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. VI. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing too much Pur∣ging by Ʋrine, and particularly the Diabetes or Pissing Evil.

IN a Diabetes, as in most other affects there are three Primary Therapeutick Indications, viz. Curatory, Preservatory and Vital. The first of these regarding the Disease, and attempting to stay the too great Effusion of Urine cannot be accomplish'd without the second, which aiming at the cause of the Disease, en∣deavours to preserve and restore the mixture and due Crasis of the Blood: Wherefore as to the Cure of this Disease, the chief inten∣tions of healing must be to keep the Blood from fusion, and in case that happens to take it away.

First the fusion of the Blood is prevented, so its gross and a∣queous parts reciprocally contain each other, and do not readily and abruptly sever themselves, which thing is effected by Incras∣satives (commonly so called) whose viscous and glutinous Cor∣puscles being admitted into the Mass of Blood, strongly adhere to its Active Particles, and so part them from each other, and hinder them from mutually combining betwixt themselves, or with Saline Particles coming from elsewhere, as might otherwise happen through fluxions. In this respect, Rice, Amylum, Mucila∣ginous Vegetables, also Gumms and some Rosins are wont to give re∣lief in this Disease.

Secondly, To restore the Blood after fusion, those sorts of Re∣medies are indicated which dissolve the concretions of Salts, so that all the Elementary Particles in it coming again to be at li∣berty, recover their former places, and so restore the Crasis of the Blood to its first vigour. Now its well known that this effect is produc'd in coagulated Milk by the addition of a fixt, volatile, or a nitrous Salt to it; also by the infusion of Spirit of Hartshorn,

of Sal Armoniack and the like. The reason of which doubtless is, that whilst the Salino-fixt, volatile or nitrous Particles, being in a sufficient quantity put into the Milk, meet with the Acid or Precipitatory Particles, and are combin'd with them; the other Saline Particles which before were bound, being now freed, and diffus'd through the Mass of the Liquor, loosen the Sulphureous and Earthy Parts combin'd betwixt themselves, and disperse them every way, so that all the Particles being again equally mixt, mu∣tually contain themselves, and are contain'd; yet because Saline Medicaments are accounted by many to be always Diuretick: We do not give them lightly, or without consideration for the Cure of a Diabetes, though in this Disease I have prescrib'd the Tincture of Antimony with good success. And a water of the Solution of quick Lime with the Raspings of Sassafras, Aniseeds, Raisins and Liquorish, according to the vulgar Receipt, is highly commended by some.

The Vital Indication is made good in this Distemper by a thickning and gently cooling Diet, and by temperate Cordials, and chiefly by apposite and seasonable Hypnoticks.

A Nobleman in the vigour of his Age, became very prone to an excess of Pissing, and when for many Months he had been us'd at times to undergo this great Flux of Urine, he fell at length into a confirm'd Diabetes as it seem'd, and almost past hope of recovery: For besides that, in the space of twenty four hours, he voided near a Gallon and a half of clear water, and wonderfully sweet, as though Honey were mixt in it: He was moreover affected with a cruel Thirst and a Fever, seemingly a Hectick, with a mighty Languor of the Spirits, a fall of strength, and a Consum∣ption of the whole Body. I then prescrib'd him the following Remedies, by the use of which he seem'd in a short time to re∣cover.

Take Cypress Tops, eight handfuls, Whites of Eggs beaten two pounds, Cinnamon half an Ounce, being cut small, pour to them of new Milk eight pounds, distill it in an ordinary Still, taking care of an Empyreuma. Let him take six Ounces thrice a day.

Take Gum Arabick, and Gum Tragacanth, of each six Drams, Pe∣nids an Ounce: Make a Powder, let him take about a Dram, or a Dram and a half twice a day, with three or four Ounces of the di∣still'd water.

Take Rhuba-b powdred fifteen Grains, Cinnamon six Grains: Make a Powder, let him take it in the Morning, and renow the Dose with∣in six or seven days.

Take Cowslip water three Ounces, Cinnamon water hordeated two Drams, Syrup of Meconium half an Ounce: Make a draught to be taken every Evening.

His Diet was only Milk, which he took pretty often in a day, sometimes crude or diluted with the distill'd water, or with Barly water; sowetimes boil'd with White-bread, or with Barly: Growing daily better by the use of these things, within a Month he seem'd to be almost Cur'd: As he began to grow a little well, his Urine which was Insipid, did not much exceed the quantity of Liquids he took, and afterwards turning a little Salt, it became less in quantity than what he drank, and so by degrees recovering the wonted tone of his Spirits and a good strength, he took to his former Diet.

