Baglivi - Practice of Physic
Baglivi - Practice of Physic
Baglivi - Practice of Physic
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:
T H E
MODERN PhYSICIANS,
Intermix'd with many
T AAndR A N T U L
the Nature of ifs Poifon
A,
Of the Ufe and Abufe of Bliftering Plajiers :
Of Epidemical Jpoplexies, <5cc.
L O ND O N L^L^s^
Printed for•
D. M
dw n t r, B. Likto t
1 i e'
:
1
"
*D* iLANCHARD
THE
Authois Preface,
O form a right Judgment of Dif-
eafes, is a very difficult Matter.
CONTENTS-
B O O K I.
of falfe Opinions.
ficians, or the Prejudice
p. 22
Chap. 6. Obft. 3. Falfe Simile's, cr a falfe
fort of Anat&gies. p. 32
Chap. 7. Obft. 4. The Prepojlerous reading
of Eooks. p. 38
\ Chap. 8.
2
The Contents.
Chap. 8. Obft. 5. The prepofierous Interpre-
tatlon of B ooks, ancl the pernicions
Cufiom
of Ttiaking Syfiems. p. 51
Chap. 9. Obft. 6. The difcontinuing of the
Aphorifiical Way of treathig Difeafes.
P- 59
Of Fevers in general. p. 67
Of theWorms in Children V'7 2
Of the Small-Pcx and the Meafies. p. 75
Of the Cblick. p. 78
Of a Frenzy. p. 82
Of an Afihma. p. 84
Of a T*iarrh&a\ and a Dyfentery. p. 86
Of an Apoplexy. p. 90
Of Pain in general, of Convulfions and
Convulfive Motions. p. 93
Of a Ccugh, p. 97
Of the Stone and the Gout. p. 99
Chap. 10. Of the various Ages and Progrefs
of Phyfick. p. 106
Chap. 11. Of the Sources of Theory and Pra-
clice. p. 1 1
Chap. 12. A
Method propos d to youn? Be~
ginners, of forming a jufi Hypothefis of
Difeafes. p. 123
Chap. 13. The great Importance of efiablifij-
ing Precepts^ or certain and confiant Rules
to be made qfe of as a Standard, by a puz,-
zled Phyfician^ hi the ambiguous Events of
Difeafes. p. 137
Chap. 14.
f
The Contents.
Chap. 14. Of the Cure of the Difeafes of the
Mind 5 and the Method for giving their
Hiftory. p. .160
Chap. 15. An
Exhortation to Phyficians, to
findout and eflablifha Method of Cure, cal-
culated in particular for their refpective
Countrymen: With fome pajjing Hints up-
on the Nature of the Air of Rome,- and the
Cure of the Difeafes in tbat City. p. 172
B O O K. II.
The Contents,
P- 3i6
Chap. 3. The Anatomy of the Ta/antula.
p. 319
Chap. 4. ^ Defcription of the Seed-Veffels,
the Egg, and the Generatian of the Taran-
tula:With fome occdfwnal Remarks on the
Eggs of Oyfters, and on Seed in general.
p. 322
Chap. 5. Of the Bitings of the Tarantula.
p. 326
Chap. 6. A Defcription of the Difeafes and
Symptoms that enfue upon the Bite of the
Tarantula. V'3 2 9
Chap. 7. Afarther Explication of tbe other
Symptoms^ and their Analogy mth other
Difeafes. p. 332
Chap. Of the Cure of the Sting of the Ta-
8.
rantula, and of ths evil EffeBs it produ-
ceth* p. 339
Chap. 9.
The Contents.
Chap. 9. Dancingand Mufick ar& the princi-
pal Antidoteforthis Poifon^ where, bythe
'waj, a Defcription isgiven of the Manner
ofDancmg, fo ufual in Apulia. p. 343
Chap. 10. Some other Things belonging to
thii Exercife, are briefly confidered. p. 347
Chap. 11. Several Hiftories of Perfons flung
with the Tarantula. p. 353
Hift. $.Of theVirtue of ^Lapis Indicustfr
Indian Stone, commonly called Serpenti-
nus, againjl the Stwgs of Scorpions. p.3 56
Chap. 12. Some things proposd by way of
Doubty concerning the genuine Nature of
this Poifon. p. 362
Chap. 13. A brief Enquiry into the Effetls of
Mujick, in this and other Difeafes. p. 368
DISSERTATION IL
THE Chap.
Preface to the Reader.
p. 3 74
Some Experiments of the
1.
.
DISSERTATION III.
OF
B OO K I.
G H A P. V
Of the abfolute neceffity of Obfervations iri
CAUTIONS.
i
or do what he he obeys
will, unlefs
Nature, he cannot govern her For:
B
2 The Praflice of PhyficL
11
'
A
judicious Soul, inftru&ed by Obfcrvations
of long ftanding, compafles tjie moft fovereign
\yay of curing Men efpeciully if to thefc Quatt-
;
III.
lil \A^p'^^iS^
V/hatever it is that diftinguifhes the modern
Theory from the ancient Ignorance, 'tis all owing
to the Experimental Philofophy of this Age.
But in order to enlarge the publiclt Good, by
vertu-i
The Praftice of Phyfick. 3
vertue of the Labours of private Men ; the Men
bf this Age ought to ufe their utmoft EfYorts in
the fame way to arrive at a perfect Knowledge
of Practice, which is the capital Thing of the
whole Art. By this means, we fhall not only Iay
afide the Opinions and Prejudices that have been
long fettled in our Minds, but likewife carry the
Art of Medicine, from a ftate of Infancy and Ig-
norance, to an adult and wife Conftitution.
V.
Therc's
Tbe Vrdtllce of VhyficW.
yr.
VII.
yni.
IX.
6 Thc Frattice of Pbyfick
IX.
X.
XL
The PraSlice of Phyfick. 1
XI.
C H A P. II.
S E C T. I.
II
IV.
V.
VI.
VH.
Tbe Prattice of Phyfick. ii
VII.
If we compare
Hippocrates's Aphorifms, Prog-
nofticks, &c. with che Obfervations of laterAu-
thors, we fhall plainly fee that the Nature of
Difeafes is the fame now as it was in the former
Agcs, and that their Periods obferve the famc
order as formerly. From all thefe Premifles we
may juftly conclude, That Phyfick is not fo un-
certain, nor grounded upon fuch a flight Founda-
tion, as commonly thought but built upon
'tis ;
viir.
Hippocrates being fuily fenfible of this, made
k whole Bufinefs to make juft and diligcnt
his
Obfervations ; by the aftiftance of whjch he dif-
cover'd, that Difeafes have fome conftant and
peculiar, or individua| Aftc&ions, and fome
adventitious and common to others. Tlie con-
ftant fort depend upon the very individual and
conftant Nature of the Difeafe. The Adven-
titious fpring either from the various Methods
of Cure, or from the manifold and various Con-
courfe of Caufes. Thc firft of thefe he drew
up Aphorifms andPrecepts, as being theRulcs
in
of the Art. The others he would not own for
Preccpts ; but at the fame time thought 'em
not Contemptible, and Ieft cm to the Judgment of
a good Man, /. e an acute and prudent Phyfician.
.
IX.
;
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
C HA P. IIL
S E C T. Jl
III.
C H A P. IV.
IMPEDIMENT I.
ters,
The Prattice of PhyficL 19
ters, for almoft thefe forty Years, have made it
their Bufinefs to deride the documents of the
ancient Phyficians. And'tis incredible how per-
nicious that has prov^d both to the Science and
to the Lives of their Patients. Thofe who gave
the flrft vcnt to this Error, I take to be Helmont
and Paracelfui, who in order to raife their own
Sect upon the ruines of the Ga/enhk,not only
charg'd Galfa and almoft ail the Ancients with
Error and Ignorance, but lafh'd 'em with Calum-
nies and Taunts, in their Medicinal Writings.
This Crime of Deriiion did not confine ic felf to
thefe two Authors, but began to fpread every
Day, efpecially among their Followers, with
whom 'tis ftill fomuch in vogue, that their
chiefeft Study is to accomodate their Difcourfes,
not to thc Nature of Things, but to the Afte&i-
ons of their Minds ; fo that their Opinions are
not Modelfd by right Reafon, but by the By-
afs ot their Mind.
II.
III.
Art ;
they have weigh'd and examin'd the Nature
o£ evcry Difeafe fo diligently, and enrich'd the
ttrue Practice with iuch valuable Accefuons, that
we have but fmall hopes left of ever going be-
yond their fublime Performances. Tho' fome
of the Gaknicks are too ready to fall in with lefs
conftant and uncertain Theories, yet the whole
School of the Ancients ought not to be promif-
cuoufly charg'd with Ignorance and Folly For :
C HA P. V.
IMPEDIMENT II.
S E C T. I.
II.
m.
