those things which are not agreeable to nature To what things besides nature But the things which are called Natural may be reduced to seven heads besides which there comes into their fellowship those which we term Annexed The seven principal heads of things Natural are Elements Temperaments Humors Parts or members Faculties Actions Spirits To these are annexed as somewhat near Age Sex Colour Cmpoosure Time or season Region Vocation of life CHAP. IV. Of Elements AN Element by the definition which is commonly received amongst Physitians is the least and most simple portion of that thing which it composeth or What an Element is that my speech may be the more plain The four first and simple bodies are called Elements Fire Air Water and Earth which accommodate and subject themselves as matter to the promiscuous generation of all things which the Heavens engirt whether you understand things perfectly or unperfectly mixed Such Elements are only to be conceived in your mind Elements are understood by reason not by sense being it is not granted to any external sense to handle them in their pure and absolute nature Which was the cause that Hippocrates expressed them not by the names of substances but of proper qualities saying Hot Cold Moist Dry because some one of these qualities is inherent in every Element as his proper and essential form not only according to the excess of latitude but also of the active faculty Why Hipp. expressed the Elements by these names of Qualities to which is adjoined another simple quality and by that reason principal but which notwithstanding attains not to the highest degree of his kind as you may understand by Galen in his first Book of Elements So for example sake in the Air we observe two qualities Heat and Moisture both principal and not remitted by the commixture of any contrary quality Two principal qualities are in each Element for otherwise they were not simple Therefore thou maist say What hinders that the principal effects of heat shew not themselves as well in the Air as in the Fire Because as we said before although the Air have as great a heat according to his nature extent and degree no otherwise than Fire hath yet it is not so great in its active quality Why the Air heats not so vehemently as the Fire The reason is because that the calfactory force in the Air is hindered and dulled by society of his companion and adjoined quality that is Humidity which abateth the force of heat as on the contrary driness quickneth it The Elements therefore are endewed with qualities Names of the substances Fire Air Water Earth is Hot and dry Moist and hot Cold and moist Cold and dry Names of the qualities These four Elements in the composition of natural bodies How the Elements may be understood to be mixed in compound bodies retain the qualities they formerly had but that by their mixture and meeting together of contraries they are somewhat tempered and abated But the Elements are so mutually mixed one with another and all with all that no simple part may be found no more then in a mass of the Emplaister Diacalcitheos you can shew any Axungia oil or Litharge by it self all things are so confused and united by the power of heat mixing the smallest particulars with the smallest and the whole with the whole in all parts You may know and perceive this concretion of the four Elementary substances in one compound body by the power of mixture in their dissolution by burning a pile or heap of green wood For the flame expresses the Fire the smoak the Air the moisture that sweats out at the ends Why of the first qualities two are active and two passive the Water and the ashes the Earth You may easily perceive by this example so familiar and obvious to the senses what dissolution is which is succeeded by the decay of the compound body on the contrary you may know that the coagmentation or uniting and joyning into one of the first mixed bodies is such that there is no part sincere or without mixture For if the heat which is predominant in the fire should remain in the mixture in its perfect vigor it would consume the rest by its pernicious neighbourhood the like may be said of Coldness Moisture and Driness although of these qualities two have the title of Active that is Heat and Coldness because they are the more powerful the other two Passive because they may seem more dull and slow being compared to the former The temperaments of all sublunary bodies arise from the commixture of these substances and elementary qualities which hath been the principal cause that moved me to treat of the Elements But I leave the force and effects of the Elementary qualities to some higher contemplation content to have noted this that of these first qualities so called because they are primarily and naturally in the four first bodies others arise and proceed which are therefore called the second qualities as of many these Heaviness Why the first qualities are so called Lightness variously distributed by the four Elements as the Heat or Coldness Moistness or Driness have more power over them For of the Elements two are called light because they naturally affect to move upwards the other two heavie What the second qualities are by reason they are carryed downward by their own weight So we think the fire the lightest because it holds the highest place of this lower world the Air which is next to it in site we account light for the water which lies next to the Air we judg heavie What Elements light what heavy and the earth the center of the rest we judg to be the heaviest of them all Hereupon it is that light bodies and the light parts in bodies have most of the lighter Elements as on the contrary heavie bodies have more of the heavier This is a brief descripion of the Elements of this frail world which are only to be discerned by the understanding to which I think good to adjoin another description of other Elements as it were arising or flowing from the commixture of the first For besides these there are said to be Elements of generation and Elements of mans body Which as they are more corporal so also are they more manifest to the sense By which reason Hippocrates being moved in his Book de Natura humana after he had described the Nature of Hot Cold Moist and Dry What the Elements of generation are he comes to take notice of these by the order of composition Wherefore the Elements of our generation as also of all creatures which have blood What the Elements of mâ—xt bodies are seed and menstruous blood But the Elements of our bodies are the solid and similar parts arising from those Elements of generation Of this kind are bones membranes ligaments veins arter es and many others manifest to the eys
of heat brought thither by the bullet but the force of the contusion Now the contusion is exceeding great both because the bullet is round and enters the body with incredible violence Of which those that are wounded will give you sufficient testimony for there is none of them which thinks not presently upon the blow that as it were some post or thing of the like weight falls upon the affected member whence great pain and stupidity possess the part whereby the native heat and spirits are so much dissipated that a Gangrene may follow But for the Eschar which they affirm is made by the blow and falls away afterwards they are much mistaken For certain particles of the membranes and flesh contused and torn by the violence of the bullet beguiles them which presently putrefying are severed from the sound parts by the power of nature and the separating heat which thing usually happens in all great Contusions But for all that these so many and weighty reasons may free the powder from all suspition of Poison and the bullet from all thought of burning yet there are many who insisting upon Philosophical arguments raise new stirs For say they the discharging a peice of Ordinance is absolutely like Thunder and Lightning which the rent and torn clouds cast from the middle region upon the earth wherefore the Iron bullet which is shot out of the Cannon must needs have a venenate and burning faculty I am not ignorant that Lightning generated of a grosse and viscous exhalation The reasons of our adversaries refelled Quest nat lib. 2. cap. 49. breaking the cloud wherewith it is encompassed never falâ—s upon the earth but brings fire with it one while more subtile another while more gross according to the various condition of the matter whence the exhalation hath arisen For Seneca writes that there are three several kinds of Lightning differing in burning condition and plenty One of them penetrates or rather perforates by the tenuity of the matter of the object which it touches The other with a violent impetuosity breaks in sunder and dissipates the objects by reason it hath a more dense compact and forcible matter like as Whirlwinds have The third for that it consists of a more terrestrial matter burns what it touches The stinking smell of lightning leaving behind it the impression of the burning Also I know that Lightning is of a pestilent and stinking nature occasioned by the grosness and viscidity of the matter whereof it is which matter taking fire sends forth so loathsom and odious a smell that the very wild Beasts cannot indure it but leave their Dens if they chance to be touched with such a Lightning Besides also we have read in the Northern History of Olâ—us Magnus that in some places after a Lightning you shall find a whole Plain spread over with Brimstone which Brimstone notwithstanding is extinguished unprofitable and of no efficacy But grant these things be thus yet must we not therefore conclude that the Bullets of the great Ordnance carry poyson and fire with them into the wounds For though there be many things a like in Lightning and discharging great Ordnance yet they have no similitude either in matter or substance but only in effects whereby they shake break in sunder and disperse the bodies which withstand them For Lightning and Thunder do it by means of fire and oft-times of a stone generated in them which is therefore tearmed a Thunderbolt but Ordnance by the Bullet carryed by the force of the Air more violently driving and forcing it forwards Neither if any should by more powerful arguments force me to yield that the matter of the Lightning and shooting of Ordnance are alike yet will I not therefore be forced to confess that Wounds made by Gunshot are combust Lib. 2. cap. 49. The wonderful nature of some Lightning For according to Pliny there are some lightnings which consisting of a most dry matter do shatter in sunder al that withstand them but do not burn at all others which are of somewhat a more humid nature burn no more than the former but only black such things as they touch Lastly othersome of a more subtile and tenuous matter whose nature as Seneca saith we must not doubt to be divine if but for this reason that they will melt gold and silver not harming the purse a sword not hurting the scabbard the head of a Lance not burning the wood and shed wine not breaking the vessel According to which decree I can grant that these Lightnings which break in sunder melt and dissipate and perform other effects so full of admiration are like in substance to the shot of great Ordnance but not those which carry with them fire and flame A History In proof whereof there comes into my mind a History of a certain Souldier out of whose thigh I remember I drew forth a Bullet wrapped in the taffety of his breeches which had not any sign of tearing or burning Why the wounds made by Gunshot some few years agone were so deadly Besides I have seen many who not wounded nor so much as touched yet notwithstanding have with the very report and wind of a Cannon bullet sliding close by their ears faln down for dead so that their members becomming livid and black they have dyed by a Gangrene ensuing thereupon These and such effects are like the effects of Lightning which we lately mentioned and yet they bear no sign nor mark of poyson From whence I dare now boldly conclude that wounds made by gunshot are neither poysoned nor burnt But seeing the danger of such Wounds in these last Civil-wars hath been so great universal and deadly to so many worthy personages and valiant men what then may have been the cause thereof if it were neither combustion nor the venenate quality of the Wound This must we therefore now insist upon and somewhat hardily explain The cause of the transmuâ—ation of the Elements Those who have spent all their time in the learning and searching out the mysteries of natural Philosophy would have all men think and believe that the four Elements have such mutual sympathy that they may be changed each into other so that they not only undergo the alterations of the first qualities which are heat coldness dryness and moisture but also the mutation of their proper substances by rarefaction and condensation For thus the fire is frequently changed into air the air into water the water into air and the water into earth and on the contrary the earth into water the water into air the air into fire because these 4. first bodies have in their common matter enjoyed the contrary and fighting yet first and principal qualities of all Whereof we have an example in the * These bellows here mentioned by the Author are Balls made of Brass in form of a Pear with a very small hole in their lesser ends when you would fill them with
water you must heat them very hot and so the air which is contained in them will be exceedingly rarified which by putting them presently into water will be condensate a much and so will draw in the water to supply the place ne detur vacuum Then put them into fire and it again ratifying the water into air will make them yield a strong continued and forcible blast The cause of the report and blow of a Cannon Ball-bellows brought out of Germany which are made of brass hollow and round and have a very small hole in them whereby the water is put in and so put to the fire the water by the action thereof is rarified into air and so they send forth wind with a great noise and blow strongly assoon as they grow throughly not You may try the same with Chesnuts which cast whole and undivided into the fire presently fly asunder with a great crack because the watry and innate humidity turned into wind by the force of the fire forcibly breaks his passage forth For the air or wind raised from the water by rarifaction requires a larger place neither can it now be contained in the narro◠〈◊〉 or skins of the Chesnut wherein it was formerly kept Just after the same manner Gunâ—der being fired turns into a far greater proportion of air according to the truth of that Philosophical proposition which saith Of one part of earth there are made ten of water of one of water ten of air and of one of air are made ten of fire Now this fire not possible to be pent in the narrow space of the piece wherein the powder was formerly contained endeavours to force its passage with violence and so casts forth the Bullet lying in the way yet so that it presently vanishes into air and doth not accompany the Bullet to the mark or object which it batters spoils and breaks asunder Yet the Bullet may drive the obvious air with such violence that men are often sooner touched therewith than with the Bullet and dye by having their bones shattered and broken without any hurt on the flesh which covers them which as we formerly noted it hath common with Lightning We find the like in Mines when the powder is once fired it removes and shakes even Mountains of earth In the year of our Lord 1562. A History a quantity of this powder which was not very great taking fire by accident in the Arcenal of Paris caused such a tempest that the whole City shook therewith but it quite overturned divers of the neighbouring houses and shook off the â—yles and broke the windows of those which were further off and to conclude like a storm of Lightning it laid many here and there for dead some lost their sight others their hearing and othersome had their limbs torn asunder as if they had been rent with wild Horses and all this was done by the only agitation of the air into which the fired Gun-powder was turned Just after the same manner as windes pent up in hollow places of the earth which want vents The cause of an Earthquake For in seeking passage forth they vehemently shake the sides of the Earth and raging with a great noise about the cavities they make all the surface thereof to tremble so that by the various agitation one while up another down it over-turns or carries it to another place For thus we have read that Megara and Aegina anciently most famous Cities of Greece were swallowed up and quite over-turned by an Earthquake I omit the great blusterings of the winds striving in the cavities of the earth which represent to such as hear them at some distance the fierce assailing of Cities the bellowing of Bullets the horrid roarings of Lions neither are they much unlike to the roaring reports of Cannons These things being thus premised let us come to the thing we have in hand Amongst things necessary for life there is none causes greater changes in us than the Air which is continually drawn into the Bowels appointed by nature and whether we sleep wake or what else soever we do we continual draw in and breathe it out Through which occasion Hippocrates calls it Divine for that breathing through this mundane Orb it embraces nourishes defends and keeps in quiet peace all things contained therein friendly conspiring with the Stars from whom a divine vertue is infused therein For the air diversly changed and affected by the Stars doth in like manner produce various changes in these lower mundane bodies And hence it is that Philosophers and Physitians do so seriously with us to behold and consider the culture and habit of places and constitution of the air when they treat of preserving of health or curing diseases For in these the great power and dominion of the air is very apparent as you may gather by the four seasons of the year for in Summer the air being hot and dry heats and dryes our bodies but in Winter it produceth in us the effects of Winters qualities that is of cold and moisture yet by such order and providence of nature that although according to the varieties of seasons our bodies may be variously altered yet shall they receive no detriment thereby if so be that the seasons retain their seasonableness from whence if they happen to digress they raise and stir up great perturbations both in our bodies and minds whose malice we can scarse shun because they encompass us on every hand and by the law of Nature enter together with the air into the secret Cabinets of our Bodies both by occult and manifest passages For who is lie How the air becomes hurtful that doth not by experience find both for the commodity and discommodity of his health the various effects of winds wherewith the air is commixt according as they blow from this or that Region or quarter of the world Wherefore seeing that the South-wind is hot and moist the North-wind cold and dry the East-wind clear and fresh the West wind cloudy it is no doubt but that the air which we draw in by inspiration carries together therewith into the Bowels the qualities of that wind which is then prevalent Whence we read in Hippocrates Aphor. 17. sect 3. that changes of times whether they happen by different winds or vicissitude of seasons chiefly bring diseases For Northerly winds do condense and strengthen our Bodies and make them active well coloured and during by resuscitating and vigorating the native heat But Southern winds resolve and moisten our Bodies make us heavy-headed dull the hearing cause giddiness and make the Eyes and Body less agile as the Inhabitants of Nâ—rbon find to their great harm who are otherwise ranked among the most active people of France But if we would make a comparison of the seasons and constitutions of the year by Hippâ—crates decree Droughts are more wholesome and less deadly than Rains I judg for that too much humidity is the mother of
CHAP. IX Of the Actions AN Action or Function is an active motion proceeding from a faculty for What an Action is as the faculty depends on the Temperament so the Action on the faculty and the Act or work depends upon the Action by a certain order of consequence But although that the words Action and Act or work are often confounded yet there is this difference between them as that the Action signifies the Motion used in the performance of any thing but the Act or work An action and an Act are different the thing already done and performed for example Nutrition and the Generating of flesh are natural Actions but the parts nourished and a hollow ulcer filled with flesh are the works of that motion or action Wherefore the Act ariseth from the Action as the Action ariseth from the Faculty the integrity or perfection of the instruments concurring in both For as if the Faculty be either defective or hurt no Action will be well performed so unless the Instruments keep their native and due conformity which is their perfect health the operator of the Action proper to the instrument none of those things which ought to be will be well performed Therefore for the performance of blameless and perfect actions it is fit a due conformity of the instrument concur with the faculty But Actions are two fold for they are either Natural or Voluntary Natural actions They are tearmed Natural because they are performed not by our will but by their own accord and against our will As are that continual motion of the Heart the beating of the Arteries the expulsion of the Excrements and such other like which are done in us by the Law of Nature whether we will or no. These Actions flow either from the Liver and Veins or from the Heart and Arteries Wherefore we may comprehend them under the names of Natural and Vital Actions For we must attribute his Action to each faculty lest we seem to constitute an idle faculty and no way profitable for use The unvoluntary vital actions are the dilatation and contraction of the Heart and Arteries the which we comprehend under the sole name of the Pulse by that they draw in and by this they expel or drive forth The unvoluntary vital actions be Generation Growth and Nutrition which proceed from the Generative Growing and Nourishing faculty Generation is nothing else then a certain producing or acquiring of matter What Generation is and an introducing of a substantial form into that matter this is performed by the assistance of two faculties of the altering which doth diversly prepare and dispose the seed and menstruous blood to put on the form of a Bone Nerve Spleen flesh and such like of the Forming faculty which adorns with figure site and composition the matter ordered by so various a preparation Growth is an inlarging of the solid parts into all the dimensions What Growth is the pristine and ancient form remaing safe and sound in figure and solidity For the perfection of every growth is judged only by the solid parts for if the body swell into a mass of flesh or fat it shall not therefore be said to be grown but then only when the solid parts do in like manner increase especially the bones because the growth of the whole body follows their increase even although at the same time it wax lean and pine away Nutrition is a perfect assimilation of that nourishment which is digested What Nutrition is into the nature of the part which digests It is performed by the assistance of four subsidiary or helping actions Attractive Retentive Digestive and Expulsive Action voluntary The voluntary actions which we willingly perform are so called because we can at our pleasure hinder stir up slow or quicken them They are three in general the sensative moving and principal Action The sensitive * Anìma senâ—tens Soul comprehends all things in five senses in Sight Hearing Smell Taste and Touch. Three things must necessarily concur to the performance of them the Organ the Medium or mean and the Object The principal Organ or Instrument is the Animal spirit diffused by the Nerves into each several part of the body by which such actions are performed Wherefore for the present we will use the parts themselves for their Organs The Mean is a Body which carries the Object to the Instrument The Object is a certain external quality which hath power by a fit Medium or Mean to stir up and alter the Organ This will be more manifest by relating the particular functions of the senses by the necessary concurring of these three How sight is performed Sight is an action of the seeing faculty which is done by the Eye fitly composed of its coats and humors and so consequently the Organical body of this Action The Object is a visible quality brought to the Eye But such an Object is two-fold for either it is absolutely visible of its self and by its own Nature as the Sun the Fire the Moon and Stars or desires as it were the help of another that it may be actually such for so by the coming of the light colours which were visible in power only being brought to the Eye they do seem and appear such as they actually are But such Objects cannot arrive at the Eye but through a clear and illuminate Medium as the Air Water Glass and all sorts of Crystal How hearing The Hearing hath for its Organ the Ear and Auditory passage which goes to the stony-bone furnished with a Membrane investing it an Auditory Nerve and a certain inward spirit there contained The Object is every sound arising from the smitten or broken Air and the Collision of two bodies meeting together The Medium is the encompassing Air which carries the sound to the Ear. How smelling Smelling according to Galen's opinion is performed in the Mamillary processes produced from the proper substance of the brain and seated in the upper part of the nose although others had rather smelling should be made in the very fore-most ventricles of the brain This Action is weak in man in comparison of other Creatures the Object thereof is every smell or fumid exhalation breathing out of bodies The Medium by which the Object is carried to the noses of Men How the taste Beasts and Birds is the Air but to Fishes the Water it self The Action of taste is performed by the tongue being tempered well and according to nature and furnished with a Nerve spred over its upper part from the third and fourth Conjugation of the brain The Object is * Sapâ—r Taste of whose nature and kinds we will treat more at large in our Antidotary The Medium by the which the Object is so carried to the Organ that it may affect it is either external or internal The external is that spattle which doth as it were anoint and supple the tongue the internal is the
brute Beasts as Pliny affirmeth The infallible vertue of the herb Dictammus in drawing darts out of the flesh was taught us by the Hart who wounded with the Huntsman's darts or arrows by means hereof draws out the weapons which remain sticking in her Which is likewise practised by the Goats of Candy as Aristotle writeth The wonderful effect which Celandine hath upon the sight was learnt by the practice of Swallows who have been observed with it to have besmeared and so strengthened the eyes of their young Serpents rub their eye-lids with fennel and are thought by that means to quicken and restore the decaying sight of their eyes The Tortois doth defend and strengthen her self against the biting of Vipers by eating of savory Bears by eating of Pismires expel that poison that they have contracted by their use of Mandrakes And for correction of that drousiness and sloth which grows upon them by their long sleep in their dens The craftiness of Bears they eat the herb of Aron i. Cuckopint But the Art they use in the enticing and catching of Pismires is very pretty they go softly to the holes or hils of the Pismires and there lay themselves all their length upon the ground as if they were dead hanging out their tongue wet with their foam which they draw not again into their mouth before they feel them full of Pismires which are enticed by the sweetness of the foam And having taken this as a purging medicine they expel by the guts those ill humors wherewith they were offended We see that Dogs give themselves a vomit by eating a kind of grass which is from thence called Dog-grass Swine when they find themselves sick will hunt after smalt or river-lobsters Stockdoves Blackbirds and Partridges purge themselves by Bay-leaves Pigeons Turtles and all sort of Pullen disburden themselves of gross humors by taking of Pellitory of the wall The bird Ibis the first inventer or shewer of Clysters The invention of removing a Cataract The invention of Phlebotomy The Bird Ibis being not much unlike the Stork taught us the use of Clysters For when he finds himself oppressed with a burden of hurtful humors he fills his bill with salt-water and so purgeth himself by that part by which the belly is best discharged The invention of the way of removing the Cataract of the eye we must yield unto the Goat who by striking by chance against the thorny bushes pulls off the Cataract which hinders the sight and covers the ball of the eye and so recovers his sight The benefit of Phlebotomy we owe unto the Hippotamus or River-horse being a kind of horse and the Inhabitant of the River Nilus who being a great devourer when he finds himself surcharged with a great deal of blood doth by rubbing his thigh against the sharp sands on the bankside open a vein whereby the superfluous bloud is discharged which he stoppeth likewise when it is fit by rowling himself in the thick mud The Tortois having chanced to eat any of the flesh of a Serpent doth make Origanum and Marjoram her Antidote The Ancients found help from brute beasts A preservative against thunder even against the dreadful and non-sparing force of lightning for they were of opinion that the wings of an Eagle were never struck with lightning and therefore they put about their heads little wreaths of these feathers They were perswaded the same thing of the Seal or Sea-calf and therefore were wont to encompass their bodies with his skin as a most certain safe-guard against lightening It were a thing too long and laborious to speak of all those other muniments of life and health observed here and there by Aristotle and Pliny which we have learnt of brute beasts I will therefore end this Chapter after that I have first added this That we are beholding to Beasts not only for the skill of curing diseases and of preservation of health but for our food our rayment and the ornament and beautifying of our bodies Of the Faculty of brute Beasts in presaging THe first knowledg and skill of Prognostication and observation of weather by the Air was first delivered unto us from Beasts of the land and water and from Fowl What the butting of Rams signifies For we see in dayly observation that it is a sign of change of weather when Lambs and Rams do butt at one another with their horns and playing wantonly do kick and keep up their heels The same is thought to be presaged when the Ox licks himself against the hair and on the sodain fils the Air with his lowing and smels to the ground and when he feeds more greedily than he used to do But if the Pismires in great multitudes fetch their prey so hastily Presages of rain that they run and tumble one upon another in their narrow paths it is thought a sign of rain As is also the busie working of Moals and the Cats rubbing and stroaking of her head and neck and above her ears with the bottom of her feet Also when Fishes play and leap a little above the water it is taken for a sign of rain But if the Dolphins do the same in the Sea and in great companies The sign at Sea of a storm at hand it is thought to presage a sodain storm and tempest Whereby the Mariners fore-warned use all care possible for the safety of themselves and their ships and if they can cast Anchor And it is sufficiently known what the louder croaking of Frogs than ordinary portends But the faculty of Birds in this kind of presaging is wonderful If Cranes flie through the air without noise it is a sign of fair weather and of the contrary if they make a great noise and flie straglingly As also if Sea-fowl flie far from the Sea and light on the land The cry or scrieching of Owls portends a change of the present weather whether foul or fair Plutarch saith that the loud cawing of the Crow betokens winds and showers as also when he slaps his side with his wings Geese and Ducks when they dive much and order and prune and pick their feathers with their beaks and cry to one another fore-tel rain and in like manner Swallows when they flie so low about the water that they wet themselves and their wings And the Wren when he is observed to sing more sweetly than usual and to hop up and down And the Cock when he chants or rather crows presently after the setting of the Sun And Gnats and Fleas when they bite more then ordinary If the Hern soar aloft into the air it betokeneth fair weather if on the contrary he flie close by the water rain If Pigeons come late home to the Dove-house it is a sign of rain If Bats fly in the evening they fore-shew wet weather And lastly the Crocodile lays her egs in that place The Crocodile by laying her egs shews the bounds of the River Nilus which must be
the original of those Vessels which are dispersed through them To this purpose we will define what the Chest is and then we will divide it into its parts Thirdly in these we will consider which parts contain and which are contained that so we may more happily finish our intended discourse CHAP. I. What the Thorax or the Chest is into what parts it may be divided and the nature of these parts THe Thorax or Chest is the middle Belly terminated or bounded above with the Coller-bones below with the Midriff before with the Sternon or Brest behind with the twelve Vertebra's of the back on both sides with the true and bastard ribs and with the intercostal and intercartilagineous muscles The containing parts of the Chest Nature hath given it this structure and composition lest that being a defence for the vital parts against external injuries it should hinder respiration which is no less needful for the preservation of the native heat diffused by the vital spirits and shut up in the heart Why Nature hath made the Chest partly bony partly grisly as in the fountain thereof against internal injuries than the other fore-mentioned parts against the external For if the Chest should have been all bony verily it had been the stronger but it would have hindered our respiration or breathing which is performed by the dilating and contracting thereof Wherefore lest one of these should hinder the other Nature hath framed it partly bony and grisly and partly fleshy Some render another reason hereof which is That Nature hath framed the Chest that it might here also observe the order used by it in the fabrick of things which is that it might conjoin the parts much disagreeing in their composure as the lower Belly altogether fleshy and the Head all bony by a medium partaker both of the bony and fleshy substance which course we see it hath observed in the connexion of the fire and water by the interposition of the air of the earth and air by the water placed between them The number of the bones of the Sternon The Chest is divided into three parts the upper lower and middle the coller-bones contain the upper the Midriff the lower and the Sternon the middle The Sternon in Galen's opinion is composed of seven bones I believe by reason of the great stature of the people that lived then Now in our times you shall oft find it compact of three four or five bones although we will not deny but that we have often observed it especially in young bodies to consist of seven or eight bones Wherefore those who have fewer bones in number in their Sternon have them larger that they might be sufficient to receive the ribs This is the common opinion of the Sternon Yet Fallopius hath described it far otherwise wherefore let those who desire to know more hereof look in his Observations Cartilago scutiformis the brest-blade At the lower part of the Sternon there is a grisle called commonly Furcula and Malum granatum or the Pomgranate because it resembles that fruit others call it Cartilago scutiformis that is the Brest-blade It is placed there to be as it were a Bulwark or defence to the mouth of the Stomach endued with most exquite sense and also that it should do the like to that part of the Midriff which the Liver bears up in that place situate above the orifice of the ventricle by the ligament coming between descending from the lower part of the same grisle into the upper part of the Liver The common people think that this Grisle sometimes fals down But it so adheres and is united to the Bones of the Sternon that the falling thereof may seem to be without any danger although oft-times it may be so moistned with watery and serous humidities with which the orifice of the Stomach abounds that as it were soaked and drunk with these it may be so relaxed that it may seem to be out of its place in which case it may be pressed and forced by the hand into the former place and seat as also by applying outwardly and taking inwardly astringent and drying medicines to exhaust the superfluous humidity This Grisle at its beginning is narrow but more broad and obtuse at its end somewhat resembling the round or blunt point of a Sword whereupon it is also called Cartilago Ensiformis or the Sword-like grisle In some it hath a double in others a single point In old people it degenerates into a Bone Now because we make mention of this Grisle we will shew both what a Grisle is and how many differences thereof there be that henceforward as often as we shall have occasion to speak of a Grisle you may understand what it is A Grisle is a similar part of our bodies next to a Bone most terrestrial cold dry hard What a Grisle is weighty and without sense differing from a Bone in driness only the which is more in a Bone Wherefore a Grisle being lost cannot be regenerated like as a Bone without the interposition of a Callus The differences of these are almost the same with Bones that is from their consistence The differences thereof substance greatness number site figure connexion action and use Omitting the other for brevity sake I will only handle those differences which arise from site use and connexion Therefore Grisles either adhere to the Bones or of and by themselves make some part as the Grisles of the Ey-lids called Tarsi of the Epiglottis and Throttle And others which adhere to Bones either adhere by the interposition of no medium as those which come between the Bones of the Sternon the Coller-bones the share and Haunch-bones and others or by a ligament coming betweeen as those which are at the ends of the Bastard-ribs to the Sternon by the means of a Ligament that by those Ligaments being softer than a Grisle the motions of the Chest may be more quickly and safely performed The Grisles which depend on Bones do not only yield strength to the Bones but to themselves and the parts contained in them against such things as may break and bruise them The Grisles of the Sternon and at the ends of the Bastard-ribs are of this sort By this we may gather that the Grisles have a double use Their twofold use one to polish and levigate the parts to which that slippery smoothness was necessary for performance of their duty and for this use serve the Grisles which are at the Joynts to make their motions the more nimble The other use is to defend those parts upon which they are placed from external injuries by breaking violent assaults by somewhat yeelding to their impression no otherwise than soft things opposed against Cannon-shot We will prosecute the other differences of Grisles in their place as occasion shall be offered and required CHAP. II. Of the containing and contained parts of the Chest THe containing parts of the Chest are both
