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.

CHAP. VII. Of Griefs or Pain of the Mouth.

The Kinds,

THe Griefs of the fleshy parts of the Mouth, as the Tongue, Gums, Cheeks and Palate, in any or all of them: come somtimes to the Jaws, of which we shall speak hereafter: they are distinguished, as they have sense of roughness, or heat, or burning, or prick∣ing, or are ulcerated.

There is molestation in the mouth and tongue, * 1.1 only with sense of roughness, be∣cause the taste and Speech are offended, we speak thereof in the hurt of Speech and Tast.

I have seen some that have had burning and pricking in the sides and tip of the Tongue many years without any appearent disease. * 1.2 Somtimes in this part only, som∣times in the tips and other parts of the body, as we shall shew in pains of the habit of the body.

Somtimes the tongue is troub∣led only with heat, * 1.3 somtimes with burning also and a manifest disease. And then it is not exactly red as other parts that are white, but yellow and swels and is in∣flamed, and is somtimes also ve∣ry dry and rough and is cleft, and hath pimples somtimes, which so molest the Patient that he cannot speak without pain and stammerring, and the part near and the jaws are afflicted therewith, and there is a quinsie and the patient is in danger of suffocation. These are most in feavers; but not alone as I shewed in Feavers continual and malignant, cal∣led in High-dutch Breune. Also this Inflammation of the mouth, may come from the use of quick-silver in the French Pox.

The Gums often swel and are hot, at the roots of the Teeth, with a tumor appearing outward, as in the Tooth-ach, and the pain is great, especially when the inflammation Impostumateth, as shall be shewed in pains of the Teeth.

Also the Checks and Palate by consent of the parts, and of themselves do swel and are inflamed.

There is somtimes such a pain with swelling and Inflamation in the loose flesh under the tongue, * 1.4 in the disease called the Frog, which extendeth also to the parts adjoyning, and being suppurated it turns to an Impo∣stum. * 1.5 And I saw a long stone which came from thence after great pain. Con∣cerning the tumor, without pain I shall speak elsewhere.

There is also in divers parts of the mouth a sharp pain, * 1.6 with burning or without: with Pustles in the tongue or Palate or cheeks or Gums, often in Infants by means of the smal Pox.

Somtimes it is with Excoriation after the Pustles are broken.

And with clefts in the tongue, long and cross, there is great pain, and that with dryness and Inflammation of the tongue. And this pain is increased by hot or sharp meats.

There is also pain with Ulceration, after Excoriari∣on, or Rawness, or Pustles broken, or after an Inflam∣mation impostumated, especially under the tongue, or at the root of the Gums in the Tooth-ach.

Little Ulcers are called Aphthae or Thrush, * 1.7 they are in the Cheeks, Sides of the tongue and root there∣of, Gums or Palate, in one, two, or more places. These are in Children usually, and in the French Pox; they are at the first smal, as Lentiles round and white in the middle, and red about; infla∣med and painful, they spread presently, if you prevent not, and infect the parts adjoyning.

From these neglected cometh a malig∣nant Ulcer in Children especially, * 1.8 or from other causes, it is in the Gums with little or no pain, Rhasis cals it the Cancer of the Gums. It is first white and mattery, then yellow, after black, it creeps on, and is hollow, and eats up the Gums where it is, and the Jaw-bone, and turns to a Sphacelus, And I have seen a piece of a rotten Jaw with the Teeth taken out which deformed the Face. And in two Chil∣dren of a Merchant my Country-man, that bred teeth, I saw an Ulcer that eat up the upper teeth before, and another after the drawing of the tooth, that eat up the lower Jaw-bone, tongue, and palate, and at length af∣ter great torment caused their Death.

The Tumor and Ulcer of the Gums in the usual Disease, * 1.9 in Northern Sea towns called the Scurvy may be referred to this: In which the Gums swell and sweat blood, are rotten and so consumed that the roots of the teeth are bare. We shal only speak here of this Scurvy as it is in the Mouth; but in Diseases that foul the body, we shal speak fully of it as it infects the Feet with Spots, and Swellings, and Ulcers.

