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. 3. Of the Inflamation of the Reins and Bladder.

BEcause the Inflamation of the Reins and Bladder are cured with the same Medicines, therefore we will put them in the same Chapter, although the Signs are different, as shall be shewed.

This Inflamation is a Tumor of those Parts, from the flowing of Blood or Choller unto them.

This is not very ordinary, because the substance of those parts is solid and thick; but somtimes it happeneth, because the Kidneys are fleshy and apt to receive blood: but the Bladder, though it be without blood, and spermatick, because it receives blood for its Nourishment through the smal Veins, is without question subject to Inflamation by too much blood; as other Membranes of the Brain, or Meninges, the Pleura, Mediastinum, and the like.

We said that these Inflamations come from Blood or Choller, as when Flegm or Melancholly in the Blood make the parts thicker, because they cannot pierce into their thick substance.

The Causes of this Disease, are either from things Natural, not Natural, or Pretema∣tural.

From Natural things, when there is a Natural Infirmity of those parts from the Parents, or a great loosness of them, a great heat originally in them, by which they draw plenty of Humors: In Youth these conduce much to an Inflamation.

From things not Natural, as much Venery, which weakeneth those parts, and draws much blood or other Humors to them; Gluttony, Drunkenness, and eating of Salt and Spiced Meats; great Passions of the Mind, lying upon the back in a soft bed, great Exercise, stoppage of some great E••acuations, as of the Months and Hemorrhoids, or usual bleeding at the Nose, those things which cause repletion and evil concoction, and drive the humors to the inward bowels.

From Preternatural things, as a stroak or wound upon the Reins, or about the Bladder; a pressing or bruise of those parts; constant Feavers, foulness of the Vessels, or other parts that purge them∣selves

by Urine, as in a Pleurisie, Empyema or imposthume in the side, Obstruction of the Spleen, breaking of the Mesentery, and the like. And lastly, Disease of those parts do cause Inflamation, as the stone, great pain, exulceration, heat of Urine, and stoppage thereof, or the like.

The Signs of the Inflamation of the Reins, are a weighty pain in the Reins, somtimes beating, if the place be affected where the Arteries are: And this pain extendeth to the parts adjacent, so that the Patient can neither lift himself up, not stand upon his feet, and scarce turn himself, and neither lie upon his side, nor his Belly, because then the part inflamed will hang down; therefore he lies al∣waies upon his back, and if he either neeze, or otherwise move his Body, the pain is encreased. He hath a numbness or pain in the Leg on the same side, by reason of the Nerve that goes from thence to it. He hath difficulty of pissing by reason of the heat which is sent to the Urine, and filth mixed with it coming from the inflamed part. The Urine is first thin and yellow but after red and thick; ••e hath a constant sharp Feaver, which is attended often with watchings, dotings, and other great Symp∣tomes; also loathing and vomiting, by which he voids Choller, Flegm, and other Humors.

Somtimes the Gut Colon is inflamed, and if it be that part which is neer the Liver, it brings the like Symptomes: but here is the difference; In the Inflamation of the Reins, the pain reacheth to the short Ribs, the Back, and Bladder; but that of the Colon tends more to the Belly, and there is a greater change of Excrements of the Belly, than in the Inflamation of the Kidneys.

But in the Inflamation of the Kidneys, there is a pain about the Pubis and Perinaeum, in which there is heat, and somtimes redness. There is constant heat of Urine, but that is stopped when the part swelleth, and stoppeth the passage.

The straight Gut suffers by reason of its neerness; hence it is that there is often desire to go to stool with burning, somtimes the belly is bound, when the Gut is stopped by the inflamed Bladder. There are also other common Symptomes mentioned in the Inflamation of the Reins, as a Feaver, watching, doting, thirst, and the like.

There can be no good Prognostick in this Disease: For the inward Inflamation of the noble inward parts, do threaten continual danger of death. It is most deadly when a Convulsion or dotage follow∣eth, or the like great Symptome: and if there be a cold sweat, death is at hand.

In the Inflamation of the Reins, if the Hemorrhoids follow, it is good.

