The Intro­duction in defence of the Au­thor.IF ever any Person upon the Face of the Universe, that Dedicated his whole Life to the doing good, and rendring himself Bene­ficial to Mankind, has reason to complain of the Ill and Barbarous usage he has en­countred, from Men of his own Profession, and others of a Superior Station, that pre­tend Authority to License or Suppress, all Practioners in the Noble and Useful Arts of Pharmacy, and Administring Physick, I am the Man; for ever since I took my leave of the Old and Useless way of giving Phy­sick, as too many others do, Blindfold, by Traditional Prescriptions, and made it my whole [Page 8]Study and Business to keep up an entire Correspondence and Agreement between Art and Nature, Theory and Practice; and made exact and particular Observations in the difference of Diseases, the variety of Symptoms, casual Accidents, and the diversity of Con­stitutions in Humane Bodies; and have followed the dictates of a well-grounded Experi­ence, in finding out the Essence of Diseases, and the Efficacy of Proper Medicines to Cure them. The whole Tribe of common Practioners, and some graduated Professors of Physick, that live lazing upon the little Knowledge that comes by Tradition, and by stuffing their Bills, and Patients with Nauseous Re­petitions, of unexperienc'd and consequently ineffectual Medicines; have both unsuffer­ably calumniated, traduced and slander'd me, with many ridiculous Stories and un­just Censures, as well as loaded me with such hard and reproachful Names, as none but the bountiful bestowers of them can deserve; so that I am forc'd, to prevent others from being prejudiced by false Reports and mali­cious Insinuations, to take this way of vin­dicating my Reputation, against the Insults of Envious Men, who are as utter Stran­gers to my Person and Abilities, as them­selves are from the common Principles of Modesty, Civility and good Manners.

I could with great facility recriminate upon my Enemies, but I never thought a Billings-Gate Dialect any Ornament, or an advantageous Character to a Sober Chri­ftian, which is seldom used, but by a buisy sort of Tatling Animals, who are out of Humour with every Body, because their own ill nature will not suffer 'em to be [Page 9]pleas'd with themselves. Let Maevius and Bavius then admire one another, and rail at all the World besides; I shall for the future be unconcern'd at those who are as full of unjust Reproaches, as they are void of good Breeding. I wish to be hated by self-interested Slanderers and their Abettors, for the same reason for which I desire to be belov'd by all Ingenious, well meaning ho­nest Men, under all Denominations; as for the rest, I shall say with the Poet

However, since I know not how far their Hatred, inveterate and implacable Malice may extend to my prejudice, among those that know not my veritable Character, I shall here employ a few Lines to answer all the Objections they have raised, and industri­ously scatter'd to blast my Reputation in the Practice of Physick, which I have followed with great Success for many Years, and which the worst of my Enemies cannot de­ny, without assurance enough to affirm, that the Sun is not risen, when to their shame, it shines in their Faces from its Illustrious Meridian.

Objections against the Author.The first Quarter in which my professed Enemies attack me, is, That I am but an Apothecary: 'Tis true, I lay claim to no greater Title, and yet cannot forbear say­ing, That that Objection is Ridiculous; since being an Apothecary, well versd in Phar­macy, in the Knowledge of Drugs, and the Composition of Medicines, is, the most cer­tain [Page 10]and regular step towards the making of a good Physician: As has been proved by many Examples in London and other Places, where Men that servd their Times to Apothecaries, and kept Shop many Years, have afterwards took their Degree of Doctor in one of our own Universities, and pra­ctised with as great Applause, and it may be with more Success, than the rest of their only Graduated Brethren. Nor is this method unobserved in other Learned Employments; for many Wise Men say, That the way to make an able Counsellor, is, First to educate him as a Clerk to an At­torney. Having thus blown off this igno­rant and contemptible Objection, I proceed to the Second; which is, That I never had, an Ʋniversity Education, but am a mere Ignoramus, as they are pleas'd to Phrase it; But how will they prove their latter Allegation? Did they ever Examine into my Learning and Ability? Do they know my Incapa­city to perform what I undertake? If they did, without doubt I should long since have heard of it in louder Terms, than by Private Whispers, Malicious Insinuations and Secret Calumnies and Aspersions; but such is their Hatred, that what they dare not aver to my Face, or attempt to prove by Argument, they liberally supply by false Reports, and forged Clandestine Stories of my Insufficiency, against a Thousand credible Certificates and Reputable Testimonies to the contrary; and these I think sufficient to stop the Mouths of Detraction and Envy, in the Opinion of all good People; and for o­thers, that are mislead by my Numerous Ad­versaries into uncharitable Censures of me; [Page 11]let them but consider, that my Enemies treat me on the score of Demetrius, for my safe and short way of Practice, and a great number of Patients diminishing their Profit, they will not wonder that I am con­demn'd in an Arbitrary Court, where Ma­lice is the Prosecuter, Interest sits as Judge, and sordid Ignorance is Fore-Man of the Jury. I confess, I have not had the Advantage of an Academick Education, but am a sincere lover of Learning, and desirous of Know­ledge, and tho' I cannot boast of posses­sing much, yet I can astute all Censorious Pedants, that by conversing with Learned Men, and a well chosen Library, I take as much pains to encrease my Knowledge, as some of them do by insignificant Diversions, and notorious Debaucheries, to lose what they gain'd, if ever they gain'd any thing but Words at the Ʋniversity. Besides, this cavil is wholly Impertinent, since its well known, beyond a possibility of Contradi­ction, that I am Master of good Specificks, and establish'd experimented Medicines, of my own Preparing, which Prescribing? Physici­ans cannot pretend to, tho' of the greatest Consequence to Mankind, and whose effi­cacious Vertues I am sure of, and can rely upon, in the most difficult plunging Cases in respect of Safety, and generally with Suc­cess; and all this confirmed by numerous Testimonies of Cured Patients, which I am of Opinion, is all that ought t [...] be required of a good Physician; and yet for want of the empty Title of Doctor, and a Coach and Equipage, I must, it seems, be called Quack and Emperick, by chose Doni of the Pro­fession, who have not much more Skill in [Page 12]the true Practice of Physick, which I take to be the Cure of Diseases, than what they collect from the old exploded Methodus Medendi, which when the World grows Wiser, will vanish into its original nothing, and give place to solid, certain and veri­table Experience in the Cure of Diseases.

And that I may contribute to this great End, of advancing useful Knowledge in Phy­sick, and that my Enemies may not think I am reduced to a perpetual silence in my own just Defence, by their vain Threatnings and injurious Misrepresentations of my Person and Capacity for the Practice of Physick, I have taken up a resolution to Print se­veral Discourses upon those Diseases, that God has bless'd me with the Knowledge of, and given me wonderful success in their Cures, that have frequently baffled the Endeavours of many Eminent Professors: And shall be­gin with a Treatise upon the CHOLICK.

Now in discoursing this Subject, to avoid all unnecessary and over Nice and Curious Distinction, and Definitions, that rather puzzle Men's Intellects, than benefit their Understandings, I shall under the general Name, vulgarly called Cholick, treat of it as an Accidental and Particular Distemper, arising from an evident Cause alone, and without a previous disposition in any Per­son indifferently; for so, alterations in the Sex No [...]naturalia often raise great commotions in the Viscera of the Belly with extremity of Pain: After that, I shall consider this Disease in its Procartick or pre-existent Cause, as co-operating with others that are sub­sequent, which will necessarily lead me to [Page 13]particular Discourses upon the various kinds, and the several Species of this Distemper under the denominations of the Cholick in the Stomach; the Hysterick Cholick, the Scor­butick Cholick; the Iliack Passion, the Caeliack Cholick, a Diarrhea, a Lientary, a Dysentry, &c. All which Distempers I shall treat particularly, and to avoid Confusion and over burthening the Memory, under every Head I shall shew the Origine Seminium or Minera of each Disease; what part of the Body is primarily affected; then proceed to the Symptoms and Method of Cure, and con­clude with some Observations and Exam­ples, wherein my own Medicines have been wonderfully successful; which I always keep ready prepared by me, to dispose of, to all that think fit to come or send for them.

The Essence or Nature of the Cho­lick.The Cholick called in Greek [...], in Latin Collica Passio, because by some Physitians, 'tis supposed, tho' falsly, to have its seat wholly in some part or other of the Se­cond of the great Guts, called Colon; is a Vellication or severe Griping, Twitching, Gnawing Pain in certain Parts of the Ab­domen, which commonly produce Vomit­ings, Cramps and Contractions, almost of all the Viscera of the Belly: Sometimes the Navel and its Neighbouring Parts are drawn inward, accompanied with Pains as if they were boared with a Gimlet: Sometimes they swell, being blown up with the excess of Wind: The Intestines by an inverted Motion of the Fibres are often drawn up­wards, insomuch that the Belly being ex­treamly bound, discharges little or nothing at all; nay, tho' it be frequently provoked to do it by Glysters and Suppositories, yet [Page 14]it does not easily throw out its Con­tents.

That the Stomach is likewise convulsed with the Duodenum and Gall Bladder, mani­festly appears from the plentiful vomiting of Yellow or Green Choler. Sometimes the Ʋreters and the Bladder which contains the Urine, are so contracted, that during the whole Fit, the Urine is either stopt, or voided more sparingly: Besides, the Head is grieved with Vertiginous effects, either preceding or following the invasion of this Disease, and if the Cholick encreases and becomes Inveterate, it often causes Pain in the outward Members and terminates in a Palsey.

Its direful Effects.Nay, the Sick commonly endures all kinds of Pains; one while burning with intole­rable Heat, another time chill'd with extream Cold; sometimes it seems to be fix'd and as it were piercing the Loins, or [...]ther whiles pricking with wandring repeated Thrusts; anon distending or beating the Loins, or only pressing them with the sense of weight, or burning, corroding, rending Pain; or is troubled either with a continual or interrupted Pulsation, and afterward returning again, or wonder­fully writhing and contorting any other way, scarce to be expressed by the Patient, or explain'd by the Physician.

Now tho' all the differences occurring in this Distemper with its Original are very difficult to be assign'd, numbred, or re­duced into a certain Order, and much more to make an exact Examination of all the Symptoms and Causes, and thence to give a sollid judgment of every one; yet I shall attempt it, by exhibiting them from the [Page 15]best Authorities, and leave the choice to your own Election, as they are most agree­able to your Reason and Experience, which is the Mistress both of the Learned and Unskilful.

The Origin of the Cho­lick.Some are of Opinion that the Origine of this Disease, proceeds from the effervescency of vicious Blood; others from an Obstruction of the Capillary Veins of the Stomach and Guts, by which the Blood is forced to stand still in the Vessels, till at length after a great Distention the Vessels burst and the Blood is effussed, which breeds a sensible Inflamation and violent Pulsation about the Part affected. Others say it arises from an over viscous Phlegm mix'd with Choler, of­fensive both in its Saltish Acrimony and Vo­latile Oiliness, by which the Viscous Phlegm is rarified into Wind, and if the Excrements are contain'd beyond their due time, they harden and stick to the Gut, by which the natural Ferment is viciated, and the Windy Gusts are more rarified, and being shut up in the Cavity of the Gut Colon it causes a violent distension and contraction of it.

Some again impute it the disorders and Convulsions of the Nerves running from the Mesenterick Plexus, which vicious hu­mours as aforesaid, lodg'd in the Intestines, and those by a Forreign irritation of their Nerves, equally attended by the successive returns of Cold, and Heat, cause tearing, wringing and c [...]cting Pains.

Others ascribe [...]s Original to the a­bounding Acidity and Acrimony of the Pancreatick juice, occasion'd by over sharp Food; eating raw Fruits, by Summer Air too Hot, by Winter Air too Cold, or at least [Page 16]too Sharp; by Fear, Sorrow, extream Grief or Solicitude of Mind; by continued Watchings which consume the Animal Spirits, and by consequence encreasing the Acrimony of any Humours, produce Hypocondriack suffocations, and also Pains, severely racking and con­torting the Guts. Now the Reasons why I cannot agree with many Physicians, that Cholick Pains proceed from the sharp and irritative contents of the Colon, is, because those Medicines which loosen the Belly, and copioussly expel Featus's and the Faeces, would undoubtedly give most certain Re­lief, the contrary of which too often hap­pens, viz. That after frequent or violent Purging, that Disease becomes worse. Nor can I agree with the Notion, that Cholick Pains proceed only from the Pancreatick juice mix'd with Choler, because it's impossible, according to Sylvius de la Boe that the Juice of the Pancreas in any manner or degree sowre, should mix with Choler, abounding with a bitter and volatile Salt. Therefore,

I firmly adhere to the Opinion of the Learned Dr. Willis, who with great reason, places the Origine of this Disease among the effects of the Brain and the Genus Nervosum, alledging, that certain Recrements of the Nervous Humour, falling from the Brain by the Nerves, and passing thence into the Me­sentry and other Foldings of the Abdomen, are there amass'd and heaped together, which if they are so gross, thick and viscous, that they cannot be received and sent away by the Lymphaducts, or distill'd out into the Cavities of the Intestines, by the small Branches of the Vessels, then Stagnating and being heaped together by degrees into those [Page 17]Parts, they arise at length to an irritative plenitude: And afterward that Matter becoming more degenerate, and more offen­sive by Stagnation, and growing turged on some occasion; or of its own accord or else fermenting with the Salino-fix'd Humour, sent thither from the Blood, will torture the Patient with very troublesome and painful Corrugations in the Branches of the Nerves and Nervous Fibres, with which the Mesen­tery is innumerably furnish'd: Which ef­fects of them, do seldom or never cease till the fermenting Matter is either discuss'd, or express'd into the Cavities of the Intestines, or at length by Care and the Application of proper Medicines, they are utterly sub­dued.

Having thus briefly shew'd you the Na­ture of the Cholick in the direful effects it produces, together with its Origination, I shall, according to promise, proceed to the Place that is primarily affected in Human Bodies.

The seat of the Cholick Senertus and Riverius, place it in the up­per Orifice of the Stomach, which is of ex­quisite Sense, by reason of the intermixture of Nerves, with which it is stored from the vaga sexta, from whence Branches being communicated to the Heart that noble Part is also affected by Consent, and disperses the Pain into almost every part Internal and external.

Dr. Blankard, Professor of Physick, at Middleburgh, in Zealand, says, The Cholick is a vehement Pain, proceeding from an ill disposition of the Animal Spirits, seated in the Abdomen, but begins in the Nervous Plexus's or Foldings of the Mesentery, and is [Page 18]by some Men falsly imputed to have its residence in the Gut Colon.

Michael Etmuller, late Professor of Physick in the University of Leiptsick, says, Cholick Pains and Gripings in the great Guts, are chiefly felt in the Colon, especially in that part of it towards the circumference of the Belly, upon the Left-side, where 'tis strait­ned and incurvated, and consequently more liable to the blast and shocks of Wind, and more apt to stop the Circulation of the Excrements, and cause their Swelling up in­to a hard or soft Tumor. This Pain and Tumor is frequently imputed to the Spleen, but erroneously; for the Colon, says he, is its usual and proper Seat; and sometimes it veers about to the Right-side of the Belly, upon the outermost Circumference, where the same Colon pursues its Course.

