CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness, and Suppression of the Courses.

THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris, & Febris alba; In English the Virgin's Disease, the White Fever, and the White Jaundice; because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale.

This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud, or it proceedeth from plenty of * Page  232 crude, viscous, phlegmatick humours, ob∣structing the veins about the Womb, by which the courses are supprest; the veins of the Ma∣trix being obstructed, that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way, having not passage, doth return to the greater Vessels, and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours, by which they are in time vitiated, and a Ca∣chexie or ill habit of body is thence caused; for the Bloud and natural humours, being indued with a vitious quality, the nourish∣ment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways, according to the va∣riety of the quality peccant; whence like∣wise not onely the fermentation of Food, but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd; where∣fore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart, &c. troubleth the sick, as well before as after Food taken in.

This distemper may be also caused by ex∣ternal coldness of the air, &c. and sometimes great fear, and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression; also aliments, and medi∣caments that are too astringent taken in∣wardly.

In these diseases the Urine cometh away * crude, thick and less colour'd, because the phlegmatick, watry humours abounding, incorporating with the Bloud, do dimi∣nish the desired effervescency; so that the Page  233 separation, much less excretion of the ex∣crementitious parts, to be voided together with Urine, doth not follow.

If the Hypochondries be afflicted, and the veins of the Womb obstructed, there will be great loathing of wholsome Food, and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten, as Ashes, Salt, Coals, &c. which is called Pica, and in Women with Child Malacia, of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated, page 145, 146.

1. These distempers are sometimes of long * continuance, causing much weakness, and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted: and if they do conceive, they bring forth weak and sickly Children, and those that are very melancholy, are in dan∣ger of falling into madness, or other grie∣vous affects, as Palpitation of the Heart, Swouning, Vertigo, Epilepsie, Apoplexy, &c.

2. If the obstruction be onely of the ves∣sels of the Womb, and have not been of long continuance, it may be easily cur'd.

3. Bleeding at the Nose, is sometimes beneficial, but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes, Ears, Mouth, or Bladder, it is preposterous, from whence may arise other bad Symptoms.

In the cure of these distempers such medi∣cines * are to be selected, which will mildly Page  234 (and by degrees) alter, correct and evacu∣ate, tough and glutinous Phlegm, seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it, ei∣ther wholly, or at least in part; for by the frequent use of such medicines, the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier re∣duc'd to their natural constitution; especial∣ly by the help of good Food, easy of diges∣tion: in the mean while, not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nannatural things.

An obstruction of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm, may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours, and again make them fluid.

All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs, and also volatile Salts, prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals, but also of scorbu∣tick Plants, (such as are the juice of Hedge∣mustard, Scurvigrass, Garden and Water∣cresses, Dandelion, &c.) conduce before all others, to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coa∣gulated, or Bloud clotter'd, as having an e∣gregious power of dissolving all things coa∣gulated, and conglutinated in humane bodies, and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity, and moreover to move sweat, which together being mildly promoted, the desi∣red dissolution of the aforesaid viscous hu∣mours, &c. will be obtained much easier, and sooner.

Page  235 An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practi∣tioners.

Take the Waters of Treacle, Dandelion, * Parsley, Scurvigrass, Fennel, Syrups of Hedge-mustard, white Poppies, of each half an ounce; Spirit of Salt Armoniack, Harts∣horn, of each ten drops; Laudanum opiatum, four grains; mix it.

The following is also very effectual.

Take the Waters of Fennel, Hyssop, of each two ounces; distill'd Vinegar six drachms; the Carminative-water of Sylvius half an ounce; Syrup of the five opening Roots one ounce and half; Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm; Sperma Coeti, Mummy, Anti∣mony Diaphoretick, of each one scruple; Laudanum opiat. four grains; mix it.

Let the sick often take two spoonfulls of either of these mixtures, especially in bed, to promote the power of the medicine, and to facilitate a sweat; by the help whereof the mention'd power of the Sudorifick will the better come to the place of obstruction, and will attenuate, loosen, and make fluid the mat∣ter obstructing; the whole Mass of Bloud will also become more fluid and moveable, being rarefi'd by the volatile Salt of the medicine.

If the Patient be plethorick, let the Sa∣phoena vein be opened, for by opening and breathing a Vein, the motion and circulation Page  236 of the Bloud will be the better restor'd; for a larger space being made for the universal Bloud, it will circulate more swiftly and po∣tently.

The phlegmatick viscous humours must be corrected, and evacuated by Phlegma∣gogues.

The following medicines are of great efficacy.

Take of Salts of Mugwort, Ash, Amber, Tartar vitriolated, of each ten grains; Pow∣der * of Cream of Tartar, white Sugar-candy, of each half a drachm; mix it, and give it in white Wine in the morning fasting.

The next day you may administer the fol∣lowing Pills.

Take of pil. foetidoe, ex duobus, of each half a drachm; Amber, prepar'd Steel, Borax, * Mercur. Dulcis, of each one scruple; Mirrh, Castor, Saffron, of each twelve grains; Oil of Cloves, Spirit of Salt Armoniack, of each six drops; make it into ten Pills for two do∣ses, which may be taken in the Morning fasting.

If a medicinal Wine be acceptable to the sick, the following or one like it may be used.

Take the Roots of Horse-radish, the five opening Roots, of each one ounce; Savin, * Vervain, Penny-royal, Hyssop, Calamint, Mugwort, of each one handfull; Senna, Page  237 Cinamon, sweet Fennel-seeds, Juniper-berries, Orange-peel, Liquorish, of each half an ounce; let them be cleansed, bruised and infused in one Gallon of White-wine for three days, then strain it, and keep it for use.

You may add more wine to the ingredi∣ents so long as there is any Aromatick taste.

Four or five spoonfulls of this Wine may be taken two or three times a day, with which you may mix Salt of Tartar vitriola∣ted ten grains; Elixir proprietatis six drops.

If you expect a laudable success, you must persevere awhile in the use of these, or such like medicines.