The disease of London, or, A new discovery of the scorvey [sic] comprising the nature, manifold differences, various causes, signs, prognostics, chronology, and several methods of curing the said disease by remedies, galenical and chymical : together with anatomical observations, and discourses on convulsions, palsies, apoplexies, rheumatisms, gouts, malignant fevors, and small pox, with their methods of cure and remedies : likewise, particular observations on most of the fore-mentioned diseases / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. XXI. Of the Therapeutique in the Scorvey. (Book 21)

1. General Indications. 2. Indicati∣ons taken from the Air, also from the quality of the Humours. 3. In∣dications abstracted from the quan∣ty of the Humours.

THe Therapeutique or Curative performs its part, by directing Methodically Remedies, contained in the Pharmaceutique and Chirur∣gique.

§. 1. The Methodical Directions do flow from the Indications, which are taken from two general Heads, viz. 1. From the Strength of the Body. And, 2. From the affections against Nature; from both which like∣wise Coindications and Counter-indi∣cations are desumed. Among the Affe∣ctions against Nature, the Causes of a Disease, and in our Case of the

Scorvey are the principal Indicants, next are the urgent Symptoms, and lastly the Disease itself.

§. 2. The Salin Air among the Pro∣catarctics being the Ground and Ori∣ginal efficient, indicates its change in∣to a better, which is such, as hath been described in the first Rule of the prae∣ceding Chapter; whose second Ca∣non doth likewise contain Directions, that answers the Indication, desumed from a Scorbutique Diaet, another grand Efficient; these two together with the rest of the Non-naturals be∣ing provided against in the same Chapter, we are to apply our selves to those Indications, which the Inter∣nal antecedent Causes do point at, viz. 1. A Salin putrid, or gross fuliginous coagulated acid Blood, indicates Re∣medies, virtuated to dulcify, atte∣nuate, dep••rate the Humours of those sooty particles, and volatilize the salin parts, that are too much fixed. 2. A Salin lixivial thick chyme r••quires Re∣medies, that by obtusing the fiery alc••∣lious Salts, may reduce it to an unctu∣ous sweetness, or a Ping••e-dulce, and

though their inciding property render it thin and fluid. 3. A Saponary consti∣tution of the Blood doth assign Reme∣dies, that obtain a power not only of allaying the alcalious qualities of the Salts, but also of depurating and vola∣tilizing the incrassated Sulphurous Par∣ticles, that are fixt and imbodied with the Alcalious Salts.

§. 3. In respect of their too much increased quantity, they seem to direct the Physician to Diminution or Substraction, which is accomplisht by Pharmaceutical and Chirurgical means. The latter are, 1. Phlebotomy, for disbur∣dening and depleting some part of the whole, which in Hepatic and Stomachic Scorveys is to be performed in the right Arm; in a Splenetic in the Left, and in a Pleuritic Scorvey in the Arm of the same side. After a competent Interval, for derivation from, and easing of the part affected, a particular substraction of Blood out of the Hemorrhoide veins by the application of Leeches is of great use in an Hepatic or Splenetic Scorvey. In Women, especially if there be either a Total or partial sup∣pression

of the Menstrua, the Saphae∣na ought to be opened. The measure of what quantity of Blood is requisite to be subducted, is to be taken from the degree of Plethory, Age, Sex, and o∣ther common Circumstances.

2. Fontanels or Issues, than which no means, whether Chirurgical, or Pharmaceutical, seem more advanta∣geous and necessary, both for a prae∣servative, and Curative. Touching the Place, where an Issue is most proper to be made; in a Splenetic Scorvey is in the inside of the Leg above the Knee, an Inch or two higher than the Ga∣tering place; but here the Surgeon is to be very cautious, that in making the Incision, he doth not wound some of the Vessels, that pass just under∣neath, which is fraequently done if made too deep, and sometimes not without danger. In an Hepatic Scor∣vey the Right Leg is most proper, in a Stomachic either, it matters not. The Mouth-Scorvey indicate; an Issue in the Left Arm, or in some cases in the Neck, or Right Arm, or in some very few on the Head, on the place of meeting of the Sagittal and Coro∣nary

Suturs. In the Leg-Scorvey an Issue above the Knee is more rational. In the Joint-Scorvey more Fontanels than one are necessary, to be made in the Arm or Leg, and some∣times in the Neck also, according to the circumstances of the Disease.

Children that are Born of Scorbu∣tic Parents, receive a great benefit from Issues, that are made in the Neck or Arm; but for praevention, that the Scorbutic stain wherewith some Child bearing Women are contami∣nated, shall be communicated to the Child in the Womb, nothing is of aequal force to an Issue in the Arm. The too much increased quantity of Scorbutic Humours indicating Phar∣maceutical evacuations, is to be di∣minisht, or abated by Laxatives or Eccoprotics, and Purgatives or Ca∣thartics. The former are usually prae∣mised before Bleeding (where requi∣red) and Purgatives.