A physical treatise grounded, not upon tradition, nor phancy, but experience, consisting of three parts. The first, a manuduction, discovering the true foundation of the art of medicine. Second, an explanation of the general natures of diseases. Third, a proof of the former positions by practice. By William Russell, chymist in ordinary to His Majesty.

Of Convulsions.

COnvulsions take beginning, either from an unnatural Fermentation of the Juyces of the Body, whereby every Vessel or Organ is overmuch di∣sturbed; or by particular Compunction or Compression of the Nerves contra∣cted; or else from Nature's true Sense of what is fit to be separated from the Parts offended, and her Endeavour to separate the same; as is apparent in the Beginnings of the Small Pox, where the nutritive Juyces are con∣densed, by reason of the Morbific Fer∣ment, and so made unfit for the Nu∣trition of the Spirits, and the necessa∣ry Separation appertaining thereunto; being wholly uncapable to be distri∣buted to the Parts. Here Nature, regularly acting, makes Convulsions, which open the Nerves, and render that Diseasy Ferment fit to become

the Matter of the Small Pox, or Fea∣vers: for, so soon as the Convulsions cease, the Small Pox appears; as is sufficiently evident by the Events: and it is apparently manifest, that such Convulsions are sooner Perioded, than the Ideal. And althô the Small Pox or Feavers be very Malignant; yet it is rare to see any One fail un∣der those Distempers where Convul∣sions have preceeded: thô a Convulsion happening after those Diseases, is most frequently Mortal. For, the first is the result of Nature's strife a∣gainst the Disease; but the other (the Disease being annihilated, and Nature overcome) ariseth from the Terror of Death, of which it is a gene∣ral Prodrome.

Also, the Superfluities, that Chil∣dren bring with them into the World, are the occasional Causes of those ma∣ny Convulsions, that attend them in their Infancy. For, they being Retents of the Maternal Nourishment, which (coming then first under the Domi∣nion of the Stomach of the Infant) can∣not

not be received as a Guest, but are rejected, and opposed as an Enemy to Nutrition; and if not subdued in the Act of the first Digestion, by Vomit∣ing, or Stools, Red or White-Gum, &c. they become the Matter of long con∣tinuing Convulsions.

Likewise, in Breeding Teeth, Con∣vulsions often happen; For, by the Compression or Punction of the Nervous Fibres in the Gums, made by the in∣growing Teeth, Nature is enforced to make Convulsions, that the Teeth may break through those Fibres, im∣peding their forth-coming.

But most lamentable are the Ideal Convulsions, which have their Origi∣nal from Terror, Frights, or Fears: For the Spirit, by the amazement they infer, produceth a dark Image, or Impression, by which it is over∣whelmed, and so driven to irregular Actions, which occasion uncertain Events; because being surprized with Stupor, and not knowing what to do, it doth nothing to right purpose, by reason of the variety of Imaginations

which (in these Cases) are as va∣rious as the Conceptions of the mind can be.

Of the Cure of Convulsions, that hap∣pen before the Small Pox, &c.

In the Cure of these Convulsions, I generally use my Pouder once in six hours, by which the rigour of them is usually abated; but, if in a short time the Convulsions be not lessened by the use thereof; then I give my Arcanum Metallorum, or my Arcanum of Camphire (administring either of them, as I see Cause) and repeat the Dose once an Hour, till the Convul∣sions cease.

Note: Here it is to be observed, that even in these Convulsions (where my Medicines are used) the Fits are more frequent, but shorter, until wholly annihilated, and the Small Pox appears.

Of the Cure of Convulsions from Re∣licts of Maternal Nourishment.

These Convulsions rarely happen, where my Pouder is given to Children, so soon as they are born, and often repeated; and if they do afterwards arise, such Convulsions are soon and easily taken off, by the Use of other Medicines prenominated. But, where Convulsions happen in Children, that have not had the Benefit of such Re∣medies; there I must confess the Work to be long, and irksome, requiring Soundness of Judgment in the Physi∣cian, because of the great Variation, that happens therein; but more espe∣cially, by reason of the Dissatisfaction of Parents and Nurses, seeing the Fits more frequent, thô much shor∣ter, when under my Cure: For, I once knew a Child, so afflicted that had an hundred Fits in one Day; and this continued ten Days together, the number not lessening; yet, with this Advantage, (notwithstanding the

Fits were so numerous) that the Child became daily more lively, and each Fit shorter and shorter. After the Tenth Day, this Child had no more Fits; but was constantly attended with Breathing Sweats unto perfect Reco∣very.

Note: In Cure of this Child, I used the same Medicines as before; but not without other peculiar Auxilia∣ries, too long to be here recited: ne∣vertheless I purpose to speak of them, when I write (as I intend hereafter) of Particular Diseases, and the Reme∣dies I used in Cure of the same.

Of the Cure of Convulsions in Breeding Teeth.

In the Cure of these Convulsions, I have by Experience discerned, that thô the former Medicines were effe∣ctually helpful in this Case; yet, if Incision also were not used, the Cure was not so easily compleated.

Of the Cure of Ideal Convulsions.

