Praxis catholica, or, The countryman's universal remedy wherein is plainly and briefly laid down the nature, matter, manner, place and cure of most diseases, incident to the body of man, not hitherto discovered, whereby any one of an ordinary capacity may apprehend the true cause of his distempers, wherein his cure consists, and the means to effect it : together with rules how to order children in that most violent disease of vomiting and looseness, &c. : useful likewise for seamen and travellers : also an account of an imcomparable powder for wounds or hurts which cure any ordinary ones at once dressing / written by Robert Couch ... ; now published with divers useful additions (for publick benefit) by Chr. Pack ...

Cold.

COld is the Diseases Colours, or Ban∣ner, under which it fights, but it is not either the Disease, nor Cause, but a product and effect of the Disease,* 1.1 putrefaction brings in coldness, the Ferment of Putrefaction is sharp and cold: as we have an ocular Demonstration in Gan∣grenes and Mortifications, whilst it is but in fieri a Gangrene, what a hard task it is to revive it by the hottest and most penetrating Medicines we can get; nay,

and fain to scarrifie deeply too, lest it should hinder their operation; or if it fouls a bone, no less than a Medicine that is hot in the highest degree can effect it, and when a Sphacelus, or Mortification is confirmed, without natures Second comes in speedily to her rescue,* 1.2 and dismember it, it would soon run her to the heart; and did not pu∣trefaction work by a cold, a Body would be hotter after it was dead, than it was be∣fore; but we see the contrary, when pu∣trefaction grows stronger, the Body grows colder: I could evidence by many demonstrations more, that the Heat is not of the essence, neither the cause, nor oc∣casion of a Fever, and likewise, that Cold is meerly the effect of the Disease: but I think this sufficient.

Thirst.

This great Thirst in Fevers doth not proceed from Heat and driness, as in a true and natural Thirst; for this will not be allayed by drinking, as that will; but this Thirst is deceitful, and is produced by some excrementitious matter, which

adheres to that sensitive faculty, and de∣ludes the Organ,* 1.3 as if a great dryness had suddenly come unto it, as I have ob∣served in a very malignant Fever, which the Army in Flanders was infected with, being always cold, and very thirsty; as likewise in the cold Fit of an Ague, &c. and so this is evident, that heat in Fevers is not the cause of that inordinate Thirst; besides I have extinguished this Thirst by those things which have been virtually hot;* 1.4 which, if heat had been the cause, would rather have exaspe∣rated.

Thus you have the matter, manner, and Concomitants of this Disease.

The Schools have observed some Heads, from whence they have derived many Spe∣cies of Fevers, (which I shall not insist on, because they depend upon one and the same way and means of Cure) without mention of an Hectick, or intermitting Fever, which differ only in the place they reside, which I shall speak to in their pro∣per places.

It is my chief design to do good unto my

Countrymen, who (I know) would ra∣ther have something to ease them, and be rid of their Diseases, than to hear curious and learned Discourses, or quaint Di∣stinctions; and in pleasing them, I care not whom I displease.

As I have put the knowledge of the cause into your Heads, so I shall put a re∣medy into your Hands.

Cure.

You may clearly see what first is to be done, and wherein the Cure doth consist, which is, in removing the cause or mat∣ter offending; the neglect whereof hath suffered such an infinite Slaughter, which gives me reason to think, that either the cause is not known, or a fit Remedy not yet found; for unless there be a propor∣tion between the Remedy and the Disease, It will do but little good.

Diseases which come suddenly, if they are rightly understood, they are soon gone,* 1.5 though they may be extreme sharp whilst they continue.

I know it is the practice here to look more unto the Effect than the Cause, in

correcting the Symptoms than the matter whereof they are produ∣ced;* 1.6 which is a very per∣nicious course, and con∣trary unto reason, and all principles in Healing.

And that you may the bet∣ter understand your error, I shall recite your practice.

When first any one is taken with this, or the like Distemper, either Child, or those of full Growth, first you run and fetch Mint Water, and a little Syrup to stay the Vomiting.

Secondly, then Cinnamon Water and Syrup of Quinces, or Myrtle Berries to stay the scouring.

Then, it may be, you give a Carmi••∣tive, or Clyster to expel Wind, and cor∣rect the Griping.

That done, you give some cooling Ju∣lep to allay its Heat, and to quench in Thirst.

And when it is cold, you give a little Mithridate, or Theriack of Andronica, o•• London Treacle, and lay a Plaister of it to his Stomach.

And then lay a Spell against the Fever to the Wrists, &c.

And so you keep doing, till you can do no more; just as a man who hath lost himself in a Wood, he keeps going, but whither he knows not.

