Secrets disclosed of consumptions shewing [h]ow to distinguish between scurvy and venereal disease : also, how to prevent and cure the fistula by chymical drops without cutting, also piles, hæmorrhoids, and other diseases / by John Archer.

CHAP. V. Of the Scurvy, and manifest Symptoms. (Book 5)

THE Scorbute or Scurvy being a Corruption of the Blood, produceth innumerable Symptoms, as may be easily judged; from putrid blood may arise, putrifaction in the Gums, redness in the Face, vapours from the Spleen, Flatus Hypochondriacus, sudden Flushings, obstructions, diffi∣cult Breathing, stinking Breath, Tooth Ach, looseness of Teeth, straitness of the Breast, the Body dull and heavy, and many spots, red, yellow or blue, especially in Legs or Arms; violent pains in the Head, Arms, Neck, Shoul∣ders, Legs, Thighs, Sweats and faint∣ness, troublesome Dreams, a watriness in the Stomach, and wambling in the Bowels; it often causeth Barrenness,

wandring pains like a Rheumatismus or Running Gout; in some a prick∣ing in the flesh as if stung with Nettles, Itching in the Blood, in some like Tetters, Ring-Worms, or dry Scabs in Head or Face, some think it the Pox, and indeed it is near a-kin, and where they both meet, as often I have found in my practice, it must be more care∣fully Cured, that the noble parts may be strengthned and the blood purified; for a complicated distemper requires more skill to Cure than some ignorant young Practitioners are aware off.

The Scurvy by corrupting the Blood, usually and quickly weakens the vitals, especially the Liver, being the Coagulum of the Body, which cau∣seth fermentation, the want of which causeth obstructions; for those Parti∣cles in the Blood which are not by fer∣mentation alternated, must needs ob∣struct, excoriate, and purify; from whence it is easy to judge what diver∣sity of Symptoms and Diseases may be

produced in our natural Bodies from one and the same original cause, viz. want of fermentation in the mass of Blood, so the Body quickly falls into an ill habit, Cachexia, or Consumpti∣on, if not timely prevented, by good Physick, proper Food, the best Air, but especially Exercise. For were the Virtue and Excellency of Exercise tru∣ly understood, many that are Diseased would not, nay thousands might be happy in the injoyment of health, who by softness, delicacy, effeminacy and idleness, want it; so that they that mo∣derately use it, need but little other Phy∣sick.