordinary Cough alter the Blood and derive its drossy Excrements from the Lungs to the habit of the Body to be sent forth by transpiration but we must likewise take care to correct the Nervous Juice which in this case is vitiated with a Heterogeneous and Elastick matter which causes the Convulsive motions As to the Cure of this Disease the method of Curing us'd in other Coughs seldom proves successful in this whererore only Empirical Remedies are commonly Administred Amongst many Remedies of this kind the two following are usually preferr'd before all others whatsoever and are chiefly in use viz. to give inwardly Cup-moss and various preparations and compositions of it and if there be need of and further Cure the Child is to be put into some sudden fright And if these things work not the desir'd effect Ptisans Syrups Julapes or Decoctions and other Pectorals are laid aside and commonly all other Medicines are thrown by expecting till the Disease either ends of it self in process of time or be Cur'd by the succeeding change of the year Cup-moss so commonly us'd amongst us against Coughs of Children has an Astringent vertue as we find by its tast and contains Particles of a smart nature which denote a plenty of Volatile Spirits whence we guess its use to be to fix the Blood and to moderate the Fluxions of the Serum and likewise by Volatilising the Nervous Juice to take away its Convulsive disposition It s usually given in the form of a Powder Decoction and Syrup according to the following Forms Take Cup-moss Powdred a Dram Sugar-Candy a Scruple Mix them divide it into three or four parts take a Dose Evenings and Mornings with a fit Vehicle Take of the said Moss two Drams Lae Sulphuris two Scruples Powder of Anniseeds a Scruple Divide it into six parts give them after the same manner Take of the said Moss Dram boil it in a quantity of Milk sufficient for one Dose let the straining be taken Evening and Morning For those with whom Milk does not agree or to whom it does no good let a decoction of it be prepar'd in fountain water or Hyssop water or any other Pectoral water and let it be given to two or three Ounces twice a day sweetning it with Sugar or some proper Syrup Take of this Moss an Ounce boil it in two Pounds of some Pectoral Water till half be consum'd To the straining add of Sugar-Candy a Pound and let it evaporate in a gentle Bath heat to the consistency of a Syrup The other remedy commonly in use for the Cough of Children is to put them into some sudden fright as by setting them in a Binn when a Mill goes c. which sometimes Cures the Disense on a sudden the reason of which doubtless consists in this that the Animal Spirits being put to flights and driven into new distractions quit their former disorders and likewise that the Convulsive matter is either dissipated by that perturbation or driven into other Nerves where it proves less offensive The Empirical Cure of this Disease being thus set forth together with the Remedies vulgarly us'd and their Aetiologies at least probably explicated I shall now set down a certain rational method of Curing and haply more efficacious against these sorts of Coughs of Children Therefore in such a case I usually prescribe according to the Forms following and sometimes successively enough And First since we must begin with a Purge Take Syrup of Peach Flowers a spoonful Hysterick water a Scruple Mix them let it be taken Cum Regimine Or Take Calamelanos six Grains Scammony sulphurated Rosin of Jalup of each three Grains Make a Powder give it in a little pulp of preserv'd Cherries to a Boy of six Years Old and let the Dose be encreas'd or lessen'd according to the Age Let the Purge be repeated in six or seven days If the Patient as it often happens be prone to Vomit take Oxymel of Squills six Drams Salt of Vitriol four Grains Mix them give it to a Child six Years Old and according to this proportion let a Dose be accommodated to others I have known this kind of Vomit given every Morning for four or five days successively to have done well Blistering Plaisters are much us'd and let them be apply'd sometimes to the Nape of the Neck sometimes behind the Ears sometimes to the Insides of the Arms near the Armpits and as soon as the Sores in those places begin to heal let others be rais'd elsewhere Instead of Beer let the following Decoction be his ordinary drink Take China Roots and Ounce and a half all the Saunders of each half an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Let them infuse according to Art and boil them in six Pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd adding of Raisins ston'd an Ounce and a half Licorice three Drams Take Spirit of Gum Guaiacum with Sal Armoniack a Dram Syrup of Cup-moss three Ounces Hysterick water an Ounce The Dose is a little spoonful at Night and Early in the Morning Or Take Tincture of Sulphur two Drams The Dose is three drops at Night and early in the Morning in a spoonful of Syrup of Cup-moss To some persons of a hot Constitution and turning of a deep red or rather black colour with Coughing I have sometimes successfully ordered a Vein to be opened or that two or three Ounces of Blood should be drawn from them by Leeches Take live Millepedes cleans'd two Ounces Powder of Anniseeds a Dram Nutmegs haif a Dram double refin'd Sugar an Ounce Being bruis'd together pour to them of Hyssop water six Ounces Magistral Snail water two Ounces Stir them together a little with a Pestle and express it storngly the Dose is two or three spoonfuls twice a day Thus far of the Cough and its Cure whilst it is only an entrance to a Consumption now we must treat of this affect having pass'd the frontiers of this dangerous Disease and set down a method of Cure and forms of Medicines proper for Curing an Inveterate Cough viz. when either neglected or not easily yielding to Medicines it begins to degenerate into a Phthisick that is to say when it is come to that pass that the Blood being loosn'd in its Texture does not only pour the superfluous Serum but even the Nutritive and haply the Nervous Juice the Lympha and other its dreggy Excrements on the Lungs and deposes them within its Ductus's and withal that the depravation of the Lungs is by so much
Classes and those are Mixtures Linctus's Lohoch's Tinctures Balsams Troches Lozenges Powders Pills Decoctions and distill'd Waters We shall set before you some Examples of each of these to which also may be added some of the forms of the Medicines prescrib'd before for a beginning Cough and not yet arriv'd to a Phthisick 1. Magistral Mixtures and Syrups TAke of our Syrup of Diasulphur three Ounces Water of Earth-worms an Ounce Tincture of Saffron two Drams Mix them take a spoonful going to Bed and early in the Mornign Take Syrup of the Juice of Ivy three Ounces Snail water an Ounce Flowers of Suslphur a Dram Mix them by shaking them together the Dose is a spoonful Evenings and Mornings Take Tincture of Sulphur two Drams Laudanum Tartariz'd a Dram Syrup of the Juice of Ivy two Ounces Cinnamon water two Drams The Dose is a spoonful at Bed time and if the Person does not sleep towards Morning The Syrup of Diasulphur TAke Sulphur prepar'd after our manner half an Ounce the best Canary Wine two pounds Make a close digestion in B. M. or in Sand for twenty eight hours Which being done take double refin'd Sugar two pounds dissolve it and boil it to a consistency for Tablets in a little Water of Elder Flowers then pour to this by little and little the Wine ting'd with the Sulphur whilst warm let it boil a little on the fire scumming it and strain it through Woollen You will have a mest delicate Syrup of a Gold colour and of great efficacy against the Cough and other affects of the Lungs so there be no bayling heat of the Praecordia nor Hectick Feaver the Dose is a spoonful Evenings and Mornings by it self or with other Pectorals Syrup of Garlick TAke Cloves of Garlick Pill'd and out in slices in number ten or twelve Anniseeds bruis'd half an Ounce Elecampane Roots slic'd three Drams Licorice two Drams let them have a close and warm digestion for two or three days in a pound and a half of spirit of Wine put the clear and warm straining into a silver-dish add of double refin'd Sugar a Pound and a half the Dish being put on hot Coals let the liquor be set on fire and whilst it burns stir it sirain it through Woollen and keep it for use Syrup of Turnips TAke Turnips slic'd and double refin'd Sugar of each half a pound put them in a glaz d Pot a lay of Turnips and a lay of Sugar till it be full Let the Pot being cover'd with Paper be put into an Oven to Bake with Bread when it is taken out press forth the Liquor and keep it for use The Dose is a spoonful Mornings and Evenings Syrup of Snails TAke fresh Snails with their shells in number Forty cleanse them with a Linnen Cloath then each of them being run through with a Bodkin let the Apertures of the shells be fill d with Powder of Sugar Candy and being put in a Linnen Bag let them be hung up in a Cellar and let a Glass Vessel be set under them to receive the Syrup which will drop from them The Dose of this is a spoonful twice or thrice a day in a fit Vehicle viz. Aqua lactis or some Pectoral Decoction 2.3 Linctus's and Eclegma's TAke Conserve of red Roses three Ounces Tincture of our Sulphur two Drams Mix them by stirring them in a Glass Mortar the Dose is the quanticy of a Nutmeg at Night and early in the Morning Sometimes to allay a troublesome Cough you may add to this of Olibanum half a Dram or a Dram. Take Conserve of red Roses four Ounces Flowers of Sulphur four Scruples fine Oyl of Turpentine a Dram Species of Fox Lungs three Drans Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy what suffices Make a soft Lohoch to be taken after the same manner viz. Mornings and Evenings also to be suck'd at other times with a stick of Licorice Take Powder of Sugar Candy four Drams Tincture of Sulphur two Drams Mix them by stirring them in a Glass Mortar let it be taken after the same manner Instead of the Tincture of Sulphur you may put other Balsamick Tinctures as of Balsam of Peru of Opobalsamum of the Gum of Ivy Guaiacum Amber with many others which may be mixt either in Conserve of red Roses or with Conserve of the Flowers of Colts-foot or with Sugar Candy 4.5 Tinctures and Balsams of the same nature and composition as we have preserib'd before in a beginning Cough are proper in a Phthisick only the Dose must be a little larger Take of Tar an Ounce Water of quick Lime thrice Cohobated two pounds distil them in Balneo to half Then let the filtrated Liquor be drawn off in Balneo to the consistency of honey to which pour Tincture of Salt of Tartar half a pound Let it digest in a close Glass to extract the Tincture The Dose is from twenty drops to thirty with a proper Vehicle After the like manner a Tincture in gotten out of the black Oyl of Soot Liquid Amber Liquid Storax and many other things Take of our Sulphur prepar'd with the addition of Myrrh Aloes and Olibanum in a subtriple quantity an Ounce Let a Tincture be drawn off with Oyl of Turpentine also with Rectified Spirit of Wine The Dose of this is from fifteen drops to twenty 6.7.8 Troches Tablets and Powders because chiefly directed for the Cough are in a manner of the same Nature and Composition with those before prescrib'd for that affect when new taken only that for drying and consolidating the Lungs Sulphureous and Traumatick ingredients are requir'd in a greater proportion Take Powder of the Leaves of ground Ivy a Dram Flowers of Sulphur two Drams Sugar Penids a Dram and a half Juice of Licorice diluted with Hyssop-water what suffices Make Troches weighing half a Dram. Take Powder of Yarrow bruis'd and dry'd in the hot Sun half a Dram Flowers of Sulphur Olibanum powdred of each a Dram Powder of red Roses dry'd half a Dram Sugar dissolv'd and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets six Drams Oyl of Anniseeds a Scruple Make Tablets weighing half a Dram. Take one thrice or oftner in a day and especially at night and early in the morning 9. Pills TAke Juice of ground Ivy Clarified in the Sun a pound Flowers of Colts-foot dry'd tops of Hyssop Sage Penny-royal of each a handful Anniseeds Carraway-seeds sweet Fennel-seeds bruis'd of each half an Ounce distill them in Balneo Mariae to half then strain it and distill the straining to the consistency of Pills adding Juice of Licorice half a Dram Powder of Elecampane Roots Flowers of Sulphur of each three Drams Flowers of Benzoin a Dram Balsam of Peru half a Dram Tincture of Sulphur three Drams Laudanum Tartariz'd two Drams Make a Mass form it into small Pills and take three or four at night and early in the Morning 10. Decoctions such as we have before prescrib'd for an obstinate Cough may be also properly taken in a
First of one troubled with a simple Cough which begins of it self and is free from the suspicion of a Phthisick Some years since I took care of the Health of a Student who from his Childhood had been subject to a Cough and was wont often to undergo severe fits of it and of long continuance he seem'd to be of a pretty strong Constitution only that his lungs being originally weak suffer'd much whenever his blood began to run into serosities in summer as long as a free perspiration lasted he was sound enough but spring and fall when the blood changing its temper either of its own accord or upon some slight occasion offer'd falls into serous fluxions he fell lightly into a Cough accompanied with abundance of thick spittle yet this affect very often vanisht by degrees within six or seven days without any great adoe with Medicines assoon as the mass of blood was purg'd by the lungs But if to the said slight occasion of this Disease other greater Causes were added as chiefly the stoppage of the Pores and errours in Diet sometimes a most violent and obstinate Cough came upon him not soon nor easily yielding to Remedies and threatning nothing less than a Phthisick Then growing ill indeed for the first days he had light shiverings in his whole Body and perceiv'd a Catarrh in his Larynx Afterwards he was troubled with a frequent Coughing accompanied with a thin spittle together with a giddiness deadness of the senses and a dropping at the Nose In this state his best Remedy and often try'd with good success was to drink Sack somewhat freely and as little of any other Liquor as might be for by this means the Acidity and flowing of his Blood being supprest and a more free perspiration rais'd he sound himself very much eas'd and sometimes in a very short space grew well Moreover going to Bed and first in the Morning he us'd to take seven or eight drops of Tincture of Sulphur in a spoonful of Syrup of Violets or of the Juice of ground Ivy Or Take Conserve of red Roses four Ounces Spirit of Turpentine two Drams Mix them the Dose is the quantity of a Chesnut Evenings and Mornings But if these Remedies together with the Canary Antidote and a thin Diet do not do the Disease not being Cur'd by such means runs then to a great length and following him sharply for some Weeks and sometimes Months brings the Diseas'd to a mighty leanness and even to the brink of the Grave For the Cough growing daily worse and very troublesome hinders sleep mightily and interrupts it his strength languishes his appetite is dejected heat and drought press hard upon him In the mean time the Spittle is daily increas'd and cast forth in a vast quantity so that afterwards not only the Serum and dreggy Excrements of the Blood but even the nutritive Juice and the wastings of the solid parts being continually pour'd on the Lungs turn into corruption which is Cough'd forth in abundance but respiration grows difficult the Limbs very weak and the Flesh consumes very much When our Patient was lately ill in this manner we prescrib'd the following Method and Remedies by the continued use of which he at length recovered In the first place a thin Diet being ordered him and Ale or Beer wholly forbidden he took of the following Apozeme about four Ounces twice a day warm and a little of it at other times cold to quench his thirst Take China Roots two Ounces Sarzaparilla three Ounces white and yellow Saunders of each an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Infuse them according to Art and let them boil in eight pounds of fountain water to half adding Raisins of the Sun three Ounces Licorice three Drams Strain it and let it be us'd for ordinary drink Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams Let him take from seven drops to ten going to rest and early in the Morning in a spoonful of Syrup of Violets or of Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy. When by a long use of this Medicine he began to loath it the following Eclegma was ordered in its stead Take Conserve of red Roses four Ounces Spirit of Turpentine two Ounces Mix them by bruising them together the Dose is about a Dram at the same hours Afterwards instead of this the following Powder was sometimes taken Take Powder of the Leaves of ground Ivy prepar'd in the Summer Sun three Ounces Sugar Candy half an Ounce Mix them the Dose is half a spoonful twice a day with three Ounces of the following distill'd water Take Leaves of ground Ivy six handfuls Hyssop white Hore-hound of each four handfuls the Lungs of a Lamb half boil'd and slic'd small pour to them of Posset-drink made with small Ale eight pounds distil it in common Organs Let the whole Liquor be mingled and when it is us'd sweeten it at pleasure with Sugar Candy or Syrup of Violets To appease the almost continual toyl of Coughing he swallowed now and then the following Troches or a little extract of Licorice Take Species Diatragacanthi frigidi three Drams Powder of the Seeds of Annise Caraway and sweet Fennel of each half a Dram Flowers of Sulphur two Scruples Flowers of Benzoin a Scruple extract of Licorice diluted with Hyssop water what suffices Make a Paste and form it into Troches Or Take Species Diaireos è Pulmone Vulpis of each two Drams Flowers of Sulphur Roots of Elecampane of each half a Dram Oyl of Anniseeds half a Scruple Sugar dissolv'd in a sufficient quantity of Pennyroyal water and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets six Ounces Make Tablets according to art weighing half a Dram let him take one as often as he pleases swallowing it by little and little In the midst of this Course though he had a weak Pulse and was of a cold temperament he was let Blood in the Arm Besides these Remedies a great benefit accrued to him from the fresh Air which he took daily either on Horseback or in a Chariot For by this he first began to recover his Appetite Digestion and Sleep which afterwards were followed by degrees with an abatement of the other Symptoms so that at length he perfectly recover'd He has us'd a method like to this and with the like success as often as till this time he has been troubled with a tedious and stubborn Cough and now though he be wholly free from that distemper yet he is forc'd carefully to avoid all occasions by which the Pores are stop'd or by which a Fusion or Precipitation of the Blood into Serosities is rais'd such are chiefly his going by Water on the Thames and his drinking Acid Liquors as Cider French or Rhenish Wines The foregoing Relation gives you a Type and way of Curing a Cough caus'd through the fault of the Blood and not reaching the limits of a Phthisick Now follows another which Illustrates the nature of the same affect when it proceeds chiefly from the
quick motion of his Body or his going up a steep Ascent tormented him above measure he could not rest long on either side but was forc'd to lye always on his Back and with his Head raised And if he try'd to lye on either side presently a pain followed the Position of his Body and if haply he rolled himself from one side to the other the pain also being presently remov'd he felt as it were waters floating from one place to another So if he let his Body hang downwards over the Bedside he presently felt waters falling towards his Clavicular Bones Moreover if at any time his Body was heated more than ordinary by motion the heat of a Bed or of a Fire presently he felt in his Brest a boiling as it were of waters on the Fire and at the same time complained of a Giddiness and of a little fainting of his Spirits Being well satisfied by a due consideration of these things that he had a Dropsie of the Brest I prescrib'd the Method and Medicines following with success Take Calamelanos fifteen Grains Rosin of Jalap half a Scruple Syrup of Roses solutive what suffices make three Pills He took them early in the Morning and had twelve Stools which gave him great ease Then again on the third day he had only four Stools by the same Medicine though with greater relief to him than before He took afterwards for many days of a Diuretick and Pectoral Apozeme six Ounces And Lastly the same Purge being repeated he grew perfectly ivell SECT 2. Of Medicines regarding the Region of the Belly CHAP. I. Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of the Jaundise AS to the method of Curing this Disease there are three Primary Indications all which since we are in a manner always at a loss which of them is the chiefest and first to be put in Practise must be prosecuted together Therefore the Intentions of Curing must be First That the obstructions of the Ductus's must be open'd if haply there are any either in the Porus Biliarius or Meatus Cysticus or elsewhere about the Liver or Vessels that convey the Choler Secondly That the Blood be reduc'd to its due temper and Crasis lest it engender Choler in too great a plenty or render it unapt for separation Thirdly That the strength be upheld and that the Symptoms chiefly prejucicing it be provided against 1. To satisfy the First Incication Cathartick evacuations both by Vomit and Seige are greatly conducing with which the descent of the Choler towards the Intestines is Irritated and the obstructed Vessels being by this means mightily agitated are freed from their stoppages Secondly We must give Medicines that are smart bitter and salt and others endow'd with a certain instigating vertue which may sharply stir up the motion of the Gall gathered together in the Liver and there stagnating In this place also we must range such Medicines as are thought to be good against the Jaundise by a similitude of substance and as it were by a Signature viz. as being endow'd with a yellow Juice though many of these because they move Urine or Sweat may aptly enough be plac'd in the same rank with the former viz. amongst evacuative Medicines The Second Indication requires altering Medicines altogether viz. such as may depress the exaltations or wild efforts of the Sulphur and fixt Salt and help to the restitution of the Volatile Salt which was depress'd before For these purposes Medicines containing an Acid or Volatile Salt and likewise Chalybeats will do excellently well Hence Spirit of Salt of Vitriol Juice of Limons also Spirit of Hartshorn and Sheeps dung Goose dung Crocus Martis and other preparations of it of divers kinds are often prescrib'd in the Jaundise with good success The Third Incication being for the support of the strength and for removing Symptoms that prejudice it suggests to us many and diversifyed manners of Curing but to avoid tediousness I shall only set down certain general Rules concerning Diet and some Cordial and Anodine Remedies peculiarly proper in this case The Therapeutick Indications being thus laid before you it remains for us now to adjust Select Medicines viz. both simple and compound to each of those Intentions before propos'd and to explicate the manners and ways of operating of those Remedies which are accounted of most note in this Disesse First therefore we shall set before you the Forms of Evacuating Medicines appropriated to the Jaundise 1. Vomits EMetick Medicines most commonly are of good effect in a new Jaundise whilst the tone and strength of the Viscera hold good forasmuch as they both ease the Ventricle of its offensive load of viscous Phlegm with which its in a manner always opprest in this Disease and likewise by irritating the Vessels which convey the Choler and strongly shaking the Ductus's of the Liver they clear them of their stoppages and bring the Choler to pass by the ways it formerly was wont Take of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum from half an Ounce to six Drams Vinegar of Squills an Ounce Oxymel simple half an Ounce Make a Vomit to be taken with governance Sometimes it is proper to give the Evening before the following Mixtrue as a preparation to facilitate the Vomiting Take Powder of the Roots of Asarabacca Faecula of Aron Roots of each a Scruple Tartar vitriolated half a Scruple Oxymel simple an Ounce Mix them Take Sulphur of Antimony seven Grains Scammony sulphurated eight Grains Cream of Tartar half a Scruple Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of Panada Take Nine Leaves of Asarabacca being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Whitewine three Ounces press forth the Juice give it in the Morning with governance Take Cambogia prepar'd eight Grains Tartar vitriolated seven Grains Make a Powder Catharticks PUrging Medicines have place in this Disease whether it be new or inveterate viz. both that the plentiful supply of Excrements be now and then clear'd from the first passages and that the Vessels that convey the Choler be stirr'd up to excretion Take Electuary of the Juice of Roses three Drams Rhubarb a Dram Salt of Wormwood Cream of Tartar of each half a Scruple Syrup of Rhubarb what suffices Make a Bolus Take Roots of sharp pointed Dock prepar'd an Ounce tops of Sea Wormwood and of the lesser Centory of each two pugils Roots of Gentian and Turmerick of each two Drams yellow Saunders a Dram boil them in a pound and a half of fountain water to a pound towards the end add of the best Sena six Drams of the best Rhubarb three Drams Agarick a Dram and a half Coriander-seeds two Drams Whitewine two Ounces let them boil close covered for two hours then strain it and let it settle till it be clear The Dose is from four Ounces to six with Syrup of Rhubarb an Ounce water of Earth-worms three Drams Make a Potion to be taken for three or four days together or every other day In a weaker Constitution TAke
Dropsie I say that in an Anasarca the Morbifick matter which is a Lympha resieds partly in the Mass of Blood and partly in the habit of the Body within the Pores and empty Spaces lying betwixt the Vessells Wherefore a strong Cathartick being given it presently Exagitates the Mass of Blood fuses it and moves it to an Excretion of any supersluous or heterogeneous thing And at the same time irritates the Mouths of the Arteries which lye open towards the Cavityes of the Intestines that the water cast out of the Blood may find a way forth rather by these Emissaries Hence in the fust place the waters floating within the Mass of Blood are clear'd forth in a plentifull manner and then the Vessells being drain'd soon drink up the waters betwixt the Flesh and the Skin and presently send them forth partly by seigh and partly by Urine or Sweat There is no fear in the mean time lest as in an Ascites the Morbifick matter being Exagitated and put in Fusion by the Medicine be driven from the Blood into the places affected whence it cannot easily get out again or lest as in a Tympany the Viscera by reason of the Fibres of the Ventricle and Intestines being too much irritated are mov'd into Convulsive Extensions for whilst the Viscera are sound and in a good state the Particles of the Medicament do them no hurt but being carryed thence into the Blood do not only fetch waters from it but by Exagitating its Mass raise up its Active Particles before opprest and dispose them for recovering their power of Fermentation Secondly I have also set down before the Hydragogues operating by Urine both simple and compound and have given you Forms of Medicines prepar'd of both and the ways of giveing them Wherefore I shall not repeat them here But because all Medicines of this kind do not good alike in all affects we must here observe that Lixivials as I have often found by experience far exceed the rest of Diureticks in Curing the Anasarca And now it 's a much us'd and common Remedy for any one who has his Members swell'd to Purge first and then to take twice or thrice a Day six or eight Ounces of a Lixivium made of White-wine with the Ashes of Wormwood or of Broom and to continue its use for some Days This Medicine as I have observ'd in many powerfully provok's Urine nay sometimes in such Abundance that the Patients within the space of twenty four hours making above a Gallon and a half of water have presently recover'd almost to a miracle The reason why Medicines containing a fixt and lixivial Sal expell Urine more in an Anasarca than such as are endow'd with an Acid or Alchalisate or Volatile Salt is that in this Disease the watery Homours which upon failing of the Fermentation of the Blood and of its sanguifying Vertue are gathered together as well within its Mass as in the habit of the Body upon stagnating there some time are turn'd somewhat sharp Wherefore the Lixivial Particles of the Medicine entering the Blood presently grow in a heat with the Acids of the waters which as they exagitate and ferment they cause a mighty Fermentation in the whole Mass of the Blood and a following excretion Take of the Ashes of Broom or of Wormwood or of the Prunings of Vines calcin'd to a whiteness and sifted four Ounces put them in a Glass-bottle with two Pounds of White-wine let there be a close and warm Digestion for three or four hours then strain it the Dose is from six Ounces to eight twice a Day Take white Tartar calcin'd with Nitre and after melted in a crucible till it look blew three Ounces small Spirit of Wine a pound and half water of Snails and Earth-worms of each four Ounces let them digest close luted in a sand-furnace for two Days the Dose of the clear Liquor is two or three Ounces with four Ounces of the Decoction of the Roots of Butchers Broom and Burdocks made in Ale For Ordinary Drink TAke white Ashes of Broom cleans'd two Pounds put them in a Bag with Raspings of Sassafras three Ounces Roots of the lesser Galingal an Ounce Juniper berryer and wild Carrot Seeds of each an Ounce and a half make a Bag for four Gallons of Ase after seven or eight Days begin to draw it Diaphoreticks often do excellently well in a Leucophlegmatia which begins or concludes an Anasarca and they usually agree better in this Disease when confirm'd than in other kinds of the Dropsie And though at the beginning they are not able to move Sweat because the habit of the Body is invested with a deal of waters however by exagitating the Blood they are a means that the active Particles implanted in it which were dull'd before and almost overwhelm'd are rais'd up again and dispos'd to a Fermentation and that all the dreggy Excrements especially such as are Aqueous are put in Motion so that presently breaking forth of their Receptacles in a plentiful manner they readily pass off by Seige or Urin and often in some measure by transpiration But after that the waters being well clear'd by Purging the Morbifick matter is so far diminisht that the bulk of the Body and the swelling of the Members begin to abate the remainder of the Humour is excellently consum'd by moderate Sweats and by a constant perspiration We have given you before a List and Forms of Hydroticks but as to our present purpose for the Cure of an Anasarca those things are most proper which are given in somwhat a large Dose for as to such as are prescrib'd in a small quantity their active Particles being immerg'd in the waters are overwhelm'd before they can be diffus'd in the Blood so as to exert their force wherefore Spirits whether Armoniack or Vinous also Tinctures and Elixirs nay and Powders seldom come in use against this Disease because in a small Dose they do little and if it be made very large they often offend the bowels by their excess in operation therefore let those things rather be made choice of which being taken in a full Draught and warm may be able to pass the whole Blood uncorrupted as chiefly the Decoctions of Woods and Roots whose Particles agreeing well enough with the Blood but being not to be mastered by it pass through its whole Mass and exert an Elastick force putting all the Humours in a Commotion Take Raspings of Guaiacum six Ounces Sassafras two Ounces all the Saunders of each six Drams shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each three Drams let them infuse according to Art and boyl in eight Pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd addïng Roots of Calamus Aromaticus the lesser Galingal Burdocks and Butter-burr of each an Ounce Leaves of Woodsage and Germander dryed of each two handfulls let the straining be kept for use the Dose is from eight Ounces to ten twice a Day warm to each Dose may be added Spirit of Sal Armoniack
succinated or of Soot from twenty to twenty five Drops Or Tincture of Salt of Tartar from half a Dram to a Dram. So much of Hydragogue Medicines to be taken inwardly which cause waters to be evacuated either by drawing them inwardly towards the Intestines or by driving them out to the Reins or to the Pores of the Skin Moreover there are certain outward Administrations us'd by which waters gather'd together within the habit of the Body are put in motion and so dispos'd either generally to pass off by Sweat or Urine or particularly are presently let forth a Vent being made in some peculiar places In the first rank we place Frictions Liniments Fomentations Baths both dry and moist And particular things to evacuate waters are Vesicatories Escharoticks and prickings by a Needle I shall speak of each of these or at least of the chief of them as far as they regard this Disease Frictions prove often of good effect in a Leucophlegmatia and an Anasarca For as the habit of the Body is not only so charg'd with a Glut of filthy waters there heapt together that nothing can breath through them but even the outward parts grow cold upon the Blood 's being hindred of an access to them frequent and strong Frictions give a motion to the stagnating waters and in some measure dissipate them from thence and by opening the passages call again the Blood into those parts whence it was banisht wherefore it is good not only to rubb the swollen Member but even the whole Body once or twice a Day with a course Cloath or with a little brush now commonly made for that purpose In rubbing or after it Liniments and Fomentations are somtimes proper They are prepar'd either of Salts and other Minerals dissolv'd or of hot and discussing Vegetables boil'd with Lees of Wine in water and being apply'd hot open the Pores give a farther motion to the accumulated Waters and discuss them and enlarge the compass of the Blood 's circuit the watery Mass being in some measure dissipated The Liniments consist of Sulphur and Salts of divers kinds or of Quick-lime and other Minerals which being powdred and mixt with the Mucilaginous extracts of Smart Herbs are made into an Ointment To which for their better consistency let a fit quantity of Oyl of Scorpions be added Nay this Oyl apply'd by it self so it be right gives often great relief I knew a Boy swollen very much with an Universal Anasarca who was Cur'd by this only Remedy For his Mother I know not how advis'd anointed his whole Body Mornings and Evenings with Oyl of Scorpions chafing well the parts with her warm hand Upon which within three Days he began to make a vast quantity of water and having continued to make water so for some Days the swelling vanishing by degrees he grew well Baths are scarce proper for any Dropsie but an Anasarca nor for this but in the first Disposition to it or as it goes off For since by the heat of Baths encompassing the whole Body the Blood being made very hot and instigated puts the waters every where in motion which were stagnating before and drinking them into it self conveys them sundry ways there is danger lest as it frequently happens receiving them from the habit of the Body into its Mass it presently deposes them in the Praecordia or the Brain for there is nothing more usual than that the affects of those parts viz. an Asthma or Apoplexy happen to Hydropical persons after bathing But when the conjunct cause of the Disease viz. the swelling is moderate or not very great a Bath of water impregnated with Salts and Sulphur or also a hot-house promoting a gentle Sweat are often us'd with good effect Instead of a hot-house it 's better that the Patients be plac't in some convenient Cells in a Salt-house near the Furnaces in which the Mineral water is boil'd into Salt which often proves of mighty benefit to them Vesicatories let forth the waters betwixt the Flesh and the Skin in a plentiful manner and somtimes too profusely these are to be apply'd to Hydropical persons with very great caution for such an Epispastick apply'd to swollen places makes a vent too wide upon the opening of which the water first breaking forth often draws after it from the whole Neighbourhood a great Glut of it whence presently follows a great Consternation of the Spirits Moreover somtimes the place so drain'd on a sudden being depriv'd of Heat and Spirits in a short time becomes mortifyed Wherefore this Medicine is seldom apply'd to the Leggs or Feet of hydropical persons where the neat is weak and the swelling very great but somtimes to the Thighs and Arms with security when need requires Escharoticks are apply'd somwhat more safely to the swollen Places than Vesicatories because the Flux of waters out of this Vent is not so violent and in such Abundance presently at first But beginning moderately it grows after by little and little to a great Current which nature after being accustom'd to it by degrees bears better Moreover there is less danger of a Gangrene after an Escharotick than after a Vesicatory because in that Application the part whose Union is dissolv'd is fortify'd by the Eschar against the loss of heat I knew an illiterate Empyrick who often by an Echarotick successfully evacuated the Members of Hydropical peasons though never so much swollen after the following manner viz. First he fomented their Leggs Morning and Evening with a Decoction of Dwarfe-elder Wormwood Camomill and other hot Herbs the Lees of Wine or Ale being added to them and betwixt the times of fomenting he apply'd a Cataplasm made of the Faeces of that Decoction with Bran After these things had been us'd three Days he covered both Leggs and Feet with a Plaister of Burgundy-Pitch leaving only a small hole on each Calf to the bigness of a small Nut in which places he put an Escharotick of the Ashes of Ashen Bark to the naked Skin which being remov'd after twelve hours a small Eschar was left out of whose Pores the Matter first Sweated gently then daily distill'd forth somwhat more freely and at length the Eschar falling off it flow'd forth in a plentifull Stream as from an open Source till it was drawn from the whose Legg both above and beneath There remains yet another way of drawing forth waters from betwixt the Flesh and the Skin not inferior to the former though less in use viz. by the pricking of a Needle Which also much be done very cautiously and by little and little lest a head-strong and excessive Flux of waters be rais'd by it Take an ordinary Needle such as Taylors use and prick the Skin over with it in the place most swell'd but let it not enter so far as to draw Blood and so make six or seven little holes at a time about an inch distant the one from the other The water will Issue by drops forth of each little hole
the Nostrils so the like being pour'd into the Mouth often give help wherefore we often give with good success to Hysterical persons the Tincture of Castoreum Solutions of Assa Foetida and of Galbanum also the Spirits of Harts-horn and of Soot with appropriated Waters Take Spirit of Harts-horn from twelve drops to fifteen or twenty let them be taken in a little Draught of the following Julape Take Water of Penny-royal and Mugwort of each four Ounces Water of Bryony compound two Ounces Castoreum tyed in a Nodulus and hung in the Glass half a Dram double refined Sugar an Ounce Mix them Take Tincture of Castoreum from a Scruple to half a Dram let it be taken in a little Draught of Small-beer Take Assa Foetida or Galbanum two Drams let them be dissolved in Spirit of Wine till a red Tincture be extracted the Dose is a Scruple in two or three Spoonfuls of Water of Featherfew Riverius greatly extols that of Solenander Take Musk Dragons-blood of each a Scruple let more or less be taken in three or four Ounces of Water of Navews Johannes Anglicus commends the Seeds of Parsnips or of Columbines in Wine or an appropriated Water as most certain Remedies If the Fit continuing a long time renders the Person senseless or without any Pulse let smart Clysters as of the Roots of Briony with Carminatives boil'd with them in Water be injected let Frictions be us'd to the Legs and Feet and if we must proceed to stronger things let Cupping-glasses be applied to the Belly or Groin nay and let sneezing be often provok'd it is good for some to give them in the midst of the Fit a Draught of cold Water either simple or in which Camphire has burnt The preservatory Indication comprehends these three chief intents viz. First To take away or to drive to some place else the impurities of the Blood which are apt to be discharg'd on the Brain and Genus Nervosum Secondly To fortifie the Brain and so strengthen the Spirits in it that they either admit not at all the Heterogeneous Combination or readily shake it off Thirdly to amend whatsoever is amiss in the Womb and contributes to the Convulsive Disposition 1. The first Intention is perform'd by Purging and Bleeding and other common ways of Cleansing and Purging the Blood and Humours If there be room for a Vomit I Judge we must always begin with that especially in Cacochymical persons or such as are troubled with the longing disease in whom a mighty load of Viscous Phlegm sticking in the Folds and Coats of the Stomach hinders the vertues of other Medicines Within a few days after the Vomit unless somewhat indicates the contrary let Blood be drawn in Women of a hot temperament presently from the Arm and afterward if need be from the Foot or from the Veins of the Fundament by Leeches but in Bodies troubled with obstructions and less hot let Blood be drawn more sparingly and rarely and only in places seated below the Womb. After these evacuations provided always that they are indicated being duly perform'd let a Purge be given once within six or seven days according to the forms following Take Pil. Foetidae Majores a Dram and a half Rosin of Jalap twelve Grains Tartar Vitriolated Castoreum of each a Scruple Ammoniacum dissolved in Hysterick Water what suffices make twelve Pills for three Doses Or Take Rosin of Jalap eighteen Grains Calomelanos a Dram Castoreum a Scruple make a Powder divide it into three parts for three Doses give it in the Pap of a boil'd Aple or in Conserve of Borage To persons of a Hot temperament a dose of our Extract or Loosning Syrup may be properly given For the revulsion of the Morbisick matter from the Head an Issue in the Leg or Thigh and somtimes Vesicatories Ligatures and Painful Frictions are wont to be us'd Nor must we only have regard here to the cleansing of the Blood and to the Revulsion of its superfluous Dreggs from the Head but likewise to the alteration of its Liquor and the reducing of it to its due Crasis Wherefore in certain Hysterical persons Chalybeats prove beneficial in others Mineral Waters or Whey in some the use of Hot Baths are wont to do mighty good 2. The second intention viz. the rectifying of the Brain and of the Animal Spirits is perform'd by Cephalick and Particularly by Anticonvulsive Medicines and let them be carefully given almost every day when there is no Purging or Bleeding There being various kinds and ways of Administration of such Medicines I shall here give you some of the more choice forms of them Take Faecula of Briony Assa Foetida Castoreum of each a Dram Salt of Coral Amber and of Jupiter of each half a Dram Galbanum dissolv'd in Hysterick Water what suffices made a Mass the Dose is from half a Scruple to a Scruple Morning and Evening Drinking after it a Dose of an appropriated Liquor Or Take seeds of Wild Parsnips and of Nettles of each two Drams Vitriol of Mars a Dram extract of Gentian and Feverfew of each a Dram and a half with a sufficient quantity of a Syrup of Mugwort make a Mass let it be taken to half a Dram after the same manner If the form of a Powder be more grateful Take roots of Virginia Serpentary and Contrayerva of each a Dram and a half Coral prepar'd Pearl White Amber of each a Dram mix them make a Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram Morning and Evening with an appropriated Liquour Let Opiates be made after this manner Take Conserves of the Flowers of Lillies of the Valley Male Peony and Betony of each two Ounces Peony Seeds Red Coral prepar'd of each two Drams Powder of Bastard Dittany a Dram and a half Salt of Wormwood two Drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Citron Pills make an Electuary The Dose is Morning and Evening the quantity of a Nutmeg After the same manner to the Poor let Conserves of the Leaves of the Tree of Life or of the Leaves of Rue be given twice aday The Liquours appropriated to Hysterical affects and to be Drank after the foresaid Medicines are either Distilled Waters which may be taken by themselves or with others in the Form of a Julape or they are Decoctions or Tinctures and Infusions Take Water of Mugwort and Pennyroyal of each half a Pound Hysterick Water four Ounces Tincture of Castoreum half an Ounce Syrup of Coral an Ounce and a half mix them the Dose is from an Ounce to an Ounce and a half with any of the Medicines above prescribed Take Leaves of Penny-royal Feverfew both Southernwoods Calamint Nep both Horehounds of each a Handful Briony Roots four Ounces Parsnip-Seeds two Ounces being Slic't and Bruis'd pour to them of White-wine or Sider six pounds distil them according to Art Take roots of Male Peony Angelica Valerian of each half an Ounce Leaves of Mugwort Ground Pine Calamint Peny-royal Misteltoe
Stomach cold Dyscrasies also of the Blood and Spleen are joyn'd I use to prescribe according to the following forms Take Troches of Rhubarb Powder of Aron Roots Winters bark of each two Drams Roots of Virginia Serpentary Contrayerva Diatrion Santalon Crabs-eyes of each a Dram Extract of Gentian and Centory of each a Dram and a half Ammoniacum dissolved in Water of Earth-worms what suffices make a Mass for Pills let four Pills be taken in the Morning and at four a Clock in the Afternoon drinking after it a little Draught of Wormwood or Chalybeat Wine with a moderate Exercise Take Conserve of the Yellow Coats of Oranges and Lemons of each three Ounces Myrobalanes Condited in number two Species Aromatici Rosats Winters bark of each two Drams Salt of Wormwood two Drams Vitriol of Mars a Dram or Steel prepar'd three Drams with a sufficient quantity of the Juice of Citron-Pills make an Electuary let it be taken twice a day drinking after it a Draught of Wormwood-wine or of Wine in which the Bark or Flowers of Tamarisk are infus'd To those that like none but nice Medicines and in a small quantity you may properly give the Tinctures of Antimony of Coral also of Steel prepar'd with Spirit of Wine the Body being first open'd by fit Menstruums and brought to a Calx nay and I have known that Spirit of Soot also of Blood or of Harts-horn taken twice a day to twelve drops more or less in an appropriated Liquor have proved mighty beneficial above any other Medicines Again the assiduous drinking of Coffee and of Tea has done some very much good But if a Fervency and over-great Fermentation of the Blood be joyn'd to the Hypochondriacal Affect with a fervent heat of the Spleen and a restlesness of mind Take Conserve of Hips six Ounces or of Flowers of Tamarisk and Leaves of Wood-sorrel of each three Ounces Species Diarrhodon Abbatis the Confection of Alkermes of each a Dram Ivory Powdered a Dram and a half Pearl half a Dram Salt of Tamarisk and of Wormwood of each a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of the Juice of Citrons or of Clove Gilliflowers Make an Opiate let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken twice a day Take Ivory Powdered two Drams Pearl powdered a Dram Species Diarrhodon Abbatis and Diamargariti frigidi of each a Dram and a half make a subtle Powder add of double refined Sugar dissolved in Baulm Water and boiled to a Consistency for Tablets six Ounces Make Tablets according to Art Take from a Dram and a half to two Drams twice a day Or to other Medicines of the like kind let the use of spaw-Spaw-waters be joyn'd which indeed in either nay in any cases of Hypochondriack Melancholy are in a manner always taken with good Success For waâ— of these Waters let our Artificial Spaw Waters be taken in thâ—â— stead nay and let Whey and if there be a considerable Atrophia let Asses Milk be daily taken Besides these inward Remedies and the other outward Applications above mentioned let Bleeding or Drawing of Blood from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches be frequently used nay and it is proper sometimes according to the Prescripts of the Antients to open the Salvatella Vein Moreover Cauteries and Issues which continually derive forth the Recrements of the adust Blood and discharge them by little and little are wont to do good to all 4. The Fourth Indication having regard to the Affects or Convulsive Symptoms of the Brain and Genus Nervosum which ensue upon the former is seldom put in practice by it self and apart from the others but the Remedies appointed for this end are complicated with those above written Liquors endowed with a volatile or Armoniack Salt as Spirit of Harts-horn of Soot are very proper for this intent and often likewise for the others even now mentioned Wherefore let such Remedies unless somewhat indicates the contrary be daily given at a seasonable hour Moreover when the Spaw Waters are Drunk let Tablets or Pills such as are above prescrib'd for Convulsive Affects be taken at least twice a day In a frequent giddiness and Scotomia also in Passions of the Heart Faintings of the Spirits with a fear and a dread as it were of present Death I have known a mighty Cure often performed by the use of Chalybeat Medicines Of Chalybeate Medicines SInce mention is here made of Chalybeate Medicines it seems expedient to enquire into the various Preparations of them and consequently into the divers sorts of Affects which they are wont to produce in the Body of Man that hence it may appear by what means and on what accounts these or other Preparations of Iron mightily benefit some Hypochondriacal persons and very much injure others Steel or Iron consists chiefly of Salt Sulphur and Earth it has very little of Spirit and Water and the Particles of the former Elements especially the Sulphureous and Saline in the mixt combin'd together with the Earth remain wholly fixt and without Action but being loosed and divided from each other they have a very efficacious Energy The foresaid Particles are dissolv'd and set at Liberty for Action two ways viz. either by Art when Medicines are prepared or by Nature after they are inwardly taken We shall consider both 1. The Filing of Iron inwardly taken is dissolved by the Ferment of the Stomach as by an acid Menstruum and upon the Iron 's being dissolved within the Viscera of Concoction the active Particles both Sulphureous and Saline plentifully display themselves and mixing with the nutritive Juice are carried into the Blood and as they are of a differing virtue often both of them as it were by joint Forces conspire for the good of the Diseased The Sulphureous Corpuscles passing into the Blood furnish it with a new and more plentiful stock of Sulphur so that its Mass if it were before depauperated and effaete ferments more sprightly within its Vessels and being more kindled in the Heart acquires a Heat more intense and a deeper colour Thus many troubled with a Leucophlegmatia and the longing Disease whose Countenance is pale and whose Blood is cold and watery after the use of Steel soon become of a more florid Aspect the Blood being given a more intense Tincture and Heat Again upon the Filing of Iron being dissolved in the Stomach the Saline Particles also are displayed and often produce good effects both in the solid parts and the Humours for being of a vitriolick and stiptick nature they astringe and corroborate the over Lax and weaken'd Fibres of the Viscera and so restore their broken Tone Moreover they stop the Impetus of the Blood repress it s over boiling and rising to a Froth and keep it in an even Circulation And again which is their greatest Virtue they straiten and close the over lax open and gaping Mouths of the Arteries so that neither the Serum nor bloody Latex may distil forth or break off the thread of Circulation
Rusticks and poor people this Medicine of a very easie preparation is commended by many Take Leaves of Water-cresses three handfuls of the lesser Sorrel two handfuls being slic't let them be macerated in six Pounds of Milk and let them boil to a consumption of a third part let it be taken twice a day from four Ounces to eight The Decoction of Worm-wood is commended by Eugalenus and others I have often tryed the following Medicine with good success Take Broom tops three handfuls being slic't small let them boil in three Pounds of strong Beer to a half let it be given from two Ounces to three twice a day 2. Infusions AN Infusion added to a Decoction makes a very profitable Medicine Take Roots of Scorzonera and Chervil of each an Ounce Leaves of Agrimony and Ground-pine of each half a handful burnt Harts-horn two Drams Raisins half a handful set them boil in three Pounds of fountain-Fountain-water till a third part be consumed Add of Rhenish-wine half a Pound and presently let it be strain'd into a glass Vessel to which put Leaves of Scurvy-grass and Brook-limes bruis'd of each half a handful Orange Pills preserv'd and slic't small half an Ounce make a close and warm Infusion for six hours let the straining be kept in stopt Vessels The Dose is six Ounces twice a day after a solid Medicine Take Whey made with White-wine or Cider a Pound and a half in this boil Roots of Bur-dock and candied Eringo's of each six Drams Juniper-berries preserv'd half an Ounce Let the Liquour being boil'd away to the consumption of a third part be strain'd into a Flagon to which put Leaves of Scurvy-grass and Brook-limes of each a handful make a warm and close Infusion for six hours The Dose is half a Pound twice a day after a solid Medicine Infusions also made by themselves are sometimes of excellent use Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass a handful Raspings of the Root of Horse-raddish half a handful Winters-bark bruis'd two Drams let them be put in a Glass with White-wine or Cider and water of Scurvy-grass of each a Pound let them infuse in a Cellar for two or three days The Dose is from six Ounces to eight twice a day as above 3. Juices and Expressions THE most commendable use of Antiscorbutick Herbs and Fruits is that their Juices and Expressions be taken by themselves or with other appropriated Liquours twice or thrice a day For so the entire and pure Vertue of the Remedy is presum'd to be given Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass Water-cresses Brook-limes of each three handfuls being bruis'd let the Juice be prest forth and be kept in a Glass well stopt The Dose is from an Ounce and a half to three Ounces twice a day in a little draught of Beer Wine or distil'd Water Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass four handfuls of Wood-sorrel two handfuls being bruis'd let the Juice be exprest which being put in a Glass and well stopt will soon become clear for the Acidity of the Wood-sorrel precipitates the grosser parts of the Scurvy-grass The same thing comes to pass if the Juice of Oranges be mixt with the Juice of Scurvy-grass The Dose is two or three Ounces twice a day Takes Leaves of Scurvy-grass four handfuls of Brook-limes and Garden-cresses of each two handfuls long Pepper three Drams Raspings of Horse-raddish two Ounces being all bruis'd together let them be put in a Glaz'd Pot with two Pounds of Rhenish-wine or of Sack if it be thought better The Orifice being well stopt let them stand in a cold Cellar for two days then express it strongly the Dose is three Ounces twice a day after a solid Medicine Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass three handfuls of Brook-limes Garden-cress and Wood-sorrel of each a handful being bruis'd pour to them Water of Snails and of Earth-worms of each six Ounces make a strong Expression and keep it in a Glass well stopt The Dose is two Ounces twice a day 4. Syrups FOR the same reason as Decoctions Syrups also are disapprov'd of in the Scurvy viz. in as much as the vertue of the most efficacious Simples evaporates in boyling Yet because sometimes there seems need of such a Medicine for sweetning appropriated Medicines for some persons we shall here propose our preparation the Vertues of the Ingredients being preserv'd as much as may be Therefore take Leaves of Garden Scurvy-grass six handfuls the Coats of four Oranges and of two Limons thinly par'd off the Raspings of Raddish-roots half a handful long Pepper powdred three Drams all of them being bruis'd together let the Juice be exprest which presently being put in a Glass and well stopt let it be set in a cold Cellar till it becomes clear by subsiding Then let the clear Liquour be pour'd off into another Glass by inclination and being stopt let it be kept in the heat of a Balneum Mariae Mean while for each Ounce of it take of Sugar an Ounce and a half and let its whole quantity dissolv'd with a little Water of Earth-worms be boil'd to a consistency for Tablets to which presently let the foresaid Liquour whilst warm be pour'd by little and little and let it be stir'd with a Spatula assoon as it is incorporated let the composition be taken from the Fire and being cold let it be put into a Glass Let this Nodulus be hung in the Glass Take Cinnamon bruis'd a Dram and a half Seeds of Garden-cress and of Rocket powdred of each an Ounce mix them 5. Distil'd Waters DIstil'd Waters because they are a neat and pleasant Remedy are in a manner all in all amongst Antiscorbutick prescripts some very profitable and neat Dispensations of these are contained in our Dispensatory as are Radish-water compound the Magistral Waters of Snails and of Earth-worms Moreover there are famous Prescripts of these kinds of Waters delivered by Quercetan Dorncrelius Sennertus Doringius and other Authors It 's also easie for every Physitian to prescribe such appropriated to the condition of each Patient as occasion requires For Antiscorbutick Ingredients and likewise such as regard certain Accidents and particular Affects are taken to which being slic't and bruis'd a fit Liquour viz. White-wine Cider or Whey prepar'd of either is pour'd Then the whole mixture is distil'd in a Cucurbit or in a Rose-still I shall here give you a form or two of such as we commonly use Take Leaves of both Scurvy-grasses Brook-limes Water-cresses tops of Broom of each four handfuls Leaves of Germander and Ground-pine of each two handfuls Roots of Horse-raddish half a Pound of Aron Angelica Master-wort of each four Ounces the outward Coats of four Oranges and of as many Limons Roots of Calamus Aromaticus an Ounce Cinnamon Cloves of each half an Ounce being slic't and bruis'd pour to them of the best Cider eight Pounds let them digest for two days in a Glaz'd Pot close luted Afterward distil them in a common Distillatory let the Waters first and last drawn be mixt In the Winter season
Against the Marasmus caus'd through the fault of the Blood degenerated from its Crasis Asses or Cows Milk diluted with Barley Water or a proper distill'd Water often give help Snail Broaths or Milk Drinks with Snals boyl'd in them moreover Waters distill'd of Milk or Whey with Snails and temperate Antiscorbutick Herbs are greatly conducing in this case For this end also Decoctions of vulnerary Herbs and Antiscorbutick Herbs infus'd in them are taken with good success Mean while let frictions be daily us'd to the outward parts with Cloaths moistned and made Warm with Vnguenticum Resumptivum or fresh oyl of Almonds When an Atrophia arises through the fault of the Blood being affected and consequently perverting the nutritive Juice it has for the most part a Feaver of irregular returns joyned with it with Night-sweats viz. in as much as the Mass of Blood is forc't to irregular and inconstant Effervescencies from that degenerated Juice and the matter so offending is cast forth by Night-sweats in this case a thin Dyet being ordered let Decoctions and Distill'd Waters that fuse and purifie the Blood be frequently taken with Antiscorbuticks mixt with them Take shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each two Drams and a half candied Eringo Roots six Drams Roots of Chervil and Dandelion of each half an Ounce Leaves of Harts tongue and Liverwort of each a handful one Apple slic't Raisins a handful Let them boil in four Pounds of fountain-Fountain-water till a third part be consumed let the straining be poured on Leaves of Brooklimes bruised two handfuls Sal Prunella a Dram and half or fixt Nitre a Dram make a close and warm Infusion for three Hours Let four or six Ounces be taken thrice a Day Take Leaves of Brooklimes four Pounds Roots and Leaves of Sorrel and Dandelion of each two Handfuls Snails cleansed a Pound and a half the Rinds of two Oranges being sliced and bruised pour to them of new Milk or of Whey made with Cider or fresh Juice of Apples six pounds let them be Distill'd after the vulgar way Let three Ounces be taken twice or thrice a day Of the Rheumatism WE conclude that this Affect proceeds from the congress and mutual effervescency of Salts that are of a different origine and Nature viz. of the fixt Salt coming from the Blood and of the acid Salt coming from the nervous Liquor The Subjects of both Salts are superfluous Dregs depos'd from the foresaid Humours forc'd into certain Turgescencies and discharg'd sometimes on these Parts sometimes on those Wherefore that the Disease may be Cur'd both let the Turgescencies of the Humours be appeas'd and their superfluous Dregs be purg'd forth and let the Salts degenerating both ways be reduc'd to a State of volatility For the two first intents a gentle Purge and Bleeding are chiefly requir'd and now and then as the strength will bear they ought to be repeated and also let Diureticks and Diaphoreticks be now and then given which any way convey forth the Saline Serosities And that these Evacuations proceeding calmly and with a well-bearing and Nature assisting may succeed the better let Opiats frequently be us'd For the other Intent in which the chief stress of the Cure consists Alteratives and especially such as are endow'd with a volatile Salt greatly conduce Wherefore in this case its a vulgar but no contemptible Medicine to give twice or thrice a day to four or six ounces of the Infusion of a Stone-horse Dung made in a small Wine or Ale or in an appropriate Distill'd Water and a Medicine somewhat more grateful and no less efficacious may be prepar'd if a Water be distill'd from that Dung with Antiscorbutick Ingredients infused in White-wine or Cider which may be given to three or four Ounces twice a day I have often prescribed Spirit of Harts-horn and of Blood in this case with a mighty benefit to the Diseased Of the Dropsie WHereas we conclude the Dropsie which is wont to happen upon the Scurvy to be twofold viz. habitual and occasional Concerning the Cure of the first for the most part all labour is lost for no Remedies are able to restore the Liver and the Lungs and sometimes other Viscera wholly vitiated and the Crasis of the Blood utterly subverted In such a case if any thing seems fit to be done the Scope of Physick is very narrow for there is no room left for Catharticks nor Diaphoreticks nor for a strong Evacuation of any other kind We must insist chiefly and in a manner only on Diureticks and Cordials For these ends let Elixirs Tinctures Electuaries Powders Infusions Decoctions distill'd Waters c. which consist partly of Antihydropicks partly of Antiscorbuticks be given the forms of which I have nevertheless thought good to omit as signifying little or nothing The Scorbutick Dropsie raised on a sudden from an evident cause or on some accident often admits of Cure for the more easie performance of which the tumults of Nature ought in the first place to be appeased and its disorders composed Wherefore if Watchings continue very offensive let sleep be procured by the use of Opiats and now and then as often as it seems very necessary let it be procured again As soon as strength will give leave for Purging let the following Powder be taken and let it be now and then repeated at due intervals of time mean while let the Belly be kept soluble by the frequent use of Clysters Take Mercurius Dulcis a Scruple Rosin of Julape from five Grains to ten Cloves half a Scruples mix them let it be given in a Spoonful of Panada at other times let Diureticks and sometimes Diaphoreticks be carefully taken Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar impregnated with the Infusion of Millepedes as much as you think good let it be given from a Scruple to two Scruples twice a day with an appropriated Liquor Take Spirit of Sal Armoniack what you think good the Dose is from half a Scruple to fifteen drops after the same manner Take Millepedes prepar'd three Drams Salt of Tartar two Drams Nutmegs a Dram mix them make a Powder The Dose is half a Dram twice a day with an appropriated Liquour Or Take Bees dryed and powdered two Drams Seeds of Bishops-weed powdered a Dram Oyle of Juniper a Scruple Turpentine what suffices make a Mass of Pills The Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram twice a day drinking after it an appropriated Liquor Take Leaves of both Scurvy-grasses Watercresses Dittander Arsmart of each three handfuls Roots of Aron Briony Florentine Orrice of each four Ounces the middle Bark of Elder two Handfuls Winters-bark two Ounces the outward Coats of four Oranges and of three Lemons fresh Juniper-berries four Ounces being slic't and bruised pour to them of Rhenish-wine three Pounds Wine of the Juice of Elder-berries two Pounds Distill them the vulgar way let all the Water be mix't The Dose is from three Ounces to four twice a day after a Dose of some one of the Medicines
