in the confection of Theriacle then it followeth that when like quantity of both is taken as for example ʒ j surely a greater portiō of euery one simple is taken in Mithridatium and lesser in Theriacle the lesser quantity must needes haue lesser strength in remedyinge other poysons saue that to the which the base or grounde doth call them So it remayneth fyrme that Galen writeth as obserued in his time that Theriacle is in deede better then Mithridatium in bytinge of vypers and like beastes and that Mithridatium exceadeth th'other in remedying all other poisons taken into the body and inward diseases Wherefore in this our countrey where no such perill and danger is of vipers Mithridatium by good reason ought to be reputed of greater estunation then Theriacle Of the composition of Mithridatium IT shall not be amisse in this place to declare the composition of this medicine And it is to be noted that where all writers doe greately cōmend it yet certayne it is that they do not in one sorte describe the makinge of the same But almost euery authore hath a seuerall description differinge in the number of the simples and also in y e proportions and quantities In time past y e Apothecaries in making of Mithridatium folowed most the description of Nicolaus Praepositus of Auicenna and of Nicolaus Mirepsicus some of Aetius some of Paulus The former descriptions contayninge aboue one hundred simples were long and laborious and required many supplyes for simples vnknowen Wherefore in these our later daies in which learned men haue examined euery thing perfitly the most part haue commended one of y e three compositions expressed by Galen in 2. de Antid of the which two were taken as Galen wryteth out of the bookes of Andromachus The first found without name is attributed to Andromachus as compounded by him of others supposed the very same which was found in the closets of kinge Mithridates after transcribed in the workes of Andromachus The second description is also recyted out of Andromachus bookes vnder the names of Antipater and Cleophantes The thyrd is referred to Damocrates It doth not appeare by any thing written by Galen which of these three compositions is best to be folowed And so of y e learned men of our time some hath vsed the one and some the other Many doe best like of the first description attributed to Andromachus both for that Andromachus by the opinion of Galen and of all other auncient wryters was adiudged very skilfull in cōpounding of medicines therein did farre excell all phisitions of his time and also because it may bee iustly gathered that that description is the very same which Mithridates vsed For in y e Andromachus was phisition to Nero the Emperour of Rome it appeareth that he obtayned to see and to consider of all the bookes which found in Mithridates closet were translated into latine by Lineus the grammarian and brought to Rome And it is not agreable to reason that Andromachus studying to make a more perfit medicine then that which came vnder the name of Mithridatium woulde also inuent an other vnder the same name But it is very probable that Andromachus with diligence perusinge the recept of Mithridatium vsed of Mithridates would leaue it in such forme as Mithridates compoūded it and deuise an other by the same which hee meant to make more perfite Andromachus therefore not alteringe the description of Mithridatium but leauing it in the same forme as it was founde confected an other which he called Theriaca And where we doe reade in y e 2. de Antid of Galen an other recept set downe vnder the name of Theriaca Mithridatis with assertion that the kinge vsed the same yet it seemeth not to be y t Mithridatium which was foūd in the closet of that king For all writers doe confesse that Andromachus long after added to that recept of Mithridates the flesh of vipers so that Mithridatium compounded by Mithridates had not in it the flesh of vipers and that Theriacle which Galen in that place calleth Theriaca Mithridatis doth receaue the flesh of vipers so it foloweth that it is not the Mithridatium vsed of Mithridates And he that will with diligence peruse that recept mentioned of Galen by the name of Theriaca Mithridatis shal◠finde it in y e simples not much differing from Theriaca Andromachi and many things repeated twyse in diuers clauses doth argue an imperfection that Galen may be thought in y t place to speake after y e common opinion whē hee affirmeth it to be the same which Mithridates vsed being in deede farre different from that medicine Wherefore we may reasonably conclude that the first recept transcribed by Galen in 2. de Antid out of Andromachus workes is in truth the selfe same that Mithridates vsed and in mine opinion in that respect the better to be liked and the rather to be followed For what better assurance can we haue of the true and perfect confection of this medicine then that which was deliuered by Mithridates and what description can more assure vs of the effects of this medicine then y t composition which Mithridates followed who first gaue so notable proofe of the medicine and thereby the first credite to the same So that if by discourse of reason it may be proued that an other description is more artificiall and more agreable to the rules of confection of medicines yet in mine opinion this description being the same that Mithridates vsed set downe happely by the king more according to experience then art is rather to be folowed then any other thought more cunningly addressed Neuerthelesse it is not to be deemed that kinge Mithridates was altogether vnskylfull when many volumes concerning phisike were found in his closet translated into latine brought to Rome And it appeareth that he taking delight in medicinall matters had about him dyuerse phisitions who mighte artificially dispence the simples in Mithridatium And Galen in the sayd booke de Antid commendeth the discription of Mithridatium attributed to Andromachus whereby it appeareth that this description of Mithridatium is not addressed altogether without arte For which cause y e learned of our time haue great reason to preferre that description of Mithridatium before others Albeit some do more esteeme the composition of Damocrates as with more arte and more cunning dispensed Notwithstanding because it is very likely y t the precept attributed to Andromachus as found in his bookes is the selfe same that Mithridates vsed and hath of many in this our countrey of late yeares bene folowed I thought best in this place to expresse y e same as I doe finde it in Galen in 2. de Antid and is in many antidotary bookes allowed which is as foloweth Rec. glicirrizae ʒ vij ob iiij Spicae nardi ʒ vij ob iij. Croci cinnamomi Zinziberis ana ʒ vij ob ij Galbani ʒ vij Castorei costi ana ʒ vj. ob ij Scordij iunci odorati
