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THE Use of the Purging Waters of Epsom, &c. is so excellent and manifold, and so very well known to London Physicians, that no Body can doubt of it.
For in many grievous Diseases, Expe∣rience has prov'd 'em a most efficacious Remedy, endued with no unwholsom Quality; which, rationally prescrib'd, I
never knew attended with any unex∣pected ill Effect.
One Objection there is brought against these Waters, with some shew of Reason; 'tis, That the Waters in boiling sepa∣rate a stony Cremor: From whence we may fear a Matter may be supply'd, fit to generate the Stone in the Body.
This Objection is answer'd by two Ex∣periments; one before-mention'd; and the Second drawn from Physical Obser∣vations. For 'tis plain, from what we have before prov'd, That this stony Cre∣mor does not arise upon the Purging Wa∣ters, nor upon Aqua Calcis, unless expos'd to the Air, and in an open Vessel; and therefore no stony Substance can be ge∣nerated by the Waters in the Body.
But, say they, the Air is mixt with the Humours of the Body. We grant it; and likewise with Waters; as may be demonstrated by the Air Pump. But Wa∣ters cannot petrifie without the free and open influx of the Air. Add likewise, That the Air cannot enter the Body, but as it were through a Strainer.
Secondly, Practice contradicts this, for 'tis notoriously known, not only to me, but to many other Physicians, That after drinking these Purging Waters plentiful∣ly,
by intervals, for 20 to 30 Years toge∣ther, Persons have been always free from the Gout or Stone in the Kidneys or Bladder, and enjoy'd a perfect Health. And the fore-mention'd Lord North, who drank both Epsom and Barnet Waters, live'd free from those Distempers to 85 Years of Age.
And this Lime-Waterm, which so sud∣denly proceduces a stony Substance by the admission of the Air, is frequently and safely given by physicians. And our Su∣gar-Refiner use it in the purifying their Sugar; by which means the Trea∣cle is better seperated from the concresci∣ble part; and it acquires a greater fineness and whilteness.
But, if the Purging Water is a good Medicine, how much more is the Salt to be accounted so? For, if we should, for Arguments sake, grant what is objected against the Waters; yet that will make not at all against the Salt, depurated from its stony Substance.
Moreover, if the Water you take do abound with plenty of the Muriatick Salt, sometimes it may Purge too violent∣ly; but the purified Salt, which is freed from it, is of all Purging Medicines the most gentle.
'Tis likewise totally free from the Ma∣lignant Quality of most Catharticks; it does never violently agitate the Humours, nor cause Sickness, Faintings, or Pains in the Bowels. It never fails a Physicians design in Purging the Patient; nor ever puts him in fear of a Hypercatharsis.
Besides, the strength of the Waters is not at all times alike; for 'tis either en∣creas'd by a dry Season, or diminish'd by a wet; 'tis stronger in Summer, weaker in Winter; and 'tis common for those that fell them, upon occasion, to mix 'em with common Water: From whence the Physician, prescribing the usual Dose, fre∣quently fails of success. But the Salt of this Water, purely and rightly prepar'd, is every Particle alike, and endued with the same Purging Virtue.
Add to this, That the London Physici∣ans do not prescribe the Waters crude, but, for the most part, boiled: For taken this way, the Dose being lessen'd, and the Strength increas'd, they slip easier through the Stomach and Guts. In Summer you boil to the consumption of a third, but in Winter to half the quantity; which will require two or three Hours. But the Purging Salt of the Water, dissolv'd in any convenient Liquor, and once
boil'd, is a Medicine always in a readiness; accommodated to Apothecaries, chiefly to sick Persons, who, in urgent Cases, suffer much Pain and Uneasiness while the Waters are so long a boiling, and may often times be in danger.
The last, tho' not the least, considera∣ble is, That the Water kept a little too long, especially in Summer or hot Wea∣ther, will stink; but the Salt of this Wa∣ter, neither Age nor Place can cor∣rupt.