that are prescrib'd in these are also given with good Success against those viz. the Vertue of them being display'd within the Brain does good against the Apoplexy Palsie Lethargy and other Diseases allied to them also within are moving Fibres against Cramps and Convulsive Motions and likewise exerting their Forces within the sensible Fibres they often relieve Pains Great stores of these Medicines are vulgarly set forth in Physical Books but so that their Plenty has brought either a Poorness or Confusion to the method of healing those things which would do most good often lying hid or being concealed amon gst that confus'd heap of Remedies even as Wheat is with more difficulty separated from much Chaff than it is first gotten clean from the Ear. Therefore in this Case Provision being made for the whole and then those things being given both by Dyet and Physick which put a stop to or presently appease the Turgecencies of the Blood let the Medicines call'd Cephalicks or such as remove the Disorders of the nervous Juice be prescribed to be carefully taken I shall set down some few Forms of these Take Conserve of Flowers of Betony and Clovegillyflowers of each three ounces Powder of male Peony Roots half an ounce bastard Dittany a dram lignum Aloes yellow Saunders of each a dram red Coral prepared Pearl Ivory of each an ounce and a half Salt of Vervain a dram and a half syrup of Peony flowers what suffices make an Opiate let the quantity of a Chesnut be taken drinking after it of the following Julep three ounces Take Water of Black-Cherries Wallnuts simple Vervain of each four ounces Water of Cowslip-flowers three ounces compound Water of Peony three ounces Sugar six drams Or Take Leaves of Vervain Mistletow growing on Apple-trees of each ten handfuls male Peony Roots two pounds Mace Nutmegs of each half an ounce Coriander Seeds an ounce being slic'd and bruised pour to them of fresh Milk eight pounds or of Milk seven pounds Malaga Wine one pound distill them with common Organs let the whole Liquor be mixt Let three Ounces be taken at a time Take Powder of male Peony Roots half an ounce red Coral prepared two drams Ivory Pearl prepared of each a dram make a fine Powder of them all add of Sugar dissolv'd and boyl'd to a Consistency for Tablets in a sufficient quantity of Black-cherry Water six ounces Tincture of Cotal a dram make Tablets according to Art weighing half a dram let three or four be eaten in the Morning and at five a clock in the Afternoon drinking after it a little draught of Tea Or Take Tincture of Coral an ounce take from fifteen drops to twenty twice a day in a little Draught of the Julep or distill'd Water Those that are of a cold or flegmatick Temperament may take twice a day a Dose either of the Tincture of Antimony or of Spirit of Armoniack impregnated with Amber or Coral or of Spirit of Harts-horn or of Soot in an appropriated Vehicle The use of Millepedes ought not here to be omitted or set lightly by in regard that their express'd Juice distill'd Water and also the Powder prepar'd of them often contribute egregiously to the Cure of ancient and obstinate Head-achs I might here propose many other Medicines of various kinds nay transfer hither the forms in a manner of all those which I have formerly heap'd together against convulsive Affects But the most difficult thing of all concerning the Cure of the Head-ach yet remains viz. How the Conjunct and fixt Cause of this Disease consisting in the Weakness or injured Conformation of the Fibres may be heal'd or remov'd Now this though it will be sometimes incurable as when a schirrous or callous or some other ancient and fix'd tumour has possest the Meninges nevertheless since the Diagnostick of this is uncertain and the Procatarxis of a Disease how unconquerable soever it may seem sometimes by a continued method of Cure is overcome therefore in every kind of Head-ach as long as the Patient will admit of Remedies let not a Physician be backward in prescribing those things that shall seem most proper Therefore in the first place as we hinted even now we must diligently endeavour that the Fuel of the Disease being out off and intercepted the frequent Accesses of the Fits be stopt for so the indisposed Fibres whilst they are no longer molested sometimes recover their sound state Nature alone effecting the Cure The helps of the Art of Physick indicated in this Case are taken from Chirurgery rather than from Pharmacy for whatsoever is taken by the Mouth passing through long Circuits spends all its Virtue before it reaches the Membranes of the Head Amonst Chirurgical things first Topical Remedies occur and of those Plaisters are of most advantagious use and often prove very beneficial Let not these be extreamly hot which may draw the Humours more to the place affected but moderately discussing and corroborative I use to prescribe Emplastrum de Minio or Diasaponis with a half quantity of Paracelsus's Plaister to be applyed to the Place grieved after it is shaved and to be worn for some time As to the Ancients frequent use of Phenigms and Sinapisms and to the present Practice of applying Vesicatories against violent Head-aches sometimes to the whole hinder part of the Head sometimes to the Sinciput if at any time ease has ensued these not Topicks it was for this reason Because by those Administrations a mighty store of sharp Serum was voided from the Part affected Liniments of Oyls and Unguents tho freuently us'd do little because as I gess in case they penetrate deep they render more lax the Tones of the Fibres whereby they lye more readily open to the Incursions of the morbifick Matter moreover they stuff the Pores of the Skin that the Effluvia do not evaporate for the same Reason in a manner it is that warm Fomentations prepar'd of Aromatick or other cephalick Decoctions oftner do Hurt than Good because they draw Humours towards the Parts affected and withall open the Pores and Passages whereby they are more readily admitted and therefore also it is that bathing of the Head by pumping Water on it in hot Baths is used to Persons troubled with the Head-ach with no better Success whereas on the contrary it would be good for many to wash their Temples Fore-head and Sinciput every Morning and Evening with cold Water nay to bath their Heads every Morning by pumping cold Water on it or at leastwise to dip it in a deep Vessel or Well Another Chirurgical help cryed up for the Head-ach especially if violent and inveterate is wont to be a burning or cutting of Issues in several parts of the Body It 's a thing without doubt that these being made in the Arms or Leggs are both less troublesome and prove somewhat beneficial viz. inasmuch as they withdraw the fuel from the Part and lead it far away from the place affected Moreover an Issue in the
or of Tea Or Take Roots of Chervil Polypody of the Oak of each an ounce and a half leaves of Hearts-tongue Spleenwort Ceterach Germander of each a handful Tamarisk half a handful bark of the same half an ounce Raisins ston'd two ounces one Apple sliced being sliced and bruis'd let them boyl in four pounds of fountain-Fountain-water to a consumption of the third part towards the end add leaves of Water-cresses a handful strain it and clarifie it let six ounces be taken twice or thrice a day let it be sweetned with Syrup of Fumitory iron-spaw-Iron-Spaw-waters are wont to contribute egregiously to the Cure of Melancholy Persons viz. in as much as being plentifully drank they wash away the salino-sulphureous tincture of the Blood and destroy its evil ferments Moreover they cleanse the filth of the Viscera open obstructions and which is of mighty benefit by their astriction they both strengthen the weak or over-lax Viscera and close the mouths of the Vessels gaping into the Brain that a passage may not lye open into it for the extraneous matter together with the nervous Juyce and in this respect to wit by corroborating the Viscera and closing the passages into the Brain Vitriolick Preparations of Iron are wont to be given with good effect in Melancholy and also in the Vertigo Take our Steel prepared three ounces infuse it in two pounds of the water above prescribed let three or four ounces be taken twice a day by it self or with some other solid Medicine Take filings of Steel an ounce put them in a Glass with two ounces of the Juice of Oranges let it stand for a day shaking it now and then then pour to it water of Apples and White-wine of each a pound or of small and mild Cider two pounds let three ounces be taken twice a day after the same manner Take Vitriol of Mars Cream of Tartar Crabs Eyes of each a dram mix them make a powder divide it into nine parts le tone part be taken every Morning in a draught of an appropiate distill'd Water or a Decoction or appropriate Julep Take Syrup of Steel four ounces let a spoonful be taken twice a day in a fit vehicle Take extract of Steel from our Steel prepared with an appropriate Decoction three ounces powder of Ivory yellow Saunders Lignum Aloes of each half a dram Salt of Tartar two Scruples Ammoniacum dissolved in Water of Earth-worms what suffizes make a mass let it be made into little Pills let three or four be taken every Evening drinking after it three ounces of Water of Apples or of Cowslip-flowers Whey if it agrees with the Stomack being drank plentifully for many dayes is often used with good effect for the like reason as Spaw-waters viz. by washing away the salt and sulphureous Particles of the atrobilarious Blood Whey with Epithymum infused or boyled in it is egregiously commended by some Let Broaths be prepared of the Decoction of a Chicken with the Roots of Polypody Chervil Fennel Butchers-broom and the Leaves of Ceterach Hartstongue Scolopendrium c. let a draught be taken in the Morning and at five of the Clock in the Afternoon in which dissolve Vitriol of Mars from six grains to ten Salt of Wormwood Cream of Tartar of each a scruple Juices and Expressions of Herbs sometimes contribute egregiously to the taking away of the Dyscrasy of the Blood Take Leaves of Borrage Water-cresses of each six handfuls two Apples mash'd the pulpe of two Oranges double refined Sugar an ounce all being bruised together pour to them of excellent Cyder a pound and a half make a strong expression let it be kept in a Glass the dose is four ounces twice or thrice a day In the Summer a Bath of sweet Water inasmuch as it cleanses the filth sticking in the Skin and promotes insensible transpiration does great good to some Because Melancholy persons Sleep with difficulty and after long or frequent watchings are worse therefore let Anodynes and sometimes gentle Hypnoticks be prescrib'd to be taken late at night when there is need For this purpose a decoction of Cowslip-flowers or of the leaves of Lettices or the distill'd water of the red Poppey or Syrup of the same Moreover Emulsions of the seeds of the white Poppey Syrupus de Meconio and other things that are mild and soothing the Spirits are proper There being an infinite number of Melancholick persons as well as of Fools I shall illustrate our hypothesis only with two examples in one of which the Disease began from the sensitive part of the Soul or from the Animal Spirits and in the other from its Vital part to wit from the Blood Some time since a renowned man about forty years of age of a florid countenance chearful and quick at all business being afflicted in mind and very much dejected by reason of some misfortunes became thenceforward very sad and melancholy with a dead and fallen aspect When first I went to see him he complain'd of much trouble and distraction of his thoughts which were so great that his Fancy being occupied day and night without intermission he liv'd wholly without sleep and nevertheless this Person minded not at all the concerns of the Publick nor of his own Family nor was he greatly sollicitous concerning the welfare of his Soul or the health of his Body but rather was continually perplext about petty things and almost of no moment he was so fearful of all things that he fancied some harm or Death would presently happen to him upon any little accident In fine he always liv'd so sad as tho he endeavour'd to exceed Heraclitus in mourning Moreover he was troubled with so great a straitness and constriction of his Heart that it seem'd to him as tho the whole Praecordia were most closely strain'd together as a first contracted and he thought that he always carried a vast and very oppressive burthen there which forc'd him always to go forward and stooping towards the Earth Whilst he was discoursing with his friends that constriction and oppression of the Praecordia was wont somewhat to remit but then upon any unusual object striking him with a terrour it returned with more violence Nor was he only troubled with a certain constriction in the Precordia but in the whole Body besides and a certain weight as it were seemed to lye on the Region of his Loyns also on his Shoulders and Arms. As to the Cure of this Person after various Medicines us'd without any great success at length I perswaded him because it was Summer to drink our artificial Spaw-waters for six weeks Therefore in the first place in four pounds of Fountain-water I infus'd for a night of our Steel prepar'd half a dram and afterward as much in eight pounds of Water The Diseased every morning drank the clear Liquor and within four or five hours discharged the greater part of it by Urine He took moreover going to Bed and early in the morning a dose of an
an Ounce make a Potion 3. Strong Potions Take of the decoction of Sena Gerionis with the addition of the strings of black Hellebore and Agarick of each a Dram and a half six Ounces Syrup of Roses Solutive or of the flowers of Peaches an Ounce Aqua Mirabilis two Drams Or Take of the best Sena half an Ounce strings of black Hellebore Turbith of each two Drams yellow Saunders a Dram Coriander-seeds a Dram and a half Salt of Tartar half a Dram let it infuse close all Night in eight Ounces of White-wine made warm to five Ounces of the Cleer straining add of the Electuary of the Juice of Roses three Drams Syrup of Buck-thorn six Drams Cinnamon water two Drams make a Potion Potions of easie preparation for the Poor Take of Flaxweed a handful sweet Fennel-seeds two Drams boil them in a sufficient quantity of spring-Spring-water till it comes to six Ounces add to it of White-wine two Ounces make a Potion After the same manner you may make a Purging Potion of the Flowers of Damask Roses also of Peach Leaves and so of the Roots of Eupatorium Avicennae PILLS First of a gentle Operation Take of Stomach Pills with Gums from a Scruple to half a Dram Tartar vitriolated two Grains Balsam of Peru what will suffice make thereof three or four Pills After the same manner may be made Pills of the mass of Pilul Ruffi of Pilul Mastichin of Pilul de Succino and of our extract Solutive the description of which you may find in our Tract of the Scurvy 2. Mean Pills Take of Stomach Pills with Gumms half a Dram Rosin of Julap from four Grains to ten Tartar vitriolated six Grains Ammoniacum dissolv'd as much as will suffice make four Pills After the same manner may be made Pills of the mass of Pilulae de Succino Tartari Quercitani Also instead of Rosin of Jluap you may put Scammony Sulphurated from six Grains to twelve or Rosin of Scammony from eight Grains to fourteen Or Take Stomach Pills with Gumms a Scruple Rosin of Julap from six Grains to twelve Balsam of Peru as much as will suffice make four Pills 3. Strong Pills Take Pilulae Rudii half a Dram Rosin of Julap from eight Grains to twelve Balsam of Peru what will suffice make four Pills to be taken cum Regimine After the like manner Pills may be made of the mass of Pilulae Cochiae de Sagapeno Take of Pilulae ex duobus from a Scruple to half a Dram Calamelanos a Scruple make four Pills to be taken Cum Regimine 4. Pills easily prepar'd and cheaper Take Powder of the best Jalap two Drams Diagridium a Dram Cloves Ginger of each a Scruple Ammoniacum dissolv'd as much as will suffice make a mass the Dose is half a Dram. Take of Pilulae Cochiae from half a Dram to two Scruples let four Pills be made POWDERS First such as are gentle Take of Rhubarb Powdred half a Dram Salt of Wormwood half a Scruple Cloves two Grains make a Powder give it in a spoonful of small cinnamon-Cinnamon-water or in a little Broath Take of the greater Compound Powder of Sena from half a Dram to a Dram in a little draught of Posset-drink Take Powder of the Leaves of Sena a Scruple Calamelanos seventeen Grains yellow Saunders half a Scruple make a Powder give it in a spoonful of Panada 2. Mean Powders Take Powder of Diasena a Dram Cream of Tartar a Scruple make a Powder give it in a little draught of Broath Take Rosin of Jalap ten Grains Calamelanos a Scruple Cloves six Grains make a Powder and take it after the same manner Take Species of Diaturbith with Rhubarb from half a Dram to a Dram Cream of Tartar from a Scruple to half a Dram. 3. Strong Powders Take Turbith Hermodacts of each three Drams Diagridium a Dram Ginger a Scruple make a Powder the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram. Take Pulvis Cornachini a Dram after the same manner may be given the Compound Powder of Hermodacts also the Hydrotick Powder of Riverius 4. Cheap Powders and easie to be got Take Powder of the Roots of the best Jalap a Dram Ginger a Scruple give it in a little draught of White-wine so you may give Powder of the Roots of Mechoachan also of the Leaves of Sena in any Liquor BOLUS's and ELECTUARIES First such as work gently Take of the Lenitive Electuary half an Ounce Cream of Tartar half a Dram Syrup of Roses what suffices make a Bolus Take fresh Cassia half an Ounce Powder of Rhubarb half a Dram Cream of Tartar a Scruple Syrup of Roses as much as suffices make a Bolus 2. Mean Take of the Lenitive Electuary half an Ounce Cream of Tartar half a Dram Rosin of Julap six Grains Syrup of Roses what suffices make a Bolus Take of the Electuary Diaphaenicon half an Ounce of the Compound Powder of Hermodacts half a Dram Syrup of Elder what suffices make a Bolus 3. Strong Workers Take of the Electuary of the Juice of Roses half an Ounce Rosin of Julap ten Grains Cream of Tartar half a Dram Syrup of Elder what suffices make a Bolus Electuaries are Compounded of the same things made up in a greater quantity by adding Conserves of Damask Roses or of the Flowers of Peaches the Dose is the quantity of a Chesnut to be taken betimes every Morning or twice or thrice a Week 4. Bolus's and Electuaries easily prepar'd Take Powder of the Roots of Julap an Ounce of Mechoachan half an Ounce of Ginger two Drams of Cloves a Dram Cream of Tartar three Drams Salt of Wormwood a Dram Sugar two Ounces Syrup of Roses Solutive what suffices make an Electuary the Dose is the quantity of a Wallnut Confectio Solutiva Passulae Laxantes the Diapranum of Sylvius in the 30. Page of his Practice of Physick 5. Morsells or Tablets of a mean operation Take Powder of Mechoacan Gummous Turbith of each half an Ounce Scammony sulphurated two Drams Rosin of Jalap a Dram yellow Saunders a Dram Cream of Tartar two Drams Conserve of Violets an Ounce Sugar dissolv'd in Rose-water and boil'd up to a fit consistency a Pound Make Tablets according to Art each weighing a Dram the Dose is one or two The Purging Tablets of Sylvius Page the 28. of his Practice of Physick 6. Physical or Purging Wines and Ales of a mean operation Take Leaves of Sena an Ounce and a half Turbith Mechoacan of each six Drams strings of black Hellebore three Drams Cubebs Galingal Roots choice Cinnamon of each two Drams Put all in a large Glass with four Pounds of Rhenish-wine adding to it Salt of Tartar a Dram and a half let it stand cold and close cover'd for six days add to it Sugar-Candy three Ounces strain it through Hippocrates Sleeve the Dose is three or four Ounces Take Leaves of Sena three Ounces Roots of Polypody of the Oak and of sharp Pointed Dock prepar'd of each two
began to nauseate him I prescrib'd after the following manner Take Powders of Tormentil Roots of Contrayerva Bole Armenick Alexiteriated of each a Dram Pearl Red Coral prepar'd White Amber of each half a Dram make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram in the following distill'd water Take Tops of Cypress and Myrtle of each four handfuls Leaves of Meadow-sweet Burnet St. Johns-wort Avens of each four handfuls Roots of Tormentil Bistort of each six Drams Red Rose-flowers four handfuls Kermes Berries four Ounces Cinnamon Mace of each one Ounce Being all slic'd and bruis'd together pour to them Red Florence Wine and Red Rose water of each four pounds distil all in a common Still let the whole Liquor be mingled and sweetned with Syrup of Coral He took also three or four times a day of the following decoction three or four Ounces Take Roots of Avens and Scorzonera of each an Ounce of Tormentil two Drams Hartshorn burnt and powdred six Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams Tops of St. Johns-wort a handful Flowers of Red Roses and Balaustiae of each a pugil Boil all in three pounds of fountain water till it comes to two adding towards the end of the boiling of Red Lisbon wine four Ounces let it boil close cover'd for an hour then let it be strain'd through Hippocrates Sleeve Every night he took a Scruple of Liquid Laudanum in three Ounces of the Bloody Flux water ev'n now describ'd with three Drams of Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers in it His common drink was a decoction of burnt Hartshorn with Barley a Crust of Bread Mace and Cinnamon to a Pint and a half of which a Pint of new Milk was added He took the Purging Infusion a second time by the use of which and the things before mentioned within ten days the Feaver left him and the Flux became much more gentle which though without Gripes or much Blood yet still continued with the little pieces of Flesh the fragments of Membranes and a bloody Phlegm or Gelly which daily came from him Therefore to strengthen and heat the intestines the following things were given Take Tops of St. Johns wort Leaves of Perwincle and Mousear of each a handful Red Rose Flowers two pugils Boil them in the Broath of a Sheeps Guts To a pound of the Liquor strain'd add Oyl of St. Johns-wort two Ounces Honey of Roses an Ounce and a half mingle them for two Glysters whereof one was given him in the Morning the other at five a Clock in the Afternoon He wore Emplast de minio Paracelsi upon him Belly He took moreover twice a day three Ounces of Juice of Plantain wrung forth with water of Scordium and Plague water He eat also every day a Quince made hollow and fill'd with the Powders of Olibanum Mastick and Balsam of Tolu and so rosted in the Embers By the constant use of these Remedies he grew perfectly well within a Month. About the same time another robust young man fell into a dreadful Bloody Flux from the first day he was seiz'd frequent stools and very bloody presently brake forth with violence being accompanied with a Pain and Gripes Moreover a strong Feaver with a cruel Vomiting Thirst and Wakings molested him These Symptoms being a little mitigated with Opiats a Delirium and a Vertigo with an intermittent Pulse and horrible extensions and contractions of his Limbs presently seiz'd him this hapning because the malignant matter which was inwardly restrain'd presently flow'd into the Brain and Nerves Nevertheless as often as the Looseness and Vomiting return'd these affects were presently appeas'd On the fifth day Vomiting up a bloody matter he complain'd of a great torture in his Stomach and of a Pain as though it were Ulcerated and in truth I suspected that there might be a beginning of some Inflam'd Blisters or Ulcers in it as it usually happens in the Intestines but by giving him Emollient Broths with Milk in them his Vomiting and the tortures of his Stomach soon ceased his Flux in the mean time encreasing He took that night of Diacodium an Ounce Cowslip water and small Cinnamon water of each an Ounce and a half by which Medicine he was so much reliev'd that in twenty four hours space his Vomiting and Pains left him and he was only troubled with a few Stools and having a good indifferent Pulse and frequent Sleeps he was pretty well yet the following night though he took again the same Opiate his Flux return'd and that with very frequent Stools and bloody as before The next day after he took an Infusion of Rhubarb with Mirobalans Red Saunders and Cinnamon He often voided Bilous and very sharp Excrements but without the least of Blood then in the Evening he took Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty five Grains in a good spoonful of Cinnamon water hordeated he had moderate and quiet Sleeps Afterwards loathing any more Medicines he took only an Opiate every Evening sometimes of one sort and sometimes of another and in a short time grew very well CHAP. V. Instructions concerning Diuretick Medicines or such as work by Vrine with Diuretick Prescripts THe chief Scopes or ends of Diuretick Medicines are as follows First If at any time the Blood becomes so compact and tenacious from a fixt Salt Sulphur and Earth fermented together and mutually combin'd in it that the Watery Particles do not easily separate from the rest Diureticks fit to loosen its Texture and to fuse the Serum must be such as excel in a volatile or acid Salt for such Particles chiefly dissolve any coalitions caus'd by a fixt Salt But in regard this disposition is common both to a Feaver and the Scurvy in the former affect the most proper Diureticks are the temperate Acids of Vegetables also Sal Nitre the Spirits of Sea-Salt of Vitriol c. And likewise such as have a Volatile Salt as the Spirits of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack Salt of Amber of Vipers and others of this kind which we have also rang'd amongst Diaphoreticks In a Scorbutick disposition when the Urine is but in a small quantity and thick the Juices of Herbs and preparations both of a sharp or tart and acid nature are of excellent use also Salt and Spirit of Vrine of Sal Armoniack of Tartar c. Secondly Sometimes the Blood does not retain the Serum long enough within its Body but either being obnoxious to Fluxions or rather Coagulations it deposes it here and there in a great abundance even more than enough whence it breeds Catarrhs or Tumours in many places Or the Blood being become of a weak habit and withal of a depraved constitution to wit inclining to a sourness its apt to coagulate as to its more gross Particles so that the more subtle Particles being every where thrown off in circulating and falling on the weaker parts cause sometimes distempers of the Head or Breast sometimes an Ascites or Anasarca And we shall hereafter shew how a Diabetes happens from
he fell at length into a confirm'd Diabetes as it seem'd and almost past hope of recovery For besides that in the space of twenty four hours he voided near a Gallon and a half of clear water and wonderfully sweet as though Honey were mixt in it He was moreover affected with a cruel Thirst and a Fever seemingly a Hectick with a mighty Languor of the Spirits a fall of strength and a Consumption of the whole Body I then prescrib'd him the following Remedies by the use of which he seem'd in a short time to recover Take Cypress Tops eight handfuls Whites of Eggs beaten two pounds Cinnamon half an Ounce being cut small pour to them of new Milk eight pounds distill it in an ordinary Still taking care of an Empyreuma Let him take six Ounces thrice a day Take Gum Arabick and Gum Tragacanth of each six Drams Penids an Ounce Make a Powder let him take about a Dram or a Dram and a half twice a day with three or four Ounces of the distill'd water Take Rhuba-b powdred fifteen Grains Cinnamon six Grains Make a Powder let him take it in the Morning and renow the Dose within six or seven days Take Cowslip water three Ounces Cinnamon water hordeated two Drams Syrup of Meconium half an Ounce Make a draught to be taken every Evening His Diet was only Milk which he took pretty often in a day sometimes crude or diluted with the distill'd water or with Barly water sowetimes boil'd with White-bread or with Barly Growing daily better by the use of these things within a Month he seem'd to be almost Cur'd As he began to grow a little well his Urine which was Insipid did not much exceed the quantity of Liquids he took and afterwards turning a little Salt it became less in quantity than what he drank and so by degrees recovering the wonted tone of his Spirits and a good strength he took to his former Diet. Nevertheless the disposition to this Disease did not so throughly cease but afterwards being apt frequently to Relapses upon disorders in Living and haply upon changes according to the seasons of the year he first made Water in a greater measure than ordinary which by degrees grew clear and sweetish a Thirst and Fever with a Languor of the Spirits accompanying it But by the use of the same Medicines he us'd in a short time to recover again Not long since after a large interval of health a little before he fell into a Flux of Urine he found great irregularities and failings in the Genus Nervosum viz. He was seiz'd with a dull numbness of his Brain and a Vertigo and was taken with sudden Cramps in his Limbs and felt little Leapings of the Tendons and various runnings about him as though it were of a wind creeping here and there And when by the use of fit Remedies the aforesaid Symptoms seem'd to be Cur'd the Diabetes after its wounted manner burst forth afresh viz. the matter flowing forth in abundance from the Fibres and solid parts into the Blood and thence to the Reins and the Urinary Passages In this Juncture the same Remedies were prescrib'd again by the use of which when within a few days he began to grow bettr he was ordered to take thrice a day Water of quick Lime to five or six Ounces Having continued this Remedy four days he made water in a moderate quantity well ting'd and somewhat salt and as to other things he seem'd well as he was before By the same method and chiefly with the Water of quick Lime I Cur'd another of a Diabetes who was look'd upon as past recovery The Kinds and Prescripts of Medicines that stop Vrine flowing in excess A Stringent Medicines properly so call'd to wit such as are austere acerb and stiptick do little or nothing in stopping a Diuresis for the vertue of those things has no effect on the Mass of Blood nor does it reach to the Reins and Bladder But the Remedies that chiefly do good in the Diabetes are of two kinds as we have hinted before viz. First those that hinder the combinations of the Salts and consequently the fusion of the Blood such as the Incrassatives before mentioned Secondly Those that dissolve the Concretions of the Salts and consequently restore the mixture of the Blood of which kind are Saline Remedies of a contrary nature which are apt to cleave to the Acid Salt and so withdraw it from the combinations it has entred into within the Blood as chiefly Medicines endow'd with a fixt volatile or alchalisate Salt Besides these two Primary kinds of Medicines that restrain Urine there rests a Secondary kind to wit Hypnoticks which putting some stop to the Animal Aeconomy cause the vital function to be perform'd with more calmness and consequently with less fusion of the Blood or precipitation of the serous and nutricious humours It remains now to set down some Select Forms of each kind of these Medicines I. The first Scope of Curing to wit by which we endeavour by thickning the Blood to prevent its fusion or to take it away is effected by the Medicines following Take Gumm Arabick and Tragacanth powder'd of each an Ounce Sugar Penids half an Ounce Make a Powder divide it into sixteen parts Take one part thrice a day dissolving it in the distill'd water or in the docoction of the Roots of Comphry in fountain water or Milk Take of the Resumptive Electuary three Ounces Species Diatragacanthi frigidi an Ounce Red Coral prepar'd two Drams Confection of Hyacinth a Dram and a half Gelly of the cast Skins of Vipers what will suffice Make an Electuary of which let the Patient take twice a day the quantity of a Wallnut Take white Amber Mastick Olibanum powdred of each an Ounce Pulvis Haly two Ounces Balsam of Tolu half an Ounce Make a Subtle Powder the Dose is half a Dram twice or thrice a day Take Roots of great Comphry and Water Lillies of each three Ounces Dates slic'd two Ounces Seeds of Maliows Cotton-plant Plantain Fleawort of each half an Ounce Boil them in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd to the straining add Syrup of Water Lillies two Ounces The Dose is four Ounces thrice a day Take of the decoction of Barly with Water Lilly-roots a pound and a half Sweet Almonds prepar'd an Ounce and a half Seeds of white Poppies Purslain Lettice of each half an Ounce Make an Emulsion according to art the Dose is four Ounces thrice a day Take Cypress Tops six handfuls Clary Leaves four handfuls Flowers of blind Nettles Comphry Water Lillies of each four handfuls Roots of Water Lillies and Comphry of each half a pound Mace an Ounce all being small slic'd together pour to them of new Milk eight pounds distil them in an ordinary Still The Dose is four Ounces thrice a day with the Powder of Electuary above written II. In the second place though Saline Medicines of every kind and condition are accounted Diuretick
and every of them in certain cases inasmuch as they fuse the Blood and cause a copious separation of its Serosities are in some sort Diuretick Nevertheless for the reason above-mention'd to wit for that meeting with the Acid Salt when it is predominant in the Blood they prevent and take away its fusion and dissolution I do not doubt but sometimes they may be given with good success to stop Fluxes of Urine And I have heard for certain that one was Cur'd of a Diabetes by an Infusion of quick Lime Now in regard the Saline Medicaments which we suppose to take away the predominancy of the Acid Salt and to fetter it as it were contain either a fixt volatile or Alchalisate Salt I shall give you some Forms of Diureticks which have each of these for their foundation 1. First then when a fixt Salt by it self or join'd with Sulphur is requir'd for a Basis Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar or its Deliquium what suffices Give it thrice a day in a draught of the decoction or distilld water before describ'd Take Tincture of Antimony let it be taken after the same manner thrice a day I have found by frequent experience the use of this to be very profitable in this Disease Take Tincture of Salt of Coral a Scruple let it be taken after the same manner Take of the Infusion of quick Lime a pound The Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day giving before a Dose of the Electuary or Powder above prescrib'd Take Conserves of the Flowers of blind Nettles and of the great Comphry of each four Ounces of the reddest Crocus of steel half an Ounce Coral calcin'd to a whiteness two Drams Syrup of Comphry what suffices Make an Electuary the Dose is two Drams thrice a day Take Lapis Specularis calcin'd an Ounce The Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice or thrice a day Country People with this Medicine successfully Cure their Cattle that piss bloody water Take Coral calcin'd to a whiteness and powdred three Drams Powder of Gumm Arabick and Tragacanth of each a Dram Make Powder divide it into ten parts let one part be taken thrice a day with a fit Vehicle to wit with the decoction or the distill'd water Take the reddest Crocus Martis six Drams Gumm Lac powdred half an Ounce red Saunders a Dram Make a Powder divide it into twenty parts whereof let one be taken thrice a day Take Hartshorn burnt and powdred half an Ounce boil it in four pounds of the water of a Smiths forge till half be consum'd adding towards the end a Crust of Bread Roots of great Comphry and water Lillies dry'd of each an Ounce and a half Sacchari Perlati two Ounces let him take four Ounces thrice a day 2. Medicines containing an Alchalisate Salt such as Coral Pearl Cuttle-bone Hartshorn Ivory Powders of Shells and the like as they are commonly us'd against Rheumatick affects so likewise for a Diabetes And inasmuch as they imbibe the Acid Salt abounding in the Blood and so free the Mass of Blood from fusion we may justly expect a benefit from them Take red Coral ground to a great subtlety Cuttle-bone of each half an Ounce Hartshorn Philosophically calcin'd three Drams Pearl Ivory Crabs Eyes of each a Dram Mix them make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day with a fit Vehicle Take of the said Powder three Ounces Species Diatragacanth frigid two Ounces Sugar Candy two Ounces Make a Powder and with a sufficient quantity of the Solution of Gumm Arabick make a Paste and let it be form'd into Troches weighing half a Dram let three or four be taken thrice or oftner in a day Take of the said Powder two Ounces of the Resumptive Electuary four Ounces Conserve of the Flowers of water Lillies three Ounces Syrup of the same what suffices Make an Electuary let him take the quantity of a Chesnut thrice a day drinking after it a draught of the Apozeme or of the distill'd water above prescrib'd 3. For the same reason as Medicines endued with a fixt and Alchalisate Salt seem proper in Curing the Diabetes for the same reason do such as have a volatile Salt For these as well as those lay hold on and draw of the Acid Salt by which the Blood is fus'd and dissolv'd into Serosities so that its Liquor recovers its due Crasis Take the Solar Tincture prepar'd as I readily do it with Sal Armoniack an Ounce The Dose is twenty Drops thrice a day The Spirits of Blood Soot and Hartshorn may also be try'd in this Disease Take Salt of Amber a Dram the reddest Crocus Martis two Drams Mix them divide it into twelve parts the Dose is one part thrice a day III. As to the third kind of Remedies in the Diabetes to wit Hypnoticks which by putting a stay to the Animal Spirits retard the course of the Blood and so hinder in some measure its effervescency and fusion I use to prescribe to some persons Diascordium to be taken every Evening and when that does not do I give sometimes every Night and sometimes every other Night Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated or Tartariz'd and that with good success Take the decoction of Barly with the dry'd Roots of Comphry six Ounces white Poppy-seeds two Drams sweet Almonds prepar'd in number six Make an Emulsion according to art let it be taken every Night going to sleep Take of the Magistral distill'd water above prescrib'd four Ounces Solution of Tragacanth two Drams Diascordium from half an Ounce to six Drams Give it going to sleep Take Conserve of the flowers of water Lillies two Drams Laudanum Tartariz'd or Cydoniated a Scruple Tincture of Saffron six Grains Make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep CHAP. VII Instructions concerning Sweating and Diaphoreticks or Medicines causing Sweat with Prescripts of them FOr a ready and plentiful eruption of Sweat these three things are requir'd First that the Blood boiling more than its wont circulates with a more rapid motion Secondly That its Latex abounds with many watry Particles and those loose that is apt to be separated from the rest of the Liquor and to be resolv'd into Vapours for if there be a deficiency of Serum or if it be not easily separable from the Blood through its too great compactness or incrassation by reason of Faeculencies strongly mixt in it scarce any sweat at all will follow though the intense heat of a burning Fever presses for it and most powerful Diaphoreticks are given at the same time Thirdly The Pores of the whole Body must be set wide open for a free passage of the Sweat Therefore Sweating Medicines to be taken inwardly must be such as make the Blood boil more than ordinarily and consequently cause it to evaporate Also such as somewhat loosen and fuse its often too compact and incrassated Mass that its Serosities may more readily depart from it and be separated and they must be such as at the same
to be found amongst Authors Moreover Tinctures of Vegetables which are of very great effect in a small Dose are made after this manner Take Roots of Contrayerva a pound being bruis'd and put into a Matrass pour to them Spirit of Wine three Pounds Let them digest to draw forth a Tincture then strain it and draw it off in Balneo to the consistency of Honey Keep the Spirit first drawn off apart from the rest pour it again to what stays behind and draw the Tincture again The Dose of which is from half a Dram to a Dram in a fit Vehicle 5. Diets whose foundations are decoctions of Woods design'd for the Cure of the French Pox and other Cronick Affects deeply rooted in the Blood and humours For indeed a very intense and frequent Sweating viz. continued for a long time day by day is requir'd for the Cure of some Diseases to wit that not only the Impurities and Corruptions of the Viscera and humours may be purg'd forth but ev'n the Morbifick Taints deeply Imprinted in them may be wholly abolish'd or as it were eradicated To effect this it will not be enough to give a Sudorifick Powder or Bolus now and then at times but an entire Diet must be ordered for this purpose Wherefore let all the drink the Person takes be a Diaphoretick Decoction after a Dose of which taken each Morning let a copious Sweat be promoted by adding to it the heat of a Bath or of a Hot-house and after that by this means the Pores of the Skin are open'd and Nature is inclin'd to Seeat let the Recrements of the Blood and Nervous Juice for that whole day evaporate by perspiration which must be still maintained by the use of the said Drink By this method not only the French Pox is most safely and for the most part most certainly Cur'd but also some other most difficult Diseases are sometimes easily overcome Take the Raspings of Guaiacum four Ounces Sarsaparilla six Ounces Chinna two Ounces all the Saunders of each an Ounce Shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each half an Ounnce Antimony powdred and tied in a rag six Ounces Let them Infuse and Boil according to Art in sixteen pounds of founntain water till half be consum'd and strain it to the remaining Magma add the like quantity of water let them infuse and boil till a third part be consum'd adding to it Raisins a pound Licorice an Ounce Let the straining be kept for a common drink In case of a Bilous Temperament and a sharp and hot Blood leave out the Guaiacum and augment the quanntities of the China and Sarsa Diaphoreticks which consist of the Integral parts of the whole mixt and are easie to be gotten for poor people may be prescrib'd according to the following forms In Malignant Fevers Take Conserve of Wood Sorrel a Dram Mithridate two Scruples and a half mix them Let it be taken drinking after it a draught of Posset-drink that has the Leaves of Carduus Scordium or of Camomil Flowers or Marigolds boil'd in it Take Powder of the Roots of Virginia Serpentary from half a Dram to a Dram Give it with a fit Vehicle or give Powder of the Root of Butter-burr a Dram after the same manner In ordinary cases give the Decoction of Gromwel of the Roots of Butter-burr or Virginia Serpentary or of the Roots and Seeds of the great Burr-dock In the French Pox a Decoction of Soap-wort or of the Raspings of Box and the like may supply the place of the Decoction of Woods which are of greater price 2. Sweating Medicines prepar'd from the Elementary parts of a mixt have for their Basis either a Spirit or a Salt sometimes simple sometimes combin'd with another Salt or with Sulphur Let Spirituous things be prescrib'd according to the following forms 1. Let the Spirit of Treacle Camphorated be given from half a Dram to a Dram or a Dram and a half in a fit Vehicle After the same manner many other Spirits distill'd from the Juices of Vegetables maturated by fermentation and appropriated to certain Distempers may be given to provoke Sweat when it is Indicated Of which kind are the Spirits of Black-cherries of the Berries of Elder Ivy and Juniper with many others the Spirits of Hartshorn Soot Blood and the like ought rather to be numbred in the rank of Salts 2. Diaphoreticks whose Basis are Spirits with other Elementary Particles combin'd may be prescrib'd after this manner Take of the simple mixture a Dram give it in a convenient Vehicle To this place also may be referr'd those things that consist of a Spirit fixt Salt or a Sulphur combin'd Of which kind are the Tincture of Salt of Tartar and Antimony The Dose of which are from a Scruple to two Scruples in some other Liquor Moreover distill'd waters in which the Spirituous Particles are diluted with watry ones are often given to provoke Sweat with good success Take Roots of Butter-burr and Valerian of each two Ounces of Zedoary Contrayerva Virginia Serpentary of each an Ounce and a half Flowers of Butter-burr four handfuls Saffron two Drams being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them four pounds of Sherry Sack distil it according to Art Let the whole Liquor be mixt the Dose is from two Ounces and a half to three Ounces Or take Roots of Angelica and Master-wort of each four Ounces of Zedoary Ele-Campane Swallow-wort low-wort Gentian the lesser Galingal of each an Ounce Tops of Carduus Rue Angelica of each three handfuls the middle Bark of the Ash six Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd add Mithridate Venice Treacle of each two Ounces Mix them and pour to them of Canary six pounds distill'd Vinegar two pounds distil it according to Art The Dose is three Ounces The Doses of the aforesaid Waters may be actuated by the addition of Chymical Liquors or Salts These sorts of Medicines endow'd with a Vinous Spirit are proper chiefly and in a manner only for old people and such as are of a cold temperament and are subject to the Plasy and Dropsy But in a hot constitution and when there is a fervent heat of the Bowels and a Feverish boiling of the Blood by scorching those and enflaming this too much they usually rather do hurt than good Diaphoreticks whose Basis is Saline as they are of a various nature viz. according as the Salt is volatile fixt Acid or Nitrous so they are of a different use and operation and hence in certain cases these and in others those and those are most propper to be given as we have before observ'd in Diureticks 1. Fixt and volatile Salt is most propper for those whose Blood very much abounds with a serous humour Moreover when at any time the Juice which Irrigates the Viscera and the Genus Nervosum begins to turn sharp as it usually happens in Hydropical and Cacochymical persons and in such as are subject to Convulsive Distempers those Medicines are most effectually give to cause a Sweat because that whilst they
unless the Patients resolve to take courage so as to attempt to go abroad to set forth their strength to their utmost and accustome nature daily to inure it self to hardship all medicines prove useless Wherefore a plentiful and cheerful way of living are no less necessary than Physick that thereby the stock of Animal Spirits may be daily renew'd and increas'd and so confirm'd in strength by greater practices now and then insisted on for which ends strong Wines with good Dishes of meat are very proper Moreover all Studies and Cares with which the Soul is deprest being laid aside let the time be past in idleness and recreatious or in moderare exercises As by such a kind of living duly ordered the Animal Spirits are greatly refresh'd so it repairs the decay and depauperations of the Blood For the same ends also the following Medicines may be given with good effect Take Spirit of Amber Armonicacated what suffices fifteen or twenty drops be taken in the Evening and the next Morning in aspoonful of the following distill a water drinking after it nine spoonfuls of the same Take Leaves of Sage Rosemary Time Savory Marjoram Costmary of each four handfuls Roots of Angelica and Master-wort of each six Ounces of Zedoary the lesser Galingal Calamus Aromaticus Florence Orris of each an Ounce and a half Cubebs anOunce and a half Nutmegs Cloves Cinnamon of each an Ounce the outward Coats of twelve Oranges and of six Limmons being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Whitewine and Canary of each four pounds Distil it in common Organs let the whole liquor be mixt and sweetn'd with Sugar perlated In the distilling hang in the head of the Alembick a Nodulus with a Scruple of Amber-greece in it and half a Scruple of Musk. Take Tincture of Antimony or of the Balsam of Tolu an Ounce let fifteen or twenty drops be taken in the Morning at Nine a Clock and at Five in the Afternoon in a spoonful of the water before prescrib'd drinking after it three Ounces of the same or rather in the Morning drink after it a Dish of Tea or Cofee or Chocholate prepar'd of a Decoction of Sage A little before Dinner drink a Glass of Sherry Sack When these things have been used some time and you think good to intermit them take the following things in their place Instead of the Spirit take a Dose of the following Electuary in the Evening and early in the Morning with the distill'd water or Viper Wine Take of wet preserv'd Citron Pills an Ounce and a half Mirobalans Condited an Ounce Nutmegs Ginger Candied of each half an Ounce Confection of Hyacinth Alchermes of each three Drams Pearl prepar'd red Coral prepar'd of each a Dram and a half with the Syrup of the Juice of Kermes make an Electuary Let the ordinary drink be a Physick Ale made after the following manner viz. into a vessel of four Gallons put the following bag Take an Old Cock half boil'd and mash'd Leaves of Sage and Harts-Tongue dry'd of each two handfuls six Dates slic'd Raspings of Sassafras two Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd mix them put them in a little bag and hang it in a Vessel after it had done working The second intention which undertakes to correct the Dyscrasies or depraved dispositions of the Blood and Spirits is perform'd by the same Remedies as in the Hypochondriacal distemper and Melancholy Wherefore the prescripts which I formerly gave for the Cure of those affects may serve here As to the third intention which for keeping the Pores in a due State ordains a meet way of Government as to cloathing the Air the Fire c. there is little left for a Physician to do for commonly every Patient will be his own Councellour as to these things There is only one kind of advice which they are apt to receive and is wont to do them good viz. that they change their habitation by which often the Mind is also chang'd for those that are never so much addicted to keep themselves pen'd up in a Chamber or in Bed when they travel into foreign Countries where they breath a warmer and more serene Air It 's almost incredible in how short a time they recover So much concerning this depraved Perspiration which has not been touch'd by others There remains yet a third kind of this immoderate Sweating which is not as the first the Symptom or effect of another present or past Disease but it self first beginning is either a Disease of it self or the parent of some Morbid affect To the first sort chiefly belongs the Pestilential Sweat which was heretofore call'd Sudor Anglicus But I shall not now go about to prescribe Medicines for a Disease which I hope will never return CHAP. IX Instructions concerning Cordial Medicines and Alexipharmicks or Preservatives against Venome with Prescripts of them IF the thing be duly considered the notion of Cordial Medicines was not well introduc'd but is a meer vulgar errour for since it is not the Heart which is the Subject of Life but chiefly and in a manner only the Blood and in regard the Soul it self on whose existence and act in the Body Life depends is founded partly in the Blood and partly in the united stock of Animal Spirits it plainly sollows that Medicines which preserve Life entire or restore it when in danger do rather and more immediately regard these parts of the Soul to wit the Blood and Animal Spirits than the Heart which is a meer Muscle serving for the Circulation of the Blood and as often as it slackens in performing this duty or gives it off This does not happen through its own fault but through that of the Blood and Animal Spirits by which it is actuated Therefore to know the ways and manners of working of those Medicines which are call'd Cordials we must consider these two things viz. First how many and particularly what ways the Blood being ill dispos'd and often endangered either as to its accension or mixture requires Physical helps which may preserve or correct it Secondly after what manner by reason of a defect or delinquency in the Animal Oeconomy the Heart is hindred or perverted from its due motion so that Medicines are Indicated which encrease the stores of the Spirits and better compose them To be well instructed concerning these things read Dr. Willis at large The Kinds and Prescripts of Cordials A Ccording to what is said before we distinguish Cordial Medicines commonly so call'd into two kinds some of them chiefly and more immediately affect the Blood others the Animal Spirits In the first rank of those that are design'd for regulating the accension of the Blood we place those which by encreasing or exalting its Sulphureous Particles cause its over-cold and slow moving Liquor to boil more to be more freely kindled and to burn with more life of which kind are good Wines Compound strong-Strong-waters distill'd the Spirit and Tincture of Saffron Quercitans Elixir of Life
the Tincture of Salt of Tartar of Steel and other things that chiefly abound with Spirit and havd a plenty of Sulphur of which sometimes these sometimes those may be taken as every patient lists When by reason of the Bloods being not kindled and consequently of its too greatcorwding and stagnation as it were within the Praecordia a languishing and failing of the Spirits with a great oppression of the Heart happens then Aqua Mirabilis the waters of Cinnamon Cloves Wormwood Compound also of the Rines of Oranges distill'd with Wine are proper to which sometimes a Dose of some Spirit Elixir or Tincture may be added But here great caution is needful that a person do no indulge himself too much to these kind of Cordials for many by often sipping of them get an ill habit continuing their daily use and encreasing the Dose which at length proves fatal to them for the Liver chiefly and other entrails are so dry'd and scorch'd thereby that the stock of Blood being diminish'd and its Crasis perverted an unhealthy Cacochymia follows or an abbreviation of Life In the second Rank of Cordials we put those Medicines which somewhat appease the too great boiling of the Blood and put a little stop to and allay its immoderate deflagration of this kind are distill'd Waters Acids and Nitrous things Take the waters of Wood-sorrel of whole Citrons of Straw-berrys of each four Ounces Syrup of the Juice of Citrons an Ounce Pearl Powdred a Dram Make a Julape the Dose is two Ounces three or four times a day Take the waters of Pippins or Garden Apples of Rasberrys of each four Ounces Syrup of Violets an Ounce Spirit of Vitriol twelve Drops Make a Julape Take fountain water a Pound and a half Juice of Limmons two Ounces Sugar an Ounce and a half Make a drink of which let three Ounces be taken at pleasure Take Grass Roots three Ounces Candied Eringos six Ounces two Apples slic'd or Corinths two Ounces Shavings of Ivory and of Harts-horn of each two Drams Leaves of Wood-sorrel a handful boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds to the clear straining add of Sal Prunella a Dram and a half Syrup of Violets an Ounce and a half Make an Apozem the Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated four Ounces fountain water two pounds dissolve it close cover'd and warm then strain it the Dose is three Ounces at pleasure Take Conserve of Barberrys Rob of Rasberrys of each an Ounce and a half Pearl prepar'd half a Dram Confection of Hyacinth a Dram Syrup of the Juice of Citrons what suffices Make a Confection the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day The third rank of Cordials furnishes those sorts of Medicines which being destinated against the exorbitancies of the boiling Blood loosen and open its close texture for the separation and discharge of its drossy superfluities These being chiefly and in a manner only of a saline nature are also of divers kinds according to the manifold state of the saline Particles of which they consist but for the most part their Basis is either a Volatile Alchalisate Acid Fixt or Nitrous Salt we shall set down certain forms of each of these In the First place Cordials endow'd with a volatile Salt are wont to be given with good effect according to the following prescripts both in Feavers in respect of the Blood and also in swoonings and sudden faintings in respect of the Animal Spirits Take Spirit of Hartshorn from fifteen Grains to twenty Treacle water two Drams give it with a spoon drinking after it a draught of some appropriated Liquor After the same manner may be given the Spirits of Blood of Mans Scull of Soot of Sal Armoniack Compound Take Salt of Vipers a Dram Sal Prunella two Drams Powder of Crabs Claws Compound a Dram and a half Mix them make a Powder the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples in a spoonful of Cordial Julape drinking after it a little draught of the same Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack half a Scruple Bezoartick Mineral a Scruple Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of some proper Liquor Secondly Those are chiefly call'd by the name of Cordials by the Vulgar whose Basis is an Alchalisate or Petrifying Salt as particularly Oriental Bezoar Pearl Coral and other Powders of Shells and Stones Take Gascoins Powder or Powder of Crabs Claws Compound from a Scruple to half a Dram give it in a spoonful of Cordial Julape drinking after it two Ounces of the same Take Oriental Bezoar from six Grains to twenty give it after the same manner Take Powders of Crabs Claws and Crabs Eyes of each a Dram Pearl both sorts of Coral prepar'd of each four Scruples both sorts of Bezoar half a Dram the best Bole-Armoniack Aurum Diaphoreticum of each two Scruples Bezoartick Mineral a Dram Mix them make a Cordial Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to two Scruples or a Dram with a fit Vehicle In Persons seiz'd with a Plurisie the following things are accounted the most proper Cordials for as much as by destroying the predominancy of the acid Salt they take away or prevent the Coagulations and Extravasatings of the Blood Take the Powder of a Wild Bores Tusk from half a Dram to a Dram Cristal Mineral a Scruple Powder of red Poppy Flowers half a Scruple Make a Powder to be taken in any Liquor After the same manner may be given the Powders of Crabs Eyes and of the Jaw-bone of the Pike-fish To this place belong also preparations of Nitre which are often given with good effect in Fevers according to the following Forms Take Cristal Mineral a Scruple Volatile Salt of Hartshorn from three Grains to six mix them Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of Cordial Julape Take Cristal Mineral Antimony Diaphoretick of each a Scruple Bezoartick Powder half a Scruple Make a Powder give it after the same manner Medicines whose Basis is a fluid or acid Salt are prescrib'd in Fevers after the following Forms to loosen the Texture of the Blood Take Spirit of Vitriol from four Drops to six Carduus water three Ounces Treacle water two Drams Syrup of the Juice of Citrons three Drams Pearl half a Scruple Make a draught to be taken twice or thrice a day Spirit of Salt or of Nitre may be taken after the same manner For the same the drink Cherbet called also the Divine drink of Palmarius are proper Take Powder of Hartshorn Calcin'd or of Antimony Diaphoretick three Drams Spirit of Vitriol or of Salt a Dram bray them together in a Glass Mortar and let them dry The Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram in a spoonful of Cordial Julape Fixt or lixivial Salts of Herbs often enter the Compositions of Alexipharmicks Moreover Medicines which have these for their Basis as they are accounted very famous Febrifuges so they ought to be numbred amongst Cordials for instance we
beginning Phthisick In desperate Cases I have sometimes very successfully prescrib'd the following Decoction to be taken twice or thrice a day and also instead of ordinary drink Take Guaiacum four Ounces China Sassafras of each two Ounces all the Saunders of each an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Let them infuse and boil them in twelve pounds of fountain water to half adding Licorice an Ounce Raisins ston'd four Ounces strain it 11. Distill'd Waters such as before prescrib'd are also proper here to which may be added the Water of Solenander drawn from Hogs Blood with Turpentine also Balsamick Waters distill'd from Turpentine with Pectoral Ingredients Take Leaves of ground Ivy white Horehound Hyssop and Penny-royal of each three handfuls Roots of Elecampane and Florentine Orice of each two Ounces Turpentine dissolv'd with Oyl of Tartar four Ounces Hyssop-water four pounds Malaga-wine two pounds distil them in Sand let all the Liquor be mixt the Oyl being separated The Dose is two or three spoonfuls twice a day with a spoonful of the Syrup of the Juice of Ivy. 12. In the last place We must here prescribe Forms of Vapours and Fumes the use of which sometimes does more good in a Phthisick not past recovery than any other Remedies and this because they go to the Lungs it self and so by an immediate operation Purge it dry it free it from Putrefaction strengthen it and open its Ductus's First Therefore let a moist steam be made after this manner Take Leaves of Hyssop ground Ivy whit Hore-hound of each two handfuls Elecampane Roots two Ounces Calamus Aromaticus half an Ounce Anniseeds Caraway-seeds of each an Ounce being slic'd and bruis d boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water Let the Vapour of the hot strain'd Liquor be drawn into the Lungs through the hole of a Paper roul'd up Conically or in the Jhape of a Funnel use it Mornings and Evenings for a quarter of an hour 2. A fumigation or dry Vapour is usually made one while more gentle of meer Balsamicks another while more strong of Sulphureous and sometimes Arsenical substances Take Olibanum white Amber Benzoin of each two Drams Gum Guaiacum Balsam of Tolu of each a Dram and a half Powder of red Roses red Saunders of each a Dram Make a Powder to be strew'd on burning Coals Take Gum of Ivy Frankincense of each two Drams Flowers of Sulphur a Dram and a half Mastick a Dram with a Solution of Gum Tragacanth make Trothes Take white Amber Olibanum of each two Drams Auripigment prepar'd half an Ounce Storax Calamita Laudanum of each a Dram and a half with a sufficient quantity of the Solution of Gum Tragacanth Make Troches for fumigation Empiricks ordinarily prescribe the smoak of Auripigment to be taken in a Pipe lighted like Tobacco and that sometimes with good success Moreover it s a practise with the vulgar to take bits of Cloth Painted with Auripigment such as serves for Hangings in Taverns and shredding them very small to kindle them in a Pipe like Tobacco and so to draw the smoak into the Consumptive Lungs for a Cure Now in the last place it remains for us to speak of the great confirm'd Phthisick which is commonly past Cure and to advise what is to be done when the Lungs being very much vitiated and affected with one or more filthy Ulcers do not convey the Air and Blood according to their due Course but defile or corrupt the Mass of the latter by Ministring to it continually a stook of Putrified matter so that a Hectick Feaver and an Atrophia through want of nourishment seize the Diseas'd with a great decay of all their faculties and daily impairing their strength precipitate them to the Grave The most certain sign generally acknowledged of this Disease growing so desperate is a very troublesome pain with an Inflammation in the Throat for this affect argues a great Putrefaction of the Lungs whence the corrupted Effluvia's exhaling stick against the narrow passage of the Throat and there pierce and vehemently irritate the tender Fibres in that part In this case its in vain to attempt to Mundify the Lungs and to cleanse the Ulcer and dry it for all hot Medicines designed for those ends and proper enough in a beginning Phthisick are not to be endur'd when it s confirm'd because augmenting the Inflammation of the Lungs they increase the Hectick Feaver the Thirst Watchings and other very troublesome Symptoms or stir them up a fresh And indeed in such a state of this Disease when we only propose to our selves to protract Life by helping towards a well-bearing of the Distemper and to an easie death those Remedies are of chiefest use that moderate the fervour of the Blood allay the heat of the Praecordia restore the Spirits and gently cherish them Hence for Food Asses Milk also Water-gruel Barly-Broaths Cream of Barley and for Drink Ptisans Emulsions Milk Water distill'd with Snails and temperate Pectorals are usually of greatest success Let Syrups and Linctus's which lenify the Inflammation of the Throat and Lungs and facilitate expectoration be often or daily given but especially gentle Hypnoticks to procure a moderate rest I shall now give you some of the more Select Forms of each kind Take Barly half an Ounce Candied Eringo Roots six Drams parings of Apples a handful Raisins ston'd two Ounces Licorice three Drams boil them in three Pounds of fountain water or two Make a Ptisan to quench thirst let it be taken three or four times a day and if it agrees let it be used instead of ordinary drink Take twenty Caudae Gammorum Candied Eringo Roots an Ounce a Crust of White-bread Raisins ston'd two Ounces Licorice three Drams boil them in three pounds of running Water to two pounds Strain it take three or four Ounces thrice a day after the same manner you may make a Decoction of Snails Take Snails half boil'd and slic'd three pounds Leaves of ground Ivy six handfuls Nutmegs slic'd in number six Pith of White-bread two pounds Milk from the Cow eight pounds distil it in an ordinary still After the same manner you may distil a Water è Caudis Gammorum The Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day sweetning it with Saccharum Perlatum or Sugar of Roses Take Ears of green Wheat what suffices distil them in a Rose Still Let the Person drink three or four Ounces thrice a day sweetning it with Saccharum Perlatum Take Syrup of Meconium three Ounces Water of green Wheat six Ounces Mix them let two or three spoonfuls be taken going to Bed every Night or every other Night Take Conserve of the Flowers of Wild or Garden Mallows three Ounces Lohoch de Pino two Ounces Syrup of Jujubes two Ounces Make a Lohoch of which let a Dram and a half or two Drams be often taken I shall now give Instances of some Patients which I have had in Cure in the foregoing Distempers And
