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 ...

MEDICINAL OBSERVATIONS AND CURES OF Isbrand de Diemerbroeck.

OBSERVATION. I. An Inflammation of the Lungs.

MOnsieur La Fontaine, a Noble French Man, about thirty Years of Age Plethoric, no great Drinker, yet a Lover of unmixed Wine, upon the Tenth of November, going to Bed, began to complain of difficulty of breathing, yet without any pain in his Breast: soon after a redness seized his Face, especially his Cheeks, and his Eyes also appeared swelled and inflamed. This difficulty of breathing, within two hours was so encreased, that he could hardly draw his Breath; insomuch that he was afraid of a Suffocation. Wherefore about Midnight he sent for me, bidding the Messenger tell me withal that he should dye, unless I could help him with some present Remedy. By the redness of his Face, and his little frothy and flowry spitting, as also by his difficulty of Breathing, which was without any pain, yet with a kind of heaviness in his Breast, I judged this Distemper to be an Inflammation in his Lungs, so much the rather because I found by his Pulse, that he was in a strong Fever. Thereupon I ordered a pint of Blood to be taken from the Basilic Vein of his right Arm: by which he felt very much ease. To drink (for he was very thirsty) I gave him a Ptisan of Barly cleansed, and Licorice boyl'd in Water. In the mean time the following Glister was prepared, and given by six a Clock the next Morn∣ing.

℞. Em•…•…llient Decoction ℥x. Elect. Diacatholici Diaphoenici an. ℥j. common Salt ʒj. Oyl of Violets ℥ij. for a Glister.

This gave him two sufficient Stools: But because the difficulty of breathing still continued very oppressive, about ten o Clock we took away a pint of Blood out of his left Arm. The Blood appeared in∣different good, only that it had a great deal of Yellowish froth at the top. Then besides the Ptisan, he drank of the following Apozem now and then every day.

℞. Barley cleansed ʒij. 〈◊〉〈◊〉-Licori•…•…e ʒj. •…•…. Endive Sorrel, an: one handful, Violet Leaves two handfuls, Flowers of Poppy Rheas two little handfuls, the four greater Cold-seeds, and Lettice-seeds an. ʒij. Currants ʒij. Common-water q. s. Boyl this according to Art to two Pints. In the straining dissolve Syrup of Poppy Rheas, Violets and Limons an. ℥j. mix them for an Apozem.

For his nourishment I prescribed him Broths with Chervil, Endive, clensed Barley and the like boiled therein. The next day because the Patient would admit no more Glisters, I gave him a Laxative Medicin, which gave him four stools with great ease. In the mean time he breathed much more freely, and his Fever very much abated. The following days, the foresaid Apozem was five times repeated, the seventh day of the Disease, he fell into a very great Sweat of his own 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and so the force of the Disease being broken by a Crisis; the •…•…ever, with the difficulty of breathing went off, and the Patient was restored to his former Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

SAys Gallen, when an acute Fever happens with difficulty of brea∣thing, accompanied with streightness and heaviness, that Distemper is an In∣slammation of the Lungs. Now this In∣flammation sometimes happens of it self, sometimes it succeeds a Squinancy, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, when a Humor is carry'd from the Chaps or side into the Lungs by way of Mutation. Whence Hip∣pocrates, An Inflammation in the Lungs from a Distemter in the sides, is bad. For it is a dangerous thing for one acute Disease to accompany or follow ano∣ther. But an Inflammation of the Lungs that does not proceed from any other Distemper, but grows of it self, proceeds from a thin and Choleric Blood flowing in a greater quantity then can be circulated into the Substance of the Lungs, and there inflamed. This Inflammation of the Lungs Fernelius asserts to be the less frequent of the two. And it is much less frequent then the Pleurisie, from which it differs, because the one seizes with a most acute pain, the other with a little pain, but an op∣pressing heaviness; for that the one in∣flames and distends the Pleura Mem∣brane, which is endued with an Exqui∣site Sence; the other inflames and di∣lates the Lungs, which are nothing so Sensitive. In other things, as acuteness of the Fever, difficulty of breathing and other signs, as also in the Cause and Cure of the Disease they both a∣gree. But besides the foresaid Inflmama∣tion of the Lungs, there is another sort more frequent which differs very much from the other in the excess of the Symptoms and the Cause, as arising either from Flegm collected and putrified in the Lungs; or from a thin, sharp, and copious distillation falling down upon the Lungs from the Brain, and there pre∣ternaturally glowing and causing a Fever, and by degrees wasting the Patient with a Cough, difficulty of Breathing and a slow Fever, without any spitting of Blood.

An Inflammation of the Lungs there∣fore is an acute Distemper, which, as Celsus testifies, is more dangerous than painful.

Now this Distemper does not always seize the whole Lungs, but sometimes one particular Lobe, which Iacotius testifies he has seen in the opening of a Peripneumonic Body. So says Iouber•…•… also. In a Peripneumony, there is no necessity that the whole Lungs should be always enflamed, but many times some one of the Lobes only suffers, as we have found by the Dissection of an Infinite number of Bodies. This Hippocrates,

plainly declares where he teaches us how to know the differences of this Distemper in these words. In an In∣flammation of the Lungs, if the whole Tongue be white and rough, both parts of the Lungs; are vext with an Inflammation; but where but half the Tongue is so effect∣ed, on that side where it is discoloured and rough, there the Inflammation lyes. A pain under one Clavicle, denotes an In∣flammation of one of the upper VVings of the Lungs; but the pain extending under both Clavicles denotes that both the upper Wings of the Lungs are inflamed; if the pain lye in the middle of the Ribs, the middle part of the Lungs suffers; but if the pain comes to that part to which the Lungs extends it self, the lower wing of the Lungs is effected. Where one whole Part is affected, there all that answer to that Part must of necessity suffer.

The most certain and proper sign, besides others, of a true Peripneu∣m•…•…ny, is a redness of the •…•…aws (accord∣ing to the Testimony of Galen, Paulus Aegineta and Avice•…•…) with an acute Fe∣ver, and extream difficulty of Breath∣ing, if accompanied with none or very little oppressive pain. All which, when they appeared so manifestly in our Pa∣tient, there was no question to be made of the Distemper; which Disease went off the seventh day upon an extraordi∣dinary spontaneous Sweat: which Fore∣stus observes to be customary in a true Peripneumony. Though sometimes as Aetius tistifies, in young People it uses to go off with a violent Bleeding at the Nose or Flux of the Monthly Evacua∣ations; which nevertheless I find that Riolanus denies.

Gregory Horstius has observed, that a Peripneumony has gone off the seventh day with a Critical Flux. Which however seems to be contrary to Rea∣son, when a Flux of the Belly, accord∣ing to Hippocrates, is very prejudicial to this Disease, as being that by which the Morbific matter contained in the Breast cannot be evacuated, there being no Passage from the Bowels included in the Breast to the Intestines. It may be said that Nature seeks occult ways for her self unknown to us, by which she Evacuates that filth which is noxious and troublesom to her, as when in an Em∣pyema, the Matter in the Breast is void∣ed by Urine; which she may also do in a Peripneumony, and so the Matter in the Lungs may be conveighed to the Guts, but this rarely falls out.

The Cure of this Disease is very like the Pleu•…•…isie; for in this Cure Blood∣letting has always the greatest share, many times repeated according to the strength of the Patient, and prevalency of the Distemper, using at the same time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Remedies or Glysters, and other Medicaments, as well to ex∣pectorate, as extinguish the heat of the Feve•…•…. But there is no delay to be made in the Cure; for unless this Disease be opposed with all speed, in a short time it either suffocates the Patient, or turns into an Empyema or Consumption, for it corrups the substance of the Lungs. Thus Iacotius reports, that upon open∣ing the Body of a Peripneumony he found the upper Part of the Lungs gan∣green'd; and the Medrastinum full of a bloody Serum.

OBSRVATION. II. The Tooth-ach.

THE Daughter of N. complained of an Intollerable pain in her Teeth, which had lasted for some Months together, nor could be asswaged by any Topics or other Medicaments taken. I advised her for some Nights together, when she went to Bed, to swallow two Pills of Transparent Aloes, about the bigness of a Pea, and not to drink any thing afterwards; which when she had done three or four times, the pain ceased and never returned.

ANNOTATIONS.

IT so happens that sometimes the up∣per Orifice of the Stomac being stuft with Viscous, Cold or Cholo∣ric Humors is the Cause of the Tooth∣ach; partly, because of the great consent there is between it and the Brain, by the Nerve of the Sixth Conjugation; partly, because that then being loosened

with over much moisture, it sends up many Crude and Cold, or Choleric and sharp vapours to the Brain. In such a Case, those Cold and Viscous Choloric Humors are best expelled by strong Vo∣mits or Bitter detersive Medicaments, that will adhere long to the place affect∣ed. And therefore I ordered her to∣ward the Evening to swallow two dry Pills of Aloes; sometime after she had Supped, and to drink nothing after them, to the end that staying in the Oesophagus, and being there melted, they might stick the longer to the Ori∣fice of the Stomac, and have more time to cleanse it. For Medicaments that are taken upon a fasting Stomac, presently •…•…ink down to the bottom of the Stomac, and signifie nothing in the Distempers of the upper Orifice. Thus Avicen orders all Pills that Purge the Head to be taken at Night an hour af∣ter Supper.

OBSERVATION. III. A Pestilential Fever.

A French Merchant came to an Inn; and not finding himself very well, presently went to Bed, believing it to be nothing else but the weariness of his journey; the next day the Disease augmenting, the Woman of the House desired me to see him, and try whether he were not infected with the Sickness which was very rise in many Places. He was very weak with a little Pulse thick and unequal. Yet the Fever did not offend so much by it's heat as by it's malignity. I understood also by the Sick Person, that he found himself ill the day before he came, and that this was the third day of the Disease. But when I found neither Carbuncles, nor Bubos, nor any other Signs of the Pestilence; I Judged his Disease to be rather a Pestilential Fever, then the Pestilence it self; thereupon I began with Blood-letting, after I had first given him a Glister, and took away fifteen or sixteen Ounces of Blood out of the Median Vein of the Right Arm, which Blood (a thing to be wondered at) was for the most part whitish; so that it hardly seemed to be Blood: When it was cold, that which first came out, first like Milk, was all coagulated like a Muscilage, and was of a greenish Colour, only some very few red Clods were to be seen at the bottom: That which flowed out last, was for the most part between green and white, but at the bottom there was a Setling of Blood of a dark red Colour, that was scarcely curdl'd. This Blood∣letting gave him great ease. In the mean while for his Drink I gave him a Ptisan, wherein Citron Rinds and the Fruit of Tamarinds were boyl'd. Then, because of the extraordinary Corruption of his Blood I ordered him to be let Blood again, which the Patient hearing, impatient of the Anxiety that oppressed him, he earnestly desired me it might be done that day. Thereupon toward the Evening we took out of his other Arm about a Pint of Blood, that which came out first was very white, that which came out last very red: and to repair his strength we gave him Chicken Broth with Sorrel and a Pome Citron boil'd in it. All the next Night he was very pensive, weak and restless, so that it was thought he would have dyed. But Nature, being now discharged of her burthen, the next day which was the fourth day of the Disease, strongly and successfully expelled the remainder of the Malignity, by a critical and spontaneous Sweat, which about Noon breathed out in great abundance from the Patients Body: at the same time also small red Pustles, like Millet Seeds, came forth very thick, so that the Skin of his whole Body was cover'd with them from Head to Foot. After this lucky Crisis the Fever went off, and then the Patient falling again to his Broths, and Drinking his

Ptisan, recovered his former Health and lost Strength. But all the Cuticle of his Body became new; the former peeling off not with∣out an extraordinary Itching.

ANNOTATIONS.

CErtainly it was a very great Malig∣nity that had caus'd such a Cor∣ruption of Humors, by which the Blood was so strangely changed in so short a time, as to loose its Natural Colour and grow white. 'Tis true I once saw at Beauvais Blood which came out at first white like Milk, and afterwards somwhat red from the Arm of one that was Sick of a Malignant Fever; which Blood was then shew'd to several that lookt upon it with admiration. These Malignant Fevers too, were at that time very rise in most Parts of France, and were caus'd by the common and great Infection of the Air. The Nature and Cure of which see Obs. 24. where we shall describe the Story of a Fever like to this that seiz'd one of our Country Men.

OBSERVATION IV.

JOhn de Laurier, a Merchant of Poitou, about threescore Years of Age, ask'd my advice concerning a Gonorrhea, which he had for some Months, accompanied with a heavy pain in the Loyns. Upon Ex∣amination of the case, I found by many Signs that there was no Virulency, but only a Mischeif contracted by the more violent use of Venery, which had weakened the seminary Vessels. Wherefore I prescribed him a diet moderately heating and drying, meats of good juice and quick nourishment, to drink unmixed Wine moderately and to take some other corroborating and nourishing things. Then after I had purged his Body twice with a gentle Purge, that the Viscous humours might be first expelled the seminary Vessels, before the use of other Medicaments, every Morning and about five a Clock in the Afternoon, I gave him •…•…ij. s. of Salt Prunella in a Draught of red Wine; which when he had taken for eight days together, he was perfectly Cured, without having need of any more remedies, which I had ordered him to use. All this while I ordered his Loyns to be anointed with the following Oyntment.

℞. Martiat Oyntment ʒij. Oyl of Foxes ℥ s. Oyl of Turpentine ʒij. Oyl of squeezed Nut-meg•…•… ʒj. make an Oyntment.

ANNOTATIONS.

A Gonorrhea according to Galen, Aetius and others, is an unvolun∣tary Excretion of the Seed; of which some make two, others three, we four differences.

First, by reason of the heat of the Reins, and plenty of Seed, and this is called Pollution. It happens with some Pleasure and Erection wherein it differs from other Gonorrheas, because they are accompanied with neither. It is cur'd by Blood-letting, slender Dyet, refri∣gerating Medicaments and Nourish∣ments, as also drying and gentle Astrin∣gents.

The second is caus'd by the fal∣ling down of evil and corrupt Humors and Phlegm from the Brain and Liver, and other Bowels to the Spermatic Ves∣sels, the retentive faculty of which is thereby endamaged, and so those pu∣trid Humors flow forth with the Seed. This as it seldom happens to Men, so is it very frequent among Women, and hard to be Cured; nor is it to be Cured, until you can first remove the vitious Distemper of the Bowels, which sends those humours thither.

The third proceeds from the ex∣cessive use of Venery, by which the

Spermatic Parts being weary'd and extin∣guish'd are refrigerated & grow languid, and gather together crude and cold Hu∣mours, by which their concoctive and retentive faculty being loosened, they can neither concoct nor retain the Seminal matter. This is easily got by Elderly People, less used to Venery, who not meeting so often with Oppor∣tunities to delight themselves, force all their Nerves so strenuously when they come to it, that they weaken the strength of the whole Body, and having wasted the strength of the Seminal Parts, such a Gonorrhea ensues, ac∣company'd with a weakness of the Loins. This is Cured by corroborating Medi∣caments and Nourishment, hot and gentle As•…•…ringents, having made use be∣fore of Purgatives and Diuretics, to free the Urinary and Seminary Passages, from the Crude and Viscous Humours collected therein; which done the Cure easily proceeds.

The fourth which they call virulent, is contracted by coition with those that have the Pox: of which Infection, it is often a fore-runner, and as often a most faithful Companion, as being deriv'd from the same Cause, and which can∣not be safely cured before the perfect Cure of the Pox. In this there is a stinking Poyson of a White and Greenish colour, that distills insensibly from the Semi∣nary Vessels, and frequently corrods the Pipe of the Yard, which causes sharp pains upon Erection and making Water, and thence also Ulcers and Caruncles grow in the Urinary passage. And besides if this virulent Running be stopped un∣skilfully for the most Part it occasions Aposthumes either about the Testicles, which then begin to swell very much, or else about the Seminary vessels, and thence Veneral Buboes. Many times also the Ve∣nom ascending inward, and infecting the Liver and other Bowels, communicates the Contamination to the whole Body.

OBSERVATION. V. A Scald.

WIggerd Simonis was melting a good quantity of Rosin upon a quick Fire; which being too hot, the Flame got hold of the Kettle; now as he was going to put out the Flame and cover the Kettle with a Pillow, unwarily he thrust both his hands into the scalding and boyling Rosin; and the same thing happened to him, that went about to help him to put out the same Flame: so that both most greviously complained of the pain that their hands were in. A present remedy was requisite, but having none at hand, I bethought my self of a whole Bottle of Ink that I had in my Study: this I powred forth into a Pot, and bid them both plunge their hands into it, and for some time to wash and foment with it; which when they had done for half an hour the Heat and Pain ceased; nor did any Blisters rise, nor did they receive any damage by so terrible a Scald.

OBSERVATION. VI. The closing of the Eye-lid by reason of a Wound.

A Young Country Girl had fallen from a high place, and with the fall had received a great wound in the right Eye-brow, that is to say, in the inner part next the Eye; by which wound the Bone of the Cranium was laid half bare, and the Eye-brow being cut cross∣ways, the upper Eye-lid hung over the lower. A certain Chyrurgeon had quickly Cured the wound; but after the Cure of the wound the upper Eye-lid would never rise of it's own accord; nor could the Maid open her Eye, but by the Assistance of her Fingers; many Topics were apply'd by several Chyrugeons to remedy this defect; but none of them availing, after some Months my Assistance was desired. When I had viewed the Place affected, I perceived the Mischeif was

incurable, and therefore advised them to forbear any further Appli∣cations. However the Maid, by the advice of others, who put her in great hopes, for a whole Year together, applied sometimes one thing sometimes another, till at length receiving no benefits he quite gave over.

ANNOTATIONS.

HEre the streight Muscle of the Eye∣lid was cut. Moreover the un∣skilful Chyrurgeon at the beginning had not sufficiently clos'd the Lips of the wound; so that afterwards a thick Scar being grown over it, the Muscle could no longer preform it's Duty; so that there was no Man that understood Anatomy but might perceive the Wound to be in∣curable.

OBSERVATION VII. A Dysury or difficulty of making Water.

A Young Son of N. a Domestic Servant of the Lord Dolre, a Boy of five Years of Age, made Water for some Months with great difficulty, and in extream pain and misery; and which also many times stopped at the time it should have Evacuated. The Parents had taken the Advices sometimes of Chyrurgeons, sometimes of Old Women, and sometimes of Strowling Mountebanks: but at length in December, my advice was desired. Thereupon after I had gently Purged his Body with Powder of Diacarthamum, and Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, ordered him to take a Draught several times a day of the following Apozem, which the Boy impatient of the pain greedily suckt up.

℞. Roots of rest Harrow or Cammock, Sea Holly, sliced Licorice an. ℥. s. Flowers of Cammomil two handfuls, Seeds of Lettice, Parsley, Dill, an. ʒij. Fat Figs. nō. vij. new Milk and Water an. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ij. boyl them to the Consumption of the third part, then strain them.

After he had used this Apozem two days, he voided every day much viscous and tough Matter together with his Urin; and after he had made use of two of these Decoctions, he was quite freed from his troublesome Distemper.

ANNOTATIONS.

THere are various Causes of the difficulty of making water, In∣flammation, Imposthume, Stone in the Bladder, the Flesh grown over, a cold Distemper of the Bladder and Sphin∣cter, thick and viscous humors either mixed with Urine, or sticking close to the Bladder and it's Sphincter, with several others of the same Nature; of which the two latter are the most frequent. But all in particular do not only cause a difficulty of Urine, but sometimes absolutely stop the Urine, as it happened to the Boy before men∣tioned which they who cut off the Stone had viewed, and thought he had the Stone, and judged him to be cut. But I believing his Distemper arose not from the Stone, but from a thick and tenacious Flegm that stopped up the Bladder and the passage of it, as I had observed had frequently happened to younger Children, rather chose to begin the Cure with attenuating, leni∣fying, and Diuretic Medicaments, seeing that many times such Medicaments

expel little stones also. But in this case, when Children cannot swallow ungrate∣ful Medicines, I have known flowers o•…•… Camomil boyl'd in new Milk with Figs•…•… do a great deal of good, especially, i•…•… after the boiling and the straining, the said Flowers be lay'd to hot to the Region of the Hair, and the Decoction at the same time given to drink. Fo∣restus in the same case commends Pelli∣tory and Chervil boiled, and applied hot to the Region of the Hair, with Butter, and Oyl of Scorpions. Mer∣curialis applauds Garlick bruised and applied to the Bladder. Amatus of Por∣tugal, extols a Turnep hollow'd, and fill'd with Oyl of Dill, and then roasted in the Embers, afterwards bruised and laid on.

OBSERVATION VIII. Suppression of the Courses.

JOan Elberty, a strong Maid of about twenty four Years of Age, com∣plained that her Purgations had stopped for four Months, so that she was in a very bad Condition, tortured with pains in her left side and Head, sometimes troubled with Suffocations, and her Stomach quite gone. After I had ordered her an attenuating and heating Diet, and forbid her all things that generate tough and viscous Humours, the sixth of Ianuary I Purged her with Electuary of Hiera Picra, then I prescribed her this Apozem to drink three times a day.

℞. Roots of Lovage, Master-wort, Fennel, stone Parsley, Vale∣rian an. ℥. s. Sassafrass-wood ʒiij. Nep, Mag-wort, Peny-royal, white-Mint, Fever-few an. one handful. Flowers of Camomil half a handful, Seeds of Lovage, wild Carrots, Gith, an ʒij. Laurel Berry ʒj. s. Tartar of Rhenish-wine ʒvj. stoned Raisins ℥ij. common Water q. s. boyl these for an Apozem of two pints.

The 11th. of Ianuary I Purged her again with an Infusion of the Flowers of Senna and Agaric, with a mixture of Hiera Picra. The next day I prescribed her another Apozem to drink like the former.

℞. Root of Master-wort ℥j. of Elecampane, Valerian, Parsley an. ℥. s. Dittany, round Birth-wort an. ʒiij Mug-wort, Nep, Sa∣vio, Foverifew, Rue, Peny-Royal, an one handful. Southern∣wood, Flowers of Camomil an. one handful, Seeds of Parsley, Gith, Lovage, wild Carrots an. ʒj. s. red Vetches ℥j. s. common Salt and White-wine, an. equal parts; make an Apozem for two pints.

Fourteenth of Ianuary I prescribed her this Electuary, of which she was to take the quantity of a Filberd, before she drank of her Apozem.

℞. Specier. Diacurcume, Cremor Tartar, Trochists of Myrrh, Hoglice prepared, Steel prepared an ʒj. seeds of Parsley, Nep, Venetian Bo∣rax an. ʒ. s. Salt Prunella, Eastern Saffron an. ℈j. reduce all these into a very fine Powder, to which add, Oyl of Iuniper, Amber an ℈j. of Dill drops vij. Electuary of Hiera Picra ℥. s. Syrup of preserved Elecampane Roots q. s. make an Electuary.

Moreover because she felt a hardness at the bottom of her Belly about her Navel, I prescribed this Sere-cloth.

℞. Gum Opoponax, Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar, Emplaster de Cumino, of Melilot an. ʒij. of Castor Pulverized ʒj. mix them and make them into a Roll to be spread q. s. upon red Lea∣ther.

The nineteenth of Ianuary she was let Blood in the Saphena Vein of the left Foot, and bled indifferent well. The last Apozem was repeat∣ed again, which she took together with her Electuary till the twenty eight of Ianuary, at what time her courses came down very copious, after that she was very well in Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

A Long suppression of the Courses is oft-times the Cause of very great Distempers. For from hence arise Suf∣focations of the Matrix, and the pale Colours of Virgins; hence Palpitations of the Heart, Vertigo's, terrible pains in the Head, Joynts, Back and Loyns, Fevers, Swooning Fits, Coughs, difficult breathing, Cholic and Nepheretic pains, and lastly, the evil continuing long, Me∣lancholy Passions, swelling of the Bow∣els and Dropsies. Therefore the Cure is not to be delay'd; for the longer the Courses stop, with so much the more difficulty are they provoked to come down. The Cause of this Distemper is the Narrowness of the Vessels of the Womb; which again are accompanied with several other Causes, as Obstru∣ction, Constipation, Coalescence, or grow∣ing together, Compression and Settle∣ment. But the most frequent Cause is an obstruction occasioned by thick and vis∣cous humors: Which thickness and vis∣cousness is either in the Blood it self, when it is too cold or viscous; or else when Ex∣crementitious, Flegmatic and Melancholy Humors are mixd with the good Blood; and with that good Blood carried to the Veins of the Womb where they cause the Oppelation. But this Obstru∣ction and Viscousness of the Humors, as it is more or less, or has been of longer or shorter Continuance, so the Cure is performed by gentler or more violent Medicaments, with more ease or more difficulty. But in the Cure of our Patient, we were forced to use the stronger Medicaments, as well in regard of the cold season of the Year, as the greatness of the Obstruction. For she was wont to eat green Fruit and course Meats, that beget a viscous and cold Nourishment, which had gathered to∣gether a great quantity of the thick and crude Humors.

OBSERVATION IX. An incurable Hoarsness.

A Holland Boor in a quarrel between Carters, had received a wound with a Knife in the right side of his Neck near his Throat. The wound was soon cured by a Chyrurgeon. After some Months he came to me to prescribe him something for an Extraordinary hoarsness, with which he began to be troubled so soon as he had received the wound, and which the Physitian, who had had him in Cure, together with the Chyrugeon, could no way remove with all the Looches, Lozenges and Decoctions which they could give him. His voice was so small and hoarse that you could hardly understand what he said; but I observed that there was a Nerve which run back athwart from the Wound which was cut, through which the vertue of forming the Voice is conveighed; whence it came to pass that half the Vocality was defective, which when it could not be restored by any Remedies, I refused to meddle with him as one that was not to be cured.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE Vocal Nerves, which conveigh the Vertue of forming the Voice, by Galen call'd the Recurrent Nerves, rise from the sixth Conjugation, and creep through the Throat to the Larynx. Galen extols their admirable Vertue in forming the Voice with a large Encomi∣um. And Laurentius, Columbus and Bauhinus give us a curious Demonstra∣tion of these Nerves in their Anatomical Treatises. Both these Nerves being cut, the Creature becomes mute; but if on∣ly one, but half his Voice remains. This Boor had but one Nerve cut, and so kept half his Voice; for had he been cut in the same manner on the other side, he would have been quite Dumb. Columbus, in the Dissection of a living Dog, has elegantly demonstrated the wonderful Efficacy of this Nerve to∣ward the forming of the Voice. But Galen was the first that made known the Use of these Nerves, and confirms the same with this History. A certain Chy∣rurgeon, says he, having cut out the Kings-Evil out of the Neck, that lay deep in the Flesh; as he drew the Scroffles out with his Nails, out of Ignorance, he also tore out the Recurrent Nerves along with them; by which means, he freed the Boy from the Scroffles, yet he took away his Voice and left him quite mute. Ano∣ther Chyrurgeon having made an Incision in another Boy, took away half his Voice, by cutting one of the Nerves, which made all the People stand amazed, how it should come to pass, that neither Aspera Arteria, nor the Throat being touched, the Voice should be prejudiced; but so soon as I shewed them the Vocal Nerves, they ceas'd admiring. Avicen also has a Story like this, of the Scroffles ill cut, a certain Per∣son, says he, mistook, when going about to perforate certain Scroffles, he met with a Branch of the Turn-again Nerves, by which means, he cut away half the Voice of his Patient. In like manner, Amatus of Portugal, tells us a Story of a Wo∣man that had the Kings-Evil in her Neck, to eat out the Roots of which, the Chyrurgeon put in Sublimate, by the Acrimony of which, one of the Recurrent Nerves was corroded, and the Woman almost lost her Voice. Nor is it only the Incision of this Nerve, but the Refrigeration of it, that uses to spoil this Nerve, which Galen confirms by this Story. I remember, says he, a Voice so prejudiced, that it was almost lost, and the recurrent Nerves being refrigerated to excess, by an Incision made in the Win∣ter time; which when I understood, by the Application of hot Remedies, restoring the Nerves to their natural Temper, I re∣stored also the Patient his Voice. In like manner says Avicen, There was a Per∣son whose Turn-again Nerve was over∣cool'd, there being a Necessity of long ap∣plying cold Iron to his Neck, and so he lost his Voice. Gentilis affirms, That there was some Apostume in that Part which was to be cut. So that the Apo∣stume being cut, and the Nerve laid bare, in regard it was Winter, and the Air was very sharp, the Cold got into the Nerve and spoiled the Patients Voice.

OBSERVATION X. A Palsie.

WE saw a strange and wonderful Cure of a Palsie in Susan Smacht, a most noted Woman, the Sister once of the Sexton of the Church of Montfort. This Woman, when she was a Girl of about six years of Age, being terribly frighted by an Accident, pre∣sently fell into a Palsie of her whole Body, except her Head. She was under the Hands of several Physitians and Chyrurgions, eminent at that time, who, by the Application of several Medicaments, reduced the Distemper to that pass, that all the rest of the Parts being recove∣red, only both her Thighs and Legs remain'd paralytic, from the Loyns to the Feet, so that she could neither stand nor go; in this Condition she lived a miserable Life, till the forty forth Year of her Age, at what time she was miraculously cur'd of her Distemper, after the fol∣lowing manner. In the Month of Iune, about Midnight, arose a

most terrible Tempest, with Thunder and Lightning, with which she was so dreadfully and unusually frighted, that at the same time she was delivered from her deplorable Disease. The next Morning, to the Admiration of all that beheld her, she was seen walking before her own Door, giving Thanks to God for her unexpected Cure. Thou∣sands of People, not only in the Town and Places adjoyning, but also from Cities remote, crouded to see her, and all admired her miracu∣lous Recovery. By others, being asked how this Cure was perform∣ed, she answered, that she was extreamly terrified by the Thunder and Lightning, and pray'd to God continually, but that during the terrible Tempest, her Brother the Sexton knock'd at her Chamber Door, and while she was thinking to creep, as she used to do, and to that end was feeling for her Crutches, that always stood by her Bed-side, but could not find them where she thought she had set them, a vast Flash of Lightning discovered them to her at the other side of the Bed. Where∣upon the prepared her self to creep along upon her Arms to reach her Crutches: But when she was about to put her Legs out of the Bed, (at what time, she said she heard and saw something, but what that was, she never would discover to any Body) she found that she could stand, and so, without any help, went to the Door and open'd it. And this very Relation she gave to Us more than once. Her Brother the Sexton, who had known his Sister to be paralytic for forty Years together, when he saw her open the Door and walk briskly about the Chamber, was so astonished, that for fear he fell into a Swoon. The next day, and the days following, the said Susan exposed her self to be publicly seen. I my self also knew her for many years, and have seen her a thousand times in that miserable Paralytic Condition, and afterwards saw her alive for fifteen years or more, a sound Woman, and free from so dreadful a Misfortune.

ANNOTATIONS.

THere may be given a manifest natu∣ral Reason for so miraculous a Cure; that is to say, that the Humor which fastened upon the Nerves, upon her first Fright, was again loosned from them by this more vehement Terror. As for the Patients saying she saw and heard something, I know not what, I leave that to the Judgment of the Rea∣der; perhaps she imagined something in her fear that was not really so. In the mean time, that there have been other unexpected Cures of the Palsie, is cer∣tain, by the Testimony of several Au∣thors. Thus Valleriola tells us a Story of a Citizen of Arles, affected with a Dissolution of both Sides, and destitute of all Humane Assistance, as one whom neither the Industry of the Physitians, nor seasonable and proper Applications, nor Observance of Diet could relieve, who at length, upon a vehement dread of Death, and being burnt in his Bed, the House wherein he lived being on fire, was of a sudden delivered from that deplorable Disease; Sense and Motion being restored to the Languid Parts. The same Author relates another Story of a Cousin German of his, who had been Paralytic six years of both his Thighs, who nevertheless, being pro∣voked by one of his Servants into a ve∣hement and sudden Passion, recovered his Limbs, and lived a found Man to his dying Day. And thus sudden and ex∣orbitant Commotions of the Mind have cur'd not only the Palsie, but other Di∣seases incurable by Art. Thus Herodo∣tus testifies, that the Son of Croesus born Dumb, when he saw a Persian running upon his Father to kill him, became vocal, and cry'd out, Friend, do not kill Croesus, and ever after that spoke like other Men. The same Valleriola reports, that he saw a Person cured of a Quartan Ague, through the vehemency of a sudden Passion, when no manner of Physical Remedies could cure the Distemper before.

OBSERVATION XI. Bleeding at the Nose.

CHarles N. an Ale-Brewer, in the Month of October, drinking and dancing to Excess at his Sister's Wedding, of a sudden, in the midst of a Dance, fell flat to the Ground upon his Face, and by the Vehemency of the Fall, broke a Vein in his Nostrils, which caused such an abounding Flux of Blood, as if the Median Vein in his Arm had been cut. Presently Cloaths dipp'd in Water and Vinegar were clap'd about his Neck and applied to his Nostrils, Ligatures fastned a∣bout his Extream Parts, but nothing would prevail. Insomuch that the Patient, as well because he was heated with Drink, as by reason of the Pain of the Fall, swooned away. Thereupon, seeing nothing would do, and because there was no Chyrurgeon at hand to open a Vein, I ordered a Towel four times double to be soaked in cold Wa∣ter, and apply'd to his Testicles, which being twice repeated, con∣trary to the Opinion of the Standers by, not only stopp'd the Blood, but recovered him to his first Sobriety.

OBSERVATION XII. The Itch.

COrnelius Iohannis was troubled with a dry Scab, or running Itch, with dry Crusts, and little Scales upon his Skin, that itch'd intol∣lerably, especially in the Night, when he grew warm in his Bed. The Crusts being scratched off, by reason of the Itching, with his Nails, under them the Skin being a little raised, appear'd very dry, red, and rough, and then came Crusts and Scales like the former, so that the common People thought him to be infected with the Le∣prosie. This Distemper seized the lower part of his Belly, his Thighs and Legs, in such a manner, that by reason of the dry Crusts or Scales, the bare Skin was not to be seen in any of those Parts. His Arms also and Breast were infected in some pla∣ces, Two years before, upon the Crisis of a Quartan Ague (for the Cure of which, for fifteen Months together, by the Advice of that famous Physitian, D. Gallius and others, who judged his Distemper to proceed from a vitiated Spleen, se∣veral Medicines, both inward and outward, had been in vain made use of,) the Disease not only abating, but rather encreasing; at length I was sent for to a Consultation, and seeing the Person of a strong Constitution, and in good Health, excepting only the aforesaid Distemper, and observing there was no Sign, either of Spleen, Liver, or any other Bowel affected, I judged by that same Crisis of the Quartan Ague, that all the noxious, sharp, and vitious Humors were expell'd out of the Spleen to the Skin, and so his Spleen recovered its former Soundness, but that the Skin was deeply infected with that dry Scab, and that the Cause of the Distemper lay no lon∣ger in the Spleen, but only remain'd deeply fixed in the Skin; and that the Skin so infected, contaminated also the Juices and Humors flowing thither every day for its Nourishment; as a Vessel that has contracted any Filth, infects the best Wine that is poured into it. And indeed the Event of the Cure prov'd the truth of my Judgment. For

then I resolved to tame this obstinate Distemper, not so much by In∣ternal, as by Topical Medicaments, and those not gentle ones, but strong Remedies answerable to the Greatness of the Evil, and the Per∣tinacy of the Matter, since many other things, which others had try'd, would do no good. To this purpose, his Body being well purged before hand, in March I prescribed a Fomentation, with which, being luke-warm, to foment the Parts infected twice a day, for five or six days together.

℞. Roots of Briony ℥iij. Worm-wood, White Hore-hound, Pimpernel, Plantain, Centaury the less, an. Handfuls iij. Oak-leaves Handfuls iiij. Elder▪flowers Handfuls ij. boil them in common Water q. s. to ten Pints, adding at the end Roman Vitriol ℥j. Al•…•…m ℥j. s. for a Fomentation.

After Fomentation, the Parts being dry'd with a Linnen Cloth, I ordered them to be anointed with our Oyntment against the Shingles. After six days Fomentation was discontinu'd, and only the Oyntment used, which in a few Weeks carried off a great part of the Distemper. This Oyntment the Patient used all the Summer, till September, by which time he was almost cured, excepting only three or four places about the breadth of a Dollar, which would not submit to this Oynt∣ment, but still produced new crusty Scales. Wherefore, the sixteenth of September, I prepared him the following Oyntment.

℞. Quick-silver ʒj. s. Turpentine ʒiij. To these well mix'd add the Yolk of one Egg, Unguent. Papuleum ʒvj. of our Oyntment against the Shingles ℥j. s. mix them for an Oyntment.

These Remainders were very hard to be extirpated, and therefore I was forced to continue the Use of this Oyntment a little longer, augmenting afterwards the Quantity of Quick-silver; also I again apply'd the foresaid Fomentation; and thus at length this nasty trou∣blesome Deformity of the Skin, which others despaired of ever cur∣ing, was at length abated and vanquish'd, so that about the second of November it vanish'd quite and the Patient continued free from the same all the rest of his Life.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE Itch, by the Greeks called Li∣chen, by others Serpigo, from Ser∣po to creep, is a hard Asperity of the Skin, with dry Pustles, and a violent Itching, creeping and extending it self to the adjoyning Parts. Galen asserts two kinds of this Distemper. There are two sorts, says he, of the Itch, that mo∣lest the Skin. The one tolerable and more gentle, the other wild, and diffi cult to be removed. In these the Scales fall off from the Skin, under which, the Skin appears red and almost exulcera∣ted. Celsus, who by the Word Impeti∣go, seems to have understood some o∣ther Distemper, describes this Itch of Galen under the Name of Papula, and makes also two sorts of it. The one, says he, is that the Skin is exasperated by the smallest Pustles, and is red, and slightly corrodes, in the middle somewhat lighter, and creeps slowly; it begins round, and dilates in a Circle. The other, which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the wild Itch, is that by which the Skin bec•…•…mes more rough, is exculcerated, and vehemently corroded, looks red, and sometimes fetches the Hair off, which is less round, and more difficultly cured.

As for the Cause of the Disease, Galen Aetius, Aegmeta affirm it to be genera∣ted out of certain mix'd Humors, that is to say, serous, thin and sharp, mix'd with thick Humors. But in my Judg∣ment,

Galen writes better, and more perspicuously, that this Distemper is ge∣nerated out of a salt Flegm and yellow Choler, which is the reason, that as in earthen Vessels corroded by Pickles, the Scales fall off the Skin. Now these Humors being transmitted to the Skin, putrifie it, as Avicen says. To which I add, that this Corruption afterwards is intermixed with the good Humors, carried to the Skin for its Nourishment, and so the Mischief becomes diuternal. Thus also Mercurialis writes, that the Skin only having acquir'd a deprav'd Habit, corrupts all its Nourishment, and converts it into increase of Impurities. And in the same manner, discoursing of such a kind of scabby Patient. In the whole Circuit of the Body, there is a vitious and itchy Humor implanted, by vertue of which, whatever good Nourishment is carried to it, is presently converted into a nasty salt corroding Humor, which occasi∣ons that continual Itching, toge∣ther with those little Ulcers, and the roughness of the Skin. Now these Humors corrupting the Skin, must of necessity be hot and salt, from which proceeds that Heat and Itching of those Scales. This Distemper however is not so dangerous as it is troblesome, which if it continue long, gets that deep foot∣ing, that it is a very difficult thing to extirpate it; and sometimes it har∣dens into a dry Mange and Lepro∣sie.

The gentler sort is cur'd at the begin∣ning with gentler Medicaments, as Fast∣ing-Spitle, tosted Butter, Oyl of Eggs, of Tartar, or Juniper, boyled Honey, liquid Pitch, or Juice of Citron. But that which is of longer continuance and wild, requires stronger Remedies, as Sulphur, Minium, Lytharge, Ceruse, Vitriol, Pit-salt, Rust of Brass, Lime∣allum, Niter, white Hellebore, &c. To which we may add Quick-silver, Sub∣limate, and precipitate, Mercury hav∣ing a peculiar occult, yet apparent Quality, to kill the Malignity that accompanies this Distemper. Thus Pe∣ter Pachetus, in his Observations com∣municated to Riverius, when no o∣ther Remedies could tame a wild Itch, cur'd it with this Oyntment.

℞. Unguent. Rosaceum ʒ iij. White Pre∣cipitate ʒ iij. Mix them for an Oynt∣ment.

OBSERVATION XIII. A Mortification of the Legs and Thighs by Cold.

MAny times severe Mischiefs attend the Imprudence of Persons given to drink; which a certain lusty young Man, sufficiently made known by his own woful Example. For he in a most terrible Winter, when it freez'd vehemently hard, coming home about Mid∣night well Cup-shot, without any body to help him to Bed, went into his Chamber, where falling all along upon the Floor, he fell asleep, and neither remembring himself nor his Bed, slept till Morning. But when he awak'd, he could feel neither Feet nor Legs: Presently a Physitian was sent for. But there was no feeling either in his Legs or Feet, though scarified very deep. Hot Fomentations were apply'd, of hot Herbs boil'd in Wine, adding thereto Spirit of Wine; but to little purpose. For half his Feet, and half his Legs below the Calves were mortified, the innate Heat being almost extinguished by the Ve∣hemency of the intense Cold. The Fomentations were continued for three days. Upon the fourth day, the mortified Parts began to look black, and stink like a dead Carcass. Therefore for the Preservation of the Patient, there was a necessity of having recourse to the last Extremity, namely, Amputation, and so upon the sixth day both his Legs were cut off a little below the Calves in the quick part; by which means, the Patient escaped without his Feet, from imminent Death, and afterwards learn'd a new way to walk upon his Knees.

ANNOTATIONS.

AN Example of the same Nature we saw at Nimeghen, in the Year 1636. of a Danish Souldier, who hav∣ing slept, Drunk, as he was, upon a Form, in a bitter frosty Night, when he walk'd in the Morning could not feel his Feet. But by heating Fomen∣tations, the native Heat, at most extin∣guished by the Cold, after two days so menting, was restored to his Feet, tho his Toes could never be brought to their natural Constitution; but remain∣ing mortified, and beginning to putrifie, were all cut off by the Chyrurgeon. And therefore I would advise all hard Drinkers not to take their Naps too im∣prudently in the Winter, unless they have first laid themselves in a warm Place, and well fortified themselves a∣gainst the Injuries of the Air, least their being buried in Wine, bring them to be buried in Earth.

OBSERVATION XIV. Obstruction of the Spleen.

KAtharine N. a Woman of forty four years of Age, had been troubled a whole year with an Obstruction of her Spleen; much Wind rumbled in the Region of her Spleen; she was tormented with terrible Pains of the same Side, by reason of the Distention of the Bowels and the neighbouring parts; so that she went altogether bow'd toward the Side affected, till at length, grown as lean as a Skeleton, with continual Torments, she could go no longer. You might also perceive by laying your Hands upon the Place, that the Spleen was very much swell'd; and more than all this, her Stomach was quite gone. In March, being call'd to the Cure of this Distem∣per, I first purg'd her Body with a gentle Purge; upon which, when she found but very little Relief, I prescribed the following Apozeme for two days, to open the obstructed Passages, and prepare the Mor∣bific Matter, and withal, to keep her Body open.

℞. Roots of Polypody of the Oak, Dandelyon an. ℥j. Roots of Fennel, Elecampane Stone Parsly, Peeling of Capery roots, Tamarisc an. ℥s. Baum, Fumary, Water Trefoil, Tops of Hops, an. Handful j. Centaury the less, half a Handful. Fen∣nel seed ʒij. Damask Prunes •…•…^o xi. Currants ℥ij. Boil th•…•…m in common Water q. s. In the straining, macerate all night, of Spoonwort, Winter Nasturtium an. Handful j. Leaves of Senna cleansed ℥ij. Anise-seed ʒvi. Make an Apozeme for two Pints.

After she had drank two Mornings a Draught of this Decoction, she went to Stool twice or thrice a day, but the Ease which was ex∣pected did not follow. Wherefore, after she had drank up her Apo∣zeme, I gave her a purging Medicine somewhat stronger, which I thus prescribed.

℞. Leaves of Senna cleansed ℥s. White Agaric ʒj. Roots of Black Helle•…•…ore ʒs. Rhenish Tartar, Anise-seed an. ʒj. Fumary VVa∣ter q. s. Make an Infusion all night, and add to the straining Elect. of Hiera Picra, Diaphoenicon an. ʒij. for a Draught.

