A SHORT TREATISE, SHOWING The Causes and Remedies of that General Disease spread abroad throughout this Nation, commonly termed by many the Plague of the Guts; But it is very probable to be that sort of Flux, called by the name of Dysenteria, or Red-Flux.  
With some other remarkable Remedies for other Diseases worthy to be noted.  
Published by N. H. of Dorchester, in the County of Dorset for the good of those that desire their Health.  
Try and Trust.  
Try man as the Instrument, but trust God as the Helper.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Ibbitson, 1658.   

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER: OR Any one to whom these Presence shall come; Health and Peace be multiplied.  
Christian Reader,  
I Have as a Minister, or servant unto thee, prescribed away if thou wilt hearken to me, as from God, for thy good, to be a Physician unto thee both for soul and body; if thou wilt give thy heart to receive wholesome counsel and advice from God, and myself, by using and putting into practice what is here set down in this following Treatise: The great and wise God knowing the inward frame and temper of all men's hearts, knows how to suit an outward judgement upon any particular person, much more upon a whole Nation, according to the inward distemper of the heart and soul of man. There is (as I am informed) a general Looseness amongst persons, and that not or a few, but many, with terrible gripe in the body; may not this fitly intimate, and put us in mind of that general Looseness not only in Religion, for matter of Worship, but also a great Looseness, and Liberty in matter of Life and Conversation, by giving way to the satisfying of the flesh, and this is seen not only amongst profane ones, from whom we can expect but little better, but hath been, and still is found even amongst those which have made Profession of the Truth, and have been accounted as Professors of the same, amongst them that are truly godly, whereby they have fretted and grieved the Spirit of the Lord, and have caused the Name of God to be evil spoken of.  
And this evil is not found only in one corner of the Land, but generally throughout all the parts thereof; and therefore as the sin is, so is the plague or punishment, not only in the City of London, and the places adjoining, but it is spread here and there over the whole Nation. Wherefore (I think) it is good for us to look about us, and to see the hand that smites, seeing it is not a mediate, but an immediate judgement from God himself, and therefore especially to be sought unto.  
And because it may be, those that are in Authority, have too much winked at, and have not put in execution the Law of God, to wit, against Blasphemy, etc. Therefore God hath now taken the power into his own hand, and hath taken away many by death, even those amongst others that were never guilty of any such horrible Crimes (it may be) for the sins of others. The people of the Lord were punished for the sin of Acha●, and yet (as far as we know) some of them whose names were written in the Book of Life.  
Wherefore (Christian Reader) I would, if I could advise thee as from the Lord, that thou consider seriously of these things, and desire true understanding from God: The Plague is general, and it requires general repentance, not only by a public humiliation, but every family and person a part by themselves, with seeking and turning unto God. Those that find themselves guilty, to bethink themselves especially, and labour to amend, for though the hand of God is not upon them in particular, or whether it may, or may not be, and so they may escape, yet it may be for their sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out against others.  
And for those that have kept close to God (whom God have preserved) and have not yet fallen from their first Love, labour still to keep sure footing for holiness of life, and soundness of doctrine, That the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ may run on, and be glorified amongst them which are truly sanctified, and to mourn in secret for God's afflicting hand over his people. A word to the wise is sufficient, if so be thou art wise for thyself, and I am thine, as thou art thyself, in the Lord,  
N. H.   

