is the most convenientest I will speak first of it This kind is no other then a certain descending down of the Intestines in Scrotum the cause of the which is when the Peretoneum is broken or relaxed in the place where the Spermatick vessels do pass which comes commonly by some vehement strain as by vehement running leaping lifting or vehement crying and such other like the signes to know when the Intestines is descended into Scrotum is when he lies they will easily be put up again without any manner of trouble or may be reduced the Patient standing with ones hands and in the reducing you shall hear a gurguling or noise and by this you may know it from Zirbus because that when the Zirbus is put up it makes no noise and also it is not so painful the other signes shall be declared when we come to speak of the Herni Zirbale When this kind is not very farre gone and that it be not compleat the best way is to cure it by Medicines as well to be taken inwards as to be applyed without that is to say with emplaisters and so by convenient trussing and boulstering steept in the Juyce of Herbs convenient 〈◊〉 Ruptures which are of astringent and glutinative â—aculty I have seen many by these aforesaid Medicines have been perfectly cured yet nevertheless if for the oldness of it that it be not to be cured by these means then you must come to the last remedy which is by cutting for the executing of the which I wish all men to chuse an expert Chyrurgeon and not to trust too much to these Runners about and as for this kinde it may be cut without taking away of the Testicle Of Herni Zirbale HErni Zirbale which the Greeks do call Epiplocele is another thing then the falling of Zirbus which is a grease that covereth the Guts into Scrotum the which most commonly falls within Didimes but yet sometimes by the breaking of the Didimes it falls out the causes as well inward as outward are the same which cause Herni Intestinale for look how the Peretoneum is broken or relaxed in the other even so doth it in this the signes are much like also saving that it is much more softer for in the touching it handleth like Wool and is also less painful and it is more difficult to put up then the Herni Intestinale and in the reducing makes no noise this kind is less dangerous then the others by reason that the pain is less and also because that the excrement is not in it as it is in the Herni Intestinale Now here is a special thing to be noted in this kind which the common cutters do use that is they do use to cut away the Zirbus which is discended within Didime without either tying or cautrising and so there followeth a flux of Blood which having no issue but is retained in the belly there doth corrupt which causeth most perilous accidents and most commonly death Of the relaxation of the Peretonium called Herni Inguinale HErni Inguinale is a descending of the Intestines or Zirbus into the Groins which the Latines call Inguina the which sort doth never go further then the Groin for when the Intestines or Zirbus doth pass thorow the Peretoneum then it is either Intestinale or Zirbale for this kind is nothing but a relaxation of the Peretoneum The causes are as of the others aforesaid and it is easily to be known by the roundness and it will be more easily reduced then any of the others you may know when the Intestines is descended by noise that it will make though not commonly yet most oftennest as hath been said of Enterocele but if it be the Zirbus it makes no noise and is much more softer and not so painful Of the kinds of Hernies which be by similitudes or improperly called WE have spoken of those three kinds of Herni which are properly called now it remains â—o speak of the five kinds which are by similitudes and first we will begin with the Aquose which is no other thing then a certain watrish tumor of Croton increased by little and little and for the most part lies between Heritroides and the Spermatick vessels howbeit sometimes it may be contained between Dartos and Heritroides and between Dartos and the Scrotum as many learned men have written the signes are that the Scrotum doth wax big by little and little and for the most part without pain and the tumor is heavy and glistering and hard principally when the Scrotum is filled it waxes in length and doth not return as doth the Intestinale and Zirbale but remains at one stay This kind if that the water have long lien there and so corrupted the Testicle it must be taken away Of Herni Charneuse HErni Charneuse which the Greeks do call Sarcocele is a tumor against nature in the Scrotum which there doth grow to a certain scireuse flesh and doth much resemble the Verequeses or Swelled Veins the causes of the which are by the gathering together of abundance of gross humors which nature cannot rule because of the weakness the signes are unequable hardness and inflamation which doth alwayes remain in the part that is to say the Didime and doth alwayes increase with pain being unequal and not even wherefore Guido saith that this kinde and Vanqueuse are very dangerous Hernie Verequese HErnie Verequese is an appearance of Veins not accustomed about the Testicles and other parts contained within Scrotum The causes are gross humors gathered together as melanchollick blood and such like which nature cannot disperse because of weakness The signs are repletion of the Veins about like to the twigs of Vines with softness of the Testicle or Dideme This kinde if it be not very great and far gone it may be healed by solutive Medicines The Hernie Ventose HErnie Ventose is a tumor of the Cods increased by winde and from the imbecillity or weakness of the part affected it is known by the swelling of the Cods and Yard which glistereth like unto a slikt paper it comes suddenly and is round and light if that there be not another humor joyned with it It is to be cured with Carnificatives as Oleum Nucum Oleum Anethinum Costinum c. And there may be added too of Seeds and Herbs as Semen Anisi Carvi Faeniculi Agni casti Ruta Calaminta Origani c. Hernie Humorale HErnie Humorale is an Aposthume contained likewise in the Cods which is ingendred of humors hot and cold not much declining from the natural habit which may lie between Scrotum and Dartos or between Heretroydes and Dartos or onely within Heritroydes as for the causes the signs and curation are like to other Aposthumes Now that I have declared the definition causes and signs of Hernies it shall not be amiss to expound in few words those parts which must be opened when any of these kindes are cured by handy operation and this is
Pot-Herbs the flowers either green or dried are often used in Possets Broths and Drinks as a comforter for the Spirits and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality gathered near thereunto the Syrup and Conserve made of the fresh flowers are used for some purposes to the same effect Of Pennyroyal and Hyssop PEnnyroyal purges melancholly and comforts the Stomach and Spirits Hyssop cleanseth viscus Phlegm is good for the Breast and Lungs Of Rosemary and Roses ROsemary is good for Palsies for the Falling-sickness and for a Cough good against cold Roses are a Cordial they comfort the heart and brain Of Fennel and Annis THese Herbs are seldome used but their seeds Fennel-seed is used to break Urine good against Poyson Annis-seed cleanses the Bladder and the Reins of the back provokes Urine and causeth a sweet Breath Of Sage SAge is good to help a woman to conceive it provokes Urine and sleep it is good in an Ague or Feaver and against the Falling-sickness this Herb is of excellent Vertue Of Violets VIolets comforts the brain preserve against drunkenness the syrup of them cools the Reins and is very good against the Falling-sickness Of Watercresses WAtercresses are very wholesome in the Spring-time they comfort the Sinnews and are hot and dry Of Tansie TAnsie purges the Ague dries the Sinnews and is good against the Worms Of Rue THere are two kindes of Rue the one of the Garden another of the Field it is good against Infection abates Lust is excellent for the Sight that of the Field is hot and dry in the fourth degree that of the Garden is hot and dry in the second degree Of Wormwood THere are several sorts of Wormwoods those of the Sea are not of that goodness in quality as the common and aromatical bitter sorts are nâ—vertheless because they are not so bitter as the common sorts which renders them more acceptable to many persons that desire to please their pallates rather then to be cured of their diseases by bitter medicines our Physicians and Apothecaries feeding their humor for their own profit and to please their Patients There are many other Herbs used in Pottage Broths Possets Sallets Sauces Tansies c. from most of which small nourishment is received Of the vertues of those which are of the highest concernment having already discoursed of in the first part of this Volume I shall here omit them Of Figs. A Vicen writes that Figs nourish more then any other fruit when they are eaten with blanched Almonds they are good roasted and stewed they cleanse the Breast and the Lungs open the opilations of the Liver and the Spleen they provoke to Venerious acts as they augment and encrease the seed of generation they cause sweating wherefore they ingender Lice Of great Raisins GReat Raisins are nutritive especially if the stones are out they make the stomach firm and cause a good appetite if a few of them be eaten before meat Of small Raisins of Currâ—â—â— SMall Raisins of Currans are good for the Reins of the back they do provoke urine howbeit they are not good for the Spleen they cause opilation Of Grapes GRapes sweet and new are nutritive and stumulate the flesh they comfort the Stomach and the Liver avoid opilations but they do repleat the stomach with winde Of Peaches of Medlers and Cervices PEaches mollifie the belly and are cold Medlers taken superfluously ingender melancholly Cervices are of the same operation Of Strawberries and Cherries STrawberries are praised above all Berries they qualifie the heat of the Liver ingender good blood eaten with Sugar Cherries mollifie the belly and are cold Of Nuts great and small THe Walnut and Banock are of one operation they are slow of digestion yet they comfort the brain if the pith or skin be pulled off they are nutritive Filberts are better then Hazzle-nuts if they are new taken from the â—ree and the skin or the pith pulled off they are â—utritive and encrease fatness if they are old they should be eaten with great Raisins New Nuts are better then old for old Nuts are cholâ—erick and naught for the head and evil for old persons as they ingender the Palsie in the Tongue immoderately taken or eaten ingender corruptions as biles blains and such putrefaction Of Pease and Beans PEase which are young are nutritive Beans are not so good as Pease they are more windy although the skins or husks be ablated yet they are a strong meat and doth provoke Venery Of Pears and Apples PEars which are mellow and not stony doth encrease fat and ingender waterish blood they are full of ventosity Wardons roasted â—tewed or bak't are nutritive comfort the stomach especially if they are eaten with Comfits Apples are good after a frost hath taken them â—or when they are old especially red Apples and those of good odour and mellow they should â—e eaten with Sugar or Comfits or with Fennel-seed or Anniseed because of their ventosity they comfort the stomach and cause good digestion especially if they are roasted and bak't Of Pomegranates and Quinces POmegranates are nutritive and good for the stomach Quinces bak't the coar pulled out mollifie the belly help digestion and preserve a man from drunkenness Of Dates and Milons DAtes moderately eaten are nutritive but they cause opilations of the Liver and of the Spleen Milons ingender bad humors Of Gourds of Cowcumbers and Pepones GOurds are of bad nourishment Cowcumbers restrain Venery as they are cold and moist corrupt the stomach and if they are not well ordered and moderately eaten ingender thick and gross humors and are within few degrees of poison to persons of a weak digestion Of Apricocks APricocks quickly corrupt and ingenderâ— chollerick and whayish excrements cause pestilent Agues stop the Liver and Spleen and breed ill juyce Of Barberries BArberries preserved refresh hot stomachs kept in pickle they serve for Sallets and the garnishing of Meat Of Citrons and Lemons CItrons the juyce of them are good against poison and qualifie humors putrefied in the body cause a sweet breath and cure burning Agues Lemons approach their nature is cold and dry in the third degree their seed temperate the juyce eat alone causes gripings of the guts but the peel with the pulp as nature hath united them together the heat of the one corrects the rawness of the other and both of them comfort the heart Of Mulberries MUlberries are hot in the first degree cold in the second best before meat they please the stomach cause a looseness of the body and provoke urine Of Raspis RAspis are like the Black-berry or Dew-berry but not so astringent cold stomachs cannot convert them into good juyce Of Goose-berries GOose-berries ripe are as nourishing as they are sweet they should be eaten first not last because they are so light a fruit The red Goose-berries are more cold dry and astringent by one degree because those in our countrey are not sweet Of Prunes and Damsins PRunes are used in medicine for
of the Patient sometimes it sticks so fast over the ball of the eye or betwixt the Christal Humors and the Tunickle Rhagois so as to tender the sight in the beginning of this disease certain fumes and Spirits do present themselves to the sight this disease is caused from cold and moist humors that fall on the Optick Nerve If this disease be of long continuance it cannot be cured but if that which is congealed by rubbing be rent asunder and doth not remain so long but grows together again and is of a sad white colour there is still left some hopes of the cure Of the French-Pox THe French-Pox it is a fowl and contagious disease which often proceeds from the immoderate use of Venery the beginnings of this disease are small but in time it vitiates the humors spirits membranes tendons flesh and bones and perverts the temperature and substance of the whole body the Liver is chiefly affected as appears from the bad Concoction of the Stomach the not propension to Venery laziness falling off of the hair it begins in the groins and privy members with little pushes in the Urine which in time do send forth clammy and corrupt blood heat of Urine effusion of seed several coloured spots appearing in the upper part of the body a pain in the sinews heaviness in the head hard swellings appear in the forehead and other parts which at last become great Ulcers so as to corrupt the bones The cause of this disease is a filthy quality communicated by touching but for the most part by the act of Venery as the privy members have a thin and rare substance taken in time this disease admits of cure but otherwise is incureable For the cure of this disease the air must be moderately hot for cold hinders the operation of the medicines the Patients diet must be sparing his bread twice bak't he must feed on the best fowl when he purges sod meats are best for him such as are windy breed gross humors those which inflame the blood are bad for him he must exercise himself till he sweats to expel the moist matter he must purge twice a week his sleep moderate he must abstain from Venery and shun all perturbations of mind Of the weakness of the Stomach THe weakness of the Stomach in Latine called Debilitas Ventriculi is a disposition of the alterative faculty wherein either the nourishment is not altered or not well concocted the faculty of the Stomach failing the crudity of the Stomach doth follow by some external cause The sign of a difficult concoction is when the Stomach doth not boil after the accustomed manner or is surcharged with fumes and vapors sometimes weakness after a disease is the cause The indigestion of the Stomach thus weakned raw humors must needs be gathered together either hot or cold disturbing the Stomach by some outward quality which is followed with a loathing of meat and a loading of the Stomach belchings vomitings caused by Phlegmy and putrified humors the relish then communicated to the pallate being sweet and watrish and much spettle voided without coughing or heming that crudity is worst which is caused by ill nourishment and very bad in those which do abound with Choller The air the Patient breaths should incline to heat as he ought to be kept warm his diet must be easie of digestion and moderate neither must he receive any other meat till the former be digested he may drink good Wine his head laid high and his sleep not to be disturbed he ought to be moderately merry and to avoid all perturbations of mind Of the Squinancy THis Disease is an inflamation of the Throat or of the highest part of the Gullet hindering the breath and swallowing when the fault is neither in the breathing nor swallowing This Disease by reason the upper part of the Gullet is choakt up doth threaten present danger by strangling If the inner parts of the Throat are affected then the Patient is in great danger this pain is sharp and the Patient breaths with difficulty he swallows with difficulty and that which he drinks doth often run out at his Nose This Disease is caused by blood which is carried thither by the Ingular Veins for in these Veins there is plenty of blood If the inflamation be in the inward Muscles that Squinancy is very dangerous within three or four dayes it is very likely to kill the party and although that the Patient may think himself well yet he is taken away with a sudden suffocation The air where the Patient resides must be temperate free from wind his diet liquid and soft he must shun those things that may heat his blood he must abstain from Wine and Exercise speak little his sleep shorter then ordinary it used to be if it be too long those that watch with him must awake him out of it his belly must be loosened and his minde kept merry Of involuntary Pissing INvoluntary pissing called Diarberes is a default of the Kidneys a swift passage the drink being nothing altered through the body an inmeasurable thirst following In this Disease the Kidneys are affected it is known by the heat felt in the Reins and the insatiable thirst If the Patient strives to hold his urine his Stones Hips and Loins swell such heat felt in those inward parts as if the Bowels were burnt This distemper is sometimes caused by sharp humors in the Kidneys by brinish Phlegm or a pernicious quality fixt to the blood or humors fastned to the Reins This distemper causeth a great driness and consumption of the body If the person have a burning Feaver he cannot be cured because his radical moisture is wasted The air in which this Patient lives must incline to cold and moist his diet such as will breed good but thick juyce such as will qualifie the sharpness of the humors salt and sharp meats as also such as provoke urine are not good the belly must be kept loose by art or nature Rest is best for this Patient because it stayes the motion of the humors Of the Inflamation of the Eyes THe Inflamation of the Eyes called Opthalmia is an inflamation of the Tunicle or Membrane growing close to the eye spread over all the Membrane from the corners of the eyes This evil takes its beginning from the Pericranium from whence Veins are conveighed to the eyes through the forehead and temples The part affected is chiefly the eye where redness appears and it is oftentimes swelled so that the Tunicles and parts near adjoyning are sore stretched this is either caused by the fulness of blood by which the Membrane growing next to the eye is filled or stretcht or else by phlegmatick blood and then it is not so stretcht or else by thin sharp Choller running from the temple and corner veins secretly into the eye-veins then such tears gush out of the eyes that the next parts seem burnt the Pupilla is in danger of being exulcerated if
