presence of the evident cause for either little Bodies of extraneous heat being confused with the Blood like water boiling over the fire make it to boil up or this Feaver is induced by motion or by reason of transpiration being stopped even as Wines made hot by motion or when too closely stopped in the Ton are put into a Fervor but what way soever an inflamation is first excited presently the Spirits become enraged and being moved hither and thither compel the Blood to boil up and to be inlarged into a greater space with a spumous rarefaction wherefore the Vessels are distended and the membranous parts hauled hence follow pain chiefly in the Head and Loins a spontaneous weariness and as it were an inflation of the whole Body If that with the Spirit of the Blood a certain Sulphureous part be also in some measure inkindled a sharp heat is diffused through the whole the Pulse is vehement and quick the Urine red also thirst watchings and many other symptoms infest the reasons of which are added hereafter Concerning the Solution or Crisis of the Ephemeran Feaver and of the not putrid Synochus three things are chiefly requisite viz. a removing of the evident cause secondly a separation and a scattering of the depraved or excrementitious matter from the mass of Blood Thirdly a quieting of the parts of the Blood and a restitution of them to their natural and equal motion and site According as these succeed now more suddenly now more slowly and difficully this Disease is finished in a shorter or longer time 1. The evident cause which for the most part is extrinsick is easily removed and the sick are wont presently to avoid the presence or assiduity of that thing and do perceive a sense of any thing that is hurtful none taking a Feaver from Wine will still indulge the drinking of it as soon as any one grows more than usually hot in a Bath or the heat of the Sun 't is a trouble to them to stay longer 2. As to the Excrementitious matter which ought to be scattered and separated from the Blood this is either brought from without as when the Blood is infected by surfeit drinking of Wine sitting in the Sun or from a too hot Bath with Effluvia or little dry and Fermentative Bodies or this matter is begotten within as when its Liquor is stuffed with recrements or adust Particles from the deflagration of the Blood Either of these matters ought to be separated from the Blood to be dispersed and either by sweat or insensible breathing forth to be thrust out of doors before the Feaver be appeased wherefore when as the pores are bound up and transpiration hindred the Ephemeran Feaver is longer protracted and somtimes passes from a simple Synochus into a putrid 3. The evident cause being removed and this degenerate matter dispersed there is required for the remission a quieting and reducing into order the parts of the Blood for diverse Particles of the Blood being after this manner confused and by reason of the Feaverish heat carried up and down they do not presently get again the former order of situation and position but it is needful that they be by degrees extricated and by little and little restored to a just mixture Although this Disease after the removing of the evident cause for the most part ceases of its own accord within a while yet some Medicinal Remedies may be administred with good success especially when there is danger lest the Ephemeran Feaver should pass into a putrid The chief intentions should be to suppress the fervor of the Blood and to procure a more free transpiration to the which conduce first a breathing of a Vein a slender diet or rather abstinency cooling drinks and a bringing away the filth of the Belly by Clysters Sleep and Rest greatly help above all the rest which if wanting should be procured in time by Opiats and Anodynes Verily altho the Histories and Observations of those distempered with an Ephemeran Feaver contain in themselves nothing very rare yet I shall subjoin an example or two in this place whereby the delineation or type of this Disease may be illustrated A certain young Gentleman about twenty years of Age endued with a strong habit of Body by the immoderate drinking of strong Wine fell into a Feaverish distemper with thirst heat and with a great burning of his Precordia being let Blood he drank a great quantity of fair water and upon it presently a plentiful sweat following he grew shortly well In this case the more thin portion of the Blood being heated by the Spirits of the Wine fell into a rage caused the whole mass of Blood to be shaken and its frame to be loosned more than t was wont and for that reason that hapned to be more dissolved by the Ferment of the Heart and to be as it were inkindled by the active Particles loosned from the mixture until the Vessels being emptied by Phlebotomy the raging Blood was cooled and by the drinking of the water its fervor was attempered then the hot Effluvia being involved together with the adust matter with a copious Serum and sent away by Sweat the Blood at length recovered its due temper Moreover an ingenious young man of a sedentary life and also very much addicted to the Study of Learning when he had for somtime exercised himself beyond his strength in the hot Sunshine he began to complain of the pain of his head a want of Appetite a heat of his Precordia and of a Feaverish distemper all over to whom for that he was wholly averse to Physick I ordered an abstinence from all things whatsoever unless from Small-Beer and Grewel on the second day and so more on the third the symptoms remitted by little and little on the fourth he went home freed from the Feaver without any Medicine CHAP. IX Of a Putrid Feaver SO much for a Continual Feaver which is raised from the most simple heating of the Blood or its lowest degree of inordinate heat that which depends on a greater degree of heat follows viz. when the Oily or Sulphureous part of the Blood being too much heated swells up above measure and as it were forced into a flame and therefore from the similitude by which humid things putrifying conceive an heat this kind of Ebullition of the Blood because it induces an immoderate heat is called a putrid Feaver which name ought to be retained without injury because that in this Feaver the Synthesis of the Blood as is wont to happen in putrifying Liquors is very much unlocked When the Spirits only grow inraged as in an Ephemera the frame of the Blood is somwhat set open and loosened that it is more dissolved by the Ferment of the Heart than is wont and more Particles than naturally use to do leap forth and diffuse a more intense heat but yet the mixture of the Liquor as to its chief parts is conserved But when the Sulphureous matter taking
and more light Convulsions in remote parts as hath been said or being slidden from thence more deeply into the passages of the nerves excites fits of Convulsions very Cruel such a progress of the morbific Cause we suspect in whom the Vertigo swooning heaviness of the head and torpor of the minde go before the Convulsive assalts Indeed the matter of the disease abounding as yet in the brain and marrowy Appendix produces these kinds of previous distempers which being slidden from thence into the Nerves causes Convulsions 2dly There is yet another way whereby it plainly appears that the materiall cause of the Convulsive Distemper is transferred to the beginnings of the Nerves to wit when the same being deposited by the serous water within the Cavities or ventricles of the Head it is insinuated into the Neighbouring roots of the Nerves For in Chronical Diseases when the remarkable discrasie of the blood and humours happens also to be accompanied with a praved disposition of the brain oftentimes a great plenty of sharp serum infesting the Nervous stock dropping forth from the Vessells of the Choroeidan or retiform enfoldings slides into the ventricles of the brain and its Appendix But this serous water afterwards breaking thorow the under-spreading of the Cerebell into the fourth ventricle the little skin there being displaced whereby the oblong marrow is uncovered it falls upon the beginnings of one or more of the Nerves and either by irritating or imbuing them with Heterogeneous and explosive particles induces the Convulsive disposition And this for the most part is the cause that sick people after long and ill handled Feavours also after the more grievous Cephalic Diseases at length dye of Convulsions as I have found by the frequent Anatomie of the Carcases of those who dyed by that means Also it appears by anatomical Observation that the brain may be overflowed by a certain serous water without the distemper of the Convulsive disposition and further that in some who dyed of the Epilepsie and other Convulsive diseases there was no deluge of the serum within the ventricles of the brain By which it is given us to be understood that the Convulsive distempers do not flow only from the waterie matter in the Head but that they arise not at all from such a cause unless the serous water overflowing the ventricles of the Brain and chiefly that underlaying of the Cerebel be imbued with heterogeneous and explosive particles I remember once my Councel to be ask'd for a young man labouring with an Egregious Phtisis and at that time truly desperate besides a cough and shortnesse of Breath he had grievously complained for many days yea weeks that he could not lye upon his back in his Bed or whilst he sat in a chair he could not lean his head backwards for that by this or that posture of his Body he was wont presently to suffer tremblings of his heart and a fainting of the Spirits as if he were just about to dye wherefore of necessity he was fain to hold his head upright or leaning forward After he was dead his carcase being dissected his Lungs appeared all over tumified and in some places Ulcerated then his Skull being opened there flowed within all the Ventricles of the brain a great quantity of yellow and salt Serum which water certainly whilst it did slide forward upon the fourth Ventricle about the Trunk of the oblong marrow his head leaning back rushing upon the heads of the wandring and intercostal pair of nerves did stir up the aforesaid Convulsions about the Praecordia but so long as his head was inclined forward that the heap of serum flowed back into the anterior Ventricles of the Brain the origine of the nerves remained free from that Convulsive matter Having hitherto shown how many ways and by what passages the morbific matter being dilated towards the origine of the Nerves seems to bring on Convulsions it were easie according to these reasons to unfold many Convulsive Symptoms for besides the Convulsive motions of Infants and children oftentimes excited from the same kinde of Causes hither may be referr'd the Contractions and sudden leapings forth of the nervous parts which follow upon feavours As also those passions commonly called Hysterical also hypocondriacal and certain others proceed not seldom from the morbific Cause rushing upon the beginings of the Nerves We will therefore endeavour to establish the truth of this Hypothesis by some other Histories and examples of Sick people but in the first place we will propose observations of that Kinde in whom the morbific matter setling upon the beginings of the nerves and not being as yet slid deeply into their processes induced frequent vertigos and only more light Convulsions of the Viscera and Praecordia A noble woman about 30. years of Age of a tender Constitution and lean in Observation 1 Body was wont every winter to be grievously afflicted with a Catarrh or Rhume flowing upon the winde pipe and Lungs with a hoarse Cough and great spitting but the last year great care and dilligence being used she avoyded that evill But after the winter Solstice having taken cold she was troubled with an huge pain of the head a tingling of the ears a giddiness with a great defluxion upon the eyes that it easily appeared that the heap of Serum which before this time was wont to distill into the Breast was now wholly layd up within the head and Brain besides an effect of which was that as often as she began to sleep she was greatly infested with passions as it were histerical to which she had never been before obnoxious For when ever being sleepy she closed her eyes presently a bulk ascending in her belly a choaking in her throat tremblings and leapings about the Praecordia were stirred up which Affections notwithstanding quite ceased when she was thorowly awakened so that the Sick party was necessitated to abstain almost altogether for many days and nights from sleep Being sent for to this Lady after she had bin sick and weak for many days I was compelled at length to use gentle medicines Therefore I took care that blood should forthwith be drawn from the foot to four ounces and every day a Clyster of milk and sugar to be administred by which she was wont to have three or four stools besides I gave her every eighth-hour a dose of the Spirits of Harts horn in a Spoonfull of the following Julap Take of the water of penny-royall of walnuts and black Cherries each ℥ iii. of Histerical water ℥ ii of the Syrrop of Clove-gilliflowers ℥ i ss of Caster tyed in a little knot and hang'd in the middle of the glass ʒss of the powder of Pearls ℈ i. mingle it I Caused with success a vesicatoris to be put behinde the ears and a Cataplasm of the leaves of Rue and Cuccowpint with the Roots of Bryony bay salt and black soap to be layd to the soals of her feet Sometimes I gave her in the
