C H A P. VI.
Of the Scurvy.
This Disease is known by the Ulcers of the Mouth, which are very stinking; as also by excessive Salivation, great Pains in the Head, Dizziness, frequent Epilepsies, Apoplexies, and Palsies. The Face, being of a pale red, and dark Colour, is sometimes puff'd up or bloated, inflam'd, and beset with Pustules: The Teeth are loose and ake, the Gums are swell'd, itch, putrifie, exulcerate, and are eaten with the Canker; and the Jaw is almost unmoveable: The Members are bow'd, and cannot be extended: The Patients become stupid and drowsie, so that they fetch their Breath with difficulty, are obnoxious to Palpitations of the Heart and Coughs, and fall into Swoons: The Ulcers sometimes are so malignant, that their Cheeks are entirely eaten up, and their Teeth seen: They are also much inclin'd to Vomitting, Looseness, and Gripes; and their Entrails are swell'd: They have red and livid Pustules on their Belly and Privy-parts, which sometimes break out into Ulcers; their whole Body being dry'd, &c.
This Disease may be easily cur'd in the beginning; but when it is grown inveterate, and invades the Bowels, it becomes incurable; as well as when it is the Epidemical Disease of
the Country, or the Persons afflicted with it, are old, or well advanc'd in Years.
In undertaking the Cure, it is requisite to begin with a good Diet, and to sweeten the Blood, let the Patient take the Broth of boil'd Fowl; eating Pullets and Eggs; in the Broth may also be put divers sorts of Antiscorbutick Herbs; viz. Cresses, Spinage, Parsly-Roots, Sparagus, Smallage, Scorzonera, Scurvy-Grass, &c. Let him eat nothing that is high season'd, nor acid or sharp; let him drink pure Claret, without any adulterate Mixture; let him use moderate Exercise and Rest; Lastly, let him keep his Mind sedate, and free from all manner of violent Passion.
The following Remedies taken inwardly are very good for the Scurvy, viz. the Tincture of Flints from ten Grains to thirty; Diaphoretick Antimony, from six Grains to thirty; sweet Sublimate, from six Grains to thirty; Mars Diaphoreteus, from ten Grains to twenty; Crocus Martis Aperitivus, from ten Grains to two Scruples; prepar'd Coral, from ten Grains to one Dram; Volatile Spirit of Sal Ammoniack, from six Drops to twenty; Water of Cresses, from fifteen Drops to one Dram; Spirit of Scurvy-grass, from ten Drops to one Dram; Tincture of Antimony, from four Drops to twenty; Oily Volatile Sal Ammoniack, from four Grains to fifteen; Spirit of Guyacum, from half a Dram to a Dram and a half; Vitrioliz'd Tartar, from ten Grains to thirty; the Volatile Salt of Tartar, Urine, Vipers, and Hart's-Horn, of each from six Grains to fifteen; the Spirit of Gum Ammoniack, from eight Drops to sixteen; White
Mercury Precipitate, from four to ten Grains; Mercurial Panacæa, from six Grains to two Scruples. We shall shew the manner of compounding 'em in our Treatise of Venereal Diseases.