Paidōn nosēmata· = or Childrens diseases both outward and inward. From the time of their birth to fourteen years of age. With their natures, causes, signs, presages and cures. In three books: 1. Of external 2. Universal 3. Inward diseases. Also, the resolutions of many profitable questions concerning children, and of nurses, and of nursing children. By J. S. physician.

Paidōn nosēmata· = or Childrens diseases both outward and inward. From the time of their birth to fourteen years of age. With their natures, causes, signs, presages and cures. In three books: 1. Of external 2. Universal 3. Inward diseases. Also, the resolutions of many profitable questions concerning children, and of nurses, and of nursing children. By J. S. physician.

Table of contents

Title page

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To the illustrious person ROBERT BOYLE Esq Brother to the most Honourable the Earl of Corke.

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A Catalogue of the AUTHORS used in this Work.

The CONTENTS of the CHAPTERS.

The first Book of EXTERNAL DISEASES.

The second Book of Universal Diseases.

The third Book of Particular Diseases of Inward Parts of the Body.

Contents of several Questions.

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The First Book Of External Diseases in CHILDREN.

CHAP. I. The PREFACE.

CHAP. II. Of the Greatnesse, Dropsie, or Water of the Head.

CHAP. III. Of the Kings Evill.

CHAP. IV. Of Pustules and little Risings in the Head.

CHAP. V. Of Chapt Lips in Children.

CHAP. VI. Of the Inflamation of the Navill.

CHAP. VII. Of a Rupture, and Broken Belly.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Falling of the Fundament.

CHAP. IX. Of the Galling of Children.

CHAP. X. Of Chilblanes and Kybes.

CHAP. XI. Of the Scab.

CHAP. XII. Of the Itch.

The Second Book Of Universal Diseases in CHILDREN.

CHAP. I. Of Feavers in Children in Generall.

CHAP. II. Of a Synoche Feaver.

CHAP. III. Of the Small Pox and Meazles.

Chap. IV. Of the Consumption.

The Third Book Of Inward DISEASES of several parts.

CHAP. I. Of the Epilepsy or Falling-Sicknesse.

CHAP. II. Of Convulsion.

CHAP. III. Of a Palsy.

CHAP. IV. Of Childrens dreaming and troubled Sleep.

CHAP. V. Of immoderate watching of Children.

CHAP. VI. Of the Inflammation of the Head.

CHAP. VII. Of the running at the Nose, Cough, and difficult Breathing.

CHAP. VIII. Of the pain and humidity of the Ears.

CHAP. IX. Of the inflamation of the Glandules in the mouth, call'd the Almonds of the Ears.

CHAP. X. Of the Sorenesse of the mouth.

CHAP. XI. Of the Ranula of the Tongue.

CHAP. XII. Of Dentition and breeding of Teeth.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Hiccough.

CHAP. XIV. Of Vomiting, and a vain desire of Vomiting.

CHAP. XV. Of the unvoluntary pissing of Children.

CHAP. XVI. of the Strangury and Suppression of Urine.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Stone of the Bladder.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Costivenesse and being bound in the Belly.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Flux and Loosnesse of the Belly.

CHAP. XX. Of the Tenesme.

CHAP. XXI. Of the pain of the Guts.

CHAP. XXII. Of Worms.

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[Page] ΠΑΙΔΩΝ ΝΟΣΗΑΤΑ OR CHILDRENS DISEASES, BOTH Outward and Inward. From the time of their Birth to Fourteen Years of Age.

WITH Their Natures, Causes, Signs, Presages and Cures.

IN THREE BOOKS:

1. | Of | External | Diseases. |
2. |  | universal |
3. |  | Inward |

A'LSO, The Resolutions of many Profitable Questions concerning Children, and of Nurses, and of Nursing Children.

By J. S. Physician.

London, Printed by W. G. and to be Sold by J. Playsord and Zach. Watkins at their Shop in the Temple near the Church. 1664.

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To the illustrious person ROBERT BOYLE Esq Brother to the most Honourable the Earl of Corke.

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FAME reports your Generosity and Humanity to equal your Learning; the latter is so great that it makes you a Transcendent, especially in the mysterious Secrets of Nature and practical Philosophy, and so, most fit for the Protection of the meanest of this Work, as you are by the former, most ready to pardon my unworthyness; [Page] therefore I have put forth this Manual under the Patronage of your Illustrious Name, & hope for Pardon, if not Acceptance, because it is a part of practical Philosophy (Medicine being only the Application of the precepts of Philosophy) in which, as you are the greatest Luminary, so the noblest Encourager of others in it. If you vouchsafe this favour, I doubt not but it will be accepted of as well by the Learned as the Vulgar, it being an Extract or Issue not meanly Descended, & habited in English by

Your Devoted Servant in all humility I. S.

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Courteous Reader,

THE true use of Physick is as difficult, as the abuse is dangerous, for the goodness of remedies consists in the conveniency & and fitness of them (good and convenient being the same) to the Patient, causes and circumstances of Diseases, the mistake whereof by the Vulgar, is often mortal, especially to Children, who are very obnoxious to alteration by the tenderness and softness of their bodies: To prevent which, I present this Manual to you, pointing and holding forth what ought to be done, and what not, for the procuring & preserving the health of Children, in which are slipt in some few words, either not altogether [Page] fit for the matter, or the unlearned Reader (by my being under pressure of business when this Work was in the Presse) where by Pugil is to be understood, as much as the Thumb and four Fingers can take up; by Liniament, a Medicine thinner then an Oyntment; and by boyling according to Art, boyling from a pint and an half to a pint, and putting Flowers and Seeds in towards the end of the Decoction; the other Obscurities will be no Impediment to him, which makes me hope for acceptance from him, as I do from the learned by the quality of the matter, proved by most eminent Authority in Physick, as appears by a List of the Authors hereunto annexed.

Oundle in Northampton. June 9. 1662.

Vale.

A Catalogue of the AUTHORS used in this Work.

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A.

AEtius, Avicen, Aristotle, Averrhoes.

C.

Cardanus, Crato, Celsus.

D.

Dioscorides, Dordonaeus.

F.

Fallepus, Fabritius de Aquapendente, Fabricius Hildanus, Fernelius, Fonseca, Fontanus, Fucksius.

G.

Galen.

H.

Hartmanus, Hippocrates, Horstius, Hurnius.

L.

Amatus Lusitanus, Zacutus Lusitanus.

M.

Mercurialis, Mesnes.

P.

Paraeus, Platerus, Plato, Prymrose.

R.

Rhazes, Rolfincius, Riverius.

S.

Sennertus, Salaemander.

T.

Theophrastus, Trallianus.

The CONTENTS of the CHAPTERS.

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The first Book of EXTERNAL DISEASES.

THE Preface. Chapter 1. Pag. 1.

Of the Greatnesse, Dropsy, and water of the Head. Chap. 2. p. 5.

Of the Kings Evil. Chap. 3. p. 15.

Of Pustules and little Risings in the head. Chap. 4. p. 23.

Of Chapt Lips in Children. Chap. 5. p. 26.

Of the Inflamation of the Navil. Chap. 6. p. 29.

Of a Rupture and Broken Belly. Chap. 7. p. 30.

Of the falling of the Fundament. Chap. 8. p. 32.

Of the Galling of Children. Chap. 9. p. 34.

[Page] Of Chilblanes and Kybes. Chap. 10. p. 36.

Of the Scab. Chap. 11. p. 39.

Of the Itch. Chap. 12. p. 51.

The second Book of Universal Diseases.

Of Feavers in Children in general. Chap. 1. p. 43.

Of a Synoche Feaver. Chap. 2. p. 49.

Of the Small Pox and Meazles. Chap. 3. p. 52.

Of the Consumption. Chap. 4. p. 70.

The third Book of Particular Diseases of Inward Parts of the Body.

Of the Epilepsy or Falling Sicknesse. Chap. 1. p. 86.

Of Convulsion. Chap. 2. p. 27.

Of the Palsy. Chap. 3. p. 101.

[Page] Of Childrens dreaming and tronbled sleep. Chap. 4. p. 104.

Of moderate watching of Children. Chap. 5. p. 108.

Of the Inflamation of the Head. Chap. 6. p. 110.

Of the running at the Nose, Cough, and difficult Breathing. Chap. 7. p. 114.

Of the pain and humidity of the ears. Chap. 8. p. 117.

Of the Inflamation of the Glandules called the Almonds of the Ears. Chap. 9. p. 120.

Of the Sorenesse of the Mouth. Chap. 10. p. 123.

Of the Ranula of the Tongue. Chap. 11. p. 127.

Of Dentition and breeding of Teeth. Chap. 12. p. 129.

Of the Hiccough. Chap. 13. p. 135.

Of Vomiting, and a vain desire of Vomiting Chap. 14. p. 138.

Of the involuntary pissing of Children. Chap. 15. p. 140.

Of the Strangury and Suppression of Urine. Chap. 16. p. 143.

Of the Stone in the Bladder. Chap. 17. p. 146.

[Page] Of Costivenesse and being bound in the Belly. Chap. 18. p. 150.

Of the Flux and Loosnesse. Chap. 19. p. 155.

Of Tenesme. Chap. 20. p. 161.

Of the pain in the Guts. Chap. 21. p. 163.

Of the Worms. Chap. 22. p. 167.

Contents of several Questions.

WHat is Age, the Definition and Division of it? Page 2, 3. Why before 14. years of Age ought one not to be esteemed a perfect man? Why before 7. years of Age Children have not the use of reason? p. 87.

When and how the Lessening of blood is to be done in Children? p. 46, 50, 51, 65, 66.

Why Children are disposed to many Diseases? p. 3, 4. Why they never sleep moderately? p. 105. and why their want of sleep is very hurtful? p. 108. Why they hold not their water so well as men? p. 140.

Why Chilblanes and Kybes happen chiefly to Children, and to the hands and feet, and not to other parts? p. 36, 37.

[Page] Why a Consumption is said a Disease, and an Effect of a Disease, or a Symptome? p. 70, 71. What is the Subject of it, and in what order the parts consume? pag. 71, 72.

Why a Feaver is called a Childs Disease p. 44.

Diseases in Children why so called? p. 5. Why Phrensy & Madnesse are not reckoned amongst Childrens Diseases? p. 87. Nor the Apoplexy, though it hath the same matter as the Epilepsy hath? p. 101, 102. Nor the moisture of the Nose and Ears, and yet the humidity of the Ears is called a Childs Disease, p. 117, 118. Whether the Inflamation of the Almonds of the Ears may be in Infants? p. 120, 121. Why Diseases of the head are difficult to cure? p. 8. As also of the Fundament, p. 33. Why a Child is most apt to a Synoche Feaver, and whether he may have a Quartan Feaver, it being contrary to its nature? p. 44. Why Feavers are not dangerous, and why sometimes they turn into Hectick Feavers? p. 46.

Why the Kings Evil exactly cured, returns again? p. 18, 19.

Why waterish humors are more often collected [Page] in the head of Children then other parts, and in the Womb then out of it? p. 7.

What is the use of Lips, and why are more often chopt in Children then in others and most frequently from cold? p. 27.

How good Milk from bad may be known? p. 76. and how the bad Milk of a Nurse may be made good? p. 78, 79.

How a good Nurse may be known from a bad one? p. 78.

Whither the Small Pox had a beginning or not, and where: and whither beasts have it or not, and how it differs from the Measles which hath the same matter, cause and cure? p. 53. Why the cause is not the impurity of the Mothers blood, as by most supposed p. 54, 55. Nor is the cause the fault of the Air? p. 56. Why scarce any one but hath it, and that it is mortall to some and not to others, happening most to Children? p. 57. Why some have more breakings out and marks then others and the face most troubled, and next to it the Feet and Hands? p. 58. Why the Small Pox troubles the eyes more then the Measles? p. 58. Why the Small Pox is infectious and more easily to kindred then others? p. 58, 59. Why some have twice, [Page] rarely thrice, almost all once? p. 59. Why Scars and Blemishes are left chiefly in the Face, Lips, and foreskin? p. 59.

Why the Stone of the Bladder is seldome in Female Children, and not so often in men as Children, yet the Stone made in the Reins, is oftner in men then Children? pag. 147.

How Teeth and Bones differ, p. 130.

The use of Teeth p. 131. and the order and time of their Growth. p. 132, 133.

Worms, why very Familiar to Children and in what parts they are, made and found? pag. 167. 168. The difference of Worms. p. 168.

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Imprimatur,

Octob. 28 1663.

Roger L'Estrange.

The First Book Of External Diseases in CHILDREN.

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CHAP. I. The PREFACE.

IT will not be unprofitable to prepare a way for the ensuing Discourse of Childrens Diseases, by premising these Particulars. 1. What is Age, and the Definition of it? 2. The Division [Page] of Age? 3. The Subject of the Discourse? 4. Why Children are apt to Sickness? 5. Why Childrens Diseases are so call'd? 6. The Order and Method of the Discourse of Childrens Diseases.

It is answered, 1. Every Age is obnoxious to all kinds of Diseases, but one Age is more disposed to some Diseases, then another is; for every Age hath a peculiar temper, and so a similitude with some Diseases, whereby it is more easily affected and changed by them then by other Diseases; nevertheless, Age it self doth not produce Diseases, but only disposes and makes one apt to receive certain sorts of Diseases; for Age is a thing that is natural, and a Determination of a time; and it is defined by some to be a Space and Duration of Life, in which the Constitution of the Body is manifestly changed, by the Action of the natural heat upon the radical Moisture. The Life of Man consists in Heat and Moisture, the Heat consumes by degrees the Moisture, whereby necessarily follows several Changes of the Temperament, which are called Ages.

[Page] 2. The Division of Age is various by the Ancients; some divide it into 7. parts, other into 6. or 5. parts: But the Modern (considering that in all things there is a Beginning, Increase, State, and Declination) have divided Age into 4. parts (alluding to the 4. Elements, 4. Humours of Mans body, and 4. seasons of the year.) 1. Adolescency, or growing Age, in which are contained Infancy, Childhood, and Puberty, and it extends to 25. or 30. years. 2. Youthfulness or flourishing Age, extending to 36, or 40. years. 3. Consistent Age, extending to 45. or 50. years. 4. Old Age, which contains decrepit Age, and extends to the end of Life.

3. The Subject treated on will be the first Age and Adolescency, as it extends only to 14. years, for then and not before, ought a man to be said perfect, (though some say at 7. years) because as Plants are said then to be perfect, when they first begin to bear fruit, so Man ought to be called perfect in that time, when he begins to be prolifick and procreable.

4. Children are disposed to very many Diseases for divers reasons, because of the [Page] 1. Impurity of the nourishment in the Womb by an erroneous Diet or Sickness of the Mother. 2. Great labour and pains in the Birth and Getting out of the womb, being a narrow passage, whereby is weakness, and very often are bruises. 3. Cutting of the Navel String, that the Infant may get forth, whereby pains and Inflamations often follow. 4. Diversity of Nourishment, Children in the Womb are nourish'd with the purest blood of the Mother, and they only perfect the third Concoction, but after Birth they use Milk and other food, and need the help of the Stomach and Liver for the first and second Concoction. 5. Change of place, being not used to the Air, for Infants live in the womb in the greatest Lukewarmness and Tranquility, but as soon they feel the cold Air outwardly and breath it in; they are hurt, which appears by their crying. 6. The unsoftness and uneasiness of the things they lye upon, for Infants lye very soft in the Womb. 7. Hot and moist temper, which is very obnoxious to Corruption. 8. The fault and badness of the Milk.

[Page] 5. Diseases of Children are so called, not only such which trouble and affect only Children, as Diseases arising from breeding of Teeth, but also such Diseases, which most frequently happen to Children, & are cur'd in a different manner in them then they are in other Ages.

6. The Order and Method in the Discourse of Childrens Diseases will be, 1. Of External Diseases, and such as belong to the outward parts of the body. 2. Universal Diseases, which affect all parts of the body. Thirdly and lastly, Particular and inward Diseases of particular and inward parts of the Body, proceeding from the Diseases of the upper parts to the lower parts.

CHAP. II. Of the Greatnesse, Dropsie, or Water of the Head.

THere is somtimes an immense largeness of the head, vitiating the natural Actions of it; yet the Head is not to be called diseased, as if it needed the [Page] help of a Physician, because it is natural and incurable, that is not here intended; but that which is called the Dropsie of the head, and though sometimes it is in a peculiar part of the Head, yet for the most part it is in the whole capacity of the head, and it is more frequently in Children and Infants newly born, then others of elder years, in regard of the softness of their head and bones.

It is defined to be a Tumor of the Head, contrary to nature, hapning for the most part to Children; or a Tumor of the Head, caused by the Collection of Waterish humours in some part of the Members constituting the head.

The immediate cause is either, 1. A Wind, which is seldome, in regard of the rarity and purosity of the head (which appears by the hairiness of it) and the Thumes and Tenuity of the Wind (made of a very thin humour (and so easily dissolved and dissipated. 2. Thin and Waterish humour, which is sometimes thick and coloured, by the mixture of the Ichor of other humours with it. This humour is collected more often in the Womb then out of it, and in the head [Page] then other parts; because 1. Of the great moisture of the Brain. 2. The plenty of Vapours which ascend to the head, and by its coldness turne into Water. 3. It being the seat of Waterish humors, for the Head is placed over the Belly, as the Head of a Still over the body of it. 4. The Density of the Skull which retains the Vapours.

The Signes by which this Disease is known, relate to the Cause or Place; If Wind be the Cause, the head lightly struck will sound like a Drum, and the Tumor prest by a Finger yeilds to it, and leaves a Dent, which presently fills up again; If an humour be the cause, and not within the Skull, the Tumor is soft, clear; if prest, it slowly returns to its former fulnesse, the Colour of the Skin is unchang'd, and there is crying and want of sleep; If the humour be within the Skull, the Infant hath an heaviness of the head, cryes and cannot sleep; and in those of elder years, the eyes are prominent, and stand out, weeping, and can hardly be shut, and sometimes the fancy is hurt.

[Page] The Presage; If the Tumor is within the Skull, some think it incureable, others think it cureable by Cauteries, and by Diaphoreticks. If it is on the outside of the Skull, it is dangerous, because of the Dignity of the Head, and the tenderness of it in an Infant; for every Disease of the head is dangerous, especially in an Infant, whose tenderness cannot endure a Disease or Remedy, and if the humor should move inwardly, there is great danger of a Lethargy or Apoplexy.

The Cure is, by discussing and extenuating the wind, and evacuating the humour insensibly, or sensibly by purging or manual Operation, for the doing whereof a convenient Diet is necessary, which ought to be directed to the Nurse if the Child suck, otherwise to the Child. Wherefore let the Air be hot and dry where the Nurse and Child is kept; & if it be not so naturally, & by the season of the year, prepare it so by good fires and fumes of sweet and hot woods; If the Child suck, let the Nurse watch much, and if it is wean'd, let it sleep lesse then if it was sound, because watching doth much dry the body, as sleep [Page] softens it; Moderate Exercise and a soluble belly is very convenient, which if need, let it be help'd by a Suppository made of Hony; The Nurse and Child both are to abstain from Wine, and in the place of it a Drink is to be made of Water with Coriander seed prepared, and Anniseed; let the Meat be such as discusses and breaks wind, and dissipates humours; wherefore let the Bread have a little Coriander seed in it, and the Flesh be rather of Wild Fowl, and roasted rather then boyled; a Moderate use of spice is profitable; and Coriander canded with Sugar. All Herbs and Waterish Fruits are to be avoided. If the Nurse be sound, avoid purging her, lest you hurt the Milk; if she be unsound, purge her as the quality and nature of the humour require.

