A new and needful treatise of spirits and wind offending mans body wherein are discovered their nature, causes and effects / by the learned Dr. Fienns ; and Englished by William Rowland ...

CHAP. X.

Of the Symptoms coming from Wind.

THere are also divers Symptoms produced from the divers places where the wind is, being a large off-spring of a fruitful Parent, the solution of continuity. This causeth pain. All pain, chiefly of the head, is in the Membranes, which if not offended by distemper, heat, or cold, stroke, or bad scent, or sharp humours, must needs be hurt by wind bred in the part (which is seldom seen) or sent from other parts where it abounds (which is usual.) This wind gets between the Skull and the Pericranium, or between the Skull and the Dura Mater, or hard film, or between both the Meaninges or films, and twitcheth and pulleth them from the bone. Hence is intolerable head-ach. Some∣times this wind stretcheth the ventricles of the Brain and the whole inward Membrane called Pia Mater, like a bladder, and causeth unspeak∣able pain. They complain that the head is

sometimes stretched, sometimes slackned. This gets into any part quickly by its thinness; and if it hath any malignant quality from the hu∣mours putrefying below in the body, it disturbs the mind and reason, and causeth terrible dreams, melancholy, dotings, shakings of the head, and sometimes death.

The Vertigo or Megrim is, when the head seems to turn round. The Scotoma is, when there is not only a turning round, but a mist be∣fore the eyes. Both are from divers causes. We shall speak only of that Vertigo which is from wind in the fore-ventricle of the Brain, that moves disorderly. This wind causeth mists, and perverts the imagination; hence things seem to run round, and think they run round themselves and fall. For a Vertigo is a turbu∣lent commotion of thick flatuous spirits in the fore-ventricles of the Brain. This wind some∣times breeds in the Brain from an uneven di∣stemper thereof; sometimes it is sent from the stomach and Hypochondria, which you may ga∣ther from the Chapter afore-going. Sometimes wind gets from the Brain to the Nerves, and fills them, and twitcheth, and causeth a windy Cramp in the Fingers and Toes, or Arms and Legs, extending or contracting them.

Also this wind causeth great pain in the Ears, when it is straitned about the Membranes in the Organ of Hearing For finding no passage out, it

stretcheth them vehemently, and tears them from the bone. This distemper is known from others; for there is neither heat nor heaviness (except there be flagm there) but only a stretching with noise or ringing. Also it is of much concern∣ment, if it be much or little, thick or thin, move quickly or slowly. For if it be much, thick, and move quick, it will be perceived like swift flow∣ing water, or like a drum, or such an instrument as makes a shrill noise, with a large blast of wind. If it be little, or thick, and move quick, it is like the breaking and falling of a tree, or an house, or a conduit. If it be much, but thin, and move quick, it causeth jingling or ringing, or ringing, or like the whistling of wind in at the cranny of a door. If it be much, gross, and move not quickly, it causeth rumbling. If it be little, thick, and move slowly, it causeth a whistling, or Susurrus, whispering. When it is much, thin, and moves slowly, it causeth his∣sing. They that have it, are commonly dull both in the inward and outward senses, chiefly in the hearing, by reason of the grossness of the spirits, impurity and coldness, and the pain is not constant, but by fits.

Also wind gets into the roots of the Teeth, and stretcheth their Nerves, or the Membrane of the Cheek-bone, and causeth wonderful pain, almost not to be asswaged. It is easily known, for it is not constant, nor alike all the fit, as

when humours logde there; but it is by fits worse, and hath a quick motion like a dart.

Though, as Galen saith, the Lungs feel no pain; yet being stretched, there is pain felt in the breast and back, from the membrane that compasseth them, which hangs from breast to back by fibres. As often then as wind stretch∣eth this membrane by its abundance or quick motion, there wil be a pain in the breast or back; and which is worse, it sometimes breaks the veins, and causeth a flux of blood, and so a con∣sumption, though seldom.

Wind often causeth a bastard Pleurisie, and sometimes difficult to be cured, as when it is between the skin and the ribs, or between the membranes under the ribs, and pulls them from the parts they cleave to. This stops the breath, and keeps it from large and free passage, because the side and the breast are stirred up to move in breathing. Sometimes from pain it causeth a dry Cough and a Feaver, and it resembles a true Pleurisie, which is from a Phlegmon: and many ignorant Physitians that are content with a few signs, and such as shew not the disease, are deceived thereby, and cause dangerous Sym∣ptoms by false directions. But this Pleurisie differs far from a true; and to shew the signs of a true, is not to our purpose: but the Pleurisie of wind is with a wandring pain, not long in the same place, except it be a very gross and

cloudy vapour. It is milder by heat and fo∣mentations, and is dispersed; it comes from too much cold drink or milk, chiefly a great draught after exercise; from cold and wet feet, or other windy causes, as we shewed before.