neerest means of the passage whereby these parts Communicate one with the other and mutually affect themselves For it seems that when the black bile or melanchollic tumor in the Spleen grows turgid or swells up of its own accord or is moved by some evident cause its particles enter the nervous fibres thickly distributed to the same which disturb the animal Spirits flowing in them into explosions or at least into some disorder then the Spirits being so distrubed infect those next to them and they others till by their continued series the passion begun within the Spleen is propagated even to the brain and there produces inordinate Phantasms such as happen to hypochondriacks also on the other side when a grievous distemper of the minde occasionally excited within the brain doth disturb the Spirits inhabiting it the impression being carried to the Phantasie by the series of the Spirits planted within the nerves of the wandring pair and the Intercostals and successive affection it is brought even to the Spleen hence its ferment being put more into commotion stirs up Convulsions both in that Inward and in the whole neighbourhood of fibres and membranes and besides forces the blood into ebbings and flowings and into various aestuations or vehement motions yea and reflects the perturbations of the Spirits upon the brain From this kinde of reciprocal affection of the brain and Spleen it comes to pass that hypochondriacks are so unquiet unstable and fluctuating at every thing that 's proposed as if according to the Poet Ten mindes strove in them at once A certain noble Gentleman of a melanchollic temper and always accounted Observation 1 for a Splenetic man very much complained of a pain and inflation of his left hypochondrium with a frequent rumbling noyse and sour belching a so of a trembling of the heart of an assiduous vertigo too much waking and a disturbed phansie About the 35th year of his age the disease growing worse he began hardly to sleep and yet more rarely to get it at night and to be molested in the day time with a world of fluctuating thoughts to have in suspition all things and persons and greatly to be afraid of every object his Praecordia seemed to be very much bound and straitened and to sink down to the bottom as if the heart it self were depressed even into the belly which Symptom troubling him he became very sad and dejected in minde yet afterwards those distempers of the minde remitting he felt with it his heart to be a little lifted up and also his Praecordia to be loosened and stretch'd forth besides he very often sustained pains and Contractions variously excited about the muscles of the Viscera and Members and running up and down here and there As to the nature of the disease it is plain that it is this kinde of Distemper which is commonly called hypochondriacall but as to what respects the Causes of these to be admired Symptoms we may suppose the mass of blood being degenerate and stuffed with melanchollic or atrabilarie faeculencies to administer or continually to suggest its adust recrements to the head from whence the Liquor watering the brain and nerves being made sharp and improportionate to the Spirits did stir up the containing Bodies into painfull Corrugations or wrinklings and Contractures Further when this Infection is chiefly derived from the head into the Nerves of the wandring pair and the intercostall the brain and the Praecordia are very much punished by the malady from thence raised up But that the Blood is depraved by that means it seems to be imputed to the vice of the Spleen forasmuch as this Inward being amiss it did not rightly strain forth the atrabilarie dreggs from the blood but rather did more pervert whatsoever recrements it received from it and the same being exalted into an hurtfull ferment sent it back to the blood and so very much infected its mass and imbued it with a plainly acetous and vitriolick evill Disposition It is plain to be understood that those symptoms troubling the Head viz. too much waking the vertigo a disturbed phantasie with many others did proceed from the heterogeneous particles poured forth from the Blood into the brain As to that straitness of the Breast and falling down of the heart with great fear and sadness it may be thought that the nervous fibres inserted to the heart and chiefly to the Pericordium being moved into Convulsions and wrinklings do binde hard those parts and pull them downwards wherefore there is perceived in the whole breast as it were a certain constriction and the heart it self seems to be depressed Further forasmuch the Praecordia being so streitened and depressed the blood within the bosom of the heart is stop'd and compell'd as it were to stagnate both the vital and the sensitive Soul is much hindred from its wonted expansion and irradiation and for that Cause being lessened and shortened in its constitution those Cruell distempers of fear and sadness arise but when the Convulsions remitting that constriction of the heart and its appendix is released the Soul also as a flame more expansed or enlarged endeavours by little and little to shake off the Chains of those Passions For the Cure of these Distempers he had for a long time tried very many remedies and medical Administrations but without much benifit at last he was somewhat eased by the use of spaw-Spaw-waters and from thence by degrees finding himself better he became free from those grievous Symptoms however he still liv'd obnoxious to the hypochondriac Distemper Observation 2 A Certain young Academic originally of a Sanguine temper fair of a florishing Countenance excellent disposition and mild by reason of immoderate and untimely Studies in the mean time exercise and good order of dyet being wholly neglected had contracted an obstruction of the Spleen or some other morbid distemper of that Inward For he had almost continually infesting him an inflation and tumor of the left hypochondrium with a most heavy Pain After he had laboured with this sort of Distemper about half a year he began to complain of a frequent giddiness a blindness of his eyes an unquietness of his minde and of disturbed sleeps Which Symptoms were then plainly imputed to vapours arising from the Spleen but after that followed a trembling of the heart with a frequent deliquium of the Spirits a pulsation of the hypochondrium and at length pains and Contractions in the outward members with a frequent stupor and a sense of pricking running up and down here and there and last of all being broken with a world of evills contrary to his genius and native Disposition he became greatly hypochondriacall That I may dispatch the Pathologie of this Case in a word it appears here plain enough that the Spleen was first of all in fault by whose fault when the bloody mass was depraved the taint creeping from thence into the humour watring the brain and nervous stock and infecting it did induce the
about the accidents which happen in the first passages lest that whilst we oppose them we should pervert the motion of Nature and lest whilst we fortifie these parts against the course of the Morbific matter we untowardly keep the same shut up in the mass of Blood The Symptom chiefly to be considered about the Bloody mass are an heat diffused through the whole a burning of the Praecordia thirst a disorder of the Pulse a red urine a spontaneous wearisomness a loss of all strength out of which rightly considered these things following may be known viz. what the manner of the heat is or with what tenour the burning Blood flames forth what times of remission or of increase its Effervescency observes in the deflagration whether it retains its Crasis or mixture whole for the burning of it and circulation of it inkindled what strength of the Heart will suffice and what space the Vessels may require so long as the Blood burns what plenty of adust recrements it may heap up by what means it may overcome separate or at lest endeavour to separate the same and lastly what way of a Crisis it endeavours and with what success The accidents which have a respect to the thin Liquor with the Brain and Nervous Appendix are disorders concerning sleep and waking a debility of the whole Body a trembling shivering pains Convulsive motions Cramps of the Viscera Stupifaction Phrensie and the observation of which suggests what the temper and constitution of that thin Liquor may be by what means it waters and influtes the Nervous parts and performs its circutes through them how the Animal Spirits execute the functions of the Viscera what the state of the Brain may be whether it remain free from the incursion of the Feaverish matter or whether it be not in danger of being overwhelmed by reason of its critical metastasis or translation Concerning the habit of the body may be observed what may be the reason of sweating and the manner of it whether only by vaporous Effluvia or by sweats or also by little wealks whether the flesh falls away on the sudden from its wonted bulk Or whether it retains it self a long while What the colour of the Face is And the vigor or habit of the Eyes from these well laid together the course of the Feaver may be best of all measured at what time it will come to its hight or standing Whether Nature will prevail over the Disease or not with what manner of separation and with what success she will endeavor the expulsion of the Feaverish matter also by these signs may be learned by what degrees the Blood growing hot and often congealed doth tend towards Putrefaction or Corruption whether it does any thing concoct the alible Juice poured to it or whether or not it presently casts forth of doors all its provision by sweat as often happens in the declination of this Disease By these symptoms and signs a yet more plentiful Indication may be had if first it be known upon what causes the several species of them depend and by what provision they are wont to be raised up in our Body wherefore I have thought it worth our labour to recount particularly the chief of these and to explicate the reasons of them and their ways of working But the symptoms chiefly to be observed in a putrid Synochus or continual fervor without intermissions are an heat in the whole Body a spontaneous weariness a burning of the Precordia intolerable thirst an ardor and scurfiness of the Tongue or Jawes a pain of the head and loins pertinacious watchings Phrensie Convulsive motions a Syncope Heart-burning Vomiting Nauseousness want of Appetite a Loosness a Flux with which not all at once now with these now with those this Disease is wont to be beset 1. Heat which is felt sharp and biteing in the whole Body depends upon the too great effervency of the Blood and the accension of it in the Heart For the Sulphureous or oily part of the Blood being exalted and taking an heat is inkindled in the heart in a double proportion more than it was wont wherefore it copiously diffuses by its deflagration effluvia of heat thorow the whole Body When the Sulphur is less dissolved and inkindled in the heart as in the green sickness or the white dropsical Disease c. Heat is wanting in the whole but in a Feaver when the Sulphur too much burns forth Heat superabounds For heat depends not only upon the actual inflamation of the Sulphur or the firing of it but an intense heat is excited without fire in many mixtures where the particles of Sulphur are dissolved by corrosion or are more thickly heaped together for want of ventilation wherefore when Iron is corroded by any acid mineral Spirit or when Spirit of Nitre is poured on the butter of Antimony a mighty heat with a fume is produced in like manner when Dung or Hay laid up wet are kept from ventilation grow highly hot it is the same reason why the Blood burns above measure in Feavers to wit the particles of the Sulphur being too much exalted and made hot are more thickly heaped together in the Vessels and are more dissolved and as it were inkindled by the ferment of the Heart wherefore they every way diffuse heat being loosned in the bond of the mixture and every where stretched forth or expansed 2. A spontaneous weariness or lassitude is felt in the whole Body to wit by reason of the Vessels being distented with the boiling Blood also the musculous flesh is very much stuffed with Blood and a copious breath that it is made less fit for motion as they who are sick of an Anasarca have their limbs very unwealdy by reason of the aboundance of serous humor besides in Feavers by reason of the inflamation of the Blood the Juice which is sent for a supply to the nervous stock departs from its due temper that it becomes little fit for the actuating the Body 3. The burning of the Praecordia is made by reason of the Blood being more copiously enkindled in the Chimny of the Heart which from thence boiles forth into the Lungs with great ardency wherefore by how much the neerer this Region is to that fire place of heat it is pierced therefore with the greater burning 4. An almost unquenchable Thirst is caused both from the glowing heat in the Praecordia also by reason of the sharp and hot particles of the Feaverish matter affixed to the ventricle in the circulating of the Blood which indeed desire to be washed even as salted and spiced meats being plentifully eaten or also strong or sour things rouled in the mouth or throat for this kind of distemper calls for a more free swallowing down of Drink as a member too much heated the pouring on of cold water 5. The ardor and scurfiness of the Tongue and Jawes as also oftentimes an accretion of a certain white or yellow or black filth happen without
