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. CXXII. Of Childrens Fevers.

THE first Indication in curing Childrens Fevers, is, to prepare well the acid, that it may be the easier ejected: But this preparation must not be endeavoured by Sudorificks, properly so called, that is, such as heat the Body, which are by no means to be used for Infants or Children; but such things as absorbe the acid, and gently restrain the Ebullition, are to be used; the chief of these are Crab's Eyes and Claws, Oister-shells, Cut∣tle-bone, Egg-shells, Coral, Chalk, Coralline, Pearl, Mother of Pearl, both the Bezoar stones, Hartshorn burnt, burnt Ivory, the bone of a Stag's heart, shavings of Hartshorn, Bole-armenick, sealed Earth, Blood-stone, and the like; and among Compounds, compound Pow∣der of Crab's Claws, the Goa-stone, and Confection of Hyacinth.

Being called to an Infant of a year old troubled with a Fever or the Gripes, as they frequently are, I used to relieve them with the following Prescriptions,

Take of the compound Powder of Crab's Claws, and of Pearl prepared, each one drachm; mingle them, make a Powder to be divided into six equal parts. Or,

Take of Oriental Bezoar, prepared Pearl, and Crab's Eyes prepared, each half a drachm, of the species of the confection of Hyacinth, one scruple; make a Powder to be divided as before. Or,

Take of the simple Powder of Crab's Claws, one drachm, of Crab's Eyes prepared, two scruples, of Cochinel, six grains; mix them, make a fine Powder to be divided into six Papers; let one be taken as soon as

may be, and another two hours after, and afterwards let one be taken every fourth hour for the first two days, unless the Child be asleep: But let the Powders be taken in a spoonful of the following Julep, and give a spoonful presently after.

Take of the Aqua lactis alexiteria, four ounces, of black Cherry-water, two ounces, of compound Peony and epidemick Water, each two drachms, of pearled Sugar, half an ounce; mingle them, make a Ju∣lep. Or,

Take of Pennyroyal-water and Aqua lactis alexiteria, each three ounces, of syrup of Gillyflowers, 6 drachms, mingle them Or,

Take of sweet Almonds blanched, number ten; beat them in a marble Mortar, and pour upon them gently half a pint of Barley-water, or of Aqua lactis alex∣iteria; strain it, and add six drachms of small Cin∣namon-water, half an ounce of white Sugar; mingle them, make a Julep.

Sometimes I am wont to use, other things being omit∣ted, a Julep that hath much Pearl in it, but I order that the Glass should be well shook, before it be poured out.

Take of black Cherry-water, four ounces, of all the Ci∣tron, two ounces, of Aqua mirabilis and prepared Pearls, each two drachms, of white Sugar, half an ounce; mingle them, make a Pearl-julep; give three spoonfuls at a time.

But if the Child be troubled with the Cough, give half a spoonful of some pectoral Mixture or Linctus, and let him take less of the Powders above-prescribed.

Take of the Powder of Coralline and simple Crab's-claws, each one drachm and an half, of the syrups of Maiden-hair and Marshmallows, each one ounce, of balsam of Tolu, half an ounce, of red Poppy-water, half an ounce; mingle them,

Bole Armenick is often properly mixed with such things to good purpose, it powerfully stops Catarrhs flowing upon the Lungs; the juice of Pennyroyal heat∣ed and sweetned with Sugarcandy, is also better than most other Remedies; Oil of sweet Almonds is also very good, if Children can take it; so is Brimstone, and the Flowers of it.

The foresaid Powders are to be repeated, seldom or often, according to the degree of the Symptoms; but it is here to be noted, that the Gripes, Restlessness and the Watchings of Children are as easily appeased by testace∣ous Powders, as pains and watchings by Narcoticks in grown People.

The third day, unless the small Pox, Measles or a Scarlet Fever appear, I order a Child of one year old to be purged in the following manner.

Take of syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, two drachms, of choice Rhubarb powdered, fifteen grains or a scru∣ple, of the Aqua lactis alexiteria, one drachm, of small Cinnamon-water, thirty drops, mingle them. Or,

Take of syrup of Buckthorn, one drachm and an half or two drachms, of the Powder called Diasenna, eight grains; mingle them.

Take of the Earl of Warwick's Powder, which is also called Pulvis Cornachinus, described in the last Edi∣tion of the London Dispensatory, six grains; let it be taken in a spoonful of black Cherry-water, sweetned with a little Sugar.