External Remedies only belong to an Infant (for Purges and other Remedies are to be used to the Nurse) and very carefully, least they hurt, wherefore this Fomentation will be convenient. Take of Pennyroyal, Maryroom, Savory, of each an handful; Cumminseed and Aniseed of each an Ounce, boyl them together [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] in a pint and an half of Water, to a Pint, in which wet a Spunge and apply it to the head, afterwards anoint the head with the Oyl of Cammomile salted; if this prevails not, the Oyl of Anniseed may be added, and to the two Oyles without the Salt you may add a little of the Powder of Anniseed and Fennel-seed. It will be convenient for the Nurse to use the following Electuary, which will make the Milk discusse wind. Take the Conserve of Bettony, and of Rosemary of each an Ounce, the Powder of Coriander and Anniseed of each an Ounce, mixe them, and take Morning and Evening half an Ounce. In a Child of some years, that can endure Medicaments, Purge the Child first gently with two Ounces of the Hony of roses solutive, mixe it with a little Broath. Afterwards prepare the humour thus, Take of Mugwort, Savory, Staccados, Celandine, of each half an handful, boyl them in a pint and half of water to a Pint. Take two or three Ounces of the said Decoction, of the simple Hony of Roses, of the Syrrup of Staccados, of each half an Ounce, mingle [Page] them; and give it the Child 3. or 4. days together, then purge the humours so prepared. Take of the Pills called Pillula Aurea one Dram and a half, of Castor two Grains, of the Root of Ireos finely powdred half a Dram, mingle them with the Hony of the Syrrup of Roses solutive, and make thereof for one Doss (or quantity to be taken at once) five little Pills. If the Child refuse Pills; Take an Ounce of the root of Ireos, of Raisins of the Sun half an Ounce, the Seeds of Fennel and Coriander, of each half a Dram, boyl them according to Art. Take of the Decoction an Ounce and a half, of the Trochische of Agarick two Drams, infuse them all Night, then strain them strongly and add an Ounce and an half of the Hony of Roses solutive. After sufficient Purging, the use of the Electuary directed before for the Nurse, and the External Remedies will be convenient, to which may be added this following Lixivium. Take of Figtree-wood two pound, of Salt or common water twenty pints, make of it a Lye according to Art, when it is strained add to it Coriander-seeds, [Page] and Anniseeds of each a Pugill, of Bran one Pugill, the Leaves of Pennyroyal, Maryroom, and Mugworth, one handful and an half, boyl them away to a fourth part, then strain and use them. In the same manner you may prepare a Lye of Brimstone beaten and applied to the head with a drye woollen Cloth, it dries the head very much; stronger driers are dangerous. There may be made Plaisters of the aforesaid Herbs, being boyled and bruised to the form of a Plaister, and laid upon the head; a Plaister made of Snails, bruised and applied to the head, untill they fall of themselves, is an approved of remedy.

The following Ointment doth very much discusse the water or wind in the head: Take of the Oyl of Ireos and Cammomile of each two Ounces, of the Powder of Sulphur and Ireos of each two Ounces, of Wax a little, and make an Oyntment of them. Remedies also are convenient which are put in at the Nose or Ears, As the Oyl of Cammomile with a little Ireos or Brimstone, or the Oyle of the Gumme called Sagapenum [Page] with a little Castor. Some commend the Brain of a Wolf dried and sprinkled with Musk, put into the Nose. In the use of these Remedies you are to take notice, that if the water moves from the internal to the external parts, it is incurable: Likewise, if the Water is plentiful which is collected out of the Skull, the use of inward or outward remedies are in vain: because as strong internal remedies in this tender Subject are not convenient, so moderate and weak remedies do not prevail; the like is also in external Medicaments, wherefore there is only hope in a sensible evacuation by Chyrurgery and Incision, which is to be used if the water be not discuss'd within three weeks; by the preceeding means Incision is dangerous, in regard of the tenderness of the Age, and greatness of the distemper, and ought to be the last remedy, and not to be used upon Children newly born, but in others of elder years.

In the making Incision, if the Tumor hath a great point, the head of the point is to be opened, with two or three Cuttings, and in the lowest part for the easier [Page] evacuating the humour, which Evacuation ought not to be at once, but by degrees, lest the Spirits are dissipated, and care is to be taken that the coldness of the Air doth not hurt the Brain. After Incision is made, and the water evacuated by little and little, Proper Medicaments to wounds are to be used, as Linnen wet in Oyl or Wine; which Medicaments are to be straightly bound if the Child is very strong, but if very tender and weak, the place that is cut is to be only covered with some soft Wool (or the like) dipt in Medicaments proper for wounds. If after Incision the Flesh will not grow, by the fault of the bone, (as if often happens) scrape the bone gently that the fault may be removed, and the flesh grow. If the Water is between the skin and the Temp'ral Muscles, or between the Muscles and the Skin it is mortal to make Incision, but you must expect the setling of the Water in the sides of the Muscles not belonging to them. Some there are that use Caustick Medicaments, and burn many Ulcers in the Childs head, and if it is not effectual, then they come to Incision, but [Page] it is very dangerous; for exulcerations in the Childs head which is full of water, are never or hardly cureable.

CHAP. III. Of the Kings Evill.

THe Kings Evill is a hard or Schirrous Tumour contrary to nature, growing for the most about the Neck, and chiefly of Children. The immediate cause is sometimes Flesh, but very seldome: Sometimes the Glandules turn into this Tumour, but most frequently Phlegm, or Melancholy hardned. Some think the Cause is an Alamentary Juyce hardned; because they are not changed into a disgested matter, nor do putrefie, and continue a long time. The Antecedent causes are youngness of Age, cold and moist temper, softners of Flesh and Muscles, and shortness of the Neck, thereby the humours fall easily from the head in the neck, and cleave tenaciously. [Page] The external causes are the coldness and moisture of the Climate, Idlenesse, drinking crude and thick waters, the use of Cheese, Fruits, and grosse food; but chiefly voracity, and imoderate eating, wherefore Children and Infants are principally troubled with this Disease. If the matter is not viscous and glutinous, although it condenses, yet it is not coated or contained in a Membrane; but if part of the matter is glutinous when it is congealed by the cold of the Part or Glandule, a skin is made round about, and consequently a Bladder or Membrane, in which afterwards the matter by degrees thickens, the thinner part being in time consumed. The difference of this Disease, is taken from 1. Magnitude, some being as great as a Melon, others moderate, and little as a Pea. 2. Nature, Some gentle without pain or inflamation, and with a moderate hardness. Some moderate, between a Schirrus and an Aposteme, or Malignant, with pain and inflamation, and very great hardnesse. 3. Constitution, some being elevated, and move hither and thither; others, as if they were impacted [Page] and unmoveable. 4. Place, Some are about the hinder part of the head, others about the auteriour part, some in the Skin, others profound, and about the noble great vessells. 5. Plenty, Some are accumulated into an heap, others not.

The signs are, Tumour sometimes round, sometimes somewhat long, sometimes of the same colour with the Skin, sometimes more red, hard, and without pain, and move not to and fro being handled. The Kings Evill is known from hardned Glandules, because 1. The matter of Glandules is more subtile and thin, then the matter of this Disease, which is more thick, viscid, and contumacious; hence it is, that as often as the thin and subtile matter is incraffated, the Kings Evill is made of the Glandules. 2. Hardned Glandules are more separated from the next Flesh, that it it is easie to discern them from the flesh, by Feeling, the contrary is in the Kings Evil. 3. The Kings Evill hath for the most part a Membrane or Coat, the Glandules not. Some distinguish them thus; Take the Leaves of Ivy and Citron, and bruise them together, lay them [Page] upon the Tumour, and if in three dayes the Tumour lye hid, it is a sign of the Glandules; but if they are exasperated by the Medicament, then it is a sign that it is the Kings Evill.

The Presage is, This Disease is troublesome and wearisome to the Patient and Physician; for whatsoever way you deal with them, they are exasperated, and if they seem to be cur'd return again. It is very difficult to cure, but with lesse difficulty and danger in Infants and Children, then in youth, because they often degenerate into Cancers and dangerous Ulcers. The Kings Evill that is little, superficial and gentle, are not very dangerous, & are more easily cur'd: but such as are great, deep, and malignant, are pernicious, and for the most part incureable.

The Kings Evill though it is most exactly cur'd, yet it returns again, which is not from the motion of the Moon, as some have thought, because they have return'd after a Month, a year, or two years: but the cause is, 1. The Viscosity thickens, and contumaciousnesse of the matter, which is not perfectly eradicated [Page] and extirpated in the Cure, but some part is left, which vitiates and corrupts the temper and nourishment of the part.

2. The Coat or Membrane which is tenaciously infix'd, that it can scarce be extirpated, and so is fill'd with new matter; if it be extirpated, yet there remains some roots or ligaments, out of which the Membrane or Coat growes again, and so the Tumor or Kings Evill remains.

The Cure is, taking away the antecedent cause, and correcting the Debility of the Parts, which make Phlegme; all which is done by, 1. A Convenient Diet, let the Air be hot and dry, the sleep little, exercise moderate, avoid much rubing or kembing of the head, and bearing weight on the Head; avoid all perturbations of the mind (except moderate anger) and Wine that is strong and thick; if you use Wine, do it moderately and mixe it with water. Let your meat be attenuating and drying, as Bread well bak'd, and with Anniseeds or Coriander-seeds. Let your flesh be of Wild-fowl, and rather roasted then boyled; avoid Spices, as filling the head with [Page] vapours, and all thick, grosse, viscid, and cold meats, as Beef, Cheese, Milk, Eggs fried or hard and the like. Hence it is that the Children of poor persons are more troubled with this Disease then the Children of rich men, because they eat grosse and ill Diet, which makes and [...]oments the humour. 2. Purging, Take of the Leaves of Senna half an Ounce, of Polypode two Drams, Ginger 15. grains, half an Ounce of Raisins stoned, Sebestens Pruins of each three in number, of the Flowers of Borrage, Violets, Red Roses, and Rosemary, of each half a dram, boil them in a pint of fountain water until half be consumed. Take of the Decoction two Ounces, of the hony of Roses two or three Ounces. Let the humours be prepaired thus; Take of the Leaves of Brownwort, Plantain, Dry Bettony, and Mint, of each half an handful, boyle it according to Art; of the Syrrup of Roses and Oxymel of each half an Ounce, mingle them. After the humours are prepared, purge thus; Take 30 or 40. grains of the Pills of Agarick, or infuse two Drams of the Trochische of Agarick, in three Ounces of the [Page] Water of Bettony all night, strain it, and add 2. or 3. Ounces of the Hony of Roses solutive. Observe, that most gentle Remedies often used, is better then violent, and hath often cur'd. 3. By the restraining of the moving of the humour into the Part, by rubbing Cuppingglasses and Blisters; and there is no remedy so effectual and fit for derivation, diversion and evacuation of the humour (and in all Swellings and Tumours in Children about the Neck) as is the exulceration of the Skin of the Head, which is best done with Mustard-seed, and a Nettle, but with prudence and moderation; but have a care you use not Cautharides, which cause great pain and pissing of blood. 4. By discussing the humour in the part, if it be moderately thick, and viscid, which is done by inward Medicaments, as by the use of the Trochische of Vipers; and Treacle, but principally by outward Medicaments, first by softning it, and then by dissolving it. Emollient or softning Medicaments, are, the Plaister of Diachilon with the Gums; or this Ointment: Take four Ounces of Diachilon, one [Page] Ounce of Hyssop, four Ounces of the Root of Ireos finely powdred; mingle them, and with the Oil of Almon [...]s make an Ointment, which use several days until the matter is softned, then use Discutients, as drye Figs, or a Plaister made of Hony, or the root of a wild Cucumber bo, led in old Oyl to the form of a Plaister, is very effectual; so is this following, which is stronger: Take of Stavesacre, Nitre, of each two Ounces, Rocket four Ounces, with as much Turpentine as is convenient make a Plaister. The Ashes of Colworts mixt with Hony, is also very good. Observe that strong Discutients may not be used, lest Feavers are caused, and the tender Flesh of the Child hurt.

If the matter be very viscid and contumacious, it is not cur'd but by cutting or burning it, which is very dangerous, and turns them into Cancers that are mortall, as is experienc'd in the using such remedies for the Kings Evill, in the Neck, Breasts, or Grayn.

CHAP. IV. Of Pustules and little Risings in the Head.

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PUstules, or Risings, or Swellings for the most part they are in the Head, but sometimes in the whole body.

In the beginning they are small and little, afterwards they are sore, and make hard white Scabs and Crusts, by the driness of the humour; In sucking Children they are call'd Crusta, in those of elder years they are called Achores; they are ulcerous Tubercles, or Ulcers with small risings, perforating the skin with small holes, through which passeth a sanious or filthy matter.

The cause is, as some think, a nitrous and salt Phlegme mixt with Choler; Others a putrid, corrupted and Ichorous blood: but I consent to them who think the humour is mix'd, partly thick and partly thin, waterish, salt, and nitrous, and according to the various mixture of the humours with the salt waterish humours, [Page] the various colours of the Sores arise, being thereby, black, red, white, or yellow, and those humours are either generated in the womb of the Mother, out of the Menstruous blood; or after the Child is born, by the fault of Milk or Diet, nature purifying and purging her self, sends them forth into the outward parts of the body.

The signs are manifest to Sight, the Child cries, cannot sleep, and are watchful; the Child Itches, and after Itching they are sore, a bloody humour passes forth, and oftentimes the Child is lowsy. If they proceed from blood, there is a redness, pain, and more easie Itch: but if from a more sharp humour, there is a great Itch.

The Presage, Pustules sometimes degenerate into great Ulcers, and sometimes corrode the Skull by the Malignity and badness of the humour, that the Membranes may be seen. They many times preserve Children from great and many Diseases, as Feavers, Falling-sicknesses, and others, by natures purging her self by the skin.

[Page] They heal frequently of their own accord by Time and Age.

The Cure is in, 1. A Convenient Diet, by avoiding salt, sharp, hot and sweet things, fish and fruit. If the Pustules are moist, a drye Diet is convenient, as the eating of Wild-fowl roasted, bread twice bak'd, &c. which ought to be us'd only by the Nurse if the Child suck.

2. Evacuation of the humours by Blood-letting, Leeches, or Cuppingglasses, and purging the Nurse; if the Child suck not, prepare the humours with Cichory, Eudave, Fumitory, and Agrimony, of each an handful, boyle them in a pint and an half of Water until half a pint be consumed; Take thereof three Ounces, and add the Syrrup called Syrrup Byzantius, and the Syrrup of Fumitory, of each half an Ounce, or temper the humour that is faulty with the Syrrups of Borrage and Fumitory. The humours being prepared, Take of Rhabarb one Dram, infuse it all night in three Ounces of Endive-water, in the Morning strain it well, and add an Ounce and an half of the Syrrup of Roses solutive. The Body being purged, the [Page] part excoriated is to be cur'd by outward Remedies. A Bath of common Water in which the Leaves of Scabius, Agrimony and Plantane are boyled, is very good. The Ointments of Litheridge, Cerusse, or Diapompholiges cures it.

CHAP. V. Of Chapt Lips in Children.

THe Lips are made not only for Beauty, but also for use, for the defence of the Mouth and Teeth, and also for Speech and Sucking, so that they being chopt, they cause pain, and hinder Sucking. This Disease is a certain Division of the Lips with Pustules and breakings out, and sometimes without them.

The immediate cause is a salt, sharp, and cholerick humour, or sharp, biting, and exulcerating vapours, proceeding chiefly from the whole body, as in Feavers; many times from the Head, Stomach, Lungs, or other principal part [Page] of the Body. These humours and vapours produce the Cleavings and Ulcers of the Lips, chiefly in Children, because of the frequent motions of the skin, which draws them to the mouth, and in regard of the tenderness of them, which makes them apt to receive.

The External Causes are, the use of hot things, hardness of Dugs, kisses of many people, but chiefly an intemperate Air in heat and cold, but most frequently the coldness and driness of the Air; for though Lips may be so dried by the Air, that they may exulcerate, yet not so frequent as from the coldness and driness of it, because heat cleaves and divides that which is moist, by consuming the moisture; Cold, by compressing and repelling, and it is easier to repell and press moisture out of a thing, then to consume it, especially in soft parts, to which humours continually flowe, as it is in the Lips.

The Signs are manifest, as little Ulcers and pains in the Lips; there is also pain, Itching and crying of Children. If a Vapour is the Cause, then the Child hath an Inflamation or a great Feaver. [Page] If humours, then there is Catarrhs and Distillations, and the Ulcers are moist, and an humour passeth out of them.

The Presage is, this Disease is not mortall, unless malignant Ulcers are made by Unskilfulnesse. Ulcers made in a Feaver or afterwards, are a sign of Health, for they shew the humours generating a Feaver, are dissipated and dissolved.

The Cure is, if the Choppings of the Lips proceed from an internal cause, a gentle purge is convenient, and Diet that corrects the humours. If from the Sharpnesse of the Milk, let the Nurse use cooling Diet, and things correcting the Milk. If from the hardness of the Nibble, soften it. Medicaments for the Childs Lips, are Oyl of Roses with the white of an Egge, Oyl of Eggs, Oyl of Wax, which is most excellent; Ointment of Roses, of Cerusse, Camphorer, Pomatum. Take an equal quantity of Turpentine, Hony, and Goosegrease, mix them, to which you may add half an Ounce of Cerusse, or Litheridge, more or lesse, as you would have it drye. If there be extraordinary [Page] pain, you may mixe a grain or two of Opium, with a little of the Nurses milk. You need not fear here the use of Opium because it is only used outwardly.

CHAP. VI. Of the Inflamation of the Navill.

THe Inflamation of the Navil is an hard and hot Tumor with pain and Pulsation.

It is caused in Children presently after the cutting of the Navil-string, which paining the Navil, the blood is drawn thither, and there heats, and so makes this Inflamation.

The Signs are hardnesse, swelling, rednesse, heat, pulsation, and a Feaver.

The Cure is, 1. Let the Nurse use a Diet that is cold and moist.

2. Then use such things as may asswage the pain, and repell the humours, as the Oyl of Roses, the white Oyntment, [Page] or the Oyntment of Poppies, these are to be used untill the beginning of the Inflamation is past; then use the Oyl of Cammomile, and the Oyl of Roses, and the more distance there is from the beginning, the more use Discutients, but have a care of strong Discutients, as the Oyl of Anniseeds or Cammomile, Lumbricated.

3. Suppuration and ripening it, which is to be avoided, if you can help it; Bread or Mallowes boyled in Milk ripen gently, such as ripen more vehemently are painful, and torment the Child.

CHAP. VII. Of a Rupture, and Broken Belly.

A Rupture is a falling down of the Guts from their place.

The Cause is the breaking, or relaxing the Inner rine of the Belly that joyns to the Caul, the latter cause is most frequent in Children in regard of their Moisture.

[Page] The External Causes are vehement motion, extraordinary Crying, holding of the Breath, abundance of Wind, and a strong Endevour of disburthening the Belly.

The Signs of the Causes are thus; If the Peritonation be broken, the Tumor was caused and increased suddenly, and the Gut descends to the bottome, but if it be relax'd, the Tumor grew by degrees, neither doth the Gut descend to the bottome.

The Cure is by, 1. Putting the Gut up into the belly; if it hath wind in it, which is known by the noyse, and sending wind out of it, then use Discutients, anoint it with the Isle of Cammomile or Anniseeds; if it hath its ordure hardned in it, soften it by Poultesses, Clysters, and Bathings; if it hath Phlegme in it, evacuate it by degrees with Clysters, and Suppositories, and use things that are hot and dry, and attenuating.

2. The keeping it in its place after it is put into it, that it fall down no more, which is done by a Trusse, and inward and outward Medicaments. The Internal are, the Powder of Mouse-eare used [Page] at Meals taken in Water, Rupterwort taken from the New of the Moon to the full, Decoctions of great Comfrey, St. Johnswort, and Saniclé. The internal Medicaments profit little, but the External are more certain, and the only hope is in them. The Seed of Ameos, with the white of an Egge is highly praised. The Emplasters, called Emplastrum ad Herviam, and Emplastrum Caesaris, will serve in the place of all other Medicaments.

3. In cutting it, if it be not cur'd by the Medicaments above, which is easie and without danger.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Falling of the Fundament.

THe falling of the Fundament is a going forth of the right and streight Gut (called the Pudding Gut) with the Sphyncter Muscle.

The Cause is, 1. A weakness of the Muscle by coldness of the humours, or [Page] outwardly, as when Children sit on Stoves, or by a loosness of the Belly.

2. A great Endevour and striving in disburthening the Belly.

3. A great irritation and frequent desire of emptying the belly, which comes from a Dysentery or Tenesme.

The Signs are manifest to sight.

The Presage, This Disease is hard to cure, because all Diseases of the Fundament are very difficult to cure; because,

1. The part is very sensible, and cannot endure sharp Medicaments.

2. The passing of the Filth, which if it be hard it exasperates the part.

3. Medicaments are not easily applied to this part, nor are kept long enough, by the passing of the Filth.

4. The Place is hot and moist, which requires remedies that are cooling and drying, which irritate and exasperate, and therefore scarcely endur'd.

That which is without an Inflamation, not inveterate, but new, is more easily cur'd.

The Cure is, 1. By putting it into its place, which is done by a gentle hand; if it be swell'd, bath it with a Decoction [Page] of Mallowes before you put it up, which will likewise cleanse the Filth and slimy humour from it, which is requisite also to be done.

2. Retaining it in its place, after it is put into it, which is done by astringent remedies, which ought not to be very strong (because they exasperate, cause pain, and want of sleep) to which use serves Terra Lemnia, Sanguis Draconis, Frankinsence, and Cerusse, which are to be sprinkled upon the part; apply to the Fundament a Spunge, dipp'd in an Astringent Decoction of Sanicle, Herbrobert, Acornes, or Leaves of Oake, or the greater Comfrey.

CHAP. IX. Of the Galling of Children.

THe Galling of Children are certain Ulcers in the Skin, or Excoriations which happen to Children between the Thighes; sometimes they are in the Feet, Lips, and between the Thighes in those of elder years.

