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.

SECT. 2. Of Medicines regarding the Region of the Belly.

CHAP. I. Instructions and Prescripts for the Cure of the Jaundise.

AS to the method of Curing this Disease, there are three Pri∣mary Indications, all which (since we are in a manner al∣ways at a loss which of them is the chiefest, and first to be put in Practise) must be prosecuted together: Therefore the Inten∣tions of Curing must be. First, That the obstructions of the Du∣ctus's must be open'd, if haply there are any either in the Porus Biliarius, or Meatus Cysticus, or elsewhere about the Liver, or Vessels that convey the Choler. Secondly, That the Blood be re∣duc'd to its due temper and Crasis, lest it engender Choler in too great a plenty, or render it unapt for separation. Thirdly, That the strength be upheld, and that the Symptoms chiefly prejucicing it be provided against.

1. To satisfy the First Incication, Cathartick evacuations both by Vomit and Seige are greatly conducing, with which the de∣scent of the Choler towards the Intestines is Irritated, and the ob∣structed Vessels being by this means mightily agitated, are freed from their stoppages. Secondly, We must give Medicines that are smart, bitter, and salt, and others endow'd with a certain in∣stigating vertue, which may sharply stir up the motion of the Gall gathered together in the Liver, and there stagnating. In this place also we must range such Medicines as are thought to be good against the Jaundise by a similitude of substance, and as it were by a Signature; viz. as being endow'd with a yellow Juice, though many of these because they move Urine or Sweat, may aptly enough be plac'd in the same rank with the former, viz. a∣mongst evacuative Medicines.

The Second Indication requires altering Medicines altogether, viz. such as may depress the exaltations or wild efforts of the Sul∣phur and fixt Salt, and help to the restitution of the Volatile Salt which was depress'd before: For these purposes Medicines con∣taining an Acid or Volatile Salt, and likewise Chalybeats will do excellently well: Hence Spirit of Salt, of Vitriol, Juice of Limons; also Spirit of Hartshorn, and Sheeps dung, Goose dung, Crocus Mar∣tis, and other preparations of it of divers kinds, are often prescrib'd in the Jaundise with good success.

The Third Incication being for the support of the strength, and for removing Symptoms that prejudice it, suggests to us many and diversifyed manners of Curing; but to avoid tedious∣ness, I shall only set down certain general Rules concerning Diet, and some Cordial and Anodine Remedies peculiarly proper in this case.

The Therapeutick Indications being thus laid before you, it remains for us now to adjust Select Medicines, viz. both simple and compound to each of those Intentions before propos'd, and to explicate the manners and ways of operating of those Remedies which are accounted of most note in this Disesse: First therefore we shall set before you the Forms of Evacuating Medicines appro∣priated to the Jaundise.

1. Vomits.

EMetick Medicines most commonly are of good effect in a new Jaundise, whilst the tone and strength of the Viscera hold good; forasmuch as they both ease the Ventricle of its offensive load of viscous Phlegm, with which its in a manner always op∣prest in this Disease, and likewise by irritating the Vessels which convey the Choler, and strongly shaking the Ductus's of the Li∣ver, they clear them of their stoppages, and bring the Choler to pass by the ways it formerly was wont.

Take of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum, from half an Ounce to six Drams, Vinegar of Squills an Ounce, Oxymel simple half an Ounce: Make a Vomit to be taken with governance.

Sometimes it is proper to give the Evening before the following Mixtrue, as a preparation to facilitate the Vomiting.

Take Powder of the Roots of Asarabacca, Faecula of Aron Roots, of each a Scruple, Tartar vitriolated half a Scruple, Oxymel simple an Ounce: Mix them.

Take Sulphur of Antimony seven Grains, Scammony sulphurated eight Grains, Cream of Tartar half a Scruple: Make a Powder, give it in a spoonful of Panada.

Take Nine Leaves of Asarabacca; being slic'd and bruis'd, pour to them of Whitewine three Ounces, press forth the Juice, give it in the Morning with governance.

Take Cambogia prepar'd eight Grains, Tartar vitriolated seven Grains: Make a Powder.

Catharticks.

PUrging Medicines have place in this Disease, whether it be new or inveterate, viz. both that the plentiful supply of Ex∣crements, be now and then clear'd from the first passages, and that the Vessels that convey the Choler be stirr'd up to ex∣cretion.

Take Electuary of the Juice of Roses three Drams, Rhubarb a Dram, Salt of Wormwood, Cream of Tartar, of each half a Scruple, Syrup of Rhubarb what suffices: Make a Bolus.

Take Roots of sharp pointed Dock prepar'd an Ounce, tops of Sea Wormwood, and of the lesser Centory, of each two pugils, Roots of Gentian and Turmerick, of each two Drams, yellow Saunders a Dram; boil them in a pound and a half of fountain water to a pound; towards the end, add of the best Sena six Drams, of the best Rhubarb three Drams, Agarick a Dram and a half, Coriander-seeds two Drams, Whitewine two Ounces, let them boil close covered for two hours, then strain it, and let it settle till it be clear: The Dose is from four Ounces to six, with Syrup of Rhubarb an Ounce, water of Earth-worms three Drams: Make a Potion to be taken for three or four days together, or every other day.

In a weaker Constitution.

TAke Choice Rhubarb two Drams, Agarick Trochiscated half a Dram, Cinnamon half a Scruple, Ginger half a Scruple: Make an Infusion in Whitewine and Succory water, of each three Ounces, being close cover'd and kept warm for three hours: In the strain∣ing dissolve Syrup of Rhubarb an Ounce, water of Earth-worms two Drams.

Take Rhubarb powdred, from half a Dram to a Dram, Salt of Worm∣wood a Scruple: Make a Powder,

Take Pilulae Ruffi a Scruple, Extractum Rudii half a Scruple: Make four Pills, let them be taken in the Morning with governance, repeat∣ing them within four or five days.

In the Third place follow Deopilatives, and these are Diureticks, or Diaphoreticks, of which also some are accounted Specificks for their Similitude of substance; these sorts of Medicines both pro∣mote the separation of the Choler from the Blood, and being se∣parated, force its way through the straitest passages and Pores in the Liver: Moreover at the same time by fusing the Blood, they cause its Serosities and Bilous Excrements to be sent forth in some measure by Sweat and Urine.

Take Elixir Proprietatis an Ounce, give twenty drops in the Morn∣ing, and at five in the Afternoon with a fit Vehicle: After the same manner, the Tincture of Antimony, or of Salt of Tartar are often gi∣ven with success; also Mixtura Simplex in a greater Dose. For Ve∣hicles also for the same Intention of Curing, Apozemes, distill'd waters and Julapes are proper.

Take Roots of the greater Celandine, stinging Nettles, Madder, of each an Ounce, tops of Sea Wormwood, white Horehound dry'd, Agri∣mony, Germander, of each a handful, Worm-seeds two Drams, shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each two Drams, yellow Saunders a Dram and a half, Coriander-seeds two Drams; boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds, add of Whitewine four Ounces, and strain it, add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces, Water of Earth-worms an Ounce and a half: Make an Apozeme, the Dose is from four Ounces to six twice a day.

Take Leaves of white Horehound dry'd, of the lesser Centory, of each a handful, Roots of Gentian and Turmerick, of each three Drams, Cinnamon a Dram, Saffron half a Dram, being slic'd, let them be put into a Glass with White or Rhenish Wine two pounds: Make a close Infusion, the Dose is three Ounces.

To this place belongs the famous Anti-Icterick of Gesner.

Take Roots of the greater Nettle a pound, Saffron a Scruple: Bruise them well, and extract a Tincture with Whitewine, the Dose is three Ounces in the Morning for four or five days.

Like to the former is that of Fr. Joel. Take Roots of the great∣er Celandine slic'd two handfuls, Juniper Berries a handful, being bruis'd, pour to them of Rhenish Wine a pound, and extract the Juice: The Dose is four Ounces twice a day.

The Juice of white Horehound is mightily commended by Diosco∣rides for the Cure of the Jaundise, and its Syrup by Forestus.

Instead of the Elixir and other Chymical Liquors which are or∣dered to be taken in a very small quantity to avoid nauseousness: You may give more successfully Electuaries, Powders, and Pills to others of a strong Constitution.

Take Conserve of Sea Wormwood, the outward yellow Coats of Oran∣ges and Limons, of each two Ounces, Species Diacurcumae an Ounce and a half, Powder of Ivory, yellow Saunders, the Lignum Aloes, of each half a Dram, Troches of Capers a Dram, Troches of Rhubarb half a Dram, Salt of Wormwood two Drams, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb, make an Electuary; the Dose is the quantity of a Chesnut twice a day, drinking after it of the following Julape three Ounces.

Take Waters of the greater Celandine, Fumitory, Wormwood simple, and of Elder Flowers, of each five Ounces, Magisterial water of Snails, Water of Earth-worms Compound, of each two Ounces, Sugar half an Ounce: Mix them, make a Julape. Or,

Take Roots of the greater Nettle, Angelica, Gentian, of each four Ounces, the greater Celandine entire six handfuls, Wormwood, Tansie, both Southernwoods, of each four handfuls, the outward Coats of twelve Oranges, and of four Limons, Earth-worms prepar'd, Snails, of each a pound, Cloves bruis'd two Ounces, being slic'd and bruis'd, pour to them of Whitewine eight pounds, distil it with common Organs: Let the whole Liquor be mixt. Or,

Take Filings of Steel a pound, fresh Strawberries six pounds, put them in a glazed Pot and stir them together, and let them stand for a day, then add of the Roots of English Rhubarb slic'd a pound, the Rinds of four Oranges, being slic'd, pour to them of Whitewine six pounds, and distil them according to art: Let the whole Liquor be mixt: The Dose of this and the former is three Ounces twice a day after the Electuary, or other Medicine.

Take Powder of the Roots of Turmerick and Rhubarb, of each a Dram and a half, Rinds of Caper Roots, Asarum Roots, of each half a Dram, Extract of Gentian and Centory, of each a Dram and a half, Salt of Wormwood four Scruples, Seeds of Water-cresses half a Dram, of Rocket half a Scruple, Elixir Proprietatis a Dram, Gum Ammoni∣acum dissolv'd in a sufficient quantity of Water of Earth-worms: Make a Mass, Form it into little Pills, the Dose is half a Dram Evenings and Mornings, drinking after it of the distill'd Water three Ounces.

Sylvius highly commends for the Cure of the Jaundise a Decocti∣on of Hemp-seeds in Milk, and a Solution of Soap.

The Second Indication having regard to the altering, or due tempering of the Blood, that it engender Choler only in a mode∣rate quantity, and duly separate it, requires those kinds of Medi∣cines which depress the Sulphur and fixt Salt when too much exalted: For these ends, I know not by what chance or guidance Medicines endow'd with a Volatile Salt, as Earth-worms, Snails, Millepedes, nay Lice, the Dungs of Fourfooted Beasts, and of Fowl, being introduc'd into Practise for Curing the Jaundise, are usually

given not only by Empyricks, but likewise prescrib'd by Physici∣ans of the best account: These sometimes by themselves, but oftner joyn'd with Evacuatives and Deopilatives enter the chief compositions of Anti-ictericks.

Fonseca prescribes Goslings Dung gathered in the Spring time and dry'd, and also the white Dung of Chickens; the Powder of both which is given from half a Dram to a Dram, in a fit Vehicle.

