CHAP. I. Of the Original of the Lues Venerea, and several Names of it.

COncerning the beginning of this Disease, Authours are various, and I find that it hath had variety of names, in several times and places, but my opinion is, that the Disease is very ancient, and may challenge al­most as much Antiquity, as the Sin of Uncleanness, for the names of it, I will set down but these few; the Italians call it Morbus Gallicus, the French call it Scabies Hispanica, and Morbus Italicus, in Spain they call it Morbus Neapolitanus, in England we call it Morbus Gallicus, and Lues Ve­nerea, by the last name I intend to treat of it.

CHAP. II. The Causes of the Lues Venerea, and several ways of Infecting.

THe causes of this Distemper are twofold, the first of an occult quality, being as a scourge laid on Mankind (by the Almighty,) to re­strain our too wanton Lusts, the other is by an impure touch or contagion, especially in Copulation; a Man re­ceiving of an infected Vapour, or fil­thy Sanies, into the Pores of the Skin, or into the Vrethra, as well before the ejecting of the Seed, as after, the Wo­man having either a Gonorrhaea, or else an Ulcer, or perhaps only the foul Seed of some infected Person left in her, some small time before, which being lodged in the wrinckles of the Womb, may be drawn in by the pores of the extended Penis, so that tis pos­sible [Page 3]for a Man to get this Disease, by a Woman that was never infected her self, for the oleaginous moysture that is ever in the neck of the Womb, doth many times defend it from being infected, besides, in Women the parts being not so strait, nor yet so hot, the infection is not so nourished and fomented, as tis in men, besides the admirable cunning that Women of the Town use, is not a little to be ob­served.

There be many persons that will not believe any hurt can be gotten, any other way than by Copulation with an infected person, but I will prove the contrary by common expe­rience, as for example.

A Gentleman about 25 years of age, having lain with a young Lass about 19 or 20 years old, was so excessive in the use of Venery with her, that having kept her company three days, a violent Fever seized them both, with [Page 4]great pains in the Back and Head, I was sent for to let them Bloud, but when I came and had inquired into the causes of their Distemperature, I would by no means take any Bloud a­way, for the Fever being caused by the diminution of the Spirits, blee­ding must have increased the Fever, rather than abated it, I therefore or­dered each a Glyster of the Decoct. Com. cum Sy Violar. and two hours after the Glyster; an Emulsion of the cool Seeds, dulcisied with Syr. Citrini, and a little Diacodion to re­frigerate the parts and cause sleep, in two or three days the Fever left them, the Woman was very well, but a Gonorrhaea attended the man, without its usual symptoms, and it was carri­ed off with much ease, for I verily be­lieve it was caused only by too much forcing of the spermatick Vessels, and heating of the parts, especially the Prostate Glandules; tis not impos­sible [Page 5]for this Disease to be gotten by Kissing, especially if either party have an Ulcer in the Throat, or Ulceration in the Mouth, from which a slimy juice proceeding, and the Lips being moist­ned thereby, may very easily infect the other; the common Lacivious way of Kissing doth much adjuvate this way of infecting.

Children are very subject to be in­fected this way, for by reason the Pores of their Skin being open, and apt to attract, they are injur'd by an unwholesome Kiss, and they being once infected are hard to cure.

A man who had a large Ulcer in his Throat, came to me for help, (by Gods blessing I cured him,) his Wife lying in Childbed at the same time, and her Breasts being sore, I was call'd to give my advice, I found her in a Fever, and her Niples Ulcerated; I call'd for her Child, whom I found infected with an Ulcer in the Mouth, [Page 6]presently I declar'd them both to be infected with the Pox; I will not stand to determine, whether the Wo­man was infected before her delivery, and so the Child brought into the World with the Distemper; or whe­ther the Father did by kissing infect the Child, and so the malignity con­veyed to the Mother through the po­rous body of the Niples, but to make good my assertion, pray observe the event.

A Neighbour who was a Nurse coming to visit the Woman, whose Breasts was sore, and hearing her com­plain of the tenderness of her Niples, she taking up the infected Child kissed it, and gave it her Breast, (she being ignorant of the Distemper,) the Child sucked her and infected her, insomuch that her Lips and Breasts broke out with ulcerous Sores; moreouer a lit­tle Girl about Eight years old, that used to play to the infected Child, [Page 7]and often to kiss it, was by it in­fected.

The Disease is very often got by lactation, therefore I do advise those that put their young Children to Nurse, to be wary in chusing of Nur­ses, and in like manner, Nurses ought to be carefull what and whose Chil­dren they take, for the Venome is ve­ry often communicated from Nurses to Children, and as often received by Nurses from them, for a very small matter is able to infect either, and many Families have been undone by receiving the Venome this way.

Tis not to be imagined how ma­ny Children in a year are destroyed in this City by this Distemper, though in the Weekly Bills they pass for gri­ping of the Guts, or Worms, Rick­ets, &c.

Tis dangerous to Sweat in a Bed with one that hath the Pox, and young people are often infected this [Page 8]way, but pray mistake me not, for many will fay they have sain with those that have had it, and yet never got any hurt, which may be, for some Constitutions are so hardy, that they will not be easily infected, but any man of sense must believe, that not only the sweat of Pockey persons, but the vapor which may come from them in a Bed, must needs be injurious, es­pecially having the advantage of heat to open the pores of the Body.

There be some Writers that do af­firm, that the breath of a Pockey per­son is infectious, but I think that as­sertion very ridiculous, for experience doth every day confirm the con­trary.

There is a great deal of variety in Bodies, some being far more easily in­fected than other, as sanguine and slegmatick persons, (but are more easily cured than Cholerick or Melan­cholly persons are,) and many have [Page 9]known several men to be concerned with one Woman, one soon after the other, and some to come of without being hurt, and the otehr to be dan­geroufly Peppered.

CHAP. III. The signs of the Lues Venerea.

THe signs of this Distemper are various, according to the strength and constitution of the Pati­ent, the general signs are these, viz. A debility of the whole body, as if wearied by much labour, (which is caused by the infection of the Spirits,) a stifness of the Joynts, but more es­pecially of the Hips and Thighs, great pulsation of the Arteries, a shooting pain in the Groins, pain in the Cod, itching about the root of the Yard, [Page 10]sharpness of Urine, and a pricking pain in erection, and flowing of yel­low sanies from the Yard oftimes, pain in the Back and in the Head; these are the infallible signs of a Go­norrhaea, some of them hapning to one, and some to another, and yet I have known all of them to happen to one person, and at one time, some have other symptomes, as the Pre­puce and Glans, swelling immoderate­ly with great pain, or perhaps the Vre­thra stopped up with Caruncles, the Glans almost covered with Warts, sometimes excoriations of the Glans, or ulcers on the Glans, or Prepuce or both, sometimes Buboes do arise in the Groins, which if once suppurate and open'd handsomely, the Cure is per­formed with much ease, but if they are drove back into the Body, they make the Distemper more inveterate, seize the Liver and confirm a Pox.

