A new discovery of the French disease and running of the reins their causes, signs, with plain and easie direction of perfect curing the same. By R. Bunworth,

CHAP. II. Of the signs and symptomes of this disease. (Book 2)

THE signes and symptomes how you shall know those that are infected with this grief, appear by the following effects. Now because the signs doe proceed and are taken either from the na∣ture of the effects or from the causes of the sickness and also from some symptoms or causes thereof, and also because this disease begin∣neth in the liver, which cannot be look'd into, let us not look for any signs which may be common to other diseases, but let us seek for such signs as can give certain testi∣mony and shew thereof, as being contained under the effects, and

consequently proceeding imme∣diately from the disease. Of these signs there be two sorts, some are symptoms, as falling off of the hair, aches in the head and members and small infection of the skin. But those which I call diseases proceed∣ing from the disease, are those sore and vehement ulcers, tumors of the shins and other parts of the body with pustules. Of these symptoms some happen at the be∣ginning, some when the disease is grown more prevalent and vigo∣rous. Those of the first sort are these that follow. When a man is first infected, He feels a certain weariness come upon all his mem∣bers, without any outward occa∣sions, such as walking or violent exercise. There will be also a lumpish heaviness over the whole body, a dulness, faintness and slow∣ness

to move in all the members. The occasion of this is the infection of the natural spirits, which are the immediate instrument that give livelyness to the whole body, which being infected it must of necessity follow, that the whole body should be more weary and heavy then it was before. There is moreover a certain pain or ache, which wand∣reth throughout all the body and the several parts thereof. First the head aketh, then it leaveth the head and goeth into the shoulders, by and by it leaveth one shoulder and goeth into another, out of the shoulders it flyes to the leggs, sometimes in one leg and some∣times in another. The cause of this is a certain vapor which taketh it's course from the liver. 'Tis true that the evil humour is not yet quite begotten, but by reason of the

fervent heat of the liver, which is caused by the infection, there is a certain small vapour ingendred, which is the cause of these pains that wander up and down the body. Now after that the disease hath a little prevailed, the colour of the face is quite altered; Those that before were of most lively and clear complexions, are in very short while all discoloured. The lively spirit of the eyes, and the comely colours of the mouth and cheeks will be altogether of another Hew; and besides this there will be under the eyes of a wan colour'd or blew∣ish circle, such as appears in women that have Their stomachs will be much taken off from their meat, they will have pains in the night coming upon them much about the time they goe to sleep, will many times wake them out of their

sleep. They are colder then ordi∣nary and more over they have an itching pain in their shin-bones, which abates no longer then while you are gently rubbing of the part. Besides all this, they will be trou∣bled with drowsiness or a disposi∣tion to sleep, which shall be often interrupted. There is wont also to be a notable heat in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, though it be in the winter time. Neither is sadness of the mind to be left out, for though the party in∣fected should be of a pleasant and merry nature, yet will this disease cause him to be sad even to such a height as to groan therewith. The infection now increasing burneth the blood which causes a feaver, by reason of the heat which is about the distemper'd parts. By this ap∣pears the putrify'd matter which is

a sign to discover the malady; for when you see this putrify'd matter yet in small quantity about the yard, knowing no occasion thereof to have gone before, you may safely pronounce it to be the French disease. For this matter cannot proceed but from two causes; either because of the cor∣ruption of the womans Matrix, which may have eaten and gnawn the fine skin of the yard; or else by reason that the contagion being imparted unto the Liver by the naturall spirits, the liver therefore expells those infected spirits and sanious matter down again upon the privie parts. Besides these common signs there are others, of another nature, as bubo's, which a••e small tumors in the armholes or groyn and privie parts, afterward a general itching over the whole

body, and sometimes sore and angry pustules or breakings out in the head, face and other parts.