Platerus golden practice of physick: fully and plainly discovering, I. All the kinds. II. The several causes of every disease. III. Their most proper cures, in respect to the kinds, and several causes, from whence they come. After a new, easie, and plain method; of knowing, foretelling, preventing, and curing, all diseases incident to the body of man. Full of proper observations and remedies: both of ancient and modern physitians. In three books, and five tomes, or parts. Being the fruits of one and thirty years travel: and fifty years practice of physick. By Felix Plater, chief physitian and professor in ordinary at Basil. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts. Nich. Culpeper, gent. student in physick, and astrology.

The Kinds.

AN Alienation or error of the Minde is called a Paraphrosyne when they feigne judg and remember those things which are not, as if they were, or those things which are unlikly and besides reason, and that either together or a part, whether this be done only by Cogitation, or they express the same by words and deeds.

This for the most part coming from inbred Causes is a certain innate foolishness otherwise proceeding from external causes if from things taken tis called Temulency, if it arise from some vehement affect it shall be called a commotion of the Mind; but somtimes depending upon internal causes it is desipiency, which happening either without a Feaver accompanying it, is Melancholly, or with fury is Mania or Madness, or coupled with a Fea∣ver, tis called a Phrensie, all whose accidents we shall explain singly.

Foolishness although it be not ascribed to children only when they are yet destitute of Judgment, and old Folks who are said to be twice Chil∣dren (the which notwithstanding is rather a weakness of Minde in them, then a depravation) but also to every Age and all men upon that account, that all their hu∣mane actions seem to be foolish as Erasmus in his Moria Brandus in navi Stultorum have elegantly shewed it in all states of men; yet tis properly said of them who being borne truly Fools and Silly do presently even in their very infancy give signs of folly by gesticulations besides the custome of other Infants, and do not easily obey, are blockish, so that oftentimes they learne not to speak, much less to performe other Duties, in which any indu∣stry is required; which in some Countries is a common evil as they write of Egypt, and at Bremis a Village off Valesia as I my self have seen, and in the Valley of Car∣inthia, it is wont to befal many Infants, which besides an inbred foolishness, somtimes with an unshapen head, a great and swel'd. Tongue, being dumb oftentimes with a strumous Throat, do shew a deformed sight, and set∣ting in the waies and looking upon the Sun, and putting little sticks between the spaces of their Fingers, and variously wreathing their Bodies, with an open Mouth,

they move Laughter and admiration to those that pass by.

But others on whom some mark of folly was first imprinted from their birth or afterwards, although they rightly per∣form all other actions of their life, and in some things are able to do singularly well beyond others, and are strong in wit and excel in some Art, as of Painting, En∣graving, Building, Musick, and others, yet betray their Folly by these things, that they willingly hear them∣selves praised that they tell and act ridiculous things, for which thing great men are delighted with their compa∣ny, whom also by reason of the divers Phantasms that present themselves to them, they call Phantastical.

But others yet more fools with divers Trifles, gestures and jests, as 'tis said, do thrust forth their Asses Ears, some of which have in them vices not acceptable to all and those oftentimes grievous ones, which according to the vari∣ety of their natures they bring forth somtimes in Anger, somtimes in Fury, somtimes in Sadness, somtimes in other things, all which it were superfluous to express.

Temulenlency or Drunkenness proceeding from Wine and certain other things, as shall be said in the Causes, and not yet going so far, as to cause sleepiness and stupidity of which we have already spoken, but going beyond the bounds of Mirth, in which Wine moderately doth cheer the heart of man, making them mad, according to the diversity of natures as afore was said also of fools, doth discover divers ef∣fects of Temulency and Drunkenness; whenas some Drun∣kards are rather like to fools in their profuse and immo∣derate laughter, laying open their folly by their laugh∣ing and cackling (whence is the Proverb, By much laugh∣ing you may know a Fool) also by prating, Singing, laugh∣ing, kissing, loving: but others do rather express the man∣ners of mad folks by Clamors, Anger, Blows, Biting. Others are sad like melancholly men, Weep, talk much of Religion and Death, which desipiency of theirs for the most part sleep or stupidity following, as was explained there, it doth so far alay it, til rouzed up they return to themselves again being oftentimes forgetful of the mad∣ness that went before, and some time after being trou∣bled with a pain and heaviness in the Head they do pen∣nance for their Folly.