But some, I foresee, will Question the wholsomness of this Salt, from the Acid Spirit it yields in Distillation; but this Objection does as much oppose the Use of the Water, as of the Salt contained in them: For the same Reason, we may as well pretend to leave off the Use of Ho∣ney, Sugar, or White-Bread; every one of which, by the help of Fire, will yield a Distill'd Spirit violently Acid and Biting.
Wine also, and the wholsomest Food, when its Principles are let loose by Fer∣mentation, or any other way, do obtain Noxious, and sometimes Poysonous Qua∣lities. Nay, even the Food of Infants, their Mothers Milk, will in a warm place presently turn Acid; but by dissolving the
Purging Salt in a proper Vehicle, its Prin∣ciples are neither deprav'd nor divided, but 'tis given in its compact Body, or uni∣ted Essence, as we are fed with the fore∣mentioned Eatables. For as the Salt it self, so also the Water we drink, from which this Salt is prepar'd, is sensibly, tho' moderately bitter, and without any mixture of Acidity.
THis Salt may be taken Dissolv'd in any Vehicle agreeable to the Palate, or grateful to the Taste of the Patient; such as Spring-Waters, Barley-Water, Water-Gruel, Posset-Drink, Whey, &c. I do most commonly prescribe common Water Boil'd, and Aromatiz'd with a lit∣tle Mace, to two, three, or four Pints; of which I add half an Ounce, or an Ounce, or a greater Dose of the Salt. As for Example:
Take of Spring-Water two Quarts, Mace a Dram, boil a little and strain
it; then dissolve in the strain'd Liquor an Ounce or 10 Drams of the Salt for an Apozem, to be taken in the Morn∣ing in the space of two hours, hot, warm, and sometimes cold, with a lit∣tle Exercise.
This Apozem you may give by it self, or during the Working of other Purging Physick. It is proper also, when there is occasion, to add Senna, Manna, or both, to the Mace, to promote the efficacy of the Salt, in this or the like Form:
Take Spring-Water four Pints, Mace a Dram, Senna three Drams, boil them gently, and add of the Bitter Purging Salt an Ounce, Flakey-Manna an Ounce and half, or two Ounces, and strain it.
The Lord Dudley North was the first that drank the Purging-Waters with Milk, which did not at all agree with his Sto∣mach, because he mix'd them cold; but Physicians afterwards altered the Waters, by adding Milk when they were boiling, which way, if you please, you may also most safely take the Salt it self. For Ex∣ample:
Take of the Salt an Ounce or 10 Drams, dissolve it in 3 Pints and half, or 4, of common Water, and when it boils pour in half a Pint of Milk, and strain the Curd from it.
In the Summer, when Medicinal Wa∣ters are every where frequented, the Cha∣lybeate, or the Purging-Waters, taken immediately from their Springs, is the best Vehicle.
A Dram, or a Dram and half of this Salt, taken in 3 or 4 of the first Glasses of Tunbridge, or any other Chalybeate Wa∣ter, for the three or four first days, will render the Humours and first Passages better prepared for the design of Drinking.
Chalybeate-Waters do frequently bind, which will be prevented by a small quan∣tity of this Salt dissolv'd in the first and last Glass.
But 'tis best of all taken in its own Wa∣ters, for a Dram of it, dissolv'd in every Draught, does Purge with more certainty and a less quantity of Water, and by con∣sequence is less burdensom to the Stomach; 'tis sometimes also very proper in Glisters, to mix 3 or 4 Drams of it instead of Sal Gem.
WHat I shall now insert of the Pur∣ging-Waters and their Salt, is not from uncertain conjectures, but is de∣monstrable by the daily Experience of other Learned Men as well as my own; all whom have us'd both the Salt and the Water, in the following Diseases, with happy success.
And first of all, this Purging-Water, or its Salt, is a most Amicable Medicine to the Stomach, exciting an Appetite, and promoting a good Digestion; which it does partly by its Acid Principle, partly by the bitterness of the whole, or its Al∣kaline Mixture.
