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. XXXIX.

ANEƲRISMA, is a soft tumour yeelding to the touch: made by the blood and spirit, poured forth under the flesh and muscles, by the dilatation or relaxation of an artery.

They are made by the Anastomasis, * 1.1 spring∣ing, breaking, erosion, and wounding of the arteries. They happen frequently in the throat, especially in women after a painful travel, by holding their breath too strongly for the ex∣pulsion of the birth, the artery is dilated and broken; whence followes an effusion of blood and spirit under the skin. Also an artery woun∣ded, and closing too slowly may be the cause.

Aneurisma, is a swelling, one while great, * 1.2 another small; soft, with a pulsation, and a colour not varying from the other fleshy parts: If you presse it with your finger, the arterious blood and spirits flieth back into the body of the artery, so that the tumor seems vanished; but the fingers being taken away, they return again with like celerity, making a noyse like hissing.

Aneurismaes under the arm-pits, * 1.3 in the groines, or any other part where there are large vessels, admit no cure. They ought not to be opened, unlesse they be small in an ignoble part. But the manner of cure shall be this, cut the skin which lies over it, untill the arterie appear; then thrust a blunt and crooked needle with a thred in it, under it, and bind it;

then cut it off, and so expect the falling off of the thred of it self, whilst nature covers the ori∣fices of the cut artery with new flesh. The Aneurismaes which happen in the internal parts are incurable. This matter many times by lit∣tle and little, is so dried and hardened, that it degenerates into a grisly, or else a bony sub∣stance. * 1.4 Their diet must be of a cooling quali∣ty. * 1.5 Some commend cataplasmes of curds and new cheese, to be applyed. And clysters wherein Cassia is dissolved, and administred, is good. Lastly, take this caution along with you in the knowing Aneurismaes, sometimes you can perceive no pulsation, neither can you presse the blood into the artery, because many times it is condensate, and concrete into clods; this happens mostly in those that are large. The blood putrifies, * 1.6 they have great paines, a Gangreen usually followes, and mortification of the part, and lastly, death.

If you would be further satisfied concerning Aneurisma: * 1.7 read Paulus lib. 6. cap. 37. & Aetius lib. * 1.8 15. cap. 10. & Forestus lib. 1. De tumoribus praeter naturam observatio 15. Senner∣tus Tom. 1. lib. 5. de vasorum sectione. pag. 659. Fernelius de externis corporis affectibus lib. 7. pag. 422. & faelix Platerus. Tractatus tertius & ultimus. pag. 408.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Causa.
• * 1.2

  Signa.
• * 1.3

  Curatio.
• * 1.4

  Victus.
• * 1.5

  Cataplas. Clysler.
• * 1.6

  Prognostic.
• * 1.7

  Paulus
• * 1.8

  Aetius Forestus. Sennertus. Fernelius. Platerus.