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 Diabetes, or extraordinary Pissing.

DIabetes is a quick and plentiful sending forth of Drink by Urine; after which there comes a violent Thirst, and consuming of the whol Body.

It is called Diabetes apo tou diabainein, from passing through, as Water through a Conduit pipe, which is called Diabetes. This Disease is also called Dipsacos, from the unquenchable Thirst, and the Piss-pot Dropsie, from the continual making of Water. It is seldom seen, for Galen in 6. de loc. aff. cap. 3. saith that he saw it but twice.

The next and immediate Cause of this Disease, from Galen, and al his followers, is held to be a hot distemper of the Reins, which makes them draw Water violently from the Veins, and send it to the Bladder being not able to contain it themselves; the Veins being drawn dry, suck from the Liver; the Liver from the Guts and Stomach; hence comes a continual Thirst after drink, which as soon as it is taken, it is forthwith carried from the Liver and Veins into the Reins▪ where by its quantity it sti••reth up the Expulsive Faculty, and burdening the Retentive Faculty, it is sent to the Blad∣der.

Some suppose that this cause is insufficient, because the hot distemper of the Reins is an usual dis∣ease, but Diabetes is very rare; therefore there must be somthing else that is less usual, namely, a sharp or salt Matter in the Kidneys, either of ••holler or of Flegm, which doth continually provoke the attractive vertue of them; as in Chollerick Feavers there is a Thirst which cannot be quenched, from the Chollerick Humor which is fixed to the coat or Tunicle of the Stomach, or from Chollerick Vapors sent from some adjacent part into the Stomach, by the motion of some putrid Choller which lodgeth there. This Opinion is probable; but we think good to add thus much to it, That the Kid∣neys alone are not affected in this Disease, because Choller and other burnt Humors are first bred in the Liver; and therefore they cannot be in any quantity in the Kidneys, but the Liver must parti∣cipate of them. And if we may reason where Nature seems to be ••ilent, we can say that there is a ve∣nemous quality concurring for the producing of this Disease. For that kind of Serpent called Dip∣sacos, found in Lybia, when it bites any man, doth send into him such a poyson as begets an unquen∣chable Thirst. The like kind of venom may be bred in our Bodies, by a peculiar corruption of some humors, which may cause such a Thirst; for Galen testifieth that divers kinds of poysons may breed in our Bodies. And if such a kind of poyson may be bred in our Bodies as may cause a detestation of

Drink, as in Hydrophobia, in which the Patient cannot endure the sight of Water, or any Drink, why may not then there be produced another poyson, which hath the contrary quality, to cause a great and unquenchable Thirst? And hence may be the reason why this Disease is so rare; because this kind of poyson is seldom bred, but Choller and Salt Flegm, and the Diseases from thence, are ordinary. And as the Disease called Dogs Appetite, which is compared to this for the unsatiable desire of meat, is ascribed by the wisest Physitians to an occult quality; so this unquenchable thirst may be said to come from a peculiar and hidden quality.

The Signs of this Disease are cleer from what hath been said; as an extraordinary making of Wa∣ter, an unquenchable Thirst, and a sudden pissing forth of what is drunk, a decay of the whol Body; for the moisture which would nourish the Body, is pissed forth with the drink. And though there be often a large Evacuation of Urine in sharp Feavers, and other cases, yet that is not to be called Dia∣betes, because the aforesaid Symptomes, as great Thirst and Consumption of the Body are not joy∣ned therewith.

The Prognostick of this Disease is deadly, for it is incurable, except it be in the beginning thereof; for it presently brings a Consumption. In old men it is more dangerous; and when it comes after inordinate Lechery, or Agues.

The Cure is wrought by allaying the hot distemper of the Kidneys, and by strengthening them by thickening the Humors that flow unto them, and by opposing the malignant quality thereof; all which may be done with these Medicines following:

In the beginning of the Disease while there is strength, you may open a Vein, for to revel or pluck back, and cool the Humors; but it must be done divers times, and but a smal quantity of blood taken away. But if the strength be decayed, or if this follow another Disease, Phlebotomy must not be.

