MEMB. II.

Cure of Melancholy over all the Body.

WHERE

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THERE the melancholy blood possesseth the whole body with the Brain, it is best to begin with blood-letting. The Greeks prescribe the Median or middle vein to be opened, and so much blood to be taken away, as the Patient may well spare, and the cut that is made must be wide enough. The Arabians hold it fittest to be taken from that arm, on which side there is more pain and heaviness in the head: if black blood issue forth, bleed on; if it be clear and good, let it be instantly suppressed," because the malice of melancholy is much corrected by the goodness of the blood." If the partie's strength will not admit much evacuation in this kinde at once, it must be assayed again and again: if it may not be conveniently taken from the arm, it must be taken from the knees and ancles, especially to such men or women whose hemrods or months have been stopped. If the malady continue, it is not amiss to evacuate in a part in the fore-head, and to virgins in the ancles, which are melancholy for love matters; so to widows that are much grieved and troubled with sorrow and cares: for bad blood flows in the heart, and so crucifies the minde. The hemrods are to be opened with an instrument or horse-leeches, &c. See more in Montaltus cap. 29. Sckenkius hath an example of one that was cured by an accidentall wound in his thigh, much bleeding freed him from melancholy. Diet, Diminutives, Alteratives, Cordials, Correctors as before, intermixt as occasion serves, " "all their study must be to make a melancholy man fat, and then the cure is ended." Diuretica or medicines to procure urine, are prescribed by some in this kinde hot and cold: hot where the heat of the liver doth not forbid; cold where the heat of the liver is very great: amongst hot are Parsely roots, Lovage, Fennel, &c. cold, Melonseeds, &c. with whey of Goat's milk, which is the common conveigher.

X

To purge and purify the blood, use Sowthistle, Succory, Sena, Endive, Carduus Benedictus, Dandelion, Hop, Maiden

▸ Piso. Mediana præ cæteris. Succi melancholici malitia à sanguinis bonitate corrigitur. Perseverante malo ex quacunq: parte sanguinis detrahi debet. Observat. fol. 154. curatus ex vulnere in crure,ob cruorem amissum. • Studium sit omne ut melancholicus impinguetur: ex quo enim pingues et carnosi, illico sani sunt. Hildesheim spicel. 2. Inter calida radix petrofelini, apii, feniculi; Inter frigida emulsio seminis melonum cum sero caprino quod est commune vehiculum. Hoc. unum præmoneo domine ut sis diligens

circa victum, sine quo cetera remedia frustra adhibentur.

hair, Fumitory, Bugloss, Borage, &c. with their juyce, decoctions, distilled waters, Syrups, &c.

Oswaldus, Crollius basil Chym. much admires salt of Corals in this case, and Ætius tetrabib. ser. 2. cap. 114. Hieram Archigenis, which is an excellent medicine to purify the blood, for all melancholy affections, falling sickness, none to be compared to it."

MEMB. III. SUBSECT. I.

Cure of Hypocondriacall Melancholy.

this cure, as in the rest, is especially required the rectification of those six non-naturall things above all, as good diet, which Montanus consil. 27. enjoyns a French Nobleman, "To have an especial care of it, without which all other remedies are in vain." Blood-letting is not to be used, except the Patient's body be very full of blood, and that it be derived from the liver and spleen to the stomack and his vessels, then to draw it back, to cut the inner vein of either arm, some say the salvatella, and if the malady be continuate, to open a vein in the forehead.

Preparatives and Alteratives may be used as before, saving that there must be respect had as well to the liver, spleen, stomack, hypocondries, as to the heart and brain. To comfort the stomack and inner parts against winde and obstructions, by Areteus, Galen, Etius, Aurelianus, &c. and many latter writers, are still prescribed the decoctions of Wormwood, Centaury, Penniroyall, Betony sod in whey, and daily drunk: many have been cured by this medicine alone.

