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

Chap. 1. Of the Diseases of the Guts.

THe Diseases of the Guts are Cheifly, In∣flamation, Straitness, Wormes, Rup∣ture, Wounds, Ʋlcers, and the affects of the right Gut.

Article, I. Of the Inflamation of the Guts.

An inflamation of the Guts is a swelling of them arising from blood out of its vessels fal∣ling into them and putrefying.

The SIGNS are a fixt and distending pain, the perceiving of a Tumor, that the Guts may be perceived to be rowled up like the strings of an instrument, costiveness of body, a stoppage of the Urin, a Feaver present.

The CAUSE is explained in the defini∣tion. In the Autum the blood chiefly flows thi∣ther, by reason of its thinness, because the thin and moveable Humors generated in the Sum∣mer, by the inequal cold of the Autum, are driven to the center of the body.

The CURE must be ordered according to the rule of other inflamations, and that quickly, because the evil is acute, and oftentimes turnes to a gangrene, and mortification. The cooling Medicines, which are administred for it, ought to be without astriction; we must wholy ab∣stain from Purgers, lest the place affected be exasperated.

'Tis divided according to the place and Causes.

I. One is of it self, of which we have now treated; another from the Navel Rupture, of which in its place. Another from the Rupture of the guts, in which the Guts ought presently to be put back into their place. Another from a contusion, in which, to those things which are applyed for the inflamation must be added somwhat lenifying and concocting.

II. One is in the smal guts, which is most com∣mon, in which a distention of the stomach, straitness of breathing, daily vomitings, do mo∣lest, that they are not able to contain their drink, the pain and Torture tends most to the upward parts. Another in the great Guts, in which the pain reaches more to the Hypochon∣dries, there is a heaviness in the Loins, and vomiting is not so continual.

Article, II. Of the Straitness of the Guts.

The Straitness of the Guts is known cheifly by this, that the Excrements of the Belly are not rightly cast forth by stoole.

It hath its Differences according to the Na∣ture of the Causes.

I. One is from External things that are a∣stringent and drying, as quinces, and other things, which is known by the relation of the Patient and standers by. In the Cure are re∣quired things moistening and mollifying, fat things, &c.

II. Another is from the Excrements har∣dned, obstructing them, which is known by this, that there is no Tumor, pain, yet the Excre∣ments are not cast forth. It ariseth at that place especially where the smal and great Guts end, either from too dry matter, and drink to much diluted, or from the heat of the neigh∣bouring parts sucking up the moisture.

'Tis Cured by Mollifiers, by a bath of sweet Water with emollient Herbs, by the Grease of a rosted Goose cast in by a Clyster, by blo∣wing up the Guts with a Pair of bellows, which must be followed with a strong Clyster with half a dram of Sal gema.

III. Another is from Inflamation, of which we spake in the former Chapter.

IV. Another from the growing together of the Guts which is incurable.

V. Another from a Rupture or worms, of which shal be spoken hereafter.

VI. Another from thick Flegm, which is known by this, that Causes generating that went before; crudities, flowness of the belly to stoode, and much wind abound. It ariseth from the fault of the Dier, and the feeble heat

of the Guts: and if it stick there long, it grows so thick that it wholly stops up the Guts. It is Cured by things that cut flegm, and sharp Clysters, concerning which consult with the Chapter of the Cholick.

Article, III. Of Worms.

Worms and smal creatures wholly preter∣natural, generated in the guts out of a thick clammy and viscous Humor, having in it the principal of life in its kind, by a vivid heat raised up by putrefaction, which do hinder the actions of the Guts.

The common signs are many, to wit, a stink in the mouth, disturbed sleep, with skipping, trembling, noise and gnashing of the Teeth, Itching and often rubbing of the nose; a pale face, somtimes by fits ruddy, hollow and dark Eyes, the white of which is changed into a Saffron or Pale, running of drivel from the Mouth more than usual, a distension and puf∣fing up of the belly with murmurs, a knawing in the belly, & that exasperated in the time of hun∣ger, somtimes a loosness, vomiting, falling-sick∣ness. If in the morning while Children are fast∣ing, cold water be sprinkled on the Mouth of the stomach, they wil al gather together, and this sign hath most weight with it, if the Age of the Child wil bear with it.

The CAUSE is a viscous and Flegmatick Humor which ariseth from much eating, meats that easily corrupt, & generate a thick juyce, as cheese, Milk, pulse, decaying fruits, sweet things, sugard things, honyed things, &c. It hath somthing analogous to seed endued with a formative faculty, and a vivifying discretion, which doth dispose the matter to receive this, and no other form of worm, and being dispo∣sed doth Cloath it with that from, as we see peculiar worms do proceed out of wormwood, Sea Salt, a Horse, a calfe, Mulberry leaves, Cheese, Honey.

