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 Causes.

The Cause of all pain in any part of the Eye, is a disease in some sensible part of the Eye. For the out∣ward skin of the Eye, is very sensible under the Ey-lids, and there are many thick Muscles about the Eye, be∣sides which, the ball of the Eye, made of the horney Tunicle and other Membranes and ful of humors, (as we observe in the pricking of a Cataract without pain) there is no sense, except it be without in the Circum∣ference, by reason of the Tunicle called Adnata for whose cause pain, goes to the Ball of the Eye. The diseases that cause pain in these parts, are either distem∣per or afflux of a bloody waterish humor, or solution of continuity manifest, or hidden.

A simple hot distemper that yet hath caused no flux, * 1.1 causeth rather heat and itching then pain in the Eyes, but when pain comes there is a flux presently, as we may see in hot Diseases when they rub their Eyes, their Nose fals a bleeding. Also a cold distemper from cold Wind, especially, and the like causeth itching of the Eyes by biting. Also too much dryness makes itching and roughness in the Eyes, * 1.2 and therefore they who watch long either in or out of a disease, have itching Eyes, which they rubb, except heavi∣ness of Eyes, when sleep is at hand cause this itch∣ing.

If there be a hot distemper in the Eyes and Lids with a Flux of bloody humor, and redness, * 1.3 in regard the Inflammation is not true, the Oph∣thalmy will be false and not so strong as a true, and it will be moist from the tears, proceeding from the sensibility of the part, or dry when they are wanting, from the dryness of the brain, or it is called dry and hard, if the matter be sly∣my and produce some thing which glueth the Ey-lids together.

But if in this Flux of blood if it flow not only into the Veins but Tunicles and Ey-lids and cause a true Inflam∣mation, the Ophthalmy is called true, * 1.4 with greater accidents and stronger pain, with Head-ach somtimes by reason of the Con∣nexion and consent of the Pericranium with the adnate Tunicle: and the pain is greater when the blood flows into the Muscles of the Eyes, as into the horney Tunicle or under it. And the pain is greater, as the blood is

hotter, * 1.5 more Chollerick or sharp. When this fals into the great corner of the Eye inflaming it, there follows an Egilops. The cause of this flux of blood into the Eyes, is Plethory or abundance, or thinness, sharpness, or heat. When it is from plenty, it is called an Ophthalmy, from plenitude. Moreover if the Veins of the Eyes be disposed to receive this flux, by reason of their larg∣ness having been formerly filled therewith, the dispo∣sition of the Eyes is the helping cause. Also too much light which they cannot endure, who have an Ophthal∣my, they scarse open their Eyes and shut them soon. This is caused also from hot Air, and cold wind that nips the Eyes, or Smoak, or things fallen into them, for the Eyes cannot be safely touched by any thing, especially that is rough or sharp, as Pouders dust or flies. And crooked hairs in the Ey-lids cause the same. Also hot burning things, as Pepper, or sharp things, as Salt getting into the Eyes. Oyl and all unctious things burne, if they get into the Eyes. Great hurts or wounds cause a true and false Ophthalmy. And wee∣ping either makes an Ophthalmy or increaseth it, if the tears be sharp and hot. All these causes trouble in the Eyes, if they cause itching, and makes men rub, this rubbing may cause a new Flux.

A simple waterish humor, or mixt with Flgem fal∣ling into the Eyes or Lids causeth no great pain, if it be near to the Nature of water, but continual flux of tears and somtimes outward swelling of the Ey-lids, of this in the Chapter of Tears over-flowing. But if the humor be serous and partly salt it causeth some itching. * 1.6 If it be sharp and hot then there is an Epiphora, that is a pain redness, itching and burning and weeping in one or both Eyes, (for one suffers often with the other) This Epiphora, if it be ve∣ry painful, causeth a flux of blood and an Ophthalmy. Aboundance of this waterish humor in the heat within or without the Skul, is the material cause of this de∣fluxion, and many Excrements. The efficient cause that moveth the defluxion into this or that part, comes from the things that provoke the Eye either to natural tears or preternatural Tumors, of this we shall spake in the causes of blood-shot and tears.

