nature as Seneca saith wee must not doubt to be divine if but for this reason that they will melt gold and silver not harming the purse a sword not hurting the scabbard the head of a Lance not burning the wood and shed wine not breaking the vessell According to which decree I can grant that these Lightnings which breake in sunder melte and dissipate and performe other effects so full of admiration are like in substance to the shot of great Ordinance but not these which carry with them fire and flame In proofe whereof there comes into my minde the historie of a certaine Souldier out of whose thigh I remember I drew forth a Bullet wrapped in the taffety of his breeches which had not any signe of tearing or burning Besides I have seene many who not wounded nor so much as touched yet notwithstanding have with the very report winde of a Cannon bullet sliding close by their eares fallne downe for dead so that their members becomming livid black they have dyed by a Gangrene ensuing thereupon These and such effects are like the effects of Lightnings which wee lately mentioned and yet they beare no signe nor marke of poyson From whence I dare now boldly conclude that wounds made by Gunshot are neither poysoned nor burnt But seeing the danger of such wounds in these last civill warres hath beene so great universall and deadly to so many worthy personages and valiant men what then may have beene the cause thereof if it were neither combustion nor the venenate qualitie of the wound This must wee therefore now insist upon and somewhat hardily explaine Those who have spent all their time in the learning and searching out the mysteries of Naturall Philosophie would have all men thinke and beleeve that the foure Elements have such mutuall sympathy that they may bee changed each into other so that they not onely undergoe the alterations of the first qualities which are heate coldnesse drynesse and moisture but also the mutation of their proper substances by rarefaction and condensation For thus the fire is frequently changed into ayre the ayre into water the water into aire and the water into earth and on the contrary the earth into water the water into aire the aire into fire because these 4. first bodies have in their common matter enjoyed the contrary and fighting yet first and principall qualities of all Whereof we have an example in the Ball-bellowes brought out of Germany which are made of brasse hollow and round and have a very small hole in them whereby the water is put in and so put to the fire the water by the action thereof is rarified into aire and so they send forth winde with a great noyse and blow strongly as soone as they grow throughly hot You may try the same with Chesnuts which cast whole and undivided into the fire presently fly asunder with a great cracke because the watry and innate humidity turned into winde by the force of the fire forcibly breakes his passage forth For the aire or winde raised from the water by rarifaction requires a larger place neither can it now bee conteined in the narrow filmes or skinnes of the Chesnut wherein it was formerly kept Iust after the same manner Gunpouder being fiered turnes into a farre greater proportion of ayre according to the truth of that Philosophicall proposition which saith Of one part of earth there are made ten of water of one of water ten of aire and of one of aire are made ten of fire Now this fire not possible to be â—ent in the narrow space of the peice wherein the pouder was formerly conteined endeavours to force its passage with violence and so casts forth the Bullet lying in the way yet so that it presently vanishes into aire and doth not accompany the Bullet to the marke or object which it batters spoiles and breakes asunder Yet the Bullet may drive the obvious aire with such violence that men are often sooner touched therewith than with the bullet and dye by having their bones shattered and broken without any hurt on the flesh which covers them which as wee formerly noted it hath common with Lightning We finde the like in Mines when the pouder is once fiered it remooves and shakes even mountaines of earth In the yeare of our Lord 1562 a quantity of this pouder which was not very great taking fire by accident in the Arcenall of Paris caused such a tempest that the whole City shoke therewith but it quite overturned divers of the neighbouring houses and shooke off the tyles and broke the windowes of those which were further off and to conclude like a storme of Lightning it laid many here and there for dead some lost their sight others their hearing and othersome had their limbes torne asunder as if they had beene rent with wilde horses and all this was done by the onely agitation of the aire into which the fired Gunpouder was turned Iust after the same manner as windes pent up in hollow places of the earth which want vents For in seeking passage forth they vehemently shake the sides of the Earth and raging with a great noise about the cavities they make all the surface thereof to tremble so that by the various agitation one while up another downe it overturnes or carries it to another place For thus we have read that Megara and Aegina anciently most famous Citties of Greece were swallowed up and quite overturned by an earthquake I omit the great blusterings of the windes striving in the cavities of the earth which represent to such as heare them at some distance the fierce assailing of Citties the bellowing of Bulles the horrid roarings of Lions neither are they much unlike to the roaring reports of Cannons These things being thus premised let us come to the thing we have in hand Amongst things necessary for life there is none causes greater changes in us than the aire which is continually drawne into the Bowells appointed by nature and whether we sleepe wake or what else soever we doe we continually draw in and breath it out Through which occasion Hippocrates calls it Divine for that breathing through this mundane Orbe it embraces nourishes defends and keepes in quiet peace all things contained therein friendly conspiring with the starres from whom a divine vertue is infused therein For the aire diversly changed and affected by the starres doth in like manner produce various changes in these lower mundane bodies And hence it is that Philosophers and Physitions doe so seriously wish us to behold and consider the culture and habite of places and constitution of the aire when they treate of preserving of health or curing diseases For in these the great power and dominion of the aire is very apparent as you may gather by the foure seasons of the yeare for in summer the aire being hot and dry heats and dries our bodies but in winter it produceth in us the
sect 3. lib. 3. Epid. Wounds made by Gunshot are not burnt The reason why wounds made by Gun-shot looke blacke The reasons of our adversaries refelled Quaest nat lib. 2. cap. 49. The stinking smell of lightning Quaest 2. cap 51. The wonderfull nature of some lightning A Historie Why the wounds made by Gunshot some few yeares agone were so deadly The cause of the transmutation of the Elements * These bellowes here mentioned by the Author are Bals made of Brasse in forme of a peare with a very small hole in their lesser ends when you would fill them with water you must heate them very hot and so the aire which is conteined in them will be exceedingly rarified which by putting them presently into water will be condensate as much and so will draw in the water to supply the place ne detur Gacuum Theâ— put them into the fire and it againe rarifying the water into aire will make them yeelde a strong continued and forcible blast The cause of the report and blow of a Cannon A Historie The cause of an Earth-quake How the aire becomes hurtfull Aphor. 17. sect 3. Flesh quickly putrifies in maritime places In what bodies 〈◊〉 and wounds are not easily cured An argument of great putrifaction of the humors All contused wounds must bee brought to suppuration A division of wounds â—on the variety of the Wounded parts From the difference of Bullets Wounds made by 〈◊〉 shot 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Signes of Wounds from their figure From their colour From the feeling the blow From the bleeding From the heats of the Wound Whence these wounds are so much confused Strange bodies must first be pulled forth The manner how to draw them forth What probes fit search these wounds A Caution in the use of suppuratives Why Escharotickes must be eschewed in these kinds if they be simple How an Eschar may cause putrefaction The description of an Egyptiacum How and when to temper this Egyptiacum The oyle of Whelpes a digestive anodyne and fit medicine to procure the falling away of an Eschar Lib de ulter The faculties of the powder of Mercury The force of ealcined vitrioll How wounds made by Gun-shot may be combait Scarification An Astringent repelling medicine The binding up How oft the wound must be drest in a day Why wounds made by Gun-shot are so long before they come to suppuration Why Turpentine must be washed Gal. lib. 3. Meth. A detergent medicine Why tents must be neither too long nor thicke When you must use injections An Injection The quantity of Egyptiacum to be used in an injection Why none of of the iniection must beleft in the wound Hollow tents or pipes The manner of binding up the wound Two causes that make strange bodies hard to he taken forth The Indication which is drawne from the strength of the patient is the chiefest of all other Why wounds of the head at Paris and of the legges at Avignion are hard to be cured An indication to be drawne from the quicke and 〈◊〉 of the wounded parts Gal. lib. 7. Meth. et 2. ad Glauc Gal. lib. 7. Meth. How and when we must take indication of curing from a symptome Why such as are wounded must keepe a slender Diet Why we must open a veine in such as are wounded by Gunshot Gal. Lib. 4. Meth. cap. 6. Gal. Lib. 1 de comp Med. secund gen c. 〈◊〉 An Anodyne and ripening Cataplasme Why Leaden Bullets lye in the body so many yeeres without doing any harme Cordialls to strengthen the noble parts A cordiall Epithem Pomandera Frontalls to cause rest and strengthen the animall faculty A sweete water Perfumes to burne The maligne symptomes which usually happens upon wounds made by Gunshot Matter may flow from the wounded Iimbes into the belly A breefe recid tall of the manner of the cure Horride symptomes occasioned by a wound made by Gun-shot Incisions wherefore made Wherefore I used fomentations Mixed or round frictions as they terme them A medicated Lye A discussing Cataplasme The occasion of writing this Apologie The chiefe heads of our adversaries Treatise All wounds made by Gun-shot are contused A suppurative medicine of tryed efficacy The force of Egyptiacum against putrefaction The force of the ayre in breeding and augmenting diseases A History Hip. Aph. 1. sect 3. In our second discourse The power of the starres upon the Aire and our bodies Aoho 20. sect 5. The similitude betweene Thunder and great Ordinance maintained Our adversaries method and manner of cure reproved Gal. lib. 9. simpl 10. Method Vinegar put into a wound doth not stay but causes bleeding A History Balmes are fit to heale simple but not contused wounds Egyptiacum howsoever made is a clenser not a suppurative The occasion of this Apologie The reasons of our adversaries that the Bullets may be poysoned set downe and confuted In praefat 〈◊〉 6. Diascor Wounds made with Arrowes and such like things are often without contufion But are oft-times poysoned The differences of Arrowes In matter In signe In bignes In number In making In force You must not leave the weapon in the wound The manner of drawing forth 〈◊〉 and such weapons When to draw forth the weapon on the coutrary side When by the same way it went in A Caution The benefit of bleeding in wounds The signes of poysoned wounds Remedies in poysoned wounds Gal. Lib. de artis constâ—â—â—t Sect. 2. lib. de fracturis Causes of Bruises and Sugillations Sect. 2. lib. de fract Ad sentent 62. sect 3. lib. de Articulit A potion to dissolve and evacuate clotted blood A hot sheeps skinne A discussing oyntment A sudorificke potion to dissolve congealed blood Surupe hindering putrifaction and congealing of blood A drinke for the same purpose A pouder for the same The distilled water of greene Walnuts Baths Lib. 3. de vict deut lib. 3. de morb Sect. 2. lib. fract A suppurative Cataplasme A caution to be observed How contused wounds must be sowed Phlebotomie Scarifying Cupping glasses Astrictives how good in Contusions After astrictives must follow discussives Sect. 2. lib. de fract The cause of a Gangreene The use of a Scarificator A fomentation to discusse and draw to the skinne In sect 2. lib. de fiactur A discussing plaister Hip. sect 3. lib. de art sent 58. 65. Remedies for a mucous and flatulent tumor of the ribbes The cause Mummie a frequent and usuall medicine in contusions The reason that the Author makes no mention thereof amongst his medicines The opinion of the Arabians concerning it Lib. 4. cap. 84. Another opinion of Mummie Another What our Mummie usually is Mummie is no way good for contusions But hurtfull and how The effects of oxycrate in Contusions The reason and syptomes of Combustions The cause of the blisters rising upon burnes Variety of medicines to take away the heate and asswage the paine How fire may asswage the paine of burning Beaten Onions good for burns and how Lib. 5. simpl How often in a
with their cries not giving heed to the judgement of the vaine common people who speake ill of Chirurgions because of their ignorance CHAP. III. Of things Naturall THat the Chirurgion may rightly and according to Art performe the fore-said workes he must set before his eyes certaine Indications of working Otherwise he is like to become an Empericke whom no Art no certaine reason but onely a blind temerity of fortune moves to boldnesse and action These Indications of actions are drawne from things as they call them naturall not naturall and besides nature and their adjuncts as it is singularly delivered of the Ancients being men of an excellent understanding Wherefore we will prosecute according to that order all the speculation of this Art of ours First therefore things naturall are so termed because they constitute and containe the nature of mans body which wholy depends of the mixture and temperament of the 4. first bodies as it is shewed by Hippocrates in his Booke de Natura humana wherefore the consideration thereof belongs to that part of Physicke which is named Physiologia as the examination of things not naturall to Diaetetice or Diet because by the use of such things it indeavours to retaine and keepe health but Therapeutice or the part which cures the diseases and all the affects besides nature challenges the contemplation of those things which are not agreeable to nature But the things which are called naturall may be reduced to seven heads besides which there comes into their fellowship those which wee terme annexed The seven principall heads of things naturall are Elements Temperaments Humors Parts or members Faculties Actions Spirits To these are annexed and somewhat neere Age. Sexe Colour Composure Time or season Region Vocation of life CHAP. IIII. Of Elements AN Element by the definition which is commonly received amongst Physitians is the least and most simple portion of that thing which it compeseth or that my speech may be the more plaine the foure first and simple bodies are called Elements Fire Aire Water and Earth which accommodate and subject themselves as matter to the promiscuous generation of all things which the Heavens engirt whether you understand thingsperfectly or unperfectly mixed Such Elements are onely to be conceived in your minde being it is not granted to any externall sense to handle them in their pure and absolute nature Which was the cause that Hippocrates expressed them not by the names of substances but of proper qualities saying Hot Cold Moist Drie because some one of these qualities is inherent in every Element as his proper and essentiall forme not onely according to the excesse of latitude but also of the active facultie to which is adjoyned another simple qualitie and by that reason principall but which notwithstanding attaines not to the highest degree of his kinde as you may understand by Galen in his first Booke of Elements So for example sake in the Aire wee observe two qualities Heat and Moisture both principall and not remitted by the commixture of any contrary quality for otherwise they were not simple Therefore thou maist say what hinders that the principall effects of heat shew not themselves as well in the Aire as in the Fire because as we said before although the Aire have as great a heat according to his nature extent and degree no otherwise than Fire hath yet it is not so great in its active qualitie The reason is because that the calfactorie force in the Aire is hindered and dulled by societie of his companion and adjoyned qualitie that is Humidity which abateth the force of heat as on the contrary drinesse quickneth it The Elements therefore are endewed with these qualities Names of the substances Fire is Hot and drie Names of the qualities Aire Moist and hot Water Cold and moist Earth Cold and drie These foure Elements in the composition of naturall bodies retaine the qualities they formerly had but that by their mixture and meeting together of contraries they are somewhat tempered and abated But the Elements are so mutually mixed one with another and all with all that no simple part may be found no more than in a masse of the Emplaister Diacalcitheos you can shew any Axungia oyle or litharge by it selfe all things are so confused and united by the power of heate mixing the smalleft particulars with the smallest and the whole with the whole in all parts You may know and perceive this concretion of the foure Elementary substances in one compound body by the power of mixture in their dissolution by burning a pile or heape of greene wood For the flame expresses the Fire the smoke the Aire the moisture that sweats out at the ends the Water and the ashes the Earth You may easily perceive by this example so familiar and obvious to the senses what dissolution is which is succeeded by the decay of the compound body on the contrary you may know that the coagmentation or uniting and ioyning into one of the first mixed bodies is such that there is no part sinceere or without mixture For if the heat which is predominant in the fire should remaine in the mixture in its perfect vigor it would consume the rest by its pernitious neighbourhood the like may be said of Coldnesse Moisture and Drinesse although of these qualities two have the title of Active that is Heat and Coldnesse because they are the more powerfull the other two Passive because they may seeme more dull and slow being compared to the former The temperaments of all sublunarie bodies arise from the commixture of these substances elementary qualities which hath bin the principall cause that moved me to treate of the Elements But I leave the force and effects of the Elementary qualities to some higher contemplation content to have noted this that of these first qualities so called because they are primarily and naturally in the foure first bodies others arise and proceed which are therefore called the second qualities as of manythese Heauinesse Lightnesse variously distributed by the foure Elements as the Heat or Coldnesse Moistnesse or Drinesse have more power over them For of the Elements two are called light because they naturally affect to move upwards the other two heavy by reason they are carried downeward by their owne weight So we thinke the fire the lightest because it holds the highest place of this lower world the Aire which is next to it in site wee account light for the water which lies next to the Aire we judge heavy and the earth the center of the rest we judge to be the heaviest of them all Hereupon it is that light bodies and the light parts in bodies have most of the lighter Elements as on the contrary heavy bodies have more of the heavier This is a briefe description of the Elements of this fraile world which are onely to be discerned by the understanding to which I thinke good to
was seene in Lusalia at a towne called Jubea two houres after mid-night anno Dom. 1535. But in anno Dom. 1550. upon the nineteenth day of July in Saxony not farre from Wittenberg there appeared in the aire a great stagge incompassed with two armed hosts making a great noise in their conflict and at the same instant it rained blood in great abundance the sun seemed to be cloven into two pieces and the one of them to fall upon the earth A little before the taking of Constantinople from the Christians there appeared a great army in the aire appointed to fight attended on with a great company of dogs and other wild beasts Julius Obsequius reports that in anno Dom. 458. it rained flesh in Italy in greater and lesser pieces part of which were devoured by the birds before they fell upon the earth that which fell upon the earth kept long unpurrefyed and unchanged in colour and smell Anno Dom. 989. Otho the third being Emperour it rained corne in Italy Anno Dom. 180. it rained milke and oyle in great abundance and fruit-bearing trees brought forth corne Lycosthenes tells that in the time of Charles the fift whilest Maidenberg was besieged three sunnes first appeared about seven a clocke in the morning and then were seene for a whole day whereof the middlemost was the brightest the two others were reddish and of a bloody colour but in the night time there appeared three moones The same appeared in Bavaria anno Dom. 1554. But if so prodigious and strange things happen in the heavens besides the common order of nature shall wee thinke it incredible that the like may happen in the earth Anno Dom. 542. the whole earth quaked mount Aetna cast forth flames and sparkes of fire with which many houses of the neighbouring villages were burnt Anno Dom. 1531. in Portugall there was an earthquake for eight dayes and it quaked seven or eight times each day so that in Lisbone alone it cast downe a thousand and fifty houses and more than sixe hundred were spoiled Ferrara lately was almost wholly demolisht by a fearefull earthquake Above all which ever have been heard is that prodigie which happened in the time of Pliny at the death of Nero the Emperour in the Marucine field the whole Olive-field of Vectius Marcellus a Romane Knight going over the high way and the fields which were against it comming into the place thereof Why should I mention the miracles of waters from whose depth and streames fires and great flames have oft broke forth They tell out of St. Augustine that the fire of the sacrifice which for those seventy yeeres of the Babylonian captivity endured under the water was extinguished Antiochus selling the priest-hood to Jason What miracle is this that the fire should live in the water above its force and naturall efficacy and that the water should forget the extinguishing faculty Verily Philosophers truely affirme that the elements which are understood to bee contrary and to fight in variety among themselves are mutually joyned and tyed together by a marvellous confederacy The End of the Twenty fift Booke OF THE FACULTIES OF SIMPLE MEDICINES AS ALSO OF THEIR COMPOSItion and Use THE TWENTY SIXTH BOOK THE PREFACE AMongst the causes which we terme healthfull and other remedies which pertain to the health of man and the expelling of Diseases Medicines easily challenge the prime place which as it is delivered by Solomon God hath produced out of the earth and they are not to be abhorred by a wise man for there is nothing in the world which sconer and as by a miracle asswageth the horride torments of diseases Therefore Herophilus called them fittingly administred The hands of the Gods And hence it was that such Physitians as excelled in the knowledge of Medicines have amongst the Antients acquired an opinion of Divinity It cannot by words bee expressed what power they have in healing Wherefore the knowledge of them is very necessary not only for the prevention but also for the driving away of Diseases CHAP. I. What a Medicine is and how it differeth from nourishment WEE define a medicine to bee That which hath power to change the body according to one or more qualities and that such as cannot bee changed into our nature contrary whereto we terme that nourishment which may be converted into the substance of our bodies But we define them by the word power because they have not an absolute nature but as by relation and depending upon the condition of the bodies by whom they are taken For that which is medicine to one is meat to another and that which is meat to this is medicine to that Thus for example Hellebore is nourishment to the Quaile but a medicine to man Hemlocke is nourishment to a Sterling but poison to a Goose the Ferula is food to an Asse but poison to other cattell Now this diversity is to be attributed to the different natures of creatures It is recorded in history that the same by long use may happen in men They report that a maide was presented to Alexander the great who nourished with Napellus and other poisons had by long use made them familiar to her so that the very breath she breathed was deadly to the by-standers Therefore it ought to seeme no marvaile if it at any time happen that medicines turne into the nature and nourishment of our bodies for we commonly may see birds and swine feed upon serpents and toads without any harme and lastly Serpenti Ciconia pullos Nutrit per devia rura lacerta Illi eadem sumptis quaerunt animalia pennis The Storke with Serpents and with Lizards caught In waylesse places nourisheth her brood And they the same pursue when as they 're taught To use their wing to get their wish't for food CHAP. II. The differences of Medicines in their matter and substance EVen as the concealed glory of worldly riches lyeth hid in the bowels of the earth and depths of the sea and waters as gold silver and all sorts of metals gemmes and pretious stones furnisht with admirable vertues so we may behold the superficies of this earth clothed with almost an infinite variety of trees shrubs and hearbs where wee may contemplate and wonder at the innumerable diversities of roots leaves flowers fruits gummes their smells pleasant tasts and colours but much more at their vertues This same mother Earth as with her breasts nourisheth marvellous distinct kindes of living creatures various in their springing encrease and strength Wherein the immense goodnesse of God the great Architect and framer of all things doth most clearely appeare towards man as who hath subjected to our government as a patrimony so ample and plentifull provision of nature for our delight in nourishment and necessity of healing Therefore the antient Phisitians have rightly delivered that all sorts of medicines may bee abundantly had from living creatures plants the earth water and aire Medicines
put on the forme of a Bone nerve spleene flesh and such like of the Forming faculty which adornes with figure site and composition the matter ordered by so various a preparation Growth is an inlarging of the solide parts into all the dimensions the pristine and ancient forme remaining safe and sound in figure and solidity For the perfection of every growth is judged onely by the solid parts for if the body swell into a masse of flesh or fat it shall not therefore be said to be growne but then onely when the solid parts doe in like manner increase especially the bones because the growth of the whole body followes their increase even although at the same time it waxe leane and pine away Nutrition is a perfect assimulation of that nourishment which is digested into the nature of the part which digests It is performed by the assistance of 4. subsidiary or helping actions Attractive Retentive Digestive and Expulsive The voluntary actions which we willingly performe are so called because we can at our pleasure hinder stir up slow or quicken them They are three in generall the sensitive mooving and principall Action The sensative Soule comprehends all things in fine senses in Sight Hearing Smell Taste and Touch. Three things must necessarily concurre to the performance of them the Organe the Medium or meane and the Object The principall Organe or Instrument is the Animall spirit diffused by the nerves into each severall part of the body by which such actions are performed Wherefore for the present we will use the Parts themselves for their Organes The Meane is a body which carryes the Object to the Instrument The Object is a certaine externall quality which hath power by a fit Medium or Meane to stirre up and alter the Organe This will be more manifest by relating the particular functions of the senses by the necessary concurring of these three Sight is an action of the seeing facultie which is done by the Eye fitly composed of its coates and humors and so consequently the Organicall body of this Action The Object is a visible quality brought to the Eye But such an Object is two-fold for either it is absolutely visible of its selfe and by its owne Nature as the Sun the fire the Moone and Starres or desires as it were the helpe of another that it may be actually such for so by the comming of light the colours which were visible in power onely being brought to the Eye doe seeme and appeare such as they actually 〈◊〉 But such Objects cannot arrive at the Eye but thorough a cleere and â—…inate Medium as the Aire Water Glasse and all sorts of Crystall The Hearing hath for its Organe the Eare and Auditory passage which goes to the stony bone furnished with a Membrane investing it an Auditory Nerve and a certaine inward spirit there conteined The Object is every sound arising from the smitten or broken Aire and the Collision of two bodyes meeting together The Medium is the encompassing Aire which carryes the sound to the Eare. Smelling according to Galens opinion is performed in the Mamillary processes produced from the proper substance of the braine and seated in the upper part of the nose although others had rather smelling should be made in the very foremost ventricles of the braine This Action is weake in man in comparison of other Creatures the Object thereof is every smell or fumide exhalation breathing out of bodyes The Medium by which the Object is carried to the noses of Men Beasts and Birds is the Aire but to Fishes the Water it selfe The Action of taste is performed by the tongue being tempered well and according to nature and furnished with a nerve spred over its upper part from the third and fourth conjugation of the Braine The Object is Taste of whose nature and kindes we will treate more at large in our Antidotary The Medium by which the Object is so carried to the Organ that it may affect it is either externall or internall The externall is that spattle which doth as it were anoynt and supple the tongue the internall is the Spongy flesh of the tongue it selfe which affected with the quality of the Object doth presently so possesse the nerve that is implanted in it that the kinde and quality thereof by the force of the spirit may be carryed into the common sense All parts endued with a nerve enjoy the sense of touching which is cheifly done when a tractable quality doth penetrate even to the true and nervous skinne which lyeth under the Cuticle or scarfe-skinne we have formerly noted that it is most exquisite in the skinne which invests the ends of the fingers The Object is every tractable qualitie whether it be of the first ranke of qualities as Heate Cold Moisture Drynesse or of the second as Roughnesse Smoothnesse Heavinesse Lightnesse Hardnesse Softnesse Rarity Density Friability Vnctuosity Grossenesse Thinnesse The Medium by whose procurement the instrument is affected is either the skinne or the flesh interwoven with many Nerves The next Action is that Motion which by a peculiar name wee call voluntary this is performed and accomplished by a Muscle being the proper Instrument of voluntary Motion Furthermore every motion of a member possessing a Muscle is made either by bending and contraction or by extention Although generally there be so many differences of voluntary motion as there are kinds of site in place therefore Motion is said to be made upward downeward to the righthand to the left forward and backward Hither are referred the many kinds of motions which the infinite variety of Muscles produce in the body Into this ranke of Voluntary Actions comes Respiration or breathing because it is done by the helpe of the Muscles although it be cheifly to temper the heate of the Heart For wee can make it more quicke or slow as wee please which are the conditions of a voluntary Motion Lastly that wee may have somewhat in which wee may safely rest and defend our selves against the many questions which are commonly moved concerning this thing we must hold that Respiration is undergone and performed by the Animall faculty but cheifly instituted for the vitall The Principall Action and prime amongst the Voluntary is absolutely divided in three Imagination Reasoning and Memory Imagination is a certaine expressing and apprehension which discernes and distinguisheth betweene the formes and shapes of things sensible or which are knowne by the senses Reasoning is a certaine judiciall aestimation of conceived or apprehended formes or figures by a mutuall collating or comparing them together Memory is the sure storer of all things and as it were the Treasurie which the minde often unfolds and opens the other faculties of the minde being idle and not imployed But because all the forementioned Actions whether they be Naturall or Animall and voluntary are done and performed by the helpe and assistance of the
wonderfull effect which Celandine hath upon the sight was learnt by the practise of Swallowes who have bin observed with it to have besmeared and so strengthened the eyes of their young Serpents rubbe their eyelids with fennell and are thought by that meanes to quicken and restore the decaying sight of their eyes The Tortois doth defend strengthen her selfe against the biting of Vipers by eating of savorie Beares by eating of Pismires expell that poison that they have contracted by their use of Mandrakes And for correction of that drowzinesse and sloth which growes upon them by their long sleepe in their dens they eate the herbe Aron i Cuckopint But the Art they use in the entising and catching of Pismires is very pretty They goe softly to the holes or hilles of the Pismires and there lay themselves all their length upon the ground as if they were dead hanging out their tongue wet with their foame which they draw not againe into their mouth before they feele them full of Pismires which are intised by the sweetnesse of the foame And having taken this as a purging medicine they expell by the guts those ill humors wherewith they were offended Wee see that Dogges give themselves a vomit by eating of a kinde of grasse which is from thence called Dogge-grasse Swine when they finde themselves sicke will hunt after smalt or river lobsters Stockdoves Blackbirds and Partridges purge themselves by bay leaves Pigeons Turtels and all sort of Pullen disburden themselves of grosse humors by taking of Pellitory of the wall The bird Ibis being not much unlike the Storke taught us the use of Clisters For when he finds himselfe oppressed with a burden of hurtfull humors he fills his bill with saltwater and so purgeth himselfe by that part by which the belly is best discharged The invention of the way of removing the Cataract of the eye wee must yeeld unto the Goate who by striking by chance against the thorny bushes pulls off the Cataract which hinders the sight and covers the ball of the eye and so recovers his sight The benefit of Phlebotomie we owe unto the Hippotamus or River-horse being a kinde of Horse and the inhabitant of the river Nilus who being a great devourer when hee finds himselfe surcharged with a great deale of bloud doth by rubbing his thigh against the sharpe sands on the bankeside open a veine whereby the superfluous bloud is discharged which he stoppeth likewise when it is fit by rowling himselfe in the thicke mudde The Tortois having chanced to eate any of the flesh of a Serpent doth make origanum and marjerom her Antidote The ancients found helpe from brute beasts even against the dreadfull and none-sparing force of lightning for they were of opinion that the wings of an Eagle were never strucke with lightning and therefore they put about their heads little wreathes of these feathers They were perswaded the same thing of the Seale or Sea-calfe and therefore were wont to encompasse their bodies with his skinne as a most certaine safegard against lightning It were a thing too long and laborious to speake of all those other muniments of life and health observed here and there by Aristotle and Plinie which we have learnt of brute beasts I will therefore end this Chapter after that I have first added this That we are beholding to beasts not onely for the skill of curing diseases and of preservation of health but for our foode our raiment and the ornament and beautifying the bodies Of the Faculty of brute Beasts in Presaging THe first knowledge and skill of Prognostication and observation of weather by the Aire was first delivered unto us from beasts of the land and water and from fowle For we see in daily observation that it is a signe of change of weather when Lambes and Rammes doe butt at one another with their hornes and playing wantonly doe kicke and keepe up their heeles The same is thought to bee presaged when the Oxe lickes himselfe against the haire and on the sodaine fills the Aire with his lowing and smells to the ground and when he feedes more greedily than he used to doe But if the Pismires in great multitudes fetch their prey so hastily that they runne and tumble one upon another in their narrow pathes it is thought a signe of raine As is also the busie working of Moales and the Cats rubbing and stroaking of her head and necke and above her eares with the bottome of her feete Also when Fishes play and leape a little above the water it is taken for a signe of raine But if the Dolphins doe the same in the sea and in great companies it is thought to presage a sodaine storme and tempest Whereby the Marriners forewarned use all care possible for the safetie of themselves and their shippes and if they can cast Anchor And it is sufficiently knowne what the louder croaking of Frogges than ordinary portends But the facultie of birds in this kinde of presaging is wonderfull If Cranes flie through the aire without noise it is a signe of faire weather and of the contrary if they make a great noise and flie stragglingly As also if Sea-fowle flie farre from the sea and light on the land The crie or scritching of Owles portends a change of the present weather whether foule or faire Plutarch saith that the loude cawing of the Crow betokens windes and showres as also when he flappes his side with his wings Geese and Duckes when they dive much and order and prune and picke their feathers with their beakes and crie to one another foretell raine and in like manner Swallowes when they flie so low about the water that they wet themselves and their winges And the Wren when he is observed to sing more sweetly than usuall and to hop up and downe And the Cocke when he chants or rather crowes presently after the setting of the Sunne And Gnats and Fleas when they bite more than ordinary If the Herne soare aloft into the aire it betokeneth faire weather if on the contrary he flie close by the water raine If Pidgeons come late home to the Dove-house it is a signe of raine If Bats flie in the evening they foreshew wet weather And lastly the Crocodile layes his egges in that place which must be the bounds of the overflowing of the river Nilus And therefore he that first meetes with these egges tels the rest of the countrie people and shewes them how high the floud will rise and what inundation it will make upon their grounds A thing most worthy of admiration that in this monster there should be that strong facultie of presaging Of the Industry of Fishes MAny sea-Fishes when they feele a tempest comming doe gravell or balast themselves to the end they may not be tossed up and downe at the pleasure of the waves Others when the fury of the sea is at the hight hide themselves in the