But chiefly from the former, because it affords a Spirit in some sort Analagous to the Spirit of the Salt, with which all Meats are season'd; and also from the latter, for we do every day Experience the Stomach to be strengthned by this, and most other Bitters. 'Tis also well known, that the
Appetite is chiefly strengthned by the Use of Compound Salts, for almost all Pickles are prepar'd not with Salts alone, but with Salt and Vinegar. French Red-Wine we allow to be very wholsom with our Food, because of its Tartarous Salt, of all others, the most Compound; and Salt of Steel, a very Compound Salt, is as Famous among Stomach-Medicines.
The two Universal Digestives, Bread and Spittle, do one of them contain an Acid, and the other an Alkaline Salt, and mix'd supply the place of a Compound Salt.
And the Natural ferment of the Sto∣mach consists of Acid and Alkaline Par∣ticles; the first from the Arteries, or the Blood, the latter from the Nerves, or the Excrement of the Animal Spirits, which may be prov'd by very many Arguments not here to be insisted upon.
Therefore while there is the Natural proportion of either Salt in the Stomach, Concoction is duly performed, but when either prevail, sometimes the Acid, some∣times the Alkaline, are necessary to restore it to its Office.
When the Concoction of the Stomach is Vitiated by too much, or improper Meat and Drink, Vomiting often follows;
for the quieting which, the Bitter Pur∣ging Salt, or Waters, is a most excellent Remedy, for the same reason that the Salt of Wormwood, and Juice of Lemons, is so Famous, tho' this Salt is highly pre∣ferrable to it, with one stroke destroying and carrying off the Peccant Salts.
Also in the Cardialgia, or Heart-burning, and other pains of that kind, no Medi∣cines can be more safe and efficacious, nor in a hot Hypocondriack Disposition.
In the fore-mentioned Cases, I have sometimes prescribed the Purging Waters, or Salt, without any other Medicine, but more often with the assistance of other Remedies, as Bleeding, Vomiting, and the like; for 'tis not the part of a prudent Physician, in dangerous Diseases, to trust his Patients Health, and his own Reputa∣tion, to one only Medicine, tho' never so Famous.
Remedies of this kind may be infinitely varied according to the Indications. Some Forms of which I shall here add.
Take of Spaw, or any other Chalybeate-Water, or if not to be had, Spring-Water Aromatiz'd with Mace, a Quart, or three
Pints, of the Bitter Salt half an Ounce six Drams, or an Ounce; drink it warm and fasting. And all sorts of Chalybeate-Waters may be drank warm, which is better, and without the loss of its subtile Spirit, by dipping a Bottle close stopt into hot Water for a few Moments, and after pouring out a Glass, stopping it as before. While you take these Waters an hour be∣fore Dinner, take also 20, 30, or 40 drops of Elixir Proprietatis, in a Spoonful of Sherry or Hock, and Wormwood, and continue their Use every Day, or every other Day, for four, five, or six times. Or,
Take of the Conserve of Roman Worm∣wood two Ounces, Garden-Scurvy-Grass an Ounce, Candid-Ginger half an Ounce, Aromatick-Powder of Cloves a Dram and half, of Winters Bark, of the true Salt of Wormwood, of each a Dram; with Sir∣rup of Cloves make an Electuary, and take the quantity of a Nutmeg every Night going to Rest; and of a small Wall-Nut every Day an hour before Dinner, with a little Wormwood-Wine, if the Patient be not subject to the Head-Ach.
Or, Take of the Filings of Steel new and shining 3 Ounces, Roman Wormwood half a handful, Roman Cypress-Roots, Calamus Aromaticus, of each a Dram, Ga∣langall the less; Cinnamon and Saffron, of each half a Dram, White-Wine or Sherry a Quart, digest in a Vessel close stopt, with a gentle heat, for 3 Days, sha∣king the Glass every Day, and take two or three, or four Spoonfuls, two hours before Dinner.
Take of any Chalybeate-Water, or Maced-Water, three or four Pints, and dissolve in it six, eight, or ten Drams of the Purging Salt, to be drank in the Morn∣ing, hot or cold, as you please; and re∣peat it three or four Days following; or every other Day, if there be occasion.
Take of red Roses, of Cinnamon, of each a Dram, Cloves, Salt of Steell, of each a Scruple, Saffron half a Scruple, Chimical Oil of Mint eight Drops, with Sirrup of Steell; make 24 Pills. Take three every Day two Hours before Din∣ner,
and at Night going to rest. Some∣times a Fomentation of red Wine, with Venice Treacle, red Roses, and Mint infus'd in it hot, is very profitable.
