To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
TO prevent over-purging upon giving any Purging Medicine, we must proceed thus: Before we give a Purge, we must first consider well the Constitution, Strength and Custome of the Body to be Purg'd; as also the Nature, Dose, manner of Work∣ing, and ordinary effects of the Medicine to be given, and then
by comparing the one with the other, we must proportionate the vertue of the Agent according to the bearing of the Patient. Secondly, whilst the Medicine is working, let the Viscera where digestion is perform'd, the Blood, and the Animal Spirits be kept free from any other perturbation: Wherefore during that time, let not the Patient eat gross or viscous food, or too great a plenty of any food, which may offend the Stomach, let him carefully avoid the admittance of any outward cold, by which the Pores of the Body are shut up, also let the mind be kept calm and undi∣sturb'd, free from all Cares and toilsome Studies. Thirdly, The Operation of the Medicine being ended, we must appease the an∣gry rage of the Animal Spirits, and allay the effervescence of the Blood and Humours; for which ends let an Anodine Medicine, or a gentle Hypnotick be given according to the following forms.
Take Water of Cowslip Flowers two Ounces, Cinnamon-water hor∣deated, Syrup of Maeconium, of each half an Ounce, Pearls half a Scruple, make a draught to be taken going to rest: Or,
Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated two Scruples, Diascordium half a Dram, Pearls half a Scruple, Diacodium what suffices, make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep.
In case this Provision be either omitted, or does not hinder a Purging Medicine from working to excess, let the Patient pre∣sently be put into a warm Bed, and be ordered as follows. First, Let either a Plaister of Mithridate be apply'd to his Stomach, and to the whole upper Region of the Belly; or let those parts be fo∣mented with warm Linnen Cloaths, dip'd in a decoction of Worm∣wood, Mints, and Spïces in red Wine, and so wiung forth; present∣ly upon it let him take inwardly either a Bolus of Venice Treacle, or a Solution of it in Cinnamon-water. Moreover, let him drink every now and then a spoonful or two of Burnt-wine, diluted with a little Mint-water; if he be troubled with Gripes, give him a Glister of warm Milk with Treacle dissolv'd in it, and warm frictions must be us'd to the remote parts, and sometimes Liga∣tures to draw the Blood outwards, and so keep it from too great a Colliquation, and from discharging it self into the Cavities of the Viscera; then in the Evening if there be strength, and a pretty good Pulse, let him take a Dose either of Diacodium, or of Li∣quid Laudanum with some fit Vehicle.
As to other kinds of excessive Purging, which are wont to happen without the Administration of a Purging Medicine, for the most part they are meerly Symptomatical, depending on other Diseases, and their method of Cure is wholly the same as of those Diseases, whose off-spring they are: Nevertheless sometimes a Looseness, or Flux seems to be a Disease of it self, and because this kind of Distemper Raging almost yearly in the City of Lon∣don,
is commonly accounted Endemious, or a Disease peculiarly attending Inhabitants, I shall here set down its method of Cure.
I have often and long observ'd that there are two, and that very different kinds of that Flux (usually call'd the Griping of the Guts) which happens here almost yearly about Autumn: In one of them the Stools are watry, and in a manner cleer, with a sud∣den failing of the strength; in the other they are bloody, but to∣lerable withal.
In the Year 1670. about the Autumnal Equinox, a World of People here were seized with a most dangerous Flux (though without Blood) and joyn'd with a cruel Vomiting, which pre∣sently caus'd great faintings, and a total decay of strength.
For the Cure of this Disease no Evacuation did good, nay Bleeding, Vomiting, and Purging always did hurt; only Cordi∣als, and those of the hottest nature, to wit, such as abounded with Spirit and Sulphur, or a Volatile Salt prov'd commonly of good effect; insomuch that Brandy burnt a little with Sugar was a Popular, and as it were Epidemick Remedy, and in that sort of Flux was seldome given without success, though in the other sort of Flux which carry'd Blood with it, having been us'd with∣out due regard, it has often been found to be hurtful: The me∣thod of Cure which I then took successfully enough with many, and am wont still to take in the like case, is after the following manner.
Take Venice Treacle from a Dram to a Dram and a half; let the Patient take it in Bed, and drink after it seven or eight spoonfuls of the following Julap, and let him repeat this Dose every third, fourth, or fifth hour.