After she had taken this, at first she voided common Excrements. Soon after she felt an extraordinary Pain in her Left-side, which pre∣sently removed from thence to the Guts; which Pain weakned her to that degree, that she went away sometimes in a Swoon. Not long af∣ter,

she voided a certain black Water, like Ink, in so great quantity, that she fill'd three whole Chamber-pots to the top. From hence she felt an extraordinary Ease, and the Pains of her Left Hypocondrium went almost quite off. Four days after I gave her the same Purge a∣gain; upon which, she voided again a great quantity of black Water, but not so black as before, neither was it so black as the former, as not being much unlike the Lye in which our Country-women boils their Linnen Spinnings. After this Evacuation, she was terribly griped in her Belly, wherefore, about Evening, I prescribed her Methridate De∣moc. ʒj. with five Drops of Oyl of Aniseseed, in a Draught of heat∣ed Wine. After the use of these Medicines, the Patient grew indiffe∣rent well, and in regard she began to loath Physic to that degree, that she could not endure to hear the Name of Physic, we were forced to defer the rest of the Cure till May, only ordering her to observe a proper Diet. But in May she drank three Apozemes again, was three or four times purged, and took her Electuary, and so was restored to her pristin Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis Woman, for two years before, had lost her monthly Evacuations, and from that time the Distemper of the Spleen began to seize her more and more, till she became altogether Melancholy. Whence it is very probable, that the failing of her accustomed Evacuations, that fling off many other Excrements of the Bowels, was the Cause of the Ac∣cumulation of this Melancholy Hu∣mor in the Spleen and Neighbouring Parts, which now wanted the usual pas∣sage of Evacuation through the Womb. Therefore says Sennertus, The accustom∣ed Evacuations of the Hemorrhoids and Courses being suppressed, conduce very much to accumulate vitious Humors in the Spleen.

Thus we have seen in our Practice, that Women after their Purgations have left them, have fallen into several Di∣seases, because the noxious Humors that were evacuated with the menstruous Blood, were then retain'd in the Body. And therefore when Womens Purgati∣ons fail through Age, they ought to purge often, to the end the excrementi∣tious Humors that want to pass through the Womb may be drawn to the Guts.

As to the black Evacuations, it is in∣deed a Wonder how these melancholy Humors heap'd together in our Patient, could be retain'd in the Body without doing any more harm, and could be changed into a Blackness like Ink. Be∣sides, Hippocrates tells us, that black Stools are dangerous and mortal. Tho Petrus Salius well advises the Physitians not always to fear those black Stools, wherein there is nothing many times of dangor▪ For if the Spleen be out of order, this Matter gathers together a∣bout the Bowels in great abundance, and in those Veins which are common to them; which if it be in great quantity, it gathers also about the Mesentery and Sweet-bred, which are, as it were, the Sink of the whole Body, and then when it grows burthensome to Nature, is expell'd, to the great Ease of the Pa∣tient, by the Expulsive Faculty, excit∣ed either of its self, or by Medica∣ments, the Evacuations of which are black. However, that Melancholy Matter so collected, is not always ex∣pelled through the Guts, but also to the great benefit of the Patient, sometimes by Urine, which Mercurialis also testi∣fies. Nor are you to wonder, says he, that Diuretics are by me preferred above other Medicines, since Reason tells, that Melancholy and Splenetic Persons have black melancholy Blood. With which a∣grees the Authority of Aristotle, in his Problems, but chiefly of Hippocrates, who gives us the Story of Byas the Fisty-Cuffer, who was cured of a Swelling in his Liver, by a Flux of Urine. For which reason, they that undertake the Cure of the Spleen, must make it their Business to provoke Urine: for which, we have a remarkable Story which Va∣letius relates in Holler. I knew, says he, a Religious Person, whose Liver swell'd three or four times a year, but chiefly at the beginning of Spring and Fall; and while that bunchy Tumor lasted, he was infested with Hypochondriac Pains, black and blew

over his whole Body, and growing worse and worse by degrees. But at length, coming to make black Water, like to Ink, for five or seven days, he recovered his former Health, the Tu∣mor and Pain of the Hypochondrium vanishing. And now for these twelve or fifteen years, he has had these Pro∣fluvium's of black Urine, whereas be∣fore he had the Hemorrhoid, which though they swell'd indeed, were n•…•…r so open.

OBSERVATION XV. A Wound in the Leg.

ANdrew Ioannis, a Cook, hapening to be drunk, and finding his Chamber-door shut, set his Foot to the Door with all his force; so that after he had broke it, his Leg past through the Slit with the same swiftness, and rak'd the middle of his Leg withinside toward the Calf to that degree, that though the Solution of the Continuum were not very broad, yet it reach'd to the very Periosteum, and by reason of the Contusion in the Part, swell'd very much. A certain ignorant Chyrurgeon had had him in hand for some days, but his Pains increa∣sing, my Advise was desired. By this time his whole Leg was swell'd very much, and began to look of a greenish Colour among the Black and the Blew, with most acute Pains, and the Colour sufficiently de∣monstrated that the Fore-runner of Mortification would soon contract a Gangrene, which I found to have been occasioned by the Igno∣rance or Mistake of the Chyrurgeon; for he having thrust in a hard Tent into the Wound as far as the Periosteum, had stop'd it so close, that no Moisture could come forth. For he had laid a defensive Plai∣ster over it, as broad as my hand, composed of Bole Armoniac, and o∣ther astringent things, then had wrap'd his Leg, from the Knee to the Foot, in a Linnen Roller dip'd in Water and Vinegar, and had swath'd all this extreamly hard, pretending, by this means, to pre∣vent a Tumor and Inflammation. To say truth, the Wound was plain∣ly raw and ill colour'd, without any Digestion; so that upon draw∣ing forth the Tent, only a little watry Corruption came forth. All these things I threw away, and to prevent a Gangrene, took care to have the Wound wash'd with Spirit of Wine, that no Tent should be put in, but only that a Linnen Cloth four double, should be laid up∣on it, and that the whole Leg should be fomented with the following Fomentation.

℞. Betony, Thyme, VVoorm-wood, Sage, Hissop, Rosemary, Flow∣ers of camomil, Elder, Melilot, Roses, an. Handful j. Seeds of Cumin and Lovage, an. ℥j. s. Laurel Berries ʒij. VVhite-wine q. s. Boil them to three Pints, add to the Straining Spirit of VVine lb j.

This Fomentation being wrapt warm about his Leg, the next Night his Pain was much abated, and much of the watry Corruption run out of the Wound. Within two days after, the Swelling of his Leg palpably fell, and returned to its natural Colour, and threw out the Corruption well concocted, and so being dressed as it ought to be, the Cure was easily compleated.

ANNOTATIONS.

THings put into a Wound that ought not to be, are utter Enemies to Nature, endeavouring Consolidation, especially if they compress any nervous Body, Membrane or Tendon, or the Periosteum. Hence terrible Pains, Tu∣mors, Inflammations, and other Mis∣chiefs proceed; and therefore all such things as are foreign to Nature, are to be taken away, as Paraeus, Pigius, and other Chyrurgeons tell us. Thus hard and thick Tents, which inwardly offend and distend the Wound, or else stop it quite up, or compress the Nerves, Membranes, or Periostea, are not to be thrust into Wounds, as being those things that hinder the Operation of Na∣ture, Suppuration, Erection of the Matter and Consolidation, and beget Pains, Inflammations, and other Mis∣chiefs. Thus we have seen, by the Ig∣norance of Chyrurgeons, some Men tormented with Pains, others thrown into Fevers, Syncope, Convulsions, Mor∣tifications and Gangrenes. As it had like to have befallen our Patient; who, beside other ill Simptoms, was very near a Gangrene; and had it not been in time prevented, upon the Approach of the Mortification, he had hazarded the loss of his Limbs, or his Life. Hence Felix Wirtius, in Wounds of the Hands and Joynts, rejects the Use of Tents; which Opinion Hildan refutes, who says, that Tents are necessary in the nervous Parts, to keep the upper Lips of the Wound open, and give passage for the Corruption. By which Doctrine it appears, that he praises those Tents, which do not offend the inner Part of the Wound, but only keep the upper Parts open. But the Chyrurgeon, as to our Patient, had committed a great Error in this very Particular, for he had distended the inner Parts of the Wound with a thick and hard Tent, and had compress'd the Periosteum, and pre∣vented the Concoction and Efflux of the Corruption.

OBSERVATION XVI. Suppression of Urine.

THE Wife of Gerrard Anthony, a Taylor, had layn in, in May, and in three days after▪ she was brought to Bed, had not made Water, which was an extraordinary Pain to her, and had brought her so low, that she could hardly speak. The Mid-wife declared that she was very well laid, but that presently after her Evacuations were stopp'd, that something hard was to be felt on the other side in the lower part of her Belly. Hence I guessed that there was some Superfoetation or Mole, which remain'd behind. For the Cure of which, and to provoke her Urine and Purgations withal, I pre∣scribed this Apozeme.

℞. The Roots of Stone Parsly, Masterwort, Valerian, Sea-holly, Cammock an. ℥s. Round Birthwort, sliced Licorice an. ʒij. Leaves of black Ribs, M•…•…gwort, Peny-Royal, Water-Nasturtium, an. one Handful. Water-Parsly with the Whose, two Handfuls. Sa∣vine, Flowers of Camomil, an half a Handful. White-wine q. s. Boil them for an Apozeme to a Pint and a half.

℞. Of the said Apozeme ʒiij. Oyl of Amber distilled by descent, Drops xx. Make a Draught.

This she took hot the first time. This she took after three hours a∣gain, upon which, several Motions of Child-bearing supervening, she brought forth a round Mole, about the bigness of a Childs Head, which had the perfect Eyes of a Man. This being thus luckily ex∣pell'd,

her Urine and Purgations followed, and she was presently de∣livered from the imminent danger she was in.

ANNOTATIONS.

MOles are of different kinds, some within, others without the Birth; some very dangerous and troublesome to the Woman, others less hazardous; some without any Form, others resem∣bling some Shape or other; some hav∣ing Life, others without Life. Some∣times they presage something of Good; for though they do not hinder the Birth, yet they are very prejudicial both to the Birth and the Mother Which our Patient confirmed by her own Exam∣ple, who had certainly dy'd, had not the Mole, expell'd by Medicaments, made way for her Urine and Purgati∣ons.

OBSERVATION XVII. A Dysentery.

GErard Vossius, our Neighbour, had been troubled with a Dysen∣tery for some days; he was miserably tormented with cruel Pains in the Guts, and many times he voided Excrements that were all bloody, and mix'd with a tenacious Slime; he slept not at all, his Stomac was gone; he was very thirsty, and he had a Fever, which though not vehement, yet was continual. Though the young an were not above thirty years of Age, and very strong, yet he was brought so low by these Mischiefs, that in a few days he was reduced to an extream Imbecility. The sixth of February, I gave him the fol∣lowing Purge, which brought away much Choleric Matter.

℞. The best Rhubarb somewhat burnt ʒij. Mirobans Indian, Ci∣trine an. ʒj. Leaves of Senna cleansed ʒiij. Ani•…•…eseed ʒj. White Poppy ʒij. Plantain Water. q. s. Let them boil for half an hour. Add to the Straining Elect. Diaphanicon ʒj. s. Mix them for a Draught.

In the Evening, after his Purging, I gave him this Bolus.

℞. Terra Sigillata, Nicholas's rest an. ℈j. Mithridate Damoc. ℈ij. Mix them for a Bolus.

The next day the following Apozeme was prepared, of which, he took three times a day, and once at mid-night.

℞. Barley cleansed ℥j. Roots of Snake-weed, Tormentil, Pomegranate Rinds an. ℥s. Leaves of Oak, Plantane, Sanicle, Pimpernel, Great Sanicle, Snake-weed an. one Handful. Seed of small Roses ʒvj. Heads of white Poppies n^oiij. Raisins with the Stones ℥v. Common Water 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iiij. Boil them to the Consumption of the half, for an Apozeme.

In the Hours intervening, he took often in a day a small quantity of this Electuary.

℞. Nutmegs, Trochischs of Terra Sigillata, an. ʒs. Harts-horn burnt, red Coral prepar'd, Lapis Hematitis, Mastich. an. ℈j. To these being pulverized, add Conserve of Red Roses ℥j. s. Miv. ci•…•…on. Rob. Acaciae an. ʒiij. Nicholas's Rest ʒj. s. Syrrup of sower Pomegranates q. s. Mix them for a Conditement.

I ordered him to bear with his Thirst as much as he could, which he the more ready yielded to; in regard, that after drinking, especi∣ally of Ale, he found himself most cruelly griped, and therefore in∣stead of Ale, I prescribed him this Amygdalate for his usual Drink.

℞. Barly cleansed ℥j. s. Seed of the smallest Roses ℥j. Of white 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Plantain and Lettice an. ℥s. Common Water 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iij. boil them to the Consumption of the Half.

℞. The Straining aforesaid, sweet Almonds blan•…•…h'd, ℥v. white Poppy Seed ʒiij. The four greater Colt-seeds ʒj. s. Make an Amygdalate according to Art, to which add Syrup of Poppies ℥j. Of Red Roses ʒj. s.

The ninth of February I gave him ℈iiij. of Rhubarb a little burnt and powdered, in a little Ale; the tenth and thirteenth I repeated the Apozeme, and the twelfth the Conditement. And thus by the use of these Medicines, the Flux ceasing, the Patient regain'd his Health by degrees, and by the help of convenient Diet, recovered his lost Strength: However, for a long time after his Cure, he was ill, and coveted after any sort of Drink, which ill Habit, however afterward vanished, so soon as his Guts, by the use of good Diet, were again fortified with new Slime, which had been corroded away by the Acri∣mony of the former Humors. This Patient thus cured, the same Di∣stemper seiz'd three or four others in the same House, who were all cur'd in the same manner.

ANNOTATIONS.

AT the same time, at Montfort, Dysenteries were very rise over the whole Town among the Common People, and kill'd several, which there∣fore many judg'd to be Malignant and Contagious; but erroneously, for that it was not rife, as it was contagious; but in regard of the Season of the year, and the Diet then in use, for the Au∣tumn of the Year before was hot and moist, and had multiplied many Hu∣mors in the Bodies of People; then fol∣lowed a dry and intensly cold Winter, which intense Cold lasted a long time with a most terrible Frost, and thick∣ned those Humors. But at the begin∣ning of February, that rigid Cold chang∣ed of a sudden into a mild Warmth, by which means the Humors condensed by the Cold, were dissolved again and became fluid. Now during the Frost, be∣cause there was no bringing of fresh Flesh or Fish, or any other fresh Diet, the Common People fed upon old Flesh and old Fish, salted and hardned in the Smoak, Turneps, much Spice, and the like Food, that sharpen the Humors; which being again dissolved and ren∣dred fluid by the sudden Heat, occasi∣oned that great number of Dysenteries; yet no where but among the vulgar People, that made use of such a sort of Diet; for the wealthy sort, that eat well, were not at all troubled with the Distemper. Hence also it came to pass, that because three or four in the same House fed alike, they had all the same Disease; not that the Disease was common upon the score of Contagion, for then it would have infected those that came to them, as well as them∣selves.

OBSERVATION XVIII. A Dysentery.

PAn•…•…ras Collert, a stout young Man, about two and twenty years of age, at the same time also was seized with a Dysentery, and in regard he could not endure to take Physic; perhaps because he was very Covetous, he refused to take the Advice of any Physitians, but would needs be his own Physitian. He had observed that I was wont to purge Dysenteries at the beginning, and therefore he resolved to fol∣low my Course in his own Disease; yet willing to spare Cost, he pre∣pared himself the following Purge; Tabacco small cut ℥s. this he steep'd in small Ale all Night; the next Morning he boil'd it a little, and strain'd it, and drank of the whole Straining at a Draught. After which, he was taken with an extraordinary Faintness, even to Swoon∣ing, so that the People of the House thought he would have died: Presently followed a prodigious Vomiting, and Purging downwards, so that he voided an Extraordinary quantity of various Humors, espe∣cially yellow and green Choler, upwards and downwards; by which means, the Cause of the Disease being violently and altogether eva∣cuated, he was cured of his Dysentery by that one Draught.

ANNOTATIONS.

SAys Celsus, Oft times those whom Rea∣son will not recover, Rashness helps. This is apparent by the Example of that young Man, whose Rashness, had any other weaker Persons followed, they had perhaps cured their Dysentery by the Flux of their Soul. For Tobacco that way taken, is a most vehement disturbing Medicament, against the Vi∣olence of which, there is no resistance. And therefore I would not advise all People to use this Experiment. If the rash taking of such a violent Medicine succeed well with some young Persons that are of a robust Constitution, the same Success is not to be expected in all People. Nevertheless, that this Tobac∣co thus taken by a very strong Man, should heal his Dysentery, is no way re∣pugnant to Reason; for by its extraor∣dinary Violence, it evacuated altoge∣ther the whole Cause of the Distemper. I heard also, that two other country Boors, being troubled with a Dysentery, made tryal of the same Experiment.

OBSERVATION XIX. Suppression of Female Purgations.

ANtonia, a Plethoric Woman, very strong, about three and twen∣ty years of age, lying in of her first Child, rising the third day after her Delivery, too venturously trusted herself to the cold Air; upon which, her Purgations immediately stopp'd, yet she was well e∣nough till the third Week of her Month, at what time a violent Pain seized her Right-side toward the Region of the Spleen, as also her Loyns, and extended it self from the Huckle-bone to the true Ribs. The Pain had brought her very low, and taken away her Appetite; yet by her Pulse I found she had no Fever, and therefore upon the twentieth of September, I ordered her to be purged with this following Potion.

℞. The best Rhubarb ʒj. Leaves of Senna cleansed ʒiij. Rhenish Tartar, Anis•…•…seeds an. ʒj. s. Mugwort water q. s. Make an In∣fusion according to Art. Adding to the Straining Elect of Hi∣era Picra ʒj. s. for a Potion.

After this Purge, she loathed Physic to that degree, that we must have here given over, but that upon the twenty second of Sep∣tember, she was seized with a violent Suffocation from her Womb; by which, the Passage of her Breath being stopp'd, she was almost stifled, and sometimes swooned away. Then, tormented with her Pains, and afraid to dye, she promised to take whatever we gave her, though never so ungrateful to the Palate, so there were any Hopes of Ease. There to abate the Uterine Suffocation, I gave her this De∣coction, of which she was to take one, two or three Ounces several times a day.

℞. Leaves of Rue, one Handful, seed of Lovage ʒvj. Down of Nuts ℥•…•…. Seed of Caraways and Bishops-weed ʒj. Decoction of Barly-water q. s. Boil them to a Pint and strain them.

By the use of this, the Suffocation was almost vanquished, only the Pains of her Side more and more increased, and extended them∣selves to her very Shoulder, so that I began to be afraid of her Life; therefore the twenty fourth of September, this Apozeme was made.

℞. Roots of Fennel, Valerian, Stone-Parsly, an. ℥s. Of Briony ʒvi. Of round Birthwort, Dittany an. ʒjj. Of Sassafras-wood ʒiij. Herbs, Mugwort, Rue, Peniroyal, Feverfew, Savine Nipp, an. Handful j. Flowers of Camomil, half a Handful. Seed of Lo∣vage ʒv. Common Water q. s. Boil them to two Pints. In the straining, steep for a whole Night together, Leaves of Senna cleansed ℥ij. White Agaric ʒj. s. Aniseseed ʒv. In the Morn∣ing let them simper over the Fire, and then strain them by Ex∣pression for an Apozeme.

Of this Decoction she took twice a day, in the Morning, and at four or five a clock in the Afternoon, each time four or five Ounces lukewarm, which brought away every day, three, four or five times, putrid, nasty, tough, black and very viscous Excrements besides an extraordinary deal of Wind. In the intervening Hours, because of the Suffocations frequently returning, she sometimes took her first Decocti∣on. By the use of these Medicines, within four days the greatest part of her Pains ceased. The twenty ninth of September, I ordered the Saphena Vein in her Left-foot to be opened, and a good quanti∣ty of Blood to be taken away, which gave her ease; and the same day she took her last Apozeme again, of which the following days she drank no more than once a day. And thus by the use of these Reme∣dies, she escaped a dangerous Disease, and recovered her Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHild-bearing Women, in their Ly∣ings in, frequently commit very great Errors, afterwards, the Causes of great Mischiefs. Among which, this is not the least, that they are over confident of their own Strength, and trust them∣selves in the Air sooner than the time of their Lying in will permit; whence a∣rise those dangerous Diseases, Suppressi∣on of the Courses, Fevers, Suffocati∣ons, and many others; of which, there are several Examples to be found in Authors, besides what we see every day. Thus in our Practice, we have seen through this Error committed by Child∣bearing Women, most terrible Diseases brought upon them, some of whom have died, others ran most terrible Ha∣zards; others have go•…•… those afflictions of some particular Part, which they could never claw off as long as they liv'd. They do not all escape so lucki∣ly as our Patient before mentioned, for sometimes extream Weakness, or loath∣ing of the Taste, or a Fever, or some other thing hinders the taking of the

Medicaments, or inverts or hinders the operation of the Medicines, and then all the Art and Diligence of the Physitian signifies nothing. Thus, the same year that I had this Woman in Cure, the Wife of a Kinsman of mine at Utrecht, a strong Woman, fell into the same Dis∣temper, but not to be cured by all the Prescriptions of the most learned and prudent Physitians.

In these Cases I have observed this, that the Courses, suppressed a little af∣ter Delivery, unless they be stirred within three or four days by Medica∣ments, can very hardly or not at all be moved by the help of the Physitians, but are the Causes of very desperate Diseases, which Diseases do not pre∣sently appear, sometimes not till after some days; sometimes not till after the third or fourth Week. And in the Cure of these Diseases, I have farther observed this, that the greatest Relief is given at the beginning, before the Strength of the Patient is abated, part∣ly by attenuating Apozems, and loos∣ning withal, to provoke and evacuate the Matters peccant, both in quantity and quality, partly by Blood-letting in the Feet; which way of Cure, I have with success experienced more than once.

OBSERVATION XX. The Nephritic Passion.

THE Young Lady Cals•…•…ager was so cruelly tormented for three days, with a Pain a little below her Loyns, that she knew not where to turn her self; these Pains were also accompanied with Vo∣miting, and an extraordinary Restlessness. It was the Nephritic Pas∣sion, and the Gravel or Stone descending through the Ureters, caused this Pain: Wherefore, to expel the Gravel with more speed and ease, I prescribed this Decoction.

℞. Slic'd Licorice ℥s. Herbs, Stone-parsly, Althea, Chervil, Mallows, Water-parsly, Leaves of black Ribs an. one Hand∣ful, Flowers of Camomil, one Handful and a half, fat Figs n^o ix. New Milk, common Water, an. q. s. Boil them to the Consumption of the third part for an Apozem.

That Day she drank almost all the Decoction, and about Evening, voided some small Stones, with a good quantity of Gravel, and was freed from her Distemper.

ANNOTATIONS.

MEdicines that break the Stone, sometimes crumble the little Stones that stick in the Kidneys, as Ex∣perience tells us. But when they are expell'd out of the Kidneys, and stick in the Ureters, they are not to be crum∣bled by the force of any Medicaments whatever, which Reason, besides Ex∣perience, teaches us, since no Medica∣ments can reach thither with their Ver∣tue entire; for that the great quantity of Serum running thither, and there setling, hinders and abates the Strength of the Medicaments; so that they are disabled in their Operation. And there∣fore, to force the Stones out of the U∣reter, lenifying and molifying Medica∣ments must be mixed with the Diure∣tics, to smooth and mollifie the Ure∣ters, and to prepare a more easie De∣scent for the Stone. Such is that De∣coction which I, and such is that Pre∣scription of Io. Baptist Thodosius, which he, boast never fail'd him in driving out the Stone, though he had made use of it several and several times.

℞. Leaves of fresh gathered Althea one Handful and a half, New Butter ℥iij. Honey lb j. Boil them together in Water q. s. to the Consumption of the third part. Take of the Straining a warm Draught Morning and Evening.

Such is also that celebrated Secret of Forestus, which most Physitians highly approve, and which I have successfully made use of, only now and then with

some Alterations and Additions; of which, Forestus himself thus writes. This, my Secret, I will no longer conceal, for t•…•…e common Benefit of the Sick; that it may not be laid to mine, which was laid to the Charge of the wicked Servant, who hid the Talent, which God had given him, in the Earth. And therefore I will no lon∣ger, to the Prejudice of Posterity, keep this Secret by me, which is this.

℞. Seed of Mallows, Althea an. ʒiij. Red Vetches ℥iij. The four greater Seeds an. ʒij. Barly cleaned ℥ij. Fat Figs n^o ix. Sebeston n^o vij. Licorice slic'd ʒj. Rain∣water 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iiij. Boil these to the Consump∣tion of half, and reserve the Straining for use, which the Patient continually using, always voided Stones.

OBSERVATION XXI. The Worms.

A Little Boy, the Son of Antonius, about three years of age, had the lower part of his Belly extreamly swell'd, and stretch'd like a Drumb, so that he seem'd to be Hydropic; his Stomach was gone, with a slight Fever, accompanied with Frights in his Sleep, and he would be always rubbing his Nose with his Fingers. I guess'd them to be either Worms or crude Humors sticking in the first Region of the Belly, that caused all those evil Symptoms. Wherefore, because the Child would take nothing, but would be always drinking, I or∣dered new Ale to be given him for his Drink, with which I only mixt a little Oyl of Vitriol, so much as suffic'd to give it a gentle Sowrness. This Drink being continued for a fortnight or three Weeks, the Swelling of his Belly fell, but he voided no Worms.

ANNOTATIONS.

OYl of Vitriol given after that man∣ner, does not only remove all Pu∣trefactions and Corruptions, but kills and consumes the Worms in the Sto∣mach and Guts, and those that are in∣fested with such like evils; and we have seen it recover those that have been de∣spaired of, contrary to Expectation. Thus my Sister Cornelia, when she came to be seven years of Age, and was mi∣serably tormented with the Worms in her Belly, and had taken several Re∣medies to no effect, when she was de∣spaired of, and nothing but Death ex∣pected, at length, by taking Oyl of Vitriol given in Ale, she was recovered in a short time. The same thing hap∣pened to Margaret Dobre, the Daughter of the Marshal of Montfort, and seve∣ral others. Therefore it is not without reason that the Chymists cry up this Oyl so highly as they do. Concerning which, and the Oyl of Sulphur, Min∣dererus thus writes, There is no Corrupti∣on, the Strength of which they do not break; no Infection which they do not overcome, no depravation of Humors, which is not vanquished by them.

OBSERVATION. XXII. A Burning.

PEter Abstee, going to shoot off a Musquet, by chance the Breech of the Gun broke, and though the Splinters of the Iron did him no harm, yet his Face was all over burnt with the Flame of the Pow∣der, and several of the Corns of Powder stuck in his Skin. The Corns being presently pick'd out, we apply'd to his Eyes, Linnen Rags doubled and dipp'd in very Salt Butter; and over his Face we lay'd raw Turneps bruis'd in a Mortar with Salt Butter, which

we chang'd thrice the first day, and once the next night. This Ca∣taplasm drew out the Fire remarkably, nor did any Blister rise upon his Eye-brows, which the Butter had prevented; so that after one or two Anointings afterwards with Oyntment of Roses and Pomatum, he was perfectly cured.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN a Burn, the greatest Care to be taken, is to fetch out the Fire, and to prevent the rising of Pustles and Blisters; for the effecting of which, va∣rious Remedies are commended. In a slight Burn, the Cure is perfected by holding the Part which is hurt to the Fire, or by putting it into hot Water, or Water as hot as you are able to en∣dure it. But Burns of more Concern∣ment, raw Turneps beaten with Salt, are a most certain Remedy, by which, I have done strange things in very terri∣ble Burns. Common People, says Pare∣us, find by Experience, that the Heat of the Part slightly burnt, vanishes, and the Pain ceases, if they hold the Part af∣fected to the Flame of a Candle, or to quick burning Coals; for Similitude causes Attraction. Therefore the outward Fire draws out the inner, and so Fire becomes the Cure of the Mischief which it caused. It is also a try'd Remedy, and easie to be had, if presently after the Burn, you clap raw Turneps bruised with Salt to the part aggrieved.

Nevertheless, Hildan says, that Tur∣neps do not agree with Burns in the Face, because they prejudice the Eyes, which would be true, if the Turneps were put into the Eyes; or if the Eyes, before the Application were not guarded with o∣ther things, which we think is best done with Linnen Rags four doubled, and dipp'd in very salt Butter; for that the Salt Butter draws out the Fire, by rea∣son of the Salt; and by its fatness, leni∣fies and guards the Eye-lids. But di∣still'd Waters are far less convenient, as are also Woman's Milk, or Whites of Eggs, or any such like things, which are presently dry'd up, and stick so close to the Part affected, that they can hardly be pull'd off without excoriati∣on. In Burns of the Face, Hildan ra∣ther uses this Oyntment.

℞. Venetian Soap ℥j. Oyl of Sweet Almonds and Roses an. ℥s. M•…•…scilage of the Seeds of Quinces extracted with Rose∣water, a small quantity. Mix them for an Oyntment.

In other Parts, he writes, the follow∣ing Oyntment powerfully draws out the Fire.

℞. Raw Turneps ℥j. s. Salt. Venice Soap, an. ℥s. Mix them in a Mortar, and make an Oyntment with Oyl of Roses and Almonds.

Besides these, there are many other things which powerfully draw out the Fire. Among the rest, Writing-Ink, as we have already shewed, and Pickle, Linnen Rags being dipped there∣in, as also Lime-water do the same. Concerning Pickle or Brine, Lemnius thus writes, Pickle or Brine, by a present and peculiar force, draws the Fire out of Burns, and asswages the most intense Pains, whether the Burns be of Gun-powder, or the Scaldings of Oyl, Pitch, Scalding∣water, or fiery Coals; especially if the Parts affected be but fomented with a Rag dipped in the Pickle; this is confirmed by Matthias Pactzerus. Butter also mix∣ed with a great deal of powder'd Salt, and laid upon the Scald, does Wonders. But these things are to be used at the be∣ginning, before the Wheals and Blis∣ters rise, and that there be any Excori∣ation, else these things are not so pro∣per, but the Cure must be ordered ano∣ther way.

OBSERVATION. XXIII. The Tooth-Ach.

COrnelia Iacobi, a strong Woman, was troubled with a terrible Pain in the Teeth, together with a Pain in half her Head; whereupon I gave her this Vomit.

℞. Glass of Antimony powder'd gr. xii. White-wine ℥v. Let them sleep all Night, in the Morning filter the Wine through a Sheet of brown Paper, and give it for one Draught.

This brought up Choleric, Flegmatic and tough Matter in abun∣dance; and besides she had some Stools; the next Night she slept well, the Pain of her Teeth ceased, and she never had it more.

OBSERVATION XXIV. The Gallic Fever, Epidemic.

IN the Year 1635▪ the Summer was extream hot and dry; at what time, the King of France's Army being joyned with ours, besieg'd Lovain, where the Souldiers were in great want of all things, especi∣ally of Bread and Water, and for that reason they fed upon the Fruits of the Season, unripe and crude, Flesh newly kill'd and never salted, without Bread, and other Food that bred ill Nourishment; so that at length, almost consumed with Hunger and Thirst, they raised their Siege, and by reason that Schenk-Fort was at that time betray'd into the Spaniards Hands, they were forced to come into our Country. Hi∣ther when they came, besides our own, the greatest part of the French Foot quartered for some time at Nimeghen (where I liv'd at that time, and began to practise) and among those Souldiers, a certain Pestilent and Malignant Fever began to be very rife some few days before their com∣ing to the Town. Here the Souldiers overjoy'd, found Plenty of all things, and were well refresh'd; but within a few days this malig∣nant Fever swept away great Numbers of the whole Army, more e∣specially of the French; for not to reckon our own, within two or three months this dire contagion laid in their Graves, at least three thousand of the French at Nimeghen; nor did it rage less in the Camp before Schenk Sconce, and in other places it made the same Destruction, both of our own and the French Souldiers, and from them the Infecti∣on spread it self among the Citizens and Inhabitants at Nimeghen, where above a thousand were devoured by the Earth in a few months. Nor was the Havock less among the Inhabitants of the ad∣joyning Cities; nay, it penetrated even into the very Heart of our Country. Now, because this Fever first infected the French, and af∣terward the rest, it was generally called the French Fever, and by many also the Gallic Disease.

There is not a small Contagion in this Disease, which is chiefly communicated to others by Contact and Attraction of putrid and most nasty Vapors, of Sweat, of Ordure, &c. and therefore they who at∣tended the Sick, or staid any while with them, were sure to be infect∣ed with the Distemper; but the Contagion was first spread all over Nimeghen, more especially for this reason; because the whole City, by reason the Army was so vast, was all full of Souldiers, insomuch that all the Streets and Lanes were fill'd with Souldiers, some in Health, and some sick, lying every where at the Sides of the Streets: and hence the Filth and Excrements, as well of the Sick as Healthy, were thrown into the publick Passages in great Heaps; nor was there any avoiding them, because of the extraordinary Multitudes of People passing to and fro. And thus it came to pass that the malignant and corrupt Va∣pors rising from those nasty Dunghills, infected the whole City with Contagion and Disease.

The Cause of this Disease did not lye so much in the malignant Cor∣ruption of the Spirits, as of the Humors, and therefore it might be very properly call'd a Pestilence in the Humors; but it differed from the Pestilence in this, that in the Pestilence, the vital Spirits, in this Fever, the Humors, are corrupted after a malignant manner. Moreo∣ver the Contagion of the Pestilence hangs in the Air, and infects more at a distance; but the Contagion of this Fever is communicated by the Immediate Contact and Attraction of malignant Vapors. Lastly, the Pestilence is a Disease more acute and dangerous, and of which more die than escape; but in this Disease more escape than dye.

This Fever, at the beginning seiz'd some sharply, but most People gently; some without, and others with a slight Cold and Shivering. A little after the beginning, in many followed a very great Heat, ac∣companied with a vehement Thirst; which Burning sometimes inter∣mitting by slight Intervals, continued for the most part till the seventh day or longer. In many also this intense Heat was not perceived; and in such Persons the Heart was more affected by the malignity of the Humors than the heat, for in them the Vital Faculty was more en∣dammag'd. At the beginning of the Distemper, there appeared a ve∣ry great Debility and Dissipation of the natural Strength. Deliriums in some, in most Faintness, in many Head-achs and want of Sleep; in all Thirst, with a great driness of the Tongue; many also presently after the Disease, were troubled with malignant Dysenteries and Diar∣r•…•…ea's, very difficult to be cured. The Pulse was also very thick, but weak and unequal.

Upon the days of Crises's, the Patients were generally worse, ne∣vertheless very few Crises's that were good. Nature seemed to endea∣vor and attempt Crises's; but in regard of the great quantity of ma∣lignant Humors, and the wasted strength of the Patient, she was not able to accomplish them. Crises's, by Sweat or bleeding at the Nose, or coming down of the Courses, sometimes alone vanquish'd the Di∣stemper, but very seldom; for they were for the most part imperfect, b•…•…t by loosness of the Belly they were dangerous, and to many mortal. In some, little red Spots breaking out over all the Body upon the Skin, chang'd the Disease sometimes for the worse, and sometimes for the better. Some that lay long sick had critical Abscesses in some sound part. But Carbuncles never appeared. I never saw any that had ei∣ther Kernels in their Groins, behind their Ears, or under their Arm∣pits, or that Nature ever voided any thing through those Emuncto∣ries.

Some that had been cured of this Fever, easily relapsed into as dan∣gerous and mortal a Distemper, especially if they exposed themselves abroad too soon, or committed the least Error in Diet.

In the Cure of this Distemper, the primary and chief Relief was gi∣ven by Blood-letting three or four times, and in some six or seven times repeated. I have seen French-men, whom their Physicians have let Blood in four days space, no less than twelve times, and have taken great quantities of Blood from them; for the Patients found great Ease after Blood-letting; and because so known a Remedy, at length, that many, without the Advice of a Physician, would order them∣selves to be let Blood, by which means, some cured themselves of their Distemper. More than that, this seemed a greater Wonder, that when Blood-letting decays the Strength so much, yet in this Disease, after great quantities of Blood taken away, Nature gathered new Strength, and was relieved from the burthen of malignant Humors; and all the

Patients, even they that were in the weakest Condition, were able to endure Blood-letting. These Fevers submitted to no Remedies so easily as to Blood-letting. The Blood which was drawn forth for the two or three first times, was very Corrupt in all Men. Nor do I re∣member that among all those Multitudes of Sick People I ever saw one that had good Blood taken from him at the beginning: but for the most part whitish, often between livid and greenish, wherein there was a little mixture of red Blood. It was Muscilaginous like the De∣coction of Calves-feet. In most it was Coagulated: In some also it would hardly Coagulate, the Fibres being for the most part con∣sumed by the Corruption; and those were in most danger. After the third or fourth Bleeding the Blood prov'd tolerable.

Being call'd therefore to Patients, after loosening the Belly with a Glyster, we order'd Blood-letting as soon as possibly we could; and if the Patients strength would permit, we repeated it the next day; taking away every time from half a pint to a pint of Blood, and the same we did again after three or four days intermission, according to the strength of the Patient and the excess of the Fever. Nevertheless in the mean time we Administer'd Purging Medicines, and sometimes Glysters to keep the Body open, and because there was a Malignity in the Disease we made frequent use of Diaphoretics and Antidotes, Ju∣leps, and Cooling and Cordial Electuaries were very Beneficial, mix'd with Diuretics, more especially if they were opposite to the Malignity. When the Patient could not sleep, we anointed his Temples with some gentle Opiate, and gave him sometimes Narcotics to swallow.

ANNOTATIONS.

MAlignant and Pestilent Fevers how they may be allowed without a true Pestilence, we have shown at large in our Treatise of the Pest. But these Fevers are various, as not pro∣ceeding always from the same Cause, nor seizing the same manner, nor ad∣mitting the same Cure. Sometimes the Infection of the Air alone, some∣times extraordinary Corruptions of the Air by bad Dyet, or otherwise, some∣times hurtful Exhalations of things Corrupt and Putrid: sometimes dispo∣sitions of the Temperaments of the Air and Bodies; either single of them∣selves, or some or all of them con∣joyned together, create these Epidemic Fevers, and therefore as the Causes are various, so is there great varieties in the Cure. And therefore it is that these malignant Fevers seldom appear twice altogether one like another. Fra∣castorius describes a Pestilential Fever, which differed very much from ours, which came from a certain Infecti∣on of the Air, and chiefly prey'd upon the Spirits, and not upon the Humors, and was chiefly cured with Antidotes; whereas Blood-letting did harm: On the other side, our Fever more an E∣nemy to the Humors then the Spirits, was cured by Blood-letting. Wierus makes mention of a Malignant and Pestilent Fever, which was very rife about the Countries lying upon the Rhine, and very different from ours, which the Cure informs us: for he writes, that he found Blood-letting very dangerous. From our Fever also dif∣fer very much those Fevers which Forestus describes, wherein there were neither the same Symptoms, neither would the Cure admit repeated Blood∣letting. Lazarus Riverius produces one Example of a Malignant Fever, which in many Patients agreed with ours, and was cured by five times Blood-letting. To which there was one very like that we saw in France in the year 1632 already mentioned, Observ. 3. But that it may be the better understood. How Patients afflicted with this same Malignant Fever are to be ordered, I shall produce one or two Examples of a thousand in the following Observations.

OBSERVATION XXV. A Malignant Fever.

HErman Thomas, a Baker, was seized with the foresaid malig∣nant Fever the fifth of September, with a very great Heat and Consumption of his Spirits; at the beginning, his Pulse beat thick, yet not very unequal; this Thirst was vehement, with a very great driness of the Tongue. All the Body seem'd to be equally affected, and therefore he never felt any Pain, only complained of a great Faint∣ness and Dejection of his Heart, the first day coming to him about the Evening I ordered him an Emollient Glister, which gave him three Stools, and to quench his Thirst, I prescribed him this Julep.

℞. Carduus-water, Borage and Sorrel-water an lb j. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Citron newly squeezed out of the Fruit, Syrrup of the •…•…owre part of the Citron, of Violets, Rob of red Rib•…•…s an. ℥. Oyl of Sulphur q. s. to make it gratefuly sharp mix them for a Iulep.

The sixth of September in the Morning we took away a pint of Blood out of the Median Vein of the right Arm; which gave him great ease. The Blood was very bad, the upper half between livid and green, and like a Muscilage, the lower half black and coagulated; the Serum also was Green. The next day he felt a Pain in his Throat, which was without any Tumour, for the asswaging of which, I ordered him a proper Gargarism. In the Morning he took a gentle Purge which gave him five Stools. To quench his Thirst he took small Ale, and sometimes his Julep: the eight of September his Fever continuing in the same state, we took away ten Ounces out of his left Arm, which was as bad as the first: the ninth this Sudorific was given him.

℞. Diascordium of Fracastorius ʒj. Confection of Hiacinth, Extract of Carduus, Salt of Rue an ℈j. Treacle and Car∣duus water an. ℥j. Oyl of Vitriol ix. drops, mix them for a Draught.

Upon this he sweat well; nevertheless the Continual Fever, his weakness, his Pain in his Throat, his Thirst and driness of his Mouth continued still; besides that he could not sleep hardly at all. There∣fore in the Afternoon he drank two Draughts of the following Apozem, and took it also the next day.

℞. Roots of Succory, Grass, Asparagus an. ℥j. of Elecampane, Sea Holly, and stone Parsley; an. ℥s. Herbs, Sorrel, Car∣duus Benedict. Borage, Centaury the less, Scordium, Scabious an. one handful. One whole Pome Citron cut in slices, the four greater Cold-seeds an. ℥j. s. Fruit of Tamarinds, Rhenish Tartar an. ʒvj. Curants ℥j. s. Boyl them in common water q. s. to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ij. add to the straining Syrup of Limons ℥iij. mix them for an Apozem.

The eleventh, after an Emollient Glister first given, we took away

seven Ounces more of Blood out of his right Arm, which very much abated the Fever; the twelfth, after he had taken his former Antidote in the Morning, he Sweat very much: and in the Afternoon he took his Apozem. The next day because his Belly did not answer our Expectations I gave him this Powder to take mixed with a little of his Julep, which gave him three Stools.

℞. Rhubarb the best ʒj. Cremor Tartar ʒ s. for a Powder.

This Powder he took again the sixteenth in the Intervening days, and the three days following he took the foresaid Apozem and a small quantity of this Conditement.

℞. Pulvis Liberans ʒj. s. the three Saunders ℈ij. Confection of Hyacynth ℈j. s. Candy'd Orange Peels, Rob of red Ribs Pulp of Tamarinds an. ℥ s. Syrrup of Limons q. s. mix them for a Conditement.

Upon the twelfth his Fever abated every day more and more, neither was he molested any more with Anguish or Thirst; but his Stomach began to come to him; but then through a slight Errour in his diet, he fell into a Relaps, and his Fever returned with great violence: Therefore after we had Glistered him first, we took half a pint of Blood out of his left Arm, which gave him so much ease that the Fever was almost totally quenched with that one Blood∣letting. The next Morning taking his Antidote again, he Sweat soundly, and then taking his Apozem and his Conditement, both that day and the three or four next days, he was presently delivered from his Fever. During the Cure we kept him to a slender diet of Broths, wherein were boil'd Sorrel, Borage, Pome Citrons, Barley cleansed and unripe Grapes. To drink we gave him small Ale, and sometimes Juleps, and sometimes he quenched his Intollerable Drought with Pulp of Tamarind, or by chawing a slice of Pome Citron dipped in Sugar: or else by laying upon his Tongue a Leaf of the bigger Sempervivum, steeped in water, and the outer Skin pulled off.

OBSERVATION. XXVI. A Malignant Fever.

GErtrude Coets, a Young Maid of about twenty four Years of Age, was seized with the same Pestilential Fever. Upon the eight of September I being sent for (which was the fourth day of the Disease,) I found her so weak that she could hardly speak; she swoonded away every moment, by reason of the Malignant Vapours that oppressed her Heart; her Pulse was very weak, thick and un∣equal: the heat not very intense, in regard the Morbific Matter in∣fested her more by it's Malignity then it's Heat; presently I gave her this Sudorific.

℞. Oriental Bezoar stone ℈ s. Diascordium of Fracastorius, Mithridate Damoc. Confection of Hyacinth an. ℈j. Carduus water ℥j. mix them for a Draught.

Though she did not sweat long, by reason of her weakness, yet she had very much ease; to quench her Thirst, I prescribed her this Julep.

℞. Carduus, Baum, Sorrel and Scabious waters an. lb. s. Cinna∣mon ℥j. Citron juice newly squeezed ℥j. s. Syrrup of Limons, Violets an. ℥j. s. Oyl of Sulphur q. s. mix them for a Iulep.

The ninth her Belly was moved by a Suppository: and two hours after we took from the Median Vein of her right Arm half a pint of Blood, which was very corrupt, Muscilaginous, between Pale and Greenish, with a green Serum containing a little good Blood at the bottom, notwithstanding the great Consumption of her strength she endured her Blood-letting very well, which gave her great ease; she also often took a small quantity of this Conditement.

℞. Pulvis Liberans. ʒj. Salt Prunella ℈j. Rob of red Ribes, Pulp of Tamarinds, Conserve of Roses. an ℥s. Confection of Hyacinth ʒj. s. Syrrup of Limons q. s. mix them for a Conditement.