A DISCOVRSE OF THE medicine called Mithridatium declaring the firste beginninge the temperament the noble vertues and the true vse of the same Compiled rather for those which are to vse it then for the learned 1585. ¶ A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE OF THE MEDICINE called Mithridatium WEe doe read in y e Romaine histories that Mithridates a Puisante king of Pontus Bithinia for causing all y e Romaines in Asia to bee slaine and the Proconsul Oppius to bee cast in prison was assaulted by Silla discomfited by Lucullus and lastly vtterly vanquished by Pompey the great and when this valiaunte king perceiued himselfe to be ouercome and that he was to be taken of his enemies first he destroyde his wyfe daughters with poyson and then tooke the same poyson desiring rather so to dye then as a captiue to fal into y e hands of his enemyes But hauing dronken much of the poyson could not dye therewith and then caused his seruant Bistocus a frenchman as it is written to kill him with a sword Such was the magnanimity of this mighty king to escape the hands of the Romaines y t he might not bee caried to Rome and in captiue maner be shewed in triumph For this noble king was not only valiante in warre but also in phisicall matters very expert had the knowledg of many hearbes and making tryall of sundry simples that doe resist poyson in men condemned to dye as Galen writeth in his first booke de Antidotis and finding some to remedy y e poyson of Spiders some of Scorpions some to doe good against the byting of Vipers others of mad Dogs many to remedy the poison of hearbes and so sundry others to help the venime of sundry poisons he endeuoured to make a mixture of diuerse simples hoping thereby to haue a ready remedy against all kindes of poison the same was termed after his name Mithridatium wherein he was nothing deceiued For this noble king in his life time vsed much and often y e medicine And as it is written being subdued by the Romaines and making choise rather to dye then to be led captiue to Rome attempting to kill him selfe with poison and taking of it great quantity tooke no harme thereof for that his body as y e history saith by vse of y e medicine altered resisted the action of the poison Notwithstanding his wife and two daughters dyed before his face wich the same poison Since that time the efficacy and strength of y e medicine hath in all ages euen vnto these our dayes bene confirmed For after that Pompey the great had cōquered this valiante king search made in his Closets amongst sundry Iuels many secret medicines to expell diuerse poisons and to cure other internall diseases were founde where also was the description of this medicine And albeit Pompey as a martiall man had greatest care of other matters yet aduertised what goodnes might come by such secret medicines commaunded one Pompeius Lineus his libertine well seene in sciences to conuert all those medicines written in the Pontike tongue into latine And it doth appeare by the history that many volumes of phisicall maters were there founde which perused and considered of by Asclepiades in those dayes a famous phisition in Rome were by him commended and at his petition translated into latine whereof Pliny writeth in his 25. booke Of so many excellent medicines left by Mithridates none was so highly esteemed so well accompted of in all respectes as that termed Mithridatium whose excellent vertues against poison were first approued in Mithridates owne body and after confirmed by y e Romaines In trueth a man may iustly blame the historyographers which in describing the noble actes of Pompey the great doe so slenderly passe ouer this his facte in translating of this medicine experienced of this noble king For in my iudgemēt things iustly weighed none of all Pompeyes valiante feates of armes no not the royall triumph made at Rome to declare the victory in cōquering king Mithridates hath so largely aduaunced his name as the making knowen to the world of this medicine For the profit of y t victory came only to Rome and the triumph and praise for y e same done at y t time in Rome But the profit of this medicine hath bene by his meanes imparted to y e whole world the cōmendation and praise for the same is iustly to be yeelded from all the world in all ages and times So that as all the world is greater then Rome all times more then one age so doubtlesse more renowne is due vnto Pompey for diuulging of this medicine then by the conquering of this king or by the triumph for the same Although in the Emperoure Nero his time succeeded a learned phisition called Andromachus who to the imitation of this medicine compounded an other adding to the description of Mithridatium the flesh of Vipers and some other simples which medicine he called Theriaca of the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doth signifie a wilde and venemous beast whereof the Viper is one Yet this ought not to imbase any praise due to Mithridates for compounding of Mithridatium For all men doe know that it is easier to adde