and leave no humidity in the Vessel it is distilled enough When this matter is thus digested and rectified put it in a Pellican or a Vessel called the Vessel of Hermes luted and cemented with strong lute so that the strength of the matter cannot evaporate but by the frequent ascention and descention of the matter in the Vessel it is converted into a pure Quintessence and becomes from a corruptible matter in a manner incorruptible And when it hath many times been sublimed after that manner in the said distillatory then open the mouth of the Pellican and there will ascend out a most precious and fragrant Odour by which you may know whether there be any of the four Elements remaining in the matter which ought to be converted into the Quintessence For if it be brought to a perfect Quintessence there will arise out of the Circulatory a most fragrant and precious Odour even of a celestial fragrancy and sweetness And if this fume enter into any secret place of the house it will fill the whole house with an admirable and most incredible savour being of such heavenly sweetness and fragrancy and if it be set on the top of any tower Omnes Aves ad se attrahet quae circa sunt in Viciniis But if when it is opened it give not such a scent then close again the mouth of the Pellican and lute it well and set it again to distil as before until by that effect a perfect Quintessence appears or as Raimund Lully Lib. 1. Cap. 2. a vegetable Mercury which you may alwayes know by its odour And it hath not onely an excellent odour and taste but is also incorruptible as to other Medicines and doth not burn in the mouth as Aqua vitae neither hath it any humidity or earthly substance for all the terrestrial and elementary matter remains in the bottom And as the Heaven it self is composed of matter and form so also is the Quintessence Nevertheless it is not altogether free from corruption for if it were perfectly incorruptible it would make our bodies perpetual and eternal which the Creator hath not permitted to the Creatures since he hath measured out the term of our life as saith the Psalmographer therefore when any matter is converted into a Quintessence it is not become divine but natural nevertheless it is made by the divine help and assistance of God without whom nothing is made Chap. 15. An easie way to extract a Quintessence without Fire WHen in this excellent Work you would avoid expence and save that which is more precious the loss of time and would extract the Quintessence after this double way you may do it without fire or coals The first way is this Take Horse-dung and impose it in some large deep vessel or in a pit as before is directed made for this purpose and in the middle of the dung place the distillatory impleted with the matter that is to be distilled two thirds and let the third part remain empty without the dung because nature requires it that the matter may have its ascent and descent and may by consequence be converted into a most clear water And this is done without any labour or fire but you ought once in a weak at least to renew the dung It may be also done in the Sun in the Canicular or Dog dayes so that divine Providence hath provided that both rich and poor may have the operation of this Art Chap. 16. To extract the Quintessence of Celandine CHelidonia or Celandine according to Raymund Lully c. is called Quasi Coelidonum as a gift of Heaven but if we will derive its Etymology from the Greeks Pliny and Aristotle say that Chelidonia takes it name from the greek word Celidon which signifies a Swallow for with this herb the Swallows help their young ones to their sight in their nests And this herb flourishes at the coming of Swallows and dies at their departure This herb hath innumerable vertues and therefore I thought not fit to omit it in this work The juyce of it being pressed and strained out and gently boiled with Honey in a vessel upon hot embers is a singular remedy against all scales of the eyes But to make the Quintessence thereof take of Celandine in the Summer time when it is at its maturity and green the whole substance flower herb and root what quantity you please cut it small and beat it in a stone Mortar then put it in an earthen Cucurbite well glazed fill the Cucurbite quite full luting it well then set it in new Horse-dung to ferment and digest by the space of three weaks then put it on an Alembick and distil it in Balneo Mariae let thâ—â— to be somewhat moderate and the Phlegme will come off and the other Elements will remain in the bottom of the distillatory then take out the Feces and work them upon a Marble till you have made them as fine and subtle as possible then put them again into the vessel and pour upon them the Phlegme which you first distilled off from them and put them in a blinde Alembick let them be very well luted and set in Balneo Mariae seven or eight dayes to putrifie and digest Or if you think that way too chargeable ferment it in Horse-dung this being done let the matter stand and cool a while then distil it in ashes in an Alimbeck with a receiver and there will arise a pure water of the colour of Oyl which contains in it self two Elements to wit the Air and Water the other two viz. the Fire and Earth residing in the bottom And if you would separate the Phlegm from the Air put the Oyl in a new distillatory and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire and you shall see the Phlegme ascend and the Oyl will reside in the distillatory and thus you have these two Elements the Air and Water separarated one from another For the Oyl will not ascend in Balneo because the fire is not powerful enough And when you would seperate the other two Elements take the Feces out of which you have distilled the oyl and bruise them upon a marble as at first afterwards take four parts of Phlegm and one part of Feces and incorporate them together then set them in a furnace in Balneo 7. days and afterwards distil them in sand with a strong fire and there will arise a red water continue your distillation till it is converted into that water and you have in that water two Elements viz. Fire and Water and the Earth remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite as a black matter then put that red water in another Cucurbite and distil it in Balneo Mariae and the Phlegme will be separated from it and in the bottom of the Vessel will remain a red Oyl which is the Element of fire and thus you have 〈◊〉 four Elements severally extracted and sepaâ—ated one from another Then let the earth be calcined with
Aqua â—â—tis the space of ten dayes that it may be well â—â—citated afterwards grinde it again upon a â—arble and imbibe it with the same Phlegm â—â—d distil it in an Alimbeck till in the matter â—ou shall perceive white little stones like salt â—issolve this salt again with the water you have â—istilled and when it is dissolved distil it again â—epeating it so often untill the earth lose all its 〈◊〉 pure and terrene colour and become white 〈◊〉 Virgins wax and then it is truly rectified There is also another more subtil way to reâ—â—ce and bring every Element into his chief subâ—â—ance and Quintessence it being presupposed â—â—at every Element is first rectified then let it â—e taken and put in a Circulatory Vessel and 〈◊〉 in Horse-dung or in Balneo Mariae thirty â—â—yes and afterwards distil it again then its â—ody being as it were a gross matter will be â—â—nged into a spirit or most substil substance There are some who operate after a more â—â—sie manner by taking four parts of Earth and â—â—e part of one of the four Elements which you â—â—ll and digest them in forme aforesaid and cirâ—â—late them thirty dayes by a frequent ascension â—â—d descension of the matter which is done in â—â—e Circulatory in that space of time so as every â—â—e of the Elements is converted into a Quinâ—â—â—sence and when you perceive the Quintesâ—â—â—ce to swim above the other matter then it is circulated enough and thus you have thâ— way to extract the Quintessence of Chelidonia it follows now to declare the virtues thereof The Element therefore of Water or thâ— Phlegm conduces to expel all diseases of the body whether hot or cold for it temperates thâ— veins about the heart and expells all poisoâ— therefrom it cures all accidental diseases of thâ— Lungs purifies the blood and preserves the natural virtue of man from all corruption anâ— abateth the malignity of any infirmity The Element of fire is like Oyl and hath theâ— virtues it confirmes and preserves youth in iâ— strength and beauty because it suffers not anâ— blood to putrifie it expells all salt Phlegâ— and Melancholly and wonderfully takes awaâ— all Adust Choller The Element of fire the quantity of oâ— Grain thereof being taken and incorporatâ— with good Wine and applyed to the Neck 〈◊〉 one that is sick nay a dying hath this efficacy it recovers and restores again all the lost powâ— and strength of the body it penetrates unâ— the heart and calefies it and expells all poisoâ— and superfluous moisture from the heart if yoâ— give a man a grain of this Oyl that is an Agâ—ny of death it will immediately revive him 〈◊〉 a miraculous manner saith Lullyus There are also others who do likewise extract a Quint essence from Chelidonia after aâ—other manner by taking the Herb Rooâ— and Flower of Celandine and weigh it reseâ—ving the weight for its time then cut it smaâ—â— and infuse it in Fountain-water then boil it till it is reduced to its former weight this being done beat it in a stone Mortar and strain out the juyce take away the Feces and boil the rest unto the thickness of Honey and then the matter will be prepared to separate the four Elements one from another which to do put it in a â—ucurbite filling him half full and lute an Alimbeck upon it the best way you can and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that the water may be separated from the matter Then place the Distillatory in ashes and another water will be separated from it which is like oyl and when you see the oyl swim on the top the third time remove the receiver and apply another to receive that Oyl which is the fire And thus you have the three Elements separated viz. Water Air and Fire and the Earthly substance remains in the bottom of the vessel as it were a combust matter now reserve every one of these Elements in a vessel by its self and when you would rectifie any one of them to make it medicinal distil the water seven times in an Alembick and in every distillation wash the Cucurbite from its remaining Feces and admix them with the earthly Element and distil them in Balneo Mariae and let the vessel wherein that water is reserved be well luted After this manner you may also rectifie the Air