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

CHAP. XXVI. Of many Symptomes which happen together with the Plague: and first of the paine of the head.

IF the malignity be carryed into the braine, and nature be not able to ex∣pell * 1.1 it, it inflames not onely it, but also the membranes that cover it: which inflammation doth one while hurt, trouble, or abolish the imagi∣nation, another while the judgement, and sometimes-the memory, ac∣cording to the situation of the inflammation, whether it bee in the for∣mer, hinder or middle part of the head; but hereof commeth alwayes a Phrensie, with fiery rednesse of the eyes and face, and heavinesse and burning of the whole head. If this will not be amended with Clisters, and with opening the Cephalicke veine in the arme, the arteries of the temples must be opened, taking so much bloud out of them, as the greatnesse of the Symptomes and the strength of the patient shall require and permit. Truly the incision that is made in opening of an arterie will close and joyne together as readily, and with as little difficulty, as the incision of a veine. And of such an incision of an artery, commeth present helpe, by reason that the ten∣sive * 1.2 and sharpe vapours do plentifully breath out together with the arterious bloud. It were also very good to provoke a fluxe of bloud at the nose, if nature be apt to ex∣one••ate herselfe that way. For, as Hippocrates saith, when the head is grieved, or ge∣nerally * 1.3 aketh, if matter, water, or bloud flow out at the nostrils, mouth or eares, it presently cures the disease. Such bleeding is to be provoked by strong blowing, or striving to cleanse the nose, by scratching or picking of the inner sides of the nostrils, by pricking with an horse haire, and long holding downe of the head.

The Lord of Fontains, a Knight of the Order, when we were at Bayon, had a blee∣ding * 1.4 at the nose, which came naturally for the space of two dayes, and thereby hee was freed of a pestilent Feaver which he had before, a great sweat rising therewith∣all, and shortly after his Carbuncles came to suppuration, and by Gods grace he reco∣vered his health being under my cure. If the bloud doe flow out and cannot be stop∣ped * 1.5 when it ought, the hands, armes, and legges must be tyed with bands, and spon∣ges wet in Oxycrate must be put under the arme-holes, cupping-glasses must be ap∣plyed unto the dugges, the region of the liver and spleen; and you must put into the nostrils, the doune of the willow tree, or any other astringent medicine, incorpora∣ted with the haires pluckt from the flanke, belly or throat of a Hare, bole Armenicke, Terra Sigillata, the juice of Plantain and Knot-grasse mixed together; and further∣more the patient must be placed or laied in a coole place. But if the pain bee nothing mitigated not withstanding all these fluxes of bloud, we must come to medicines that procure sleep, whose formes are these.

Take of green Lettuce one handfull, flowers of water Lillies and Violets, of each two pugils, one head of white Poppy bruised, of the foure cold seeds, of each two * 1.6 drams, of Liquorice and Raisons, of each one dram: make thereof a decoction, and in the straining dissolve one ounce and an halfe of Diacodion: make thereof a large potion to be given when they goe to rest. Also a Barly-creame may be prepared in the water of water-Lillies and of Sorrell, of each two ounces, adding thereto sixe or eight graines of Opium: of the foure cold seeds, and of white Poppy seeds, of each halfe an ounce, and let the same be boyled in broths with Lettuce and Purslaine; also the Pils de Cynoglosso, id est, Hounds tongue may be given. Clisters that provoke sleep must be used, which may be thus prepared:

Take of Barly-water, halfe a pinte; oyle of Violets and water-Lillies, of each two ounces; of the water of Plantaine and Purslaine, or rather of their juices, three ounces; of Camphire seven graines, and the whites of three egges: make thereof a Clister. The head must be fomented with Rose-vinegar, the haire being first shaven away, leaving a double cloth wet therein on the same, and often renewed. Sheepes lungs taken warme out of the bodies, may be applyed to the head, as long as they are warme. Cupping-glasses with and without scarification, may be applyed to the neck and shoulder-blades. The armes and legs must be strongly bound, being first wel rub∣bed to divert the sharpe vapours and humours from the head. Frontals may also bee made on this manner. Take of the oyle of Roses and water-Lillies, of each two ounces, of the oyle of Poppy halfe an ounce, of Opium one dram, of Rose-vinegar one ounce, of Camphire halfe a dram; mixe them together. Also Nodules may bee made of the flowers of Poppies, Henbane, water-Lillies, Mandrakes beaten in Rose-water with a little Vinegar, and a little Camphire, and let them be often applyed to the nostrils: for this purpose Cataplasmes also may be laid to the forehead. As, Take of the mucilage of the seeds of Psilium, id est, Flea-wort, and Quince seeds extracted in Rose-water, three ounces; of Barly-meale foure ounces; of the powder of Rose-leaves, the flowers of water-Lillies and Violets, of each halfe an ounce; of the seeds of Poppies and Purslaine of each two ounces; of the water and vinegar of Roses, of each three ounces: make thereof a Cataplasme, and apply it warme unto the head. Or take of the juice of Lettuce, water-Lillies, Henbane, Purslaine, of each half a pint; * 1.7 of Rose-leaves in powder, the seeds of Poppy, of each halfe an ounce; oyle of Ro∣ses three ounces; of Vinegar two ounces; of Barly-meale as much as shall suffice: make thereof a Cataplasme in the forme of a liquid Pultis. When the heate of the head is mitigated by these medicines, and the inflammation of the braine asswaged, wee must come unto digesting and resolving fomentations, which may disperse the matter of the vapours. But commonly in paine of the head, they doe use to bind the forehead and hinder part of the head very strongly, which in this case must bee a∣voyded.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The cause of phrensie in the Plague.
• * 1.2

  The benefit of opening an artery.
• * 1.3

  Aph. 10. sect. 6.
• * 1.4

  A history.
• * 1.5

  To stay blee∣ding.
• * 1.6

  Medicines to ••••ocuresleep.
• * 1.7

  A Cataplasme.