are most colde They which drinke that which is made colde with snowe saye that it doeth not offende them as that which is made cold with the weather for it is seene that a cuppe of colde water beeing dronke that commeth foorth of a well or of a colde fountayne hurteth such as doe drinke it and drinking that which is made colde with snow they feele no such hurte I doe much maruell at one thing that this Citie of Siuill beeing one of the most famous of the Worlde wherein alwayes haue liued many greate personages of very high estate and many people of greate estimation as well of the naturall people of the Country as strangers that ther hath byn none which haue brought thither snowe in the time of whot weather for to make colde that which they drinke seeyng that the heate of this countrie from the beginning of Sommer vntil it be well neere towardes Winter is so great that it is not to be suffered and all the waters are most whot that they cannot scarcely be drunke And besides that the moste parte of the people of this Citie are people of much businesse and cares And seeyng that in a Countrie so whot where businesse and cares doe abounde where the water is whot and nothing wherewithall to coole it with iust Title it may be admitted and vsed that it may be cooled with snowe seeyng that the coldnesse is so sure as we haue sayd and it doth make the benefites which Galen and Auicen haue shewed vnto vs. Let euery one looke vppon his disposition that beeing whole although hee bee not altogether in health in time of whot wether he may drinke colde more or lesse as it is conuenient for him For the drinking colde doeth temper the Liuer it mitigateth the heate it geueth appetite to meate it comforteth the stomake it geueth strength too all the foure vertues that may doe theyr woorkes the better the meate is eaten with appetite and with gladnesse it taketh away the drithe in the day time it causeth that the stone doth not ingender in the raynes by keeping temperate the heate of them it taketh away lothsomnesse and likewise it doeth many other good effectes that the vse and thereof experience ode shewe vs. And because it is the best manner too make colde with Snowe as we haue sayde let vs aâ—â—we thereof with graue Authours and let Auicen bee the first in the thirde of the first where he saith The water that is made cold with snow vnto such as are of a temperate complection whereas coldenesse hath beene made with Snowe yea although the snow be fowle and not cleane then it serueth to make colde the water without and that as is good and cleane is to be put in to that which shal be dronke as Auicen himselfe sheweth in the second parte of the first booke the 16. chapter where hee sayth the snowe and the frosen water when it is cleane and that the Snowe hath not fallen vppon euill plantes or that it be not mingled with earth or other superâ—â—uâ—ties and the frost not made of euill infected waters but that the water which come foorth of the snow bee cleere and cleane and the water that commeth foorth of the frost be also good and cleane if any parte of the water of the snowe or of the frost bee put into the water that must bee dronke or with them the water be made cold without dout it is good for the waters which come foorth of them bee not straunge from other waters This doth Auicen say giuing to vnderstande that these waters which doe proceed of snow and of frost being cleane doe not differ from the goodnesse of other waters onely the difference is that the water of the snowe and of the frost are grosser then other waters by reason that the vapour is congeled in the middle region of the ayre as wee haue declared Rasis amongest the Arabiens the best learned in the thirde booke of those which hee wrote to the King Almasor sayeth thus The water of snowe cooleth the Liuer that is whot beeing taken after meate it strengtheneth the stomake it giueth appetite and lust to meate but that which is dronke may not be much And immediatly after he sayth the water which hath not so much coldnesse that it giueth not contentment to him that drinketh it filleth the belly taketh not away the drithe it destroyeth the appetite it taketh away the lust of the meate it consumeth the body and concludeth in saying that it is not a thing conuenient to bee dronke I do vnderstand it for the preseruation of the health of man of the which Rasis treating in that booke himselfe in the 4. of Almasor speaking of the preseruation from the and there commeth to him hurt and poyson which destroyeth and corrupteth him beleeue you mee and suffer not such which are sicke to spende their mony to cast golde in medicines which they take nor let them quenche golde that is whot in wyne nor in water for of the one and of the other there remayneth no medicinal vertue that wil remedy their euilles Only the golde being made mony hath greate vertues and properties for that is it that maketh the hart glad and taketh away sadnesse and melancholy and repaireth al the vertues and strength of man it giueth strength whereas is none it is an vniuersal remedy of al thinges vnles it bee of death for against that nothing can preuayle And seeing that night is come and tyme giueth not vnto vs any longer liberty and although that it gaue vs yet age doeth his office for I feele my selfe weary God bee with you Maister OrtunÌ„o and likewyse to you Maister Burgus and I goe to take rest The end of the Dialogue of Yron THE BOKE WHICH TREATETH OF THE SNOW AND OF the properties vertues therof And of the maner that should be vsed to make the drink cold therwith of the other wayes wherewith drinke is to be made colde Wherof is shewed partly in the latter parte of the seconde Dialogue of yron With other curiosities which will geue contentment by other auncient thinges woorthy too bee knowen which in this treatise shal bee declared Written by Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill 1574 To the excellent Lord the Earle of Barajas assistent of the citie of Seuill c. the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health MOst excellent Lorde the faire white snow doeth complaine vnto mee saying that she being so auncient and of so many ages celebrated of so many Princes Kinges wise and valiant mâ—n and beyng had in so greate estimation and price that with greate care they seeke after her with greater care they doe conserue her for to geue health contentment to all persons yet for all this many people with little consideration not knowing what they say doe persecute her putting vndecent names to her and that which doeth most greeue her is
of Uenomous beastes extinguishing and taking away the grounde and euill qualitie that the venomes doe infuse into the bodies deliuering them from death that shall vse it It is geuen in Pouder and they say that it doth the same effect by chewing of it or holding of it in the Mouth for after it is taken it doeth prouoke sweate and doeth expell the venome and maketh the woorke sure saying that beeyng carried about any person that it touch the flesh and bringing it ouer the left parte it doeth preserue him that shall so carrie it about him that no venome or venomous thing shall offende him for beyng applyed to the bodie it resisteth venom that it may not offende him and them that bee infected therewith it healeth And this it doeth not onely to them that haue taken venome but vnto suche that haue had it put into their Syrope apparrell or letter or other parte that may offende them The same Serapio sayeth that this Stone doeth profite muche agaynst bytinges of beastes that are venemous and in their Prickes takyng the Pouder thereof at the mouth and prouoking sweate it expelleth it from the inner partes it profiteth muche too cast the pouder of this stone in Prickes or in woundes made by these venomous beastes for it destroyeth and taketh away the mallice of the venome and although that the soares beeyng so made by these beastes doe beginne to corrupt it cureth and healeth them and the pouder of this stone beeyng put vppon the venemous beasts doth take away their strength and if it be put in place where they doe wound any although they make a sore yet the malice of the venom doth not take holdâ— And this is seene by experience in the venomous beastes called Adders and Snakes for the pouder beeyng put in place where they doe byte all theyr venemous strength is taken away and nothing doeth remayne but the signe thereof Three graynes of this pouder wee with some licour beyng cast vpon snakes and adders they dye foorthwith Thus muche Serapio sayeth Rasis Simia of Gallen a man amongest the Arabiens moste learned in the booke which hee wrote called Continent saieth thus the Bezaar stone is that which seemeth some what yellowe and soft without any manner of taste the which hee sayeth that he hath experimented two times and hath found in it vertue of great efficacie agaynst