Praxis medicinæ reformata: = or, The practice of physick reformed Being an epitome of the whole art: wherein is briefly shewed, the true causes, signs, prognosticks, and cure, of most diseases. Published for the benefit of all persons. By Robert Johnson, Med. Professor.

CHAP. XXII. Of Extraordinary Pissing, &c.

THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. pertransire, quod urina ureteres, & urethram subito pertransit.

It being a quick or plentifull pissing or making of water.

The cause is either external, or internal.

The external, or primary efficient Cause, is an immoderate drinking of stale Beer, Sider, or acid Wines, either French or Rhe∣nish; by which an incurable Diabetes hath been ofttimes suddenly contracted.

The internal Cause of this Disease, is sharp, serous humours abounding in the Bloud, by which not onely the whole Mass of it doth in time become too thin, but the nervous Juice is also thereby ill affected, and consequent∣ly the Reins inflam'd, by the continual flow∣ing of the over acid serous humours: Whence the attractive faculty of the Kidneys is in∣creas'd, drawing the serosity of the Bloud more potently from the emulgent Vessels into the Funnels, and provoking the expul∣sive faculty, it is soon sent (through the Ureters) to the Bladder, from whence it is often evacuated by pissing.

The signs are a continual pissing, so that much more moisture is voided, than is ta∣ken into the Body, by eating and drink∣ing.

It is always accompanied with an extra∣ordinary Thirst; the sick is also feverish, something like a Hectick.

If it continue long, it will decay all the radical moisture of the Body, which will render it incurable, but if it be taken in the beginning, and the Patient be young, it may be easily cured.

All things which have power to incrassate the thinness of the Bloud, and temper the over acidity of the humours, may be admi∣nistred in this Distemper.

In the beginning of the Cure, after a stool hath been procured by an emollient Clyster, you may open a Vein in the Arm.

The next day a gentle Purge of Rhubarb may be administred; but if the Stomach be foul, and the sick can vomit easily, you may give an Antimonial Emetick with good success, because it will potently draw the sharp peccant humours from the emulgent Vessels and Reins, and evacuate some of them both by Vomit and Stool.

After the Operation of the Emetick, let the sick take two spoonfulls of this Cordial Opiate often, which will ease pain, and thicken the humours.

Take the Waters of Barley, red Poppies, of each four ounces; Cinamon-water, Sy∣rups of Coral, and Comfry, Penidies, of each one ounce; Gums Arabick and Dragon, of each half an ounce; Powder of Dragons∣bloud, red Coral prepar'd, of each one drachm; Laudanum opiatum six grains; let the Gums be dissolved in the distill'd wa∣ters, and strained, then mix all together ac∣cording to Art.

You may prescribe this, or such a like De∣coction, for the Patient's ordinary drink.

Take the Roots of China, Sarseparilla, Comfry, Plantain, red Sanders, of each two ounces; Liquorish, red Roses, Hemp-seed, of each one ounce; Raisins of the Sun sto∣ned four ounces; let them be cleansed, brui∣sed and boiled in a Gallon of Fountain-water, till half of it be boiled away, then strain it, and keep it for use.

Let the Diet be cooling, and thickning Broths and Jellies made of Knuckles of Veal, with the Roots of China and Comfry boiled in it, is excellent.

You may also make Panado's of the a∣foresaid Broth, with a few Crums of White∣bread, and the Yelk of an Egg.

Also milk (wherein the aforesaid Roots are boiled) will be very effectual.

Notes

• Cause.
• Signs.
• Progn.
• Cure.
• Cordial Opiate.
• Decoction.