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. XXXI.

PHLEGMONE; * 1.1 It is a general name for all impostumes, which the abundance of inflamed blood produces; * 1.2 as a Phygethlum,

which is a little swelling hard and red in the crown of the head, and Phyma, * 1.3 or a little swel∣ling like a boyle; A fellon, Carbuncle, inflam∣mation of the eyes, squinsy, Bubo, &c. That is called a true phlegmon, which is made of lau∣dable blood, offending only in quantity. But a bastard phlegmon, or a phlegmonous impo∣stum hath some other proper name, as a car∣buncle, fellon, gangreen, &c. If a small portion of phlegme be mixed with a greater quantity of blood, then it is called an Oedematous phleg∣mon. But if the quantity of phlegme be greater, then it is a Phlegmonus oedema. A phlegmon though most commonly it be in the flesh, yet sometimes it happens in the bones, * 1.4 as Hippo∣crates (lib. de vuln. Galen lib. de tumor. praeter naturam) witnesse.

The causes of a phlegmon, are of three kinds, * 1.5

1. First primitive, as falls, contusions, strains, immoderate labour, frictions, application of acrid oyntments, burnings, long staying, or la∣bouring in the Sun; and an inconsiderate diet which breeds much blood.

2. Secondly, Antecedent, as the great abun∣dance of blood, too plentifully flowing in the veines.

3. Thirdly, conjunct, as the collection or gathering together of blood impact in any part.

The signes are swelling, tension, resistance, * 1.6 feaverish heat, pain, pulsation, (especially while it suppurates) and rednesse; by which the abun∣dance of blood is signified. The cause of pain and pulsation, is heat, and abundance of blood,

contained in the vessels and arteries (which more frequently then they are wont incite the atteries to motion, that is, to their Systole and Diastole) and the compression and straitning of the said arteries, by reason of the repletion and distention of the adjacent parts, by whose oc∣casion the parts afflicted and beaten, by the trembling and frequent pulsation of the arte∣ries are in pain.

First, * 1.7 his diet must be of a cooling quality, and he must shun all such things as generate blood too plentifully, or that heat the blood; rest must be commanded. Let him have his body soluble, if not by nature, then by art; as by the frequent use of clysters. * 1.8 Let him avoyd all vehement perturbations of mind, as Hate, Anger, &c. and let him wholly abstain from venery. * 1.9 If strength and the age of the Patient permit, give him a cooling purgation; and open a vein. * 1.10 If much pain trouble the part, it must be mitigated with medicines, asswaging pain.

1. In the beginning of a phlegmon, you must use repercussives, as

℞. * 1.11 Far. hordei ℥. ij. succi semper vivi, plantag. an. ℥. iij. pul. malicorii, balaustiorum, & ro∣sar. an. ʒ. ij. ol. myrtill. & rosar. an. ℥. j. fiat Cataplasma.

Vel

℞. * 1.12 Ol. nymph. & rosar. ana ℥. iij. aq. ros. solani, & plantag. an. ℥. ij. aceti ℥. iij. albumin. ovorum n. iij. fiat linimentum.

Let linnen cloathes be dipped in it, * 1.13 and ap∣plied to the part. Also Aqua sperm. rana∣rum,

is excellent for the same purpose.

2. In the increase you must use this local medicine.

℞. Farinae hord. ℥. iij. farinae sem. lini, * 1.14 & faenu∣graeci ana ℥. j. coquantur in aqua communi, addendo sub finem pul. myrtillorum, rosarum, & chamaemeli an. ℥. ss. axungiae, anseris, & olei rosarum an. ℥. j. misce. fiat Cataplasma.

3. In the state, Anodines ought to be mixed with repercussives and discussives, as

℞. Rad. altheae ℥. iv. malvae, parietar. an. m. ij. * 1.15 coquantur sub cineribus, addendo farin. fa∣barum, & lentium, ana ℥. ij. pul. chamaem. & meliloti, an. ℥. ss. olei chamaem. & rosar. ana ℥. j. axungiae gal. ℥. ij. fiat Cataplasma.

This cataplasme following is exceeding good to ease pain.

℞. Mucagin. rad. altheae. * 1.16 & foenugraeci ana ℥. iij. ol. ros. & aneth. an. ℥. j. farin. sem. lini quantum satis, ut inde formetur cataplasma satis molle.

Or you may use populeon with Opium, * 1.17 or nar∣cotick medicines, if the pain shall still remain.

4. In the declination, that is, when the vio∣lence of pain, and other symptomes are asswa∣ged, you must use more powerful and strong discussives; as

℞. Empl. mucag. & oxycr. ana ℥. i. ss. Diachyl. * 1.18 mag. ℥. j. emplas. de melilot. ℥. ss. olei lilio∣rum, chamaemeli, & aneth. quantum satis est: fiat emplastrum molle.

But if the humour be so impact, that it cannot be repressed; and so grosse that it cannot be dis∣cussed, which may be known by the greatness

of the heat, and swelling, by the bitternes of the pricking pain, the feaver and pulsation, and by the heavinesse: you must then use suppura∣tives, as

℞. * 1.19 Emplast. diachyl. mag. ℥. iij. ung. basilicon. ℥. j. ol. liliorum ℥. ss. misce.

When the heat, pain, feaver, and other acci∣dents shall remit; and when the tumour hath a sharp head; and when by the pressing of the finger, the humour flow to and fro; then you may know that it is ripe. Then without any further delay, the tumour must be opened, ei∣ther with an incision-knife, or a potential cautery, in which action consider,

1. First, that you put your knife to the softest part of that Abscess.

2. Secondly, to the lowest part.

3. Thirdly, you must make your incision according to the wrinkles of the skin, and the right fibers of the muscles, lying next under the skin.

4. Fourthly, turn your knife from the large vessels and nerves.

5. Fifthly, the matter must not be evacuated too abundantly at once in great Abscesses.

6. Sixthly, handle the affected part gently.

7. Seventhly and lastly, after the matter is evacuated, the Abscess must be cleansed, filled with flesh, consolidated, and cicatrized.

The ulcer must be dressed 2 or 3 dayes with this medicine.

℞. * 1.20 Vitellum unius ovi, terebinth. venetae, & ol. rosar. an. ℥. ss. fiat medicamentum.

Then use this detersive medicine.

℞. Mellis rosarum ℥. j. syrupi rosar. * 1.21 & tere∣binth. venetae an. ℥. i. ss. farinae hordei ℥. ij. fiat medicamentum ad usum.

But if you would cleanse it more powerfully, use Ʋnguentum Apostolorum, * 1.22 or Aureum and Aegyptiacum mixed, according to the scope you conceive in your mind.

Amongst the symptomes which most usually accompany phlegmons, feavers are the chief, as Ephemera, Synochus, &c. Their causes, signes and cures, you shall find in the second book of this volume.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Hippocrat. Galenus.
• * 1.5

  Causa.
• * 1.6

  Signa.
• * 1.7

  Curotio. Victus ra∣ratio.
• * 1.8

  Clyster.
• * 1.9

  Venus.
• * 1.10

  Venae-sectio
• * 1.11

  Cataplas.
• * 1.12

  Linimentū.
• * 1.13

  Aq s••e••m. ranatum.
• * 1.14

  Cataplas.
• * 1.15

  Cataplas.
• * 1.16

  Cataplas.
• * 1.17

  Ʋnguentū.
• * 1.18

  Emplastrū.
• * 1.19

  Emplast. molle.
• * 1.20

  Medica∣mentum.
• * 1.21

  Medica∣mentum.
• * 1.22

  Ʋnguentū.