Some persons immediately after the receiving of the infection, are taken with a giddiness of the Head, and most terrible pains in the Eyes and Ears, and in most parts of the Body, breaking out with small red Pimples, which presently return into the Body, and a while after break out with foul Scabs, some moist and spreading, though more generally they are dry and hard, and very nearly represent the cup of an Acorn both in shape and colour.

Some have Ulcers on the body of the Yard, some in the Fundament, others have large nodes upon the Bones in several parts, these are most certain symptomes of the Pox.

Note, that this Distemper doth va­ry much in its times, many times shew­ing it self in 1, 2, or 3 days, sometimes lying hid a Month, two or three, and sometimes a year or more, but it ly­eth not idle, for the longer it lies hid, [Page 12]the more inveterate it proves, when once it appears, and of times disguised under another name; it tyraniseth in the body to the destruction of the Pa­tient; I therefore advise all persons that so soon as ever they find them­seves touched with this venomous Dart, that they straightways repair to such Persons as are able to help them.

CHAP. IV The dangerous effects of the Lues Venerea.

TO demonstrate all the effects of this raging Distemper, would take up much time, therefore as breis­ly as possible, I will acquaint thee how great a Tyrant this Disease is to those People, who either scorn to own [Page 13]they have it, or those who being a shamed to confess their Condition rather venture to undergoe it, that wisely to seek for help; I have known some so sordidly foolish, that having had Ulcers on the Penis, have so long slighted the Disease, untill the Penis hath been mortified even unto the Belly, upon which insued immediate Death, and some escaping with their Lives, have lost most part, if not all of the Members; I have known o­thers to have been almost eaten up by this Disease, before they have known so much as the name of their Malady: I have seen many Women with large Ulcers in the neck of the Womb, which have caused continual pains, by corroding of the parts, others that have been Ulcerated from the Pubes, even to the Anus, insomuch that the Labia have been eaten away in some, and in many mortified; many have spongy excressencies on the Labia, [Page 14]with multitudes of warts round the Labia and Anus, and many have the venereal Fistula in Ano, which will ad­mit of no Cure, without the use of Antivenereal Medicines. I have known some who having been seized with a violent pain in the Head, and in all the Limbs, have fallen into a Fe­ver and Died Mad. Some have sharp and continual pains in all the Joynts, especially in the Shoulders: And Nodes affixed to the Bones in many parts of the Body, insomuch that the very Bones become Rotten, for the Disease is so Maligne, that it will creep between the Bone and the Flesh, and consume both.

These Nodes, are by some called Gummata, they are painful Swellings, and are caused by the Flegmatick part of the Disease, left behind in ill mana­ged Courses of Physick, but in some they are absolute Elevations of the Bone, the Venome having penetrated the Periostium.

Some have the Penis so stopped with caruncles, that they cannot make Wa­ter, some have the uvula and the Pa­lat of the Mouth eaten away by Ʋlcer, and many you see who loose their Noses by this violent Disease, some have the tip of the Nose and Nostril eaten away some loose their Eyes, and many their hearing, and some their Mouths drawn away, and indeed I could quote multitudes of Example of the fury of it. Oh! how intollerable are the Pains that many poor Wretches indure by this Distemper especially in the Night, at which time it most boldly walks its rounds to af­flict poor Mortals, for indeed all Pains are worse in the Night, than the Day, by reason that the exercising of the Bo­dy in the Day doth divert the Pain, but the Warmness of the Bed at Night doth stir up the Malignity, and the very thoughts of the Patient in the Night [Page 16]being fixed on the object of Pain, doth make the Misery more intollerable.

Many Years have some undergone the Tyranny of this Distemper, till at last it having enervated all the parts of the Body, and consumed the Flesh to the Bones, it surrenders them to the Grave, whom perhaps, had they but used such Medicines, as had been pro­per in such Cases, they might soon have eradicated the Disease from their Bodys. 'Tis not a small Number, but many Thousands, that have perished for want of such Noble Medicines as have force to over come the Maligni­ty of this Disease.

How many Consumptions, Catharrs, Astmaes, and innumerable more Dis­eases proceed from nothing else but this Fountain, 'tis this is the domine­ring Distemper of our Age; though too often it goes under the notion of some other Disease, though many do believe the Scurvey is far more pre: [Page 17]vailing, which indeed is a very de­structive Malady, and incident to most Men, for the Reliques of the Lues Ve­nerea, doth many times convert into the Scurvey and sometimes the Dropsie, and not seldome into the Gout; and I pray observe this, that where ever any Di­stemper is complicated, with any Re­lique of the Venereal Disease, it ever proves very stubborn, and will not yield to ordinary means, and indeed cannot be perfectly Cured, without the use of good Antivenereal Medi­cines.

CHAP. V. Of the Mischiefs caused by ignor ant Pretenders.

THe diversity of my Practice in this City for several years hath given me occasion to observe, that ma­ny mischiefs are daily occasioned by impudent and ignorant Pretenders. I mean not only those (Vagrants) who pretend to have brought such strange and wonderful Medicines from For­reign Parts: But many of our own Country men, who too boldly ven­ture on the Curing of Diseases with­out ever knowing the Nature or Causes of them; nay, many times not so much as the Name of the Distem­per: Who although illiterate persons, and never bred to the Knowledge of the Practice of Physick and Chyrur­gery, yet boldly fly at all, valuing a [Page 19]Patients Life, no more than their own little or no Credits, most of them pre­tending to the Cure of this Disease, and making the most small appearance, seem to be the highest degree of the Pox, especially when the Patient confesses a guilt, they speedily pro­nounce an infection, making most of those People that go to them for ad­vice, to believe they have the Pox, al­though they are never so free from it, for if the Patient but propose this un­happy question. Sir, do you not think I have the foul Disease? They then as suddenly reply yes, yes: Thus many a harmless person is insnared, and by their own credulity, are cau­sed to undergo such strange courses of Physick, as perhaps may (and doth too often) ruin both Body and Purse, nay the misery of their rashness ends not here, for oftimes such differences between Man and Wife, are occasion­ed by these Proceedings, as causes a [Page 20]disorder their whole life time, as for Example.

