The London practice of physick, or, The whole practical part of Physick contained in the works of Dr. Willis faithfully made English, and printed together for the publick good.

CHAP. VI. Of General Convulsions which are wont to be rais'd in Malignant, Ill-determin'd, and some Anoma∣lous Fevers.

EVery Man knows that Convulsions sometimes happen to Per∣sons in Fevers, and that from thence a great Prognostick is taken of death or danger: For as in Malignant Fevers, and sometimes in ordinary Fevers of an Ill-determination, a Vertigo or Delirium arise from the Morbifick Matter's being depos'd from the Blood in the Brain; so from the same fall'n into the Genus Nervosum, Contractions and Twitchings of the Muscles and Ten∣dons, and also sudden shakings of the Members and Limbs, and sometimes horrible stiff extensions in the whole Body ensue, which forts of Convulsive affects happen for the most part about the height of Fevers, when the Morbifick Matter, first heap't to∣gether in the Blood, is convey'd thence into the Brain, and that being either presently past through, or infected together with it, is carryed into the Systema Nervosum, and thence Convulsive affects, with or without a Delirium are rais'd.

Nevertheless besides these kinds of Convulsive affects which ensue upon Fevers, and are secondarily rais'd, we may observe sometimes in a Malignant Constitution of the Air, and after a breath of a pestilential Contagion, that the Nervous Liquour is infected before the Blood, or apart by it self from it, and that then a Delirium and Convulsions precede the Feverish Distemper. Moreover I have often observ'd that some Anomalous Fevers have been rife, in which the Blood being scarce seen to boil or to be extraordinary hot, the beginnings of a slow, and very dan∣gerous Fever have been first laid in the Nervous Humour; which being rais'd by degrees to a Maturity, caus'd Convulsive affects with a Delirium or Mania, and other failings or exorbitancies of the Animal Spirits: For the Diseas'd not complaining of heat or drought, on a sudden becoming weak, and as it were enervated, were presently rendred obnoxious to a frequent Giddiness, also to Tremblings and Leapings as it were of the Limbs, and likewise to Twitchings and Contractions of the Muscles and Tendons, and to pains moving from one place to another. This kind of Sickness, in regard it seems to consist in the solid parts, rather than in the Blood, is call'd by some Physicians a Malignant

Hectick Fever, when in truth the same being chiefly rooted in the Nervous Humour, is better said to be a Convulsive Disease of the Nerves.

Horstius mentions a Convulsive and Malignant Disease, which heretofore was Epidemical in Hassia, Westphalia, and the Neigh∣bouring parts; those that were seiz'd with it, without any Fe∣verish heat, or immoderate effervescency of the Blood, as they were about their househould affairs, on a sudden scarce per∣ceiving themselves sick, were wont to feel a Formication with a Numness passing in and out about their Hands or Feet, and sometimes in both: Presently after their Fingers and Toes, and likewise their Arms and Legs, one while were closely contracted, another while strongly extended, as though they had grown stiff: These Contractions and Extensions followed each other alterna∣tively, and now and then chang'd places, so that at one time the affect lay in this part, and then presently in another: But in case (as it often fell out) the Disease seiz'd the whole Brain all at once, Universal Convulsions, and often Epileptical Fits infested the Dis∣eas'd; Moreover they were obnoxious at certain times to a Di∣lirium, Mania, and sometimes to a Lethargy: This Distemper continued a long time without a Crisis, or being perfectly resol∣ved, and could scarce ever be so throughly Cur'd, but ill and morbid Dispositions of the Brain and Nervous parts lasted after∣wards during the whole Life.

It plainly appears that this Disease and its Symptoms wholly depend on the Corruption and mighty Depravation of the Ner∣vous Juice: And the reason why in this Nervous Fever, there happen'd a difficult, or rather no Grisis, or Solution at all, was because the Nervous Juice being tough and mucilaginous, as it were, and consequently slow in motion, is not purg'd as the Blood, by an excretory effervescence, nor does it easily fall into such a fermentation, whereby the pure is separated from the impure.