the Chest The Preface HAving finished the first Booke of our Anatomy in explanation of the naturall parts contained in the lower belly now order requires that we treat of the Brest that so the parts in some sort already explained I meane the veines and arteries may bee dispatched after the same order and manner without interposition of any other matter And besides also that we may the more exactly and chearefully shew the rest of the parts which remaine as the head and limbs knowing already the originall of those vessels which are dispersed through them To this purpose we will define what the Chest is and then we will divide it into its parts Thirdly in these we will consider which parts containe and which are contained that so we may more happily finish our intended discourse CHAP. I. What the Thorax or the Chest is into what parts it may be devided and the nature of these parts THe Thorax or Chest is the middle belly terminated or bounded above with the coller-bones below with the midriffe before with the Sternū or brest behind with the twelve Vertebra's of the backe on both sides with the true and bastard ribs and with the intercostall and intercartilagineous muscles Nature hath given it this structure and composition lest that being a defence for the vitall parts against externall injuries it should hinder respiration which is no lesse needfull for the preservation of the native heate diffused by the vitall spirits and shut up in the heart as in the fountaine therof against internal injuries than the other forementioned parts against externall For if the chest should have bin all bony verily it had beene the stronger but it would have hindred our respiration or breathing which is performed by the dilating and contracting thereof Wherefore lest one of these should hinder the other nature hath framed it partly bony and gristlely and partly fleshie Some render another reason hereof which is that nature hath framed the chest that it might here also observe the order used by it in the fabricke of things which is that it might conjoine the parts much disagreeing in their composure as the lower belly altogether fleshie and the head all bony by a medium partaker both of the bony and fleshie substance which course wee see it hath observed in the connexion of the fire and water by the interposition of the aire of the earth and aire by the water placed betweene them The Chest is divided into three parts the upper lower and middle the collar bones containe the upper the midriffe the lower and the Sternon the middle The Sternon in Galens opinion is composed of seven bones I beleeve by reason of the great stature of the people that lived then Now in our times you shall oft finde it compact of three foure or five bones although we will not deny but that we have often observed it especially in young bodies to consist of seven or eight bones Wherefore those who have fewer bones in number in their Sternon have them larger that they might be sufficient to receive the ribbes This is the common opinion of the Sternon Yet Fallopius hath described it farre otherwise wherefore let those who desire to know more hereof looke in his observations At the lower part of the Sternon there is a gristle called commonly Furcula and Malum granatum or the Pomegranate because it resembles that fruite others call it Cartilago scutiformis that is the brest-blade It is placed there to be as it were a bulwarke or defence to the mouth of the stomacke endued with most exquisite sense and also that it should doe the like to that part of the midriffe which the liver beares up in that place situate above the orifice of the ventricule by the ligament comming betweene descending from the lower part of the same gristle into the upper part of the liuer The common people thinke that this gristle sometimes fals downe But it so adheares and is united to the bones of the Sternon that the falling thereof may seeme to be without any danger although oft times it may bee so moistened with watery and serous humidities with which the orifice of the stomacke abounds that as it were soaked and drunke with these it may be so relaxed that it may seeme to be out of its place in which case it may be pressed and forced by the hand into the former place and seate as also by applying outwardly and taking inwardly astringent and drying medicines to exhaust the superfluous humiditie This gristle at its beginning is narrow but more broad and obtuse at its end somewhat resembling the round or blunt point of a sword whereupon it is also called Cartilago Ensiformis or the swordlike gristle In some it hath a double in others a single point In old people it degenerates into a bone Now because we make mention of this gristle we will shew both what a gristle is and how many differences thereof there be that henceforward as often as wee shall have occasion to speake of a gristle you may understand what it is A gristle is a similar part of our bodies next to abone most terrestriall cold drie hard weighty and without sense differing from a bone in drienesse onely the which is more in a bone Wherefore a gristle being lost cannot be regenerated like as a bone without the interposition of a Callus The difference of these are almost the same with bones that is from their consistence substance greatnesse number site figure connexion action and use Omitting the other for brevitie sake I will only handle those differences which arise from site use and connexion Therefore gristles either adhere to the bones or of and by themselves make some part as the gristles of the eyelids called Tarsi of the Epiglottis and throatle And others which adhere to bones either adhere by the interposition of no medium as those which come betweene the bones of the Sternon the collar bones the share and hanch bones and others or by a ligament comming betweene as those which are at the ends of the bastard ribs to the Sternon by the meanes of a ligament that by those ligaments being softer than a gristle the motions of the chest may be more quickly and safely performed The gristles which depend on bones doe not onely yeeld strength to the bones but to themselves and the parts contained in them against such things as may breake and bruise them The gristles of the Sternon and at the ends of the bastard ribs are of this sort By this we may gather that the gristles have a double use one to polish and levigate the parts to which that slippery smoothnesse was necessary for performance of their dutie and for this use serve the gristles which are at the joynts to make their motions the more nimble The other use is to defend those parts upon which they are placed from externall injuries by breaking violent
a portion of the bone of the temples which is seenneere the hole of Hearing divided through the middest whereby the Nerves Bones and Membranes may appeare as Vesalius of them conceiveth Fig. 6. sheweth the Vessels Membranes Bones and holes of the Organ of hearing as Platerus hath described them Fig. 7 and 8. sheweth the little bones of the hearing of a man and of a Calfe both ioyned and separated Fig. 9. sheweth the Muscle found out by Aquapendens For the particular declaration see D. Crookes Anatomie pag. 577. But that we may understand how the hearing is made we must know the structure of the organ or instrument hereof The membrane which we formerly mentioned to confist of the auditory nerve is stretched in the inside over the auditory passage like as the head of a Drum For it is stretched and extended with the Aire or auditory spirit implanted there shut up in the cavity of the mammillary processe and foramen caecum that smitten upon by the touch of the externall aire entring in it may receive the object that is the sound which is nothing else then a certaine quality arising from the aire beaten or moved by the collision and conflict of one or more bodyes Such a collision is spred over the aire as the water which by the gliding touch of a stone produces many circles and rings one as it were rising from another So in rivelets running in a narrow channel the water strucken and as it were beaten back in its course against broken craggy and steep rocks wheels about into many turnings this collision of the beaten aire flying back diverse waies from arched and hollow roofed places as Dens Cisterns Wells thick Woods and the like yeilds and produces a double sound and this reduplication is called and Echo Wherefore the hearing is thus made by the aire as a medium but this aire is twofold that is externall and internall The exteriour is that which encompasses vs but the interiour is that which is shut up in the cavity of the mammillary processe and for amen caecum which truly is not pure and sole aire but tempered and mixed with the auditory spirit Thence proceeds the noise or beating of the Eares when vapours are there mixed with the aire insteed of spirits whereby their motion or agitation is perturbed and confused But neither doe these suffice for hearing for nature for the more exact distinction of sounds hath also made the little bones of which one is called the Incus or anvill another the Malleolus or hammer the third the Stapes or stirrop because the shapethereof resembles a German stirrop Also it may be called Deltoides because it is made in the shape of the Greeke letter Δ. They are placed behind the membrane wherefore the anvill and hammer moved by the force of the entrance of the externall aire and beating thereof against that membrane they more distinctly expresse the difference of sounds as strings stretched within under the head of a Drum as for example these bones being more gently moved represent a low sound to they common sense faculty of bearing but being moved more vehemently and violently they present a quick and great sound to conclude according to their diverse agitation they produce diverse and different sounds The Glandules should follow the Eares in the order of Anatomy as well those which are called the emunctoryes of the braine that is the Parotides Which are placed as it were at the lower part of the eares as these which lye under the lower Iaw the muscles of the bone Hyoides the tongue in which the Scrophulae and other such cold abscesses breed It shall here suffice to set dovvne the use of all such like Glandules Therefore the Parotides are framed in that place by nature to receive the virulent and maligne matter sent forth by the strength of the braine by the veines and arteries spred over that place The rest serve to strengthen the division of the vessels to moysten the ligaments and membranes of the Iaw lest they should be dryed by their continuall motion Their other conditions and uses are formerly handled in our first booke of Anatomy CHAP. XI Of the bone Hyoides and the muscles thereof THe Substance of the Bone Hyoides is the same with that of other bones The figure thereof imitates the greek letter v from whence it took the name as also the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from the letter λ it is in like sort called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some it is stiled Os Guttur is and os Linguae that is the Throat bone and Tongue bone The composition thereof composition thereof consists of many bones joyned into one by the interposition of gristles This bone is bigger in beasts and composed of more bones and that not only by the intercourse of gristles but also of ligaments It is seated with its basis being gibbous on the forepart for constancy and arched on the inside that it might receiue and containe the root of the tongue upon the upper part of that gristle of the throtle which is called scutiformis or Sheild-like for this seemes to prop it up by the strength of two processes rising at the basis thereof and the root of the tongue From this basis it sends forth two hornes to the sides of the tongue on each side one which in men are tyed to the Appendix styloides by ligaments sent from it selfe Contrary then it is in beasts who have it of many bones united as we said by the intercourse of ligaments even to the root of the stiloides Wherefore this bone hath connexion with the forementioned parts and other hereafter to be mentioned It hath the same temper as other bones have The use of it is to minister ligaments to certaine muscles of the tongue and insertion as well to the two foremost and upper muscles of the throtle as to its owne of which we will now treat The muscles of the bone Hyoides according to the opinion of some are eight on each side foure of which there be two one of which Galen refers to the common muscles of the larinx or throtle and the other to those which move the Shoulder-blade upwards Howsoever it be the first of the foure before mentioned arises from the Appendix Styloides and passing over the Nervous substance of the muscle opening the lower law is inserted into the hornes of the bone Hyoides This muscle is very thin yet somewhat broad the which in that respect may easily be cut unlesse you have a care in separating the muscle which opens the lower Chap. The second ascends obliquely from the upper part of the shoulder-blade nere the production thereof called Coracoides to the beginnings of the hornes of the said bone Hyoides This is round and nervous in the midst that so it might be the stronger as that is which we formerly said opens the lower law and it is
Convulsion and the sound by a Palsie otherwhiles both of them by a convulsion or Palsie and somewhiles the one of them by a convulsion or Palsie the other being free from both affects the causes of all which belong not to this place to explaine Thus much Dalechampius CHAP. XII A Conclusion of the deadly signes in the Wounds of the head NOw that we may returne to our former discourse you may certainely foretell the patient will dye when his reason and judgement being perverted hee shall talke idly when his memory failes him when he cannot governe his tongue when his sight growes darke and dimme his eares deafe when he would cast himselfe headlong from his bed or else lyes therein without any motion when he hath a continnuall feaver with a delirium when the tongue breakes out in pustles when it is chopt and become blacke by reason of too much drynesse when the wound growes dry and casts forth little or no matter when as the colour of the wound which was formerly fresh is now become like salted flesh yellow and pale when the Vrine and other excrements are supprest when the Palsie convulsion apoplexie and lastly often sowning with a small and unequall pulse invade him All such signes sometimes appeare presently after the wound otherwhiles some few dayes after therefore when as the braine is hurt and wounded by the violence of the incision or fissure of the contusion compression puncture concussion or any other fracture the forementioned signes appeare presently in the first dayes but when they doe not appeare till many dayes after the blow you may know that they rise and appeare by reason of an inflammation and phlegmon in the braine occasioned by the putrefaction of the blood poured forth upon it But we must observe this by the way which also belongs to the prognostickes that flesh is easily regenerated and restored in all parts of the head except in that part of the forehead which is a little above that which lyes betweene the eye-browes so that it will be ulcerated ever after and must be covered with a plaister I beleeve that in that place there is an internall cavity in the bone full of ayre which goes to the sive-like bones of the nose by which the growth of flesh may be hindered or else that the bone is very dense or compact in that place so that there can scarse sufficient juice sweat forth which may suffise for the regeneration of flesh adde hereunto a great confluxe of excrements flowing to this ulcer which should otherwise bee evacuated by the eyes and nose which hinder by that meanes the drynesse of the ulcer and consequently the healing thereof Hence certainely it comes to passe that if you desire the patient thus affected to breathe shutting his mouth and nose the ayre or breath will come forth of the ulcer with such force as it will easily blow forth a lighted candle of an indifferent bignesse held thereto Which thing I protest I observed in a certaine man whom I was forced to trepan in that place by reason the bone of the forehead was broken and depressed CHAP. XIII Of salutarie signes in wounds of the head BVt on the contrary these are salutary signes when the patient hath no feaver is in his right minde is well at the application or taking of any thing sleepes well hath his belly soluble the wound lookes with a fresh and lively colour casts forth digested and laudible matter the Crassa Meniux hath its motion free and no way hindered Yet we must note which also is observed by the Ancients and confirmed by experience that we must thinke none past danger and free from all chance untill the hundreth day be past Wherefore the Physitian ought so long to have a care of his patient that is to consider how he behaves and governes himselfe in meate drinke sleepe venerie and other things But let the Patient diligently avoyd and shunne cold for many when they have beene cured of wounds of the head by carelesse taking cold have beene brought into danger of their lives Also you must know that the Callus whereby the bones of the scull are knit together requires almost the space of fortie or fifty dayes to its perfect coagmentation and concretion Though in very deed one cannot set downe a certaine number of dayes by reason of the variety of bodies or tempers For it is sooner finished in young men and more slowly in old And thus much may serve for prognostickes Now will we treat as breefely and perspicuously as we can of the cure both in generall and particular wherefore beginning with the generall we will first prescribe a convenient diet by the moderate use of the sixe things not naturall CHAP. XIIII Of the generall cure of a broken scull and of the Symptomes usually happening thereupon THe first cure must bee to keepe the patient in a temperate aire and if so bee that it bee not such of it selfe and its owne proper nature it must be corrected by Art As in winter he must have a cleare fire made in his chamber lest the smoake cause sneesing and other accidents and the windowes and doores must be kept shut to hinder the approach of the cold ayre and winde All the time the wound is kept open to bee drest some body standing by shall hold a chafendish full of coales or a heated Iron barre over the wound at such a distance that a moderate heate may passe thence to the wound and the frigidity of the encompassing ayre may be corrected by the breathing of the diffused heate For cold according to the opinion of Hippocrates is an enemie to the Braine Bones Nerves and spinall marrow it is also hurtfull to ulcers by suppressing their excrements which supprest doe not onely hinder suppuration but also by corrosion makes them sinuous Therefore Galen rightly admonisheth us to keep cold from the braine not only in the time of Trepaning but also afterwards For there can no greater nor more certaine harme befall the fractured scull than by admitting the aire by such as are unskilfull For if the ayre should be hotter than the braine then it could not thence be refrigerated but if the braine should be layd open to the ayre in the midst of Summer when it is at the hottest yet would it be refrigerated and unlesse it were releeved with hot things take harme this is the opinion of Galen whereby you may understand that many who have their sculls broken dye more through default of skill in the curing than by the greatnesse of the fracture But when the wound is bound up with the pledgets clothes and rowlers as is fit if the ayre chance to be more hot than the patient can well endure let it be amended by sprinkling and strawing the chamber with cold water oxycrate the branches of Willowes and Vine Neither is it sufficient to shunne the too cold ayre unlesse also you
great quantity of matter and Pus flowed forth of his eares mouth and nose then hee was eased of all his symptomes and recovered his health Now for the second Galen affirmes that he saw a Boy in Smirna of Ionia that recovered of a great wound of the braine but yet such an one as did not penetrate to any of the ventricles But Guido of Caulias saith he saw one which lived and recovered after a great portion of the braine fell out by reason of a wound received on the hind part of his head In the yeare of our Lord 1538. while I was Chirurgion to the Marshall of Montejan at Turin I had one of his Pages in cure who playing at quoites received a wound with a stone upon the right Bregnia with a fracture and so great an effracture of the bone that the quantity of halfe a hasell Nut of the braine came forth thereat Which I observing presently pronounced the wound to bee deadly a Physition which was present contradicted my opinion affirming that substance was no portion of the braine but a certaine fatty body But I with reason and experience in presence of a great company of Gentlemen convinced the pertinacie of the Man with reason for that fat cannot be generated under the scull for although the parts there contained be cold yet because they are heated by the abundance of the most hot and subtle animall spirits and the heate of vapours rising thither from all the body they doe not suffer fat to concreate about them But with experience for that in the dissecting of dead bodies there was never any fat observed there besides also fat will swimme on the top of water but this substance as marrowie cast into the water presently sunke to the bottome Lastly fat put to the fire becomes liquide and melts but this substance being layd upon a hot Iron became dry shrunke up and contracted it selfe like a peece of leather but dissolved not at all Wherefore all those which were present cryed out that my judgement was right of that substance that came forth of the scull Yet though it was cut away Page recovered perfectly but that he continued deafe all his life after CHAP. XXIII Of the wounds of the face HAving treated of the wonnds of the head by their causes signes and cure it followes that we now speake of the wounds of the face if but for this that when they are carelessely handled they leave deformed scarres in the most specious and beautifull part of the body The causes are the same which are incident to the scull that is externall But this may bee added to the kindes and differences of the wounds that the life may be out of danger though any one whole part of the face as the eare eye nose lippe may bee cut away by a wound but not so in the head or scull Wherefore beginning at the wounds of the eye browes wee will prosecute in order the wounds of the other parts of the face This is chiefely to bee observed in wounds of the eye-browes that they are oft times cut so overtwhart that the muscles and fleshy pannicle which moove and lift them up are wholy rent and torne In which case the eye liddes cannot be opened and the eyes remaine covered and as it were shut up in the cases of their lids so that even after the agglutination of the wound if the patient would looke upon any thing he is forc'd to hold up the eye-lids with his hand with which insirmity I have seene many troubled yet oft times not so much by the violence of the wound as by the unskilfulnesse of the Chirurgion who cured them that is by the negligent application of boulsters an unfit ligature and more unfit suture In this case the skilfull Chirurgion which is called to the patient shall cut off as much of the skinne and fleshy pannicle as shall serve the eyelids that so they may by their owne strength holde and keepe open without the helpe of the hand then he shall sow the wound as is fit with such a stitch as the Furriers and Glovers use and then he shall poure thereon some of the balsome of my description and shall lay such a medicine to the neighbouring parts R Olei rosar â„¥ ss album oâ—â—r nu ij anÊ’j agitentur simul fiat medicamentum Then let the part be bound with a fitting ligature Afterwards you shall use Emplast degratia Dei Empl. de Betonica Diacalcitheos or some other like untill the wound be cicatrized But such like and all other wounds of the face may be easily healed unlesse they either bee associated with some maligne symptomes or the patient body be repleate with ill humors There sometimes happens a quite contrary accident in wounds of the eye-browes that is when the eye-lids stand so up that the patient is forc'd to sleepe with his eyes open wherefore those which are so aflected are called by the Greeks Lagophthalâ—i The cause of this affect is often internall as a carbuncle or other kinde of abscesse as a blow or stroake It shall be cured by a crooked or semicircular incision made above the eye-liddes but so that the extreames of the semicircle bend downewards that they may be pressed downe and ioyned as much as is needefull to amend the stifnesse of the eye-lidde But you must not violate the gristle with your Instrument for so they could no more be lifted up the residue of the cure must bee performed as is fit CHAP. XXIIII Of the wounds of the eyes WOunds of the eyes are made by the violence of things prickings cutting bruising or otherwise loosing the continuity But the cure must alwayes be varied according to the variety of the causes and differences The first head of the cure is that if any strange and heterogeneous body shall be fallen into the eyes let it be taken forth as soone as you can lifting and turning up the eyelid with the end of a spatula But if you cannot discerne this moate or little body then put three or foure seedes of Clary or Oculus Christi into the pained eye For these seedes are thought to have a faculty to clense the eyes and take out the moats which are not fastned deepe in nor doe too stubbornely adhere to the membranes For in this case you shall use this following instrument for heerewith wee open the eye-lids the further putting it betweene them and the eye and also keepe the eye steddy by gently pressing it that so with our mullets wee may pull out the extraneous body this is the figure of such an Instrument The deliniation of a Speculum oculi fit to dilate and hold asunder the eye-lids and keepe the eye steddy it is so made that it may be dilated and contracted according to the greatnesse of the eyes All strange bodies taken out let this medicine be put into the eye Take the straines of a dozen egges let them be beaten in
names not onely drawne from their figure and making but also from the effects of their cruelty Wherefore certainly I cannot sufficiently admire the wisedome of our Ancestors who have so rightly accommodated them with names agreeable to their natures as those who have not onely taken them from the swiftest birds of prey as Falcons but also from things most harmefull and hatefull to mankinde such as Serpents Snakes and Basilisks That so wee might clearely discerne that these engines were made for no other purpose nor with other intent but onely to be imployed for the speedy and cruell slaughter of men and that by onely hearing them named we might detest and abhorre them as pernicious enemies of our lives I let passe other engines of this ofspring being for their quantitie small but so much the more pernicious and harmefull for that they nearer assaile our lives and may trayterously and forthwith seaze upon us not thinking nor fearing any such thing so that we can scarse have any meanes of escape such are Pistolls and other small hand-guns which for shortnesse you may carry in your pocket and so privily and suddainly taking them forth oppresse the carelesse and secure Fowling peices which men usually carry upon their shoulders are of the middle ranke of these engines as also Muskets and Caleevers which you cannot well discharge unlesse lying upon a Rest which therefore may be called Breast-guns for that they are not laid to the cheeke but against the Breast by reason of their weight and shortnesse All which have beene invented for the commodity of footemen and light horsemen This middle sort of engine we call in Latine by a generall name Sclopus in imitation of the sound and the Italians who terme it Sclopetere the French call it Harquebuse a word likewise borrowed from the Italians by reason of the touch-hole by which you give fire to the peice for the Italians call a hole Buzio It is tearmed Arcus i a Bow for that at this present it holds the same place in martiall affaires as the Bow did of old and as the Archers formerly so at this day the Musquetiers are placed in front From the same wretched shoppe and magazine of cruelty are all sorts of Mines Countermines pots of fire traines fiery Arrowes Lances Crossebowes barrells balls of fire burning faggots Granats and all such fiery engines and Inventions which closely stuffed with fewell and matter for fire and cast by the defendants upon the bodies and Tents of the assailants easily take fire by the violence of their motion Certainely a most miserable and pernicious kinde of invention whereby we often see a thousand of heedelesse men blowne up with a mine by the force of gunpouder otherwhiles in the very heate of the conflict you may see the stoutest souldiers seazed upon with some of these fiery Engines to burne in their harnesse no waters being sufficiently powerfull to restraine and quench the raging and wasting violence of such fire cruelly spreading over the body and bowells So it was not sufficient to have armes Iron and fire to mans destruction unlesse also that the stroake might be more speedy we had furnished them as it were with wings so to fly more hastily to our owne perdition furnishing sithe-bearing death with wings so more speedily to oppresse man for whose preservation all things conteined in the world were created by God Verily when I consider with my selfe all the sorts of warlike Engines which the ancients used whether in the field in set battells as Bowes Darts Crosse-bowes Slings or in the assault of Citties and shaking or overturning their walls as Rammes Horses woodden towres slings and such like they seeme to me certaine childish sports and games made onely in imitation of the former For these moderne inventions are such as easily exceede all the best appointed and cruell Engines which can bee mentioned or thought upon in the shape cruelty and appearance of their operations For what in the world is thought more horrid or fearefull than thunder and lightning and yet the hurtfulnesse of thunder is almost nothing to the cruelty of these infernall Engines which may easily appeare by comparing together both their effects Man alone of all creatures is not alwayes killed by being touched with thunder but it immediatly killeth all other things which are subject to bee toucht therewith Nature bestowing this honour upon him seeing so many creatures exceede him in strength For all things ly contrary to man and man unlesse hee bee overthrowne with it doth not dye thereof But these fire-spitting Engines doe no more spare man than they doe other creatures and kill without difference from whence soever they come whither soever they are carried and howsoever they touch There are many but more are said to be the remedies against thunder for beside the charmes whereby the ancient Romans did suppose they might be driven away they never penetrate deeper into ground than five foote therefore such as were fearefull thought the deeper Caves most safe Of those things which grow out of the earth they doe not touch the Bay tree and that was the cause that it was counted a signe of victory both in ancient and moderne times Wherefore Tiberius Caesar otherwise a contemner of God and religion as hee who indued with the Mathematicall sciences thought all things governed by fate yet because hee exceedingly feared thunder hee alwayes carried a Lawrell wreath about his necke when the aire was troubled for that this kind of leafe is reported not to be touched by thunder Some report that he made him tents or Seales skinnes because it toucheth not this kinde of creature of all these things that live in the Sea as neither the Eagle amongst birds which for that is fained to be Ioves squire But on the contrary charmes the victorious Bay the Seale or Sea-calfe the Eagle or any such thing profits nothing against the violence of these fiery Engines no not a wall of tenne foote thicke will advantage Lastly this argues the immense violence of brasen Cannons above thunder for that thunder may be dispersed and driven away with the noyse and ringing of Bells the sounding of Trumpets the tinkling of brasen kettles yea also by the shooting of such great Ordinance to wit the clouds by whose collision and fight the Thunder is caused being dispersed by this violent agitation of the ayre or else driven further to more remote parts of the skies But their fury once provoked is stayed by no opposition appeased by no remedy As there are certaine seasons of the yeare so also there are certaine Regions of the earth wherein Thunder is seldome or never heard Thunders are rare in Winter and Summer and that for contrary causes for that in Winter the dense aire is thickned with a thicker coate of clouds and the frosty and cold exhalation of the earth extinguisheth what fiery vapours soever it receives which thing keepes Scythia and the cold
later according to the various complexion and temperament of the patients bodyes and the condition of the ambient ayre in heate and cold Then by little and little you must come to detersives adding to the former medicine some Turpentine washed in Rose Barly or some other such like water which may wash away the biting thereof If the encompassing ayre be very cold you may to good purpose adde some aqua vitae for by Galens prescript we must use hot medicines in winter and lesse hot in summer Then in the next place use detersives as ℞ aquae decoctionis hordei quantum sufficit succi plantaginis appij agrimon centaurei minoris an ℥ j bulliant omnia simul in fine decoctionis adde terebinthinae venetae ℥ iij. mellis rosat ℥ ij farin hordei ℥ iij. croci ℈ j. Let them be all well mixed together and make a Mundificative of an indifferent confistence Or ℞ succi clymeni plantag absinth appij an ℥ ij tereb venet ℥ 4. syrup absinth mellis ros an ℥ ij bulliant omnia secundum artem postea colentur in colatura adde pulver aloes mastiches Ireos Florent far hord an ℥ j. fiat Mundificatiuum ad usum dictum Or else ℞ terebinth venet lotae in aq ros ℥ v. olei ros ℥ j. mellis ros ℥ iij. myrrhae aloes mastich aristoloch rotundae an ʒiss far hord ʒiij misce Make a Mundificative which you may put into the wound with tents but such as are neither too long nor thicke lest they hinder the evacuation of the quitture and vapours whence the wounded part will bee troubled with erosion paine defluxion inflammation abscesse putrefaction all which severally of themselves as also by infecting the noble parts are troublesome both to the part affected as also to the whole body besides Wherefore you shall put into the wound no tents unlesse small ones and of an indifferent consistence lest as I sayd you hinder the passing forth of the matter or by their hard pressing of the part cause paine and so draw on maligne symptomes But seeing tents are used both to keepe open a wound so long untill all the strange bodyes be taken forth as also to carry the medicines wherewithall they are annointed even to the bottome of the wound Now if the wound be sinuous and deepe that so the medicine cannot by that meanes arrive at the bottome and all the parts thereof you must doe you businesse by injections made of the following decoction ℞ aq hord lib. 4. agrimon centaur minor pimpinellae absinth plantag an M. ss rad aristoloch rotund ʒss fiat decoctio hepaticaeʒiij mellis ros ℥ ij bulliant modicum Inject some of this decoction three or foure times into the wound as often as you dresse the patient and if this shall not be sufficient to clense the filth and waste the spongious putride and dead flesh you shall dissolve therein as much Aegyptiacum as you shall thinke fit for the present necessity but commonly you shall dissolve an ounce of Aegyptiacum in a pint of the decoction Verily Aegyptiacum doth powerfully consume the proud flesh which lyes in the capacity of the wound besides also it only workes upon such kind of flesh For this purpose I have also made triall of the powder of Mercury and burnt Alome equally mixed together and found them very powerfull even almost as sublimate or Arsenicke but that these cause not such paine in their operation I certainely much wonder at the largenesse of the Eschar which arises by the aspersiō of these powders Many Practitioners would have a great quantity of the injection to be left in the cavityes of sinuous ulcers or wounds which thing I could never allow of For this contained humor causeth an unnaturall tension in these parts and taints them with superfluous moysture whereby the regeneration of flesh is hindered for that every ulcer as it is an ulcer requires to be dryed in Hippocrates opinion Many also offend in the too frequent use of Tents for as they change thē every houre they touch the sides of the wound cause pain renew other maligne symptomes wherefore such ulcers as cast forth more abundance of matter I could wish rather to be dressed with hollow tents like those I formerly described to be put into wounds of the Chest You shall also presse a linnen boulster to the bottome of the wound that so the parts themselves may be mutually condensed by that pressure and the quitture thrust forth neither will it be amisse to let this boulster have a large hole fitted to the orifice of the wound end of the hollow tent and pipe that so you may apply a spunge for to receive the quitture for so the matter will be more speedily evacuated and spent especially if it be bound up with an expulsive ligature beginning at the bottome of the ulcer and so wrapping it up to the toppe All the boulsters and rowlers which shall be applyed to these kindes of wounds shall be dipped in Oxycrate or red wine so to strengthen the part and hinder defluxion But you must have a speciall care that you doe not binde the wound too hard for hence will arisē paine hindring the passage forth of the putredinous vapours and excrements which the contused flesh casts forth and also feare of an Atrophia or want of nonrishment the alimentary juyces being hindred from comming to the part CHAP. VII By what meanes strange bodyes left in at the first dressing may be drawne forth IT divers times happens that certaine splinters of bones broken and shattered asunder by the violence of the stroake cannot be pulled forth at the first dressing for that they either doe not yeeld or fall away or else cannot be found by the formerly described instruments For which purpose this is an approved medicine to draw forth that which is left behind ℞ radic Ireos Florent panac cappar an ʒiij an.ʒj. in pollinem redacta incorporentur cum melle rosar terebinth venet an ℥ ij or ℞ resin pini siccae ℥ iij. pumicis combusti extincti in vino albo radic Ireos aristolochiae an ʒss thurisʒj squamae aris ʒij in pollinem redigantur incorporentur cum melle rosato fiat medicamentum CHAP. VIII Of Indications to be observed in this kinde of wounds THe ulcer being clensed and purged and all strange bodyes taken forth natures endeavours to regenerate flesh and cicatrize it must be helped forwards with convenient remedies both taken inwardly and applyed out-wardly To which things we may be easily and safely carryed by indications drawne first from the essence of the disease then from the cause if as yet present it nourish the disease For that which Galen sayes Lib. 3. Meth. that no indication may bee taken from the primitive cause and time must bee understood of the time past and the cause which is absent And then from the principall
