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.

11. Distill'd Waters.

EVery Man may make many and different Forms of these, as occasion requires, and according to the Constitution of the Patient they may choose sometimes Milk alone, sometimes Milk with some part of Wine, sometimes Ale, or Brunswick Beer: I shall give you a Specimen of these as follows.

Take Leaves of ground Ivy, Hyssop, Pennyroyal, of each four hand∣fulls, Snails half boil'd in their shells two Pounds, Nutmegs slic'd, in number six. All of them being small shred together, pour to them of new Milk eight Pounds: Distil them in common Organs, the Dose is three Ounces twice or thrice a day by it self, or with some other Me∣dicine: When its taken, let each Dose be sweeten'd with Sugar-Candy, or with Syrup of the Juice of ground Ivy.

In a Constitution that is not hot, especially if there be no fer∣vent heat of the Blood or Praecordia, to six or seven Pounds of Milk add of Canary Wine a Pound or two, and in a Phleg∣matick or Aged Body, instead of Milk, let the Menstruum be Ale or Brunswick Beer.

Moreover, in the Winter when Snails are not easily, or scarce at all to be gotten, the Lungs of a Lamb, or of a Wea∣ther may properly enough supply their place, and sometimes also those of a Calf half boil'd and slic'd very small; and let them be di∣still'd with the foresaid Ingredients, and added to a fit Menstruum in common Organs, or a Rose-still.

In this Classis, where its treated of a Cough not yet arrived to a Phthisick; we may aptly range the Convulsive, or suffoca∣ting Cough of Children, commonly called the Chin-Cough. This Disease chiefly assaults Children and Infants, and at certain times, viz. in the Spring especially and Fall, its usually Epidemical. The Diseased have frequent and very cruel fits of Coughing, in which the Organs of Respiration do not only greatly labour, but likewise being affected with Convulsions, variously interrupt, suspend, or pervert their Actions: But for the most part the Diaphragm be∣ing seiz'd with Convulsions by it self, or by the impuise of other parts, obstinately so continues for a very long space sometimes its Contraction, and sometimes its Dilatation, that Inspiration or Ex∣piration being hindred for a time, the Vital Breath can scarce be drawn at all; so that the Coughers cry out as though they were strangled, and their Countenance turns black through the Stag∣nation of the Blood: If haply those Organs being not so much seiz'd with Convulsions, they can Cough out freely, nevertheless

they are still fore'd to Cough with violence, and so long till theia strength fails them.

Though this Cough seldom kills, or proves very dangerous, yet it is very difficult to be Cur'd, and oftner ceases of it self as the year changes, then it is conquered by Medicines. The reason is, that we must not only in this, as in an ordinary Cough, alter the Blood, and derive its drossy Excrements from the Lungs to the habit of the Body, to be sent forth by transpiration, but we must likewise take care to correct the Nervous Juice, which in this case is vitiated with a Heterogeneous and Elastick matter which causes the Convulsive motions.

As to the Cure of this Disease, the method of Curing us'd in other Coughs seldom proves successful in this; whererore only Empirical Remedies are commonly Administred.

Amongst many Remedies of this kind, the two following are usually preferr'd before all others whatsoever, and are chiefly in use, viz. to give inwardly Cup-moss, and various preparations and compositions of it, and if there be need of and further Cure, the Child is to be put into some sudden fright. And if these things work not the desir'd effect, Ptisans, Syrups, Julapes, or Decoctions and other Pectorals are laid aside, and commonly all other Medicines are thrown by, expecting till the Disease either ends of it self in process of time, or be Cur'd by the succeeding change of the year.

Cup-moss, so commonly us'd amongst us against Coughs of Children, has an Astringent vertue, (as we find by its tast) and contains Particles of a smart nature, which denote a plenty of Volatile Spirits, whence we guess its use to be to fix the Blood, and to moderate the Fluxions of the Serum, and likewise by Vo∣latilising the Nervous Juice, to take away its Convulsive disposi∣tion: Its usually given in the form of a Powder, Decoction, and Syrup according to the following Forms.