Take Powder of Earth-worms prepar'd, Goose dung, of each three Drams, Ivory, yellow Saunders powdred, of each half a Dram, Saffron a Scruple: Make a Powder, divide it into six parts for so many Mor∣ning Doses, with some Liquor fit for the purpose.

To the Anti-icterick Apozem and Tincture above prescrib'd, Earth-worms; also Goose-dung, and Sheeps-dung, are usefully added.

Take of fresh and live Millepedes, in number from fifty to a hun∣dred, Saffron half a Scruple, Nutmegs a Scruple, being bruis'd toge∣ther, pour to them of Celandine water four Ounces, water of Earth∣worms two Ounces, wring it forth hard, and drink it: After this manner let it be taken first once, afterwards twice a day for a Week.

Its a vulgar and Empirical Remedy with our Country men to take Nine Lice alive in the Morning for five or six days, by which Remedy I have heard that many have been Cur'd when other things did no good; which certainly can give relief no other way but by restoring the Volatile Salt, which was depress'd in the Blood.

On the account of the same way of Curing, the Flowers of Sal Armoniack, the Volatile Salts of Amber, Hartshorn, and Soot, and like∣wise their Spirits are often given with great success in this Disease.

Take Powder of Earth-worms prepar'd two Drams, Species Diacur∣cumae a Dram, Flowers of Sal Armoniack half a Dram, Salt of Am∣ber a Scruple, Extract of Gentian a Dram, Saffron a Scruple, Gum Ammoniacum dissolv'd in water of Earth-worms what suffices: Make a Mass, Form it into small Pills; the Dose is three or four Morn∣ing and Evening, drinking after it of the Julape before written three Ounces.

Take Spirit of Hartshorn ting'd with Saffron three Drams: The Dose is from fifteen drops to twenty, with the distill'd water above mention'd.

In this rank of Medicines with which the Blood distemper'd with the Jaundise is intended to be corrected, Chalybeats also just∣ly claim a place; for these give a considerable relief in the Jaun∣dise, as well as in other Cachectical Distempers, not so much by opening the obstructions of the Viscera, as by depressing the ex∣altations of the Sulphur and fixt Salt, and by volatilizing the Blood.

Therefore to the Decoction, Tincture, or Infusion above writ∣ten, the Filings of Iron, or its Powder prepar'd (its Mineral Tex∣ture being some way loosen'd) or its Vitriolick Salt extracted, may be properly added; for hence it is that our Mineral waters sometimes cure even to a Miracle such as are quite given over in the Jaundise: Though these waters when drank in a very large quantity, passing through all the Vessels, open also all the Du∣ctus's of the Liver, be they never so much shut up.

Therefore also to the Electuaries, Pills and Powders before ex∣prest, preparations of Steel, sometimes of one sort, and some∣times of another, may likewise be added in a fit proportion: Moreover, you may give to the quantity of a spoonful of its Syrup twice a day in three Ounces of the Anti-icterick Apo∣zeme or distill'd water; also the Tincture of Steel to twelve or fifteen drops may be given after the same manner with good ef∣fect.

Lastly, in this rank of altering Medicines, we ought to place those which are said to Cure this Disease, not as inwardly taken, but outwardly apply'd either by the touch, or being put into the Urine of persons troubled with the Jaundise.

As to the First, its a common Remedy with the vulgar to take a Tench, and apply it to the right Hypochondre, or to the Ven∣tricle as some will have it, or according to others, to the Soles of the Feet of the Person that has the Jaundise, whence they expect the Disease to vanish in a short time; though many promise a cer∣tain Cure by this means, yet it did not succeed with me, having sometimes try'd it.

The other Cure of the Jaundise at a distance, is said to be done by I know not what Sympathy, or secret manner of work∣ing.

Take the fresh Ʋrine of the Patient made at one time, ashes of the Ash-tree searced what suffices: Mix them, and make it into a Paste, and form it into three Balls of an equal bigness, and put them in a close place near the Fire, or a Stove; when these Balls grow dry and hard, the Jaundise vanishes: After this manner I have known this Disease successfully Cur'd when it was grown inveterate, and would not yield to other Remedies; this is a familiar practice with the vulgar.

The reason of this Operation is, that when the Lixivial Salt in the ashes is mixt in the Urine, it presently sets free the Volatile Salt, which before was kept under in it, or entangled with other Par∣ticles, and at the same time that this is done in the Icterical U∣rine, it happens by Sympathy that the Volatile Salt also in the Blood of the Patient gets free from the Dominion of the fixt Salt and Sulphur, and consequently the Icterical Dyscrasy of the Blood

vanishes: And thus Phil. Grulingius and Felix Platerus tell us that Making Water on warm Horsedung has Cur'd many Persons troubled with the Jaundise, viz. inasmuch as the fixt Salt of the Urine, and consequently of the Blood of the Patient is altered by the Volatile Salt of the fresh Horsedung, and is reduc'd to its due temperature.

The Third and Vital Indication orders a fit Dyet, and like∣wise prescribes Cordials and Anodines, both which are often wanted.

As to what concerns the First, the Diet in this Disease is wont to be more Physical than in any other whatsoever: For Vegeta∣bles, and their parts, vulgarly call'd Hepatick Remedies, are boil'd in the Broaths of persons troubled with the Jaundise; their Broaths also are usually made of Worms and Snails (being accounted the Antidotes of the Jaundise) instead of other Flesh: Moreover their Ale and other ordinary Drinks are Impregnated with an Infusion of Physical things.

Take Roots of the greater Nettle, and of Strawberries, of each an Ounce and a half, Candied Eringo Roots an Ounce, shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each two Drams, Earth-worms cleans'd, in number twenty, a Crust of White-bread, Mace two Drams; boil all in two pounds of fountain water to a pound: Strain it through Hippocrates Sleeve, add to it Species of Diatrion Santalon half a Dram: Make a Broath, of which take from four Ounces to six twice a Day. For or∣dinary drink fill a little Vessel of four Gallons with Ale, into which af∣ter it has wrought, put the following bag.

Take Tops of Sea Wormwood, and white Horehound dry'd, of each two handfuls, Roots of sharp pointed Dock dry'd six Ounces, Bark of the Ash∣tree, and of the Barbery-tree, of each three Ounces, the outward Rinds of eight Oranges, and of four Limons, being slic'd and bruis'd, let them be prepar'd according to art.

Many Persons in the Jaundise being troubled with a great weak∣ness and frequent faintings, stand in need also of Cordial Reme∣dies.

Take small Aqua Mirabilis eight Ounces, Earth-worms four Oun∣ces, Syrup of Orange Pills two Ounces: Mix them, the Dose is two or three Ounces.

Moreover there are some who in this Disease are found subject now and then to very troublesome pains, chiefly tormenting them by Night, and who are often molested with want of sleep; where∣fore Anodines also must here come in use.

Take Aqua Mirabilis, water of Earth-worms, of each an Ounce, Diacodium six Ounces, Tincture of Saffron half an Ounce: Mix them, the Dose is a spoonful or two late at Night when there is want of sleep.

Take Laudanum tartariz'd two Drams, Aqua Mirabilis two Oun∣ces, Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers an Ounce: Mix them, the Dose is a spoonful after the same manner.

CHAP. II. Instructions and Prescripts for other Distempers of the Liver.

THe Liver often uses to be faulty, especially in one of these two things, viz. either intercepting the Nutritive Juice ap∣pointed for other parts, it applies it to its proper use, as its gene∣rally seen in Children troubled with the Rickets, and in many o∣thers leading a sloathful and idle Life: Or Secondly, it too easily receives into its most inward Recesses, the filthiness of the de∣praved Blood, and all dreggy Excrements coming in its way, and retaining them does not only grow large, but is obstru∣cted in its Ductus's, whence oftentimes proceeds a Jaundise, or Dropsie, and tumours, and preternatural Concretions of divers kinds.

Therefore we must take care of these two things, viz. lest the Liver by taking to it self too much of the Nutritive Juice, grow to too great a Bulk, and lest by retaining the filthy dregs of the Blood, it be troubled with obstructions, and preternatural tu∣mours.

Both these faults are much more easily prevented than Cur'd: For the former is effected only by taking care that the Blood being well constituted in its Crasis, and enjoying a free Circulati∣on, both distributes the Nutritive Juice to the parts, and especi∣ally the outmost, and driving all its Excrements to all their re∣spective Emunctories deposes them there: And indeed the Hepa∣tick Medicines (vulgarly so call'd, though they regard the other Viscera as well as the Liver) do first and more immediately exert their vertue by purifying the Blood, rather than by correcting the Liver, or other entrals; for entring the Blood, and being im∣miscible with it, they so throughly exagitate it, that they make it discharge all its superfluities by their proper Emissaries; and if any Medicines are found by some specifick virtue, to have respect to one part more than to another, its because their Particles being more ally'd, and consequently associated to the Recrements to be separa∣ted

within that entral, are carried thither together with them: For this reason Rhubarb, Turmerick, the greater Celandine, and many other things ally'd to the Gall, readily pass to its Ductus's, and are wont to do good in the Jaundise: We have before set forth the Ener∣gies and ways of operating of these Medicines: As to other He∣paticks commonly so call'd, we shall briefly set down certain Forms, First of those which are said to prevent or remove the Non-natural accretion of the Liver, and then of those which do the like, in respect of its obstructions, and preternatural tu∣mours.

1. Against the too great accretion, or disproportionate nourish∣ment of the Liver: First, a spare and thin Dyet, short Sleep, and frequent and moderate Exercises are proper. Wherefore if at any time Infants and Children are found obnoxious to this affect, as likewise to the Rickets, we order that they suck thin and serous Milk, that they are daily toss'd in their Nurses Arms, and carried from one place to another with a swift motion, or that they are put in a Chariot, or in a Chair, and swiftly driven to and fro, and that they learn to use their feet as soon as may be, and go a∣bout.

Take the Waters of Snails and Earth-worms, of each three Ounces, Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces, Spirit of Sal Armoniack with Gum Ammoniacum a Scruple: Mix them, take a spoonful at Night, and early in the Morning.

Take Roots of Male Fern, Chervil, Candied Eringo's, of each an Ounce, Leaves of Agrimony, Harts Tongue, Male Speedwel, of each a handful, shavings of Ivory and Hartshorn, of each two Drams, white and yel∣low Saunders, of each a Dram, Raisms ston'd an Ounce and a half, Barly three Drams: Boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds; to the straining add the waters of Snails and Earth∣worms, of each an Ounce and a half, Syrup of Cichory two Ounces: Make an Apozeme, take to two or three Ounces in a day.

Take Powder of white and yellow Saunders, Crabs Eyes, Lignum Aloes, of each half a Dram, Salt of Wormwood a Scruple: Make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Scruple, to a Scruple twice a day.

Take Emplastrum Diasaponis, Ceratum Santalinum, of each what suffices: Make a Plaister to be apply'd to the right Hypo∣chondre.

Take Ʋnguentum Splanchnicum two Ounces, Oyl of Wormwood an Ounce: Mix them, make a Liniment for the Region of the Liver.