Among thc apifh Advances that impofe very
much upon Phyficians, we muft reckon in that
of thofe who imagine, that no Man can arrive
at the perfeciKnowledge of Practice, without
a previous Acquaintance with other Sciences,
namely, Logick, Mathematicks, the various Idi-
oms of Languages, Rhetorick, Aftronomy, &c.
the Knowledge of which, and a great many o-
ther things of the like Nature, would indeed
prove
'Tbe frattkeof Phyfick. z%
prove a confiderable Ornament to the Profefiion
of Phyfick ; but in my Qpinion, they are as con-
ducive"to a circumftantial and exact Hiftory of
Difeafcs, astheArtof Painting is to a Mufician:
For Experience juftifies, that the old Galenkks
who were fcarce acquainted with the Latin
Tongue, could Cure Difeafes as happily, as thofe
who are given out for the greateft Mafters of
Sciences, that have no tendency to the Cure ot
Difeafes. This Cuftom introduced in latt.er
Times, has given Rife to feveral Abfurdities in
the way of Phyfick; efpecially this, That the
fpending a great part of Time in the Acquifition
of the abovementioned Sciences, leaves but a in-
fufficient Portion of Time for the firft Elements
of Pradice: Befides, thefe Phyficians boaft of
their being Aftrologers, Pcets, Criticks, Hifto T
rians, Philofophers, Men well verfcd in the
Greek and Hebrew Languagcs, &c. But when
they are privately called to give an Account of
what our Ancient Oracle leads to, I mean the
Knowledge of our felves, the Arguments they
ofter are jejune and ufelefs. For th is and feve-
ral other Reafons being rendcr'd uncapable of
compaiTing a folid Prafticc by the help of Ob,-
fervation, they prefently learn the Idea of fome
general Hypothefis, and attempt the Cure of
all Difeafes by gcheral Propofitions, fome The-
oretical and fome Practical. Now thcfe things
are only like Apparitions in the Surfaces of
things,fwimming as'twcre and ftruggling in the
Waters, and 'tis no wonder if they at firft
view fcrew up their Hopes, and aftcrwards di{-
appoint them.
IV. But
The Praclice of Phyfick
IV.
V. As
Tbe VraBice of Pbyfick. 27
V.
VI.
They are much miftakcn who think thcy can
cure Difeafes happily, becaufe they are Mafters
of the Theory ; for a Phyfician ought to have
much higher Things inhis view, in order to clear
the innocent Art from the Calumnies it lies un-
tler, and reftore the Sick to a healthy State. He
muft diffeft the Bodies of thofe who dye of
Diftempers, and foul his Fingers, to the end hc
may find out the feat of theMalady, theCaufe,
and tf e ifiue of antecedent Symptoms,- and, in
4
VII.
.VIII. Of
3 The Praclice of Phyfick.
VIII.
IX.
C H A P. VI.
OBSTACLE III.
S E C T. I.
IV.
V.
C H A P. VII.
OBSTACLE IV.
S E C T. I.
when
The Pratlice of Phyjick.
3 9
when 'tis and confidcrate, and atten-
feafon.able
ded by the Converfation of Learned Men and the
Ufe of Experiments, it becomes fertile and ufeful.
For as over-fceding does jiot improve Heaith,
neither does infatiabie Reading inlarge foiid
Knowledge. And 'tis for this reafon, that thofe
who coniider but a few things with Prudence,
not brily j-idge more perfcctly of things, but give
their Senfe of them with greater readir.efs and
facility. I own, that we owe a great deal of our
Improvement to Bocks; but before wc can reap
from them any plenriful and compleat •Benefit,
we muft be a long time diligent in difcovcring
and furmounting the Errors that Authors are ufu-
ally liable to, and with which they taint our
Minds, and feduce 'em from the Paths of Truth.
By the reading cf good Books we are quickly
bcncrited but by the perufal of forry ones we
;
II.
D 4 III. Thofc
40 Tbe Vra€tice of Pbyfick*
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
IX.
X.
C H A P. VJIL
OBSTACLE V.
S E C T. I.
II.
III.
IV.
. V.
VI. Thcfr
A..
The Pratlice of Phyfick* 57
VI.
C H A P. IX.
OBSTACLE VI.
S E C T. I.
AMong
the
the Hindrances that have retarded
progrefs of Phyfick, that is not the
leaft, which in tying it up to Methods,
conlifts
*
and in digeftingand adorning it with abftra&cd
and ufelefs Notions. For that methodical Way
gives out the Science to be cntire and reduc'd as
twcre to a ne plus ultra thc confcqucnce of
;
which is, that Men arc rendred not only lefs in-
duftrious in hunting ufter new Difcoveries to ll-
luftrate and enrich the Hiftory of Difeafes • but
likewife fo feif-confident, that they fancy thcy
have already reach'd the vtty. bottom of thc Sci-
encc. And tho' it fomctimcs happcns, that a
nevv and ufefuj Obfcrvation may fail. in their
way yet upon the confideration that thcy can-
;
Gf a Vleimjy.
I.
After
6z The Praclice of PbyficL
After the cure of a Pleurify, if you obferve a
littletickling Cough, and a gentle Hcat over-
running the wholc Body towards the Evening,
you may prognofticate eithcr a Rclapfc into a
Pleurify or a Suppuration. I havc found rhis
noble Precept of Aretaus to prove true in feveral
Cafes, wherc I predi&ed accordingly.
Such Pleuritical and Peripncumoniacal Perfons
as fpit up nothing, are in a hard Cafe, unlefs
they void Urine plentifully. Hifp, 4. acut.
In the Roman Climate Bieeding is the principal
Remedy for a Pleunfy, afterwhich diluting Me-
dicines, joined to attcnuating and anodine In-
gredients will quickly fet it otf.
Sometimes little Tubercles or fmail Swdfcngs
will lieiiiddcn in the Lungs for feveral Yearfj
without annoying the Patient fenlibJy j anu wiU
at difcover themfeJvcs afcer the cure of a
laft
ff
The Praft/ce of PhyJicL 6$
If the Spitting commences before the /^th Day,
it fhortens the Diftemper according to Hippccra-
tcs ; for after theqth Day, the Patients Strength
Of Fevers in General.
further.
In this Climate (Rome I mean) I commence
the Cure of acute Fevers with Bleeding, and not
with Purgation, unlefs it be attended with an
exceffive Vomiting, or ufher'd in by an immo-
derate Repletion :And I have frequently
obferv'd, that immediately after Bleeding there
infues a fort of Sweat to the eafe of the Pa-
tient.
An exquiiite femitertian Fever is com-
very
mon about this Town ;
nay, it reigns amoft at
Times
all Which Galen was not Ignorant
: of,
when he liv'd at Rome near Miner roa's forum, in
the Strect that leads now to Agrippa's Pantheon,
in
The Vratlice of Phyfick. 69
in the Reign of the Emperor Antoninus, a Princc
to whom not only Galen, but the whole Repub-
lick of Phyfick, are coniiderably indebted. 'Tis
when Galen made the rirft Theriaca at
faid, that
Rome, to the great Satisfa&ion of the People,
this Prince prefented him with a Golden Chain,
and a Medal with the following Infcription,
7%
Tbe Praclice of Pbyjick.
;
to the greater or lefler Accenfion of the Blood,
!the Degrees of its force upon the Head, Lungs,
land other Vifcera, and the Urgency of other
I
Symptoms.
A
(low lingring Fever, without fhivering or
cold Fits, a heavy dulnefs under Sleep, a pain in
i^the Head and Back, fometimes a Hoarfenefs,
fometimes a Bleeding at the Nofe, are Signs of
the approaching Small Pox : Witnefs Dudonaus in
Praxi. Cap. 20. Lib. 2.
0/ the Coltck.
I.
If
1'
The Pratlice of Pbyfick. 8
If theExcrements are not retain'd, if the Pain
jfhifts and intermits, the Patient will quickiy
be well.
A
Colick turns fometimes to an Impofthume,
and fometimes to a Dropfie.
If the Pain relents upon the Expulfion of the
Excrements or of Wind 'tis a gocd Sign, not-
withftanding it returns again. In a Colick ac-
company'd,with a Vomiting, cold Sweats, &c.
when every thingelfe fafils, the Tincture of Am-
. ber, both cures the Prefent and prevents the im-
mincnt Fit.
Before you exhibit Opiats, be fure you al-
ways injecl a Glyfter. Diaphoreticks joyn'd to
Opiats are happy Anticolick Med'cines. But
you'il do your Patient no kindnefs, unlefs you
carefully diftinguifh between a Humoral and a
Convulfive Colick. All cold things are unfriend-
ly to the Breaft and the Inteftines ; be fure
therefore that you avoid 'em in the Cafe of a
Colick.
An
habitual and endemial Colick arifing chie-
flyfrom the Acid of Wine, is cur'd by Sudorificks
alone, provided an Anodyne Remedy be inter-
lac'd in the Evening. In fuch cafes, I common-
ly make ufe of a Pill made of Diafardium and
Confeclio Alchermes> or Hyacimhina, &c.
Mattbevfs (alias Starkius's) Pills are incredi-
I bly Beneficial in all Pains whether Internal or
Of a Trenzy.
SECT. I.