In Ideal Convulsions, I have expe∣rimentally found my Pouder, and my Arcanum Veneris, to be of general Use and Service; but could not (so speedily as I desired) compleat the Cure by them, without the help of particular Auxiliaries. For, in these Convulsions, the Variety of Idea's is so great, that it requires a Judicious Ap∣plication of various Specificks.

Of Lethargies, Coma's, and Apoplexies.

These Diseases have all their Ori∣ginal from one dark and stupefactive Source, where the Gates of Sleep con∣tinually stand open: for such as are afflicted with them, are either trou∣bled with over-much Drowsiness, or oppressed with Sleeps too profound. These Distempers differ only in the Degrees of their Power: In the two first, there are only subtile Vapours,

(by the Schools called smoaky) which having their Assent from the Diseasy Power of Darkness in Us, do after an obtuse manner stifle the Natural Fa∣culties; but in the Latter, viz. Apo∣plexies, they more intensly act, and materially by Bloud, or otherwise sup∣press the Faculties of Life, and so absolutely overwhelm all the Powers of Nature, that the Body (or the Spi∣rit thereof) becomes wholly Insen∣sible.

I have great Reason to speak of these Diseases in this manner, having been much exercised therein. If called in the beginnings of them, I have found them to be sooner removed, than several other Distempers of less danger: for if the Spirit can be time∣ly excited, to strive against the Evil, they quickly vanish. What Medicines are helpful to One, are really helpful to All, the Dose only considered: but I never found, in any of these Cases any other than general Remedies to be profitable, or available in exciting Nature to free her self from the im∣impending

Danger; therefore Gene∣rally,

In Order to Curation,

I here begin with my Cephalic Drops, which I give once, and a little while after they have been taken, my Arcanum Metallorum; and 6 hours after that my Pouder, and so inter∣changeably using my Pouder and Ar∣canum, except that sometimes (as I see cause) instead of my Arcanum Me∣tallorum, I give my Arcanum Veneris. I proceed always giving my Cephalic Drops once every hour, during the whole Cure, which is usually com∣pleated in three Dayes time; during which, Sweats rarely happen, until the Drowsiness be wholly over; but now and then loose Stools. And in real Apoplexies, Nature stirs up Vo∣mitings, Sneezings, Bleedings at Nose, or else expels by Urine great Quanti∣ties of insipid Water void of Odour.

Note: Where Vomitings are, which

usually precede an Apoplexy, if any Physician endeavour to restrain such Vomitings, or the Patients them∣selves be unwilling to bear them, then they inevitably fall under the Burthen of that Disease.

A particular Example of the Method I used in the Cure of a Lady of Sixty nine years of Age.

THis Lady alwayes dreading an Apoplexy, by reason her Relations had often dyed of the same; desired I would give Order, in Case of a sud∣den Assault, what should be used Whereupon I left with her Woman some of my Arcanum Metallorum, gi∣ving charge, That if the Lady were suddenly taken with Vomiting, o•• Lightheadedness, she should give that to her first, and not the Pouder, thô she was formerly used to take it; and to send immediately away for me, because she then lived four Miles ou•• of London. This Assault happening my Arcanum given, and I sent for, ••

hastning thither, found her drowsie, thô the Cold and Stupidity were some∣what less, than before the taking what I had left for her. I then gave her the Arcanum Antimonii Basilii; which is not used or known by any one else that I can tell: After the taking of which, Warmth increased, a little Sneezing hapned, Vrine came away abundantly; insomuch, that in six hours time, there was above 3 Pints of Water received, void of all Urinous Odour, or Saline Tast. The Head grew hot, Bloud issued by Drops at the Nosethrils; these Actions happen∣ed in the first six hours after the As∣sault. After this, the Spirit became more lively, and the Bloud more fre∣quently issued out at Nose and Mouth, which continued more or less for three daies together: In the mean time her Sleeps were short, but refreshing. Then my Pouder was given every 4 hours, my Arcanum Metallorum once in 12 hours, and my Cephalic Cordial once an hour. And in four daies time, all

Symptomes of the Disease vanished, Weakness only remained.

Note: This Cure being taken in hand before the Brain was fully stu∣pified, the Remedies had the greater Effect; for I have (to my Grief) too often seen the same Medicines prove useless, thô the Dose was given in a threefold Quantity; and where they were serviceable to prevent the Evil, they did not bring away so much Bloud, but caused Sneesings, and Vrine in like Quantity, and Frequency. Also I have observed, that Direct Vomito∣ries, given in this Disease, (as they too often are) are as dangerous, as things repressing Vomits, before the Patient is throughly seized with the Disease; but after the Stupor is at its height, a forcible Vomit, if it operate strongly enough, may do good, other∣wise the Patient certainly dies. The same may be said of Sacrification, Phle∣betomy, (thô that carry a seeming Con∣veniency in Sanguineous Apoplexies)

Blistering, Clysters, and other forcible things, which cannot separate the San∣guineous Matter, except accidentally only; therefore are uncertain helps; whereas Medicines of an Vniversal Tendency, and truly gifted, act just as Nature requires, and so frequently act with greater force and certainty, than any of a Specific operation can do. But there is too often a great failing in Physicians, that they discern not Apoplexies before they seize, and so cannot contribute help for prevent∣ing them; which is much to be be∣wailed.