to a thing done then to finde out the same and greatest praise is to be geuen to the first inuentor So that the dishonour y t came to Mithridates by Pompey his victory was not so great as the praise and commendation for the inuenting and compounding of Mithridatium And his calamity to be ouerthrowen is greatly easied his ignomy to be cōquered after a sorte aduaunced that by the same this medicine was diuulged which happely would not haue bene performed at y e least so generally had he dyed otherwayes and not bene by Pompey ouercommed For had not Mithridates in him felfe approoued the excellency of the medicine purposing to haue killed him selfe rather then to come into the handes of the Romaines surely the notable vertues of the medicine would not so well haue bene belieued And had not this king in that his miserable estate made triall in his owne body who would haue belieued that a mans body might by any meanes be brought so strongly to resist poison Who but one in so desperate a case would attempt to take strong poison vpon the credit of any medicine Great good therefore to the whole world this ouerthrowe of Mithridates did breede And great renoume thereby came not to the conqueroure onely but to the conquered to the one for inuenting to the other for diuulging of so great a medicine which for these two thousand yeares hath bene of all men in all ages had in great estimation not in Pontus onely Bithinia Greece adioyning to the same but in all other nations and countryes where any learning is commended by all writers Grecians Arabians and Latinists And what greater assurance can there be of the notable vertues of this medicine then the confirmation of the same from
Mithridates to this our time then that all phisitions of the world in all ages times and places in Greece in Arabia in Italia in all partes of Germany in France in Spayn in Portingal in Hungaria in England in Scotland Moscouia Tartaria Sueuia yee in all partes of Asia Aphrica and Europa euen amongest the saluage and barbarous nations hath and doth greatly esteeme of Mithridatium and so of Theriacle and seeke and prouide for them to serue their countryes in cases of neede How carefully all princes rulers hath doth take order for the well cōpounding of these medicines Doubtles had not experience confirmed their excellent qualyties the estimation would not haue so many yeares continued but longe before this our age would haue bene diminished and by this time come to nothing Great therefore are these medicines and in a heigh degree to be esteemed And albeit great prayse and cōmendation is due to both medicines I meane Mithridatium and Theriacle yet greatest praise is to be geuen to Mithridatium First because of his antiquytie which was of Mithridates inuented approued many yeares before Theriacle was compounded For long after Mithridates was ouerthrowen Andromachus phisition to Nero y e Emperour very expert in cōfecting of medicines as Galen writeth in his first booke de Antid with diligence considering the composition of Mithridatium chaunged some of the simples toke out some and added others supposinge by that alteration to make the medicine more perfite of mightyer force against poison In which consideration he added the flesh of vipers to the composition of Mithridatium and leauing out some simples vsed of Mithridates added others in number moe and as he thought of greater power against poyson Whereby it may reasonably bee gathered y t Andromachus not fully satisfied with the cōposition set downe by Mithridates supposing some defect in it by that his alteration endeuoured to make an other medicine in all degrees more perfite in which no want might be found and so he addressed the same and called it Theriaca Whereby no doubt some good time after Mithridatium was lesse esteemed and the credit thereof much imbased vntill time by longe experience had sufficiently declared wherein Theriacle doth excell Mithridatium and in what poynts Mithridatiū is not onely not inferiour to Theriacle but of more efficacy then it So Galen in his first booke de Antidot writeth Because of the flesh of Vipers in Theriacle it is much better in the byting of the Viper then Mithridatium But in all other effects Theriacle can not onely not doe more then Mithridatium but is inferiour The same Galen in 2. de Antidot writeth in like sorte We will begin saith he with the description of Mithridatium for it is stronger against many poisons then Theriacle though this be better against the byting of the Viper Whereby we may gather y t where Andromachus endeuouring to make a more perfit medicine then y t lefte of Mithridates did in some part accomplish his purpose leauing a medicine excelling the other in one particular thing but not of like efficacy generally It happened therefore in this case if a man may compare natures actions to arte as in y e framing of mā who doth in all actions exceede all creatures yet not so generally but y t in some one action some one beast doth excel man as we reade y t the Aegle hath perfiter sighte then man the Dogge doth passe man in smelling the Ape in agility the Tiger in swiftnesse But whosoeuer will with reason conferre all actions he shall find in all together that man passeth all creatures for such is his constitution and temperature that moe and perfiter actions doe proceede from man thē any one creature So it came to passe that Andromachus indeuoring to make a medicine of greater perfection then Mithridatium obtayned that in one thing his medicine excelled but in many other was inferiour to Mithridatium For a man may gather the vertues of these two medicines at large displaied in Galens workes into three orders First that they are good against the byting and stinging of venemous beastes be they Serpentes Scorpions mad Dogges or others Secondly they serue to cure all kinde of poysons taken into the body Thirdly to remedy other inwarde diseases Now it is certaine