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
Eggs and Milk is not good for him he must abstain from eating of fresh Beef and from eating of Goose Duck water Fowl and Pigeons and in no wise to eat Venison not Hare-flesh and such like Diet for those that are troubled with the Falling-sickness WHosoever hath any of the kindes of Falling-sickness he must abstain from eating of white meats especially of milk he must refrain from drinking of Wine new Ale and strong Ale to eat the fatness of fish nor the heads of fish the which ingenders Rhume shell fish Eels Salmon Herring and Viscus fishes are not good for Epilentick persons also such must refrain from eating of Garlick Onions Leeks Chibols and all Vaporous meats the which do hurt the head Venison Hare-flesh Beef Beans and Pease are not good and if they know that they are infected with this great sickness they should not resort where there is great store of company as in the Church Sessions or Market places if they do the sickness will infect them more there then in any other place or at any other time they must beware they do not sit too nigh the fire for the fire will overcome them and will induce the disease they must beware of lying too hot in bed or to labour extreamly for such things cause the grief to come the ofter Diet for the Head Ache MAny sicknesses or infirmities and impediments may be in a mans head wherefore whosoever hath any distemper in the head must not keep the head too hot nor too cold but in an equal temper to beware of ingendring of Rhume which is the cause of many infirmities there is nothing that doth ingender Rhume so much as doth the fatness of fish and the heads of fish and surfeits and taking cold in the feet and taking cold in the nape of the neck or head also they which have an infirmity in the head must refrain from immoderate sleep specially after meat also they must abstain from drinking of wine and use not to drink Ale and Beer the which is over strong vociferation hallowing crying and high singing is not good for the head all things the which are vaporours or do fume are not good for the head all things the which are of evil savour as carrion sinks wide draughts piss-bowls snuff of candles dunghills stinking channels and stinking standing waters and stinking marshes with such contagious Airs doth hurt the head the brain and memory all odoriferous savours are good for the head the brain and the memory Diet in a Consumption HE that is in a consumption must abstain from all sowre and tart things as Vinegar and Alegar and such like and also he must abstain from eating of gross meats the which are hard and slow of digestion and use cordials and restoratives and nutrative meats all meats and drinks the which are sweet and that sugar is in are nutrative wherefore sweet wines are good for them the which are in consumptions moderately taken and sowre Wine sowre Ale and sowre Beer are naught for they fret away nature and let them beware that be in a Consumption of fried and burnt meat which is over rosted and in any wise let them shun anger and pensiveness These things following are good for a Consumption a Pig or a Cock stewed and made in a Jelly Cockrels stewed Goats Milk and Sugar Almond Milk in the which Rice is sodden and Rabbets stewed c. Diet for those that are short winded SHortness of winde cometh divers times of Impediments in the Lungs and streightness in the Breast opilated through viscus Phlegm when the head is stuffed with Rhume called the Pus stoppeth the breath of his natural course wherefore he that hath shortness of breach must abstain from eating of Nuts especially if they be old Cheese and Milk is not good for such no more is Fish and Fruit raw nor crude Herbs Also all manner of meat which is hard of digestion they must refrain from eating of Fish especially from eating Fish which will cleave to the fingers and is viscus and Phlegmy and in any wise to beware of the skins of Fish and of all manner of meat the which doth ingender Phlegm Also they must beware of cold and when any house is a sweeping to go out of the house for a space into a clean air The dust also that riseth in the Streets through the vehemence of the wind or otherwise is bad for them smoak is evil for them and so is all things that are stopping Wherefore it is expedient for them to be kept laxative Diet for the Palsie THey which have the Palsie universal or particular must beware of anger testiness and of too much passion whether of fear or otherwise for through anger or fear divers times the Palsie doth come also they must beware of Drunkenness and eating of Nuts coldness contagious and stinking and filthy airs of lying upon the ground the savour of Castory and the savour of a Fox is good against the Palsie Diet for Mad Folks THere is none which hath any of the kindes of Madness but they ought to be kept up for divers inconveniences that may otherwise happen to be confined in some close house or chamber where there is no light and that he have a Keeper the which the mad man doth fear See that he hath no knife nor shears nor other edge-tool nor that he have no girdle except it be a weak list of cloth for hurting himself Also the chamber or house that the mad man is in let there be no painted clothes nor painted walls nor pictures of man or woman or fowl or beast for such things maketh them full of fantasies let the mad persons head be shaven once a moneth let them drink no Wine nor strong Ale nor strong Beer but moderate drink and let them have three times in a day warm Broth and a little warm Meat use few words to them except it be for reprehension or gentle reformation if they have any wit or perceiverance to understand otherwise they must be kept under with sharper correction Diet for the Dropsie THe learned agree that the more one drinks that hath the Dropsie the more he is a thirst for although the sickness doth come by superabundance of water yet the Liver is dry whether it be Alchites Iposarca Lencofflegmancia or the Timpany They that have any of these four kindes of Dropsies must refrain from all things which be constupate and costive and use all things which are laxative Nuts and dry Almonds and hard Cheese are poison to them Of ordering of Surfeits GAlen declaring on Ipocrates Aphorisme of eating too much meat saith More meat then agrees with nature is called Repletion or a Surfeit A Surfeit is taken as well by gurgitations too much drinking as by epulation of eating of crude meat or of more meat then suffices or can be truly digested Or else Repletion or a Surfeit is when the stomach is forced or stuffed or repleated with too
the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
dull and is benummed Physicians call this an imperfect Palsie the Harbenger of a Palsie why the sense doth sometimes perish and motion abides this happens because some parts do participate of a two-fold kinde of Sinnews this Disease hath great affinity with the Apoplexy and sometimes is caused by a weak Apoplexy and then it is called Paraplexia herein they differ the Apoplexy seizeth upon all the parts of the body depriving them both of sense and motion The Palsie seldom or never leaves the head without motion or sense but the other parts of the body lose both motion and sense and that in a different manner for if the beginning of the marrow of the Back-bone be affected all parts under the face do sympathize with it if but one half of the back be affected all parts that have relation also suffer but if the before-mentioned parts are not hurt but some particular Sinnew of some part of the body is loosed that part whereof this nerve is joyned shall also lose sense and motion In this disease as hath already been said the marrow of the Back-bone is affected which is the original of all other Sinnews wherefore the Practitioner ought to take pains in Anatomy to know where this mischief keeps its first residence One evident sign in this Disease is that if the palsied part be lifted up it falleth back again it is soon cool and in time withers the Patients urine is for the most part white and sometimes inclining to redness when this mischief is at the full height the Pulse is faint slow little and soft it is caused by a cold and moist distemper sometimes by an Imposthume or some other tumor crushing the sinnews by a wound a fall a fracture too strait a ligature laxation of bones in the back by a stroak but for the most part it is caused by thin and waterish humors derived from the brain which do insinuate into the pores and substance of the Sinnews and so the Sinnews being made too soft are loosened and slackned and do suck in so much moisture that they stop the head of the Sinnews whereby the passage of the animal faculty is hindred which hath its original from the brain A Palsie which is caused by the cutting of a Sinnew overthwart is incurable A Palsie caused in the Winter and in old men is seldom or never cured because natural heat is deficient in them The air wherein the Patient lives should be hot and dry procured by a fire if the season of the year require it or by a perfume of Cloves and Rosemary his meat must be such as heat and dries his diet must be slender till the fourteenth day for it is very good for the Patient to be abstenuous his drink must be small he must avoid sleep in the day time and trouble of minde Of the weakness of the Liver THe weakness of the Liver comes by distemper without any manifest evil in that Bowel the proper and principal faculty of the Liver is the blood which doth come to it by the property of its own substance and cannot be weakned of a suddain by any distemper for the distemper must needs take deep root before it hurt the substance of the Liver or dissolve the strength thereof but by what distemper soever this is caused the Liver doth not perform its proper duty except it be by halfs In this disease as hath been said the Liver is chiefly affected as will appear by its own functions hindred the blood is not well digested and then the blood which is voided by stool is watrish which shews that the nutrement was well concocted in the Stomach and began to be concocted in the Liver but not perfected because of the Livers weakness This disease scatters the Spirits native heat dissolves the strength and actions of the Liver 't is most probable that a cold distemper is the cause of the Livers weakness if the distemper be but light the colour of the face is white the Excrements stink a little few are voided the Patients Urine is thin there are many other conjectured causes if the weakness of the Liver hath been of a long continuance it is scarce to be cured and in time is changed to be an evil habit of the body from whence a general weakness is caused or else it turns to the Dropsie A temperate air is good for the Patient meats that are easie of digestion and do moderately heat his drink may be thin and Odoriferous Wine his sleep must be moderate his minde cleared from discontents Of the Chollick THe Chollick is a continual passion of the Bowel which is called Colon there follows it a difficulty of voiding of the Excrements and winde at the lower parts a grievous pain and sore pricking comes by fits because this bowel is thick and sinewy whereupon if any hurtful thing creep into its Tunicles it is not presently driven out this disease hath affinity with the Iliaca passio but in the Iliaca passio the pain is more vehement the looser Gut called Colon is chiefly affected the pain of this disease is vehement as if the person were bored through with an auger it is stirred up in the inside of the Bowel this pain is inconstant for sometimes it doth pinch one side and then another though it doth chiefly molest the right side and from thence is carried to the left The Chollick is eased by Lenitive glisters and fomentations there are many causes of this disease a several matter running to the Guts because of their wideness or else it is caused from an inflamation of the same part or by a sharp biting humor or by slimy and gross humors or by a thin Phlegm that is in the Film of the Colon and because that Bowel is the receptacle of winde the Chollick is often caused by them when great plenty of them is gathered together in those places or else it is caused by slimy and gross Phlegm sticking in the common passages or from a tumor remaining in the Bowels whereby the Guts are strongly pressed that the winde can hardly get forth the Chollick doth often turn into a resolution or looseness of the Sinews into a Joynt-Gout into Iliaca passio or a Dropsie of all Chollicks that is the worst which is caused by an inflammation The air the Patient lives in must be temperately hot inclining to driness yet the native heat of the outward and former parts of the belly must be kept hot with warme cloaths his meat must be easie of digestion such as doth generate few superfluities it must be moist not windy nor slimy his drink may be strong Wine exercise is good before meat and rest afterwards they may sleep in the day time Of the Pleurisie THe Pleurisie is an inflamation of the thin and small skin which cloathes the Ribs on the inner side called in Latine Pleura from whence this disease takes its name there are many pains of the side but in this place I