[Page] The Cause is, 1. External, sharp Urine (especially in fat Children) sharp and cholerick Filth of the Belly, and Foulness of Cloaths, walking, rough Cloathing, and violent motion drawing the sharp humours to the Skin, or exasperating the humours in the Skin.

2. Internal and immediate, a sharp and corroding humour, which is either generated in the part exulcerated, or it flowes from the body into those parts.

3. Antecedent, the fault of the Milk, if the Child suck. In elder ones, an ill Diet, especially meats that are hot, sweet, salt, or corroding.

The Signs are obvious, because the part is red and pain'd, especially if it be touch'd and rubb'd.

Presage, If they are neglected they turn into ill Ulcers, and are dangerous, otherwise they are easie to cure.

The Cure is, if the Child suck, let the Nurse use a good Diet and abstain from Motion, Watching, Anger, Wine, and all meats that are sharp, salt, and corroding. If she be of an unhealthy blood, let her purge; The Child is also to be often wash'd and clens'd from his [Page] filth and excrements, and his Cloathes are to be clean and not hard. If the Child doth not suck, the like Diet is to be used, as is advised for the Nurse, and the same remedies for preparing and purging of the humours, and outwardly to be applied are convenient, which are advised in the Fourth Chapter; to which I refer you. To them may be added Dear-Suet, or the Suet of a Goat. Take a Turnip, make a Hole in it, then fill it with the Oyl of Roses, and Roast it, of which make a Liniament.

CHAP. X. Of Chilblanes and Kybes.

CHilblanes usually follow Tumours and Swellings, and the matter of it is dry, sharp and corroding, and makes an Ulcer, which for the most part is dry, and no matter or humour issues of it. It happens to Children chiefly because they lesse feel the cold, and defend themselves against it, and so are most frequently hurt with the cold. It happens to [Page] he hands and Feet, and not other parts of the body; because,

1. The hands and feet are farthest from the fountain of heat, the heart.

2. They are without Flesh, and have no defence from outward injuries, and do abound with Nerves and Bones, whereby we have great pain, and are more cold in these parts then in other parts, insomuch that these parts many times corrupt and putrefie with cold; by what is said. Chilblanes may be defined

A dry Ulcer in the hands and feet, chiefly in Infants.

The Cause is cold, or shoes that hurt being too straight, rough, or hard.

The Signs are, An Inflamation more or lesse, sometimes Pustules, afterwards exulcerations, a little pain, but the Itching greater, a purulent Ichor comes from it, that seems to be like ripened or thin matter.

The Presage, It is not dangerous if it be not neglected; if it be, a Mortification of the Feet may happen, and so Death.

The Cure is in, 1. Preservation from it, wherefore avoid straight and hard [Page] shoes, defend your feet from the cold Air, and rub your feet with salt and hony mingled, which is good in the begining when the swelling only appears, so is the washing your feet with salt water, or with a Decoction of Betes. And when there is only a Swelling these are good, as Turnips boyled and applied in the manner of a Plaister, Bran boyled in Wine. Take of the Gumme Ammoniacum one Dram, of Resin two Drams, dissolve them over the fire, add thereto six Drams of Common Oyl, of Wax half a Dram, let the Wax be dissolved, then add Flower of Fengreek, Frankinsence and Mastick, of each two Drams, mingle them. 2. In curing the Ulcer, Aloes alone, or mix'd with sweet wine, cures it being laid to it; if the Ulcer be sordid, clense it with the Ointment called the Ointment of the Apostles; when it is clensed that no filth is left, then skin it with the Plaster called Diapalma.

CHAP. XI. Of the Scab.

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THE Scab is a Swelling, with a distemper and exulceration of the Skin.

The Cause is, a corrupted blood mixt with salt Phlegme, and burnt Choler, either generated in the womb of the Mother by the menstruous blood, or after the Child is born, by the corruption of milk, or fault of Diet, by which the Liver chiefly is intemperately hot, or the blood is corrupted by contagion, which being expell'd to the Skin, there sticks, exulcerates it, and makes it sore.

The Signs are manifest, and are in the Definition.

The Cure is in, 1. A convenient Diet, the meat ought to be boyled not roasted, of an easie Disgestion, not salt, hot, or having ill qualities; unclenliness, and unseasonable exercise are to be avoided.

[Page] 2. Tempering and purging the humors as in the fourth Chapter.

3. By provocation of Sweat, with a Decoction of Scabius, Harts-horn, Fumitory, and Cardus benedictus.

4. External Remedies, which gently clense and drye; Quicksilver is much commended, but it is only convenient, if the Scab be contumacious, and in the oldest Children, Unguentum Enulatum is profitable, but be careful it be without Mercury. Take of the Oyl of Roses four Ounces, live Brimstone one Ounce, the Juice of Limons two Ounces, the Resine of Pine-tree one Ounce, mixe them, and make an Oyntment of them. Take of Turpentine four Ounces, wash'd in-Rose-water, the Juice of four Oranges, the Yelks of four Eggs, and an Ounce of the Oyl of Roses, mingle them all, and make an Ointment of them, which is excellently good if the Scab be old and dry. Elecampane powdered, and with Hogs grease made into an Oyntment, is highly praised; so is Brimstone finely powdered and annointed with Milk. Also Garlick beaten very smal and mix'd with Hogs grease is very good.

CHAP. XII. Of the Itch.

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THe Itch is a pain exciting a desire of Scratching, without the unevennesse or exulceration of the Skin.

The Itch is sometimes in the whole body, but most frequently in the Soles of the Feet, by reason of the hardnesse and thicknesse of the Skin, hindering the humours to evaporate.

The Cause is Choller, or salt or thin Phlegme, thereby insinuating it self into the smallest pars, but it is viscid and clammy, that it may adhere and cleave tenaciously to the parts. It is caused in the Womb of the Mother by the Menstruous blood, or by the corruption or fault of the Milk, or by meats and drinks that are hot, salt, or other things that heat the Liver.

The Signs are manifest.

The Cures are, 1. By attemperating the humours with the Whey of the Milk of Goats, and the Syrrup of Fumitory.

[Page] 2. In evacuating the humors, Take a Dram of Rhabarb, infuse it all night in a little Water, strain it, and add three Ounces of Whey, and two Ounces of the Syrrup of Roses solutive.

3. Mitigation of the pain, and discussing of it by Baths of Water in which are Mallowes, Cammomile, or Pellitory.

So much of External Diseases.

The Second Book Of Universal Diseases in CHILDREN.

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CHAP. I. Of Feavers in Children in Generall.

HItherto have been considered External Diseases, Internal are either Universal which affect the whole body, or perticular, which affect some parts. A Feaver is an Universal Disease, so is the Small Pox, and a [Page] Consumption, which three Diseases will be considered in this Book.

Although Feavers and their Causes are common to all Ages, yet in regard Infancy is most obnoxious to them, and hath peculiar considerations in the Cure of them; Limiting the strength, quality and quantity of the remedy, it will not be altogether improper to call Feavers Childrens Feavers; Children are subject to Diseases that are accidental, and Symptomatical, proceeding from other Diseases, as in breeding of the Teeth, Inflamation of the Gums, &c. and also to Feavers essentiall, and of their own accord, and to all sorts of them; but especially a Synoche Feaver, in regard their bodies are hot and moist, their temperament sanguine, and their bodies dense, by which, transpiration of the heat is hindered, which increases and produces a Feaver.

Children may have a Quartan Feaver though their natural temper be contrary to it; because,

1. Humours partake aswell of the matter as of the Agent and Temperament of the body, wherefore as Humours [Page] and Excrements of the body do not shew the Temperament (for old men are cold and dry of temper, yet they abound with Phlegme (so do they not only depend on it, but on Diet likewise, which in Children is very often grosse and unorderly eaten, and so Crudities and very thick humours are made.

2. If the Mother was elderly and of a Melancholy temper, the menstruous blood, with which the Child was nourish'd, may much alter the temper of the Child.

3. A Quartan Feaver is not always made from Melancholy, but may be made from any humour that is thick.

The Internal Causes are the humours of the body.

The External Causes are chiefly, 1. The Air, If the Winter be cold and dry, and the Spring hot and moist, bodies cannot be cooled in the Summer, but burn and cause Feavers; besides, in the Summer, Childrens bodies are more thin and spare.

2. Unseasonable and immoderate exercise, being full or empty.

[Page] 3. Immoderate and ill Diet, whence are Crudities, Obstructions, and Putrefying, and so Feavers.

Presage, All Feavers in Children for the most part are not dangerous, because the natural Faculty is strong and active in them, and can resist powerfully the Causes of Feavers.

Children sometimes by Feavers have an Hectick Feaver, not by the difficulty of the Curing it, or the greatnesse of the Feaver, but by the morosity of the Child that will not be govern'd.

The Cure is, If the Child suck, the Nurse is to be cur'd, with such things that alter and purge, as the kind of Feaver seems to require. It is much doubted how blood is to be lessened in Children that have Feavers. Some think that after the Fifth Month, Cuppingglasses may be applied, and blood drawn out by them. Others think not before a year, which opinion is most safe, because this Age is wont greatly to be overcome by pain and trouble, and Cupping glasses are painful, but after a year Cupping glasses may be applied, but only to sanguine and strong Children. And then [Page] not to the part above, but on the Thighs, because the Spirits and strength are not so wasted from those parts, as from above. And only to the taking away an Ounce of blood and no more.

Besides these remedies, others may be added. Inwardly may be taken the Juice of Granates (which is highly praised) with Oxymel and Citron. It may be made thus, Take of the Juice of Granates one Ounce, of Simple Oxymell half an Ounce, you may give the Child a Dram at a time unto half an Ounce, but it is better to mixe the lesse quantity of Oxymel, because the Childs Nerves are very infirm, and Oxymel and all sower things hurt the Nerves, wherefore the Syrrup of Maidenhair, Syrrup of Red Poppies are good. If the Child is bound in his belly, you may not use purging Medicaments because the Childs body is hot naturally, and is more heated by the Feaver, so it is dangerous to add the heat of a purging Medicament, wherefore it is better to use a more gentle Clyster or Suppository. Take of Whey half a pint, of Hony [Page] half an Ounce, of Salt half a Dram, mingle them; make a Suppository of Flesh and Hogs grease, or the common Suppository, for strong Suppositories are dangerous.

Outward remedies may be used, 1. Things very gentle may be applied to the head or Feet to provoke sweat, as the Root of a Reed; if the Childs body which is Dense be opened by Sweat, the heat and putrid vapours will go forth.

2. Cloths dipped in Cichory, Endive, Plantane, or Rosewater applied to the Breast, Side, or Back for cooling.

The Liver and Stomach ought to be helped in Concoction in all Feavers, much more here, which is done by cooling and binding remedies applied to them. Take of the Oil of Mastick half an Ounce, powder of Red Corall, Sanders, and Red Roses, of each two Scruples, of Wax a little, make an Oyntment of it, but if the Child be between seven and fourteen years, he must be handled in another manner, which shall be set forth in the following Chapter.

CHAP. II. Of a Synoche Feaver.

[Page]

EVery Synoche putrid Feaver in Children is from obstruction made by gross humours in hot, moist, and sanguine bodies, and the putrid matter is in all or the greater veins.

The Cure of it in a Child between 7. and 14. years, will be in removing the obstructions, and tempering the Febrish heat, which will be done by, 1. A convenient Diet, let the Air be cold, motions of the body and mind avoided; if the belly move not, use a Clyster or Suppository; let the Drink be water, or Barly water; the Diet sparing, only Barly broth, or Broth of Meat: But because this will be accounted too strict and hard, to indulge, you may add to the Broth bread, and sometimes the Yelk of an Egge, but be careful you do not nourish too much, because the strength and the Disease are nourish'd together. The time of eating, let it be [Page] as it was when the Child was well.

2. Blood-letting; Some think that Blood-letting ought not to be before the Child is 14. years old, because that which the opening of a Vein ought to do, nature doth it of its own accord, which consumes daily much of the Childs substance by insensible transpiration, therefore it needs not evacuation, lest the strength be dejected. Others are for Blood-letting, because if a Child can endure a disease from fulnesse, why not the remedy? which is, Blood-letting; otherwise as often as a Disease begins with the imbecility of strength, especially which happens out of a natural dissipation and resolution, so often will that Disease be certain, and necessarily mortal: Besides, they which are against Blood-letting allow purges, which are contrary to nature, and is worse then Blood-letting: moreover, they bring notable examples for it, as Avenzoar's letting of his son blood at three Months old. In this Feaver, because evacuating blood is an excellent remedy, you may in the place of Blood-letting use Leeches which with ease open a vein, and [Page] do not wast the Spirits, they will be most safely safe applied to the Thighs, and also to the Arms: Or you may use Cuppingglasses, which are not to be used in the upper parts, because they draw humours from the whole body to the heart, wherefore it is safer to apply them to the Loyns or Hips, and then they must be oblonge and a narrow mouth, because to draw from profound parts; If you apply them to the Thighes, they are to have a broad mouth, which draws from the parts which are next and remote according to Latitude.

If the Belly be not loose use a Clyster or Suppository, before you use Cuppingglasses or Leeches, afterwards endevour to remove obstructions by internal and external remedies, that attenuate and deterge without any notable heat. Take Barly half a Pugil, the Leaves of Hyssop half an handful, boyl it according to Art; Take of that Decoction two Ounces and an half, of Simple Oxymel five Drams, mingle it, and drink it; when you have thus prepared the humours; Purge gently, Take of Sebestens, two Drams of Raisins, the Leaves of Hyssop, [Page] the Flowers of Borrage of each one Pugill, make a Decoction according to Art, take thereof three Ounces; of the Hony of Roses solutive, and of Manna, of each an Ounce and a half, mingle them; the Purgative Medicaments may be lessened or increased as the body requires.

Outwardly things that open obstructions are convenient; Such as are gentle, as meal of Barly rubb'd upon the Skin, Barly-water, and a little Oyl of Almonds, cool and moisten the Breast, and prevent the increase of the heat of the Breast. A Bath of fresh Water is very convenient.

This way may be observed also in a Tertian or Quartan Feaver, respect being had to the humour that is faulty.

CHAP. III. Of the Small Pox and Meazles.

THE Small Pox is a Disease formerly [Page] unknown to the Ancients, having neither writ any Book of it, nor described it; and it is not improbable it had a Beginning in our Northern Countries, as it had in the West-Indies; in which parts (it is said by Historians) that in that time in which we were infected by them with the French Pox they took from us the Small Pox and Meazles.

It is a Disease belonging only to Mankind and not to Beasts, not is the Murrain or Leprosie in Hogs the same Disease with it, as is supposed by some. The Small Pox and Meazles have the same matter, cause, and Cure, but the Meazles are made of the thinner matter, and they differ from the Small Pox, in that,

1. The Meazles have little swellings, or that the rising of them can hardly be seen.

2. The matter of them is more dry and subtile.

3. They trouble and affect the eyes lesse then the Pox.

4. The Small Pox for the most part [Page] terminates into an Abscessus and Collection of ripened matter, which lasts many days and blemishes the body, but the Meazles scarce passeth the seventh day, either then they vanish or are almost wasted, and leave no deformity.

The Cause as I conceive is not the Impurity of the maternal blood, as by most is supposed, because,

1. The Small Pox proceeds for the most part from the fault of the Air and Stars.

2. The fault of the menstruous blood was ever since the Sin of Eve, and therefore this Disease should have been always, but before the time of the Arabick Physicians, no Author was found that writ of the generation of this Disease, or clearly explain it, which if they had done, they would not have concealed it from us (it being a great and dangerous Disease) in regard they communicated in their Books small Diseases.

3. There is scarce any man but some time or other hath a greivous Disease which makes an Ebullition or boyling of blood, and putrefaction, until the [Page] body is clensed and purified divers ways, and so the fault from the menstruous blood would be expelled: but it is otherwise, for it follows immediately other Diseases, and the sanguine man who is most healthy is most troubled. It is granted that the seed of a Disease may lye in part of the body for many years, but the whole blood infected cannot stay long, and resist so many injuries, and if as some think the menstruous blood infected should ferment and turn into other ill Diseases, as pestilential Feavers, then the rest of the time they would be free from this Evill.

4. Sanguineous Beasts that have menstruous purgation, would have this Disease, as Bitches, Asses, and Mares, having the matter of the Disease (as menstruous Purgation) and the Agent, (Heat.)

5. Natures care and wisdome for Preservation, in seperating the Excrements from Nourishment in the Womb, the excrements are past into the Tunicles in which the Child is wrapt, and immediately after it is born, it purges by stool plentifully, and more then is fit [Page] for its bigness, which is sometimes bloody, black and white, and afterwards it hath Sores in the head, which purgeth the ill humours contracted in the Womb; and though natures care may fail in some, it cannot fail in all. Nor is the cause of this Disease the fault of the Air, as some conceive it to be, because 1. This Disease arises from the Pravity of matter. 2. The quallity of the Air that produces the great effects that follow the Small Pox, would be very strong and powerful, and so young men would not be free from it.

The true cause is a paternal propriety in the blood and Ichors of it, boyling by heat, which Ichors may be excited in the body divers ways. That the Ichors is the matter, is seen by the 1. Breaking of it out into the Skin. 2. All Synoche Feavers arise out of the boyling of the Ichors of blood, which Feaver is always in the Small Pox. 3. They are the Ichors (or thin and serosous part of the blood) because they are not sharp, if they were, there would be a concussion of the body and shaking when they are expelled. That the Disease is made [Page] by the Ichors or thin and serosous and waterish humidity, is manifest, because the humor that goes forth is not a Pus and thick matter; but an Ichor & thin waterish humour, and that it is by Ebullition, appears in the heat, colour, and Accidents that happen. By this we may resolve our selves, 1. That in our dayes scarce any man but hath this Disease, because it is hereditary, which came first by the fault of the Stars, which affected all, or almost all, and now is propagated. As Indians now generate children with long heads, which in former Ages they endevoured to make by Art, and now is become a natural disposition. 2. This Disease is mortal to some and not to others, by the abundance and badness of humours, and ill constitution of body, that the blood and Ichors boyling, causes an unquenchable Fire and remedilesse putrefaction; besides the badnesse of the Air, and errors in the ordering of the person. 3. They happen most to Children, because they are full of blood and thin waterish humidity, and abound with heat, being nearest to the principle of Generation, besides they are given much [Page] Motion. 4. They that have most thin and waterish humours, have most breakings out, and the thicker and more tenacious the humours are, the worse the marks and deformities are. 5. The face is most troubled, because of the Ebullition of the blood, the vapours ascend to the head, and so impetuously, that neither the Spirits of the head or face, or the Air to which the face is exposed, can resist; besides, the face is moist and rare, and apt thereby to receive them. 6. The Feet and hands next to the face are chiefly troubled, notwithstanding the Skin is hard, because of the Sympathy between these parts and the Liver, which is seen in a hot Liver by the burning of the hands and feet. 7. The Small Pox troubles the eyes more then the Meazles, because the matter is thicker, and can be lesse resisted and repelled. 8. The Small Pox is contagious and infectious by the boyling of the blood, which sends vapours at a great distance, which enter into other persons and infect them, as it is in those that have sore eyes, and by the Hereditary Propriety, so that consanguineous persons [Page] are more easily affected in regard of the Similitude of their temper, and for that reason whole Families in a Plague are destroy'd. 8. Some have this Disease twice, very rarely thrice, almost all once, because this Hereditary Disposition only disposes, and continues as long as the Seminary parts in which it is implanted doth remain, which most commonly is consum'd the first time the Blood is inflam'd, and set on fire, especially the second time when the Blood Ferments. 9. Scars and blemishes are left chiefly in the Face, Lips, and Foreskin, because the Skin of them is without Flesh, or hath but very little, and therefore difficult to heal.

The mediate causes of the Small Pox are, 1. Internall, hot and moist temper, soft and fat habit of body, and tendernesse of Age. Boys are more dispos'd to it then Girles, by the disparity of heat in them, boys being hotter. 2. External, hot and moist Air, Southern constitution, Spring time and an hot and moist region, or Contagion, or other things that move, or corrupt the thin and waterish part of the Blood.

[Page] By what hath been said, the Small Pox may be defin'd to be a disease having Pustules in an outward part of the Skin, with a continual Feaver, by the peculiar Effervessency and Ebullition of the Ichorous Blood excited by the expulsive faculty.

The Signes that this Disease is Imminent and coming, which either immediately accompany the Disease, or proceed it, are Pain in the Neck and Breast, with a heavinesse of the Eyes, Itching of the Nose, Shortnesse of Breath, Suddain trembling and starting, Often Sneesing, Urine sometimes muddy, sometimes sound weepings of the Eyes and tears falling of their own accord from them, a continuall Feaver.