Of an AJihma.
t
Unlefs you rightly diftinguifh between a Con-
VuHive and a Humoral Afthma, you'Jl never make
a happy Cure.
If your Patient is troubl'd vith a difticulty
of Brcathing, open a Vein in the Arm, not-
withftanding thc prefence of a Dropfie. Hipp-
Epidem.
If in the Night-time, efpecially after three
or four hours Sleep, the Patient awakes of a
fuddcn, with a violent Afthma and Suftoca-
tion Fits upon him, and prefently runs to the
Windows in qucft of the frec Air ; you may
reft aflur'd that he has a Dropfy in his Breaft
efpeciaily if his Hands or Feet begin to fwell ;
and thc Face lofes its wonted Colour ; and a-
bove
The Praclice of Phyjick. 8 $
bove all, if he obferves a heavy Numnefs, or ?i
beginning Palfy in his Arm. We meet juft wirh
fuch a Numnefs in the Arm, in the other Difeafes
of the Lungs, particularly a Peripneumonia. If
a Pleurify or Peripneumonia invades Afthmatick
Perfons, they generally die of it.
A Dyfury or difficulty of Urinc coming upoti
an Afthmatick Perion is a good Sign, and upori
the fudden ceiTation of the Dyfuria the Afthma
returns. In conflrmation of this, I have made
the Obfervation feveral timcs, that in the Dif-
eafes of the Breaft \ve ought always to pufli to-
ward the Urinary Paflages, Nature having fliewn
us thevvay; and that there is a great Sympathy
between the Legs and the Breaft, as well as the
Privities and the Breaft the Difeafes of which
,•
%
Loofnefles arife frequently from Grief and the
PafTions of the Mind; andarein a manner incu-
rable, the Caufe of the Grief remains.
if This
fort of Loofnefles ufes to be followed by an er-
ratick Fever, till the Patient waftes and pines a-
way to Death.
Sweating coming upon a Loofnefs ftops it.
Loof-
The Pratlice of PhyficL 87
Loofneflfes are pernicious in the Difeafes of the
Breaft; they are likewife very otfenfive to Wo-
men in Childbed, and Children feiz'd with Ma-
lignant Fevers.
You muft not begin the Cure of a Loofnefs
with Aftringent Med'cines, for by that means you
will occafion ftubborn Obftructions of the Vifcera
and Inteftines, which at Iaft are fucceeded by an
obftinate Dropfy.
The eating of Meat inflames a Loofnefs, fo that
you muft avoid it as much as you can.
Nothing renders the Belly more coftive than the
UfeofVenery; witnefs, Hipp. 7. Epidem. Aetim,
lib. 3. cap. 8. Paulus, lib. i.cap. 13. whoallaffert
that the exercife of Venery dries the Belly. The
fame is obferv'd by Amatus Lujitanus, Cen. 1 1.
Obfer. 47.
Thofe who are much taken up in Study or
Domeftick Cares, are coftive. Coftivenefs is one
of the Endemial Diftempers of the Roman Climatc.
Some People have been cur'd of Loofnefles,
and fainting Diforders of the Stomach, accom-
panied with a Dyfentery, ;by chevving Cinnamon
all day long, and fwallowing the Spittle of that
Maftication.
Sometimes a Purgative Med'cine raifes a dan-
gerous Superpurgation, which frequently occafi-
ons fudden Svoonings ; and in this cafe a Scru-
ple or half a Dram of Venice. Treacle fpeedi!y
puts a Stop to the Evacuation ; which I have
fometimes wonder'd to fee in the Hofpital upon
the Prefcription of an old Phyfician.
The Smoak of Turpentine thrown upon burn-
ing Coals, and received by the Fundament, cures
an inveterate Loofnefs, a Dyfentery, a Tenei-
mus, a Relaxation of the Anus, &c.
88 The PraBice of Phyfick.
If Perfons of a Loofnefs void a Saffron-co-
ill
J
lourd Bilc, not
urilike thc Ruft of Iron diflblv d,
or red Bricks, it fpeaks a Peftflential Humour,
'vhich Wiil carry ofi" tlie Patient, purfuant to the
conftant Obfervations I havc made upon fuch
Inftances. Chefnau 1. 3 c. 6.
.
Of an Apoplexy.
I
5
There a Neceffity of diftinguifhing an Apo-
s
leptick Fits.
Women taken with Convulfions after Mifcar-
riagc, it a hard Matter to get thorough,
find
purfuant to my own Obfervation. Convulfions
follo\ving a Frenzy are Mortal, according to
Aetius.
In the Diforders of the Nerves and the Head,
the Powder of Cornac-hini takes Place of all
other Purgatives.
In Convulfive and Nervous Dtfeafes Violets
are a Spccifick.
The
;
Of a Cough.
_We
The Praclice of Phyfick. 99
We learn from Dr. IVillis's Authority confirmM
by repeated Experience, that the beft Remedy
againft the Convulfive Cough of Children, is a
Decodion made of the Fern of Trees, efpecially
that of the Oak, which is likewife beneficial in
other Convulfive Diforders.
The Spirit of Harts-horn is of admirable Ufe
in the moft violent Coughs.
i
The Stone and the Gout murder the Rich
more than the Poor ; and the Wife more than the
Foolifh.
The primitive Parents of the Stone and the
Gout, are, Wine, Venery, Sloth and Intemperance.
Their Antidotes are, the drinking of Water,
the ufe of Milk, Sobriety and Exercife. Accor-
dingly we fee that Zechim made a mighty Secret
in his Confultations, of a Pint of warm Water
taken down immediately before Dinner Nay Pi- :
H 2 Diffi-
;
CHAP.
io5 The Praclice of Phyfick
C HA P. X.
S E C T. I.
II Aftcr
io8 The Praclice of Vhyfch
%
After the Aralians had continucd their unjuft
Monopoly for feveral Years, Phyfick thus tofs'd
and fhatter'd with fo long a Storm, fled at laft
to the Italians, in hopes of a kinder Harbour.
The Latins being long unacquainted with Sciences,
fnatch'd up the firft Books that came to Hand ;
and thofe were either written, or adulterated
and corruptcd by the Arabians. This Arabian
Contagicn did fo unhinge and fink their Minds,
that for a long time, they utter'd no Words, and
harbour'd no Thoughts, that did not relifh of
their Learning ; nay, the Plague made a fpeedy
March even to forcign Univerfities, and particu-
larly thofe of Spain ; for at that time ail the Rays
of Sciences fprung only from Italy, and Foreigners
confultcd hcr as an Oracle. And if we take a
narrow View of thc Books and Studies of the
Phyficians that liv'd from the eleventh to the fif-
teenth Century, we'll find them to be nothing
clfc, but undigefted Mcdleys cull'd out of the
Arahian and Grecian Authors, Commentaries and
Glofles in order to unfold thcir genuine Sence,
and at laft a Perplexing of Phyfick, inflam'd with
Thcory and fuch like flender Appendages. The
Italians, particularly Mr. Fab. Calvus, Martianus,
Septalius, &c. were the firft that fhak'd off the
Arabian Yoak, and ufed their utmoft Efforts to
reftore the primitive Wifdom of the Grecians,
with reference to Phyfick. After them the French
imbark'd in the fame Defign, particularly Dure-
tus, Ballonius, Hollerius, and Jacotius. Thefe
worthy Authors manag'd their Provinces with
fuch diftinguifliing Excellency, that if they did
not go beyond the Grecians, at leaft it muft be
o\?n'd
Tbe Prallice of Pbyfck; 109
own'd they chalk'd down the true Method of
Cure according to their Prefcriptions. This Do-
ftrine being communicated to a'moft all the U-
niverfities in Europe, it excited at the fame time
other learned Men, to inlarge and confirm it.
m.
Scarce had the Pra&ice of Phyfick arriv'd at
when the upftart Pa~
this State of Tranquillity,
racelfm, back'd by ail the Gang of Chymifts, rai-
fed a new Tumult, and laid frefh. Cloggs upon
the true Practice. Nor was this long paft, when
Helmontius with his Retainers inlarged its Trou-
bles, in fo much that all the Conclufions of na-
tural Things were chain'd down to a Chymical
Furnace. It muft be own'd indeed, that thefe
two noble Authors have confiderably enrich'd
the Pra&ice with a new Invention of Remedies,
which all Phyficians ought chiefly to have in
View ; and have done very good Service in ftri-
king out fome Prejudices, that had crept into
Phyfick, through the Ignorance of the Arabian
and falfe Interpreters. But when both the one
and the other take upon them to account for thc
Caufes that give rife to Difeafes, and the Pba-
nomena that accompany 'em ; being prepoflefs'd
(themfelves) either by the reading of Books, or
the flirting Experiments of the Furnace, they lay
all their Strefs upon the Philofophical Hypothe-
flsof their own three Principles, without ever
defcending to Praftice, or making their Remarks,
whether the Hiftorical Progrefs of Difeafes, and
the Eftbrts of Nature in promoting or oppofing
'em, are exadly anfwerable to their Arbitrary
Opinions. By this means it came to pafs, that
they not only difturb'd the Repofe, that Phyfick
thcn
1 1 o The Praftice of Phyfick.
