CHAP. IX. Want of Appetite.

I. IF want of Appetite pro∣ceeds from a cold Cause, or cold Flegm affli∣cting the Ventricle or Sto∣mach, 'twill be necessary to give a proper Vomit, and then such things as may heat and corroborate it.

II. A Vomit evacuating Flegm, and cold and watery Humours. Take our Pulvis Argenteum 10. grains, mix it with the Pulp of a rosted Apple, and give it in the Morning fasting; drinking warm Broth or Posset-drink after it. The third day re∣peat the same Dose.

III. Then to warm, com∣fort, and restore the Sto∣mach, Page  34 Take our Tinctura Stomachica, from half a Spoonful to a Spoonful in a draught of Ale or Wine, Morning, Noon, and Night, a quarter of an Hour or more before eating; it does Wonders, and restores the Appetite, tho lost for many Months: I have proved it many Hundreds of times for these Twenty five or Twen∣ty six Years together. Sal∣mon.

IV. Salt Meats are also good, because they iritate and pro∣voke the languid Faculties of the Stomach; Salts also have an inciding and attenuating Virtue: and next to these such things as have a volatile heat and sharpness, as Mu∣stard seed, Onions, Garlick, Leeks, Shellots, &c.

V. When Flegm disaffects the Ventricle, that is, tough, thick, and viscous, whereby the Appetite seems to be al∣most destroyed, it will be necessary that you use Me∣dicines of another Nature, viz. such as are acid, sharp, and cutting, for that these things not only separate the offending Matter from the Tunicles of the Stomach; but also prevent Putrefaction, and the Generation of the like for the future.

VI. For this purpose Spirit of Vitriol is most commended by some, and 'tis doubtless a good Medicine, but ought to be cautiously used to dry Bodies, lest it induces a Con∣sumption.

VII. But in fuller and moi∣ster Bodies it is not only safe, but very profitable, more especially, if the Anorexia, or want of Appetite, pro∣ceeds from Choler, Yellow or Green, abounding in the Stomach.

VIII. In this case I commend my Spiritus Aperiens, and Syrupus Diasulphuriis (see them in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. I. Cap. 14. Sect. I. and Lib. 2. Cap. 36. Sect. I. given the first to 30. 40. 50. or 60. or more Drops in a Glass of Ale: the other in all the drink the Sick drinks, to a Spoonful, more or less, as they can Affect it, and to take it assidiously for ten, Fifteen, or Tweny, days to∣gether: they are Medecines that seldom fail of their effects, and are beyond my Commendation. Salmon.

Page  35 IX. I always adjust the Me∣dicaments for cure accor∣ding to the Causes: where there is an exceeding Cold∣ness of the Stomach, my Tinctura Absinthij is beyond compare, so also Elixir pro∣prietatis sine Acido: To these things, add our Aqua Bezo∣artica, and Tinctura Corallorum Composita, given in Wine.

X. If the want of Appetite is restored by taking Acids, it is a Sign that the Acid Hu∣mour in the Stomach is Lan∣guid, debile and weak; but if not, or it rather is hurt by it, it is a sign that it is too Rampant and Vigorous and therefore Alcalies as Tincture of Tartar, Volatile Sal Armo∣niack, or our Spirit. Anti∣asthmaticus ought to be given, and other like Volatile Salts: Bezoar Mineral in our Syrup. Volatilis is of good use in this case. Salmon.

XI. The loss of Appetite, which arises from decay of Strength, or old Age, is seldom or never cured, unless it proceed from a Cold cause, in which case Volatile Sulphurs, and Spirituous Things are proper, but things that dry too much must be cauti∣ously given: The Stomach may be Anointed with Oyl of Mace: or you may use this: Take Balsam of Am∣ber one Ounce: common Oyl, I dram: mix them.

XII. If there be neither Sickness, nor weakness, nor old Age present, and yet the Person complains that he never comes to his Food with a Stomach, or eats with an Appetite; the only way to restore such an one, is to let him fast till he is a hungry, for long want of Victualsand emptiness insuch always breeds an Appetite.

XIII. In Women, especially such as have Gross Bodies, want of Appetite is cured (if not with Child) by pro∣per Emeticks and Cathar∣ticks. For the first of these I commend our Cartharticum Argenteum, given to a dram, in a Glass of Ale: For the lat∣ter, either our Family Pills, or our Family Powder, both of which may be taken 2, or 3, or 4 times, with due intervals. Salmon.

XIV. If it happens in a Wo∣man with Child, all or most of the Preceeding Courses must be avoided, and other Page  36 Courses taken. The juices of Oranges and Lemons with white Sugar may be daily taken for some time: so also Canary made acid with juice of Limons: and if heat also abounds; a Decoction of Tamerinds sweetned, alone, or mixt: A Syrup or Infusion of Rheubarb, is of good use.

XV. Want of Appetite in Consumptive People is of dan∣gerous Consequence: some commend as the best thing Elixir Proprietatis given in wine: it may be good for a little Season, but long it must not be taken, left it also in∣duce the Consumption. The best thing which I have found by my large experi∣ence is Our Tinctura Stoma∣chica given to a spoonsul, 2. or 3. times a day in a large draught of new Milk: And altho the ingredients thereof heat Violently, yet by reason they are of thin Substance and parts, their heat is quick∣ly discussed, and so do no harm. Salmon.

XVI. If Sickness at Stomach, and want of Appetite pro∣ceed from worms (as some∣times it does) Our Tincturo Absinthij, or Infusion of Worm-wood, in Rhenish Wine, or Canary, is good. Salmon.

XVII. Galens Antidotus The∣spesiana, for want of Appe∣tite. Take Smallage-seed, xij. drams; Myrrh, Anni∣seed, Opium, ana vj. drams; White-Pepper, V. drams; Parsly-seed, Long-pepper, Spicknard, Cassia-Lignea, ana iv. drams; Castor, Saf∣fron, Flowers of Juncus Odoratus, ana iij. drams; Ci∣namon, ij. drams; Honey 1 pound: make an Electuary; dose the quantity of a Ha∣zle-Nut, at Bed-time, in a little Drink.