A treatise of the rickets being a diseas common to children. Wherin (among many other things) is shewed, 1. The essence 2. The causes 3. The signs 4. The remedies of the diseas. Published in Latin by Francis Glisson, George Bate, and Ahasuerus Regemorter; doctors in physick, and fellows of the Colledg of Physitians at London. Translated into English by Phil. Armin.

CHAP. XXX. Of the Pharmacentical matter, and first of such things as clense the first Passages. (Book 30)

THis matter is of manifold and most noble use, and satisfieth very many Indications. For it comprehendeth al Medicaments, those only accepted which concern the Chyrurgi∣on, which have a primary relation either to the causes of the Diseas, or the Diseas it self, or the Symptoms.

It is divided into remedies Internal or External, and each of them into Simple and Compound. Again the Internal may be subdivided into such as clens the first passagss, as Medicines Preparatory. Into Electively e∣vacuant, and such as are Specifically alterant and Eva∣cuant, and finally into those that correct the Symp∣toms.

Among these the Internal obtain the precedency, and of those again such as wash away the impurities of the first passages, becaus these (as hath been already obser∣ved) are justly accounted an impediment in respect of the following remedies, and simply ought first to be re∣moved. But in all the Titles (as far as the Nature of the thing will licens or warrant us) we will place the Simple before the Compound.

Moreover, these washing remedies comprehend these three kinds, namely, Clysters, Vomits, and Lenitive Purgations.

The use of Clysters, and some forms of them.

The Injection of Clyster-pipes, before we more exa∣ctly and earnestly attempt the Cure, is then chiefly pre∣required, when the Belly is costive, and the Excrements are hardned; or when some windy humors torment the Guts, or some vehement pain in the Bowels afflict the Patient. In which cases they may not only be injected before any preparation, but also before a Vomit, yea or a Lenitive Purgation. These are frequently compoun∣ded of benign and gentle Purgers, somtimes also of such as have only a faculty to make the waies slippery, and to expel wind, but never of Cathartical ingredients that are violent they are to be injected warm or lukewarm, and after a long abstinence from meat. We shall pre∣sent some forms.

Take Cows new-Milk, warmed, four or five oun∣ces; Anis Seeds beaten to Pouder ten grains; Cours Sugar, one ounce, one ounce and an half, or two ounces; The Yolk of one Egg: mingle them and make a Clyster; to these may be added half an ounce of new Butter.

Take a sufficient quantity of an emollient Decoction. An Electuary lenitive half an ounce; Syrup of Roses So∣lutive, and Syrup of Violets, of each six drachms; Oyl of Chamomel one ounce; mingle them, make your Clyster and let it be injected lukewarm.

Take the Roots of Marsh Mallows beaten together, half an ounce, or in lieu therof, the leaves or Flowers of Mallows half a handful; Flowers of Chamomel one pugil; Hemp Seeds two drachms: boyl them in a suf∣ficient quantity of Whey mingled with Beer: To four or five ounces of the Decoction ad of Diacassia, or Electua∣rium Passulatum half an ounce, Syrup of Roses Solutive,

and Kitchin Sugar, of each one ounce; new Butter six drachms, you may if you see occasion ad the yolk of one Egg.

Take Stone-Horsdung that is new, one ounce and an half; The Seeds of Annis, Fennel, Mallows, beaten to∣gether, of each one drachm and an half; Flowers of Chamomel one pugil. Boyl them in a sufficient quanti∣ty of posset drink: In four or five ounces of the Deco∣ction, dissolve ten drachms of Syrup of Violets, common Sugar, and Oyl of Roses, of each half an ounce: Mingle them and make your Clyster.

The use of vomiting remedies, and some examples of them.