Take Senna two Drams, Macea Dram, boil in Spring Water to three or four Pints. Add to the strain'd Liquor six, eight or ten Drams of the Purging Salt. Take this Apozem as there is occasion, ei∣ther with or without Senna, and by it self, or with the following Pills.
Take of Stomach Pills with Gums 25 Grains, of Steell-Filings powder'd ten Grains, with Syrup of Steel; make four Pills, to be taken going to rest, and the Apozem as above, the following Morning, and repeat 'em for three Days succes∣sively, or longer. Sometimes 'tis neces∣sary to mix Extract of Gentian, or some other Bitter with the Pills, and also a little Laudanum, if the Pain be vio∣lent.
Take of any Chalybeate-Water three or four Pints, dissolve in every draught half a Dram or a Dram to eight times, and drink it cold. Or, instead of Chalybeate-Waters, use simple Milk-Water, or distill'd from Borrage or Pimpernel.
In this Disease the Salt, taken as in the former, will have very good suc∣cess.
IN this Disease there is no need to ad∣vise the Learned and Experienc'd Physician in the first place to let Blood, and seldom or never to omit it. Then 'tis most Advisable to give this or the like Glister.
Take of the common Decoction for Glisters one pound, with the addition of 3 Drams, or half an Ounce of Senna; to the Ingredients to it strain'd, add half an Ounce, or more, of the Bitter Purging Salt, Species of Hiera Picra a Dram and half, or two Drams, brown Sugar two Ounces From the Use of these, and the like Glisters, Chollick Pains are often dissipated; at least, by their passing up the Intestines, the way is opened.
Oftentimes Pill Rudii one Scruple, or half a Dram, with a Grain of Laudanum, is given with good success. And some∣times crude Mercury, if the Patient will swallow a sufficient quantity; that is, four, five, or six Ounces: Especially, if taken with two Ounces of the Tincture of Hie∣ra Picra in White-Wine, or any other proper Purging Medicine. But the most Noble, of all Remedies, is the Purging Water, or the Salt taken in this, or the like manner.
Take of Spring or River Water, aromatiz'd Lib. iij, Chamomile Flower, or Mint-Water six Ounces, Bitter
Purging Salt an Ounce, or ten Drams, Flakey-Manna an Ounce and half, or two Ounces; make an Apozem, and let the Patient take about 17 Ounces at a time, hot, so often that the whole may be taken in an hour, or an hour and half; yea, tho' some part of it be Vo∣mited.
The force of this Medicine may be some∣times increas'd by the addition of the fol∣lowing.
Take one or two Spoonfuls of the Tincture of Hiera Picra, before every draught of the Apozem.
This Salt, if the Nurse give the Child a Dram and half, or two Drams, in its Pap, 'twill exterminate the Worms, especially if the Physician will give before it, in any proper Vehicle, a Grain or two, or three, of Mercurius Dulcis, according to the Age of the Patient, or Chrystals of Silver.
Here also, as well as in the Chollick, we must begin with Bleeding, which very often requires a repetition.
To this, a Vomit is properly added of the Vinum Benedictum, or Salt of Vitriol, especially if the Patient has a Nausea; by the force of which, the Stomach, general∣ly the offending part, is not only Unload∣ed, but the whole Nervous Body conti∣nuous with the Kidnies, and in this case very much affected, is mightily reliev'd.
Then give the following Glister, espe∣cially if no Stool succeeds the Vomit.
Take of Chamomile-Flowers a Hand∣ful, Seeds of Cummin, Sweet-Fennel, Parsley bruis'd, of each an Ounce; Marshmallow-Roots, cut and bruis'd, two Ounces; boil these in common Water to a Pint, in the strained Liquor dissolve Venice-Turpentine an Ounce, the bitter Purging Salt half an Ounce, Sy∣rup of Althea three Ounces.