The Signes of the Disease present are manifest, being little swellings and spots; in the Meazles they are Red and not high; in the Small Pox, they first appear as the head of an Needle or Pin, immediately after they are greater, and red, and daily increase untill they are ripen'd, grow white, are made an Ulcers and Soars, and are dryed up.

[Page] Presage, If the Small Pox and Meazles are White and a few, appear without any other accident; or if many appear and the Feaver is diminish'd and other accidents, and the breathing easie, there is no danger. If the Small Pox are black or green, or if few or many appear, and the other accidents are worse, and exasperated and the breathing difficult, then it is pernitious and Mortall. They who dye of the Small Pox, dye either with a Sounding, an Inflamation (with which they are strangled) or a looseness of the Belly, which destroys the strength of the Child.

The Cure is in, 1. Preserving the inward and outward parts, the outward are call'd so because they are seen, and they are the Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Mouth. The internall are Liver, Lungs, and chiefly the Guts; the eyes are frequently troubled with heat, and a tenacious Ichor that Exulcerates them, whereby the Children cannot sleep, which is helpt by cooling and moderately binding Medicaments, as the water of Roses or Plantain mix'd with Sumach: Take of the water of Roses and Plantain [Page] of each five Ounces, Sumach half an Ounce, infuse them all night, and with a little white of an Egge mix them, wet a little Cotten in it, and wet the eye often with it; if there be pain and Itching, take the water of roses and milk, and add a little Myrrh to them; the scratching of the Eyes are to be avoided: If the Ears be pain'd, itch, and run, let them be kept open, if the pain be great, dip a Spunge in hot water with the Oyle of roses, and lay it to the Ear, the scratching whereof is very hurtfull. The Nose is defended from Ulcers if Roses or Plantain be boil'd in water, and the steam taken in at the Nosthrills. The Mouth is helpt by this Gargarisme; Take of the water of Barly one Pint and an half, the leaves of Plantain and Flowers of Roses, of each one Dram, to which you may adde the Juice of Barbaries or Orange, and wash the mouth with it.

2. In helping of nature, in expelling the humour, which is perform'd by, 1. Dyet that is convenient. The Air is to be temperate, or rather somewhat hot, that the Pores may be opened, and the coming forth of the Small Pox promoted, [Page] therefore let the child be kept in a close room, that the cold Air by no means may come in (by the opposition of the Air, many Children have dyed with a Benigne and gentle Small Pox, the matter of the Disease being repercuss'd to the interior Parts; let a red cloth be laid next the Skin, which is conceiv'd by divers to be helpfull by a similitude it hath with the boyling Blood.

Be carefull your cloathing be not too much, lest the Child be Smothered and Swound; and so provide that the outward Parts are rather hot then cold, but that neither the heat of the Air, or weight of Cloathing, encrease the Feaverish heat of the Child; and if the tongue waxes black with heat, the breathing is short, and Swounding is fear'd, let some cold water be near the Childs mouth, that he may suck the cold Air in, Sleep is helpfull, but the troubles of the mind (especially Fear) is to be avoided, only a little Anger may be admitted, which help the expelling the humour. If the Belly be bound, a very easie Clyster or Suppository may be used, which doth not hinder the motion of nature, because [Page] they only work in the Guts, and the motion of nature is to the Skin and in the Veins: besides Clysters do not deject us that they may be fear'd, contrary to what some think. Avoid fulnesse and emptinesse, let the body be kept in quiet and rubb'd a little, for it expells the humour: let the drink be Barly Water, with the Juice of Limmons or Barberies, or a Decoction of the roots of Sorrell, or a Decoction of Ivory or Hartshorn, especially in the beginning, and whilest the Feaver is vehement. If the Feaver is not very vehement, a Decoction of Barly and Figs will be most convenient, and commonly with successe hath been used by most eminent Physicians, for that effectually expells the humours to the Skin. If Wine be permitted it must be but a little, and in it steep Lettice, Endive, or Sorrell. Avoid gross meats, Spice, Salt, and Sweet meats, for sweet things destroy, and so doth bitter things, being dry, and contrary to the Childs nature, which is moist, wherefore the meat must be easie to concoct, cooling, as Barly Broth, or Broth in which cooling Hearbs are boyled; and when [Page] the danger is over, you may feed them with Broth and Yelks of Egs put into it, with some Juice of Limon or Vineger. A dried Fig is good meat, for it expells the humour to the skin. 2. Emptying of the blood before the Eruption and breaking forth of the Small Pox or Meazles: If the Feaver is great, and there be a fulnesse of blood, then it may be admitted, unlesse the Age is very tender, or something else hinders it. It may not be used upon Children, that are weake, and forbeare the emptying of blood in Children before they are 10. Months old, though the Arabians appoint at five months. The lessenning of blood ought to be upon the first visit of the Physician, because of the beginning of the Ebullition of the blood, which is commonly then, the Fervour whereof ought to be abated, and nature eased; so that one ought not to stay until the fourth day, but it may be done when one will, before that time and not after. The lessening of blood is done several ways, as by letting blood (which ought to be very seldome) Cuppingglasses or Leeches, the latter is most easie, [Page] and one or two may suffice in the place of Cupping-glasses, or opening a Vein. 3. Medicaments, All Physicians agree vehement remedies are not to be used, but some think gentle means may be used in the beginning of this Disease; but I conceive that Medicaments may not be used in the beginning, because the operation of it will trouble nature in her work, which is critical (the Physician being called when the blood is boyling) and it is a rule, there is nothing to be done unlesse nature act imperfectly, which cannot be known in the beginning, but a Clyster may be then and at any time used, for that works only on the Guts, as is said a little before. Take a pint of Barly-water, 4 Ounces of the Syrrup of Violets, three Ounces of Butter, and an Ounce of red and course Sugar, mingle them for a Clyster, the quantity is to be altered, as the capacity of the Child is. A dried Fig is a convenient Suppository, and one made of hony. Where the humour moves forth, and the whole matter comes forth, there no evacuation must be used, for there the Child and all things are quiet: [Page] But if the Child is troubled, the trouble may be taken away with a Lenitive. Take of Tamarinds half an Ounce, Sebestens 15. of Barly two drams; of the Flowers of Borrage, Violets, and Roses, of each a Dram, boyl them in a pint of water to half a pint. Take 4. Ounces of this Decoction, and an Ounce of Manna or more, as the Child is. Some think a gentle purge before the eruption, breaking out, and appearance of the Pox and Meazles, if the Child abound with ill humours, and the Feaver rage, may be used, for it lessens the ill humours, that thereby nature doth expel more cheerfully; but if the Small Pox begins to break forth, then a Purge is pernicious and mortall. The rest of the Cure is in helping nature in expulsion; wherefore if Nature doth not expell readily, and strongly, but slowly, use such a remedy as cools, binds, and opens. Take of Lents one Ounce, of Figs 10. Maidenhair two Drams, Smalledge roots half an Ounce, Sorrell half a handful, boil them in a pint and an half of water to a pint, use it morning and Evening, from four Ounces to six, as the Child is; If [Page] nature expels strongly, omit the opening things, in regard of the Feaver which is great, and the openings are not then to be used; but when nature expels slowly, which is known by the fewnesse and slownesse of their coming forth, This expels. Take of Lents two drams, of Figs fifteen, of Barly one dram, of Lettice and Sorrell of each an handful, boyl them in a pint and an half of water to a pint, use 6, 7, or 8. Ounces of it Morning and Evening, as the Child is: Note, that Lents boyled alone loosens the Belly, from whence are mortal Fluxes, nor it is not to be used alone for a remedy, because of its thickness and binding qualities. Take of French Barly one Pugil, slic'd Liquorish half a dram, red Cicers one dram, of the greater Cold seeds of each half a dram, Cordial Flowers of each one Pugill, three Figs, boyl them well in water to 6 Ounces, after it is strained dissolve in it half an Ounce of the Syrrup of Granat which is to be taken at twice, it is very good; it mitigates and tempers the Feaver. These that follow are also good to expell, as Confection of Hyacynth, [Page] Alkermes, Contraherva, Hartshorn, or Scabius boyled; so is Antimonium Diaphoreticum, Bezar-stone, and the Bezardical Minerall; some use to bath with Luke-warm water to promote expulsion by relaxing the Skin. Observe that Medicaments that are Cordials and expelling, are to be used from the appearing and first coming forth of the Small Pox, to the Eleventh day, which some call the increase and state of Eruption of the Ebullition. If the Scabs dry not of themselves, and have matter in them, and are ripe, they are not to be opened, unlesse they be malignant, for if they be ripe and white, their heat and fervour, and eating of the flesh is gone, and they will dry and fall of themselves, and so there is no danger of its putrefying and leaving holes and marks. If the Scabs drye not of themselves fast enough, use Aloes, Litharidge, Cerusse, and Sanders, and wash them in salt water, in which Plantain, Roses, or some other drying thing is, that may take away the acrimony of the Salt. If they do not ripen fast enough, boil Figs and Mallowes together, and dip a Cloth in it, and [Page] touch them often with it being warm, it mitigates pain and ripens them. In the end of the Disease the Scabs sometimes turn into Ulcers, which are cur'd with the Ointment of Litharidge and Cerusse, and an ill colour is left, which is taken away thus. Take of Lupine Barly and Beans of each two Drams, bruise them and boil them in a convenient quantity of water until it is thick, and with it wash morning and evening the Childs hands and face, until the Scales fall off. The Scars and holes left by the Pox is hardly cureable, the fat of a man, and the Oil of Egs is very much commended.

Chap. IV. Of the Consumption.

A Consumption is called Leanness, Gracility, and Tenuity. If it be considered as an habit and a certain durable and permanent state of the body, and as hurting the Actions of the body, it is a Disease; if as it depends on a vitiated Nutrition, and as a simple Disposition, [Page] then it is rather to be called a Symptome and an effect of a Disease.

A Consumption is an Extabescency and Exiccation of the whole body, arising from a want of nourishing of the body.

The Subject is the whole body, the harder part whereof may be dried and diminish'd, the Veins and Nerves may be so extenuated, that they may seem to be much lesse, that a great vein may seem to be a little vein, &c. but these parts cannot be so lessened as that the whole body should decrease, wherefore the whole body is said to be extenuated in respect of the more soft parts, as the fat and flesh; the fat is first consumed because it is caused by cold, and whatsoever is concreted by cold (unlesse it be vehement) is easily dissolved by heat. Moreover, fat hath scarce any other use but to preserve the natural heat. After the fat, the flesh is consumed, which is as a bond of the Constitution of mans Body, but not necessary to Life; but the seminary parts, as Veins, Nerves, Arteries, &c. are the foundation of Life, and cannot be consumed with the [Page] preservation of Life as the flesh can be which is not necessary for Life; and it is of three sorts 1. Musculous, which consists of Veins, Membranes, and Arteries; 2. Glandulous, as that of the Breast anp Testicles. 3. Pure Flesh, as that which is between the Teeth, and in the top of the Yard. These three sorts of Flesh consume in this order. First the the Musculous Flesh. Secondly, the Glandulous, and last of all the pure flesh.

The immediate cause of this Disease, is the frustration of nourishing, either by the fault, 1. of the Aliment, being deficient and too little or vitious, that it is not assimilated, or attracted by the parts of the Body; 2. or fault of the Nutritive faculty, when the naturall heat and radicall moisture is Defective. The nourishment and food is too little, when the appetite in the Stomach and other parts is wanting (as in an Universal weaknesse, or) when it is not distributed, the Meseraick Veins by their drynesse are often so shut and close, that the Chile cannot passe from the Stomach into the rest of the Body, and so the parts are extenuated. So likewise as often as [Page] the meat is prepar'd and sent another way, there is Leannesse as in Vomiting and Fluxes, so it is by worms consuming the nourishment that ought to be turned into flesh. The Blood is faulty & cause of Leanness when it is too Melancholical, for where the Spleen flourishes the rest of the body growes Lean, and where the rest of the body consumes, the Spleen growes: So likewise when the Blood is too Cholerick, for then it is offensive to nature, for no blood can be turn'd into the substance of the body that hath Choler mixt with it, or if it be waterish, whereby bodies also consume, as in Dropsies; so likewise if the blood be Salt, leannesse is caused, for Salt things are Earthy, Dry and contrary to nourishment, and dry the body and is not assimilated, and therefore consume and extenuate directly and naturally; by accident Salt may conduce to nourishment by exciting an Appetite, and distributing the Food, but naturally it is contrary to nourishment, insomuch that some have Writ that Fishes are not nourish'd with Water or Juyces that are Salt, but with sweet things, or other things that [Page] are found in the Sea. Nourishment is also hindered by the fault or distemper of the Part that should assimilate the nourishment, when it is too dry; so it happens to old walls to which Lime cannot be agglutinated by reason of the great drynesse of it: Moreover, Leanness is also made by causes that dissolve the fat and flesh, as great Feavers do; but in Children it is caused for the most part by the defect of nourishment, being either too little or vitious and unusefull, proceeding from the fault of the milk; (wherefore it is, that Children by one Nurse fattens, and consume by another) or Worms destroying their nourishment; and sometimes by a distemper of some principall part, as the Stomach, Liver, or Heart, and it is observ'd that an old and contumations and native consumption, cannot be, without the Liver be affected and the temperament dry, but that which is new may be from any one of the causes aforesaid.

The external causes of a Consumption are a hot or dry Air, hence it is that most Aethiopians are lean and most men consume in Summer, Watching and Care [Page] consumes a Body and as it were eats it; Meditation, Grief, Study, Immoderate Venery, natural Bathes that drye, Scarcity of Food and feeding once a day consume men and Children, of which quality are sharp things. It is also conceived that Children by reason of the softnesse and tendernesse of their body grow lean and consume by Fascination, proceeding from their touching unhealthy bodies, or the unwholsome vapours out of the Eyes or Mouthes of Women not well; which truely is not Fascination, for Witchcraft is rather the work of the Devil, then by any proper power of the Sages.

The Signs of a Consumption are manifest, for the Flesh and Fat are visibly consum'd, the face like one that is dead, and the figure of the whole hody deprav'd. If it is from a cause that melts and dissolves the Fat and Flesh, there was or is a violent Feaver.

If from want of food, it is known in elder Children by their not taking what is necessary; in Sucking Children, by the Flagginess and Emptiness of the Nurses Breast, the ill dyet of Nurses, the Child [Page] pisses little and doth not wet his Cloaths, cryes and Sucks eagerly. If the want of food is the cause, because nourishment goes into other parts, it is known by the loosness of the Belly, plenty of Urine and worms. If the defect is, because the meat is not exactly prepar'd in the Stomach, there is belching of Wind, Vomiting, and want of Appetite, or some hot distemper. If from the fault of food, if in Infants, the Nurses milk is not good (for milk is made of food) by the colour and ill constitution of the Nurse it is easily known, if the Milk is bad, it will not be very white, have an ill taste, not sweet, of an ill smell, and more thick and fluid then it ought to be. The thickness and thinnesse of the Milk is known, if some Milk is Milk'd upon the Nail of the Thombe, and if it presently runs off, it is too thin, if it stayes and moves not off, it is too thick; Or if you curdle it, the whey and curds ought to be equall, else it is to thin or to thick, besides if the Milk be thin andsharp, the Child is troubled with Pain, loosenesse, and very ill breakings out. If the milk is thick, the Child is costive and there are little Inflamations, [Page] Swellings and Vomitings, they pisse little, move and breath with difficulty, and are full of Phlegm.

In those that are elder, the badnesse of food is known by the colour of the Skin and out-side of the body, wherefore if the countenance be ill colour'd, scabby or pimpell'd; or if any other part is weak, as the head Stomach or Liver; or if their be any infirmities, distempers or passions of mind, it is certain the Leanness is from the fault of the food. Also it happens by the weaknesse from some Disease. If these things had not been, the Child would have had a florid and fresh colour, good appetite, and would eat and not complain. If Leannesse be from Fascination, no art or natural means is effectual, and there is no internal or external cause of Leannesse in regard of the Nurse or Child.

Presage, 1. All Suddain Leannesse proceeding from a Feaver is mortal, because of the Vehemency of the cause, weakness of the strength, tenuity of the humour, and laxity of the whole Body. 2. Consumptions that are seldome and not from Feavers, especially those that are great [Page] and ill, are sometimes cureable. 3. Lean bodies that are moist and have a moist Skin may be made fat, because all soft bodies are apt and fit to be extended into any dimension. 4. Bodies that are dry and have their Skin hard and rough, can scarce be fatned. 5. Bodies that have the Skin dry and cleaving to the bones, that neither by the hand nor Art can be stretch'd out, there is no hope of fatning them; but if the Skin be wrinkled and rugged so that it may be drawn forth, and as it were seperated from the bones, there is some hope of making them fat.

The Cure is, 1. in Children that suck, if the Milk be too little or bad, change the Nurse and choose one who hath good Milk, the notes whereof you have before, let her be of a good constitution, of a white and red colour, of a good converversation and behaviour, not under 20. nor above 40. years old, having had Children twice, and being not above 2 or 3 moneths from her last delivery, broad chested, having breasts neither big nor small, but moderate. If the Nurse may not be chang'd, let her be in a temperate [Page] Air, let her Sleep well, it augments Milk, let her avoid Passions, especially Anger, Grief, and Love, (for they corrupt the Milk) and congresse with a man spoils the Milk, or provokes the menstruous Flux that the Milk is lessened. A Nurse that lives with her husband is allowed coition and congresse with him, lest She be disturbed by desire of it, and by experience we see that Mothers that live with their Husbands, and use congresse, Nurse the Child without any hurt. The Nurse ought to use moderate exercive, rubbing of her bosome and breasts before she eats is convenient, let her not drink, or very little, and that which is sweet which lest offends the head, lest by increasing Milk the Child hath the Falling Sicknesse; The meat ought to be of a good and plentifull nourishment, avoiding sharp, salt and bitter things, the best bread, the Flesh of Birds, Veal, Mutton, and the like, Fish is to be avoided, Broath especially, with the Milk of Almonds increase Milk. If the Milk be faulty by the coldnesse, moisture and thinnesse of it, the Dyet must be hot for the correcting of it. If the Nurses body [Page] abound with cold and moist humours, prepare and purge them, but with gentle Purgatives, as the Syrrup of Roses or Rhabarbe, whose weak vertues are extinguish'd before they are communicated to the blood; if you purge strongly, let not the Child suck the Nurse two or three days after. If the Milk is too thick the Diet is to be attenuating, Vinegar, Raddishes and the like are good, a gentle Vomit is more convenient then a Purge. If the Milk be sharp and hot, the Nurse is to be kept in a cold Air, Rest, Baths of fresh water are convenient, Wine is hurtful; let the meat be Barly broth, with cooling Herbs, especially Lettice, which cools and thickens the blood, and increases Milk, avoiding salt, and things acrimonious, and Spices.

If the fault be not in the Milk, but in some part of the Infant, the Nurse is to be dieted and purged, and the Infant is to take no inward Medicament, but external, because these Ages bears not vehement Medicaments, wherefore external remedies are only to be used; and therefore if the Childs Stomach be cold and moist, hot or dry Plaisters, [Page] Bathings, and Oyntments are to be used, for the correcting of them. Take the Leaves of Marjoram, Mint, of each one handful, the Aromatick Reed, and the Flowers of red roses, of each half a handful, the water of Calamint one Pint, of Sweet Wine two Ounces, boyle them well, and with a Cloth dipp'd in it, bath the Stomach if it be cold; Afterwards annoint it with this: Take the Oyl of Mastick half an Ounce, the Powder of Cinamon and Cloves of each half a Dram, mixe a little wax with them, and make an Oyntment. If the Stomach be dry, bath it with Milk, and annoint it with this. Take fresh Butter, the fat of an Hen, of each half an Ounce, Saffron four grains, the Oyl of Wormwood three Ounces, mingle them and make a Liniament. If the Leannesse is from heat, Take Cichory, Endive, Water-lilly, and Wormwood waters, of each four Ounces, Vinegar two Ounces, make a fomentation for the Liver, afterwards annoint the side with this: Take of the Oyntment of Sanders, [...]i [...]hory, and Liverwort waters of each two Ounces, of the Vinegar of Roses, [Page] one Ounce, make a Liniament. If Leanness is from Loosness, the Nurse is to use binding meats, as Quinces, Services, Rice, Medlers, or Broth of an old Hen, and Calves feet, Corral or Jaspers Stone hung about the childs neck is convenient. So is this, Take of Mirrh and Quince of each half an Ounce, powder of Red Coral two Ounces, of Oakwater two Ounces, the powder of Mastick and Tormentill, of each half a Dram, mingle them, and make a Liniament, the senting of the Clothes with Fumes of things that are binding, are also convenient. If Leannesse arise from the drynesse of the whole body, use Bathing with fresh water, in which are boyled Mallowes, Lettice, Water-Lillies, or Endive; and a Liniament may he made of the Oyl of Roses, Violets, Butter without Salt, and Hogs grease; Clysters are also good in these cases made of Milk, or Bread boyled in broth, or made of Eggs, because they may nourish Children, being they are next to Generation, that is, the state which they had in the womb, in which they were nourish'd by the Navil, without the [Page] Concoction and preparation of the Stomach. Observe, that Plaisters to draw nourishments to the parts, are not convenient for Children, because their bodies are as Wax, and that sort of remedy by the heat of it, doth enervate and wast the flesh of Infants.

