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.

CHAP. V. Instructions concerning Diuretick Medicines, or such as work by Ʋrine, with Diuretick Prescripts.

THe chief Scopes, or ends of Diuretick Medicines, are as fol∣lows.

First, If at any time the Blood becomes so compact and tena∣cious from a fixt Salt, Sulphur, and Earth fermented together, and mutually combin'd in it, that the Watery Particles do not easily separate from the rest, Diureticks fit to loosen its Texture, and to fuse the Serum, must be such as excel in a volatile or acid Salt; for such Particles chiefly dissolve any coalitions caus'd by a fixt Salt. But in regard this disposition is common both to a Feaver and the Scurvy, in the former affect, the most proper Diureticks are the temperate Acids of Vegetables; also Sal Nitre, the Spirits of Sea-Salt, of Vitriol, &c. And likewise such as have a Volatile Salt, as the Spirits of Hartshorn, of Sal Armoniack, Salt of Amber, of Vi∣pers, and others of this kind which we have also rang'd amongst Diaphoreticks. In a Scorbutick disposition when the Urine is but in a small quantity and thick, the Juices of Herbs, and preparati∣ons both of a sharp, or tart and acid nature are of excellent use; also Salt and Spirit of Ʋrine, of Sal Armoniack, of Tartar, &c.

Secondly, Sometimes the Blood does not retain the Serum long enough within its Body, but either being obnoxious to Fluxions, or rather Coagulations, it deposes it here and there in a great a∣bundance, even more than enough; whence it breeds Catarrhs, or Tumours in many places: Or, the Blood being become of a weak habit, and withal of a depraved constitution, to wit, incli∣ning to a sourness its apt to coagulate, as to its more gross Par∣ticles, so that the more subtle Particles being every where thrown off in circulating, and falling on the weaker parts, cause some∣times distempers of the Head or Breast, sometimes an Ascites, or Anasarca: And we shall hereafter shew how a Diabetes happens from the like cause: And in truth many difficult Diseases which are falsly imputed to the ill constitution of the Viscera, arise from hence, viz. that the Blood being distemper'd and obnoxious to coagulations, when it cannot continue its full course of circulati∣on, deposes the Serum in many places, this being too apt of it self to recede from it. The Diureticks to be given in these cases, are such as do not fuse the Blood, but make void its coagulati∣ons;

of this kind are those things that are endow'd with a fixt Volatile, and likewise Alkalisate Salt; and they must be such as re∣store and strengthen the Ferment of the Reins, which is done by certain Sulphureous and Spirituous things. For these ends are given Sulphureous and mixt Diureticks, Lixivial Salts of Herbs, Powders of shells, Salt and Spirit of Ʋrine, &c. Millepedes, Horse-Raddish, Parsly-seed, Nutmegs, Turpentine, and preparations made of it, Spirit of Wine: The vertues of all which are not to fuse the Blood, and to precipitate serosities from its Mass (these things are chiefly done by Acids, and in those cases do commonly hin∣der any Purging by Urine) but to dissolve the coagulations of the Blood; so that its Body recovering a perfect mixture, and be∣ing more readily circulated through the Vessels, drinks up the Serum every where extravasated or depos'd, and finally delivers it to the Reins to send it forth. Now we shall shew after what manner according to both these, as it were opposite, ends of Cu∣ring, Diureticks of all kinds operate, and in what forms they are chiefly prescrib'd.

The Kinds and Prescripts of Diuretick Medicines.

FIrst then, as to Saline Diureticks, we say that any Salts what∣soever of a differing nature being put together, lay hold of each other, and are presently join'd in one, and that whilst they are so combin'd, other Particles freed from the mixture, separate from each other, or fly away. This is plainly seen when a fluid or Acid Salt is put to a fixt, or Alkalisate Salt; and so when a fluid or fixt Salt is put to a Volatile, or a sharp Salt; and indeed on this only disposition of Salts, depends the whole business of Solutions and precipitations of what kind soever: Wherefore since the Blood and humours of our Body very much abound with Salt, which Salt is also wont to be variously chang'd from one state to another, and so to cause a Morbid disposition; and likewise since Saline Diureticks are of divers kinds, to wit, consisting of fixt, fluid, nitrous, volatile, or Alkalisate Salts, it will always require a great discretion and judgment in a Physician to see that the Sa∣line Particles in the Medicine differ from those in our Body: We shall shew after what manner this ought to be done, by running through each Species of Diuretick Salts.

