The store-house of physical practice being a general treatise of the causes and signs of all diseases afflicting human bodies : together with the shortest, plainest and safest way of curing them, by method, medicine and diet : to which is added, for the benefit of young practicers, several choice forms of medicines used by the London physicians / by John Pechey ...

The Prognostick Signs.

A Palsie coming from a pituitous humour stuffing the substance of the Nerves, is difficult to Cure. A Palsie following an Apoplexy is seldom Cured, and most com∣monly turns to an Apoplexy again. A trembling coming upon a Palsie is good: If the paralytick Part be hot there is hope of Recovery; but if it be always cold it is hardly Cured. A wasting of the Part, and great Paleness renders it incurable. If the Eye of the Paralytick side be lessened, there is little hopes of a Cure. A Palsie of the Legs or Feet is easier Cured, than of the upper Parts. A Palsie in old People is incurable. A Palsie cannot be Cured in the Winter. A violent Feaver coming upon a Palsie is good, so is a Loosness coming upon a small, and new Palsie.

The Cure of a Palsie is to be varied according to the variety of the Causes; but because it chiefly comes from Flegm, and a cold intemperies, we must chiefly endeavour to remove this Cause, and you must begin with an univer∣sal evacuation of the whole Body: As to Bleeding that can scarce do any good, for the Blood is not in the fault, but Flegm; and for the most part this Disease seises Old People, such as are Flegmatick, and naturally Cold: But if an abundance of crude Blood should seem to produce the Flegmatick Humour, and to nourish it, a Vein may be opened in the Arm of the well-side: But Blood must be drawn sparingly, lest the languid Heat should be extin∣guished.

Therefore Bleeding being omitted, or used as is said, sparingly, the Cure must be begun by removing the ante∣cedent Cause, which is a cold intemperies of the Brain. To which end the following Remedies must be used.

Take of the Roots of Cyperus, Florentine Orris, Angelica, Zedoary, Elecompane, each one Ounce, of the Leaves of Bettony, Marjoram, Balm, Peniroyal, Calaminth, each one handful; of the Tops of Thym, and Sage, each half an handful, of the Seeds of Anise, Sesely, and Fennel, each three Drams; of Liquorish rasped, of Raisins of the Sun cleansed, each one Ounce; of the Leaves of Senna cleansed, and sprinkled with Aqua Vitae two Ounces; of the Seeds of Carthamus bruised, and of fresh Polypo∣dy of the Oak, each one Ounce; of Agarick newly tro∣chiscated; of Turbith, and Hermodactil's, each three Drams; of Ginger and Cloves, each one Dram; of the Flowers of Staechas, of Rosemary, Sage and Lavender, each one pugil; boil them in a sufficient quantity of Water to a Pint; dissolve in it four Ounces of White Sugar, clarifie it, and aromatize it with two Drams of Cinnamon, and make an Apozem for four Doses, to be taken in a Morning.

In the first and last Dose dissolve three Drams of Dia∣phaenicon. Or,

Take of the Mass of Pill Cochiae Minor two Scruples, moisten them with Bettony Water; make five or six Pills, guild them, and let him take them early in the Morning.

The Pills of Agarick, and of Cochiae major are used for the same purpose.

Take of Gujacum, and of Sarsaparilla, each two Ounces; infuse them twenty four hours in two Quarts of Fountain Water over hot Ashes, then boil them over a gentle fire to the consumption of half, strain it, give half a Pint hot in the Morning, and cover the Sick well that they may Sweat. The use of this may be continued for fifteen or twenty days, or longer.

In the use of Sudorifick Decoctions, this is always to be observed, viz. let some Purging Medicine be given once a Week, omitting for that day the Sudorifick Potion. Sneezing, Apoplegmatisms, Blisters, Head Powders, and Baths are also used. After the use of the Diet Drink, give the following Pills once a Week.

Take of the faetid Pill, Coch. Minor, each half a Dram: Troches of Alhandal four Grains; mingle them, and make Pills to be taken in the Morning.

But because the Humour wants preparation before every Purge, therefore two or three days before every Dose of the Pills, give three or four Ounces of the following Water, in the Morning two hours before Eating.

Take of Gujacum four Ounces, of the Bark of the same one Ounce, of Sarsaparilla one Ounce and an half, of China one Ounce, of Sassafras six Drams, of Wood of Aloes, and of Galingal each one Dram and an half, of the Roots of Angelica, Peony, and Fennel, each three Drams and an half, of the Seeds of Peony two Drams, infuse them twenty four hours in six Pints of Fountain Water, and two Quarts of White Wine. Afterwards add the Leaves of Bettony, ground Pine, Sage, each one handful; of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, Primrose, Staechas, and Rosemary, each two Pugils; of Lavender Flowers one Pugil, of Old Venice Treacle half an Ounce, of the Seeds and Bark of Citron each two Drams and an half, of Polypody half an Ounce, of Cinnamon six Drams; distil them in a Bath, to two Pints and an half of the Liquor, add four Ounces of Penids.

If the Purges abovementioned are not successful, it will be convenient to give Chymical Vomits, as Vinum Bene∣dictum, and the like, if the Sick is able to bear them.

After general Evacuation, we must use Topicks, both to the Paralytick part to recall the Heat and Spirits, and to the Spinal Marrow; where for the most part resides the Cause of the Disease; therefore let the part affected be rubbed daily gently with hot Cloaths, and let Cupping Glasses be applied to the Heads of the Muscles of the part affected, let them have a narrow Mouth, and much Flame: But they must not be kept on long, lest what is attracted should be dissipated. Afterwards apply a Plaister of Pitch and Rosin of the Pine; that what is at∣tracted may be kept in. All the Paralytick part may be Stung gently with Nettles. Afterwards the part affected may be anointed with proper Oils, Ointments, and Bal∣sams. The following Ointment is very good in this case:

Take of the Juice of Squills four Ounces, of the Juice of Wild Cucumber, and of the Juice of Rue each one Ounce, of Euphorbium, Castor, Sagapenum, Ammonia∣cum, Bdellium, dissolved all in Vinegar, each one Dram and an half; of Myrrh, Frankincense, Pellitory of Spain, Niter, each one Dram; of Oils of Elder, Turpentine, and of Euphorbium, each half an Ounce, of Wax a sufficient quantity to make an Ointment. After the anointing the part, wrap it about with hot Cloaths.

If the Disease goes not off by these means, Plaisters are to be applied to the Spine of the Back; the following is of excellent use for this purpose.

Take of Ship-pitch, Galbanum, Sagapenum, and Gum Ammoniack, each one Ounce, of the Roots of Pellitory of Spain, and of Mustard Seed each half an Ounce, of Euphorbium two Drams, of Yellow Wax three Drams, of Oyl of Turpentine a sufficient quantity; make a Plaister.

It is also very good to Sweat the Part affected by the Vapours from a Decoction of Cephalick Herbs and Roots made in White Wine; but the Decoction must not touch the Part. A Decoction of the Roots of Burdock is also much commended in this Case: These sorts of Baths are to be used twice or thrice a Week; and after Bathing you must put the Sick to Bed, and give him a Dram of Venice Treacle. The green Leaves of Tobacco infused in Mala∣go Wine, and the Parts bathed with it after Sweating, is reckoned the best outward Remedy for a Palsie.

But lastly, the Bath Waters are best; if the Sick drink of them some days, Bath and Wash the Head with them, and afterwards rub the Parts with the Infusion of Tobacco Leaves.

The Paralytick Parts must be always kept warm: If it can be, with the Skins of Foxes, Hares, or Lambs.