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. XXIV. Of Clysters.

CLysters which the Greeks call Clyster, * 1.1 Clysmos, Clysma, and Enclysma, is so called from purging or cleansing, al∣though it signifies every sort of Medicine in general, which pours in that which is liquid into any part, yet in particular, as also Enema from injecting, for the most part is taken one∣ly for a Medicine which is injected by the Fundament into the Guts.

A Clyster is injected for several ends, * 1.2 whence there a∣riseth various differences of Clysters; for some loosen the belly, and of these some do it by Emolliating, which are made of Emollients, proposed before, p. 1. S. 1. c. 6.

Others purge, to which purging Medicines are added. Some cleanse, namely, those which are compounded of Bar∣ley, the herb Mercury, Pellitory, Wormwood, Agrimony, Century the less, Pease, Parsnibs, Lupines, Flour, Honey with Roses, Hiera. Some are composed for the discussing and breaking of winde, and are made of those Medicines that expell winde, above mentioned, pag. 1. sect. 1. cap. 15.

Some binde and are prepared of Astringents, proposed in the same, cap. 6. Some glutinate, and are prepared of gluti∣nating things, spoken of in the same part and sect. cap 9. Sometimes Clysters are made of Anodyns, or Medicines that mitigate pain, for pains of the Guts and Reins.

But Clysters are compounded in this manner, there are taken of Roots and Rindes an ounce or two, of Leafs three, four or five handfuls, of Seeds three, four or five Drachms: of Flowers some Pugils, of Fruits, Pears ten, that is, twenty; to which if a purging Clyster ought to be made, Purgers are ad∣ded, Agrick, Colloquintida, Seeds of Carthamons, (all which least they should stickto the Guts, and offend them, are tied in a Linnen-cloath) the Leafs of Senna; but there is no need of such variety always, but oftentimes a few simples suffice. All the simple Medicines are boiled in a sufficient quantity of water; of the Decoction take three, four to fifteen Ounces, according to the age, for infants three Oun∣ces, hence those that are a little riper four, five or six may suffice; for one that is come to ripeness of years, for the

most part they take a Pint, sometimes also fifteen Ounces; yet sometimes, namely, when we would retain the Clyster long, and lest the too great quantity should oppress the other parts, onely eight or ten Ounces is taken in the Stone. In the Decoction strained those things which agree to our present purpose, we dissolve, as Oyls from an Ounce to two or three. When we onely are to emolliate, we put in Oyls onely or Butter, but indeed in greater quantity: those which have a purging faculty are then wholly to be omitted, lest by reason of the hard ordure sticking in the Guts, nature should be stimulated in vain, and humours be∣ing drawn greater evils do ensue. On the contrary, when you are to purge, to repell, and a sharp Clyster is required, the Oyls whereby the force of sharp and purging things is resist∣ed, are to be omitted, and purging Electuaries are to be added for the most part double the weight, which at other times they use to be taken in at the mouth, or Pills are to be dis∣solved, Salt also is to be added from a Scruple to a Drachm; also Abstergents, as Honey of Roses, or Sugar, in weight an Ounce or an Ounce and half; all of them being mixt, and moderately heated by a convenient and known instrument, they are to be injected into the Paunch an hour or two be∣fore meat.

Those who are unwilling to have it done by others may give a Clyster, as they call it, to themselves by instruments described in many places, the most convenient whereof Guil. Fabricius propounds in his Chyrurgical Operations, Cent. 1. Obs. 78.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Clyster.
• * 1.2

  Differences of Clysters.