these Lieutenant Medicines serve at all turns in the place of the right Medicines for so should Ginger serve the turn of Folefoot to purge by Vomit which it cannot no more then curds of Cow milk can soften and supple like butter or the dung of the Stock-dove purge like Euphorbium or the Dock-root draw phlegme from the Head like Pellitory which Galen notwithstanding maketh substitutes of these Medicines which have such operation I conclude therefore seeing Navigation cannot afford us either the Simples which we seem to need and those which it doth both corrupt and counterfeit in the greatest part we have neither to crave thereof in this point aid much less to trust thereunto Now the Simples being but for the most part bastard Ware how can the Compounds that amount of the same be other then counterfeit Whereupon as Cardanus saith in his Method of Curing The wise Magistrates of Venice have oftentimes forbidden the making of Triacle and Mithridatum because the Simples could not be had whereby they should be compounded Which if Venice the greatest Mart in this part of the World of such Wares cannot a vouch what can we hope for from other places That a man would marvel to see the great store of them in all shops of Apothecaries under the names of Triacle and Mithridatum of Andromachus and it being required in Triacle before it be used it should have a time as it were of mellowing which of Galen in his Book of Triacle to Piso is extended to twelve years and of Paulus Aegineta in his seventh Book by seven years for those that are bitten or stung of venemous beasts or have drunk poison or are infected with the pestilence and in other diseases from â—en years till it be twenty of age I marvel what assurance we have of the age of this Triacle which is ordinary in use or if we have none how we dare use it at adventure knowing by age the vertue thereof hath no small alteration I would these inconveniences were the smallest which I have but briefly and as it were for a taste run over yet were even they sufficient to stay our overhasty use of such strange Merchandize and to move us to betake us to those we know both in the Blade and in the Seed in the Root and in the Fruit and know the Air the Hill the Valley the Meadow where they grow But this trust upon Out-landish Medicines have much more nearly touched us then so If a man would say by his overhasty embracing whatsoever strange Nations do as it were purge over unto us we drink divers times rank Poison instead of wholesom Medicine I think it would justly move us to be advised and not to pass over the enquiry of a reason why such a one should think so being one whose vocation tendeth to the charge of the health of mens bodies The right Hermodactiles are commended for excellent Medicines against all Pains in the Joynts as the Gout the Schyatica and such like from which they purge gross Phlegme Doronicum Romanum hath great commendation for comforting the Heart expelling Poison against the Cough for avoiding of Humours which overcharge the Chest which are great vertues doubtless in them both Now if they 〈◊〉 the shops as they bear the name of these Medicines so carried not with them instead of thesâ— vertues dangerous poison then should I havâ— less cause to exhort our Nation to be take theâ— to their Gardens and Fields and to leave thâ— Banks of Nilus and the Fens of India Thâ— common Hermodactils being a kinde of poyson called Ephemerum so named because with such swiftness it chargeth and overchargeth our vitaâ— spirits that it killeth him that hath taken it iâ— one day The other commonly called Doroticum Romanum and used for an especial Cordial so that it hath place in the electuary of precious Stones in the electuary of Amber in the cordial Powder this Doronicum I say calleâ— of Mathiolus Demoniacum that is to say Divelish noting thereby the vertues thereof is no baser poison then a very kinde of Aconitum by Mathiolus experience which he confesseth himself before having been abused by the common error first to have learned of Jacobus Antonius Cortusus a man very skilful in the nature of Simples which Jacobus taught him the experience by giving it to dogs which it killeth Now if by reason no such danger happeneth to us by the use of them they seeming not so dangerous we are to understand they be given in small quantity and mixed with divers remedies against poison the good Providence of God providing so that otherwise they should not be ministred as in the purging Electuary of Diacnicis Hermodactils are bridled with Cinamon and the powder of Diatragatanthum frigidum where indeed â—t hath somewhat too large scope being better â—empered in Benedicta with Cloves Parsleyâ—eed Galanga and Mace and in the Pills of Herâ—odactils with Aloe Mirobalans Bdellium the â—eed of Herbgrace which have force against poiâ—on the which small quantity of them being â—ndled and dulled with other Medicines especiâ—lly such a resist the force of poisons is not deadly â—nto us although great hurt thereof must needs â—nsue I have stood the longer upon this point â—f strange Medicines in answering the suppy by Navigation the rather because it seemeth most â—o make against us in the maintenance of our â—ome Medicines and breedeth as it were a loathâ—omness of those blessings of God which we daily â—ay at commandment enjoy But hitherto hath â—nely been shewed the corruptions and counterâ—eting of forreign Medicines which belongeth to â—ertain onely and not to all although those â—ertain be the chief and of greatest price and â—hat being foreseen the provision out of strange â—nd far distant Nations may seem well to stand â—ith that Providence we speak of and except â—hey be in respect of their strangeness hurtfull â—r unprofitable unto us the skill of Sailing beâ—â—g a means to present them at our need Naâ—ures care should seem no whit to be blemished â—he reasons which I have before alledged I â—ave to the indifferent Reader to consider of â—nd because I am so far urged I easily stick â—ot to hold that we receive no small hurt â—om all all the kindes of strange Medicines whereof I yield these few reasons which follow Our English Bodies through the nature of the Region our kinde of dyet and nourishment our custome of life are greatly divers from those of strange Nations whereby ariseth great variety of humors and excrements in our bodies from theirs and so the causes of Diseases rising upon breach of diet the diet being of another sort must needs be unlike whereupon although their humors be in kinde and in a generality agreeable to ours as Blood Choler Phlegme Melancholy and such like yet rising upon other matter then the same in us and otherwise framed by a far other state of body by reason of a diverse kinde of life the Medicines which help them
even as health and sickness are not of the nature of mans body but even accidents thereto Which being certain let us then consider what an infinite variety of medicines would arise of things the same being used not onely entire but diversly prepared and even corrupted wherein the industry of Alchmistes is verily greatly to be commended and far more excellent then the common Pharmacopolia rather so to be called then Pharmacopoiya by the skill whereof diverse Natures in one thing are so exactly severed every one having a diverse operation Now oft-times because the Humour to be purged is gross and tough and so hardly yieldeth to the Medicine or hath some other evil quality wherewith it might greatly hurt the parts whereby it passeth Nature not forgetting this point hath as abundantly supplied such helps in this behalf as need requireth as for the preparing of Choler Plantine Roses the Verjuice of the Grape Endive Succory Sorrel Sperage c. For Melancholly Violets Borage Bugloss Baulm Fumitory Doddar Ceterach or Fingerfearn c. For Phlegme Fenel Parsley Betony Nep Penerial Thime Savory Germander c. Of these I less stand upon because the preparers of humors are least in controversie although from hence may an argument be drawn not lightly to be passed over to prove the store of purgers seeing nature hath ministred sufficiency of preparers and as it were Harbingers to the purgers of Countrey yield But I will draw to an end and thus much shall suffice for this present purpose to have bin said of Medicines belonging to the cure of all Diseases in the Complexion The other kinde of Diseases are in the frame of the Body and of those if quantity be superfluously increased and that in the whole body medicines which do vehemently waste as those of the third degree hot diminish the same If in the part onely medicines which we call eaters and fretters dispatch the same as Copperas the ashes of Spurge burnt Allom Mercury sublimed and precipitate Verdigreece burnt Salt c. If measure be diminished and that without loss of substance the glewing medicines bring cure whereof our native soil is so stored that for Wounds the Surgeons need neither send into Barbary nor India as Plantine Hounds-tongue the flowers and leafs of Willows Yarrow Carduus Benedictus Betony Scabious Verven Elm-leaves Adders-tongue Moon-wort Herb-turpence Selfheal and these if the wounds be in the fleshy parts If it be breaking of Bones such are joyned with fine flower the brain of a Dog with Wool and the white of an Egg the Holilock-root the moss of the Oke Glew Roses Wormwood c. If there be loss of substance in the fleshy parts either by wound or ulcer Incarnatives fail us not as Barley meal Fenigreek-flower Figbene-meal and to be short all such as be of the first degree hot and dry without eagerness or fellness Now the diseases in the straitness of Passages or Obstructions if they arise of the humors aforesaid and in those places whereto the medicine may conveniently come then are they to be set free by purging If upon other causes or in such places whereto the force of the medicines which purgeth cannot come or hardly entereth or of such causes as be no humours but through some other strange matter or by straitness of the vessels wherethrough the passage is then are other remedies to be used whereof we have great plenty as softners loosers and such as enlarge the pores of the body of which sort are such as be not above the first degree hot as Camomile Lilies new Butter Swines-grease Lin-seed Fenigreek Briony-root all Marrows Also Medicines which make the matter thin or cut it and divide it into sundry parts of which sort are they of the second degree hot to the third degree as Dill Pennerial Savery Organ Thime Marjoran Saint-Johns wort Worm-wood c. Now if the humour prepared be to be voided by place medicine then Salt Salt-water Lye Ashes Allom and Lime take place and if more vehemency be needful Calamint wilde Cresses Treacle Mustard Garden Cresses Mustard-seed Nettles Dragons all the Spurges are to be numbred among the best and if these serve not the root of Crowfoot will make the supply If the humour cannot be voided conveniently except it be altered into another matter of which sort is pent blood out of the veins then are ripening medicines first to be applied as Butter Wheat-flower Sorel Horse-hoof Lilies Marsh-mallows Onions roasted which are all singular ripeners If the matter be tough and clammy the scourers avoid that inconvenience Endive Succory red Roses Plantine Housleek Agrimony Betony Honey Horehound Wormwood Baulm Pimpernel Watergermander c. Now if the matter which stoppeth be the stone as in the Kidneys or Bladder then are these Medicines most convenient for that use Grummel-seed Goats-blood the juice of Mugwort Seahulver-root the stones found in the great Snails heads Radish-roots Saxifrage c. If any hard matter be in other parts the softners and wasters and dissolvers are to be applied Thus much touching the cure of Obstructions and strait Passages which according to the variety of place where they light cause sundry Diseases or rather take to them sundry names As in the Brain the Apoplexy in the bladder of Gall the yellow Jaundies in the Spleen the black in the Sinnews of motion the Palsie or trembling in the Lungs Asthma c. Now if these Passages be too large they are to be stopped and straitned with cooling and drying medicines of which sort in a manner are all of sharp and sowre taste as Vine leaves the Bryer and Bramble Barberries Medlers and Services Quinces and such as are of themselves or by mixture with liquor clammy as Wheat-flower Bean-flower the white of an Egge Plaister washed Lime Litharge and Ceruse Now moreover because in all good cure not onely the cause of the Diseases is to be oppugned but the part also to be strengthned which must needs partly by the cause of the disease and partly even by the conflict of the same cause with the medicine be feebled that nothing be wanting unto us for the restoring of health nature hath provided even speciall munition for every part of the body that the whole furniture against all diseases might be compleat As for the Head Anniseeds Folefoot Betony Calamint Eyebright Lavander Bayes Marjoran Piony Sage Rue or Herbgrace Lettice the Leaves and Flowers of Water-lilies Roses Garden Nightshade For the Lungs Calamint Dragons Licorice Enula campana Hyssope Linseed Horehound the Lungs of a Fox Scabious Water Germander Barley garden Poppy Violets Horsehoof For the Heart Bugloss Borage Saffron Baulm Basil Rosemary Violets the bone of a Stags heart Roses For the Stomach Wormwood Mints Betony Baulm Mint Quinces Medlers Sorrel Purslane For the Liver Dartspine or Chamepitys Germander Agrimony Fenel Endive Succory Liverwort Barbaries For the Spleen Maidenhair Sperage Fingerfearn Doâ—der Dâ—â—der of Thime Hops the bark of the Ash-tree For the Kidneys Seahulver Grumel
honey 100. Syrup of Borage and Buggloss resist Melancholly and cause light Hearts taking away grief and passions thereof Fragmenta aurea The second Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. Mizaldus THe Roots of Sorrel hung about their necks that have the Swine Pocks doth wonderfully help them 2. Briony Roots boiled in water and the water drunk helps the Dropsie 3. Eyebright is an herb of the Sun and is a wonderful strengthner of the eyes used any way either outwardly or inwardly both the leaves stalks and flowers for it is an herb appropriated to them 4. You may easily know whether a Dropsie be hot or cold thus If it begin below and swell upwards it is hot because the nature of heat is to ascend but if it swell downwards it is cold because the nature of cold is to descend 5. Dry a bullocks sheeps or goats Bladder Galen and beat it into powder and give a dram of it in water vinegar or any convenient liquor to such as cannot hold their water or use to piss in bed and it will help them give it at night or morning according as you see cause 6. Rub a green Marigold leaf between your fingers and put it up into your nose and it will draw away abundance of humours and help Rheum anoying the head 7. The Roots of Elder-trees sod in water and the decoction drunk for common drink cures the Dropsie 8. Garlike and Housleek of each a like quantity stamped and applied plaister-wise to the place will help the Gout be it hot or cold 9. White wine Benenius wherein the ends of a pair of tongs have been quenched being before red hot six or seven times being drunk divers times doth help such as have grieved swelled or diseased Spleens 10. Mizaldus It is a signe of health in a sickness when the Gods begin to itch but take heed then of Venerious acts lest you pay for your pleasure 11. The decoction of Walwort either in wine or water doth admirably by being drunk cure the Dropsie 12. Arnoldus de villa nova Coriander-seed being beaten into powder and mixed with Honey and applied Plaister-wise either to Carbuncles or Sores helps them 13. Mizaldus The Berries of winter Cherries stamped and the Juyce pressed out and dryed helps both the Stone and Dropsie 14. Elder-leaves made hot between two Tile-stones and applied to the Forehead and Temples ease the pains of the Head 15. Take the buds leaves or inner-rind of an Elder-tree beat it and drop a drop or two of the juice thereof into the Ear it cures not onely Imposthumes there but also Deafness 16. Mizaldus The Brain of a Weazel dried and drunk in Vinegar cures the Falling-sickness 17. Many men are troubled with watry Stomachs much thin fresh water comming out of their mouthes towards morning it usually comes with a proneness to vomit the vulgar call it water-springs for such or any other Rheum whatsoever that molesteth your body take this most excellent though cheap Medicine Take a little stick and tye some old Oken-leaves about the end of it and cut them pretty round then put them into your mouth as far as you can well suffer them and hold the stick fast between your teeth and abundance of Rheum will come out of your mouth hold your mouth over a porringer and you may see how much Then wash the leaves in water and put them in your mouth again do so as often as you think fit If you do so before meat it will help your digestion 18. Earth-worms slit and washed well in white wine and dried and beaten into powder and a spoonful taken of them in any liquor in the morning fasting in a little time cureth the black Jaundies 19. Olibanum mixed with as much Barows-grease beat the Olibanum first into powder and boiled together make an Ointment which will kill the Lice in Childrens heads and such as are subject to breed them will never breed them after A medicine cheap safe and sure which breeds no anoyance to the brain 20. Tormentil boiled in wine Petrus Hisp and the wine drunk for ordinary drink and the Herb it self that was boiled being applied Plaister-wise to the eyes at night helpeth such as are so blinde they cannot see at all 21. Andr. Mathiolus Briony roots boiled in white Wine and a draught of the Wine drunk every night going to bed helps such as have the fits of the Mother 22. The juyce of Coleworts snuffed up the nose purgeth the head marvellously and taketh away the pains thereof though of never so long continuance 23. Mizaldus The Gums of young children being often rubbed with the brains of a Hare or Cunney their teeth will cut easily 24. Pet. Hisp Fine Aloes boiled well with the juyce of Coleworts and made into pills a scruple being taken at a time at night going to bed doth gallantly purge the head and ease the pains thereof 25. Take a good handful of Arsemart wrap it up in a Bur-leaf and take it up being so wrapped first in cold ashes then cover those cold ashes with hot embers those hot embers with hot coles and let it roast and apply it being well roasted to the place grieved with the Gout change it morning and evening and in three dayes you shall see the most wonderfull effects of it 26. If you beat a plate of Gold very thin when â—ol is in Leo Hermes Arnoldus de villa nova Jupiter and Luna in good Aspect â—nd Fortunate it will do wonders for being â—id to the seam of the Head it strengthens the â—rain and helps the infirmities thereof being â—anged against the region of the Heart it helps â—he diseases thereof faintings sownings c. â—nd causeth gladness being hanged to the Back it cools and strengthens them and helps pains in the back 27. Take all the Urine the party makes at one time that hath the Quartain Ague Mizaldus and knead flour and make a cake with it and when it is baked give it to a Dog of the house do so twice or thrice and in so doing the party will be well and the Dog sick Chuse a Dog for a Man but a Bitch for a Woman 28. To swallow down three grains of Mastich every night when one goes to bed Emp. Ben. Vict. delivereth from the pains of the stomach 29. Mark where a Swine rubs himself then cut off a piece of the wood and rub any swoln place with it and it will help it with this proviso that where the Hog rubs his head it helps the swellings of the head and where the neck those of the neck c. If you cannot apply a part of the thing the Hog rubbed against to the grieved place you must apply the grieved place to that 30. The rinde of an Ash-tree boiled in wine anâ— a draught of the wine drunk six or seven mornings together easeth the Spleen 31.