those Sepulchers and Vaultes from whence these bodyes are taken there have beene some corpes of two thousand yeeres old The same or their broken members are brought to Venice from Syria and Egypt and thence disperst over all Christendom But according to the different condition of men the matter of their embalments were divers for the bodyes of the Nobility or Gentry are embalmed with Myrrhe Aloes Saffron and other precious spices and Drugs but the bodyes of the common sort whose poverty and want of meanes could not undergoe such cost were embalmed with asphaltum or piss asphaltum Now Mathiolus saith that all the Mummie which is brought into these parts is of this last kinde and condition For the Noble men and cheefe of the province so religiously addicted to the monuments of their ancestors would never suffer the bodyes of their friends and kindred to be transported hither for filthy gaine and such detested use as we shall shew more at large at the end of this worke Which thing sometimes mooved certaine of our French Apothecaries men wonderous audacious and covetous to steale by night the bodyes of such as were hanged and embalming them with salt and Drugges they dryed them in an Oven so to sell them thus adulterated in steed of true Mummie Wherefore wee are thus compelled both foolishly and cruelly to devoure the mangied and putride particles of the carcasses of the basest people of Egypt or of such as are hanged as though there were no other way to helpe or recover one bruised with a fall from a high place than to bury man by an horrid insertion in their that is in mans guts Now if this Drugge were any way powerfull for that they require they might perhaps have some pretence for this their more than barbarous inhumanity But the case stands thus that this wieked kinde of Drugge doth nothing helpe the diseased in that case wherefore and wherein it is administred as I have tryed an hundred times and as Thevet witnesses he tryed in himselfe when as hee tooke some thereof by the advice of a certaine Iewish Physition in Egypt from whence it is brought but it also inferres many troublesome symptomes as the paine of the heart or stomacke vomiting and stinke of the mouth I perswaded by these reasons doe not onely my selfe prescribe any hereof to my patients but also in consultations endeavour what I may that it bee not prescribed by others It is farre better according to Galens opinion in Method med to drinke some oxycrate which by its frigidity restraines the flowing blood and by its tenuity of substance dissolves and discusses the congealed clotts thereof Many reasons of learned Physitions from whom I have learned this history of Mummie drawne from Philosophy whereby they make it apparant that there can be no use of this or that Mummie in contusions or against flowing or congeased blood I willingly omit for that I thinke it not much beneficiall to Chirurgions to insert them heere Wherefore I judge it better to beginne to treate of Combustions or Burnes CHAP. VIII Of Combustions and their differences ALL Combustions whether occasioned by Gun-powder or by scalding oyle water some mettall or what things soever else differ onely in magnitude These first cause paine in the part and imprint in it an unnaturall heate Which savouring of the fire leaves that impression which the Greekes call Empyreuma There are more or lesse signes of this impression according to the efficacie of the thing burning the condition of the part burned and stay upon the same If the Combustion be superficiary the skin rises into pustles and blisters unlesse it be speedily prevented If it below or deepe in it is covered with an Eschar or crust the burnt flesh by the force of the fire turning into that crusty hardnesse The burning force of the fire upon whatsoever part it falls leaves a hot distemper therein condensates contracts and thickens the skinne whence paine proceedes from paine there comes an attraction of humors from the adjacent and remote parts These humors presently turned into watrish or serous moysture whilest they seeke to passe forth and are hindred thereof by the skinne condensated by the action of the fire they lift it up higher and rayse the blisters which we see Hence diverse Indications are drawne whence proceedes the variety of medicines for burnes For some take away the Empyreuma that is the heate of the fire as we terme it and asswage the paine other hinder the rising of blisters othersome are fit to cure the ulcer first to procure the falling away of the Eschar then to clense generate flesh and cicatrize it Remedyes fit to asswage paine and take away the fiery heate are of two kindes for some doe it by a cooling faculty by which they extinguish the preternaturall heate and represse or keepe backe the blood and humors which flow into the parts by reason of heat paine Others endued with contrary faculties are hot and attractive as which by relaxing the skin and opening the pores resolve and dissipate the serous humors which yeeld both beginning and matter to the pustles and so by accident asswage the paine and heat Refrigerating things are cold water the water of Plantaine Night-shade Henbane Hemlocke the juyces of cooling hearbes as Purselaine Lettuce Plantaine Housleeke Poppye Mandrake and the like Of these some may be compounded as some of the fore-named juyces beaten with the white of an egge Clay beaten and dissolved in strong Venegar roch Alome dissolved in water with the whites of egges beaten therein writing inke mixed with Venegar and a little Camphire Vnguentum nutritum and also Populeon newly made These and the like shall be now and then renewed chiefely at the first untill the heate and paine be gone But these same remedyes must be applyed warme for if they should be layd or put to cold they would cause paine and consequently defluxion besides also their strength could not passe or enter into the part or be brought into action but so applyed they asswage paine hinder inflammation and the rising of blisters CHAP. IX Of hot and attractive medicines to be applyed to burnes AMongst the hot and attractive things which by rarifying drawing out and dissolving asswage the paine and heate of combustions the fire challenges the first place especially when the burning is but small For the very common people know and finde by dayly experience that the heate of the lightly burnt part vanishes away and the paine is asswaged if they hold the part which is burnt some prety while to the heate of a lighted candle or burning coales for the similitude causeth attraction Thus the externall fire whilest it drawes forth the fire which is internall and inust into the part is a remedy against the disease it caused and bred It is also an easily made and approved remedie if they presently after the burne apply to the grieved part raw Onions
disease But neither is the aire onely corrupted by these superiour causes but also by putride and filthy stinking vapours spred abroad through the Aire encompassing us from the Bodies and Carkasses of things not buried gapings and hollownesses of the earth or sinkes and such like places being opened for the sea often overflowing the land in some places leaving in the mud or hollownesses of the earth caused by earth-quakes the huge bodies of monstrous Fishes which it hides in its waters hath given both the occasion and matter of a plague For thus in our time a Whale cast upon the Tuscan shore presently caused a plague over all that country But as fishes infect and breed a plague in the aire so the aire being corrupted often causeth a pestilence in the sea among fishes especially when they either swim on the top of the Water or are infected by the pestilent vapours of the Earth lying under them rising into the aire through the body of the water the latter wherof Aristotle saith hapneth but seldome But it often chanceth that the plague raging in any countrey many fishes are cast upon all the coast and may bee seene lying on great heaps But sulphureous vapours or such as partake of any other maligne quality sent forth from places under the ground by gapings and gulfs opened by earthquakes not only corrupt the aire but also infect and taint the Seeds Plants and all the fruits which we eat and so transferre the pestilent corruption into us and those beasts on which we feed together with our nourishment The truth whereof Empedocles made manifest who by shutting up a great Gulf of the earth opened in a valley between two mountaines freed all Sicily from a plague caused from thence If winds rising suddenly shall drive such filthy exhalations from those regions in which they were pestiferous into other places they also will carrie the Plague with them thither If it be thus some will say it should seeme that wheresoever stinking and putride exhalations arise as about standing Pooles Sinkes and Shambles there should the Plague reigne and straight suffocate with its noysome poyson the people which worke in such places but experience findes this false We doe answer that the putrefaction of the plague is farre different and of another kinde than this common as that which partakes of a certaine secret malignity and wholly contrary to our lives and of which wee cannot easily give a plaine and manifest reason Yet that vulgar putrefaction wheresoever it bee doth easily and quickly entertaine and welcome the pestiferous contagion as often as and whensoever it comes as joyned to it by a certaine familiarity and at length it selfe degenerating into a pestiferous malignity certainly no otherwise than those diseases which arise in the plague time the putride diseases in our bodies which at the first wanted virulency and contagion as Ulcers putride Feavers and other such diseases raised by the peculiar default of the humours easily degenerate into pestilence presently receiving the tainture of the plague to which they had before a certain preparation Wherefore in time of the plague I would advise all Men to shunne such exceeding stinking places as they would the plague it selfe that there may be no preparation in our bodies or humours to catch that infection without which as Galen teacheth the Agent hath no power over the Subject for otherwise in a plague time the sickenesse would equally seaze upon all so that the impression of the pestiferous quality may presently follow that disposition But when we say the aire is pestilent we do not understand that sincere elementary and simple as it is of its own nature for such is not subject to putrefaction but that which is polluted with ill vapoures rising from the earth standing waters vaults or sea and degenerates and is changed from its native purity simplicity But certainly amongst all the constitutions of the Aire fit to receive a pestilent corruption there is none more fit than a hot moyst and still season For the excesse of such qualities easily causeth putrefaction Wherefore the South wind reigning which is hot and moyst and principally in places neare the Sea there flesh cannot long be kept but it presently is tainted and corrupted Further wee must know that the pestilent malignity which riseth from the carcasses or bodies of men is more easily communicated to men that which riseth from oxen to oxen and that which comes from sheepe to sheep by a certaine sympathy and familiarity of Nature no otherwise than the Plague which shall seaze upon some one in a Family doth presently spread more quickly amongst the rest of that Family by reason of the similitude of temper than amongst others of another Family disagreeing in their whole temper Therefore the Aire thus altered and estranged from its goodnesse of nature necessarily drawn in by inspiration and transpiration brings in the seeds of the Plague and so consequently the Plague it selfe into bodyes prepared and made ready to receive it CHAP. IIII. Of the preparation of humours to putrefaction and admission of pestiferous impressions HAving shewed the causes from which the Aire doth putrefie become corrupt and is made partaker of a pestilent and poysonous constitution wee must now declare what things may cause the humours to putrefie and make them so apt to receive and retaine the pestilent Aire and venenate quality Humours putrefie either from fulnesse which breeds obstruction or by distemperate excesse or lastly by admixture of corrupt matter evill juice which ill feeding doth specially cause to abound in the body For the Plague often followes the drinking of dead and mustie Wines muddy and standing waters which receive the sinks and filth of a City and fruits and pulse eaten without discretion in scarcity of other Corn as Pease Beans Lentils Vetches Acorns the roots of Fern Grass made into Bread For such meats obstruct heap up ill humours in the body weaken the strength of the faculties from whence proceeds a putrefaction of humours and in that putrefaction a preparation and disposition to receive conceive and bring forth the Seeds of the Plague which the filthy scabs maligne sores rebellious ulcers and putrid feavers being all forerunners of greater putrefaction and corruption doe testifie Vehement passions of the minde as anger sorrow griefe vexation and feare helpe forward this corruption of humours all which hinder natures diligence and care of concoction For as in the dog-dayes the Lees of wine subsiding to the bottome are by the strength and efficacy of heat drawne up to the top and mixed with the whole substance of the wine as it were by a certaine ebullition or working So melancholy humours being the Dregs or Lees of the bloud stirred up by the passions of the mind defile or taint all the bloud with their feculent impurity We found that some years agone by experience at the battell of
St. Dennis For all wounds by what weapon soever they were made degenerated into great and filthy putrefactions corruptions with feavers of the like nature were commonly determined by death what medicines how diligently soever they were applyed which caused many to have a false suspicion that the weapons on both sides were poisoned But there were manifest signes of corruption and putrefaction in the bloud let the same day that any were hurt and in the principall parts dissected afterwards that it was from no other cause than an evill constitution of the Aire and the minds of the Souldiers perverted by hate anger and feare CHAP. V. What signes in the Aire and Earth prognosticate a Plague WEE may know a Plague to bee at hand and hang over us if at any time the Aire and seasons of the yeare swarve from their naturall constitution after those wayes I have mentioned before if frequent and long continuing Meteors or sulphureous Thunders infect the Aire if fruits seeds and pulse be worme-eaten If Birds forsake their nests egges or Young without any manifest cause if we perceive women commonly to abort by continuall breathing in the vaporous Aire being corrupted and hurtfull both to the Embrion and originall of life and by which it being suffocated is presently cast forth and expelled Yet notwithstanding those airy impressions doe not solely corrupt the Aire but there may be also others raysed by the Sunne from the filthy exhalations and poysonous vapours of the earth and waters or of dead carcasses which by their unnaturall mixture easily corrupt the Aire subject to alteration as which is thin and moyst from whence divers Epidemiall diseases and such as every-where seaze upon the common sort according to the sevâ—…l kinds of corruptions such as that famous Catarrhe with difficulty of breathing which in the yeare 1510. went almost over the World and raged over all the Cities and Townes of France with great heavinesse of the head whereupon the French named it Cuculla with a straitnesse of the heart and lungs and a Cough a continuall Feaver and sometimes raving This although it seazed upon many more than it killed yet because they commonly dyed who were either let bloud or purged it shewed it selfe pestilent by that violent and peculiar and unheard of kinde of malignity Such also was the English Sweating-sicknesse or Sweating-feaver which unusuall with a great deale of terrour invaded all the lower parts of Germany and the Low Countryes from the yeare 1525. unto the yeare 1530. and that chiefly in Autumne As soone as this pestilent disease entred into any City suddenly two or three hundred fell sick on one day then it departing thence to some other place The people strucken with it languishing fell down in a swoune and lying in their beds sweat continually having a feaver a frequent quick and unequall pulse neither did they leave sweating till the disease left them which was in one or two dayes at the most yet freed of it they languished long after they all had a beating or palpitation of the heart which held some for two or three yeeres and others all their life after At the first beginning it killed many before the force of it was knowne but afterwards very few when it was found out by practice and use that those who furthered and continued their sweats and strengthened themselves with Cordials were all restored But at certaine times many other popular diseases sprung up as putrid feavers fluxes bloudy-fluxes catarrhes coughes phrenzies squinances pleurisies inflammations of the lungs inflammations of the eyes apoplexies lithargies small pocks and meazels scabs carbuncles and maligne pustles Wherefore the plague is not alwayes nor every-where of one and the same kind but of divers which is the cause that divers names are imposed upon it according to the variety of the effects it brings and symptomes which accompany it and kinds of putrefaction and hidden qualities of the Aire They affirme when the Plague is at hand that Mushromes grow in greater abundance out of the earth and upon the surface thereof many kindes of poysonous insecta creepe in great numbers as Spiders Caterpillers Butter-flyes Grasse-hoppers Beetles Hornets Waspes Flyes Scorpions Snailes Locusts Toads Wormes and such things as are the off-spring of putrefaction And also wilde beasts tyred with the vaporous malignity of their Dennes and Caves in the earth forsake them and Moles Toads Vipers Snakes Lizzards Aspes and Crocodiles are seene to flee away and remove their habitations in great troopes For these as also some other creatures have a manifest power by the gift of God and the instinct of Nature to presage changes of weather as raines showers and faire weather and seasons of the yeare as the Spring Summer Autumne Winter which they testifie by their singing chirping crying flying playing and beating their wings and such like signes so also they have a perception of a Plague at hand And moreover the carcasses of some of them which tooke lesse heed of themselves suffocated by the pestiferous poyson of the ill Aire contained in the earth may bee every where found not onely in their dens but also in the plaine fields These vapours corrupted not by a simple putrefaction but an occult malignity are drawne out of the bowels of the earth into the Aire by the force of the Sun and Starres and thence condensed into clouds which by their falling upon corne trees and grasse infect and corrupt all things which the earth produceth and also kils those creatures which feed upon them yet brute beasts sooner than men as which stoope and hold their heads downe towards the ground the maintainer and breeder of this poyson that they may get their food from thence Therefore at such times skilfull husbandmen taught by long experience never drive their Cattell or Sheep to pasture before that the Sun by the force of his beames hath wasted and diffipated into Aire this pestiferous dew hanging and abiding upon boughes and leaves of trees herbs corne and fruits But on the contrary that pestilence which proceeds from some maligne quality from above by reason of evill and certaine conjunction of the Stars is more hurtfull to men and birds as those who are neerer to heaven CHAP. VI. By using what cautions in Aire and Diet one may prevent the Plague HAving declared the signes fore-shewing a Pestilence now wee must shew by what meanes we may shun the imminent danger thereof and defend our selves from it No prevention seemed more certaine to the Ancients than most speedily to remove into places farre distant from the infected place and to be most slow in their returne thither againe But those who by reason of their businesse or employments cannot change their habitation must principally have care of two things The first is that they strengthen their bodies and the principall parts thereof against the daily imminent invasions of the poyson or the pestiferous and venenate
Aire The other that they abate the force of it that it may not imprint its virulency in the body which may be done by correcting the excesse of the quality inclining towards it by the opposition of its contrary For if it bee hotter than is meet it must bee tempered with cooling things if too cold with heating things yet this will not suffice For wee ought besides to amend purge the corruptions of the venenate malignity diffused through it by smels and perfumes resisting the poyson thereof The body will be strengthened and more powerfully resist the infected Aire if it want excrementitious humours which may be procured by purging and bleeding and for the rest a convenient diet appointed as shunning much variety of meats and hot and moyst things and all such which are easily corrupted in the stomacke and cause obstructions such as those things which be made by Comfit-makers we must shun satiety and drunkennesse for both of them weaken the powers which are preserved by the moderate use of meats of good juice Let moderate exercises in a cleare Aire and free from any venemous tainture precede your meales Let the belly have due evacuation either by Nature or Art Let the heart the seat of life and the rest of the bowels be strengthened with Cordials and Antidotes applyed and taken as wee shall hereafter shew in the forme of epithemes ointments emplasters waters pills powders tablets opiates fumigations and such like Make choice of a pure Aire free from all pollution far remote from stinking places for such is most fit to preserve life to recreate and repaire the spirits where as on the contrary a cloudy or mistie Aire and such as is infected with grosse and stinking vapours duls the spirits dejects the appetite makes the body faint and ill coloured oppresseth the heart and is the breeder of many diseases The Northern wind is healthfull because it is cold and dry But on the contrary the Southerne wind because it is hot and moyst weakens the body by sloth or dulnesse opens the pores and makes them pervious to the pestiferous malignity The Westerne winde is also unwholesome because it comes neere to the nature of the Southerne wherefore the windowes must bee shut up on that side of the house on which they blow but opened on the North and East side unless it happen the Plague come from thence Kindle a cleare fire in all the lodging Chambers of the house and perfume the whole house with Aromatick things as Frankinsence Myrthe Benzoine Ladanum Styrax Roses Myrtle-leaves Lavender Rosemary Sage Savory wilde Time Marjerome Broome Pine-apples pieces of Firre Juniper berries Cloves Perfumes and let your cloathes be aired in the same There be some who think it a great preservative against the pestilent Aire to keep a Goat in their houses because the capacity of the houses filled with the strong sent which the Goat sends forth prohibits the entrance of the venemous Aire which same reason hath place also in sweet smels and besides it argues that such as are hungry are apter to take the Plague than those who have eaten moderately for the body is not onely strengthened with meat but all the passages thereof are filled by the vapours diffused from thence by which otherwise the infected Aire would finde a more easie entrance to the heart Yet the common sort of People yeeld another reason for the Goat which is that one ill sent drives away another as one wedge drives forth another which calleth to my mind that which is recorded by Alexander Benedictus that there was a Scythian Physician which caused a Plague arising from the infection of the Aire to cease by causing all the dogs cats such like beasts which were in the City to be killed and cast their carcasses up down the streets that so by the comming of this new putride vapour as a stranger the former pestiferous infection as an old guest was put out of its Lodging so the Plague ceased For poysons have not onely an antipathy with their Antidotes but also with some other poysons Whilest the Plague is hot it is not good to stirre out of doore before the rising of the Sunne wherefore wee must have patience untill hee have cleansed the Aire with the comfortable light of his Beames and dispersed all the foggy and nocturnall pollutions which commonly hang in the Aire in dirty and especially in low places and Vallies All publike and great meetings and assemblies must be shunned If the Plague begin in Summer and seeme principally to rage being helped forward by the summers heat it is the best to performe a journey begun or undertaken for performance of necessary affaires rather upon the night time than on the day because the infection takes force strength and subtlety of substance by which it may more easily permeate and enter in by the heat of the Sun but by night mens bodies are more strong and all things are more grosse and dense But you must observe a cleane contrary course if the malignity seeme to borrow strength and celerity from coldnesse But you must alwayes eschew the beames of the Moone but especially at the full For then our bodies are more languid and weake and fuller of excrementitious humours Even as trees which for that cause must be cut down in their season of the Moone that is in the decrease thereof After a little gentle walking in your Chamber you must presently use some means that the principall parts may be strengthened by suscitating the heat spirits that the passages to them may be filled that so the way may bee shut up from the infection comming from without Such as by the use of garlick have not their heads troubled nor their inward parts inflamed as Countrey people and such as are used to it to such there can can bee no more certaine preservative and antidote against the pestiferous fogs or mists and the nocturnall obscurity than to take it in the morning with a draught of good wine for it being abundantly diffused presently over all the body fils up the passages thereof and strengtheneth it in a moment For water if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Aire wee must wholly shun and avoyd raine-water because it cannot but bee infected by the contagion of the Aire Wherefore the water of Springs and of the deepest Wells are thought best But if the malignity proceed from the vapours contained in the earth you must make choice of Raine-water Yet it is more safe to digest every sort of water by boiling it and to preferre that water before other which is pure and cleare to the sight and without either tast or smell and which besides suddenly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold CHAP. VII Of the Cordiall Remedies by which we may preserve our bodies in feare of the Plague and cure those already infected therewith SUch as
multitude of the matter with the weight whereof nature is overcome When the Moone decreaseth those that are infected with the Pestilence are in great doubt and danger of death because then the humours that were collected and gathered together before the full of the Moone through delay and abundance do swell the more and the faculties by which the body is governed become more weake and feeble because of the imbecility of the native heate which before was nourished and augmented by the light and so consequently by the heat of the full Moon For as it is noted by Aristotle the wainings of the Moone are more cold and weak and thence it is that women have their menstruall fluxes chiefly or most commonly at that time In a grosse and cloudy Aire the pestilent infection is less vehement and contagious than in a thin and subtle Aire whether that thinnesse of the Aire proceed from the heat of the Sun or from the North wind cold Therfore at Paris where naturally and also through the abundance of filth that is about the Citie the Aire is darke and grosse the pestilent infection is lesse fierce and contagious than it is in Province for the subtlety of the Aire stimulates or helps forward the Plague But this disease is mortall and pernicious wheresoever it bee because it suddenly assaulteth the heart which is the Mansion or as it were the fortresse or castle of life but commonly not befoâ—… signes and tokens of it appeare on the body and yet you shall scarce find any man that thinketh of calling the Physitian to helpe to preserve him from so great danger before the signes thereof be evident to bee seene and felt but then the heart is assaulted And when the heart is so assaulted what hope of life is there or health to be looked for Therefore because medicines come oft-times too late and this malady is as it were a sudden and winged messenger of our death it commeth to passe that so many dye thereof And moreover because at the first suspicion of this so dire and cruell a disease the imagination and minde whose force in the diversly stirring up of the humours is great and almost incredible is so troubled with feare of imminent death and dispaire of health that together with the perturbed humours all the strength and power of nature falleth and sinketh downe This you may perceive and know by reason that the keepers of such as are sicke and the bearers which are not fearefull but very confident although they doe all the basest offices which may be for the sick are commonly not infected and seldome dye thereof if infected CHAP. XVIII How a pestilent feaver comes to be bred in us THe Plague oft-times findeth fuel in our bodies and oft-times allurements to wit the putrefaction of humours or aptnesse to putrefie but it never thence hath its first originall for that comes alwaies from the defiled aire therefore a pestilent feaver is thus bred in us The pestilent Aire drawne by inspiration into the lungs and by transpiration into the utmost mouthes of the veines and arteries spread over the skin the bloud or else the humours already putrefying or apt to putrefie therein are infected and turned into a certaine kind of malignity resembling the nature of the agent These humours like unquencht lime when it is first sprinkled with water send forth a putride vapour which carryed to the principall parts and heart especially infecteth the spirituous bloud boyling in the ventricles thereof and therewith also the vitall spirits and hence proceeds a certaine feaverish heat This heat diffused over the body by the arteries together with a maligne quality taints all even the solid parts of the bones with the pestiferous venome and besides causeth divers symptomes according to the nature thereof and the condition of the body and humours wherein it is Then is the conflict of the malignity assailing nature defending manifest in which if nature prevaile it using the help of the expulsive faculty will send drive it far from the noble parts either by sweats vomits bleeding evacuation by stoole or urine buboes carbuncles pustles spots and other such kinds of breakings out over the skin But on the contrary if the malignity prevaile and nature be too weake and yeeld and that first he be troubled with often panting or palpitation of the heart then presently after with frequent faintings the patient then at length will dye For this is a great signe of the Plague or a pestilent Feaver if presently at the first with no labour nor any evacuation worth the speaking of their strength faile them and they become exceeding faint You may find the other signes mentioned in our preceding discourse CHAP. XIX Into what place the Patient ought to betake himselfe so soone as he finds himselfe infected WEE have said that the perpetuall and first originall of the pestilence commeth of the Aire therefore so soone as one is blasted with the pestiferous Aire after he hath taken some preservative against the malignity thereof hee must withdraw himselfe into some wholesome Aire that is cleane and pure from any venemous iufection or contagion for there is great hope of health by the alteration of the Aire for we doe most frequently and abundantly draw in the Aire of all things so that we cannot want it for a minute of time therefore of the Aire that is drawne in dependeth the correction amendment or increase of the Poyson or malignity that is received as the Aire is pure sincere or corrupted There bee some that doe think it good to shut the patient in a close Chamber shutting the windowes to prohibite the entrance of the Aire as much as they are able But I thinke it more convenient that those windowes should bee open from whence that wind bloweth that is directly contrary unto that which brought in the venemous Aire For although there be no other cause yet if the Aire bee not moved or agitated but shut up in a close place it will soone bee corrupted Therefore in a close and quiet place that is not subject to the entrance of the Aire I would wish the patient to make wind or to procure Aire with a thick and great cloth dipped or macerated in water and vinegar mixed together and tyed to a long Staffe that by tossing it up and downe the close chamber the wind or aire thereof may coole and recreate the patient The patient must every day bee carried into a fresh chamber and the beds and the linnen cloaths must be changed there must alwaies be a cleare and bright fire in the patients chamber and especially in the night whereby the aire may be made more pure cleane and voyd of nightly vapours and of the filthy and pestilent breath proceeding from the patient or his excrements In the meane time lest if it be in hot weather the patient should be weakened or made more faint by reason that
stirreup the appetite resist the venemous quality and putrefaction of the humours restraine the heat of the Feaver and prohibit the corruption of the meates in the stomacke Although that those that have a more weake stomacke and are endued with a more exact sense and are subject to the Cough and diseases of the Lungs must not use these unlesse they be mixed with Sugar and Cynamon If the patient at any time be fed with sodden meats let the brothes be made with Lettuce Purslaine Succory Borage Sorrell Hops Buglosse Cresses Burnet Marigolds Chervill the cooling Seeds french Barly and Oatmeale with a little Saffron for Saffron doth engender many spirits and resisteth poyson To these opening roots may be added for to avoid obstruction yet much broath must be refused by reason of moisture The fruit of Capers eaten in the beginning of the Meale provoke the appetite and prohibit obstructions but they ought not to bee seasoned with over-much Oyle and Salt they may also with good successe bee put into Broaths Fishes are altogether to be avoyded because they soon corrupt in the Stomack but if the patient be delighted with them those that live in stony places must be chosen that is to say those that live in pure and sandy water about rocks and stones as are Trouts Pikes Pearches Gudgions and Cravises boyled in milk Wilks and such like And concerning Sea-fish he may be fed with Giltheads Gurnarts with all the kinds of Cod-fish Whitings not seasoned with salt and Turbuts Egges potched and eaten with the juice of Sorrell are very good Likewise Barly water seasoned with the graines of a tart Pomegranate and if the Feaver be vehement with the seeds of white Poppy Such Barly water is easie to be concocted and digested it cleanseth greatly and moistens and mollifieth the belly But in some it procures an appetite to vomit and paine of the head and those must abstaine from it But instead of barly water they may use pap and bread crummed in the decoction of a Capon For the second course let him have raisons of the Sunne newly sodden in Rose water with Sugar soure Damaske Prunes tart Cherries Pippins and Katharine Peares And in the latter end of the Meale Quinces roasted in the Embers Marmelate of Quinces and conserves of Buglosse or of Roses and such like may be taken or else this pouder following Take of Coriander seeds prepared two drams of Pearle Rose leaves shavings of Hatts-horne and Ivory of each halfe a dram of Amber two scruples of Cinamon one scruple of Unicornes horne and the bone in a Stagges heart of each half a scruple of Sugar of Roses foure ounces Make thereof a pouder and use it after meats If the patient be somewhat weake he must be fed with Gelly made of the flesh of a Capon and Veale sodden together in the water of Sorrell Carduus benedictus with a little quantity of Rose vinegar Cynamon Sugar and other such like as the present necessity shall seeme to require In the night season for all events and mischances the patient must have ready prepared broath of meats of good digestion with a little of the juice of Citrons or Pomegranates This restaurative that followeth may serve for all Take of the conserve of Buglosse Borage Violets Water-lillies and Succory of each two ounces of the pouder of the Electuary Diamargaritum Frigidum of the Trochisces of Camphire of each three drams of Citron seeds Carduus seeds Sorrell seeds the rootes of Diptamnus Tormentill of each two drammes of the broath of a young Capon made with Lettuce Purslaine Buglosse and Borage boiled in it sixe pints put them in a Lembecke of glasse with the flesh of two Pullets of so many Partridges and with fifteene leaves of pure gold make thereof a destillation over a soft fire Then take of the distilled liquor half a pint straine it through a woollen bagge with two ounces of white Sugar and halfe a dram of Cynamon let the patient use this when he is thirstie Or else put the flesh of one old Capon and of a legge of Veale two minced Partridges and two drammes of whole Cinamon without any liquor in a lembâ—â—ke of glasse well luted and covered and so let them boile in Balneo Mariae unto the perfect concoction For so the fleshes will bee boiled in their owne juice without any hurt of the fire then let the juice bee pressed out therehence with a presse give the patient for every dose one ounce of the juice with some cordiall waters some Trisantalum and Diamargaritum frigidum The preserves of sweet fruits are to bee avoided because that sweet things turne into choler but the confection of tart prunes Cherries and such like may bee fitly used But because there is no kinde of sickenesse that so weakens the strength as the plague it is alwaies necessary but yet sparingly and often to feed the patient still having respect unto his custome age the region and the time for through emptinesse there is great danger lest that the venemous matter that is driven out to the superficiall parts of the body should be called backe into the inward parts by an hungrie stomacke and the stomacke it selfe should beefilled with cholericke hot thin and sharp excrementall humours whereof commeth biting of the stomack and gripings in the guts CHAP. XXI What drinke the Patient infected ought to use IF the feaver be great and burning the patient must abstain from wine unlesse that he be subject to swouning and he may drinke the Oxymel following in stread thereof Take of faire water three quarts wherein boyle foure ounces of hony untill the third part bee consumed scumming it continually then strain it and put it into a cleane vessell and adde thereto four ounces of vinegar and as much cinamon as will suffice to give it a tast Or else a sugred water as followeth Take two quarts of faire water of hard sugar sixe ounces of cinamon two ounces strain it through a woollen bagge or cloth without any boiling and when the patient will use it put thereto a little of the juice of Citrons The syrupe of the juice of Citrons excelleth amongst all others that are used against the pestilence The use of the Julep following is also very wholsome Take of the juice of Sorrell well clarified halfe a pint of the juice of Lettuce so clarified foure ounces of the best hard sugar one pound boile them together to a perfection let them bee strained and clarified adding a little before the end a little vinegar let it be used betweene meales with boyled water or with equall portions of the water of Sorrell Lettuce Scabious and Buglosse or take of this former described Julep strained and clarified foure ounces let it be mixed with one pound of the forenamed cordiall waters and boile them together a little And when they are taken from the fire put thereto of yellow Sanders one dram of beaten Cinamon halfe a dram
