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.

CHAP. XIX. Of a Quotidian Intermittent.

THe second sort of intermitting Fevers is that which pro∣ceeds from Flegm, * 1.1 which because it takes them every day, is called a quotidian. Fernelius writes that this is the rarest of all Fevers, and that which scarce happens once a∣mongst six hundred: Nay there are some who plainly deny it: and although many are affected every day, yet they are sick of a double Tertian, or treble Quartan.

The cause of this Fever sithence it is Flegm putrifying in the meseraick veins, all those things may be causes of this Fever, * 1.2 which conduce to the generation of Flegm, namely, weakness of the bowels, especially of the stomack, heat, cold and moist aliment, and too great plenty of them.

This Fever is known by the causes generating Flegm which went before, * 1.3 and also by the signs of Flegm abounding in the body, explained in lib. 3. of Institutions part. 2. cap. 2, This Fever chiefly comes to invade in the night, only with coldness of the extreme parts, and trembling: The heat after refrigeration slowly invades, so that somtimes heat, somtimes cold is percei∣ved; and the heat at the first doth not seem sharp, but habituous; yet if the hand put thereunto continue some time, it appears a little sharp, and when it is diffused over the whole body, it doth not burn much, so that the sick do not breath extraordinarily, neither are they very thirsty: The face is not very red, but for the most part yellowish, or a little puffed up; the eyes in the be∣ginning are white, thin, and crude; afterwards when the mat∣ter is concocted, they become thick, troubled, and oftentimes also red. In the first paroxisms also they sweat not, but in the progress of the disease they sweat a little; the Pulse also is ex∣ceeding little, thin, and more then in Quartans, but equally slow; the paroxism is extended to eighteen hours, and the inter∣val, which is six hours, is seldome pure and free; nay 'tis often extended to four and twenty hours.

But how long this Fever shall continue, * 1.4 may be conjectured by the signs of concoction appearing sooner or later in the Urine, and by the longitude and brevity of the paroxism; for if nature timely aim at some evacuation, it affords hopes of shortness of the disease: But this Fever as being that which ariseth from a pertinacious humour is long, and continueth unto forty days

three moneths or more, and is not without danger; and when the Stomack and Liver are much affected with it, the sick are of∣ten cast into a Dropsie and Cachexy.

The cure for the most part is the same with a Quotidian con∣tinued; * 1.5 for the pituitous humour is to be prepared and evacua∣ted, to wit, the first passages are to be opened with Clisters ac∣commodated to the pituitous humour; breathing a vein is scarce used, but a Vomit is more useful then in any other sort of Fever, because the stomack is principally affected, but 'tis to be occasi∣oned by seed of Radish, Orach, of Dill, flowers of Broom, in those that are strong, with Spurge, and others that are every where known.

The Flegmatick humour is to be prepared with convenient medicines; * 1.6 the opening roots, Hysop, wilde Marjoram, Betony, Mayden hair, Agrimony, Groundpine, Camomil, and other things convenient for Flegm, Syrup of Sorrel simple and com∣pound, Syrup of the two and of the five Roots, Honey of Roses, Syrup Byzant, simple and compound, of Hysop, Oxymel simple and compound with Squills, spirit of Salt and Vitriol.

The matter in the first place being prepared, * 1.7 it should be eva∣cuated with Agarick, Mechoachan, Turbith, Troches of Alhan∣dal, Elect. Indo Diaphaenico, Diacarthamo, pills of Hieca, with Agarick, and such like.

Sweat and Urine also should be provoked with medicines made of Fennel, * 1.8 Carduus Benedictus, Salsa Parilla, wood of Sassafras, Treacle, and Mithridate; and lastly the Bowels, but especially the Stomack and Liver are to be strengthned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Quoti∣dian Fever
• * 1.2

  The cause
• * 1.3

  Diagno∣stick signs.
• * 1.4

  Progno∣sticks.
• * 1.5

  The Cure
• * 1.6

  Preparers.
• * 1.7

  Purgers.
• * 1.8

  Movers of Urine and sweat.