requisite to use spirituous and drying Medicines, never applying any
Ointments, which will not fail to cause Purtrefaction in those Parts: But a
Cataplasm may be made with Barley-Meal, _Orobus_, Lupins and Lentils boil'd
in Claret, adding some Oil of St. _John_'s-Wort.
The Balsam of _Peru_, Oil of Turpentine destill'd, Oil of Wax, destill'd
Oil of Lavender, _Oleum Philosophorum_, Oil of Bays destill'd, Balsam of
St. _John_'s-Wort, Spirit of Wine, and Gum _Elemi_, are excellent
Medicaments for the Nerves: Or else,
Take four Ounces of _Unguentum Althaeae_ with a Dram and a half of
destill'd Bays; mingle the whole Composition, and apply it: Or else,
Take an Ounce of destill'd Oil of Turpentine, a Dram of Spirit of Wine, and
half an Ounce of Camphire; let all be intermixt, and dropt into the Wound:
Or else, {158}
Take a Scruple of _Euphorbium_, half an Ounce of _Colophonia_, and a little
Wax; let 'em be mingl'd together, and apply'd very hot to the Nervous
Parts.
If the Wounds are deep, Injections may be made with this Vulnerary Water,
which is very good for all sorts of Contusions, as also for the Gangrene
and Ulcers.
Take the lesser Sage, the greater Comfrey, and Mugwort, of each four
Handfuls; Plantane, Tobacco, Meadowsweet, Betony, Agrimony, Vervein, St.
_John_'s-Wort, and Wormwood, of each three Handfuls; Fennel, Pilewort
Bugle, Sanicle, Mouse-Ear, the lesser Dazy, the lesser Centory, and
All-heal, of each three Handfuls; three Ounces of round Birth-Wort, and two
Ounces of long: Let the whole Composition be digested during thirty Hours,
in two Gallons of good White-Wine, and afterward destill'd in _Balneo
Mariae_, till one third part be consumed.
If a Gangrene happens in the Part, Spirit of Mother-Wort may be put into
it, which is compounded with two Drams of Mastick, Myrrh, _Olibanum_, and
Amber, and a Quart of rectify'd Wine, the whole being destill'd.
This Fomentation may be apply'd very hot to very good purpose, _viz._ an
equal quantity of Camphirated Wine and Lime-Water, with three Drams of
Camphire.
This is also an excellent Cataplasm: Take a Pint of Lye, and as much Spirit
of Wine, half an Handful of Rue, Sage, _Scordium_, and Wormwood, a Dram of
each of the Roots of both sorts of Birth-Wort, and two Drams of {159} _Sal
Ammoniack_. Let the whole Composition be boil'd till a third Part be
consum'd; adding half a Dram of Myrrh and Aloes, and a little Brandy.
_Of a Burn made by Gun-Powder._
If the Burn be recent, and the Skin not exulcerated, Spirit of Wine or
Brandy is to be immediately apply'd; or else an Ointment may be made with
Oil of Olives, or bitter Almonds, Salt, the Juice of Onions, and Verjuice.
If the Skin be ulcerated, and little Bladders or Pustules arise, an
Ointment may be compounded with the second Bark of Elder boil'd in Oil of
Olives. After it hath been strain'd, add two parts of Ceruse or White-Lead,
and one of Burnt Lead, with as much Litharge, stirr'd about in a
Leaden-Mortar, to make a Liniment. But it is not convenient to take out the
Grains of Powder that remain in the Skin, because they are apt to break,
and to be more confounded or spread abroad; so that they must be left to
come forth in the Suppuration.
When the Wound is superficial, and the Skin as yet whole, peel'd Onions
with common Honey are an excellent Remedy; but if the Skin be torn, it is
not to be us'd, by reason that the Pain wou'd be too great; in which case
Oil of Tartar _per diliquium_ hath a very good effect.
If the Burn be accompany'd with a Fever, it may be allay'd with fixt Nitre,
Nitre {160} prepar'd with Antimony, and Gun-Powder taken inwardly, which
are very effectual in their Operation. Crab's-Eyes prepar'd, and even some
of 'em unprepar'd, are in like manner admirable Remedies.