Take Mint-water, Cinnamon-water hordeated, of each three Oun∣ces, strong Cinnamon-water, Plague-water, Treacle-water, of each two Ounces, Powder of Pearls a Dram, Sacchari Crystalin half an Ounce, mingle them and make a Julap: At the same time take a piece of Bread, spread some Treacle on it, and dip it in Sack or Red-wine warm'd, and let it be apply'd to the Stomach as hot as it may be suffe∣red, and change it every now and then.
In the Evening, if the Pulse and Breathing seem strong enough to bear it, let the Patient take of Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty Grains in a draught of Plague-water.
Take Diascordium a Dram, Liquid Laudanum half a Scruple, Compound Powder of Crabs Claws a Scruple, Cinnamon-water what suffices, make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep.
To those to whom Treacle or Mithridate prove nauseous or disa∣greeing, give a Dose of the following Powder, or Spirit of Trea∣cle every third hour, with the Julap.
Take Compound Powder of Crabs Claws, Roots of Contrayerva, or Serpentaria Virgin, of each a Dram, Cinnamon, Roots of Tormentil, of each half a Dram, Saffron, Cochinele of each a Scruple, make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples.
Take Spiritus Theriacalis Armoniacus three Drams, the Dose is a Scruple, with the Julap every fourth hour, or give that, and the Doses of the Powder interchangeably, one, one time, and the other, the other: After the same manner the Spirits of Harts-horne. or of Soot may be given; let the persons Drink be Ale or Beer with a Crust of Bread, Mace, add Cinnamon boil'd in it and sweeten'd; or let it be Burnt-wine diluted with Mint-water; let his Food be Chicken-broth, Gruel or Panada, with the shavings of Ivory, Hartshorn, and the Roots of Scorzonera, &c. boil'd in it.
About the Autumnal Equinox, in the Year 1671. a desperate Bloody Flux seiz'd on many persons in this City; from the first seizing they voided Blood by seige in abundance, and that fre∣quently, and for the most part it was attended with a Belly-ach, and Gripes, continual watchings also with a Feaver, and a mighty thirst usually troubled them; nevertheless their strength held com∣monly pretty well for some considerable time, and if the Flux were stopt sooner than it ought, it rendred the Patients conditi∣ons worse.
The method of Cure, with the Remedies which I found to give Relief in many persons, was according to the following manner.
Take Venice-Treacle a Dram, Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty Grains, make a Bolus to be taken going to rest.
Take Conserve of red Roses vitriolated two Ounces, Venice-Treacle an Ounce, Powders of the Roots of Tormentil, Contrayerva, Pearl, Co∣ral prepar'd, of each a Dram, Syrup of dry'd Roses what suffices, make an Electuary to be taken every fourth or fifth hour, and let the person drink after it of the following Julap three Ounces.
Take the Waters of Mint, Baum, Cinnamon hordeated, of each four Ounces, Treacle-water, Plague-water, of each two Ounces, Pearl a Dram, Sugar an Ounce, mingle them and make a Julap.
After a day or two give a Purging Potion, which leaves an Astringency.
Take Rhubarb slic'd two Drams, yellow Mirobalans slic'd a Dram and a half, red Saunders, Cinnamon of each a Scruple; let them in∣fuse all Night in the Waters of Plantain and Cinnamon hordeated, of each two Ounces and a half, wring it forth hard, then add of strong Cinnamon-water a Dram and a half, make a Draught.
Every Evening, and also in certain cases in the Day-time, I was wont to give a pretty large Dose of Laudanum; nor have I ever known this Medicine to have done any prejudice to a person
troubled with the Flux, which happen's either because the Nar∣cotick force of the Medicine is subdued, or made more gentle by the Acid Juice of the Stomach, or rather that its Particles which are transmitted to the Blood, are thence presently cast forth a∣gain with the Bloody Stools, so that they do not affect the Brain.
If the above-mention'd Electuary be found nauseous to any per∣son, or disagrees with him, the following Powder may be given in its stead.
Take Pulvis Pannonici Rubri a Dram, Roots of Contrayerva half a Dram, make a Powder, divide it into three parts, and give one part in any Liquor.
Take Bole Armenick alexiteriated (that is, impregnated with the Juices of the Leaves of Tormentil, Bistort, red Roses, &c. and dry'd in the Sun) Roots of Contrayerva, of each a Dram, Pearl, red Coral, white amber, of each half a Dram, make a Powder: the Dose is from two Scruples to a Dram.