A vehement or lasting commotion of the mind, arising from som affect of it as shal be said in the Causes, is likewise a species of a∣lination of mind so much depraving it, that that it either acts or thinks many things e∣stranged from reason; as is that foolish too much Joy with which being puft up they speak many and strange things childishly, and undertake them vaporing, and in laughing do cry for joy as the Comaedian saith. Also that short madness in which the Anger-strucken do swear and are carried headlong, fearing no dangers that they may be able to revenge themselves, and then that melan∣choly conceived out of sadness and fear, which oftentimes is wont to degenerate into a true and lasting one, as shal appear in the Causes; and hitherto also ought to be re∣fer'd the pertinacious Phansio of them who are opprest with great Love springing from a cor∣rupt judgment & imagination, which doth so change men, that as he saith, you cannot know them to be the same; which doth not only make men mad but women also young men and old folks, which sort of madness they call by the name of Heroical because 'tis wont to happen to Heroes or rich men but very inconsiderately, whenas the poorest cannot scape Cupids darts; this conturbation of the mind is a certatn affection compounded of all the other passions of the mind, whenas somtimes the effects of joy shine forth in it, somtimes of Sadness, somtimes of An∣ger, and nothing is more unconstant than Lovers, who that they may enjoy their love, become so thoughtfull, that they neglect things necessary for the body, as to take meat, to sleep, or other duties, who omitting weighty and serious businesses, or following them slow∣ly, spend their time rather in Neatness, Musick, and o∣ther things which may please their Mistress: and when they perswade themselves that they can obtain somwhat of their love, breaking forth into profuse joy, they often speak many foolish and obscaene things, and act them too, and laying aside all shame somtimes com∣mit filthy wickednesses, and fear not to expose them∣selves to grievous dangers; or if they despair of mutual love and good wil, they continually afflict themselves with mourning and lamenting, and by no means admit of comfort, they refuse good counsels, and express their grief by shedding of tears, often sighs, paleness (for e∣very Lover is pallid) and pain of the heart with which they chiefly complain they are troubled; whose pulse also is instable according as their mind is raised or de∣prest, and by beholding or remembring their Mistress 'tis raised & stird up (by which sign Erisistratus discover∣ed love) or by despair it becomes languid and calmed: with which accidents being opprest, at last they fall in∣to grievous Diseases and hasten their own death, or of∣tentimes in despair lay violent hands on themselves.

Melancholly denominated from black Choler, is a species of alienation of the mind in which the imagination and judgment are so perver∣ted, that without any cause they are very sad and fearful, and they can alleadg no certain cause of their sadness and fear, but that which is of no moment, or that false opinion which they have conceived from depraved ap∣prehhension.

As when they perswade themselves that they are dam∣ned, that God takes no care of them, that they are not predesti∣nated, although in the interim they be godly and religi∣ous, and they fear the last judgment, and eternal punish∣ment, which horrible melancholly (and oft times driving men to despair) is the most frequent species, in the cu∣ring of which I have oftentimes been much hindered, with which those that have been taken have oftentimes confessed to me with many tears, deep sighs, great an∣guish of heart and trembling of the whole body, that they have been stirred up to Blasphemy against God, to commit horrible things, to lay violent hands on them∣selves, to kil Husband, Wife, Children, Neighbours, their Prince, being moved with no jealousie, no envy to∣wards them whom they intimately love, but are com∣pel'd as it were against their will, and such thoughts do steal upon them whether they will or no, when in the mean time they cease not instantly to begg of God, that he would vouchsafe to free them from those wicked thoughts.

But others are very much troubled with the terrors of death and the fears thereof, whiles they falsly imagine with themselves, that they are out of favor with the Princes and Magistrates, and that they have committed some∣what, and are drawn to punishment; or who otherwise do highly fear death, which they fancy is even now hanging over their heads.

Others by other triffling falshoods conceived and imprinted in their mind, do deceive themselves, as he who thinking himself to be made an Earthen vessel gave way to every one he met, least they should break him with a touch: as some have beleeved themselves turned into brute beasts: and another who thinking he had a very large Nose, would not change this Opinion, til the Chirurgeon deceived him by a Counterfeit stroke, and shewing him

a piece of flesh, that he had cut a part of it. And as that Woman who was wonderfully grieved that shee was for∣ced every day to put on her cloaths and put them off again: and another woman who as often as she though that when she was dead, her Husband would marry another Wife, she was transported to these accidents: some think they have swallowed Serpents and Frogs and that they carry them stil alive in their body, or by other tricks are deluded; and they dream of many and wonderful things of this nature, which somtimes relating with a great deal of affection and grief, I have heard somtimes with laughter, somtimes with great admiration and Pitty: in all which cases they shew marks of sadness and fear, whiles they complain, cry, with many and continual tears, and do wonderfully exagitate both body and mind.

