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. XXII.

Of the Cure of the flatuous Obstruction of the Liver.

OBstruction is common to all Bowels, but most to the Liver and Spleen. It is when a gross humour, flegm, or melancholy stuffes the small branches of the gate which are in the Liver; also a gross vapour sometimes swells the Liver, that it is like a Schirrus. And it is no wonder, that wind should so swell the Liver, when it cannot get out, because the Veins there are very small, in regard the largest Guts are so stopped by wind, that nothing can pass by stool. Therefore the Arabians say, that a very gross vapour is thinner then Chyle, as wind is thinner then water; but thin Chyle concocted as it ought, doth not obstruct the Liver; therefore wind cannot: but this is simple; for hence then it should follow, that the Guts should never be obstructed by wind, which is against Experience, when they send forth the thickest dung. There∣fore the Liver is obstructed by wind alone, or mixed with clammy humors. But we must be∣ware, lest we take the Liver to be obstructed with wind, when the fault is in the Colon: For the Colon lyes on the right side, and is some∣times

so stretched with flegm and wind, that the whole Hypochondrion is swollen But it is hard to distinguish these; therefore for brevity sake we shall shew the Cure. If then it be from flegm with wind, prepare the matter with this Apozem.

Take Elicampane roots, Madder, and Asara∣baccaroots, each six drams; bark of Danewort roots, and Capar roots, each four drams; Ger∣mander, Ceterach, Hysop, each a handful; Roman Wormwood half a handful, Carrot and Aniseeds, each three drams; Juniper-berries and Currans, each a pugil: boil them to half, to a pint strained add Sugar, and a dram and half of Cinnamon for four Doses. Or,

Take the Decoction aforesaid four ounces, Syrup of Calamints an ounce, Oxymel of Squills two drams: and so for the other three Doses.

Then, Take Dialacca two scruples, species of the Electuary of Bay berries, Diarrhodon, each half a scruple; with Sugar dissolved in Fennel-water and Wine make Tablets of a dram weight: give one with the Syrups. After preparation purge flegm thus.

Take Turbith two scruples, Ginger one scruple, Senna powdered half a dram, Sugar two drams: give it in Broth fasting. Or,

Take Agarick four scruples, Ginger half a dram: infuse them fourteen hours in three oun∣ces of Bettony water, strain and add Electuary Indi

major, three drams, Syrup of the five Roots an ounce: give it in the morning. The day after give this Electuary.

Take old Treacle half a dram, Conserve of Rose∣mary flowers and of Borage flowers, each a dram. If any matter remains, prepare and purge again: in this way of acting you shall cure the wind, and strengthen as well as evacuate the flegm. Moreover the stretching of the Hypochondrion is not long without flegm; for pain attracts it, and the extension of the passages receives it, and its coldness hinders the Liver, so that crudities are by degrees laid up: therefore consider both, but that chiefly which urgeth most. When it is from wind only, give a Clyster, or a Lenitive rather then a strong Purge, and cutting Apo∣zem, and the Tablets mentioned, to unstop them: And discuss wind with Wine wherein Cummin, Anise, Cubebs, Juniper-berries, Car∣damoms, and Cinnamon were boiled, or in which Diacurcuma and Treacle, each half a dram are dissolved: Or this Hippocras.

Take Treacle a dram, Cardamoms, Cubebs, each two scruples; Cinnamon three drams, Sugar four ounces: strain them. But use hot things warily, if there be Plethory or a hot Liver. Fo∣ment the Liver with the Decoction of Worm∣wood, Pennyroyal, Bay-berries in Wine, or with Oyl wherein Rue, Wormwood, Cypress roots, and Galangal are boiled, and apply Bags,

and apply large Cupping-glasses twice or thrice with much flame, but not before flegm is per∣fectly evacuated, otherwise the flegm will be more fixed, and cause a true Schirrus.