and pinna are THe Ears are the Organs of the sense of Hearing They are composed of the skin a little flesh a gristle veins arteries and nerves They may be bended or folded in without harm because being gristly they easily yield and give way but they would not do so if they should be bony but would rather break That lap at which they hang Pendants and Jewels is by ancients called Fibra but the upper part Pinna They have been framed by the Providence of Nature into two twining passages like a Snails-shel The figure and the reason thereof which as they come neerer to the foramen caecum or blind-hole are the more straitned that so they might the better gather the air into them and conceive the differences of sounds and voices and by little and little lead them to the membrane This membrane which is indifferently hard hath grown up from the nerves of the fifth conjugation which they call the auditory But they were made thus into crooked windings lest the sounds rushing in too violently should hurt the sense of Hearing Yet for all this we oft find it troubled and hurt by the noise of Thunder Guns and Bels. Otherwise also lest that the air too sodainly entring should by its qualities as cold cause some harm and also that little creeping things and other extraneous Bodies as Fleas and the like should be stayed in these windings and turnings of the wayes the glutinous thickness of the cholerick Excrement or Ear-wax For what use the Ear-wax serves hereunto also conducing which the Brain purges and sends forth into this part that is the auditory passage framed into these intricate Maeanders The Figure of the Ears and Bones of the Auditory passage Tab. 10. Sheweth the Ears and the divers internal parts thereof Fig. 1. Sheweth the whole external Ear with a part of the Temple-bone Fig. 2. Sheweth the left Bone of the Temple divided in the midst by the instrument of Hearing whereabout on either side there are certain passages here particularly described Fig. 3. and 4. Sheweth the three little Bones Fig. 5. Sheweth a portion of the Bone of the Temples which is seen neer the hole of Hearing divided through the midst whereby the Nerves Bones and Membranes may appear as Vesalius of them conceiveth Fig. 6. Sheweth the Vessels Membranes Bones and Holes of the Organ of Hearing as Platerus hath described them Fig. 7. and 8. Sheweth the little Bones of the Hearing of a man and of a Calf both joyned and separated Fig. 9. Sheweth the Muscle found out by Aquapendens For the particular Declaration see Dr. Crooks Anatomy pag. 577. But that we may understand how the Hearing is made For what use the membrane stretched under the auditory passage serves we must know the structure of the Organ or Instrument thereof The Membrane which we formerly mentioned to consist of the Auditory-Nerve is stretched in the inside over the Auditory passage like as the head of a Drum For it is stretched and extended with the air or Auditory Spirit implanted there and shut up in the cavity of the mamillary process and foramen caecum that smitten upon by the touch of the external air entring in it may receive the object that is the sound What sound is which is nothing else than a certain quality arising from the air beaten or moved by the collision and conflict of one or more bodies Such a collision is spred over the air as the water which by the gliding touch of a stone produces many circles and rings one as it were rising from another So in rivulets running in a narrow channel the water strucken and as it were beaten back in its course against broken craggy and steep Rocks wheels about into many turnings this collision of the beaten air flying back divers wayes from arched and hollow-roofed places as Dens Cisterns Wells thick Woods The cause of an echo and the like yields and produces a double sound and this reduplication is called an Echo Wherefore the Hearing is thus made by the air as a medium but this air is twofold that is External and Internal The exteriour is that which encompasses us The 3 bones of the auditory passage but the interiour is that which is shut up in the cavity of the mamillary process and foramen caecum which truly is not pure and sole air but tempered and mixed with the auditory spirit Thence proceeds the noise or beating of the Ears when vapors are there mixed with the air instead of spirits whereby their motion is perturbed and confused But neither do these suffice for hearing for Nature for the more exact distinction of sounds hath also made the little bones of which one is called the Incus or Anvil another the Malleolus or hammer the third the Stapes or Stirrop because the shape thereof resembles a German-stirrop Also it may be called Deltoides because it is made in the shape of the Greek Letter Δ. Their use They are placed behind the membrane wherefore the Anvil and Hammer moved by the force of the entrance of the external air and beating thereof against that membrane they more distinctly express the difference of sounds as strings stretched within under the head of a Drum as for example Whence the difference of sounds these Bones being more gently moved represent a low sound to the common sense and faculty of Hearing but being moved more vehemently and violently they present a quick and great sound to conclude according to their divers agitation they produce divers and different sounds The Glandules should follow the Ears in the order of Anatomy as well those which are called the emunctories of the Brain that is the Parotides which are placed as it were at the lower part of the Ears as these which lye under the lower Jaw the Muscles of the Bone Hyoides and the Tongue in which the Scrâ—phulae and other such cold abscesses breed It shall here suffice to set down the use of all such like Glandules Therefore the Parotides are framed in that place by Nature to receive the virulent and malign matter sent forth by the strength of the Brain by the Veins and Arteries spred over that place The rest serve to strengthen the division of the vessels to moisten the Ligaments and Membranes of the Jaw lest they should be dryed by their continual motion Their other conditions and uses are formerly handled in our first Book of Anatomy CHAP. XI Of the Bone Hyoides and the Muscles thereof The reason of the name THe substance of the Bone Hyoides is the same with that of other Bones The figure thereof imitates the Greek letter Ï… from whence it took the name as also the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And from the letter λ it is in like sort called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some it is styled os Gutturis and os Linguae The composition that is the Throat-bone and Tongue-bone The composition
young men and more slowly in old And thus much may serve for Prognosticks Now will we treat as briefly and perspicuously as we can of the cure both in general and particular wherefore beginning with the general we will first prescribe a convenient Diet by the moderate use of the six things not natural CHAP. XIV Of the general cure of a broken Skull and of the Symptoms usually happening thereupon THe first cure must be to keep the Patient in a temperate air and if so be How the air ought to be that it be not such of it self and its own proper nature it must be corrected by Art As in winter he must have a clear fire made in his chamber lest the smoak cause sneesing and other accidents and the windows and doors must be kept shut to hinder the approach of the cold air and wind All the time the wound is kept open to be drest some body standing by shall hold a chafendish full of coals or a heated Iron bar over the wound at such a distance that a moderate heat may pass thence to the wound and the frigidity of the encompassing air may be corrected by the breathing of the diffused heat For cold according to the opinion of Hippocrates is an Enemy to the Brain Bones Aphor. 18. sect 5. Nerves and spinal marrow it is also hurtful to ulcers by suppressing their excrements which supprest do not only hinder suppuration but also by corrosion makes them sinuous Therefore Galen rightly admonisheth us to keep cold from the Brain not only in the time of trepaning but also afterwards For there can be no greater nor more certain harm befal the fractured skull than by admitting the air by such as are unskilful For if the air should be hotter than the Brain Lib. 2. de usâ— part cap. 2. then it could not thence be refrigerated but if the brain should be laid open to the air in the midst of Summer when it is at the hottest yet would it be refrigerated The Air though in Summeâ— is colder than the brain and unless it were relieved with hot things take harm this is the opinion of Galen whereby you may understand that many who have the r Skulls broken dye more through default of skill in the curing than by the greatness of the fracture But when the wound is bound up with the pledgets cloths and rowlers as is fit if the air chance to be more hot than the Patient can well endure let it be amended by sprinkling and strawing the chamber with cold water oxycrate the branches of Willows and Vine Neither is it sufficient to shun the too cold air unless also you take heed of the over light chiefly until such time as the most feared and malign symptoms are past For a too great light dissipates the spirits increases pain strengthens the feaver and symptoms The discommodities of too much Light Hippocrates wholly forbids wine therefore the Patient instead thereof must drink Barly water fair water boyled and tempered with Julep of roses syrup of Violets vinegar the like water wherein bread crums have been steeped Water and Sugar with a little juyce of Limmons What his drink must be or Pomecitron added thereto and such like as the ability and taste of the Patient shall require Let him continue such drinks until he be free from malign symptoms which usually happen within fourteen days His meat shall be pap Ptisan shunning Almond-milks for Almonds are said to fill the Head with vapours and cause pain stued Damask Prunes Raisons and Currants seasoned with Sugar Almonds increase the pain of the head and a little Cinamon which hath a wonderful power to comfort the stomach and revive and exhilarate the Spirits Chickens Pidgeons Veal Kid Leverets Birds of the fields Pheasons Black-birds Turtles Partridges Thrushes Larks and such like meats of good digestion boyled with Lettuce Purslain Sorrel Borage Bugloss Succory Endive and the like are thought very convenient in this case If he desire at any time to feed on meats rosted he may only dipping them in Verjuyce in the acid juyces of Oranges Citrons Limons or Pomegranates sometimes in one and sometimes in another What fish he may eat according to his tast and ability If any have a desire to eat fish he must make choyce of Trouts Gudgeons Pikes and the like which live in running and clear waters and not in muddy he shall eschew all cold Sallets and Pulse because they fly up and trouble the head it will be convenient after meat to use common dridg powder or Aniseed Fennel-seed or Coriander-comfits also Conserve of Roses or Marmilate of Quinces to shut up the orifice of the Ventricle lest the head should be offended with vapours arising from thence Aphor. 13. 14. sect 1. Children must eat often but sparingly for children cannot fast so long as those which are elder because their natural heat is more strong wherefore they stand in need of more nourishment so also in winter all sorts of people require more plentiful nourishment for that then their stomachs are more hot than in Summer Aphor. 15. sect 2. When the fourteenth day is past if neither a Feaver nor any thing else forbids he may drink wine moderately and by little and little encrease his diet but that respectively to each one's nature strength and custom He shall shun as much as in him lies sleep on the day time unless it happen that a Phlegmon seise upon the brain or the Meninges Why sleep upon the day time is good for the brain being inflamed Lib. 2. Epidem For in this case it will be expedient to sleep on the day time especially from morning till noon for in this season of the day as also in the Spring bloud is predominant in the body according to the opinion of Hippocrates For it is so vulgarly known that it need not be spoken that the bloud when we are awake is carryed into the habit and surface of the body but on the contrary by sleep it is called into the noble parts the Heart and Liver Wherefore if that the bloud by the force of the Sun casting his beams upon the Earth at his rising is carryed into the habit of the body it should again be more and more diffused by the strength and motion of watching the inflammation in the Brain and Meninges would be much encreased Wherefore it will be better especially then to stay by sleep the violence of the bloud running into the habit of the body when it shall seem to rage and more violently to affect that way The discommodities ensuing immoderate Watching Gal. Meth. 18. Watching must in like manner be moderate for too much depraves the temper of the Brain and of the habit of the whole body it causes crudities pains and heaviness of the head and makes the wounds dry and malign But if the Patient cannot sleep by reason of the vehemency of the
saith he saw one which livad and recovered after a great portion of the brain fell out by reason of a wound received on the hind part of his head In the year of our Lord 1538. while I was Chirurgeon to the Marshal of Montejan at Turin I had one of his Pages in cure who playing at quoits received a wound with a stone upon the right Bregma with a fracture and so great an Effracture of the bone that the quantity of half a hasel Nut of the brain came forth thereat Which I observing presently pronounced the wound to be deadly a Physitian which was present contradicted my opinion affirming that substance was no portion of the brain but a certain fatty body But I with reason and experience in presence of a great company of Gentlemen Why fat cannot be generated under the skull convinced the pertinacy of the Man with reason for that fat cannot be generated under the skull for although the parts there contained be cold yet because they are heated by the abundance of the most hot and subtle animal spirits and the heat of vapours rising thither from all the body Signs of a fatty substance they do not suffer fat to concreat about them But with experience for that in dissecting of dead bodies there was never any fat observed there besides also fat will swim on the top of water but this substance as marrowy cast into the water presently sunk to the bottom Lastly fat put to the fire becomes liquid and melts but this substance being laid upon a hot iron became dry shrunk up and contracted it self like a piece of leather but dissolved not at all Wherefore all those which were present cryed out that my judgment was right of that substance that came forth of the skull Yet though it was cut away the Page recovered perfectly but that he continued deaf all his life after CHAP. XXIII Of the Wounds of the Face HAving treated of the wounds of the head by their causes signs and cure Why we treat in particular of wounds of the face it follows that we now speak of the wounds of the Face if but for this that when they are carelesly handled they leave deformed scars in the most specious and beautiful part of the body The causes are the same which are incident to the skull that is external But this may be added to the kinds and differences of the wounds that the life may be out of danger though any one whole part of the face as the ear eye nose lip may be cut away by a wound but not so in the head or skull Wherefore beginning at the wounds of the eye-brows we will prosecute in order the wounds of the other parts of the face This is chiefly to be observed in wounds of the eye-brows that they are oft-times cut so overthwart that the muscles and fleshy pannicle which move and lift them up are wholly rent and torn A thing to be observed in wounds of the Eye-brows In which case the eye-lids cannot be opened and the eyes remain covered and as it were shut up in the cases of their lids so that even after the agglutination of the wound if the Patient would look upon any thing he is forc'd to hold up the eye-lids with his hand with which infirnity I have seen many troubled yet oft-times not so much by the violence of the wound as the unskilfulness of the Chirurgeon who cured them that is by the negligent application of the boulsters an unfit ligature and more unfit future In this case the skilful Chirurgeon which is called to the Patient shall cut off as much of the skin and fleshy pannicle as shall serve the eye-lids that so they may by their own strength hold and keep open without the help of the hand then he shall sow the wound as is fit with such a stitch as the Furriers and Glovers use and then he shall pour thereon some of the Balsom of my description and shall lay such a medicine to the neighbouring parts â„ž Olei rosar â„¥ ss album â—vor nu ij boli armen sanguinis Dracon Mastich ad Ê’ j. agitentur simul fiâ— medicamentum Then let the part be bound with a fitting Ligature Afterwards you shall use Emplast de gratia Dei Empl. de Betonica Diacaleitheos or some other like until the wound be cicatrized But such like and all other wounds of the face may be easily healed unless they either be associated with some malign symptoms or the Patient's body be repleat with ill humors Lagophthalmia is a quite contrary to the falling down of the Eye-lids There sometimes happen a quite contrary accident in wounds of the eye-brows that is when the eye-lids stand so up that the Patient is forc'd to sleep with eyes open wherefore those which are so affected are called by the Greeks Lagophthalmi The cause of this affect is often internal as a carbuncle or other kind of abscess as a blow or stroak It shall be cured by a crooked or semicircular incision made above the eye-lids but so that the extreams of the semicircle bend downwards that they may be pressed down and joyned as much as is needful to amend the stifness of the eye-lid But you must not violate the gristle with your Instrument for so they could no more be lifted up the residue of the cure must be performed as is fit CHAP. XXIV Of the Wounds of the Eyes WOunds of the Eyes are made by the violence of things pricking cutting bruising or otherwise loosing the continuity But the cure must always be varied according to the variety of the causes and differences The first head of cure is that if any strange and heterogeneous body shall be fallen into the eyes let it be taken forth assoon as you can lifting and turning up the eye-lid with the end of a spatula But if you cannot discern this moat or little body then put three or four seeds of Clary or Oculus Christi into the pained Eye For these seeds are thought to have a faculty to cleanse the eyes and take out the moats which are not fastned deep in nor do too stubbornly adhere to the membranes For in this case you shall use this following Instrument for herewith we open the eye-lids the further putting it between them and the eye and also keeping the eye steddy by gently pressing it that so with our mullets we may pull out the extraneous body this is the figure of such an Instrument The delineation of a Speculum oculi fit to dilate and hold asunder the Eye-lids and keep the Eye steddy it is so mâ—de that it may be dilated and contracted according to the greatness of the Eyes A repercussive to be put into the Eye All strange bodies taken out let this medicine be put into the eye Take the strains of a dozen eggs let them be beaten in a leaden Mortar with a little Rose-water and so put into the eye
flint a spark thereof by accident fâ—ll into the mortar whereupon the powder suddainly catching fire casts the stone or tile which covered thâ— mortar up on high he stood â—mazed at the n velty and strange effect of the thing and withal oâ—served the formerly unknown faculty of the powder so that he thought good to make experiment thereof in a small Iron trunk framed for that purpose according to the intention of his mind When all things were corr spondent 〈◊〉 his expectation â—e first shewed the use of his Engine to the Venetians when they warrâ— with thâ— Geâ—veses about Fossa Clodia Cap. 8. prim par var. lect in the year of our Lord 1380. Yet in the opinion of Peter Messias this invention must have been of greater antiquity for it is read in the Chronicles of Alphonsus the eleventh King of Castile who suâ—dued the Isles Argezires that when he besieged the chief Town in the year of our Lord 1343. the besieged Moores shot as it were thunder against the assailants out of Iron Mâ—rtars But we have read in the Chronicles written by Peter Bishop of Leons of that Alphonsus who conquered Toledo that in a certain sea-fight fought by the King of Tunis against the Moorish King of Swâ—ll whâ—se part King Alphonsus favoured the Tunetans cast lightning out of certain hollow Engins or Trunks with much noise Which could be no other than our Guns though not attained to that perfection of art and execution which now they have I think the deviser of this deadly Engin hath this for his recompence that his name should be hidden by the darkness of perpetual ignorance as not meriting for this his most pernicious invention any mention from posterity Who the inventer of Guns Yet Andrew Thevet in his Cosmography published some few years agone when he comes to treat of the Sâ—evi the inhabitants of Germany brings upon the authority and credit of a certain old Manuscript that the Germane the inventer of this warlike Engine was by profession a Monk and Philosopher or Aâ—cimist The reason of the name born at Friburg and named Constantine Anclzen Howsoever it was this kind of Engine was called Bombarda i. a Gun from that noise it makes which the Greeks and Latines according to the sâ—uâ—d call Bombus then in the following ages time art and mans maliciousness added much to this rude and unpolisht invention For first for the matter Brasse and Copper metalls farre more tractable fusible and lesse subject to rust came as supplies to Iron Then for the form that rude and undigested barrel or mortar-like masse hath undergone many forms and fashions even so far as it is gotten upon wheels that so it might run not only from the higher ground but also with more rapid violence to the ruin of mankind when as the first and rude mortars seemed not to be so nimbly traversed nor sufficiently cruel for our destruction by the only casting forth of Iron and fire Hence sprung these horrible monsters of Cannons double Canons Bastards Musquits Field peeces hence these cruel and furious beasts Culverins Serpentines Basilisques Sakers Falcons Falconets and divers other names not only drawn from their figure and making but also from the effects of their cruelty Wherefore certainly I cannot sufficiently admire the wisdome of our Ancestors who have so rightly accommodated them with names agreeable to their natures as those who have not only taken them from the swiftest birds of prey as Falcons but also from things most harmful and hateful to mankind such as Serpents Snakes and Basilisques That so we might clearly discern that these Engines were made for no other purpose nor with other intent but only to be imployed for the speedy and cruel slaughter of men and that by only hearing them named we might detest and abhor them as pernicious enemies of our lives I let passe other engines of this offspring being for their quantity small but so much the more pernitious and harmeful for that they neerer assail our lives nay traiterously and forthwith seise upon us not thinking nor fearing any such thing so that we can scarse have any means of escape such are Pistols and other small Hand-guns which for shortness you may carry in your pocket and so privily and suddainly taking them forth oppress the câ—reless and secure The danger of Pistols Fowling peeces which men usually carry upon their shoulders are of the middle rank of these engines as also Muskets and Caleeveres which you cannot well discharge unless lying upon a Rest which therefore may be called Breast-guns for that they are not laid to the cheek but against the Breast by reason of their weight and shortness All which have been invented for the commodity of footmen and light horsmen This middle sort of engine they call in Latine by a general name Sclopus in imitation of the sound and the Italians who term it Sclopetere the French call it Harquebuse a word likewise borrowed from the Italians by reason of the touch-hole by which you give fire to the peece for the Italians call a hole Buzio It is tearmed Arcus i a Bow for that at this present it holds the same place in martial affairs as the Bow did of old and as the Archers formerly so at this day the Musquetiers are placed in front From the same wretched shop and magazine of cruelty are all sorts of Mines Countermines ports of fire trains fiery Arrowes Lances Crossebowes barrels balls of fire burning Faggots Granats and all such fiery engines and Inventions which closely stuffed with fuell and matter for fire and cast by the defendants upon the Bodies and Tents of the Assailants easily take fire by the violence of their motion Certainly a most miserable and pernicious kind of invention whereby we often see a thousand of heedlesse men blown up with a mine by the force of Gunpowder otherwhiles in the very heat of the conflict you may see the stoutest souldiers seised upon with some of these fiâ—ry Engines to burn in their harnesse no waters being sufficiently powerful to restrain and quâ—nch the râ—ging and wasting violence of such fire cruelly spreading over the body and bowels So it was not sufficient to have armes Iron and fire to mans destruction unlesse also that the stroak might be more speedy we had furnished them as it were with wings so to fly more hastily to our own perdition furnishing sithe-bearing death with wings so more speedily to oppress man for whose preservation all things contained in the world were created by God Verily when I consider with my self all the sorts of warlike Engines A comparison of the ancient weapons with the modern which the Ancients used whether in the field in set battels as Bowes Darts Crossbowes S ings or in the assault of Cities and shaking or overturning their walls as Rams Horses woodden Towres Slings and such like they seem to me certain childish sports and games made only in imitation
true manner of curing these kind of Wounds according to the rule of Hippocrates which wishes every contused wound to be presently brought to suppuration for so it will be lesse subject to a Phlegmon and besides all the rent and bruised flesh must putrefie dissolve and turn to quitture that new and good flesh may be generated in stead thereof Laurentius Iaubertus much commends this following medicine of whose efficacy as yet I have made no triall â„ž pulver mercur bis calcinati â„¥ j. adipis porci recentis vel butyri recentis â„¥ iiij Camphâ—rae in aqua vitae dissolutae Ê’ij misce omnia simul addendo tantillum olei liliâ—rum aut lini Experience taught him and reason also shewes that this kind of remedy is very commendable The faculties of the powder of Mercury for the powder of Mercury if mixed with a grosse and humecting matter doth in a short space turn the bruised flesh into Pus without causing any great pain For the Camphire whether it be hot or cold in temper it much conduces to that purpose by reason of the subtlety of the parts whereof it consists The force of calcined vitâ—iol How wounds made by Gun-shot may be combust For by means of this quality the medicines enter with more facility into the affected bodies and perform their parts besides also Camphire resists Putrefaction Some drop into the Wound aqua vitae wherein they have dissolved some calcined vitriol Which kind of remedy is not suppurative but yet much resists putrefaction so that we may use it with good success when the weather is hot moist and foggie But when the Wound is made very neer at hand it cannot but be burnt by the flame of the powder in which remedies used for Burns will be useful not omitting such as are fit for Contusions But for those parts which lye next the Wound you shall not unless at the first dressing apply refrigerating and astringent things but rather emollient and suppurative For those things which have a refrigerating faculty weaken the part and hinder suppuration For astringents constipate the skin which is the cause that the putrid vapours shut up and hindred from transpiration and passage forth a gangrene and mortification easily seise upon the part Scarification But if the contusion be great and diffuse it self more largely over the flesh the part must be much scarified that so the contused and concreat blood and therefore subject to putrefaction may be evacuated But for those parts which somewhat farther distant from the Wound encompass the contused flesh they require refrigerating and strengthening medicins An Astringent repelling medâ—cine so to hinder the falling down and setling of the humor in that part which is this ensuing medicine â„ž pul boli armen sanguin Dracon Myrrhae an â„¥ j. succi solan sempervivi perâ—uâ—c an â„¥ ss aâ—â—um iiij overum â—xyhodin quantum sufficit fiat linimentum ut dâ—cet You may use this and the like untill the suspected symptome be past fear Neither must you have less care The binding up of binding up and rolling the part than of your medicins for it doth not a little conduce to the care to bind it so fitly up as it may be without pain The Wound at the beginning of the cure How oft the wound must be drest in a day must be dressed but once in 24 houres that is untill the Wound come to suppuration but when the qâ—â—tture begins to flow from it and consequently the pain and feaver are encreased it shall be drest twice a day that is every twelve hours And when the quitture flowes more abundantly than usual so that the collection thereof is very troublesome to the Patient it will be requisite to dress it every 8 hours that is thrice a day Now when as this abundant efflux is somewhat sâ—â—ked and begins to decrease it will suffice to dress it twice a day But when the Ulcer is filled with flesh and consequently casts forth but little matter it will serve to dress it once a day as you did at the first CHAP. VI. How you shall order it at the second dressing AT the second and following dressings unless you suspect putrefaction Why wounds made by Gun-shot are so long before they come to suppuration and a Gangrene you shall only put into the Wound some of the oils formerly described adding to them the yolks of some eggs and a little saffron and use this medicin untill the Wound come to perfect suppuration Here you must note this that these kinds of Wounds are longer before they come to suppuration than other Wounds made by any other sort of weapon both for that the bullet as also the air which it violently carries before it by much bruising the flesh on every side dissipates the native heat and exhausts the spirits of the part Which things hinder digestion and often cause the matter to stink as also many other pernicious symptoms Yet most usually pus or quitture appears within three or four dayes sooner and later according to the various complexion and temperament of the Patients bodies and the condition of the ambient air in heat and cold Then by little and little you must come to detersives adding to the former medicin some Turpentine washed in Rose Barly or some other such like water which may wash away the biting thereof If the incompassing air be very cold you may to good purpose Why Turpentine must be washed Gal. lib. 3. Meth. add some aqua vitae for by Galens prescript we must not use hot medicins in winter and less hot in summer Then in the next place use detersives as â„ž aqua decoctionis hordei quantum sufficit succi plantaginis apii agrimon centaurei minoris an â„¥ j. bulliant omnia simul in fine decoctionis adde terebinthinae venetae â„¥ iij. mellis rosat â„¥ ij farin hordieÊ’iij creci ℈ j. Let them be all well mixed together and make a Mundificative of an indifferent consistence Or â„ž succi olymâ—ni plantag absinth apii an â„¥ ij tereb venet â„¥ iiij syrup absinth mellis ros an â„¥ iij. bulliant omnia secundum artem A detergent medicin postea câ—lentur in câ—â—utura adde pulver aloes mastiches Ireos Florent far hord an Ê’ j. fiat Mundificativum ad usum dictum Or â„ž teribinth venet lotae in aq ros â„¥ v. olei ros â„¥ j. mellis ros iij. myrrhae aloes mastich aristolech rotundae Why tents must be neither too long nor thick an Ê’ i ss far lâ—ord Ê’ iij. misce Make a Mundificative which you may put into the wound with Tents but such as are neither too long nor thick lest they hinder the evacuation of the quitture and vapours whence the wounded part will be troubled with erosion pain defluxion inflammation abscess putrefaction all which severally of themselves as also by infecting the noble parts are troublesome both to the part affected as also to the whole