As for external Medicaments, when the Burn is only superficial, take Onions
and unslack'd Lime, quench'd in a Decoction of Rapes, and apply this Liquor
very hot, with double Bolsters dipt therein. Or else take what quantity you
please of quick Lime well wash'd, and pound it thoroughly in a
Leaden-Mortar, with May-Butter without Salt, to make an Ointment, which may
be laid altogether liquid upon the affected Part: Or else,
Take as much quick Lime as you can get up between your Fingers at two
several times; Milk-Cream and clarify'd Honey, of each about half the like
quantity; let the whole be intermix'd to the Consistence of an Ointment,
and apply'd: It is an approv'd Remedy; as also is the following;
Take unslack'd Lime, and put it into common Water, so as the Water may
appear four or five Finger's breadth above it. After the Effervescence,
pour in Oil of Roses; whereupon the whole Mass will be coagulated in form
of Butter, and may be apply'd.
A good Lotion or Washing-Liquor may be prepar'd with the Juice of Garlick
and Onions, in recent Burns; otherwise make use of this Ointment. Take an
Ounce and an half of raw Onions, Salt, and _Venice_ Soap, of each half an
Ounce; mingle the whole Composition in a Mortar, pouring upon it a
sufficient {161} quantity of Oil of Roses, to make a very good Ointment: Or
else,
Dissolve _Minium_ or Litharge in Vinegar, filtrate this Liquor, and add
thereto a quantity of Rape-Oil newly drawn off, sufficient to give it the
Consistence of a liquid Liniment; then stir it about in a Leaden-Mortar
till it become of a grey Colour, and keep it for Use as an excellent
Liniment: Or else,
Pound Crey-Fishes or Crabs alive in a Mortar to get their Blood, and foment
the Part with it hot; it is a good Remedy: Otherwise intermix the pounded
Crabs with May-Butter without Salt, and let 'em be boil'd up together, and
scumm'd, till a red Ointment be made, which may be drawn off, or strain'd
for Use. And indeed, all manner of Ointments, and other Medicinal
Compositions wherein Crabs are an Ingredient, are true specificks against
Burns made by Gun-Powder.
The Mucilages of the Seeds of _Psyllium_, or rather those of Quince-Seeds
prepar'd with Frog's Sperm, and a little _Saccharum Saturni_, spread with a
Feather upon the affected Part, have a wonderful Operation in Burns.
A Medicament compounded with one third part of the Oil of Olives, and two
of the Whites of Eggs well beaten and mixt together, is a very simple and
singular Remedy. Otherwise take half an Ounce of Line-seed-Oil infus'd in
Rose-Water, with four Yolks of Eggs; beat 'em together, and let the whole
be apply'd to the burnt Part.
If the Burn be very violent, and hath many Pustules, _Etmullerus_ is of
Opinion that they {162} ought to be open'd, and that an Ointment shou'd be
apply'd, which is made of Hen's-Dung boil'd in fresh Butter: Otherwise,
Take a handful of fresh Sage-Leaves, two handfuls of Plantane, six Ounces
of fresh Butter without Salt, three Ounces of Pullet's-Dung newly voided,
and the whitest that can be found; then fry the whole Composition for a
quarter of an Hour; squeeze it out, and keep it for use: Otherwise,
Take two Ounces of sweet Apples roasted under Embers, Barly-Meal, and
Fenugreek, of each half an Ounce, and half a Scruple of Saffron; let the
whole Mass be mingled to make a Liniment or soft Cataplasm, which may serve
to asswage Pain, and mollifie the Skin.
If the Wound be yet larger, and hath a Scab, open all the Pustules, and
endeavour the two first Days to cause the Escar to fall off by the
Application of a Liniment made of the Mucilages of Quince-Seeds steept in
Frog's-Sperm, with fresh Butter, the Oil of White Lillies, and the Yolk of
an Egg: Otherwise,
Make a Liniment with fresh Butter well beaten in a Leaden-Mortar, with a
Decoction of Mallows, which being spread upon hot Colewort-Leaves, and
apply'd to the Escar, it will fall off.