I have known a Disease like this, often to have reign'd in our Country, and to have past through whole Families, at least amongst the Children and younger People. Some years since a popular Fever sorely infesting the Brain and Genus Nervosum very much reign'd about Oxford, and indeed almost throughout England: The Narrative of which Disease, written at the time it reign'd, viz. An. 1661. I shall here briefly insert; for from hence it appears after what manner, and by what causes Con∣vulsive Symptoms which happen in all Fevers, are wont to be rais'd.

An Account of an Epidemick Fever, reigning An. 1661. which chiefly infested the Brain and the Genus Nervosum.

AFter the Vernal Equinox An. 1661. a certain Anomalous and unusual Fever, seiz'd some Persons here and there, which nevertheless within a Month became so Epidemical, that in many places it began to be call'd the New Disease: Reigning chiefly among Children and young People, it was wont to afflict them with a long, and as it were, Chronical Sickness: Nay and sometimes though rarely it infested Persons stricken in years, and aged, but it kill'd them sooner, and more certainly: The affect first seizing any Person, so tacitely stole upon him, that the begin∣nings of the Sickness were scarce perceiv'd: For arising with∣out any immoderate heat or great thirst, it presently caus'd a great weakness in the whole Body, with a languor of the Spirits, and a deadness of the Animal Functions: The Stomack loathed all Food, and found it self opprest by what was taken into it, and nevertheless it was not inclin'd to Vomit. The Diseas'd be∣ing indispos'd to all motion, sought only to lye on a Bed, and do nothing: Within a short time, and sometimes from the first invasion of the Disease, they complain'd of a great Giddiness, a ringing in the Ears, and often of a turbulent motion and great perturbation in the Brain: Which sort of Symptoms were usually accounted a Pathognomick sign as it were of the sudden approach of this Disease; in case it happen'd that these were wanting, or remiss in some Persons, instead of the Head being affected after that manner, the Disease fixt it self deeper in the Brest, and rais'd a Cough, as we shall presently acquaint you: Now whilst upon the Brain and Nervous Appendix, their being affected after this manner, the Animal Spirits presently from the beginning of the Sickness wax't dull, a slow and hectick Fever as it were, was kindled in the whole Body: Nevertheless the effervescence of the Blood, which was scarce continual, but hapning at ran∣dom, and uncertain, was more intense in some, and more remiss in others according to the Crasis of the Blood it self: And con∣sequently the Thirst, roughness of the Tongue, and other Symp∣toms, which depend on the Feverish Distemper, troubled them more or less. Sweating did not happen of its own accord, nor could it readily or with ease be rais'd by Art: Nay farther, nei∣ther this kind of Evacuation or any other ever hapning as it

were by way of Crisis, put an end to this Disease on a sudden: But continuing for many Weeks and sometimes Months, it brought the Diseas'd into a mighty Atrophia, and often cast them into an incurable Consumption.

About the time of the Diseases increase, which in most Per∣sons happen'd within eight days, if the affect (as it often was wont) seiz'd chiefly on the Brain, and Systema Nervosum, severe Symptoms, viz. a plain Frensy, or deep Stupor, or a total insensi∣bility commonly infested their Oeconomy: For I have frequent∣ly observ'd in many Children, and often in Women, after seven or eight days of their being seiz'd, that they have wholly lost both Sense and Speech, so that they have lain for some time, nay sometimes for a whole Months space, without knowing Per∣sons present, and their Excrements passing from them after an insensible manner: And if the use of their judgment and reason in some measure held, yet they were troubled with a frequent Delirium, and always talk't light-headed in their sleep. But in Men, and others of a hot Constitution, upon the Morbifick Mat∣ter's being convey'd to the Head, instead of a Crisis, a Fury or dangerous and often deadly Frensy ensued: But if neither a Stu∣por nor violent Distraction seiz'd them, a Scotomia, Convulsive motions, with Contractions of the Members, and Twitchings of the Tendons greatly molested them: Almost in all the Dis∣eas'd, the Belly for the most part was loose, and voided plenti∣fully sometimes yellow, sometimes thin and serous Excrements, which stank mightily. It was seldom that any were seiz'd with a Vomiting: The Urine in the whole course of the Disease (un∣less when the Morbifick Matter taking plentifully to the Brain, threatn'd a Frensy) was of a deep red colour, so that some by reason of its deepness, judg'd this Fever to be absolutely Scorbu∣tical: Which nevertheless appear'd to be otherwise, because An∣tiscorbutick Remedies, (whereof a great many, and almost of all kinds were tryed) had little or no effect: It was very much to be admired, how soon after the seizure of this Disease, the Flesh of the Sick fell away, so that they were brought to the dryness of a Skeleton, when in the mean time there was no exceeding great heat to consume the Solid parts by little and little, nor any violent Evacuation greatly to waste them.

