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

HISTORY VII. Of the Lethargy.

A Person, threescore Years of Age, of a Flegmatic Constitution, having all the Autumn being careless of his Diet, feeding gree∣dily upon Fruit, Lettice, Cowcumbers, Melons and such like, for some days perceived a weariness of his whole Body, with a great Inclination to sleep. Then he was taken with a slight continued Fever, which toward Night growing worse, seemed like a Quotidian. This Fever was presently accompany'd with a very great drowsiness, so that he could not be kept from sleeping and which was so profound, that he heard not the standers by, though they bawled out and made never so loud a noise; being at length rowsed out of his sleep not without great difficulty and hawling and pulling, he looked upon the standers-by, but answered very little to their questions; and that, very little to the purpose; not knowing that he had been asleep: if they gave him a Chamber-Pot; he forgot to make water; and so

with his Mouth and his Eyes shut he fell asleep again; his Pulse was strong, but slow and at distant intervals; and toward Night unequal and somewhat swifter, his Urine was muddy, with a very thick Fleg∣matic Sediment.

I. THat the Head and whole Body of this Patient were affected, appears from the profound Sleep, which oppressed the one, and the continued Fever and lassitude that seized the other.

II. That heavy drowsiness which seiz'd our Patient, is called a Lethargy, which is an insatiable Propensity to sleep with a gentle Fever and molestation of the Prin∣cipal faculties.

III. The remote Cause of this Mala∣dy was cooling and bad Dyet, which generating a great quantity of Flegmatic humors in a Flegmatic Body, made the antecedent Cause.

IV. Which Flegmatic humors being carried in great quantity to the Brain, and affecting it with a cold mistemper; partly putrifying in the larger Vessels, and inflam'd in the Heart, and thence dispeirsed through the whole Body, and through the Carotides Arteries to the Brain, constitute the containing Cause of the Sleep and Fever.

V. For when those crude Humors alrea∣dy inflam'd in the Heart come through the Carotides Arteries to the Choroid-Fold, whose small Arteries by reason of the cold temper of the Brain, (are narrow∣er then usually,) and partly through their own thickness, partly through the nar∣rowness of those passages slowly pass through the Choroid Fold, they are there thickened still more and more, by the cold Constitution of the Brain, and their Passage becomes more obstructed; so that for that reason the Animal Spirits growing fewer, and but ill supplyed, and consequently not sufficing to offici∣ate in their dutys, hence follows a Cessa∣tion in the Organs of those Senses: by which means when no objects can be carry'd to the Principal Senses they cease too, when a profound Drowsiness out of which when the Patient is roused, the Principal Senses appear damnified, for want of Spirits, and their disorderly motion through obstructed Passages.

VI. This Disease is dangerous. 1. Be∣cause the Brain is dangerously affected. 2. By reason of the Fever which af∣fects the whole Body. 3. Because the Patient was old, and unable to conquer such a Malady for want of Natural heat and strength; but because he had some strength remaining, there was hopes of Cure.

VII. In the Cure, the Flegmatic Matter abounding in the whole Body is to be Evacuated, drawn back from the Head, and deriv'd to the lower Parts. The Cold Distemper of the Head to be remov'd, the Head to be corroborated, and the Matter therein contain'd to be dissolv'd and drawn away.

VIII. After a Glyster, Dolorific Li∣gatures, and hard Frictions of the Thighs are very proper, if frequently used. Blood-letting at such an Age is not so convenient; therefore Cupping∣glasses both with and without Scarificati∣on are to be apply'd to the Shoul∣ders, Neck and Back. But no repel∣ling Cold Medicines are to be used in this Case.

IX. So soon as the Patient can be wak'd let him have this Apozem gi∣ven him.

℞. White Agaric, ʒj. Leaves of Senna, ℥ s. Anise-seed, ʒj. Ginger, ℈j. De∣coctions of Barley, q. s. Infuse them, then add to the straining Ele. Dia∣phenicon ʒiij.

If the Body be bound it must be loosen'd with Glysters.

X. The Body being well Purg'd, let him take every foot a draught of this Apozem.

℞. Roots of Aromatic Reed, Elecampane, Fennel, Stone-Parsly, an. ℥s. Herbs, Betony, Venus Hair, Century Lesser, Dandelion, an. M. j. Rosemary, Mar∣joram, Hyssop, Flowers of Stoechas, Camomil, an. M. s. Iuniper-Berries, ʒvj. Anise-seeds, ℈j. s. Citron and Orange-Peels, an. ℥s. Water q. s. Make an Apozem of lb j. s. To which add Syrup of Stoechas ℥ij. or iij.

XI. After he has taken this A∣pozem, let him Purge as before or if he like Pills better, let him take ℈ij or iij of Cochia Pills, or ʒj. of Diaturbith or Diacarthamum powder'd and dis∣solv'd in Barley-water.

XII. After this second Purgation, let him return to his Apozem, to which you may then add several Diu∣retics

as Roots of Dodder, Asparagus, Eryngos; and Herbs as Stone Parsley, Strawberry Leaves and the like. Ca∣storeum also may be properly mix'd in this Apozem; or else five or six grains given him in a little Oxymel of Squills.

XIII. While these things are a doing let the Matter be specially Evacuated out of his Head; the Head be Corro∣borated with Topics, and the remain∣ing Matter there discuss'd. Evacuation is performed by Errhins of equal Parts of Roots of Beets and Leaves of Marjoram: and by Snuf blowing into his Nostrils the following Sternutory.

℞. Root of white Hellebore ℈j. of Pellitory, and Leaves •…•…f Marjoram, an. ℈ s. Black Pepper, gr. v. Castoreum, Benjamin, an. gr. iiij.

To corroborate the Brain anoint the top of the Head and Temples with this Liniment: and then cover the Head with the following Quilt.

℞. Oyls of Amber, Rosemary, Marjoram, an. ℈ij. Martiate Oyntment, ʒij. Casto∣reum, Powdered, ℈ s. For a Lini∣ment.

℞. Leaves of Marjoram, M. j. of Rose∣mary, Sage, and Flowers of Melilot, an. one little handful, Cloves, Nutmegs, an. ℈j. Castoreum, ℈ s. Beat these into a gross Powder for a Quilt.

XIV. Let him have a good Air, a light Room, moderately warm, and Perfumed with Castor, Peny-royal, Rosemary, Sage, Thime, Marjoram, Baum, &c. let his Food be easie of Digestion, Condited with Rosemary, Betony, Marjoram, Hyssop and the like. Let him avoid Milk, Pulse and Fruit, Garlic, Onions, Mustard, Ra∣dishes, &c.

Let his Drink be Barley-water, with Majoram, Hyssop, Rosemary and the like boil'd in it, sweetened with a little Hydromel or Honey, and a•…•…omatiz'd with Saffron. Let him sleep as little as may be: and make his natural Evacua∣tions come forth in due order.