[p. 162]
Take white Poppy heads (cut, and bruis'd with their Seeds) Dill seeds, each 2 ounces; leaves of Henbane, Hounds tongue, common Night shade, each 2 handfuls; boil in Water 3 quarts to 2 quarts, and strain it out.
It explicate the corrugated Fibres, composeth enraged Spirits, obtunds acrious Humour, attenuateth Viscid, and returns Stagnating into common circulating Channels.
Let it be used very hot, with Flannel Stupes, and repeated as often as Pains grow strong again.
[p. 163]
It corrugates the relax'd Fibres, strengthens their Tone, shuts up the external Pores, and straighten the internal Passages, hinders the aflux of Humors, and repels them off. It is good in the beginning of Inflammations, during the time of Influx, and as long as the Matter is repassable. Also in Oedematous Tumors, Vomiting, Diarrhea, immoderate flux of the Menses or Hemorrhoid, falling out of the Womb or Intestines, and in Ruptures, after the putting back of the Guts.
Its no unusual thing, for Worm to creep into the Plicae of the Intestines, and lie and lurk there so closely and securely, as to elude the force, not only of altering, put purging Medicines also, which slip by, and never touch them at all. In this Case, Externals (and the Foment especially) are exceedingly useful, to disturb and drive them out of their Dens, into the open ways of the Intestines, where Purgers finding them, may kill and expel them by Siege.
[p. 164]
Let it be used to the region of the Abdomen with Flannel Stupes hot, before Purging.
Apply it quite cold to the Region of the Breast, and it 'twill marvellously stop enormous Bleedings at the Nose. Lay it to the Region of the Pubes and Testicles, and it 'twill put off a drunken Fit.
This is useful, not only in a terrible flatulent or wind Colic, but also in the terribly tortoring bilious Colic, for when the Pain rages intollerably, as though the very Guts would break, and the Sick is so excessively costive and shut up, that even the strongest Cathartices cannot work their way through: Then it is that these Foments come in to our assistance, like help sent from Heaven; for by gratifying the Muscles of the Abdomen, with a pleasing warm irrigation; revivng native Heat, driving off Flatus's, letting loose the spasmodic knot, and re-establishing due Peristaltic
[p. 165]
Motion through the Intestines, they happily assist the Purges to do their Business to purpose, and break off the Disease.
Its used with laudable Success, in the cruellest Fits of Stone in the Bladder, accompanied with most lamentable torture and suppression of Urine. But it doth not operate (as vulgarly believ'd) because it consists of Ingredients that are properly Diuretic, and endow'd with a Specific gift of expelling, but partly , because it relaxes and recreates (by its soft Foment and kindly Warmth) the Muscles of the Abdomen and Bladder, which the pain and afflux of Humors, had rendered tense and rigid; and partly because (by mildly pricking them up as it 'twere, and stimulating) it provokes then to fall on a fresh upon their usual Business of Constriction.
[p. 166]
the Anus be fomented, and the hot Vapor received up into it.
This truly is Rulandus his Experiment, but (I declare it) I should scarce trust to such a slight Remedy alone, in so direful calamitous, and hardly superable Malady. Howbeit, I am not unwilling to allow it place. provideth it put not by the use of other proper Remedies.
Its of great Effect ans specific Virtue against an Erysipelas, powerfully stopping and subduing it. But when the Cuticle is corroded, and the part raw like a Burn, it will cause such a smarting Pain, that it can scarce be endur'd.
[p/167]
It warms and comforts the Parts, breaks open pituitous Obstructions, attenuates feculent gross Blood, moves it when stagnating, and enclines its course to the Vessels of the Uterus.
It doth a great deal of good, not only in this mention'd Case, but also in immoderate flux of the Menses, Diarrhea and beginning of Inflammations, for it wonderfully astringeth and repelleth.
It relaxeth the cruel tension of the Vessels, obtunds the Acuteness of Pain, melts down and discusses those viscid and grumous Feculencies, that lay Obstructions and Obstructions and Excite Tumors: And lastly, it repels the Inundation of the Blood.
[p. 168]
Its Emollient and Anodyne, equals the next following; but the difference is, it doth not discuss so powerfully.
[169]
good, because it may increase the afflux, and Inflammation.
