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. XVI. Of a Malignant Fever with the Cramp.

THere are likewise other malignant Fevers, * 1.1 which had ac∣companied with them certain other diseases, namely the Cramp, Catarhs, a Cough, and the Squincy; for in the year 1596, and 1597. in the Bishoprick of Collen, West∣phalia, the County Waldestein, Wittenstein, and Hassia, there reigned a disease joyned with a Fever, which they then called die Kriebeltcranctheir, Kriempstsucht, oder Bi∣chende Senche.

It seized upon men with a twitching and kind of benum∣medness in the hands and feet, somtimes on one side, somtimes on the other, and somtimes on both: Hence a Convulsion invaded men on a sudden when they were about their daylie employments, and first the fingers and toes were troubled, which Convulsion afterwards came to the arms, knees, shoul∣ders, hips, and indeed the whole body, until the sick would lie down, and roul up their bodies round like a Ball, or else stretch out themselves straight at length: Terrible pains ac∣companied this evil, and great clamours and schrietchings did the sick make; some vomited when it first took them. This disease somtimes continued some days or weeks in the limbs, before it seized on the head, although fitting medicines were administred; which if they were neglected, the head was then presently troubled, and some had Epilepsies, after which fits some lay as it were dead six or eight hours, others were troubled with drowsiness, others with giddiness, which continued till the fourth day, and beyond with some, which either blindness or deafness ensued, or the Palsie: When the fit left them, men were exceeding hungry contrary to nature; afterwards for the most part a looseness followed, and in the most, the hands and feet swell'd or broke out with swellings full of waterish hu∣mours, but sweat never ensued. This disease was infectious, and the infection would continue in the body being taken once, six, seven, or twelve moneths.

This disease had its original from pestilential thin hu∣mours first invading the brain and all the nerves; * 1.2 but those malignant humours proceeded from bad diet when there was scarcity of provision.

This disease was grievous, dangerous, and hard to be cured, for such as were stricken with an Epilepsie, were scarce totally cured at all, but at intervals would have some fits, and such as were troubled with deliriums, became stupid. Others eve∣ry yeer in the month of December and January, would be troubled with it.

The Cure consisted in evacuating of the peccant humors, and corroborating of the Nerves. First, * 1.3 therefore the vitious humors are to be purged out of the first passages with Hermo∣dactils, Turbith, Spurge prepared, Diagrydium Electuary, called Diaphenicum, of the juyce of Roses, there being added Caster, Costus, seed of Rue and Commin.

Afterwards Medicins against the Convulsion, were given of Piony, Birdly me of the Oak, Caster, Sage, Mans skull ad∣ding thereto medicines resisting malignity, with the root of Swallow-wort, Divels bit, Treacle, Mithridate; and so pur∣ging and altering medicines are to be taken by turns, and con∣tinued: The external parts were anointed and fomented with those medicines which were proper for other Convulsions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A malig∣nant Fe∣ver with the Cramp.
• * 1.2

  The cause
• * 1.3

  Cure.