MEMB. 3. SUBSECT. 1. Cure of Hypocondriacall melancholy.

In this cure, as in the rest, is especially required the rectification of those six non-naturall things above all, as good diet, which Montanus consil. 27. enjoyns a French Nobleman, To have an especiall care of it, without which all other remedies are in vain.

Blood-letting is not to be used, except the Patients body be very full of blood, and that it be derived from the liver and spleen to the stomack and his vessels, then to draw it back, to cut the inner vein of either arm, some say the salvatella, and if the malady be continuate, to open a vein in the forehead.

Preparatives and Alteratives may be used as before, saving that there must be respect had as well to the liver, spleen, stomack, hypocondries, as to the heart and brain. To comfort the stomack and inner parts against winde and obstructions, by Areteus, Galen, Ætius, Aurelianus, &c. and many latter writers, are still prescribed the decoctions of Wormwood, Centaury, Penniroyall, Betony sod in whey, and daily drunk: many have been cured by this medicine alone.

Prosper Altinus and some others, as much magnifie the water of Nilus against this malady, an especiall good remedy for windie melancholy. For which reason belike Ptolomeus Philadelphus, when he married his daughter Berenice to the King of Assyria (as Celsus lib. 2. records) magnis impensis Nili aquam afferri jussit, to his great charge caused the water of Nilus to be carried with her, and gave command, that during her life she should use no other drink.

I finde those that commend use of Apples, in Splenatick and this kinde of melancholy (Lambswooll some call it) which howsoever approved, must certainly be corrected of cold rawness and winde.

Codronchus in his book de sale absyn. magnifies the oyl and salt of Wormwood above all other remedies, which works better and speedier then any simple whatsoever, and much to be preferred before all those fulsome decoctions, and infusions, which must offend by reason of their quantity; this alone in a small measure taken, expels winde, and that most forcibly, moves urine, cleanseth the stomack of all gross humours, crudities, helps appetite, &c.

Arnoldus hath a wormwood wine which he would have used, which every Pharmacopæa speaks of.

Diminutives and purgers may be taken as before, of hiera, manna, cassia, which Montanus consil. 230. for an Italian Abbot, in this kind prefers before all other simples. And these must be often used, still abstaining from those which are more violent, lest they do exasperate the stomack, &c. and the mischief by that means be increased.

Though in some Physicians I finde very strong purgers, Hellebor it self prescribed in this affection. If it long continue, vomits may be taken after meat, or otherwise gently procured with warm water, oxymel, &c. now and then. Fuchsius cap. 33. prescribes Hellebor; but still take heed in this malady, which I have often warned, of hot medicines, because (as Salvianus adds) drought follows heat, which increaseth the disease: and yet Baptista Sylvaticus controv. 32. forbids cold medicines, because they increase obstructions, and other bad symptomes. But this varies as the parties do, and ’tis not easie to determine which to use.

The stomack most part in this infirmity is cold, the liver hot; scarce therefore (which Montanus insinuates consil. 229. for the Earl of Mansfort) can you help the one, and not hurt the other: much discretion must be used; take no Physick at all he concludes without great need.

Lælius Ægubinus consil. 77. for an Hypocondriacall German Prince, used many medicines; but it was after signified to him in letters, that the decoction of China and Sassafras, and salt of Sassafras, wrought him an incredible good. In his 108. consult. he used as happily the same remedies; this to a third might have been poison, by over-heating his liver and blood.

For the other parts look for remedies in Savanarola, Gordonius, Massaria, Mercatus, Johnson, &c. One for the spleen, amongst many other, I will not omit, cited by Hildesheim spicel. 2. prescribed by Mat. Flaccus, and out of the authority of Benevenius. Antony Benevenius in an hypocondriacall passion, cured an exceeding great swelling of the spleen with Capers alone, a meat befitting that infirmity, and frequent use of the water of a Smiths forge; by this Physick he helped a sick man, whom all other Physicians had forsaken, that for seven yeers had been Splenatick.

And of such force is this water, that those creatures as drink of it, have commonly little or no spleen. See more excellent medicines for the Spleen in him, and Lod. Mercatus, who is a great magnifier of this medicine.

This Chalybs præparatus, or steel-drink is much likewise commended to this disease by Daniel Sennertus l. 1. part. 2. cap. 12. and admired by I. Cæsar Claudinus Respons. 29. he cals steel the proper Alexipharmacum of this malady, and much magnifies it; look for receipts in them. Averters must be used to the liver and spleen, and to scoure the Meseriack veins; and they are either to open or provoke urine.

You can open no place better then the Hæmrods, which if by horse-leeches they be made to flow, there may be again such an excellent remedy, as Plater holds. Salust. Salvian will admit no other phlebotomy but this; and by his experience in an hospitall which he kept, he found all mad and melancholy men worse for other blood-letting. Laurentius cap. 15. cals this of horse-leeches, a sure remedy to empty the spleen and Meseriack membrane.