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CHAP. XXI. Of Flatulencies contained in the joints, and counterfeiting true Gouts, and of the reme∣dies to be used thereto.
OFtimes there is small quantity of humor, which moves the pain of the Gout,* 1.1 but much flatulency mixed therewith, especially in great joints, as in the huckle or hip-bone, and the knees; they sometimes cause so great distention, that they drive the heads of the bones forth of their places. You may partly understand it is so, if a tensive pain afflict the patient with any sense of heaviness; if when you press the tumor with your fingers, the place retain no mark or impression thereof, as happens in an oedema; but on the contrary, a flatulent spirit lifts it up as it were by renitency, as if one should thrust a pair of bellows, which are filled with winde; hence the part cannot perform its duty, for that the spaces of the joints are possessed with abun∣dance of flatulencies, so that the liberty of motion is intercepted, and the member is kept as it were bound up. Many no very skilful Surgeons, putting their fingers to these kinde of tumors,* 1.2 so that lifting up the one, they press down the other, when as they perceive the flatulency, as i•• were rising between their fingers, supposing it to be the motion of pus, or matter already generated and flowing up and down, as is usual in impostumes, they have opened it by incision; but when as no∣thing flowed forth, it appeared how much they were deceived, yet in the interim, by this their rashness they have caused many dangerous symptoms: as increase of pain, defluxion of humors, by force whereof the bones have been dislocated, and brought to the patient an incureable lame∣ness. But these flatulent Gouts are seldome without some phlegmatick matter, which is neither too crude, nor viscid. Such like flatulencies are not easily discussed, nor at the first endeavor,* 1.3 by rea∣son of a cold distemper which they bring to the part, and the densitie of the membranes and liga∣ments, by which the articulation is knit and fastened, so that scarce any part of that which is there shut up, can breath forth of such straight passages. Therefore the cure must be undertaken with resolving, discussing, and drying fomentations; as for example, with a decoct on of fennel, anis-seeds, rue, camomil, melilote, sage, rosemary, origanum, calamints; hore-hound, and the like, boiled in wine with a little lee, rose-vineger, and common salt. This following ointment shall be used after the fomentation. ℞. olei chamaem. aneth. rut. lauri, an. ℥ii. cum cerâ albâ. fiat linimentum, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aq. vitae parum. After you have anointed it, apply thereto this following Cataplasm. ℞. f••at. cham. melil. aneth. ros. rub pulv. an. m.i. fol. malv. & absinth, an. m. ss. furfur. m. i. bulliant omnia si∣mul cum lixivio, & vino rub••o, deinde pistentur cum medulla panis, & farina fabarum, quantum suffi∣cit, fiat cataplasma, addendo ol. ••osar. & myrtil. an. ℥ii. Some highly approve of this following medi∣cine for the wasting of flatulencies. ℞. axung. fuil. ℥iv. calcis vivae, ℥ i ss. terantur diligentur in mor∣••••ris, & incerporata applicentur. Or else, ℞. stercor, caprar. cocti cum vino & aceto, an. lb ss. tereb. ve∣••••. & mei. com. an. ℥ii. aq. vitae, ℥ ss. pul. rad. Ireos florent. & sabin▪ an. ℥iii. olei. rut. & aneth. an. ℥i. farin. f••barum quantum sufficit. Make a cataplasm to the form of a pultis. Also stoups dipped in oxy∣crate, and wrung out, shall be applyed: in this oxycrate shall be boiled wormwood, origanum, chamomil, melilote, rue, common salt, adding thereto some aqua vitae. Then the part shall be bound up as straight as the patient can endure it: in conclusion, that the native strength may by little and little be restored to the part, it shall be fomented with lee made of the ashes of oak∣wood, and the cuttings of vines, wherein shall be boiled salt, sulphur, choice alum; and wetting linnen-clothes, or stoups therein, and applying them, it shall be straightly swathed up. Yet if great pain shall mote cruelly vex the part, then neglecting for a time the proper cure of the disease, you shall withstand the symptom by rubbing the part, and anointing it with some discussing oil, laying thereon some moist wool, and other anodine things.