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Chap. Of Medicenes apropriated to the Joynts.
The Joynts are usually troubled with Cephalick Diseases, and then are to be cured by Cepha∣lick Medicines.
Medicines apropriated to the Joynts, are called by the name of Arthritical Medicines.
The Joynts, seeing they are very Nervous, re∣quire Medicines which are of a heating and drying Nature, with a gentle binding, and withal such as by a peculiar vertue are apropriated to them, and ad strength to them. It is true, most Cephalicks do so, yet because the Joynts are more remote from the Centre, they require stronger Medicines.
For removing pains in the Joynts this is the Me∣thod of proceeding.
Pains is either taken away, or eased, for the true cure is to take away the cause of the pain, sometimes the vehemency of the pain is so great that you must be forced to use Anodines (for so Physitians call such Medicines as ease pain) before you can meddle with the cause, and this is usually when the part pained is inflamed, for those Medicines which take away the cause of pain being very hot, if there be any Infla∣mation in the part pained, you must abstain from them till the Inflamation be taken away.
Also the manner of easing the pain is two-fold, for if you regard only the pain, use Anodines, but if you regard the Inflamation, use cooling Medicines; be∣cause by them, not only the heat is asswaged, but al∣so the Flux of Blood to that part is stopped, especial∣ly if you mix some repelling Medicine with it. We shall speak of all these in the next Section.
Only here take notice, That such Medicines as take away the cause of pain from the Joynts, are of very thin substance and forcible in cutting and draw∣ing; and when you see the cause is taken quite away, then use such as bind and strengthen the Joynts, that so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may prevent defluxions for the time to come. And thus much for the Second Section.