and likewise moderate Hypnoticks especially Diacodiats are taken with good success For these by putting a stay to the motion of the Heart allay the fervour of the Blood 2. To close the Aperture of the Vessel Astringent Remedies and Agglutinatives are most proper The chief of these are usually given in the Form of a Linctus so that some of its Particles in swallowing falling on the Aspera Arteria may more immediately communicate their vertue to the part affected But the way of this Operation seems to be of no great moment because the Efficacy of the Medicines reaches chiefly and in a manner only by the way of the Blood to the Root of the Disease Wherefore not only Lohoch's but likewise Decoctions Powders and Pills of Traumatick and Balsamick Ingredients are successfully prescrib'd The Second Indication which is for preservation having regard to the Cure of the dissolution of Unity without leaving any blemish in the Lungs ought to provide against two sorts of evils viz. That the Spitting Blood to which the Persons affected will be always subject does not return at times and that the Consumption which threatens all those that Spit Blood does not follow it For which ends in order to the prevention of this Disease we must take an assiduous care of or use a constant method of Cure to the Blood and Lungs 1. As to the Blood its Mass ought always to be kept in a due quantity a just temper and a gentle and continued motion Hence lest it abound too much or being affected with an evil temperament grows turgid or deposes impure dregs in the Brest we must sometimes use Bleeding and a gentle Purge an exact Form of Diet is always necessary Moreover drinking of Asses Milk or of Mineral Waters contribute sometimes egregiously to the purifying and sweetning of the Blood Again Decoctions Distill'd Waters Juices of Herbs which take away the Dyscrasies of the Blood and derive the Serum and other Impurities from the Lungs and carry them forth by Sweat or Urine must be diligently taken Issues also mightily conduce for this end 2. Nor must less care be taken of the Lungs themselves that their whole frame and especially the place affected be preserv'd in a due Conformation and right Tone Hence all violent motion by which Unity is farther dissolv'd or its restauration hindred is carefully to be avoided Let the Person live in a clear and brisk Air though it must not be too sharp and piercing Let him abstain from gross Food long Sleeps large Suppers and other errours in Diet which cause a Repletion or Obstruction in the Praecordia Besides this let Remedies be us'd which are said to Cure the Lungs by a peculiar or certain Specifick Vertue Having given you the method of Curing Blood Spitting I shall now set down some Select Forms of Medicines answering to each of the Therapeutick Indications and to the various intentions of Curing that belong to them And we justly give the precedency to those which encountring the most urgent Symptome presently stop the flowing forth of Blood cast out of the Lungs by a Cough or otherwise In the First rank of these Medicines we place those which hinder the Blood from flowing to the part affected and have a certain Astringency together with an Agglutinative Vertue by which the Aperture of the Vessel is clos'd and after a Glyster and Blooding unless the weakness of the Pulse and a deficiency of heat forbid it they are presently given in the form of a Julape Decoction Emulsion Juicy Expression Powder Pills and Lohochs I shall give you some of the choicest and most efficacious prescripts of each of these as also of Hypnoticks which nevertheless must not be us'd at random and indifferently but every of them methodically and seasonably according to the various Constitution of the Patient and Nature of the Disease as a prudent Physician shall direct 1. Julapes and distill'd Waters TAke the Waters of Purslain and red Poppies of each six Ounces Dragons Blood finely Powdred half a Dram Syrup of red Poppies two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol of Mars half a Scruple Mix them the Dose is three Ounces repeating it within five or six hours Take Plantain water a pound the Gums Tragacanth and Arabick Powdred of each half a Dram mingle them and dissolve them then add Syrup of dry'd Roses an Ounce and a half Make a Julape the Dose is three or four Ounces every third or fourth hour Take the Waters of Oak-buds red Roses and Nymphaea of each four Ounces Blood-stone very finely Powdred Bole Armeniack Powdred of each half a Dram Syrup of Nymphaea two Ounces Mingle them the Dose is three or four Ounces three or four times a day Take of the Dew or insipid Phlegm of Vitriol a pound Syrup of Myrtles two Ounces Mix them the Dose is two or three Ounces often in the day or in the night Take Cypress tops eight handfuls Willow Leaves or Flowers six handfuls Roots of the greater Comphrey and Nymphaea of each half a pound Balaustia two handfuls all being slic'd small together pour to them of fresh Milk eight pounds distil them in Common Organs The Dose is three or four Ounces thrice or oftner in a day Take of this distill'd water and of Plantain water of each half a pound the Gums Tragacanth and Arabick of each two Drams Dissolve them the Dose is three Ounces every third hour The following Mixture is prescrib'd by Frederick Deckers to be taken a Spoonful at a time and seems to be a good Medicine Take Plantain water two Ounces Cinnamon two Drams Confection of Hyacinth a Dram and a half distill'd Vinegar half an Ounce red Coral prepar'd half a Dram Balaustia Dragons Blood of each half a Scruple Laudanum Opiatum three Grains Syrup of Myrtles an Ounce Mingle them Take the Waters of Plantain red Roses and Purslain of each four Ounces Blood-stone and Dragons Blood reduc'd into a fine Powder of each half a Dram Sugar Candy six Drams Make a Julape A Solution of common Vitriol or of Vitriol of Mars made in fountain water and apply'd to a Wound with a rag excellently stops all Fluxes of Blood but it is not proper to be given inwardly 2. Decoctions Tinctures and Emulsions TAke Leaves of Blood-wort Perwincle Mous-ear Plantain Wood-sorrel both sorts of Daisies of each a handful Flowers of red Roses half a handful Barley half an Ounce Raisins two Ounces boil them in three pounds of Water in which red hot Iron has been quench'd till it comes to two pounds add to the straining Syrup of St. Johns wort two Ounces or of Mous-ear Make an Apozeme the Dose is four or six Ounces thrice a day Take Leaves of St. Johns wort Roots and Leaves of Tormentil great Burnet Meadow-sweet of each a handful Seeds of Purslane Plantain and Sorrel of each a Dram Conserve of red Roses half a pound fountain water four pounds Let them boil close in B. M. for twelve hours to the straining add
Spirit of Vitriol of Mars half a Scruple take it after the same manner Take Barley water with madder Roots boil'd in it a pound and a half Put into it when grown pretty cold of red Rose Leaves a handful Add Spirit of Vitriol a Scruple let there be a close and warm infusion for three hours Make a Tincture to the straining add Syrup of the Juice of St. Johns wort an Ounce and a half Take three or four Ounces thrice or four times in a day Take of the Decoction of the Roots of fresh Nettles a pound and a half Seeds of white Poppies and of Henbane of each two Drams Melon seeds pill'd six Drams Make an Emulsion according to Art sweetned with Sugar Penids The Dose is three Ounces three or four times a day 3. Juices of Herbs and Juicy Expressions TAke Juice of Plantain Leaves half a pound Let two or three Drams be taken thrice a day with three Ounces of the distill'd Water above written and sweeten it at pleasure Take Leaves of fresh Nettles Plantain the lesser Daisy of each three handfuls being bruis'd together pour to them of Purslain water six Drams Wring it forth hard take it as the former 4. Powders and Pills TAke Powder of Blood-stone of Dragons Blood ground on a Marble with Rose-water and of Pearl of each a Dram Bole Armeniack Terra Lemnia of each half a Dram Troches of Winter Cherries two Drams Make a Powder divide it into twelve parts let one part be taken thrice a day with the distill'd water above written Take of the Seeds of Henbane and white Poppies of each ten Drams Terra Sigillata red Coral of each five Drams Sugar of Roses three Ounces Make a Powder the Dose is a Dram Morning and Evening This Composition brought into a soft Consistency with some proper Syrup is call'd Helidaeus's Electuary so Famous heretofore in Germany The foresaid Powders may also be made into convenient Pills and Tablets by adding the Solution of Tragacanth or some fit Syrup The spungy Excrescency usually growing to the fruit of the Dog-Rose Tree made into Powders and given twice a day to the quantity of half a Dram is a very good remedy in spitting Blood Take Yarrow bruis'd and dry'd in the Summer Sun what you think good Make it into a fine Powder and keep it in a Glass for Vse The Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice a day in a fit Vehicle The Powder of Julius Caesar Scaliger or rather of Serapion is mightily commended The Dose is four Drams twice or thrice a day 5. Lohoch's and Electuaries TAke Conserve of red Roses and of the Dog-Rose of each two Ounces Powder of the Seeds of the white Poppy and of Henbane of each two Drams Species Diatragacanthi frigidi a Dram and a half Blood-stone Sanguis Draconis prepar'd of each half a Dram Syrup of red Poppies what suffices Make an Electuary let the quantity of a Chesnut be taken Evenings and Mornings and at other times suck it with a stick of Licorice Take Conserve of the Flowers of great Comphrey and of Water-Lillies of each an Ounce and a half Troches of Winter Cherries and Diatragacanthum frigidum of each a Dram and a half Syrup of Jujubes what suffices Make a soft Lohoch of which take often with a stick of Licorice Take of the White of an Egg well beaten two Drams Lucatellus's Balsam half an Ounce Troches of Winter Cherries two Drams Syrup of red Poppies what suffices Make a soft Lohoch take the quantity of a Chesnut Morning and Evening The Second Indication being for preservation suggests to us those Remedies which keeping the Blood in a just temper and the Lungs in a due Conformation provide against a relapse of Spitting Blood and an ensuing Consumption such as regard the Blood are either gentle Evacuatives by Seige Urine and Sweat or meer Alteratives Every one of these are wont to be prescrib'd either in the Form of a Drink Powder Electuary or Pills We shall set down some Select Forms of some of the chief of them 1. As to Evacuatives a gentle Purge may sometiems be ordered after this manner Take of the best Sena three Drams Cassia bruis'd with the Fistula an Ounce Tamarinds three Drams Coriander-seeds a Dram and a half Boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water to fix Ounces to the straining add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb an Ounce Clarify it with the White of an Egg. Or Take Gereons Decoction of Senna four Ounces Purging Syrup of Apples an Ounce Mix them and make a Potion For preserving the Blood in a good temper and that its dreggy Excrements deriv'd from the Lungs may be continually discharg'd by Sweat and Urine the following Alteratives or some of them must be constantly taken which being also of a healing Nature relieve Lungs that are infirm or dissolv'd in their Unity For ordinary Drink let it be pure Water especially in a hot Constitution or water a little ting'd with Claret Wine Those with whom this Drink does not agree may use with as good success a Bochet of China and Sarsa with the shavings of Ivory Hartshorn and white Saunders in it or sinall Beer or Ale with the Leaves of Harts Tongue Oak of Hierusalem and the like infus'd in it Let Pectoral Decoctions or Hydromels with temperate Traumatick Herbs be taken twice or thrice a day to six or seven Ounces Take Roots of fresh Nettles and Chervil of each an Ounce Leaves of Harts Tongue Speedwel Mous-ear Ground Ivy St. John's-wort of each a handful Boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds adding Raisms stone'd an Ounce and a half Licorice two Drams to the straining add Syrupus Byzantinus two Ounces Clarifie it with the White of an Egg Make an Apozem to be taken to four or six Ounces twice or thrice a day for a Month. In a cold or Phlegmatick Constitution the Licorice and Raisins being omitted with the Syrup add towards the end two Ounces of the best Clarified Honey strain it and keep it for use The Dose is the same as the former Let these things sometimes be taken betwixt whiles with a distill'd water appropriated to the same end which also may be more frequently taken by some Persons to whom Apozems are nauseous and loathsome Take Cypress Tops Leaves of ground Ivy of each six handfuls Snails half boil'd a pound and a half All the Saunders bruis'd of each an Ounce Being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of new Milk eight pounds distil it with common Organs The Dose is three or four Ounces with a spoonful of Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy twice a day 2. In respect of the Lungs viz. that the Union of its parts and the due Conformation of the whole may be preserv'd without any obstruction or opening of its Vessels temperate Balsamicks are of chiefest use For this end Lucatellus Balsam is perscrib'd even by the vulgar to be taken constantly and for a
and Baum of each four Ounces Powder of a Boars Tusk a Dram Syrup of Violets ten Drams Make a Julape and take it after the same manner Take Grass Roots three Ounces shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Raisins ston'd an Ounce and a half Licorice two Drams boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds to the straining add Syrup of Violets an Ounce Sal Prunella a Dram Make an Apozeme take to three or four Ounces thrice a day For the same Intention viz. that the emptied Vessels may withdraw the matter maintaining the Disease or may drink up again the Morbifick matter it self a Purge also is prescrib'd by some In the Practise of the Ancients it was a thing in constant use after bleeding to Order Preparatives and Purgers against this Disease as well as against most others And Chymists of late with a greater confidence give Vomits and cry them up before all other Remedies in a Peripneumonia Nay further neglecting bleeding or forbidding it they lay the chief stress of their Cure in Antimonial Emeticks though I know not whether any thing can be imagin'd more pernicious than that their rash proceeding In rustick and robust Bodies sometimes this Medicine is given without harm but in tender Constitutions it may be reckon'd little Inferiour to poyson And as to purging though it be not proper in the very beginning but in a manner always does harm yet the Morbifick matter ceasing to flow to the part and the effervescence of the Blood being appeas'd you may empty the Body gently with a Purging Medicine Take Gereons Decoction of Sena four Ounces Syrup of Roses Solulutive and Ounce Mix them make a Potion Take the best Sena three Drams whole Cassia Tamarinds of each half an Ounce Coriander-seeds two Drams Boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water to six Ounces to the straining add Syrup of Violets an Ounce Clarifie it with the White of an Egg and give it Let not Purges be given always nor ever in this Disease without consideration but Glysters must be given frequently nay for the most part every day but let them be only Lenitive and Emollient so that they gently loosen the Belly without much stirring the Blood and Humours For this end Milk or Whey with brown Sugar or Syrup of Violets often do well Or Take the Leaves of both Mallows Melilot and Mercury of each a handful Linseed and sweet Fennel-seeds of each half an Ounce sweet Prunes in number six Boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water to a pound to which add Syrup of Violets an Ounce Sugar ten Drams Sal Prunella a Dram Make a Glyster 3. Medicines for the Third Intention viz. For dissolving the clamminess of the Blood are usually given in the Form of a Powder Spirit Draught or Bolus according to the Forms following 1. Powders TAke Crabs Eyes powdred two Drams Sal Prunella a Dram and a half Sugar of Pearl a Dram Make a Powder divide it into six parts take one every sixth hour with some proper Julape or Apozeme Take Powder of a Boars Tusk or of the Jaw-bone of a Pike Crabs Eyes of each a Dram and a half Flowers of Sal Armoniack Powder of red Poppy Flowers of each half a Dram Mix them for four Doses 2. Chymical Spirits and Liquors TAke Spirit of Sal Armoniack distill'd with Olibanum three Drams The Dose is from twelve to fifteen or twenty Drops thrice a Day Take Spirit of Vrine or of Soot three Drams give it after the same manner Take Spirit of sweet Nitre viz. often Cohobated with Spirit of Wine three Drams The Dose is from six drops to ten after the same manner Take Spirit of Tartar half an Ounce The Dose is from fifteen drops to twenty or twenty five with a fit Vehicle Take of the simple Mixture an Ounce The Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram after the same manner 3. Draughts TAke Carduus water a pound fresh Horse-dung three Ounces dissolve it warm and filter it The Dose is three or four Ounces twice or thrice a day adding Syrup of Violets or of red Poppies half an Ounce Take Leaves of Dandelion two handfuls being bruis'd pour to them Water of Ladies Thistle half a pound Treacle water half an Ounce Wring it forth hard to which add Powder of Crabs Eyes a Dram take four or six spoonfuls thrice a day The Fourth Intention of Curing having regard to the most urgent Symptoms suggests to us various preparations of Medicines 1. In respect of the Feaver the Julapes and Apozems before set down are proper Moreover you must frequently use Sal Prunella 2. For the Cough and difficulty of Breathing Linctus's Lohochs and Decoctions or Pectoral Julapes are given with success Take Syrup of Jujubes of Maiden-hair of each an Ounce and a half Syrup of Violets an Ounce Flowers of Nitre a Scruple Make a Linctus to be taken now and then with a stick of Licorice Take Syrup of Dialthea an Ounce Diacodium Syrup of red Poppies of each half an Ounce Crabs Eyes finely powdred two Scruples Make a Linctus to be taken as the other Take Syrup of Hyssop of Licorice of each an Ounce and a half Powder of red Poppy Flowers a Scruple Crabs Eyes a Dram Lohoch de Pino six Drams Mix them make a Lohoch of which take the quantity of a Nutmeg four times or oftner in a day Take Roots of Grass Chervil Marsh-mallows of each an Ounce Figgs in number four Jujubes Sebestens of each in number six Raisins of the Sun an Ounce Licorice three Drams Barley half an Ounce boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds Strain it the Dose is three or four Ounces Take Raisins ston'd an Ounce and a half Filberts slic'd in number four Licorice slic'd three Drams hyssop-Hyssop-water a pound and a half Make a close and warm Infusion according to art for six hours to the straining add Syrup of Althea an Ounce and a half Make a Julape the Dose is three or four spoonfuls often in a day swallowing it down by little and little 3. Against want of Sleep Take of red Poppy water three Ounces Syrup of the same six Drams Plague water two Drams Make a draught to be taken going to Bed It the Pulse be strong and the strength holds Take Cowslip water three Ounces Syrup of Meconium half an Ounce Mix it and drink it going to Bed 4. If the pain be pressing about the part affected Take of the Oyntment of Marsh-mallows two Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds an Ounce and a half Mix them for a Liniment to be apply'd with thin Lawn Paper Take Oyntment of Marsh-mallows and the Pectoral Oyntment of each an Ounce and a half Oyl of Linseed fresh drawn a Dram to which add of the Emplaister of Mucilages what suffices Make a Plaister for the Region of the Brest to be apply'd on the part affected Fifthly For the last Intention of Curing
Poppy water three Ounces Syrup of the same an Ounce Mix them give a spoonful of it every other while Take Spirit of Sal Armoniack distill'd with Olibanum three Drams the Dose is from twelve drops to fifteen or twenty three or four times a day in a fit Vehicle After the same manner you may give Spirit of Vrine of Soot or of Hartshorn Take Spirit of Tartar three Drams The Dose is a Scruple in a fit Vehicle Take Mixtura Simplex three Drams The Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram. 3. As to the Third Indication besides a thin Diet Cordial Remedies and Anodines are prescrib'd Forms of the former kind may be supply'd by the Julapes and Apozemes prescrib'd for the first Indication and by the Spirits and Powders for the Second Inward Anodines to be given in Watchings and in a very Intense pain are prescrib'd according to the Forms following Take red Poppy water two Ounces Syrup of the same six Drams Spirit of Hartshorn twelve drops Make a draught to be taken going to Bed If we must go higher Take Carduus water two Ounces Diacodium from three Drams to half an Ounce or six Drams Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Frankincense half a Scruple Make a draught Sometimes though rarely its necessary to rise to Laudanum's which being seasonably given have a mighty good effect inasmuch as they procure Sleep and move Sweat and Vrine Take water of Cowslip Flowers two Ounces Laudanum Tartariz'd from sixteen drops to twenty Spirit of Blood half a Scruple Syrup of Violets two Drams Mingle them make a draught Outward Anodines are usually prescrib'd in the Form of an Oyntment Fomentation and Cataplasm Take Oyntment of Marsh-Mallows two Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds an Ounce Album Graecum two Drams Mix them by braying them together Take of the Emplaister of Mucilages two Ounces and a half Malax it with Oyl of Linseed and let it be apply'd upon Lawn Paper Take the tops of Both Malbows Leaves of Mercury and Beets of each three handfuls Boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water let the straining be us'd for a Fomentation Take the remaining faeces of the Herbs after the Liquor is wrung forth and being bruis'd add to it of Oat-meal six Drams Linseed Fenugreek-seeds of each two Ounces Oyntment of Marsh-Mallows two Ounces Make a Cataplasm I need not go far for Stories and Instances of persons troubled with the Pleurisie for I have a notable Example of this Disease now under Cure viz. a very fine young Woman subject most frequently and as it were habitually to that affect is committed to our care This Virgin who is very fair of a Sanguine Complexion but of a weakly Constitution has been wont for many years past upon every slight occasion viz. upon taking Cold or by errours in any of the six nonnatural things nay sometimes upon the meer change of the Season or of the Air to fall into a Feaver presently accompanied with pains of the Pleura a Cough and a difficulty of Breathing and for the most part horrible Convulsions following them She has been taken so very ill formerly of this Distemper that she has been often forc'd to keep her Chamber six Months or more every year but of late though she be not freed from this affliction yet she is seldomer tormented with it The last year she was pretty well all the Summer and well near all the Autumn about the beginning of Winter she fell sick of that Disease and now towards the end of it is fallen ill again The Pleuritick pain constantly possesses the right side where the Blood sticking and being extravasated in its passage about the Intercostal Muscles the Irritated Fibres commence a most tormenting pain together with a Convulsive motion of Coughing which they reiterate almost perpetually In the mean time the Lungs being found enough and open in their passages readily convey the Blood as clammy as it is without any lett or stay which often is the cause of a Peripneumonia No Remedies are wont to do good to this person without Bleeding which is always so particularly necessary that every time she is ill we are forc'd even whether we will or no to repeat it two or three times nay sometimes oftner The Blood emitted has constantly a Viscous and whitish Film on its surface This Disease was always a simple Pleurisie without any Peripneumonia and for its Cure she constantly us'd the following method with success Take Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Gum Ammoniacum three Drams give from fifteen drops to twenty thrice a day with the following Julape Take Carduus water Black-Cherry water of each six Ounces Hysterick water a Dram Sugar six Drams Betwixt whiles she took a Dose of Powder with three Ounces of an Apozeme Take the Powders of Crabs Eyes of a Bores Tusk of Sal Prunella of each a Dram Make a Powder divide it into six parts Take Grass Roots three Ounces Candied Eringo's an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams parings of Apples a handful Raisins of the Sun an Ounce Boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds add to the straining Syrup of Violets an Ounce Sal Prunella a Dram Mix them make an Apozeme Glisters of Milk with Syrup of Violets were administred sometimes every day and sometimes every other day if at any time Opïats though never so gentle were given her to allay pain commonly afterwards an aking and heaviness of the Head and Convulsive Affects most sorely tormented her CHAP. V. Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of an Empyema BY the word Empyema according to its usual acceptation is denoted a Collection of Pus or corrupted matter within the Cavity of the Thorax by which the Organs of Respiration are opprest That Pus commonly flowing thither either from a Pleurisie or a Peripneumonia and sometimes haply from a Squinancy suppurated and broken As to the Cure of an Empyema we must in the First place consider whether the signs of this Disease as to the reality of its present Being be certain or doubtful if certain there will not be much need of Physick but only the Body being prepar'd you may presently proceed to open the side Therefore if after a Pleurisie or Peripneumonia not rightly Cur'd or after an inward effusion of Blood occasion'd by a stroak fall or wound there be perceiv'd a floating of Pus or of corrupted or bloody matter within the Cavity of the Thorax and this with little or no Spitting we need no longer think of Maturating or Expectorating Medicines but the Belly being loosen'd and the Blood and humours duly qualified by Julapes Apozemes and Anodines either order a bare Incision or in tender and timorous persons First let a Cautery be apply'd betwixt the sixth and seventh Vertebrae and after the Eschar being rais'd let the Incision Knife be entred obliquely towards the hinder and upper parts and that leisurely and by little and little till it penetrate
into the Cavity of the Thorax and then a little silver Pipe being put in let the matter within contain'd be let forth some at one time and some at another but so that as far as the strength will bear the evacuation of the whole humour be as quick as may be for a portion of it being left within upon frequent admission of air to it will stinch most horridly within a few days to prevent which evil or suddenly to remove it let a vulnerary and adstersive Liquor be injected with a Syringe twice or thrice a day After the Incision is duly perform'd with what else belongs to it well known to skilful Chirurgions there will not be much more left for a Physician to do He must prescribe a proper Diet frequent Glisters to loosen the Belly as often as occasion requires and likewise vulnerary Medicines commonly so call'd which hinder the dissolution of the Blood and its running into Serosities prejudicial to the Brest But if the Signs of this Disease are not certain and as it usually happens when a Peripneumonia or an Impostume of the Lungs precede it are wholly doubtful you must not proceed to an Incision too hastily or inconsiderately For I have known some Spitting forth a purulent matter nay a faetid Pus to whom an Incision of the Thorax has prov'd of no good effect and not without some prejudice Therefore till it shall appear by infallible Signs that it is an absolute Empyema you may use for a while expectorating Medicines such as before prescrib'd for Curing a Peripneumonia and also things gently moving an Evacuation by Urine and Sweat But these at length availing nothing and the Empyema still continuing or encreas'd since it is better so there be strength to try a doubtful Remedy than none you may proceed to the Incision As to Forms of Medicines requisite for Curing an Empyema before the Incision the same Remedies are proper which are prescrib'd for a Peripneumonia but the incision being over the following will be of particular use Against Faintings and Swoonings which happen during that Operation or after it Let the following Julape be always in a readiness to be taken now and then to four or five spoonfuls Take the Waters of Bawm and of Black Cherries of each six Ounces Aqua Mirabilis an Ounce Pearl powdred a Dram Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers an Ounce Mingle them make a Julape Let the following Decoction be taken three or four times a day TAke Leaves of Harts Tongue Speedwel Agrimony Colts-foot Mous-ear Sanicle of each a handful Roots of Madder and Chervil of each an Ounce Barley half an Ounce red Ciches half an Ounce Raisins of the Sun an Ounce and a half Boil them in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd when it is taken let it be sweeten'd at pleasure with Clarified Honey or with Syrup of Mous-ear If there be no Feaver let the following Pills be taken at Night and early in the Morning to a Scruple or half a Dram. Take Powder of Crabs Eyes two Drams Flowers of Sulphur a Dram Sal Prunella half a Dram Species of Diarrhodon Abbatis a Scruple Venice Turpentine wash'd what suffices Make a Mass and form it into Pills or the Turpentine being omitted let the same Medicine be taken in the Form of a Powder from half a Dram to two Scruples twice a day CHAP. VI. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing the Impostume of the Lungs THe Morbifick matter of this Vomica or Impostume of the Lungs is always a meer Pus which nevertheless is there engendred tacitely and as it were unawares without a Feaver or Inflammation and lyes so private that it scarce presents any signs of it self but a little Cough which at first is dry then turns moist which continuing some time the Breath is drawn with some difficulty the Spirits faint and the Body wears away by little and little though in the mean time the Spittle has no Pus or Blood mixt with it But if the Impostume unexpectedly breaks it commonly kills the Patient If after the Impostume is broken and the Purulent Spittle beginning to come away with ease and the strength holding firm there be room for any method of Cure The Primary Indications according to the common custom in most Diseases must be these three viz. Curatory Preservatory and Vital The First directs that the matter of the Impostume be with speed evacuated by Spitting and that the sides of it be cleans'd and made sound again as much as possible The Second provides against a confluence of new matter to the Receptacle and other neithbouring parts of the Lungs whence a Consumption would be engendred The Third relieves the faintings of the Spirits and restores lost strength and the Nutrition which was frustrated In respect of the First Indication expectorating Medicines commonly so call'd and of the hottest and smartest nature which cleanse and dry most and especially since for the most part here is no Feaver Sulphureous things are proper which also are prescrib'd according to the Forms following Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams give from seven drops to twenty going to Bed and early in the Morning in a spoonful of Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy Or Take Syrup of our Diasulphur six Ounces give a spoonful at the same hours Take dry'd Leaves of ground Ivy Germander Maiden-hair Coltsfoot Hyssop white Hore-hound Savory of each a handful the Roots of Elecampane Florentine Orris Chervil of each an Ounce Anniseeds half an Ounce Boil them in six pounds of fountain water to three pounds and a half add towards the end White-wine six Ounces the best Clarified Honey three Ounces Let the straining be Clarified and kept for use The Dose is six Ounces thrice a day warm Or Take Water of quick Lime six pounds Put it in a large mouth'd Glass with the following Bag. Take dry'd Leaves of Germander ground Ivy white Hore-hound of each a handful Roots of Elecampane and Florentine Orris slic'd of each an Ounce and a half Annisecds bruis'd two Ounces Licorice an Ounce and a half Raisins ston'd three Ounces Let them stand cold and close cover'd pour it out as you use it still leaving the Bag behind Take Lohoch Sanum three Ounces Species Diaireos two Drams and a half Flowers of Sulphur a Dram and a half Oxymel simple two Ounces Make a Linctus to be taken with a stick of Licorice Take Powder of the Leaves of Hedg-musiard and of ground Ivy of each half an Ounce Flowers of Sulphur a Dram and a half Syrup of Diasulphur or of the Juice of Ivy what suffices Make a soft Lâ—hech Take fine Myrrh and white Amber of each half an Ounce Sulphur vivum Auripigment of each two Drams shells of Fistick Nuts a Dram and a half Make a Powder for Fumigation let it be us'd with a Paper Funnel Morning and Evening The Second Indication which is for preservation cutting off the Mortinck matter and providing against the Consumption which is apt
to ensue undertakes the purifying of the Blood and the strengthening of the Lungs for which eads Purges Vulnerary Decoctions distill'd Waters and Physick Drinks are proper Take Gereon's Decoction of Sena with Agarick a Dram and a half three Ounces and a half Purging Syrup of Apples an Ounce Aqua Mirabilis two Drams Make a Potion to be taken once a week with governance Let the Form of the vulnerary Decoction be the same which is prescrib'd for the Empyema after the Incision or because there is no Feaver you may give that Decoction of the shops to four or six Ounces thrice a day Take Fir tops six handfuls fresh Leaves of ground Ivy Hyssop Savory Rocket Hedge-mustard Winter Cress of each four handfuls Sun-flower Seeds six Ounces sweet Fennel-seeds two Ounces Roots of Elecampane and Florentine Orris of each three Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Brunswick or Spruce Beer eight pounds distil it with common Organs Let the Liquor be all mixt and when it s us'd let it be sweeten'd at pleasure with Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy The Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day Take Roots of Sarzaparilla six Ounces China Roots two Ounces all the Saunders of each six Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each half an Ounce Mastick-wood an Ounce being slic'd and bruis'd let them Infuse according to art and boil in twelve pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd adding of Licorice an Ounce Raisins of the Sun four Ounces let the straining be us'd for ordinary drink The Third and Vital Indication prescribes Cordial and Anodine Remedies and a fit Diet The same Forms of Medicines in a manner that are prescrib'd for an Empyema after Incision are proper here Also the same Diet which is ordered in a beginning Consumption and Asses Milk often does good in this case Concerning the Cure of this Disease I have obferv'd that an Issue made in the side has often a very good effect A Gentleman of a middle Age having been always strong and healthy found himself ill without any manifest cause and in a short time fell into a languishing condition losing his appetite sleeping with difficulty was thirsty and had a heat about his Praecordia He was a long time under the hands of some Physicians for the Scurvy and of others as Hectical and after various methods of Cure had been try'd in vain the Disease at length openly discover'd it self For whilst one Night being more restless than usual he toss'd himself very much in his Bed the Impostume within his Lungs breaking on a sudden he threw up by Coughing a vast quantity of Pus which stunk most horribly so that within four or five hours he had thrown up about two pounds Moreover the Cough continuing for above two Months afterwards he daily voided by Spittle of that Purulent thick and mighty stinking matter till his Flesh being consum'd and his strength wholly spent he was decay'd and fallen away to nothing After the Impostume was thus broken we carefully gave him Medicines to cleanse and heal the place where it gather'd and to mundify the Blood and the Lungs and free them from the imminent Consumption Our Tincture and Syrup of Diasulphur together with Pectoral and Vulnerary Decoctions and Distillations also Linctus's and Balsamick Pills were taken day after day in a constant method With these Glisters also gentle Catharticks and Diureticks were interchangeably given Vaporations first then Suffumigations both Sulphureous and Arsenical were also us'd Mornings and Evenings After these things had been carefully followed a long time without any good we concluded to open his Thorax and were soon directed to a place proper for it for on the left side of his Sternum betwixt the fifth and sixth Vertebrae a tumour appear'd Instead of a Cautery I apply'd thereto a Suppurating Plaister and within three days the top of that Swelling became red and soft out of which being open'd the next day after first issued a thin Ichor and a little after a yellow and well concocted Pus and afterwards it continued daily to run in a more plentiful manner and then the stinking Spittle began to abate and within a Fortnight wholly ceas'd the Morbisick matter finding both an easie and more apt passage through that Orifice which at length was chang'd into an Issue and a Pea or a Pill of Wood being daily put into it there came forth continually for a year and a half a plentiful Ichor and in the mean time the Gentleman having wholly got rid of any corruption in his Brest and recovering his strong and fleshy habit of Body became sound in all respects Lastly That Issue being remoy'd to the Arm he has nothing of that Distemper about his Brest nor minds longer any fence against it Shortly after this Cure I was call'd to a Lady of Quality who having been troubled with a Cough and a heat of the Praecordia for many years on a certain day sensibly perceiv'd somewhat broken in her Lungs whilst she was Coughing and presently voided by Spittle a great quantity of meer and stinking Pus after that that Spittle with the Cough notwithstanding any use of Remedies continuing for a Week seem'd rather increas'd than diminish'd I advised that she would permit an Issue to be cut in her side near the place whence she perceiv'd the Pus to arise which she readily giving way to within three days meer Pus such as she Spit forth by her Cough began to run from the open Orifice and afterwards the Morbifick matter finding a sufficient vent by that passage both the Cough and the Spitting of Pus entirely ceas'd and within six Weeks the Patient grew perfectly well After this I was call'd to a robust man a great Drinker who being also affected with an Impostume of the Lungs did Spit forth a great quantity of mighty stinking Pus He would not permit any Issue to be made in his side yet being very free to take all sorts of Medicines he got free at length of that Disease by a long use of them The Medicines which chiefly did him good were preparations of Sulphur wherefore our Syrup and Tincture were given him often every day To these we gave for Vehicles sometimes a Pectoral Decoction sometimes a Pectoral Hydromel sometimes Lime water with the Infusion of Pectoral and Vulnerary Ingredients Moreover Fumigations especially of Sulphureous and Arsenical things gave great Relief CHAP. VII Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of the Asthma AN Asthma is a difficult short thick and pursy Breathing with a great Agitation of the Brest and for the most part without a Feaver And it s either meerly Pneumonick proceeding from some stoppage in the Vessels that convey the Air or meerly Convulsive arising from some fault in the Organs of motion or mixt when both parts are joyntly faulty As to its Cure there are two Primary Indications or rather so many distinct methods of proceeding viz. the one Curatory the other
Preservatory The First teaches what is to be done in the Fit to free the Patient from present danger the other what out of the Fit to take away the Cause of the Disease 1. In the Fit there are two chief Intentions of Curing viz. First That care being taken as well of the Air as of the Lungs a more free Breathing be procur'd at least as much as may suffice to support Life And Secondly That the Organs of Respiration be reclaim'd and made to cease from the Convulsions they are fallen into and which are wont to be continued with obstinacy As to the former in the First place let the Patient be set in an upright Posture of Body in a pretty open place somewhat Airy and free from Smoak and the Breath of By-standers then endeavour that the Lungs being freed of all inward stuffing and oppression as well as outward compression may be able to draw and return the Breath deeper For these ends lest the weight of the inferiour Viscera press down and straiten the Praecordia let the Belly be loosen'd by a Glister and let the Garments and all other things covering or binding the Thorax be slacken'd Moreover since in this case the Lungs are usually opprest either from the Blood growing too turgid within the Pneumonick Vessels or from the Serum distilling forth of the Arteries and Glands into the Ductus's of the Trachea the Sallies and Impetuosities of both humours ought to be restrain'd and appeas'd Hence if the strength will bear it and the Pulse be strong enough Bleeding is often proper Again let those things be carefully given which discharge the Serum and the superfluities of the inflamed Blood by Urine and Sweat For which end Julapes Apozems and Pectorals commonly so call'd are of excellent use Moreover Powders of shells preparations of Millepedes Volatile Spirits and Salts are taken with good effect In the mean time let there be likewise given things that open the Ductus's of the Trachea and make them slippery and provoke expectoration and such also if need be as stop the Catarrh distilling on them for which ends Linctus's Lohoch's Pectoral Decoctions and Suffumigations are proper As to the other intent of Curing in Fits of the Asthma viz. That the Organs of Respiration being reclaim'd from the Convulsions they are fallen into return calmly to their ordinary Functions unless this follows of its own accord after that the turbulent boiling of the Blood and Serum within the Lungs is appeas'd We must use Anti-Convulsive and Anodine Remedies for Medicines wont to be given in Hysterick passions are also proper in a Convulsive Asthma The Spirit of Hartshorn of Soot and especially Spirit of Sal Armoniack distill'd with Gum Ammoniacum also the Tincture of Gum Ammoniacum of Sulphur Castoreum Assa-foetida the Syrup of Ammoniacum of Sulphur Oxymel of Squills and the like which being of an ungrateful tast or smell dissipate the Spirits as it were and withdraw them from tumultuary Efforts prove sometimes of notable use But if the raging Spirits cannot be appeas'd by this means we must come to Narcoticks that some of them being destroyed the rest may return into order For Opiats sometimes are mighty beneficial unless a stopping of the Lungs and a great oppression of the Praecordia forbid their use In horrible sits of this Disease when other Medicines have availed nothing I have often given Diacodium nay Laudanum Tartariz'd with good success Nevertheless these may not be taken without great caution for Respiration which is difficult and clogg'd before being hindred more and that very much by them they often put the Patient in danger of Life Moreover to reclaim the Pnenmonick Spirits from their Convulsions its good sometimes to put the Spirits to torture in some other part for when some of them are any where tormented all the rest for the most part being in a concern at it quit their disorderly motions Wherefore Vesicatories Cupping-glasses Ligatures and Painful Frictions give relief Nay for this reason Vomits taken in the midst of the fit do good I shall now set down certain Select Forms of Remedies appropriated to each of those ends First therefore to restrain the Fluxions of the Blood and Serum and to discharge their superfluities deriv'd from the Lungs by Sweat and Urine let the following things be prescrib'd Take Leaves of ground Ivy eight Ounces Rue Penny-royal and Dragons of each two Ounces Sal Prunella a Dram and a half Srrupus Byzantinus Syrup of red Poppies of each an Ounce Mix them make a Julape let three or four Ounces be taken thrice or oftner in a day Take Grass Roots three Ounces Roots of Butchers-Broom two Ounces Candied Elecampane an Ounce and a half Barley half an Ounce Raisins of the Sun an Ounce Boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds to the straining add of Sal Prunella a Dram and a half sweeten it if it be needful with a sufficient quantity of Syrupus Byzantinus or of Syrup of Violets Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams The Dose is from six drops to ten at Night and early in the Morning in a spoonful of the Syrup of the Juice of Ivy or of Violets Take Feculae of Aron and Briony of each a Dram and a half Flowers of Sulphur a Dram Flowers of Benzoin half a Dram Sugar Candy half an Ounce Licorice two Drams Make a Powder to be taken to half a Dram or two Scruples twice a day with the foregoing Julape or Apozeme Or Take of the foresaid Powder two Ounces Honey or Oxymel what suffices Make a Linctus take at Night and early in the Morning about half a spoonful at other times take it with a stick of Licorice Take Syrup of Hore-hound and of Garlick of each an Ounce and a half Tincture of Saffron and of Castoreum of each two Drams Mix them take about a small spoonful in the fits Take Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Gum Ammoniacum three Drams the Waters of Snails and of Earth-worms of each three Ounces Syrup of Horehound two Ounces Mix them take a spoonful once in four or five hours Take Powder of Hedg-mustard or of ground Ivy gathered in the Summer Sun an Ounce Oxymel simple what suffices Make a Linctus So much concerning the Medicines and method requisite in a fit of the Asthma The other Indication which is for preservation undertaking to remove the Morbifick cause and the whole Morbid Root has two parts or distinct Intents of Curing which for the most part are both set upon together one of these endeavours to amend the Conformation of the Lungs if it be any way prejudiced or faulty and the other to take away the Irregularities of the parts for motion and of the Spirits appointed for them Both these Intents will very well be answered if Pectoral Remedies commonly so call'd are joyn'd with Anti-Convulsives and are us'd interchangeably with other Medicines which have regard to the preparation of the whole Body and to Emergent Symptoms for which
ends the following Method and Forms of Medicines may be us'd Take Aloe Rosata a Dram and a half Flowers of Sulphur a Dram Salt of Amber half a Dram Tar what suffices Make Pills in number twenty four take four in the Evening every Night or every other or third Night Or Take Gum Ammoniacum and Bdellium dissolv'd in Vinegar of Squills of each half an Ounce Flowers of Sulphur three Drams Powder of the Leaves of Hedg-mustard and of Savory of each half a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Diasidphur or of Oxymel of Squills Make a Mass form it into little Pills and take three every Evening Or Take Millepedes prepar'd two Drams Flowers of Benzoin half a Dram Salt of Amber two Scruples Extract of Elecampane half a Dram Castoreum half a Dram Saffron a Scruple Venice Turpentine what suffices Make a Mass and form it into small Pills take four every Evening and Morning unless when you Purge If Pills are not grateful or the foresaid Medicines will not do then let the following be try'd to free the Lungs from obstruction Take Spirit of Gum Ammoniacum distill'd with Sal Armoniack three Drams Syrup of the Juice of Ivy three Ounces Magisterial water of Snails and of Earth-worms of each an Ounce Tincture of Saffron two Drams Mix them take a spoonful going to Bed and early in the Morning Or Take Tincture of Gum Ammoniacum three Drams The Dose is from fifteen Drops to twenty in a spoonful of Oxymel or Syrup of ground Ivy. Or Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams The Dose is from seven Drops to twelve or twenty at the same hours with a fit Vehicle After the like manner also other Spirits endow'd with a Volatile Salt and mixt with Pectoral Syrups and Cephalick waters may be usefully prescrib'd Morning and Evening Instead of a Mixture or Asthmatical Julape of distill'd waters of the shops the following Magisterial may be prepar'd to be us'd frequently and upon several occasions Take Roots of Elecampane Florentine Orris Angelica Masterwort of each four Ounces of Briony a pound Leaves of white Horehound Hyssop Savory Penny-royal ground Ivy of each four handfuls fresh Juniper and Ivy Berries of each a pound Lawrel Berries half a pound Seeds of sweet Fennel Caraway Annise Lovage Dill of each an Ounce Cubebs two Ounces long Pepper Cloves Mace of each an Ounce all of them being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Brunswick Beer eight pounds distill them with common Organs Let the whole Liquor be mixt and when it s used let it be sweeten'd at pleasure with Sugar or the Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy or with Oxymel Moreover instead of Oxymel or of any common Pectoral Syrup let the following Forms of Medicines be prescrib'd which are more appropriated to an Asthma And in the First place the Syrup of Elecampane invented by Horatius Augenius and afterwards recommended by Platerus Sennertus Riverius and other famous Practitioners shall be set down here and ought to be frequently made use of Take Roots of Elecampane and of Polypody of the Oak prepar'd of each two Ounces Currans two Ounces Sebestens in number fifteen Coltsfoot Lungwort Calaminth Savory of each a handful one large Tobacco Leaf Licorice two Drams Seeds of Nettles and of Cotton-plant of each a Dram and a half boil them in Wine and Honey diluted to a pound and a half and with the like quantity of Sugar make a Syrup Let it be taken either by it self in the Form of a Linctus or a spoonful at a time Mornings and Evenings or put a spoonful of it to a Dose of the distill'd water or Apozeme Take Roots of Florentine Orris and of Elecampane of each half an Ounce Garlick pill'd four Drams Cloves two Drams white Benzoin a Dram and a half Saffron a Scruple being slic'd and bruis'd let them digest warm in a pound of rectified spirit of Wine for twenty eight hours To the straining add of the finest Sugar a pound put it in a silver Bason on hot Coles then the liquor being fired keep stirring it as long as it will burn and then the flame going out it will become a Syrup let it be given after the same manner as the former Moreover in this place we may aptly insert the Decoctions of an old Cock so much commended by famous Physicians both ancient and modern for the Cure of the Asthma These Broaths are of two kinds viz. with or without Purgers and we find various and differing sorts of both amongst Practical Authors though I shall only give you a form or two Without Purgers this is a common Form Take Roots of Elecampane and of Florentine Orris of each half an Ounce Leaves of Hyssop and of Horehound dry'd of each six Drams Carthamus-seeds an Ounce Anniseeds and Dillseeds of each two Drams Licorice slic'd and Raisins cleans'd of each three Drams let them be prepar'd and sewed up in the Belly of an old Cock which must be boil'd in fifteen pounds of fountain water till the flesh falls from the Bones strain it and let it settle The Dose of the clear Liquor is six Ounces with an Ounce of Oxymel simple or if you would have it purge in each draught dissolve fresh Cassia and Manna of each half an Ounce Let it be taken for many days together sometimes for a whole Month. Riverius prescribes a good Form of this sort of Purging Broath Take Roots of Elecampane and of Florentine Orris of each a Dram and a half Leaves of Hyssop and Coltsfoot of each a handful Licorice slic'd Raisins clean'd of each two Drams Figs in number four Senna cleans'd three Drams Roots of Polypody of the Oak Carthamus-seeds of each half an Ounce Anniseeds a Dram and a half Boil them with a third or fourth part of an old Cock according to art and make a Broath for one Dose to be taken in a Morning let it be continued for twelve or fifteen days I shall now give you a Relation of a Person who was subject to fits of this Disease which were meerly Convulsive and of another who was subject to fits of the same which were partly Convulsive and partly Pneumonick A Noble Man of a tall Stature and full and strong grown having bruis'd is left Side by a fall found himself injur'd upon it and afterwards fell into an Asthmatick Distemper so that now and then though at no set times First a pain would seize him about that place and presently after a great straitness of Breath followed with a vehement and long continued straining of all the parts of Respiration so that during the Fit the Patient seem'd to be in the very Agony of Death I was first call'd to him after he had lain ill of such an Asthmatick Fit for two days and was look'd upon as almost past Cure Nevertheless finding his Lungs to be without hurt our Prognostick bid us still hope well and presently other Physicians being joyn'd with me in Consultation it was
himself in danger and having try'd some Medicines without any good effect was advised upon a consultation of Physicians to have his Side open'd Wherefore provision for the whole being made a Chyrurgion apply'd a Cautery betwixt the sixth and seventh Vertebrae and the day following he put a Pipe into the Orifice cut into the Cavity of his Brest upon which presently a thick Liquor whitish like Chyle and as it were Milky issued forth There were only about six Ounces taken from him the first time and the day following as much On the third day somewhat a larger quantity being let forth he was presently seiz'd with a great fainting and afterwards being Feaverish he was ill for a day or two Wherefore till he recovered his due temper and strength it was thought fit to stop the egress of that matter and afterwards a small evacuation only of the same being daily made the Cavity of his Brest was in a manner wholly emptied though he still carries the Pipe in the Orifice with a Tap which being drawn forth once in twenty four hours a little gleeting of humour still issues out In the mean time being well dispos'd as to his Stomack Countenance and Strength he Walks and Rides abroad and performs other exercises which he had been formerly us'd to with vigour enough He us'd not much Physick nor did he need it After the Incision we prescrib'd him temperate Cordials viz. Powder of Pearl Julapes and sometimes Hypnoticks and afterwards a vulnerary Decoction to be taken twice every day By this Method and Form of Medicines continued for some time the Person seem'd to recover his due temper strength and habit of Body nay and to be sound in his Breast yet he still carried the Silver Pipe in the Orifice of his Side out of which an Ichor continually issued And when after some Months this being taken forth that Issue was clos'd up there was a gathering again of the same humour within the hollow of the Breast as was perceivable by the sound and floating of it But afterwards as upon the return of the Disease the same Remedy presented it self and consequently the opening of the Side was ordered Nature as it fell out performing the Office of a Chyrurgion it happened of its own accord and gave way for the matter which was ready to break forth and now he is fain to keep that Orifice constantly open as a sink to prevent that gathering of nastiness in his Brest As to the Cure of the Dropsie of the Brest the Primary Indications as usually in Curing most other Diseases are three viz. Curatory Preservatory and Vital The First endeavours that the Waters gathered in the Cavity of the Breast be some way or other evacuated The Second prevents the gathering of new matter The Third takes care to restore strength and speedily to remove the Symptoms that injure it To satisfy the First Indication there are only two ways or manners of evacuation by which that filthy Mass of Waters may be clear'd forth viz. either that the Vessels of the Breast and Ductus's of the humours being emptied drink up again that Lympha when Rarifyed and then convy it forth either by the way of the Blood or of the Breath or Secondly that the water be all let forth in its proper Species by an Incision of the Side The former way though seldom yet sometimes to my knowledge succeeds For the Texture of the Lungs being spongy within and outwardly very Porous whilst upon every Diastole it is dip'd in the waters lying under it it sometimes imbibes them being converted into vapour and so either returns them to the Blood or exhales them with the Air continually breath'd forth at the Mough that this effect may more readily happen for Curing this Disease Physical Aids are here us'd Therefore for that intent the passates of the Blood Air and humours ought to be emptied as much as may be and to be kept open and free For this end let gentle Purges Diureticks and Diaphoreticks be methodically given by turns also Thoracical and Expectorating Remedies must be us'd Let the Diet be thin and heating and let such a method be ordered in all things which may promote the exhalation of the Blood and cause all the superfluous humours to evaporate I shall set down some Forms of Medicines proper for these purposes Take Roots of Chervil Butchers-broom Polypody of the Oak of each an Ounce Leaves of Agrimony Maiden-hair Oak of Hierusalem ground Ivy of each a handful Carthamus-seeds an Ounce Roots of Florentine Orris half an Ounce Boil them in four pounds of fountain water till a third part be consum'd then add to the straining Sena Leaves an Ounce and a half Agarick two Drams Mechoacan Turbith of each half an Ounce yellow Saunders a Dram and a half Roots of the lesser Galingal a Dram Boil them close cover'd for two hours then strain it add of the best Honey two Ounces and Clarify it with the white of an Egg Make a Purging Hydromel the Dose is from six Ounces to eight in the Morning twice or thrice a Week Or Take Calamelanos a Scruple Rosin of Jalap half a Scruple Balsam of Peru what suffices Make four Pills let them be taken in the Morning repeating the Dose within five or six days Take Tincture of Sulphur three Drams give from seven drops to ten going to Bed and early in the Morning in a spoonful of the following Mixture drinking after it three spoonfuls Take the waters of Snails Earth-worms and Compound Radish water of each four Ounces water of the Juice of Elder-berries fermented a pound Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy two Ounces Mix them make a Julape Or Take Tincture of Gum Ammoniacum or of Galbanum Give to twenty drops at Night and early in the Morning with the same Mixture Or Take Millepedes prepar'd two Drams Flowers of Sulphur two Scruples Flowers of Benzoin a Scruple Powder of wild Carrot and Burdock-seeds of each half a Dram Venice Turpentine what suffices Make a Mass form it into little Pills take four at Night and early in the Morning drinking after it a little draught of the same Julape At nine a Clock in the Morning and five in the Afternon drink a draught of the water of Quick-lime Compound to four Ounces by it self or with some other appropriate Medicine For ordinary drink take the following Bochete Take Roots of Sarsaparilla six Ounces China two Ounces the Woods of white and yellow Saunders of each six Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Roots of Calamus Aromaticus half an Ounce Raisins ston'd half a pound Licorice three Drams Let it infuse according to Art and boil it in twelve pounds of fountain water to six pounds strain it I was call'd to a young Scholar at Oxford who had been ill for three Weeks of a pain of his Thorax and of a great difficulty of Breathing that constantly followed him in the Evening which also upon a
Choice Rhubarb two Drams Agarick Trochiscated half a Dram Cinnamon half a Scruple Ginger half a Scruple Make an Infusion in Whitewine and Succory water of each three Ounces being close cover'd and kept warm for three hours In the straining dissolve Syrup of Rhubarb an Ounce water of Earth-worms two Drams Take Rhubarb powdred from half a Dram to a Dram Salt of Wormwood a Scruple Make a Powder Take Pilulae Ruffi a Scruple Extractum Rudii half a Scruple Make four Pills let them be taken in the Morning with governance repeating them within four or five days In the Third place follow Deopilatives and these are Diureticks or Diaphoreticks of which also some are accounted Specificks for their Similitude of substance these sorts of Medicines both promote the separation of the Choler from the Blood and being separated force its way through the straitest passages and Pores in the Liver Moreover at the same time by fusing the Blood they cause its Serosities and Bilous Excrements to be sent forth in some measure by Sweat and Urine Take Elixir Proprietatis an Ounce give twenty drops in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon with a fit Vehicle After the same manner the Tincture of Antimony or of Salt of Tartar are often given with success also Mixtura Simplex in a greater Dose For Vehicles also for the same Intention of Curing Apozemes distill'd waters and Julapes are proper Take Roots of the greater Celandine stinging Nettles Madder of each an Ounce tops of Sea Wormwood white Horehound dry'd Agrimony Germander of each a handful Worm-seeds two Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams yellow Saunders a Dram and a half Coriander-seeds two Drams boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds add of Whitewine four Ounces and strain it add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces Water of Earth-worms an Ounce and a half Make an Apozeme the Dose is from four Ounces to six twice a day Take Leaves of white Horehound dry'd of the lesser Centory of each a handful Roots of Gentian and Turmerick of each three Drams Cinnamon a Dram Saffron half a Dram being slic'd let them be put into a Glass with White or Rhenish Wine two pounds Make a close Infusion the Dose is three Ounces To this place belongs the famous Anti-Icterick of Gesner Take Roots of the greater Nettle a pound Saffron a Scruple Bruise them well and extract a Tincture with Whitewine the Dose is three Ounces in the Morning for four or five days Like to the former is that of Fr. Joel Take Roots of the greater Celandine slic'd two handfuls Juniper Berries a handful being bruis'd pour to them of Rhenish Wine a pound and extract the Juice The Dose is four Ounces twice a day The Juice of white Horehound is mightily commended by Dioscorides for the Cure of the Jaundise and its Syrup by Forestus Instead of the Elixir and other Chymical Liquors which are ordered to be taken in a very small quantity to avoid nauseousness You may give more successfully Electuaries Powders and Pills to others of a strong Constitution Take Conserve of Sea Wormwood the outward yellow Coats of Oranges and Limons of each two Ounces Species Diacurcumae an Ounce and a half Powder of Ivory yellow Saunders the Lignum Aloes of each half a Dram Troches of Capers a Dram Troches of Rhubarb half a Dram Salt of Wormwood two Drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb make an Electuary the Dose is the quantity of a Chesnut twice a day drinking after it of the following Julape three Ounces Take Waters of the greater Celandine Fumitory Wormwood simple and of Elder Flowers of each five Ounces Magisterial water of Snails Water of Earth-worms Compound of each two Ounces Sugar half an Ounce Mix them make a Julape Or Take Roots of the greater Nettle Angelica Gentian of each four Ounces the greater Celandine entire six handfuls Wormwood Tansie both Southernwoods of each four handfuls the outward Coats of twelve Oranges and of four Limons Earth-worms prepar'd Snails of each a pound Cloves bruis'd two Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Whitewine eight pounds distil it with common Organs Let the whole Liquor be mixt Or Take Filings of Steel a pound fresh Strawberries six pounds put them in a glazed Pot and stir them together and let them stand for a day then add of the Roots of English Rhubarb slic'd a pound the Rinds of four Oranges being slic'd pour to them of Whitewine six pounds and distil them according to art Let the whole Liquor be mixt The Dose of this and the former is three Ounces twice a day after the Electuary or other Medicine Take Powder of the Roots of Turmerick and Rhubarb of each a Dram and a half Rinds of Caper Roots Asarum Roots of each half a Dram Extract of Gentian and Centory of each a Dram and a half Salt of Wormwood four Scruples Seeds of Water-cresses half a Dram of Rocket half a Scruple Elixir Proprietatis a Dram Gum Ammoniacum dissolv'd in a sufficient quantity of Water of Earth-worms Make a Mass Form it into little Pills the Dose is half a Dram Evenings and Mornings drinking after it of the distill'd Water three Ounces Sylvius highly commends for the Cure of the Jaundise a Decoction of Hemp-seeds in Milk and a Solution of Soap The Second Indication having regard to the altering or due tempering of the Blood that it engender Choler only in a moderate quantity and duly separate it requires those kinds of Medicines which depress the Sulphur and fixt Salt when too much exalted For these ends I know not by what chance or guidance Medicines endow'd with a Volatile Salt as Earth-worms Snails Millepedes nay Lice the Dungs of Fourfooted Beasts and of Fowl being introduc'd into Practise for Curing the Jaundise are usually given not only by Empyricks but likewise prescrib'd by Physicians of the best account These sometimes by themselves but oftner joyn'd with Evacuatives and Deopilatives enter the chief compositions of Anti-ictericks Fonseca prescribes Goslings Dung gathered in the Spring time and dry'd and also the white Dung of Chickens the Powder of both which is given from half a Dram to a Dram in a fit Vehicle Take Powder of Earth-worms prepar'd Goose dung of each three Drams Ivory yellow Saunders powdred of each half a Dram Saffron a Scruple Make a Powder divide it into six parts for so many Morning Doses with some Liquor fit for the purpose To the Anti-icterick Apozem and Tincture above prescrib'd Earth-worms also Goose-dung and Sheeps-dung are usefully added Take of fresh and live Millepedes in number from fifty to a hundred Saffron half a Scruple Nutmegs a Scruple being bruis'd together pour to them of Celandine water four Ounces water of Earth-worms two Ounces wring it forth hard and drink it After this manner let it be taken first once afterwards twice a day for a Week It s a vulgar and