You see all those things do but respect the effect, here is nothing hath any regard at all unto the Cause.

And should things answer the intention for which they were given the party, ei∣ther Child or Man would presently die.

To hinder the evacuating of this mor∣bifick matter, is directly a∣gainst the intention of na∣ture;* 1.7 for the evacuation of this matter is to be looked at as the Crisis of Nature, and whosoever shall reco∣ver, all this matter is to be brought out, and whoever goes about to stop it in the beginning, works against nature. What a vain thing therefore is it to think to take away the Gripings, before the matter be gone that causes it; and to corroborate the stomach, or to refresh its Spirits, so long as the Enemy beareth sway.

To give the Child Mithridate, or lay a plaister of it to the stomach, which is worse, becomes another Disease; or any thing else that is nauseous, whilst Nature &

the Disease are struggling: and to give cooling things to correct the hear, is to weaken nature and strengthen the Di∣sease.

Obj. But you will tell me many have re∣covered by the use of those means.

Answ. And many more had been, had they never been used (with submission to providence) but (quoad homines) af∣ter the manner of men, I admire that any should recover that ever was affected with this Disease, for they are ever giving, and all to hurt it; seeing the best Friends be∣come the worst Enemies, which makes good that old Saying,

When God cuts off man's thread of life, His dearest Friends do bring the knife.

But many things are wrought by acci∣dent, as we have known many have been recovered from a Fever by drinking cold water.

Obj. From whence some have asserted, that this Heat is of the Essence of the Di∣sease.

Answ. But this Cure is not wrought by the Water, as it is cold and moist, for Sack or strong Beer would have performed

it, and a great deal better; but it is from the great quantity of it, which doth so replete the stomach, that some of the peccant mat∣ter which doth adhere unto the Fibres thereof, the Water hath loosened, and so its brought away with it.

I suppose whosoever hath been cured by Water, it hath been when the Disease hath been on him some considerable time, and not in the beginning. I have pre∣scribed Water several times in the end of a Fever, to this intent, and I ever found it very successful; but I suppose the par∣ties that have taken it upon their own sen∣sual inclination, it was hap-hazard with them, for to take Water in the beginning of a Fever, either kills them, or strikes them into an Ague, or some other long Sickness.

To drink it in a contagious, pestilen∣tial Fever, or any Fever that tends much to putrefaction, hastens death.

I do not speak this as not approving of the use of Water; but I declare the con∣trary, for I have found as strange events by drinking Water, as ever I saw by any Physick. I have known a man cured very soon of an Atrophia, or Consumption, only by the drinking of pure Rock Wa∣tar:

and in many other cases have I used it: but great consideration is to be had in the giving of it.

But to return, by applying a nauseous or foetid Medicine to the Stomach, whilst the morbifick matter resides there; nature thinking she is assaulted by another Di∣stemper, unites all her strength and force, and desperately attempts both her Enemies with this resolution, to extirpate them, or sink her self, whereby she may, by exaspe∣rating of her new Enemy, cast forth the old, and then this amongst the ignorant is cryed up for a laudable Medicine, when as such things are done by chance, for where one hath recovered by this means, twenty have died.

Thus you see what a blind course hath been taken for the curing this, or any o∣ther Disease. The meer pity that I bear to poor Infants, hath extorted this from me, to whom I have often been sent for, to see them die, when their spirits have been so far spent, that I have not dared to give them any thing to take off the Di∣sease, to the great grief of my spirit, for without the Disease be taken away, to small purpose do we use Cordial Means to refresh their Spirits.

DIRECTIONS.

I shall now direct you to a better way, viz.

1. When you are assured this Disease is on them (which is known first by a scou∣ring away of a slimy matter, then a dis∣colouring of the Excremenrs, as yellow, green, &c. and a griping in the Belly, be∣ing very hot and cold by Intervals: press not any manner of Meat upon them,* 1.8 as you ten∣der their lives; this very thing hath destroyed thou∣sands. For to give Meat whilst the Disease is on them, when the stomach is not fit to receive it, nor hath strength to digest it, without it be speedi∣ly vomited up again, it becomes a Recruit, or supply to the Disease.

