Thw admirable virtues, and wonderful effects of the true and genuine tincture of coral, in physick; grounded upon reason, established by experience, and confirmed by authentical authors in all ages. Never found out plainly till now. By Theophilus Garencieres, doctor in physick, Colleg. Lond.

CHAP. VII.

Of the dangerous and poysonous quality and use of Blistering Playsters, and that they ought to be exterminated out of the Number and Family of Re∣medies.

MAny times when a Physician is at his wits end, and hath nothing to say more concerning the Disease in hand, he pre∣scribeth Blistering, not knowing nor distin∣guishing whether it will be fitting or not. And there is some policy in that too; for be∣sides the obligation, he layeth upon h••s Friend the Apothecary, himself is not without hope of benefit, and of being sent for, the more often whiles the wounds are green; but what good this can do, or which way, chiefly in a Malignant Feaver, you must not ask, for him∣self cannot tell, but only, that it is the com∣mon practice of the Town. Which, if it be a satisfactory answer, let every body judge. If this abuse had been harmless, I would have passed over it, as I do over many others that I know, and do only range among the

Vulgar Errors. But seeing it tendeth to the destruction of mankind, as I have seen by many sad and woful experiences, and shall prove by many grave and Authentical Au∣thors, I should sin against my Conscience, Reason, Knowledge, and Experience, if I did not lay open the cheat thereof, in favor of a gallant Nation, among which I live and am so humanely protected.

Be it known therefore, that there is a Re∣medy now practised in Physick called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in Latine signifieth Attraho, in Eng∣lish, to draw or attract, which was invented by the Ancients, chiefly to comfort the weak∣ness of those parts which come by cold, or too much moisture, whence it is evident, that all those Remedies are exceeding hot, dry, and sharp. Of these sorts are Mustard-Seed, Thap∣sia, Goats Dung, Cresses-Seed, Eliampanes Roots, the Sea Onion, Pigeons Dung, Mice Dung, Lice-Bean, Cantharides, and such like; of which, at present the Modern Phy∣sicians, and namely the Dispensatory of Lon∣don, have framed a Plaister for that purpose, called Emplastrum Epispasticon, of which, here is the description.

Emplastrum Epispasticum.

R. Sinapeas.

Eupborbii.

Piperis longi ana drachmam unam semis:

Staphisagriae.

Pyrethri, ana drachmas duas.

Gummi Ammoniaci.

Galbani.

Bdellii.

Sagapeni, ana drachmas tres.

Cantharidum integrarum drachmas quinque.

Picis navalis.

Resinae.

Cerae citrinae ana drachmas sex.

Terebinthinae, quantum sufficit, fiat Emplastrum usui reponendum.

Now, as I will not deny but that Plaister may be useful in some cases, if it be judici∣ously applied; so I affirm, that it is of a dangerous efficacy, if it be misapplied, and chiefly upon tender Bodies, extenuated by Sickness, Fasting, Watching, and Pains; the Reason is, That the Cantharides or Spa∣nish Flies, which are the Basis of it, are a most deadly Poyson, and a particular enemy to the Bladder and Genital Parts, which is

so much the more prevalent, in that some Apothecaries of their own accord to make the Plaister of a more quick working, have aug∣mented the dose of the Cantharides. So that when this Plaister is applied to one sick of a Malignant Feaver, and already extenuated with the disease of Fasting and Watching, he hath good luck if he escape with life. Those that are for it, may chance to urge their own experience, against which I shall oppose mine, which is of forty years standing; but because neither they or I should be believed, as being Partial, I shall cite here some memorable ob∣servations made by several learned, honest, and famous Authors, to clear this point, which is of so great a consequence.

I shall not speak here of the dangers and cruel Symptoms that follow the taking of Cantharides inwardly, because they are so generally known, that no body can be igno∣rant thereof, but those that are altogether ignorant of Physick, I shall only mention the pernicious effects, and sad consequences they cause, being applied outwardly. The first Observation shall be taken out of Guiliel∣mus Fabricius Hildanus, a late Author, and excellent Physician and Chirurgeon in Swit∣zerland, in his Ninety and eighth Observa∣tion.