Pains of the Spleen trouble a man most after meat 32. Egg-shells dried and beaten into powder and given in white wine break the stone 33. Mizaldus Mice-dung with the ashes of burnt Wasps and burnt Hazel-nuts made into an Ointment with vinegar of Roses do trimly deck a bald-â—ead with hairs being anointed with it 34. Six cloves of Garlike stamped and strained into a draught of Rhenish wine and drunk up is a present râ—medy for the stone strangury and chollick 35. Gather Elder-flowers on a Midsummer-day dry them and beat them into powder and take a spoonful of it in Borage-water every morning and evening it restores Youth and conserves it 36. Burn horsleaches into powder and mix them with vinegar and therewithal rub the place where you would have Hair grow no more and you shall have your desire 37. Drinking much Butter-milk makes one laxâ—â—ive 38. The stone of a Swallow beaten into powder Petrus Hispanus and given in drink to such as have the Falling-sickness cures them 39. Mingle two spoonfuls of water with one spoonful of clarified Honey and give it to a woman when she goeth to sleep if she feel gripings and pains in her belly she is conceived with childe else not 40. Green Nettles steeped in the urine of one that is sick twenty four hours Mizaldus if they remain green and fresh the sick will live else not 41. The berries of white Thorns taken in white Wine are of great force to break and expel the Stone 42. Plantane is given with good success to such as have the Plague 43. Wormwood stamped with the white of an egg and applied to the eyes by way of a Plaister is a notable way to take away the redness and bloodiness of them 44. A Garland made of Ivy-leaves Mizaldus laid to the breasts of women that hang flagging gathers them up together decently and makes them round the like will Ivy-leaves do if they be beaten and applied to them 45. Mizaldus If you wash wounds with Wine wherein Agrimony hath been sodden it cleanseth them of their filth and putrefaction 46. Also stamp Agrimony and apply it to wounds that are ill knit or joyned and it will open them again 47. Mizaldus The juyce of Rue mixed with clarified Honey and a drop dropped into the eye at a time takes away dimness of sight 48 A head of Garlick the skins being pulled off bruised and applied in equal parts to the foles of the feet where they are hollow helps them with speed that are pained with the Tooth-ache especially if it come of a cold cause and lie in the nether jaw 49. Mizaldus If you rub Warts with the leaves of a Fig-tree and bury the leaves in the earth the warts will insensibly consume away 50. Briony-berries dried and beaten into powder and drunk in the decoction of Water-cresses doth wonderfull help the Strangury 51. Benedictus Victorius Faventinus Emp. Take of venice Treacle one scruple of liquorice and Cinnamon in powder of each three grains of White Wine an ounce and an half mix all these together and make of them a Potion If a Woman take such a drink as this is every other morning about a fortnight or three weaks before her delivery it will make her labour very easie My Authour saith she will bring forth her childe without any pain at all 52. Take of Yarrow and Plantane of each a like quantity beat them and strain the juyce of them into red Wine a good draught of which being drunk morning and evening will stop a bloody Flux 53. If a Woman desire to know whether she be with childe or not Mizaldus let her make water in a clean copper or brazen vessel at night when she goes to bed and put a Nettle in it if the Nettle have red spots in it next morning she is with childe else not 54. Oxen Kine Bullocks or Horses Absertus will not be troubled with any disease if you hang a Harts-horn upon them 55. Put two or three of the seeds of Oculus Christi into your eye and within a while after you shall not feel them whereby you will think they are not there at last they will drop 〈◊〉 of themselves compassed about with slimy 〈◊〉 which doth hinder the sight If you 〈◊〉 this now and then it will clear your eyes wonderfully 56. Warts rubbed with a piece of raw Beef and the beef buried in the ground the warts will consume away as the beaf rots in the ground 57. Take the inner rinde of an Oak-tree and boil it well in fair water then bathe any sore with it whether new or old three or four times morning and evening and then anoint it with fresh butter and flour of brimstone well mixed and you shall see a speedy cure 58. Take a Bur-root the bigger the better and scrape it clean then put it in a Pot of new Ale and the Ale will boyl let it stand twenty four hours close stopped and then let one that hath the yellow Jaundies drink a good draught of it and in doing so two or three mornings he will be cured 59. Let him that hath the Strangury drink a draught of small Ale wherein the inner Rind of the young branches of a Hazel-tree hath been boiled first in the morning and last at night and it help him in few dayes 60. Lay a thin piece of raw beaf to the forehead of them that have lost their voices and remove it not all night and in two or three nights it will help them 61. Take the bones of Horses and wash them clean then dry them in the sun then break them and boil them in a Caldron of water a long time and save the fat which cometh from them which is an excellent Oyntment either for Gout or Palsie 62. The ashes of burnt Snails put into the eye take away the spots thereof 63. A piece of raw Beef of an indifferent thickness put in steep all day in good Aqua vitae and laid at night to the temples and let lie there all night stops the waterings of the eyes and all rheums that flow down from the head 64. Draw a coard through the tail of a Water-snake and hang her up Hollerius a vessel of water being under her into which she may gape and after a little time will she vomit up a stone which will drink up all the water this stone being tied to the navil in a piece of fine linnen of one that hath the Dropsie quickly draws out all the water 65. An Egg that is laid on a Thursday the white being emptied out and the empty place filled with salt and gently roasted by the fire without burning till it may be beaten into powder and cankered teeth being rubbed with it kills both canker and worms that eat the teeth 66. White Copperis the quantity of hâ—â—f an ounce dissolved in a pint of water kills all Tetters and ringworms that are washed with
have many times forborn the applying of the Traepan to the profit of my Patients and my good Name and Estimation Moreover there be many ignorant Chyrurgeons which without consideration apply the Traepan upon all parts of the Head as well upon the comistures or seams as other places which is the cause of the death of many Patients Wherefore they ought to have a great consideration and to be very diligent in this respect and for to use their Art according to this true Method prescribed them The fifth Error touching the Punctures of Nerves WHen it chanceth that any is hurt by the Punctures of Nerves if he be not speedily helped by some cunning and expert Chyrurgeon he is in great danger to fall into Convulsions which is the occasion of many a mans death which commonly hapneth to them that are drest by the ignorant and common Chyrurgeons For when they begin the cure they make Fomentation with hot water wherein hath been boiled Mallows Violets and such like then after the Fomentation they apply an Appeaser of pain made with the crumbs of white Bread being mingled with the yolk of an Egg Oyl of Cammomile and Oyl of Roses the which things are altogether contrary to the Punctures of Nerves Forasmuch as their application doth moisten too much the nervous places and retaineth or keepeth in the matter which is already come to the place and if there be any Aposthume it doth augment and encrease it and causeth the matter to ascend up to the Brain whereby ensusueth Convulsions or Death Wherefore to avoid this danger and to follow the cure methodically you shall have first a regard to the evacuation of the body and if the strength of the Patient be good to use Flebetonice Revolsive or according to the cause of the grief Then to take away that which is ready conjunct you shall enlarge the Orofice â—o the end that the Medicine may the better penetrate to the bottom and take away the sharpness of the humor In this case I have found very profitable the Oyl of Hippiricon prepared in this form that is to say with Venice Turpentine and for one ounce of the said Oyl you shall take half a scruple of Euphorbium which shall be applied very hot with Pledgets and upon that a Plaister made with Propolis Gum Ammoniack and Wax as much as shall suffice By this means the matter which is drunk into the Nerves or Tendons shall be drawn out to the outward parts Also for this intent I have found profitable Lin-seed Oyl and Euphorbium of each alike with the twentieth part of Sulpher being very finely poudred with Perosin and Wax as much as shall suffice to make an Unguent This Unguent doth heat moderately attract and dissicate and is of a subtle faculty with the which by the help of God the Chyrurgeons shall get both honour and profit The sixth Error is touching the abuse of the Runners about called Cutters for the Stone and Ruptures AMong the common Runners about which use to cut the Stone and Ruptures there is a great error of theirs to be lamented of any Christian heart for under this cure of cutting the Hernies they do miserably take away the Stone as well in the Hernia aquosa or ventosa as in all the rest the which is inhumanely and against the will of God and they do not onely use it in men but most of all in little Children therefore it should be very good for the Parents which have their Children troubled with any kinde of Hernies that before they commit their Children to lose their stones and sometimes their lives by any of these Runnagates for so may I well term them that they shew them to some learned Chyrurgeon to the end that he may see what kinde of Hernies they have and so to discern the Aquosa or Ventosa from Intestinale or Omentales For certainly I have seen Hernies in Children which came by the relaxation or division of the Peretoneum have been perfectly healed by the apt applying of glutinative Medicines and such other like without cutting or taking away of the Testicle But such is the covetous desire of these Persons which make the Parents believe that it cannot be helped without their butcherly cutting and for to get money which they are as greedy after it as Vultures after their prey not having the fear of God before their eyes but like covetous Gripers catch what they may for the time and care not what become of them afterwards whether they live or die we know by woeful experience what harm they have done both by the murthering cruelly and also lameness and continual pain These Fellows rush into England and have such a great name at the first coming but after when their works are tried and then the proof of them seen the peoble for the most part are quickly weary of them and many a fatherless Child and Widdow which they have made may curse the time that ever they knew them I dare affirm they never did any cure in England but that there are English Men which have done the like and greater Such is the foolish fantasies of our English Nation that if he be a stranger he shall have more favourers then an English man though the English mans knowledge doth far pass the others as experience therein hath shewed and this I will stand to the proof of that there are English men that shall in all things do as much both by learning and experience as any of them all That they may not deceive the common people with their fair promises I resolve by Gods permission to write of all the kinds of Ruptures or Burstings and how to know every one of them to the end that if any Chyrurgeon which hath not the right knowledge may streight at the first sight know what to do I will begin to treat of the kinds of Ruptures and first of the division of them in general and then particularly Of the eight kinds of Hernies THere are eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures whereof some have their proper names and the others by similitude the proper Hernies do most commonly come by the Relaxation or Rupture of the Proteneum insomuch that the Intestines and Epiplocon or Zerbus doth lose their natural place and of these are seven kinds that is Enterocele otherwise called Herni intestinale Epiplocele or Herni Zirbale Bubonocele or Herni Inguinale The Hernies by similitude are when there is some tumour against nature in the Cods or in some part of the Groin without the coming forth of the Intestines or Zirbus and of these there are five kinds the first is called Herni Aqueuse and of the Greeks Hidrocele the second Herni Carneuse or Sarcocele the third Variquese the fourth Venteuse which is called of the Greeks Pneumatocele the fifth Humorale which shall be spoken of particularly in order and first we will begin with the proper kinds Of the Hernie Intestinale FOr because that the Hernie Intestinale
drink in warme White Wine they wonderfully cleanse the Kidneys and bladder of Gravel and provoke Urine exceedingly 8 Take all the blood and the whole skin of a Hare put them into a new pot that hath a cover lute it up close and burn it in the fire to ashes the Hares skin and blood I mean and not the pot Give the Patient a small spoonful of these ashes in White Wine it mightily breaks and drives out the Stone 9 The Stone that hath been taken out of a man or the Gravel which men void being taken back again inwardly a drachm at a time doth wonderfully break and bring away the Stone and is indeed the most exquisite remedy that I know 10 A Tode-stone being beaten into powder and a little of the powder given to the Patient causeth the Stone incontinently to break and come away 11 Take Snails dry them to powder slime and shells and all you shall finde it a most exquisite remedy being taken inwardly to break the stone 12 Egg-shells dryed and beaten into powder is a good remedy and so is the Juyce of Mugwort if you drink the quantity of a quarter of a pint in the morning fasting 13 The Gum of Cherry-trees and also of all Plum-trees being dissolved in White Wine and drunk breaketh the Stone and cleanseth the Kidneys and Bladder of Gravel 14 Take of Goats Blood the Liver Lungs Reins Yard and Stones of the Goat make puddings thereof in the great Gut of the said Goat order them well and boyl them as you do Hogs puddings and let him that is troubled with the Stone eat them as meat not as Medicine their wonderful effects in breaking the Stone will be admirable in your eyes 15 Sometimes it is a difficult matter to know whether the Stone be in the Reins or in the Bladder in such a case thus do take a handful of Chickweed and boyl it well in water then strain it out and apply it to the neck of the Bladder if the grief increase the Stone is in the Bladder else not 16 Goats piss drunk breaketh and expelleth the Stone 17 Take two or three young Liverets drown them in Vinegar that they may dye there then put them into a new pot lute them up close and burn them in the fire to ashes these ashes taken inwardly is an excellent remedy for the Stone 18 If a man that is subject to the Stone would use himself to eat no other food but the flesh of Foxes and anoint the Region of his Bladder with the grease of the same beast it would in a short time cure him 19 A Hedge Sparrow the feathers pulled off and the guts pulled out and the body converted into Mummy or else salted and eaten raw is an excellent remedy for the Stone 20 It is an excellent good way to break the Stone often to anoint the Region of the Bladder with a strong Spirit of Camomile drawn in Allembick 21 Lignum Aphrituum cut in small pieces and infused in strong spirit of Wine the longer you infuse it the better make an excellent good drink for such as have the stone provided you drink it but moderately 22 But Lapis Nephriticus is far better being either born about one and beaten into powder and given inwardly whereby it appears that there is far more vertue in the Mineral kingdom then there is in the Vegitable the Stone is very scarce to be had in London if it be to be had at all because it is never used by the neglect of our Colledge of Physicians CHAP. 7. Of the Strangury IN the Strangury the Urine comes away by drops with much pain with a great desire to piss 2 Ox dung mixed with honey and applied warm to the neck of the Bladder is very good 3 The Decoction of English Galanga provoketh Urine much 4 The neck of the Bladder anointed with the grease of a Hedge-hog is exceeding good to open the stoppage of Urine 5 And here by the way give me leave to quote one experience of my own though it be something out of course not a year before the writing of this I had a Patient who had layen a long time sick of the Stone I gave him the water of a Hedge-hog distilled in an Alembick so much of it as I had which was about a pint of which he took a quarter of a pint every morning during the time he took it the violence of his pain ceased and he avoided such an incredible deal of Gravel which was wonderful to behold but that being gone no more to be had nor to be procured by reason of the season of the year his pains returned and not long after followed his dissolution being open'd there was two great stones found in his body in each Kidney one 6 Apply Galbanum being spread upon a Plaister upon the Belly under the Navel My Author saith it causeth the Patient to make Urine presently any that please may try it I can give no reason for it 7 Raddish-roots scraped clean and sliced thin and infused all night in White Wine and stopped close and a quarter of a pinte taken the next morning is a mighty great provoker of Urine but it hath no very pleasing taste 8 Herbs that are held Medicinal for this disease are Fennel Parsley Gromwel and Saxifrage both Seeds Leaves and Roots the Leaves and Bark of Hazel and the Leaves of Plantane 9 Warm Eggs applied to the neck of the Bladder wonderfully provoke Urine 10 The Roots of Filupendula being dryed and beaten to powder and taken inwardly are excellent good for the Strangury It is called Drop-wort whether it be because it cures them that piss by drops or because the roots hang like drops by small strings it matters not the one is their vertue the other shews that it is so 11. The best remedy in the world against the Strangury is this to save all the water the diseased party maketh and let the diseased party drink it down back again and that in very few dayes will cure him CHAP. 8. Of Vlcers in the Yard THe causes are clearly sharp and gnawing humors 2. Make a decoction of Sage in white Wine and inject it often into the Yard 3. If the Yard be swelled anoint it with warm Oyl of Roses 4. The juyce of Plantane injected into the Yard helpeth the Ulcers thereof 5. If you boil the Milk of a Goat or of an Ass with its equal quantity of juyce of Plantane till you have clarified it well and now and then drink a spoonful of it it helps not onely Ulcers in the Yard but also in the Kidneys and Bladder 6. If much sharp humors resort to the place â—s usually there doth in such cases take of those Cakes called Trochisi albi Rhazis with Opium â—ne dram Plantane-water four ounces beat the â—roches into powder and mix them with the â—lantane-water and inject it into the Yard with â— syringe a little at a time not all at once CHAP.