If the Child is bewitcht, a Saphir or Carbuncle hung about the Childs Neck is conceived good; so is Hartsthorn hung in the house, and many more which I omit as superstitious or false.

If the Child doth not suck, but is nourish'd with solid Meats, then the Cure is by removing, 1. The External Cause, or the Internal Disease (if it be the cause of it) caused by proper remedies to it. Afterwards, by procuring a good Nourishment distributed and assimulated, which is done by a convenient Diet. Let the Air be temperate and moist, heat hurts, and be careful the Child is not Clothed too hot; Let the sleep be long, the mind quiet, the Exercise moderate, and that which is slow, fatness and swift exercise consumes, the Belly moderately loose, Baths used seasonably, Wine that is thin (thick Wine [Page] obstructs, and is not vehicle for the meat) Odoriferous, somewhat sweet, not sharp, but very moderately used. The Meat nourishing somewhat fatty, Juicy, neither salt nor acide (unless it be to provoke a Stomach) as the Flesh of Fowl, Veal, &c. Eggs, the Brains of a Calf, or Hog-bread boyled in Broth, Rice boyled in Milk. Parsnip steep'd in Milk, Raisins, and Almonds. Besides these, there are meats that fatten either by a quality, 1. Manifest, by helping concoction, as Spices, by being gratefu to the Stomach, and increasing the native heat of it, as Cinamon, Cloves, and Nutmegs. Take the Pulpe of a boyled Capon and Patridge, of each half an Ounce, of the Pine Kernell, Pistack Nut steep'd in Mallagoe Wine half an Ounce, of Sweet Almonds an Ounce, Cinamon, Clove, and Nutmegs, of each an Ounce, and an half; Fine Sugar, as much as suffices; make Lozenges, they are pleasant and fatten much, or by apposing and fastning the meat, as all Diureticks and Diaphereticks do which opens the wayes and carries the nourishment to the parts: So doth [Page] Drinking likewise between Meals, or by apposing and fastning the meat to the parts by their tenacious and viscid humidity, which humidity in hot and drye bodies is to be cold, and in cold bodies, hot: 2. By a Propriety and an occult quality, as Sarcocolla; now the Indian Nut is in great use, the Marrow whereof being finely bruised, an Ounce, or two, or half an Ounce, is mix'd with broth. Take of sweet Wafers and Sarcocolla of each one pound, make a past with Butter, and drye them; then powder it, and use five Ounces in cold water. Observe cold water is praised by many, and cold meats, but this is by a manifest quality, and good where Leanesse is by the great heat of the Liver.

The Third Book Of Inward DISEASES of several parts.

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CHAP. I. Of the Epilepsy or Falling-Sicknesse.

IN the two precedent Books, you have the External and Universal Diseases, in this Book you have Inward Diseases, belonging to particular [Page] parts of the body, but in regard Children especially before 7. years of Age have not the use of reason, reason being as it were drowned and drunk with moisture and humours, which made one say, the Souls of Children differ nothing from the Souls of Beasts, for whilst we are Infants we all live the Lives of Beast, using only the faculties of the Vegetative and Animal Souls, therefore the faults of the Actions of the rational faculty (as Phrenzy and Madness) are not considered by Physicians amongst Childrens Diseases, which likewise I omit in this Book.

The Epilepsy hath several Names, I shall only mention three of them here. It is called, 1. A Childs Disease, because Children are most frequently troubled with it, by the cold distemper and large moisture of the Brain. 2. An holy and divine Disease, so divers of the Ancients testifie in their Writings. 3. Lunatick (26. Matth. the Lunatick there was the same with this) because as one excellently says, they who are conceived in the change of the Moon, when the Moon is in conjunction [Page] with the Sun, without Light, they have the Falling Sicknesse.

The Falling Sicknesse is a preternatural involuntary and intermitting contraction and retraction of all the Muscles and Nerves.

The mediate cause of an Epilepsy by consent, is a Vapour raised from the lower parts, to the head (which some think is but seldome) whether it be from fear, corrupted Milk in the Stomach, Worms, breeding of Teeth, the Small Pox, Meazles, or Feavers.

The immediate Cause of the Falling Sickness, when the Brain is primarily affected, is a thin humour or vapour, because it is made and gone quickly, therefore the matter of it must be such as may go away and return quickly, which cannot be in a thick humour, which must be dissolved by concoction, which is done in time and not suddenly; which vapour or thin humour, by a peculiar vertue, doth prick the Membrane of the Brain, and part where the Nerves begins, causing a Constriction of the passages, and exciting the sensible parts to an Expulsion of what is hurtful, thence is the [Page] shutting out and Retraction of the sensique Spirits, and by a defect of them, follows a diminution, or cessation, or abolition of the Actions of the mind, and thereby all the parts of the body have a convulsive motion.

A cold and moist temper of the Body, hereditary Disposition, and the Nativity being in the Eclipse of the Moon, are Dispositions to this Disease.

The external Causes are, 1. Things which administer matter, as grosse and vaporous meat, as old Pigeons, Sparrows, Eales, &c. 2. Things that excite it, as Moon-shine, the smell of stinking things, also great fear, and tickling.

Signs of the coming of it in children are because the Child is born of Parents that have the Falling Sicknesse; in those that are elder, Pains of neck, back, heart, fears, and inordinate motions in the sleep, often spitting.

Signs of the Paroxysme, and when it is upon the Child, are as 17. Matth. a noise crying out, falls in the fire, foames out of his mouth, and is without [Page] sense, so was the Child cur'd by Christ in the Chapter aforesaid, but that Child was Epileptick and possest with a Devil, as one learnedly sayes, or as another sayes, the Child was Epileptick, but the Disease made in him by the Evil of the Divel. The froth in the mouth, is made, because the Spirits, and Fume which come from the Lungs is mixt with the Spittle and Phlegme that comes from the head, which moved and exagitated to and fro turns into froth, as the Sea-water agitated and broken with many winds. The Noise is a kind of Voice made from the motive faculty, hurt and depraved.

Prog. This Disease in Children is the most acute Disease, and therefore mortal, because of the straightnesse and narrownesse of the Veins, that cannot receive the grosse Phlegme, and so it remains in the Brain, or because of the moistnesse of the Brain, and the weaknesse of the motive faculty, the humor cannot be dissolved or driven forth far enough out of the Ventricles of the Brain.

[Page] 2. Those that are once cur'd, are never again Epileptick, because the expulsive faculty continually expells, gathering of humours the same way it did when the Disease was removed, whereby it cannot be gathered into the Ventricles to offend.

3. The Epilepsy which is by Error of Diet, is incurable of it self without help.

4. The Falling Sicknesse which is from the Birth of the Child and his Parents, is cur'd of its own accord without any rethe great humidity which is the cause of this Disease is lessened by Age, and the faculties are stronger.

If it happen after the change of Age, that is after 25. years, it is most difficult and impossible to cure, because then the faculties are strong, and congenited moisture lessned, & cannot overcome the cause of the Disease, which is very powerful and as it produceth it can preserve the Disease; and because the humours which makes the Episepsy, are Melancholy and dry, and so difficult of [Page] themselves to be taken away, and daily increase by Age.

The Cure is, 1. A convenient Diet, which belongs to the Nurse, for a sucking Child, and the same is to be used by a Child that doth not suck; You are to choose and prepare the Air to be hot and dry, they that live in cold Countries, their Children are often Epileptick, use moderate sleep, for this Disease is as it were asleep; avoid unseasonable exercises, fears, and frighting (which hath often brought the Disease) Bathes, and fulnesse are hurtful, so is much fasting, it fills the head. So Wine hurts the Nerves, and is to be avoided, the Drink is to be such that heats, but not hurting the head, the meat hot and attenuating, which hath cur'd many: but that which breeds gross humours, is windy, and with a certain propriety offends the head, is to be avoided.

2. If the Child suck, and the Disease be by consent from the Stomach (which is most frequent) being oppress'd with too much Milk, let the Child suck seldome; Or from the ill quality and sharpnesse of the Milk, correct the Milk and apply [Page] this Plaister to the Stomach, Take of the Powder of Aloes and Myrrhe, of each half a Scruple, the Powder of Mastick one Scruple, and mingle them with a little Wax and Rosine, and apply it to the mouth of the Childs Stomach. If it be by the fault onely in the head, which is most frequently, the use of Hony is profitable. Take of Paeony half a Scruple, of the Leaves of Stocados and Betony half a Pugill, Cyperus one Scruple, powder them finely, put of this Powder in a little Spoon, and put it into the Childs mouth and presently give him the Breast, that he may Swallow the Powder.

A Seton in the neck is very profitable, so is the following Powder sprinkled upon the head: Take Maidenhair, Cypresse, Iridis of each two Drams, Cloves one Scruple, powder them finely and mix them. The whole body may be anointed with Camomile and the oyle of Iridis: Take the Leaves of Coltsfoot one handfull, of Oak, Misseltoe, half an Ounce, boyle it according to Art, and dip a Cloth in it, and wrap the child in the Cloth, it is much commended, [Page] Paeony and Smaradge is much commended to be hung about the Childs neck that it may reach to the Stomach.

If the Child be somewhat great, and the Epilepsy be by consent, and from other parts sending a thin humour or vapour to the brain, Purge him as he is able to suffer and alter the distemper of the part. If it be outwardly in the Arm, Thigh, Hip, or other part, rubbing is good and a discutient Plaister applyed to the part, then if it will not do, Blister the part. If the Disease be by the fault only of the head, use first this Clyster, Take of the lesser Centaury half an handfull, of Mallowes one handfull, of Bran tyed in a Cloth half a Pugill, boyle them according to Art, Take of that Decoction 8 Ounces, of Hony an Ounce and half, of Chamomile 2 Ounces and an half, of Salt, half a Dram; mingle them and make a Clyster, then prepare the humours, Take of the Leaves of Stocados, Betony, of each half a handfull, the seed of Paeony one Dram, boyle them according to Art, Take of that Decoction 3 Ounces more or lesse, as the Childs age will bear, of the Syrrup of Stocados and Oxymel, [Page] Simple, of each half an Ounce, mingle. When the humors are prepared, then Purge; but although this Disease require vehement remedies, yet they are not to be used, by reason of the Age. Two Scruples of Pillulae Aureae are sufficient; or take of the Trochische of Agarick two Drams, infuse it all night in two Ounces of Betony-water, strain it hard, then add two Ounces of the Hony of Roses solutive, the Electuary di Psillie one Dram, mingle and make a Potion: this Disease many times appears not in two or three moneths and is very stubborn, therefore for the perfect curing it, Take of Guyacum two Ounces, of the Water of Betony two pints, infuse it 24. hours, and boyle them to the consumption of a third part, and in the end add two Drams of the seed of Paeony finely powdered, of Oak Misselto one Dram and half, of Coriander-seed one Dram, afterwards Strain it and make a Syrrup of it, then take the same Guiacum and put four pints of common water to it, and boyle the fourth part away, and in the end add two Ounces of Anniseed, and use it as ordinary drink, and give of the Syrrup three or four Ounces [Page] every morning, continuing so 40. 50. or more days; Blistering is good, so are Fontanells and Issues. There is no Disease that hath more remedies commended by Authors then this hath, I shall content my self with the following remedies, Take of the seed of Paeony and take Misseltoe of each two Drams, Cardamums one dram, Cantharades prepared two Scruples, Powder them and make an Electuary of them, of which half a Dram may be taken three hours before meat: Take Coriander prepar'd, Mustard-seed, Nutmeg of each half a Dram, the Seed of Paeony 7 Drams, Dictamnes 2 Drams, make a Powder of them, and give the Child of it in the morning at your pleasure, in Wine that is hot. A long use of Mithridate, with a Decoction of Paeony cures any Epilepsy as some think, so doth a little fine Mosche given twice or thrice a day: Take of the Oyle of Amber, the Spirit of Vitriol of each two or three Graynes, with the water of Betony, and it presently frees the Child from the Fit.

CHAP. II. Of Convulsion.

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CHildren often fall into a Convulsion by the weakness of the Nerves, plentiful use of thick Milk, Crudities, and by breeding of Teeth.

The matter of it is the same as is in the Falling Sicknesse, and it is very like to it, so that an Eminent Physician said a Convulsion was an Epilepsie of a part, and an Epilepsy a Convulsion of the whole body, both being a Contraction of the Muscles: but they differ one from another, because in an Epilepsy the Internal and External senses are hurt; but in a Convulsion the Brain is not so affected, and the sense is not lost: in the Epilepsy the matter in the Muscles is quickly discuss'd, in the Convulsion not, which is only also a contraction of the part, but the Epilepsy is a Convulsion of the whole body.

A Convulsion is a preternatural Contraction of one or many parts of the [Page] body: If it be a Contraction of the Anteriour parts of the Neck towards, it is called Emprostonos, or a Contraction of the parts before us; If the hinder parts Opistotonos; if both the hinder and anterior parts are contracted, it is called Tetanos.

The Cause of a Convulsion, by consent, is when the knawing or pricking of the Mouth, or Stomach, or any other part, hurts the beginning of the Nerves.

The Cause of an essential Convulsion is either repletion or exiccation, for as strings fil'd with too much humour, or are too much dryed, they are contracted and break, so it is with the Nerves, if they imbibe too much humor, they grow broader and shorter, and so contract; and if to drye they shrink up. Repletion is from a Phlegmatick humour; the exiccation and dryness, is from a great peculiar Feaver, which doth not universally dry the whole body, but wast the Nerves more then the flesh, and that violently; So that though a Hectick Feaver doth very much drye the body, yet it produces no Convulsion, in regard [Page] the dryness is made leisurely and easily in all parts, so that the Nerves are not dryed with any great vehemence. Some saye that this dryness proceeds from any immoderate evacuation, or things that vehemently heat and dry.

The External Causes are a moist Air, wherefore Children have the Convulsion most often in the full of the Moon, the Air being the most moist, hurting the Nerves of the Child, Watching, Fear, which making the Spirits retire, the Nerves are contracted; Bathes, Costiveness, and binding of the Belly, Drinking of strong Wine, Milk plentifully taken, or thick, crying, the ill Diet of the Nurse, and from other parts.

Signs are manifest, if it be made by consent, it is in a moment; if by essence, it is always; if from repletion, it is made suddenly, and in a small time; if by dryness and inanition, it is caused by degrees, and in a longer time.

Prog. The Convulsion that begins from the back is mortal.

2. Children [...]hat have the Convulsion perish for the most part before the seventh [Page] day from their Nativity.

3. Convulsions in Children are more easily cur'd then in men, because their humidity is Airy, and is easily overcome.

4. Convulsions from a perfect and consummated drynesse is incureable, but that which is not from a perfect dryness is cureable, which as the dryness is more or lesse, is easier, or with more difficulty.

The Cure of a Convulsion from repletion and moisture, is the same as in an Epilepsy. The Members and parts contracted are to be restored gently by hands to its straightnesse, then annoint and rub the part with a convenient Oyl, as of Lillies or Cammomile; The Syrrup of Betony and Staecados, with the Spirit of Black Cherries, may be used; Carduus Water is very good. If the Convulsion is from drynesse, the Cure is by moistning of the body by Diet, and Medicaments, a Bath that is hot and moist is convenient; and annointing the part with the Oyle of sweet Almonds, sweet Butter, and such things that soften and moisten.

CHAP. III. Of a Palsy.

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IN the two preceeding Chapters were considered the depravation of Motion; in this place the Abolition and diminution of motion will be discoursed of; not abolition of the whole body, for Children are never troubled with a universal Palsy and privation of sense and motion in the whole body, which is called an Appoplexy, appears by experience and observation; and Apoplexies are made for the most part from 40. years to 60.

Although Children have often the Falling Sicknesse, which hath the same matter and part affected, as the Apoplexy, and differs from an Apoplexy, because it is a Privation of motion, and an Epilepsy the Depravation: Nevertheless a Child is not troubled with the Apoplexy, not because it proceeds from a Melancholy humour, as some think, which a Child hath not, which is untrue; for a Child may have a Quartan [Page] Ague, which is caused by Melancholy, as you may see in the Chapter of Feavers; but because the matter in the Epilepsy is not so thick, as that which makes the Apoplexy, being only Phlegme, besides the Phlegme of Children is Airy and flatulent; Moreover the expulsive faculty of the Brain is strong in Children, so that it more effectually expells the humour, that it stop not the Ventricles of the Brain, which happens not in those Ages in which the humour is thick and lesse flatulent, and the expulsive faculty more weak.

A Numness and Palsy, is a distemper of the same kind, and differ only in degree, for a Numness is but as it were an imperfect Palsy, and a Palsy is as it were a certain great Numness.

The cause is a pituitous humour which by coldness & moistness thickens & obstructs the Nerves, that they cannot receive the animal Spirits, or Influence of thea nimal faculty; & as this obstruction and condensation of the nerves and ways of the faculties is more or lesse, so it makes numnesse or weak motion or want of motion. In a Palsy there is no motion [Page] because the wayes of the faculties are totally stopt, in a numnesse they are not stopt completely, therefore the faculty operates, and there is a weak motion.

The external causes are compressions by falls, blowes, binding tumours or other causes which can compresse and condensate the nerves that a free ingresse of the faculty is hindered.

Signs, if a part is affected with the Palsy it cannot move, and is called the Dead Palsy; if with numnesse, the party can move but weakly and with difficulty. If the Disease be in the Spinalis medulla the Arms and all the inferiour parts are hurt; if the right part of it is affected, all the parts on the right side, if the left, the left parts. If in the Osse sacro the parts above it are well and the parts inferiour to it are hurt.

Prog. every Palsy especially that which is inveterate is difficult to cure in Children but numnesse is more easie to cure.

If a Feaver or trembling comes upon a Palsy or numnesse it is very helpfull, for the Feaver dissolves the matter of the Disease and the trembling drives the [Page] same matter from the nerves.

The Cure is the same as in the Epilepsy and Convulsion, and greater remedies are to be used to the Palsy then Numnesse: Take of Earth, worms a large quantity, burn them in a clean pot, afterwards let them be powdered, take of that powder half a pound, of Ginger and and Galangle of each half an Ounce, make a Liniament of them with clarified hony with which annoynt the Child three nights, binding his Arm upon his Belly and covering well the Child, and beware that the Child is not expos'd to the cold unto the third day; & so in three days the Child will be cured either of the Palsy or Convulsion as divers affirm.

CHAP. IV. Of Childrens dreaming and troubled Sleep.

THe consideration of the chief Diseases belonging to motion, being past, it follows in the next place to consider the Distempers of the common [Page] sense, which in Children are Dreams and immoderate Watching.

Children never sleep moderately, for they are opprest with sleep in the womb and after they are born they sleep for the most part, because the infant is mindfull of the perpetual sleep he had in the Womb and because his body is very moist, not only by the abounding with humours, but by the sollid parts being moist and soft, the want whereof in old men and their having sollid and dry parts of their heads (though they abound with humours) makes them most watchfull. 2. But this sleep is natural, but when sleep which should be for the restoring of the spirits and natural heat consumed by watching, is unquiet, troubled and terrifying, this is a distemper hapenning to Children here intended. Disturb'd sleep is an effect in the kind of depraved actions of the Common sense.

This distemper in an infant is like to the Incubus or Night-mare in these that are elder, and as that foreruns an Apoplexy, so terrifying dreams are Signes of an Epilepsy and other ill Diseases.

[Page] The internal cause is a corrupted meat in the Stomach, they are made in Children by the debility of the Stomach, (from which arises sad Phantasies, for as men are sad and troubled as often as the Stomach is grieved) and the notable sense of the mouth of it; the manner of it is this, Melancholly arises out of the corrupted meat of the Stomach whose Phantasmes are carryed to the Imagination which they necessarily deterre and consequently make terrifying Dreams, which are the operations of the Imaginations about Phantasmes offered from the senses.

The externall cause is milk or meat corrupted, and by its acrimony knawing the mouth of the Stomach.

Signs are the groaning of Children, shaking, crying out of Children in their sleep, an unnaturall colour and heat and a stinking breath, by which many are deceived and think they have the worms.

