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 a hypochondriacal
passion, [4389]"cured an exceeding great swelling of the spleen with capers
alone, a meat befitting that infirmity, and frequent use of the water of a
smith's forge; by this physic he helped a sick man, whom all other
physicians had forsaken, that for seven years had been splenetic." And of
such force is this water, [4390]"that those creatures as drink of it, have
commonly little or no spleen." See more excellent medicines for the spleen
in him and [4391]Lod. Mercatus, who is a great magnifier of this medicine.
This _Chalybs praeparatus_, or steel-drink, is much likewise commended to
this disease by Daniel Sennertus _l. 1. part. 2. cap. 12._ and admired by
J. Caesar Claudinus _Respons. 29._ he calls steel the proper
[4392]alexipharmacum of this malady, and much magnifies it; look for
receipts in them. Averters must be used to the liver and spleen, and to
scour the mesaraic veins: and they are either too open or provoke urine.
You can open no place better than the haemorrhoids, "which if by
horseleeches they be made to flow, [4393]there may be again such an
excellent remedy," as Plater holds. Sallust. Salvian will admit no other
phlebotomy but this; and by his experience in an hospital which he kept, he
found all mad and melancholy men worse for other bloodletting. Laurentius
_cap. 15._ calls this of horseleeches a sure remedy to empty the spleen and
mesaraic membrane. Only Montanus _consil. 241._ is against it; [4394] "to
other men" (saith he) "this opening of the haemorrhoids seems to be a
profitable remedy; for my part I do not approve of it, because it draws
away the thinnest blood, and leaves the thickest behind."

Aetius, Vidus Vidius, Mercurialis, Fuchsius, recommend diuretics, or such
things as provoke urine, as aniseeds, dill, fennel, germander, ground pine,
sodden in water, or drunk in powder: and yet [4395]P. Bayerus is against
them: and so is Hollerius; "All melancholy men" (saith he) "must avoid such
things as provoke urine, because by them the subtile or thinnest is
evacuated, the thicker matter remains."

Clysters are in good request. Trincavelius _lib. 3. cap. 38._ for a young
nobleman, esteems of them in the first place, and Hercules