_Of repelling Medicines._
Repelling medicines are of contrary operation to these three last
mentioned, viz. attenuating, drawing, and discussive medicines: It is
true, there is but little difference between these three, some hold
none at all; and if you will be so nice, you may oppose them thus. And
so medicines making thick, correspond to attenuating medicines, or such
as make thin, repelling medicines are opposed to such as draw, and such
as retain the humours and make them tough, are opposite to such as
discuss, some hold this niceness needless.
2. The sentence of authors about repulsive medicines is various.
For seeing an influxion may be caused many ways, a repulsive hath got
as many definitions.
For such things as cool, bind, stop, and make thick, stay influxions,
and therefore repulsives are by authors opposed, not only to
attractives, but also to attenuating, and discussing medicines.
But properly such things are called repulsives, which do not only stay
influxions, (for so do such medicines which stop and make thick) but
such as drive the humours flowing to, or inherit in the place, to some
other place.
The truth is, binding is inherent to repulsives, so is not coldness nor
making thick: Yet such as are binding, cold and thin in operation, are
most effectual.
Your taste will find repulsives to be, tart, or sharp, or austere, with
a certain binding which contracts the tongue.
_Use 1._ Their use is manifold, as in hot tumours, head-aches, or the
like.
_Use 2._ By these in fevers are the vapours driven from the head,
Vinegar of Roses is notable.
_Time of giving._ They are most commodious in the beginning and
encrease of a disease, for then influxions most prevail.
But seeing that in the cure of tumours there are two scopes, 1. That
that which flows to it may be repelled. 2. That that which is already
in it may be discussed; repulsives are most commodiously used in the
beginning, discussives in the latter end.
In the middle you may mix them, with this proviso, that repulsives
exceed in the beginning, discussives in the latter end.
_Caution 1._ If the matter offending be of a venomous quality, either
abstain from repulsives altogether, or use purging first, lest the
matter fly to the bowels and prove dangerous, especially if the bowels
be weak.
2. Also forbear repulsives, if the pain be great.
3. Lastly, Have a care lest by repulsives you contract the pores so
much, that the matter cannot be removed by discussives.