Sometimes these Pains reach only the Small Guts, and then their Station is about the Navel and Centre of the Belly, and are much more violent than those in the Great Guts; if they range not beyond the Duodenum, or the beginning of the Jejunum, they are felt in the Loins, and are often mi­staken for Nephritick Pains, or those caused by the Convulsion of the Mesenterick Nerves, or Tumors, or Ulcers in the Pancreas. I dare not say any of these Opinions are He­terodox, because sometime or other Pains do possess all the Parts above mention'd.

However, for very good Reasons grounded upon many Experiments in Anatomy, I ad­here chiefly to Doctor Willis, who says, The Part in Human Bodies primarily affected in the Cholick, is the Mesentery, and its Ner­vous Foldings under the Navel, which causes [Page 19]cruel Pain, as if a Stake was stuck there, or a Piercer were making a Hole: Besides, round about, almost in the whole Abdomen, by reason of the Intestines being variously drawn forward and backward, at the same time in different Places, wandring Pains shoot this way and that way; and the mo­tion of the Fibres being discomposed or in­verted, as well in those Parts as in the pri­mary Vessels, the Belly is in a manner al­ways bound, and there follows sometimes a supperssion of Urine, or very little is made. Besides, the Duodenum the Gall Bladder with its Channels and the bottom of the Stomach being affected with a Cramp, and their Fibres being drawn upward, a frequent Vomiting with a copious casting up Matter of Yellow or Greenish colour often happens during the Fit.

In a Fit of the Cholick, also besides Pains of the Belly, there are likewise violent Pains of the Loins, raging in the 1ower parts of the Back, which certainly cannot pro­ceed from the irritation of any Intestine; but its easy to conceive they may arise from a Morbific Cause lodg'd in the Mesentery: For inasmuch as several considerable Nerves of the Loins enter into the great Nervous fold­ing of the Mesentery; so from hence, not on­ly painful Convulsions are conveyed by con­sent from one Part to another; but its also probable, that certain Recrements of the Back likewise, and of the Loins, are derived into the Mesentery by this Passage, and that in some sort, for this reason, Scorbutical Persons are so very obnoxious to Gripes of the Belly, and Looseness that attends it, which confirms me in the Opinion that the Nervous Flexus [Page 20]of the Mesentery, is the first Part affected with the Cholick, and that its seat is not in the Cavities or T [...]nicles of the Intestines, nor the Morbifick Matter conveyed by the Arteries, but by Nerves.

Diagno­stick Sym­ptoms. Diagnostick Signs of the Cholick, are, very sharp Pains, sometimes moveable and other whiles fix'd to a certain place; some­times the Pain is in the region of the Stomach or in the Reins, sometimes above and some­times below the Navel, so that by the com­parison of other Signs, you must distinguish between the Cholick and Pains of the Stone or Spleen, which are frequently mistaken one for the other, even by Physicians them­selves.

Progno­stick Sym­ptoms of the Cholick. Prognosticks of the Cholick, are vulgarly enough known, that is to say, an Accidental Cholick rising from an evident cause alone, is commonly safe, and admits of an easy Cure; but an habitual one, is not eradicated but with great Difficulty, as to its dispo­sition, so that the Fits may return no more; for sometimes the Fits themselves, notwith­standing the Application of Medicines, are very obstinate and continue many Days, nay, Weeks and Months, and sometimes are never cured but by Death. Thus much for signs; But since I have branch'd out this Disease into several Parts, I shall take leave, once for all, to shew, how you may distin­guish one Disease from another by the Urine.

Signs by the Urine.If the Urine is Watery, 'tis a Nephritick Cholick, if highly tinctur'd towards the middle, and colour'd on the Surface, and the Anus is obstinately bound; 'tis a Scor­butick Cholick; if Respiration is difficult and [Page 21]the Breast afflicted, 'tis a Hysterick Cholick; if the Convulsion of the Intestines is accom­panied with Pain extending to the Pubes and Haunch-Bone, the Womb is disorder'd; if the Urine is clear and of a reddish Yellow, 'tis a Cholerick Cholick, if the Pain is tearing and the Urine Milky and Pale, impregnated with a large Sediment, the Mesenterick Nerves are affected.

Causes of the com­mon Cho­lick.The Antecedent Causes of the Common Cho­lick, which I only treat of under this Head, are, the Disorder and Convulsions of the Nerves running from the great Mesenterick Plexus, which cause tearing, wringing and contracting Pains: Sometimes occasion'd by Nephritick Pains and Child-Birth, when the Mesenterick folding, being irritated, by its concourse with the Nerves of the Kidneys and the Womb, Antece­dent Cau-Causes. pulls and contracts both the Stomach and Guts which it supplies with Nerves. At other times they are re­tainers to some fix'd, permanent, habitual Cause, which tho' it lye hid for some time, has always an Ascendant in the Body. These are either Hypochondriack, Hysterick or Scor­butick, as I shall further shew, when I treat particularly of those Diseases a part, and are owing to the Convulsion of the Mesen­terick Plexus, to which the Intestines are an­nex'd, being gall'd with a peccant Acid.

Procatar­tick Causes.The Procatartick, or Pre-existent Cause of this Disease which co-operates with others that are subsequent, are two fold; First, That many Recrements or superfluous things are heaped together in the Nervous Li­quor; and Secondly, That they being ad­mitted chiefly into the Nerves of the Viscera of the Belly, and so conveyed into the Me­sentery, [Page 22]there create the Morbid Minera's of this Distemper; for the former of these generally happening by the Distemper of the Brain, by admitting Heterogeneous Particles with the Nervous Juice into its custody, the whole Animal Oeconomy is so disturb'd, that it cannot evacuate the common super­fluities by its ordinary Conveyance; and this causes the incongruous Matter that can­not be sent from the Brain, to force its pas­sage into the Nerves of the Par vagum, which are open and ready to receive it. Se­condly, That this superfluous Matter run­ning in this manner into the Par vagum of the Nerves, is deposed in the Mesentery, or other foldings within the Abdomen, and necessarily makes the Morbid seat in the Mesentery.

Evident Causes.The evident Causes of the Cholick are also of two sorts; First, Such as being injurious to the Brain and Genus Nervosum, cause the Morbifick Matter to super abound: Or, Secondly by agitating the Blood and Hu­mors, stir up the conglobated Mass to Pain, causing more fervent and sudden efferve­scencies. And here some will imagine I should proceed to discourse the many and diversi­fied occasions, by which the Pains of the Cholick are caus'd in Persons pre-disposed to them; but that would be nauseating the Reader with Cramben biscoctum, having suf­ficiently done it already, in the Paragraph ent [...]tuled the direful effects of the Cholick, Page the 14th.

Cure of the Ch [...]lick.And now according to the Method I have prescribed to my self, I am brought to treat of what ought to be the Main and Principal design of every Practitioner in Physick in [Page 23]all Diseases, viz. The Cure of the Disease. To compass which great end, Three primary In­dications are suggested. First, To appease the Pains in the Fit. Secondly, To take a­way the Cause of the Disease that the Fits may no more, or not so frequently return. Thirdly, To re-invigorate the Patient's Strength, and fortify his Constitution, in order to the Comfortable enjoyment of Life.

To appease the torturing Pains in the Paroxism, Lenifying and Emollient Glysters only, ought to be frequently injected into the Body, that the Corrugations of the Fi­bres may be mitigated, and the raging of the Spirits appeased. To this end, Warm Milk with Sugar, or rather Molossus, or Syrup of Violets: Also Emollient Decoctions of March-Mallows, Herb Mercury, and the Flowers of Melilot with Oil of Almonds; also a strong Decoction of a Sheep's-Head with the Wool on it, or Calves-Feet, are proper to be used: Sometimes a Glyster of mear Oil of Olives or of Linseeds, have given Ease, when others have failed. But if this sort of Glysters are ineffectual and do not come away, or answer their end stronger must be used, to force the Humours from the little Mouths of the Arteries. For this purpose [...]et Carminative or bitter Decoctions be prep [...]red, in which dissolve Electuary Dia­phoenic [...], Diacatholicon, or e Baccis Lauri, or Species Hierae, to which Liquors its customary to add, Two or Three Ounces of the infusion of Crocus Mettalorum: Or to a Pound of an Emollient Decoction, add of Venice Turpentine dissolv'd with the Yolk of an Egg, one Ounce; or take the Ʋrine of a Healthy Man, Venice Turpentine dissolv'd, one Ounce and half, and [Page 24]with one Ounce of Molossus mix'd with the rest, make a Glyster. The Balsamick Particles of the Turpentine diffused every where, are de­sign'd to remove the Morbifick or Stagnating Matter, or encline that which is Acetous, or otherwise degenerate, to a better Tem­perament.

If the Intestines are much contracted by vicious Matter lodg'd within them, Purgations ought to be prohibited, for fear they promo [...]e the Contraction, and lock up the Excrements closer. If this Case happens in your Practice, Whey, or an Ounce of the Oil of Almonds, with Canary Wind and Sperma Caeti, are more effectual than the strongest Catharticks, If the Cholick is attended with a Tenacious viscid Humour, and a heavy boring Pain, Purgatives mix'd with attenuating Specificks are allowable; tho' I have observ'd, 'tis bet­ter to do so after the Fit has made some progress, and the Symptoms are a little mit­tigated, than just in the beginning, especially if the Pain is violent; but take notice, that if the Guts are inflamed, all Laxatives of what­soever [...]ind are extreamly pernicious; for a fierc [...] [...]nd very violent Cholick, if it pro­ceed from an Inflamation or Abscess of some of the Intestines, generally ushers in a Mor­tal Iliack Passion.

External Applica­tions.As for External Applications against Cho­licks, let the Belly and Navel be well fo­mented with Liniments, of express'd Oils, mix'd with those that are Distill'd. Galbanum melted and mix'd with the Distill'd Oils of Spike and Amber. Plaifters made of Tachamahas, Balsam of Peru, or that of Bay-Berries, with that of Tobacco; Cataplasms of Horse-Dung, with Oil of Rue; and quilted Bags of Mil­let-seeds, [Page 25]or of Anodyn and Aromatic Ingre­tlients; are like wise apply'd to the Belly with good success. But if the Gripes of the Belly do not remit by the use of these things, you must have recourse to Hypnoticks, which being given in a sitting Dose, often gives Relief. And in continued Cholicks notwith­standing some Men, Whose Ignorance, is as considerable as their Insolence, loudly cla­mour against the use of Mercurial Medi­cines, yet the raising a gentle Salivation when the Morbifick Matter is plentifully gather'd together in the Nervous Plexus's, and other places about the Abdomen, and there sticking fast, so as not to be moved by other Medicines, Calomel may be given to the Relief of the Patient, and without Reproach to the Physician.

The Pre­servative Indication.To refresh the Strength and falling Spi­rits of the Sick, and to order yet a greater Apparatus against the Disease, give Liquid Laudanum tartariz'd, at Bed-time, in a Spoon­ful of the Water of Camomil Flowers, drinking after it, of the same six Spoonfuls, and let it be repeated every other, or every third Night. And whilst you are using these Me­dicines for appeasing Pains, let Purging Re­medies have their due Turns, to destroy the Seminium of the Disease, and to prevent its return, Vomiting and Purging, and in a Hot Temperament Ph [...]ebotomy ought to be used: And instead of Baths and Sudorificks, Diure­ [...]icks may be more advantageously given.

And where the Cholick is of long continu­ance and obstinate, Spaw-Water coming from Iron-Mines, are often used with good Success:

The Vital Indication.Next, The Vital Indication ought to be join'd with the Curatory, and to be now and then interchangeably used with it: To that end, let Remedies be used which support the Patient's Strength, refresh his [...]pirits and procure certain times of Truce against the Fits of the Disease. Let the Diseased be dusy supplied with Cordials, Paregoricks and Hypnoticks, which in the Cholick are so abso­lutely necessary, that the Patient cannot live without them, nor the Physician justif him­self, before the Tribunal of his own Con­science. In Constitutions that are not Hot, Spirits of Heart-Horn, of Soot, of Sal-Armoni­ack succinated, also Tincture of Antimony, or o [...] Coral, are all very commendable. And when the Sick is deliver'd from his Pains, and has recover'd a competency of Strength; to com­pleat his Cure, I recommend travelling long Journies on Horseback, or in a Coach, for such excitations of the Parts, will strengthen the Bowels, shake off the Relicks of the Dis­ease, and make Life Pleasant and Comfort­able, till the devouring Teeth of Time shall destroy that as well as every thing else.

The Au­thor's own Remedies.Having thus briefly given you the Nature, Origine, Seat, Symptoms, Cause and Cure of this Excrusiating Disease call'd the Cholick, with the choicest Remedies used by the most celebrated Physicians of former Ages, and the present Time; I shall now, according to Promise, say something of my own Me­dicines, that the bountiful Giver of all good things has bless d me with the Knowledge of, and which I can depend upon, from uncon­tradicted Experience in many Years Practice, for the certain Cure of this Disease, in all Cureable Cases, and for giving Ease in the most [Page 27] Dangerous, whose Obstinacy and Inveteracy will not admit, of a Perfect Cure: Which Remedies are of three, sorts, a Chimical Elixir, an Anticholical Cordial Water, Pills, and an Electuary; all safe and Salubrious in their Nature, and effectual in their Operations, as will be attested by numerous Patients that have committed themselves to my Care, and found extraordinary Benefit by them; when Men of greater Names, after long Tryals have been unsuccessful, to the infinite Trouble and great Expence of the Diseased; both which will be prevented by the Method I take, in a happy conjunction of Speculative and Experimental Knowledge, as the only remedy of the Inconveniencies that cramp a Suc­cessful Practice.

The Medicines I exhibit are sure, and the Knowledge I have of their vertue, is not the effect of my Reasoning; but of my Observa­tion, so that those that use them will find them Successful. I say, this Knowledge is not the Fruits of my Reason, because in reality it is not; and further, to set this Assertion right, it cannot be so; for in the matter of Medicines, we have no other way to follow, but that of Observation: For to offer to discover, by Reason alone, the vertue of Medicaments, is the way never to find what we seek for I theref re apply my self to Experience, and leave those Tricks and vain Subtilities, which according to Quintilian, render us like those little Insects, that are never pleas'd but when they are among Thorns and Briars. Its high time to shake off this School Physick, which is good for nothing but wrangling, and attain a positive Physick, which is of use in Practice. By po­sitive [Page 28]Physick, I don't mean one made up of Authorities, which consists in knowing the Sentiments of divers Authors upon a con­troverted Point, as in Positive Divinity: But I mean one that consists of positive Mat­ters of Fact, which teaches what has been often successful in the same Circumstances; and I may be bold to say, that Positive Physick, regulated by Method, is the true Physick.

