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. 5. Of the Ʋlcer of the Reins and Bladder.

THe Ulcer of the Reins and Bladder, comes of three Causes; from an Imposthume broken after Suppuration; from the sharpness of Humors, such as causeth pissing of blood, which being vio∣lent and continual, doth ulcerate the parts, or from a sharp stone that corrodeth them; the last is most usual, the former seldom.

Among the Signs, the chief is voiding of Matter with Urine, which lasting long, doth shew that there is an Ulcer certainly in the Ureters. But whether the Reins, or the Bladder be affected, is known by the place of pain, whether it be in the Loyns, or neer the Privities. Moreover, If Matter come from the Reins, it is better concocted, white, thin, and not stinking, because the body of the Kidneys being fleshy doth better concoct; besides, the Matter is more abundant, and more mixed with the Urine, which is voided like Milk, till after long standing it settle to the bottom. That Mat∣ter which comes from the Bladder, is little, and not much mixed with the Urine, not so wel concocted, but crude, of divers colors, and stinking; for that part being without blood, and having little heat, cannot concoct sufficiently. But often pure Matter is voided without Urine, from the neck of the Bladder, and then there is a continual difficulty of Urine, and pain in that part, which is not in an Ulcer of the Reins but by fits.

When the Ulcer is in the Reins, somtimes much Blood is voided, which is hard to be stopped, and somtimes pieces of flesh and matter, or blood, somtimes so big as they hardly pass, and cause pain; but from the bladder come scales, or skins, or bran.

And from an old Ulcer of the Bladder that is callous or hard, there flows that snotty flegm which we spake of in the stone of the Bladder.

As for the Prognostick: All inward Ulcers are dangerous, but these most, because of the con∣stant flux of Humors to these parts; for although the serous humor hath a clensing quality; yet here being mixed with other qualities, it doth not as in its Natural condition; and if evil, salt, and sharp humors are mixed therewith, they will make and nourish an Ulcer.

New Ulcers of the Reins and Bladder are curable, old not.

They are incurable in old men, somtimes incurable in yong men, with much difficulty.

Ulcers that come from the Stone, and are maintained by it, cannot be cured before it be taken out.

The pain and Symptomes which accompany the aforesaid Ulcers, cause watchings, and consume the Body.

The Cure is by clensing drying, and heating, as al other. For this purpose use these fol∣lowing.

First, If there be a repletion, or inflamation in the part affected, let blood, first in the Arm, then in the Hand.

Then purge often, to take away the vitious humors that flow to the part affected, but with gentle things, as Cassia, Manna, Syrup of Roses, Agarick, Rhubarb, made into a Bolus; because in a moist form being drunk, they quickly go to the Ureters, and encrease pain.

You may give this Opiate following:

Take of Polypody of the Oak, and Liquoris, of each half an ounce: the four great cold seeds, of each one dram: Borrage and Violet flowers, of each half a pugil: Jujubes six pair, Damask Prunes three pair: smal Raisons half an ounce: Senna one ounce and an half: Infuse them all night in Barley Water; then boyl and strain them: then dissolve of Manna one ounce and an half; Cassia three ounces: boyl them to an Opiate, adding in the end half an ounce of Rhubarb in pou∣der. Give one ounce at a time, once in a week, two hours before meat. Or,

Take of Cassia two ounces: Manna one ounce and an half: the Mucilage of Fleabane seeds six drams: the four great cold seeds, of each one dram: the Juyce of Liquoris two drams: With Syrup of Roses solutive make an Opiate.

These Opiates wil be better if you put Mercurius dulcis to them, because Mercury doth clense and heal al Ulcers both internal and external.

Turpentine is purging, and excellent in this Disease, because it clenseth the Ulcer. And you must give half an ounce thereof washed at once, with Pouder of Liquoris. But it is chiefly good when the Urine is thick.

Avicen commends Vomiting for this Disease, Cap. de Ʋlcer. Renum, A Vomit (saith he) is the best way to cure an Ʋlcer in the Reins, because it clenseth and emptieth, and draweth the Hu∣mors from the part. But Aetius in his Chapter de suppuratis Renibus; If (saith he) any man will take a strong Vomit every month, he will happily cure the Ʋlcer of the Reins, or any other evil that ariseth from them. Many Modern Physitians follow these; some gave warm Oyl and Water one hour before meat: which only Medicine being often repeated hath cured this Disease, as they say. But Rondeletius wil have them vomit after meat, because then men vomit most easily; and he gives warm Water and Oyl, and anoints the Stomach with Oyl of Lillies. But you must never give a Vomit, but to them that are easie to vomit; for otherwise it would Inflame the Ulcer.

