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 Curatorie Method.

AS to the Cure of these kinde of Convulsive Distempers, which in women, or men, proceed from the morbific cause lying upon the beginnings of the Nerves. The first Indication will be, to draw away the tinder or inkindling of the disease, viz. to hinder, that the blood may not affix on the head, the heterogeneous particles, either begot in it self, or received elsewhere from the Viscera. For this purpose, an evacuation, both by catharticks, and blood-letting, unless something contradict, is wont to be benificially prescribed.

Vomiting most often brings help, wherefore Emeticks of the Infusion of Cro∣cus metallorum, or of the Salt of Vitriol, or wine of Squills,* 1.1 is to be taken at the beginning. Then almost the next day, the taking away of Blood, either by phle∣botomy in the Arm, or by Leeches in the Sedal veins, is to be performed; then af∣terwards, a gentle purge of pills, or solutive Apozems, is to be ordained, and timely repeated.

Take of the pills of the Amber of Crato, or of the Tartar of Bontius ʒ ii.* 1.2 of the Resine of Jalap, gr. xvi. of Caster ℈ i. of the oyle of Rosmary or Amber, ℈ss. of gumm-Ammoniac disolv'd in hysterical water, what will suffice to make 16. pills. Let 4. of them be taken every sixth, or Seventh day.

Take of the Roots of Polypodia of the Oak, of sharp pointed-docks prepared, of

chervill, cach, ʒ vi. of the male Paeony, ʒ iii. of the leaves of Betony, germander, Cha∣mipits, Vervine, the male Betony, each i. handfull, of the seeds of Cardamums, and burdock each ʒ iii. let them be boyled in 4. pints of Spring water till half be con∣sumed: Let it be strained into a matrace, to which put of the leaves of the best Senna, ℥ i. of Rhubarb, ʒ vi. of Turbith gummed ℥ ss. of Epithimum, of yellow-San∣ders, each ʒ ii. of the Salt of wormwood, and Scurvy-grass, each ʒ i. the yellow rine of the Orange ʒ ii. let them digest close, shut, in hot Sand for 12. hours. let the straining be kept for use, sweeten it (if there be need) with what will suffice, of the Augustan Syrrop, or of Succory with Rubarb. The Dose ℥ vi. once or twice in a week.

Every day, in which purges are not taken, Remedies strengthning the brain, and also the animal Spirits; for the taking away the heterogeneous Copula, or for the hindring them from running into explosions,* 1.3 are to be administred, which indeed ought to be prescribed and chosen, according to the Constitution, and habit of the Body, and temperament of the sick; for too lean bodys, and such as being indued with a more hot blood, medicines less hot, and which do not trou∣ble the bloud above measure, ought to be given: On the Contrary, for phleg∣matick and fat people, whose urine is thin, and watery, and whose Blood is Cir∣culated more heavily, and Viscera's stuffed, more hot Remedies, and notably apt to ferment the humours, are designed. In the former Case, let it be prescribed, af∣ter this manner.

* 1.4Take of the Conserve of the Flowers of Betony, Tamarisk, the male-Paeonie, each ℥ ii. of the Species of Diamargerit frigida ʒ iss. of the powder of the Root of Paeonie, and of the seeds of the same each ʒ 1. of red-Corall prepared ʒ ii. of vitriol of steel, ℈ ii. of the Salt of Wormwood, ʒ ii. with what will suffice of the juce of Oranges, make an Electuary, take of it twice or thrice in a day, drinking after it a little draught of the Julap hereafter prescribed.

* 1.5Take of Corall Red, with the juce of Oranges, beaten together in a glass, or marble mortar, and dry'd, ℥ss. of the powder of misletow of the oake, of the root of the male Paeonie ʒ ii. of perled sugar, ʒ iii. make a powder, the dose from ℈ i. to ʒss. twice or thrice in a day.

Take of the Species of Diamargarit frigida ʒ ii. of the Salt of wormwood, ʒ iii. of the root of Cocowpint powderd, ʒ i. mix them, make a powder, let it be divided into xx. parts, take a dose in the morning, and at four in the afternoon.

* 1.6Take of the Roots of Butterbur ℥ i. dose ʒss, to ʒ i. twice in a day.

Take of the Leaves of Burdock and Cocowpint each vi. handfulls, let them be cut and mixed together, and so distilled. The dose ʒ ii. to iii, twice or thrice a day, after a dose of Electuary or powder.

Take of this water distilled ii. pints, of our steel prepared, ʒ ii. mix them in a Vial, let it be taken after the same manner.

Take of the Simple water of walnuts, and of black-Cherries each half a pint, of Snales ʒ iii. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie, ℥ ii. the dose ℥ iss. to two, after the same manner.

Take of the shavings of Ivory, and harts-horn each iii. drams, of the roots of Cher∣vill, burdock, Valerian, each half an ounce, of the leaves of Betony, Chamepits, harts-tongue, the tops of Tamarisk, each one handfull, of the barks of Tamarisk, and of the woody nightshade, each half an ounce, let them be boyled in two quarts of spring water, to the consumption of the third part; add to it of white-wine eight ounces, strain it into a pitcher, to which put of the leaves of brook-lime, and Cardamine, each one handfull, make an Infusion warm, and close for four hours: Let the colature be kept close in glasses. The dose ℥ vi. twice in a day, after a dose of some solid Medicine; sometimes such an Apozme may be mixed with ʒ ii. of our steel, and taken in the same manner.