School Physick, enables Practitioners to make smart Repartees, to come off hand­somely in a controverted Point; and the other makes us sensible and Prudent, so as to order nothing but what's convenient: The out makes us Headstrong and Opinionative, and the other makes us honest Physicians, who seek for nothing but how to inform our selves, and to be useful: The one seeks for Evas [...]ons how to defend himself under a Disappointment, and the other for Medi­cines to Cure Distempers: The one consults his Ideas, and the other consults his Reason and Experience: The one makes Pedants, and the other Physicians.

A Chymi­cal Elixir, and its Operation.And first, my Chymical Elixir, is in its own Nature peculiarly adapted to the Cure of the Cholick, because its innate vertues are powerful in allaying Pains, taking away the Cause of the Disease, and re-invigorating the Patient's Strength, and refreshing his Spirits, by which means, and not by any Narcotick quality in the Medicine, Nature is enabled to expel the Morbifick Matter lodg d in the Nervous Plexus's of the Mesentery, and to subdue and conquer the Disease. This Elixir also is endued with an excellent Quality, to Purify the Blood and Nervous [Page 29]Liquors, and keep them in a due and regular Crasis, in order to prevent the engendring of Morbifick Matter; Strengthens the Brain and the Nervous Foldings of the Abdomen, and removes the present Procatarxis of the Cholick, and hinders the Invasions of Pains for the Future, so that they shall seldom or never return afterwards.

How to be taken, and its happy Effects.Which Elixir is to be taken, Ten Drops at a time, when assaulted by Cholick Pains, in Five or Six Spoonfuls of Generous Wine, smooth clear Ale, or well brew d Table-Beer, every half Hour till the Pain is abated, and then forbear taking any more Drops for that time, unless the Pain returns. This Quantity of Drops is proper for Men; but the Fair Sex must take but Five or Six Drops at a time, in Two or Three Spoon­fuls of either of the above mention'd Li­quors, observing the same Rules as are given to Men. But if the Sick are enclined to Vo­mit up whatever they take, let the Patient take the same quantity of Drops in a sma [...]er quantity of Liquor. Some Persons of both Sexes can take a greater number of Drops than others; and in violent Fits of the Cholick, if the Patient has not ease with a small number of Drops, let them add two Drops every time they take them, till easy, then take no more that time. As to the quantity of the Drops the Patient is the proper judge, who finding what number of Drops best agrees with his Constitu [...]ion, his own Reason will induce him in all Effects, to stick to that Quantity.

When either Man or Woman takes my E­lixir in the Day time, let them lye down upo [...] a Bed, dispose themselves to Rest, and [Page 30]if they find their Stomachs any way disorder'd, the longer they repose, the sooner they will find Refreshment and Ease.

If the Sick enter into a course of taking my Elixir, to eradicate this Distemper and put a final end to his tormenting Pains, let him take Four Drops at Night when he is going to Bed, in a Glass of some, of the Vehicle afore named, or in Bohe Tea, and continue so to do, by adding One Drop every successive Night, till he has imbibed 20, 30, or 40 Drops; or at least the certain number that agrees with him, and adhere to that, till he finds himself recover'd; always lying long in Bed in the Morning, that the Elixir may the sooner produce its desired happy Effect.

An Ad­vertise­ment to Water-Drinkers.Further, if the Sick has at any time, found some Benefit by drinking Spaw-Water, and is desirous to continue it, because his Bowels are too Hot, let him put Six Drops of my Elixir into half a Pint of Spaw-Water, and drink it going to Bed, for a Month to­gether; for, this Elixir is the best Medicine in the World, to make all Mineral Waters pass off well and quickly by Urine or Seige; which if they stay long in the Body, by taking up their Quarters in the Head or Feet, they will cause the Vertigo, or Gout, as is often found by dreadful Experience. Which may serve as a cautionary. Advertisement, to all that accustom themselves for Diversion or Ne­cessity sake, to drink Tunbridge, Epsom, Dul­lege, Kensington, Islington, North-Hall, Bath, Northampton-shire, Derby-shire, or York-shire-Waters, that they always carry a small Bottle of my Elixir along with them, for preven­tion of such ill Accidents as frequently come [Page 31]to pass, by drinking those Waters alone, and to effect more safely, certainly and speedi­ly their Intentions in drinking those Mineral Waters, which for want of using my Elixir with them, generally prove ineffectual.

This Elixir, a name taken from the Arabick Word Eleeschir, signifying Powerful, is also effectual against the Stone, Gravel, and Bloody Urine; stops Vomiting and a Loosness, and is a proper Medicine against Chatars, Coughs, and all Diseases incident to the Head and Breast. It continues its whole Vertue in all Climates, and conse­quently is fit to be carried, as it has been, to the East or West-Indies, to any of the Northern Countries, the Mediteranean, or the South-Seas. It will last more than Twenty Years, and no Family that has Experienc'd its Vertues in many others, as well as this Di­stemper, will be without it.

The Au­thor's Cor­dia [...] Cho­lick Waters.And since in this Disease, all things, tho' properly enough contrived and invented, do not agree with all Persons, nor please in in the same Form of Composition, and that some Palates disrelish what others imbibe with Pleasure, so there is sometimes a Ne­cessity of changing and altering Medicines in respect of their Form, as well as Ingre­dients in their Composition, that they may more effectually operate upon the different vicious Humours, and on the various Parts affected.

To answer all these Ends, I invented my Cordial Anticholical Water, whose vertues far exceed the common Tincture of Steel and of Antimony and Amber, so much extoll'd in the Cure of the Cholick; because after a peculiar manner, it gives Ease by expelling [Page 32]the viscous Recrements in the great Mesente­rick Plexus, to which the Intestines are an­nexed, and allays the griping Pains that follow the irregular Cure of Fevers, which are caus'd, by transferring the Morbifick Matter to the Glandules of the Mesentery, and the subsequent irritation of its Nerves. This Anticholical Water, or Solar Liquor, has also both a Diuretick and Carminative Quality, and has admirable effects, both in Tender and Robust Constitutions, and I often give it with great Success, either it self, or mix'd with other proper Specificks, as a Spur in Hot Discrasies of the Viscera with a pre­dominancy of adust Sulphur, as also in Flit­ting, Scorbutical, and irregular Boilings of the Blood and Nervous juice, which seldom or never fails of doing good in the most desperate Cases I have met with, in many Years Practice.

How to be taken.This Water is to be taken by Two or Three Spoonfuls at any time, when the Sick is grieved with the Cholick; either by it self, or put into a Glass of warm Ale, or burnt White-Wine, and being repeated as occasion requires, the Physician will accom­plish his main end, and the Patient if he is a Person of common Ingenuity, Gratitud [...] and Honesty, will not grudge his Expenc [...] of Time or Money, in purchasing so effica­cious Remedy.

The Third Nostrum I employ for the Cure of the Cholick, I call Pillulae Anticolicae, or Anticholical Pills; They are compounded of the choicest Ingredients in the whole Ma­teria Medica, and require a long time and great Care and Pains in their Preparation, the Mass being an Extract and no common [Page 33]Composition, as will appear in their Opera­tion, and the happy effects produced by them. Now you having read in the foregoing Dis­course, that in some Cases, and especially when the Intestines are much contracted by Viscous Matter contain'd in them, that Purg­ing Medicines are not to be used; and that all other Cases, for the Cure of the Cholick, strong Catharticks are absolutely necessary; to avoid these extreams, I have chosen the Golden mean, and so contrived my Anticho­lical Pills, by mixing attenuating and mol­ [...]ifying Ingredients with Purgatives, that they will Work but gently, tho' very ef­fectually, in order to discuss or expel the Peccant Humours by degrees, without of­fering Violence to Nature, by being over hasty in th [...] Cure, and to that end admini­string over powerful Purgatives, which ra­ther weaken the Patient, than mitigate his Pains, or diminish his Distemper. But my Pills are Hermetically compounded, and at the same time both throw out the sharp of­fen [...]ing Humours, corroborate the Stomach, fortify the Spirits, and strengthen the whole Body against the future Invasion of the Dis­ease, as the only safe and easy way to a per­fect Cure, which these Pills, taken accord­ing to the following Directions, very seldom [...]ve behind them.

Directions for taking the Pills.They are to be taken, one pill late at Night, at the time of going to Rest, every third or fourth Night, and if that Pill does not Work pretty early in the Morning, take one or two Pills more every two Hours till they Operate gently, but if it makes the Patient Sick in his Stomach, and doth not Purge him, let him Dissolve an [Page 34]Ounce of Epsom Salt, or six Drams of the Le­nitive Electuary, in a Pint of Water Gruel, or Mutton-Broath, and drink it Blood-warm, the Pills will have the same effect, if they are forced to be purg'd off; Two, Three, or Four Stools is sufficient for one time: Keep very warm, and drink nothing cold that Day. After taking them, let the Sick drink large draughts of thin Chicken Broath, Mutton Broath, or Water Gruel, or for want of them Posset Drink, to dilute the sharp Humours, cast them out, or their A­crimony being taken off, reduce them to a better Temper: Which you will soon find, if this Course is duly repeated, as often as there is occasion, and when there is none, take no more Pills, for I don't give them for Lucre of Money, but to answer the In­tention of Healing, for therein consists my Interest. These Pills are good for the Scurvy, Pains in any part of the Body, King's Evil, corrupt Humours in any Part of the Body, the Itch, Leprofie, Old Ulcers, Worms, Gravel, Stones and in other Cases where Purging is necessary.

The Fourth Remedy.Those Days wherein the Patient does not Purge, I give a Cordial Electuary, which I call Electuarium Anticolica, or my Anticholical Electuary, which is the Fourth Remedy for the Cure of this Disease, and which seldom fails, if the Disease is Cureable, this Electuary being indued with such rare, uncommon and well experienc [...]d Vertues, agreeable to the Dictates of Nature and Art, and so signifi­cantly adapted to the Cure of the Cholick, in all its various kinds, where purging is ne­cessary or unnecessary and dangerous, that the Patient will seldom be perfectly cured with­out [Page 35]it; because as I have found by repeated Experience, that when all other Remedies prescribed by the best Hands have been in­effectual, this Electuary has done the Work, by corroborating the Stomach, correcting its vicious Fermentation, retrieving its depraved Appetite, and restoring its almost lost Tone to a regular and sanative Crasis.

Directions for taking this Ele­ctuary.This Electuary is sometimes also to be taken in the Morning on an empty Sto­mach: Its Dose is about the quantity of a Nutmeg, fasting an Hour after it, and again at Four or Five in the Afternoon, for 10, 15, 20, or 30 Days, when you use no Purgatives. Eat what Dyet is most nourishing and sits light upon the Stomach, and abstain from nothing so much as Milk and Stale Beer. And now I might be Very Copious, in the Commendation and Praise of these Four Re­medies, invented by, and I believe only known to my self, and are disposed of at no Place, but my Dwelling-House; but that Persons who know me not, may not think I harangue to promote my own Profit in selling them, I shall wave it for the present, and leave every Man that buys and uses them, to give them what Character they Deserve. For when I have said all I can, Wise Men will not regard what is said of them, but what Cures have been, and may be accom­plish'd by them. And from hence I pro­ceed to Observations, and Examples of Per­sons cured of the Cholick, by the regular use of my afore named Remedies of which its needless to give you great Numbers, tho' I am plentifully furnish'd with them; because the Publick bas almost Weekly notice of Persons cured by me in [Page 36]Certificates under the Hands of my Patien [...]s, well attested, and Printed in the Publick News Papers.

Examples of Persons Cured.A Gentlewoman of good Reputation, ex­treamly afflicted with the Cholick for many Years, after she had taken, as she thought, the best Advice that could be given in Lon­don, was recommended to my Care for the Cure of her Cholick. I gave her Antimonial Emeticks, Chalybeats, Catharticks and Alcalious Medicines, but without any effect, she con­tinuing still in a sad and deplorable Condi­tion. While she was empty, she had an abatement of her Pain; but she no sooner Eat, but her Pains return'd and continued till her Food was Digested. At the same time when she labour'd under this Disease, she was often overwhelm'd with Vapours; often complain'd of Pain between her Shoul­ders and in other Parts, and well she might; for considering the Scituation of the Parts, I found that when she was full, her Stomach pressed upon the Pancreas, which is a sort of a Pillow to keep the Stomach from rubbing against the Vertebre's of the Back, and soon after discover'd, that the Pancreas and Pilorus were the Parts affected, occasion'd by the Acidity of the Pancreas and the Unctiousness of the Gall, which had produced an Ʋlcer in the Pancreas, which with the Pylorus was full of Matter, and when I had interchangeably given her my forenamed Arcana's, she threw out at times upward and downward, a prodigious quantity of Pus, and then ad­ministring proper Pacificks and Healers, she was perfectly cured, retired into the Country, where she continues in Health to this Day.

This Gentlewoman being unwilling to have her Name publish'd, I will not dis­obtige her in doing it; and shall take this opportunity to satisfie the Publick, that I never Print any Person's Name without their leave, or a Testimony under the Pa­tient's Hand; but if any Person seems to doubt the truth of it, his curiosity may be satisfied by her Brother, a Merchant, who was an Eye-Witness of the Cure, and dwells at Humberton, in the Parish of Hackney, in Middlesex.

Grace, Wife of Thomas Hogges Weaver, dwelling in Church-street, in Coverlet-street, next House to the Sign of the Lyons, was troubled with the Cholick six whole Years together, in which time she had the Ad­vice of several Physitians, but they doing her no good, at last she apply'd her self to me, and I cured her out of mere Charity, who has since been so grateful, as to recommend several other Patients to me, who were in better Circumstances in regard of Wealth, who all as well as her self have [...]een perfectly Cured by the use of my afore­named Medicines.

A Tradesman in the City of London, who had suffer'd intolerable Cholical Pains, and had taken several Medicines from his own Physitian and Apothecary for a considerable time, was induced to apply himself to me, and I gave him Ease immediately, and in a very short time after, perfectly cured him. Those that doubt the truth of this matter, if they think sit to enquire of me, I shall di­rect them to the Person himself that was [Page 38]Cured, who will readily attest the Truth of what I have here asserted, to the Satisfacti­on of any Person, that is not obliged by Interest to shew himself Incredulous.

The Cholick in the Sto­mach.Having now finish'd what I had to say of an Accidental Cholick, according to the Me­thod proposed, I am obliged to treat of the Cholick as complicated or joined with other Diseases, and that which leads the Van, is the Stomachical Chotick, and that very justly, because the Minera of all Chronical Dis­eases are to be sought in the Stomach: And if the upper Orifice of it, which is of exquisite Sense, by reason of the intermixture of Nerves, with which it is plentifully furnish'd from the vaga sexta, Branches whereof being communicated to the Heart, that noble part being affected, then the Disease is called in Greek [...] vel [...], and in Latin Cardiacus dolor, the Pain of the Heart; but if the lower Orifice called Pylorus be affected, it is called Dolor, seu Colica Ventriculi, Pain, or the Cholick in the Stomach, more especially if it proceed from Wind.