Besides these evils infesting the Region of the Head, an affect no less dangerous often seiz'd on the Brest: For in some a very troublesome Cough, with much and thick Spittle was rais'd: This in some Persons happen'd about the declining of the Disease, viz. when the Confines of the Brain obtain'd a calm, the Clouds, as it were, being discharg'd thence on the Brest, a mighty Catarrh presently fell on the Lungs. But in some, especially who suf∣fered

little from the Disease in the Head, presently from the beginning of the Fever, a violent Cough, and a Spitting of fil∣thy Matter, accompanied with a Consumptive Disposition, as it were, seiz'd them, and precipitated them, suddenly and una∣wares into a Consumption; from which nevertheless, by a sea∣sonable use of Remedies, they often unexpectedly recover'd: I observ'd in some, after a long failure of the sensitive faculty, and an oppression of the Brain from the Morbifick Matter, that at length Tumours ensued in the Glands about the Neck, from which, assoon as ripen'd and broken, a thin and stinking Ichor flowed for a long time, and gave ease: I have seen also Watery Wheals sais'd in other parts of the Body, which have past into bollow Ulcers with difficulty to be Cur'd: Sometimes small Spots; and as it were Flea-bites appear'd here and there: Though I have not heard that broad and livid Spots ever were to be seen in Persons sick of this Disease: However notwithstanding this Fever had not any very Malignant breakings forth, yet it was not free from Contagion: For in the same Family it seiz'd almost all the Children and younger People one after the other; and often Persons stricken in years, who attending the sick, famili∣arly us'd about their Beds and Bed-cloaths, were infected with the same Disease: Yet I must say there was not so great a sus∣picion of infection, that for that reason the Friends of the Sick, should be wholly forbidden to visit them, or converse with them.

Though all along the course of this Disease (unless when the Brain was greatly assail'd) it appern'd only mild, and past with∣out any dreadful Symptom, nevertheless its Cure was always dif∣ficult, and was not perform'd but after a long time: For the Diseas'd seldom recover'd within three or four Weeks, nay for the most part scarce within so many Months: But if this Dis∣ease fell on Men of a decayed Age or Strength, especially on such as were before subject to Cephalick Diseases, as the Lethargy: Apoplexy or Convulsions, it often kill'd them in a shorter space. Or if there were any hope of recovery, it could be carryed on very slowly, (scarce any Remedies affording a sensible relief) so that the Diseas'd were no sooner gotten without the Sphere of this Fever, but they found themselves within the Confines of a Consumption.

If the formal reason and causes of the foresaid sickness be en∣quir'd into, it plainly here appears that the Liquour which lies in the Brain and Genus Nervosum, for the most part, together with the Blood, was in fault, and was the immediate cause of the Symptoms that seem'd chiefly pressing, viz. in as much as the Latex, presently from the first invasion of the Disease was be∣come

more impoverisht than its wont, and effaete, as it were, and therefore a Languor and Enervation, with a Spontaneous Lassitude, and a Disability to motion, together with a sudden Consumption of the Body, happen'd to the Diseas'd: Though still the default of this Latex necessarily depends on the Dyscrasy of the Blood, and of the ill Constiution of the Brain [but here, as in other places, I refer you to Dr. Willis himself, for a fall Aetro∣logy of Symptoms.]