A Woman (whom I believe to be a civil person) going lately to one who pretended to great Judgment in U­rines (and carrying her Urine to have his advice) he plainly told her she had the Pox, he looked in her Throat, and told her she had an Ʋlcer there, and that in a short time she would loose her Nose; this much startled the Wo­man, whereupon she told him she was troubled with a pain in her Head (which was all she ailed, and was oc­casioned only by obstructions) he forth with pronounces the pain of her Head to be Venereal, telling her the Pox was in her Brain; upon this home she goes, rails at her Husband, & resolves to be Cured whatever it cost, her Husband advised her to come to me, which she did, and desired me to tell her what I would have to Cure her of this her (immaginary) Disease. I making strict [Page 21]quiry concerning the State of her Bo­dy; all I could observe was, that she had pain in her head, which I suppo­sed was occasioned by the foulness of her Stomach and Obstructions: I en­quired of her whether her pain was nocturnal or no? whether she had any pains in her Shoulders, Back, Arms, Thighs, Shins, or any of her Joynts, any Breaking-out, any Nodes, &c. in a word, I could no way find she was infected; whereupon I declared she was free from the Pox, she was very angry, and told me she had an Ʋlcer in her Throat; I then looked in her Throat and found all well, which I affirmed to her; she went home much dissatisfied, and fell into a great Me­lancholy, because her Husband would not suffer her any more to go to the person who told her she had the Pox. She being in this condition, her Hus­band came to me and consulted me, upon which, I agreed to humourher [Page 22]Fancy: So I went to visit her, she com­plained much of her woful condition; I told her I had considered her Case, and that I would take care to Cure her, upon which she was very chear­ful (for she knew several that I had Cured of the Pox.) I Purged her five or six times with my head Pill, and gave her some Medicines that cleansed her Stomack and opened her obstructi­ons, by which means her pain in the head left her, and she remains very well; being thus Cured of her imma­ginary Pox, but I fear a reconciliation between her and her Husband will take up a longer time; I could instance many more such like Examples, but must not be too voluminous.

But to pass by many such sort of a­buses, let us suppose the unhappy Pa­tients to be really infected with the Pox, and see then what these Imposters do to them, and how strangely they handle them.

Here indeed the Patients condition is most deplorable, for as the Whore gives the Clap, here the Quack gives them the Pox, for not one Gonorrhaea in a hundred that these Fellows carry off as they ought: For their common cu­stome is, after they have administred five or six Purges, or perhaps not so many, then they use restringents, which stops the humour until it fouls the Blood and confirms a Pox. Others of them who sancy not restringents, Purge the Patient continually with one or other violent Medicine which debilitates the Body, but perhaps never corrects the Malignity of the Disease, thus these sort of persons many times bring their Patients into incurable Consumptions, and some they so strange­ly inflame by their exceeding hot and sharp Purges, that the Blood and hu­mours being made thin, and the parts so weak, that great inflamations often happen, and many times the ill treat­ing [Page 24]of Gonorrhaea's, at the beginning makes them very difficult to be carry­ed off (although the Patient at last happens into the hands of an experien­ced Artist) great swelling of the Te­sticules are often occasioned by the barbarous usuage of these unexperien­ced persons, and their ill prepared Me­dicines, and many Examples I could quote, but time will not allow, how­ever this one I cannot but insert. A Young Gentleman having a Gonorrhaea, had the ill Fortune to meet with a person who (as the Sequell will in­form you) was a more dangerous E­nemy than his Distemper: The Gen­tleman having made known his Dis­ease, the undertaker soon agrees upon a Price for the Cure, in order to which he gives the Patient six Pills to take the next Morning, which Pills gave him near Thirty Stools, inflaming his Body very much; you the next day the poor Gentleman was ordered to [Page 25]take six Pills more, which gave him between Thirty and Forty Stools, cau­sing much Blood to come from him by stool, with most violent tortions of the Guts: The third day he being ve­ry ill, was advised to send for me. I went to visit him, and found him ve­ry weak in a Fever, and often falling into Fainting-Fits, which was occasi­oned by the expence of Spirits; his Yard was much tumified, and violent pain in making water. I declared his Case to be very dangerous, and advised to call in some able Physician, for I was unwilling to take him in hand be­fore I had consulred with some learn­ed Artist, while I thus advised, in comes the person who had given him the Pills, who did not know me, where­upon I desired him to let me know his Opinion concerning his Patient. In order to which, down he sets, pulls his Hat over his Eyes, and gravely putting the Head of his Cane to his [Page 26]Lips he begins in a formal way, these very Words. Sir, my Patient has now had enough of the purgative part, therefore it will be convenient to proceed unto restringents, to Night he shall take half an Ounce of Cinnamon in Powder in a Glass of Claret, to stay the Flux of his Belly, to morrow I will give him some re­stringent Pills to stay his running.

You cannot but imagine this Fel­lows impudence might justly have raised a Passion in any Man, who knew any thing of Medicine, but to be short he was soon dismissed, and an able Phy­sician (as I desired) was sent for, to whom I proposed what I thought fit to do to the Patient, all which he well approved of, and perswaded the Pa­tient to rely upon the course I had pro­posed. I then began in manner fol­lowing. First I gave him a Balsamick Glyster, that might heal his excoria­ted Bowels, and abate his Gripings. I then gave him a Cordial Haustus that [Page 27]might refrigerate, and comfort his weak Stomack, and moderately re­store his too much diminished Spirits, each of these I repeated as often as I thought fit, and for his Dyet: I pre­scribed Chicken-Broath, in which was Boyled Endive and French-Barley, thus his strength was by Degrees increased: I all this while, not offering at any An­tivenereal Medicines, but every Day bathed his Yard, which took down the Swelling. At last I began to use gentle Antivenereals, keeping him to Emulsions, and Diuretick Decoctions, never Purging him above once in 3 Days, and then but moderately, by which means I perfectly Cured him, and I believe for the future, he will be wary of venturing his Life in the Hands of such a Person as he had like to have been ruined by.

Not long since, I was called to vi­sit a Person who was supposed to have taken Poison, coming into the Room, I [Page 28]smelt a Cadaverous Scent; such as u­sually attends those that are Fluxed. I observed the Patient, his Face much swellen, his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth, and much drivling from his Mouth, I declared he had taken some Mercurial Medicines that Fluxed him. The Patient could not utter one word, but made signs for Pen and Pa­per, which was brought him; he wrote that he had taken nothing but 4 Pills which a Person pretending to Physick, had given him, for to carry of an infe­ction, which he supposed he had of a common Woman some time before, & that he feared his Bloud was much in­fected, by reason such strance Accidents happened upon stirring the Humour.

I could not but smile, to observe the timidity of the Patient; wherefore I made search for some Symptom of the Venereal Disease, which I was very Curious in doing, but through all his Body I could not find the reast sign of any such Disease: I declared my opi­nion [Page 29]was, the Patient was abused. I inquired of the Nurse, whether there was any of the Pills left, she shewed me one which I broke, and could plain­ly see the small particles of the Crude, Quick-silver in it; I tasted it, and do really believe it was nothing but crude Quick-silver, mixed with Turpen­tine, &c. I cannot say mortified, the Preparation being so imperfect. And I do believe, that the Person who Ad­ministred the Pills, did design to have frighted the Patient into the believe of a real Pox, and by that means to have extorted a Sum of Money from him; the Patient by Writing, desired me to take care of him, whereupon I injec­ted a Purging Glyster, which gave him Three or Four Stools, which I repeated once every Day, I washed his Mouth with a Restringent Lotion, and gave often fresh extracted Cassia, with Salt of Tartar, and caused him to swallow a Golden-Bullet very often, by [Page 30]these means I precipitated the Mercury, and the Patient regained his former Health.

