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 ...

CHAP. XLIII. Of an Inflammation of the Tongue, and other Tumours of it.

AS all parts of the Body, especially such as are fleshy, are wont to be inflamed, so also is the Tongue some∣times, by reason of Blood flowing into it; and as it is Pure, Cholerick, Flegmatick or Melancholly, it occasions either a Flegmon, or an Erysipelas, an Oedema, or a Scirrhus, and sometimes it ends in Suppuration; whereof Forestus mentions an Observation, of a Brewer who had a great Inflammation of the Tongue, which Suppurated.

But most commonly the Swelling of the Tongue is soft and loose, and purely Oedematous, of which Galen pro∣poses an Example, of a Man whose Tongue was so tumi∣fied, that it could not be contained in his Mouth.

And sometimes also the Tongue grows excessively big, when there is no Oedema, no Scirrhus, nor any other kind of Tumour, and without any kind of Pain, and is only an increase proceeding from too great Nourishment of the part.

The Diagnostick of these Tumours is not difficult, for they may be seen; but the differences of them may be so distinguish'd, if there be an Inflammation, Pain and Heat, and Redness attend it, and the Face is also affected there∣with; but if the Swelling proceed from Flegm, the Tongue is white, and much Flegm flows out, which tasts sweet and insipid: But if it be only an increase of the Tongue, there are no signs of other Tumours or ill Humours.

As to the Prognostick; Tumours of the Tongue, for the most part, do not endanger Life, unless they grow so

great, that Suffocation should be feared from thence, or take their rise from some Malignant Humour, which may generate a Cancer, which is known by Hardness, pricking Pain, and a livid Colour.

The Cure of an Inflammation of the Tongue, must be begun with such things as cause a Revulsion, and with repelling Medicines: And then first a loosening Glister must be injected, and a large quantity of Blood must be taken away; presently after Cupping-glasses with Scarri∣fication must be applied to the Shoulders; afterwards cooling and repelling Gargarisms must be used. Galen commends the Juice of Lettice wherewith the Tongue must be washed; or a Gargarism may be prepared, of a Decoction of Plantane, Nightshade, of Syrup of dried Roses.

After Bleeding Purging may be prescribed, with a Me∣dicine made of Cholagogs and Flegmagogs.

The Fluxion being stopt by Evacuation, Revulsion and Derivation, the Derivation of the Humour stuft into the Tongue must be endeavoured; to which end the Veins under the Tongue must be opened: But if it cannot be done, by reason of the bigness of the Tongue, a Cup∣ping-glass, with Scarification, must be applied under the Chin.

If the Tumour tends to Suppuration, it must be pro∣moted by applying a Fig cut in the middle, which must be frequently changed, or by a Gargarism made of a De∣coction of Barly, Mallows, Violets, Figs, Raisins of the Sun, of the Seeds of Quinces and Fenugreek, adding to them Syrup of Violets and of Jujubs.

Suppuration being made, if the Abscess does not break of it self, let it be opened with a Knife, and the Ulcer must be presently cleansed with a Decoction of Barly, Agrimony and Plantane, with Honey of Roses.

But a soft and loose Tumour arising from Flegm, is cured first by Revulsion made by Bleeding, if the Sick abound with Blood; afterwards some strong Purge must be given, as is the Pill Coch minor: But if the Sick can∣not take Pills, a strong Purging Potion must be used.

After these Evacuations, cooling and repelling Medi∣cines must be applied at the beginning: The Tongue may be washed with the Juices of Lemons, Pomegranates, Sorrel, of Plantane, or with Simple Oxymel, to which

may be added in the increase of the Disease, a little Ginger, Sal Gemma, or Sal Armoniack. Zacutus Lusi∣tanus in a very dangerous case, when Suffocation was feared, by reason of the bigness of the Tongue, applied four Leeches to it, and soon after a great quantity of Blood was evacuated, and the Tongue asswaged. The same Zacutus Scarrified the Tongue deep in a Boy of Ten Years of Age, when the Tongue was soft, and by that means a great quantity of Salt-water flowed out, and the Patient was presently cured.

Lastly, When the Tongue is much increased, Claudinus proposes the Cutting off the Superfluous Flesh, necessary Preparations being first used.