Somtimes there is a pain with a Wound made by a Prick, a Cut, or a Bite with Inflammation also. If this pierce the Cheek, it is in the number of outward Wounds.

The Causes.

The Disease which causeth these pains in the mouth is either in the Nerve, and appears not, or in the sen∣sible parts of the Mouth mentioned. And it is either a hot Distemper alone, or with Inflammation or Soluti∣on of Continuity.

There is a burning often of the tongue when no hurt appears from the Nerve afflicted, * 1.10 it is long and tedious. How this is caused we shal shew in Diseases of the habit of the body as we did in A∣stonishment and Palsie.

A hot Distemper alone causeth only heat in the Tongue, if it be with Inflammation, it causeth heat and burning with swelling. And thence come Pustles, and Ex∣coriation or Rawness, if it come from outward things that burn the Tongue. But these come commonly from an inward cause, as a hot Vapor in hot Diseases and Burning malignant Fevers, which flies up and infecteth, and if the inflam∣mation of the, Tongue cause a flux of blood to the jaws with heat and pain, there is a Squinsie. The same may be from a bloody humor pure or impure that comes to these parts, and the Tongue and Gums may be infla∣med chiefly. This may happen in divers Diseases, and in the French Pox.

If it flow to the loose flesh under the tongue it raiseth a tumor there with Inflammation, and that suppurated turns to an Imposthume. This Flux to that part is caused by a Stone bred there from a waterish humor which caused great pain, often from pain of the Teeth, as shal be there mentioned, there is a Defluxion upon the Gums causing an Inflammation and Swel∣ling.

A Solution of continuity is the cause of an Ulcerous Pain, * 1.11 with Excoriation, or Cefts, and ulcer in the Mouth and Tongue.

This comes from things put into the Mouth that wound it, but more usually from a mans biting himself by the Tongue or Cheeks.

Burning things actually or potentially raise up the Skin, and cause bladders and excoriation after they are broken. In a tender Mouth, as of an Infant, sharp things may cause it, they say the Aphtha or Thrush is caused by sharp milk or Bread guawn by Mice: If sharp things are also piercing they do it more, whereof I have observed in my self and others that if young Children eat green Nuts and Grapes together, their Tongues wil be cleft and pained.

Also where the Tongue is too dry from Causes men∣tioned in the hurt of Tasting, it is cleft.

These Pustles or Thrush and Ulcers, somtimes ma∣lignant. may come from hot cholerick melancholick sharp and salt Blood abounding, as in other parts of the body in these moist and tender parts.

And if such matter be in the spittle it may come from thence, as we have observed by the force of Quick-sil∣ver the Spittle hath been so infected in fluxing for the Pox that Inflammation and Ulcers have followed.

Also these Ulcers come from a Disease that went a∣fore, as from an Imposthume after Inflammation. A Wound or simple rawness by reason of the moistness of the part is easily turn'd into an Ulcer, and the Thrush neglected. In an Elephantiasis or Leprosie and in the French Pox though they use no Quick-silver, and in the Scurvy, by reason of their venemous quality (as shal be shewed) there are Ulcers in the Mouth and Jaws.

The Cure.

If Inflammation and preterna∣tural heat of the parts of the mouth come from other Diseases, * 1.12 as Fevers, they must be first cured, as we shewed in Fevers, by let∣ting blood for the Fevers, and Sweating, and by cool∣ing the Heart, Liver, and Reins, restraining the cor∣ruption, and preserving the strength. But chiefly for the Tongue when much afflicted, to prevent a Squin∣sie and Death by the Inflammation going to the Jaws, open the Vein under the Tongue, although you have let blood before for the Fever and use diversions, by Cupping, Scarifying, Rubbing often, and things that heat and keep down foul vapors, and quench the great heat, not only for the Fever, but for the tongues sake: Examples of which we shewed in Fevers. In other Causes, use diversions, as in Fevers by bleeding and the like, as when the Gums are inflamed in the Tooth∣ach.