and more impregnate with Salt and Sulphur and therefore like Lie it sustains some weights which otherwise would sink to the bottom Sometimes the Hypostasis is wholly wanting in sound people after long fasting immoderate labours or copious sweating the matter being wholly consumed into nutriment or evaporated by sweat in Feavours by reason of the very depraved condition of the Blood also in the Pica Cachexie and other Distempers of that kind by reason of the great Crudity Concerning the consistency of the Urine in sound people there is not much worthy consideration to be met with It is wont to be of that sort as midling Beer is being purified by a long Fermentation or Lye a little boyled viz. the watry liquor of the Urine ought to include in its Pores and passages a great many Particles of Salt and Sulphur most smally broken and dissolved and besides a little of earth divided very exceeding small and dispersed thorow the whole body of the Piss if the consistence be thinner than it ought as it is in clear or limpid Urines and watry it is a sign of indigestion and crudity that the Aliments are not fully overcome and Concocted but if the Urine be thicker and closer than it ought it is a sign that the body of the liquor is filled with preternatural Contents But of these elsewhere when we shall speak of the Urines of the Sick Thus far of Urine forasmuch as it is an Excrement and sign of Concoction in a sound body truly performed in the Viscera and in the Vessels the quantity or bulk of which is to be determined by the potulent matter the colour Citron from the dissolved Salt and Sulphur and boyled in the Serum the Hypostasis or Contents depend upon the Filaments elaboured in the Blood for the nourishment of the solid parts the consistency on the Salt and Sulphur together with the Particles of Earth filling the Pores and passages of the serous liquor It next remains that we treat of the Urines of sick people in which also the Quantity Colour Contents Consistence and some accidents besides offer themselves to consideration CHAP. IV. Of the Quantity and Colour in Urines of sick People IN a Morbous provision of Bodies or Sickly estate the quantity of the Urine does not exactly quadrate with the proportion of the liquid things taken for sometimes it wants of its due measure and sometimes exceeds it When the Urine is much less than the drinkable things taken the reason is because the watry Latex either stays somewhere in the Body or is diverted by some other way of Excretion than by Urine if it remains within First it is either heaped up about the Viscera and their Cavities and so is stay'd now in the Ventricle more than it ought to do and induces by the distention of it troubles with spitting but more often it is laid up in the hollowness of the Abdomen and sometimes of the Thorax and head and there is wont to cause Hydropic Diseases Or Secondly the Serum stagnates in the Vessels and so increases the bulk of the Blood and Nervous Liquor and notably perverts its motion whence Catarrhs Rheumatick distempers and often Palsies and Convulsions are caused Or thirdly this watry humour is fixed in the habit of the body and so creates a swelling up of the whole body or of some parts Or fourthly and lastly it is obstructed in the urinary passages by the Stone or thick matter as it were a dam opposing it and causes in those parts pains and Convulsions and a fulness of the Serum in the whole body When the serous water is other ways bestowed the Patients are for the most part prone to frequent and troublesom Sweats or almost to a continual Loosness The distempers therefore which the small quantity of the Urine is wont to indicate are sometimes the swelling up of some of the Viscera and a heaping up of water in them sometimes Catarrhal distempers sometimes evil dispositions of the nervous stock sometimes an Anasarca and watry Tumors and sometimes the stony disposition of the Reins and Bladder And sometimes also the diminution of the Vrine is the effect and sign of some other preternatural evacution viz. an immoderate excretion of Sweat Lask or some other thing To describe here exactly all the subsistences of the serous Latex either in the body or the causes of it other ways excreted and the manner of doing it were to transfer hither almost the whole matter of Pathology for many and divers are the occasions and circumstances whereupon this Serum is heaped up in this or that part and subsisting in the body diminishes the quantity of the Urine but for the most part the principal and most frequent cause of this consists not so much in the fault of the Liver Spleen or Reins as of the blood it self to wit a copious and free making of Urine as also its stay in the body and only made in little quantity depend chiefly on the temper of the blood and either on its kindling or fermentation in the heart for if the blood be strong in rightly exalted principles viz. Spirit Sulphur and Salt it grows very hot in the Vessels and so the frame of the liquor being loose enough it is duly kindled by the ferment of the heart and almost spiritualizes the whole passes through all parts with heat and a rapid motion without stopping and whatsoever is superfluous and volatile evaporates out of doors and whilst the blood is ratified and boiling with heat passes through the Reins what is serous is easily separated either by the strainer of the Reins only or which is most likely by a coagulation and is as it were precipitated from the remaining mass of the blood The same thing almost happens after this manner to the blood as we may observe in Milk viz. whilst it is warmed and grows hot it most easily goes into parts and its Serum is most easily separated by the least drop of Runnet or Coagulum put into it but if you pour much more strong and sour ferment into it when it is cold a precipitation will hardly follow so if the blood becomes through an evil constitution or ill manner of living more cool and watry that being less endued with active Elements it grows but dully hot and is but little kindled in the heart it is circulated very slowly and difficultly in the Vessels passing through the Pores and passages of the Viscera it cleaves a little to them and leaves something behind it whence are begotten every where Obstructions and Tumors also the blood by this means becoming viscous and cool and so unfit for precipitation or percolation lays aside less readily its excrements in the Reins but leaves them every where in the body because it hardly and not without the residence of a certain humor is circulated Wherefore in this state those things that move the blood very much as exercise and a more quick motion or also such as may
the stony or an ulcerous distemper or both together planted beyond the emulgent Vessels It is an usual thing for some to void with their water gravel or small find of a red colour in great quantity some of these are obnoxious to the stone in the Reins and are frequently tormented with Nephritick fits I have also known others without pain or other grievous Symptom for a long time to make a sandy water All urines whatsoever if they stand for some time in a leaded or earthy glazed vessel affix this kind of red land to the sides and bottom of the Pot to wit the volatile Salt of the urine is coagulated with the fixed Salt of the Metal so when Sal Armoniac being mixed with the filings of Steel Sea-Salt or Vitriol is sublimated the elevated flours grow notably red wherefore it seems that these kind of little sands are begot in the Reins for that the Salt of the urine is coagulated with the Tartarous feculencies laid up about the windings of the Reins from whence the sandy matter is made which is presently washed away by the serous Juyce passing through Therefore the gravel that is so frequently made are no small parts or fragments of a greater stone as is commonly thought but extemporary products of the blood and Serum washing the winding passages of the Reins By what means little stones are produced in the Bladder or Reins is not to be fully discoursed in this place But without doubt it is done rather by Coagulation than Exsiccation or Excalefaction by drying or heating I have observed some sick of the Stone in the Bladder who after they have made water were wont to void with great striving and pain a thick and viscous Juyce which presently hardned into a scaly matter the smell of this was like Lye and of such a consistence as Lye evaporated to a thickness the liquor of which being made thick presently stiffens into a saline hardness Lesser stones sometimes pass through the urinary passages and are carried out the greater remain unmoved in their Cells The places wherein they are usually begotten are the narrow winding bosoms of the Reins from thence the smaller slide into the Bladder and if not excerned they grow into great stones I once saw many great stones shut up as it were in a Chest about the sides of the Bladder between its Membranes these without doubt being sent from the Reins while smaller remained in the passages of the Ureters creeping between the Coats of the Bladder and there by degrees did increase in bulk A Matron so distempered long before her death cast out of the urinary passage a Membrane thick and broad full of sandy matter which as appeared after her body was opened was part of the interior Tunick of the Bladder worn and broken by the stones there included It is ordinary for Nephritick people or such as are troubled with the Stone frequently to void blood or matter with their Urine for from a greater stone and endued with sharpness the flesh of the Reins is easily worn and the mouths of the Vessels opened whereby blood flowing out tinges the urine and when a solution of unity is caused in this manner in the Reins an Ulcer most commonly follows whereby matter and filthy stuff are poured out with the serous water and constitute a plentiful and stinking sediment in the urine then the sore being more inlarged by the Ulcer more large profusions of blood often follow and the flesh it self of the Reins being worn away and by degrees eaten off is voided with the urine I visited once an ancient Woman who daily voided with her urine for many months pure blood in great quantity besides as often as she made water she used to void in great quantity pieces of flesh great gobbets as it were the little Tubes of the Vessels eaten away that it was suspected one of her Kidneys was all thus cut away from her body yet afterwards by a vulnerary Decoction acidulated with Spirit of Vitriol that bloody water was staid and this Woman lives still well and in health I knew another Matron who used for a long time in making water to void at first blood with a purulent matter and Membranes then the bloody water ceasing for many years she made a waterish urine with a copious sediment and white like snot sinking down to the bottom of the Urinal Afterwards when she began to want that sediment a feaverish intemperance followed with pains wandring here and there with a languishing of strength and other dangerous Symptoms and when this sick Woman was brought into danger of her life a Tumor arising in her left side about her Reins and ripening into a Boil or Sore by reason of the large flowing out of the matter freed her but yet an hollow and sinuous Ulcer pouring out a thin matter remained in that place during her life and being sometimes healed up would presently break out again Scarce two years after this Noble Lady having endured the suppression of her urine for fourteen days became apoplectick and dyed Her body being opened her left Kidney was quite gone in the place of it a membranous substance growing to the Loyns infolding the extremities of the Vessels and Ureter was grown up some prints or marks of the Ureter remained but without any opening into the hollowness of the passage yea a certain ichor or serosity dropping out from the little mouths of the emulgent Artery was carried outwardly into that sinuous Ulcer The other Kidney was very full of sandy matter and small stones besides near the top of the Ureter a stone about the bigness of ones thumb was fixed whose extremity was so fitted and firmly impacted to the passage or cavity of the Ureter that it shut it up just like a Tap and quite hindered the passage of the serous Juyce The purulent matter comes into the urine not only from the Reins but sometimes out of the Bladder and urinary passage distempered with an Ulcer and sometimes also a corrupt seed or white flux or menstruous blood are poured into urines from the Vessels and genital parts and produce in them preternatural settlements 4. In the Urines of sick people are often seen abundance of white Contents composed of most small bodies which when they are setled fill up above half the liquor and make it white and duskish the rest remaining limpid and thin in the upper region of the Urinal this kind of sediment is called Mealy because it is like water imbued with meal Concerning this it is doubtful whether it proceeds from the whole mass of blood or only from the urinary Viscera It appears by observation that the same sort of urine is always made in the stone of the Bladder also sometimes by reason of the Kidney being oppressed with some great stone I never saw such a settlement in urines without a Nephritick distemper wherefore I have thought it almost indubitable to be always a sign of the Stone And