IV.
C H A P/
;
C H A P. xr.
S E C T. I.
II.
III.
IV.
The
Tb.c-ry of the hter Authcrs, is much
morc than that of the Galenifis. For
c< ttain,
V.
VI.
VII.
CHAP.
The Prattice of PbyficK 123
C H A P. XII.
S E C T. I.
K-
III.
IV.
3 28 The Praflice of Phyfilk.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
not
Tbe Vrattice of Vhyfick. i
3 3
not only verified by Experience, but vir^dicated
by Dr. sydenham, in adjufting the Hypotheiis of
the nifterick Itlnefs. This Author is of Opini-
on, that the hyfterick Illnefs takes its Rife from
the broken and languid Condition of the Spirits,
upon which they fly out into Effervefcencies and
irrtgular Motions, and /produce hyfterick Con-
vulhons, together witb the adjoining Symptoms.
The excellen.t Dr. Sydenhaw did not cull this
Hypothefis from his own Fancy, as Men com-
monly do ; but after a frequent and repeated
Obfervation, that Bleeding, Purging, acid Sy-
rups, and fuch other Remedies as enervate the
Biood ; that Grief, Watchings, Fafting, Food
that gives ill Juice, and fuch like Caufes, did
either occafion or exafperate the Diftemper ; and,
upon the other hand, that Steel, Venice Treacle,
exhilarating and fpirituous oily Med'cines, Ri-
ding, ftaying long in the Country, Wine impreg-
nated with bitter Herbs, and the like, did either
totally extirpate or mitigate theDiforder: Upon
this Obfervation, I fay, he did not ftand to af-
fert and form an Hypothefis, that hyfterick Fits
proceed from the broken and almoft drooping
Spring of the Spirits, and the Mafs of Blood, its
being depauperated, and ftript of its nobler and
balfamick Part. He fteddily affirm'd, and made
it out by Experiment, that the Indications of
Cure ought to be fetch'd from this Hypothefis.
IX.
X.
XI
"Tis not Opinion, but certain and demonftra-
tive Knowledgc, that will do our Bufinefs We :
C H A p. xnr.
S E C T. I
n.
III.
IV.
V.
and Caution.
L VI,
145 Tbe Prattice of Phyfick\
VI.
L 2 Among
;
The
1;
VII.
f
;
VIII.
abated.
If in Coughing, little things like Grains are
brought up, and thefe Grains ftink extremely
when fqueez'd with one's Fingers, they are a
certain Sign of a latent Vomica or Impofthume
in the Breaft ;
efpecially if the other Signs ac-
company 'em. Foreflus has obferv'd, that in fuch
Cafes, upon the breaking of the Vomica or Im-
pofthume, for the moft Part, the Patient dies
iuddenly.
Ali
i $6 The Pratlice of Phyfich
All rhe Suppurations of other Parts difcover
themfelves by the acceflion of a Fever, and a
Shivering ; only the Suppuration or Vomica of
the Lungs, fteals on without the forefaid Signs.
And rhis ought to be ferioufly minded by young
Practitioners.
In an Impofthume of the Lungs, Abfcefles in
the Ears and Feet are good, according to Hip-
pocrates ; for a Vomica ufes to difcharge itfelf
by thefe two Places, as its two principal Emun-
ctories.
Oftentimes a Quinfey proceeds from a Sup-
preflion of the Terms or H::morrhoids ; which
ought to be carefully r.inded.
If a Quinfey that's truly inflammatory and
farguineous, as they call it, does not yield to
two Bleedings, let fcsrify'd Cuppirg-Glafies be
apply d to the Shoulder-blades, and the Cafe will
aker to the better. Of this I have feen feveral
Infhrces.
I cur'da Woman that was frequently fubject
to the Quinfey, by raifing a Cautery in her Arm,
after a fruitiefs Trial of other Remedies nay, ;
acute Cafes.
In a Fever, if a great Swelling appears in the
Perinaum, occafioning a Suppreffion of Urine,
or a Conftipation of the Belly, 'twill turn to a
Gsngrene and kill the Patient. Tulpim and Couf.
in Epidcm. I have experienc'd the Truth of this
Pro-
I 58 Tbe Prattice of Pbyfick.
Prognoftick in two feveral Inftances, to my great
Strrprifal.
In a Fever, if the Patient does not fleep at all,
but lies ftiil without the leaft Complaint, and
.
X.
C H A P XIV.
S E C T. I.
II.
IU.
IV.
VI
The Praclice of Pkyjick; 1
67
VI.
in a Mind
well forcityd with Patience, Forti-
tude, Prudence, Tranquility, and the other mo-
ral Vertues, without which all Manner of Re-
medies, and all the Efforts of Phyficians, will be
e^en amoft vain and ufelefs. For the Remedies
in the Apothecaries Shops, that go by the Name
of Exhilarating, Antimelancholick, Comforters
of the Heart and Memory, Whets for the Geni-
us, &c. are rather invented to favour the Pomp
of the Aft, than to difpel the bitter Cares of the
Mind, or to rouze a drooping Spirit. I confefs
indeed that fomewhat may be done againft the
Difeafes of the Mind by fuch Remedies, as are
able to change the Mafs of the Blood thorough-
ly, and do not aft fuperficially, but penetrate to
M 4 VI T 3
1 68 The Praclice of PbyficL
VII.
VIII.
IX..
C H A P. XV.
An Fxhortation to Vhyficians to find out and
ejlablijh a Method of Cure, calculated in
panicular for their refpeBive Countrymen
With fome pajjing Hints upon the Nature
of the Air of Rome, and the Cure of the
Difeafes in that City.
S E C T. I.
II.
1 74 ^he PfaSlice of PhyficL
II.
IV,
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
T H E
187
^^&tSs ^k^»
O F T H E
Vra&ice of Phyfic\
b o o K 11.
C H A P. I.
By way of IntrodvMion.
SECT. 1.
othcrs
;;
CHAP.
192 ThePrdtlice of PhyficK .
C HA P. ir.
S E C T. I.
II. Ma-
The Praclice of Phyjick. 195
II.
HL
Thofe w ho
r
reafon of the Hiftory of Di(
eafes, according to the Rufcs and Laws of
fuch other Sciences as they take delight in,
will never illuftrate the Nature of Difeafes by
Obfervations ; as I fhew'd in the firft Cha-
pter of this Book. The famous Lord Verulam>
among many others, laments extreamly thc
Injury done to Natural Hiftory in general, and
the Increafe of it, by Vlatos inferting his
Theology in the Courfe of his Philofophy, or
judging of Philofophical Matters' by abftraded
and theological Notions. And fuch indeed is
the Cafe of Phyfick ; for in the laft Age Lo-
O 3 gick
198 The Praclice of PhyficK
gick was fo much in Vogue, that Phyficians
apply'd its ftern and fevere Rules to the Hi-
ftory and Cure of Difeafes and how far they ;
o 4 C H A H.
ioo The Pratlice of Phyfcki
C HA P. III.
S E C T. J.
THE Coos,
Phyfical
was ever
School
in
that flouriftVd
great Reputation a-
at
iii.
IV.
V.
VI. Thcfe
Tbe VraVike of Fh
VI.
VII.
"
C H A P. IV.
S E C T. t
• • • nri
fen the Pain, are bad ; but thofe which give Eafe,
are of a good Charadter: That Pains in the Sides
in old Men are, for the moft Part, Mortal, chiek
ly becaufe they have not Strength to difcharge the
Matter That Purging in an acute Pleurify, at-
:
II.
and, r
'twere, the perpetual Diagnofticks of the
? -
C FI A P. V.
S E C T. I.
AMong intheOppofition
many Objections that may be of-
fer'd to this our Hiftory of
Difeafes, this is the chief : Difeafes are certain
confus'd, unfteddy, and diforderly Eftecls and Mo-
tions of forlorn Nature, when puzzled how to de-
fend it felf ^ fo that 'tis a vain Labour, to pretend
to
2*0 Tbe Tra&ice of Fhyfick.
to make a regular and ftanding Hiftory of 'em.
