THE Cause of which SYMPTOM is Four-fold, and proceeds either from the sharp acid Vapours of the Humours flying towards the Lungs, Wind-pipe, and Jaws; irritating the natural Faculty to Expulsion: Or, from the finer Part of the Blood, converting itself to the pectoral Veins: Or, from the Humours themselves ascending to the Head, and relapsing upon the Breast: Or, in fine, from the suppressed Albedines or Whites, and whatsoever may vellicate the Aspera Arteria, or in any respect oppress or irritate the same.
THIS Symptom (however slighted or lightly esteem’d) is very Dangerous; forasmuch as it attenuates and weakens the whole Body, enervates or destroys its Strength and Vigour, causes difficult Respiration, excites Head-Aches, hinders natural Rest, occasions Watchings, promotes Defluxions, and finally gives Origin to Fevers, as well as most other Diseases: Besides that, it continually exagitates and distresses the Muscles of the Abdomen, or lower Belly; and thereby too commonly provokes Miscarriage.
FOR these Reasons this SYMPTOM ought to be carefully mitigated, if not cur’d, without any loss of Time: But the Cure itself, in my humble Opinion, may be easily effected, by evacuating the peccant Humours, by purging and corroborating the Head, and by the right Use of proper Thoracick Medicines.
CHAP. XV.
Of HEART-BEATINGS and SWOONING-FITS.
THESE Beatings or Palpitations are nothing else but a sudden Loss of all the Strength, with an immoderate Concussion, by a vehement Diastole, and molestous Systole of the HEART: From hence this SYMPTOM easily turns to a Cardialgia, Lipothymia, or Syncope; which are All of near Affinity, in the Case of the Pregnant Woman, so that I shall treat of them conjunctly, and first observe; that
THE Cause of all such SYMPTOMS are but Two-fold, and proceed either from a flatulent Substance of the Humours, ascending, thro’ the Arteries, or the Vena Cava, to the HEART: Or from the Abundance of Blood, which (not finding passage by the Womb) seeks to the superiour Parts, and thence oppresses the HEART and vital Faculty.
THIS Last is the most dangerous Condition, being (in such Plethorick Women) the certain Prognostick of imminent ABORTION: To prevent which unhappy Accident, the principal Part of the Cure, depends very much on cautious Venæ-Sections, or letting Blood, proper Diet, &c: Whereas, in the First Case, proper Discutients, Cordials, and Corroborants, are the most convenient and successful.