Take the Roots of Avens and Scorzonera, of each an Ounce, of Tormentil, Bistort and Contrayerva, of each two Drams and a half, burnt Harts∣horn three Drams, shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each two Drams, Cochinele half a Dram, red Rose-leaves two Drams, boil all in a sufficient quantity of Spring Water, till it comes to two Pounds, to∣wards the end of the boiling add conserve of red Roses three Ounces, to the Cleer straining add Plague-water four Ounces: the Dose is three Ounces.
To appease the Gripes and fretting of the Bowels, Glysters are commonly prescrib'd.
Take the decoction of the Tops of St. John's-wort, in which Sheeps Trotters or their Mesentery has boil'd eight or twelve Ounces, Venice-Treacle two Drams, Oyl of St. John's-wort an Ounce and a half, make a Glister.
The Therapeutick Indications into which the method before exprest of curing the Bloody Flux may be resolv'd, are chiefly four, &c. two regard the Blood, and as many the Viscera. First, as to the Blood, its recrementitious and depraved dreggs which tend inwards, must be driven forth into the habit of the body, that they may exhale by perspiration, and its coagulations must be dissolv'd, and its Crasis restor'd, as soon as may be. Secondly, as to what regards the Viscera, the irksome sensation of the Ner∣vous Fibres, and the irritation of the Carnous Fibres to excre∣tory Convulsions must be appeas'd, and the Mouths of the Vessels must be shut, to keep them from discharging the blood and hu∣mours into the Intestines. The first of these is usually perform'd with Opiats, and the other with Stiptick or Astringent Remedies: Besides these we must have regard to urging Symptoms, and ill affects usually attending this Disease, the chief of which are a
Feaver, with a Thirst and Wakings, Gripings of the Guts, and sometimes their fretting, Inflammation, and Ulcers.
We must not proceed upon those four chief Indications seve∣rally and successively, but we must take them altogether, and set upon them at once; wherefore the Prescripts ought to com∣prehend Remedies of divers kinds, to wit, Alexipharmicks, Styp∣ticks, Diaphoreticks and Opiats: And because it is not an easie thing to put these into a set method, and under set Rules, which may be generally apply'd; I have rather chosen to give you here some Examples of Cures performed by me in the Bloody Flux in the year 1671.
To a Gentleman 25 years of Age, to whom I was call'd the third day after he was seiz'd. I prescrib'd the following Bolus.
Take Venice Treacle a Dram, Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated a Scruple, mix them, let him drink after it a little draught of the fol∣lowing Julap. Take waters of Tormentil, Mints, and Cinnamon hordeated, of each four Ounces, Treacle water and Plague water of each two Ounces, Pearl a Dram, Sugar an Ounce, make a Julap. He took besides of the following Electuary about a Dram and a half every third hour, with the said Julap.
Take Conserve of Red Roses two Ounces, Venice Treacle an Ounce, Powder of the Roots of Tormentil, Contrayerva, Pearl, Coral prepar'd of each half a Dram, Syrup of Red Poppies what suffices.
By the use of these Remedies the rigour of the Disease soon a∣bated, so that he had not above six or seven stools in the space of twenty four hours, and those also were not very Bloody as be∣fore, but appear'd full of little flakes of Flesh, and of fragments, as it were of Membranes: Every Evening he took an Opiate with Laudanum.
The Fifth day of his illness he took the following Potion.
Take Rhubarb slic'd two Drams, yellow Mirobalanes a Dram and a half, yellow Saunders half a Dram, Powder of Cinnamon a Scruple; Salt of Wormwood half a Scruple; let them infuse all night in the wa∣ters of Plantain and Cinnamon hordeated, of each two Ounces and a half, to the straining add strong Cinnamon water two Drams
It purg'd him three or four times, and gave him ease, and the next day the Feaver being abated, he was better; so that seeming to grow well, he eat flesh. But shortly upon it fell into a Relapse, so that the Flux returning with the Feaver, it presently became more violent than it was at first: Then because the former Medi∣cines began to nauseate him, I prescrib'd after the following man∣ner.
Take Powders of Tormentil Roots, of Contrayerva, Bole Armenick Alexiteriated, of each a Dram, Pearl, Red Coral prepar'd, White Am∣ber,
of each half a Dram, make a Powder, the Dose is half a Dram in the following distill'd water.