A certain Gentleman of the Town of Villeneuve, by the Lake of Geneva, having a cold Tumor in one of his Knees, caused by a cold, and tough Humor, did ask a Barbers advice, who without taking notice of the Antecedent Cause, went about to cure him only with Topical Remedies; therefore he applied first Cupping Glasses, after that a Cautery on the side of the Kneepan, think∣ing to empty the Matter that was gathered. When these did not succeed, he applied a Pultess made with Leaven and Cantharides, and did exulcerate all the Knee, then follow∣ed an excessive pain about the Knee, restles∣ness, a Feaver, and several other fearful Symptoms; among which, was a grievous pain of the Reins, and of all the Belly, and presently after such a heat in his Urine, that he could not make one drop (for it came only drop by drop, and that Bloody) without the greatest torture imaginable. The Pultess be∣ing removed, he was something the better, be∣cause it had drawn the most subtle part of the Humor: Which when the Barber saw, he applied again the same Pultess of Cantharides, upon which all the said Symptoms became worse than before, and chiefly the heat of Urine, which the Patient feeling would ad∣mit no more of the said Pultess, but dismist

his Barber, and after came to me to Lausan∣na▪ where having prepared first his Body with opening Apozemes, I purged him several times with the aggregative Pills, and those of Her modacts; and after that, gave him the decoction of Guaiacum, Sassafrass, and China, causing him to sweat gently, that the Matter about the Knee might melt and evaporate, after that I applied this Pultess of Vigo.

℞. Farinae Fabarum.

Farinae hordei, an. ℥ iv.

Furfuris bene triturati M. ij.

Stercoris Caprini triturati lb. ss.

Meliloti an. m. 1. cum Lixivio & Sapa sufficienti de omnibus fiat Emplastrum solidum addendo olei Camomelini & Anethini ana ℥ ij, appli∣cetur calide bis in die.

When he had used this Pultess a whole moneth together, he recover∣ed his health. You shall find the like exam∣ple in Joh. Langius, Lib. 1. Epist. 47.

The third Observation shall be taken out of Baccius, in Prolegomenis Venenorum & Anti∣dotorum, where he saith, We find by Experi∣ence, that Cantharides being mixed in Blister∣ing Plaisters, and applied, do most violently corrode the Stomach and the Belly; but above all, to be by its property a peculiar enemy to the Bladder, and to tear it in pieces with its Bloody Ʋrine, and so to kill the Patients. For

we have observed many times, that when Can∣tharides have been applied to the Head in a Lethargy, and to the Brawns of the Arms and Legs; they have caused an extream pain, with an inflammation and difficulty of Bloody Ʋrine, and so have killed the Patients. Which danger deserves a serious consideration.

The fourth Observation is out of Brassa∣volus, Comm. ad Aphor. 17. Lib. 2. who saith, That one Vincentinus Grema, a famous Chi∣rurgeon in his time, took once a Medicine, the Powders of which had been stamped in a Morter, where Cantharides, had been stamp∣ed before: Whereupon, though he did not actually eat any Cantharides, yet was he ex∣coriated from the Mouth to the Fundament, and could not get his health again in less then eighteen Moneths space; yet were there no Cantharides in the case, but a kind of quality proceeding from them that stuck about the Morter.

The fifth Observation is out of Bartholomeus Montagnana, a famous Physician of Italy, who relateth, That one Francis Brac, a Citizen of Padua, having applied some Cantharides to his Knee, did avoid by Urine above Five pounds of Blood; and that the same did happen to one who applied them to his great Toe, to take away the roughness and uneven∣ness

of his Nails. Langius, Tom. 1. Epist. 47.

But what is more incredible then this is, That a certain Chirurgeon of Milan, made twice Bloody water, for carrying in his Pocket a Vesicatory made of Cantharides. Thus affirmeth, Joan. Michael Paschalius, Method. Curand. Morb. cap. 44.

The sixth Observation is of a certain Man who carrying by chance Cantharides in his Pocket, as the fashion is of some Chirurgeons, did make Bloody Urine; and complaining to me of it, I bid him he should not meddle with them, no not so much as to touch them, or carry them in his Pocket. Such another ac∣cident, I was told by Helidaeus de Paduinis, a famous Physician of Bolonia, with whom I used to visit sick people, when I was at Bo∣lonia. The most famous Physician Adolphus Occo in his Observations.