The Argument founds well, indeed, but it does not
Rand to Experience For we fee that Hippocrates
:
and why may not others make the fame Effay >
•
the Space of Twelve Kours and the entire Body 5
•
medies you will, to extirpate a Tertian before
that fet Time, they are all ineffeclual. As for
the Obje&ion, that a Tertian may be ftifi'd in
the Bud, by the Ufe of the Febrifvga ; I own, that
fometimes it happens fo ; but then, the Difeafe
either breaks out again with greater Fury, after a
few Days, or puts into its Place feveral grievous
Diftempers, fuch as Afthma's, Dropfies, flow Fe-
vers, Phthificks,& c. But of this more anon. For
the fame Reafon , Purgation and Bleeding is per-
iricious in the Beginning of intermitting Fevers ;
for daily Experience is Witnels, that upon the Ufe
of thefe Remedies , the Fever is either duplioa-
ted, or infiam'd. 'Tis true, it falls out very
often, that exquifite Tertians go beyond Fourteen
Days, and extend even to Months 5 that a Pleu-
rify lafts after the Seventh, or Fourteenth Day,
and fo of the reft ; but that muft be attributed
either to a contrary Method of Gure, namely,
when we difturb the Courfe of Nature, and the
gradual Separation of the peccant Humour, by
Bleeding, and exhibiting Purgatives and violent
Diaphoreticks in the Beginning ; in which Cafe,
the Specification of the Tertian Humour is funk,
and a new Specification arifes, with a new Train
of Symptoms, and a new Viciflitude of Periods,
which
224 TraBice °f Thyfick.
irfiich lafts till the Separation of the impure Ha-
mour is perform'd by the fet Laws of Nature, or
till we light on a Remedy that diredtly extin-
guifhes that Species, upon which Head the Do-
ctrine of Specifick Remcdies is grounded It muft
:
V.
VI.
C H A P. VI.
S E C T. I.
Q. 2 gard
228 The PraBice of Pbyfick.
gard it is a common Complaint, that the Gout
kills more of the Rich and Wife, than of the Poor
and Simple, we fhall make a fhort Effay upon
that Difeafe, and freely communicate what Ob-
fervation has taught us upon that Head, being
couhtenanced in this Undertaking, by the excel-
lent Dr. Sydenham^ whofe Method we follow.
II.
III.
IV.
VI.
vir.
VIII.
5
Twould be too tedious a Tafk for this Place,
to ran over that long winded Feries of Symptoms
obferv'd in Patients of various Ages, Conftitu-
tions, ways of Living, &c. which make a necef-
fary Part of a compleat Hiftory of the Gout.
For here I defign only to propofe a very fhort Spe-
cimen of the Hijtoria Prima, that young Begin-
ners may learn from thence the Method of gather-
ing the firft Elements of Difeafes, and that with
The TraBice of Phyjick. 237
thefame Simplicity and Truth , that accompanies
'em from the Mouth of the Patient. And who-
ever confiders this Model of Hiftory, will find I
have kept clofe to the Rules and Method laid
down above, and have obferv'd a rigid Severity,
both in obferving, and defcribing. But, to make
an End of it Women are feldom troubled with
:
X.
S E C T. I.
fays, A
Pain in the right Side of the Colov, was ap-
pcaid by the Appearance of a Pain upon the Joints.
And again, 6. Epidem. 4. 3. One havivg a Pain in
the Joints, was troubled at the fame Time with a Pain
cn the right Side of his Intejiines ; but when the Pain
<f the Inteflives was cura, the articular Paiv grew
ivorfe than before. Gouty Perfons do not die of
the Gout, but becaufe the Gout does not fall
down upon the Joints. Before the Appearance
of the Gout 7
and fometimes after 'tis cur'd, an
Oedomatous Swelling ufes to fall upon the Feet ;
thefe Means.
II. Sfa
The FraSlice of Thyfick. 241
II.
C H A P.
Tbe Pra&ice of Phyfick. 243
C H A P. VII.
S E C T. I.
"
\ TYDe%n in this Performance, is only to
, A
J[ exhort Phy/icians, to treat of thofe Things
that are of greater Importance, and have been ei-
t
AHi-
244 ^
e Fr *& ice of PhyficL
R 3 C H A P.
2^6 Tihe Yratlice of Thyfick
C H A P. VIII.
S E C T. I.
AS Lawyers
Fadt, fo in
adjuft Rights from Matter of
our way, a right underftand-
ing of the Difeafe, difcovers all the Topirks of
Ciues. In the Cure of fuch Diieafes as admit of
any Delay, I proceed after this Manner. The
firft Day I fpend in examining the Patient ftrict-
ly about the occafional Caufes, and all the ante-
c.dent and prefcr.t Circumftances of the Difeafe.
Dnring that Time I prefcribe no Remedies, for
fear an unfeafonable Prefcription fhould perplex
the ordinary Period of the Difeafe, and fmk the
Conftancy of the Signs, and reprefent the Difeafe
otherwife than it really is At leaft if I prefcribe
:
II.
Tbs Pra&ice of Phyfick* 247
U
The only Grecian after Hippocrates, that made
any folid Improvement of the Practice of Phy-
fick, was C&liits Aureliamts that glorious Head
,
III.
IT.
C H A P. IX.
S E C T. I.
I.
and
The Pra&ice of Fhyfick, i^<p
and in regard, that is not to be reach'd by Reafbn
without the Concurrence and Co-operation of the
Senfes, all their Advances of the Caufes of Dif-
eafes are nothing but groping in the Dark ; fb that
they have 011I7 diverfify'd the outward Denomina-
tion of Difeafes by various ways of fpeaking,
without touching upon the Eflence and reai
Caufe.
II.
To obferve a regular Method in this Enquiry 5
we muft take in the ancient Divifion of Caufes in-
to. the Procatar&ica, the Pragumer.a, or Difpofltioii
of the Body, and the Canfa Proxima, or that which,
is always accompanyM with the Difeafe and
,
S 2 thas
160 The Tra&ice of Thyfick.
that the three Caufes I mention'd but now, are
equally concei"n'd either in producing or encoura-
ging the Difeafe, I fhall here fhew how Indications
of Cure are to be taken from each of 'em.
III.
The
Procafarftick Caufe is more obvious to
Senfe than any of the reft \ and I pofitively af-
firm, that unlefs a particular Regard be had to
this Caufe, the Cure will never go well on : For
by thofe external Things that give Oecafion to the
Difeafe, we gain a more compendious and certain
way to the Knowledge of the internal Nature, pro-
vided thofe external Things are duly examin'd.
Suppofe one fhould undertake the Cure of a Fever
proceeding from the fcorching of the Sun, or
fome fuch external Caufe ; and going upon the
modem Hypothefis, that not only Fevers, but all
Difeafes proceedfrom an Acid,fhould prefcribevo-
latil Alcalis in a liberal Quantity, with Intent to
break the febrile Acid, and throw it out by Sweat:
Suppofe, I fay, he fhould infift on thi3 Method,
would not he be monftroufly miftaken, fince the
raging Motion of the Blood, occafion'd by the
fcorching or fome fuch heating Caufe, ought ra-
ther to be appeas'd by gentle Medicines, than
fpurr'd by furious Akali s > When therefore the
immediate and neareft Caufe puts on a different
Face, according to the Diverfity of Procatardick
and Antecedent Caufes, we ought always to have
regard to thefe in taking the Indications of Cure.
For a Fever arifing from unfeafonable Cold, muft
be treated after a different manner from a Fever
cccafiond by Drinking, Venery, ftanding in the
Sun, Emotions of the Mind, and other Caufes.
IV.
This fillsme with Amazement, in feeing the
Phyficians of this Age aim only, and that with
Triumph in a manner, at the afligning of the firft
and
The Tra&ke of Thyfich 16
and immediate Caufes of Difeafes, which lie at
the greateft Diftance from our reach; and over-
look the occafional Caufes that are obvious to our
external Senfes. Let the external Caufe of a Dif-
eafe be what it will, they treat it the fame way,
as if it proceeded from another ; and regardlefs of
the ancient Difcipline, fubvert the Method and
Priority of Caufes with a blind inconfiderate For-
wardnefs. Who can tell the Nature and Condition
of the minuteft Textnre of the Blood in a Fever,
a Pleurify, an Apoplexy, a Delirium, and other
Difeafes ? And who can decipher the firffc and im-
mediate Caufe that fets them all at work ? For in
the Produdtion of Difeafes whether Acute or
,
VI.
VII.
VIII.
S E C T. m.
Of the immediate Caufe of Difeafes, qnd the chief
Heads tbat ferve to difcover h.
I.
II, But
The Fra&ice of FhyficL 26 j
II.
III. To
2.6% The Pra&ice of Phyfick.
m.
To begin with the Excreta and Retevta The:
IV. Sweat
1 70 The Traolice of Thyfck.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
T Vtm
2 74 Tbe PraSlice of Phyfck.
Principles of which Milk is compos'd, are Cheefe,
Euttcr, and Whey 5
and the Cheefe and Butter
of foft, mild, alcalino-fulphureous Particles,
conflfft
&c. So that the Hectick, Morbifick Particles in
the Blood muft be fharp, rigid, pointed, &c. In
Intermitting Fevers, great Benefit is obtained by
the Ufe of fuch Medicines as are bitter, fharp,
Lixivo-Alcaline, &c. Now the Particles of which.
thefe confift, are
ftifF, acute, fulphureous, &c,
and confequcntly the morbifick Particles of fuch
Fevers muft be the Product of vifcid, grofs, and
unactive Matter. In ardent Fevers we find Bene-
fit in the Emulfions of the Seeds, large Potions,
gentle Acids, and Anodine Remedies ; the Particles
of which are mild, gentle, and watery^ fo that
the Particles of ardent Fevers muft confift of a
volstile, fharp, acid, and impetuous Subftance.
