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. XXXIV. Remedies that correct the Symptoms. (Book 34)

SOme Symptoms supervening upon this Affect, do somtimes anticipate the legitamat Method of Cure, and require a particular manner of pro∣ceeding. Of this sort are the flux of the Bel∣ly, the Lask, wherwith somwhat of a Lientery is fre∣quently joyned; profuse Sweats, laborious and painful breeding Teeth, and the Toothach.

The flux of the Belly doth very much follow this Af∣fect; which if it persevere for any long time, it is ei∣ther very violent, and easily watereth the Spirits, con∣sumeth the solid parts, manifestly puts on the nature of a caus, and as a caus indicates its own correction. A Bloody-flux rarely hapneth with this Diseas. But a Lask with exulcerations in the Guts, or complicated with a Lientery is very useful. For in respect of the de∣bility to the parts subservient to digestion, a Lask, or a Lyentery may easily supervene, but not a Bloudy-flux. Yet there is a frequent concurrence of other causes; as of the indigested nourishment vicious either in quanti∣ty or quality; som feaver, watchings, worms, painful breeding Teeth, &c. al which things do likewise easily occasion a Lask, or Lyentery rather than a Bloudy-flux. As for the Cure, it is partly perfected by Purgations, partly by astringent Remedies; partly by such as open, and partly by such as strengthen the parts.

These Purgers are most proper which leave behind an evident binding after evacuation; as Rhubarb, Sen∣na, Tamarinds, Myrobalans, &c. out of which for the most part we frame a Bolus or Potions, becaus they are most easily swallowed under those forms. As,

Take Conserv of Red Roses half an ounce; Rhubarb in Pouder twelve grains; with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Coral make a Bolus to be given in the mor∣ning.

Take of the Pulp of Tamarinds one dram; Rhubarb in Pouder seven grains; Sugar of Roses half a dram, with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Quinces, make your Bolus. Instead of this Syrup you may use syrup of Coral, or syrup of Mint, or syrup of Myrtles, or syrup of Pomgranats.

Take Senna half a dram; Rhubarb one scruple; Ta∣marinds a dram and an half; Anniseeds bruised ten grains: Infuse them in a sufficient quantity of fountain water: boyl them very gently: and to an ounce and an half of the Decoction, ad syrup of dried Roses half an ounce: mingle them together for a Potion.

Take Plantan or Succory water, or Saxifrage water, one ounce; Rhubarb in pouder ten grains; syrup. Au∣gustan. syrup of dried Roses of each two drams: Min∣gle them and make your Potion.

It must be observed, That a more full evacuation is somtimes requisit, namly, when the flux hath not been immoderat, or of long continuance, and in the mean time the matter offending hath bin copiously collected in the Body. In which case, in lieu of the Syrup of dried Roses, you may take som drams of syrup of Roses solutive, syr. Augustan. or of Succory with Rhubarb or Manna: But commonly the safest way is, to augment the dose of Rhubarb, or els of Senna, not omitting the syrup of dried Roses.

In the evening after the Purgation, you may admini∣ster ten grains of Diascordium boyled in Wine, with Cloves, and a little Cinnamon, and mixed with a third part of Erratick Poppy water, and some cordial Syrups, as Syrup of Clove-Gilliflowers to strengthen the Spi∣rits and to stay the Flux; or if the Flux be stubborn, you may mingle two drams of Diacodium for a dose in∣stead of the Syrup aforesaid. Or

Take of Posset-drink made with white-Wine, the Curd being taken off (aromatize it with a little Saffron tied up in a rag, crushing it gently between your Fin∣gers) Confectio Alkermes one scruple; Pomgranat Pils in pouder seven grains; Diacodium two drams: mix them together to be taken when the Child is minded to sleep. Or

Take Laudanum according to the London Dispensato∣ry, half a grain; Magister▪ of Coral twelve grains; Con∣serve of Clove-Gilliflowers, or Red Roses, one scruple, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Quinces, make a Bolus to be taken at bed-time.

If there be obstructions, you may prescribe Crocus M••rtis, or Salt of Steel, to be taken in the morning. As,

Take Conserve of Roses one ounce: the Roots of Succory preserved, Myrobalans preserved in India, of each half an ounce: Salt of Steel half a scruple, or Crocus Martis one scruple: Cinnamon, Liquoris, red Coral, of each eighteen grains: Saffron a grain and a half: Syrup of Succory without Rhubarb a sufficient quantity: make your Electuary according to art, wher∣of let the Child take half a dram each morning. Red hot Iron may be quenched to the same purpose in its ordi∣nary drink.