But if the Escar be too hard and obstinate, it is requisite to proceed to
Incisions to make way for the _Sanies_, lest a deep and putrid Ulcer shou'd
be engender'd Underneath. As soon as the Humour is evacuated, the
above-mention'd {163} Emollient Medicines may be us'd, till the separation
of the Escar; then the Ulcer may be consolidated with Digestives and
Mundificatives; such as the Ointment of quick Lime with Oil of Roses, and
the Yolks of Eggs. The white camphirated Ointments, and that of Alabaster,
are also good for the same Purpose.
If a Gangrene ensueth, Sudorificks must be taken inwardly; such are
camphirated Spirit of Treacle, the Essence and Spirit of Elder-Berries, the
Spirit of Hart's-Horn with its own proper Salt, Treacle impregnated with
the Spirit of camphirated Wine, Scorpion-Water, Hart's-Horn, Citron with
Camphire, &c.
As for external Remedies in the beginning of the Gangrene, the Spirit of
Wine apply'd hot is excellent; and yet better if Aloes, Frankincense, and
Myrrh be intermixt therein. It ought also to be observ'd, that Camphire
must always be mingled in the topical Medicines for the Cure of the
Gangrene.
A Decoction of unslack'd lime, in which Brimstone hath been boil'd, with
_Mercurius Dulcis_, and the Spirit of Wine, is a very efficacious Remedy.
In a considerable Gangrene, after having made deep Scarifications, let
Horse-Dung be boil'd in Wine, and laid upon the Part in form of a
Cataplasm. This is an approved Remedy.
If a _Sphacelus_ be begun, scarifie the Part, and apply thereto abundance
of _Unguentum Aegyptiacum_ over and above the Ointments and Cataplasms
already describ'd; remembring {164} always, that when the Gangrene
degenerates into a _Sphacelus_, all the mortify'd Parts must be
incontinently separated or cut off from the sound.
* * * * *
CHAP. VII.
_Of Ulcers in general._
_What is an Ulcer?_
An Ulcer is a Rupture of the Natural Union of the Parts made a long while
ago, which is maintain'd by the _Sanies_ that runs out of its Cavity; or an
Ulcer takes its Rise from a Wound that cou'd not be well cur'd in its
proper time, by reason of the ill quality of its _Pus_ or corrupt Matter.
_What difference is there between a Wound and an Ulcer?_
It is this, that a Wound always proceeds from an external Cause, and an
Ulcer from an internal, such as Humours that fall upon a Part; or else a
Wound in growing inveterate degenerates into an Ulcer.
_Whence is the difference of Ulcers deriv'd?_
It is taken from the Causes that produce 'em, and the Symptoms or Accidents
with which they are accompany'd. Thus upon Account of their Causes they are
call'd Benign or Malignant, Great, Little, Dangerous, or Mortal; and by
reason of their Accidents, they are term'd Putrid, Corrosive, Cavernous,
Fistulous, Cancerous, _&c._ {165}
_Do Ulcers always proceed from external Causes, or from an outward Wound
degenerated?_
No they sometimes also derive their Origine from internal Causes, as the
Acrimony of Humours, or their Malignant Quality; the Retention of a Splint
of a Bone, and other things of the like Nature. These Ulcers are commonly
call'd Primitive, and the others Degenerate.
_What are Putrid, Corrosive, Cavernous, Fistulous and Cancerous Ulcers?_
The Putrid Ulcer is that wherein the Flesh is soft and scabby, the _Pus_
and _Ichor_ being viscous, stinking, and of a cadaverous smell.
The Corrosive Ulcer is that which by the Acrimony and Malignity of its
_Sanies_, corrodes, makes hollow, corrupts and mortifies the Flesh.
The Cavernous Ulcer is that the Entrance of which is streight and the
bottom broad wherein there are many Holes fill'd with malignant _Sanies_,
without any callosity or hardness in its sides.
The Fistulous Ulcer is that which hath long, streight, and deep Holes, with
much hardness in its sides; the _Sanies_ whereof is sometimes virulent, and
sometimes not.
The Cancerous Ulcer is large, having its Lips bloated, hard, and knotty, of
a brown Colour, with thick Veins round about, full of a livid and blackish
sort of Blood. In the bottom are divers round Cavities, which stink
extremely, by reason of the ill Quality of the _Sanies_ that runs out from
thence.