and long experience hath confirmed that both these medicines haue strong and mighty vertues to remedy al three kindes of effectes yet no doubt one of them is in some effectes of more power then the other As Galen writeth that Theriacle for y e byting of Vipers is stronger then Mithridatium In other it doth exceede Theriacle So we may iustly conclude with Galen that against the byting stinging of beastes Theriacle hath more force But for inward poisons inward diseases truly Mithridatium is of more might Wherefore albeit both medicines are noble greatly to be desired yet Mithridatium is to be accompted of greater price as hauing more generally stronger vertues and seruing to moe purposes And it may be obiected that in Theriacle cōpiled by Andromachus are many simples added which haue great vertue against diuerse kindes of poysons and happely are therein of more efficacy then those in Mithridatium left out by Andromachus in his Theriacle Whereby it may be coniectured that Andromachus making choyse of the simples selected such as were of greatest force to remedy poisons omitted the weaker adding in their place some other of more strēgth so it is probable y t Theriacle so compiled is of greater myght in all kinde of poysons But Galen in his workes declareth that experience in his time did shewe the contrary and reason confirmeth the same For let the simples in Theriacle be in number moe and in qualytie of greater efficacy yet it must be remembred that it is certayn that when in compositions some one simple is set as the base and ground of that medicine that that simple doth drawe the force and strength of all y e rest to his property and action and so euery such compound is specially good in that one thinge for which it was deuised Now when Andromachus did make the flesh of vipers as the base and grounde of his Theriacle it foloweth that the same doth drawe to it the qualities and vertues of all the simples in Theriacle so it doth come to passe that Theriacle is far better thē Mithridatium against the bytinge of vipers and such venemous beasts And for that all other simples in it are caried by the flesh of the vipers to exercyse their force strongly therin they haue the lesse power to remedy other poisons When no such thinge was intended in the composition of Mithridatium it is agreable to reason that the simples in it euery one retayneth his owne power and property and so one such quality or forme doth resulte by the myxture of great strength against all poysons Moreouer it is certayne that in the composition of Mithridatium are fewer simples in number then are
For then in deede euery simple retayning his owne vertue Opium may remitte the whot qualities of the rest at what time neither of these medicines is generally to be vsed but for some speciall point as Galen to prouoke sleepe doth counsell new Theriacle But after fermentation is perfited all the simples one altering the other euery one hath qualities so broken that not one retayneth his owne nature then surely the cōmon forme resulting doth follow the simples which doe beare dominion and they in both these medicines are whot and dry and y e whot and dry simples in Theriacle are moe in number and of greater force then in Mithridalium as may appeare to him that will compare both confections Whereby it followeth that the common quality arysinge in Theriacle doth heate more then that in Mithridatium Neyther the increase of Opium doth in proportion aunswere the strength of heating in it neither hath it any such force so greately to contemper the simples as these men doe imagine For although Opium hath speciall property aboue other medicines to induce sleepe yet his cooling quality of many writers is not accompted so great for it hath so strong bitternes that many doe suppose that it hath a myxt nature consisting of many whot partes if it be true that Galen wryteth in his 5. booke of simples that all bitter thinges are whot and being certaine y t Opium doth stupefy strongly cause sleepe it is of some inferred y t that power doth rather proceede of a property of substaunce then altogether depend of his cooling quality Wherefore it is not without reason affyrmed by learned men wryting hereof that Mithridatium doth not so strongly heate as Theriacle and experience doth also confirme the same For who so vseth these medicines doubtles he shall finde that Theriacle rightly compounded after Andromachus description which is in all this treatise to be vnderstood and is in these dayes of the Apothecaries most commonly made and so of the wyser sort in most vulgare vse doth heate more then Mithridatium which is confessed of the wryters commenting vpon the antidotary of Nicolaus and in this our age of many learned men affyrmed For which cause many in these dayes without daunger do vse Mithridatium when neede requireth In sōmer time whot seasons very few and seldome Theriacle And Galen doth expresly forbyd to gieue Theriacle to children More safe therefore is the vse of Mithridatium then of Theriacle not onely in respect of the heating quality which seemeth lesse more gentle in Mithridatium but also in respect that a greater quantity of Opiū is in Theriacle For admit that Opium by fermentation sustayneth great alteration notwithstāding y e common forme of Theriacle taketh some infection of Opium y t some effecte declining to his nature doth also proceede and the more if that stupefying and dormitory power in Opium doth depend rather of property of substance thē of manifest cooling quality as some do argue For the properties of substance in medicines haue not like alteration by fermentation as the manifest qualities haue by reaction we may therefore feare the common and often vse of Theriacle for y e quantity of Opium in it For like reason often vse of Theriacle may be suspected because of the flesh of vipers added to it as the base groūd of the medicine For notwithstanding y e great care