for such as live for they did not so much as suspect or imagine so horrid a wickedness but either for that they held an opinion of the general resurrection or that in these monuments they might have something whereby they might keep their dead friends in perpetual remembrance Thevet not much dissenting from his own opinion writes that the true Mummie is taken from the Monuments and stony Tombs of the anciently dead in Egypt the chinks of which tombs were closed and cemented with such diligence the inclosed bodies embalmed with precious Spices with such Art for eternity that the linnen vestures which were wrapt about them presently after their death may be seen whole even to this day but the bodies themselves are so fresh that you would judg them scarse to have been three days buryed And yet in those Sepulchers and Vaults from whence these bodies are taken there have been some corps of two thousands years old The same or their broken members are brought to Venice from Syria and Egypt and thence disperst over all Christendom But according to the different condition of men the matter of their embalments were divers for the bodies of the Nobility or Gentry were embalmed with Myrrh Aloes Saffron and other precious Spices and Drugs but the bodies of the common sort whose poverty and want of means could not undergo such cost were embalmed with asphaltum or pissasphaltum Now Mathjolus saith that all the Mummie which is brought into these parts What our Mummie usually is is of this last kind and condition For the Noblemen and chief of the Province so religiously addicted to the Monuments of their Ancestors would never suffer the bodies of their friends and kindred to be transported hither for filthy gain and such detested use as we shall shew more at large at the end of this work Which thing sometimes moved certain of our French Apothecaries men wondrous audacious and covetous to steal by night the bodies of such as were hanged and embalming them with Salt and Drugs they dryed them in an Oven so to sell them thus adulterated in stead of true Mummie Wherefore we are thus compelled both foolishly and cruelly to devour the mangled and putrid particles of the carkasses of the basest people of Egypt or of such as are hanged as though there were no other way to help or recover one bruised with a fall from a high place than to bury man by an horrid insertion in their that is in mans guts Now if this Drug were any way powerful for that they require they might perhaps have some pretence for this their more than barbarous inhumanity But the case stands thus that this wicked kind of Drug Mummie is no way good for contusions doth nothing help the diseased in that case wherefore and wherein it is administred as I have tryed a hundred times and as Thevet witnesses he tryed in himself when as he took some thereof by the advice of a certain Jewish Physitian in Egypt from whence it is brought but it also infers many troublesome symptoms as the pain of the heart or stomach vomiting and stink of the mouth I perswaded by these reasons do not only my self not prescribe any hereof to my Patients But hurtful and how but also in consultations endeavour what I may that it be not prescribed by others It is far better according to Galen's opinion in Method med to drink some Oxycrate The effects of Oxycrate in Contusions which by its frigidity restrains the flowing bloud and by its tenuity of substance dissolves and discusses the congealed clots thereof Many reasons of learned Physitians from whom I have learned this History of Mummie drawn from Philosophy whereby they make it apparent that there can be no use of this or that Mummie in contusions or against flowing or congealed bloud I willingly omit for that I think it not much beneficial to Chirurgeons to insert them here Wherefore I judg it better to begin to treat of Combustions or Burns CHAP. VIII Of Combustions and their Differences ALl Combustions whether occasioned by Gunpowder or by scalding Oyl Water The reason and symptoms of Combustions some metal or what things soever else differ only in magnitude These first cause pain in the part and imprint in it an unnatural heat Which savouring of the fire leaves that impression which the Greeks call Empyreuma There are more or less signs of this impression according to the efficacy of the thing burning the condition of the part burned and stay upon the same If the combustion be superficiary the skin rises into pustules and blisters unless it be speedily prevented If it be low or deep in it is covered with an Eschar or Crust the burnt flesh by the force of the fire turning into that crusty hardness The burning force of the fire upon whatsoever part it falls leaves a hot distemper therein condensates The 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 sing But 〈…〉 contracts and thickens the skin whence pain proceeds from pain there comes an attraction of humors from the adjacent and remote parts These humors presently turn into waterish or serous moisture whilst they seek to pass forth and are hindered thereof by the skin condensated by the action of the fire they lift it up higher and raise the blisters which we see Hence divers Indications are drawn whence proceeds the variety of medicins for Burns For some take away the Empyreuma that is the heat of the fire as we term it and asswage the pain other hinder the rising of blisters othersome are fit to cure the ulcer first to procure the falling away of the Eschar Variety of medicins to take away the heat and asswage the pain then to clense generate flesh and cicatrize it Remedies fit to asswage pain and take away the fiery heat are of two kinds for some do it by a cooling faculty by which they extinguish the preternatural heat and repress or keep back the bloud and humors which flow into the parts by reason of heat and pain Others endued with contrary faculties are hot and attractive as which by relaxing the skin and opening the pores resolve and dissipate the serous humors which yield both beginning and matter to the pustules and so by accident asswage the pain and heat Refrigerating things are cold water the water of Plantain Nightshade Henbane Hemlock the juyces of cooling hearbs as Purslane Lettuce Plantain Housleek Poppy Mandrake and the like Of these some may be compounded as some of the fore-named juyces beaten with the white of an Egge Clay beaten and dissolved in strong Vinegar Roch-Alome dissolved in water with the whites of Egs beaten therein writing-Ink mixed with Vinegar and a little camphire Unguentum nutritum and also Populeon newly made These and the like shall be now and then renewed chiefly at the first until the heat and pain be gone But these same remedies must be applyed warm for if they should be laid or put to
great driness of the aspera arteria Why they shun the light they shun the light as that which is enemy to melancholy wherewith the whole substance of the brain is replenished on the contrary they desire darkness Why they are affraid of the water as that which is like and friendly to them But they are affraid of the water though good to mitigate their great distemper of heat and driness and they flie from looking-glasses because they imagin they see dogs in them whereof they are much affraid by reason whereof they shun the water and all polite and clear bodies which may supply the use of a looking-glass so that they throw themselves on the ground as if they would hide themselves therein lest they should be bitten again for they affirm that he which is bitten by a mad dog alwaies hath a dog in his mind and so remains fixed in that sad cogitation Wherefore thinking that he sees him in the water he trembles for fear and therefore shuns the water Others write that the body by madness becometh wondrous dry wherefore they hate the water as that which is contrary thereto being absolutely the moistest element and so they say that this is the reason of their fearing the water Ruffus writes that madness is a kind of melancholy and that fear is the proper symptom thereof according to Hippocrates Aphor. 25. sec 6. wherefore this or that kind of melancholy begets a fear of these or these things but chiefly of bright things such as looking-glasses and water by reason that melancholick persons seek darkness and solitariness by reason of the black corruption of the humor wherewith they abound They fall into cold sweats a foamy stinking and greenish matter flows from the ulcer by reason of the heat of the antecedent cause and ulcerated part The urine most commonly appears watrish by reason that the strainers as it were of the kidnies are straitned by the heat and driness of the venome Yet sometimes also it appears more thick and black as when nature powerfully using the expulsive faculty attempts to drive forth by urine the melancholick humor the seat of the venom Also sometimes it is wholly supprest being either incrassated by hot driness or else the mind being carried other-waies and forgetful of its own duty untill at length the patients The bite of a mad dog taken in hand in time is for the mâ—st part curable vexed by the cruelty of so many symptoms and overcome by the bitterness of pain die frantick by reason that medicines have not been speedily and fitly applied For few of those who have used remedies in time have perished of this disease CHAP. XIII Prognosticks WEe cannot so easily shun the danger we are incident to by mad dogs The venom of a mad dog applied outwardly only may cause madness as that of other beasts by reason he is a domestick creature and housed under the same roof with us The virulency that resides in his foam or slaver is hot and dry malign venenate and contagious so that it causeth a distemper like to it self in the body whereto it shall apply it self and spread it self over the whole body by the arteries for it doth not only hurt when as it is taken in by a bite or puncture but even applied to the skin unless it be forthwith washed away with salt water or urine Neither doth this venome hurt equally or at all times alike for it harms more or less according to the inclination of the air to heat or cold the depth of the wound the strength of the patients body and the ill humors thereof and their disposition to putrefaction the freedom and largeness of the passages Now malign symptoms happen sooner or later Whether the Hidrephebia oâ— fear of water be incureable as in some about the fortieth day in others about six months and in others a year after There be some who thereupon are troubled with the falling-sicknes and at length grow mad such as fall into a fear of the water never recover Yet Avicen thinks their case is not desperate if as yet they can know their face in a glass for hence you may gather An history that all the animal faculties are not yet overthrown but that they stand in need of strong purgations as wee shal shew hereafter Aetius tells that there was a certain Philosopher An history who taken with this disease and a fear of water when as he descended with a great courage unto the bath and in the water beholding the shape of the dog that bit him he made a stand but ashamed thereof he forthwith cried out Quid cani cum Balneo i. e. What hath a dog to do with a Bath which words being uttered he threw himself forcibly into the Bath and fearlesly drank of the water thereof and so was freed from his disease together with his erroneous opinion It is a deadly sign to tumble themselves on the ground to have an hoars voice for that is an argument that the weazon is become rough by reason of too excessive driness Finally the principal parts being possessed there is no recovery or life to be hoped for Men may well fall mad though they be not bit by a mad dog For as the humors are often inflamed of themselves and cause a Cancer or Leprosie so do they also madness in melancholick persons The bites of vipers and other venomous creatures cause not like symptoms to these that come by the biteing of a mad deg because they die before such can come forth or shew themselves Great wounds made by mad dogs are not equally so dangerous as little for from the former great plenty of venemous matter flows out but in the later it is almost all kept in CHAP. XIV What cure must be used to such as are bitten by a mad Dog An history THis case also requires speedy remedies for such things are in vain which come long after the hurt The Lawyer Baldus experienced this to his great harm for being by chance lightly bit in the lip by a little dog wherewith he was delighted not knowing that he was mad and neglecting the wound by reason of the smallness thereof after some four months space he died mad having then in vain assayed all manner of medicines Wherefore observing these things both for evacuation as also for alteration which we have formerly mentioned in the general cure of wounds inflicted by the bite or sting of venomous creatures and by all the means there specified we must draw forth the venom and if the wound be large then suffer it to bleed long and much for so some part of the poison will be exhausted if it be not great it shall be enlarged by scarification or an occult cautery neither shall it be healed or closed up at the soonest The force of Sorrel till forty daies be passed Sorrel beaten and applied to the wound and the decoction
thin and serous although the pestilence doth not alwaies necessarily arise from hence but some-whiles some other kind of cruel and infectious disease How the air may be corrupted But neither is the air only corrupted by these superiour causes but also by putrid and filthy stinking vapors spread abroad through the air encompassing us from the bodies and carkasses of things not buried gapings and hollownesses of the earth or sinks and such like places being opened for the sea often overflowing the land in some places and leaving in the mud or hollownesses of the earth caused by earth-quakes the huge bodies of monstrous fishes which it hides in its waters hath given both the occasion and matter of a plague For thus in out time a Whale cast upon the Tuscan shore presently caused a plague over all that country But as fishes infect and breed a plague in the air so the air being corrupted often causeth a pestilence in the sea among fishes especially when they either swim on the top of the water or are infected by the pestilent vapors of the earth lying under them and rising into the air through the body of the water the later whereof Aristotle saith hapneth but seldom Lib. 8. hist â—nim But it often chanceth that the plague raging in any country many fishes are cast upon the coast and may be seen lying on great heaps But sulphureous vapors or such as partake of any other malign qualiy sent forth from places under ground by gapings and gulfs opened by earth-quakes not only corrupt the air but also infect and raint the seeds plants and all the fruites which we eat and so transfer the pestilent corruption into us and those beasts on which we feed together with our norishment The truth whereof Empedocles made manifest who by shutting up a great gulf of the earth opened in a valley between two mountains freed all Sicily from a plague caused from thence If winds rising suddenly shall drive such filthy exhalations from those regions in which they were pestiferous into other places they also will carry the plague with them thither If it be thus some will say it should seem that wheresoever stinking and putrid exhalations arise as about standing-pools sinks and shambles there should the plague reign and straight suffocate with its noysom poyson the people which work in such places but experience finds this false We do answer that the Putrefaction of the Plague is far different Pestiferous putrefaction is far different from ordinary putrefaction and of another kinde then this common as that which partakes of a certain secret malignity and wholly contrary to our lives and of which we cannot easily give a plain and manifest reason Yet that vulgar putrefaction wheresoever it doth easily and quickly entertain and welcome the pestiferous contagion as often as and whensoever it comes as joyned to it by a certain familiarity and at length it self degenerating into a pestiferous malignity certainly no otherwise then those diseases which arise in the plague-time the putrid diseases in our bodies which at the first wanted viâ—ulency and contagion as Ulcers putrid Fevers and other such diseases In a pestilent constitution of the air all diseases become pestilent Lib. 1. de differâ— fâ—b raised by the peculiar default of the humors easily degenerate into pestilence presently receiving the tainture of the plague to which they had before a certain preparation Wherefore in time of the Plague I would advise all men to shun such exceeding stinking places as they would the plague it self that there may be no preparation in our bodies or humors to catch that infection without which as Galen teacheth the Agent hath no power over the Subject for otherwise in a plague-time the sickness would equally seize upon all so that the impression of the pestiferous quality may presently follow that disposition But when we say the air is pestilent we do not understand that sincere elementary How the air may be said to putrefie and simple as it is of its own nature for such is not subject to putrefaction but that which is polluted with ill vapors rising from the earth standing-standing-waters vaults or sea and degenerates and is changed from its native purity and simplicity But certainly amongst all the constitutions of the air fit to receive a pestilent corruption here is none more fit then an hot moist and still season for the excess of such qualities easily causeth putrefaction Wherefore the south winde reigning A Southerly constitution of the air is the fuel of the Plague which is hot and moist and principally in places near the sea there flesh cannot long be kept but it presently is tainted and corrupted Further we must know that the pestilent malignity which riseth from the carkasses or bodies of men is more easily communicated to men that which riseth from oxen to oxen and that which comes from sheep to sheep by a certain sympathy and familiarity of Nature no otherwise then the Plague which shall seize upon some one in a Family doth presently spread more quickly amongst the rest of the Family by reason of the similitude of temper then amongst others of an other Family disagreeing in their whole temper Therefore the air thus altered and estranged from its goodness of nature necessarily drawn in by inspiration and transpiration brings in the seeds of the Plague and so consequently the Plague it self into bodies prepared and made ready to receive it CHAP. IV. Of the preparation of humors to putrefaction and admission of pestiferous impressions HAving shewed the causes from which the air doth putrefie become corrupt and is made partaker of a pestilent and poysonous constitution we must now declare what things may cause the humors to putrefie and make them so apt to receive and retain the pestilent air and venenate quality Humors putrefie either from fulness which breeds obstruction or by distemperate excess Three causes of the putrefaction of humors or lastly by admixture of corrupt matter evil juice which ill feeding doth specially cause to abound in the body For the Plague often follows the drinking of dead and mustie wines muddy and standing waters which receive the sinks and filth of a City and fruits and pulse eaten without discretion in scarcity of other corn as Pease Beans Lentils Vetches Acrons the roots of Fern and Grass made into Bread For such meats obstruct heap up ill humors in the body and weaken the strength of the faculties from whence proceeds a putrefaction of humors and in that putrefaction a preparation and disposition to receive conceive and bring forth the seeds of the Plague which the filthy scabs malign sores rebellious ulcers putrid fevers being all fore-runners of greater putrefaction and corruption Passions of the minde help forward the Putrefaction of the humors do testifie Vehement passions of the minde as anger sorrow grief vexation and fear help forward this corruption of humors all which
hinder natures diligence and care of concoction For as in the Dog-Dayes the lees of wine subsiding to the bottom are by the strength and efficacie of heat drawn up to the top and mixed with the whole substance of the wine as it were by a certain ebullition or working so melancholick humors being the dregs or lees of the blood stirred by the passions of the minde defile or taint all the blood with their seculent impurity We found that some years agon by experience at the battle of S. Dennis For all wounds by what weapon soever they were made degenerated into great and filthy putrefactions and corruptions with severs of the like nature and were commonly determined by death what medicines and how diligently soever they were applied which caused many to have a false suspicion that the weapons on both sides were poysoned But there were manifest signs of corruption and putrefaction in the blood let the same day that any were hurt and in the principal parts disected afterwards that it was from no other cause then an evil constitution of the air and the mindes of the Souldiers perverted by hate anger and fear CHAP. V. What signs in the Air and Earth prognosticate a Plague WEe may know a plague to be at hand and hang over us if at any time the air and seasons of the year swerve from their natural constitution after those waies I have mentioned before if frequent and long continuing Meteors or sulphureous Thunders infect the air Why abortions are frequent in a pestilent season if fruits seeds and pulie be worm-eaten If birds forsake their nests eggs or young without any manifest cause if we perceive women commonly to abort by continual breathing in the vaporous air being corrupted and hurtful both to the Embryon and original of life and by which it being suffocated is presently cast forth and expelled Yet notwithstanding those airy impressions do not solely courrupt the air but there may be also others raised by the Sun from the filthy exhalations and poysonous vapors of the earth and waters or of dead carkasses which by their unnatural mixture easily corrupt the air subject to alteration as that which is thin and moist from whence divers Epidemial diseases and such as are every-where seize upon the common sort according to the several kinds of corruptions A Catarrh with difficulty of breathing killing many such as that famous Catarrh with difficulty of breathing which in the year 1510 went almost all over the world and raged over all the Cities and Towns of France with great heaviness of the head whereupon the French named it Cuculla with a straitness of the heart and lungs and a cough a continual fever and sometimes raving This although it seized upon many more then it killed yet because they commonly died who were either let blood or purged it shewed it self pestilent by that violent and peculiar and unheard of kinde of malignity The English Sweating-sickness Such also was the English Sweating-sickness or Sweating-fever which unusual with a great deal of terror invaded all the lower parts of Germany and the Low-Countries from the year 1525 unto the year 1530 and that chiefly in Autumn As soon as this pestilent disease entred into any City suddenly two or three hundred fell sick on one day then it departed thence to some other place The people strucken with it languishing fel down in a swound and lying in their beds sweat continually having a fever a frequent quick and unequal pulse neither did they leave sweating till the disease left them which was in one or two daies at the most yet freed of it they languished long after they all had a beating or palpitation of the heart which held some two or three years and others all their life after At the first beginning it killed many before the force of it was known but afterwards very few when it was found out by practice and use that those who furthered and continued their sweats and strengthened themselves with cordials were all restored But at certain times many other popular diseases sprung up as putrid fevers fluxes bloody-fluxes catarrhs coughs phrenzies squinances plurisies inflamations of the lungs inflamations of the eies apoplexies lithargies The Plague is not the definite name of one disease small pox and meazles scabs carbuncles and malign pustles Wherefore the Plague is not alwaies nor every-where of one and the same kinde but of divers which is the cause that divers names are imposed upon it according to the variety of the effects it brings and symptoms which accompany it and kinds of putrefaction and hidden qualities of the air What signs in the earth foreteâ—l a plague They affirm when the Plague is at hand that Mushroms grow in greater abundance out of the Earth and upon the surface thereof many kinds of poysonous insecta creep in great numbers as Spiders Catterpillers Butter-flies Grass-hoppers Beetles Hornets Wasps Flies Scorpions Snails Locusts Toads Worms and such things as are the off-spring of putrefaction And also wilde beasts tired with the voporous malignity of their dens and caves in the Earth forsake them and Moles Toads Vipers Snakes Lizards Asps and Crocodiles are seen to flie away and remove their habitations in great troops For these as also some other creatures have a manifest power by the gift of God and the instinct of Nature to presage changes of weather as rains showrs and fair weather and seasons of the year as the Spring Summer Autumn Winter which they testifie by their singing chirping crying flying playing and bearing with their wings and such like signs so also they have a perception of a Plague at hand And moreover the carkasses of some of them which took less heed of themselves suffocated by the pestiferous poyson of the ill air contained in the earth may be every-where found not onely in their dens but also in the plain fields These vapors corrupted not by a simple putrefaction but an occult malignity How pestilent vapors may kill plants and trees are drawn out of the bowels of the earth into the air by the force of the Sun and Stars and thence condensed into clouds which by their falling upon corn trees and grass infect and corrupt all things which the earth produceth and also kills those creatures which feed upon them yet brute beasts sooner then men as which stoop and hold their heads down towards the ground the maintainer and breeder of this poyson that they may get their food from thence Therefore at such times skilful husbandmen taught by long experience never drive their Cattle or Sheep to pasture before that the Sun by the force of his beams hath wasted and dissipated into air this pestiferous dew hanging and abiding upon the boughs and leaves of trees herbs corn and fruits But on the contrary that pestilence which proceeds from some malign quality from above by reason of evil and certain conjunction of the Stars is
garlick have not their heads troubled Garlick good against the Plague nor their inward parts inflamed as Country-People and such as are used to it to such there can be no more certain preservative and Antidote against the pestiferous fogs or mists and the nocturnal obscurity then to take it in the morning with a draught of good wine for it being abundantly diffused presently over all the body fills up the passages thereof and strengthneth it in a moment For water if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Air we must wholly shun and avoid rain-Rain-water What water to be made choice of in the plague-time because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Air. Wherefore the water of Springs and of the deepest Wells are thought best But if the malignity proceed from the vapors contained in the Earth you must make choice of Rain-water Yet it is more safe to digest every sort of water by boyling it and to prefer that water before other which is pure and clear to the sight and without either taste or smell and which besides suddenly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold CHAP. VII Of the Cordial Remedies by which we may preserve our Bodies in fear of the Plague and cure those already infected therewith SUch as cannot eat without much labour exercise and hunger and who are no lovers of Break-fasts having evacuated their excrements before they go from home must strengthen the heart with some Antidote against the virulency of the infection Amongst which Aqua Theriacalis Aqua Theriacalis good against the Plague both inwardly taken and outwardly applied or Treacle-water two ounces with the like quantity of Sack is much commended being drunk and rubbing the Nostrils Mouth and Ears with the same for the Treacle-water strengthens the heart expells poyson and is not only good for a preservative but also to cure the disease it self For by sweat it drives forth the poyson contained within It should be made in June at which time all simple medicines by the vital heat of the Sun ate in their greatest efficacy The composition thereof The composition whereof is thus Take the roots of Gentian Ciperus Tormentil Diptam or Fraxella Elecampane of each one ounce the leaves of Mullet Carduus Benedictus Divels-bit Burnet Scabious Sheeps-sorrel of each half a handful of the tops of Rue a little quantity of Mittle-berries one ounce of red Rose-leaves the flowers of Bugloss Borage and S. Johns wott of each one ounce let them be all cleansed dried and maceâ—ated for the space of twenty-four hours in one pound of white wine or Malmsie and of Rose-water or Sorrel-water then let them be put in a vessel of glass and add thereto of Treacle and Mithridate of each four ounces then distill them in Balneo Mariae and let the distilled water be received in a Glass-Viol and let there be added thereto of Saffron two drams of Bole-Armenick Terra Sigillata yellow Sanders shavings of Ivory and Harts-horn of each half an ounce then let the glass be well stopped and set in the Sun for the space of eight or ten dayes Let the prescribed quantity be taken every morning so oft as shall be needful It may be given without hurt to sucking children and to Women great with childe But that it may be the more pleasant it must be strained through an Hippocras-bag adding thereto some sugar and cinnamon Some think themselves sufficiently defended with a root of Elecampane Zedoary or Angelica rowled in their mouth or chawed between their teeth Others drink every morning one dram of the root of Gentian bruised being macerated for the space of one night in two ounces of white wine Others take Worm-wood-wine Others sup in a rare egg one dram of Terra Sigillata or of Harts-horn with a little Saffron and drink two ounces of wine after it There be some that do infuse Bole-Armenick the roots of Gentian Tormentil Diptam the berries af Juniper Cloves Mace Cinnamon Saffron and such like in aqua vitae and strong white wine and so distill it in Balneo Mariae This Cordial water that followeth is of great vertue A cordial water Take of the roots of the long and round Aristolechia Tormentil Diptam of each three drams of Zedoary two drams Lignum Aloes yellow Sanders of each one dram of the leaves of Scordium St. Johns-wort Sorrel Rue Sage of each half an ounce of Bay and Juniper-berries of each three drams Citron-feeds one Dram Cloves Macc Nutmegs of each two drams of Mastich Olibanum Bole-Armenick Terra Sitillata shavings of Harts horn and Ivory of each one ounce of Saffron one scruple of the Conserves of Roses Bugloss-flowers water-lillies and old Treacle of each one ounce of Champhire half a dram of aqua vitae half a pinte of white wine two pints and a half make thereof a dissillation in Balneo Mariae The use of this distilled water is even as Treacle water is The Eâ—ectuary following is very effectual Take of the best Treacle three ounces A Cordial Electuary Juniper-berries and Carduus-seeds of each one dram and a half of Bole-Armenick prepared half an ounce of the powder of the Electuary de Gemmis and Diamargariton frigidum the powder of Harts-horn and red Coral of each one dram mix them with the syrup of the rindes and juice of Pome-Citrons as much as shall suffice and make thereof a liquid Electuary in the form of an Opiate let them take every morning the quantity of a Filberd drinking after it two drams of the water of Scabious Cherries Carduus Benedictus and of some such like cordial thing or of strong wine The following Opiate is also very profitable which also may be made into tablets An Opiate Take of the roots of Angelica Gentian Zedoary Elecampane of two drams of Citron and Sorrel-seeds of each half a dram of the dried rindes of Citrons Cinnamon Bay and Juniper-berties and Saffron of each one scruple of conserve of Roses and Bugloss of each one ounce and fine hard Sugar as much as is sufficient make thereof Tablets of the weight of half a dram let him take one of them two hours before meat or make thereof a Opiate with equal parts of conserves of Bugloss and Mel Anthosatum and so adding all the rest drie and in powder Another Or take of the roots of Valerian Tormentil Diptam of the leaves of Rue of each half an ounce of saffron Mace Nutmegs of each half a dram of Bole-Armenick prepared halfe an ounce of conserve of Roses and syrup of Lemmons as much as will be sufficient to make thereof an Opiate liquid enough Another Or take of the roots of both the Aristolochiaes of Gentian Tormentil Diptam of each one dram and a half of Ginger three drams of the leaves of Rue Sage Mints and Penny-royal of each two drams of Bay and Juniper-berries Citron-seeds of each four scruples of Mace Nutmegs Cloves Cinnamon of
and nature be too weak and yield and that first he be troubled with often panting or palpitation of the heart then presently after with frequent faintings the patient then at length will die For this is a great sign of the Plague or a pestilent Fever if presently at the first with no labour nor any evacuation worth the speaking of their strength fail them and they become exceeding faint You may find the other signs mentioned in our preceding discourse CHAP. XIX Into what place the Patient ought to betake himself so soon as he finds himself infected Change of the Air conduceth to the cure of the Plague WE have said that the perpetual and first original of the Pestilence cometh of the Air therefore so soon as one is blasted with the pestiferous Air after he hath taken some preservative against the malignity thereof he must withdraw himself into some wholesome Air that is clean and pure from any venomous infection or contagion for there is great hope of health by the alteration of the Air for we do most frequently and abundantly draw in the Air of all things so that we cannot want it for a minute of time therefore of the Air that is drawn in dependeth the correction amendment or increase of the poyson or malignity that is received as the Air is pure sincere or corrupted There be some that do think it good to shut the patient in a close chamber shutting the windows to prohibit the entrance of the Air as much as they are able But I think it more convenient that those windows should be open from whence that wind bloweth that is directly contrary unto that which brought in the venomous Air Air pent up is apt to putrefie For although there be no other cause yet if the Air be not moved or agitated but shut up in a close place it will soon be corrupted Therefore in a close and quiet place that is not subject to the entrance of the Air I would wish the Patient to make winde or to procure Air with a thick and great cloth dipped or macerated in water and vinegar mixed together and tied to a long staff that by tossing it up and down the close chamber the winde or air thereof may cool and recreate the Patient The Patient must every day be carryed into a fresh chamber and the beds and the linnen cloaths must be changed there must alwayes be a clear and bright fire in the Patients chamber and especially in the night whereby the air may be made more pure clean and void of nightly vapors and of the filthy and pestilent breath proceeding from the Patient or his excrements In the mean time lest if it be in hot weather the Patient should be weakned or made more faint by reason that the heat of the fire doth disperse and wast his spirits the floor or ground of his chamber must be sprinkled or watered with vineger and water or strowed with the branches of Vines made moist in cold water with the leaves and flowers of Water-lillies or Poplar or such like In the fervent heat of Summer he must abstain from Fumigations that do smell too strongly because that by assaulting the head they increase the pain If the Patient could go to that cost it were good to hang all the chamber where he lyeth and also the bed with thick or course linnen cloaths moistned in vineger and water of Roses Those linnen cloaths ought not to be very white but somewhat brown because much and great whiteness doth disperse the sight and by wasting the spirits doth increase the pain of the head for which cause also the chamber ought not to be very lightsome Contrariwise on the night season there ought to be fires and perfumes made which by their moderate light may moderately call forth the spirits The materials for sweet fires Sweet-fires may be made of little pieces of the wood of Juniper Broom Ash Tamarisk of the rind of Oranges Lemmons Cloves Benzoin Gum-Arabick Orris-roots Myrrh grosly beaten together and laid on the burning coals put into a chafing-dish Truly the breath or smoak of the wood or berries of Juniper is thought to drive serpents a great way from the place where it is burnt Lib. 16. cap. 13. The virtue of the Ash-tree against venom is so great as Pliny testifieth that a Serpent will not come under the shadow thereof no not in the morning nor evening when the shadow of any thing is most great and long but he will run from it I my self have proved that if a circle or compass be made with the boughs of an Ash-tree and a fire made in the midst thereof and a Serpent put within the compass of the boughs that the Serpent will rather run into the fire then through the Ash-boughs There is also another means to correct the Air. You may sprinkle Vinegar of the decoction of Rue Sage Rosemary Bay-berries Juniper-berries Ciprus-nuts and such like on stones or bricks red hot and put in a pot or pan that all the whole chamber where the Patient lyeth may be perfumed with the vapor thereof Perfumes Also Fumigations may be made of some matter that is more gross and clammy that by the force of the fire the fume may continue the longer as of Laudanum Myrrh Mastich Rosin Turpentine Stâ—rax Olibanum Benzoin Bay-berries Juniper-berries Cloves Sage Rosemary and Marjerom stamped together and such like Sweet candles Those that are rich and wealthy may have Candles and Fumes made of Wax or Tallow mixed with some sweet things A sponge macerated in Vineger of Roses and Water of the same and a little of the decoction of Cloves and of Camphire added thereto ought alwayes to be ready at the Patients hand that by often smelling unto it the animal spirits may be recreated and strengthned A sweet water to smell to The water following is very effectual for this matter Take of Orris four ounces of Zedoary Spikenard of each six drams of Storax Benzoin Cinnamon Nutmegs Cloves of each one ounce and half of old Treacle half an ounce bruise them into gross powder and macerate them for the space of twelve hours in four pound of white and strong wine then distil them in a Lembick of glass on hot ashes and in that liquor wet a sponge and then let it be tied in a linnen cloth or closed in a box and so often put into the nostrils Or take of the vinegar and water of Roses of each four ounces of Camphire six grains of Treacle half a dram let them be dissolved together and put into a vial of glass which the Patient may often put into his nose This Nodula following is more meet for this matter Take of Rose-leaves two pugils A Nodula to smell to of Orris half an ounce of Calamus aromaticus Cinnamon Cloves of each two drams of Storax and Benzoin of each one dram and a half of Cyprus half a dram beat them