2. Neither administer, nor apply any thing external, or internal, that is any way nauseous or ungrateful to the stomach, for nature hates and abhors such things; for though it be laid upon the stomach,

yet the taste of it is in the stomach, as though it were contained there, especially in young and tender Skins; for to have a thing that is nauseous to the stomach, and ungrateful to the smell, constantly to lie on, would be troublesome to one that is in health, much more to him that is sick. Give not the Child any Milk, and if it suck, wean it; for Milk is the first matter and foundation this Disease is raised on, and it bears still an affinity with it, and is presently converted into its poisonous na∣ture, and likewise let it forbear Water and Beer, either cold or warm: keep the sick party (either Child or otherwise) in a breathing sweat, which is done by drinking warm Posset-drink, the Milk be∣ing turn'd with White Wine, or Sack, or Beer sharpened with Vinegar; let the par∣ty drink of it as warm as he can take it: this is far better than any Cordial or Julip whatsoever in a putrid Disease, between whiles the Child may drink a good draught of Sack, raw, and without Sugar is best; and if it tends to coldness, either in Face, Nose, Hands or Feet, you may safely give it a liberal draught of Brandy, with a lit∣tle white Sugar, though the Child be not two months old, and likewise make a Toast

of old stale Bread, or a piece of Rose-Cake, and soak it in warm Brandy, where∣in a little white Sugar hath been dissolved, and put it to the Child's Stomach, and let it lie on for twenty four hours, and if the coldness is not removed, you may reiterate it. I have a specifick Water for that end, which doth much revive and cherrish na∣ture.

What though it exasperateth and ma∣keth more hot? That is well recompen∣sed; for it mightily strengthens and re∣fresheth nature.

Observe, that a hot and feverish tem∣per, is the most laudable and best temper the Child can be in, whilst the Disease remains.

When the morbifick matter is gone, you may give a little salt of Pearls; Corral, Am∣ber, or Wormwood, which are very good in a Cordial Electuary, to kill that putre∣factive Ferment in the place where the Di∣sease lay, that may lie behind lurking; which is the cause of most Relapses, and long and tedious Sicknesses and Con∣sumptions.

'Tis not enough to remove the effect, or matter produced, nor the cause produ∣cing, but the principal producer must be

rectified before health be perfectly resto∣red.

Thus I have directed you in the best course you can take; and be sure you will do nothing that will hurt, but rather to strengthen and refresh nature.

Obj. But you will ask me, what shall we do to remove the cause?

Answ. That is the principal Verb in∣deed, I know a more proper and safe Me∣dicine to effect it, than I can direct you unto, in all the Dispensitory. 'Tis true, there are a great many good Medicines, though good for little, without it be the Laudanum of Paracelsus, and some few Chymical Preparations: the rest are hard∣ly worth a man's knowledge.

That Physician that hath not found out better and more specifical means than what are there, is like to make but a sad pra∣ctice.

But I shall speak it to your comfort, God hath given me the knowledge of such a Medicine as will effect it; and not only this, but it doth also eradicate and extir∣pate the cause of most Diseases incident unto our frail Bodies, as you will hereaf∣ter perceive.

It is a Powder without either smell or

taste, and the highest dose or quantity is but five or six Grains to the most robustive or strong Body, and so downward to half a Grain, which a Child of two days old may safely take, its operations are various, according to the nature and place where the peccant matter resides. How you shall take it, and what is to be done and observed in the taking of it, I shall give directions in the latter end of this Book.

And as it is an effectual, so it is a safe Medicine; for I have given it unto three or fourscore several Children in and about the Town of Boston, and indeed I know not of any one that died, that ever took it, except one: the spirits of which were quite spent before I gave it, that it was not able to retain it in its stomach, but im∣mediately brought it up again.

There is an eminent person in this Country, whose knowledge is great in the most curious and best Arcanums, or secret Medicines that are used, he could tell you, it is as safe as good, who was an eye-wit∣ness unto a wonderful operation it had in a most contagious and malign Disease, which was the Small Pox, which struck in among the Passengers in Captain Lord's Ship, coming from England two years

since, that not one died that took it, two only died, and neither of them took it, as the Chyrurgion, Mr. Whiting can testifie, I gave him some of this Powder, and bade him give to every one that was infected with that Disease, which he did accord∣ingly; though he gave it to some that was blind, to others after they appeared twenty four hours, and very ready to be suffocated, and very soon made them all perfectly well, which was well known un∣to all the Passengers in the Ship, as well as unto themselves that took it, which are dis∣sipated through this Country; and I que∣stion not but this Paper will find out some of them, who can well witness this truth.

By this you may judge of its efficacy in any other Disease of a malignant nature.

I shall tell you what I have observed from it in some other Maladies.