Empirical Remedy with our Country men to take Nine Lice alive in the Morning for five or six days by which Remedy I have heard that many have been Cur'd when other things did no good which certainly can give relief no other way but by restoring the Volatile Salt which was depress'd in the Blood On the account of the same way of Curing the Flowers of Sal Armoniack the Volatile Salts of Amber Hartshorn and Soot and likewise their Spirits are often given with great success in this Disease Take Powder of Earth-worms prepar'd two Drams Species Diacurcumae a Dram Flowers of Sal Armoniack half a Dram Salt of Amber a Scruple Extract of Gentian a Dram Saffron a Scruple Gum Ammoniacum dissolv'd in water of Earth-worms what suffices Make a Mass Form it into small Pills the Dose is three or four Morning and Evening drinking after it of the Julape before written three Ounces Take Spirit of Hartshorn ting'd with Saffron three Drams The Dose is from fifteen drops to twenty with the distill'd water above mention'd In this rank of Medicines with which the Blood distemper'd with the Jaundise is intended to be corrected Chalybeats also justly claim a place for these give a considerable relief in the Jaundise as well as in other Cachectical Distempers not so much by opening the obstructions of the Viscera as by depressing the exaltations of the Sulphur and fixt Salt and by volatilizing the Blood Therefore to the Decoction Tincture or Infusion above written the Filings of Iron or its Powder prepar'd its Mineral Texture being some way loosen'd or its Vitriolick Salt extracted may be properly added for hence it is that our Mineral waters sometimes cure even to a Miracle such as are quite given over in the Jaundise Though these waters when drank in a very large quantity passing through all the Vessels open also all the Ductus's of the Liver be they never so much shut up Therefore also to the Electuaries Pills and Powders before exprest preparations of Steel sometimes of one sort and sometimes of another may likewise be added in a fit proportion Moreover you may give to the quantity of a spoonful of its Syrup twice a day in three Ounces of the Anti-icterick Apozeme or distill'd water also the Tincture of Steel to twelve or fifteen drops may be given after the same manner with good effect Lastly in this rank of altering Medicines we ought to place those which are said to Cure this Disease not as inwardly taken but outwardly apply'd either by the touch or being put into the Urine of persons troubled with the Jaundise As to the First it s a common Remedy with the vulgar to take a Tench and apply it to the right Hypochondre or to the Ventricle as some will have it or according to others to the Soles of the Feet of the Person that has the Jaundise whence they expect the Disease to vanish in a short time though many promise a certain Cure by this means yet it did not succeed with me having sometimes try'd it The other Cure of the Jaundise at a distance is said to be done by I know not what Sympathy or secret manner of working Take the fresh Vrine of the Patient made at one time ashes of the Ash-tree searced what suffices Mix them and make it into a Paste and form it into three Balls of an equal bigness and put them in a close place near the Fire or a Stove when these Balls grow dry and hard the Jaundise vanishes After this manner I have known this Disease successfully Cur'd when it was grown inveterate and would not yield to other Remedies this is a familiar practice with the vulgar The reason of this Operation is that when the Lixivial Salt in the ashes is mixt in the Urine it presently sets free the Volatile Salt which before was kept under in it or entangled with other Particles and at the same time that this is done in the Icterical Urine it happens by Sympathy that the Volatile Salt also in the Blood of the Patient gets free from the Dominion of the fixt Salt and Sulphur and consequently the Icterical Dyscrasy of the Blood vanishes And thus Phil. Grulingius and Felix Platerus tell us that Making Water on warm Horsedung has Cur'd many Persons troubled with the Jaundise viz. inasmuch as the fixt Salt of the Urine and consequently of the Blood of the Patient is altered by the Volatile Salt of the fresh Horsedung and is reduc'd to its due temperature The Third and Vital Indication orders a fit Dyet and likewise prescribes Cordials and Anodines both which are often wanted As to what concerns the First the Diet in this Disease is wont to be more Physical than in any other whatsoever For Vegetables and their parts vulgarly call'd Hepatick Remedies are boil'd in the Broaths of persons troubled with the Jaundise their Broaths also are usually made of Worms and Snails being accounted the Antidotes of the Jaundise instead of other Flesh Moreover their Ale and other ordinary Drinks are Impregnated with an Infusion of Physical things Take Roots of the greater Nettle and of Strawberries of each an Ounce and a half Candied Eringo Roots an Ounce shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams Earth-worms cleans'd in number twenty a Crust of White-bread Mace two Drams boil all in two pounds of fountain water to a pound Strain it through Hippocrates Sleeve add to it Species of Diatrion Santalon half a Dram Make a Broath of which take from four Ounces to six twice a Day For ordinary drink fill a little Vessel of four Gallons with Ale into which after it has wrought put the following bag Take Tops of Sea Wormwood and white Horehound dry'd of each two handfuls Roots of sharp pointed Dock dry'd six Ounces Bark of the Ash-tree and of the Barbery-tree of each three Ounces the outward Rinds of eight Oranges and of four Limons being slic'd and bruis'd let them be prepar'd according to art Many Persons in the Jaundise being troubled with a great weakness and frequent faintings stand in need also of Cordial Remedies Take small Aqua Mirabilis eight Ounces Earth-worms four Ounces Syrup of Orange Pills two Ounces Mix them the Dose is two or three Ounces Moreover there are some who in this Disease are found subject now and then to very troublesome pains chiefly tormenting them by Night and who are often molested with want of sleep wherefore Anodines also must here come in use Take Aqua Mirabilis water of Earth-worms of each an Ounce Diacodium six Ounces Tincture of Saffron half an Ounce Mix them the Dose is a spoonful or two late at Night when there is want of sleep Take Laudanum tartariz'd two Drams Aqua Mirabilis two Ounces Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers an Ounce Mix them the Dose is a spoonful after the same manner CHAP. II. Instructions and Prescripts for other Distempers of the Liver THe Liver often uses to be faulty especially in one of
Prunella or Sal Armoniack from a Dram to a Dram and a half Make a Glister Take of the Vrine of a sound Man a pound Sal Prunella a Dram Venice Turpentine dissov'd with the Yolk of an Egg an Ounce and a half Make a Glister 2. Dinreticks If any other Remedies premise help in this Disease Take live Millepedes cleans'd three Ounces one Nutmeg slic'd being bruis'd together pour to them of the following Diuretick water a pound express it strongly The Dose is from three Ounces to four twice a day Take of the green Berries of Juniper and Elder of each six pounds Firr tops four pounds green Wallnuts two pounds Winters Bark four Ounces the outward Rinds of six Oranges and four Limons the Seeds of Ameos Rocket and Water-cresses of each an Ounce and a half Dill-seeds two Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Whey made with Whitewine eight pounds distil it with common Organs Let all the Liquor be mixt Take Crystal Mineral half an Ounce Volatile Salt of Amber two Drams Powder of wild Carrot-seeds a Dram Venice Turpentine what suffices Take small Pills take three at Night and in the Morning drinking after it of the foresaid water three Ounces Take sweet Spirit of Salt half an Ounce give from eight drops to twelve twice a day with a Draught of the same water adding Syrup of Violets a spoonfull Take Spirit of Salt of Tartar an Ounce give from a Scruple to half a Dram twice a day after the same manner So also Spirit of Nitre and Tincture of Salt of Tartar may be given Take Leaves of Plantain Chervil and Clivers of each four handfuls being bruis'd together pour to them of the former distill'd water a pound express it strongly The Dose is three Ounces twice or thrice a day with some other Medicine Take Grass Roots three Ounces Roots of Butchers-broom two Ounces Chervil and Candied Eringo's of each an Ounce shavings of Hartshorn and Ivory of each two Drams burnt Hartshorn two Drams and a half Burdock-seeds three Drams boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds In the warm straining put Leaves of Clivers and Watercresses bruis'd of each a handful adding of Rhenish Wine six Ounces let there be a close and warm Infusion for two hours then strain it again and add of the Magisterial water of Earth-worms two Ounces Syrup of the five Roots an Ounce and a half make an Apozeme the Dose is four Ounces twice a day with some other Medicine Whilst these things are taken inwardly let Topicks also and outward applications be carefully Administred not such as are hot and discussing but such as are endow'd with Particles of a Volatile and Nitrous Salt which destroy the combinations of the other Salts and make void the efforts of the Spirits for which ends we propose the following things If Fomentations ought to be us'd at all let them not be apply'd too hot and let them not be prepar'd of the vulgarly call'd Carminatives but chiefly of Salts and Minerals Cabrotius quoted by Helmont says he Cur'd a Person eighty years of Age whose Belly he somented twice a day with a Lixivium in which he boil'd Salt Allum and Sulphur and after apply'd Cow-dung for a Cataplasm I use to prescribe as follows Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack an Ounce Crystal Mineral two Ounces small Spirit of Wine containing much Phlegm in it two pounds Mix them and dissolve them in a Glass Let a Woolen Cloath dipp'd in this warm be apply'd on the whole Abdomen and be chang'd now and then dipping it afresh Let it be done twice a day for half an hours space afterwards let there be apply'd either a Cataplasm of Cow-dung with the Powder of Dogs-turd or the Plaister following Take Emplastrum Diasaponis that is of Minium with Venice Soap what suffices Let it be thin spread on thin Leather and apply'd to the whole Belly renewing it within ten or twelve days The Second Indication requires chiefly altering Medicines viz. such as put a stop to the Fermentations of the humours in the Viscera of the Belly and to the wild Efforts and irregular excursions of the Spirits and which likewise procure the even mixtures and due motions of the Chyle and Nervous Juice For which ends Chalybeats are principally us'd and truly not only for this Disease but for many others belonging to the Viscera of the Belly it 's usual to have recourse to Steel Medicines though in the mean time many Empyricks confidently prescribing them do not consider after what manner such Medicines work or what alterations for the better may be expected from them And indeed it very often falls out that nature her self is destroyed and not the Disease when Chalybeats of which there is a great variety and of diversified Operations are given without any distinction or choice or without respect to the Temperament Constitution and state of the Disease in Patients We have treated elsewhere ex professo concerning Medicines prepar'd of Iron and Steel and of their vertues and manners of working so that it 's needless to repeat the same here As to this Disease if any of them are proper for it certainly they are not all For those in which the Sulphur still remains and being free predominates over the other principles after that the texture of the mixt Body is open'd must be wholly excluded from this number for by their powerful fermentation they greatly ferment the Juices of the Viscera and put the Blood and Spirits in such a Commotion that the whole Region of the Belly is puft up in a greater Bulk as though some Spirit rush'd violently into it Nor are those more proper here from which the Sulphureous Particles are wholly driven away with the Saline as in Crocus Martis prepar'd by a very strong and long Calcination for as this Medicine is good to stay all fluxions so it sixes more any Impactions of Spirits and humours and renders them more obstinate But there remains a Martial Remedy of a middle kind in which the Sulphur being wholly or for the greatest part expell'd the Vitriolick Salt remains and has for the greatest part the Predominancy as it has in a Solution of the Filings of Iron or in its Infusion either simple or in Mineral waters in Salt or Vitriol of Mars in our preparation of Steel with many others preparations and compositions of which have been often found by experience to have done great good in some cases for these destroy the Exotick and restore the Genuine Ferments of the Viscera open their Obstructions fix the Blood and keep its Texture from much dissolution Wherefore Chalybeate Medicines as also some other Alteratives have haply some effect against the Procatarctick and more remote Causes of a Tympany but do little or no good at all against its Conjunct Cause Take of our Steel ground very fine two Drams of the Distill'd water above written two Pounds Syrup of the five Roots two Ounces mix them in a Glass
and so will continually Distill forth till all the swelling be gone from the place prickt Then the next time after somtimes twelve somtimes eighteen somtimes twenty four hours prick again in some other part either of the same Leg or of the other and so continue to make such Vents for the waters once or twice a Day in this Member or that one alone or two or at the same time in many For after this manner the Hydropical Corruption may be drayn'd more freely and safely than by any other exteriour operation whatsoever and if in the mean time its flesh supply be provided against by inward Physick Physick the Disease will be the more easily Cur'd Moreover in a desperate Dropsie that Administration serves very well to prolong Life because the waters being continually emptied forth by those outward Vents the inward and vital Inundation is the longer delay'd A Man of late seventy years of Age plung'd in a Dropsie over his whole Body has continued in Life and kept his head above the waters for these many Months beyond the expectation of all Men by the means of this only Remedy So far of the kinds and forms of Remedies prompted to us by the first that is the Curative Indication As for the Preservative Indication which takes care to restore the Crasis and fermenting or Sanguifying Vertue of the Blood it suggests to us those Medicines with being endowed with hot and elastick Particles raise up the active or deprest Principles of the Mass of Blood or repair them being wasted for which ends the vulgarly call'd Altering Remedies are wont to be prescrib'd in the Form of an Electuary Powder Pills Distill'd waters Julapes Apozemes and Dyets to which also Spirits Tinctures Elixirs are somtimes added for the greater Efficacy I shall give you an example or two of each of these 1. Take Conserves of Sea-Wormood Scurvy-grass and the yellow Coats of Oranges of each two Ounces Winters-Bark two Drams Species Diacurcumae a Dram and a half Steel prepared with Sulphur three Drams Salt of Wormwood two Drams Syrup of Citron Pills what suffices make an Electuary The Dose is two Drams in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon drinking after it a Draught of Julape or of the Distill'd water to three or four Ounces Chalybeats very often do great good in this Disease as in the Green-sickness Insomuch that the whole or at the least the chief scope of Curing Falls frequently on this Remedy But we must note that these kinds of Medicines do not all equally agree in these cases For those that are chiefly in use viz. Salt of Steel or Vitriol of Mars and others prepar'd with Acids and wholly depriv'd of Sulphur do no good at all because they do not promote the Fermentation of the Blood but on the contrary rather fix it when too Exorbitant or Elastick But for an Anasarca and any other oedematous Cachexia in the habit of the Body let those Chalybeats be given in which the Sulphury Particles are left and are Praedominant as especially in the Filings of Iron and in its Scales reduc't into a fine Powder and in-Steel melted with Sulphur and Powdred these Powders being taken are presently dissolv'd by the Acid Salts within our Body upon which the Sulphureous Metallick Particles being set free and convey'd into the Blood ferment its whole Mass raise up the Symbolous Particles there before lying dormant and being joyn'd with them give a vigour to the Blood and renew its fermenting or sanguifying power before deprest Wherefore we find after a little use of these Chalybeats the pallid colour in the Green-sickness goes off and turns to a Florid Aspect 2. Take compound Powder of Aron Roots and Winters-bark of each three Drams Roots of the lesser Galingal Cubebs of each a Dram and a half Steel prepar'd with Sulphur half an Ounce Sugar of Rosemary Flowers six Drams make a Powder divide it into twenty parts the Dose is one part every Morning and at five in the Afternoon with a Draught of the Sudorifick Decoction prescrib'd before 3. Take of the Gummous extract remaining after the Distillation of the Elixir Vitae of Quercetan half an Ounce powder of Earth-worms prepar'd two Drams Roots of the lesser Galingal Winters-bark of each a Dram and a half Salt of Wormwood two Drams Iron Rust two Drams and a half Balsam of Peru a Dram Tincture of Salt of Tartar two Drams Balsamum Capivii what suffices make a Mass form it into little Pills the Dose is half a Dram at Night and early in the Morning Drinking after it of the Julape or distill'd water following three Ounces 4. Take Elder Flower water and the Fermented Juice of its Berryes of each a Pound Magisteriall water of Earth-worms Raddish water compound Aqua Mirabilis of each two Ounces Syrup of the Juice of Elderberryes two Ounces mix them make a Julape 5. Take Leaves of Garden Scurvygrass Rochet Pepperwort of each six handfulls Roots of Calamus Armaticus the lesser Galingal Zedoary Florentine Orris Elder Aron of each six Ounces Wintersbarke Jamaica Pepper of each three Ounces Juniper Berryes four Ounces Cloves Ginger Nutmeggs of each an Ounce Being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of old Rhenish-wine eight Pounds distill it in common Organs let the whole Liquor be mixt 6. 7. An Antihydropick Decoction is Prescrib'd before amongst Diaphoreticks A Dyet-drink to be taken instead of Beer may be made according to the Form following Take Raspings of Guaiacum and Sassafras of each four Ounces Roots of Florentine Orris Calamus Aromaticus the lesser Galingal Elecampane of each an Ounce and a half Juniper and Lawrell berryes of each two Ounces Seeds of Anise Caraway sweet Fennell Coriander Dill of each an Ounce long Pepper Cubebs of each an Ounce and a half Cloves Nutmeggs Ginger of each half an Ounce Jamainca Pepper two Ounces dry'd Leaves of Salvia Acuta Wood-sage Calamint Agrimony of each a handful Licorice four Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd Let them boyl in four Gallons of fountain water to half when the straining is cold let it be put up in Glass-bottles for use I have known many persons almost given over in an Anasarce who by the constant use of this Drink have perfectly recover'd Of many examples of persons Cur'd of Dropsies I shall now give you one A certain Robust Man of a middle Age after having gotten an Epidemical Quartan Ague and being ill manag'd at first had lain under it above a year and in the mean time had us'd an ill Dyet fell into an Anasarca which afterward upon his indulging himself to Drink very freely for quenching his Thirst which was exceeding great grew in a short time to a vast height so that all his Members from the Head to the Foot and his Belly likewise being swollen he was not able to turn himself from on t side to the other in his Bed without the assistance of Servants As I first visited him and despairing of Cure I plainly
parts most expos'd to the Sun and Air because their Skin being of a subtle Texture transmits the Humour rarified by the heat of the Sun so far till it be stopt by a thick Scarf-skin near the places where it should break forth This affect as to the State of Health does not foreshow or threaten any ill These Spots differ little or nothing from those they call Lenticular Spots There are other large Spots about the breadth of the Palm of the Hand which defile the Skin in many places but especially about the Brest and Back with Stains sometimes of a dun colour sometimes wan or blackish These being wont to rise and go away at certain times and as I have observ'd in many in certain parts are commonly call'd Liver-marks though not properly for these Stains happen on this account that the Filthy Dreggs and Refuse of the Blood when not sufficiently receiv'd by the Vessels of separation are carried to the Skin together with the Serum with which they are diluted and there being thrown off by the Blood and left by the Serous Latex which evaporates they stick fast to the outward Pores and little Orifices as a Mossy down does to the narrow passages of a River Those Spots appear chiefly in the Summer and most upon the Back and Brest viz. at that time and in those places that Men are most apt to Sweat in that is to say that Serous Latex which has carried those Filthy Dreggs from the Mass of Blood to the narrow Pores of the Skin leaves them there as being unmeet to pass forth by Evaporation This affect has no evil joyned with it nor is it the Symptom of any present Disease nor does it portend any shortly to ensue and in regard for the most part coming in places out of sight it causes no deformity or trouble there seems little or no need of its Cure But because an opinion is spread amongst the vulgar that the Liver is much in danger by reason of those Spots and that it necessarily requires help therefore to fatisfy some importunately desiring Physick besides outward Consmeticks we are wont to prescribe inward Hepatick Remedies the use of which though not very necessary yet because thereby the Blood is purified and the Obstructions of the Bowels are open'd they are not altogether in vain The inward Medicines useful for this purpose are set down before amongst Hepatick Remedies The very same outward Remedies or Topicks are proper in this as in all other kinds of Spots of which we shall give you some choice Forms Having treated elsewhere professedly concerning Spots of the Plague and Scurvy I need not repeat them here especially because the Method for these is quite dissering from that of the other For in one kind of Spots in a manner only outward Medicines are wont to be administred without any that regard the Heart or the Viscera of the Belly and in the other only inward things are given without applying any thing to the Skin Therefore as to the Summer Spots Lentiginous Spots and the vulgarly call'd Liver Spots the Art of Beautifying properly takes care of them and for removing these Blemishes from the Skin only Cosmetick Remedies are prescrib'd without any Method of Cure there is an infinite store of these amongst curious Ladys and others that are nice in keeping the Skin fair but all of them having regard only to two intentions of Curing may be reduc't to these two heads viz. either by opening the Pores of the Skin and Scarf-skin and sometimes by excoriating this they endeavour to draw the Humour outward and wholly to evaporate it or on the contrary they are administred and that with no less success to strike back the Impure Matter which makes the Spots and to drive it inward I shall here set down some ordinary Forms of Topicks of both kinds which have been rationally invented and often us'd suceessfully enough since I may not without offence to great Persons unvail the more secret Mysteries of the Cosmetick Art and prostitute them to the vulgar First therefore to cleanse the Skin and to draw the Matter of the Spots outward Take of a small Lixivium of Salt of Tartar four Ounces Oyl of bitter Almonds made by expression what suffices let it be mixt in such a proportion that the whole Liquour presently turn white and so let it stand Let the parts affected be anointed and gently rubb'd Mornings and Evenings with this mixture Take fresh Roots of Aron Briony and Solomons-seale of each an Ounce Powder of Fenugreek Seeds a Dram Camphire half a Dram being bruis'd together pour to them Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium three Ounces express it let it bapply'd with a Ragg dipt in it twice a Day Take Sulphur-vive powdred an Ounce black Soap two Ounces bind it in a Ragg let it hang in a Pound of Vinegar for nine Days then apply it to use washing and rubbing the places affected with it twice a Day Secondly for the other intention viz. for discussing the Spots from the Skin and repelling the matter and driving it inwards Lac Virginis was a famous Medicine amongst the Ancients and is still commended and us'd by many The preparation of this is well known viz. a Solution of Litharge made in distill'd Vinegar by the affusion of Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium is precipitated into a Liquour as white as Milk With which let the Face and Hands be washt and gently rubb'd twice a Day A Medicine like this or the same at leastwise of the same Vertue is prepar'd of a Solution of Minium or Ceruse made in the same Menstruum and preclpitated with water of Allom or Sal Gemm Or Take Camphire slic'd two Drams bruise it in a Glass-mortar pouring on it by little and little the Juice of one Limon then add to it of White-wine a Pound strain it and let the Camphire remaining behind be tyed in a Ragg and hung in a Glass Take Verdigrease four Ounces pour to it of White-wine two Pounds being put into a Gourd-glass let it be distill'd in Sand let the Phlegm first coming off be kept for use wherewith let the Face be anointed twice a Day For this purpose also the Dew or Phlegm of Vitriol distill'd by it self does excellently well some are content with the water of Bean-flowers or the simple distill'd water of Fumitory or with the water which Bleeds from the Sprout of a Vine cut in the Sprin But the more curious Women and Pretenders to the mosi exquisite knowledge in the Cosmetick Art are scarce satisfied with any Remedies for the Skin but Mercurial Wherefore the following water is highly recommended and sold by Empiricks at a great rate for all Blemishes of the Face Take Mercury sublimate an Ounce being reduc't to a Powder let it be put in a Tin-vessel with three Pounds of fountain water let it stand for twentyfour hours stirring it now and then with a Woodden Spatula till the whole Liquor grows black which nevertheless being
Sleepy or Convnlsive affects ensue Moreover sometimes the Poyson of the Medicine produces within the Praecordia or Viscera horrible affects of the Asthma Leipothymia or Bloody-flux The vulgar Form of a Mercural Ointment for the Itch and very much in use is this Take Quick-silver reduc't into minute parts with an Acid and as they call it Killd an Ounce and a half Fresh Haggs â—ard six Ounces incorporate them well by stirring them a long 〈◊〉 in a Stone or Glass Mortar Nor only in the Form of a Liniment but many other ways the foresaid Medicines may be us'd For the Fume of Cinnaber which is prepar'd of Mercury with Sulphur cast on the Coals and taken in at the Mouth or breathing against the Superficies of the Body Cures the Itch The Mercurial Cosmetick water before written made about half weaker and apply'd to the Skin with a little Cloath in the Sorest places kills the Itch Yet the use of these is not so very safe as to be generally administred to all persons Of Sulphur and Vegetables either separately or conjunctly boil'd in water Baths are prepar'd which Cure this Distemper not by washing off only the Filth of the Skin as common Baths but likewise by destroying its ferment Besides these there is yet another easier and much more neat way of Curing the Itch viz. by boiling a Shift in fountain water with Powder of Brimstone and after it is dryed in the Sun or before the Fire to wear it four or five Days next the Skin For so that Disease is wont to be Cur'd without Bathing or the Nastiness or ill Odour of an Ointment Poor people usually Cure themselves of this Distemper only by taking the Powder of Brimstone in Milk inwardly and by anointing themselves with the said Powder mixt with Butter outwardly Sulphur seems to be so Specifick an Antidote against the Itch by reason of its Balsamick Vertue which destroys the Acidities and all Exotick and Corruptive Sharpnesses of the Blood and Humours and restores to each Latex a Benign that is a Mild and as it were Oyly Nature As to Mercury it 's no wonder if medicines made of it perfectly Cure any places of the Skin infested with the Itch where-ever they are apply'd For by the application hereof breakin gs forth and all Virulent Ulcers viz. any that are Venereal and Scorbutical are wholly conquered Moreover it seems not strange that this Medicine apply'd to some particular place should Cure an inveterate Itch in case it raises a Salivation but sometimes it Cures without any such thing as when a person wears a Girdle of it to this we say that the Particles of the Mercury pass then into the Venous Blood and after being diffus'd through its whole Mass are driven outward from all parts and depos'd in the Skin where they kill the Itch and when it happens that these Mercurial Particles are all again evaporated through the Skin after the Cure is performed then no Salivation or other inconvenience ensues CHAP. VII Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of the running Scab or the Leaprosie of the Greeks AFter the Scab with the Itch it follows that we treat of another affect somewhat allyed to it in its breaking forth in Pushes which is commonly call'd the running Scab by some a Tetter or Ringworm or Morphew by others the Leaprosie of the Greeks but the Names of this affect being variously confounded and the Nature of it haply being differing in several Countries I shall describe it as it is now understood by us The running Scab begins and affects persons after this manner viz. First little red Wheals or Pushes sometimes single sometimes many of them joyn'd together arise in many parts of the Body but especially in the Arms or Leggs and grow at length in heaps or clusters the Surface of each Scab when grown in clusters appears rough and somewhat whitish and scaly so that upon scratching Scales fall away and a thin Ichor often issues forth though it s soon dryed again and hardens into another crusty Scale These clusters of Pushes at first are but small and few as in the Arm or Legg or some other particular Member haply three or four appear to the bigness of a peny or two pence Afterwards if the Disease be suffer'd to increase they break forth in many places and grow to a crowns breadth and at length if not stopt cover not only particular Members but the whole Body with a whitish Leaprosie which rais'd to this degree was judg'd for the most part incurable by the Ancients These breakings forth in some are only temporary as coming in the Winter and going away in the Summer in others on the contrary they come in the Summer and vanish in the Winter In many others this Distemper is continual having no time of remission or mean The running Scab differs from the Itch that in this the Pushes are generally single and separated from each other though but by small spaces but in the other they rise in clusters Again the Itch is extreamly infectious but the running Scab is not so This Disease is also distinguisht from the Leaprosie that this is likewise as infectious as the Itch and its breakings out are much more violent and terrible than in the running Scab wi viz. being crusty and scaly and diffus'd in a continued manner throughout the whole Body Hence it appears that the material cause of the running Scab is not a meer Cutaneous Humour depraved and degenerated from its Crasis by reason of some Corruptive Effluvia's receiv'd from without or upon other occasions because the infection is not easily communicated to others as in the Itch nor presently disperst through the whole Body but the Pushes first breaking forth about the beginning of the Disease seem to proceed from hence that some Acido-saline Concretions happen in the Mass of Blood like Tartar in Wine which seeing they can neither be subdued nor again dissolv'd are driven to the Skin as to the sides of the Vessel This Disease takes its rise for the most part on two chief occasions viz. First from an ill Diet as from frequent eating of Salt Meats Pork Shell-fish or others or Secondly from the corrupted Seminaries of other Diseases left in the Body as especially of the Scurvy and French-pox ill or not Cur'd For First those sorts of Food either because they are rank or otherwise disproportion'd convey Particles to our Blood that cannot enter a due mixture with it or are not easily mastered by it To which Heterogeneuos Particles gather'd together in great abundance by long continuance of such Diet Saline Particles of all kinds readily associate themselves and so make Tartarous Concretions which are driven to the Skin and are the Seminaries of the running Scab or Leaprous affects Secondly the Miasms of the Scurvy and French-pox lest left in the Body and at long run rais'd to the highest degree in Combinations of Exorbitant Salts and Sulphurs engender a most plentiful Seminary of this
Disease For the corrupted Taints of the Blood after that upon long continuance they are become wholly Heterogeneous and unsubdueable gather to themselves at length the Saline Particles with which growing together in that Tartarous Concretion and driven to the Skin they produce Eruptions of the running Scab Concerning the Crue of the running Scab there are two primary Indications viz. the Preservatory which regards the cause of the Disease and the Curatory which has regard to the Symptom viz. the breaking forth of Pushes The Vital has seldom place in this case unless grown altogether desperate where there is a deficiency of Sleep and Strength The Method of Cure ought always to begin with the Preservatory Indication which removes the causes of the Disease by inward Remedies for otherwise outward things are scarce ever administred to any purpose as in the Itch but the roots of the Disease being cut off within the Blood the Cutaneous Pushes soon dye away Though for removing them we must proceed one way when the running Scab begins of it self and somewhat a differing way when it comes after an inveterate Scurvy or the French-pox ill or not Cur'd We shall consider each of these cases severally and distinctly by themselves When therefore this Disease is simple and primary and fresh coming let the evident and external cuases be remov'd let the ill Diet and the Unwholesomeness of the Air be corrected therefore let persons who have been long and too much us'd to feed on Salt Meats Pork or Fish betake themselves to a Diet of good Juice and easy of Concoction Moreover if they live by the Sea side or in Marshy places let them remove to a more dry and clear Air and withal let them be as careful of their Drink avoiding thick and dreggy Beer and thin and acid Wines which are too much fill'd with Tartar Finally let them take care that their Drink or Food be not prepar'd of Mineral waters apt to petrify 2. In respect of the Conjunct and Procatarctick cause viz. a Saturation of the Blod with Saline Particles of a differing Disposition and Nature there are two chief intents of Curing to wit that the Blood and Humours be forthwith cleans'd of their impurities and that the Acido-saline Discrasies of the Blood and Nervous Liquour be altered for the better to keep them from engendring a Tartarous matter For which ends both evacuating Remedies of divers kinds and altertives are wont to be prescrib'd Nevertheless because not all but in a manner only great Remedies are here proper therefore those that are chiefly in use and found to do most good are Catharticks Bleeding Whey Mineral waters coming from Iron Juicy expressions of Herbs Decoctions of Woods Chalybeat Medicines and Salivation We shall set down certain Forms of each of these and the manners of ussing them In the Frist place therefore a general Purge and Bleeding as in the Cure of the Itch being premitted let the following Cathartick Infusion or Tincture be prescrib'd whose Dose is from six Ounces to eight to be repeated whithin six or seven Days Take Roots of sharp pointed Dock dryed of Polypody of the Oak of each half an Ounce Sena ten Drams Epithymum six Drams Rhubaru Mechoacan of each half an Ounce yellow Saunders two Drams Celtick Spike half a Dram Salt of Tartar a Dram and a half put them in a Glass with three Pounds of White-wine and a Pound of Elder-flower water let them stand close covered in a cold place for three Days then use it pouring forth daily a sufficient quantity of the clear Liquour Secondly to sweeten the Blood and cleanse ti from its Salts drink every Morning to two or three Pounds of Whey by it self or with Fumitory preparations of Cichory and with sharp pointed Dock infus'd in it and let this Drink be continued for twenty or thirty Days if it agrees with the Stomack and withal in the Evening and early in the Morning let a Dose or the following Electuary be taken Take Conserve of the Roots of sharp pointed Dock six Ounces Crabbs Eyes Coral prepard of each two Drams Ivory a Dram Powder of Lignum Aloes yellow Saunders of each a Dram and a half Sal Prunella two Drams Vitriol of Mars a Dram and a half Syrup of the Juice of Wood-sorrel what suffices make an Electurary the Dose if two Drams Thirdly for the same reason as Whey also Mineral waters coming from Iron are prescrib'd against this Disease and often do great good For when all other Medicines have prov'd of no effect I have sometimes Cur'd a great and almost Leaprous running Scab with this alone Moreover to add to their efficacy we may fitly joyn the use of Sal Prunella or of Vitriol of Mars or of the Electuary before written Fourthly in some persons having much Serun and a Watery Constitution where drinking of Whey or Mineral waters is not proper it is good for them to take constantly a Decoction of Woods at Physical hours and likewise for their ordinary Drink Take Raspings of Willow-wood half a Pound Roots of Sarsaparilla eight Ounces white Saunders Wood of the Mastick-tree of each two Ounces Shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each six Drams Shavings of Tin crude Antimony of each four Ounces both tyed in a Rag Licorice an Ounce let them infuse according to Art and boil in sixteen Pounds of fountain water of half keep the straining for use Fisthly Chalybeat Medicines because generally accounted of among the more excellent Remedies are seldom omitted in this Disease though they as seldom prove successful For a gret many preparatious of Iron in which the Sulphurous Particles predo minate for as much as they ferment the Blood and put it upon Excretory Effervescencies encrease rather than diminish the Eruptions of the running Scab Nevertheless Vitriolick Salts Syrups Tinctures and Infusions in regard they fix the Blood and somewhat restrain the Exorbitant excesses of the Salts answer aptly enough to the intention of Curing now propos'd but being too weak cnnot master so Herculean a Disease Wherefore Sixthly these and a great many other Remedies doing no good many reommend Salivation as the stoutest Champion and only fit to contend with so potent an Enemy Yet the event does not always answer this mighty expectation for I must own to have try'd this Remedy my self in four persons afflicted with a greivous running Scab not yielding to other Medicines but without any benefit some of these were put in a very high Salivation by a Mercury Unction others by Pills of the Solar Praecipitate which Salivation they lay under for about twenty Days after which time all the Scaly breakings forth and clusters of Pushes vanisht Nevertheless for perfecting the Cure a Diet Drinkd ordered of the Decoction of Sarza with frequent Sweating under a Cradle and deu Puring betwixt while was continued for a Month Yet this course being ended when no footsteps of the running Scab seem'd to be left behind within the second Month a
give often great relief The running Scab or scaly breakings forth of Pushes and growing in figures like clusterings is so frequent and familiar a Symptom of an inveterate French-pox that the first thing we do is to ask persons affected with the former Distemper whether they do not conveive that there amy be something of the Malignity of the other bying hid withim them and if it be found to be so presently all Specificks against the former and Antiscorbuticks being laid aside we forthwith betake our selves to Decoctions of Woods and those doing little or no good to Mercurial Medicines And truly by this Method I have soon and easily Cur'd many persons accounted to have a running Scab and Leaprosie who had been long under Cure and miserably tormented with Remedies appropriated to these Diseases And we refer this kind of running Scab to the Pathology of the French-pox whereof it is an Appendix The Second Indication which is Curatoyr having regard to the Disease it sefl and its primary Symptom viz. the scaly breakings forth and the clusters of Pushes prescribes Topical Remedies to be apply'd to the Skin outwardly for removing these effects For which purpose Baths and Liniments are peculiarly proper though they seldom or never Cure of themselves unless the Procatarctick ause viz. the Tartarous Disposition of the Blood be first clear'd There is a mighty store of these Topicks to be found as well among Physical Authours as among Empiricks and Quacks Though among them all Baths or Liniments made of Tar far exceed all the rest of the Remedies of both kinds So that in truth we should make use of these alone were it not for their ill smell wherefore I shall give you certain Forms of Compositions with Tar and without it Therefore for Baths it 's a common thing to use water kept some time in Vessels in which Tar has ben before and so impregnated by Infusion Or Take two Pounds of Tar and incorporate it into a prety thick Mass with white and sifted Ashes which boil in a sufficient quantity of fountain water adding Leaves of ground Ivy Fumitory white Horehound Roots of sharp pointed Dock and of Elecampane of each four handfuls Make a Bath to be us'd with governance or let such a Decoction be prepar'd without Tar for persons troubled with the running Scab and loathing the smell of Tar. Sulphurous Baths both Natural and Artificial are found by frequent experience not to agree nay and the former commonly to do hurt Moreover all Bathing whatsoever ought to be us'd with great caution for in regard this Administration exagitates and heats the Blood it endangers to dissolve its Crasis more as is said before and to disperse its corrupted Taints in a more plentiful manner to the Skin 2. Liniments whose use is more safe and proper are of three kinds or degrees viz. gentle mean and strong I shall give you an example or two of each of these 1. First therefore in a small running Scab where the breakings forth and clusters of Pushes are few and very small fasting Spittle is recommended Also the Liquour distilling from green Wood in the Fire So likewise a meer rubbing with the Root of sharp pointed Dock bruis'd and macerated in Vinegar Or Take Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium Oyl of Nuts or of bitter Almonds by expression of each equal parts make a Liniment to be apply'd to the places affected twice a Day 2. Liniments of the Second kind have Tar for an Ingredient which is esteem'd as good as all the rest Take Vnguentum Rosatum six Ounces Tar two Ounces being melted together let them let mixt Or Take a good fat piece of Weathers Mutton stick it with bits of the Roots of sharp pointed Sock spit it and roast it And baste it with Tar letting it drop leasurely on it keep the Dripping as a most excellent Ointment for the running Scab 3. The strongest Ointments against this affect are Mercurial which consist either of running Mercury or Praecipitate let the Forms and Cmposition of the foriner be the same as is prescrib'd before against the Itch. As to the other Take white Praecipitate three Drams Vnguentum Rosatum three Ounces Mix them to anoint the parts chiefly affected The use of these in this Disease ought to be very much suspected For if haply a Salivation be rais'd a mighty glut of Matter sticking in the pores of the Skin will be put in motion which if the whole rushing too much together towards the Ductus Salivales gathers in a body about the parts of the Throat it will endanger Suffocation Some years since a Virgin of a noble Family whose Temperament was hot as having originally a sharp and salt Blood after having liv'd a very long time almost from her Cradle somewhat toucht with a running Scab about the time of her coming to ripeness of years began to be troubled with it in a more grievous manner For clusters of scaly Pushes did not only every where overrun her Arms and Thighs and other parts of the Body out of sight but likewise made her Hands and Face so loathsome that she was asham'd to go abroad and converse with others of her quality An infinite number of the lesser sort of Remedies were given her without any success By the use of hot Baths she seem'd to grow better at first but in the end she became worse after them The waters of Astrope wells which have perfectly Cur'd some persons of a running Scab did her little or no good wherefore seeing all ordinary Methods would not do I propos'd that she should try Salivation as being a more powerful Remedy than all the rest and as it 's said the last The Patient and her Parents readily consenting to this advice presently her Body being duly prepar'd by Purging and Bleeding I gave her after our wonted manner Pills of the Solar Praeciptitae for two Days and after the Intermission of one the Medicine being repeated the third time she began to Salivate very well and freely it continuing upon her for a Month without any ill Symptom Nevertheless to keep it in its due Tenour I took care that a Mercurial Ointment was now and then apply'd to the Joynts of the Limbs sometimes to these and sometimes to others Before this course was ended all the breakngs forth were vanisht Notwithstanding which to perfect the Cure and withao to extirpate the Mercury she spent another Month in Purging Sweating under a Cradle and in a Diet Drink of a Decoction of Sarsa China c. at which time seeming to be perfectly Cur'd she continued so for about forty Days But from thence forwards though she observ'd an exact Form of Diet the same Disease began to spring forth afresh and encreasing by degrees rise at length to an overgrown state as before I being in some confusion at this event perswaded her to hope an alteration for the better after the flowing of her Menses which having not yet happen'd was expected in a short
hours then let the same Retort luted with a large receiver be put in a Reverberatory Furnace that the Acid Spirits may be forc't so long by a strong Fire till they go forth Let the whole Liquour distill'd be drawn off in a less Glass Retort by a Sand heat and in a Matrass let there be pour'd to it Roots of Male Peony cut in slices and dry'd four Ounces Seeds of the same an Ounce Mans Scull prepar'd Elks-hoof red Coral of each half an Ounce Mistletow of the Oak two Drams let it digest with a gentle heat for many Days till the Tincture be extracted let the Liquour being decanted be drawn off in a Glass retort till only a third part of it remains let that which is distill'd be kept apart by it self To the remainder pour a like quantity of Spirit of Wine highly rectified and impregnated with the Infusion of the same Ingredients and let them digest for six Days in Horse-dung Make an Elixir whose Dose is from half a Scruple to a Scruple Let the distill'd Liquour be given from half a spoonful to a whole one for the same intentions Or let an Oyl be prepar'd of Salt of Venus according to the prescript of Henricus ab Heer 's and let it be given as before Empirical Remedies AMongst Specifick Remedies which in case those before do no good may also be try'd we may account the Liver of Froggs the Bladder of a Boar dryed with the Urine the Powder of Briony Roots the Powders of a Cuckow or of Crows the Rennet and Lungs of a Hare the Liver of a Wolf Stones taken out of Swallows the Liver of a Kite Crows Eggs daily to be taken amongst your Food and Medicines with many other things a famous Catalogue of which you may find in Henricus a Bra a Physician of Zutphen and out of which prescripts for the poor may be taken as being easy to be had and of a small price Whilst these kinds of Medicines are inwardly taken according to the foresaid Method some Administrations outwardly apply'd contribute help and are justly taken in as a part of the Cure Wherefore always in this Disease let Issues to wit one or two be made in fit places also let Vesicatories be often apply'd Periapts hung about the Neck or worn on the Pit of the Stomack are judg'd to be of use Let fresh Peony Roots cut into bits and run through with a Thread be made into Bracelets to be worn all round the Neck Assoon as they are withered let new ones be put in their place and let those be made into Powder to be taken inwardly Take Roots and Seeds of Peony of each two Drams Elks-hoof Mans Scull prepar'd of each a Dram Mistletow of the Oak half a Dram being grosly powdred let them be sewen in red Silk and make a Bag to be hung about the Neck An Amulet of a young Shoat of Elder found growing on a Willow is greatly commended Plaisters IT is proper for some to have their Hair shav'd off and to have a Plaister applyed to the Sinciput Take Roots and Seeds of Peony Castoreum Mistletow of the Oak Mans Scull very finely powdred of each a Dram Betony Plaister two Ounces Caranna Tacamahacca of each two Drams Balsamum Capivii what suffices make a Mass spread it on Leather make a Plaister for the Sutures of the Head Let the Temples and Nostrils often be anointed with Oyl of Amber by it self or mixt with Oleum Capivii Let Sneezing Powders and Apophlegmatisms be constantly us'd Mornings Take white Hellebore a Dram Castoreum Euphorbum of each half a Dram sweet Marjoram Leaves of-Rue of each two Drams make a Powder Let a Decoction of Hyssop or Sage with the Confection of Mustard-seed dissolv'd in it be gargal'd in the Mouth and Throat Let Glysters sometimes be given according as need requires In regard Solid Medicines ought sometimes to be diluted with Liquids or these to be drank after those let distill'd waters Julapes Decoctions or Tinctures that are endowed with some Specifick Vertue against this Disease be in a readiness for this purpose Take Hungarian Vitriol four Pounds fresh Mans Scull powdred four Ounces Peony Roots slic't six Ounces being bruis'd together in a Mortar pour to them of Sack or small White-wine or Wine of the Juice of black Cherries fermented in a Vessel two Pounds let them be distill'd in a Glass Retort by a Sand heat Take Raspings of Box Hungarian Vitriol of each two Pounds Leaves of Mistletow three handfuls Leaves of Rue two handfuls being bruis'd together pour to them of Sack four Pounds let them be distill'd in a Gourd-glass by a Sand heat Take common Vitriol six Pounds Roots of Male Peony six Ounces Mistletow of the Oak an Ounce green Walnuts eight Ounces being slic't and bruis'd let them distill in a Glazed Pot with a Glass Alembick set over it by a Sand heat Take of this Liquour a Pound water of black Cherries and of Lime-tree Flowers of each half a Pound double refin'd Sugar four Ounces mix them make a Julape The Dose is two or three Ounces twice or thrice a Day Oxymel of Squils also Hydromel with Hyssop boil'd in it are very much commended by the Ancients Or let this kind of Apozeme be prepar'd whereof you may give from four Ounces to six or eight twice a Day Take Roots of Male Peony Angelica Master-wort Valerian of each six Drams Leaves of Betony Sage Lillies of the valley Penny-royal of each a handful Seeds of Rue Gith of each three Drams of Peony half an Ounce Raisins three Ounces Licorice half an Ounce being slic't and bruis'd let them boil in six Pounds of Fountain water to a consumption of the third part Towards the end add Wine of black Cherries half a Pound or ten Ounces strain it and let it be kept in Vessels close stopt the Dose is from six Ounces to eight twice a Day after the Remedies above prescrib'd Or let the foresaid Ingredients the Licorice and Raisins excepted be boil'd in six Pounds of Hydromel to a consumption of the third part the Dose is from four Ounces to six But if the foresaid Method consisting in the use of Catharticks and Specificks being tryed for some time proves wholly without effect we must come to Remedies of another kind and especially to those which are call'd great In this rank we place Diaphoreticks Salivation hot Baths and Mineral waters Alphonsus Ferrius says he has Cur'd a great many Epileptical persons by a simple Decoction of Guaiacum being prescrib'd twice a Day from six Ounces to eight and a second Decoction of it being taken instead of ordinary Drink as is usual in the French-pox If to such a Decoction the Roots of Peony and other Specificks be added haply it will be more efficacious It seems probable that a Salivation powerfully rais'd by Mercury and afterwards followed by a Sweating Diet Drink will infallibly Cure this Disease What hot Baths or Mineral waters will do is not
yet known to me either from my own experience or that of others I shall try haply some time what our artificial Mineral waters viz. impregnated both with Iron and Antimony being taken for many Days in a great quantity will be able to effect towards the Cure of the Falling-sickness CHAP. II. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing the other kinds of Convulsions and in the first place of the Convulsive motions of Children IT happens that Infants and Children are so generally and frequently troubled with Convulsive affects that this may be accounted as the chief and almost only kind of Convulsions for those kinds of Symptoms in Adult persons are denoted by other Names and are wont to be refer'd to the Epilepsy Hysterick Hypochondriack or Colick passions or also to the Scurvy but in Children as it were by way of excellency they are call'd Convulsive motions Concerning these we may observe that Children are found to be very subject to Convulsions chiefly at two times viz. within the first Month after they are Born and about the time of the eruption of Teeth Though Fits of this Disease happen also often at other times and for certain other causes For in those in whom the Seeds of a Convulsive Disposition are rooted these Seeds sometimes display themselves and come to a Morbid Matureness either presently after the persons are Born as is said before or lying hid for a while sometimes precede in them the Eruption of Teeth sometimes follow it at a great distance of time after and at length in an uncertain course break forth in act for other evident causes viz. either inward or outward such as are an unhealthy or pregnant Nurse Milk coagulating in the Ventricle or degenerating into an acid or bitter Corruption a Feverish Distemper of the Head and Ulcers of other parts breakings forth suddenly disappearing changes of the Air Conjunctions or Opposite Aspects of the Sun and Moon and the like These Convulsions in Children are wont to infest three Regions of the Body viz. the parts of the Head and Face the Members and outward Limbs and the Praecordia and Viscera And we observe that sometimes these sometimes the others sometimes two of them or all the Regions together are troubled with the Morbifick cause according as the same is fixt either about the Origines or extremities of the Nerves And when the first of these happens according as the superiour middle or lower spinal part of the Medulla Oblongata to wit one of them alone or more of them together are set upon by the Morbifick cause In Children obnoxious to Convulsions hereditarily the Convulsive Fits are excellently provided against if presently after a Child is Born an Issue be made in the Nucha and Blood be drawn from the Jugular Veins by Leeches for by the former the Corruptions of the Nervous Juice are convey'd away and by the latter the impure Efflorescencies of the Blood are withdrawn from the Head A person whose Children dyed all of Convuisions within three Months time at length to prevent the like fatal Accident in a Child fresh Born sought for Remedies Being call'd after some Days after the Birth I advis'd that in the first place an Issue should be made in the Nucha and then the next Day after that a Leech being apply'd to the Jugular of both sides Blood should be drawn to the quantity of two Ounces moreover that near each of the Conjunctions and Opposite Aspects of the Sun and Moon about five Grains of the following Powder should be given in a spoonful of Julape for three Days Mornings and Evenings Take Mans Scull prepar'd Roots of Male Peony of each a Dram Pearl powdred half a Dram double refin'd Sugar a Dram mix them make a subtile Powder Take black Cherry water three Ounces Langius's Antiepileptical water an Ounce Syrup of the Flowers of Male Peony six Drams mix them I ordered also that the Nurse at the same Physical hours should take a draught of Whey in which Seeds and Roots of the Male Peony and Leaves of the Lilly of the valley were boil'd The Infant continued well for about four Months but then began to be troubled with Convulsive affects At which time the same Remedies were given in a greater Dose both to the Infant and to the Nurse Vesicatories were also applyed behind his Ears and Blood was drawn by Leeches from both Jugular Veins and within two or three Days the Child grew well afterward when within four or five Months the Convulsions return'd at times still by the use of the same Remedies he was Cur'd After a year and a half the Convulsive affects wholly ceast but about the lower part of the Back-bone a Tumour without Pain grew up whence some Crookedness of the Vertebrae and a weakness of the Leggs and at length a Palsy were caus'd It seems in this case that the Convulsive matter which was wont to assail the Origines of the Nerves at length entering the Spinal Marrow and being thrown down into its lower part wholly stopt the Mouths of the Arteries belonging to it to wit because to the explosive Particles other narcotick and grosser Particles had joyn'd themselves The Therapeutick Method against Convulsive affects in Children IN Infants and Children we must take care either to prevent imminent Convulsions or being already begun to Cure them For if former Children Born of the same Parent have been found obnoxious to Convulsions that evil ought to be prevented in the rest of the Children Born afterward by a seasonable use of Remedies For this end it is usual to pour into the Mouth of an Infant newly Born assoon as it begins to Breath some Anticonvulsive Medicine Hence some are wont to give it some drops of most pure Honey others a spoonful of Canary sweetn'd with Sugar and others Oyl of sweet Almonds fresh drawn By some persons a drop of Oyl of Amber or half a spoonful of Epileptical water is put into its Mouth Besides these first things given Children which truly seem to be of some moment certain other remedies and ways of Administration ought to be us'd viz. let a spoonful of a Liquour appropriated to this affect be drank twice a Day For Example Take water of black Cherries and of Rue of each an Ounce and a half the Antiepileptick water of Langius an Ounce Syrup of Corral six Drams Pearl prepar'd fifteen Grains mix them in a Glass On the third or fourth Day after it is Born let an Issue be made in the Nucha then if it has a Florid Countenance let a little Blood to an Ounce and a half or two Ounces be drawn from the Jugular Veins by Leeches care being taken lest he Bleed too much when he Sleeps Let the Temples and Neck be gently rub'd with such a Liniment Take Oyl of Nutmeggs by expression two Drams Oleum Capivii three Drams Oyl of Amber a Scruple let a Periapt of the Roots and Seeds of the greater Peony with a little addition of Elks-hoof
Persons both Men and Women Diseas'd after this manner who being ill of a Head-ach an oppression of the hinder part of the Head or a Vertigo perceiv'd in their sleep presently Convulsive motions in the Praecordia or Bowels or in both of them together Which happens from the Salley of the tumultuary Spirits reflected from the Brain into the Origines of the Nerves And as an Opiate gave the Patient before mention'd a quiet sleep without the wonted Sequel of Convulsions so I have often successfully Cur'd terrible Convulsive Fits both Asthmatical and as it were Hysterical by giving Opiats 1. A Woman sixty seven years of Age having still a florid Countenance and being of a gross habit of Body and who first had liv'd long subject to a Swelling of the Face and great Fits of the Head-ach upon the Weathers growing very cold in the Winter fell into a very grievous Vertigo with a Trembling of the Heart a Fainting of the Spirits and a frequent striving to Vomit Being put to Bed if she open'd her Eyes or was turn'd from one side on the other she was presently seiz'd with a mighty Scotomia a danger of Swooning and moreover with a cruel Vomiting As I was to see her I did not doubt but the cause of the Disease was the Convulsive Matter convey'd from the outward Region of the Head to the inmost Recesses of the Brain by the ill Breath or Heterogeneous Combination of which the Animal Spirits being struck they rais'd the Vertiginous affects as they made their disorderly sallyes towards the Brain and when they tumultuarily rusht into the Roots of the Nerves they caus'd the Scotomia the disorders of the Praecordia and the striving to Vomit The Cure of this was perform'd within a few days by the application of large Vesicatories to the Nucha and behind the Ears the dayly injection of Clysters and by a frequent use of Spirit of Harts-horn and a Cephalick Julape Dr. Willis gives Instances of Persons in whom some portion of the Morbifick Matter which besets the Origine of the Nerves descending from the Head often enters deeper into the Ductus's of the Nerves and so about their middle and extream Processes and Plexus's makes a fomes of an explosive matter as it were of Gun-powder But for brevity sake I omit them It is observ'd that when a Convulsive Fit begins within the Brain at the Origine of the Nerves presently the remotest Spirits residing in the extremities of the Nerves as many as are predispos'd for that Symptom fall upon Explosions and so convey upwards the Convulsive affect there more strongly begun which happens for this reason that when some whole Series of Spirits is disturb'd those which are in the extream parts are first destitute of their Original Influx wherefore those before others begin to grow in a tumult and to be irregularly dispos'd as when a Nerve of the Arm or Thigh is constring'd by lying on it so that it is hindred of its wonted influence of the Spirits a stupor with a sense of pricking is first perceiv'd in the Fingers or Toes of the hands or Feet whence it creeps upwards by degrees towards the places affected And hence it is we find that if whilst the outmost Spirits are exploded a strong Ligature or Compression intercepts the succession of others into the same space or their progress towards the parts the Convulsion is usually hindred from ascending upward Wherefore as Physical Histories testify when a stupor beginning at the top of a Finger or Toe of a hand or Foot creeps to the upper parts with a sense of Formication or like a cold wind and at length taking to the Brain causes terrible Convulsions If presently at the first seizure the Arm or Leg be strongly bound about the Convulsion being not able to pass that place is hindred from getting to the Head Nay and it s an usual thing for Hysterick Women assoon as a Swelling of their Belly or an ascent of a heavy lump is first perceiv'd in their Abdomen to bind about hard the Trunk of their Body with Swathes and so commonly the Praecordia and the Region of the Head are kept from being affected with the Convulsive Fit It 's likewise observable that if Blood be let forth of a Vein in the midst of a Covulsive or Apoplectical Fit it presently seems to be congeal'd so that being receiv'd in a Bason it does not keep an even and plain Surface like Liquids but accumulating it self drop upon drop it rises in a heap like Tallow melted and distill'd into a cold Vessel Yet as to what some conclude hence viz. that Convulsions depend wholly on the thickness obstructed motion and stagnation of the Blood we must not allow of it For Blood drawn from Persons that are subject to Convulsions a little before the Fit is diluted with Serum and fluid enough Wherefore we may opine that that Congelation is caus'd by the Fit it self To wit because in Convulsive motions from the excessive Contractions of the Muscles and Viscera the Blood passing bet wixt them its Spirit and Serum exhaling is a little solv'd in its mixture and therefore is somewhat coagulated just as when Milk by reason of its too great agitation and Separation of parts one from another hardens into butlter wherefore this kind of Coagulation of the Blood seems rather to be the effect of Convulsions than their cause The Therapeutick Method AS to the Cure of these kinds of Convulsive affects which in Men or Women proceed from a Morbifick cause besetting the Origines of the Nerves The first Indication will be to withdraw the fuel of the Disease viz. to hinder the Blood from discharging on the Head the Heterogeneous Particles either engendred in it self or receiv'd from elsewhere from the Bowels For this purpose an Evacuation ordered both by Purging and Bleeding unless somewhat indicates the contrary is wont to be administred with good success Vomiting very often gives relief wherefore let Vomits of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or of Salt of Vitriol or of Wine of Squills be given in the first place Then in a few days let Blood be drawn either by opening a Vein in the Arm or by Leeches applyed to the haemorrhoid Veins then afterwards let a gentle Purge be ordered either of Pills or of a Purging Apozeme and let it be repeated in due and convenient time Take Crato's Pills of Amber or Bontius's Pills of Tartar two Drams Rosm of Jalap sixteen Grains Castoreum a Scruple Oyl of Rosemary or of Amber half a Scruple Gum Ammoniacum dissolo'd in a sufficient quantity of Hysterick-water make sixteen Pills let four be taken every sixth or seventh day Take Roots of Polypody of the Oak sharp pointed Dock prepar'd and of Chervil of each six Drams of Male Peony three Drams Leaves of Betony Germander Ground-pine Vervain Male Fluellin of each a handful Seeds of Carthamus and Burr-dock of each three Drams let them boil in four Pounds of fountain-Fountain-water
