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. 4. Of the Jaundice.

THe Jaundice is a yellow color of the whol Body, coming of Choller, spread over all the Skin.

It is therefore a Symptome of the Quality changed. And now presently, that vulgar difficulty which is controverted by almost all Writers, offers it self; namely, That the yellow color in the Cornea, doth immediately hurt the Sight, making all objects appear yellow. To which (that I may answer in a word, without circumstances) I say, That it is a disease in the encrease of Number; for since the Cornea ought to be void of all color, that it may let the Species of Objects pass through pure and unchanged, if it have any pre••ernatural color, it hath a Disease in the encrease of Number, that is, more than what is necessary to the Natural Constitution thereof.

Authors do make two sorts of Jaundice; Yellow, and Black. The Black proceeds from the Spleen and is very rare: therefore here treating only of the Diseases of the Liver, we will speak only of the Yellow Jaundice.

The spreading of Choller upon the Skin, comes from many Causes; which may be reduced to three Heads: namely, An Evil Disposition of the Liver; An Obstruction of the Bag that contains the Gall; And the malignity of the Chollerick Humor.

The Evil Disposition of the Liver is divers; as Dstemper, Inflamation, Obstruction, Schirrus, and whatsoever may so weaken the part, that Excrementitious Choller cannot be separated from the Blood, but is with it distributed through the whol Body.

The Obstruction of the Bag or Cystis, which contains the Gall, hinders the passage of it into the Guts, whereby it remains in the Liver, and goes from thence with the Blood into the whol Body. This Obstruction is either from gross Flegm, or Choller abounding; somtimes from little stones which are often bred in the Bag of Gall; which may also be made narrow in the Passage, by the com∣pression of some part nigh unto it, which is inflamed or schirrous.

The Evil of the Chollerick Humor consists, either in the great quantity thereof, which cannot be regulated by Nature, nor be separated from the Mass of Blood, or which so filleth the Bag of the Gall, that it cannot contract it self to expel it; or it consists in an evil quality, which by corrupting of the Humors, doth hinder their due Evacuation, or stirs up Nature suddenly to cast it forth, as you may observe in a Critical or Symptomatical Jaundice. This Corruption happens in continual Chollerick Feavers; as also after Poyson is taken, or from the biting of some venemous Creature, by which the whol Blood is turned into Choller.

The Signs of the Yellow Jaundice are manifest; namely, a yellow color through the whol Body, especially in the white of the Eyes. Also an itching, and laziness, bitterness of the Tongue, somtimes Chollerick Vomitings, and Hiccoughs.

The Signs of the Causes are to be taken from their proper Fountains; for if the distemper of the Liver be hot, this Disease comes from Inflamation, Obstruction, Schirrus, or the like: the knowledg of which is to be taken from their proper Chapters.

These things properly shew the Obstruction of the Bag of the Gall, white Excrements, and a Bel∣ly bound through the want of Choller, which useth to make the Excrements yellow, or red, and to stir up the Expulsive Faculty of the Guts like a Clyster. The Urine is very yellow, inclining to red and if you put a Linnen clout therein, it will dye it yellow.

If it come from the malignity of the Chollerick Humor, the Excrements of the Belly are high colo∣red, and also the Urine, especially if it follow a putrid Feaver, when the Jaundice is a Symptome, and then after the coming of the Jaundice the Feaver remains: but if it be critical, the Feaver ceaseth, and the Excrements with the Urine are wel colored. The External Causes, as Poyson, and vene∣mous bitings may be declared by the Patient, and those about him.

The Prognostick of the Jaundice is various, according to the variety of Causes.

That is more Curable which comes from the Obstruction of the Bag containing the Gall, because its passages are neerer the Guts, and the Matter cleaving thereto, is easily sent into them, provided that the Obstruction come not from a stone, which because it cannot be dissolved, renders the Disease incurable.

The Jaundice coming from an Inflamation or Schirrus of the Liver, is most dangerous; for one commonly ends in an Imposthume, the other in a Dropsie.