Napelo the strongest of all venomes He sayth also that he hath seene in this stone the most maruellous effectes agaynst all venome that euer he saw in any Medicine that was against vâ—nome eyther simple or compounde or any composition made against venome as Triacles or other compositions for that the Bezaar stone is of more efficacie and vertue then any of them The same doeth agree with the bookes he made to the King Almasor saying The euill Uenoms that doe offende the heart and woorke theyr effect O how little profite doeth any cure proue in them if the Bezaar be not taken for that doeth resist it and he sayeth Moreouer I my selfe saw that it did resist the venome called Napelo which is the Uenome that doeth penetrate more then all venoms thus much of Rasis An other Moore very learned and a great Astronomer that wrote of stones figured vnder Signes and Planets and the vertues they haue was called Hamech Benreripho he in his booke that hee wrote of the vertue of Plantes and of stones and of beastes that serue for the vse of Medicine sayeth the Bezaar stone is agaynst all venome and it hath besides this particular propertie taken in pouder agaynst the bytinges of Scorpions and beyng carried about one and grauen vppon he is safe against all the bytinges of venemous beastes An other Moore called Abdala Narache a learned man in medicine sayeth that the Bezaar stone is agaynst all Uenome he saw it as a precious thing in the hands of the King of Cordoua called Miramamolim vnto whom was geuen strong venome and hauing geuen vnto him the Bezâ—ar stone by meanes wherof he was deliuered wholly of the venome foorthwith the King gaue his royall Pallace to him that gaue him the stone which deliuered him from this imminent death and surely it was a greate gift of a king the chiefe Pallace of Cordoua at this day day beyng a thing so notable and of suche great value and the stone was much estemed for that so great a price was geuen for it Auensoar a Phisition of the Moores but a naturall Spaniarde of Penaflore a place lying betweene Cordoua and Seuill gaue vnto one who was very much lamented by reason he had taken very euill Uenom of the Bezaar stone the waight of 3. graines with the water of Goords for that it was hot venom because it did seeme to be so For assoone as he had taken it there did appeare vppon him the Iaundice very yeallow and he was very well deliuered and saued from it Aueroiz a Phisition and a Philosopher very excellent being a Spaniarde and borne in Cordoua saieth that the Bezaar stone is in great estimation and very profitable agaynst all venomous bytinges and especially against the bitinges of Scorpions Haliabas doeth make mention of the Bezaar stone in three places where he treateth of Uenomes but he passeth it ouer lightly onely shewing that it is soft and saith that it must be scoured in water and that the water of it must be geuen to them that are poysoned Rabbi Moises of Egypt but borne in Spayne a most cunning Phisition who followed Gallen in all his woorkes in the booke he made of venomes in the first thing that hee treated of in the thirde Chapter speaking of simple Medicines and the vse of them which are conuenient for the bytinges of Uenomous beastes sayeth the simple Medicines that wee haue amongst vs of most profite and greatest experience which are of many approoued are the seede of the Cidron c. And the other is the Emeralde a maruellous medicine agaynâ—t all venome c. Gallen made mention of the third which is the Bezaar stone that is taken out of a beast the which stone is like to an akorn the colour therof is green and doth ingender by little and little making it selfe grosse for that they finde in it oâ—e skale vpon another some doe say that they are ingendred in the corners of the eyes of certaine sheepe that are in the East partes othere doe say that they are ingendred in the purse of the gall of the sayd sheep which poysoned I caused him to take thereof diuers Morninges the waight of three graynes of the same Bezaar stone with the water of Oxetongue and hee was therewith very wel healed Many Phisitions of late time and in our dayes haue made mention of this Bezaar stone and doe very much extoll the same in theyr bookes with great Prerogatiues against all kinde of venome and agaynst many other diseases which we minde to treate of
of need by the way of medicine for the vse of the sayde snowe dronke in water or in wyne or putting the snowe into them doth ingender many kind of diseases which if presently they bee not felt they come to be felt in age Of the which Galen doeth make a large relation in the booke of diseases of the raynes and in the booke of good and euil meates And bycause that Auicen did expound them I wil shew what he wryteth in the third part of the first booke in the 8. chapter He which doth drinke snow and the water that doth proceed out of the same snowe if hee doe vse it continually there will followe much hurt thereby it doth offend the sinewes and it is naught for the brest and for the inner members and especially for the breathing and there is none that doe vse to drinke it but it wil do them hurte vnlesse hee be of a sanguine complection which if hee doe not feele hurt presently hee shall feele it afterwarde Whereby it appeareth howe euill the vse of the sayde snowe is and the water which doeth come out of it if it bee not by the way of medicine onely so it may bee vsed to coole therewith for in such sorte it doeth not offende as is sayde For in this neither the auncient wryters did put any doubt of hurt nor any scruple and nowe wee see that it hurteth not but bringeth health and benefit as wee haue sayde And as Plinie also sayth of the delight and dayntinesse of the colde without offence of any malice of the Snowe And Martiall doeth shewe the same in the 4. booke where hee sayth the snowe must not be dronke but that licor which is made very colde with it And this was shewed and taught vnto vs by the most ingenious drithe And vnto such as are very colde it commeth not well to pas for them to drinke that which is made cold with snow or that which is very colde if hee bee not accustomed theretoo for by custome they may vse and drinke it without any offence to them but it is good that they moderate themselues in drinking that which is very colde and that they conâ—ent themselues that it bee made colde after a meane sorte although it bee with snowe Also it is not conuenient for children nor boyes that their drinke be made cold with snowe for the weakenes of the sinewes and interiour parts and for the tendernesse of their age and chiefly they may drinke no wyne but water for that their age doeth not suffer that they may drinke it and drinking water very colde it doeth them very much hurte The wyne which is made colde with snowe doeth not offende so much as the water which is made colde one of the things which taketh away the fury and strength of the Wyne is the making of it colde And so there are three thinges which doe abate the fury of the wyne that is to water it a good tyme before you drinke it Also to cast a peece of bread into it that it may sucke the vapours and subtiltie of the wyne The third is to put it to coole some reasonable time in water that is most colde or in snowe for the more it is cooled the more the strength and vapours are repressed and so it will lesse offend the head and it will lesse penetrate the ioyntes which is seene in the sayde wyne and beeing made colde there is abated much of his strength in so much that if it bee very colde it seemeth as though that it were water Some people there are which doe say and publish much euil of the cooling with snowe without knowing if it be good or euill and as it is a newe thing and especially in this Countrie they feare that there will come hurt to them by the vse of it And I beeing at the table of a Lorde there was brought a platter full of Cheries with snowe vppon them and there was a Gentleman that durst not take any one of them saying that they would hurt him bycause that they were made colde with Snowe And as it was a thing vsed a long time to cast snowe vppon fruite as Galen doeth say that it was cast vpon the Mulbery the cause of this is for lacke of the vse thereof by reason it hath not bene vsed nor seene in these partes and alwayes they take it for suspicious And heere are none that doe vse it but the noble men and not al but such as haue beene Courtiers and such as haue proued the benefit and commodity that doth followe of it for the rest say that without know they haue loued and without it they wil pas on their tyme. And they do not consider that to liue they may passe with Beefe and Garlyke and Leekes but these kinde of meates doe ingender euil humours for it is one thing to eate the partridge the veale at his time and mutton byrds at another tyme. And there is differiÌ„ce to eate the flesh with sauce the