I have often observ'd in this Fever, after Oat Broath, a De∣coction of Barley, and other thin Dyet, that no less Ebullition of the Blood has been rais'd, than by a full Meat Broath: For indeed on one side as well as the other, the Nutritive Juice sent from the Chyle into the Blood, in regard it was not imploy'd in the work of Nutrition, troubled the Blood, as some Hetero∣geneous thing that would not duely mix with it: And by rea∣son of the Particles of this superfluous Juice, sent off in a plenti∣ful manner with the Serum, the Urine was very thick and red, and mightily fill'd with Contents: And for this reason the Belly for the most part was loose, in as much as the Blood being full of a Nutritious Juice, suck't a less Portion of Chyle from the Lowels, and discharg'd again into the Intestines a part of that which was brought into it; moreover the Feverish Distemper stuck for so long time in the Blood, because till upon the Resti∣tution of the Animal Governance, Nutrition was rightly per∣form'd, that superfluous Matter was heap't together in the Mass of Blood. I shall now give an instance or two of Persons af∣fected with this Disease.

A Robust and Florid young Man, about the beginning of the Spring, An. 1661. falling sick without any evident cause, soon became weak, and as it were enervated, with a loss of Appetite, and a languishing of the Spirits: Cathartick Remedies, Antipy∣reticks, Digestives, nay and Antiscorbuticks, and others of ei∣vers kinds, being given him, according to the prescripts of fa∣mous Physicians, did not the least good: But the Diseas'd still continuing in a languishing condition, lay by it for six weeks, with a slow Fever of uncertain returns, a quick and weak Pulse, and a deep red Urine. Moreover being mightily pined away, he complain'd of a ringing in his Fars, and an Undulation of sound, as it were, in his head: Though he was affected with a great Stupor, yet his Sleeps were very much troubled and inter∣rupted with a talking Light-headed. After forty days, the Fever not yet declining, it was thought good to draw about four or five Ounces of Blood from the Vessels of the Fundament by Leeches. Hereupon presently the Fever began to be very much exasper∣ated, for the heat became more intense, with a Thirst, Watch∣ings,

and an almost continual tossing of the Body, the Tongue also growing dry and rough; shortly after a troublesome Cough, with much and discolour'd Spittle ensued: There were careful∣ly given him Almond and Barley Drinks, with temperate things against the Cough boil'd in them, Water of Milk distill'd with Snails and Herbs appropriated to the Thorax, Powder of Shells, Niter prepar'd, and likewise Cordial Opiats; which nevertheless scarce giving any relief, the Diseas'd still became weaker: And when after this manner, having been sick above two Months, the Feverish Distemper, and the Cough also daily growing worse, he seem'd to be at Death's Door, at length a Sweat hapening of its own accord, which sometimes came upon him every night, sometimes every other night, he grew better by degrees there∣by, and using afterwards the foresaid Medicines, he became per∣fectly well within six weeks.

Whilst this Person lay ill, I went to see another about Twelve years of Age, affected after the like manner; but this, when I was first call'd, having lain ill above a Month, was reduc't to a Skeleton: Moreover he was affected with a Giddiness, a ring∣ing in the Dars, and a Deafness, and likewise with a violent Cough th•• accompanied with a yellow, and as it were Consump∣tive Spittle: His Pulse was quick and weak, his Urine red and thick, his Appetite very much dejected, his Spirits so faint, and his Strength so fall'n, that he could not keep himself from his Bed: To this Person I gave often in a day Milk distill'd with Snails and temperate Herbs: Moreover instead of ordinary drink, I ordered him daily to take an opening Decoction, such as is us'd in the Rickets: By the help of which Remedies he seem'd to be restor'd to his health within a Months space.

