Dr. Franciscus de le Boe Sylvius Of childrens diseases given in a familiar style for weaker capacities. With an apparatus or introduction explaining the authors principles: as also a treatise of the rickets. By R. G. physician.

CHAP. X. Of Worms.

WOrms are deservedly reck∣oned among those Dis∣ases which frequently afflict In∣••ants and Children, seldom, though sometimes, troubling people of ••ears.

2. I will not here recite all the ••••rts of Worms, but long and smooth Worms, which afflict us all our Childhood.

3. They are altogether against Nature, seeing they ought not to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us, and do us harm; biting, boring ••nd consuming the body, and often causing Fevers, the Falling-sickness, ••nd sometimes Death.

4. They are most commonly in the Small Gut, and often come into the Stomach, Gullet and Mouth, and are often that way vomited they also go downward to the thick or (lower) Guts, and come out at the Fundament, often by Stool.

5. They are sometimes in the Kidneys (commonly in Dogs) and there waste their substance.

6. They are commonly bred by too much meat, especially Flesh, and green Fruit: which not fermenting enough, turn into crudities in the small Gut, and by degrees corrup•• and breed Worms.

7. In which corruption of Crude Meat sharp vapours are bred, which flying up and down prick the Guts then the Stomach, and coming u•• the Gullet prick the Nostrils also (which makes them rub the Nostri•• often, and gripe the Stomach, ca••∣sing suspicion of Worms,) now these vapours go through the Mill••∣veins to the Heart, they breed a Fe∣ver, and going to the roots of the

Brain, and working upon them bring the Falling-Sickness and Con∣vulsion, and after them Death.

8. For the sharpness of Putrid Hu∣mours and Vapours extinguisheth the lively Effervescency, as Anatomical experience confirms; for squirt any sharp Liquor in at a Vein as soon as it comes to the heart, the Creature dies.

9. Seeing then that Worms cause such evils, we must endeavour to prevent their breeding by a conve∣nient and moderate diet; and where bad diet has been, contrary should be given; and such medicines as correct those crudities, and if they be much, then purge them; if there be Worms already bred, they must be killed, and sent forth.

10. Seeing Children are common∣ly great eaters, especially of flesh; they should by little and little be ac∣customed to less food, and that ta∣ken in season, and eat much Bread with the Flesh, which will sooner fill them, and so less endanger Worms.

11. They must forbear often using much sweet Milk, and Cheese, and Green Fruits, especially Plumbs, which are noted to breed Worms.

12. Seeing much eating makes Crude Humours, especially Phlegma∣tick; bitter aromatical things are best, which correct and amend Phlegm, and help fermentation, and turn meat into good nourishment, and so prevent many evils.

13. To this end Volatile Salts are good, as promoting Fermentation, and correcting Phlegm, and dispersing Wind, its common companion, and which swell the belly, taking them as directed before.

14. Stubborn and tough Phlegm, and therefore the worse to be amend∣ed may be purged out by Senna, Aga∣rick, but especially dulcified Mercury, contrary as well to Worms as to that which breeds them.

15. The fore-cited bitter things kill Worms, especially worm-seed about ten grains taken at a time or more, according to the childs age, being

powdered and mixt with Sugar, or infused in a bag in Mead, one or two of it being daily taken.

16. Dulcified Mercury best of all expels Worms, a few grains of it be∣ing taken in solutive Syrup of Roses, or of Senna, or any other Syrup.

17. The Sowre Spirits of Vitriol and Sulphur are in common use to kill Worms; which I confess cut Phlegm, and kill Worms, a few drops of them being given in daily drink, used a pretty while: But they are not alike profitable to all, seeing they sharpen the appetite and en∣crease a sowre humour, both often hurtful to little ones: Wherefore, unless they be also thirsty, I had ra∣ther Volatile Salts were used, and bitter plants.

Notes

• Which is to be known by the bodies great dis∣order.