The Remedies for most other Diseases of the Liver, are either Simple or Compound: Amongst those of the former kind, are u∣sually reckon'd all Cichories, Sorrels, sharp-pointed Docks, and

in a manner all Vegetables which have a sort of bitterness joyn∣ed with somewhat of a smartness (in which the Deopilative vertue is said to consist) as Wormwood, Germander, Ground-Pine, Fumitory, Tansie, Agrimony, Liver-wort, Lignum Aloes, all the Saunders, Tamarisk-bark, Ash-bark, and the Roots of Capers, with many others which make up the greatest part of Botanicks.

The fixt Salts of Herbs, and the Acid Spirits of Minerals claim a chief place amongst these, because they mightily agitate the Mass of Blood, dissolve its Concretions, clear its stoppages, and make it every where permeable in all its parts.

Its also manifest both by reason and experience, that prepara∣tions of Steel are often proper in Distempers of the Liver, as e∣specially in the Jaundise, and the Dropsy.

In the Antidotaries of the Ancients, we find a great many Physical Compositions which seem to be wholly design'd for the Liver, as the Electuary ê scoria ferri Rhasis, &c. But passing over these, I shall now give you some Forms and Examples of Medi∣cines which are accounted Deopilatives, according to the practice of our times.

Therefore for an Opening Decoction.

TAke Roots of Fern, Chervil, the greater Nettle, Dandelion, of each an Ounce, Leaves of Agrimony, Harts Tongue, Speedwel, Oak of Hierusalem, Liver-wort, of each a handful, white and yellow Saunders, of each three Drams, shavings of Ivory half an Ounce, Red Cicehs an Ounce, Coriander Seeds three Drams, Raisins two Ounces: Boil them in four pounds of fountain water, to two pounds, adding about the end Whitewine four Ounces, strain it through Hippocra∣tes sleeve; to which put Species Diarrhodon Abbatis a Dram, our prepar'd Steel two Drams: To the straining add Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb two Ounces, waters of Snails and Earth-worms, of each an Ounce: The Dose is six Ounces twice a day, after a Dose of the following Electuary.

Take Conserve of the yellow Coats of Oranges and Limons, of each two Ounces, of Wormwood and Fumitory, of each an Ounce, Simple Powder of Aron Roots, Lignum Aloes, yellow Saunders, and Caper Roots, of each a Dram and a half, Crabs Eyes a Dram, Salt of Worm∣wood two Drams, Syrup of Fumitory what suffices: Make an Electu∣ary, the Dose is the quantity of a Wallnut twice a day, drinking after it a draught of the Apozeme before written, or of the following di∣still'd water.

Take Leaves of Wormwood, Centory, Tansie, both Southernwoods, Branches of Tamerisk, of each four handfuls, green Wallnuts four pounds, green Ashen-keys two pounds, the outward Kinds of ten O∣ranges, and of four Limons, Snails, Earth-worms prepar'd, of each a pound; being all slic'd, pour to them of Whitewine eight pounds, di∣stil it with common Organs: Let all the Liquor be mixt, the Dose is three Ounces, sweeten it with Sugar, or some proper Syrup.

If a Form of Pills be more grateful; the following Ecphra∣ctick Extract (as the Shops call it) seems good.

Take white and clear Tartar, and fresh Filings of Iron, of each four Ounces, let them be bruis'd together into a Powder, then boil it in four pounds of fountain wa•••••• to two pounds, (some use White∣wine) to the straining add tops of Centory, Sea Wormwood, and Car∣duus, of each a handful, Gentian Roots half an Ounce, Species Dia∣curcumae a Dram and a half; let them boil close cover'd for three or four hours, then strain it, and let the straining evaporate by a gentle Bath heat, to a consistency for Pills, adding if you please, Troches of Rhubarb, or Species of Hiera Picra two Drams: The Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram made into Pills, in the Evening with a fit Vehicle.

For the same intent, viz. to prevent or remove obstructions of the Liver, a Purging Physick Ale to be taken Spring and Fall for many days, is highly extoll'd by some, and diligently us'd by certain Persons every year during their Lives.

Take Roots of sharp pointed Dock prepar'd, and of Polypody of the Oak, of each three Ounces, Madder two Ounces, English Rhubarb two Ounces, Leaves of Sena four Ounces, Epithymum two Ounces, yellow Saunders an Ounce, Seeds of Carthamus and Coriander, of each an Ounce and a half, being slic'd and bruis'd, Make a Bag according to art for four Gallons of Ale, after six days take to twelve Ounces more or less in the Morning, by which you may expect four or five Stools, Sine Regimine.

CHAP. III. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing the Dropsie call'd Ascites.

THe Dropsie call'd Ascites, is a tumour of the Belly, caus'd by a Watery Humour contain'd within its Cavity; which Hu∣mour probably is the Serum of the dissolv'd Blood, distilling forth of the Caeliack and Mesenterick Arteries into the Cavity of the Abdomen, and especially if it happens, that Scirrhous Tu∣mours, Glands, little Swellings, or other praeternatural Concre∣tions are rais'd about the Mesentery, Liver, Spleen, Womb, or other Viscera of the Belly; for the Circulation of the Blood be∣ing stopt in those places, the Serous part of it is forc'd from the rest, and falls into that Cavity, and commonly the Nutritive Juice goes with it, wherefore when this Region swells, the Mem∣bers are usually extenuated.

Nevertheless the Blood is not always dissolv'd in an Ascites, as it is in an Anasarca, but is sometimes too compact in its Crasis, yet so that its forc'd by reason of the Obstructions of the Vis∣cera, to depose within the Abdomen its Salt Serum, which it could not evacuate by the Pores of the Skin, and the Urinary passages.

Its also likely that the Lacteous or Lymphatick Vessels being sometimes broken or opened, fill the Abdomen with a Mass of Wa∣ter or Chyle.

I conceive also that this Inundation of the Belly, may some∣times arise from the Nervous Liquor, distilling gently and insen∣sibly from the Fibres and Membranes: And likewise from vapours condens'd within the Cavity of the Body.

Concerning the Cure of Ascites, we must consider by how many possible ways and manners, waters gathered together with∣in the Abdomen may be evacuated: And we find that the Reme∣dies, which according to the ordinary practice of Physick, are accounted Hydroticks, work that end by Purging, by Evacuati∣on by Urine, by Sweating, and by insensible transpiration, and with some Persons you must proceed this way, and with others that, or the other; and if neither of these seem possible, or suc∣ceed well, you must timely think of an Incision. I shall now consider each of these ways.

First therefore Catharticks seasonably given, often abate the Tumour of an Ascites, and sometimes wholly take it away; for asmuch as their Particles irritating the Ventricle and Intestines, discuss the Contents and Flatus's of those Viscera, and likewise the humours sticking in their Tunicles and Glands, and heap'd together in the Vessels and Ductus's of their neighbouring parts, and force them partly into to Ductus's of the Intestines, and partly send them into the Mass of Blood: But it does not succeed thus, if at any time this Disease proceeds from a Lympha, float∣ing within the Cavity of the Abdomen, or from an Inflation or Tympanitical extention of the Membranes; because Hydragogues carry forth little or nothing of those waters, and if they are strong, exasperate and increase the Flatulent Distemper. Ca∣tharticks accounted Hydragogues, are either Emeticks or Pur∣gers.

1. The Hydragogue Emeticks of chiefest note, are Gum Gutta, Esula or Cataputia, and diversified preparations of them: Also Hercules Bovii, & Pilulae Lunares.

2. The Purgers are Elder, and Dwarf Elder, Sea Bindweed, Hedge Hyssop, Juice of Orris, Elaterium: I shall briefly set down certain Forms and manners of prescribing, compounding, and gi∣ving each of these.

1. Gum Gutta is highly extoll'd for Purging Serous humours; but in regard being given by it self, it mightily disturbs the Sto∣mack, and often weakens it, therefore to repress a little its exces∣sive and violently Emetick force, various ways are contriv'd for preparing it; but its best of all corrected with an Acid Spirit, or with an Alchalisate Salt, or by throughly tempering and com∣pounding it with Aromaticks.

Adrian Mynsicht commends its Magistery, which is made by dissolving it with Spirit of Wine, and then by drawing it off, and preciptiating it with fountain water; also by dissolving it with Spirit of Wine Vitriolated, and Ting'd with Roses and red Saun∣ders, and then by evaporating it, others prepare it with the fume of Sulphur after the manner of Scammony Sulphurated: Others grind it on a Marble, moistning it with Oyl of Cinnamon, or of Cloves, or other Chymical Aromaticks: I use most its Solution, made with the Tincture of Salt of Tartar: The Dos of which is from fifteen Drops to twenty or thirty.

Take Gummi Gutta six Grains, Mercurius Dulcis fifteen Grains, Con∣serve of Violets a Dram and a half: Mix them, make a Bolus.

Take Gummi Gutta twelve Grains, Salt of Wormwood six Grains, Oyl of Mace a Drop, Conserve of Damask Roses a Dram: Make a Bolus. And its wont to be given with Tartar Vitriolated, or Cream of Tartar, and powdre of Rhubarb.

Take Gum Gutta sulphurated or vitriolated fifteen Grains, Croam of Tartar half a Scruple, Extract of Rhubarb a Scruple, Oyl of Cin∣namon two Drops: Make four Pills.

A Woman of late being ill of a dangerous Ascites, and as it seem'd to me in a desperated condition; by taking the following Medicines for six days successively, grew much better, and in a short time after perfectly recovered.

Take Gum Gutta powdred twelve Grains, Oyl of Cinnamon a Drop, Syrup of Buckthorn what suffices: Make a Bolus, let the Dose be encreas'd every day, by rising from twelve Grains to twenty.

Take of our Tincture of Gum Gutta a Scruple, water of Earth-worms an Ounce, Syrup of Rhubarb half an Ounce: Mix them, give it Cum Regimine.

Though there are various kinds of the Spurges, and all of them work violently by Vomit or Siege, by reason of their mighty Irritation of the Viscera, and consequently evacuate Serous hu∣mours in a plentiful manner; yet because of the excessive strength of most of them: The lesser or wild Spurge, is now in a manner only in use: And its most approved preparations are the Powder of the Rinds of its Roots, and its Extract; We also add its Tin∣cture, which is not Inferiour to the rest.

Take the lesser Spurge, with the Roots cleans'd four handfuls, Lig∣num Aloes, Cloves, of each a Dram; being bruis'd, boil them in four pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd' let the straining Cla∣rifie by settling in an oblong Glass, then let the clear Liquor Evaporate by a Bath-heat to the consistency of an Extract; The Dose is a Scruple.

Take of this Extract half an Ounce, pour to it in a Matras six Ounces of the Tincture of Salt of Tartar, digest them in a Sand Bath till the Tincture be Extracted: The Dose is from twenty to thirty Drops, with a fit Vehicle.

Take Powder of the Roots of the lesser Spurge, from seven Grains to ten, Cinnamon half a Scruple, Salt of Tartar eight Grains; bruise them together in a Glass Mortar, give it by it self, or with the Addition of some fit Conserve or Syrup: Make a Bolus or Pills.

3. Praecipitatum Mercurii cum Sole, or Hercules Bovii; For as much as by its Acrimony, it mightily irritates the Fibres of the Stomack, and fuses the Blood by reason of its Mercurial and Sa∣line Particles, it raises a violent Vomiting, and so forces a dis∣charge of the Serous humours, which are violently drawn into the Cavities of the Viscera.