This Fever in a certain Noble Mans Family, prov'd very fatal amongst his Children, who had been originally subject to Ce∣phalick affects. About the Vernal Equinox, a Boy of about Eleven years of Age, began to fall sick. In the first place with∣out an intense heat or drought, a loss of Appetite, and failing of Strength came upon him. Moreover an almost continual Ver∣tigo molested him, with a frequent inclination to Fainting, so that he often thought himself ready to fall in a Swoon: To this Per∣son, by the advice of some Nurse that attended him, Glysters were daily given: And afterward when from the foulness of his Tongue and Mouth, the manifest signs of a Fever appear'd, that Empirick gave him a Vomit of the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum. And the seventh day giving him a Cordial Powder, and cover∣ing him over with Cloaths, she made him Sweat: His Skin no sooner began to be moist, but presently speaking Light-headed,

he complain'd that his Cap was fall'n into water, soon after be∣coming Speechless he dyed, (whilst I was sent for) within four hours.

Shortly after, the same Disease seiz'd his Sister who was younger; whose sickness nevertheless, because it was accompa∣nied with a frequent Coughing and Spitting, was first thought to be only a cold taken: But within a few days, that Cough became manifestly Convulsive; for in Coughing the Diaphragm being rais'd upward, and so held for some time, by a repeated Systole, a mighty Shrill noise, as though she were suffocated came from her: Afterward this little Girl growing more manifestly Feverish, and complaining of a thirst and heat, past the nights without sleep, with a mighty tossing in her Bed, and after a while speaking Light-headed, she complain'd as her Brother had done before, that her Cloaths were fall'n into the water; and as all things grew worse, she began to be troubled with Convul∣sive motions, first in the Limbs, shortly after in the Face, and then in the whole Body: The Fits returning frequently, viz. twice or thrice within an hour, very sorely pursued her, so that this poor Wretch dyed within the space of twenty four hours after the greater Convulsive affects had seiz'd her, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Animal Spirits being wholly subverted. Whilst the Convul∣sive Fits prest upon her, the Pulse was very much disordered, and often intermitted, and she was affected with a frequent Vomiting.

Because this Fever seizes some Persons predispos'd for it almost yearly, and haply hereafter may at some time become Epidemi∣cal, by reason of the ill Constitution of the year, I think it may not be amiss to delineate some method in order to its Cure.

The Therapeutick Method.

COncerning which in the first place, you may note, that Cri∣tical days are by no means to be observ'd in this Fever, as in the vulgar continual Fever: For in this the Blood, assoon as it begins to boil, presently discharges from its Embraces on the Head or Thorax, a part of the Morbifick Matter, crude as it is, and not digested: Wherefore it would be to no purpose to ex∣pect that the Blood should permit its Heterogeneous Particles to be gathered together in its Mass, and then that an Excretory effort arising at set intervals of times, should purge forth the same being subtilised: Nay rather the said Blood, when boiling, Rises not to a great and open flame, but like a fire covered with Turf,

emits a moist Smoak or Breath, rather than a Flame: Yet so that from thence by reason of the Nervous Juices being presently de∣praved in its Crasis, and often by reason of the Lungs being stuft with a Morbifick Matter, Convulsive or Ptizical Symptoms are particularly pressing throughout the whole course of the Disease.

I must set down the Curative intentions according to the va∣rious times of the Disease, and the diversities of Symptoms that are chiefly pressing. About the beginning of this Fever, letting Blood seem'd to agree in a manner with all: I have often found this Remedy of good effect in Children: For by this means a Breathing place, as it were, is open'd for the Mass of Blood, which tacitely and covertly lies a boiling, and obtrudes its foul smoak on the more noble parts, and consequently its impure Ef∣florescencies are withdrawn from the Head and Lungs: There∣fore though this ill dispos'd Fever be said in some sort to be Ma∣lignant, yet in as much as the Blood is not apt presently to be coagulated, but to be fus'd too much, and to discharge its Sero∣sities on the noble parts, viz. the Head and Lungs, therefore Bleeding, so it be us'd in the beginning of the Disease, agrees in a manner with all Persons.

