Dr. Willis's practice of physick being the whole works of that renowned and famous physician wherein most of the diseases belonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods and receipts for the cure of the same : fitted to the meanest capacity by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for the benefit of the English reader : with forty copper plates.

CHAP. I. THE CONTENTS. A Description of the Scurvy. The Internal and nearest Cause of it is chiefly in the Blood, and also in some part radicated in the Nervous Liquor.

THere is so rare Mention, and so slender Description in the ancient Medicine of this Disease, which we call the Scurvy, that some have doubted, whether there were in the times of old any such Sickness, though now epidemical in many places, and almost every where or∣dinary, and with which every one is troubled, or at least thinks himself troubled with it; and which like the Pox and the Rickets, is derived a great way down to the Children: but certainly it is plain by the testimonies of Hippocrates, Areteus, Pliny, and others, that this Affection though known by other Names, was taken notice of by the Ancients, and that its cure hath been trcated of though after a slender manner.

Being not very solicitous concerning the appellations of this Disease, we will presently proceed to the knowledge and application of its Nature: which as it is so diffuse and extends its self into so various and manifold Symptoms, that it can neither be comprehended by one definition, or scarce by a singular description, it will seem best first of all to recite all the Phaenomena of this Disease, or to relate the History of the more notable accidents of it, and thence to accommodate a certain Hypothesis for the right solving its appearances.

As to the first, there are reckoned up a great company of Symptoms in the Scur∣vy, and manifold Affections and of diverse kinds; and which sometimes are of an * 1.1 oppo•…•…e or contrary nature to it: yea if any unusual accident, never before heard of in an humane Body happen, when it cannot be referred to any other kind of Disease certainly, we presently without doubting pronounce it the Scurvy: so that this Disease, like one condemned, and of an evil Name, suffers for others

faults: In the mean time it is wont to excite symptoms very many from its own power, which appear almost in every part of the Body, a recital of which will be best performed by a distribution of the parts of the Body. Therefore that we may thorowly handle the marks of the Scurvy, from the beginning to the end, we will begin first from the fountain of it in the Head: and to this belong great and habi∣tual * 1.2 Headaches, and those either by certain fits, or at certain times, sometimes a num∣ness or stupidness of Spirits, sometimes pertinacious Wakings, frequent Giddinesses, and Swimmings in the head, Convulsions, Palsies, plentiful Spittings, Ulcers in the Gums, a loosness of Teeth, a stinking in the Mouth. Secondly, sometimes in the region of the Breast, pains in divers parts of its membran•…•…s, and chiefly about the Sternum, which being often sharp and piercing, do miserably 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those labouring with this Disease night and day, a frequent Asthma, difficult and •…•…nequal, a strait∣ness * 1.3 of the Breast, a striving with an empty Cough and inordinate Pulse, a trembling of the Heart, srequent Swoonings, and often faintness of Spirits, or a fear of it almost continual. Thirdly, this Disease, as it were fixing its chief seat in the lower belly, produces an Iliad of Diseases: for often they have Nauseousness, Vomitings, Belchings, * 1.4 gnawing at the Heart, Inflammations, and grumbling of the Hypochondria, often Colicks, and troublesome Griefs running up and down here and there, almost a continual Diar∣rhaea or Loosness, sometimes a Dysentery or Flux, or a desire of going to stood, a wasting away of the Flesh, and sometimes an Ascitis.

The Urine, for the most part red and lixivial, with a crustiness swimming in it, or else sticking to the Urinal: sometimes also by fits it is pale and waterish and in abun∣dance. Fourthly, besides these Affects of the Belly, there are wandring pains and those not seldom highly painful, and troubling chiefly at night in the external Members, yea * 1.5 thorow the whole habit of the Body they feel a heaviness and spontaneous weariness, a wasting of the Flesh, an ach about the Loyns, and a debility and enervation of other Members; in the Skin spots of several colours, Tumours, Pimples, and often vene∣mous Ulcers shew themselves about the Muscles: a Numness, Stifness and pricking, and as it were the ascension of a cold air, Also Contractions, and leapings of the Ten∣dons: Besides to scorbutical Persons happen inordinations of the Blood, uncertain Effervescencies, wandring Intemperaments, erratick Fevers and great Haemorrhagies. Besides these more common and accustomed symptoms of the Scurvy, of which some have more some less, and which infest them now after one manner, and now after ano∣ther manner, and in another kind, oftentimes there happen other unaceustomed and pro∣digious accidents to this Disease.