The CURE, which is Difficult, if there be many, great ones, red and of divers colors, living; if in the beginning of Feavers and acute Diseases, as also in the augment, by the ma∣lignity of the Disease they be Symptomatical∣ly voided, Is Performed,

• I. By things that kil them, those which are bitter, acrid, Salt, or enemies by their whol propriety, ought to be given upwards, but alwaies mixt with sweet things, downwards premising sweet things, then when they are in the lowest places or in the right Gut: with them Oyl ought to be mixed, that they may be stifled in it, with cheese butter, which they exceedingly fear. The chiefe things that kil them are hot, as Coral∣line given in pouder one dram, Wormseed, centory the less, peach flowers, Myrrh, Aloes, Zedoary, the Juyce of Rhadish, and cresses, Cold, hearts horne burnt, Purslane Water, juyce of Endive, Grass Water, with a little Vinegar and Sugar. Of Internal Compositions the Pouder of Dr. Mencelius my wives Gran∣father, excels; 'tis compounded of the Flowers of Centory the less, tansie, St. Johns wort, each two drams; of the flowers of Wormwood, Savine, Peaches, of each one dram and an half; of the Roots of white dittander, gentian, asarabacca, of each one dram; of red Corals prepared, burnt harts born prepared, of each two scruples; Seeds of Artichoke, Purslane, ci∣tron, cummin, Seseli, Coleworts, Coriander prepared, Sorrel, of each half a dram; Choice Rhubarbe one dram; Myrrh, Saffron, of each half a dram; Scammony prepared, Tro∣chiskes of Alhandal, of each two scruples; Salt of Wormwood half a scruple, Coralline half an ounce: Of which you may give from one scruple to one dram in Cows Milk upon an empty Stomach two hours before meat. Out∣wardly is commended the cerote compounded of Myrrb, Saffron, Liver colord Aloes, of each as much as is sufficient, with Rose Vine∣ger and an Oxe Gal, and applied both to the Mouth of the Stomach, and to the back; see more amongst Authors.
• II. By things that drive them forth, which are, melted butter, great quantity of Oyl, a Bath of sweet Milk fuming hot, if the Worms be yet alive Diatur∣bith with Rhubarb, Ruffus Pils, and de Tribus Solutivis if they be dead.

The Difference is taken from their figure.

• I. Some are smooth or round, in which the knawing of the Belly is more vehement, a dry cough more frequent, the hickops, nauseous∣ness, loathing of meat, faintings of the heart, troubled dreams with trembling, rising up, cry∣ing out, motion of the Jaws, &c. Clysters are not convenient for these, unless they be dead.
• II. Others are broad, in which the Excre∣ments are not unlike to gourd Seeds, there is an insatiable desire of meat, and a quick casting forth of the Body of that which is taken, a greater leanness and wasting of the Body, a pain somtimes in the right side, somtimes in the left. Fearn, or its water is good against them, Walnuts, Treacle, with Vinegar or the Juyce

• of Lemons. Concerning the broad worm, see Tulpius in his observations.
• III. Others are called Ascarides, in which there is a continual pain, a most troublesome itching about the Fundament, as if it were ful of Aunts, with a heaviness in the back, conti∣nual Motions to stool, moth-like worms are every where mixt with the Excrements of the Belly, which smel very strong, &c.

Article, IV. Of the Rupture of the Guts.

A Rupture of the Guts, is a falling down of the Guts out of their place.

'Tis called by the Greeks Kele, by the La∣tines otherwise, Ramix and Ruptura.

The SIGNS are a Tumor which somtimes encreaseth, somtimes decreaseth, according as a greater part of it it fals down, or is filled with wind or Excre∣ment, there is no pain, unless by chance the Excrements be fallen thither. The Patient being prest down or laid on his back the guts slide back into the belly, and that with a mur∣mur, &c.

The CAUSES are those things which can Relax or break the process derived from the Peritonaeurn, as shal be said in the Differ∣ences.

The CURE is not to be neglected, both because that thin and Nervous Membrane can∣not easily be united, and because somtimes the Patient his Guts being inflamed is brought into danger of his life, and the Guts inflamed do mortefie. It respects,

• 1. The Replacing of the Guts, which if they be swelled with wind, as the rumbling in the Guts and breaking of wind do declare, it must be done by discussives: if they swel with Excrements hardned, then both with Emollient Clysters and Cataplasmes and Fomentations. If with Flegmatick mat∣ter it must by little and little be emptyed by Clysters and suppositories, and be attenuated by internal incisive means: if there availe no∣thing, we must flie to Chirurgery (concer∣ning which consult with Authors.)
• 2. The re∣taining of them in their place; here are proper, Horse Tongue, which is most excellent, the pouder of Mouse-Eare given with meats, Through wax, Rupture wort. The Ashes of a sucking hare given to drink in red Wine. The Seed of Flix weed, the plant fern pouderd and given, each half a dram,

The Differences are taken from the Causes and places into which they fal.