strain it through a cloth when it is cold let it be given the patient to drink with the juice of Citrons Those that have accustomed to drink Sider Perry Beer or Ale ought to use that drink still so that it be clear transparent and thin and made of those fruits that are somwhat tart for troubled dreggish drink doth not only engender grosse humors but also crudities windiness and obstructions of the first region of the body whereof comes a feaver Oxycrate being given in manner following doth asswage the heat of the feaver and represse the putrefaction of the humours and the fiercenesse of the venome and also expelleth the water through the veines if so bee that the patients are not troubled with spitting of blood cough yexing and altogether weake of stomacke for such must avoyd all tart things Take of faire water one quart of white or red vinegar three ounces of fine Sugar foure ounces of syrup of Roses two ounces boile them a little and then give the patient there of to drinke Or take of the juice of Lemmons Citrons of each halfe an ounce of juice of soure Pomegranates two ounces of the water of Sorrell and Roses of each one ounce of faire water boyled as much as shall suffice make thereof a Julep and use it betweene meales Or take of Sirupe of Lemmons and of red Currance of each one ounce of the water of lillies foure ounces of faire water boyled halfe a pinte make thereof a Julep Ortake of the syrups of water Lillies and vinegar of each half an ounce dissolve it in five ounces of the water of Sorrell of faire water one pinte make thereof a Julep But if the patient be young and have a strong and good stomacke and cholericke by nature I thinke it not unmeet for him to drinke a full and large draught of fountaine water cold for that is effectuall to restraine and quench the heat of the Feaver and contrariwise they that drinke cold water often and a very small quantity at a time as the Smith doth sprinkle water on the fire at his Forge doe encrease the heat and burning and thereby make it endure the longer Therfore by the judgment of Celsus when the disease is in the chiefe encrease and the patient hath endured thirst for the space of three or four daies cold water must be given unto him in great quantity so that he may drink past his satiety that when his belly and stomacke are filled beyond measure and sufficiently cooled he may vomit Some doe not drinke so much thereof as may cause them to vomit but do drinke even unto satiety and so use it for a cooling medicine but when either of these is done the patient must bee covered with many cloaths and so placed that hee may sleepe and for the most part after long thirst and watching and after long fulnesse and long and great heat sound sleep commeth by which great sweat is sent out and that is a present helpe But thirst must sometimes be quenched with little pieces of Melons Gourds Cucumbers with the leaves of Lettuce Sorrell and Purslaine made moist or soked in cold water or with a little square piece of a Citron Lemmon or Orange macerated in Rose water sprinkled with Sugar and so held in the mouth and then changed But if the patient be aged his strength weak flegmatick by nature given to wine when the state of the Feaver is somewhat past and the chiefe heat beginning to asswage he may drink wine very much allayed at his meat for to restore his strength and to supply the want of the wasted spirits The patient ought not by any meanes to suffer great thirst but must mitigate it by drinking or else allay it by washing his mouth with oxycrate and such like and he may therein also wash his hands and his face for that doth recreate the strength If the fluxe or lask trouble him he may very well use to drinke steeled water and also boyled milke wherein many stones comming red hot out of the fire have beene many times quenched For the drynesse and roughnesse of the mouth it is very good to have a cooling moistening and lenifying lotion of the mucilaginous water of the infusion of the leeds of Quinces psilium id est Flea-wort adding thereto a little Camphire with the Water of Plantain and Roses then cleanse and wipe out the filth and then moisten the mouth by holding therein a little oile of sweete Almonds mixed with a little syrupe of Violets If the roughnesse breed or degenerate into Ulcers they must be touched with the water of the infusion of sublimate or Aqua fortis But because wee have formerly made frequent mention of drinking of water I have here thought good to speake somewhat of the choice and goodnesse of waters The choice of waters is not to be neglected because a great part of our diet depends thereon for besides that we use it either alone or mixed with wine for drink we also knead bread boile meat and make broaths therewith Many thinke that rain water which falls in summer and is kept in a cisterne well placed and made is the wholesomest of all Then next thereto they judge that spring water which runnes out of the tops of mountaines through rocks cliffes and stones in the third place they put Well water or that which riseth from the foots of hils Also the river water is good that is taken out of the midst or streame Lake or pond water is the worst especially if it stand still for such is fruitfull of and stored with many venemous creatures as Snakes Toads and the like That which comes by the melting of Snow and Ice is very ill by reason of the too refrigerating faculty and earthy nature But of spring and well waters these are to be judged the best which are insipide without smell colour such as are cleare warmish in winter and cold in summer which are quickly hot and quickly cold that is which are most light in which all manner pulse turneps and the like are easily and quickly boyled Lastly when as such as usually drink thereof have cleer voices and shrill their chests sound and a lively and fresh colour in their faces CHAP. XXII Of Antidotes to bee used in the Plague NOw we must treate of the proper cure of this disease which must bee used as soone as may be possible because this kinde of poyson in swiftnesse exceedeth the celerity of the medicine Therefore it is better to erre in this that you should think every disease to bee pestilent in a pestilent season and to cure it as the Pestilence because that so long as the Ayre is polluted with the seeds of the Pestilence the humours in the body are soone infected with the vicinity of such an ayre so that then there happeneth no disease voyd of the Pestilence that is to say which is not pestilent
are more weake halfe a dram It is better to give the infusion in a decoction than in substance for being elected and prepared truly into Trochises it may be called a most divine kinde of medicine Antimonium is highly praysed by the experience of many but because I know the use thereof is condemned by the councell and decree of the School of Physicians at Paris I will here cease to speake of it Those medicines that cause sweats are thought to excell all others when the Pestilence commeth of the venemous Ayre among whom the efficacy of that which followeth hath beene proved to the great good of many in that Pestilence which was lately throughout all Germany as Matthias Rodler Chancellor to Duke George the Count Palatine signified unto me by letters They doe take a bundle of Mugwort and of the ashes thereof after it is burnt they make a lye with foure pints of water then they doe set it over the fire and boyle it in a vessell of earth well leaded untill the liquor be consumed the earthy dregges falling unto the bottome like unto salt whereof they make Trochisces of the weight of a crowne of gold then they dissolve one or two of those Trochisces according to the strength of the patient in good Muskadine and give it the patient to drinke and let him walke after that hee hath drunke it for the space of halfe an houre then lay him in his bed and there sweat him two or three houres and then he will vomit and his belly will bee loosed as if hee had taken Antimony and so they were all for the most part cured especially all those that tooke that remedy betimes and before the disease went unto their heart as I my selfe have proved in some that were sicke at Paris with most happy successe Truely Mugwort is highly commended by the ancient Physicians being taken and applyed inwardly or outwardly against the bitings of venemous creatures so that it is not to be doubted but that it hath great vertue against the Pestilence I have heard it most certainly reported by Gilbertus Heroaldus Physician of Mompilier that eight ounces of the pickle of Anchoves drunke at one draught is a most certaine and approved remedie against the Pestilence as he and many other have often found by experience For the plague is no other thing but a very great putrefaction for the correction and amendment whereof there is nothing more apt or fit than this pickle or substance of the Anchoves being melted by the sun and force of the salt that is strawed thereon There be some which infuse one dramme of Walewort seede in white wine and affirme that it drunken will performe the like effect as Antimony Others dissolve a little weight of the seed of Rue being bruised in Muskadine with the quantity of a Beane of Treacle and so drinke it Others beate or bruise an handfull of the leaves or tops of Broome in halfe a pint of white wine and so give it to the patient to drinke to cause him to vomit loose his belly and make him to sweat Truly those that are wounded or bitte with venemous beasts if they bind broome above the wound it will prohibit or hinder the venome from dispersing it selfe or going any further therefore a drink made thereof will prohibit the venome from going any nearer the heart Some take of the roote of Elecampaine Gentian Tormentill Kermes berries and broom of the powder of Ivory and Harts-horne of each halfe a dram they doe bruise and beate all these and infuse them for the space of foure and twenty houres in white wine and Aqua vitae on the warm embers and then straine it and give the patient three or foure ounces thereof to drinke this provokes sweat and infringeth the power of the poyson and the potion following hath the same vertue Take good Mustard half an ounce of Treacle or Mithridate the weight of a Bean dissolve them in white wine and a little Aqua vitae and let the patient drinke it and sweat thereon with walking You may also roast a great Onion made hollow and filled with halfe a dram of Treacle and Vinegar under the embers and then straine it and mixe the juice that is pressed out of it with the water of Sorrell Carduus Benedictus or any other cordiall thing and with strong wine and give the patient to drinke thereof to provoke sweat and to repell the malignity Or else take as much Garlick as the quantity of a big Nut of Rue and Celandine of each twenty leaves bruise them all in white wine and a little Aqua vitae then straine it and give the patient thereof to drink There be some that doe drink the juice that is pressed out of Celandine and Mallowes with three ounces of Vinegar and halfe an ounce of the oyle of Wall-nuts and then by much walking doe unburthen their stomack and belly upwards and downewards and so are helped When the venemous ayre hath already crept into and infected the humors one dram of the dryed leaves of the Bay tree macerated for the space of two dayes in Vinegar and drunke is thought to bee a most soveraigne medicine to provoke sweat loosenesse of the belly and vomiting Mathiolus in his Treatise de Morbo Gallico writeth that the powder of Mercury ministred unto the patient with the juice of Carduus Benedictus or with the electuary de Gommis will drive away the Pestilence before it be confirmed in the body by provoking vomit looseness of the belly sweat one dram of Calchanthum or white Copperose dissolved in Rose-water performeth the like effect in the same disease Some do give the patient a little quantity of the oyle of Scorpions with white wine to expel the poyson by vomit therewithall they anoint the region of the heart the breast and the wrests of the hands I think these very meet to be used often in bodies that are strong and wel exercised because weaker medicines do evacuate little or nothing at all but onely move the humours whereby commeth a Feaver When a sufficient quantity of the malignity is evacuated then you must minister things that may strengthen the belly and stomack and withhold the agitation or working of the humours and such is the confection of Alkermes CHAP. XXVI Of many Symptomes which happen together with the Plague and first of the paine of the head IF the malignity be carryed into the braine and nature be not able to expell it it inflames not onely it but also the membranes that cover it which inflammation doth one while hurt trouble or abolish the imagination another while the judgement and sometimes-the memory according to the situation of the inflammation whether it bee in the former hinder or middle part of the head but hereof commeth alwayes a Phrensie with fiery rednesse of the eyes and face and heavinesse and burning of the whole head If this will not be amended with
pierced through by the roots with a needle and a thread and so being lifted up by the ends of the thread they must bee cut away and the wound that remaineth must be cured according to the generall method of wounds There are some that suppose the red spots that are raised up into little knobbes and bunches may bee washed away and consumed by rubbing and annoynting them often with menstruall bloud or the bloud of the secundine or after-birth Those that are hairie and somewhat raised up like unto a Want or Mouse must bee pierced through the roots in three or foure places and straightly bound so that at length being destitute of life and nutriment they may fall away after they are fallen away the ulcer that remaineth must bee cured as other ulcers are If there bee any superfluous flesh remaining it must bee taken away by applying Aegyptiacum or the powder of mercury and such like but if it be doubted that it commeth from the root of the tumour that may happely remaine it must bee burned away by the root with oyle of vitrioll or aqua fortis There is also an other kinde or sort of spots of a livide or violet colour comming especially in the face about the lips with a soft slacke laxe thinne and unpainefull tumour and the veines as if they were varicous round about it This kinde of tumour groweth greater when it ariseth on children that are wayward and crying and in men of riper yeares that are cholericke and angry and then it will bee of a diverse colour like unto a lappet or flap of flesh that hangeth over the Turkie-cocks bill When they have done crying or ceased their anger the tumour will returne to his owne naturall colour againe But you must not attempt to cure it in people that are of these conditions CHAP. XVIII How to pull away the secundine or after-birth I Suppose that they are called secundines because they doe grieve the woman that is with child the second time as it were a second birth for if there bee severall children in the wombe at once and of different sexes they then have every one their severall secundines which thing is very necessary to bee knowne by all mydwives For they doe many times remaine behinde in the wombe when the child is borne either by reason of the weakenesse of the woman in travell which by contending and labouring for the birth of her childe hath spent all her strength or else by a tumour rising suddenly in the necke of the wombe by reason of the long and difficult birth and the cold aire unadvisedly permitted to strike into the orifice of the wombe For so the liberties of the wayes or passages are stopped and made more narrow so that nothing can come forth or else because they are doubled and foulded in the wombe and the waters gone out from them with the infant so that they remaine as it were in a dry place or else because they yet sticke in the wombe by the knots of the veines and arteries which commonly happeneth in those that are delivered before their time For even as apples which are not ripe cannot bee pulled from the tree but by violence but when they are ripe they will fall off of their owne accord so the secundine before the naturall time of the birth can hardly bee pulled away but by violence but at the prefixed naturall time of the birth it may easily be drawne away Many and grievous accidents follow the staying of the secundine as suffocation of the wombe often swouning by reason that grosse vapours arise from the putrefaction unto the mydriffe heart and braine therefore they must bee pulled away with speede from the wombe gently handling the navell if it may bee so possibly done But if it cannot bee done so the woman must bee placed as shee was wont when that the childe will not come forth naturally but must bee drawne forth by art Therefore the mydwife having her hand annoynted with oyle must put it gently into the womb and finding out the navell string must follow it untill it come unto the secundine and if it doe as yet cleave to the wombe by the cotylidons shee must shake and move it gently up and downe that so when it is shaked and loosed shee may draw it out gently but if it should bee drawne with violence it were to be feared lest that the wombe should also follow for by violent attraction some of the vessels and also some of the nervous ligaments whereby the wombe is fastened on each side may bee rent whereof followeth corruption of bloud shedde out of the vessels and thence commeth inflammation an abscesse or a mortall gangrene Neither is there lesse danger of a convulsion by reason of the breaking of the nervous bodies neither is there any lesse danger of the falling downe of the wombe If that there bee any knots or clods of bloud remaining together with the secundine the mydwife must draw them out one by one so that not any may bee left behinde Some women have veyded their secundine when it could not bee drawne forth by any meanes long after the birth of the child by the necke of their wombe piece-meale rotten and corrupted with many grievous and painefull accidents Also it shall bee very requisite to provoke the endeavour of the expulsive faculty by sternutatories aromaticke fomentations of the necke of the wombe by mollifying injections and contrariwise by applying such things to the nostrils as yeeld a ranke savour or smell with a potion made of mugwurt and bay berries taken in hony and wine mixed together or with halfe a dramme of the powder of savine or with the haire of a womans head burnt and beaten to powder and given to drink and to conclude with all things that provoke the tearmes or courses CHAP. XIX What things must bee given to the infant by the mouth before hee bee permitted to suck the Teat or Dugge IT will bee very profitable to rub all the inner side of the childes mouth and pallat gently with treacle and hony or the oyle of sweete almonds extracted without fire and if you can to cause it to swallow some of those things for thereby much flegmatick moysture will bee drawne from the mouth and also will bee moved or provoked to bee vomited up from the stomacke for if these excrementall humours should bee mixed with the milke that is sucked they would corrupt it and then the vapours that arise from the corrupted milke unto the brain would inferre most pernicious accidents And you may know that there are many excrementall things in the stomacke and guts of children by this because that so soon as they come into the world and often before they suck milke or take any other thing they voyde downewards many excrements diversly coloured as yellow greene and blacke Therefore many that they may speedily evacuate the matter that causeth the fretting of the
Therefore what things soever resolve relaxe or burst the ligaments or bands whereby the wombe is tyed are supposed to be the causes of this accident It sometimes happens by vehement labour or travell in childe-birth when the wombe with violence excluding the issue and the secundines also followes and falls downe turning the inner side thereof outward And sometimes the foolish rashnesse of the midwife when shee draweth away the wombe with the infant or with the secundine cleaving fast thereunto and so drawing it downe and turning the inner side outward Furthermore a heavie bearing of the womb the bearing or the carriage of a great burthen holding or stretching of the hands or body upwards in the time of greatnesse with childe a fall contusion shaking or jogling by riding either in a waggon or a coach or on horse backe or by leaping or dancing the falling downe of a more large and abundant humor great griping a strong and continuall cough a Tenesmus or often desire to go to stoole yet not voiding any thing neesing a manifold and great birth difficult bearing of the wombe an astmaticall and orthopnoicall difficulty of breathing whatsoever doth waightily presse downe the Diaphragma or Midriffe or the muscles of the Epigastrium the taking of cold aire in the time of travell with childe or in the flowing of the menstruall fluxe sitting on a cold marble stone or any other such like cold thing are thought often times to bee the occasion of these accidents because they may bring the wombe out of its place It falls downe in many saith Aristotle by reason of the desire of copulation that they have either by reason of the lustinesse of their youth or else because they have abstained a long time from it You may know that the wombe is fallen downe by the pain of those parts where-hence it is fallen that is to say by the entrals loynes os sacrum and by a tractable tumour at the necke of the wombe and often with a visible hanging out of a diverse greatnesse according to the quantity that is fallen downe It is seene sometimes like unto a piece of red flesh hanging out at the necke of the wombe of the bignesse and forme of a Goose egge if the woman stand upright shee feeleth the weight to ly on her privie parts but if she sit or ly then she perceiveth it on her back or goe to the stoole the straight gut called intestinum rectum will bee pressed or loaden as it were with a burthen if shee lye on her belly then her urine will bee stopped so that shee shall feare to use copulation with a man When the wombe is newly relaxed in a young woman it may bee soone cured but if it hath beene long downe in an old woman it is not to bee helped If the palsie of the ligaments thereof have occasioned the falling it scarce admits of cure but if it fall downe by meanes of putrefaction it cannot possibly be cured If a great quantity thereof hang out betweene the thighes it can hardly be cured but it is corrupted by taking the ayre and by the falling downe of the urine and filth and by the motions of the thighs in going it is ulcerated and so putrefies I remember that once I cured a young woman who had her wombe hanging out at her privie parts as big as an egge and I did so well performe and perfect the cure thereof that afterwards she conceived and bare children many times and her womb never fell downe CHAP. XLI The cure of the falling downe of the Wombe BY this word falling downe of the wombe we understand every motion of the womb out of its place or seat therefore if the wombe ascend upwards wee must use the same medicines as in the strangulation of the wombe If it bee turned towards either side it must bee restored and drawne backe to its right place by applying and using cupping glasses But if it descend and fall downe into its owne neck but yet not in great quantity the woman must be placed so that her buttockes may be very high and her legs acrosse then cupping glasses must bee applied to her navell and Hypogastrium and when the wombe is so brought into its place injections that binde and dry strongly must bee injected into the necke of the wombe stinking fumigations must bee used unto the privie parts and sweetthings used to the mouth and nose But if the wombe hang downe in great quantity betweene the thighes it must be cured by placing the woman after another sort and by using other kinde of medicines First of all shee must bee so layed on her backe her buttockes and thighes so lifted up and her legges so drawne backe as when the childe or secundine are to bee taken or drawne from her then the necke of the wombe and whatsoever hangeth out thereat must be anointed with oile of lillies fresh butter capons grease and such like then it must be thrust gently with the fingers up into its place the sick or pained woman in the mean time helping or furthering the endeavour by drawing in of her breath as if she did suppe drawing up as it were that which is fallen downe After that the wombe is restored unto its place whatsoever is filled with the ointment must be wiped with a soft and cleane cloth lest that by the slipperinesse thereof the wombe should fall downe againe the genitalls must bee fomented with an astringent decoction made with pomegranate pills cypresse nuts galles roach allome horse-taile sumach berberies boiled in the water wherein Smithes quench their irons of these materialls make a powder wherewith let those places be sprinkled let a pessary of a competent bignesse be put in at the necke of the wombe but let it bee eight or nine fingers in length according to the proportion of the grieved patients body Let them bee made either with latin or of corke covered with waxe of an ovall forme having a thred at one end whereby they may bee drawne backe againe as need requires The formes of ovall pessaries A. sheweth the body of the Pessary B. sheweth the thread wherewith it must be tyed to the thigh When all this is done let the sicke woman keep her selfe quiet in her bed with her buttocks lying very high and her legs acrosse for the space of eight or ten daies in the meane while the application of cupping glasses will stay the wombe in the right place and seat after it is restored thereunto but if shee hath taken any hurt by cold aire let the privie parts be fomented with a discussing and heating fomentation on this wise â„ž fol. alih salâ—v lavend. rorismar artemis flor chamoem melilotâ—… m ss sem anis foenugr an â„¥ i. let them bee all well boyled in water and wine and make thereof a decoction for your use Give her also glysters that when the guts are emptied of the excrements the womb may the
to plentifull feeding it endureth almost for the space of seven dayes Some call them purgations because that by this fluxe all a womans body is purged of super fluous humours There bee some also that call those fluxes the flowers because that as in plants the flower buddeth out before the fruits so in women kinde this flux goeth before the issue or the conception thereof For the courses flow not before a woman bee able to conceive for how should the seede being cast into the wombe have his nourishment and encrease and how should the child have his nourishment when it is formed of the seed if this necessary humour were wanting in the wombe yet it may bee some women may conceive without this fluxe of the courses but that is in such as have so much of the humour gathered together as is wont to remaine in those which are purged although it bee not so great a quantity that it may flow out as it is recorded by Aristotle But as it is in some very great and in some very little so it is in some seldome and in some very often There are some that are purged twice and some thrice in a moneth but it is altogether in those who have a great liver large veines and are filled and fed with many and greatly nourishing meats which sit idely at home all day which having slept all night doe notwithstanding lye in bed sleeping a great part of the day also which live in a hot moyst rainie and southerly ayre which use warme bathes of sweet waters and gentle frictions which use and are greatly delighted with carnall copulation in these and such like women the courses flow more frequently and abundantly But contrariwise in those that have small and obscure veines in those that have their bodies more furnished and bigge either with flesh or with fat are more seldome purged and also more sparingly because that the superfluous quantity of bloud useth to goe into the habit of the body Also tender delicate and faire women are lesse purged than those that are browne and endued with a more compact flesh because that by the rarity of their bodies they suffer a greater wasting or dissipation of their substance by transpiration Moreover they are not so greatly purged with this kind of purgation which have some other solemne or accustomed evacuation in any other place of their body as by the nose or hemorrhoids And as concerning their age old women are purged when the Moone is old and young women when the Moone is new as it is thought I thinke the cause thereof is for that the Moone ruleth moyst bodies for by the variable motion thereof the Sea floweth and ebbeth and bones marrow and plants abound with their genitall humour Therefore young people which have much bloud and more fluxible and their bodies more fluxible are soone moved unto a fluxe although it bee even in the first quarter of the Moones risingor increasing but the humours of old women because they wax stiffe as it were with cold are not so abundant and have more dense bodies and straighter vessels are not so apt to a fluxe nor do they so easily flow except it bee in the full of the Moon or else in the decrease that is to say because the bloud that is gathered in the full of the Moon falls from the body even of its own weight for that by reason of the decreasing or wane of the Moone this time of the month is more cold and moyst CHAP. L. The causes of the monethly flux or courses BEcause a woman is more cold and therefore hath the digestive faculty more weake it commeth to passe that shee requireth and desireth more meate or foode than shee can digest or concoct And because that superfluous humour that remaineth is not digested by exercise nor by the efficacy of strong and lively heat therefore by the providence or benefit of nature it floweth out by the veines of the wombe by the power of the expulsive faculty at its owne certaine and prefixed season or time But then especially it beginneth to flow and a certaine crude portion of bloud to bee expelled being hurtfull and maligne otherwise in no quality when nature hath laid her principall foundations of the encrease of the body so that in greatnesse of the body she hath come as it were in a manner to the highest toppe that is to say from the thirteenth to the fiftieth yeare of our age Moreover the childe cannot bee formed in the wombe nor have his nutriment or encrease without this fluxe therefore this is another finall cause of the monethly flux Many are perswaded that women do farre more abound with bloud than men considering how great an abundance of bloud they cast forth of their secret parts every moneth from the thirteenth to the fiftieth yeare of their age how much women great with childe of whom also many are menstruall yeelde unto the nutriment and encrease of the childe in their wombes and how much Physicians take from women that are with childe by opening of a veine which otherwise would bee delivered before their naturall and prefixed time how great a quantity thereof they avoid in the birth of their children and for ten or twelve daies after and how great a quantity of milk they spend for the nourishment of the child when they give sucke which milke is none other thing than blood made white by the power of the kernels that are in the dugges which doth suffice to nourish the childe be he great or little yet notwithstanding many nurses in the meane while are menstruall and as that may be true so certainely this is true that one dramme that I may so speake of a mans blood is of more efficacy to nourish and encrease than two pounds of womans blood because it is farre more perfect more concocted wrought and better replenished with abundance of spirits whereby it commeth to passe that a man endued with a more strong heat doth more easily convert what meat soever he eateth unto the nourishment substance of his body if that any superfluity remains he doth easily digest and scatter it by insensible transpiration But a woman being more cold than a man because shee taketh more than shee can concoct doth gather together more humours which because shee cannot disperse by reason of the unperfectnesse and weakenesse of her heat it is necessary that shee should suffer and have her monethly purgation especially when shee groweth unto some bignesse but there is no such need in a man CHAP. LI. The causes of the suppression of the courses or menstruall fluxe THe courses are suppressed or stopped by many causes as by sharpvehement and long diseases by feare sorrow hunger immoderate labours watchings fluxes of the belly great bleeding hoemorrhoides fluxes of blood at the mouth and evacuations in any other part of the body whatsoever often opening of a
foot long it had a very great head with two eyes standing in a line and not one against another with two eares and a double mouth a snout very fleshy and greene two wings five holes in her throat like those of a Lamprey a taile an ell long at the setting on whereof there were two little wings This monster was brought alive to Quioza and presented to the chiefe of the city as a thing whereof the like had not beene formerly seene The figure of a monstrous flying Fish There are so many and different sorts of shells to be found in the Sea that it may be truely said that Nature the hand-maid of the Almighty desports it selfe in the framing of them In so great diversity I have chiefly made choice of three to treat of here as those that are worthy of the greatest admiration In these lye hid certain little fishes as snailes in their shells which Aristotle calls Cancelli and hee affirmeth them to be the common companions of the crusted and shell fishes as those which in their species or kinde are like to Lobsters and use to be bred without shells but as they creepe into shells and there inhabite they are like to shell fishes It is one of these that is termed the Hermite He hath two somewhat long and slender hornes under which are his eyes alwaies standing out of his head as those which he cannot plucke and draw in as Crabbes can His fore-feet have clawes upon them where with he defends himselfe and carries meat to his mouth having two other on each side and a third being lesser the which he useth in going The female laies egges which hang forth at her backe part as if they were put upon a thread being joyned together by certaine little membranes Lastly in the opinion of Aelian the Cancellus or small Cray-fish is borne naked and without a shell but within a while after she of many which shee findes empty makes choice of a fit one and when as growne bigger she cannot bee contained or dwell any longer therein or else being stimulated with a naturall desire of copulation she removes into a more capacious and convenient one These little Cray-fishes oft times fight together for their habitation and the stronger carries away the empty shell or else makes the weaker to quit possession Now the shell is either of a Nerita or Turbo and oft times of a small Purple and entring into possession she carries it about there feeds and growes and â—…en seekes a more capacious one as Aristotle saith in the formerly cited place The effigies of the empty shells whereinto the Cancelli use to creep to dwell The effigies of Bernard the Hermite housed in his shell The figure of him out of his Cell Somethinke that this Bernard the Hermite is that kinde of Cancellus which is by Pliny termed Pinnoter but in truth the Pinnoter is not a kinde of Cancellus or Cray-fish but of a little Crab. Now in Aristotle there is much difference betweene Cancellus and Cancer parvus though Pliny may seeme to confound them for he is bred naked having his crust onely but without a shell wherefore seeing that by nature he wants it he diligently searches for it and dwells in it when as he hath found it But the Pinnoter is not bred by it selfe alone but in Pinna and some others and hee changeth not his habitation because as Aristotle thinks being of the kind of dwarfe Crabbes it never growes bigge neither dwells it in empty shells Now the Pinna or Pime is a kinde of shell-fish it breeds in muddy places and is alwaies open neither is it at any time without a companion which they therefore call the Pinnoter or Pinnophylax i. e. the Pin-keeper as Pliny saith Verily that these things are thus you may plainely perceive by these words of Athenaeus Chrysippus Solensis 5. de Honest Volupt saith the Pinna and Pinnoter assist and further each other neither can they liveasunder The Pinna may be referred to the kinds of oysters but the Pinnoter is a dwarfe Crabbe the Pinna opens her shell for the little fishes to enter thereinto the Pinnoter stands by observing if any come in which if they doe he gives the Pin noice thereof by biting who presently thereupon shuts her shell and so they feed together upon that they catch by this meanes Thus Athenaeus Shee is also for this her craft mentioned by Plutarch in his writings The Pinnoter is sometimes called by Pliny Cancer dapis assectator But that which by these authors is attributed to the dwarfe Crabbe the same by Cicero is ascribed to the little shrimpe now the Pinna saith hee opening her two large shels enters into confederacy with the little shrimp for getting of food wherefore when little fishes swimme into her gaping shell then the Pinna admonished by the shrimps biting her shuts her shell thus two unlike creatures get their livings together But Plutarch seemes to make the Pinna to be the Pearle Oister in that work of his whereas he enquireth whether the craft of Water or Land beastes bee the greater But amongst the most miraculous fishes may fitly bee placed the Nautilos or Sayler of some called Pompylos it is thought to bee a kinde of Polypus it comes with the face upwards to the toppe of the Sea raising it selfe by little and little that casting forth all the water by a pipe as if it had a Pumpe it easily floats then putting backe the two first tendrills or armes it extends betweene them a membrane of wondrous fineness or thinnesse which gathering aire like as a saile and she rowing with the rest of her armes she guides her selfe with her taile in the midst as a Rudder Thus shee sailes along in imitation of Pinnaces and if any thing affright her she presently takes in water and sinkes herselfe The shape of the Nautilus or Sayler-fish The better to store this treatise of Monsters abusing the name with the Poets we will reckon up the whale amongst the Sea-monsters by reason of his monstrous and wondrous magnitude Now the Whale is the greatest by much of all the fishes of the Sea for most commonly this beast is thirty sixe cubits long eight high the slit of his mouth is eighteene foot long teeth they have none but in stead thereof in each Jaw horny blacke excrescences or finnes which we vulgarly terme Whale bones which by little and little end in small haires like to a swines bristles which comming and standing out of his mouth are in stead of Guides lest whilest he swimmes with a blind and rapide violence he might runne against a rocke His eyes are distant one from the other the space of foure elles which outwardly appeare small but inwardly they are bigger than a mans head wherefore they are deceived that say that they are no bigger than an Oxes eyes his nose is short but in the middle of his forhead he
