Medicina practica, or, Practical physick shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies ... : to which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longævus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley : all translated out of the best Latin editions into English ... : together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers : the whole compleated in three books / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. II. Of the Apoplexy.

1. TAke of the best Aqua∣vitae, well rectified from Phlegm, one Pint; Oyl of Vitriol one Spoonful, mix them, and let him drink thereof one Spoonful first in the Morning, and another last at Night.

Then let him Sweat in a Stove, twice a Week, and every time thereafter, bathe him with Balsam de Chili. This is Excellent.

II. For the Joint-ach, and Numbness after an Apo∣plexy.

Take Six Spoonfuls of Dragon-water, dissolve in it one drachm of Mithridate; drink the same draught Three Mornings together fasting, and sweat Two Hours after it. This Cures.

III. For an Apoplexy, or other like Fits.

Take a large quantity of Earth-worms, gathered in the Mornings in May (when they Generate:) put them into a Pail of Water for twen∣ty four Hours, that they may perfectly cleanse themselves: This done, take them out, and dry them carefully upon a Marble Tile, before a clear Fire: being thoroughly dryed, keep them in a dry place for use. When you have Occasion to use them, beat them into Powder, in a large Brass or Iron Mortar; and of this Powder, take a Spoonful at a time, Morn∣ing and Evening, in a Glass of Wine, four days before, and four days after, the Full, and Change of the Moon;

it will perfectly Cure. I lately cured one of an Apo∣plexy therewith; and I know several others, cured some Years since. Salmon.

IV. An Errhine against an Apoplexy, in the Fit.

I can propose no better than that of Deckers, which exceeds all others; and it is thus made. Take Turbith Mineral, one Ounce; powder of Liquorice, three ounces; Flowers of Rosemary, one ounce and a half, mix into a most sub∣tile Powder. Of this Powder you may blow up, from six to ten or twelve grains at a time, Viz. from three to five or six, up each Nostril: It brings out of the Fit; and used in the Intervals prevents it: I have proved it in two or three several Persons. Deck ers saith, multumque pituitae viscidae educit; cum successu praescribitur hic Pulvis in Apo plexia, Epilepsia Lethargo, Ca pitisquè affectibus soporosus om∣nibus, nec non quibusdam ca∣pitis affectibus recentibus, & inveteratis vertigine, gravedi∣ne, &c. Exec. med. pag. 20. Salmon.

V. Strong Purging in an Apoplexy.

Authors commend purge∣ing, but it must be with very strong Medicines; as Troches Alhandal, Scammony with Castor, or Pil. Cochie, one ounce, as Rondeletius pre∣scribes: But in my Opinion, nothing is better than my Pil. Mirabiles, taken from a scruple, to half a drachm. See it in my Philaxa Med. Lib. 2. Now in the Press. If Purgatives do nothing, the Patient commonly dies. Salmon.

VI. Strong Emeticks to be given.

Celsus saith, Many things ought, or may well be done in a dangerous Case, which other∣wise should be omitted. There∣fore, it is Lawful to give An∣timoniates in a large dose; as Aqua Benedicta, Vinum Anti∣moniale, Infusion of Regulus, Sal Emeticum Mynsichti, and such like: which evacuate great quantities of Phlegm, and other Humours, not on∣ly from the Stomach and Bowels, but even from the Brain it self. Salmon.

VII. Alterative Remedies for the same.

Nothing is better than our Powers of Rosemary, Amber, and Spir. Antiasthmaticus, given as directed in our Phy∣laxa.

Salmon.