Thus may you see how dangerous it is, to meddle with such as are either Ignorant of the use of Medicine, or that have neither Conscience or Honesty, justly to consider each mans Case.

CHAP. VI. Of several ways of Curing the Pox.

AS there is great variety in the Na­ture of this Disease, so is there several ways used for the Curing of it, among which, some are so dangerous, that many persons have perished in their supposed Cure, and others have been attended by such fierce Accidents, that neither time nor care could ever Remedy; as for Example, Fumigation [Page 31]by Cinnaber, that old and dangerous way, hath proved it self so pernicious that the Use of it is almost quite left.

2dly. Unction by the Common Mercurial Unguent, a way thought commonly used, yet not commendable for by the Use of the Unguent, many times the Salivation rises so fiercely that the Patient is suffocated, moreover by this way, the Natural heat of the Joynts is oft-times so dissipated that not only a debility of the parts, but Lameness hath insued, more over the uncertainty of this way is great, for sometimes the Mercury precipitates it self so suddenly, that the Salivation proves ineffectual, by not continuing a sufficient time, nor can the underta­ker judge exactly, what quantity o [...] the Medicine hath penetrated; yet in those Diseases that are intercutaneous this way may be apt enough.

3dly. Salivation by Medicine gives at the Mouth, which is much safe [...] [Page 32]than the former, and I am certain much more sure; for first, this is, or ought to be done by some Mercurial Medicine, neatly prepared, which may be given according to the strength of the Patient, still observing to augment, or else to diminish the Dose as may be thought fit.

Those that Salivate any person, ought to be careful, to observe the va­riety there is in Bodys; for they may find that Sanguine and Flegmatick Bo­dys are not only more easie to Salivate, but will likewise spit much more, and indure it much longer than Cholerick, or Melancholy Bodies can. The pre­paration of the Body is no small mat­ter in this sort of Cure; besides Care ought to be taken to carry off the Mer­cury well at last.

4thly. Sweating which, is divers ways to be caused, some use the Hot-House, Stuva's, Bannio, others the Tub or Box, and Cradle, &c. Some make a little Stove, wherein the Pati­ent [Page 33]sits with his Head out, and is Swea­ted by a Pan of Charcoale, but 'tis a most dangerous way, for the Fume which arises from the Coals, doth much hurt to the Nerves, and likewise to the Lungs, for although the head be out, and thereby the danger of suf­focating be prevented, yet the ill Va­por doth, and will penetrate through the Pores of the Body, and hath an in­jurious quality.

The best way of Sweating is in the Stuva, where the Patient being well rubbed, Sweat is more easily procured, or else the Box or Tub with Spirit of Wine, and this way is very conveni­ent for the Pox; for a Sweating-Box is easily conveyed to the Patients Cham­ber, where with little trouble the Par­ty moves from the Bed into the Box, Sweats, and to Bed again; by which means taking Cold is avoided, which is really the greatest Enemy in the World to all Pocky Persons, both [Page 34]these last mentioned ways of Sweat­ing I have often found instrumental in the Cure of the Pox, for it throws out much of the virulency by the Pores of the Skin, and procures the speedy sea­ling and falling away of the Scabs, and abateth Pains in the Shoulders, Shins, or any part of the Body; I have found great Nodes to be much helped by Sweating.

5thly. Diet, which is a safe way, working moderately, and yet surely. My meaning here is, by the use of a good convenient. Diet-Drink, aptly sitted to the Constitution of the Pati­ent. For although a late French Wri­ter (as well as some of our own Coun­try men) doth deny that either Sarsa, China, Sarsafras, or Guacum, have any Power in Curing the Pox. I know they are in the wrong, and I have by great Experience found the Essicacy of them, being justly prepared; yet I must allow that some men do much [Page 35]hurt by the unadvised Use of Die [...] Drinks, partly by ignorance, and par [...] ­ly by avarice, making use of too much Guacum, both VVood and Bark, which not only too much exsiccates, but often inflames the Body by its excessive hea [...] for 'tis most common among some me [...] to rely too much upon the Fame o [...] these or other Drugs; imagining that [...] long as that they have but great stor [...] of Drugs in their Diet-Drinks, the [...] cannot do amiss, when indeed the on­ly matter is in dispencing prope [...] quantities of this or that Drug, accor­ding to the Nature of the Disease, o [...] the Constitution of the Patient: Fo [...] some men are satisfied since they know an Antivenereal is used never consider­ing that in weak Persons that are ema­ciated by the Distemper they must a [...] avoid the use of Guacum, or its Bark, o [...] that in Cholerick Persons, the use o [...] such hot Medicines are dangerous, an [...] yet used with good success in Plethori [...] [Page 36]Bodies; more-over I have observed great mistakes in many (who under­take to Cure this Disease by Diet) in suffering their Patients to go abroad, constantly in the time of their Cure when as reason directs the contrary; for those which undergo a course of Diet-Drink, ought to keep in their Chambers, and to keep their Bodies very warm, to help perspiration with Custome (although seldome observed here) is constantly used in Spain, Italy, and other parts.

6thly. Purging which, is a safe way, and daily Experience, teacheth that many Venereal Cases are treated by no other means, and yet are very hand­somely Cured. And I can with mo­desty affirm that I have Cured many hundreds by this way alone, for what other way can or may be used to those poor unhappy Wretches, where Pox and Poverty are complicated, and 'tis to be observed, that although none of [Page 37]the fore mentioned means are able to Cure this Disease without the help of Purging, yet this way has Cured ma­ny without other helps; but I do not here mean the common use of ordina­ry Catharticks, but Purging by some noble Preparation, which hath the powerful quality of of Correcting the Venereal Venome, and restoring Vigor to the Body, whereby it may be able to throw off the Disease; and indeed I have seen many strange Cases, wherein no other Medicine has been used but my Antivenereal Pill, which being took once in two days, for some time, has worked of the Disease to a Mira­cle.

7thly. Ishues upon which, the Spainards so doted formerly, that it was their com­mon Cure, and I have my self used this way with success in confirmed Poxes, for they cleanse the Body much, and accelerate the Cure several ways, by evacuating the Humor, and many [Page 38]times by revulsion in Ozena's, I com­monly make a Fontinel in each Arm, and a Seton in the Neck, these adju­gate a cure, especially if the Patient have a Catharr or Astma. But Ishues are of themselves not able to over­come the malignity of this Disease, however necessary for all persons who labour under the Pox, excepting those who are to undergo the Salivation, and those I always advise to dry up their Ishues upon the beginning of a Salivating Course, it being then no way proper to dry the Body least jui­ces be wanting to maintain the spit­ting its proper time.