1. One is from a Rupture of the Peritonae∣um, which is known by this, that a Tumor is suddainly raised, and also is quickly increased; the Gut fals down to the very bottome. It ariseth from violent Causes, fals, straining to cast forth the Child, or the Excrements of the Belly, holding of the breath, straining of the voice, wounds of the Peritonaeum, &c. In the Cure a Ligature being applied, shal be given inwardly one spoonful of the essence of the greater comfrey, with two drops of the bal∣some of Sal Gemmae. Outwardly must be applyed Villanovanus his Plaister of a Rams Skin. Mynsichtus Armam. p. 364. And the same Authors Ʋnguent against a Rupture. p. 352. The fat of a Hedg-Hog, concerning which see Hartman. If these do no good, seek for help from Chirurgery, (of which see Pla∣terus)

Another is from the Relaxation of the Pe∣ritonaeum, which is known by this, that the Tumor grows by little and little, and the Gut doth not descend to the very bottome. It ari∣seth both from the moisture of the Peritonae∣um, whence Children often fal into a rupture: and from those things which break it, if by de∣grees and often they assaile the Peritonaeum, though not so violently.

II. There is another called Oskeocele, when the Guts descend into the very God, 'tis known by seeing. Another Bubonocele, when they fal down no lower than the groin: This somtimes doth very much distend the Skin, and is stret∣ched out under it, and Causeth a great Tumor. Both of them is either Enterocele, when the Ileon Gut cheifly fal down, or Epiplocele, when some part of the Cal. See Geigerus in his Ke∣legraphy. Hither belongs Exomphalos or Omphalocele; when the Navel either Relaxt or broke struts forth somtimes the bigness of a nut, somtimes of an Apple; nay somtimes there is a Tumor raised like a Bag. If it be lately, first of al foment it with a Decoction of tree Mosse, self Heal, made in astringent Wine; after∣wards lay a Cataplasme of Plantane and Len∣tils. If it be Old, after the like Fomentations, tis Cured with the Oyntment of Mushrums, of Nuts outwardly applied with convenient liga∣ture, inwardly with the essence of the greater comfrey with the Arcanum of Sal Gemmae.

Article, V. Of the falling down of the Fundament, and of the wounds and Ʋicers of the Guts.

1. The falling down of the Fundament, is a hanging forth of the outer part of the right Gut.

There is no need of SIGNS. The CAUSES shall be spoke of in the Differ∣ences.

The CURE requireth.

• I. A putting up of the Fundament fallen down, which is performed gently with the Hand, premising a Fomentation of emollient and moistning things if it be swelled.
• II. The retaining of it being reduced to its place, either by astringent De∣coctions, or by pouders, of Frankincense, mastick, &c.

Inwardly is comended the De∣coction of the Root of wild self-heal being drunk. Outwardly the Ashes of beetles, of sheeps dung strowed upon the Gut.

The Differences are taken from the Causes.

• 1. Either it is from great straining, which is Either in forcing out the Excrements, and then the Belly must be kept loose, or in labour.
• 2. Or it is from a great irritation, which afflicts either in a dysentery or tenesmus, against which the Cure must be directed; or from the weakness of the Muscles, which are wont to draw back the Fundament thrust forth, after the emptying of the Belly; or by reason of the often falling down of the Fundament, or by reason of some cold, and then the Nerves must be strengthned and the cold distemper be cor∣rected.
• 3. Or from a Resolution either by reason of a contusion of the Nerves about the Region of the Os Sacrum or Rump bone, where things consolidating take place: or by reason of some Extraordinary refrigeration of them, of which we spake even now: or by reason of some impostumation or fistula ari∣sing about the sphincter Muscles.

II. The wounds of the Guts (I pass by the Perforations made by worms, wind, &c.) are either of the smal Guts, in which the meat and drink comes forth, Choler is cast up by vomi∣ting, there are great pains with a Feaver, and these because the Guts have a Nervous Coat, and ful of many Vessels, are by no means or very difficultly Cured. Or of the great Guts, in which the Excrement comes forth, the body is bound, the which if they be long waies, and smal, they are the easier Cured; if they be large and Crosse the Guts, the harder no; waies Cured if they become blackish. See their cure in Practitioners.

III. Concerning Ʋlcers we shal treat in a dysentery. Mortification is wont somtimes to follow a Rupture, the Iliack Passion, and an Inflamation: it happens also in wounds if the Guts falling out of the Belly, be alterd by the Aire, and become blackish.