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. XXX.

IS CHIAS in Greek: * 1.1 The barbarous sort call it Sciatica: It is a grievous pain which chanceth about the joynt, which the Greeks call Ischion, the Latins Coxa; in English the Hucklebone.

1. A plentiful phlegmatick humour, * 1.2 that is cold, gross, and viscid, flowes down into this joynt.

2. The pain not only troubles the leg, but entring very deep, is extended to the muscles of the buttocks, the groines, knees, and very ends of the toes: yea oftentimes it vexeth the Patient with a sense of pain, in the very Verte∣bra of the loynes.

3. The cause of such wandring pain, is to be referred to the manifold distribution of the nerves, which come to the joynt from the loyns and holy-bone.

4. Continual rawness and unmeasurable using of venereous acts do not a little help: Al∣so neglect of exercises, and a slux suddenly stop∣ped may be the cause: sometimes there is a fla∣tulency, mixed with the humour that runneth into the cavity of this joynt.

There is a bitter and violent pain in the Huc∣klebone, * 1.3 some have pain about the privie mem∣bers; and the bladder being vexed, they have difficulty of pissing: The whole leg from the haunch to the heel, suffereth pain, yet often∣times no swelling, rednesse, nor distemper, ma∣nifest

to the eye. Lastly, the ligamentous bo∣dies moystned, with this excrementious humor, become loose, whence succeeds lamenesse, and at last a hectick fever.

First, * 1.4 if there be an inflammation, and the Patient full of blood, open the Basilica on the grieved side for revulsion; and then for evacu∣ation of conjunct matter, the Vena Ischiadica; on the one side of the Ankle. If the pain be most in the inside, take the Sapheia on the inside of the Ankle; Also acrid clysters are good: If there be no ulcers in the guts, or Hemorrhoids,

℞. * 1.5 Rad. acor. ℥.ij. centaur. rutae, salviae, rorism. calam. origan. pulegii, an. M. ss. stoechad. arabic. flor. cham. melil. aneth. an. p. 1. scm. anisi, & foenic. ana ℥. ss. agaric. ʒ.ij. rad. po∣lypod. ℥. ss. fiat decoctio. ad li. j. in colaturâ, dissolve Hieraepicrae, & diaphen. an. ℥. ss. benedict. lax. ʒ. ij. mellis anthos. sacc. rub. ana ℥. j. olei liliorum ℥. ij. ol. rutae ℥. j. vitell. ovor. n^o. salis com. ʒ. ij. fiat enema.

Vel.

℞. * 1.6 Diaphoen. ʒ.ij. elect. è succo rosarum ʒ.iij. pol∣cath. ʒ.j. bened. lax ʒ.ss. vini albi q.s. fiat potio.

Both the clyster and this may serve for the strongest body: You may diminish the quan∣tities as you shall see cause. If there be inflam∣mation, make use of the common decoction, instead of the wine: * 1.7 Also Pilul. arthritic. is good: vomiting is commended, and sweating, with the decoction of Guaiacum, and Sarsaepa∣rilla. If heat molest, bath first with vinegar, and then with oyle of roses. For attractives use emplasters of pitch, Euphorbium, and tur∣pentine;

Also bathe with oyle of sage, * 1.8 rosema∣ry, and ung. Aregon. and (if no inflammation)

℞. Cantharid. quibus detractae sunt alae ʒ. ij. * 1.9 stavisag. ʒ.ij.ss. euphorb. ʒ. ss. sinapi ʒ. i. ss. fermenti ℥. ss. incorporentur simul & fiat vesicatorium:

If you please you may adde mel. anacardinum, or turpentine; black sope, the whites of egges. Hippocr. commends actual cauteries. Fomenta∣tions that ease pain are good, and a sheep, or cats skin. If you want more, search the follow∣ing Chapter.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Causa.
• * 1.3

  Signa.
• * 1.4

  Curatio. Venae sectio
• * 1.5

  Clyster.
• * 1.6

  Potio pur∣gans.
• * 1.7

  Vomitus.
• * 1.8

  Oleum.
• * 1.9

  Vesicatoriū