Otherwise they are idle and silent, being asked answer not, being driven scarce go forward, they love solitudes and shun the company of men which species for that reason is called Misanthropia from the hatred of men; and if hating the light, they covet darkness repair to woods, and hide themselves in lurking places and caves as the holy writ testifieth of Nabuchadnaesor then they call it Lycanthropia from the custom of Wolves, others the wolfish melancholy.

With which perverse imaginations, pains and cruel tor∣tures of mind, those afflicted oftentimes not only many months, but years also, and at last overcome, unless they return to themselves and be helped by Counsel and Art, either they die wasting, or that death which before they feared they hasten to themselves by hanging or drown∣ing, or by some other violence, as we have known ma∣ny sad examples of this nature.

Which forementioned passions of Sadness and Fear as they do not produce equal effects in all, but do pervert the mind in some more in some less, so they do con∣tinually possess those which they have once inva∣ded. Yet they have by courses their exacerbations and remis∣sions, as we have, shewed also they did otherwise hap∣pen in continal Feavers for a cause contained in the Veins after the like manner; yet we have observed some to be thus troubled only at certain times, as some sea∣son of the year or change of the Moon, and especially Wo∣men while they are with Child, or have brought forth, or have their Courses.

There is also another species of it which they denominate from the place affected Hypochondriacal Melancholy, in which the forementioned accidents do often intermit and again return upon the same day, and those who are sick of it, as oft as they come to themselves, otherwise then the rest (who unless some other thing be joyned, do only complain of a pain of the Head, or somtimes of a Heaviness) do acknowledg that they are truly sick, and though they scarce or seld∣ome lie by it, and notwithstanding are able to undergo other duties, yet they complain perpetually of a pain of the Hypochondries especially in the left side (which they call a pain at the Heart) a Heat, Pulse, Murmur, Belchings, Vomiting, Spitting, pain of the Head, Vertigo, a ringing in the Ears, beating of the Arteries, and innumerable other af∣fects which they feel, and sometimes Phansie to them∣selves; and they trie Physitians, desire Cure, and trie di∣vers Remedies, and unless they be eased presently, they change Physitians and Medicines.

Mania or Madness is so great a depra∣vation of all the the Functions of the Mind, that they feign judge and remem∣ber most things falsly, acting not only as the mourn∣full an fearful Melancholick, but all things besides rea∣son, and somtimes without fury they commit more mo∣destly those things which they speak and do, but most commonly being turned to Madness, by their stern as∣pect and by their words and deeds they express the vio∣lence of their Minds, whenas they tell false, obscoene and horrid things, cry out, swear, and with a certain bru∣tish Appetite they go about diverse things like beasts, and some of them otherwise unusual even to men; and especially some of them desire Venery very much; as I have seen it befal a noble Matron otherwise most ho∣nest, who did invite both men and dogs to Copulation by most filthy words and gestures. Moreover they strive to offer violence both to themselves and others, where∣fore they pull out their hairs, tear their cloaths and som∣times hurt their own Body, by biting, and other waies, and unless they be diligently restrained with Bonds and Chains, the which they study to break with all endea∣vor, and be kept close in custody, where they try to break open the gates, and oftentimes by a certain indu∣stry digging their Pryson to make a passage for them∣selves, falling violently on the standers by, like Beasts they endeavor to scratch them, bite, strangle, kill.

But some amongst these maniacal or Melancholick som times shewing forth these accidents more vehement, somtimes more mild, and also acting and speaking things preternatural and monstrous, do manifestly declare that they are possessed by the Devil, which for that reason they call men possest and Dae∣moniacal; who besides the depraved actions of the Mind, as was said, are wont diversly as the Divel doth to impose marvellously upon Men, and to bewitch them, oftentimes they continue dumb for a long while; som∣times also they abstain longer from meat, then Nature otherwise could bear, yet without any hurt: and some∣times they so wreath their Body, bend and winde it, that as I have seen with my own Eyes, it could by no meanes be done Naturally without Luxations of the Joynts; or by guessing, prophesying, they divine and foretel things otherwise obstruse, or they speak with Tongues which they learnt not, neither understood when they were well, the Divel as it were speaking thorough their Mouth, the divers stories of which we could bring, we purposely omit.