by a seplenary reiteration in ashes alwayes mixing the Feces with the Earth so likewise may you temperate and rectifie the fiery Element and this is the third Oyl which must also be kept in a vessel close shut and so musâ— all the rest The work being thus done and perfected wâ— proceed to demonstrate and shew the nature and vertues thereof The vertue and quality of the watry substance is to expel all venomous heaâ— from the Breast and to mundifie the Blood to open all oppilations of the Lungs and Liver to evacuate Phlegm and superfluous humours The Oyl of the Air conserves youth strength and beauty suffers not the blood to putrifie noâ— Melancholly to rule nor Choller to burn noâ— Phlegm to abound in mans body but increases the blood and disperses it through all the members of the body it is very penetrating It is good also if any one be in danger of losing the sight of an Eye drop a drop oâ— two thereof into the Eye every day and in thirty dayes you shall see a wonderful effect But the quality of the fiery Oyl is of much more efficacy and vertue then the two other it wonderfully preserves old men and keeps back old age calefies the blood recreates the heart preserves a man from death and restores youth And if it be taken with Aqua Sîliginis it is said to be the Elixer of life The earthly matter being rectified three times by dissolutions coagulations and calcinations is a subtle salt of earth with which all Metals may be transmâ—â—ted into Stone and wherewith all Spirits are fixed having radical moisture The manner of taking this Medicine is this Take Ignis Chelidoniae gutta 3. Aqua Rosarum coclearia 3. sumantur stomacho jejuno If the infirmity be cold give it in Wine if the party exceed twenty four years of age give it in Aqua vitae but in burning Feavers in no wise administer to the Patient Chap. 17. To extract a Quintessence from Mans Blood Eggs Flesh or the like TO extract a Quintessence of humane blood take the blood of a man of a sanguine Complexion or Chollerick that is sound and healthy of Middle-age and one that drinks good Wine when he is newly phlebotomized and when the blood resides in the bottom of the vessel separate the water from the blood and labour it in a convenient vessel with its tenth part of common Salt and labour them well together and inclose it in a Pellican Afterwards set it in a bed of Horse-dung and Calx viva about five foot deep and two foot broad having one laying of the Calx and another of
the feebler medicine in kinde then by reason of the under quantity For what skilful Physician would cure a small distemper of heat and as it were in the first degree with a small quantity of Opium or Mandrake or Henbane being cold in the fourth degree rather then with the just quantity of Endive or Succory or diminish a small excess of humors with an under quantity of Coloquintida or Scammony rather then with the just quantity of a feebler medicine Wherefore upon good reason they conclude it to be far safer for the Patient to cure with contraries of feebler force either often repeated or in a greater quantity applied then with a main force of a medicine of equal strength at once to expel the disease Nature abhorring all vehement and sudden either emptying or â—â—lling heating or cooling or any other kinde of sudden alteration which being grounded upon good reason the delaying of the force of strange medicines by our soil serveth greatly for the commendation both of planting them with us and of the Medicines themselves planted The Simple still keeping within the compass of the matter of a Medicine neither being so diminished but that by increase of the quantity it may match with the disease which no man with reason can deny Now if the greatness of the quantity happily procure loathsomness to the Patient by extraction that inconvenience may easily be avoided by which means a pound may be brought to an ounce an ounce to a dram and a dram to a few grains to please the Patient with Such of strange Medicines as will not brook our Climate thereby declare the evill disposition they have to cure the infirmity of our bodies Every Medicine is as it were a mean betwixt nourishments and poysons excepting those Medicines which are applyed outwardly which may both be of nourishments and poysons In this mean betwixt these extreams there is such a scope and breadth that some Meâ—â—â—ines incline to the one and some to the other Now the best are such as rather incline to nourishments then poisons which as they do fight against the Disease so have they a certain token and pledge of greement betwixt our bodies and theirs whereby they acknowledge us for friends and not common enemies with the disease the other Medicines which have no such token and earnest being apt as well to destroy us as to take away the Disease and so joyn fellowship with rank poisons Then our native Soil being by the Ordinance of GOD the fittest to yield us nourishment from which â—ur Cattel and Fruits have a nutritive or nouâ—ishing juice which render the same again to â—s what can we think of those Medicines to â—hom our soil hath not a drop of juice to yield â—â—to and giveth no entertainment Verily â—e are both to learn thereby that nature doth â—urnish us other wayes and also greatly to susâ—ect them to be of an extream kinde of Mediâ—ines the Spices onely excepted and such as are â—aid to be sympathetical to certain parts of our â—odies which notwithstanding less serve that â—seth more strange and forreign they be What should I speak of the unmeasurable charge and â—ost these strange Medicines put us unto In my opinion if it were but that we might be stirred up to this or such like consideration Hath God so dispensed his blessings that a Medicine to cure the Jaundies or the Green Sickness or the Rheum or such like should cost â—ore oftentimes then one quarter of the substance that the Patient is worth And the provision of a whole year whereof Wife and Children and the whole Family should with things necessary be maintained in health be wasted upon the curing of a Palsie or a Cholâ—ick or a swimming of the brain or any other disease whatsoever Is Physick onely made for â—ich men and not as well for the poorer sort doth it onely wait upon Princes Palaces and never stoop to the Cottage of the poor doth it onely receive gifts of the King and never thanks and prayers from him that hath but thanks and prayers to bestow or doth the Lords goodness pass over them of low degree Hath he respect of persons Yea hath God given to the Beast a remedy out of his own food and pasture as it is most certainly known with a skill to use it and hath he set a Journey as far as from the Sun-rising to the going down as it were a wall of Brass and the fiery sword of a Cherubim to keep us from the attaining of Salves for our Sores Justly may we thus complain especially those of the poorer sort And if Physick as it is indeed be an Art common to all kinde of men all sorts of nations all estates and conditions of men I would know why the means also of performing the actions belonging to the same Art should not be as common And if it be ordinary to all Nations to fetch their Medicines far let me know why as we cease not to travel for to store us with outlandish Drugs we carry not thither also our Countrey Medicines for change or they of those Nations give not the like Adventure for ours but they are contented with their own store and so ought we with ours If it be not ordinary why should it be more extraordinary to one then to another The most of our Apothecary Ware is bought from the most vile and barbarous Nations of the world and almost all from the professed enemies of the Son of God shall we say the Lord hath not care or setteth more store by them then by his own people that he so furnisheth them and leaveth us destitute or shall we rather condemn the vanity of our own mindes who unsatiably desire strange things little regarding or rather loathing that which is always at commandment But God saith one hath not bestowed all things upon all Nations but hath left something to be supplied by the Commodities wherewith one Nation aboundeth and another wanteth that thereupon mutual duties arising the society of men might be upholden Which objection if it carried with it what things they were and of what kinde that one Nation supplieth to another and what sort of Commodities they be that one Nation needeth the help of another in a more direct answer might be made then otherwise I may hit upon but I guess it is neither of Water nor Fire nor yet of Air nor of any thing necessary for maintenance of life otherwise should the Native Countrey of each one be rather a stepdame to us then a natural mother but it is of those things onely which with healthful and lusty Bodies we might be without if custome had not too much prevailed with us And to go no further then to the use of Wine in England in many respects it greatly hurteth us yet our ordinary use thereof hath given us such a longing thereafter that we think if we should want it many of our dayes were thereby abridged whereby notwithstanding Rhewms are mightily
Pains of the Spleen trouble a man most after meat 32. Egg-shells dried and beaten into powder and given in white wine break the stone 33. Mizaldus Mice-dung with the ashes of burnt Wasps and burnt Hazel-nuts made into an Ointment with vinegar of Roses do trimly deck a bald-â—ead with hairs being anointed with it 34. Six cloves of Garlike stamped and strained into a draught of Rhenish wine and drunk up is a present râ—medy for the stone strangury and chollick 35. Gather Elder-flowers on a Midsummer-day dry them and beat them into powder and take a spoonful of it in Borage-water every morning and evening it restores Youth and conserves it 36. Burn horsleaches into powder and mix them with vinegar and therewithal rub the place where you would have Hair grow no more and you shall have your desire 37. Drinking much Butter-milk makes one laxâ—â—ive 38. The stone of a Swallow beaten into powder Petrus Hispanus and given in drink to such as have the Falling-sickness cures them 39. Mingle two spoonfuls of water with one spoonful of clarified Honey and give it to a woman when she goeth to sleep if she feel gripings and pains in her belly she is conceived with childe else not 40. Green Nettles steeped in the urine of one that is sick twenty four hours Mizaldus if they remain green and fresh the sick will live else not 41. The berries of white Thorns taken in white Wine are of great force to break and expel the Stone 42. Plantane is given with good success to such as have the Plague 43. Wormwood stamped with the white of an egg and applied to the eyes by way of a Plaister is a notable way to take