X125/77

Letter from John Symcotts to Mistress Halford of Wellum:

Not dated c. 1660

From: 1660 To: 1660

The course which I have propounded to myself in your cure is this: First, by a gentle purgative way to abate such serous and waterish humours which must necessarily abound in the first region by your sedentary life and are the antecedent matter of those which (abounding in the (liver c) veins and other inward parts and likewise in the whole habit of the body, have now by long custom found an irregular vent for themselves by ways not destinated of nature to such a purpose, and therefore, though great and sudden evacuations may well evacuate the offensive cuase yet can they never (alter c) that habit which the law of custom shall imposed (sic) , (and is c) (must be i) disannulled by (a kind of proportionc) degrees, as it had a foundation. In this respect I hope you will not think much to hold on in that purgative course, not to abatement only, but also till you have taught the humours a right course into the common channels of the bowels, whereto, when the once of themselves retire both costivesness and that (consequences thereof will soon have amend c) expurgation of the veins (your complaint) will soon be amended. So long then as you purgative potion works in small quantity without much griping it argues plenty of matter it finds to work upon, and requires this continuance at the conclusion, because by such small quantities some humours may happily be stirred, not voided, it may not be amiss to take such a purge as you began withal. In the second place, I should prescribe bleeding (necessary indeed to the cure, if the opinion of impropriety of the season did no reclaim) in regard of the hotter temper of your liver, the fountain of redounding choler which, insinuating into the veins, sharpens the blood and humours thereof and causeth by turns that inflammatory humour of your eyelids, mordacity of urine, and those small eruptions on your nails and suchlike (effects c) symptoms, all which are dulled if not quite removed by this remedy. But I proceed to such thins as will cleanse the veins, then empty the veins by the passages of urine of that phlegmatic and watery humour which gives denomination to your disease. After, to sweating cordials, to breathe out from that (poisoned i) habit of the body, which by a kindly siccation of the pores makes the flesh firm and less capable of humours, which are there ofttimes lodged up as in a storehouse to the maintenance of this kind of disease. (In the use of these take china broth i). After this, I shall proceed to things rather of a drying than astringent nature, as the disease requires. But to deal truly and freely with you I conceive there concurs in this case some looseness of the reins besides. I have directed mixed remedies, first abstersive and drying, secondly drying and stringent, that so all impurity in the reins and matrix be first removed and then the parts strengthened. Last of all, for the absolution of the cure, much and great exercise by degrees is requisite, otherwise the serous and watery moisture which (compartively to other humours) abounds in all our bodies for irrigation of the parts, temperation of heat, distribution of alimentary juices, devection of the blood and spirits, and such like, will in you superabound. Which measure of exercise, because your weak body will not admit of, you must do as you may. Let your upper parts, as neck, shoulders, arms, back and breast be rubbed every morning before you rise with soft cloths, first more gently, after more strongly as you are able to bear it. Walk much; sit as little as you can, and so by degrees proceed to such exercises as your body will endure, till which time your only refuge to cut off superfluous humours will be once a week to take some lenitive purgation of manna, with liquorice water and tamarinds or cassia fistula or the like; if you will endure it to take once a fortnight or less to take two or three spoonfuls of our vomitory infusion with posset drink about two hours before supper after you have dined with pig. A singular way to cleanse the first region is to repel descending humours (and once a week to take one of the cordial sweating powders in a morning, which will supply the want of exercise in furthering insensible transpiration by which means a multitude of thin humours in form of a vapour break through the pores). In general, let your body be kept in a soluble state, either by (a dram i) cremor tartari taken in the morning in that broth which you first take, if that will not serve, let some broth be made with calves' feet jelly wherein mallows, sliced prunes and an old fennel root are boiled, which take in the first place at dinner, or you may take five grains of our rose aloes immediately before supper, and after increase the quantity till it work once the next day; all which you may take without any forcing to nature; or you may take a common clyster of milk and sugar, which will draw wind sufficiently. The china broth is thus made. Use you the means, I will not cease to pray for a blessing. Thus with all due respects of love and service to you and my worthy friend Mr Halford I rest and ever shall Your thankful and faithful friend J S. (Sic).

item

Halford,
Symcotts, John

CORRESPONDENCE, MEDICINE & HEALTH, treatment methods, blood letting, medical recipes, doctor of medicine