You must give Mollifying and Asswaging Clysters to draw forth the Excrements, made thus:

Take of Lettice, Purslain, Mallows, and Plantane, of each one handful: clensed Barley, and red Roses, of each one pugil: make a Decoction to one pint and an half. In the straining dissolve of Diaprunes simple six drams: Honey of Roses, and Sallet Oyl of each two ounces: make a Cly∣ster, and use it often.

You may also give a gentle Purge with Cassia, and Pulp of Tamarinds, or the Decoction of Plan∣tane, Purslain, Lettice, Tamarinds, and Myrobalans, with Syrup of Roses.

Some commend Vomits made of the Decoction of Rhadish Seed, and Dwarf-Elder with Oxymel, which doth Evacuate and draw from the Ureters.

To correct the distemper of the said parts, and to thicken the Humors, Juleps made of the Waters or Decoctions of Lettice, Purslain, and Plantane, with Syrup of Myrtles, Quinces, and the like, and Syrup of Poppies, in a smal quantity, adding the Pouder of Diatragacanth frigid, and the Troches of Sealed Earth, and the like.

Or to astringe more, make them thus:

Take of Comphry and Plantane Roots, of each one ounce: Plantane Leaves one handful: Pomegranate Flowers, and yellow Myrobalans, of each one dram: Plantane and Purslain seed, of each half a dram: red Roses one pugil: boyl them to a pint. In the straining dissolve of Syrup of Quinces three ounces: make a Julep for three Doses.

For the same end you may make a Pouder, or an Opiate thus:

Take of Plantane, Purslain, and Coriander seeds prepared, and red Roses, of each one ounce: prepared Coral, Bole-armenick, prepared Pearl, and Tormentil Roots, of each one scruple: Nut∣meg half a dram: mix them into Pouder.

Take of old Conserve of Roses, four ounces: Bole, prepared Coral, and burnt Harts-born, of each one scruple: with Syrup of Quinces make an Opiate.

Erastus highly commends the Syrup of Comphry Roots and Sloes, which he saith he used with good success in these Diseases.

Also Narcoticks, or Stupefactives used wisely, are very good, as new Treacle, Syrup of Poppies, and Laudanum.

If it continue long, Sheeps Milk, Cow, or Asses Milk, are excellent, if you first consume the Whey thereof, with often quenching Flints therein, and he may use it in the morning, as we shewed in other Cures.

Sweating is commended by Authors, by which means the serous Humor is drawn outward. But it is to be mistrusted, because it is very like to purge by Urine, and encrease the distemper of the Bow∣els. But if it be used at any time, it must be of the mildest sort, as of Roots of China, Sarsa, Endive, Borrage, Sorrel boyled in Water, or for those who are consumed, in Chicken Broth; but we think it safer to provoke sweat by outward means; as by a vapor from some convenient Decoction in a wooden Instrument.

Such Sudorificks as are prescribed in malignant Feavers, are excellent, especially if Spirit of Vi∣triol be in them, to quench Thirst, stay the flux, and resist the malignity.

For Drink, let the Patient use Iron'd Water with sharp and astringent Syrups, or a Decoction of Sloes, and the inward Bark of an Oak; by which Medicine even alone, Erastus saith that he cured this Disease in a Boy.

Outwardly, Apply a Fomentation to the Loyns made of Sorrel Roots, Plantane, Pomegranate peels, Sumach Seeds, and the like, with a little Vinegar; or, which is most proper, make a Bath of the same Decoction to sit in.

And anoint the part with Ungu••nt of Roses, Sanders, and Comitissa mixed together, or this fol∣lowing:

Take of Oyl of Roses and Myrtles, of each one ounce: red Sanders, red Roses, and red Coral, of each one scruple: Juyce of Plantane one ounce: Wax, as much as will make an Oyntment.

Then you must allay the Symptomes that accompany this Disease, as thirst, watching, consumpti∣on, and the like, by their Remedies mentioned in their proper Chapters.