The seventh Observation is of a Noble Wo∣man who having her Face full of red, burning, and ugly Pimples, was so deformed therewith, that every Body avoided her as a Leper, and the Magistrates were ready to sequester her from the common society of Mankind. She came to Paris, where having called for two Doctors of Physick, to wit, Hollerius and Grealmus, and two Chirurgeons Mr. Cabal,

and my self, she inquired with great care and diligence, if there was no remedy against such a deformity. Having considered dili∣gently the disease, we unanimously concluded that it was no Leprosie, but that it was fit∣ting that a Vesicatory made of Cantharides should be applied all the Face over, three or four hours after her Bladder began to ake, and to burn vehemently, and the Neck of the Womb, to swell with gripings, a continual vomiting, and making of water, a raving carriage of all her Limbs, and a Burning Fea∣ver. I called for the Physicians again pre∣sently; the conclusion was, That we should give her much Milk to drink, and inject some in the Guts by the Fundament, and into the Womb and Bladder by the Ʋrethra; that she should go into a lukewarm Bath, wherein should have been boiled Linseeds, the Roots and Leaves of Mallows and Marsh-Mallows, of Violets, Hemlock, Pursleine, and Lettice; and so to continue, from time to time, till the pain was quite ceased. That the Reins and Genital Parts should be anointed with Ʋn∣guentum Rosatum and Populeon, dissolved and mixed with Oxycrat. By these means all the Symptomes vanished away, in the mean time the Face was full of Blisters, which be∣ing broke, a great deal of Matter issued out,

and the deformity was cured, insomuch, that a little while after she was married, and had many Children. Ambrosius Paraeus, Lib. 5. cap. 17.

For my own part I can certifie, that my youngest Daughter Elizabeth, being about thirteen or fourteen years old, and very sub∣ject to sore eyes; after I had purged her, and let her blood in the foot, I applied a Vesica∣tory of Cantharides, at the bottom of her neck, thinking to make a diversion of the Humor, but within three or four hour after she fell stark lame of her right hip, so that I was forced presently to remove the Vesica∣tory; and for all that, the lameness continued three or four weeks after. By what I have said, it is apparent what a dangerous thing Cantharides is, not only inwardly given, in which case they are a deadly poyson, but also outwardly applied; as is seen by the several Observations I have made here, and many more may be taken out of Forestus, Cabrolius, &c.

I could also here relate some fatal Obser∣vations of my own, and of which, I have been a sad eye-witness; but that I do not love to renew the grief of the living Relati∣ons, nor to insult on the miscarriage of Phy∣sicians, knowing that we are all faulty, and

that against death we have no power but for∣getfulness.

From these things we may perceive the truth of what Mathiolus saith upon the Sixth Book of Dioscorides, where he hath these words.

Cantharides are hurtful chiefly to the Bladder, and to all the parts that serve for the evacua∣tion of Ʋrine, not only being taken inwardly, but also being applied outwardly where there is occasion to Blister, chiefly when they are mixed with large Pultesses, and are applied to places near the Bladder, to wit, the Hips, the Privy Parts, the Kidneys, or the Stones. Thus far Mathiolus.

Therefore if any Body will make use of them, it is necessary he should do it prudently and circumspectly, chiefly let the young Phy∣sicians take heed, least in prescribing Remedies which admit of Cantharides, they do not err in quantity; for because Cantharides are so light, that fifty of them weigh scarce one drachm, the Error is easie to be committed. Nay, the most ingenuous of the Apothecaries have confessed to me, that in the Dispensati∣on of their Emplastrum Epispasticon, they double the dose of Cantharides to make it of a quicker working. Who shall be so bold after this, to make use of so pernicious a Remedy,

and chiefly in Malignant Feavers, where the Poyson is inward, the Vitals dejected, the Natural strength abated, and no good can be alledged to come out of this Remedy? All the excuse being, that it is a common practice about the Town, that is, a common and a pernicious Vulgar Error. Away then with those dangerous things, more pestilent many times then the disease it self; and let us turn our practise to a safer and nobler way, that is, our Tincture of Coral, which without danger, but rather with a great deal of pleasure, per∣formeth in Malignant Feavers, and other dis∣eases, we have or shall mention, the three so much required Indications, for the relief of the Patient, and the honor of the Physician, to wit, Cito, tuto, jucunde.