of the place of the time of the kinde obserued in taking and choosing of the viper the diligence in preparing the care of myxture with other things for the better correction of the malignity of y e beast which hapely might remaine in the flesh yet a man may doubt of some errour cōmitted in so daūgerous a case And though all thinges therein bee ryghtely done yet some little quality of the nature of y e beast will remayne that a man may suspect often to vse the medicine And where kinge Mithridates was expert in phisicall matters it is not to be adiudged but that he did aswell know the nature of the flesh of vipers as hee knewe the venime of the beast so it is very likely that he purposing to compounde a medycine to be often taken for his safty against poison did of purpose make it without the fleshe of vipers knowing that if he shold haue added that he myght not with like safty haue dayly vsed y e same And what learned men doe so often in these dayes counsell Theriacle as do Mithridatium and we doe in this our time with lesse danger and more security for the measels the smale pockes the wormes and for internal diseases in children geue Mithridatium then Theriacle We may therefore in mine opinion iustly conclude that Mithridatium is a medicine more generally to be vsed may oftener and with more safty be geauen then Theriacle Of the age and keeping of Mithridatium Wwhere we haue sufficiently declared that compounde medicines must haue a time of fermentatiō before they be brought to vse this place requireth that we doe declare the tyme when Mithridatium is sufficiently fermented and come to his perfection Galen in his bookes de Theriaca doth write exactly of the time of fermentation of Theriacle affirming that it is throughly concocted in xii yeares not denying but y t it hath concoction in shorter time as in 5. and in 7. yeares so that we are to iudge that Theriacle is not sufficiently ripe to bee vsed before fiue yeares and in 7 yeares is better digested in xij yeares hath his full fermentation and perfect concoctiō Yet Aetius and Paulus Aegineta doe measure the concoction of Theriacle in shorter time For Aetius sayth that Theriacle is fermented in xij monethes and that it may be vsed after one moneth in some cases and so affirmeth that it endureth to thirty yeares Where Paulus appointeth y e age of Theriacle to be twenty yeares therein he doth not greatlye differ from Aetius for hee making the terme of Theriacle to be 30 yeares doth also say that then it is good in light diseases So that by Aetius Theriacle may be vsed after xij monethes and continueth in good perfection to 20. yeares and after declineth that at 30. yeares it is aged yet may it be vsed in deseases which are not very great Our later writers doe generally better allowe of Aetius Paulus opinion for the age of Theriacle then of Galens and some suppose an errour or fault in y t place in Galen and so they doe affirme y t Theriacle is fully concocted in the space of xij monethes and then may bee sold of the Apothecary and that the same being well kepte will continue in good strength 20. yeares and after doth decline and waxe weaker and yet may be vsed when it is 30. yeares olde but it is then as an old man decayed and weake of strength Of Mithridatium the former writers haue set downe no time of concoction leauing to a wyse man to determyne of y t which is written accordingly of Theriacle
lacke of Cinnamum did sometimes substitute double quaÌ„titie of Casia Whosoeuer wil with diligence examine the sackes of Canella brought from the new found couÌ„tries in great plenty in these dayes may easely finde the perfect kindes of Cinnamum agreable to the description of y e old wryters also the true Casia We may also vnderstaÌ„d how in old time things were sophisticated by the monumeÌ„ts of old writers And who doth not now perceaue and acknowledg many errors in Diâ—scorides bookes in deliuering the descriptions of simples not so well knoweÌ„ in his time as now by these nauigatioÌ„s made manifest Many things written by the auncient authors by hearesay are now to the eye made euident and knowen Wherefore it is true y t now in this age things are so exactly examined so diligently sought for and so painfully cared for that in truth I doe suppose we may make in this time Mithridatium in very good perfection and the simples wanting are few in number y â— substitutes for the same by learned men so well considered of so aptly appointed that we neede not so greatly to doubt thereof but may iustly expect th'effects attributed to the medicine if not in so large manner as the auncient writers haue deliuered yet in such resonable sorte y t we may esteeme of the medicine as of a precious iewel as of a thing good against some drie-poisons diuers internall and pestilentiall diseases Mithridatium made in England is rather to bee chosen then that which is brought from Venice and other countryes beyond the Sea SOme haue ben of opinion that Theriacle Mithridatium may better be made in other countryes as namely at Venice and Constantinople then in England affirming that moe and better simples are growing there which wee doe lacke and that such simples which are found neither in these countreys nor in England but are procured from y e east and west Indians do sooner and in better perfection come to those places then to vs. Surely if things be rightly weighed this allegation is not true For the partes of Italy and the territories about Constantinople haue very few or no simples growing in their soyles which do not spring in England required to the composition of Mithridatium and many are founde in England in better perfection theÌ„ there As namely who doth not graunt the best saffron to be in England all trauelers which come into England do confesse that our soyle doth produce very good plantes as namely Scordium in better kinde than other countreys and some strangers do send into England often for