Enchiridion medicum: containing the causes, signs, and cures of all those diseases, that do chiefly affect the body of man: divided into three books. With alphabetical tables of such matters as are therein contained. Whereunto is added a treatise, De facultatibus medicamentorum compositorum, & dosibus. / By Robert Bayfield.

CHAP. XII.

CATALEPSIS, * 1.1 or conglation, is a certain sudden detension; both of the mind, and of the body, with the which whoso∣ever is taken, doth retain the same figure of the parts of the body, which he had when he was taken, whether he were sitting or lying; from whence it is called of some, Stupor vigilans,, be∣cause the sick is become sencelesse, and altoge∣ther without motion. This disease doth agree with the Apoplexy, in this, that, as in the Apo∣plexy; so in this disease, the patient doth lose both sence and motion; but herein it differeth, because here the spirits themselves are affected, and congealed, and do remain as it were still, and quiet, and in whatsoever part of the body they are taken, the parts do remain cold, stiffe, and hard, but contrary in the Apoplexy. The eyes of those that are Apoplectick, are closed up.

The cause of this disease, * 1.2 is an exceeding cold, and drie distemper of the brain, by which it happeneth; as well the brain, as the animal spi∣rits,

to be both congealed and dried: this disease if it be not speedily cured, it killeth the pa∣tient.

For the cure of this most grievous evil, * 1.3 we must administer those things that do mode∣rately heat, and moysten, and first a clyster, which you shall find to be excellent; it is made as followeth.

℞. Floru. camomeli, meliloti, ana. M.ij. * 1.4 Mercu∣rialis, M.i.ss. salviae, Thimi, pulegii, Epithy∣mi, ana. M.j. polypodii quer. senae alex. an. ʒ. 5. Ellebori. nigri. ʒ.j. coquantur in aqua. q. s. ad lib. j. colaturae addantur. confect. ha∣mech. ʒ.iij. hieralogodii ʒ.6.ss. mellis Ros. ol. com. ana. ʒ.ij. salis. com. ʒ. i. ss. misce. f. Enema.

Afterwards we use great clamors and noyse, with painful bindings and rubbings of the ex∣tream parts, the better to excite and stirre up the sick: * 1.5 for that purpose we administer also sneesings. If this disease proceed from abun∣dance of blood, open a vein, then afterwards use such oyntments and oyles, as resolve; such as be. Ol. Anethi, ol. camomeli, & ol. liliorum; ana ℥.i.ss. coquantur in iis, cum hyssopi, thimi, * 1.6 postea ad∣datur, colatura, castorei. ℈i.ss. fiat ung. s. A. with which anoynt the cataleptick parts, as the hinder part of the head or the like; those oyles you use to bathe withall, let them be oyle of Castoreum, or Euphorbium, * 1.7 and the like; be sure to keep the body solluble in the cure, then afterwards, we give such things as are com∣fortable, and have a property to comfort the brain, and heart, as followeth.

℞. * 1.8 Theriacae ʒ.j. Diamusci. dul. laetificiantis Gal. ana. ʒ. ij. ss. Conservae Buglos. anthos, an. ℥.ss. Syrupi buglossati. q. s. ad Electuarii mollis, Consistentiam.

Which must be given every morning, the quantity of a Walnut curnell fasting: also Di∣anthon, * 1.9 in the composition aforesaid, will be very proper, and thus thus briefly (at this time) I end this most dangerous disease called Ca∣talepsis.

Concerning which, if any one desire to be further satisfied, * 1.10 let him read Zacutus Lusitanus Tom. 2. lib. 1. de curatione morb. pag. 175. & Tom. 1. lib. 1. pag. 81. & Theophrastus. lib. 1. pag. 25. & Perdulcis lib. 13. cap. 12,

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Causa.
• * 1.3

  Curatio.
• * 1.4

  Clyster.
• * 1.5

  Sternuta∣mentum. Venae sectio
• * 1.6

  Ʋnguen∣tum.
• * 1.7

  Ol. Castor. Euphorb.
• * 1.8

  Electuari∣jum.
• * 1.9

  Dianthon.
• * 1.10

  Zacutus. Lusitanus. Theophra-Perdulcis.