CHAP. VII. The true way of Curing the POX.

NOw since so many ways are, or may be used for to cure this Disease, tis the Duty of every honest Artist rightly to consider the Patients [Page 39]case, and justly to weigh, what sort of cure may be most fit for them, for as there is great variety in the Disease, so must there be in the cure; some persons must of necessity keep up, o­thers have not, nay cannot have the conveniency of retirement, some Bodies will admit of the most rough ways of cure, others must have more gentle means used.

First, Observe, there is degrees of the Pox, that no internal Medicine can reach, no Fume, no Salivation, no Diet, Purgation, Sweating, &c. can help, what's then to be done? where Medicine cannot reach, manual Operation must, for where ever the Pox fouls a Bone, nought but exfolia­ting can avail, therefore, if the Cra­nium or any other Bone be foul lay it bare, so far as is convenient, and with detergent and exsiccating Powders, keep the part as dry as possibly you can, that the Bone may scale; in the [Page 40]Arms and Shins lay open all foul Bones, nor ever attempt the cure any other way, for every mans reason will direct that, nought but laying open can be proper where a Bone is foul, and tis wonderful to observe, how Nature will help to discharge the ma­lignant matter, so that the Patient be­ing aptly dressed once or twice in 24 hours, there will be little more to do, unless you will make use of a good Sarsa-Drink, which if the Patient can be at the charge of, will accelerate the cure, and restore the strength by amending the habit of body, and in­deed I never missed in this sort of cure, for I have made it my resolution, where ever I begin, to go through with my work, and therefore in this case especially, will take care that the Patients Poverty be not my Disgrace, for if good Nutriment and conveni­ency of place &c. be wanting, it will be hard for Nature to support it self in this sort of cure.

☞ Chankers or Ʋlcers on the Glans, or Prepuce require a careful head and hand to manage rightly, and I am most certain, that the major part of mankind which have suffered by the Pox, may date the Original of their miseries from the neglect of these Sores, but let no man mistake me, nor yet his own case, for I do not mean Excoriations of either Glans or Prepuce, for these are cured in a few hours, but venemous Chankers require both time and care, such as carry a hardness all round the Sore, for though they appear never so small, yet must they be esteem'd as particular Poxes, from which confirmed Poxes too of­ten proceed; the true cure consists in being well digested, all repelling Medicines being avoided, for tis an inhumane Cruelty to make slight of such Sores, as too many do, assuring the Patient they are but slight mat­ters, a few dressings and as few Pur­ges [Page 42]will secure all as they pretend, thus lulling the party into a dange­rous Pox, as six Months or may be less will shew. I say therefore, that all Chankers must be strongly di­gested; the Patient ought to Purge and sweat often, and a good Diet-drink would confirm the Cure, but if upon healing the Chankers, the hardness remain, you must be forced to salivate before you can be safe; I have seen Chankers that nought but salivation could Conquer, whose cal­lous Lips no corrosive could consume; for, suppose a Patient who hath a sharpness of Bloud from a venereal cause, you will find to your no small trouble, how difficultly such a mans Chankers will admit of Cure. On the contrary, a Patient of a good ha­bit of Body, whose very Bloud is a Balsom, from him you shall have more easie Digestion and all your Medicines more success, but care [Page 43]must be taken in all, that you repell not.

☞ Caruncles, commonly called Carnosities, these lie in the Ʋrethra, which is the passage of the Yard, and some time at the very neck of the Bladder; I have seen some persons so stopped up, they could not make one drop of Urine, but by the help of a Catheter. This sort of Pox requires great care, for you must by the use of Corrosives, consume, and eat a­way, all that you can come at, of the Carnosity at the same time, duly considering to avoid Defluxion of humors, therefore must the Patient use a convenient Diet-drink, relating to his Age and Constitution, for you must observe, that you may treat a man of Forty or Fifty in this case, differently from one of half his Age, and you must not omit to observe, that all the Durity be Consumed; [Page 44]Sweating and Bathing is of great use in this Cure, for it relaxes and sof­tens the part, and prevents inflama­tion, which in men of years doth often happen. In cases of this na­ture, after I have done what is pos­sible by my Candle, if I feel or sus­pect the least hardness to remain, I salivate my Patient, or if I omit that, I am sure to give a good Diet-drink, and to purge so often as need requires, and many times I order a Milk-Diet to finish the Work.

☞ Bubo's or Poulaines, (as the French call them,) in the Cure of these, all sorts of Evacuation is to be avoided; let the Patient Eat, Drink, and be Merry, let him Eat plentifully of the hottest-Meats, and Drink the Strongest Liquors to incou­rage the Natural Heat, to throw out the Malignant Matter; let the swel­ling be anointed with some Suppara­tive, [Page 45]keep a strong Suppurating Cata­plasme on it, it may not be amiss once in twenty four hours to apply a large Cupping-Glass to help forward the hu­mour; great care must be taken that the Matter do not return, and cauti­on used not to open the part, until it be suppurate, and then so opened, that it may not become Fistulous, for though no sort of Pox, is so easie to cure as this, yet many Patients miscarry, by wanting such Surgeons as rightly understand the method of curing Buboes, and I have met with several persons, who have had their Buboes so ill treated, that they have become Cancerous, and difficultly admitted of Cure, these Sores ought to be well digested, and kept run­ning so long as possible, with conve­nient Purging and Sweating, to­wards the end of the Cure, and when all is healed a good Diet drink would make sure Work.

☞ Ʋlcers, in the Throat or Mouth, must be cleansed by strong detergent Medicines, nor must any Salivation be performed upon persons so affected, until the particular Cure be first performed, least the parts al­ready weak, should suffer damage by a too sudden flux of humours, but after the Ʋlcers are once Cured, the general Cure may more safely be per­formed, (the same observation ought to be made in Ozena's,) nor do the Ʋlcers of the Throat, threaten less than the fall of the Nose, where they are neglected, for the matter that flows from the Ʋlcer, doth often foul the Os Spongiosum & Cribriforme, where the matter once lodged, soon becomes an inveterate Enemy; I know some persons, who have of­ten large Ʋlcers in the Throat, which soon disappear, but I ne­ver think any Patient Cured in such [Page 47]a case, until they undergo the Sali­vation.

