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. XXVIII.

TONSILLARƲM INFLAMMATIO, in∣flammation of the tonsils, or almonds;

whose places be hot and moyst; and therefore the more subject to inflammation. They are most vexed with this evill that abound with blood. Nature hath placed these two Glandules opposite to one another, at the Jawes neer the roots of the tongue, in figure and magnitude like Almonds: their office is to receive the spittle falling down from the braine, which serves to moysten the tongue; which otherwise with continuall speaking, would grow dry, and fail, which often happens in feavers.

The inflammation of the almonds, * 1.1 called Amigdalae, is caused sometimes by the drinking of strong wines; and through greedy devou∣ring of meat; sometimes there flowes a great quantity of crude, phlegmatick, and vis∣cid humors, together with the blood, whence a∣riseth a tumor. * 1.2 Swallowing is painefull to the patient, he hath a feaver: and many times the muscles of the throttle and neck, is so swollen to∣gether with the glandules, that the patient is strangled.

First administer a cooling clyster, * 1.3 then open a vein under the tongue; if he abound with blood, first open the Cephalica on the arme. To ease pain, applie a poultis, made of barly meal, seeds of flax, fenugreek, althaea &c. or this ca∣taplasm following.

℞. Nidi hyrund. ℥ iij. pul. nuc. cupress. ℥ j. ros. * 1.4 ℥.ss. excipiantur oxymel. fiat ad formam Ca∣taplasmatis, applicetur in lateribus colli.

Then use astringent Gargarismes, * 1.5 if still the inflammation increaseth, and there be sharp gnawings in the evening; then look for rotting

of it; * 1.6 for which purpose Aqua mulsa is good, and the decoction of figs, hyssop, seeds of Al∣thaea. &c. when it is perfectly rotten, break it with sharp collusions, or cut it with some fine instrument; and after it is broken, let the pati∣ent bow his head downward, that the matter may the better run out: and then let him gar∣garise with Aqua mulsa, * 1.7 untill it be healed. Sometimes there are ulcerations of the Tonsils, which happeneth unto those that do abound with vitious humours; I shall referre you to the Chapter of Aphthae.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Causa.
• * 1.2

  Signa.
• * 1.3

  Curatio. clyster. Venae-sectio
• * 1.4

  Cataplas.
• * 1.5

  Gargaris∣mus.
• * 1.6

  Decoctio.
• * 1.7

  Aq mulsa.