9. Of the Diabetes WHether the cause of this disease be the immoderate attraction of the Reins or the weakness of the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder or both of them we will not dispute the point out here howsoever this is certain there follows as well great thirst as pissing against ones will 2. Against this disease give the Patient the Bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep or else of a Bull beaten into powder let him drink half a dram of it in any convenient liquor at night going to bed 3. I suppose the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were sufficient if it were converted into Mummy and beaten into powder for it will be found to be a very difficult thing to beat the whole Bladder into powder besides it is the Sphinater Muscle which is in fault in our Bladder therefore if that onely of the Sheeps or Goats Bladder be used the Remedy is agreeable to the Disease 4. I remember once I cured a great Lubber that could not lye all night without pissing a bed nor remain a quarter of an hour in the day time without pissing by onely advising him to drink no other drink then what had been tied up twelve hours in a sheeps bladder and as â— have been since informed he is perfectly cured by it 5. Give him for three dayes in the Wane oâ— the Moon the Bladder of a fresh-water fish 6. The Brain of a Hare converted to Mummy and given in Wine to drink causeth the Patient to hold his water 7. Galangal taken inwardly is a good remedy to stop the involuntary flowing of the water if it come of a cold cause as I am of opinion it alwayes doth 8. The Lungs of a Kid bound warm under the Navel withholdeth the distillation of urine saith my Authour yet my opinion is that if they be medicinable for the disease the best way is to apply them to the Neck of the Bladder 9. My own Childe was troubled with this disease when very young whom I cured with these remedies First I got Alehoof and chopped it very small but washed it not and having sprinkled it with strong white Wine Vinegar applied to her Wrests Then I took three Holly-leaves the fullest of prickles I could get and boiled them in her drink These medicines I learned of an Italian which indeed cured her CHAP. 10. Of swelling of the Cods THis disease cometh sometimes of humors falling down into the Scrotum and sometimes onely winde gathering there 2. Take Bean-flour make it into the thickness of a Poltiss with juyce of Dwarf-Elder and common Oyl and apply it warm to the Cods it will presently allay the Swelling 3. A Poltiss made of the bark or leaves of Elder or dwarf-Elder will do the like 4. Goats-dung dissolved in Wine and the Cods bathed therewith takes away the swelling 5. The decoction of Marjoram also doth the like if it be used in like manner 6. But before all these I prefer the decoction of Vervine and Plantane to bathe the place with CHAP. 11. Of the Priapismus THe Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard is a disease exceeding painful and dangerous proceeding usually from a superabundance of hot and moist windy vapors possessing the seminal vessels 2. Let such as are subject to this disease use cool and moist diet especially let them eat much Purslane and Lettice 3. Hemlock bound to the Privities presently asswageth the disease 4. Let such as are subject to this disease avoid all Venerial thoughts for nothing in the world stirs the body to action more then thoughts do CHAP. 12. To provoke the Tearms A Plaister made of Galbanum and applied to the Navel doth mightily provoke them 2. Herbs medicinal to provoke them are Calamint Penerial Betony Sage Marjoram Savory Mugwort c. 3. The powder of Calamint works very violently upon the Feminine parts and therefore a dram of it taken in white Wine every morning is a very probable remedy to provoke them onely have a special care you give it not to women with childe because it destroyes the fruit of her Womb. 4. One caution let me give you before I go any further whatsoever you give to provoke the Tearms give it the Moon encreasing and the nearer the full the better for you will finde it an Herculian task to bring them down in the Wane of the Moon especially in such as never yet had them 5. The root of a white Lilly roasted soft in the embers and stamped with Oyl and applâ—ed to the Matrix it mightily openeth the passages thereof and brings down not onely the Tearms but also the dead childe 6. A Pessary made of Wool dipped in the juyce of Sage is a very good remedy to provoke the Tearms and indeed so is Sage taken any way and it is very probable that the use of drinking Sage-Ale took its rise from hence 7. It is good to make a bathe of all such things as provoke the Tearms and having put it in a Close-stool let the diseased party sit over it 8. Cinnamon and Cassia Lignea provoke the Tearms exceedingly and would be more used were they not so common 9. Bitter Almonds stamped being first blanched and used as a Pessary not onely to provoke the Tearms but also cleanse the Womb of ill humours 10. Half a dram of the powder of Steel given in the morning in white Wine will bring them down 11. I knew once a young Virgin in Service in London who was broken out all about her body her face and all in rough bunches not much unlike those of the French Disease and she lay under that scandal that she had that disease I was sent for to see her and examining the matter found that she never had the Tearms I presently conceived that to be the cause and by administring onely such Medicines as provoke them cured her in a short time 12. Once I had a Patient aged about thirty a Widow in whom they were stopped by reason of grief and when I could provoke them no other way about the full of the Moon I advised her to drink a gallon of Posset drink made with white Wine in two hours time before she went to bed I think she drank a pottle at least within the time and the next day they came down the reason is clear CHAP. 13. To stop the Tearms BEfore I come to Medicines I thought good to give notice of this that those things which strengthen the Womb both provoke the Tearms when they are stopped and also stop them when they flow immoderately such be stinking Arrach Cinnamon Cassia Lignea c. 2. Therefore the extract of Arrach made into Pills with the powder of the same Herb is excellent good both to provoke them and also to stop them 3. If the cause of their immoderate flowing be some vein broken as sometimes it is then to take the syrup of Clounswound-wort inwardly is an excellent remedy 4. Neither do I think the syrup of Comfrey or
kinde of Excrement is common to all living Creatures as well Beasts as Men for which cause Nature as a wise Mother hath provided that every concoction hath its excrement or superfluity the Stomach sends out dung the Liver Urine the Veins Sweat so after the third and last concoction which is done in every part of the body that is nourished there is left some profitable blood reserved by Nature for Procreation which blood we call the Generative Seed the timely evacuation whereof avails much for the bodies health for by it the body is made light and disburthened of Phlegm and other superfluous humors which otherwise would wax rank as may be observed in ancient Maids and some chaste Schollers for besides their secret flames and imbridled affections which dispose their mindes to extravigant imaginations we see them also ill complexioned by reason of such vaporous fumes which ascend up towards their cloudy brains To pass over other inconveniences they are subject to as the Green-sickness the Night-mare the Spleen the palpitation and trembling of the heart and their polluted dreams the best advice I can give such persons is to marry in the fear of God and chiefly those are required who are Sanguine or lean for such persons abound with blood Physicians hold the Winter to be the best time for Carnal Copulation and in the Spring-time when Nature is desirous without the help of Arts and Drugs and at night when the stomach is full and the body somewhat warm that sleep immediately after it may lenifie the Lassitude caused through the action thereof In the Summer in May and July when the Spittle thickens on the ground it cannot be so wholesome nor in frosty wâ—ather Immoderate Venery weakeneth the strength hurts the brain extinguisheth radical moisture and hasteneth on old age and death the Spâ—rm or Seed of generation being one of the greatest comforters of life which being wilfully shed or lost hurteth more then if he should bleed forty times as much That Batchelors and Maids may drive away their unclean dreams at nights let them refrain from Wine and Venerious Imaginations not use to lie in soft Beds let them read the Bible and moral Philosophers use exercises let them eat Agnus Castus in English Park and they shall finde a strange effect to follow Of Bathing BAthing in cold Water so that the same be clear clear from Rain or a silver colour'd Brook in the summer time before meats doth wonderfully delight nature provoke the appetite and is very good against Rhumes the Dropsie and Gout and causes digestion you shall finde it wonderful expedient sometimes to bathe the head with hot Lee made of ashes after which you must cause one presently to pour three or four quarts of cold water then let the head be dried with cold Towels the suddain powring down of the water stirs up the natural heat of the body quickneth the memory keepeth from baldness In the summer washing of the hands often doth much avail the eye-sight In the Winter time when the Water is cold and Frozen this kinde of artificial Bath is very expedient and wholsome take two pounds of Turpentine four ounces of the Juyce of Wormwood and Wilde Mallows one ounce of fresh â—â—cor one dram of Saffron mingle them and seethe them a pretty while and being hot wet four Linnen cloathes therein and therewith bathe your self or else make a Bath after this manner take Fumitory Enula Compana Leaves Sage Fetherfue Rosemary and Wormwood of each a handful or two seethe them in a sufficient quantity of water till they be soft and put as much as a Walnut of Allom and a little Brimstone powder and therewith bathe the affected places of the body he that uses these bathes in convenient time may live healthfully for by them superfluous excrements are extracted in sweat But with this caution I commend Baths that no person that is distempered through Venery Gluttony Fasting Watching or violent Exercise do enter into them Diet for a Feaver and Ague I Do advertise every one that hath a Feaver or an Ague to eat no meat six hours before his fit doth take him and in no wise as long as the Ague doth endure to put off his shirt or dublet nor to rise out of the bed but when need shall require and in any wise not to go nor take the open Air for such provision may be had that at the uttermost at the third fit he may be delivered of the Feaver Let the Patient beware of casting his hands and arms at any time or to spraul with his Legs out of the bed it is good for the space of three fits to wear continually Gloves and not to wash the hands He is to eat little and those temperate meats to refrain from Wine Beer and Cider and all other things whatsoever that are not of a very light digestion Diet for the Chollick and the Stone THe Iliack and Chollick are ingendred of ventosity the which is intrused or inclosed in two Guts the one is called Ilia and the other is called Colon for these two infirmities one must beware of cold and it is not good to be long fasting and necessary to be laxative but in no wise to be constupate These things following are not good for those which have these aforesaid infirmities new bread stale bread new ale they must abstain also from drinking of Beer of Cider of Red Wine and Cinamon also refrain from all meats that Honey is in from eating of cold Herbs Beans Pease Pottage beware of fruits and of all things the which do ingender winde For the Stone abstain from eating of Red herring Martilmas-beef and Bacon salt fish salt meats Beware of going cold about the middle especially about the Reins of the back and make no restriction of wine and water nor seege that water would expel Diet for several kindes of the Gout They which are troubled with the Gout or any kinde of it I do advertise them not to sit too long forgetting to exonerate the bladder and the belly when need shall require and also to beware the Legs hang not without some stay nor that the Boots or Shoes be not over strait Whosoever hath the Gout must refrain from drinking of new Ale of Beer and Red Wine Also he must not eat new Bread Eggs fresh Salmon Eels Fresh Herring Pilcherds Oysters all shell fish he must avoid the eating of fresh Beef of Goose of Duck and of Pigeons he must beware of taking of cold in his Legs or riding or going wetshod Beware of Venerous acts after refection or after or upon a full stomach from all things that ingender evil humors and are inflative Diet for the Lepors HE that is infected with any of the four kindes of Leprosie must refrain from all manner of Wines and from new drinks and strong Ale let him beware of riot and surfeiting let him abstain from eating of Spices Dates from Tripes Puddings and all inwards of Beasts Fish
never saw any of those fat and therefore I suspect their goodness certain it is old Pikes are hard and tough to digest young ones called Jacks are too waterish and moist one of the middle growth is the most likely to nourish Of Roaches ROches according to the old Proverb a sound as a Roach are accounted incapable of any disease hence we account them wholesome they are full of bones which make them the less regarded Of Salmon SAlmon is a fat tender short and sweet flesh it soon glutteth and fills the stomach they are most commended which go furthest up iâ— fresh Rivers those worst which are taken nearest the Sea salt Salmon loseth a double goodness one of a good taste the other of a good nourishment Of Smelts SMelts so called because they smell so sweet their flesh is of the finest lightest softest and best juyce of any fish their excellency is in the Winter when they are full of spawns The Western are most esteemed Of Trouts TRouts in Northumberland are very large others smaller they are very pleasant and good meat for sound persons Of wilde tame Fowl and small Birds That a Partridge of all Fowls is soonest digested it is a restorative meat comforts the brain and the stomach augments carnal lust The woodcock is a meat of good temperature quails Plovers and Lapwings nourish but little for they ingender melancholy humors yong turtle Doves and Pheasants ingender good blood A Crane is hard of digestion and doth ingender evil blood A young Hernsew is lighter of digestion then a Crane A Buzzard well killed and ordered is very nutritive The Bittour is not so hard of digestion as is the Hernsew A Shoveler is lighter of digestion then a Bittour All these are noisome except they be well ordered and dressed A Pheasant-hen a Moor-cock and a Moor-hen except they do sit are very nutritive All manner of wilde Fowl which live by the water are hard of digestion Of tame domestical Fowl OF all tame Fowl a Capon is best is most nourishing and is soonest digested A Hen in Winter is good and nutritive and so are Chickens in Summer especially Cockrels and Pullets the which are untrod the flesh of a Cock is hard of digestion the broth or gelly of 〈◊〉 Cock is restorative Pigeons are good for cholâ—erick and melanchollick persons Geese and Ducks except the green Geese are not of easie digestion Young Pea-chickens half a year old breed good nourishment Of small Birds All manner of small Birds are good and light of digestion except Sparrows Titmouses Colmouses and Wrens the which eat Spiders and Poison are not commendable Of all small Birds the Lark is best the Black-bird the Thrush Rasis and Isaack praise yong Stares but I do conclude because they are bitter in eating that they ingender Choller Of Beef BEef is an excellent meat if the Beast be yong and is not Cow-flesh for old Beef and Cow-flesh do ingender melancholly and gross humors If it be moderately powdred that the gross blood by salt is exhausted it doth make an English man strong Martinmas-beef which is called hanged Beef in the smoak is not wholesome it may fill the belly and cause one to drink but it is naught for the Stone and evâ—â— of digestion and makes no good juyce Of Mutton and Lamb. MUtton with Rasis and Averroyes is good meat but Gallen doth not commend it and surely they hint at some reason considering that this Beast is so soon infected nor dotâ— there happen so great a Murren and Sickness to any four-footed Beast as doth to the Sheep Notwithstanding if the Sheep be fed in a good Pasture and fat and do not flavour of the Wool it is good for sick persons for it doth ingender excellent blood Lamb is moist and phlegmatick it is not good for old persons except of a melancholly complexion nor for phlegmatick men to feed except very moderately Of Veal VEal is a nourishing meat for it is soon digested Whereupon many Authors hold the opinion that it is the best flesh and the most nutritive meat that can be for mans sustenance Of Pork and Bacon WHereas Gallen with other ancient and approved Doctors praise Pork in holy Scripture it is not allowed for a Swine is an unclean Beast and doth lie upon stinking and filthy soils and with stercorous matter Pork if it be of an old Hog not clean kept it ingenders gross blood humects too much the stomach if the Pork be young it is nutritive Bacon is good for Carters and Plough-men which labour but if they have the Stone and use to eat it they will endure great misery Of Brawn BRawn is an usual meat in Winter amongst Englishmen it is hard of digestion The Brawn of a wilde Boar is much better then the Brawn of a tame one Of Pigs PIgs especially Sow-pigs are nutritive and made in a gelly is a restorative if the Pig be fleaed the skin taken off and then stewed with restoratives as a Cock is stewed to make a gelly A young fat Pig is wholesome if it be well ordered in the roasting the skin not eaten Of Kid. YOung Kids flesh is praised above all other flesh as Avicen Rasis and Averroys affirm it is temperate and nutritive although it be somewhat dry Of wilde Beasts THe opinion of all ancient Physicians was and is that Venison is not good to eat principally for two causes The first is that this Beast doth live in fear and his timerosity causes melancholly humors The second cause is as it doth ingender chollerick humors it is a Lords dish good for an Englishman for it doth animate him to be as he is which is strong and hardy Of the Hare A Hare maketh a Gentleman good pastime and better for the Hounds or Dogs to eat the Hare after they have killed it then man for it is not praised The Scripture saith The Hare is an unclean Beast In Physick Hares flesh is dry and doth ingender melancholly humors Of Rabbits COneys flesh is good but Rabbits flesh is best of all wilde Beasts for it is temperate and doth nourish and singularly praised in Physick for all things the which doth suck is nutritive Of the Head Brains Fat Skins Fins Marrow Blood Tongues Stones and Inwards of Flesh or Fish THe Heads of Fish and the Fat especially of Salmon and Conger is not good for them which are disposed to Rheum the heads of Lampries and Lamprons and the string which is within them is not good to eat refrain from eating of the skins of flesh and fish and burned and brown meat it ingenders viscus humors and Choller and Melancholly and makes opilations The Brains of any beast are not wholesome except the brains of a Kid for they are evil of digestion and hurt the appetite and stomach they are cold moist and viscus A hot stomach may eat them but they ingender gross humors The brains of a Woodcock and of a Snipe and such like are commestible the
