The idea of practical physick in twelve books ... / written in Latin by John Johnston ... ; and Englished by Nich. Culpeper, Gent. ... and W.R.

Chap. 2. Of Diseases of Number.

A Disease of Number, is when there is a fault in the number of parts.

'Tis divided into a Disease of number in de∣fect and in excess.

A Disease of number in defect is, when a part which ought naturally to be present is ab∣sent. That part is either Sanguine or Sper∣matick, which is not regenerate or repaired in Specie: or simple, or compound; nor must it be the particle of a part, but a whol part. The Cause is, whatsoever either by way of efficiency or privation of matter, may cause the want of any part. The Cure points us to Restitution, which is made only by nature; the Physitian mean while, preserving the strength of Nature, by defending the natural Heat; by supplying fit matter thereto, viz. blood; and by removing impediments, that is to say, Flesh and such like things. As for what concerns the Differences. Either the fault is original, or through defect of matter necessary to generation; or through the weak∣ness of the natural faculty, which ought to at∣tract, retain, and elaborate the matter; and so it cannot be restored. Or after birth: by cutting, gnawing, putrefaction, refrigerati∣on; and the Cure is to be directed to its cau∣ses.

II. A Disease of Number in Excess, is when there is a thing which naturally ought not to be present. The Cure requires the re∣moval of the said thing, which according to the variety of the things to be removed, must be various lest other parts be hurt, or that they may be hurt as little as may be; it is not to be applied to such things as do not trouble a man. If you consider the differences, The thing su∣perfluous is either wholly against nature, as Stones, Wormes, &c. and then the Cure is to be applied to them: or some entire substance, which arises either through over great plenty of master, and the weakness of the formative faculty in the first shaping of the Child, or by reason of of some vitious quality afterwards. In these Cases, the removal is procured by Fire, and hereunto belong actual Cauteries. Iron, whereunto belong al kind of sharp in∣struments. Medicaments, Causticks, Vesi∣catories, &c. of which we shal speak in their own place, when we handle particular Disea∣ses. A Vesicatory Plaister made up of one ounce of Cantharides or Spanish flies, half an ounce of Terpentine, Olibanum, Myrtle, Ma∣stich, Camphire of each one dram. Oyl of Ro∣ses, of Wax, of each a sufficient Quantity, is very much commended.