Take Cup-moss Powdred a Dram, Sugar-Candy a Scruple: Mix them, divide it into three or four parts, take a Dose Evenings and Mornings, with a fit Vehicle.

Take of the said Moss two Drams, Lae Sulphuris two Scruples, Powder of Anniseeds a Scruple: Divide it into six parts, give them after the same manner.

Take of the said Moss Dram, boil it in a quantity of Milk suf∣ficient for one Dose; let the straining be taken Evening and Morn∣ing: For those with whom Milk does not agree, or to whom it does no good; let a decoction of it be prepar'd in fountain water, or Hyssop water, or any other Pectoral water, and let it be given to two or three Ounces twice a day, sweetning it with Sugar, or some proper Syrup.

Take of this Moss an Ounce, boil it in two Pounds of some Pectoral Water, till half be consum'd: To the straining, add of Sugar-Candy a Pound, and let it evaporate in a gentle Bath heat, to the consistency of a Syrup.

The other remedy commonly in use for the Cough of Children, is to put them into some sudden fright, as by setting them in a Binn when a Mill goes, &c. which sometimes Cures the Disense on a sudden; the reason of which doubtless consists in this, that the Animal Spirits being put to flights, and driven into new di∣stractions, quit their former disorders, and likewise that the Con∣vulsive matter is either dissipated by that perturbation, or driven into other Nerves, where it proves less offensive.

The Empirical Cure of this Disease being thus set forth, toge∣ther with the Remedies vulgarly us'd, and their Aetiologies at least probably explicated: I shall now set down a certain ratio∣nal method of Curing, and haply more efficacious against these sorts of Coughs of Children: Therefore in such a case, I usual∣ly prescribe according to the Forms following, and sometimes successively enough: And First, since we must begin with a Purge;

Take Syrup of Peach Flowers a spoonful, Hysterick water a Scruple: Mix them, let it be taken Cum Regimine.

Or, Take Calamelanos six Grains, Scammony sulphurated, Rosin of Jalup, of each three Grains: Make a Powder, give it in a little pulp of preserv'd Cherries to a Boy of six Years Old; and let the Dose be encreas'd, or lessen'd according to the Age: Let the Purge be repeated in six or seven days.

If the Patient (as it often happens) be prone to Vomit, take Oxy∣mel of Squills six Drams, Salt of Vitriol four Grains: Mix them, give it to a Child six Years Old, and according to this proportion, let a Dose be accommodated to others: I have known this kind of Vomit given every Morning for four or five days successively to have done well.

Blistering Plaisters are much us'd, and let them be apply'd sometimes to the Nape of the Neck, sometimes behind the Ears, sometimes to the Insides of the Arms near the Armpits, and as soon as the Sores in those places begin to heal, let others be rais'd elsewhere.

Instead of Beer, let the following Decoction be his ordinary drink.

Take China Roots and Ounce and a half, all the Saunders of each half an Ounce; shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each three Drams: Let them infuse according to Art, and boil them in six Pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd, adding of Raisins ston'd an Ounce and a half, Licorice three Drams.

Take Spirit of Gum Guaiacum with Sal Armoniack a Dram, Syrup of Cup-moss three Ounces, Hysterick water an Ounce: The Dose is a little spoonful at Night, and Early in the Morning.

Or, Take Tincture of Sulphur two Drams: The Dose is three drops at Night, and early in the Morning in a spoonful of Syrup of Cup∣moss.

To some persons of a hot Constitution, and turning of a deep red, or rather black colour with Coughing, I have sometimes successfully ordered a Vein to be opened, or that two or three Ounces of Blood should be drawn from them by Leeches.