accompanied with a loathing of meat frequent belchings and extream pains in the Reins The cause of this Stone is a gravelly and sandy constitution and immoderate heat of the Kidneys for the most part of a gross and slimy humor Those that are troubled with this Disease are loose bodied and do often vomit this Disease in old men is hardly cured The air where the Patient lives must be clear and bright his diet moderate he may drink small Wine he must avoid exercise his belly must be kept loose he may sleep more then ordinary his minde being free from perturbations Of thickness of Hearing SUch men as cannot understand a loud voice such men we say are deaf sometimes the cause of this effect is in it self sometimes by accident when as the Brain or Nerve through which this faculty is conveighed is hurt This Disease is known by the Patients complaints and answers this Disease is sometimes caused by the distemper of the Brain by gross or cold humors thrust into the ears and there fastned this Disease if it slowly increase in process of time brings with it an incureable deafness The air for the Patient to live in must be hot and dry he is to abstain as much as may be from meat especially from those that breed gross vapors his drink must be small Wine his exercise moderate his belly kept loose by art or nature Of Madness MAdness or Fury is an inflamation of melancholly to the great fierceness and alienation of the mind Such as have this Disease rage like beasts Madness differs from a Phrenzie as a Feaver is the companion of a Phrenzie from which madness is free the part affected is the Brain which doth appear by the hurt of the principal functions of the minde The signs of this disease are various sometimes laughing singing then sad fearful rash doating crying out threatning skipping leaping then serious c. This Disease doth chiefly arise from the distemper of the Brain from hot or melancholly humors so much sometimes dried up as to turn to black Choller sometimes by yellow Choller over-burnt or the boiling of the blood Young persons are most subject to it it is an ill sign if the Patient have no stomach a good if Ulcers arise in the face The air the person lives in must be temperate his diet liquid broths and moistners of the body his drink Barley-water by no means Wine except his disease came by fear moderate exercise more then usual sleep strangers must not see him Of Shortness of Breathing CAlled the Asthma it is a thick and a fast breathing without a Feaver such as is usual to them which run this disease often pestreth the Patient so that he cannot breath except he hold his neck streight up and if he lies down it almost choaks him in this distemper the Wind-pipes branches scattered into the Lungs distance are affected The Patient in this distemper findes a heaviness at his breast and feels a straitness and shrinkings coughs often and voids nothing in old men this disease is never cured hardly in young men The air the Patient breaths must be hot and dry he must forbear such meat as breed gross and slimy matter his exercises must be little his sleeps in the day time those in the night very moderate his mind not perturbed Of the Worms THis disease is for the most part caused by the stopping of the passages of the vessels through which the Gall is conveyed from the Liver and Spleen into the Bowels by reason of gross humors which do heat the Liver and generate plenty of Gall therein these Worms which do breed in the Bowels are called Lumbrici or Belly Worms there are others which are called Ascarides like to Mites which breed in rotten Cheese It is evident that Worms are of several kindes as they breed in many parts of the body in rotten Ulcers in Teeth in Ears and Kidneys but the Guts are for the most affected Those that are troubled with the Ascarides have an extream itch in their fundament and narrow Guts have a desire to go often to the stool after they have voided somewhat they are not so much troubled The cause of worms commonly is rottenness or gross Phlegmy and slimy matter apt to corrupt with a putrefying heat which accompanies all these which doth prepare this matter and then it is wrought by the perfusion of natural heat which gives life to the Worms many persons of age and stature have slighted the Worms till their Guts have been fretted and brought into danger of death For the remedy the air must be temperate the meat such as breed good Juyce Let the Patient eat largely or else the Worms will gnaw their Gutts for wants of sustenance the excrements of the Belly must be kept loose Of the Plague THe Plague is caused by unusual and pernicious putrefaction sometimes the constitution of the body is so different from the natural temperature that it is altogether changed into a pernicious and poysonous quality This disease is sometimes caused by corrupt and poysonous exhalations by Carrion by the evil influence of the Stars which is then the immediate hand of God and properly called the pestilence when it proceeds from outward causes 't is called a pestilent Feaver or the Plague the air infected first gets into the heart the air being subtle thin and apt to get into the pores it first infects the Genital Spirits then the Radical Moisture at last the whole substance of the body This disease first begins to discover it self by the Patients unquietness loss of his appetite the members dull and heavy the head aking the stomach pained the spirits decayed strength failing especially the Vital with many other Symptomes except the disease be supernatural and then the signs are so gentle that they can scarcely be perceived the infected air which is a great cause doth not onely weaken the humors and spirits of the body but also the sollid substance of the heart The Plague of all other diseases is most dangerous for although the signs are good yet suddenly the Patient dies the danger is the greater if no Pushes or Carbuncles break forth it is also as dangerous if they break and run in again this disease is consummated and brought to its full ripeness in four and twenty hours if a cold sweat arise on the body the face and eyes look black the spirits are cast down extraordinarily and the Patients excrements that are voided diversly coloured it is a sign of death The air must be rectified by sweet perfumes every day they must not be spared At the beginning of the disease the diet must be cooling the sleep short for by long sleeping the corrupt matter turns again to the heart Venery must be eschewed the belly kept loose and the minde freed from all careful perturbations Catarracta or Suffusion IS when the sight is by little and little dulled by a slimy humor frozen from Ice and droping over the eyes
must receive the dregs of blood and his more earthy and impure parts This Disease so stops the Midriff that it cannot be raised up or thrust down when it should serve for breathing whereby great sighings are caused in the sleep as also great difficulty of breathing The part affected is the Spleen which may be perceived by the loading pain in the Spleens region This Disease is plainly discerned by the loading pain in the Spleens region and by reason of the plenty of matter This Disease is for the most part caused by melancholly humors which are the dregs of the blood and are caught into the Spleen by the dregs of the body and there remain for a long time or else are caused because the Veins of the body do flow with such melanchollick blood at the first whilest the tumor is increasing the cure may be performed but if it be once ripened it is incurable The air the patient lives in must be clear and bright his meat must be such as hath an opening force that is soon concocted and breeds good blood his diet must be sparing his exercise before meat his sleep moderate and his minde pleased Of the Lethargy THe Lethargy called Lethargia is such a necessity of sleeping as cannot by any means be avoided or it is an oblivious Disease caused by a cold imposthume of the brain the substance thereof being affected chiefly the hinder part but not the ventricles as may appear by the offended functions of the brain It is such a Disease whereby Reason Memory and the Imaginations of the other Senses are annoyed in this Disease as hath been said an urgent necessity of oblivion with sleeping doth possess the Patient together with a lingring and continual Feaver The causes of this Disease proceed from a cold and a moist distemper of the brain and abundance of phlegmy humors so putrefied that they bring a Feaver with them This Disease speedily kills the Patient if it be not met withal in time for the space of seven dayes he is in danger of death if he escape them there are hopes of recovery The air he lives in must be hot and dry if otherwise it may be rectified with Juniper-wood Rosemary and Bay-leaves his diet must be such as may extenuate his sleep must be hindered as much as may be with pricking and pulling of his â—air or with smoak of Brimstone Beaver-stone Galbanum Sagapenum placed under his Nose that he may be forced to draw it up his Nostrils to which pupose his Nose must be rubbed and chafed with Vinegar the excrements of his body must be brought down with a Glister or Suppository instead of exercise frictions and ligatures of the exterior parts viz. the hands and feet must be used Of the Yellow Jaundies THe Yellow Jaundies called Icteritia is an effusion sometimes of yellow Choller sometimes black sometimes both over the whole body and this is incident to Maids also this chollerick blood is spread over the whole body with the blood because the excrements are not daily or not at all voided In this disease the same place or part is not alwayes affected for sometimes the Liver is in fault when it is too hot or else imposthumed and then both the Urine and the Stool are stained with a yellow colour Sometimes the Feaver doth concur with a certain pain in some obscure place of the Liver whereby the colour of the face is changed sometimes the bladder of the gall is affected and then heaviness is felt in the right side of the Heart-walls This Disease is manifested to the eyes by the colour the Patients appetite is diminished a bitterness increases in his mouth because of heat and yet for the most part it is without a Feaver but looseness and Head-ache of the body ensue the Urine is like to Saffron also muddy and thick and sometimes it is stopt the excrements are white if the bladder of the galls passage is stopt little is voided and that little by little and little This Disease comes sometimes by encrease of Choller through the Livers too hot distemper for hereby such store of Choller is generated that the Gall cannot contain it sometimes this Disease is caused by the Inflamation of the whole Liver in which case the whole body is stained with gally excrements by reason of the great heat of the blood If this Disease continue long it threatens the danger of a Dropsie The air the Patient lives in must be temperate his diet such as may cool moisten and extenuate the humors and easie of digestion such as binde and multiply Choller are to be avoided Baths and Frictions in the Winter time are good his exercise is to be small his sleep moderate his excrements voided in due season his minde is to be furnisht with pleasing objects Of Giddiness or the Vertigo GIddines is a Disease whereby the head and all other parts of the body seem to be turned circularly about so disturbing the brains and senses that the Patient oft tumbles down unless he be held up by some stay near at hand This Disease is of near kin to the Falling-sickness onely herein they differ that the giddy party is not deprived of his senses neither is he burried this way and that way as Convulsions afflict their Patients The chief part affected is the Brain which doth appear by the functions which are hurt for the animal faculty is grieved but the brain is affected the Head-ache the forerunner a heaviness and dulness thereof with an annoyance of smell and taste and a ringing in the ears A sign of this Disease is that the Patient cannot endure those that turn about in their sight being so depraved that all things seem to turn round This Disease is caused by the abundance of spirits and boiling blood if it be not voided at the Nose when it is ready to run out this Disease is also caused by crude raw venemous humors often generated in the head or in some of the inferiour parts especially in the stomach If this Giddiness lasts long it is next to an Apoplexy and Falling-sickness The air the Patient remains in should be temperate bright and clear his diet such as breeds good juyce pleasing to the stomach and not windy his exercise and sleep moderate for the head the voiding of his excrements if they come not from him naturally must be furthered by art his minde in no case to be disturbed Of the Palsie THe Palsie called Paralysis is depriving of senses and motion not in the whole body as in an Apoplexy but when one side or all parts of the body under the head or any other limb is deprived of sense or motion as the Jaw Hand Lip Feet Arm. It also falls out that some part is deprived of the sensitive faculty the motive faculty not being hurt Contrarywise the motive dies when as the sensitive is found sound sometimes it happens that sense or motion is not quite taken away but onely was
shall onely treat of that pain that doth follow asharp disease by the inflamation of the inner skin for if the inflamation be in the outward Muscles or if the pain be great because of windiness this is but a basterd Pleurisie and the Patient is without a Feaver The signs of this disease besides the difficulty of breathing and a vehement Cough is a pricking pain which plainly doth demonstrate that the membranes and some other tender parts are affected this pricking pain sometimes spreads it self over the sides and breast sometimes to the short Ribs to the Channel-bone of the Throat so that the Patient is forced to breath short and thick also there is a continual Feaver because the inflamation doth border on the heart the Pulse is thick not too great hard and unequal and by that means tough and like to a saw a cough also cometh withal the first day and then nothing cometh at length spettle is voided and comes up coloured according to the nature of the excrements and it is also moister there are many other signs the cause for the most part is blood running from the hollow Veins into the Ribs thin Veins sometimes it is caused by Phlegmy blood and then the disease is longer of continuance and the spettle frothy and white sometimes the blood is Chollerick and then a sharper disease is caused The suppression of the Hemrhoides or monethly tearms will cause a Pleurisie this disease is dangerous to old men to Women with childe and such as have been sick twice or thrice of it it vexes the Patient more in the night then day time whosoever is sick of a Pleurisie and is not cleansed in fourteen dayes they turn to supuratiâ—â— This disease kills by choaking or too mâ—ch pain or by the translation of the matter into the Lungs whereby the Consumption of them is caused and also Ulcers The air the Patient lives in must be temperate somewhat inclining to heat his meat easie of digestion he is not to drink Wine till the disease be abated he may be permitted longer then ordinary sleep his belly must be kept loose Of the Bleeding at the Nose THe Bleeding at the nose called Hemorrhagia doth signifie a Bleeding at the Nose whether it doth come immediately from the Nostrills carried thither by the Veins of the palate through which for the most part nature doth expel the superfluous blood of many or else whether it comes from the Veins of the Head further off but in general it doth signifie any bleeding whether it be of Nose Womb or any other part of the body when blood comes forth moderately in the beginning of a Pleurisie Impostume Squinancy Burning Feaver Small Poxs it is alwayes for the best yet this Bleeding in some other diseases is Critical foreshewing death the Nostrills are chiefly affected but not alwayes the essence of the Nostrils but they are affected by the consent of some other part the Veins by which this blood is cast out at the Nose run from the palate and Mouth into the Nostrills and sometimes from the head when too much blood is voided the colour of the face waxeth pale the body is of a leaden colour the outward parts are cold and a swooning follows and many times after death Oftentimes bleeding at the Nose is caused by nature which doth by this means expel the excrements and which is troublesome to the body Sometimes it is caused by the evil affection of the Veins