is thirsty Or else put the flesh of one old Capon and of a leg of Veal two minced Partridges and two drams of whole Cinnamon without any liquor in a Limbeck of glass well lated and covered and so let them boil in Balneo Mariae unto the perfect conâ—oction For so the fleshes will be boiled in their own juice without any hurt of the fire then â—et the juice be pressed out there-hence with a Press give the patient for every dose one ounce of the juice with some cordial waters some Trisantalum and Diamargaritum frigidum The preserves of sweet fruits are to be avoided because that sweet things turn into choler but the confection of tart prunes Cherries and such like may be fitly used But because there is no kinde of sickness that so weakens the strength as the plague it is alwaies necessary but yet sparingly and often to feed the patient still having respect unto his custom age the region and the time for through emptiness there is no great danger lest that the venomous matter that is driven out to the superficiall parts of the body should be called back into the inward parts by an hungry stomach and the stomach it self should be filled with cholerick hot thin and sharp excremental humors whereof cometh biting of the stomach and gripings in the guts CHAP. VII What drink the patient infected ought to use IF the fever be great and burning the patient must abstain from wine unless that he be subject to swounding and he may drink the Oxymel following in stead thereof An Oxymel Take of fair water three quarts wherein boil four ounces of hony until the third part be consumed scumming it continually then strain it and put it into a clean vessel and add thereto four ounces of vinegar and as much cinnamon as will suffice to give it a tast Or else a sugred water as followeth Take two quarts of fair water of hard sugar six ounces of Cinnamon two ounces strain it through a woollen bag or cloth without any boiling and when the patient will use it put thereto a little of the juice of Citrons The syrup of the juice of Citrons excelleth amongst all others that are used against the pestilence A Julip The use of the Julip following is also very wholsome Take of the juice of Sorrel well clarified half a pinte of the juice of Lettuce so clarified four ounces of the best hard sugar one pound boil them together to a perfection then let them be strained and clarified adding a little before the end a little vinegar and so let it be used between meals with boiled water or with equal portions of the water of Sorrel Lettuce Scabious and Bugloss or take of this former described Julip strained and clarified four ounces let it be mixed with one pound of the fore-named cordial waters and boil them together a little And when they are taken from the fire put thereto of yellow Sanders one dram of beaten Cinnamon half a dram strain it through a cloth when it is cold let it be given the patient to drink with the juice of Citrons Those that have been accustomed to drink sider perry bear or ale ought to use that drink still so that it be clear transparent and thin and made of those fruits that are somewhat tart for troubled and dreggish drink doth not only engender gross humors but also crudities windiness and obstructions of the first region of the body whereof comes a fever The commodities of oxycrate Oxycrate being given in manner following doth asswage the heat of the fever and repress the putrefaction of the humors and the fierceness of the venom and also expelleth the water through the veins if so be that the patients are not troubled with spitting of blood cough yexing and altogether weak of stomach To whom hurtfull for such must avoid tart things Take of fair water one quart of white or red vinegar three ounces of fine sugar four ounces of syrup of Roses two ounces boil them a little and then give rhe patient thereof to drink Or take of the juice of Limmons and Citrons of each half an ounce of the juice of sowr Pomgranats two ounces of the water of Sorrel and Roses of each an ounce of fair water boiled as much as shall suffice make thereof a Julip and use it between meals Or take the syrup of Limmons and of red currans of each one ounce of the water of Lillies four ounces of fair water boyled half a pinte make thereof a Julip Or take of the syrups of water-Lillies and vinegar of each half an ounce dissolve it in five ounces of the water of Sorrel of fair water one pinte make thereof a Julip But if the patient be young and have a strong and good stomach and cholerick by nature The drinking of cold water whom and when profitable I think it not unmeet for him to drink a full and large draught of fountain-fountain-water for that is effectual to restrain and quench the heat of the Fever and contrariwise they that drink cold water often and a very small quantity at a time as the Smith doth sprinkle water on the fire at his Forge do increase the heat and burning and thereby make it endure the longer Therefore by the judgment of Celsus when the disease is in the chief increase and the patient hath endured thirst for the space of three or four daies cold water must be given unto him in great quantity so that he may drink past his satiety that when his belly and stomach are filled beyond measure Lib. 3. cap. 7. and sufficiently cooled he may vomit Some do not drink so much thereof as may cause them to vomit but do drink even unto satiety and so use it for a cooling medicine but when either of these is done the patient must be covered with many cloaths and so placed that he may sleep and for the most part after long thirst and watching and after long fulness and long and great heat sound sleep cometh by which great sweat is sent out and that is a present help But thirst must sometimes be quenched with little pieces of Melons Gourds Cucumbers with the leaves of Lettuce Sorrel and Purslain made moist or soaked in cold water or with a little square piece of a Citron Limmon or Orange macerated in Rose-water and sprinkled with Sugar and so held in the mouth and then changed But if the patient be aged his strength weak flegmatick by nature and given to wine when the state of the Fever is somewhat past and the chief heat beginning to asswage he may drink wine very much allayed at his meat for to restore his strength and to supply the want of the wâ—â—â—ed spirits The patient ought not by any means to suffer great thirst but must mitigate it by drinking or else allay it by washing his mouth with oxycrate and such like and he may therein also wâ—sh his hands and his
face for that doth recreate the strength If the flux or lask trouble him he may very well use to drink steeled water and also boiled milk wherein many stones coming 〈◊〉 not out of the fire have been many times quenched For driness or roughness of the mouth For the driness and roughness of the mouth it is very good to have a cooling moistening and lenifying lotion of the mucilaginous water of the infusion of the seeds of Quinces psilium id est Flea-wort adding thereto a little Camphire with the Water of Plantain and Roses then cleanse and wipe out the filth and then moisten the mouth by holding therein a little oil of sweet Almonds mixed with a little syrup of Violets If the roughness breed or degenerate into ulcers they must be touched with the water of the infusion of sublimate or Aqua fortis But because we have formerly made frequent mention of drinking of water For the Ulcers thereof I have here thought good to speak somewhat of the choice and goodness of waters The choice of waters is not to be neglected because a great part of our diet depends thereon for besides that we use it either alone or mixed with wine for drink we also knead bread boil meat and make broths therewith The choice of waters Many think that rain-water which falls in summer and is kept in a cistern well placed and made is the wholesomest of all Then next thereto they judge that spring water which runs out of the tops of mountains through rocks cliffs and stones in the third place they put Well-water or that which riseth from the foots of hills Also the river-water is good that is taken out of the midst or stream Lake or pond-water is the worst especially if it stand still for such is fruitful of and stored with many venomous creatures as Snakes Toads and the like That which comes by the melting of Snow and Ice is very ill by reason of the too refrigerating faculty and earthly nature But of Spring and Well-waters these are to be judged the best which are insipid without smell and colour such as are clear warmish in winter and cold in summer which are quickly hot Hip. sect 5 â—phor 26. and quickly cold that is which are most light in which all manner of puls turnips and the like are easily and quickly boiled Lastly when as such as usually drink thereof have clear voices and shril their chests sound and a lively and fresh colour in their faces CHAP. XXII Of Antidotes to be used in the Plague NOw we must treat of the proper cure of this disease which must be used as soon as may be possible because this kind of poyson in swiftness exceedeth the celerity of the medicine Therefore it is better to erre in this that you should think every disease to be pestilent in a pestilent season and to cure it as the Pestilence because that so long as the air is polluted with the seeds of the Pestilence the humors in the body are soon infected with the vicinity of such an air so that then there happeneth no disease void of the Pestilence that is to say which is not pestilent from the beginning by his own nature or which is not made pestilent Many begin the Cure with blood-letting some with purging and some with Antidotes Wee The beginning of the cure must be by Antidotes taking a consideration of the substance of that part that is assaulted first of all begin the cure with an Antidote because that by its specifick property it defends the heart from poison as much as it is offended therewith Although there are also other Antidotes which preserve and keep the heart and the patient from the danger of Poyson and the Pestilence not only because they do infringe the power of the poison in their whole substance but also because they drive and expel it out of all the body by sweat vomiting scouring and such other kinds of evacuations In what quantity they must be taken The Antidote must be given in such a quantity as may be sufficient to overcome the poyson but because it is not good to use it in greater quantity then needeth lest it should overthrow our nature for whose preservation only it is used therefore that which cannot be taken together at once must be taken at several times that some portion thereof may daily be used so long untill all the accidents effects and impressions of the poyson be past and that there be nothing to be feared Why poysonous things are put into Antidotes Some of those Antidotes consist of portions of venemous things being tempered together and mixed in an apt proportion with other medicines whose power is contrary to the venom as Treacle which hath for an ingredient the flesh of Vipers that it being thereto mixed may serve as a guide to bring all the Antidote unto the place where the venenate malignity hath made the chief impression because by the similitude of nature and sympathy one poyson is suddenly snatched and carried into another There are other absolutely poysonous which nevertheless are Antidotes one unto another Some poysons Antidotes to other some as a Scorpion himself cureth the pricks of a Scorpion But Treacle and Mithridate excell all other Antidotes for by strengthening the noblest part and the mansion of life they repair and recreate the wasted Spirits and overcome the poyson not only being taken inwardly but also applyed outwardly to the region of the heart Botches and Carbuncles for by an hidden property they draw the poysons unto them as Amber doth Chaff and digest it when it is drawn and spoil and rob it of all its deadly force as it is declared at large by Galen in his book de Thearicâ ad Pisonem by most true reasons and experiment But you will say that these things are hot and that the plague is often accompanied with a burning fever But thereto I answer there is not so great danger in the fever as in the pestilence although in the giving of Treacle I would not altogether seem to neglect the fever but think it good to minister or apply it mixed with cordial-cooling medicines as with the Trochises of Camphire syrup of Lemmons of water-Lillies the water of Sorrel and such like And for the same cause we ought not to chuse old Treacle but that which is of a middle age as of one or two years old to those that are strong you may give half a dram and to those that are more weak a dram How to walk after the taking of an Antidote The patient ought to walk presently after he hath taken Treacle Mithridate or any other Antidote but yet as moderately as he can not like unto many which when they perceive themselves to be infected do not cease to course and run up and down untill they have no strength to sustain their bodies for so they dissolve nature so that it cannot suffice
est unto the Vessels and Ad Vires id est unto the Strength and therewithal he hath a tumor that is pestilent in the parts belonging unto head or neck the blood must be let out of the cephalick or median vein or out of one of their branches dispersed in the arm on the grieved side But if through occasion of fat or any other such like cause those veins do not appear in the arm there be some that give counsel in such a case to open the vein that is between the fore-finger and the thumb the hand being put into warm water whereby that vein may swell and be filled with blood gathered thither by means of the heat If the tumor be under the arm-hole or about those places the liver-vein or the median must be opened which runneth alongst the hand if it be in the groin the vein of the ham or Saphena or any other vein above the foot that appeareth well but alwaies on the grieved side And phlebotomy must be performed before the third day for this disease is of the kind or nature of sharp diseases because that within four and twenty hours it runneth past help In letting of blood you must have consideration of the strength You may perceive that the patient is ready to swound when that his forehead waxeth moist with a small sweat suddenly arising by the a king or pain at the stomach with an appetite to vomit and desire to go to stool gaping blackness of the lips and sudden alteration of the face unto paleness and lastly most certainly by a small and slow pulse and then you must lay your finger on the vein and stop it untill the patient come to himself again either by nature or else restored by art that is to say by giving unto him bread dipped in wine or any other such like thing then if you have not taken blood enough you must let it go again and bleed so much as the greatness of the disease or the strength of the patient will permit or require which being done some of the Antidotes that are prescribed before will be very profitable to be drunk which may repair the strength and infringe the force of the malignity CHAP. XXV Of purging medicines in a Pestilent disease IF you call to minde the proper indications purging shall seem necessary in this kinde of disease and that must be prescribed as the present case and necessity requireth What purges fit in the Plague rightly considering that the disease is sudden and doth require medicines that may with all speed drive out of the body the hurtful humor wherein the noisome quality doth lurk and is hidden which medicines are divers by reason of the diversity of the kinde of the humor and the condition or temperature of the patient For this purpose six grains of Scammony beaten into powder or else ten grains are commonly ministred to the patient with one dram of Treacle Also pils may be made in this form Take of Treacle and Mithridate of each one dram Pils of Sulphur vivum finely powdred half a dram of Diagridium four grains make thereof Pils Or take three drams of Aloes of Myrrh and Saffron of each one dram of white Hellebore and Asarabacca of each ℈ iiii make thereof a mass with old treacle and let the patient take four scruples thereof for a dose three hours before meat Ruffus his pils may be profitably given to those that are weak The ancient Physicians have greatly commended Agarick for this disease because it doth draw the noisom humors out of all the members and the virtues thereof are like unto those of Treacle for it is thought to strengthen the heart and to draw out the malignity by purging To those that are strong the weight of two drams may be given and to those that are more weak half a dram It is better to give the infusion in a decoction then in substance for being elected and prepared truly into Trochisces it may be called a divine kinde of medicine Antimonium is highly praised by the experience of many but because I know the use thereof is condemned by the councel and decree of the School of Physicians at Paris I wll here cease to speak of it Those medicines that cause sweats are thought to excel all others when the Pestilence commeth of the venomous Air among whom the efficacy of that which followeth hath been proved to the great good of many in that Pestilence which was lately throughout all Germany as Matthias Rodler Chancelor to Duke George the Count Palatine signified unto me by letters They do take a bundle of Mug-wort and of the ashes thereof after it is burnt An effectual sudorifick and also purging medicine they make a lee with four pints of water then they do set it over the fire and boil it in a vessel of earth well leaded until the liquor be consumed the earthy dregs falling into the bottom like unto salt whereof they make Trochisces of the weight of a crown of gold then they dissolve one or two of these Trochises according to the strength of the patient in good Muskadine give it the patient to drink and let him walk after that he hath drunk it for the space of half an hour then lay him in his bed and there sweat him two or three hours and then he will vomit and his belly will be loosed as if he had taken Antimony and so they were all for the most part cured especially all those that took that remedy betimes and before the disease went to their heart The virtues of Mugwort as I my self have proved in some that were sick at Paris with most happy success Truly Mugwort is highly commended by the Ancient Physicians being taken and applied inwardly or outwardly against the bitings of venomous creatures so that it is not to be doubted but that it hath great virtue against the Pestilence I have heard it most certainly reported by Gilbertus Heroaldus Physician of Mompilier Vide rondelet lib. 7 depis c. 3. that eight ounces of the pickle of Anchovies drunk at one draught is a most certain and approved remedy against the Pestilence as he and many other have often found by experience For the Plague is no other thing but a very great putrefaction for the correction and amendment whereof there is nothing more apt or fit then this pickle or substance of Anchovies being melted by the Sun and force of the salt that is strewed thereon There be some which infuse one dram of Walwort-seed in white wine and affirme that it drunken will performe the like effect as Antimony Others dissolve a little weight of the seed of Rue being bruised in Muskadine with the quantity of a bean of Treacle and so drink it Others beat or bruise an handful of the leaves or tops of Broom in half a pinte of white wine and so give it to the patient to drink to cause him to vomit loose
or in swallowing the milke What is to be observed in the milk We may judg of or know the nature and condition of milk by the quantity quality colour savor and taste when the quantity of the milk is so little that it wil not suffice to nourish the infant it cannot be good and laudable for it aâ—gueth some distemperature either of the whole body or at least of the dugs especially a hot and dry distemperature But when it superaboundeth and is more then the infant can spend it exhausteth the juice of the nurses body and when it cannot all be drawn out by the infant it clutteâ—eth and congealeth or corrupteth in the dugs Yet I would rather wish it to abound then to be defective for the superabounding quantity may be pressed out before the childe be set to the breast The laudable consistence of milk That milk that is of a mean consistence between thick and thin is esteemed to be the best For it betokeneth the strength and vigor of the faculty that ingendreth it in the breasts Therefore if one drop of the milk be laid on the nail of ones thumb being first made very clean and fair if the thumb be not moved and it run off the nail it signifieth that it is watery milk but if it sâ—â—ck to the nail although the end of the thumb be bowed downwards it sheweth that it is too gross and thick but if it remain on the nail so long as you hold it upright and fall from it when you hold it a little aside or downwards by little and little it sheweth it is very good milk And that which is exquisitely white is best of all For the milk is no other thing then blood made white Therefore if it be of any other colour it argueth a default in the blood so that if it be brown Why the milk ougâ—t to be very white it betokeneth melancholick blood if it be yellow it signifieth cholerick blood if it be wan and pale it betokeneth phlegmatick blood if it be somewhat red it argueth the weakness of the faculty that engendreth the milk It ought to be sweet fragrant and pleasant in smell for if it strike into the nostrils with a certain sharpness as for the most part the milke of women that have red hair and little freckles on their faces doth it prognosticates a hot and cholerick nature Why a woman that hath red hair or frecles on her face cannot be a good Nurse if with a certain sowerness it portendeth a cold and melancholick nature In taste it ought to be sweet and as it were sugered for the bitter saltish sharp and stiptick is nought And here I cannot but admire the providence of nature which hath caused the blood wherewith the childe should be nourished to be turned into milk which unless it were so who is he that would not turn his face from and abhor so grievous and terrible a spectacle of the childes mouth so imbrued and besmeared with blood what mother or Nurse would not be amazed at every moment with the fear of the blood so often shed out or sucked by the infant for his nourishment Moreover we should want two helps of sustentation that is to say Butter and Cheese Neither ought the childe to be permitted to suck within five or six daies after it is born both for the reason before alledged and also because he hath need of so much time to rest quiet and ease himself after the pains he hath sustained in his birth in the mean season the mother must have her breasts drawn by some maid that drinketh no wine or else she may suck or draw them her self with an artificiall instrument which I will describe hereafter That Nurse that hath born a man childe is to be preferred before another What that Nurse that hath born a man-childe is to be p eferred before another because her milk is the better concocted the heat of the male-childe doubling the mothers heat And moreover the women that are great with childe of a male-childe are better colored and in better strength and better able to do any thing all the time of their greatness which proveth the same and moreover the blood is more laudable and the milk better Furthermore it behoveth the Nurse to be brought on bed or to travail at her just and prefixed or natural time Why she cannot be a good Nurse whoâ—e childe was born befoâ—e the time for when the childe is born before his time of some inward cause it argueth that there is some default lurking and hidden in the body and humors thereof CHAP. XXII What diet the Nurse ought to use and in what situation she ought to place the infant in the Cradle BOth in eating drinking sleeping watching exercising and resting the Nurses diet must be divers according as the nature of the childe both in habit and temperature shall be as for example if the childe be altogether of a more hot blood the Nurse both in feeding and ordering herself ought to follow a cooling diet In general let her eat meats of good juice moderate in quantity and quality let her live in a pure and clear air let her abstain from all spices and all salted and spiced meats and all sharp things wine especially that which is not allayed or mixed with water and carnal copulation with a man let her avoid all perturbations of the minde but anger especially let her use moderate exercise Anger â—reatly hu teth the Nurse The exercise of the arms is best for the Nurse How the childe should be placed in the Cradâ—e unless it be the exercise of her armes and upper parts rather then the leggs and lower parts whereby the greater attraction of the blood that must be turned into milk may be made towards the dugs Let her place her childe so in the Cradle that his head may be higher then all the body that so the excremental humors may be the better sent from the brain unto the passages that are beneath it Let her swathe it so as the neck and all the back-bone may be strait and equal As long as the childe sucketh and is not fed with stronger meat it is better to lay him alway on his back then any other way for the back is as it were the keel in a ship the ground-work and foundation of all the whole body whereon the infant may safely and easily rest But if he lie oâ— the side it were danger left that the bones of the ribs being soft and tender not strong enough and united with stack bands should bow under the weight of the rest and so wax crooked whereby the infant might become crook-backed But when he beginneth to breed teeth and to be fed with more strong meat and also the bones and connexions of them begin to wax more firm and hard he must be laved one while on this side another while on that and now and then also on his
at all it this necessary humor were wanting in the womb yet it may be some women may conceive without the flux of the courses but that is in such as have so much or the â—â—mor gathered together as is wont to remain in those which are purged although it be not so great a quantity that it may flow out as it is recorded by Aristotle But as it is in some very great and in some very little so it is in some seldom and in some very often What womeâ— have this mâ—nstrual flux often abundantly and for a lo ger space then others There are some that are purged twice and some thrice in a moneth but it is altogether in those who have a great liver large veins and are filled and fed with many and greatly nourishing meats which sit idlely at home all day which having slept all night do notwithstanding lie in bed sleeping a great part of the day also which live in a hot moist rainy and southerly air which use warm baths of sweet waters and gentle frictions which use and are greatly delighted with carnal copulation in these and such like women the courses flow more frequently and abundantly What women hâ—ve this flâ—x mâ—re 〈◊〉 leâ— and a far more short time then others But contrariwise those that have small and obscure veins and those that have their bodies more furnished and big either with flesh or with fat are more seldom purged and also more sparingly because that the sâ—perfluous quantity of blood useth to go into the habit of the body Also tender delicate and fair women are less purged than those that are brown and endued with a more compact flesh because that by the rarity of their bodies they suffer a greater wasting or dissipation of their substance by transpiration Moreover they are not so greatly purged with this kind of purgation which have some other solemn or accustomed evacuation in any other place of their body as by the nose or hemorrhoids Why young women are purged in the new of the Moon And as concerning their age old women are purged when the Moon is old and young women when the Moon is new as it is thought I think the cause thereof is for that the Moon ruleth moist bodies for by the variable motion thereof the Sea floweth and ebbeth and bones marrow and plants abound with their genital humor Therefore young people which have much blood and more fluxible and their bodies more fluxible are soon moved unto a flux although it be even in the first quarter of the Moons rising or increasing Why old women are purged in the wane of the Moon but the humors of old women because they wax stiff as it were with cold and are not so abundant and have more dense bodies and straighter vessels are not so apt to a flux nor do they so easily flow except it be in the full of the Moon or else in the decrease that is to say because the blood that is gathered in the full of the Moon falls from the body even of its own weight for that by reason of the decreasing or wane of the Moon this time of the moneth is more cold and moist CHAP. L. The causes of the Monethly Flux or Courses The material cause of the Monethtly flux BEcause a woman is more cold and therefore hath the digestive faculty more weak it cometh to pass that she requireth and desireth more meat or food than she can digest or concoct And because that superfluous humour that remaineth is not digested by exercise nor by the efficacy of strong and lively heat therefore by the providence or benefit of nature it floweth out by the veins of the womb by the power of the expulsive faculty at its own certain and prefixed season or time But then especially it beginneth to flow and a certain rude portion of blood to be expelled being hurtful and malign otherwise in no quality When the monthly flux begins to flow when nature hath laid her principal foundations of the increase of the body so that in greatness of the body she hath come as it were in a manner to the highest top that is to say from the thirteenth to the fiftieth year of her age Moreover the childe cannot be formed in the womb nor have his nutriment or encrease without this flux therefore this is another finall cause of the monethly flux The final cause Many are perswaded that women do far more abound with blood than men considering how great an abundance of blood they cast forth of their secret parts every month A woman exceeds a man in quantity of blood from the thirteenth to the fiftieth year of their age how much women great with child of whom also many are menstrual yeeld unto the nutriment and encrease of the childe in their wombs and how much Physicians take from women that are with childe by opening of a vein which otherwise would be delivered before their natural and prefixed time how great a quantity thereof they avoid in the birth of their children and for ten or twelve daies after and how great a quantity of milk they spend for the nourishment of the child when they give suck which milk is none other thing than blood made white by the power of the kernels that are in the dugs which doth suffice to nourish the child be he great or little yet notwithstanding many nurses in the mean while are menstrual A man exceedeth a women in the quality of his blood and as that may be true so certainly this is true that one dram that I may so speak of a mans blood is of more efficacy to nourish and encrease than two pounds of womans blood because it is far more perfect more concocted wrought and better replenished with abundance of spirits whereby it commeth to pass that a man endued with a more strong heat A man is more hot than a woman and therefore not menstrual doth more easily convert what meat soever he eateth unto the nourishment and substance of his body and if that any superfluity remains he doth easily digest and scatter it by insensible transpiration But a woman being more cold than a man because she taketh more than she can concoct doth gather together more humors which because she cannot disperse by reason of the unperfectness and weakness of her heat it is necessary that she should suffer and have her monthly purgation especially when she groweth unto some bigness but there is no such need in a man CHAP. LI. The causes of the suppression of the courses or menstrual flux THe courses are suppressed or stopped by many causes as by sharp vehement and long diseases by fear sorrow hunger immoderate labors watchings fluxes of the belly great bleeding haemorrhoids fluxes of blood at the mouth and evacuations in any other part of the body whatsoever often opening of a vein great sweats ulcers flowing much and long scabbiness
He hath two somewhat long and slender horns under which are his eyes alwaies standing out of his head as those which he cannot pluck and draw in as Crabs can His sorefeet have claws upon them wherewith he defends himself and carries meat to his mouth having two other on each side and a third being a lesser the which he useth in going The female layes eggs which hang forth at her back part as if they were put upon a thread being joined together by certain little membranes Lastly in the opinion of Aelian Lib. 7. cap. 31. the Cancellus or small Cray-fish is born naked and without a shell but within a while after she of many which she finds empty makes choice of a fit one and when as grown bigger she cannot be contained or dwell any longer therein or else being stimulated with a natural desire of copulation she removes into a more capacious and convenient one These little Gray-fishes oft-times fight together for their habitation They change their habitation for two causes and the stronger carries away the empty shell or else makes the weaker to quit possession Now the shell is either of a Nerita or Turbo and oft-times of a small Purple and entring into possession she carries it about there seeds and grows and then seeks a more capacious one as Aristotle saith in the formerly-cited place The effigies of the empty shels whereinto the Cancelli use to creep to dwell Some think that this Bernard the Hermit is that kinde of Cancellus which is by Pliny termed Pinnoter but in truth the Pinnoter is not a kind of Cancellus or Cray-fish but of a little Crab. What the Pinnoter or dwarf-crab is Now in Aristotle there is much difference between Cancellus and Cancer parvus though Pliny may seem to confound them for he is bred naked having his crust only but without a shell wherefore seeing that by nature he wants it he diligently searches for it and dwells in it when as he hath found it But the Pinnoter is not bred by it self alone but in Pinnae and some others and he changeth not his habitation because as Aristotle thinks being of the kind of dwarf Crabs What the Piâ—na is it never grows big neither dwells it in empty shells Now the Pinna or Pin is a kinde of shell-fish it breeds in muddy places and is alwaies open neithet is it at any time without a companion Lib. 9 cap. 42. Lib. 3 Deipno which they therefore call the Pinnoter or Pinnophylax i. e. the Pin-keeper as Pliny saith Verily that these things are thus you may plainly perceive by these words of Athaeneus Chrysippus Solensis 5. de Honest Volupt saith the Pinna and Pinnoter assist and further each other neither can they live asunder The familiarity and craft of the Pinna and Pinnoter The Pinna may be referred to the kindness of oisters but the Pinnoter stands by observing if Pinna opens her shell for the little fishes to enter thereinto the Pinnoter stands by observing if any come in which if they do he gives the Pin notice thereof by biting who presently thereupon shuts her shell and so they feed together upon that they catch by this means Thus Athenaeus She is also for this her craft mentioned by Plutarch in his writings The Pinnoter is sometimes called by Pliny Cancer dapis affectator But that which by these authors is attributed to the dwarf-Crab the same by Cicero is ascribed to the little shrimp Lib. 2. de nat deorum Now the Pinna saith he opening her two large shells enters into confederacy with the little shrimp for getting of food wherefore when little fishes swim into her gaping shell then the Pinna admonished by the shrimps biting her shuts her shell thus two unlike creatures get their living together But Plutarch seems to make the Pinna to be the Pearl-oister in that work of his whereas he inquireth whether the craft of water or Land-beasts be the greater The effigies of Bernard the Hermite housed in his Shell The figure of him out of his Cell The shape of Nautilos or Sailor-fish How the Whale may be reckoned amongst monsters The better to store this Treatise of Monsters abusing the name with the Poets we will reckon up the whale amongst the Sea-monsters by reason of his monstrous and wondrous magnitude Now the Whale is the greatest by much of all the fishes of the Sea for most commonly this beast is thirty six cubits long eight high the slit of his mouth is eighteen foot long teeth they have none but in stead thereof in each Jaw horny black excrescences or fins which we vulgarly term Whale-bones which by little and little end in small hairs like to a swines bristles which comming and standing out of his mouth are in stead of Guides lest whilest he swims with a blinde and rapid violence he might run against a rock His eyes are distant one from the other the space of four ells which outwardly appear small but inwardly they are bigger then a mans head wherefore they are deceived that say that they are no bigger then an Oxes eyes his nose is short but in the middle of his fore-head he hath a pipe whereat he draws in the air and casts forth a whole shower or river of water that therewith he will even sink the vessels or boats of Mariners when he hath filled himself beyond measure he cries out or roars with so great or strong a voice that he may be heard two miles off He hath two very large fins upon his sides wherewith he swims and under which in the time of danger he hides his young he hath none upon his back His tail in site is like to the tails of Dolphins neither is it much unlike in shape which when he moves he so tosseth the Sea that he drowns and overturns the boats that he toucheth A Whale brings forth young and suckles them You may by dissecting them find that a Whale brings forth live-young and gives them suck for the male hath testicles and a yard but the female a womb and dugs They are taken in divers places about winter but chiefly about the coast of Aquitaine at a small town which is vulgarly called Biarris some six miles distant from Bayon whereunto I being sent by King Charles the ninth when he was at Bayon to cure the Prince of Roche Sur-You I was an eye-witness how they are caught and also I confirmed that which I had formerly read to that purpose in that excellent and most true history of fishes set forth by Rondoletius Now at that Town there is a little hill How they are caught in the top whereof there is a Tower of very great antiquity from which as from a watch-tower they keep watch whether or no any Whales swim that way Wherefore the watch-men from the tower either seeing or by the horrible noise hearing a Whale to pass that way they give warning thereof