After due Evacuations and Revulsions, you must use Clensers. The chief is, Whey taken every morning in abundance; or thin Hydromel, six or eight ounces in a morning in ordinary drink, or the Decoction of Barley and Liquoris with Sugar, and give Water and Sugar for ordinary Drink. You may boyl in Hydromel, if you fear heat, the cold Seeds, Liquoris, and Mallows. Asses Milk doth not only clese with its Wheyie part, but heal with its cheezy part, but you must not give it in a Feaver, or you may make this following Decoction to clense and ease pain.

Take of Marsh-mallow Roots half an ounce: Plantane, Agrimony, Maiden-hair, and Mal∣lows, of each one handful: Mallows and Melone Seeds with their Husks beaten, of each half an ounce: Winter Cherries six drams: scraped Liquoris one ounce: Barley one pugil: boyl them to two pints. Dissolve in the straining three ounces of Honey, and two ounces of Sugar candy: make a Julep. Take eight ounces every morning for ten daies.

Those Medicines you give for the Reins or Womb, must be given in great quantities least they lose their vertue before they come there.

Instead of them al, you may use Mineral Waters of Allum and Iron, by the constant use thereof the heat is corrected, and the Ulcer mundified and healed.

Some commend the Decoction of China, Sarsa, or Sassaphras, or of Guajacum given thirty daies or more together, with a second Decoction thereof for ordinary Drink, and a thin drying Diet; and least the Bowels should thereby be too much inflamed, they give cool Broths at night, and anoint the Reins with cold Oyntments. And this course is taken to dry up the matter, to purge and clense, espe∣cially in them that are flegmatick, or have the French Pox, and have neither Feaver, nor Flux of Blood.

But in any case you may use with more safety this following:

Take of Sarsaparilla three ounces: Shavings of Mastich Tree two ounces: Sassaphras one ounce: Shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn, of each six drams: Jujubes and Sebestens, of each half an ounce: Lignum Nephriticum four ounces: Barley two ounces. Infuse them twelve hours in five pints of spring Water: boyl them to three pints, for six draughts, to be taken twice in a day; aromatize them with two drams of Cinnamon.

After the use of Clensers, when you see by the decrease of the quantity of Matter in the Urine, that the Ulcer is clensed, as when it is white, and even, and not filthy, give drying, astringing, gluti∣nating, and heating things; as these Troches following:

Take of Bole-armenick, sealed Earth, and red Coral, of each three drams: Gum Arabick and Tragacanth, of each half an ounce: with Agrimony Water make Troches of two drams apiece. Let him take one every morning with boyled Milk, or the Decoction of Comphry.

The Troches of Gordonius are best of all, because they asswage pain and heat. Their Dose is two or three drams, with Hydromel, or Barley Water, when you wil clense more; or with Goats o•• Sheeps Milk, when you wil glutinate more.

For the same, use this following Opiate:

Take of Conserve of old Roses three ounces: Purslain and Plantane seeds, Myrtle Berries, Bole, sealed Earth, Sanguis Draconis, of each one dram: the shavings of Ivory, and Troches of Winter Cherries, of each half a dram: with Syrup of dried Roses make an Opiate, of which give the quantity of a Chesnutiwice in a day.

You may make knitting Juleps thus:

Take of Comphry Roots two ounces: Plantane and Mous-ear, of each one handful: the tops of Mallows and Maiden-hair, of each half a handful: Liquoris half an ounce: Starch and Gum Arabick, Tragacanth and Bole, of each one dram: Lettice and Purslain seeds, of each one dram and an half: red Roses one pugi•••• boyl them in Rain Water to one pint and an half. In the straining, dissolve four ounces of Sugar of Penides two ounces: make a Julep. Give eight ounces in a morning for ten or twelve daies.

Also the following Pills are good:

Take of Turpentine washed in Plantane Water one dram: Juyce of Liquoris and Gum Traga∣canth, of each two scruples: Bole and Troches of Winter Cherries, of each half a scruplr: With the Juyce of Hors-tail make Pills. Let him take half a dram morning and evening.

They are stronger made thus:

Take of Marsh-mallow Roots and Comphry dried, of each two drams: Gum Arabick, Cherry and Plum-tree, of each one dram: Oli••am•••• and Myrrh, of each four scruples: white Poppy seeds, and Winter Cherries, of each one dram and an h••lf: Camphire two scruples: beat them finely 〈…〉〈…〉 of the third part of them all of Antimonium Diaphoreticum; and with 〈…〉〈…〉 make a Mass. Give one dram morning and evening long from meat, and after it a little •••• his ordinary drink.