The Cure is, if the Milk be bad from the constitution of the Nurse change her, if from dyet, correct it, if it be good, it is vitiated and corrupted in the Stomach by the plenty of it, therefore let [Page] the Child suck lesse. If the Child suck not, let him not eat too much nor bad meat, and remove what is corrupted in the Stomach, to this end the giving of hony to Children is commended because it clenses the Stomach and Guts. A Suppository is convenient, so is a Clyster; Take of whey six or eight Ounces, of Hony an Ounce and half, Salt a scruple; mingle them and make a Clister. If the Child be somewhat big Hiera Pietra may be used which wonderfully clears the Stomach, which being done, the Stomach is to be comforted with half a Scruple of the powder called Diamosce, or as much of London Treacle, may be used by the Child; or take of the Species of Diamoschi one Scruple, of Diacalamint one Scruple and half, Sugar and Rosewater as much as suffices to make them into small Lozenges, one whereof powdered may be given every morning in Milk and suck presently after it. If the Child is wean'd, give it powdered in Broth or Milk.

Outwardly Ointments comforts the Stomach, annoint it with the oyle of Wormwood, Mint, Nutmegs, or Mastick, [Page] and Bathings made of Wormwood, Roses, and Wine and Plaisters also comfort it. It is convenient to hang red Corall about the Childs neck which comforts the Stomach by a secret quality if it touch it outwardly.

CHAP. V. Of immoderate watching of Children.

THe want of sleep in Children is very hurtful, being contrary to their nature, who by the greatest and most large sleep, are not made sick; and being used to sleep much, it causes sharp humours, alters the temper of the brain it makes Feavers and Crudities, and weakens Children.

The cause is not drynesse, as in men but the corruption of the Milk and meat in the Stomach, from which sharp vapours ascend to the brain and offending the Membrane hinder sleep. If the vapours are thick and ascend not to the brain, then only sad Phantasme which onely moves the Imagination and causes [Page] troubled Dreams are made, but not watchings.

The Signs are manifest, they continually cry, mourn, and sleep not.

Prog. The want of sleep is an evill and hurtfull, and in Children, because it is contrary to their nature.

The Cure is in taking care the milk and meat be good in quantity & quality, as in the preceeding Chapter, let the Nurse use meats that are very good and apt to cause sleep, as Lettice, sweet Almonds and the like, avoiding strong Wine; let the Child be kept clean and wash'd, and change the Childs Linnen, which often causes sleep and whilest he cryes appease him by motion, singing, or giving the Child Suck, foment and annoint the Stomach with the Oyles in the preceeding Chapter let the feet be washed with a decoction of Mallowes, annoint the feet with the Marrow of the bones of a Hart, annoint the Temples with the Oyle of Violets, or Juice of Poppies. Some use the Confection of Requies Nichelai, and Sirrup of Poppies, when there is great necessity, but they are not to be used often, for they stupifie and dull the brain of the Child.

CHAP. VI. Of the Inflammation of the Head.

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IN regard the Diseases of the Sight and Hearing in Children have nothing peculiar to them from the same Diseases in men, they are here omitted, and the Diseases belonging to the natural faculty of the Head considered.

This Disease is called by a Word derived from another Greek word, which the Latins interpret a Hole, because the Head is perceived as it were excavated and made hollow, in the former part of the Head; it is called by some the heat and burning of the head.

It is an Inflamation of the parts about the Brain and the Membranes.

The Cause is a humour, whilest it putrifies, it doth resemble the nature of Choler, not that it is true pure Choler, because it cannot be imagin'd how heat, before the Disease or in it, can make the most hot humour (as Choler is) in the head [Page] that is moist and almost water nor pure Phlegme, because it is cold and moist, and the humidities of Children are hot, therefore old men waxe gray, because they abound with Phlegme; Children not, because they abound not with Phlegme that is cold and moist.

The External causes are a very hot Air, blows, falls, Milk that is very hot, by the Nursés using hot drinks; Milk hath the power of making one drunk, and one observes well, tender Kids of Goats are made mad with Milk, and there is no doubt but the tender Brain of Children are much offended by the Milk of Nurses.

The Signs are, the Hole and cavity of the Anterior part of the head, because the heat of the Inflammation dries the Brain, which being drye, the Skull is deprest, and sunk with its own weight and makes a hollownesse of the eyes; by the same cause is a heat of the whole body and dryness, continual Feaver, palenesse of Countenance, weaknesse, losse of Appetite, want of sleep, and a loosness of the Belly.

Prog. This Disease is very dangerous [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] in Children, because they are more easily extenuated by their heat, it is wont to kill in three days, afterwards there is hopes, the Disease declines, and the strength increases.

The Cure is in 1. Dyet, let the Nurse drink only water, and use such Meats which greatly cool, as Ptisan, and Barly Broth, with the Emulsions of the Seeds of Poppy-Broths, with Lettice and Endive; the Nurse and Child are to be kept in a cold Air, in great quiet of mind and body. Purges are unprofitable or hurtful, but if the Child be costive, his belly may be loosned with a common Suppository, or this Clyster: Take of Barly water Three Ounces, of Whey Five Ounces, red Sugar half an Ounce, mingle them. Outwardly use two Ounces of the Oyl of Roses, with the Yelk of an Egge, it mitigates pain, concocts and dissolves the humour; the Juice of Lettice, Pomkins, and Melons, the flesh whereof may be pounded, and the Juyce prest out, and the Leaves of Lettice steep'd in it, and laid upon the head, or a Cloth dipp'd in [Page] the Juice. These Medicaments are often to be changed, lest by staying too long on the head, they heat, and dry, and hurt as much as help; and in the Winter they are to be laid on lukewarm; in the Summer cold: Nor is it safe to exceed these cold remedies, and use the coldest, lest the temper of the Brain is destroyed.

When the Inflamation is appeased, then leave the use of the cooling remedies, and use discussive ones; and first such as are gentle, the yelk of an Egge, of Oyl of Cammomile two Ounces, mingle them; afterwards a stronger discutient, Take the Flowers of Cammomile, the Leaves of Penny-royal and Dill, Bran tyed in a Cloth half a Pugill, boyl them according to Art, then take half a pint of the said Decoction, the Oyl of Cammomile and Anniseed, of each an Ounce, shake them well together, and apply them warm to the Head.

CHAP. VII. Of the running at the Nose, Cough, and difficult Breathing.

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THe running at the Nose, Cough, and difficult Breathing in Children, are the effects and issue of a Distillation, which as some observe, is the mother of all Evill, and is a desluxion of a petuitous humour, into the parts subjected; if the matter flowes to the Nose, it is called the Pose and running at the Nose; if it descends to the breast, and is expelled by the Spirit that goes out, it's called a Cough, but if the same matter falls upon the Lungs, and stops the ways of the Spirit, and oppresses the body of the Lungs, it produces a difficulty in breathing; this matter seldome makes hoarsness in Children, because sucking Children by their daily use of Milk, cleanses the Phlegme that it doth not stick about the Jawes; in those that are elder, hoarsnesse is seldome, [Page] because they are hot about the Jawes; which dryes up the Phlegme.

These Distempers are Symptomes and effects of a very moist Brain, sometimes cold, because Infants draw Air more cold then they were used to, which cools the Brain; and it is sometimes hot by its natural temper, which is very hot, by Air that is hot, Fire, Smoake, too hot cloathing of the head, and the gluttony and intemperance of the Nurse.

The Signs are manifest of the Cough, Poze, and difficulty of Breathing; if they come from a hot cause, the Child sneezes often, the colour of the countenance of the Child is florid and red, the Jawes are red, and whilest the Child sucks, the Breasts are heated, that the Nurse perceives the heat. If from a cold cause, there is seldome sneezing, no change of the Colour of the Countenance, no heat perceived in the mouth.

Prog. These Distempers are not dangerous if they be not neglected, otherwise they produce Broken Bellies, and other Diseases, and often Death.

The Cure is 1. in Diet, let the Air be temperate without Excesse, avoid [Page] Wine, and Meats that are windy and grosse, and such as flye to the head, as Spice, and meats prepared with them; If the matter is cold, a little Spice and hot meats may be allowed, but sparingly, for all which fly to the head are apt to attenuate and loosen both the cold and hot matter, which causes these Distempers and many others. 2. Evacuating and diverting the humour, by loosning the Belly of the Child by a Clyster or Suppository, or by a Vomit, which is very good to evacuate the Phlegme; which you may do by dipping your finger in Hony, and pressing down the Tongue of the Child; also to evacuate the matter, Take of the Hony of Violets one Ounce, of the Powder of Ocymi one dram, mingle it, and put it in the Mouth of the Infant, and then give him the Breast; in a cold cause Mirrh and Hony are commended. In a hot cause, Take one dram of the Seed of White Poppy, of Tragacanthy half a Dram, of the Seed of a Goard three Drams, bruise them all, and with a Decoction of Sobestens, make a Liquor; or you may powder them, and take half a Scruple, & [Page] mingle them with a little hony of Violets and give it the Infant to lick. If the Breath be difficult with the Cough, use the Syrrup of Hyssop, in the place of the Hony of Violets. It is also convenient to keep the Breast of the Child easie, and not straight, that it may dilate, wherefore annoint the Breast and Back with the Oyl of sweet Almonds, which is also good if it be swallowed, and taken inwardly.

CHAP. VIII. Of the pain and humidity of the Ears.

THe pain of the Ears, is reckoned by all Physicians amongst the Diseases of Children. It is a grievous sense which vehemently affects the parts about the passage of hearing, which is very sharp, in regard the inward parts of the Ear are very nerveous. Note, the outward part of the ear is fleshy and cartilaginous.

The humidities of the ears are reckoned amongst Childrens Diseases by some, [Page] but not the humidities of the Nose or Palate, because the Expurgation by the Nose and Palate is natural to men and Children, but the expurgation by the Ears is not natural. The Cause of it is the great humidity of the Brain, which cannot be all evacuated by the Mouth and Palate, so that excrementitious humours which abound are evacuated by all Passages; wherefore many will not drye up this humidity, unlesse it ulcerate, or threaten obstruction, or deafnesse.

The Cause of the pain in the ear, are the humours, especially Choller, Ichorous matter, Wind, or Worms.

Prog. The Pain of the Ear is very dangerous.

The Cure is, 1. The mitigation of the Pain, with luke warm milk, or Water, and the Oyl of Roses mix'd, and a Cloth dipp'd in it, and laid upon the Ear, a Decoction of the heads of Poppy, and as the Causes of the Pain are, so ought remedies to be for the taking them away; If the pain is from hot humours, the part is red and hot, and cur'd by cold things; if from cold, by [Page] luke-warm things; if from Wind, the Diet ought to be such as discusses Wind, for which purpose Coriander is good for the Nurse to use, and that the Child sleep upon the ear which pains him, thereby natural heat is augmented, and dissipates the Wind, the Oyl of Cammomile or Anniseeds poured into the Childs ear is very good; if the pain be from an Ichorous matter, wipe and clense continually the Ear with Hony, or Hony and water; if from Worms, put into the Ear bitter things that kill the Worms, as the Oyl of bitter Almonds. See the Chapter of Worms.

If there be humidity of the Ears, and the Child old enough to be purged, let him take three dayes this drink, Take of the Leaves of Mirtles, Bettony, Staecados, Violets, of each half a handful, let a Decoction be made according unto Art, then take thereof two Ounces and an half, of the Syrrup of Wormwood and Staecados, of each two drams, mingle them; afterwards purge the head thus, Take of the Pills of Agarick half a dram, of Castor one grain, two Cloves, mingle them, and with the [Page] Hony of Roses solutive, make five little Pills. The head being purged for the drying up of the humidity, if it be cold, infuse into the Ears the Oyle of Irnie or Rue. If hot, the Oyl of Roses with the Oyl of Cammomile. Observe in the use of remedies, that they be always lukewarm when you use them, neither hot nor cold; not in a great quantity, but by drops, and that the Child lye on the Ear that pains; and observe the moisture flowing out of the Ears is not to be stopp'd.

CHAP. IX. Of the inflamation of the Glandules in the mouth, call'd the Almonds of the Ears.

THe Inflamation of these Glandules is reckoned by some amongst Childrens Diseases, but onely in Children after breeding of Teeth. Others say this Disease may be in Infants, but in them it would then be very mortall by the plentifull flowing of humours, which [Page] often strangles. If the Gums, are inflamed in Infants, and the Glandules ulcerated before breeding of Teeth, why may they not be inflamed, what should hinder that an infant may not have this disease sometime, and not be choak'd? as I conceive;

The inflamation of these Glandules, is an Intumescency of them made by a flux of humours.

The internal cause are all the humours especially Phlegm.

The external causes are a hot or extreme cold Air, violent exercises hanging down the head vociferations, strong drink and meat that heat the blood.

The Signes are, if the mouth be opened, heat, pain, rednesse, and Swelling near the root of the Tongue, difficulty in breathing and swallowing.

Prog. This Disease usually causes the Quinzey and inflamation of the Lungs, and divers other dangerous Diseases.

2. If a loosenesse of the belly happen upon this Disease, the Flux cures it.

The Cure is 1. in a good Dyet, avoiding any excesse of the air, smoak, the Sun, all exercises of the body, vehement motions of the mind, especially anger, bathing; [Page] if the belly be bound, move it with a gentle Clyster or suppository, not by a remedy at the mouth, for it is dangerous; abstain from wine and use Barly water with the Juyce of Granates and Mulberries and Quinces, let the meat be such as may be supt, as Barly Broth, bread boyled in broth with the Juice of the Seeds of Limmon, the Yelks of Eggs in broth, with the Juice of Granates. 2. In revulsion of the humour, by daily rubbing Ligatures, especially Cupping-glasses applyed to the Loins and lower parts, not the upper parts, lest it draw the humor to the part affected. 3. Repelling the humour by cooling and astringing remedies, as the Sirrup of Mulberry, Granate, Mirtle, with Barly water, Rose water, Plantain or Oak-bud water, and wash the mouth with it, to which purpose may be red Roses powdered finely and other astringent powders. 3. Dissipating & evacuating the humour with remedies that by a moderate heat attenuate and turns the matter into a wind, Take the leaves of Dill, Flowers of Camomile, of each half a handfull, of Bran half a Pugill, the leaves of Marjarome, six Drams of [Page] Common water a pint and an half, boil it according to Art, strain it and add three ounces of clarified Hony, gargarize with it being Lukewarm.

If the matter cannot be discust but it begins to ripen help it with annointing the neck with the Oyle of Almonds, or by applying a plaister of Diachilon: The ripening of it is helpt inwardly by the roots of Mallowes or Figs boyled, and Gargarizing and washing the mouth with it.

CHAP. X. Of the Sorenesse of the mouth.

THe Ulcers of the mouth in Children are Ulcers of the Superficies of the mouth, (that is the whole internal part of the mouth) with a fiery heat.

They are easily caused in Infants, by reason of the tendernesse and softnesse of the Palat of Children, they being unaccustomed to meat being newly born, and by their greedinesse and sucking more then they can digest, wherefore it is a [Page] great fault in Nurses, that whensoever the Child cryes to quiet them with giving the Breast, for it is a rule amongst Physicians, that milk should not be given not above three or four times in a day.

The cause is whatsoever is corroding or accrimonious or sharp, whether the humours of the body, meat or medicaments. In Children they are chiefly caused by the sharpnesse and corruption of the Milk, whereby ill vapours are sent from the Stomach into the mouth.

The external causes are whatsoever may heat the head of the Child, as the air being hot, the use of hot meats, immoderate exercises, and drinking of strong Wine.

The Signes are Swallowing with pain and difficulty, if they are malignant they for the most part follow ill and pestilentiall Feavers, besides they are fetid, black or livid, causing pain, and are profound. If benigne and not malignant, they are without a Swelling or profoundity. If from blood, they are hot and red. If from Phlegm, they are lesse hot, lesse painfull, [Page] and are white. If they are made by Melancholy, they are blackish and dark coloured.

Prog. All Ulcers of the mouth are hard to cure, because the Medicament cannot conveniently adhere, but those that are black, stinking profound & very painfull are very dangerous and is a most miserable & horrid death, of them which dye and are consumed by this Disease.

The Cure, if the Ulcers are benigne they are cured by altering the temper and cicatrizing with cooling and astringing remedies: If the milk be bad change the Nurse or correct the Milk by dyet and purging the Nurseas hath bin shewn; the Ulcers are healed with Hony of Mulberries, or Sirrup of Pomegranates, Mirtles or Red Roses dryed, with which the Nurse dipping her finger is to touch the Ulcers, and if they be contumacious, mingle a little powdered Alum, with the Sirrup of Mulberries, for the Powder of Alum hinders the spreading of the Ulcer, and without any notable pain.

If the Child is somewhat great, the dyet ought to be cooling, and meats that [Page] may be suck'd, is to be used, as Broths and Eggs with Broth or Verjyce. If the Ulcers are great commonly causing inflamations and drawing of the humours, Cuppingglasses applyed to the Loins are convenient, and to evacuate by them what the age and constitution of the body will permit then purge Gently; the Medicaments to be applyed to the Ulcers are the same as in Infants, or make a decoction of Millefoyle, or Plantain, with Red Roses, Sanders, and take of it four Ounces and mix with it an Ounce of the Sirrup of Mulberries, wash the mouth with it.

In Malignant Ulcers in Infants, Take of the Scordiuum finely powdered one Dram, of the rinde and Pill of Pomegranes, finely powdered two Scruples, burnt Alum one Scruple, Hony as much as will suffice. If the Child is somewhat great, the use of the Juyce of Granates (especially sowre) is good. If this is not effectuall, use Aqua Magistralis Aluminis Unguentum Egyptiacum, or the Flower of bra [...]s corrected with a little Sirrup of Mulberries These are not to be used but in great necessity, because the Palate [Page] hath two broad ways one to the Lunges and another to the Stomach, and therefore it is dangerous any venemous medicine should come thither, wherefore it is better to use remedies in such a form as cannot go further then the Palat; as when the Ulcers of the mouth are touch'd with the Oyle of Sulphur or Sublimate water, which is an excellent remedy against all inveterate Ulcers: Take of sublimated Mercury twelve Grains, the water of Roses and Plantain of each eight Ounces, boyle them to the consumption of a half part; the use of it is that the Ulcer of the mouth be touched with one drop, which if it cause a considerable pain then mitigate the pain with Milk that hath Steel quench'd in it.

CHAP. XI. Of the Ranula of the Tongue.

THis Disease is an Inflamatory humour of the parts under the tongue and especially of the Veins in Children, for the Veins under the tongue being [Page] with a petuitous blood, sometimes Melancholy, which is sweat out, or goes out of the mouth of the Veins, into the Passages of the flesh, and there being collected, the humour is elevated into a Tumour or Swelling, which is called Ranula. It sometimes resembles a soft Aedema, which being opened, a white matter, like to the white of an Egg, flowes from it.

The Cause is a petuitous blood, or as some say, a petuitous humidity.

The Signs are manifest to Sight, there appears a Tumour, with great pain and heat, and a hinderance of Speech, the colour of the humour is as it were mixt, of the colour of the Tongue and Veins.

Prog. This Tumour if it be neglected is dangerous, it sometimes makes a Feaver, and suffocates Children.

The Cure is by a cooling and astringing Diet, in using Vinegar, Verjuice, Limons, and the like with meat. Clysters are convenient; Purges by the Mouth are hurtful. If the Child is somewhat large, Cupping-glasses applyed to the Thighes are convenient, so are Friction and Ligatures; after, Astringents are [Page] good; Salt of Armoniacum rubbed upon the part is commended by all, Maryroom rubb'd upon the part, stronger then it, are Flower of Brasse, Allume burnt, Spunge and Tragacanthum burnt. If these cure it not, the Tumour must be cut off at the Roots, for sometimes the humour is in a Coat, which if it be not taken away, the humour returns; after the Cutting of the humour, stay the blood with salt, powder of Mirtles, Totmentil, or Bistorte, then Cure it with Myrrh, and drying things that cures wounds.

CHAP. XII. Of Dentition and breeding of Teeth.

THE generation and perfection of Teeth, is the work and intent of Nature, but in regard the matter out of which they are made, suffers not that this Work can be done without trouble and pain; It causes that a Disease followes the generating of Teeth, which Disease is not intended by Nature.

[Page] Dentition is an Eruption or breaking forth of Teeth, first conceived in their proper holes. It is said by some, to be a violent work of Nature, and the gums are as it were prick'd with needles whereby great pain is caused, and a supernatural heat in those parts is excited, which drawes the humours thither which are made putrid, salt and sharp in those parts, and being precipitated to the Stomach and guts strongly excites the expulsive faculty, and consequently causes loosnesse, and sometimes Dysenteries.

Bones and Teeth are the same according to kind and matter, but differ in Species and name. The difference of Bones and Teeth in their nature and particular beings, appears, 1. Teeth are made after the Birth of a Child, all other Bones before grow to a certain time and have no sense, and never are renewed, but Teeth grow during the whole life, have an acute sense and grow again. It's observed, that amongst the Bones the Teeth only cannot be consumed by fire: Neverthelesse they are corrupted, and consumed by a putrid [Page] Phlegme; besides Teeth have no marrow and fat as other Bones have, and therefore they are the most hard body: They are corrupted with hot things, as by washing them with warm water, but preserved by moderate cold, as by washing them with cold water, nor are they hurt by an actual extraordinary cold (for in Frost they are not troubled) but by a cold that is potential, because Teeth have but a little heat, and cannot resist a great cold.

