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.

Vomits.

Take Oxymel of Squills an ounce and a half, wine of Squils an ounce, Syrup of Tobacco two drams, mix them, make a Vomitory: if it works not at all, or slowly, let a Vomit be rais'd by a free drinking of Posset-drink having the leaves of Carduus boyl'd in it.

Take of the decoction of the middle bark of Elder four ounces, Salt of Vitriol from one scruple to two scruples, Oxymel simple three drams, mix them: let it be taken after the same manner.

To strong and well set People, give the Infusion of Crocus Metallo∣rum, or Mercurius vitae; also the Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht, or Sulphur of Antimony.

Take roots of Polypody of the Oak half an ounce, Epithymum three drams, Senna half an ounce, Tamarinds six drams, Coriander-seeds, three drams, yellow Saunders two drams, let them boyl in fourteen ounces of Fountain∣water to ten ounces: adding Agarick two drams, Rhubarb a dram and a half; to the clarified straining add of the purging Syrup of Apples two ounces, let six ounces be taken, repeating it within three or four dayes.

Take choice Senna three drams, Epithymum, Rhubarb, of each a dram and a half, yellow Saunders half a dram, Corinader-seeds two scruples, Salt of Wormwood half a dram, Celtick Spike a scruple, let there be a close Infusion for a Night in White-wine and water of Apples, of each four ounces; to five ounces of the clear straining add Syrup of Epithymum six drams, Aqua mirabilis two drams, mix them, make a potion. In Bodyes hard to be wrought on, let there be added to these, fibres of black Hellebore macera∣ted in Vinegar, a dram or two.

Those who like better Pills, Powders, Bolus's or Syrups, may use the following.

Take Quercitan's Pills of Tartar, or Crato's Pills of Amber, half a dram, Rosin of Jalap, or Scamony, six or eight grains, Tartar vitrio∣late half a scruple, Ammoniacum dissolved in Aqua mirabilis what suffices, make pills, let four be taken going to bed, and unless they work first, one the next morning.

Take Calomelanos, extract of black Hellebore of each a scruple, Resin of Jalap six grains, Ammoniacum dissolved what suffices, make four Pills, let them be taken with governance.

The Powder call'd Haly, is greatly commended by Valescus de Ta∣renta, Pereda, and others. And indeed in rustick or robust Bodies, this seems a pretty fit Cathartick. Take Epithymum half an ounce, Agarick, Lapis Lazuli of each three drams, Scammony a dram, Cloves in number thirty, make a Powder, the dese is from half a dram to a dram.

Take Pulvis Diacennae, Diaturbith with Rhubarb, of each half a dram, make a powder, let it be taken in a draught of posset-drink, or in a single decoction of Epithymum, to four or five scruples.

Take choice Senna two ounces, roots of Polipody of the Oak two ounces, Epithymum an ounce and a half, yellow Saunders half an ounce, Tama∣rinds an ounce, Coriander-seeds six drams, let them boyl in four pounds of Barnet-water, to an half, strain it, and let it evaporate by a bath heat to the consistency of a Syrup, adding towards the end pure Manna, double re∣fin'd Sugar, of each four ounces, make a Syrup: the dose is stwo or three spoonfuls, in three ounces of a convenient distill'd water, or in any other Liuqor. Or,

Take of the same Liquor evaporated to the consistency of Honey, six oun∣ces, fresh Cassia four ounces, pulp of Corinths two ounces, Cream of Tartar, Salt of Wormwood, of each a dram and a half, pulvis Diasennae two drams, yellow Saunders powdred three drams, mix them, make an Electuary, the dose is from three drams to half an ounce.