Causes of the Cholick in the Sto­mach.The Internal Causes of this Disease, some­times proceed from great Oppletion and Pain of the Stomach, sometimes from frequent and violent Vomiting, which arises from the Chyle there degenerated into a Mass of Cor­ruption; but oftner from the Morbifick Matter brought thither, either by the con­veyance of the Blood, or also of the Nervous Juice, and either deposed within the Cavity of the Stomach, or fix'd in the Plexus's of the Nerves, and in the Membranes appertaining to it. Sometimes Worms gnawing the Tunicles of the Stomach cause this Disease, or Wind [Page 39]lodg'd in the Cavity of the Stomach, which causes Swellings and painful Distension, or from sharp Phlegm or Green and Black Choler; whose sharp Vapours cause Pain, or from cor­rupt Matter from an Imposthume in the Liver, or the Breast, Diseases of the Stomach, and Parts adjoining; ill Humours from the whole Body as in Fevers, Choler from the Liver, Me­lancholly from the Spleen, Salt Phlegm from the Head; all these may be the Causes of the Cho­lick in the Stomach.

The External Causes of this Malady, may be corrupt Nourishment, Viands too Hot that breed Wind or Choler: Meat taken in too large quantity, Poyson, or strong sharp and dangerous Medicines uncorrected.

Symptoms of the Cho­lick in the Stomach. Diagnostick Signs, are, Pain in the Ensi­formis, or lower part of the Breast-Bone, which signifie that the upper Orifice of the Stomach is affected with very sharp Pain, that will not suffer the Patient to take any Rest, and sometimes cause an inveterate Headach, the Megrim, Vertigo and the Epi­lepsy. In the other Parts of the Stomach the Symptoms are not so violent, but are truly Cholical, and exactly resemble that Disease in its utmost Latitude.

Prognostick Symptoms are ominous, for this Disease is more danger [...]us than any other Dis­ease of the Stomach, and the Danger is greater if it is accompanied with a Fever, for in such a case, according to Hippocrates, Death is at hand. Its least dangerous if it proceeds from Worms; tho' even in that, sometimes dangerous Symptoms appear and the Patient dies. In short, the Prognosticks are usually the Symptoms of Hypocondriack Illness; and if they happen upon the recovery of a Disease, [Page 40]portends its relapse; if they come from Wind that cannot be removed a Dry Dropsie fol­lows. If they stink horribly, they are very Malignant and Contagious.

Cure of a Cholick in the Sto­mach.The method of Curing a Stomachical Cho­lick, if it be not grown Obstinate, Inveterate, and beyond the Power of Medicines to give Relief, is by considering the Cause of the Disease, to prescribe Medicines that are pro­per to remove it.

If Wind is the Cause, Carminative Clysters are exhibited, to discuss it and moderate the violent Pains in the Stomach caused by it: And if the Wind be accompanied with flush­ings in the Face and excessive Heat, Spirit of Nitre dulcisied with Spirit of Wine, and impreg­nated with the Vertue of Carminative Simples after Sylvius's Method, is said to be an incomparable Remedy. Inveterate acid Belchings are put off, by five or six Pepper Corns being taken every Morning Fasting. If the Wind proceed from a thick, stubborn Mucilage, Asthmatical Syrups, and Michael's Elixir for the Stomach are very proper; to which you may add Externally, Fomentations with Oil of Chamomel, and of the Carminative Seeds: Or with a mixture of Ani­seed-Water, Spirit of Wine Camphorated and Treacle.

If a Viscous stinking, or otherwise offen­sive matter be cast up by Vomit, and there be suspicion that the Cause lies in the Cavity of the Stomach, 'tis proper to give a gentle Vomit, of Wine of Squills, or of Salt of Vitriol; or the offending Humours may be purg'd off by Stool, by Stomachical Catharticks adapted pro re nata. But if the Matter sticks deeply and firmly within the Membranes, or foldings of the Nerves, Diaphoreticks or Specificks that [Page 41]moderate the effervescencies of the Salts are more prevalent, and ought to be administred at proper times, as the Physician employ'd [...]hall find occasion: Not forgetting, twice or thrice a Day to apply Fomentations to the Region of the Stomach, with Woolen Cloths dipt in the warm'd Liquid Medicine last above named, and wrung forth; for that will much contribute to the abatement of the Patient's griping, intolerable Pains.

In the next place it will be expected that here I should say something of a Stomachical Cholick caused by Worms gnawing the Tunicles of the Stomach, but I shall wholly omit it at present; because the next Physical Discourse I shall publish, shall be a Treatise of the Worms, which I am now preparing for the Press. In the mean time, if any Person, Young or Old, that is troubled with them, and desires to be rid of those Vexations and dangerous Inmates, that render Life so uneasy, if he please to come or send to me, he may be supplied with Antivermetick Medicines of my own preparing, that will effectually Eject those vile Inhabitants, under every denomina­tion.

The Au­thor's own Medicines.But to return from this Digression, the Method I have shewn in the general practice of Physick, by the best Physicians of the present Age, in the foregoing Paragraphs, is what I observe my self, tho' the Medicines I give are entirely of my own Inventing, Compounding and Preparing, and the Effi­cacy whereof I can rely upon for a Cure, (if curable) of this dangerous Disease; for tho' in all Cholical Distempers my Elixir, Cho­lick-Water, Pills and Electuary, will have their Turns, yet am I not unprovided of other [Page 42]Medicines to assist effectually in the Cure, When the Cholick is complicated with other Diseases, and consequently indigitates the use of others, as the Cholick varies in its Name, Cause and Parts affected.

For these Reasons and because in Sto­machical Cholicks, proceeding from Viscous stinking Matter lodg'd in the Cavity of the Stomach, a Vomit seems absolutely neces­sary, to dislodge the offending Humour; I am always provided of an Emetick of such an universal Vertue, that it answers all the Intentions of Nature and Art in Vomiting, and leaves no Relicks for another Invasion behind it. Which Medicine will never lose its Ver­tue, and consequently may be sent to the remotest parts of the Ʋniverse, and private Families may keep it by them to use when they have occasion.

Where the corrupted Matter in a Stomachi­cal Cholick sticks firm and deep within the Membranes or Foldings of the Nerves, and indigitates the use of Diaphoreticks, or such Medicines as moderate the effervescencies of the Salts: For those purposes I have a Mi­neral Remedy, which I exhibit sometimes in Powder, other whiles in the form of an Electuary, and at other times in a Decoction or Syrup, as they best agree with the Pa­tient's Palate, which works almost miracu­lously in this Disease, and so cleanse, purify and strengthen the Stomach, and assist it in the Work of Fermentation, that it expels all noxious humours whatever, and retains what conduces to a vigorous constitution and a durable state of Health.

These great things I am sensible my nu­merous Enemies, which are chiefly Persons [Page 43]of my own Profession, or such unthinking People as are prejudiced by their malicious false stories, will call idle, vain Bosting, but those that have experienced and tried my Medicines, will do m [...] justice in a mo­dester and juster Character, and esteem my Remedies as Non-Pareils.

The Hy­sterical Cholick.This Disease being commonly known by the tormenting Pains that always accompany it, might reasonably save me the labour of giving, and my Reader the loss of time in perusing them: However, in compliance with my Promise, I shall give him one of the many Observations I have made, and Ex­amples I am able to produce.

John Gregory Cabinet-Maker, in Philip-Lane, in the Parish of St. Alphage, near London-Wall, being grieved with the Cholick in his Stomach, attended with extraordinary Pain in the Ensiformis, or lower part of the Breast Bone; which was sufficient reason to induce me to be of Opinion, that the upper Orifice of the Stomach was affected; and giving him proper Medicines of my own, he no sooner took them according to my Di­rections, but he found ease immediately, and continuing the use of them a very short time, he was restored to his former Health, and was able to follow his Business, which he was uncapable of doing for Five Months time, before he applied himself to me, tho' he had taken many Medicines of others, without receiving any Benefit by them; but now enjoys perfect Health, the only comfort of Life.

This Disease, called by the Greeks [...], and by the Latins Ʋteri Stangulatio [Page 44]or Colica Hystericalis, the Histerical Cholick, or Fits of the Mother, is not to be imputed to the Ascent or Rising of the Womb, accord­ing to the vulgar expression: Nor to the Impetuous rushing of the Blood into the Lungs; for the effect truly called Hysterical, is chiefly and primarily Convulsive, and de­pends principally on the Brain and genus Nervosum being affected, and is produced by the explosion of the Animal Spirits as are other Convulsive Motions, and whatever disorder or irregularities happen else about the motion of the Blood they are only Se­condary and depend on the Convulsions of the Viscera. Nor is this Disease only frequent, but so strangely various, that it resembles almost all the Diseases poor Mortals are in­clin'd to, and generally ends in an Hemiplegy, a Palsey on one side, below the Head, which obstructs the Animal Spirits in their passage, and is exactly like an Appoplexy; whereby corpulent and old People are destroyed, be­cause the Cortex of the Brain is stopt by a super abundance of Phlegm. In the violent Convulsions that happen in an Hysterical Cholick, Women seem to have the Falling Sickness, and sometimes struggle so violently, that tho' at other times their Strength is but ordinary, they can scarce be held by all the united Strength of those that are about them.

Pathogno­mick Sym­toms.The Symptoms of this Disease are various and manifold, and seldom agree in divers Women, or happen wholly in the same man­ner: The most common are, Malignant Vapours, excessive stretching or tearing Pain under the short Ribs, a motion in the lower part of the Belly, and an Ascent, as it were, [Page 45]of some round thing there, falsly imputed to the Womb, then a Belching or straining to Vomit, a distention of the Hypocondres, and a rumbling with a Belching forth of Wind, an uneven and for the most part short Breath, a Suffocation in the Throat, a Giddiness, an, inversion or rolling of the Eyes, often Laugh­ing or Weeping or Talking Idly; sometimes a speechlessness and Immobility, with an obscure or no Pulse, and a Cadaverous Countenance. Women of all Ages and Conditions are Ob­noxious to this Disease, Rich and Poor, Vir­gins, Wives, Widows, and sometimes those Symptoms appear in Girls before Puberty, and sometimes in Old Woman after their Menses are ceased; and some learned Phy­sicians tells us, that even Men are sometimes troubled with such kind of Passions. But,

Tho' the Hysterical Cholick often rises from the Brain, yet sometimes it comes by a Cause beginning either in the Womb, or in other parts or the Viscera, and in whatever part it seats it self, it presently produces such Symptoms as belong to it, and unless the Phy­sician is very Skilful, he will be mistaken, and think those Symptoms come from some Essential Distemper of this or that Part, and not from an Hysterick Cholick; therefore the Symptoms are best taken from the Part af­fected. But among all the Diagnostick Signs of an Hysterical Cholick, this is most proper and almost inseparable, viz. an Ʋrine as clear as Rock-Water, which Hysterical Women evacuate most plentifully, and is in almost all of them the Pathognomick Sign of this Disease, which we call H [...]sterical in Women and Hypocondriacal in Men; and Women and [Page 46]Men seldom Recover, till the Citron colour'd Urine returns to its Amber colour.

Progno­stick Sym­ptoms.If the Female Patient, is extraordinarily troubled with Cholick griping Pains and in­cessant Vomitings, joined with strong Con­vulsive Fits, her Menses stopt, undergoing violent Contractions and Convulsions, about the parts of the Mouth, and Face, and Arms, and Legs, with a Pale, Wan Countenance and trembling as she walks, and growing every Day worse than other, her Case is very Dangerous and seldom or never admits of Cure: But if the Convulsions cease, by administring proper Medicines, adapted to Cholick Pains and Fits of the Mother in Con­junction; Vapours ascending from the Womb are expell'd, and the Menses orderly flow, they are hopeful Indications.

The Procatartick or External Causes of this complicated Disease,Causes of an Hyste­rical Cho­lick. are violent motions of the Body, or which is oftner and worse, violent Perturbations of the Mind from some sudden assault, either of Anger or Grief, or such like Passions, especially as I have said already, if Ʋrine clear as Christal evacuated copiousl at some certain times, makes the Diagnostick more manifest. But to these Disorders of the Mind, which are usually the Cause of this Disease, Emptiness of the Sto­mach by reason of long Fasting, is to be added, and immoderate Bleeding, a Vomit or Purge that has wrought too much. Now having drawn the Picture of this Disease, ac­cording to its vulgar Phenomena; in the next place, the Internal, Efficient Causes are to be considered, as well as I can gather them from all the Circumstances joined together: And in my Opinion this Disease that I call [Page 47]an H [...]sterical Cholick, proceeds from a stoppage of the Menses, a confusion of the Animal Spirits, when too many of them, and contrary to due proportion are violent­ly burried upon this or that part, causing Convulsions and Pains, when they rush up­on Parts of Exquisite Sense; to which the causes of a Simple Cholick being added, you have the true Causes of this Disease.

The general method for the Cure of this Disease, is, first to give present Ease in the Paroxisms, and then proceed to a Cure. To accomplish both these Intentions, 'tis usual in the first place to apply stinking and strong smelling things to the Nostrils, the Effluvia's of which, repress and reduce to order the Spirits which are grown too Wild, and apt to make exorbitant efforts; nay, and discuss their Heterogeneous combination, and often wholly exterminate it. Assa Faetida, Casto­reum, Galbanum, tyed in a fine Cloth and held to the Nostrils are proper; also Par­tridges Feathers, or old Shoes burnt, or Sul­phur kindled; also the Spirit and Oil of Soot and Harts-horn often give Ease; but the chief Indication in this Disease, is to strengthen the Blood which is the fountain of the Spirits; which being done, the invigorated Spirits can preserve that order which is agreeable to the Oeconomy of the whole Body, and the particular Parts. And therefore when the Ataxy of the Spirits has vitiated the Hu­mours by long continuance, you must first lessen the Humours so corrupted, by bleeding and Purging if the Patient has sufficient strength, before you endeavour to invigo­ [...]ate the Blood; and which indeed you can [Page 48]scarce do, whilst a faeculent heap of Humours lye in the way.

If there be room for a Vomit, you must always begin with that, especially in Caco­ch [...]mical Persons in whom a mighty load of Viscous Phlegm sticking to the Folds and Coats of the Stomach, hinders the Vertues of other Medicines. In a few Days after the Vomit, unless somewhat indicates the contrary; in Women of a Hot Tempera­ment open a Vein in the Arm presently, or afterward if need be take Blood from the Foot, or the Fundament by Leeches, and after these Evacuations duly performed: always provided they be indicated, let a Purge be given three or four Mornings after. Then to strengthen the Blood, and consequently support the Spirits, let Chalybeates be ex­hibited to raise a Volatile Ferment in the Va­pid and Languid Blood, that the Spirits may be roused, which before were press'd down by their own Weight. These Di­rections I think sufficient, without prescri­bing particular Medicines or their Doses, for he that does not understand what Me­dicines are proper, in every Disease, the quantity to be given, and the manner How, and the time When, is unfit to practise Phy­sick; and for those who do not pretend to that Skill, they may have experimented Me­dicines of me in most Diseases, if they ei­ther please to come themselves, or send their Cases in Writing, or by an Intelligent Messenger.