Emedical Remedies or Vomits, do chiefly perform three things. First they evacuate crude or corrupt hu∣mors and all manner of impurities contained in the Sto∣mach, and that by a shorter and more expedite way, than if they were conveyed through the involutions and labyrinths of the Guts. Secondly, By an agitation and commotion raised in all the parts, especially the Bowels, they loosen the gross and viscous humors adhering unto them, or impacted in them, and frequently expel them, especially those which are collected in the Stomach and Guts; in which respect they are profitable against tor∣ments of the Chollick and very conducible to unlock Obstructions. Thirdly, They most effectually irritate the expulsive faculty of all the parts of the Body, and e∣specially of the Bowels, and by this means many times upon a single application they compel forth the hidden and unappearing causes and fomentations of Diseases, and especially of intermitting Feavers. For by the ve∣ry straining to vomit, the Guts are also instimulated to

cast out by siege. The Liver powreth away the Chol∣ler by the Biliary Pore; the sweet-Bread voideth his pe∣culiar excrement by the new Vessel into the Guts; the Spleen also perhaps unburdens in a plentiful manner his excrement into the Stomach by Vessels not yet through∣ly known: The Kidneys exern through the Ureters, the Lungs by a strong Cough eject their Flegm through the Windpipe: The Brain emptieth it self of salt, wa∣terish Rhewms, and matter by the Palate, the Nostrils and the Eyes. Finally the whol Body for the most part is rendred more prone to a Diaphoresis either by a ma∣nifest sweating, or else by an occult and insensible Transpiration. In the mean time it must be noted that not all gentle Vomits, nor indeed the more vehement, if they be given in too smal a dose wil presently and ful∣ly perform all these things, yet in their operations they effect more or less according to the strength or quantity of the Medicine, and indeed if the stronger be admini∣stred in a full dose they effectually attain to the three marks propounded.

It is obvious, by what hath been said, to the conside∣ration of any Reader, that strong Vomits prescribed in a full quantity are not competible to Children affected with this Diseas, neither can their tender strength o∣vercome and subdue so great tumults in the Body, and such an Universal evacuation so suddenly wrought, Wherfore this kind of remedy ought not to be prescri∣bed to Children without diligent precaution and cir∣cumspection, and both the strength, quantity, and effi∣cacy of the Medicine are duly to be prepondred. To this end therfore we shall set down some Cautious in fa∣vor of unexperienced Practicers.

First, A Vomit is not to be provoked in this Diseas, unless the humors tend upwards of their own accord, but

then indeed they may be expelled by vomiting remedies without difficulty.

Seeondly, Not unless Children are naturally or cu∣stomarily apt to vomit, and do easily endure it.

Thirdly, In Bloud-spitting, the Ptisick and Consum∣ption, in any flowing of Bloud at the Nose, or any in∣ternal opening of the Veins, and the like cases, absti∣nence must he enjoyned from this remedy.

Fourthly, Vehement vomits exhibited in a larger dose are here forbidden. For the fear is just and pru∣dent that they may depopulate the Natural Spirits, and further consume the very solid parts which before were over-much extenuated.

It is necessary therfore that the Vomits here prescri∣bed, be either in their own nature gentle, or corrected if they be vehement and administred in a lessened dose.

You wil say, If they be of a mild and lenitive facul∣ty, or exhibited in a diminute quantity, they cannot com∣pel the humors with any efficacy.

To this we answer, Indeed where Nature contribu∣teth little or no assistance, it cannot be denied; but in such cases we totally prohibit the administration of vo∣miting remedies; but presupposing both a fitness of the Body and Humors to this evacuation (as is required in the first and second Caution) even gentle vomits may expel such humors as are seated in the first passages. The thing must be said of the strong being prudently corre∣cted and sparingly applied. For by reason of the cor∣rection and diminute quantity they do not much shake and discompose the Body, or provoke Nature; and again, through the proclivity of the Stomach and Hu∣mors they are sufficient to reward this Scope with a lau∣dable success. We will now subjoyn some few Ex∣amples.

Take the tops of Groundsel half an handful, Raisons one ounce; boyl them in a pound of Ale to the con∣sumption of one half. To three ounces of Colature, ad half an ounce of Syr. Acetos. simpl. Mingle them & drink them luke-warm.

Or

Take the Infusion of Crocus-metallorum in Spanish Wine, made in a cold place and well purified, by subsi∣dence one dram, a dram and an half, or two drams (ac∣cording to the age and strength of the sick) half a dram of Syr. Acetos. simp. Posset-drink an ounce and an half. Cinamon Water ten drops: or instead therof if there be any fear of Convulsions, one scruple of Aq. Antepilept. Lang. Mingle them and drink it warm.

Take the Juyce of the Leaves of Asarabacca half a dram, two scruples or a dram. Syrup. Acetos. simp. two drams. Mingle them with a sufficient quantity of Pos∣set-drink.