The next day she continued the same Medicins; and for her ordinary drink she drank small Ale with some few drops of Oyl of Vitriol. The eleventh of September she took again her last Sudorific, and found some ease by it. The twelfth her Anguish and Weakness seemed again to increase; wherefore we drew six Ounces of Blood out of her left Arm; which was as bad as the former. This Blood-letting gave her very great ease, I would willingly have prescribed her Apozems and some other things, but because she was nice, and had a very nauseous Stomach by reason of her Disease, she could take nothing. The thirteenth we mixed ʒj. of Rhubarb Powdered and ʒ s. of Cremor Tartar, in a little small Ale and deceived her, which gave her three Stools; the next day she was much better, and taking the foresaid Conditement, her Fever became very remiss. The eigh∣teenth she relapsed into an extraordinary weakness; then I ordered her this mixture in a Spoon, which somewhat releived her.

℞. Oriental Bezoar stone ℈ s. Confection of Hyacinth. ℈j. Cina∣mon-water ʒj. Carduus-water ʒij. mix them.

The nineteenth we again drew out of her right Arm five Ounces of Blood; which very much abated her Fever that day and the next day, she continued the use of her Conditement and Julep; at this time D. Gilbert Coets cheif Physitian of Arnheim, was called to consultation who recommended for a try'd and most proper Remedy his own Treacle-water, which he called Carbuncle-water, and concealed as a great Secret; by his advice one Spoonful of this water was given twice or thrice a day to the Patient; but the twenty first her Fever growing more upon her, I gave her this Antidote.

℞. Salt of Wormewood, Confection of Hyacinth an. ℈j. Oriental Bezoar gr. xii. Carbuncle-water, Carduus water an. ℥ s. mix them.

This was again repeated the twenty second and twenty third, the twenty fourth by the help of a Suppository she had a Stool; in the Even∣ing she took this,

℞. Bezoar stone Oriental gr. xii. Pearls prepared ℈j. Carbuncle water ℥ s. mix them and give a Spoonful at a time.

The next day she swallowed xii. grains of Pill. Ruffi in two Pills; which toward the Evening gave her two Stools. The twenty eight of September she took them again as also upon the second of October, in the Intervening time she continued the use of her Conditement, Julep and Cordial-water, and fed upon Broths, and thus she was restored to her former Health.

OBSERVATION XXVII. A malignant Fever.

HEnry ter Koelem, being taken with the same Malignant Fever, the fourth of September sent for me, I found him full of Anguish and weak; his Pulse weak and unequal, yet without any intense beat; we let him thrice Blood, us'd proper Glisters, loosening Medicaments, Sudorifics, and such as resisted Corruption and Malignity, together with other Cordial Remedies, and so recovered him. But going abroad too soon, and being careless of his diet upon the twenty eight of September he relapsed into a more dangerous Fever then his first. After twice letting Blood, and several other Medicaments exhibited, red Spots, and some Purple ones came forth over all his Body upon the Skin, upon which the Fever went off, and within eight days he recovered much of his strength; but then ignorant of his weakness and trusting too much to his strength, upon the twenty eight of October going but once a little abroad, he fell into a second Relapse more dangerous still: by reason of his strength debilitated by his former Sickness. The Fever harrass'd his Body already much weakened, with great violence, nevertheless after Blood-letting, we gave him several Remedies with that success, that at length upon the tenth of November he fell into a very great Spontaneous Sweat; but as he lay in his Sweat; a certain Ruddy Tumour began to appear in his left side, above the fifth, sixth, and seventh Rib; which the next day bunched out as big as a Man's Fist. Thus the Fever went off, and the Crisis of the Disease was performed by Sweating and an Impostume; but the Tumour was very hard, which because we could not bring to a head in five days with mollifying and ripening Cataplasms; and for that the Party complained of the Pain of the inner part affected, I was afraid, least some matter sticking between the Ribs near the Pleura Membrane should have already ripened, which might occasion some greater Mischeif, should the Impostume break within, before the outward Maturation, and so the Matter fall down to the inner parts, to prevent this Inconvenience though I could neither see nor feel any sign of outward Maturation, I ordered a Chy∣rugeon to open the Tumour half a Fingers breadth above the Ribs, which done, it appeared that my judgment had not failed me for there came forth at the same time matter both white and Mature; and thus the Patient escaped the danger threatened by the Impostume,

to that so soon as the Tumor was cured he recovered his former Health.

OBSERVATION XXVIII. A malignant Dysentery.

AT the same time that the foresaid Malignant Fever so cruelly raged, Malignant Dysenterys fatal to many, were very rife, after they had voided the slime of the Guts, they presently voided Blood, not alone and pure, but mixed with a certain white, Viscous and Tenacious Humour; which like Pitch or Bird-lime stook close to every thing it touched; and might be drawn out into long strings. The Patients were cruelly griped in their Bellys; and besides a con∣tinual Fever, Anguish of the Heart, extream Weakness, vehement Thirst, loss of Stomach, want of Sleep, and something of heat in the Urine were the Concomitants of this Distemper; and as for them that voided that viscous and white slime, mixt with Bloody De∣jections, if it were very tough, the most of those People dy'd; and the less tenacious it was, the better they escaped. They who brake wind during Exoneration, gave great hopes of recovery. They that were conversant with the Sick or tended upon them, were infected with the contagious Stench of the Disease; these Fluxes were very difficultly cured, in regard that Blood-letting avails nothing in the cure; and many times neither Purges nor Astringents, nor Sudorifics nor other Remedies usually administered in this Distemper were given with any success.

ANNOTATIONS.

THIS same Contagion, at this very time carry'd off vast numbers of our Men in the Camp before Schenk-Fort. And when the Physitians to the Army had try'd all the Remedies they could think of for the Cure of this Distem∣per, but very few did any good, at length there was a Remedy found out by certain Italian Physitians, who came hither with the French Army, by which afterwards great numbers were cured. First they Purged the Patients with Rhubarb. Then they took white Wax ʒ j. s. or ʒ ij. and cut this very small into ℥ iiij. or v. of New Milk, which they boil'd till the Wax was perfectly melted, and then gave their Patients that Milk as hot as could be to drink; for it must be taken very hot, because of the Wax, that else would thicken, so that it could not be drank; if the Lask did not stop the first time, then they gave it a second and a third time. But in regard there were a great number of Souldiers that lay sick of this Distemper, there was such a vast quantity of white Wax consumed in a short time, that the Apothecaries of Emeric were quite exhausted; so that they were forced to send for it to other Places. Now though Wax seldom is gi∣ven to swallow, yet it is no new thing. For Diascorides writes, that it is of great Effi∣cacy to fill up wounds, and is given in Broths to those that are troubled with Dysenteries. Thus Valleriola speaks of a Dysenteric recovered by such a Remedy. He cut an Apple hollow, and filled it with Citrin coloured Wax, and then covering it laid it in the Ashes to roast, till the Wax was melted and mixed with the substance of the Apple, and then gave it the Patient fasting to eat for some days together; though he believes it better to roast and melt the said Wax in a Quince, as being more astrictive and glutinous. Quercetus pre∣pares the same Remedy by cutting an Apple hollow, and filling it with white Wax and Gum Arabic an. ʒ j. Sole∣nander stuft a Turtle with an Ounce of white Wax, and boyl'd it in Water, and then gave both the Flesh and the Broth to be eaten with Bread. Others pre∣scribe a Young Pidgeon stuft and boil∣ed after the same manner.

OBSERVATION XXIX. A Dysentery.

MArcellus Bor, a strong Man of about forty Years of Age, was taken with a Dysentery of the same Nature. The ninth of October I Purged him with Rhubarb, then I gave him Juleps, Conditements, Powders cooling, thickning and Astringent Apozems, Sudorifics and other proper Medicaments in convenient manner and time; so that the Patient being reduced to extremity of weakness I began to give him over, not beleiving he could live two days in that condition, but in regard he was very thirsty and called for cold Water, I ordered in a desperate condition that he might have as much cold water as he would drink, to the end that by drinking such a quantity of water, the Morbific cause, if it were possible, might be washed off from the Guts, and the Acrimony of it blunted by the force of the cold. All that Night the Patient drank as much as he would of Well-water; which at first past swiftly through his Guts and with wonderful griping flowed down to the lower parts; afterwards not griping so much, toward Morning the Pains of the Guts were almost ceased, and the Stools less frequent; about noon the Patient falling a sleep, slept quietly for some hours, before the Evening the Flux stopt, and so the Patient refreshed with proper diet, when every one thought he could not have lived, was unexpectedly recovered from a most desperate Disease.

ANNOTATIONS.

COncerning the Drinking of cold Water in a Dysentery, there are hardly any of the Modern Physitians that speak a word. Yet it is a Reme∣dy not improper in a Choleric Dysen∣tery: For it washes the Intestines with its moisture, and frees them from all the filth of sharp Humors, and clean∣ses the inner Ulcers. By its coldness al∣so it abates and dulls the Heat and Acri∣mony of the Choler; and binds up the Exulcerations of the Intestines. Nor was the Drinking of cold Water un∣known to the Ancients in this Disease. Therefore says Aetius, at the beginning, for drink, use Rain-water; but if there be no good Rain-water, take Fountain∣water. Celsus also writes in these words, If after several days tryal, other Reme∣dies will not prevail, and the Disease is come to be of some continuance, the drinking of cold Water binds the Ulcers. In like man∣ner Paulus and others of the Antients make mention of the drinking of cold Water in a terrible Dysentery. Among the Moderns Amatus of Portugal, was one that by his own report, saw a Choleric Dysentery cured by the drink∣ing of a great quantity of cold Wa∣ter.

At other times it also happens, that when the best Medicines avail nothing, a plain ordinary Medicine has cured most desperate Dysenterys. So by the Relation of Captains I have heard, that when Breda was besieged by the Spa∣niards, and that Dysenteries were very rife in the City, nor any Remedy could be invented for this Distemper, when all the known Remedies of the Physiti∣ans fail'd; at length a new invention was found out, by which many were cured. A piece of Silk double dy'd of a deep Crimson colour, comb'd into slender Threads and steep'd in Wine; this taken in Wine with a dram or half a dram of Powder of the same Silk for some times, infinite numbers have been cured by it. I know a certain Dysenteric Person who was given over, who upon eating a vast quantity of Medlars, recovered beyond all expecta∣tion. Another was freed by Man's Bones drank in red Wine, of a Flux which was thought incurable. Oyl of Olives taken alone, or eaten with

a White-bread Toast dipp'd in it, ma∣ny times works wonders. Holler affirms, that he was cured several times with the Juice of Ground-Ivy. Forestus writes, that he never found any thing more prevalent, then the Dung of Dogs that only fed upon Bones given in Cha∣lvbeate Milk. And with this Medicine, Fuchsius says, that he cured above a hundred Dysenterics in one Year. Rive∣rius tells us of a Dysenteric that only used the Decoction of Pimpernel with Water and Butter, and so was cured in three days, Bruyernius writes thus of himself being troubled with a Dysentery. We says he, being terribly afflicted with a Dysentery, lay given over by the Phy∣sitians: for no Remedies were able to as∣swage or Cure the Disease: At length by the Advice of an old Woman, upon eating a great quantity of raw Services, the next day I felt all my Pain almost abated. And by this means my Belly being shut up, and I, as it were recalled from the dead, and restored to my former Health; experienced the saying of Gelsus to be true, that Rash∣ness does more in Diseases than Prudence can do.

OBSERVATION XXX. A Consumption.

LEwis Gulielm, a Sea-man, about thirty four Years of Age and in∣differently robust, had sometimes before lain Sick of a Malig∣nant Fever; of which by the Assistance of God I had cured him. In the Month of October, about a Month after the cure of the said Fever he was taken with an Extraordinary Catarrh, occasioned by a Salt and sharp Defluxion that fell upon his Lungs; a short while after, in Coughing he spit a great quantity of Blood; and not long after this same spitting of Blood he also spit Corruption. More then this, there was mixt with his Spittle, a white Viscous and very Tenacious white slime, which he spit forth every day with a great quantity of Matter and Blood. This Disease was accompanied with a slight Fever but not continuous, The Patient was all over consumed away and so hoarse that he could hardly speak, he also complained of an in∣ward oppressive Pain in his right Lung; and said that he was sufficiently sensible that what he spit forth ascended from that side of his Breast, sometimes he was almost Suffocated with Coughing, by reason of the Tenacious Matter sticking in his Throat; for the cure of this Distemper, I gave him many and various Remedies for a long time to stop the Catarrh, abate and lenify the Cough, promote Expectoration, drying and Vulnerary Medicins, Decoctions of Guaiacum, China and Sassaperilla, Haly's Powder against a Consumption, Looches, and other proper Medicaments but all in vain, at length when these things nothing availed, but that the Ulcer grew worse and worse, and the Patient grew averse from taking any more Physic, his Body being become as lean as a Skeleton, and his strength more and more failed him, we were constrained for some time to give over the use of Physic; In the mean time to repair his strength and support Na∣ture, I ordered him to drink a Draught of Goats Milk, newly Milked from the Goat and Blood-warm; beginning with a less quan∣tity till he came to a Pint, after he had continued to take this Milk for two or three Months, his Cough began to abate and his Lungs to dry up; he spit little and gathered strength every day. Therefore still continuing the use of it, the Ulcer in his Lungs was perfectly consolidated, and he luckily escaped a most dangerous Con∣sumption, neither did he perceive any thing of evil in his Breast for several Years, till twelve Years afterwards, he relapsed into the

same Distemper through a Defluxion of sharp Rhums, and in regard I then lived at Nimeghen, and for that other Physicians did not pre∣scribe him proper Medicins, he died altogether consumed and ema∣ciated.

ANNOTATIONS.

A True Phthisis or Consumption is a very dangerous Disease, which few escape. Sometimes by long use of Me∣dicines the Mischief may be asswaged for a time, and Life may be somewhat prolonged, but the Patients are very rarely perfectly cured; and yet in the foresaid Patient we prevailed so far, that he liv'd Eleven Years after the Cure, in perfect Health. Now that Milk contributes very much to the Cure of a Consumption, is confirm'd by the Testimonies of Galen, Rhasis and seve∣ral other Ancient and Modern Physiti∣ans. Therefore, says Sennertus, speak∣ing of a Consumption, The most proper Medicines here to be made use of, are such as answer all our ends; such as consolidate the Ulcer, restore the Emaciated Body, and mitigate the heat of the Fever. Of which the chiefest is Milk; then which, as Galen affirms, there can be nothing more preva∣lent given to Cure Consumptions. And then again. Among Nourishments, Milk obtains to be preferred above all others. It nourishes the Body extreamly, affords good Matter to the Blood, tempers the Acrimony of vitious Humors, cleanses the Ulcer with its serous Part, with its Cheesy part it contributes Consolidation, and with its Buttery Part, it moistens and resists the dryness of the Body. The same Com∣mendation Riverius gives to Milk in his Treatise of Physical Practice. But in the use of Milk several things are to be considered. 1. With whom it does not agree. 2. When, and how, it is to be given. 3. What quantity. 4. How it is to be corrected. 5. What Milk is convenient.

1. Grato tells for what Persons Milk is not convenient in these words. Let Practitioners in Physic observe three Con∣ditions in the Prescription of Milk; first that there be no weakness, nor pain in the Head. For Hippocrates tells us, it is not good for such. Secondly, That the Fever be not very violent; For it is almost im∣possible, but that Milk must corrupt in the Stomac of a Person troubled with a violent Fever. Thirdly, That the Bowels be not distended with Wind. And of this o∣pinion also is Sennertus.

Secondly, Milk must be taken up∣on an empty and clean Stomac, else it grows sowr and corrupts. Also it is to be taken newly milked and warm, or suckt from the Teat: For if it be cold it gathers filth; if it be boyled, it be∣comes thick, viscous and ungrateful. After the Patient has taken it, let him not sleep, nor take any other meat or drink, (as Wine, Vinegar or Stale-beer) before the Milk be sufficiently corrupted in the Stomac.

Thirdly, Let the quantity be small at first, about four or five Ounces, that the Stomac may accustom it self to it by degrees; then increase it to half a Pint, and so to a Pint. For it is to be always gi∣ven in such a quantity, that the Sto∣mac may be able to bear and concoct it: And therefore you must ascend from the less to the greater quantity; first once, then twice, then three times a day.

Fourthly, To prevent the Milk from curdling or growing sowr in the Belly, a little Sugar may be mixt with it (Ri∣verius praises the mixture of Sugar of Roses) which however is not necessary where there is no fear of Coagulation. O∣ther Physitians mix Honey with it; but we do not approve that Mixture.

Fifthly, In the last place there is some choice to be made of the Milk. That womans Milk, says, Mercurialis, is cer∣tainly the best, there is no body will que∣stion. For this without doubt is most agreeable to the Nature of our Bodies. And Zacutus of Portugal says, that he perfectly cured a Consumptive Person with the use of it. And such another Cure Valleriola relates. So Plater tells us that he had seen several recovered by sucking Womens Milk from the Teats. Among which there was one that not only re∣covered, but gathered so much strength, that because he would not want Milk; for the future, he got his Nurse with Child again. Next to Womans Milk, are Asses, Cows and Goats Milk. As∣ses Milk is thinner, more serous and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to cleanse the Ulcer. Cows Milk l•…•…ss serous, but more nourishing. Goats Milk differs not much from Wo∣mans Milk. It drys and consolidates very much. By the use of this our Patient was cured.

OBSERVATION XXXI. Vomiting.

MOnsieur de Guade a Captain in the King of France's Army, was taken with a Vomiting which lasted for three days together, nor would any Vomitories or any other Remedies given him do him any good; I found that what he Vomited up was a frothy kind of Flegm (which the Patient himself affirmed to be Salt) with which there was a little Choler intermixed; however he did not Vomit up very much, but little often, and with violent straining. We gave him twice or thrice a good draught of the De∣coction of Barley luke-warm, sweeten'd with a little Honey; which when he had Vomited up again, with a great quantity of tough Flegm; At length we gave him Cinnamon water Distilled with Wine ℥ s. with which we mixed three drops of Oyl of Cinnamon; which when he had taken, he found himself better. Half an hour after we gave him the same again. In the mean time we laid the following Cataplasm to the Region of his Stomach.

℞. Flowers of Mint, Baum and red Roses an. half a handful; Mace, ʒ s. Clove-gillow-flowers, Nu•…•…megs, Mastic, Olibanum, Storax, Benjamin, an. ℈ij. make a Powder, to which add sower Leven, ℥iij. Vinegar of Roses, q. s. make all into a sost Past without boyling.

With these few things the vehement Vomiting ceased. The trouble∣som Vomiting, which had lasted a whole day, I stop'd, by giving him twice the following draught.

℞. VVhite-wine warmed before the fire, ʒij. Oyl of Clove-gillow∣flowers one drop, of Cinnamon two drops, mix them for a Draught to be taken very VVarm.

The Region of his Belly was also anointed with Oyl of Nutmegs warm.

ANNOTATIONS.

VOmiting is caus'd by the consent of other Parts, as when the Me∣ninxes of the Brain are wounded, or that the Kidneys are troubled with the Stone or Gravel &c. Which Vomiting ceases, when the Disease is Cured of which it is the Symptom. Or it is excited by the abundance and sharpness of Humors that stimulate the Fibers of the Stomach; which are either Choleric and hot, or Flegmatic Salt and cold, or Melancholic and Salt, or sangui∣neous extravasated and corrupting into the Stomach, or flowing in too great a quantity into it. At the beginning of the Cure, the Vomiting is still more to be provoked, that the Stomach may be well wash'd, and freed from the Cause of the Distemper: for according to Hippocrates a Vomit cures Vomit∣ting. This done the Stomach is to be fortified either with cold or warm Me∣dicaments, as the Cause of the Disease is either Hot or Cold. If the Cause be Hot, Juleps made with juice of Pomegra∣nates, Quinces, Citrons, and Oyl of Vit•…•…iol are proper. The raw juice of Quinces alone, taken one or two spoon∣fuls at a time miraculously stays this Vomiting. Outwardly Fomentations with a Spung dipp•…•…d in Vinegar of Ro∣ses or Elder-Vinegar warmed, or a Quince roasted and applied warm in the form of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or sowr Le∣ven

mixed with Vinegar and juice of Mint, and applied, which very quickly stays Vomiting, and is highly extolled by Villanovanus. Also smelling to Vinegar, Camphire and the like, may be very prevalent.

If the Cause be cold, the Stomach is to be corroborated with hot things, as Wine, Matthiolus's Aqua Vitae, Cin∣namon-water, Oyl of Cinnamon, Nut∣megs, Mace, Clove Gillowflowers, Spi∣rit of Vitriol, and such like Distillations. Among Simples all hot Stomach-Herbs and Spices; also outwardly Applications of Castor, Storax, Labdanum, Benzoine, Galbanum, Tacamahacca, Olibanum, Oyl of Nutmegs and Mace, &c. To which add Quinces, Mas•…•…ic and other Astringents. If these do no good, Fallo∣pius gives you this Experiment. If the Vomiting do not cease, let him bite a piece of a Turnep twice or thrice, and champ it only with his fore-Teeth, and you shall see the Vomiting will absolutely ease, tho his Stomach be very weak; And this Reme∣dy is so extraordinary, that I could never find a better. If these things will not stay the Vomiting, you must come to Narcotics among which in a cold Cause, Roman Philoniam is preferred above all the rest given to the quantity of one dram. But in a hot Cause Pills of Storax or Opiate Laudanum.

OBSERVATION XXXII.

A Country Man of Groesbeck, who because of his extraordinary Stature was called Ironically Little Iohn about forty years Old, and very strong, about two years since being very hasty in Cleavingof Wood, by chance receiv'd a hurt from a Splinter in the fore Tibiaeon Muscle of his right Thigh; the wound not being very broad, but reaching to the Periosteum. This wound though he slighted it at first, it could never afterwards be consolidated by any Remedies, but re∣main'd like an Issue, Nature voiding continually several Excrementi∣ous Humors out of it; which was the reason that the Country Man was troubled with frequent Inflammations and other Mischiefs. At length in September, having by Accident sold a parcel of Wood, to a certain Chyrurgeon of Nimeghem, after he had shew'd him his Thigh, the Chyrurgeon promised to consolidate the little wound, which had now been of two Years standing. The other weary of his Pain and trouble, gladly accepted the Condition, presently the Chy∣rurgeon, without ever Purging his Body, thrust in Tents with I know not what Oyntment into the wound, and laid on Plaisters, the Fatness of which the parts adjoyning to the Periostea brook'd but very scurvily. Hence within three days by reason of the stop∣page of the deprav'd Humors now remaining within, a terrible Inflam∣mation of the whole Thigh ensued, with a vast swelling and intolle∣rable pain, that threatned nothing less than a Gangrene. Then my Advice was ask'd. Presently after I had thrown away all the other applications and the Oxycrate that was bound about his whole Thigh, I ordered the wound to be well washed with Spirit of Wine, and then that they should pour in Balsam of Perue warmed, with some few grains of Camphire mix'd with it, and that his whole Thigh should be wrapt about with Linnen Cloths dipped in Spirit of Wine. I also Purged his Body, and the next day let him Blood, and prescrib'd him a proper Dyet. By these means not without some trouble, the i•…•…flamm'd Swelling being fallen, his Thigh within six days was restor'd to its first Condition. But in regard that afterwards some new beginnings of an Inflammation (with which he was wont to be molested before) be∣gan to appear, I clapt the grey Plaister about his whole Thigh, having mixed with every ounce of the Plaister ℈ij. of Camphire, which I let lye for three weeks together, only putting in a fresh Plaister three

times, which prevented the return of those Inflammations. In the mean time, to Cure the wound also I ordered first an Issue to be made with a potential Cautery on the other side of the same Thigh; from whence before I could well pull off the Blister, Nature by this new Passage evacuated all those evil Excrementitious Humors, which be∣fore were voided through the wound, and the wound closed within a few days with the only application of the Balsam of Peru, camphora∣ted. But I perswaded him to keep the Issue open as long as he liv'd. But his Thigh being thus Cur'd, the Country-man complained to me of another Malady no less ungrateful to his Wife, that his Incli∣nations to conjugal performance were utterly extinguish'd, and his Ve∣nereal Ability quite lost, which Malady he said had befallen him but since the Cure of his Thigh. Presently I suspected that this Languid∣ness proceeded from the use of the Camphire, which I had mixed with the Balsam and other Plaisters; so that I forbore the farther use of it, and gave the Country-man Electuary of Dyasatyrion to take, and pre∣scrib'd him a Nourishing Dyet of Hot Meats, with Spices, Leeks and Onions, which restored him to that Degree that he followed his Wives Agriculture as he was wont to do.

ANNOTATIONS.

LET your Chyrurgeons learn from hence not to trust too much to the Certainty of their own knowledge▪ and make slight of Wounds of this Nature. Much more let them be care∣ful how they go about to close them too soon, least by their ignorance causing Gangrenes and Mortifications, they prove the loss not only of their Pati∣ents Limbs but Lives. First therefore let them carefully consider, whether Nature have not been accustomed to evacuate excrementitious Humors through that Wound, and then let them not begin the Cure, till they have caused a Diversion some other way. Next, let them examin the place affect∣ed very well, whether the Periosteum, or any Nerve, or such like thing that cannot endure fat Plaisters, lye near the Part, and then what Topics are con∣venient. In the next place let them Purge the Body well before they begin the Cure, by that and all other convenient means to prevent the Afflux of corrupt Humors to the Part affected; for the Humors easily descend to the lower Parts.

As to the Cure of the Country mans Frigidity, we have observed strange things in the use of this Camphire. The very smell and fume of it drawn through the Nose, being sufficient to extinguish Venereal Ardor, according to the Verse,

Camphora per nares castrat odore mares. Such is the smell that Camphire yields; That through the Nose the O•…•…our gelds.

But I could hardly have believed, that being laid upon the Thighs it should have had this Operation. But I remember my Brother met with the same Accident in the Cure of Mounsieur Edward, who was troubled with old Ulcers in his Thigh; and who having worn a camphorated Plaister for two Months upon his Thigh, found his Venereal faculty quite extinguished, and his Wife full of sad Complaints; who nevertheless by the use of hot Medi∣caments, a Nourishing hot Dyet, not without his Wives consent, was restored to his pristine Vigor. Now because of these extraordinary Vertues in Cam∣phire, certain Monks in Germany, who were more desirous, then usual, to live a chast Life, hang it up in the Barrel to steep in Al•…•…, which they usually drink, on purpose to suppress their carnal de∣sires, and to avoid the Temptations of Venus. This occasioned a very pret∣ty Story at Nimeghen of a Carpenter, who being hired to mend the Floor in a certain Monastry in the Territory of Cleves, in Lent-time, when the Monks chiefly Camphire their Ale, and being forced to stay there till he had finished, for three or four Months, drank of their Ale all the time. But when he came home to his Wife, never was a Guest more unwelcome in this World. For not having the least inclination to Venery▪

he was forced to leave his Farm untilled; which impediment was afterwards how∣ever removed in a short time by the use of hot things. Nevertheless the Car∣penter hated that Monastry ever after, and never would work there any more. Some attribute this Faculty of extin∣guishing Venus, to the cold and driness of Camphire, but erroneously; For its sa∣vor and its aptness to take fire, declare that it is not cold but manifestly hot; and therefore it must be ascrib'd to some oc∣cult quality, which is said to be in Agnus Castus, Mint and Rue, all which things are hot, and yet we find by Experience that they extinguish Venery. Sennertus attributes this faculty to the dryness of Camphire. But there are many other things which are endued with the same and a greater dryness, which have no such Anti-venereal vertue; For dryness alone will not make a Man Frigid; Scaliger endeavours by the Example of a Dog, to shew that Camphire does not ex∣tinguish Venery, but erroneously; Since the constitution of a Man is different from that of a Dog, and therefore be∣cause the operation is not in both the same, it does not follow that we should make conclusions against known ex∣perience.

OBSERVATION XXXIII. The Head-ach.

THE Wife of Captain Schayck, a strong Woman of forty years of Age, had a violent Head-ach for three Months together. All the Remedies prescrib'd her in the Camp would do her no good. At length in September she came to me. I prescribed her a proper Dyet, and after I had well Purged her Body, I prescribed her this Quilt.

℞. Leaves of Marjoram, Rosemary an. two little handfuls, of Sage, red Roses and Melilot, an. one little handful; Mastic, Olibanum; Nutmegs an. ℈ij. Cloves ℈j. s. beat these into a gross Powder, and sow them up in a red Silken Quilt.

This being laid upon her Head the intollerable pain began to abate, and in a few days vanished. She prized this Quilt so highly, that she caus'd the Apothecary to make her two more; the one for her felf, the other for her Kins-woman, who was troubled as much as she was with the same Distemper.

OBSERVATION XXXIV. Suppression of the Courses.

JOan N. a Young Plethoric Maid, about twenty four years of Age, had her Courses stopt for three Months which was occasioned at first by her excessive Drinking cold raw Whey. Hence Paleness, loss of Stomach, Vomiting, Head-ach, and the like. The first of October, I prescrib'd her a convenient Dyet, and Purged her Body with the Infusion of the Leaves of Senna and Agaric, with which I mixed Hiera Pi•…•…ra. Afterwards I prescrib'd her these things.

℞. Roots of round Birth-wort ʒij. of Dittany, Master-wort, Va∣lerian an. ℥j. s. Leaves of Nep, Penny-royal, Southern-wood, Savine an. half a handful, Worm-wood a little handful, seeds of Gith, Parsley an. ʒij. of Lovage ʒj. s. of Anise, Nasturtium, Bishops-weed, an. Oriental Saffron ℈j. make these into a gross Powder to be put in a Bag, and so to be hung up to sleep in five Pints of White-wine.

℞. Trochischs of Myrrh. ℈j. s. Species of Hiera, Diacurcuma, Ori∣ental Saffron an. ℈j. Cistor, Venetian Bora•…•… an. ℈j. Gum Ammoniac dissolved in Vinegar of Squills ʒ•…•…j. for a mass to be made into Pills about the bigness ofa Pea.

Of these Pills she swallowed five every Morning and Evening, drinking after them ℥iiij or v. of the foresaid Infusion. At length on the fifteenth of October her Courses came down. But two days after her Purgations began, she went too soon into the Cold Air, and the Wind, and stopp'd the Work of Nature so luckily begun. Hence immediately a Suffocation of the Womb ensued, so that she seemed to be almost choaked. I ordered Castor, Assa fetida and green Rue to be tyed in a bag and held to her Nose. And once a day ordered her to drink some of this Decoction.

℞. Roots of Valerian, Master-wort an. ℥ s. Leaves of green Rue M. j. s. of Fever-sew, M. j. down of Nuts, ℥ s. seed of Lovage, ʒ v. of wild Carots, of Bishops-weed an. ʒj. Wine and Common∣water equal parts, boyl them to a Pint.

But in regard the Women that stood by, desired that something might be laid to her Feet to draw the Matrix down, I prescribed this following Paste which was laid to her Feet:

℞. Leaves of Green Butter-burr, M. v. bruise them small, adding to them sowr Leven, ℥iij. Salt ʒj. s. VVine, Decoction of Fever∣few, q. s. make a Paste.

This abated the Uterine suffocation. But in regard it was not altoge∣ther gone off the twentieth of October, she was Purged again with Hiera Picra, the twenty first she took the Decoction again. The next day she took a Sudorifie; after which when she had Sweat well, she was freed from her suffocations.

℞. Crabs Eyes prepared, Salt of Carduus an. ℈j. Treacle of Andro∣mach. ʒj. Castor, Saffron an. g•…•…. iiij. Treacle-water ℥j. s. Oyl of Amber, drops xii. mix them for a draught.

The rest of the Cure, there being no necessity, we deferred till the eight of November, at what time she returned to the use of her Pills, and Infusion prescribed October the second: November the fourteenth, she was let Blood in the Saphaena Vein, of the left Foot: the eighteenth her Courses came down plentifully, and from that time she continued in Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

AT the same time that the Courses flow, it behoves Women to have a great care of themselves, otherwise they are easily stopped again by drink∣ing cold Water, or from cold Air or Wind getting into the parts, or catch∣ing cold in the Feet, or upon frights or mistake in Diet or otherwise, which afterwards prove the causes of grievous Maladies; as it befel this our Patient. Thus Forestus tells a Story of a Maid, that when she had her Courses, washed her Rooms bare-foot, which putting a stop upon her Courses, terrible Symptoms ensued; not could that Flux be brought down again till a•…•…ter some Months. The same Person relates another Story of a Young Girl, that at the time of her Courses leapt into the Water; and of a Country Wench, that at such another season ordered her self to be let Blood.

For the Provocation of the courses, we use many Remedies and as variously composed, as we find the Patients willing to take them, and for that reason, besides the Historical infusion, we gave our Patient Pills, as more grateful, and no less effectual in that disease; which Pills many Physitians prescribe after several forms, Montag∣nana praises these.

℞. Trochischs of Myrrh, ʒj. s. seed of Par∣sley, Cassia-wood, an. ℈ s. Mosch, gr. xv. make them into Pills with the juice of Parsley.

Sennertus commends Trochischs of of Myrrh taken in Pills, and these also;

℞. Trochischs of Myrrh, ℈iiij. Extract of Gentian, Savin, an. ℈j. Castor ℈▪ s. make these into Pills; the dose is ℈ij.

Others believe these more Effectu∣al.

℞. Trochischs of Myrrh, species Hiera Diambre, Venetian, Borax, prepared Steel, Castor, an. ℈ij. Saffrons, ℈j▪ Gum Ammoniac, dissolved in Vinegar, of squills, ʒiij. make small Pills, the dose from ℈j. to two.

Zacutus of Portugal tells of a Noble Matron, that reduced to the last Ex∣tremity when no other Remedies would do her good was cured at length by taking Pills only of Steel, and Powder of Calamint prepared with Syrup of Mug-wort, of which she took one dram in the Morning, and exercised upon it for the space of twenty days.

As for laying Medicins to the Feet, if they have no great force in Uterin Maladies, yet they do no harm, and therefore the designs of Patients may be satisfied in that Particular, especially those things having the approbation of great Physitians, as being useful by their peculiar Qualitys, as Mug-wort, Peny∣royal, Savin, Fever-few, cheifly the Leaves of the Butter-bur, and Burdock, which are thought by some to be of that force, that being laid upon the Head they draw the Matrix upward, being apply'd to the Feet they draw it downward. The ancient also used to tye to the Feet of menstruous Women, and Women newly deliver'd to pro∣voke the courses, Spunges dipt in Vine∣gar and squeez'd again.

OBSERVATION XXXV. An immoderate and violent Purging.

A Kinsman of that Stout and Valiant Gentleman Mr. Lucas, Captain of Horse, about forty years of Age, finding himself not very well, by my Advice steeped all Night in ℥iij or iiij of small Ale, Leaves of Senna ʒij. Rhubarb ʒj. and Anis•…•…d ℈ij. (for he said he was easily moved) and drank the Straining the next Morning. This slight and gentle Purge within the space of eight hours gave him about three∣score Stools, and perhaps there had been an end of his Life, had I not stayed the Flux with the following draught, and provoked him to Sweat.

℞▪ Terra Sigillata ℈j. s. Red Coral prepared, Harts horn burnt an ℈j. Treacle of Andromachus ℈iiij. Nicholas's Rest ℈j. Treacle and Carduus-water an ℥j. mix them for a draught.

I ordered also Napkins scalding hot to be applyed to his Belly one after another, and so the Flux stayed. I perswaded him for the future not to take any Purge by the Advice of any Physitian, though never so gentle, unless upon eminent necessity, but rather to Ioosen his Belly with a Glyster, or some Emollient Broth.

ANNOTATIONS.

THose Physitians are unfortunate, who at the Beginning of their Practise meet with such a Patient as this; for they expose themselves not to a little hazard of their Reputation. For it happens in Physie, that the younger Physitians are called the best Tormen∣tors; and if by their Medicaments they cure any Patient of a dangerous Disease, it is ascribed to chance, but if the Patient miscary under the violence of the Distemper, then they impute it to the Physitian and his Prescriptions. Thus without doubt here had been some mistake laid to my charge, had the Medicament by me prescribed been prepared in an Apothecary's Shop; and People would have said there had been some Poyson mixed with it; but I was freed from that Calumny, in regard that Capt. Lucas's Wife made the In∣fusion and prepared it her self. The same accident befel my Brother also, who having prescribed only a Dram of Rhubarb for a Gentleman to take, and to steep it first at his own House in small Ale, by that single Draught had above forty Stools.

There is a great difference in Men as to Purging; some strong Men, whom hardly any Medicaments will stir, some∣time, the most easie and gentle Phy∣sic casts them into violent Fluxes. Others who are lookt upon to be most easily and soonest moved, many times the strongest Purgations will not stir. Thus I knew a Man of a very short Stature and Lean, whom nothing could Purge but Tobacco steep'd in Ale all Night, and the straining given him next Morning; nor did that give him above three or four Stools without any Altera∣tion; which would have put another Man in danger of his Life. The Wife of Simon VVigger, a weak and lean Woman could hardly be Purged with any Cathartic, only Tobacco moved her; and that without any trouble. Cornelius Steenacker, a School∣master, a very weak Man, was so hard to be Purged, that sometimes he could not be moved with Com∣positions of Antimony and other vehe∣ment Cathartics.

On the other side, there are some that the very looking upon Physic will give them a Stool. Thus I knew a Young Lady, whom the very smell of the Physic Purged as well as if she had swallowed it; for when she took the Physic it seldom worked more. Alex∣ander Benedictus, also and Erastus, Iohanes Postius, and Rondeletius, quote the like Examples of such as have been Purged by the smell of the Physic only.

OBSERVATION XXXVI. A Stinking Breath.

THE Son of Iodocus N. a Nobleman had a very Stinking Breath. His Parents believed that the Original of this Malady proceed∣ed from his Stomach; and for that reason many times gave him Hiera Picra; which doing him no good, they came to me. I presently found that the Cause did not lye in his Stomach, but in his Gums and Teeth: for that the dregs of his Meat detain'd long in the spaces between his Teeth, and there corrupting, begot that Evil Smell. I ordered them there to cleanse his Teeth twice or thrice a day very well with a Tooth-Pick, and then to wash them well with his Water.

℞. Powdered Allum ʒj. common Water ℥ v. Cinnnamon water ʒ s. Oyl of Vitriol ix. drops, mix them well together.

After he had used this for a few days, the ill smell of his Breath was no longer perceived.

ANNOTATIONS.

THere are several Causes of a stinking Breath; sometimes it proceeds from Exulcerations of the Lungs, as in Phthi∣sical People: Sometimes from ill va∣pours corrupting the Lungs, as in the Scurvy; sometimes (according to Bauhi∣nus) from the loosness of the Valve at the beginning of the thick Intestine, through which the continual stench of the Or∣dure passing through the thin Guts and the Stomach, breaths through the Mouth; sometimes it proceeds from the fault of the Teeth only, when they are not well cleansed every day, so that the remnants of chawed Meat corrupt and putrify between the spaces; In which last case, an alumm'd-water is mainly beneficial, for that it resists Putrefaction, and preserves the Teeth from all Cor∣ruption.

OBSERVATION XXXVII. Want of a Stomach.

CHristian ab Ummersom, a Wine Merchant, in March 1636. was troubled with a Nauseousness, and loss of Appetite for many days, so that for want of feeding he was become very weak. Now because the Pestilence was very rife at that time, he thought he had got the Infection: But it was not the Pestilence, but his own Preservative, which he drank every day before Dinner very plentifully, that was the Cause of his Malady, that is to say, Wormwood-wine, wherefore I forbid him to drink that, prescrib'd him a proper Diet, and after I had gently Purg'd his Body, gave him the following Conditement:

℞. Roots of Calamus Aromatic. Nutmegs, Mace, Flowers of Sulphur an. ℈ j s. Cremor. Tartar▪ ʒ j. choice Cinnamon ℈ j. Cloves ℈ s. Powder them very fine. Then add Roots of Can∣did Elecampane ʒ vj. Conserve of Anthos ℥ s. Ginger condited ʒ vj. Oyl of Vitriol drops xv. Syrup of Limons q. s. Make a Conditement.

Of this he Eat a small quantity Morning and Evening, and some∣times before Dinner, absta ining from Wormwood-wine; which after he had taken for some time, his Nauseousness ceased, and his Appetite returned. From that time he had so high an Opinion of this Condite∣ment, that for some Years he caused his Apothecary to make it, as he said, for the preservation of his Appetite and his Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

GAlen ascribes to Wormwood, a heating, cleansing, corroborating, and drying faculty, Whence Pliny writes that it corroborates the Stomach, and that the Savour of it is with great benefit translated into Wine; And as true it is that Wormwood-Wine (so much now in use, but by most detestably abused) is no new thing, but an anti∣ent invention, and very well known among the Physitians of old; which is apparent from hence, that Diascorides sets down various Compositions of it, where he says that it is profitable for the Stomach, moves Urine, accelerates slow Concoction, and cures the Mala∣dies of the Spleen and Kidnies, and Yellow Jaundise, want of Appetite, and Distempers of the Stomach; That it prevails against Inflations and Disten∣sion of the Hypochondrium, expells round Worms, and brings down the Courses. All which Commendations of Wormwood-Wine, Oribasius also confirms;

but though Wormwood and Worm∣wood-Wine have many excellent qualities, yet there are bounds and limits set to all things; which if we exceed, we render good things mischeivous, for that the best of Medicaments and Nourish∣ments, if taken immoderately, prove hurtful, so I have many times observed, that the excessive and inordinate use of Wormwood-Wine causes Inappetency, extraordinary weakness of the Stomach, Liver, and the whole Body, Vertigos in the Head, loss of Memory, Epi∣lepsies, Dropsies, and several other Maladies, to which the daily drinkers of Wormwood-Wine are exposed; many times to the utter ruin of their Healths, after which nothing but Death ensues; as it befel N. Heymerick, who dy'd of a Cachexy and Dropsie; and Anthony N. who dy'd of an Epilepsie, both daily drinkers of Worm-wood-Wine. Therefore Wormwood-Wine is only to be drank upon occasion. I will here add one foolish Story, in the Year▪ 1635. when the French Army quartered in Nimeghen, the French, to preserve themselves from the Pestilence, drank Sack betimes in the Morning. But some of the Noble Men asking what the Dutch-men drank to preserve themselves from the Infection, the Vintner answered, Wormwood-Wine; which being a sort of Wine, which they had never tasted, they called for some; but when they had tasted it they cry'd out, the Devil take the Vine that yeilded such Wine as that; for certainly said they, this is the very Wine which the Iews gave Christ upon the Cross; for the French-men thought the Grape it self had been so bitter, not knowing it to be a mixture.

OBSERVATION XXXVIII. A Wound in the Lungs with a Musket Bullet.

IN the Year 1636. in May, during the Seige of Schenck Sconce, a Trooper of our Army in a Horse-Charge was Wounded with a Musket-shot, in the Right side of the Breast, about the Pap, three Bul∣lets passing through his Breast and his Right Lung, and going out again about the Scapula, at three several Holes in his Back. When he was brought to Quarters at Nimeghen, I went along with the Chyrur∣geon, and by the Condition of the Wounds gave him over for Dead. However that he might not Dye through any negligence of Ours, we bound up his Wounds, losen'd his Belly with a Glyster, and gave him proper Medicines to stop the Blood, flowing out of the Lungs, we also thrust in a Pipe of Lead into the lower Wound, through which the Blood and Matter might be Evacuated; but finding it could not be conveniently done in that Wound, we opened a more conveni∣ent passage in his side by an Intercostal Incision. For Diet, I for∣bid him all sharp, cold, Salt, Acid things, as also meats of hard disgestion and bad nourishment; but prescribed him fresh Meats, broth made of Mutton, Lamb and Chicken, potched Eggs, new Milk and the like. And as to other things that concerned his Diet, we prescribed as we saw occasion; However we continued the use of Vulnerary, Pectoral Apozems, no Fever troubled him, and his Appetite was none of the worst: after three or four weeks together with the Blood, (which in all that time had vented it's self upward through the Leaden Pipe, sometimes frothy, sometimes watery, sometimes curdl'd,) he began to throw up a good quantity of Matter with his Cough; which Spit∣ting of Blood and Matter continued till the sixth Month; so that there appeared no hope of recovery; for the Patient all wasted away, was reduced to utmost leanness and debility; however the poor Man willing to live, besought us not to give him over, so that we could not choose but go forward, though we thought it to no purpose; in the first place, therefore, to repair his Strength, we ordered him to

drink a draught of Goats Milk, warm from the Udder, three times every day, and sometimes we gave him corroborating Amygdalates, and Conditements; after we had made use of the Goats Milk for some∣time, his Spiting of Bloody Matter began to abate, and at length about the beginning of the tenth Month, after his being Wounded, surceased altogether, as did also his Cough; from that time forward, continuing the use of his Milk he gathered strength every day more and more, and got Flesh upon his Back; toward the end of the tenth Month he walked about the Chamber; and at the end of the eleventh Month, being perfectly cured, he walked abroad, nor was there any thing that troubled him after so dangerous a Wound: and I saw him seven Years afterwards riding sound and well among the rest of the Troops.

ANNOTATIONS.