A short TREATISE SHOWING The Causes and Remedies of that general Disease spread abroad throughout this Nation, commonly termed by many the Plague of the Guts, but it is very probable to be that sort of Flux, called by the name of Dysenteria; or Red-Flux.  
WHereas I am credibly informed that the Lord hath visited this Nation with a certain Disease, not only in the City of London, but generally throughout the whole Nation; I thought it my duty in charity, through the instigation of certain friends, to publish to the view of those whom it may concern, as children, and others of riper years, certain remedies, which I have by my own experience found out, for many years since, which was never before now made known unto the world, and being made use of (as it hath been upon many persons heretofore, and upon some persons of late) I never failed (to my knowledge) the first or second day within the space of eight and forty hours, but it hath ceased and stopped without any prejudice to the person, which may seem to follow by reason of the suddenness of the cure, or any costiveness, which I know will be objected and feared by many. And although the things prescribed for the cure of this Disease are mean and common, yet think not meanly of those weak means, which may through the blessing of God, produce strange and wonderful effects. And take this for a truth, that although the Disease have held for a month or two, or for a quarter of a year, or more, those two receipts which are mentioned, or set down with the mark of a star above the rest, hath (and as far as I know) may through the blessing of God, remedy this Disease, according to the time before prescribed, or sooner, as I have found by experience, the same night.  
And besides this, I have found for many years since, that those persons which have accustomed themselves to Physic barely, and nothing else, have (for the most part of them) died, though some have lingered a long time in it, to wit, two or three months. And during that time they have been in extreme torments by reason of those contrary humours, and inward gripe of the Guts, which have brought them to a Consumption of the whole, and so have finished their end in such extreme torments, as cannot well be expressed.  
There are (as I am informed) many Physicians, which term this Disease to be the Plague of the Guts, the reason, as I suppose is; because most Physicians have not been acquainted with this Disease in this Nation, though it is common in Ireland, and as I have heard in Scotland, but in plain (in submission be it spoken) it is nothing else, or nothing less than the Flux in the bowels, in that I find it takes them in the same manner as it did those that had the Flux in Ireland, and are now cured with the same Remedies.  
And for the better understanding hereof, I shall here set down,  
1 Briefly and in general, what a Flux it.  
2 The several kind of Fluxes, together with their causes, that you may discern thereby the one from the other, and what little probability there is that it should be the Plague of the Guts.  
3 The Remedy for this, or any of the like Disease, so called, though inferior unto it.  
4 The ordering of the body afterward in case of the worst, though I never found any danger to ensue.  

Of the Flux in general.  
If it come through much eating or drinking, or through Phlegmatic matter, it cometh not often, nor continueth long, he needeth no remedy, unless it be caused of overmuch weakness.   

Of the Flux Lyenteria, to wit, Cholle, and Phlegm.  
This is an infirmity of the retentive virtue of the stomach, with the slipperiness of the Guts, whereby the meant being taken very suddenly without digestion, like as it was received, passeth away by stool.   

Of the Flux or Laske Diarrhea.  
This is a waterish Lask, with gripping, but without excoriation of the bowels, and without heat, whereby the body is consumed; It is caused of all humours of the body.   

Of the Flux, or Laske called Dysenteria, viz. The Red-Flux.  
And this is the Flux which by likelihood is this Disease which is spread abroad in this Nation.  
This is an exulceration, or excoriation of the entrails.  
And is described in this manner.  
It is a pain of the entrails which inflameth, sretteth, and excoriateth the same, so as with the matter of the scouring, blood is avoided, and it causeth much gnawing, which causeth the Pattern to go often to stool.  
The causes are sharp humours which passeth through the bowels, and there exulcerateth the same, fr●●, and take away the fatness. Also when the body is overcharged with Choler, Melancholy, and Phlegm, of which nature seeks to unburthen herself.   

Another kind of Dysenteria, or Bloodyflux.  
This cometh without scraping of the Guts, and of much more blood than the former, wherefore it is rather taken for the Flux of the Liver, than Dysenteria, though wrongfully so called.   

For an ordinary Laske, or Flux in Children, or gripping.  
* Take half a handful of Couch-grass cut, fit to boil, of Carraway-seed, and Fennel-seed bruised (or Aniseed instead of the Fennel-seed if it cannot be had) of each half an ounce, nine or ten Plantain leaves washed and cut, boil these in a quart of water to a pint, then strain it, after put in of your Pomegranate ryne powdered, of Cinnamon powdered, of each as much as will lie on a groat, and a quarter of a pint of milk, or less, and set it over the fire again, and let it boil for the space of half a quarter of an hour, then take it off the fire, and let the child drink of it warm morning and evening.   

