bodies are cold so that their bloud together with their humors remaine within Neither haue they anie such euacuation by the Pores as nature requireth to consume the Rheumaticke humour which then seeketh another vent and either the Patient is forced to spit it out or else it runneth out at his Nose or thirdly it slily trickeleth into the Lungs Here also maiest thou gather why Studentes are commonlie so leane for by neglecting exercise which should disperse the bloud they starue the outward parts of their bodies The second Rule Feed most vpon hot meates and especially such as are well roasted for hot meats warme the Stomach and stirre vp naturall heate through the whole body which digesteth the humors chiefelie if at thy meate thou talke and be merrie The third Rule Keepe thy Head and Necke warme and thy Feete dry The fourth Rule Drinke little and touching thy drinke also obserue these Rules following 1 Let thy Drinke be reasonable strong and not small in any wise for the smallest Drinke is most waterish And if thou take of that continually from time to time which yeeldeth alwayes new matter of thy Disease it is very hard for thee to haue helpe 2 Either drinke not at all or very little toward the end of thy meales for so shalt thou suppresse the moysture which otherwise would ascend 3 Let not thy Drinke bee ouer stale sower or sharpe 4 Drinke not White or Rhenish wine 5 If thou drinke Claret wine first looke it be no small or hedge Wine next take it well Sugered and in the midst of thy meate one draught There are diuers other rules but I will not perswade thee to any curious obseruations of the same yet will I rehearse them least I should seeme to contemne that which is allowed of the learned The sixt Rule 6 Fast and watch The reason alledged is that both these drie the bodie But these alone being obserued rather hurt then helpe Whereof I take witnesse earnest Students which rise earlie fast long eate little and sit vp late yet most troubled with the Rheume of all others Wherefore in steede of these eate freelie but drinke sparinglie also sleepe harde but lie verie warme For then is thy bodie in like state as when thou vsest exercise But watching is vnnaturall maketh a drie senselesse Braine causâ—th sore Eyes and a cold waterish Stomach which are woorse then the Rheume The seuenth Rule 7 Keepe thee in a warme Ayre and goe warme The eight Rule 8 Holde thy Breath hard now and then which forceth the Blood to the outward parts of the Body and turneth withall the course of the Rheumatike humours The Cure Now to helpe those which afterwardes by these Rules meane to continue their health themselues for otherwise it is but vaine to seeke helpe first I wish them to take of my Potion two dayes so much at a time as will giue them sixe or seuen stooles the third day towards bed burne a good draught of Sacke with a branch of Rosemarie and when you haue doone burning of it presently brew it with a good quantitie of Sugar and the yolke of a new layed Egge And let the patient drinke it in bed and keepe his body very warme all night for so shall he digest consume the Rheumatick humors vse this three nights together Note if he be a thin leane body and full of blood either delay the Sacke the better with Sugar or vse Ale in stead of Sacke least the Sacke inflame his blood For the Yellow Iaundise and stopping of the Liuer a very easie and perfect cure The xiij Chapter THE yellow I aundise proceedeth of choler being mixed with blood and therewith also dispearsed ouer the whole body There are diuerse causes of this Disease which make diuerse kindes thereof 1 The first kind is by the biting of some venemous Beast whose Poyson ioyneth with the blood and maketh the same cholericke 2 The second kind is chiefly in the declination or going away of an hot Feuer for when Nature hath got the vpper hand she dispearseth the yellow choler which was the matter of the Feuer and driueth it out of the bodie by vrine by stoole and by the pores which are the three speciall and most natural meanes whereby she emptieth the bodie So that in this kind the skin which is ful of pores or insensible holes the vrine and Excrementes of the Patient are verie yellow 3 The third kinde is through the inflamation of the Liuer which being ouer hot worketh too vehemently vpon the nutriment which it receiueth and conuerteth it not into good bloud according to his office and dutie but it selfe beeing distempered into a matter of like heat which is Choler or rather verie Cholericke bloud 4 The fourth kind is through the weakenesse of the Gall which is not able to suâ—ke or drawe from the