For the Hysterical Cholick, I have such ex­cellent and effectual Remedies, the know­ledge and use where of God and Nature has freely bestowed on me, and daily produce [Page 49]such wonderful Effects by their own Native Goodness and Efficacy, that I should be wanting in my gratitude to God, unjust to my self and injurious to the Diseased part of Mankind, not to make them known to the inquisitive World, since I don't pre­tend to a multiplicity of Medicines, or to more Art than others of my own Profession, tho I take more care than some others of my my own Profession do in preparing them and in possessing my self of such Medicines as are fit, not to palliate, but to cure Diseases, speedily, safely and thoroughly. Among which in the Cure of this Disease and Vapours which attend it, I have a particular Secret that has been experienc'd to excel all others, that I have either heard, or read of, in the whole Republick of Physick; as I can prove by abundance of Instances, tho' I give here but a few.

Frances Mash, dwelling next House to the Sign of the Three Travellers in Kent-street, Southwark, being so violently afflicted with a Hysterick Cholick, that it was thought it would have been her Death; upon taking my Remedies, which I freely gave her, because she was but in mean Circumstances, she was perfectly recover'd of her Distemper, and desired it might be published for the good of all People, who suffer under the same Disease.

Mrs. Poulter, dwelling at Mr. Jackson's a Brick-Layer, in Mercer s-street, next Door to the Sign of the Angel in Long-Acre, in the Parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, being sore grieved with a Cholick and Vapours, insomuch that her painful Fits continued several [Page 50]Nights together, to that degree that he [...] Life was despair'd of by all that visited her being thought past recovery; but applyin [...] her self to me, and God giving a Ble [...]sin [...] to my Medicines, she was perfectly c [...]ed and continues in as good Health as ever sh [...] enjoyed in her whole Life, tho' she has no [...] taken any Medicines for Eight or Te [...] Months last past.

A Gentlewoman of good Reputation, is, fo [...] the Publick good, ready and willing to attest the Truth of Two remarkable and e [...] traordinary Cures, perform'd by taking m [...] Medicines; one, upon her Father, who w [...] severely afflicted with the Cholick arising fro [...] Hypocondriack Effects, which is the same Disease in Men as Hysterical are in Women, an [...] the other on her Daughter, which was purely Cholical the Stone, and Hysterical, whos [...] Cases were both thought very dangerous, b [...] some eminently Learned Physicians, wh [...] attempted their Cure, but without Success who afterwards following my Directions i [...] taking my Remedies, had the benefit of a [...] absolute Cure. If any Persons desire it, [...] shall direct them to the Gentlewoman's Ha­bitation, who will satisfy them of the Trut [...] of what is above asserted.

Mary Wats, dwelling in Noble-street, nea [...] Goldsmiths-Hall, being seized with the Ston [...] and an Hysterick Cholick, which kept her almos [...] in continued Pains, at times for Ten Year [...] together, and was thought by her self and others incurable, by giving her my Medi­cines appropriated to that Distemper, she had Relief and an absolute Cure.

And since Experience shews, that stoppage of the Menses, or suppression of the Courses, is one of the Causes of a Hysterick Cholick; I cannot here forbear to acquaint the World, that I am possess'd of a Pouder, of a long, Curious and Chargeable Preparation, which never fails to Cure that Distemper, whether in Women, caused by the Veins of the Matrix being obstructed, so that the superfluous Blood which nature ordain [...]d to be evacuated that way, having not a free Passage, returns to the greater Vessels, and is circulated with be whole Mass of Blood and Humours, by which they are in time vitiated, to the great prejudice of the Womans Health, in being the Original Causes of several other Diseases as well as the Hysterick Cholick. Or if these Obstructions happen to Virgins, and then is called the Green-sickness, the White-Fever and the White Jaundice, because the na­tive colour in such Persons is very Pale; yet a few Grains of this Pouder taken ac­cording to my Directions, will infallibly cure all those Diseases, as all that try it will happily Experience: And for cleansing the Womb, and furthering Conception in Barren Women, there is not the like Medicine (I believe) in the World.

The Scor­butick Cho­lick. Colica Scorbuticus, or the Scorbutick Cholick. There's a sort of Cachexy reigning in our Northern Clymats, whose Symptoms chiefly appearing in the Hypochondria, is called the Hypocondriack Evil, and when its Symptoms are very fierce and exalted, 'tis named the Scurvy: An Apellation given it by the Saxons in North Germany, who are generally afflict­ed with it. 'Tis a busie, intermedling, en­croaching Disease, that now mingles almost [Page 50] [...] [Page 51] [...] [Page 52]with all Chronical Distempers, and passes in­conceivably into all parts of the Body; which caused Helmant to say of complicated Effects, that per ignorata seminaria, & initia invisibilia, by unknown Seminaries, and in visible Beginnings, which is certainly true, for in these latter times new Diseases have started up, which were unknown to the Antients; because they have put on other strange Sym­ptoms and Properties, Quibus larvati incedunt, with which they walk disguised and deceive such Physicians, as think to Cure Diseases by following the Directions and Precepts of the Antients, who knew little or nothing of the unaccountable Mixtures, Complications and Disguises, which we daily see; and yet some are so sottish to confine themselves to such superannuated exploded Definitions, Notions and Medicines as they have left us, who pra­ctised when Diseases were but few, more single, calm and gentle, and more tractable and curable than at this Day, when its rare to sind an uncomplicated Disease, in which the Blood and other Humours are not viti­ated, by being unhappily mix'd with other unseen Maladies.

Now because the Scurvy is a lurking Dis­ease, and consumes the Patient by insensible or slow degrees, and its direful effects are never so much perceived or felt, as when it intermixes it self with other Diseases, so its seldom regarded as the principal Offender, but the the Disease is chiefly attributed to the Concommitant Distemper that causes Pain. So it often happens, that a continued latent Scurvy is little observed, but when its joined with the Cholick that causes griping tormenting Pains, the Disease is called a Cholick, [Page 53]and Remedies used accordingly without Suc­cess, because the Scurvy was neglected, tho' scarce any effect requires a more speedy Physical help, than the Cholick and Gripes of the Besly occasion'd by the Scurvy, which makes them more violent, and of longer continuance, by obstinately resisting the Methods of Cure.

In the Symptoms of the Scorbutick Cholick, Symptoms of the Scorbutick Cholick. I shall be very brief, having been very large on that Head in the foregoing Cholicks.

The usual Signs are, high colour'd Urine or precipitating a Red Sandy Flesh colour'd Sediment, or fastens red friable Sand upon the sides of the Urinal. Continual Pain of the Head, Palpitation of the Heart, puffing up of the Stomach, loathing, Vomiting, Belching, Hiccough, Cough, Tumors and Putrefaction of the Gums with much Spitting; Looseness and blackness of the Teeth, (for the Cure of which I have a Dentefrice which makes the Teeth as White as Ivory,) the Breath stinks, and is sometimes fetch'd with great difficulty, and is seldom free from terrible Pains of the Cholick, and trembling and looseness of the Joints and Limbs, with Laziness and often Faint Sweats; there is also sometimes Malignant Ʋlcers, dry hard Tubercles, Erisipelas, and Oedematous Tumors, with many others, which to enumerate, were to comprehend an universal Genus of Atoms within a very narrow Limitation.

This Disease is very hard to cure, where the Scorbutick Humour is obdurate and pre­dominant, and when the Cure has been too long delayed, or not treated as a complicated Disease, many times 'tis very Dangerous, the Pains of the Cholick may run into an incurable [Page 54] Iliack Passion, and its sullen Companion, may bring a Dropsie, a Consumption, or other Mor­tal Chronical Distempers, and sometimes Acute Diseases, as the Appoplexy Swooning, or the like; which produce sudden Death.

Causes of a Scorbu­tick Cho­lick.The Immediate causes of this Disease, is, a volatile Acid, that irritates the Nerves and Membranes, sharpens the Lympha, debauches the innate Spirits of the Parts, and perverts the equal temperature of the Blood. The Remote Causes, are, Sea Air impregnated with Salin, Acid Vapours, Salt and Viscous Food, Laziness, Weakness of Digestion, Infection, a Hereditary Conveyance, and the influence of Chronical Diseases. If the Disease is recent it admits of Cure. If inveterate, it requires a continued use of proper Medicines for a long space of time.

Cure of a Scorbutick Cholick.The Cure of a Scorbutick Cholick, consists, in correcting and evacuating the Crudities of the first Passages, fortifying the Stomach, re­trieving the due Crasis of the Blood, restoring all wonted Evacuations to their former Course, and to appease excruciating Pains. In order then to compass these Ends, and Cure this stubborn and rebellious Disease, the Sick must observe a good Diet, without which Physical means will profit but little: And here, because in the first place there will be a necessity (if possible) to give Ease in the Fit by Opiates, let them always be ac­companied by Antiscorbutick Specificks, of which may be prepared diversity of good Medicines, both Chymical and Galenical. The Volatile Salts both of Animals and Vegitables are excellent to open all Obstructions, and Temper the Humours; also, Elixir Proprie­tatis, the Spirit of Sal Armoniack, the Spirit [Page 55]of Nitre, and of Salt Dulcified, Salt of Steel, Wormwood and Tartar, Oil of Juniper, Cloves and Cinamon, are all Antiscorbutick Spe­cificks.

Next in order are gentle Laxitives, espe­cially in Hot Constitutions; such are Pills of Armoniacum, or those of Tartar mix'd with sweet Mercury, to prevent or take a­way Costiveness. Resinous Purgatives are to be avoided, as beings endow'd with an A­stringent Quality. Raisins, Prunes, Tamarinds, and Ripe sweet Apples, or their express'd Juice are of considerable Efficacy in this Case; but Sugar and other sweet things ought to be carefully avoided. Rhubarb or Cream of Tartar, sharpened with Pouder of Jalap, are proper for such as are of a Moist Juicy Con­stitution.

The Patient's Body being thus prepared, you ought to proceed to Alteratives, such are Steel and all fix'd Salts, or whatever subdues an Acid. To which join Aperient, Diureticks and bitter Stomachical Aromaticks, or the Spirituous Volatile Salts, Mynsichts Arcanūm Duplicatum, is of excellent use, especially when the Sick is troubled with Flushings and sudden Inflamations. Elixir Proprietatis pre­pared with an Acid and mix'd with the Spi­rit of Scurvigrass, and that of Sal Armoniac is also proper. The Tincture of Tartar mix'd with the Spirit of Sal-Armoniack, and given by degrees to Forty Drops, is a celebrated Medicine. And as you find occasion, Fo­mentations, Ligatures, Ventoses, Sternuta­tories, &c. are of use.

I have been long you see in discoursing the Cure of the Scorbutick Cholick, according to the general Method of Practice, because its [Page 56]a stubborn Disease, and too often of long continuance: Occasion'd by this Disease, being, as it were, an odd and new kind of Distemper, not reducible to the old Class of Cholicks. Secondly being not consider'd in its various Mixtures, Complications and Dis­guises, which requires other sorts of Medi­cines to cure it, than are commonly pre­scribed. Thirdly by Practioners being con­founded by variety of Medicines directed by Authors, who seeing one Medicine fail, run to another, and so from Medicine to Medicine in an endless Circuit, till they have either destroy'd or nauseated their Pa­tients, as well as cram'd their Chamber-Windows and Tables, with Galipots, Glasses, Boxes and Papers, whose Contents, instead of expelling noxious Humours, had no other effect than draining the Patient's Purse to enrich an unexperienc'd, unskilfull Phy­sician.

Now these Evils, almost grown a common Nusance to the Publick, as well as a Re­proach to Physitians, are remedied, by those few Men, of which number, I profess my self to be One, that make Art follow Na­ture, rather than strain Nature and her Ano­malies to general Rules of Art, and who see­ing Nature degenerated into Extravagancies and complicated Diseases, unknown to the Ancients, endeavour to find out Experienc'd ways to deal with her, however various and disguised, and by red cing a whole Apothe­cary's Shop into a few well studied and often Experienc'd Medicines; such Men tho' falsely called Empericks, will be Masters in the Art of Physick since they can truly say with Ovid Remed. Am. l. 2.

This being the main and honest design of Practising, it will be no strange thing to be­lieve, that I being bred an Apothecary and ha­ving seen the ineffectual Prescription and mul­tiplicity of Medicines used by other Men, and dedicating my Life to the Service of Mankind, in the Knowledge and Practice of Physick, that I should by Conversation, much reading of the best Authors, Foreign and Domestick, and by almost a Twenty Years Practice, be able to shorten the number of Medicines and contract them into a few; but so efficacious in their Nature and Effects, as render them effectual in most Diseases, and such I assure you I have for the Cure of this Contumacious Disease, the Scorbutick Cho­lick; of which I could give you numerous Examples of Persons cured by them, as well as in these few, that follow, who have given me leave to make use of their Names, and Places of Abode: Of which I see I must be more sparing for the future, because the Book begins to swell into a larger Volume than I first intended.

Elizabeth the late Wife of Robert Miles, Tobacconist, in Lamb-Alley, in Abchurch-Lane, was for some Years troubled with a Complication of Diseases, viz. the Scorbutick [Page 58]Cholick, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Palsey, Gravil in the Kidneys, and very troublesome Vapours, living in so miserable a Condition, that she was left off by several Practioners as Incure­able, and thought to be even at the very Brink of the Grave; but being committed to my Gare, thro' the blessing of God upon the use of my Medicines, I cured her of her complicated Distempers to that Degree, that she comfortably attends her daily Af­fairs, and enjoys a better state of Health that she had done for Six Years last past. The truth whereof she is ready and willing to attest upon Oath before a Magistrate, as she has done to me in a Certificate under her Hand.

Mr. William Bagley, Cloth-Worker, i [...] Miles's-Alley, in Petticoat-Lane, was afflicte [...] with a Rhuematism, complicated with Scor­butick Cholick Pains, for Four Years succes­sively at Spring and Fall; a lameness in hi [...] Hands and Feet, with large Knobs and Swel­lings, was cured by the use of my Medi­cines, and has continued in firm Health without any Symptoms of a Relaps, or the return of Pain for a long space of time, as h [...] will satisfy any Person that enquires [...] him.

William West Senior, Waterman, dwellin [...] near St. Saviour's-Mill-Stairs, in Southwar [...] was violently afflicted with a Scorbutick Cho­lick, joined with Nephritick Pains, vulgarl [...] called the Stone Cholick, and receiving [...] help from others, address'd himself to m [...] and I at a small charge, and in little tim [...] cased him of his terrible griping Pains, ar [...] [Page 59]brought away Three large Stones. In grati­tude for which Cure, he recommended se­veral of his Neighbours to me, who were troubled with the like Disease, who all, as well as himself were cured, to their great satisfaction.