If the pain encreases, add to the Glister 40 or 50 drops of Laudanum. These, or the like Glisters, will frequently bring away the Urine, either with, or without a Stone, or Stoney Matter, and the Pains vanish.
But if the pain continues stubborn, we must have recourse to the following Apo∣zem, as a most powerful Remedy.
Take of Barley-Water Maced 3 or 4 Pints, of the bitter Purging Salt 6 or 8 Drams, Syrup of Althea 3 or 4 Ounces, take this warm in an hour and halfs time, more or less, altho' the Patient does Vomit some part of it.
The above-mentioned Apozem is effectu∣al, whether it proceed from the Acrimony of the Blood, or from a Venereal taint.
Which happens either without a Stone, or with so great a Stone as to stop the Urinary passage.
But if this Disease has continued for some days, Bleeding, and that plentiful∣ly, is the first thing necessary; then a sharp Glister, with Syrup of Buckthorn, and the Purging Salt, must be Administred, and while it Works, drink the fore-men∣tioned Apozem, or some Draughts of it, and expect success, especially if before every Draught you take a Spoonful of the following Mixture.
Of Fennel, and Saxifrage Water, of each an Ounce and half; Salt of Ambera Dram, Tartar vitriolated a Scruple, Mil∣lepedes prepar'd two Drams, Syrup of Althea an Ounce Mix.
In which most dangerous kind of Di∣sease, if there be need of a Medicine that will gently purge, and cool very much, this is the safest of all purging Medicines, and, indeed, the almost only one; by the help of which, and the constant Use of the Chalybeate-Waters, I have recovered some young persons from the very Gates of Death.
Also in this Disease, bleeding is seldom to be omitted, but sometimes to be re∣peated if the Patient be Feverish. Vomits are here very Useful, for as much as they exterminate the Morbifick Sordes of the Stomach, as well as press out the Boil stag∣nating in its Vessels; and therefore, if there be occasion, it ought to be now and then repeated; but if the Use of these, or other Remedies, prove unsuccessful, we may suspect the Biliary passage is stopp'd, either by the bigness, or number of the Stones generated there: Therefore we ought to persist in this Method prudently, and with courage.
In any sort of Jaundice, Calculous or Simple, the Purging Water, or its Salt, is an excellent Medicine, given in this or the following manner.
Take Pill Ruffi half a Dram; Rhu∣burb, Volatile Salt of Urine, of each half a Scruple, with Syrup of Worm∣wood; make 6 Pills, and take them at Night going to rest. The Morning following take this Apozem:
Shavings of Hartshorn two Ounces, boil them in 3 or 4 Quarts of Water, to two; then add Mace and Turmerick of each a Dram, boil a little, strain and add an Ounce of the bitter Purging Salt, as much Syrup of Steell, and make an Apozem, to be taken as above di∣rected.
If the Physician sees fit, in the place of the Pills give the following Draught.
Take of the Tincture of Hiera Picra an Ounce and a half, or two Ounces of Syrup of Cichory, with Rhuhurb an Ounce, Tartar vitriolated half a Scru∣ple; mix and take it at six or seven in the Morning: Two Hours after drink the foregoing Apozem, and re∣peat these Medicines at least every other Day. If Aloeticks are too hot, give in their place the Infusion of Rhu∣burb.
VVHere, besides Bleeding and fre∣quent Vomits, Chephalick Unguents, Setons in the Neck, Vesicato∣ries, especially to the Leggs, Catharticks and other Remedies are frequently us'd.
But to quicken the working of all, even the Helleborate Purges, nothing is more proper than the Purging Water, or its Salt, prescrib'd after the following man∣ner:
Take of Bawm and Borrage of each a handful, infuse 'em in four or five Pints of boiling Water, in a Vessel close stopt, for half an Hour. To the Infusion strain'd add of the Bitter Salt ten Drams or less, Syrup of Violets three Ounces; mix and make an Apo∣zem, to be drank by it self; or, in∣stead of Posset-Drink, with any other convenient Purge. Or, take 8 Drams of the Salt in 8 Draughts of the Spaw, or other Chalybeate Water, in a morn∣ing fasting.
