Praxis medicinæ, or, the physicians practice vvherein are contained inward diseases from the head to the foote: explayning the nature of each disease, with the part affected; and also the signes, causes, and prognostiques, and likewise what temperature of the ayre is most requisite for the patients abode, with direction for the diet he ought to obserue, together with experimentall cures for euery disease. ... Written by that famous and worthy physician, VValter Bruel.

A method seruing for the knowledge of the LETHARGY.

LEthargy is such a necessity of sleeping, that cannot by any means be with stood. Or, it is an obliuious disease caused by a cold Impostume of the braine. The disease called Caros, hath great affinity with this, onely herein they differ: Caros doth not bring a Feauer with it; and be∣sides, Caros causeth a deeper, and more profound sleepe then the Lethargy. For pricke them bot•• frequently, and to the quicke, and such as are vexed with that disease, will scarce bee awaked. And being asked questions when they are awaked, they make no answer. The Lethargy doth dif∣ferre from a phrensy herein; these sleepe very little, or not at all, and the contatry happens in the Lethargy. It doth also differ from the Apoplexy herein, (for in both, the sense and motion and function of the mind alike do perish) in the disease Caros breath is not taken away, for herein, they doe breathe, & that easly. In the Apoplexy with much difficulty; and by degrees the patients breath is diminished, opprest, and thereby he is at the length stifled.

The part affected.

The substance of the braine is heere affected, and chiefly the hinder part, but not the Ventricles, as may appeare by the offended functions of the braine. Experience tells vs, that the patient is depriued both of reason and memory, which are the principall functions of the braine. In a word it is such a disease, whereby reason, memory, the imaginati∣on, and the other senses are annoyed.

Signes.

An vrgent necessity of sleeping with obliuion doth possesse the patient, a lingring and continuall Feauer com∣meth withall, neuerthelesse the Feauer is scarce perceiued seeing the phlegme easly rots. They answer slowly, though prouoked thereto: they lie with their eyes shut, some∣time they open them, if they bee called vpon with a lowd voyce; and then closing them againe, fall fast asleepe, in∣somuch that the patient doth not feele that paine which hee doth suffer by being plucked by the haire. These things happen, when as the substance of the braine is vitiated by an Impostume. In which cause, the eyes sticke farther out then vsually they were wont. Likewise they moue with paine and difficulty; also the tongue is white, they are as forgetfull as madde men; for if they aske for a vrinall to pisse in, they immediately forget for what end they did call for it. By this it may easily bee guessed, that reason and memory are banished, and that there is a defect in the imagination: they yawne often, and the pulses beat slow∣ly and faintly, euen as the Feauer comes vpon them very slowly, thereby making them faint: the bodies of some are loose, of others bound; in like manner is it in their making water, and their vrines are not vnlike the stale of beasts; and doe signifie a great disquietnes of spirits within the veines. In some sweat and trembling meete together; they breathe very much, though weakly. The whole body is lazy, and dull, but chiefly the head. Although such as stand by, turne the patient on the one side, yet of his owne ac∣cord he doth turne vpon his backe againe.

The Causes.

The causes are from a cold and moist distemper of the braine, and abundance of phlegmy humors so putrified, that they doe bring a Feuer with them: these humors flow in the substance of the braine, and cause a cold tumour: therefore it is no wonder, though motionan••d sense be

taken away, because motion commeth by heat, lazines by cold.

Prognostiques.

This disease doth speedily kill the patient, if it be not met withall in time: for the space of seuen dayes the patient is in danger of death, and if they doe escape then, they doe of∣ten recouer. As a true lethargy for the most part is mortall; so trembling is a sure messenger of great danger. Cold sweat about the head is another. They that doe recouer of this disease, haue an imposthume in their brest. But it: is best in a Lethargy, if an impostume arise behind the care the excre∣ments are for the most part liquid, and great plenty of liquid excrements threaten danger.