Take of sweet Almonds blanched, number three; beat them in a marble Mortar, and pour upon them gently an ounce or an ounce and an half of Barley-water, or any other simple Water; in the strained Liquor, dis∣solve three drachms, or half an ounce of the best Manna; mingle them, make a purging Emulsion.

Take of Lenitive Electuary, two or three drachms, and dissolve it in an ounce of the Aqua lactis alexi∣teria.

Sometimes I order this or the like Plaister to be ap∣plied to the region of the Navel, especially, if they are troubled with Worms.

Take of Succotrine Aloes, one drachm, of the Powder of the leaves of Savin, of the tops of the lesser Cen∣taury, and of the flowers of Camomil, each one scru∣ple, with a sufficient quantity of Venice-turpentine; make a Plaister, let the margin of it be spread with the Plaister of Cummin, to make it stick the better; and sometimes it may be convenient to add to the other Ingredients, a scruple of Coloquintida.

There is no purging Medicine more proper for Child∣ren and more innocent than Rhubarb; it gently and safely evacuates the Matter occasioning their Fever, and it gently purges off the Humors that burden the Sto∣mach and whole Body, and it strengthens; wherefore, it is very proper for Infants, Children, big-bellied Wo∣men, old Men, and such as have been weakened by Diseases.

After the Purge hath done working, some Powder like the former must be given in the Evening, and af∣terwards must be repeated three or four times in a day at fit times, for two days, and on the third day Purg∣ing must be used, and it must be dosed according to the operation of the former.

These things being performed, the worst Symptoms most commonly cease, or at least are much abated.

It is to be noted, That the first Purge we give to Children that have Fevers, must not be only Lenitive, but the Dose of it must be less than otherwise it ought to be; and the night before Purging, a gentle Glister, made of four ounces of Cow's Milk, Sugar and a little Salt, must be injected, if the Belly be bound.

Moreover, to quicken the Purge, a scruple or two of Cream of Tartar may be dissolved in some spoonfuls of Water-grewel or the like, and so given.

As to bleeding of Children, tho' it may be used, when the febrile Matter is cast upon the Lungs, or in a hooping Cough, yet it is plain that it is a Remedy not agreeable to their Nature.

A Child about three years and an half old, was seized with a small Fever that was continual, and ac∣companied with Exacerbations that were very irregular; she complained of a great pain in the Head especially, and sometimes of the Belly, she nauseated all Meat, and was very sleepy, so that the Standers by thought she would have the small Pox; there was a twitching of the Nerves in sleep, and she had sometimes a dry Cough; I prescribed the following things.

Take of the Aqua lactis alexiteria, six ounces, of Epi∣demick water, half an ounce, of prepared Pearl, one drachm, of the simple Powder of Crab's Claws, two drachms, of Cristaline Sugar, half an ounce; mingle them, make a Julep, whereof let her take three spoon∣fuls every fourth hour, shaking the Glass well before using it.

Take of Succotrine Aloes, one drachm, of the tops of the lesser Centaury, of the leaves of Savin dried, each half a drachm, of Burgundy-pitch, one drachm, of Venice-Turpentine, a sufficient quantity, make a Plaister to be applied to the Navel.

The next day she persisted in the use of the Julep, and a blistering Plaister was applied to the Neck; a Glister made of six ounces of Milk, with Sugar and Salt was injected, because the Belly was bound.

Take of Aethiops mineralis, and of Mercurius dulcis, each six grains, of Marmalade of Quinces, two scru∣ples; make a Bolus, to be taken at Bed-time.

The next Morning, she took the following Cathar∣tick syrup.

Take of syrup of Buckthorn, two drachms, of the Earl of Warwick's Powder, six grains, of choice Rhubarb powdered, twelve grains, of Tincture of Saffron twenty drops, of black Cherry-water, one drachm; mingle them.

Half a drachm of Cream of Tartar was given in a draught of Posset-drink to quicken the Purge; the same night, at Bed-time, four spoonfuls of the foresaid Julep were given. On the fourth and fifth days, the follow∣ing mixture was given by spoonfuls.

Take of Coraline, two drachms, of the leaves of Mint dried and powdered, one scruple, of the simple Powder of Crab's Claws, one drachm, of balsamick syrup and of the syrup of Marshmallows, each one ounce, of Orange-water, half an ounce; mingle them.

The Evening preceding the sixth day, the Bolus be∣fore-prescribed was repeated, and the Morning follow∣ing the purging Syrup, by the vertue whereof the Child vomited up a Worm a span long, and soon ••••••er¦wards was well.