Vessels otherwise lying hid are wanting in most No doubt but time will render sufficiently manifest the reductions of the humors from the pituitary Glandula in other living Creatures in the mean time it may be lawfully suspected for that the serosities in some are remanded from thence into the bloody mass that in all it is done after the like or the same manner although the ways of the passing do not yet sufficiently lye open As to the other Emunctory of the Brain to wit whereby the serous humors laid aside from the Ventricles of the Brain into the mammillary Processes and thence are thought to be sent away through the holes of the Sieve like bone truly concerning this way of Excretion it is much more to be doubted because these holes in the defunct being covered over and fully stufft with the insertions of the Dura Mater and nervous Fibres sent on either side from the mammillary Process transmit nothing of humor how clear soever it be Further there is nothing more certain than that the serous humors are pressed out from the Glandula's and extremities of the Vessels ending within the Nostrils into their Caverns so besides that 't is scarce possible for the humors to descend thither from the brain it is not absolutely needful to suppose this sort of means of Excretion But that we may reason a little farther concerning these if it may be lawful to argue from the provision and from the effects of the parts there is no reason but that I may probably believe that some humors also do shower down from the Brain into the cavities of the Nostrils for it being supposed that the serous humor passes through not only open chanels but the more strict Pores and passages also of the Nerves and creeping both through the Fibres and Membranes as through the straining or holes of a Filter or Strainer is carried from place to place which it were easie to demonstrate what should hinder but that the same sort of Latex may descend through the Fibres impacted in the holes of the straining bone For although in dead Creatures those parts seem to be impervious or unpassable yet during the life of the Animal the passages and blind ways of the nervous bodies being dilated by Spirit and Heat most easily transmit a copious humor wherewith they are watered The Sieve-like Bone in divers Animals is variously perforated for the manifold necessity and difference of smelling A Process from the Dura Mater and manifold nervous Fibres pass through every one of its holes and besmear the inside of the Nostrils But as the impressions of sensible things or sensible Species continued as it were by the undulation or waving of the animal Spirits ascend through the passages of these bodies stretched out from the Organ towards the Sensory so the humidities watring the same bodies for as much as sometimes they may be more superfluous than usual may distil into the Nostrils through the same ways For indeed such humors as are perpetually to be sent away from the brain ought so copiously to be poured upon the Organs of Smelling as we shall shew hereafter when we shall speak particularly of the smelling Nerves in the mean time that there is such a way of Excretion opening into the Nostrils some observations taken of sick people troubled with Cephalick diseases do further perswade I have known some very obnoxious to the Scotomy and Vertiginous distempers who had great plenty of clear water that distilled forth about the end of the Fit by which kind of Evacuation as it were Critical the Fit was wont to be ended Not long since a Virgin living in this City was afflicted a long time with a most cruel Head-ach and in the midst of her pain much and thin yellow Serum daily flowed out from her Nostrils the last Winter this Excretion stopped for some time and then the sick party growing worse in her Head fell into cruel Convulsions with a stupidity and within three days dyed Apoplectical Her Head being opened that kind of yellow Latex overflowed the deeper turnings and windings of the Brain and its interior Cavity or Ventricles I knew a Gentlewoman that was wont to be infested with a most cruel Head-ach also with a Vertigo and a frequent melting of the animal Spirits or Swooning away who when she began to be better after a grievous Fit felt at first a creeping motion in the top of her Brain as it were the sliding down of water then that motion passing a little more forwards and downwards at length many drops of clear water distilled from her Nostrils This Symptom she used to have so ordinarily that the sick Gentlewoman did not doubt but that this water stilled out from the brain it self I could here bring many other reasons which might seem to perswade that the Ventricles of the Brain or the Cavity made by the complicature or folding up of its border is a mere sink of the excrementitious Humor and that the humors there congested are purged out by the Nose and Palate But it is time for us to hasten to other matters and to pass from the Brain properly so called to its Appendix viz. the oblong Marrow and the Cerebel CHAP. XIII The Actions and Uses of the oblong Marrow and of some of its Parts are unfolded WE will pass now from the Brain to the explication of its Trunk to which both it and the Cerebel do grow like Mushrooms or large Excrescences This part is commonly called the Oblong Marrow under which name we comprehend all that substance which reaches from the inmost Cavity of the callous Body and conjuncture in the Basis of the Head to the hole of the hinder part of the Head where the same substance being yet farther continued ends in the spinal Marrow The superficies of the oblong Marrow though it be made unequal with some protuberances and processes yet it is not variegated or garnished with any turnings about and involutions as it is in the Brain and Cerebel neither is its exterior and cortical substance or of an Ash-colour and the interior medullar or marrowy and white but all its frame or substance is in a sort marrowy or medullous nor does it however appear pure and bright but much darkened with fibres and hairs variously stretched forth and diversly going out To wit its fibres being figured in various places after a diverse manner in some places they are found chamfered and as it were beamy in others direct or stretched out at length and in other places again circular The figure of this is forked and as it were like the Poets Parnassus seems like the ter Y for its shanks arising more forward from either Hemisphere of the Brain and inclining one to another grow together near the centre of the Skull into one and the same Trunk which notwithstanding a line being brought through the midst seems to be made as it were out of two stalks and those to be distinguished in its whole
largely anon In the mean time from these things already shewed of the passive power or sense of the Cerebel it may be easily collected by what means with what order and series the animal Spirits arising from the same are moved But first you must distinguish between their twofold motion For one is customary and ordinary consisting in a perpetual and equal efflux of Spirits by which indeed they flowing into the beginnings of the Nerves nigh their risings especially of the intercostal and wandring pair the solemn acts of the Pulse Respiration Chylification and others of the involuntary Function are performed Then secondly the other motion happens extraordinary and occasional which the same Spirits perform confusedly as it were in disturbed orders as when the Pulse becomes quicker or slower than it ought or the Respiration unequal or interrupted and when the other Faculties which belong to this Class are perverted from their regular and constant manner But these kind of extraordinary motions are again twofold to wit for that its instigation proceeds from a double bound for the impulse whereby the Spirits inhabiting the Cerebel are compelled into an irregular action as we have but now intimated is carried either from beneath viz. from the Praecordia and Viscera or it is wont to be transmitted from above to wit from the Brain As to the first if at any time the Praecordia grow too hot and are burnt with a feaverish heat presently by the passage of the Intercostals and the wandring pair of Nerves the Spirits residing in the Cerebel being warned of this evil institute more frequent and stronger acts both of the Pulse and of Respiration In like manner if by chance the humors and sharp Juyces irritate or greatly trouble or afflict the Coats of the Ventricles or Intestines through the sense of this affection communicated to the Cerebel the instinct of performing the motion is reciprocated whereby the fibres of the parts being contracted and wrinkled together endeavour the shaking off of the hurtful matter More instances might be here brought of all the other acts of the vital or merely natural Function of which besides it may be observed that when a sense of the trouble is immediately conveyed from the Praecordia or Viscera to the Cerebel this affection like the waving of waters is either stopt or terminated there from whence a motion as the business requires unknown to the Brain is presently retorted as when the actions of the Praecordia are altered by a feaverish distemper without our knowledge or secondly that sense of the trouble being transmitted to the Cerebel for that it is more vehement it unfolds it self more largely and like a stronger waving of waters passing through the Cerebel goes forward further even to the Brain and warns its inhabitants of the evil by which they being incited to oppose the enemy cause a motion of another kind So as hath been said when the Praecordia grow cruelly hot the Cerebel feeling this makes the Pulse and Respiration stronger But further the Brain being warned of the same trouble seeks and diligently requires cold drink and other remedies to moderate the heat Moreover it is after this manner also in several other actions which though they are regular yet being made in the Brain without any previous knowledge they are said to be done by Instincts merely natural as when brute Animals being newly brought forth presently seek for the Dams teats and greedily suck or Birds without any shewing or example build nests with wonderful Art lay eggs and hatch young ones In these kind of works the Brain being taught before by none directs fit means to the ends instituted by Nature which indeed seems to be done by this means The sense of every necessity being brought to the Cerebel incites the Spirits inhabiting it to succour it which when they are not able to do the impression going from thence further forward is carried to the orbicular Prominences by which the Spirits there inhabiting being presently struck form the Appetite or the intention of performing which being thence communicated to the Brain it readily causes that local motions fit for the executing of the work be retorted Of these we shall speak anon a little more largely when we treat of the respect which happens between the orbicular Prominences and the annular Protuberance In the mean time we shall take notice in the second place that the irregular motions of the Spirits inhabiting the Cerebel are wont also by reason of the force of the affections to be transmitted from thence to the Brain for as often as a violent passion as Joy Sadness Anger Fear or of any other kind is conceived in the Brain presently the impression of the same being brought through the by-paths of the Prominences into the Cerebel disturbs the Spirits destinated to the vital or merely natural Function in their very fountain and for that reason presently induces notable mutations in the Organs of those Functions What hath been spoken hitherto of the Cerebel being imployed about the offices of the involuntary Function only also concerning the sense and the motions both usual and irregular of the Spirits inhabiting it will be made more clear if lastly we shall shew the offices of the Nerves and of the other processes immediately depending upon the Cerebel to be no other than such as perform only involuntary Acts which shall be briefly and succinctly done as far as is pertinent to our purpose because a more full consideration of them is left to another place CHAP. XVII Of the Nerves which receiving the stores or companies of the Spirits from the Cerebel bestow them on the Acts of the involuntary Function WE have already shewed that out of the annular Protuberance which is a certain Process of the Cerebel three pairs of Nerves to wit the fifth sixth and seventh immediately arise We have said that Protuberance to be as it were a Repository or Store-house wherein the Spirits flowing out of the Cerebel and to be derived into the depending Nerves as occasion serves are kept and in the mean time whilst they remain there they who stream out from either middle Marrow of the Cerebel divisively meeting mutually in this Cirque are united together But as the aforesaid three pairs of Nerves receive the forces of the Spirits from the Cerebel by the mediation of that Protuberance so also the eighth pair having its rise near the insertion of the other viz. the lowest medullar Process sent down from the Brain seems to derive by its passage the influence of the Spirits no less from the Cerebel wherefore when these four conjugations of Nerves owe the Tribute of their Spirits wholly to the Cerebel if I shall shew that all these Nerves serve chiefly and almost only to the involuntary acts of the Senses and Motions surely this will be a signal Argument that according to our Hypothesis the office of the Cerebel is to beget and to dispense the animal Spirits requisite for the
