A history of the most remarkable pestilential distempers that have appeared in Europe for three hundred years last past. With what proved successful or hurtful in their cure. Together with the method of prevention and cure of the plague ... / [R. Brookes].

  • Richard Brookes
Date:
1721
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A history of the most remarkable pestilential distempers that have appeared in Europe for three hundred years last past. With what proved successful or hurtful in their cure. Together with the method of prevention and cure of the plague ... / [R. Brookes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Partus] tells us, that in the Year 1565, when the Plague raged throughout all France, Charles IX. being upon a Journey to Bayonne, he diligently enquired of the Phyficians and Surgeons how Purging and Blood-letting fuc- ceeded, who all anfwered with one Voice, that they had obferved carefully, and all who had Blood taken away freely, or were purged briskly, thenceforward grew worfe, and afterwards died 5 and the reft, who ufed only Alexiterials, almoft all efcaped. I could give other Inftances of this kind, and fome to the contrary 3 fo that all we can conclude from it, is, that tho’ Blood¬ letting is generally bad, yet, in fome particular kinds of this Diftemper, it may be ufeful. Before I have done with this Part, I will give you an eafy camphorated Compofition, faid to be of great Ef¬ ficacy. Take of Sugar-candy three Drams 3 white Gin¬ ger two Drams 3 Camfhire a Dram 3 make a Powder : The Dofe a Dram 3 to be taken in any convenient Ve¬ hicle, As to the comfortable acid Liquors before men¬ tioned, they are varioully compounded of the fimple diftilled Waters of Sorrel, Scabious, Rofes, and the Jui¬ ces of acid Fruits, fuch as Citrons, Currants, Rafpbernes, Mulberries, and Pomgranates, Syrups of the fame, and Wine, and a few Drops of the Spirit of Vitriol, which the Compounder muft fo manage, as to make them grateful and agreeable. To make it cordial, fome add ExtraSi of Saffron 3 but it muft be only a few Grains 3 for to be over-hot, is contrary to the Intention : for which reafon the Compound Waters are omitted, which are prefcribed in ordinary Juleps. I now come to give fome Rules concerning the re¬ lieving the Symptoms. In curing Buboes, the Intentions are to draw out the Poifon, to ripen them, and to cleanfe and heal them. To draw out the Poifon, fome make ufe of Onions roajied, and mixed with white Mujlard-feed bruifed, and apply it after the manner of a Puhice 3 others, inftead of Mujzard-Seed, take Venice-Preachy efpecially if the Buboes are painful, which alfo helps to ripen them. j De Peftej cap. 24, Dryed