The remaining medical works of that famous and renowned physician Dr. Thomas Willis ...: Viz I. Of fermentation, II. Of feavours, III. Of urines, IV. Of the ascension of the bloud, V. Of musculary motion, VI. Of the anatomy of the brain, VII. Of the description and uses of the nerves, VIII. Of convulsive diseases : the first part, though last published, with large alphabetical tables for the whole, and an index ... : with eighteen copper plates / Englished by S.P. esq.

The Curatory Method against the Convulsive Distempers in Children.

IT is to be endeavour'd either to prevent the Convulsive passions, threatning Children and Infants, or to cure them being already begun.

For if the former children of the same parent, were obnoxious or lyable to Convulsions, that evill ought to be prevented timely,* 1.1 by the use of Remedies to those born after: It is usuall for this end, to put into the mouth of the child new∣ly born, some antispasmodick Remedy, assoon as it begins to breath: from hence some are wont to give them some drops of the purest hony, others a Spoonfull of Canary sweetned with Sugar, and some again oyl of Sweet Almonds fresh drawn, to some may be given half a Spoonfull of epileptic water, or one drop of oyle of Amber.

Besides these first things given to Infants, which certainly seem to be of some moment, certain other Remedies and means of Administrations, ought to be u∣sed: to wit, let one spoonfull of Liquor, proper to this distemper, be drunk twice a day: as for example; Take of the water of black Cherry and of Rue each ℥ i ss. of the Antiepileptic of Langius ℥ i. of the Syrrup of Corall ʒ vi. of prepared Pearl gr. xv. mix them in a Viol. On the third or fourth day after the birth, let an Issue be made in the nape of the neck, then if it be of a fresh Countenance, let a little blood to about ℥ i ss. or ii. ounces be taken, by the sucking of Leeches, from the jugular veins, having a care lest the blood should flow out too plentifully in its sleep; let the temples, and the hinder part of the neck, be gently rub'd with such a like oyntment. Take of oyle of nutmegs by expression ʒ ii. of Capive ʒiii. of Amber ℈ i. Let an Amulet be hung about the neck, of the roots and seeds of the greater Paeonie, a little of the hoof of an Elke being added to it.

Moreover antispasmodick Remedies, should be dayly given to the Nurse:* 1.2 Let her take morning and evening, a draught of whey or posset-drink, in which the roots and seeds of the male Paeonie, and sweet fenill seeds are boyled. Take of the Conserve of the flowers of Betony, of the male Paeonie, and of Rosemary each ℥ ii. of the pouder of the Root, and flowers of the male Paeonie, each ʒ ii. of red Corall prepared, and of the whitest amber each ʒ i. of the roots of Angelica, and Zedoarie prepared, each ʒ ss. with what will suffice of the Syrrop of Paeonie, make an Electuarie: let her take morning and evening, the quantity of a Nutmeg.

Take of the powder of the root of Male-Paeony ʒ ii. the seeds of the same ʒ i. make a powder; of the whitest Sugar ℥ iii. dissolved in the water of the flowers of the Line-tree, and boyled to tablets, of the oyl of Amber ℈ i. make tablets accor∣ding to Art, each weighing ʒ ss. let her eat one every sixth hour. Also let her keep to an exact dyet.

If any Infant be actually afflicted with Convulsions, because that an Issue ope∣rates little, and slowly, it will be expedient to apply blistering plaisters,* 1.3 to the nape of the neck, and behind the ears, and unless a more cold temperament should gain-say it, let blood be drawn with Leeches, from the veins: Let Liniments be used about the Temples, Nostrills, and hinder part of the neck, and plaisters also laid to the bottoms of the feet; Clysters that may keep down the belly, should be dayly administred: besides let specifick Remedies be inwardly taken, often in a day, to wit, every sixth or eighth hour.

Take of the oyl Capive, of Caestor each ʒ ii. of Amber ʒ ss. make a Liniment.* 1.4

Take of the plaister of Oxycrocia two parts, of dissolv'd Galbanum one part, of oyl of Amber ℈ i. make a plaister for the soles of the feet. Let there be given of the powder of Ammoniacum, according to the description of Reverius, twice or four times in a day.

Take of humane skull prepared, of the seeds of Paeony, of an Elks claw,* 1.5 of Pearls prepared, each ʒ ss. of Amber greese; gr. vi. make a powder; the dose vi. grains, in a spoonfull the Liquor hereafter described, three or four times a day.

Or Take of humane Skull prepared, of pearls each ʒss. of the Salt of Amber ℈ i. of the Sugar of Pearle ʒ i. the dose ℈ss.

Or Take of the Spirit of harts-horn iii. drops, let it be given every sixth or 8th hour, in a spoonfull of the Julap below prescribed.

To the children of the poor, may be administred the powder of the Roots of wild Valerian ℈ss. to ℈ i. let it be given twice a day, in a spoonfull of milk, or ap∣propriate Liquor.

Ʋntzerus greatly commends the Gall of a sucking whelp, to wit, that the whole juice of the gallie-Bag being taken forth, be given to the child to drink, with a lit∣tle of the water of the flowers of the Tile, or Line-tree.