Catharticks must not be used without intermission, nro too fre∣quently, but let it suffice to give them within six or seven dayes, and at other times, let the belly, if it be bound, be loosened by Clysters: as to what regards other Medicines which do not evacuate, tho the An∣cients plac'd the least, we put the greatnest stress of the Cure in them; for they (with whom also many Moderns accord) concluded, that there was nothing more to be done for curing Melancholy, than to purge forth the atrabilarious Humour: Wherefore making purging the thing of chiefest moment, they ordered the rest of Pharmacy, called by them preparatory, only for the sake of this; directing thus their intentions, that as soon as the Humour was brought to a fit consistency by altering Medicines, and the wayes made open enough for its excretion, then to carry it forth by Catharticks: which kind of hypothesis seems not to agree with Reason or Physical Experience, to wit, in as much as me∣lancholy Persons, after a frequent purging, how methodically soever ordered, receive rather an injury than a relief. Therefore we, placing the cause of this Disease in the dyscrasies of the Blood and Spirits, and in the weakness or ill conformation of the Brain or Viscera, put alte∣ratives, and corroboratives in the first rank of Medicines, and some∣times interlace Catharticks only for the sake of these. Purging therefore being prescribed for the due removal of Impediments, and at due intervals of time, as to the rest you may proceed after this man∣ner.

Take Conserve of Clove-gilliflowers and Borage flowers, of each two ounces and a half, myrobalan rinds condited six drams, Coral prepar'd, Pearl, of each a dram and a half; Ivory, Crabs-eyes, of each a dram, Confection of Hyacinth two drams, Syrup of Coral, or red poppyes, what suffices, make an Electuary, let two drams be taken, morning and evening, drinking after it three ounces of the following Julep, or distill'd water.

Take water of Cowslip-flowers and of Black-cherries, of each six ounces, of Bawm four ounces, Dr. Stevens's Water two ounces, Sugar six drams, mix them, make a Julep.

Take leaves of Bawm, Borage, Bugloss, Fumitory, Water-cresses, Brook∣limes, of each four handfuls, Clove-gilliflowers, flowers of Marigolds, Bo∣rage, Cowslips, of each three handfuls, the outward coats of six Oranges' and four Lemmons, being all sliced and bruis'd, pour to them of Whey made with Cyder, eight pounds, distill them with common Organs, let the whole Liquor be mixt.

Take powder of Pearl, Ivory, Coral prepar'd, of each two drams, Spe∣cies loetificantis, Diarrhod. Abbatis of each a dram, Oyl of Citron-pills half a scruple, double refin'd Sugar dissolv'd, and boyl'd to a consistency for Ta∣blets in a sufficient quantity of Bawm-water, six ounces, make Tablets according to art, weighing a dram, let two or three be taken in the mor∣ning and at five of the clock in the afternoon, drinking after it a draught of the distilled water, or of Tea. Or,

Take Roots of Chervil, Polypody of the Oak of each an ounce and a half, leaves of Hearts-tongue, Spleenwort, Ceterach, Germander, of each a handful, Tamarisk half a handful, bark of the same half, an ounce, Rai∣sins ston'd two ounces, one Apple sliced, being sliced and bruis'd let them boyl in four pounds of Fountain-water to a consumption of the third part, towards the end add leaves of Water-cresses a handful, strain it and cla∣rifie it, let six ounces be taken twice or thrice a day, let it be sweetned with Syrup of Fumitory.

Iron-Spaw-waters are wont to contribute egregiously to the Cure of Melancholy Persons; viz. in as much as being plentifully drank, they wash away the salino-sulphureous tincture of the Blood, and destroy its evil ferments. Moreover, they cleanse the filth of the Viscera, open obstructions, and which is of mighty benefit, by their astriction they both strengthen the weak or over-lax Viscera, and close the mouths of the Vessels gaping into the Brain, that a passage may not lye open into it for the extraneous matter, together with the nervous Juyce: and in this respect, to wit, by corroborating the Viscera, and closing the passages into the Brain, Vitriolick Preparations of Iron are wont to be given with good effect in Melancholy, and also in the Vertigo.

Take our Steel prepared three ounces, infuse it in two pounds of the water above prescribed, let three or four ounces be taken twice a day by it self, or with some other solid Medicine.

