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DElirium, A Deliry or dotage, is a depriva∣tion of the Phantasie, and the ratiocinati∣on, or rational faculty, arising from the bringing and presenting of an absurd and inconvenient Phantasm: Or more briefly, according to Paraeus,
it is a perturbation of the phantasie, and function of the minde, not long induring.
An intermitting delirium hath nothing of dan∣ger, if it be light and gentle, if the Fever which causeth it decrease, and there follow an evacua∣tion of blood by the nostrils, vel menstruae pur∣gationes vel haemorrhoides prorumpant. Deliries foreshew certain destruction, if they appear in the beginning of a Fever, or happen without signs of concoction; si delirans non videat, si ocu∣li lucem subterfugiant si aeger obmutescat, & vox fiat clangosa.
A certain Gentlewoman, aged about twenty four, being not well purged after birth, fell sud∣denly into a most dangerous Delirium, no other disease preceding: By intervals she was afflicted with an acute Fever, so that a Phrensie was fear∣ed; yet through Gods blessing, a happy success was wrought by the following prescriptions.
℞ Herbarum malvae, violarum, betarum, lactu∣cae, boraginis, ana, M. ii. Hordei mundi, ℥ i. Sem cucurbitae, cucumeris, ana, ℥ ss. fiat decoctio in suf∣ficienti quantitate aquae; ad ℥ xi. colaturae, adde olei violati, ℥ iii. cassiae noviter extractae, diaca∣tholiconis, ana, ℥ i. salis communis, ʒ i. Fiat Ene∣ma.
℞ Diacatholiconis, electuariilenitiv. ana. ʒ iii. syrupi artemisiae ℥ i. rhabarbari, castorei, ana, ℈ ss. aquae betonicae, ℥ iii. misce. She had five stools, it was again repeated. The 22 of May there was
taken away six ounces of blood very black, and aqueous: For watching and restlesness, there was given this following Syrup. ℞ Syrupi de papa∣vere, ℥ i. ss. Syrupi violarum, ℥ ss. Aquae scabio∣sae, ℥ iii. Aquae rosarum, ℥ ss. Olei vitrioli, gut. ii. Misce. To the head was applied a Hen new cut thorow; and to the soles of her feet, Radishes beaten with Salt, and besprinkled with rose Vi∣negar, which was renewed every third or fourth hour, for revulsion: Also Cupping-glasses were applied to the shoulders: On the 25. in the morn∣ing, she received this Potion; ℞ Cassiae noviter extractae, cum aqua betonicae, ℥ i. Syrupi rosarum sol. ℥ ss. aquarum buglossae, boraginis, violarum, ana, ℥ i. misce. Thus in seven days she was hap∣pily cured.
Domina Moss, Paswicensis, annos nata circiter 60. levi delirio correpta est, &c. sic juvata fuit.
℞ syrupi rosarum, ℥ i. Decoctionis communis, ℥ ix. Misce. She took half over night, about ten of the clock, and the other half in the morning, warm; it wrought very well, and did her much good: Next, I prescribed this following Cata∣plasm, to be applyed to the soles of her feet: Take Fetherfew, and Sention, of each a like quan∣tity, two penny-worth of Saffron, and six or seven cloves of Garlick; stamp them together with a little gray salt, and apply them. Thus without any other means, through Gods blessing, she was perfectly cured in a very short time.
Memini me, aetatis anno duodecimo, levi quodam delirio affectum fuisse; for the removing of which, there was applied to my feet a Pigeon cut open alive; It drew down the vapors, and cured me.
Joannes Cussion, è Parochia Sanctae Mariae, pe∣riculoso delirio correptus est. He having had two fits; to prevent the coming of the third, I opened a vein, on the 27 day of April, which was his best day, (for he was vexed with a Ter∣tian) and drew away about 14 ounces of blood: Next, I prepared this potion: ℞ Diacatholico∣nis, ʒ x. Syrupi rosarum sol. ℥ ss. decocti commu∣nis, q. s. fiat potio. He took three spoonfulls that night about ten of the clock, and the rest next morning, about six hours before the fit: It gave him twelve stools, and so prevented the delirium, which returned no more.
In all bleedings which are made in time of a delirium, you must observe this, that the Ori∣fice be not very large, for then it will quickly heal, and you must must binde it up carefully, lest the Patient being unruly, cause it to bleed again; as also it is very good for the sudden cure of it, to lay a Plaister of Aloes, white of an Egg, and the hair of a Hare.
If the feet of the Sick man be put into fair water, when it is a little warmed, for three or four hours, it frees him from his delirium, and makes him sleep.