Lest the mouth be inflamed by the use of quicksilver, before you apply it, wash the mouth often with Milk, fat Broath, Butter, or Oyl of sweet Almonds, and a∣noynt the Tongue therewith.

If it be a simple heat, wash the mouth with cold things, and moisten it, if it be dry, and if you fear In∣flammation Astringe, and Repell, adding Clensers, by reason of the slime in the Mouth, and somtimes Resist∣ers of Venom, and then use Digesters and Ripeners. if it tend to an Imposthume.

We shewed in the hurt of Tasting what wil allay the heat and driness of the tongue.

When in the beginning of an Inflammation, we will repel and cool, together use these following.

Spring-water, and Rain water, astringe a little; and Wine Vinegar or Rose Vinegar added to sharpen it.

Also waters of Violets, Water-lillies, Night-shade, Purslane, Lettice, and these Astringents, Rose water, Plantane, Privet, Honey-suckle, and Myrtle water; chiefly water of Self-heal, used with Vinegar or other waters, for it cooleth not much of it self.

Thus: Take water of Prunella or Self-heal four ounces, Rose, Plantane, Straw-berry and Purslane water, of each two ounces; Rose Vinegar and Honey of Rose, each an ounce; with a little Allum, or a drop or two of Spirit of Vitriol, and then it will bind more.

Also sharp Juyces, as of Mul-berries, Bay-berries, Grapes, Cherries, Oranges, Limons, Citrons and Sor∣rel with Vinegar or alone, and the juyce of Lettice is counted best, these may be chewed or the juyce taken often.

Or you may boyl the Fruits, and wash the Mouth with the Decoction.

Or give the Juyces with Honey or alone.

Or the syrups made of them, chiefly that of Mul∣berries, may be mixed with Mouth water, or licked. In the French Pox, syrup of Violets, with the De∣coction of Barley and Roses, cureth the Inslamma∣tion.

The vulgar High-dutch use the distill'd water of that Liquor, in which they pickle Cabbages, called Sum∣pistbren, or the liquor it self, if it be shaken together. To which you may add other juyces.

A cooling and repelling Decoction: Take Violet leaves, Lettice, Plantane, Prunella or Self-heal, Willow, Sorrel, Vine, Straw-berry, each a handful; red Roses, An∣tirrhinum the great, Mallows, Barley, each a pugil; Gourd seeds two drams, Bar-berries a dram, soure Berries ten pair, soure Prunes six, boyl them in Water and sharp Wine, add a little Sugar and Honey of Roses, use ir so, or with Juyces, or Syrups.

Another more astringent: Take Mouse-ear, Privet, Self-heal, Plantane, Brambles, Myrtles, each a handful; red Roses, Water-lilly, Barley, Vetches, each a pugil; Prunes or Cherries, Cornil berries or Cervises or Quinces some few, Bar-berries dryed an ounce, boyl all in red Wine, add Ho∣ney three ounces, syrup of Pomegranats two ounces, wash the Mouth therewith.

In the increase of the Inflammation, add Digesters, thus: Take Liquorish an ounce, Self-heal two handfuls, Plantane a handful, Hysop half a handful, Mallow flowers, red Roses, each a pugil; Sage and Rosemary flowers, of each half a pugil; Beans and Lentiles, of each an ounce; Fenu∣greek and Linseed, each half an ounce; Acron cups six drams, Figs ten, Raysons not stoned twenty pair, boyl all in Water, add a little Wine and two ounces of Honey, syrup of dryed Roses an ounce, syrup of Mul-berries half an ounce.