If Turpentine cause pain, give instead thereof Juyce of Liquoris dissolved in Pellitory Water.

And above all, new Milk from the Cow with one dram of Bole-armenick that is true, every mor∣ning, is excellent, as Forestus saies: And it is a secret of his Master Helidaeus, because it clenseth and healeth the Ulcer.

Quercetan in his Dispensatory, commends the Water that is given for the Gonorrhoea, as good for the same, as well as other Ulcers.

Hartmannus commends an Opiate made of Conserve of Roses two parts; and the Pouder of the Seeds of St. Johns wort one part, given in the end of the Cure many evenings together. And also two or three grains of Mercurius Dulcis given every day in Plantane Water.

But Mercurius Diaphoreticus is better, if wel made, and as it were fixed: this cures al internal ul∣cers miraculously.

In old Ulcers, the Decoction of round Birthwort in white Wine with Sugar, is very good.

Also observe what Garcias ab Horto saies, That in Goa they give Aloes and Milk for Ulcers in the Reins and Bladder, or to such as piss filth, and it presently cureth.

Outwardly to knit give this Oyntment:

Take of Juyce of Plantane and Nightshade, of each four ounces: Oyl of Roses three ounces: Vinegar one ounce: Litharge finely poudered one ounce and an half: washed Ceruss half an ounce: fine Pouder of Tutty two drams: Sanguis Draconis one dram. Make them into an Oynt∣ment.

Also you may use this following when there is no Inflamation.

Take of Oyl of Roses and Mastich, of each two ounces: Myrrh, Aloes, Sarcocol, Sanguis Draconis, of each one dram: Starch and Gum Tragacanth, of each four scruples: Styrax Cala∣mita one dram: white Wax as much as will make an Oyntment.

In the Ulcer of the Bladder it is proper to make Injection twice in a day; first with Hydromel, or Whey, or the Decoction of Barley with Honey of Roses to clense; then with Astringers and Binders made of Iron Water, in which Comphry Roots, Myrrh, Allum, and Sarcocol with Tragacanth have been boyled. But especially with the Troches of Gordonius dissolved in Milk.

Fabricius Hildanus cured a great Ulcer in the Bladder with this following Injection, and some few other Medicines, Obs. 69. Cent. 3.

Take of the Roots of Comphry one ounce: Agrimony, Pauls Bettony, Water Germander, La∣dies Mantle, Sanicle, of each half a handsul: boyl them to a pint. In the straining disso••ve two dram•• of Honey of Roses: mix them for an Injection.

And you must observe that these Injections are not only to be made with a Syringe, because they wil not enter into the Cavity of the Cavity of the Bladder, the Sphincter Muscle being shut, but you must conveigh it in with a Catheter.

And because in these Ulcers the pains are usually great, you must through the whol Cure abate them with Anodines inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly with Syrup of Poppies▪ Laudanum, and the Troches of Alkekengi made for this purpose; as also with Emulsions made of the cold Seeds, and white Poppy Seeds, with a little Syrup of Poppies, or with the often giving of Conserve of Marsh∣mallow flowers.

Outwardly you may apply this Fomentation following, to the Reins.

Take of Marsh-mallow Roots two ounces: Mallows, Pellitory of the wall, Violets, of each one handful: Lin-seed, Foenugreek, and Winter Cherries, of each three drams: Chamomel, Melilot flowers, and Water Lillies, of each one pugil: make a Decoction, with which foment the part, not with Spunges, because they have a saltness in them from the Sea.

After the Fomentation you may apply this Liniment:

Take of the Oyl of Violets, and of sweet Almonds, of each one ounce and an half: Oyl of Roses one ounce: Mucilage of Marsh-mallow seeds, and Foenugreek, of each two ounces: Saffron one scruple: make a Liniment.

Make this following Injection against the pain of the Bladder.

Take of Foenugreek and Quince seeds, of each one scruple: steep them one hour in one pint and an half of Barley Water: after strain them, and make a moist Mucilage; to which add of Oyl of sweet Almonds two ounces: Honey of Roses strained one ounce: mix them for an Inje∣ction.

And if you inject warm Milk, it is excellent for the same purpose. In which if you dissolve the Troches of Gordonius, you wil compleatly ease pain, and cure the Ulcer.