For the more full knowledge of this Disease, it seems good that we here observe as it were lightly, what concerns the original, beginning or first invasion of it. For * 1.6 we are to inform you, that the Scurvy may be produced by reason of several Cau∣ses and Occasions: for although an ill course of Diet, a sedentary life, the inordina∣tion of the Spleen, and the Crudities heaped up in the first passages are very much accused; yet there is wont to be a further cause, as the unwholsomness of the Air, and the evil Crasis of the blood, vitiated by former Diseases: wherefore the Scur∣vy or Scorbute is often venacular or peculiar to marish places, and to the Sea Coasts: and frequently falls on those who much use the Sea, and feed much upon salt and smoak-dry'd Meats, and who are forced to drink putrrified Water: and often succeeds to continual Fevers, and to other chronical Diseases ill cured; also to great H•…•…morrha∣gies and other evacuations; and to usual excretions, as the Piles and monthly Courses being suppressed: Moreover this Disease, without any great forerunning cause, is exci∣ted not seldom by contagion, and sometimes is also hereditary.

It manifestly appears from what we have observed concerning this scorbutick Affe∣ction, that the material cause of this Disease is not contained in any private place or * 1.7 singular Mine, but is diffused thorow the whole body and every part of it, both within and without: from whence we gather that the scorbutick Miasm or Contagion, is poured forth, either in the Blood or in the Nervous Juice or in both. And indeed, the eruptions of Spots, and little whelks, the redness, and as it were lixivate urine, or like lie, plainly testifiethe Contagion to be placed in the effervency and inordinateness of the Blood; to which another like prognostick may be added, the divers production * 1.8 of this disease, which for the most part, succeeds the depravation of the Mass of Blood: no less the troublesome dolors, both within in the Membranes & without in theMuscles, the debility of the Members or resolutions, the Vertigo, Cramps, and frequent fai•…•…ings of the Spirits declare the fault or vice to be in the nervous Juice. Therefore, when both the general Humours are in fault, we will see which is first and chiefly vitiated, and from whence it draws its Contagion, and by what means it communicates its harm to another humour, and to any other parts, that are wont to be affected.

As to the Blood (in whose mass the Scurvy seems most of all to be rooted) we have elsewhere shown, that its disposition is even almost of the same temper, and of such like particles composed, as Wine: for that we have hinted, the Blood, even as Wine, to be sick, chiefly from two causes, to wit, either, because that there is something extraneous, and not to be truly mingled with it, poured into one or the * 1.9 other, or else because the disposition of the Liquor, or its temperament is per∣verted, that is, for as much as some things that are to be in Subjection, either to one Element or to another, and which ought to be subjugated, are exalted.

As to the first we have observ'd of some, that when the faces, are first secreted, * 1.10 and thrust up from the bottom, they are by being moved, lifted up; or if any exotick thing be cast into the Pipe, as Sewet or Sulphur, presently a notable p•…•…rturbation is stirr'd up; by which, unless it be soon quieted, the whole Crasis of the Wine will be in danger to be subverted. In like manner there are many things not miscible, which disturb the Motion and Circulation of the Blood, by being poured into it, and hinder it, that it cannot perform its due oeconomy, the nutritious Juice being full of the fecu∣lencies, does inordinately ferment the Blood, and as we have formerly shown, that Liquor becoming degenerate stirs up the paroxysms of intermitting feavers; the va∣porous Recrements of the Blood, the serous, bilous, and melancholy being retained in the bosom of it, bring forth Catarrhs, Dropsies, Jaundice, Mellancholly, and many other Diseases: but if that extraneous thing be removed in time, it soon, even as VVine frecd from its extraneous mixture, recovers its pristine Condition. But either Li∣quor, being for a long time infected with those heterogeneous contents, so that the due Crasis is at length degenerate, it is not then easily to be restored.

