[p. 82]tense pains above the diaphragm, diseases
connected with collections of humors,- all these diseases do not admit
of resolution, if treated at first by medicine, but venesection holds
the first place in conducting the treatment; then we may have recourse
to a clyster, unless the disease be great and strong; but if so, purging
also may be necessary; but bleeding and purging together require caution
and moderation. Those who attempt to resolve inflammatory diseases
at the commencement by the administration of purgative medicines,
remove none of the morbific humors which produce the inflammation
and tension; for the diseases while unconcocted could not yield, but
they melt down those parts which are healthy and resist the disease;
so when the body is debilitated the malady obtains the mastery; and
when the disease has the upper hand of the body, it does not admit
of a cure.
PART 4
When a person suddenly loses his speech, in connection with obstruction
of the veins,- if this happen without warning or any other strong
cause, one ought to open the internal vein of the right arm, and abstract
blood more or less according to the habit and age of the patient.
Such cases are mostly attended with the following symptoms: redness
of the face, eyes fixed, hands distended, grinding of the teeth, palpitations,
jaws fixed, coldness of the extremities, retention of airs in the
veins.
PART 5
When pains precede, and there are influxes of black bile and of acrid
humors, and when by their pungency the internal parts are pained,
and the veins being pinched and dried become distended, and getting
inflamed attract the humors running into the parts, whence the blood
being vitiated, and the airs collected there not being able to find
their natural passages, coldness comes on in consequence of this stasis,
with vertigo, loss of speech, heaviness of the head, and convulsion,
if the disease fix on the liver, the heart, or the great vein (vena
cava?); whence they are seized with epilepsy or apoplexy, if the defluxions
fall upon the containing parts, and if they are dried up by airs which
cannot make their escape; such persons having been first tormented
are to be immediately bled at the commencement, while all the peccant
vapors and humors are buoyant, for then the cases more easily admit
of a cure; and then supporting the strength and
|