Amongst Diureticks containing an Acid Salt, Spirit of Salt, or of Nitre; also Juice of Limmons, of Sorrel, Whitewine, Rhenish and Cyder, are of chiefest note amongst the vulgar, and pretty often perform that intent, for these things without the help of

others fuse the Blood, and precipitate it into serosities, as when an Acid is dropt into boiling Milk; but this does not happen e∣qually to all persons, nor to every one alike. In a sound constituti∣on, or not very far from it, the Salt of the Blood is partly fixt, partly nitrous, and partly volatile; also in some Scorbutical and Hydropical persons, it becomes for the most part fixt: In every of these cases Diureticks containing an Acid Salt are given with success; but in Catarrhous affects, and in some Hydropical and Scorbutical distempers, when the Salino-fixt Particles of the Blood are exalted to a state of flowing, and the volatile are de∣prest, (as it often happens) Medicines of an Acid nature com∣monly rather do hurt than good; insomuch as they more pervert the Blood already degenerated from its Crasis, and Medicines con∣taining a fixt or volatile Salt, are more proper to be us'd by such persons.

Prescripts of Diureticks that have an Acid Salt for their Basis.

TAke choice white Tartar powder'd, Crystal Mineral of each a Dram and a half, Powder of Crabs Eyes a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples in a fit Vehicle, repeat∣ing it every sixth or eighth hour.

Take Tartar vitriolated or nitrated two Drams, Powder of Egg∣shells a Dram and a half, Seeds of Parsly, or of wild Carrots half a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is half a Dram, after the same manner.

Take of the best Spirit of Salt two Drams, Hartshorn burnt and powdred, what will suffice to imbibe it: Make a Powder, the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram.

Take Juice of Limmons two Ounces, Radish water Compound, an Ounce and a half, Syrup of the five Roots three Drams: Make a Potion.

Take Juice of Sorrel two Ounces, Whitewine six Ounces: Mingle them for a Potion.

Take Radish water Compound two Ounces, Water of Pellitory of the Wall four Ounces, Spirit of Salt a Scruple, twenty five drops, Salt of Tartar fifteen Grains, Syrup of Violets half an Ounce: Make a Potion.

That Medicines containing a fixt or Lixivial Salt move Urine, it plainly enough appears from the Vulgar and Empyrical Practice of Physick, which commonly gives them for Curing Hydropical persons: For its a usual thing in an Anasarca, and sometimes in

an Ascites, when the Viscera, or Fleshy parts are very much swollen by a loading of Waters: To give a Lixivium made of the Ashes of Wormwood, or of Broom, or of Bean-stalks with Whitewine, whence it frequently happens that a very plentiful evacuation by Urine follows, and that the Disease is taken away. Nevertheless I have observ'd that this Medicine has not prov'd Diuretick to some per∣sons, and rather to have encreast the Hydropical disposition, than to have cur'd it. The reason of which if we enquire into, we shall find by what is said before, that Lixivial Salts neither fuse Milk, nor Blood, or precipitate them, and therefore that they are not Diuretick in their own nature, though that effect sometimes follows; because that a fixt Salt taken in a good plenty, destroys the Energy of the Acid, and coagulative Salt predominating in the Blood; so that the said Blood, which before being too apt to fusion, and unable to contain its Serum, did cast it off from it self in divers places, now by the intercession of the fixt Salt, re∣covers its due Crasis, and therefore drinking up again its extrava∣sated Serum, and constantly carrying it to the Reins, causes a large Evacuation by Urine.

Prescripts of Diureticks, which have a fixt Salt for their Basis.

TAke Salt of Tartar, or of Wormwood two Drams, Coral calcin'd to a whiteness, a Dram and a half, Nutmegs half a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples.

Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar, from a Dram, to a Dram and a half, Radish water Compound, an Ounce and a half: Mingle them, give it in a draught of Posset drink which has had the Roots and Seeds of the great Bur-dock boild in it.

Take the Deliquium of Salt of Tartar which (whilst the Tincture is extracted) floats under, and is impregnated with the Sulphur of the Wine, from two Scruples to a Dram and a half, Whitewine from four Ounces to six, Syrup of the five Roots half an Ounce: Mingle them, and make a draught to be repeated twice or thrice a day.

Take Ashes made of the Prunings of the white Vine half a pound, Nutmegs two Drams, pour to them of White or Rhenish wine two pounds and a half; let it stand a day in a moderate heat, and close cover'd, then keep the straining for use: The Dose is four Ounces twice or thrice a day.

Let Flints be made red hot in the Fire, and be quencht in White wine, or stale March Beer: Give of the Liquor from six Ounces to eight twice a day.

Take Water of quick Lime, from four Ounces to six, Tincture of Salt of Tartar, from a Dram to a Dram and a half: Make a draught to be taken twice or thrice a day.