to half add of White-wine a Pound let it be strain'd into a Matrass to which put Leaves of choice Sena an Ounce Rhubarb six Drams Gummous Turbith half an Ounce Epithimum yellow Saunders of each two Drams Salt of Worm-wood and of Scurvy-grass of each a Dram the outward yellow Coats of Oranges two Drams let them digest close luted in a Sand heat for twelve hours let the straining be kept for use Let it be sweetned if need be with a sufficient quantity of Syrupus Augustanus or with Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb the Dose is six Ounces once or twice in a week Each day in which Purging is omitted let Remedies be given for strengthning the Brain and for garding the Animal Spirits from incurring Heterogeneous Combinations or from entring upon Explosions Of which nevertheless let a certain choice be made according to the Temperament Habit of Body and Constitution of the Diseas'd For to such as have a thin habit of Body and a hot Blood Medicines must be given which are not hot and which do not stir the Blood too much On the contrary to phlegmatick and gross Bodies whose Urine is thin and watery and whose Blood circulates but dully let hot Remedies be ordered and such as are apt notably to ferment the Humours In the former case you may prescribe after this manner Take Conserve of the Flowers of Betony Tamarisk and Male Peony of each two Ounces Species Diamargariti Frigidi a Dram and a half Powder of the Roots of Peony and of the Seeds of the same of each a Dram red Coral prepar'd two Drams Vitriol of Mars two Scruples Salt of Worm-wood two Drams with a sufficient quantity of Juice of Oranges make an Electuary Let it be taked twice or thrice a day drinking after it a little draught of the Julape beneath prescrib'd Take of red Coral ground with the Juice of Oranges on a Marble or in a Glass-mortar and dryed half an Ounce Powder of Mistletow of the Oak and of the Roots of Male Peony of each two Drams Sugar of Pearl three Drams make a Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram twice or thrice a day Take Species Diamargariti Frigidi two Drams Salt of Worm-wood three Drams Aron Roots powdred a Dram mix them make a Powder let it be divided into twenty parts and let a Dose be taken in the Morning and at four of the Clock Take Powder of the Roots of Butter Bur an Ounce the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice a day Take Leaves of the Bur-dock and of Aron of each six handfuls being slic't and mixt together let them be distil'd The Dose is from two Drams to three twice or thrice a day after a Dose of the Electuary or Powder Take of this distill'd Water two Pounds of our Steel prepar'd two Drams mix them in a Glass let them be taken after the same manner Take Water of Wallnuts simple and of black Cherries of each half a Pound of Snails four Ounces Syrup of Flowers of the Male Peony two Ounces the Dose is from an Ounce and a half to two Ounces after the same manner Take Shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each three Drams Roots of Chervil Bur-dock Valerian of each half an Ounce Leaves of Betony Ground-pine Scolopendrium tops of Tamarisk of each a handful Barks of Tamarisk and of Bitter-sweet of each half an Ounce let them boil in four Pounds of fountain-Fountain-water to the consumption of a third part add of White-wine eight Ounces strain it into a Flaggon to which put Leaves of Brook-limes and of Cuckow-flower of each a handful make a warm and close Infusion for four hours let the straining be kept in Glasses close stopt The Dose is six Ounces twice a day after a Dose of a solid Medicine Sometimes in such an Apozeme let two Drams of our Steel be infus'd and taken after the same manner In the Summer time the use of Mineral Waters is proper for want of them let our Artificial Waters be given in their stead But if for the reasons above cited hot Medicines are indicated we may proceed after the following method Take Conserve of Rosemary-flowers and of the yellow Coats of Oranges and Limons of each two Ounces Wallnuts and Mirobalans condited of each in number two Lignum Aloes yellow Saunders Roots of Serpentaria Contrayerva Angelica and Aron of each a Dram Vitriol of Mars or prepar'd Steel four Scruples Salt of Worm-wood and of Scurvy-grass of each a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Preserve of Wallnuts make an Electuary Let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken twice a day drinking after it a Dose of an appropriated Liquour Take Roots of Male Peony Angelica red Coral prepar'd of each two Drams Sugar dissolv'd in water of Snails boil'd to a consistency for Tablets six Ounces Oyl of Amber highly rectified half a Dram make Tablets according to Art each weighing about half a Dram let one or two be taken twice or thrice a day drinking after it a Dose of an appropriated Liquour Take Roots of Virginia Serpentary Contrayerva Valerian of each two Drams red Coral prepar'd Pearls of each a Dram Winters-bark Roots of bastard Ditany of each a Dram Vitriol of Mars Salt of Worm-wood of each a Dram and a half Extract of Centory two Drams Ammoniacum dissolv'd in Hysterick-water what suffices make a Mass for Pills Let four Pills be taken in the Morning and at four in the Afternoon Take Spirit of Harts-horn or of Soot or of Mans Blood or of Sal Armoniack what suffices take from ten to twelve Drops Morning and Evening in a Spoonful of the Julape drinking after it a little draught of the same Take Leaves of Betony Vervain Sage Cuckow-flowers Aron Bur-dock of each two handfuls green Wallnuts in number twenty the Coats of six Oranges and four Limons Cardamoms Cubebs of each an OUnce being slic't and bruis'd pour to them Whey made with Cider or White-wine six Pounds let it distil according to Art The Dose is two or three OUnces twice a day after a Dose of a solid Medicine To two Pounds of this add of our Steel two Drams Take Water of Earth-worms and of Snails of each six Ounces of Wallnuts simple four Ounces Raddish-water compound two Ounces double refin'd Sugar two Ounces make a Julape The Dose is four or six Spoonfuls twice a day after a Dose of a solid Medicine Take Millepedes cleans'd a Pound Cloves slic't half an Ounce pour on them of White-wine two Pounds let them distil in a Gourd-glass the Dose is from an Ounce to an Ounce and a half twice a day We may prescribe for poor People Remedies more easie to be had after this manner Take Conserve of the Leaves of Rue made with an equal part of Sugar six Ounces Let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken twice a day drinking after it a Decoction of the Seeds and Roots of Bur-dock made in Whey prepar'd of White-wine Or let a
in the Groin or on the Thighs or Calves of the Legs viz. sometimes in this part sometimes in that to wit that the little Sores made here and there flowing continually may plentifully discharge the Serum filled with Heterogeneous and Morbid Particles Moreover Remedies gently conveying the Serum to the Reins and Urinary passages are often given with good effect for this purpost let Diuretick Apozems ans Julapes be ordered according to the following Forms Take Roots of Scorzonera Chervil Grass Eringo's preserv'd of each six Drams one Apple slic't Leaves of Burnet Meadow sweet of each a handful Raisins an Ounce and a half burnt Harts-horn two Drams being slic't and bruis'd let them boil on a clear Fire in four Pounds of fountain-Fountain-water till a third part be consum'd to two Pounds of the clear Straining add Syrup of the Juice of Citrons or of Violets two Ounces Sal Prunella a Dram and a half make an Apozeme the Dose is from four Ounces to six thrice a day Or let that Straining be pour'd on fifteen sineet Almonds blanch and on the four cold Seeds of each a Dram being lruis'd make an Emulsion according to Art Take water of Dragon-wort and of black Cherries of each four Ounces of Scordium compound two Ounces Treacle-water an Ounce and a half Syrup of Clove-gillylowers two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol twelve drops wake a Julape Let Sal Prunella be giben often in a day in small Beer or Whey from half a Dram or two Scruples Moreover in this Fever Medicines gently promoting Sweat especially such as restore the Animal Spirits and free them from any Heterogeneous Combination are of excellent use Wherefore either let Powder of Pearl or Spirit of Harts-horn or of Blood be given in a small Dose twice a day viz. Morning and Evening Let Glysters be injected alniost daily and if it seems convenient let a gently loosning Medicine be repeated twice in a week Let none but a thin Diet be ordered viz. such as is wont to be in other Fevers Flesh or its Broath being wholly forbidden let the Sick eat only Oat or Barley-broath let his Drink be small Beer or Whey But if notwithstanding any Physical provision the Morbifick Matter gets possession of the Brain or Lungs or both of them together so that a failing and disorder of the Animal faculty or also a violent Cough come upon the Diseas'd we must consider what is to be done in either state of the Disease rais'd after this manner to an ill condition for then the Curative Indications ought to respect a stupor or madness or the Cough and at length if the Disease being upon declining these Symptoms remit let appropriated Remedies be given against the Atrophia it being as the last fortress of this Disease 1. Therefore if the Morbifick Matter as it frequently is wont being brought to the Head causes there a Stupor or Sleepy affects Remedies ought to be carefully administred which draw it to another place and derive it some way or other from the Head and likewise such as raise up the Animal Spirits and make void the impure Combination Wherefore in this case let the use of Epispasticks be very much encreast outwardly let Spirit of Harts-horn be given every sixth hour in somewhat a large Dose let Blood be drawn again from the Jugular Veins the Salvatella or also from the Veins of the Fundament by Leeches If the affect does not remit the Hair being shav'd off let Emollient Fomentations be often applyed to the Head Moreover let Cupping-glasses Plaisters and Cataplasms be applyed to the Soles of the Feet and other ways of administration such as are vulgarly indicated for Curing a Stupor ought to be us'd In like manner if to the evil or defect of Crisis in this Fever a Frensy or Mania Supervene let Remedies appropriated to those affects be administred 2. But if together with or without this Detriment brought on the Head the Lungs also are injur'd by the Disease so that the Diseas'd not yet freed of their Fever seem to have fall'n into a Consumption or Ptizick with a troublesome Cough much and thick Spittle and that often discoloured Medicines commonly indicated in such affects are proper wherefore Pectoral Decoctions Lohoch's Syrups Waters of Milk and Snails distill'd and other Remedies of this kind ought diliently to be us'd The Forms of which are to be found in their above written cases Hitherto we have describ'd a continual Fever for the most part Convulsive and taking its rise both through the default of the Nervous Juice and of the Blood I shall now set before you an example of a Disease resembling an intermitting Fever and chiefly radicated in the Nervous Juice A fine Woman of a very tender Constitution and a weak temper of the Brain and Genus Nervosum and consequently very subject to Convulsive affects after she had conceiv'd about the fourth Month of her Child-bearing upon taking cold was most sorely afflicted with Asthmatick Fits and likewise with frequent Faintings of the Spirits But by the use of remedies endowed with a Volatile Salt she grew well of these Distempers within a fortnight nevertheless after six weeks were past an unusual and very wonderful affect seis'd this Lady On a certain morning awaking after her sleep which had been somewhat troubled that night she felt in her whole body a light shivering as tho' the fit of a Tertian Ague were coming upon her Frequent Gapings and Retchings follow it with a frequent straining to Vomit Then her Urine which just before was of an Orange colour with a laudable sediment became pale and watery and was very frequently voided viz. every munute of an hour Moreover about the Loins and Hypochondres and in other places pains with light Convulsions passing from one place to another were rais'd Which kind of Symptoms being manifestly Convulsive with the frequent making of Limpid Water continued from the morning almost to the evening In which space of time a vast quantity of Urine viz. thrice more than the Liquor drank was made In the mean while the Heat became not more intense nor did Thirst seem pressing nor was the pulse rais'd In the eveing the foresaid affects ceast and the Urine came again to be of an Orange colour and in a small quantity and she enjoyed a moderate sleep during the whole night and then the next morning the Fit returned near the same hour accompanied whol'y with the like Symptoms and daily acted over the very same Tragedy Going to see this Lady after the had lain ill after this manner for twelve days I judged that this disease being chiefly rooted in the Genus Nervosum depended on the effervescency and flowing of the Humour that lies in the Nervous parts to this Breeding person I Prescribed Bleeding and to take twice a day a Powder made of Coral Pearl Ivory and other Cordial things in an appropriated Liquor morning and evening she took twelve drops of the Tincture of Antimony the effect whereof I
also Elixir Proprietatis sometimes also Spirit of Harts-horn for many days afterward at long run upon taking that Powder daily for some space she began to find help Inthe mean while that this Method of Cure was followed her Hair being Shav'd off her Head was cover'd only with a thin Dress she wore the Hysterick Plaister with a mixture of Galbanum on the Abdomen She drank for her ordinary drink a Boâ—het of Sarsa and China with the Roots of Male Peony and other appropriated things infus'd and boil'd in Fountain Water Within a Month the Fits remitted a little Afterward becoming more mild by degrees and lesser at length they ceas'd in a manner altogether unless that near the time of her Menses she was wont to be troubled with an assault or two of that disease Moreover she was troubled almost with a constant Giddiness and a loathing of Meat in the midst of Summer the drank Astrope Waters for six weeks and grew perfectly well As to the way of Cure to be us'd in general for such Marvellous Convulsions it is not an easie thing to assign Remedies equal to so Hereulean a Disease or a certain method of its Cure confirm'd by frequent experiments For besides that cases like those seldom occur we may likewise observe that the same Medicine which did good to this sick person at one time gave not the least relief to another person or the same when given at another time the reason of which seems to be that the cause of the Disease seems to consist in the Discrasy of the Nervous Juice Which liquor is not always perverted after one and the same manner But from the manifold combination of the Salts and Sulphurs gets a Morbid disosition of a various kind and condition and often changes it Wherefore in those difficult affects we must not prescribe vulgar Medicines taken from Apothecaries Shops but Magisterial ones as occasion requires according to the appearances of the Marvellous Symptoms A Gentle Vomit a Purge and Bleeding ought in the first place to be us'd and sometimes to be repeated as it shall seem convenient And as to Specifick Medicines and such are appropriated in those cases since the chief Indication will be to amend the Crasis of the Nervous Juice we may try a great many things and sift their vertues from the effect Therefore we may try what things endued with a Volatile or Armoniack Salt will do For this purpose let the Spirits and Salts of Harts-horn Blood Soot the Flowers and Spirits of Sal Armoniack be taken These giving no relief we must come to Chalybeats let the Tinctures and Solutions of Coral and Antimony be given which sort of Medicines must be given in such a Dose and form and for so many times that some alteration may be made by them in the Blood and Nervous Juice Again if these have not success we must proceed to Alexipharmicks which are good against Poyson and a Malignity gotten into the Humours viz. of these we must order Decoctions Destillations Powders Conserves and other Preparations of Vegetables and we must variously compound them the one with the other and administer them several ways It seems likely that those sorts of Medicines which being inwardly taken are wont to do good to such as are bit by a Viper or by a Mad Dog and likewise against Wolfs-bane and Napellus may also be of use in the above mentioned Convulsions We may here after the example of Gregor Horstius in his Tracts of the Malign Convulsive disease prescribe also Magisterial Remedies in form of a Purging Electuary also of a Powder and Convulsive Antidote for these Marvellous Convulsions and variously Compound the same of Simples partly Alexipharmical and partly Antiepileptical CHAP. VIII Of the Affects which are vulgarly call'd Hysterical IF at any time an unusual sort of Sickness or of a very Secret Origine occurs in the Body of a Woman so that its Cause lies hid and the Therapeutick Indication be wholly uncertain presently we accuse the evil influence of the Womb which for the most part is guiltless and in any unusual Symptom we cry out that there is somewhat Hysterical in it and consequently the Physical intentions and the uses of Remedies are directed for this end which often is only a starting hole for Ignorance The passions which are wont to be rank't in this number are found to be various andmanifold which seldom agree in divers Women or happen wholly after the same manner the most common of them and which are vulgarly said to Constitute the formalstate of an Hysterick affect are these viz. A Motion in the lower part of the Belly and an Ascent as it were of some round thing there then a Belching or Straining to Vomit a distention of the Hypochondres and a Rumbling with a Belching forth of Wind an uneven and for the most part a letted Respiration a Suffocation in the Throat a Giddiness an Inversion or Rotation of the Eyes often Laughing or Weeping a Talking Idly sometimes a Speechlesness and Immobility with an obscure or no Pulse and a Cadaverous aspect sometimes Convulsive Motions rais'd in the Face and Limbs and sometimes in the whole Body But universal Convulsions seldom happen and not unless the disease be raised to its worst state for the Tragedy of the Fit is acted through for the most part without any contraction of the Members only in the Belly Breast and Head viz. one of them or successively in all Women of all Ages and Conditions are obnoxious to these affects to wit Rich and Poor Virgins Wives and Widows I have observed those Symptoms in Girls before the time of Puberty and in old Women after their Menses ceast to Flow nay and men are sometimes troubled with such kind of Passions instances of which are not wanting The cause of these Symptoms must not be imputed to the Ascent of the Womb and to vapours rais'd from the same nor to the Impetuous rushing of the Blood into the Lungs as the Learned Highmore has Judg'd But we say that the affect call'd Hysterical chiefly and primarily is Convulsive and depends principally on the Brain and Genus Nervosum being affected and is produc't wholly by the exposions of the Animal Spirits as other Convulsive Motions And whatever disorder or irregularities happen else about the Motion of the Blood they are only secondary and depending on the Convulsions of the Viscera The way of the difference whereby the kinds of this disease both differ from each other and from the other Convulsive affects is taken from the various Origine and chiefly from the extension of the Morbisick Cause for the Origine of this as of many other Convulsive affects sometimes resides in the Head the Womb being wholly without fault Though sometimes this affect happens through the fault of the Womb and sometimes through that of other parts As to the extension of the Disease from whatever Origine it proceeds for the most part it chiefly affects the Interiour
White-wine half an Ounce let them boil in two Pounds and a half of fountain-Fountain-water till a half be wasted add of Rhenish-Wine a Pound and strain it presently into which put of the best Sena half an Ounce Rhubarb six Drams Leaves of black Hellebore half an Ounce the yellow Coats of Oranges two Drams make a close and warm Infusion for twelve hours let the Straining be kept in a stopt Glass the Dose is from five Drams to six It were easie to set down here many other forms of Catharticks but there is no great variety requir'd in these But of the foregoing let these or the others be given as they best agree and now and then let them be repeated within five or six days as occasion requires An over frequent and violent Purging casts down the powers of the Body greatly impairs the strength of the Viscera and in the mean time does not take away the Disease After a Purge or two if Bleeding be indicated let Blood be drawn from the Arm or from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches It matters not much which Vein be open'd nor is the opening of the Salvatella Vein of as much moment as it is said As to the large Discourses made by Authors concerning the opening of the Liver or Cephalick Veins rather than any others in the Scurvy since the Circulation of the Blood has been known it comes to nothing Phlebotomy is indicated by a plenty and vitiousness of the Blood which it is better to let forth at several times in a small quantity than at once in a great For when the Liquour of the Blood is become very impure it is corrected by no kind of Remedy more certainly than by a frequent and spare letting of it forth for the old corrupted Blood as often as it is drawn forth is succeeded by a better and clearer fresh Blood mean while there is need of caution that it be not drawn away at once in too great a quantity for its store being much drain'd together Sanguification fails so that a Dropsy or Cachexia ensues Besides Purging and if need be opening a Vein many Remedies of another kind no less necessary are requir'd in the Scurvy And that they may be prescrib'd in order we must forthwith consider whether only Preservatory Indications have place here and whether certain Curatory Indications viz. such as have regard to some severely pressing Symptoms ought not to be interchangeably pursued with them And if you are to imploy the whole work of the Cure against the cause of the Discase you may proceed after the following method We shall shew you hereafter what sort of Cure is to be apply'd to Symptoms if haply occasion requires it Therefore if nothing hinders but you are to imploy the chiefest stress of Physick in rooting out the cause of the Disease principally and by it self for this purpose let Digestives likewise and Specificks or Antiscorbuticks as we hinted before be us'd at all times unless on the days of Purging To which sometimes if it be needful let Diaphoreticks or Diureticks be added Manifold forms and prescripts of Medicines and of various kinds for performing these intents are every where to be found amongst Authors I shall here set down some of the more choice of them which I here thought good to distribute into two ranks according to the twofold nature of the Scorbutick Cause viz. the Sulphureo-saline and Salino-sulphureous Dyscrasies of the Blood And first I shall deliver such as are proper in this latter kind of affect viz. where there is need of Medicines endow'd with a certain instigating vertue and such as are very much fill'd with a Volatile Salt Let Digestive Medicines that restore the Ferment of the Stomach and help the Functions of that and of other of the Viscera which serve for Chylification and Anti-Scorbuticks or Specificks which take away the Dyscrasy of the Blood either be joined in the same Composition or at leastwise let them be taken the same day one after the other Among digestive Remedies are justly counted the Cream Crystals Salt and Tincture of Tartar Tartar Vitriolated and Chalybeated Elixir Proprietatis the simple mixture The use of each of these given twice a day oftentimes does good Moreover you may easily make Magistral Tinctures and Elixirs of various kinds both digestive and appropriated to the Scurvy with the two following Menstruums Take rectified Spirit of Vitriol Six Ounces Spirit of Wine Alcholized sixteen Ounces mix them and Distill them in a Glass retort with three Cohobations keep it for use in a Glass well stopt Elixir Proprietatis is more easily and better prepar'd with this Compound Menstruum than the vulgar way Take Winters-bark Lignum Aloes Roots of the lesser Galingal of each two Drams Cinnamon Cloves Cubebs of each a Dram Seeds of Bishops-weed and Watercresses of each half a Dram being bruised pour to them of the foresaid Menstruum enough to cover them three Fingers over let them digest in a Matrace in a Sand Furnace for six days let the straining be kept in a Glass close stopt The Dose is twenty Drops more or less in a Spoonfull of Canary or of an appropriated Liquor Let it be given twice a day Take white Amber Gum of Ivy Caranna Tacamahaca of each a Dram Saffron half a Dram Cloves Nutmegs of each two Scruples being bruised pour to them the aforesaid Menstruum and let a Tincture be extracted according to Art The Dose is twenty Drops as above Take blew Salt of Tartar four Ounces let it digest in a Matrace with a Pound of Spirit of Wine Alcholized till a Tincture be extracted Let this be another Menstruum with which you may prepare Elixirs out of Gums Spices c. after the same manner as with the former Menstruum While these kinds of Medicines are given in a small Dose in the Evening and early in the Morning at Physical hours viz. at eight a Clock in the Forenoon and at four in the Afternoon let the Antiscorbutick Medicines of the other kind be taken which for the most part we are wont to prescribe in a twofold form viz. in a solid form and a liquid to be taken all under one so that the solid Medicine being taken first the liquid is drank after it there are various kinds and ways of Composition of both viz. in a solid form Electuaries Confections Powders Pills and Tablets in a liquid form are Decoctions Infusions Expressions Distill'd Waters Physick Wines and Ales. We shall give you some of the more select Medicines of each of these kinds Electuaries TAke Conserve of Scurvy-grass Roman Wormwood Fumitory of each two Ounces Powder of Winters-bark Roots of Angelica and Aron of each two Drams Species Diatrion Santalon a Dram and a half Powder of Crabs-eyes a Dram Salt of Wormwood two Drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of the Juice of Citrons make an Electuary Take Conserve of the Leaves of Scurvy-grass and Brooklimes made with an equal quantity of
bruised of each a Dram and a half Roots of Bastard-Dittany and of Male-Peony of each a Dram and a half Salt of Tamerisk two Drams with a sufficient quantity of the Gelly of Harts-horn or of the cast skins of Snakes Make a Mass Tablets TAke Species Diatrion Santalon and Diamargariti Frigidi of each a Dram and a half Pearl powdered red Coral prepar'd Ivory powdered of each a Dram Sugar dissolved in Scordium-water and boiled to a Consistency for Tablets six Ounces Make Tablets according to Art But if with those kinds of temperate Antiscorbuticks the use of Steel be indicated to the Electuary or to the Confection or also to the Mass of Pills let two Drams of Mynsicht's Magistery of Mars or of Extract of Steel of our preparation be added In some cases about two Drams and a half or three Drams of Crocus Martis may be added to such a Composition though it is often better to make the Liquors which are drank after solid Medicines Chalybeate than the foresaid Compositions It remains for us now to prescribe forms of Liquors Decoctions IN a Scurvy raised after a long Fever these kinds of Decoctions which purifie the Blood and plentifully move Urine are given with good effect Take Roots of Chervil Scorzonera Sorrel Stone-Parsley of each an Ounce Leaves of Agrimony and Harts-tongue of each a Handful burnt Harts-horn two Drams Parings of three Apples Corinths two Ounces Liquorice three Drams Let them boil in four Pounds of Fountain Water till a third part be consumed add Sal Prunella two or three Drams The Dose is four Ounces twice or thrice a day Take Eringo Roots preserv'd six Drams of Grass two Drams Leaves of Clivers two handfuls Agrimony and Liverwort of each a handful Raisins two Ounces white Saunders a Dram Liquorice two Drams let them boil in four Pounds of Fountain Water till a third part be consumed The Dose is six Drams after a solid Medicine To Rusticks and poor People lest after a Fever they fall into the Scurvy I use to prescribe That twice a day they take the following Draught viz. That they boil a handful and a half of the Roots and Leaves of Dandelion in a Pound and a half of Posset-Drink till a third part be consumed Strain it for two Doses Or take Roots of Dandelion half a handful Seeds of Citrons and of Carduus of each a Dram let them boil in Posset-drink made with Apples or a Pound and a half of Cyder till a third part be consum'd Infusions The Apozems even now prescrib'd will become more excellent against the Scurvy if being prepar'd without Licorice they are strain'd into a Flaggon into which are put Leaves of Brook-limes and of Water-cresses or Cuckow-flowers of each a handful then make a warm and close Infusion for six hours the Liquour being strain'd again let it be kept in stopt Vessels The Dose is six Ounces twice or thrice a day Also let Whey with the Roots of Dandelion and the Leaves of Fumitory boil'd in it be strain'd into a Vessel wherein are Leaves of Brook-limes and of small Celandine of each a handful make an Infusion c. Chalibeat Infusions are wont to be frequently in use viz. the Salt Magristery or Extract of Steel are infus'd in some Decoction or distil'd Water Moreover as natural Spaw-waters so also Artificial ones of our preparation of Steel dissolv'd in Fountain-water and impregnated with the Infusion of Antiscorbuticks are drank with great benefit Juices and Expressions TAke Leaves of Brook-limes and Water-cresses of each four handfuls of Wood-sorrel two handfuls being bruis'd let the Juice be prest forth being stopt in a Glass it will soon become clear by subsiding The Dose is from an Ounce and a half to two Ounces with a fit Vehicle Take Leaves of Brook-limes four handfuls stalks of English-rhubarb two handfuls being bruis'd let the Juice be prest forth Take Leaves of Brook-limes Garden-cress Cuckow-flower the lesser Celandine Wood-sorrel of each two handfuls being bruis'd let the Juice be prest forth add Juice of Oranges a fourth part let it be kept in a Glass Syrups AS often as a Syrup is requir'd to be added to any other Composition we use either Syrup of the Juice of Wood-sorrel or of Fumitory or of Coral compound Or also a Magistral Syrup may be prepar'd of the Juice of Brook-limes after the same manner as is prescrib'd above concerning the Juice of Scurvy-grass Distil'd Waters TEmperate Distil'd Waters are prepar'd by changing either the Ingredients or the Menstruum or both of them together As to the former we proceed after this mnner Take Leaves of Brook-limes Garden-cress Fumitory Harts-tongue Liver-wort Bawm tops of Tamarisk and of Cypress of each three handfuls all the Saunders bruis'd of each half an Ounce Roots of sharp pointed Dock of Polipody of the Oak of each two Ounces the outward Coats of four Oranges Snails cleans'd two Pounds being slic't and bruis'd pour to them Whey made with Cider six Pounds let them be distil'd in a common Still 2. When the Menstruum is weak let the Ingredients be moderately hot Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass Brook-limes Cuckow-flower Garden-cress of each three handfuls Rinds of four Oranges Snails a Pound being slic't small pour to them common Whey or fresh Milk six Pounds distill them after the vulgar manner 3. In a Scorbutick Atrophia and Consumptive Disposition where nothing hot that may stir the Blood and Humours and Spirits ought to be admitted let both the Ingredients and Menstruum be temperate and lenifiers of the Blood Take Leaves of Brook-limes Cuckow-flower Harts-tongue Maiden-hair Liver-wort Speedwel Agrimony of each two handfuls Snails cleans'd a Pound and a half or the Pulp of a Capon or of a Sheeps-heart slic't all being half boil'd and slic't pour to them of fresh Milk or Water of Fumitory six Pounds let them be distil'd the common way Physick-wines and Beers Though the use of Wines may not seem proper in a Scurvy rais'd by reason of a hot or Sulphureo-saline Dyscrasie of the Blood nevertheless if at any time the Stomach either being weak or a long accustomance require the drinking of Wine at leastwise being diluted with Water a Eiquour of that kind being both temperate and in some measure Physical may be prepar'd For especially small Wines diluted with Water and impregnated with the Infusion of Bawm Borrage or of Burnet or other things ought to be allow'd Moreover let Wines be prepar'd of the Juice of English Corinths Cherries and other horary Fruits which when they are brought to a ripeness by Fermentation are very grateful to the Stomach and purifie the Blood Again Cider the familiar and genuine Wine as it were of our Country so it be clean mellow and pleasant without any sharpness does very much good in the Scurvy Moreover in this Liquour drawn from the Lees and put in small Vessels Ingredients of various kinds may be infus'd Of which kind are tops of the Pine-tree or of Fir
the Juice of nettles make an Electuary The Dose is the quantity of a Wallnut twice a day Take of Distill'd Water or of a temperate Antiscorbutick Decoction two Pounds our Steel prepar'd two Drams mix them in a Glass The Dose is three or four Ounces Take tops of stinging Nettles Leaves of Brooklimes of each Four Handfuls being bruised let the Juice be prest sorth keep it in a Glass The Dose is two or three Ounces twice a day with an Antiscorbutick distill'd Water Of the Distempers of the Mouth happening by reason of the Scurvy ASsoon as the Scorbutick Taint seizes the parts of the Mouth that the Gums swell and their flesh becomes Spongy presently let Remedies be carefully administred which may keep them from Putresaction Amongst these washings of the Mouth and Liniments are of chiefest use both when the Disease is beginning about those parts and when it is come to a greater height there though as they regard various intents so they ought to be diversly prepar'd viz. the flesh of the Gums when first it swells ought to be freed from the incursions of the Blood or of the salt and corrupted Serum and to be dried afterward the flesh of the same grown flaccid and faln from the Teeth ought to be freed from Putrefaction and also to be constring'd that it might hold the Teeth the faster For these and haply other intents let Gargarisms or Washings of the Mouth be ordered of divers kinds of all which in a manner the chief ingredients are Vegetables boiled and Minerals infused The Herbs or Roots which are boiled in a fit Liquor viz. in Water or Wine for the most part are smart or bitter or stiptick and then those Decoctions are impregnated either with a volatile lixivial vitriolate Chalybeate or aluminous Salt I shall here set down certain forms of each kind 1. When therefore the flesh of the Gums first swells and becomes spongy by reason of the Influx of the salt and corrupted Blood and Serum Take the middle Bark of Elder and of Elm of each half a Handful Leaves of Savory Sage wild Mustard Garden-cresses of each a Handful Roots of Pelitory of Spain two Drams being sliced and bruised let them boyl in three Pounds of Water of Lime till a third part be consumed if sweetning be required add Honey of Roses two Ounces make a Gargarism Or take Vitriol Camphorated an Ounce vulgarly with us it 's called by the name of Captain Green's Power Fountain-water two Pounds mix them in a Glass shake it and then when the Liquor is grown clear by setling let it be used Or prepare a Lixivium of the Ashes of Broom or of Rosemary or of Tartar and Nitre Calcin'd In three Pounds of this boyl Leaves of Savory Time Sage and Rosemary of each a Handful let the straining be poured on two Handfuls of Scurvy-grass make a warm and close Infusion for three hours Let it be strained again and kept for Washing the Mouth several times in a day For the same Intent let Liniments also be applied betwixt whiles and espectally in the Night that their Virtue may be conveyed to the Diseased even when they are asleep Amongst Authors a common famous and long tryed Medicine is found Take the Powder of the Leaves of Columbines the Curl'd Mint Sage Nutmegs Myrrh which last nevertheless may be sometimes omitted of each two Drams Burnt Allom half an Ounce Virgin-Honey four Ounces or what suffices make a Liniment according to Art 2. If at any time the Flesh of the Gums growing Flaccid falls from the Roots of the Teeth let a Gentle Scarrification be often us'd and also let the mouth be wash't with this Decoction Take tops of Brambles and Cypress Leaves of Sanicle and Cuckow Flowers of each a handful Boyl them in three pounds of Water in which Iron has been quencht till a third part be consum'd to the straining ad Hony of Roses two Ounces mix them Let a Liniment of this kind be applyed Take Powder of the Roots of Florentine Orris Leaves of Sage and St. Johns Wort of each two Drams Bole Armeniack Sal Prunella of each a Dram warm Virgin Honey what suffices let them be incorporated by stirring them 3. When the Gums Putrifie and are Corrupted and withal the Teeth being Rotten grow loose and emit a Stinking Smell let stronger Medicines and such as greatly resist putrefaction be used an infusion of Vitriol Camphorated also of the Lapis Medicamentosus have chiefly place here Or Take Roots of Gentian and of Round Birth-wort slic't of each half an Ounce Leaves of the Lesser Centory Pontick Wormwood Savory Columbines of each a handful let them boyl in three pounds of Lime Water or of a Lixivial Water also sometimes in Water in which Iron has been quencht sometimes in Alum Water till a third part be consum'd to the straining add Crude Hony two or three Ounces mix them 4. If the falling out of the Teeth be chiefly fear'd Take Barks of the Roots of the Sloe Tree an Ounce Tormentil and whole Bistort of each a handful Pomgranate Rinds and Balaustia of each half an Ounce Boyl them in three pounds of Fountain Water to the Straining ad Alum two or three Drams of the best Hony two Ounces mix them Take Vitriol Complorated Burnt Harts-horn of each a Dram Nutmegs half a Dram of the best Hony what suffices make a Liniment Or Take Powder of the Roots of Bistort Pomgranate-rinds Bole Armoniack Burnt Allum of each a Dram Hony of Roses what suffices add Spirst of Vitriol a Scruple make a Liniment 5. If at any time putrid and profoun'd Ulcers as it sometimes happens infests the Gums or other parts of the Mouth let the forementioned stronger Medicines be often administred Moreover let a Cloth dipt in Vnguentum Egyptiacum dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine or in an infusion of the Lapis Medicamentosus or of Sublimate be now and then applyed to the place affected In these Cases let the Cure be committed to to a skilful Chirurgeon Of Pains that are wont to trouble the Legs and sometimes the other Limbs and that chiefly by Night AGainst these Pains in regard that sometimes they are very vehement besides the general method of Curing the Scurvy special Remedies and such as obviate that symptom are Indicated therefore in such a case a course of purging being well ordered also the Person being Blooded if need be we ought to set upon the Disease both with inward Physick and outward Topicks As to the former such things as promote Sweat and also an evacuation by Urine often give help in as much as they draw another way the lixivial and sharpish Recrements of the Blood and nervous Juice that are wont to be gather'd together in the Part affected but especially let those things be given which free both Humours from their evil Disposition viz. both saline and sharpish Powders of Shells Crabs Eyes the Jaw-bone of a Pike also the Spirit and Flowers of Sal Armoniack
Spirit of Blood Tincture of Antimony of Coral Decoctions of the Roots and Seeds of the great Burdock Ground-pine and Germander do excellently well and let those kinds of Remedies be taken twice or thrice a day with Antiscorbutick distill'd Waters A Water distill'd from Horse-dung with the addition of Scurvy-grass Brook-limes Ground-pine and the like is sometimes very profitable mean while let Fomentations Liniments Cataplasms or applications of other kinds which appease Pains be outwardly Administred Of the Scorbutick Gout moving from one place to another OF this Affect Eugalenus Wierus Medicus Campensis and Georgius Horstius have written peculiar Tracts If is said to be very Common in the Northern Parts of Belgia a certain token of which appears by putting a live Earth-worm to the place affected for its presently wont to spring bend and knit it self and to faint and dye which indeed I have found pretty often to happen in this Disease even amongst us which effect seems to proceed from the very sharp and as it were Corrosive Effluvia that plentifully flow from the place Pain'd and Swoll'n By Reason of the effect of that Experiment the Cure of the Disease is wont to be undertaken by Worms viz. by Remedies prepar'd of them though I know not whether being inwardly taken they will as certainly destroy the Disease as being outwardly applied they are dispatcht by it However Earth-worms as also Snailes Millepedes and other exanguious little Animals in as much as they abound with a volatile Salt often prove a pretty efficacious Remedy Henricus Petraeus tells us of two Remedies very much us'd in Westphalia against this Disease Take nine Earth-worms bruis'd with two Spoonfuls of Wine in a Mortar and strain'd through a Cloth to these let half a Measure of Wine be added let three Spoonfuls be taken at Morning Noon and Night for many days 2. Take two or three Branches of Savine Virgin Hony two spoonfuls boyl them with a Measure of Wine till it pitches two Fingers Let the straining be taken to four or five spoonfuls thrice a day To the former Medicine a certain vulger potion mentioned by Horstius called Monasteriensis is allied Take Sage Betony Rue of each five Leaves Earthworms with Circles about their Necks in number five a little Savine and Roots of Devils-bit in number two let them be bruis'd with Water of Elder Flowers and let the exprest Juice be given for raising a Sweat A like prescript also is propos'd in Forestus à Medico Campensi Certainly in this affect the Magistral Water of Earth-worms prescrib'd in the London Dispensatory is of excellent use And I have often given with good success the Spirit and Salt of Harts-horn Spirit of Blood and Flowers of Sal Armoniack Moreover teslaceous Powders viz. Crabs Eyes Coral Pearl and Vegetables which are accounted Antidotes against the Gout as Roots of round Broth-wort Leaves of Ground-pine Germander and the like being joyn'd with Antiscorbuticks conduce to the Cure of this Disease outwardly for appeasing Pains besides Anodynes which are us'd under the form of a Liniment Fomentation or Cataplesm Oyl of Earth-worms of Frogs and Toads are often very availing I have been told by a worthy Person who was very obnoxious to this Disease that Water drawn by Destillation from the Contents taken out of the Stomach of a Beefnewly kill'd and Cloaths being dipp'd into it when Warm and applied as a Fomentation would most certainly give ease Of Convulsive and Paralytick Affects that are wont to ensue upon the Scurvy IF at any time the Scrobutick taint passing into the Brain and Genus Nervosum greatly corrupts the Liquor residing in each Province thereupon divers kind of Affects and especially Paralytical or Convulsive are wont to arise viz. according as the Morbisick Matter brought in to be Animal Aeconomy is either Narcotick or Explosive Which kind of Affects though in this case they are Symptomatical yet when they are grown to a hight they challenge both the name and the better part of the Cure before the Scurvy their parent so that the diseased are said to be troubled with the Palsy or Convulsions rather than with the Scurvy also Medicines design'd against those Affects have the preference to any others at the same time required by reason of other intents For Curing these kinds of Affects hapning upon the Scurvy let this chiefly be observ'd that Remedies appropriated to those same be duly Complicated with Antiscorbuticks As to Convulsive Diseases the Remedies that are in the foregoing Tract may easily be Transfer'd hither And as to the Palsey Lethargy and many other Affects of the Brain and Genus Nervosum we shall discourse of them particulary in some other Tract Of the Atrophia also of the Scorbutick Fever which is often the Cause of the other or its Effect THere are three kinds of Causes having some orderly dependance on each other from one or more of which a Scorbutical Atrophia is wont to be produc'd without a Consumption of the Lungs viz. either the Chyle is perverted through the fault of the first passages so that a laudable or sufficient Store or it is not convey'd to the Blood Secondly or being brought into it yet through the fault of the Blood it is not duly chang'd into Blood and a nutritive Juice Thirdly and lastly the nutritive Juice prepar'd in the Mass of Blood is not duly assimilated to the solid parts through the fault of the nervous Liquor The Remedies appropriated to this Symptom regard either the amendment of the first Passages or the correction of the foresaid Humours As to the former it sometimes happens by reason of the Tone of the Stomach being broken or its Ferment being vitiated that the Food taken into it is not duly concocted but passes into an unprofitable Mass of Corruption For these sorts of evils let gentle Catharticks Digestives and Corroboratives be us'd But the work of Chylification is oftner hindred by reason of a Schirrous Tumour rais'd sometimes in the Ventricle sometimes in the Mesentery or in other adjacent parts In this Case Deobstruents and Dissolvents are proper the use of Spaw-waters has the preferance to any other Rinds of Medicines Moreover Fomentations Liniments or Plaisters ought to be outwardly applyed Again it sometimes happens that without any Tumour rais'd in the Viscera the Lacteal Vessels are so much obstructed by a gross and viscous matter sticking in them that a sufficient store of the Chyle though it be laudable enough and plentifully prepar'd is not convey'd into the Blood In this affect the Belly for the most part discharges Excrements plentifully but they are White like coagulated Milk and not as other Excrements ting'd with Choler or Stinking The reason of which is that the Blood being depauperated more sparingly engenders Choler from the eflusion of which into the Intestines the Colour and Stink of the Excrements proceed In this case Spaw-waters are chiefly proper also Deobstruents being inwarldly given let Liniments Fomentations and Baths be outwardly us'd
Pains and bitter Tortures chiefly infesting her by night one while in the Shins another while in the Arms In regard she was with Child she had been forc't to leave off a course of Physick often begun in order to its Cure After he last Child-birth her Lochia flowing plentifully she continued for many days faint and weak with a difficult Respiration and being out of Breath upon any motion A Month after being deliver'd being taken out of Bed and attempting to walk she fell into a most severe difficulty of Breathing with a Trembling of the Heart and a frequent Fainting of the Spirits Being presently put to Bed she continued almost for a whole day still Trembling and continually Panting Moreover the lower Limbs as though Death were at hand being quite chill'd waxed not warm by any Frictions or Applications of warm'd Cloaths At length after near four and twenty hours upon the frequent giving of strong Cordials she was better about the Praecordia though there followed near the right Groin in the top of the Thigh a very acute Pain reaching even to the Leg and within a few hours a pretty hard swelling resisting the touch possest all that space Being call'd at this time the Diseas'd still fetching her Breath short and with difficulty presently having order'd a Clyster to be forthwith injected I gave her twelve drops of Spirit of Hearts-horn in a spoonful of the following Julape Take Water of Snails six ounces Hysterick Water four ounces Water of Wall-nuts simple and of Pennyroyal of each three ounces Sugar one ounce Castoreum tyed in a Rag and hung in the Glass a Dram. These Medicines were repeated every sixth Hour I ordered a large vesicatory to be applyed to the inward part of the Thigh then in the Evening in regard during this whole Fit she had continued without Sleep I gave her of Laudanum a grain Pearls powdred six grains confection of Alkermes without Musk half a dram she slept quietly and there next Morning she was much relieved the pain and swelling of the Thigh somewhat abated also while she lay quiet in her Bed she was well about the Precordia but sitting upright or turning on one side presently she seem'd almost ready to dye through straitness of Breath she continued the use of the Spirit of Harts-horn and of the Julep to be repeated every sixth hour for many days Moreover because she was press'd with Thirst and made water always in a small quantity ruddy and filled with contents she took twice a day a Dose of the following Julep to six Drams Take roots of Grass Chervil preserv'd Eringos of each six drams shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each two Drams burnt Harts-horn a dram and a half Raisins two ounces one Apple slic'd Licorish two drams and a half being slic'd and bruised let them boyle in three pounds of Fountain Water till a third part be consumed then four ounces of White-wine being added to it let it be strained into a Flagon to which put Leaves of Scurvy-grass and Brooklimes of each a Handful Salt of Wormwood two drams make a close and warm infusion for three Hours let the straining be kept in Vessels close stopt Sometimes every day sometimes every other day a Clister was administred By the use of these things she seemed to grow better daily so that within a weeks space arising from her Bed she was able to sit up two or three Hours by the fire in her Chair but if she kept from her Bed or walkt a little more than was fitting she was presently wont to fall into a straitness of Breathing or a fit of the Asthma so that on a certain day having stayed out of Bed too long she underwent a violent fit of the Disease and was affected with a difficult Breathing a trembling of the whole Body and frequent Swoonings Being called again by reason of this Relaps of the sick Lady I gave her Spirit of Harts-horn to twenty drops with the Julep above prescribed and in the Evening a dose of our Laudanum and as thereby she found her self better about the Precordia Pains and Swellings succeeded in the right Thigh and Legg such as before had paned in the left I ordered also vesicatories to be applyed to that Thigh and besides the Remedies hitherto mentioned she took twice a day of our Wine of the Juice of Scurvy-grass four ounces with two ounces of the Magistral Antiscorbutick Water Moreover I ordered her to be purged with our Solutive Syrup above prescribed which doing well I ordered it to be repeated within three or four dayes By these Remedies she grew well within a Month. A Noble man about the thirty third year of his Age seeming to be of a sanguine Temperament tall and slender of a very acute Wit and quick understanidng tho he had used himself for a long time to immoderate and excessive Studies together with a disorderly way of Diet yet being still sprightly and full of vigour he seem'd to enjoy a sound Mind in a sound Body a little more than two years since when he had greatly tired himself by dancing a whole Night with Friends and in the Morning being put in a cold Bed in a Room that was too moist and having slept a little he began to be sick for upon his awake he fell into a mighty troublous Passion about the Precordia with terrible Swoonings as though he were ready to dye After a draught of Wine and some cordial Remedies taken he was a little better but he often relaps'd so that all that day both himself and his Friends dreaded either a swoon without returning to himself or an imminent Apoplexy Moreover after that this Fit of the Disease was past yet still he lived obnoxious to daily passions of the Heart and upon any great Error committed in Diet he was wont to be afflicted again with a violent fit Notwithstanding the use of Remedies the Disease growing worse within a few Months did not only infest the Precordia but in the whole habit of the Body Expansions sometimes of heat sometimes of cold moreover in the Limbs a numbness or formication or light Convulsions and sudden contractions were raised but of late besides the Symtoms hitherto mentioned which still greatly molest the Noble Person he is moreover sorely afflicted with a frequent Vertigo and with Distractions and Failings of the Spirits residing in the Fore-brain insomuch that he is forc'd to abstain from the Studies and Politick Employs to which he has been always addicted and even from any strong intention of the Mind for otherwise he feels both in the Head and in the genus nerevosum these troublous Passions that he may fear either an invasion of the Apoplexy or horrible Convulsive Affects a great fit of this Disease pressing upon him the Ventricle also for the most part is disturbed Moreover he has often found ease after a Vomit either hapning of its own accord or raised by the help of an Emetick Medicine Hence some
a serous glut of filth gets by degrees into the Brain together with the Nervous Juice and when at length it has penetrated deeply into it it defiles these pure Medullae and greatly stuffs its Pores So that the Animal Spirits do not display their beams with a light that is clear and full but such as is weak and broken with many little Clouds as it were scattered here and there In an habitual and inveterate Vertigo the conjunct cause comprehends both these as it appears from the things that give relief or prove offensive For I observe that that affect is altered for the better or worse on two kinds of occasions For whatsoever things inwardly taken engender turgid Particles and such as are too exorbitant and apt to be troubled as Wines Strong Waters pepper'd and flatulent meats in a manner always affect vertiginous Persons nor do they find less injury by reason of occasions by which the Brain is fill'd and stuffed as are surfeiting sleeping at Noon or too long in the morning a Southerly Wind a moist misty and thick Air a low seated and marshy habitation and on the contrary the same are very much relieved by a thin and light Diet a clear Air and an open Country exposed to the Winds If we enquire into the procatarctick Cause of this Evil viz. for what morbid predisposition this double evil is wont to be brought on the Spirits residing in the middle part of the Brain we find that here both the Brain with the nervous Liquor and the Blood with the Humours residing in it are in the fault It is a common fault of the latter that degenerating from its due Crasis into a sharp or otherwise vitious temper it perverts the nutritive juyce and likewise heaps together within it a Serum and filthy dregs of various kinds which it is ready to discharge on the Head The fault of the Brain is that its temper is moist and weak its texture loose and not firm and has its Pores more open than they ought and too much gaping so that any heterogeneous and elastick Particles and likewise serous or otherwise morbid recrements being sent from the Blood into the Head are easily admitted into the Brain together with the nervous juyce and by reason of its passages being too open descend without obstacle into the midst of it viz. the Corpora callosa and striata Moreover such as are of a tender Constitution easily contract this vertiginous disposition for the Spirits of the Brain being weak and unable to resist foreign incursions yield a passage to any matter coming thither Again to others tho robust Persons a disorderly Diet a sedentary Life frequent surfeiting also immoderate Sleep and Studies likewise the Scurvy an inveterate Cachexia Fevers of long continuance and other Cephalick Diseases often bring this ill habit of the Brain As to the prognostick of this Disease every new Vertigo for the most part is void of danger but being habitual and continual tho it seldom threatens a great or imminent danger yet because it admits not but a long and very difficult Cure it most commonly so tires both the Diseas'd and the Physician that before the Disease can be cur'd one grows weary of the other A primary Vertigo seated in the fore-part of the Head which scarce at all causes a dizziness or falling on the ground being more safe and curable is often chang'd into a Head-ach sometimes also it goes off of its own accord by a bleeding at the Nose or a Flux of the Hemorrhoids and is often removed by Physick A vertiginous affect arising in the hinder part of the Head and intercepting the irradiations of the Spirits into the Nerves being far more dangerous often passes into an Apoplexy or Palsey or into Convulsive Diseases A Therapeutick Method does not properly belong to a Symptomatick Vertigo It will only be necessary that certain Cephalick Remedies for discussing the Clouds of the Brain and appeasing the disorders of the Spirits be joyn'd to the first things indicated or rather to speak according to the capacity of the vulgar which we must sometimes tho only for shew that certain Medicines against vapours be added to them An Accidental Vertigo or any other that is new for the most part is cur'd only by Blooding and a gentle Purge sometimes repeated Nevertheless for the more certain extirpation of the disease let Cephalick Remedies likewise such as shall presently be written be carefully administred For the Cure of an Habitual Vertigo and such as is become inveterate in a manner the like method ought to be ordered as against most other Cephalick Diseases Which suggests these three chief intents of Healing viz. first we must endeavour that all fuel of that Disease being cut off the Brain may continue free from any new afflux of morbifick matter for which end a due form of dyet being ordered sometimes bleeding and very often a gentle Purge given at due intervals of time will conduce Let a dry and well ventilated Air be chosen let immoderate and unseasonable sleep and studies be shunn'd let morning and evening draughts be wholly forborn Instead of the former let a draught of Coffee or Tea be given with the Leaves of Sage boyl'd in them let an Issue be made in the Leg or Arm and sometimes let the Hemorrhoid Vessels be open'd by Leeches Let the Person affected always rise early in the morning and wash his Temples and Sinciput with cold Water and rub them with a course Cloth The second Therapeutick Intention will be to remove the Procatarctick cause of the Vertigo wherefore let it be endeavoured both that the Cacochymical dyscrasy of the Blood be taken away and that the weak and over-lax constitution of the Brain be corrected In order to the former Remedies powerfully altering as temperate Antiscorbuticks Chabyleats and sometimes Spaw-waters or Whey are proper To which always by reason of the latter thing indicated let Cephalick Medicines viz. such as are prepar'd of Coral Amber man's skull the root of male Peony Mistletoe Peacocks dung and the like forms of which we shall presently give you be added The third Intention and which is properly curatory attempts the taking away of the conjunct Cause of this Disease tho it ceases for the most part of its own accord upon the removal of the procatarctick Causes For if the passage of every extraneous matter into the Brain be cut off nothing will hinder but that the Spirits being as pure as may be and having gotten free and open spaces within the Corpus callosum may flow thence every way However that we may prosecute this scope of curing together with the former we must also interchangeably use Medicines endow'd with a volatile Salt whose Particles being very subtle and active refresh the animal Spirits of which kind chiefly are the Spirits of Harts-horn Soot Sal Armoniack impregnated with Amber man's skull c. the tinctures of Coral Amber Antimony the Elixir of Peony c. These