_Are there no other kinds of Ulcers?_ {166}
Yes, there are also Verminous, _Chironian_, _Telephian_, Pocky, Scorbutick,
and others, which have much affinity with, and may well be reckon'd among
the five Kinds already specify'd.
_What are the means to be us'd in the curing of Ulcers?_
Ulcers ought to be well mundify'd, dry'd and cicatriz'd; but with respect
to the several Causes and Accidents that render 'em obstinate, and
difficult to be cur'd, it is also requisite to make use of internal
Medicines, which may restrain and consume 'em. If their sides grow callous,
they are to be scarify'd, in order to bring 'em to Suppuration; and if
there be any Excrescences, they must be eaten away with corroding Powders,
such as that of Allom; or by the Infernal Cautery.
_What are the Remedies proper to cleanse and dry up Ulcers?_
To this Purpose divers sorts of Liquors may be us'd, as also Powders and
Plaisters: The Liquors are usually made of Briony-Roots, the greater
Celandine, Lime, and Yellow Water; a Tincture of Myrrh, Aloes and Saffron,
and Whey, whereto is added _Saccharum Saturni_; so that the Ulcers may be
wash'd or bath'd with these Liquors; and very good Injections may be
compounded of 'em.
The Powders are those of Worm-eaten-Oak, Allom, and Cinoper, the last of
these being us'd by burning it, to cause the Fume to be convey'd to the
Ulcer thro' a Funnel. The Country People often make use of Potter's-Earth
to dry up their Ulcers, with good {167} Success; but then they must must be
of a Malignant Nature.
The Plaisters are _Emplastrum de Betonica_, _Diasulphuris_, _Dessiccativum
Rubrum_, and others; and the Ointments are such as these;
Take three Yolks of Egg, half an Ounce of Honey, and a Glass of Wine, and
make thereof a mundifying Ointment, according to Art: Otherwise,
Take Lime well wash'd and dry'd several times, let it be mingled with the
Oil of Line and _Bolus_, and it will make an excellent Ointment to mundifie
and dry; a little _Mercury Precipitate_ may be intermixt (if you please) to
augment the drying Quality; and _Mercurius Dulcis_ may be added in the
Injections.
For Ulcers in the Legs, and Cancerous Ulcers, take Plantain-Water and
Allom-Water, or else Spirit of Wine, _Unguentum Aegyptiacum_, and Treacle;
or else an Extract of the Roots of round Birth-Wort made in the Spirit of
Wine. Gun-Powder alone dissolv'd in Wine, is of singular Use to wash the
Ulcers, and afterwards to wet the Pledgers which are to be apply'd to 'em.
But here are two particular and specifick Medicines to mollifie a Cancer.
Take _Saccharum Saturni_, Camphire, and Soot; let 'em be incorporated with
the Juice of House-Leek and Plantain, in a Leaden-Mortar; then make a
Liniment thereof, and cover the Part affected as lightly as is possible to
be done, as with a simple Canvass-Cloth, or a Sheet of Cap-Paper: Or else,
{168}
Take the destill'd Water of rotten Apples, and mingle it with the Extract
of the Roots of round Birth-Wort made in Spirit of Wine; reserving this
Liquor to wash the Part, and to make Injections.
* * * * *
CHAP. VIII.
_Of Venereal Diseases._
_Of the _Chaude-pisse_ or _Gonorrhaea_._
The Signs of this Disease are a painful Distention of the _Penis_ or Yard,
and a scalding Pain in making Water, the Urine being pale, whitish, and
full of Filaments or little Threads: Sometimes the Testicles are swell'd as
well as the _Glans_ and _Praeputium_; and sometimes there is a Flux of a
kind of Matter yellowish, Greenish, _&c._
If there be a great Inflammation in the Yard, endeavours must be us'd to
allay it by letting Blood; and afterward the Patient may take a cooling and
diuretick Diet-Drink, as also Emulsions made with cold Seeds in Whey. A
very good Decoction may be prepar'd in all places, and without any trouble,
by putting a Dram of _Sal Prunella_ into every Quart of Water, whereof the
Patient is to drink as often as he can: This Decoction is very cooling and
diuretick; and the use of it ought to be continu'd till the Inflammation be
asswag'd. Then some gentle {169} Purges are to be prescrib'd in the
beginning; such as an Ounce of _Cassia_, and as much _Manna_, infus'd in
two Glasses of Whey, which are to be taken one or two Hours one after
another.
