Page 209
CHAP. VII. Of the Inflammation and Relaxation in the Uvula or Columella.
THE Uvula is a little body, spongy, and somewhat sharpened to the form of a Pine-Apple,* 1.1 hanging even down from the upper and inner part of the Palat, so to break the force of the Air drawn in, in breathing, and carryed to the Lungs; and to be as a quill to form and tune the voyce. It often grows above measure by receiving moisture falling down from the brain,* 1.2 becoming sharp by little and little from a broader and more swoln Basis. Which thing causes ma∣ny Symptoms; for by the continual irritation of the distilling humor the Cough is caused,* 1.3 which also hinders the sleep, and intercepts the liberty of speech; as also, by hindering respiration, the Patients cannot sleep, unless with open mouth: they are exercised with a vain indeavouring to swallow (having, as it were, a morsel sticking in their jaws) and are in danger of being strang∣led.
This disease must be resisted and assailed by purging, bleeding, cupping, taking of clysters,* 1.4 using astringent Gargles, and a convenient dyet; but if it cannot thus be over come, the cure must be tryed by a caustick of Aqua-fortis, which I have divers times done with good success.* 1.5 But if it cannot be so done, it will be better to put to your hand, than through idleness to suffer the Patient to remain in imminent and deadly danger of strangling; yet in this there must very great cauti∣on be used; for the Chirurgeon shall not judg the Uvula fit to be touched with an instrument, or caustick, which is swoln with much inflamed, or black bloud, after the manner of a Cancer; but he shall boldly put to his hand if it be longish, grow small by little and little into a sharp, loose, and soft point; if it be neither exceeding red, neither swoln with too much bloud, but whitish and without pain. Therefore that you may more easily and safely cut away that which redounds and is superfluous, desire the Patient to sit in a light place, and hold his mouth open; then take hold of the top of the Uvula with your Sizzers, and cut away as much thereof as shall be thought un∣profitable. Otherwise you shall bind it with the instrument here-under described. The invention of this Instrument is to be ascribed to Honoratus Tastellanus, that diligent and learned man, the Kings Physitian ordinary, and the chief Physitian of the Queen-mother. Which also may be used in binding of Polypi, and warts in the neck of the womb.
- A, Shews the Ring, whose upper part is somewhat hollow.
- B, A double waxed thred, which is couched in the hol∣lowness of the Ring, and hath a running, or loose, kn••t upon it.
- C, An Iron rod, into the eye whereof the fore-mentioned dou le Thread is put, and it is to twitch the Colu∣mella, when as much thereof is taken hold of, as is unprofitable, and so to take it away without any flux of bloud. When you would straiten the Thread, draw it again through this Iron-rod, and so strain it as much as you shall think good, letting the end of the thred, hang out of the mouth. But every day it must be twitched harder than other, until it fall away by means thereof, and so the part and patient be restored to health. I have delineated three of these instruments, that you may use which you will, as occasion shall be offered.