away the redness and bloodiness of them 44. A Garland made of Ivy-leaves Mizaldus laid to the breasts of women that hang flagging gathers them up together decently and makes them round the like will Ivy-leaves do if they be beaten and applied to them 45. Mizaldus If you wash wounds with Wine wherein Agrimony hath been sodden it cleanseth them of their filth and putrefaction 46. Also stamp Agrimony and apply it to wounds that are ill knit or joyned and it will open them again 47. Mizaldus The juyce of Rue mixed with clarified Honey and a drop dropped into the eye at a time takes away dimness of sight 48 A head of Garlick the skins being pulled off bruised and applied in equal parts to the foles of the feet where they are hollow helps them with speed that are pained with the Tooth-ache especially if it come of a cold cause and lie in the nether jaw 49. Mizaldus If you rub Warts with the leaves of a Fig-tree and bury the leaves in the earth the warts will insensibly consume away 50. Briony-berries dried and beaten into powder and drunk in the decoction of Water-cresses doth wonderfull help the Strangury 51. Benedictus Victorius Faventinus Emp. Take of venice Treacle one scruple of liquorice and Cinnamon in powder of each three grains of White Wine an ounce and an half mix all these together and make of them a Potion If a Woman take such a drink as this is every other morning about a fortnight or three weaks before her delivery it will make her labour very easie My Authour saith she will bring forth her childe without any pain at all 52. Take of Yarrow and Plantane of each a like quantity beat them and strain the juyce of them into red Wine a good draught of which being drunk morning and evening will stop a bloody Flux 53. If a Woman desire to know whether she be with childe or not Mizaldus let her make water in a clean copper or brazen vessel at night when she goes to bed and put a Nettle in it if the Nettle have red spots in it next morning she is with childe else not 54. Oxen Kine Bullocks or Horses Absertus will not be troubled with any disease if you hang a Harts-horn upon them 55. Put two or three of the seeds of Oculus Christi into your eye and within a while after you shall not feel them whereby you will think they are not there at last they will drop 〈◊〉 of themselves compassed about with slimy 〈◊〉 which doth hinder the sight If you 〈◊〉 this now and then it will clear your eyes wonderfully 56. Warts rubbed with a piece of raw Beef and the beef buried in the ground the warts will consume away as the beaf rots in the ground 57. Take the inner rinde of an Oak-tree and boil it well in fair water then bathe any sore with it whether new or old three or four times morning and evening and then anoint it with fresh butter and flour of brimstone well mixed and you shall see a speedy cure 58. Take a Bur-root the bigger the better and scrape it clean then put it in a Pot of new Ale and the Ale will boyl let it stand twenty four hours close stopped and then let one that hath the yellow Jaundies drink a good draught of it and in doing so two or three mornings he will be cured 59. Let him that hath the Strangury drink a draught of small Ale wherein the inner Rind of the young branches of a Hazel-tree hath been boiled first in the morning and last at night and it help him in few dayes 60. Lay a thin piece of raw beaf to the forehead of them that have lost their voices and remove it not all night and in two or three nights it will help them 61. Take the bones of Horses and wash them clean then dry them in the sun then break them and boil them in a Caldron of water a long time and save the fat which cometh from them which is an excellent Oyntment either for Gout or Palsie 62. The ashes of burnt Snails put into the eye take away the spots thereof 63. A piece of raw Beef of an indifferent thickness put in steep all day in good Aqua vitae and laid at night to the temples and let lie there all night stops the waterings of the eyes and all rheums that flow down from the head 64. Draw a coard through the tail of a Water-snake and hang her up Hollerius a vessel of water being under her into which she may gape and after a little time will she vomit up a stone which will drink up all the water this stone being tied to the navil in a piece of fine linnen of one that hath the Dropsie quickly draws out all the water 65. An Egg that is laid on a Thursday the white being emptied out and the empty place filled with salt and gently roasted by the fire without burning till it may be beaten into powder and cankered teeth being rubbed with it kills both canker and worms that eat the teeth 66. White Copperis the quantity of hâ—â—f an ounce dissolved in a pint of water kills all Tetters and ringworms that are washed with
they are cold and moist Damsins are of the same nature Six or seven Damsins eaten before dinner are good to provoke the appetite they mollifie the belly and are abstersive the skin and stones ablated Of Olives and Capers OLives eaten at the beginning of a refection coroborate the stomach and provoke the appetite Capers do purge Phlegm and cause an appetite Of Spices Ginger GInger heats the Stomach and helps digestion Green Ginger eaten in the morning fasting doth acuate and quicken the memory Of Pepper THere are three sundry kindes of Pepper white black and long Pepper All kindes of them heat the body dissolves Phlegm and Winde helps digestion and causeth to make water Of Cloves and Mace CLoves comforts the sinews dissolve and consume superfluous humors restore nature Mace is a Cordial helps the Chollick and is good against the bloody Flux Of Saffron SAffron comforts the heart and stomach but is too hot for the Liver Of Nutmegs and Cinamon NUtmegs are good for them which have cold in their head and comfort the sight and the brain and the mouth of the stomach and is good for the Spleen Cinamon is a Cordial wherefore some Writers admire why one dies that may eat Cinamon yet it doth stop and is good to restrain Fluxes and the looseness of the body Of Liquorice LIquorice is good to cleanse and open the Lungs and the Breast and to loose Phlegm in cakes with Honey it purges moderately Of Salt SAlt moderately used is very wholesom taken excessive it ingenders Choller dries up the natural moisture and inflames the blood stops the Veins hardens the Stone and gathers together viscus humors causing sharpness of Urine consuming the flesh and fat of the body they which are cold watry and Phlegmatick may feed more plentifully of Salt and of Salt meats but Chollerick and Melancholick persons must eat it moderately and Sanguine persons must take no more of it then lightly to relish their meat By the general consent of Writers it is not nourishing I must in particular dissent from them and affirm that it doth not onely accidentally but essentially nourish accidentally in making the meat more gracious to the stomach hindering putrefaction and drying up superfluous humors essentially in it self as it takes its just and due proportion for our body hath and should have humors of all tastes the finest humor of the body being nothing but salt it self so termed by the best but newest Philosophers which if so will hardly be preserved without eating of salt Of Sugar SUgar is temperate and nourishing good against the Choller of the Stomach admirably useful in preserves conserves sauces c. The ancients term it the Indian salt the kindes hereof are made of the tears of Sugar-Canes so replenished with Juyce as that they crack again there are other wayes of making of Sugar to no purpose to particularize the best sugar is solid hard light exceeding white sweet glistering like snow melting as salt doth speedily in any liquor the Refiners if I am not mistaken in my art feel an unspeakable sweetness in theirs it is their mystery I am unwilling to call it couzenage Sugar is not so hurtful as Honey to Chollerick complexions Gallen writes that it may be given in Agues it delighteth the Stomach pleaseth the Blood and Liver cleanseth the Breast and restores the Lungs and iâ— good for children against the Worms Doctor REASON And Doctor EXPERIENCE Consulted with OR The Mystery of the Skill of PHYSICK made easie Short clear and certain Rules how to discern judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the Body affected the Causes Signs or Symptoms collected and observed from the most approved Authors and constantly practised BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with c. Of the Apoplexy IT is a disease that deprives of sense and motion in the whole body as also of the principal animal functions this disease doth amaze both body and minde and is so dangerous that few recover of it the Brain which is the rock of the Sinews is affected In a weak Apoplexy there is a sudden fall on the earth with outcryes with such a difficulty of breathing that one cannot discern any life in the Patient An Apoplexy is often caused by slimy gross and cold Phlegm as also by crudities and drunkenness so that such as are much addicted to surfeitings especially old men are subject to any Apoplexy This disease if it be great is hard to be cured if the Patient do escape death he either falls into a Palsie of some part or of the whole body The Air the sick person lives in must be somewhat hot his Diet must be temperate instead of Exercise strong Fractions and Ligatures of the extream parts may be used Cupping-glasses must be fastened to the shoulders he should be carried up and down in a hanging bed and after two or three weeks it will be good to bathe Of the Mother THe stopping and choaking of the Womb or Mother is a running back of the Womb or of maligne vapors bred in the Womb unto the higher parts whereby the bowels midriff and stomach are sometimes crushed that they cannot be widened by breathing the Womb in this disease being lifted so high that it drives the other members above it to the higher parts This disease hath some affinity with the Falling-sickness Swounding and Apoplexy The Womb is chiefly affected through menstruous blood or some other humor for the most part queaziness of stomach and loathng of meat and thick breathing follow this disease This disease is sometimes caused from an Impostume in the Womb or by some seed sent into the Womb and therein detained and corrupted The danger of this disease is not so great if the Spirits are not hurt The Air the Patient lives in should be temperate such meats are to be abstained from as increase blood and seed the diet must be sparing wine is not to be drunk except alâ—ayed with water except in case of swounding their Exerc ses are to be moderate their sleeps short and to shun Melancholly Of Melancholly THat which is Hypocondraical is windy oft-times caused by the over-boiling of dreggish blood settled near to the stomach or gristles of the short ribs by a distemper of the liver stomach or miseraical veins the part affected is the brain the signs of this disease are the excessive heat of humors the parts about the heart being inflamed This distemper is caused by the default of the spleen when it doth not draw away the Melancholick blood made by the distemper of the Liver At the first this disease is easily cured but if it grows old it is hardly to be remedied The Patients diet must be moist little broth will suffice because of fluctuations in the stomach he may drink cream of hulled barley with a