WOunds in the Lungs are very dangerous, and for the most part mortal, according to the opinion of Hippocrates, Galen, Avicen, Celsus, and of all the most Famous Physitians, and Chyrurgeons; for that being a Spungy Bowel it will hardly admit of any cure; but that they are not always mortal ex∣perience teaches us, in regard that very dangerous wounds of the Lungs given by Swords, have been known to have been perfectly cured; and others when part of the Lungs have been cut away. As Rowland of Parma, Theodoric, Gemma, Valleriola, Hildan, and others testifie; but you shall rarely hear of any that have been shot into the Lungs with Musket Bullets, who have escaped and been perfectly cured, because the vio∣lent contusion of the Bullet seems to ad∣mit no cure in that Spungy part, but rather threatens an Inflammation, a Gangrene, or a Mortification, though Peter Futman, describes such a cure done, in an Epistle to Gregory Horstius; and such a Cure it was that so luckily besel this Trooper through the use of Goats Milk, and other Medicaments; and indeed it is to be look'd upon as a very wonderful Cure; for my part I never believed before, that ever three such VVounds in the Lungs with a Musket Shot, could have been cured by any means whatever, and should have hardly believed it, had I not been an Eye witness; we have in∣deed seen VVounds in the Lungs with Swords and Knives cured; but that is not so wounderful, because there is no Contusion there, nor does an Inflamma∣tion so easily happen.

Besides the said Cure this is also to be admired in reference to this Trooper, that being so dangerously wounded he was not infected with the Plague, which was then very rise, as many that were wounded and sick of other Di∣seases were; but he was a strong Man, in the Flower of his Age, and of a good Temper of Body in Captain Conyers a English Gentleman's Troop.

OBSERVATION XXXIX. Burstenness of the Guts.

THE Wife of Iohn Vermulen an Ale Brewer, a Woman about forty Years of Age, had a Burstenness of her Guts, protuberant in her right Groin about the bigness of a Goose Egg, it was accom∣panied with a total obstruction of the Belly, by reason the Guts was fallen through the narrow hole of the Rupture into the Groin. The sixth day after the beginning of the Malady I was sent for; I ordered her to be Glistered twice, and the Gut to be gently put back by a Woman that professed that operation; but all to no purpose, the Guts being so distended with Wind, neither the Gut nor the Wind would go back,

Fomentations nor other proper Topics availed nothing; upon which I told her, there was nothing but Death or a desperate Remedy, that was, to dilate the Peritonaeum by Incision, that the Gut might be put back through a large hole, my advise did not please: And therefore when I saw there was nothing else to be done, but what they were unwilling to permit, I took my leave and left the Patient for gone. After that an ordinary fellow a Stone-cutter that wandered about the Country to get business, commonly called Mr. Gerrard was sent for, who boasted that he would return the Gut in a small time; but after he had several times attempted it in vain, he was dismissed with more shame then reward, four days after his departure, the Groin putrifying and breaking, a great quantity of Excrements came forth to the great ease of the Patient, but her inevitable ruin; for the Gut was broken by the compression of the Mountebank, which was the reason that the part was putrify'd so soon by the falling of the Ex∣crements into the void hollow of the Groin, the last remedy then was to sow up the Gut, and enlarge the Peritonaeum; but in regard I saw no hope of recovery in so weak a Patient, I advised her to let it alone and prepare her self for a more easie Death; but such was her desire of life, that neither the sharpness of the Pain, nor the Apparency of the danger could deter her from the Operation, so that presently sending for four eminent Chyrurgeons she desired them to go to work. The Skin therefore and the adjoyning parts being opened with great torment, we found the thin Gut fallen out, and not only a little part of it broken, but almost torn asunder, quite a cross: for hardly the breadth of a Straw held the two ends of the Gut together; this was a certain Sign of Death; for had the solution been small it might have been cured, but of this there was no hope; in the mean time the Gut was sowed together with a Silk Thread four times twisted, and well wax'd, and put up into the Belly, after a small dilatation of the Peritonaeum; and then Glisters, proper Diet, and all things requisite were prescribed, the Patient complained of a great Pain about her Navel, which we could not asswage by any Fomentations, Bags or other Topics; otherwise she was indifferent well, eat with an Ap∣petite, neither were her Excrements amiss. The fifth day after the operation, the Pain about her Navel encreased; and the next Night as the Patient was talking very heartily to the Company about her, pale Death came and interrupted her Discourse.

ANNOTATIONS.

THIS Rupture was so narrow, that it was a wonder how the Intestine could fall through it, it being almost impossible to put it back as it was of it self and empty, through so narrow a Passage, much less distended with Wind. Such a narrow Rupture I once saw be∣fore in one that was opened. Wherefore they do very ill, who endeavour to force back the Guts through such narrow passages, like your strolling Hang-men of Mountebanks; for that by such a force the Gut may be sooner broken then reduced, both Reason and Ex∣perience teach us. Bursten Guts there∣fore must be gently handled, and first we must endeavour with Cataplasms, Fo∣mentations and other proper Topics, to dispel the Wind, and drive it back, and then without any violence to attempt the reducing of the Gut: which if they will not do; there is no way but dilatation of the Peritonaeum.

OBSERVATION XL. Difficulty of Urine.

GErard Driessem, a Merchant about fifty Years of Age was troubled with a difficulty of Urine; so that his Urine did not only drizzle from him with great difficulty and Pain, but also very often came not forth at all. The cause was a certain viscous and tenacious Slime, which at times falling down, in great quantity to the Bladder, did so besiege the Sphincter, that it stopped both it's own and the passage of the Urine. This Slime descending through the passage of the Yard, and coming forth, was tough, and many times might be drawn out in ropes with the Fingers, many times it stuck so obstinately to the passage, that there was a necessity of loosening it and drawing it forth with a long Silver-Headed-Bodkin; this Malady had been familiar to him for many Years, and sometimes seized him three, four and five times a Year, and between the Intervals, he voided a great quantity of slimy Flegm, many noted Physitians had used several Remedies for the cure of this Malady; but all in vain, which Physitians vary'd in their opinions concerning the cause and generation of that same tough and slimy Flegm; as also about the place from whence it descended so Periodically; In the mean while the Patient could neither be cured by others, nor by my self. The Malady there∣fore increasing he found the greatest benefit and ease by the following Potion, which he took very often, and by means of which his Pains were mitigated and his Urine provoked, and because it rendered the Urinary Passages Slippery, he voided that thick and viscous Flegm, more commodiously, with more ease, and less Pain, and in greater quantity.

℞ Oyl of sweet Almonds, ℥j. s. the best Malmsey-wine, ℥ij. Iuice of Pome-Citron newly pressed ℥ s. mix them for a Potion.

ANNOTATIONS.

SEnnertus, among other Causes of a Dysury, reckons up one not much different from that already rehearsed. Many times, saith he, a white, and as it were, a milkie Matter is copiously void∣ed with the Urine, and causes a heat in making Water, which is sometimes voided in so great a quantity, that where it set∣tles, it fills up half the Chamber-pot; and such a voiding of Water many times con∣tinues very long. Concerning its Gene∣ration, I have known several varieties of Opinions▪ and that some have taken it for a mattery Substance bred in the Kidneys. But if the whole Kidneys should be dis∣solved into Matter, it could not amount to so great a quantity as is sometimes voided every day for several Weeks together. My Opinion is, that this matter proceeds from Crudity and vitious Concoction, first, of the Stomach, then, because the Error of the first Concoction cannot be mended in the second, of the Liver, where the Chylus, and afterwards the Blood is left raw, and uncleansed from the Salt and tartarous Parts, which ought to be sepa∣rated in the first Concoction, which being afterwards attracted by the Kidneys, and transmitted to the Bladder, cause Pain in making water, especially toward the end, while something of the said Matter sticks pertinaciously to the Neck of the Bladder, and the Extremity of the Urinary Pas∣sage.

For the Cure of this Malady there are many things very prevalent, which temper and dulcifie the Acrimony, and render the Urinary Passages slippery,

to afford a freer Passage for the thicker Matter; as Oyl of sweet Almonds newly extracted, which is very useful in this case. Malmsie-wine, the drink∣ing of which alone, as Sennertus writes▪ cured a certain Person that was troubled with a terrible Dysury. The Decocti∣on of Cammomil-flowers in Cows Milk▪ with which, Forestus writes, he knew an old Man cured. Or that Decoction with which we cured a Child, Ob. 7. Also the Decoction of Marsh-mallows, Mallows, Figs, Licorice and the like. Fernelius's Syrup of Althea, more espe∣cially Turpentine mix'd with Sugar, and swallowed in a Bolus, which cuts the thick Humors, attenuates, cleanses, ex∣pels, softens and mollifies the Passa∣ges.

OBSERVATION XLI. Spitting of Blood.

MOnsieur Ioannes, a Priest of Craneburgh, in the Year 1636. Fe∣bruary the 16th. sent me this Letter.

Doctor,

THE Fame of your Knowledg and Experience ha•…•… over-rul'd me, to desire your Advice in my Distemper. For a long time a violent Cough has troubled me, which will hardly permit me to rest; moreover, a∣bout a Month since, this Cough was accompanied with a spitting of frothy Blood, which ever since I have continually spit, sometimes in a less, some∣times greater quantity; which Spitting is very troublesome to me. I have lost my Stomach, so that I can eat nothing, unless it be some small Trifle mix'd with Vinegar, or some other Acid. If you have any proper Remedy, I beg you to impart it to us,

Your most Devoted Ioannes Sacerdos.

The same day I sent him this Answer.

Reverend Sir,

I Received your Letter, to which, according to the shortness of the time, I send you this short Answer; you have been long troubled with a sharp and salt Defluction upon your Lungs, from whence your vehement and con∣tinued Cough has derived it self: At length some Vein of the Lungs being opened by the great quantity of distilling Humors, or broken by the force of the Cough, pours out that Blood which you spit out frothy from your Lungs. This Malady cannot be cured, unless the descent of the Catarhs be prevented, and the Cough allay'd; to which purpose, I have here sent you some Reme∣dies. First, seven Pills to take to morrow Morning, which will gently purge you. Secondly, A Conditement, of which you are to take, after you have purged, the quantity of a Nutmeg, Morning, Noon, and Night, for several days together. Thirdly, A Looch, to lick when your Cough afflicts you. Fourthly, Lozenges to let melt in your Mouth as often as you please, as well in the Day as Night-time. To these four I have added a little Bag, what is in it you must put in a new earthen Pipkin, and heat it over the Fire without any Moisture, then put it into the Bag again, and

lay it to your Head as hot as you can endure it, letting it lye one or two Hours, and this you must do twice or thrice a day. When you take this off, put on a woollen Cap well fum'd with Mastich and Cloves, bind a warm Napkin about it, to the end, that by this means, your Head being over cold and weak, may be again heated, corroborated and dry'd, that so the Catarh be stopped from further descent; which done, the remain∣ing Cure will be easily accomplished. I am well assured, that by reason of the Wars, and your continual quartering of Souldiers, you cannot live with those Conveniences about you as you ought to have, nevertheless you are to take the best care of your Diet you can; therefore you must keep your self in a warm Place, and more especially to preserve your Head from all manner of Cold. As to your Diet, abstain from all manner of salt and smoaked Meats, and all others of hard Digestion and Nutriment, more especially from all Acids, as Vinegar, Iuice of Limons, sowre Apples, sowre Wine, and every thing else that has any Acidity in it; for all Acids are hurtful to the Lungs. Broths made of Mutton, Lamb, Veal, Hens, Cocks, and the Flesh themselves boil▪d with Rosemary, Marjoram, Barley cleansed, and stoned Raisins, potch'd Eggs, and Goats Milk, and in a Word, all sweet things are proper. If the Malady do not yield to these things, send me back word of the State of your Disease,

Yours to Command, I. de Diemerbroeck.

The Medicaments which I prescribed him, were these.

℞. Of the Mass of Pill. Cochiae ℈j. s. Diagredion gr. v. for seven Pills.

℞. Red Coral prepared, Blood-stone, Trochischs of seal'd Earth, an. ℈ij. Flowers of Sulphur ʒj. Olibanum, Tragacanth, Spodi∣um, Harts-horn burnt •…•…n. ℈j. Conserve of Red Roses ℥ij. Codig∣niach ℥j. s. Nicholas's Rest ʒj. s. Syrup of Poppy, q. s. Mix them for a Conditement.

℞. Syrup of Iujubes, of Colts foot, of Licorice an. ℥j. of Poppy, Looch, Sarum an. ℥j. s. Mix them for a Looch.

℞. Heads of white Poppy, n^• v. Cut them small, and boil them half an hour in common Water q. s. Strain them very hard, with the Straining boil White-sugar ℥iiij. to the Consistence of a Lozenge, adding at the end Powder of the Root of Althea, ℈j. s. of Licorice slic'd ʒj. Flowers of Sulphur ℈ij. Red Coral prepared, true Bolearmoniac an. ℈j. Make Tablets according to Art.

℞. Herbs, Marjoram m. j. Rosemary, Bitony, Flowers of red Ro∣ses, Melilot an. m. s. Cloves ʒj. Nutmegs, Cummin-seed an ʒjj. Beat them into a gross Powder, and then add Millet-seed m. iiij. Salt m. iij. Mix them together, and put them into a large lin∣nen Bag.

When he had used these Remedies for eight days, he wrote me word, that his Coughing and Spitting of Blood were very much aba∣ted, but not quite cured: Therefore to perfect the Cure, I wrote

him word to continue his Pills, Looch and Conditement, and withal sent him the following Prescription.

℞ Roots of the greater Cumfrey, Snake-weed, Tormentil, Fennel, an. ℥s Licorice slic'd ʒvj. Herbs, Hyssop, Colts-foot, Scabious, Herb Fluellin, Plantain, Betony, Rosemary an. m. j Sage, Flow∣ers of red Roses an. m. j. Head of white Poppies cut small n^o iiij. Raisins unstoned ʒiiij. Dates n^o ix. Decoction of Barley q. s. Boil to an Apozeme of lb iij.

First let him purge with his Pills, and make use of Looch, let him take his Conditement Morning and Evening, and drink a Draught of his Apozeme after it, about the end of March, he wrote me word that he was quite cured of his Cough and Spitting of Blood, that he slept very well, and could eat, and gave me many Thanks for my Ad∣vice.

ANNOTATIONS.

ALL spitting of Blood out of the Veins of the Lungs threatens great Danger, and therefore ought to be cur∣ed with great speed and prudence. As Benedict Faventius observes, If a Vein, says he, be broken with Coughing, and Blood spit out of the Lungs, it will never be consolidated but with great difficulty and care of the Physitian. This Cure is more easily, or with more difficulty accom∣plished, according to the variety of Causes, the Vehemency and Diuturnity of the Distemper, and the natural Strength of the Lungs affected. But a∣mong other Causes, this is one; when Na∣ture endeavours to expel by the violent force of the Cough, the Humors stop∣ing the spiritual Passages; for by that extraordinary Violence there is a force put upon the Organs of Respiration, so that they become very much extended with their Vessels, and sometimes bro∣ken, and then the Blood comes away with the Spittle. Such was the Blood∣spitting that troubled our Patient, which was very dangerous, but less then if it had been occasioned by some ill Dispo∣sition of the Lungs, or Corrosion of the Vessels, or any such like Cause. How∣ever, had the Distemper persisted any longer, the Vessels, without doubt, would have been corroded by the Acri∣mony of the distilling Humors, and the Strength of the Bowel would have fail'd, and then Suppuration, Con∣sumption, Rottenness, a Fever, and se∣veral other Maladies of difficult Cure, and for the most part mortal, would have ensued. But because it was not come to that, and because the Disease had been of no long standing, and the Patient was of sufficient strength, the Cure was fortunately performed, and much sooner than was expected.

OBSERVATION. XLII. Suppression of the Secondines and Courses.

THE Wife of Peter Vleys-houwer, the sixth of March miscarried; presently after her Secondines, Courses, Urine and Evacuations of Excrement stopped, which exposed her to imminent danger; especially when the Medicaments given her by the Midwife availed no∣thing. The ninth of March, which was the fourth day after she had miscarried, I was sent for, and presently prescribed her these things.

℞. Roots of round Birthwort, Dittany, Valerian, Briony, Ma∣sterwort, Fennel, an. ʒiij. Herbs, Mugwort, Peniroyal, Tansie, Feverfew, Savin, an. m. j. Seed of Parsley, Lovage, wild Car∣rots ʒij. red Vetches ℥j. s. White-wine q. s. Boil them for an A∣pozeme of lb j. s.

℞. Of this Decoction ℥v. Leaves of Senna cleansed ʒiij. Best Rhu∣barb ʒj. s. Aniseseed ʒj. Choice Cinamon ℈j. Make an Infusion for four hours, then strain them very hard, and add to the Straining Oyl of Amber ix. Drops for a Draught.

After she had took this she purged gently, and her Urine and Cour∣ses came down in great Plenty, and her Secondines came forth by Piace▪meals; and thus by this one Medicament she escaped a very great danger.

OBSERVATION XLIII. A Wound in the Brain with a Pistol-shot.

MR. Vane, an English man, and Ensign of a Company, a strong young man, about twenty five years of Age, at the Siege of Schenk Sconce, in the Year 1636. was wounded in the •…•…ead with a Pistol Shot, a little Bullet entring through the inner Corner of his Right-Eye, without hurting the Eye, and passing through the Sub∣stance of the Brain in a streight Line, to the upper Bottom of the fore-part of the Head, on that Side, in that Place stopp'd and stuck under the Bone. The Man, so soon as he was wounded, fell down in a deep Sleep, void of Sense and Motion, and so was carried to Nimeg∣hen for dead. No Man thought it possible for such a Wound to be cur∣ed, in regard the Brain was so much prejudiced. However the Chy∣rurgeon prob'd to the place where the Bullet was lodg'd, and felt it about the upper part of the Lambdoidal Bone. Then he took a longer slender Instrument, like a Mold wherein they cast Bullets, and thrust∣ing it into the Wound, got hold of the Bullet, but as he was about to draw it out, I know not by what Misfortune, the end of the In∣strument that clasp'd the Bullet broke, and that part of it which had taken hold of the Bullet, remain'd, together with the Bullet, in the Brain; yet not so, but that the end of it might be seen about the en∣trance of the Wound. However, for want of proper Instruments, we were forc'd to leave it in the Brain till the Evening, at what time, with proper Instruments, both the broken Instrument and the Bullet within it, were both drawn forth, and as much of the Substance of the Brain came out along with it as the quantity of a Nutmeg. Also some little bony Fragments sticking to the Orifice of the Wound, were taken out. The Chyrurgeon applied to the Wound a Magisterial Bal∣sam, and Cephalic Fomentations were clap'd round about the whole Head, to strengthen the Brain, and his Belly moved with a Glister. The next day some ounces of Blood were taken out of his Right-Arm. The fourth day after the Wound received, upon which we presently ordered him some Broth for Nourishment. About the fourteenth day, that deep Sleep abated, and after that he only slept naturally. He was troubled with no Fever, nor did he loose his Appetite. For some Weeks he took cephalic Decoctions and Conditements; but as for the Wound, nothing was put into it but the said Balsam. Afterwards, in∣stead of a Cephalic Fomentation, we took a dry Cephalic Cap, made of certain Cephalic and other Herbs, and clapt it about his whole Head. And thus this Person, so desperately wounded as he was, after three Months, being perfectly cured, walk'd abroad again, and at the fourth Months end, returned again to the Camp. Six years after this

Cure, coming to Nimeghen, he gave me a Visit, affirming, that he re∣tain'd no farther Inconvenience of his Wound, only that upon some suddain and tempestuous Change of Weather, his Head would ake a little; or if he drank Wine too freely, he should presently be intoxi∣cated, and then he was almost mad; at other times he did whatever he had to do, as if he had never been wounded.

ANNOTATIONS.

H•…•…ppocrates affirms all Wounds of the Head to be mortal. The Bladder, says he, being broken, or the Brain, or the Heart, or the Midriff, or any of the small Guts, or the Stomach, or the Li∣ver, it is mortal. In which place, we are to understand by Mortal, not of ne∣cessity Mortal, but very dangerous, as Galen observes in his Comment upon that Aphorism. For Wounds of the Brain, that do not penetrate the Ven∣tricles, do not of necessity cause Death; because we find they are many times heal'd, as Massa, Carpus, Iacoti∣us, and many others testifie. And Avi∣cen thus writes, concerning Arrows to be drawn out of the Wounds of those Parts. If an Arrow, says he, be fixed in any principal Member, as the Brain, Heart, Lungs, Belly, small Guts, Liver, Matrix or Bladder, and there appear Signs of Death, then we must abstain from drawing out the Arrow, because it will occasion us to be look'd upon as Fools, when we know we can do the Patient no good: But if no ill Sign appear, then we go to work; for many times in such cases, se∣veral escape to a wonder.

We therefore, following this Do∣ctrine of Avicen, though the case seem∣ed desperate, yet because all our Hope lay in drawing out the Bullet, drew it out from this Patient, whom no ratio∣nal Physitian would have judged could have ever escaped; especially since the Wound was made with so much vio∣lence of the Pistol, accompanied with a Perforation of the Meninxes, and some loss of the Substance of the Brain. Cer∣tainly, if ever there were a miraculous Cure, this was one. I could hardly give credit before to the Testimonies of Authors in this matter; and had I not seen such Wounds as these, with loss of the Brain, twice healed, I should hard∣ly yet have believ'd it.

OBSERVATION XLIV. An Asthma.

ANdrew à Sal ingen, in the Month of May, was troubled with a vehement Asthma, which afflicted him so terribly, that he could hardly speak; he had no Cough, and spit but very little or nothing, and besides, he had quite lost his Stomach. He had taken several Re∣medies, by the Advice of others, for above half a year together. And for my Part, because the Patient was threescore years of age; I did not believe my self, that ever the Distemper could be eradicated; however, I told him it might be much abated and asswaged, and therefore bid him pluck up a good Heart, and take of the following Electuary Morning and Evening the quantity of a Nutmeg, and to abstain from all acid and cold, flatulent, viscous and smoak'd Meats, and in a word, from all Meats of hard Concoction and bad Nutri∣ment.

℞. Choice Myrrh, lucid Aloes, Flower of Sulphur, Elecampane, Licorice slic'd an. ℈•…•…j. Saffron, Benzoin an. ℈j. Make these in▪ to a very fine Powder, then add the best Honey ʒ xi•…•…. Oyl of Anise, Drops ix. Mix these for an Electuary.

By taking this, his Belly was gently loosned, and his Apetite restored; the Asthma ceased to a Miracle; insomuch that within a few days he was quite freed from it, and when the Malady afterwards return'd, he presently cured himself by taking the same Electuary.

ANNOTATIONS.

AN Asthma is of those Diseases, which are not curable in old People, but accompany them generally to their Graves, because it is caused ei∣ther by crude and cold Defluxions powring down from the Brain upon the Lungs, or by more crude and thicker Humors flowing from the Liver into the Lungs, through the Arterious Vein. Which crude, cold and flegmatic Hu∣mors in old men, do not admit of Con∣coction, by reason of the Debility of the Concoctive Faculty; which in them is feeble, because of their cold Constitution, Age, and abundance of cold Superfluities. And therefore when they are trou∣bled with this Malady, we are only to try how to abate it. In which case, the use of our Electuary prov'd very ad∣vantageous to our Patient.

Mercurialis, for the Cure of an Asth∣ma, highly commends a Cautery in the Arm, and long kept open. For, saith he, we find it by daily Experience, that they who are vexed with difficulty of breathing, are mainly succoured by the help of these Remedies. As for Specific Remedies proper for an Asthma, there are several to be found in various Au∣thors.

Avicen prescribes to Asthmatics, that are grievously troubled with Difficulty of breathing, Cumin-seed mix'd with Vi∣negar, or white Mustard-seed mingled with equal proportion of Honey, to the Consistence of an Electuary. Hippocrates, to prevent Suffocation, prescribes Quick∣silver, the quantity of a Bean, with Ethio∣pic, Cumin-seed; as also Sulphur beaten and dissolved with Salt of Niter. In like manner, among the Neoterics, Lelius à Fonte, Victor Favent, Salo∣mon Albert, Quercetan, Beguin and o∣thers, prescribe Sulphur as the chiefest Remedy in the Cure of an Asthma. Some, in case of a violent Asthma, pre∣scribe Sulphur with Venice Turpentine. Miraldus writes, that viscous Humors may be easily expectorated by swallow∣ing Nettle seed powdered ℈j. with any Pectoral Syrup. Leonellus commends Ammoniac, with a little Oxymel of Squills. Which Ammoniac is com∣mended by several Physicians, but e∣specially by Mercurialis, in these words: But in regard Asthmatics are wont to have certain Fits, with which they are more vehemently troubled, I find by Experience, that Oxymel ℥ij mix'd in a Mortar with ℥s. of Salt Ammoniac is a thing which gives great ease, a Spoon∣ful being taken at a time. Paulus Ae∣gineta commends Hog-lice patch'd in an earthen Pipkin, and then boil'd with Honey; but I use them without parch∣ing. The same Commendation Valeri∣us also gives to Hog-lice, in his Notes up∣on Holler. Your Hog-lice, saith he, that lye under Water-tubs, ty'd up in a Linnen Rag, and steep'd in White-wine, and the Straining given to drink, rid the Lungs of tough Humors in a short time to a Wonder. Soon after, says he, to asswage a violent Asthma, one Tablet of Diatragacanth sprinkled with some Drops of Oyl of Sage, Anise, or Rose∣mary, Chymically extracted, conduces very much, and gives present ease. Cardan writes, that Saffron is the Soul of the Lungs, and affirms that he has cured many Asthmatics with it. I have known my self the Decoction of red Colewarts given for several days with a little Sugar, give great ease. Au∣genius highly applauds Syrip of Tobac∣co; of which also Monardes, Quercetan and others make mention; by the use of which, Zacutus of Portugal writes, that he has cured several. Some there are who give Turpentine ʒij. or iij. with Oyl of sweet Almonds, by that means purging both the Breast and the Belly at the same time. For this Distemper are no less approved Elecampane-wine, Balsam of Sulphur, Looch of Squills, Foxes Lungs, and the like.

OBSERVATION XLV. Pain in the Kidneys.

NIcholas of Rostock, in Iune, was cruelly afflicted with sharp Ne∣phritic Pains, which lasted for eight days, without intermission. At length, by the Advice of an old Woman, he swallowed twice or thrice a day, the quantity of an Acorn of new Butter, without any Salt in it; which when he had continued for three days together, at length, without any Pain, he voided a Stone, about the bigness, and very like an Almond, and several others lesser, with much Gravel, and by that means was freed from his Distemper. Afterwards, the same Pain returning, taking the same Remedy, he voided more Stones.

ANNOTATIONS.

VVHen the Stone is already fallen out of the Bladder, it is soon∣est and best expelled by such Remedies as smoothen the Urinary Vessels, and render the Passages slippery. Such is new churm'd Butter, by the use of which, Iohn de Scherpenhuysen many times lya∣ble to Nephritic Pains, frequently void∣ed little Stones out of his Yard. Such is also Oyl of sweet Almonds, either alone, or with Malmsey-wine. VVe have also seen some, who have frequent∣ly voided Stones by the much eating of Figs. The Decoction also of Forestus, by us mentioned Ob. 20. and 24. is also very useful in this case.

OBSERVATION XLVI. A Wound in the Leg.

THE Wife of Christian ab Ummersum, having slightly bruised her Leg, and laying on a Plaister of her own Head, this slight Con∣tusion grew to an Ulcer, for the Cure of which, when she sent for a Chyrurgeon, after many Oyntments, Plaisters and other Topics, for three or four Weeks applied, he could do no good. But at length she was cured by an old Woman, who advised her to Powder-Chalk, and mix it with old Butter roasted, by which her Ulcer was cured in a short time.

OBSERVATION XLVII. A Pain from an odd and unexpected kind of Wound. The Author would have it from Witchcraft.

JOhn Peter Nirot, a Child, of about five years of age, for almost a whole Year together, had complained of Pain in the lower Part of his Belly, and was often so miserably griped, that his Parents knew not what in the World to do. He had no Fever, nor was his Sto∣mach very bad, and he went well enough to stool; yet his Belly was swell'd, and his whole Body all worn to Skin and Bones; he would rub his Nose very much, but he slept very little, only slumber'd, and that with troublesome and frequent Wakings. In Iune, my Advice was sent for, I believing the Child was troubled with Worms in his

Guts, gave him several Medicaments to expel the Worms, the Crudi∣ties and Impurities of the lower Region; but all to no purpose, the Torments of his Belly more and more increasing, so that by reason of his continual crying, I was afraid the Child would become bursten. At length, after so many Medicines try'd in vain, I felt with my hand a Hardness in the lower part of his Belly, in the middle, between the Navel and the Region of the Hair, somewhat toward the Left-side. This Hardness was also oblong, yet caused no Swelling, so that I could not conjecture what it should be. Wherefore I sent the Mother with the Child to a Chyrurgeon, to know his Judgment concerning the Hardness. He for some time felt the Place with his Hands, yet not able to make any right Conjecture. But perceiving the Child to be more in Pain by his handling him, the better to find out the Cause of the Malady, he squeez'd the Part affected on both sides with his Hands somewhat hard, at what time, he presently felt on the one side something hard and sharp, that piers'd the Skin and prick'd his Fin∣gers. Therefore believing it to be some little Bone, or some such thing, he took hold of it with a Pair of Pincers, and drew forth, not a little Bone, but, to the admiration of all that stood by, a large Shoo-makers Awl; after which, the Child grew very well. This Awl was about half the length of a man's middle Finger, such as the Shoo∣makers use when they sow on their Polony Heels, without any Handle, only to the End next the Handle, there stuck a piece of Shoo-makers Wax'd-Thread, with which it had been formerly fastned to the Handle.

ANNOTATIONS.

THere was no Person that could judg this to be a preternatural Malady. For it is not probable the Child could swallow so long and large an Awl, without any harm, and without any bodies knowing of it. But grant it had been so, there is no reason can be given, how the Awl should be carried through the Membranes of the Stomach or Intestines, the Peritonaeum and Muscles of the Abdomen, and so athwart to the Skin, the Bowels untouched, and without any Exulceration; insomuch that the Patient was cured, as it were, in a Moment, after the drawing out the Awl, and was living seven years after to our knowledg. And therefore it is very probable that it was put into the Body of the Boy by diabolical Incar∣tation; like to that same Story which Longius tells of a Country Man, who had an Iron Nail which appeared un∣der his Skin without any Prejudice, which was cut out by the Chyrurgeon; and when he was dead, four Knives, two iron Files, Hair and other things were found. And several other remarkable Stories of the same nature are related by others, as Forestus, Codronchius, Gem∣ma, Zacutus, &c.

'Tis true, it has been a Controversie for several Ages among Divines, Lawy∣ers, Physicians and Philosopers, whe∣ther there be any Inchanters or Witches, and whether they have so much Power by their Charms, to hurt the Crea∣tures, to cause Sickness and Death, clear up Rain, and cause Thunder, &c. For a brief Solution of this Question, in short, we must conclude, that there are Inchanters, who by the Permission of God, can do very strange things; seeing that the Scripture testifies, that Pharaoh's Magicians in Moses's time were such a sort of Inchanters, who turned Rods into Serpents, Rivers into Blood, &c. Thus St. Luke makes men∣tion of Simon Magus, who made the People mad with his Magic Arts. Whence we must of necessity conclude, that there are Witches and Sorcerers, who by their Demoniac Arts, cannot only work various Miracles, but also blast Herbs and Fruits, and do mischief to Beasts and Men; which Mischiefs however they cannot do when they please, nor to all that they please, but only when, and in what manner God pleases, and to such whose Faith God has a Will to try, as he permitted the Devil to exercise his Sorceries upon

Iob. Or to such, whose Incredulity or Impiety he has a mind to punish, not only in the proper Person of the Trans∣gressor, but also by giving the Witches Power over their innocent Children, their Flocks, Herds, Fruit, &c. And thus, by the Incantation of Witches, many times Infanrs, Oxen, Sheep, Hor∣ses, Fruit, &c. are mischiefed, as we saw at a certain Country-mans at Mont∣fort. Yet, though there are such In∣chanters and Witches, their Power of doing Harm is not at their own, but at the disposal of God. Nor can Satan inflict Diseases, but by the Permission of God, and then his Witches are but his Instruments, not the primary Cause.

OBSERVATION XLVIII. Of the Gout in the Knee.

A Little Son of Thomas Peters, an English Merchant, about six years of age, being troubled with the Gout in his Knee for three or four Weeks, at length his Pain was so great that he could not go. There was no Tumor, no Inflammation, nor Dislocation, and there∣fore, after I had purged his Body, I only laid on a Cere-cloth of Oxi∣croceum, which lay on for three days without any benefit. Afterwards his Knee swell'd very much, and the Pain likewise encreased; wherefore, leaving off the Cere-cloth, the following Cataplasme was laid on for four or five days together, shifting it twice a day. The Use of which, cleared the Child both of his Swelling and Pain, nor did they afterwards return.

℞. New Goats-dung lb. j. Boil it in strong French Wine q. s. to the consistence of a Cataplasm; and when you take it off from the Fire, add Spirt of Wine ℥iij. Mix them for a soft Cata∣plasm.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis Cataplasm has a very great discussing and corroborating Fa∣culty, which is look'd upon by some as a great Secret in these sorts of Tumors of the Joynts; the signal effects whereof, we have try'd in many other cases of the same nature. This Dung boiled in Oximel Aetius highly commends, as a Medicament which he has often succes∣fully used in long continued Tumors of the Knee.

OBSERVATION XLIX. A Swelling in the Fore-head, by reason of a Fall.

A Young Son of Dimmer de Raet, Consellor to the Court of Box∣mer, had fallen down a Pair of Stairs upon his Fore-head, whence ensued a Swelling in his Fore-head to the bigness of a Hens Egg. To this I only applied green Grass fresh gathered and bruised in a Mortar, cold as it was; which done, the Swelling vanished the next day to that degree, that there was not the least sign of it re∣maining.

ANNOTATIONS.

THese Swellings, though some make nothing of them, yet if they be neglected at the beginning, they are ma∣ny times the causes of great Mischiefs, which we saw happen'd to the Child of Monsieur Armstrong, who having such a Tumor in his Fore-head, when it could not be dissipated by no Topics, the Place affected, continued swell'd for some Weeks after, till at length the Hu∣mor therein beginning to putrifie, and from thence bad Simptoms appearing, there was a Necessity not only of a Tor∣menting Incision, to open the Tumor and let out the putrid Humor, but also of scraping off the putrid Humor, cor∣rupted with the same Putrefaction from the Bone that lay underneath, by which means, that imminent danger was to be removed from the Patient, to which also the Wound was consolidated with∣out any conspicuous Scar. Wherefore it is far better to dissipate the Humors at the beginning, at what time it may be easily done, and which we luckily did with Grass only bruis'd. Many times we have likewise applied brown Paper moistned in Spirit of Wine, with as good success, or Oyl of Wax or Anise, anointed up∣on the Place.

OBSERVATION L. The Chollic Passion.

MOnsieur Starkenburgh, Collonel of the Regiment of Groening, about forty years of age, of a cold and flegmatic Constituti∣on, in September was taken with a violent Cholic Passion. His Belly was very much swell'd with Wind, which he could neither void up∣ward nor downward, and terrible Gripings seemed to dilacerate the Guts. He complained also of an extraordinary Anxiety of his Heart, with which he was so much oppressed, that he was all over of a cold Sweat; but because he seemed to be almost ready to burst with Wind, and had need of present Relief, I prescribed the following Glister, which was given him about eleven a Clock at night.

℞. Emollient Decoction lbj. Elect. Diaphoenicon, Hiera Picra ℥j. s. Oyl of Dill and Camomil, an. ℥j. Common Salt ʒj. Mix them for a Glister.

This Glister he voided within a quarter of an hour, without any Ease, neither Wind nor Excrement following; for which reason, soon after we gave him another of the same, which did him as little good. At the same time the Patient growing Stomach-sick, threw up some Choler with tough Flegm. Therefore about six a Clock in the Morn∣ing, I prescribed him another Glister after this manner.

℞. Emollient Herbs, lesser Centaury, Wormwood, Rue, Flowers of Cammomil, Dill, an. m. s. Seeds of Anise and Lovage an. ʒij. Cummin, Laurel-Berries, an. ʒj. s. Boil them in common Wa∣ter q. s. to lbj. In the Straining, gently boil Flowers of Senna, ℥j. Then press them, and add Elect. Hiera Picra, Diacatho∣licon, an. ℥j. s. Oyl of Cammomil and Dill, an. ℥j. Common Salt ʒij. For a Glyster.

After he had taken this, there came away with it much Excrement, and much Wind. Afterwards, being sick at his Stomach, he threw up a great quantity of Choler and tough Flegm, which gave him much Ease. Twice the same day he took Chicken Broth boil'd with

Barley cleansed, Citron and Orange Peels, and for his Drink, some∣times he drank Ptisan, sometimes small Ale. In the Evening this Bo∣lus was given him, which caused him to sleep a little the Night follow∣ing, and gave him very great Ease, and the next day he had three Stools.

℞. Of our Anticholic Electuary ʒj. Transparent Aloes ℈j. Mix them for a Bolus.

This Bolus, afterwards he took thrice a day, every other day. The seventh of October, not having gone to stool in three days, upon forbearing his Bolus, his Cholic Pains increased again. But then, be∣cause the Gentleman would not admit of any more Glisters, I gave him a gentle purging Draught, which caused him to void much Choler and Flegm upward and downward. The twelfth of October, his Belly be∣ing bound, he took a Glister. The thirteenth, Dr. Harscamp, an e∣minent Physitian, was called to Counsel, and then, by common Con∣sent, to stop his Vomiting, we gave him at two times, one Spoonful of Cinnamon-water, with two Drops of Oyl of Cinnamon, and or∣dered the following Ligament to be applied to the Region of his Sto∣mach.

℞. Oyl of Nut-megs squeez'd, of Laurel, an. ʒj. Of Dill, of di∣stilled Fennel, an. ℈j. Of Anise Drops iij. Mix them for a Li∣gament.

In the Evening he took the forementioned Bolus. The sixteenth of October, he took another Glister, which gave him three Stools with great ease. The twentieth, to loosen his Belly, we prescribed him Pills made of transparent Aloes only, of which, he swallowed two or three every other day, or every other three days; which Pills wrought so well, that afterwards we had no need of any other Pur∣ges. The twenty eighth, I gave him ℥j. s. of our Anticholic Electuary, wherein I had mingled ʒj. s. of transparent Aloes, of which he took Morning and Evening ʒs. or ℈ij. to his great Advantage. For it strengthned his Stomach, dispell'd the Wind, and cleansed away the Flegm and Choler. This Electuary he afterwards used as a preserva∣tive, taking his Aloes-Pills in the intervening days. And by this means he recovered his former Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE Cause of this Cholic Passion was a great quantity of salt Flegm sticking to the Guts, and an over∣abounding quantity of sharp excremen∣titious Choler; for the Choler being voided out of its Bladder into the Guts, and being there mixed with that Flegm, and causing that salt and tough Flegm to boil, (like quick Lime thrown upon Water, or Oyl of Vitriol powred upon powdered Crabs Eyes) begat an extra∣ordinary Flatulency, violent Pains, and extream Anxieties. That this was the true Cause, appeared by his vomiting, which brought up yellow and greenish Choler, with tough and frothy Flegm, as I have often observed in my Practice. Wherefore in this case, there is need of a hotter Medicament, in regard of the cold Flegm and the Wind; at the same time, to cleanse away the Choler, and asswage the Gripes. To which three Purposes, the foresaid Electuary, mixed with Aloes, was of great use; other ge∣neral and necessary Medicaments being given as occasion served.

To asswage the Pains of the Cholic, many notable Remedies are prescribed by various Authors, which are to be va∣ried according to the variety of the

Causes. In a cold Cause I make use of my own Anticholic Electuary with good success, the Composition of which, is this.

℞. Specier. Diagalangae, Rosatum A∣romaticum an. ʒiij. s. Diambra ʒiij. Mass of Storax Pills ʒiij. s. Treacle of Andromachus ℥iij. s. Mithridate of Damoc. ℥iiij. ʒv. Oyl of Anise ʒij. ℈ij. of Cloves ʒj. of Nutmegs distill'd ʒj. s. Syrup of Stocchas q. s. For an Electuary.

This Electuary sometimes I use alone, sometimes with every ounce I mix ʒj. or ij. of Aloes, and so given, have found it much more prevalent against the Chollic. Holler boils in odoriferous Wine, one small Handful of common Wormwood with ʒij. of Cummin-seed. He also commends Orange-peels boil'd in Wine, and the Decoction drank fasting in a Morning. We have also given the same Peel powder'd and mix'd with Wine, and found it no less benefi∣cial. Wormwood-wine is commended by Aetius, because it corroborates the Belly, purges away the Choler, and prevents the Growth of it, and discusses and expels the Wind. Others boil ʒj. of Cummin-seed in VVormwood-wine, and give the Straining. Rases approves Confection of Laurel Berries. Avicen prescribes an effectual Medicament of equal Parts of Castor, Pepper and A∣niseseed. Against the same Distemper are no less prevalent the Powder of Ze∣doary Root, from ℈j. to ʒj. Also the distilled Oyls of Anise, Fennel, Caroes, Dill and Zedoary given in hot Wine. The Decoction of Flowers of Cammo∣mil, with a little Cummin-seed added, given in Ale or small White-wine ℥iiij. or v. at a time, is a most present Re∣medy to asswage the Pains and expel the Wind. Others applaud this Car∣minative Water of Schroderus.

℞. Flowers of Roman Cammomil m. xxx. •…•…ut, bruise and infuse them twenty four hours in Cammomil-water lb x. (others say xv.) stout Wine lb vj. squeeze these very strongly, and in the straining, infuse for twenty four hours more, Flow∣ers of common Cammomil m. xxiiij. Press them and strain them. In the Straining steep Flowers of Cammomil m. xij The yellow of Orange Peels ℥j. s. Pontic Worm∣wood m. ij. Lesser Centaury, Peny∣royal, Basil an. m. ij. s. Seed of Dill ℥iij. Of Anise and Fennel an. ℥j. s. of Caroways, Cummin, Carduus Bene∣dictus, Maries Carduus an. ℥j. s. Iu∣niper berries ℥j. Laurel-berries ℥s. Let them stand twenty four hours, then di∣stil them with a Gentle Fire, in Baln•…•…o Mariae.

Rodoric Fonseca recommends, as a singular Remedy, and a very great se∣cret, arising from the Propriety of the whole Substance, the Testicles of Hor∣ses, which he says he has several times try'd in the Cure of cholical Distempers. These Testicles he washes in generous Wine, and cuts into thin slices and then dries them in an Oven with a gentle Heat, and keeps them for his Use upon occasion, after general Remedies, he gives of these powdered ʒj. in Wine, three hours before any other Meat. Zacutus prefers the Pizzle of a Bull, as having a Wonderful specific Vertue, one Scru∣ple of the Powder being taken in Malmsey Wine, affirming, that he had cured several who were most cruelly tormented with that Grief, with that only Medicament. He also commends for almost as effectual the sole drinking of Urine. In vehement Cholic Pains, Riverius prescribes these Pills, which he has often given with great Suc∣cess.

℞. The best Aloes ʒj. Laudanum Opiate gr. iiij. Diagridion gr. vj. Make six Pills.

Let the Patient take these at a conve∣nient time, and within an hour after they asswage the Pains and carry away noxious Humors. Paraeus tells us of one, who when all other Remedies would not prevail, was at length cured with drinking ℥iiij. of the Oyl of sweet Almonds mix'd with White-wine and Pellitory-wall-water, and then swal∣lowing a leaden Bullet smear'd over with Quick-silver. This we also saw our selves of a Trooper, who being troubled frequently with the Cholic, swallowed three or four Pistol Bullets, which coming out again, he was pre∣sently rid of his Distemper.

OBSERVATION LI. A Wound in the Head.