must have regard both to the Fever and to the fury The feverish burning or immoderate effervescence of the Blood which for the most part is the antecedent cause of the other affect ought in the first place to be restrained and appeased and withall the Animal Spirits ought to be pacified and freed from any violent excandescence If a Frensy happens about the beginning or middle of a Fever in a manner the same remedies and method of Curing conduce for both ends But if that affect happens upon this whilst it is in its greatest force or height the ways of curing often are contrary to each other and there is need of great caution lest while we give help to one disease we increase the other in this case the vital indication concerning the preservation of the strength has the first place and let not Blooding or Purging be used rashly and in a large measure In the former case when the Fever and Frensy are almost of the same standing let Phlebotomy which is seldom or never to be omitted presently be used and if the strength bears it let it be sometimes repeated for nothing depresses and diminishes the immoderate flame of the Blood as much as this Remedy and nothing more removes or withdraws its burning flame from the Animal oeconomy Wherefore if the case requires it let a Vein be opened sometimes in the Arm or Hand sometimes in the Leg or Foot sometimes in the Neck or Forehead sometimes haply it may be expedient to open the Artery of the Temples and sometimes also to draw Blood from other places by Leeches or Cupping-glasses for this is the chiefest relief And according to Galen this being the first and greatest of all Remedies is wont to satisfie a great many indications in the Frensy Moreover to prevent the violent recourse of the febrile matter from the Viscera to the Head Clysters will be of chief use with which if need be let the Belly always be kept soluble Vemits and Purges unless only such as are lenitive have seldome place here Let Cataplasms of Rue Cammomil Vervain Briony Roots Red Poppy-flowers with Soap be applied all over the Feet or in their place let Pidgeons slit in two be applied whilst they are warm Mean while Juleps Apozemes Powders Confections by which both the boylings of the Blood and the excandescence of the Spirits are appeased ought to be prescribed according to occasion Take the waters of Apples Black Cherries Cowslips of each four ounces of whole Citrons two ounces Pearl powdred a dram Syrup of the juice of Citrons an ounce mix them make a Julep let three ounces be taken three or four times a day Take Roots of Grass Leaves of Wood-Sorrel Burnet of each a handful Barley half an ounce Apples slic'd Corinths or Strawberries or Rasberries a handful let them boyl in four pounds of fountain-Fountain-water to the consumption of a third part to the clear straining add Syrup of Violets an ounce Sal Prunella a dram and a half Take fresh and tender leaves of Borage four handfuls Wood-Sorrel two handfuls two Apples pounded to a mash Sal Prunella two drams the pulp of one Orange double refin'd Sugar an ounce being bruis'd together pour to them of Fountain-water two or three pounds make a strong expression keep it in a glass to be clarified by setling Let six or seven ounces be taken at pleasure often in a day For quenching thirst drink at pleasure the divine drink of Palmarius viz. Fountain Water with Sugar and the Juice of a Limon or Water or Whey with the leaves of Meadow-sweet or Burnet infus'd or boyl'd in them emulsions of a decoction of the roots and flowers of Nymphaea with the seeds of Melons or fountain or distill'd Water with the pulp of boyled Apples dissolved in them Hypnoticks are often necessary in this Disease but such as are strong are not proper presently at the beginning nor may they be frequently used because sleep caused by opiats brings the matter more to the Brain and fixes it there more deeply Take Water of Cowslip flowers four ounces Syrup of Maeconium half an ounce Pearl a scruple make a draught to be taken late at night Take white Poppy-seeds two drams Sugar-candy a dram and a half being bruis'd together pour to them of white Poppy-water six ounces wring it forth and take it after the same manner Let Narcoticks consisting of meer cold things be given with caution because they do not agree with some whose Stomachs have their fibres very tender and sensible I have often observ'd that these kinds of Hypnoticks have caus'd a great oppression in the Ventricle and that then presently its inflation and a little afterward distractions and disorderings of the Spirits in the Brain nay in the whole Body followed So that not only a frustration of sleep but a mighty restlesness was caus'd Let a dose of liuqid Laudanum prepared with Salt of Tartar or the Juice of Quinces be given in a convenient liquor Epithemes also which provoke Sleep are often applied to the Temples Forehead and Sinciput with success of which kind are Oxyrrhodinum an Embrocation of Water or Milk liniments of the Oyl of Nutmegs by expression and unguentum populneum to which sometimes let five or six grains of Opium be added or a cake of Roses or of Poppy-flowers with Vinegar and Nutmeg c. Again on this account rather than for removing the inflammation of the meninx the warm lungs of a Lamb or Weather also Pidgeons or Chickens cut in two often give an excellent relief For this use the great Burr-dock bruised and mixt with Womans Milk and applied to the Sinciput shaved is greatly commended Also Penotus's Epitheme of twelve grains of Musk half a scruple of Camphire and twenty ounces of Rose-water impregnated with the Tincture of Red Saunders is commended by some Moreover not only to the Head but likewise to the Heart Liver and other parts Epithemes are wont to be applied Let a Sacculus of fine Linnen with lays of cordial Species and Cotton stuck in it and irrigated with the distilled Water or Vinegar of Roses be applied to the Praecordia also let Linnen Cloaths dipt in Vinegar of Roses be laid on the Testles Let the Feet be bathed with a decoction of the leaves of Willow Lettice and the heads of the white Poppy But let these kinds of cooling and mitigating topicks be us'd only about the beginning of the Disease in its greatest height let Resolvents and Emollients as the flowers of Cammomil Melilot Elder c. also the leaves of Mallows Arach Marjoram Hyssop and the like be added In the declination of the Disease let Resolvents only and those sparingly be used In the mean while a very great regard ought to be had of the Strength for this being too much broken all hope of Cure is lost Now the strength is wont to be soon consumed by reason of great watchings perpetual agitations of the body and mind a thin dyet and Blooding
manner in any sorts of Distractions the reason of this partly consists herein that the viscous load of the Ventricle which as we have shewn elsewhere greatly oppresses the mind being cleans'd forth the Spirits thereupon being more free expand themselves more vigorously and cheerfully Moreover in as much as vomiting compresses and evacuates the neighbouring Receptacles of the Humours to wit the Gall-bladder the Ductus of the Pancreas and the Glands of the Mesentery it keeps their Contents from being conveyed to the Head Vomits Take Oxymel of Squills an ounce and a half wine of Squils an ounce Syrup of Tobacco two drams mix them make a Vomitory if it works not at all or slowly let a Vomit be rais'd by a free drinking of Posset-drink having the leaves of Carduus boyl'd in it Take of the decoction of the middle bark of Elder four ounces Salt of Vitriol from one scruple to two scruples Oxymel simple three drams mix them let it be taken after the same manner To strong and well set People give the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or Mercurius vitae also the Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht or Sulphur of Antimony Take roots of Polypody of the Oak half an ounce Epithymum three drams Senna half an ounce Tamarinds six drams Coriander-seeds three drams yellow Saunders two drams let them boyl in fourteen ounces of fountain-Fountain-water to ten ounces adding Agarick two drams Rhubarb a dram and a half to the clarified straining add of the purging Syrup of Apples two ounces let six ounces be taken repeating it within three or four dayes Take choice Senna three drams Epithymum Rhubarb of each a dram and a half yellow Saunders half a dram Corinader-seeds two scruples Salt of Wormwood half a dram Celtick Spike a scruple let there be a close Infusion for a Night in White-wine and water of Apples of each four ounces to five ounces of the clear straining add Syrup of Epithymum six drams Aqua mirabilis two drams mix them make a potion In Bodyes hard to be wrought on let there be added to these fibres of black Hellebore macerated in Vinegar a dram or two Those who like better Pills Powders Bolus's or Syrups may use the following Take Quercitan's Pills of Tartar or Crato's Pills of Amber half a dram Rosin of Jalap or Scamony six or eight grains Tartar vitriolate half a scruple Ammoniacum dissolved in Aqua mirabilis what suffices make pills let four be taken going to bed and unless they work first one the next morning Take Calomelanos extract of black Hellebore of each a scruple Resin of Jalap six grains Ammoniacum dissolved what suffices make four Pills let them be taken with governance The Powder call'd Haly is greatly commended by Valescus de Tarenta Pereda and others And indeed in rustick or robust Bodies this seems a pretty fit Cathartick Take Epithymum half an ounce Agarick Lapis Lazuli of each three drams Scammony a dram Cloves in number thirty make a Powder the dese is from half a dram to a dram Take Pulvis Diacennae Diaturbith with Rhubarb of each half a dram make a powder let it be taken in a draught of posset-drink or in a single decoction of Epithymum to four or five scruples Take choice Senna two ounces roots of Polipody of the Oak two ounces Epithymum an ounce and a half yellow Saunders half an ounce Tamarinds an ounce Coriander-seeds six drams let them boyl in four pounds of barnet-Barnet-water to an half strain it and let it evaporate by a bath heat to the consistency of a Syrup adding towards the end pure Manna double refin'd Sugar of each four ounces make a Syrup the dose is stwo or three spoonfuls in three ounces of a convenient distill'd water or in any other Liuqor Or Take of the same Liquor evaporated to the consistency of Honey six ounces fresh Cassia four ounces pulp of Corinths two ounces Cream of Tartar Salt of Wormwood of each a dram and a half pulvis Diasennae two drams yellow Saunders powdred three drams mix them make an Electuary the dose is from three drams to half an ounce Catharticks must not be used without intermission nro too frequently but let it suffice to give them within six or seven dayes and at other times let the belly if it be bound be loosened by Clysters as to what regards other Medicines which do not evacuate tho the Ancients plac'd the least we put the greatnest stress of the Cure in them for they with whom also many Moderns accord concluded that there was nothing more to be done for curing Melancholy than to purge forth the atrabilarious Humour Wherefore making purging the thing of chiefest moment they ordered the rest of Pharmacy called by them preparatory only for the sake of this directing thus their intentions that as soon as the Humour was brought to a fit consistency by altering Medicines and the wayes made open enough for its excretion then to carry it forth by Catharticks which kind of hypothesis seems not to agree with Reason or Physical Experience to wit in as much as melancholy Persons after a frequent purging how methodically soever ordered receive rather an injury than a relief Therefore we placing the cause of this Disease in the dyscrasies of the Blood and Spirits and in the weakness or ill conformation of the Brain or Viscera put alteratives and corroboratives in the first rank of Medicines and sometimes interlace Catharticks only for the sake of these Purging therefore being prescribed for the due removal of Impediments and at due intervals of time as to the rest you may proceed after this manner Take Conserve of Clove-gilliflowers and Borage flowers of each two ounces and a half myrobalan rinds condited six drams Coral prepar'd Pearl of each a dram and a half Ivory Crabs-eyes of each a dram Confection of Hyacinth two drams Syrup of Coral or red poppyes what suffices make an Electuary let two drams be taken morning and evening drinking after it three ounces of the following Julep or distill'd water Take water of Cowslip-flowers and of Black-cherries of each six ounces of Bawm four ounces Dr. Stevens's Water two ounces Sugar six drams mix them make a Julep Take leaves of Bawm Borage Bugloss Fumitory Water-cresses Brooklimes of each four handfuls Clove-gilliflowers flowers of Marigolds Borage Cowslips of each three handfuls the outward coats of six Oranges ' and four Lemmons being all sliced and bruis'd pour to them of Whey made with Cyder eight pounds distill them with common Organs let the whole Liquor be mixt Take powder of Pearl Ivory Coral prepar'd of each two drams Species loetificantis Diarrhod Abbatis of each a dram Oyl of Citron-pills half a scruple double refin'd Sugar dissolv'd and boyl'd to a consistency for Tablets in a sufficient quantity of bawm-Bawm-water six ounces make Tablets according to art weighing a dram let two or three be taken in the morning and at five of the clock in the afternoon drinking after it a draught of the distilled water
appropriate Electuary such as above-described with a Cephalick Julep Within two months he was m uch better and afterward came to himself by degrees Whilst I was writing these things a young man of Quality lately returned from travelling beyond the Seas and being become sickly committed himself to our care This Person being formerly of a sanguine and chearful temperament of a gay behaviour also of an acute wit and a clear disposition as he travelled through Foreign Countries and being in a certain Summer in Spain he felt in himself a great alteration from the intense heats of that place For first he became obnoxious to frequent effervescencies of the Blood with sudden flushings of heat in the palms of his Hands and the soles of his Feet and to prickings often wont to arise in his whole Body and presently to go away again Afterward finding himself worse as to his Appetite and Sleep and likewise growing dull and somewhat sad he began to affect less and sometimes to shun any business or delights nay and conversation with his friends At length this indisposition daily growing worse without any manifest cause or real trouble of mind he became Melancholick so that always being thoughtful fearful and sad he took delight in nothing For Studies Exercises Travelling Conversation with learned men and all other things which before he delighted in were then wont to be a trouble or terrour to him Being affected after this manner for two years he was so much changed from himself as tho he were another man In order to a Cure he consulted the most skilful Physicians of Spain France Holland and of late in England and tryed various methods of Curing tho scarce with any benefit To wit that melancholy Discrasy of the Blood first contracted by the distemper of the Air continuing still caused Spirits of an acetous nature as it were to be supplied to the Animal oeconomy In the first place I thought good to commend to this Person the following Remedies Take Gerion's decoction of Senna with Tamarinds half an ounce four ounces Purging Syrup of Apples an ounce Aqua mirabilis two drams mix them let him take it with governance repeating it within nine days afer Purging let Bood be drawn with Leeches to three ounces Take of our Syrup of Steel six ounces let a Spoonfull be taken in the morning and atfive of the Clock in three ounces of the following Liquor walking upon it for an hour or two Take leaves of Baum Borrage Buglosse Burnet Meadow-sweet Harts-tongue Water-cresses of each four handfuls roots of Borrage half a pound Clove-gilliflowers Marygold flowers of each three handfuls the outward rinds of eight Oranges and four Lemmons Mace half an ounce being sliced and bruis'd pour to them of Whey made with Cyder eight pounds distill it with common Organs Take Conserve of Clove-gilliflowers the flowers of Betony and Borrage of each one ounce and half Pearl powdred two drams red Coral prepared a dram and a half Species of the Confection of Hyacinth two drams Syrup of Coral and red Poppyes of each what suffizes make an opiat let the quantity of a Chesnut be taken every Evening drinking after it two or three ounces of the water of Cowslip flowers After sixteen or twenty dayes the method of alteratives being changed instead of these let him take the following Take powder of Ivory Pearl red Coral prepared of each two drams Roots of male Peony a dram and a half Lignum Aloes half a dram Orange Tablets four ounces a solution of Tragacanth made in Baum-water what suffises make Tablets weighing half a dram let four be eaten in the Morning and at five of the Clock drinking after it a draught of Tea Take of the same Powder without Tablets half an ounce Flowers of Sal Armoniack Salt of Coral of each a dram with Chios Turpentine six drams make amass let half a dram be taken Morning and Evening drinking after it three ounces of the distilled Water Let him feed only on Food of a good Juice and of an easie Concoction let him drink small Ale with the Leaves of Harts-tongue infused in it he may sip a little now and then of Wine with Water in it or of Cyder Let him lead his Life continually occupied sometimes in easie Employs sometimes in moderate Exercises or Recreations of various kinds So far of universal Melancholy in which the diseased are in a manner indifferently affected by any Object so that in every place by any Accidents and Circumstances they are continually perplext with a multitude of Thoughts with a Raving Fear and Sadness A Melancholy is said to be Special when the diseased have regard to some particular thing or to some certain kind of things of which they in a manner alwayes think and by reason of all the Powers of the Soul being continually spent in this one thing they live always pensive and sad Moreover they have absurd and incongruous Notions not only concerning that Object but also concerning many other Accidents and Subjects In this affect the corporeal soul being altered from its proper Species assumes a certain new one and being not conformable to the rational Soul or to the Body or to it self it undergoes a certain Metamorphosis There are two kinds of occasions from which a particular Melancholy chiefly and most frequently arises viz. first if at any time some severe pressure of an Evil present or at hand whether it be true or imaginary lyes upon the Soul or secondly if the privation of a good before obtained or the despair of that which is desired happen In these opposite Cases the corporeal Soul either being allur'd outwardly omits all domestick care of it self or of the Body or of the rational Soul or being inwardly compress'd it leaves or perverts the offices both of the Reason and of the Vital and Animal Function It were a thing of an immense Labour to enumerate the various Cases and wayes of affecting in both kinds among the mighty store of them those which being of greatest moment seem chiefly to require a physical help are a furious Love Jealousie Superstition despair of eternal Salvation the imaginary Metamorphosis of the Body or of its Parts or the fantastical Goods or Evils of Fortune we shall speak briefly of each of these It is a vulgar and most common observation that if any one once being taken with the Aspect and Conversation of a Woman begins inwardly to be love-sick for her and to desire her earnestly and for his most devoted affection gets nothing but denials and Contempt unless he be upheld by a very strong Reason or being seized by other affections be turned another way as it were there is great danger lest he fall into a Love-melancholy with which Passion if he happen to be affected presently he seems transformed from himself into a living Statue as it were he thinks or speaks of nothing but his Mistris he seeks to put himself upon any of the greatest dangers of Life and Fortune
Cataplasms of Chammomil Mallows Marshmallows Linseed and Faenugreek seeds do little or no good nay often much offend the nervous parts by relaxing them the Dissolutions or Stillatitious Liquours of Sal Armoniack Sea-salt Nitre Vitriol quick Lime and the like which in other Humours and Pains are always offensive are wont to prove very beneficial Of these kinds of Liquours to be applyed to the part pained in Fits of the Gout several are prescribed by Quercitan Crollius Hartman and other Chymists which since other famous Physicians upon frequent tryals have approved off we conclude them to have given relief for the foresaid reason I need not repeat here the forms of these as I could suggest many other Preparations of the same sort I shall here only add one or two Take Salt of Tartar and Armoniack powdred of each two ounces dissolve them in four pounds of Rain-water or Fountain-water let it be used luke-warm with Linnen-Cloaths dipt in them Take spirit of Vitriol not rectified a pound Sea-salt calcin'd and powdred a pound mix them and distill them in a Glass Retort with a sand heat there will come forth a pure spirit of Salt to wit which being driven from its seat by the distilled Liquor of the Vitriol and leaving to it its possession will easily dscend to the Caput mortuum pour Spirit of Wine two pounds make a close and warm digestion adding of Camphire two drams let it be applyed warm to the part grieved with Linnen Cloaths Take filings of Iron Flowers of Sal Armoniack of each six ounces mix them by boyling them together let it be distilled in a Glass Retort till the Flowers are sublimed to the caput mortuum bruis'd pour spirit of Wine digest and keep it for use I have heard that some for appeasing Pains of the Gout put the foot affected in a bag fill'd with Sea-salt calcin'd and powdred from which they still expect a certain and quick relief In the declination of the Fit to strengthen the part and to discuss the remainder of the morbifick matter Plaisters are usefully applyed which nevertheless do not all agree indifferently with all Persons but with these more hot with othérs less hot tho with most those are wont to be most efficacious in which are red Lead Litharge Mercury and other mineral or saline things we use chiefly a Plaister of red Lead Cerusse and Soap boyled with Oyle or take the red Lead Plaister two parts Paracelsus's Playster one part mix them and spread them on Leather Inward Remedies to be used against Pains of the Gout are in a manner only Narcoticks which ought to be given in a cruel and long continued Pain Of these we most commend Preparations of Opium with Salt of Tartar or its Tincture Moreover for this use Paracelsus's or the London Laudanum Pilul de Styrace de Cynoglosso Syrup of Meconium Venice Treacle and Diascordium are wont to prove beneficial The second indication called preservatory has respect to the removal of the Procatarctick Causes of the Gout so that the Fits of the Gout may molest with invasions more seldom and less or not at all For this end evacuating altering and corroborating Remedies together with an exact sorm of Dyet are prescribed to be used out of the Fits 1. Therefore Gouty persons ought to Purge solemnly Spring and Fall and it will be convenient then to give a Vomit if nothing indicates the contrary and afterward to repeat it sometimes by intervals Those who have a strong Stomach and Praecordia may take Mineral Emeticks prepar'd of Antimony and Mercury Those who are of a more tender constitution after having eaten slippery food may take Wine of Squills or Salt of Vitriol with Whey Afterward the Stomach being filled with warm Water or plain Posset-drink or with the leaves of Carduus boyled in it let a Vomiting be raised twice or thrice or oftner For Purging to be used also frequently at fit intervals of time the forms of Purges above prescribed may be proper enough Or Take threads of black Hellebore cleansed an ounce lignum aloes Cloves of each two drams being bruised pour to them of Spirit of Wine not rectified two pounds let there by a close and warm digestion for many days the dose is two or three spoonfuls in the morning twice or thrice a week and let Vomiting and Purging always be begun before the Equinoxes lest haply the fit hapning first may prevent the course of Physick Blooding or opening of the hemorrhoid Vessels are sometimes proper Spring and Fall to Persons of a hot temperament and a sharp Blood Cauteries made in the Arms and near the Shoulder-blades are useful in a manner to all that are obnoxious to this Disease Moreover altering Remedies call'd by the Ancients the Antidotes of the Gout are of excellent use and being taken sor a long time together with an exact governance as to the six nonnatural things often give great relief In this rank Medicines endow'd with a Volatile Salt or a Balsamick Sulphur to wit inasmuch as these exalt the fixt Salt and those reduce the acetous are accounted the chief again bitter and astringent things as the Herbs Germander Groundpine Centory Roots of Gentian and Birthwort c. since they are approv'd of by experience in this Disease seem to be profitable for this reason that they help the offices of Concoction and Chylification and keep the saline faeculencies from being carried into the Blood Let us set down certain forms of each of these Take Powder of Groundpine six dram Crabs-eyes two drams Venice Turpentine what suffices make small Pills let three or four be taken in the evening and morning for thirty or firty days drinking after it of the following distill'd Water two or three ounces Take leaves of Cypress Firr Misteltoe growing on Apple-trees of each six handfuls Roots of Avens the great Burr-dock of each a pound the outward rinds of ten Oranges and six Limons Nutmegs Mace of each an ounce being all slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of fresh Milk seven pounds Malaga Sack a pound let them be distilled according to art let the whole liquor be mixt Or let a plain Water be prepared of the leaves of the great Burr-dock cohobating it twice or thrice on fresh leaves Take Powder of the Seeds of the great Burr-dock six drams Crabs-eyes two drams Nutmegs half a dram Balsamum Capivii what suffices make a mass and let it be made into little Pills let four be taken in the evening and morning for many dayes Take Tincture of Antimony an ounce the Dose is twenty drops to twenty five in the evening and early in the morning with three ounces of the water even now describ'd To poor People I use to prescribe after this manner Take powder of the leaves of Sage half a pound Crabs-eyes Saccharum Crystallinum of each two ounces mix them let it be kept in a glass let a spoonful be taken twice a day with a draught of the decoction of the leaves of
Remedies all these things are to be done methodically we shall deliver The cure of the Pain of the Colick is begun most commonly and proper enough by a Clyster let this in the first place be only lenifying and emollient by which as by an inward Fomentation the corrugations of the Fibres may be mitigated and the raging of the Spirits be appeased for this end warm Milk with Sugar or Molossus or Syrup of Violets also emollient Decoctions of Mallows Marsh-mallows Herb Mercury and the Flowers of Melilot Elder with Oyle of Almonds or of Olives also a Decoction of a Sheeps-head or Calves Feet are proper sometimes a Clyster of meer Oyle of Olives or of Linseeds are wont to give help before all others But in case mild Clysters do not easily come away or not loosen the Belly let such be used as irritate more and press and draw out by force as it were the Humours from the little Mouths of the Arteries for this end let carminative or better Decoctions be prepared in which let the Electuary Diaphaenicon Diacatholicon or e baccis Lauri or Species Hierae be dissolved Also to those Liquors it is usual to add three or four ounces of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum or to a pound of an emollient Decoction add of Venice Turpentine dissolved with the yolk of an Egg an ounce or an ounce and a half or take Vrine of a sound man a pound Venice Turpentine dissolved an ounce and a half Molossus an ounce mix them make a Clyster I have known this often to have given a great relief the reason of which seems to be that the balsamick Particles of the Turpentine comfort the intestines and like wise being received by the Venous Blood and circulated with it through the whole Body they move Urine so that a copious making of water often follows such a Clyster and it always carries a smell of Violets haply also the Particles of the Turpentine diftus'd every where move the morbifick or stagnating matter or incline that which is acetous or otherwise degenerate to a better Crasis Whilst the Intestines are so washt with Clysters and fomented as it were inwardly let outward Epithems also be applyed to the Abdomen Take leaves of both Mallows herb Mercury Wallwort of each four handfuls flowers of Elder Camomill Melilot of each two handfuls a Calves-head cloven Let them boyl in a sufficient quantity of fountain-Fountain-water Let the straining be used for a fomentation with linnen Cloaths dipt into it as warm as may be suffered and wrung forth and applied by turns repeating it as often as the pains press violently In the Intervals of the fomentation let a Cataplasm or Liniment be used To the magma of the Herbs bruised add Outmeal what suffices make a Cataplasm and let it be sewn in rows in two bags of a square figure for covering the Abdomen Let one of these be warmed at a time in a Platter on hot Coals with Oyl of Earth-worms or of Froggs let it be put on warm changing it assoon as it begins to grow cold Or Take Oyl of Earth-worms or of Froggs what suffices let the Part paining be anointed after the fomentation and let cap Paper moistened be applied and worn The Cawl of a Lamb or the Lungs or other warm Viscera of Brutes laid on the Belly and often changed sometimes wonderfully appease pains I have observed in some constitutions and temperaments that Epithems of hot thins or applied hot have rather encreast pains than mittigated them Wherefore in these cases it seems necessary to order fomentations of the Solutions of Nitre or Sal Armoniack or of other Chymical Liquors as in pains of the Gout sometimes as Septalius relates of meet cold Water But if the Gripes of the Belly do not remit by the use of these things we must use hypnoticks viz. which being given in a set dose often give great truce Mean while for refreshing the strength and failing Spirits and to order yet a greater Apparatus against the Disease Take liquid Laudanum tartarized from sixteen drops to twenty give it going to rest in a spoonful of the water of Camomil-flowers drinking after it of the same six spoonfuls let it be repeated every other or third night if the pains are very pressing In a hot constitution Take water of Camomil-flowers three ounces Syrup of Meconium half an ounce Aqua Mirabilis two drams make a draught to be taken going to rest Mean while that these things are done for appeasing pains and either for discussing or at leastwise loosning this matter sticking in the morbid fears let evacuating Remedies have their turns to wit both for wholly extirpating the Minera of the Colick and for cutting off the supplies or fuel of it that it grow no further For these ends a Vomit where it agrees and a gentle Purge and also in a hot temperament where a Fever presses or is feared Blooding ought to be used Take Sulphur of Antimony from five Grains to seven or eight conserve of Borage a dram give it in the Morning with Governance In this case according to the Judgment of a Physician present either an infusion of Crocus Metallorum or of Mercurius Vitae the Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht an expression of the Leaves of asarum and in tender Constitutions Salt of Vitriol and Wine and Oximel of Squills may be given Let Purges lest they nauseate the Stomack which is distempered be given only in a very small Dose and in a meet Form Take Rosin of Jalap and of Scammony of each five grains Cream of Tartar a Scruple Cinnamon powdred four Grains make a Powder or let it be made into Pills or a Bolus with conserve of the Flowers of Borrage or of Damask Roses Take Scammony sulphured half a Scruple Cream of Tartar fifteen Grains Diaphoretick Antimony a Scruple make a Powder let it be given after the same manner If a Fever does not press give a dose of Stomak Pills with Gums or of Amber either by themselves or with Rosin of Jalap Take Pilulae Rudii from twenty Grains to half a dram Laudanum one Grain make four Pills let them be taken going to rest these first bring sleep and purge in the morning Or. Take Calomelanos a Scruple Rosin of Jalap six Grains Scammony four Grains Ammoniacum what suffises make four Pills let them be taken going to rest In a long continued Colick when all other Remedies have done little or no good I have often known this Medicine given once or twice to have raised a Salivation to the great relief of the Diseased for if at any time the morbifick Matter plentifully gathered together in the Nervous Plexus's and other places about the Abdomen and there firmly sticking is not able to be moved by other Medicines the Mercurial Particles displaying themselves every way easily dissolve it and divide it into minute parts and drive them variously this way and that and at length wholly dissipate them Wherefore in a long continued and obstinate
viz. such as are prepared of Tartar Sulphur the fixt Salts of Herbs of burnt Harts-horn also of the Claws or Eyes of Crabs For Example Take Cream of Tartar three drams Salt of Wormwood a dram and half the Dose is half a dram in an aperient Decoction twice a day out of the Fit Or Take Cream of Tartar two drams Powder of Crabs-eyes a dram Nitre purified half a dram mix them let it be giv'n after the same manner Or Take burnt Harts-horn two drams Spirit of Vitriol as much as the Powder will receive by imbibing the dose is a Scruple It is of excellent use when those that are in the Fever are troubled with Worms These kinds of Remedies promote the Secretion of the febrile Matter and restore the almost lost Ferments of the Blood and Viscera The second Intent to wit the due Management of the Diseas'd in the Fits comprehends many things first a neat Form of Dyet ought to be ordered that a large heaping together of the degenerate Juyce for a Matter for the Fit may be hindred wherefore let the Diseased feed only on a thin Food let them wholly abstain from Flesh or Broth made of it from Eggs generous Wine and all rich Fare being content only with Barley or Oat Broths Panada Whey and small Ale in regard a more plentiful Dyet is not concocted or assimilated but it oppresses the Stomach and being mixt with the Blood it troubles its Liquour and forces it to boyl vehemently as the Fit comes on and during the while it lasts unless it be for quenching Thirst let no Food be taken but for qualifying the Heat and Drought cooling Juleps and Decoctions and especially small Ale and Whey ought to be allowed Secondly a little before the feverish Access is expected let a gentle Medicine be given which either may keep off the Fit by preventing it or may render it easie by procuring an easie Sweat For this Use the febrifuge Potion of the Learned Riverius does well made of Carduus Water with Oyl of Sulphur and Salt of Wormwood Or take Cream of Tartar Salt of Wormwood Nettle Seeds of each a Scruple let it be given in a Decoction of the Roots of Sorrel When the Fever begins to decline and the Fits are a little more remiss Febrifuge Epithemes outwardly apply'd often stop the febrile Accesses tho in the mean while as long as the Fits return let the Diseased be so managed that every Access the feverish Matter heap'd together in the Blood may be wholly blown off wherefore when a Sweat happens with difficulty let it be a little raised with temperate Medicines also let the Diseas'd be kept in Bed with a gentle Sweat for many hours nor let them be permitted to rise too soon for I have often observ'd that the Diseased have still grown worse because being impatient of lying in Bed they put on their Cloaths before the watery Effluvia were exhal'd enough Thirdly as to the Symptoms and particular Accidents with which the Diseased are wont to be troubled in this Fever a great many of them are sufficiently provided against with the Remedies and Method of Cure hitherto deliver'd against the Thirst Burning the Roughness of the Mouth and Tongue Vomitings the Loosness a Swooning or danger of Fainting the Prescripts commonly used in other Fevers may aptly enough be transferr'd hither But the Things which in this Disease seem to require a peculiar Method of Healing are chiefly the Affects of the Head and Brain with the Genus Nervosum by which unless seasonably obviated the Diseased are soon brought into a great danger of Life Concerning these kinds of Evils of the Head the Indications are of two kinds If it appears by a Drowsiness a Sleepiness a Vertigo or a Head-ach that the nervous Juyce is too dull and as it were vapid and therefore that it does not vigorously enough actuate the Brain and nervous Bodies besides the Remedies above deliver'd and especially the Vesicatories Medicines full of a volatile Salt excellently conduce in this Case wherefore Spirit of Harts-horn of Blood also the Salts of the same are of excellent Use but if the nervous Liquor be too sharp or the Effluvia sent from the boyling Blood drive the Animal Spirits into Distractions those kinds of Remedies of volatile Salt are given with benefit in somewhat a less quantity Moreover a frequent Letting Blood and Medicines allaying its fervour do good as Emulsions Whey pure Water plentifully drank let Opiates be used in this Fever with great Caution for the Frenzy appeas'd by them is oftentimes chang'd into a Lethargy or a deep Stupor FINIS THE TABLE A. AChes in the Head see Headach Ach in the Belly see Belly Aches or Pains in the Limbs hapning by Night their cure p. 361. Ague see Fever Alexipharmicks see Cordials Anasarca its Description p. 167. Whence it proceeds ibid. The least dangerous of Dropsies ibid. The two chief Scopes of curing it ibid. Hydragogue Medicines of good use in curing it p. 168. How Catharticks work in this Disease ibid. Lixivial Medicines the best Diureticks in this Disease p. 169. Some Praescripts of them ib. Diaphoreticks of use when the swelling begins to abate p. 170. A Praescript of them ib. p. 171. Outward Administrations to be used in this Disease ib. p. 172 173. Medicines for Preservation against this Disease p. 174 175. An Instance of a Person falling into this Disease and recover'd of it p. 176. Antidotes see Cordials Apoplexy where seated p. 420. What the Word Apoplexy imports p. 421. Two kinds of it ib. The various Invasions of the Apoplexy and the causes of them ib. p. 422. The Subject of this Disease ib. Its Prognosticks ib. p. 423. The Therapeutick Method for removing the Fit ib. p. 424. The prophylactick or preservatory method with Praescripts of Medicines p. 425 426. Instances of Persons seis'd with the Apoplexy ib. p. 427. Ascites its Description and whence it proceeds p. 150. what to be considered in order to its Cure ib. Catharticks often do well in it p. 151. An Enumeration of hydragogue Emeticks and Purgers and Prescripts of them ib. p. 152 153 154 155. Diureticks when proper in an Ascites ib. p. 156. What Diureticks proper ib. Diaphoreticks of little or no use in an Ascites p. 157. The best Remedies when we will not proceed to an Incision are Clysters and Plaisters ib. An Incision in whom to be admitted p. 158. An Instance of a Woman cur'd of an Ascites ib. p. 159. Asthma or difficulty of Breathing its description p. 126. Two primary Indications in the method of Cure ib. What to be done in the Fit ib. p. 127 128. What to be done out of the Fit for Preservation ib. p. 129 130 131. Two Instances of Persons troubled with the Asthma and the Methods used with them ib. p. 232. Asthma Convulsive see Cough Asthmatick Fits hapning in the Scurvey their Cure p. 353 354. Atrophia Scorbutick its Cure p. 363 364. B. BElly-ach in the
chief of them together with the Remedies The Emetick matter subsisting in the Ventricle is either brought into it from elsewhere or what for want of digestion or because it is vitiated is engendred there in either respect the present offensive load is first of all to be carried off and then care must be taken to prevent any farther supply of it To cleanse the filthy Mass of viscous matter forth of the Stomach prescribe a gentle Vomit of Carduus Posset-drink or of Oxymel or Wine of Squills or of a Decoction of the Flowers of Chamomil or of the Roots of Eupatorium or give a Solution of the Salt of Vitriol or such like then let the remainder be gently carried off by Glisters or by a Purge of Pilulae Mastichin or Pil. Stomach cum Gummis Tinctura Sacra or an Infusion of Rhubarb Moreover when an impure or rank Blood conveying ever and anon new Stores of offensive matter to the Stomach either by the Arteries or by the Gall-Vessels which often overflow causes a disposition to Vomit Bleeding frequently affords relief and therefore Women with Child troubled with Vomiting are often Cur'd by this means those things also do good which so temper the Blood that they keep it free from breeding adust Excrements Hence Whey Mineral Waters Juices of Herbs Sal Prunella and such like for as much as they fuse the Blood and convey its dreggy Particles some other way often remove Vomiting dispositions These sorts of Remedies may also be us'd in case a frequent and daily Vomiting proceeds as some think it may from the meetings and contest of the Bilous and Pancreatick humours and from their regurgitation into the Ventricle The more frequent Vomiting and harder to be Cur'd is that which proceeds from a disagreeing matter and consequently Emetick engendred within the Ventricle to wit by reason of the vitiated ferment of the Stomach whatsoever is taken into it degenerates into an irritating Mass of Corruption wherefore in this case after that the filth of the Stomach is cleans'd forth by gentle Evacuatives Remedies commonly call'd Digestives are generally us'd which according as the fermenting Juice of the Stomach being for the most part of a Saline Nature and sometimes of a Sulphurous is in a various state of fixtness flowing or adustion are variously prescrib'd and sometimes these sometimes the others do most good In Belching and Acid Vomiting these following Medicines may be try'd and you may fix upon your method of Cure according to what you find agrees best Take Powder of Aron Compound an Ounce and a half Salt of Wormwood two Drams Sugar of Roses three Drams make a Powder give a Dram of it in the Morning and at five a Clock in the Afternoon in a little draught of Beer boil'd with Mace and a Crust of Bread or give it in the distill'd Water or Tincture of Roman Wormwood Take the Powders of Ivory Crabs Eyes and red Coral of each two Drams Calcind Coral one Dram red Saunders Cinnamon of each half a Dram make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram after the same manner Take the Powders of Lignum Aloes yellow Saunders Winters Bark of each two Drams of white Chalk six Drams Sugar-Candy half an Ounce with the Solution of Tragacanth in Mint Water as much as suffices make a Past and let it be form'd into Troches weighing half a Dram let the Patient take three or four of these thrice or oftner in a day Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar an Ounce the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram twice a day in some proper distill'd Water In hot and sharp or tartish Vomiting Medicines endow'd with a sharp or tartish and vitriolate Salt are more proper The famous Medicine of Riverius in this case does well Take Salt of Wormwood a Scruple give it in a spoonful of Juice of Limmons Take prepar'd Coral two Drams Salt of Wormwood a Dram and a half Juice of Limmons four Ounces let all stand in a large Glass add to it of strong Cinnamon-water two Ounces give a spoonful or two twice a day first shaking the Glass Take Powders of Ivory and Coral of each two Drams Vitriol of Steel a Dram Sugar-Candy a Dram mix them then divide the whole into six or eight parts of which take one part twice a day in some convenient Vehicle In this case Purging Mineral Waters which have much Nitre in them also Waters that come from an Iron Mineral and likewise our Artificial Chalybeate Waters prove of notable effect When at any time the Stomach perverts the most part of what comes into it into a bilous and bitterish Mass of filthy corruption as it often uses to do and for that reason is prone to frequent Vomitings then both acid and bitter things are proper Take Elixir Proprietatis an Ounce the Dose is a Scruple twice a day in some fit Vehicle Take Rhubarb Powdred twenty five Grains Salt of Wormwood a Scruple Cinnamon-water half an Ounce Juice of Limmons an Ounce let it be taken alone or with some other Liquor Take Powder of Aron Compound an Ounce and a half white Christals of Tartar three Drams Vitriol of Steel a Dram Sugar half an Ounce make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram or two Scruples every Morning drinking after it a draught of the Tincture of Roman Wormwood or some Coffee Take Powder of Crabs Eyes half an Ounce Chalybeat Tartar two Drams Sugar-Candy a Dram make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram with a fit Vehicle twice a day Oftentimes the cause of a frequent and habitual Vomiting is not so much the matter irritating the Ventricle as the extream debility of its Nervous Fibres which are neither able to Concoct what is taken into the Stomach nor to endure the weight or burthen of it but are presently irritated by any thing lying upon them and stir up the Carnous Fibres to Excretory Convulsions There are two principal causes of this sort of Affect viz. either the debility of the Stomach arising from the Fibres themselves is gotten by disorder in eating and drinking so that those Fibres for as much as they are beyond measure extended or over-heated and as it were scorch'd are not capable of admitting or containing a sufficient plenty of Animal Spirits Or Secondly These Fibres though they may be well enough dispos'd of themselves yet for that the Nerves are in some other place obstructed they are destitute of a due Afflux of Spirits whence becoming languid and flaxid they cannot bear what is taken in but presently finding themselves over-charged throw all forth by Vomiting In the former Affect those Remedies are indicated which by their Styptick force cause the too much distended and tenuated Fibres to corrugate and contract themselves into a shorter space also such as by their most grateful refreshment enliven their languishing Spirits and allure others more plenteously to them Take Mynsicht 's Elixir of Vitriol an Ounce give from ten Grains to fifteen twice
and the Roots of Scorzonera c. boil'd in it About the Autumnal Equinox in the Year 1671. a desperate Bloody Flux seiz'd on many persons in this City from the first seizing they voided Blood by seige in abundance and that frequently and for the most part it was attended with a Belly-ach and Gripes continual watchings also with a Feaver and a mighty thirst usually troubled them nevertheless their strength held commonly pretty well for some considerable time and if the Flux were stopt sooner than it ought it rendred the Patients conditions worse The method of Cure with the Remedies which I found to give Relief in many persons was according to the following manner Take Venice-Treacle a Dram Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty Grains make a Bolus to be taken going to rest Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated two Ounces Venice-Treacle an Ounce Powders of the Roots of Tormentil Contrayerva Pearl Coral prepar'd of each a Dram Syrup of dry'd Roses what suffices make an Electuary to be taken every fourth or fifth hour and let the person drink after it of the following Julap three Ounces Take the Waters of Mint Baum Cinnamon hordeated of each four Ounces Treacle-water Plague-water of each two Ounces Pearl a Dram Sugar an Ounce mingle them and make a Julap After a day or two give a Purging Potion which leaves an Astringency Take Rhubarb slic'd two Drams yellow Mirobalans slic'd a Dram and a half red Saunders Cinnamon of each a Scruple let them infuse all Night in the Waters of Plantain and Cinnamon hordeated of each two Ounces and a half wring it forth hard then add of strong Cinnamon-water a Dram and a half make a Draught Every Evening and also in certain cases in the Day-time I was wont to give a pretty large Dose of Laudanum nor have I ever known this Medicine to have done any prejudice to a person troubled with the Flux which happen's either because the Narcotick force of the Medicine is subdued or made more gentle by the Acid Juice of the Stomach or rather that its Particles which are transmitted to the Blood are thence presently cast forth again with the Bloody Stools so that they do not affect the Brain If the above-mention'd Electuary be found nauseous to any person or disagrees with him the following Powder may be given in its stead Take Pulvis Pannonici Rubri a Dram Roots of Contrayerva half a Dram make a Powder divide it into three parts and give one part in any Liquor Take Bole Armenick alexiteriated that is impregnated with the Juices of the Leaves of Tormentil Bistort red Roses c. and dry'd in the Sun Roots of Contrayerva of each a Dram Pearl red Coral white amber of each half a Dram make a Powder the Dose is from two Scruples to a Dram. Take the Roots of Avens and Scorzonera of each an Ounce of Tormentil Bistort and Contrayerva of each two Drams and a half burnt Harts-horn three Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams Cochinele half a Dram red Rose-leaves two Drams boil all in a sufficient quantity of Spring Water till it comes to two Pounds towards the end of the boiling add conserve of red Roses three Ounces to the Cleer straining add Plague-water four Ounces the Dose is three Ounces To appease the Gripes and fretting of the Bowels Glysters are commonly prescrib'd Take the decoction of the Tops of St. John's-wort in which Sheeps Trotters or their Mesentery has boil'd eight or twelve Ounces Venice-Treacle two Drams Oyl of St. John's-wort an Ounce and a half make a Glister The Therapeutick Indications into which the method before exprest of curing the Bloody Flux may be resolv'd are chiefly four c. two regard the Blood and as many the Viscera First as to the Blood it s recrementitious and depraved dreggs which tend inwards must be driven forth into the habit of the body that they may exhale by perspiration and its coagulations must be dissolv'd and its Crasis restor'd as soon as may be Secondly as to what regards the Viscera the irksome sensation of the Nervous Fibres and the irritation of the Carnous Fibres to excretory Convulsions must be appeas'd and the Mouths of the Vessels must be shut to keep them from discharging the blood and humours into the Intestines The first of these is usually perform'd with Opiats and the other with Stiptick or Astringent Remedies Besides these we must have regard to urging Symptoms and ill affects usually attending this Disease the chief of which are a Feaver with a Thirst and Wakings Gripings of the Guts and sometimes their fretting Inflammation and Ulcers We must not proceed upon those four chief Indications severally and successively but we must take them altogether and set upon them at once wherefore the Prescripts ought to comprehend Remedies of divers kinds to wit Alexipharmicks Stypticks Diaphoreticks and Opiats And because it is not an easie thing to put these into a set method and under set Rules which may be generally apply'd I have rather chosen to give you here some Examples of Cures performed by me in the Bloody Flux in the year 1671. To a Gentleman 25 years of Age to whom I was call'd the third day after he was seiz'd I prescrib'd the following Bolus Take Venice Treacle a Dram Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated a Scruple mix them let him drink after it a little draught of the following Julap Take waters of Tormentil Mints and Cinnamon hordeated of each four Ounces Treacle water and Plague water of each two Ounces Pearl a Dram Sugar an Ounce make a Julap He took besides of the following Electuary about a Dram and a half every third hour with the said Julap Take Conserve of Red Roses two Ounces Venice Treacle an Ounce Powder of the Roots of Tormentil Contrayerva Pearl Coral prepar'd of each half a Dram Syrup of Red Poppies what suffices By the use of these Remedies the rigour of the Disease soon abated so that he had not above six or seven stools in the space of twenty four hours and those also were not very Bloody as before but appear'd full of little flakes of Flesh and of fragments as it were of Membranes Every Evening he took an Opiate with Laudanum The Fifth day of his illness he took the following Potion Take Rhubarb slic'd two Drams yellow Mirobalanes a Dram and a half yellow Saunders half a Dram Powder of Cinnamon a Scruple Salt of Wormwood half a Scruple let them infuse all night in the waters of Plantain and Cinnamon hordeated of each two Ounces and a half to the straining add strong Cinnamon water two Drams It purg'd him three or four times and gave him ease and the next day the Feaver being abated he was better so that seeming to grow well he eat flesh But shortly upon it fell into a Relapse so that the Flux returning with the Feaver it presently became more violent than it was at first Then because the former Medicines
boild in it Take the Deliquium of Salt of Tartar which whilst the Tincture is extracted floats under and is impregnated with the Sulphur of the Wine from two Scruples to a Dram and a half Whitewine from four Ounces to six Syrup of the five Roots half an Ounce Mingle them and make a draught to be repeated twice or thrice a day Take Ashes made of the Prunings of the white Vine half a pound Nutmegs two Drams pour to them of White or Rhenish wine two pounds and a half let it stand a day in a moderate heat and close cover'd then keep the straining for use The Dose is four Ounces twice or thrice a day Let Flints be made red hot in the Fire and be quencht in White wine or stale March Beer Give of the Liquor from six Ounces to eight twice a day Take Water of quick Lime from four Ounces to six Tincture of Salt of Tartar from a Dram to a Dram and a half Make a draught to be taken twice or thrice a day For the same reason as fixt Salts sometimes also volatile Salts are given with good success to move Urine in a sourish distemper of the Blood to wit forasmuch as its Particles when admitted into the Blood destroy the predominancy of the fluid Salt in it so that the Blood recovering its due mixture and being freed from coagulations and fluxions drinks up again what Serum is extravasated and conveys what is superfluous to the Reins to be sent forth by the Ureters But we may note withal that Medicines prepar'd of a volatile Salt having particles somewhat fierce in operation and instigating when they correct the Crasis of the Blood dispose what there is superfluous of Serum to be discharg'd sometimes by Sweat as much as by Urine In this order of Diureticks not only the bare volatile Salt drawn forth of Animals and Minerals ought to be numbred but likewise the integral parts of Animals and Vegetables such as are the Powders and Extracts of Insects and Vegetables of a smart nature Prescripts of Medicines that have a volatile Salt for their Basis TAke Salt of Amber Pure Sal Nitre of each two Drams make a Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram in a fit Vehicle Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack Crystal Mineral of each two Drams Make a Powder the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram in a good spoonful of Radish water compound Salt of Vrine may be given after the same manner Take Powder of Bees a Scruple Lovage-seed a Scruple Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of distill'd water Take Spirit of Vrine from a Scruple to half a Dram Radish water compound from an Ounce to an Ounce and a half Juniper water three Ounces mingle them make a draught Spirit of Tartar may be given after the same manner in a double quantity Take Millepedes prepar'd two Drams Flowers of Sal Armoniack half a Dram Nutmegs powder'd half a Dram Venice Turpentine what suffices Make Pills let four be taken twice a day Take Powder of Burdock-seeds two Drams Wild Carrot-seed a Dram Salt of Amber a Dram Oyl of Nutmegs half a Scruple Balsamum Capivii what suffices Make a Mass form it into little Pills of which let four be taken in the Evening and as many the next Morning Take Roots of Chervil Stone Parsly Fennel Eringo Cammock or Rest-harrow of each an Ounce Leaves of Saxifrage Clivers or Goose-grass of each a handful Seeds of Gromwel Hartwort of each half a handful Juniper Berrys six Drams boil all in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd then add Rhenish Wine a pound fine Honey two Ounces Make an Apozem the Dose is six Ounces twice a day Take fresh Millepedes two pounds Leaves of Clivers Chervil Saxifrage and Golden Rod of each two handfulls Roots of Horse Radish six Ounces Nutmegs an Ounce Juniper Berrys Wild Carrot-seeds of each two Ounces being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of White-wine Posset-drink eight pounds distil it in a common Still Let the whole Liquor be mixt the Dose is four Ounces twice or thrice a day Take fresh Millepedes wash'd from forty to sixty Nutmegs half a Scruple being bruis'd together put to them distill'd Water of Saxifrage three Ounces wring it forth hard and drink it Take Leaves of Chervil Macedonian Stone Parsly of each three handfulls being bruis'd together pour to them of Whitewine a pound and a half wring it forth hard and keep it in a Glass the Dose is three Ounces twice a day Prepare a Tincture of Millepides Bees Grashoppers or of Cantharides dry'd with the Tincture of Salt of Tartar give it from fifteen to twenty or thirty drops in a fit vehicle Nitre is a sort of Salt but differing from any other Salt or from the nature of Saline Particles being neither Acid fixt or volatile but holds the mean state as it were betwixt those three And in truth Nitre is the thing by which all Plants have their vegetation all Animals live and breath and every Sublunary Flame or Fire is kindled and maintained But as to our present purpose it 's well enough known that Sal Nitre cools the Blood and powerfully provokes Urine though it seems somewhat strange how this which is of so fiery a nature should so quallify the Blood and run it into Aquosities to move Urine I conceive that Nitre works those effects in a two-fold respect to wit as it is a Salt ally'd both to a fixt Salt and a volatile and as it carries a living Root of Fire in it As to the first we observe that Nitre ev'n as fixt and volatile Salts being put into Milk hinders or takes away its coagulation so likewise Blood whilst warm being pour'd to this is preserv'd from coagulation and from being discolour'd no less than if put to those Wherefore since Particles of Nitre inwardly taken preserve the mixture of the Blood entire or restore it it follows that they prevent or take away the fusions or coagulations of the same from which heats and a suppression of Urine very often arise So again Nitre in regard it carries in it a living Root of Fire when inwardly taken cools the inflamed Blood and moves Urine because according to what is hinted before it adds a vigour to the flame of the Blood which before was troubled and full of fumes and so renders it more clear and pure and consequently more mild since therefore the Blood burning clearer by the access of Nitre becomes of a more loose consistency the serous Particles easily get clear of the more gross and pass away in a more plentiful manner Prescripts of Diureticks that have Sal Nitre for their Basis TAke Nitre prepar'd two Drams Barley water with Grass Roots and Candied Eringo Roots boil'd in it two pounds Syrup of Violets two Ounces Mix them the Dose is four Ounces twice a day Take Sal Prunella two Drams Sugar-Candy a Dram make a Powder to be divided into six
time dispose them so separated rather to pass forth by Sweat than by Urine or Seige As to the third thing requir'd to wit the opening of the Pores this is done in a manner wholly by outward Administrations Now because the same Saline preparations which are given to procure Sweat are often given to move Urine and sometimes also for Cordials we must shew by what preparation and other requisites Sweating is to be promoted alone without the other intents And we observe that Sudorificks inwardly taken seldom or never work of their own accord as Emeticks Catharticks or Diureticks but always need some Governance to actuate the Medicine and to determine it to that Energy Wherefore a Diaphoretick being given the Patient must presently be so ordered that the Pores of his Body may be open'd and the beat of his Heart very much heighten'd For these ends either let him be kept in a Bed Bath or Hot-house or let him exercise his Body with some quick or laborious motion and that these things may succeed the better in promoting Sweat when it is in our power let us make choice of a fit time and subject for it viz. when the Blood enjoying a laudable or not very evil Crasis both sufficiently abounds with a Serous humour and has not its Particles in too great a confusion or perturbation but is in a disposition readily to be loosen'd and to separate it self and run into parts For in a Bilous temperament in a thin and dry constitution and in the mindst of a burning Fever when all things are in a trouble and undigested Diaphoreticks commonly prove of no effect or do hurt Moreover when Diaphoreticks are judg'd proper we must not give all sorts of them indifferently but peculiar Medicines must be chosen according to the various disposition of the Blood and the different predominancies of the Element in it sometimes of this sometimes of that and according to the states of the Salts The Kinds and Prescripts of Diaphoretick Medicines SUdorifick Medicines being manifold and of divers kinds and being wont in a various respect to be rang'd in order and reduc'd to Classes In the first place I have thought fit here to distinguish them and set them down both as to their form and manner of Composition and as to the matter out of which they are made Their most usual forms are 1. a Powder 2. Chymical Liquors 3. A Potion 4. A Bolus 5. A Diet. The matter of each of these are either the integral parts of the whole mixt Body or certain Elementary parts of some mixt resolv'd by Chymistry and those are either simple viz. either Spirituous or Saline The latter of which also are either volatile or fixt Acid or nitrous Or lastly the Sudorifick Particles so divided and separated by Chymistry are Elementary parts compounded betwixt themselves viz. Spirituo-Saline and Salino-Sulphureous As we run through each of these Species in order we shall adapt to each matter the more Select forms of Prescripts Diaphoreticks which have the integral parts of a mixt for their foundation in which also a smart or volatile Salt is predominant in this respect often conduce to provoke Sweat that their Particles being admitted into the Blood and being immiscible with it and not to be subdued exagitate its Mass greatly divide it and draw it asunder as it were into most Minute parts so that at length the texture of the Blood being very much loosen'd and set a boiling the superfluous Serosites Recrements and taints of the Blood are cast forth together with the Particles of the Medicine which are expell'd by reason of their Heterogeneity Those that are of this rank are usually given in the form of a Powder Bolus Potion and Diet according to the following forms of Prescripts Take Roots of Contrayerva Serpentaria Virginiana Butter-burr of each a Dram Cochinele Saffron of each half a Dram Make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram with a fit Vehicle Take Powder of Vipers a Dram give it in some convenient Liquor Take Powder of Toads prepar'd from half a Dram to a Dram. When Diaphoreticks ought to predominate in Sal Alchali alone or mixt with the former Take Oriental Bezoar from a Scruple to half a Dram give it in a spoonful of distill'd water or some other Vehicle Take Powder of Crabs Claws Compound from a Scruple to half a Dram give it after the same manner The Bezoartick Powder is made after this manner Take Powder of the Roots of Contrayerva of Crabs Claws simple of each two Ounces Pearl both sorts of Coral white Amber Crabs Eyes Hartshorn Crystal prepar'd of each an Ounce Occidental Bezoar Lemnian Earth of each half an Ounce Ceruse of Antimony two Ounces Cochenele half an Ounce Ambergreece a Dram and a half Musk half a Dram Make a subtle Powder and let it be form'd into little round Balls with the Gelly of the Skins of Vipers the Dose it from a Scruple to a Dram. Take of this Bezoartick Powder a Scruple Powder of Toads prepar'd six Grains Make a Powder give it in a spoonful of Treacle water 2. Bolus's which have for their Basis the integral parts of some mixt made in the form of an Electuary Extract or Conserve Take of Mithridate from half a Dram to a Dram of the Bezoartick Powder from a Scruple to half a Dram Syrup of the Juice of Citrons what will suffice make a Bolus Instead of Mithridate you may put Treacle or Diascordium or Confectio Liberantis de Hyacintho So likewise Bezoar powdred or the Roots of Contrayerva and the Powders of the like things may supply the place of the Bezoartick Powder Take of the Extract of Treacle from half a Dram to a Dram of the Bezoartick Powder a Scruple Make a Bolus Take of the Extract of Carduus half a Dram Bezoartick Powder a Scruple Salt of Wormwood fifteen Grains with a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of the Juice of Citrons Make a Bolus 3. Potious which have for their Basis common decoctions of Vegetables or Infusions and Tinctures Take Roots of Butter-burr an Ounce Seeds of the same two Drams Eringo Roots Condited six Drams Carduus Seeds two Drams boil all in a pound of fountain water till half be consum'd In the cleer straining dissolve of Mithridate half a Dram or two Scruples Let it be taken warm in Bed After the like manner the Leaves of Carduus the Flowers of Marigolds or Cammomile may be boild in a sufficient quantity of Posset-drink of which six or eight Ounces may be given warm either alone or with some Powder Electuary or other Diaphoretick added to it 4. Diaphoretick Infusions and Tinctures of divers kinds may be prepar'd by extracting the vertues of simple Vegetables and Confections with Wine Vinegar or distill'd water which afterwards being strain'd and clarified by setling are often given with success To this place ought to be referr'd the Bezoartick waters Wines and Vinegars prepar'd by Infusion the forms of which are every where