Pilulae Lunares, in like manner by reason of the Vitriolick Par∣ticles of the Silver, being sharpen'd with other Saline Menstruums produce the like effect, viz. by much corrugating the Fibres of

the Viscera, they strongly force the Serous humours into their Ductus's, and causes them to be evacuated.

A Solution of Silver being made in Aqua Stygia, and well purified, is redud'd by a gentle evaporation into clear Crystals; which by them∣selves (or with the addition of Sal Nitre to repress the force of the Lunar Vitriol) are made into Pills with the Crum of Bread: The Dose is sometimes a single Pill, sometimes two or three according as they work, and as the strength will bear, these sorts of Medicines are sometimes given with success in a strong Constitution, and where the Viscera are sound, and of a good habit; but scarce ever have a good effect in ten∣der and Cachectical Bodies, and are seldom taken by such persons with∣out doing them hurt.

Hydragogue Medicines which work meerly or chiefly by Seige, are either mild, as Elder, Dwarfe Elder, Sea Bindweed, and the Juice of English Orris, which are rarely given by themselves, but want to be quicken'd by such as are smarter, and for return they qualify the vehemency of the other; or they are strong, as Hedg-Hyssop, Jalap, and Elaterium.

The Seeds of Elder and Dwarfe Elder, being dry'd and powdred, and taken to a Dram, gently evacuate Serous humours by Seige; a Water and Spirit are distill'd from the Juice of both their Ber∣ries fermented, and Robs and Syrups are made of it; which with many other preparations of those Vegetables are highly extoll'd for all Hydropical Distemper.

Sea Bindweed, and Hedg-Hyssop, are now rarely us'd by them∣selves, but often enter the Compositions of other Hydragogues, and chiefly in Apozemes.

The Juice of English Orris is a good Medicine, and the more to be esteem'd because easie to be had for poor people: Its given from six Drams to an Ounce and a half, or two Ounces, either by it self in a fit Vehicle, or with other proper ingredients. Ja∣lap is a well known and vulgar Medicine against all sorts of Dropsies. Every ordinary Man that has that Disease, presently takes a Pennyworth of the Powder of Jalap, with a little Ginger in Whitewine; and this Medicine taken a pretty many times sel∣dom fails of success.

Elaterium is justly accounted a most powerful Hydragogue, in regard that most powerfully irritating the Fibres of the Viscera, and at the same time fusing the Blood and humours by a sort of corrosive vertue as it were, it forces whatsoever Serosities the Tunicles of the Viscera, Membranes, and Vessels; also those that the Glands and Fleth contain within them, to discharge them∣selves into the Cavities of the Stomack and Intestines: Which Medicine working well, sometimes the swelling of the Belly fall. This indeed is the chief Instrument of the Empyricks Arsenal against

an Ascites, though using it in all cases, they oftner give if to the prejudice of the Patient, than to his advantage: The Dose is from three Grains to ten or fifteen. Its taken either by it self, only with the Addition of Aromatical Correctives, or its given with other Hydragogues in the Form of a Powder, Pills, or of an Electuary: Its Tincture and Essence are Extracted with Spirit of Wine, or with Tiacture of Salt of Tartar.

These are the chief simple Hydragogues, of which being duly prepar'd with the Addition of other things, divers sorts of Com∣pounds are made, some common in Shops, others Magisterially prescrib'd, and are every where in use , and a great many more may be ordered ex tempore on occasion. We shall here set down some few Select Forms of them, and especially such as are taken in the Form of a Potion, Powder, Electuary and pills.

Take Roots of Dwarfe Elder, and English Orris, of each an Ounced and a half, Leaves of Sea Bindweed, and Hedge Hyssop, of each a handful, Roots of Asarabacca and wild Cucumbers, of each two Oun∣ces, Roots of the lesser Galingal six Drams, choice Jalap half an Ounce, Elaterium three Drams, Cubebs two Drams, being slie'd and bruis;d, pour to them of small Spirit of Wine Tartariz'd three pounds; let them digest close luted in a sand Furnace for two days, strain off the clear, which being purified by settling; give from two spoonfuls to three with a fit Vehicle.

Take Elaterium, Sea Bindweed, Ginger, of each a Scruple, Galin∣gal, Cloves, Cinnamon, of each half a Scruple, Salt of Tartar fifteen Grains: Make a Powder for two Doses.

Take Powder of the Roots of the best Jalap a Dram, Giner a Scruple, Cream of Tartar fifteen Granins: Make a Powder, give it in a draught of Whitewine.

Take Rhubarb powdred a Scruple, Elaterium five Grains, Tartar vi∣triolated half a Scruple, Spike three Grains, with Syrup of Buck∣thorn: Make four Pills.

Take Pilulae Aloephanginae half a Dram, Elaterium half a Scruple, Oyl of Cloves three drops: Make four Pills.

Let the Hydropick Pills of Bontius be given from half a Scru∣ple, to half a Dram: They are made after this manner.

Take of the best Aloes two Drams and a half, Gummi Gutta pre∣par'd, a Dram and a half, Diagredium corrected a Dram, Gum. Am∣moniacum dissolv'd a Dram and a half, Tartar vitriolated half a Dram: Make a Mass, and form it into Pills.

Certain Hydragogue Electuaries, are now every wher much in use amongst Practitioners; and especially one given us by tye famous Sylvius, and another by Zwelfer. This that follows likes us well.

Take Rosin of Jalap two Drams, Tartar vitriolated a Dram, Ex∣tract of Rhubarb two Drams, of Esula a Drm and a half, Roots of the lesser Galingal a Dram, bruise them very well: And lastly add Conserve of English Orris Flowers four Ounces; and with a suffi∣cient quantity of Syrup of Peach Rlowers Make an Electuary, the Dose is from half a Dram, to a Dram and a half, or two Drams.

I might here give you many other Purging Hydragogues, but Catharticks do not always Cure the Ascites, nay they often make it worse, and (if you insist too long upon them) render it In∣curable. Therefore now let us enquire whether Diureticks will do good in this case or not.

And truly any Man might easily be induc'd to believe that Me∣dicines provoking Urine, contribute very much towards the E∣vacuation of Waters from any part or Cavity of the Body: In reality its manifest by frequent experiments, that they often Cure the Anasarca, and give relief in it before all other Remedies: Let us see therefore what they can do for draining the Cavity of the Abdomen.

As to this, its manifest in the first place, that there is no im∣mediate passage open from the Ascitical Mass of Waters to the Reins, how near soever they lye to them; but whatsoever wa∣ters are conveyed from that Mass to the Reins, must of necessity be first of all drank up again into the Blood, and be thence dis∣charg'd into that receptacle of the Urine: Now little is it that the small Mouths of the Veins (if haply any of them are open) can receive? And this is that only thing which Diureticks are able to perforem viz. By fusing the Blood, and driving its Serosi∣ties to the Reins in a plentiful manner, to make it draw to it self, being so drein'd, the Waters floating in the Belly. In the mean time there is no less danger lest Diureticks unseasonably given, whilst they fuse the Blood too much, drive the Serum, which is forc'd to part from it, into the watery Mass of the Ascites, more than into the Reins, and so rather to increase than remove that deluge of the Belly. And truly I have frequently observ'd that this sometimes happens; and 'tis for this reason tha the Ancients always mixt Astringents and Corroboratives in their Medicines for the Dropsie, not that such (as is vulgarly said) strengthen the tone of the Liver, but preserve the Crasis or Mixture of the Blood from being wholly dissolv'd by too much fusion. There∣fore in an Ascites which happens chiefly, or in part, by reason that the Serous humour stuffs and mightily swells the Compages of the Viscera and Vessels, and especially the Tunicles, Glands and Fibres themselves, and the spaces betwixt them; even as Cathartieks are proper, so are also Diureticks, and are often taken with success, for as much as by the use of these, the

Mass of Blood is drein'd (the Serum being deriv'd to the Reins in a plentiful manner) and readily receives into it self those waters every where stagnating about the Mouths of the Vessels, and conveys them to the Urinary Common-shore: But on the con∣trary in a true Ascites where the Textures of the Viscera being free from such stuffings with Serum, the filthy Mass of Waters fills the Cavity of the Belly, Diureticks are given either to no purpose, or with prejudice, because they fetch out nothing of the water stagnating in the Belly, and very often by fusing the Blood, drive the waters more violently thither, being apt to di∣stil into it of their own accord.

In an Ascites all Diureticks of every kind are not equally pro∣per, nor ought to be indifferently give; for it is to be observ'd, that Persons troubl'd with this Disease make little Urine, which is also reddish, and resembling as it were a Lixivium; which is a sign that the Crasis of their Blood is so close bound by reason of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being exalted and combin'd together in it; and consequently that its Serum is not duly separted within the Reins, which nevertheless is thrown off in the Involutions of the Obstructed Viscera, and so is depos'd in the Cavity of the Belly. Wherefore in this case we must give only those things to move Urine, which so restore and corredct the Constitution of the Blood, that the Irregularities of the fixt Salt and Sulphur being taken away, the Serous part may be separated within the Reins, and sent forth in a more plentiful manner: For which end not Acid or Lixivial things, but such as are endow'd with a Vo∣latile Salt are proper; for I have often observ'd in such Patients, that when Spirit of Salt, and other Acid distill'd Liquors of Mi∣nerals, and when the Deliqia or Solutions of Salt of Tartar, of Broom, and of other things have rather done hurt than good; the Juice of Plantain, of Brooklimes, and of other Herbs abound∣ing with a Volatile Salt; also the expressions of Millepedes have given relief: For the same reason Sal Nitre throughly purified, or Crystal Mineral has often a mighty good effect. You may find Forms of Medicines proper for this use in our preceding Tract, where we have set down Examples of Diureticks, in which both Volatile and Nitrous Salts are the Basis: Moreover to this place belongs that notable Experiment with which Johan∣nes Anglus says he often Cur'd an Ascites from a hot Caus, which Medicine also the most experienc'd Physician Dr. Theodore Mayern usually prescrib'd in the like Case, and was wont to extol. It is as follows.

Take Juice of Plantain and Liverwort, and fill an earthen Pot with it to the Brim, then stop it very close, and put it in a hot Oven as soon as the Bread is drawn, and make a gentle Fire round the sides

of the Pot to continue the heat of the Oven; after it is boild strain the Liquor, and being sweeten'd with Sugar, let it be drank Morn∣ings and Evenings, and it Cures.

In Imitation of this, I have often prescrib'd with success after the following manner:

Take green Plantain Leaves four handfuls, Liverwort and Brook∣limes, of each two handfuls, being bruis'd together, pour to them of small Compound Raddish water, or of some other Magisterial water half a pound, wring it forth hard: The Dose is three Ounces thrice a day.

Diaphoreticks, though most efficacious in an Anasarca, yet are of little or no use in an Ascites; for being unseasonably given, they often cause a great prejudice to the Patient, without doing him the least good, because by heating the Blood they make the waters floating in the Cavity of the Belly, to grow fervid, and to boil as it were, so that the Spirits and Humours are mightily troubled by the Vapours thence rais'd, and so a disor∣der of all the functions follows, and the Viscera themselves being sodden as it were, are very much injur': Moreover when a Sweat is thus unduly rais'd, the Blood being forc'd to a fusion and precipitation of Serum, discharges more yet into the watery Mass of the Ascites; therefore when some prescribe Fomentations and Liniments to be apply'd to the swollen Paunch, and order Bathing, for the most part it falls out for the worse to the Pati∣ents; for besides Feverishness, a Head-ach, Vertigo, faintings of the Spirits, and other ill Symptoms of the Heart and Brain, most frequently caus'd by such means, the Belly also swells the more by it, because the Blood being agitated and dissolv'd, deposes the Serum there in a larger measure: Nay, and the Mouths of the Vessels are thereby made more loose and open, so that they di∣stil forth waters faster, they being now dispos'd to part from the Mass of Blood. The Remedies which are wont to be Admini∣stred with most success, when we will not proceed to an Incision, are Glisters and Plaisters.

