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

Article, 1. Of the Straitness of the Rid∣neys.

THe diseases of the kidneys are, straitness, inflamation, the stone, wounds and ulcers.

The straitness is an obstruction or compressi∣on of the vessels in the kidneys induced by its causes.

The Signs of it are, the retention or pau∣city of urine, and from thence a sence of disten∣sion and heviness about the loines, in one, or both sides, &c.

The Causes shal be explained in the differ∣ences, the continent is put in the definition.

The Cure varies according to the nature of the differences.

The differences are taken from the causes in∣ferring the obstruction or compression.

• I. One is from a tumor, Phlegmon, Scir∣rus, compressing them, too much dryness whiles the substance is wrinkled and contracted; which wil discover themselves by their signes; al∣though the last is very hardly known.
• II. Another from humors viscous, thick, clammy, which is known by their redundance, the absence of pain, and a Feaver. 'Tis cured,
  • 1. By emptying by stool or by vomit,
  • 2. By things detersive, incisive, and diuretick. The waters of parsly, rest-barrow with Fer∣nelius his syrup of radish are commended. The spirits of salt, tartar vitriolate with a Julep of violets, &c.
• III. Another is from clotted blood which hath fallen out of its vessels, and concreted there. 'Tis known from hence, that pissing of

• blood went before, and causes enducing it, as blows, falls, &c. 'Tis dissolved with chervil water, dyers madder, with the seed of cresses, spermaceti, and mummy, made into a pouder.
• IV. Another is from matter which is gener∣ated there, or flows from some other part. It is known by the signs of an ulcer or impostu∣mation in the kidnies, and the urine somtimes purulent. 'Tis cured by abstersives.
• V. Another from the stone, of which shal be treated hereafter: in the meane while ob∣serve that gravil doth sometimes do it, which either is produced in the proper substance of the kidnies, which is known from hence, that 'tis hard and red, and thence rapt with the vio∣lence of the urine running is carried into its hollow part, afterwards is thrust down to the bladder, and when the water is made it doth sinke, and is hardly bruised with the fingers. Or doth arise from the adustion of humors in the veines and liver, that which is voided in the declination of feavers both acute and chronical; 'Tis known from hence, that it doth not sub∣side, but is mixt with the substance of the urine, cleaves to the chamber pot like pouder, and is easily bruised with the fingers.