THomas Gravener, about sixty years old, but a good strong Man of his age, a Trooper under Captain Conyers, an English Officer, upon the fourteenth of November, playing with some others in the Lieutenants Quarters, by what Misfortune I know not, fell backward, and broke the hinder Part of his Head against the Pavement, which made a slight Wound in the Skin, which the Chyrurgeon slighted, and only laid some sort of Plaister to it. But immediately after the Fall, the Trooper grew sick at his Stomach, and had an Inclination to Vo∣mit; besides, he had a slight giddy Pain in his Head, yet not so, but that he walked the Streets for the three or four first days; but upon the sixth day, his Face and all his Head began to swell very much. The twenty fourth day of November, and the eleventh after his Fall, about Evening, I was sent for; I found the Patient very weak, with his Face so swell'd, that he could not open his Eyes for the Swelling, and under his Eyes were black and blew Spots. Thereupon, having examined the whole Case more diligently, from the beginning of the Fall, I concluded he would dye, in regard, that by the Signs, his Head seemed to me to be cleft, and that the Blood being extravasated be∣tween the Meninxes and the Cranium, was there putrified; and that therefore this Blood which the Chyrurgeon should have drawn out at first, by a Perforation of the Cranium, would be the Cause of his Death. The Chyrurgeons therefore that had him in Cure, Mr. Ed∣munds and his Son observing their Mistake, as also the Troopers Wife and Friends earnestly desired that the Operation might yet be try'd, and notwithstanding all my Perswasions to the contrary, I stood by while it was done. Thereupon that Evening the Hair being taken off, and a Cross-like Incision made in the place affected, the Cranium was laid bare to a good breadth. The next day, the Tents being taken, and the Wound more narrowly look'd into, we found a long Fissure in the Skull, which Cranium was immediately trepan'd. But then we found the Blood, which the Wound had bled, sticking to the thick Meninx, not coagulated or putrified, but altogether dry'd up, so that it stuck like a clammy Powder, the more close to the Me∣ninx and Cranium, which was a most certain Sign of Death, by reason that the Blood so dry'd, could in no manner flow forth. So that upon the twenty sixth of November, he fell into a deep Sleep, and the next day he dy'd.

ANNOTATIONS.

COntusions and Wounds in the Head are never to be made slight of. For sometimes they deceive the quickest Eyes; so that such as seem to be nothing dangerous, bring a Man into the greatest hazard of his Life. We have observ'd some, who after the tenth, nay four∣teenth and twentieth day after a slight Wound in the Head, have felt little or no pain, yet of a suddain have been taken with an Apoplexy, Convulsions, or some terrible Distemper; which con∣trary to expectation has ended their Days. Thus a Servant of the Sieur Morignan, a French Gentleman, falling from his Horse upon his Head had no outward Wound to be seen: the first day his Head aked, and he was so very Giddy that he could not stand▪ from the second to the twelfth he felt no harm, but went about his business. The twelfth day he complain'd of a Giddi∣ness

of his Head, the fourteenth about noon he fell down with an Apoplexy and within a few hours Expir'd. In the same manner a Servant of Captain Lucas, a Captain of Horse, in a Scuffle among certain Souldiers received a slight blow upon the Head with a Cudgel, whence ensued a very great swelling, without any wound; for the first few days he was Giddy, after that he com∣plained of a Heaviness of his Head: the thirty second day an Epilepsy took him; and the forty sixth after the blow he Dyed Convulsive. Valeriola also tells a Story of a Woman that having received a very slight Wound with a Pot in her Forehead, for two days seem∣ed to aile little or nothing. The third day a terrible Fever seiz'd her; her face swelled all over, with a Redness and Inflammation; soon after a Delirium, and Convulsion, afflicted her, to all which Evils upon the fifth day, Death put a final end. Her Head being open'd there appear'd a Chink in her Skull which was hardly conspicuous, a very great Inflammation within the Skull, the hard Meninx swelled, black and blew, and covered with a great quantity of Putrefaction. In such cases therefore it is better to lay bare the Skull at first, and if need be to perforate, then by lingring to expose the Patient to mortal danger.

OBSERVATION LII. A Fissure of the Skull.

PEter ab Ewjick, a Trooper under Captain Conyers, about thirty four Years of Age, being talking to the Lieutenant with his Hat off in the Yard belonging to his quarters, a Servant of the House threw down out of an upper Window a peice of Wood of ten or twelve Pound weight, which fell accidentally upon the Troopers Head; Im∣mediately the Trooper fell down Speechless, and was carry'd into the next Room for dead; where, for an hours space he appeared so Apoplectic, that every Body thought he would have dy'd, at length he came to himself, but rav'd all that day and the next Night; the Chyrurgeon that was sent for perceiving nothing but a slight superficial Wound thought there was no danger, and promised to cure him in three or four days. However Mr. Cooper, not confiding in that Chyrurgeon, upon the third day desired me to see him, I found him without Pain, sound in his judgment, with a slight Wound in the fore-part of his Head; yet hardly Penetrating; his Eyes also were surrounded with black and blew, so that so few Symptoms appearing, the Chyrurgeon and all the standers-by made slight of the business; But I having examined the business from the beginning, certainly affirmed that the Skull was either broken or slit, and therefore that it was absolutely necessary to make a pre∣foration as soon as possible, that the Extravasated Blood might be let out, and that there was no dallying till more terrible Symptoms ensued, when Art and Industry would be too late; so that at length my Advice was followed. First therefore, after we had loosen'd his Belly with a Glister, the same Evening upon the sinister Bone of the Bregma, an Incision large enough was made in the form of the Letter T. and the Skull triangularly laid bare; at that time we could per∣ceive nothing for the Blood; but the next day we discovered two apparent Fissures in the Cranium, and upon one side a small Particle about half a Fingers length, somewhat depressed; which Particle was every way sever'd and broken from the Bone. Therefore in the next firm Part we made a perforation with a Trepan, and took out half an ounce of Blood, which had flow'd out of the little broken Veins between the Cranium and the thick Meninx, and there had shelter'd

it self; which being wiped off, we laid a little rag dipped in Honey of Roses upon the Meninx, and having filled the Wound without side with dry Wooll, we covered it with Emplaster of Betony. The sixth of February, some little Blood came forth; but after that, none at all; in the mean time we kept his Belly loose with a gentle Purge, thus we ordered the Wound till the twelfth of February, and covered his Head with a quilt of Cephalic Herbs, and other things; afterwards we began to lay the following Powder mixed with Honey of Roses upon the Meninx.

℞. Sanguis Draconis, Frankincense, Aloes, Myrrh, an. ℈j. Fine Barley Flower, ℈j. s. Make it into a very fine Powder.

The eighteenth of February, the flesh began to grow from the inside of the Meninx. The first of March, the Meninx was covered with flesh. The sixteenth of March, a little Scale was separated from the upper Bone of the Skull laid bare: and at the beginning of April, the Man being perfectly cured went abroad.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE suddain Consternation of this Person, as it were Apoplectic was a certain sign of the Skull being de∣press'd; which depression could never have been made without a Fracture or a Fissure. And though for the following days the Patient felt nothing in his Head, in regard such a depression and Fis∣sure could not happen without breaking some of the little Veins, it was better to open the Skull and take out the Extrava∣sated Blood, then to expect the Symp∣toms of it when Corrupted and Putrifi∣ed: For a very little Blood, though no more then a dram, yet Putrifying upon the Meninx, may cause terrible Symptoms and Death it self.

OBSERVATION LIII. The Head-ach.

PEtronel de Kuijck, a Country-Woman, about threescore Years old, complained in February, of terrible Pains in her Head, as also of Catarrhs falling upon her Eyes, Teeth, Shoulders, and other parts; that she had been troubled all the Winter, and felt a very great cold at the top of her Head, as if the fore part of her Head had been dipped in cold Water; Therefore having prescribed her a hotter and Cephalic Diet, I Purged her with Pill. Cochiae and Golden Pills, then I ordered Linnen-cloths four doubled and dipped in Spirit of Wine warmed, and gently squeezed to be laid over all the upper Part of her Head, and to continue so doing for some days, which done, that Diuturnal Pain, together with her Catarrhs, all ceased within a few days, then for prevention and preservation I prescribed her a Quilt to wear upon her Head,

℞. Marjoram one little Handful, Rosemary, Sage, Flowers of Melilot, Lavender, an. one little Handful, Nutmegs, Cloves, an. ℈ij. Make a Powder for a Quilt.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN these cold Maladies of the Brain, besides general and internal Medi∣cines, proper Topics are very beneficial; so that many times they alone, at the beginning of the Distemper, contribute very much to the Cure. In which case we made use of Spirit of Wine with good Success; the Fomentations of which are highly commended▪ by Arcu∣lanus. Plater commends Dill; Forestus Cammomile, however they are made use of in Head-achs proceeding from cold Causes. Aetius applaudes Goats dung, bruised and laid on Morning and and Evening. Others dry up cold su∣perfluous humors after this manner.

℞. Millet-seed lb j. common Salt lb s. Leaves of Majoram, Rosemary, Sage, Flowers of Lavender, Melolet an. one small handful, Seeds of Anise, Fennel, Dill, Cummin an. ʒ ij. Lawrel Berries ʒiij.

These being fryed in a Frying-pan, let them be put into little bags, and while they continue warm, let the head be first dried and then well rubb'd with them for half an hour. Aetius prefers Vervein. with the Roots, and creeping Time, boyl'd in Oyl, for the Cure of all Head-aches proceeding from cold and thick Humors. He also recom∣mends Hog-lice boyl'd in Oyl for the same purposes. P. Aegineta writes of a Woman who was very famous for cu∣ing Head-aches either with or without a Fever by this means. She boyl'd the green Roots of Asses Cucumers, cut ve∣ry small, and Wormwood in Oyl, till they grew soft, and with this Oyl and Water she moistened and watered the Head, and then clapt the Root bruised with the Wormwood upon it: Which Medicine is highly recommended by Avicine, who prescribes it after this form

℞. Common Oyl, common-water an. lb j. Leaves of Wormwood M. j. s. Root of Asses Cucumers ʒ ij. Let them boyl toge∣ther.

OBSERVATION LIV. A Hickup.

ANtonetta N. a poor Woman desired me to see her Daughter, a Maid about twenty four Years of Age, she had been troubled for ten days with a continual violent, and troublesome Hickup, and none of the old Womens Remedies would do her any good, when I understood her Womb was well, I judg'd that the Malady pro∣ceeded from some sharp Matter, firmly Impacted in the Tunicles of the Stomach; therefore I gave her first a light Vomit, which gave her three or four Vomits, but no release from her Hickup. There∣upon I prescribed her this following little Bag.

℞. Flowers of Mint, camomil, Dill, an. M j. of red Roses, Melilot an. M. s. one white Poppy Head cut small, Nut∣meg, Aniseed an. ʒj. of Dill, and Cumin, an ʒj. s. cut and bruise them grossly, and make a Linnen bag about the bigness of two hands breadth.

This Bag I ordered her to boil for half an hour, in new Milk and common Water an. lbj. s. and to take ever and anon a Draught of this Decoction; and after she had gently squeezed the Bag to apply it hot to the Region of her Stomach; which when she had continued to do but for one day, her Hickup left her.

ANNOTATIONS.

SAys Hippocrates, A Convulsion is caus'd by Repletion or Emptiness, and so is a Hickup. But for the most part a Hickup proceeds from Repletion, seldom from Emptiness as Galen testifies. Under the word Plenitude are compre∣hended also whatever matter sticks close to the Tunicles of the Stomach, and twiching and gnawing them with its Acrimony, whether sharp, tough Hu∣mors, Pepper or any other thing.

A Hickup if it last long, is very troublesome, but it seldom uses to con∣tinue long. Yet M. Gatinaria tells a Story of a Doctor of Law, who was troubled with a Hickup for twelve days together: and Forestus makes mention of an old Woman that Hickupp'd many times for half a year together. To suppress this Hickupping, those Medi∣caments are most proper, which loosen and remove the sharp and biting humors from the Tunicles of the Stomach; such are Vomiting Medicines and Sternuto∣ries. Hence says Hippocrates, Sneezing frees the Person that is troubled with a Hickup. But if these things nothing avail, and that the sharp Matter will not be thus removed, then the Acrimony of it is either to be mitigated (thus in Forestus we read, that a certain old Woman, when no other Remedies would prevail, was cured with Looch Sanum) or else to be concocted and mitigated together. To which purpose a Decoction of Ca∣momil-flowers, and Seeds of Dill, Cu∣min, Figs, or drinking of Malmsey or other soft Wine neat and pure. Or else the Matter is to be concocted, and at the same time the acute Sense of the Stomach is somewhat to be blunt∣ed, and then Treacle, Mithridate, and chiefly Philonium are mainly contribu∣tory. Sometimes we read of Hickups cured by suddain Frights: and Variola confirms the same.

OBSERVATION. LV. A Wound in the Head; and an opening of the Skull with a Trepan.

LAmbert N. a Dutch Gentleman, about twenty four Years of Age, Young and strong, the seventh of March, as he was managing a sprightly Horse, was unawares thrown out of his Saddle, and knockt the hinder part of his Head against the Carriage of a great Gun, yet so that no Wound appeared outwardly: Presently after his fall he fell a Vomiting, and was taken with an extraordinary diz∣ziness, which ceasing for some time, he mounted again and rode home. But no sooner was he alighted in the Stable, but being again taken with a dizziness, he fell down upon the Flower, and his memory being as it were quite lost, he neither knew what had befallen him, nor how he fell from his Horse, nor where he was. At the same time a Camp Chyrurgeon being sent for after he had shav'd off the Hair behind the left Ear, somewhat upward, where the Patient complained of no Pain, made a slight incision, which no way concerned the Peri∣cranium; and the next day took about a pint of Blood out of his left Arm. The twelfth of March, the Pains increasing, I was sent for; at what time I found that the Patient complained of most sharp Pains in his Head, yet there was no Fever, in the place affected, besides the Wound, which the Chyrurgeon had made, I perceived a slight and soft Tumour; so that by the feeling, a Man might easily conjecture a depression or Fracture of the Skull, the Chyrurgeon had hitherto laid on a defensive of Bolearmoniac, whites of Eggs and Vinegar mixt together, for fear of an Inflammation, which because it was misapply'd in this case, I threw away, and ordered Linnen Cloaths four doubl'd and dipt in the following Fomentation, and gently

squeezed to be clapt warm over all his Head, and to be shifted three or four times a day.

℞. Betony, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Marjoram, Vervain, an. M. j s. Flowers of Stocchas, Camomil, Melilot, an. M. s. Lawrel berries Comin seed, an. ʒiij. White-wine, q. s boil them according to Art to lb iij. add to the straining, Spirit of Wine ℥ vj. mix them for a fomentation.

But in regard the Patient had not gone to Stool in four days, I gave him a gentle Purge, which gave him five Stools; the same Evening, after the fomentation several times applied, appeared in the place affected a Tumour about the bigness of half a Hens-Egg, which being perforated, there flow'd out Black Blood; therefore the next day sending for a more skilful Chyrurgeon, I advised him to open the Skull. But the Patient and his Friends being extreamly against it, we staid two days longer, till the fifteenth of March, which was the ninth day from the fall, by which time there appeared in the same place a Tumour bigger then the former, so that then with the Pati∣ents consent I ordered the Skull to be laid bare about the Evenings and in regard the Wound was near the temporal Muscle, there was an Incision made cross-wise to the very Bone it self, somewhat toward the hinder part of the Head, by the Lambdoidal Suture, presently gushed out a large quantity of Blood black and coagulated, which was expelled by the strength of Nature, through the Lambdoidal Suture, which by the Incision we had in part laid bare, and had stuck between the Cranium and the Pericranium; the Cranium thus laid bare, and the Pericranium scraped, the Wound was filled with dry Wool; the next Night, the Pain being somewhat mitigated, the Patient slept a little, the next day the Cranium was Trepan'd, but scarce a Dram of Blood flowed out upon the opening of it, which till then had stuck between the Cranium and the Hard Meninx, and by this time was in some Measure coagulated; from thence I judged the Patient to be in great danger, when I found coagulated Blood, and believ'd there might be more which still lying hid under the Cranium could not come forth, and for that the Meninx being gently squeezed, nothing fol∣lowed. The seventeenth of March, a Fever seiz'd him; the next Night followed Convulsions, so strong that four robust, stout Men, could hardly hold his Arms and his Thighs; Moreover he slept not at all, raved altogether, was very thirsty, and when Drink was offer'd him, Drank very greedily; the next day he remain'd in the same Condition, so that because of his Delirium and his Convulsions his Wound could not be bound up, thus raving he both Dunged and Pissed in his Bed, and more then that he bit off a peice of the tip of his Tongue with his Teeth; of the Pain whereof, when he came to himself, he very much complained; these three mortal Signs, the De∣lirium, the Fever, the Convulsions continued till the twentieth of March; at what time the Convulsions remitted, but the Fever, and raving contiued, that day the Chyrurgeon with a flat, obtuse and oblong In∣strument, which I ordered to be provided on purpose, compressed the Meninx a little, and between the Meninx and the Cranium, thrust in his Instrument about the breadth of two Fingers, separating the Meninx from the Cranium, by depressing it every way round about, to the end that if any coagulated Blood lay there concealed, it might the more con∣veniently be evacuated; but when he put down his Instrument upon the

Meninx toward the Back-part, by chance he litt upon the place where the cause of all the mischeif recided, out of which there came out about half an ounce of black Blood, purulent, and watry. The twenty first, twenty second and twenty third of March, the same Instrument being every day thrust in, a good quantity of Blood and watry, putrified Matter was brought away, in the mean time the Delirium abated very much, and the Patient took several naps. The twenty fourth the Meninx being pressed downward nothing came out, then the Delirium was very slight, and the Patient rising out of his Bed sat two hours by the Fire, then also the flesh began to grow up from the lower Bone about the Meninx in the hole of the Cranium; he could hardly eat because of the Pain in his Tongue, of which he had bit of the tip with his Teeth; for which reason we gave him a proper Water to wash his Mouth, which heal'd his Tongue again by degrees; all this while we made use of the fomentation prescribed the twelfth of March; but then leaving that off, we clapt a Cap about his Head with Cephalic Herbs sowed into it. Upon the twenty fifth, the Fever went off and the Patient grew much better, hitherto we had laid nothing but Mel Rosaceum, or Honey of Roses mixed with a little Spirit of Wine, upon the hole of the Cranium, or the Meninx; but then we mixt the following Powder with the Honey.

℞. Aloes Hepat, Sang. Draconis, Myrrh, Mastick, Olihanum, an. ℈j. s. Barley Flower, ℈ij. s. reduce the whole into a very fine Powder.

The twenty sixth of March, he quite recovered his Sences, then again the Meninx being pressed down with the foresaid Instrument, there flowed out a small quantity of white and well concocted Matter both Morning and Evening; after this day he rose and sate up for three or four hours, and fed well; the following days no∣thing of Matter came forth of his Skull; but contrary to our desire, in four days time the hole was filled up with Flesh, without side also the Flesh grew every way, but too suddainly; so that we were forced many times to take it off with a slight Caustic; in regard we were to stay till the Bone Scal'd, at last in the sixth Week a great large and thick Scale was seperated from the Bone: and then the Wound being filled up with Flesh, the Patient was cured in a short time; only this Inconvenience remain'd, that upon any suddain change of Air his Head would ake, and Wine presently fuddl'd him.

In this Condition of Health he lived above four Years as he used to do. But in September, 1641. as he was sporting in the Camp, well in Health with some other Troopers, he fell down Senseless, and presently his whole Body being contracted with a most terrible Convulsion, he Expir'd within a quarter of an hour; had I been there at that time, I would have opened his Skull to have seen whether the cause of his Death had proceeded from any thing of his old Wound.

ANNOTATIONS.

AS to Wounds in the Head with a Fracture of the Cranium, the Question is, when the Separation is to be made, says Albucasis, If the Pa∣tient come to the three first days after the Wound, then the Bone must be taken away before the fourteenth day: if it be in the Summer, then make hast to remove the Bone before the seventh, before what lyes under the Bone of the Pannicle be corrupt∣ed,

and terrible accidents ensue. Says Avicen, Separation must not be de∣lay'd in Summer beyond seven days, in Winter not beyond ten, but the sooner the better. Hippocrates allows but three days before Separation of the Bone, which is to be cut, and admits no longer delay if the weather be hot. To which Hippocrates ought to have added, if the Chyrurgeon be sent for soon enough: for if he be sent for late; or that the Patient and his friends will not consent, then the Skull is to be perforated at any time, so there be any hopes of Life. For in a certain danger a doubtful Remedy is better then none. For it matters not, says Celsus, Whe∣ther the Remedy be altogether safe, when there is no other. Horstius opened the Cranium of a certain Person upon the Eleventh day, and of another upon the Fifteenth. Hildan tells a remarka∣ble Story of a Cranium perforated with success, two Months after the Wound received; upon which the Matter gushed out with a full stream, the Patient was cured. Thus in our Patients Case at first came forth mattry and watry Blood, and upon the Seventeenth day meer white Matter. Hildan also produces ano∣ther Example of a Skull perforated upon the eleventh day. And Aegineta writes, that he knew one whose Cranium was per∣forated a Year after the Wound re∣ceiv'd, by which means, the Patient re∣covered. However he advises Separation of the Bone in the Winter before the fourteenth day, and in the Summer be∣fore the Seventh. In short these Ope∣rations prove best at the beginning, and as Avicen says the sooner the bet∣ter. But if the beginning be over-slip∣ed, it would be inhuman to give men over so long as there is hopes. Other∣wise as Celsus says, It is part of a pru∣dent Man not to meddle, where there is no hopes at all. Had those deadly Symp∣toms there appeared in our Patient be∣fore the Operation, which appeared af∣terwards, we had never adventured it; nevertheless he was cured contrary to our Expectation.

Some Physitians advise ye to take great care, least in the laying bare of the Cranium, which proceeds perfora∣tion, you make any Incision in the Sutures, for fear the Fibres of the hard Meninx, passing by the Sutures, and uni∣ted with the Pericranium, should be hurt: as if there were any such great danger in that. For I have been present at such Operations many times, and have ordered Incisions to be made upon the Sutures, if I found it a proper place, and that the little Fibres should be scraped off with a Pen-knife; and yet no harm ensued; and I have found by Experi∣ence, that such cautions as these are on∣ly fit for contemplating Physitians, who never were present at such Operations. Only take care of hurting the Tem∣poral Muscle, and that the Trepan be not set upon the Sutures, and the Per∣foration made there.

OBSERVATION. LVI. An Opthalmy.

THE Wife of Captain Iunius was troubled with an extraordinary Inflammation of her Eyes with great Pain, two days after two of her Maids and a Man Servant were seized with the same distemper, and said they contracted it by looking upon their Mistress; after due Pur∣gation I laid upon the Eyes, all Night, the Yolk of a hard-boyl'd Egg, kneaded together with Womans Milk, to asswage the Pain, afterwards I ordered one or two drops of this Opthalmic Water to be dropt into the Eyes twice or thrice, which being duly observed, the Ophthalmy vanished within three days.

℞. White Vitriol, ℈j. Sugar-Candy, ʒj. Plantain Water, ℥ij. Rose-Water, ℥j. mix them together.

ANNOTATIONS.

GAlen numbers Blear-Eyedness a∣mong the Contagious Diseases, and says it may be contracted by Contagion, like the Pestilence or Itch. But he gives no reason for what he says. Thus Plutarch, of all Diseases, the Con∣tagion of Blear-Eyedness says he, creeps amongst them that live together from one to another, so sharp a faculty it has of affecting the Sight. Thus says Ovid,

Dum spectant Laesos Oculi, laeduntur & ipsi; Multaque Corporibus transitione nocent.

As to the Nature of this Contagion, Physitians are very silent; but who treat of it, seem to be of this Opinion, that Corrupt Vapours and Spirits issue forth from the vitiated Eye, which being car∣ried to the Eyes of those that are sound, infect the same. However Be∣nedictus Faventinus writes, that there is something of Putrid, which Exhales from the Blear-Eyes, which infects the ambient Air with the same Quality, which Air being received by the Eyes of others, affects them by Contagion. Of the same Opinion is Mercurialis, that an Ophthalmy is therefore Conta∣gious, because the Spirits of the Eye affected are contaminated, which when they come to touch those Eyes that are sound, infect them likewise. But none of these seem to have hit the Mark. First, Who can believe that such a quantity of Malignant Spirits should Ex∣hale from the Eye, which is covered with a hard horny Membrane, as to infect the Eyes of those that look at a distance. Such a Transpiration would dry up the Eye in a few hours. Second∣ly, Grant such an Exhaling should in∣fect the ambient Air, and so infect the Eyes of others, why are not the Eyes of all Visitants and Relations infected, but only of such as fix their Eyes upon the Party. Thirdly, Why are not they infected also, that more curiously and long behold and view Blear'd-Eyes in reference to their Cure, as well as they that view Short Eyes but for a time, and only by accident? For these reasons I do not believe Blear-Eyedness can be communicated by Con∣tagion, but that it may be contracted sometimes through the Conturbation of the Humors and Spirits of the sound Eye. Which Conturbation is not oc∣casioned by corrupt Humors or Spirits, carryed from the Blear-Eye to the sound Eye: but because the sound Eye be∣holds the Blear-Eyes with a kind of terror and abomination; which terror vehemently disturbs the Spirits and Humors of certain weak Eyes, so that being rapidly mov'd and stirred up by that Conturbation they flow to the Eye, and their growing over hot enflame the Eyes. Which Rabbi Moyses seems to intimate; where he says, he that first sees a Blear-Eyed Person, presently has his Eye disturbed, so that if he still look more intently, the Eye is not only disturb∣ed, but contracts an Opthalmy. Now I have said that weaker Eyes are di∣sturbed; according to that of Sennertus, You may know those Eyes to be weak, that are bleared themselves by looking upon another. But stronger Eyes, and such as are not terrify'd at the Sight, as they are not disturbed, so they contract no Ophthalmy. So that it is the strength or weakness of the Eye, the more or less aversion, which is the Cause that some Eyes are endamaged by looking, others not.

Nor is this a new, or to be admired at Opinion, when we find that Contu•…•…bati∣ons and Frights upon the sight of frightful Objects are many times the occasions of very terrible Diseases, as we find by Expe∣rience in Women great with Child, whose tender Issue frequently bear the Marks of the Mothers Frights, and aversions of Sight. Others upon the sight of any frightful Object having the Spirits of their Brain vehemently disturbed, have become Paralitic or raving Mad; or upon a Perturbation of the Spirits of the Heart, have fallen into Palpitati∣ons, Syncopes, Fevers, or violent Distem∣pers: What wonder then that the Spirits of a sound Eye should be in a Perturbation upon the frightful Sight of a Blear-Eye, and by that vehement Motion be heated to that degree, as to cause an Ophthalmy? If any one object that Ophthalmies have been Epi∣demical, we say, that Propagation does not proceed from any Contagion, issu∣ing out of the affected Eye, but from that common Depravity of the Air or Dyet. Nor does it signifie any thing, what Aristotle affirms, That Menstrous Women will infect a Looking-glass by looking upon it; because it is not credible that such an Infection happens

through any Contagion issuing from the Eyes, but from certain corrupt Va∣pors which they send forth upon the Glass together with their Breath. Nor is it of any moment what Philosophers say, that a Basilisk will kill a Man by looking upon him; for which there may be other reasons given; the first, For that many venemous Vapors exhale not on∣ly from the Eyes, but from the whole body of the Serpent, which infect the ambient Air. Secondly, Because he that sees that horrid Creature may be terri∣fied and disturbed in his Spirits to that degree, that the venemous Spirits may be easily drawn by that terror from the Body close by, and carried to the Heart, to its extream prejudice: So that it is not the Sight, but the Terror and Con∣turbation, caus'd by that horrid Sight, and joyned to the venemous habit which causes Death; I say, joyned to the venenmous habit; For no Man shall perswade me that a Basilisk seen at a distance can ever kill a Man with his Eye, though the same Man should look upon him all day long. To say that a Basilisk will dye, if he sees himself in a Looking-glass, is a meer Dream, unless we may allow the Crea∣ture it self to be so terrified, and di∣sturbed at the sight of it's own horrid shape, that he dyes upon his Spirits be∣ing too much disturbed, and over tu∣multuously crowding about the Heart. Or else that he is so extravagantly over∣joy'd at the sight of his own Image, that the very dissipation of his Spirits kills him.

OBSERVATION LVII. Spitting of Blood.

JOhn Hugo Trumpeter to Monsieur de Persil, having over-strain'd, and consequently over-heated himself with sounding his Trumpet, soon after felt a kind of a dull Pain in his Breast, and with a little Cough began to Spit out frothy Blood but not much, and became so weak that he could hardly draw his Breath, neither could he stand or speak, but was forced to lye in his Bed upon his Breast; he was so averse to Physic, that he resolved to take the Advice of no Physitian: But after he had lain about six or seven Weeks in that con∣dition, and found himself nothing better at length upon the tenth of March, he sent for me, I found him Sick without a Fever, but very weak, which weakness proceeded from some want of Breath; for he could not dilate nor contract his Breast at his Pleasure; the reason of which Malady was, for that by his straining in blowing his Trum∣pet, he had over-stretched the Muscles of his Breast, and thereby so weakned them, that they could never afterwards be contracted, but the spitting of Blood, which was very much, proceeded from some little Vein that was broken in his Lungs. First therefore I pre∣scribed him a proper Diet; next I Purged him gently, thirdly, I took out of the Median Vein of his right Arm, half a pint of Blood; and lastly I applied the following Cere-cloth to lay over all his Breast.

℞ Castor, Saffron Oriental an. ℈ ij. Mastic, Olibanum, Storax an. ʒj. Benzoin ʒ j. s. Gum Taccamahacca, Galbanum dis∣solv'd in Vinegar, Emplaister of Melilot, Oxocrotium an. ℥j. Make a Cere-Cloth to be spred upon red Leather big enough to cover the whole Breast from the Sword-form gristle, to the Asperia Arteria, as also to come about the sides under the Arms on both sides, let it be anointed with Oyl of Nuttmegs.

Moreover I ordered a Girdle to be made of the Skin of an Elke, a∣bout a Hands breadth, with a broad Button; the Cere-Cloth was first laid on, and then the Girdle girt about his Breast just under the

Arm-pits, as hard as he could well endure it, and so Button'd. This done he presently felt a great deal of ease, and fetch'd his Breath much more freely, and strongly. The fourteenth of March, his spitting of Blood, together with his Cough, quite left him; this Cere-Cloth lay on a Month, by which time the Muscles of his Breast were so closed, that the Patient had no need of any other Medicins, and sounded his Trumpet again, without his Girdle, however I advised him to wear his Girdle; especially when he told me, that he blew his Trumpet with more ease when he had it on.

ANNOTATIONS.

THIS Patient would swallow nothing but only a Laxative Medicament, which made me fear he would fall into a Consumption; for besides his spitting of Blood, his strength was so wasted, that he could not sit upright in his Bed, but was forced to lye upon his Back. But when I found that weakness proceeded meerly, from a defect of Motion in the Instruments of Respiration, I re∣covered him contrary to the expectati∣on of all Men, by the said Cere-cloth and Girdle. Nor was the least part of the Cure to be ascribed to the Gir∣dle; for so soon as I had bound his Breast tite, he could sit up in his Bed, and fetch his Breath much more freely.

Many of these Trumpeters striving to out-vie one another, strain themselves in their Sounding to that degree, that often-times they become Bursten, or spit Blood, and many times crack the Thread of their own Lives. As we saw in November 1641. at what time one of Captain Bax's Trumpeters, striving to out-do the rest in Sounding, broke a great Vein in his Lungs, which bled in such abundance that within two hours he Expir'd.

OBSERVATION LVIII. An Hysterical Suffocation.

RIcherda, a Maid, belonging to the Lady of Nassau, was troubled with a vehement Hysterical Suffocation accompany'd with a grumbling in her Belly, and sometimes with Vomiting and raving talk, she said she contracted this Distemper by sitting in a cold House of Office exposed to the Wind, which she received up into her Body. The ninth of Ianuary, because she was bound, I gave her a gentle Purgative, which gave her five Stools; upon which day she was clear of her Fit; But the next Night her Fit was more violent, and the next day very greivous; the Fit went off very well with the Smoak of Partridge Feathers held to her Nose; besides that, we gave her a Ball of Assa Faetida, made up with Castor and Galbanum to hold in her hand, and smell to ever and anon; toward Evening two hours before her Grand Fit, she fell into such Deliriums, that she talked idly, and had several Inclinations to Vomit, but nothing came up, but what she had eaten or drank before; the Fit went off again with the Smoak of Partridge Feathers, and the follow∣ing Emplaster was applied to her Navel,

℞. Castor ℈j. Benzoin ℈j. Oppoponax▪ Sagapen dissolved in Vinegar an. ℈•…•…j. mix them and spread them upon a peice of Leather of a hands breadth.

I gave her also an Hysterical draught; but that she brought up again within an hour. The eleventh of Ianuary, she took the following Apozem ever now and then.

℞. Roots of Masterwort, Valerian, Dittany an. ʒiij. Leaves of Mug-wort, Peny-royal, Feverfew, an. M. j. Seeds of Lovage, Wild Carrots ʒij. Common▪ water q. s. Boyl them to a pint and a half.

All that day she took of this, and never vomited; but without any benefit; her deliriums and ravings returned by Intervalls, toward Evening I gave her this Powder in a little Ale,

℞. Castor ℈ s. Oriental Saffron, gr. v. Trochischs of Myrrh, ℈ s. make them into Powder.

All this did no good; therefore the twelfth of Ianuary, when the Symptoms began again to appear I gave her only ʒj. of Yellow Am∣ber prepared and pulveriz'd with a little Ale; which Powder when she had taken, within an hour all the Symptoms miraculously va∣nished; but in the Evening when she began to perceive some fore-bodings of her Distemper, the same Powder was given her again, and so she slept quietly all the next Night, the thirteenth and fourteeeth when she perceived any grumbling in the lower part of her Belly, she took the same Powder again Morning and Evening, which quite recovered her.

ANNOTATIONS.

AMber is said to be a prevalent Re∣medy in Hysterical Distempers by a peculiar Faculty; the effect of which when I found by this Experi∣ment, I made use of it again with great success in the like Cases. The Smoak of Patridge Feathers is very effectual also in the time of the Fit, of which I also made use upon the like occasions with the same good fortune. With these Feathers Forestus freed a Hysteric Woman from her Fits, when all other Remedies fail'd, as he writes himself, and there∣fore he always kept them by him, as being endued with an occult quality for that purpose. Gradus, Bottonus, Ri∣verius and Others commend the same, beside that it is a Remedy well known among the Women. Most Physitians extol the Smoak of Hair, Horns, Old Shoes and Rags burnt, and held to the Nose. Galen and Priscian commend the smell of Rue; and the same Effects are produced by Galbanum, Castor, Assa Faetida, and such like stinking Smells held to the Nostrils. Leonellus com∣pounds a Ball of Castor ʒiij. Assa Fae∣tida, Galbanum an. ʒij. Wax. q. s. to incorporate them. Among all the Re∣medies, says Bottonus, that, that soonest recals Women out of their Fits is a Fumigation of the Powder of Wens, that grew upon Horses Legs, dryed in a hot Oven, burnt upon the Coals and held to the Nostrils. This Powder is commended also by Auge∣nius and other Physitians. But though these stinking and loathsome Fumiga∣tions, tryed by common Experience, and by Galen, Avicen, and other Fa∣mous Physitians, are made use of, and extolled as the best and most present Remedies in these Uterine Suffocations, yet there are some who utterly reject and disapprove them. Thus Cleopatra, and Moschio disparage them as vain and frivolous. Capivaccius writes, that they do very ill, who at first make use of Frictions and Fumigations; for he would have the whole Body first Eva∣cuated, and in the first place the U∣terine Parts. Duretus writes, that ill Smells nothing avail in Suffocations, that proceed from Menstruous Suppressions, or Suppression of the Seed, but do more harm then good; which Mercatus also affirms: But that they are only proper, when the Womb moves of it self to the Liver, and sticks to it. However with their good leave, this Opinion seems very repugnant to the Doctrine of Hippocrates, whom in all Uterine Suf∣focations prescribes stinking things; but for the lower Parts recommends sweet Fumes, as also the Fumes of Castor and Fleabane. As for the Suffocation when the Womb ascends voluntarily

to the Liver, 'tis hardly credible there should be any such thing in Nature; For the Womb never moves of it self, but when it is forced by some manifest Cause, as Menstruous suppression, refri∣geration, corruption of the Seed or the like.

OBSERVATION LIX. Loss of Appetite.

Mr. Hare, an English Gentleman about Thirty Years of Age, having for several days together, contrary to his custom, fed excessively hard, and by that means disturbed the Functions of his Stomach, and collected many crudities therein, lost his Stomach to that degree, that for a fortnight together, he could scarce eat any thing at all, at length by my advice he took this Vomit;

℞. Green-leaves of Asara-Bacca, ʒiij bruise them, and press out the juice with ℥ij. s. of the Decoction of Radish, add to the expression Oxymel with Agaric ℥j. mix them for a Draught.

This caused him to Vomit stoutly, afterwards I ordered him to eat three or four Mouthfuls of candied Elecampane Root, three or four times a day, to observe a warm Diet, to abstain from Im∣moderate eating, to drink generous Wine, but in a less quantity, and after Dinner and Supper, because his Stomach was very moist, to eat a bit or two of a raw Salt Herring, and by this means he recovered his Stomach again within a few days.

ANNOTATIONS.

LOss of Appetite sometimes proceeds from a hot Cause, as a hot Distem∣per of the Stomach, a Fever, abundance of Choler, and then it is cured with Choler purging and Refrigerating Medi∣cines. Sometimes it proceeds from a cold disposition of the Stomach; which happens either through weakness of the innate Heat, as in old Men, or through bad Dyet; and thence Crudities collected in the Stomach; or else by reason of cold humors flowing from the Head, or other Parts to the Stomach. Now in e∣very cold Disposition of the Stomach, by reason of the weakness of the Con∣coctive faculty, mary crude, flegmatic, moist and cold humors are collected in the Stomach, which weaken the heat of the Stomach, and dissolve the strength of it, and blunt the Sense of Attracti∣on and Suction. In the Cure of this Distemper, t•…•… •…•…lear the Stomach from the filth of Crudities, Vomits are main∣ly necessary. But if other Purgatives are to be made use of, Hiera Pills are chiefly commanded by Galen. Then a Dyet is to be observed upon things of good juice and easie of Digestion, hot and dry, not fat or oily, which take away the Sence of Suction▪ The use also of most hot things, Ga•…•…gale, Calamus Aromaticus, Rosemary, Mar∣joram, Hysop, Sage, Lawrel-berries, hot Seeds, all Spices and the like, all generous Wines, and mo•…•…e •…•…pecally Wormwod Wine, Spirit o•…•… Wine is commended by all, either simple, or di∣stilled off with Juniper-berries, Seeds of Anise, Caraways, Fennel, Cinnamon, or Cloves: all Hippocras and Cinnamon Water sublimated out of Wine. Mat∣thiolus extols his own Aqua Vitae, which is used by many Physitians, Levinus Lemni above all extols Ginger, either dry or condited, to help Concoction, restore the Appetite, dispel Wind, and consume Crudities. Others are for swallowing some few Pepper-corns, either whole or cut into three or four pieces. I have observed in my Practise, that the Roots of Elecampane alone, so condited, that they still retain their bitterness, are more effectual than all the rest; by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of which I have made those who have lost their Sto∣machs, in a short time, in a few days

very hungry. I also used to give them pulverized with strong Wine, and have found them answer Expectation. For they warm the Stomach, yet not too much, consume Crudities, promote Concoction, corroborate, open, dry and dispel. Salt meats also very much excite the Appetite; So that I have observed that the eating of a third or fourth Part of a Pickled Her∣ring after Dinner or Supper has recover∣ed a lost Stomach, if the Person be not very old; for it extreamly drys and corroborates the Stomach: For though a Herring be hard of Digestion when it is boyl'd or broyl'd, yet taken out of the Pickle and eaten raw, it is easie of digestion.

OBSERVATION LX. A Superfoetation

THE Wife of Dionysius N. a Souldier living at Nimeghen in October 1637. was brought to Bed of a Boy lusty and at the full time, which she Nursed her self, after she was Delivered, her Terms came down in due order, and she was indifferent well all the time of her lying in, like other Women, after her Month was out, she went about her business as before; but the seventh Month after her delivering being at Church, she felt such a suddain alteration that she was forced to return home; where a Midwife being sent for, her Waters came down accompanied with the throws of Delive∣ry, and while the Women were all admiring what the matter should be, she was brought to Bed of another lusty sound Child, which she Nursed with the former, and may be alive still for ought I know.

ANNOTATIONS.

SAys the Great Hippocrates, the mouth of the Womb of such Women as are with Child is compressed. And Galen observes, that if the Mouth of the Womb be shut, 'tis a sign of Concep∣tion: and he says it is then so close shut, that it will not admit the point of the smallest Bodkin. But granting all this, yet we must not conclude from hence, that there can be no Superfoetation though it rarely happen. For says Ari∣stotle, if after Conception there be Copu∣lation, there may be a Superfoetation; though rarely; for that the Womb though very rarely closes it self till deli∣very. Thus Hippocrates, those Women have Superfoetations whose Wombs are not exactly closed after the first Conception. He also gives us an Example of Superfoeta∣tion in the Wife of Gorgias, who Con∣ceived a Girl, and when she was near the time of her delivery Conceiv'd again. I knew a Woman says Albucasis, that was again impregnated, when she had a dead Birth in her Womb. Says Cardan, Superfoetation is rare, yet seen at Millan in our time. Says Dodonaeus Superfoe∣tation is very rare, yet there has been an Example of it in the Wife of a very honest Man. And Plater gives us two Examples of Superfoetation.

But now granting Superfoetation, the Question is how the Superfoetation can be brought to perfection, Aristotle says, that if after the first Conception a Wo∣man Conceive again, the Superfoetation may be nourish'd; but if the first Con∣ception be grown, then the second proves Abortive. Which is the Opinion of Hip∣pocrates Plinie, Dodonaeus, Bauhinus and others, Reason also seems to agree with Experience, which teaches us that the first Conceiv'd, and first increas'd, draws the chiefest part of the Nourishment to its self, by which means the latter Conception must be depriv'd of Nourish∣ment, and consequently dye and be ex∣pell'd as an Abortion. But if the last Conception draws sufficient Nourish∣ment, and be sufficiently perfected, and do not prove Abortive, it is impossible it should be ready so soon for delivery as the former; and yet it will be de∣livered in time: as we find by this Ex∣ample, by me recited, for the ratities sake. Yet Nicholas tells ye a greater

Wonder; I knew, says he, the Wi•…•…e of Zachary de Scarparia, who brought forth a Male Child, and three Months after that was delivered of another Boy, and both lived in good Health. There∣fore we must conclude, the last Con∣ception had Nourishment enough in the Womb, and was strong, and conse∣quently able to retain it self in the Womb, during the delivery of the o∣ther, in regard the Woman's Labour was easie and without any violence.

OBSERVATION LXI. Worms in the Head.

THE Son of a certain Treasurer of Iuliers, a Young Lad about twelve Years of Age, from his Child-hood had been always troubled with Worms in his Head, at length his Mother by the advice of a Quack, washed and daubed his Head with I know not what Lotions and Oyntments, and so the Worm was kill'd; by which the Mountebank thought to have got himself a great name in the Town; but within a few days after the Boy began to complain of a Pain in his Head, which every day increasing at the Months end was so in∣tollerable, that I was sent for, but all to no purpose; after tryal of all external and internal Medicaments; at nine Weeks end, Epileptic Convulsions seiz'd him, which in a few days turned to a vehement Epi∣lepsie, which afflicted him at first every day, then every hour, then every quarter of an hour, at length the Child died; his Head being open'd, the Hard Meninx was all over of a red Colour, and very Black in that part next the upper-part of the Head, somewhat toward the the left side, this being dissected, there came forth a Blackish and watry Goar, which had lain between both the Meninxes; the sub∣stance of the Brain was very little altered: but in the Ventricles of it there was a kind of greenish Humour, watry, yet not very clammy, but the quantity very small, in other things there was no altera∣tion.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN this manner it was that these Worms were cured by this Mounte∣bank; However he was wise in this, that upon Notice of the Boys Death, he sneaked out of Nimeghen; perhaps afraid I should upbraid him with the Death of this Patient; like an Ignora∣mus as he was, who had stopp'd up the way, by which Nature voided the noxi∣ous Excrements of the Brain before he had made any diversion.

OBSERVATION LXII. A Tertian and Intermitting Fever.

THE Wife of Monsieur de Spieck, a strong Child-bearing-Woman, the second Week after she was brought to Bed, found her self very well; but trusting too much to her strength, got out of her Bed, walked about the Chamber, and eat a bit of a dry'd Neats-Tongue; but at the end of the third Week, she was seiz'd with a violent double Tertian Intermitting Fever, with an extraordinary Heat, continual Waking, her Stomach quite lost, unquenchable Thirst, with several other bad Symptoms. The twenty second of August, I was sent for, when I found her very anxious and weak

and in the midst of her second Fit; which most People thought would have carry'd her off. I gave her presently Bezoar Stone ℈. s. Confection Hyacinth ℈j. with six Drams of our Treacle-water, which as she said soon after gave her some ease; to quench her Thirst I gave her this Julep, which pleased her so well that she drank nothing else all the time of her Distemper.

℞. Waters of Carduus Benedict. Succoury, Borage, an. lb. s. Syrup of Limons ℥j. s. Violets ℥j. Oyl of Sulphur q. s. to make it grateful to the Pallat.

Toward the Evening I prescribed this Infusion which she took the next Morning.

℞. Leaves of Senna well cleans'd ℥ s. Rubarb the best ʒj. s. Rhenish Tartar, Anniseed an. ʒj. Succoury water q. s. Steep them all Night; the next day boyl them gently, then press them strongly, adding Syrup of Roses Solutive ℥ s. For a Draught.