☞ The preparation of Bodies is very material in the cure of this Di­fease, for suppose a Patient in years, of a cholerick temperament emacia­ted by the Disease, having missed of his Cure, two or three, or more times, this Patient, any man must believe would be hard to cure, every man would say, nothing but a Sali­vation could help him, yet it would be dangerous to Salivate such a per­son, without the due preparation, viz. First, Let him be sed with fresh-Meats, that breed flegmatick Juices, such are New laid Eggs, Cream, Almond-Milk, Veal, Pullet, the whitest Bread, sweet and nourish­ing Wines, pleasant Tisans, fresh-Fish, and all sorts of Pulse, that may breed a quantity of humours, which may create matter for the Salivation, [Page 48]nor will it be amiss, to treat such a Patient in the beginning of the Sali­vation, with nourishing Broaths, adding now and then the yelk of a new laid Egg, Endive, or Succory are most properly put into Broath, for such a person, by reason they cool and abate the sharpness of the hu­mours, and moderately loosen the Belly: Glisters of Chicken-Broath are proper in this case, one in four or five days, by reason they nourish the Bowels, which would be subject to Tortions, the Acrimonious humours some times slipping downwards.

Moreover, after the Salivation, a nourishing Restorative Diet drink is proper, wherein care be took to a­void all things that exsiccate, and great care ought to be in giving of Nutriment, that easily digests, for it must be took often, it being requisite to get such a Patient in [Page 49]strength, as fast as Nature can give leave.

☞ But on the contrary, if a Pa­tient be Young and Robust, of a San­guine or flegmatick Constitution, then must another course be taken, if Salivation be intended, and it may be convenient to purge this Patient, four or five times, to Bleed and Bathe, to abate and prepare the humours, least the Salivation should rise too fiercely. A moderate Diet is conve­nient, of such things as breed good, but little Juices, such are Partridge, Larke, Rabbets, Mutton, &c. Diet-drinks, or Tisans that gently exsic­cates, are convenient in the prepa­ration.

In the beginning of the Salivation, use no Broath, but Posset-drink, or thin Water-Gruell, and so continue; and it may be observed, that a Pati­ent [Page 50]of this Constitution, may be ex­pected to Spit, six or seven Pints in twenty four hours, (whereas in the case before mentioned, four Pints is as much as can be expected;) after the Salivation, a Diet-drink may be gi­ven, that exsiccates powerfully, and moves Sweat, observing to purge the Body well, by this you may ob­serve, how much more bold you may be, with a person of a Plethorick Constitution, and consequently suc­culent, than with a Body Emaciated, where Juices are wanting, and let none omit to observe, that in Saliva­tions, there will happen to some Fain­ting Fits, for which there is no better Cordial, than a small Glassof Clarret, which comforts sufficiently, and sen­cibly doth precipitate the Medicine. The manner of defending the Mouth, and curing the Ʋlcers, caused by the Saliva, is so common, I need not mention it.

☞ The Venereal Astma, which is but seldom Cured, for where the Lungs are affected, the Party is ge­nerally brought so low, before the Cure is attempted, that Nature can assist but little, and here no Salivation can be admitted, the Cure must be attempted by Restoratives, such as Sarsa, China, with Pectoralls, with moderat Sweats, and large Fonta­nells in the Shoulders, Asses-Milk, or Cows Milk, mixed with the Diet-drink, very moderate purgatives, and those mixed with Pectoralls, untill strength be attained, and then hauing a fit time of the Year, and all needfull supplies, a gentle Flux may be rai­sed, but not continued too long, least while thou goest about to cure thy Patient of the Pox, you Bury him of a Consumption.

☞ Many other Accidents may happen, which having their Origi­nal from the Pox, will admit of no other Cure, for we many times find a Venereal Opthalmia, a Venereal Fistula, some time on the Lacrymal Glandule, that fouls the Bone, and makes Mad-work, and often the Pockey Fistula in Ano; in many the Venereal Scorbute, in others a Venereal Itch, to all which may be added, the foul Ulcerous Sores, which are taken for the Kings-Evil, but will with the fore-named, come within compass of the Pox, and there­fore must be attacqued as it.

☞ Tumors of the Prepuce, of which are several sorts, viz. Crys­tallines, which are transparent swel­lings of the Prepuce, and are to be discussed by somentations, or by Ba­thing the part. Paraphymosis, which [Page 53]is a swelling of the Prepuce, occasi­oned by some Ʋlcer on the Glans, or Prepuce, or perhaps by Warts on the Glans, which becoming Raw, do Ulcerate, Inflame, and swell the Pre­puce, to that degree, that it will no way strip, by which means the Ʋlcer being hid, doth become more inve­terate, and by the Venereal Salts, cause so great a humour, that many times Mortification happens, and from thence the Death of the Pati­ent; in this case, the part must be Fomented, or Bathed, to draw out the Salts that have swelled the Pre­puce, or if that will not do, Ampu­tation must follow; I mean, to cut off so much of the Prepuce, that the Glans may be bare, and consequently, the better to come at the Ʋlcer, for it may be observed, that 'tis im­possible to cure the Ʋlcer, unless you can come fairly at it, and therefore those persons that attempt by a Sy­ringe, [Page 54]to cleanse between the Glans and Prepuce, make their Patients too dearly to buy their Experience, nor is this all, for if the remaining part after Amputation be found hard, it will be convenient not only to digest it, but to salivate the Pati­ent gently, to make Revulsion of humours, and timely to correct the Malignity of the Ʋlcer, which too often doth infect the whole Mass of Bloud. He hath had but little ex­perience of this Disease, who doth not know from how small a matter this Accident doth happen, particu­larly in those men who have natu­rally contracted Prepuces.

☞ Warts and Excressencies, on the Privities happening to either Sex, must not be neglected, for they are as so many Land Marks to assure the Pox confirmed, and although many people take little notice of [Page 55]them, where ever I see them, I know all is not well, and therefore take care, not only to remove them by Causticks, or else by Binding, but likewise to Eradicate the cause by such a course, as I judge most fit­ting for the Patients constitution.

CHAP. VIII. The true way of Curing a Gonorrhaea.

THis is the common name of that Disease we call a Clap, al­though the word Gonorrhaea signifies an involuntary flowing of the Seed, which a Clap is not, but since it will be hard to remove so common received a name, I will treat of it by either name of Clap, or if you will have it so Gonorrhaea.