In the Intervals of other Catharticks, especially in the Summer, 'tis very bene∣ficial, taken in the preceding Method; for it wonderfully quiets the raging Dis∣orders of the Humours and Perturbations of the Spirits.
In which Distemper, especially arising from a hot Cause, or in a hot Constitu∣tion, I have never found any thing so ef∣ficacious as the following Method:
In the first place bleed a sufficient quan∣tity, and from such Veins as the Circum∣stances of the Patient do indicate.
This done, give a Vomit, if the strength will permit: After, let the Patient take the following Medicines:
Of Scammony powder'd, Rhubarb pow∣der'd, Mercurius dulcis, each half a Scruple, or 12 Grains, with Syrup of Buckthorn, make five Pills, to be taken at four or five in the Morning, and sleep after 'em: Three hours after drink the following Apozem:
Of Water aromatiz'd with Mace 3 or 4 Pints, of the Purging Salt 6 Drams, or an Ounce, Syrup of Violets two Ounces; mix and take it, keeping your Chamber.
Repeat this Apozem and Pills every 3d or 4th Day, and without the Pills in the intervening Days; and continue this Method for a Fortnight or three Weeks, if the Case require it.
Here also we must begin with Bleeding in the Arms, especially if the Disease be the consequence of too much drinking. Then apply Cupping Glasses with Scari∣fication to the Shoulders and hinder part of the Head. For in this Disease, as well as in the former, and for Inflamations of the Eyes, I do always prescribe 'em to that part rather than another, and with better success.
These things premis'd, take the follow∣ing Pills, &c. Of Mastick Pills two Scru∣ples, Chymical Oil of Marjoram 5 Drops. Take 'em at night going to rest, and next morning the following Apozem.
Of Spring Water aromatiz'd a Quart or three Pints, distill'd Water of Sage four Ounces, of Marjoram two Ounces, of the bitter Purging Salt 6 Drams or an Ounce, mix and make an Apozem, to be taken as afore-mention'd.
Sometimes 'tis good to take before eve∣ry Draught a Spoonful of the following Mixture.
Of Marjoram and Sage of each two Drams, Roots of Gentian, Species of Hiera Picra, of each two Scruples, White-wine four Ounces; digest 12 Hours in a close Vessel, and clarifie the express'd Tincture by settling.
IN this Disease, after the most terrible Symptoms are quieted by Opiates, ten or twelve Drams, or two Ounces of the Tincture of Hiera Picra in equal parts, White-wine and Hysterical-water may be given, with very good success. But, if the Physician thinks fit to purge with a more temperate Medicine, the bitter Salt may be properly and safely taken; especially, if, in the room of the Aroma∣tiz'd Water, you use the Spaw or Bawm-water, as a Vehicle for the Salt.
For this seises the Muscular Parts only, and that none but the Joynts. 'Tis a stubborn Disease, and frequently eludes the force of many Medicines.
Bleeding must begin, and be repeated at least every other day, to four times; and, if occasion, to five or six.
After the first or second time, a Vomit is very proper; for, as long as the Sto∣mach is disordered, it daily transmits a new supply of Morbifick Matter to the Blood and Joynts.
But Catharticks, and of the strongest, sometimes for several days together are never to be omitted; for one strong purge does often weaken this Disease, more than bleeding 3 or 4 times repeated.
But the operation of the Purging Wa∣ters, by the help of their Salt, when the Patient is Feverish, (as they almost al∣ways are) is much more gentle, and per∣formed without any fermentation of the Humours, if taken in the following man∣ner.
Of the Powder of Resinous Jallap half a Dram, Scammony prepar'd six Grains, Calamelany half a Scruple, with Syrup of Buckthorn; make a Bolus to be taken at five in the morning, sleeping after it two or three Hours; and then drink the following Apozem. Of Pearl-Barley an Ounce and half, Currance three Ounces; boil in Spring-water to a Quart or 3 Pints, adding towards the latter end Mace half a Dram, and when it is strain'd, of the bitter Salt an Ounce, Flakey-Manna an Ounce, or an Ounce and half. If the Patient be difficultly wrought upon, and other Indications require it, add to the first Draught six Drams, or an Ounce of the Syrup of Buckthorn, and repeat the Bolus and Apozem every 3d or 4th day, as the Physician shall Advise, or with longer Intervals, till the Patient be per∣fectly recovered.
