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. XCI. Of a Diabetes.

THis Disease was so rare amongst the Ancients, that many famous Physicians made no mention of it; but in our Age, wherein excessive Drinking has been, especially of Wine, so much used, there are many Instances of it.

As to the Cure, The chief intentions of Healing, are to prevent fusion of the Blood, and to take off that which is so. First, The Fusion of the Blood is hindred, when its gross and watry Parts contain one another, and are con∣tained, so that they do not too hastily separate, which may be effected by thickning Remedies; and for this Purpose Rice, Starch, and Mucilaginous Vegetables, also Gums, and some resinous things are of use. Secondly, That the Fusion of the Blood may be taken off, such Remedies are indicated as dissolve the Concretions of the Salts. I have prescribed in this Disease, the Tincture of Antimony with good success, and Lime-water, with the Seeds of Annise, Raisins, and Liquorish, is much commended by some.

A Noble-man fell into a desperate Diabetes, for besides that, he voided a Gallon and an half of clear Urine, that was almost as sweet as Honey, in the space of a Night and a Day; he was also afflicted with great Thirst, a Hectick Feaver, great Weakness, and with a wasting of the whole Body; he was cured in a short time by the fol∣lowing Medicines.

Take of the Tops of Cypress eight handfuls, of the Whites of Eggs a quart, of Cinnamon half an ounce; having cut them small, pour upon them four Quarts of new Milk, and distill them in a cold Still. Have a care of an Em∣pyrema. He took six ounces of it thrice a day.

Take of Gum-Arabick, and Tragacanth, each six drams; of Penediate Sugar one ounce, make a Powder; give one

dram, or one dram and an half, twice a day, with three or four ounces of the distilled Water.

Take of Rubarb powdered fifteen grains, of Cinnamon six grains, make a Powder; let him take it in the Morning and repeat it six or seven days after.

Take of Cowslip-water three ounces, of Cinnamon-water hor∣deated two drams, with half an ounce of Diacodium; make a draught to be taken at Bed-time every Night.

His Diet was altogether in a manner of Milk, which he eat sometimes crude, sometimes boiled, with Bread or Barley; sometimes it was diluted with a distilled water, or with Barley-water.

When he had been well a long time, he fell into the same Disease again, and the same Method and Medicines were ordered again, whereby he grew better in a few Days; afterwards he took five or six ounces of Lime-water daily thrice in a Day; and having used it four days, he voided Urine in a moderate quantity well coloured and some∣what salt. I cured another of a deplorable Diabetes by the same Method, especially with Lime-water.