Teeth were made for the breaking of hard meat, for speaking, and distinguishing of Tasts, and therefore they have soft Nerves in them; and although Histories relate several have been born with Teeth, yet for the most part they break forth in Children about the 7th. month, sometimes sooner, as in them which use more hot milk. They are very slow in some, sometimes to the Third or fourth year, either by weakness or the fault of the matter of the Teeth, (being not sufficiently glutinous and earthy) or by a privation of matter by Worms, or a loosnesse, in the seventh year Teeth fall out, and others grow in their places, [Page] growing of Teeth continues until fourteen years, & afterwards very few grow, unlesse they be those called Posteriores Gemini, which sometimes grow at 80 years. The sooner Teeth come forth, the less pain; but they are the weaker; Teeth come forth in the Spring and Summer more easily, but with worse Symptomes and effects, in the Winter with more difficulty, but with lesse danger, for they are lesse troubled with a Feaver Loosness, or Vomit, because their inward heat is more strong. But a modern Author says, that in every time of the year, some are more troubled, some lesse, according to the natural constitution of Children, which the times of the year cannot hinder. The Teeth are of an equal number in men and women, being 32. The Cutting Teeth which are four above and below, grow first, which are made of a thin matter, and as they are made first so weaker, and are broke, fall out sooner then the rest; the next are the Teeth called Dogs Teeth, whose use is to break the meat, as to cut is before breaking, so the Teeth that cut are first, afterwards the Teeth that [Page] break the meat, afterwards the great and grinding Teeth grow, whose matter is more hard and earthy, and therefore they break out the more slowly, and last of all the Gemini, which never are renewed and grow again. Hence it appears why the breeding of Teeth causes so many evils, if they should grow in the Womb they would not be troublesome, but growing after the Birth of the Child, and in that time when the Gums are most soft, which being bruised and crushed by a hard body as the Bone is, causes great pain.

The Signs are the Childs crying, loosnesse, pinching the Paps whilest they suck, the Inflammation, and heat of their mouths, and when their Gums are rubbed, they are eased.

Prog. The breeding of Teeth is alwayes dangerous by reason of the great and grievous Symptomes and effects it produces, as Convulsions, Feavers, and other evils. If the Child is loose he is lesse troubled with Convulsions, and fat Children more than lean; yet there may be Convulsions by the sharpnesse of pain. If the Child hath an [Page] acute Feaver there is seldome Convulsions by fulnesse, it being remedied by the Feaver. Teeth come forth more slowly most commonly, with a little Cough, because there is a defluxion in the mouth, which argues the weaknesse of the brain.

The Cure is, in a cold dyet of the Nurse, and the pap kept cool, which much refreshes the Child; the Child is not to eat any hard meat, and the Gums are to be cooled and relax'd; the Juice of Mallowes and Lettice cools. Take the Juice of Mallowes, half an Ounce, of Butter, washt in Mallow-water half one Ounce, half the yelke of an egge, mingle and anoint the Gums with it; this that followes is stronger. Take of the Juice of Night-shade half an Ounce, of the Oyle of Roses, six Drams, of Butter washt in Lettice-water three Drams, mingle them and anoint the Gums with it, it being cold, rubbing the Gums with your finger, for it often mitigates pain.

The Gums are relax'd by things that are fat, as all fat of a Hen, &c. Oyl [Page] of Almonds, and the Brains of a Hare boyled, in the place whereof may be the brains of a Hen; Hony boyled is much commended. It is conceived by some that the breeding of Teeth is the more easie by hanging about the neck, Corral, a Jaspis-stone, or the Root of wilde Colothwiths, which others think superstitious.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Hiccough.

CHildren are more chiefly affected with Diseases in the lower Venter, in three parts, the Stomach, Bladder, and Guts, which follow in their order.

The Hiccough is a motion like to a Convulsion, in which the Stomach endevour to expell what is hurtful infixt in the mouth of it.

The cause is in Children the plenty or quality of the Milk or nourishment being too cold, sharp, or corroding vehemently irritating the expulsive faculty sometimes but rarely it comes from emptiness.

[Page] The external causes are a cold Air, hot and sharp meats as Pepper.

The Signes are manifest, for as the Proverb is Love and the Hiccough cannot be hid; if it is from fullnesse the Child is greedy and Vomits, if from cold, it is known by rhe Nurses using cold meats and externall injuries that preceeded it, if the Childs Stomach is fomented with hot Cloathes it ceases presently, if from evacuation, fasting, flux or vomit preceeded it, if from acrimony the meats are corrupted or the milk is sharp and biting, and the Child often mourns and grieves, and there are pains of the Belly, besides the Ordure shewes it.

Prog. The Hiccough in Children for the most part is safe, if it be made from emptiness it is mortal for Children which are naturally full and very moist, if they are vehemently dryed by a great cause they are hardly restored.

If a Hiccough be with the Fallingsicknesse, or another kind of Convulsion it is Mortall.

The Cure is, if the Hiccough be from 1 cold, use hot things inwardly and [Page] and outwardly, Take the Syrrup of Mint or Betony outwardly, the Oyl of Anniseed, Chamomile, and Wormwood, besides Plaisters and Ointments that are hot, and set forth in several Chapters. 2. Plenty or quality of Milk, correct it as is shewed in several Chapters; and if it be from the Acrimony of the Milk, let the Child use a little quantity of this, Take of Saccharum Rosatum half an Ounce, of Bole Armenick half a Scruple, mingle them. If from Evacuation the same remedies are good, as are for Leannesse from Evacuation, see the Chapter of Leannesse; Bathing with sweet Water, and Broth is good in elder Children, the Yelks of Eggs, and all Meats that easily nourish. It is related by some, that the Herb called Alyssus, held in the hand, look'd upon, or smell'd to, cures the Hiccough by Propriety of Substance. Others say, that Sneezing, and holding the Breath, cures all Hiccoughs: but these Helps are too difficult for Children and Infants, Sneezing and Vomiting because they evacuate the matter, is commended.

CHAP. XIV. Of Vomiting, and a vain desire of Vomiting.

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BEsides the Hiccough, the vain desire of Vomiting, and Vomiting happens to Children, for the matter that troubles the Stomach, is either infixed deeply in the mouth of the Stomach, and so makes a Hiccough, or infixed, but not profoundly, and either in the Mouth or Tunicles of the Stomach, whence it is a vain desire of Vomiting, or else the matter is contained in the Space of the Stomach, and so makes a Vomiting.

The Causes of Vomiting, or a vain desire of Vomiting in Children, are, The humidity and laxity of the Stomach, the plenty of cold humours falling from the head, the plenty of Milk or Meat, the Acrimony and coldnesse of the same Milk.

The External causes are, a bad Air, stinck, or an ill tast, the use of Oyly and fat things.

The Signs of Vomiting are manifest; [Page] it is known, if it be from 1. Coldness, by the cold Diet of the Nurse preceding it, and the help from hot things: Besides the Milk is kept some time; if the Stomach be cold, it presently rejects the Milk. 2. Acrimony, then Children languish, and are afflicted before and after Vomiting. 3. Plenty, then Vomiting eases, evacuating the cause of Laxity.

Prog. Vomiting, which is from taking more then the Stomach is able to bear, and Vomiting only that which offended, and retaining and correcting the rest, the Child is not sick, but more cheerful, the Stomach being strong, and the fault only in the quantity of the Milk.

2. Vomiting immediately only what is taken, if it continue, causes a Consumption and Death.

The Cure is, The Milk is to be corrected by lessening the quantity of it in suckling the Child, and altering by purging and correcting the temper of the Nurse, as is directed in several Chapters. If the fault be in the Childs Stomach, by the weaknesse of it, [Page] Cloves or Coriander chewed by the Nurse, and instill it into the Mouth of the Child, sometimes alone, sometimes with the Syrrup of Mirtles, Quince or Granates is commended. Outwardly apply the Plaister called Emplastrum de Crusta Panis; or take the Oyl of Mirtles two drams of the Juice of unripe Grapes, or one dram and an half, red Wine one dram, boyl them to the Consumption of the Wine, then add Mastick, Mirrh, Acaciae and Frankinsense of each half a dram, Wax and refine as much as will susfice to a soft Plaister, let the Child wear this constantly above the Stomach.

CHAP. XV. Of the unvoluntary pissing of Children.

INvoluntary pissing, or not holding of the Water, in Children is more familiar to them then those that are elder, because Children are rather governed by their appetite then will, and cannot hold [Page] their water longer, but this Incontinency of Urine is not here intended, it being not a Disease; but the involuntary pissing here meant, is an Affection preternatural, by which Children are forced and involuntarily make water at all times.

The cause is in Children, an Imbecillity, and cold, and moist temper of the Muscle of the Bladder called Sphincter, proceeding from pituitous and thick humours; Sometimes the resolution of the Sphincter, the motive faculty being not sent to it, by reason of the obstruction of the Nerves, especially about the Spinal Marrow from the like humour.

The External Causes are the coldness of Air, and Meat, drinking of cold water, blowes about the Back, and falls.

The Signs are, elder Childrens wetting of their Clothes, their inward garments being always wet with pisse; but in Children newly born, it is hard to know whither in an often sucking, an often pissing is involuntary, and that Age gives no testimony of voluntary pissing.

Prog. Involuntary pissing is more hard to Cure if it come from an obstruction, [Page] then cold and moisture. If it comes from an External Cause it is mortal, especially from a fall or Luxation.

The Cure is in, 1. By a Diet which is hot and dry, as you have in several Chapters; you are to abstain from meats that move Urine. 2. The Belly loosned by a Clyster or Suppository; use this Syrrup, Take of the Leaves of Calamint, Plantane, and Mint, of each half a handful, the Seeds of Rue, two drams, boyl them according to Art. Take of the Syrrup of Purslane, Red Roses, and Wormwood, of each half a dram, mingle them together. After the humours are prepared, purge with two Scruples of Pill Hiera cum Agarico: or, Take of Mirabuline, Chebuline one dram, of the Seed of Rue half a dram, of the Flowers of Violets and Roses of each half a Pugil, boyl them according to Art. Take thereof three Ounces, Trochische of Agarick two Scruples and an half, infuse it all night, then presse it, and add the Syrrup of Roses Solutive, two Ounces; the body being purged, outward remedies are to be used, as Baths which heat, drye, and are binding; [Page] it is good to annoint the Loyns and Parts nearest to the Bladder with the Oyl of Wormwood, or the Oyl of Worms; foment those parts with this, Take of Calamint, Mint, Rue, Marjerome, red Roses, of each an handful; Galengal, and Cyprus, of each two drams, boyl them in red Wine according to Art. If these will not prevail, then Blisters will be useful. Divers remedies are propounded by Authors, that are supposed by a Propriety to cure this Distemper, as the Brain and Testicles of a Hare burnt and given to drink in White-wine, the Bladder of a Sheep or Sow used in the like manner; and divers others.

CHAP. XVI. of the Strangury and Suppression of Urine.

THe difficulty of Urine is either when that no Urine is made, which is called Ischury, or when the Urine is made by Drops, which is called a Strangury, [Page] both which distempers differ only in degree.

The Causes are a coldnesse, sometimes alone, sometimes with moisture, weakning the expulsive faculty, that it cannot expell the Urine, or if it doth, not in such a manner as it ought, so that the expulsive faculty is essentially hurt, or the cause is either from a Stone, or the humours viscid and thick.

The External Causes are, an Air that is cold, grosse, thick and cold meats and drinks, especially the Milk of the Nurse, for as the manner of Diet is, such is the Milk; as the Milk is, such are the Children that suck it.

The Signs are manifest, for the Child makes no water, or by drops, and with groaning. If it be from a cold distemper, then if the parts be rubb'd, heated or compress'd, the Urine comes forth; if from Obstruction, if you compresse them, no Urine is made, it is known also by the course of Life preceeding to it, and by the Childs being said before to have Urine that was thick and muddy.

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Prog. The Strangury and Ischury in Children are difficult distempers, for all distempers in Children of the natural faculties are dangerous.

The Cure is, 1. In a good Diet, avoiding fulness, grosse and thick meats and drinks. 2. Expelling the Excrements in the Stomach and first passages, by loosning the Belly with two or three Ounces of the Hony of Roses; then prepare the humours thus, Take of the Simple Hony of Roses, Simple Oxymel, of the Syrrup of Bettony, of each three drams; mingle them and give it alone, or else with Broth; afterwards purge, Take of Cassia five d [...]ams, of Species Hiera, one dram and an half, mingle them: or Take the Hony of Roses Solutive two Ounces, of Electuary Lenitive three drams, two Ounces and an half of a Cordial Decoction of Violet Roses, mingle them and make a Drink. 3. Provoking of Urine, the Decoction of Grownsell, Saxifrage, Centmade, or Red Cicers, is much commended; or, Take the Roots of Asparagus half an Ounce, the Leaves of Saxifrage, and Maidenhaire, of each one handful, red [Page] Cicers one Pugil, make a Decoction according unto Art, give three Ounces of it with a little Sugar, the Stomach being empty. Outwardly are useful the rubbing and compressing the hands, being annointed with the Oyl of Scorpions. If it help not, boyle the Pellitory of the Wall in the Oyl of Rue, and make a Plaister and lay it to the parts about the neck of the Bladder; or, Take a Cruce Glass in which Oyl hath been kept a long time, put it in hot water, then put the Yard of the Child into the Mouth of the Cruce Glass, and it is very effectual.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Stone of the Bladder.

CHildren are very obnoxious to the Stone of the Bladder, and are often troubled with it by their much eating, causing much crude humours, which stay not in the Reyns, but is expelled into the Bladder. Female Children are seldome troubled with it, because they have the Channel of the Bladder broad [Page] straight, not contorted and crooked.

The Stone of the Bladder, which is immediately made in the Bladder, is more often made in Children then in old men, because Children are great Eaters, & thereby abound with much crude humours, which is the matter of the Stone, and falls into the Bladder; besides, Childrens native heat is strong, which easily hardens the matter into a Stone; old men although they abound with crude and earthy humours, because their heat is weak in the Bladder, the Stone is not made, to which may be added the strength of the expulsive faculty, the narrowness of the passage, and the tenuity of the humour in Children.

The Stone which is first made in the Reins, is in old men more often then in Children, as is proved by experience, because old mens expulsive faculty is infirm, and the Ureters wide, so that the thickest and grosse matter, is detained in the Reins, and consequently turn then into a Stone.

The material causes are humours thick petuitous, and tenacious; the efficient cause is the greatnesse of the heat.

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The immediate internal causes are chiefly the narrownesse and straightnesse of the passage or Channel, then the hereditary disposition and propriety from parts, and the Milk of the Nurse being bad, either from Diet or temper; for when the Child doth suck impure Milk, if the Child hath large Veins, from the Stomach to the Bladder, the impure matter is carried to the Bladder, where it settles with the Urine as muddy water shak'd together in some Vessell, and then resting makes a Sediment in the middle, which Sediment of the Urine afterwards is conglobated and made round, by Phlegme, like a little hill, and is hardned as Iron in a Furnace.

The External Causes are the same as in the Strangury.

The Signes are, 1. Groaning, and pain in making water. 2. The making water by drops. 3. The Blood is often mix'd with the Urine. 4. The water is somewhat white, crude, sometimes with a slimy, sometimes with a Sandy Sediment. 5. Inflamation of the Bladder. 6. Itching of the Preputium and foreskin, and frequently scratching of the Privities. [Page] Prog. The Stone of the Bladder is very dangerous, and difficult, by reason of the pain, and in curing Suppression of the Urine, which often happens.

The Stone if it cannot be cur'd by cutting it is mortal for the most part, because the Stone growes in Children so great, that as the years increase, Nature cannot sustain it.

The Cure is, If the Stone be Small, and newly begun, by such things that break and diminish the Stone by a quality that is either, 1. Manifest, as by Goats Blood, Restharrow, Ceterach, Saxifrage, the Root of Parsley, and Fennell, Lapis Spongia, Lapis Judaicus, the Stone that is found in the Call of an Oxe powdered and drank in White wine, or a Decoction of Restharrow; Take 2. or 3. drams of Turpentine, wash'd and melted, and mingle it with two Ounces of the Water of Restharrow, it is much commended. 2. Or an Occult quality and propriety, as the Throat of a Hen burnt and powdered, and given in Wine. So Eryngoes boyled, breaks the Stone by propriety. Before the use of these remedies the Child is to be put into a Bath [Page] Water for some dayes, in which Mallows are boyled, that the matter may be somewhat softned, and more easily and safe done in Children in Men.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Costivenesse and being bound in the Belly.

COstivenesse is a preternatural disposition in Children, by which they discharge not the filfth and Ordure of the Body, either in a due hour and time, or in a due measure; The Filth ought every day to be expelled, and if much be eaten, or that is not nourishing, the greater the quality of the Excrements ought to be expelled.

The Causes are, the offending the Guts either not by sending the expulsive faculty to them, by a resolution of some Nerve or Muscle, by a distemper or obstruction, or because Choller is not sent to the Guts, by which the Guts are stimulated and excited to an Expulsion. Or the Expulsive faculty of the Guts [Page] is hurt by some Tumor or Skin, or some distemper.

The Guts are offended also by some Errors within, by viscid and thick humors wrapp'd and mix'd with the Filth, and so gather the Filth together, that they fasten them to the Guts, that they cannot go forth, or with great difficulty, or Externally by the coldness of the Air, for it is certain that Costivenesse is more in the Winter than Summer; much sleep, idleness, great Meditations, (they drye the Belly) drink that is thick and binding, and sparingly used; the same Errors also in meats, as also preposterous eating, taking first astringent things, afterwards liquid, and they that are accustomed to dine, and omit it, are bound in their Bellies.

The Signs are the Childs not discharging his Belly every day, and complaining and if the Child is somewhat great, it is troubled in the head, and when the Child empties it self it is with pain & groaning.

If it proceed from a cold distemper, the body consumes, is pale, windy and belching; if from gross and viscid humours, they will appear in the Filth; if [Page] from the want of Choller sent to the Guts; the Colour of the body will be muddy, and the Filth of the Guts white or somewhat Ash-coloured.

Prog. The Astriction of the Belly in most are dangerous, especially in Children which great eaters, for which Diseases are generated in them in time, and in the Time of breeding of Teeth, cause Inflamation, Feavers, and Convulsions, the body being full.

The Cure is, 1. In moving the Belly in sucking Children, that the Nurse use meat that loosen the Belly, as Mallows, Dry Figs, Raisins, and the Broth of Coleworts, and all such meats which can loosen the Belly; for as the Milk is made out of Blood, and it out of meat, so it is not to be doubted that the Milk is affected with such meats as the Nurse eats: The remedies that are to be used to the sucking Child, ought raiher to be External then Internal; The External are Suppositories made out of hard Hony or the roots of Mallowes; Garlick roasted in Ashes, and put into the fundament of the Child provokes Stool; So doth Coriander Candied with Sugar, put into the [Page] Fundament, for it tickles the expulsive faculty and causes no pain. Besides these remedies to make the body soluble, there are others to be applied to the Navil; as half the White of an Egg boyled hard, and fill'd with Butter, and a little Coloquintida, or two Grains of Scammony, the Gall of Beef laid to the Navil doth the same; so doth the Juice of Cyclaminis with an equal portion of the Oyle of Sweet Almonds, and Hens grease. If the Child is somewhat great, the use of Turpentine is much commended, it clenses the Liver and Spleen; Likewise Bread that hath some Bran in it, and Raisins continually used. The broth of Coleworts and Mallowes may be likewise used or the Suppositories directed above.

2. In removing not only Astriction, but also the Causes of it, therefore if it be in an Infant, that the Nurse uses convenient Diet, and such as doth not bind, avoiding idlenesse, the use of Wine that is sharp and binding, meats that are grosse and binding, as Barberies, Medlers, Cervices, and the like, and whatsoever is binding. If the Astriction of the Belly be in a Child that is somewhat [Page] great, he is to use meats that loosen the belly, and to abstain from those that are binding, his sleep, watching and exercises are to be moderate, and to avoid North winds. If Astriction be from a cold distemper of the Guts, if in Infants, the Milk ought to be corrected with meats that heat, or the Nurse changed, and remedies applied to the Stomach or Navil of the Child. Take half a Pint of the best Wine, of the Leaves of Calamint, Abrotanum, Mint, Marjerome, of each half a handful, boyl them, and with a Sponge foment the whole Belly: or use this Oyntment, Take the Oyle of Spikenard, or Mint, of each three drams; the powder of Cloves half a Scruple, a little Wax, mingle them & make an Ointment. If Astriction is from cold and viscid humours, use such things that are attenuating, as Oxymel, and the Syrrup of Harehound, these are very useful if the Child lick them, or the Nurse take them. If from the want of the coming of Choller to the Guts, then obstructions are to be removed, in a Child that is somewhat great, a Decoction of Rubra Tinctorum, Red Cicers, [Page] the Roots of Fennell, or Asparagus, and the use of Maidenhaire is convenient; stronger remedies in Children are not to be used.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Flux and Loosnesse of the Belly.