In the beginning and increase of the Disease, at least every other Night, and always after a Purge, let a proper Opiate be given to prevent any new Ebullitions of the Humours, and their Influx upon the joynts. When Purging must be for∣born, because of a Fever, or the weakness of the Patient, Vesicatories are apply'd above or below the Joynt with very great benefit.
And sometimes the Serous Latex of the Blood is so very hot and fiery, that it will not yield to the united strength of the fore∣mention'd Remedies, without the help of Blisters, to separate some part of it from its remaining more Balsamick and gentle. In this Disease, Sweats, tho' very plenti∣ful, seldom profit, but Diureticks very much; and therefore the Apozem, with the Purging Salt, is very proper, work∣ing at the same time both by Urine and Stooll.
In the time of the Cure, abstain from all Wine, Vinous and Malt Drinks; Posset-Drink is, of all Liquors, the most proper for their constant Drink.
Not Contagious, but arising from the Scurvy, and affecting sometimes the whole Body; at others a particular part, as the Pudenda, &c. I have often Cur'd with the Apozem alone, without any other Purgings; and some perfectly tired out and tormented with perpetual scratching. I've blest with a happy Deliverance, espe∣cially if you join with the Use of the Apo∣zem the Chalybeate-Waters, and drink them daily and plentifully instead of Malt Drink.
This Apozem is likewise very profitable when the Small-Pox are dry'd off, and may very properly be drank with common Ca∣tharticks instead of Posset-Drink.
Lastly, 'Tis good for Travellers, who by much riding, especially in the Summer, are generally Costive; but two or three Drams of this Salt, in a Draught of Spring-Water, will cool and relieve them.
'TIS the Duty of a Physician, not on∣ly to shew the Use of Remedies, but also to Admonish the Reader of their Abuse, by which he prevents a treble in∣jury to himself, to the Patient, and the Medicine; therefore this Salt must not at all be us'd in some Diseases, and in others with particular respect had to the Causes and Symptoms.
In all Hydropicks 'tis hurtful doubtless, because the Natural heat of the Blood is decayed, and the Spirits contain'd in the Grumous part of it are very poor.
Moreover, in such persons, the Use of
moist things, tho' in their Food, do in∣crease the Influx of the Serum of the blood into the Morbid parts.
'Tis also improper in a Synochus, where tho' the Cause of the Disease must be some∣times lessen'd by Purges, yet such must be moderately hot, as the bitter Potion, Pill Ruffi, and the like, by which the Con∣coction of the Humours may, at the same time, be promoted; and therefore all things that cool too much ought to be avoided.
Nor is it good for such as labour un∣der Intermittent Fevers.
Nor in a Chlorosis, or Green-sickness, where warm Fermentations must be exci∣ted; and because the Humours are too Acid, they must be alter'd with stronger Alkalies.
This Salt is also forbidden to all that spit Blood, lest by its exquisite Subtilty, and penetrative Force, it should tear open the Mouths of the Arteries.
And in the Cholera Morbus, where vio∣lent wastings of the Spirits do attend, as sudden Evacuations.
To the quieting such turbulent and over-hasty Motions of Nature, Cordials and Opiates are to be given by intervals; but, after the Disease is tamed, if Eva∣cuation
be needful, the Patient of a Bi∣lious Constitution, whether Natural or Accidental, he may take this Salt with a good prospect of success.
'Tis not proper for Paralyticks , lest it more enervate the Muscles, already de∣stitute of their native Heat and Vigour. But, if the Disease arise from a hot Cause, as Wine, or Vinous Liquors, this Salt may be given safely and profitably to the Patient.
'Tis not to be given Women with Child, without a great deal of Cau∣tion.
Nor in a suppression of Urine, before you certainly know it does not proceed from an Ulcer of the Bladder, or a large Stone; for in both Cases the Patient ought to abstain from all Diureticks. Otherwise we have given it with admi∣rable success; I mean, for the forcing away of Urine and Stones of no little magnitude.