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.

The Therapeutick Method.

AS to the Cure of these kinds of Convulsive affects, which in Men or Women proceed from a Morbifick cause, besetting the Origines of the Nerves: The first Indication will be to with∣draw the fuel of the Disease, viz. to hinder the Blood from dis∣charging on the Head, the Heterogeneous Particles, either engen∣dred in it self, or receiv'd from elsewhere from the Bowels. For this purpose an Evacuation, ordered both by Purging and Bleed∣ing, unless somewhat indicates the contrary, is wont to be ad∣ministred with good success.

Vomiting very often gives relief, wherefore let Vomits of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum, or of Salt of Vitriol, or of Wine of Squills, be given in the first place. Then in a few days let Blood be drawn, either by opening a Vein in the Arm, or by Leeches applyed to the haemorrhoid Veins; then afterwards let a gentle Purge be ordered either of Pills, or of a Purging Apo∣zeme, and let it be repeated in due and convenient time.

Take Crato's Pills of Amber, or Bontius's Pills of Tartar two Drams, Rosm of Jalap sixteen Grains, Castoreum a Scruple, Oyl of Rosemary or of Amber half a Scruple, Gum Ammoniacum dissolo'd in a

sufficient quantity of Hysterick-water, make sixteen Pills, let four be taken every sixth or seventh day.

Take Roots of Polypody of the Oak, sharp pointed Dock prepar'd, and of Chervil, of each six Drams, of Male Peony three Drams, Leaves of Betony, Germander, Ground-pine, Vervain, Male Fluellin, of each a handful, Seeds of Carthamus and Burr-dock, of each three Drams, let them boil in four Pounds of Fountain-water to half, add of White∣wine a Pound, let it be strain'd into a Matrass, to which put Leaves of choice Sena an Ounce, Rhubarb six Drams, Gummous Turbith half an Ounce, Epithimum, yellow Saunders of each two Drams, Salt of Worm-wood, and of Scurvy-grass, of each a Dram, the outward yel∣low Coats of Oranges two Drams, let them digest close luted in a Sand heat for twelve hours, let the straining be kept for use: Let it be sweetned (if need be) with a sufficient quantity of Syrupus Augustanus, or with Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb; the Dose is six Ounces once or twice in a week.

Each day in which Purging is omitted, let Remedies be given for strengthning the Brain, and for garding the Animal Spirits from incurring Heterogeneous Combinations, or from entring upon Explosions: Of which nevertheless let a certain choice be made according to the Temperament, Habit of Body, and Con∣stitution of the Diseas'd: For to such as have a thin habit of Body, and a hot Blood, Medicines must be given which are not hot, and which do not stir the Blood too much: On the contrary to phlegmatick and gross Bodies, whose Urine is thin and watery, and whose Blood circulates but dully, let hot Remedies be or∣dered, and such as are apt notably to ferment the Humours: In the former case you may prescribe after this manner.

Take Conserve of the Flowers of Betony, Tamarisk, and Male Peony of each two Ounces, Species Diamargariti Frigidi, a Dram and a half, Powder of the Roots of Peony, and of the Seeds of the same of each a Dram, red Coral prepar'd two Drams, Vitriol of Mars two Scruples, Salt of Worm-wood two Drams, with a sufficient quan∣tity of Juice of Oranges, make an Electuary: Let it be taked twice or thrice a day, drinking after it a little draught of the Julape be∣neath prescrib'd.

Take of red Coral ground with the Juice of Oranges on a Marble, or in a Glass-mortar, and dryed half an Ounce, Powder of Mistletow of the Oak, and of the Roots of Male Peony, of each two Drams, Sugar of Pearl three Drams, make a Powder; the Dose is from a Scruple to half a Dram, twice or thrice a day.

Take Species Diamargariti Frigidi two Drams, Salt of Worm-wood, three Drams, Aron Roots powdred a Dram, mix them, make a Powder, let it be divided into twenty parts, and let a Dose be taken in the Morning, and at four of the Clock.

Take Powder of the Roots of Butter Bur an Ounce, the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice a day.

Take Leaves of the Bur-dock, and of Aron, of each six handfuls, being slic't and mixt together, let them be distil'd: The Dose is from two Drams to three twice or thrice a day after a Dose of the Electuary or Powder.

Take of this distill'd Water two Pounds, of our Steel prepar'd two Drams, mix them in a Glass, let them be taken after the same manner.

Take Water of Wallnuts simple, and of black Cherries, of each half a Pound, of Snails four Ounces, Syrup of Flowers of the Male Peony two Ounces; the Dose is from an Ounce and a half to two Ounces after the same manner.