Take live Millepedes cleans'd two Ounces, Powder of Anniseeds a Dram, Nutmegs haif a Dram, double refin'd Sugar an Ounce: Being bruis'd together, pour to them of Hyssop water six Ounces, Magistral Snail water two Ounces: Stir them together a little with a Pestle, and express it storngly; the Dose is two or three spoonfuls twice a day.

Thus far of the Cough and its Cure, whilst it is only an en∣trance to a Consumption; now we must treat of this affect, having pass'd the frontiers of this dangerous Disease, and set down a me∣thod of Cure, and forms of Medicines proper for Curing an Inve∣terate Cough, viz. when either neglected, or not easily yielding to Medicines, it begins to degenerate into a Phthisick, that is to say, when it is come to that pass; that the Blood being loosn'd in its Texture, does not only pour the superfluous Serum, but even the Nutritive, and haply the Nervous Juice, the Lympha, and other its dreggy Excrements on the Lungs, and deposes them within its Ductus's; and withal, that the depravation of the Lungs is by so much augmented, that its Vesiculae being distended, or many of them broken into one, and so a Solution of Continui∣ty, or an Ulcer being caus'd, a greater Mass of Matter for the Consumption is daily heap'd together: Moreover, and that the matter, in regard it is permitted to continue long there, Putrisies, and so still corrupts the Lungs more, and taints the Blood passing through them. In this case the Therapeutick Indieations are chiefly these three, viz. First of all to stop the dissolution or the Blood, which is the Root of all the mischief, and to prevent it from pouring always matter in so great a plenty on the Lungs. Secondly, To evacuate by Expectoration the corruption gather d together within the Lungs, and that sufficiently in some short time. Thirdly, To corroborate and dry the Lungs being dis∣solv'd as to their unity, or become too lax and moist, or other∣wise weak, lest they are daily more corrupted, and receive the Morbifick matter always more and more. Each of these Indica∣tions prompts us various intentions of Curing, and requires divers sorts of Remedies, and many ways of Administration; of which I shall here briefly touch the chief.

Therefore what the first Indication suggests, to wit, to stop the dissolution of the Blood, these three things (as much as may be) must be procur'd, viz. First, that the Mass of Blood may contain within it, and assimilate whatever Nutritive Juice it is supply'd with, and be so proportion'd with it, that it be not faulty either in quantity or quality. Secondly, That the Acidities engendred either in the Blood, or convey'd to it from elsewhere be so de∣stroy'd, that the Blood retaining always its Mixture or Crasis, be not so subject to Fluxions or Fusions. Thirdly, That all dreggy Excrements in the Blood be deriv'd from the Lungs to other E∣munctories, and places of Evacuation.

As to the first of these intentions of Curing, that the Nutritive Juice be proportion'd to the Blood, before all things it must be ordered that Persons troubled with a Cough and Phthisick, abstain as much as may be from Drink, and take liquid things but in a very small quantity, so that the Blood being weak in its Crasis, may be able more easily to subdue the minute Portions of fresh Juice, as long as it is not too much cloy'd with it, and to retain it within its Texture. Again, let that fresh Juice consist of such Particles as are subtle and gentle, that they may be ma∣stered by the Blood, and be assimilated without any eager heat of contest: Wherefore Asses milk, sometimes also Cows Mild, or Goats Milk; also Water-gruel, Cream of Barley, Ptisan, Almond Milks, and other simple sorts of food agree better, and nourish more than Flesh, Eggs, or Gelly-broaths, strong Ale, Wine, or any other kind of richer Fare. Secondly, That the Blood retain∣ing its temperament, be not easily dissolv'd into Serosities offend∣ing the Lungs; as well its own Acidities, as those of the other humours that are mixt with it, and especially of the Nervous and Lymphick humours must be destroy'd: Which intention is excel∣lently perform'd by Medicines prepar'd of Sulphur, which there∣fore in this case (so there be not a Hectick Feaver) are frequently given, and in a large Proportion. Wherefore let the Tincture, Balsam, Syrup, Flowers, and Milk of Sulphur be given twice or thrice a day in a good large Dose; for the same purpose Traumatick or Vulnerary Decoctions, also Decoctions of Pectoral Herbs (com∣monly so call'd) and Roots are to be taken instead of ordinary drink: Moreover, Powder of Crabs Eyes, of Millepedes, and of other things containing an Alkalisate or Volatile Salt, are often given with good success. The Third intention of Curing, refer∣ring to the First Indication, viz. That the dreggy Excrements of the depraved Blood, (in case they much abound) be withdrawn from the Lungs, and Voided by other Emunctories, suggests to us many ways to be put in practise for withdrawing them; For besides Bleeding, Evacuation by Urine, and now and then a gentle