Take filings of Steel an ounce, put them in a Glass with two ounces of the Juice of Oranges, let it stand for a day, shaking it now and then, then pour to it water of Apples, and White-wine of each a pound, or of small, and mild Cider two pounds, let three ounces be taken twice a day after the same manner.

Take Vitriol of Mars, Cream of Tartar, Crabs Eyes, of each a dram, mix them, make a powder, divide it into nine parts, le tone part be taken every Morning in a draught of an appropiate distill'd Water, or a Decoction, or appropriate Julep.

Take Syrup of Steel four ounces, let a spoonful be taken twice a day in a fit vehicle.

Take extract of Steel, from our Steel prepared with an appropriate De∣coction three ounces, powder of Ivory, yellow Saunders, Lignum Aloes of each half a dram, Salt of Tartar two Scruples, Ammoniacum dissolved in Water of Earth-worms what suffizes, make a mass, let it be made into little Pills, let three or four be taken every Evening, drinking after it three oun∣ces of Water of Apples or of Cowslip-flowers.

Whey, if it agrees with the Stomack, being drank plentifully for many dayes, is often used with good effect, for the like reason as Spaw-waters. viz. by washing away the salt and sulphureous Particles of the atrobilarious Blood: Whey with Epithymum infused, or boyled in it, is egregiously com∣mended by some.

Let Broaths be prepared of the Decoction of a Chicken, with the Roots of Polypody, Chervil, Fennel, Butchers-broom, and the Leaves of Ceterach, Hartstongue, Scolopendrium, &c. let a draught be taken in the Morning and at five of the Clock in the Afternoon, in which dissolve Vitriol of Mars from six grains to ten, Salt of Wormwood, Cream of Tartar of each a scru∣ple.

Juices and Expressions of Herbs sometimes contribute egregiously to the taking away of the Dyscrasy of the Blood. Take Leaves of Borrage, Water∣cresses of each six handfuls, two Apples mash'd, the pulpe of two Oranges, double refined Sugar an ounce, all being bruised together pour to them of ex∣cellent Cyder a pound and a half, make a strong expression, let it be kept in a Glass, the dose is four ounces twice or thrice a day.

In the Summer, a Bath of sweet Water, inasmuch as it cleanses the filth sticking in the Skin, and promotes insensible transpiration, does great good to some.

Because Melancholy persons Sleep with difficulty, and after long or frequent watchings are worse, therefore let Anodynes, and sometimes gentle Hypnoticks be prescrib'd to be taken late at night, when there is need. For this purpose, a decoction of Cowslip-flowers or of the leaves of Lettices, or the distill'd water of the red Poppey, or Syrup of the same: Moreover, Emulsions of the seeds of the white Poppey, Syrupus de Me∣conio, and other things that are mild, and soothing the Spirits, are proper.

There being an infinite number of Melancholick persons, as well as of Fools, I shall illustrate our hypothesis only with two exam∣ples; in one of which the Disease began from the sensitive part of the Soul, or from the Animal Spirits, and in the other from its Vital part, to wit, from the Blood.

Some time since a renowned man, about forty years of age, of a florid countenance, chearful, and quick at all business, being af∣flicted in mind, and very much dejected by reason of some misfor∣tunes, became thenceforward very sad and melancholy, with a dead

and fallen aspect: When first I went to see him, he complain'd of much trouble and distraction of his thoughts, which were so great, that his Fancy being occupied day and night without intermission, he liv'd wholly without sleep: and nevertheless this Person minded not at all the concerns of the Publick, nor of his own Family, nor was he greatly sollicitous concerning the welfare of his Soul, or the health of his Body, but rather was con∣tinually perplext about petty things, and almost of no moment: he was so fearful of all things, that he fancied some harm, or Death would presently happen to him upon any little accident. In fine, he always liv'd so sad, as tho he endeavour'd to exceed Heraclitus in mourning. Moreover, he was troubled with so great a straitness and constriction of his Heart, that it seem'd to him as tho the whole Praecordia were most closely strain'd together as a first contracted, and he thought that he always carried a vast and very oppressive burthen there, which forc'd him always to go forward, and stooping towards the Earth. Whilst he was discoursing with his friends, that con∣striction and oppression of the Praecordia was wont somewhat to re∣mit; but then upon any unusual object striking him with a terrour, it returned with more violence: Nor was he only troubled with a certain constriction in the Precordia, but in the whole Body besides, and a certain weight, as it were, seemed to lye on the Region of his Loyns, also on his Shoulders and Arms.