Or thus: Take Self-heal two handsuls, Ground-sil, Cross-wort, Honey-suckles, Plantane, Hysop, Sage, Maiden∣hair, each a handful; red Roses a pugil, Myrrh two drams, a little Saffron, and two ounces of Honey: boyl them in Wa∣ter, add a little Allum.

Or thus: Take Water of Self-heal six ounces, Plantane, Rose, Sage and Hysop water, each two ounces; Honey of Ro∣ses, and a little Allum.

I have done much in these Inflammations, with deep Ulcers, with Salt-peter prepared, called Lapis prunellae, dissolved in Sage water, washing the Mouth warm therewith.

In Inflammations ready to ulcerate. from the use of quick-silver, some anoynt with Treacle, Aqua vitae and Vinegar, or distil a water of them, and add Bole or other dryers, by this they believe the Poyson of the quick-silver, is taken away, and they also wash with a Decoction of Lignum vitae.

When Inflammations tend to Maturation: Take Marsh-mallow roots an ounce and an half, Figs twelve, Dates six, Tamarinds and Cassia with the seeds ten, Fenu∣greek and Lineseed, each half an ounce; Mallows and Cha∣momil flowers, each a pugil; boyl them in Goats Milk, dissolve the white of an Egg and a little Honey and Saf∣ron.

If the Inflammation be not only in the Tongue, but in other parts, you may anoynt under the Chin, at first with repelling Oyls, as of Roses, after with discus∣sers, as Oyl of Chamomil and Lillies.

If the Inflammation under the Tongue tend to sup∣puration, make Cataplasmes of Marsh-mallow roots, Linseed, and other meats with Saffron, these asswage pain, and ripen, or boyl them in Milk and wash the Mouth. We shall shew the forms of these and such as open Impostums, in the treatise of Inflammations of the Jaws. If a quinfie be joyned with an Inflam∣mation of the Tongue, or follow it, there are Medi∣cines.

In solutions of continuity, Pustles, * 1.13 Rawness, Clefts and Ulcers, if they come from an internal cause that must first be evacuated. If they come from other causes, yet if the body be foul or Plethorick, the Cure will be sooner done after purging. If the cause be malignant that must be first taken away, as in the French Pox, Leprosie and Scorbute. If that cannot be taken away, the Ulcers that come from thence can never be cured, these first done, apply Topicks for Pustles, Fis∣sures, Rawness and Ulcers.

In Pustles, if there be an Inflammation, the Medi∣cines there, are proper, if they are without Inflam∣mation, they break of themselves and leave an Ulcer, which must be cured, as the Thrush. If they continue long and are troublesome, apply Leaven to ripen, or Starch with Urine, and a little Wine.

If there be an Inflammation, with Clefts, you must look to that first. If it be from dryness Cure it, as in Depraved tasting. If the Clefts are deep, dividing the tongue and causing pain, Cure them with dryers, as other Ulcers; adding some mollifying things, for the tongue which is naturally moist and soft: Such as shall be described in the outward Clefts of the Lips and Skin.

To which add this: Take burnt Allum half a dram, true Bole two drams, with Honey of Roses and Mucilage of Gum Traganth or Fleabane, make an Oyntment to anoynt the Clefts of the tongue.

In other Excoriations or Ulcers in the tongue and cheeks, or palate, or thrush, or ulcers of the Gums, creeping or other wise, corrupting, use strong dryers, by reason the part is moist: adding clensers, if there be soulness, and such as take down proud flesh. If there be Inflammation with the Ulcers, add cold repellers, as in the Inflammation of the Mouth was shewed: they bind and dry: Also if there be malignity, add things against it.

These are diversly applied, the Mouth may be wash∣ed, or they may be chewed, or used in smoake, or ap∣plied only to the Ulcers.

There are divers Mouth waters to be kept long where the Ulcer is.