If the Child be troubled with a violent flux, you may give it som binding Conserves, imagin Conserve of Sloes, and mix it with such things as the Child delights to eat, but in so doing be sure you pleas its Palat.

Somtimes a profuse and excessive sweating find a pe∣culiar business for the Physitian in this affect: for it very much wasts the Spirits and retards the cure of the diseas.

Yet caution must be used not to restrain it rashly, if perhaps there be a Feaver, or if any feaverish fit, or im∣moderat heat hath gon before: For in these cases it may be upon a critical time, or at least it may bring more advantage to the Body by the mitigation of the Feaver, than damage by the loss of the Spirits. For we know not whether any thing doth more potently or in∣deed more sweetly expel the feaverish heat thā sweating.

In the interim when it floweth inordinately and caus∣lesly, it argueth that the Body is oppressed with obstru∣ctions, with crude juyces and unprofitable superfluities, which whilst Nature striveth to master, and to subdu, by that very labor, (the openness of the pores withal con∣curring) it is evaporated by sweat, and indeed an unpro∣fitable one, very laborious and such as wasteth the Spi∣rits, which therfore as soon as possible must be corrected This Hippocrates meant, where he adviseth, That that sweat which floweth away without cause, requireth pur∣gation. For what can more commodiously diminish and dissipate these superfluities? Again, this motion is con∣trary to sweating, wherfore it meriteth the preheminence among the remedies opposed to this Sympton, and se∣ing that it clears the way for Medicines aperient, and such as strengthen the skin, and move forward conco∣ction, (which perfect the last part of the cure) it ought in al right to be premised before them.

Purgative Medicines hitherto belonging, are those that are observed to be friendly, and agreable to Nature, and withal such as open obstructions, and strengthen the Bowels: al which things whither any Simple can perform so wel as Rubarb, we very much doubt. Yet al those Simpl and Compound Medicaments proposed a∣bove in the Chapter of Remedies Electively evacuant, may, according to the Condition of the Patient, and the Prudence of the Physitian, be transplanted hither. Som very much commend Beer in this case medicated with Rubarb.

Take Rubarb cut into any smal peeces, two Drams; Raisins stoned and slit, one ounce; smal Bear, two pound; put them into a Glass or stone flagon stopt with the best Cork; set it in a very cold place, and stir it very often, but before you use it let it settle again, a whol day, then draw out the liquor for your ordinary drink. When the flagon is empty fil it again with beer but put not in a new quantity of Rhubarb.

Moreover, The most noble Aperients which both help concoction, and repress unprofitable sweating, are French Wine, and Rhennish Wine. But if there be any fear of their heat in this tender age, they may be tempe∣red with rosted Apples, Borage, or red Rose-water, ad∣ding a little Sugar and grated Nutmeg, let them be also taken in a lesser quantity and only at meals.

They are likewise the most effectual Aperients, which do not only help concoction, but also strengthen the Tone of al the parts, especially of the Bowels. Among which we chiefly commend things made with steel, as wine made with steel, and the Electuary before named, and the like. Now although steel doth indeed effectual∣ly perform those things which we have said; yet because it doth not in all respects answer to som other scopes of

great moment in this affect, but doth more hurt some∣times in one particular, than it doth good in another; we thought it expedient to subjoyn these following Cautions concerning the use therof.

First, Seing that Steel is an enemy to the Lungs, and doth easily stir a cruel flux of flegmatick matter in ten∣der Bodies, therfore you must totally abstain from the use therof, where there is any Cathar, Cough, obstru∣ction of the Lungs, and much more, if there be any Inflamation, Pleurisie, Blood-spitting, or a proness of disposition to any of these affects.

Secondly, Becaus Steel contributes little or nothing to the operation of the Blood: but on the contrary (however it may attenuat the tough and flegmatick part thereof) doth rather expedit the separation therof from the other mass of Blood by reason of the tart quality that is predominent in it, it cannot be admitted but with circumspection, especially that inequality of the Blood being so importunat and urgent.