the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
dry and binde it ought to be of a slimy substance he must eat sparingly he may drink wine and water mixed together he must shun all exercise he must breath very gently for violent breathing is offensive he must not sleep in the day time his sleep at night must be moderate his belly must be kept loose by art or nature perturbations of his minde must be avoided especially anger The Postscript COurteous Student observing my indisposition of Health to encrease and still seize more powerfully on me I have so ordered through the trust I have imposed in some of my best Friends that these Papers preserserved for the publique good should out-live me in which as the old Saying is I have inclosed Homerâ— Iliads in a Nut-shel in these few Pages epitomized the Mystery of the Skill of Physick in this small Looking-glass representing to thy clear view above forty of the most dangerous and desperate Diseases that chiefly in this Life afflict ouâ— frail Bodies It cannot be expected that having confined my self to such narrow limits that I should have annexed there more particular Cures they having been so seriously and I hope through Gods Blessing successfully treated of in my foregoing Treatises I acknowledge in these my last Endeavors that I have in part made use of an excellent Manuscript amongst others some years since that came happily to my perusual whether it were 〈◊〉 Original a Coppy a Translation or the Authors Name I know not but whosoever he were I so approved of his admirable Reason that I thought it fit to joyn the best Experience of my own continued Practice to it Vis unita fortior It is â—â—t out of any arrogance or prerogative of my own fancy that I have stiled these three Diet Reaâ—on and Experience Doctors those that know 〈◊〉 rightly can determine that I was never so inmoured with that Title but onely to inform my â—istaken Countrey-men that it is not the Cowl â—â—at makes the Munk the shaking of the Vrinal â—e stroaking of the Beard hard Words the Plush â—loak a large House with a Monster in the first â—â—om to amaze the Patient but deep grounded Reaâ—â—â—n and tried Experience that commences a Physiâ—an with Diet Reason and Experience The three â—â—re-mentioned Authentick Doctors I have conâ—lted I commend their Advice to the well affectâ—â— and judicious for others I care not Nicholas Culpeper Chymical INSTITUTIONS DESCRIBING Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several Degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Chymical Institutions Describing Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art Chap. 1. Vinegar of Squills TAke of Squills the outward skins and hard root at the bottom being cast away one pound slice them with an Ivory or Bone Knife for Iron spoils them then put them into three quarts of strong Vinegar stop them close and in one moneth they will be ready for use and then if you please with Honey you may make them into a Syrup * According to the quality of the Patient strength of nature of the disease so let the Dose be 3 and therefore no certain Dose can generally be determined The Dose is one spoonful in the morning â—sting and walking an hour after it It preserveth the body in health even till exâ—eam old age as Samius recorded by Gallen â—oved whom he affirmed to live one hundred â—â—d seventeen Years in health using no other â—edicine but onely this It causeth good digestion long winde clear â—â—ce acute sight good hearing it expelleth winde and makes a good colour it suffers no offensive thing to remain in the body Winde Choller Phlegm Dung nor Urine but bringeth them forth brings out filth though it lies in the bones it hath been known to cure such as have been given over by all Doctors it cures hardness of the Liver and Spleen takes away Gouts and all swelling of the Limbs In a word I commend it for a wholesome Medicine for soundness of body conservation of health and vigor of minde The Colledge of Physicians of London laid all their heads together to hammer out the time when this Squill must be gathered or taken out of the earth and the result of all their consultations was this That it must be gathered at the rising of the Dog-star and so they very learnedly quoted it in that stately piece of Wit their Pharmacopeia but which of the two Dog-stars they mean whether Cyrius or Procyon or whaâ— rising whether Comiscal Acronychal or Heliacal I know not I nor I think themselves neither so that a childe in Astrology cannot chuse buâ— admire at their learned ignorance Chap. 2. Elixir Vitae TAke of Cloves Nutmegs Zedoary Giâ—ger Galangal Pepper white and blacâ— Juniper-berries Citron pills Orange pills Sagâ— Basil Rosemary Mints Marjoram Bay-berrieâ— Penniroyal Gentian Calamint Elder leave Roses white and red Spicknard Cubebs Aloe Hapatique the seeds of Mugwort and Marjoram of each two drams Figs Raisins Dates Almonds Pine-nuts of each six ounces white Honey a pound Musk one dram fine Sugar four pound bruise the things that may be bruised and infuse them all together in fifteen pints of Aqua vitae for ten dayes or thereabouts afterwards still it in a bathe till the feces be dry Take this water and stop it close in a glass let it stand in Horse-dung two Moneths then have you the first water good Then take out the feces and distil them in sand with a strong fire and there will come out a water red like blood and thick which will stink admirably place this in Horse-dung as the former this is the second water of the nature of fire The first water if a childe take a dram of it every third day in the morning it keeps its body sound from diseases it cureth wounds at three times washing with it or four at the most it helps all infirmities in the eyes a drop being put into them the face and breast being washed with it it preserveth Youth being taken inâ—ardly it provoketh Lust and makes barren women fruitful The latter water a spoonful will recover and revive a man that is half dead it helps pains in the Matrix and cures Pleurisies being used by â—nction it cures pains of the Chollick helpeth â—ardness of the Spleen pains in the teeth stinkâ—ng breath Feavers of all sorts being taken inwardly and powerfully prevails against humors of all sorts if any one be so sick that he cannot speak give him a drachm of this with a drachm of the former water and so soon as it is in his mouth he will speak This Dr. Floravantus saith he hath proved an hundred times yet if it lack not above half the number it is no matter Chap. 3. Aqua Mirabilis TAke of Turpentine one
ounce Olibanum two ounces Aloes Hepatique Mastick Cloves Galangal Cinnamon Saffron Nutmegs Cubebs one ounce Gum of Ivy five ounces beat what can be beaten into very fine powder and still them in an Alembick with a gentle fire The first water will be clear and white when it begins to change colour take away the first water and receive the second The second water will be of the colour of Saffron and thick when the colour changeth again take away the second water and receive the third The third water will be like Honey then distil the feces dry The first water cureth Fistula's and noise in the ears a drop or two being put into them * Mark the quality of the disease and give the hottest water in the coldest disease or at least qualifie them one with another The second cureth infirmities in the eyes they being washed with it The third water cureth ulcers and scabs in any part of the body and swellings of the eyes it presently easeth pains of the teeth it resisteth cold poisons as Toads Spiders Serpents Scorpions c. Neither can any sting hurt one a drop of this Oyl being warmed and applied to the place it cureth all ulcers lie they never so deep in the flesh nerves or bones and that without any tent in nine days be they never so foul fistulated or cankered it cures wounds with a stone or fall or shot a linen rag being wet in it and laid upon it it strengtheneth the nerves and sinnews helps swellings of the Legs Joynts or any place coming of a cold cause or corrupt blood It is so hot in operation that nothing can be found hotter and of such a piercing quality that warm a drop thereof and lay it on your hand it will presently soak in and you shall not feel it If you would try the vertue of it take a Capon or any other Fowl the feathers being plucked off and the guts being taken out then heat him so hot as you can well hold him in your hand then anoint him with this Oyl and lay him in the Sun two hours to dry then anoint him again and dry him as before then lay him where you will he will never putrifie Chap. 4. A Precious Water TAke of Aqua vitae many times distilled over a gallon Sperma caeti Ambergrease Rheubarb two drams Musk one dram put the Aqua vitae in a glass then tie up all the aforesaid species in a linnen cloath and hang the Nodulus in the water by a string it being close stopped lest the spirit evaporate with Wax and Parchment putting a little Cinamon into the Nodulus so shall you have an excellent water of the colour of Gold This is indeed a precious water and I am of opinion that if an Astrological time were observed for the beginning of the business it would be ten times better It expelleth Poyson a drop of it being taken in any convenient substance resisteth both pestilence and putrefaction if any be infected with the pestilence or any other Feaver coming of putrefaction or inflamation of blood or humors as most Feavers if not all do six or seven drops given in any cordial cures them Chap. 5. An Apprehension worth experience TAke of the Juyce of Chelondine which was gathered when the Sun was in Leo which is called his own house let him be free from Malevolent Beams and if he apply to the aspect of Benevolents 't is the better let the Moon be strong applying to the Sun and encreasing in light let the Angles of the Heavens be clear from the bodies of Saturn Mars or the Dragons tail from this Juyce draw the Elements apart and rectifie them all severally the triplicity the Patient was born under and his Disease being known