The former draw the Serum out of the Vessels and Glands of the Intestines, and Mesentery, without fusing the whole Mass of Blood (which strong Catharticks will do) which being so em∣ptyed, receive into them some of the extravasted Lympha; For this end the following Glister usually prescrib'd by us in the like case is mighty proper; in regard at the same time it irritates the Fibres of the Intestines, and draws the Serum imbib'd by the Blood, or before contain'd in it, to the Reins.

Take Ʋrine of a sound Man that drinks Wine one pound, Ve∣nice Turpentine dissolv'd with the Yolk of an Egg, an Ounce and a half, Sal Prunella a Dram and a half: Make a Glister, repeat it daily.

Plaisters sometimes do good in an Ascites, but let them be such as strengthen the Viscera by some restringent and comforting vertue, and help to close the Mouths of the Vessels, that they do not dicharge the Serosities in too great a plenty: For this end I usually apply Emplastrum Diasaponis to the swollen Belly with good success. Or,

Take Emplastrum de minio, and Paracelsi, of each what suffices: Make a Plaister to be apply'd to the Belly. If at any time this Di∣sease be complicated with a Tympany, other sorts of Epithems are proper, as we shall decalre hereafter.

The great and most present Remedy for an Ascites, is to make an Inision, and draw forth the water, tho this practice as often Kills the Patient, as Cures the Disease; wherefore there is need of great caution in what Persons, and in what time of the Disease this ought to be attempted: In Cachectical Persons, and such as have been long ill, in whom the Conformation and tem∣perament of the Viscera are generally vitiated, it cannot prove of any good effect to let forth the waters by piercing of the Belly; for presently upon it the Spirits faint, the strength is dis∣solv'd, nay and a fresh inundation of the Morbifick humour soon succeeds it: But those who before having a good constitution of the Viscera, and being sound enough as to all other parts, fall into an Ascites upon some great evident cause, as they need not presently at first attenmpt an Incision, so they ought not to defer it long if it be judg'd requisite. For upon a long delay the Visce∣ra which are immerg'd in the waters, and as it were sodden in them, become incorrigibly vitiated.

Its besides my purpose to describe here the Administration of this Incision, whether it be perform'd the ordinary way, or ac∣cording to the way of Sylvius, with a Perforated Needle. As physicians seldom prescribe this operation, they looking upon it as dangerous, so Quacks and Empiricks never consulting them, attempt it very often inconsierately and uprosperously. For conclusion, I shall here give you a relation of a true and terrible Ascites lately Cur'd without an Incision.

A young Woman tall and slender, an Merchants Wife, giving Suck to her Child, drank both by day and by night to increase her Mild, an immoderate quantity of Ale, sometimes plain, and sometimes made into Posset-drink; after having us'd this ill way of Diet for six Weeks, she feel suddenly into a cruel Ascites, the beginnings of which she never had minded; for her Abdomen

being full of waters floatig within it, swell'd mightily, and its Bulk when she turn'd her self, from one side to the other, fell without the Ilia, and the borders of the rest of her Body; in the mean time the Flesh of all her Members was mightily consum'd, and she seem'd not less Consumptive than Hydropical.

The Child being wean'd, and better Diet ordered, she entred upon Physick, and in the first place took gently Hydragogues both Purging by Siege and Urine, but without any benefit, nay after all Purging she was worse: Afterwards being Committed to our care, and almost in a desperate condition, I proceeded with her after the following method.

Having wholly forbidden her the use of Ale, and all other drinks but what were Physical, I prescrib'd these things.

Take Leaves of Plantain, Brooklimes, Clivers, of each four hand∣fuls, being bruis'd together, pour to them water of Earth-worms, and Radish-water Compound, of each three Ounces, wring ti forth; she took it twice a day, viz. at eight of the Clock in the Morning, and at five in the Afternoon, she continued the use of this Medicine a long time, but altered now and then the Composition, changing sometimes the Herbs, sometimes the Liquor to be poured to them.

Take of the reddest Tincture of Salt of Tartar an Ounce and a half; she took twenty Drops going to Bed, and early in the Morning in two spoonfuls of the following Julape, drinking after it seven spoon∣fuls.

Take of the reddest Tincture of Salt of Tartar an Ounce an da half; she took twenty Drops going to Bed, and early in the Morning in two spoonfuls of the following Julape, drinking after it seven spoon∣fuls.

Take water of the Flowers of Elder, and of Saxifrage, of each six Ounces, the waters of Snails, Earth-worms, and Radish Compound, of each two Ounces.

On her Belly she wore a Plaister made of Empl. de Minio, & Oxycroceo.

The following Glyster was given her first every day, afterward every other or third day.

Take Ʋrine of a sound Man a pound, Turpentine dissolv'd with the Yolk of an Egg an Ounce and a half, Sugar an Ounce, Sal Prunella a Dram: Make a Glister.

By the constant use of these things, in six Weeks time the swel∣ling of her Belly came down, but her flesh daily falling away, a Consumption was fear'd: Wherefore to prevent it, she went in∣to the Country and drank Asses Milk, and by the benefit of this nourishment and of the fresh Air, taking continually the above mention'd Medicines, she recover'd perfectly within three Weeks or a Month, and lives still, and is in good health.

CHAP. IV. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing the Tympany.

A Tympany may be thus defin'd, or at least describ'd, viz. that it is a fixt and continued tumour of the Abdomen, equal, hard, stiff, yielding a sound upon striking, taking its rise from a sort of Convulsive Inflation of the Membranous Parts and Viscera, by reason of the Animal Spirits being driven into those Fibres in too great a plenty, and there hindred from a Recess, through the fault of the Nervous Juice obstructing it: To which affect a gathering of Winds in the empty places is consequently added for compleating it.

That we may have timely notice of its beginning, we must understand that there are some previous affects which dispose to it, as especially a Hypochondriack, Colick, Hysterick, and some∣times an Asthmatick disposition: And if after frequent returns of Fits in any of these Distempers, a tumour of the Abdomen fol∣lows, though never so small at first, a Tympany is presently to be fear'd.

A Tympany seldom kills of it self, but after it has continued a long time, to make more sure work, it joyns to it self at length an Ascites as a forerunner of death.

In order to the Cure of a Tympany, as in most other Diseases, there are three primary Indications, whereof the first and always the most pressing being Curatory, endeavours to remove the tu∣mour of the Abdomen, by recalling the Animal Spirits from that Convulsive extention, and reducing them to order: The Second being preservatory, keeps those Spirits or others from inordinate excursions into the Nervous Fibres of the Belly, and at the same time corrects the faults of the Nervous Liquor accompanying them, as to its Crasis or Motion: The Third is Vital, and by removing the Symptoms that are most pressing, relives and up∣holds as much as may be all the functions that are opprest or weakned.

The First Indication is always of chiefest moment, the whole stress of the Cure consisting in it, but its very difficult to be per∣form'd: For it does not readily occur to us with what remedies or ways of Administration it ought to be attempted. Bleeding has no place here, but in a manner always is shun'd as hurtful; also Catharticks for as much as they irritate the affected Fibres,

and trouble the Spirits, and drive them more violently into those Fibres, do rather increase than diminish, or Cure the tumour of the Belly: So likewise Diaphoreticks force the Spirits together with the Morbifick Particles deeper into those Fibres, from which they ought to be summon'd forth and withdrawn. The chief means of Cure seems to be plac'd in the use of Diureticks and Glisters; and great things are likewise expected from Topicks, because they are apply'd more immediately, and by contact to the Disease it self, and because we see they excellently dissolve or discuss tumours in other places; but all dissolvents are not pro∣per here, even though in other tumours they are very Medicin∣able: For those that are hot, being accounted discussors, most commonly rather do hurt than good in a Tympany, whether they are us'd as a Fomentation, or Liniment, or apply'd in the Form of a Cataplasme or Plaister: For they both open and di∣late the Ductus's of the Fibres, so that they lye more open to the Inroads of the Spirits; and at the same time rarify the Parti∣cles sticking in them, so that they coming to occupy a greater space, the Inflation and Swelling of the Belly is augmented. Last∣ly as to Alteratives, even of those which do good against other affects of the Genus Nervosum, only some few are proper in a Tympany; for where the Morbifick matter sticking within the strait Ductus's cannot be driven forwards or quite through, Ela∣stick Medicines, by fastning the matter deeper, render the obstru∣ction still greater or more fixt: Wherefore the Spirits of Harts∣horn, Soot, Sal Armoniack, and so Tinctures, Elixirs and other Medicines endowed with a Volatile Salt, or Particles otherwise active, do not only cause a very troublesome heat and drought in persons troubled with a Tympany, but also make the Abdomen swell more, because they trouble the Spirits, and fuse the Blood and Nervous Juice, so that the Particles deposed by each of these are forc'd into the parts affected.

Nowwithstanding Physick can do so little against this Disease we must not cease to move every stone in order to Cure, or give ease to the Patient: Therefore in the First place (because it is the Custom to begin with Evacuatives) though strong Ca∣tharticks always do hurt, and the more gentle are scarce ever able to carry off the Conjunct Cause; yet these latter, for as much as they withdraw somewhat of that which feeds the Di∣sease, and prepare the way for other Medicines to exert their E∣nergies more freely, ought to have their turns in the Practice of Physick, viz. once in six or seven days; and at other times let Glisters (the use of which is much better) he frequently Admi∣nistred: Hydroticks being forbidden, let moderate Diureticks be diligently plyed, to which at the same time let such things be

joyn'd which regard the altering and reducing of the Spirits and Humours, which truly make up the chiefest part of Pharmacy for a Tympany: Moreover in the mean time let not the use of Topicks be neglected. We shall set down certain Select Forms of Medicines appropriated to each of these ends: For a Medicine gently loosening, use the Laxative Wine prescrib'd for a Tym∣pany by the famous Greg. Horstius in the Fourth Book of his Ob∣servations, Chap. 30. or instread of it, let the following be pre∣scrib'd in a shorter Form.

Take Flowers of Peaches, and of Damask Roses, of each two Pugils of Broom, Elder, and the lesser Centory, of each a Pugil, Leaves of Agrimony and Sea Wormwood, of each a handful, of the best Sena an Ounce, Rhubarb six Drams, Carthamus-seeds half an Ounce, of Dwarf-elder two Drams, yellow Saunders three Drams, Galingal Roots two Drams, being slic'd and bruis'd, sew them up in a Silken Bag, and put it in a Glass with two pounds of Whitewine, Saxifrage water a pound, Salt of Tartar a Dram and a half; let them stand for forty eight hours, then let the Patient begin to drink it, taking about four or six Ounces every third or fourth day.

In a hotter constitution let the following Form be given, which I have sometimes try'd with good success.