The Iliack Passion.I his Disease called in Greek [...] in Latin Iliaca Passio, from the Gut Ileon, which is chiefly affected in this Distemper, is a Cholick in excess, an extream Costiveness, pain about the Navel, rising from the inverted Peristaltick motion of the Guts, disgorging the Excrements upward; for the Fibres of the Guts which ought to be contracted from [...]e Superior towards the Inferior, are drawn to the Superior; so whatsoever is contained in the Guts is Vomited up, and Clysters how sharp so ever become Vomitive: Purges also taken by the Mouth are cast up by Vomit; and I am of Opinion, that the exquisite and intollerable Pain coming upon this Disease, is only occasion'd by the aforesaid Preposterous motions of the Guts; for as those Folds which the many Circumvolutions of the Guts make, are so formed by Nature, that they should most aptly conduce to the car­rying, down of the Feces; when they are forced to give way to a motion contrary to their Fibres, the aforesaid Pain is occasion'd from thence, which is fix'd to one Part, and is like the boaring of an Augur, when ei­ther the value, which is seated at the be­ginning of the Colon, hinders the going back of the Excrements to the Ilium, or any o­ther Membrane belonging to the Sinus, sustains alone the force of this Peristaltick motion.

Symptoms of an Iliack Passion.The Signs of an approaching Iliack Passion, are, extream Costiveness, retraction of the Anus, a Loathing, Vomiting and intollerable Pains in the small Guts; and if a Hiccough follow it, threatens Death. If the Anus is much drawn back, so that a Clyster-Pipe can­not enter it, 'tis a sign that the gross In­testiness are affected. If otherwise the small Guts are touched. If the greatest Pain possesses the Epigastrium, the Ilium is most oppress'd. A shooting burning Pain in one particular part of the Body, a Lipyria Fever. If the Pain ceasing is attended by cold Sweats, difficult Respiration, Swoonings, and sometimes Convulsions, 'tis a Sign of a Gangrene, caused by the corrugation of the Guts, mistaken by some for a twisting of 'em round one another, a thing inconsistent with their Ligation to the Mesentery. In fine, the common Symptoms of an Iliack Passion, are hardness of the Belly, suppression of the Ʋrine, Loathing, Vomiting, first the contents of the Stomach, and next the Excrements, a stinking habit of Body, fre­quent Swoonings, insufferable griping Pains in the Guts, a prodigious Anxiety, and some­times Vomiting of Clysters.

Progno­stick Signs.In the Prognosticks of an Iliack Passion, [...]n­flamations or Gangreenes are Mortal. If the upper Gut descend in the lower 'tis a fatal Symptom. If the lower ascend into the higher, 'tis curable. If the Disease proceed from a Rupture or hardened Excrements, 'tis not desperate. If Sleep succeeds the taking of Opiates, 'tis a hopeful Indication. Deafness or Dotings are pernicious consequences. If the Sweat, Breath, and Belching stink very much, Death is about to put an End to the Patient's Misery.

Causes of the Iliack Passion.The Cause of an Ileos, or Iliaca Passio, is a excrementitious Viscous Matter, adhering to the Gut Ileo, which in time is coagulated into a very hard substance, almost in the Form of Bullets, whence all the passage for Excrements by siege is stop'd, and anon their regress and ascent to the Stomach fol­lows, with a miserable Vomiting of them up.

The Rupture of the Peritoneum may cause this grievous Disease, especially if it be so great, that not only the small Guts but the great ones also, fall through the lacerated Orifice, and renders them uncapable of be­ing reduced or put back through the same Hole; so that a hard and unsupportable Tu­mor follows, which hinders the Reflux of Blood, and causes an Inflamation, and con­sequently a Gangrene in the Guts, attended with a violent Vomiting of the Excrements and a speedy summons to the Grave.

But we may chiefly assign a twofold Cause of this Inversion, from whence the Pain arises, and they are Obstruction and Irritation; for whatever violently obstructs the Intestines, so that nothing can pass downwards, necessa­rily occasions this contrary Motion in them, as hardned Excrements, gross Wind col­lected in great quantity, &c. Irritation pro­ceeds from sharp and Malignant Humours cast upon the Stomach and Guts that are next to it, by the excessive raging of the Blood, by reason of a late Fever begun, whereby the motion of the Stomach is first Inverted, and violently forced to cast up what is contained in it; at length the small Guts that are joined to the Stomach being weakned, yield to the violent Motion of it, [Page 62]and with them at last the greater follow by consent; the Stomach Vomiting beginning the fatal Tragedy: And this may be truly call'd the Iliack Passion.

The cure of this Disease, consists in re­moving the Irritation, and retrieving the Natural Motion of the Guts, to that end if the Excrements are harden'd they ought to be soften'd by the speedy exhibition of Clysters, before they are hardened beyond Re­lief. All Purgatives are improper, till the Pain in the Guts and Stomach are quieted, and restored to their Natural Motion, which you may know, by a large quantity of Hu­mours being voided downwards by the help of Nature or Art. Opiates are very hurtful in case of a Gangrene and in that of Obstructions, till the Belly is well opened; but if the Dis­ease proceed from violent Irritations, attend­ed by continual vomiting, Opiates may be mix'd with Stomachical Medicines while the Patient is strong: Always remembring, that what­ever you use in the Cure of this Disease, whether outwardly or inwardly, must be Warm, both in the Fit, and when the Patient is on the mending hand.

If the Small Guts only are inverted, give Emollient Clysters, quickned with Sal Gem, or the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum, or those of the Carminative Seeds boiled in Childs Urine and Water: But if the great ones are also Inverted, that sort of Clysters are noxious, and you must seek help from tem­perate, Laxative, lubrical Potions; such as the Decoction of Emollient Herbs in Broath, mix'd with Oil of Sweet Almonds newly drawn.

When all other Medicines want Success, some Men give Leaden Bullets, and boast of the use of Quicksilver, which I have seldom known to have done much good, but often prove injurious, especially in an Inflamation, Rupture, Gangrene, or falling of the upper Gut into the lower; therefore if any Practitioner thinks himself under a necessity of using Quicksilver, which is prefered before Bullets, let him be sure to prepare his Patient's Body before he gives it, with lubric al Medi­cines, such as Oil of Sweet Almonds new drawn, or Sperma Caeti: Then exhibit Three, Four, and sometimes Eight Ounces of purified Quicksilver, together with Oil of Sweet Al­monds and Mint Water; and if it does not answer his Intentions at first, let it be fre­quently repeated, and the mean while inject Emollient Clysters, foment the Belly with softning Decoctions; or set the Sick into a pro­per Bath. If the Mercury does not force its way out of the Body, give sharp Clysters, and anoint the Belly with Oil of Coloquintida to soften the Excrements. If the Quicksilver offend the Mouth, Throat and Gums, check its virulence with a Gargarism of Honey of Roses, and Syrup of Violets; and if the Mercury is successful in opening the Body, remember to exhibit the Lunar Bezoar and Diaphoretick Antimony, to expel the remains of the Mer­cury; for tho' Mercury given by an Intelligent Person is an Excellent Medicine, yet it always does Mischief, if any of it stays too long in the Body.

These are the usual Methods for disco­vering the Cause and curing this Disease, which I publish in this succinct way; First, to assist those that want greater Light; Se­condly [Page 64]to shew, that I am thoroughly in­structed in the Knowledge of Physick; and, Thirdly, to silence Malicious Back-biters, who for want of business, make it part of their employment, to represent me in their ow [...] Class of Ignoramus's which this Treatise, a [...] the rest that are to follow it, will plainly confute, in the Opinion of all Men of Sense, Generosity and Learning.

In my own Practice for the Cure of this Disease, when it evidently appears by the Symptoms above-named, and by Vomiting up Clysters, that its a true Iliack Passion, I apply my self to give the Patient some Ease, if it be possible; for let others say what they please, he that can do that has half conquer'd the Disease, for then Nature will assist in removing the Cause, by being enabled to sustain the Force of Medicines proper to soften the Excrements, and after to expel them by Siege: And to this end, I give my Elixir in small Doses, repeat them often, and enlarge the number of Drops every time they are given, and I never found them unsuccessful; their Vertue being to invigorate the Sick by giving him a relaxation from his Pain, Mollifying the offending Matter, and by that means preparing and smoothing the way for my Pills to drive it out by gentle degrees; for this Disease will endure no rough and violent Treatment.

Here I cannot, according to Custom, give Examples of Persons Cured by the use of my Two above-named Remedies; (one I cured some­time since, but am not permitted to make use of her Name,) for tho', blessed be God, I have never wanted Success, yet I could [Page 65]not prevail with the Patients I have Cured, to give me leave to Name them, and so the Credit of my Medicines in this Case, can have no other Vouchers but my own Word and Reputation, which I value my self more upon than Ten Thousand Testimonials.

The Cae­liack Cho­lick.Called in Greek [...], in Latin Caeliaca Passio, the Caeliack Passion, or Caeliack Cholick, is a Looseness of the Belly, when the Meat comes forth crude and imperfectly digested; which some say is not to be refered to the Concoction only being hurt, but to the debility of the Retentive Faculty, the Food being not long enough retained to be Concocted; by which it appears, say they, that the Disease proceeds from a fault in the Stomach as well as in the Guts: But the Learned Etmullerus, says, it is a Flux of the Belly, by which the Chyle is voided together with Excrements, the Stomach being in no fault, because Chy­lification is duly perform'd there; therefore the blame, says he, must either be laid on the Bile, that is stopt in its Passage to the Guts, or by degenerating from its Saline Acrimony, and consequently is unfit to se­perate the Chyle: Or else on the Lacteal Vessels through which the Chyle ought to pass, their Orifices being covered With Slime, or shut by the Contraction, or Corrosion of the Intestines occasion'd by Fluxes.

Symptoms of a Cae­liaca.The Symptoms of this Disease, are, extra­or [...]inary, Pains both in the upper and lower Region of the Belly, not unattended with Pain in the Back and Limbs; for all compli­cated Diseases, generally affect all the Neigh­bouring Parts, as well as the Place where they are more particularly and chiefly seat­ed; [Page 66]and that you may have a true notion of this Maladay, observe, that if the Bile is defective, the Excrements are White, or very Pale; without any sign of separation. If the obstruction of the Lacteal Veins cause the Disease, the Excrements are Yellowish, and the Chyle, tho' voided at the same time with them, is but loosely mix'd with them, as being separated in the Guts, but disappointed in its Passage.

Causes of a Coaliack Cholick.The Causes of this Distemper, are gene­rally rank'd under Three Heads, which will comprehend all the differing Opinions about it. The First is a Cold Distemper of the Sto­mach and Liver, which generate Phlegmatick and Glutinous Humours, which cover the Wrincles of the Stomach that it cannot retain the Food: Tho' Retention be made by the Astringing Quality, yet it operates by fit In­struments, viz. the rawness of the Inward Coat of the Stomach; which rawness being taken away, and the Wrincles filled by the Humours aforesaid, the Retention is damni­fied, and the Food Slips away without Con­coction.

The Second Cause assigned by others, is, violent sharp Humours, that prick, twinge, and irritate the Parts, by which the Sto­mach and Guts are provoked to send out the Meat too soon.

The Third, and which I take to be the true Cause of the Caeliack Cholick, is, the Obstruction of the Mesenteraick Veins which hinder the passage of the Chyle to the Liver, or the Obstruction of the Glandules of the Mesentery, and therefore must of necessity be ejected by the Belly. If this: Disease is of long continuance 'tis very dangerous, be­cause [Page 67]Nature is deprived of her Nourishment, and the Weak Body is liable to the Insults of all Diseases.

Now, since the Disease called [...], a Lientary, is also a Flux of the Belly, in which the Food is quickly thrown out of the Body undigested; and differs only from a Caeliack Cholick in degrees, and that their Cures are the same; I shall omit treating particu­larly on that Head, and refer the Reader to what follows.

Cure of the Caelick Cholick.The Curatory Indication of the Caeliack Choliack, is, to remove the Morbisick Cause, and strengthen the Stomach, which kind of Method being seasonably begun, and duly prosecuted often does the whole Work; for the Cause of the Disease or the Root of it being cut off, the Effects depending on it, die of their own accord. Therefore if the Bile is sluggish, or stopp'd in its Passage, means must be used to make it more Active, to correct the Acid and Austure Ferment pro­ceeding from the Stomach and Intestines, to retrieve the Natual Texture and distribu­tion of the Bile and to promote the Separation of the Heterogenious Particles. If the Lacteal or Milky Vessels are shut up, endeavour to remove the Slime that choaks them, by at­tenuating, opening Ingredients, Astringents are improper. Let the Peccant humours be purged: After which the Tincture of Tartar, or of the Dross of Regules of Antimony, or Chalybeate Tinctures, mix'd with the Spirit of Sal Armoniaci, are very convenient to strengthen the Stomach by procuring an Appetite. Amatus Lusitanus highly commends the following Prescription. Conserve of Roses six Ounces, Venice Treacle six Drams, and Syrup [Page 68]of Quinces a sufficient quantity to make an Opiate: Halt an Ounce of which must be taken in the Morning, fasting an Hour after it.

For the Use and Benefit of my own Pa­tients, I have stated and well experienc'd Medicines for the Cure of this Disease, [...] which I could give numerous Examples, tho' I only prodnce Two.

Mrs. Anne Percival, of Russel-street Blooms­bury, was for several Years grieved with a Caeliack Cholick at certain Times and Seasons only, but about Three Months since, she was seized with it in so violent and terrible a manner, that her Life was despair'd of: And having by the Advice of some able Physicians, taken divers Medicines, with­out receiving any Benefit by them; at length hearing of my great success in curing the Cholick, of what kind soever; she came to me, who thro' the Divine Blessing, and the use of my Medicines, was cured in a short Time. And that others who suffer the like cruel Pains, and languish under that Disease, might also find Relief, gave me Authority under her Hand writing, to publish her Name and Cure. And if any Person desires further Satisfaction in this matter, if they please to enquire at her Brother's House, Mr. Percival in Benbridge-street, in the Parish of St. Giles's in the Fields, this Fact will be attested by Word of Mouth.

Samuel Maynard, dwelling in Lydes Court near St. Giles's Church, being sorely afflicted with the Cholick, and Rheumatism, the Sciaticà, and excessive Pains in his Back and Limbs, insomuch that he was uncapable of following his Employment, was happily cured by my Advice and taking my Reme­dies, in a very short time, and now is able to follow his Business as formerly. This Example I insert, as I could do many others, to shew what a concatenation of Diseases and different sorts of Pains and in many Places do often accompany this Disease, as will further appear in the next Instance.

A sufficient and reputable Tradesman's Wise, in the City of London, was unspeakably troubled with Vapours, originally proceeding from this Disease, which run her into Dis­traction; and after much Advice and taking many Medicines from other Physicians, to no purpose, her Husband sent for me, and by Heaven s Blessing, my particular Care, and the seasonable Use of my Medicines, she was restored to her Senses, perfectly re­covered, freed from her Vapours, and so con­tinues. So that you see violent Pains of the Head, Giddiness and Frenzies, are concomi­tants in a Caeliack Cholick. I will direct any modest Enquirer, how, and where, they may be satisfied of the truth of this re­markable Instance from the Gentlewomans own Mouth.

