That extroardinary, epidemic, convulſive, contagious Diſeaſe, of Cologn, Weſtphalia, and the neighbouring Places, having found Work for the Judgment and Pens of ſeveral learned Men, as Sennertus, Horſtius, &c. I ſhall throw the Sum of all their Hiſtories together. --— In 1594, in April, May, all the reſt of Summer, and Harveſt (Auguſt excepted, which was fair) were exceſſive Rains, great Floods, which did ineſtimable Hurt ; Corn was very dear. In 1595 and 1596, was great Scarcity and Dearth, with profound ſhocking Rains, and great Floods. There raged a ſore Famine over all Italy, and reached Germany, which forced People to eat uncommon and unwholſome Food, as green Hedge Crabs, Muſhrooms, Dogs, Cats, Reptiles, &c. In 1596 and 1597, in the Dioceſe of Cologn and Weſtphalia, in the Counties of Waldeck, Wittenſtein, Heſſen, &c. raged a malignant Fever, with Convulſions, Ravings, &c. with or without a Fever ; it ſeized in the following Manner, firſt the Sick felt a pricking or tickling like the Motion of Ants, under the Skin of their Feet or Hands, or ſometimes both ; ſometimes in one Side, ſometimes in both ; then ſuddenly their Fingers or Toes were violently contracted, or forcibly extended without Strength or Motion, as though they were ſtiff or frozen ; then the Convulſions roſe from the Hands and Feet to the Legs, Thighs, Hips, Arms, and Shoulders, and ſo to the reſt of the whole Body, till the Sick were either rolled together like a Hedgehog or Ball, or extended ſtiff at whole Length like a dead Corps or Piece of Wood. This Contraction or Extenſion continued in this manner during the whole Time of the Fit in ſome ; but it often ſeized them alternately, ſo that the Member juſt now extended and ſtiff, would preſently be rolled up like a Ball, and then inſtantly pulled and extended again. This Convulſion was often in the Hands only, or in the Arms, or in both ; frequently it was in the Mouth, Lips, Eyes, or whole Body. This Contraction laſted a long or ſhort Time, till its Cauſe was diſcuſſed or ſpent ; then the Joints were at reſt, till a new Steam or Vapour roſe to diſturb and twitch the Nerves afreſh. If the peſtilential Cauſe was in the Head, then the ſpinal Marrow being drawn into Conſent, the nervous Syſtem over the whole Body was violently contracted in a Moment ; but if in the Hands or Feet, or both, or in any one Part, then they only were contracted or extended. So excruciating and terrible was the Pain attending theſe Convulſions, that the hideous piercing Screighs of the Sick, were heard nine or ten Houſes off in Villages, and at a great Diſtance in the Field, ſo as Byſtanders could not bear to hear them. Their conſtant Outcry was to have the contracted Part extended, or the extended Part contracted. The Sick felt either a Senſe of Cold, like Ice Water ; or of Heat, like Fire running over their whole Body ; hence ſeveral fell into burning Fevers. The Diſeaſe gave not the leaſt previous Notice of its Seizure ; ſo ſudden was it, that ſome were ſtruck at Table eating, ſome at Plow, ſome in the Fields, ſome in the Woods, or any other Buſineſs : Some at firſt threw up much Water or Flegm, without any Complaint of their Stomach or Belly. When the Diſtemper began in the extreme Parts, it reſted in them only, without attacking the Head for ſix, eight, or ten Days ; nay, in ſome for ſome Weeks, or Months, if fit Remedies were uſed ; but if neglected, it got to the Head, and became a terrible and fatal Epilepſy, of which many laid as dead for ſix or eight Hours ; and except taken in the Evening, many were buried in the Fit. Several it rendered fooliſh, ſtupid, lethargic, or delirious ; the Flegmatic were all