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. XXXIII. Specifical alterant Medicines. (Book 33)

THe causes of the Diseas being now prepared and in part evacuated, or at least so subdued, that for the present they cannot retard the cure, you must proceed to these Medicines specifically alterant, w^ch as it were fly at the very throat of the Diseas, and in regard wherof the premised Medi∣cines both preparatory and evacuant took place.

Now these specificals may be defined to be, Remedies diametrically contrary to the Nature of the Diseas, and such as directly impugn it.

These are either Simple or Compound, the Simple which hitherto we have had knowledg of, are these that

follow: the root of Osmund the Royal, or rather the spike of the root, the middle being thrown away, the root of the male Fernbrake, or rather, the little buds before their peeping forth out of the earth; the roots of Grass, Succhory, Asparagus, Madder, Eringo, all the Maiden hairs, Ceterach, Harts tongue, Liverwort, Be∣tony, the flowers and leavs of dead Nettles, Borage, sage Rosemary, Tamarisk, Southernwood, Pontik Wormwood, The greater Sulendine, Saffron, Turmerick, the roots of Sarsaperilla, Salsaphras, China, the three sorts of San∣ders, the wood of Guiacum, and its Bark, flowr of brim∣stone, steel prepared, Crocus Martis, salt of steel, wine steelified, syrup of steel, white and Rhennish wine Sper∣ma Ceti, Musk, Ambergreece, Castoreum, Earthworms, the Livers of Frogs and yong Ravens, Woodlice, washt in white Wine, bak'd inan Oven, and beaten to powder, and such like things.

But if any demand, After what manner, or by what action these Medicaments do especially over-rule the Es∣sence of this affect?

We answer, That perhaps it is not necessary, that we presently fly to occult qualities, which for the most part is but the Sanctuary and refuge of ignorance: but that the primary and secondary parts of the Essence of this Diseas above described ought to be reduced to Memo∣ry: for by making a comparison between those parts, and these Medicaments, we shal plainly discern an ob∣scure contrariety and repugnance between them. For this Diseas consisteth in a cold and moist distemper inhe∣rent in the Spirits together with want and astonishment of the Spirit and weakness of the parts afflicted: on the contrary these remedies heat and dry, cherish the Na∣tural Spirits, dissipate that numbness which is in them and strengthen the parts.

Moreover, In regard that these remedies with their heat and driness obtain withal a manifest friability and thinness of parts, it comes to pass, that they cut through all viscous matter, they attenuate all gross and thick hu∣mors, and procure a certain equality of all the juyces that have their circulation in the Sanguinary Mass, and an even distribution (consideration being had of the distance from the fountain of heat) both of heat and Blood. Herupon the external parts which before were lean enjoy a more liberal heat and nourishment, and the Parenchimata of the Bowels which were irregularly encreased, are delivered from thick and viscous alimen∣tary juyces, and therupon are somwhat lesned: by this means that Alogotrophy or irrational Nourishment of the parts, from whence so great a series of organical faults resulteth, is corrected. Finally, These remedies do also strengthen and cherish the sinewy parts, and likewise the extream weakness of the Bone of the Back.

You will say, That all the Simples above recited by us, do not fully perform all these things. For the seve∣ral kinds of Sanders, though they may by their driness, friability and thinness of parts strongly impugn this Diseas, yet by their coldness they seem rather to come neer to the parts of the Diseas; we say therfore that Simples of this Nature ought not to be given alone, but being commixt with some other, which may prevalent∣ly correct the noxious quality; in like manner some Simples extreamly hot, as Saffron, Castoreum, Flowr of Brimstone, &c. are very repugnant to this Diseas, yet you must refrain the administration of them unless they be duly attempered. Moreover Sarsaparilla, Sassa∣phras, Osmund the royal, the kinds of Fernbrake, all the Maiden-hairs, Hartstongue, Ceterach, and the like,

their heat and driness being conjoyned with a notable friability and thinness of the parts they contribute very much to the equal distribution of the Blood, as also to subdue many other parts of the Diseas. But they scarce lend a sufficient strength to the sinewy and fibrous parts; wherfore they seem to crave an admixture of Ce∣phalical Remedies. Again, Lignum Vitae, by its heat, driness and friability, and by its Balsamical and Rosinish substance, doth very much strengthen the Tone of the parts, and is contrariant to some other parts of the Dis∣eas; yet becaus it helps very little the contemperation of the Juyces contained in the Sanguinary Mass, but on the contrary is rather an hindrance therunto, it ought not without great caution to be prescribed, and that in a small quantity and well corrected. Lastly, A∣mong the Simples here recited, some are received to strengthen all the Spirits rather than to subdue the Es∣sence of the Diseas, as Sage, Musk, Ambergrees, and the like▪ which come not into use but when they are mingled with other effectual and more apropriate in∣gredients.

