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.

The Third Book. Of a Hectick Fever. (Book 3)

CHAP. I. Of the Nature of a Hectick Fever.

ANd so these things of putred Fevers are handled, * 1.1 and consequently the first sort of Fevers, whose heat ac∣cording to inclination, disposition, or habitude, is in the living parts of the body; It still remains that we speak of Hecticks, wherein the Feverish distemper becomes as it were habitual, and so possesseth the living parts of the body, that although it be fostered by no cause, yet neverthe∣less it can subsist without it.

There are two things necessary for the generation of this Fe∣ver, * 1.2 aptness of the subject to receive and entertain preternatural heat, and a continual and vehement action of causes heating and introducing Fevers. An apt habit of body to take this Fever, is a hot and dry body, whether it be natural, or from what cause soever it proceed.

These Fevers are generated two ways; * 1.3 for either they follow other Fevers, whether burning or lasting, when their heat is ve∣hement; or being durable, it possesseth all the parts, and con∣sumes their moisture; or they arise from themselves, and from evident causes, which if they are weaker or lighter, they produce Ephemeraes; if stronger, they bring forth Hecticks.

But there are certain degrees of a Hectick Fever: The first is, * 1.4 when the rorid humidity is dried. The second, when the fleshy and fatty substance perisheth. The third is, when the heat like∣wise invadeth the 〈…〉〈…〉: And indeed when the rorid hu∣midity only grows 〈…〉〈…〉 is not as yet consumed, 'tis called a Hectick without a Consumption; but when that humidity is consumed and dried up, 'tis called a Hectick with wasting or marasmodes.

A Hectick also is somtimes simple and alone, somtimes 'tis joyned with putrifaction.

CHAP. II. Of the signs of a Hectick Fever.

A Hectick Fever is known by its continual heat, causing no pain, * 1.5 as being equal; and Hectick which indeed at the first touch is weak, afterwards it appears sharper: It is per∣ceived more in the Arteries then the other parts: And moreo∣ver, the heat after taking food, within an hour or two is increa∣sed, and the Pulse either is changed, as to greatness or swiftness, yet so, that its ascending appears strong and free, and none of those things precede which forego the fits of putred Fevers most commonly; and this mutation of pulse and heat, endures until the aliment be distributed. The pulse also in this Fever is lit∣tle, * 1.6 frequent, and moderately swift; and by how much the more the strength receiveth this Fever, by so much the more the body is consumed, and the strength debilitated, so that the sick can scarce lift up the eye-lids, and together with it in the second place, fatness in Urine swims like cobwebs. Lastly, The same things which appear in an hippocratical face, as 'tis described by Hippocrates, are also discerned in a marasmodes or Hectick, with wasting.

A Hectick with a Putred, * 1.7 and an Intermittent conjunct, is known from hence; That the fit declining, the heat nevertheless, although remiss, some is left thereof, and there is great languish∣ing of the strength, and all the other parts are more temperate, only the parts where the arteries are become hotter, and the pulse loseth not its swiftness and frequency, and the sick takes food, but is not strengthned thereby. A Hectick joyned with a continued putrid Fever, is difficult to be known; yet it may be known from hence, namely, because the dry calidity remains after the end of the declination, or of the whole Fever, or its periods; and the body is more extenuated then otherwise it useth to be, the Urine also becomes oylie, as may appear.

It is hard to know a Hectick in the beginning of it; * 1.8 'tis not so difficult to cure at the first: but that which is neerer to wast∣ing, or a consumption, is easily known, but hardly cured, and at the last it becomes plainly incurable.

CHAP. III. Of the Cure of a Hectick Fever.

LAstly concerning the cure: * 1.9 The hot and dry distemper in∣dicates cooling and moistning, the strength requires pre∣servation, and whatsoever of the humid and solid parts is consumed and dried, is to be restored with moistning things; and indeed moistning things are more safe; but in giving cool∣ing things we must be cautious, lest that the native heat already being weak, should by that means be extinguished. But if a Hectick Fever have a Putred one joyned therewith, the Hectick cannot be cured, unless the other Fever be first taken away.

Medicines cooling and moistning are, Violets, Burrage, * 1.10 Bu∣gloss, Waterlillies, Roses, Endive, Succory, Mallows the four greater cold seeds, Poppy. Out of which several medicines for present use may be prepared.

Externally, A Bath of fair water may be used most profitably, * 1.11 of which Galen 10. Meth. Medend. cap. 10. Which that it may moisten the more, Mallows, Violets, Bearsbreech may be added: 'tis convenient also to use a Bath of warm milk. After the Bath, let the body be anointed, but principally the spine of the back, with oyl of Violets, sweet Almonds, Water lillies, Roses; Cool∣ing and moistning medicines may be also applyed both to the Breast and Liver, as also to the Reins.

But the greatest hope of cure consisteth in Diet: * 1.12 The Ayr should be temperate, or moderately cold: Meats should be cool∣ing and moistning, easie of concoction, and of good juice, ha∣ving in them few excrements, and such as is not presently disper∣sed. In the first place Milk is profitable, which as Galen 4. de Simp. Medic. Facult. cap. 17. teacheth, 'tis cold and moist, ea∣sie of concoction, of the best nourishment, and hath great pow∣er of moistning and refreshing the substance of our bodies; Which lest it should be coagulated in the stomack, some Sugar or Salt should be mixed therewith; and it should only be taken in such a quantity as may well be concocted by the stomack. Strengthning and Restorative Broths are also profitable, of which 'tis spoken else-where, as also food of Almonds, Pine, and Pi∣stack nuts, the four greater cold seeds, and of white Poppy.

But meats in such as are sick in Hecticks, should be given in small quantity, but often, by reason of the imbecility of their strength. Their drink in our Countries should be Ale or

Beer, or Water and Wine, white and sweet. Their sleep should be somwhat longer. If a Putred be joyned with a Hectick, we must endeavour that the Putred Fever may be first taken away, yet the Hectick not to be neglected, lest that whilst we use re∣medies only for the Putred Fever, the Hectick may be encrea∣sed; if we use means only to cure the Hectick, the Putred may be increased.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Hectick Fever.
• * 1.2

  Causes
• * 1.3

  Manner of generation.
• * 1.4

  Differen∣ces.
• * 1.5

  Diagno∣stick signs.
• * 1.6

  Signs of differen∣ces.
• * 1.7

  Signs of a Hectick with a Pu∣tred.
• * 1.8

  Progno∣sticks.
• * 1.9

  Indicati∣ons and Cure.
• * 1.10

  Medicines
• * 1.11

  External things,
• * 1.12

  Diet.