Take Shavings of Ivory, and Harts-horn, of each three Drams, Roots of Chervil, Bur-dock, Valerian, of each half an Ounce; Leaves of Betony, Ground-pine, Scolopendrium, tops of Tamarisk, of each a handful: Barks of Tamarisk and of Bitter-sweet of each half an Ounce, let them boil in four Pounds of Fountain-water to the consumption of a third part, add of White-wine eight Ounces, strain it into a Flaggon, to which put Leaves of Brook-limes, and of Cuckow-flower, of each a handful, make a warm and close Infusion for four hours, let the straining be kept in Glasses close stopt: The Dose is six Ounces twice a day, after a Dose of a solid Medicine. Sometimes in such an Apozeme let two Drams of our Steel be infus'd, and taken after the same manner.

In the Summer time the use of Mineral Waters is proper, for want of them let our Artificial Waters be given in their stead.

But if for the reasons above cited hot Medicines are indicated, we may proceed after the following method.

Take Conserve of Rosemary-flowers, and of the yellow Coats of Oranges and Limons, of each two Ounces, Wallnuts, and Miroba∣lans condited, of each in number two, Lignum Aloes, yellow Saunders, Roots of Serpentaria, Contrayerva, Angelica and Aron, of each a Dram, Vitriol of Mars (or prepar'd Steel) four Scruples, Salt of Worm-wood and of Scurvy-grass of each a Dram, with a sufficient quantity of Preserve of Wallnuts, make an Electuary. Let the quan∣tity of a Nutmeg be taken twice a day, drinking after it a Dose of an appropriated Liquour.

Take Roots of Male Peony, Angelica, red Coral prepar'd, of each two Drams, Sugar dissolv'd in water of Snails boil'd to a consistency for Tablets six Ounces. Oyl of Amber highly rectified half a Dram, make Tablets according to Art, each weighing about half a Dram, let one or two be taken twice or thrice a day, drinking after it a Dose of an appro∣priated Liquour.

Take Roots of Virginia Serpentary, Contrayerva, Valerian of each two Drams, red Coral prepar'd, Pearls, of each a Dram, Winters-bark, Roots of bastard Ditany of each a Dram, Vitriol of Mars, Salt of Worm-wood, of

each a Dram and a half. Extract of Centory two Drams, Ammoniacum dissolv'd in Hysterick-water what suffices, make a Mass for Pills. Let four Pills be taken in the Morning and at four in the Afternoon.

Take Spirit of Harts-horn, or of Soot, or of Mans Blood, or of Sal Armoniack what suffices, take from ten to twelve Drops Morning and Evening in a Spoonful of the Julape, drinking after it a little draught of the same.

Take Leaves of Betony, Vervain, Sage, Cuckow-flowers, Aron, Bur-dock, of each two handfuls, green Wallnuts in number twenty, the Coats of six Oranges and four Limons, Cardamoms, Cubebs, of each an OUnce; being slic't and bruis'd, pour to them Whey made with Cider or White-wine six Pounds, let it distil according to Art: The Dose is two or three OUnces twice a day after a Dose of a solid Medicine: To two Pounds of this add of our Steel two Drams.

Take Water of Earth-worms, and of Snails, of each six Ounces; of Wallnuts simple four Ounces, Raddish-water compound two Ounces, double refin'd Sugar two Ounces, make a Julape: The Dose is four or six Spoonfuls twice a day after a Dose of a solid Medicine.

Take Millepedes cleans'd a Pound, Cloves slic't half an Ounce, pour on them of White-wine two Pounds, let them distil in a Gourd-glass; the Dose is from an Ounce to an Ounce and a half twice a day.

We may prescribe for poor People Remedies more easie to be had after this manner.

Take Conserve of the Leaves of Rue made with an equal part of Sugar six Ounces. Let the quantity of a Nutmeg be taken twice a day, drinking after it a Decoction of the Seeds and Roots of Bur-dock made in Whey, prepar'd of White-wine.

Or let a Conserve be made of the Leaves of the Tree of Life, with an equal part of Sugar; the Dose is from half a Dram to a Dram twice a day.

Take Powder of Millepedes prepar'd three Drams, Ameos-seeds a Dram, make a Powder, divide it into ten parts, let a Dose be taken twice a day. Or twelve Millepedes being bruis'd with White-wine pour'd on them, let the Juice be exprest, make a draught, let it be taken twice a day.

In the mean while that these Remedies are taken inwardly, it is proper sometimes to raise Blisters by applying Vesicatories on the Nucha, or behind the Ears; for so the Serous and sharp Humours are very much deriv'd from the Head: Moreover Sneezing-powders, and Apophlegmatisms often give great relief. The drawing of Blood from the Haemorrhoid Veins, or from the Foot ought to be sometimes repeated: And during the Fit, Plaisters or Cataplasms are applyed to the Soles of the Feet with good effect: It is good also to apply Epispasticks about the Legs and Thighs.