Purge (which have place in all Coughs, even in a beginning Phthisick) we ought also to range here Baths, Breathing in a warm Air to promote perspiration, also frictions of the extream parts, Dropax's, Issues, Vesicatories, shaving the Head, Errhin's, Apophlegmatisms, and all other general or particular ways of E∣vacuating humours or vapours.

The Seeond Indication in a beginning Phthisick, viz. that the corrupted matter depos'd within the Lungs, be every day readily and clearly discharg'd, is perform'd with expectora∣ting Medicines: These are said to operate in a two-fold man∣ner, according as their vertue is conveyed to the Lungs two ways. For some of them taken by the mouth, immediately send their active Particles into the Trachea, which partly by making the passages slippery, and by loosening at the same time the matter there sticking, and partly by irritating the Excretory Fibres into Convulsions, cause an Expectoration: In which number Linctus's and Fumigations are esteem'd the chief. Expectorating Remedies of the other kind, which are justly e∣steem'd the best, exert their Energy by the conveyance of the Blood, for consistion of such Particles which cannot be subdued and assimilated by the Mass of Blood, when they enter it, being immiscible with it, they are presently cast forth again, and pe∣netrate from the Arteries of the Lungs into the Ductus's of the Trachea, where cleaving to the matter, they divide, attenuate, and so exagitate it, that the Fibres being thereby irritated, and successively contracted in Coughing, the Contents of the Trachea, and of its Vesiculae are thrown up into the mouth. Medicines proper for this use besides Sulphur and preparations of it, are Ar∣tificial Balsams distill'd with Oyl of Turpentine, Tinctures and Syrups of Gumm Ammoniacum, Galbanum, Assa-faetida, Garlick, Leeks, and the like strong smelling things; of which also Lo∣hoch's and Eclegma's are prepar'd, and these indeed work both ways, so that partly by slipping down into the Trachea, and part∣ly by entring the Lungs by the Circuit of the Blood, they set up∣on the Morbifick matter both before and behind, and so throw it forth with the greater force.

As to the Third Indication, viz. That the injur'd Conformati∣on, or vitiated constitution of the Lungs may be restor'd or a∣mended; such things must be us'd which resisting putrefaction, mundify, consolidate, dry and corroborate; for which ends also Medicines prepar'd of Sulphur, Balsamicks, and Traumaticks are proper: Hence some Empiricks successfully preseribe not only the fume of Sulphur, but likewise of Arsenick to be drawn through a Pipe or Funnel into the Lungs, Moreover for this reason it is, that the change of Habitation, as from Cities to a Country or

Sulphureous Air, or travelling from one Country into another hotter, proves so notably beneficial.

So far of the method of Cure which seems to be proper for a deeper Cough, or a beginning Phthisick: Now we must set down some Select Forms of Medicines according to each of those Therapeutick Indications, which also according to the way us'd in a gentle Cough, free from a Phthisick, we shall distribute into certain Classes, and those are Mixtures, Linctus's, Lohoch's, Tin∣ctures, Balsams, Troches, Lozenges, Powders, Pills, Decoctions, and distill'd Waters: We shall set before you some Examples of each of these, to which also may be added some of the forms of the Medicines prescrib'd before for a beginning Cough, and not yet arriv'd to a Phthisick.