In feveral lingring Fevers, and fome chronical
Diftcmpers, we receive great Benefit from the
auftere bitter Medicines that approach to the Na-
ture of Aftringents ^ fuch as the Peruvian or Je-
fuit's Bark, Tormentil, Cinquefoil Roots, Crude
Allum, Chalybeats, Afh Bark, Vitriolick Chali-
i>eat Medicines, and fuch otlier things as operate
hy Aftringency. From thefe Obfervations we
make a juft Inference, That fuch Fevers are owing
to the drooping and flaggy Spring of the fluid and
folid Parts, and not to the pretended Obftrudtioii
of the Vifcera. For accordingly we find, that
your ftiptick, bitterifh, and Tomewhat fpirituous
Medicines, which corroborate and compacl: the fo-
lid and fluid Parts, enable them to make a pow-
erful Refiftance to the coming Ferment that tends
to raife a febrile Heat in the Blood, and dex-
troufly throw it out by the repeated Circulations
cf the thus corroborated Sieves of the Vifcera.
VIII. If
i
The Pra&ice of PhyjicL ^J^
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
C H A P. X.
S E C T. r.
n
If any thing in the Praclice of Phyfick wants
to be corre&ed more than another, 'tis the com-
mon Indications 5 which being raifed upon falfe
Hypothefes, afford us nothing but the idle Whim
of Speculation. The Galejii/ls, deriving the Caufe
of all Difeafes from their tour Humours, are al-
ways harping upon the fame Story, when they
come to the Cure. For when they are called to a
Patient, their firft Endeavour is to find out the
peccant Humour of the four, which at laft they
pitch upon, after many Queftions and Arguments.
The peccant Humour being thus determined, all
their wife Views center in this, To prepare the
peccant Humour fcr Evacuation, and fo to carry
it off accordingly • which they db not once or
twice, but again and again in the fame Difeafe^
and fo run the Indications of all Difeafes in a
Circle (as 'twere.) To illuftrate the Matter with
an Example They lay down an infallible Hypo-
;
III.
V. PUvy
2 88 The TraBice of ThyficL
V.
VI.
ftances
The fra&he of PhyficL 2pi
fiancs of all thefe, that he ought to make no po
fitive Conclufions of the Indications, till thefe Four
be attentively weighed and collated together, and
Provifion be made for the moft urging Symptom.
I muft lay that no Man can be fo expeditious and
dextrous in dete&jng the Indications of Cure, as he
_
who having the Benefit of a long Praclice, has
made repeated Obfervations upon the principal Ge-
nius of the Difeafe, and the various Ways of In-
vafion and Declenfion 5
eipecially if he has em-
ploy'd himfelf before-hand in the reading of the
Authors that abound with Precepts and Cautions,
fuch as thoie I recommended above. If to all
thefe Acquifitions our Phyfician adds a fertile and
mafculine Soul, thats capable to difplay fome
uncommon Force in dete£ting theantecedent, con-
comitant, and obfcure Motions of the Difeafe, the
Motions which range very wide and fucceed one
another 5 certainly this Man will make a folid
Choice of Indications.
VIII.
n
The Meafures I.have now laid down, are chief-
ly conducive in thole Difeafes, in which all De-
lays are pernicious, and in which the iharp-fighted
Phyfician qualified with long Pra&ice, and e-
quipp'd with a fufficient Knowledge of the Ver-
tues of Remedies, whether fpecifick or common,
adjufts feveral Things very prudently, and quick-
ly draws the Meafures of the Cure from the mi-
nuteft Circumftances ; all which can fcarce be fa-
thom'd by Thought, or exprefs'd by Words. On
the contrary, in Chronical Difeafes, in which the
Vhmomena are more conftant and long-liv'd, the
moft certain Source of Indications is the Juvavtia
and L&dentia, and a juft Explication of their Ef-
fecls, taken chiefiy irom the Diffeclion of thole
U 2 who
292 The Praflice of Thyfick.
who dye of the rcfpeftive Difeafes. Here, by
way of- Corollary we may fuggeft the Reafon
,
CHAP. XI.
S E C T. I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
IX. 'Tis
The TraBice of ThyficL 301
IX.
5
Tis in vain to ftmt and fpurn in Defiance of the
Power of Death, or to repulfe the Violence of Dif-
eafes with the Awe of Difputes. Sola Remedia
X.
XI.
C H A P. XII. *
Ul
This Purgation of the feverifh Blood at a fet
time, is called a Crijis, as being a folemn EfFort
of Nature, by which, after pallmg the Rounds of
Crudity and Ebullition, the peccant Matter is ex-
pelfd. In the Country, and where Phyiicians are
not employ^d, we meet with a pleafurable Inftru-
6tion, in feeing thefe Crifes or Defpumations of
the peccant Matter perform'd by the way of
Sweating, of a Loofenefs, of Urine, and fucfi
Gther natural ways, and finiflVd with a regular
and orderly Motion. Hippocrates, and his Coun*
trymen the Grecians, being aware of all this, did
fo religioufly obferve thefe Motions of purging
Kature, that in the Cureof Fevers they prefcrib'd
^0(5 The Tra&ice of Thyfick.
but Few Remedies, for fear the unfeafonale Ufe of
em fhonld difturb the Government of the inter-
nal Sovercign. In the Cure of Fevers, particu-
larly thofe calVd Acute, Hippocrates us'd but very
few Rctnedies ; and abating for a gentle Vomit,
Clyflcers, or the like, which he was forc'd to give
in the Beginning, he us'd nothing in the Progrefs
of the Difeafe, but only a Ptifane varioufly con-
triv'd accordingto the Genius of the Difeafe ; and
leaving tlie reft to Natnre, expeded a Crijis with
Patience and Watchfulneft as it appears from his
•,
IV.
5
Tis no Wonder that Crijis^s do not fucceed now-
a-days either fo frequently or fo perfectly, as they
did of old in Greece ; fince Phyficians either not
knowing, or difproving the Grecian Meafures, mur-
der their Patients, in a manner, by prefcribing
frorrt the Beginning to the Declenfion of the Dif-
eafe Purgatives, Diaphoretirks, Bleeding, and fpi-
rituous Remedies ; and afting both imprudently
and unfeafonably in their other Meafures.^ info-
inuch that the Humours thus diftracled by the di-
vers feditious Motions of Remedies, can't polfibly
compafs a critical Dcfpumation at the Time ap-
pointed but being tofs'd in eternal Confufion, ter-
•,
V.
fis
made by Sweat, Urine, or Stool ; and that with-
out any other Remedies but Bleeding, (if there be
Occafion) a thin Diet, and diluting Ingredienfs,
calculated to tlie Heighth of the Diftemper. For
the elaftick Force of the Air, and confequently the
infenfible Tranfpiration, being increas'd in Spring
and Summer, the Humours are thereby render'cl
more nimble and pure ; fo that the morbifick Drofs
that is blended and boil'd up with them, is fooner
difengag'd, concodted, and expelfd by fubfequent
Crlfns. The fame Parallel will hold between hot
and cold Countries, a hot youthful Conftitution, and
# moift aged Temperament, & c.
VI. For
5 1 o Tbe Vra&ice of Fbyfick.
VI.
A D IS-
[ 3» ]
DISSERTATION
O F T H E
Anatomy, Bitings,
A N D
C H A P.
314 A Differtatioft
C H A P. I.
The
of the Tarantula. 3 1
5
The Tarantuh is a Species of the Otfonoculi,
and ofthis I mean to give a fhort but curious
Defcription. 'Tis true, fuch a Hiftory may
feem to be of fmall Importance to the Practice
of Phyfick, as being connVd to the Inhabitants
of Pvglia ; but at the fame Time it affbrds great
Light to the difficult Province of venemous
Dileafes For a due Parallel between the Symp-
j
CH AP.
A Dijfertation
C H A P. II.
C H A P. III.
'
They
of the Tarantiila. 321
They have eight Eyes in their Head, which is
Iikewife obferved in all the Pbalangia and larger
Spiders that weave Webs, as Well as our Tarantula ?
But the Binoculi, or thofe which have but two Eyes,
weave no Webs that we know of, and differ from
the Otfonoculi in Magnitude, Figure, Subftance,
Proportion of Limbs, &c. Their Eyes are fmocth
and bright, and free of the little Rifings obfeiVd
in other Infedts. Four of thefe Eyes are bigger
than the other ; that is, there are two 011 each Side
of the Head, which are eafily perceiv'd without
the Help of a Microfrope. TThe other four are
lefter ; they lie in a parallel Line under the for-
rner, and are fcarce perceivr able without a Micro-
fcope. All thefe are to be feen in the annex'd Fi-
gures. Their Eyes are fometimes black, and
fometimes blewifh. In the mean time I am at a
lofs to tell you, what Motive induced the Almigh-
ty Architect to allot fuch a Multiplicity of Eyes
to the Taravtula, and the other weaving Spiders,
uulefs it be that the Plurality of Eyes facilitates
the weaving Part ; fcr, as I intimated already,
thofe which do not Weave have but two Eves.
