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M••lancholia, It is a kind of doting accompanied with fear and sadn••sse. Great variety of doting ariseth from the various dispo∣sition of the humour, whereby some thinks themselves Kings and great men, others that they are beasts, and that they are glasse and feare to be touched lest that they should be broken, others that they have Frogs or Mice and other creatures in their bellyes.
The Cause of this disease is a dark spirit or vapour very bla••••, for when the Animal spirits ought in their own nature t•• b•• p••re, and thin, and transparent, for the chearfull performing of the actions of the brain and to cause cheerfulness, if that they change their constitution & become dark they produce sorrow and fear. The Cause of this evill qu••lity of the Spirits is a M••l••ncholly hu∣mour, which being thick, da k, and black, doth inf••ct the Spiri••s, and make them cloudy, and dark, and this humour is cold and dry a••d fit for fixing and condensing the spirits, which fixing a••d co••densing, and thickning of the spirits, causeth sorrow and heavinesse.
The ••ignes are propounded, namely sorrow and feare without a cause, for the Cure, let the distemper take its original from what part soever, two things are to be observed, that the wh••le body be freed from the humor by generall evacuation, as also from the fi••th of other humors, for it seldome happens that one pa••ty is alone affected. Secondly, That your chiefe remedie•• b•• directed to the Hypochond••a, because in the Spleen and Liver, is the first generation of Melancholly, and the gathering of it is in the parts adj••cent.
First, Give a Glystér, then this following potion, take of Se∣••a ℥ss. Anniseeds, and Cream of Tartar ana ʒ 1. Bou••age flowers, ••amiterie and Sorrell, ana M. ss. Liquorice ʒ 3. boyl them to 3. dissolve in the straining, of Rhubarb infused in Lavender-water ••ss. double Catholicon ʒ 3. compound Syrup of Succory •• 1. ••ake a potion to which you must adde if the disease be strong •• 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Confectio Alkermes; The day following let blood in the left ••rme, chiefly or as the Liver & Spleen are most affected, after the ••ody is well purged give asses milk with Sugar of Roses, and a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Species arromaticum rosatum mixed with it. It is necessary ••••t r that you have received your Cure, that for the prevention 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a relapse, or falling into any other dist••mper, that you purge ••••ce a week, for a month, in s••ring and fall with these following ••••s, for they open b•• degrees incomparab••y all manner of ob∣••••uctions, and purge Mellancholly, and gently allayeth it. Take ••••der of Senna and Creame of Tartar, an•• ʒ 1 powder of Ci∣••mon ss. with Syrup of Lemons m••ke a mass of which take •• ss ••e ••oure before Supper, for salt of Tartar hath a great vertue ••••llay black Melancholly humors, for it d••aweth to it self by a ••taine property it hath sower thing.
〈…〉〈…〉.
Cure.