made from one end of the nervous System to the other it will be requisite to inquire here a little concerning the Origine of the Nerves and nervous Fibres also of their Fabrick and Conformation to wit what pores and passages either of these bodies have and how disposed for the passing through and commerce of the animal Spirits As to the Nerves it is manifest from what hath been said that all of them are produced immediately out of the medullar Trunk or its processes so that as these parts are the common and broad roads which lead both from the Brain and from the Cerebel all the Nerves are particular paths reaching out from them on every side into the several Regions of the animated Body Wherefore the same Marrow which is the original of every Nerve or Sinew forasmuch as it is drawn into a more thin thread constitutes the matter of the same Nerve which indeed that it may be made more solid and compact is cloathed with a peculiar production of the Pia Mater for as from a Silver mass gilt or inriched with Gold all the threads produced from it are gilded so the same Membrane which covers the medullar Trunk is produced together with all the Nerves coming out from the same and cloathes them all Further very many Nerves arising together out of that marrowy beginning go forth as it were by bands which notwithstanding for the sake of the better passage being presently united and carried out of their bony Cloister are included in a common Coat taken from the Dura Mater For we suppose which also shall be more clearly shewed anon that all the Nerves destinated to any parts or every particular member do arise distinctly and apart and so remain in their whole passage But in that oftentimes a Nerve appearing as it were one Trunk afterwards seems to go into many branches it is because those branches being indeed singular and divided in the whole passage are collected as it were into one bundle for sometimes we have separated those Nerves seeming to grow together as it were into one rope or cord of a Nerve one from another dividing them to their very original for neither otherwise could the Instincts of the Motions to be performed be carried so respectively to these or those parts separate one from another to which the branches of the same Trunk belong The passages of the Nerves are not bored through as the Veins and Arteries for the substance of those are not only impervious to any Bodkin but no cavity can be seen in them no not by the help of Spectacles or a Microscope As to what belongs to the smelling little Pipes they seem to be so made not for the passage of the animal Spirits but that some serosities might slide down that way but the Spirits themselves are carried in the sides and not in the cavity of either Pipe but the substance of the other Nerves appears plainly firm and compacted that the subtil humor which is the Vehicle of the Spirits may pass through their frames or substances even as the spirits of Wine the extended strings of a Lute only by creeping leisurely through Hence it may be argued that because the animal Spirits require no manifest cavity within the Nerves for their expansion neither is there need of the like for them within the substance of the Brain but that the Ventricles commonly so called ought to be deputed to some other office than this But the Nerves are white smooth and round bodies within the Skull and nigh their beginnings being as it were only covered with the Pia Mater they are soft and easily broken without this for that many of them are for the most part gathered together and also cloathed with the Dura Mater they become somewhat hard and more tenacious The Nerves themselves as may be discovered by the help of a Microcosm or Perspective-glass are furnished throughout with pores and passages as it were so many little holes in a Honey-comb thickly set made hollow and contiguous one by another so the Tube-like substance of them like an Indian Cane is every where porous and pervious Within these little spaces the animal Spirits or very subtil little Bodies and of their own nature ever in a readiness for motion do gently flow to which is joyned both for a Vehicle as also for a Bridle or stay a watry Latex and that it self of very subtil parts This Humor diffuses with its fluidity the Spirits through the whole nervous System also by its viscosity retains them that they be not wholly dissipated but as it were in a certain Systasis and continued Series for it seems that without such an Humor the Spirits could not consist within the nervous stock but they would vanish away into Air. Further the same Humor is no less required for the passing through of the sensible Species because the animal Spirits we suppose like the rays of Light to be diffused through the whole nervous System and those rays unless the humid particles of the Air be mingled with them do not easily transmit the forms or images of things as is obvious in an Optick Scene which is hid or shadowed by the clear beams or brightness of the Sun And in like manner from the defect or depravation of the nervous Juyce we can readily shew that the inordinations of the animal Spirits and oftentimes most horrid distempers of the Brain and the nervous stock do arise This nervous Juyce being derived from the Brain and Cerebel into the medullar Appendix is carried from thence by a gentle sliding down through the Nerves even into the whole nervous stock and waters its whole System Upon the equal emanation of this depends the expansion of the animal Spirits through the whole and the substance of these yea the Hypostasis of the sensitive Soul it self is founded on the diffusion of the same humor The animal Spirits being left to themselves follow the motion of this Juyce and flowing together with it in the same course are pleasingly or quietly expatiated but in the mean time as occasion is offered the same Spirits as a breath moving upon those waters conceive other spreadings abroad and those more rapid For as in a River from winds or any thing cast in divers undulations or wavings are stirred up so the animal Spirits being raised up by objects for the performing the offices of sense and motion do tend this way or that way to and fro within the nervous stock and are agitated hither and thither by other means But to return to the parts of the nervous System besides the Nerves themselves Fibres also being dispersedly interwoven in the Membranes the musculous Flesh the Parenchyma and other parts and united in the Tendons are the Organs of sense and motion Yea the acts of their faculties are principally and more immediately executed by the Fibres than the Nerves for they by drawing together the Muscle and other motive parts cause the motion it self but
how from them however Convulsive they be the Epileptick Paroxism should be induced It is affirmed that the meninges are not first of all affected As to the former it seems an impossible thing for the meninges to be so contracted as to their whole Concavities that being bound more strictly together like a purse they should on every side pull together their contents and draw them into a narrower space for that the Dura Mater sticks most firmly to very many places of the skull yea and the Pia mater is tyed to it near the processes of the hollow turnings by a mutual knitting of the membranes and every where besides with a Continuity of Vessells Hence it easily appears either that membrane as to the greatest part of it is immovable so that they cannot fall into so universal Spasms but in respect of lesser Spasms as when a certain portion of this or that meninge or both together is pulled indeed we grant such may happen for I have often heard those troubled with great headach to complain extreamly of a great constriction of the parts lying under the side of the skull sometimes on the right sometimes on the left and yet from thence no assault of falling down has followed Further as those membranes being notably hurt do cause great vellications or haulings yet upon it there is not wont to be an Epileptick sit to follow for I have known from an Imposthume in the Dura mater when being broken and that the stinking matter had knawn the more tender meninges and shell of the Brain that the sick have fallen first into an amazednesse and at length into a deadly Apoplexie who notwithstanding in the whole course of the Disease was free from any Epileptical Symtom Also I remember I have seen one who had the Dura mater very much torn by the instrument of an unskilfull Surgion and another that by a wound had that with part of his skull taken away so that a portion of the Brain swelled forth and yet to neither of them any Epilectical passion hapned wherefore neither is it likely that the blood or humors or if any shall so argue the vapours compacted within those meninges can bring in any greater evill than either a stroke or wound inflicted on them or filthy matter there poured out Besides those who are more lightly troubled with the Epilepsie so that they scarce fall down and have their minds free through the whole assault of the disease would perceive the membrans to be so contracted and the globe of the brain to be more straitly thrust together if there had bin any such kinde of affection The spirits inhabiting the middle of the brain are the primary Subject of the disease but they on the contrary seem to have the Brain as it were inflamed and to be sensible that the spirits leap forth and are as it were explosed with a certain fierceness And indeed I think it is very likely so that the Epileptick Paroxism is stired up from a certain suddain rarefication and explosion of the animal spirits inhabiting the Brain which are in truth the first and immediate subject of this Disease to wit whereby the Brain it self is inflated and rendered so insensible and the Nerves hanging thereto also put into convulsions For hence it comes to pass that the accession of this Disease begins so on a sudden and determines perfectly without any great provision or remains of the morbifick matter because the Infection is not brought so much to the solid parts as to the Spirits themselves We have already shown by what means the heterogeneous and explosive Copula consisting as it seems of nitro-Sulphurous particles cleaving to the spirituous particles of the animal Spirits and lastly being smitten and explosed by them by reason of plenitude or irritation produces Convulsive Symptoms But although this kinde of Spasmodick Copula is first distilled from the blood into the brain yet for the most part it does not take hold of the spirits there or at least it stays not long with them in that place but rather being thrust from thence towards the nervous Appendix causes particular and respective Spasms near the places affected But sometimes if the Spasmodic matter be more plentifull and strong and the constitution of the brain weak the heterogeneous Copula being fixed to the Spirits not only in the nervous stock but also to those planted within the Encephalon it self causes the Epilectick disposition and the explosive particles of the Spirits and this Copula knocking one against another stir up the falling fit For indeed since the assault of the Epilepsie urging the Insensibility and great disorder is for the most part the first Symptom and all the pathognomick it may be concluded that the animal Spirits lying within the middle of the brain it self are affected before others and that therefore that part is the principal seat of the Disease Then forasmuch as the falling of the sick or casting to the ground and spasms of rhe members and Viscera most often follow that Insensibility great disorder or leaping forth of the spirits it follows that the animal Spirits also inhabiting the nervous System are imbrued with the same explosive Copula and are drawn into consent with those inhabiting the brain it self and are excited by them to explosions purely inordinate although sometimes by the whole series of Spirits planted both in the brain and nervous stock being like a long train of gunpowder praedisposed to explosions an exterior Spasm beginning a great way off perhaps in some member or Inward may afterwards be carried to the Brain as shall be more fully shown hereafter In the mean time it is concluded that the region of the Brain it self is always the primary seat of this Disease and that we ought to suppose the conjunct cause of the Distemper not to be water heaped up within the ventricles of the brain nor a thick or clammy humour impacted in the passages of its pores for such Causes are begotten by degrees and therefore would shew some certain signes before-hand of the first coming upon one further the assault of the fit being over such a matter could not be wholly discussed in so short a time but that from its reliques some impediments of the animal function would remain which indeed rarely happens in the Epilepsie unlesse inveterate but for the exciting of the falling down no lesse can be imagined then that the animal Spirits which flowing within the marrowie substance of the brain perform the acts of the interior sense of the Imagination and appetite having gotten an heterogeneous Copula should be inordinately exploded and so they being disturbed beyond their orders and stations the Superior faculties of the animal regimen must suffer an eclipse then from this greater explosion of spirits as it were from a fiery enkindling other Spirits inhabiting the marrowy and nervous appendix being also praedisposed to explosions conceive the like disorder and in like manner cause