partridge with a Lemon for the one is to eate without taste rustically and the other is to eate as men doe choycely and delicately And so it is in the drinking of cold or whot for of the drinke that is made colde with snow there foloweth health taste contentment and of the drinke that is whot commeth euill diseases distylâ—ing discontentment Let vs consider vow the old wryters tooke great felicitie to drinke colde and chiefly that which was made cold with snow and they were people both wyse and discrete and with much care that preserued their health For in this and in their estimations in their maner of subtile liuing they did put their whole felicitie seeing that they with so much care as we haue before declared did drinke that which they made colde with snowe in countries that was of lesser heate then this wherfore shoulde we not inioy this benefit and contâ—ntment seing that therof cannot followe vnto vs but greate benefit of health vsing therof as I haue said Let euery one looke to that it is conuenieÌ„t for his health age vse and custome and let him haue respect to that which doth agree with him for the vse wil shew him what hee shall do seeing that of the hurt or benefit he may soone perceiue if it ought to be vsed or no he must be aduised that at the beâ—inning when he doth vse to drinke cold that which is made cold with snow the first daies hee shal feele in the day tyme drithe but being past 7. or .8 dayes it is taken away rather they goe betweene dinner and supper without drith without hauing any need to drinke They do bring the snow to this countrie from the mouÌ„tains wheras is much snow 6. leagues beyond Granado The snow hath many things to preserue it because the way is long and it commeth by a whot country by reason whereof
the vse of it as often as it is needefull It is necessary in the seethinges that are vsed to bee made for Glisters to put into them with the other things the Leaues of this hearbe for that they shal profit much and likewise for Fomentations and Plaisters that they shall make In griefes of windes they worke the like effect taking away the paines that come of the windinesse applying the leaues after the same sorte as is aboue saide In the griefe of women which is called the euill of the Mother laying too one leafe of this hearbe Tabaco very hotte in the manner as it is sayde it doth manifestly profite and it must bee layde vppon the Nauell And vnder it some doe vse to put first of al thinges of good smell vpon the Nauel and then vpon that they lay the leafe In that which they finde most profit is to lay the Tacamahaca or the oyle of liquid Amber and Balsamo and Caranna or any of these vnto the Nauel and to kepe it too it continually that it may cleaue vnto it and this worketh manifest profit in griefes of the Mother In one thing the women that dwel in the Indias doe celebrate this hearbe that is in the euill breathing at the mouth of children when they are ouer filled with meate and also of olde people anoynting their bellies with lampe oyle and laying some of those leaues in ashes hotte to their bellies also to theyr shoulders for it doeth take away ther naughty breathing and maketh them goe to the stoole applying it vnto the fundement at what tyme it is needfull and if the leaues bee ashed it is the better Wormes of all kindes of them it killeth and expelleth them maruellously the seething of the hearbe made into a Syrope delicately beeing taken in very little quantitie the ioyce thereof put on the nauel It is needful after this be done to giue a Glister that may auoyde them and expell them out of the guttes In griefes of the Iointes comming of a colde cause it maketh a maruellous worke the Leaues of this Tabaco being laid hotte vpon the griefe the lyke doth the Ioyce layde vpon a little cloth hotte for that it doeth dissolue the humor taketh away the paines therof If it come of a hot cause it doth hurt sauing when the humor hath bene hot and the subtil part is dissolued and the grosse remayneth then it doeth profite as if the cause were colde and it is to be vnderstood that the leaues being layde where as is griefe of the sayde cause in any part of the body it profiteth much In swellings or in cold Impostumes it doth dissolue and vndoe them washing them with the hotte Iuyce and laying the beaten leaues after they be stampt or the leaues beeing whole of the sayde Tabaco vpon it In the Toothache when the griefe commeth of a colde cause or of colde Rumes putting to it a little ball made of the leafe of the Tabaco washing first the tooth with a small cloth wet in the Iuyce it taketh away the payne and stayeth it that the putrifaction goe not forwarde in hot causes it doth not profite and this remedy is so common that it healeth euery one This hearbe doth maruellously heale Chilblaines rubbing them with the stamped leaues and after putting the handes and Feete in hot water with Salt and keping them warme this is done with great experience in many In Uenom and venomous wounds our Tabaco hath great commendation which hath beene knowne but a shorte tyme since for when the wilde people of the Indias which eate mans fleshe doe shoote their Arrowes they annointe them with an hearbe or Composition made of many poysons with the which they shoote at all thinges that they would kill and this Uenom is so strong and pernicious that it killeth without remedie and they that bee hurte dye with great paynes and accidents and with madnes vnlesse that their be found remedie for so great an euill A fewe yeeres past they laid to their wounds Sublimatum and so were remedied and surely in those partes they haue suffered much with this vexation of poyson A little whiles past certaine wild people going in their Bootes to S. Iohn De puerto Rico to shoote at IndiaÌ„s or Spaniards if that they might find theÌ„ came to a place and killed certain Indians Spaniards did hurt many as by chaunce there was no Sublimatum at that place to heale them they remembred to lay vpon the wounds the Ioyce of the Tabaco the leaues stamped And God would that laying it vpon the hurtes the griefs madnes accidents wherwith they dyed were mittigated and in such sort they were deliuered of that euill that the strength of the Uenom was taken away and the wounds were healed of the which there was greate admiration Which thing being knowen to theÌ„ of the Ilande they vse it also in other hurtes and woundes which they take when they fight with the wilde people nowe they stande in no feare of them by reason they haue founde so great a remedy in a case so desperate This Hearbe hath also vertue against the hearbe called of the Crosseboweshooter which our hunters doe vse to kil the wilde beastes withall which heathe is Uenom most strong and doeth kill without remedie which the Kinges pleasure was to prooue and commaunded to make experience thereof and they wounded a little dogge in the throate and put foorthwith into the wound the hearbe of the Crosseboweshooter and after a little while they powred into the selfe same wounde that they had annoynted with the Crossebowe shooters hearbe a good quantitie of the Iuyce of Tabaco and layde the stamped leaues vpon it and they tied vp the dogge and hee escaped not without great admiration of al men that sawe him Of the which the excellent Phisition of the Chamber of his maiestie Doctor Barnarde in the margent of this booke that sawe it by the commaundement of his Maiestie wryteth these wordes I made this experience by the commaundement of the kinges Maiesty I wounded the dogge with a knife after I put the Crossebowe shooters hearbe into the wounde and the hearbe was chosen and the dogge was taken of the hearbe and the Tabaco and his Iuyce being put into the wounde the dogge escaped and remained whole In the venomous Carbuncles the Tabaco being applied in maner as is aforesaid doth extinguish the malice of the venom doth that which al the woorkes of Surgery can doe vntil it be whole The same effect it worketh in bytinges of venomous beastes for it killeth and extinguisheth the malice of the venom and healeth them In woundes newely hurt and cuttes strokes prickes or any other manner of wounde our Tabaco worketh maruellous effectes for that it doeth heale them and maketh them souâ—d The wound must be washed with wine procure to annoynt the