heare by his so many ears yet hath he but one mouth and one belly to contain his meat but his round body is encompassed with many feet by whose help he can go any way he please without turning of his body his tail is something long and very hairy at the end Blood as good as balsom The inhabitants affirm that his blood is more effectuall in healing of wounds then any balsom It is strange that the Rhinoceros should be a born enemy to the Elephant wherefore he whets his horn which grows upon his nose upon the rocks and so prepares himself for fight wherein he chiefly assails the belly as that which he knows to be the softest he is as long as an Elephant but his legs are much shorter he is of the colour of box yet somewhat spotted Pompy was the first Plin. 18. c. 29. that shewed one at Rome The figure of the Rhinoceros The figure of the Chameleon Plim lib. 8. c. 33. Affrica produceth the Cameleon yet is it more frequent in India he is in shape and greatness like a Lizard but that his legs are strait and higher Arist lib. 2. hist anim cap. 12. his sides are joyned to the belly as in fish and his back stands up after the same manner his nose stands out not much unlike a swines his tail is long and endeth sharp and he foulds it up in a round like a serpent his nails are crooked his pace slow like as the Tortoise his body rough be never shuts his eyes neither doth he look about by the moving of the apple but by the turning of the whole eye The strange nature of the colour of the Chameleon The nature of his colour is very wonderful for he changeth it now and then in his eye and tail and whole body beside and he alwayes assimilates that which he is next to unless it be red or white His skin is very thin and his body clear therefore the one of these two either the colour of the neighbouring things in so great subtility of his clear skin easily shines as in a glass or else various humors diversly stirred up in him according to the variety of his affections represent divers colours in his skin as a turky-cock doth in those fleshy excrescences under his throat and under his head he is pale when he is dead Mathiolus writes that the right eye taken from a living Chameleon takes away the white spots which are about the thorny coat of the eye his body being beaten and mixed with Goats milk and rubbed upon any part fetcheth off hairs his gall discusseth the Cataracts of the eye CHAP. XIII Of Celestial Monsters PEradventure it hath not been strange that monsters have been generated upon the earth and in the Sea but for monsters to appear in heaven and in the upper region of the air exceeds all admiration Yet have we often read it written by the antients that the face of heaven hath been deformed by bearded tailed and haired Comets by meteors representing burning torches and lamps pillars darts shields troups of clouds hostilly assayling each other Dragons two Moons Suns and the like monsters and prodigies The figure of a fearfull Comet Also there have been seen great and thick bars of Iron to have faln from heaven which have presently been turned into swords and rapiers At Sugoliah in the borders of Hungaria a stone fell from Heaven wich a great noise the seventh day of September Anno Dom. 1514 it weighed two hundred and fifty pound the Citizens hangâ—â—â— up with a great iron-chain put through it in the midst of the Church of their City and used to shew it as a miracle to travellers of better note that pass that way * L. 2. c. 57. Pliny reports that clashing of armour and the sound of a trumpet were heard from Heaven often before and after the Cimbrian war The same author writes that in the third Consul-ship of Marius the Amarines and Tudortines saw the heavenly armies comming from East and West and so joyning those being vanquished which came from the East Which same thing was seen in Lusalia at a town called Jubea too hours after midnight Anno Dom. 1535. But in Anno Dom. 1550. upon the 19. day of Julie in Saxony not far from Wittenburg there appeared in the air a great Stag incompassed with two armed Hosts making a great noise in their conflict and at the same instant it rained blood in great abundance the Sun seemed to be cloven in two pieces and the one of them to fall upon the earth A little before the taking of Constantinople from the Christians Presages of the taking of Constantinople Monstrous rains there appeard a great army in the air appointed to fight attended on with a great company of dogs and other wilde beasts Julius Obsequius reports that in Anno Dom. 458. it rained flesh in Italy in great and lesser pieces part of which were devoured by the birds before they fell upon the earth that which fell upon the earth kept long unputrified and unchanged in colour and smell A. Dom. 989. Otho the third being Emperor it rained corn in Italy A. Dom. 180. it rained milk and oyl in great abundance and fruit-bearing trees brought forth corn Lycosthenes tells that in the time of Charles the fifth whilst Maidenburg was besieged three suns first appeared about 7. a clock in the morning and then were seen for a whole day whereof the middlemost was the brightest the two others were reddish and of a bloody colour but in the night time there appeared three Moons The same appeared in Bavaria Anna Dom. 1554 But if so prodigious and strange things happen in the Heavens besides the common order of nature shall we think it incredible that the like may happen in the earth Earthquakes Anno Dom. 542. the whole earth quaked mount Aetna cast forth flames and sparks of fire with which many houses of the neighbouring villages were burn'd Anno Dom. 1531. in Portugal there was an earthquake for eight dayes and it quaked seven or eight times each day so that in Lisbone alone it cast down a thousand and fifty houses and more then six hundred were spoyled Ferrara lately was almost wholly demolished by a fearful earthquake Above all which ever have been heard is that prodigie which happened in the time of Pliny at the death of Nero the Emperor in the Marucine field the whole Olive-field of Vectius Marcellus a Roman Knight going over the high way Lib. 2 cap. 73. and the fields which were against it comming into the place thereof Why should I mention the miracles of waters from whose depth and streams fires and great flames have oft broke forth They tell out of St. Angustine that the fire of the sacrifice which for those seventy years of the Babylonian captivity endured under the water was extinguished Antiochus selling the priest-hood to Jason What miracle is this that the fire
should live in the water above its force and natural efficacy and that the water should forget the extinguishing faculty Verily Philosophers truly affirm that the elements which are understood to be contrary and to fight in variety among themselves are mutually joyned and tied together by a marvellous confederacy The end of the Twenty fifth Book THE SIX and TWENTIETH BOOK Of the Faculties of Simple MEDICINES As also of their Composition and Use THE PREFACE AMongst the causes which we term healthful and other remedies which pertain to the health of man The excellency of medicines and the expelling of Diseases Medicines easily challenge the prime place which as it is delivered by Solomon God hath produced out of the earth and they are not to be abhorred by a wise man for there is nothing in the world which sooner and as by a miracle asswageth the horrid torments of diseases Therefore Herophilus called them fittingly administred The hands of the Gods And hence it was that such Physicians as excelled in the knowledg of Medicines have amongst the Antients acquired an opinion of Divinity It cannot by words he expressed what power they have in healing Wherefore the knowledg of them is very necessary not only for the prevention but also for the driving away of Diseases CHAP. I. What a medicine is and how it differeth from nourishment WEe define a medicine ro be That which hath power to change the body according to one or more qualities and that such as cannot be changed into our nature contrary whereto we term that nourishment which may be converted into the substance of our bodies But we define them by the word power because they have not an absolute nature but as by relation and depending upon the condition of the bodies by whom they are taken For that which is medicine to one is meat to another and that which is meat to this is medicine to that Thus for example Hellebore is nourishment to the Quail but a medicine to man Hemlock is nourishment to a Sterling but poyson to a Goose the Ferula is food to an Ass but poyson to other cattel Now this diversity is to be attributed to the different natures of creatures It is recorded in history that the same by long use may happen in men They report that a maid was presented to Alexander the Great who nourished with Napellus and other poysons had by long use made them familiar to her so that the very breath she breathed was deadly to the by-standers Therefore it ought to seem no marvel if at any time it happen that medicines turn into the nature and nourishment of our bodies for we commonly may see birds and swine feed upon serpents and toads without any harm and lastly Serpente Cinonia pullos Nutrit inducit per devia rura lacerta Illi eadem sumptis quaerunt animalia pennis The Stork with Serpents and with Lizards caught In wayless places nourisheth her brood And they the same pursue when as they 're taught To use their wing to get their wishd-for food CHAP. II. The difference of Medicines in their matter and substance The earth the mother of riches and medicines EVen as the concealed glory of worldly riches lyeth hid in the bowels of the earth and depths of the Sea and waters as gold silver and all sorts of metals gemms and pretious stones furnished with admirable virtues so we may behold the superficies of this earth cloathed with almost an infinite variety of trees shrubs and herbs where we may contemplate and wonder at the innumerable diversities of roots leaves flowers fruits gums their smells pleasant tasts and colours but much more at their virtues This same mother-earth as with her breasts nourisheth marvellous distinct kindes of living creatures various in their springing encrease and strength wherein the immense goodness of God the great Architect and framer of all things doth most clearly appear towards man as who hath subjected to our government as a patrimony so ample and plentiful provision of nature for our delight in nourishment and necessity of healing Therefore the antient Physicians have rightly delivered that all sorts of medicines may be abundantly had from living creatures plants the earth water and air Medicines are taken from living creatures either whole and entire What medicines taken from living creatures or else the parts and excrements of them We ofttimes use in Physick whole creatures as foxes whelps hedg-hodgs frogs snails worms crabs and other living creatures We also make use of some parts of them as the livet of a Wolf or Goat the lungs of the fox the bone of the Stags heart Cranium humanum fat blood flesh marrow the cods of the Castor or Beaver which is therefore termed Castoreum and such other particles that are usefull in Physick We know that also there are some medicines taken from excrements as horns nails hairs feathers skin as also from urine dung spittle hony egs wax milk wool sweat and others of this kinde under which we may comprehend musk civet pearl oesipus and sundry others of this nature We take medicines from plants both whole and also from their parts whether trees shrubs What from plants or herbs For we oft-times use succory marsh-mallows mallows plantain and the like whole but otherwhiles only the roots of plants their pith wood bark shoots stalks leaves flowers seeds fruits juices gums rosins mosses and the like Things taken from the earth for the use and matter of medicine are either earths stones What from the earth or Minerals The sorts of earth are Bole-Armenick Terra sigillata fullers-earth chalk potters clay and such like Stones are the pumice Marchisite of gold silver brass marble the load-stone plaister chalk sulphur vivum lapis specularis and others Metals and Minerals are gold silver tin lead brass Iron steel antimony ceruse brimstone Cinnaber litharge of gold and silver tutty true Pompholix verdigreece alum Romane vitriol coprass white green salts of sundry kindes both of Arsenicks and such like The following medicines are from fresh water rain-water spring-water river-water What from the water and all things thence arising as water lentils common flags water-lillies water-mints and all the creatures that live therein From the salt-water are taken salt Alcyonium all sorts of coral shels of fish the herb Androsace which grows in plenty in the marshes at Fontignan and Cape de Sete Asphaltum which is found in the dead sea From the air proceeds Manna therefore called mel aërium i. e. hony of the air What from the air and also all other kindes of dew that are useful in Physick by reason of the virtues they receive from the sun which raiseth them up from the air whereas they make some stay as also from the plants whereupon they fall and reside CHAP. III. The differences of simples in their qualities and effects ALL the mentioned sorts of simples are endued with one or more of the four
Bruising as when medicines are broken by striking and rubbing or grinding in a mortar and that either of Brass Iron Lead Glass Wood Marble and other like Considering the thing which is to be beaten The strength or force wherewith it must be performed The time or space The situation The things to be added The consistence which the thing beaten must be of More strong By searsing whereby we separate the purer and finer from the more impure and gross which is done by sieves and searses made of Wood Parchment Hors-hair Silk Lawn Wherein is to be noted that the same consideration is to be had in searsing as in beating therefore such things as are to be finely powdered must be searsed in a finer searse such as are more gross in a courser More pleasant By dissolving or mollifying which is nothing else but a dissolving of a simple or a compound medicine of a thick or hard consistence either into a mean consistence or a little more liquid or soft which is performed either by heat only for by heat gums and horns are mollified or by liquor as by vinegar water wine juice of Limmons c. More wholsome By desiccation or hardening which is nothing else but the consuming of the superfluous and hurtful moisture and this is performed either by the Sun or by Fire By infusion which is nothing else but the tempering or macerating of a medicine a little beaten or cut in some liquor appropriate and fit for our purpose as in Milke Vineger Water oyl and the like so long as the nature of the medicine requires To Infusion Nutrition may be reduced which is nothing else but as it were a certain accretion of the medicine by being moistened macerated rubbed or ground with some moisture especially with heat By burning that is by consuming the humidity which is in them And that either that they may be the better powdered being otherwise too glutinous or that they may lay aside their gross essence and become of a subtiler temper or that they may put off or partly lose some fiery quality as acrimony Gal. lib. 4. cap. 9. simplicium Or that they may acquire a new colour Now all things are burnt either alone as such things as have a fatty moisture as hairs sweaty wool horns Or else with some combustile matter as sulphur alum salt barly c. More fit for mixture By boyling or elixation which is performed by a humid heat as burning is by a drye and that either that we may increase the weak faculties of such medicines as are boyled by boyling them with such as are stronger or else to weaken such as are too strong or else wholly to dissipate such as are contrary Or that one faculty may arise of sundry things of different faculties being boyled together or for the longer keeping them or bringing them to a certain form or consistence All which are done by Fire or Sun By washing or cleansing whereby the impurity of the medicine is wasted away or cleansed and such things are either hard as metals stones parts of living creatures condensed juices and other like Or soft as Rosins Gums Fat 's Oils And these ought first to be finely beaten that the water may penetrate in all their substance Or to be dissolved and cast into the vessel filled with water and so stirred and then suffered to subside so that the fat may swim aloft And this must be done so long that the water retain nothing thereof in colour smell or taste CHAP. IX Of repelling or repercussive Medicines Astringents are understood by the name of repellers REpelling or repercussive medicines are cold and of gross and earthy parts by which name also astringent medicins are understood because they hinder the falling down of the humors upon the part Repercussives are such either of their nature and of themselves or else by accident being not such of their own nature These which of themselves are such The differences of repercussives are of two kindes for some are watrish and moist without any astrictive faculty which almost wholly proceeds from an earthy essence wherefore that faculty of repelling which they possess they have it wholly from coldness Of this kinde are lettuce purslain sow-thistle ducks-meat kidney-wurt cucumbers melons gourds house-leek mandrake-apples night-shade henbane and the like which cool powerfully and unless they be taken away before the part wax blackish they extinguish the natural heat Othersome are of an earthy essence and therefore astrictive but yet some of these are hot othersome cold Such things as are cold of temper and of an earthy consistence are properly and truly termed repellers Of these some are simple othersome compound the simples are plantain vine-leaves leaves of roses okes brambles cypress berberries sumach all unripe fruits verjuice vineger red wine the juice of sower pomegranats acacia the juice of berberries and quinces hypocistis pomegranat-pils oke-bark the flowers of wilde pomgranats the meal of barly beans panick oats millet orobus mixed with juices in form of a pultis bole-armenick sanguis draconis ceruss litharge terra sigillata sullers-earth chalk marl the load-stone lead corals all marchisites antimony spodium true pomphylix all sorts of earth and other things of the like nature Now compound things are Oleum rosaceum omphacinum mirtillorum papaveris cydoniorum nenupharis unguentum rosatum album rhasis campharatum emplastrum diacalcitheos dissolved in vineger and oil of roses desiccativum rubrum populeon emplastrum nigrum seu tetrapharmacum of Galens description empl contra rupturam de cerusa pro matrice All such cold repercussives are more effectual if they be associated with tenuity of substance Why things of subtil parts are oft-times mixed with repercussives either of themselves or by mixture with some other things for to this purpose we often mix vineger camphire and the like things of subtil parts which repercussives of gross parts that they may serve as vehicles to carry in the repercussive faculty Repercussives of gross parts and hot are wormwood centory gentian agrimony savin coriander mint bay-leaves cardamomes calamus aromaticus aloes spicknard Repellers by accident saffron nutmeg cinnamon amber salt alum coporas sulphur oleum absinthinum mastichinum nardinum costinum ceratum Gal. stomachicum santalinum emplastrum diacalcitheos But such things as repel by accident are bandages compressers linnen-cloths and rowlers of all sorts cases cauteries When and to what parts repercussives must be applyed blood-letting cupping painful frictions in the opposite parts and other such like things as are properly said to make revulsion The use of repercussives is to force back the humor which flows from any other place into the part and thus they mitigate the heat of such inflammation as that defluxion of humors hath caused yea oft-times to asswage and help pain the fever abscess malign ulcers and mortification Such repercussives must alwaies be so opposed to the disease that respect may be had to the temper
may be drawn forth The form of a Nodule This description may be an example of Nodules â„ž Vitellum unius ovi cui adde salis modicum fellis vervecis mellis an â„¥ ss butyri â„¥ iii. misce fiant Noduli filâ— appensi Pessaries A Pessary is grosser than a Suppository and is appointed for the womb being made with Cotton-wool or Silk steeped in some medicament and then put into the neck of the womb Their use A Pessary is used either to ulcers of the neck of the womb or for the procuring or stopping of the Menstrua or against sordid and hurtful humors of the womb causing hysterical passions and therefore to be wasted away and evacuated Therefore in the composition of Pessaries are used gums juices seeds of herbs roots and many other things according to the advice of the Physician they are also made of a solid consistence the bigness of a finger that they may enter into the neck of the womb these being tied with a string which must hang forth to pluck it out withal when evasion serves This following may be an example of their description â„ž myrrh aloes an Ê’ i. sabin semin nigel artemis an Ê’ii radic ellebor nig Ê’i croci ℈ i. cum succo mercurial melle fiat Pessus let it be tied to the thigh with a thred Or thus â„ž mastich thuris an â„¥ iii. alum ros rub nuc cupres an Ê’ii ladan hypoci sumach myrtil an Ê’ iii. fiant pessi cum succo arnoglos cotoniorum According to this example others may be made for to mollifie to bind to cleanse to incarnate to cicatrize and cover the ulcers of the womb they are to be put up when the patient lieth in bed and to be kept all night Pessaries are also made of medicinable powders not only mixed with some juice but also with those powders alone being put into a little bag of some thin matter being stuffed with a little cotton that it might be of a convenient stifness and this kind of Pessiaries may be used profitably in the falling of the mother An example of one mentioned by Rondoletius in his book of inward Medicines is as followeth Against the suffocation of the Mother â„ž Benioini styracis caryoph an Ê’i gal moschi gr vi fiat pulvis this being made up with cotton may be put up into the body CHAP. XXIV Of Oils PRoperly and commonly we call oil that juice which is pressed forth of Olives but the word is used more largely for we call every juice of a fluxible unctuous and aiery substance Oil. There are three differences of these oleaginous juices The first is of those things which yield oil by expression as well fruits as seeds being bruised that by beating the oily juice may be pressed forth some are drawn without fire as oil of sweet and bitter almonds oil of nuts of Palma Christi Others are made to run by the help of fire by which means is gotten oil of bayes linseed-oil rape-oil oil of hemp and such like The manner of drawing oil from seeds is set down by Mesue in his third book The second sort of those oils which are made by the infusion of simple medicines in oil The making oils by infusion wherein they leave their qualities and this is done three several wayes the first is by boiling of roots leaves tops of flowers fruits seeds gums whole beasts with wine water or some other juice with common or any other oil â—ntill the wine water juice be consumed which you may perceive to be perfectly done if yoâ— castâ—d op of the oil into the fire and it maketh no noise but burneth It is to be remembreâ—â—haâ— sometimes the seeds or fruits are for a certain time to be macerated before they are set to the fire but it must be boiled in a double vessel lest the oil partake of the fire After this manner is made oleum costinum rutaceum de croco cydoniorum myrtillerum mastichinum de euphorbio vulpinum de scorpionibus and many others The second is by a certain time of maceration some upon hot ashes others in hors-dung that by that moderate heat the oil might draw forth the effects of the infused medicines into it self The third is by insolation that is when these or these flowers being infused in oil are exposed to the sun that by the heat thereof the oil may change and draw into himself the faculty of the flowers which are infused of this kinde are oil of roses camomil dill lilies of water-lilies violets and others as you may see in Mesue The third kinde is properly that of the Chymists The manner of oils by resolution and is done by resolution made after divers manners and of this sort there are divers admirable qualities of divers oleaginous juices whether they be made by the sun or fire or putrefaction as we shall speak in his place hereafter We use oils when we would have the virtue of the medicament to pierce deep or the substance of the medicines mingled with the oil to be soft and gentle Moreover when we prepare oils that should be of a cooling quality the common oil of the unripe Olive is to be used of that should the oil of roses be made Again when we would prepare oils of heating qualities such as are Oleum Philosophorum or of Tiles sweet and ripe oil is to be chosen CHAP. XXV Of Liniments A Liniment is an external medicine of a mean consistence between an oil and an ointment What a liniment is for it is thicker then an oil for besides oil it is compounded with butter axungia and such like which is the reason why a Liniment is more efficacious in ripening and mitigating pain then simple oil The varieties of Liniments are drawn from their effects some cool others heat some humect som ripen others by composition are made for divers uses The matter whereof they are usually made is oil axungia snet butter all those things which have an oily substance or consistence as styrax liquida turpentine the mucilages of fenugreek marsh-mallows marrow and other like To these are sometimes added powders of roots seeds flowers rindes metals but sparingly that the liniment may be of a liquid consistence An example of a liniment that is good to attenuate heat and digest is this that followeth â„ž ol amygd amar lilior an â„¥ i. axung anat gallin an â„¥ ss butyr sal expert â„¥ i. mucag. sem alth foenugr extract in aq hyssop an â„¥ ss pulver croci ireos an ℈ i. fiat linimentum This may be an example of a liniment to humect and mollifie â„ž ol amydg dulc â„¥ ii axung human â„¥ ss mucag. semin malv. extract in aq parietar â„¥ ss fiat linimentum you may add a little saffron There be many others like these which may be made for divers affects They are easily applied to every part of the body because they are not so liquid as oils the
lb. ii cer lb. ss terebinth gum De Althaea heder galb an â„¥ i. coloph. et resin â„¥ iii. The roots and seeds being bruised are infused for three daies in five pints of water boil them until three ounces be consumed and then draw forth the Mucilage and boil it with the Oil then add Wax cut small these being taken from the fire the Galbanum being dissolved with Vineger and mingled with the Turpentine must be added together with the Gum Hederae Colophony and Rosin â„ž Ocul populi arb lb. i ss fol. papaveris nigr Mandrag hyoscyami lactucae sempervivi parvi et magni Ung. Populeumâ— violae nigrae solani umbilici Veneris seu cymbalar bardanae an â„¥ ss Cordus Fernelius et Nicolaus singulorum â„¥ iii. praescribunt Adipis suilli recentis salis expertis lb. ii vini boni lb i. fiat Vnguentum The Popular buds and Violet leaves must be bruised and macerated in the Axungia for the space of two months that is until the rest of the herbs be ready for they cannot be gathered before the Summer time but the poplar buds and Violets may be had in March They must be bruised and mingled very well and set in a warm place for eight daies then add one pint of strong Vinegar and boil them till it be consumed which may be perceived by casting a little of it into the fire then strain it forth and put up the ointment â„ž Tereb cer alb res an Ê’xiv Opopanacis Ung. Apostolorum floris seu viridis aeris nam hic flos aeris non propriè accipitur pro granulis quae scintillarum instar ab aere exiliunt dum a fabris ferrariis aqua tingitur sed pro viridi aeris usurpatur cujus contra maligna ulcera notae sunt vires contra quae omnino id Vnguentum est comparatum an Ê’ii ammon â„¥ xiv aristol lon thuris masculian Ê’ vi myrrhae et galbani anÊ’iii bdellii Ê’ vi Lytharg Ê’ ix olei lb ii fiat unguentum The Litharge is to be mingled with two ounces of Oil for the space of five hours and with a gentle fiâ—e to be boiled untill it come to the consistence of hony and be alwaies stirring lest it burn being taken from the fire and warm the Wax and the Rosin being dissolved with the rest of the oil must be added Then put to it when it is cooling the Gums dissolved in Vinegar boiled and incorporated with the Turpentine Then the Aristilochia Myrrh and Frankincense are to be mingled and last of all the Verdigrease being in fine powder and sprinckled in and so the unguent is made â„ž Cortic. median castan cortic median quere cortic median gland myrtil eques cortic fabar Comitissa acinor uvar sorbor siccor immatur mespillor immaturor â—ad chelidon folior prunor sylvest an â„¥ i ss Aquae plantaginis lb viii cer nov â„¥ viii ss olei myrtillor lb ii ss Then these things which follow being finely powdred are to be sprinkled in â„ž Pulveris corticis mediani castan corticis mediani gland cortic median arb gland id est querc gallar an â„¥ i. Cinâ—ris oss cruris bovis myrtill acinor uvar. sorbor siccor an â„¥ ss Trochiscorum de carabe â„¥ ii fiat Vnguentum First make a decoctâ—on corticis mediani arboris quercús acini uvar. rad chelid mespil forbor equis seminis myrtil folior pruni sylvestris cort fabar cortic mediani gland cortic castan gallar in the Plantain water for the space of two hours then strain it and divide the liquor into nine parts washing the Wax dissolved with the oil of Myrtils seven times the liquor being all spent and the Wax and oil being melted then insperge the powders Cruris bovis assium cortic median quire median cortic gland castan gallar â—orbâ—r mespil semâ—num myrtil acinor uvar. and at the last the Trochisces carab after this manner shall you make this Ointment â„ž Olei absinth mastich de spic rosat an â„¥ ss pulver absinth ros major menth an Ê’i Ung pro stomacho Caryoph cinam mastich galang an Ê’i Powder those things which are to be powdred and with a sufficient quantity of Wax make a soft ointment wherewith let the stomach be annointed one hour before meals continually â„ž Cer. alb lb ii cerus litharg auri an lb. i. myrrh medul cervi an â„¥ ii thuris â„¥ i. olei lb. ss Ung. ad morsâ—â— rabiosos ex li. 1. Gal. de comp sec genera Boil the Litharge in the oil to a mean consistence then add to the wax and Ceruss and when it will not stick to the fingers take it from the fire and put in the Medulla when it beginneth to cool the Myrrha and Thus being finely powdred must be cast in by little and little and the ointment may be put up for use The chops of the fundament and emâ—llient Pessaries are likewise made of it and it is very good against the bitings of mad Dogs and the punctures of nerves and tendons keeping wounds so thâ—t they do not agglutinate â„ž Picis pinguis lb. i. Opopanacis in aceto forti oleo liliorum veteri porci axungia cocti 3. De camp med sec gen â„¥ iii. fiat Vnguentum Oleum ex sinapi is good against those bitings of mad beasts and punctized nerves for it doth open wounds when they are cicatrized Ointments are used to overcome the contumacy of a stubborn evill by their firm and close sticking to especially if there shall need no medicine to go further into the body CHAP. XXVII Of Cerats and Emplasters What a Cerat is SUch affinity there is in the composition of a Cerat and Emplaster that oftentime the one is taken for the other as is usually done in Ointments and Liniments A Cerat is a composition more solid and hard then an ointment The diff rences and softer then a plaster having his name from Wax which taking away the fluidness of the oil bringeth him to his consistence The differences of Cerats are taken some from the parts by which they are called as Ceratum stâ—machicum some from the effects as Ceratum refrigerans Galeni Others from the simple medicaments which are the chief in the composition as Ceratum Santalinum The proper matter of Cerats is new Wax and Oils being appropriated to the grief of these or those parts so that Liniments and Ointments do scarce differ from Cerats if they admit of Wax for if ointment of Roses should have Wax added to it it were no longer an Ointment but a Cerat Cerats which are made with Rosins Gums and Metals do rather deserve the names of Emplasters then Cerats And therefore Ceratum ad Hernias we commonly call Emplastrum contra Rupturam If that pain or inflammation do grieve any part we make Cerats of plaster dissolved with Oil lest that the more hard and heavy consistence of the Emplaster should be troublesome to the part and hinder perspiration and
therefore laying aside the composition of Cerats let us speak of Emplasters Emplasters An Emplaster is a composition which is made up of all kinde of medicines especially of fat and dry things agreeing in one gross viscous solid and hard body sticking to the fingers The differences of Emplasters are taken from those things which the variety of ointments are taken from Of those things which go into the composition of an Emplaster some are only used for their quality and faculty as Wine Vinegar Juices Others to make the consistence as Litharge which according to Galen is the proper matter of Emplasters Wax Oil and Rosin Others be useful for both as Gums Metals parts of beasts Rosin Turpentine to digest to cleanse and dry Of Emplasters some are made by boiling some are brought into a form without boiling those which be made without fire do sudâ—â—â—â—y nor are they viscous they are made with meal and powder with some juice or wit◠〈◊〉 â—umid matter mingled with them But plasters of this kinde may rather be called hard 〈◊〉 or cataplasms for plasters properly so called are boiled some of them longer som◠〈◊〉 according to the nature of those things which make up the composition of the Emplâ—â—â—herefore it will be worth our labor to know what Emplasters do ask more or which less beâ—◠〈◊〉 or roots woods leavs stalks flowers seeds being dried and brought into powder are 〈◊〉 be added last when the plasâ—er is boiled as it were and taken from the fire least the virtue of these things be lost But if green things are to be used in a composition they are to be boâ—led in some liquor and being pressed forth that which is strained to be mingled with the rest of the composition or if there be juice to be used it is to be bruised and pressed forth which is so to be boiled with the other things that nothing for the quality is to remain with the mixture as we use to do in Empl. de Janna seu Betonica Gratia Dei The same is to be done with Mucilages but that by their clamminess they do more resist the fire But there doth much of oil and hony remain in their plasters when they are made Those juices which are hardened by concretion as Alces Hypâ—cystis Acacia when they are used in the composition of a plaster and be yet new they must be macerated and dissolved in some proper liquor and then they are to be boiled to the consumption of that liquor Gums as Opopanax Galbanum Sagapenum Ammoniacum must be dissolved in Wine Vinegar or Aqua vitae then strained and boiled to the consumption of the liquor and then mixed with the rest of the plaster And that they may have the exact quantity of Guns and Pitch it is necessary that first they be dissolved strained and boiled because of the sticks and sordid matter which are mingled with them You must have respect also to the liquor you use to dissolve them in for Vinegar of the best Wine doth more powerfully penetrate then that which is of weak and bad Wine Other Gums which are drier are to be powdred and are to be mingled with plasters last of all Metals as Aes ustum Chalcitis Magnes Bolus Armenius Sulphur Auripigmentum and others which may be brought to powder must be mingled last unless advice be given by long boiling to dull the fierce qualities of them The like consideration is to be had of Rosin Pitch and Turpentine which must be put in after the Wax and may not be boiled but very gently but the fats are mingled whilst the other things are boiling The Litharge is to be boiled with the oil to a just consistence if we would have the plaster dry without biting Ceâ—uss may endure as long boiling but then the plaster shall not be white neither will the Litharge of silver make a plaster with so good a color as Litharge of gold Moreover this order must be observed in boiling up of plasters the Litharge must be boiled to his consistence juices or mucilages are to be boiled away then add the fats then the dry Rosin Wax-Gums Turpentine and after them the powders You shall know the plaster is boiled enough by his consistence Signs of a plaster perfect y boiled gross hard glutinous and sticking to the fingers being cooled in the air water or upon a stone Also you shall know it by his exact mixtion if that all the things become one mâ—sâ— hard to be broken The quantity of things which are to be put into a plaster can hardly be described but an artificial conjecture may be given by considering the medicaments which make the plaster stiff The quantity of things to be put into plasters and of a consistence and the just hardness and softness they make being boiled Wax is not put into such plasters wherein is Labdanum for that is in stead of Wax For if there shall be in the composition of a plaster some emplastick medicaments the Wax shall be the less Contrariwise if they shall be almost all liquid things the Wax shall be increased so much as shall be necessary for the consistence of the plaster The quantity of the Wax also must be altered according to the time or the air therefore it is fit to leave this to the art and judgment of the Apothecary Emplasters are sometimes made of ointments by the addition of wax or dry rosin or some other hard or solid matter Some would that a handful of medicaments poudred should be mingled with one ounce or an ounce and an half of oil or some such liquor but for this thing nothâ—ng can certainly be determined Only in plasters described by the Antients there must be great care had wherein he must be very well versed who will not err in the describing the dose of them and therefore we will here give you the more common forms of plasters â„ž ol chamaem aneth de spica liliacei an â„¥ ii ol de croco â„¥ i. pingued porci lb i. pingued vitul Empl. de Vigo with Mercury lb. ss euphorb Ê’ v. thuris Ê’ x. ol lauri â„¥ i ss ranas viv nu vi pingued viper vel ejus loco human â„¥ ii ss lumbricor lotor in vino â„¥ iii ss succi ebuli enul ana â„¥ ii scoenanthi staechados matricar an m. ii vini oderiferi lb ii litharg auri lb i. terebinth clarae â„¥ ii styracis liquid â„¥ i ss argenti vivi exstincti so much as the present occasion shall require and the sick shall be able to bear and make up the plaster they do commonly add four ounces of quick-silver yet for the most part they do increase the dose as they desire the plaster should be stronger the worms must be washed with fair water and then with a little wine to cleanse them from their earthy filth of which they are full and so the frogs are to be washt and macerated in wine and so boiled together to