Take of Purging Mineral waters eight pounds, Salt of Wormwood two Drams, let it evaporate with a gentle Bath-heat to two pounds: To this I use to add of water distill'd from Purgers with Wine four Ounces: The Dose is from four Ounces to six.

Or to that Liquor evaporated to two pounds, add of the Roots of Mechoacan and Turbith, of each half an Ounce, Rhubarb six Drams, yellow Saunders two Drams, Cloves a Dram: Let there be a close and warm digestion for two hours filter it warm through lawn paper, the Dose is three or four Ounces.

Glisters are of frequent use in this Disease, because they loosen the Belly without any great irritation of the Fibres.

Take water of the Infusion of Stone-Horse-dung with Cammomile Flowers a pound, Honey of Herb Mercury two Ounces: After the same manner also let Decoctions or Infusions be prepar'd of Dogs-turd with Carminatives.

Take of the Emollient Decoction a pound, Sal Prunella, or Sal Armoniack, from a Dram to a Dram and a half: Make a Glister.

Take of the Ʋrine of a sound Man a pound, Sal Prunella a Dram, Ve∣nice Turpentine dissov'd with the Yolk of an Egg an Ounce and a half: Make a Glister.

2. Dinreticks, If any other Remedies, premise help in this Di∣sease.

Take live Millepedes cleans'd three Ounces, one Nutmeg slic'd, be∣ing bruis'd together, pour to them of the following Diuretick water a pound, express it strongly: The Dose is from three Ounces to four twice a day.

Take of the green Berries of Juniper and Elder of each six pounds, Firr tops four pounds, green Wallnuts two pounds, Winters Bark four Ounces, the outward Rinds of six Oranges and four Limons, the Seeds of Ameos, Rocket, and Water-cresses, of each an Ounce and a half, Dill-seeds two Ounces, being slic'd and bruis'd, pour to them of Whey made with Whitewine eight pounds, distil it with common Or∣gans: Let all the Liquor be mixt.

Take Crystal Mineral half an Ounce, Volatile Salt of Amber two Drams, Powder of wild Carrot-seeds a Dram, Venice Turpentine what suffices: Take small Pills, take three at Night, and in the Morning, drinking after it of the foresaid water three Ounces.

Take sweet Spirit of Salt half an Ounce, give from eight drops to twelve twice a day with a Draught of the same water, adding Syrup of Violets a spoonfull.

Take Spirit of Salt of Tartar an Ounce; give from a Scruple to half a Dram, twice a day after the same manner: So also Spirit of Nitre, and Tincture of Salt of Tartar may be given.

Take Leaves of Plantain, Chervil, and Clivers, of each four hand∣fuls, being bruis'd together, pour to them of the former distill'd wa∣ter a pound, express it strongly: The Dose is three Ounces twice or thrice a day with some other Medicine.

Take Grass Roots three Ounces, Roots of Butchers-broom two Oun∣ces, Chervil and Candied Eringo's, of each an Ounce, shavings of Hartshorn and Ivory, of each two Drams, burnt Hartshorn two Drams and a half, Burdock-seeds three Drams; boil them in three pounds of fountain water to two pounds: In the warm straining put Leaves of Clivers and Watercresses bruis'd, of each a handful, adding of Rhenish Wine six Ounces; let there be a close and warm Infu∣sion for two hours; then strain it again, and add of the Magisterial water of Earth-worms two Ounces, Syrup of the five Roots an Ounce and a half, make an Apozeme, the Dose is four Ounces twice a day, with some other Medicine.

Whilst these things are taken inwardly, let Topicks also, and outward applications be carefully Administred, not such as are hot and discussing, but such as are endow'd with Particles of a Volatile and Nitrous Salt, which destroy the combinations of the other Salts, and make void the efforts of the Spirits, for which ends we propose the following things: If Fomentations ought to be us'd at all, let them not be apply'd too hot, and let them not be prepar'd of the vulgarly call'd Carminatives, but chiefly of Salts and Minerals. Cabrotius (quoted by Helmont) says, he Cur'd a Person eighty years of Age, whose Belly he somented

twice a day with a Lixivium, in which he boil'd Salt, Allum, and Sulphur, and after apply'd Cow-dung, for a Cataplasm, I use to prescribe as follows.

Take Flowers of Sal Armoniack an Ounce, Crystal Mineral two Ounces, small Spirit of Wine containing much Phlegm in it two pounds: Mix them, and dissolve them in a Glass.

Let a Woolen Cloath dipp'd in this warm, be apply'd on the whole Abdomen, and be chang'd now and then, dipping it afresh: Let it be done twice a day for half an hours space, afterwards let there be apply'd either a Cataplasm of Cow-dung, with the Pow∣der of Dogs-turd, or the Plaister following.

Take Emplastrum Diasaponis, that is, of Minium with Venice Soap what suffices: Let it be thin spread on thin Leather, and apply'd to the whole Belly, renewing it within ten or twelve days.

The Second Indication requires chiefly altering Medicines, viz. such as put a stop to the Fermentations of the humours in the Viscera of the Belly, and to the wild Efforts, and irregular excur∣sions of the Spirits, and which likewise procure the even mix∣tures and due motions of the Chyle and Nervous Juice: For which ends Chalybeats are principally us'd; and truly not only for this Disease, but for many others belonging to the Viscera of the Belly, it's usual to have recourse to Steel Medicines, though in the mean time many Empyricks confidently prescribing them, do not consider after what manner such Medicines work, or what alterations for the better may be expected from them: And in∣deed it very often falls out, that nature her self is destroyed, and not the Disease, when Chalybeats, of which there is a great variety, and of diversified Operations, are given without any distinction or choice, or without respect to the Temperament, Constitution, and state of the Disease in Patients.

We have treated elsewhere ex professo concerning Medicines prepar'd of Iron and Steel, and of their vertues and manners of working; so that it's needless to repeat the same here: As to this Disease, if any of them are proper for it, certainly they are not all: For those in which the Sulphur still remains, and being free, predominates over the other principles after that the texture of the mixt Body is open'd, must be wholly excluded from this number; for by their powerful fermentation, they greatly fer∣ment the Juices of the Viscera, and put the Blood and Spirits in such a Commotion, that the whole Region of the Belly is puft up in a greater Bulk, as though some Spirit rush'd violently into it.

Nor are those more proper here, from which the Sulphureous Particles are wholly driven away with the Saline, as in Crocus Martis prepar'd by a very strong and long Calcination; for as this Medicine is good to stay all fluxions, so it sixes more

any Impactions of Spirits and humours, and renders them more obstinate.

But there remains a Martial Remedy of a middle kind, in which the Sulphur being wholly, or for the greatest part expell'd, the Vitriolick Salt remains, and has for the greatest part the Predo∣minancy, as it has in a Solution of the Filings of Iron, or in its Infusion either simple, or in Mineral waters, in Salt or Vitriol of Mars, in our preparation of Steel, with many others, preparations and compositions of which have been often found by experience to have done great good in some cases; for these destroy the Exotick, and restore the Genuine Ferments of the Viscera; open their Obstructions, fix the Blood, and keep its Texture from much dissolution: Wherefore Chalybeate Medicines, as also some other Alteratives have haply some effect against the Procatarctick and more remote Causes of a Tympany, but do little or no good at all against its Conjunct Cause.

Take of our Steel ground very fine two Drams, of the Distill'd water above written two Pounds, Syrup of the five Roots two Ounces, mix them in a Glass, and let it Clarifie by setling; the Dose is three or four Ounces in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon.

Take Powder of Aron Roots, and of Crabbs Eyes of each three Drams, Chrystal Mineral two Drams, Vitriol of Mars a Dram and a half, Sugar of Rosemary Flowers two Drams: Mix them, the Dose is half a Dram, twice a Day with a fit Vehicle.

Hartman highly extolls the Liquor of the Flowers of the Herb Mullein as a Specifick Remedy in this Disease: Put those Flowers fresh gather'd into an Alembick and press them in hard, then the Ves∣sell being carefully stopt that nothing can breath forth, let it stand in an Oven whilst bread is bak't, and afterwards the Flowers being taken forth press forth the Liquor very hard, and let it be Distill'd in Bal∣neo: The Dose is a Scruple in Decoction of the Seeds and Roots of Fennel. Certainly if this Medicine can do any thing, it ought to be given in a greater Dose.

Johannes Anglicus Commends the Electuary Rosata Novella with Diatrion Santalon and Ants Eggs; which Medicine truly being probable enough seems to promise something: In Imitation of these I shall here propose the following.

Take Conserve of the Flowers of Cichory and Indian Cress of each three Ounces, Powder of Aron Roots, Lignum Aloes, yellow Saunders of each a Dram, Crabbs Eyes a Dram and a half, Salt of Worm∣wood an Ounce, Ants Eggs an Ounce, Liguor of male Mullein half a Dram, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Citron Pills make an Electuary, the Dose is two Drams, twice a Day, Drinking after it of the former Distill'd water, or of the following Julape three Ounces.

Take water of the Leaves of Aron, of the Juice of Elderberryes, water of Juniper and of Elder Flowers of each six Ounces Magisteriall waters of Snails and of Earth-worms of each two Ounces, Syrup of the Juice of Elderberryes two Ounces, mix them, make a Julape.

The third Indication being vital Prescribes Remedies chiefly against Faintings of the Spirits, and difficulty of Breathing, and against Watching and Thirst: I shall briefly set down certain Forms of both kinds.

1. Cordials.

TAke water of Navews, of Marigold and Cammomill Flowers of each three Ounces: Dr. Stevens's water two Ounces, Tincture of Saffron two Drams, Sugar an Ounce. Pearl a Dram; make a Julape, the Dose is four or five Spoonfuls thrice or oftener in a Day in Faintings.

Take Conserve of Marigold Flowers two Ounces, Confection of Alkermes and of Hyacinth of each two Drams, Pearl Powdred an Ounces, of the Juice of Citrons what suffices; make a Confection, take the quantity of a Nutmeg Evening and Morning drinking after it a Draught of the Julape.

2. Hypnoticks.

TAke Aqua Hysterica six Drams, Syrup de Meconio half an Ounce; mix them, take it late at Night, Or,

Take small Cinnamon water an Ounce, Diacodium three Ounces, Tincture of Saffron two Drams, mix them, take to the quantity of a Spoonfull late at Night if Sleep be wanting. Or,

Take Syrup of Cowslip Flowers three Spoonfulls, Compound Peony water one Spoonfull, Laudanum Tartarizd a Dram, take a Spoonfull late at Night if you cannot Sleep.

Quenchers of Thirst must be frequently given in this most Thir∣sty Disease, but it must be in a very small quantity, that we may allay that most troublesom Symptom without much Drink, which is always pernicious: For which end,

Take Conserve of Wood-Sorrel passed through a Sieve three Ounces, Pulp of Tamarinds two Ounces, Sal Prunella a Dram, Syrup of the Juice of Wood-Sorrel what suffices, make a soft Lohoch of which let him lick often.

CHAP. V. Instructions and Prescripts for Curing the Anasarca.

AN Anasarca is describ'd after this manner, that it is a white and soft Tumour of the whole outward part of the Body, or of some parts of it, yielding to the Touch, and leaving a Pit up∣pon Compression, proceeding from an Aqueous Homour extra∣vasated and heapt together, both within the Interstices of the Muscles, and within the Pores of the Flesh and Skin, and even of the Glands and Membranes.