in the cleare water that shall remayne vppon it some small clothes or in place of the smal clothes lint of fine Linen cloth weate in the water it cleanseth the sore eating the euil fleshe in such sorte for howe euill olde and filthy soeuer that the sore bee it leaueth it cleane and being laide to the flesh it doeth soder and heale them and after this is done you must vse the Medicines which haue vertue to ingender flesh And the effect of this seede is no more then to mundifie make cleane and to take away the superfluitie of the wounde The self same effect that this seede worketh in vs it worketh in beastes also which for the most part haue very euill sores that bee cankered and full of Wormes the seede being laide vnto them if the cause bee so great that it doth requyre it or the water of it as it is sayde maketh the lyke woorke as wee haue spoken of and better vsing alwayes the defensiues as is conuenient where such Medicines bee applyed for that it is a Medicine most strong and it hath neede of them all I wil shewe you what happened to me with it An Indian brought me this seede with many other hearbes and going about to discouer them and being come to this seede I tooke a graine and put it into my mouth to proue it He that brought it as one which knew it wel kept back my hand would not suffer me to proue it for all that I parted with my teeth one graine which is no greater then one grayne of hempe seede but some deale lesser and beareth some likenes of it at the tyme that it came to the point of the tongue the seede being parted made me a blister vpon it which dured with me certaine dayes I commended it to the Deuil and then I beleeued what they had certified me of it I began to make experience of it and it wrought more effectually then was spoken of it It is hot in the fourth degree and more if there be any more degrees Also I haue an Hearbe which being sodde and the water of it taken hot healeth the euils of the brest I know not the name of it but in the remembrance of them which came it was written And an other which enforceth to cast out the dead childe of the belly of thi◠the Indians haue great experience for this effect and once in these countries it hath profited They brought me two drie hearbes which I would haue been glad to haue seene greene the one of these being in the field in all his force if a man or woman doe put their handes vpon him forthwith he falleth downe dead vpon the ground And the other lying abroade vpon the ground in touching it to gather it it shutteth it self together as a Cabadge of the Countrie of Murcia Thinges meruellous and of much consideration I haue blacke Eleboro brought from the Prouince of Mechoacan like to that of Spayne and woorking the like effect Certaine dayes past a young man which tooke counsell of me that came from the Prouice of Quito and beeyng with me there came vnto me a neighbour of mine saying that his daughter was verie sicke of the Flixe and I had her in cure and her disease increased with blood requesting me that I shoulde goe to visite her The Indian which was with me asked me if they were stooles of blood I said yea and he sayd vnto me that he woulde geue her a thing that beyng made into pouder and taken woulde take them away forthwith that in the Prouince of Quito it had been experimented many times The Father of the sicke maiden went with him to his house and he gaue him certayne peeces of a fruite which seemed to be of a greate tree of the one parte they were very smooth and of colour yeallowe and of the other they were very sharpe and very redde insomuch that they seemed of a purple colour They were ground smal and he gaue the pouder to the sicke womā with the water of the hed of Roses once that Euening an other time in the Morning and immediatly the Flixe did cease from tha◠time waxed better whereby she came to be whole And as for the man I neuer saw him after he gaue it to her ¶ To the right Worshipfull Maister Doctor Monardus Phisition in Seuill RIght worshipfull famous Doctor it will seeme a newe thing to your worship that I being not learned not of your profession doe write to you in things of your faculty being a Souldier that haue followed the warres in these Countries al my life I haue done this because I am affectioned to your worship by reason of a book which you haue cōpiled of the medicines which are in these partes of the vertues benefits that by thē haue byn receyued which are so great that I cannot declare thē as they deserue And by means of your book we haue order how we should vse the remedies which we haue here for before we did vse thē without rule or measure so that neyther they did work effect nor with them the people were wel remedied which now is to the cōtrary by meanes of your books there hath been people remedied that neuer thought to haue had remedy nor health It is more then 28. yeeres vnto this day that I haue gone wādring by al these Indias where are many things of those which your worship doth write of in your book other things also which haue not byn brought thither for bicause the Phisitions that come to these parts are nothing curious They apply not their eye to the vniuersal wealth but to their owne particular for they come onely to enrich thēselues for the most part they be ignorāt people which passe to those Indias they doe not esteeme of the good which they might doe And though that I haue no learning I am affectioned to men of learning so I am to your worship for that I vnderstood of your bookes and for the same that you haue in these partes which is great although I knowe you not yet I was willing to take these paines which is a contentment to m◠You write in your book geuing knowledge of the Bezaar stone set down the signes of the beasts which haue thē which being cōsidered we haue happened vpon a kind of beasts that liue in the moūtaines of this country which are much like to sheep or kiddes which your woorship speaketh of which are in the Indias of Portugal which breede haue these stones of the which there are many in this country in the mountaines colde countries They are for the moste of a darke red colour they are fed with healthful herbes wherof is greate plentie in the mountaines where these beasts do feed they be very swift insomuch that they cannot bee hunted but with the hande Gun they haue no hornes and in that onely
de Quinatna Duenas beeyng Aburgales who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of â—eare of a browne colour very small and hee had in a Paper more then twice as much which hee had cast vp two houres before and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all more then the alteration that hee had to see that he had cast vp such stuffe Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition and verie well learned saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake did cast out many peeces of glasse and peeces of Earthen Platters and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis but that which I do most maruel at was that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bellie so that no medicine coulde profite him did cut his owne throate with a knife and after that he was dead they opened him fouÌ„d in his belly great quantity of heare the like wherof he that I haue spokeÌ„ of did vomit with many other peeces of yron These things I do attribute to the works of the Diuel for that they caÌ„not be reduced vnto natural causes The Ueruaine is like that of Spaine all the yeere it is greene Of the Mastuerco I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru which they call Mastuerco it is a little hearbe doth carry certain small leaues that are round which beeing beaten in a morter and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound doth refresh comfort and heale curing it foorthwith and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce and laying the beaten leaues to them and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot Of the small wild Lettice LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe which they call wilde Lettice the leaues bee like to Lettice the colour is a sadde greene it hath vertue too take away the Tooth-ache receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues and holding it in the parte where the griefe is and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth which is greeued for so it taketh away the paines yâ— leaues which are staÌ„ped after the iuyce is taken out must be laid vpon it being tasted it is most bitter It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree Of the licour which is called Ambia IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side it is of the colour of honie as thin the smel is like the Tacamabaca they say and also they write that it hath great medicinall vertues chiefly in the healing of olde diseases and those which come of colde causes It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie proceeding of colde or of windinesse It taketh away the colde in what part soeuer it be it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling and it worketh all the effectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe and so they vse it in those parts in steede of them you may not touch nor handle it with your hands vnlesse you haue them wet and wheresoeuer it be put it sticketh fast that it cannot be taken away vnlesse it be wasted with long time They sent me this little for a shew bicause they doe esteem it greatly