What an Embrocation iâ— when as from an high we as it were showâ— down some moisture upon any part This kinde of remedy is chiefly used in the parts of the head and it is used to the coronal future for that the skul is more thin in that part so that by the spiracula or breathing places of this future more open then chose of the other futures the force of the medicine may more easily penetrate unto the Meninges or membranes of the brain The matter of Embrocations is roots leaves flowers seeds fruits and other things according to the intention and will of the Physician They are boiled in water and wine to the half or third part Embrocations may also be made of Lye or Bâ—ine against the cold and humid affects of the brain Sometimes of oyl and vineger otherwhiles of oyl only â„ž fol. plantag solan an m. i. sem portul cucurb an Ê’ ii myrtil Ê’ i. flor nymph ros an p. ss fiat decoct ad lb i. cum aceti â„¥ ii si alte subeundem sit ex qua irrigetur pars inflammata In affects of the brain when we would repercuss we often and with good success use oyl of Roses with a fourth part of vineger We use Embrocations Their use that together with the air drawn into the body by the Diastole of the arteries the subtler part of the humor may penetrate and so cool the inflamed part for the chief use of Embrocations is in hot affects Also we use Embrocations when as for fear of an haemorrhagy or the slying asunder of a broken or dislocated member we dare not loose the bondages wherein the member is bound For then we drop down some decoction or oyl from high upon the bondages that by these the force of the medicine may enter into the affected member CHAP. XXXI Of Epithemes EPithema or an Epitheme is a composition used in the diseases of the parts of the lower middle belly like to a fomentation not much unlike an embrocation What an Epitheme is They are made of waters juices and powders by means whereof they are used to the heart chest liver and other parts Wine is added to them for the more or less penetration as the condition of the hot or cold affect shall seem to require for if you desire to heat more wine must be added as in swooning by the clotting of blood by the corruption of the seed by drinking some cold poison the contrary is to be done in a fainting by dissipation of the spirits by feverish heats also vineger may be added The matter of the medicines proper to the entrails is formerly described yet we commonly use the species of electuaries as the species elect triasantali the liver being affected In the sixth Chapter and Diamargariton in affects of the heart The proportion of the juices or liquors to the powders uses to be this to every pinte of them â„¥ i. or â„¥ iss of these of wine or else of vineger â„¥ i. You may gather this by the following example A cordial Epitheme â„ž aqu ros bugl borag an â„¥ iii. succi scabios â„¥ ii pul elect diamarg. frigid Ê’ii cort citri sicciÊ’i coral ros ebor an Ê’ ss sem citri card ben an Ê’ii ss croci moschi an gra 5. addendo vini albi â„¥ ii fiat Epithema pro corde Their use Epithemes are profitably applied in hectick and burning fevers to the liver heart and chest if so be that they be rather applied to the region of the lungs then of the heart for the heat of the lungs being by this means tempered the drawn in air becomes less hot in the pestilent and drying fevers They are prepared of humecting refrigerating and cordial things so to temper the heat and recreate the vital faculty Sometimes also we use Epithemes to strengthen the heart and drive there-hence venenate exhalations lifted or raised up from any part which is gangrenate or sphacelate Some cotton or the like steeped or moistened with such liquors and powders warmed is now and then to be applied to the affected entrail this kinde or remedy as also all other topick particular medicines ought not to be used unless you have first premised general things CHAP. XXXII Of Potential Cauteries The use of potential cauteries THat kinde of Pyrotick which is termed a Potential Cautery burns and causeth an eschar The use of these kindes of cauteries is to make evacuation derivation revulsion or attraction of the humors by those parts whereto they are applied Wherefore they are often and with good success used in the punctures and bites of venemous beasts in a venemous as also in a pestilent Bubo and Carbuncle unless the inflammation be gâ—eat for the fire doth not only open the part but also retunds the force of the poison calls forth and plentifully evacuates the conjunct matter Also they are good in phlegmatick and contumacions tumors for by their heat they take away the force and endeavours of our weak heat Also they are profitably applied to stanch bleeding or eat or waste the superfluous flesh of ulcers and wens to bring down the callous lips of ulcers and other things too long here to insist upon The ma ter of them The materials of these Cauteries are Oke-ashes Pot-ashes the ashes of Tartar of Tithymals or spurges the Fig-tree the stalks of Coleworts and beans cuttings of Vines as also sal ammoniacum alkali axungia vitri sal nitrum Roman Vitrol and the like for of these things there is made a salt which by its heat is caustick and escharotiâ—â— like to an hot iron and burning coal Therefore it violently looses the continuity by eating into the skin together with the flesh there-under I have thought good here to give you divers forms of them The forms of them Take of unquenâ—ht Lime extinguished in a bowl of Barbers Lye three pounds When the Lye is settled let it be strained and into the straining put of Axungia vitri or Sandiver calcined Argol of each two pounds of Sal nitrum ammoniacum of each four ounces these things must be beaten into a gross powder then must they be boiled over the fire and after the boiling let them remain in the Lye for four and twenty hours space being often stirred about and then strained through a thick and double linnen-cloth lest any of the earthly dross get thorow together with the liquor This strained liquor which is as clear as water they call Capiteum and they put it in a brasen Basin such as barbers use and so set it upon the fire and assoon as it boils they keep it with continual stirring lest the salt should adhere to the basin the Capitellum being half boiled away they put in two ounces of powdred vitriol so to hasten the falling of the eschar and so they keep the basin over the fire until all the liquor be almost wasted away Then they cut
capiti apponatur â„ž flor borag buglos violar an p ii cortic citri sicci macis ligni aloes rasurae eboris an Ê’i A quilt for the heart ossis de corde cervi croci an ℈ ii fol. melis m ss pulveris diambrae Ê’ ss contritis omnibus fiat sacculus e serico pro cordeirrorandus aquâ scabiosae We use bags for the strengthening of the noble parts as the brain heart liver Their use as also for those less noble as the stomach lastly for discussing flatulencies in what part soever as in the collick and in a bastard plurifie proceeding from flatulencies The powders must be strawed upon carded bombast that they run not together and then they must be sewed up or quilted in a bag of linnen or taffaty We often-times moisten these bags in wine or distilled water and sometimes not with the substance thereof but by the vapor only of such liquors put into a hot dish thus oft-times the bags are heated by the vapor only and oft-times at the fire in a dish by often turning them These if intended for the heart ought to of be crimson or scarlet silk because the scarlet-berry called by the Arabians Kermes is said to refresh and recreate the heart Certainly they must alwaies be made of some fine thing whether is be linnen or silk CHAP. XL. Of Fumigations A Suffitus or fumigation is an evaporation of medicines having some viscous and fatty moisture of fumigations some are drie and othersome moist What a fumigation is Their differences and matter the drie have the forme of trochiscs or pills their matter ought to be fatty and viscous so that it may send forth a smoke by being burnt such are ladanum myrrh mastich pitch wax rosin turpentine castoreum styrax frankincense olibanum and other gums which may be mixed with convenient powders for they yeeld them a body and firm consistence the fumigations that are made of powder only yeeld neither so strong nor long a fume The quality of the powders must be from â„¥ ss to â„¥ i ss but the gums to â„¥ ii as â„ž sandarachae A cephalick fume mastiches rosar an Ê’i benjoini galang an Ê’iii terebinthin excipiantur fiant trochisci quibus incensis suffumigentur tegumenta capitis â„ž marchasitae â„¥ ii bdellii myrrhae styracis an â„¥ i ss cerae flavae For the hardness of the sinews terebinth quod sufficit fiant formulae pro suffumigio â„ž cinnabaris â„¥ ii styracis benjoini an â„¥ ii cum terebinth fiant trochisci pro suffumigio per embotum We use fumigations in great obstructions of the brain ulcers of the lungs the asthma For the relicks of the Lues Venerea an old cough pains of the sides womb and the diseases of some other parts sometimes the whole body is fumigated as in the cure of the Lues Venerea to procure sweat sometimes only some one part whereto some relicks of the Lues adheres such fumigations are made of cinnabaris wherein there is much hydrargyarum The fume must be received by a funnel The manner of using them that so it may not be dispersed but may all be carried unto the part affected as is usually done in the affects of the womb and ears In fumigations for the brain and chest the vapor would be received with open mouth which thence may pass by the weason into the chest by the palat and nostrils into the brain but in the interim let the head be vailed that none of the vapour may flie away Moist fumigations are made somewhiles of the decoction of herbs otherwhiles of some one simple medicine boiled in oyl sometimes a hot fire-stone is quench't in vineger wine aqua vitae or the like liquor so to raise a humid vapour We oft-times use this kinde of fumigation in overcomming schirrhous affects when as we would cut discuss penetrate deep and drie take this as an example thereof The manner of a moist fumigation â„ž laterem unum satis crassum aut marchasitam ponderis lb i. heat it red hot and then let it be quencht in sharp vineger powring thereon in the mean while a little aqua vitae make a fumigation for the grieved part Fumes of the decoction of herbs do very little differ from fomentations properly so called for they differ not in the manner of their composure but only in the application to the affected parts therefore let this be an example of a humid fumigation A moist fume for the ears â„ž absinth salv rut origan an p i. rad bryon asar an â„¥ ss sem sinap cumin an Ê’ii decoquantur in duabus partibus aquae unà vini pro suffitis auâ—is cum emboto and oft-times such fumigations are made for the whole body whereof we shall treat hereafter CHAP. XLI Of a particular or half-bath What an insessus is A Semicupium or half-bath is a bath for the one half of the body that is for the parts from the belly downwards it is called also an insessio because the patient fitteth to bathe in the decoction of herbs in which form and respect a semicupium differs from a fomentation for it is composed of the same matter to wit a decoction of herbs roots seeds The matter fruits but in this the quantity of the decoction is the greater as we shall teach by the following example A half-bath for the stone in the kidnies â„ž malv. bismalv cum toto an m i ss beton saxifrag pariet an m i. sem melon milii solis alkekengi an Ê’iii cicer rub p ii rad apii graminis foeniculi eryngii an Ê’i decoquantur in sufficiente aquae pre insessu The use We use these half-baths in affects of the kidnies bladder womb fundament and lower belly or otherwise when as the Patient by reason of weakness and fear of dissipating the spirits cannot suffer or away with a whole bath The manner of using it The manner of using it is thus Fill some bags with the boiled herbs or other parts of plants and cause the patient to sit upon them yet in the interim keep the vapors from the head lest they should offend it by casting over it a linnen cloth or else let him not enter thereinto until the vapor be exhaled CHAP. XLII Of Baths The faculties of Baths BAths are nothing else then as it were a fomentation of the whole body both for preserving health and the cure of diseases this is a very commodious form of medicine and among other external medicines much celebrated by the Greek Arabian and Latin Physicians For a bath Their differences Natural Baths besides that it digests the acrid humors and footy exâ—rements lying under the skin mitigates pains and weariness and corrects all excess of distemper moreover in the cure of severs and many other contumacious and inveterate diseases it is the chief and last remedy and as it were the refuge of
health stored with pleasing delight Baths are of two sorts some natural others artificial natural are those which of their own accord without the operation or help of Art prevail or excell in any medicinal quality For the water which of it self is devoid of all quality that is perceiveable by the taste if it chance to be straitned through the veins of metals it furnishes and impregnates it self with their qualities and effects hence it is that all such water excels in a drying faculty sometimes with cooling and astriction and other whiles with heat and a discussing quality The baths whose waters being hot or warm do boil up take their heat from the cavities of the earth and mines filled with fire which thing is of much admiration whence this fire should arise in subterrene places what may kindle it what seed or nourish it for so many years and keep is from being extinct Some Philosophers would have it kindled by the beams of the sun other by the force of lightning penetrating the bowels of the earth others by the violence of the air vehemently or violently agitated no otherwise then fire is struck by the collision of a flint and steel Yet it is better to refer the cause of so great an affect unto God the maker of the Universe whose providence piercing every way into all parts of the World enters governs the secret parts passages thereof Notwithstanding they have seemed to have come nearest the truth who refer the cause of heat in waters unto the store of brimstone contained in certain places of the earth because among all minerals it hath most fire and matter fittest for the nourishing thereof Therefore to it they attribute the flames of fire which the Sicilian mountain Aetna continually sends forth Hence also it is that the most part of such waters smell of Sulphur yet others smell of Alum others of Nitre others of Tar and some of Coperas How to know whence the Baths have their efficacy Now you may know from the admixture of what metalline bodies the waters acquire their faculties by their taste sent color mud which adheres to the channels through which the water runs as also by an artificial separation of the more terrestrial parts from the more subtil For the earthy dross which subsides or remains by the boiling of such waters will retain the faculties and substance of brimstone alum and the like minerals besides also by the effects and the cure of these or these diseases you may also gather of what nature they are Wherefore we will describe each of these kindes of waters by their effects beginning first with the Sulphureous Sulphureous waters powerfully heat dry resolve open and draw from the center unto the surface of the body they cleanse the skin troubled with scabs and tetters they cause the itching of ulcers and digest and exhaust the causes of the gout The condition of natural sulphureous waters they help pains of the cholick and hardned spleens But they are not to be drunk not only by reason of their ungrateful smell and taste but also by reason of the maliciousness of their substance offensive to the inner parts of the body but chiefly to the liver Aluminous waters taste very astrictively therefore they drye powerfully Of aluminouâ— waters they have no such manifest heat yet drunk they loose the belly I beleive by reason of their heat and nitrous quality they cleanse and stay defluxions and the courses flowing too immoderately they also are good against the tooth-ach eating ulcers and the hidden abstesses of the other parts of the mouth Salt and nitrous waters shew themselves sufficiently by their heat they heat drye binde Of salt and nitrous cleanse discusse attenuate resist putrefaction take away the blackness comming of bruises heal scabby and malign ulcers and help all oedematous tumors Bituminous waters heat digest andy by long continuance soften the hardned sinews Of bituminous they are different according to the various conditions of the bitumen that they wash and partake of the qualities thereof Brasen waters that is such as retain the qualities of brass heat drye cleanse digest cut binde Of brizen are good against eating ulcers fistulas the hardness of the eye-lids and they waste and eat away the fleshly excrescences of the nose and fundament Iron waters cool drye and binde powerfully therefore they help abscesses hardened milts Of iron the weaknesses of the stomach and ventricle the unvoluntary shedding of the urine and the too much flowing terms as also the hot distemper of the liver and kidnies Some such are in Lucan territory in Italy Leaden waters refrigerate drye and perform such other operations as lead doth Of Leaden the like may be said of those waters that flow by chalk plaster and other such minerals as which all of them take and performe the qualities of the bodies by which they pass How waters or baths help cold and moist diseases as the palsie convulsion Of hot baths the stiffness and attraction of the nerves trembling palpitations cold distilllations upon the joints the inflations of the members by a dropsie the jaundise by obstruction of a gross tough and cold humor the pains of the sides colick and kidnies barrenness in women the suppression of their courses the suffocation of the womb causless weariness those diseases that spoil the skin as tetters the leprosie of both sorts the scab and other diseases arising from a gross cold and obstruct humor for they provoke sweats Yet such must shun them as are of a colerick nature and have a hot liver To whom hurtful T e faculties of cold-baths for they would cause a Cachexia and dropsie by over-heating the liver Cold waters or baths heal the hot distemper of the body and each of the parts thereof and they are more frequently taken inwardly then applied outwardly they help the laxness of the bowels as the resolution of the retentive faculty of the stomach entrails kidnies bladder and they also add strength to them Wherefore they both temper the heat of the liver and also strengthen it they stay the Diarrhaea Dysentery Courses unvoluntary shedcing of urine the Gonorrhaea Sweats and bleedings In this kinde are chiefly commendable the waters of the Spaw in the country of Leige The Spaw which inwardly and outwardly have almost the same faculty and bring much benefit without any inconvenience as those that are commonly used in the drinks and broths of the inhabitants In imitation of natural baths there may in want of them be made artificial ones Of artificial baths by the infusing and mixing the powders of the formerly described minerals as Brimstone Alum Nitre Bitumen also you may many times quench in common or rain-water iron brass silver and goold heated red hot and so give them to be drunk by the patient for such waters do oft-times retain the qualities and faculties of the metals quenched in them as you
may perceive by the happy success of such as have used them against the Dysentery Besides these there are also other baths made by art of simple water The faulty of a bath of warm-water sometimes without the ad mixture of any other thing but otherwhiles with medicinal things mixed therewith and boiled therein But after what manner soever these be made they ought to he warm for warm-water humects relaxes mollifies the solid parts if at any time they be too drye hard and dense by the ascititious heat it opens the pores of the skin digests and attracts and discusses fuliginous and acrid excrements remaining between the flesh and the skin It is good against sun-burning and weatiness whereby the similar parts are dried more then is fit To conclude whether we be too hot or cold or too drye or be nauseous we finde manifest profits by baths made of sweet or warm water as those that my supply the defect of frictions and exercises for they bring the body to a mediocrity of temper they increase and strengthen the native colour and by procuring sweat discusse statulencies therefore they are very useful in hectick fevers and in the declension of all fevers and against raving and talking idlely for the procuring sleep Why we put oil in to baths But because water alone cannot long adhere to the body let oyl be mixed or put upon them which may hold in the water and keep it longer to the skin These baths are good against the inflammations of the lungs and sides for they mitigate pain and help forward that which is suppurative to exclusion when as general remedies according to art have preceded for otherwise they will cause a greater defluxion to the afflicted parts for a bath in Galens opinion is profitably used to diseases when as the morbifick matter is concocted To this purpose is chosen rain-water then river-water so that it be not muddy and then fountain-water the water of standing-Lakes and sens is not approved of for it is fit that the water which is made choice of for a bath of sweet water should be light and of subtil parts for baths of waters which are more then immoderately hot or cold yeeld no such commodity but verily they hurt in this that they shut up or close the pores of the body keep in the fuliginous excrements under the skin other baths of sweet or fresh water consist of the same matter as fomentations do whence it is that some of them relax others mitigate pain others cleanse and othersome procure the courses that is compounded of a decoction of ingredients or plants having such operations To these there is sometimes added wine otherwhiles oyl sometimes fresh butter or milk as when the urine is stopped when nephiritick pains are violent when the nerves are contracted when the habit of the body wastes and wrinkles with a hectick driness for this corrugation is amended by relaxing things but it is watered and as it were fatted by humecting things which may penetrate and transfuse the oily or fatty humidity into the body thus rarified and opened by the warmness of a bath Anodyne baths are made of a decoction of medicines of a middle nature such as are temperate and relaxing things with which we may also sometimes mix resolving things they are boiled in water wine especially in pains of the cholick proceeding from vitreous phlegm or gross thick flatulencies contained or shut up in the belly Why we must not continue in the bath till we sweat kidnies or womb In such baths it is not fit to sweat but only to sit in them so long untill the bitterness of the pain be asswaged or mitigated lest the powers weakened by pain should be more resolved by the breaking forth of sweat emollients are sometimes mixed with gentle detergents when as the skin is rough and cold or when the scails or crust of scabs is more hard then usual then in conclusion we must come to strong detersives and driers lastly to drying and somewhat astrictive medicines so to strengthen the skin that it may not yeeld it self so easie and open to receive defluxions By giving you one example the whole manner of prescribing a bath may appear A mollifying and anodyne-bath â„ž rad lilior bismalv an lbii. malv. parlet violar an m ss sem lini foenug bismalv an lbi flor cham melil aneth an p vi fiat decoctio in sufficienti aquae quantitate cui permisceto olei liliorum lini ana lb ii fiat balneum in quo diutius natet aeger Cautions to be observed in the use of baths B ths though noble remedies approved by use and reason yet unless they be fitly and discreetly used in time plenty and quality they do much harm for they cause shakings and chilness pains density of the skin or too much rarefaction thereof and oft-times a resolution of all the faculties Wherefore a man must be mindeful of these cautions before he enter into a bath First that there be no weakness of any noble principal bowel for the weak parts easily receive the humors which the bath hath defused and rarified the wayes lying open which tend from the whole body to the principal parts Neither must there be any plenty of crude humors in the first region for so they should be attracted and diffused over all the body therefore it is not only fit that general purgations should precede but also particular by the belly and urine besides the patient should be strong that can fasting endure a bath as long as it is needful Lastly the bath ought to be in a warm and silent place lest any cold air by its blowing or the water by its cold appulse cause a shivering or shaking of the body whence a fever may ensue The fitâ—est time for bathing The morning is a fit time for bathing the stomach being fasting and empty or six hours after meat if it be requisite that the Patient should bath twice a day otherwise the meat yet crude would be snatched by the heat of the bath out of the stomach into the veins and habit of the body Many of all the seasons of the year make choice of the spring and end of Summer and in these times they chuse a clear day neither troubled with stormy windes nor too sharp an air As long as the Patient is in the bath it is fit that he take no meat unless peradventure to comfort him he take a little bread moistened in wine or the juice of an orange or some damask-prunes to quench his thirst his strength will shew how long it is fit that he should stay in for he must not stay there to the resolution of his powers for in baths the humid and spirituous substance is much dissipated How to order the patient comming forth of the bath Comming forth of the bath they must presently get them to bed be well covered that by sweating the
linnen-clothes dipped therein A water also distilled of snails gathered in a vine-yard juice of lemmons the flowers of white mullain mixed together in equal proportion with a like quantity of the liquor contained in the bladders of Elm-leaves is very good for the same purpose Also this â„ž micae panis albi lb iv flor fabar rosar alb flor nenuph. lilior ireos an lb ii lactis vaccini lb vi ova nu viii aceti â—pt lb i. distillentur omnia simul in alembico vitrâ—c fiat aqua ad faciei et manuum lotionem Or â„ž olei de tartaro â„¥ iii. mucag. sem psilii â„¥ i. cerus in oleo ros dissolut â„¥ i. ss borac sal gem an Ê’ i. fiat linimentum profacie Or â„ž caponem vivum et caseum ex lacte caprino recenter confectum limon nu iv ovor nu iv cerus lâ—t in aq rosar â„¥ ii boracis â„¥ i ss camph. â„¥ ii aq flor fabar lb iv fiat omnium infusio per xxiv horas postea distillentur in alembico vitreo The marrow of sheeps-bones good to smooth the face There is a most excellent fucus made of the marrow of sheeps-bones which smooths the roughness of the skin beautifies the face now it must be thus extracted Take the bones severed from the flesh by boiling beat them and so boil them in water when they are well boiled take them from the fire and when the water is cold gather the fat that swims upon it and there with anoint your face when as you go to bed and wash it in the morning with the formerly prescribed water How to make Sal ceâ—ussa â„ž salis ceruss Ê’ ii ung citrin vel spermat ceti â„¥ i. malaxentur simul et fiat linimentum addendo olei ovor Ê’ ii The Sal cerussae is thus made grinde Ceruss into very fine powder and infuse lb 1. thereof in a bottle of distilled vineger for four or five daies then filter it then set that you have filtred in a glased earthen vessel over a gentle fire until it concrete into salt just as you do the capitellum in making of cauteries â„ž excrementi lacert ossis saepiae tartari vini albi rasur corn cerv farin oriz. an partes aequales fiat pulvis infundatur in aqua distillata amygdalarum dulcium limacum vinealium flor nenuph. huic addito mellis albi par pondus let them all be incorporated in a marble morter and kept in a glass or silver vessel and at night anoint the face herewith it wonderfully prevails against the redness of the face if after the anointing it you shall cover the face with a linnen cloth moistened in the former described water â„ž sul lim Ê’i argent viv saliv extinct Ê’ii margarit non perforat Ê’i caph Ê’ i ss incorporentur simul in mortario marmoreo cum pistillo ligneo per tres horas ducantur et fricentur reducanturque in tenuissimum pulverem confectus pulvis abluatur aquâ myrti et desiccetur serveturque ad usum adde follorum auri et argenti nu x. When as you would use this powder put into the palm of your hand a little oyl of mastich or of sweet-almonds then presently in that oyl dissolve a little of the described powder and so work it into an ointment wherewith let the face be anointed at bed-time but it is fit first to wash the face with the formerly described waters and again in the morning when you arise How to paint the face When the face is freed from wrinkles and spots then may you paint the cheeks with a rosie and flourishing colour for of the commixture of white and red ariseth a native and beautiful color for this purpose take as much as you shall think fit of brasil and alchunet steep them in alum-water and therewith touch the cheeks and lips and so suffer it to dry in there is also spanish red made for this purpose others rub the mentioned parts with a sheeps-skin died red moreover the friction that is made by the hand only causeth a pleasing redness in the face by drawing thither the blood and spirits GHAP. XLV Of the Gutta Rosacea or a fiery face THis treatise of Fuci puts me in minde to say something in this place of helping the preternatural redness which possesseth the nose and cheeks Why worse in winter then in summar and oft-times all the face besides one while with a tumor otherwhiles without sometimes with pustles and scabs by reason of the admixture of a nitrous and adust humor Practitioners have termed it Gutta rosacca This shews both more and more ugly in winter then in summer because the cold closeth the pores of the skin so that the matter contained thereunder is bent up for want of transpiration whence it becomes acrid and biting so that as it were boiling up it lifts or raiseth the skin into pustles and scabs it is a contumacious disease and oft-times not to be helped by medicine For the general method of curing this disease it is fit that the patient abstain from wine Diet. and from all things in general that by their heat inflame the blood and diffuse it by their vaporous substance he shall shun hot and very cold places and shall procure that his belly may be soluble either by nature or art Let blood first be drawn out of the basilica then from the vena frontis and lastly from the vein of the nose Let leeches be applied to sundry places of the face and cupping-glasses with scarification to the shoulders For particular or proper remedies if the disease be inveterate Remedies the hardness shall first be softned with emollient things then assaulted with the following ointments which shall be used or changed by the Chirurgian as the Physician shall think fit â„ž succi citri â„¥ iii. cerus quantum sufficit ad eum inspissandum An approved ointment argenti vivi cum saliva et sulphure vivo extincti Ê’ ss incorporentur simul et fiat unguentum â„ž boracis Ê’ii farin ciser et fabar an Ê’ i ss caph Ê’i cum melle et succo cepae fiant trochisci when you would use them dissolve them in rose and plantain-water and spread them upon linnen cloths and so apply them on the night-time to the affected parts and so let them oft-times be renewed â„ž unguenti citrini recenter dispensati â„¥ ii sulphuris vivi â„¥ ss cum modico olei sem cucurb et succi limonum fiat unguentum with this let the face be annointed when you go to bed in the morning let it be washed away with rose-water being white by reason of bran infused therein moreover sharp vineger boiled with bran and rose-water and applied as before powerfully takes away the redness of the face â„ž cerus litharg auri sulphuris vivi pulverisati an â„¥ ss ponantur in phiala cum aceto aquae rosarum linnen cloths dipped herein shall be applied to the
