The method of chemical philosophie and physick. Being a brief introduction to the one, and a true discovery of the other. namely, of diseases, their qualities, causes, symptoms, and certain cures. The like never before extant in English.

CHAP. IX. Of the Spasm.

THough the Spasm be properly a kind of the Fall∣ing-sickness, and is referred of Paracel. (lib. 3. Pa∣ragraph. parag. 30.) unto the cure of the Falling-sick∣ness, notwithstanding seeing it is an insolent* 1.1 and acute symptom and hurt of the sensi∣tive and motive faculty, which is able to kill man, we will handle briefly of it in this Chapter. De tartarolib. 2. tract. 2. cap. 1. The spasm is not a disease, but a fore-runner of adisease. Parag. lib. 3. Parag. 3. The cure of the spasm is referred unto the Falling-sickness. De tartaro lib. 2. tract. 1. cap. 5. & 6. The Tetanus contracts the members, the spasm extends them. Read Thurnenseriusin Neptuna, lib. 6. cap. 44. The convulsion is a torpor, therefore* 1.2 the spasm or convulsion is a perpetual voluntary contra∣ction of the sinews and muscles unto their original. The Galenists say that the cause of the spasm is contained in the beginning of the Back-bone, and it somtime infests and annoys the whole body, sometime some parts. That which is of the whole body doth so straitly gird it, that it cannot be bended; when the body is crooked for∣ward, then it is Emprostothonos, when it is crooked back∣ward* 1.3 then it is Opistothonos, when it is equally bent then it is Tetanus (that is) a distention a convulsion of the parts; sometime it is in the eye, in the skin of the fore-head, in the root of the tongue, the chin, in the lips, whereupon the girning laughter is caused; sometime* 1.4 it is in the arm, in the hand and the thigh, and in that sinew or muscle which is destinated for the motion of the member.

There are many causes of the Convulsion with the* 1.5 Galenists, all which Hippocrates reduceth unto two. In∣to evacuation and repletion. Convulsions are caused from evacuation which arise from a burning Fever, or from the potion Ellebor, or some other medicaments, or from immoderate effusion of bloud, or from immode∣rate watchings, or from hunger, or from immoderate labour. But every Convulsion which rises from flegm, or drunkenness, surfetting, or from the supprest accustomed evacuations, or from the intermitted evitation is to be referred unto repletion. They make the immediate cause of it to be flegm impinged fast in the sinew. Besides these two kinds they bring another which they call a fla∣tulent Convulsion. The cause of it is a clammy and crass vapour implanted in the couples of the sinews; and here they come at last unto Paracelsus, and explain in some sort the cause of the Convulsion. Paracelsus in his tract de Cholica writes, that winds are generated and caused* 1.6 from too much meat or drink and crudities, which pene∣trates through the whole body, and are exasperated by anger. The spirit of Salt is mixt with the wind and peirces through all the pores of the body, and enters in∣to the concavities, joynts, glew, and spirits of it. In those places in which it is conservant it causes a Con∣vulsion or Spasm. The paroxism dures until the wind and spirit of Salt be consumed. De morbis amentium, tract. 1. cap. 1. de origine suffocationis intellectus, he saith, that the spasm is generated from cold (that is) from wind and acetosity, (that is) the spirit of Salt, until the wind and spirit of Salt do vanish; the symptom is to be mark∣ed to what diseases the spasm chances. The spasm con∣curs* 1.7 in the Apoplexy of the heart, in the red Jaundies, in the Plague, in Wounds, in the gutta, in the suffocation of the understanding, in the Falling-sickness, in the Cho∣lick, and falling disease of the matrix.

The especial indication is to comfort and strengthen* 1.8 the interiour members with internal medicaments. Fur∣thermore, the cure of it is referred of Paracelsus unto the Falling-sickness, to cherish and corroborate the ex∣ternal members and sinews with calefying medicaments: you may read the internal cure and medicaments at the end of the Falling-sickness.

The external medicaments are Oils and Balms which are to be applied in the affected place, as the oil of Eu∣phorbium and the essence of Euphorbium corrected and inwardly applied and administred; let the dosis be ℈. with a competent decoction. It is very available against the Paralysis and Spasm, and it evacuates the flegm (though clammy, crass, and impinged or fastned in the sinews or joynts) without perturbation. The essence of* 1.9 Bevers stone extracted with the spirit of wine, a drop of which being administred with the decoction of Rose∣mary flowrs, Sage, and Betony cures the trembling Convulsion, and all the hurts of the sinews. Outwardly there may be applied in the Convulsion Sage and Beto∣ny, especially if it be be caused from evacuation or reple∣tion, and when those things ought to be evacuated which are contained in the sinews preternaturally. The oil of Turpentine distilled and applied inwardly and out∣wardly cures the Convulsion and Spasm, by it the Back-bone may be knit, and the place of the Navel, and also of the affected place. The essence of temperatory administred cures all the kinds of the spasm, Emprosto∣thonos, Opistothonos, and Tetanus.

Carrecterius Inherberiosus de 4. gradu Canceri, writes* 1.10 of the Water-lilly which hath red and white flowrs, it being dried in the Septentrional shade, and being hanged upon the roof of the house or the walls, he which hath the Spasm or Convulsion will be cured in a moment of time. All simples do perform this which en∣crease

in the waters, as the Fern having a very white root in the waters; use and experience will teach us many re∣medies out of the assigned art. Mandragora, Woolf∣bane, and the inverted Grape perfect this cure, for un∣der the greatest poison, there lies the most vertue, which is to be noted well.

Thus prepare the foresaid Essence of Beaver stone.

℞ the right Beaver stone (for the counterfeit are often sold for true ones) make it into subtil powder, then dis∣solve it in a pure well rectified spirit of Salt; then ab∣stract the spirit of Salt from it again, and upon it put the best and highest spirit of wine, digest them together in Balneo; then decant off the spirit of wine clear from the feces, and in Balneo distil off all the spirit of wine, and behind will remain the true essence of the Beaver stone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Spasm is a preteterna∣tual motion, whereby the body is pulled violently and continually into a preternatural place, either wholly or in part with an impotency of bending.
• * 1.2

  The defini∣tion of the Spasm.
• * 1.3

  Emprostotho∣nos. Opistothonos Tetanus.
• * 1.4

  The girning laughtor.
• * 1.5

  The cause of Convul∣sion.
• * 1.6

  The cause according unto Para∣celsus.
• * 1.7

  Unto what diseases the Spasm hap∣pons.
• * 1.8

  The intor∣nal indica∣tion of cu∣ring.
• * 1.9

  Castorium▪
• * 1.10

  ••ol. 2 & 6.