Use it warm with a Sponge, to the Temples, Forehead, whole Head and the Feet. It deserves to be employ'd, where 'tis not altogether safe to give Hypnotics; namely in Fevers that rage Impetuously, with Fervour, and pulsing pain of the Head, pertinacious Watchings, and danger of a Delirium: For by its soft Cherishment, kindly Warmth and temperate Humidity, it humects, mitigates and appeases acrious, boiling Juices, and derives them from the Head, either by Perspiration or Circulation, and so disposeth the weary, worn-out Spirits to rest and procureth placid Sleep.
But in Fevers of a malignant Nature, where the Spirits, by the Venom being opprest, staggering, scarce able to sustain themselves in orderly rank and file, and almost struck Dead, are in danger of falling into Dozing or Convulsions: In this Case, I advise it to be avoided as Poison.
[p. 170]
It maintains and roborates the Tone of the part, appeases the irritation and excandescence of the Spirits resining in the Fibrillae, and either fastens upon the Arthritic Salts, draws them out, of else precipitates and hinders them from dolorific Effervecencies. And (which makes it safe) in the mean time repelleth not at all, for Repellents in the Gout are sometimes most exceeding dangerous, because they may drive the Morbific matter to the Stomach or Brain.
Its prevalent in sixt Scorbutic Pains, for as much as it sustains the Tone of the parts, layeth the weary Spirits to rest, knappeth off the sharp points of the Salts, and forceth the acrid Ichor to evaporate either by insensible Effluvia or Sweat.
[p.171]
Let the Region of the Spleen be fomented with Flannel Stupes dipt into it, and wrung out as hot as can be endur'd.
Foment the Belly with Flannel Stupes dipt in it, twice a day for half an hour an hour at a time,
[p.171]
and after Fomentation, apply a Cataplasm of Cowdung, sprinkled over with Album Gracum; to which may be added our Appertive or Splanchic Ointment.
Its useful in Watching, Headach and Delirium, in such Fevers as fetch their Original from Fervor and Rarefaction of the Blood, and not from Oppression and Confusion of the Spirits, as it useth to be in malignant Fevers. Which Distinction is to be accurately made and observ'd.
Its to be used when the Eyes are afflicted with Rheumes, and that for prevention as well as Cure. For it sticks very fast, compresses and constringes the little Tubuli, and internal Passages, and so hinders the deflux of Humours. For you must know, that the parts about the Eyes are so constituted, both by their spongy Fabric and declivous Situation, as to be apt to receive whatever Humor flows down from either the Pericranium or Neighbouring Muscles.
[p. 173]
Yea (which tho' it be wonderfull, yet) its not unusual for a blow upon the Head to settle down into a Black Eye.
It hath the same Virtues with the Camphorate Frontal, unless perhaps, it refrigerates the Humors less, and quiets the Spirits more.
Let double Linnen dipp'd in this mixture be laid to the Forehead and Temples cold, and be changed as often it drieth.
Its a Remedy for very hot, pulsing pains of the Head, Watchings and Deliriums, in such Fevers as are not malignant.
If the Catarrh have brought on an Asthma, Fumes are to be avoided, for fear of Suffocation. I knew one strangled thus, almost to Death.
[p.174]
Whilst the Pareuchyma of the Lungs is imbued and replenish'd with the extraneous Juices: Your stronger sort of Fumes are by no means to be used, but milder ones are not to omitted, saith Bennet.
Fumes are not to be taken immediately upon the Erosion of a Vessel, or breach of Parenchyma of the Lungs, but 14 days at least after the spitting of Blood, saith the same Author.
[p. 175]
Thus Use and Custom will have it; but as for me, I can scarce perswade my self to believe, that hte Smaok of Balaustines, or any other other (tho' never so Astringent) Vegetables, can retain any Astringent quality.
This odd thing was communicated to me and said to be good also in the blind Piles.
Some things (saith Zwelfer) that are sweet enough themselves, strew'd upon Coals yeild a stink. So Cinnamon, CLoves, Coriander and Nigella seed, Roses, yea and Musk it self, if thrown upon a hot Fire, and burnt quick, are wont to give but an ill Scent.
[p. 176]
Being put into a Chafing dish of fresh Coals, they exhale a very sweet Odour, to correct the ill Smell of a Room.