THe Flux, is too great a Laxity of the Belly, by which Children do expel more filth, & more often then ought to be by reason of the Meat and Drink.

The cause is a cold Distemper of the Guts, by which the Concoction is vitiared, and so the corrupted Meats cause the Flux, and also a moist distemper, whereby the retentive faculty, which consists in dryness, is weakned, and being not able to retain the filth, causes that the expulsive faculty excited by them, expells more and more often then it ought; to which may be added the humidity that comes from the head to the Stomach, and from thence to the Guts; [Page] also corrupt meats, which when they have Acrimony, and are past to the Guts, irritate their expulsive faculty; likewise sharp and biting thin humours, do the same; such as are in the Breeding of Teeth.

The External Causes are the South Wind, immoderate exercises of body, the use of liquid meats, and such as are apt to loosen the Belly.

The Signs are manifest, Children very often evacuate the Filth of their Belly, and it is more fluid and liquid then it ought; If it be caused by the Corruption of meats, the Ordure and Filth stink, and appear unconcocted, and the Child breaks Wind often; if from breeding of Teeth, the Signs you have in the Chapter of Breeding of Teeth; If from Bilious and Ichorous humours, the Filth and Dung is bilious, and yellow, and if they have hurt the Guts, the Dung will be bloody, and covered with a bloody slime; If from a distemper, there will be the Signs of a moist or cold distemper, and no Signs of any other causes; If from a Distillation, the Child will have a Catarrhe, not falling to the Lungs, and the [Page] Filth will be frothy; It it be from external Causes, it is known by a careful and diligent observation of the manners and life of Children.

Prog. A Dysentory in Children is very dangerous.

The loosness of the Belly one or more dayes is healthful, if there be no Feaver, and if it is stopt within 7 dayes.

An unseasonable stopping of the Flux in Children is mortal.

If the Flux continues and perseveres, and is very long, it causes a Consumption and Death.

The Cure is, 1. In an Infant, if the Milk be bad, by changing the Nurse, in long Fluxes nothing hath been found better, if it cannot be corrected; If the Cause is hot, the Nurse is to use a cooling Diet, abstaining from Wine, and using water in which Steel hath been quench'd, or Wine somewhat binding, but a very little of it; also meats somewhat astringing and cooling, as Barly Broth, with the Juice of Quinces, Rice, and the like; Annoint the Childs Navil and Stomach with this, Take the Oyl of Mirtles, Quinces, of each three drams; [Page] the Powder of Mastick, Red Corall, and Acaciae, of each half a Scruple, a little Wax, make a Liniament. If the Cause be cold, the Nurse is to use a Diet that is hot, as Wine somewhat binding, Spice, the best Flesh, Mint, Marjerome, boyled in Broths. Take the Oyle of Wormwood, and Mastick, of each three drams; the Powder of Sothernwood, Comfrey, and Bole Armonick, of each half a Scruple, a little Wax, mingle them, and make a Liniament; the Bag of a Hare is very good, but the Child is not to suck when it is used; but let the Child take Pannado, with the Milk of Almonds, for as the Bag thickens Milk outwardly, so if it should be used unseasonably it would be dangerous if it should do the same, and not above half a Scruple at a time is to be used.

The Cure of a Child somewhat great, is; If the Flux comes from, 1. Corrupted Meat, stop them not nor retain them, but only comfort and strengthen the Stomach; Take of the Oyls of Spicknard, and Mastick, of each five drams; of the powder of Red Corral one dram [Page] and an half; of Wax a little, mingle them. 2. If from petuitous humours falling from the head, provoke Urine with a Decoction of the common Seeds of the Roots of Parsley, Fennel, Asparagus, Birtcher Broom, for they divert the Phlegme from the Guts. 3. If from bilious humours, temper them, and take care they do not exulcerate the Guts, wherefore let the Child abstain from Wine, meats that are hot, salt, acrimonious, and sweet, and use Barly Btoth with the Syrrup of Barberies, Quinces, or Granate. Take of the Decoction of all the Myrabulous six Ounces, the Juice of Millet strained four Ounces, mingle them, and make a Clyster, which is very good; So is this, Take of Mullen, the greater Comfrey, of each half a handful, boyl them according to Art; Take thereof two Ounces and an half, of the Syrrup Deribes one Ounce, mingle them; Whey in which Steel is quench'd is good, and may be given to six or eight Ounces at once; If the Guts are sore, this Confection is very useful, Take of the Conserve of Barberies one Ounce; of Thus one dram; of Mastick [Page] half a dram; of the powder of the great Comfrey two Scruples, mingle them; the quantity to be used is two or three drams every morning. The Broth of an old Hen in which Mullen is boyled, is good for all old and petuitous Fluxes; So is the heart of a Beef burnt and powdered, taken in Milk, in which Steel is quench'd, or in the Decoction of Mullen, half a Scruple of it, or a Scruple is to be used at once. Clysters are good, Take the Water of Barly in which Steel is quench'd eight Ounces, Red Sugar one Ounce, make a Clyster, this is good in the beginning, because it moderately dries, absterges, and mundifies the Ulcers; afterwards the Ulcers are to be dryed and healed, to which purpose use this, Take of Whey in which Steel is quench'd, nine Ounces, of Thus, Bole-Armonick, and of Comfrey the great, of each three drams, Sanguis Draconis five drams, mingle them and make a Clyster.

CHAP. XX. Of the Tenesme.

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AFter a Loosness, and in the Loosness, and from them, a distemper usually arises, called a Tenesme, which is a certain vain desire of evacuating the Filth of the Belly with pain and trouble.

The Cause is, A hot or cold distemper of the Spyncter of the great Gut, most commonly from a humour thick, viscid and sharp, adhereing to it, where it stimulates the expulsive faculty, which endevouring to expel the viscous and sharp matter, but cannot in regard of the tenacity of the humour; the Tunicle of the Gut is as it were strain'd into pieces, and in the same divulsion the appetite and pain is made.

The antecedent causes most frequently, are Preceeding Fluxes, for the humors continually touching the great Gut, distempers it; if the humours are hot, the distemper is hot; if cold, the distemper is cold; whereby sometimes there is [Page] not only made a distemper but an Inflamation.

The Signs are manifest, because the Child desires and endevours often to expell the filth of the Belly, and with such endevours, that sometimes the Fundament falls and comes down; the Filth that is evacuated is very little, slimy, and bloody; if it be from a hot cause, a heat is perceived by the Children in the Fundament, there is a rednesse; and cold remedies help; if from cold, there is a lesser pain, a little or no heat, no rednesse, and hot things help.

Prog. This Disease if it be diligently handled in the beginning, ends well; but it sometimes happens by continual pains, watchings, and crying of Children, that it brings them into mortal Feavers and Consumptions.

The Cure is of sucking Children by ordering the Nurse; if a Child somewhat great by abstaining from meats that are acid, sharp, salt, and sweet, and to use such as provoke Urine. If the cause be hot, to asswage the pain, then lessen the desire of going to Stool. Make a Decoction of Mullein, or Dyptams, [Page] and sit in it. Take Mirabulous Chebules, and the Leaves of Mullein, and boyle them in Red wine, and dip a Sponge in it, and apply it to the fundament. Turpentine put upon the Coales, that it fume and smoke the fundament, is very good; if these will not help, Take of Opium four grains, of Saffron one Scruple, of Thus one Scruple, and make a Suppository of it, with the White of an Egg roasted, put it into the Fundament, it takes away pain, dryes up the humours, that causes the distemper, especially the hot humors.

CHAP. XXI. Of the pain of the Guts.

THe Guts being very full of Turnings and windings, and rowlings, and very long, retain the humors a great time in them, which makes the internal Tunicles of the Guts bare and naked from the slime (which covers the Guts, and makes their sense dull, for their receiving of hard and sharp excrements) and corrodes the substance of them, and distends them, whereby there is a vehement [Page] torment and pain.

The cause is either wind that cools the Guts, and oistends the Tunicles of them, or humors that are cold or hot, which distemper them, or causes a Solution of continuity, & somtimes Worms is the cause.

The external causes are the coldnesse of Air, Feet, and meat, also sweet meats, and Summer fruits.

If it be from Wind, the pain is sometimes vehement, sometimes gentle, goes and comes, breaks forth upwards and downwards; If from humors, the pain is more durable and constant; if from Phlegme, that Filth that is evacuated is but little and slimy; If from Choller, the Excrements of the Belly are yellow; If from the corruption or sharpnesse of Milk, there are notes of the badnesse of the Milk, and the Filth and Excrements evacuated resemble corrupted Milk.

Prog. Pains that are persevering are dangerous, especially the vehement pains in the Guts of Children, proceeding from Worms, which many times kills them.

The Cure is, If the pain is from corrupted Milk, change the Nurse, if the [Page] be so vehement that it will not allow time to correct the milk; if from wind, the Nurse is to abstain from all windy meats, and use Coriander and Fennelseed; So ought, the Child that is elder to use Auodynes, such things which heat in the first degree and evacuate the matter of pain, and attenuate and dissipate it, annointing the Childs Belly with the Oyle of Anniseed. If it is not effectual, put a Clysterpipe in the Fundament, so the Wind is drawn forth sometimes; if not, make three Ounces of the Oyle of Anniseed lumbricated, is sufficient for a Clyster; If the Child be great, use Cummin or Anniseed in Sweet Oyle, and the Oyle afterwards being strained, take of it 6. or 8. Ounces for one Clyster. Observe the Wind ought to be expelled out of the Guts, by gentle remedies, if more hot are used the pains usually are increas'd, if the Cause of the Wind be in the Guts; If the cause is a petuitous humour in a Child that is somewhat great, the gentle remedies above mittigate pain; afterwards take the Leaves of Dill, Marjerome, Cumminseed, of each half a handful, boyle them according to Art. Take [Page] Take of the Decoction three Ounces, of Oxymel Simple, and of the Syrrup of Byzantine of each three Drams, the humors being prepared, purge with one dram of Hiera in Wine, if the Child will take it, and there being no Feaver; otherwise, Take of Electuary Lenitive 5 drams, of Hiera Picra one dram, mingle them and make a Bolus. If the pain is from hot and sharp humors, use outwardly the means as is said before; Take of Barly water six Ounces, Oyle of Anniseed two Ounces, the Yolk of an Egge, and make a Clyster. Afterwards, to evacuate the humors, Take of the Decoctions of Tamarinds two Ounces and an half, of Rhubarb two drams, of Spike 10 Grains, infuse them all night, then strain them well, and add half an Ounce of Electuary Lenititve, and make a Drink; If all these remedies are ineffectual, use half a Scruple of Laudani Opiati, in one of the Clysters, as is above directed.

CHAP. XXII. Of Worms.

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VVORMS are very familiar to Children, by reason of crudity and corrupt Phlegme, from their eating of fruits and milk after other meats, for it is observed that sucking Children which eat Flesh are most troubled with Worms because their tender Stomach cannot concoct solid meat, and therefore it corrupts and breeds Worms, besides Milk is presently concocted and passes into the Guts, if flesh unconcocted be mingled with Milk, and passes with it into the Guts, it putrifies there.

Worms are Annimals generated in the body, variously hurting the Operations of the Body.

Worms are found almost in all parts of the body, as appears by the diffection of Bodies, and the Excretion of Worms, but it is doubted, whether the Worms were bred in those parts, or crept there, especially Worms found in the Stomach. [Page] Some think Worms may be bred in the Stomach, because the matter of Worms is no lesse communicated from food or defluxion, or otherwise from other parts, and that the efficient cause being also not wanting in the Stomach, but more frequent they breed in the Guts.

The Cause is, a petuitous crude and viscous humour, which ariseth from immoderate eating, meat easily putrefying and causing a thick Juice, as Cheese, Milk, Summer fruits, things that are sweet, sugared, honied, and the like, having something that hath an analogy to seed, instructed with a formative virtue, which disposes the matter to receive this form of a Worm, and not another, and informs the matter so disposed; as we see peculiar Worms to proceed out of Wormwood, the Salt of the Sea, Milk, Hony, and other things.

The difference of Worms according to their Figure is threefold, some are round and long, others broad and long, and some small, compared with the other two sorts. Worms differ in their colours, being white, red, livid, ash-colour, or yellow, the variety of which colours [Page] proceeds either from the crudity or coction of the matter, out of which they are made, or from the variety of the nourishment or diversity of corrupted matter, out of which they are generated.

The Signs of the three sorts of Worms in common are many, a Stinking breath, unquiet sleep, with starting, trembling, grating of the Teeth, Itching, and often rubbing of the Nose, paleness of the Face, red by Intervals, the Eyes hollow and darkish, the white whereof being turned pale or yellow, spitting much Phlegme, the swelling of the belly, with murmuring and noise in it, the Griping of the Belly which is worse, when one is fasting, sometimes looses, Vomiting and Epilepsy.

The Signs of the particular Worms; if they be long, then the biting of the Belly is more vehement, a little drye Cough, Hiccough, a vain desire of Vomiting, abominating meat, sounding, troublesome dreams, with trembling, rising up, and crying out.

If the Worms are broad, they are known by Excrements, not unlike the Seeds of Goardes, an unsatiable desire of [Page] eating, sudden dejection of things newly taken, leanness and consuming, a great pain sometimes in the right side sometimes in the left.

If short Worms, the pain is continual, a most troublesome Itch about the Fundament, with a continual desire of evacuating.

Prog. Broad Worms are the worst, because for the most part they continue longest.

The short Worms are the least hurtful because they are little, and thin, and are bred in the thick Guts, most remote from the noblest parts, and easie to be expelled with the Excrements, and for Medicaments to be applied to them.

4. Worms that are great, fat, thick, and fill'd with blood, are worse then thin, short, and extenuated, because these showe the scarcity of matter, those the abundance of matter.

5. White Worms are scarce dangerous, but Worms that are yellow, livid, or red, are much worse.

6. Worms that are expelled dead, where there is no Feaver, or a Feaver that is benigne, dye by the scarcity of the [Page] matter, but in malignaut Feavers they dye, rather by the venome, and so worse then living Worms.

The Cure is, 1. In a convenient Diet, the Air is to be temperate and inclining to drynesse, sleep, and watching moderate, avoiding sleep immediately after meat, immoderate Exercise, avoiding idleness, and rest, the Belly soluble, if it be bound loosen it with a Clyster or Suppository; the Drink, if there be no Feaver, ought to be Wine and Water somewhat binding, bitter or sharp, not sweet; Vinegar and Water is good, so is sharp Wine: but if there be a Feaver, in the place of Wine let there be a Decoction of Pruines that are sharp or facid, Cherries or Granates, The meat ought to be easie to digest, attenuating, and penetrating, wherefore convenient meats, are such as are sharp, acid, & bitter, & oyly, and sweet things, viscid, thick, and fat things, are hurtful; the flesh of Birds is much commended; Beef and Veale are greatly discommended, with what is not convenient, mix'd Vinegar, Verjuice, the Juice of Granates, or some other sharp Juice; avoid all Fish and [Page] things made of Milk, only such fruits are to be used which are acid, as Granates, Oranges, Limons, Services, Medlars, sharp Pruines, avoiding all crudities and indigestable meats, either from the quality or quantity of them. 2. In the use of Sena, Tamarinds, or Mirabulous; but above all, Aloes, for the consuming of the matter of Worms which is in the Stomach or Guts. Take of Aloes Succotrinae two drams, Mirrhae, Scordum, White Dictamus of each a Scruple, with the Syrrup of Wormwood, make Pills, the quantity at once is half a dram or forty grains. 3. In the killing or dulling of them, that they cannot resist the remedies, which is done by things that are bitter, sharp, salt, acid, oyly; in the use of which observe, 1. That bitter or salt things, or such as kill Worms are to be mixed with sweet things which delight them, and drawes them to that which kills them, otherwise they avoid it. 2. Remedies used by the Fundament ought either to be sweet things alone, or else to prevail in sweetnesse above other things which are mix'd with them, for the Worms drawn by sweetnesse, move [Page] the lower parts of the Guts; but remedies taken in at the mouth, ought to be more sharp, and bitter, then sweet, otherwise the Worms would move into che Stomach, and cannot be conveniently kill'd. 3. The remedies ought not to be vehement, because they would offend the Stomach, and the Worms agitated by them would be more grievous, and offensive. 4. The Stomach ought to be empty when the remedies are used, else they would be obtruded and extinguished, in regard they are weak. 5. There is no remedy which commonly kills all Worms, and there is no remedy so present as Coralline and Sea Mosse. 6. If the Child hath a Feaver, then remedies which are cold ought to be used, if not, then hot remedies may be used.

Every kind of Worm hath its proper remedies, and the Long Worm being in the next place to the Stomach, requires not such strong remedies as the oother Worms do; wherefore Wormwood, Southernwood, Coriander seed, or the Decoction of Calament are sufficient, which may be used in powder, or a De [...]oction. The Syrrup of Mint, Wormwood, [Page] or Purslane, is very good, so is a Decoction of Sebesten. Outwardly apply above the Navil (for Long Worms are in the first Guts, a little above the Navil) this Oyntment, Take the Juice of Wormwood and Southernwood of each one dram and an half, the Powder of Scordum, Aloes, of each two Scruples, of common Oyle one Ounce, of Wax a little, make an Ointment; or, take of Mirrh and Aloes, of each a dram, Powder of Scordum, and the Seeds of Wormwood and Citron, of each half a Scruple, with Wax and Rosine, as much as is sufficient, make a Plaister; Treacle dissolved, with the Juice of Limon or Vinegar, is good, applied above the Navil, or taken inwardly, so are the Seeds of Nettles, Fennel, Cummin, and Mint; and in regard that Worms that are killed are not expelled, therefore use such remedies as kill and expel them, as Rhabarb, Hiera, Aloes, Agarick; take 2 drams, or half an Ounce of the Syrrup of Sychory, with Rhubarb, with an Ounce of the Water of Grasse which given every day is much commended; If there happen a loosness that is not moderate, and dejects [Page] the strength, restrain it gently with Plantane or Purslane boyled in broth.

The Broad Worms are cured like the Long Worms, but require stronger remedies, because this Worm is greater, Ferne, Cardamon, Costos, and Treacle are commended.

The Ascarides or Little Worm require stronger remedies then the Long and Broad Worms do, because they are most remote from the Mouth and Stomach, wrapt in viscid humours, and are made of viscid and thick humours; These Worms have also peculiar remedies. Take the Leaves of Wormwood one handiul, Lupines one Pugil and an half, boyle them, then take of that Decoction 12. Ounces, Hony of Roses 3 Ounces, of Salt one dram and an half, mingle and make a Clyster. Take of Nitre, of Salis Gemma of each one Scruple; of the Gall of a Bull one dram, of Hony as much as suffices, make a Suppository, or foment below the Navil, or about the Fundament with the Decoction for the Clyster; Also is good, flesh salted and the fat cut from it, and made in the form of a Suppository, and put into the Fundament; [Page] So is old Cheese. Many things are propounded by Authors to be taken in at the mouth, as Scammony and Co'oquintida, which are too strong for Children; the Juice of Ireos will be better and convenient, for it moves the Belly, and consequently expells the Worms, and by a peculiar faculty kills them, Pillula Ruffi, Hiera cum Agarico, are also good.

FINIS

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Paidōn nosēmata· = or Childrens diseases both outward and inward. From the time of their birth to fourteen years of age. With their natures, causes, signs, presages and cures. In three books: 1. Of external 2. Universal 3. Inward diseases. Also, the resolutions of many profitable questions concerning children, and of nurses, and of nursing children. By J. S. physician.

J. S.

Edition statement

1664

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A62269

ID [STC]

Wing S79

ID [STC]

ESTC R219790

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99831237

ID [PROQUEST]

99831237

ID [VID]

35700

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A62269)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35700)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2040:32)

Source

— Paidōn nosēmata· = or Childrens diseases both outward and inward. From the time of their birth to fourteen years of age. With their natures, causes, signs, presages and cures. In three books: 1. Of external 2. Universal 3. Inward diseases. Also, the resolutions of many profitable questions concerning children, and of nurses, and of nursing children. By J. S. physician., J. S., Vaughan, William, fl. 1664, engraver..

Extent

[14], 176 p., [1] leaf of plates

printed by W.G. and are to be sold by J. Playford and Zach. Watkins at their shop in the Temple near the Church,. London :: 1664.. (The first two words of title are in Greek characters.) (The words "1. .. diseases." are connected by a complex system of brackets on title page.) (Engraved frontispiece is signed: Giu. Vaughan fecit.) (With four preliminary contents leaves.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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