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. I. LIB. II.

EPHEMERA in Greek, * 1.1 Di∣aria febris in Latin, in English one day fever; The Patient having but one fit, and so for the most part finished in one day of his own nature: It is the spirit or breath that is inflamed. * 1.2 Galen cal∣leth it, A simple fever.

A fever properly is an unnaturall heat, * 1.3 which taking his beginning at the heart, is spread by the arteries and veines into the whole body, and doth let and hurt the operation of it.

Now of simple fevers some reckon three kinds; an unnatural heat ingendred in the spi∣rits of breath causeth Ephemera, or Diaria (as aforesaid) whereof be two kinds, that is, Ephe∣mera, Simpliciter or Diaria: Secondly, Diaria plu∣rium dierum, otherwise called Synochus non pu∣trida, enduring three or four dayes: unnatural heat ingendred in the humours, causeth Putri∣da febris, a rotten fever; they do not in two pla∣ces, within the vessels, and that two wayes; for either all the humours do putrifie and rot equally, and cause a fever called Synochus putri∣da: or one only humour putrifieth, and so cau∣seth a continual fever.

If there be putrifaction of choller, it causeth a

continual Tertian, or a burning fever: If of flegme, it causeth a continual Quotidian. If of melancholy, it causeth a continual Quartan.

If they rot without the vessels, then they cause an intermitting fever: for if there be putre∣faction of choller, it causeth an intermitting Tertian; If of flegme that is sweet, an intermit∣ting quotidian, exquisite and pure. If of flegm that is glasen, it causeth Epialos: * 1.4 If of melan∣choly, an intermitting fever Quartan.

The cause of Ephemera is, * 1.5 when as the breath is inflamed, and heat above nature without any putrefaction or rottennesse: also through watchings, crudities, lack of digestion, sad∣nesse, fear, vehement care of mind, kernels in the throat, and such like; which heat and in∣flame the spirits, and the whole body.

1. The signes are six: first, * 1.6 the pulse are greater, swifter, and oftner.

2. Secondly, their urine is like a haile bo∣dies urine.

3. Thirdly, their heat is gentle and easie.

4. Fourthly, the fever endeth on a sudden.

5. Fifthly, there wants evill symptomes, as pain of the head, stomach, &c.

6. Sixthly, they are alwayes ingendred of an outward cause.

1. If watching be the cause, there is heavi∣ness of the eyes, swartness of the face.

2. If of anger, there is rednesse of the face and eyes, with a swift pulse.

3. If care and sorrow be the cause, there is a noughty colour, heaviness of the body, hol∣lowness of the eyes, swartness of the face.

4. If of Sun-burning, the head is hot, and their veines sometimes puffed up.

5. If through cold, there followes distilla∣tions and Rhumes.

6. If of wearinesse, the skin is dryer.

7. If through drunkennesse and hunger, it is known by the telling of the sick.

8. If through swelling about the throat, their pulse is great, swift, and often with a red and swelled face.

If there be inflammation, * 1.7 and want of rest, let his diet be cold and moyst: white-wine that is thin is much commended in all diary fevers, except there be headache: * 1.8 It helps digestion, provokes urine, and procureth sweat; Galen commendeth baths and gentle sweatings: oyles of Ireos, * 1.9 and Nardinum to anoynt outwardly is good: juyce of ptisan and lettice in broath: If there be crudity in the stomach, wash the belly with clysters, bathing it with oyle of wormwood, * 1.10 and procure rest, which digest∣eth crudity marvellously. And if nothing for∣bid, administer this clyster.

℞. * 1.11 Decoctirutae, sem. lini, radicum althaeae, fl. Chamo. lb. ij. ss. olei rutacei ℥.ij. olei viol. ℥.j. Agarici ʒ.ij. misce pro enemate.

This is good for a strong body, and one that abounds with flegm and wind; If the inflammation be great, make your clyster of a more cooling quality, with Ol. Violar.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Galenus.
• * 1.3

  Definitio febris.
• * 1.4

  Epialos.
• * 1.5

  Causa.
• * 1.6

  Signa.
• * 1.7

  Curatio. Victus ra∣tio. Vinum.
• * 1.8

  Galenus.
• * 1.9

  Oleum.
• * 1.10

  Oleum ab∣synthii.
• * 1.11

  Clyster. Carolus Amatus.