Thirdly, Seing that the attenuating, cutting and o∣pening faculty in Steel is conjoyned with an apparent and extream driness and binding, and therfore perhaps doth more compact those humors, than dissolve and scatter them; the use therof ought to be refrained, at least suspected in any considerable Alogotrophy of the parts. For the fear is lest it should bind too close and consolidate the short parts of the Bones & those that are too scantily nourished; wherby afterwards they may becom less prompt and apt to grow in length: but the parts sticking out (as also the convex sides of the Bones) which are liberally nourished it cannot dissolve, and then there may be a jealousie that it will too much con∣firm them and make them stubborn; namly by an ex∣tream thickning and hardning of them.

Fourthly, In all acute Feavers the use of Steel is hurtful, because it over-dryeth and bindeth the Parts, yea, for that very regard that it restraineth Sweating, and makes the humors more fierce and sharp.

These Cautions being rightly observed, we admit the use of Steel in this Affect, but becaus Mountebanks and Quacks cannot distinguish between the use and the abuse, we would not perswade any to make tryal of this noble Medicine without the advise and counsel of some prudent and knowing Physitian, becaus if it be not cir∣cumspectly administred, the danger is very great. Some other Aperients of less note may serve this scope; as the Roots of Succhory or Borrage, or Conserve of their Flowers; the Roots of Grass, Sparagus, Fernbrake, Madder; the Leaves of Ceterach, Spleenwort, Mai∣denhair, &c. Among the Compounds Species, Diatr. santal. Diarrhod. abbat. &c. Or

Take of the best Sugar three ounces, dissolve it in Rose Water and boyl it a little beyond the consistence of a Syrup, then ad Conserv of Barberies one ounce; Di∣atri. Santal. and Diarrhod. Abbat. of each one dram; pouder of Saffron, one grain; mingle them and make your Electuary.

The painful breeding and the aching of the Teeth are the familiar Symptoms of the Rachites; and be∣caus they breed Feavers, unquietness, watchings, and other evils, they also deserve a peculiar mitigation; if the Tooth therfore as it is working through the Gum puts the Child to very much pain, you must without de∣lay (unless it were done before) appoint some univer∣sal evacuation: as a Vomit, which is thought to be a potent remedy against the Toothach. Now that may be moved by the only tickling of the Throat, putting

in a Feather, or the Nurses Finger into the Childs mouth; or else with rubbing the Tooth that is breaking forth with a Tobacco Leaf wrapped about the Nurses Finger, and a little moistned with Beer; or lastly, by giving some vomiting draught above descri∣bed. But this remedy is forbidden reiteration in re∣gard that it too much may weaken the Stomach. The day following (the pain persisting or returning) some Cathartick Potion or Bolus among those above reher∣sed, or like unto those must be administred. After this universal Evacuation you must descend to Topical Re∣midies. Nurses are wont to rub the Gums with Corral polished for that purpose. But the Physitians do rather commend the Root of Marsh Mallows, which do mol∣lifie and loosen the Gums that they may obtain the more easie passage. Others report it for a great secret to rub the aching Tooth with the Root of the sharpest Sorrel. Others very much commend the rubbing of that Gum where the Tooth is coming out with a Cocks Comb newley cut off, or with the hot Blood distilling from that Wound. We have had no experience of those things which they use to instill into the Ears; in like manner, neither the Plaisters of Mastich, Olibanum, or red Lead, which in those of full growth are observed to stop the Rhewm. Others apply small Epispastick Plai∣sters behind the Ears, which perhaps compel back the matter that breeds the pain in the Teeth. But neither do we interpose our judgment concerning these things. Only when Universals are unavailable, we have recours to Hypnotical Remedies, which indeed by outward ap∣plication profit little, but being taken inwards they are very helpful, especially being rightly prepared and duly corrected. Therfore when want of rest and watchings beget molestation, thus we proceed.

Take Diascordium seven grains; Syr. de Meconio, one dram and an half, or two drams; Posset Drink made of Milk and white Wine, with a little Saffron, one ounce, or ten drams; mingle them and give it at Bed∣time the next night following after the Purgation.

Take Ladanum, according to the London Dispensa∣tory, half a grain; the Cordial Pouder of the Claws of Crabs ten grains; Conserve of Clove-gilliflowers one scruple; with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Balm make a Bolus to be swallowed in the evening at sleeping time. Thus much of such things as correct the Symptoms.