The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XXIII. The cure of the Sciatica.

THough the Sciatica bee commonly occasioned by tough phlegme, yet if the patient be strong and abound with blood, and all things else consent, * 1.1 it shall bee good to draw blood by opening a veine; for phlebotomy e∣qually evacuates all humors; therefore the falling downe of the humors into the part affected, is thereby hindered, or retarded. Verily I have knowne no speedier remedy to asswage the paine of inflammation, than blood-letting, being first made on the Basilica of the grieved side for revulsions sake; and then for evacuati∣on of the conjunct matter on the vena ischiadica, which is at the outside of the ankle, if the paine of the Sciatica be more on the outside; or else on the Sapheia, which is on * 1.2 the inside of the ankle, if the inner parts bee more pained. The quantity of blood which is to be drawne must be left to the judgement of the physitian, without whose advise I would attempt nothing in this case. Also acride glysters are good, if there be nothing which may hinder, as ulcers of the guts, or haemorrhoids. ℞. rad. acor. ℥ ii. centaur. rut. salv. rorism. calam. origan. puleg. an. m ss. staechad. arabic. flo. cham. melil. aneth. an. p i. sem. anis. & foenic. an. ℥ ss. fiat decoctio ad lb. i. in colatura dissolve hierae & diaphen. an. ℥ ss. mellis anthos. sacch. rub. an. ℥ i. olei liliorum ℥ iii. fiat clyster. Strong purgations are also here usefull, as of pillul. foetid. arthritic. Assai••reth. de Hermodactilis, and others used in phlegmaticke causes. Electuarium Diacar••hami * 1.3 purgeth choller and phlegme. Often vomitings doe not onely evacuate the hu∣mors, but also make revulsion, as wee have formerly delivered. Bathes and sweates profit no otherwise than a decoction of guajacum or sarsaparilla. If heat molest the part, then foment it with oile of roses and vinegar, especially if the paine be deepe in, for vinegar by its tenuity pierceth to the bottome, and makes way for the oile, which of its owne nature is anodyne. After the use of generall medicines you shall apply attractive and resolving things: emplasters of pitch and sulphur, or of Ammo∣niacum, euphorbium, Terebinthina, Propolis, Galbanum, Bdelium, Opopanax, draw the humour from within to the surface or skinne. As in like sort also the chymicall oile of sage, rosemary, pellitory of Spaine, and such other like doe the same, which by reason of the tenuity of their substance, and their separation from earthy impuri∣ty, have farre more powerfull and expedite faculties to penetrate and discusse. Yet must you use none of all these without very good judgment and deliberation, other-wise there will be danger of inflammation.

There may also be made somentations of discussing and resolving herbes, as the rootes and leaves of dane-weeds, orris, Bay and Juniper berries, the seeds of faenu∣greeke, anise, fennell, the leaves of sage, rosemary, chamomile, melilote, elder, and the like, boyled in wine and oyle: the following plaster is much commended by the antients to digest, or resolve and asswage the paine, with this which drawes forth thornes, splinters, and rotten bones. ℞. sem. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. mundat. spumaborac▪ salis •…•…∣moniaci,