If any shall further demand, Which among all these propounded Simples are to be valued as the most noble and effectual; we comprehend our Answer in these Rules.

First, They are the most noble Medicines, which joyntly make the strongest opposition against most parts of the Essence of the Diseas.

Secondly, Those Caeteris paribus, are to be esteemed the more noble, w^ch directly affront the Essence of the Dis∣eas, especially if at the same time they advance the equal distribution of the Blood and Vital Spirit, wherby so many organical faults are corrected.

Thirdly, Such things as oppose the Diseas most e∣minently by an essential contrariety, provided they be

not as well too strong for Nature as the Diseas.

Fourthly, Those which are both repugnant to the Diseas, and yet withal, grateful to Nature, in no wise offering any violence to her.

Fifthly, Those w^ch are most grateful & pleasing to the sick Child, & such as administred trouble not its Pallate.

These things being premised we shall now subjoyn some examples of compound Medicines.

Decoctions, and Physical Drinks.

Take the Spikes of the Roots of Osmund the royal, six in number; Pauls Betony, Hartstongue, Ceterach, Liverwort, Maidenhair, of each one handful; Sage, and Rosemary Flowers, of each half a handful: smal Raisons three ounces; Spanish Liquoris half an ounce; Mace two scruples; Boyl them in six pound of Foun∣tain Water; take three pound of the Decoction and ad unto it three ounces of the Syrup of Maidenhair, mingle them and make your Apozem. Let the Child take a draught of it every morning, another at four a clock in the afternoon, and a third in the night if he then call for Drink; yea if it pleas him, let him take it for his ordinary Drink. This is most proper for those who are sadly afflicted with the Rachites, complicated with a cough and an obstruction of the Lungues.

Take the Leaves of Royal Osmond, Hartstongue, Li∣verwort, Ceterach, the Flowers of Tamerisk, the Roots of the Male Fernbrake, of each a handful; Rai∣sons two ounces; white and red Sanders, Sassafras Wood, of each two drachms; Coriander Seeds one drachm; Mace one scruple; Sage Leaves, half a hand∣ful; boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain Wa∣ter according to art, to three pound; Let the Decoction be sweetned with Sugar or Honey, for ordinary Drink. This is best for such whose Liver is most afflicted.

Take Sasaperilla cut and beaten, three ounces; the Roots of China cut into little pieces, two ounces: In∣fuse and boyl them according to art, in seven pound of fountain water, to four and a half: then ad two drams of Sassafras roots, the roots of Osmond royal, the leaves of Hartstongue, Ceterach, Maidenhair, Archangel, of each half an handful; Spanish Liquoris two drams; Mace a dram: boyl them to three pound. To the De∣coction ad Honey or Sugar three ounces. Mingle them for ordinary drink. This is most conducible where there is suspition of the French Pox, as also in Struma∣tical Affects.

Take the Flowers of Tamaris one handful; the male Pauls Betony half an handful: bruis them gently, and infuse them in two pound of common Beer cold, in a stone or glass Flaggon, well stopt with Cork for the or∣dinary drink.

Take Sarsaperilla eight ounces; China two ounces▪ Sassafras half an ounce; Ivory an ounce; Osmond royal, Palus Betony, Hartstongue, Ceterach, Maidenhair, Liverwort, tops of dead Nettles, of each two handfuls: cut them and bruis according to art, and boyl them in four gallons of new Ale till one be consumed; then when you have taken it from the fire, ad another gallon of the same Ale to it, and when you have added it, stir it up and down with a stick, and when you have done so, strain it, and when you have strained it, put the In∣gredients in a Boulting-bag, and put a piece of Iron in∣to them, and ad a bit of Leaven to it, and hang it into the Ale with a string, and let the Child drink it for its ordinary Drink; so soon as it hath drunk half of it, draw out the rest, and stop it close in stone Bottles for the Childs use.

Take Wine of S••••ll half an ounce; Syrup of Succory

with Rhubarb two drams: let the sick drink of it every morning for five or seven daies or longer, unless some loosness of the Bowels or debility of the Stomach do advise a prohibition: in which case, instead of Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, take Syrup of dried Roses.