This gave her four Stools which brought away much stinking Ex∣crement, and gave her great ease; after the Purge I prescribed her Chicken Broth with Sorrel and Chervil boiled together in it, with a little juice of Citron, to relish it, and to quench her Thirst still gave her the Julep before mentioned. The next Night she slept in∣differently, and when she waked found her heat much abated, the next expected Fit was so slight, that she was hardly sensible of it; nor did the Fever after that appear any more, being vanquished by these Medicins only.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHild-bearing Women not careful of themselves when they lye in, oft-times pay for their Rashness, as this Gentlewoman did: As also did a Neigh∣bour of Ours, who going abroad too soon fell into a continued Fever, upon which first a Frenzy and then Death ensued. Another of our Acquaintance the se∣cond week of her Month, looking to soon after her House Affairs, and pre∣suming to Combe her Head, fell into an Epilepsie, upon which a Delirium ensu∣ed; which Maladies though at length they were much abated, yet could they never be cured all the while the Gentle-Woman lived.

OBSERVATION LXIII. A Bleeding at the Nose.

THeodore Bijl about fifty five Years of Age, in August about four a Clock in the Morning, was taken with a Bleeding at his right Nostril: Three hours after, being sent for, for revulsion I ordered the Chyrurgeon to open a Vein in his right Arm with a large Orifice, and to take away ten Ounces of Blood; which done, by applying cold Water to his Neck and Forhead, the Bleeding was stay'd; three days after, being invited to a Feast where he drank Wine a little too freely, upon his return home, he was again taken with the same Malady, and bled all that Night before I was sent for; the next day I ordered him to be let Blood as before, but to no purpose; nor durst we repeat Blood-letting in regard of his Age

and his strength, nor would he permit any Tents to be put up into his Nostrils; and therefore we apply'd a little lock of Tow moisten'd with this mixture to his Forhead;

℞. Bole Armoniack ʒij. s. Bloodstone, Mastick, Frnkincense, Red Coral an. ℈ij. The white of one Egg. Vinegar of Roses q. s. mix them together.

Moreover Oxocrate, which is actually cold, was applied to his Neck, Forehead and Testicles, and Revulsions by Ligatures and Painful Frictions of the extream Parts, and by Cupping Glasses applied to his Shoulders, which avail'd nothing; at length, after the bleeding had continued above thirty six hours, and the strength of the Patient, through loss of Blood was very much exhausted, then he was forced to admit of Astringents to be thrust up into his Nostrils; therefore when we had cleansed his Nostrils from the clotted Blood, we ordered a Powder of Trochischs of Myrrh, of Bole-Armoniac, Mastick and Frankin∣cense to be blown through a Quill into his Nostrils, and withal thrust up a thick Tent made of Linnen about a Fingers length dipt in Vine∣gar, and the white of an Egg, and sprinkled with the same Powder, by which means the bleeding seemed to stop for two or three hours; but afterwards the Blood began to descend through his Palate into his Mouth, and the Tent falling out, he bled again at the Nostril. Then after we had once more cleansed his Nostril; we blew up the same Powder again, and thrust up a peice of Chalk in the form of a Tent, so big as to fill the whole Concavity of the Nostril; which stopped the bleeding presently; however, to be sure, we let the Chalk stay in three days; and so for this time the Patient escaped a most threatning danger; the next Year, in Autunm, the same bleeding took him again, for the stopping of which, after he had used a whole Day and a Night certain idle old Women's Remedies in vain; when his strength was almost Exhausted, he sent again for me; and then with the same means of a Chalk Tent I presently stopped the Bleeding as I had done before; but not long after, his Liver being refrigerated and weakned through the loss of so much Blood, being seiz'd at the same time with a Dropsy and an Asthma, he ended his days.

ANNOTATIONS.

AN excessive Bleeding at the Nose, when Symptomatical, and not Critical, in regard it occasions the Dropsie, a Cachexy, and other grei∣vous Maladies, is to be stopped with all the speed imaginable. This is cured by revulsion of the Blood flowing to the Nostrils; by repelling the Blood from the Nostrils; by thickning the Blood; and by shutting the opened Veins.

The best and suddainest way to draw back the Blood, is, by opening a Vein in the Arm, on that side which is affected; by which means Galen affirms, that he has suddainly stopped violent Bleedings at the Nostrils. Most Physitians believe a little Orifice is best, and to take away the Blood in a small quantity and at several times. But we are for a large Ori∣fice, that the Blood may freely spin forth, which causes a swifter revulsion, Cup∣ping-glasses also are are prevalent Re∣vulsives. Thus Galen stopped a bleed∣ing in a Young Man by applying a Cup∣ing-glass to his Hypochondriums. Fo∣restus cured a desperate Bleeding at the Nose by Cupping-glasses applied to the foot; which Experiment we have fre∣quently try'd with success. Cupping∣glasses apply'd to the shoulders are not so well liked by many; because they draw the Blood from the lower Parts to the upper. Crato commends the pain∣ful bending of the little-finger on the

side affected: of the same Nature are Frictions and painful Ligatures of the Extream Parts, and an Actual Cau∣tery applied to the Soles of the Feet; by which means Zacutus writes, that he cured a most desperate bleeding at the Nose.

The Blood is repelled from the No∣strils with Vinegar, cold Water, or Oxy∣mel applyed to the Temples and Neck, or with Cataplasms of Bole, sealed Earth, Mastic, Frankincense, Vinegar, Whites of Eggs and the like; to which may be added Plantain, Pimpernel, and other astringent and cooling Herbs, gathered fresh and bruised; Snails with their Shells mixed with Frankincense and Vinegar, and applied to the Fore∣head and Nostrils, are much com∣mended. Riverius commends Parget kneaded with Vinegar, and laid upon the Forehead and Nostrils about the thickness of two Fingers. Others pre∣fer Vinegar alone or Oxymel snuft up into the Nostrils, or cold Water dash∣ed unawares in the Face. Actius com∣mends the Steam of Vinegar, pour'd up∣on a red hot Tile. Says Pachequus, be∣ing sent for to a Countryman, who bled so excessively that he was just at Deaths door, I dropt into the contrary Ear to the Nostril that bleed, some drops of Vinegar of Roses, and presently the Bleeding stopped. This I learnt from Dr. Pontuado, who saw this Remedy made use of by a Dutch Physitian.

Thickning of the Blood is performed by cooling, astringent and thickning Medicaments taken inwardly, and out∣wardly applied, such are Oxymel and cold Water, and the repelling Medi∣cines already mentioned. Thus Hil∣dan, by wrapping the whole Body of the Party in Linnen Cloaths, dipped in Oxymel, stopped a Bleeding of which the Cure was dispaired of.

The Veins are shut by astringent and glutinying Medicaments thrust up into the Nostrils. Galen mixes Frankincense and Aloes reduced into Powder with the White of an Egg, and with a Linnen Cloth first strewed with Hare's Hair, put up into the Nostrils. The Moss that grows upon dead Mens Skulls ex∣posed to the Air, powdered, and put up any way into the Nostrils, is accounted a most effectual and present Remedy. For my part I have always found the Benefit of a round piece of Chalk. Cotten dipt in Ink, and thrust up into the Nostrils is a very good Remedy. Hogs-dung if ap∣plied while warm, or warmed with Bole-armoniac and Vinegar is account∣ed a Specific, if applied to the Forehead and Temples, smelt to, or thrust up, in∣to the Nostrils; by which means I knew a Noble German, cured of a desperate Bleeding at the Nose. Rodoric a Castro, and Zacutus commend Asses-dung, used in the same manner, the Powder of Mans Blood dried, and Snails burnt with the Shells, and Frogs burnt, and blown up into the Nostrils, is by some no less e∣steemed. Pereda tells us of his curing an old Woman that had bled for three days, with only thrusting up Mint into her Nostrils. The Juice of Nettles either taken inwardly, or applied to the Nostrils, or else Nettles bruifed and laid to the Forehead by a Specific Qua∣lity, stop Bleeding. Lastly, Riverius ap∣plauds for a present Remedy, Spikenard finely powdered, and one dram given in Broth, Plantain, or other proper Li∣quor, which not only by a Specific qua∣lity, but by strengthening the Liver stops Blood.

OBSERVATION LXIV. The French Pox.

A Certain Captain about sixty Years of Age, complained of a very dry Cough, which had troubled him for two or three Months together, with some difficulty of Breathing, and a very great Pain in his Chest; he had eaten very little in two Months, his Stomack was so bad, which had reduced him to a very low and weak condition, though he did not keep his Bed; his Head and Shoulders aked extreamely, but cheifly in the Night, he had a Pain in his Loins, he made water very often, but very little; and when he had need he must do it presently; for he could not hold his water, sometimes his Urin was very sharp, and pain'd him in passing through; besides that, it died his Shirt of a Safforn or reddish Colour, more

then this he had found himself impotent for a whole Year together. By these Signs I judged him to be troubled with the French Disease; more especially because he confess'd he had been a long time troubled with a Gonorrhea, which an unskilful Chyrurgeon had stopped with∣out any preceding Purgation, which occasioned these Symptoms, that every day increased. He had also been pepper'd with the Distemper, about ten Years before; and was known to be a common frequenter of leud Company. As for the inward Pain of his Chest and dry Cough, I knew they proceeded from his immoderate taking Tobacco, sometimes fifty, and when he took least, thirty Pipes a day. First therefore I prescribed him a proper Diet: and among other things enjoyned him to leave off his excessive taking Tobacco, allowing him three or four Pipes a day, for fear the total forsaking of an inveterate Custom might do him an injury, then for his Cough and the Pain in his Breast I prescribed him the following Emplaster to be laid over all his Chest, which in a short time first abated, and then per∣fectly cured his Cough, and difficulty of Breathing, to a won∣der;

℞. Castor, the best Saffron, Nutmegs, Cloves, Storax, Calam. Be∣zoin an. ℈j. s. Reduce them to a fine Powder; and mix there∣with G•…•…m Armoniac, Galbanum dissolved in Wine, Emplaster of Meltlot, Oxycroceum, an. ʒ v. Make a Plaister to be spread upon a thin peice of Leather.

Before I laid on this Plaister, I purg'd his Body. The next day, being the twenty second of November, I prescribed him this Decoction, to take every Morning a good draught, and Sweat a little, and in the Evening to take another draught, but because he was so weak, no Sweating was expected.

℞. Lig. Guaiacum. ℥xii. Bark of the same, Salsaperil. an. ℥iij. Sassafrass-wood, Licorice sticed an. ℥j. s. Common-water lb. xii. Macerate them near the fire twenty four hours. Then boyl them in a Vessel close shut to lb. v. Roots of Elecampane ℥j. Carduus Benediot. M. ij. Rosemary, Scordium, Baum, Ger∣mander, Groud-Ivy, Marjoram, Centaury the less an. M. j. Stoned Raisons of the Sun. ℥vj. Make a Decoction.

The twenty eight of November he was purg'd again, and he took the same Decoction again, adding ℥j. s. of China-root; but he Sweat with a great difficulty, and very little, because of the extremity of the cold Weather. By the fifth of December, the Pains in his Shoulders and Head were much abated, so that he slept quietly at Nights, and felt himself much better, however the sharpness of his Urine still continued, and a slight Gonorrhea; where we went on as we begun; for his Cough and weakness of his Stomach, I prescribed him this Tablet.

℞. Dry root of Elecampane ʒ j. English Saffron ℈. s. Calamus Aro∣maticus, Florence-Orrice, Benzoyn an. ℈j. Flower of Sul∣phur ℈ij. sliced Licorice ℈ j. s. Reduce them in a very fine Powder; and with fine white Sugar dissolved in Fennel-water make them into Tablets.

The tenth of December, he purged with our Antipestilential Pills: for his Body was soon moved. The seventeenth of December, he took

Decoction again, which made him Sweat plentifully, because per∣haps the long use of the Decoction had made Nature more prone to Sweat; and now all the Symptoms began to vanish by degrees, his Appetite returned, and in regard the Patient felt no more Pain, we forbore any more Physic; and thus by this easiy course, the Gentle∣man was perfectly freed from that detestable Disease. But his Genitals had contracted such a Debility from a long continu'd Gonorrhea, that his Venereal abilities were quite decayed, nor could be restored by any Provocatives whatever. The Year following 1638. in Feburary returning to his wonted excess of taking Tobacco, the Pain in his Breast, his dry Cough, and difficulty of breathing likewise returned, which by his abstaining from Tobacco, and the application of the foresaid Emplaster were again absolutely removed.

OBSERVATION LXV. A Diarrhaea.

A Dutch Gentleman having drank in the Evening too large a quan∣tity of new Wine, all that Night was Tormented with violent Pains in his Belly; the next day he was taken with a loosness, which seemed at first to give him some ease; but afterwards increasing within two days was changed into a Dysentery; then the Gentleman, afraid of his Life, sent for me; I presently gave him the following Purge;

℞. The best Rubarb ʒij. Leaves of Senna cleans'd ʒiij. Myrobo∣lan Cheb. ʒij. Seeds of Anise ℈ij. Decoction of Barley. q. s. Make an Infusion. To the straining add Syrup of Succory with Rubarb ℥ j. Mix them for a Draught.

This brought away much Choleric Matter, and strangely eased the Gripes of his Belly; the next Evening I gave him the following Su∣dorific, which caused him to Sweat much that Night afterwards he Sweat quietly, and both the Pain and the Flux ceased, and his former Health returned.

℞. Treacle of Andromachus ʒj. Philonium Romanum ℈j. Of our Treacle-water, Stone-Parsly-water an. ℥ j. Mix them for a Potion.

ANNOTATIONS.

MUST or new Wine, as Diascorides and Galen testifie is difficulty con∣cocted, and begets Wind. Hence Cru∣dities, Oppilations of the Bowels, and Griping of the Guts. Many times the excessive drinking of it causes a Sup∣pression of Urine, as it befel my self once in France. Sometimes it begets Cholic pains; Sometimes it causes a Dy∣sentery, as it happen'd to our Patient. Hence it happens that our Germans lit∣tle accustom'd to Must, when they go into France and swill it too immode∣rately, are troubled with Diarrheas dangerous and many times mortal Dy∣senteries, especially such as had eaten great plenty of Grapes before.

OBSERVATION LXVI. An Uterine Suffocation.

JOan Segers a Widow, in the flower of her Age, left with Child by her Husband, that dyed some Months before, was delivered of a Son in August. This Woman during her Month having been too busie about her House, in the third week was taken with an Uterine Suffocation; so that she thought her Matrix ascended up to her Throat; and this Suf∣focation was accompanyed with Murmuring and Pains of the Belly and Sides. The Woman had not slept in three whole days and nights, nor could she either sit or lye still in a place for a quarter of an hour. I conjectur'd that these Suffocations proceeded from Wind or Cold receiv'd into her Body through her Womb. In the Evening therefore I gave her the following Potion, which caus'd her to sleep a little, and put off the greatest part of the Symptoms.

℞. Flowers of Cammomil. M. s. Lovage seed. ʒj. s. Wild Carot seed ʒ. s. White-wine q. s. Let them boyl a little.

℞. Of the straining, ℥ij. Roman Philonium, Mithridate of Da∣moc, an. ʒ s. Oyl of Amber distilled by descent drop, ix. Mix them for a Potion,

The next day, though she was much better, yet because the Symp∣toms were not absolutely ceas'd, and for that she had not gone to Stool in three days, I gave her a gentle Purge; which done, this Emplaster was laid to her Navel.

℞. Castor Pulveriz'd, Benzoyn an. ℈j. s. Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar, Tacamahacca, an. ʒij. s. Mix them, and spread them upon a peice of Leather of a hands breadth.

In the Evening going to Bed she took ℈ij. of Amber powdered with a little Wine: She slept quietly, and heard no more of her Symptoms.

ANNOTATIONS.

ERotis in a Suffocation and Disloca∣tion of the Womb, commends the Root of Lovage boyl'd and bruis'd with Hogs-grease, and laid to the Navel; but I believe the raw root bruis'd to be better. Mercatus recommends Tacama∣hacca or Caranna alone; or an Emplaster of Great Treacle, Angelica and Agnus Castus seed. Montagnana extols for a great Secret, and a present Remedy, the following Emplaster laid upon the Na∣vel:

℞. Mugwort, Feverfew, Lignum Aloes, an. ℈. s. Galbanum, Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar an. ʒj. s. Wax, q. s. For a Plaister.

But he more highly applauds the fol∣lowing Emplaster.

℞. Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar, ℥j Soft and whitish Bedellium ʒij. Powder of Feverfew ʒj. s. Myrrh. ℈j. Mix them for a Plaister.

Forestus affirms that a Plaister of Gal∣banum alone has done Miracles: but that he had found by daily Experience the extraordinary benefit of the fol∣lowing Magisterial Emplaster, which he spreads upon Leather, edg'd about with Galbanum, to make it stick the better.

℞. Gallia Moscata, Alipta Moscata, Storax Calam. Pure Laudanum, Ma∣stic, an. ℥. Lignum Aloes, Xylobalsa∣mum, Galangal, Cyperus Carpobalsa∣mum, an. ʒiij Red Roses ʒj. s. New Wax lb. s. Turpentine, q. s. Make a Plaister according to Art.

OBSERVATION LXVII. A Burstenness in the Groin, with a Gangrene.

THomas Adeler, an English Trooper, about sixty years of age, had had a burstenness in his left Groin for many years. In the Year 1637. in September, the Gut which fell down into the Burstenness, be∣ing distended with a great quantity of Wind, hapned to break, so that the Ordure fell down into the void Space of the Burstenness. This presently caused a Gangrene of the Part, with an intollerable Stench; by which means, the Part being putrified and broken, the Ordure of the Belly came forth at that Hole, never at the Fundament. Being sent for, though I thought him incurable, yet I ordered Spirit of Wine, with Mel Rosatum, and Oyntment Egyptiacum, to be applied to the Part; till the Gangrenous Parts were separated from the sound Parts. Then we found that the Gut was not only broken, but quite broken off the one Part from the other, and that the upper Part hung out, and gave passage to the Excrement. The end of this Intestine afterwards grew fleshy, and acquired a kind of a fleshy Ring, and this Ring cleaved afterwards so fast to the neighbouring Flesh; so that for the future, the Intestine remained always fix'd and open in that Part, and gave passage to the Excrement: So that we ordered him to carry a little brass Pot, so ordered and hung, as to give him the least trouble that might be; and thus, in all other Parts sound and healthy, he walk'd abroad where-ever he pleased; and in nine years, that he was forced to carry about him that troublesome Burthen, he was never sick.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis is a tare and remarkable Ex∣ample. I never thought before that a broken Gut could grow to the adjoyning Flesh in the Groyn, till I was a Witness of it in this Patient. True it is, that if a Gut happen to break a∣mong the fleshy Muscles of the Abdo∣men, such a Coalition may sometimes happen, as Plater observes: A certain Captain, says he, being wounded in his Belly, voided his Excrements through a Pipe which was left there after the Wound was cured, and was for many years afterward a∣live and well. The Cause of which, when I examined, I found that Wounds of the Guts, if they seem to trace the fleshy Por∣tions of the Muscles of the Abdomen, af∣ter the Lips of the Wounds of the Guts and muscly Flesh are glutinated on both sides, there may be a Passage made for the Excrement to come forth, and be prevent∣ed from falling into the Cavity of the Abdomen; and that those Wounds, al∣though they cannot be consolidated, yet they are not Mortal; which though very seldom happens, sometimes in other Parts, as in the Bladder. Iohn Hornung, al∣so a Physician of Heydenheim, tells a Story of a Country Man, whose right Gut, upon a Wound in the Abdomen, came forth, opened with a broad Wound; nor was it put back by the Chyrurgeon, but the Wound of the Abdomen being cured, hung out as long as the Man lived, retaining its natural Colour, yet somewhat more thick and more fleshy; and through this Passage it was that the Excrement came always forth with an extraordinary Stench, for∣saking the common Road of the Fun∣dament.

OBSERVATION. LXVIII. A Pining Consumption, caused by a vitiated Stomach.

MOnsieur de Nassau, a Captain of Horse, in the Flower of his Age, in the Year 1637. during the Siege of Breda, in Sep∣tember, as he lay in his Bed all in a Sweat, hearing some Troops of Horse march by his Window, leap'd out of his Bed, opened his Casement, and stood looking out for some time; and by that time became suddenly overcool'd by a North Wind, at that time cold and tempestuous, fell into a violent Distemper. Presently he complained of an extraordinary Griping in his Belly about the Region of his Sto∣mach; he had also withal, a slight Fever, with a violent Cough, which brought up much clammy, flegmatick, ill-coloured Matter, yet without any Pain in his Breast. Several of the most eminent Physici∣ans were sent for, who by his Spittle, his Cough, and other Symptoms, concluded that his Disease was a real Consumption, and that incura∣ble, and told the Prince of Orange that he would suddenly dye. As for the Pain in his Belly, those they unanimously agreed to be the Cholic Passion, caused by the suddain Cold. To asswage this Pain, which they call'd the Cholic, they used several Remedies for a long time, which gave ease sometimes, but never cur'd, which they affirm∣ed was impossible to be done. To abate his Cough, they made him an Issue in his Left-arm, and gave him the following Apozeme to take for many Weeks;

℞. China Roots the best ℥j. Leaves of Scabious, Colts-foot, Betony, Pim•…•…ernel, Plantain, an. m. j. Cordial Flowers, an one small Handful, ston'd Raisins ℥j. Licorice shav'd ʒij. Anise-seed ℈iiij. Boil them in Barley water of the second Decoction, q. s. to lb ij. For an Apozeme.

For an ordinary Looch, they gave him equal Parts of Syrup of Poppy and Cumfrey. Also they prescribed him a cold Diatragacanth in Tablets; and to loosen his Belly, they gave him this small Po∣tion.

℞. Rhubarb choice ʒj. Yellow Saunders ℈s. Decoction of Barley ℥iij. Infuse them all Night, and to the Straining add Manna of Calabria ℥s. For a Potion.

This gave him one or two Stools. Now, when they had had the Gen∣tleman two Months and a half, and all their Physick did no good; insomuch that the Gentleman was reduced to Skin and Bone, and his Strength every day more and more decay'd; they would give him no more Physic, but gave him over for incurable. Then I was thought of, and the Gentleman was brought from Breda to Nimeghen in a Man of War. The Gentleman gave me a full Accompt of his Di∣stemper, and what had been done to him, and shewed me the Receits that had been prescribed him, and which he had taken: So that when I had considered all things, I could not be of those Physicians Opinion. For by his Spittle and Cough, he shewed no Signs of a Con∣sumption, for though he brought up tough and ill-coloured Stuff, yet neither was it Matter nor Blood. The Pain of his Stomach was no

Cholic, as being fixed in his Stomach, and not accompanied with Wind; but twitching the Ventricle with extream Pains, by Intervals, not wandring through the Guts. Therefore I judged the Cause of this Pain to be a salt Flegm, caused by the first sudden Refrigeration, and adhering to the Ventricles of the Stomach, which fermenting at Intervals through the afflux of Choler, or sharp Rhume, caused those cruel Gripings. Other things also shewed the Stomach to be offended, as loss of Appetite, inclination to vomit, troublesome Belches, Cru∣dities, &c. The Cough I looked upon, as caused by Defluctions falling upon the Lungs, which were continually fed by the crude Va∣pors carried from the ill affected Stomach to the Head, and thence falling down again upon the Breast; the Gentleman thus satisfied with my Conjectures, in order to the Cure, upon the twenty sixth of No∣vember, I laid him on upon his Head, a Cap or Quilt of Cephalic Herbs, and other hot Ingredients, which he wore all that Winter. I or∣dered him a warning and attenuating Diet, Meats of good Juice, and easie of Digestion; to which Diet, I left him wholly, without giving him any other Physic, for three or four days, because of his extraordi∣nary Weakness. Within a few days, his stinking and ill-coloured Spittle, his Brain being corroborated by the help of the Quilt, and his Defluxions ceasing, became white and of its natural Consistence, and neither so much nor so clammy as before. The thirtieth of No∣vember, the Pains of his Stomach began to gripe him, not extending themselves beyond the Region of the Stomach, yet so terrible, that they seemed to surpass the Pains of Child-bed. To asswage this Pain, I gave him one Dram of our Anticholic Electuary, by five a clock in the Morning, and again, at eleven at Noon; but this would not stir the Pain. Thereupon I applied to his Breast a Cere-cloth of Storax, Benzoin, Castor, Galbanum, all over the Region of his Stomach. The first of December, the Patient would swallow no Physic, only he took a Glister that gave him one Stool. The next day, he having taken Pill. Ruffiae, had three Stools, but his Pain nothing abated, so that his Strength being extreamly wasted by the Violence thereof, we were forced to Narcotics; of which, I made choice of the hotest, by its heat to strengthen the Stomach, and digest and cut the clammy cold Humors, and by its Narcotic Faculty to asswage the Pain. To which purpose, I gave him about Night one Dram of Philonium Romanum, prepared with Euphorbium, which allay'd the Pains within three hours. The third of December, he took several times that day a small quan∣tity of the following Conditement;

℞. Specier. Diamosch. Diambra, an. ℈j. s. Diagalanga ℈j. Roots of Calamus Aromaticus condited, Conserve of Anthos, an. ℥s. Preserved Nutmegs ʒij. Confection of Alkermes ℈•…•…j. Syrup of Limon q. s. Oyl of Cinnamon gutt. ij. For a Conditement.

About Night his Pains began to return again, but not with that vehemency. The next day, taking Pill. Ruffiae, he had three Stools. Toward Evening, by his Pulse I found him somewhat feverish; but upon taking this small Potion the Fever vanished.

℞. Treacle of Andromac ʒj. Of our Treacle-water ℥j s. Oyl of Vi∣triol gutt. vij. For a Draught.

The fifth of December, the Pain in his Stomach was very gentle; his Cough and Spitting ceased; but some beginnings of a Fever ap∣peared, which upon taking this Apozem vanished;

℞. Succory Roots of Asparagus, an. ℥j. Of Elecampane ℥s. Herbs, Endive, Centaury the less, Roman Wormwood, an. M. j. Car∣duus Ben. M. s. Anise-seed ʒj. s. Corrents ℥ij. Orange and Citron Peels dried, an. ʒiij. Boil them in common Water q. s. for an Apozem, to lbj. s.

In the Evening I gave him an Amigdalate, which caused him to sleep, which was continued for three days, during which time, feed∣ing now and then upon Chicken-broth, his Strength was somewhat recovered. All this while there was somewhat troubled the Patient's Stomach, which he could not well express in Words, only that some∣thing ascended up now and then to his Throat; this spoiled his Appe∣tite, and hindred his Digestion, and as the Patient believed, was that from which the Fits derived their Original; therefore to extirpate this Malady, I gave him the following Antimoniate Wine.

℞. Crocus Metallorum of our Preparation gr. xv. Strong French Wine ℥iiij. Steep them all Night, the next Morning strain them through a double brown Paper for a Draught.

He took this Potion the twelfth of December, at eight of the clock in the Morning: At nine a clock he had an Inclination to Vomit, but brought up nothing; but a little after, he brought up some few Lumps like Glew, and of a greenish Colour. About eleven a clock, his Anxi∣ety ceasing, he had seventeen watry Stools, of a mixed Colour, with∣out any Gripes; however, because his Strength was much impaired, we refreshed him with Cinnamon-water and Sugar. In the Evening, I gave him a Draught of generous Wine, with a Dram of Treacle, and so the next Night he slept indifferent well. The next day, he per∣ceived the thing that troubled him in his Stomach to be gone, which he never felt more. From that time his Stomach began to come to him, and he eat three Porringers of Broth that day, and digested them well. The following days he was so hungry, that he not only eat three or four times a day, but sometimes at Midnight: the two first days he was fed with Broths variously prepared; the third day, be began to eat boil'd Chickens, Lamb, Veal, &c. and some∣times to drink a Glass of Wine; the fourth, he came to roasted Meats, and so fell to his accustomed Diet, and so in a short time he recovered his former Strength.

OBSERVATION. LXIX. Nephritic Pains.

MOnsieur Bronkherst, Lord of Werdenburgh, in the Flower of his Youth, and a great Lover of Rhenish-wine, was taken the twen∣ty sixth of December, with most cruel Nephritic Pains, not without some obstruction of his Urine. Six years before, being troubled with the same Pain, he had voided a little Stone, but after that he had not had the least touch of the Malady, nor so much as voided any Gravel.

To asswage the Pain, I gave him an Emollient Glister, then prescribed him this Mixture.

℞. Oyl of sweet Almonds new drawn ℥iij. s. Iuice of Limons ʒvj. Malmsey-wine ℥iij. Mix them for three Doses, to take once in three hours.

The following Liniment was also laid warm to his Loins;

℞. Oyls of Scorpions, Lawrel, bitter Almonds, an. ℥s. Of Cammo∣mil, Dill, Turpentine, an. ʒij. Mix them.

Toward Evening his Pains ceased; in the Night, making Water free∣ly, he voided a rough unequal Stone, about the bigness of a Pea. The fourteenth of Ianuary, having exposed himself to the Cold in vehe∣ment Weather, his Pains returned; at what time, taking the same Mixture again, he voided another Stone, and was again freed from his Pains. But for the future Prevention, I advised him to swallow every other day a Pill of transparent Aloes, or a Bolus of Venice Tur∣pentine, and sometimes to use Fernelius's Syrup de Althea; but above all things, to forbear the use of Rhenish-wine.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE Reason why Rhenish-wine en∣genders the Stone, and causes the Gout, is the Sal Tartar, which is more sharp, and four times more abounding in Rhenish-wine, than in French or Canary, or any other Wine; which tartareous Salt, not being well digested in some Bodies, is separated from the Mass of Blood, and with the Serum, carried to the Kidneys, and so hardens into Stones, and being expell'd into the Joynts, causes most dreadful Torments. For the Nature of Salts is, by corrod∣ing other Bodies to reduce them in∣to Atoms, and associate to them∣selves. This Corrosion is the Cause of the Gout; for while the tartarous Salt corrodes the nervous and membranous Parts, and endeavours to associate them to its self, those cruel Pains are excited, which are mitigated by an Afflux of watry Humors, for Salt dissolv'd with much moisture looses its Acrimony. But you'l say, why does not this Salt cause as great Pains in the Kidneys as in the Joynts? because the most subtle and acrimonious part of it, is dissolved by the continual Passage of the Urine, and carried away with the Urine through the Bladder; but the thick, gravelly and earthly Substance remains, which does not offend so much by its Acrimony, as by its Bulk and roughness. Now the reason why the German Wines abound with Tartar, is, because the very Soil of Germany it self, where the Vines grow, aboundeth with Tartar; nor is there any Plant which sucks up the salt and tartarous Parts of the Earth, more than the Vine. And therefore it is, that in many Places of Moravia, Austria, Bohemia and Hungaria, where the Soil is such, that most Men are troubled with the Gout, or Stone in the Kidneys and Bladder, or both. Lastly, that Wine engenders the Gout, is ap∣parent from hence, for that the For∣bearance of VVine cures it. Of which, the Physicians bring many Examples; and M. Donatus himself confesses, that he was cured of the Gout by leaving off VVine for two years.

OBSERVATION LXX. An Extream Pain under the Sternon-Bone.

LIeutenant More, in the Flower of his Age, in Ianuary, felt a most terrible Pain, which extended it self in a right Line from the top of the Aspera Arteria, to the upper Orifice of the Stomach, all along the Sternon-bone, and so cruelly tormented the Person, that he could not move himself one way nor other. He neither had any Cough or difficulty of Breathing; his Lungs and Aspera Arteria were perfectly free; nor did his Gullet pain him in swallowing; neither lastly, was there any thing to be seen outwardly. The Pain lay un∣der the Sternon, where it is fastned to the Mediastrinum, or in the Membrane annexed to it withinside, which was thus occasioned. The Patient, the Evening before, had been hard drinking a strong sort of French Wine, at a great Supper, and with that and a very great Fire all the time in the Room, had over-heated himself to a great degree. After which, going home at Midnight in a Sweat, of a suddain by the way, he was taken with a violent Cold, for it freezed very hard; hence the Pores being presently shut, the hot and sharp Vapors being condensed and congealed, stuck to the inner Membrane of the Ster∣non-bone, which almost numb'd that part with the sharpness of the pain, that was still encreasing by the motion of the Breast. For the Cure of this Malady, I loosened his Body with a Glister, and then pre∣scribed him this Sudorific to take warm.

℞. Treacle ℈iiij. Extract of Carduus Ben. and Angelica an. ℈j. English Saffron gr. vj. Of Treacle-water ℥ij. Oyl of Anise gr. iiij. Mix them for a Potion.

Upon this he sweat very well, but the pain continued as before. Af∣ter he had sweat, I applied the following Cere-cloth to the place affected.

℞. Powder of Castor, Cloves, Benjamin, Saffron, an. ℈j. Galba∣num dissolved in Wine ℥s. Melilot, Oxicroceum ʒiij. Mix them and make a Cere-cloth to be spread upon Leather as long as the Part affected, four Fingers broad, and anoint the same with Oyl of Nutmegs distilled.

After this Cere-cloth had stuck six or seven hours to the Part, the pain began to abate very much, so that the Patient could move himself with more ease. The next day he took a Purge, and had five Stools; which done, after the Cere-cloth had stuck on three days, the pain went quite off, and the Gentleman went abroad well in Health. But afterwards, in February, having over-heated himself with drinking of Spanish Wine, the same Cere-cloth cured him again in three days.

OBSERVATION LXXI. The Head-ach.

PEter Ioannis, an Ale-brewers Servant, a strong Fellow, in Ianua∣ry, when it freezed very hard, was taken with a terrible pain in his Head, otherwise ailing nothing; by reason of which pain, he could take no Rest night nor day, for several Days and Nights together, which not only caused the loss of his Stomach, but also a Delirium; nevertheless, the Patient was so obstinate, that he would take no Phy∣sic, only by much perswasion he would admit of Topics. Thereupon, for present ease, I prescribed the following Fomentation, with which being warm, I ordered his Head to be fomented, and Napkins four times doubled, and dipt in the Fomentation, to be laid all over his Head, and to be shifted as they grow cold, and this is to be continued all the Night long.

℞. Rosemary, Vervain, Betony, Thyme, an. m. j. Marjoram m. j. s. Sage m s. Flowers of Cammomil and Melilot an. m. j. of Dill and Stoechas, an. m. s. Seeds of Cummin and Dill, Lawrel Berries, an. ℥s. White-wine q. s. Boil them to lb iij. To the Straining add Spirit of Wine ℥iiij. For a Fomentation.

The next day the pain was much abated; but in regard the Patient refused all manner of Physic, the Fomentation was continued for two days, by which time his Sleep returned, and the pain went almost all off, only some remainder of pain in his Fore-head, a little above his Nose, with some Obstruction of his Nostrils, which proceeding from a tough Flegm, closely adhering to the Ethmoids-bone; I prescribed him a sneezing Medicine of the Juice of the Root of Betony, which when he had drawn up into his Nostrils, first opened with a Quill, he voided from his Palate and Nostrils a great quantity of tough Flegm, and so was quite freed from his intollerable pain.

ANNOTATIONS.

I Confess this Course of curing, with∣out any Evacuation or Diversion preceding, was not so safe; for that the flegmatic Humors collected in the Brain, and attenuated by the hot Fo∣mentation, might have easily fallen up∣on some noble Bowel, not without great danger; but in regard the great abun∣dance of Humors threatned either an Apoplexy or a Delirium, or a Lethar∣gy, and the Intensness of the Pain, a Fever, and for that the Patient refused to take any Physic, not so much as a Glister, nor would suffer Blood-letting, I was forced, for the prevention of greater Mischiefs, to proceed as I did to Topics, remembring the Saying of Cel∣sus, 'Tis no matter whether the Remedy be safe when there is no other.

OBSERVATION LXXII. The Scurvey.

AGnes Alberti, a Maid of about twenty four years of Age, com∣plained of a dull heavy Pain in her left Side, under the Bastard Ribs; as also of a certain Chilliness of her whole Spine. She had also certain cold Shakings, frequent Debilities and fainting Fits, which

presently went off; besides, she had certain black and blew Spots upon her Thighs; moreover, her Teeth were loose, and her Gums eaten away, she had an ill Smelling. By these Signs, I judged her to have the Scurvy. But in regard it was in the midst of a hard frosty Winter, when no proper Herbs were to be got, and because the Extremity of the Cold would not permit of Purgation, I only prescribed her this following Electuary, to take of it the quantity of a Nutmeg three times a day, and all the while to observe a good Diet;

℞. Specier. Diambrae, of Aromaticum Rosatum, Seed of Bishops∣weed and Parsley, an. ℈ij. Nasturtium, Cremor Tartar, an. ʒiij. Choice Cinnamon ʒj. Sal Prunella ℈j. Reduce them into a ve∣ry sine Powder. Then,

℞. Long fat Raisins q. s. Boil them in Wine till they are soft, and strain the Pulp through a hair Sieve.

℞. Of this Pulp lbs. and mix the whole Powder with it, together▪ with Oyl of Anise and Iuniper, an ℈j. Syrup of Limons q. s. For an Electuary.

I would willingly have mixed some bitter things, but she had an Aver∣sion to them. I advised her also, if there were any Winter Scurvy∣grass or Nasturtium to be got, to steep those Herbs in small Ale or Wine, and then to boil them gently, and to take that Decoction, de∣ferring the rest of the Cure till April; in the mean time, to fix and fa∣sten her Teeth, I prescribed the following Alum-water.

℞. Powder Alum, ʒj. Common VVater ℥vj. Cinnamon-water ℥j. Mix them to wash the Mouth.

After she had made use of these things a while, she felt a great ease, and the Spots of her Thighs vanished. The twenty sixth of April, the following Apozem was prepared for her; of which, after she had taken three or four times, and purged her Body twice, she was quite freed from her Distemper.

℞. Pylypody of the Oak, Rind of Caper-roots, an. ℥j. Roots of Fennel, Eryngos, Stone-parsley, Elecampane, an. ℥s. Fumary, Dodder, Lesser Centaury, the whole Dandelyon, an. m. j. Roman VVormwood, Flowers of Elder, an. m. s. Seeds of Parsley, Anise, Fennel, Nasturtium, an. ʒj. s. Currants ℥ij. Rhenish Tartar ℥j. Common VVater, q. s. Boil them according to Art, adding at the end, Root of wild Raddish ℥j. Herbs, Scurvy-grass, VVater-Nasturtium, Brook-lime, an. m. j. To make an Apozem of lb ji.

ANNOTATIONS.

MAny believe the Scurvy to be of the number of those new Dis∣eases, which Dodoneus writes were first known in Brabant, in the Year 1556, though epidemic for some years before; among the Belgians, Danes, and other Northern Regions. However, Hippo∣crates describes a certain Disease call'd the Bloody Volvulus, very like the Scur∣vy, if not in all things, yet in most, as a stinking Mouth, starting of the Gums from the Teeth, bleeding at the Nose, Ulcers upon the Thighs, some going off, others newly come, the Skin ema∣ciated and black, Sloathfulness, and Inability to work or walk. Pliny de∣scribes this Disease by the Name of Sceleturbe, where he says, that there was a new Disease in Germanicus's Camp beyond the Rhine, which caus'd

shedding of Teeth, and loosned the Joynts of the Knees. But that there was a Root which was found out for it, which was called Britannica, good for the Nerves and Maladies of the Mouth, having a long Leaf and a black Root. For as in the French Disease, Guaiacum, Sassaperil, and some few other things are Specific; so has this Disease certain proper Antidotes, as Spoon-wort, the Nasturtiums, Brook-lime, Fumitory, wild Radish, &c. with some other bit∣ter things that are not purgative.

OBSERVATION LXXIII. A Weakness of the Stomach.

CAptain de Gone, about fifty years of age, for some Weeks had been troubled with a Weakness of his Stomach, which had both lost its Appetite and Concoction, accompanied with trouble∣some Belches, and a nauceousness. After I had prescribed him a pro∣per Diet to cleanse his Stomach from Crudities and cold and viscous Humors, I prescribed him this Apozeme, to take at four times, four Mornings together;

℞. Roots of Elecampane, Mecoacan, Fennel, an. ℥s. Calamus Aromat. Galangale, an. ʒij. Herbs, Mint, Rosemary, Nipp, Marjoram, lesser Centaury, an. m. j. Wormwood, Baum, Hyssop, an. m. s. Seed of Carthamum ℥j. Of Fennel, Caroways, an. ʒij. Raisins stoned ℥ij. Common Water q. s. Boil them, and add toward the end, White Agaric ʒij. Leaves of Senna cleansed, ℥j. s. Anise-seed ʒv.

This gave him three or four Stools a day; so that after he had thus purged, I ordered him to take an hour before Dinner and Supper, a Dose of this Powder in a Draught of generous Wine.

℞. Root of Calamus Arom. Specier. Diagalangae, Diambra, an. ʒj. s. Mace, Choice Cinnamon, Ginger, an. ʒj. Make a Powder to be divided into ten equal Doses.

I advised him also in a Morning, to drink a Draught of Wormwood-Wine, and these few means restored his Stomach to its former Strength.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN cold Distempers of the Stomach, besides those already mentioned, Observation 5. 8. there are several o∣thers which are highly commended by Physitians. Some extol the use of Tur∣pentine, and call it the true Balsam of the Bowels, in regard it gently heats, purges and cleanses the Bowels. Zechi∣us highly commends this Bolus, and says there is nothing better can be used.

℞. Clear Turpentine ʒj. Mastich pow∣dered ʒs. Powder of Aromaticum Ro∣satum ℈s. Make a Bolus to be given two hours before Meat.

Some there are that boil up Turpen∣tine into the Form of Pills, but errone∣ously; for that the more effectual ver∣tue of the Turpentine exhales in boiling. Balsam of Perue is an admirable thing to strengthen the Stomach; if you take some few Drops of it in strong Wine be∣fore Meat. Crollius commends his Elix∣ir Proprietatis: Hartman and others pre∣fer Zedoary before all other things. The Decoctions of Guaiacum and Sassafras are very good. Distilled Oils also are very proper, of Cloves, Anise, Carro∣ways, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, and the like, given in some few Drops of strong Wine. The following digestive Pow∣der

is also very much used to help Con∣coction.

℞. Coriander prepared ℥j. sweet Fennel∣seed and Aniseseed, an. ʒij. Cinnamon, Cloves, an. ʒs. Sugar ℥iij. Reduce them into Powder; the Dose one Spoon∣ful after Meals.

Wormwood also taken any way is very much commended, as Galen testifies, who cured a Woman that had lost her Stomach, and so weak, that she could get no Food down, with only Worm∣wood-wine. Therefore, says Montagna, among Medicines which strengthen the Appetite and Digestion, and open the Ob∣structions thereof, and cleanse away and dries up the Matters therein contained, Wormwood is the most famous: and all Wormwood Medicines, whether Julebs or Confections. Langius's Electuary is also very proper in such cases.

℞. Conserve of Roses ℥ij. s. Rosemary Flow∣ers ℥j. Lavender Flowers ℥s. Galangale, Cubebs, Xyloaloes an. ℈j. Aniseed ʒs. Cinnamon ʒj. Calamus Aromaticus ʒij. Ginger condided ℥s. Pine Apples pre∣pared ʒvj. Make these into an Electu∣ary with Syrup of preserved Citron.

I restored a lost Appetite, and a Sto∣mach overwhelmed with Crudities by the use of this Powder.

℞. Roots of Zedoary, Galangale, Ca∣lamus Aromat. an. ʒj. VVhite Gin∣ger ʒs. Cinnamon ℈ij. Cremor Tar∣tar ʒij. Make a Powder, the Dose ʒs. or ℈ij. in the Morning, after Dinner and Supper in a Draught of generous VVine.

Monsieur de Spieck generally made use of this;

℞. Root of Calam. Aromatic. VVhite Ginger, Galangale, an. ʒj. For a Pow∣der.

But these kind of Stomachical Electua∣ries, Powders, Tablets, &c. every Phy∣sician ought to prescribe according to the Disposition of the Patient.

Horstius makes use of this Powder.

℞. Coriander-seed prepared ℥j. s. Anise, Fennel-seed, an. ℥s. Ginger, Galangale, an. ʒj. s. Lignum, Aloes ʒs. Cinnamon ʒj. Fine Sugar, the weight of all the rest, for a Powder.

OBSERVATION LXXIV. The Stone.

RUtger Schorer, a little Boy, had a small Stone which fell down into his Bladder, with extraordinary Pain, but being after∣wards expelled into the Passage of the Yard, because it was too big to pass, it stuck in the middle of the Pipe, and stopped the Urine. Several ways were tried in vain to get it out, so that at length, to add to the Pain, there appeared an Inflammation of the Part; by which we found that there was no way but Incision to get it forth. Where∣fore, after the Chyrurgeon had pulled up the Skin somewhat toward the Glans, he opened the Ureter on that side where the Stone stopped, and took out the Stone, and so the Wound was presently consolidated, without any hurt to the Child.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis sort of Operation, mentioned by Aetius, Grumelenus and Paraeus, seems difficult and dangerous, but yet is very secure. Plato also recites two Ex∣amples of Stones cut out of the Ureter. And though some are afraid of a Fistu∣la upon such a Wound, yet I never knew any such Consequence▪

OBSERVATION LXXV. Nephritic Pain.