Also palpitation of the Heart is from wind, when it gets into the Pericardium through in∣visible passages, and cannot get out; it torment∣eth by a vehement Systole and Diastole, con∣traction and dilatation, so that when it extends the heart, it intercepts the motion of the Artery. We shall know when this is from wind, and not from a humour. For the humour will be much or little, thick or thin. That which is much and thick cannot get through the thick mem∣brane, and be dissolved into air through the habit of the body. If it be much and thin, though it may at length be dissolved and dryed up; yet it requires longer abode, it cannot quickly come and go, be violent and cease: this is a plain sign, that then the palpitation of the Heart is from a windy substance. But if it were little and thin, it would easily vanish, and not make that kind of palpitation. Therefore it is probable, that there is a thick substance or a cloudy wind, which the heart labours to shake off, because it oppresseth the vital faculty; and by its heat and continual motion extenuates the thickness, and so disperseth it, and then the pal∣pitation ceaseth, which comes from surfeits, idle∣ness,

bashfulness, or too much or sudden fear, as the evident causes. But the palpitation which is from humours contained in the Pericardium, is different. For it is perpetual, seldom inter∣mitting; but in time of rest it grows worse from motion, and continues often for many years, even till death. Fernelius saith, that sometimes it hath broken the adjacent ribs, and put them out of their place, and dilated the Artery out∣ward as big as the fist. The other from wind is troublesom; but comes by fits, and is not so dangerous.

There are no oftner or greater Symptoms from wind, then those that trouble the stomach and gut Colon: the first is called Inflation, the second, the Colick, from the part affected. In∣flation is from a fault from the retentive and embracing faculty of the stomach. For the goodness of the stomach consists in the time of the embracing of the food, being equal with the time of concoction, and when it so binds up the food, that there is no empty space between it and the meat. But quick evacuation and cor∣ruption of meat in the lower belly, follow an unfit time of retention; and a weak retention causeth inflations. These torment the stomach, and the pain descends to the back. For the sto∣mach lies under the Midriff, and begins at the Malum Punicum or Pomegranate, and so tends to the left side: for the upper part bends chiefly

thither; but the lower part bends more to the right side. The hinder part lyes upon the Back-bone, to which it is bound, cleaving as far as the first Spondil of the Loyns. The mouth of it is united, not to the Back-bone, but to the Diaphragma, Liver, Heart, Spleen, Guts, and other parts, by Membranes, Nerves, Arteries, and Veins. Hence when the stomach is stretcht with wind, those parts are pained that are joyn∣ed to the stretched part of the stomach. There∣fore when the back parts are stretched by wind, there is chiefly pain in the Loyns and Kidneys, as if it were the Stone, which deceives not only the vulgar, but the learned sometimes, so that they think them to have the stone, which are stretched with wind in the stomach. But this is chiefly in such as have the Colick, as shall be proved. When the upper part of the stomach is extended, there is pain over the breast, chiefly on the left side. When the lower parts are stretched, the Liver is sometimes pained, or the other side. If the mouth of the stomach be stretched, the Gullet hath a Convulsion, as if it were contracted with hands, so that they say, it is like a stick fixed, and they can scarce swallow. For as Galen Lib. 6. Aph. 39. saith, as fulness stretch the body, receiving it side-ways, and downward, and make the length of the part shorter; so it is in the inflation of the stomach, the Gullet is contracted, and the sides and the

bottom stretched. Erasistratus saith, that if the muscles be filled with wind, they grow broader, but shorter. Moreover, when from plenty the whole is stretched, the effect of distension is perceived all over; and because the Diaphragma is compressed (for it is an instrument of respira∣tion) the breath is difficult from the stomach puffed up; and so this inflation sometimes so in∣creaseth; that it makes a tumour on the mouth of the stomach. These are allayed by stools, and breaking wind upward or downward.