A Clap is an Ʋlcer of the Prostate Glandules, which are seated at the root of the Yard, and from the Ul­ceration of these Glandules, the mat­ter or Pus comes, that either runs, [Page 57]or is squeesed out from the Penis, and it sometimes happens, that the Ʋre­thra, or passage of the Yard is Ulce­rated all along, from whence is cau­sed the Pain in Erection, commonly called Cordee, for the Acrimony of the humour that runs from the Ʋl­cer, doth irritate the part, and cause the Erection of the Yard, and the Nerves being much distended there­by, causes the extraordinary Pain, they suffering no less than a Convul­sion, by the pricking of the Acrimo­nious humour, during the time of Erection, besides, the Glandules at the root of the Yard, hear their share in the Pain, by the violent stretch­ing of the Yard, although in some Claps, the Patient scarce feels the least of these Accidents, and some not so much as the Pain in Pissing, particularly Women, who are not so much afflicted in this case as Men, but then are not so certain in [Page 58]making Observations of it, the rea­son why, sew Women seek for help, untill the Distemper be so long Lodg'd, that it becomes a confirmed Pox, nay, some men are so fool har­dy, that they will little value the Disease, (saying, they have nothing but a Running,) untill the Ʋlcer has caten away the Prostate Glandules, or perhaps the humour so far fermented by disorderly Living, that the whole Mass of Bloud is infected; others, (foolishly cry out, 'tis but a Clap,) not considering the difference there is in this Disease, for some Claps are really so gentle, that I have known one Box of my Antivenercal Pills to carry off all, and on the contrary, some are so inveterate, that they will imploy, both Patient and Underta­ker in the Cure, for men ought to consider, that there is degrees of In­fection, and that the ill habit of the Body, doth very much contribute to [Page 59]the afflicting of the Patient, and this is one reason why some are cured in three weeks and less, and others per­haps not well in as many Months, but to hasten, (for I do not design a Volume,) to the true and safe way of curing this Disease, pray observe, that the first thing to be advised is Liquids, such are proper Tisans, E­mulsions, or any other Liquors that breed no Acids, but that are slip­pery, that easily pass the Stomack, and create a soft Serum, which pas­sing by Urine, washes the Ʋlcer, and dints the points of the Venereal Acids, for 'tis a fault among many Patients, to fear to make Urine be­cause of Pain, when they ought to do the contrary, by filling the Blad­der continually, by pouring in of convenient Liquors, and often making water, by which means (the Urine being made balsamick, by the Ano­dine Liquors frequently drank,) the [Page 60] Ʋlcer so often washed, the Acrimony becomes less, nor has the Matter which Runs, the power of hurting the passage of the Yard, because, 'tis not suffered to lie in the part any considerable time. The Body must be continually kept soluble, there­fore 'tis convenient to Purge the Pa­tient once in two days, or oftner if need require, and in some Bodies, to Purge once in three days is often nough. Anodine Glisters, once in two days are convenient, but I do not approve of that common French Fashion, of continually stuffing the Breech, with two or three Glisters a day. Volatile and other Salts I fre­quently give, once or twice in twen­ty four hours, which work by Urine, helping the Liquors off the Stomack, which otherwise, would be apt to Nauseate because of their Quantities, it will not be amiss, to allow the Patient half a pint of Wine a day, or [Page 61]more if he has accustomed his Body to it, for all sudden alterations are injurious to the Body, those that are by reason of their Circumstances obliged to keep Company, may Drink White-Wine, or Rhenish, with Water and Lemon, or as much Tea as they please; Chicken-Broath, with En­dive, Succory, and Lemon, is proper to Drink great Quantities, especially when they Purge, always observing to keep the Body as still as possible, for exercise is very injurious, by rea­son it heats and inflames the parts, and therefore the less the Patient Walks, the better it is. Diet must be observed, and all salted Meats, and things hard of Digestion must be a­voided; all Fatty-Meats are ill, so are windy things; be sure to avoid, Salted-Beef, Pork, Bacon, Salt-Fish, Cheese- Fruit, &c. Let the Patient eat, Chicken, Rabbet, Mutton, Par­tridge, Veal, Barly-Broath, Water-Gruel, [Page 62]Panadoes, Fresh Fish Boiled, and all things of easie Digestion, a­voiding all Hot-Sawces, that provoke Lust, or breed Acids; great care must be taken, that the Purgations used, be not too strong, nor yet too often used, for violent Purging, of­times heats the parts, procures Infla­mation, and not seldom occasions swellings in the Testicules, extream painfull, from which, many times are occasioned violent Fevers, with extraordinary debility of the Body, but we must leave no Accident un­provided for, and therefore when ever this happens, the Patient must forbear all Purgatives, except such as are very Coole and Gentle. An Anodine, and discussing Cataplasme, with a convenient Truss is here to be used, if the tumor be large, it will be the more Painfull, and may re­quire to take Bloud from the Arm, to make Revulsion; a slender Diet [Page 63]is likewise convenient, to abate th [...] quantity of humours; a Decoction of Emollient and Discutient Herbs and Seeds applied by way of Fomen­tation, or as a Semicupium, for th [...] Patient to sit in is not amiss, with Emulsicns of the cold Seeds, to abat [...] inflamation and cause sleep.

Another extraordinary Acciden [...] too often happens, either by the to violent Purging, or disorderly ma­nagement of the Patient, in eithe [...] slighting his Medicines, or many times repeating of the Distemper getting two or three Claps one upon the head of another, by which mean the Prostate Glandules, so often (o [...] so long) Ulcerated, are much eate [...] away, and a Gleete, or as some ca [...] it, a Weeping is occasioned.

And this Disease is really most difficult to help, by reason the hu­mours so long accustomed to flow to the part, will not easily be diverted, and loss of substance with great dif­ficulty repaired.

But let me not accuse our Sparks, of too great intemperance, nor make them more Guilty than really they are, for many of them are put upon, especially by our beyond Sea-Surge­ons, who pretend to do wonders with the Pot of Turpentine, Glister and Sy­ringe, which last they too soon use, and by some restringent injection stop the Running, which in a few days break out again, and then (Be-Gar Sir) you have got a fresh one, (which ten to one, but they manage as wisely as they did before.) but indeed is the first Clap, which for the time of it's continuance, may serve for two or three.

Now the true way of curing a Gleete, or Weeping, is first to observe whether, it be really so or not, for I have had many persons that have come to me to be cured of a Gleete. which when I have viewed, I have found to be a virulent Clap, which I have both Treated and Cured, as such, it may therefore be convenient to mention what a Gleete or Weeping really is, and then to set down the means of curing the same.

The Prostate Glandules being either eaten away, or too much relaxed, and so weakned by the continual Ul­ceration, or otherwise heated, and distended by continual strong Purga­tives, a thin Seminal Matter, continu­ally flows from the Yard, and this is the true Gleete, for Nature hath pla­ced these Glandules at the root of the Yard, to hinder the too soon ejecting of the Seed, in the Act of Genera­tion, [Page 66]and makes them serve as Strai­ners, through which the Seed pres­sing, is more violently emitted, and is most plainly proved, by those who labour under this Infirmity, they be­ing too sensible of the loss of that Na­tural Force, even before the course of Nature can be said to have depri­ved them of it: And from hence it likewise happens, that such persons are troubled with the slipping away of a thin and seminal Matter, when they go to Stool, and that in great Quantities, by which the Patient is much weakned, and in some time rendred incapable of performing the conjugal Duty.

