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

Article. VI. Of a spasm, or convulsion.

A Spasm is an involuntary, perpetual, and painful Retraction (or drawing back) of the Muscles towards the place of their original and first beginning, arising from the abbrevi∣ation and shortening of the nervous (or sinewy) parts; which is evermore attended and fol∣lowed with a Rigor or Extream stifness, and a depravation of the figure, shape, and sym∣metry of the foresaid parts.

The part affected is a Muscle, and especially a Tendon.

The SIGNES are apparent of them∣selves: the Muscles are in such manner drawn back, that the parties are altogether immovable toward, and unto the contrary.

The CAUSE is, either a certain matter pulling and twinging the expulsive facculty of the parts; or else some disease voilently stretching out the nervous parts: and this sticketh fast either in the beginning and sourse of the nerves (to wit, the Brain) or in the Spinal marrow, of else in some one peculiar nerve.

There is hardly any CURE to be had, or hoped for, if it be from hellebore; if it arise and appear after a Phrensy; if it proceed from a wound, especially in the brain, by reason of a filthy stinking and corrupt matter pulling and twinging the nerves. The Cure is very difficult (although not altogether without hopes) if those parts that are situate neer unto the brain be affected, and suffer; if it happen primarily by the consent of some nerve, in regard that then the sick person cannot possibly hold out and endure by reason of the vehemency of the Symptoms; if it arise from an abundant flux of blood; if it follow upon the monthly Cour∣ses in women; if it attend and follow upon feavers; or if it chance to be accompanyed with vehement and accute pains about the bowels or intrals. It is more easie, if those parts only

are surprized and siezed upon that are more re∣mote from the brain, and consequently the less noble and considerable; if it be by the consent of the Brain, unless the affect that the brain lyeth and laboureth under, be pertina∣tious, obstinate, and unyielding. The Cure ought therefore to be Instituted, according to the Nature and disposition of the Causes; of which more fully in the Differences.

The Differences of a Spasm are very many and Various.

I. One is Ʋniversal, which affecteth the whol body. The Cause whereof, either, It is in the Brain, and then together with the bo∣dy, the Muscles likewise of the Face are also drawn and pulled together, and suffer a Con∣vulsion, or else it is in the Original and begin∣ning of the Spinal Marrow, from whence it happeneth that the Muscles that move the Head and the spinal Marrow are retracted and drawn back. And then, either the body (with the Neck and Head) is drawn to the inner parts, (from whence ariseth that we term Emprosthotonos:) or else the twelve Mulcles that extend the Head being affected, the afore∣said parts are drawn backward, (from whence is that we cal Opisthotonos:) or otherwise the Muscles and Nerves (as wel the anterior as the posterior) being al of them affected, the whol body remayneth altogether inflexible and unmoveable: from whence ariseth that we cal Tetanos, with the which whosoever are affected, either they die within four daies; or else if they pass and out-live these, they then escape and recover. Another is Particular, of the Eye, Mouth, &c. Of which we shal see further in the proper place.

II. Another is from Replexion; which dilateth the breadth of the Nerves, and dimi∣nisheth the Longitude thereof. It is known by the foregoing of the Causes, a sudden in∣vasion and surprisal without any evident and manifest Cause, and exhasting, together with a Flegmatick habit and temperament. It ariseth,

• I. From the Afflux of a Pituitous and Flegmatick humor into the Nerves, accor∣ding to their Tunicles (or little Cotes) and as they are essential constituting parts of the Muscles, and instruments of the motive opera∣ation. Then there went before it such a like kind of Diet, and the monthly Courses, He∣morrhoides, or other wonted Evacuations are suppressed. In the Cure,
  • 1. We must at∣tenuate and Cut the peccant matter by a timely administring of a Clyster. In the next place, those things that are highly commended and approved of, are, the Treacle of Andra∣machus, the Water or the spirit of Juniper, and the Balsam of Quercetan.
  • 2. We ought to Evacuate oftentimes with the milder and gentler sort of Medicaments; the stronger sort of them pour out, and quite expel the matter.
  • 3. A Revulsion must be made by frictions, Gargarisms, Cupping-Glasses, &c.
  • 4. A Discussion of the offending matter must be wrought with the Oyl of Castor of Euphorbi∣um Turpentine distilled, the Oyl of Nut∣meggs, and the Hot Baths of Sulphur.
  • 5. In the Diet that is used there must be no kind of Wine drunk.
• II. It proceedeth from an In∣flamation of the Nervous parts; and then there is present a Plethory: a fal, or a blow, or something else that was violent, long conti∣nued and acute pains in the Nervous parts, ve∣hement anger, and passions of the mind, &c. had their precedence. The afflux of blood hotter than ordinary is in great part the Cause hereof. The Cure is to be directed, and to look towards the Inflamation.
• III. From extream windinesses: and then the Causes thereof, went before and it soon passeth away, & is gone. To Discuss, Vervein and Mother-wort, im∣posed upon the Neck, are very available.

4. It happeneth from the wounding or pricking of a Nerve, whether the said wound and hurt be simple, or poysonous; but of this kind of spasm we have treated before in the second Book.

Another is from Inanition, or extream emptiness, in which the Nerves are rendered and made shorter by reason of the exsiccation and sudden drying up of the Native Rudical Humidity. It is known from hence, that it maketh its approach sensibly and by degrees, with a diminution of the member. It ariseth from Causes, that do either excessively evacu∣ate, such as are, frequent and much bleeding at the Nose, sweats, and purgations with Hellebore; or else they vehemently heat, and dry up the radical Moysture; and such are, In∣flamations, watchings, hard labor and over working, the drinking of much wine, immoderate and excessive venery, a long lasting pain, the Hectick Feaver, and lastly, Cauteries or Vesicatories over frequently ap∣plied unto the Nervous parts. It is to be Cur∣ed.

• 1. By a moystening Diet.
• 2. By Me∣dicaments that are Analeptical or restorative, and moystening; and such are the unguents de Ansere & Cata assatis, (that is to say, of a Goose and a Cattrosted) and baths made of Oyl; the fattening water of Ferdinand, (in

• his third Book, and the Chapter touching an Hectick Feaver) made of swines Blood. Mor∣sels of the Flesh of the Tortoise, or of Craw∣fish. The Magisterial of Hyacinth is speci∣fical.

Another is that we cal Phusodes, which hath its original from a gross and thick spirit or Vapor, (excited by Crudities,) that fil∣leth out the spaces of the Muscles, and disten∣deth them with a grievons pain. It endureth so long as until the Muscle be relaxed: it is quite removed and taken away by frictions, and rubbing and chasing of the parts affected; or else by annoynting it with Treacle, or Ju∣niper water.

Another is Illegitimate, (as we term it) which proceedeth from the exstimulation, goading (as I may so say) and pricking for∣ward of the Nervous parts by some painful affect, but yet without a perpetual extension and stretching forth of the said parts, & for the most part it happeneth by consent of the Ori∣fice of the Stomach, or of the Womb. The aforesaid grievous and painful affect is either from some distemper, or else from the soluti∣on of continuity.