therfore they sent it as a thing very precious It seemeth to me hot in the third degree with notable clammines ¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die IN the yere of our Lord 1562. WheÌ„ the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru he had there a gentlewomaÌ„ which was married that serued him her husband waxed sicke of a grieuous disease an Indian of great reputatioÌ„ seeing her to be in much sorow saide to her if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe that shee should take in her left hand and hold it fast for a good while and if he should line then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse with holding the Bowe in her hande and if he should die then she should shew much sadnesse And the Indian sent her the Bow and she did as he had willed her to do and the bowe being put into her hand she tooke so much sadnesse and sorrowe that she threw it away from her thinking that she should haue died thereof and so he died within a fewe daies I was desirous to know if that it were so and a Gentleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth that the Indians did this with their sicke people It hath put me in admiration and in much consideration ¶ Of the Granadillia FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow Graâ—aâ—illias and this name the Spaniards did giue them for the likenes fashion that they haue to our Granaâ—as which wee call they sent me is of a red colour somewhat darke and it hath a good smell Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru. ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru for that they haue beene sent me by the first discouerer of them the best of as many as from those partes haue come yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them which he sent me for knowledge saying that because I wrote of them they had knoâ—ledge of them and the booke which I wrote of them was the guide to finde and discouer them as we haue sayd as he sheweth by his letter which we haue set in the second parte Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie excellent in their coullour making and greatenesse whereof I haue broken some and finde them as excellent as those of the East India and so they prooue in pouder or in one little graine as the other doe and in coullour well neere they are the same Truth it is that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes that are fedde in the Mountaynes for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes are not so good nor haue any Medicinall vertues because the Beastes aâ—e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes whereby these stones are ingendered for as they bee Beastes and chewe thaâ— which they eate of the iuyce that proceedeth from the herbs the stones are ingendered Which thing that Gentleman gaue well to vnderstande who was the first discouerer of them who did see where they lay
stones of the Peru. fol. 98 Of the Figge trees of the Peru. fol. 100 Of the Coca fol. 100 Of the Colours of diuers groundes fol. 102 Of the Casaui fol. 103 Of the Canes for shortnesse of breath fol. 104 Of the Carlo Sancto 105 Of the Stone for the Mother fol. 105 Of Canafistola in Conserua fol. 160 Of the Balsamo of Colu. fol. 170 A Booke which treateth of two medicines most excellent agaynst all Venome which are the Bezaar stone and the Herbe Escuerconera Wherein are declared their maruellous effects great vertues with the manner how to cure the said venoms and the order which is to be vsed for to be preserued from them Where shall be seene greate secretes in medicine and many experiences Newly compyled by Doctor Monardes of Seuill 1574. Translated out of Spanish into English by Iohn Frampton 1580. eases of the bodie from the toppe of the head to the soale of the foot may be cured by the same so as no drugge in the worlde is thought to be comparable to the same The third book sheweth the mischiefes that growe by drinking of drinkes whot and what Benefite doeth followe by drinking our drinkes colde c. And Sir finding many thankfully to take my sayde former simple trauell too you heretofore dedicated and your Woorship aboue all desert of my parte too recompence the same and beyng earnestly and often exhorted by the lerned Phisitiō Maister Doctor Hector Nones to translate these said 3. Bookes also the remanent of Monardes works to make my Countrymen of England Partakers of the benefit of the same I tooke it in hand as inflamed with the great commendations that this Learned Man made of the sayde three Bookes and especially of the Booke treating of the benefite of yron and steele in phisicke And hauing now thus finished the whole work I dedicate the same to your woorship as to the man to whom I am most bound and that doeth of many best deserue the same requesting you too take it in good part to beare with the base doing of the same And calling to remembraunce of what moment in somtimes A man of value may be to a common Weale and howe common in the worlde the practize of poyson is what malice raignes now among men how needful it is that some kind of persōs should feare prouide for the worst and weying that by our Persian merchants and by other meanes the Bezaar stone this great Iewel is brought into the realme and may be compassed in this our tyme for a litle money And withal weying that Iron and steele be things tending so much to the cure of al diseases and bee the natural home commodities of England and such as are commō and that are both easily and cheaply to bee had by euery poore subiect I haue the rather for the ready benefit that might ensue taken the dispatch of the translation in hande with purpose no longer to keepe the same out of print and so I most humbly take my leaue from London the xv of Iune MDLXXX Your worships most bownden Iohn Prampton bewayle him heereof in that so little a Hearbe can offende him and so small a fruite or stone may destroy him Against al these venomes as well in general as in particular the Phisitions as wel Greekes as Arabiens Latinistes wrote effectual remedies as wel generall as particular Amongest the which they put one in practise that in tymes past was had in greate estimation and taken for a present remedie for the greate vertues and meruellous effectes which it wrought against all venoms and accidentes thereof which they called the Bezaar stone But as tyme is the discouerer of all thinges so is it the destroyer and consumer of euery thing for in hauing bene hid so long from vs wee knewe no more what the Bezaar stone was then as if it had neuer beene and the name thereof was so strange and vnknowen vnto vs euen as the Townes in Scitia Time it selfe willing to restore againe vnto vs this precious stone hidden from vs so many yeeres not onely discouered the same vnto vs but iointly therwith hath descried vnto vs an hearbe which hath the lyke vertues and effectes against all manner of venom which hearbe is called Escuerconera hauing bene discouered but a fewe yeres past to our exceeding great profit and commoditie And because these twoo thinges to wit the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera bee so lyke in operation and haue so many and the selfe same vertues against venom that I determined to wryte of them both together and to shewe the proper vertues of these twoo thinges so excellent in medicine it is needfull first to knowe and therefore treate of the venomes as a beginning of the woorke and to declare what Uenom is and the cause of such as haue taken Uenom and then the remedies thereof and howe they may bee preserued from them and therefore we wil treate first of Uenom for that it will serue not a little for the intent of that which we minde to write of the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera Uenom is a thing which beyng taken at the mouth or applied outwardly doeth ouercome our bodies by making them sicke or by corrupting of them or by killing them and this is founde in one of these foure thinges in plants in minerals in beasts or in mixtures the which worketh their effectes eyther by manifest qualitie or by hidden propertie or both These venoms partly doe kill vs partly we vse them for our profite and bodily health and partly the people of auncient tune did vse them for a remedie against their great labours That which doeth offend vs as well in generall as in particular Dioscorides in his sixth booke of his history of Plantes doeth treate of very exactly putting in generall these remedies and in particular that which is conuenient for euery one of them and the same did other Greekes Latinistes and Arabians which are to be seene who will more particularly know of them These did write of many Medicines with the which euery one may preserue themselues from poyson for the malice of mankinde is very greate and many haue procured for their interest and reuenge not onely with venome to offende and kill the common sorte of people but also Emperoures Kinges great Princes and Lords the which in how much more high estate they are appoynted and placed so much the more daunger they are in And many notable men of the olde Writers fearing this did compounde many and diuers Medicines that by meanes of them they might not bee hurte by venom or venemous thinges that might be geuen them As for example the Emperour Marco Antonio did vse suche thinges who fearing to be poysoned tooke euery morning a little Triacle and Methridate Sometimes his confection Methridatica other times certayne Leaues of Rue with Nuttes and Figges and so they did vse the like medicines because