The Eight-ey'd Spiders have a Belly that's di-
vided by a great Incifion from the Breaft, and
their Anus fhews fome Rifings or Appendages,
which fend forth the Threads of which the Webs
are weav'd. The Titrantula is a hairy Animal,
and the Hair rifes very obfervably al\ over ths
Body. The eitevnal Colour of the Body is vari-
ous, for fome are of a Quail Colour, others of an
aihy or whitilh, and dthers again cf a blackifli
fiea-like Colour •,nay, fome have Spots and Stars
here and there. Thofe of a quail or a whitifii Co*
lour, have a round Belly and a little Mouth ; but
the fpotted have a fharper Back, Their Skin is
foft in the Males 'tis harder than in thc Females,
only it does not go the Length ot a crufty Subftance.
Y I wave
%2 2 A Differtation
I wave the Vifcera cf the Taravtula, upon the
Confideration that their friable and foft Subftance
renders the minute Structure unperceivable But I :
C H A P. IV.
T
|
'1
HE Taravtula takes its Origin from an Egg,
X
Means,
and propagates
well as other Animals.
as all
by the
its Species
Their Spe-
laine
long.
m l
This Bladder of Eggs refembles, in Figure and
Magnitude, a Lupine ; as you fee it reprefented, )
7
Fig. 4. If you cut it upthro' the Middle, you lM
iind within it a vaft Quantity of little Eggs,
j
fometimes Hundreds and above. See Fig.
j.J
Thefe little Eggs are rang'd in a regular Order, I
and mutually join'd by fchin flaggy Threads, orj
rather by a peculiar Sort of Slime. One of thel
Eggs apart is as big as a Millet-Seed, and fome-»
times as a White Poppy-Seed. They are everv
way round, and their outer Membrane is very thhm
and friable in the Cavity of which are containedl
5
I
of the Tarantula. 325
parclfd Soil of Afidia, lefs or more, according as
the Tarantitla frequents the Plain, or the moun-
tainous Parts of the Country.
Now, that I am fpeaking of the Fggs of Infects,
'twill not be improper to put in a few Remarlcs cf
the Eggs of Oyfters, the Propagation of which is
fo little known among Philofophers. Laft May I
made my Remarks on fome Oyfters brought alive
from Naples to Rome^ and in viewing with a Mi-
crofcope the Milk that floats in their Cavity, I
found it to be nothing elfe but a Colleftion of ve-
ry little Eggs, or of the minuteft Oyfters fwim-
ming confufedly in a flimy or refinous Sort of
Juicc If you fpread tftis Milk upon a GhCs, and
hold it before a ftrong Light, you'11 obferve with
a Microfcope a Sort of fwinging Motion, and a
wandring Progrefs of the Parts of the Milk, as if
fuch Progrefliqns were the firft Rudiments of Mo-
tion of the future Animal. Modefty will not fuf-
fer me to take notice of the very lively Motions,
that a famous Phyfician of Italy has obferved in
the Seed of other Animals.
Milk new drawn from a She-Goat, and fpread
upona Glafs, reprefents under a Microfcope an h>
finite Quantity of very minute Globules, or little
Balls, that move nimbly to and again.-, nay, IVe
pb(erv'd this nimble Motion in thefe Globules
two or three Days aftcr 'twas millc'd, provided the
Milk was not tunfd or corrupted And if you add
:
I
316 A Vijjertation
C H A P. V.
rnp^ HE
TqrantuJa is not venomous in every
Country, nor iri every Seafon of the Year,
but only in Apulia, and that i" 1
unmer,' efpcdal-
.
C H A P,
of the Tarantula. 329
CHAP. VI.
TH E Life of
happinefs, but
Man
always a Scene of Un-
is
Air, and the like. There are fome that will rowl
themfelves in the Dirt like Swine, and are mighti-
ly pleas'd with the Exercife. Others again yoii
cannot pleafe, unlefs they be foundly drubb'd on
the Breech, Heels, Feet, Back, &c. And there
are fome that take a great Pleafure in running.
There are alfo curious Obfervations made about
Colours ; fome of which are very agreeable to
thofe Peifons, as others are offenfive to 'em; and
according to the different Degree of Depravation
in the Fancy, fometimes they are refrefhM or
pffended
332 A Differtation
offended with one Colour, fometimes with ano-
ther.
C H A P. VII.
33£ A 'Differtation
of our Country, fo that I need not fpend time to
refute it.
CHAP.
of the Tarantula, 332
C H A P. VIIL
342 ^ Dijfertation
alfo the Efcar will fall off.
I have feen at Padua,
when the Cure was peform'd by D. Marcbetti.
But to return into our way from this Diverfion :
C H A P. IX.
244 ^ Differttttion
Ground, up he gets, (as in a Fury) falls a Dancing,
Sighihg, and into a thoufand mimick Gcftures.
Thcfe fiift and violent Motions continue for feve-
ral Hours, commonly for two or thrce after a
little Bieathing in a Bed, v/here he is Iaid to carry
off the Sweat, and that hemay pick up a little
Strength, to woik he gocs again, wi*ii as much
Eagernelsas he did before, and every Day fpends
twelve Kours by the Clock in repeateuLan-
;:lmoft
ciug and, which is truly wonderful, fo tar is he
•,
this is done, and the Sweat wiped oftj they are re-
freftYd with Broth, or fome fuch light Food ; for
their extraordinary want cf Appetite will not al-
low them to feed higher. About one a-Clock af-
ter No n, or two at lartheft, they renew theExer-
.cife as before, and continue it inthe manner above-
mention'd tiil the Evening ; then to Bed they go
of the Tarantula. 345
again for another Sweat When thafs
: over, and
they have got a Refrefhment, they lay then>
little
felves to fleep. This way of Dancing ccmmonly
holds four Days it feldom reaches to the iixth.
;
C H A P. X.
and untainted.
There is nothing more frequent in the opening
of Bodies, than to meet with extravafated Serun?
in the Parts and Cavities of it. But I have ob-
ferv'd it elpecially in the Bodies of fuch as have
dy'd through a general Coagulation of the Blood,
or rather a particular one, there being an Obftru-
ction in fome of the Bowels. By general, I mean
that which is in malignant Fevers proceeding from
Coagulation by particular, that in the Apoplexy,
•,
C H A P.
of the Tarantula. 355
C H A P. XI.
H I S T O R Y I.
HISTORY II.
HISTORY III.
HISTORY IV.
HISTORY V.
*J
an Hour,\ the Paticnt began to iigh ftrangely,
*' and to fetch his Breath pretty faft, and in about
H I S T O-
of the Tarantula,
359
HISTORY VI.
HISTORt Vtt.
HISTORY VIII.
the faid Circle went off, and tjle Part that wa3
ftung contimfd of a Colour fomewhat red and
Muifh, but he fcarce felt the Pain. Thus the Dif-
eafe held without any freih Onfet of Symptonas
for fifteenDays The fifteenth Day, a black Sciuf
;
C H A P. XII.
C H A P. XIII.
dence
of tbe Tarantula.
375
dence with the Humours and folid Parts. The
Force of the Air thus mov'd by the Impulfe of the
Mufick, is increas'd and quicken'd by the ardent
Heat of the Sun, and of the thin Air of Apvlia -,
Bb 3 DISSER-
374
DI S S E RTAT I O M II.
O F T H E
Blifterins - Piaifters.
B b 4 havivg
3j6 Of the ZJfe and Abufe
havirg thus made a great mavy Obfervations , botb
paclical avd aratcmical, I tack'd \m all together for
my own Ufe; avd wbev tbefe fell ivto the Havds of
fome learved Pbyjiciavs of tbis City, they requefed me
to pvblijl) "em in Ccmpavy with the f^regoivg Tracls.
For viy'part, I toolt tbe Subje-i to be invidious ; avi
fearirg all the r.ew Doclcrs w uld fa'i upov me iva
Lump, dcclivd it for a lovg time But at lajr, beivg
:
C H A P. I.
EXPERIMENT I.
EXPERIMENT II.
EX PERIMENT III.
/
380 Of the Vfe and Abnfe
broke, voided a blackifh Sernm. At laft all the
Blood mix'd with the Cantharides, difTblv'd into a
blackilh and livid Semm $ but that in the other
Veflel fufier'd no fuch Changes.
EXPERIMENT IV.
HISTORY I.
Italian Hofpital.
When faw him firft, 'twas the twelfth Day of
I
* his illnefi ;
and then his Phyfician p: efcrib'd him
the Powder of Comachivi :Next Day he apply'd
fix Bliftering-Plaifters to his Body, which was ve-
ry meagre. The fourteenth Day he was feiz'd with
a Delinum, a Suppreilion of Spitting, a Trem-
of Bliftering-Plaiftcrs. 381
bling in the Flefh, Epileptick Motions, an une-
qual Pulfe and Refpiration. He voided great
Quantities of Urine, and bilious ftinking Stools,
without any Abatement of the Symptcms. The
fixteenth, all things afliimM a milder Face $ but
the next Night they renewM their Rage, with a
moft copious, univerial and glutinous Sweat, that
had an acid Smell, and continued to the 2ift, on
which the Patient expired.