That watery Humour proceeds wholly or for the greatest part from the Blood, for being continually produc't within the Mass of Blood through the defect and fault of Sanguification, it is pour'd forth of the Mouths of the Arteries in a greater quantity than that it can be receiv'd and carried back by the Veins and Limphaeducts and be sent forth by the Reins and Pores of the Skin, and other Emissaries of the Serous Latex.

And Anasarca whilst it is simple, is the least dangerous amongst all the species of Dropsies: And a particular Anasarca oc∣cupying only the Inferior Members, so the Belly do not swell withal, is much safer than an Universal one.

In order to a right proceeding towards a Cure, two chief scopes of Curing here present themselves, viz. First we must take Care that the water betwixt the Skin and the Flesh be some way E∣vacuated and Consum'd; and Secondly that a new supply be not continually engendred and heapt together: For which end we must use what means we may both that the Viscera of Concoction being cleans'd from Excrements, and free from Obstructions, prepare always a good Chyle, and supply the Mass of Blood with it in a due quantity, and likewise that the Blood, (its Principles being restor'd to their fermenting Power) may duly ferment and convert into its own Nature the Juice of the Chyle continually sent into it. The Vital Indication seems not necessary in this Disease as in many others, because Faintings of the Spirits, or Watchings, for which Cardiacks, and Hypnoticks are required, seldom happen here: And there is little need of restoring Diets because Fasting and Abstinence do more good, and most com∣monly are the greatest part of the Cure; the reason is that the Vessels being drain'd by Fasting, drink up the waters Stagnating

betwixt the Skin and the Flesh, or elsewhere, and send them forth partly by the Reins, the Pores of the Skin, and other Emissaries, and partly employ them most Advantageously for nourishing the Body, they being yet full of a Nutritive Juice. First, to per∣form the first Indication which is for the Evacuation of the Mor∣bifick matter, all Hydragogue Medicines both Simple and Com∣pound, and likewise the Forms of Medicines set down before in the Chapter of the Ascites ought to be apply'd to use: Moreover not only Catharticks and Diureticks, but likewise Diaphoreticks have often place in the Cure of the Anasarca, though for the most part they are forbidden in other kinds of the Dropsie.

In a simple Anasarca you may Purge Strongly, and it often does much good.

I have given you before Forms of Hydragogue Catharticks of both kinds. viz. of such as exert their force both upwards and downwards, and both of a gentle and strong Operation; from whence you may take them, and apply them to the present Method of Curing.

If you ask how Catharticks work in this Disease, and where∣fore they carry forth waters better and more efficaciously than in other kinds of the Dropsie: I say that in an Anasarca the Morbifick matter (which is a Lympha) resieds partly in the Mass of Blood, and partly in the habit of the Body within the Pores and empty Spaces lying betwixt the Vessells: Wherefore a strong Cathartick being given, it presently Exagitates the Mass of Blood, fuses it, and moves it to an Excretion of any supersluous or he∣terogeneous thing: And at the same time irritates the Mouths of the Arteries which lye open towards the Cavityes of the Intestines, that the water cast out of the Blood may find a way forth ra∣ther by these Emissaries. Hence in the fust place the waters floating within the Mass of Blood are clear'd forth in a plen∣tifull manner, and then the Vessells being drain'd soon drink up the waters betwixt the Flesh and the Skin, and presently send them forth partly by seigh, and partly by Urine or Sweat: There is no fear in the mean time, lest, as in an Ascites, the Morbifick matter being Exagitated, and put in Fusion by the Medicine, be driven from the Blood into the places affected, whence it cannot easily get out again; or lest, as in a Tympany, the Vis∣cera by reason of the Fibres of the Ventricle and Intestines be∣ing too much irritated, are mov'd into Convulsive Extensions; for whilst the Viscera are sound, and in a good state, the Par∣ticles of the Medicament do them no hurt, but being car∣ryed thence into the Blood, do not only fetch waters from it, but by Exagitating its Mass, raise up its Active Particles be∣fore

opprest, and dispose them for recovering their power of Fermentation.

Secondly, I have also set down before the Hydragogues o∣perating by Urine, both simple and compound, and have given you Forms of Medicines prepar'd of both, and the ways of give∣ing them: Wherefore I shall not repeat them here: But be∣cause all Medicines of this kind do not good alike in all affects we must here observe that Lixivials (as I have often found by experience) far exceed the rest of Diureticks in Curing the Ana∣sarca. And now it's a much us'd and common Remedy for a∣ny one who has his Members swell'd, to Purge first, and then to take twice or thrice a Day six or eight Ounces of a Lixi∣vium made of White-wine with the Ashes of Wormwood or of Broom, and to continue its use for some Days: This Medicine as I have observ'd in many, powerfully provok's Urine, nay some∣times in such Abundance that the Patients within the space of twenty four hours making above a Gallon and a half of water, have presently recover'd almost to a miracle.

The reason why Medicines containing a fixt and lixivial Sal expell Urine more in an Anasarca than such as are endow'd with an Acid, or Alchalisate or Volatile Salt, is, that in this Disease the watery Homours which upon failing of the Fermentation of the Blood, and of its sanguifying Vertue, are gathered to∣gether as well within its Mass as in the habit of the Body, up∣on stagnating there some time are turn'd somewhat sharp: Where∣fore the Lixivial Particles of the Medicine entering the Blood presently grow in a heat with the Acids of the waters, which as they exagitate and ferment, they cause a mighty Fermentation in the whole Mass of the Blood and a following excretion.

Take of the Ashes of Broom, or of Wormwood, or of the Prunings of Vines calcin'd to a whiteness and sifted, four Ounces, put them in a Glass-bottle with two Pounds of White-wine; let there be a close and warm Digestion for three or four hours, then strain it, the Dose is from six Ounces to eight twice a Day.

Take white Tartar calcin'd with Nitre, and after melted in a crucible till it look blew, three Ounces, small Spirit of Wine a pound and half, water of Snails and Earth-worms, of each four Ounces, let them digest close luted in a sand-furnace for two Days, the Dose of the clear Liquor is two or three Ounces, with four Ounces of the Decoction of the Roots of Butchers Broom and Burdocks made in Ale.

For Ordinary Drink.

TAke white Ashes of Broom cleans'd two Pounds, put them in a Bag, with Raspings of Sassafras three Ounces, Roots of the lesser Galingal an Ounce, Juniper berryer and wild Carrot Seeds of each an Ounce and a half, make a Bag for four Gallons of Ase, after seven or eight Days begin to draw it.

Diaphoreticks often do excellently well in a Leucophlegmatia (which begins or concludes an Anasarca) and they usually a∣gree better in this Disease when confirm'd than in other kinds of the Dropsie: And though at the beginning they are not able to move Sweat because the habit of the Body is invested with a deal of waters, however by exagitating the Blood they are a means that the active Particles implanted in it, which were dull'd before, and almost overwhelm'd, are rais'd up again, and dispos'd to a Fermentation, and that all the dreggy Excre∣ments, especially such as are Aqueous, are put in Motion, so that presently breaking forth of their Receptacles in a plentiful man∣ner, they readily pass off by Seige, or Urin, and often in some measure by transpiration: But after that the waters being well clear'd by Purging, the Morbifick matter is so far diminisht that the bulk of the Body and the swelling of the Members begin to abate, the remainder of the Humour is excellently con∣sum'd by moderate Sweats, and by a constant perspiration.

We have given you before a List and Forms of Hydroticks; but as to our present purpose for the Cure of an Anasarca, those things are most proper which are given in somwhat a large Dose; for as to such as are prescrib'd in a small quantity, their active Particles being immerg'd in the waters are over∣whelm'd before they can be diffus'd in the Blood so as to exert their force; wherefore Spirits whether Armoniack, or Vinous, also Tinctures and Elixirs, nay and Powders, seldom come in use against this Disease; because in a small Dose they do little, and if it be made very large, they often offend the bowels by their excess in operation, therefore let those things rather be made choice of which being taken in a full Draught and warm may be able to pass the whole Blood uncorrupted, as chiefly the Decoctions of Woods and Roots, whose Particles agreeing well enough with the Blood, but being not to be mastered by it, pass through its whole Mass, and exert an Elastick force, putting all the Humours in a Commotion.

Take Raspings of Guaiacum six Ounces, Sassafras two Ounces, all

the Saunders of each six Drams, shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each three Drams, let them infuse according to Art, and boyl in eight Pounds of fountain water till half be consum'd, addïng Roots of Calamus Aromaticus, the lesser Galingal, Burdocks and Butter∣burr of each an Ounce, Leaves of Woodsage and Germander dryed of each two handfulls, let the straining be kept for use, the Dose is from eight Ounces to ten twice a Day warm; to each Dose may be added Spirit of Sal Armoniack succinated, or of Soot from twenty to twenty five Drops: Or Tincture of Salt of Tartar from half a Dram to a Dram.

So much of Hydragogue Medicines to be taken inwardly, which cause waters to be evacuated either by drawing them inwardly towards the Intestines, or by driving them out to the Reins, or to the Pores of the Skin: Moreover there are certain outward Administrations us'd, by which waters gather'd together within the habit of the Body are put in motion, and so dispos'd either generally to pass off by Sweat, or Urine, or particularly, are presently let forth, a Vent being made in some peculiar places.

In the first rank, we place Frictions, Liniments, Fomentations, Baths both dry and moist: And particular things to evacuate waters are Vesicatories, Escharoticks, and prickings by a Needle, I shall speak of each of these, or at least of the chief of them as far as they regard this Disease.

Frictions prove often of good effect in a Leucophlegmatia and an Anasarca: For as the habit of the Body is not only so charg'd with a Glut of filthy waters there heapt together, that nothing can breath through them, but even the outward parts grow cold upon the Blood's being hindred of an access to them, frequent and strong Frictions give a motion to the stagnating waters, and in some measure dissipate them from thence, and by opening the passages call again the Blood into those parts whence it was banisht, wherefore it is good not only to rubb the swollen Member, but even the whole Body once or twice a Day with a course Cloath, or with a little brush now commonly made for that purpose.

In rubbing, or after it, Liniments and Fomentations are som∣times proper: They are prepar'd either of Salts and other Mi∣nerals dissolv'd, or of hot and discussing Vegetables boil'd with Lees of Wine in water; and being apply'd hot open the Pores, give a farther motion to the accumulated Waters and discuss them, and enlarge the compass of the Blood's circuit, the watery Mass being in some measure dissipated. The Liniments consist of Sulphur and Salts of divers kinds, or of Quick-lime and other Minerals, which being powdred and mixt with the

Mucilaginous extracts of Smart Herbs, are made into an Oint∣ment: To which for their better consistency let a fit quan∣tity of Oyl of Scorpions be added: Nay this Oyl apply'd by it self (so it be right) gives often great relief. I knew a Boy swollen very much with an Universal Anasarca, who was Cur'd by this only Remedy: For his Mother (I know not how ad∣vis'd) anointed his whole Body Mornings and Evenings with Oyl of Scorpions, chafing well the parts with her warm hand: Upon which within three Days he began to make a vast quan∣tity of water, and having continued to make water so for some Days, the swelling vanishing by degrees, he grew well.

