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. V.

EPILEPSIA, * 1.1 or the Falling-sicknesse, doth shew it self as a convulsion of all the parts of the body, but not perpetually: and it doth bring with it hurt of mind, and sense.

There are three differences in this disease, for ei∣ther it happeneth when the brain is affected by it self, which is, when the original spring∣eth from thence, or else it springeth through the consent of the stomack, being evil-affected, from whence vapours arise to the brain: or else through the consent of some other subject part, from whence venemous vapours do arise, and do creep into the brain by hidden passages: for some say that they do feel the cause of the evil, from that part of the body, from whence it springeth, as it was a vapour, or cold ayr, carried into the brain, by the continuity of the parts.

The cause for the most part, * 1.2 happeneth from the abundance of a melancholy and fleg∣matick humour, from whence venemous, cor∣rupt, and virulent vapours do arise, from which happen obstructions in the Meatus, and pas∣sage of the brain.

As soon as this evill taketh them, * 1.3 the sick falleth down, and they are plucked up toge∣ther, they snort, and sometime they cry out, many do tremble, and turn round about, but the peculiar sign is foming at the mouth.

For an infant take green pionie roots, * 1.4 slice them length-ways, and cut them so as they may be made fit to hang about the childs neck, like a bracelet, then make this Ecligma following:

℞. Cranii humani, pulveris paeoniae, mellis opt. misce. omnes, quant. suf. fiat Ecligma. * 1.5

Oximel is also very profitable, anointing the neck behind with oyle of dil, and exetor, * 1.6 onely advise a diet for the nurse, of meats of good juice, * 1.7 (if the child be not weaned) her diet must be hot

and drie, that thereby her milk may be the hot∣ter, and thinner. For those that are elder in years, if you perceive they be of a plethorick body, * 1.8 a vein may be opened: and withall, once a week the humours offending, may be avoy∣ded by purgations, and first this clyster.

℞. * 1.9 Rad. paeoniae, ℥.j. Centaurii, absynthii. salviae, betonicae. ana. M. ss. Sem. anisi, pulp. Cola∣cyn. ℥.j. coquantur in aqu.q.s. ad lib. j.ss. co∣laturae ad. olei camomeli, ℥.iij. diacathol. ℥.j. meslis. ℥.ij. Salis communis. ʒij. fiat Enema:

Let this clyster be given about ten in the fore∣noon, at night let him drink a little oximel, and anoint behind his head with oyl of dil, * 1.10 and exe∣tor, then take Pilulae Epilepsiae, two or three at a time, if the fit come in the night, take them in the night; if in the day, take them in the morn∣ing: also this bolus following, a dram at a time, in the morning about seven of the clock, is good.

℞. * 1.11 Cranii humani, ʒ.i.ss. pulver is paeoniae, ʒ.ss. Methridati opt. ʒ.ij. fiat bolus.

Afterwards if you see cause, you may purge with this potion.

℞. * 1.12 Diaphenicon. ʒ.ij. pul. benedictus & sanctus. an. ʒ.ss. oximel. q. s. f. potio.

Lastly take,

℞. * 1.13 Cerae ʒvij. thapsiae ʒ.ij. Castorei ʒ.iij. Eu∣phorbii ʒj. ol. q. s. fiat ung. Bayrus, cap. 17.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Causa.
• * 1.3

  Signa.
• * 1.4

  Curatio.
• * 1.5

  Ecligma.
• * 1.6

  Oleism.
• * 1.7

  Victus ra∣tio.
• * 1.8

  Venae-sectio
• * 1.9

  Clyster.
• * 1.10

  Pilulae.
• * 1.11

  Bolus.
• * 1.12

  Potio pur∣gans.
• * 1.13

  Ʋnguen∣tum. Bayrus.