If the Inflamation Suppurate, and the Imposthume break, and go into the passage of the Urine, there is hope; but if it go by the Emulgent Veins into the Liver, and labor to get way through the Guts, it is dangerous.

A final Inflamation of the Bladder with a Sediment in the Urine that is white and equal, promi∣seth health.

An Inflamation of the bladder, is somtimes cured by an Erysipelas, or Chollerick Humor arising in the Skin suddenly, and by making much Urine.

The Cure of both Inflamations of the Reins and Bladder, is made by revelling, deriving, cooling, and moderately repelling, by Anodines, Resolvers or Ripeners, if need be, and the like: whose Mat∣ter and way of using, shall be as followeth:

And first, Phlebotomy is very necessary in the Liver Vein, on the same side the pain is, twice, thrice, or four times, or oftener, if the strength will bear it, til the defluxion ceaseth, which you may know by the abating of the pain. But in the Inflamation of the bladder, the right side is to be chosen by reason of the Liver, from whence, as from a Fountain, the blood floweth to the part.

After much blood is taken away, and revulsion is made by the upper Vein, you must also open the inferior for derivation sake, in the Ham or Ancle; as also the Hemorrhoids are to be opened, especi∣ally if they be swelled.

Cupping-glasses with Scarrification, are also good for Revulsion, both above and beneath, and Frictions with strong Ligatures of the extream parts, to draw the humors outward.

After, and before blood-letting, give a mollifying and cooling Clyster that is a little loosening, and let it be of a smal quantity, lest it oppress the Tumor, thus made:

Take of Marsh-mallow Roots one ounce: Mallows, Violets, Lettice, of each one handful: sweet Prunes four pair: Barley and Violet Leaves, of each one pugil: make a Decoction to eight or ten ounces. In the straining dissolve of Cassia, or Diaprunes simple, one ounce: Oyl of Violets four ounces: two Yolks of Eggs: Make a Clyster.

Allay the heat of the blood with Juleps and Emulsions made thus:

Take of Endive, Littice, and Purslain Water, of each four ounces: Syrup of Pomegranates two ounces: Syrup of Water Lillies one ounce. Make a Julep for three draughts, morning and evening. Or,

Take of Sorrel Roots two ounces: Mallows, Plantane, Purslain, and Endive, of each one handful: the tops of white Poppies half a handful: Annis and Lettice seed, of each one dram: Borrage, Violets, and Water-lilly Flowers, of each one pugil: boyl them to a pint and an half: then add four ounces of the juyce of Pomegranates. Or,

Take of sweet Almonds blanched one ounce: fresh Pine-nuts half on ounce: Lettice, Sorrel, Purslain, and Poppy seeds, of each three drams: beat them according to art, powering on by de∣grees, of Barley, Lettice, and Purslain Water▪ one pint and an half. Dissolve in the straining, Su∣gar of Roses one ounce. Make an Emulsion for three Doses, in which we leave out the great cold Seeds, because being Diuretick they may draw somthing to those parts, especially in the time of the de∣fluxion, but in the declination they may be useful. You may profitably add to the Emulsion, the Syrup of Poppies to stop the flux more violently.

Also the parts inflamed may be cooled by Clysters, made of the Decoction of the Julep aforesaid, with Oyl of Roses or Violets two ounces.

In the beginning of these Inflamations, purging is not proper; for it is to be feared lest the Hu∣mors being moved, should flow to the parts affected; so that if there then be a great flux of the Bel∣ly, it is to be stopped for that cause. But when the Inflamation is a little allayed, and the disease de∣clineth, a Purge made of gentle things may be good, as of Manna, Cassia, Rhubarb, Tamarinds, Dia∣prunes simple, Catholicon and Syrup of Roses with a Decoction of Lettice, Purslain, and other coo∣ling things prescribed in the Juleps. Or you may make a Bolus of some of them.

Out wardly, All the time of the Disease, you must apply cooling things that gently repel, as moist Epithems of the Water and Juyce of Plantane, Sorrel, Endive, Nightshade, Roses, with a little Vi∣negar, red Sanders, and Camphire. Liniments also of Oyl of Roses and Olives, Violets, Cerat of Sanders, white Oyntment, or Populeon alone, or mixed with a little Vinegar, which you must ap∣ply to the parts aforesaid, every hour cold.