The Colick is next, which is not always in one part of the belly in all, but as the Colon is moved, so it removeth, now to the right, then to the left side, sometimes to the Kidneys, Navel, or over all the belly, but chiefly the left side. For the Colon is a thick Gut, through the hol∣low of the Liver on the right side is carried to the left Hypochondrion upon the bottom of the stomach, and lyes upon the Spleen; then bend∣ing backward, it adheres to the left Kidney. Therefore in what part the wind chiefly gets, there is greatest pain; but when it fixeth in one part, it is raised from a crude and cold flegm shut up in the turnings of the Gut; nor is the wind then wholly included. This flegm cor∣rodes the Gut, and tears it, and is like an Au∣ger that pierceth it, which causeth great pain, and loathing and vomiting of flegm, and it de∣parteth not after breaking of wind. But a pain

from wind without flegm, is wandring in divers parts of the belly, and rumbles often, and being shut up close, will not break forth above or be∣low. This useth to breed much in the Colon; for Nature hath made no other receptacle for wind, which the first concoction in the stomach hath bred: therefore wind is lodged in this gut with great pain, chiefly when by reason of ob∣struction from gross flegm or hard and dry ex∣crements, it cannot get forth. The dung is hardned from divers causes, chiefly from idle∣ness, and labouring to keep from the stool. Rest makes retention, as motion evacuation, and binds, as motion opens; rest makes things un∣moveable, and motion moveable: It causeth vomiting, stools, sweat, urine, and all natural expulsions; and rest hinders them. Some wo∣men complain that they have not a stool in five or six days, some in eight days: These are idle, cold, gluttonous, and obstructed, so that motion doth not help, nor Choler, by reason of cold, provoke the Guts to expel. Also the obstructions hinder the Choler from the Cuts, and a perverse order in eating, binds the belly. Therefore it is no wonder women are more windy then men. Also costiveness doth not only cause the Colick, but other great acci∣dents; for the dung sent down by Nature, and by its heaviness falling to the lowest parts, if from other business or urgent occasion it be de∣tained,

it will grow hard, because being kept long, it drys by heat, and the Meseraicks do always suck some juyce from it, for they are in the thick as well as the thin Guts. So the excre∣ments being by degrees very dry, stop the pas∣sage against themselves and the wind, and cause the Ileon or Convolvulus sometimes, but the Colick often, and other great Symptoms. For when the wind cannot get out, it flyes from the bottom of the belly again to the stomach, and stretcheth it, and twitcheth so the Weasant, and contracts it, that they can scarce swallow or speak. Also because the mouth of the stomach is very sensible, it is pained with Convulsion, so that the heat of the outward parts goes in to expel what hurts Nature; and then they want∣ing their heat, are chill, and the Nerves are con∣tracted, the Legs weak, and the body in a great strait. Who would think that such deadly and cruel Symptoms should come from a little wind? but I know it to be so by long experience. The excrements voided in this fit are windy; for they swim upon water, and are like Ox-dung, and there was crudity, loathing, and vomiting before. This disease is like the stone in the Kidneys fixed in the Ureters, and hard to be distinguished from it: Galen was deceived by it in his own body, and knew it not but to be the stone, till he injected Oyl of Rue, and voided glassie flegm, and was freed presently from all pain.

We shall speak next of windy Melancholy; it is bred from three causes, from heat of the Liver and the Meseraicks, coldness of stomach, and a crude and gross humour of flegm or me∣lancholy. A cold stomach desires too much, and digests too little. A hot Liver attracts crude and gross meats before perfect concoction. And because the second concoction, which is in the Liver, cannot correct the defect of the first, the Veins of the Mesentery are obstructed by gross Chyle, and much crudity is gathered in them. This boils by preternatural heat, and sends forth filthy vapours that are not easily discussed, and there are rumblings, and break∣ing of wind. Also Galen from Diocles saith, there is another disease in the stomach like the other, called melancholy or windy, as when meat of hard digestion and hot, is taken, there is much spitting, belching, sowre wind, heat in the sides, not presently, but after retention. Sometimes great pains of the stomach that reach to the back in some, cease after concoction, and come again after meat. When the fit comes, the stomach and Hypochondria are mise rably tormented, and not freed till the matter be voided by vomit or stool, that extends the Hy∣pochondria with wind. That which is vomited because the stomach is cold and weak, is fleg∣matick, clammy, and crude, white, and some∣times without taste, or sowre, or bitter. That

which is sent down is black and windy Melan∣choly; from this sometimes a black vapour ariseth, and hurts the brain, causeth troublesom dreams, and disturbs the mind with doting.

This wind shut up in the stomach and guts, and striving to get out, gets into the small veins and membranes of the Liver, on both sides ca∣vous and gibbous, and is like a Schirrus; or so stretcheth, that there is a tumour like a Schirrus, only it is bred in a shorter time. It is so great sometimes, that it fills the Hypochondrion, and you cannot feel the ribs there, nor put a finger under it, and there is no shape of the Liver. This is known to be from much gross vapours, because there is not only heaviness, but distention, as Galen lib. 5. de loc. affect. saith.