and discretion in the administration accordingly used why may not it alone cure all Diseases though not in all people Chap. 6. A Balsam TAke of Turpentine one pound Oyl of Bayes four ounces Galbanum three ounces Gum-arabick four ounces Frankinsence Mirrhe Gum of Ivy Wood of Aloes of each three ounces Galanglal Cloves Comfrey-roots Nutmegs Cinamon Ginger Zedoary Diptany of Creet one ounce Musk Amber-greece one dram the things being in powder which may be beaten put them into a Retort and put to them Aqua vitae six pints then wet a rag in Aqua vitae and set fire to them let it burn stopping it close and after nine dayes still it in sand first with a gentle fire At the first will come out a clear water with Oyl amongst it let the fire be gentle till you see it begin to look black When it changeth colour then change your receiver and separate the Oyl from the first water then increase the fire and perfect the distillation Keep the last water also apart which being suffered to stand and settle will have a liquor which may be separated from that which is called the Balsam it self The first is called water of Balsam The Oyl is called Oyl of Balsam The last water mother of Balsam And the residence in the bottom of the last water is the Balsam it self and is the most precious of all The first water cleanseth the eyes causeth a clear sight the face being washed with it makes it fair it preserveth Youth breaks the Stone in the Reins brings forth Urine stopped by carnosity or fleshiness it marvellously cureth all sort of wounds being washed with it and a Lint dipped in it and put into them it also helpeth Hecktique Feavers and Coughs The Mother of Balsam helps Scabs Itches Tetters Ring-worms and Leprosie The Oyl of Balsam helps many Diseases as Wounds in the Head though the Skull be broken a drachm of it at a time being drunk in water helps Pleurisies wonderfull speedily The Balsam it self is the wonder of the world two drachms of it being taken easeth any pain it helps Coughs Hoarseness infirmities either hot or cold being used in unction it pierceth to the utmost extream parts curing thereby old Aches and bruises it cures Quartane Agues all the body being anointed with it once a day Chap. 7. A Balsam for the Stone TAke of Turpentine a pound old Oyl six ounces Oyl of Bayes four ounces Cinamon Spikenard of each two ounces Bricks well burnt eight ounces still them altogether in an Alembick It provokes Urine breaks the Stone kills Worms helps noise in the Ears the Palsie Gouts of all sorts all pains in the Joynts either by drinking of it or anointing with it but you must use but very little of it at a time inwardly mixed with apt things for the disease you take it for Chap. 8. A Balsam for the Palsie TAke of Galbanum a pound Gum of Ivy three ounces bruise them and still them in Balneo mix the liquor with Oyl of Bayes one ounce Turpentine a pound still them again then separate the Oyl from the water and keep the Oyl for your use For the dead Palsie Convulsion Apoplexy Shaking-palsie or any disease of the
Brain Chollick Winde in the Bowels c. lay the Patient upon his Back and pour a little of this Oyl being warmed upon his Navel and you shall presently see the wonderful operation appear more divine then natural Chap. 9. Of the Quintessence of every Simple Matter WE are in the first place to learn what is the Quintessence of every thing or simple matter which being known the other secrets of this Art will more easily manifest themselves unto us for every thing which hath its institution from another thing ought to have its definition declared that the original may be understood Know therefore that Quintessence is the fifth part of every thing having forme and substance and a most subtil spirit drawn from its body as from a more gross and crasse matter and superfluity of four Elements by a most subtil and extream distillation as we shall hereafter teach But let it not seem wonderfull to any one that this Art hath for the most part lien absconded and shut up from the common knowledge and vulgar capacities of men for many of the Ancient Philosophers have so laboured in this art that thereby they have nourished and preserved the life of man to an extream old age and have spun out the thread of life to the end of nature and ultimate time ordained and appointed by God Qui statuit omnibus semel mori But as by a corruptible Medicine life cannot alwayes be preserved incorrupted so a Medicine having neer affinity to incorruption may preserve the power of nature to an extream old age And the best Antidote conducing hereunto is the Quintessence which is no elementary thing but a certain secret soul drawn from its body so that whatsoever it is admixed withal seems in a manner incorruptible for it comforts and restores all the powers and spirits of mans body by the excrements of the Elements evacuated and wasted and it is a spirit of life for it digesteth all indigestible things and cutteth away and digesteth all superfluous qualities For it preserveth flesh from corruption it comforts the Elements restoreth decayed Youth vivifies the spirit soft things it hardens hard it mollifies thick and gross things it rarifies thin substances it conduces and makes thick the lean it makes fat fatness it extenuates it cooleth the hot and heateth the cold drieth up moisture and moistneth driness and repelleth every complexion adverse to the body Further it extinguishes all the noxious matter of superfluous humors and restoreth natural heat so that the greatest Philosophers never found out any thing more conducing to the sustentation of life Now although the Quintessence may sometimes have the complexion of some other thing adjoyned unto it for unto what complexionated thing soever it be joyned it draweth the complexion thereof unto it self yet solely by it self it hath none of the four qualities in it to wit Airy Watry Fiery nor Earthly which could be discerned or discovered by the judicious inquisition of the most skilfull Philosophers Lastly know that the Quintessence hath not in it any thing of the earthly Element Cold or Dry because it cures melancholly diseases which are cold and dry Therefore for a conclusion observe that it is neither hot nor cold nor moist nor dry but is a thing of a temperate nature exceeding all the Elements which are under Heaven For when it is administred unto any one it maketh that body temperate neither doth it recede from its temporancy by assuming any Qualities or Complexions Neither doth it follow that it is a Medicine for cold infirmities because it is hot nor that it cures hot diseases because it is cold for two contraries cannot exist in one body because one contrary is expelled by the other Therefore we see it ought not to be called hot or cold nor dry or moist because it cures such as are Physical which are hot and dry and the Hidropical which are moist and cold but all the four qualities are in it corrupted and altogether sublated And although it is not an Element nevertheless it is a temperate Matter purified by the Elements themselves and extracted from the Feces of the four Elements which are the most powerful causes of the corruption These Feces therefore are segregated as a most gross body from its matter as it were from a most subtil soul by the Science and Art of distillations And because the Quintessence is the Commune vocabulum of all things which have a form and species to extract it from and although chiefly it is to be understood of Wine yet nevertheless there are very many other things from which it may be drawn and educed as from all mettals from all fruits from flesh eggs roots and many other things as we shall shortly declare and it excelleth all other things because of its great subtilty and therefore by very many Philosophers it hath been called Coelum Philosophorum For the Heaven is of it self distinct towards the four Elements so the Coelum Philosophorum viz. The Quintessence hath it self against the â—our qualities of humane bodies which are composed of those Elements It is called also by some Aqua ardens a burnâ—ng water because untill it be brought to its perfection and utmost distillation it burneth in the fire leaving no superfluous humidity in the vessel By some it is also called the soul of Wine for as the soul is more noble then the body so is the Quintessence which is extracted by true distillation more noble then the body of Wine from whence it is educed It is named also by other Aqua vitae or the Water of life because it doth conserve humane life from corruption as we see when it is administred to those that have the Syncope passion and because it is divers wayes and from divers things extracted we shall begin with the first in order Chap. 10. How the Quintessence of Wine is to be extracted by a distallatory HAving delivered what the Quintessence is and to what it conduces we are now to perpend and consider by how many wayes it may be extracted and from what things and because it is drawn from things moist dry hot and cold we shall in the first declare how it may be drawn from moist things as from Wine after this manner Take of the best red Wine a little inclining to sweetness and which is perfect naturaâ— without mixture or sophistication not too neâ—â— nor too old but of a temperate age or if yoâ— cannot get red Wine take white Wine the besâ— what quantity you please and place it in a Câ—â—curbite so that two parts may be full and thâ— third remain empty then put it upon a Liâ—â—beck with a head and receiver and let theâ— be all well luted with lute made of paper maâ—â— defied or meal and whites of Eggs mixed tâ— the thickness of Honey It may also be madâ— according to Raymund Lully with Olibanuâ— or Mastick mollisted or with powder of Calviva incorporated with the white of an Egg. And