as yet included within the scarce hollow gums hence the blood being hindred in its Circulation causes a tumour and so presses the nerves and also pours on them the more sharp particles of the Serum by which being notably pulled or hauled they are tormented with Corrugations and painfull Spasms Therefore when so cruel pains happen to children from their breeding Teeth it is no wonder if a feavour and also Convulsive motions sometimes follow the former of these happens both for as much as the blood being hindred about the pained part is not circulated with its wonted and equall course wherefore it becomes inordinatly moved in the whole Body and besides because Spasms being stirred up somewhere in the nervous stock the corrugated and contracted nerves presse together and pull the Arteries and by that reason stir up irregular and feavourish fluctuations in the Blood But sometimes Couvulsions happen in breeding Teeth both because the blood growing hot sends forth heterogeneous particles to the animal government and so stirs up the spirits into explosions and besides also when this acute pain and as it were a Lancing follows upon the teeth being about to cut it communicates a very troublesome and irritative sense from the affected parts to the first sensorie presently from thence the motion of the rage is retorted by the same or other neighbour nerves which by reason of a praevious disposition doth not rarely become convulsive Besides these two occasions of Convulsions which are wont to be chiefly and more often in children to wit the times of Infancy and breeding Teeth this Distemper also is excited at other Times very often and for other Causes For in whom the Seeds of the Spasmodick Disposition is sown they sometimes unsold themselves presently after the birth and are ripened into morbid fruit or else lying hid for a while they now come before the breeding of Teeth and follow a long time after it and by reason of other evident causes to wit either external or Internal of which sort are a sickly or breeding nurse milk Coagulated in the stomack or degenerating into an acid or bitter putrifection a feavourish distemperature of the head Ulcers or wealks of other parts suddenly vanishing the Changes of the aire the Conjunctions oppositions and aspects of the Sun and moon and such like they at length break forth into Act from an uncertain event Concerning these there is no need that we should particularly discourse When all the Children of a man dwelling in the neighbourhood dyed of Convulsions within the space of three months at length to prevent that fatal event they sought for remedies for a child newly born I being sent for a few days after the being brought to bed first advised the making an Issue in the nape of the neck then that the next day after a leech being applyed to the jugular veine of each side two ounces of blood should be taken away besides that about every conjunction or opposite aspect of the Sun and moon about five grains of the following powder should be given in a spoonfull of Julap for three days morning and evening Take of humane Skull prepared of the root of the male Paeonie each ʒ i. of the powder of Pearls ʒ ss of white sugar ʒ i. mingle them and make a very fine powder Take of the waters of Black Cherries ℥ iii. of the antiepileptic of Langius ℥ i. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie ʒ vi mingle them also I order'd that the nurse at the same times should take a draught of whey or posset drink in which were boyled the seeds and roots of the male Paeonie and the leaves of the Lilly of the Vally the Infant for about four months was well but then began to be troubled with Convulsions at which time the same Remedies being administred both to the child and to the nurse in a larger dose vesicatories also were applyed behind the eares and blood was taken by the sucking of a Leech from the jugular veins within two or three days the child grew well afterwards whenever within four or five months the Convulsions return'd it was cured again by the use of the same Remedies After half a year the Convulsive motions wholly ceased but a painfull Tumour arose about the lower part of the Spinae dorsi or back-bone from which proceeded a certain distortion of the Vertebrae or joynts of the back bone and a weakness of the legs and at length a Palsie It seems in this case that the Spasmodic or Convulsive matter being wont to come upon the brain first and beginings of the nerves entring at last the Spinal marrow and being thrust out at its further end it wholly stopt up the heads of the appending nerves and shut out the passage of the Spirits to wit because other narcotick and more thick had joyned themselves to the explosive particles The Curatory Method against the Convulsive Distempers in Children IT is to be endeavour'd either to prevent the Convulsive passions threatning Children and Infants or to cure them being already begun For if the former children of the same parent were obnoxious or lyable to Convulsions that evill ought to be prevented timely The Preservation of Infants from Convulsions by the use of Remedies to those born after It is usuall for this end to put into the mouth of the child newly born some antispasmodick Remedy assoon as it begins to breath from hence some are wont to give them some drops of the purest hony others a Spoonfull of Canary sweetned with Sugar and some again oyl of Sweet Almonds fresh drawn to some may be given half a Spoonfull of epileptic water or one drop of oyle of Amber Besides these first things given to Infants which certainly seem to be of some moment certain other Remedies and means of Administrations ought to be used to wit let one spoonfull of Liquor proper to this distemper be drunk twice a day as for example Take of the water of black Cherry and of Rue each ℥ i ss of the Antiepileptic of Langius ℥ i. of the Syrrup of Corall ʒ vi of prepared Pearl gr xv mix them in a Viol. On the third or fourth day after the birth let an Issue be made in the nape of the neck then if it be of a fresh Countenance let a little blood to about ℥ i ss or ii ounces be taken by the sucking of Leeches from the jugular veins having a care lest the blood should flow out too plentifully in its sleep let the temples and the hinder part of the neck be gently rub'd with such a like oyntment Take of oyle of nutmegs by expression ʒ ii of Capive ʒiii of Amber ℈ i. Let an Amulet be hung about the neck of the roots and seeds of the greater Paeonie a little of the hoof of an Elke being added to it Moreover antispasmodick Remedies should be dayly given to the Nurse The Method of Curing to be used to the Nurses Let her
same disease did fall upon our Countrey men here and there also at other times for that of late in this City all the younger people of a certain family were sick of it yea I remember that some time past very many laboured with such a feavour Out of the many histories and examples of sick people which it rendred when it was epidemical I will here propose one or two A strong and lively young man about the beginning of the spring 1661 falling Observation 1 sick without any evident cause without any great heat or thirst he became suddenly weak and as if enervated with a dejected appetite and languor of spirits Cathartick Remedies Antipyretics or allaying of heat digestives and also antiscorbuticks and others of various kindes administred by the prescriptions of the most famous Physitians availed nothing But notwithstanding the sick man hitherto languishing with a slow and wandring feavour with a quick and feeble pulse a deep-colour'd urine had kept his bed a fortnight besides being reduced to the greatest leanness he complained of a giddiness and as it were the fluctuation of a sound in his head and a tingling noyse in his ears Altho he was troubled with a great stupor yet his sleeps were mightily troubled and broken with delirious fables After four days when the feavour was not yet declined it was thought good to take away four or five ounces of blood by Leeches from the sedal veins from hence the feavour began to be much exasperated for a great intense heat with thirst watchings and almost continual tossing of the body also the tongue dry and scurfy appeared then quickly a troublesome cough with abundance of discoloured spittle followed to him were administred almond and barly-drinks with temperate bechicks or things to stop coughing boyled in them water of milk distill'd with snails and pectoral herbs the shelly-powders prepared nitre and often Cordial opiats which notwithstanding scarce giving any help the sick man still became more weak when in this manner being sick above two months space the feavourish distemperature and cough also dayly growing worse he seemed near death at length a voluntary sweating arising so that every night or every other night he sweat abundantly and from thence finding himself better using then the aforesaid Remedies he grew well within six weeks Till I had seen many sick people after the same manner I suspected this disease to be alltogether an hectick feavour with a consumptive disposition of the Lungs but when I saw many others at that time fall sick ordinarily after the like manner I easily instituted the Aetiologie or national account of this feavour such as I have already described to wit that the blood because of the intemperature of the year and perhaps from errors in dyet The reason of it had contracted a vitious procatarxis or remote cause Then it growing feavourishly hot and presently carrying its impurities to the brain and so depraving the juice watering it and the nervous stock induced the vertiginous distempers with a stupor a languishing of spirits and an atrophy of the whole body but so long as the blood did transfer its recrements from its own bosom into the brain and nervous appendix the feavourish heat continued more gentle and milde But afterwards when the tending downwards of the morbific matter by the opening of the hemorhoid veins was drawn away from the brain the same being first retained within the bloody mass increased the feavour then being poured on the Lungs excited the cruel cough with plentifull spittle but forasmuch as the flesh of the Lungs remained free from putrefaction as soon as the serous water was sent away by a more plentifull sweating the sick man became free both from the feavour and phthisis or Consumption that seemed so deplorable Observation 2 In the mean time whilst he lay sick I visited another about 12. years of age after the like manner affected But this when I was firâ—t sent for having been sick above a month was reduced to the leanness of a Skelliton besides he was troubled with a vertigo with a noise in his ears and deafness and also with a violent cough with yellow and as it were consumptive spittle his pulse was quick and feeble his urine red and thick his appetite much dejected his spirits so languid and his strength so cast down that he could not keep out of his bed I gave this youth to drink often in a day water distill'd from milk with snails and temperate herbs besides I ordered him an open decoction such as is in use for the Rickets to be daily taken instead of his ordinary drink by the help of which Remedies he was restored to his health in a months space At this time I was sent for to many other people of every age and sex distemper'd by the same disease now clearly Epidemical for it running thorow whole families not only in this City and the neighbouring parts but in the Countries at a great distance as I heard from Physitians dwelling in other places increased very much Those for the most part labouring with this feavour so be they were otherwise whole grew well by the fit use and order of medicine and dyet but it hapned very often but ill to those who were indued with a weakly constitution of brain and nervous stock or broken with age but not seldom the case of the sick became dangerous because the Physitians were not wont to be sent for presently after the beginning of the disease yea scarcely before it had more deeply spread abroad its roots and the opportunity of healing was past Observation 3 For that reason this feavour became very deadly in the family of a certain Noble man among his children originally obnoxious to Cephalic distempers About the vernal Aequinox a Boy of about eleven years of Age began to be sick At first without any vehement heat or thirst a dejection of appetite and want of strength came upon him Besides an almost continual giddiness did trouble him with a frequent danger of fainting that he often thought he was just dying By the advice of a certain woman attending him they dayly gave him Clisters then when from the foulness of the mouth and Tongue manifest signes of a Feavour appeared this Emperick on the fifth day gave him a vomit of the Infusion of Crocus metallorum and on the seaventh day a Cordial powder being administred she incited the sick youth covered with blankets to sweat his skin hardly began to be moist but presently he began to talk idly complained that his Cap was fallen into the water by and by becoming speechless within four hours whilst I was sent for he expir'd before I came Observation 4 A little while after the same disease fell upon his yonger Sister whose sickness however because it was accompanied with a frequent and humid Cough was thought at first to be only a taking of Cold but within a few days this Cough became plainly Convulsive so that
