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MELANCHOLY, is the vex∣ation of the Mind, fastned upon one thought, without a Feaver or Fury, pro∣ceeding from a Melancholick Phan∣tasme. The immediat Subject, are the Brain and the Heart, as the affects shew. For. saw Melancholy with a Fea∣ver.
Differences. 1. When the Brain is primarily affected. 2. By consent of the Heart and the whole Body. 3. Hypo∣chondriacal. 4. From the Matrix. That which comes from the Emroids, the Spleen, &c. belongeth to the Hypo∣chondriacal. The first proceeds not
from a bare distemper, for else the acti∣ons should not be diminished, and if it came from cold, it would affect old men: It comes from a humour in the Head that is too earthy. Hitherto be∣longeth mad love, or doting from too much care of the Mind, hunger, watch∣ings, anger.
The second is made from a melan∣cholick humour, either sticking in the branches of the hollow Vein, and of the great Artery, and from impure vital spirits, whence it is almost continual; there is present cold of the Heart with drynesse: there went before it, frights, watchings, &c.
The third is made of a Melancholick humour, sticking in the Vena porta, whence it afflicts by turns, about the Liver, the Caule, the Spleen. If the va∣pour be not communicated to the Brain, it is a bare Hypochondriacal af∣fection. Hitherto conduceth rest, and the Belly bound.
The fourth is made in Widdows that are lusty for men, from stopt Courses, and a melancholick humour.
Diagnosticks. If it be the first, there
is a continual doting, vehement, the Hypochondres are well, there is tinkling, a Vertigo, heaviness of the Head, &c. they trifle. If it be from mad love, they are merry. If it be the se∣cond, the whole Body is melancholick, the delirium is not continual, &c. they easily fall into Madnesse, Epilepsie, &c.
The Cure. The cause must be altered, evacuated, the distemper must be taken away at times, the Head and Heart must be strengthned. If it be mad love, things that extinguish seed must be gi∣ven, they must change the Aire, &c. Vervin carried about exstinguish lust. Also Mints, whence grew the Proverb: In time of war neither sowe nor eat Mints. Opening a Vein is good. Min∣gle with all medicaments moistners and strengthners. Confectio Hamech is not so convenient; Vomiting, Whey in abun∣dance, for a little profiteth not. Deco∣ction of Wormwood, Steel, sowre wa∣ters, mineral Baths, & baths wherewith Galen cured many, Topicals laid to the Spleen and Heart, the Diet must be moist. Some use the Trepanum taught
by chance. For. cured many with a Lenitive, after a decoction of Penny∣royal and the lesser Centory. Some∣times with syrup Byzantine, some times with Mints, sometimes Wormwood, sometimes with Borrage, Apples, Bug∣loss, easy Vomits, easy Purgatives, deco∣ction of Wormwood, and with Diure∣ticks. Aph, 11. s. 6. Scholtzius. Ep. 241. where Monavius speaks of a certain noble Bohemian who died of a love potion.
If it be the fourth, the pain is various, chiefly on the left side on the Region of the Heart, which sometimes seizeth on the whole Brest; there is a manifest pulsation in the Back, about the Dia∣phragma, the Courses flow sparingly. Let a Vein be opened in the Arm if there be Plethory; If the time for the Courses be at hand, in the Ankle. Purge wandring melancholy, which the Ara∣bians call Kutubuth. It chiefly trou∣bleth men in February. The sick cannot stay an hour in one place, but wander alwaies, not knowing whither they go. It comes from the proper passion of
the Brain; they must be cured the or∣dinary way.