Baths are scarce proper for any Dropsie but an Anasarca, nor for this but in the first Disposition to it, or as it goes off: For since by the heat of Baths encompassing the whole Body, the Blood being made very hot and instigated, puts the waters every where in motion which were stagnating before, and drinking them into it self conveys them sundry ways, there is danger lest (as it frequently happens) receiving them from the habit of the Body into its Mass, it presently deposes them in the Praecordia, or the Brain; for there is nothing more usual than that the affects of those parts, viz. an Asthma, or Apoplexy happen to Hydropical persons after bathing: But when the conjunct cause of the Disease (viz. the swelling) is moderate, or not very great, a Bath of water impregnated with Salts and Sulphur, or also a hot-house promoting a gentle Sweat, are often us'd with good effect. Instead of a hot-house it's better that the Patients be plac't in some convenient Cells in a Salt-house near the Furnaces, in which the Mineral water is boil'd into Salt, which often proves of mighty benefit to them.

Vesicatories let forth the waters betwixt the Flesh and the Skin in a plentiful manner, and somtimes too profusely, these are to be apply'd to Hydropical persons with very great caution, for such an Epispastick apply'd to swollen places makes a vent too wide; upon the opening of which the water first breaking forth, often draws after it from the whole Neighbourhood a great Glut of it, whence presently follows a great Conster∣nation of the Spirits: Moreover somtimes the place so drain'd on a sudden, being depriv'd of Heat and Spirits, in a short time becomes mortifyed: Wherefore this Medicine is sel∣dom apply'd to the Leggs or Feet of hydropical persons where the neat is weak, and the swelling very great, but somtimes to the Thighs and Arms with security, when need requires.

Escharoticks are apply'd somwhat more safely to the swollen Places than Vesicatories, because the Flux of waters out of this

Vent is not so violent and in such Abundance presently at first: But beginning moderately it grows after by little and little to a great Current, which nature (after being accustom'd to it by degrees) bears better: Moreover there is less danger of a Gangrene after an Escharotick than after a Vesicatory, because in that Application, the part whose Union is dis∣solv'd is fortify'd by the Eschar against the loss of heat. I knew an illiterate Empyrick who often by an Echarotick suc∣cessfully evacuated the Members of Hydropical peasons, though never so much swollen, after the following manner. viz. First he fomented their Leggs Morning and Evening with a De∣coction of Dwarfe-elder, Wormwood Camomill, and other hot Herbs, the Lees of Wine or Ale being added to them, and be∣twixt the times of fomenting he apply'd a Cataplasm made of the Faeces of that Decoction with Bran: After these things had been us'd three Days he covered both Leggs and Feet with a Plaister of Burgundy-Pitch, leaving only a small hole on each Calf to the bigness of a small Nut, in which places he put an Escharotick of the Ashes of Ashen Bark to the naked Skin: which being remov'd after twelve hours a small Eschar was left, out of whose Pores the Matter first Sweated gently, then daily distill'd forth somwhat more freely, and at length (the Eschar falling off) it flow'd forth in a plentifull Stream as from an open Source, till it was drawn from the whose Legg both above and beneath.

There remains yet another way of drawing forth waters from betwixt the Flesh and the Skin, not inferior to the for∣mer, though less in use, viz. by the pricking of a Needle: Which also much be done very cautiously and by little and little, lest a head-strong and excessive Flux of waters be rais'd by it. Take an ordinary Needle, such as Taylors use, and prick the Skin over with it in the place most swell'd, but let it not en∣ter so far as to draw Blood, and so make six or seven little holes at a time about an inch distant the one from the other: The water will Issue by drops forth of each little hole and so will continually Distill forth till all the swelling be gone from the place prickt: Then the next time, after somtimes twelve, somtimes eighteen, somtimes twenty four hours prick again in some other part either of the same Leg, or of the other, and so continue to make such Vents for the waters once or twice a Day in this Member, or that, one alone, or two, or at the same time in many: For after this manner the Hydro∣pical Corruption may be drayn'd more freely and safely than by any other exteriour operation whatsoever; and if in the mean time its flesh supply be provided against by inward Phy∣sick,

Physick, the Disease will be the more easily Cur'd: Moreover in a desperate Dropsie that Administration serves very well to prolong Life, because the waters being continually emptied forth by those outward Vents, the inward and vital Inunda∣tion is the longer delay'd: A Man of late seventy years of Age, plung'd in a Dropsie over his whole Body has continued in Life and kept his head above the waters for these many Months beyond the expectation of all Men by the means of this only Remedy.

So far of the kinds and forms of Remedies prompted to us by the first, that is, the Curative Indication: As for the Preservative Indication which takes care to restore the Crasis, and fermenting or Sanguifying Vertue of the Blood, it sug∣gests to us those Medicines with being endowed with hot and elastick Particles, raise up the active or deprest Principles of the Mass of Blood, or repair them being wasted; for which ends the vulgarly call'd Altering Remedies are wont to be pre∣scrib'd in the Form of an Electuary, Powder, Pills, Distill'd waters, Julapes, Apozemes, and Dyets, to which also Spirits, Tinctures, Elixirs are somtimes added for the greater Effica∣cy: I shall give you an example or two of each of these.

1. Take Conserves of Sea-Wormood, Scurvy-grass, and the yellow Coats of Oranges of each two Ounces, Winters-Bark two Drams, Species Diacurcumae a Dram and a half, Steel prepared with Sulphur three Drams, Salt of Wormwood two Drams, Syrup of Citron Pills what suffices, make an Electuary: The Dose is two Drams in the Morning and at five in the Afternoon, drinking after it a Draught of Julape, or of the Distill'd water to three or four Ounces.

Chalybeats very often do great good in this Disease, as in the Green-sickness: Insomuch that the whole, or at the least the chief scope of Curing Falls frequently on this Remedy: But we must note that these kinds of Medicines do not all equally a∣gree in these cases: For those that are chiefly in use, viz. Salt of Steel, or Vitriol of Mars, and others prepar'd with Acids, and wholly depriv'd of Sulphur, do no good at all, be∣cause they do not promote the Fermentation of the Blood, but on the contrary rather fix it when too Exorbitant, or Elastick: But for an Anasarca, and any other oedematous Cachexia in the habit of the Body, let those Chalybeats be given, in which the Sulphury Particles are left, and are Praedominant, as especially in the Filings of Iron, and in its Scales reduc't into a fine Powder, and in-Steel melted with Sulphur and Powdred; these Powders being taken are presently dissolv'd by the Acid Salts within our Body, upon which the Sulphureous Metallick Particles

being set free and convey'd into the Blood, ferment its whole Mass, raise up the Symbolous Particles there, before lying dor∣mant, and being joyn'd with them give a vigour to the Blood, and renew its fermenting or sanguifying power before deprest: Wherefore we find after a little use of these Chalybeats the pal∣lid colour in the Green-sickness goes off, and turns to a Florid Aspect.

2. Take compound Powder of Aron Roots, and Winters-bark of each three Drams, Roots of the lesser Galingal, Cubebs of each a Dram and a half, Steel prepar'd with Sulphur half an Ounce, Sugar of Rosemary Flowers six Drams, make a Powder, divide it into twenty parts, the Dose is one part every Morning, and at five in the Afternoon with a Draught of the Sudorifick Decoction pre∣scrib'd before.

3. Take of the Gummous extract remaining after the Distillation of the Elixir Vitae of Quercetan half an Ounce, powder of Earth∣worms prepar'd two Drams, Roots of the lesser Galingal, Winters∣bark of each a Dram and a half, Salt of Wormwood two Drams, Iron Rust two Drams and a half, Balsam of Peru a Dram, Tincture of Salt of Tartar two Drams, Balsamum Capivii what suffices, make a Mass, form it into little Pills, the Dose is half a Dram at Night and early in the Morning, Drinking after it of the Julape or distill'd water following three Ounces.

4. Take Elder Flower water, and the Fermented Juice of its Berryes of each a Pound, Magisteriall water of Earth-worms, Rad∣dish water compound, Aqua Mirabilis of each two Ounces, Syrup of the Juice of Elderberryes two Ounces, mix them make a Julape.

5. Take Leaves of Garden Scurvygrass, Rochet, Pepperwort of each six handfulls, Roots of Calamus Armaticus, the lesser Galingal, Zedoary, Florentine Orris, Elder, Aron, of each six Ounces, Winters∣barke, Jamaica Pepper of each three Ounces, Juniper Berryes four Ounces, Cloves, Ginger, Nutmeggs of each an Ounce. Being slic'd and bruis'd pour to them of old Rhenish-wine eight Pounds; distill it in common Organs, let the whole Liquor be mixt.

6. 7. An Antihydropick Decoction is Prescrib'd before amongst Diaphoreticks: A Dyet-drink to be taken instead of Beer may be made according to the Form following.

Take Raspings of Guaiacum and Sassafras of each four Ounces, Roots of Florentine Orris, Calamus Aromaticus, the lesser Galingal, Ele∣campane, of each an Ounce and a half, Juniper and Lawrell berryes of each two Ounces, Seeds of Anise, Caraway, sweet Fennell, Cori∣ander, Dill, of each an Ounce, long Pepper, Cubebs of each an Ounce and a half, Cloves, Nutmeggs, Ginger of each half an Ounce, Ja∣mainca Pepper two Ounces, dry'd Leaves of Salvia Acuta, Wood-sage

Calamint, Agrimony of each a handful, Licorice four Ounces, being slic'd and bruis'd. Let them boyl in four Gallons of fountain water to half; when the straining is cold, let it be put up in Glass-bottles for use: I have known many persons almost given over in an Ana∣sarce who by the constant use of this Drink have perfectly recover'd. Of many examples of persons Cur'd of Dropsies I shall now give you one.

A certain Robust Man, of a middle Age, after having gotten an Epidemical Quartan Ague, and being ill manag'd at first, had lain under it above a year, and in the mean time had us'd an ill Dyet, fell into an Anasarca, which afterward upon his indulging himself to Drink very freely for quenching his Thirst, (which was exceeding great) grew in a short time to a vast height; so that all his Members from the Head to the Foot, and his Belly likewise being swollen, he was not able to turn himself from ont side to the other in his Bed without the assistance of Servants.

As I first visited him, and despairing of Cure, I plainly told him that unless he would abstain from Drink, he must die in a short time; upon which he promis'd, so I could save his Life, that he would Drink no more in a Weeks time, and was as good as his word, for though very Thirsty he scarce took any Liquid thing into him but Physick for six or seven Days: And during that time by carefully taking Hydragogue Catharticks and Diureticks, and all other things Prescirb'd, he grew much better; and afterwards a Method as above Prescrib'd being som∣time followed, he was restor'd to his perfect Health, and now lives a sound Man after five years past.

There remains certain other affects of the Viscera of the Belly, of the Remedies of which according to a due Method I should have treated here; but I have already perform'd this Task for the greatest part elsewhere; for we have deliver'd most of the Medicines that concern the Reins amongst Diureticks, and those that concern the Stomach and Intestines among the number of Emeticks and Purgers: As for what respect the Spleen and the Womb we have fully set them forth in our Hypochondriack and Histerick Pathology: As for what regards the Genital parts and their Diseases, and Cure, we have thought fit to reserve it for another time and place: It concerns us next after having treated hitherto of inward Pharmacy; to discourse somwhat of outward Medicines, which we shall do in the next Section beginning with the great Remedy Phlebotomy.