Broaths and Panadaes.

Take Hartstongue and Cetrach, Liverwort, Maiden∣hair, Sage, of each half an handful; the Bark of Ta∣maris, red Sanders, of each two drams: Put them in∣to the Belly of a Cock-Chicken or Hen, or an old Cock. Sew up the Belly, and boyl it with two ounces of Malaga Raisins in a sufficient quantity of Fountain water, adding also a sufficient quantity of pure Oatmeal flower: Make your Broath, and let it be soundly boy∣led.

Take the roots of China cut into smal bits, two oun∣ces; white and medulous Sarsaperilla sliced and well beaten, three ounces▪ Infuse them for a night in ten pound of fountain water: In the morning after a gen∣tle bubling, strain it, and to the Decoction ad Harts∣tongue and Pauls Betony, of each an handful; Mace half a dram; Currance an ounce; and with Mutton, Veal, or a Capon, adding Oatmeal: make your Broath according to art.

But if thinner Broths be more desired, you may boyl a crust of Bread instead of the Oatmeal; and if you would have it thicker, you may mingle with it the yolks of Egs and grated Bread: Moreover, to help a weak concoction, you may somtimes ad a few spoonfuls of Wine.

Panadaes also may be made of the same Broth strai∣ned, and boyled again with grated Bread, adding at

length a little Butter and Sugar. The same likewise may be made of the Decoctions even now prescribed, unless peradventure they contain some bitter and un∣pleasing mixture. Morrover, the Panadaes and ordi∣nary Broths may be altered with these ensuing Pouders, and by consequence apropriated to the cure of this Af∣fect; if the Child desire Milk most, let them be made in Milk; if the Child desire it thick, you may make it thick either with Flower, or Oatmeal; and if you mix a little Saffron with it, it will be the better. But if any thing in the Pouders do nausiate and offend the tast, let them be omitted, and substitute som other things that may be more acceptable to the Palat.

Pouders and Electuaries.

Take the Roots, but rather the Buds of the male Fern∣brake scarce sprong out of the Earth, and dried in a sha∣dy place; the spike of Royal Osmond, of each two drams; Mace, Anniseeds, of each half a scruple; Saffron half a grain: make a Pouder. The dose from half a scruple to a scruple, in Milk, or Posset drink, some Decoction, Broth or Panadaes.

Take the medulous part of the Root of Sarsaperilla two drams; the Roots of China one dram; the Root of Sassafras one scruple; the seeds of Caraway and Cori∣ander of each half a scruple; the Roots of the male Fern∣brake, Osmond royal, of each two scruples: Mingle them and make a Pouder to be used as the former.

Take Wood-lice, or as some Countries cal them, Sows washed, first in water, and then in White-Wine, after∣wards calcined in a Crucible; Bread dried as much as you pleas: make them into a Pouder. The dose is from half a scruple to a scruple, either in Broth, or any thing

els: In the same manner you may if you pleas prepare the Livers either of Frogs or yong Ravens: We gave you the manner before.

Take of Flower of Brimstone two drams; Diarrho∣don Abbatis, Diatrion santalon, of each half a scruple; Saffron half a grain; refined Sugar three ounces: All of them being made into very fine Pouder, make them into a Past with a sufficient quantity of Rose water: Dry them, and when you pleas you may beat them into Pouder, and give a dram of them at a time.

Take Conserv of Red Roses one ounce and an half; Conserv of the flowers of Borage, Archangel, Sage, Rose∣mary, of each half an ounce; Steel prepared one dram; Cinnamon, Spanish Liquoris, of each half a dram: Saffron half a scruple; Red Sanders a scruple: beat such things (as are reducible) to pouder; make an E∣lectuary according to art, with syrup of Succory with Rhubarb a sufficient quantity. Let the Sick take half a dram, two scruples or a dram every morning, either by it self, or in a spoonful of Posset-Ale, or som appropri∣ated Syrup, or else in Wine.

Take Conserv of Archangel flowers one ounce; the flowers of Sage, Clove-Gilliflowers, Rosemary-flowers, Myrobalans candied in India, Citron Pills candied, of each half an ounce; red Sanders, Cinnamon, Spanish Liquoris, of each half a dram; Salt of Steel, or els Saf∣fron, half a scruple; with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Wormwood, make your Electuary. The dose and manner of using it is the same with the former.