The practice of physick in seventeen several books wherein is plainly set forth the nature, cause, differences, and several sorts of signs : together with the cure of all diseases in the body of man / by Nicholas Culpeper ... Abdiah Cole ... and William Rowland ; being chiefly a translation of the works of that learned and renowned doctor, Lazarus Riverius ...

Chap. 6. Of the Relaxation of the Ʋvula, or Falling Down of the Pallate.

THe Relaxation of the Uvula comes from a Rhewm falling from the Brain upon it, with which there is somtimes bloud mixed, and then there is an Inflamation also, and this often fals upon the Tonsils or Spongious Kernels; the Inflamation whereof shal not here be treated of, be∣cause it is Cured by the same means, with the Inflamation of the Tongue, and of the Ulcers of the Mouth.

A Waterish Humor falling upon the Uvula or Collumella, doth so moisten, soften, and relax it, that it wil be extended to the upper part of the oesophagus or Wezand, and cause a Nauseousness, and the Patient wil seem to have somthing in his Throat which he cannot swallow down, by which you may know it without looking into the mouth.

The Cure is first by the Antecedent Cause, that is, by Evacuating the Humors flowing from the Head, by Revelling and Deriving them with such Medicines as were prescribed in the Cure of a Catarrh.

The Chief Topicks are Astringents and Repellers, such as were prescribed in the Cure of the Ul∣cers of the Gums and Jaws, and shal be prescribed in the Chapter following of the Cure of the An∣gina, to which afterwards you must ad some Resolvers and Dryers: And though the Gargarisms in those Chapters mentioned, are here good, yet when there is no Inflamation the use of Pouders is bet∣ter; for with them the Vvula relaxed is more powerfully dried and Astringed.

And therefore, First apply Pomegranat peels poudered, and after mix it with a little Pepper: Or,

Take of Red Roses and Pomegranat flowers and Peels of each half a dram: the Roots of Snak∣weed and Tormentil, Galls and Flower-de-luce-Roots, of each one dram: burnt Allum, two scru∣ples: make a Pouder. Ordinary Chirurgeons apply the Pouder of Long Pepper, but it is dange∣rous, for it is to be feared, lest the Humors should be drawn violently from the Brain, to the part.

The Manner of applying this Pouder is to depress the Tongue with a Speculum Oris, and then blow up some pouder in your Uvula spoon: do this often til the Humor be spent: The instrument invented by Fabricius Hildanus, Obs. 21. Cent. 2. is the best for this.

And if the Uvula relaxed cannot be brought to its former condition by these means, but continueth extended and painful; your last Remedy is to cut off a piece thereof: in which Operation you must take some Cautions. The first is from Hippocrates, 3. Progn. Text. 21. where he saith, That Ʋvula's are Cut and Scarrified, and burnt when they are red and swoln, but not without danger; for an Inflamation followeth, and a Flux of Blood; but you must endeavor to extenuate these ac∣cidents by other means at that time: But when the Ʋvula hangs down, and the lower part of it is greater than the higher, and round, then it is safe to operate: but it is better first to administer a Cly∣ster,

if time will permit. Galen in his Commentary upon these words of Hippocrates, saith that an Uvula inflamed, is not to be cut off, or scarrified; but after the inflamation is gone, so that the supe∣rior part is lessened. Another Caution is taken out of Paulus Aegineta, lib. 6. cap. 31. you must not touch the Uvula with an iron to cut it when it is livid or blackish, that is, when it hath malignity in it, and inclineth to be a Cancer. But out of the same Author we have a lawfulness of the operation, when they are long and white, or as Hippocrates saith, smal at the top. We have an Example of the good success of this operation in Amatus Lucitanus, Obs. 65. Cent. 3. upon a Student who had his Uvula hung down like a thong, long, and without blood in it; which when Medicines could not cure, he cut off, and after touching the part with a little Spirit of Vitriol, he cured the Patient.

The third Caution is, That you cut not off too much; for then the Voyce and Breathing will be hurt according to Galen, 11. de usu part. cap. 11. and consumption and death it self will ensue as often is seen in the French Pox.