face on the night and it shall be washed in the morning with the water of the infusion of brain this kinde of medicine shall be continued for a moneth â„ž sanguinis tauri lbi butyri recentis lb ss fiat distillatio utatur The liquor which is distilled for the first dayes is troubeled and stinking but those passed it becometh clear and well smelling Some boil bran in vineger and the water of water-lillies and in this decoction they dissolve of sulphur and camphire a fit proportion to the quantity of the decoction and they apply a cloth moistened in this medicine to the face in the evening â„ž album ovor nu â—i aquae ros â„¥ i ss sucei plantag lapath. acut an â„¥ i ss sublimati ℈ i. incorpopentur in mortario marmoreo â„ž axung porci decies in aceto lotae â„¥ iv argenti vivi â„¥ i. aluminis sulphuris vivi an Ê’i pistenâ—ur omnia diu in mortario plumbeo fiat unguentum argentum vivum non debet nisi extremo loco affundi â„ž rad lapath. acut asphodel an â„¥ ii conquantur in aceto scilltico postea tundantur et setaceo trajiciantur addendo auripigmenti Ê’ii sulphuris vivi Ê’x let them be incorporated and make an ointment to be used to drye up the pustles â„ž rad liliorum sub cineribus câ—ctorum â„¥ iv pistillo tusis et setaceo trajectis adde butyri receutis et axung porci lotae in aceto an â„¥ i. sulphuris vivi Ê’iii camphor ℈ iii. succi limonum quantum sufficit To drye up the pustles malaxentur simul et fiat unguentum â„ž lactis virginalis lb ss aluminis â„¥ ss sulphuris vivi â„¥ i. succi limonum â„¥ iv salis com Ê’ ss let them all be distilled in a glass Alembick and the water kept for the forementioned uses â„ž lapath. acut plantagin et asphodel an â„¥ i ss olei vitel ovor â„¥ i. terebinth Venet â„¥ ss succi limonum Ê’iii aluminis combust Ê’i argenti vivi extinct â„¥ i. olei liliorum â„¥ ss tundantur omnia in mortario plumbeo addendo sulfinem argent viv ne mortario adheraescat The juice of onions beaten with salt or yelks of eggs are good for the same purpose For staying and killing of Ring-worms and Tetters the leaves of hellebore beaten with vineger are good the milk of the fig-tree is good of it self as also that of the spurges To kill tetters or mustard dissolved in strong vineger with a little sulphur Or â„ž sulphuris calcanthi aluminis an Ê’i macerentur in aceto forti trajiciantur per lineum apply the expressed juice Others macerate an egg in sharp vineger with coperas and sulphur vivum beaten into fine powder then they strain or press it through a linnen cloth But seeing the forementioned medicines are acrid and for the most part eating and corroding it cannot be but that they must make the skin harsh and rough therefore to smooth and levigate it again you shall make use of the following ointment â„ž tereb Ven tam diu lâ—tae ut acrimoniam nullam habeat butyri salis expertis an â„¥ i ss olei vitel To smooth the skin ovor â„¥ i. axung porci in aqua rosarum lotae â„¥ ss cerae parum fiat linimentum ad usum To the same purpose you may also make use of some of the forementioned medicines CHAP. XLVI To black the hair What things a â—e fit to dye the hair AT first the hairs to take the fucus or tincture and to retain it must be prepared with Lye wherein a little roch-Alum is dissolved Thus the fatty scales may be washed and taken away which hinder and as it were keep away the fucus that it cannot adhere or penetrate into the body of the hair Then must we come to particular or proper and fitting medicines for this purpose These ought to be aromatick and cephalick and somewhat stiptick that by their odoriferous and astringent power that may strengthen the animal faculty Furthermore they must be of subtil parts that they may enter even into the inner roots of the hairs â„ž Sulphuris vitrioli gallarum calcis vivae lithargyri an Ê’ii scoriae ferri Ê’ ss in pollinem reducantur et cum aq communi incorporentur ut inde fiat massa with this at bed time let the hairs be rubbed and in the morning let them be smoothed with the same â„ž calcis lotae â„¥ i. lithargyri utriusque â„¥ ss cum decocto gallarum corticum nucum fiat massa addendo olei chamem Ê’ii â„ž litharg auri â„¥ ii ciner clavellat â„¥ i. ss calcis viv Ê’i dissolve omnia cum urina hominis donec acquirant consistentiam unguenti pro unctione capillorum â„ž calcis lotae â„¥ ii cum decoct salv et cort granat fiat pasta ad formam pultis satis liquidae let the hair at bed-time be died herewith and washed in the morning with wine and water How to wash lime Now the manner of washing lime is thus Infuse in ten or twelve pintes of fair water one pound of lime then pour out the water by stopping the vessel putting more in the stead thereof the third time in stead of common water pour thereon the water of the decoction of sage and galls let the lime lye therein for so many hours then in like manner pour it off by stoping the vessel and thus you shall have your lime well washed There is also found a way how to dye or black the hair by only pouring of some liquor thereon as â„ž argenti purissimi Ê’ii reducantur in tenuissimas laminas A water to black the hair ponantur in ampulla vitrea cumÊ’ii aquae separationis auri et argenti et aquae rosar Ê’vi The preparing of this water is thus put into a viol the water of separation and the silver and set it upon hot coals so to dissolve the silver which being done then take it from the fire and when it is cold add thereto the rose-water But if you would black it more deeply add more silver thereto if less then a smaller quantity to use it you must steep the comb wherewith you comb your head in this water â„ž plumbi usti â„¥ ii gallarum non perforat cortick nucum an â„¥ iii. terrae sigil ferret hispan an â„¥ ii vitriol rom â„¥ vi salis gem â„¥ i ss caryoph nucis mosch an â„¥ i. salis ammon aloes an Ê’ ss fiat pulvis subtilissimus let this powder be macerated in vineger for three dayes space then distil it all in an Alembick the water that comes therefrom is good for the foresaid use The following medicine is good to make the hairs of a flaxen color To make the hair of a flaxen coâ—or â„ž flor genist staechad et cardamom an â„¥ i. lupinor conquassat rasur buxi corticis citri rad gentian et berber an â„¥ i ss cum aqua nitri fiat lenta decoctio herewith bathe and moisten
the hairs for many dayes CHAP. XLVII Of Pâ—ilothra or Depilatories and also of sweet-waters MEdicines to fetch off hair which by the Greeks are termed Psilothra and Depilatoria in Latine vulgarly A deplitatory are made as you may learn by these following examples â„ž calcis viva â„¥ iii. auripigmenti â„¥ i. let the lime be quenchd in fair water and then the orpiment added with some aromatick thing have a care that the medicine lie not too long upon the part otherwise it will burn and this medicine must be made to the consistence of a pultis and applied warm first fomenting the part with warm watet for then the hair will fall off by gentle rubbing or washing it with warm water but if there happen any excoriation thereupon you may help it by the use of unguentum rosatum Another or some other of the like faculty â„ž calcis viv aurip citrin an â„¥ i. amyl spumae argent â„¥ ss terantur et incorporentur cum aq cum bulliant simul you shall certainly know that it is sufficiently boiled if putting thereinto a gooses quill the feathers come presently off some make into powder equal parts of unquench'd lime and orpiment they tye them up in a cloth with which being steeped in water they besmear the part Sweet-waters and within a while after by gentle stroaking the head the hair falls away of it self The following waters are very fitting for to wash the hands face and whole body as also linnen because they yield a gratefull smel Lavender-water the first is lavander-water thus to be made â„ž flor lavend. lb iv aq rosar vini alb an lb ii aq vitae â„¥ iv misceantur omnia simul fiat distillatio in balneo Mariae the same water may also be had without distillation if you put some lavander-flowers in fair water Clâ—ve-water and so set them to sun in a glass or put them in balneo adding a little oyl of spike and musk Clove-water is thus made Sweet-water â„ž caryoph â„¥ ii aq rosar lbii. macerentur spatio xxiv horarum et distillentur in balneo Mariae Sweet-water commonly so called is made of divers odoriferous things put together as thus â„ž menthae majoranae hyssopi salviae rorismarini lavendulae an m ii radicis ireos â„¥ ii caryophyllorum cinamoni nucis moschatae ana â„¥ ss limonum nu iv maecerentur omnia in aqua rosarum spacio viginti quatuor horarum distillentur in balneo Mariae addendo Moschi ℈ ss The end of the Twenty sixth Book THE SEVEN and TWENTIETH BOOK OF DISTILLATION CHAP. I. What distillation is and how many kindes thereof there be HAving finishd the Treatise of the faculties of medicines it now seems requisite that we speak somewhat of Chymistry and such medicines as are extracted by fire These are such as consist of a certain fift essence separated from their earthy impurity by Distillation in which there is a singular and almost divine effcacy in the cure of diseases So that of so great an abundance of the medicines there is scarce any which at this day Chymists do not distil or otherwise make them more strong and effectual then they were before What distillation is Now dâ—stillation is a certain Art or way by which the liquor or humid part of things by the virtue and force of fire or some semblable heat as the matter shall seem to require is extracted or drawn being first resolved into vapor and then condens'd again by cold Some call this art Sublimation or subliming which signifies nothing else but to separate the pure from the unpure the parts that are more subtil and delicate from those that are more corpulent gross and excrementitious as also to make those matters whose substance is more gross to become more pure and sincere either for that the terrestrial parts are ill-united and conjoyned or otherwise confused into the whole and dispersed by the heat and so carried up the other grosser parts remaining together in the bottom of the vessel Or distillation is the extraction or effusion of moisture distilling drop by drop from the nose of the Alembeck or any such like vessel Before this effusion or falling down of the liquor there goes a certain concoction performed by the vertue of heat which separates the substances of one kinde from those of another that were confusedly mixed together in one body and so brings them into one certain form or body which may be good and profitable for divers diseases Some things require the heat of a clear fire others a flame others the heat of the Sun Four degrees of heat others of ashes or sand or the filings of Iron others hors-dung or boiling water or the oily vapor or steam thereof In all these kindes of fires there are four considerable degrees of heat The first is contained in the limits of warmth and such is warm water or the vapor of hot water The second is a little hotter but yet so as the hand may abide it without any harm such is the heat of ashes The third exceeds the vehemency of the second wherefore the hand cannot long endure this without hurt and such is the heat of sand The fourth is so violent that it burneth any thing that commeth near and such are the filings of Iron The first degree is most convenient to distill such things as are subtil and moist as flowers What heat fittest for what things The second such as are subtil and drye as those things which are odoriferous and aromatical as Cinnamom Ginger Cloves The third is fittest to distill such things as are of a more dense substance and fuller of juice such as are some Roots and gums The fourth if fit for metals and minerals as Allum Vitriol Amber Jet c. In like manner you may distill without heat as we use to do in those things which are distilled by straining as when the more pure is drawn and separated from that which is most unpure and earthy as we do in Lac Virginale and other things which are strained through an hypocrass-bag or with a piece of cloth cut in form of a tongue or by setling or by a vessel made of Ivie wood sometimes also some things may be distilled by coldness of humidity and so we make the oyl of Tartar Myrrh and Vitriols by laying them upon a marble in a cold and moist place CHAP. II. Of the matter and form of Fornaces THe matter and form of Fornaces uses to be divers The matter the best for Fornaces For some Fornaces use to be made of bricks and clay othersome of clay only which are the better and more lasting if so be the clay be fat and well tempered with whites of Eggs and hair Yet in sudden occasions when there is present necessity of distillation Fornaces may be made of bricks so laid together that the joints may not agree but be unequal for so the structure will
be the stronger The best and fittest form of a Fornace for distillation is round for so the heat of the fire carried up equally diffuses it self every way which happens not in a Fornace of another figure A round form the best for Fotnaces as square or triangular for the corners disperse and separate the force of the fire Their magnitude must be such as shall be fit for the receiving of the vessel For their thickness so great as necessity shall seem to require They must be made with two bottoms distinguishd as it were into two forges one below which may receive the ashes of the coals or the like other fuel the other above to contain the burning coals or fire The bottom of this upper must either be an irongâ—â—te or else it must be perforated with many holes that so the ashes may the more easily fall down into the bottom which otherwise would extinguish the fire yet some Fornaces have three partitions as the fornace for reverberation In the first and lowest the ashes are received in the second the coals are put and in the third the matter which is calcind or else distilled The third ought to have a semicircular cover that so the heat or flame may be reflected upon the contained matter The lower partition shall have one or more doors by which the fallen-down ashes may be taken forth but the upper must have but one whereby the coals or wood may be put in But in the top or upper part of the Fornace where it shall seem most fit there shall be two or thre holes made that by them you may blow the fire and that the smoak may more freely pass out But these-forementioned doors must have their shutters much like an ovens mouth But in defect of a fornace or fit matter to build one withall we may use a kettle set upon a treefoot after the manner that we shall presently declare when we come to speak of that distillation which is to be made by Balneum Mariae CHAP. III. Of vessels fit for Distillation VEssels for Distillation consist of different matter and form for they are either of Lead Tin or Brass or else earthen vessels and these are sometimes leaded sometimes not or else they are of Gold Silver or Glass Now for leaden vessels they are worse then the rest Leaden vessels ill and utterly to be refuâ—ed especially when as the liquors which are drawn by them are to be taken into the body by the mouth by reason of the malignant qualities which are said to be in Lead by which occasion Galen condemns those waters which run and are contained in leaden pipes which by reason of their sâ—ltishness and acrimony which savors of quicksilver cause dysenteries Therefore you may perceive such waters as are diâ—tilled through a leaden head to be indued with a more acrid and violent-piercing vapor by reason the portion of that saltness disolved in them and as it were shaven from the Alembick or head defiles the distilled liquors and whitens and turns them into a milky substance but copper or brass heads are more hurtful then Lead Brass worse so they make the waters that come through them to savor or participate of brass Those that are of Gold and silver are less hurtful but the greatness of the cost hinders us from making heads of such metals The best vessels for distillation therefore we must have a care that our vessels for distillation be either of potters-metal leaded or else of bâ—ass or of that jug metal which is commonly called terra Betovacensis and these rather then of lead or any other metal Verily glasses are thought the best and next to them earthen vessels leaded then of jug-metal and lastly these of tin There is great variety of vessels for distillation in form and figure for some are of an oval or cylindrical figure that is of a round and longish others are twined and crooked others of other shapes as you may see in the beaks of the Chymists Of this almost infinite variety of figures I will in fit place give you the delineation anâ— use of such as shall seem to be most necessary CHAP. IV. What things are to be considered in Distillation FIrst make choise of a fit place in your house for the fornace so that it may neither hinder any thing not be in danger of the falling of any thing that shall lye over it When you shall istil any thing of a malign or venenate quality ye shall stand by it as little as you may lest the vapor should do you any harm when you provide glass-vessels for distillation make choise of such as are exquisitely baked without flaws or cracks and such as are everywhere smooth Let not the fire at first be very violent not only for fear of breaking the vessels but also for that the fiâ—st fiâ—e in distilâ—aâ—ion must be gentle and so increased by little and little The things to be distilled ought not to be put in too great quantity into the body of the Still lest they should rise up oâ— fly over Hot things that they may be more effectual must be twice or thrice distilled by powring upon them their own distilled water or other fresh materials How things must be often distiiled or else by distilling them severally and by themselves of this kinde are gums wax fats or oyls But in each other repeated distillations you must something lessen the force of the fire for the matter attenuateâ— by the former distillation cannot afterward endure so great heat but aromatick things as Cloves Cinnamom c as also the chymical oyls of Sage Rosemary Tyme c. ought not to be distilled or rectified over again for that we must presently after the first distillation have a diligent care to separate them from the phlegm that is the more watery substance of the whole liquor to which purpose we must have regard to that which is distilled for there are some things which send over their phlegm as Vineger others wherein it comes last * By aqua vitae in this and most other places is meant nothing but the spiriâ— of wine as aqua vitae If you would give to things to be distilled another taste or smell then that which they have naturally you may mix with them some odoriferous thing as Cinnamon Camphire or Musk or the like as you please and so distill them together The distilled liquors drawn by the heat of ashes or sand savor of and retain a certain empyreuma or smatch of the fire for the helping of which you shall put them into glasses close stopt and so expose them to the sun and now and then open the glasses that this fiery imp ession may exhale and the Phlegmon be consumed if that there shall be any But though in all distillation there are many things to be observed yet are there two things chiefly worthy of note The first is the matter that is to be distilled
and wrought upon that is of what kinde it is and what the nature thereof may do and suffer The other is the Fornace which oâ—ght to be provided of a convenient matter and figure of that which is to be distilled for you cannot draw any thing of any matter neither of every mixture being distilled can you rightly expect oyl or water For mixt bodies do not consist of an equal portion of the four Elemenâ—s but some are more aiery others more fiery some participate more the of water others moâ—e of the earth and that presently from their original Therefore as watery things yield more wâ—ter so aiery and fiery things yield more oyl when they are distilled neither are all instruments fit for the extracting of every liquor Moreover you must note that the watery liquor sometimes comes forth in â—he first place and presently after by the help of a stronger fire follâ—â—s the oily which we finde happens as often as the plant or parts of the plants which are distilled are of a cold tempeâ—amen for in hot things it happens otherwise for the first liquor which comes forth is oily and the following waterish CHAP. V. Of what fashions the vessels for the distilling of waters ought to be Of what fashion the vessels for the destilling of waters ought to be A. Shews a brass kettle full of water B. The cover of the kettle perforated in two places to give passage fourth to the vessels C. A pipe or Chimney added to the kettle wherein the fire is contained to heat the water D. The alembick consisting of his body and head E. The receiver whereinto the distilled liquor runs The effigies of another Balneum Mariae not so easily to be removed as the former A. Shews the vessel of Copper that contains the water B. The Alembick set in water But lest the bottom of the Alembick being half full should float up and down in the water and so stick against the sides of the Kettle I have thought good to shew you the way and means to prevent that danger A. Shews the vessel or glass-Alembick B. A plate of lead whereon it stands C. Strings that binde the Alembick to the plate D. Rings through which the strings are put to fasten the Alembick You may distill the liquors of things by the vapor or steam of boiling water if so be that you be provided of Vessels and forms made after this following manner A Fornace with his vessels to distill liquors with the stream of boiling water A. Shews the head of the Alembick B. The body thereof placed in a brass-vessel made for that purpose C. A brass-vessel perforated in many places to receive the vapor of the water This vessel shall contain the Alembick compassed about with saw-dust not only that it may the better and longer retain the heat of the vapor but also lest it should be broken by the hard touch of the brazen vessel D. Shews the brass vessel containing the water as it is placed in the fornace E. The fornace containing the vessel F. A funnel by which you may now and then pour in water in stead of that which is vanished and dissipated by the heat of the fire G. The Receiver Why those things that are distilâ—ed in Balneo Mariae retain more of the strength of things Now for the faculties of distilled waters it is certain that those which are drawn in Balneo Mariae or a double vessel are far better and efficacious because they do not only retain the smell of the things which are distilled but also the taste acidity harshness sweetness bitterness and other qualities so that they will neither savor of smoak nor burning for the milde and gentle heat of a bath contains by its humidity the more subtil parts of the plants that are distilled that they may not be dissipated and exhaled contrary to which it usually happens in things which are distilled by the burning heat of wood or coals For these have a certain nitrous and acrid taste savoring of the smoak of fire Besides they acquire a malign quality from the vessels out of which they are distilled especially if they be of Lead whence they contract qualities hurtful to the principal vital and natural parts Therefore the plants which are thus distilled if they be bitter by nature presently become insipid as you may perceive by wormwood-water thus distilled Those things which are distilled in Balneo Mariae are contained in a glass vessel from which they can borrow no malign quality Therefore the matters so drawn are more effectual and pleasing in taste smel and sight You may draw waters not only from one kinde of plant but also from many compounded and mixed together of these some are alimentary others medicinal yea and purging others acquird for smel others for washing or smoothing of womens faces as we shall shew hereafter CHAP. VI. How the materials must be prepared before Distillation What things need not to be macerated before they be dissolved THings before they be put in the Alembick must undergo a preparation that is they must be cut small beaten and macerated that is steeped in some liquor that so they may be the more easily distilled and yield the more water and retain their native smell and faculties yet such preparation is not convenient for all things for there be some things which need no incision or maceration but must rather be dried before they be distilled as Sage Tyme Rosemary and the like by reason of their too much humidity it will be sufficient to sprinkle other things with some liquor only In this preparation there are two things observable to wit the time of the infusion and condition of the liquor wherein these things ought to be infused The time of the infusion is different according to the variety of the matter to be macerated for things that are hard solid drye or whole must be longer macerated then such as are tender freshly gathered or beaten whence it is that roots and seeds require a longer time of infusion flowers and leaves a shorter and the like of things The liquors where infusion must be made ought to be agreeable to the other things infused For hot ingredients require hot liquors and cold such as are cold wherein they may be infused The maceration of plants in their own juice Such things as have not much juice as Betony wormwood and the like or which are very odoriferous as all aromatick things would be infused by wine so to preserve their smell which otherwise by the force of the fire by reason of the tenuity of the substance easily vanishes But if we desire that the distilled liquor should more exactly retain and have the faculty of the things whereof it is distilled then must you infuse it in the juice thereof to some such appropriate liquor that it may swim in it whilst it is distilled or at least let it be sprinkled therewith CHAP. VII Of the Art of distilling
of Waters BEfore I describe the manner how to distill waters The varieties of distilled waters I think it not amiss briefly to reckon up how many sorts of distilled waters there be and what the faculties of them are Therefore of distilled waters some are medicinal as the waters of Roses Plantain Sorrel Sage and the like others are alimentary as those waters that we call restauratives other some are composed of both such as are these restaurative waters which are also mixed with medicinal things others are purging as the distilled water of green and fresh Rubarb othersome serve for smoothing the skin and others for smell of which sort are those that are distilled of aromatick things To distill Rose-water it will be good to maceâ—ate the Roses before you distill them for the space of two or three daies in some formerly distilled Rose-water or their pressed-out juice Rose water luting the vessel close them put then into an Alembick closely luted to his head and his Receiver and so put into a Balneum Mariae as we have formerly described The distilled Alimentary liquors are nothing else than those that we vulgarly call Restauratives Restauratives this is the manner and art of preparing them Take of Veal Mutton Kid Capon Pullet â—ock Parâ—ridg Phesant as much as shall seem fit for your purpose cut it small and lest it should requires heat or empyreuma from the fire mix therewith a handful of French Barly and of red Rose-leaves dâ—ie and fresh but first steeped in the juice of pomgranats or citrons and Rosewater with a little Cinnamon The delineation of a Balneum Mariae which may also serve to distill with ashes A. Shews the Fornace with the hole to take forth the ashes B. Shews another Fornace as it were set in the other now it is of Brass and runs through the midst of the kettle made also of brass that so the contained water or ashes may be the more easily heated C. The kettle wherein the water ashes or sand are contained D. The Alembick set in the water ashes or sand with the mouths of the receivers E. The bottom of the second brass Fornace whose top is marked with B. which contains the fire There may be made other restauratives in shorter time with less labor and cost Anosher way of making restaurative Liquors To this purpose the flesh muâ—t be beaten and cut thin and so thrust through with a double thred so that the pieces thereof may touch each other then put them in to a glass and let the thred hang out so stop up the glass close with a linnen cloth Cotton or Tow and lute it up with paste made of meal and the whiâ—es of eggs then set it up to the neck in a kettle of water but so that it touch not the bottom but let it be kept upright by the formerly described means then make a gentle fire there-under un il the contained flesh by long boiling shall be dissolved into juice and that will commonly be in some four hours space This being done let the fire be taken from under the kettle but take not forth the glass befor the water be cold lest the fire being hot should be broken by the sudden â—ppulse of the cold air Wherefore when as it is cold let it be opened and the thred with the pieces of flesh be drawn forth so that only the juice may be left remaining then strain it through a bag and aromatize it with Sugar and Cinnamom adding a little juice of Citron Verjuice or Vineger as it shall best like the Patients palate After this manner you may quickly easily and without great cost have and prepare all sorts of restauratives as well medicated as simple But the force and faculty of purging medicines is extracted after a clean contrary manner then the oyls and waters which are drawn of Aromatitk things as Sage Rosemary Time Anniseeds Fennel Cloves Cinnamon Nutmegs and the like For the strength of â—hese as that which is subtil and aiery flies upwards in distillation but the strength of puâ—ging things aâ— Tuâ—bâ—th Agarick Rubâ—rb and the like subsides in the bottom For the purgative â—â—câ—l y of these purgers inseparably ache es to the b dies and substances Now for sweet waters and such as serve to smooth the skin of the face they may be distilled in Balneo Mariae like as Rose water CHAP. VIII How to distill Aqua Vitae or the spirits of Wine TAke of good white or Claret-wine or Sack which is not sowr nor musty nor otherwise corrupt or of the Lees that quantity which may serve to fil the vessel wherein you make the distillation to a third part then put on your head furnished with the nose or pipe Spirit of wine seven times rectified and so make your distillation in Balneo Mariae The oftner it is distilled or as they term it rectified the more noble and effectual it becomes Therefore some distil it seven times over At the first distillation it may suffice to draw a fourth or third part of the whole to wit of twenty four pintes of Wine or Lees draw six or eight pintes of distilled liquor At the second time the half part that is three or four pintes At the third distillation the half part again that is two pintes so that the oftner you distil it over the less liquor you have but it will be a great deal the more efficacious I do well like that the first distillation be made in Ashes the second in Balneo Mariae To conclude that aqua vitae is to be approved of neither is it any oftner to be distilled which put into a spoon or saucer and there set on fire burns wholly away and leaves no liquor or moisture in the bottom of the vessel if you drop a drop of oyl into this same water it continually falls to the bottom or if you drop a drop into tht palm of your hand it will quickly vanish away which are two other notes of the probation of this liquor The faculties of the spirit of wine The faculties and effects of aqua vitae are innumerable it is good against the epilepsie and all cold diseases it asswages the pain of the teeth it is good for punctures and wounds of the Nerves faintings swoonings gangreens and mortifications of the flesh as also put to other medicines for a vehicle The distilling of Wine and vineger is different There is this difference between the distilling of Wine and Vineger wine being of an aiery and vaporous substance that which is the best and most effectual in it to wit the aiery and fiery liquor comes from it presently at the first distillation Therefore the residue that remains in the bottom of the vessel it is of a cold drye and acrid nature on the contrary the water that comes first from Vineger being distilled is insipid and flegmatick For Vineger is made by the corruption of wine and the segregation of
the fiery and aiery parts wherefore the Wine becoming sowr there remains nothing of the former substance but phlegm wherefore seeing phlegm is chiefly predominant in Vineger it first rises in distillation Wherefore he that hopes to distil the spirit of Vineger he must cast away the phlegmatick substance that first substance that first rises and when by his taste he shall perceive the spirit of Vineger he shall keep the fire thereunder until the flowing liquor shall become as thick as hony then must the fire be taken away otherwise the burning of it will cause a great stinch The vessels fit to distil aqua vitae and Vineger are divers as an Alembick or Retort set in sand or Ashes a Copper or brass-bottom of a Stil with a head thereto having a pipe comming forth thereof which runs into a worm or pipe fastned in a barrel or vessel filled with cold water and having the lower end comming forth thereof whose figure we shall give you when as we come to speak of the drawing of oyls out of vegetables CHAP. IX Of the manner of rectifying that is how to increase the strength of waters that have been once distilled The first way TO rectifie the waters that have been distilled in Balneo Mariae you must set them in the Sun in glasses well stopped and half filled being set in sand to the third part of their height that the water waxing hot by the heat of the Sun may separate it self from the phlegm mixed therewith which will be performed in 12. or 15. dayes There is another better way to do this which is to distil them again in Balneo with a gentle fire or if you will put them into a Retort furnished with his receiver and set them upon chrystal or iron-bowls or in an iron-mortar directly opposite to the beams of the Sun The second as you may learn by these ensuing signs A Retort with his receiver standing upon Chrystal-bowls just opposite to the Sun-beams A. Shews the Retort B. The receiver C. The Châ—ystal bowls Another Retort with his receiver standing in a Marble or Iron-mortar directly opposite to the Sun A. Shews the Retort B. The marble or Iron-mâ—â—tar C The receiver CHAP. X. Of Distillation by filtring YOu shall set three basins or vessels of convenient matter in that fite and order that each may be higher than other that which stands in the highest place shall contain the liquor to be distilled and that which stands lowest shall receive the distilled liquor Out of the first and second vessel shall hang shreds or pieces of cloth or cotton with their broader ends in the liquor or upper vessel and the other sharper ends hanging down whereby the more subtil and defecate liquor may fall down by drops into the vessel that stands under it but the grosser and more feculent part may subside in the first and second vessel You by this means may at the same time distil the same liquor divers times if you place many vessels one under another after the fore-mentioned manner and so put shreds into each of them so that the lowest vessel may receive the purified liquor In stead of this distillation Apothecaries of-times use bags The description of vessels to perform the distillation or filtration by shreds A. Shews the vessel B. The Cloths or shreds â„ž litharg auri diligenter pulveris â„¥ iii. macerentur in aceti boni â„¥ vi trium horarum spatio seorsim etiam in aqua plantaginis solani rosarum aut commun sal infundatur then distil them both by shreds then mix the distilled liquors and you shall have that which for the milky whiteness is termed Virgins milk being good against the redness and pimples of the face Cap. 44. of fuci as we have noted in our Antidotary CHAP. XI What and how many waies there are to make oyls YOu may by three means especially draw to extract the oyls that you desire The first is by expression and so are made the oyls of Olives nuts seeds fruits and the like Oyls by expression By infusion By distillation Under this is thought to be contained elixation when as the beaten materials are boiled in water that so the oyl may swim aloft and by this means are made the oyls of the seeds of Elder and danewort and of Bay-berries Another is by infusion as that which is by infusing the parts of plants and other things in oyls The third is by distillation such is that which is drawn by the heat of the fire whether by ascent or by descent or by concourse The first way is known by all now it is thus Take almonds in their husks beat them work them into a mass then put them into a bag made of hair or else of strong cloth first steeped in water or in white-wine then put them into a press and so extract their oyl You may do the same in pine-apple-kernels Hazel-nuts Coco-nuts nutmegs peach-kernels the seeds of gouâ—ds and cucumbers pistick-nuts and all such oily things Oyl of bayes may be made of ripe bay-berries newly gathered Oyl of Balberries let them be beaten in a mortar and so boyled in a double vessel and then forthwith put into a press so to extract oyl as you do from Almonds unless you had rather get it by boiling as we have formerly noted Oyl of Eggs is made of the yelks of Eggs boyled very hard when they are so Of Eggs. rub them to pieces with your fingers then frie them in a pan over a gentle fire continually stirring them with a spoon until they become red and the oyl be resolved and flow from them then put them into a hair-cloth and so press forth the oyl The oyls prepared by infusion are thus made make choise of good oyl wherein let plants or creatures or the parts of them be macerated for some convenient time that is until they may seem to have transfused their faculties into the oyl then let them be boiled so strained or pressed out But if any aquosity remain let it be evaporated by boiling Some in compounding of oyls add gums to them of which though we have formerly spoken in our Antidotary yet have I thought good to give you this one example Oyl of S. Johns-wort â„ž flor hyper â„ž ss immitantur in phialam cum flo cent gum elemi an â„¥ ii olei com lb ii Let them be exposed all the heat of Summer to the Sun If any will add aqua vitae wherein some Benzoin is dissolved he shall have a most excellent oyl in this kinde Oyl of mastich is made Ex olei rosati â„¥ xii mastich â„¥ iii. vini optimi â„¥ viii Let them all be boiled together to the consumption of the wine then strain the oyl and reserve it in a vessel CHAP. XII Of extracting of Oyls of vegetables by Distillation ALmost all herbs that carry their flowers and seeds in an umble have seeds of a hot subtil and aiery substance and