The Spleen is in like manner stretched with wind, as Trallianus, saith: as in other parts, so in the spleen, there is wind that grows to a tu∣mour; it is like a Schirrus, but thus distin∣guished: in a Schirrus, there is hardness not yielding, tumour and heaviness in the left Hy∣pochondrion: In a tumour from wind, it doth not strongly resist the touch, but yields to the finger, and the spleen is pricked and extended, but without heaviness, and it comes sooner. When vulgar Physitians understand not these two tumours of both Liver and Spleen, how blindly do they go to work with thousands of Juleps! and they protract the cure, that they

may be largely rewarded, and when they have done more hurt then good, they affirm it to be a Schirrus, and from Galen, incurable. But they are very ignorant; for this cloudy wind fixed on the bowel, in time by the natural heat, somentations, fasting, an extenuating and hot diet given by women and Empericks, being dis∣cussed, the humour vanisheth, and the pain also, and the foolish Doctors contemned. I exhort therefore the ingenious that love their honour and the truth, to search narrowly, and learn to know Symptoms from those of other diseases. It is hard, but excellent: For many Patients, as ready to dye for pain, cry out only from wind, which if corrupted, and come from a putrid and venomous matter, and run through the members with intolerable pain, needs an exact Artist to know the wind and the matter producing it, and distinguish the disease from others.

To this belongs the Tympany, Dropsie, when wind gets into the membranes of the belly with pain, and so into the spaces. Hippocrates Aph. 2. Sect. 4. speaks of this thus. They that have pain about the Navel and Loyns, that will not be cured by medicines, will have a dry Dropsie. There are three sorts of Dropsies; Anasarca, As∣cites, and Tympanides, which Hippocrates calls the dry Dropsie. Anasarca is a preternatural increase of the bulk of the body; here the feet swell first, at night chiefly, after exercise, or

when they have long hung down; they pit with the finger, the body is all soft, loose, and pale, weak and tired with the least pains; it is like the Green-sickness in women, only the Dropsie swells the body, but in the other there is pale∣ness, and trembling of the heart in motion, and shortness of wind going up stairs, and the body is heavy and sluggish. The cause is the same in both, too much cooling of the Liver and Veins. The Liver cooled, the sanguification is hurt, then comes crude and watry blood, which ta∣ken into the hollow vein, goes over all the body, and there is Anasarca; and if the water from the Liver stretch the skin, without there will be bladders. If these break, the water gets into that part of the Peritonaeum which is by the lower belly, and then there is the second kind of Dropsie called Ascites. With this by degrees the belly is filled, and it swells unmeasurably, the skin being loosned, and the rest of the body pines away. If the body or the belly be turned, the water makes a noise. But in a Tympany there is no fluctuation of water, but the sound of a drum when you strike or fillip the belly with your finger. For Galen aph. 12. sect. 4. saith, in these the air is beaten which is contain∣ed by the skin; as in this kind of disease, the wind is struck by the skin which is below. Cold of the bowels and veins is cause of all these Dropsies. The Ascites or watry Dropsie is

from more cold, the Tympany from less; for water cannot be turned to wind without heat. Great thirst follows all, chiefly Ascites and Tympany: the first because the water is salt and putrefied that is detained; and the other, be∣cause there is seldom wind alone in the belly without water which putrefies; also the wind takes away the moisture of the stomach, and then it is dry, and desires drink. This is thirst, the desire of moist and cold, or both. In exter∣nals we see, that though the Earth be very wet with rain, yet when wind comes, it dryes it wonderfully in a short time, and consumes the moisture. The same is done in the body; for one in a Tympany hath a thirst beyond Tanta∣lus, the more he drinks, the more he may, and to satisfie the enemy in his bowels, he destroys himself with much drink. Also they in the Colick thirst from the same cause.

Also wind swells the Cods and the Womb, it gets by invisible passages into the cavity of them, or after Child-birth by the Orifice of the womb, or after bathing or fomenting; or it breeds there from some other cause, and there is straitned, and so it stretcheth the womb. If the stretching be in the upper part of the womb, by force of the wind sent thither, it ascends and goes to the Midriff and stomach, and lyes like a ball there, and oppresseth it. Hence it is often driven down by the hands or fists, or by other

solid bodies into its proper place. But if either side of the womb be distended or stretcht more then the rest, it gets by a Convulsion into the right or left Croyn, the Pecten and the lower belly are blown up and pained; sometimes a noise is heard all over the body, there is belch∣ing, and swelling of the Loyns, and pain in the Reins and Hips, and when the belly is smitten with the fingers, there is a sound like a drum, and the wind breaks forth at the mouth of the womb. Soranus said, this was called a flatuous cold.