The Cho­lerick Cho­lick.This Disease named in Greek [...] and in Latin Cholerica Passio, is a Grier, in which the Vicious Humours are impetuously thrown [Page 70]out both by Vomit and Stool, with a violent Pain in the Stomach and Belly, Distension of the Hypocondria, Heartburnings, Thirst, Perplexity of the Breast, a swift and some­times Small Pulse, frequent Swoonings, a cold­ness in the outward Parts, Prostration of Strength, and at last Convulsions and Hiccoughs. This Disease, some say, is a Symptom of the Expulsive Faculty being hurt by uncocted Meats, and if the Retentive Faculty is also in fault, the Distemper is so much the worse and more violent.

Immedi­ate Causes of a Cho­lerick Cho­lick.Some make two sorts of this Disease, a Wet and a Dry, and from hence came the vulgar Distinction of Moist and Dry Gripes. A Moist is what I am discoursing. The Dry is more rarely found, proceeds from a Windy Spirit, produced in the Stomach, by the fiery Heat of the part corrupting the Meat, or by Meats Rank and Windy, as Hipocrates himself affirms. Senuertus from the Hermeti­cal Doctrine, adds another cause, namely, Salt and adust Humours in the H [...]pochondria, which grow Hot by the mixture of ano­ther Humour, and demonstrates it, by the mixing Aqua Fortis and Oil of Vitriol with Salt of Tartar, which produce very flatuous Spirits: So that according to these Authors, the Immediate Causes of this Disease, are, Cholerick, Burnt, Sharp, Salt or Rotten Humours of the Stomach, Bowels, Spleen and Mesentery; or some Nourishment of a per­nicious Quality, or some strong Medicine or Poison, taken uncorrected.

O [...]asional Causes.The Occasional Causes of a Cholerick Cholick, are the same with those of a Looseness. The Corruption and Acrimony of Food in the Stomach, the assumption of Sharp, Costick [Page 71]Medicines, such as Antimony, Arsenick, Mer­cury, &c.

If the Excrements are Livid, Faetid, Black, or Corrosive; if it accompany Malignant Fe­vers, especially in the Beginning, and if the Stomach is much disordered, it generally proves fatal. 'Tis an Acute Disease, and quickly finishes its Course. It observes a Tertian Period in its Exasperations, and fre­quently relapses after an apparent Cure.

Symptoms.The Signs preceding this Disease, are, frequent and plentiful Evacuations of Cho­lerick, sharp and corrupted Humours, up­ward and downward, swelling with Wind, Thirst, and gnawing Pains in the Stomach and Guts: A Loathing, which a little ap­peas'd with cold Drink, which is soon after cast up. The Pulse high and unequal, Sweating, with Convulsion of the extreme Parts and Swooning, are dangerous Symptoms. 'Tis easily discover'd whether the Disease came by some violent Medicine, Poison, or of­fensive Dyet.

The Internal Causes are known by the Quality of the Humours that are ejected. If there be continual Loathing and Gnawing, the Disease is in the Stomach. If a Malignant Fever is join'd, it is in the Veins. If it has its Original from some ill Diet, there is Hopes, that when the peccant Matter is cast out, the Disease will end. If its very vio­lent, 'tis dangerous, for the greater the Con­vulsions, Swoonings, and Coldness of the extream Parts are, the nearer Death is at Hand.

In the Beginning of the Cure, you ought to assist Evacuations with gentle, cooling, and cleansing Clysters, especially Milk Clysters, [Page 72]with Venice Treacle, or Diascordium dissolved in them are always useful. It's proper to breathe a Vein, to cool the burnt and boiled Blood, but let it be done with Discretion, Twice or Thrice, if the Strength be not impaired by the First. Endeavour to qualify the sharpness of the Humours after this manner. Waters of Plantane, Purslane and Mint of each two Ounces: Syrup of Quinces, and dried Roses, of each one Ounce; Syrup of Vinegary, half an Ounce, mix them, and dissolve therein two Scruples of Theriack Andromachi, and six Drops of Oil of Vitriol: Give now and then a Spoonful. But if the Patient has some Ease, and if the Symptoms abate or disappear, take great care that they dont suddenly return, to your Amazement and the Destruction of the Patient, as it sometimes happens unforeseen in this Case. Therefore Nourish him and Strengthen his Stomach, says most of our Eminent Physicians, with a Restoring Opiate, compounded in or after this Method. Gelly of Harts-Horn made with Canary Wine, four Ounces, Conserve of Roses, Burrage, Bugloss and Clove Gilly-Flowers, of each one Ounce: Confectio Alkermes, half an Ounce, Citron Bark and Nutmegs, Candied, of each three Drams; Essence of Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs and Cinamon, of each three Drops, and with the Syrup of Clove Gilly-Flowers make On Opiate; of which must be taken the quantity of a Hazle Nut or more, Mornings and Even­ings. Of all the Medicines used against Looseness, says a great Author, Opium is the chief, being a powerful controler of all tumultuous Motions and accordingly pre­scribes Laudanum Opiatum, or Liquid Lau­danum in large quanties, for the Cure of this and most other Diseases.

But for my part, tho' I won't pretend to censure the Practice of my Superiors, yet I think my self obliged to say, that I tamper not with Opiates, nor ever use Laudanum but on extraordinary occasions, being rather a Pallative than a Curative Medicine; and therefore in my Practice for the Cure of this or any other Disease I pretend to Cure, I only employ my own Experiencd Medicines, which by their own native vertue subdue Diseases by their amicable correspondence with Nature, and by assisting her in all her Operations and endeavours, to support her self, and exterminate those noxious Invaders, that disturb her desired Peace and tranquility. And that I have such efficacious Remedies for the Cure of this Disease, if timely con­sulted, will appear by the following Ex­amples.

An Eminent Trader in the City of Lon­don, who had for a long time been grie­viously troubled with intollerable Pains pro­ceeding from a Cholerick Cholick, such as vio­lent Pains in the Stomach and Bowels, di­stension of the Hypochondria, Heart burn­ing, Thirst and perplexity of the Breast; in­somuch that he scarce enjoyed one Minutes Health, and having advised with the Learn­ed, and taken a Multiplicity o [...] Medicines both inwardly and by outward applications to his Breast, to his very great trouble, but without Relief, he was at last recommended to me, and I perfectly cured him in a few Days, no Symptoms of the said Disease ha­ving appeard, since the time of his Reco­very; and tho' he is unwilling to have his Name exposed in Print, yet to do me and [Page 72] [...] [Page 73] [...] [Page 74]my Remedies justice, and that others might reap Benefit by the same means, he has or­der [...]d me to send any Person to receive Sa­tisfaction from his own Relation, which I am always ready to do.

Mr. John Shadwel, near the Sign of the Three Mariners, in the Parish of St. Thomas Wapping, Mate of a Merchant Man, having been a long Voyage, and feeding much up­on Meat that had been long salted, at his comming on shore, was violently taken with frequent vomiting and Purging, attended with great Weakness of Body, a chilness in the out­ward Parts and unexpressible Pain. He con­sulted two Physicians, took the Medicines they jointly prescribed, but those Gentlemen being frighted at the appearance of a slight convulsive Motion in the Patients Face and Eyes, gave him over as Incurable: Whereupon I was sent for, and by the Blessing of God upon one single Medicine, he had Ease in less than Ten Minutes time, and continuing the same Medicine but four Days together, was perfectly Recovered, and so remains to this Day.

The Dy­sentery or Bloody Flux.A Dysentery, which the Greeks name [...], properly so called, proceeds from the Ulceration of the Intestines, but is commonly taken for every Bloody Flux: The Latins call it Tormina from the excessive Pain the Patient endures. This Disease which is voiding Blood and purulent Matter with tormenting Pain, is distinguishd from the Painless Evacuation of Thin, Watery Blood from the internal Hemerroid Veinsm, called by the Ancients a Flux of the Liver, [Page 75]and likewise from the Natural discharge of Blood independent of the Guts, causd by its redundancy in the Body, as after Ampu­tation, suppression of the Menses, &c. or by its Acrimony opening the Vessels, or the Obstruction of the Bowels hindering its re­gular Circulation. Agreeable hereunto, Galen mentions four kind of Fluxes, all which he calls Dysenteries. The first is when any usual Evacuation of Blood, as the Hemer­roids, or at the Nostrils is impeded. Secondly, When Watery Blood is voided, occasion'd by the Weakness of the Liver. The Third is, Blood mix'd with melancholly and burnt by reason of its being detaind in the Liver and Spleen is evacuated and shines. The Fourth and last, and that I am now treating of, is, when Blood and Excrements are mix'd toge­ther, and sometimes also purulent Matter accompanies it, to the Patient's intolerable Pain.

Symptoms of a Dy­sentery.The Diagnostick Signs of the Bloody-Flux, are, that the Sick Person is seized with un­sufferable griping Pains in the Guts followed by frequent Stools, first of Whitish Matter, and afterwards of Blood and Slime mix'd to­gether. Watching, Thirsting, loathing Food, and sometimes attended by a Malignant Fever and all its dismal Symptoms. If the Small Guts are affected, the Pain is vehement, like the pricking of Pins, because they are of exquisite Sense: The Patient goes not to Stool presently after the Pain, and when he does, is grievously tortur'd, and the Guts and Bowels seem to fall down. If the Great Guts are affected, the Pain is not so sharp, and being seated toward the sides of the Belly, is quickly followed by Stools; the [Page 76] Blood swims on the top, or is a little mixd with the Excrements, and you may judge of the Humour causing this Disease, by the Colour of the Excrements, Age and Tempera­ment of the Patient and the Season of the Year.

There are Three degrees observable in a Dysemery. The Symptoms of the first are Bloody and Slimy Stools. In the Second, the Slime is a Sign of Excoriation and in the third of an Exulceration. When the Guts are Excoriated, 'tis either the Crust that co­vers them, or part of their thick Tunicle, or at most the Caruncles, or inflamed Glandules of the Guts that is voided.

Progno­stick Sym­ptoms.A Dy­sentery caus'd by black Choler is a dangerous Sign, if it be not Critical, because the Ulcer grows Cancerous; be sure there­fore you make a right judgment between melancholly and congeal'd Blood. If loathing of Meat and a Fever accompany it, 'tis dangerous. If Pieces of Flesh be voided in it, 'tis Deadly. Much Watching, great Thirst, Black Bloody and Stinking Stool [...], without a mixture of Humours, Hiccough, Cholerick Vomitings, Pains in the Liver and Midriff, are generally deadly Signs. If Choler and sharp Diet is the Cause of this Disease, its easily cured; Salt Phlegm is worse, because sticks longer in the Guts. If the because it sticks longer in the Guts. If the Bloody Flux happens to one troubled with a diseased Spleen, or the Gout, its good, in the Opinion of Hippocrates, because the Matter is sent forth. But I rather take this for a Diarrhea than a Dysentery.

Causes of the Bloody Flux.The Internal Causes of this Disease are sharp and Ʋlcerating Humours. Yellow Green, and Black Choler; Salt Phlegm in the [Page 77]Head created by Heat, or in the Belly by Putrefaction. which being brought to the Guts, and sticking close to them Ulcerates the Part. The sharp Acid that irritates the Guts, provokes them to Contraction, assem­bles the Blood by vertue of its provocation, and corrodes the Orifices of the Blood Vessels. This may proceed from the corrupted Mat­ter in the Guts. But the cause of a Malig­nant, Epidemical, contagious Looseness, such as the Learned Sydenham discourses of, as hap­pening in the Years, 1669, 70, 71, 72, is a corrupt volatile Acid, not lodg'd in the Guts, but immediately reigning in the Blood, per­verting its Texture, opening the Vessels in­serted into the Guts and provoking them to Convulsive Contractions; from whence is derived a Malignant Fever, Griping and Bloody Stools: So tho' the previous excoriations may take place in benign Dysenteries, there is no occasion for them in the contagious Ma­lignant sort; it being a sufficient Cause of bloody Stools, that the Costick Ferment is a Mortal Enemy to the Intestines, like Arse­nick, that perpetually thwarts and provokes them to Convulsions; upon which, says that excellent Author, they squeeze out their Blood together with their Nutritious Juice, that they are not then in a capacity to re­ceive; and which is taken by some for the Mucus or Snot of the Guts, whereas the large quantities that are voided, sufficiently evince the contrary.

The External Causes, are all such things as procreate sharp and ill Humours, as Meats which soon putrify ill the Stomach, Fruits which are soon rotten, and all things un­ripe: The Air thus qualified; the Winter [Page 78] co'd and dry, and the Spring very Wet and full of South Winds, cause Dysenteries in Sum­mer. Or if the Winter be Wet and full of South Winds, and a dry Spring, and the North Winds blow much; such a Season generally speaking produces Bloody Fluxes. Sometimes the Air is infected and produces a Conta­gious and Epidemical Dysentery, which is so infectious, that the Excrements of the Sick being cast into a Bog-house, infect, all that sit over it. To which may be added, the taking of Mercury, Coloquintida, Antimony, Lead, the course Pouder of an Adamant, Worms, &c. which vellicate the Guts and heap up sharp Humours in them.

To Cure of the Bloody Flux.From what has been already said, you may rationally infer, that Indications for Cure of a Dysentery, are, to evacuate sharp Humours, asswage Pain, Cleanse, Consoli­date and Dry the Ʋlcers, Purify the Blood, separate the preternatural Ferment and stop the Flux.

To discharge the Body of sharp Humours you must Purge every Second, Third or Fourth Day, according to the Patient's Age and Strength, and the Season of the Year. Rhubarb given in Pouder a Dram, a Dram and half, and two Drams is very usual; but because Pouders are apt to stick to the Guts and vex them, I better approve of it converted into a Potion, made of Liquoras, Raisms of the Sun, Tamarinds and yellow Myrabolans boiled in Bar­ley-Water, to Three or Four Ounces; which Li­quor being strained, infuse in it a Dram of Rhubarb sliced very thin; then add an Ounce of Syrup of Roses Solutive, and you have a very good Medicine to evacuate sharp Humours.

If the Dysentery is accompanied with a Fever and Inflamation of the Bowels, open a Vein, let the Patient Bleed in proportion to his Strength. Sometimes vomiting is pro­fitable, to repel the Humours, which fall from the Stomach to the Intestines, and there­fore not to be omitted, especially if the Pa­tient is inclined to Vomit, for then Nature dictates the right way, and ought to be im­mitated, in disburdening a foul Stomach. Afterward you ought to give asswaging, mild and cleansing Clysters, and succeed them with Astringent Clysters.

If the Ʋlcerss stand in need of cleansing, add Centaury and Wormwood to the former De­coction, and to the strained Liquor add Tur­pentine dissolv [...]d in the Yolk of an Egg, and the Chymical Oil of Wax, of each one Dram. When there is more need of Binding and Gluti­nating Medicines, give Emplastick Clysters, to cover the internal Superfices of the Guts, and preserve those Parts from the Gnawing of the Matter.

