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CHAP. XV. Of Feavers, which happen upon Erysipelous Tumors.
AS Feavers sometimes happen upon Inflammations, and Erysipelaes,* 1.1 which favour of the humor whereof they proceed, that is, Choler: Therefore seeing it is peculiar to Choler, to move every third day, it is no marvail, if great Inflammations bring with them Tertian Feavers, or Agues, which have their fit every third day; for it is called an Intermitting Tertian which comes every other day.
The Primitive causes in general are strong exercises, especially in the hot Sun,* 1.2 the use of heat∣ing and drying either meats or medicines, great abstinence joyned with great labour, care, sorrow; the antecedent causes are the plenty of choler in the body, an hot and dry distemperature either of the whole body, or of the liver only: the conjunct cause is the putrefaction of the cholerick humor lying in some plenty without the greater vessels, in the habit of the body.
The signs, a shaking or shivering, like as when we have made water in a cold Winter-morning,* 1.3 a great pricking, stretching, or stiffness, as if there were pins thrust into us over all our bodies, by reason of the acrimony of the cholerick humor driven uncertainly and violently over all the bo∣dy, and the sensible membranous and nervous particles at the beginning of the fit; then presently the heat becomes acrid, the Feaver kindled, like a fire in dry straw; the pulse is great quick and equal; the tongue dry; the Urin yellowish, red and thin. The Symptoms are watchings, thirst,* 1.4 talking idlely, anger, disquietness and tossing the body at the least noise, or whispering. These Fea∣vers are terminated by great sweats. They are incident to cholerick young men, such as are lean,* 1.5 and in Summer; after the fit oft-times follow cholerick vomiting, and yellowish stools. After the fit there follows an absolute intermission retaining no reliques of the Feaver, until the approach of the following fit, because all the cholerick matter by the force of that Fit, and Nature, is easily cast out of the body, by reason of its natural levity and facility; whereas in Quotidians there is to such thing, as which after the fit always leave in the body a sense and feeling of a certain ine∣quality by reason of the stubbornness of the Phlegmatick humor and dulness to motion. The fit commonly uses to endure 4, 5, or 6, hours, although at some time it may be extended to 8 or 10. This Feaver is ended at 7 fits, and usually is not dangerous, unless there be some error committed by the Physitian, Patient, or such as attend him. Tertians in Summer are shorter, in Winter longer.
Wherefore the beginning of the fit is accompanyed with stifness, or stretching, the state with sweat, whereupon, if the Nose, Lips, or Mouth, break forth into pimples, or scabs, it is a sign of the end of the Feaver, and of the power of Nature which is able to drive the conjunct cause of the dis∣ease from the center to the habit of the Body; yet these pimples appear not in the declining of all Tertians, but only then, when the cholerick humor causing the Feaver shall reside in the Sto∣mach, or is driven thither from some other part of the first region of the Liver. For hence the subtler portion thereof, carryed by the continuation of the inner coat to the mouth and nose, by its acrimony easily causes Pimples in these places. The cure is performed by Diet, and Pharmacy.
Therefore let the Diet be so ordered for the six things not natural,* 1.6 that it may incline to refri∣geration and humection, as much as the digestive faculty will permit, as Lettuce, Sorrel, Gourds, Cowcumbers, Mallows, Barly, Creams, Wine m••ch alla d with Water, thin, small, and that sparing∣ly and not before signs of concoction shall appear in the Urin; for at the beginning he may not use Wine, nor in the declining, but with these conditions, which we have prescribed.
But for the time of feeding the Patient; on that day the fit is expected, he must eat nothing for three hours before the fit, lest the Aguish heat lighting on such meats as yet crude, may corrupt and putrefie them; whence the matter of the Feaver may be increased, (because it is as proper to that heat to corrupt all things, as to the native to preserve and vindicate from putrefaction) the fit lengthened, and nature called away from the concoction and excretion of the Morbifick hu∣mor; yet we may temper the severity of this Law by having regard to the strength of the Patient; for it will be convenient to feed a weak Patient not only before the fit, but also in the fit it self; but that only sparingly, lest the strength should be too much impaired.
Now for Pharmacy; It must be considered, whether the strength of the Patient be sufficient,* 1.7 if the humors abound; for then you may prescribe Diaprunum simplex, Cassia newly extracted, the decoction of Violets, of Citrin Myrobalanes; Syrups of Violets, Roses, of Pomegranats and Vi∣negar. But if the powers of the Patient languish, he must not only not be purged, but also must not draw bloud too plenteously, because Cholerick men soon faint, by reason of the facile and ea∣sie dissipation of the subtle humors and spirits; besides, such as are subject to Tertian Feavers do not commonly abound with bloud, unless it be with Cholerick bloud, which must rather be re∣nued, or amended, by cooling and humecting things, than evacuated. Yea verily, when it is both commodious and necessary to evacuate the body, it may be attempted with far more safety by such things as work by insensible transpiration, which provoke sweats, Vomit or Urin by reason of the subtlety of the Cholerick humor, than by any other. Also the frequent use of emollient Clysters made with a decoction of Prunes, Jujubes, Violets, Bran and Barley, will profit much. If the Patient fall into a Delirium, or talk idlely by reason of the heat and dryness of the head, with a particular excess of the cholerick humor, the Head must be cooled by applying to the Temples and Forehead and putting into the Nose Oyl of Violets, Roses, or Womans Milk. Let the feet and legs be bathed in fair and warm water, and the soles of the feet be anointed with Oyl of Violets and such like.