Nevertheless the disposition to this Disease did not so through∣ly cease, but afterwards being apt frequently to Relapses upon disorders in Living, and haply upon changes according to the seasons of the year; he first made Water in a greater measure than ordinary, which by degrees grew clear and sweetish, a Thirst and Fever, with a Languor of the Spirits accompanying it: But by the use of the same Medicines he us'd in a short time to reco∣ver again: Not long since after a large interval of health, a little before he fell into a Flux of Urine, he found great irregularities and failings in the Genus Nervosum; viz. He was seiz'd with a dull numbness of his Brain, and a Vertigo, and was taken with sudden Cramps in his Limbs, and felt little Leapings of the Tendons, and various runnings about him, as though it were of a wind creeping here and there. And when by the use of fit Remedies, the aforesaid Symptoms seem'd to be Cur'd; the Diabetes after its wounted manner burst forth afresh; viz. the matter flowing forth in abundance from the Fibres and solid parts into the Blood, and thence to the Reins and the Urinary Passages.

In this Juncture the same Remedies were prescrib'd again, by the use of which, when within a few days he began to grow bet∣tr, he was ordered to take thrice a day Water of quick Lime to five or six Ounces: Having continued this Remedy four days, he made water in a moderate quantity well ting'd, and somewhat salt, and as to other things he seem'd well as he was before.

By the same method, and chiefly with the Water of quick Lime, I Cur'd another of a Diabetes, who was look'd upon as past recovery.

The Kinds and Prescripts of Medicines that stop Ʋ∣rine flowing in excess.

A Stringent Medicines properly so call'd, to wit, such as are austere, acerb, and stiptick, do little or nothing in stop∣ping a Diuresis; for the vertue of those things has no effect on the Mass of Blood, nor does it reach to the Reins and Bladder: But the Remedies that chiefly do good in the Diabetes are of two kinds, as we have hinted before: viz. First, those that hinder the combinations of the Salts, and consequently the fusion of the Blood, such as the Incrassatives before mentioned.

Secondly, Those that dissolve the Concretions of the Salts, and consequently restore the mixture of the Blood, of which kind are Saline Remedies of a contrary nature, which are apt to cleave to the Acid Salt, and so withdraw it from the combinations it has entred into within the Blood, as chiefly Medicines endow'd with a fixt, volatile or alchalisate Salt. Besides these two Primary kinds of Medicines that restrain Urine, there rests a Secondary kind, to wit, Hypnoticks, which putting some stop to the Animal Aeconomy, cause the vital function to be perform'd with more calmness, and consequently with less fusion of the Blood, or pre∣cipitation of the serous and nutricious humours. It remains now to set down some Select Forms of each kind of these Medicines.

I. The first Scope of Curing, to wit, by which we endeavour by thickning the Blood to prevent its fusion, or to take it away, is effected by the Medicines following.

Take Gumm Arabick, and Tragacanth powder'd, of each an Ounce, Sugar Penids half an Ounce: Make a Powder, divide it into sixteen parts. Take one part thrice a day, dissolving it in the distill'd water, or in the docoction of the Roots of Comphry in fountain water or Milk.

Take of the Resumptive Electuary three Ounces, Species Diatraga∣canthi frigidi an Ounce, Red Coral prepar'd two Drams, Confection of Hyacinth a Dram and a half, Gelly of the cast Skins of Vipers what will suffice: Make an Electuary, of which let the Patient take twice a day the quantity of a Wallnut.

Take white Amber, Mastick, Olibanum powdred, of each an Ounce, Pulvis Haly two Ounces, Balsam of Tolu half an Ounce: Make a Subtle Powder, the Dose is half a Dram twice or thrice a day.

Take Roots of great Comphry, and Water Lillies, of each three Oun∣ces, Dates slic'd two Ounces, Seeds of Maliows, Cotton-plant, Plan∣tain, Fleawort, of each half an Ounce, Boil them in four pounds of

fountain water till half be consum'd, to the straining add Syrup of Wa∣ter Lillies two Ounces: The Dose is four Ounces thrice a day.

Take of the decoction of Barly with Water Lilly-roots a pound and a half, Sweet Almonds prepar'd an Ounce and a half, Seeds of white Poppies, Purslain, Lettice, of each half an Ounce: Make an Emulsion according to art, the Dose is four Ounces thrice a day.

Take Cypress Tops six handfuls, Clary Leaves four handfuls, Flowers of blind Nettles, Comphry, Water Lillies, of each four handfuls, Roots of Water Lillies and Comphry, of each half a pound, Mace an Ounce, all being small slic'd together, pour to them of new Milk eight pounds, distil them in an ordinary Still: The Dose is four Ounces thrice a day, with the Powder of Electuary above written.

II. In the second place, though Saline Medicines of every kind and condition are accounted Diuretick, and every of them in cer∣tain cases, inasmuch as they fuse the Blood, and cause a copious separation of its Serosities, are in some sort Diuretick. Never∣theless for the reason above-mention'd, to wit, for that meeting with the Acid Salt, when it is predominant in the Blood, they prevent and take away its fusion and dissolution. I do not doubt but sometimes they may be given with good success to stop Fluxes of Urine. And I have heard for certain, that one was Cur'd of a Diabetes by an Infusion of quick Lime. Now in re∣gard the Saline Medicaments (which we suppose to take away the predominancy of the Acid Salt, and to fetter it, as it were) contain either a fixt, volatile or Alchalisate Salt: I shall give you some Forms of Diureticks, which have each of these for their foundation.