The Indians doe hurte them and kill them with weapons and with snares and ginnes and they bee so fearce that sometymes they kill some of them they are very swift on foote and leppe much they liue in hollowe places of the grounde they goe in companies there bee males and females their voices are roarings they take out the stones from the inner parte of their bowelles and of other hollowe partes of the body and they vse much diligence in the taking out of them by reason the Portingales that doe trade thither giue much for these stones that they doe so take out and they carrie them to the China to sell and from thence to Maluco and from Maluco to Calicut for there is the greatest vtterance of them and they doe esteeme so much of them that one is woorth there beeing fine fiftie crownes as they are heere And as I was wryting this treatise I went to see a beast that shoulde seeme to bee the same by reason hee hath all those markes which those of that partes haue which I sawe in the house of the Archedeacon of Mebla beeing a woorthie Gentleman which was sent him from very farre Countries by the way of Affrica and is in this forme and fashion Hee is a Beast of the greatnesse of a wilde harte hee hath the same hayre coulour and horne that a harte hath he hath the face the head and the tayle lyke a harte hee is swift in running like to a harte his snowt is lyke to the hartes and lykewise his countenance his body is lyke to a Goate for hee is lyke to a greate hee Goate and hath twoo hornes turned backwarde somwhat falling with the pointes wrested that hee seemeth to bee lyke a hee goate and all the rest lyke to a harte There is one thing in this beast which is greatly to bee maruelled for if hee fall from a Towre downe to the grounde hee lyteth vppon his hornes and receiueth no hurte thereby but rather doeth rebounde as a ball of winde in the ayre hee eateth grasse bread and all that you geue him he is of great strength and is alwayes tyed with a Cheyne bycause hee breketh and byteth asunder the cordes I doe looke stil when he will dye or that they wil kill him to see if hee haue the Bezaar stone The making and fashion of the stones bee of diuers maners for that some bee long as the stones of Dates others bee lyke to Chestnuttes others lyke to rounde pellottes of earth such as are shot in Crossebowes others lyke to the egges of Pigeons I haue one lyke to the kidney of a kidd there are none that bee sharpe pointed And as these stones bee diuers in their makings so they doe varie in their coulers some haue the collour of a darke baye others bee of an ashe colour commonly they bee of a greene colour and with blacke spottes such spottes as the Cattes of Algallia haue of a sad gray colour all which are finely compounded of certaine thinne skales or rindes one vppon an other lyke to the skales of on Onion very artificially set and those rindes are so excellent and so glistering that it seemeth as though euery one of them were burnished by arte and so taking away that which is vppermost of all that which remayneth is much more glistering and shyning then that which was taken away and heereby they are knowen to bee fine and true and onely for this I tooke away from that which I haue the vttermost shale that was vpon him and that whicâ— remayned was as glistering and more then the â—â—rst these shales are greater or smaller according to the greatnesse of the stone it is a light stone and easie to bee scraped or cut lyke to Alabaster because it is soft if it bee long in the water it dissolueth It hath no harte nor foundation in the inner parte wherevppon hee is formed but rather is somewhat hollowe and the hollownesse is full of pouder of the same substaunce that the stone is of which is the best And this is the best way to knowe whether the stone bee fine and true when it hath that pouder for they which are false haue it not and by these twoo thinges they which are fine and true may well bee knowne from those which are false and counterfayt In them that are most tâ—ue bee these thinne skales and rindes glistering and shyning one vpon another and the inner parte hath that pouder which I haue spoken of and those which are not true haue neither the one nor the other For I sawe one that was broken to see if it were fine and it had shales and in the inner parte it had a grayne or seede wherby the Indian deceiued many Guido de Lanazaris a man naturally borne in this Citie which trauelled all the rounde worlde ouer and was in those partes of the China sayde vnto mee that there were Indians that counterfeyted them with a composition that they vse and knowe but the twoo thinges which is aforesayde they coulde neuer bring to passe to wit the glistering skales and the pouder that is in the inner parte And hee sayde to mee that they were there much more esteemed then amongest vs bycause they bee healed with them of many diseases Andrew Belunensis â—oâ—h alledge of Tipthas Arabien in a booke that hee wrote of stones and sayeth that the Bezaar stone is a mineral and that it is taken out after the same manner as the other particular stones are of his minâ—ries as the Diamondes Rubies Esâ—â—raldes and Agatas and it seemeth that Serapio doeth so vnderstande it when he spake of this stone He sayde that the Minerall of this stone is in the lande of Syria and of the India and East Countries in the which they were deceiued for that it is cleerely seene that they are taken out of the sayde Beastes which the Indians doe take out with greate diligence as wee haue sayde and there is seene in them the woorke and manifest effect which we will speake of Serapio doeth shewe that in his time there were likewise of these counterfayte stones which he sayeth haue not the vertue agaynst Uenome as the true Bezaar hath Of this stone I finde no Greeke Authour which hath written of it nor Latinist onely amongest the Arabiens this matter is treated of and in some late Writers which wee will speake of heereafter and for this cause onely the Auncient Writers beeyng Arabiens that wrote of it and the late Writers Latinistes and those of our time amongst the Arabiens hee that did most largely write of it was Serapio a learned man in his medicinall Hystorie in the 306. Chapter where he writeth many thinges of this Bezaar stone woorthie too bee knowen the which of his owne authoritie he sheweth how great excellencie this stone hath against all kind of Uenome of what mâ—nner and qualitie soeuer it bee and agaynst the bytinges
to see what we finde written by euery one of them Amongest whom Andrewe Mathiolus of Siena a man very well learned in the Commentaries which hee wrote most learnedly vppon Dioscorides in the sixth booke declaring the Medicines that are agaynst venome by speciall propertie doeth write of the Bezaar stone very geeat vertues and doeth approoue it to be a medicine and remedie most principall that at this day is knowen in the Worlde agaynst venome and he doeth referre that as is sayd vnto the Authours which wee haue alleaged Andrewe de Laguna borne in Segouia who amongest the learned was named Galen the Spaniarde for the Commentaries which he made vpon the sixth book of Dioscorides in the Spanish tongue where he treateth of venomes he sheweth how present a remedie the Bezaar stone is agaynst all kinde of venome and agaynst the bytinges of venomous beastes and agaynst pestilent Agewes of euill qualitie and also that it is a greate remedie agaynst the falling sickenesse that it doeth expell the stone of the Raynes and beeyng geuen with Wyne it breaketh the stone in the Bladder There hee noteth howe this Stone is engendred in certayne Goates of the Mountaynes of Persia and howe the stones that are the best bee bright and skaley and softe of the colour of a Fruite of Spaine called Beringena which is a remedie muche commended amongest Princes and great lords for the effects aforesaide Valescus de Taranto a Phisition and borne in Milan the scholler of Tornamira in the 7. booke of his experiments praiseth very much this Bezaar stone to be of great force against venom and other diseases for his effectes and for the great fame that was of his woorkes in this tyme against al venom Saint Ardonius of Pesauris Phisition