The Kitchin-physician, or, A guide for good-housewives in maintaining their families in health wherein are described the natures, causes, and symptoms of all diseases, inward and outward, incident to the bodies of men, women, and children : prescribing natural, useful and proper medicines, both in physick and chirurgery, as well for the prevention as speedy cure of the said distempers : adorned with sculptures ... / published for the common good ... by T.K., Doctor in Physick.

92. A Remedy for the flux of the Belly.

The looseness or flux of the belly is of

two sorts: first, the Dienteria, which is most dangerous: it is occasioned, when that which is eaten is by reason of great Indigestion thrown out as it was taken in, without any stinking.

The second is the looseness called Diar∣rhoea, when there is onely a single flux and course of waterish and slimy humours.

There is a third flux called the red-flux, or Dissenteria, wherein blood is mixed with the Excrement, or when the sick voids blood onely.

Looseness Dienteria.

Concerning the first, (because such fluxes happen seldome, but by a strange accident, or to those who dye because of extreme Age, and because the same is dan∣gerous) they who are not able to pay the Physician, may make use of the follow∣ing Remedy.

Let the sick take Surrup of Wormwood, with honey of Roses: or, with the water of Betony, Fenickle, and Wormwood, four or five mornings, of each a spoonful.

The patient shall excite vomiting, (in case he be not inclined thereto) by some means, (which are useful thereto.)

Next, he shall strengthen the stomach

with with Oyl of Nard, Spicknard, Mint, and Wormwood.

Or, with a stomach-plaister of Galenus, spread upon leather, and laid to the belly.

Or, you may put to the stomach a lit∣tle bag filled with Wormwood, Mint, and dry Marjoram.

In the morning let him take a little piece of the small Cakes which are made of Aromatick powder, (which you may have at the Apothecaries) called Aromaticum Rosatum.

Also a little of a well-sugared Lemon-Pill; and before he eateth, let him take some Marmelade.

Second Looseness, Diarrhoea.

For the second, that this looseness or flux of humours is not always a sickness, but rather a benefit of nature, and whol∣some to him that hath it, if it be not accompanied with a Feaver, if it lasts not long, and if there be not any bloody flux to be feared.

When this looseness is without a Fea∣ver, you must let it take its course for three or four days, that the body may be exo∣nerated of bad and superfluous humours.

At the end of that time, (if it be accom∣panied

with a Feaver,) or if you fear a bloody flux (being threatned by one drop of Blood) then you shall use these Clysters or Infusions which are drawing.

Take Mint, Sage, Marjoram, Benagie.

'Tis good to use Milk wherein Iron or Steel hath been quenched; or half Milk and half water boyled to the half.

Or, powder of Harts pizle drunk with water: or, roasted Rice: or, the eighth part of an ounce of pownded Mastick, with the yolk of an Egg.

Also you may make a Plaister of whea∣ten Meal, soak'd in red-wine, and baked in an oven, and laid warm to the belly.

Bloody Flux.

Against the Bloody Flux, give the sick red-Wine to drink, dried powder of Hare-blood, of powder of mans-bones, of a dogs-turd (the dog having fed three days upon Bones onely;) let these be dry, to make a powder of

This you shall give the sick twice a day, for two or three days, with Milk where∣in fiery flint-stones have been quenched.

Or, give him to drink still'd water of Burse, Prince-print: or, of the first sprouts of Oaks: or, a Decoction of Bloudwort:

or, powder of Lambs-tongue-seed: or, of burnt snails, and of bramble-berries, with a little pepper and gall-nuts: or, of burnt-Goats or Stags-horn: or, of the pizzle of an Hart, prepared as was shewed before, Sect. 66.

Drink also (to stop the flux) the De∣coction of Dove-Nettles: use broth where∣in Coleworts have been well boiled: or, the juyce of Granates; nay, the Granate Apples themselves, oftentimes Rhabarbar.

'Tis good also to use Sallats of Lambs-tongue and Sorrel.

Infusions and Glisters may be made of Lambs-tongue and Horse-tail, and of all kind of stopping things. The Dyet may be found Sect. 114. of the Monthly Flux.