some of our simples which do go into the composition of Mithridatium It is also well knowen that straunge herbes transplanted hither and some of seedes sowen doe very kindely spring in England which is also confessed of some later writers in theyr Herballes And where few simples requisite to make Mithridatium are wanting as not growing in England it seemeth most true that they which doe growe here are most kindly for vs for natiue things are best aggreable to our constitutions So y t whereas the most simples in number required to the composition of Mithridatium are found naturally to spring in England I see no cause why we should not best allow of it made heere neither ought y e paucitie which we do lacke to draw vs better to esteeme of a forrayne medicine made of all forrain things And as I dare affirme that in this countrey we do lacke as few simples which go to the making of Mithridatium as any of the forenamed places so I may iustly pronounce that such which are wanting to them and to vs also may and are as easily and in as short time transported to vs as to them For in these dayes the spices and other thinges brought from y e Indians by nauigation to Lishburn and thence to other couÌ„treys of Europe may as soone be transported to vs as to Venice Where in times past such marchandise were caried from the east Indians to Alexandria by land vpon Camels that trade is now decayed and for y e most part such drugges are imported by sea and y e ships doe commonly light in some part of Portingal so that it is easie to see that our Apothecaries in England may with as good conueniency procure theÌ„ from those places and in as good perfection as the marchauÌ„ts of Venice or of Constantinople Neuerthelesse if any thing lacking with vs doe come to Venice it is soone transported thence to Antuerp as in the space of 24. dayes so to vs. Wherefore I doe not coÌ„ceaue why any man should thinke y t our Apothecaries in England caÌ„not make MithridatiuÌ„ in as good perfection as other couÌ„tries doe but rather we ought to adiudge y e contrary that it made here is in as good perfection and more agreable to our natures constitutions then y t which is coÌ„pounded in other countreys as altogether made of strauÌ„ge simples which haue no affinity with our bodies And if we do with iudgement coÌ„sider how vncertaine wee are of the true confection when it is done in places so farre from vs it may make vs greatly to feare least they which do coÌ„pound y e medicine hauing more care to gaine then truly to dispence y e same will neither make choise of the best simples neither vse diligence in the mixture And if the princes of the countryes with carefull lawes prouide that the confectioners shall doe their duties truely in compouÌ„ding and obseruing the things needeful to the well handling of so noble a medicine who can assure himselfe of the truth of the marchaunt in transporting y e same whose profession is by his marchaundize to gaine so no doubt will vse meanes euery way to increase his profite that we may iustly suspect that they doe very seldome bring into England from Venice or Constantinople any Theriacle or Mithridatium vnmingled the better skill they haue in their trade with more arte they can sophisticate their wares to deceaue the iudgement of the buyer that I greatly doe doubt y t litle or none at all of these medicines are brought true and sincere vnmixed as hath bene tryed when straungers in England haue purposly examined both Theriacle and Mithridatium compounded in London with other brought from the sayd countryes haue gieuen praise to that made in London as maister Hughe Morgane her Maiesties Apothecary can witnes whose confections haue bene better commended by strangers then any of other places Farther whereas of Mithridatium there are diuers descriptioÌ„s not all of like goodnes as I haue before declared how can we tell what compositions the confectioner followed hereof y e marchauÌ„t not hauing care can not informe vs so we remaine vncertaine of the true knowledge of the medicine not hauing knowledg of the simples vsed in that wee buy and as wee know not assuredly what kinde of Mithridatium we doe buy so we remaine vncertaine of the medicine And where wee haue
declared y t Theriacle Mithridatium haue their times of fermentation of their duraunce and that after a certaine age they decline waxe old feeble we cannot know the time of that which is forraine made so we haue vncertaine medicine and shall be vncertaine how long we may keepe the same All which circumstances may be easly knowne in that which is made in England Galen in his bookes doth not allowe of Theriacle kept in Tinne vessels affirming that they are corrupted with ledde the cerâ—se whereof doth corrupt y e medicine What shall we then say to our marchauntes which doe bring Mithridatium Theriacle from other countryes in vessels of ledde doe not these medicines take of y e vessels great corruption and notwithstanding are solde to the great annoyance of the Queenes subiects Wherefore if we doe truely weigh in the ballance of reason that which I haue here written and yet much more may in this matter be sayd surely we shall not onely confesse that none of these medicines specially Mithridatium made in forraine places are or ought to be so greatly esteemed as those which are made at home in England And we may truely confesse that we are lustly punished in expending our money vpon forraine things when we haue may haue better at home And it is very lamentable to consider y t straungers doe dayly send into England a false naughty kinde of Mithridatium Threacle in great barrelles more then a thousand weight in a yeare and vtter y e same at a lowe price for iij. d. or iiij d. a pound to y e great hurt of Her Maiesties subiects and no smale gaine to straungers purses Wherefore to conclude I do counsell all English men rather to buy Mithridatium truly made in England then that which is