All these are helped by the disposition of the Eyes to receive them, when they are made weak and loose by former Fluxes, hence it is that when this disease hath long continued and these causes met, they have alwaies red and wet Ey-lids, and somtimes ulcers and little pain but itching,

Some say pains of the Eyes may come from wind, but in regard wind can no way get into the Eyes, nor stay there, and if it were there, it cannot dilate the thick ball of the Eye, or cause pain being the part is insensible, I cannot allow it. But without the ball of the Eye, if vapors get between the Muscles, there is a loosness and a twinkling rather then pain, * 1.7 if they be not many, but if they be many, there may be a short twiching pain before the Eyes are opened, af∣ter sleep. As we shewed in the windy Cramp.

Solution of continuity causeth divers pains in the Eye. * 1.8 If it be hidden and only a twiching, not yet seperating any thing in the Eye it causeth itching and roughness, and if it continue and in∣crease pain, it causeth Ophthalmy and Epiphora. If the solution be manifest and the adnate Tunicle seperated from the Eye, * 1.9 it fils the part with water and causeth a Bladder. If the Tunicle be divided in the cor∣ners or the Ey-brows, there is Cor∣rosion, Scabs or Ulcers. If it be deep it causeth a simple or a hollow Ulcer, or Fistula, or Wound. All these have divers causes. Somtimes they come from outward hurts. As strong and hot rubbing, from itch∣ing causeth the Phlyctaenae and Excoriations of the Eyes. Things falling in, if they be rough, may not only ex∣asperate the Eye, but take of the Skin. Things that are sharp and burn also, do not only inflame, but take of the Skin and cause Phlyctaenae and Erosions, as the juyce of the wild Cowcumber. It often comes from strong Medicines that are used to take away spots, and all these Erosions may turn to true Ulcers. If things that prick or cut fal into the Eye, they may both disturb and wound it, as we see in the couching of a Cataract, there is Inflammation. Also Tears, and waterish hu∣mors that wet and provoke the Ey, do at length cor∣rode and cause Scabs in the Ey-brows, and Ulcers, as also diseases that went before, cause solution of conti∣nuity. As Phlyctaenae broaken leave excoriation behind them. A true Ophthalmy turns into an Impostume, when the Inflammation will not discuss, but supurate, which broken, there is somtimes a deep Ulcer. Also an Aegilops after the flegmon breaks, turns to an Ulcer, either simple or Malignant, as the blood is that caused the Inflammation, or hollow, if the matter be sharp and long kept, before the Impostume opened, corro∣ding within. And lastly if the Lips by continuance of the Ulcer be hard, or grown over with a Skin, there is a Fistula that descends into the Nose. And when the Caruncle, * 1.10 or bit of flesh in the Eye is consumed by sharp matter or Medicines, which they used to heal the Ulcer; the disease called Rhyas follows. And the thin bone adjoyning is eaten away and lost.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A hot cold or dry distemper causeth itching or pric∣king in the Eye.
• * 1.2

  Dryness caus∣eth roughness of of the Eye.
• * 1.3

  A hot distemper with a Flux of blood, is the cause of an Ophthalmy not true.
• * 1.4

  Inflammation of the Eye caus∣eth a true Oph∣thalmy.
• * 1.5

  Inflammation of the great cor∣ner of the Eye is the cause of Agilopy.
• * 1.6

  A Flux of water to the Eye, causeth itching and Epiphora.
• * 1.7

  Vapors cause Convulsion, or Contraction of the Eyes.
• * 1.8

  Twitching of the Eye causeth itching rough∣ness Ophthalmy and Epiphora.
• * 1.9

  Solution of conti∣tuity, if manifest, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cause of blad∣ders, roughness, Ul∣cers, Fistulaes and wounds in the Eyes.
• * 1.10

  Rhyas, is the consuming of the little bitt of flesh in the Eye.