hath a pipe whereat hee drawes in the aire and casts forth a whole shower or river of water that therewith he will even sinke the vessels or boats of the Marriners when hee hath filled himselfe beyond measure hee cryes or roars with so great or strong a voice that hee may bee heard two miles off Hee hath two very large sinnes upon his sides wherewith he swimmes and under which in time of danger he hides his young hee hath none upon his backe His taile in site is like to the tailes of Dolphines neither is it much unlike in shape which when he moves hee so tosseth the Sea that he drownes and overturnes the boats that hee toucheth You may by dissecting them finde that a Whale brings forth live young and gives them sucke or the male hath testicles and a yard but the female a wombe and dugges They are taken in divers places about winter but chiefly about the coast of Aquitaine aâ—a small towne which is vulgarly called Biarris some sixe miles distant from Bayon whereunto I being sent by King Charles the ninth when he was at Bayon to cure the Prince of Roche Sur-You I was an eye witnesse how they are caught and also I confirmed that which I had formerly read to that purpose in that excellent and most true history of fishes set forth by Rondeletius Now at that towne there is a little hill in the toppe whereof there is a Tower of very great antiquity from which as from a watch-Tower they keepe watch whether or no any Whales swimme that way Wherefore the watch-men from the tower either seeing or by the horrible noise hearing a Whale to passe by that way they give warning thereof to the inhabitants by the beating of Drums and ringing a Bell which signe once given they all runne forthwith as to extinguish the city if it were on fire being furnished with weapons and all things fitting for that purpose For the people of that country are very diligent and expert in catching the Whale Wherefore in each of the boats furnished with all things either to assaile or flye there are put ten lusty rowers and divers others furnished with harping-irons to strike the Whale which being cast and fastened in her they loose out huge long ropes fastened to them untill such time as he be dead then together with the ropes and assisted by the waves of the sea they draw the Whale wearied with running and labouring and fainting by reason of the magnitude and multitude of his wounds being in the time of their conflict diligently chased and driven toward the shore a land merrily part the prey each whereof hath his share according to the number of the irons throwne the magnitude of the wound and the necessity and excellency of the wounded part for life each of their harping-irons are knowne by their peculiar markes In the heat of the skirmish many stand up and downe in boats onely for this purpose to take up such as chance to fall into the Sea lest they should be drowned The males are caught with more difficulty the females more easily especially if their young ones bee with them for whilest they linger to helpe and succour them they lose the occasion of escaping The flesh is of no esteeme the tongue onely is commendable for being very large and of a very laxe substance it is poudred and by most Gentlemen accounted for a dainty The larde is dispersed over many countries to be boiled eaten with fish in the time of Lent that Gourmandizers may have something to serve them instead of flesh which is then forbidden There is great store of fat in them in the parts under the skin and belly which melted concretes not againe by reason of the subtlety of the parts they keepe it to burne in lampes and to use about their ships The houses of the fish-eaters are builded with their bones also orchards in the coast of Aquitaine are fenced with these bones The finnes that stand forth of their mouths which are commonly called Whale-bones being dryed and polished serve to make buskes for women whip-staves and little staves as also to stiffen garments Many make seats or stooles of the vertebrae or spondills of the backe-bone The manner of the cutting up of the Whale In the river Scalde ten miles from Antwerpe Anno Dom. 1577. the second day of July there was a Whale taken of a blackish blue colour shee had a spout hole in the top of her head out of which shee cast great store of water she was fifty eight foot long and sixteene foot high hertaile was fourteene foot broad from the eye to the end of her nose was some sixteene foot Her lower jaw was sixe foot on each side she had twenty five teeth which shee could hide in her upper jaw there being holes for them it being wholly toothlesse for which one thing this Whale may bee judged monstrous for that nature hath denied them teeth and for that in creatures that are not horned it is so ordained by nature that when they have teeth in their lower jaw they should have others also in the upper to answer to them so to chaw their meat The longest of these teeth exceeded not sixe inches There is as Pliny reports a very small fish accustoméd to live about rockes it is called Echencis never exceeding the length of a foot it is thought that shippes goe more slowly if this stick to them wherefore the Latines have also given it the name of Remora for that a ship being under saile with a good wind may by the Echeneis seazing on her as if she would devoure her be stayed against the Saylers wills and stand still as if she were in a safe harbour Wherefore shee is said in the Actian fight to have stayed the ship of Marcus Antonius hastening to goe about and encourage his souldierÅ› so that he was forced to enter into another ship and thereupon Casars navie came upon them too hastily and before they were provided Shee also staid the ship of the Emperour Caius comming from Astura to Antes his ship of all the naive making no way neither did they long wonder at this stay the cause being presently knowne some forthwith leaping into the Sea to finde the cause thereof there found her about the ship even sticking to the Rudder and they shewed her to Caius being wrath that this so small a thing should stoppe him and countermaund the endeavour of forty Rowers Therefore this little fish tames and infringes the violence and madnesse of the world that with no labour not with holding or any other way but only by sticking thereto Certainly how ever it comes to passe who from this example of holding of ships can doubt of any power or effect of nature in medicines which grow naturally Yea without this example the Torpedo out of the sea also may be sufficient who a farre off and at a distance if
like The acride taste is hot of a subtle and fiery nature for it is kindled of a hot subtle and dry matter neither can it consist in any other Therfore that which is acride heats prickes or bites the mouth by the acrimony it heates and oft-times burnes it penetrates opens the passages attenuates attracts and drawes sorth grosse humours evacuates and sends forth urine the courses and sweat besides it oft-times is septicke blistering and escharotick and lastly burning and causticke The septicke putrefactive things are sublimate Chamaelea the juice of Thapsia The vesicatories are Dittander Cantharides Crowfoot Mustard Pellitory of Spaine Euphorbium But the causticke and escharoticke are Lime Oake ashes and the like But wee know medicines not onely by the taste but also by our other senses as touch sight hearing smell And as by the taste so also by these we judge of and try the goodnesse of medicines and distinguish the true legitimate from the adulterate The touch judges what are hot and cold moist and dry rough and gentle or smooth hard and soft brittle or friable glutinous and viscide dry or slippery We approve of the goodnesse of medicines by their colour brightnesse or duskinesse whereof the eye is judge for wee commend that Senna which is somewhat greenish but dislike the whitish as also we like well of such Cassia as is blacke both within and without shining and full and not dry and shrunke up Yet the judgement of the first qualities by the colour is deceitfull or none at all for such things as are white or of the colour of Snow are not therefore cold for sundry of them are hot as Lime Neither are red things to be therefore judged hot for Roses coole Also medicines are chosen by the smell for such as have a good fresh and naturall smell are commonly hot and in their perfect vigour On the contrary things that want smell are for the most part cold and evanide By hearing we distinguish things full from such as are empty thus we choose Cassia which shaken makes no noyse with the grains or seeds ratling in it Hitherto we have explained the first second third and fourth faculties of medicines in generall have shewed how they may be found out now must we more particularly treat of their second and third faculties because by reason of these they chiefly come into use in Surgery Yet let mee first briefly shew by what meanes and arts they may be prepared CHAP. VIII Of the preparation of medicines To prepare medicines is nothing else than by art to make them more commodious for use and composition whereby they are eyther made More gentle All which are performed By bruising as when medicines are brokē by striking and rubbing or grinding in a mortar that either of Brasse Iron Lead Glasse Wood Marble other like considering The thing which is to be beaten The strength or force wherewith it must be performed The time or space The situation The things to be added The consistence which the thing beaten must be of More strong By searsing whereby we separate the pure and finer from the more impure and gross which is done by sives and searses made of Wood Parchment Horse haire Silke Lawne Wherein is to bee noted that the same consideration is to bee had in searsing as in beating therefore such things as are to bee finely powdred must bee searsed in a finer searse such as are more grosse in a courser More pleasant By dissolving or mollifying Which is nothing else but a dissolving of a simple or compound medicine of a thick or hard consistence either into a mean consistence or a little more liquid or soft which is performed Either by heate onely for by heate gums and hornes are mollified or by liquor as by vinegar water wine juice of Lemmons c.  By desiccation or hardening which Is nothing else but the consuming of the superfluous and hurtfull moisture and this is performed either By the Sun or By Fire More wholesome By infusion which is nothing else but the tempering or macerating of a medicine a little beaten or cut in some liquor appropriate and fit for our purpose as in Milke Vinegar Water Oyle and the like so long as the nature of the medicine requires To infusion Nutrition may bee reduced which is nothing else but as it were a certaine accression of the medicine by being moistened macerated rubbed or ground with some moisture especially w th heate   By burning that is by consuming the humidity which is in them And that either that they may be the better powdred being otherwise too glutinous or that they may lay aside their gross essence and become of a subtler temper or that they may put off or partly lose some fiery quality as acrimony Gal. lib. 4. cap 9. simplicium Or that they may acquire a new colour Now all things are burnt eyther Alone as such things as have a fatty moisture as haires sweaty wooll hornes Or else with some combustible matter as sulphur alome salt barley c.  More fit for mixture By boyling or elixation which is performed by a humide heate as burning is by a dry that either that wee may increase the weake faculties of such medicines as are boyled by boyling them with such as are stronger or else to weaken such as are too strong or else wholly to dissipate such as are contrary Or that one faculty may arise of sundry things of different faculties being boyled together or for the longer keeping them or bringing them to a certaine forme or consistence all which are done eyther by the Fire or Sun   By washing or cleansing wherby the impurity of the medicine is wasted away or cleansed and such things are eyther Hard as mettals stones parts of living creatures condensed juices other like Or soft as Rosines Gums Fat 's Oyles And these ought first To be finely beaten that the water may penetrate into all their substance Or to be dissolved cast into a vessel filled with water and so stirred then suffered to subside so that the fat may swim aloft and this must be done so long that the water retaine nothing thereof in colour smell or taste CHAP. IX Of repelling or repercussive medicines REpelling or repercussive medicines are cold and of grosse and earthy parts by which name also astringent medicines are understood because they hinder the falling downe of the humours upon the part Repercussives are such either of their nature and of themselves or else by accident being not such of their own nature These which of themselves are such are of two kinds for some are watrish moist without any astrictive faculty which almost wholly proceeds from an earthy essence wherefore that faculty of repelling which they possesse they have it wholly from coldnesse Of this kinde are lettuce purslaine sow-thistle duckes-meat kidney wort cowcumbers melons gourds house-leeke mandrake apples
Mellis ℥ i. irritantisʒi ℞ Mellis cocti ℥ i. pul Colocynthidos ℈ ss Salis gemmae ℈ i. fiat Suppositorium Wee use Suppositories when the sicke by his infirmity is unwilling or not able to beare or away with a Glyster as in burning Feavers or when as one being injected is slow and resteth in the guts And we use the sharper Suppositories in seporiferous affects of the head that they might provoke the dull faculty of the guts to expulsion As also when the condition of the disease is such that by the use of Glysters there is manifest hurt as in an Enterocele where the gut so swels that over and above it be filled by the glyster infused it would the more presse the Peritonaeum so that straightwaies by the relaxed or broken part it might easily be devolved into the Codde Nodules have the same use with Suppositories and are oftentimes substituted in stead of Glysters They are made of gentle medicines as the yelkes of Egges with a little Salt and Butter or of Gall and Honey tyed up in a cloth in the forme of a Filbert the string of it may hang forth whereby the Nodule in the fundament may be drawne forth This description may be an example of Nodules ℞ Vitellum unius ovi cui adde salis modicum fellis vervecis mellis an ℥ ss butyri ℥ iii. misce fiant Noduli filo appensi A Pessary is grosser than a Suppository and is appointed for the wombe being made with Cotton-wooll or Silke steeped in some medicament and then put into the necke of the wombe A pessary is used either to ulcers of the necke of the wombe or for the procuring or stopping of the Menstrua or against sordide and hurtfull humours of the wombe causing hystericall passions and therefore to be wasted away and evacuated Therefore in the composition of pessaries are used gummes juices seeds of herbes roots and many other things according to the advise of the Phisitian they are also made of a solide consistence the bignesse of a finger that they may enter into the necke of the wombe these being tyed with a string which must hang forth to plucke it out withall when occasion serves This following may be an example of their description rum myrrh aloes an ʒ i. sabin semin nigel arthemis an ʒ ii radic ellebor nig ʒ i. croci ℈ i. cum succo mercurial melle fiat pessus let it bee tied to the thigh with a thread Or this ℞ mastich thurii an ℥ iii. alum ros rub nuc cupres an ʒ ii ladan hypoci sumach myrtil an ʒ iii. fiant pessi cum succo arnoglos cotoniorum According to this example others may be made for to mollifie to binde to cleanse to incarnate to cicatrize and cover the ulcers of the womb they are to be put up when the patient lieth in bed and to be kept all night Pessaries are also made of medicinable powders not onely mingled with some juice but also with those powders alone being put into a little bagge of some thinne matter being stuffed with a little cotton that it might be of a convenient stiffenesse and this kinde of pessaries may bee used profitably in the falling of the mother An example of one mentioned by Rondeletius in his booke of inward Medicines is as followeth ℞ Benioini styracis caryoph an ʒ i. gal mosch ℥ ss moschi gr vi fiat pulvis this being made up with cotton may be put up into the body CHAP. XXIV Of Oyles PRoperly and commonly we call oile that juice which is pressed forth of Olives but the word is used more largely for we call every juice of a fluxible unctuous and aiery substance Oyle There are three differences of these oleaginous juices The first is of those things which yeeld oile by expression as well fruits as seeds being bruised that by beating the oily juice may be pressed forth some are drawn without fire as oile of sweet and bitter almonds oyle of nuts of palma Christi Others are made to runne by the helpe of fire by which meanes is gotten oile of baies linseed oyle rape oyle oile of hempe and such like The manner of drawing oile from seeds is set downe by Mesue in his third booke The second sort is of those oyles which are made by the infusion of simple medicines in oyle wherein they leave their qualities and this is done three severall waies the first is by boyling of roots leaves tops of flowers fruits seeds gummes whole beastes with wine water or some other juice with common or any other oile untill the wine water or juice bee consumed which you may perceive to bee perfectly done if you cast a droppe of the oyle into the fire and it maketh no noise but burneth It is to be remembred that sometimes the seeds or fruits are for a certaine time to be macerated before they are set to the fire but it must bee boiled in a double vessell lest the oyle partake of the fire After this manner is made oleum costinum rutaceum de croco cydoniorum myrtillorum mastichinum de euphorbio vulpinum de scorpionibus and many others The second is by a certaine time of maceration some upon hot ashes others in horse dung that by that moderate heat the oile might draw forth the effects of the infused medicines into it selfe The third is by insolation that is when these or these flowers being infused in oile are exposed to the sunne that by the heat thereof the oile may change and draw into him selfe the faculty of the flowers which are infused of this kinde are oile of roses chamomile dill lillies of water lillies violets and others as you may see in Mesue The third kinde is properly that of the Chimists and is done by resolution made after divers manners and of this sort there are divers admirable qualities of divers oleaginous juices whether they be made by the sunne or fire or putrefaction as we shall speake in his place hereafter Wee use oiles when wee would have the vertue of the medicament to pierce deepe or the substance of the medicines mingled with the oile to bee soft and gentle Moreover when wee prepare oiles that should be of a cooling quality the common oile of the unripe Olive is to be used of that should the oile of roses be made Againe when we would prepare oiles of heating qualities such as are Oleum philosophorum or of Tiles sweet and ripe oile is to be chosen CHAP. XXV Of Liniments ALiniment is an externall medicine of a meane consistence between an oile and an ointment for it is thicker than an oile for besides oile it is compounded with butter axungia and such like which is the reason why a liniment is more efficacious in ripening and mitigating paine than simple oile The varieties of liniments is drawn from their effects some coole others heat some humect some ripen others by composition
Oyle of Roses or Rosewater â„ž Rad. ènul campan coct cum aceto contus ut decet lb ss Axung porci olei commu an â„¥ i ss argen vivi extincti tereb lot an Ê’i sal commu pulverati Ê’ii incorporate them according to art The boyled rootes must be drawne through a Sieve which being boyled by a gentle fire with the Axungia must bee continually stirred then put to the Salt with Oyle Waxe when you set it from the fire to coole then adde the Quick silver being killed with a little Axungia and Turpentine â„ž Olei rosat â„¥ ix cerus alb â„¥ iii. cer alb â„¥ ii make it thus Let the Cerusse bee finely powdred and put into the Oyle and Waxe whilst it is hot and so worke the whole together untill they shall be brought into a body â„ž Rad. Ath. lb i. semi lini foenugr an lb. ss Scillae â„¥ iii. Olei com lb. ii cer lb ss terebinth gum heder galb an â„¥ i. coloph. resin â„¥ iii. The rootes and seeds being bruised are infused for three dayes in five pintes of water boyle them untill three ounces be consumed and then draw forth the Mucilage and boyle it with the Oile then adde Waxe cut small these being taken from the fire the Galbanum being dissolved with Vinegar mingled with the Turpentine must be added together with the Gumme Hederae Colophony and Rosin â„ž Ocul populi arb lb i ss fol. papaveris nigr Mandrag byoscyami lactucae sompervivi parvi magni violae nigrae solani umbilici veneris seu cymbalar bardanae an â„¥ ss Cordus Fernelius Nicolaus singulorum â„¥ iii. praescribunt Adipis suilli recentis salis expertis lb ii vini boni lb i. fiat Unguentum The Poplar buds and Violet leaves must be bruised and maccrated in the Axungia for the space of two moneths that is untill the rest of the herbes be ready for they cannot bee gathered before the Summer time but the Poplar buds and Violets may be had in March They must be bruised and mingled very well and set in a warme place for eight dayes then adde one pinte of strong Vinegar and boyle them till it be consumed which may bee perceived by casting a little of it into the fire then straine it forth and put up the Oyntment â„ž Tereb cer alb res an Ê’xiv Opopanacis floris seu viridis aeris nam hic floâ— aris non propriè accipitur pro granulis quae scintillarum instar ab aere exiliunt dum à fabris ferrariis aqua tingitur sed pro viridi aeris usurpatur cujus contra maligna ulcera notae sunt vires contra quae omninò id Unguentum est comparatum an Ê’ii ammon â„¥ xiv aristol lon thuris masculi an Ê’vi myrrhae galbani an Ê’iii bdellii Ê’vi Litharg Ê’ix olei lb ii fiat Unguentum The Litharge is to be mingled with two ounces of Oyle for the space of five houres and with a gentle fire to be boyled untill it come to the consistence of Honey and be alwayes stirring lest it burne being taken from the fire and warme the Waxe and the Rosin being dissolved with the rest of the Oyle must be added Then put to it when it is cooling the Gummes dissolved in Vinegar boyled and incorporated with the Turpentine Then the Aristolochia Myrrhe and Frankinsense are to be mingled and last of all the Verdigrease being in fine powder and sprinkled in and so the unguent is made â„ž Cortic. median castan cortic median querc cortic median gland mirtil eques cortic fabar acinor uvar. sorbor siccor immatur mespillor immaturor rad châ—lidon folior prunor silvest an â„¥ iss Aquae plantaginis lb viii cer nov â„¥ viii ss olei myrtillor lb iiss Then these things which follow being finely powdred are to be sprinkled in â„ž Pulveris corticis mediani castan corticis mediani gland cortic median arb gland id est querc gallar an â„¥ i. Cineris oss cruris bovis myrtill acinor uvar. sorbor siccor an â„¥ ss Trochiscorum de carabe â„¥ ii fiat Unguentum First make a decoction corticis mediani arboris quercus acini uvar. rad chelid mespil sorbor equis seminis myrtil folior pruni sylvestris cort fabar cortic mediani gland cortic castan gallar in the Plantaine water for the space of two houres then straine it and divide the liquor into nine parts washing the Waxe dissolved with the Oyle of Myrtils seven times the liquor being all spent and the Waxe and Oyle being melted then insperge the powders Cruris bovis ossium cortic median querc median cortic gland castan gallar sorbor mespil seminum myrtil acinor uvar. and at last the Trochisces carab after this manner shall you make this Oyntment â„ž Olei absinth mastich de spic rosat an â„¥ ss pulver absinth ros major menth an Ê’i Caryoph cinam mastich galang an Ê’i Powder those things which are to bee powdered and with a sufficient quantity of Waxe make a soft oyntment wherewith let the stomacke be annointed one houre before meales continually â„ž Cer. alb lb ii cerus litharg auri an lb i. myrrh medull cervi an â„¥ ii thuris â„¥ i. olei lb ss Boyle the Litharge in the oyle to a meane consistence then adde to the Waxe Cerusse and when it will not sticke to the fingers take it from the fire and put in the Medulla when it beginneth to coole the Myrrha and Thus being finely powdred must be cast in by little and little and the oyntment may be put up for use The chops of the fundament and remollient Pessaries are likewise made of it and it is very good against the bitings of madde Dogges and the punctures of nerves and tendons keeping wounds so that they doe not agglutinate â„ž Picis pinguis lb i. Opopanacis in aceto forti oleo liliorum veteri porci axungia cocti â„¥ iii. fiat Unguentum Oleum ex sinapi is good against those bitings of mad beasts and punctured nerves for it doth open wounds when they are cicatrized Oyntments are used to overcome the contumacy of a stubborne evill by their firme and close sticking to especially if there shall need no medicine to goe further into the body CHAP. XXVII Of Cerats and Emplasters SUch affinity there is in the composition of a Cerat and Emplaster that oftentimes the one is taken for the other as is usually done in Oyntments and Liniments A Cerat is a composition more solide and hard than an oyntment and softer than a plaster having his name from Waxe which taking away the fluidness of the oyle bringeth him to his consistence The differences of Cerats are taken some from the parts by which they are called as Ceratum stomachicum some from the effects as Ceratum refrigerans Galeni Others from the simple medicaments which are the chiefe in the composition as Ceratum Santalinum
The proper matter of Cerats is new Waxe Oyles being appropriated to the griefe of these or those parts so that Liniments Oyntments doe scarce differ from Cerats if they admit of Waxe for if oyntment of Roses should have Waxe added to it it were no longer an oyntment but a Cerat Cerats which are made with Rosins Gummes and Metals doe rather deserve the names of Emplasters than Cerats And therefore Ceratum ad Hernias we commonly call Emplastrum contra Rupturam If that paine or inflammation do grieve any part we make Cerats of plaster dissolved with Oyle lest that the more hard and heavie consistence of the Emplaster should be troublesome to the part and hinder perspiration and therefore laying aside the composition of Cerats let us speake of Emplasters An Emplaster is a composition which is made up of all kinde of medicines especially of fat and dry things agreeing in one grosse viscous solid and hard body sticking to the fingers The differences of Emplasters are taken from those things which the variety of oyntments are taken from Of those things which goe into the composition of an Emplaster some are only used for their quality and faculty as Wine Vinegar Juices Others to make the consistence as Litharge which according to Galen is the proper matter of Emplasters Waxe Oyle and Rosin Others be usefull for both as Gums Metals parts of beasts Rosin as Turpentine to digest to cleanse and dry Of Emplasters some are made by boyling some are brought into a forme without boyling those which bee made without fire doe sodainly dry nor are they viscous they are made with meale and powder with some juice or with some humid matter mingled with them But plasters of this kind may rather bee called hard oyntments or cataplasmes for plasters properly so called are boyled some of them longer some shorter according to the nature of those things which make to the composition of the Emplaster Therefore it will bee worth our labour to know what Emplasters doe aske more or which lesse boyling For roots woods leaves stalkes flowers seeds being dryed and brought into powder are to be added last when the plaster is boyled as it were and taken from the fire lest the vertue of these things be lost But if greene things are to be used in a composition they are to be boyled in some liquor and being pressed forth that which is strained to be mingled with the rest of the composition or if there be juice to be used it is to be bruised and pressed forth which is so to be boyled with the other things that nothing but the quality is to remaine with the mixture as wee use to doe in Empl. de Janua seu Betonica Gratia Dei The same is to bee done with Mucilages but that by their clamminesse they do more resist the fire But there doth much of oyle and honey remaine in plasters when they are made Those juices which are hardned by concretion as Aloes Hypocystis Acacia when they are used in the composition of a plaster and be yet new they must be macerated and dissolved in some proper liquor and then they are to bee boyled to the consumption of that liquor Gums as Opopanax Galbanum Sagapaenum Ammoniacum must be dissolved in Wine Vinegar or Aqua vitae then strained and boyled to the consumption of the liquor and then mixed with the rest of the plaster And that they may have the exact quantity of Gums and Pitch it is necessary that first they bee dissolved strained and boyled because of the stickes and sordid matter which are mingled with them You must have respect also to the liquor you use to dissolve them in for Vinegar of the best Wine doth more powerfully penetrate than that which is of weake and bad Wine Other Gums which are drier are to be powdred and are to bee mingled with plasters last of all Metals as Aes ustum Chalcitis Magnes Bolus Armenus Sulphur Auripigmentum and others which may bee brought to powder must bee mingled last unlesse advice be given by long boyling to dull the fierce qualities of them The like consideration is to be had of Rosin Pitch and Turpentine which must be put in after the Waxe and may not be boyled but very gently but the fats are mingled whilst the other things are boyling The Litharge is to be boyled with the oyle to a just consistence if wee would have the plaster dry without biting Cerusse may endure as long boyling but then the plaster shall not bee white neither will the Litharge of filver make a plaster with so good a colour as Litharge of gold Moreover this order must bee observed in boyling up of plasters the Litharge must bee boyled to his consistence juices or mucilages are to be boyled away then adde the fats then the dry Rosin Waxe Gums Turpentine and after them the powders You shall know the plaster is boyled enough by his consistence grosse hard glutinous and sticking to the fingers being cooled in the ayre water or upon a stone Also you shall know it by his exact mixtion if that all the things become one masse hard to be broken The quantity of things which are to be put into a plaster can hardly be described but an artificiall conjecture may be given by considering the medicaments which make the plaster stiffe and of a consistence and the just hardnesse and softnesse they make being boyled Waxe is not put into such plasters wherein is Labdanum for that is in stead of Waxe For if there shall be in the composition of a plaster some emplasticke medicaments the Waxe shall be the lesse Contrariwise if they shall bee almost all liquid things the Waxe shall be increased so much as shall be necessary for the consistence of the plaster The quantity of the Waxe also must bee altered according to the time or the aire therefore it is fit to leave this to the art and judgement of the Apothecarie Emplasters are sometimes made of ointments by the addition of waxe or dry rosine or some other hard or solide matter Some would that a handfull of medicaments poudred should be mingled with one ounce or an ounce and an halfe of oile or some such liquor but for this thing nothing can certainely bee determined Onely in plasters described by the Antients there must bee great care had wherein hee must bee very well versed who will not erre in the describing the dose of them and therefore wee will here give you the more common formes of plasters ℞ ol chamaem aneth de spica liliacci an ℥ ii ol de croco ℥ i pingued porci lb i. pingued vitul lb ss euphorb ʒv thuris ʒx ol lauri ℥ i ss ranas viv nu vi pingued viper vel ejus loco human ℥ ii ss lumbricor lotor in vino ℥ iii 〈◊〉 succi ebuli enul ana ℥ ii schoenanthi staechados matricar an m ii vini oderiferi lb ii
added and last of all the saffron finely poudered rum ol ros myrtil ung populeon ana â„¥ iv pinguedinis gallin â„¥ ii sebi arietis castrati sepi vaccini an â„¥ vi pingued porci â„¥ x. lytharg auri argenti an â„¥ iii. cerus â„¥ iv minii â„¥ iii. tereb â„¥ iv cerae q. s fiat emplastrum vel ceratum molle The lithargiros cerusa and minium are to be brought into fine powder severally being sprinkled with a little rose water lest the finest of it should flye away these being mingled with the oile of roses and myrtles with a gentle fire may bee boiled untill they come to the consistence of hony then adde the axungia's and boile them till the whole grow black after adde the sebum and that being dissolved take it from the fire and then adde the unguentum populeon and some waxe if there be need and so bring it to the forme of a plaster â„ž litharg puri pul â„¥ xii ol irin chamaem aneth an â„¥ viii mucag. sem lini foenug rad alth ficuum ping uvar. passar succi ireos scillae oesipi icthyocollae an Ê’xii ss tereb â„¥ iii. res pini cerae flavae an â„¥ ii fiat emplastrum The litharge is to be mingled with the oyle before it be set to the fire then by a gentle fire it is to be boiled to a just consistence after the mucilage by degrees must bee put in which being consumed the juices must bee added and the icthyocolla and they being wasted too then put to the waxe and rosine then taking the whole from the fire and the oesipus and terebinthina We use plasters when wee would have the remedy sticke longer and firmer to the part and would not have the strength of the medicament to flye away or exhale too suddenly CHAP. XXVIII Of Cataplasmes and Pultisses CAtaplasmes are not much unlike to emplasters lesse properly so called for they may be spred upon linnen cloaths and stoupes like them and so applied to the grieved parts They are composed of roots leaves fruits flowers seeds herbes juices oiles fats marrowes meales rosines Of these some must bee boiled others crude The boiled are made of herbes boiled tender and so drawne through an haire searse adding oiles and axungia's thereto The crude are made of herbes beaten or their juices mixed with oile and flower or other powders appropriate to the part or disease as the Physitian shall thinke fit The quantity of medicines entring these compositions can scarce be defined for that they must be varied as we would have the composition of a softer or harder body Verily they ought to be more grosse and dense when as we desire to ripen anything but more soft and liquid when wee endeavour to discusse We use cataplasmes to asswage paine digest discusse and resolve unnaturall tumors and flatulencies They ought to be moderately hot and of subtle parts so to attract and draw forth yet their use is suspected the body being not yet purged for thus they draw downe more matter into the affected part Neither must wee use these when as the matter that is to be discussed is more grosse and earthy for thus the subtler parts will be oaely discussed and the grosse remaine impact in the part unlesse your cataplasme be made of an equall mixture of things not only discussing but also emollient as it is largely handled by Galen This shall be largely illustrated by examples As â„ž medul panis lb ss decoquantur in lacte pingui adde olei chamam â„¥ ss axung galin â„¥ i. fiat cataplasma Or â„ž rad alth â„¥ iii. fol. malv. senecionis an m i. sem lini faenug an Ê’ ii ficus ping nu vi decoquantar in aqua per setaceum transmittantur addendo olet lilior â„¥ i. far hord â„¥ ii axung porcin â„¥ i ss fi at cataplasma Or â„ž far fab orob an â„¥ ii pulv chamam melil an Ê’ iii. ol irin amygd amar an â„¥ i. succi rut â„¥ ss fiat cataplasma Pultisses differ not from cataplasmes but that they usually consist of meales boiled in oile water hony or axungia Pultisses for the ripening of tumours are made of the floure of barly wheat and milke especially in the affects of the entralles or else to dry and binde of the meale of rice lentiles or Orobus with vinegar or to cleanse and they are made of hony the floure of beanes and lupines adding thereto some old oile or any other oile of hot quality and so make a discussing pultis Also anodine pultisses may bee made with milke as thus for example â„ž farin triticeae â„¥ ii mica panis purissimi â„¥ iii. decoquantur in lacte fiat pulticula â„ž farin hordei fab an â„¥ ii far orob â„¥ iii. decoquantur in hydromelete addendo mell is quart i. olei amyg amar â„¥ ii fiat pulticula Wee use pultisses for the same purpose as wee doe cataplasmes to the affects both of the internall and externall parts Wee sometimes use them for the killing of wormes and such are made of the meale of lupines boiled in vinegar with an Oxes gall or in a decoction of Worme-wood and other such like bitter things CHAP. XXIX Of Fomentations A Fotus or fomentation is an evaporation or hot lotion chiefly used to mollifie relaxe and asswage paine consisting of medicines having these faculties A fomentation commonly useth to be moist being usually made of the same things as embrocations to wit of roots seeds flowers boiled in water or wine The roots here used are commonly of mallowes marsh-mallowes and lillies The seedes are of mallowes marsh-mallowes parsly smallage line fenugreeke Flowers are of chamomile melilote figges raisons and the like all which are to bee boiled in wine water or lye to the consumption of the third part or the halfe as â„ž Rad. alth lilil an â„¥ ii sem lini foenug cumin an Ê’iii flo cham melil aneth an p. i. summit orig m. ss bulliant in aequis partibus aquae vini aut in duabus partibus aqua una vini aut in Lixivio cineris sarmentorum ad tertiae partis consumptionem fiat fotus In imitation hereof you may easily describe other fomentations as occasion and necessity shall require We use fomentations before we apply cataplasmes oyntments or plasters to the part that so we may open the breathing places or pores of the skin relaxe the parts attenuate the humour that thus the way may be the more open to the following medicines The body being first purged fomentations may be used to what parts you please They may be applyed with a female spunge for it is gentler and softer than the male with felt woollen clothes or the like dipped in the warme decoction wrung out and often renued otherwise you may fill a Swines bladder halfe full especially in paines of the sides of the decoction or else a stone bottle so to keep hot the