They who in a Feaver, have the Jaundice before the seventh day, are desperate, Hipp. Aph. 62. Sect. 4. against which Aphorism, there is another of, Hippocrates opposed, which is in 4. de victus ratione in acutis, in these words: In a Chollerick Feaver, if the Jaundice come before the seventh day, with chillness, the Disease is cured; but if it come without chillness, it is deadly. There is

Reason for what he saith; for when in the third, fourth, and fifth day, the Crisis (or ground of Judgment) is healthful, if it be by Sweat, Urine, or Stool, why should not a Critical Jaundice fall upon those daies? And Experience from many allowed Authors doth testifie that the Jaundice doth often happen with safety before the seventh day. Now these Authors do interpret the aforesaid Aphorism thus; namely, That Hippocrates by the seventh day, understands any Critical day, and he mentioneth the seventh as the most noble day, and to be taken for all the rest. But that is a true Critical Day of Judgment, afore which, a ful Concoction of the Matter causing the Feaver, did appear.

The Cure of the Jauudice, is by taking away of the Causes: For if it come from a hot distemper of the Liver, or a Tumor in that part, you must consult with the Chapters afore mentioned for the Cure of them.

But that which comes upon acute Feavers, if it be Critical needs no Cure. Yet if it be Sympto∣matical, the Cure of it depends upon the Cure of the Disease upon which it depends.

That which comes from the Obstruction of the Cystis, or Bag of the Gall, is cured by taking away of the Obstruction, which may be conveniently done by the Remedies mentioned in the former Chapter. To which we may add these as more proper.

First take away part of the Humor with this following Bolus:

Take of the Electuary of the Juyce of Roses, and Diaprunis solutive, of each three drams: the pouder of Rhubarb one dram: Saffron half a scruple: With Sugar make a Bolus; which you may give once or twice, if the Body be of a very ill habit.

As for Phlebotomy, though Galen denyeth it, as unprofitable, yet if you perceive abundance of Blood, it is very good to abate it.

After general Medicines this following Infusion used six or seven daies, doth commonly pluck this Disease up by the Roots, if it be but yong.

Take of Madder Roots half an ounce: the greater Celandine one handful: the tops of Sea Wormwood, and of the lesser Centaury, of each one pugil: Cinnamon half a dram: Saffron half a scruple: Infuse them a whol night in eight ounces of white Wine, and add to the straining half an ounce of white Sugar. Let him take it in the morning three hours before dinner.

Or you may make this Decoction following:

Take of Celandine Roots and Leaves one handful: the Leaves and Flowers of St. Johns wort, of each half a handful: the shavings of Ivory and poudered Goose dung, of each three drams: Saffron half a dram. Put the Pouder of Goose dung and the Saffron in a clout, and boyl them all in equal parts of white Wine, and Wormwood Water to one pint: and when it is strained, add one ounce of Sugar. Give it for three morning draughts, and repeat it if you think sit.

Quercetan commends for this purpose, the Dung of a green Goose that eats Grass in the Spring; and the dried white Dung of an Hen, given or divers daies to the quantity of half a dram or a dram; and he saith that the Dung of these Aerial Creatures, is full of Nitre and Sulphur, and hath a won∣derful Faculty to cut, attenuate, and dissolve.

Dioscorides commends the Juyce of Horehound for this Disease, and since his time, others, and especially Forestus, who reports that some were only cured by the use of the Syrup of the Juyce of Horehound, when other means failed.

Gesner commends the Nettle Root thus prepared:

Take of Nettle Roots one pound: Saffron one scruple: beat them wel, and take out their Juyce with white Wine, and let the Patient take four ounces every morning for four or five daies, and cover himself to sweat after it.

While inward Medicines are given, let the Region of the Liver be anointed with this following Oyntment.

Take of the Juyce of Smallage, Parsley, and Succory, of each one ounce: white Wine Vinegar half an ounce: the Oyl of Tamarisk two ounces: boyl them til the Juyces and Vinegar be consumed; then add of yellow Sanders and Spicknard, of each one dram: Wax, as much as will make a Liniment.

After the Obstructions are taken away, the yellow colour will presently vanish by the strength of Natural Heat, which will discusse the Humor from the Skin. But that it may sooner be gone, make a Bath of warm VVater, and rub the Body therein with a Bag of Earley and Bean Meal.