Or you may make a Liniment of an Egg wel beaten, with a little Oyl and Rose Vinegar.

Or you may make that which is excellent, of Oyl of Roses, with Vinegar and Juyce of Knot-grass, or Purslain; to which add, if you please, a new Yolk of an Egg. Let these be applied cold upon a Cloth.

If the pain be very violent, it is not amiss in these Epithems and Liniments, to mix a little Opium or Saffron.

Also you may make a Cataplasm of Barley Meal, with Juyce of Endive, Purslain, and Nightshade, with Oyl of Roses and Populeon. But this must be often changed lest it grow hot.

Three things are to be diligently observed:

First, That you use not Coolers too long, lest the Matter be kept from breathing forth, and the Tumor grow hard or scirrhus.

Secondly, In the Inflamation of the Bladder, you must use less astringents and coolers, lest you stop the Urine, which Symptome alone, is very usual and dangerous in this case.

Thirdly, Cataplasms in the Inflamation of the Bladder, are less necessary than Oyntments and Li∣niments, because they burden the part, so that it is more hard to dilate it self.

After you have used Coolers a short space, and often bleeding, when the defluxion is somwhat stopped, you must use Softeners and Dissolvers; such are, Fomentations of the Decoction of Marsh∣mallow Roots, Mallows, Violets, Pellitory, Lin-seed, Foenugreek, Mallows, Cotton-weed, with Mehlot, Chamomel, Rosemary flowers, and Rose Leaves to strengthen the part.

Then apply a Liniment of Oyl of Lillies, with a little Oyl of Chamomel.

Among the Dissolvers and Anodines together, there is none better than the Cataplasm made of Crums of Bread, made thus:

Take of white Bread Crums one pound; boyl it in Goats Milk to a Pultiss: then add three Yolks of Eggs; four ounces of Oyl of Roses: half a scruple of Saffron: make a Cataplasm, change it often. You may add a little Opium and Campbire if the pain be very great.

In the Inflamation of the Bladder, if you fear a Gangrene, you may make a strengthening Cata∣plasm of Bean Meal, and Orobus Meal, or Lupines boyled in Wine.

When the greatest part of the Inflamation is abated, then you must use Decoctions and Liniments which do only dissolve, that the reliques may be consumed.

In the whol time of the Cure, you must have a special care of great Symptomes, as the Feaver, pain, watching, stoppage of Urine, and belly; of the stomach and other parts.

And as for the Feaver, pain, and watchings, it is most certain that the things mentioned to evacu∣ate and alter, do much for the mitigation of them. But to them you may add Epithems, Liniments, and Rose Vinegar, such as use to be applied to the Region of the Liver, Heart, and Brain; and in time of necessity, Narcoticks both by mouth and Clyster.

There are special Anodine Suppositories to take away the pain of the Bladder, or knots, made with Yolks of Eggs, and a little Opium, and juyce of Henbane, or the like.

If the Strangury or stoppage of Urine follow this Inflamation, you must cure them with Medicines taken from their proper Chapters.

If the Inflamation of the Reins cannot be cured by what hath been prescribed, but it tendeth to suppuration, which you may know by the encrease of the feaver, pain, and other Symptomes; as al∣so

by trembling and vomiting, by greater weight about the part, especially when the Patient lieth on his sound side; you must help Nature with Cataplasms of Roots and mollifying Herbs, Line∣seed, Chamomel flowers: To which being boyled and beaten, you must add Meal, Butter, Grease, or Oyls of the same vertues With which, if the Imposthume break not presently, and come forth by Urine, the Matter wil get into the Cavity of the Abdomen, whence wil proceed either sudden death, or a Hectick Feaver. Somtimes the Tumor appears outwardly, and then you must open it either with a Potential Cautery, or an Incision Knife.

Somtimes those Tumors grow hard, and scirrhus, when the Feaver is gone, and the pain remains with a greater sence of weight, and a kind of numbness of the subject parts: And this is commonly incurable, and brings an evil habit, or a Dropsie. Yet you may try with mollifying, cutting, and di∣gesting Medicines, such as were mentioned in the Scirrhus of the Liver.