HISTORY II.
HISTORY III.
A
young thin "Woman, eight Months gone with
Child, was troubled for eight Days together with
Pains in her Belly, and then brought forth a Child.
After Delivery the Pains ftill contimfd, with a
notable Diftention of the Belly ; and having
flighted, or rather neglected all manner of Reme-
dies, was advis'd at laft, by a Phyfician, to have
four Bliftering-Plaifters applied to her. This oc-
cafion'd a Supprelfion of the Lochia, which were
open before. A
few Days after, the Lochia re-
turn'd, and her Belly began to fuffer grievousCon-
vulfions with great Pain, infomuch that fhe could
not bear the PrefTure of one's Finger ; thefe were
follow'd by cold Sweats, with a Coldnefs in the
extreme Parts, the Pulfe and Refpiration became
very low ; and, in a word, fhe was almoft dead.
A few Days after, fhe grew a little better but ;
CHAP,
of Bliftering-Plaifters. 383
C H A P. II.
§. I.
k
I've obferv'd, that thofe who are feverely
wounded in the Head, and feiz'd with a Vomiting,
an Abolition of the Senfes, and other grievous
Symptoms of diforder'd Brains, are fome of 'em
feiz'd with violent Convullions foon after the-Ap-
plication of Bliftering-Plaifters
; fome are feis'd a
few Hours or Days after with cold Svveats, whidi
are follow^d by Death Others die of Convullions
:
of Blifterhig-PIaifters. 38$
the next night. I remember to have feen one that
Was violently ill of fpafmodick Gripes and
Throws in the Belly, with a Fever, and after
the application of Bliftering-Plaifters in the Ho-
fpital voided by Stool a great quantity of reddifh
Blood^ and died fbon after. Having thus obferv'd
again and again, that fatal Convulfions or the
above-mentioifd Diforders were the confequence of
bliftering Plaifters applied for grievous Wounds in
the Head -,Ifreely foretold upon all fuch Occafions
what would come to pafs, and the Event always
verifyM the Prediction. Where-ever you fufpect
or fee Convulfions, abftain altogether from Bli-
ftering Plaifters • efpecially if they be accom-
pany'd with a Fever, a fharp and colliquative
Conftitutjon of the Blood, with a thin Habit of
Body, or fucceed to previous Watchings, to a fpare
Diet, or Venereal Evacuations. Such as have beenj
pox'd before, are very much injufd by Blifterjng-
Plaifters, let the Difeafe be what it will 80 that
;
C g Bliftws,
3S6 Of the V(e and Abufe
Blifters, or from the othcr Remedics, I therefore
feldom or r.ever did prefcribe Bliftering-Plairiers
in tbefe Cafes for J usel happily to compafs the
•,
III.
IV.
C H A P.- III.
S E C T. I.
II.
Emulfions
of Bliftering-Plaifters. 395
Emulfions made with tb.e Water cf Carduus Eene*
dittus., or Violet-Water, or Barly-Water : Some-
times I flhdft the Emulhons with diluting Decocti-
ons of reirigerating Hubs, qualified with a ron-
venient Quantity uf Nitre. Oi the nitruis Pre-
parations, I recommend the Antimonial Nitre, oc
SaJ PrwelL Sometimes the Uicers rais'd by Bli-
fters are in Diforder, thro' the Fault eitner of the
morbifick Matter, or of an ili Habit uf Bodv .
III.
IV.
5
fay, tis no V onder ii fonn aitcr we meet with
Ruptures of the Veliels, and. dangenus Fixations
of the Fluids ;a thu g that dailv l.xperience irakes
out fufficier.tly. F >r after an indifcVeet and un-
feafonable Ufe of Purgatives, Biiltering-Plaifters,
Diaphoreticks, &c. thcre^s nothing more fcquent
than an Exafperatibn of the Fv. ver, I)elirv\m\, In-
j
V.
C H A P. IV.
S E C T. I.
II.
D I S
410
DISSERTATION III.
Containing Several
OBSERVATIONS. -
A CoU
[ 4'2 ]
EXPERIMENT l
'
A ^ out ^en Years ago, I took a great Dog at
i\_ Naples, in the Month of Jitly-, and opening
his jugular Vein in the Afternoon, I injedted into
it with a Syringe Half an Ounce of the Spirit of
Vitriol. As foon as I had clos'd anu" fwath'd up
the Wound, the Dog was feiz'd with a Shirering
and Shaking, he vomited and threw out great
Plenty of Spittle, he fell down upon the Ground,
was breathlefs, and fomewhat touch'd with Con-
vulfions ^ after a few Hours he dy'd. When I cut
tip his Carcafe, I found all his Vifcera of a blackifh
Colour, and a great Quantity of black and clotted
Blood in the Heart ^ the Blood in the Lungs was
likewife clotted, but every Thing befides was
found.
A COROLLARY.
I meet with few Authors of this Age, that treat
of the Art of Infufing of Liquors into the Blood
or Vefiels of a living Animal, or lay down the
Method of going regularly about that Art not- ,
EXPERIMENT II.
EXPERIMENT III.
A C O-
414 Obfervdtions^ Scc.
A COROLLARt
The two laftExperiments teach us, what difre-
rent Effe&s the fame Medicines may have upon
the Humours according as they are apply'd to this
or that Part, internally or extemally, &c. For
confidering that the Blood returning from the
whole Body, rufhes continually and in great Plen-
ty into the Lungs ; *tis no wonder, That the Spirit
of Wine ihrown immediately by the Jugular Vein
into that great Ocean of Blood, coagulafed it im-
mediately, and occafion'd fudden Death ;for Spi-
rit of Wine thickens the White of an Egg very
remarkably ; and being held in the Mouth makes
the Spittle as thick as Glew. Etmiillems Tom. 1.
de Nutr. & Aiicl. and Bohvius cap. de Somv. & Vi-
gil. affirm, That Spirit of Wine produces the fame
Effecls in the Blood andSpirits. Now the fame
Effecl could not enfue upon the Injecting of Spirit
of Wine into the Crural Vein, for there being but
a fmall Inundation in that Part, which moves
with a continued Velocity to the Heart, without
any fuch ftay as is obferv'd in the Lungs $ the co-
agulating Vertue of the Spirit is eafily enervated
and broken, before it arrives at a larger Channel,
where by vertue of the great Quantity, and the
flow Progreflion, it.might otherwife produce a Co-
^ and fo its Vertue is
agulation and fixation quite
funk uponrepeated Circulation.
This may furnifh us with a Reafon, why feve-
ral Difeafes after caufing various Inconveniencies
in divers Parts of the Body, terminate at lafb in
Diforders of the Lungs and Kidneys :The Reafon
is this ; the Blood thus tainted with Morbifick
Particles, and being oblig'd in courfe to vifit thefe'
two Vifcera more frequently and copioufly than
any other, cant but finifh its fatal Tragedy, there
oceafioning.
ObfervatiofiSj &c. 415
occafioning Ulcers, Coagulations or Gangrenes, or
affe&ing them many other Ways. For this Reafon
we ought always to take care of the Lungs and
the Kidneys in the Difeafes of long ftanding.
EXPERIMENT IV.
EXPERIMENT V.
EXPERIMENT VI.
EXPERIMENT VII.
A COROLLARY.
All the World knows, that the Nerves which
Heart, are deriv'd from the Trunk of the'
vifit the
Par vagum and confidering that in the foregoing
;
EXPERIMENT VIII.
EXPERIMENT IX.
EXPERIMENT X.
Duct, &
c. 'Tis obfervable, that when the Steam.s
EXPERIMENT XI.
Tbe
Obfervations^ &c. 425
AN
[ 4*9 ]
A N
APPENDIX,
O F
The Apoplexies that were almoft
Epidemical, in the Tears 16574 and
1 69 5 5 at Rome^ and all over Italy.
FOR
and
Two laft Years, (I mean 1694,
thefe
1695,) the Apoplexy has fwept off
great Numbers of People, both in this City,
and all over Italy h and the fatal EfFefts of this
Difeafe were fo frequent, that they alarm'd even
the Healthful with Apprehenlions of fudden Death.
The Caufe of this Epidemick Apoplexy is juftly
imputed to the unufuai Conftitution of the Wea-
ther in thofe Years. The Summer of 1695 was
fo extream hot and fcorching, which was fol-
low'd by nipping cold Weather, in the Begin-
ning of 1694, and contrary to the Cuftom of
Italy
, with a rigid Froft, Snow and Ice. Cam-
pavia di Roma and Puglia, which are feldom fub-
je& to Snow, were then cover'd with it to the
Heighth of a Cubit. The Summer afier that
was much hotter than the former, infomuch that
for
43o A V ? E N D I X.
for Five Months together there was no Rain.
About the Beginning of Ociober it began to
,
F I N I S.
,