There is also a certain sort of Mad∣ness, in which those bitten by a mad Creature are converted into the same mad∣ness with which the Creature was trou∣bled; as if this be done by a Dog they bark like Dogs, or if it happen from a Wolfe, they howl and set upon those they meet to bite them, shunning the light and those things which are clear and bright, when as in them doth appear the Image of the Dog, by which they were hurt, instead of the proper figure of a man, as some would have it, and especially fearing water, and trembling at the sight of it, whence this Species of Mad∣ness is peculiarly named Hydrophibia, long exercising the man with a distension of the Nerves, and a Redness of the whole Body especially of the face, and with sweat, and at length killing him unless releived.

Hither also is to be refer'd that horrid and wonderful but rare affect in which being struck with a certain mad fury of skipping, they continually desire to dances, which Disease they therefore cal Vitus dance from a Saint by invocati∣on of whom they beleeve they are freed from it; which though some counterfeit that they may extort the greater Almes, or are therefore suborned that they may imprint the false opinion of the common people the more in the minds of men; yet there are some found of both Sexes, which indeed being possest with this evil are

carried with an inordinate desire to dancing, as that no time interposed that desire to dance with others without any rest night and day not only for some daies but weeks also, and in the interim are scarce yet tired, but are wonderfully recreated and refresht, and unless they do so they are very much hurt; whence when they take meat by compulsion, or being opprest with sleep they are forced a little while to cease from dancing, yet they do no waies obstain from the Agitation of their Body, and presently again laying hold on any body they sol∣licite them to dance; and that so long till at last their strength being wholly overthrown and feet bruised, comming to themselves again they feel an exceeding weakness, from which they can hardly be restored and made up again; an example of which I when I was a young man saw in a Woman here at Basil dancing thus a whol months space in a publique place for whom the Magistrate suborned certain persons, strong men, that should dance with her by turnes, seeing one was no waies able; and many writers do testefie, that it hath somtimes happen'd, and the common people also is wont to imprecate this as a known evil: and some Arabians have called it the dancing disposition of the Limbs, and would have it to be a Species of Convulsi∣on when yet here is no Convulsion of the Limbs, but the Mind Alienated is carried and forced into this mad∣ness and perverse appetite, as also in other Species of Melancholly and Madness they are possest with a desire of other things. which after another manner appear also too horrible; as even now we said those who are bitten by a mad Dog are rather tormented with the fear of water, as according to the nature of the venenate cause these different accidents proceeds, as we shall say in the Causes: if so be that this inordinate dancing also do not proceed from the Devil, and befall men by way of punishment by Gods permission, because they have offended by dancing.

A Phrensie is a Dotage, in which equally as in Madness, the Mind is wholly Alienated, yet more or less as the affect is great, the which also they make known after the same manner by words and deeds, now sporting it more pleasingly with Laughter, Jests and Trifles, now raving Angrily with Scoldings, Clamors, Blasphemies and desiring also to do hurt as the Maniacal: to whom this happens pecu∣liarly, that because they think, that Flies, Locks of Wooll. Straws are before their Eyes, and divers appa∣ritions do appear from their false Imagination, they endeavor to hunt them, pull them, gather them, drive them away.

But besides these like faults of the Mind which are common to them with the Maniacal there is a compa∣nion another grievous hot Disease, especially a Feaver to which if a Dotage be presently coupled at the first invasion, this affect is called a Phrensie; if that come after the Fea∣ver hath lasted a little while, and a pain of the Head also went before, about the state especially if the Feaver be continual; or if it come first at the beginning of the fit, or in the vigor, if the Feaver be intermitting then it is designed by the name of a Bastard Phrensie.

Therefore together with a Dotage which is somtimes very grievous somtimes more milde, as was said, the Symptoms also of a continual Feaver do concur, more vehement or gentler also as the feaverish heat offers it self greater or more pleasing, as are by Reason of the heat of the heart a swift pulse quick breathing and somtimes drawn with sighs by long intervals, faintings away, and by reason of the Natural parts enflamed, thirst, driness of the Tongue but especially by reason of the Brain over heated besides a Delirium, Watchings, Dreams, Suffusions, Vertigoes, which if the Brain be more vehemently inflamed, do present themselves more and more grievous, as shall be said in the Causes.

Notes

• Foolishness
• Temulency
• The Com∣motion of the mind.
• Love is a Species of commotion of mind.
• Melancholly
• Melancholy Hypochondria∣cal a Species.
• Madness.
• Possession by the Devil a sort of Madness.
• Hydrophobie a Species of Madness.
• Vitus dance.
• Dotage.
• A Phrensie is a Species of Dotage.
• A bastard Phren∣sie is another Spe∣cies of Dotage.