is apt continually to be fus'd and precipitated into Serosities The Pores of the Body in the mean time being open and free for an Evacuation by Sweat Now the Blood is so apt to fusions and flowings for the most part from a predominancy of a Fluid or Acid Salt in it and sometimes the Nervous Juice growing sharp empties its Acid superfluities into the Blood and so precipitates its Mass into Serosities This excessive Sweating does not only arise from the vitiated Crasis and Fermentation of the Blood but sometimes from its depraved Accension and through an excess of Sulphur in it as sometimes through a deficiency of it In order to the Cure of this Over-Sweating the Therapeutick intentions must be chiefly these three First To take away or correct the ill habit or weakness of the humours Secondly gently to close the Pores of the Skin which are too open Thirdly To derive the Serum of the Blood and the watry superfluities to the Reins 1. The first of these is perform'd by those Remedies which destroy the predominancy of the Acid Salt in the Blood or Nervous Juice and which promote the Exaltation of the Sulphur if haply it grows weak for which ends Anti-scorbuticks Chalybeats Also medicines endow'd with a Volatile Nitrous or Alchalisate Salt most commonly prove effectual I shall set down certain forms of each of these Take Conserve of the Flowers of Cichory and Fumitory of each two Ounces Powder of Ivory Hartshorn Coral prepar'd of each a Dram Pearl half a Dram Species of Diarrhodon Abbatis a Dram Lignum Aloes Saunders both red and yellow of each half a Dram Sal Prunella four Scruples with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Fumitory make an Electuary Give the quantity of a Wallnut in the Evening and the next Morning drinking after it either of the following Julap or distill'd water three Ounces Take the Waters of Fumitory and Wallnuts simple of each six Ounces the Waters of Snails and Earth-worms of each an Ounce Sugar six Drams Mix them make a Julap Take tops of Firr Tamarisk Cypres of each four handfuls of Myrtle two handfuls Leaves of Watercresses Brooklimes Agrimony St. Johnswort Harts-Tongue Fluellen or Speedwel of each three handfuls the outward Coats of twelve Oranges Being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of Brumswick Beer eight pounds distill it in common Organs Let the whole Liquor be mixt and sweeten it at pleasure the Dose three Ounces twice a day Take Leaves of Dandelion Watercresses Plantain Brooklimes of each three handfuls being bruis'd pour to them of the distill'd water above written a pound wring it forth hard The Dose is from three to four Ounces in the Morning at Nine of the Clock and at Five in the Afternoon According to this method I use to prescribe in a failing of strength and Night-sweats after long Agues and if these remedies do no good we must come to Chalybeates Take Syrup of Steel six Ounces let a spoonful be taken in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon with three Ounces of the Water above prescrib'd Take Powder of Ivory of Coral prepar'd of each two Drams Crocus Martis Salt of Steel of each a Dram and a half Make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram twice a day with three Ounces of the same distill'd water Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar an Ounce The Dose is from twenty to thirty Drops twice a day with the distill'd water After the same manner may be given the Tincture of Coral and Tinctures prepar'd out of Gums and Balsams Moreover in these cases the Spirits of Hartshorn Vrine and Se et are given given with success The second intention for the Cure of excessive Sweating consisting in a due state of the Pores is perform'd in a manner only by outward Administrations For which end let the whole Body be anointed with Oyl of Date-kernels with an Oyntment of Orange Flowers and the like and let Linnen done over a little with the same be worn sometimes Bathing in cold Water or in a River sometimes change of Air may do well It seems here proper to speak a little of a certain troublesome Distemper relating to Sweating or at least to an excessive perspiration I often observe that some Persons have their Bodies so disposed that if upon any occasion the least Breath of Wind or Air comes upon them their Spirits are presently in a mighty trouble all their Powers are in a Consternation and their whole Body is discompos'd This extream tenderness in some Persons more than in others to take cold or to be offended with it happens either through the fault of the Animal Spirits or of the Blood or of the Pores of the Body to wit of one of them or of more of them together 1. First The Animal Spirits are sometimes in fault because being very weak they are not able to endure any thing harsh or rough outwardly pressing upon them but presently upon the appulse of the bare Air are put to flights and distractions And sometimes this Indisposition happens through their fault for that being degenerated and become of an eager restless and uneasie disposition they are put into disorder upon every such pressure of Air. Wherefore those who by reason of the Spirits so dispos'd become Hypochondriacal being also subject to the Affect before mention'd on every little occasion are troubled with Cold. 2. The Blood disposes to a habit of depraved Perspiration in a two-fold manner viz. both in respect of its temperament and of its mixture As to this latter oftentimes the Texture of the Blood is so loose and open that upon every light accident and espccially upon the appulse of a cold moist Air it 's presently stirr'd to fluxions and precipitations of Serosities insomuch that Persons who have such Blood dare not step forth of doors nay scarce look forth Again the Mass of Blood being often hot in its temper and very full of vapours Breaths forth Effluvia's very sharp and penetrative by which the Pores of the Skin being too much loosned and laid wide open the Spirits and the Vital Flame are expos'd to the injuries of the naked Air and the Winds more than they ought 3. The ill constitution of the Pores gotten either by sickness or other ways or being natural from our Birth very much inclines to that habit of depraved Sweating For in regard those passages being too wide do always in a manner gape the Blood and Spirits in the whole Body or in certain parts of it are not sufficiently guarded against the encounter of the outward Air. The Intentions for Curing this Distemper are chiefly these three ' viz. first to help the weaknesses or dejections or depauperations of the Blood and Spirits Secondly To take away their Dyscrasies if they have any Thirdly To procure a due Confirmation of the Pores The chief stress of this business consists in the first intention which regards the strengthning of the Animal Spirits and the inlargement of the whole sensitive Soul for
Nervous Liquor A Boy about ten years of Age subject from his Infancy to be often troubled with a Cough has undergone of late years some great and tedious fits of that Distemper that is to say he is wont at times to fall ill of a hollow and shrill sounding Cough without Spitting which almost continually toyls him Day and Night and so tormenting him for many Days nay and Weeks it brings him to a very great weakness Afterwards the Course of the Disease being pass'd over which happens not till the store of Morbid matter be consum'd in a short time he becomes well enough again and as free as may be from any Distemper of the Thorax till the Morbifick matter as it seems being heap'd together again to a fullness without any evident cause the same affect returns and acts over its Tragedy again with its wonted severity About the time it first seizes the Cough usually troubles him only Mornings and Evenings afterwards the Distemper growing worse by degrees he often Coughs whole Days and Nights almost without ceasing and if at any time Sleep either happening of it self or being procur'd by Anodines gives some truce presently upon his waking a more violent fit of Coughing comes upon him After this manner Coughing very frequently and most vehemently without Spitting he continues ill for three Weeks or a Month till he be brought to a mighty leanness and an extream weakness and then the Distemper remits by degrees so that he Coughs somewhat more seldom and Sleeps indifferently shortly afterwards growing very hungry he soon becomes full of Flesh and vigorous and recovers in a short time his former Health These fits seldom trouble him in the Summer but in the rest of the year they return sometimes three or four times and put the Patient in great danger of his Life The cause of this Distemper is not the same as of a vulgar Cough in which a Serous humour distilling either slowly or in a plentiful manner from the Vessels of the Trachaea or of the Lungs into the Vesiculae or little Pipes of the Trachea induce the Symptoms that attend that affect for it plainly appears that in this the Ductus's of the Aspera Arteria are wholly free from any Serum or thick humour because the Cough which is always deep and sonorous throws forth nothing Nor does this Cough arise from the Blood forc'd into the Membranes of the Lungs because in this there is no Feaver Thirst nor Pain as in a Peripneumonia neither does its Morbifick matter seem to stick to the Nerves or Muscles ordain'd for breathing because then besides the Cough Asthmatick or Convulsive fits with a sense of choaking would sometimes follow which do not happen to our Patient I guess therefore that a certain Serous and sharp matter full of a Scorbutick taint falling from the Head by the conveyance of the Nerves enters the Nervous Fibres and Membranes of the Lungs or of the Trachaea and throughly cleaving to them increases by degrees to a fulness and at length growing angry and turgid through its perpetual irritation creates so troublesome a Cough When this affect once seizes it is wont to hold on its Course for a very long time in despite of all Remedies Pectoral Medicines commonly so called as Syrups Linctus's Eclegma's did little or nothing towards the Cure of this Disease though sometimes I have thought good to use them for making the Lungs slippery and to moisten them lest hap'ly they should be endangered to be torn asunder by the violence of the Cough and their Vessels to be broken for sometimes in a violent fit our Patient used to Cough forth a little Blood though no thick Spittle A gentle Purge in the beginning of this Disease has often done good as also in its declination Opening and Diuretick Medicines always work a good effect of both which he uses what suffices throughout the whole Course of his Distemper for his ordinary drink Evenings and Mornings he takes some drops of the Tincture of Sulphur with the Water of Snails lacteated I was forc'd sometimes to give late at Night a Dose of the mixture of Diacodium or of Liquid Laudanum In two of his fits he was Blooded from which he receiv'd no good In the last fit which beginning about the Autumnal Equinox pass'd over somewhat more lightly and gently the following method of Cure was observ'd First of all this Cathartick was given him and repeated after four days Take Calamelanos half a Scruple Rosin of Jalup four Grains Mix them make a Powder let it be taken in a spoonful of Syrup of Violets Take China Roots slic'd a Dram Grass Roots three Ounces Chervil Roots an Ounce Candied Eringo's six Drams shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each three Drams Raisins of the Sun ston'd three Ounces Boil it in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds strain it and let it be us'd for ordinary drink Take Syrup of Jujubes two Ounces Diacodium an Ounce Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Gum Ammoniacum a Dram Mix them the Dose is a spoonful going to Bed and early in the Morning He was much reliev'd by this Remedy though he took it only every other or every third day and sometimes in its stead a Dose of the Tincture of Sulphur with Syrup of Violets was given him The Disease declining he was purg'd twice and afterwards recovering by degrees he grew well enough within a fortnight But finding him subject not only to frequent relapses of Coughing but that each fit when it came upon him was irresistible and that its stay notwithstanding any use of Remedies was of long continuance and threatned nothing less than a Consumption I advis'd him that as well for preservation and in case the affect return'd as for Curing it he should Travel to a Region hotter than ours He took my advice and about the beginning of November went to Montpellier where passing half a year he had only two slight touches of illness Since being return'd to England he enjoys thanks be to God a perfect Health quite free from his Cough CHAP. II. Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of Spitting Blood THe Indications for Curing a Spitting Blood are chiefly these two viz. First presently to moderate and stay the Flux of Blood And then in the Second place to heal the dissolution of Unity without leaving a Consumptive Putrefaction in the Lungs In reference to the First These two things are chiefly to be procur'd First That the Blood do not flow to the part affected Secondly That withal the Aperture of the Vessel be some way clos'd 1. To keep the Blood from flowing to the part affected many intentions of Curing must be set upon together viz. We must lessen the quantity of Blood moderate its fervent boiling alter its ill temper retard its motion or divert it another way For which ends Blooding Ligatures and Frictions most commonly do well Moreover Julapes Decoctions Emulsions and Juicy expressions of Herbs ought to be given
or Alkalisate Salt destroy the Combinations entred into by the Acid sixt and otherwise Morbifick Salts with other more gross Particles In which respect the Eyes and Claws of Crabs the Tusk of a Boar the Stone of Carps the Jaw-bone of a Pike the Bone in the Heart of a Stag the Pisle of a Deer Sal Prunella Salt of Coral the Volatile Salt of Urine or of Hartshorn Powder of Goats Blood Infusion of Horsedung Spirit of Hartshorn of Sal Armoniack Spirit of Tartar Mixtura Simplex Bezoartick Mineral Antimony Diaphoretick Flowers of Sal Armoniack are very famous Remedies in the Pleurisie The Third and Vital Indication which takes care that the strength and Vital heat be preserv'd in their due Tone and State during the Course of the Disease prescribes principally a fit Diet and likewise Cordial Remedies and Anodines and things which seasonably afford Relief to other Symptoms if haply they present First in a true Pleurisie you must order a most thin Diet viz. consisting of meer Oat and Barley-meats and for ordinary drink Ptisan or Posset-drink is more proper than Beer alone though in a mignty thirst this also may be allow'd in a moderate quantity Moreover to quench thirst Julapes Apozemes and Emulsions may be taken at set times to all which let Sal Prunella be added Secondly let only temperate Cordials be given which may gently refresh the Animal Spirits and not add to the Accension of the Blood which burns before too fiercely For these intents the Waters of Ladies Thistle Carduus Benedictus Bawm Borage Cowslips and Black-Cherries are usually given with good success to which the Powders of Pearl and Coral may be added Thirdly Anodines must be used both inwardly to procure sleep if at any time it be very much wanted as also outwardly to ease the pain of the side The most usual things of the former kind are the distill'd water Syrup and Powder of the red Poppy which are accounted Specificks in the Pleurisie as well as in the Peripneumonia Moreover when a very acute pain and watchings press very much we may give also Diacodiats Against Pains Oyntments Fomentations Cataplasms and sometimes the warm Inwards of Animals newly kill'd are proper to be applyed I shall now give you Select Forms of Medicines adapted to each of these Indications First Therefore about the beginning of the Disease to take away the Inflammation Julapes Apozemes Powders Glysters and gentle Purges are wont to be prescrib'd Take Water of Ladies Thistle eight Ounces Water of red Poppies four Ounces Syrup of the same an Ounce Sal Prunella a Dram Make a Julape the Dose is two or three Ounces every third hour Take Grass Roots four Ounces Barley half an Ounce parings of Apples a handful Raisins of the Sun an Ounce Licorice two Ounces boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds To the cleer straining add Syrup of Violets an Ounce and a half Sal Prunella a Dram and a half Make an Apozeme the Dose is two or three Ounces often in a day Take Sal Prunella two Drams Flowers of Nitre a Dram Powder of the Flowers of red Poppies two Scruples Sugar Candy four Scruples Make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram three or four times a day Take of the Decoction of Mallows Roots and all together with sweet Prunes a pound Syrup of Violets three Ounces Sal Prunella a Dram Make a Glyster Take of whole Cassia bruis'd two Ounces Tamarinds an Ounce white Rose Flowers a handful Coriander-seeds two Drams boil them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water to a pound To the straining add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Drams Clarify it with the White of an Egg the Dose is five or six Ounces in the Morning for two or three days one after the other Secondly To dissolve the clamminess or coagulating Viscousness of the Blood the following things are of use viz. in the Form of a Drink Powder and Spirit Take fresh Horsedung four Ounces Carduus water a pound and a half make a close and warm Infusion for two hours then filter the Liquor to which add Syrup of the Juice of Dandelion or of Cichory two Ounces Spirit of Sal Armoniack a Dram give five or six spoonfuls three or four times a day For this end Water of Horsedung does admirably well Take Horsedung four pounds Leaves of Carduus Benedictus Ladies Thistle Scabious Pimpernel of each three handfuls being slic'd and mixt together pour to them of fresh Milk six pounds distil them with common Organs The Dose is two or three Ounces either alone or with other distill'd Waters in the Form of a Julape For the same use the Tinctures or Solutions of other Dungs are given by some Physicians and are highly magnifyed by them Helmont deservedly commends in the Pleurisie the Dung of an Ox Panarolus Pidgeons Dung others the White of Hens Dung Epiphanius Ferdinandus usually gave with good success in the Pleurisy the Decoction of Tobacco macerated in new Wine Valeriola used the Decoction of the Flowers of red Poppies as a try'd and familiar Remedy Sylvius prescribes the following mixture to be taken one spoonful after another by little Intervals of time Take the waters of Stone-Parsly and Hyssop of each two Ounces Fennel-water an Ounce simple Treacle water half an Ounce Laudanum Opiatum four Grains Sal Armoniack half a Dram Syrup of red Poppies an Ounce Mix them To this composition Frederick Deckers adds Powder of Crabs Eyes and Bezoartick Mineral of each a Scruple Medicines very efficacious for this use are wont to be given in the Form of a Powder for Example Take Powder of Crabs Eyes two Drams Sal Prunella a Dram and a half red Poppy Flowers half a Dram Mix them make a Powder the Dose is half a Dram three or four times in a day with a fit Vehicle Instead of Crabs Eyes you may use the Powder of the Jaw-bone of a Pike or of a Boars Tusk or of a Stags or Bulls Pisle and if these do not succeed you may try what follows Take Antimony Diaphoretick or its Ceruse or Bezoartick Mineral two Drams Volatile Salt of Hartshorn half a Dram Powder of red Poppy Flowers two Scruples Make a Powder the Dose is a Scruple or half a Dram thrice or oftner in a day It is for the same Intention of Curing that Riverius gives Powder of Chimney Soot from half a Dram to a Dram and that others give the Powder of Pigeons or Hens Dung Nay farther according to this Analogy by which the Dungs of Animals stor'd with a Volatile Salt give relief in this Disease its probable that the Dung of a Dog may prove no less successful in Curing the Pleurisie than in the Squinancy and so much the more likely because these Diseases often interchange their Types and the one assumes the likeness of the other Chymical Liquors endow'd with a Volatile Salt sometimes also work great effects in the Pleurifie Take Spirit of Blood two Drams Red
these two things viz. either intercepting the Nutritive Juice appointed for other parts it applies it to its proper use as it s generally seen in Children troubled with the Rickets and in many others leading a sloathful and idle Life Or Secondly it too easily receives into its most inward Recesses the filthiness of the depraved Blood and all dreggy Excrements coming in its way and retaining them does not only grow large but is obstructed in its Ductus's whence oftentimes proceeds a Jaundise or Dropsie and tumours and preternatural Concretions of divers kinds Therefore we must take care of these two things viz. lest the Liver by taking to it self too much of the Nutritive Juice grow to too great a Bulk and lest by retaining the filthy dregs of the Blood it be troubled with obstructions and preternatural tumours Both these faults are much more easily prevented than Cur'd For the former is effected only by taking care that the Blood being well constituted in its Crasis and enjoying a free Circulation both distributes the Nutritive Juice to the parts and especially the outmost and driving all its Excrements to all their respective Emunctories deposes them there And indeed the Hepatick Medicines vulgarly so call'd though they regard the other Viscera as well as the Liver do first and more immediately exert their vertue by purifying the Blood rather than by correcting the Liver or other entrals for entring the Blood and being immiscible with it they so throughly exagitate it that they make it discharge all its superfluities by their proper Emissaries and if any Medicines are found by some specifick virtue to have respect to one part more than to another it s because their Particles being more ally'd and consequently associated to the Recrements to be separated within that entral are carried thither together with them For this reason Rhubarb Turmerick the greater Celandine and many other things ally'd to the Gall readily pass to its Ductus's and are wont to do good in the Jaundise We have before set forth the Energies and ways of operating of these Medicines As to other Hepaticks commonly so call'd we shall briefly set down certain Forms First of those which are said to prevent or remove the Non-natural accretion of the Liver and then of those which do the like in respect of its obstructions and preternatural tumours 1. Against the too great accretion or disproportionate nourishment of the Liver First a spare and thin Dyet short Sleep and frequent and moderate Exercises are proper Wherefore if at any time Infants and Children are found obnoxious to this affect as likewise to the Rickets we order that they suck thin and serous Milk that they are daily toss'd in their Nurses Arms and carried from one place to another with a swift motion or that they are put in a Chariot or in a Chair and swiftly driven to and fro and that they learn to use their feet as soon as may be and go about Take the Waters of Snails and Earth-worms of each three Ounces Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Gum Ammoniacum a Scruple Mix them take a spoonful at Night and early in the Morning Take Roots of Male Fern Chervil Candied Eringo's of each an Ounce Leaves of Agrimony Harts Tongue Male Speedwel of each a handful shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn of each two Drams white and yellow Saunders of each a Dram Raisms ston'd an Ounce and a half Barly three Drams Boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds to the straining add the waters of Snails and Earth-worms of each an Ounce and a half Syrup of Cichory two Ounces Make an Apozeme take to two or three Ounces in a day Take Powder of white and yellow Saunders Crabs Eyes Lignum Aloes of each half a Dram Salt of Wormwood a Scruple Make a Powder the Dose is from half a Scruple to a Scruple twice a day Take Emplastrum Diasaponis Ceratum Santalinum of each what suffices Make a Plaister to be apply'd to the right Hypochondre Take Vnguentum Splanchnicum two Ounces Oyl of Wormwood an Ounce Mix them make a Liniment for the Region of the Liver The Remedies for most other Diseases of the Liver are either Simple or Compound Amongst those of the former kind are usually reckon'd all Cichories Sorrels sharp-pointed Docks and in a manner all Vegetables which have a sort of bitterness joyned with somewhat of a smartness in which the Deopilative vertue is said to consist as Wormwood Germander Ground-Pine Fumitory Tansie Agrimony Liver-wort Lignum Aloes all the Saunders Tamarisk-bark Ash-bark and the Roots of Capers with many others which make up the greatest part of Botanicks The fixt Salts of Herbs and the Acid Spirits of Minerals claim a chief place amongst these because they mightily agitate the Mass of Blood dissolve its Concretions clear its stoppages and make it every where permeable in all its parts It s also manifest both by reason and experience that preparations of Steel are often proper in Distempers of the Liver as especially in the Jaundise and the Dropsy In the Antidotaries of the Ancients we find a great many Physical Compositions which seem to be wholly design'd for the Liver as the Electuary ê scoria ferri Rhasis c. But passing over these I shall now give you some Forms and Examples of Medicines which are accounted Deopilatives according to the practice of our times Therefore for an Opening Decoction TAke Roots of Fern Chervil the greater Nettle Dandelion of each an Ounce Leaves of Agrimony Harts Tongue Speedwel Oak of Hierusalem Liver-wort of each a handful white and yellow Saunders of each three Drams shavings of Ivory half an Ounce Red Cicehs an Ounce Coriander Seeds three Drams Raisins two Ounces Boil them in four pounds of fountain water to two pounds adding about the end Whitewine four Ounces strain it through Hippocrates sleeve to which put Species Diarrhodon Abbatis a Dram our prepar'd Steel two Drams To the straining add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces waters of Snails and Earth-worms of each an Ounce The Dose is six Ounces twice a day after a Dose of the following Electuary Take Conserve of the yellow Coats of Oranges and Limons of each two Ounces of Wormwood and Fumitory of each an Ounce Simple Powder of Aron Roots Lignum Aloes yellow Saunders and Caper Roots of each a Dram and a half Crabs Eyes a Dram Salt of Wormwood two Drams Syrup of Fumitory what suffices Make an Electuary the Dose is the quantity of a Wallnut twice a day drinking after it a draught of the Apozeme before written or of the following distill'd water Take Leaves of Wormwood Centory Tansie both Southernwoods Branches of Tamerisk of each four handfuls green Wallnuts four pounds green Ashen-keys two pounds the outward Kinds of ten Oranges and of four Limons Snails Earth-worms prepar'd of each a pound being all slic'd pour to them of Whitewine eight pounds distil it
Though there are various kinds of the Spurges and all of them work violently by Vomit or Siege by reason of their mighty Irritation of the Viscera and consequently evacuate Serous humours in a plentiful manner yet because of the excessive strength of most of them The lesser or wild Spurge is now in a manner only in use And it s most approved preparations are the Powder of the Rinds of its Roots and its Extract We also add its Tincture which is not Inferiour to the rest Take the lesser Spurge with the Roots cleans'd four handfuls Lignum Aloes Cloves of each a Dram being bruis'd boil them in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd ' let the straining Clarifie by settling in an oblong Glass then let the clear Liquor Evaporate by a Bath-heat to the consistency of an Extract The Dose is a Scruple Take of this Extract half an Ounce pour to it in a Matras six Ounces of the Tincture of Salt of Tartar digest them in a Sand Bath till the Tincture be Extracted The Dose is from twenty to thirty Drops with a fit Vehicle Take Powder of the Roots of the lesser Spurge from seven Grains to ten Cinnamon half a Scruple Salt of Tartar eight Grains bruise them together in a Glass Mortar give it by it self or with the Addition of some fit Conserve or Syrup Make a Bolus or Pills 3. Praecipitatum Mercurii cum Sole or Hercules Bovii For as much as by its Acrimony it mightily irritates the Fibres of the Stomack and fuses the Blood by reason of its Mercurial and Saline Particles it raises a violent Vomiting and so forces a discharge of the Serous humours which are violently drawn into the Cavities of the Viscera Pilulae Lunares in like manner by reason of the Vitriolick Particles of the Silver being sharpen'd with other Saline Menstruums produce the like effect viz. by much corrugating the Fibres of the Viscera they strongly force the Serous humours into their Ductus's and causes them to be evacuated A Solution of Silver being made in Aqua Stygia and well purified is redud'd by a gentle evaporation into clear Crystals which by themselves or with the addition of Sal Nitre to repress the force of the Lunar Vitriol are made into Pills with the Crum of Bread The Dose is sometimes a single Pill sometimes two or three according as they work and as the strength will bear these sorts of Medicines are sometimes given with success in a strong Constitution and where the Viscera are sound and of a good habit but scarce ever have a good effect in tender and Cachectical Bodies and are seldom taken by such persons without doing them hurt Hydragogue Medicines which work meerly or chiefly by Seige are either mild as Elder Dwarfe Elder Sea Bindweed and the Juice of English Orris which are rarely given by themselves but want to be quicken'd by such as are smarter and for return they qualify the vehemency of the other or they are strong as Hedg-Hyssop Jalap and Elaterium The Seeds of Elder and Dwarfe Elder being dry'd and powdred and taken to a Dram gently evacuate Serous humours by Seige a Water and Spirit are distill'd from the Juice of both their Berries fermented and Robs and Syrups are made of it which with many other preparations of those Vegetables are highly extoll'd for all Hydropical Distemper Sea Bindweed and Hedg-Hyssop are now rarely us'd by themselves but often enter the Compositions of other Hydragogues and chiefly in Apozemes The Juice of English Orris is a good Medicine and the more to be esteem'd because easie to be had for poor people It s given from six Drams to an Ounce and a half or two Ounces either by it self in a fit Vehicle or with other proper ingredients Jalap is a well known and vulgar Medicine against all sorts of Dropsies Every ordinary Man that has that Disease presently takes a Pennyworth of the Powder of Jalap with a little Ginger in Whitewine and this Medicine taken a pretty many times seldom fails of success Elaterium is justly accounted a most powerful Hydragogue in regard that most powerfully irritating the Fibres of the Viscera and at the same time fusing the Blood and humours by a sort of corrosive vertue as it were it forces whatsoever Serosities the Tunicles of the Viscera Membranes and Vessels also those that the Glands and Fleth contain within them to discharge themselves into the Cavities of the Stomack and Intestines Which Medicine working well sometimes the swelling of the Belly fall This indeed is the chief Instrument of the Empyricks Arsenal against an Ascites though using it in all cases they oftner give if to the prejudice of the Patient than to his advantage The Dose is from three Grains to ten or fifteen It s taken either by it self only with the Addition of Aromatical Correctives or it s given with other Hydragogues in the Form of a Powder Pills or of an Electuary Its Tincture and Essence are Extracted with Spirit of Wine or with Tiacture of Salt of Tartar These are the chief simple Hydragogues of which being duly prepar'd with the Addition of other things divers sorts of Compounds are made some common in Shops others Magisterially prescrib'd and are every where in use and a great many more may be ordered ex tempore on occasion We shall here set down some few Select Forms of them and especially such as are taken in the Form of a Potion Powder Electuary and pills Take Roots of Dwarfe Elder and English Orris of each an Ounced and a half Leaves of Sea Bindweed and Hedge Hyssop of each a handful Roots of Asarabacca and wild Cucumbers of each two Ounces Roots of the lesser Galingal six Drams choice Jalap half an Ounce Elaterium three Drams Cubebs two Drams being slie'd and bruis d pour to them of small Spirit of Wine Tartariz'd three pounds let them digest close luted in a sand Furnace for two days strain off the clear which being purified by settling give from two spoonfuls to three with a fit Vehicle Take Elaterium Sea Bindweed Ginger of each a Scruple Galingal Cloves Cinnamon of each half a Scruple Salt of Tartar fifteen Grains Make a Powder for two Doses Take Powder of the Roots of the best Jalap a Dram Giner a Scruple Cream of Tartar fifteen Granins Make a Powder give it in a draught of Whitewine Take Rhubarb powdred a Scruple Elaterium five Grains Tartar vitriolated half a Scruple Spike three Grains with Syrup of Buckthorn Make four Pills Take Pilulae Aloephanginae half a Dram Elaterium half a Scruple Oyl of Cloves three drops Make four Pills Let the Hydropick Pills of Bontius be given from half a Scruple to half a Dram They are made after this manner Take of the best Aloes two Drams and a half Gummi Gutta prepar'd a Dram and a half Diagredium corrected a Dram Gum. Ammoniacum dissolv'd a Dram and a half Tartar vitriolated half a Dram
Make a Mass and form it into Pills Certain Hydragogue Electuaries are now every wher much in use amongst Practitioners and especially one given us by tye famous Sylvius and another by Zwelfer This that follows likes us well Take Rosin of Jalap two Drams Tartar vitriolated a Dram Extract of Rhubarb two Drams of Esula a Drm and a half Roots of the lesser Galingal a Dram bruise them very well And lastly add Conserve of English Orris Flowers four Ounces and with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Peach Rlowers Make an Electuary the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram and a half or two Drams I might here give you many other Purging Hydragogues but Catharticks do not always Cure the Ascites nay they often make it worse and if you insist too long upon them render it Incurable Therefore now let us enquire whether Diureticks will do good in this case or not And truly any Man might easily be induc'd to believe that Medicines provoking Urine contribute very much towards the Evacuation of Waters from any part or Cavity of the Body In reality its manifest by frequent experiments that they often Cure the Anasarca and give relief in it before all other Remedies Let us see therefore what they can do for draining the Cavity of the Abdomen As to this its manifest in the first place that there is no immediate passage open from the Ascitical Mass of Waters to the Reins how near soever they lye to them but whatsoever waters are conveyed from that Mass to the Reins must of necessity be first of all drank up again into the Blood and be thence discharg'd into that receptacle of the Urine Now little is it that the small Mouths of the Veins if haply any of them are open can receive And this is that only thing which Diureticks are able to perforem viz. By fusing the Blood and driving its Serosities to the Reins in a plentiful manner to make it draw to it self being so drein'd the Waters floating in the Belly In the mean time there is no less danger lest Diureticks unseasonably given whilst they fuse the Blood too much drive the Serum which is forc'd to part from it into the watery Mass of the Ascites more than into the Reins and so rather to increase than remove that deluge of the Belly And truly I have frequently observ'd that this sometimes happens and 't is for this reason tha the Ancients always mixt Astringents and Corroboratives in their Medicines for the Dropsie not that such as is vulgarly said strengthen the tone of the Liver but preserve the Crasis or Mixture of the Blood from being wholly dissolv'd by too much fusion Therefore in an Ascites which happens chiefly or in part by reason that the Serous humour stuffs and mightily swells the Compages of the Viscera and Vessels and especially the Tunicles Glands and Fibres themselves and the spaces betwixt them even as Cathartieks are proper so are also Diureticks and are often taken with success for as much as by the use of these the Mass of Blood is drein'd the Serum being deriv'd to the Reins in a plentiful manner and readily receives into it self those waters every where stagnating about the Mouths of the Vessels and conveys them to the Urinary Common-shore But on the contrary in a true Ascites where the Textures of the Viscera being free from such stuffings with Serum the filthy Mass of Waters fills the Cavity of the Belly Diureticks are given either to no purpose or with prejudice because they fetch out nothing of the water stagnating in the Belly and very often by fusing the Blood drive the waters more violently thither being apt to distil into it of their own accord In an Ascites all Diureticks of every kind are not equally proper nor ought to be indifferently give for it is to be observ'd that Persons troubl'd with this Disease make little Urine which is also reddish and resembling as it were a Lixivium which is a sign that the Crasis of their Blood is so close bound by reason of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being exalted and combin'd together in it and consequently that its Serum is not duly separted within the Reins which nevertheless is thrown off in the Involutions of the Obstructed Viscera and so is depos'd in the Cavity of the Belly Wherefore in this case we must give only those things to move Urine which so restore and corredct the Constitution of the Blood that the Irregularities of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being taken away the Serous part may be separated within the Reins and sent forth in a more plentiful manner For which end not Acid or Lixivial things but such as are endow'd with a Volatile Salt are proper for I have often observ'd in such Patients that when Spirit of Salt and other Acid distill'd Liquors of Minerals and when the Deliqia or Solutions of Salt of Tartar of Broom and of other things have rather done hurt than good the Juice of Plantain of Brooklimes and of other Herbs abounding with a Volatile Salt also the expressions of Millepedes have given relief For the same reason Sal Nitre throughly purified or Crystal Mineral has often a mighty good effect You may find Forms of Medicines proper for this use in our preceding Tract where we have set down Examples of Diureticks in which both Volatile and Nitrous Salts are the Basis Moreover to this place belongs that notable Experiment with which Johannes Anglus says he often Cur'd an Ascites from a hot Caus which Medicine also the most experienc'd Physician Dr. Theodore Mayern usually prescrib'd in the like Case and was wont to extol It is as follows Take Juice of Plantain and Liverwort and fill an earthen Pot with it to the Brim then stop it very close and put it in a hot Oven as soon as the Bread is drawn and make a gentle Fire round the sides of the Pot to continue the heat of the Oven after it is boild strain the Liquor and being sweeten'd with Sugar let it be drank Mornings and Evenings and it Cures In Imitation of this I have often prescrib'd with success after the following manner Take green Plantain Leaves four handfuls Liverwort and Brooklimes of each two handfuls being bruis'd together pour to them of small Compound Raddish water or of some other Magisterial water half a pound wring it forth hard The Dose is three Ounces thrice a day Diaphoreticks though most efficacious in an Anasarca yet are of little or no use in an Ascites for being unseasonably given they often cause a great prejudice to the Patient without doing him the least good because by heating the Blood they make the waters floating in the Cavity of the Belly to grow fervid and to boil as it were so that the Spirits and Humours are mightily troubled by the Vapours thence rais'd and so a disorder of all the functions follows and the Viscera themselves being sodden as it were are very much
are wont to use not only by injecting it but by applying it Sympathetically to a Bloody Linnen-cloath I have also known a Water prepar'd of an Infusion of white Vitriol with Bole and Camphire us'd successfully to Wounds and often to other Eruptions of Blood But in regard a water injected into the Nostril does not stick enough to the Mouths of the Vessels but is washt away by the Bloods breaking forth before it can exert its Vertue therefore it is better either that a Stiptick Powder be blown into it or that a Pledget dipt in the water of Vitriol be thrust into the Nostril to the upper part of it either by it self or strew'd to the Nostril to the upper part of it either by it self or strew'd with an Astringent Powder Many Stiptick Powders and of divers kinds are wont to be prescrib'd for this purpose I commonly use either Crocus Martis Calcin'd to the highest reduess or the Powder of Vitriol Camphorated or a Vitriolick Soot scrap't from the bottom of an old Brass Kettle the Powder of which I have often try'd with success in this case In obstinate Haemorrhagies and not yielding to other Remedies let a Pledget having on its top a Caustick Colcother be thrust up into the Nostrils as far as it will go that the little Mouths of the Vessels being burnt and covered with an Eschar all Eruption of Blood may be presently stopt There are many other Errhines famous amongst Practitioners for stopping Blood as Hogs-dung thrust up into the Nostrils which is thought meerly by the Nastiness of its Odour to repel the Blood ready to burst forth Also the Fume of the Blood dropping on a red-hot Iron and return'd up into the Nostrils the Powder of which also when burnt is blown up into them Vsnea or the growing Moss on a Mans Scull which has not been inter'd is highly commended by some for this effect So much of outward Remedies for stopping Bleeding whose Vertue ought likewise to be promoted by inward things seasonably given and cooperating Therefore a thin Dyet being prescrib'd and the Patient ordered to keep himself in an erect posture or not much leaning back whilst the foresaid Administrations are orderly apply'd let Medicines appropriated to the same end be prescrib'd also to be inwardly taken Remedies of this kind have two chief scopes viz. First to cause the Blood being kept within its Vessels to be quietly Circulated its Effervescence whether happning through its Accension or Fermentation being supprest Secondly to retard by fit Remora's the violent Motion of the Heart driving round the Blood too rapidly 1. The first intention requires those kinds of Medicines which suppress the too great Accension of the Blood and appease its undue Fermentation for which uses I am wont to prescribe the following Take the waters of Plantain red Poppies Purslain and of the Spawn of Froggs of each four Ounce Syrup of Water-lillies two Ounces Sal Prunella a Dram mix them make a Julape the Dose is three Ounces thrice or four times a Day Take Barley-water two Pounds red Rose-leaves a handful Spirit of Vitriol as much as will give it a grateful Acidity or about half a Dram make a warm Infusion for extracting the Tincture add Syrup of the Juice of St. John 's Wort two Ounces the Dose is three or four Ounces to take at pleasure often in the Day time or by Night Take Leaves of stinging Nettles and of Plantain of each three handfuls being bruis'd pour to them of Plantain water four Ounces express it strongly and take it 2. For the Second intention viz. to retard the over-violent beat of the Heart Hypnoticks and Opiats are proper Take red Poppy-water three Ounces Syrup of Diacodium half an Ounce Mix them make a Draught to be taken going to Bed Or Take Conserve of red Roses an Ounce and a half Powder of the Seeds of Henbane and of white Poppies of each two Drams Syrup of Poppies what suffices Maek an Opiate The Dose is the quantity of a Nutmeg every six or eight hours Or Take Laudanum Cydoniated a Dram the Dose is fifteen Drops twice a Day in a proper Vehicle So much of an immoderate Eruption of Blood and its Cure whilst it happens without a Fever but when it happens in a Fever and must be stay'd because of too much loss of Blood it is either Critical growing to be immoderate by reason of some Accident to which the Method and Medicines even now prescrib'd may be accommodated though with some caution and a due respect to the State of the Fever Or it is meerly Symptomatical which hapning in a Malignant or Spotted-fever the Small-pox Meazles or Plague it scarcely either can or ought to be repell'd or stopt by the foresaid Remedies For letting Blood is not proper repelling Topicks also cooling Julapes or Decoctions or Narcoticks have no place The chief intention of Curing will be to change the Eruption of Blood into a Sweat for upon raising a gentle Sweat the Flux of Blood if it be not extreamly dangerous ceases of its own accord Take water of Meadow-sweet and Tormentil of each four Ounces Of the cold Cordial of Saxonius two Ounces Treacle-water an Ounce and a half Bezoartick Vinegar three Drams Syrup of Coral an Counce and a half Confection of Hyacinth two Drams make a Julape the Dose is six spoonfuls every third hour Take Powder of Toads prepar'd half a Dram Camphire two Grains let it be taken with the foresaid Julape every sixth hour Or Take Pulvis Pannonici Rubri from half a Dram to two Scruples give it after the same manner Take Confection of Hyacinth three Drams Pulvis Pannonici Rubri a Dram Syrup of Coral what suffices make a Confection the Dose is the quantity of a Nutmeg every other hour Take Roots of Bistort and Tormentil of each an Ounce Leaves of Meadow-sweet Burnet Wood-sorrel of each a handful burnt Harts-horn two Drams Shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each two Drams boyl them in three Pounds of Fountain water to two Pounds add towards the end Conserve of red Roses three Ounces sirain it the Dose is three Ounces often in a Day So far of the first Indication which is Curatory together with the scopes of Curing and the forms of Medicines destinated for an Eruption of Blood from the Nostrils hapning either with or without a Fever The second Indication which is Vital prescribes only a thin Dyet temperate Cordials and a fit ordering of the Patient The provision for the two For former is so small and easy that it seems not necessary to set down a form and rules particularly for them Concerning the latter the chief question is whether we ought to keep those that are seiz'd with an Eruption of Blood either in Bed or out of it It 's an unquestion'd thing that those that are weak and subject to fall often into Swounding Fits ought not to be stir'd from Bed unless haply it be to try a Cure as we have
from the Skin when the ferment is Purg'd do not regurgitate into the Blood and Nervous Liquour and cause not only Discrasies in them but likewise as it often falls out bring great damage to the Brain and Praecordia Secondly it must be endeavour'd that the infectious Taint of the Humours and Noble parts contracted from the Scabby Matter be eradicated at the same time that the Nasty Distemper of the Skin is Cur'd All these intentions of Curing ought to be complicated or at leastwise to be interchangeably prosecuted by Remedies both inward and outward us'd together to the end that the Morbifick matter being chased from its private Receptacles may not any where retire and lie hid in any lurking places but being persued by Medicines in all parts both within and without may be wholly remov'd therefore Purges ought always to begin and end this Method of Cure whatsoever Helmont says to the contrary and I dare affirm that this Disease is scarce ever Cur'd easily and never with safety without that Medicine Moreover open a Vein one of the First things you do unless somewhat indicates the contrary besides these let alteratives have their turns such as purify the Blood and strenthen the Viscera and fortify them against the Ineursions of the Scabby Matter And in the mean time let Liniments or Baths or Topical Remedies of other kinds and appropriated to the Skin be apply'd for without them not only Catharticks and Bleeding but even Diaphoreticks Diureticks nay any kind of Medicines whatsoever evacuating or altering the Blood and Humours prove of no effect We shall set down some select Forms of the Medicines of each kind before mention'd And First for due Purging give a Purging Medicine or a Vomit the first thing you do Also after Bleeding if it be necessary let the person use a Purging Apozeme or Ale for seven or eight Days Take the Electuary Diacarthamum three Drams Species of Diaturbith with Rhubarb a Dram Cream of Tartar Salt of Wormwood of each half a Scruple Purging Syrup of Apples what suffices make a Bolus to be taken with Governance Or Take Sulphur of Antimony seven Grains Scammony Sulphurated eight Grains Cream of Tartar half a Scruple make a Powder Take Roots of Polypody of the Oak and of sharpe pointed Dock prepar'd of each an Ounce Leaves of Sena ten Drams Turbith Agarick Epithimum of each an Ounce Carthamus Seeds half an Ounce yellow Saunders two Drams Seeds of Annise and Caraway of each two Drams being slic'd and bruis'd digest them close luted and warm in four Pounds of White-wine for twentyfour hours pour off the clear Liquor without expression the Dose is six Ounces by it self or with a spoonful of Syrup of Epithimum Or Take the foresaid Ingredients and boyl them in six Pounds of fountain water to half then add of White-wine a Pound and strain it presently make an Apozeme give it after the same manner Or Take Roots of Polypody of the Oak and of sharpe pointed Dock of each three Ounces the best Sena four Ounces Epithimum Turbith Mechoacan of each two Ounces yellow Saunders an Ounce Coriander Seeds six Drams let them be prepar'd according to Art make a Bagg for four Gallons of Ale after five or six Days drink it and take to twelve Ounces more or less every Morning for eight or ten Days For ordinary Drink let a little Vessel of four Gallons be full'd with small Ale into which put the following Bag. Take tops of Tamarisk Fumitory dryed of each four handfuls Roots of sharpe pointed Dock dry'd six Ounces Rinds of Bitter-sweet two Ounces being slic't and bruis'd mix them or let a Bouchet of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla Saunders with the Shavings of Ivory Harts-horn Licorice c. be taken As to altering Remedies besides the Physick Ale for ordinary Drink there seems not need of many others only that a good Dyet be observ'd by avoiding Salt and Peppered Meats Shell-fish and others which have been laid in Brine Also let them forbear Wine strong Waters strong Beer and all Liquors apt to trouble the Blood too much and to ferment it In an obstinate Scab seizing a Cacochymical Body it 's proper to give the following Electuary with the distill'd water twice a Day Take Conserve of Fumitory of the Roots of sharpe pointed Dock of each three Ounces Troches of Rhubarb Species Diatrion Santalon of each a Dram and a half Salt of Wormwood a Dram Vitriol of Mars four Scruples with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb make an Electuary the Dose is from a Dram to two Drams twice a Day drinking after it of the following distill'd Water three Ounces Take Firr Tops seven handfuls Leaves of Fumitory Agrimony Female Fluellin Liver-wort Brook-limes of each four handfuls Roots of sharpe pointed Dock two Pounds Rinds of Elder two handfuls the outward Rinds of six Oranges being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them Whey made with midling Ale eight Pounds distil it in common Organs let the whole Liquor be mixt Ointments to be anointed on the Skin are prescrib'd most frequently and that very effectually for Curing the Itch Though those that are us'd to many other Tumours and Sores do no good here But Sulphur and preparations of it seem to have a certain Specifick Vertue in this Disease so that they are ingredients in almost all Ointments for the Itch and are the basis of the whole Composition This is a very common receipt with the vulgar Take of the Powder or Flowers of Sulphur half an Ounce Butter without Salt four Ounces Ginger powdred half a Dram make a Liniment Somewhat a neater prescript though not much more Efficacious is after this manner Take Vngentum Rosatum four Ounces Sulphur-vive powdred half an Ounce Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium what suffices make a Liniment to which add Oyl of Rhodium a Scruple to give it a scent When you will strengthen or raise the Energy of the Sulphur by the addition of other things Take of the Ointment of Elecampane without Mercury four Ounces Power of Sulphur half an Ounce Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium what suffices For the same purpose an Ointment is made of the Roots of sharp pointed Dock boyl'd in Butter or Oyl with White-wine till the Wine be consum'd and with Sulphur and Oyl of Tartar Moreover those Ointments are sometimes us'd by themselves by curious persons abhorring the ill odour of the Sulphur The Third kind of Liniment against the Itch is made of Mercury needing no assistance from Sulphur or Vegetables nay this being more than enough efficacious of it self is not wont to be apply'd to the whole Body but only to the Joints of the Arms and Leggs or being put in a Girdle is to be worn about the Loins for so it seldom fails of Curing the Itch Nevertheless there is danger lest this Practice as it often happens causes ill and pernicious Symptoms Frequently after the Mercury Ointment a Salivation sometimes also a Scotomia or
new stock of the same Disease biginning to spring forth grew up in a short time to its wonted Maturity Moreover when one of these persons would repeat this Medicine and another after two returns of the Di2ease would try it a third time both of them at length despair'd of Cure after they had underwent so much Misery Whence it appears that the French-pox though Malignant in the highest Nature and causing most Filthy and Virulent Ulcers consuming the Flesh and Bones may much more easily and ceratinly be Cur'd than the running Scab The reason of ti is that the cause of the Pox consists in a Malignant and altogether Heterogeneous Miasin defiling and as ti were Poysoning the Blood and Nervous Liquor for some time though not wholly subverting their Crasis or utterly depraving them for the future Wherefore that Cure is perform'd by Salivation or a Sweating Diet extirpating all that Venom the Genuine Disposition of the Blood and Humours then remaining But in a deep sort of running Scab the Elementary and Originally composong Particles of the Blood are corrupted so that unless the Crasis and due Disposition of these be restor'd all sorts of Evacuations and Purgings of the Malignant and Venemous matter though never so fll and eradicative will effect little or nothing Wherefore it is not without ground that many famous Physitians formerly have judg'd this Disease when coufirm'd and drawing near to a Leaprosie to be hardly or never Cur'd 2. No better event attends this Disease when if succeeds an inveterate Scurvy Haply the intentions of Curing are somewhat more certainly pitcht upon when this effect is suppos'd to be the basis or root of that viz. the Terapeutick intention being thence taken we insist chiefly on Antiscorbutick Remedies but yet the more smart and hotter things of this kind as Scurvy-grass Cresses Horse-raddish Pepperwort and other things irritating the Blood too much in regard they more dissolve its Crasis and drive the Tartarous Concretions more plentifully to the Skin are always found rather prejudicial than advantageous And for this reason the use of hot Baths or Bathing in hot waters which in regard it evacuates the Humours of the whole Body by a most plentiful Sweat and cleanses the Pores of the Skin and mightily purges them amy seem to be very available in this Disease most commonly is so far from doing good that the Eruptions are wont thence to be mightily encreast and exasperated For I have known many persons not very much over-gone with the running Scab who going to our Bath to bathe themselves in the hot waters have return'd thence perfectly Leaprous Wherefore when this affect is a Symptom arising from the Scurvy all Smart and Elastick things being avoided let only the more temperate and such as are endow'd with a Nitrous Vitriolick or Volatile Salt be administred We shall give you some kinds and froms of each of these sorts In the First p ace things chiefly excelling in a Nitrous Sal are Chrystal Mineral the Juices or Decoctions of certain Herbs and some Purging Mineral waters Take Chrystal Mineral or Nitre purified to the highest degree an Ounce Flowers of Sal Armoniack a Dram bruise them together in a Glass Mortar give to a Dram thrice or four times in the space of twenty four hours Take Leaves of the great House-leek two handfuls being bruis'd boil them in two Pounds and a half of fresh Milk till it turn to Whey and Curd being strain'd let the clear Liquour be taken to a Pound twice a Day Take Leaves of Dandelyon six handfuls being bruis'd put them in a Glaz'd Earthen Pot with a cover which put in an Oven after the Bread is draum and let it stand for six or eight hours then the Mass being put in a strainer let the clear Liquour run out the Dose of which is from four Ounces to six thrice or oftner in a Day Cucumbers being endow'd with a Nitrous quality are found by experience to be good against this Disease wherefore let store of them be often eaten as a Sallet Moreover let three or four of them being cut into slices be infus'd and close stopt in three Pounds of fountain water all Night to the clear Liquour pour'd off add of Sal Prunella two or three Drams the Dose is half a Pound thrice or oftener in a Day for the same purpose also Decoctions of the Leaves together with the Fruit made in fountain water are proper Some Mineral Purging waters as especially those of North-hal being resolv'd by Evaporation mainifestly shew the Nitrous Salt wherewith they are imbued And I have sometimes found by expericence that dayly drinking about two quarts of them for many Days Cures a small running Scab 2. But as I have hinted before Mineral waters endow'd with a Vitriolick Salt as those of the Spaw and ours of Tunbridge and Astrope far exceed those Nitrous waters nay and all other Medicines and are of greater efficacy in the Cure of the running Scab To those who have not the conveniency of using these waters I ordinarily give with good success against this Disease common waters impregnated with our Steel and so most exactly resembling those Mineral waters It happens that Tin and Antimony by reason of their Mineral Salts or at leastwise by reason of the Mercurial Particles in them are extol'd by many for curing the running Scab and are wont to be prescrib'd with other Medicines Let Shavings of Tin and Powder of Antimony be infus'd in Beer for ordinary Drink they enter also the Decoctions of Sarza with Woods which are ordered against this affect The use of the Viper and preparations of it sufficiently recommend the excellent Vertue of Volatile Salt for the Cure of the deep sort of running Scab nay of the Leaprosie it self For it being manifest by frequent observations that Remedies prepar'd of Vipers do good in the running Scab and Leaporfie certainly the reason of the help it affords ought to be ascrib'd to the Volatile Salt with a great plenty of which this Animal is endowed For the Particles of this destroy the fixt and acid Salts predominating in the Blood of the Diseas'd and dissolve their Combinations Nevertheless the Salt Spirit and Oyl of Vipers Chymically extracted by reason of their Empyreumatick and mighty Elastick Particles which they draw from the Fire are not proper in this Disease so neither the Spirit or Volatile Salt of Harts-born Soot or Blood and other such like Armoniacks because by exagitating the Blood and Humours above measure they cause their Crasis to be more dissolv'd and their Corruptions to be driven forth more plentifully to the Skin Wherefore the more simple preparations of Vipers as Broaths of their Flesh boil'd in water Drinks impregnated with Infusions or Incoctions of the same and Powders made of the same dryed and beaten are rpescrib'd with more success against this Disease Moreover not only the Flesh of Vipers but of other kinds of Oviaprous Snakes being boil'd and eaten for ordinary Food
about the declining of the Disease viz. when the Confines of the Brain obtain'd a calm the Clouds as it were being discharg'd thence on the Brest a mighty Catarrh presently fell on the Lungs But in some especially who suffered little from the Disease in the Head presently from the beginning of the Fever a violent Cough and a Spitting of filthy Matter accompanied with a Consumptive Disposition as it were seiz'd them and precipitated them suddenly and unawares into a Consumption from which nevertheless by a seasonable use of Remedies they often unexpectedly recover'd I observ'd in some after a long failure of the sensitive faculty and an oppression of the Brain from the Morbifick Matter that at length Tumours ensued in the Glands about the Neck from which assoon as ripen'd and broken a thin and stinking Ichor flowed for a long time and gave ease I have seen also Watery Wheals sais'd in other parts of the Body which have past into bollow Ulcers with difficulty to be Cur'd Sometimes small Spots and as it were Flea-bites appear'd here and there Though I have not heard that broad and livid Spots ever were to be seen in Persons sick of this Disease However notwithstanding this Fever had not any very Malignant breakings forth yet it was not free from Contagion For in the same Family it seiz'd almost all the Children and younger People one after the other and often Persons stricken in years who attending the sick familiarly us'd about their Beds and Bed-cloaths were infected with the same Disease Yet I must say there was not so great a suspicion of infection that for that reason the Friends of the Sick should be wholly forbidden to visit them or converse with them Though all along the course of this Disease unless when the Brain was greatly assail'd it appern'd only mild and past without any dreadful Symptom nevertheless its Cure was always difficult and was not perform'd but after a long time For the Diseas'd seldom recover'd within three or four Weeks nay for the most part scarce within so many Months But if this Disease fell on Men of a decayed Age or Strength especially on such as were before subject to Cephalick Diseases as the Lethargy Apoplexy or Convulsions it often kill'd them in a shorter space Or if there were any hope of recovery it could be carryed on very slowly scarce any Remedies affording a sensible relief so that the Diseas'd were no sooner gotten without the Sphere of this Fever but they found themselves within the Confines of a Consumption If the formal reason and causes of the foresaid sickness be enquir'd into it plainly here appears that the Liquour which lies in the Brain and Genus Nervosum for the most part together with the Blood was in fault and was the immediate cause of the Symptoms that seem'd chiefly pressing viz. in as much as the Latex presently from the first invasion of the Disease was become more impoverisht than its wont and effaete as it were and therefore a Languor and Enervation with a Spontaneous Lassitude and a Disability to motion together with a sudden Consumption of the Body happen'd to the Diseas'd Though still the default of this Latex necessarily depends on the Dyscrasy of the Blood and of the ill Constiution of the Brain but here as in other places I refer you to Dr. Willis himself for a fall Aetrology of Symptoms I have often observ'd in this Fever after Oat Broath a Decoction of Barley and other thin Dyet that no less Ebullition of the Blood has been rais'd than by a full Meat Broath For indeed on one side as well as the other the Nutritive Juice sent from the Chyle into the Blood in regard it was not imploy'd in the work of Nutrition troubled the Blood as some Heterogeneous thing that would not duely mix with it And by reason of the Particles of this superfluous Juice sent off in a plentiful manner with the Serum the Urine was very thick and red and mightily fill'd with Contents And for this reason the Belly for the most part was loose in as much as the Blood being full of a Nutritious Juice suck't a less Portion of Chyle from the Lowels and discharg'd again into the Intestines a part of that which was brought into it moreover the Feverish Distemper stuck for so long time in the Blood because till upon the Restitution of the Animal Governance Nutrition was rightly perform'd that superfluous Matter was heap't together in the Mass of Blood I shall now give an instance or two of Persons affected with this Disease A Robust and Florid young Man about the beginning of the Spring An. 1661. falling sick without any evident cause soon became weak and as it were enervated with a loss of Appetite and a languishing of the Spirits Cathartick Remedies Antipyreticks Digestives nay and Antiscorbuticks and others of eivers kinds being given him according to the prescripts of famous Physicians did not the least good But the Diseas'd still continuing in a languishing condition lay by it for six weeks with a slow Fever of uncertain returns a quick and weak Pulse and a deep red Urine Moreover being mightily pined away he complain'd of a ringing in his Fars and an Undulation of sound as it were in his head Though he was affected with a great Stupor yet his Sleeps were very much troubled and interrupted with a talking Light-headed After forty days the Fever not yet declining it was thought good to draw about four or five Ounces of Blood from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches Hereupon presently the Fever began to be very much exasperated for the heat became more intense with a Thirst Watchings and an almost continual tossing of the Body the Tongue also growing dry and rough shortly after a troublesome Cough with much and discolour'd Spittle ensued There were carefully given him Almond and Barley Drinks with temperate things against the Cough boil'd in them Water of Milk distill'd with Snails and Herbs appropriated to the Thorax Powder of Shells Niter prepar'd and likewise Cordial Opiats which nevertheless scarce giving any relief the Diseas'd still became weaker And when after this manner having been sick above two Months the Feverish Distemper and the Cough also daily growing worse he seem'd to be at Death's Door at length a Sweat hapening of its own accord which sometimes came upon him every night sometimes every other night he grew better by degrees thereby and using afterwards the foresaid Medicines he became perfectly well within six weeks Whilst this Person lay ill I went to see another about Twelve years of Age affected after the like manner but this when I was first call'd having lain ill above a Month was reduc't to a Skeleton Moreover he was affected with a Giddiness a ringing in the Dars and a Deafness and likewise with a violent Cough thâ— accompanied with a yellow and as it were Consumptive Spittle His Pulse was quick and weak his Urine red and thick his