consequently oily Now because the oily substance that is contained in simple bodies What oyls are to be drawn by expression is of two kindes therefore the manner also of extracting is two-fold For some is gross earthy viscous and wholly confused and mixt with the bodies out of which they ought to be drawn as that which we have said is usually extracted by expression this because it most tenaciously adheres to the grosser substance and part of the body therefore it cannot by reason of this natural grossness be lifted up or ascend Othersome are of a slender and aiery substance which is easily severed from their body wherefore being put to distillation it easily riâ—es such is the oily substance of aromatick things as of Juniper Aniseeds Cloves Nutmegs The first manner of drawing oyls by distillation Cinnamom Pepper Ginger and the like odoriferous and spicy things This the manner of extracting oyls out of them let your matter be well beaten and infused in water to that proportion that for every pound of the material there may be ten pints of water infuse it in a copper-bottom having a head thereto either tinned or silvered over and furnished with a couler filled w th cold-cold-water Set your vessel upon a fornace having a fire in it or else in sand or ashes When as the water contained in the head shall wax hot you must draw it forth and put in cold that so the spirits may the better be condensed and may not flye away you shall put a long-neckt-receiver to the nose of the Alembick and you shall increase the fire until the things contained in the Alembick boil Another way There is another manner of performing this distillation the matter preserved and infused as we have formerly declared shall be put in a brass or copper-bottom covered with his head to which shall be fitted or well luted a worm of Tin this worm shall run through a barrel filled with cold-cold-water that the liquor which flows forth with the oyl may be cooled in the passage forth at the lower end of this worm you shall set your Receiver The fire gentle at the first shall be increased by little and little until the contained matter as we formerly said do boil but take heed that you make not too quick or vehement a fire for so the matter swelling up by boiling may exceed the bounds of the containing vessel and so violently flye over Observ ng these things you shall presently at the very first see an oily moisture flowing forth together with the waterish When the oyl hath done flowing which you may know by the color of the distilled liquor as also by the consistence and taste then put out the fire and you may separate the oyl from the water by a little vessel made like a Thimble and tied to the end of a stick or which is better with a glass-funnel or instrument made of glass for the same purpose Here you must also note that there be some oyls that swim upon the top of the water as oyl of aniseeds othersome on the contrary What oyls fall to the bottom which fall to the bottom as oyl of Cinnamon Mace and Cloves Moreover you must note that the watrish moisture or water that is distilled with oyl of Anniseed and Cinnamom is whitish and in success of time will in some small proportion turn into oyl Also these waters must be kept several for they are far more excellent then those that are distilled by Balneo Mariae especially those that first come forth together with the oyl Oyls are of the same faculties with the bodies from whence they are extracted but much more effectual for the force which formerly was diffused in many pounds of this or that medicine is after distillation contracted into a few drams For example the faculty that was dispersed over one pound of Cloves will be contracted into two ounces of oyl at the most and that which was in a pound of Cinnamon will be drawn into Ê’iss or Ê’ii at the most of oyl But to draw the greater quantity with the lesser charge and without fear of breaking the vessels whereto glasses are subject I like that you distil them in copper-vessels for you need not fear that the oyl which is distilled by them will contract an ill quality from the copper for the watrish moisture that flows forth together therewith will hinder it especially if the copper shall be tinned or silvered over I have thought good to describe and set before your eyes the whole manner of this operation A Fornace with set vessels to extract the Chymical oyls or spirits of Sage Rosemary Tyme Lavander Anniseeds Fennel-seeds Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Pepper Ginger and the like as also to distill the spirit of Wine of Vineger and Aqua vitae In stead of the barrel and worm you may use a head with a bucket or rowler about it A. Shews the bottom which ought to be of Copper and tinned on the in side B. The head C. The barrel filled with cold water to refrigerate and condensate the water and oyl that run through the pipe or worm that is put through it D. A pipe of brass or lattin or rather a worm of Tin running through the Barrel E. The Alembick set in the fornace with the fire under it Now because we have made mention of Cinnamon Pepper The description of Pepper and other spices which grow not hâ—re with us I have thought good to describe there out of Thevets Cosmography he having seen them growing Pepper grows upon shrubs in India these shrubs send forth little branches whereon hang clusters of berries like to Ivie-berries or bunches of small black grapes or currans the leaves are like those of the Citron-tree but sharpish and pricking The Iadians gather those berries with great diligence and stow them up in large cellars as soon as they come to perfect maturity Wherefore it oft-times happens that there are more then 200 ships upon the coast of the lesser Iava an Island of that country to carry thence Pepper and other spices Pepper is used in antidotes against Poysons it provokes urine digests attracts resolves and cures the bites of Serpents It is properly applied and taken inwardly against a cold stomach The uses thereof in sauces it helps concoction and procures appetite you must make choice of such as is black heavy and not flaccid The trees which bear white and those that bear black pepper are so like each other that the natives themselves know not which is which unless when they have their fruit hanging upon them as the like happens upon our Vines which bear white black Grapes The tree that yeels Cinnamon grows in the mountain of India The Cinnamon tree and hath leaves very like to baye-leaves branches and shoots at certain times of the year are cut from this tree by the appointment of the Kâ—ng of that Province the bark of which is that we term
because it burned divers poor souldiers it also took hold on the house it self and we had been all burned had not great help been used for to quench it there was but one Well there wherein was water in our Casile which was almost quite dried up and in stead of water we took beer and quenched it then afterwards we had great scarcity of water and to drink the rest that remained which we must strain through napkins Now the enemy seeing this smoak and tempest of the fire-works which cast a very great flame and clashing noiâ—e they beleived we had put the fire on purpose for the defence of our breach to burn them and that we had great store of others That made them to be of another opinion then to take us by assault they did undermine and dig under the greatest part of ouâ— walls so that it was the way to overthrow wholly the Castle topsie-turvy and when the mines were finisht and that their artillery shot the whole Castle did shake under us like an earth-quake which did much astonish us Moreover he had levelled five pieces of Artilery which they had seated upon a little hill to play upon our backs when we would go to defend the breâ—ch The Duke Horace had a Cannon shot upon one shoulder which carryed away his arm on one side and the body on the other without being able to speak one only word His death was to us a great disaster for the rank which he held in his place Likewise Monsieur de Martignes had a â—â—oke with a bullet which pierct through his Lungs I drest him as I will declare hereafter Then we demanded Parl and a trumpet was sent toward the Prince of Piedmont to know what composition it pleased him to make us His answer was that all the chieâ— as Gentlemen Captains Lieutenants and Ensigns should be taken for ransom and the Souldiers should go out without Arms and if they refused this fair and honest proffer the next day we ought to be assured they would have us by assault or otherwise Counsel was held where I was called to know if I would sign as divers Captains Gentlemen and others that the place should be rendred up I made answer it was not possible to be held and that I would sign it with my proper blood for the little hope that I had that we could resâ—st the enemies force and also for the great desire which I had to be out of this torment and hell for I slep not either night or day by reason of the great number of hurt people which were about two hundred The dead bodies yeelded a great putrefaction being heaped one upon another like fagots and not being covered with earth because we had it not and when I entred into one lodging Souldiers attended me at the door to go and dress others at another when I went forth there was striving who should have me and they carryed me like a holy body not touching the ground with my foot in spite one of another nor could I satisfie so great a number of hurt people Moreover I had not what was necessary to dress them withal for it is not sufficient that the Surgeon do his duty towards the Patients but the Patient must also do his and the assistants and all exterior things witness Hippocrates in his first Aporism Now having understood the resolution of the yeelding up of our place I knew our affairs wâ—nt not well and for fear of being known I gave a velvet coat a Satin doublet a very fine cloth-cloak lind with velvet to a souldier who gave me a scurvy old torn doâ—blet cut and slâ—sht with using and a leather jerkin well examined and an ill-favored hat and a little cloak I smucht the collar of my shirt with water in which I had mingled a lâ—ttle foot likewise I wore out my stockings with a stone at the knees and at the heels as if they had been wore a long time and I did as much to my shoos insomuch that they would rather take me â—or a Chimny-sweeper then a Kings Suâ—geon I went in this Equipage towards Monsieur de Martigues where I prayed him that he would take order that I might remain near him to dress him which he agreed to most willingly and had as much desire I should remain with him as my self Soon after the Commissioners who had charge to elect the prisoners entred into the castle the seventeenth day of July one thousand five hundred fifty three where they made Messieures the Duke of Bouillion the Marquess of Villars the Baron of Culan Monsieur du Pont Commissary of the Artillery and Monsieur de Martigues and I to be taken through the request that he made to them and all other Gentlemen which they could perceive were able to pay any ransom and the most part of the Souldiers and the chief of Companies having such and so many prisoners as they would Afterward the Spanish Souldiers entered by the breach without any resistance for ours esteemed they would hold their faith and composition that they should have their lives saved They entred in with a great fury to kill pillage and to rifle all they retained some hoping to have ransom they tied their stones with Arquebus-cords which was cast over a pike which two held upon their shoulders then pulled the said cord with a great violence and deriâ—â—on as if they would ring a bell telling them that they must put themselves to the ransom and tell of what houses they were and if they saw they could have no profit made them cruelly dye between their hands or presently after their genital parts would have faln into a gangrene and total mortification but they kild them all with their daggers and cut their throats See now their great cruelty and perfideousness let him trust to it that will Now to return to my purpose being led from the Castle to the City with Monsieur de Martigues there was a Gentleman of the Duke of Savoyes who asked me if Monsieur de Martigues wound were curable I answered not who presently went and told the Duke of Savoy now I thought he would send Physicians and Surgeons to visit and dress my said Monsieur de Martigues in the mean time I thought with my self whether I ought to make it nice and not to acknowledg my self a Surgeon for fear lest they should retain me to dress their wounded and in the end they would know I was the Kings Surgeon and that they would make me pay a great ransom On the other side I feared if I should not make my self known to be a Surgeon and to have carefully dressed Monsieur de Martigues they would cut my throat so that I took a resolution to make it appear to them he would not dye for want of good dressing and looking to Soon after see there were divers Gentlemen accompanied with the Physician and Surgeon of the Emperor and those of the said Duke of
conformation must be speedily amended as it often happeneth For if any such cover or stop the orifices of the ears nostrils mouth yard or womb it must be cut in sunder by the Chirurgian and the passage must be kept open by putting in of tents pessaries or dosels left otherwise they should joyn together again after they are cut If he have one finger more then he should naturally if his fingers do cleave close together like unto the feet of a Goose or Duck if the ligamental membrane that is under the tongue be more short and stiffer then it ought that the infant cannot suck nor in time to come speak by reason thereof and if there be any other thing contrary to nature it must be all amended by the industry of some expert Chirurgian Many times in children newly born there sticketh on the inner side of their mouth and on their tongue a certain chalky substance both in colour and in consistence this affect proceeding from the distemperature of the mouth the French-men call it the white Cancer Remedies for the Cancer in a childes mouth It will not permit the infant to suck and will shortly breed and degenerate into ulcers that will creep into the jawes and even unto the throat and unless it be cleansed speedily will be their death For remedy whereof it must be cleansed by Detersives as with a linnen cloth bound to a little stick and dippped in a medicine of an indifferent consistence made with oil or sweet almonds hony and sugar For by rubbing this gently on it the filth may be mollified and so cleansed or washed away Moreover it will be very meet and convenient to give the infant one spoonful of oil of almonds to make his belly loose and slippery to asswage the roughness of the weason and gul let and to dissolve the tough phlegm which causeth a cough and sometimes difficulty of breathing If the eye-lids cleave together or if they be joyned together or agglutinated to the coats cornea or adnata if the watery tumor called hydroccephalos affect the head then must they be cured by the proper remedies formerly prescribed against each disease Many from their birth have spots or markes which the common people of France call Signes that is marks or signs Some of these are plain and equal with the skin others are raised up in little tumors and like unto warts some have hairs upon them many times they are smooth black or pale yet for the most part red When they rise in the face they spread abroad thereon many times with great deformity Many think the cause thereof to be a certain portion of menstrual matter cleaving to the sides of the womb comming of a fresh flux if happily a man do yet use copulation with the woman or else distilling out of the veins into the womb mixed concorporated with the seeds at that time when they are congealed infecting this or that part of the issue being drawn out of the seminal body with their own colour Women referr the cause thereof unto their longing when they are with childe which may imprint the image of the thing they long for or desire in the childe or issue that is not as yet formed as the force and power of imagination in humane bodies is very great but when the childe is formed no imagination is able to leave the impression of any thing in it no more then it could cause horns to grow on the head of King Chypus as he slept presently after he was returned from attentively beholding Bulls fighting together Some of those spots be cureable others not as those that are great An old fable of King Chypus and those that are on the lips nostrils and eye-lids But those that are like unto warts because they are partakers of a certain malign quality and melancholick matter which may be irritated by endeavouring to cure them are not to be medled with at all for being troubled and angered Which uncureable Which and how they are cureable they soon turn into a Cancer which they call Noli me taugere Those that are curable are small and in such parts as they may be dealt withall without danger Therefore they must be pierced through by the roots with a needle and a thread and so being lifted up by the ends of the thread they most be cut away and the wound that remaineth must be cured according to the general method of wounds There are some that suppose the red spots that are raised up into little knobs and bunches may be washed away and consumed by rubbing and annointing them often with menstrual blood or the blood of the secundine or after-birth Those that are hairy and somewhat raised up like unto a Want oâ— Mouse must be pierced through the roots in three or four places and straitly bound so that at length being destitute of life and nutriment they may fall away after they are faln away the ulcer that remaineth must be cured as other ulcers are If thereby any superfluous flesh remain it must be taken away by applying Aegyptiacum or the powder of Mercury and such like but if it be doubted that it commeth from the root of the tumor that may haply remain it must be burned away by the root with oyl of vitriol or aqua fortis There is also another kinde or sort of spots of a livid or violet-colour comming especially in the face about the lips with a soft slack lax thin and unpainful tumor and the veins as if they were varicous round about it This kinde of tumor groweth greater when it ariseth on children that are wayward and crying and in men of riper years that are cholerick and angry and then it will be of a diverse colour like unto a lapper or flap of flesh that hangeth over the Turky-cocks bill When they have done crying or ceased their anger the tumor wil return to his own natural colour again But you must not attempt to cure it in people that are of these conditions CHAP. XVIII How to pull away the secundine or after-birth Why it is called the secundine I Suppose that they are called secundines because they do give the woman that is with châ—lde the second time as it were a second birth for if there be several children in the womb at once and of different sexes they then have every one their several secundines which thing is very necessary to be known by all Midwives For they do many times remain behinde in the womb when the childe is born The causes of the stâ—ying of the secundines either by reason of the weakness of the woman in travail which by contending and laboâ—ing for the birth of the childe hath spent all her strength or else by a tumor rising suddenly in the neck of the womb by reason of the long and difficult birth and the cold air unadvisedly permitted to strike into the orifice of the womb For so the liberties of
the waies or passages are stopped and made more narrow so that nothing can come forth or else because they are doubled and folded in the womb and the waters gon out from them with the infant so that they remain as it were in a dâ—ie place or else because they yet stick in the womb by the knots of the veins and arteries which commonly happeneth in those that are delivered before their time For even as apples which are not ripe cannot be pulled from the tree but by violence but when they are ripe they will fall off of their own accord so the secundine before the natural time of the birth can hardly be pulled away but by violence but at the prefixed natural time of the birth it may easily be drawn away Accidents â—hat follow the staying of the secundines The manner of drawing out the secundines that remain after the birth Many and grievous accidents follow the staying of the secundine as suffocation of the womb often swounding by reason that gross vâ—poâ—s arise from the putrefaction unto the midriff heart and brain therefore they must be pulled away with speed from the womb gently handling the navel if it may be so possibly done But if it cannot be done so the woman must be placed as she was wont when that the childe will not come forth naturally but must be drawn forth by art Therefore the midwife having her hand annointed with oil must put it gently into the womb and finding out the navel-string must follow it until it come unto the secundine and if it do as yet cleave to the womb by the Cotyledons she must shake and move it gently up and down that so when it is shaken and loosed she may draw it out gently but if it should be drawn with violence it were to be feared lest that the womb should also follow for by violent attraction some of the vessels and also some of the nervous ligaments whereby the womb is fastned on each sâ—de may be rent whereof followeth corruption of blood shed out of the vessels and thence commeth inflammation an abscess or a mortal gangrene The cause of the fal ing down of the womb Neither is there less danger of a convulsion by reason of the breaking of the nervous bodies neither is there any less danger of the falling down of the womb If that there be any knots or clods of blood remaining together with the secundine the Midwife must draw them out one by one so that not any may be left behinde The accidents that come of the vioâ—ent pulâ—ing of the womb together with the secundine Some women have voided their secundine when it could not be drawn forth by any means long after the birth of the childe by the neck of their womb piece-meal rotten and corrupted with many grievous and painful accidents Also it shall be very requisite to provoke the indeavor of the expulsive faculty by sternutatories atomatick fomentations of the neck of the womb by mollifying injections and contrariwise by applying such things to the nostrils as yield a rank savor or smell with a potion made of mug-wort and bay-berries taken in hony and wire mixed together or with half a dram of the powder of savin or with the hair of a womans head burnt and beaten to powder and given to drinke and to conclude with all things that provoke the terms or courses CHAP. XIX Whht things must be given to the infant by the mouth before he be permitted to suck the teat or dug IT will be very profitable to rub all the inner side of the childes mouth and palat gently with treacle and hony or the oil of sweet almonds extracted with fire and if you can To draw fleam from the childes mouth to cause it to swallow some of those things for thereby much flegmatick moisture will be drawn from the mouth and also wil be moved or provoked to be vomited up from the stomach for if these excremental humors shall be mixed with the milk that is sucked they would corrupt it and then the vapors that arise from the corrupted milk unto the brain would infer most pernicious accidents And you may know that there are many excremental things in the stomach and guts of children by this because that so soon as they come into the world and often before they suck milk or take any other thing they void downwards many excrements diversly colored as yellow green and black Therefore many that they may speedily evacuate the matter that causeth the fretting of the guts do not only minister those things fore-named Milk soon corrupted in a flegmatick stomach but also some laxative syrup as that that is made of damask-Roses But before the infant be put to suck the mother it is fitting to press some milk out of her brest into its mouth that so the fibres of the stomach may by little and little accustome themselves to draw in the milk CHAP. XX. That mothers ought to nurse or give surk unto their own children THat all mothers would nurse their own children were greatly to be wished The mothers milk is most familiar for the childe for the Mothers milke is far more familiar nourishment for the infant then that of any Nurse for it is nothing else but the same blood made white in the duggs wherewith before it was nourished in the womb For the mother ought not to give the childe suck for the space of a few daies after the birth but first to expect the perfect expurgation and avoiding of the excremental humors And in the mean time let her cause her breasts to be sucked of another or many other children or of some wholsome or sober maid whereby the milk may be drawn by little and little unto her breasts and also by little and little purified For a certain space after the birth the milke will be troubâ—ed and the humors of the body moved so that by long staying in the duggs it wil seem to degenerate from its natural goodness as the grossness of it is somewhat congealed the manifest heat in touching and the yellow colour thereof testifieth evidently Therefore it is necessary that others should come in place thereof when it is sucked out wherewith the infant may be nourished But if the mother or the Nurse-chance to take any disease as a Fever Scouring or any such like The disease of the Nurse is participated unto the childe let her give the childe to another to give it suck lest that the childe chance to take the Nurses diseases And moreover mothers ought to nurse their own children because for the most part they are far more vigilant and careful in bringing up and attendâ—ng their children then hired and mercenary Nurses which do not so much regard the infant as the gain they shall have by the keeping of it for the most part Those that do not nurse their own children cannot rightly be termed mothers for they do
the consumption of a third part then the Squinath must be bruised the Feverfew and the Staechas cut small and they being added to be boiled to the consumption of one pint and being boiled sufficiently the decoction being cooled shall be strained and kept and the Litharge is to be infused for twelve hours in the oil of Camomil dill Lilies and the axungia's above spoken of Then boil them all with a gentle fire by and by taking Saffron from the fire and add one quart of the decoction above spoken of then set it to the fire again that the decoction may be consumed and then by degrees add to the rest of the decoction the oil of spike shall be reserved unto the last which may give the plaster a good smell Then are added the juices of walwurt and enula which must be boiled untill they be wasted away Afterwards it being taken from the fire to the composition is added the Franincense and euphorbium and white wax as much as shall suffice When the whole mass shall cool then at last is mingled the quick-silver exstinct tutpentine oil of bitter almonds baies spike of line styrax and axungia being continually stirred and it shall be made up upon a stone into rolls Unless the quick-silver be well extinguished it will run all into one place and unless you tarry untill the composition cool it will vapor away in fume â„ž croci Ê’ii bdelli mastich ammon styrac liquid an â„¥ ss cerae alb lb ss tereb â„¥ vi medul Cerarum oesipi ex Philagrio cruris vaccae adipis anserini an â„¥ i. oesipi vel si desit axung gallin â„¥ ix clei nard quantum satis ad magdaleones formandos expressionis scillae â„¥ i ss olibani sevi vitul â„¥ i. The aesipus sepum adeps medulla cera are to be dissolved together when they cool add the ammoniacum dissolved in the decoction of fenugreek and camomil half an ounce and so much juice of squills then put to the styrax and turpentine stirring them continually then add the bdellium olibanum mastich aloes brought into fine powder and when they are perfectly incorporated into a mass let them be made up with oleum nardinum into rolls â„ž terebinth lb ss resin lbi cer alb â„¥ iv mastich â„¥ i. fol. verbin betonic pimpinel an m. i. De gratia Dei The herbs being green the tops are to be cut and bruised in a stone-mortar and boiled in red wine to the consumption of one third part To the strained liquor add wax cut into small pieces and being dissolved by the fire the liquor being consumed put to the rosin when it shall cool add the Mastich powdred working it with your hands by which it may be incorporated with the rest of the things â„ž succi beton plantag apii an lb i. cerae picis resin tereb ana lb. ss fiat empl De janua seu de Betonica The juices are to be mingled with the wax being dissolved and boiling them untill three parts be consumed add the rosin and pitch which being dissolved and hot must be strained and then add the turpentine and make up the plaster â„ž croci picis com or rather picis navalis Emplastrum oxycroceum because this emplaster is used to discuss and draw forth the matter which causeth the pain in the joints coloph. cerae an â„¥ ii tereb galb ammon thuris myrrhae mastich an Ê’ v ss The cera pix and colophonia are by little and little to be dissolved to which add the gums dissolved according to art and mingled with the terebinth and taking it from the fire add the thus myrrha and at last the crocus in fine powder and then make it into rowls up with oil of worms â„ž ol com lb ii cerus subtilis lb i. boil them together with a gentle fire De cerussá stirring them up continually untill they come to the body of an emplaster if you would have the plaster whiter take but â„¥ ix of the oil â„ž litharg irit acet fortis an lb. ss ol antiq lb. i. fiat emplastrum Tripharmacumâ— seu nigrum let the oil be mingled with the litharge for the space of twelve hours then boil them to a good consistence putting in the vinegar by little and little but you shall not take it from the fire untill the vinegar be quite wasted away Diapalma seu diatalcith os â„ž ol vet lb. iii. axung vet sine sale lb ii litharg trit lb iii. vitriol â„¥ iv let the oil be mingled with the litharge for the space of twelve hours and boil them to a good consistence then add to the axungia stirring them continually with a spatter made of the palm-tree reed or willow and being sufficiently boiled take it from the fire and add the vitriol in fine powder Contra ruptâ— raâ— â„ž picis naval aloes an â„¥ iii. litharg cerae coloph. galban ammoniac an â„¥ ii visci querni â„¥ vi gypsi ust utriusque aristoloch ana â„¥ iv myrrhae thuris an â„¥ vi tereb â„¥ ii pulveris vermium terrestrium gallar utriusqae consolid vol. arm an â„¥ iv sang humani lb i. fiat emplast If you would have iâ— of a very good conâ—stence you may add of the oil of myrtils or mastich lb ss you shall make it thus Take the skin of a Ram cut in pieces and boil it in an hundred pints of water and vinegar untill it come to a glue of stiff gelly in which you shall dissolve the visc quer then add the pitch and was broken into small pieces and if you will you may add the oil with them afterwards the galban and ammâ—â—â— dissolved in vinegar being mingled with the terebinth may be added Then add 〈…〉 â—gypsâ—â—m bol aristoloch consolida vermes sang human At last the myrrh thus colophon and alâ—â— â—â—â—ing them continually and that they may be the better mingled work the plaster with a hot peâ—â—il in a mortar De muâ—aginibus â„ž mâ—â—ag sâ—m liniâ—rad alth faenug median cortices ulmi an â„¥ iv olei liliacei cham aneth an â„¥ i ss ammon opopâ—â—â— sagap ana â„¥ ss croci Ê’ ii cerae nov lb ss tereb â„¥ ss fiat emplast Fernelius haâ—h â„¥ xx of wax â—â—e waxâ—â—eâ—ng cut sm ll must be mingled with the oils and the mucilages stirring them continuaâ—â—y with a wooden spatter till the liquor be consumed Then the gums dissolved and mingled with the â—â—binâ—â—â—ma must be added and last of all the saffron finely powdered De minio â„ž ol ros myrtil ung populeon ana â„¥ iv pinguedinis gallin â„¥ ii sebi arietis castrati sepi vaccini an â„¥ vi pingued porci â„¥ x. litharg auri argenti ana â„¥ iii. cerus â„¥ iv minii â„¥ iii. tereb â„¥ iv cerae q s fiat emplastrum vel ceratum mâ—lle The lithargyros cerussa and minium are to be brought into fine powder severally being sprinkled with a little rose-rosewater lest the
finest of it should fly away these being mingled with the oil of roses and myrtles with a gentle fire may be boiled untill they come to the consistence of hony then add the axungia's and boil them till the whole grow black after add the sebum and that being dissolved take it from the fire and then add the unguentum populeon and some wax if there be need and so bring it to the form of a plaster Diachyloâ— magnum â„ž litharg puri pul â„¥ xii ol irin chamaem aneth an â„¥ viii mucag sem lini faenug rad alth ficuum ping uvar. passar succi ireos scillae oesipi icthyocollae an Ê’ vii ss tereb â„¥ iii. res pini cerae flavae an â„¥ ii fiat emplastrum The litharge is to be mingled with the oil before it be set to the fire then by a gentle fire it is to be boiled to a just consistence after the mucilage by degrees must be put in which being consumed the juices must be added and the icthyocolla and they being wasted too then put to the wax rosin then taking the whole from the fire add the oesipus and terebinthina The use of plasters We use plasters when we would have the remedy stick longer and firmer to the part and would not have the st ength of the medicament to fly away or exhale too suddenly CHAP. XXVIII Of Cataplasms and Pultisses The matter of cataplasms CAtaplasms are not much unlike to emplasters less properly so called for they may be spread upon linnen cloths and stoups like them and so applied to the grieved parts They are composed of roots leaves fruits flowers seeds herbs juices oils fats marrows meals rosins Of these some must be boiled others crude The boiled are made of herbs boiled tender and so drawn forth an hair-searse adding oils and axungias thereto The crude are made of herbs beaten or their juices mixed with oil and flower or other powders appropriate to the part oâ— disease as the Physician shall think fit The quantity of medicines entring these compositions can scarce be defined for that they must be varied as we would have the composition of a softer or harder body Their use Verily they ought to be more gross and dense when as we desire to ripen any thing but more soft and liquid when we endeavor to discuss We use cataplasms to asswage pain digest discuss and resolve unnatural tumors and flatulencies They ought to be moderately hot and of subtill parts so to attract and draw forth yet their use is suspected the body being not yet purged for thus they draw down more matter into the affected part Neither must we use these when as the matter that is to be discussed is more gross and earthy for thus the subtler parts will be only discussed Lib. 2. ad Glauc â—bid sciâ—ho and the gross remain impact in the part unless your cataplasm be made of an equal mixture of things nor only discussing but also emollient as it is largely handled by Galen An anodyne cataplasm A ripening cataplasm A discussing cataplasm How Pultisses differ from cataplasms This shall be largely illustrated by examples As â„ž medul panis lb ss decâ—quantur in lacte pingui adde olei chamaem â„¥ ss axung galin â„¥ i. fiat cataplasma Or â„ž rad alth â„¥ iii. fol. malv. senecionis an m i. sem lini fenug an Ê’ ii ficus ping nu vi decoquantur in aqua per setaceum transmittantur addendo â—lei lilior â„¥ i. far bord â„¥ ii axung porcini â„¥ i ss fiat cataplasma Or â„ž far fab â—roh an â„¥ ii pulv chamaem melil an Ê’ iii. ol â—rin amydg amar an â„¥ i. succi rut â„¥ ss fiat cataplasma Pultisses differ not from cataplasms but that they usually consist of meals boiled in oil water hony or axungia Pultisses for the ripening of tumors are made of the flowr of barly wheat and milk especially in the affects of the entrails or else to dry and binde of the meal of rice lentils or Orobus with vinegar or to cleanse and they are made of hony flour of beans and lupines adding thereto some old oil or any other oil of hot quality and so make a discussing pultis Also anodyne pultisses may be made with milk as thus for exampleâ— A ripening cataplasm â„ž farin triticiae â„¥ ii misce panis purissimi â„¥ iii. decequantur in lacte fiat pulticula â„ž farin hordei fab an â„¥ ii far oreb â„¥ iii. decoquantur in hydromelete addendo meliis quart i. olei amyg amar â„¥ ii fiat pulticula We use pultises for the same purpose as we do cataplasms to the affects both of the internal and external parts We sometimes use them for the killing of worms and such as are made of the meal of Lupines boiled in vineger with an oxes gall or in a decoction of wormwood and other such like bitter things CHAP. XXIX Of Fomentations A Fotus or fomentation is an evaporation or hot lotion chiefly used to mollifie relax and asswage pain consisting of medicines having these faculties A fomentation commonly useth to be moist being usually made of the same things as embrocations to wit of roots seeds flowers boiled in water or wine The roots here used are commonly of mallows marsh-mallows and lillies The seeds are of mallows marsh-mallows parsley smallage line fenugreek Flowers are of camomil melilot figs raisins and the like all which are to be boiled in wine water or Lye to the consumption of the third part or the half as â„ž Rad. alth lil an â„¥ ii sem lini foenug cumin an Ê’ iii. flo cham melil aneth an p i. summit orig m. ss bulliant in aequis partibus aquae vini aut in duabus partibus aquae una vini aut in Lixivio cineris sarmentorum ad tertiae partis consumptionem fiat fotus In imitation hereof you may easily describe other fomentations as occasion and necessity shall require We use fomentations before we apply cataplasms ointments or plasters to the part Their use that so we may open the breathing places or pores of the skin relax the parts attenuate the humor that thus the way may be the more open to the following medicines The body being first purged fomentations may be used to what parts you please They may be applied with a female-spunge for it is gentler and softer then the male with felt woollen cloaths or the like dipped in the warm decoction wrung out and often renewed otherwise you may fill a Swines bladder half full especially in pains of the sides of the decoction or else a stone-bottle so to keep hot the longer 2. De victu in acuâ—is yet so that the bottle be wrapped in cotton wool or the like soft thing that so it may not by the hardness and roughness offend the part according to Hippocrates CHAP. XXX Of Embrocations AN Embroche or Embrocation is a watering