wherein the blood is contained and the blood runs out of the Veins the Veins being opened by the plenty of blood which they could not contain There are sundry other causes If bleeding have continued long swooning weakness and too much cooling of the Liver Lachexia or the Dropsie is to be feared Bleeding at the Nose without coldness of the outwards parts is mortal The air the Patient should live in must be somewhat cold his meat must be such as doth nourish well and easie of digestion he must avoid exercise and speak little he must avoid all passions of the minde especially anger Of the Falling-sickness THe Falling-sickness is a Convulsion of all the parts of the body not continual but that which cometh by distances of time the minde and senses being thereby hurt This disease doth either happen when the brain hath the cause of the disease in it self which is usual or by the evil effect of the mouth of the stomach or from some other part underneath by which the venemous effect creepeth into the brain through secret passages the Patient feels the cause of this Disease like a vapour of cold winde to be carried to the brain by the continuity of the other parts from the part of the body wherein the Disease is chiefly seated the cause of this Disease being for the most part a venomous vapour carried up from some lower part of the body into the brain and then the Patient doth suddenly fall with a Convulsion The brain is the part affected either by it self or by the consent of the stomach or by some other parts The fit comes oftentimes suddenly with much foam which because it is slimy may be drawn out at length yet in a gentler Falling-sickness this doth not appear when the Patient is deprived of his senses he falls to the ground with a violent shaking of his body his face is wrested his eyes turned upwards his chin somewhat driven to his shoulder and oftentimes he voids seed and ordure against his will his Muscles are loosened all these are signs of a strong fâ—t Sometimes their teeth are so fast closed together that they are in danger of stifling paleness of the face inordinate motion of the tongue pain and heaviness of the head forgetfulness sadness troublesome dreams are ushers to this Disease the Patient being taken with a giddiness sometimes darkness and divers dim glisterings appear before his eyes This Disease is for the most part caused by abundance of melancholâ—ck and phlegmatick humors from whence corâ—upt venomous and stinking vapors break out whereby obstructions are caused in the passages â—f the brain and the passages of the spirits are â—â—ereby hindred by this means the brain and the roots of the Sinnews shrink and as it were tremble in the expelling of that which is obnoxious whether it be vapor or humor This disease frequents children because they are of a moister brain then yong men next to these men oâ— a full growth and old men least of all This Disease is more incident to men then women and usually it doth stick close to the Patient unless it be taken away by medicines in the minority If the Disease be vehement and come often on the Patient it is incurable but if a quartane Ague or any longer Feaver surprize him iâ— portends health The air wherein the Patienâ— lives must be hot and dry his meat mixed with such things as do dissolve and extenuate the humors exercise of the body and frication of thâ— head are prevalent
the moderate use of Venery is healthful his excrements must be voided iâ— due time and if Nature be deficient herein Arâ— must be used his sleep must be moderate and his minde pleased Of Rheum RHeum in Latine called Catarrhus is a distillation commonly taking a deflux of humors and excrements from the head or brain into the other parts of the body and because thâ— brain is of a cold and a moist nature and dotâ— want plenty of nourishment by reason of thâ— largeness thereof so likewise it doth breed many excrements and the slight distemper being cold and moist will further it for vapors senâ— from the lower parts get up thither and these being thickned by reason of the brains thinness are entertained and even as these superfluous humors are sent back again to some one or other part of the body oftentimes in the first Ventricle if they do not offend much in quantity and then they are soonest purged by the Pallat sometimes they spread through divers places when they flow too much and then they are voided at the Nose Pallat Ears or Eyes and they do often fall into the Stomach and Lungs from whence several diseases are occasioned The Brain is most affected as may appear by those things which are voided at the Mouth Nose and Pallat and then it is a more continual disease neither is any hurt of any other part perceived whereby it may be cherisht but while it is caused by other parts of the body it will the better be known by its proper signs This is an affection which is caused by moderate excretion if the excrements of the head fall on the Lungs it doth cause for the most part hardness of breathing and a great Cough and Hoarseness bringing pain and soreness to the aforenamed places the hot distemper of the brain is sometimes the cause the great weakness thereof being oftentimes the cause sometimes it is occasioned from the brains cold and moist distemper for then the nutriments conveighed to the brain are not well digested whereby many superfluities are gathered and store of excrements lodged in the brain Surfeits and too much fulness encreases this Disease or by too much sleep also by the weakness of the digestive and expulsive faculty of the brain If the humor fall from the head to the nose it is but a small grief if to the throat worse if to the lungs worst of all for the lungs are in danger of being exulcerated from whence comes a Consumption the Winter season is very obnoxious to this disease because of the uncertainty of the weather The air the Patient lives in should be moderately hot and rainy weather as also Northern and Southern blasts must be avoided his meat must be very easie of digestion and such as breeds good blood his sleep must be moderate and sometimes in the day time his head must be so covered that neither too much cold nor too much heat offend it his body must daily either by art or nature be emptied of excrements he must use moderate exercise and shun the passions of minde Of the Pain of the Stomach THe pain of the Stomach called Cardialgia is a painful sense of the mouth of the stomach caused by a biting matter This distemper hath an affinity with the Disease called Cardaica passio which is in like manner a Disease oâ— the mouth of the stomach caused by corrupt humors and such as are biting and violent which either came from some other place or else werâ— there generated and gathered together Thâ— Cardaica passio differs from this Disease becausâ— this is caused by biting humors but that is caused by virulent humors venomous and so malign that a very hot and sharp Feaver accompanies it The mouth of the Stomach is primarily affected the heart being hereby hurt because of the nearness a pinching pain with biting and fretting being felt under the Breasts grissels In this Disease there is a gnawing biting and pricking of the stomach there is an oppressing pain there whereby the Patient breaths with difficulty sometimes the belly doth cast out the chollerick stuff and sometimes he doth vomit choller a Feaver seldom comes with this In this Disease the appetite is abated the Patient is in more pain before then after meat this Disease is often caused by sadness for by those causes Choller comes into the stomach whereby bitings and gnawings are caused sometimes by inflamation or by sharp or phlegmy humors if this Disease comes without a Feaver it is less dangerous Let the air the Patient lives in be cold either by art or nature his meat easie of digestion and such as is least subject to corruption rest asswages the pain his sleep must be moderate â—is belly must be rendred answerable to nature â—erturbations of his minde are to be shunned especially choller Of the Gout THe Joynt-Gout is a feebleness of the Joynts and pain coming upon them at several diâ—â—ances of time for the most part it is caused by 〈◊〉 Flux which windeth it self betwixt the Ligaments Films and Tendons of the Joynts for in this disease the Joynts do first receive the Humor which at length doth insinuate into the Films adjoyning sometimes there is a Gout in the fingers sometimes in the knee sometimes in the hips from whence it spreads it self to the Thighs Calves of the Legs and to the end of the Feet yet this Gout sticks not in the Hip but is fastned above the Hip at the toâ— of the Buttock if the Gout stick in the feet ' tiâ— called Podagra or the Feet-Gout whether it bâ— in the ankles soles of the feet or great toeâ— joynt sometimes it seizes on the shoulder-joynts and turning-joynts of the Back-bone oâ— Chine sometimes not any knitting of thâ— bones is free from this pain The parts affecteâ— are the joynts tendons ligaments films of thâ— parts of the body which either knit or inviron the bones are here affected and sometimes thâ— Membranes are filled and stretcht the Patient iâ— tormented for a long space when this Diseasâ— doth first surprize him yet the pain is but little by the use of evil diet almost all the joynts oâ— his body suffering alike sometimes not one parâ— of the body being free from this Disease In thâ— Feet or Hip-Gout for the most part no swellinâ— doth appear but in the Hand and Knee-Gout swelling redness and heat by extream pains aâ— easily to be perceived sometimes an inflamatâ—on is caused and then the appetite is lost anâ— the Patient is troubled with watchings and Feaver The cause of every Joynt-Gout is foâ— the most part great store of phlegmatick humors or some other humors overflowing in the greater Veins the Liver and Head so that the parts are therewith surcharged and that these parts may likewise be free of this burthen they do cast these excrements upon the joynts ligaments and tendons and films whereby they are filled stretcht and weakned There are four causes of these superfluities of humors the
a weakness of such Veins doth follow as did convey food to the Liver and then Excrements are heaped together in the lower parts untill they are corrupted and so surcharge the body and afflict the Patient with a Lax. The Patient in this disease is for the most part troubled with a Feaver and doth thirst very much especially if he be troubled with Ascites and because of Salt and putrefied humors he loaths meat The colour of the face is whitish hardness of breathing and heaviness of the body concurs also Swellings of the Feet because of the far distance of the heart In Anasarca the whole body is weakened and doth Faint and Swell equally yet for the most part the Swelling is in the Shins and the Feet so that if the Fingers are thrust into the flesh the prints of them will remain a long time The great coolings of the Veins and Liver is the cause of this long sore disease this happens to the Liver by it self or else by the coldness of the Spleen Guts Misentery Midriff which sometimes because of their obstruction somtimes because of their weakness draw not unto them too much blood also it is caused by the Bleeding at the Nose by immoderate running or by staying of the monethly Courses or Hemrhoids for so the natural heat is choaked by the loss of Spirits in the blood sometimes it is caused by the Flux of the belly or stomach if they do last long for the natural spirits and native heat are scattered There are many other causes if ulcers arise in the body by water that is between the flesh because of the great plenty of humor it is hardly cured He who is supurated or have a Dropsie when he is cut or burnt if that water or matter doth run out he dies presently also if a Cough doth seize on him he is in great danger Of all these Dropsies the Timpanites is the worst He that is in a consumption many times fall into a Dropsie because the evil is communicated to the Liver for matter and venomous filth having found a way into the Liver gets in and sticks fast therein and so doth corrupt the substance of it The air where the Patient lives should be clear and somewhat inclining to heat and driness moist and windy air do increase this Disease In this distemper a supper of roast meat is better then sod his meat must be easie of concoction flesh broth must not be given except the Patient takes Purges he may drink thin Wine but not sweet because this will not quench his thirst as it is good in this Disease to indure hunger so to thirst long is dangerous moderate exercise frictions and the Baths are good he may sleep in the night time but not much the Excrements must be answerable to nature he must abstain from Venery and even as fear and sadness do hurt very much because they hinder digestion so anger and some of the other passions will be very good for him Of spitting of Blood SPitting of Blood is any avoiding of Blood at the mouth Blood is also voided from many other places of the body here care ought to be had in observing whether the Patient was wont to Bleed at the Nose or no for from thence it doth fall into the Stomach and Throat and from thence into the Lungs but for the most part it doth turn and harden into a cold if then one spit blood and yet did not Bleed at the Nose formerly then it comes from some peculiar part blood is often voided from the Gums and Mouth it self and then the Spittle is of a bloody colour and very little is voided out and that without a Cough if it do come from the Throat or Weezel-pipe then it is voided by Hemmings not by Cough and the continuated parts of these places do appear loosened if the Tongue be thrust out but if it did come from the Head a pain of the Head and heaviness went before a noise in the Ears the Forehead Veins rise they have a kinde of a heat and blood in the Mouth and a tickling is felt in the Palate if it doth run into the Throat from whence by often Hemming it is cast out oftentimes the Patient hath a desire to Cough but cannot but if the blood doth come from the Lungs then is the blood foamy and then it is voided by frequent Coughing and without pain and at sundry times and as oft as blood is voided because some great Vein is burst then plenty of blood is cast up no cause except that known it being as it were cast up by Vomit but if blood be cast up because some Vein in the Lungs is gnawn which is oft caused by a sharp humor falling down then it is voided by degrees a little now and a little then unless some great Vein be fretted asunder for then it runs out in great abundance for this is very dangerous for then follows a Cough or a Feaver sometimes some part of the Lungs being rotted is voided by a Cough and this is the surest sign of the Lungs exulceration much more might be written of the peculiar parts affected and of the signs This distemper is often caused by fulness and by a great quantity of blood which doth offend the body and some peculiar parts of the body more particularly so that hereby the vessels mouths are opened Of this is a good habit of body immoderate use of hot nutriments and Wine suppression of tearms and then there is no pain but rather a lightsomness of the body which before was dull and then also there is not too great a quantity thereof and it is not very foamy or red Women without any danger of Consumption have been eased by this shedding of blood in the suppression of their tearms To omit other causes that might be rendred of this distemper it will be very necessary to take notice that if the Lungs are ulcerated there is danger for then there is danger of a Supuration and Consumption when a Vein in the Lungs is opened and burst yet there is some hope if the substance of the Lungs be sound yet a Consumption signifies danger if the blood which comes out of the rupture of a vein falling upon the Lungs be there detained by which means the Lungs are inflamed and putrefied for at length the substance of the Lungs will be corrupted and putrefied there is also danger when a great Vâ—â—â— is opened or broke for that the heart may be suffocated from the plenty of blood voided from thence Spitting of blood if it be caused by a corrosion of the Lungs is incuâ—able if from the Breast there is less danger Spitting of matter it is a sign the Lungs are exulcerated this disease if it continue long will turn into a Consumption The air the Patient lives in should be somewhat inclining to cold and dry the Patient must avoid sun-shine and a bright fire his meat must be such as doth cool