feavour a phrensie or madness should come remedies appropriate to those distempers are made use of 2dly But if either with or without this sort of displeasure In the Cough brought to the head the Lungs also have taken the evill of this disease so that the sick not yet free from the feavour seem to fall into a waisting or Consumption with a troublesome cough with abundance of thick and often discoloured spittle Medicines commonly prescribed for such kinde of Distempers are convenient enough wherefore pectoral Decoctions Electuaries syrrops distill'd waters of milk and snails and other remedies of the like nature ought diligently to be made use of the forms of which may be found in the before-described Cases Thus far we have described the continual feavour for the most part convulsive and arising no less from the fault of the nervous juice then of the blood I will here further propose an example of a disease having the likeness of an intermitting feavour but radicated chiefly in the nervous juice the nature of which kinde of distemper for that it is very rare and truly pertinent to our convulsive Pathologie will appear from the following history A noted Woman very young A very rare Observation and indued with a more weak constitution of brain and nervous stock and for that cause very obnoxious to convulsive distempers after she had conceived with child about the fourth month of her being big from cold being taken she was grievously afflicted with Astmatical fits and besides with a frequent sinking down of her spirits but by the use of remedies indued with a volatile salt she grew well within a fortnights space but after that about 14. days an unwonted and truly admirable distemper fell upon this Gentlewoman One morning awaking after an unquiet sleep that night she felt a light shivering in all her body as if she had had the fit of an Ague frequent yaunings and reatchings with an endeavour to vomit followed thereupon then her urine which was but now of a citron colour and of a laudable substance became pale and waterish and was rendred at every turn to wit almost every minute of an hour moreover about her loins and hypochondria and in other places pains with light Convulsions running about here and there were excited which kinde of symptoms plainly convulsive with her frequent making of a lympid urine continued in the Morning allmost to Evening in which space of time a great quantity of water at least three times more then the liquor she had taken was rendred in the mean time neither was the heat great nor did thirst trouble her nor was her pulse encreased In the evening the aforesaid distempers ceased and her urine became citron colour and moderate and besides all night she enjoy'd a moderate sleep then the morning following about the same hour the fit returned accompanied altogether with the like symtoms and so dayly acted the same Tragedy The reason of it Visiting this Gentlewoman after she had been sick in this manner for 12. days I framed the Aetiologie of the aforesaid case to wit that this disease chiefly radical in the nervous stock did depend upon the effervescency and flux of the humour watering the nervous parts For it might be suspected that this water being diffused from the blood made degenerate by reason of the suppression of her Terms upon the brain and nervous stock became more sharp and serous than it ought to be and for that cause incongruous to the containing parts wherefore being gathered together to a plenitude by the nights sleep it did stir them up or provoke them for the expulsion of it every where into wrinklings and contractions hence shiverings yaunings streachings and wandring pains were excited in the whole body Furthermore from the sollid parts after this manner contracted and shaken not only the nervous Liquor but also the nutricious every where laid up in the sollid parts but not truly assimilated were shaken off and then either Latex being exterminated from its receptacles and received by the veins or Lymphaducts or water-carrying vessells was render'd to the Mass of blood from whose bosome before it had acquired a lixiviall tincture from it being at last cast forth by the reins constituted a clear and Copious urine But that this distemper observed such exact periods the reason is because the nervous water being supplyed with an equall dimension did arise to a fulness of running over dayly at the set time Therefore also the urine appeared concocted and yellow before and after the fit because then its matter consisted only from the serum of the blood Afterwards during the convulsive fit the limpid humour being shaken off from the solid and nervous parts and passing quickly thorow the blood adulterated the colour and the quantity of the urine I prescribed to this big-bellied woman Phlebotomie and besides a powder composed out of Corall pearls ivory and other Cardiacks to be taken thrice in a day in a proper Liquor morning and evening she took of the tincture of Antimony 12. drops whose singular effect in the too great flux of urine I have many times experienced By the use of these all the symptoms ceased in a short time CHAPTER IX Of Vniversal Convulsions which are wont to be excited because of the Scorbutic disposition of the Nervous juice Vniversal Convulsions by reason of the Scorbutic disposition of the nervous juice THus much concerning universal Convulsions diffused thorow the whole nervous kinde which come upon feavours and especially concerning the Convulsions which are wont to be excited in the commonly called malignant hectick Feaevour There yet remains which was proposed in the third place for us to shew by what means and from what causes universal Convulsions are induced without poyson or feavourish infection by reason of the scorbutick or otherwise vitious dyscrasie or evill disposition of the nervots juice For indeed the Liquor watering both the nerves and the nervous parts sometimes disceding from its naturall disposition is so much stuff'd with heterogeneous and explosive particles that the animal spirits admitting an incongruous Copula every where growing to themselves are irritated into continuall as it were cracklings or convulsive explosions These kinde of Affections of the spirits Two kindes of these viz. Separate and Connex or joyned together are either divided or separated between which no Communication or dependency intercedes viz. When many parts of the body are troubled at once with so many Convulsions proper to themselves which do not come successively one from another but are terminated in the same muscle or member where they begin After which manner I have known some sick people who have had their muscles and tendons all at once in their whole body perpetually to leap forth with so many distinct Convulsions Or Secondly the Convulsive Distempers which are excited in the whole nervous kinde together are continued or connex which succeed one another with a certain perpetual vicissitude continued
their inclination and falling down in the brain and perhaps also within the breast may be sometimes prevented then to Corroberate those parts that they may not easily admit the superfluities of the boyling Serum For these ends vomits and more gentle purges for the most part are usefull and in some measure ought to be repeated Vesecatories are often profitable yea if the Disease be contumacious Issues are to be made in the nape of the neck or the arm or about the Armpits Drink and liquid aliments are to be taken in a lesser quantity than usual and in stead of them a Bochet is to be used of Sarsa China Sanders Shavings of Ivory and harts-horn with diuretic and anticonvulsive Ingredients In this Case some remedies as it were special are greatly commended of which sort are pixed musk given in powder or boyled in milk and so given dayly in a frequent dose a decoction or Syrrop of Castor and Saffron decoctions of the root of Paony Misletow of the Oak also of hyssop help many the waters of black-cherries of Saxifrage and of Snailes distilled with Whey and appropriate ingredients are often taken with success The cure of the Convulsive Asthma 2. By what method and with what Remedies I have cured the periodical Asthma in some young ones hath been already shown But in most distemper'd with this Disease the most famous Riverius hath observed a vomit is chiefly helpfull although he hath not rightly shown the reason which indeed seems to consist in this to wit that this medicine greatly shaking and irritation the Emunctories planted about the first Passages strongly presses out from them and carries forth of dores the recrements of the blood and nervous juice apt to be troublesome and to restagnate on the brain and Nervous stock Zacutus the Lusitanian highly extolls and not without reason a cautery to be made sometimes in the hinder part of the head sometimes in the nape of the neck or about the Armpits A preparation of milipedes viz. in form of a dry powder or a distilled Liquor seldom wants success For by such like Remedies the superfluities of the Serum are deduced from the head and nervous stock and carried away thorow the urinary passages For the same reason a gentle purge evacuating the ill juice is often us'd for this end the decoction of an old Cock with altering medicins and gently purging being stowed in its belly is praysed by many Besides the remedies hitherto cited some others are said to be appropriate and as it were Specifical to the Asthma of which sort are the balsom of Sulphur turpintin'd also Spirits of Harts-horn or of Sut impregnaeed with the same Syrop of Tobacco of Ammoniack our diasulphur Lohoch of Garlick pills of the roots of Enula Campane made up with the milk of Sulphur with the flowers of Benzoin with liquid pitch or liquid amber with many others which would be too tedious here to enumerate And now the cheif Species and manners of Convulsions together with the Causes of the Symptoms and the means of curing being sufficiently explicated it is time to put an end to this our Pathologie of the Brain and nervous stock and to our Discourse of Convulsive Diseases FINIS Since nothing could so well express the meaning and intention of the Author as the very Latin and Greek words used in these Tracts we have continued them expresly and though in many places I have given their meaning by Synonymas yet for the benefit of the meer English Readers we have here composed a Table Alphabetically of all the hard Greek and Latin words used in the whole Volume as also of all Terms of Art and many other words derived from the Latin and Greek though usual among Scholars yet not frequently known to the vulgar and therefore we have fully explained them and rendred them intelligible to the meanest Capacity in the following Table A TABLE of all the hard words derived from the Greek and Latin of all Terms of Art and other words not vulgarly received with the explanation of them A ABdomen The lower part of the Belly from the Navel downwards Ablution A washing away Accension An Inkindling Accession A coming to or approach Acme The height or top of a thing Acid Sharp Acidity Sharpness Acidulae Medicinal waters running forth from Veins of Iron Copper and such like called Spaws from that famous place for Mineral-waters the Spaw in Germany Acrimony Sharpness or sourness rather Actionobolism An Irradiation of Beams or shooting forth of the spirits like beams of the Sun Aconite A venomous poisonous Herb put for Libbards bane Acute Sharp or excessive painful or that is quick and dangerous Aculeated Made sharp and prickly like a Needles point Adhaesion A sticking to Adjuted Helped Adventitious Coming by accident or by the by Adust Burnt or parch'd Adustion A burning or parching Aequilibrium An equal or even poise when the Balance stands bending neither to the one side or the other Aequinox When the Sun is in the Equinoctial Line and divides the Day and Night into an equal length which is about the 12. of March and about the 12. of September Aetherial Heavenly or belonging to the Air or Skie Aetiologie The rendring of the Cause or Reason of a thing Affection Taken for the natural Condition and often signifies sickness or disease Affected Distempered or diseased Sometimes natural disturbance Affusion A pouring forth of any thing Agaric A Drug that purges Phlegm Aggestion A heaping together of any thing Agitated A violent shaking or jogging together Alembic An Arabic word for a Still used by Chymists Alexipharmaca Medicines against Poisons and Venom Alexiterion The same being an Antidote against poison Alchalisat A salt made of the herb Kali Also taken and applyed to salts made of Herbs and shells of Fishes Alible Nourishable or that nourishes Aliment Food Allision A striking or knocking together Aloes A juice made out of a bitter herb used in purging Medicines also a sweet wood Amalgama A Chymical term for the setling and mixture of several Minerals or Metals or other things whereby a separation and extraction may be made Ambages A compassing or going about Ambient That invirons or compasses one about as the Air. Amulets Pomanders or Bracelets made against Witchcraft and Infection and Poison Analogy Proportion agreement or likeness Analysis The laying open or unfolding of the matter Anatomy A dissecting the Body to see the several parts Anasarca The watry Dropsy swelling up the whole flesh Analesia A stupifying disease that takes away the sense from all parts of the Head Angle A Mathematical Term being the nook or space at the cutting of two lines and is of several sorts A Corner or nook Anhelous Short-winded or that puffeth for want of breath that breatheth difficultly Annularie Ringy or like Rings Annular Ringy or like Rings Anodynes Medicines procuring ease from pains by sleep or other means Anomal Irregular out of order Antasthmaticks Things good against the Cough or