Prosper Altinus and some others as much magnifie the water of Nilus against this malady, an especiall good remedie for windie melancholy. For which reason belike Ptolomeus Philadelphus, when he married his daughter Berenice to the King of Assyria (as Celsus lib. 2. records) magnis impensis Nili aquam afferri jussit, to his great charge caused the water of Nilus to be carried with her, and gave command, that during her life she should use no other drink. I finde those that commend use of Apples, in Splenatick and this kinde of melancholy (Lambswooll some call it), which howsoever approved, must certainly be corrected of cold rawness and winde. Codronchus in his book de sale absyn. magnifies the oyl and

*Ego

Laurentius cap. 15. evulsionis gratia venam internam alterius brachii secamus. Si pertinax morbus, venam fronte secabis. Bruell. maximam curam stomacho delegabo. Octa. Horatianus lib. 2. c. 7.

salt

salt of Wormwood above all other remedies, "d which works better and speedier than any simple whatsoever, and much to be preferred before all those fulsome decoctions, and infusions, which must offend by reason of their quantity; this alone in a small measure taken, expels winde, and that most forcibly, moves urine, cleanseth the stomack of all gross humours, crudities, helps appetite," &c. Arnoldus hath a wormwood wine which he would have used, which every Pharmacopoea speaks of.

Diminutives and purgers may be taken as before, of hiera, manna, cassia, which Montanus consil. 230. for an Italian Abbot, in this kind prefers before all other simples," And these must be often used, still abstaining from those which are more violent, lest they do exasperate the stomack, &c. and the mischief by that means be increased." Though in some Physitians I finde very strong purgers, Hellebor it self prescribed in this affection. If it long continue, vomits may be taken after meat, or otherwise gently procured with warm water, oxymel, &c. now and then. Fuchsius cap. 33. prescribes Hellebor; but still take heed in this malady, which I have often warned, of hot medicines," because (as Salvianus adds) drought follows heat, which increaseth the disease:" and yet Baptista Sylvaticus controv. 32. forbids cold medicines," because they increase obstructions, and other bad symptomes." But this varies as the parties do, and 'tis not easie to determine which to use. "The stomack most part in this infirmity is cold, the liver hot; scarce therefore (which Montanus insinuates consil. 229. for the Earl of Manfort) can you help the one, and not hurt the other :" 'much discretion must be used; take no Physick at all he concludes without great need. Lælius Ægubinus consil. for an Hypocondriacall German Prince, used many medicines; but it was after signified to him in letters, that the decoction of China and Sassafras, and salt of Sassafras, wrought him an incredible good." In his 108. consult. he used as happily the same remedies; this to a third might have been poison, by overheating his liver and blood.

For the other parts look for remedies in Savanarola, Gordo

Citius et efficacius suas vires exercet quam solent decocta ac diluta in quantitate multa, et magna cum assumentium molestia desumpta. Flatus hic sal efficaciter dissipat, urinam movet, humores crassos abstergit, stomachum egregie confortat, cruditatem, nauscam, appetentiam mirum in modum renovat, &c. Piso, Altomarus, Laurentius c. 15. f His utendum sæpius iteratis: à vehementior bus semper abstinendum ne ventrem exasperent. Lib. 2. cap. 1. Quoniam caliditate conjuncta est siccitas quæ malum auget. h Quisquis irigidis auxiliis hoc morbo usus fuerit, is obstructionem aliaq; symptomata augebit. ¡ Ventriculus plerumq; frigidus, epar calidum; quomodo ergo ventriculum calefaciet, vel refrigerabit hepar sine alterius maximo detrimento? * Significatum per literas, incredibilem utilitatem ex decocto Chinæ, et Sassafras percepisse.

nius, Massaria, Mercatus, Johnson, &c. One for the spleen, amongst many other, I will not omit, cited by Hildesheim spicel. 2. prescribed by Mat. Flaccus, and out of the authority of Benevenius. Antony Benevenius in an hypocondriacall passion, "cured an exceeding great swelling of the spleen with Capers alone, a meat befitting that infirmity, and frequent use of the water of a Smith's forge; by this Physick he helped a sick man, whom all other Physitians had forsaken, that for seven years had been Splenatick." And of such force is this water, m that those creatures as drink of it, have commonly little or no spleen." See more excellent medicines for the Spleen in him, and * Lod. Mercatus, who is a great magnifier of this medicine. This Chalybs præparatus, or steeldrink, is much likewise commended to this disease by Daniel Sennertus l. 1. part. 2. cap. 12. and admired by J. Cæsar Claudinus Respons. 29. he cals steel the proper +Alexipharmacum of this malady, and much magnifies it; look for receipts in them. Averters must be used to the liver and spleen, and to scoure the Meseriack veins; and they are either too open or provoke urine. You can open no place better than the Hæmrods, "which if by horse-leeches they be made to flow, "there may be again such an excellent remedy," as Plater holds. Salust. Salvian will admit no other phlebotomy but this; and by his experience in an hospitall which he kept, he found all mad and melancholy men worse for other blood-letting. Laurentius cap. 15. cals this of horse-leeches a sure remedy to empty the spleen and Meseriack membrane. Only Montanus consil. 241. is against it; " to other men (saith he) this opening of the hemrods seems to be a profitable remedy; for my part I do not approve of it, because it drawes away the thinnest blood, and leaves the thickest behind.