I have cured all sorts of Fevers with this Arcanum universale, in all Ages and Sexes; for continual burning Fevers, whether putrid or not, are frequently ta∣ken off by it with one Dose, in the begin∣ning, or at the most by two, so that the Patient may be well before the time of the expected Crisis. The same Benefit I have often observed when given in the state of

the Disease, that it hath been presently taken off, although then nature is obli∣ged to take a longer time to renew the strength, than she would have needed, if she had been assisted with this Medicine in the beginning. How common a thing it is to make a Month or six weeks work in curing a Fever, although peradventure nature it self hath overcome the Disease in twelve or fourteen days, but the diseasie matter formed, and some symptoms of ef∣fects must entertain the Physician a great while longer. For if the Fever were pu∣trid, then the Stomach and Lungs remain loaden with much pituitous matter, to carry off which, the common practice is to follow the Patient close with Expectora∣ters, such are their Pectoral Electuaries, Decoctions, Syrups, Lohochs, &c. the which are so far from answering that end, as really to add to the matter they are de∣signed to expel, for they not being A∣gents impowered to alter or rectifie any Ferment, as soon as they come into the Stomach, either nauseate it with their Load, and so are cast up, or if they stay, submit to the depraved digestion of the Stomach, and there make an increase of the diseasie matter, whence an extraordi∣nary

spitting continues till nature it self, by degrees retrieves the natural Ferment, and frees her self from the disease matter, and the pretended remedy together. But if this seem too long a doing, (that no piece of Art may be wanting) there is ano∣ther way at hand, and that is to exhibit purging Medicines to carry it downwards, the which is more pernicious than the former, for the Purge drawing a great quantity of sordid matter from the Tho∣rax to the Guts, and nature not having yet recovered her right Regiment may admit some of this matter (by the Meseraick or Milky Veins) again into the Blood, whence may succeed again a Fever de novo, called a Relapse, or (if the lately tired spirit take not the present Assault) then the occasional cause of a Dropsie, Hectick, Consumption or some other Cronick Di∣seases: All which is easily prevented by ta∣king a Dose or two of this Arcanum, which evacuates the present matter by vo∣mit, and rectifies the vitiated Ferment of the Stomach, and other parts, whence the power of making such matter is quite taken away. This I have had very large experience of. But a few days before the writing of this, I was sent for to a lusty

young man, who had laboured under a Sy∣nochus, about a week having, for during that time been treated by an Apothecary, first with cooling Juleps, which were con∣tinued all the while, then strongly sweat by a Sudorifick, and the next day blooded; but the Disease notwithstanding increa∣sing (as being newly changed from a non putrida to a putrid, when I came) made the Apothecary, it seems, weary or doubtful of his work; for he desired the Man's Wife to send for a Physician, or a Second, (who was a Friend of his, 'tis like for the Bills sake) but the Woman ha∣ving formerly had some experience of my Medicines, sent to me about five or six that Afternoon, I presently ordered him four Grains of this Powder, which wrought once only by Vomit, and discharged the stomach of that Diseasie matter, which be∣fore felt to him like a great weight, the pain in his Head presently abated, and that night he rested pretty well (for he had no sleep worth mention since he was ill) the next morning I sent him four Grains more of the Powder, which gave him three Vomits and two Stools: about six in the Afternoon I went to visit him, and found him about his Chamber, saying, he

thought he was as well as ever, his Sto∣mach being returned, and he very hungry. Thus you see a Fever cured in eighteen hours, or less, which in all probability would have been at the least three or four weeks (if recovered at all) before nature by such enfeebled helpers, or rather, hin∣derers (as are the common Medicines) could have freed her self from the Disease. I could instance many the like cases were it needful. This Medicine hath (besides its other gifts) such a general tendency for the curing of all Fevers, that upon the first knowledge of it in practice, I called it my Species Febrifuga, by which name I publish∣ed it in my Catalogue of Medicines, Print∣ed in the year 1676, although I had then seen this little Book of the Authors. I shall here subjoyn a short Discourse of in∣termitting Fevers or Agues, in which Mr. Couch is silent, except in the name, yet I cannot doubt but he must be well acquaint∣ed with the power of this Medicine in cu∣ring them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Calorem & fri∣gus non esse mor∣bus ut neque bo∣rum causas. Hipp.
• * 1.2

  A Chyrurgi∣on, Chyrurg. naturae mini∣ster.
• * 1.3

  Nec sitis est ex∣tincta prius quam vita bi∣b••ndo.
• * 1.4

  Contraria con∣trariis curan∣tur.
• * 1.5

  Extrema non permanent.
• * 1.6

  Si ta tollantur quae conveniunt aeger melius se habet & facile sert: Sublata causa tolletur effectus.
• * 1.7

  Quo natura ver∣get ad locum conferentem ••eo ducere oportet. Hippoc.
• * 1.8

  Impura corporae quo plus nutri∣eris eo majus laeseris.