2. Besides, both Wine, and Blood, by reason of many other causes, depart from their right Temperament. As to Wine there are many ways and reasons whereby * 1.11 its Liquor is perverted from its legitimate disposition: which may also be parallel'd, by as many, if not more, in the dyscrasie of the Blood. (For this is often wont to be suddenly empoyson'd and broken, which does not easily happen to Wine) 1. There∣fore, we may observe of Wines, that they do not sometimes attain to maturity, but for want of Spirit they remain crude, for as much as the Spirits, and the other active prin∣ciples of Sulphur and Salt being overwhelmed with more thick and gross parts, can∣not extricate themselves; wherefore they become without Spirit, but having a thick consistence, and ungrateful, taste degenerate into a tastless VVine: and almost after the same way it is, when the Blood, the Spirit, and Sulphur depressed becomes crude and watry, and without Vigor, and unable to be inkindled afresh in the Heart. And this kind of disposition of the Blood Horstius affirms to be the cause of the scorbutick affection; but this same disposition, seems rather to infer the Pica, or strange longings of women with child, as also the Dropfical disposition, than the Scurvy, as we shall shew more at large anon. 2. The sulphureous parts of Wine being exalted above the rest, cause an immoderate effervescency or ebullition in the Liquor, and is called in our idiom or proper Speech, Fretting of Wine: In like manner, the sulphureous parts of the Blood being too much provoked or carried forth, causes a feverish intemperance, and is apt to be inflamed in the Heart, and indeed is the cause of very many feavers together. 3. Not seldom the Spirit in Wines growing weak, and theSulphur being bound up, the saline part being carried into a flux overcomes the rest; wherefore theLiquor be∣comes sour. The famous Sennertus thinks the Blood in the Scurvy to be altered as VVine degenerated into Vinegar, which we shall shew by and by, to be otherways. And we * 1.12 have formerly shewed, the dyscrasie of the Blood, being grown sour, causes Mellancholy. 4. There yet remains another ill disposition of Wines, to which we may very aptly compare the scorbutick Disposition of the Blood, to wit, when the Spirit being de∣pressed, the sulphureous and the saline Particles being combined together, are exalted, and as this comes to pass in Wines, after a two fold manner, so also by the like affection of the Blood we may deduce from thence a two fold Kind of Scurvy, as we shall shew more clearly anon. It is then a common observation in VVines, that be∣sides their degenerating into a tastless Liquor, and into sour Vinegar, they do some∣times, the Spirit being depressed, and the Sulphur and Salt being together exalted, become rancid, or ropy, or mucilaginous; in proper terms, Wines that are fretted, or ropy. In either mutation, the Spirit being subjugated, the sulphureous and the saline * 1.13 Particles being associated together, exceed the rest of the Elements, and cause the dis∣position of the Liquor, to become of their Nature. But yet the business is not per∣formed, altogether after the same manner, in both: for that in the former dyscrasie of the Wine the Sulphur is something more potent, than the Salt, but in the latter the Salt exceeds the Sulphur: so that either of them being the stronger, their Lord,

the Spirit, being cast off; they agree one with the other, and surmount the due tencur. The reason of either, may seem to be unfolded after this manner.

When generous Wines have grown hot for a long while, the particles being much agitated and striking one against another, the Spirit partly evaporates, and partly over∣whelmed in the more thick Elements, is suppressed: In the mean time, the Sulphur (of which there is the greater plenty) being more carried forth by the agitation, and so casting off the yoak of the Spirit, adheres to the Salt, and lifting up, alters the mixture of the Liquor, which by reason of the rising up of the Sulphur combined with the Salt, becomes rancid, or fretted: In like manner, when thin Wines have been kept long, the Salt is carried forth, and depresses the Spirit, overcome by its fluor, and so subjected by its wat'rishness, the Liquor becomes sour or sharp; after that the Salt growing eminent, the Sulphur (of which there is a less quantity) cleaving to it, and intimately uniting, converts the Consistency of the Liquor from thin to thick, and as it were of an oily s•…•…bstance; and from an acid, sour tast to a very ingrateful and as it were musty.

It is probable that after the same manner the B'ood is altered in the affection of the Scurvy, as Wines, as often as they become too hot, degenerate into fretted and ropy, for it is an argument, that this disease does not depend so much on the feculencies mix∣ed with the Blood (though such should there be, they might be at last driven forth, and their supplies cut off) but on the habitual dyscrasie of the Blood; because the Scurvy being radicated, is so difficult and sometimes not at all, to be cured. Moreover we may affirm, the dyscrasie of the Blood which causes the Scurvy, to be two fold, as of the Wine, to wit, a sulphureous saline and a saline-suphureous disposition. For as there are very great variety of affections, which are stirred up by the Scurvy; yet all of them may be aptly enough reduced to two principal Heads, orasit were twoFountains of evil, to wit first, that the blood being touched with the scorbutick Miasm or Con∣tagio n, becomes either very fervid or hot, in which the Sulphur having dominion, as∣sociates it self powerfully with the Salt: wherefore it being made more rancid or fretting, grows inordinately hot in the vessels, and perpetually sends forth from it self adust recrements, to wit, concretions of Sulphur and Salt, and disperses them here and there, which spreading outwardly, produce spots, pimples, whelks, or ulcers: but being inwardly laid up, bring forth a disposition to Vomit, pains about the heart, Loosness, Fluxes and grievous pains. In this kind of Scorbutick rancidity or frettedness of the Blood temperate Remedies only are convenient, and often Blood-letting, Scurvigrass, Horse-radish, or other things endued with a sharpness and incitation: e∣ven by the like means as fretted VVines are cur'd, by discharging them from their faeces, and by pouring into them, Milk, Flower, or Starch, Glew, or other Demulsions or Sweetnings, this is helped. Or in the second place, in blood nourishing the Scurvy, Salt has the chief dominion, and associates Sulphur to it self, wherefore it is not so fervid, but like ropy Wine becomes thick and mucilaginous, and is slowly circulated in the Vessels, and is apt to stuff the Viscera in its passage, and to affix there its feculencies as it were mud. Those affected after this manner, for the most without any pustulaes or eruptions of the skin, become sluggish, breathless and feeble, and labour with spon∣taneous weakness and straitness of the Breast; and are found to be obnoxious to the passions of the Heart, the Vertigo, and Convulsions: In the scorbutick disposition of this kind, more hot Remedies, and such as are indued with a volatile Salt, yea Cha∣lybeates or steel Medicines, which may fuse and agitate thorowly the Blood, are wont to be most used, and are to be handled even after the same way, as ropy Wines, to wit, to be soundly shaken and agit agitated; and also to them are put Lime, burnt Al∣lum, Gypsum or Playstering, Sea salt calcined, and the like, indued with an high acri∣tude or sharpness. So much for the beginnings of the Scurvy radicated in the Mass of Blood: There yet remains to be unfolded, for what causes the Blood degenerating from its proper nature, conceives this or that morbifick disposition, bringing forth the Scurvy. But it first behoves us to shew by what means the seedsof this Disease * 1.14 lye hid in the nervous Juice, the other general humour.