rad. aristoloch. rotund. colocynth. terebinth. venet. an. ʒ x. foenug. piperis longi, xylobalsam. thur. myrrhae, adipis cap. gum. pini, an. ʒ v. cerae, lb. ss. lactis ficus sylv. ℥ ss. ex omnibus secundum artem praeparatis cum olei liliorum, & vini generosi quantitat. suf∣f••ciente, fiat emplastrum. Let it be applyed to the Hippe. Or, ℞. sinapi acerrimo aceto dissoluti, ℥ ii. fermenti acris, ℥ ss. pul. hermodact. ʒ ii. mellis com. ℥ iii. tereb. ℥ iv. olei laur. & de spicâ, an. ℥ ii. far. foenug. ℥ i ss. terrae formicarum cum ovis, lb i. fol. laur. salv. rut. rorismarin. an. m. ss. vermium terrest. praepar. lb ss. The earth with the egges and wormes shall be boyled apart with the white wine, and herbes cut in pieces, and these being strained out, the rest of the things shall bee added according to art, and then it shall be applyed to the Hippe. Or else, ℞. rad. enul. camp. sigil. salom. bryon. bismal. an. ℥ ii. coquantur complete & terantur, trajiciantur per setaceum, addendo farin. foenug. & hordei, an. ℥ i. olei liliorum, & chamaem. an. ℥ iii. tereb. ℥ iv. cerae quantum sufficit, fi∣at cataplasma. It resolves, asswageth pain, and calleth forth the humours to the skin. Or else, ℞. rad. sigil. beatae Mariae, ℥ vi. empl. diachyl. albi, ʒ iv. croci in aqua vitae dissoluti, ʒ ii. terebinth. ℥ i. ol. de spica nardi quantum sufficit, fiat empl. Let it be spread upon leather and applyed warme. I have oftentimes suddenly asswaged the paine of the sciatica by putting to the pained Hip the root of black Bryony cut into slices, * 1.4 and applyed, when the matter was cold. Or else, ℞. cerae citrin. & tereb. abiet. an. ℥ ii. liquefiant simul in vase duplici, & ubi refrixerint, adde pulv. Hermodact. ℥ ss. flor. cha∣maem. irid. flor. an. ʒ iii. spicae nardi, flor. thymi, an. ʒ ii. interioris cinamomi elect. & semin. nasturt. an. ʒ ii. croci, ℈ iv. malaxantur simul manibus axungia porciveterenon salita unctis, & fiat massa empl. But if the paine be not by this meanes asswaged, then must we come to more powerfull medicines, as to use great Cupping Glasses apply∣ed with much flame, and to vesicatories. As, ℞. cantharid. quibus detractae sunt alae, ʒ ii. * 1.5 staphisagr. ʒ iii. sinapi, ʒ i ss fermenti acerrimi ℥ ss. incorporentur simul, & fiat vesicato∣rium. Also blisters may be raised by applying the inner rinde of Travailers joy to * 1.6 the wait of some two drammes, a little beneath the grieved part: you must have a care that the ulcers that remaine after the skinne of the blisters is taken off, doe run, & be kept open for some time after, that so more of the humor conteined in the part may bee drawne away. But if wee cannot availe by these means, we must according to Hippocrates his counsaile, come to the last and extremest temedy. Such (saith he) * 1.7 as troubled with a long paine of the sciatica, have their Hippe fall out of joint, their leg consumes, & they become lame unlesse they be burnt: we have also read the same approved by Celsus. It is the last (saith he) and most effectuall medicine in longer dis∣eases, to cauterize with hot irons the skinne of the Hippe in three or foure places; * 1.8 and then not to heale up these ulcers or fontenels as soone as may be, but to keepe them open by putting thereinto bullets of gold, or silver, or pills of Gentian, or waxe melted and wrought up with the powder of vitrioll, mercurie, and the like ca∣thaeretickes untill the affect against which we use this remedy be helped, for by this meanes many have bin helped. Therefore three or foure actuall cauteries, or hot i∣rons shall be so thrust in about the joint of the Hip, that they may enter into the flesh some fingers breadth, yet so that you shun the nerves. Cauteryes here doe good, for * 1.9 that by heating the part, they heate and dissolve the cold humours, they cut, attenu∣ate, and draw forth the grosse and viscide, so that they flow out by the ulcers, to∣gether with the quitture. Over and besides, the ligaments are strengthened by their cicatrization, and their loosenesse helped; & by this meanes the whole part is nota∣bly corroberated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Why we must open a veine in the Sciatica.
• * 1.2

  When the vena ischiadica and sapheia must be opened in the sciatica.
• * 1.3

  Strong purgati∣ons in the sci∣a••ica.
• * 1.4

  Blacke bryony discusseth.
• * 1.5

  A strong vesica∣tory.
• * 1.6

  The inner rinde of Travellers∣joy a vesicato∣ry.
• * 1.7

  Aph. ult. sect. 6.
• * 1.8

  Lib. 4. cap. 22.
• * 1.9

  The use of cauteries in the sciatica.