Afterward the Patient must be often purg'd with twelve Grains of Scammony,
and fifteen Grains of _Mercurius Dulcis_; and these Purgations must be
continu'd, till it appears that the Fluxes are neither yellowish nor
greenish, nor of any other bad Colour. When they are become White, and
grown Thready, they may be stopt with Astringents: Amber and dry'd Bones
beaten to Powder, eighteen Grains of each, with one Grain of _Laudanum_,
the Composition being taken in Conserve of Roses, are very good for this
Purpose. _Crocus Martis Astringens_, or else its Extract, taken from half a
Dram to a whole Dram, in like manner performs the same Operation. As soon
as the _Gonorrhaea_ is stopt, to be certain of a perfect Cure, a Dram of
the _Mercurial Panacaea_ is to be taken, from fifteen to twenty Grains at a
time, in Conserve of Roses. In the mean while, if a small Salivation shou'd
happen, it must be let alone for the present, since it may be stopt at
pleasure by the Purgations. When it is requisite to restrain the
_Gonorrhaea_, _Mercury_ must not be given any longer, in regard that it is
a Dissolvent, which is only good when the Glandules of the Groin or
Testicles are swell'd, or else when it is expedient to set the
_Chaude-pisse_ a running, after it hath been too suddenly stopt. At the
same time that the Astringents are taken with the Mouth, {170} Injections
also are to be made into the Yard; such as are prepar'd with _Lapis
Medicamentosus_, of which one Dram is put into eight Ounces of
Plantane-Water. All Astringents that are not Causticks, are proper for the
Syringe.
_Of Shankers._
They are round Ulcers, and hollow in the middle, which appear upon the
_Glans_ and the _Praeputium_. To cure 'em, they must be touch'd with the
_Lapis Infernalis_, and brought to Suppuration by the means of red
Precipitate mixt with the Ointment of _Andreas Crucius_. _Oleum Mercurii_
laid on a Pledget or Bolster, is very efficacious to open Skankers, and
consume their Flesh. The Patient must be well purg'd with _Mercurius
Dulcis_ and Scammony, taking twelve or fifteen Grains of each in Conserve
of Roses; and after these Purgations are sufficiently reiterated, he may
take the _Mercurial Panacaea's_. It is an excellent Remedy for all sorts of
Pocky Distempers not yet consummated, or arriv'd at the greatest height of
Malignity.
_Of _Bubo_'s._
_Bubo's_ are gross Tumours or Abcesses that arise in the Groin, the perfect
Maturity of which is not to be waited for in order to open 'em; because it
is to be fear'd lest the corrupt Matter remaining therein too long, might
be convey'd into the Blood by the Circulation, and so produce the grand
Pox: Therefore it is {171} necessary to open 'em betimes with a Lancet, or
else with a Train of potential Cauteries, if they are too hard. They ought
to be Suppurated for a considerable time: The Patient must be well purg'd
with Scammony and _Mercurius Dulcis_: He must also take the _Mercurial
Panacaea's_.
_Of the Pox._
This loathsome Disease begins sometimes with a virulent _Gonorrhaea_, and a
weariness or faintness at the same time seizeth on all the Members of the
Body: It is usually accompany'd with Salivation and the Head-ach, which
grows more violent at Night: Pricking Pains are also felt in the Arms and
Legs, the Palate of the Mouth being sometimes ulcerated. If it be an
inveterate Pox, the Bones are corrupted, and _Exostoses_ happen therein;
divers Spots with dry, round and red Pustules appear in the Skin; and the
Cartilages or Gristles of the Nose are sometimes eaten up. But when this
Disease is come to its greatest height of Malignity, the Hair falls off;
the Gums are ulcerated; the Teeth are loose, and drop out; the whole Body
is dry'd up; the Eyes are livid; the Ears tingle; the Nose become stinking;
the Almonds of the Ears swell; the _Uvula_ or Palate is down; Ulcers break
out in the Privy-Parts; Bubo's arise in the Groin; as also Warts in the
_Glans_ and _Praeputium_; and _Condyloma's_ in the _Anus_.