when the vessels are thus Luted thâ— the animal and vegitable virtue cannot exhaâ—â— from the matter to be distilled then set a trâ—vet over the furnace with a vessel or Caldroâ—â— like Balneum Mariae which vessel fill halfâ— two parts thereof with water and underneat make a gentle fire increasing it by little and little and when the Cucurbite waxeth hot iâ—crease not the fire any more but alwayes imâ—tate nature as much as is possible to do Foâ— Nature as saith Gallenus and Lully cannot suffeâ— any violence without corruption of the primâ— vum or first matter Now according to Avicenna there arâ— four degrees of heat according to the four coâ—plexions the first whereof is warme as warâ— water so far calefied that it cannot hurt anâ— member immited into it The second degree 〈◊〉 so hot as it may be suffred by an humane member without lesion The third degree is so hot that if any member be immitted into it it is offended with its calidity and this degree is next to ebulition The fourth degree of heat is so vehement that it cannot be endured because it exceedeth in heat and this degree is ebulition or boyling Some also call the fire of a Bathe the first degree of fire and the heat of Ashes the second degree and burning fire the third degree but the fourth degree they deny And according to other Artists the fire of a Bathe is the first degree the fire of Ashes the second degree and Sand the third and sometimes proceed to a fourth but he who desires to be a perfect Master in the Art of Distillation ought to observe that in all Distillations whatsoever the fire never ought to be increased to the fourth degree because the fire will be more violent then the nature of the matter to be distilled can bear And by consequence Nature her self will be violated through the violence of too much heat and therefore of all Artists the fourth degree is to be rejected For Nature her self was so ordained by God that she cannot suffer any violence or vehement thing without the corruption of her self as by the judgement of many Philosophers may be proved Therefore I counsel all Lovers of this Art that they do not undertake to intermeddle with this excellent work given unto us by Divine Providence for the preservation of our humane lives unless they have the perfect knowledge of these four degrees of heat and know how to temperate them and the fire in alâ— things as they ought It is therefore to be understood that the degrees of heat are alwayes to be diminished afteâ— the first distillation because in the first distillation the matter is most gross so that it will noâ— easily yield to the distillation because of its impurity and crude substance which is not in thâ— subsequent distillations Therefore in the first distillation the fire is tâ— be exalted from the first degree to the last parâ— of the third degree so that the bathe be verâ— hot yet it ought not to boil In the second dâ—stillation we may work with a more gentle fire because by the first the grosseness of the matteâ— is somewhat attenuated so that there needs noâ— so great a fire and so alwayes by descending 〈◊〉 little in every degree you shall extenuate thâ— fire because as we have often said if you dâ—â— force or too much compel the matter whicâ— ought to be distilled Nature her self will bâ— corrupted Chap. 11. How a rude matter ought to be putrified and madâ— fit for Distillation WE must diligently weigh and accurately consider what substance the matter 〈◊〉 of that is to be digested whether it be hard oâ— soft gross or subtle how and by what Art iâ— may be putrified and digested that it may bâ— the better brought to yield to the distillation and that the pure may be sequestred from the impure and the gross may be the better separated from the subtle In the progress whereof observe these degrees of putrifaction Whatsoever it is out of which you would extract a Quintessence by distillation first of all let it be putrified and digested two moneths in Horse-dung and between the first and second distillation one moneth between the second and third three weeks between the third and fourth fifteen dayes between the fourth and fifth eight dayes between the fifth and sixth four dayes and between the sixth and seventh two dayes And further observe that the dung ought alwayes to be of the same equal heat for if the heat be deficient the circulation of the water is corrupted And by conseqence the matter it self which should be reduced into the Quintessence will be separated in the heat of Heaven as you may see in a Diameter Line which divideth the Quintessence which is the superiour part from the feces which is the inferiour part And here note that these degrees of digestion and putrifaction of the matter is so to be attributed as it is before declared concerning the degrees of heat Therefore there is required a longer time of putrifaction before distillation then afterwards and when the first distillation is made the matter contains not in it self so much grossness as before and is become more apt to receive the Quintessence then before it was And therefore after the first distillation the putrifaction is made in a shorter time then at the first because the matter is become more subtil And therefore it is worthily to be perpended that there ought to be made seven digestion or putrifactions as also seven distillations The manner also of digesting after the opinions of the Philosophers is delivered after this manner Every one that will endeavour to performe such a work let him cause to be made a pit oâ— hole of five foot deep and two foot wide or a little more Let the pit be made in some moist place as in a Celler which being done let the bottom bâ— covered with quick lime about the thickness oâ— half a foot Let there be another laying oâ— horse-dung which is not much putrified nor very new upon which place the vessel wherein yoâ— put the matter to be fermented and then fill thâ— pit with dung round about the vessel which being done let the dung be madefied with hot water according the magnitude and quantity of the pit untill you can feel the heat about the vessel or cucurbite and this is usually done in thâ— space of half an hour but if in that time it bâ— not done then proceed powring on more hoâ— water and do this three or four times in a weeâ— and when the Calx and Dung waxes old let iâ— be removed and new put in the room This is the method which is to be observed iâ— all things that you would distill and thereforâ— it is made digestion because gently and without any vehement motion of nature action or mutation a gross matter is made subtil and obedient to distillation Digestives are also ordained diversly according to the four degrees of heat so
Dung as before we have directed concerning digestion and let it be fermented there one Moon or thereabouts according as the season is and when you see the matter to be resolved into water and the gross substance residing in the bottom of the Pellican to be separated quite from the water then take it out of the dung and put it in Balneo Mariae with an Alimbeck and distil it with a gentle fire as before is spoken of the Quintessence of Wine And when you have performed the first distillation mix it again with the Feces which remain in the Distillatory and let it putrifie again in the dung until you see the pure to be separated from the impure and the pure and subtle matter to swim above the Feces And if the season be fair and clear let it putrifie a longer time then if it were cloudy or rainy weather This being done distil it again the second time then mix it again with the Feces to digest and then distil it repeating this course four times over at least After the fourth distillation circulate it a long time in the same manner as you do the Quintessence of Wine till it come to the perfection and purity of a Quintessence of humane blood which hath a noble vertue to sustain humane nature in all infirmities and free the body from all Diseases Let this therefore suffice to have spoken concerning humane blood If you would also extract a Quintessence from Flesh or Eggs let the Flesh be finely and subtly minced and then bray it in a Mortar with a tenth part of common Salt In like manner let the Eggs be beat in a Mortar with alt till they be reduced into water afterwards put them in a Cucurbite and place thereupon a blinde Alimbeck and worâ— in all things in digestion fermentation and distillation as is directed touching humanâ— blood Chap. 18. To draw a Quintessence from Apples Pears and other fruits IF you would draw a Quintessence from Apples Prunes Cherries Chestnuts or such kinde of Fruits first cut them small with a knife then beat them in an earthen Mortar and incorporate them well with the tenth part of common Salt afterwards put them in a Cucurbite and place thereupon a blinde Alimbeck well luted and set it in Horse-dung to putrifie as before is spoken concerning humane blood and then the vertue and excellency of the Fruit cometh forth out of its essence which lies occult in the matter and when it is separated from its Feces and gross matter it is reduced to a certain immaterial and incorrupt matter deservedly by Philosophers called the Quintessence of Fruits and hath an hundred times greater vertue then it had before when it was an Elementary Body Chap. 19. To extract a Quintessence from Flowers Herbs and Roots IF you would separate a Quintessence from the four qualities of Flowers Herbs and Roots take them when they are at their full maturity with their whole substance in a clear and serene season the Moon increasing near the full for then the Herbs are more free from corruption and after you have cut them small beat them in a Marble Morter with the tenth part of salt and impose in a circulatory Let it ferment in Horse-dung a moneth renewing the dung once a week then at the monthes end take it out of the dung place upon it a blinde Alimbeck and distil it in Balneo Mariae augmenting the fire to the third degree then reserving the distilled water take the feces and pulverize them finely afterwards powre the distilled water upon the feces and again set on a blinde Alembick luting all well distil them as at first in Balneo Mariae abating the fire half a degree Afterwards pulverize the feces again and powre on them the distilled water let it digest again and distil it the third time and putrifie it alwayes abating the fire half a degree decrease also the putrifaction half a degree alwayes see that in the second digestion it putrifie one and twenty dayes in the third fourteen dayes and in the fourth eight so that it is to be fermented four times After the fourth distillation is performed put it in a Circulatory and bury it in Horse-dung or in Balneo making the fire in the first degree or it may also be set in the Sun in Summer and circulated there one moneth or a little more while the superfluous humidity of the four qualities is quite digested consumed and resolved in the Circulatory by frequent ascension and descension and thus you have a Quintessence wherein consists the greatest vertue of Herbs Flowers and Roots You may do it likewise after the same manner as Chelidonia and it will be the stronger Chap. 20. How to distill Vinegar and mans Vrine wherein all calcined Metals may be resolved WE have already declared that Sol may be dissolved in distilled Vinegar we come now to describe the manner of distilling the Vinegar for there is a great difference between the distillation of Aqua vitae and Vinegar for in Aqua vitae the better substance is first distilled but in Vinegar it is last take therefore the best Vinegar you can get put it in a Cucurbite and set thereon an Alimbeck