afore-prescribed Remedies Or the aforesaid Ingredients excepting the Liquoris and Raysons may be boyled in vi pints of Hydromel or water and hony or meath to the Consumption of the third part The dose â„¥ iiii to vi If that the aforesaid Method consisting in the use of Catharticks and Specificks being for some time tryed and altogether in vain you must come to Remedies of another kinde Great Remedies and chiefly to those called Great or Notable In this rank are placed Diaphoreticks Salivation Bathes and Spaws Alphonsus Ferrius affirms that he had cured many Epileptical people with a decoction of simple Guaicum being prescribed twice in a day and taken to vi or viii ounces and its second decoction drunk as in the cure of the Pox instead of ordinary drink If to such a decoction the roots of Paeony and other specificks should be added perhaps it would be more efficatious It seems probable that a Salivation strongly excited from Mercurie and afterwards a sudoriferous or Sweating-Diet following might certainly cure this Disease What Baths or Spaw-waters are able to do I have not observ'd either by my own or others experience Perhaps I have made tryall that our Artificial Spaws sometimes have been available in Curing the Epilepsie to wit both those impregnated with Iron and also with Antimony and taken in a great quantity for many days CHAPTER IV. Of other kinds of Convulsions and first of the Convulsive Motions of Children AFter the Epilepsie as it were the principal Spasm in the chief place excited to wit within the middle part of the brain the other Kindes of Convulsions come to be treated of in order The differences of those are best taken from a twofold kinde of cause and the various manners and accidents of either We have already shown that all Spasmodic distempers do flow either from the meer irritation of the spirits or from their explosion by reason of the cleaving of an Elastick Copula to them or jointly from both together wherefore the manifold Ideas of Spasms may be distinguished and distributed into certain Classes as it happens for this or that cause or either together to remain in the various places of the Encephalon or the nervous Appendix For indeed the Spasmodic matter or the explosive Copula of the Spirits finding a passage chiefly and most often thorow the Brain and sometimes in some measure thorow the extremities of the nerves subsists either about the origine of the nerves or their middle processes or their outmost ends or abounds in their whole passages as shall be by and by more particularly declared Further an irritation stiring up Convulsions by it self or with a previous remote cause although it be made every where in the nervous stock yet it chiefly and more frequently produces such an effect about the beginings middle processes and foldings or ends of the Nerves But the same Kinde of Cause and effects are after one manner in Infants and children and another in youths and those of riper age Since therefore we have determined particularly to consider all the kindes of Convulsions we will first discourse of the Convulsive motions of Infants and Children Infants and children happen so ordinarily and frequently to be tormented with Spasmodick Distempers that this is reconed the chief and almost the only Kinde of Convulsions for the Symptoms of this kinde in other more ripe people are wont to be called by other known Names and referred to the Epilepsie hysterick hypochondriac Collie passions or also to the Scurvie but in children they are called as it were by way of Excellency Convulsions As to this we must observe that children are found to be greatly obnoxious to Convulsions chiefly about two seasons to wit within the first month after they are born or about their breeding of Teeth Although it often happens that the assaults of this Disease may come also at other times and from certain other Causes In the first place therefore it very often happens that children newly born or at least er'e they are two months old are afflicted at every turn with Spasms excited in divers parts for that inversions of the eyes distortions of the cheeks and Lipps or tremblings yea Contractions of the Tendons and frequent jerkings or leapings forth of the members and sudden shakings of the whole Body infest them and that the same effect likewise sometimes afflicts the praecordia appears plain enough because whilst the Spasms busie the Limbs and outward members also the face becomes now pale now of a livid or dead Colour from the blood stagnating in the heart and the Lungs being at that time contracted As therefore Spasms are wont to infest three Regions of the Body in children to wit the parts of the head and face the outward members and Limbs and the Praecordia and viscera we observe now these regions now those now two or all together to be possessed by the morbific Cause to wit as it is fixed either about the beginings or ends of the nerves and when the former of these happens as the superior part of the oblong pith the middle or the lowest part of the spinal marrow is touch'd one or more parts together are assaulted by the morbifick Cause As to the other Causes of this Distemper to wit the procataric and evident those of the former Kinde do chiefly consist in two things first that all the parts of the Head in infants are very weak and abound with a viscous humidity to wit the Brain less firm and the tone of the nerves very loose so that they are not able to bear the more light force of every matter but the Spirits inhabiting them are easily incited into irregular motions or Spasms by the proper liquour wherewith those parts are watered if it flows never so little immoderately or at least more plentifully than for the measure of so little strength But in the second place because it appears by observation that children not only nor all who are of a more tender Constitution are found to be prone to this Disease therefore this ought to be rather accounted for a reason of the more remote morbid Cause that the Blood and nervous Juce are originally vicious in some Infants by reason of evills contracted from the womb For that the sanguineous mass wanting eventilation for many months past becomes impure in children newly born wherefore broad and Red puttings forth like the small pocks shew themselves through the whole skin in most children soon after they are born to which sort of wealks or efflorescences if they are hindred or repressed oftentimes dangerous exulcerations about the parts of the mouth follow Hence we may deservedly suspect such impurities of the blood sometimes to be poured forth into the brain and nervous stock considering their debility and for that reason Spasmodic Distempers to arise to wit whilst the blood being vitious from the womb endeavours to purifie it self it transfers its faeculencies into the head which were wont to be
exterminated by the putting forth the Red-gum or red spreadings thorow the skin Wherefore a water now thin and Serous now thick and sticking and either participating of praeternatural Salts and sulphures is layd up within these or those recesses and Cavities of the Brain Cerebel and oblong pith the recrements of which when they begirt the beginings or ends of this or that nerve and sometimes many together affix on the Spirits inhabiting them heterogeneous particles and apt for Spasmodic or Convulsive explosions For as soon as the nerves have deeply imbibed such particles the spirits being burthened with their Copula endeavour either of their own accord or being incited by evident Causes to thrust and shake it off and so they enter into Spasmodic or Convulsive explosions The evident Causes which bring on Convulsive motions in children praedisposed are of two Kindes viz. In the first place whatsoever stir up unwonted effervescencies of the blood whether they be excesses of heat or cold a too plentifull nourishment or hotter then should be the changes of the air and weather and chiefly the periodical times of the Moon for by reason of these and other the like occasions the Blood growing more hot than by right it should be affixes sooner to the Spirits an heterogeneous Copula even to a fullness and causes it presently to be struck off and exploded by them throughly disturbed 2ly An Irritation in almost every part of the nervous System does not seldome bring into Act a Spasmodic or Convulsive Disposition wherefore not only an excess of tangible qualities outwardly inflicted but the milk Coagulated in the stomack choler or other sharp humours or also wormes knawing the Intestines are wont to excite Spasms or Convulsions Besides these kinde of evident Causes as they are stronger sometimes induce Spasmodick Distempers of themselves and without a praevious Disposition even so worms and perchance sharp humours cause Convulsive motions to some children at least to the more tender That it might more certainly and to the sense appear what kinde of morbific matter might be in Convulsive motions I have opened the dead bodies of many which this disease had opprest I have allways in vain sought the cause within the Visecra and first passages of Concoction In the heads of many a serous water being heaped up within the Cavity under the Cerebel and distending the Membrane which cloaths the oblong pith or marrow did overflow the beginings of the nerves in some no footsteps of this Disease appeared so that what sticking to the Spirits did irritate them into explosions was of so imperceivable a bulk and its originall so altogether hid that it could not be found out by the most perspicatious scrutiny of the sight Sometime past in this City many chilbren of a certain woman dyed of this Disease at length the fourth as the others dyed within the month we dissected the Head and here no serous Colluvies or water did overflow the ventricles but only the substance of the Brain and its appendix was moister then ordinary and looser what was most worthy of observation was that in the Cavity which lyes under the Cerebel upon the trunk of the oblong pith we found a remarkable heap of clotter'd and as it were concreted blood but in truth it is uncertain whether this matter deposited there from the begining had primarily caused the convulsions or rather whether this blood being extravasated and expressed by the contraction of the parts planted round about was not the effect and product of the Convulsions and not the cause of them for also in Apoplectical people this kinde of Phaenomenon ordinarily happens which yet we shall afterwards shew to be rather the effect than the cause of the disease Indeed the heterogeneous Particles which flow to the blood from the womb are wont to be sent away through efflorencies or Cutaneous Pustles in the whole Body in many children in others being poured on the head are the material cause of the Convulsive Distemper may be inferr'd besides the reasons before recited from the remedies chiefly helping For that in little children obnoxious to this haereditarie Disease the Convulsive fits are best prevented if that an issue be made Presently after they are born in the nape of the neck and blood drawn with a Leech from the jugular Veins for the corruptions of the nervous juce are brought away by that and the impure buddings of the blood are diverted from the head by this by these ways of Administrations when before two or three children of the same Parent have dyed of Convulsions soon after they were born all the rest have been freed from the same evill 2ly Thus much concerning the Convulsive motions of Children which are wont to infest them by reason of an Infection contracted from the womb â—f that at this bout they should escape the Disease it self or at least its deadly strokes nevertheless about rhe time of breeding teeth they would be found at last to be obnoxious to the same danger for when the Teeth especially the greater are about to cut oftentimes a feavour is excited to which not seldom Convulsions are Joyned and though at this Time children are grown stronger and may better bear the fits of the disease then when new born yet the convulsive Distemper now stirred up by no other grievous occasion becomes very dangerous and sometimes deadly But forasmuch as childern who fall into feavours about the time of breeding of Teeth are not all tormented with Convulsions it therefore follows that some disposition to this disease either innate or acquired doth precede and that the pain caused from the breeding the Teeth is to be esteemed only the means of a more strong evident Cause to wit Children who being indued either with a Cacochymia or juce causing ill digestion or with a more weak constitution of the brain and nervous stock have their animal Spirits too much adulterated or dissipable are sometimes disposed for the coming of Convulsive distempers wherefore when so acute pain together with a feavor afflicts that latent disposition is brought into Act. If it be here ask'd for what reason a feavour and then Convulsive motions following thereupon come to those Praedisposed in teething it may be answer'd that either effect may be attributed to the pain as the immediate Cause We experimentally know by our selves what the torment is that follows an irritation about the roots of the Teeth in truth so great and so cruell that a more cruell can scarce be for that one or two notable shoots of the 5th pare of nerves reaches to the roots of each Tooth which when it ss hauled by the sharp particles of the Blood or other humours there layd up causes a most sharp sense of trouble or pain by its Corrugation But this kinde of Vellication or hauling of this Nerve happens thus to children breeding teeth because that the membranes and fibres are every way distended by the Teeth now increasing into a greater bulk and