To cleanse, give Goats Milk; to glutinate Cows Milk Chalybeated, which is proper to consolidate and heal, to which you may add the Juice of Plantan, Syrup of Comfrey, Sugar of Roses, Troches of Amber, and Rhasis's white Troches. Let the Sick eat Rice boiled in Cha­lybiated Milk, or the Mucilage of Gum, Traga­canth and Arabick, drawn with Rose or Plantan Water, the quantity of half a Dram in his Broath. To purify the Blood and separate the pre­ternatural Ferment, Goddards Drops are often successful. And to compleat the Cure, the Body being throughly cleansed you may use Astringent Decoctions and Narcoticks to stop the Flux.

And if this Course and these Medicines are ineffectual, as sometimes to the Patient's disappointment and extravagant Charge, they have been too often found; let the Sick try my Medicines, which have never yet failed to cure the Bloody Flux, in nu­merous Instances, of which I only give you Two Examples.

Mr. Alexander Carter, Taylor, dwelling in Swan-Yard, over against Somerset-House in the Strand, was sorrowfully afflicted with the Bloody-Flux above two Years together, with­out any Intermission, insomuch that he had almost ruin'd himself in going from one Do­ctor to another, and yet was still rather worse than any thing better, till he came to me and made use of my Remedies, which cured him in a few Days, and now continues in as good Health, as ever he enjoyed in his Life. To the truth whereof he is ready to make Oath, if desired.

Mr. Thomas Chiffinch, Carpenter, Aged Sixty odd Years, was Seven Years grieved with the Bloody Flux at certain Times; but the last Three Years had it constantly, and in so violent a manner as threatned him with inevitable Death, in the Opinion of all his Friends and Acquaintance; for he could find no Relief in all the means he used: But applying himself to me, and taking my Medicines, was cured in a short time, and at a small Charge; the truth of which im­mediate Cure, will be attested to any Per­son, that pleases to enquire either of Mr Clark, or the Patient himself, at Duglas's-Coffee House in St. Martin's Lane, Westminster.

Having now, I presume, said enough a­bout the Cure of the Cholick in all its dif­ferent kinds, and the other Diseases that generally accompany it, sufficient for the In­struction of the Industrious and Ingenious, and too much for the Envious Idle and Ignorant, I should have concluded this Treatise, but because I resolve to publish several other Discourses on other Diseases, and that many People who have met with repeated Dis­appointments in following other Mens Reme­dies, before my Books now under Hand can be Publish'd; for their sakes as well as my own, I shall briefly shew, in a few Examples, in what other Diseases as well as the Cho­lick, my Medicines have been wonderfully successful, and also that the over curious or suspicious may receive entire Satisfaction, by enquiring of the Persons I have taken leave to Name, and the Places where they dwell, in the following brief Catalogue, which I shall begin with the Head-Ach.

Head-Ach and Ver­tigo. William Fletcher, of Engfield, in the Country of Middlesex, White-Smith, being grie­vously afflicted with the Megrim, Gid­diness and Swimming Pains in the Head, so that oftentimes he was in danger of falling down as he Work'd or Walk'd, which con­tinued upon him for the long space of Six Years, and using divers Medicines for his Cure, but without Success; he applied to me, and I in letting him Blood in the inside of one of his Nostrils, and giving him a Medicine, he found immediate Relief, without any Pain or Trouble for above a Year; but afterwards finding a [Page 82]Pain and Giddiness, on the other side of his Head, and I letting him Blood in the Nostril of that side, he was perfectly Cured of that Vexatious and Troublesome Disease.

Head Ach.Mr. Samual Haines, Broad-Silk-Weaver, dwelling in Fashon-street, in Spittle-Fields, London; was for the long space of Twelve or Thirteen Years, violently afflicted with the Head-Ach, and tho' he industriously sought Relief from other Hands, could find none, till he made use of my Remedies, and by them, the Almighty's Blessing in­terposing, was thoroughly cured.

Edward Harrison, Leather Dresser, living with Sir Isaack Shard, Knight, in Horse-lye-Down, near Southwark, was sorely afflicted with the Head-Ach at certain times, which return'd very often, and continued to his great Chief in this manner Six whole Years successively, of which he could find no Cure, tho' he used variety of Medicines from no mean Professors of Physick; but at last ap­plying himself to me, was perfectly cured.

Margaret Thomas, Servant to the late Mrs. Jux, who was her Majesty's Strower, and did then dwell in Little Scotland-Yard, ad­joining to White-Hall, was grievously troubled with the Head-Ach for the space of Two Years, and with other Female Distempers much longer, with which she will acquaint any of her own Sex, that think-fit to en­quire of her; but after the use of not a few Medicines prescribed by other Practitioners [Page 83]in Physick, without effect; she was reco­vered from all her Diseases by following my Advice, and the use of my Medicines, and continues in perfect Health to the pre­sent time.

William Watson, late Servant to Mr. Welch, Vertigo. a Shoe-Maker, in Chancery Lane, London; was much troubled with a Vertigo, or Gid­diness of the Head, between Five and Six Years, and sometimes so violently, that some thought it would terminate in a Ap­poplexy or Epilepsy, of which Disease he could find no Cure, till he applied himself to me, and by God's Blessing, and giving him Ex­perienc'd proper Remedies, he was restored to Health.

Moses Grant, late Servant to Mr. London, Perruke-Maker, in Channel Rowe, Westminster, was Fourteen Years troubled with the Head-Ach, and Four Years last past, was af­flicted with it in so grievous a manner and with such intolerable Pain, without one Days intermission; and making use of divers Me­dicines without Relief, he came to me, and I effectually cured him by giving him my Medicines in Six or Eight times, and he has continued well for a Year last past, as he assures me, excepting twice that he was slightly visited with it, by too hard Drink­ing, which soon went off again, without the use of any means.

A Child of Mr. John Evans's, Frame-Work-Knitter, in Hand-Alley, in Bishops-Gate-street, was so grievously afflicted with sore-Eyes, occasion'd by a Defluction of [Page 84] Hot Rheum on those tender Parts which con­tinuing with great severity above a Quarter of a Year, 'twas the general Opinion she would be Blind; but her Father addressing himself to me, I perfectly cured his Childs Sore Eyes, and took away the Cause in Three or Four Days time, and left her as well as ever she was in her Life.

The WormsMr. Robert Guinn, at the Sign of the Two Brewers, in White Lyon Yard, near Norton-Falgate, in the Parish of Stepney; for some Years past was so abundantly Pester'd with Worms, that sometimes they drop'd out of his Body as he went along the Streets, and at other times crept from him when he was in Bed. He was also afflicted with an Excessive Ravenous Appetite, and yet tho' he Eat as much as would have sufficed Six or Eight Persons, he received no Nourishment by his Food, but fell away, and was so wasted in his Flesh, that he was little else than Skin and Bones. He had long sought Relief from many, and variety of means, but all in vain, till he came to me, and through Mercy I cured him of all these complicated and uncommon Distempers, in about a Fort­nights time; and has continued in a good state of Health ever since.

The Son of Mr. John Carter, in George-Alley, in Coleman-street, London, who was a­bout Two Years of Age, and terribly af­flicted with Worms, and gnawing griping Pains, by taking my Remedies, voided above a Pint of Worms, was freed from his Pains, and has continued well ever since.

I could give you may other instances of Persons of both Sexes, Young and Old, but I reserve them for a particular Treatise of the Worms, that will immediately follow the publication of this Book.

Rheuma­tism and Gout.A Gentleman of considerable Quality, Lame with a Rheumatism and the Gout to such a degree, that he dreaded the utter loss of the use of his Limbs; but applying himself to me, I cured him of his Rheumatism, eas'd his Arthritick Pains, and so restor'd the use of his Limbs, that he is capable of attending his own Affairs: And tho' he will not allow his Name to be Printed, yet I have his leave to send any Person to him, who will confirm the Truth of what is here but privately di­vulg'd. To Name more Persons whom I have cured of the Rheumatism, is wholly needless, since the Weekly Papers have from time to time, publish'd to many. And tho'. I don't pretend to m [...]ke a perfect Cure of the Gout, yet I hope I may be allowed to speak truth, and say, That my Medicines never fail to give speedy Ease in the most violent Pains attending that Disease.

The Stone & Gravel.Mr. William Cordwell, Frame-Work-Knitter, at the Sign of the Black-Boy, in Wheeler's-street, Spittle-Fields, being violently afflicted with Suppression of Ʋrine, occasion'd by the Stone, Gravel, and a concommitant Cholick, which had continued at certain Times for Three Years last past, and since Christmas last in a more severe manner than ever; applied him­self to me, and by the use of my Remedies aforenamed, voided several Stones and ob­tain'd a perfect Cure: And having paid me [Page 86]for my Medicines to my own content, de­sired also, that his Cure might be publish'd, that others labouring under the same Di­stemper, might receive Benefit by the same Hand and Means.

Francis-Wilks, Fevers. dwelling near the Sign of the Black-Horse, in Blackman-street, hard by St. George's-Church, in Southwark, was seize Five Months with a Tertian Ague, and having taken great quantities of Jesuit's Powder, or Peruvian Bark, and an incredible number of other Medicines, to no purpose; insomuch that he seem'd to be on the Brink of the Grave, and his Circumstances being but in­different, I offer'd him his Cure Gratis, which I perform'd with great Expedition, and so effectually, that after the first Dose of Physick I gave him, his Fit return'd no more, and the Patient enjoys his Health to this Day.

The great number of Patients I have cured of Fevers, under all Denominations, whether attended or unaccompanied with a Cold shaking Fit, which are vulgarly call'd Agues, will excuse me from giving more Examples in this Disease, because my Medicines, are so well known to give relief in Fevers, that to commend them by Testimonies in un­cessary waste of time, since they recommend themselves by their Innate Vertue; not be­cause they are Hot, not because they are Cold, not because they Cut and attenuate; but because they have the peculiar vertue, to ex­tinguish the hot fermenting Alkali, which is the Occasional, Internal and Continent cause of Fevers, and that they may effect what they are design'd for, I vary them as I find Oc­casion; [Page 87]because, vix ulla perpetua Ars Medici­nalis recepit, scarce any of the Precepts of the Art of Physick are perpetual.

Coughs and Consum­ptions.Mr. Thomas Adin, Weaver, dwelling in King's-Head-Yard, in Shore-Ditch, was long afflicted with a Consumptive Cough, attended with all the dismal Symptoms of approaching Death; but by the blessing of God, the Me­dicines I directed him to take, perfectly re­covered him.

Spitting Blood. Mary, Wife of Mr. Richard Darling Barber, formerly dwelt in Burchen-Lane, near Lum­bard street, London, was in Three Years time last past, twice cured by Medicines of a vio­lent Cholick and Spitting Blood, and the last Spring was seized with a Hectick Fever, and all the dreadful Symptoms of an approach­ing Tabes or Consumption, and was given over for a Dying Woman by all her Friends and Relations; but by Heaven Blessing the Me­dicines she took of me, she was restored to her former Health, as will be attested by more than Twenty Eye-Witnesses of her un­expected Cure, as well as by the Patient her self.

The French Disease.In the next place I could give many Ex­amples of Persons I have cured of both Sexes, of Gonorheas and the French Pox; but because to give Examples in such Cases, would be a horrid breach of good Manners; I shall only recommend my Medicines as Safe and Certain in the Cure, and my self for perfect Silence.

The Stone.The last Disease of which I shall give any Examples in this Book is the Stone, and shall begin in the well known Case of Mr. Richard Hurford, at the Sign of the New England Arms, near Ratliff-Cross, who was Twelve Years afflicted with the Stone, but lately in a most violent manner, and having taken abundance of Medicines in hopes of Ease, but all in vain, I gave him my own Medi­cines experimentally adapted to the Cure of that Disease in his Case, which brought a­way an incredible number of Stones, and some of them as large as were capable of passing through the Ʋreters and can scarce be credited by any, but those that have seen and handled them.

Mary, the Wife of Mr. Richard Pomfret, dwelling in Little Carter Lane, near the Swan Ale House, was afflicted with the Stone and Gravel to that degree, that upon any agi­tation of the Body she made Bloody Ʋrine, and after she had had the Advice of several Doctors of Physick, but without success; the first Remedy I gave her, put a stop to her Bloody Ʋrine, and brought away a prodigious Quantity of Gravel, by which means she was Cured at a small Charge, and in a very short time.

Having thus plainly proved to the meanest Capacity, the efficacy of my Remedies the Sincerity of my Practice, and the Truth of the Examples of Persons cured, insomuch that they that are not blinded by partiality or by­ass'd by Interest, must be Masters of a great deal of Sophistry, that will pretend to deny, contradict or oppose them. I should now put an end to this brief Discourse.

But having a little Paper to spare I shall employ it, in accommodating the Reader with the Vertues and Ʋse of a bitter Medi­cament, which I invented, and call Tinctura Stomachicalis major, or the greater Stomachical Tincture.

Which is a Composition of all the Noblest Bitter Aromatick and Stomachical Specificks in the whole Materia Medica, and perfectly answers all Intentions accordingly. It enlivens and sharpens a languid Appetite, expels Viscous Humours; assists Fermentation and helps Di­gestion; Fortifies the Stomach and prevents Nauseating and Loathing. It is Carminative, a great expeller of Wind out of the Stomach and Bowels; and as all bitter things are Me­dicinal against Worms, so this Tincture has an excellent faculty that way. If any Person has the misfortune to drink bad Wine, or to drink to excess; if he mingles some Drops of this Tincture in his Wine, it will rectify all Disorders occasion'd by hard Drinking, and prevent next Mornings Head-Achs, loathsome Vomitings, and menacing Surfeits, the usual Attendants on Nocturnal Debauches. It's a good Remedy for Persons newly deliver'd from a Fever, or any Chronical Distemper, be­cause it strengthens the Crasis, or convenient mixture of Qualities. It's proper for Ma­riners to carry with them to Sea, and for those that Travel by Land, because it prevents ill accidents occasion'd by Ill or Scanty Diet, change of Air, and Epidemical Infections. It far excels all other bitter Medicaments; it never offends the Eyes, or causes breakings out on the Skin, as generally all other Bitters do. It will keep good many Years, and may be taken in Wine, Ale, Tea, or Spring-Water, [Page 90]from Thirty Drops to a Hundred, in the Morning, and at Four or Five of the Clock in the Afternoon, when People find occasion for it, either to cure Diseases, prevent them, or confirm one in a State of good Health, in which I have found my Tincture successful in many Years Practice; being as pleasant a Bitter as Art can contrive. One Ounce of Mine will make Three Ounces of any other Bitter, that is commonly exposed to Sale. And that the Poor may receive Benefit by it, I will Sell it to such as really are so, for Two Shillings the Ounce, and Twelve Pence the Half Ounce.

T [...] u [...] of th [...] C [...]pta­ [...] Sn [...].For the Cure of the Head-Ach, Deafness, Vertigo or Giddiness, and the Cure of an Old and Inveterate Cough, I have also a Caephalik Snush, which snuffed up both No­strils, Night and Morning, till the Nose runs plentifully, will produce the desired Effect; but when this and other Remedies fail, as the best sometimes do; I have ano­ther way of curing the Head-Ach, and Ver­tigo, by Phlebotomy, in the Part, and by a safe Method scarce known, or practis'd by any other Person.