and distill it in ashes or in sand or in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire until no more water will come forth taste the water often upon your Tongue if it be very sharp with a kinde of ucerdacity or biting then it is time to remove the receiver and put another in his place which is to be well luted and augment the fire a little and when you see little white lines as it were little Clouds in the Alimbeck continue distilling until the spirits do arise the Vapors whereof you shall see arise unto the top of the Cucurbite and pass out of the Alimbeck into the receiver but when you see as it were drops of blood in the Limbeck then apply another receiver and let it distil until all that sanguine matter be come into the receiver and this matter is very fetid smelling of Combustion and therefore is not fit to resolve Calcined Sol to make Aurum potabile but good to tinge mettals because the fetor of the Combustion will adhere to the substance of the Sun whereby the Aurum potabile will be corrupted But if you would distill mans Urine wherein leaves of Gold or Calcined Gold may be dissolved from which the Urine being so distilled may be extracted a colour to make the Aurum potabile so much spoken of which hath an excellenâ— virtue against the Gout the feet being twice or thrice in a day bathed therewith and let dry of themselves it is good also for such as are Ptysical and for many other diseases which for brevities sake I omit Take therefore the Urine of a man of a sanguine complexion or a sound Choller one that drinks good Wine and is not above thirty five years of age distil it four times by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae
wonderfully comforts and strengthens the memory This water also preserves youth makes a mix them together and make therewith a pastâ— of the Bole let it dry and powder it again anâ— make paste thereof again with the same waters repeating this over three times and thuâ— you have the Bole-Armonick prepared Chap. 25. A precious water used by the Count Palatine TAke Salviae recentis one ounce and halâ— Nucis moscatae Macis of each one ouncâ— Zinzib albi one ounce and half Gran. Parâ—disi six drams Cinamomi one ounce and an halâ— Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Camphorâ— two drams Rorismarini sem Feniculi of eacâ— one ounce and an half Lavendulae Marjoraâ— Rute of each one ounce Florum Camomilae oâ— ounce Matricariae two drams Rosarum ruâ—m 1. Betonicae one ounce Abrotani four dramâ— Castorei recentis one dram Spicae Indicae twâ— drams Macro-piperis one ounce Olei Laurâ— two drams Aqua vitae one pound and an halâ— Menthae Menchastri of each two drams Powder what is to be powdred cut thaâ— which is to be cut and bruise those thingâ— which are to be bruised and put them all in Cucurbite with a long neck then pour there upon eight pounds of the best Wine close uâ— the vessel and bury it in the Earth thirty dayeâ— then take it up and put it in another Cucurbitâ— placing thereon a Limbeck and distil it in Baâ—neo Mariae three times over alwayes puttinâ— the distilled water again upon the feces A◠〈…〉 you come to distil it the fourth time adde a good quantity of Sage-leaves fresh gathered And when it is so distilled reserve it for your use the older it is the better it is you may use it when you please it hath innumerable vertues against all distempers and infirmities of the body Chap. 26. A precious Compound Water of Life which may be used instead of a natural Balsom TAke Trupentine purified and washed in the best white Wine twelve ounces Honey also clarified with white Wine three pound mix them altogether then adde of Aqua vitae well rectified four pound put them in a Cucurbite afterwards take the Herbs hereafter named cut them small and adde them to the rest in the Cucurbite let them stand so eight dayes the vessel being well luted that it evaporate not afterwards distil it in ashes with great dilligence The Herbs are these Take Buglossae Boraginis Melissae Salviae Lavendulae an m. 1. Hissopi Florum Camomilae Card. Benedicti of each half a handful Rorismarini two handfuls Artemisiae half a handful When these things are distilled then adde these things following well powdred and set them to digest in horse-dung eight dayes or in Balneo three dayes The things which are to be added are these Take Ligni Aloes Xylobalsami Santalorum trium Calami Aromatici Stichados Arabici seminis Citri sileris montani Cimini of each one dram Macis Nucis muscatae Cinamomi electi Garioph Galangae Cubeb Zinzib albi Macro-piperis Croci orientalis Gran. Paradisi Cardamomi minoris an three drams Coriandri praeparati gran Juniperi Bacc. Lauri an half an ounce Bistortae six drams sem Feniculi Liqueritiae Visci quercini sem Anisi an one ounce Amigdal mundalarum passularum recent an one pound Take the glass or distillatory in which the matter is and set it in ashes well luting of it and make thereunto a gentle fire the space of four hours And when you see a clear water pass forth into the receiver take away that receiver and put thereto another luting it well as before and increase the fire until there distil forth a Cytrine Oyl into the receiver which reserve by it self Thirdly when you perceive a black Oyl begin to appear take away that receiver and adde another in which receive the black oyl till it be all distilled which Oyl keep by it self The first water ought to be thus prepared by putting into it Musk and Amber of each one dram leaves of Gold one scruple To comfort all the members of the body Take of Malmsey Wine one ounce adde thereto a spoonful of the first water mix them together till it turn white like Milk drink it fasting and fast two hours after it it wonderfully comforts and fortifies the whole body For pain in the head take one spoonful of the said water in water of Betony it comforts and strengthens the Lungs being taken in Winter-time with Mulbery-water or sage water but in Summer-time take of Endive-water one ounce and of this water one spoonful For infirmities of the Breast and a cold Cough proceeding from a Catarre take of Hyssop-water Borrage or Fennel-water mix them with the aforesaid water For the heart Take Bugloss or Borrage water half an ounce as much of the aforesaid water and as much Balme-water mix them and drink them fasting For the Stomach Give of this water in Mint or Wormwood-water For the Spleen Use the aforesaid water in water of Bugloss or Tamarisk For the Vertigo and Palsie Give the said water with Piony-water or water of the Herb and Root of Saint Johns-wort For the Stone in the Bladder Take Rhadish water one ounce and too spoonfulls of this water For the Strangury Take water of Cresces Parsley or Saxifrage one ounce and one spoonful of this water For overflowing of the tearms Take water of Plantane and drink it morning and evening with one spoonful of this water To provoke the tearms Take Mugwort-water or Mugwort-seed with one spoonful of this water drink it about that time when the tearms are expected For Women who have received hurt by unskilful Midwives or such as cannot conceive by reason of the coldness of the matrix let them take one spoonful of this water in the morning fasting with water of Valerian Betony or Wilde Roses For the eyes Take water of Fennel and Eyebright of each half an ounce and of this water one dram drink it as aforesaid For Spots or Freckles of the face Take water of Bean-Flowers or Pimpernel-water one ounce and of this first water half an ounce mix them together and wash the face therewith morning and evening and drink of this water in Endive-water twice or thrice a week The second water which is Citrine and the third which is like black Oyl is excellent good against Fistula's Cancers and other Wounds and Sores and may be used instead of a Balsom Chap. 27. An Aqua vitae Composita Against the Vertigo of the Head and the Palsie TAke Salviae nine ounces Florum Lavendulae four ounces Hissopi Menthae an m. 2. Garioph Nucis Muscatae Cinamomi Zinzib albi Granorum Paradisi Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Calami Aromataci one ounce Cran. Juniperi one ounce Granorun Peoniae half an ounce Vini albi eight pound Digest them in horse-dung eight dayes or four dayes in Balneo Mariae afterwards distil them in an Alembick and reserve it for use in a glass close stopt it hath a wonderfull operation against
the Palsie and Vertigo of the Head Chap. 28. A Precious Water for the Head Brain and Memory c. THis following Water was found out by a learned German it is an excellent and noble Water of Life having many egregious operations to comfort and preserve the whole body from Diseases especially the Head Brain and all the inward parts of the Head to expel and dissolve all infirmities proceeding from coldness and moisture to exhilerate the Instruments of the Soul and quicken the five Senses for it marvellously comforts the four pincipal Members with the Reins and Intestines It procures also the best digestion in the Stomach gives great comfort to the outward Members by its onely odour by taking one part of this Water and two parts of the Water of of Sage Lavander and Rosemary mixed together and wet a spunge therein and foment the Members therewith morning and evening and let it dry in of it self Or if you drink three or four drops thereof in a glass of Wine a little before dinner or supper it comforts the Stomach It is good also to comfort the Head take of this Water one dram with half an ounce of Betony-Water and drink it morning and evening or dip a Crust of Bread in that Water and eat it every morning fasting For the Brain and Memory take of this Water one dram Waters of Rosemary and Marjoram of each half an ounce and use it in like manner as he last For the Breast take of this Water one dram Water of Hysop and Maiden-hair each two drams use it in like manner For the Heart take of this Water one dram of Borage and Bugloss Water each two drams take it as the former For the Stomach take of this Water one dram of Mint and Wormwood-water each two drams use it in manner aforesaid For the Lungs take of this Water one dram adde to it Cycory-Water one ounce and use it as the former For the Spleen take of this Water one dram Waters of Tamarisk and Scolopendrie of each one ounce use it in like manner To comfort all the Members of the Body use one part of this Water in four parts of Wine The way to make this Water is thus Take pul Diamargarit frigid Diarrhodon Abbatis species Diambrae Dianthos laetificans Galleni an two drams Cassiae fistulae noviter extract Zacchari candidi an half an ounce Syrup de Liqueritiâ one ounce Syrup Stechados half an ounce florum R rismarini one dram Moschi Alexandrini one scruple Upon these Species pour two pound