A compleat practice of physick.: Wherein is plainly described, the nature, causes, differences, and signs, of all diseases in the body of man. VVith the choicest cures for the same. / By John Smith, Doctor in Physick.

ANTHRAX, or a Carbuncle, is a Tumour that riseth from adust blood that is extream hot, making an eschar on the part affected, of a diverse colour like a rainbow, with a little wheal on the head.

The Cause, is grosse adust blood, or black choler.

Signs Diagnostick. It begins from a smal push, or from many; pricking going be∣fore: in a short time by way of fluxion it alwaies increaseth with extream heat and pain; especially toward the evening: then followeth a Feaver, and a Troup of most naughty symptoms. Prognostick. That is most pernicious, pestelential, black, wan, which vanish∣eth away, which is fastened near a principal part, which had a Feaver go∣ing before it. That which is red, small, not pestilent, is the safest.

The Cure. The first Indicant is a cooling of the blood by general means, as Diet, opening of a vein, alteratives, but not purgatives. 2. The heart must be freed from the malignity, by inter∣nals and topicals, chiefly by the urine or water, or decoction of Scabious. 3. The cause that is joyned with it must be voided, with scarification deep enough, with cupping glasses, Leeches; yet if the humour flow thither too much, lay plantain boyld with bran upon the Carbuncle, to repel, especial∣ly if it be neer a noble part, and then wash the wound with salt water. Lay

not on the scarified place emollients, but dryers, and such as resist putrefacti∣on, as Egyptiac, or meal of Orobus with oxymel, or scabious or divels bit green, brayed with old hogs grease, the yolk of an egg and salt. Pareus l. 21. hath proved often this following.

Take S••ot. 4 ounces, Common salt 2 ounces, 2 yolks of eggs, mingle them. Radish roots cut in pieces, draw the poyson mightily. Paracelsus.

If all be fruitlesse, lay on a caustick, for the sense is lost. The Eschar must not be taken away by emollients, or when the Carbuncle it self makes a crust. Senn. had rather use roots of Sca∣bious and Comfrey, Radish, Treacle, Soot, Mithridate, Leaven, Figs, Rue, wallnuts that are old, vitriol, &c. and with these remove the crust if it impostumate round about, and there appear a red circle it is a sign of future safety; for the crust being taken away, the ulcer will be cleansed with honey of Roses, and juyce of Smallage, &c.

The Cure of a pestilent Anthrax dif∣fers. For a vein must not be opened, unlesse perhaps under the Carbuncle for

evacuation: alwaies attractions must be applyed, as Pigeons dung, Sope, Doves-foot, Onions roasted under the embers, and the uppermost of them. Some say if a circle be made about a Carbuncle with a Saphire, that will stop it from spreading any farther, and quench the poyson. Senn. l. 5. p. 1. ch. 11.