A learned Physitian lately told me, that he had Known many Cured with this Remedie: Besides, Empericks are wont to cause the bigger children, after they have drank the gall, to eat also the Liver of the whelp broyled.

* 1.6Iulaps, distill'd waters, and other appropriate Liquors, may be prepared, af∣ter the following prescripts.

Take of black-Cherry water, ℥ iii. of the Antiepileptical water of Langius, ℥ i. of perlate sugar, ʒ ii. mix them.

Take of the green Roots of the male Paeonie cut into little peeces ℥ vi. of Hunga∣rian Vitriol ℥ viii. of humane skull ℥ ii, of the Antiepileptic water of Langius half a pint, mix them, and let them be distilled in a glass retort, in hot sand, the dose i. spoonfull, to ii.

Take of the fresh roots of the male Paeonie cut, ℥ iiii. being brused in a Marble morter, pour to them of Spanish-wine, lib. i. make a strong expression, add of manus Christi pearled, ℥ss. let it be kept in a close glass. The dose i. Spoonfull, or ii. twice in a day.

* 1.7When Convulsive motions happen by Reason of the difficulty of breeding Teeth, this Symptom as it is secondary and less dangerous, so the Cure, does not always require the first or chief labour of healing, but sometimes we are rather carefull to remove it, by allaying the pain, and the feavourish Distemper, where∣fore both the patient, and the nurse, oughr to use a slender, and refrigerating Diet; the Teeth being about to break thorow the Gums, their passage should be made easie, by rubbing or cutting them; and also Anodynes should be applied to those swelled, and grieved parts: Clysters and taking away blood are often used: it behoves to cause sleep, and to attemper the feirceness of the blood: some times antispasmodick Remedies are made use of, but the more temperate, and such as do not trouble the blood, and humors, Vesicatories, or Blistering plaist∣ers, because they aptly evacuate the serum, too much poured forth on the Head, oftentimes bring help.

* 1.8When Children are troubled with Convulsions, not presently after they are born, nor by reason of the cutting of their Teeth, but for other occasions, and ac∣cidents; the cause of such a Distemper, for the most part subsists, either in the head, or somewhere about the Viscera of Concoction. When the former is suspe∣cted, as it is wont to be manifested by signes which argue a Serous Colluvies, too much heaped up within the Head, the former Remedies, allready recited, ought to be given, in a larger dose; besides, in those, who are able to bear purging, sometimes a Vomit, or a light purge is prescribed: Wine, and Oxymel of squills, al∣so Mercurius Dulcis, Rhubarb, and Resin of Jalap, are of approved use.

As often as the Cause of the Convulsive Distemper seems to be in the Viscera, either Worms, or sharp humors, stirring up the torments of the Belly, are un∣derstood to be in fault.

* 1.9Against Worms, a purge of Rhubarb, or Mercurius Dulcis, the Resin of Jalap being added, is ordained: sometime past, a Child being miserably afflicted with Convulsions, that he seem'd to be just dying, I gave him a dose of Mercurius Dulcis, with Resine of Jallap; with his stools, which were four, he voided xii. worms, and presently grew well.

Take of the root of Verginian Snake-weed, in powder ʒ i. of Corall Calcined to a whiteness ʒ ss. a powder ʒ i. the dose from half a scruple, to one scruple, twice in a day, continued for three days, drinking after it a decoction of Grass-roots. Take of the species of Hiera ʒ i ss. of Venice-Treacle ʒ ii. make a plaister for the bottom of the belly, or apply to the Navel, a plaster of Galbanum.

If the Convulsive motions are suspected to proceed from an irritation of the ventricle, and intestines, made by sharp humours, a gentle purging, either by vomit, or stool, or both successively ought to be instituted. For this end, let them drink, a gentle Emetick, of wine of squills, or salt of vitriol; when even the sicK are troubled with a striving to Vomit of their own accord: but if the other Eva∣cuation,

or down-wards shall seem better to be tryed; they ought to take an Infu∣sion of Rhubarb, or the powder, and Syrrop of succory with Rhubarb, or of Roses with agaric and very often by these Remedies, timely applyed, I have seen the Convulsive Distempers in Children to be cured: besides in this Case, Clysters are frequently used: but external Medicines are not to be omitted; to wit, fomenta∣tions, oyntments, plaisters applyed to the Belly.

Take of the flowers of Cammomel cut very small, ii. handfulls, let them be put into two little bags, made of fine Linnen, or Silk, which being dipped in warm Milk, and wrung out may be applyed successively to the abdomen, or lower region of the belly.

Take of the tops or flowers of Mallows, in like manner but small, let them be fryed in fresh butter, of hogs Lard, and in the form of a Liniment, or a Cata∣plasm, applyed to the Belly.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Preserva∣tion of Infants from Convul∣sions.
• * 1.2

  The Method of Curing to be used to the Nurses.
• * 1.3

  The Cure of Infants sick with Convul∣ons.
• * 1.4

  Oyntments.
• * 1.5

  Powders.
• * 1.6

  Liquors.
• * 1.7

  Convulsions by reason of breeding of Teeth.
• * 1.8

  Spasms or Convulsions caused from other occasions.
• * 1.9

  By reason of worms.