As wind gets into the womb of a woman, so it gets into the Cods of a man, with a disease or without, and is a disease by it self. I have seen in a Tympany the Cods of a man swollen as big as a Hogs bladder. For the wind which at first was only in the membranes of the Abdomen and Peritonaeum, being now increased, and re∣quiring great space, breaks them, and gets into the Cods, and fills also the whole body. Wind also extends the Cods without a disease in man, and chiefly new born children, and makes the Hernia called Pneumatocele, or windy Rupture. Sometimes it gets within the common mem∣brane of the stones, and puffs up all the Cods alike; but when it gets between the tunicles of either stone, called Erythroides and Dartos, then one side of the Cod is only tumified. This tumour is transparent, and not heavy as that of

You may try it in the dark with a Wax-candle held on the part opposite to your view.

Priapismus a Symptom of the Yard, hath two causes; one is the fulness of the Arteries of the Privities; the other is wind bred in the fi∣stulous Nerve. This fills the Nerve, so that it swells and makes the Yard stand without a ve∣nereous desire. Galen meth. med. 12. saith, there is another kind of Priapism, when the Yard ex∣tends against desire: For the Nerve that makes the proper substance of the Yard, being hollow, and filled with wind, causeth it. So Priapism is a permanent enlargement of the Yard in length and thickness, without desire of Venery; and wind is the cause, as appears by its quick rise and sudden fall, which no humour could make. But Palpitation goes before this Pria∣pism of wind, but not before that which is from the dilatation of the Artery.

We have shewed how wind fills the internal parts, and what evils it causeth; we shall now shew what Symptoms it produceth in the habit of the body: For it is thin, and not only fills vacuity, but dissolves continuity, tears the mem∣branes in themselves, and from the bones, and swiftly strikes like a dart upon any part, causing great pain. Sometimes like cold air, it affects the sensible nervous parts without great pain; but this is little and very thin, and easily vanisheth by the natural heat, and Fomentations. But it is

harder to be discussed, when it gets under the skin or membranes of the bones, being thicker, and more, and swells them to a windy Impo∣stume. Galen distinguisheth this from Oedema, which is from water, and yields to the finger, and pits deep. But an inflation is from wind, either under the skin or membranes of the bones, or under the Muscles. This pits not with the finger, but sounds like a drum with a fillip. Sometimes it causeth no tumour; but lying under the skin, through which it cannot breathe, being thick, it only beateth: this the Vulgar call the life. And Langius in an Epistle wittily shews the arrogancy and ignorance of some Chirurgions, that when they see the Muscles of the Temples, Forehead, Cheeks, or Jaws tremble by wind in the skin, and to swell, they say, there is the soul or life, as in a prison: also without purging, which is less dangerous then bleeding, they let blood, and beholding the blood to tremble in the Porringer by reason of wind, they fear that life is gone forth with the blood; and therefore they make the patient drink it off hot. Silly fellows! that know not that air feeds the vital and animal spirits, gets not only into the Arteries of the Brain, Lungs, and Heart, but into all parts by inspiration, and the pores; and is mixed with the blood by the Anastomosis of the Arteries with the Veins; and wind will breed from clammy humours, not

only in the Muscles and all parts that may be stretched (as the Stomach, Guts, Liver, Spleen, Midriff, and Womb in teeming women) which move the womb, so that they think the Child moveth. And it causeth a trembling, not only in the Muscles and other members, but chiefly in the Heart. And as wind shut up in the bowels of the Earth, shakes as it is ready to get forth; so wind in the body, being comprehend∣ed in the muscles or other stretchable parts, shakes them till it gets forth. Thus Langius and Galen lib. 2. de Art. curat. ad Glauc. con∣firms him, saying, that that sort of wind which is gross, sometimes lyes under the membranes of the bones, sometimes under the Peritonaeum, sometimes in the guts and belly, sometimes un∣der the membranes about the muscles and the membranous tendons, and the spaces of the mus∣cles and other parts. Therefore the force of wind is wonderful, that like Thunder passeth through insensible passages into private places, even into the bones and marrow, and causeth pain; but being between the bone and the Periostium, it teareth them asunder with great pain. Hence many complain of pain of the Shins by fits, when there is no distemper exter∣nal, neither tumour nor pain when it is pressed, except there be much gathered. So much of the Symptoms, now we shall speak of the Pro∣gnosticks of Wind.