longer yet so that the bottle bee wrapped in cotton wooll or the like soft thing that so it may not be the hardnesse and roughnesse offend the part according to Hippocrates CHAP. XXX Of Embrocations AN Embroche or Embrocation is a watering when as from on high wee as it were showre downe some moisture upon any part This kinde of remedy is chiefly used in the parts of the head and it is used to the coronall suture for that the skull is more thin in that part so that by the spiracula or breathing places of this suture more open than those of the other sutures the force of the medicine may more easily penetrate unto the Meninges or membranes of the braine The matter of Embrocations is roots leaves flowers seeds fruits and other things according to the intention and will of the Physitian They are boyled in water and wine to the halfe or third part Embrocations may also be made of Lye or Brine against the cold and humide affects of the braine Sometimes of oyle and vinegar otherwhiles of oyle onely ℞ fol. plantag solan an m. i. sem portul cucurb an ʒii myrtil ʒi flor nymph ros an p. ss fiat decot ad lb i. cum aceti ℥ ii si altè subeundum sit ex qua irrigetur pars inflammata In affects of the braine when we would repercusse we often and with good successe use oyle of Roses with a fourth part of vinegar We use Embrocations that together with the ayre drawne into the body by the Diastole of the arteries the subtler part of the humour may penetrate and so coole the inflamed part for the chiefe use of embrocations is in hot affects Also wee use embrocations when as for feare of an haemorrhagie or the flying asunder of a broken or dislocated member we dare not loose the bandages wherewith the member is bound For then wee drop downe some decoction or oyle from high upon the bandages that by these the force of the medicine may enter into the affected member CHAP. XXXI Of Epithemes EPithema or an Epitheme is a composition used in the diseases of the parts of the lower and middle belly like to a fomentation and not much unlike an embrocation They are made of waters juices and powders by means whereof they are used to the heart chest liver and other parts Wine is added to them for the more or lesse penetration as the condition of the hot or cold affect shall seeme to require for if you desire to heate more wine must bee added as in swouning by the clotting of bloud by the corruption of seed by drinking some cold poyson the contrary is to be done in a fainting by dissipation of the spirits by feaverish heates also vinegar may bee added The matter of medicines proper to the entrailes is formerly described yet we commonly use the species of electuaries as the species elect triasantali the liver being affected and Diamargariton in affects of the heart The proportion of the juices or liquors to the powders uses to be this to every pinte of them ℥ i. or ℥ i ss of these of wine or else of vinegar ℥ i. You may gather this by the following example ℞ aqu ros bugl borag an ℥ iii. succi scabios ℥ ii pul elect diamarg. frigid ʒii cort citri sicciʒi coral ras ebor an ʒss sem citri card ben an ʒiiss croci moschi an gra 5. addendo vini albi ℥ ii fiat Epithema pro corde Epithemes are profitably applyed in hecticke and burning feavers to the liver heart and chest if so be that they be rather applyed to the region of the lungs than of the heart for the heate of the lungs being by this meanes tempered the drawn in ayre becomes lesse hot in pestilent and drying feavers They are prepared of humecting refrigerating and cordiall things so to temper the heate and recreate the vitall faculty Sometimes also we use Epithemes to strengthen the heart and drive there-hence venenate exhalations lifted or raised up from any part which is gangrenate or sphacelate Some cotton or the like steeped or moistened with such liquor and powders warmed is now and then to be applyed to the affected entraile this kinde of remedy as also all other topick and particular medicines ought not to be used unlesse you have first premised generall things CHAP. XXXII Of potentiall Cauteries THat kinde of Pyroticke which is termed a Potentiall Cautery burnes and causeth an eschar The use of these kindes of Cauteries is to make evacuation derivation revulsion or attraction of the humours by those parts whereto they are applyed Wherefore they are often and with good successe used in the punctures and bites of venemous beasts in a venenous as also in a pestilent Bubo and Carbuncle unlesse the inflammation be great for the fire doth not only open the part but also retunds the force of the poyson cals forth and plentifully evacuates the conjunct matter Also they are good in phlegmaticke and contumacious tumours for by their heate they take away the force and endeavours of our weake heate Also they are profitably applyed to stanch bleeding to eate or waste the superfluous flesh of ulcers and wens to bring downe the callous lips of ulcers and other things too long here to insist upon The materials of these Cauteries are Oake ashes Pot ashes the ashes of Tartar of Tithymals or spurges the Figge-tree the stalkes of Coleworts and Beanes cuttings of Vines as also sal ammoniacum alkali axungia vitri sal nitrum Romane Vitrioll and the like for of these things there is made a salt which by its heate is causticke and escharoticke like to an hot iron and burning coale Therefore it violently looses the continuity by eating into the skinne together with the flesh there-under I have thought good here to give you divers formes of them Take of unquencht Lime extinguished in a bowle of Barbers Lye three pounds When the Lye is settled let it be strained and into the straining put of Axungia vitri or Sandiver calcined Argol of each two pounds of Sal nitrum ammoniacum of each foure ounces these things must be beaten into a grosse powder then must they be boyled over the fire and after the boyling let them remaine in the Lye for foure and twenty houres space being often stirred about and then strained through a thicke and double linnen cloth lest any of the earthy drosse get thorow together with the liquor This strained liquor which is as cleare as water they call Capitellum and they put it in a brasen Bason such as Barbers use and so set it upon the fire and as soone as it boyles they keep it with continuall stirring lest the salt should adhere to the Bason the Capitellum being halfe boyled away they put in two ounces of powdred vitrioll so to hasten the falling of the eschar and so they keep the bason
over the fire untill all the liquor be almost wasted away Then they cut into peeces the salt or that earthy matter which remains after the boyling away of the Capitellum with a knife or hot iron spatula forme them into cauteries of such figure and magnitude as they thinke fitting and so they lay them up or keep them for use in a violl or glasse closly stopped that the ayre get not in Or Take a bundle or sufficient quantity of Beane stalkes or huskes of Colewort stalks two little bundles of cuttings of Vines foure bundles burn them all to ashes which put into a vessell of river water so let them infuse for a dayes space being stirred ever now and then to this adde two pounds of unquencht lime of Axungia vitri halfe a pound of calcined Tartar two pounds of Sal niter foure ounces infuse all these being made into powder in the foresaid Lye for two or three dayes space often stirring it then straine the Capitellum or liquor through a thicke cloth untill it become cleare Put it into a bason and set it over the fire and when as the moisture is almost wholly spent let two or three ounces of vitrioll be added when the moisture is sufficiently evaporated make cauteries of that which remaines after the formerly mentioned manner Take of the ashes of sound knotty old Oake as much as you please make thereof a Lye powre this Lye againe upon other fresh ashes of the same wood let this bee done three or foure times then quench some lime in this Lye of these two make a Capitellum whereof you may make most approved cauteries For such ashes are hot in the fourth degree and in like sort the stones whereof the lime by burning becomes fiery and hot to the fourth degree Verily I have made cauteries of Oake ashes only which have wrought quickly and powerfully The Capitellum or Lye is thought sufficiently strong if that an Egge will swimme therein without sinking Or Take of the ashes of Bean stalkes three pounds of unquencht lime Argoll of the ashes of Oake wood being all well burnt of each two pounds Let them for two dayes space be infused in a vessell full of Lye made of the ashes of Oake wood and be often stirred up and downe Let this Lye then be put into another vessell having many holes in the bottome thereof covered with strums or straw pipes that the Capitellum flowing through these strait passages may become more cleare Let it be put twice or thrice upon the ashes that so it may the better extract the heate and causticke quality of the ashes Then putting it into a Barbers bason set it over the fire and when it shall begin to grow thicke the fire must be increased and cauteries made of this concreating matter The following cauteries are the best that ever I made tryall of as those that applyed to the arme in the bignesse of a Pease in the space of halfe an houre without paine especially if the part of it selfe be painlesse and free from inflammation eate into the skinne and flesh even to the bone and make an ulcer of the bignesse of ones fingers end and they leave an eschar so moyst and humide that within foure or five dayes space it will fall away of it selfe without any scarification I have thought good to call these cauteries Silken or Velvet ones not onely for that they are like Silke gentle and without paine but chiefly because I obtained the description of them of a certaine Chymist who kept it as a great secret for some Velvet and much entreaty Their description is this Take of the ashes of Beane stalkes of the ashes of Oake wood well burnt of each three pounds let them bee infused in a pretty quantity of river water and bee often stirred up and down then adde thereto of unqueneht lime foure pounds which being quencht stirre it now and then together for two daies space that the Capitellum may become the stronger then straine it through a thick strong linnen cloth thus strained put it three or foure times upon the ashes that so it may draw more of the causticke faculties from them then boyle it in a Barbers bason or else an earthen one well leaded upon a good Char-cole fire untill it become thicke But a great part of the secret or art consists in the manner and limit of this boyling for this Capitellum becomming thicke and concreating into salt must not bee kept so long upon the fire untill all the moysture shall bee vanished and spent by the heate thereof for thus also the force of the foresaid medicines which also consists in a spirituous substance will bee much dissipated and weakened therefore before it be come to extreme drinesse it shall be taken off from the fire to wit when as yet there shall some thicke moysture remaine which may not hinder the cauteries from being made up into a forme The made up cauteries shall bee put up into a glasse most closely luted up or stopped that the ayre may not dissolve them and so they shall be laid up and kept in a dry place Now because the powder of Mercury is neere to cauteries in the effects and faculty thereof which therefore is termed Pulvis Angelicus for the excellency therefore I have thought good to give you the description thereof which is thus â„ž Auripigmenti citrini floris aeris an â„¥ ii salis nitri lb iss alumin. rochae lb ii vitrioli rom lb iii. Let them all bee powdred and put into a Retort having a large receiver well luted put thereto Then set the Retort over a Fornace and let the distillation be made first with a gentle fire then increased by little and little so that the receiver may waxe a little reddish â„ž Argenti vivi lb ss aquae fortis lb i. ponantur in phiala fiat pulvis ut sequitur Take a large earthen pot whereinto put the violl or bolt head wherein the Argentum vivum and Aqua fortis are contained setting it in ashes up to the necke thereof then set the pot over a fornace or upon hot coales so that it may boyle and evapourate away the Aqua fortis neither in the interim will the glasse bee in any danger of breaking when all the water is vanished away which you may know is done when as it leaves smoaking suffer it to become cold then take it forth of the ashes and you shall finde calcined Mercury in the bottome of the colour of red Lead separated from the white yellow or blacke excrement for the white that concretes in the toppe is called Sublimate which if it should remaine with the calcined Mercury would make it more painfull in the operation Wherefore separating this calcined Mercury you shall make it into powder and put it in a brasse vessell upon some coales stirring or turning it with a spatula for the space of an houre
and in a bastard pleurisie proceeding from flatulencies The powders must bee strawed upon carded bombast that they runne not together and then they must bee sewed up or quilted in a bagge of linnen or taffaty Wee often times moisten these bagges in wine or distilled water and sometimes not with the substance thereof but by the vapour only of such liquors put into a hot dish thus oft times the bagges are heated by the vapour onely and oft times at the fire in a dish by often turning them These if intended for the heart ought to bee of crimson or skarlet silke because the skarlet berry called by the Arabians Kermes is said to refresh and recreate the heart Certainly they must alwaies be made of some fine thing whether it be linnen or silke CHAP. XL. Of Fumigations A Suffitus or fumigation is an evaporation of medicines having some viscous and fatty moisture of fumigations some are dry othersome moist the dry have the form of trochisces or pills their matter ought to be fatty and viscous so that it may send forth a smoake by being burnt such are ladanum myrrhe masticke pitch waxe rosine turpentine castoreum styrax frankincense olibanum and other gummes which may bee mixed with convenient powders for they yeeld them a body and firme consistence the fumigations that are made of powders only yeeld neither so strong nor long a fume The quantity of the powders must bee from â„¥ ss to â„¥ i ss but the gummes to â„¥ ii as â„ž sandarachae mastiches rosar an Ê’ i. benioini galang an Ê’ iii. terebinthina excipiantur fiant trochisci quibus incensis suffumigentur tegumenta capitis rum marcasitae â„¥ ii bdellii myrrhae styracis an â„¥ i ss cerae flavae terebinth quod sufficit fiant formulae pro suffumigio rum cinnabaris â„¥ ii styracis benzolni an â„¥ ii cumterebinth fiant trochisci pro suffumigio per embotum Wee use fumigations in great obstructions of the braine ulcers of the lungs the asthma an old cough paines of the sides wombe and the diseases of some other parts sometimes the whole body is fumigated as in the cure of the Lues venerea to procure sweat sometimes onely some one part whereto some reliques of the Lues adheres such fumigations are made of cinnabaris wherein there is much hydrargyrum The fume must be received by a funnell that so it may not bee dispersed but may all be carried unto the part affected as is usually done in the affects of the womb and eares In fumigations for the braine and chest the vapour would be received with open mouth which thence may passe by the weazon into the chest by the palate and nostrils into the braine but in the interim let the head bee vailed that none of the vapour may flye away Moist fumigations are made somewhiles of the decoction of herbes otherwhiles of some one simple medicine boiled in oile sometimes a hot fire-stone is quencht in vinegar wine aqua vitae or the like liquor so to raise a humide vapour We oft times use this kinde of fumigation in overcomming scirrhous affects when as we would cut discusse penetrate deep and dry take this as an example thereof â„ž laterem unum satis crassum aut marchasitam ponderis lb i. heat it red hot and then let it bee quencht in sharpe vinegar powring thereon in the meane while a little aqua vitae make a fumigation for the grieved part Fumes of the decoction of herbes doe very little differ from fomentations properly so called for they differ not in the manner of their composure but onely in the application to the affected parts therefore let this be an example of a humide fumigation â„ž absinth salv rut origan an pi rad bryon asar an â„¥ ss sem sinap cumin an Ê’ ii decoquantur in duabus partibus aquae una vini pro suffitu auris cum emboto and oft times such fumigations are made for the whole body whereof we shall treat hereafter CHAP. XLI Of a particular or halfe-Bath ASemicupium or halfe-bath is a bath for the one halfe of the body that is for the parts from the belly downewards it is called also an insessiv because the patient sitteth to bathe in the decoction of herbes in which forme and respect a semicupium differs from a fomentation for it is composed of the same matter to wit a decoction of herbes roots seedes fruits but in this the quantity of the decoction is the greater as wee shall teach by the following example â„ž malv. bismalv cum toto an mi ss beton saxifrag pariet an m i. sem melon milii solis alkekengi an Ê’iii citer rub p ii rad apii graminis foeniculi eryngii an Ê’i decoquantur insufficienti quantitate aquae pro insessu Wee use these halfe-baths in affects of the kidneyes bladder wombe fundament and lower belly or otherwise when as the patient by reason of weaknesse and feare of dissipating the spirits cannot suffer or away with a whole bath The manner of using it is thus fill some bagges with the boiled herbes or other parts of plants and cause the patient to sit upon them yet in the interim keepe the vapours from the head lest they should offend it by casting over it a linnen cloath or else let him not enter thereinto untill the vapour be exhaled CHAP. XLII Of Bathes BAthes are nothing else than as it were a fomentation of the whole body both for preserving health and the cure of diseases this is a very commodious form of medicine and among other externall medicines much celebrated by the Greeke Arabian and Latine Physitians For a bath besides that it digests the acrid humors and sooty excrements lying under the skin mitigates paines and wearinesse and corrects all excesse of distemper moreover in the cure of feavers and many other contumacious and inveterate diseases it is the chiefe and last remedy and as it were the refuge of health stored with pleasing delight Bathes are of two sorts some naturall others artificiall naturall are those which of their owne accord without the operation or help of art prevaile or excell in any medicinall quality For the water which of it selfe is devoide of all quality that is perceivable by the taste if it chance to be strained through the veines of metals it furnishes and impregnates it selfe with their qualities and effects hence it is that all such water excells in a drying faculty sometimes with cooling and astriction and otherwhiles with heate and a discussing quality The bathes whose waters being hot or warm doe boile up take their heat from the cavities of the earth and mines filled with fire which thing is of much admiration whence this fire should arise in subterrene places what may kindle it what feed or nourish it for so many yeeres and keep it from being extinct Some Philosophers would have it kindled
by the beames of the sunne others by the force of lightnings penetrating the bowels of the earth others by the violence of the aire vehemently or violently agitated no otherwise than fire is strucke by the collision of a flint and steele Yet it is better to referre the cause of so great an effect unto God the maker of the Universe whose providence piercing every way into all parts of the World enters and governes the secret parts and passages thereof Notwithstanding they seeme to have come neerest the truth who referre the cause of heat in waters unto the store of brimstone conteined in certaine places of the earth because amongst all minerals it hath most fire and matter fittest for the nourishing thereof Therefore to it they attribute the flames of fire which the Sicilian mountaine Aetna continually sends forth Hence also it is that the most part of such waters smell of Sulphur yet others smell of Alom others of nitre others of Tarre and some of Coprosse Now you may know from the admixture of what metalline bodies the waters acquire their faculties by their taste sent colour mud which adheres to the channels through which the water runnes as also by an artificiall separation of the more terrestriall parts from the more subtle For the earthy drosse which subsides or remaines by the boiling of such waters will retaine the faculties and substance of Brimstone Alume and the like minerals besides also by the effects and the cure of these or these diseases you may also gather of what nature they are Wherefore wee will describe each of these kinds of waters by their effects beginning first with the sulphureous Sulphureous waters powerfully heat dry resolve open and draw from the center unto the surface of the body they cleanse the skin troubled with scabs tettars they cease the itching of ulcers and digest exhaust the causes of the gout they help paines of the collicke and hardened spleenes But they are not good to be drunk not onely by reason of their ungratefull smell and taste but also by reason of the malitiousnesse of their substance offensive to the inner parts of the body but chiefly to the liver Aluminous waters taste very astrictively therefore they dry powerfully they have no such manifest heat yet drunke they loose the belly I believe by reason of their heat and nitrous quality they cleanse and stay defluxions and the courses flowing too immoderately they also are good against the tooth-ache eating ulcers and the hidden abscesses of the other parts of the mouth Salt and nitrous waters shew themselves sufficiently by their heat they heat dry bind cleanse discusse attenuate resist putrefaction take away the blackenesse comming of bruises heale scabby and maligne ulcers and helpe all oedematous tumors Bituminous waters heate digest and by long continuance soften the hardened sinewes they are different according to the various conditions of the bitumen that they wash and partake of the qualities thereof Brasen waters that is such as retaine the qualities of brasse heat dry cleanse digest cut binde are good against eating ulcers fistula's the hardnesse of the eye-lids and they waste and eat away the fleshy excrescences of the nose and fundament Iron waters coole dry and bind powerfully therefore they helpe abscesses hardened milts the weaknesses of the stomacke and ventricle the unvoluntary shedding of the urine and the too much flowing termes as also the hot distemper of the liver and kidneyes Some such are in the Lucan territory in Italy Leaden waters refrigerate dry and performe such other operations as lead doth the like may bee said of those waters that flow by chalke plaster and other such mineralls as which all of them take and performe the qualities of the bodies by which they passe Hot waters or bathes helpe cold and moist diseases as the Palsic convulsion the stiffenesse and attraction of the nerves trembling palpitations cold distillations upon the joints the inflation of the members by a dropsie the jaundise by obstruction of a grosse tough and cold humour the paines of the sides collick and kidneies barrennesse in women the suppression of their courses the suffocation of the womb causelesse wearinesse those diseases that spoile the skinne as tettars the leprosie of both sorts the scabbe and other diseases arising from a grosse cold and obstructing humour for they provoke sweats Yet such must shunne them as are of a cholericke nature and have a hot liver for they would cause a cachexia and dropsie by overheating the liver Cold waters or baths heale the hot distemper of the whole body each of the parts therof and they are more frequently taken inwardly than applied outwardly they help the laxnesse of the bowels as the resolution of the retentive faculty of the stomacke entralls kidneies bladder and they also adde strength to them Wherefore they both temper the heat of the liver and also strengthen it they stay the Diarrhaea Dysentery Courses unvoluntary shedding of urine the Gonnorrhaea Sweats and Bleedings In this kinde are chiefly commendable the waters of the Spaw in the country of Liege which inwardly and outwardly have almost the same faculty and bring much benefit without any inconvenience as those that are commonly used in the drinks and broaths of the inhabitants In imitation of naturall baths there may in want of them be made artificiall ones by the infusing and mixing the powders of the formerly described mineralls as Brimstone Alume Nitre Bitumen also you may many times quench in common or raine water iron brasse silver and gold heated red hot and so give them to be drunk by the patient for such waters doe oft times retain the qualities and faculties of the metals quenched in them as you may perceive by the happy successe of such as have used them against the Dysentery Besides these there are also other bathes made by art of simple water sometimes without the admixture of any other thing but otherwhiles with medicinall things mixed therewith and boiled therein But after what manner soever these bee made they ought to be warme for warm water humects relaxes mollifies the solid parts if at any time they bee too dry hard and tense by the ascititious heat it opens the pores of the skinne digests attracts and discusses fuliginous and acrid excrements remaining betweene the flesh and the skin It is good against sun-burning and wearinesse whereby the similar parts are dried more than is fit To conclude whether we be too hot or cold or too dry or be nauseous we find manifest profit by baths made of sweet or warme water as those that may supply the defect of frictions and exercises for they bring the body to a mediocrity of temper they encrease and strengthen the native colour and by procuring sweat discusse flatulencies therefore they are very usefull in hecticke feavers and in the declension of all feavers and against raving and talking
idely for they procure sleep But because water alone cannot long adhere to the body let oile bee mixed or put in them which may hold in the water and keep it longer to the skinne These bathes are good against the inflammations of the lungs and sides for they mitigate pain and help forward that which is suppurated to exclusion when as generall remedies according to art have preceded for otherwise they will cause a greater defluxion on the afflicted parts for a bath in Galens opinion is profitably used to diseases when as the morbifick matter is concocted To this purpose is chosen rain water then river water so that it be not muddy and then fountaine water the water of standing lakes and fennes is not approved of for it is fit that the water which is made choice of for a bath of sweet water should bee light and of subtle parts for baths of waters which are more than moderately hot or cold yeeld no such commodity but verily they hurt in this that they shut up or close the pores of the body and keepe in the fuliginous excrements under the skinne other bathes of sweet or fresh water consist of the same matter as fomentations doe whence it is that some of them relaxe others mitigate paine others cleanse and othersome procure the courses that is compounded of a decoction of ingredients or plants having such operations To these there is sometimes added wine other whiles oile sometimes fresh butter or milke as when the urine is stopped when nephriticke paines are violent when the nerves are contracted when the habite of the body wastes and wrinkles with a hecticke drynesse for this corrugation is amended by relaxing things but it is watred and as it were fatted by humecting things which may penetrate trans-fuse the oily or fatty humidity into the body thus rarified and opened by the warmnesse of a bath Anodine bathes are made of a decoction of medicines of a middle nature such as are temperate and relaxing things with which wee may also sometimes mixe resolving things they are boiled in water and wine especially in paines of the collicke proceeding from vitreous phlegme or grosse and thicke flatulencies conteined or shut up in the belly kidneyes or wombe In such bathes it is not fit to sweat but onely to sit in them so long untill the bitternesse of the paine be asswaged or mitigated lest the powers weakened by paine should bee more resolved by the breaking forth of sweat emollients are sometimes mixed with gentle detergents when as the skin is rough and cold or when the scailes or crust of scabs is more hard than usuall then in conclusion we must come to strong detersives and driers lastly to drying and somewhat astrictive medicines so to strengthen the skinne that it may not yeeld it selfe so easie and open to receive defluxions By giving you one example the whole manner of prescribing a bath may apppeare â„ž rad lilior albor bismalv an lb ii malv. pariet violar an m ss sem lini foenug bismalv an lb i. flor cham mclil aneth an p vi fiat decoctio in sufficienti aquae quantitate cui permiscito olei liliorum lini ana lb ii fiat balneum in quo diutius natet aeger Bathes though noble remedies approved by use and reason yet unlesse they bee fitly and discreetly used in time plenty and quality they doe much harme for they cause shakings and chilnesse paines density of the skinne or too much rarefaction thereof and oft times a resolution of all the faculties Wherefore a man must bee mindfull of these cautions before he enter a bath first that there be no weaknesse of any noble and principall bowell for the weak parts easily receive the humors which the bath hath diffused and rarified the waies lying open which tend from the whole body to the principall parts Neither must there be any plenty of crude humours in the first region for so they should be attracted and diffused over all the body therefore it is not onely sit that generall purgations should precede but also particular by the belly and urine besides the patient should bee strong that can fasting endure a bath as long as it is needfull Lastly the bath ought to be in a warme and silent place lest any cold aire by its blowing or the water by its cold appulse cause a shivering or shaking of the body whence a feaver may ensue The morning is a fit time for bathing the stomacke being fasting and empty or sixe hours after meat if it be requisite that the patient should bath twice a day other-wise the meat yet crude would bee snatched by the heate of the bath out of the stomacke into the veines and habite of the body Many of all the seasons of the yeere make choice of the spring and end of summer and in these times they chuse a cleare day neither troubled with stormy windes nor too sharpe an aire As long as the patient is in the bath it is fit that he take no meate unlesse peradventure to comfort him hee take a little bread moistened in wine or the juice of an orange or some damaske prunes to quench his thirst his strength will shew how long it is fit that he should stay in for he must not stay there to the resolution of his powers for in baths the humide and spirituous substance is much dissipated Comming forth of the bath they must presently get them to bed and be well covered that by sweating the excrements drawne unto the skinne by the heat of the bath may breake out the sweat cleansed let him use gentle frictions or walking then let him feede upon meat of good juice and easie digestion by reason that the stomacke cannot but be weakened in some sort by the bath That quantity of meat is judged moderate the weight whereof shall not oppresse the stomacke venery after bathing must not bee used because to the resolution of the spirits by the bath it addes another new cause of further spending or dissipating them Some wish those that use the bath by reason of some contraction paine or other affects of the nerves presently after bathing to dawbe or besmeare the affected nervous parts with the clay or mudde of the bathe that by making it up as it were in this paste the vertue of the bath may worke more effectually and may more throughly enter into the affected part These cautions being diligently observed there is no doubt but the profit by bathes will be great wonderfull the same things are to be observed in the use of Stoves or Hot-houses for the use and effect of baths and hot-houses is almost the same which the antients therefore used by turne so that comming forth of the bath they entred a stove and called it also by the name of a bath as you may gather from sundry places of Galen in his Methodus med wherefore I thinke it fit in the next
mixed together in equall proportion with a like quantity of the liquor contained in the bladders of elme leaves is very good for the same purpose Also this â„ž mica panis albi lb iv flor fabar rosar alb flor naenuph lilior ireos an lb ii lactis vaccini lb vi ova nu viii aceti opt lb i. distillentur omnia simul in alembico vitreo fiat aqua ad faciei manuum lotionem Or â„ž olci de tartaro â„¥ iii. mucag. sem psilii â„¥ i. cerus in oleo ros dissolut â„¥ i ss borac sal gem an Ê’ i. fiat lintmentum pro facie Or. â„ž caponem vivum caseum ex lacte caprino recenter confectum limon nu iv ovor nu vi cerus lot in aq rosar â„¥ ii boracis â„¥ i ss camph. Ê’ ii aq flor fabar lb iv fiat omnium infusio per xxiv horas postea distillentur in alembico vitreo There is a most excellent fucus made of the marrow of sheepes bones which smooths the roughnesse of the skinne beautifies the face now it must be thus extracted Take the bones severed from the flesh by boyling beat them and so boyle them in water when they are well boyled take them from the fire and when the water is cold gather the fat that swimmes upon it and therewith anoint your face when as you goe to bed and wash it in the morning with the formerly prescribed water â„ž salis ceruss Ê’ ii ung citrin vel spermat ceti â„¥ i. malaxentur simul fiat linimentum addendo olci ovor Ê’ ii The Sal cerussae is thus made grinde Cerusse into very fine powder and infuse lb i. thereof in a pottle of distilled vinegar for foure or five dayes then filter it then set that you have filtred in a glased earthen vessell over a gentle fire untill it concrete into salt just as you doe the capitellum in making of Cauteries â„ž excrementi lacert ossis saepiae tartari vini albi rasur corn cerv farin oriz. an partes aequales fiat pulvis infundatur in aqua distillata amygdalarum dulcium limacum vinealium flor nenuph. huic addito mellis albi par pondus let them be all incorporated in a marble mortar and kept in a glasse or silver vessell and at night anoint the face herewith it wonderfully prevailes against the rednesse of the face if after the aâ—ointing it you shall cover the face with a linnen cloath moistened in the formerly described water â„ž sublim Ê’ i. argent viv saliv extinct Ê’ ii margarit non perforat Ê’ i. caph Ê’ i ss incorporentur simul in mortario marmoreo cum pistillo ligneo per tres horas ducantur fricentur reducanturque in tenuissimum pulverem confectus pulvis abluatur aqua myrti desiccetur serveturque ad usum adde foliorum auri argenti nu x. When as you would use this powder put into the palme of your hand a little oile of mastick or of sweet almonds then presently in that oyle dissolve a little of the described powder and so work it into an ointment wherewith let the face be anointed at bed-time but it is fit first to wash the face with the formerly described waters and againe in the morning when you rise When the sace is freed from wrinkles and spots then may you paint the cheekes with a rosie and flourishing colour for of the commixture of white and red ariseth a native and beautifull colour for this purpose take as much as you shall thinke fit of brasill and alchunet steep them in alume water and there with touch the cheeks and lips and so suffer it to dry in there is also spanish red made for this purpose others rub the mentioned parts with a sheeps skinne died red moreover the friction that is made by the hand onely a pleasing rednesse in the face by drawing thither the blood and spirits CHAP. XLV Of the Gutta Rosacea or a fiery face THis treatise of Fuci puts me in minde to say something in this place of helping the preternaturall rednesse which possesseth the nose and cheekes and oft times all the face besides one while with a tumour other whiles without sometimes with pustles and scabs by reason of the admixtion of a nitrous and adust humor Practitioners have termed it Gutta rosacea This shewes both more and more ugly in winter than in summer because the cold closeth the pores of the skinne so that the matter contained thereunder is pent up for want of transpiration whence it becomes acrid and biting so that as it were boiling up it lifts or raiseth the skinne into pustles and scabs it is a contumacious disease and oft times not to be helped by medicine For the generall method of curing this disease it is fit that the patient abstaine from wine and from all things in generall that by their heat inflame the blood and diffuse it by their vaporous substance he shall shunne hot and very cold places and shall procure that his belly may be soluble either by nature or art Let blood first be drawn out of the basilica then from the vena front is and lastly from the vein of the nose Let leaches be applied to sundry places of the face and cupping glasses with scarification to the shoulders For particular or proper remedies if the disease be inveterate the hardnesse shall first be softned with emollient things then assaulted with the following ointments which shall be used or changed by the Chirurgian as the Physitian shall thinke fit â„ž succi citri â„¥ iii. cerus quantum sufficit ad eum inspissandum argenti vivi cum saliva sulphure vivo extincti Ê’ ss incorporentur simul fiat unguentum â„ž boracis Ê’ ii farin cicer fabar an Ê’ i ss caph Ê’ i. cum melle succo cepae fiant trochisci when you would use them dissolve them in rose and plantaine water and spread them upon linnen cloaths and so apply them on the night time to the affected parts and so let them be oft times renued â„ž unguenti citrini recenter dispensati â„¥ ii sulphuris vivi â„¥ ss cum modico olei scm cucurb succi limonum fiat unguentum with this let the face be anointed when you goe to bed in the morning let it bee washed away with rose water being white by reason of bran infused therein moreover sharp vinegar boyled with branne and rose water and applied as before powerfully takes away the rednesse of the face â„ž cerus litharg auri sulphur is vivi pulverisati an â„¥ ss ponantur in phiala cum aceto aquarosarum linnen cloaths dipped herein shall be applied to the face on the night and it shall bee washed in the morning with the water of the infusion of bran this kinde of medicine shall be continued for a moneth â„ž sanguinis tauri lb i. butyri recentis lb ss fiat distillatio utatur The liquor
which is distilled for the first daies is troubled and stinking but these passed it becommeth cleare and well smelling Some boile bran in vinegar and the water of water lillies and in this decoction they dissolve of sulphur and camphire a fit proportion to the quantity of the decoction and they apply cloaths moistened in this medicine to the face in the evening ℞ album ovor nu ii aquae ros ℥ i ss succi plantag lapath. acut an ℥ i ss sublimati ℈ i. incorporentur in mortario marmoreo ℞ axung porcidecies in aceto lota ℥ iv argenti vivi ℥ i. aluminis sulphuris vivi an ʒ i. pistentur omnia diu in mortario plumbeo fiat unguentum argentum vivum non debet nisi extremo loco affundi ℞ rad lapath acut asphodel an ℥ ii coquantur in aceto scillitico postea tundantur setaceo trajiciantur addendo auripigmenti ʒ ii sulphuris vivi ʒ x. let them be incorporated and make an ointment to be used to dry up the pustles ℞ rad liliorum sub cineribus coctorum ℥ iv pistillo tusis setaceo trajectis adde butyri recentis axung porci lotae in aceto an ℥ i. sulphuris vivi ʒ iii. camphor ℈ iii. succi limonum quantum sufficit malaxentur simul fiat unguentum ℞ lactis virginalis lb ss aluminis ℥ ss sulphuris vivi ℥ i. succi limonum ℥ vi salis com ʒ ss let them all be distilled in a glasse alembicke and the water kept for the forementioned uses ℞ lapath. acut plantagin asphodel an ℥ i ss olei vitel ovor ℥ i. terebinth venet ℥ ss succi limonum ʒ iii. aluminis combust ʒ i. argenti vivi extinct ℥ i. olei liliorum ℥ ss tundantur omnia in mortario plumbeo addendo sub finem argent viv ne mortario adhaerescat The juice of onions beaten with salt or the yelkes of egges are good for the same purpose For staying and killing of Ring-wormes and Tettars the leaves of hellebore beaten with vinegar are good the milke of the fig-tree is good of it selfe as also that of the spurges or mustard dissolved in strong vinegar with a little sulphur Or ℞ sulphuris calcanthi aluminis an ʒ i. macerentur in aceto forti trajiciantur per linteum apply the expressed juice Others macerate an egge in sharpe vinegar with coporose and sulphur vivum beaten into fine powder then they straine or presse it through a linnen cloath But seeing the forementioned medicines are acride and for the most part eating and corroding it cannot bee but that they must make the skinne harsh and rough therefore to smooth and levigate it againe you shall make use of the following ointment ℞ tereb ven tam diu lotae ut acrimoniam nullam habeat butyri salis expertis an ℥ i ss olei vitel ovor ℥ i. axung porci in aqua rosarum lotae ℥ ss cerae parum fiat linimentum ad usum To the same purpose you may also make use of some of the forementioned medicines CHAP. XLVI To blacke the haire AT first the haires to take the fucus or tincture and to retaine it must be prepared with Lye wherein a little roche Alome is dissolved Thus the fatty scales may be washed and taken away which hinder and as it were keep away the fucus that it cannot adhere or penetrate into the body of the haire Then must we come to particular or proper fitting medicines for this purpose These ought to be aromaticke and cephalicke and somewhat stiptick that by their odoriferous and astringent power they may strengthen the animal faculty Furthermore they must be of subtle parts that they may enter even into the inner rootes of the haires ℞ Sulphuris vitrioli gallarum calcis vivae lithargyri an ʒii scoriae ferri ʒss in pollinem reducantur cum aq communi incorporentur ut inde fiat massa with this at bed time let the haires bee rubbed and in the morning let them bee smoothed with the same ℞ calcis lotae ℥ i. lithargyri utriusque ℥ ss cum decocto gallarum corticum nucum fiat massa addendo olei chamem ʒ ii ℞ lytharg auri ℥ ii ciner clavellat ℥ i s8 calcis viv ʒ i. dissolve omnia cum urena hominis donec acquirant consistentiam unguenti pro unctione capillorum ℞ calcis lotae ℥ iv lithargyri utriusque an ℥ ii cum decoct salv cort granat fiat pasta ad formam pultis satis liquidae let the haire at bed time bee died herewith and washed in the morning with wine and water Now the manner of washing lime is thus Infuse in ten or twelve pints of faire water one pound of lime then poure out the water by stooping the vessell putting more in the stead thereof the third time in stead of common water powre thereon the water of the decoction of sage and galls let the lime lye therein for so many houres then in like manner powre it off by stooping the vessell and thus you shall have your lime well washed There is also found a way how to die or black the haire by only powring of some liquor thereon as ℞ argenti purissimi ʒ ii reducantur in cumʒii aquae separationis auri argenti aquae rosar ʒ vi The preparing of this water is thus put into a violl the water of separation and the silver and set it upon hot coales so to dissolve the silver which being done then take it from the fire and when it is cold adde thereto the rose water But if you would black it more deeply adde more silver thereto if lesse then a smaller quantity to use it you must steepe the combe wherewith you combe your head in this water ℞ plumbi usti ℥ ii gallarum non perforat cortic nucum an ℥ iii. terrae sigil ferret hispan an ℥ ii vitriol rom ℥ vi salis gem ℥ i ss caryoph nucis mosch an ℥ i. salis ammon aloes an ʒ ss fiat pulvis subtilissimus let this powder be macerated in vinegar for three daies space then distill it all in an alembick the water that comes therefrom is good for the foresaid use The following medicine is good to make the haires of a flaxen colour ℞ flor genist staechad cardamom an ℥ i. lupinor conquassat rasur buxi corticis citri rad gentian berber an ℥ i ss cum aqua nitri fiat lenta decoctio herewith bathe and moisten the haires for many dayes CHAP. XLVII Of Psilothra or Depilatories and also of Sweet waters MEdicines to fetch off haire which by the Greeks are termed Psilothra and Depilatoria in latine vulgarly are made as you may learn by these following examples ℞ calcis vivae ℥ iii. auripigmenti ℥ i. let the lime bee quencht in faire water and then the orpiment added with some aromaticke thing have a care that the medicine lye not too long upon