lethargic, or became fooliſh, threw their Food on the Dunghil, their Excrements in the Room where they laid, and thruſting their Cloaths, or what came in their Way, into them. This Sillyneſs continued three or four Days or longer. The Melancholy were fearful, waked out of their Sleep with Frights, and deſiring Solitude, got out of Bed, either naked or in their Shirts, run into Fields, Woods, or Rivers, and lurked there, till by Craft they were ticed back. The Bilious and Sanguine being angry, furious and impatient, ruſhed in upon their Neighbours, would find ſome body that they reputed a Beaſt or Devil, and hated, and curſe the Byſtanders ; ſome plucked the Eyes out of their Parents or Relations Heads ; many were ſo mad, that there was a Neceſſſity to chain them before they died. But ſuch as had a good Conſtitution before they fell ill, were not fierce, but only laughed, talked, were merry, or ſhowed Antics. Though all were delirious after the Epilepſy, ſome few were ſo before it. This Perturbation of Mind continued in ſome three or four or more Days ; in others a very long Time ; and though when come out of the Fit they returned to their former Mind, yet they lived, behaved, and Walked like drunken People, going with a high Step, and throwing their Legs ſtrangely and fooliſhly ; nor did they remember any Thing that had paſt in the Fit, nor complained of any paſt or preſent Pain of the Head. Theſe Doatings rarely went off without leaving ſome Taint or Mark, as Dulneſs of the Hearing, Tingling of the Ears, Dimneſs of Sight, and ſometimes both. Some were ſo weakened with the Diſeaſe, that they had no Uſe of the Parts, but were fed like Children. After the Fit, the Sick had a moſt voracious and inſatiable Appetite, and Longing for ſeveral Meats, as though their Hunger could never be ſatiſfied, nor they eat enough. When they had Plenty given them, they gorged down, and conſumed incredible Quantities, without any after Load, Compreſſion, or Uneaſineſs. In the Courſe of this Disſaſe, a Diarrhea began, and afflicted them till the whole morbific Matter was ſpent. The leſs they ate, the ſeverer the Looſneſs. Alſo in Proceſs of Time, the Hands and Feet of moſt ſwelled ; and on their Toes and Fingers, were great Bliſters full of Ichor, which being opened, much Water run down their Fingers without any Relief. Some had ſmall Sweats. All that had the Epilepſy, had Fits of it return as long as they lived. Such as doated, were delirious, raging, or furious, never recovered their former Judgment or Diſcretion, but were fooliſh, and ſilly, though they lived 15 or 16 Years after. At the ſame Time of the Year, viz. in December and January, in the ſharp and cold froſty Winter, they fell ſuddenly into the ſame deplorable State, or run out into the Fields, or threw themſelves into Rivers, whereby many were loſt Yearly before they could be found. Though this Diſeaſe was neither eaſily cured, nor quickly overcome, yet where it had not taken deep Root, nor continued long, it was not only curable, but by proper Care, ſuch as had ſuffered long and much, might obtain ſuch a Truce, as rendered the Remainder of their Life comfortable. Few that lived in the ſame Houſe, and converſed freely with the Infected, eſcaped this terrible Contagion either in one Shape or another, as Dyſentery, Diarrhea, Convulſions, &c. But the Time of Infection was very different, according to the Conſtitution, and former Way of Life, as from one to twelve Months, or in ſome even at two Years End. Such as in Time had proper Remedies, moſtly recovered to their former State. The Diſeaſe, and all its Symptoms, were more frightful and fatal to the Poor than to the Rich ; to the Intemperate and Irregular, than to the Sober and Regular ; the laſt were alſo ſooner, eaſier, and fullier cured than the firſt. Publick Care was taken that all ſhould have ſufficient Diet of good Juice, and eaſy Digeſtion, as Beef, Veal, Mutton, Hens, Capons, Turkies, Partridges, Birds of Mountains and Woods, good Wheat, or Oatmeal, Apples, Pears, Prunes, or the like, boiled, and often taken with aromatic or carminative Herbs, either eaten in Sauces, Broths, or alone ; and either good Wine, or fine Ale to drink. They were to avoid Paſſions of Mind, Venery, Pork, Bacon, Beef of old Cattle, Fiſh of all Kinds, Peaſe, Beans, Nuts, Cheſnuts, raw Apples, or Pears, Onions, Muſtard, Garlick, Leeks, Horſe Raddiſh, Cheeſe, new, dead or ſtale Ale, corrupt or ſtagnant Waters, too rich or old Wines. They were to ſhun South Wind and Cold, and to procure clean warm dry Air, by burning in their Rooms Juniper, Lavender, Sage, Thyme, Maſtich, Frankincenſe, Betony, Roſemary, &c. The medicinal Courſe was begun with Laxatives, and the Body was to be kept open by one every 6th or 8th Day ; a Sweat was to be given once every Fortnight ; a Purge was given daily the firſt two or three Days, according to the Patient’s Strength and Age. Then they gave the Convulſive Powder ſix or ſeven Days ; then a Purge ; then the Powder again for 14 Days. But if the Cure was begun immediately before full or new Moon, they began with the Powder firſt ; then purged, and gave ſome Doſes of the Powder every Phaſe of the Moon for ſeveral Moons after, and repeated the whole Courſe every December and January as at firſt, and ſometimes a Sweat. The Preſcriptions for the Purge, convulſive Powder, and convulſive Antidote were, 1. The purging Electuary, ℞. Diaphemic. ſolid ℥iv. Elect. Succ. Roſar. ℥ijß. Antidot. convulſiv. ℥ij. pulv. Hermodactyl. Albar. a cort. Superiori. Mundat, Turbeth. Alb. Eſul. Mundat. correctæq. aa .ʒj. Diagrid. Caſtor. aa. ℈ij. zz. Coſt. Caryophil. aa. ℈j. Croc. ſem. Rut. cymin. aa. ℈ß. Syr. Roſar. q. ſ. f. Elect. Doſ. ʒiv. ---- 2. Antidot. convulſiv. ℞. pulv. rad. peon. viſe. Quertin. caſtor. ſalv. aa. ℥ij. Bacear. Laur. cran. human. calcin. aa. ʒij. Theriac. Alexandr. Mithrid. opt. aa. ℥xij. Mell. Deſpumat. Ibij. M. f. Elect. Theriacal. Doſe ʒj. 3. Pulv. convulſiv. ℞. Pulv. vinc. Toxic. Helen. ſucciſ. Pœon, caryophilac. aa. ℥jß. Baccear. Laur. ʒiv. Sumitat. ſalv. ſerpil: flor. Anth. aa. ʒij. ſpecier. Diamoſch. dulc. ſpecier. Pleris archontic. Diaanth aa. ʒj M. f. Pulv. Doſ. ʒj. They gave Broth four Hours after the Purge, and at Night, ſeaſoned with wild Thyme, Savory, Roſemary, Sage ; and in December and January, for Prevention, beſides the convulſive Powder, they uſed Peony Roots, Elecampane, Sage, Rue, Juniper-berries, Cummin Seeds, &c. --— For the Cure of the Symptoms ; 1. Hunger : They gave often, and ſparingly, of the above Meats, very fat. If the Stomach was acid, or pall’d with much Phlegm, they gave a mild Peuk. 2. Vomiting: If from too much Food, it was allowed more ſparingly ; if from a Load of bad Humours there, it was not ſtopt ſuddenly, except it occaſioned Weakneſs, then they applied a Pultice of Wine, Rye Bread, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Quinces ; and gave for Drink, Wheat Bread Toaſt, rubb’d with Nutmeg, and dipt in Wine, with Sugar. --- 3. Looſneſs : This was by no means to be quickly ſtopt, but rather to be encouraged ſome Days by the Uſe of the two firſt Electuaries, either till it ceaſed, or weakened the Perſon ; then they uſed Steel very often heated, and quenched in their Drink, or Rice Gruel, or Milk, and Quinces, or preſerved or dried Sloes, or a Dram of ſealed Earth, Bole, Nutmeg, or burnt Hartſhorn, &c.