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. VI. Of Purging.

BUt because all putred Fevers have their original from foul humours: * 1.1 Now we are to consider by what means they may

be evacuated, but seeing those things which evacuate them are twofold, Lenitives and Purges, properly so called: Lenitives are safely to be administred in the beginning of all putred Fevers, because there are scarce any bodies wherein the stomack, guts, and Mesaraick veins contain not some of the peccant humours.

These evacuations are to be caused by Clysters, * 1.2 called loose∣ning medicines, and by vomit. The Clysters are made of Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Violets, Pellitory, Beares-breech, Mercury, common Oil, or mixt with Violets, brown Sugar, Cassia, * 1.3 Elect Lenitive, Diacatholicon Hiera, and such like.

Or those lenitive medicines may be given which are at this day in use: Syrrup of Roses solutive, of Violets solutive, Honey of Roses solutive, Tamarinds, Cassia, Manna, the lenitive Electuary simple, Cream of Tartar.

You must use such medicines at the times of remisness and in∣termittings, when the Fever least offendeth, whether it be car∣ly in the morning or in the evening.

Sometimes also in the beginning of Fevers you may admini∣ster a vomit; when great store of matter is contained in the sto∣mack and adjacent parts, whereof no concoction can be expect∣ed, the which useth to corrupt and putrifie in the body, and of∣tentimes that is easily vomited out, which with great difficulty is purged out. * 1.4

The Vomits are set down in the fifth Book of the Institutions part. 1. Sect. 1. cap. 12. Some give at this day the roots of A∣sarabecca, from half a drachm to a drachm. The Chymists use white Vitriol, Salt of Vitriol, Medicines prepared of Anti∣mony; which do not open only the first passages, but stir the whole body: These are to be used with much caution, and as Hippoc. * 1.5 1 Aphor. 24. Not without skilful advice.

Concerning Purgers at what time they are to be used, there is great controversie; for although vitious humours at any time during the desease, shew that they ought to be taken away; Yet they ought not to be evacuated at any time, but instead of an Oracle, Galen admonisheth four of preservation of health, c. 5. the Aphorisme of Hippocrates is to be had in esteem, 22. Sect. 1. Such as are concocted and ripe, ought to be purged and removed, not crude; neither in the beginnings, unless the matter trouble much, which seldom cometh to pass. But although some inter∣pret this Aphorism otherwise, yet if it be diligently considered, 'twill be manifest, that Hippocrates meant to speak only of pu∣tred Fevers, and of no other disease, and by crude humours in∣tends those that by reason of their putresection in putred Fevers

ought not to be purged, being unfit; by concocted he intends such as are fitting to be purged: The words crudity and concoction, being transsated from their proper signification of crudity and concoction to excrementitious humours.

Although there are certain other preparations of humours for purgation both in Fevers and out of Fevers: * 1.6 Yet the name of concoction belongs not to them, and we must distinguish be∣twixt concoction and preparation of humours. Concoction, whereof Hippocrates speaketh, is a reducing of the putred hu∣mours into a better condition, and less obnoxious to the body, and a separation of them from good blood, that they may the more profitably be evacuated out of the body; hence concoction belongs only to humours, which are contained in the Veins, and mixed with the blood, but those that are in other places, and not mixed with the blood, may be purged at any time. For these humours unless they are reduced to a certain mediocrity as they are capable of, and are seperated from laudable blood, the Physician in vain, and with much detriment to the sick, endea∣vours to expell them by purging. For neither will the humours follow the foregoing medicine, neither hath the Physician na∣ture for his assistant, since the matter is only stirr'd and trou∣bled, and various Symptomes arise; either the strength is weak∣ned by the vio••ence of a strong medicine, or the native heat is consumed and weakened.

Yet flatulent humours may be purged without concoction; * 1.7 For although these are not as yet concocted, yet because there is not only danger lest they should fall upon some principal part, but also because being thin, and already in motion, they easily follow their leading medicine; and the Physician hath nature to assist him, which alone sometimes expells such humours at the be∣ginning, to the great advantage of the sick. But by flatulent hu∣mours here, we are not to understand only those which hitherto are moved to no determinate part, but also those which although they rush into some part yet they are still moveable, and so dis∣posed, that they'l easily remove into another part, and according to their manner, are hitherto wandring, but have not any fixed seat any where.

Concoction, whereof we here speak, is the work of nature on∣ly, which when 'tis strong, gives what perfection they are ca∣pable of receiving, even to the vitious humours, as may be seen in the generation of quitture; and this concoction is made only in putred Fevers▪ For whilest the humours ferment in the veins, like new wine, and the good and bad are mixt together,

and cannot easily be seperated: They are called crude, but when the humours are appeased and cooled, and the good may easily be seperated from the evil, they are said to be concocted.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Purgation
• * 1.2

  Clysters.
• * 1.3

  Lenitives.
• * 1.4

  Vomits.
• * 1.5

  Purging medicines.
• * 1.6

  Concoction of humors.
• * 1.7

  Flatulent humours.