the part otherwise it will burne and this medicine must bee made to the consistence of a pultis and applied warme first fomenting the part with warme water for then the haire will fall off by gentle rubbing or washing it with warme water but if there happen any excoriation thereupon you may helpe it by the use of unguentum rosatum or some other of the like faculty ℞ calcis viv aurip citrin an ℥ i. amyl spumae argent an ℥ ss terantur incorporentur cum aq com bulliant simul you shall certainly know that it is sufficiently boiled if putting thereinto a gooses quill the feathers come presently off some make into powder equall parts of unquencht lime and orpiment they tye them up in a cloath with which being steeped in water they besmear the part and within a while after by gently stroaking the head the haire falls away of it selfe The following waters are very fitting for to wash the hands face and whole body as also linnen because they yeeld a gratefull smell the first is lavander water thus to be made ℞ flor lavend. lb iv aq rosar vini alb an lb ii aq vitae ℥ iv misceantur omnia simul fiat distillatio in balneo Mariae this same water may also bee had without distillation if you put some lavander flowers in faire water and so set them to sunne in a glasse or put them in balneo adding a little oile of spike and muske Clove water is thus made ℞ caryoph ℥ ii aq rosar lb ii macerentur spatio xxiv horarum distillentur in balneo Mariae Sweet water commonly so called is made of divers odoriferous things put together as thus ℞ menthae majoranae hyssopi salviae rorismarini lavendulae an m ii radicis ireos ℥ ii caryophylorum cinamomi nncis moschatae ana ℥ ss limonum num iv macerentur omnia in aqua rosarum spatio viginti quatuor horarum distillentur in balneo Mariae addendo Moschi ℈ ss The End of the Twenty sixt Booke OF DISTILLATIONS THE TVVENTIEIGHTH BOOKE CHAP. I. What Distillation is and how many kinds thereof there be HAving finisht the Treatise of the faculties of medicines it now seemes requisite that we speake somewhat of Chymistry and such medicines as are extracted by fire These arc such as consist of a certaine fift essence separated from their earthy inpurity by Distillation in which there is a singular and almost divine efficacy in the cure of diseases So that of so great an aboundance of the medicines there is scarse any which at this day Chymists doe not distill or otherwise make them more strong and effectuall than they were before Now Distillation is a certaine art or way by which the liquor or humid part of things by the vertue and force of fire or some semblable heate as the matter shall seeme to require is extracted and drawne being first resolved into vapour and then condens'd againe by cold Some call this art Sublimation or subliming which signifies nothing else but to separate the pure from the unpure the parts that are more subtle and delicate from those that are more corpulent grosse and excrementitious as also to make those matters whose substance is more grosse to become more pure and sincere eyther for that the terrestriall parts are ill united and conjoyned or otherwise confused into the whole and dispersed by the heate and so carried up the other grosser parts remaining together in the bottome of the vessell Or a distillation is the extraction or effusion of moisture distilling drop by drop from the nose of the Alembecke or any such like vessells Before this effusion or falling downe of the liquor there goes a certaine concoction performed by the vertue of heate which separates the substances of one kind from those of another that were confusedly mixed together in one body and so brings them into one certaine forme or body which may be good and profitable for divers diseases Some things require the heate of a cleare fire others a flame others the heate of the Sunne others of Ashes or sand or the filings of Iron others horse dung or boyling water or the oiely vapour or steame thereof In all these kinds of fires there are foure considerable degrees of heate The first is conteined in the limits of warmth and such is warme water or the vapour of hot water The second is a little hotter but yet so as the hand may abide it without any harme such is the heate of Ashes The third exceeds the vehemency of the second wherefore the hand cannot long endure this without hurt and such is the heate of sand The fourth is so violent that it burneth any thing that commeth neare and such are the filings of Iron The first degree is most convenient to distill such things as are subtle and moist as flowers The second such as are subtle and dry as those things which are odoriferous and aromaticall as Cinnamon Ginger Cloves The third is fittest to distill such things are of a more dense substance and fuller of juice such as are some Roots and gumms The fourth is fit for mettalls and mineralls as Allum Vitrioll Amber Iet c. In like manner you may also distill without heate as wee use to doe in those things which are distilled by straining as when the more pure is drawne and separated from that which is most unpure and earthy as wee doe in Lac Virginale and other things which are strained through an hypocras bag or with a peece of cloath cut in the forme of a tongue or by setling or by a vessell made of Ivy wood sometimes also somethings may bee distilled by coldnesse and humidity and so we make the oile of Tartar Myrrhe and Vitriolls by laying them upon a marble in a cold and moist place CHAP. II. Of the matter and forme of Fornaces THe matter and forme of Fornaces uses to bee divers For some Fornaces use to bee made of brickes and clay othersome of clay onely which are the better and more lasting if so bee the clay bee fat and well tempered with whites of Egges and haire Yet in suddaine occasions when there is present necessity of distillation fornaces may be made of bricks so laid together that the joynts may not agree but be unequall for so the structure will be the stronger The best and fittest forme of a Fornace for distillation is round for so the heate of the fire carried up equally diffuses it selfe every way which happens not in a Fornace of another figure as square or triangular for the corners disperse and separate the force of the fire Their magnitude must bee such as shall bee fit for the receiving of the vessell For their thicknesse so great as necessity shall seeme to require They must be made with two bottomes distinguisht as it were into two forges one below which may receive the ashes of the coales or
the like other fuell the other above to containe the burning coales or fire The bottome of this upper must eyther bee an iron grate or else it must bee perforated with many holes that so the ashes may the more easily fall downe into the bottome which otherwise would extinguish the fire yet some Fornaces have three partitions as the Fornace for reverberation In the first and lowest the ashes are received in the second the coales are put in the third the matter which is calcin'd or else distilled The third ought to have a semicircular cover that so the heate or flame may bee reflected upon the contained matter The lower partition shall have one or more dores by which the fallen downe ashes may bee taken forth But the upper must have but one whereby the coales or wood may be put in But in the top or upper part of the Fornace where it shall seeme most fit there shall be two or three holes made that by them you may blow the fire and that the smoake may more freely passe out But these forementioned dores must have their shutters just like an ovens mouth But in defect of a fornace or fit matter to build one withall wee may use a kettle set upon a trefoote after the manner that wee shall presently declare when wee come to speake of that distillation which is to bee made by Balneum Mariae CHAP. III. Of vessells fit for Distillation VEssells for Distillation consist of different matter and forme for they are eyther of Lead Tinne or Brasse or else earthen vessells and these are sometimes leaded sometimes not or else they are of Gold silver or glasse Now for leaden vessells they are worse than the rest and utterly to be refused especially when as the liquors which are drawne by them are to bee taken into the body by the mouth by reason of the maligne qualities which are said to be in Lead by which occasion Galen condemnes those waters which runne and are contained in Leaden pipes which by reason of their saltishnesse and acrimony which savovrs of quick silver they cause dysenteries Therefore you may perceive such waters as are distilled through a leaden head to bee endued with a more acrid and violent piercing vapour by reason the portion of that saltishnesse dissolved in them as it were shaved from the top of the Alembecke or head defiles the distilled liquors and whitens and turnes them into a milky substance but copper or brasse heads are more hurtfull than Lead for they make the waters that come through them to savour or participate of brasse Those that are of gold and silver are lesse hurtfull but the greatnesse of the cost hinders us from making heads of such mettalls therefore we must have a care that our vessells for distillation be eyther of potters mettall leaded or else of brasse or of that jugge mettall which is commonly called terra belovacensis and these rather than of Lead or any other mettall Verily glasses are thought the best and next to them earthen vessells leaded then of jugge mettall and lastly these of tinne There is great variety of vessells for distillation in forme and figure for some are of an ovall or cilindricall figure that is of a round and longish others are twined and crooked others of other shapes as you may see in the beakes of the Chimicks Of this almost infinite variety of figures I will in fit place give you the delineation and use of such as shall seeme to bee most necessary CHAP. IIII. What things are to be cousidered in distillation FIrst make choyse of a fit place in your house for the fornace so that it may neither hinder any thing nor be in danger of the falling of any thing that shall lye over it When you shall distill any thing of a maligne or venenate quality ye shall stand by it as little as you may least the vapour should doe you any harme when you provide glasse vessells for distillation make choice of such as are exquisitely baked without flawes or crackes and such as are every where smooth Let not the fire at first be very violent not onely for feare of breaking the vessells but also for that the first fire in distillation must be gentle and so increased by little and little The things to be distilled ought not to be put in too great quantity into the body of the still least they should rise up or fly over Hot things that they may be more effectuall must bee twice or thrise distilled by powring upon them their owne distilled water or other fresh materialls or else by distilling them severally and by themselves of this kind are gummes waxe fatts or oyles But in each other repeated distillations you must something lessen the force of the fire for the matter attenuated by the former distillation cannot afterward indure so great heate but aromaticke things as Cloves Cinnamon c. as also the chimicall oyles of Sage Rosemary Time c. ought not to bee distilled or rectified over againe for that we must presently after the first distillation have a diligent care to separate them from the phlegme that is the more watry substance of the whole liquor to whic purpose we must have regard to that which is distilled for there are some things which first send over their phlegme as Vinegar others wherein it comes last as aquavita If you would give to things to bee distilled another taste or smell than that which they have naturally you may mixe with them some odoriferous thing as Cinnamon Camphire or Muske or the like as you please and so distill them together The distilled liquors which are drawne by the heate of ashes or sand savour of and retaine a certaine empyreuma or smatch of the fire for the helping of which you shall put them into glasses very close stopt and so expose them to the sunne and now and then open the glasses that this fiery impression may exhale and the phlegmon be consumed if that there shall be any But though in all distillation three are many things to be observed yet are there two things chiefly worthy of note The first is the matter that is to be distilled and wrought upon that is of what kind it is and what the nature thereof may doe and suffer The other is the Fornace which ought to bee provided of a convenient matter and figure for that which is to be distilled for you cannot draw any thing of any matter neither of every mixture being distilled can you rightly expect oyle or water For mixt bodies doe not consist of an equall portion of the foure Elements but some are more aiery others more fiery some participate more of the water others more of the earth and that presently from their â—…st originall Therefore as watry things yeeld more water so aiery and fiery things yeeld more oyle when they are distilled neither are all instruments fit for the extracting of every
liquor Moreover you must note that the watery liquor sometimes comes forth in the first place and presently after by the helpe of a stronger fire followes the oilely which we finde happens as often as the plant or parts of the plants which are distilled are of a cold temperament for in hot things it happens otherwise for the first liquor which comes forth is oilely and the following waterish CHAP. V. Of what fashion the vessells for the distilling of waters ought to be FOr the distilling of any kind of waters two kind of vessells are necessary which are comprehended under this one generall name of an Alembecke They call one of them the body or containing vessell the other the head that is the cap or top wherein the ascending vapours are condensated or turned into water It is called the head because it stands over the body like as an head from the head there comes out a pipe or nose whereby the distilled liquor flowes drop by drop into the receiver as you may see by the following figure The Fornace for a Bolneum Mariae with the Alembeck and their receivers A. Shewes a brasse kettle full of water B. The cover of the kettle perforated in two places to give passage forth to the Vessells C. A pipe or Chimney added to the kettle wherein the fire is contained to heate the water D. The Alembecke consisting of his body and head E. The receiver whereinto the distilled liquor runs The effigics of another balneum Mariae not so easy to be remooved as the former A. Shewes the vessell or Copper that containes the water B. The Alembecke set in water But least the bottome of the Alembicke being halfe full should floate up and downe in the water and so sticke against the sides of the Kettle I have thought good to shew you the way and meanes to prevent that danger A. Shewes the Vessell or glasse Alembecke B. A plate of Lead whereon it stands C. Strings that bind the Alembecke to the plate D. Kings through which the strings are put to fasten the Alembecke You may also distill the liquors of things by the vapour or steame of boyling water if so be that you bee provided of Vessells and formes made after this following manner A Fornace with his vessells to distill liquors with the steme of boyling water A. Shewes the head of the Alembecke B The body thereof placed in a brasse vessell made for that purpose C. A brasse vessell perforated in many places to receive the vapour of the water This vessell shall conteine th'Alembecke compassed about with sawdust not onely that it may the better and longer retaine the heate of the vapour but also least it should be broken by the hard touch of the brasen vessell D. Shewes the brasse vessell containing the water as it is plac't in the Fornace E. The Fornace containing the vessell F. A Funnell by which you may now and then powre in water in stead of that which is vanisht and dissipated by the heate of the fire G. The Receiver Now for the faculties of distilled waters it is certaine that those which are drawne in balne Mariae or a double vessell are farre better and efficacious because they doe not onely reteine the smell of the things which are distilled but also the taste as acidity harshnesse sweetnesse bitternesse and other qualities so that they will neither savour of smoake nor burning for the milde and gentle heate of a bath containes by his humidity the more subtle parts of the plants that are distilled that they be not dissipated and exhaled contrary to which it usually happens in things which are distilled by the burning heate of wood or coales For these have a certaine nitrous and acrid taste savouring of the smoake of fire Besides they acquire a maligne quality from the vessells out of which they are distilled especially if they bee of Lead whence they contract qualities hurtfull to the principall vitall and naturall parts Therefore the plants which are thus distilled if they be bitter by nature presently become insipid as you may perceive by wormewood water thus distilled Those things which are distill'd in Balneo Mariae are contained in a glasse vessell from which they can borrow no maligne quality Therefore the waters so drawne are more effectuall and pleasing in taste smell and sight You may draw waters not onely from one kind of plant but also from many compounded and mixed together Of these some are alimentary others medicinall yea and purging others acquir'd for smell others for washing or smoothing of womens faces as wee shall shew hereafter CHAP. VI. How the materialls must be prepared before Distillation THings before they be put into the Alembecke must undergoe a preparation that is they must be cut small beaten and macerated that is steeped in some liquor that so they may be the more easily distilled and yeeld the more water and retaine their native smell and faculties yet such preparation is not convenient for all things for there be some things which neede no infusion or maceration but must rather bee dryed before they bee distilled as Sage Time Rosemary and the like by reason of their too much humidity it will be sufficient to sprinkle other things with some liquor onely In this preparation there are two things observable to wit the time of the infusion and condition of the liquor wherein these things ought to bee infused The time of the infusion is different according to the variety of the matter to be macerated for things that are hard solid dry or whole must be longer macerated than such as are tender freshly gathered or beaten whence it is that rootes and seedes require a longer time of infusion flowers and leaves a shorter and the like of other things The liquors wherein infusion must be made ought to bee agreeable to the things infused For hot ingredients require hot liquors and cold such as are cold wherein they may be infused Such things as have not much juice as Betonie wormewood and the like or which are very odoriferous as all aromaticke things would be infused in wine so to preserve their smell which otherwise by the force of the fire by reason of the tenuity of the substance easily vanishes But if wee desire that the distilled liquor should more exactly reteine and have the faculty of the things whereof it is distilled then must you infuse it in the juice thereof or some such appropriate liquor that it may swimme in it whilest it is distilled or at least let it bee sprinckled therewith CHAP. VII Of the art of distilling of waters BEfore I describe the manner how to distill waters I thinke it not amisse briefly to reckon up how many sorts of distilled waters there bee and what the faculties of them are Therefore of distilled waters some are medicinall as the waters of Roses Plantaine Sorrell Sage and the like others are alimentary as those waters that we call
Restauratives othersome are composed of both such as are these restaurative waters which are also mixed with medicinall things others are purging as the distilled water of greene and fresh Rubarbe othersome serve for smoothing the skinne and others for smell of which sort are those that are destilled of aromaticke things To distill Rose water it will be good to macerate the Roses before you distill them for the space of two or three dayes in some formerly distilled Rosewater or their pressed out juice luting the vessell close then put them into an Alembecke closely luted to his head and his receiver and so put into a Balneum Mariae as wee have formerly described The distilled Alimentary liquors are nothing else than those that wee vulgarly call Restauratives this is the manner and art of preparing them Take of Veale Mutton Kid Capon Pullet Cocke Partridge Pheasant as much as shall seeme fit for your purpose cut it small and least it should acquire heate or empyreuma from the fire mixe therewith a handfull of French Barley and of red Rose leaves dry and fresh but first steeped in the juice of Pomegranats or citrons and Rosewater with a little Cinnamon as much But if you desire that this restaurative should not onely bee alimentary but also medicinall you shall adde thereto such things as shall resist the disease such as are Cordiall pouders as of El. Diamargarit frigid De Gemmis Aromaticum Rosat Conserve of Buglosse Borrage roots hearbes seeds and other things of that kind But if it be in a pestiferous season Treacle Mithridate and other Antidotes shall be added each of these shall be laid in rankes or orders one over another which is vulgarly termed stratum super stratum in a glasse Alembeck and distilled in balneo Mariae with the heate of Ashes or else of warme sand as the following figure shewes The delineation of a Balneum Mariae which may also serve for to distill with Ashes A. Shewes the Fornace with the hole to take forth the Ashes B. Shewes another Fornace as it were set in the other now it is of Brasse and runs through the midst of the kettle made also of brasse that so the conteined water or ashes may bee the more easily heated C. The kettle wherein the water ashes or sand are conteined D. The Alembecke set in the water ashes or sand with the mouthes of the receivers E. The bottome of the second brasse Fornace whose top is marked with B. which containes the fire There may be made other restrauratives in shorter time with lesse labour and cost To this purpose the flesh must be beaten and cut thinne and so thrust through with a double thred so that the pieces thereof may touch each other then put them into a Glasse and let the thred hang out so stop up the glasse close with a linnen cloth Cotton or Towe and lute it up with paste made of meale and the whites of egges then set it up to the necke in a kettle of water but so that it touch not the bottome but let it be kept upright by the formerly described meanes then make a gentle fire thereunder untill the contained flesh by long boyling shall bee dissolved into juyce and that will commonly be in some foure houres space This being done let the fire be taken from under the kettle but take not forth the glasse before the water be cold least it being hot should be broken by the suddaine appulse of the cold aire Wherefore when as it is cold let it be opened and the thred with the peeces of flesh be drawne forth so that onely the juyce may be left remaining then straine it through a bagge and aromatize it with Sugar and Cinnamon adding a little juyce of Citron Verjuice or Vinegar as it shall best like the patients palate After this manner you may quickely easily and without great cost have and prepare all sorts of restauratives aswell medicated as simple But the force and faculty of purging medicines is extracted after a cleane contrary manner than the oyles and waters are drawne of Aromaticke things as Sage Rosemary Time Aniseedes Fennell Cloves Cinnamon Nutmegs and the like For the strength of these as that which is subtile and ayery flies upwards in distillation but the strength of purging things as Turbith Agaricke Rubarbe and the like subside in the bottome For the purgative faculty of these purgers inseparably adheres to the bodies and substances Now for sweet waters and such as serve to smooth the skinne of the face they may be distilled in Balneo Mariae like as Rose water CHAP. VIII How to distill Aqua vitae or the spirit of wine TAke of good White or Clarret wine or Sacke which is not sowre nor mustie nor otherwise corrupt or of the Lees that quantity which may serve to fill the vessell wherein you make the distillation to a third part then put on your head furnished with the nose or pipe and so make your distillation in Balneo Mariae The oftner it is distilled or as they tearme it rectified the more noble and effectuall it becomes Therefore some distill it seven times over At the first distillation it may suffice to draw a fourth or third part of the whole to wit of 24. pints of Wine or Lees draw 6. or 8. pints of distilled liquor At the second time the halfe part of that is 3. or 4. pints At the third distillation the halfe part againe that is two pints so that the oftner you distill it over the lesse liquor you have but it will be a great deale the more efficacious I doe well like that the first distillation bee made in Ashes the second in Balneum Mariae To conclude that aqua vitae is to be approoved of neither is it any oftner to be distilled which put into a spoone or saucer and there set on fire burnes wholly away and leaves no liquor or moisture in the bottome of the vessell if you drop a drop of oyle into this same water it incontinently falls to the bottome or if you drop a drop thereof into the palme of your hand it will quickly vanish away which are two other notes of probation of this liquor The faculties and effects of aqua vitae are innumerable it is good against the epilepsie and all cold diseases it asswages the paines of the teeth it is good for punctures and wounds of the Nerves faintings sownings gangreenes and mortification both of its flesh as also put to other medicines for a vehicle There is this difference betweene the distilling of wine and Vinegar wine being of an ayery and vaporous substance that which is the best and most effectuall in it to wit the aiery and fiery liquor comes from it presently at the first distillation Therefore the residue that remaines in the bottome of the vessell is of a cold dry and acrid nature on the contrary the water that comes first from Vinegar being distilled
is insipide and flegmaticke For Vinegar is made by the corruption of wine and the segregation of the fiery and aiery parts wherefore the wine becomming sowre there remaines nothing almost of the former substance but phlegme wherefore seeing phlegme is chiefly predominant in Vinegar it first rises in distillation Wherefore he that hopes to distill the spirit of Vinegar hee must cast away the phlegmaticke substance that first rises and when by his taste he shall perceive the spirit of the Vinegar he shall keepe the fire there under untill the flowing liquor shall become as thicke as honey then must the fire be taken away otherwise the burning of it will cause a great stinch The vessells fit to distill aqua vitae and Vinegar are diverse as an Alembicke or Retort set in sand or Ashes a Coppar or brasse bottome of a still with a head thereto having a pipe comming forth thereof which runs into a worme or pipe fastned in a barrell or vessell filled with cold water and having the lower end comming forth thereof whose figure wee shall give you when as wee come to speake of the drawing of oyles out of vegetables CHAP. IX Of the manner of rectifying that is how to encrease the strength of waters that have beene once distilled TO rectifie the waters that have beene distilled in Balneo Mariae you must set them in the Sunne in glasses well stopped and halfe filled being set in sand to the third part of their height that the water waxing hot by the heate of the Sun may separate it selfe from the phlegme mixed therewith which will be performed in 12. or 15. dayes There is another better way to doe this which is to distill them againe in Balneo with a gentle fire or if you will put them into a retort furnished with his receiver and set them upon crystall or iron bowles or in an iron mortar directly opposite to the beames of the Sun as you may learne by these ensuing signes A Retort with his receiver standing upon Crystall bowles just opposite to the Sunne beames A. Shewes the Retort B. The receiver C. The Crystall bowles Another Retort with his receiver standing in a Marble or Iron mortar directly opposite to the Sun A. Shewes the Retort B. The Marble or Iron mortar C. The receiver CHAP. X. Of distillation by filtring YOu shall set three basons or vessells of convenient matter in that site and order that each may be higher than other that which stands in the highest place shall conteine the liquor to bee distilled and that which stands lowest shall receive the distilled liquor Out of the first and second vessell shall hang shreds or peeces of cloth or cotton with their broader ends in the liquor or upper vessell and the other sharper ends hanging downe whereby the more subtle and defaecate liquor may fall downe by drops into the vessell that stands under it but the grosser and more feculent part may subside in the first and second vessell You by this meanes may at the same time distill the same liquor divers times if you place many vessells one under another after the forementioned manner and so put shreds into each of them so that the lowest vessell may receivethe purified liquor In stead of this distillation Apothecaries oft times use bagges This manner of distillation was invented to make more cleare and pure waters and all juices and compositions which are of such a liquid consistence You may take an example of this from Lac Virginis or Virgins milke of which this is the description â„ž litharg auri diligenter pulveris â„¥ iij. macerentur in aceti boni â„¥ vj. trium horarum spaâ—â—o seorsim etiam in aqua plantaginis solani rosarum aut communi sal infundatur then distill them both by shreads then mixe the distilled liquors and you shall have that which for the milkie whitenesse is termed Virgins milke being good against the rednesse and pimples in the face as we have noted in our Antidotary The description of vessells to performe the distillation or filtration by shreds A Shewes the vessell B The Clothes or shreds CHAP. XI What and how many wayes they are to make Oyles YOu may by three meanes especially draw or extract the oyles that you desire The first is by expression and so are made the oyles of Olives nuts seeds fruits and the like Vnder this is thought to bee conteined elixation when as the beaten materialls are boyled in water that so the oyle may swimme aloft and by this meanes are made the oyles of the seedes of the berries of Elder and Danewort and of bay-berries Another is by infusion as that which is by infusing the parts of plants and other things in oyles The third is by distillation such is that which is drawne by the heate of the fire whether by ascent or by descent or by concourse The first way is knowne by all now it is thus take almonds in their huskes beate them worke them into a masse then put them into a bagge made of haire or else of strong cloth first steeped in water or in white Wine then put them into presse and so extract their oyle You may doe the same in pine apple kernells Hazell nuts Coco nuts nutmegs peach kernells the seeds of gourds cucumbers pisticke nuts and all such oiely things Oyle of bayes may be made of ripe bay-berries newly gathered let them be beaten in a morter and so boiled in a double vessell and then forthwith put into presse so to extract oyle as you doe from Almonds unlesse you had rather get it by boyling as we have formerly noted Oyle of Egges is made of the yoalkes of Egges boiled very hard when they are so rub them to peeces with your fingers then frie them in a panne over a gentle fire continually stirring them with a spoone untill they become red and the oyle be resolved and flow from them then put them into a haire cloth and so presse forth the oile The oyles prepared by infusion are thus made make choise of good oyle wherein let plants or creatures or the parts of them bee macerated for some convenient time that is untill they may seeme to have transfused their faculties into the oyle then let them be boiled so strained or pressed out But if any aquosity remaine let it be evaporated by boyling Some in compounding of oyles adde gums to them of which though we have formerly spoken in our Antidotary yet have I thought good to give you this one example â„ž flor hyper lb ss immittantur in phialam cum flo cent gum elemi an â„¥ ij olei com lb. ij Let them be exposed all the heate of Summer to the Sunne If any will adde aqua vitae wherein some Benzoin is dissolved he shall have a most excellent oyle in this kind Oyle of Masticke is made Ex olei rosati â„¥ xij mastich â„¥ iij. vini optimi
â„¥ viij Let them all bee boiled together to the consumption of the wine then straine the Oyle and reserve it in a vessell CHAP. XII Of extracting Oiles of vegetables by Distillation ALmost all hearbes that carry their flowres and seeds in an umbell have seeeds of a hot subtle and aiery substanc and consequently oyly Now because the oyly substance that is conteined in simple bodyes is of two kindes therefore the manner also of extracting is twofold For some is grosse earthy viscous and wholy confused and mixt with the bodyes out of which they ought to be drawne as that which wee have sayd is usually extracted by expression this because it most tenaciously adheres to the grosser substance and part of the body therefore it cannot by reason of this naturall grossnesse bee lifted up or ascend Othersome are of a slender and aiery substance which is easily severed from their body wherefore being put to distillation it easily rises such is the oyly substance of aromaticke things as of Iuniper Aniseeds Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Pepper Ginger and the like odoriferous and spicy things This is the manner of extracting oyles out of them let your matter be well beaten and infused in water to that proportion that for every pound of the materiall there may bee ten pints of water infuse it in a copper bottome having a head thereto either tinned or silvered over and furnished with a couller filled with cold water Set your vessell upon a furnace having a fire in it or else in sand or ashes When as the water contained in the head shall waxe hot you must draw it forth and put in cold that so the spirits may the better be condensed and may not fly away you shall put a long neckt receiver to the nose of the Alembecke and you shall increase the fire untill the things conteined in the Alembecke boyle There is also another manner of performing this distillation the matter preserved and infused as we have formerly declared shall be put in a brasse or copper bottome covered with his head to which shall be fitted and well luted a worme of Tinne this worme shall runne through a barrell filled with cold water that the liquor which flowes forth with the oyle may be cooled in the passage forth at the lower end of this worme you shall set your receiver The fire gentle at the first shall be encreased by little and little untill the conteined matter as wee formerly sayd do boyle but take heede that you make not too quicke or vehement a fire for so the matter swelling up by boyling may exceede the bounds of the containing vessell and so violently fly over Observing these things you shall presently at the very first see an oiely moisture flowing forth together with the watrish When the oyle hath done owing which you may know by the colour of the distilled liquor as also by the consistence and taste then put out the â—â—re and you may separate the oyle from the water by a little vessell made like a Thimble and tyed to the end of a sticke or which is better with a glasse funnell or instrument made of glasse for the same purpose Here you must also note that there be some oiles that swimme upon the top of the water as oile of aniseedes othersome on the contrary which fall to the bottome as oile of Cinnamon Mace and Cloves Moreover you must note that the watrish moisture or water that is distilled with oile of Aniseede and Cinnamon is whitish and in successe of time will in some small proportion turne into oile Also these waters must bee kept severall for they are farre more excellent than those that are distilled by Balneum Mariae especially those that first come forth together with the oyle Oiles are of the same faculties with the bodies from whence they are extracted but much more effectuall for the force which formerly was diffused in many pounds of this or that medicine is after distillation contracted in a few drams For example the facultie that was dispersed over j. pound of Cloves will be contracted into two ounces of oyle at the most and that which was in a pound of Cinnamon will be drawne into Ê’iss or Ê’ij at the most of oile But to draw the greater quantity with the lesser charge and without feare of breaking the vessells whereto glasses are subject I like that you distill them in copper vessells for you neede not feare that the oyle which is distilled by them will contract an ill quality from the copper for the watrish moisture that flowes forth together therewith will hinder it especially if the copper shall betinned or silvered over I have thought good to describe and set before your eyes the whole manner of this operation A Fornace with set vessells to extract the Chymicall oiles or spirits of Sage Rosemary Time Lavender Aniseeds Fennell seeds Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Pepper Ginger and the like as also to distill the spirit of wine of Vinegar and aqua vitae In stead of the barrell and worme you may use a head with a bucket or rowler about it A. Shewes the bottome which ought to be of Copper and tinned on the inside B. The head C. The Barrell filled with cold water to refrigerate and condensate the water and oyle that run through the pipe or worme that is put through it D. Apipe of brasse or lattin or rather a worme of Tinne running through the Barrell E. The Alembecke set in the fornace with the fire under it Now because we have made mention of Cinnamon Pepper and other spices which grew not here with us I have thought good to describe these out of Thevets Cosmography he having seene them growing Pepper growes on shrubs in India these shrubs send forth little branches whereon hang clusters of berries like to Ivy berries or bunches of small blacke grapes or currance The leaves are like those of the Citron tree but sharpish and pricking The Indians gather those berries with great diligence and stow them up in large cellars as soone as they come to perfect maturity Wherefore it oft times happens that there are more than 200. shippes upon the coast of the lesser Iava an Island of that country to carry thence Pepper and other spices Pepper is used in Antidotes against poysons it provokes urine digests attracts resolves and cures the bites of Serpents It is properly applyed and taken inwardly against a cold stomacke in sauces it helpes concotion and procures appetite you must make choyse of such as is blacke heavie and not flaccide The trees which beare white and those that beare blacke pepper are so like each other that the natives themselves know not which is which unlesse when they have their fruite hanging upon them as the like happens upon our Vines which beare white and blacke grapes The tree that yeelds Cinnamon growes in the mountaines of India and hath leaves very like to bay leaves
