THE general Remedies being thus provided, the exact Way of Living and Diet comes to be considered: And first of all whensoever the Patient is taken, he must immediately be put to Bed; wherein we have found it much more serviceable to be covered with Blankets, than Linen Sheets, because the Woollen much better encourages Sweating, and also absorps it, and keeps the Body cleaner all the while; for Linen being not suited to drink up the Sweat, the Pores of the Body, at such Times as open as possible, will be choaked up and obstructed by the Moisture hanging upon the Skin, and giving also a Chilliness to the Flesh: To all therefore who sweat thus, Change of Cloaths is to be denied, for the Patient takes Harm by clean Coverings, not so much from any prejudicial Quality of the Soap abounding in them, (according to the Opinion of Diemebrooeck) as from a Dampness which is inseparable from them, and the Approach of Air which is unavoidable in the Shifting; both which will check the Sweating.
UNLESS the Patient hath Occasion for a Vomit, or Purge, or a Clyster, immediately
upon his going to Bed, Alexipharmicks ought to be given, and if thrown up by Vomiting, repeated until the Stomach if strengthned, and can retain them; and I have always observed, that such Nauseousness goes off as soon as Sweat breaks out.
SOME indeed of a very dry Temperament, or from a Consumption of their Humidities by the febrile Heat, do not easily get into a Sweat; such therefore I ordered liberally to drink of a medicated Posset-Drink; in order by this Means both to render the viscid Humours more fluid, and contemper and asswage the feverish Heat.
THE Milk with which this Posset-Drink was made, was turned with two Parts of Ale, and one Part of Vinegar, in which had been boiled the Roots of Scorzonera and Butterbur; the Leaves of Baum, Scabius, and Wood-sorrel; the Flowers of Borage and Marygolds; the Raspings of Ivory and Hartshorn, and Carduus and Coriander Seeds.
THESE Sweats we used to keep up for two or three Hours at a Time, as the Strength would bear them; and until the
morbifick Venom was rarified and subtilized, so as to be exhaled quite away along with the viscid Humours: Sleep also was industriously kept off, although sometimes, through meer Weariness, the Patient would drop into a Doze.
AS much Care, besides that of Sweating them, was taken to support the Strength and Spirits of the Infected, by such Aliments as the Stomach was able to receive; for which End I ordered them Bread soaked in Wine, poached Eggs with Juice of Citrons, Pomegranates, or Elder Vinegar, as also cordial Waters, Broths, Gellies, and sometimes also generous Wines.
THE Broths then used were made by boiling in Chicken-Broth the Roots of Scorzonera; the Leaves of Pimpinel, Meadow-sweet, Wood-Sorrel, Borage, Raspings of Hartshorn, and Dactyls, with a Piece of White Bread, and a little Saffron tied in a Nodule; and the Fat was not taken off unless in a Loosness or Loathing at Stomach: Of the Usefulness of Gold boiled in these Things I have nothing to say: Of this Broth was also sometimes Emulsions made with the Seeds of Citrons, Plantain, blanched Almonds, and Pearl-Sugar.