As to the Cure of this Person, after various Medicines us'd with∣out any great success, at length I perswaded him, because it was Sum∣mer, to drink our artificial Spaw-waters for six weeks: Therefore in the first place, in four pounds of Fountain-water, I infus'd for a night, of our Steel prepar'd half a dram, and afterward as much in eight pounds of Water. The Diseased every morning drank the clear Li∣quor, and within four or five hours discharged the greater part of it by Urine. He took moreover going to Bed, and early in the morn∣ing, a dose of an appropriate Electuary, such as above-described, with a Cephalick Julep: Within two months he was m uch better, and af∣terward came to himself by degrees.

Whilst I was writing these things, a young man of Quality, lately returned from travelling beyond the Seas, and being become sickly, committed himself to our care: This Person, being formerly of a san∣guine and chearful temperament, of a gay behaviour, also of an acute wit and a clear disposition, as he travelled through Foreign Coun∣tries, and being in a certain Summer in Spain, he felt in himself a great alteration from the intense heats of that place: For first, he became obnoxious to frequent effervescencies of the Blood, with sudden flush∣ings of heat in the palms of his Hands and the soles of his Feet, and to prickings often wont to arise in his whole Body, and presently to go away again. Afterward, finding himself worse as to his Appetite

and Sleep, and likewise growing dull and somewhat sad, he began to affect less, and sometimes to shun any business or delights, nay, and conversation with his friends. At length this indisposition daily grow∣ing worse, without any manifest cause, or real trouble of mind, he became Melancholick, so that always being thoughtful, fearful, and sad, he took delight in nothing: For Studies, Exercises, Travelling, Conversation with learned men, and all other things which before he delighted in, were then wont to be a trouble or terrour to him: Being affected after this manner for two years, he was so much changed from himself, as tho he were another man: In order to a Cure he consulted the most skilful Physicians of Spain, France, Hol∣land, and of late in England, and tryed various methods of Curing, tho scarce with any benefit. To wit, that melancholy Discrasy of the Blood, first contracted by the distemper of the Air, continuing still, caused Spirits of an acetous nature, as it were, to be supplied to the Animal oeconomy. In the first place I thought good to commend to this Person the following Remedies.

Take Gerion's decoction of Senna (with Tamarinds half an ounce) four ounces, Purging Syrup of Apples an ounce, Aqua mirabilis two drams, mix them, let him take it with governance, repeating it within nine days: afer Purging let Bood be drawn with Leeches, to three ounces.

Take of our Syrup of Steel six ounces, let a Spoonfull be taken in the morning, and atfive of the Clock, in three ounces of the following Liquor, walking upon it for an hour or two.

Take leaves of Baum, Borrage, Buglosse, Burnet, Meadow-sweet, Harts-tongue, Water-cresses, of each four handfuls, roots of Borrage half a pound, Clove-gilliflowers, Marygold flowers of each three handfuls, the outward rinds of eight Oranges and four Lemmons, Mace half an ounce, being sliced and bruis'd pour to them of Whey made with Cyder eight pounds, distill it with common Organs.

Take Conserve of Clove-gilliflowers, the flowers of Betony and Borrage of each one ounce and half, Pearl powdred two drams, red Coral prepared a dram and a half, Species of the Confection of Hyacinth two drams, Sy∣rup of Coral, and red Poppyes of each what suffizes, make an opiat, let the quantity of a Chesnut be taken every Evening, drinking after it two or three ounces of the water of Cowslip flowers.

