Tes iatrikes kartos, or, A treatise de morborum capitis essentiis & pronosticis adorned with above three hundred choice and rare observations ... / by Robert Bayfield ...

CAP. XXI. De Mania, seu Insania.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, seu Insania, Madness, is a continual motion of the minde, with an unwonted boldness, or fierceness (yet without a Fever) ari∣sing from a fiery heat of the Spirits. Et dicitur vel à morbo Graeco 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, vaticinor; & sic maniaci, vaticinatores appellari possunt: vel à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, à luna; unde lunatici nuncupantur.

Young men, and those of a middle age, are most subject unto madness: Gravissimus est af∣fectus, & non solùm per menses, sed per annos ali∣quando, & usque ad mortem perseverat, praesertim si haereditaria sit. The Bloody Flux, Diarrhoea, Dropsie, Tertian-ague, or Quartan, happening to a mad-man, cures him. If the Courses and Hemorrhoids flow forth, it is a good sign; as also if there be a plentiful flux of blood by the no∣strils. Mania quae cum risu est faciliùs curatur, quàm quae cum studio ac furore: If the Symptoms be

gentle, and the distemper turn into a kinde of si∣lent desipience, there is good hope of cure.

In the year 1649. Robert Harman, of Bere∣street, was taken with madness; his fits were so strong, that I was oftentimes forced to binde him in his bed, which he shook with great violence: He was tall, black, and very fierce to behold, especially in the Paroxysm: He often roared out, making such a hideous noise, that the by-stand∣ers and neighbours were greatly afraid: One night, whilst he lay bound in his fit, the candle (as I was informed by those that were about him) burnt blew by the space of half an hour, and there was heard so strange a deen that the keepers did tremble with fear, not being able to stir from their places. All these things consider∣ed, I earnestly besought the Lord that he would please to give the cure into my hands, and to bless such means as I used for his recovery; and that if he were possessed with any unclean spirit, he would lease to rebuke him, and cast him out: Being then but a fresh-water'd souldier; First, I opened a vein, and drew away 14 ounces of blood; next, I gave him this potion, which wrought ve∣ry well. ℞ Diacatholiconis, ℥ i. Pulveris san∣cti, ℈ ii. Syrupi ros. sol. ℥ ss. decocti communis, q. s. Misce & fiat potio. Every night, and in every Pa∣roxysm, he was fumed with this Pouder, which did not only procure rest, but it did also miti∣gate the force and violence of the fit; even to ad∣miration,

℞ Sulphuris, Bombardic. pulv. Hyperi∣ci, Artemisiae, verbenae, radicis Poeoniae, ana, ℥ i. ss. Fiat pulvis, carbonibus injiciendus. I also gave him this Vomit, which proved very successful. ℞ Infusionis stibii, ʒ xv. Syrupi paupaverini, dram; i. misce. By this the symptomes were very much abated, and therefore it was often repeated, a lit∣tle before the fit. I commanded those about him, that they should keep him from strong Beer, Wine, hot Waters, and Flesh; and to boil in his Broth; Lactuca, Endivia, Cichorea, Borrago, & Portulaca. His drink was very small, some∣times mixed with water; and when he was very faint by reason of the Physicks operation, I com∣manded they should give him a little water-pap, or panada without any Spice, and sometimes a rosted Apple, cum paucis guttis aquae cinnamomi. Every night I caused the temples of his head to be bathed, and the inside of his nostrils to be touched with a little of this Unguent. ℞ Un∣guenti populeonis cum opio, ʒ ii. Olei nucis moscha∣tae, gut. iiii. misce. Thus at last (after the taking away 64 ounces of blood, in the space of two months, or ten weeks) he was perfectly cu∣red.

There was a certain young man mad, and for his cure the most effectual Remedies were put in practice, so far as to come to the use of An∣tinomy, the Trepan, and the opening of the Ar∣teries of his temples: And when all did no good,

Formius, an experienced Chirurgion, advised that he should be gelded; which being done, all sym∣ptomes were abated, and his fury quite ceased; yet so as that he continued in a melancholy do∣tage, his madness being changed into melan∣choly.

It is reported, that Melampus the son of A∣mythaon the Physician, cured the daughter of Praetus King of Greece with Hellebor'd wine, when by madness they supposed themselves to be Cowes.

Brassavola tells a storie, how he cured one Me∣latasta, a mad man, that was thought to be possessed, in the Duke of Ferrara's Court, with one purge of black Hellebor; his excre∣ments were like Inke; yet I would have none venture to give it in substance.

Paracelsus is the greatest admirer of this plant, and especially in the extract; he calls it Theriacam, terrestre Balsamum, another Treacle, a terrestrial Balm, instar omnium, all in all, the sole and last remedy to cure this Malady: The Dose is ℈ ss. with one ounce of the syrup of Violets.

Dominus Theophilus Barnard, Norvicensis, annos natus circiter 25. gravissima mania à plethora procedente laborans, Phlebotomiâ, purgatione, eme∣ticaque infusione praecipuè juvatus est, quam sic prae∣paro.

℞ Antimonii contusi, ʒ iii. Cinnamomi ele∣cti, ℈ i. Vini albi odoriferi, lb i. Fiat infusio:

Dosis, quam ordinariè cepit, erat ℥ ii.

This following fomentation is of wonderful vertue; ℞ Herbarum cephalicarum cum floribus, q. s. decoquantur in aqua fontana. Deinde, ℞ bac∣carum lauri, & rad. hellebori nigri veri, ana, q. s. Beat them grosly, and sew them into a long bag, and then let it boil in the forementioned decocti∣on. Afterwards, for nine days together, Take two pints of the decoction, and foment the head being shaved with double cloaths, for the space of an hour; after apply the bag to the Coronal Suture, binding it about with linnen clothes; let the Patient lie down and rest, if he can: Then will he purge by all the Emunctories of the brain, and also somewhat by stool; so will the filth sticking to his skul, and brain; be wonderfully dissolved, which few other Medicines can per∣form: This following is held for a secret: ℞ Fol. Melissae, m. i. incidantur minutim, & infundantur in spiritus vini ℥ iv. deinde adde margarit. praep. ʒ ss. misc. dos. est cochlear. ii.