A drying and clensing Decoction of Plants, sharp binding and clensing: Of Privet, Plantane, Mouse∣ear,

Agrimony, Horstayl, Sun-flowers, Blew-bottles, Olive leaves, Daysies, Honey-suckles, Golden rod, Bramble, Yarrow, Herb Robert or Crains bill, leaves of the wild Pear tree, Beech tree, Solomons seal, Rup∣ture wort, Ceterach, Myrtle, Mastick tree, Hazel, roots and leaves of five leaved Grass, wild Plumes, Comfrey, Barbery barke and Pomegranate peels, red Roses, Pomegranate flowers, Acorn cups, Labrusca, Barberies, Barley, Lentils, Cypress, Myrtle seeds, Co∣riander, Slows, Sumach, Mulberries, Seruises and Gals. If the mouth be slymy and foul, add Sage, wild Time, or Gum, wild Mints, Bay leaves and roots of Flower∣de-luce, and in the Scorbute, Scurvey Grass, Water∣cresses and Brook-lime, of these or some of these make a decoction with water that hath steel quencht in it, adding a little Wine, or Rose, Vinegar, or Honey or Sugar of Roses, or syrup of Roses, Myrtles, Mulber∣ries, or juyce of the Plants aforesaid, or of Pomegra∣granat, with Vinegar, Salt, or Allum, or Vitriol to make it a little sharp, or Bole, or juyce of Blood-stone ground.

It is excellent to use juyce of Oranges, Brook-lime, Water-cresses in Ulcers of the Gums.

Another Decoction to dry strongly: Take Bole an ounce, burnet, Plaster of Paris half an ounce, Allam two drams, Vitriol a dram; boyl them in white Wine.

Or make Mouth waters of Astringents, distilled wa∣ters of Roses, Privet, Plantane, Honey-suckles, and the like, with things aforesaid dissolved in them, increasing their quantity, because distilled waters dry less then Decoctions.

Or: Take unripe Grapes three pounds, Purslane and Plantane, of each two pound; whites of Eggs six, Allum a pound, beat them and still them, wash Ulcers there∣with.

It will be stronger, if before the stilling, you add a pound of Pomegranate peels, three ounces of Vitriol, and four ounces of Vinegar.

Or use this Allum water of Libathious: Take juyce of Plantane, Purslane and Allum, of each a pint; whites of Eggs twelve, stir them and distill them in Balneo.

For Ulcers in the French Pox, use this water to re∣press Venom: Take Tracle with Aqua vitae and Vinegar and distill a water from them. Or use this Gargarisme: Take Rose and Plantane water, of each two ounces; Aqua vitae and Vinegar, each half an ounce; syrup of Mulberries and Honey of Roses, each three drams; Treacle, Bole or Earth of Lemnos, each half a dram.

Mouth waters of the juyce of Fruits, are made more pleasant, then of Herbs, and cleanse more, as Juyce or Wine of Pomgranates, or Wine that is sharp and red, or Rose Vinegar, or Vinegar of Squils alone, or mix∣ed with other waters, Ulcers washt with these will seem as it were boyled afterwards; therefore to make the dryers work better, we first wash with these. Also juyce of Quinces, is excellent.

Some things chewed, leave their strength in the Mouth and heal Ulcers, as sharp Fruits, not ripe, as Mulberries, Cornil-berries, Quinces, Medlers and leaves of Privet, though not so pleasant, these eaten Cure the Thrush. And other Plants mentioned are good to be chewed.

Fumes are also good to dry, and those of Quick-sil∣ver, though it cause Ulcers, when inwardly taken, yet the smoake taken in at the Mouth, doth Cure them.

These following are also good. The Chirurgions use to anoynt the Mouth with Honey of Roses and burnt Allum to clense.

Or with the juyces of Herbs mentioned, mixed with Honey and boyled thick, the juyces of Mulberries and green Grapes are the best, these heal, and when we will clense, we add Allum or white Vitriol.

Pouders made of Plants dryed are used, Honey, juyce of Grapes or Mulberries,

A drying Pouder: Take Myrrh seeds, Bay-leaves, burne Harts-horn or Ivory, of each half a dram; burnt Coral a dram.