A special Remedy for the cure of the Flux, called Dysenteria, or for any other Flux.  
* Take the inner ryne of an Oak, one great handful, Aniseed and Carraway-seed bruised alike, one ounce, of Couch-grass cut, fit to boil, one great handful, of Plantain washed and cut, one little handful, boil these in a pottle of water to a quart, then strain it, and put it over the fire again, and put in a quarter of a pint of milk, to sweeten it something, because of the rankness of the grass; as also Cinnamon powdered, and Sanguis Draconis (or Dragon's blood) of each as much as will lie on six pence, let it boil again half a quarter of an hour. Drink of this a good draught first and last, warm, fasting in the morning two hours after, and two or three hours after supper ere you go to bed. Note this, that you may not be deceived, your Couch-grass, is not your Knot grass, for that will do more hurt than good, but it is your Long-grass which runs upon the ground, with sweet knots or knobs.   

For a Flax in extremity, with never so great gripe, and the party worn away.  
Take of Almonds one pound blanched, and stamped in a Mortar small, twelve yolks of new laid Eggs roasted hard, bray them together, take a pint of strong Vinegar, put it into the stuff, and mingle them altogether, and put all into a fair pot of earth (but remember to stamp it well) then take five or six spoonfuls at once warm in a cup, and drink four or five times a day if need be. Proba●●●● est.  
Although this Receipt cannot choose but be good in itself, yet it hath not been tried by me as often as the former Remedy.  
In all these Fluxes you may make use of this white, Plaster, if you please, and partly because it is good for many special uses besides this disease of the Flux, and partly because children are not so subject to take inward applications, as outward, therefore I shall ●er● set down how it is made, with the Remedies thereof.  
Take of the best S●ll●● oil a quart and four ounces; Red-lead and White-lead alike, one pound, well beaten into fine dust; Cape-soap, (or Castle-soap) finely sliced twelve ounces, mingle these well together in an earthen pipkin well glazed (it must hold a gallon to hold this quantity) ●●ir it with an Iron ball having a handle to it, when this is well mingled together, the Soap come●● upward, then set it upon a fire of ●o●ls an hour and hal●, still stirring it, till the redness he turned into a grey colour, then drop a drop of it upon a trencher; and if it cleave unto the trencher it is enough, then pour it out by little and little upon a table, and with a little fresh grease anoint your hands, and the table, make it up ●●roules as fast as you can; keep it for your use two or three years, the elder the better. But you according to your need you may take an equal quantity of each, whether less or more (I 〈◊〉 of this b●● by the way.)  
It being laid to the stomach; provokes appetite, it taketh a way any grief●●, or about the stomach. It is a pr●●●●● melody for the Co●lick, it being appiled to the belly. And being laid to the re●ne● of the back, it easeth the bloodyflux, the running of the Rel●●s, the h●●● of the Kidneys, the weakness of the back. It healeth all swell and bruises: It drieth away running humours without breaking of the skin: It taketh away all aches: It breaketh felons and other impostumes, and healeth them; being laid to the head, it is good for the Evil: It helpeth the headache, and good for eyes. This in a Manuscript.  
There was once a Gentlewoman, extraordinarily perplexed night and day with such inward gripe and frettings for the spice of almost half a year, as I was truly informed by her husband, so as that the pain with the continuance of it was not, nor cannot now be expressed: She had taken Physic from several Physicians, with all the advice that could be given, or means administered unto her; yet all was in vain, but still grew worse and worse rather than better: At the last, I myself being brought by the providence of God into the Town where she dwelled, and hearing of it, I went unto her, and had some conference with her, desiring withal to accept of a Drink which I would make for her, I having had (as I told her) much experience of good it had done, and likewise to encourage her thereunto, I certified her that there could be no danger in the taking of it, seeing they were all ordinary things, and that there was nothing Physical whereby to stir the body, or to make it any way worse than it was, yet she was loath to venture upon it because she had tried so many Physicians already, and they had done her no good (which is a great fault found in many, because they have had a disease long, and have tried many, therefore if any come that should prescribe any other way, than what was prescribed before, they think it impossible, as if one person may not exceed another, and may not have knowledge in that disease which another hath not) so this Gentlewoman having had is so long, thought it impossible to receive any cure, and yielded herself for dead, being worn away to an Anatomy, or Consumption, yet by much persuasion, I obtained her leave to make it for her, and she promised me to take it, and that night she drank the first draught, but it made such a striving and stirring in her body to get the mastery of the disease, that I could not persuade her to drink of it any more, yet that ●very draught made a perfect cure, and she recovered.  
