The anatomy of human bodies, comprehending the most modern discoveries and curiosities in that art to which is added a particular treatise of the small-pox & measles : together with several practical observations and experienced cures ... / written in Latin by Ijsbrand de Diemerbroeck ... ; translated from the last and most correct and full edition of the same, by William Salmon ...

HISTORY. IV.

THE Son of Edward Wilmer ten Years of Age, so soon as the Fever had seized him, and that the Small Pox began to appear in several Parts of his Body, one Edmund an English Chyrurgeon was sent for, who to free the Patient from the Heaviness that oppressed him, gave him some Purging Medicine; this in a short time encreased his drowsiness; a terrible Loosness followed, together with an extraordinary wast of the natural strength. Presently the Pox fell, and the Child died the next Night.

ANNOTATIONS.

HIppocrates says thus, Where Nature leads, there we ought to follow, if she lead by ways agreeable to the Law of Nature. But in the Small Pox Na∣ture leads from the Center to the Peri∣phery, and that this is the most conve∣nient way for the Evacuation of the Malignant Matter fermenting and boyl∣ing, the Experience of many Ages has taught us; therefore in the Cure of this Disease, a Physitian ought in the first place to observe Nature, either to let her do her own work of her own ac∣cord, or if she be feeble, to assist her in her Action: But he must not disturb her true Motion, with a Motion con∣trary to it, and when the Malignant Matter is wholsomly and regularly driving to the Exterior Parts recal it back to the Innermost and more Noble Bowels. For, says Hippocrates, such things are to be fetch'd out of the Body, which coming forth of themselves are conducible to Health; but those things that come forth violently are to be re∣strain'd, stopp'd and retain'd. But such things as we ought to fetch out are not brought forth by Evacua∣tion through the Guts, neither do they come forth according to the regular Motion of Nature, nor by ways agree∣able to the Laws of Nature; therefore in this Disease Evacuation by Glysters is not to be provoked through the In∣testins by Glysters, or if it come forth of its own accord it is to be stop'd as soon as may be. Hence, says Rhases, great care is to be taken, after the coming forth of the Pustles whether high or broad, least the Belly be loosened with Medicaments; for they presently cause a Disentery, especially where the Pustles are very high; thus also Avenzoar never prescribes any Purging Medicaments to those that are Sick of the Small Pox, and forbids the Belly to be loosened,

unless by the help of a Suppository, if the Patient be to hard bound. This Eg∣mund the Chyrugeon never understood; and so by his Ignorance kill'd the Pa∣tient; as it happens to several others, who slighting the Learned Physitians, had rather purchase Death with Gold from ignorant Mountebanks and Homi∣cides then buy Health with Copper from prudent and knowing Physitians.