Take Tops of Cypress and Myrtle, of each four handfuls, Leaves of Meadow-sweet, Burnet, St. Johns-wort, Avens, of each four hand∣fuls, Roots of Tormentil, Bistort, of each six Drams, Red Rose-flowers four handfuls, Kermes Berries four Ounces, Cinnamon, Mace, of each one Ounce. Being all slic'd and bruis'd together, pour to them Red Florence Wine, and Red Rose water of each four pounds; distil all in a common Still; let the whole Liquor be mingled and sweetned with Syrup of Coral. He took also three or four times a day of the fol∣lowing decoction three or four Ounces.
Take Roots of Avens and Scorzonera, of each an Ounce, of Tormen∣til two Drams, Hartshorn burnt and powdred six Drams, shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each two Drams, Tops of St. Johns-wort a handful, Flowers of Red Roses and Balaustiae, of each a pugil. Boil all in three pounds of fountain water, till it comes to two, adding towards the end of the boiling, of Red Lisbon wine four Ounces; let it boil close cover'd for an hour, then let it be strain'd through Hippocrates Sleeve.
Every night he took a Scruple of Liquid Laudanum in three Ounces of the Bloody Flux water ev'n now describ'd, with three Drams of Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers in it.
His common drink was a decoction of burnt Hartshorn with Barley, a Crust of Bread, Mace and Cinnamon; to a Pint and a half of which, a Pint of new Milk was added.
He took the Purging Infusion a second time, by the use of which, and the things before mentioned, within ten days the Feaver left him, and the Flux became much more gentle, which though without Gripes or much Blood, yet still continued with the little pieces of Flesh, the fragments of Membranes, and a bloody Phlegm or Gelly, which daily came from him.
Therefore to strengthen and heat the intestines, the following things were given.
Take Tops of St. Johns wort, Leaves of Perwincle and Mousear, of each a handful, Red Rose Flowers two pugils: Boil them in the Broath of a Sheeps Guts: To a pound of the Liquor strain'd, add Oyl of St. Johns-wort two Ounces, Honey of Roses an Ounce and a half: mingle them for two Glysters, whereof one was given him in the Morn∣ing, the other at five a Clock in the Afternoon. He wore Emplast. de minio & Paracelsi upon him Belly. He took moreover twice a day three Ounces of Juice of Plantain wrung forth with water of Scordium and Plague water. He eat also every day a Quince made hollow, and fill'd with the Powders of Olibanum, Mastick, and Balsam of Tolu, and so rosted in the Embers.
By the constant use of these Remedies, he grew perfectly well within a Month.
About the same time another robust young man, fell into a dreadful Bloody Flux; from the first day he was seiz'd, frequent stools and very bloody, presently brake forth with violence, be∣ing accompanied with a Pain and Gripes: Moreover a strong Fea∣ver, with a cruel Vomiting, Thirst and Wakings molested him. These Symptoms being a little mitigated with Opiats, a Delirium and a Vertigo, with an intermittent Pulse, and horrible extensi∣ons and contractions of his Limbs presently seiz'd him; this hap∣ning because the malignant matter which was inwardly restrain'd, presently flow'd into the Brain and Nerves: Nevertheless as often as the Looseness and Vomiting return'd, these affects were pre∣sently appeas'd. On the fifth day Vomiting up a bloody matter, he complain'd of a great torture in his Stomach, and of a Pain, as though it were Ulcerated, and in truth I suspected that there might be a beginning of some Inflam'd Blisters, or Ulcers in it, as it usually happens in the Intestines; but by giving him Emollient Broths with Milk in them, his Vomiting and the tortures of his Stomach soon ceased, his Flux in the mean time encreasing. He took that night of Diacodium an Ounce, Cowslip water and small Cinnamon water, of each an Ounce and a half; by which Medicine he was so much reliev'd, that in twenty four hours space his Vo∣miting and Pains left him, and he was only troubled with a few Stools, and having a good indifferent Pulse, and frequent Sleeps, he was pretty well; yet the following night, though he took a∣gain the same Opiate, his Flux return'd, and that with very fre∣quent Stools, and bloody as before. The next day after, he took an Infusion of Rhubarb with Mirobalans, Red Saunders and Cinna∣mon: He often voided Bilous and very sharp Excrements, but without the least of Blood; then in the Evening he took Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated twenty five Grains in a good spoonful of Cinna∣mon water hordeated; he had moderate and quiet Sleeps. After∣wards loathing any more Medicines, he took only an Opiate eve∣ry Evening, sometimes of one sort, and sometimes of another, and in a short time grew very well.