We have elsewhere declared that from the Blood driven to the confines of the Brain, there doth distil a subtle Liquor, both for the matter and for the vehicle of the animal Spirits, and that it doth disperse it self every where thorow the Encephalon, and the nervous Stock: This Latex, so long as it is right and good, consists chiefly of Spirit and Salt combined or volatilised in it, and with these and the modicum of Water, wherewith they are washed, there seems to be little need of Sulphur and Earth: but yet this concretion of Spirit and volatile Salt doth indeed constitute the most pretious humour which penetrates, passes thorow, actuates, and irradiates all things, concerning which the Chymists have dreamt of their Alchaest. At the beginning of the Scurvy,

whilst the Crasis of the Blood and the tone of the Brain are not thorowly vitiated, this watring liquor of the Brain and Nerves, being as yet spirituous, sweet, and not very unsit, performs all the functions to which it is destinated: but afterwards out of the bloody Mass made poor and very much weakned, a much thinner Latex and in∣clining towards Vinegar drops forth: and further, from the foeculented Blood and as it were rancid or fretted or ropy, heterogeneous Particles and very much infested are carried to the animal Regiment, and that being made weak within the Brain, they are admitted without repulse, and thence poured forth with the moistning Juice on its Appendix, both medullar and nervous: and from hence in several Regions of the flowing animal Spirits, sometimes faintings and wantings of strength, sometimes painful and spasmodick, or cramplike distractions, and explosions do follow. Where∣fore a Paralysis or Palsy, Convulsions, Vertigo or turning round or giddiness in the head, tremblings and other preternatural Affections of the Brain and nervous Stock, are wont to fall on those who have the Scurvy deeply rooted: concerning which we will hereafter speak more particularly. In the mean time we will take notice in general, that the scorbutick Contagion affixed in the nervous Juice, consists in one of these three or in all of them together, viz. that the moistning of the Brain and Nerves becomes much thinner or poorer; or that it degenerates from its saline disposition into sour∣ness; or that it is stuft with heterogeneous Particles.

Hitherto we have shown after what manner the first seeds as it were of the scorbu∣tick Affection are sown in the Blood, and from thence in the nervous Juice. Before we will consider of the fruits or symptoms of the Disease, excited by reason of the evil disposition of either of the humours and the reasons of them, and their manner of becoming so; we must inquire into the more remote causes and differences of the Di∣sease it self: to wit, that it may appear from what causes or occasions, and by what provision the scorbutick disposition is impressed on the aforesaid humours.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A recital of the chief symptoms of the Scurvy.
• * 1.2

  In the Head.
• * 1.3

  In the Breast.
• * 1.4

  In the lower Belly.
• * 1.5

  In the outward Parts.
• * 1.6

  The evidentcau∣ses of the Scur∣vy.
• * 1.7

  The cause of the Disease diffused thorow the bo∣dy sticks either.
• * 1.8

  To the Blood or to the nervous Juice or both.
• * 1.9

  The Dyscra•…•…e of Blood and Wine Compared.
• * 1.10

  As to things not miscible poured into ti∣ther.
• * 1.11

  As to the tem∣per of either va∣riously altered.
• * 1.12

  The Scorbutick Dyscrasie of the Blood-like Wines when they become,
• * 1.13

  Fretted or Ropy
• * 1.14

  By what means the scorbutick Contagion is impressed on the nervous Juice.