THE Son of Lieutenant St. George, about eighteen years of age, who had been always troubled with Gravel from his Infancy, and had often voided little Stones, in Ianuary, was so tormented with a Stone that stuck in both Ureters, that he knew not where to turn himself: For Cure I prescribed him this Apozem,

℞. Roots of Fennel, Saxifrage, an. ℥s. Licorice scraped ʒvj. Herbs, Althea, Mallows, an. m. j. Cammomil Flowers, m. j. s. Cleansed Barley ℥j. Seeds of wild Carrots, Mallows, Nettles, Burdock, an. ʒj. Four greater Cold-seeds, an. ʒj. s. Fat Figs n^o ix. Dates xi. New Milk, Common VVater equal parts. Biol them and make an Apozem to lbiij.

This being taken the same, and the next day, the Pain ceased, after he had voided a small Stone and much Gravel.

The next Month he was troubled with the same Pains, but then, by taking the said Decoction, the Stone was easily brought down through the Ureters into the Bladder; but then, when it came into the Yard, it was so big it could not pass, but obstructed the Urine with most cruel Torture, which the Father not being able to bear, there being no Chyrurgeon to be sent for, with a Razor, made a small Wound underneath the Urinary Passage, where the Stone stuck; which done, the Stone spurted out, and the Urine followed in great quantity. The Wound was consolidated afterwards, sooner than we imagined, with the Application of a few Plaisters.

OBSERVATION LXXVI. Milk in a Virgin's Breast.

A Certain Noble young Lady, about twenty years of age, a Vir∣gin of eminent Chastity, in the Month of February, complained of a Pain in her right Breast, which was also full of Milk. When I had diligently examined the place affected, I felt a hardness in the middle of the Breast, about the bigness of a Pidgeons-egg, which pained her upon Compression: I also understood from her self that her Purgations had been suppressed for four Months together. In or∣der to the Cure, I prescribed her first a convenient attenuating Diet; then, after I had purged her Body, I gave her some Apozems to move her Evacuations, and three or four days before the time of the Period, I opened a Vein in the Heal, by which means, the Evacuation succes∣fully ensued, which having continued three or four days, the Swelling in her Breast fell down, nor did any more Milk come forth. However, in regard the Hardness remained with some Pain, I laid this Oyntment spread upon Linnen, upon the place affected, shifting it once a day;

℞. Honey, Populeon Oyntment, Virgins Wax, an. ℥j. first melt the Wax, then mix the rest, and stir them with a Spatula till they are cold.

This Topic very much abated, and within four days the hardness came to Suppuration. After the Apostem was broken, and had cast forth much white Matter, within a few days the same Topic cured her.

ANNOTATIONS.

CErtainly had not this Lady been a Person eminent for her Chastity, she might easily have incur•…•…ed the Scan∣dal of lost Virginity among the Vul∣gar. For rational Physicians will not deny, but that upon menstruous Ob∣structions, Milk may sometimes be ge∣nerated in the Breasts of Virgins. For, says Hippocrates, if a Woman, that nei∣ther is with Child, nor ever brought forth, has Milk, that Woman labours under a Suppression of her Courses. And I re∣member the same Case in a young La∣dy of Montfort, whose Chastity was above the reach of Scandal, who was cured upon the forcing down her Pur∣gations: To which purpose, Bartholin thus writes, Even in Virgins, many times Milk may be generated, if the Breasts are full of Sperituous Blood, and that there happen withal a menstruous Suppression, in regard the glandulous Sub∣stance concocts more than is necessary for the Nourishment of the VVoman. But 'tis no wonder that such things should happen in young Virgins that have their Flowers, when it is known that the same thing happens to old Women. For Bodin reports a Story of an Infant, that sucking a dry old Woman upon the Death of her Mother, at length drew Milk out of her Breasts, and was nourished with it to sufficiency. Nay, I have seen Milk more than once milked out of the Breasts of Infants not above two years old; which is also attested by Cardan and Camerarius. But more wonderful it is, that Milk should be ge∣nerated in the Breasts of Men; as A∣ristotle testifies of a certain Lemmian Slave; and Abensina, who saw Milk milked from the Breasts of a Woman, enough to make a Cheese. Several o∣ther Stories also there are in several o∣ther Authors, of Men giving Milk, too tedious to relate.

OBSERVATION LXXVII. Epileptic Convulsions.

A Little Son of Iohn ab Udem, an Infant of seven Months old, was twitched with Epileptic Convulsions, almost, without in∣termission, for two days together, so that nothing but Death was ex∣pected. The third day I was sent for, presently I ordered this Quilt to be prepared and laid upon his Head.

℞. Leaves of Marjoram, Vervain, Rosemary, Flowers of Melilot, an. one small Handful, Nutmegs ℈j. s. Cloves ℈j. Make a gross Powder to be quilted up in red Silk.

After this had lain four or five hours upon his Head, the Convulsions ceased by degrees, and within twelve hours vanished quite, to the Admiration of all, that the Child should be so soon freed from so des∣perate a Distemper.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN regard the Brains of Children are very moist, and that thence arise many watry and flegmatic Vapors; Nature, for their more easie Evacuati∣on, leaves the Skull open for some time at the top of the Head. But as this Opening gives an easie Exit to the Va∣pors, so if the Head be not well covered, to prevent the entrance of the exter∣nal, Cold then upon shutting the Pores, and the Refrigeration and weakning of the Brain, the Vapors being detained

therein, condense into a tough Slime in the Ventricles of the Brain; which Burthen, when Nature cannot throw off, thence arises Epileptic Convulsions, which procure the Death of many Infants. Or if they scape with Life, they either be∣come Changlings, or retain some other terrible Misfortune as long as they live; as some Paralytic Member, Blindness of one Eye, &c. However this Diistem∣per differs from a true Epilesie, in re∣gard the Convulsions in this Malady are less vehement, though more frequent and of longer continuance: Besides, that these Convulsions proceed from abun∣dance of Humors, and weakness of Con∣coction an•…•… Expulsion in the Brain; but the true Epileptic, from the Maligni∣ty and the Envenomness of the Hu∣mors. Nevertheless it has been known when the Humors so collected in the Brain, if the Distemper have continued long, by degrees have acquired a malig∣nant Quality, and indeed a malignant Quality into the Brain and Meninxes, and then these Convulsions become the most grievous of all Epilepsies.

The Cure of this Distemper consists chiefly in corroborating and warming the Brain, to the end the Pores may be opened, and the Vapors have free ex∣it; which being done in time, I have known many that have escaped the Distemper. Some endeavour an Eva∣cuation of the Flegm at the Nose and Mouth, by thrusting up Oyl of Amber and Rosemary into the Nostrils. But when the Brain is become so weak through the extraordinary quantity of Flegm that overlays it, that it cannot contract it self, that way of Cure does little good, or rather more harm▪ as causing stronger Convulsions, while the enfebled Brain is forced to more vehe∣ment Expulsion. Therefore it is much more expedient to warm and corrobo∣rate the Brain, and by that means to promote the Concoction of the crude Humors, and to evacuate the Vapors through the Brain, not yet consolida∣ted: Which done, the Brain is suffici∣ently able to concoct and dissipate the rest of the Slime which adheres to the Ventricles, and to expel it through the Passages appointed for that Evacuation. To which purpose I have often found a Quilt lay'd upon the top of the Head, to be very prevalent; for it answers all Expectations, it warms and corrobo∣rates the Brain, it opens the Pores, and powerfully promotes the Concoction and Dissipation of the Crude Humors. Sometimes before I lay on the Quilt, I anoint the top of the Head with a drop or two of Oyl of Marjoram. Some∣times I order the Patient to take a spoon∣full or two of the Water of the Flowers of Lilly of the Valley, and Syrup of Stoechas, two parts of the first, and one of the latter. I have also observed, that if Infants wear these Quilts till their Heads are firmly consolidated, they are not only free from this, but many other Maladies of a cold Brain. Nicholaus Fontanus▪ in this case highly extols Childrens Urine, and tells a Sto∣ry of a Patient to whom he gave three Glysters with success, of the Decoction of proper Herbs boiled in Urine, and then gave him to take, a Syrup of Childs Urine, made up with various Cephalics.

OBSERVATION. LXXVIII. An Intermitting Tertian Ague.

JOseph Wenties, a young Man, in the beginning of March, was taken with an Intermitting Tertian Fever, which seized him with an ex∣traordinary shaking, and went off with a violent Sweat: Within a months space he had made use of a hundred several Remedies of old Women and Mountebanks, Purges, Vomits, and Topics to his Wrists, not forbearing Charms and Amulets to hang about his Neck; all which were so far from abating the Fever, that after the beginning of April, it grew stronger every day than other. Upon the seventeenth of April I was sent for; I found the Patient very weak, his Stomach quite gone, and so lean, that his Skin could hardly cover his Bones. He had taken a Vomit the day before, and therefore I thought it not proper to purge him any more. Wherefore, after I had prescribed him a proper Diet, I gave him an opening and refrigerating Apozeme, which he drank three days together, but without any benefit. There∣upon

I ordered the following Mixture for a bag to be hung up in a Vessel of White-wine.

℞. Leaves of Carduus Benedict. Lesser Centaury, VVormwood, an. two small handfuls, Lucid Aloes, ℈ij. Cut the Herbs small, and bind them together in a bag to be hung in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 v. of White-wine, and sometimes to be squeezed out.

Of this bitter Wine he drank a draught of ℥iiij. or v. the first day twice, but afterwards once a day; this gently purged him, and brought the Distemper to a simple Ague; and then it abated every day; and this drink being continued, in a short time went quite off leaving the Patient restored to a very good Stomach.

OBSERVATION LXXIX. A Bastard Intermitting Tertian.

THE Lady of Nassaw, in the Flower of her Age, but lean and squeamish, was seized by an intermitting Tertian, that came every other day, but no certain hours, sometimes latter, sometimes sooner, accompanied with pain in the Head, Nauseating, Anxiety of Heart, and seizing with an extraordinary shaking, but going off with a violent Sweat; her Stomach was gone and she slept very little; and in regard she was very thirsty, she would drink six or eight Pints of Water during her Fit. Upon the twenty fifth of April, at the beginning of her cold Fit I was sent for, at what time to make her sweat the sooner, I prescribed her this draught.

℞. Salt of Wormwood, Extract of Carduus Ben. Confection of Hyacinth, an. ʒj. Treacle water, ℥j. Mix them for a draught.

The next day, not willing to a Purge, she took a Glister only, which gave her two Stools; after which, she took no more Physic for four days. May the first, I prescribed her a refrigerating and opening Apozem, which she drank up in two days; her Ague still continuing in the same state; thereupon because she abhorred the taste of Physic, I gave her the following Vomit which when she took, she thought she had drank Wine.

℞. Crocus Metallorum, gr. xvi. White French VVine ℥iiij. or v. Steep them all Night, and the next day strain them through brown Paper.

This draught she took the sixth of May in the Morning, about nine she began to Vomit, without much trouble at first; but at length she brought up a whole Chamber-pot full of Yellow green Choler, mixt with a tough and Flegmatic Slime: and her Vomiting ceasing, she had also two or three Stools: but still the Ague con∣tinued in the same condition; but then I prescribed her a Magisterial Wormwood-Wine in this manner.

℞. Carduus Benedict. Lesser Centaury, VVormwood an. two small handfuls Lucid Aloes, ʒj. Cut the Herbs small and hang the mixture in a long bag in a Glass Vessel filled with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 viij. of small white French or Rhenish Wine

Of this Wine she drank four Ounces Morning and Evening for the first two days, but afterwards, because it gave her three or four Stools a day, no more then only once a day, that is to say in the Mor∣ning; the fourth day, through the use of this Wine the Ague be∣came simple, much milder and shorter, and from that time abating by degrees, upon the eighth day left her quite; however for more certainty I ordered her to continue the Wine for four days longer, which gave her two Stools a day: and thus both her Appetite, and her sleep returned, and she recovered her lost strength in a few days.

ANNOTATIONS.

AT this time intermitting Bastard Agues were very rise about Nime∣ghen and the neighbouring Parts, obstinate and of long continuance, in some simple, in others double. Physic seldom cur'd them, ordinary helps nothing avail'd; not would Blood-letting do any good. Some felt a slight Pain in the right Hy∣pochondrium: some Vomited great store of Choler of their own accord: some were troubled with Head-aches, others with anxiety of Heart; all were very thirsty, during the Fit; very Cold and Shivering at the beginning but in∣tensely Hot at the end. That the Cause of this Ague proceeded from the Ex∣crementitious Choler putrifying in the Follicle of the Gall and neighbour∣ing Parts, the very Signs, and the Fever it self, sufficiently declar'd. Somtimes the Cause of the Disease being Evacua∣ted by Vomits, the Disease ceas'd: sometimes neither Vomits nor Purges would avail; for that though they purged away a great quantity of Choler, yet they left some remainders of the cor∣rupt Choler behind, to which new Hu∣mors flowing were Infected with the same Corruption. Blood-letting no∣thing profited, because the Seat of the Distemper lay neither in the Veins or Blood. Refrigerating Medicaments could not subdue the Choler, because they could hardly reach thither, in regard the Follicle attracts that one which is most bitter and hottest in the Blood. Upon these Considerations I thought that the Cure of this Disease required some cleansing, opening, bitter and moderate∣ly hot, and that in a thin and liquid substance: that by reason of its liquid∣ness it might be able to penetrate the Mesaraic Veins more easily, and by reason of its heat and bitterness be more eagerly drawn by the Follicle; and be more effectual to concoct Crudities, re∣move Obstructions, resist Corruption, cleanse the part affected, and expel Noxious and Superfluous Humers. To answer all which expectations, I thought nothing better then the foregoing Worm∣wood-Wine, with which I have Cured several without any other Remedies. Nor let any one wonder that I give Wine in Fevers contrary to the Opinions of all the Ancients: for that the Ancients meant simple and not Medicated Wines, seeing that both Galen and several o∣thers both Ancient and Neoteric Phy∣sitians recommends Wormwood-Wine in Agues. Some question whether Me∣dicaments prepared with Wormwood are proper in exquisite and Bastard Ter∣tians; Trallian allows them in Bastard, not in Tertian Agues; and with him Avicen, Oribatus, and Amatus of Por∣tugal agree. But says Galen, If the signs of Concoctions appear, then thou mayst safely Administer Wormwood-Wine; which is otherwise a Soveraign Preser∣vative of the Stomach, when molested by Choler. To decide the Question there∣fore I say that Wormwood is not less proper in Exquisite, then in Bastard Agues, especially after Concoction in regard it potently cleanses Choler, and Purges as well by st•…•…ol as Urine: for which reason it must of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abate an Ague by removing the Evil Mat•…•…er that Feeds the Distemper: and that therefore the heat and draught of it ought not to be scat'd, especially if it be given with other refrigerating things; in regard that the Choler be∣ing remov'd, the heat will cease.

OBSERVATION LXXX. The Cholic Passion.

PEter Galman, a German Merchant, in March, the weather being cold and rainy, had the hap to Travel along with me; at what time not being able to heat our selves by riding the excessive cold brought upon him a most vehement Cholic passion; so that he could no longer sit his Horse; alighting therefore at the first good Inn, we came to, we warm'd our selves by a good Fire, and apply'd warm Cloths to his Belly to mitigate the pain; but the pain increasing more and more, for want of other Medicaments, that were not there to be had, I took of common Sope and White-wine of each ℥j. and after I had warmed them very hot over the Fire, I added ℥j. of Spirit of Wine. In this mixture I dipped a Linnen-cloth doubl'd fourfold, about a hands breadth, and apply'd it hot to his Navel, and by that only Topic freed him from his Pain within a quarter of an hour.

ANNOTATIONS.

BEsides several Remedies against a Fla∣tulent Cholic to be given inward∣ly, there are various Topics which being outwardly applied are of singular Ver∣tue, as we found by this quick and suc∣cessful Experiment. In this case there is an Oyl of Sope, the Extraction of which Sennertus teaches us in his Institutions, that it is very prevalent, nor is Oyl of Galbanum less effectual▪ Galbanum also it self dissolv'd in Wine or Aqua Vitae, then mixt with Castoreum, and applyed like an Emplaster to the Navel, as also Caranna and Tacamahacca dissolved with Spirit of Turpentine, are of singular Efficacy. Holler prepares this Liniment of Civet; Which he says, he has of∣ten tryed.

℞. Oyl of Rue, Nard. an. ʒvi. Galbanum dissolved in Aqua Vitae. ʒiij. Melt them together, then add Civet gr. iiij. Saf∣fron gr. vj.

Horstius anoynts the Navel with Trea∣cle mix'd with a little Civet. And it is not amiss to apply warm to the Belly equal parts of Common Salt and Sand tyed up in a Linnen Bag. The Ophite or Serpents stone heated and applyed is also in great esteem among the Vul∣gar. Little Bags also of Flowers of Dill, Cammomil, Melilote, Cummin, Anise, Fennel seed and the like, sprinkl'd with warm Wine, or gently boyl'd in Wine, and applyed hot to the Belly. One thing more I may add concerning Sope, which a Mount•…•…bank in France was said to have Cured several Persons of the Wind Cho•…•…ic: his Secret was this.

℞. Malmsey Wine lb j. Spanish Sope ℥s. or ʒvj. and sometimes also an. ℥. Salt ʒij. Dissolve these altogether for a Glyster.

OBSERVATION LXXXI. An Obstruction of the Spleen.

JUstin de Nassau, a Noble Youth about six Years of Age, about the end of April, began to be troubled with an obstruction of his Spleen; which within a Fortnight encreased to that degree, that the hard Spleen bunched out almost half as big as a Mans Fist; when I came I felt the Boy's Spleen with my hand, and perceived the

Child otherwise chearful, then grown Melancholy like an Elder Person; but in regard he loath'd Physic, I only prescribed him a proper Diet, and ordered him only ʒ s. of Tartar Pulverized every Morning and Evening in a little Broth; I also order'd the following Emplaster to be laid upon his Spleen, which after it had lain on ten days, and then but once shifted, the hardness vanished, and the obstruction was dissipated;

℞. Gum Ammoniac, Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar, an. ℥j. Emplaster of Melilot, ʒiij. Mix them and spread them upon red Leather.

OBSERVATION LXXXII. A Suffocation of the Womb.

GOdefrida ab Essem, a Woman about thirty Years of Age, had been troubl'd with an Uterin Suffocation, for which she had taken in vain several things that had been given her by Midwives and other Women; her Fits increasing I was sent for, and found her somewhat red in the Face, but altogether senseless, only she breath'd and that but very little neither. The Woman cry'd out her Womb was got up to her Throat, which was Impossible; but indeed I felt a certain hardness in the upper Region of her Stomach, that moved up and down from one side to the other, about the bigness of a Mans Fist; therefore because she was not in a condition to swallow any thing, I ordered her Temples and the inside of her Nostrils to be rubbed with Oyl of Amber distilled by descent. Then I ordered the Midwife with her middle Finger smear'd with three or four grains of Civet, to fret the sides of the Matrix within side, while another Woman with all her strength forced down the hardness: and thus within a quarter of an hour, the Woman after she had ejected a putrid sort of Seed, came to her self again, nor had she ever after any more Fits.

ANNOTATIONS.

THat sweet Odours applyed below draw down the Womb, not only the Authority of Authors, but Expe∣rience tells us. Therefore Galen says that perfumes which heat and loosen, do good, because they heat. Those that heat, attenuate also and loosen, by which means what is thick, and difficultly moveable is easily Purged out through the open Pores: More∣over that they have a faculty to dis∣pel Wind, which is very troublesome in Uterine Suffocations. Aegineta ad∣vises the pouring of most Odoriferous Oyntments i•…•…to the Womb: and Aetius would have the Womb fumigated with Spices that have a faculty of loosning, sweating, and expelling Wind. How∣ever care is to be had how you hold these sweet Odours to the Nose, least you encrease the Suffocation by oppres∣sing the Head. In this case some Physi∣tians make use of many sweet Scents; but for my part, I only make use of Musk mixt with a little Oyl of Lillies: and many times order a Woman to fret and sitillate the inside of the Orifice with Musk only, which has produced wonderful Effects. Frication with the Finger alone helps to a miracle, and is, commended by Galen, Avicen, Va∣lesco de Tarenta, Simon Betreino: though indeed there is nothing like present Co∣pulation, where it is to be done with allowance; so that indeed for a Wo∣man in the same Condition with our Patient, there is no such Remedy as a Husband. Thus Duretus being call'd

to a Woman under a Hysterical Suf∣focation and finding her in a Fit as cold as Ice, and her Husband by, or∣der'd him to have to do with her, which he did, and the Woman presently re∣covered.

OBSERVATION LXXXIII. An Erysipelas, or St. Anthony's Fire in the Thigh.

MOnsieur Kelfken, Consul of Nimeghen, had an Erysipelas in his right Thigh, with which he had been formerly often troubl'd; he was threescore Years of Age, and had a very foul Body. He had laid upon the Erysipelas Linnen rags dipt in Vinegar, and Water of Elder-berry Flowers, which somewhat abated the Erysipelas, on∣ly certain little Blisters rose up here and there, as he was wont to have when he used the same Vinegar and Water before; upon these Blisters after he had prickt them with a Needle, he laid a Leaf of green Tobacco; but after it had lain on for three or four days the Skin was more and more exulcerated, and a certain gangrenous Particle began to appear; upon which the Gentleman sent for a Chyrurgeon; who easily cut out that gangrenous Part, sticking in the Skin; and then endeavoured with various Plaisters, to cure the solution; anointing the whole Thigh, because of the Erysipelas with Galens refrigerating Oyntment, and this course he took for six Weeks; but when he could do no good I was sent for; I found the Patient full of watry and Flegmatic Humors, which falling Salt upon his Thigh, caused that continual Exulceration: this made him loose of Body, and his Stomach was indifferent, but he had such an Aversion to Physic that he would swallow nothing; when I look'd up∣on his Thigh, I found the Plaisters were the cause of the Exulcera∣tion of the Neighbouring Parts; which by reason of their Fatness and Density they were not able to retain or suck up the Salt and sharp Humors flowing into them, the Humors were forced to flow to the Neighbouring parts, which they corroded; therefore deeming it the best way to perform the Cure with Cataplasms, which by reason of their softness, might suck and dry up the flowing Humors, I prescribed the following Cataplasm without any Oyliness or Fatness.

℞. Pomegranate Rinds, Flowers of Pomegranates, an. ℥j. Leaves of Oake, of Plantain, Egrimony, Sanicle, an. Mij. Pimpernel, Flowers of red Roses, an. Mj. common water, l. iiij boil them to the Consumption of half.

℞. Leaves of Oake, M. iiij. of Egrimony, Plantain, an. Mj. s. Powder them together; then ada Bean Flower, ℥ij. of the said Decoction, q. s. boil them a little, and make a Cata∣plasm.

This being oftentimes shifted, cured the Ulcer; but about three Months after a new Defluction fell upon the Thigh, causing a large fiery Erysipelas; now unless it were one Purge, and one Decoction of China, Sarsaperil. &c. He would take nothing inwardly; there∣upon the foresaid Cataplasm was laid on which did very well for a time; but then a new Defluxion happening with a large Erysi∣pelas, the Pains encreased, the Ulcer enlarg'd it self, and a little after the part gangren'd, and there appeared a blackish gan∣grenous

Particle in the outer side of the Thigh, about the bigness of a Doller; the Chyrurgeon therefore washed the part affected with lukewarm Wine, anoynted it with cleansing oyntment of Parsley, and laid on the same Cataplasm, which caused the gangrenous Par∣ticles to fall out; then the Ulcer being well cleansed, the Cataplasm alone was laid on; in the mean time for the more convenient Eva∣cuation of the Humors descending, I would have made an Issue in the outer part of the Calf of the Leg; but the Patient would not permit it. In March, the Ulcers being by this time healed, a new sharp Defluxion fell down with an Erysipelas, which raised a new Ulcer as broad as the Palm of a Mans Hand, on both sides the Thigh; the Cataplasm would do no good; both strength and Appetite decay'd, and he became so weak that he could hardly go, presently after a Gangrene appearing as broad as a Mans Hand, the Patient seemed to be in some danger, as well by reason of the abundance of ill Humors in his Body, as also because of the great loss of his strength, however the gangrenous Ulcers were anoynted with cleansing Plaister of Parsley, the Cataplasm laid on; for Spirit of Wine so Tormented him that we were forced to leave it off. Then he admitted an Is∣sue in the Calf of his Leg, which was made with a potential Cautery; within three or four days the Gangrene was much increased in the Ulcer, and seized the very place where we had applied the Cautens, from which the Crust was not yet fallen off; thereupon the Chyrurgeon Scarified the Cauteriz'd place to the quick, for the more speedy separation of the Crust, some bits of which he cut off. The three next days the Gangrene encreased more and more, so that in the place of the Issue, there was a piece of dead Flesh, to be cut out as broad as a Dollar, and as deep as my Thumb; the next day the Gangrenous parts stunk like putrified Carrion, and the Gan∣grene continually encreased, therefore to resist Putrefaction and Mortification, we rubbed the part affected with Spirit of Wine, wherein we had first disolved common Salt: and laid on Tents dipt in the same Liquor, and bound up the Ulcer three times a day, by which means the stench was taken away in half a day. Then that the Gangrenous and dead parts might be the sooner seperated by Suppurating from the parts adjoyning, and the sound be preserved from Corruption, we laid on our own Magisterial Balsom, which powerfully resisted Putrefaction, and promoted Suppuration, by which means the Gangrenous parts began to fall away: which being taken off, for sometime a disgestive Oyntment was laid on, and then the Cataplasm alone, by which the Ulcers at length were cured, but very slowly; and the Humors afterwards vented themselves out at the Issue.

OBSERVATION LXXXIV. An Exquisite Tertian Ague.

CAptain Willmot, a strong Man, was seized with an Exquisite Ter∣tian Intermitting Fever, after the third Fit he sent for me; and upon his well day I gave him a Purge that gave him six or seven Stools, and brought away much Choleric Matter; but hi•…•… Fit returning the next day, with the same violence, he would take no more Physic, but by the advice of another Captain, applied the following mixture

hotb his Wrists; which the other Captain told him had expelled Agues in three or four days time, so that they never returned.

℞. VVhite Mustard prepared with Vinegar, ʒ j. s. black Peper, gr. xv. five Cloves of Garlick, Salt, a small handful, Chimney Soot, Sowre Leaven, an. ʒiij. Beat them together and make a Past with a little Vinegar of Roses. Of this apply to each VVrist, a piece about the biggness of a Dollar, and let it lye on three days.

ANNOTATIONS.

OUR Patient, and many others who saw him thus Cured, as∣crib'd the whole Cure to this only To∣pic: but they were mistaken; in regard that after the Purgation, the Ague had ceas'd of it self in the same Interval of time, without that Topic, or the taking of any other Physic; For the Patient observ'd an exact Dyet, and the Ague was an exquisite intermitting Tertian Ague, which as I have observ'd, never exceeds above the seventh Fit, unless any error in Dyet be committed. For Confirmation of which we have that Rule in Hippocrates, an exquisite Ter∣tian is judg'd at the end of seven Fits at most. I have seen a thousand several Topics, a thousand times apply'd to Wrists, which have avail'd nothing; or if after their application the Agues have either abated, or being Cured, it was not to be ascrib'd to those Topics but to other Causes. I remember I once knew a Person that had been long molested with a Diuturnal Bastard Ter∣tian, which when it could not be Cured by all the Remedies prescrib'd by two Physitians, at length by the advice of an Old Woman, he took Ginger, Seed of Nasturtium and Cobwebs kneaded together with a little Populeon-Oynt∣ment, and laid it to his Wrists. This Topic being twice or thrice shifted, the Ague ceas'd within four days, not through the Vertue of the Topic, but because the Topic was applyed at such a time when Nature was endeavouring a Crisis by a Choleric loosness and E∣vacuation of the Belly. Which Crisis hap∣pening the next day after the application of the Topic, and lasting two days, freed the Patient from the Ague by Evacuating the Matter which fed the Ague, though the Cure were by the Ignorant ascrib'd to the application of the Topic. Ano∣ther I knew, to whom an Egregious Critical Vomiting happen'd presently after the application of a Topic of the same Nature, who was freed from his Ague not by Vertue of the Topic, but by the force of the Vomiting. But these follies have invaded some Physi∣tians to that Degree that they ascribe great Vertues to these Topics which are but meer Whimseys. Thus many ex∣tol Cobwebs, concerning which, says Abraham Seiler, I have observ'd, that if before the Fit comes, you apply Cobwebs mixt with Populeon to the Wrists it has done very much good. These Cobwebs others mix after this manner.

℞. The lesser Nettle, Sage. an. M. s. Cob∣webs ℥ s. Common Salt. ʒiij. Strong Vinegar one spoonful. Mix them for an Emplaster to be applyed to the VVrists two hours before the Fit comes.

The Egyptians prepare an Oyntment of Spiders themselves bruis'd toge∣ther with their Cobwebs, and reduced into the form of a Liniment with Oyl of Roses: or else they boyl Spiders in Oyl of Roses, and clap them warm to the Wrists, others prepare this mix∣ture.

℞. Leaves of Plantain, Celandine the Grea∣ter an. Mj. Cobwebs, Nettle seed, Coimney Soot common Salt an. ʒj. Strong Vine∣gar. q. s. Make a Cataplasm, to be applyed to the VVrists before the Fit, and to be shifted three or four times.

Plater takes the inner Rind of a Nut-Tree, and after he has steeped it in strong Vinegar applys it to the Wrists: at the same time he also commends this that follows;

℞. Leaves of Treacle, Mustard, Plantain, Shephearas-purse an. M. s. Apply them bruised with Salt and Vinegar.

Others commend Chimney Soot bru•…•… with Nasturtium and the white of a•…•…▪ Egg: Others Soot with Garlick and

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Onions; others the fresh Leaves of Crow∣foot bruis'd: others Mousear bruis'd with Salt and Vinegar; and some Prick-Madam prepared after the same man∣ner. I knew a Woman that applyed to the Wrists seed of Zedoary bruis'd and mix'd with Oyl of Turpentine. Coetius applies this following Topic to the Wrists, which he says has cured several;

℞. The greater Celandine green, Fever∣few an. M. s. Bruise them in a Mortar, and then add Olibanum powdered ʒ j. Sowr Leven ʒiij. strong Vinegar q. s. Make soft past.

Yet though these things are extolled by many, I cannot conceive by what ver∣tue they perform their work, or how they can do any good. Nay the known vertue of the Ingredients are sufficient to shew the Vanity of them. Neither does Sennertus seem to give any Credit to these Topics. Is you ask, says he, how these Medicaments operate, there can no other reason be given then this; that the Putrid Vapours is by these Medicaments drawn from the Heart; especially that defilement which corrupts the Humors, more especially if any small Corruption remain behind, and the Ague be in its declination. Thus because some raise Blisters in the Wrists in the Cure of Agues, therefore all Vesicatories may be said to have an Ague expelling Ver∣tue. But as for Cobwebs, Plantain, Fever∣few, Olibanum, Sage, &c. There never was nor can be given any reason why they should have any such Vertue. Reiverius however believes that they Communi∣cate their Vertues through some re∣markable Arteries running to the Wrist; and by that means may be able to work a Cure. Whereas the Heart expels from it self through the Arteries, so that the Vertues of Topics can hard∣ly ascend through them to the Heart; besides that, this reason does not shew us by what Vertue these Topics which are so well known can any way prevail. So that unless Reverius will fly to the com∣mon Sanctuary of Occult Quality, I do not find how he can get out of this Labyrinth: Therefore my advice is that Men abstain from things venemous and corrosive, and endued with such a Malignity as may do much hurt: but as for other things that do neither good nor harm, let the Physitians prescribe them as they please, not that any Cure is to be expected from them, but only to satisfie their Patients.

OBSERVATION. LXXXV. A Swelling in the Face caused by a Fall.

MAry de Frist, a Young Maid, the Wagon where she sate being overthrown, fell with a Terrible Fall upon the left side of her Face, presently she vomited extreamly, and lay in a Swoon for half an hour; when she came to her self she vomited Blood, but that seemed to have fallen down into her Stomach from some Vein broken in her Nostrils; half her Head swelled extreamly; so that her Eyes were hardly to be seen; In the exteriour part of the Orbit of the Eye, there was a small solution of the Continuum: and Blood came out from the inner corner of the Eye, so soon as I saw her to dissipate the Contussion and Tumors, I ordered this Fomentation to be ap∣ply'd.

℞. Leaves of Betony, Flowers of Camomil, Melilot, red Roses, an. M. S. Cumin seed, ʒj. shred them and sow them in a little bag: which must be boiled a while in Wine and pressed, and then laid on warm.

I did not question much a Fissure in the Skull, for that presently after her vomiting she fell into a Swoon; Blood had come out of her Eye, and because a very great swelling accompany'd the Contusion: therefore after application of the Topic, I took out of her right

Arm half a pint of Blood; about Night she had a slight Fever with shivering, which upon her taking a Sudorific left her, and returned no more. The next day I ordered her a Purge, that gave her four Stools, two days she continued the foresaid Fomentation, repeating it twice or thrice a day. The sixth of Iune, the swelling in her Face was very much fallen, so that she could open her Eye in∣different well; the Fomentation therefore being continued for two days longer, her Eye, that was over-spread with a redness and wept much, so that she could not see out of it, had the following Collyrium laid all over it, between two Linnen-rags, and shifted Morning and Evening.

℞. Whites of two Eggs, beat them with a little Alum till they thicken into the form of a hard Oyntment; in which after you have steeped a Flake of Tow, lay it between two Linnen∣rags upon the part affected.

This Collyrium presently took away the redness of the Eye; abated the weeping, and restored her sight; but the swelling of the Face being dissipated, there still remained a deformed redness all over her Cheek, which I cured by washing her Face three or four times a day with Virgins Milk; nevertheless there still remain'd a weeping of the Eye, which was very troublesome, I ordered a peice of raw Beef, cut from the Muscles of the Neck, to be laid •…•…o the Neck of the Patient, and so to be bound on, shifting it Morning and Evening; which being done for six days, the weeping ceased. And thus was this Maid restored to her former Health, only that she had a little Scar in the outer corner of the Eye, next her Cheek, in which place, after the Cure, it manifestly appeared that the Bone was depressed by the fall.

OBSERVATION LXXXVI. The Kings Evil miraculously Cur'd.

SIR Water Vane, a Captain of Horse in our Army in his Youth had been troubled with the Kings-Evil, nor could all the Art of all the Physitians, and Chyrurgeons of England, of any remark, do him any good: so that the Malady still encreased, there∣upon he was advised to go to the King, and to desire his Blessing, from which he could only expect a Cure; this Favour was easily ob∣tained by his Father, then Secretary to King Charles the First, who moved with Compassion laid his hand upon the Head of the Young Lad, and at the same time pronounced these words. The King touches thee, but God heales thee: and withal gave an Angel peice of Gold, boar'd through, and threaded with a blew Riband, to hang about his Neck, which afterwards he always wore as long as he lived. And from that time his Distemper vanished in a few Months, without the help of any Physic; I asked him several times, whether he durst not leave off that peice of Money, for sometime; to which he an∣swered, that he durst not, for that he had known some who having thrown away their Money, were again persecuted with the same Distemper, and though touched a second time by the King, could never be cured.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis Privilege of Healing the Evil many ascribe to the Kings of France only; and among the rest Andrew Laurentius. But Experience shews us that this Divine Privilege is granted by God, not only to the Kings of France, but also to the Kings of England. For besides this Sir Walter Vane, I knew ano∣ther Young Gentleman the Son of C. Killegrew, who having receiv'd the same Kings Blessing, was Cured of the Evil otherwise incurable, who also wore such another peice of Gold about his Neck as Captain Vane did.

OBSERVATION LXXXVII. Obstruction of the Spleen.

CAptain Aussuma, in the full Vigour of his Age, had long been troubled with an Obstruction of his Spleen, and was become very Melancholy. At length his Spleen grew hard and swelled very much, so that it bunched out a good way; so soon as he came to me, after he had try'd several others in vain, I prescribed him a proper Diet, forbidding him smoak'd and Salt Meats, windy Fruit, shell Fish, Herrings, Salmon, in a word all sorts of Meat, breeding crude and flatulent Humors, all strong and sweet Wines, all muddy sorts of Ale: but to observe a moderate Diet upon food of easie digesti∣on and good nourishment; and for his drink enjoyn'd him small Wine and small Ale, and moreover to keep merry Company and refrain Melancholy; this done I gave him a convenient Purge; but because he had an Antipathy against Physic, I ordered him only to take a draught Morning and Evening of this Medicinal Wine.

℞. Rind of the Root of Tamarisch, Capers, Fennel, Elecam∣pane, Polypody of the Oak, an. ℥ s. Water-Tresoile, Mj. Dodder, Ceterach, Fumitory, Lesser Centuary, Roman Wormwood, an. M. s. Nutmegs, Iuniper-berries, Seeds of Fennel, Bishops-weed and Anise, an. ʒj. Make a little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to steep in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. v. of White-Wine.

This being drank up, the same was repated again with an addition of Senna leaves, ℥j. s. Aniseed, ℥ s. of which he drank a draught every Morning that gave him five Stools; this gave him some ease, brought him to a Stomach, and made him a little more chearful; but the hardness of his Spleen with the Pain remain'd as it was before; but in regard, the Patient would take no Decoctions, Powders, Condite•…•…ents, or other Medicaments, nor would take the Wine prescribed him any longer, I prescribed him the following Topics,

℞. Wormwood, Althea, Mallows, Flowers of Camomil, Melilo•…•…, Elder Dill, an. Mj. Seeds of Cummin, ℥ s. of Anise, Lovage, Fennel, an. ʒij. Make two little quilts, according to Art.

℞. Roots of Dwarf Elder ℥j. Althea, •…•…ryony, Fennel an. ℥ s. Flowers of Elder, Coleworts. H•…•…mlock, an. M. j. s. Mallows, Bee•…•…s, Althea, Flowers of Melilot Camomil, an. M j. Cummin-Seed, Anise, ʒvj. Boyl them in commo•…•… water, q. s. to. lb j. s. then add strong Vinegar 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s.

℞. Oyl of Capers, Wormwood, bitter Almonds, Goose-grease, an. ℥j. Oyl of Turpentine, ℥ s. Mix them for a Limment.

In the Morning he made use of these Topics in this manner, first the Region of the Spleen was chafed somewhat hard, the two little bags were dipped in the Decoction being warmed by turns, and the Fo∣mentation continued for half an hour: afterwards the place af∣fected was anointed with the warm Oyls, which being contiued for some days and the Patient now and then taking a draught of the last Wine, the swelling in his Spleen quite vanished, and the hardness went off; and to dissipate the Relics, all other Topics being laid aside, this only Emplaster was applied.

℞. Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar, ʒvj. Ammoniac, ʒiij. Em∣plaster of Melilot, ℥ s. Mix them, and spread them upon Leather.

Thus the Captain being freed from his Distemper, returned to the Camp.

ANNOTATIONS.

OBstructions and hardness of the Spleen, where the Patients refuse to take inward Medicines, are many times remarkably Cured by Topics. Among which Galbanum, and Am∣moniac dissolv'd in Vinegar are cheifly to be commended; Fabricius ab Aqua∣pendente applauds his own Cere-cloth, made of two parts of Ammoniac dis∣solv'd in Vinegar, one part of juice of Tobacco, half a part of Pine Rosin, Turpentine and Juice of Dwarf-Elder, the other of Oyl of Capers and new Wax, q. s. with which Degestive and Emollient Plaister he Cured several hard Spleens. Mercurialis applauds this that follows,

℞. G. Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar, ℥j. Powder of both Hellebores, Colocynth an. ʒj. Mix and apply them.

Heurnius compounds a most effectual Plaister thus,

℞. Hemloch, M. iiij. Ammoniac. lb j.

Infuse them in very sharp Vinegar eight days; then let them boyl till the Am∣moniac be dissolved. Then strain them hard through a strong Linnen Cloth; and let the strain'd Liquor simper five times, then with the Wax and Oyl of Sweet Almonds make an Emplaster. Forestus makes use of the following Oyntment.

℞. Oyl of Capers, White Lillies; New Butter an. ℥s. Iuice of Briony, and Sowbread an. ʒv. Boyl them to the Con∣sumption of the Iuices, then add Am∣moniac dissolv'd in Vinegar, ʒij. s. Hens grease, Marrow of Calves Legs, Moist Sheeps-grease an. ℥s. Powder of the Rind of the Roots of Capers, Ta∣marish, Ferne, Ceterach an. ʒs. Seed of Broom, Agnus Castus an. ℈s. A little Wax. For an Oyntment.

Amatus of Portugal extols this for a Miracle, as that with which he has cured the most obstinate Schyrruses of the Spleen,

℞. Common Oyl, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iij. Marrow of Oxes Leg, lb j. New Bu•…•…er, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s. Iuice of Bri∣ony, Sowbread an. lb j. Let them boyl over a gentle fire to the consumption of the Iuices. To the straining add Green Wax, ℥ viij. Powder of Ceterach, Rind of C•…•…per-roots, Tamarish, and Agnus Casti-seed an. ʒ iij. Mix them for an Oyntment.

Senertus prepares a Sovereign Remedy of the juice of the Flowers of Elder mixt with a Decoction of Mallows and Oxycrate. Galen commends simple Vinegar, because it cuts and attenuates thick obstructing Humors, and is proper in respect of the Bowel, because Fermen∣tation is not troublesom to it. Aqua∣pendens

his having cured the Schyrrus of the Spleen and Dropsie, by fomenting the Abdomen with a Spunge dipt in Lime-water. But as for cutting the Spleen as it is called, he laughs at it as a ridi∣culous peice of Witchcra•…•…t; This is done, says he, by setting the Edge of an Ax upon the hard Spleen, the place being first covered with a piece of Paper, and then striking upon the Ax with a Hammer or Mallet. One of these Professors once brought his Ax to one that was troubled with a hard Spleen; but after he had set his Ax upon the Paper, he stroke so hard with his Mallet, that he cut through Pa∣per and Skin, into the very Spleen it self, to the loss of his Patients Life.

OBSERVATION LXXXVIII. The Sciatica.

THE Son of Albert Verstegen, about twenty four Years of Age, addicted neither to Venery nor Gluttony, began to complain of Sciatic Pains in his right side; which increased in a few days to that degree, that he could no longer go, when I was sent for I found no Tumour in the Part, nor Inflammation, but a sharp Pain with a weakness in the Joynt, so that he could not move his Thigh but with great trouble; he had taken by the advice of others two Purges; and therefore I rather chose that I might abate the Defluxion of the Humors to prescribe the following Apozem, of which he was to drink three or four Ounces in a Morning, which gave him three or four Stools.

℞. Roots of Elecampane, Valerian, Fennel, Bryony, Mechoacan, Stone Parsley, an. ℥ s. Herbs, Rosemary Majoram, Betony, an. Mj. Thyme, Baume, Sage, Germander, Ground-Ivy, Flowers of Elder, an. M. s. of Stoechas, two little handfuls, seeds of Lovage and Anise, an. ʒ ij. of Carthamum, ℥j. Raisins of the Sun well washed, ℥ ij. Boyl these in Common-water, q. s. adding at the end Leaves of Senna cleansed, ℥j. s. white Agaric, ʒij. Fennel-seed and Dill-seed, an. ʒj. s. Make an Apozem of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ij.

The following Emplaster was likewise applied to the part affected.

℞. Sulphur finely Powdered, ʒv. Castoreum, ʒj. Tar. ʒvj. Oxycroceum Plaister, ℥s. Balsome of Sulphur ʒij. For a Plaister to be spread upon red Leather.

After he had taken all his Apozem, and that his pains remain'd in the same condition, I prescribed him another purging Decoction; of which he drank twice a day.

℞. Sassafrass wood, ʒvj. Roots of Eringos, Cammoch, Lovage, an. ʒj. Masterwort, Fennel, stone Parsley, an. ʒ s. Vervaine, Rose∣mary, Betony, Majoram, Germander, Ground Ivy, an. Mj. Savine, Flowers of Stoechados, an. M. s. Anise-seed. Iuniper-berries, ʒiij. Boyl them in Common-water, q. s. to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ij. Then add. Syrup of Stoechas, ℥iij. For an Apozem.

Two days after the former Plaister was laid on again, and when he had drank up his Apozem, I gave him the following Vomit, which brought up a great quantity of Viscous Flegm with Choler.

℞. Leaves of green Assarabacca, ʒiij. Bruise them and press out the juice with ℥ij. of the Decoction of Raddish, to which add Oxymel Scyllit, with Agaric, ℥j. Mix them for a Potion.

When all these things did no good I applied this other Plaister.