in a booke which hee made of venomes exceedingly prayseth the Bezaar stone preferreth it before all other medicines as wel simples as compoundes which haue vertue against venom or byâ—inges of venomous beastes and sayeth that hee sawe it and prooued it by great experience Amato Lucitano a learned man of our tyme being now resident in Ragosa in his commentaries which hee wrote vppon Dioscorides in the seconde booke of Ceruigenitale did treate of this Bezaar stone very learnedly as a man of Portingal who did much enforme himselfe of those of his nation that came from the East India and he sayeth that the Bezaar stone is of the making of an acorne full of spottes declining to the colour of a sad blewe compounded with many shales the which they call Bezaar as a present remedie against al maner of venom and they take them out of certaine beastes which are lyke to wilde hartes that are in the East India and are called goates of the mountaines they are founde in their bowelles and inner partes of the which being giueÌ„ 3. graynes with the waters of the flowers of Orenges it is the present remedy against all Uenom killing and extinguishing the venomes and force thereof it killeth the wormes giueÌ„ with water of Verdolagas where the feuer is and where there is no feuer with whyte wine he saieth that he hath experience and hath cured therewith the pluâ—esie being very sore rooted it is conuenient that it be giuen to them that haue taken venom in vomittes and it wil expel the venom and being giuen to them that haue vomitted of beastes speaking of the goate doeth much commend this Bezaar stone to be against al venoÌ„ Other authors there be that make mention of this stone but they passe it lightly ouer only praysing it to be good against venom in generall and in particular the which at this present I lightly passe ouer for it is sufficiently spoken of by those before rehearsed wherby it may haue authoritie with al those that therof wil profite themselues That which I haue seene by experience I wil now speake of for the more confirmation of the sayde cause and of the meruellous vertues which it hath wherby it may bee vnderstoode what is written by these authors aforesayd with manifest examples It is about 14. yeres past that my Lady the Duches of Bâ—jar was aduertised by the Lorde don Iohn Mauriques that in the Court was vsed for such as did sound a stone that was called the Bezaar for that my Lady the Duches had a sonne very sicke of the sayde disease wel neere since the tyme of his byrth and shee beeing desirous of his health did procure to know what remedy might be had and seeing the ordinary remedies of Phisicke which they had ministred vnto him beeing many and diuers by the wysest Phisitions of Spayne and yet not preuailed any thing and hearing of the greate vertue of this Bezaar stone they had communication with mee thereof yet was it to mee somewhat straunge for that I had no other knowledge thereof then by bookes and I thought that it had not beene in these partes then I requested that the stone might be sent for being desirous to ease this Lorde for his vertues deserued the same and his great knowledge in al kinde of learning and in al things that a noble man might haue knowledge in as also to see the stone which was a thing of mee much desired The stone was sent for to Lishebron by meanes of a Genoues and there was brought twoo of them very fayre wrought in gold and eche of them as great as a Date stone and somewhat greater of colour greene and blackishe lyke to a Beringena which is a fruit of Spayne and the stone being brought not a little to our contentment euery one gaue their iudgement it was agreed that at such time as he should sownde it shoulde presently be giuen him and the sownding being come in the euening hee toke foorth with the appointed order which was brought from the court that hee should take foorthwith the waight of three graines of the pouder of the stone and it should bee cast in water of Oxetongue so much as might be sufficient for him and so it was done Opening his mouth hee swallowed it downe the which he did with much difficultie within the space of halfe a quarter of an houre after hee had taken it hee recouered as easilie as though hee had not had it And seeing the vertue that was in the stone wee did esteeme it much and the more for that wee sawe that euery tyme it toke him he came to himselfe so easily and when he toke not the stone the sounding did continue long and hee returned from it with greate paynes and in long tyme it seased not but when the stone was giuen him he came quickly to himselfe and with greate easinesse as though he had not had any sownding at all My Lady the Duches caried the stone in her purse and had the quantitie that he shoulde take alwayes in a readinesse bycause when the sownding came to him it might bee giuen him with more speede bycause hee shoulde not bee long
effect but with greate difference from all other metalles as Bulcasis sheweth very learnedly being a Phisitiâ—n and a Moore who in particular doth shew the manner which ought to bee had for to prepare the yron and hee sayeth in this manner the fyling of the yron which is most pure must bee taken without other mixture for if it bee mingled with Copper or Lead or Glasse and if it bee giuen so mingled to any person for to drinke it wil kill them you may take the quantity you list of that which is fyled being most pure and let it be wâ—shed and after it is wel washed let it be put into a cleane vessell And let there bee put to it vineger and put it vnder some thing so that it bee well couered let it so remayne thirty dayes or at the 〈◊〉 seâ—en and after that tyme take it foorth and you shall finde that which is filed of the coullour of Uerdegrece the which must be dryâ—d and after it is drye it must be grounde and being well ground you may vse thereof Some there bee that do washe it with fresh water or with vineger and do strayne it through a linnen cloth and then put it vnder a vessell vntil it waxe rotten and after they â—ash it and keepe it That which this Moore doeth say seâ—meth to be of Aueroyes in the fifth of his gathering where he setteth downe the preparation thereof in this forme After the Iron is ground very small let it be put many tymes in to vineger or into Gotes milke when it is cruddye This he would should be the preparation And Christopher de honestis following this in the commentaries which he made vpon Mesue sayeth Let the fyling of the Steele be put into vinegre many dayes for in any other wise the vse of it will not profite although that some do put it into milke of Gotes and some into oyle of sweete Almondes and in this sort they take it The same preparation Clement Clementino doth giue It seemeth a harde thing to beleeue that the Iron or Steele is penetrate and doth waxe soft with any of these things onely the strong vinegre is that which doth penetrate and soften it whereby it may be well grounde for to vse of it And for the more certeintie I will shewe howe I do prepare it I do take of Steele the purest and whitest I can get as also Iron and do cause it to be fyled as small as may be and when it is so fyled I cause it to be washed in water many times vntill the water do come foorth cleare and then I put it into a cleane glassed vessell and do cast to it as much strong white vinegre as may be sufficient to wet thorough the sayde fyling and the vâ—ssell being stopped put iâ—to a close place I do let it stande xx dayes stirryng it well twice euery weeke and putting to it some vineger if it bâ—e needefull and after the twentie dayes when it is well sâ—kened I take it out of that and put it into some other brodeâ— vessell or vppon a table that it may dry in the shadowe and after it is drie I doe grynde it in a morter of metall sifting it twise through a thicke siue of silke and so beeing made into Pouder I put it into a fine earthen paynted pot then with a Pestle I beate it small agayne in suche sort that being taken betweene the fingers it seemeth not too haue anie maner of substance neither is it felt between theÌ„ And if it be not done in this sort they are neuer well grounâ—e for it is a thing that they take most care of so that therby it may worke the effect the better And beyng made into pouder in this sort it ought to be kept in a glassed vessel Some doe wet it with Gumme Dragagaunt and make it in rowles and it liketh mee very well because they be the better conserued and the gumme Dragagant taketh away some parte of their drithe And seeing that I haue made an ende of the preparing of the steele and Iron that it doeth the effect when it is needâ—ful as though it were the steele it selfe let Maister Doctor shewe vnto vs the woorkes and vertues that it doeth D. I doe reioyce very much to heare the good order of the preparation that Maister Burgus hath geuen and set downe to be vsed with