Leechdoms, wortcunning, and starcraft of early England. Being a ...

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Unclci'Htaud
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LEECH BOOK. 11. 219
if the disease be still on the increase, let Jam last for ^^''^ ^^
two days together, if his strength will endure it ; ii"
lie be not able to do that, let him have somewhat
light to eat, as eggs be and the like of them. Some,
for the cleansing of the wamb, seethe nettle in water,
and in wine, and in oil, some seethe in sweetened wine
twigs of red nettle green, some beet or dock, and give
this to be taken; and if the disease groweth stronger,
and the sick man hath the strength for it, then they
seethe stronger worts and add some little pejjper. Let
it be earnestly observed what the outgang, or /cecal
discharge, is, whether mickle, or little, or whether there
be none ; let the leech learn by that how it seems to
liim a, man shonld act. If there be an inflammatory
flagrant humour within, let it be got out by gentle
aperient diet, and let it not lodge within in the
l)ody, for then there will be gathered an inflammatory
humour in the wamb, or in the small guts, and then
the place has no passage out, but the spot is corrupted,
and the maw is disturbed and upbroken, and the head
is vexed and sore, and the inwards upblown ; and hot
fevers, and mickle thirst, and diseases of all the body
become awakened. Such a disease must be treated, if
the iKttient have no fever, with cows milk, or let him
drink goats milk newly milked. Also it helpeth if a
mail with water stones' put in the fire, or with heated
iron, turneth the milk and so giveth it to be dnmk
and if it be a young man and he hatli a suitable time
for it and strength to hear it, he must be fi-eely let
blood from the arm, and let him drink the milk for
about three
days.
such stones as \vould bear to be heated and phiugcd ill
AVater.