For the same reason of Curing, Cathartick Medicines, and e∣specially Vomits, are given presently at the beginning of the Dis∣ease, for these do not only empty the Vessels of Concoction, and so withdraw both the first, and as it were original fuel of the Dis∣ease, but likewise draw Serosities from the Blood, and so cause its filth rather to be discharg'd in the Stomack and Intestines, than on the Head or Lungs. Moreover in as much as the Glands which receive the Lymphaeducts, are twitcht and strongly sha∣ken by Emeticks, the Superfluities of the Nervous Juice are thereby press'd forth into the lower Viscera, that they cannot of∣fend the Brain, and its Appendix: And for this end, let the Bel∣ly still be kept soluble by the frequent use of Glysters. In the mean time, while the Blood, being defil'd with the taint of this Disease, threatens ill to the Brain or Praecordia, it will not be safe to attempt any thing with Diaphoreticks or Diureticks, or also with strong Catharticks: For these sorts of Medicines, greatly fusing the Blood, and driving its Serosities into the places most open to receive them, easily obtrude on the Brain or Lungs; if at any time they are of a weak Constitution, any dreggy filth which is apt to depart from the Mass of Blood: So in the Youth above mention'd, a Sweat being unseasonably rais'd, it was fol∣lowed by a loss of Speech: And I have known that Sudorificks, in like manner as Chalybeats, have brought a Consumption in a Morbid Disposition of the Lungs.

Therefore Bleeding, and if need be, a Vomit or Purge, viz. one of them, or both being presently ordered at the beginning of the Disease, the other intentions will be to divert the Morbifick Serosities of the Blood, which are apt to flow to the Head and Brest, and to derive them, off gently by other ways of Evacua∣tions, and to clear them forth: For this end Vesicatories ought to be applyed on the Nape of the Neck, or behind the Ears, near the Arm-pits, in the Groin, or on the Thighs, or Calves of the Legs, viz. sometimes in this part, sometimes in that; to wit, that the little Sores made here and there, flowing continually, may plenti∣fully discharge the Serum filled with Heterogeneous and Morbid Particles.

Moreover Remedies gently conveying the Serum to the Reins and Urinary passages, are often given with good effect; for this purpost let Diuretick Apozems ans Julapes be ordered accord∣ing to the following Forms.

Take Roots of Scorzonera, Chervil, Grass, Eringo's preserv'd, of each six Drams, one Apple slic't, Leaves of Burnet, Meadow sweet, of each a handful, Raisins an Ounce and a half, burnt Harts-horn two Drams, being slic't and bruis'd, let them boil on a clear Fire, in four Pounds of Fountain-water till a third part be consum'd, to two Pounds of the clear Straining add Syrup of the Juice of Citrons, or of Violets two Ounces, Sal Prunella a Dram and a half, make an Apozeme; the Dose is from four Ounces to six thrice a day.

Or let that Straining be pour'd on fifteen sineet Almonds blanch, and on the four cold Seeds of each a Dram being lruis'd, make an Emul∣sion according to Art.

Take water of Dragon-wort, and of black Cherries of each four Ounces, of Scordium compound two Ounces, Treacle-water an Ounce and a half, Syrup of Clove-gillylowers two Ounces, Spirit of Vitriol twelve drops, wake a Julape.

Let Sal Prunella be giben often in a day in small Beer or Whey, from half a Dram, or two Scruples.

Moreover in this Fever Medicines gently promoting Sweat, e∣specially such as restore the Animal Spirits, and free them from any Heterogeneous Combination, are of excellent use: Where∣fore either let Powder of Pearl, or Spirit of Harts-horn, or of Blood be given in a small Dose twice a day, viz. Morning and Evening.

Let Glysters be injected alniost daily, and if it seems convenient, let a gently loosning Medicine be repeated twice in a week.

Let none but a thin Diet be ordered, viz. such as is wont to be in other Fevers; Flesh or its Broath being wholly forbidden, let the Sick eat only Oat or Barley-broath, let his Drink be small Beer or Whey.

But if notwithstanding any Physical provision, the Morbifick Matter gets possession of the Brain or Lungs, or both of them together, so that a failing and disorder of the Animal faculty, or also a violent Cough come upon the Diseas'd, we must consider what is to be done in either state of the Disease, rais'd after this manner to an ill condition; for then the Curative Indications ought to respect a stupor or madness, or the Cough; and at length, if the Disease being upon declining, these Symptoms re∣mit, let appropriated Remedies be given against the Atrophia, it being as the last fortress of this Disease.