these metals And seeyng that I am bound to declare the vertues and medicinal works which they haue I wil speake of it the best that I know as well that which I haue knowen and read as that which experience hath taught me and the vse of so many yeeres These two metalles doe serue in medicine two manner of wayes the one is that of them may be made instrumentes to worke with in causes of Surgery without the which the Surgions cannot worke their works and effectes nor the Barbours without them cannot do their occupations To declare what instrumentes those are which serue for the one and for the other occupations it wil be to tedious The yron and steele doe serue in medicine with great effectes and maruellous workes by curing and healing diuers diseases and so Plinie in his booke of the naturall historie treting of this matter of yron after he wrote great things of it as well in that which doeth profite in the seruice of man as other curious thinges hee treateth of â—he vertâ—es and woorkes which it doeth in medicine shewing first the qualities of it saying The yron hath vertue too drie vp too retayne and too holde fast it is good for suche as doe lacke theyr heare that it may growe beeyng prepared and mingled with some licour prepared and made for the same purpose it taketh away the roughnesse of the cheekes mingled with Uineger and beyng made in an oyntment with oyle of of Myrtiles and waxe it taketh away the blisters of all the vodie the pouder of it mingled with Uineger doeth heale the disease called Saint Anthonies fire as also all maner of skabbes it healeth the little sores between the nayle and the finger the pouders therof being applyed thervnto with a linnen cloath It healeth also the fluxe of women of what sorte soeuer it be beyng put therevnto with wooll or with â—otton wool and also if they be applied therevnto after the mannâ—r of a Tent in the lower partes the pouder beeyng mingled with mirrhe and put to the sores or wounds newe hurte doeth soder them and healeth them and beeyng mingled with Uineger and put vpon the pilâ—s it dissolueth them It is a great remedy for such as are gowtie beeyng applyed with thinges made for the purpose vpoÌ„ the griefe It stenâ—heth the blood of such as are wounded which is for the most part made of Iron It is geuen to be drunke to suche as are diseased of the lungs for it consumeth the disease and healeth him that is sicke it stayeth any manner of fluxe
drithe it causeth the dropsie by reason it corrupteth the first disgestiâ—n consumeth the body with his heate Auicen himselfe confirmeth this in the thirde of the first part saying the colde water is conuenient for them that haue a temperate complection for being whot it causeth the stomake to be sicke Isaac Aliabas and Rasis say the same that Auicen saith the which he did let to wryte of bycause hee woulde not bee long in his sayings One thing Auicen would haue in the thirde of the first parte that hee which shoulde drinke very cold must first make a good foundation eating first a good portioÌ„ of meate before he drinke Also he saith that the cold drinke may not be dronke much at one draught but by litle and litle by reason it doth bring two benefits which is that there is taken more taste in that which is drâ—nke and it doâ—th not kill the natural heat as it is seene by the pot that boyleth if you cast into it much water at one tyme it doeth cease boyling but if it be cast by litle and litle it ceaseth not his working And therfore Auicen himselfe sayeth when that you will drinke colde that you drinke with a vessell which hath a straight mouth that the drinke run not in hastily the said vessel beeing a limet or a yewre with a poynt surely it is a greate benefit for them which are affectioned to drinke with the lyke â—esselles if they ought first to take out the winde or not I do remit me to the Doctor Villalabos who treateth largely of this matter And by that it is seene howe Auicen woulde that those which woulde drinke very colde they shoulde not drinke foorthwith at the beginning of their meate For sâ—me there bee that as soone as they begin to eate foorthwith they will drinke that as is very colde the stomacke beeing empty without meate which cannot choose but hurte and so the hurt which doth come to them by this they doe attribute it foorthwith to the colde of the drinke and not to their euil order the which Auicen sayth speaking of cold water that to drinke it without order is the cause of many diseases if it be dronke in order as wel in time as in quantity it profiteth as he hath said Therfore let euery one loke to that which is conuenient for him and let him make experience in himself and if that it be conuenient for him to drinke colde that hee may beare it without that it doe offende him that doe it for therof wil follow the benefites which we haue spoken of but if he bee sicke and fall into any disease whereby hee saith that the drinking of colde drinke doeth offende him in such case let him not vse it for my intent is to shâ—w and perswade them that doe drinke colde that if it doe them no hurt nor offende them that they drinke it so aâ—d such as doe vse it of custome and haue experience that it doe not offende theÌ„ vnto such iâ— they drinke not that which they drinke cold the lust of their meate is taken away from theÌ„ for they take no taste in that which they eate and they eate it with grief and with an euil wil for that which they drinke doth not satisfie them the whot drinke doth fil the stomake full of windinesse and cannot make therewith a good disgestion But what is hee that hath a reasonable health being in the tyme of great heate or in the whot summer that comming to eate being weary of exercyse or of greate labour hauing the tongue dry the breath shorte that doeth let to drinke colde seeing that to doe it there doe followe the benefites that I haue sayde and doeth succor his necessity and remayne content and glad without hauing offended his disposition and health Unto the which Galen doeth animate and exhorte vâ— in the booke which hee made of good and euil meates saying In the tyme of hot weather when our bodies are whot and somtymes inflamed then we must vse of thinges that may refreshe vs although that they bee euill meates as Plummes Apples Cheries Melons Goords of other colde fruytes in these lyke tymes Galen saith that wee may vse colde meates as the feete of a pigge or hogge sodden in vinegre and crudded milke and the same meates must be made colde and likewyse the drinke must bee made colde as the water and the wyne watered with colde water or made cold in snowe the one and the other must be made colde in the most cold water of a fountaine and if it be not to be had let it bee made colde in snow chiefly the drinke And after that Galen hath made a large digression as it is conuenient so much in the tyme of greate heate to eate and to drinke colde things hee doeth describe who they are that should drinke colde and saith in this sorte those that should drinke cold are such as haue much buzines and haue care of many things as those which are gouerners of cities and common wealthes and the ministers which doe helpe them and doe participate of such cares and troubles and those that are much exercised in bodily buzines in especially the sowldierlyke exercises or other great exercises and they which doe iorney and inespecially long iorneyes giuing to vnderstand all corporal exercises Here I doe see many being sicke and hauing great occasions of sicknes after that they drinke cold they are whole and when they vse it not they become sicke agayne And although experience doe shewe it yet Galen doeth teach it vs in many places being the Prince of Phisicke For in the thirde degree of the substance of meates he saith that vnto them which are whot of stomake it is conuenient that their drinke be made colde with snowe the same he doth confirme in the booke of good and euil meates And in the 7. of his Methodo it hath beene seene as he saith that diseases haue beene healed and the griefes of the stomake with colde water made colde with snowe and in the 6. of the Epidimias hee doeth vse much of water first sodden and after cooled with snow and in many partes hee doeth put to coole in snowe the medicines which he doeth vse of and the same doe the Arabiens for that as it is sayde it doeth seeme that the snowe was had in reuerence by the ancient wryters and that they did vse of it in the preseruation of their health and in the healing of their diseases for that it was the best maner how to nake it cold more cleane and more without scruple For the cold that proceedeth of snow is healthful without receyuing hurt by that which is cooled with it nor causeth any alteration bycause it is a very good congeled water and doeth make cold Truthe it is that it is not conuenient to vse of the sayde snowe continually if it be not in tyme