The Case-Book of John Symcotts

Summary

Mistress Ann Jennings was very costive and, though she took much oil of almonds and compound oxymel and other pectorals, yet had scarce a stool in 2 days except by clysters. She was very short breathed but coughed and raised day and night one time as well as another, yet about a week before she died her legs and thighs swelled much, and with her phlegm (raised from her lungs) she coughed up white stones whereof I have 2 or 3 by me. She was hectical, phthisical and strumatical.

Observations

Of vomits

Those that have drunk much wine, though the stomach grow nauseous and vomitish, yet I have found that a vomit given hath wrought but little or nothing upwards, but made them very sick, caused extreme griping and brought the cramp upon diverse parts, as in Sir Capel Bedells, and Mr. Jo. Cotton, whom yet a warm cloth applied to his thighs eased the pain there, and one applied to his navel presently helped in general.

A consumption

Those that have had a long dry cough, wax lean and thin, feel unequal heats, especially after meals, have a quick and small pulse, covet the fire much, yet are hot within, and being from the fire grow cold in hands and face, look pale, are often or continually troubled with a hoarseness, I never saw recovered.

Of these the water is commonly very good. Some are costive, as Harry Barnes, Mistress Hanchet, Mr. Alexander Napper, Sir Tho. Cotton’s daughter, Mr. Spencer’s daughter, and this unto the last, having a stool commonly once a day; sometimes a pretty appetite, that one would think they were recovering, and yet presently sink again. Thus Mistress Frances Cleburne. Some fall into a looseness that will not be stayed, as Edward Craft’s wife, William Mayle of Godmanchester, and Sir Char. Howard’s Lady (and Mr. Claver of Bedfordⁱ). Some swell before they die, as Robert Vintner, whose blood was very foul, his urine high and dark, and his feet swelled, though not very much. Some will swoon and die away for a while, then mors per foribus (as in Mr. William Bevilⁱ). Most of these raise commonly in the morning abundance of tough matter and yellowish and much frothy.