to be taken on occasion when the Spirits faultered He also Drank Oat-bear Alter'd with temperate and Diuretick Herbs By the use of these things he past at least seven years without any great alteration for the worse At length Old Age pressing opon him and the Disease together the Convulsive fits growing more violent seis'd him not as before when his sleep was over but as soon as he was warm in his Bed so that he was forc't wholly to forbear going to Bed and he put off his Cloaths but seldom unless it were to change Linnen Hence transpiration being hindred the Serous and other Filthy Dregs which were wont to evaporate were fixt on the Lungs which first brought a thick Breathing afterward an Asthmatick affect and lastly a Mortla Consumption If the reasons of the foresaid affects be enquired into it will appear that all these Evils proceeded from the ill Constitution of the Brain and Genus Nervosum and more immediatly from the Dyscrasy and Default of the Juice that lies in these parts The reason is plain why this Disease first increasing by degrees was soon rais'd to a far worse state by the use of hot Baths for it is manifest by experience that hot and sulphureous Baths very much exalt the Saline and other Morbid Particles that abound within the Viscera or Humours of Human Body and soon carry them to the highest pitch viz. by exagitaing them they render them more wildly exorbitant and froce them from the first passages into the Blood and thence into the Brain and Genus Nervosum nay and joyn them together being first sever'd and lying idle and stir them up to a certain Fermentation Wherefore such as being hereditarily obnoxious to the Gout or or Stone have not yet felt any Fits of those affects after the use of hot Baths very often find that both those diseases are presently brought to a maturity in them You may find the reasons of the other Symptoms in Dr. Willis at large So much for universal Convulsions which for the most part being joyn'd to the Paralytick affect are raised at once in many places separately there remain others which we call continual viz. because being conveyed on a sudden from these parts to others they mutually succeed each other and force the Members sometimes these sometimes others and often the whole Body to be mov'd involuntarily and to be bent and agitated divers ways I shall give you an instance or two of this affect A Beautiful Virgin tall and thin grown begotten of a Father obnoxious to very great distempers of the Genus Nervosum about the twentieth year of her Age was afflicted for many days with a very violent and Periodical Head ach at length the Winter Solstice being near at hand the pain of her head remitted but in its stead a mighty Catarrh succeeded with thin and much Spittle and with an Ulcerous affect of the Nostrils Mouth and Throat having undergone the tediousness of this for some time at length by the advice of some old Women she drew into her Mouth the smoke of Amber through a Tube and was presently Cur'd viz. the Catarrh was suddenly stopt but presently upon it she complain'd of a mighty giddiness with a Pain of the Head and a Ringing in the Ears on the third day the Tendons of the Neck were Convuls't that her head was bent sometimes forward sometimes backward sometimes sideways and sometimes it stood stiff and immovable in a short time after this such a Convulsive affect seiz'd the ontward parts of the whole Body and the Limbs the Arms and Hands were so wonderfully twisted that no Jugler of Mountibank was able to imitate their Flections and Convolutions Her Legs qand Feet were forc't awry this way and that and were made to beat aginst each other and to cross each other alternatively after this manner she was perpetually affected with Convulsive Motions either sitting in a Chair or lying in Bed unless when she was overwhelm'd with sleep and when she contained her members a little by much forcing her self presently she was seized with a difficult and short Breating and with a danger of being Choakt yet in the mean time the Eyes Jaws Mouth and inferiour Viscera continued free from any Convulsion Nor was she troubled with a Vomiting Rumbling nor Inflation of the Hypochondres Moreover her mind held always sound and she duly performed the functions of Memory Understanding and Imagination she neither spake nor did any thing shewing want of Reason or Indiscreetly but amongst all these stupendious evils always using Pious and Vertuous expressions she gave an admirable specimen of Christian Patience and Piety her appetite was soon dejected so that she was averse from all food unless very much press'd to it but thirst continually prest upon her she was so very weak she could neither stand nor go Her Urine was of an Orange Colour very much Impreguated with a Saltness on the Surface of which a thin Tartareous Film grew Being call'd to this Lady the sixth day after her being ill I proceeded in order to her Cure as follows In the first place having made a gentie preparation of the Body I gave her a Loosning Potion of an Infusion of Sena and Rhubarb with the addition of Yellow Saunders and Salt of Wormwood whereby she had twelve stools which gave her great ease the day following I drew eight Ounces of blood from her left Arm every evening I gave her an Opiate of the Water and Syrup of Cowslip flowers with the Powder of Pearl Moreover once within six hours I ordered her a Dose of Spirit of Harts Horn to be taken with a little draught of the following Jalape Take Water of black Cherries Wall-Nuts and Peony Flowers of each three Ounces the Antiepileptical Water of Langius two Ounces Syrupe of Male Peony Flowers two Ounces Pearl powdred a Scruple mix them make a Julape Because she could not bear much Purging Glysters of Milk and Sugar were frequently us'd Besides Anticonvulsive Liniments apply'd to the Neck and Spine we ordered Frictions of the Members affected with Woollen Cloths moistned in an appropriated Oyl and warm'd By the use of these things within six days the diseased seem'd to be very much relieved for the Convulsive Motions in a manner wholly ceast she could keep her Members in their due Site and without Motion only she was forc't sometimes by a slight Contraction to bow her head gently this way and that Moreover she was able to arise from her Chair and Walk a little but as she Walk't she did not go upright but inclining to one side 's Parting from her at that time I left her in a manifest state of Recovery she seeming to be much better But somewhat more then a week after a boistrous North Wind arising in the night time and blowing strongly on the diseas'd as she lay in her Bed the window being not well shut presently upon taking Cold she fell into such a relapse that she became not
only obnoxious to Convulsive affects but likewise to a Universal and Periodical Palsey For from thence forward her Head and Members being bent and toss'd again from Morning to the Evening as before she was made to Wind Bend and variously Wrest all her Limbs successively till about night those Motions being wholly appeas'd a Resolution or Palsey of the Members ensued so that she could neither move Hand nor Foot nor any part else or exercise any effort of Motition of the Body lying in the Bed like a Stone immovable But being somewhat refresht with sleep about the morning as she recovered some strength of the regular moving Faculty viz. enough to bend the Arms and Leggs to and fro tho' weakly so also the Convulsive and Involuntary Motions constantly return'd and continued for the whole day after which in the evening were again Chang'd into resolutions of the Limbs From what is said it plainly appears that the sick Lady lay under a double disease viz. APalsey and Convulsions And besides the remedies before mentioned a great many others almost of all kinds viz. Antiscorbuticks Antiparaliticks Sudorificks Decoctions Distilled Waters Spirits Elixirs Tinctures Baths Liniments with many others were carefully administred by the use of which the Symptoms were a little remitted but the disease was not perfectly Cur'd The Universal Palsey ceast in a short while so that she could move her Limbs and bend them to and fro at all times nay and the involuntary Motions of her Members seldomer molested her yet she still continued faint and weak and as she was of a tender Constitution and inclin'd to a Consumption and now become unapt for all exercise the filthy Dregs of the Blood depos'd in the Lungs by reason of her letted transpiration brought a Cough which dayly growing worse and worse she dyed at length Pthisical Many years since I was call'd to a noble Virgin taken almost after the same and somewhat a worse manner For this underwent Involuntary Motions of the Head and Members viz. either Shakings of them or Bendings this way and that or Wrestings of them returning almost in a constant Course Moreover she was affected with a very troublesome and wholly wonderful Convulfion of the Diaphragm and Muscles that serve for respiration for every minute of an hour and oftener the Back Bone about the middle of it was made crooked and at the same time Breast Springing forward and the Hypocondres contracting inward a very Sonorous Sobbing and the same sometimes doubled sometimes tripled but still less and less Shrill came from her she was wont to continue these Motions and Reciprocation of noise many hours so that she was heard throughout the whole house if at any time a short intermission of this happen'd presently she was forc't strongly to beat or clasp her arms and hands one with the other sometimes her Legs and Feet and sometimes to throw her Head after a most violent manner by and by to hold her Neck as it were still and immovable Sometimes in speaking her Tongue was so taken that she repeated the same word often nay more than at least twenty times When the Convulsive Motions were strong in the Exteriour Members she was a little somewhat free from that stridulous Sobbing affect and she call'd this the space of Intermission and the time of her ease tho' in the mean while her Head and Members were drawn every way with violent Motions If at any time she lay on her Left Side presently an inward Contraction of the right Hypocondre with a Sobbing happen'd within a few days her strength being very much dejected by the assidnity of these affects she got such a weakness in her Loins and Knees that she could neither stand nor go The Stomach being affected either with a Languor or Convulsion threw up all by Vomit that was put into it Coming to her the fourth day I gave her a Vomit after which she Vomited sever times a viscous Flegm with store of Yellow Choler but without any relief The day after I drew six Ounces of Blood from her Arm wereupon the Blood presently taking violently to the Head she complain'd very much of a Head-ach and Giddiness but being Blooded in the Foot within three days she was better She tooks afterwards remedies appropriated to the Nerves viz. Spirit of Harts-horn and of Blood Powders of Shells Bezoars Anticonvulsive Julaps and Electuaries by the use of thse things the Symptoms seem'd somewhat to abate yet continued still in some Measure according to the Forms before described After a fortnight by the advice of some Country Woman she took six spoonfuls of Blood drawn from the Ear of an Ass in a draught of bear whereuopn on a sudden she seem'd to be Cur'd For the Convulsive Motions presently all ceast and she past twenty four hours free from them nevertheless the disease returning shortly upon it with its wonted violence yielded not easily to that Medicine nor indeed to any other whatsoever therefore for the time to come she took Medicines methodically prescribed She Purg'd gently once in six days besides she took a Powder made of Bezoar Pearl and Coral with the Seeds and Roots of Peony also the Electuary prescribed by Horstius against these kinds of marvellous Convulsions and likewise Julaps and Decoctions appropriated to Convulsive affects Glysters were frequently given Frictions Vesicatories and Linements were administred with good effect within a fortnight the Sobbing affect wholly ceast nay and the rest of the Convulsive Motions being rendred more mild by degrees remitted very much but as she was recovering of those affects she was so troubled with a Catarrh falling on her Throat that she Spit forth almost continually a Sharp and as it were Corrosive Spittle as if a Salivation were rais'd by taking Mercury Which kind of remedy the event prov'd to be extreamly proper in this case tho' I wholly forbore using it because the diseased and here friends were not free to admit of it After that this Copious and very troublesome Spitting had continued for many days the disease seem'd to be in a manner wholly Cur'd So that the Noble Lady being free from theConvulsive Motions walk't abroad and had a good Strength and Stomachâ— Only she complain'd that at certain times in the day she was affected on a sudden with a Shivering of her whole Body for about a quarter of an hour which kind of affect sometimes also hapning by night broke her sleep Within a months space this Symptom also and likewise the Catarrh wholly ceast but afterward she was so afflicted sometimes with a Sharpness in the Ventricle and Passage of the Aesophagus sometimes also in the Jaws and Palate that she fear'd lest those parts the inner Skin being worn away would contract an Ulcerous affect Moreover often in her sleep and sometimes also waking she us'd to be troubled with an Incubus I ordered her a gentle Purge to be given Spring and Fall with the use of Antiscorbutick remedies and sometimes Chalybeats Which
Vomit and for above a week afterward he was without any impediment in his Thorax But then a like fit of the Asthma returning treated him a little more mildly and afterward he was wont to be troubled with a like assault of the Asthma upon great changes of the Air especially when an intense Cold and Snow were at hand Moreover we judge that sometimes this Convulsive straitness of Breath is rais'd by reason of the Bronchia of the Trachea being too much straitn'd and often wholly clos'd by the Constriction of the Nerves and stocks of Nervous Fibres which every where compass about the Ramifications of the Aspera Arteria that Constriction happening when those Nerves are forced to frequent Convulsions from a Morbifick matter besetting them A fine young Virgin of a soft and tender Constitution and of a florid Countenance was scarce turn'd of eight years of age but began to be sorely troubled with Asthmatick Fits and she lived at least four years obnoxious to them before she was committed to my care sometimes she continues two or three Months free from any Invasion of this Disease yet oftentimes by reason of errors committed in Dyet or upon great changes of the Year or of the Air she falls into cruel Fits of straitness of Breath so that the Lungs being blown up and raised towards the Throat and there held by an almost continual dilatation the Diseased can scarce breath at all mean while the Diaphragm and Muscles of the Breast are laboriously occupied in thick repeated efforts of motion in order to draw the Breath by one means or other this access within seven or eight hours remitting by degrees ceases a while but now and then within a Week or two it is wont to return either of its own accord or on any light occasion being offer'd after the violence of the Disease is past its matter being spent in many such Fits the young Lady continues well enough for many Weeks nay sometimes Months and being free from any Distemper of the Thorax she Breaths freely I order'd her Spring and Fall the following Method of Cure and now she has been without any Fit of the foresaid Affect above two Years Take our Sulphur of Antimony six Grains Cream of Tartar six Grains mix them Let it be given in the Pap of a boiled Apple After taking this Medicine she is wont to Vomit four or five times After four days she takes this Purge which also she is wont to repeat twice allowing six or seven days betwixt whiles Take Calomelanos twelve Grains Rosin of Jalap five Grains Castoreum four Grains with a sufficient quantity of Ammoniacum dissolved make three Pills She takes besides every day Morning and Evening twelve Grains of Tincture of Antimony in a Spoonful of the following Julape drinking after it six or seven Spoonfuls of the same Take Water of Snails six Ounces of Earth-worms four Ounces Water of Pennyroyal and Rue of each four Ounces Hysterick Water three Ounces Castoreum tyed in a Nodulus and hung in a Glass half a Dram double refined Sugar an Ounce Mix them in a Glass make a Julape About Autumn the last Year another young Girl of Quality being ill after the like manner viz. with a Periodical Asthma was brought to me to be cured who using the foresaid Reme dies in a little less Dose and repeating the same the last Spring found a mighty Relief As to the Remedies and Method of Cure that ought to be us'd if at any time to a Cough or straitness of Breath first raised through a fault in the Lungs Convulsive Symptoms also supervene by reason of an injury communicated to the Brain let care be taken that Anticonvulsive Medicines be aptly complicated with such as have regard to any intents whatsoever of the Thorax and also sometimes That one while these another while the others being given apart the times of Curing be interchangeably observed It will be needless to give here Bechick or Pneumonick Medicines and their forms whereof there is a vast store every where to be found amongst Physical Authors it will be more to our purpose to set down a method of Physick and some select Remedies that are proper in a Cough and Asthma which are meerly Convulsive As to the former Affect which is chiefly familiar to Children and for the most part is not Cured but with difficulty and after a long time the chief Indications will be both to purge the serous and sharp Humours from the Blood and Viscera for preventing their Incursion and discharge on the Brain and sometimes haply on the Breast and to strengthen these parts that they do not easily admit into them the Superfluities of the boiling Serum for these ends Vomits and gentle Purges in a manner always are conducing and ought by some means to be repeated Vesicatories are often beneficial and if the Disease be obstinate let Issues be made in the Nape of the Neck or in the Arm or about the Arm-pits Let Drink and Liquid Food be taken in a less quantity than usual instead of Drink let a Bochet of Sarsa China the Saunders Shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn with Diuretick and Anticonvulsive Ingredients be used In this case certain specifick Remedies as it were are greatly commended of which kind are Cup Moss given in Powder or boil'd in Milk and so given frequently every day the Decoction or Syrup of Castoreum and Saffron the Decoctions of Peony-Root Misteltow of the Oak also of Hyssop have helpt many Water of Black-Cherries of Saxifrage Water of Snails distilled with Whey and appropriated Ingredients are often given with success 2. I have shewn you before by what method and with what Bemedies I have Cured a Periodical Asthma in some but besides the famous Riverius has observ'd that Vomits do most good to many affected with this Disease for that Medicine greatly shaking and irritating the Emunctories that are seated about the first Passages strongly expresses and draws away from the same the filthy Dregs of the Blood and Nervous Juice which were apt to be forc'd into or to stagnate in the Brain and Genus Nervosum Zacutus Lusitanus greatly extols and not without reason Cauteries burnt sometimes in the Bregma sometimes in the Nape of the Neck or about the Arm-pits Preparations of Millepedes viz. in the form of a dry Powder or of a Distill'd Liquor seldom want success for such withdraw the superfluities of the Serum or Genus Nervosum from the Head and convey them to the Urinary Passages For the same reason gentle Purges and such as evacuate per Epicrasin are frequently used for this purpose the Decoction of an old Cock with altering and gently Purging Medicines sown up in the Belly of it is commended by many Besides the Remedies hitherto mentioned some are said to be appropriated to and as it were Specificks for the Asthma such as are Balsam of Sulphur Teribinthinated also Spirit of Harts-horn or of Soot impregnated with the same Syrup of Tobacco of Ammoniacum
every sixth hour with a Scorbutick Water or with the Decoction of the Roots and Seeds of the great Burr Dock as it is above describ'd or also with Posset-Drink having the Roots and Seeds of the great Bur Dock and the Leaves of sweet Marjoram and Saxifrage Boyl'd in it and the leaves of Scurvy-grass infus'd In the Scorbutick Colick also in the affects of the Stomack even now describ'd the use of Purging Spaw Waters such as we have at Epsom and Barnet often proves of an excellent effect Of the Diarrhaea or Loosness and Dysenterical Affects AN inveterate Loosness such as frequently happens to Scorbutical Persons ought by no means to be stopt with astringent Medicines nor is it easily cured by altering Medicines or by Antiscorbuticks Spaw-waters impregnated with Iron or Vitriol are the best Remedy for this Affect Next these are Artificial Spaws or Chalybeate Medicines which are wont to give a mighty relief Crocus Martis duely prepared is justly preferr'd before all others I have often used the following Method with good Success In the first place Let a Purge be ordered of the Powder or Infusion of Rhubarb with the addition of Aromatick Astringents and now and then let it be repeated viz. within the space of three or four days on the other days let a Dose of the following Electuary to the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken in the Morning and at four of the Clock Take Conserve of Common Wormwood made with an equal part of Sugar six Ounces in a hot Constitution instead of this let Conserve of Red Roses be taken Species Diarrhodon Abbatis two Drams white and red Saunders powdered of each a dram the best Crocus Martis half an Ounce with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Steel make an Electuary In Dysenterical Affects and the Tenesmus you must proceed after the like method especially let Spaw-waters be drank if it may be Moreover let Glysters prepar'd of vulnerary Decoctions be frequently used I lately Cured a certain person troubled with a long continued and dangerous Bloody Flux who had daily voided many Ounces of Blood by Siege for a long time with this Remedy Take of the best Rhubarb powdered an Ounce red Saunders powdered two Drams Cinamon a Dram Crocus Martis three Drams Lucatellus Balsom what suffices make a Mass for Pills He took four Pills sometimes every day sometimes every other day for a Fortnight and was perfectly cured To this person also I prescrib'd a Physick Beer of the Infusion of the Roots of sharp pointed Dock and the Leaves of Brooklimes to be constantly taken Of Giddines and Swooning and other Affects usually joyned with it in the Scorbutick Affect A Giddiness often happens upon an inveterate Scurvy to which also a frequent Swooning and almost a continual danger of it and likewise a numness in the Members and a sense of Formication running sometimes in one place and sometimes in another are wont to be joyned which kind of Affects proceed from the failings of the Animal Spirits in their Origine it self and sometimes from the failings of the same with the Nerves both belonging to the Heart and to the Members that serve for motion and in regard thy depend on the Brain and the Genus Nervosum their being very much over-charged with a Scorbutick Salt they are not easily cured Cephalick Remedies such as are proper in a Giddiness and Paralytick Affects raised by themselves ought to be given with Antiscorbuticks mixt with them therefore in the first place a Provision being made for the whole by fit Catharticks and such as are proper in the Scurvy you may proceed after this manner with appropriated Remedies against the foresaid Affects About the beginning of the Cure let Blood be drawn from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches and unless somewhat indicates the contrary let it be frequently repeated afterward Take Powder of the Root of Male-Peony half an Ounce red Coral prepar'd two Drams mans Scull Elks-hoof of each a Dram Take double refined Sugar dissolved in Peony-water Compound or in the Water of Horse-raddish and boyled to a Consistency for Tablets eight Ounces Oyl of Amber excellently rectified half a Dram Make Tablets according to Art Take to a Dram and a half or two Drams Morning and Evening drinking after it a Draught of the following distill'd Water Take Leaves of Scurvy-grass Brooklimes Water-cresses Lillies of the Valley Sage Rosemary Betony of each three handfulls green Wallnuts a Pound the Rinds of six Oranges and four Lemons fresh Roots of Male-Peony a Pound and a half being sliced and bruised pour to them of the Phlegm of Vitriol a Pound Whey made with Cyder five Pounds let them the distill'd after the common way let the whole Liquour be mixt together The Dose is from three Ounces to four Of Haemorrhagies Haemorrhagies often threaten a mighty danger in the Scorbutick butick Affect the Diseased being thereby thrown headlong as it were into the Jaws of Death whil'st the Blood breaks froth almost to a Swooning sometimes from the Nostrils sometimes by the Menses or Haemorrhoids Moreover being sometimes cast up from the Lungs or Stomach it gives us a Suspicion of an Ulcer or at leastwise of a great weakness lying hid in the part affected Wherefore excretions of Blood if they are either immoderate or happen in an improper place ought to be stopt for the present and prevented for the future For stopping Blood when it breaks forth immoderately the method is vulgarly enough known and there remains nothing more or peculiar to be done when happening in this Affect by reason of the Scurvy than on other Occasions But yet to prevent Haemorrhagies let Remedies be administred which take away the Acrimony of the Blood and constringe the over-lax and gaping Mouths of the Vessels both intents are excellently perform'd by Chalybeate Medicines the use of Vitriolick Spaw-waters is very proper for this purpose Moreover Infusions Extracts Salts and the like Preparations of Steel which contain chiefly the saline or vitriolick part of the Iron are always very profitable against Haemorrhagies We have shewn before by what means Iron and its preparations produce these effects and divers others in Human Bodies Take Conserves of Red Roses and of the Wild Rose of each three Ounces Species Diarrhodon Abbatis and Diatrion Santalon of each a Dram and a half Salt of Steel a Dram Crocus Martis excellently prepar'd two Drams Red Coral prepar'd a Dram and a half with a sufficient quantity of Syrupe of Steel make an Electuary let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken thrice a day drinking after it a draught of an Appropriated Liquor To poor people I use to prescribe thus Take tops of Cypress and of stinging Nettles of each four Ounces Brooklimes two Ounces let them be bruised in a Mortar with ten Ounces of double refined Sugar then add Scales of Iron very finely powdered an Ounce Powder of white and red Saunders of each two Drams with a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of
the first scope of Curing which we must first and chiefly have respect to we say that the matter or Humours that are wont to be heap'd together about the parts of the Head predispos'd for a Head-ach and to raise the fits of the Disease are the Blood or its Serum or the nutritive or nervous juice Moreover with all these vapours and effluvia also excrements sometimes bilous sometimes melancholick sometimes acid salt sulphureous and others of various kinds being receiv'd into the Blood from the Viscera sometimes these sometimes others are convey'd along with it to the Head against the salleys and incursions of all which let Physical defensatives be ordered 1. And first if the Procatarxis or disposition for pains being plac'd about the Membranes of the Head the Blood as being hot and apt for turgescencies rushes now and then all of a sudden into the Membranes of the Head and upon it s not easily passing them stretches the Vessels above measure and severs from each other the nervous Fibres and so raises fits of this disease a sign of which are a sanguine temperament heat and a suffusion of redness in the Head about the Face also a high and vibrating Pulse with Veins stroutting with Blood we must presently endeavour both that the Blood being rendred more calm be not so readily put upon turgescencies and also that when stirr'd and boyling it be not carried with a greater salley to the Head than to other Parts nor be not forc'd there to stagnate by reason of the Sinus's of the Meninges being too much fill'd Wherefore if the fit continues long let the Person be blooded in the Arm or in the Jugular Vein out of the Fits it is sometimes proper to draw Blood from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches to wit that by this means the Blood haply boyling may be drawn downward towards that place whither it often tends of its own accord Let Oxyrhodinums or other Epithems be applied to the Head moreover let Juleps Emulsions or Decoctions which allay the fervour or fury of the Blood be taken Let the Belly be cooled and kept soluble by the use of Clysters Morever for prevention Whey or the use of Spaw-waters is convenient also drinking of Water a thin and cooling dyet do good You must order a forbearance of Wine Spices Bathing Venery any violent motion of the Body or Mind and all hot things Moreover for fixing the Blood and preventing its effervescencies let distilled Waters expressions of Heerbs or Decoctions Electuaries Powders and especially Crystal Mineral be frequently us'd It will not be needful to subjoyn here a method or particular forms of Medicines because in this case almost every Person that is ill being taught by frequent experience from things that do him good or hurt is wont to be his own Physician 2. It is seldom that the Blood is in the fault alone or only by it self Other Humours oftner being carried to the Head by the conveyance of the Blood and there depos'd cause the Evil If at any time therefore a filthy glut of Serum breaking forth in abundance from the Blood causes frequent Head-achs the signs whereof are Catarrhs at the same time infesting the other parts viz. the Nostrils Mouth or Trachaea then abstinence and rest being commanded and the Belly being emptied by a Clyster let the fluxion of the Serum be permitted to appease it self and the matter discharg'd on the Membranes of the Head to evaporate Which if they do not follow of their own accord and in a short time in a hot constitution Bleeding often is proper viz. inasmuch as the Vessels being emptied of Blood suck in again the extravasated Serum But in cold Persons Vesicatories applied to the Neck or behind the Ears are of excellent use Then after that the Belly is emptied by a Clyster let the fluxion be appeas'd by the use of an Anodyne or gentle Opiat and that being appeas'd it is proper to give a gentle Cathartick and then Medicines that operate by Urine or Sweat or together by both and so gently evacuate the superfluous Serosities Medicines fit for these ends are every where to be found in Books which nevertheless may not be us'd rashly and indifferently by Empiricks but they ought to be chosen compounded or altered nay and sometimes to be prepared Extempore as occasion requires according to the judgement and discretion of a prudent Physician respect being always had to the Constitution Temperament Idiocrasis and other accidents and circumstances of the Patient Wherefore in regard it would be superfluous to heap together here a great many Receipts I have rather thought fit to rpopose here only a form or two of the Medicines of each kind viz. of such as regard the chief Intents Take Pills of Amber half a dram Rosin of Jalap four grains Balsam of Peru what suffices make four Pills let three be taken going to Bed and the next morning if the former do not work enough Or Take Scammony sulphurated half a Scruple Ceruse of Antimony fifteen grains Cream of Tartar eight grains make a Powder let it be taken in a spoonful of Panada early in the morning Take Sulphur of Antimony four grains Rosin of Jalap five grains Cream of Tartar six grains let them be bruis'd together and with a sufficient quantity of Conserve of Violets make a Bolus to be taken early in the morning with Governance Take roots of Butchers-broom the great Bur-dock Chervill Avens of each an ounce preserv'd Eringo's an ounce and a half Florentine Orris three drachms the lesser Galingal a drachm and a half Bur-dock-seeds three drachms dryed leaves of Betony Sage Vervain Fluellin of each half a handful Raisins ston'd two ounces boyl them in four pounds of Fountain Water will a third part of it be consum'd then add of White-wine half a pound strain it let it be sweeten'd if need be with Syrup of the five roots two ounces let six ounces be taken warm twice or thrice a day a good while after meat For such as have a Cold and Flegmatick constitution let a Decoction be prepar'd of the Wood Guiacum Sassafras Sarzapar With the addition of the foresaid Ingredients make an Apozeme whereof let six or eight ounces be taken twice or thrice a day warm For Poor People and often to the Rich I use to prescribe with good Success a Decoction of the dryed Leaves sometimes of Sage sometimes of Betony Vervain or of Rosemary made in fountain Water and then impregnated with the Tincture of the Powder of Coffee-berries to be taken twice a day warm to six or eight Ounces 3. But if with the abounding Serum Particles also saline acid bilous or otherwise infesting are violently carried into the Membrances of the Head either wholly from the Mass of Blood or by the Mediation of this as receiv'd from the Viscera and there being fix'd cause more acute and lasting Pains then it will be proper sometimes to repeat a spare Bleeding and also a gentle
for being given in a good large quantity they seldom cause Sleep and render the affected more faint and weak It often succeeds better if going to bed they take some gentle and pleasant drink as especially our Ale being clear and mild or also posset drink with Cowslip Flowers boyled in it or an emulsion of the Seeds of Melons and Almonds in a great quantity viz. to two or three pounds I was advis'd with some time since for an old hypochondriacal man who besides other symptoms usual in that case had liv'd for many years obnoxious to a frequent loud and very troublesome belching He was wont every day to fall a belching twice or thrice for about two hours together and with so great a noise that he was heard to a great distance But sometimes for a week or two and sometimes for a month that belching was chang'd into a watching for the former affect becoming much more remiss the worthy man past often whole nights without sleep and when sometimes he had been constantly waking for three or more days not yet seeming to want sleep he complain'd of no drowsiness dulness or failing of the Spirits Narcoticks having seldome or never given him relief he took sometimes in the evening Posset-drink made with Ale or Canary at the beginning of the night he drank sometimes Ale sometimes Distill'd Waters by the use of which a little sleep often followed then afterward the Watching-evil vanishing by degrees the belching return'd Whence it may appear that the cause of both was the same viz. adust and irritating Particles sent from the mass of Blood sometimes into the Coats of the Stomach sometimes into the cortical part of the Brain 2. Besides these distinct affects or exorbitancies of sleep and waking there remain other conjunct or complicated irregularities of them in which the acts of both functions are perverted together which we may observe in the affect vulgarly call'd the VVatching Coma concerning which we shall now speak in short Those that are troubled with the VVatching Coma tho they are always inclin'd to sleep yet they can scarce sleep at all but seem like Tantalus to stand always up to the Lips in the River Lethe for sipping of which whenever they sink themselves deeper the yielding Waters always subside lower They feel a very great heaviness of the Head with a drowsiness of the senses and all the faculties so that they are troubled to move themselves any way in their Bed or to be disturb'd by the speech of standers by that speak to them still expecting to fall presently into a quiet sleep to which nevertheless when they wholly yield up themselves and endeavour straitly to embrace it various phantasms presenting themselves to their mind keep them still waking nor permit them at all to enjoy that Sleep which seems always to be ready for them To this often is added a Delirium so that whilst the Diseased lye with their Eyes clos'd they talk always absurdly and at random and throw their Arms and Legs this way and that in a disorderly manner and being awak'd look gastly It 's a usual thing for such as are in Fevers to continue all night overwhelm'd with a sleepiness as it were but so that in the mean while they are scarce silent for a quarter of an hour but mutter various things with themselves nay sometimes cry out howl and leap out of Bed If the reason of this be enquir'd into it seems that we ought to say that the Pores and Passages in the Brain which are the avenues of the Spirits are very much possest by a gross and soporiferous matter sent from the mass of the Blood so that the Spirits being very much letted from their wonted expansion and mutual commerce a great and invincible Sleep seems presently to be at hand but in as much as certain sharp and very active Particles stick to those Spirits as so many stings they are incessantly incited to motion and therefore some of them forcibly pass the wayes however stopt and beset with fence and meet against each other directly or obliquely according as they can find a way and such their motion tho it be not able to procure a compleat exercise of the animal function yet it easily hinders its rest and cessation so that those that are troubled with this Disease keep betwixt Sleep and wake The VVatching-coma is seldom a Disease of it self but for the most part is a symptom and happens upon other affects as a Fever the Frensy Lethargy and the like wherefore it does not require a peculiar method of Cure but it seems only to be needful that to the Remedies primarily indicated other Cephalicks be joyn'd which may disperse these meteors as it were like Clouds and Lightning or if both of them cannot be exterminated together let the Medicine joyn it self to the aid of one affect by which that being becom superior let it presently overcome the other so in a sleepy Watching it is proper to procure either a perfect Sleep or a perfect Watching and in this case I have often given Narcoticks with good success CHAP. V. Instructions and Prescripts for curing the Incubus or Night-mare SO far of the irregularities or morbid Exorbitancies of Sleep and Watching which being proper to and as it were peculiarly attending the Brain affect the Cerebellum but rarely and only secondarily but there remains an affect vulgarly call'd the Incubus or Nightmare which being peculiar to this Region and in some sort analogous to the soporiferous Diseases in as much as its Fits arise in a manner from hence that by reason of the Animal Spirits being bound or supprest in the Cerebellum an Eclipse or interruption of them tho short is caus'd in the exercise of the vital Function That the nature of this Disease may be the better known in the first place let us consider its Phoenomena A Fit of the Incubus most commonly and in a manner only seizing us whilst we are asleep is wont to be rais'd for the most part after the Stomach 's being loaded with food of ill digestion and a lying on the back in bed those that are troubled with it seem to perceive themselves chiefly offended with it in the Breast and about the Praecordia for respiration being supprest or very much hindred they think themselves opprest with a certain weight lying heavily on the Thorax which weight cheats their imaginations sometimes with one Apparition sometimes with another and when they think to shake it off or put it from them by the motion of their Body or Limbs they are not able to stir either their Body or any Limb any way but after a long struggling in the Praecordia and sometimes almost to the loss of Life at length they awake and being fully come to themselves from their sleep the imaginary weight vanishes on a sudden and the moving force of the Body is restored there remaining nevertheless for the most part a trembling of the Heart and
sometimes they are troubled more than usually of their own accord for when by a long digestion the sulphureous part of the Wine is exalted too much it falls into an effervescence greater than it ought and unless it be presently appeas'd it perverts the crasis of the Liquour by its Turgescency the same thing altogether seems to be in the feverish Effervescence rais'd in the Blood which is wont to be introduc'd for those kinds of causes The third observation or comparison of the Blood with Wine is this Wines as many other Liquours have their times of Crudity Maturation and decay the same thing being to be observ'd in the Blood concerning which sec Dr. Willis as large So far of the comparison of the Blood with wine what follows its similitude with Milk consists in the diversity of its parts and their parting from each other which is chiefly seen in it when it is let out of the Veins and grows cold in a Vessel For when the heat and vital Spirit which preserve all in a mixture are fled away the remaining parts depart from each other and there is made a separation of the thin from the thick of the Serum from the fibrous Blood c. After having considered the Blood we may observe that the nutritive Juice supply'd from the Blood and sever'd from its mass for the nutrition of the solid parts sometimes by reason of its depravation and irregular motion causes many symptoms in Fevers This nutritive Juice which is supply'd from the mass of Blood by a certain circulation after it has past the nervous parts what remains of it being effaete and Poor as it were is sent again by the Lymphick Vessels to the Blood CHAP. II. Of the Motion and Effervescencies of the Blood WE must next enquire concerning the Bloods motion both natural viz. by the help of what ferments and by what fort of turgescency of the parts it is circulated in a continual motion through the Vessels and preternatural viz. for what causes and by the efforts of what parts sometimes it boyles above measure in its Vessels and falls into feverish Effervescencies Concerning the natural Motion of the Blood we do not here enquire concerning its circulation viz. by what knid of structure of the Heart and Vessels as it were in a Water Engine it is carried round in a constant course but concerning its Fermentation viz. by what kind of mixture of the Parts and their mutual Action on each other like Wine fermenting in a Vessel it continually boyles and this kind of motion depends both on the Heterogeneity of the parts of the Blood it self and on the various ferments which are inspir'd into the mass of Blood from the Viscera As to the first those things which have altogether the like Particles do not ferment wherefore neither distill'd Waters chymical Oyles Spirits of Wine or other simple Liquours are stir'd at all but the Blood consisting of various Elements of a contrary nature and working on each other continually ferments and his all its Particles in a perpetual Motion It is an Argument that Ferments are requir'd for Sanguification because when they fail by nature they are supply'd by Art with good success for fixt Salts Alchalies Extracts Digestives and especially Chalybeat Remedies give help only in this respect that they restore a new the ebullition of the Blood either weak or almost extinct As to what concerns natural Ferments certainly many may be form'd and stor'd up in divers Parts or Viscera for any Humour in which the Particles of Salt Sulphur or Spirit being very much exalted are contain'd indues the nature of a Ferment After that manner Yest and Leaven come to be such with which new Beer and a mass of Bread are excellently fermented In like manner an acetous Humour in the Stomack participating of an exalted Salt helps there Concoction and in the Spleen the Dreggs of the Blood by reason of the Salt and Earth exalted in them turn to a ferment How great a Vigour comes to the Blood from the Womb and genital Parts appears hence because from the Privation or Discrasie of these in Virgins a Green-sickness in Men a want of Beard a weak Voice and an amission of Virility follow but the cheif ferment which ferves for Sanguification is lodged in the Heart for here is the greatest scat of heat in which the more crude Particles of the Chyme are kindled as it were and acquire a volatility Therefore the Motion and heat in the Blood depend chiefly on two things viz. partly on its proper Crasis and Constitution whereby being plentifully compos'd of the active Principles of Spirit Salt and Sulphur it grows turgid of its own accord in its Vessels as Wine in a Hogs-head and partly on the ferment implanted in the Heart which very much rarifles the Liquour passing through its Sinus's and forces it to spring forth with a frothy Effervescency Let thus much suffize concerning the natural Motion Heat and Fermentation of the Blood in the even tenour of which the state of our Health consists to speak now of its preternatural or over great Effervescency on which the Types and Fits of Fevers depend I call an over-great or preternatural Fermentation when the Blood like a Pot boyling over the Fire boyles above measure and being rarified with a frothy Turgescency swells the Vessels raises a quick Pulse and like a sulphureous Liquour taking fire diffuses on all sides a burning heat This kind of Motion or Fermentation of the Blood is excellently illustrated by the example of fermenting Wines for Wines besides the gentle and even fermentation whereby they are first depurated at certain times boyl so mightily that they work over the Vessels and if they are close stopt they make them flye in pieces after this manner being put upon an effort as it were unless they are presently drawn off from the Tartar or their Lees into another vessel they cease not to boyl till the Spirit being very much spent and the Sulphur or Salt too much exalted they either become over-fretted or degenerate into Vinegar Such an Effervescency is wont to be raised chiefly for two Causes first when any thing extraneous and immiscible is put into the Vessel so some drops of Tallow or of Fat dropt into the vessel produce this Motion or secondly when Wines having too much Lees or Tartar by reason of the sulphureous parts exalted above measure fall into an Effervescence of their own accord and boyl vehemently for in whatsoever substance Sulphur abounds and its Particles being loosned from their mixture joyn with one another and are kept close together there such immoderate Effervescencies are procur'd After the like tho not wholly the same manner as Wines ferment the Ebullition of the Blood is caused viz. either some extraneous and heterogeneous thing is mixt with the Blood which in regard it is not assimilated is wont to cause a perturbation and Effervescence till the heterogeneous thing be either subdued or
Motion of the Body or Perturbation of Mind from an ambient heat as that of the Sun or of a Stove by hot things inwardly taken as drinking of Wine eating of peppered Meats and the like for the Spirits of the Blood easily wax very hot of their own accord and being violently moved are not presently appeased but exagitate variously confound and force to a rapid and disorderly Motion other Particles of the Blood also by this Motion of the Spirits the Sulphur or the oily part of the Blood is more boyled a little more dissolved and somewhat more freely kindled in the Heart whence an intense heat is raised in the whole Body but for as much as the Sulphur is heated and inflamed only by minute Parts and not throughout the whole that fervour of the Spirits is soon allayed and ceases Wherefore the Fever which is raised after this manner is terminated for the most part within twenty four hours and therefore is called an Ephemera And if by reason of a greater heat of the spirituous Blood it be prorogued longer it seldom exceeds three dayes and it is called an Ephemera of many dayes or a Synochus not putrid but if it happens to be extended beyond this time this Fever readily passes into a putrid to wit from the long continued ebullition of the spirituous Blood at length the grosser Particles of the Sulphur fall a burning and involve the whole mass of Blood in this Effervescence An Ephemera Fever and a simple Synochus seldom begin without an evident Cause besides the things before-mentioned immoderate Labour Watchings a sudden Passion of the Mind a constriction of the Pores Surfeiting also a Bubo or Wound in Child-bearing Women an increase of milk are wont to bring these the procatarctick causes which dispose to them are a hot temper of Body an Athletick habit a Sedentary Life and a Disuse of Exercise The first beginnings of this Disease depend on the presence of an Evident Cause for either the Corpuscles of an extraneous heat mixt with Blood make it boyl like Water on the Fire or a Fever is brought by motion or by reason of Transpiration being letted even as when Wines being heated or stopt close in a Vessel are set in a strong working after what manner soever the inflammation be first rais'd presently the Spirits make an effort and moving hither and thither force the Blood to boyl and to inlarge it self in a greater space with a frothy rarefaction wherefore the Vessels are stretcht and the membranous Parts are vellicated hence a Pain especially in the Head and Loyns a spontaneous lassitude and an inflation as it were of the whole Body ensue But if with the Spirit of the Blood some sulphury Part withall be somewhat kindled a smart heat is diffus'd through the whole the Pulse becomes high and quick the Urine ruddy also Thirst Watchings and many other offensive Symptoms arise Concerning the Solution or Crisis of an Ephemera Fever and of a Synochus not putrid there are three things chiefly requisite viz. a removal of the evident Cause secondly a severing or difflation of the depraved or excrementitious matter from the Mass of Blood thirdly an appeasing of the parts of the Blood and their restitution to a natural and even motion and site According as these things happen sometimes sooner sometimes slower and with more difficulty this Disease is ended in a shorter or longer time 1. The Evident Cause which for the most part is extrinsecal is easily remov'd and Diseased Persons as soon as ever they perceive themselves injur'd by any thing are wont to avoid the presence of or continuance with that thing no Person being in a Fever upon drinking Wine continues still to drink it when any Person grows more hot than usual by the heat of a Bath or of the Sun it is irksome to him to continue in it longer 2. As to the excrementitious matter which ought to be separated and blown off from the Blood this is either brought from without as when by surfeiting drinking of Wine standing in the Sun or bathing in hot Water the Blood is infected with hot and fermentative effluvia's or Corpuscles or that matter is ingendred inwardly as when upon the deflagration of the Blood its Liquor is stuff't with adust Recrements or Particles both these Matters must be separated and blown off from the Blood and be sent forth either by Sweat or insensible Transpiration before the Fever is appeas'd wherefore when the Pores are clos'd and Transpiration is hindred the Ephemera Fever continues a longer time and passes from a simple Synochus into a putrid Fever 3. The Evident Cause being remov'd and this degenerated Matter blown off for a cessation of the burning heat there is required an appeasing of the Parts of the Blood and a reducement of them to order for a rapid and disorderly motion begun in the Blood is not presently stopt but ought to be allay'd by degrees also the divers Particles of the Blood disorder'd after this manner and being driven this way and that by reason of the feverish effervescence do not presently take to their former order of site and position but it is necessary that they be extricated by degrees and restored to their due mixture by little and little Tho this Disease after the removal of the Evident Cause ceases for the most part of its own accord yet some Physical Remedies are advantageously applied to Use especially where there is danger lest the Ephemera Fever passes into a putrid The chief Intentions must be to allay the fervour of the Blood and to procure a free Transpiration to which chiefly conduce blooding a very thin Diet or rather abstinence cooling Drinks a withdrawing the excrements of the Belly by Clysters but above the rest Sleep and Rest do most good which if wanting they must be seasonably procur'd by Opiats and Anodines A renowned young man about twenty years of age of an athletick habit of Body by an immoderate drinking of strong Wine fell into a feverish distemper with a drought heat and a mighty trouble of the Praecordia being blooded he drank a vast quantity of fountain-water and thereupon a copious sweat presently ensuing he soon recovered An ingenious young man of a sedentary Life and withall very much addicted to the study of Learning when of late he had exercis'd himself above measure in the Summer Sun began to complain of a Head-ach a want of Appetite a trouble of the Praecordia and a feverish distemperature over the whole Body To whom in regard he loathed all Physick I ordered a total Abstinence unless it were from small Beer and Barley-meats On the second day and again more on the third the Symptoms remitted by little and little at length on the fourth he became free from his Fever without any Medicine CHAP. IX Of the Putrid Fever A Putrid Fever is when the oily or sulphureous part of the Blood being too much heated grows turgid above measure and
Ebullition and Coagulation of the Blood produces a great many more Pushes and those greater in bulk and not dissolvabe without Suppuration When the Small Pox precede there follows not only an Immunity afterward from the same Affect but for the most part from the Measles also The Measles because they consume only a few Particles of the Ferment leave still a Disposition to the Small Pox wherefore old Persons or such as are grown in years are not so readily infected with the Measles because having been before infected with the Small Pox they are freed from the Contagion or their Spirits being robust easily resist the light Miasm of this Affect Of the great number of Stories and Observations relating to Persons troubled with the Small Pox I shall in this place propose only a few Cases and those remarkable for certain Irregularities It is usuall thing to treat all Persons affected with the Small Pox with the like or wholly the same method of Healing and form of Diet wherefore a Physician is seldom call'd to the Vulgar but the Business is wholly committed to certain Women-Tenders who boast that they know this Practice beyound all others and those are wont to boyl Marygold Flowers and Shavings of Harts-horn and sometimes Figs in the Broaths and any other Liquors to be taken by the Diseas'd and to give at Night a Bolus of Diascordium such as do not recover by such a Management are declared not to be neglected but that they are incurable through the Violence of the Disease But that this kind of Practise does not equally agree to all nor is to be us'd to all indifferently the two following Relations plainly shew A Young-man about twenty Years of Age of a thin Body and hot Temperament began to be severish in the beginning of the Spring in the first days violent Vomitings an Oppression of the Heart frequent Changes of a burning and cold Shivering a Pain in the Loins a Perturbation of the Fancy and Watchings infested him On the third day the Small Pox appearing those Symptoms remitted tho the Fever still continued with a Thirst and Heat To this Person not only the Decoctions usual in this Disease but Juleps also neatly prepar'd not so much as sip of them without great loathing as often as he took at Night Diascordium or any other temperate Cordial tho in a small quantity for continuing a Transpiration he passed the Night following without Sleep and with a great tossing of the Body and in the Morning he had an Haemorrhagie which hapning once and then a second time through this occasion after that the Small Pox were fully broken forth the well-doing of the Diseas'd was mightily endanger'd wherefore when I had found by Experience that the Blood of this Person was apt to boyl immoderately upon a light Irritation I ordered this Method according as the Occasion required All Physick whatsoever being laid aside for quenching Thirst he took small Ale and a simple Almond Drink at Pleasure His Food because he refus'd all Oat and Barley Broaths was only Apples boyl'd to a Tenderness and then season'd with Sugar and rose-Rose-water which he ate at some certain times in the Day Nature content with this thin Dyet and seeming to be disturbed by any other whatsoever perform'd her work successfully that the Diseased recovered without any sore Symptom afterward the Small Pox ripening by Degress and then falling off of their own accord In the midst of Autumn of the last Year a noble Youth having a sharp Blood and being obnoxious to a frequent Bleeding at the Nose fell sick of the Small Pox his Blood naturally boyled immoderately that the Pushes brake forth extream thick all over his Body in this Person Whey with Marygold Flowers and other things usually boyl'd in it also Juleps or nay Cordials tho temperate gently promoting a Transpiration did most certainly raise a Flux of Blood wherefore I ordered him a like way of Diet as to the Diseased before mention'd by which indeed he was better however in the very height of the Disease when the Small Pox being fully broke forth the Fever is wont to be renewed in all Persons by reason of a difficult Transpiration this sick Person fell into a copious Haemorrhagie that after a large Profusion of Blood the Small Pox began to be flaccid after that a great many Remedies for stopping Blood were tryed in vain at length upon hanging a Bag about his Neck in which was a Toad dryed in the Sun and pounded he first of all and immediately found ease for the Haemorrhagie being hereby presently appeased and not returning afterward he constantly wearing thenceforward this Epitheme in his Bosom our sick Person using always a most thin and cooling Dyet grew perfectly well that it may really seem to be manifest hence that tho the Blood in this Affect be mighty apt to coagulate yet as long as the Vital Spirits are strong and robust enough and have a governing Power relying on their own Strengty by a certain prudent Discretion as it were they excellently separate and send forth the congealed Portions of the Blood and this Work is mightily disturbed when the same Spirits are to much irritated and forc'd into a Confusion by hot Cordials or a hot Dyet But in the Plague it happens otherwise for in this if delay be granted the Spirits themselves are presently destroyed by the Venom wherefore here we must presently fight with open War whereas in the Small Pox a Physician rather restores things by protracting time Concerning letting Blood just upon the coming forth of the Small Pox it is greatly doubted Formerly among our Country-men this thing was stil'd sacred nor was Blooding wont to be admitted under any pretext of Necessity but of late it is proved by Experience that it is altogether useful and necessary to let Blood in some Cases which Evacuation nevertheless if it be used indifferently in any Constitution or be done in too large a quantity when there is need of it great Damages often ensue thereby Some years since I went to see a Young-woman of Quality of a florid Countenance and a hot Temperament who was fall'n very feverish after the fourth Month of her being with Child she was press'd with a violent Vomiting a fierce Pain in the Loins and also with a most intense Heat and Drought her Pulse was very quick with a strong and vehement Vibration tho the Small Pox no where reign'd in that place nevertheless those Symptoms of that Affect gave us no small suspicion of them Be it how it would the very immoderate Effervescence of the Blood indicated that some ought to be taken away wherefore I presently took about six Ounces thereupon the Heat somewhat remitted tho the Vomiting still continued with the violent Pain in the Loins At the time of her going to rest I gave her a Cordial Bolus with half a Grain of our Laudanum whence a quiet Sleep with a mild Sweat and an appeasing of all Symptoms
but during the Interval of Fits for while the Blood violently ferments or is resolved into a Sweat Nature ought not to be diverted from its Works begun nor its Attempts be disturbed by the Prescripts of Physicians wherefore after the Access is over and the Sweat entirely ended let a Purging be ordered by a gentle Cathartick and let the same afterward be sometimes repeated on the like occasion for by this Method not only the store of the excrementitious Matter is withdrawn from the first Passages but especially the Choler-Vessels being emptied the Bile is plentifully drawn from the Mass of Blood and thereby the Blood is restor'd toward its natural Crasis Let Blooding if it be indicated be put in Practise from the beginning for so its Liquor growing too turgid is eventilated whereby it both less perverts the nutritive Juice and when the Fit presses it burns with a more mild Blast together with the morbifick Matter but otherwise if after a long Sickness a Vein be opened when the Blood being depauperated and rendred watery has heaped together more of morbifick Matter and does not duely concoct it and purge it forth much is drawn from the Strength of Nature from the Power of the Disease nothing In the Interval of the Accesses when Blooding nor Purging may not be admitted let the Belly be kept soluble by a constant use of Clysters also let digestive Remedies of acetous or saline Liquors and Powders be giv'n such as Cream of Tartar the fixt Salts of Herbs Tartar Vitriolate burnt Harts-horn Spirit of Vitriol and of Salt c. for these restore the Ferments of the Viscera lost or grown sluggish depurate the Blood by fusing it also separate and as it were precipitate the morbifick Matter also at this time if obstinate Watchings chance to prove infesting and impair the Strength of the Diseased we may interlace Anodyne and gently Narcotick Remedies but by no means give them in the Access for then they greatly hinder the subduing and secretion of the febrile Matter and prolong the Fit which would sooner end So far concerning what is to be done in the Intervals of the Fits but in the Fit tho the Diseased then chiefly send for and call upon Physicians yet their Prescripts at this time are limited within a narrow Scope if a Vomiting tho an Emetick be giv'n before be still infesting let it be freely promoted by Posset-Drink either simple or with bitter Herbs boyled in it but let the chief way of the Cure be in qualifying the Heat and Drought which are wont to torture severely the Diseased in this Fever for whilst the Blood fermenting with the morbifick Matter and being kindled in the Heart springs into the Lungs it raises there a most violent Inflammation which requires a pouring on of cold Water as it were for extinguishing a Flame wherefore they desire to be pouring in Drink without measure without which the Diseased faint through the too much burning and in a manner all their Blood being rarefied as it were into a Flame and a Smoak does not easily continue the thread of Circulation wherefore Drink by all means ought to be granted to those that are in the Fever which nevertheless if it be pour'd in in too great a quantity first it exagitates more the boyling Blood and again brings a Confusion of the febrile Matter began to be separated that thereby the Work of subduing and Secretion is longer protracted and the Fit is made longer moreover a great pouring in of Drink proves offensive to the Stomach and by troubling it and often by raising a Vomit hinders Transpiration and calls in a Sweat breaking forth or haply already broken forth wherefore when the Heat of the Fever is first kindled let the Diseased tho very dry drink only by sipping and what they may let them refrain it afterward when the burnt and subdued Matter begins to be sent off by Sweat let them more freely gratifie themselves with it for so the Sweating is greatly promoted and the Fit is sooner over as to the nature of the Drink sometimes let Posset Drink sometimes small Ale or Barley Water be given sometimes Fountain Water either alone or sharpen'd a little with the Juice of Limons in this case the use of Sal Prunella is justly commended given in any Liquor for this by its Nitrosity wonderfully restrains the boyling Blood and powerfully moves Sweat I have often observ'd in the middle of the Fit that the Diseas'd have fall'n into a Fainting or a Swoon where the Cordials and hot Liquors which are wont presently to be pour'd in very much increase the Violence of the Fever and cause greater Troubles than usual that the Fit is more difficultly ended but these Swoonings for the most part happen either from the bilous Humour sent into the Ventricle or by reason of a Sweat broken off abruptly and against these I have always found the most present Remedy that either a Feather being put in the Throat a Vomit be promoted or that a thin Liquor being drank in a plentiful Measure the Sweat be again rais'd and in the whole Course of this Fever I am wont to give no Cordials or Alexipharmicks A Diet in this Fever only thin and not rich ought to be ordered let all Food prepar'd of the Flesh of Animals be wholly shunn'd for these abounding with Sulphur plentifully afford a Fuel to the boyling or kindled Blood as Oyl pour'd on a Flame moreover let nothing spirituous as hot Waters strong Ale or Wine be allowed but let Oat or Barley Decoctions or Broths altered with cooling Herbs be chiefly used also let Posset Drink small Ale or Whey be drank by the Diseased at Pleasure for since by this Means a very thin and watery nutritive Juyce is conveyed to the Mass of Blood the resolved Particles of the Sulphur are burnt off sooner and with less Tumult also the Recrements of the adust Matter are more readily sent forth from the Mass of Blood but if on the contrary a rich and plentiful Nourishment be used the Effervescence of the Blood is thereby much encreas'd and the Blood is more infected with the Mixture of an adust Matter When after frequent Fits the Blood being much burnt off and the Fever being in its declining State has remitted of its Fervour and Fierceness Care must be taken that the Diseased while upon their Recovery do not fall into a Cachexia or Scorbutick Affect for the Crasis of the Viscera being injured and the Blood being very much depauperated the nutritive Juice tho it be not scorch'd as before yet is not duely concocted and maturated into a perfect Blood but through defect of a Pneumatosis serous Excrements imbued with a fixt Salt are very much heap'd together and sometimes being fixt in the Viscera sometimes in the extream Parts bring forth various Affects Wherefore in a long continued languor of the Diseased or otherwise in order to a quicker Recovery let Remedies be given which volatize the Blood