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. XXVII.

SINGƲLTƲS is a motion, * 1.1 as it were a a cramp, raised through the expulsive facul∣ty of the stomach, which goeth about to ex∣pell hurtful and evil matter.

For the most part it is caused of fulness or emptinesse, as Hippocrates doth affirm, * 1.2 also somtimes it is caused of (or through) the biring of sharp humours in the stomach, or coldnesse; and sometimes hot fevers may be the cause, when either the stomack, or some other bowel is inflamed.

Fulnesse is knowne by heavinesse, * 1.3 and empti∣nesse of those things that went before: you may know if the meat be corrupt, by the burnt sa∣vour of it, but you shall know sharpnesse

by gnawing, pricking, and pulling.

1. Prognosticks are, if neesing follow upon the Hicket, the patient is delivered, so that it proceedeth of fulnesse.

2. The Hicket coming in an Iliac passion is evill, or coming with swouning, or with di∣stention of nerves, or with dilerium, is a deadly signe.

3. Also coming upon the inflammation of the liver, of the wombe, of the brain, or upon some notable wound, is very dangerous, and oftentimes deadly.

4. In acute diseases, and burning fevers, and the pestilence, it is for the most part deadly.

5. Also if it happeneth through two much emptinesse, it is alwayes evill.

6. It is also evil if it cometh with vomiting, for it threatneth danger of inflammation of stomach, * 1.4 and braine: As concerning the cure, we must consider the cause. If it proceed of em∣ptinesse it is the more dangerous, and therefore must be helped, by giving fit and conveni∣ent nourishment, that thereby that which is de∣fective, may be supplied. If a flux of blood, or an exceeding flux of the wombe do cause this in∣firmity, we may give oyle of sweet Almonds, either by it self, or in warm water, he is to be nourished with cordial broath, there are some that cure this Hicket with drinking of milk that do refresh, * 1.5 but the best is Amilum given with milk: and the broth of an hen, and the flesh thereof, capons, chickens, and Rear-egges, with the powder of Eringium, is wondrous

proper; his drink must be white-wine diluted with water, * 1.6 the back and stomach must be anointed with oyle of violets, and sweet al∣monds.

If sharp humours have stirred up the hicket, we must give such things as are sweet and fat, as the fat of broath, of henne, or cock, or two spoonfulls, of clarified honey, or penidice, * 1.7 or pinecarnels, with sugar; or it may be purged, * 1.8 so that it be prepared before with drinking of Aqua mulfa: if it proceed through heat, * 1.9 and biting sharpnesse, then to provoke vomit is wondrous proper, and to give all cooling things, as julleps, Apozems, or juices, * 1.10 or waters of succo∣ry, and such like, you may compose your juleps, with syrrups of violets, Nymphea, of poppie, or the like; when the hicket is most strong, we give new treakle.

If it proceed from a cold cause, and the mat∣ter grosse, and viscus, prepare the humour with oximel, and then a vomit, or purge, as you shall see cause, and compose this Electuary following, for them that are able.

℞. Confect. Caryophyllorum. ℥.j. Cinamomi, * 1.11 & Aromat. Rosat. ana ʒ.ss. Syr. Hyssopi. q.s.f. Elect, molle.

Also Lozenges are very proper, * 1.12 made of Aromaticum Ros. Candid Ginger is very good, * 1.13 also ℈, ij. of Castoreum, in white wine: but many times one purge or vomit is sufficient; * 1.14 Di∣oscorides commends Aristoloch. radix cum aqua, & Asplenum herba cum posca, & castorum cum aceto. Also he commendeth Ineezing, if Singultus cometh of fulnesse. Dioseor. lib. 2. cap. 4.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Hippocra∣tes.
• * 1.3

  Signa.
• * 1.4

  Cu••atio.
• * 1.5

  Amilum. Victus ra∣tio.
• * 1.6

  Oleum.
• * 1.7

  Mel.
• * 1.8

  Purgatio.
• * 1.9

  Vomitus.
• * 1.10

  Julepus. Theriac.
• * 1.11

  Electuari∣um.
• * 1.12

  Lozeng.
• * 1.13

  Castoreum.
• * 1.14

  Dioscorides.