The London practice of physick, or, The whole practical part of Physick contained in the works of Dr. Willis faithfully made English, and printed together for the publick good.

Of the trembling of the Heart, and its Cure.

THe trembling of the Heart is an effect distinct from its panting or Palpitation, and of a different nature from it, for in that its carneous and moving Fibres seem affected by them∣selves, nor does the Morbifick Cause, as in the other affect seem to lie in the Blood; or in the Arteries of the Heart.

The trembling of the Heart may be well describ'd to be a Spas∣modick Convulsion, or rather a trepidation of its flesh, by which the moving Fibres hastily, and only half contracted cause most swift turns of the Systoles and Diastoles, but broken, and as it were at halfs; so that the Blood is brought into, and carried forth of the Sinus's of the Heart, only in very small Portions.

As to the method of Cure to be us'd in the trembling of the Heart, since this affect is meerly Convulsive; therefore they are not Cordial Remedies, but rather Cephalicks, and Nervous Medi∣cines that are Indicated; which nevertheless according to the temperament and constitution of the Patient, must be either more hot or moderate, or, now of this, now of that nature. To comprehend all in a few words, since there are three sorts of Me∣cines, that are wont to be mighty successful in this Distemper, viz. testaceous Medicines, Chalybeates, and such as are endow'd with a volatile Salt: I shall here briefly set down certain forms of each of these and their use. Therefore in the first place a provision be∣ing made for the whole by evacuatives, and a choice being made of that sort of Medicine which promises best, you may prescribe as follows.

Take Coral prepar'd, Pearl, of each two Drams, both Bezoars, of each half a Dram, white Amber two Scruples, Amber-greece a Scruple: Make a Powder, the Dose is half a Dram twice or thrice a day, with a distill'd water, or some proper Julape.

Take Powder of Crabs Claws Compound two Drams, Powder of Male Peony Roots, and of Mans Scull prepar'd, of each a Dram, Flow∣ers of Male Peony, of Lillies of the Valley, of each half a Dram: Make a Powder to be taken after the same manner.

Take Ivory, red Coral powdered, of each three Drams, Species Diam∣brae a Dram, double refin'd Sugar, dissolv'd in a sufficient quantity of water of Navews, and boil'd to a consistency for Tablets seven Ounces: Make Tablets according to Art, weighing half a Dram; let one or two be eaten often in a day, as the person pleases.

Take Conserve of the Flowers of Lillies of the Valley six Ounces, Powders of Coral prepar'd, Pearl, Ivory, Crabs Eyes, of each a Dram and a half, Vitriol of Mars a Dram, Syrup of Coral what suffices: Make an Electuary; the Dose is from a Dram to two Drams twice a day, drinking after it a draught of the following Julape.

Take the water of Navews, and of whole Citrons, of each six Oun∣ces, of Orange, Rines distill'd with Wine two Ounces, Sugar half an Ounce: Make a Julape.

Take of our Syrup of Steel six Ounces, the Dose is a spoonful in the Morning, and at five in the Afternoon, with two Ounces of the Ju∣lape before written, leaving out the Sugar, or with distill'd water.

Take Powder of Ivory, and of Coral, of each two Drams and a half, Species Diambrae a Dram, Salt of Steel two Drams, Sugar eight Ounces, Amber-greece dissolv'd half a Scruple: Make Tablets weith∣ing half a Dram, the Dose is three or four Drams twice a day.

Take fresh Strawberies eight pounds, the outward Coats of twelve Oranges, fresh Filings of Iron half a pound, being bruis'd together, pour to them eight pounds of Wine; let them ferment in a Pot close cover'd for twenty four hours, then distill it in common Organs.

Take Spirit of Hartshorn, or of Blood, or the like, three Drams: The Dose is twenty drops twice a day, with a fit Vehicle.

Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack, Coral prepar'd, of each two Drams: The Dose is a Scruple twice a day.

Take Crystal Mineral two Drams, Salt of Amber a Dram, Salt of Hartshorn a Scruple: Mix them, the Dose is from fifteen Grains to twenty twice a day, with the distill'd water.