℞. White Mustard-seed, and of Nasturtium, an. ʒj. Castorium ℈ij. Euphorbium ℈j. s. Spanish-So•…•…e, ʒx. Pine-Rosin, and Turpentine, an. ʒiij. Mix them well to spread upon Leather.

After this had stuck on two days, it had raised innumerable little Blisters in the Skin, out of which a green Humour flowed from the inner parts in great quantity; so that in four days he felt great ease. The Plaister being removed I laid on Colewort-leaves; but ob∣serving the Plaister not to be very violent, but that it only gently drew out the internal Humors, and kept the Blisters open without Corrosion, I laid it on again; and so in twelve days the pain went quite off, and the joynt was so corroborated, that the Patient went about without any trouble; but for fear of a relapse I gave him the purging Apozem again, and the Plaister of Sulphur was laid on for a Fortnight longer, which absolutely compleated the Cure.

ANNOTATIONS.

THough the Sciatica be a kind of a Gout, yet because of the Place the Cure differs in some Remedies. Sometimes it is very hard to be cured, because that joynt is not so profound, that Topics cannot reach it by reason of the thickness of the Muscles that lye over it: and for that inward Medicines require a great deal of time to abate and remove the Cause. This Disease proceeds from too much fullness of Blood, some∣times from a defluxion of cold and and sharp Humors. In repletion Blood∣letting is requisite; which in a very great repletion is to be done in the Arm, then in the Thigh affected. The Vein is to be opened in the Ham, or else the Sciatica Vein. I have cured, said Galen, the Sciatica by opening a Vein in the Thigh. Some there are that apply Leeches to the Fundament instead o•…•… Blood-letting. Which way Paulus and Aurelian commend, if you lay on eight or ten Leeches at a time; and Zacutus affirms, he has cured the Sciatica with Leeches, when other Remedies sailed within the space of ten hours. Some pre∣fer Cupping-glasses before Leeches. But if the Malady proceed from sharp, tartarous and cold Humors, Blood-let∣ting does no good (unless there be a Plethory) but first there must be strong Purging with Elect. Caryocostin and Her∣modactyl Pills; or Vomits of Ammonia, or Asarabacca; and then Topics such as asswage Pains, sufficiently known to eve∣ry skilful Physitian. Some extract and dissipate the Morbific matter in∣sensibly: to which purpose Donatus ab Altomary, takes a great quantity of the Stones of sweet Grapes, and presses out the Liquor strongly. This he heats with its Must, then pours it out upon the Pavement, and with his Hands strongly compresses into a heap; then making a kind of a furrow in the Grape-stones, burys the Patient in them, up to the Mid-belly; and there lets the Patient lye to sweat for half an hour, or an hour twice a day. Duretus commends Grape-stones in all sorts of Gouts. If in Vintage time the Grapes are carried into a Barn, and covered with Coverlets till they grow warm, and then for the Patient to thrust his Feet, Arms, legs, •…•…r else to lay his whole Body in the heap. Then which says he, There is not a bet∣ter Remedy under Heaven. Solenand•…•…r also among the best and safest Remedies that corroborate the Parts affected, and cherish the natural heat, commends the laying the Hands and Feet, or other Parts affected, in a heap of Grape-stones hot from the Press, or heated with new Wine, and this continued for fif∣teen days. To which he adds that he knew a Noble Person, that could not go, who was recovered by the use of this Medicine. I knew my self, a Coun∣try man cured by such a Fomentation,

for some days together in Horse-dung. Matthiolus affirms experimentally, that several Sciaticas have been cured with the slimy water of Snails, when all o∣ther Remedies failed, which Paraeus and Laurentius approve. Old stinking Cheese kneaded into the form of a Ca∣taplasm, with the Decoction of a West∣phalia-Ham, asswages the Pain, draws forth the cause of the Malady, and dissolves the rigid hardness of the Part. Sylvius commends a Cataplasm of Dwarf-Elder, Barley-meal and Honey. Forestus also tells of two Sciaticas cured, with laying upon the Part only Nettles boyled in Ale. We look upon Balsom of Sulphur among the most effectual Remedies; as having more then once observed the happy effects of it. Galen commends an Emplaister of Pitch two Parts, and one of Sulphur, mixt and laid upon the Part affected, till it fall off of it self: Which Forestus so high∣ly extols as the most effectual Remedy that can be invented; only he believes it would be better to equal the propor∣tions of the Pitch and Sulphur.

If these things, or the like, avail not, then such things must be made use of that insensibly draw forth the matter, and that either by diversion or from the Part affected. By diversion, •…•…auteries applied to the Arms and Thighs are of great use. So Paschal tells us of a Physitian cured of a pain in his Hipps. by a Caustic applied under his Knee, of Quick-Lime and Alum. Hippocrate•…•… orders an Incision of the Veins behind the Ears. Zacutus of Portugal in •…•… defluxion from the Head, saw a Person cured by a Caustic applied behind the Ears, from whence after the falling off of the Crust, for ten days together▪ there flowed a thin and watery moi∣sture, and so the Distemper ceased.

From the Part affected Visicatories and Rubificants draw forth the peccant Matter. Thus Douynetus tells us of se∣veral that have been cured by the ap∣plication of Vesicatories. Arculanus and others have successfully made use of a blistring Cataplasm in an obstinate pain that gave way to no other Reme∣dies.

℞. Sowre Leven lb s. Cantharides ℥ j. Pulp of Figs ℥ s.

Andrew Laurentius recomends this Visicatory.

℞. Old Leven ℥ ij. Cantharides ʒ. ij. Seed of Mustard and Stavesacre, an. ʒiij. Beat them together with Strong Vinegar, for a Vesicatory.

Iohn Matthew de Gradibus prepares ano∣ther of the Seeds of Mustard and Nastur∣tium, Pigeons-dung, Decoction of Figs and Venegar; which rubifies and raises Blisters, which being broken and cleansed with the Decoction of Figs, then lay on a Colewort Leaf warm; and this he says extirpates the inveterate Pains of the Hips and the Gout. Galen, Aetius, and Paulus prefer a Cataplasm of wild Cresses, which raises Blisters; and is accounted a peculiar Remedy for these Distempers. Schenkeus tells us of a Sci∣atic, who when all other Remedies failed, of his own Head took Skins of Hemp macerated with Ashes, and having boiled them in strong Vinegar, laid them to the place affected, as hot as he could endure them: This raised several Blisters upon the Skin, out of which flowed a great quantity of gree∣nish yellow Water, by which means his Pain left him. Tagaultius celebrates this Emplaister of Galen and Avicen, then which he says there can be none more effectual, or that gives such pre∣sent ease.

℞. Mustard and Nettle-seeds, Sulphur, Froth of the Sea, round Birthwort Bdelium an. ℥ j. old Oyl, Wax an. ℥ij. For an Emplaister.

I have found that Emplaister, which I prescribed to our Patient, with Spainish Soap, to have wrought wonderful ef∣fects. I remember a Young Maid at Montfort, miserably troubled with the Gout, so that she could neither move Shoulders, Arms, nor Hips, who was cured only with Emplaisters of Spanish Soap, mollified in Wine, and spread upon Leather; which raised Blisters, and drew out a great quantity of yellow, greenish Water; which restored her unexpectedly to her Health in a few weeks.

OBSERVATION LXXXIX. A Wound with a Bullet.

A Citizen of Nimeghen, the twentieth of May, 1637. imprudently discharged his Pistol downward; so that the Bullet rebounding from the Flint-stone-pavement of the Street, hurt a Woman that was passing accidentally by. The Bullet had entered the Cavity of her Breast about three Fingers from the Spine of the Back, between the fifth and sixth Rib, and entring the exteriour substance of the Lungs, had made a great Wound in the fourth Rib, in the side from the inner part, so that the Rib was broken, but the Bullet did not pass through, but stook in the Cavity of the Breast, not round but flat and oblong by hitting against the stone, as appeared by the Wound unequal and bigger then usual, the Woman was carried wounded home; very little Blood Issued from the Wound; but the next day with Coughing she threw up a good quantity, the danger was great which I foresaw; in regard that the Bullet lying upon the Diaphragma, could no way be drawn forth out of the Cavity of the Breast: as also for that Wounds in the Lungs are difficultly cured, because of their continual motion; especially when the Wound is made by a Bullet, which cannot be done without a great contusion. However the Chyrurgeon bound up the Wound, and after I had gently purged her Body, I prescribed her this Apozem to drink Morning and Evening.

℞. Roots of Madder, ℥j. Eryngos, Fennel, stone Parsley, an. ℥ s. scraped Licorice, ʒvj. Herbs, Scabious, Violet-leaves, Coltsfoot, Chervil, Leaves of black Ribes, or Garden Currants, an. M. j. greater Celandine, M. ij. four greater Cold-seeds, Anise-seed, an. ʒj. Raisins of the Sun, ℥ij. Boyl them in Common-water, q. s. to lbij. add Syrup of Licorice, Poppy Rheas, an. ℥j. s. Mix them for an Apozem.

She complained of no pain but one where the Wound was, and the place where her Rib was broken, which pain went off upon laying on a Plaister of Oxycroceum, and her Rib closed again. The first six days she was very weak, she eat little or nothing: little or no Matter came out of her Wound: she had no Fever or Cough or difficulty of Breathing; and after the second day she spit forth nothing either of Blood or Matter out at her Mouth. May twenty seventh, being some∣what bound, we gave her a loosening Draught, which gave her two or three Stools. May the thirtieth she was grevously tormented, so that every Body thought she would have died; but in the Evening of a suddain she coughed up a good quantity of white Matter with some Blood, which gave her great ease, and then she began to be better, the Wound also closed against our Wills; neither did any thing of Matter come forth from the Wound out of the hollowness of her Breast all the time of the Cure; after she had voided this corruption, for seven days she continued without a Cough. The seventh of Iune, with a slight Cough she spit up a small quantity of Corruption again, and then the Cough ceased, and the Patient grew stronger and stronger every day, nor did she after that spit forth any more Matter or Blood, but after the second Month being restored to her perfect Health, went abroad again, feeling no Inconvenience from

so great a Wound afterwards for nine Years together, nor did she feel the Leaden Bullet in her Breast, only when she fetched her breath with a deep sigh, she felt something heavy upon her Mid∣rife.

ANNOTATIONS.

WIthout doubt the Bullet did not pass the middle of the Lungs: nor touched the Bronchia or bigger Ves∣sels, but only slightly touched the sub∣stance of the Lungs in the outer side: o∣therwise more terrible Symptoms would have ensued; nor would the Cure have been so soon accnmplished; which how∣ever was sufficiently to be admired, when such a wound could not happen with∣out a very great Contusion.

Now the great Wounds in the Lungs are incurable, and slight Wounds diffi∣cult to be cured, yet we are not to de∣spair, since very great Wounds in the Lungs have been often Cured. I re∣member I knew a Victualer that lived near Leyden, who in a scuffle with a Country-man was stabbed under the Pap of his right Breast, with a broad Knife that past through the middle of his Lungs, and went out behind under the Scapula. Yet this Man reduced to meer Skin and Bones, through the Ex∣ulceration of his Lungs, two years af∣terwards being brought to Utrecht, was perfectly cured by a Chyrurgeon, with only vulnerary Decoctions. However a great Pa•…•…t of his Lungs was consumed by Suppuration, which was easily per∣ceived, when he moved backward or forward, for then his right Lung would strike against his Breast, like the Clapper of a Bell. 'Twas to be admired that such a Wound should be brought to a perfect Cicatrization; yet this Man I saw ten years after without a Cough, without any Malady, sound and whole as ever I saw a Man in my Life. In the year 1635. I had another sturdy Coun∣try-man in Cure, who had received a Wound under the Pap of his left Breast, with a broad Knife that entered as far as the middle of the Lungs. Other Country∣men before we came had laid him upon his Belly, and kept the Wound open with their Hands; so that he had bled three full Chamber-pots. After we had bound up the Wound, the Patient sounded and it was thought he would have died, but upon giving him corro∣borating Cordials he came to himself. For the first day he voided sometimes a great deal of Blood, and sometimes Corruption; and frothy coagulated Blood came forth from the Wound, but not much; yet to be short, this Man was cured of this dangerous Wound by the Use of proper Medicaments, nor did he afterwards feel any inconvenience in his Chest.

Hildan tells us also of a remarkable Cure of the Lungs wounded, at what time a good Part of the Lungs was cut away. And many other Examples of the Lungs cured are frequently to be found in several other Authors.

OBSERVATION XC. An Extraordinary Binding of the Belly.

N. ab Offendorph, a German Gentleman, a strong Man in the Flower of his Age, was usually so bound in his Body, that he could hardly go to the Stool without the help of Physic; yet he was not sick, but when he had not gone to Stool in five or six days he grew sleepy, dull and lazy. In August, not having been at Stool for seven days together, when his usual Pills would not move him, he went to Monsieur Romphius, Physitian to the Queen of Bohemia, who gave him two Glisters and two Purges without success; then afraid of his Life he came to me: at what time he had been bound for sixteen Days together, first therefore I try'd to move him with this following Glister.

℞. Roots of Bryony ℥j. Herbs, Mallows, Althea, Herb Mer∣cury, Wormwood, Lesser Century, Flowers of Camomil, and Melilot, an. M j. Leaves of Senna ℥j. s. Colocynth Apples ʒj. fat Figs n^o. vij. Anise-seed ℥ s. Boyl them in Common∣water, q. s. to ℥x. add to the Straining Stibiate-Wine, ℥iiij. For a Glister.

After he had kept this a quarter of an hour, his Belly was much moved, and he had above twenty Stools with a great deal of ease, afterwards I prescribed him a loosning and emollient Diet, and so sent him away back to the Camp quite eased of his burthen.

ANNOTATIONS.

SChenkius has collected several Exam∣ples of People that have been strangely bound in their Bellys. In which Cases, when Cathartics will do no good: I have observed the wonder∣full Operations of Stibiate-Wine: I remember I gave a Purge to a strong lusty Country-man once, that was very much bound in his Body, but without success. The next day therefore I gave him a Glister, wherein among other things I boiled ℥ s. of dry Tobacco, which presently opened his Body with a Witness. I knew a Captain of a Man of War also, that told me, how he was bound in his Body at Sea, to that de∣gree, that when no Medicaments would move him, and that he was in dispair of his Life, by the advice of one of his Seamen, drank the Parings of his Thumb-Nails in a draught of Ale; which when he had done, at first he fell into a Swoon, so that every body thought he would have dy'd; but coming to himself, he purged upward and down∣ward to that degree, that he was soon freed from his Distemper.

OBSERVATION XCI. A Bastard Ague.

A Daughter of Captain Rifflaer, about six Years of Age, had been troubled a long time, with a disorderly kind of Ague, yet not very vehement, which took her sometimes in the Forenoon, sometimes after Dinner, sometimes at Night, sometimes every day, sometimes every other day; she looked black and blew about the Eyes; slept unquietly, had her Belly swelled and distended; rubbed her Nose often but com∣plained of no pain, from these signs I conjectured that crude and Fleg∣matic Humors were putrified in the lower Region of her Belly, which caused the Ague, and that moreover she might have Worms in her Belly; now in regard she was very squeamish and would take nothing that was bitter, I gave her ℈j. of Mercurius Dulcis which gave her five or six Stools, that brought away much viscous and slimy Matter, and three or four large Worms; the three days following I ordered her to take a dose of the following Powder, Morning and Evening, in which time she voided eight Worms.

℞. Harts-horn, burnt Coral prepared, an. ℈iiij. Sugar-candy ʒij. to be divided into six equal Doses.

Afterwards when I observed her Ague, and the distension of her Belly to continue in the same condition, I gave her again ℈j. of Mercurius Ducis, which after it had given her six Stools, she found her self better, the next three days she would take nothing; the fourth day I got

her to take Mercurius Dulcis again, which after she had voided much viscous and watry Matter, but without Worms, the distension and tu∣mour of her Belly went off together with her Ague, and she recovered her former Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

IN these Cases I have frequently with success made use of Mercurius Dulcis: and though several eminent Physitians disapprove the use of it, as too dange∣rous, yet so it be well prepared, I ne∣ver observed that it did any harm in moist Bodies. For dry Constitutions it is not thought so proper, and there∣fore to such I either give other Physic, or mix other Purgatives with it, that it may be the sooner expelled out of the Body. Thus Simeon Iacoz, gave xii. gr. of it mixed with gr. v. of Diagridion to a Child of four Years of Age, which within two hours brought away twenty Worms. And indeed it is a most ex∣cellent Remedy against Worms in the Belly; for it not only kills and expels the Worms, but brings away the the cause that breeds them; therefore says Sebastian Strommayien, there is no such Remedy to be found; for it falls upon all manner of Worms bred in our Bodies, speedily, safely and pleasantly, and by a certain Specific quality utterly ex∣pels them: which Experience has suffi∣ciently made manifest. Sometimes in∣stead thereof ℈ j. of Jalap pulverized; or less according to the Age of the Pa∣tient, which is an insipid Medicine and and not displeasing to the Taste, which gently Purges away the Cause of Worms and Agues joyned together. Rondeletius extols Electuary Diacarthamum, as a powerful Remedy to expel Worms and Purge away Flegm, and the corrupt Chy∣lus that breeds and nourishes Worms. Others commend Diaturbith with Rhu∣barb. For such as can take ill tasted Phy∣sic Hiera Picra, or Aloes alone is an excellent Remedy, given in Pills. Dodo∣neus tells us of a Woman of forty Years of Age suddenly taken with terrible gripings in her Stomach, that upon taking Hiera Picra voided forty Worms; and the same Vertue have all Medicaments, wherewith Aloes is mix∣ed. Benivenius writes of one that after he had taken a Composition of Aloes, Myrrh and Saffron, voided forty eight Worms. Crato recommends these Pills that follow.

℞. Aloes Rosat. ℥ j. choice Mirrh. ʒ j. Make them into Pills, the Dose ʒ s.

Plater commends these,

℞. Aloes, ʒij. Myrrh, ʒj. Worm-seed ℈j. Make them into a Mass with juice of Wormwood or Gentian, the dose from, ʒs. to ʒj.

Sennertus prescribes these,

℞. Aloes, ℈j. Rhubarb. ℈ij. Myrrh, ℈ s. Trochischs of Alhandal, gr. iij. Powder of Coral, ʒ s. Make them into twenty two Pills with juice of Worm∣wood. The Dose for Children ℈j.

To destroy all Matter and Nutriment of VVorms in the Guts there is not any better Remedy to be found, then for the Patient to swallow once a VVeek one ℈. of Aloes Succotrine; for Aloes has a peculi∣ar occult quality to Purge and cleanse the extream Parts of the Guts. This is the opinion of Mercurialis in his own Words; but I usually order a ʒ or two of Rhubarb to be put into a little bag, and hung up in the ordinary drink which the Patient drinks; and by that means I both expel the Worms and the cause of the Worms.

Saxonia and Solenander with many others extol the Decoction of Sebesten, in ʒiiij: of which Crato macerates, ʒj. of Rhubarb and gives the straining to drink; Rhubarb also given in substance is a great enemy to the Worms; and Dodoneus voids them with this Powder.

℞ Worm-seed ʒj. Shavings of Hearts∣horn, Citron-seed, and Sorrel-seed, an. ℈j. Rhubarb, ʒij. Make them into a Powder, the Dose, ʒ j.

Riverius takes,

℞. Powder of Rhubarb, and Coral, an. ʒs.

Duretus prescribed this,

℞. Chosen Rhubarb, Wormwood, Sea Wormwood, Shavings of Harts-horn, an. ʒiij. Make them into a Powder Dose ʒj. with the Decoction of Scordium.

This as we have tried, says he, excells all the rest. Lastly Antonius Cermisonius as a most destroying expelling Remedy against the Worms, prescribes a Glister of ʒ x. of Goats Milk, and ʒij. of Honey.

OBSERVATION XCII. The Worms.

THE Son of Mr. Cooper, about six or seven years old, had been long troubled with Worms in his Belly, which sometimes as∣cending his Gullet, crept out at his Mouth in the Night-time. The Parents had often given him Worm-seed, but to no purpose; so that at length, when the Child was nothing but Skin and Bone, they sent for me. I found him thirsty and averse to all manner of Physick; there∣upon I took half a pound of Quick-silver, and macerated it in two pound of Grass-water, shaking the Water very often. Afterwards, having se∣parated the Mercury, I added to the Water, Syrup of Limons ℥iij. Oyl of Vitriol, q. s. to give it a grateful Taste. This he only took for two days together, in which time he voided downward six and thirty Worms and being so rid of his troublesome Guests, recovered his Health.

ANNOTATIONS.

SOme extol Quick-silver it self given in the Substance, as an excellent Remedy against the Worms; inso∣much that Sanctorius says, there is no killing of the Worms but with strong and violent Medicines, as Aloes and Mercury or Quick-silver. Of which, Baricellus thus writes, Quick-silver, says he, which many take to be Poyson, is gi∣ven with great Success against the Worms, and is accounted so certain a Remedy in Spain, that the Women give it to In∣fants that puke up their Milk, to the quantity of three Granes. I cured a VVo∣man that for nine days together had been troubled with continual Vomiting, occasi∣oned by the VVorms; besides that, she had not eaten in three days, nor could keep what she swallowed; but after I had gi∣ven her two Drams of Quick silver, mor∣tified with a little Syrup of Quinces, with∣out any trouble, she voided downward a∣bout a hundred VVorms, and was freed from her Distemper the same day. I have VVater at home wherein I continu∣ally keep Quick-silver infused, and wil lingly give it away to children for the VVorms, yet never heard of any Hurt▪ that ever it did. The dose of Mercury to be given to Children is ℈j. to elder People ℈ij. or ʒj. It is corrected and mortified by bruising it in a Glass Mor∣tar with brown Sugar, till it be dissolv∣ed into invisible Parts; and to prevent it from returning to its pristine Form, you must add to it two little Drops of Oyl of Sweet Almonds, and give it fasting with Sugar of Roses, Sy∣rup of Violets or Quinces to the Party affected. Zappara confirms this use of Quick-silver by many examples; and Hildan tells of a Woman cured of the Worms by Quick-silver, of which she passed ʒj. s. through a piece of Leather, and then swallowed it. Where this is remarkable, that the same Woman at that time wore a Plaister upon her Na∣vel, which was afterwards found all covered over with Quick silver. Thus many Physicians celebrate Quick silver; but more applaud it than condemn it; as Plater, Horatius, E•…•…genius; and Fal∣lopius, says of it, That it does not work those Effects being drank, as used by way of Oyntment. I have known, says he, Women that have drank Pounds of it to cause Abortion without any dammage; and I have given it to Children for the Worms. The same is testified by Maria∣nus Sanctus, and Fracastorius. And Matthiolus affirms, that Quick-silver is only prejudicial, because it tears the Guts by its weight; and therefore if it be not given in too great a quantity, he says it can do no harm. And I have seen it given by Midwives to Women in difficult Labours, without any hurt at all. For my part, I never give it a∣lone, but always in some Infusion of Grass-water, Wine, or other Liquor. And as for Stromaiier and Horstius, though they reject raw Quick-silver, yet rightly prepared, they extol it as the best Remedy in the World against the Worms. Sennertus however advises, that though Quick-silver may be used

in desperate Cases, yet to forbear it where milder Medicaments may serve the turn. Since there is a possibility that it may do mischief.

OBSERVATION XCIII. The Gout.

MR. Hamilton, in the Flower of his Age, was miserably tormen∣ted with the Gout, in the Joynt of his Right-shoulder; so that he had not slept in three Days and Nights. After I had prescrib∣ed him a proper Diet, I purged him with Cochia Pills, gave him a Diure∣tic Decoction for some days, and then applied this Plaister to the place affected.

℞. Gum. Galbanum dissolved in Spirit of Wine, Tacamahacca dissolved in Spirit of Turpentine, Emplaster of Oxycroceum, an. ℥s. Mix them and spread them upon Leather

This Plaster stuck on eight days, within which time that immense Pain went off, so that he could freely move his Arm; after that, he return∣ed to the Camp, where he was unfortunately slain.

ANNOTATIONS.

MAny Disputes there are about the Causes of the Gout; but for my part, I believe there are necessarily two. For either those Pains proceed from cold Defluxions, mixed with some Salt and Acrimony, falling from the Head upon the Joynts, refrigerating and cor∣roding the Nerves, Tendons and Liga∣ments, annexed to the Joynts. For how great an Enemy Cold is to the Nerves and membranous Parts, we find in Winter-time, by the Wounds by which those Parts are laid bare. There, says Hippocrates, all cold things are fatal to the Nerves. Besides, that such De∣fluxions cause Weakness and Stiffness of the Nerves, or too much Relaxati∣on; so that being oppressed with weight, they are extended with Pains; but this sort of Gout is not so terrible. For the second Cause of the Gout proceeds from the salt, sharp and tartarous Humors, separated from the Blood, and thrust forward upon the Joynts. Therefore, says Sennertus, I must conclude, that a sharp, salt, subtil Humor, nearest to the Nature of salt Spirits, is the Cause of the Gout. Let any Man call it by what other Name he please, Choler, or Flegm mixed with Choler, Salt or Tartar, so the thing be rightly understood.

In vain therefore Physicians have hi∣therto sought, for the Cause of the Gout in the Heat and Drougth of Cho∣ler, or the Moisture and Cold of Flegm, for they are not the first but the second Qualities which induce those Pains; that is, the Salt and the Acrimony which corrode and gnaw those Parts. Therefore, says Hippocrates, 'tis not hot, cold, moist and dry, that have the act∣ing Power, but bitter and salt, sweet and acid, insipid and sharp, which if rightly tempered together, are no way troublesome, but when alone and separated one from the other, then they give the Vexation and shew themselves, &c.

In the Cure of the first, in regard the Cause proceeds from a depraved Dispo∣sition of the Brain; therefore the Brain is to be evacuated and corroborated, to prevent these Excrements from gather∣ing any more in that place. The Parts affected also are to be corroborated with Topics, warming the Parts, dissipating and drying up the crude Humors.

In the Cure of the hot Gout, the salt Humors are to be evacuated and purged away by inward Medicaments, before they be pushed forward into the Joynts, and that their Generation may be prevented. Topics also must be made use of to temper the Acrimony of the salt Humors, to dissolve, dissi∣pate and evacuate by transpiration, those Humors; the Forms of which, I shall give in another place.

OBSERVATION XCIV. A Pain in the Stomach with Vomiting.

PEtronella Beekman, a Maid about twenty seven or twenty eight years of age, the nineteenth of Iune, was taken with an intole∣rable Pain in the upper part of her Belly, which extended it self sometimes to the Right, sometimes to the Left, but most to the Sides. She had a Vomiting likewise, sometimes more gentle, sometimes vehement, which brought up all her Meat. Sometimes her vehement Vomiting brought a Pint, or a Pint and a half of black Water, with some tough Flegm: At the top of this Water swam cer∣tain little Bodies, about the bigness of a Filberd, in Colour and Con∣sistence resembling Butter. When these came up she had some ease for two or three hours, but then her pain returned again. She had no Fever, no Tumor in her Spleen, no Obstruction in her Kidneys; and she made Water without trouble, but very thick, neither did she void any Gravel either before or after; nor was there any Distemper to be perceived in her Womb, where all things proceeded according to Na∣ture; nor had bad Diet been the cause of her Distemper, but what that buttery Substance should be▪ I could not certainly tell for my Life, only I conjectured that it might be some corrupt Choler, preternatu∣rally chang'd into that Substance. However, the first thing I did, was to stop her Vomiting; to which purpose, I caused her Stomach to be anointed with Oyl of Nutmegs, and applied a warm Cataplasm to it of Mint, Red Roses, Nutmegs, Cloves, Mastich, Olibanum, sowre Ferment and Vinegar of Roses, but all to no purpose. The next day, her Pains and Vomiting having very much weakned her, I gave her a corroborating Medicament of Matthiolus's Aqua Vitae, Treacle and Cin∣namon-water and Syrup of Limons, equal parts, to take frequently in a Spoon, which stay'd with her. The twenty first of Iune, I applied to the Region of her Stomach a corroborating Plaister of Tacamahacca, Galbanum, Cloves, Benjamin, and the like. The twenty second, I gave her a gentle Purging Draught, which she presently brought up a∣gain; then I ordered her a Glister, which gave her two or three Stool, but her cruel Pain and Vomiting continued still. The twenty fourth I gave her one Scruple of Pill. Ruffiae, which stay'd with her, and gave her three Stools about Evening; and then, because the Plaister was troublesome, I took it off, and applied in the Room a Linnen Quilt filled with Mint, Wormwood, Sage, Flowers of Cammomil, Melilot, Dill, Nutmegs, Cumin-seed, Fennel, and Dill-seed; which Quilt was boiled in strong Wine, and applied to her Stomach. The twenty eighth she took another Glister. The twenty ninth about night, I gave her two Scruples of Philonium Romanum, prepared with Euphorbium in a little Wine, which caused her to sleep that Night four hours, whereas she had not slept till then from the begin∣ning of her Distemper; the next day her Pain returned, neverthe∣less the Philonium seemed to have endeavoured some Concoction; for that she began to belch, which gave her some ease; wherefore about Evening I gave her two Scruples of Philonium. The first of Iuly, she belched more freely, therefore that Evening I gave her Philonium a∣gain. The next day her Pains abated, and her Vomiting ceased, and at Noon she supp'd a little Broth, which was the first Nourishment

she had taken since her Sickness. Iuly the third, she took Pill. Ruffiae to loosen her Belly. The fourth of Iuly, her Pains encreasing, I pre∣scribed her an Amigdalate, but she brought it up again. Therefore the sixth of Iuly, I gave her two Scruples and a half of Philonium, which caused her to rest indifferently. The next day her Pains abated, so that at night the same Dose of Philonium was again given her, as also the next Evening▪ The ninth of Iuly, in the Morning, she took Pill. Russiae, and in the Evening Philonium again, and so for three E∣venings more one after another; by which means her Pains and Vo∣miting ceased, her Appetite returned, and she recovered her Health.

The twenty third of November she was again taken with the same Pains and Vomiting; thereupon, after I had purged her Body with Pills, I gave her Philonium again, which gave her ease, and so conti∣nuing the use of Philonium for twelve Evenings together, and loosning her Body every day with Pills, at length I mastered the Obstinate Dis∣ease; so that for six years together, I knew her safe and sound from that and all other Distempers.

OBSERVATION XCV. A Bastard Intermitting Tertian Ague.

HErman N. in the Vigor of his Age, in the beginning of March, was taken with a Bastard intermitting Tertian Ague, which began with a great Coldness, and ended in a violent Heat; it came every other day, but at uncertain hours, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. During the Fit, his Head ach'd violently, and he was very faint; his Stomach was gone, and his Strength much wasted. After he had taken many things in vain from other Physicians, coming to me, I gave him half a Dram of lucid Aloes reduced into Pills, which gave him five Stools; afterwards I ordered him to take dry Wormwood Mj. Lesser Centaury Mij. Carduus Ben. Flowers of Cam∣momil, an. Mj. s. and to cut them all▪ small, and then boil them in three Pints of Small Ale for a quarter of an hour, and then to squeeze it out strongly, and to take of the Straining warm, twice upon the Fit-Day, and thrice upon the Intermitting-day, and when that was done to make more; but this Decoction served the turn, for the Ague van∣quished by this Medicine, lasted not above four Fits; after which time the Patient was fully cured, and his Stomach returned.

ANNOTATIONS.

THis Decoction, by which this Pati∣ent was freed from a long Ague, though it did not consist of many costly far-fetch'd Ingredients, or prepared by laborious and pompous Chymistry, yet was compounded of such Simples as are chiefly celebrated for the Cure of Agues. For Wormwood, Carduus and Centau∣ry the less manifestly open all Obstructi∣ons of the Bowels, concoct and remove Crudities, cut thick Matter, and resist Putrefaction, and expel noxious Hu∣mors by Urine and Sweat, and are so well known among the Vulgar to have these Vertues, that they are able to be their own Physicians in the Cure of Agues, by the use of Powder of Cardu∣us, Wormwood-wine, and Decoctions of Centaury. I added Flowers of Ca∣momil, by reason of the Wind which troubles the Hypochondriums, and there∣fore of great benefit in Agues. Camo∣mil, says Galen, discusses and dissolves Agues where there is no Inflammation of any Bowel; especially such as proceed from choleric Humors, or thickness of Skin. For

which reason, by the wise Egyptians it was consecrated to the Sun, and was looked upon as a Remedy against all Agues, but in that mistaken for it; only cures such A∣gues as I have mentioned, and those con∣cocted. Though it helps the rest, which are Melancholy and Flegmatic, and pro∣ceed from the Inflammation of the Bow∣els. For against those it is also a potent Remedy, when they are once well concocted. Wherefore Cammomil is most grateful to the Hypochondriums. But though Galen tells us here that Cammomil is only to be used after Concoction of the Matter; yet in regard that of it self it is very prevalent to promote that Concoction, cuts thick Humors, opens Obstructions, removes Crudities, discusses Wind, and provokes Sweat and Urine; therefore it is thence apparent, that it may be given with success before the Concoction of the morbific Matter. Thus Sennertus reports, that Iohannes Anglicus was wont to give Cammomil promiscuous∣ly, as well before as after Concoction, and that he always found it very ad∣vantagious; and therefore it was no wonder that our Patient succeeded so well with those four most noble Febri∣fuges boiled together, and that the morbific Matter was so speedily con∣cocted, discussed and expelled.

OBSERVATION. XCVI. Thunder-struck.

IN the Year 1637, upon the twenty fourth of August, rose a most terrible Tempest, with horrid thunder and Lightning. At that time a Servant of a Country-man of Nimeghen was abroad in the Field gathering in Harvest, having with him a Girl, an old Woman with a Child, and a Cart with one Horse; they terrified with the Tempest fled, and the old Woman with the Child crept under the Cart, while the Servant and the Girl were endeavouring to bridle the Horse. In the mean time a violent Thunder-clap struck the Servant, the Girl, the Cart and Horse, the old Woman and the Child receiv∣ing no harm. The Beam of the Wagon made of strong Wood, was broken into Shivers; the Horse fell down dead of a suddain, and yet nothing of hurt appeared outwardly; the Girls Right-thigh and Leg were both struck by the Thunder, so that all the Parts appeared black, blew and purple; besides that, her Peticoat and Smock were torn into long Rags; the Girl also was thrown to the Ground and lay speechless for two hours. The Servant was maim'd over all his Body, especially upon his Right-side; from which Side, his Doublet, Breeches, Drawers and Shirt were not only torn, but shivered into long Rags, and retained a vehement stink of Fire, as if they had been burnt for Tinder. His Right-shoo, made of very strong Leather, was rash'd into long Thongs, and cast thirty Paces from his Foot. By such a ve∣hement Stroke the young Man being lay'd prostrate upon the Ground, fell into a Swoon, and was carried home for dead: This Fit lasted for two hours, and then he came to himself. I saw the Man, and viewed his whole Body, and found his Right-side from Head to Foot all of a Colour, between black and purple, his Skin flead off in some places; there was also a very great Contusion, and a burning fiery Heat joyned with it. The Patient spoke very little, only complained of a violent Pain of his whole Side, an extraordinary Heat of his Heart, a Com∣pression of his Breast, and Difficulty of Breathing; he could not move the Joynts of his Right-side, and remained so disabled for two months. Being asked what he first felt, he answered that at the very moment that he was struck, he thought his Heart had been burnt with a red hot Iron; neither could he draw his Breath, which was the reason that he fell down as if he had been stifled. I gave him several things,

and applied several Topics to the Parts affected; but nothing availed against that aethereal Fire; till at length, the Patient, by Divine as∣sistance, was cured without the help of any Medicaments. The old Woman, that with the Infant escaped under the Cart, related that she smelt a most horrible Stink when the Stroke was given, and felt such a violent Heat, as if her Head had been in a Bakers Oven, so that for the time she could hardly draw her Breath.

ANNOTATIONS.

WIth what a violent force, and how wonderfully Thunder sometimes strikes inferior things, both antient and modern Testimonies suffici∣ently convince us. In the Year 1626. eight days before Easter, rose a very great Tempest, with Thunder and Lightning; at what time, with one Clap of Thunder, four Houses and six Barns were quite overthrown in Block∣land near Montfort, and above three thousand Trees, not only broken, but torn up from the Roots, and cast at a great distance from their Holes, neither Men nor Beasts receiving any harm. In the Year 1628, a Country Man was killed in the Fields near Bodegrave with a Flash of Lightning, his Bones being broken to bits, yet neither his Skin or Flesh endamaged. In France at Poitou, in a certain Tower, we saw the Rafters burnt, the Lead being untouched; nor was the Fire quenched without a great deal of trouble. In the Year 1638, at Nimeghen, in the Walk called the Calves-wood, above a thousand Birds were kill'd at one time by the Light∣ning; and while the same Tempest lasted, some Oxen were killed by the Lightning, having their Bones broken, and several Trees were thrown down and broken, having their Leaves scorched and parched by the Flame▪ Cardan reports, that in the Year 1521, the Castle of Millain was almost demo∣lished by Lightning, at what time a hundred and thirteen Men were kill'd. Hildan tells a remarkable Story of a Gentleman, who was Thunder-struck himself, at what time his own Horse, and his Man with another Horse were both killed out right. The Gentle∣man's Cloaths were torn to Peices, and his Sword melted, the Scabbord, re∣ceiving no harm; only that the Iron Chape was melted at the same time. Therefore says Cardan, upon this; Mo∣tion not only causes a greater Penetration, but kindles the Heat it self, and renders the Fire hotter. Therefore it is no won∣der there should be such a force in Light∣ning, and that a Fire so different from the Nature of other Fires, should work Miracles; for by reason of the Swiftness of its Motion, it not only penetrates more, but the Fire is also hotter than any other Fire: For what other Fire is there that kills by touching? This is peculiar to this Fire; that is, the hotest of most hot; or as I may say, the Fire of Fires: And therefore sometimes it melts the Money in the Purse, and leaves the Purse un∣touched, &c.

OBSERVATION XCVII. A Cough.

NIcolaus Kerckwegg, in the Vigor of his Age, was troubled with a lamentable Cough for three or four years; he was nothing but Skin and Bone, and seemed to be perfectly Ptisical. When, after he had tried several others in vain, he came to me; I examined the Condition both of the Person and the Disease; I looked upon his Spittle, which was slimy and tough, without any Matter or Blood, therefore I could not judge him to be in a real Consumption, but that the Cough proceeded from a Cathar falling upon his Lungs, which in a long time of continuance, had weakned, not only his Lungs, but his whole Body. For Cure, I prescribed him a proper Diet, and some few Remedies, for that his Antipathy against Physic, and his Weak∣ness,

would not permit me to give many. Therefore, having gently purged his Body, I ordered him to take a Draught of the following Decoction three or four times a day.

℞. White Horehound M. iij. Shred it small, and steep it all night in common Water lbj▪ s. to which, the next day, add the Head of one white Poppy shred into bits, Leaves of Hys∣sop M. j. Oxymel lbj. s. Boil them in an earthen Pipkin close stopped, to the Consumption of the third Part, and keep the Straining for your Use.

This Decoction he continued for three or four months till at length the Cough abated every day more and more, and at length ceased; the Man also having recovered his Strength, and growing fat and lusty, so continued without any further Molesta∣tion.

OBSERVATION XCVIII. An Uterine Suffocation.

THE Wife of a Brick-layer at Nimeghen, about twenty eight years of Age, in Iuly, was troubled with a Suffocation of her Womb with a great pain in her Left-side, and difficulty of Breath. Being sent for about Evening, I gave her the following Draught, which when she had taken, the Malady ceased in part, and so she slept quietly that Night.

℞. English Saffron, Castoreum an. gr. v. Trochischs of Myrrh ℈s. Prepared Amber ℈j. Treacle ℈ij. Treacle-water ℥j. Mug∣wort ℥s. Oyl of Amber gut. ix. Mix them for a Draught.

The next day her Fit returned with the same vehemency, and be∣cause she had not been at Stool in three or four days, I gave her this Purge.

℞. Leaves of Senna ℥s. Lovage-seed ʒj. s. Mugwort-water q. s. Make an Infusion, then add to the Straining Elect. Diapheni∣con, Hiera Picra, an. ʒj. s. For a Potion.

This gave her five Stools; the Suffocation remaining, nay, growing more violent than before, wherefore I prescribed her the following Decoction, of which she drank warm an ounce, or an ounce and a half every hour, which after she had continued the whole day, her Evacu∣ations came down, and the Suffocation vanished.

℞. Roots of Masterwort, Valerian, an. ℥s. Dittany, Briony, an. ʒiij. Savine M. j. Seed of Lovage ʒvj. Of wild Carrots ʒij. White-wine q. s. Boil them for an Apozem to lbj. s.

OBSERVATION XCIX. Deafness.

THE Wife of Henry Iordens, in the Month of August, complained that for half a year she had been troubled with a very great Deafness, so that she could hear nothing but very loud Noises. She was about forty years of age, and during this Deafness, had been all along very hard bound in her Body, so that she seldom went to Stool in four or five days; for which reason, I judged that many Vapors as∣cended up to her Brain, which furring the auditory Nerve and Tym∣panum, caused this Deafness: Thereupon, after I had well purged her Body with Pills, I ordered her every Evening when she went to Bed, to swallow two Pills of Lucid Aloes, about the bigness of a Pea; by taking of which, her Body was naturally loosned, and so that great Deafness, within a Fortnight, was quite taken away, to the Admiration of many.

ANNOTATIONS.

THE Head, like a Lembick, re∣ceives the Vapors of all the Parts that lye underneath: Which if they are carried thither in greater abundance than can be digested and discussed by the Brain, causes various Diseases of the Head, Pains, Catarrhs, Ophthalmies, Deafness, &c. And this abounding Ascent of copious Vapours, chiefly happens to those that are bound in their Bodies. For this reason, if the Deafness have not been of a very long standing, then the Malady is easily cured by loosning the Body; by which means the morbi∣fic Matter is derived to the Intestines: Which Celsus intimates; where he says, Nothing more prevails against Deafness than a Choleric Belly. For which, Galen gives this Reason, because that Choler being carried to the Auditory Passages, and causing Deafness if it be removed from those Parts to the lower Parts, the Deafness is cured by Choleric Stools. Neither is this only true in Deafness, but in Ophthalmies, and other Affecti∣ons of the Head, according to that Say∣ing, All Stools below remove the Diseases of the Superior Parts: Which is to be understood not only of Evacuations of Choler, but of all other Evacuations by Stool. Hippocrates and Celsus speak particularly of Choleric Humors, be∣cause they occasion Deafness more than any other Humor, in regard that Cho∣ler has a familiar passage to the Ears; as appears by the Bitterness of the Ex∣crement of the Ears: Which Mercuri∣alis believes that Nature carries thither, meerly to cleanse the Auditory Organ, and keep it clean. Wherefore in such Maladies of the Head, purging Medi∣cins that mollifie the Belly, are of great use; partly to hinder the Ascent of such Humors and Vapors; partly to draw off such as are already got up into the Head; of which, we saw the happy Event in our Patient. For though there be no conspicuous Passage for the De∣scent of those Humors from the Brain, yet Nature finds out ways unknown to us, by which she evacuates the Morbific Matter, and rids her self of many Di∣stempers.

OBSERVATION C. The Itch.

A Young Gentlewoman had got the Scab, which chiefly infested her Hands with an extraordinary Itching. This Malady had continued for half a year, and because it began to spread more and more, I was sent for: Thereupon, after I had purged her Body, I or∣dered

her to wash her Hands with equal parts of mercuriated Water and Virgins Milk, and to let them dry of themselves. By which means the Scabbiness came forth more and more for two or three days, but within three or four days afterwards, wholly dry'd up, and was cured.

OBSERVATION CI. A Malady in the Stomach.

ISaac of Aix la Chapelle, forty six years of age, was troubled with an old Distemper in his Stomach, occasioned by difficult and painful Belchings; so that after he had eat or drank any thing, he was forced to belch fifty, and sometimes a hundred times and more, and that of∣ten both by day and by night; neither could he stop them; or if they did not break forth, he was like one that was ready to burst. Besides, his Sight was very weak, so that he could not see to read or write without Spectacles, and that at a very near distance too, and thus he had been troubled from the twentieth year of his Age till then. He had had the Advice of several Physicians to no purpose; upon which, I desired him to try only one Experiment, which was to smoak one Pipe of Tobacco after Dinner and Supper. At first he took but half a Pipe, but afterwars he grew such a Proficient, that he would take two or three; so that after he had continued the use of Tobacco in that manner for about a month, his Belching ceased, and his Sight was much amended.

ANNOTATIONS.

NIcholas Monardes writes, that To∣bacco is hot and dry in the second degree, and therefore attenuates, con∣cocts, cleanses, discusses, asswages Pain, and has a stupifying Quality, is good against the Tooth-ach, allays all Pains of the Head being outwardly ap∣plied, and laid upon the cold Stomach, cuts the same, &c. Which Qualities, Dodonaeus acknowledges also in Tobacco. But in regard that in their time this Plant was not so much in request, the Benefit and Abuse of it was less known to them than to us.