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. VIII. Of the cure of oppressing and urging Symptomes.

THe third sort of preternaturall things remaines, * 1.1 name∣ly, Symptomes. Symptomes as they are preternatural In∣dicate in generall the ablation of themselves: But that In∣dication for the most part is unprofitable: For since they de∣pend on diseases, and their causes, those being taken away, these also are taken away: But because it cannot alwaies be expected, or waited, untill the cause, or the disease be taken away, somethings necessary Indicate, vvhich require a pecu∣liar cure different both from the cure of a disease and of the cause, and that they require to be done speedily: Such Symptomes are those which are said to urge or ensorce: All those things provoke which threaten such danger and mis∣chief, that the ablation of the disease, or of the cause on which it depends cannot be expected, but if it should be ex∣pected, it would threaten the hazard of life, or some great hurt; But then the ablation of the disease is not to be expe∣cted

when either it is uncurable, and the Symptomes be∣longs to an action hurt, that is neceslary, not absolutely for life, but for amendment, or if it be cureable, the cure where∣of is so tedious, that before it can be perfected, danger and hazard of life will be like to happen, by reason of the Symptome; those Symptomes are commonly accounted but few, principally paine, watchings, and immoderate Evacua∣tions, yet there are some others.

Paine indicates a medicine taking away or mittigating paine, * 1.2 but since paine is either a sad sensation, or else is not made without a sad perception by sense, and two things are necessary to sensation, perception of a thing Tangeable, or sense in the part which it meetes with, and advertency of the mind, if one of these be wanting neither sense nor paine is, and therefore those things which take away, and hinder one of these, are contrary to the paine: and as for what be∣longs to the sense in the part, we may resist paine two wayes, either by opposing a contrary object to the sad sensation, or by taking away the sense; sithhence therefore a sweet and pleasant sensation is contrary to a sad, that the sad sensation may be taken away, that is to be offered to it, which is endued with a mild and gentle heate, and brings forth a pleasant, * 1.3 and sweete sensation when touched, which are Anodines (or medicines mittigating paine) properly so called, as a bath of fresh water, common Oyle, the far of Animalls, Muscillages, and other things endued with a temperate and pleasing heate, of which above P. 1. S. 1. Chap. 7.

Moreover Narcotticks mittigate paine, * 1.4 or Stupifactives, which stupifie the Spirits, and together provoke sleepe, and so doe it, that the Dolorifique subject is not perceived.

Secondly, Intentiveness of mind is hindred if it be averted to other objects.

Over much watching indicates a medicine causing sleepe, * 1.5 sleepe may be occasioned foure wayes; first if all things may be removed which may excite any sense to operate. Second∣ly, if the mind be drawne away from the agitation of the externall senses, and the animall spirits are pleasantly in∣vited, from motion to rest. Thirdly, if those things are ex∣hibited, which allay hot, dry, and sharpe vapours, and send pleasant fancies into the braine, whereby it is moistned, and as it were stupifyed. Fourthly, if those things are ex∣hibited which by a peculiar faculty make the animall

Spirits drowzie, and unapt, or dull, which specially are called, Hypnoticks, and Narcoticks.

Thirst since it is the desire of cold and moist, * 1.6 and is made through the defect of cold and moist, it Indicates cold and moist, as its contrary.

Too great a flux of the belly, as it is such, * 1.7 is stopt by astringent things.

Blood slowing Indicates a remedie that stenches blood; but it is stopt two wayes, either by prohibiting, that the blood cannot returne to the place, out of which it came, or if the vessells suffer it not to flow, which will be done, if they are shut, or closed, and sometimes, one of them only sufficeth, and sometimes, when there is a great flux of blood both are necessary. That the blood may not flow back to the place out of which it came, is to be brought to passe if it be not drawn back by it, if it be repelled, if it be drawn to another place, t••s not drawn back if the causes, by reason of which tis drawn back be taken away, as heat, pain, trou∣blesome thirst: tis repelled by the use of the Refrigeratives, and astringents, tis drawne into another part by Revelling, or Deriving, but that the blood may not flow back, is prohi∣bited when the end is shut, which is done, when the way is obstructed, and stopped; through which it flowed.

We cure a swooning by refreshing the Spirits, * 1.8 although it cannot be done presently by removing the cause, for this purpose the most f•••• things, are pure Aire, excellent and O doriferous Wine, and spirits distilled of it.

But not only actions hurt, but other Symptomes also sometimes trouble, if the Arme pits stink and smell ranke, that inconveniency is remided by the use of sweet things, if the breath stinks, that imperfection is hid by the chewing of sweet smelling things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Symptomes urging, & how many.
• * 1.2

  Cure of paine.
• * 1.3

  Anodines.
• * 1.4

  Stupefac∣tives.
• * 1.5

  Cure of over much watching.
• * 1.6

  Cure of Thirst.
• * 1.7

  Of the flux of the belly. Flux of blood.
• * 1.8

  Fainting or swooning.