In the Summer time, the use of spaw-waters is convenient, and for want of them, our Artificial ones may be taken.

* 1.7If that for the reasons above-recited, more hot Medicines are to be prescribed, you may proceed according to the following method.

Take of the Conserves of Rosemary, of the yellow of Oranges, and Lemmons, each ℥ ii.* 1.8 of Lignum aloes, of yellow-sanders, of the roots of snake-weed, Contrayerva, An∣gelica, Cocowpint, each ʒ i. of the vitriol of steel (or of steel prepared) ℈ iiii. of the salt of wormwood, and Scurvy-grass, each ʒ i. with what will suffice of candied Wall∣nutts,

make an Electuary: Let it be taken twice in a day, to the quantity of a nut∣meg, drinking after it a dose of appropriate Liquor.

Take of the Roots of male-Paeony, Angellica, and red Coral prepared, each ʒ ii.* 1.9 of Sugar dissolved in the water of Snales, boyled to the consistency of Tablets, ℥ vi. of the oyle of Amber lightly rectified, ʒ ss. make a sufficient quantity of Lozenges, each weighing about half a dram, take one or two twice or thrice a day, drink∣ing after it a dose of proper Liquor.

Take of the Roots of Virginian Snake-weed, Contrayerva, Valerian, each ʒ ii.* 1.10 of red Coral, and prepared Pearl, each ʒ i. of winteran Bark, and of the root of Cretian Dittany, each ʒ i. of the Vitriol of Steel, and Salt of wormwood, each ʒ iss. of the extract of Centaury ʒ ii. of Ammoniacum dissolved in histerical water, what will suffice, to make a pillulary mass: of which take four pills, in the morning, and at four in the afternoon.

Take of the Spirits of harts-horn, or Sut, or humane Blood, or of Sal ammoniack,* 1.11 what will suffice, take of them from 10. to 12. drops, morning and evening, in a spoonfull of Julap, drinking a little draught of the same after it.

Take of the Leaves of Betony, Vervine, Sage, Lady-smocks, Cocowpint, Burdock,* 1.12 each two hand-fulls, of green wallnuts, number 20. the rinds of six Oranges, and of 4. Lemons, of Cardamums, and Cubebbs, each ℥ i. being cut and brused, pour on them of whey made of Cider or white wine, six pints, let them be distil∣led according to Art. The dose ℥ ii. or iii. twice in a day, after a dose of a solid medicine. Add to i. quart of this liquor ii. drams of our Steel.

Take of the Water of Snailes, and of earth-worms, each ℥ vi. walnuts simple, ℥ iiii. of Radish Compound: ℥ ii. of white sagar ℥ ii. make a Julap. The dose 4. or 6. spoonfulls, twice in a day, after a dose of a solid medicine.

Take of millipedes or chesslogs, cleansed, i pint, of Cloves cut, ℥ss. put to them i, quart of white-wine, let them be distill'd in a glass-Cucurbit. The dose ℥ i. to ℥ iss, twice in a day.

For poor people, medicines easie to be prepared, may be prescribed after this manner.

Take of the Conserves of the Leaves of Rue, made with an equal part of sugar, ℥vi. take of it the quantity of a nutmeg, twice in a day, drinking after it of the decocti∣on of the Seeds and Roots of Burdock, in whey or posset-drink made of white-wine.

Or there may be prepared a Conserve of the leaves of the Tree of Life, with an equall part of Sugar: dose ʒss. to ʒ i. twice in a day.

Take of millipeds prepared ʒ iii. of ameos seeds ʒ i. make a powder, divide it in∣to 10. parts, take a dose twice in a day, or 12 Sows or woodlice brused, and white-wine, put to them, let the juce be wrung out, make a draught, let it be taken twice a day.

In the mean time, while these Medicines are taken Inwardly, it is sometimes convenient to raise blisters, with Vesicatories, in the nape of the neck and be∣hinde the ears; for so the serous and sharp humours, are very much brought away from the head: besides, sneezing powders, and such as purge Rhume from the head, often give signal help. The taking away of Blood from the Sedal veins, or the foot, ought sometimes to be itterated; yea, and the Distemper urging, Plai∣sters or Cataplasms, are profitably applyed to the soles of the feet. It is also bene∣ficial to apply drawing medicines, about the calves and thighs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Emeticks.
• * 1.2

  Purges.
• * 1.3

  Remedies for a more hot tem∣perament.
• * 1.4

  Coroborating medicines and specificks.
• * 1.5

  Powders.
• * 1.6

  Distilled wa∣ters and Ju∣laps.
• * 1.7

  Remedies in a more cold tem∣perament.
• * 1.8

  Electuaries.
• * 1.9

  Tablets.
• * 1.10

  Pills.
• * 1.11

  Spirits.
• * 1.12

  Distill'd wa∣ters.