Vermes, or, Worms.

CIX. According to Galen's judgment, 4. Meth. the principal scope in curing of Worms is, to get them out of the Body: But because they cannot easily be got out while they are alive, therefore it is necessa∣ry first to kill them, or so to stony them that they cannot resist the Medicines. And the things that kill or stony them are all bitter, sharp, inciding, a∣stringent things and sharp and oily ones.*

CX. Because these Animals must be cheated, and are delighted with sweet things, the onely way is, always to mix delectable things with such as kill them; and therefore they doe very ill, who give bitter or sowre things alone: for the Worms will not suck plain Poison. But if the Poison be mixt with sweet things, ludificantur lumbrici, as Lucretius says of children, and therefore they draw the Poi∣son with Honey and sweet things. Wherefore Me∣dicines that are given for the Worms, must always be mixt with Sugar, Milk, Honey, or Honey and Water. For my children at home I order an Oxy∣mel to be made of the Decoction of Honey, the sharpest Vinegar and Wormwood: For such an Oxy∣mel admirably preserves children from the Worms.*

CXI. In those Medicines that are given by way of Clyster, always sweet things must either be gi∣ven alone, or must prevail above the rest: The rea∣son is, because these Animals being drawn by the sweetness, come down to the lower parts. On the contrary, in Medicines that are taken by the mouth, the sharp or bitter things must prevail over the sweet: The reason is, because if there were more sweet than bitter, these Animals might easily be drawn into the Stomach, and could not well be killed.*

CXII. It is worthy observation, that Medicines accommodated to the killing of Worms must by no means be violent: for, besides that the Stomach is offended by them; the Worms, being disturbed, grow more enraged and cruel.*

CXIII. The onely time to take all Medicines is, when the Stomach is empty, because if Medicines be given when the Stomach is full, their virtue, which is otherwise weak, is dulled and almost ex∣tinguished.*

CXIV. There is no Medicine which is so gene∣rally proper for killing of all Worms, nor •o pre∣sent a Remedy as that they call Coral-wort or Sea∣moss. For Mountebanks use this Medicine, and they doe Wonders with it: so that I have seen an incredible quantity of humours sometimes voided with this onely Medicine.*

CXV. Our Countrey Women think that all chil∣dren have the Worms; But when none are voided, they say, they are turned to putrid humours; And they are not much out; for as Worms inclosed in a Vial glass, and covered up in warm Dung, do pre∣sently turn to slime, why may not the same be done in our Bodies, whose heat answers to the heat of Dung,* when the Worms are killed with bitter Me∣dicines?

CXVI. Sometimes Patients have a Fever with the Worms, and sometimes they have none. When they have a Fever, the coolest Medicines must be cho∣sen: When they have no Fever, we may use hotter things.*

CXVII. And it is sometimes necessary to kill the Worms, and stop the Loosness which the Worms cause. Wherefore we must use detersive bitter things, and not astringent ones; lest the Worms, when they are killed, be retained, and putrefie. Let therefore Clysters be made of a Decoction of Lentils or Lupines, and a Decoction of Colewort, to which we may add Roses, Myrobalanes, or such things.*

CXVIII. It may be queried, Whether Medicines that evacuate insensibly, be proper in these cases, as among others a Decoction of Guaiacum? Without doubt, if we consider the place where the matter of Worms resides, the use of such Medicines will be no way convenient; for this evacuates matter in the habit of the body; Worms are bred in the Guts. But notwithstanding, since the Wood has a Bitterness in it, and the Decoction of it is sharp and very bitter. I think it an usefull Medicine, for that it not onely by drying may consume the crude humours of the Stomach and Guts, but is also able by its great bitterness and acrimony, to kill these Animals. And therefore a Decoction of the Wood may be usefull both for prevention and cure.*

CXIX. Galen indeed forbids Treacle to children, because of the thin Texture of their body, and the abundance of Heat; for fear of dissipating the Spi∣rits. Yet I saw at Rome the excellent Dr. H. Savianus give it to children of two years old. And I in imi∣tation of him have given it several times to my own children, when they were troubled with the Worms. Wherefore I think the use of it need not so much be feared.*

CXX. Quicksilver is good for the Worms in chil∣dren, but it is after they are three years old: The dose for these is three grains: For the first seven years, seven or eight grains: For the elder sort, half a scruple. They that are of a soft and very tender habit of body can scarce bear it; but they that are of a fat and gross habit, do easily: For those in a Fever, it is given in Grass-water; for them without, in Wine. It is given alive, not kil∣led; for so it sticks to the Stomach and Guts, and causes cruel Symptoms: But it must first be washed in very sharp Vinegar, and then strained through a thick Leather. Brassavclus, Matthiolus and Frisimelica, used it so. Water wherein it has been steeped does the same, and brings no inconvenience.*

CXXI. I know nothing that preserves children so well from Worms, as frequently to mix Aloes with their Meat. It may be done by gilding small Page  336 Pills, which for the smalness are scarce sensible. Give four or five of them according to the nature of the child.*

CXXII. Because children usually are very sub∣ject to Worms, which are easily bred of Crudities, caused by cramming and corruption of the Food: Therefore some Medicine, which yet may not cause a worse mischief, must be made use of; for strong things, especially in dubious cases, must never be used. Let therefore four ounces of water distilled off the Juice of Goats-rue suffice; or a draught of Rose-water, with Juice of Citron or Lemon; or Broth altered with Sorrel, adding the Juice of Ci∣tron.*