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. XIX.

Of the Cure of the puffing of the Stomach.

THe inflation of the stomach is a preterna∣tural extension of the Membranes of the stomach by wind, with pain. In this the pro∣per action of the stomach is frustrated, which is concoction, in regard the faculty of embracing the food doth not every where compass it, by reason of weakness; but there is a vacuity be∣tween the stomach and the meat. This pain is sometimes before meat most, sometimes after. Before meat, because there is a gross clammy flegm, with a cold distemper, which oppresseth the heat, and it laboureth to conquer it, and so causeth wind that stretcheth, and is disturbant. This pain is allayed by belching, or vomiting flegm. It is worst after meat, when it is only

from a cold distemper without matter. For the natural heat being weak, or oppressed with cold or windy meats, doth dissolve them, but yield∣ing to the burthen, doth not concoct them, and thence ariseth wind. For the Cure of this, the first intention is to evacuate what is preterna∣tural. The second is with thin and hot medi∣cines that extenuate wind to abate it: and after good diet, the first thing is to keep the belly loose by a Lenitive or a Suppository: then if there be gross flegm at the bottom of the sto∣mach, vomit with Oxymel of Squills, or the de∣coction of Radish, Dill, Arrage, sometimes be∣fore, sometimes after supper, as the Patient is easie or hard to vomit. As,

Take Radish two ounces, stamp them, add Mead, or decoction of Dill, strain, and drink it warm (for luke-warm things provoke Vomit by relaxing.) Or,

Take Dill seed, Radish seed, each an ounce and half; Agarick a dram in Powder. Boil them in water to half, to six ounces strained add Syrup of Vinegar or Oxymel of Squills (if the matter be very thick) an ounce, then give, and tickle the throat with a feather. If by straitness of breast, or the like, he cannot vomit, prepare the flegm with Honey of Roses, Oxymel, Syrup of Stoechas, and the Decoction of Rue, Pennyroy∣al, Calamints, Hysop, Organ, great hot Seeds, and purge flegm with Pil. aureae, of Hiera with

Agarick, or simple Hiera, Electuary Indi major. Benedicta laxativa, or the like: after flegm is purged, use to chew Ginger or Elicampane can∣died, but chiefly roots of Masterwort, to which I give the Prerogative in this disease. Then use Diatrionpipereon, Diacalaminth, Dianisum, Diacinamomum, Electuary of Bay-berries, Mi∣thridate, Treacle, or the Powder of Cummin with a little Salt and Chicken Broth or Wine; or Chamomil boiled in Wine with Anise, Cum∣min, Nutmeg, and Oyl of sweet Almonds. I suppose there is no Remedy like it: also Castor half a dram, Cloves half a scruple drunk in Wine, or Poli montane in Wine, or Oxymel or Vinegar of Squills, which cuts vehemently, gi∣ven an ounce twice in a day in Wine. Aegineta saith, that the bone of a Hogs foot burnt and drunk, discusseth wind. Also Cinnamon water of Mathiolus alone or with Aqua vitae: or Sack with Cinnamon, Galangal, or Wine with Rose∣mary, Carrot seed, Cummin, Caraway, Bay and Juniper-berries: or give this Hippocras to dainty palates.

Take Sugar four ounces, Cubebs, Grains of Pa∣radise, Galangal, Ginger, each a dram; long Pep∣per half a dram, Cinnamon four drams, Sack two pints: strain them. But remember to use very hot things very seldom, whether simple or com∣pound, before the gross flegm be purged or vo∣mited: For all sharp things or that are very

hot, if they fall upon clammy flegm, do raise wind, which they cannot discuss; and instead of Cure will do hurt: and that which is good after purging is bad before. Beware then you use not too weak Remedies that cannot over∣come, or too strong out of order; and so cast the Patient into a Tympany. It is good out∣wardly to bind the stomach strait, to hinder wind, and further concoction, and to foment the stomach with Oyl, with Rue, Calamints, Rosemary, Cummin, Anise, Smallage, Carrot seed, Bay-berries boiled in it: or boil them in Wine, and foment, or use Oyl of Mace or Cloves. These by their thinness open the skin, and extenuate, discuss the wind, and strengthen, and warm, and restore the suffocated heat, and refresh by a propriety of substance. You may make of these an excellent Oyntment, thus.

Take Oyl of Mace by expression six drams, Oyl of Wormwood, Mastich, each four drams; Wood Aloes, Nutmeg, Cubebs, Cloves, each half a dram; Musk, Benzoin, Saffron, each six grains. Make a Powder, and with Wax make an Oyntment: anoint with it hot before meat: after the former Fomentation and Oyntment, apply a Bag of Feathers, or this.

Take Organ, Wormwood, Mints, each half a handful; Milium, Aniseeds parched, each half an ounce; Chamomil, Lavender, Rosemary flowers, each a pugil; Bay-berries a dram, Nutmeg half

a dram. Powder them grosly, and quilt them in thin red Silk, sprinkle Wine on it, and apply it hot to the stomach. Also a large Cupping-glass applied three or four times without Scari∣fication to the belly, so that it may comprehend the Navel, doth often make a perfect Cure. Or a hot Tile in a double cloth wet in Wine, chang∣ing it when cold. Thus much of the inflation of the stomach.