1. First then when a fixt Salt by it self, or join'd with Sulphur is requir'd for a Basis.

Take Tincture of Salt of Tartar, or its Deliquium what suffices: Give it thrice a day in a draught of the decoction or distilld water be∣fore describ'd.

Take Tincture of Antimony, let it be taken after the same manner thrice a day: I have found by frequent experience the use of this to be very profitable in this Disease.

Take Tincture of Salt of Coral a Scruple, let it be taken after the same manner.

Take of the Infusion of quick Lime a pound: The Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day, giving before a Dose of the Electuary, or Pow∣der above prescrib'd.

Take Conserves of the Flowers of blind Nettles, and of the great Com∣phry, of each four Ounces, of the reddest Crocus of steel half an Ounce, Coral calcin'd to a whiteness two Drams, Syrup of Comphry what suffi∣ces. Make an Electuary, the Dose is two Drams thrice a day.

Take Lapis Specularis calcin'd an Ounce: The Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice or thrice a day. Country People with this Medicine successfully Cure their Cattle that piss bloody water.

Take Coral calcin'd to a whiteness and powdred three Drams, Pow∣der of Gumm Arabick and Tragacanth, of each a Dram: Make Powder, divide it into ten parts, let one part be taken thrice a day with a fit Vehicle, to wit, with the decoction or the distill'd water.

Take the reddest Crocus Martis six Drams, Gumm Lac powdred half an Ounce, red Saunders a Dram: Make a Powder, divide it in∣to twenty parts, whereof let one be taken thrice a day.

Take Hartshorn burnt and powdred half an Ounce, boil it in four pounds of the water of a Smiths forge till half be consum'd, adding towards the end a Crust of Bread, Roots of great Comphry, and water Lillies dry'd, of each an Ounce and a half, Sacchari Perlati two Ounces, let him take four Ounces thrice a day.

2. Medicines containing an Alchalisate Salt, such as Coral, Pearl, Cuttle-bone, Hartshorn, Ivory, Powders of Shells and the like, as they are commonly us'd against Rheumatick affects, so likewise for a Diabetes: And inasmuch as they imbibe the Acid Salt abounding in the Blood, and so free the Mass of Blood from fusion, we may justly expect a benefit from them.

Take red Coral ground to a great subtlety, Cuttle-bone, of each half an Ounce, Hartshorn Philosophically calcin'd three Drams, Pearl, Ivory, Crabs Eyes, of each a Dram: Mix them, make a Powder, the Dose is half a Dram thrice a day, with a fit Vehicle.

Take of the said Powder three Ounces, Species Diatragacanth frigid two Ounces, Sugar Candy two Ounces: Make a Powder, and with a sufficient quantity of the Solution of Gumm Arabick make a Paste; and let it be form'd into Troches weighing half a Dram, let three or four be taken thrice or oftner in a day.

Take of the said Powder two Ounces, of the Resumptive Electuary four Ounces, Conserve of the Flowers of water Lillies three Ounces, Syrup of the same what suffices: Make an Electuary, let him take the quantity of a Chesnut thrice a day, drinking after it a draught of the Apozeme, or of the distill'd water above prescrib'd.

3. For the same reason as Medicines endued with a fixt and Al∣chalisate Salt seem proper in Curing the Diabetes; for the same reason do such as have a volatile Salt. For these as well as those lay hold on, and draw of the Acid Salt, (by which the Blood is fus'd and dissolv'd into Serosities) so that its Liquor recovers its due Crasis.

Take the Solar Tincture prepar'd (as I readily do it) with Sal Ar∣moniack an Ounce, The Dose is twenty Drops thrice a day. The Spi∣rits of Blood, Soot and Hartshorn, may also be try'd in this Disease.

Take Salt of Amber a Dram, the reddest Crocus Martis two Drams: Mix them, divide it into twelve parts, the Dose is one part thrice a day.

III. As to the third kind of Remedies in the Diabetes, to wit, Hypnoticks, which by putting a stay to the Animal Spirits, re∣tard the course of the Blood, and so hinder in some measure its effervescency and fusion. I use to prescribe to some persons Dia∣scordium to be taken every Evening, and when that does not do, I give sometimes every Night, and sometimes every other Night Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated or Tartariz'd, and that with good suc∣cess.

Take the decoction of Barly, with the dry'd Roots of Comphry six Ounces, white Poppy-seeds two Drams, sweet Almonds prepar'd in number six: Make an Emulsion according to art, let it be taken every Night going to sleep.

Take of the Magistral distill'd water above prescrib'd four Ounces, Solution of Tragacanth two Drams, Diascordium from half an Ounce to six Drams. Give it going to sleep.

Take Conserve of the flowers of water Lillies two Drams, Lauda∣num Tartariz'd or Cydoniated a Scruple, Tincture of Saffron six Grains: Make a Bolus to be taken going to sleep.