Ætius, Vidus Vidius, Mercurialis, Fuchsius, recommend Diureticks, or such things as provoke urine, as Anniseeds, Dil, Fennel, Germander, ground Pine, sod in water, or drunk in powder; and yet P P. Bayerus is against them; and so is Hollerius ; "All melancholy men (saith he) must avoid such things as provoke urine, because by them the subtile or thinnest is evacuated, the thicker matter remains."

Tumorem splenis incurabilem sola cappari curavit, cibo tali ægritudine aptissimo: Soloq; usu aquæ, in qua faber ferrarius sæpe candens ferrum extinAnimalia quæ apud hos fabros educantur, exiguos habent xerat, &c. lienes. *L. 1. cap. 17. +Continuus ejus usus semper felicem in ægris Si Hemorroides fluxerint, nullum præstantius esset finem est assequutus. remedium, quæ sanguifugis admotis provocari poterunt. observat. lib. 1. pro Aliis apertio hæc in hoc morbo videtur utilissima; mihi hypoc. leguleio. non admodum probatur, quia sanguinem tenuem attrahit et crassum relinquit. Lib. 2. cap. 13. omnes melancholici debent omittere urinam provocantia, quoniam per ea educitur subtile, et remanet crassum.

Clysters

Clysters are in good request. Trincavelius lib. 3. cap. 38. for a young Nobleman, esteems of them in the first place, and Hercules de Saxonia Panth. lib. 1. cap. 16. is a great approver of them. "I have found (saith he) by experience, that many hypocondriacall melancholy men have been cured by the sole use of Clysters," receipts are to be had in him.

Besides those fomentations, irrigations, inunctions, odoraments, prescribed for the head, there must be the like used for the Liver, Spleen, Stomack, Hypocondries, &c. In crudity" (saith Piso)" tis good to binde the stomack hard" to hinder winde, and to help concoction.

Of inward medicines I need not speak; use the same Cor dials as before. In this kinde of melancholy, some prescribe * Treacle in winter, especially before or after purges, or in the Spring, as Avicenna, Trincavellius Mithridate," Montaltus Piony seeds, Unicorn's horn; os de corde cervi, &c.

Amongst Topicks or outward medicines, none are more pretious then Baths, but of them I have spoken. Fomentations to the Hypocondries are very good, of wine and water, in which are sod Southernwood, Melilot, Epithyme, Mugwort, Sena, Polypody, as also Cerots, Plaisters, Liniments, Oyntments for the Spleen, Liver, and Hypocondries, of which look for examples in Laurentius, Jobertus, lib. 3. c. 1. pra. med. Montanus consil. 231. Montaltus cap. 33. Hercules de Saxoniâ, Faventinus. And so of Epithemes, digestive powders, bags, oils, Octavius Horatianus lib. 2. c. 5. prescribes calastick Cataplasms, or dry purging medicines: Piso Dropaces of pitch, and oil of Rue, applied at certain times to the stomack, to the metaphrene, or part of the back which is over against the heart, Etius synapisms; Montaltus cap. 35. would have the thighs to be cauterised, Mercurialis prescribes beneath the knees; Lælius Ægubinus cons. 77. for an Hypocondriacall Dutchman, will have the cautery made in the right thigh, and so Montanus consil. 55. The same Montanus consil. 34. approves of issues in the arms or hinder part of the head. Bernardus Paternus in Hildesheim spicel. 2. would have issues made in both the thighs; *Lod. Mercatus prescribes them near the Spleen, aut prope ventri

a

Ego experientia probavi, multos Hypocondriacos solo usu Clysterum fuisse In cruditate optimum, ventriculum arctius alligari.

sanatos.

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riacæ, Vere præsertim et æstate.

Cons. 12. 1. 1.

'3j The

Cap. 33. * Trin

cavellius consil. 15. cerotum pro sene melancholico ad jecur optimum.

▾ Emplastra pro splene. Fernel. consil 45. rutaceo affigatur ventriculo, et toti metaphreni. Fontanellæ sint in utroq: crure.

Dropax èpice navali, et oleo

Cauteria cruribus inusta.

* Lib. 1. c. 17.