For the same reason as fixt Salts, sometimes also volatile Salts are given with good success to move Urine in a sourish distemper of the Blood, to wit, forasmuch as its Particles when admitted into the Blood destroy the predominancy of the fluid Salt in it; so that the Blood recovering its due mixture, and being freed from coagulations and fluxions, drinks up again what Serum is extravasated, and conveys what is superfluous, to the Reins to be sent forth by the Ureters. But we may note withal, that Medi∣cines prepar'd of a volatile Salt, having particles somewhat fierce in operation and instigating, when they correct the Crasis of the Blood, dispose what there is superfluous of Serum to be discharg'd, sometimes by Sweat as much as by Urine. In this order of Diu∣reticks, not only the bare volatile Salt drawn forth of Animals and Minerals ought to be numbred; but likewise the integral parts of Animals and Vegetables, such as are the Powders and Extracts of Insects and Vegetables of a smart nature.

Prescripts of Medicines that have a volatile Salt for their Basis.

TAke Salt of Amber, Pure Sal Nitre, of each two Drams: make a Powder, the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram, in a fit Vehicle.

Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack, Crystal Mineral, of each two Drams: Make a Powder, the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram, in a good spoonful of Radish water compound. Salt of Ʋrine may be given after the same manner.

Take Powder of Bees a Scruple, Lovage-seed a Scruple: Make a Powder, give it in a spoonful of distill'd water.

Take Spirit of Ʋrine, from a Scruple to half a Dram, Radish wa∣ter compound, from an Ounce to an Ounce and a half, Juniper water three Ounces, mingle them, make a draught. Spirit of Tartar may be given after the same manner in a double quantity.

Take Millepedes prepar'd two Drams, Flowers of Sal Armoniack half a Dram, Nutmegs powder'd half a Dram, Venice Turpentine what suffices: Make Pills, let four be taken twice a day.

Take Powder of Burdock-seeds two Drams, Wild Carrot-seed a Dram, Salt of Amber a Dram, Oyl of Nutmegs half a Scruple, Balsamum Ca∣pivii what suffices: Make a Mass, form it into little Pills; of which let four be taken in the Evening, and as many the next Morning.

Take Roots of Chervil, Stone Parsly, Fennel, Eringo, Cammock or Rest-harrow, of each an Ounce, Leaves of Saxifrage, Clivers or Goose∣grass, of each a handful, Seeds of Gromwel, Hartwort, of each half a handful, Juniper Berrys six Drams, boil all in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd; then add Rhenish Wine a pound, fine Honey two Ounces: Make an Apozem, the Dose is six Ounces twice a day.

Take fresh Millepedes two pounds, Leaves of Clivers, Chervil, Saxi∣frage and Golden Rod, of each two handfulls, Roots of Horse Radish six Ounces, Nutmegs an Ounce, Juniper Berrys, Wild Carrot-seeds, of each two Ounces; being slic'd and bruis'd, pour to them of White∣wine Posset-drink eight pounds, distil it in a common Still: Let the whole Liquor be mixt, the Dose is four Ounces twice or thrice a day.

Take fresh Millepedes wash'd, from forty to sixty, Nutmegs half a Scruple; being bruis'd together, put to them distill'd Water of Saxi∣frage three Ounces, wring it forth hard and drink it.

Take Leaves of Chervil, Macedonian Stone Parsly, of each three handfulls, being bruis'd together, pour to them of Whitewine a pound and a half, wring it forth hard and keep it in a Glass; the Dose is three Ounces twice a day.

Prepare a Tincture of Millepides, Bees, Grashoppers or of Cantharides dry'd with the Tincture of Salt of Tartar; give it from fifteen to twenty or thirty drops in a fit vehicle.

Nitre is a sort of Salt, but differing from any other Salt, or from the nature of Saline Particles, being neither Acid, fixt or volatile, but holds the mean state as it were betwixt those three. And in truth Nitre is the thing by which all Plants have their ve∣getation, all Animals live and breath, and every Sublunary Flame or Fire is kindled and maintained.

But as to our present purpose, it's well enough known that Sal Nitre cools the Blood, and powerfully provokes Urine, though it seems somewhat strange how this, which is of so fiery a nature should so quallify the Blood, and run it into Aquosities to move Urine.

I conceive that Nitre works those effects in a two-fold respect, to wit, as it is a Salt, ally'd both to a fixt Salt and a volatile, and as it carries a living Root of Fire in it. As to the first, we observe that Nitre (ev'n as fixt and volatile Salts) being put into Milk, hinders or takes away its coagulation; so likewise Blood whilst warm, being pour'd to this, is preserv'd from coagulation, and from being discolour'd no less than if put to those. Where∣fore since Particles of Nitre inwardly taken preserve the mixture of the Blood entire, or restore it, it follows that they prevent or take away the fusions or coagulations of the same, from which

heats, and a suppression of Urine, very often arise. So again, Nitre in regard it carries in it a living Root of Fire, when in∣wardly taken, cools the inflamed Blood, and moves Urine, be∣cause (according to what is hinted before) it adds a vigour to the flame of the Blood, which before was troubled and full of fumes, and so renders it more clear and pure, and consequently more mild; since therefore the Blood burning clearer by the ac∣cess of Nitre becomes of a more loose consistency, the serous Par∣ticles easily get clear of the more gross, and pass away in a more plentiful manner.