----- 4. Swelling of the Parts : Beſides the Uſe of the Electuary, they diſcuſſed it with a Lee of Vine Aſhes, or of Birch, Beech, or Oak Aſhes, wherein were boiled Origanum, Calamint, and Chickweed ; and fomented daily with theſe, boiled Herbs in a Bag, and anointed after with Oyl of Caſtor or Walnut. --— The Diſcharge of Lee from Toes and Fingers, was let alone to great Advantage ; but, if needful, Furnace or Oven Aſhes, with Cream, were applied. --- 6. Feveriſh Heat was moſtly taken off by the Purging and Electuary, but if it reſiſted them, the Sick had their Meat boiled with Lettice, Endive, Cichory, Wood Sorrel, Vine Leaves, &c. or gave Powders of them often, or applied Leaves of Water Lillies to the Liver and Kidneys. --- 7. The Epilepſy : The Parts were ſo held as to be moved a little, neither violently bended, nor extended, but well rubbed and wrapt up with Cloaths ; and Rue, Caſtor, Lavender, wild Thyme, or Origanum, held to the Noſe, and half a Spoonful of their Juice, Wine, or Infuſion, drunk, &c. Its ſurprizing they tried not the Uſe of Bathing in tepid Water for theſe Convulſions ; for I do avouch, upon a 30 Years Experience of its Efficacy, in Spaſmodit, Convulſive, Epileptic, Scoibutic, Calculous, and ſeveral other Kinds of moſt terrible diſtracting Pains, and Contractions. The whole Circle of Medicine falls unſpeakably ſhort of its Succeſs, and that very often inſtantaneous ; but never ſuffer the Water to be warmer than new Milk ; the Patient to ſit in it uncovered from 10 to 40 Minutes, and repeat its Uſe as they can bear it. --- 8. The Apoplectic Symptom : When the Sick laid quite ſtiff, with ſcarce any viſible Life, they let Blood from their Arm, from 12 to 16 Ounces, in a ſmall Stream, at ſeveral ſhort Intervals, laying the Thumb a little each Time on the Orifice ; for though this Symptom required Bleeding, the Diſeaſe forbid it ; then put Ligatures on the Extremes, gave ſome proper diſtilled Waters, and laid a Cataplaſm on the Feet, injected ſtimulant Clyſters, and uſed Friction to all the Extremes ; then bathed the Body with Wine, and put Fumigations under the Noſe. --- 9. The Lethargy, out of which they were ſcarcely to be rouzed : Sharp Clyſters were injected, the Noſe rubb’d with the above Aromatics, and the Head fomented with a Decoction of them in Wine and Vinegar. Water and Vinegar, with Sage and Juniper-berries bruiſed, were thrown on hot Bricks of Flint Stones near the Beds of the Sick ; and kindled Oak Sticks were put under their Necks to excite Pain. --- 10. In Madneſs, Stupor, or Delirium, they gave the purging Electuary two Days together, then raiſed a Diaphoreſis with the convulſive Powder, and by all Means induced Sleep.--11. For the Pain of the convulſed Parts, after Purging and Sweating, they were bathed with ſoftening Oyls, or Wine, or both mixt. --- 12. For a Palſy of the Parts, after Purging and Sweating, for the firſt eight or ten Days, rub the Parts with Oyl of ſweet Almonds, Woman’s Milk, and the Marrow of Veal Bones, mixt ; for the next eight or ten Days, they anointed with wild Cats Greaſe, and a little Caſtor, or its Oyl, with the Mucilage of Linſeed, mixt. --— Laſtly, Oyl of Eels, Foxes, and Oyl of Lillies, of each equal Parts, Earth Worms bruiſed in them and ſtrained, then add Wine, and boiled away till the Wine was ſpent : If theſe ſucceeded not at firſt, they deſiſted a little from uſing them, then they did well ; or naturally hot Baths relieved. --- 13. For Dulneſs of Hearing, and Dimneſs of Sight : After Purging and Sweating, Time wore both theſe and the other Symptoms off. --— Great Rains, Dearth, and Scarcity, this Year in England.