Another stronger: Take Galls, Pomegranate peels, each a dram; Dates stones and Acron cups burnt, Cypress roots, each half a dram, red Roses a scruple.

This is strongest: Take Acacia, Hypocistis, of each a dram, white Vitriol half a dram, Sal Gem a scruple, Ange∣lica roots half a scruple: make a Pouder.

A cleanser for the Gums ulcerated: Take Pumice stone two drams, Crab and Snail shels burnt, each a dram; Tutty prepared Allum and Tarter, each half a dram; Orris roots two scruples: make a pouder.

The Pouder of Briony for the Cancer of the Gums: Take Tutty prepared in rose water two drams, Gum Tra∣ganth torrified a dram; Sarcocol, Morlick, Frankincense, each half a dram; Orris roots and Calamints burnt, of each a dram: make ponder and mix it with juyce of Briony, dry it in the Sun then pouder it again, and add more juyce of Briony, do thus five times, rub the Gums with this Pouder and Honey till they bleed.

Or use Aegyptiacum for fordid ulcers of the Mouth and Gums.

When the Gums begin to consume: Take roots of Comphory, Pomgranate peels, each a dram; Frankincense, Myrrh, each half a dram; Chalcitis burnt a scruple, wh ite Vitriol half a scruple: make a Pouder.

Touch Ulcers with strong Liquors and after wash the Mouth with Wine.

As with Inke, made stronge with Verdigreece.

Or with this green Water: Take Verdigreece a dram, Orpiment a dram and an half, pouder and boyl them in white Wine two ounces, to half. When it is cold, add Rose and Nightshade water an ounce and an half.

Or thus: Take Verdigreece, Orpiment, Niter, Allum, each a scruple, and Galls as much: boyl them in Rose and Plantane water.

A simple Decoction of sublimate, is made with a dram of Sublimate, boyled in Rose or Plantane water, touch the Ulcer gently therewith, or make it milder with an ounce or two of Nightshade water.

Or thus: Take Sublimate three drams, red Lead a dram and an half, Verdigreece, Vitriol, each half a dram; burnt Allum an ounce, Bole two drams, white Wine ten ounces, Rosewater two ounces; boyl them.

These Ulcers and the thrush, and Ulcers of the Nose are cured, by being gently touched with Aqua fortis.

Potential Cauteries, also of Lime and Wine Lees are good to touch Ulcers, if by art you can keep them from the sound parts: but an actual Cautery is more certain, if it be used suddenly, for an Eschar wil be made and when that is gone, the Ulcer will be cured.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Roughness of Mouth and Tongue.
• * 1.2

  Pricking and bur∣ning of the Tongue, when no Disease ap∣peareth.
• * 1.3

  A heat alone or with Tumor and burning and somtimes with clefts and pustles of the Tongue and parts of the Mouth.
• * 1.4

  Frog under the Tongue.
• * 1.5

  The stone under the Tongue.
• * 1.6

  A pain in the Mouth and Tongue with an ulcer, excoriation or clifts.
• * 1.7

  Aphtha or Thrush called Alcola by the Arabians.
• * 1.8

  A Cancer in the Gums.
• * 1.9

  The Scurvy or Scrobute.
• * 1.10

  A Disease in the Nerves is the cause of pricking & burning of the Tongue with∣out an apparent Dis∣ease.

  A hot Distemper causeth heat only, but an Inflammati∣on causeth Swelling, Burning, Clefts, & Pustles in the Toung and other parts of the Mouth.
• * 1.11

  A Solution of Conti∣nuity is the cause of ulcerous pain with ex∣coriation, clefts, and ulcer in the Mouth & Tongue.
• * 1.12

  The Cure of heat & Inflammation of the Tongue, Jaws, Cheeks, and Palate.
• * 1.13

  The Cure of Pustles, Raw∣ness, clefts and ••••••ers of the Mo••th and Tongue.