After sixteen or twenty dayes, the method of alteratives being changed, instead of these let him take the following. Take powder of Ivory, Pearl, red Coral prepared of each two drams, Roots of male Peony a dram and a half: Lignum Aloes half a dram, Orange Tablets four ounces, a so∣lution of Tragacanth made in Baum-water what suffises, make Tablets weighing half a dram, let four be eaten in the Morning, and at five of the Clock drinking after it a draught of Tea.

Take of the same Powder without Tablets half an ounce, Flowers of Sal Armoniack, Salt of Coral of each a dram, with Chios Turpentine six

drams, make amass, let half a dram be taken Morning and Evening, drink∣ing after it three ounces of the distilled Water.

Let him feed only on Food of a good Juice, and of an easie Con∣coction, let him drink small Ale, with the Leaves of Harts-tongue in∣fused in it, he may sip a little now and then of Wine with Water in it, or of Cyder. Let him lead his Life continually occupied sometimes in easie Employs, sometimes in moderate Exercises, or Recreations of various kinds.

So far of universal Melancholy, in which the diseased are in a man∣ner indifferently affected by any Object, so that in every place, by any Accidents and Circumstances they are continually perplext with a multitude of Thoughts, with a Raving, Fear and Sadness.

A Melancholy is said to be Special, when the diseased have regard to some particular thing, or to some certain kind of things: of which they in a manner alwayes think, and by reason of all the Powers of the Soul being continually spent in this one thing, they live always pensive and sad: Moreover, they have absurd and incongruous Notions, not only concerning that Object, but also concerning many other Accidents and Subjects. In this affect the corporeal soul being altered from its proper Species, assumes a certain new one, and being not conforma∣ble to the rational Soul, or to the Body, or to it self, it undergoes a certain Metamorphosis.

There are two kinds of occasions, from which a particular Melan∣choly chiefly and most frequently arises; viz. first, if at any time some severe pressure of an Evil present or at hand (whether it be true or imaginary) lyes upon the Soul: or secondly, if the privation of a good before obtained, or the despair of that which is desired happen: In these opposite Cases the corporeal Soul either being allur'd outwardly omits all domestick care of it self, or of the Body, or of the rational Soul: or being inwardly compress'd, it leaves or perverts the offices both of the Reason and of the Vital and Animal Function. It were a thing of an immense Labour to enumerate the various Cases and wayes of affecting in both kinds; among the mighty store of them, those which being of greatest moment seem chiefly to require a physical help, are a furious Love, Jealousie, Superstition, despair of eternal Salvation, the imaginary Metamorphosis of the Body, or of its Parts, or the fantastical Goods or Evils of Fortune; we shall speak briefly of each of these.

It is a vulgar and most common observation, that if any one once being taken with the Aspect and Conversation of a Woman, begins inwardly to be love-sick for her, and to desire her earnestly, and for his most devoted affection gets nothing but denials and Contempt, unless he be upheld by a very strong Reason, or being seized by other affections, be turned another way, as it were, there is great danger lest he fall into a Love-melancholy; with which Passion if he happen to be

affected, presently he seems transformed from himself into a living Statue, as it were, he thinks or speaks of nothing but his Mistris; he seeks to put himself upon any of the greatest dangers of Life and Fortune for her sake; mean while he does not only neglect the care of Domestick or Publick Concerns, and even of his own Salvation, but, being frustrated of his Desire, often layes violent hands on him∣self; or if he be content to live and survive, pining away both in Body and Mind, he almost deposes man; for the use of right Reason being lost, omitting Meat, Drink, and Sleep, and the other necessary offices of Life, he yields up himself wholly to sighing and sobbing, and to a mournful habit and gesture of Body.

