CHAP. XXIV. Of an Ulcerous Pulmonique Consump∣tion
HEre I must make my Reader familiar with the Traditional notions, young Students in Physick derive from their Hackney Authors, upon an Ulcerous Con∣sumption of the Lungs. And to be more methodical, it's not unnecessary to digest their documents into several classes.
1. Let's make a disquisition of what they make of it. Pulverinus, Godofred. Steeghius fol. 447. and Sennert. 305. define it a Di∣sease of a diminish'd bulk, (diminuta mag∣nitudo.) Hollerius, Duretus, Forest. Nic. Piso, &c. state it a Disease of a discontinuated Unity, (Soluta Unitas,) because it sourceth from an Ulcer in the Lungs. Platerus passes it by, though Mercurial subtly spyes three sorts of Diseases in it, viz. a diminish'd quantity, a discontinuated unity, and a hot Page 112 distemper. But Capivao. comments it chiefly to be an hot distemper, there being a conti∣nual heat of the parts, and an inflammation of the Lungs, alwayes conspicuous in that Disease. What to assert among these once great Rabbies seems at first sight difficult, but upon a little pausing upon the matter you'l find it a clear case. Those that infer a dis∣continuated Unity, namely the Ulcer in the Lungs for the Disease, mistake the Disease for its cause, the Ulcer being the chief cause of the Consumption. Neither can they be thought orthodox that fling in their verdits for a diminuted magnitude, that rather ap∣pearing to be an effect, or symptom of the Ulcer in the Lungs, and so is the heat of the parts; so that none of 'em can hit one ano∣ther in the teeth, that they are in the wrong. But should I insist longer upon these triffles, I am like to make my self a participant of their ridiculous discourses, and therefore shall step over to give you a brief of the causes, they allow to the foresaid Consump∣tion; though indeed I ought to have touch't, what part they generally conclude the place affected; which some will have the Lungs, Page 113 others the heart, and many the whole body. The Authour of that Treatise intituled De Definit. Medic. brings in likewise the breast, (thorax,) throat, and aspera arteria (wind-pipe) being affected with a malign Ulcer, for seats of an Ulcerous Consump∣tion.
Touching the internal causes of this sort of Consumption, Dogmatists do universally state an Ulcer of the Lungs to be the imme∣diate cause, which happens sometime in the Parenchyma or flesh of the Lobes of the Lungs; othertimes in their pipes, (bronchia.
This Ulcer in the Lungs may be occa∣sioned by several mediate causes, viz.
1. Sharp bilious (cholerick) corrosive (gnawing) humours, issuing out at the pores or lips of the veins, into the spongy substance of the Lungs, whose flesh they af∣terwards devour & corrupt, soon making a putrid hole or cavern, which is then termed an Ulcer of the Lungs.
2. Hippocrates assigns a ferin (wild and taring) Catarrh falling into the Lungs, for another antecedent cause of a Pulmonique Ulcer: a ferin Catarrh is an hot, thin, and Page 114 sharp distillation of Rheum, which stream∣ing to the Lungs, gnaws their veins and flesh, and so effects an Ulcer.
3. Gross Phlegm stagnating (lying still) in the Lungs, in process of time putrefies, and acquires a gnawing quality, thereby making prey of the substance of the Lungs.
4. The rupture (breaking) of a vein in the Lungs, effusing blood into their pores, where it immediately putrefies and Ulce∣rates.
The Ulcer these causes produce in the Lungs, Hippocrates calls a ferin (wild) Ulcer, because the Nails of those, whose Lungs are Ulcerated, are recurvated or turn'd back like the claws of wild beasts, that is, when they begin to draw near to their long home.
Moreover this sort of Ulcer is ever cir∣rounded with an inflammation, which being digested into matter, renders the Ulcer so much the more sordid.
To these wee'l add two more, namely a Pleurisie, which by expectorating (spitting out humors by coughing) sharp putrid matter through the Lungs, may now and then occa∣sion an Ulcer.
Page 115Lastly, an Empyema or a collection of purulent matter in the capacity (hallow) of the breast, if not suddenly cured, doth undoubtedly impel the Patient into a Phthi∣sical Consumption.
Chymists impute the cause to a corrosive salt, that's divorced from the Sulphur and Mercury of the blood, and afterwards dis∣solved in those liquors, that distill into the Lungs.