Prescripts of Diureticks that have Sal Nitre for their Basis.

TAke Nitre prepar'd, two Drams, Barley water with Grass Roots, and Candied Eringo Roots boil'd in it two pounds, Sy∣rup of Violets two Ounces: Mix them, the Dose is four Ounces twice a day.

Take Sal Prunella two Drams, Sugar-Candy a Dram, make a Powder to be divided into six parts: Let one be taken in a convenient Liquor thrice a day.

Take Sal Prunella two Drams, Salt of Amber a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day.

Take Sal Prunella, Crabs Eyes, Salt of Wormwood, of each two Drams: Mix them, the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day.

Its also well known that Powders of Shells, and of certain Stones, containing an Alchalisate, or Petrifying Salt sometimes promote an evacuation by Urine. For Powders of Egg-shells, of the Claws and Eyes of Crabs have been to some a present Remedy in great sup∣pressions of Urine; and if we enquire into their manner and way of working, we shall soon find that these Medicines do not fuse the Blood, nor sensibly precipitate it; wherefore it must be said that these things in a fourish Dicrasie of the Blood and Humours, some∣times prove Diuretick, inasmuch as closing with the Acid Salts, they bind them and keep them under; so that the Blood being free from fluxions and coagulations, drinks up again the extra∣vasated Serum, and conveys it to the Reins.

Prescripts of Diureticks that have an Alchalisate Salt for their Basis.

TAke Powder of Egg-shells, from half a Dram to a Dram: Give it in a draught of Whitewine, or of Posset drink, or of a Diu∣retick decoction twice a day.

Take Powder of Crabs Claws, or of Crabs Eyes two Drams, Salt of Amber, Sal Nitre, of each a Dram, Nutmegs half a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples in a fit Vehicle. Or let the said Powder be mixt with as much Venice Tur∣pentine as will suffice, and make it into small Pills. The Dose is three or four Evening and Morning.

Not only Saline, but likewise some Sulphureous and Spirituous substances justly take place amongst Diureticks, these often pro∣ducing the like effect. Many substances of the Larix Tree, as chiefly Turpentine, and things prepar'd from them; the Oyls drawn by di∣stillation from Juniper, Nutmegs, Wax, and other Pinguous sub∣stances, taken inwardly, move in many persons a large Evacua∣tion by Urine, and this carrying a smell like Violets. I have known that in some Hydropical and Scorbutical Persons, Brandy and Strong waters; nay, and strong Wine freely drank have caus'd a Purging by Urine. The reason of all which is, that when the Blood being weak, or turning sour, or what for want of fermen∣tation, or through the predominancy of an Acid and Coagulative Salt in it, has not so sprightly and continued a Circulation, that it can contain the superfluous Serum within it self, till it delivers it to the Reins: The afovesaid Remedies forasmuch as they pre∣serve the mixture of the Blood entire, or restore it when faultering, conduce to the promoting of that evacuation by Urine.

Take Ivy Berrys, Juniper Berrys, Laurel Berrys fresh gather'd, of each half a pound, wild Carrot-seeds four Ounces, Nutmegs two Oun∣ces, all of them being bruis'd together, put to them in a Glass Retort of Venice Turpentine one pound, Rectified spirit of Wine four pounds, distill all in a sand Furnace, with a moderate heat till it grows dry, carefully avoiding an Epyreuma, and you will have a spirit, and a yel∣low Oyl, both of them egregiously Diuretick. The Dose of the Spirit is from a Dram to two or three Drams, of the Oyl from half a Scruple to a Scruple in a fit Vehicle.

To the remaining faeces in the Retort, pour Tincture of Salt of Tar∣tar one pound; let them digest for many days close luted in the sand Furnace, that a red Tincture may be drawn from it: The Dose of which is from a Scruple to two Scruples or a Dram in a fit Vehicle.

Take Millepedes prepar'd three Drams, Nutmegs one Dram: be∣ing bruis'd, pour to them the purest Spirit of Turpentine, and Tincture of Salt of Tartar, of each six Ounces, distill it with a gentle Bath heat, and you will have a Spirit, Oyl, and deliquium of Salt of Tar∣tar, each of them notably endow'd with a Diuretick force.