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. 1. Of the Feaver Ephemera.

THis Feaver is commonly bred of external Causes, and of vehement Motions of Body and Mind, as Anger, Cares, Labor Pain, Watching, and Fasting, by which the Spirits are inflamed; also by Sleep and Sorrow, by which the hot Humors and Vapors are kept within the Body. Also by be∣ing heated with the Sun, Fire, or Stove, by which means, hot air being drawn in with the Breath, and received by the Pores of the Body, it doth inflame the Spirits. Also by Surfetting, Drunkenness, and especially by over large taking in of Meats and Drinks, that are of an hot Nature, as Peppered Meats, and stroog Wines, by which more Vapors are raised than can exhale. Also by Retention of hot Excrements, and that not only of the Dung and Urine, but especially of those Sooty Vapors which are wont to pass through the Pores of the Skin, if those Pores be shut up with cold, an Allumi∣nous Bath, and such like Causes.

Also this Ephemera Feaver is bred of internal Causes, as from a Bubo, and other Swellings of the Thighs or Arms, especially whiles they break; from an hot fiery Swelling of the Extremities of the Body, when hot Matter shut up together in one certain place, doth offend the Heart, not by its pu∣trefaction, but heat alone. Also by some smal Obstruction of the Vessels, by which means the soo∣ty exhalations being retained do cause a Feaver; as is wont to happen in Distillations, when they arise in hot Natures, and a thick habit of Body.

This Feaver is known, both when some of the Causes specified hath gone before; and also by a swift, frequent, and great Pulse; breathing frequent and great, Headach and Heat; there is neither cold nor shaking, no sence of weariness, nor want of Appetite. Yet may there be somtimes a shi∣vering or shaking fit, namely, when the Feaver is occasioned by the heat of the Sun, or by cold. Fee∣ling the Patients Hand we find a mild and gentle heat; the Urine is concoct, like that of one in health, unless by some Obstruction or Crudity it be changed. It is commonly terminated in the space of twenty four hours, with an easie gentle Sweat; yet it reacheth somtimes unto the third day, which if it pass it degenerates into a simple Synochus, a Putrid, or an Hectick Feaver.

For the Cure of this Feaver, the Ancients did chiefly use a bath of luke-warm Water, which they did also frequently use in their Health. But seeing it is in these times out of use, neither is it in pra∣ctice in the Cure of these Feavers. Neither is it counted safe, in regard of a Plethorick or Cacochy∣mical Constitution of Body, Putrefaction, or flux of Rheum, which may be in such bodies, or may be feared wil happen.

But this Feaver is better cured by a Cooling and Moistening Diet; as Barley Cream, Cooling Broths, Smal Drink and Sugar, common Ptisan Drink, or Fountain Water with Syrup of Lemmons, Maiden-hair mixed there with.

But the Cure admits some variation, according to the Nature of the Cause. So if it spring from the Heat of the Sun or Air, a cooling Diet is good, and the Patient must be conveighed into a cool lodging; and Vinegar of Roses must be applied to his Forehead, to the Temples and former part of the Head it self, if there be pain, as commonly there is when the Feaver comes from the heat of the Sun.

If it come from being in the Cold, especially if the Patient being hot with Exercise went presently into the Cold, Sweat must be provoked, especially towards the end of the Fit.

If it come from the Skins thickness and closing up of the pores, the same Cure must be used; and to both these Causes, smal Wine very well allaied with Water may be convenient, because it opens the pores, and helps to sweat.

If the Disease was caused by Labor, the Patient must rest and be nourished more liberally with Meat of easie Digestion. If from weariness, the Patient must be artificially rubbed. Tranquillity of mind, and cheerfulness, must be opposed to Anger; and Choller must be tempered with Meat and Drink of a cooling Nature. To Sadness, Recreation of the Mind is a Remedy, and the use of thin smal Wine. If the Feaver was caused by watching, let the Patient sleep by application of things con∣venient: If by fasting, let the Patient eat cooling Meats of good Juyce: If by over eating or drin∣king, let the Patient abstain from Meat and Drink, not omitting such things as strengthen the Sto∣mach, both inwardly given, and outwardly applied: also with an Emollient and Laxative Clyster, part of the Crudities is to be taken away. If Putrefaction be feared, Vomit may be procured, or a Purge given. If the Feaver arise of Obstructions, we must consider whether the Patient be Pletho∣rick or Cacochymical, viz. Whether the whol Mass of blood be over great, or only some bad Hu∣mors abound in the blood. If the Patient be too ful of blood, blood-letting must be advised; if evil Humors only abound, a Purge must be prescribed. And if the Obstruction wil not easily be removed, this Feaver changeth into some of the other sorts of Feavers, whose Cures shal be described in their proper places.