CAP. XX. De Melancholia.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Melancholy, is a dotage arising from a Melancholy phantasm, with the which whosoever is affected and detained there∣under, becomes wholly, and only, addicted to thoughtfulness, being, as it were, altogether in∣gulphed therein, without either fury or Fever, but yet with pensiveness, and fearfulness; Vel si brevius definire velis; Melancholia est delirium si∣ne febre, cum metu & tristitia.

Melancholy, which doth seize upon the essence of the brain, and continues long, making the ef∣fect, as it were, natural, is altogether incurable: A Melancholy humor which comes by adustion, and inclineth to black choler, contemns the force of Medicines, if weak, and opposeth the strong∣est; whence a Melancholly humor is said to be the scourge and disgrace of Physicians. Melan∣cholia quae fit vitio totius corporis, difficillimè cu∣ratur. Si haereditaria, nulla spes curationis est. A new sprung melancholy coming of immediate causes, is easily cured; sometimes by diet alone, Page  40 together with the humectation of the whole bo∣die, and sometimes of the head in particular. Haemorrhoides, aut varices, supervenientes Melan∣cholicis, curationem interdum afferunt, si humores ad illas partes inferiores criticè à natura detru∣dantur. If the distemper be with some kinde of laughter, & corpus victu augmentum sumat, faci∣lè curatur. Sometimes it is cured by scabs, itch, or other diseases breaking forth of the skin.

A certain Gentlewoman, seventeen yeers of age, miserably afflicted with Melancholy, was thus helped: After the opening of a vein in the lest arm, and Leeches applied to the He∣morrhoids, she was purged with an Hellebora∣ted apple, in quo pomo una drachma corticum el∣leb•ri nigri tosta erat. Afterward the Hellebor was cast away, and the apple given. Then were the principal parts strengthened with the follow∣ing Electuary.

℞ Conservae rosarum vitriolat. boraginis, bu∣glossae, ana, ℥ i. condit. corticum citrinorum, conservae caryophillorum, ana, ℥ ss. Confectionis de hyacin∣tho, ℈ ii. specierum de gem. laetific. ana, ℈ ii. confe∣ctionis Alkerm. ʒ i. spec. diamarg. frigidi, ʒ i. ss. cum syrupo pomorum fiat Electuarium: The dose was one drachm before meat. For her watching, there was given at bed time a spoonful of Dia∣cedium; This caused rest, and in it she sweat. In Chicken broth there was Tartar often used, by reason of its great force in contemperating Page  41 melancholy, and atra bilis. And thus, by the blessing of God, she was delivered from her di∣stemper.

Great variety of doting ariseth from the vari∣ous disposition of the Melancholick humor: Hence it is, that some think themselves▪ to be Kings, Princes, Prophets; Others that they are made of Glass, or Potters Clay; or that they are Barly Corns, ready to be devoured by the Hens: Some think they are melting Wax, and dare not approach the fire: Others, that they are Dogs, Cats, Wolves, Cuckows, Nightingals, or Cocks, whose voices they imitate: Others fancy them∣selves dead, and will neither eat nor drink: O∣thers dare not piss, lest they should drown the world by a second deluge Some think they have lost their heads, or some other member; or that they carry the world upon their fingers end; or that they have sparrows in their heads, or ser∣pents, frogs, mice, and other creatures in their bellies.

Galen reports, in his third Book, de lec. affect. cap. 7. That he hath often cured a melancholy in the beginning, with only Baths of sweet water.

This Clyster following I have sometimes used with good success.

℞ Epithymi, Thymi, florum Staechados, viola∣rum, foliorum Malvae, Mercurialis, ana, m. i. Bul∣liant in sufficienti quantitate aquae, ad lib. 1. cola∣turae adde Cassiae noviter extractae, ℥ i. ss. Olei vi∣olati,Page  42 ℥ iii. Sacchari rubri, ℥ i. ss. Salis commu∣nis, ʒ i. vitellum unius ovi; misce, & fiat Clyster.

For all Diseases of Melancholy, those Reme∣dies will suffice, which are propounded in the cure of Hypochondriack Melancholy.

Plura de Melancholia vide, in meo Enchiridio medico, lib. 1. cap. 10.