the ground and sayd then Now is the Rat taken I dressed him and God healed him We entred the throng in the Citty and passed over the dead bodyes and some which were not yet dead we heard them cry under our horses feete which made my heart relent to heare them And truely I repented to have forsaken Paris to see so pittifull a spectacle Being in the Citty I entred into a stable thinking to lodge my owne and my mans horse where I found foure dead souldiers and three which were leaning against the wall their faces wholly disfigured and neither saw nor heard nor spoake and their cloathes did yet flame with the gunpowder which had burnt them Beholding them with pitty there happened to come an old souldier who asked me if there were any possible meanes to cure them I told him no he presently approached to them and gently cut their throates without choler Seeing this great cruelty I told him he was a wicked man he answered me that he prayed to God that whensoever he should be in such a case that he might finde some one that would doe as much to him to the end he might not miserably languish And to returne to our former discourse the enemie was soÌ„moned to render which they soon did went out their lives onely saved with a white staffe in their hands the greatest part whereof went and got to the Castle of Villane where there was about 200. Spaniards Monsieur the Constable would not leave them behind to the end that the way might be made free This Castle is seated upon a little mountaine which gave great assurance to them within that one could not plant the Ordinance to beate upon it and were sommoned to render or that they should be cut in peeces which they flatly refused making answere that they were as good and faithfull servants to the Emperor as Monsieur the Constable could bee to the King his master Their answere heard they made by force of arme two great Cannons to be mounted in the night with cords and ropes by the Swissers and Lansquenets when as the ill lucke would have it the two Cannons being seated a Gunner by great negligence set on fire a great bagge of Gunpowder wherewith he was burned together with toâ— or twelve souldiers and moreover the flame of the powder was a cause of discovering the Artillery which made them that all night they of the Castle did nothing but shoote at that place where they discovered the two peeces of Ordinance wherewith they kild and hurt a great number of our people The next day early in the morning a Battery was made which in a few houres made a breach which being made they demanded to parly with us but t was too late for them For in the meane time our French foote seeing them amazed mounted to the breach and cut them all in peeces except a faire young lusty mayd of Piedmount which a great Lord would have kept and preserved for him to keepe him company in the night for feare of the greedy wolfe The Captaine and Ensigne were taken alive but soone after were hanged upon the gate of the Citty to the end they might give example and feare to the Imperiall souldiers not to bee so rash and foolish to be willing to hold such places against so great a Army Now all the sayd souldiers of the Castle seeing our people comming with a most violent fury did all their endeavour to defend themselves they kild and hurt a great company of our souldiers with Pikes Muskets and stones where the Chirurgions had good store of worke cut out Now at that time I was a fresh water Souldier I had not yet seene wouuds made by gun-shot at the first dressing It is true I had read in Iohn de Vigo in the first booke of wounds in generall the eighth chapter that wounds made by weapons of fire did participate of Venenosity by reason of the pouder and for their cure commands to cauterize them with oyle of Elders scalding hot in which should be mingled a little Treackle and not to faile before I would apply of the sayd oyle knowing that such a thing might bring to the Patient great paine I was willing to know first before I applyed it how the other Chirurgions did for the first dressing which was to apply the sayd oyle the hottest that was possible into the wounds with tents and setons insomuch that I tooke courage to doe as they did At last I wanted oyle and was constrained in steed thereof to apply a disgestive of yolkes of egges oyle of Roses and Turpentine In the night I could not sleepe in quiet fearing some default in not cauterizing that I should finde those to whom I had not used the burning oyle dead impoysoned which made me rise very early to visit them where beyond my expectation I found those to whom I had applyed my digestive medicine to feele little paine and their wounds without inflammation or tumor having rested reasonable well in the night the other to whom was used the sayd burning oyle I found them feverish with great paine and tumour about the edges of their wounds And then I resolved with my selfe never so cruelly to burne poore men wounded with gunshot Being at Thurin I found a Chirurgion who had the â—ame above all others for the curing of wounds of Gunshot into whose favour I found meanes to insinuate my selfe to have the receipt of his balme as he called it wherewith he dressed wounds of that kind and hee held me off the space of two yeeres before I could possible draw the receipt from him In the end by gifts and presents he gave it me which was this to boyle young whelpes new pupped in oyle of Lillies prepared earth wormes with Turpentine of Venice Then was I joyfull and my heart made glad that I had understood his remedy which was like to that which I had obtained by great chance See then how I have learned to dresse wounds made with gunshot not by bookes My Lord Marshall of Montian remained Lievtenant generall for the King in Piedmont having ten or twelve thousand men in garrison through the Cittyes and Castles who often combated with swords and other weapons as also with muskets and if there were foure hurt I had alwayes three of them and if there were question of cutting off an arme or a legge or to â—repan or to reduce a fracture or dislocation I brought it well to passe The sayd Lord Marshall sent me one while this way another while that way for to dresse the appointed Souldiers which were beaten aswell in other Citties as that of Thurin insomuch that I was alwayes in the Countrey one way or other Monsieur the Marshall sent for a Physition to Milan who had no lesse reputation in the medicinall Art than the deceased Monsieur le Grand to take him in hand for an hepaticall flux whereof at last he dyed This
way that we had put many of them in a great Tower layd upon a little straw and their pillowes were stones their coverlets were their cloakes of those that had any Whilst the battery was making as many shot as the Cannons made the patients sayd they felt paine in their woundes as if one had given them blowes with a staffe the one cry'd his head the other his arme and so of other parts divers of their wounds bled afresh yea in greater quantity than first when they were wounded and then it was I must runne to stay their bleeding My little master if you had beene there you had beene much troubled with your hot irons you had neede to have had much charcoale to make them red hot and belee ve they would have slaine you like a Calfe for this cruelty Now through this diabolicall tempest of the Eccho from these thundring Instruments and by the great and vehement agitation of the collision of the ayre resounding and reverberating in the wounds of the hurt people divers dyed and others because they could not rest by reason of the groanes and cryes that they made night and day and also for want of good nourishment and other good usage necessary to wounded people Now my little master if you had beene there you would hardly have given them gelly restauratives cullises pressures panado cleansed barly white meate almond milke Prunes Raisons and other proper meates for sicke people your ordinance would onely have beene accomplisht in paper but in effect they could have had nothing but old Cow beefe which was taken about Hedin for our munition salted and halfe boyled insomuch that who would have eate it he must pull it with the force of his teeth as birds of Prey doe carrion I will not forget their linnen wherewith they were drest which was onely rewashed every day and dryed at the fire and therefore dry stubborne like Parchment I leave you to thinke how their wounds could heale well There was â—oure lusty whores to whom charg was given to wash their linnen who discharged their duty under penalty of the batoone and also they wanted both soape and water See then how the sicke people dyed for want of nourishments and other necessary things One day our enemies fained to give us a generall assault to draw our Souldiers upon the breach to the end to know our countenance and behaviour every one ranne thither we had made great provision of artificiall fire to defend the breach a Priest belonging to Monsieur du Boüillon tooke a granado thinking to throw it on the enemies and set it on fire sooner then he ought to have done it brake asunder and the fire fell amongst our fire workes which were put into a house neere the breach which was to us a mervelous disastre because it burned diverse poore souldiers it also tooke hold on the house it selfe and we had beene all burned had not great helpe beene used for to quench it there was but one Well there wherein was water in our Castle which was almost quite dryed up and in steede of water we tooke beere and quenched it then afterwards we had great scarcity of water and to drinke the rest that remained which we must straine through napkins Now the enemy seeing this smoake and tempest of the fire workes which cast a very great flame and clashing noyse beleeved wee had put the fire on purpose for the defence of our breach to burne them and that wee had great store of others That made them to be of another opinion than to taken us by assault they did undermine and digge into the greatest part of our walls so that it was the way to overthrow wholly the Castle topsie turvie and when the mines were finisht and that their Artillery shot the whole Castle did shake under us like an earthquake which did much astonish us Moreover he had levelled five peeces of Artillery which they had seated upon a little hill to play upon our backes when wee should goe to defend the breach The Duke Horace had a Cannon shot upon one shoulder which caried away his arme on one side and the body on the other without being able to speake one onely word His death was to us a great disasture for the ranke which hee held in this place Likewise Monsieur de Martigues had a stroake with a Bullet which peire't through his Lungs I drest him as I will declare hereafter Then we demanded Parle and a Trumpet was sent toward the Prince of Piedmont to know what composition it pleased him to make us His answer was that all the chiefe as Gentlemen Captaines Lievtenants and Ensignes should be taken for ransome and the Souldiers should goe out without Armes and if they refused this faire and honest proffer the next day we ought to be assured they would have us by assault or otherwise Counsell was held where I was called to know if I would signe as divers Captaines Gentlemen and others that the place should bee rendred up I made answer it was not possible to be held and that I would signe it with my proper blood for the little hope that I had that wee could resist the enemies force and also for the great desire which I had to be out of this torment and hell for I slept not eyther night or day by reason of the great number of hurt people which were about two hundred The dead bodies yeelded a great putrifaction being heaped one upon the other like Fagots and not being covered with earth because we had it not and when I entred into one lodging Souldiers attended me at the dore to goe dresse others at another when I went forth there was striving who should have me and they carried me like a holy body not touching the ground with my foote in spight one of another nor could I satisfie so great a number of hurt people Moreover I had not what was necessary to dresse them withall for it is not sufficient that the Chirurgion doe his duty towards the patients but the patient must also doe his and the assistance and all exterior things witnesse Hippocrates in his first Aphorisme Now having understood the resolution of the yeelding up of our place I knew our affaires went not well and for feare of being knowne I gave a veluet Coate a Satin doublet a very fine cloth cloak lin'd with velvet to a Souldier who gave me a scurvy old torne doublet cut and flasht with using and a leather jerkin well examined and an ill favoured hat and a little cloake I smutcht the collar of my shirt with water in which I had mingled a little soote likewise I wore out my stockings with a stone at the knees and the heeles as if they had beene worne a long time and I did as much to my shooes in so much that they would rather take me for a Chimney sweeper than a Kings Chirurgion I went in this equipage towards Monsieur de
In what cases good What the plague is Sect. 3. aphor How it comes to kill The originall Bubo's Carbuncles c. in the plague Amos 3. Acts 17 The second causes have their power from God as the first cause The generall causes of the plague Lib. 6 de loc affectis How the seasons of the yeere may be said to want their seasonablenesse How the aire may be corrupted Lib. 8. hist aâ—iâ— Pestiferous putrefaction is â—ar different from ordinary putrefaction In a pestilent constitution of the aire all diseases become pestilent Lib. 1. de differ feb How the aire may be said to putrefie A Southerly constitution of the aire is the fuell of the Plague Three causes of the putrefâ—ction of humours Passions of the mind helpe forward the putrefaction of the humours Why Abortionâ— are frequent in a pestilent season A Catarrhe with difficulty of breathing killing many The english sweating sicknesse The Plague is not the definite name of one disease What signes in the earth forâ—tell a Plague How pestilent vapours may kill plants and trees Change of places the surest prevention of the Plague Two things of chiefe account for prevention Diet for prevention of the Plague Discommodities of a cloudy or toggy aire Why the South wind is pestilent The efficacy of fire against the Plague Moderate repleâ—ion good for prevention A strange art to drive away the Plague The antipathy of poysons with poysons Whether in the plague time one must travell by night or by day Why the Moon is to be shunned Garlick good against the Plague What water to be made choice oâ— in the Plague time Aqua theriacalis good against the Plague both inwardly taken outwardly applyed The composition thereof A Cordiall water A Cordiall clectuary Anâ—… Another Another A consection to be taken in the morning against the pestilent Aire A March-pane Pils of Ruffus Other pils Other pils Of what nâ—…e the medicines outwardly used ought to be Pomanders Sweet poudeâ—… Bagges Unsavory things to bee eschewed An unguent Why venery is to be shunned Running ulcers good in time of pestilence Places to be shunned in time of plague What company to be avoided You must doe nothing in a pestilent season whereby you may grow too hot Why dogs and cats must be killed in a plague time Why Bathes and hot-houses are not then to be allowed Such as dye of the plague doe quickly putrefiâ— Lib. 2. de occult â—at mirac The villany of some baâ—e people Our lots are in the hands of the Lord. Where to make issues in the time of the Plague Cap 8. Epist 2. What to weare How to visite your patients A history Whence certain signes of the Plague may be taken The cause of such as have the Plague suddenly changed Why some that â—e taken with the plague are â—eepy Why their urine are like those that are â—â—und An ulcerous painefull wearinesse from the beginning sheweth the Plague to be deadly Why they have no sores Sâ—gnes of choler When the urine is to be looked upon Why some are much troubled with thirst others not at all No certain prediction in tâ—… Plaâ—… A history Why young men sooner take the Plague than old What Plague most contagious Who least subject to take the Plague Who subject thereto Signes that the disease is incurable A good signe A deadly signe In whâ—t aire most contagious What effects feare and confidence produce in the Plague The originall of the Plague alwaies from the Aire Signes that natuee is oâ—â—come Change of the Aire â—onduâ—â—â—h to the cure of the Plague Aire penâ— up is apt to putreâ—… The materials for sweet fires Lib 16. cap 13. Perfumes Sweet candles A sweet water to smell to A Nodula to smell to Why such as have the plague may feed more fully Pulse must be shunned The manner of diet For the second course In the end of the meale A restaurative drinke An Oxymel A Julep The commodities of oxycrate To whom hurtfull The drinking of cold water to whom when profitable Lib. 3. cap. 7. For drynesse or roughnesse of the mouth For the Ulcers thereof The choice of waters Hip. sect 5. aphor 26. The beginning of the cuâ—… must be by antidotes In what quantity they must be taken Why poisonous things are put into Antidotes Some poysons Antidotes to othersome How to walke after the taking of an Antidote A sudoâ—ifick potion A sudorifick powder A distilled water against the Plague Another What meane to be used in sweating Whereof they must be made Repercussives not fit to be applyed to Carbuncles Reasons for and against bloud-letting in the Plague The composing of this controversie A history When purging and bleeding may be used Aph. 22 sect 2. Aph. 10. sect 4. Cap. 7. lib 3. Why bloud must 〈◊〉 let on th â—…me in the Plague What purges fit in thel lague Pils An effectuall sudorifick and also purging medicine The vertues of Mugwort Vide Rondelet Lib. 7. de pâ—s c. 3. 〈◊〉 Potion The effects of mercury copperose against the Plague The cause of phrensie in the Plague The benefit of opening an artery Aph. 10. sect 6. A history To stay bleeding Medicines to â—â—ocuresleep A Cataplasme An ointment for the reines An ointment for the heart The noise of dropping water drawes on sleep The differences of the spots in the plague Their severall names and the reasons of them When signes of death Why they somtimes appeare after the death of the patient They are to be cured by driving â—orth The indication of curing taken 〈◊〉 the like An ointment to draw them forth when as they appear too slowly In proâ—… 〈◊〉 Diâ—sâ— What a pesâ—â—lent Bubo is The signe of Bubo's salutary and deadly The use of cupping glasses in curing a Bubo A liniment A compound 〈◊〉 Why vesicatories are better than cauâ—… in a pestilent 〈◊〉 Strong drawing 〈◊〉 Against such as cut away plague 〈◊〉 A digestive fomentation An anodine Cataplasme Why it is best to open a Plague-sore with a potentiall cautery How to draw forth a sore that seems to goe in againe When repercussives may be applyed Why too much bleeding is to be feared Lâ—â—iments to hasten the falling way of the Eschar Against â—ating ulcers The praise of Aegyptiacum What a Carbuncle is The signes of a Carbuncle When so called Symptomes of Carbuncles How the matter of a Bubo Carbuncle differ Why it is deadly to have a sore come after the Feaver Huge postilent Abscesses commonly deadly Deadly Carbuncles A history How to distinguish purple spots from flea-bitings Why Emplastick very hot and great drawers are not good for a carbuncle A Cataplasme for a pestilent Carbuncle Another Other Cataplasmes The effect of Scabious against a pestilen Carbuncle A Radish root drawes out the venome powerfully The top of a Carbuncle when why and with what to be â—urneâ— The falling of the Eschar promiâ—eth health A twofold indication Why the adjacent parts are troubled with 〈◊〉 A fomentation for this
take heed of the over light chiefely untill such time as the most feared and maligne symptomes are past For a too great light dissipates the spirits encreases paine strengthens the feaver and symptomes Hippocrates wholy forbids wine therefore the patient in steed thereof must drinke Barly water faire water boyled and tempered with Iulep of Roses syrupe of Violets vinegar and the like water wherein bread crummes have beene steeped water and sugar with a little juyce of Lemons or pomecitron added thereto and such like as the abilitye and taste of the patient shall require Let him continue such drinkes until he be free from maligne symptomes which usually happen within foureteene dayes His meat shall be pappe ptisan shunning Almond milkes for Almonds are sayd to fill the head with vapours and cause paine stued damaske Prunes Raisons and Currance seasoned with sugar and a little cinamon which hath a wonderful power to comfort the stomack and revive and exhilarate the spirits Chickens Pidgeons Veale Kid Leverets birds of the fields Pheasons blacke-birds Turtles Partridges Thrushes Larkes and such like meates of good digestion boiled with lettuce purslaine sorrell borage buglosse succory endive and the like are thought very convenient in this case If he desire at any time to feed on these meates roasted he may only dipping them in verjuice in the acide juices of Oranges Citrons Lemons or Pomegranets sometimes in one and sometimes in another according to his taste and ability If any have a desire to eate fish he must make choyce of Troutes Gudgions Pikes and the like which live in running and cleare waters and not in muddy hee shall eschew all cold sallets and pulse because they flye up and trouble the head it will be convenient after meate to use common drige powder or Aniseed Fennell-seed or Coriander comfits also conserve of Roses or Marmilate of Quinces to shut up the orifice of the Ventricle lest the head should bee offended with vapoures arising from thence Children must eate often but sparingly for children cannot fast so long as those which are elder because their naturall heate is more strong wherefore they stand in neede of more nourishment so also in winter all sorts of people require more plentifull nourishment for that then their stomackes are more hot than in Summer When the foureteenth day is past if neither a feaver nor any thing else forbid hee may drinke wine moderately and by little and little encrease his dyet but that respectively to each ones nature strength and custome He shall shunne as much as in him lyes sleepe on the day time unlesse it happen that a Phlegmon seaze upon the braine or Meninges For in this case it will bee expedient to sleepe on the day time especially from morning till noone for in this season of the day as also in the spring blood is predominant in the body according to the opinion of Hippocrates For it is so vulgarly knowne that it need not be spoken that the blood when wee are awake is carryed into the habite and surface of the body but on the contrary by sleepe it is called into the noble parts the Heart and Liver Wherefore if that the blood by the force of the Sunne casting his beames upon the earth at his rising is carryed into the habite of the body should againe bee more and more diffused by the strength and motion of watching the inflammation in the braine and Meninges would be much encreased Wherefore it will bee better especially then to stay by sleepe the violence of the blood running into the habite of the body when it shall seeme to rage and more violently to affect that way Watching must in like manner be moderate for too much depraves the temper of the braine and of the habit of the whole body it causes crudities paines and heavinesse of the head and makes the wounds dry and maligne But if the patient cannot sleepe by reason of the vehemencie of the inflammation of the braine and Meninges Galen wishes to wash besmeare and annoint the head nose temples and eares with refrigerating and humecting things for these stupifie and make drowsie the Braine and membranes thereof being more hot than they ought to be Wherefore for this purpose let the temples bee anointed with Vnguentum populeon or Vnguentum Rosatum with a little rose vinegar or oxycrate Let a spunge moistened in the decoction of white or blacke poppie seed of the rinds of the rootes of Mandrages of the seedes of Henbane lettuce purslaine plantaine night-shade and the like He may also have a broath or barly creame into which you may put an emulsion made of the seedes of white poppye or let him have a potion made with â„¥ j. or â„¥ iss of the syrupe of poppie with â„¥ ij of lettuce water Let the patient use these things 4 houres after meate to procure sleepe For sleepe doth much helpe concoction it repaires the effluxe of the triple substance caused by watching aswageth paine refresheth the weary mitigates anger and sorrow restores the depraved reason so that for these respects it is absolutely necessary that the patient take his naturall rest If the patient shall bee plethoricke let the plenitude be lessened by blood-letting purging and a slender diet according to the discretion of the Phisition who shall oversee the cure But we must take heed of strong purgations in these kindes of wounds especially at the beginning lest the feaver inflammation paine and other such like symptomes be increased by stirring up the humors Phlebotomie according to Galens opinion must not onely be made respectively to the plenty of blood but also agreeable to the greatnesse of the present disease or that which is to come to divert and draw backe that humor which flowes downe by a way contrary to that which is impact in the part and which must be there evacuated or drawne to the next Wherefore for example if the right side of the head be wounded the Cephalicke veine of the right arme shall be opened unlesse a great Plethora or plenitude cause us to open the Basilica or Median yet if neither of them can be fitly opened the Basilica may bee opened although the body is not plethoricke The like course must be observed in wounds of the left side of the head for that is farre better by reason of the straightnesse of the fibers than to draw blood on the opposite side in performance whereof you must have diligent care of the strength of the patient still feeling his pulse unlesse a Physition be present to whose judgement you must then commit all that businesse For the pulse is in Galens opinion the certainest shewer of the strength Wherefore we must consider the changes and inequalities thereof for as soone as we finde it to become lesser and more slow when the fore-head beginnes to sweate a little when he feeles a paine at his heart when he is taken
that it sucketh will be worse and more depraved than otherwise it would bee by reason that the more laudable bloud after the conception remaineth about the wombe for the nutriment and increasing of the infant in the wombe and the more impure bloud goeth into the dugges which breedeth impure or uncleane milke but to the conceived childe because it will cause it to have scarcity of foode for so much as the sucking childe sucketh so much the child conceived in the wombe wanteth Also shee ought to have a broad breast and her dugges indifferently bigge not slacke or hanging but of a middle consistence betweene soft and hard for such dugges will concoct the bloud into milke the better because that in firme flesh the heate is more strong and compact You may by touching try whether the flesh bee solid and firme as also by the dispersing of the veines easily to bee seene by reason of their swelling and blewnesse through the dugges as it were into many streams or little rivelers for in flesh that is loose and slacke they lie hidden Those dugges that are of a competent bignesse receive or containe no more milke than is sufficient to nourish the infant In those dugges that are great and hard the milke is as it were suffocated stopped or bound in so that the childe in sucking can scarce draw it out and moreover if the dugges bee hard the childe putting his mouth to the breast may strike his nose against it and so hurt it whereby hee may either refuse to sucke or if hee doth proceede to sucke by continuall sucking and placing of his nose on the hard breast it may become flat and the nostrils turned upwards to his great deformity when hee shall come to age If the teates or nipples of the dugges doe stand somewhat low or depressed inwards on the toppes of the dugges the childe can hardly take them betweene its lippes therefore his sucking will bee very laborious If the nipples or teats bee very bigge they will so fill all his mouth that he cannot well use his tongue in sucking or in swallowing the milke Wee may judge of or know the nature and condition of the milke by the quantity quality colour savour and taste when the quantity of the milke is so little that it will not suffice to nourish the infant it cannot bee good and laudable for it argueth some distemperature either of the whole body or at least of the dugges especially a hot and dry distemperature But when it super-aboundeth and is more than the infant can spend it exhausteth the juice of the nurses body and when it cannot all bee drawne out by the infant it cluttereth and congealeth or corrupteth in the dugges Yet I would rather wish it to abound than to bee defective for the super-abounding quantity may bee pressed out before the child be set to the breast That milke that is of a meane consistence betweene thicke and thinne is esteemed to bee the best For it betokeneth the strength and vigour of the faculty that ingendereth it in the breasts Therefore if one droppe of the milke bee layd on the naile of ones thumbe being first made very cleane and faire if the thumbe bee not moved and it runne off the naile it signifieth that it is watery milke but if it sticke to the naile although the end of the thumbe bee bowed downewards it sheweth that it is too grosse and thicke but if it remaine on the naile so long as you hold it upright and fall from it when you hold it a little aside or downewards by little and little it sheweth it is very good milke And that which is exquisitely white is best of all For the milke is no other thing than bloud made white Therefore if it bee of any other colour it argueth a default in the bloud so that if it bee browne it betokeneth melancholy bloud if it be yellow it signifieth cholericke bloud if it bee wanne and pale it betokeneth phlegmaticke bloud if it bee somewhat hat red it argueth the weakenesse of the faculty that engendreth the milke It ought to be sweet fragrant and pleasant in smell for if it strike into the nostrills with a certaine sharpenesse as for the most part the milke of women that have red haire and little freckles on their faces doth it prognosticates a hot and cholerick nature if with a certaine sowernesse it portendeth a cold and melancholy nature In taste it ought to be sweet and as it were sugred for the bitter saltish sharp and stipticke is naught And here I cannot but admire the providence of nature which hath caused the blood wherewith the childe should be nourished to be turned into milke which unlesse it were so who is he that would not turne his face from and abhorre so grievous and terrible a spectacle of the childes mouth so imbrued and besmeared with blood What mother or nurse would not be astonished or amazed at every moment with the feare of the blood so often shedde out or sucked by the infant for his nourishment Moreover we should want two helps of sustentation that is to say butter and cheese Neither ought the childe to bee permitted to sucke within five or sixe dayes after it is borne both for the reason before alledged and also because he hath need of so much time to rest quiet and ease himselfe after the paines hee hath sustained in his birth in the meane season the mother must have her breasts drawne by some maide that drinketh no wine or else she may sucke or draw them her selfe with an artificiall instrument which I will describe hereafter That nurse that hath borne a man childe is to be preferred before another because her milke is the better concocted the heate of the male childe doubling the mothers heate And moreover the women that are great with childe of a male childe are better coloured and in better strength and better able to doe any thing all the time of their greatnesse which proveth the same and moreover the blood is more laudable and the milke better Furthermore it behoveth the Nurse to bee brought on bed or to travell at her just and prefixed or naturall time for when the childe is born before his time of some inward cause it argueth that there is some default lurking and hidden in the body and humours thereof CHAP. XXII What diet the Nurse ought to use and in what situation shee ought to place the infant in the cradle BOth in eating drinking sleeping watching exercising and resting the nurses diet must be divers according as the nature of the childe both in habit and temperature shall be as for example if the childe bee altogether of a more hot blood the nurse both in feeding and ordering her selfe ought to follow a cooling diet In generall let her eat meates of good juice moderate in quantity and quality let her live in a pure and cleere aire let her abstaine from
all spices and all salted and spiced meats and all sharpe things wine especially that which is not allayed or mixed with water and carnall copulation with a man let her avoyd all perturbations of the minde but anger especially let her use moderate exercise unlesse it be the exercise of her armes and upper parts rather than the legges and lower parts whereby the greater attraction of the blood that must be turned into milke may bee made towards the dugges Let her place her childe so in the cradle that his head may be higher than all the body that so the excrementall humours may bee the better sent from the braine unto the passages that are beneath it Let her swathe it so as the neck and all the back-bone may be straight and equall As long as the childe sucketh and is not fed with stronger meat it is better to lay him alway on his backe than any other way for the backe is as it were the Keele in a ship the ground-worke and foundation of all the whole body whereon the infant may safely and easily rest But if hee lye on the side it were danger lest that the bones of the ribs being soft and tender not strong enough and united with slacke bands should bow under the waight of the rest and so waxe crooked whereby the infant might become crooke-backed But when he beginneth to breed teeth and to bee fed with more strong meat and also the bones and connexions of them begin to waxe more firme and hard hee must bee layed one while on this side another while on that and now and then also on his backe And the more hee groweth the more let him be accustomed to lye on his sides and as hee lieth in the cradle let him bee turned unto that place whereat the light commeth in lest that otherwise he might become poore-blind for the eye of its owne nature is bright and light-some and therefore alwaies desireth the light and abhorreth darkenesse for all things are most delighted with their like and shunne their contraries Therefore unlesse the light come directly into the childes face he turneth himselfe every way being very sorrowfull and striveth to turne his head and eyes that hee may have the light and that often turning and rowling of his eyes at length groweth into a custome that cannot bee left and so it commeth to passe that the infant doth either become poore-blind if hee set his eyes stedfastly on one thing or else his eyes doe become trembling alwaies turning and unstable if hee cast his eyes on many things that are round about him which is the reason that nurses being taught by experience cause over the head of the childe lying in the cradle an arch or vault of wickers covered with cloath to be made thereby to restraine direct and establish the uncertaine and wandering motions of the childes eyes If the nurse be squint-eyed she cannot look upon the childe but side-waies whereof it commeth to passe that the childe being moist tender flexible and prone to any thing with his body and so likewise with his eye by a long and daily custome unto his nurses sight doth soone take the like custome to looke after that sort also which afterwards he cannot leave or alter For those evill things that we learn in our youth do stick firmly by us but the good qualities are easily changed into worse In the eies of those that are squint-eyed those two muscles which do draw the eyes to the greater or lesser corner are chiefly or more frequently moved Therefore either of these being confirmed in their turning aside by long use as the exercise of their proper office encreaseth the strength soone overcomes the contrary or withstanding muscles called the Antagonists and brings them into their subjection so that will they nill they they bring the eye unto this or that corner as they list So children become left-handed when they permit their right hand to languish with idlenesse and sluggishnesse and strengthen their left hand with continuall use and motion to do every action therewithall and so bring by the exercise thereof more nutriment unto that part But if men as some affirme being of ripe yeers and in their full growth by daily society and company of those that are lame and halt doe also halt not minding so to doe but it commeth against their wills and when they thinke nothing thereof why should not the like happen in children whose soft and tender substance is as flexible and pliant as waxe unto every impression Moreover children as they become lame and crook-backt so doe they also become squint-eyed by the hereditary default of their parents CHAP. XXIII How to make pappe for children PAppe is a most meet foode or meat for children because they require moist nourishment and it must bee answerable in thickenesse to the milke that so it may not be difficult to be concocted or digested For pap hath these three conditions so that it be made with wheaten flower and that not crude but boiled let it be put into a new earthen pot or pipkin and so set into an oven at the time when bread is set thereinto to bee baked and let it remaine there untill the bread bee baked and drawne out for when it is so baked it is lesse clammy and crude Those that mixe the meale crude with the milke are constrained to abide one of these discommodities or other either to give the meale grosse clammy unto the child if that the pap be onely first boiled over the fire in a pipkin or skillet so long as shall bee necessary for the milke hence come obstructions in the mesaraike veines and in the small veines of the liver fretting and wormes in the guts and the stone in the reines Or else they give the child the milk despoiled of its butterish and whayish portion and the terrestriall and cheeselike or curdlike remaining if the pap be boiled so long as is necessary for the meale for the milke requireth not so great neither can it suffer so long boyling as the meale Those that doe use crude meale and have no hurt by it are greatly bound to nature for so great a benefit But Galen willeth children to bee nourished onely with the nurses milke so long as the nurse hath enough to nourish and feed it And truely there are many children that are contented with milke only and will receive no pappe untill they are three moneths old If the child at any time bee costive and cannot voide the excrements let him have a cataplasme made with one dramme of Aloes of white and blacke Hellebore of each fifteene graines being all incorporated in as much of an oxe gall as is sufficient and extended or spread on cotton like unto a pultis as broad as the palme of ones hand and so apply it upon the navell warme moreover this cataplasme hath also vertue to kill the wormes in the belly Many