CHAP. XIX. Of Anodynes, or such as mitigate or asswage paine.
BEfore we treat of Anodyne medicines, we thinke it fit to speake of the nature of paine. Now paine is a sorrowfull and trouble some sense, cau∣sed * 1.1 by some sodaine distemper, or solution of continuity. There are three things necessary to cause pain; The efficient cause, that is, a sodain departure from a naturall temper or union: the sensiblenesse of the body receiving the dolorificke cause: lastly, the apprehension of this induced change, caused either by distemper or union; for otherwise with how exquisite soever sense the body receiving the cause is indued with, unlesse it apprehend and marke it, there is no paine present. Hence is that Aphorisme of Hippocrates, Quicun{que} parte aliqua corporis dolentes dolorem omninò non sentiunt, his mens agrotat, that is, Whosoever pained in any part of their bodies doe wholly feele no paine, their understanding is ill affected and depraved. Heat, cold, moisture, and drinesse, induce a sodain change of temper; and heate and cold cause sharpe paine, drinesse moderate, but moisture scarce any at all: for moisture causeth not paine so much by its quality, as it doth by the quantity. Both the fore-mentioned qualities, especially associated with matter, as also certaine externall causes too violently assailing, such as these that may cause contusion, cut, pricke, or too much extend. Wherefore paine is a symptome of the touch, accompanying almost all diseases; therefore oft-times leaving these, they turn the councell of the Physitian to mitigate them, wch is performed either by mi∣tigating the efficient causes of paine, or dulling the sense of the part. Hereupon they make three differences of Anodynes: For some serve to cure the disease, othersome to mitigate it, othersome stupefie, and are narcotick. We terme such curative of the diseases, which resist, and are contrary to the causes of diseases. Thus paine, caused by a hot distemper, is taken away by oyle of Roses, Oxycrate, and other such like things, which amend and take away the cause of paine, to wit, the excesse of heate. Paine caused by a cold distemper, is amended by Olcum Laurinum, Nardinum, de Castoreo. Paine occasioned by too much drinesse, is helped by Hydraeleum, a bath of fresh and warme water. Lastly, by this word Anodyne, taken in the largest sense, we understand all purging medicines, Phlebotomy, Scarification, Cauteries, Cup∣pings, Glysters, and other such like things as evacuate any store of the dolorificke matter. But such as are properly termed Anodynes, are of two sorts: for some are * 1.2 temperate, others hot and moist in the first degree, and consequently, neere to those that are temperate: these preserve the native heate in the proper integrity, thus they amend all distemperatures; of this kinde are accounted Sallade oyle, oyle of sweete