The Cure of this Disease doth re­quire much care on both sides, for the Patient must be as regular, as the Surgeon must be carefull; first then let the Patient be Purged, gently with such Medicines as are [Page 67]cool, and leave a styptick quality behind them, purge but once in three or four days at most. Use coo­ling Emulsions, and Balsamick Tisans, Stiptick Drops in Water is proper, or Water and Claret for common Drink: Glisters of Decoctions of the cold Seeds are good, be sure to avoid all forts of Exercise, and all manner of Diet that may inflame; be very moderate in the use of Ve­nery, but do not forbear altogether, use Balsamick Injections, but let not them be injected with too much force, least they hurt the parts already too tender. Avoid all sharp Injections, least they hurt the Ʋrethra, and de­stroy the Tone of the Part; take Bloud from the Arm to make Re­vulsion. Bathe the Patient once in two days, but let him not Sweat, and pray observe, that you use no Medicines of Tereb: For all such must be avoided, for they do more [Page 68]Dilate than Contract, and therefore your Balsamicks must be framed af­ter another manner; Hypnoticks may be used once in two Nights, for they allay sharp Humours, and de­stroy Acids, and prevent Inflama­tion; let the Patient be carefull to prevent taking Cold, which ma­ny times causes a Defluxion of Hu­mours upon the Glandules, and Neck of the Bladder with retention of Urine, but if by accident such a case should happen, take heed of medling with Catheter or Candle, the latter of which, had like to have destroyed a Friend of mine, a Noble Spaniard, who being afflicted with this Distemper, and his Urine some­what suppressed, he made use of a Candle, which he put up to the Root of the Yard, and wounding the Glan­dules causes Inflamation, and from thence a Total suppression of Urine followed, which indangered his Life, [Page 69]for, he made not one drop of Urine in ten days, notwithstanding I used all proper means, having likewise the Assistance of a Learned Physiti­an. At last, upon the taking a Dose of the Calom: in a proper Vehicle, his Urine came away with great quantities of Sordes, and was followed by a Sanious Matter flow­ing from the Ʋlcer, occasioned by wounding the Part; therefore I say, all care imaginable must be taken in the Treating of this Distemper, least your Remedy prove worse than the Disease.

CHAP. IX. The CONCLƲSION.

I Am now arrived at Forty years of Age, and must therefore know 'tis impossible to please all Men, my little Book will be Read by people of all sorts, and I must indure the Snarling of Knaves and Fools, who neither will, nor can, do the like to advance the common Good, and Fops will find fault, with what they cannot mend. I have known far greater Authors than my self Censured, and that by such indis­cerning Wherebes, who could not dist guish, between the Beauty or De [...]ormi [...]y, of a Work, some perhaps may blame me, for too much expo­sing [Page 71]the Noble Art of Chyrurgery, others I am sure, will think me too Obstruce, but none I hope will blame my Integrity, in endeavouring to deliver Mankind, from so vast a Labyrinth of Misery, as is too often known, to proceed from the Sub­ject here treated of Calumnious Tongues will censure the best Works, but ingenious persons will always applaude, what ever may be instru­mental for publick Good, and those that herein find something usefull, either to their Selves or their Friends will commend it.

Some people perhaps may be dis­pleased, that I have not been more particular, in setting down the Re­ceipts of my Medicines, that they might know my Diet-Drinks, Ti­sans, [Page 72]Emulsions, &c. which indeed must be varied, according to the Case or Constitution of the Patient, for I do not use to let one Pot of my Di­et-Drink serve all Patients. (as some I know do,) but I prepare such as reason directs. Indeed, for my An­tivenereal-Pill, I must needs say, I order all Venereal Patients to be Purged, (where Purging is required) by that only, and that for many rea­sons; for First, there is no Pill yet known, that works so effectually, and that in so small a Dose, for fif­teen Grains which is three small Pills, is a sufficent Purge for most Men, and above a Scruple I give not to any Man. Moreover 'tis obser­vable, that my Antivenereal-Pill; doth not debilitate as most other Purgatives do, nor doth it Nauseate the Stomack, (like most Clap Phy­sick,) but strengthens it, and pre­serves the Appetire, causing no un­savory [Page 73]Belches, and if ever Cito, tuto, & jucunde, were applicable to any Me­dicine, it must be to this, and now that I may not amuse my Reader, who cannot otherwise imagine, but that this Pill must be some Panacea, of three pounds and ten shillings a Dose, I will plainly tell him, that I now mean my common Yellow-Pill, that I have this twenty years Sold for four shillings a Box, which con­tains thirty Pills, and which many have admired, but none ever equal­led, and why I have so Sold it, I will freely declare, it has always been known that too many poor R—and W — will be getting of Claps, before they have Money to pay the Surgeon, (although I have often told them, that such Distempers are fit only for the better sort,) and many poor Wretches have been lost for want of Cure, for what can such Persons do, in such a Case? It's [Page 74]worth no Man's time to pretend to any other Cure, than what may be managed by the poor Patients own Care: And if such a Medicine be not to be had, that the meaner sort may purchase, what miserable Objects should we every where meet. To tell a poor Labouring Man of Drink­ing Tisans, and Emulsions, or taking Aperitive Salts, Balsamick Glisters, &c. would be only to tantalize him, or what shall many a poor Patient do, (if the Pill were not effectual,) whose Circumstances are so consining, that he cannot have the conveniency of all things requisite, without rendering him liable to a discovery, which Ac­cident may appear as terrible to him, as the Pox it self, and whose Reputa­tion may be utterly destroyed by his unhappy, and perhaps never before perpetrated Crime, 'tis therefore ab­solutely necessary, that some extraor­dinary Medicine may be afforded at [Page 75]a reasonable Rate, and that such a Me­dicine is not to be found among com­mon Pretenders, is natural enough to believe; but let no Man imagine that I pretend to Cure Claps for the price of any Pills, or yet think me so un­charitable as to deny my advice to the Poor.

Moreover, many poor Sinners that have lain under the Torment of Doubt, have received no small com­fort from the assistance of this one particular Medicine, for many times excess in Venery, joyned with the Debauch of Wine, begets so great an Acrimony in the Urine, and the Guilt so far possessing the mind, the poor Devil loofes it's little Senses, till by taking three or four Doses of the Antivenereal-Pills, and no Clap appearing, it becomes as joy­full as penitent. But now to return to the matter of my Book, they which [Page 76]know me will wonder I have not commended that all this while.

('Tis a great fault I have, in be­ing oftimes too passionate, in com­mending my Horse, my Dog, my Servant, &c.) And indeed, 'tis hard for me to forbear it, for I am sure the substance of my Book is new, though the Disease be old, I have borrowed from no man, I have stoln from no Authour, I have Writ nothing but what I have seen, and often experi­mented, and that in this Town, there is not a word in it, but what those that know me, have at one time or other heard from me, upon occasion in Dis­course, or in Consultations with Phy­sitians, and I hope I may without Va­nity say, that he which takes the pains to Read it, will find something in it, either like his own, or some Friends case, and that it will not be altoge­ther his labour lost.