Experimenta & observationes physicæ wherein are briefly treated of several subjects relating to natural philosophy in an experimental way : to which is added, a small collection of strange reports / by the Honourable Robert Boyle ...

Dublin, Feb. 27. 1682.

I Have imployed Ens Veneris for the removal of a Subsultus Ten∣dinum, in a Person dangerously Sick of a Febris Petechialis (a Dis∣case fatal to very many here for these 12 or 14 Months) and found that it answer'd my hopes in 3 or 4 Hours after I gave it in Conserve of Borrage Flowers.

I have, since I came from Eng∣land, thought of a Method of Curing the aforesaid Fever, which has not once fail'd me, tho I made of it for 16 or 18 several Persons, many of which would certainly Dye, if treated after the usual manner in this case. If I should tell you from what Observations and Reasonings I came to alter the Method of Cure, I should be very tedious. I shall therefore at present wave that, and proceed to tell you, That when first I come

to any Sick of this Disease, if I find Costive (as generally they are) I prescribe a Glister, and after that an Episplastick Plaister 6 or 7 Inches broad, and 8 or 9 Inches Long, to be apply'd between the Shoulders; the Blister being well rais'd, I order to be Dress'd care∣fully, stripping off the Cuticula. This continues running till the Fe∣ver is gone off; which is most com∣monly in 10 or 12 days, if they have not kept up too long with it, and then we cannot certainly foretel the time of the Fever's de∣clination; for the whole time till the going off of the Fever, I Pre∣scribe Emulsions of Aq. Aronis, Card. Bened. Citrij totius & Syr. Granatorum cum Aceto; I allow of Orange and Butter-milk Pos∣sets, of roasted Apples, Flumme∣ry, or any other light and cool∣ing thing they call for.

By this Method I keep the Genus Nervosum and Brain from being Affected, and consequently

secure my Patients; for as many as I have ever known of them Dye, that were troubled with this Disease, Dy'd of a disorder of those Parts. I do not defer the Blister∣ing Plaisters, as others do, till I find my Patients Delirous, Lethar∣gick, Convulsive, or otherwise af∣fected in their Heads and Nerves, finding by the Experience of others that then they most com∣monly prove ineffectual, because of some Morbifick Matters being too deeply lodg'd in these parts. I do not prescribe, except upon some extraordinary occasions, any Volatile Salts or Spirits, or any thing too apt to quicken the al∣ready over-brisk Circulation of the Blood, having Experimental∣ly Learn'd that by these often us'd, the Brain and Nerves become sooner than ordinary affected, for as much as they deeply insinuate themselves, and drive with them some Morbifick Matter into the Brain and Nerves. I find Bleeding

bad, being generally Fatal. If I doubt of the Recovery of any of my Patients Sick of this Disease, 'tis only when I find that they have been let Blood, or lain for 8 or 9 days before I come to them; tho I have brought through it, even Persons in those Circumstan∣ces.