CHAP. XXXVI. Of sundry kinds of Evacuations, and first of Sweating and Vomiting.
THe pestilent malignity is not only evacuated and sent forth by the eruption of pustles and spots, but also by sweat, vomit, bleeding at nose, at the haemorrhoids, by the courses,* 1.1 a flux of the belly, and other ways; so that nature by every kind of excretion may be freed from the deadly poison, especially that which is not as yet arrived at the heart. But chief regard must be had to the inclination of nature, and we must attend what way it chiefly aims at, and what kind of excretion it affects. Yet such evacuations are not always critical,* 1.2 but usually symptomatical; for that oft-times nature is so irritated by the untamable malignity of the mat∣ter, that it can no way digest it; but is forced by any means to send it away crude as it is. Where∣fore, if nature may seem by the moistness of the skin, the suppression of urine, and other signs to affect a crisis and excretion by sweat, you then shall procure it by the formerly mentioned means. It is delivered by the Antients, that all sweats in acute diseases are salutary, which happen upon a critical day, which are universal and hot, and signified before the critical day. But in this rapid and deadly disease of the Plague, we must not expect a Crisis, but as soon as we can,* 1.3 and by what means we may, to free nature from so dire and potent an enemy.
But oft-times the tough and gross excrementitious humors may be purged by vomit, which could not be evacuated by strong purges. Therefore also by this manner of excretion may we hope for the exclusion of the pestilent venom, if there be nothing which may hinder; and nature by frequent nauseousness may seem to affect this way: the endeavour thereof shall be helped by giving some half a pint of warm water to be drunk with four ounces of common oil, an ounce of vinegar, and a little juice of raddish: after the taking of the potion,* 1.4 it is fit to thrust into the throat a Goose-quil dipped in the same oil, or else a branch of Rosemary; or else by thrusting in the fingers, so to procure vomit; also a portion of eight ounces of the mucilaginous water of the decoction of Line-seeds will procure vomit. Or else, ℞ rad. raph. in taleol. sect. vel sem. ejus, & sem. artriplicis, an. ʒ iii. bulliant in aquae com. quod sufficit pro dosi. in colaturà dissolve oxym. & syr. acet. an. ℥ss. exhibeatur potio larga & tepida. Or else, ℞ oxym. Gal. ℥vi. ol com. ℥ ii. paretur potio tepid. But nature must not be forct, unless of its own accord it undertake this motion;* 1.5 for forced and vio∣lent vomiting, distends the nervous fibres of the ventricle, dejects the strength, breaks the vessels of the lungs, whence proceeds a deadly spitting of blood. Wherefore if the stomach shall trouble itself with a vain and hurtful desire to vomit, it shall rather be strengthened with bags of Roses, Worm-wood, and Sanders, using inwardly the juice of Quinces and Berberies, and broths made for the same purpose.