of simple Aqua vitae well rectified by a treble distillation in Balneg Mariae distil them in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that you may tell six or seven between every drop the Musk ought to be tied in a piece of Silk and put into the vial with the distilled water and is not to be distilled with the rest Some putrifie with the aforesaid Species Bugloss-water one pound Balm-water half a pound Rosemary-water two ounces and afterwards distil it in Balneo Mariae Chap. 29. To make a Celestial Precious Water called the Secret of Secrets WE come now to declare unto you the Secret of Secrets a most precious Water called Celestial by the Philosophers because of its heavenly operation the way to make it is thus Take Salviae cum floribus suis Rorismarini Darseni Zinzib albi Garioph Nucis Muscatae gran Paradisi Galangae Calami Aromatici Macro-pip Zedoar an half an ounce Macis Cardamoni Cubeb fol. Rutae fol. Majoranae flor Lavendulae Ros Rub. an two drams Theriac Andromachi Mithridat an a dram and a half Ol. Laurini cort Citri florum Buglossae Borraginis Rorismarini Angelicae Rapentici gran Juniperi Mentastri Menthae Matricariae an a dram and a half Castorei verbeciae cum flor suis Betonicae Ligni Aloes Spicae Indicae gran Peoniae seminis Feniculi Ceori an half a dram Ambrae Moschi an half a scruple Let all these things following be put to digest with Aqua vitae in Balneo Maria four dayes and as many nights viz. Sage Rosemary Rue Marjoram Lavander Roses Mithridate Treacle Oyl of Bayes Bugloss Borrage Angelica Rapontick Juniper-berries Mint Calamint Mother-wort Vervain Betony Castoreum And when they are putrified distil them in a Limbeck in ashes with a gentle fire so that you may number one two three between every drop when these are distilled take the other things viz. Cinamon Mace Nutmegs Grains of paradise Galangal Calamus Aromat Pepper Zedory Cubebs Cardamomi Lignum Aloes Citron Pills Spikenard Piony-roots and seeds Coriander prepared pulverize all these grosly and put them into the distilled water and let them digest together fourten dayes then distil them again by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae afterwards adde the Camphire Rhubarb Saffron Amber and Musk. If you would have the water yet better and more costly adde Pul. Diamargarit Nicholai Diapliris cum moscho Nicholai Diarrhodon Abbatis Diamoschi Mesnae Spec. Diambrae Letificans Galeni pul Dialigni Aloes an half a dram adde twenty leaves of Gold white Sugar half a pound let them stand three dayes in Balneo Mariae keeping the water of the Bath warm afterwards distil it by filter in glass Retorts let one glass stand somewhat higher then the other cut small forms of a filter and hang therein and by them the matter will be distilled let the glass be well luted that no Air may evapâ—rate and this is the most excellent way of distillation of all others There are some Physicians who to comfort the Stomach have invented a green water which they use with the Aqua viae above prescribed or with the Claret following The green water is made on this manner Take Aqua vitae four times distilled by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae four pound Balm dryed three ounces Balsamint two ounces infuse the Herbs in the Aqua vitae eight dayes and then use thereof Note that the Herbs are not to be dryed in the Sun for then the water will be obscure but in the shade and the water will be of a fair green colour and pleasant to the drinker The Claret is made in this manner Take of the best white Wine four pound fine hard Sugar four ounces Cinamon one ounce Coryander prepared three drams Cloves two drams Grains of Paradise and white Ginger of each one dram and a half black Pepper two scruples Zedory half a dram Make them all into powder and afterwards use it as you make Hypocras This some use to take with the Water before prescribed The Vertues of this Water are these IT is good for the memory taking every day half an ounce mixed with Rosemary-water half an ounce water of Marjoram and Balm of each two drams For madness or grief in the brain proceeding from cold take of this water half an ounce Betony-water two drams dip a Linnen cloth therein and apply it to the head For the Vertigo of the head take hereof half an ounce water of
a weakness of such Veins doth follow as did convey food to the Liver and then Excrements are heaped together in the lower parts untill they are corrupted and so surcharge the body and afflict the Patient with a Lax. The Patient in this disease is for the most part troubled with a Feaver and doth thirst very much especially if he be troubled with Ascites and because of Salt and putrefied humors he loaths meat The colour of the face is whitish hardness of breathing and heaviness of the body concurs also Swellings of the Feet because of the far distance of the heart In Anasarca the whole body is weakened and doth Faint and Swell equally yet for the most part the Swelling is in the Shins and the Feet so that if the Fingers are thrust into the flesh the prints of them will remain a long time The great coolings of the Veins and Liver is the cause of this long sore disease this happens to the Liver by it self or else by the coldness of the Spleen Guts Misentery Midriff which sometimes because of their obstruction somtimes because of their weakness draw not unto them too much blood also it is caused by the Bleeding at the Nose by immoderate running or by staying of the monethly Courses or Hemrhoids for so the natural heat is choaked by the loss of Spirits in the blood sometimes it is caused by the Flux of the belly or stomach if they do last long for the natural spirits and native heat are scattered There are many other causes if ulcers arise in the body by water that is between the flesh because of the great plenty of humor it is hardly cured He who is supurated or have a Dropsie when he is cut or burnt if that water or matter doth run out he dies presently also if a Cough doth seize on him he is in great danger Of all these Dropsies the Timpanites is the worst He that is in a consumption many times fall into a Dropsie because the evil is communicated to the Liver for matter and venomous filth having found a way into the Liver gets in and sticks fast therein and so doth corrupt the substance of it The air where the Patient lives should be clear and somewhat inclining to heat and driness moist and windy air do increase this Disease In this distemper a supper of roast meat is better then sod his meat must be easie of concoction flesh broth must not be given except the Patient takes Purges he may drink thin Wine but not sweet because this will not quench his thirst as it is good in this Disease to indure hunger so to thirst long is dangerous moderate exercise frictions and the Baths are good he may sleep in the night time but not much the Excrements must be answerable to nature he must abstain from Venery and even as fear and sadness do hurt very much because they hinder digestion so anger and some of the other passions will be very good for him Of spitting of Blood SPitting of Blood is any avoiding of Blood at the mouth Blood is also voided from many other places of the body here care ought to be had in observing whether the Patient was wont to Bleed at the Nose or no for from thence it doth fall into the Stomach and Throat and from thence into the Lungs but for the most part it doth turn and harden into a cold if then one spit blood and yet did not Bleed at the Nose formerly then it comes from some peculiar part blood is often voided from the Gums and Mouth it self and then the Spittle is of a bloody colour and very little is voided out and that without a Cough if it do come from the Throat or Weezel-pipe then it is voided by Hemmings not by Cough and the continuated parts of these places do appear loosened if the Tongue be thrust out but if it did come from the Head a pain of the Head and heaviness went before a noise in the Ears the Forehead Veins rise they have a kinde of a heat and blood in the Mouth and a tickling is felt in the Palate if it doth run into the Throat from whence by often Hemming it is cast out oftentimes the Patient hath a desire to Cough but cannot but if the blood doth come from the Lungs then is the blood foamy and then it is voided by frequent Coughing and without pain and at sundry times and as oft as blood is voided because some great Vein is burst then plenty of blood is cast up no cause except that known it being as it were cast up by Vomit but if blood be cast up because some Vein in the Lungs is gnawn which is oft caused by a sharp humor falling down then it is voided by degrees a little now and a little then unless some great Vein be fretted asunder for then it runs out in great abundance for this is very dangerous for then follows a Cough or a Feaver sometimes some part of the Lungs being rotted is voided by a Cough and this is the surest sign of the Lungs exulceration much more might be written of the peculiar parts affected and of the signs This distemper is often caused by fulness and by a great quantity of blood which doth offend the body and some peculiar parts of the body more particularly so that hereby the vessels mouths are opened Of this is a good habit of body immoderate use of hot nutriments and Wine suppression of tearms and then there is no pain but rather a lightsomness of the body which before was dull and then also there is not too great a quantity thereof and it is not very foamy or red Women without any danger of Consumption have been eased by this shedding of blood in the suppression of their tearms To omit other causes that might be rendred of this distemper it will be very necessary to take notice that if the Lungs are ulcerated there is danger for then there is danger of a Supuration and Consumption when a Vein in the Lungs is opened and burst yet there is some hope if the substance of the Lungs be sound yet a Consumption signifies danger if the blood which comes out of the rupture of a vein falling upon the Lungs be there detained by which means the Lungs are inflamed and putrefied for at length the substance of the Lungs will be corrupted and putrefied there is also danger when a great Vâ—â—â— is opened or broke for that the heart may be suffocated from the plenty of blood voided from thence Spitting of blood if it be caused by a corrosion of the Lungs is incuâ—able if from the Breast there is less danger Spitting of matter it is a sign the Lungs are exulcerated this disease if it continue long will turn into a Consumption The air the Patient lives in should be somewhat inclining to cold and dry the Patient must avoid sun-shine and a bright fire his meat must be such as doth cool