Indeed the Pox may be easily cur'd in the beginning; but when it hath taken
deep Root {172} by a long Continuance, it is not extirpated without much
difficulty, more especially if it be accompany'd with Ulcers, _Caries_, and
_Exostoses_; the Person afflicted with it being of an ill Constitution, and
his Voice grown hoarse.
The Spring and Summer are the proper Seasons of the Year for undertaking
the Cure of this Disease: In order to which, it is necessary that the
Patient begin with a regular Diet, lodging in a warm place, and taking such
Aliments as yield a good Juice; as Jelly-broath made with boil'd Fowl: Let
him drink Sudorifick Decoctions, prepar'd with the Wood of _Guayacum_,
_China_-Root, and _Sarsaparella_, and let him abstain from eating any thing
that is high season'd: Let him take Clysters to keep his Body open;
sometimes also he may be let Blood, and purg'd with half a Dram of Jalap,
and fifteen Grains of _Mercurius Dulcis_. The Purgations may be re-iterated
as often as it shall be judg'd convenient; and then the Patient may be
bath'd for nine or ten Days, every Morning and Evening; during which time
he may take volatile Salt of Vipers, the Dose being from six to sixteen
Grains; or else Viper's-Grease from half a Dram to a whole Dram in Conserve
of Roses.
Afterward it will be necessary to proceed to Fluxing, which is caus'd by
the means of Frictions with _Vuguentum Mercurii_, which is made of crude
_Mercury_ stirr'd about in a Mortar with Turpentine, and then the whole
mingled with Hog's-Grease, one part of _Mercury_ being usually put into two
parts of Hog's-Grease. The Rubbing is begun at the Sole of the Feet, {173}
by a long Continuance, it is not extirpated without ascending to the Legs,
and the inside of the Thighs; but the Back-Bone must not be rubb'd at all;
When the Persons are tender, or of a weak Constitution, a single Friction
may be sometimes sufficient. Thus the Patient must be rubb'd at the Fire,
after he hath taken a good Mess of Broath; but I would not advise it to be
done with more than one or two Drams of _Mercury_ at a time, without
reckoning the Grease. Then the Patient must be dress'd with a Pair of
Linnen-Drawers or Pantaloons, and laid in his Bed, where his Mouth may be
lookt into from time to time, to see whether the _Mercury_ hath taken
effect; which may be easily known, by reason that his Tongue, Gums, and
Palate swell and grow thick, his Head akes, his Breath is strong, his Face
red, and he can scarce swallow his Spittle; or else he begins to Salivate.
If none of these Signs appear, the Rubbing must be begun again in the
Morning and Evening; then if no Salivation be perceiv'd, for sometimes four
or five Frictions are made successively, a little _Mercurial Panacaea_ may
be taken inwardly, to promote it. During the Frictions, the Patient is to
be nourish'd with Eggs, Broaths, and Gellies; he must also keep his Bed in
a warm Room, and never rise till it shall be thought fit to stop the
Salivation, which continues twenty or twenty five Days; or rather till it
becomes Laudable; that is to say, till it be no longer stinking, nor
colour'd, but clear and fluid.
If a Looseness shou'd happen during the Salivation, it wou'd cease, so that
to renew it, {174} the Looseness may be stay'd with Clysters made of Milk
and the Yolks of Eggs; and in case the Salivation shou'd not begin afresh,
it must be excited with a slight Friction: But if it shoul'd be too
violent, it may be diminish'd by some gentle Purge, or with four or five
Grains of _Aurum Fulminans_, taken in Conserve of Roses.
Three or four Pints of Rheum are commonly salivated every Day in a Bason
made for that purpose, which the Patient holds in his Bed near his Mouth,
so as the Spittle may run into it. But if the Fluxing shou'd not cease of
it self at the time when it ought, he must be purg'd to put a stop thereto.
If any Ulcers remain in his Mouth, to dry 'em up, Gargarisms are to be
often us'd, which are made of Barley-Water, Honey of Roses, or luke-warm
Wine.
The Warts are cur'd by binding 'em, if a Ligature be possible, or else they
may be consum'd with Causticks, such as the Powder of Savine, or
_Aqua-fortis_, by corroding the neighbouring Parts; sometimes they are cut,
left to bleed for a while, and bath'd with warm Wine.