Take Salt of Vitriol from five to ten grains, Give it in Posset drink.

Lenitive Catharticks.

These Evacuant Medicines produce their Effects without tumult, and therfore they requir not so great circumspection as Vomiting Compositions, or such as are electively Purgant. Yet three things must be con∣sidered in the Use of them. 1. That they do not nau∣siat the Ventricle with such an ingrateful tast and favor as may render an abhorrence from all future Medica∣ments. 2. That they oppress not the Stomach by an immoderat quantity. 3. That the potion drunk be not presently vomited up. To prevent this last danger it will be a good way presently to bedew and moisten the

Mouth with some pleasant and agreable Liquor, or with candid Cherries, or preserv'd Barberries 3 or to temper the juyce of Orenges, or the like.

These Lenitives may be divided into Simple & Com∣pound: and these again into such as are sold in the Shops, and such as are newly made and accomodated to the pre∣sent scope of the Physitian.

There are found very few Simples that of themselvs wil satisfie this scope; as Manna, Cassia fistula, Aloe soc∣catrina, Tamarinds, Polypodium of the Oak. But very in∣effectually, unless they be compounded with other Pur∣gative Ingredients (more follow) as Jujubes, Sebestens, sweet Prunes and Damascens, Figs, Dates, the Pap or Pulp of rosted Apples, the Flowers of Mallows, Violets, Pellatory of the wall, Mercury, the Roots of Marshmal∣lous, Liquoris, the four greater cold Seeds, the Seeds of Mallows, sweet Almonds, rare Egs, Fatty substances, Butter, Oyl of Olives, Oyl of Almonds, Whey, and the like. These although of themselves they are of smal ef∣ficacy, yet by the commixture of other Catharticks they require a gentle purgative quality, not to be contem∣ned.

The Lenitive compound Catharticks which are sold in Shops, are these: Cassia extracted with, or without Senna, Diacassia, Electuarium Lenitivum, Diaprunum lenitivum, Electuarium passulatum, A common Deco∣ction for a Medicine, A Decoction of Flowers & Fruits, Syrup and Honey of Violets, Syrup of Roses solutive, Ho∣ney of Mercury, Honey of Raisons, Conserve of damask Roses, Of the Flowers of Mallows, of Violets. To these may be subjoyned som extempory forms. As

Take of the best Calabrian Manna six drams, Cremor of Tartar seven grains, Posset-Ale in which a few Ani∣seeds have been boyled an ounce and an half. Mingle and give them in the morning.

Take of Polypodium of the Oak two ounces, White Tar∣tar prepared two drams, sweet Apples twelve handfuls, Raisons of the Sun stoned one ounce: Boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Water to a pound. In the Decocti∣on infuse all night long Choice Senna an ounce and an half, Rhubarb two drams, Pulp of Cassia new drawn half an ounce, Tamarinds an ounce, Liquoris, the Seeds of Annis and Coriander of each a dram and an half: The next morning strain it through a linnen Cloth, and to eight ounces of the Decoction ad White Sugar six ounces; Boyl it a little; and when you have don so, ad to it Manna dissolved in Syrup of Roses, of each two ounces; Syrup of Violets one ounce: Make of them a Lenitive Syrup. Let the diseased Child take an ounce either in Succory Water, or Water of Pellitory of the wall, with a dram of the Juyce of Lemmons.

Take of Lenitive Electuary one dram and an half, or two drams; Syrup of Roses solutive two drams and an half; Cremor of Tartar ten grains; Posset-ale a suffi∣cient quantity▪ Mingle and administer them early in the morning.

Take of Aloes washt, or Aromatical Pils seven grains; Make two Pills with Syrup af Roses solutive, put them into two Candid Cherries the skius being pulled off, and let them be swallowed whol lest the tast be offensive, a∣bout sleeping time in the evening. In the morning give to drink after them, one ounce of Syrup of Roses solu∣tive in Posset Ale. Or

Take of Syrup of Roses solutive six drams; Violets half an ounce; Juyce of Lemons one dram; Electua∣rium Passulatum one dram: Mingle them with Suc∣cory or Pellitory Water, and give them in the morning fasting. Thus much of those Medicines as clear the first passages.