brought from other couÌ„tryes And here it is to be wished that our most gratious Soueraigne thereof informed may by Her magistrates doe as in olde time Emperoures of Rome did that is by her edict take order that our Apothecaries may with care and diligence select the simples which doe go to the making of this medicine that the true may bee gotten in their best perfections and the same truely chosen may bee rightly dispensed and in all pointes according to arte well ordered the time of fermentation duely obserued the maner of keeping in good sorte performed and so all things rightly administred by her Maiesties carefull ordinaunces I doe not doubt but y t wee shall in this our countrie haue both Mithridatium Theriacle in good perfection that we may finde the great effects and noble vertues of both so largely deliuered by the auncient writers in their monuments Of the vertues and propertyes of Mithridatium GALEN in his bookes de Antidot doth not particulerly expresse the properties of this medicine but generally enunceth that it doth good against all poisons and is stronge to remedy many inwarde diseases It doth appeare by soÌ„dry places in Galen that Mithridatium hath all the vertues which Theriacle hath and is inferior to it only in the curing of the byting of vipers and such other venemous beastes in other things it doth excell Theriacle Then where Galen at large displayeth y e faculties vertues of Theriacle in his bookes De Theriaca ad Pisonem ad PamphilianuÌ„ he needed not particularly to set downe y e properties of Mithridatium For it doth suffice for vs to looke into y e qualities powers of Theriacle to learne the faculties of MithridatiuÌ„ But y e latter writers in all their antidatories doe expresse y e same at large In which bookes we do reade thus Mithridatium is next in qualitye and vertue to Theriacle and doth little differ from it saue that Theriacle is in temperament hoatter and stronger against y e biting of serpents Concerning other properties of Mithridatium confuesly numbred in these bookes it will not be amysse to reduce them to a methode and order So we may affirme that the effects and vertues of Mithridatium doe consist in two speciall points First to preserue from infirmities then to cure diseases For as Galen writeth this medicine doth not onely cure affects which are ingendred and helpe to remedy poison taken but vsed before doth so defend y t poison gieuen after shall doe no harme as happened to king Mithridates when he would haue poisoned himselfe Who so vseth Mithridatium in health shall in such sorte make his body strong y t neither poisoÌ„ nor other disease shall easely harme him And as man consisteth of body and soule so MithridatiuÌ„ doth in both exercise his vertues His properties are such that it quickeneth the senses cleareth the minde and sharpeneth the witte Which actiones it perfourmeth by clensing the instrumentes which doe serue to these fuÌ„ctions from grosse and thick vapours And where oftentimes many fumes doe ascend by the which the animal spirits are obscured the vse of Mithridatium doth dissipate extenuate consume the same wherby these animal facultyes powers are cleared and so a perfite minde is preserued in a whole body For Mithridatium maketh strong all parts which doe serue for nutrition increaseth naturall heate openeth obstructions expelleth superfluity wherby the naturall faculties of the body doe perfectly performe their functions the stomacke in good order desireth and digesteth alimentes the liuer maketh good and perfit bloud and ech parte putteth from him his excrementes in conuenient order and time So the hart receiuing pure bloud maketh good spirits fit for his actions which he orderly sendeth to the animal partes to other members of y e body Wherby all the principall partes being in their perfections doe euery way well dispence through the body that it remayneth in good order to performe all actions And whereas maÌ„ is subiect to many casualties Mithridatium vsed as is sayd so defendeth the body that no poison shall easely harme it Whereof Mithridates gaue proofe wâ—â— by longe vse of this medicine so altered the constitution of his body that no poison could annoye it In pestilentiall seasons it preserueth such as do vse it where of we haue examples not only in auncient writers but also in our daily experience Now concerning y e parte curatiue though the same may be gathered by that which is already written in preseruatioÌ„ yet it is better for order sake to repeate one thing often then to be thought insufficient by omitting any thing Wherfore we may say with the olde authors which proofe also confirmeth that Mithridatium remedyeth diseases of the minde taketh away straunge imaginations helpeth melancholy phantasies passions which drawe men often to desperation This it performeth by altering the bloud opening the splene by chaunging and dissipating the vapores arrising of the melancholy humore and yeelding to the animall spirits pure and good exhalations and by comforting the hart And where oftentimes colde and grosse fumes do ascend so plentifully that the wittes are dulled the senses and discourse of reason either greatly impaired or cleane taken