Now because the body is overburdened with Choler, Melancholy, and Phlegm, therefore I hold it very useful and necessary, that before you take any of the former Remedies for the Flux, that you take this purge, which is very needful for the expelling of those humours formerly mentioned, if so be that the party be not too much worn away; if so, than I could advise you to forbear any such means, and only make use of that drink for them of riper years noted with a star, neither is it to be given unto children, for the drink itself will cure it without any such physic.  
A preparative for the purge which I could advise you to take before. Take as much Senae finely powdered, as will lie on half a crown, with the pap of two or three roasted apples well buttered, and sweetened with sugar, and so mingled altogether with the powder of Senae, eat that instead of your supper (and drink a little warm broth after if you please) a little before you go to bed, it will lie in your body all the night, and not in the least disturb you of your sleep, but towards the morning it will begin to work, and it may give you some two or three stools, according to the temper of your body, it may be more, yet it will not make you sick at all, but you may wear a Waistcoat that night, or when you find it begin to work, let a Waistcoat be warmed, or keep it in your bed all the night, that it may be fit for use; I would not have you to rise out of your bed about the house until you have taken the purge, or find that first to move or stir in your body.  
About an hour after the preparative have done working, take this purge following in your bed.  
Take of your Diaphenicon, give five drams to a woman, and fix to a man, in a quarter of a pint of White-wine, stirring it about by the fire with your knife until it be wholly dissolved, and so take it warm, lying there till it begin to work (I mean for the space of an hour) then let your  be well warmed, and rise, having before hand a good fire prepared in your Chamber, cloth yourself very hot, the hotter the better, although you are in a sweeting condition all the while the physic is working, and fit by the fire, or walls up and down in your Chamber till it hath done working, and keep out the air as much as may be.  
After every stool you ought to drink ● draught of broth made of a small neck of Veal, which must be put over the fire before you take the purge, that it may be in readiness, putting into your liquor only a good crust of wheaten bread, and a little salt.  
About an hour or more after the purge hath done working, take your rest upon your bed, being covered hot for the space o● an hour and half, for to refresh nature that hath been something wearied. In the mean time let this broth be made and provided.  
Take a Chicken and boil it in fair water with oatmeal groats (or great Oatmeal) finely beaten in a mortar, strain them in a cloth with some of the liquor, than put thereto Violet leaves, Strawberry leaves, the roots of Fennel and Parsly, the pith of them being taken out with a little whole Mace, Saffron, and Nutmeg, and one pennyworth of Currans, boil half the quantity away, and so eat and drink thereof.  
This purge purgeth Phlegm, Choler, and Melancholy very easily, and never offends the stomach, neither maketh the party sick, taking it in this manner after the preparative before mentioned.  
There are certain cautions to be observed both for meats and drinks for the space of two or three days, while you are taking the Physic or the drink.  
1 Remember that for that time you drink neither Beer or Ale, strong or small, neither any Wine, unless it be red Wine with a toast in it, but let your drink be water and sugar, ordered in this man●er, boil in three pints of water an ounce of Cinnamon broken in pieces, for the space of half an hour, and then make it a little sweet with loaf Sugar, and so drink it as you do your ordinary drink, warm.  
2 Abstain during the same time, or longer, from Cabbage or pottage made of it, and green fruit.  
3 Abstain from salt meats, as also from fresh Eels and Plaice.  
4 Put in your pottage leaves of Plantain three or four, and eat dry meats for the most part, as Mutton, your Beef moderately salted, Rabbits, etc.  
And remember that at night when you go to bed, the same day in which you have taken the purge, you may take a draught of that drink which is appointed for this disease: If you are to make use of Glisters it is good to put the juice of Plantain into them.   
Exitus acta probat.