If we enquire into the reason of this affect, we easily find, that the Corporeal Soul of Man being obnxious to violent Passions, when it is wholly carried forth into an Object most dear to it, viz. a Woman belov'd, and is not able to get and embrace her, it is de∣lighted, or contents it self with nought besides, also paying no obe∣dience to the Rational Soul, it wholly grows deaf, and does not hear its Dictates; and crowding the Imagination only with Tragical No∣tions, it dulls the edge of the Understanding. Moreover, in as much as the Praecordia (a plentiful afflux of Spirits be ing denied to them) fail as to their Motions, the Blood heap'd together in the Sinus's of the Heart, and apt to stagnate, causes there a great heaviness and oppression, and consequently Sighs and Groans; mean while the Face and outward Members, by reason of the afflux of Blood and Spirits withdrawn from them, grow pale and languish: hence it is commonly said of Desperate Lovers, that their Heart is broken; to wit, in as much as this Muscle being not vigorously enough actuated with the Animal Spirit, vibrates slowly and weakly, and does no lon∣ger send forth the Blood with vigour into all the Parts.

Such disorder of the animal Function as an excessive Love brings concerning the Acquisition of its Object, the like in a manner is brought by Jealousy concerning the keeping of the same when gotten: so that always (viz. both in the Fruition and in the Desire)

Res est solliciti plena Timoris Amor.

That Soul, if it be not secure of its most dear prey, presently grow∣ing troubled, casts a Cloud and Darkness on its own sereness: and afterward, being infected with a bilous Tincture, every Object seems to it ting'd of a yellow colour: for as a ferment of the Stomack grown sharp perverts all things taken into it into its own Nature, so the affect of jealousy once risen, turns all Accidents and Circumstances to a food for its own venom: and since in this affect the sensitive Soul being bent awry as it were, does not become conformable to its Body, therefore the oeconomy of the Animal, Vital, and vegetative Functions, being de∣praved, the jealous Man raves and pines away.

Superstition and despair of eternal Salvation are wont to imprint al∣most the like affects of Melancholy on the sensitive Soul, the Blood, and the Body, as Love and Jealousie, but somewhat after a differing way of affecting; for in those the Object whose acquisition or loss is in danger, is wholly immaterial, and its affect being first conceiv'd by the Rational Soul, is imprinted on the other Corporeal Soul; in the prosecution of which, if this readily obeys, then no disturbance of the mind of Man arises; but if the Corporeal Soul shewing a reluctancy, (as it often falls out) the Rational still presses with advice and threats, presently that growing troubled, stirs the Blood and Spirits in a disor∣derly manner, opposes the Corporeal goods and delights to the Spi∣ritual, presented by the Understanding, and endeavours to draw the man to its side. And as thus there is a continual bickering be∣tween the two souls, and sometimes the Will is superiour, sometimes the Sensitive appetite prevails; at length a Court of Conscience is set up by the Mind, where every act is narrowly examined; By reason of these frequent variances of the Souls, the Animnal Spirits, as be∣ing too much, and almost continually exercis'd, being often com∣manded, and as it were distracted, now this way and now that way, at length fall somewhat from their vigour and good disposition, and at last being become fixt and melancholick, in as much as they are with-held from their wonted Expansion, they form bye and unusual Tracts in the Brain, and so bring a Delirium with a mighty Fear and Sadness; in those kinds of affects the corporeal Soul being violently drawn away as it were, both separates from the Body, and being mo∣dified according to the character of the Idaea imprinted, is wont to assume a new Species either Angelical or Diabolical; mean while the Understanding, for as much as the Imagination suggests to it only dis∣orderly and monstrous Notions, is wholly perverted from the use of right Reason.

After a like manner of affecting as this, it happens that some melan∣choly Persons undergo imaginary Metamorphoses either as to their For∣tunes or their Bodies. viz. Whilst one imagines himself, and acts a Prince, another a Beggar: another believes himself to have a Body of Glass, and another thinks himself a Dog or a Wolfe, or some other Monster; for after that the corporeal Soul being affected with a long continued melancholy, the Mind being blinded, is wholly fallen both from it self and the Body, she affects a new species or Condition, and, as much as in her lyes, really assumes it.