away the iudgment and memory hurt or abolished Mithridatium by his sweete brethings quickeneth the same reduceth the braine to his temperament altereth consumeth spendeth those vapoures and bringeth man to his naturall state and when it is newe it induceth sleepe and remedieth the furyousnes of many madmen No man needeth to doubt of the mighty power of Mithridatium in curing all kind of poisons either outwardly receaued or inwardly taken being to that purpose chefly devised and of long time experienced to be therin of great force Although for the biting and stinging of venemous beastes it is supposed of lesse might then Theriacle yet it is of all men confessed much stronger to cure poisons taken into the body by potion or otherwayse So his might is great to heale all pestilent all and malignante diseases cureth the plage feauers which depend of naughty and malignant causes helpeth the french pocks the small pocks the measels and in all other inward diseases which are great and such as other medicines can not remedy Mithridatium is found to haue a speciall grace to cure them And in such desperate diseases cases when other remedies will not serue then we ought to flye to Mithridatium as Galen writeth of Theriacle For being a noble medicine of great powre it is not to be vsed in euery affect of little moment Wherefore it is written that Mithridatium cureth all infermities of the head in men and women if the same doe come of a cold cause namely it helpeth the melancholy madnes the Falilng sicknes y e Hemicrane or meagrame y e paines in the eyelids and browes the watring of the eyes the paines of the eares of the teeth of the mouth of the iawes the squinancy the appoplexy the litargie and such other cold diseases of y e head in which cases it is inwardly dronken also outwardly applyed sprede in the forme of an emplastre it comforteth y e hart doth good in the passions of the same It helpeth the diseased of the breast cureth the cough shortnes of breath spitting of bloud the pleurisy and stiches of the side the phthisike other inward diseases of the breast and loūgs In these later causes especially for stiches it is applyed outwardly spred emplastre waies and in the chough and such other diseases it is inwardly ministred with some conuenient liquor for so it cutteth the grosnes of the phlegme and maketh it easy to be auoydid openeth the pipes and enlargeth all those parts which doe serue for breathing To proceede to the affects of the stomake it prouoketh appetite remedieth ouer much desire to eat termed Canina appetentia for it drieth superfluous resolueth correcteth corrupte humores it helpeth concoctiō by increasing of naturall heate cureth euill belks inflation of the stomacke for it breaketh winde and will not suffer any thing to corrupt in y e stomacke it stayeth vomiting by strengthening the stomacke by keeping the stomacke cleane from winde superfluous and euill humores it taketh away the abhorring of meate It doth great good in all diseases of the belly paynes in y e guts called the Iliaca passio the bluddy flix and all other fluxes gieuen with the decoction of the flowers of the pomegranate called Balaustia In the colike of the belly it is very good and to ease the paynes of the belly after a purgatiue medicine it hath a speciall vertue For it taketh away the malignitie of the medicine breaketh winde and doth strengthen parts wekened by the purgatiue medicine It nourisheth diseases paynes in the sydes and about the mydriffe it helpeth the infirmities of y e kidnes and of the bladder breaketh the stone remedieth the passions of the matrix prouoketh the naturall courses in women and stoppeth the same if they doe abound For it openeth the passages by extenuating that which by grosnes doth stoppe the wayes and by making nature stronge staieth fluxes which commonly do grow immoderate by weaknes It diminisheth y e swellings hardnes of y e matrix of other parts it doth remedy y e barrennes in women maketh them fertill Mithridatiū is accompted a speciall good remedy against the payne of the ioynts to cure the goute and the Sciatica for that it drieth superfluous humores stayeth the reume maketh all parts stronge But it must be gieuen not at the first when the payn beginneth but ater when the rage of the paine is past and the body ought first to be purged before you gieue Mithridatium And it vsed before the fits of the goutes maketh greatly for preseruation to keepe one from often accessiōs of y e goute It helpeth y e diseases of the sineues y e resolution y t paulsye the crampe y e diseases called Tetanos Ambrostotonos and Opistetanos for it augmenteth naturall heate dissolueth by euaporatiō humores soken into y e syneues restoreth the spirits and strength It helpeth the shaking fits of feauers geauen twyse or thrise halfe an houre before the fitte oftentimes it doth cure the feauer quartan and the quotidian Of the vse of Mithridatium THe better to know the vse of Mithridatium we are to consider the time most conuenient to gieue it the quantity the maner of gieuing For the time we may with Galen counsaile to minister the same in no wyse vpon a full stomacke but after concoction is perfit The vsuall time and best to take it is in the morning fasting it is not so good to gieue it when the stomacke and first veines are full of crude and rawe humoures And before it be gieuen it is good to procure the belly to be loose according to Galens counsell in ministring of Theriacle in his booke ad Pamphilianum Of the quantity AS Galen writeth in his booke de Theriaca ad Pisonem so we may affirme that one quantity of Mithridatium is not to bee gieuen to all men in all times and in all diseases And the better to finde out the iust quantity wee are to remember that Galen in the sayd booke mentioneth of two quantityes gieuen of Theriacle the one referred to a hasell nut the other to a beane of Aegypt And for that he also affirmeth y t in strong diseases the greater quantity is to be gieuen and the lesser in light diseases and so in great infirmities hee ministreth the quantity of an hasell nut and in diseases of lesse force vseth the portion of the beane of Aegypt it is euident that the hasell nut importeth the greater quantity and the beane the lesser So that by Galen the greatest quātity to be gieuen of Theriacle is measured by an hasell nut and the least by a beane of Aegypt And the forme of speach which Galen vseth to expresse these quantities in my iudgement doth importe the bignesse and not the weight of the things For Galen in euery place writeth ad magnitudinem fabae aegyptiae so ad magnitudinem nucis auellanae to the michelty or bignes of a beane of Aegypt