Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

Of the Syncopal Fever.

MOreover to these Fevers belongs a Syncopal Fever, com∣monly called a humorous Fever, * 1.1 in which there is more of pituitous and crude humours then in other Fe∣vers that are phlegmatick; and moreover a debility of the ori∣fice of the stomack is adjoyned, whence the sick easily fall into a Syncope, especially when the Fever begins.

This Fever is hard to be cured, since the sick by reason of their extreme weakness and danger of continual soundings, can∣not endure necessary evacuations, * 1.2 and especially if the pulse be weak, small and unequal, the Fever is exceeding dangerous.

But evacuations are most properly occasioned by frictions, as Galen teacheth in his twelfth of the method of curing, cap. 3. * 1.3 Clysters and Lenitives also with medicines opening the first passages only and causing no commotion of the other humours.

The first passages being opened and cleansed, we come to pre∣paring and evacuating humours, as in other Fevers petuitous, and medicines to prevent the sounding fits are also to be admini∣stred.

The meats should be not much, thin as to substance, easie of concoction, * 1.4 and generating as little phlegm as may be, and they are to be taken often. The drink should be wine which hath power to nourish, heat and attenuate, and doth not in∣crease phlegm. Hydromel is also good wherein Hysop hath been boiled.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Syncopal Fever.
• * 1.2

  The Pro∣gnostick.
• * 1.3

  Cure.
• * 1.4

  Diet.