ounce Olibanum two ounces Aloes Hepatique Mastick Cloves Galangal Cinnamon Saffron Nutmegs Cubebs one ounce Gum of Ivy five ounces beat what can be beaten into very fine powder and still them in an Alembick with a gentle fire The first water will be clear and white when it begins to change colour take away the first water and receive the second The second water will be of the colour of Saffron and thick when the colour changeth again take away the second water and receive the third The third water will be like Honey then distil the feces dry The first water cureth Fistula's and noise in the ears a drop or two being put into them * Mark the quality of the disease and give the hottest water in the coldest disease or at least qualifie them one with another The second cureth infirmities in the eyes they being washed with it The third water cureth ulcers and scabs in any part of the body and swellings of the eyes it presently easeth pains of the teeth it resisteth cold poisons as Toads Spiders Serpents Scorpions c. Neither can any sting hurt one a drop of this Oyl being warmed and applied to the place it cureth all ulcers lie they never so deep in the flesh nerves or bones and that without any tent in nine days be they never so foul fistulated or cankered it cures wounds with a stone or fall or shot a linen rag being wet in it and laid upon it it strengtheneth the nerves and sinnews helps swellings of the Legs Joynts or any place coming of a cold cause or corrupt blood It is so hot in operation that nothing can be found hotter and of such a piercing quality that warm a drop thereof and lay it on your hand it will presently soak in and you shall not feel it If you would try the vertue of it take a Capon or any other Fowl the feathers being plucked off and the guts being taken out then heat him so hot as you can well hold him in your hand then anoint him with this Oyl and lay him in the Sun two hours to dry then anoint him again and dry him as before then lay him where you will he will never putrifie Chap. 4. A Precious Water TAke of Aqua vitae many times distilled over a gallon Sperma caeti Ambergrease Rheubarb two drams Musk one dram put the Aqua vitae in a glass then tie up all the aforesaid species in a linnen cloath and hang the Nodulus in the water by a string it being close stopped lest the spirit evaporate with Wax and Parchment putting a little Cinamon into the Nodulus so shall you have an excellent water of the colour of Gold This is indeed a precious water and I am of opinion that if an Astrological time were observed for the beginning of the business it would be ten times better It expelleth Poyson a drop of it being taken in any convenient substance resisteth both pestilence and putrefaction if any be infected with the pestilence or any other Feaver coming of putrefaction or inflamation of blood or humors as most Feavers if not all do six or seven drops given in any cordial cures them Chap. 5. An Apprehension worth experience TAke of the Juyce of Chelondine which was gathered when the Sun was in Leo which is called his own house let him be free from Malevolent Beams and if he apply to the aspect of Benevolents 't is the better let the Moon be strong applying to the Sun and encreasing in light let the Angles of the Heavens be clear from the bodies of Saturn Mars or the Dragons tail from this Juyce draw the Elements apart and rectifie them all severally the triplicity the Patient was born under and his Disease being known and discretion in the administration accordingly used why may not it alone cure all Diseases though not in all people Chap. 6. A Balsam TAke of Turpentine one pound Oyl of Bayes four ounces Galbanum three ounces Gum-arabick four ounces Frankinsence Mirrhe Gum of Ivy Wood of Aloes of each three ounces Galanglal Cloves Comfrey-roots Nutmegs Cinamon Ginger Zedoary Diptany of Creet one ounce Musk Amber-greece one dram the things being in powder which may be beaten put them into a Retort and put to them Aqua vitae six pints then wet a rag in Aqua vitae and set fire to them let it burn stopping it close and after nine dayes still it in sand first with a gentle fire At the first will come out a clear water with Oyl amongst it let the fire be gentle till you see it begin to look black When it changeth colour then change your receiver and separate the Oyl from the first water then increase the fire and perfect the distillation Keep the last water also apart which being suffered to stand and settle will have a liquor which may be separated from that which is called the Balsam it self The first is called water of Balsam The Oyl is called Oyl of Balsam The last water mother of Balsam And the residence in the bottom of the last water is the Balsam it self and is the most precious of all The first water cleanseth the eyes causeth a clear sight the face being washed with it makes it fair it preserveth Youth breaks the Stone in the Reins brings forth Urine stopped by carnosity or fleshiness it marvellously cureth all sort of wounds being washed with it and a Lint dipped in it and put into them it also helpeth Hecktique Feavers and Coughs The Mother of Balsam helps Scabs Itches Tetters Ring-worms and Leprosie The Oyl of Balsam helps many Diseases as Wounds in the Head though the Skull be broken a drachm of it at a time being drunk in water helps Pleurisies wonderfull speedily The Balsam it self is the wonder of the world two drachms of it being taken easeth any pain it helps Coughs Hoarseness infirmities either hot or cold being used in unction it pierceth to the utmost extream parts curing thereby old Aches and bruises it cures Quartane Agues all the body being anointed with it once a day Chap. 7. A Balsam for the Stone TAke of Turpentine a pound old Oyl six ounces Oyl of Bayes four ounces Cinamon Spikenard of each two ounces Bricks well burnt eight ounces still them altogether in an Alembick It provokes Urine breaks the Stone kills Worms helps noise in the Ears the Palsie Gouts of all sorts all pains in the Joynts either by drinking of it or anointing with it but you must use but very little of it at a time inwardly mixed with apt things for the disease you take it for Chap. 8. A Balsam for the Palsie TAke of Galbanum a pound Gum of Ivy three ounces bruise them and still them in Balneo mix the liquor with Oyl of Bayes one ounce Turpentine a pound still them again then separate the Oyl from the water and keep the Oyl for your use For the dead Palsie Convulsion Apoplexy Shaking-palsie or any disease of the
Brain Chollick Winde in the Bowels c. lay the Patient upon his Back and pour a little of this Oyl being warmed upon his Navel and you shall presently see the wonderful operation appear more divine then natural Chap. 9. Of the Quintessence of every Simple Matter WE are in the first place to learn what is the Quintessence of every thing or simple matter which being known the other secrets of this Art will more easily manifest themselves unto us for every thing which hath its institution from another thing ought to have its definition declared that the original may be understood Know therefore that Quintessence is the fifth part of every thing having forme and substance and a most subtil spirit drawn from its body as from a more gross and crasse matter and superfluity of four Elements by a most subtil and extream distillation as we shall hereafter teach But let it not seem wonderfull to any one that this Art hath for the most part lien absconded and shut up from the common knowledge and vulgar capacities of men for many of the Ancient Philosophers have so laboured in this art that thereby they have nourished and preserved the life of man to an extream old age and have spun out the thread of life to the end of nature and ultimate time ordained and appointed by God Qui statuit omnibus semel mori But as by a corruptible Medicine life cannot alwayes be preserved incorrupted so a Medicine having neer affinity to incorruption may preserve the power of nature to an extream old age And the best Antidote conducing hereunto is the Quintessence which is no elementary thing but a certain secret soul drawn from its body so that whatsoever it is admixed withal seems in a manner incorruptible for it comforts and restores all the powers and spirits of mans body by the excrements of the Elements evacuated and wasted and it is a spirit of life for it digesteth all indigestible things and cutteth away and digesteth all superfluous qualities For it preserveth flesh from corruption it comforts the Elements restoreth decayed Youth vivifies the spirit soft things it hardens hard it mollifies thick and gross things it rarifies thin substances it conduces and makes thick the lean it makes fat fatness it extenuates it cooleth the hot and heateth the cold drieth up moisture and moistneth driness and repelleth every complexion adverse to the body Further it extinguishes all the noxious matter of superfluous humors and restoreth natural heat so that the greatest Philosophers never found out any thing more conducing to the sustentation of life Now although the Quintessence may sometimes have the complexion of some other thing adjoyned unto it for unto what complexionated thing soever it be joyned it draweth the complexion thereof unto it self yet solely by it self it hath none of the four qualities in it to wit Airy Watry Fiery nor Earthly which could be discerned or discovered by the judicious inquisition of the most skilfull Philosophers Lastly know that the Quintessence hath not in it any thing of the earthly Element Cold or Dry because it cures melancholly diseases which are cold and dry Therefore for a conclusion observe that it is neither hot nor cold nor moist nor dry but is a thing of a temperate nature exceeding all the Elements which are under Heaven For when it is administred unto any one it maketh that body temperate neither doth it recede from its temporancy by assuming any Qualities or Complexions Neither doth it follow that it is a Medicine for cold infirmities because it is hot nor that it cures hot diseases because it is cold for two contraries cannot exist in one body because one contrary is expelled by the other Therefore we see it ought not to be called hot or cold nor dry or moist because it cures such as are Physical which are hot and dry and the Hidropical which are moist and cold but all the four qualities are in it corrupted and altogether sublated And although it is not an Element nevertheless it is a temperate Matter purified by the Elements themselves and extracted from the Feces of the four Elements which are the most powerful causes of the corruption These Feces therefore are segregated as a most gross body from its matter as it were from a most subtil soul by the Science and Art of distillations And because the Quintessence is the Commune vocabulum of all things which have a form and species to extract it from and although chiefly it is to be understood of Wine yet nevertheless there are very many other things from which it may be drawn and educed as from all mettals from all fruits from flesh eggs roots and many other things as we shall shortly declare and it excelleth all other things because of its great subtilty and therefore by very many Philosophers it hath been called Coelum Philosophorum For the Heaven is of it self distinct towards the four Elements so the Coelum Philosophorum viz. The Quintessence hath it self against the â—our qualities of humane bodies which are composed of those Elements It is called also by some Aqua ardens a burnâ—ng water because untill it be brought to its perfection and utmost distillation it burneth in the fire leaving no superfluous humidity in the vessel By some it is also called the soul of Wine for as the soul is more noble then the body so is the Quintessence which is extracted by true distillation more noble then the body of Wine from whence it is educed It is named also by other Aqua vitae or the Water of life because it doth conserve humane life from corruption as we see when it is administred to those that have the Syncope passion and because it is divers wayes and from divers things extracted we shall begin with the first in order Chap. 10. How the Quintessence of Wine is to be extracted by a distallatory HAving delivered what the Quintessence is and to what it conduces we are now to perpend and consider by how many wayes it may be extracted and from what things and because it is drawn from things moist dry hot and cold we shall in the first declare how it may be drawn from moist things as from Wine after this manner Take of the best red Wine a little inclining to sweetness and which is perfect naturaâ— without mixture or sophistication not too neâ—â— nor too old but of a temperate age or if yoâ— cannot get red Wine take white Wine the besâ— what quantity you please and place it in a Câ—â—curbite so that two parts may be full and thâ— third remain empty then put it upon a Liâ—â—beck with a head and receiver and let theâ— be all well luted with lute made of paper maâ—â— defied or meal and whites of Eggs mixed tâ— the thickness of Honey It may also be madâ— according to Raymund Lully with Olibanuâ— or Mastick mollisted or with powder of Calviva incorporated with the white of an Egg. And
afterwards circulate it in a pellican forty dayes and reserve it for your use others distil it oftner and it is the better Chap. 21. To make an Aqua vitae Composita for men of a cold Complexion or Region HAving already discoursed at large of Aqua vitae Simplex we now proceed to give you the way of preparing several compound waters and first of such as ought to be administred unto men of a cold complexion or unto such as labour under any disease proceeding from a cold cause which is this Take Zuiziberis albi Cinamomi Cubeb Recent Gariâ—ph Nucis Muscati Macis electi Cardamomi Zedoari Galangae Piperis longi of each equal parts bruise them grosly and to one part of these Species adde six parts of simple Aqua vitae put them in a long Cucurbite placing thereon a blinde Alimbeck and let it stand to digest fourteen dayes afterwards distil in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire then put the feces again upon the distilled matter and let it digest eight dayes more It may also be distilled without an Alimbeck but that way is not so good And when it hath been distilled three times the first water is called Aqua benedicta the second Aqua vitae composita and the third Aqua balsami Some also adde to the composition hereof Fol. salviae Rutae Castorei recentis Corticis Citri Baccarum lauri Florum Lavendulae Florum Rorismarini ana two drams these are all to be distilled with the aforesaid species alwayes adding to one part of species six parts of simple Aqua vitae This water is good for all diseases of the head proceeding from phlegmatick humors to be taken in the morning the quantity of two drams in one ounce of the best Wine Some use to dip a crust of bread in this water and others to anoint the head with this water adding to half an ounce hereof Betony water one ounce But beware that you do not give this water in any disease or grief of the head proceeding from a hot cause unless some cold Medicine be mixed therewith which may temperate the heat of this water This water doth strengthen the memory being drunk fasting the quantity of half an ounce mixed with Rosemary water and the hinder part of the head being anointed or washed therewith and let dry of it self it is good also against madness if you cut off the hair of the head and apply to the head clothes wet in this water mixed with water of Marjoram and Rosemary you shall perceive a wonderful operation It is also good for the Palsie being mixed with Sage-water and the members often bathed therewith and it being drunk upon an empty stomach with water of Lavander-flowers It is good to take away all spots of the face and all infirmities of the eyes It hath a marvellous operation to take away all pains in the Teeth A Comb being dipped herein and the head combed therewith it adorns the hair and preserves them from becoming hairy it cures all scabs in the head recovers lost hearing Bombast being dipped therein and applied to the Ear. Wounds being washed therewith it heals them wonderfully and suffers no putrified flesh in a Wound Being taken fasting it is powerful against all Poyson against all Cankers Fistula's and the Dropsie and the Stone in the Bladder it helps Conception in a Woman being taken fasting if the obstruction thereof proceed from a cold cause Being drunk with Galangal and Gentiana and Bombaste wet therein and applied to the Matrix provokes the Tearms If this Water be put upon Fish Flesh or any other Meats they will not corrupt nor putrifie neither will flies blow thereon If the body be fomented therewith it is good against the Jaundies and all trembling of the Members and against all filthiness of the mouth and nose A Cloath being dipt herein and applied to the Stomach wonderfully helps digestion A Cloath wet therein and applied to the Stomach helps Convulsion fits Let those who labor under the Iliack passion drink often thereof it is good also against the Falling-sickness and the Hemerhodes It is much praised by Albertus Magnus for its wonderful operations in the Palsie Chap. 22. An excellent Compound Water used by the Emperour Frederick the Third TAke Aq. Vita simp rectificat four pound vini opt four pound Cinamomi three ounces Garioph nucis moscatae ana one ounce Zuizib albi one ounce and half Macis half an ounce Zedoariae half an ounce Galangae 2. drams Cubeb Hys an half an ounce Radicis benedictae 1. ounce Salviae florum Lavendulae an half an ounce Melissae iris Balsamithae an one ounce Rosarum albarum one ounce and half Bruise all these and put them in a great Cucurbite which will hold fifteen or sixteen pound adding Zachari albi three ounces Passular ficuum pinguium an six ounces Camphorae half an ounce Aquar Rosarum Endiviae florum Sambuci an two pound put them altogether into the Cucurbite luting it well and set it in the â—un twenty dayes viz. ten dayes before Midsummer day and ten dayes after Then strain out the water and distil it by an Alembick and keep it in a dry place it is a soveraign Cordial for a cold stomach and wonderfully preserves the whose body in health The Dose is the quantity of half a spoonful but let it not be given to a Woman when she hath her Menstrue Chap. 23. An excellent Compound Water against all Vlcers and Poyson c. TAke Salviae twelve ounces Nucis Muscat Gariop Zuizib albi Gran. Paradisi Cinamomi an four drams Ol. Laurini one ounce Castorei recentis one dram Spinae Indicae Rorismarini an half a dram florum Rorismar one dram Folior Rutae one ounce Fol. Majoranae one dram Corticis Citri two drams Let all these be new if you can get them but if you have them not new then take the old dried flowers and pulverize them and put to them the best white Wine you can get then set them in a digestive to putrifie a moneth This digestion may be made in Balneo Mariae in the first degree of heat afterwards distil it by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae then adde the water again to the Feces and distil it in Balneo again twice over afterwards distil it in ashes and reserve the water carefully in a glass close stopt The Vertues of this Water ANy Meat wet in this Water retains an excellent sapour and odour It is good against pestilentious airs and expels the venom thereof out of the body it cures all infirmities of the Eyes and defects of the Sight It marvellously cures Wounds they being washed therewith it dryeth up all hidropical humors It is good against all diseases of the Lungs Spleen and Milt of the intestines and of the head it takes away all spots out of the face filth of the Mouth and Nose mitigates the pain of the Teeth procures good digestion purifies the blood and consumes corrupt blood and