1. Therefore if the Morbifick Matter, as it frequently is wont, being brought to the Head, causes there a Stupor or Sleepy af∣fects, Remedies ought to be carefully administred, which draw it to another place, and derive it some way or other from the Head, and likewise such as raise up the Animal Spirits, and make void the impure Combination: Wherefore in this case, let the use of Epispasticks be very much encreast outwardly, let Spirit of Harts-horn be given every sixth hour in somewhat a large Dose, let Blood be drawn again from the Jugular Veins, the Salvatella, or also from the Veins of the Fundament by Lee∣ches. If the affect does not remit, the Hair being shav'd off, let Emollient Fomentations be often applyed to the Head: More∣over let Cupping-glasses, Plaisters and Cataplasms be applyed to the Soles of the Feet; and other ways of administration, such as are vulgarly indicated for Curing a Stupor, ought to be us'd: In like manner, if to the evil or defect of Crisis in this Fever, a Frensy or Mania Supervene, let Remedies appropriated to those affects be administred.

2. But if, together with, or without this Detriment brought on the Head, the Lungs also are injur'd by the Disease, so that the Diseas'd, not yet freed of their Fever, seem to have fall'n into a Consumption or Ptizick, with a troublesome Cough, much and thick Spittle, and that often discoloured, Medicines com∣monly indicated in such affects are proper; wherefore Pectoral Decoctions, Lohoch's, Syrups, Waters of Milk and Snails di∣still'd, and other Remedies of this kind, ought diliently to be us'd: The Forms of which are to be found in their above writ∣ten cases.

Hitherto we have describ'd a continual Fever, for the most part Convulsive, and taking its rise both through the default of the Nervous Juice, and of the Blood: I shall now set before you an example of a Disease, resembling an intermitting Fever, and chiefly radicated in the Nervous Juice.

A fine Woman, of a very tender Constitution, and a weak tem∣per of the Brain and Genus Nervosum, and consequently very sub∣ject to Convulsive affects, after she had conceiv'd, about the fourth Month of her Child-bearing, upon taking cold, was most sorely afflicted with Asthmatick Fits, and likewise with frequent Faint∣ings of the Spirits: But by the use of remedies endowed with a Volatile Salt, she grew well of these Distempers within a fort∣night; nevertheless after six weeks were past, an unusual, and ve∣ry wonderful affect seis'd this Lady.

On a certain morning awaking after her sleep, which had been somewhat troubled that night, she felt in her whole body a light shivering, as tho' the fit of a Tertian Ague were coming upon her: Frequent Gapings and Retchings follow it with a frequent straining to Vomit: Then her Urine, which just before was of an Orange colour with a laudable sediment, became pale and watery, and was very frequently voided, viz. every munute of an hour. Moreover about the Loins and Hypochondres, and in other places, pains with light Convulsions passing from one place to another were rais'd. Which kind of Symptoms, being manifestly Convul∣sive, with the frequent making of Limpid Water continued from the morning almost to the evening: In which space of time a vast quantity of Urine, viz. thrice more than the Liquor drank, was made: In the mean while the Heat became not more intense, nor did Thirst seem pressing, nor was the pulse rais'd: In the eveing the foresaid affects ceast, and the Urine came again to be of an O∣range colour, and in a small quantity; and she enjoyed a moderate sleep during the whole night; and then the next morning the Fit returned near the same hour, accompanied whol'y with the like Symptoms, and daily acted over the very same Tragedy.

Going to see this Lady after the had lain ill after this manner for twelve days; I judged that this disease being chiefly rooted in the Genus Nervosum, depended on the effervescency and flowing of the Humour that lies in the Nervous parts: to this Breeding person I Prescribed Bleeding, and to take twice a day a Powder made of Coral, Pearl, Ivory, and other Cordial things in an ap∣propriated Liquor: morning and evening she took twelve drops of the Tincture of Antimony, the effect whereof I have found to be singular in a too great Flux of Urine: by the use of these things all the Symptoms in a short time remitted.