Liuer the cholericke humours but suffereth them together with the Bloud to passe into the Bodie which thereby is coloured yellow 5 The fift kind is through the obstruction or stopping of the vessels that are betweene the Liuer and the Gall which being stopped the Choler cannot passe into the Gall but is carried with the Blood into the body and stayneth it 6 The sixt kind is through the obstruction of the passage from the Gall into the bowels for that being stopped the Gall is not able to emptie it selfe But the Choler is repelled and passeth backe into the Bodie which otherwise should colour and staine the Excrement yellow In this fift and sixt kinds therefore the Excrement of the Patient is white also he feeleth an heauinesse in his right side These two last kinds of Iaundies are most coÌ„mon which are thus to be cured As for the rest I write nothing for to confesse a truth since I knew the vse of the roote of the white Uine otherwise called Brionia a thing not knowne and yet of speciall vertue I neuer vsed other meane to cure the Iaundise Whereby I gather that either altogether or most commonly the griefe riseth of obstruction Take of the rootes of Brionia halfe an ounce and Parslie halfe an handfull boyle these very gently in a pint of White or Rhenish wine halfe an houre close couered then straine it and let the patient drinke a good draught therof reasonable hot fasting and keepe his bed sweate three or foure houres as the continuance of his disease doth require his strength wil permit which I refer to his owne discretion and during his sweat let him drinke of the rest vntill he haue taken all and if he desire to drinke yet more in his sweat giue him Ale clarified putting therto one whole Mace and a litle Sugar Note the more he sweateth drinketh the more the vessels stopped are opened the matter digested and his Iaundise the sooner cured The next day take so much of my Potion as will giue thee seauen or eight Stooles for thy sweating doth but open the vessels and digest the corruption
A briefe Treatise published by Walter Cary 1587. and now the fift time 1609. newly imprinted Wherein are to be found diuers good and speciall helpes for many Diseases And for any thing herein mentioned as heretofore I refered the patientes to M. Gray so now he being dead I referre them to M. Clapham at the signe of the Blew bell and the Vnicorne in Fanchurch streete Ecclus. 30. 15. Health and Strength is aboue all Gold and a sound Body aboue infinite Treasure Imprinted at London by W. White for the company of Stationers 1609. The Authors Verse WHo liues in health and doth despise The meane to keepe and gaine the same Let him be sicke force not his cries His follie makes him too too blame Else pinch his Pursse and teach him say This Physick's vaine away away Shall hee that 's flush and feathered Say moolting time shall neuer bee The dolefull Mew doth not he dread Who sores as hie as thou canst see Mans health is frayle Physitians loue Health got they keepe and griefes remooue Walter Cary. TO THE READER FOR that I am now fully resolued gentle Reader for sundry causes to leaue the practise of Physicke coÌ„tenting my selfe with that small portion wherewithall God hath otherwise blessed mee I haue thought it my duetie to vse some meanes whereby I may either in like or more ample sort according to my poore talent benefit my Countrie Whereupon I haue published this short worke therein reuealing diuers good and perfect remedies for many common and ordinarie Diseases My meaning was not to write of all but of those onely in the which I haue had greatest experience And though both in the description desiring to be more plaine and cure thereof I digresse somewhat from many writers yet I wish thee not rashly to condemne mee But if thou mislike any thing herein conteyned write thy minde and deliuer it to the Printer and I will be very willing by writing againe to satisfie thee or otherwise thankfully to accept thine aduise and confesse my fault FINIS The Table FOr the Head-ach Cap. 4. For such as are much bound or costiue and haue their excrementes alwayes hard and dry cap. 4. For the Swimming of the Head cap. 4. For sore and red Eyes cap. 4. For reÌ„d faces cap. 5. For the Morphew cap. 5. For those that are troubled with Biles Scabs Itches or such like cap. 6. To preuent the Pockes and Measels in Children cap. 6. For those that are full of Fleame cap. 7. For the Cough and for the shortnes of Breath cap. 7. For an Heat and a Cold cap. 7. For those who are toward the consumption of the Lunges cap. 7. For a Surfet cap. 8. For the Heart-burning cap. 9. For continuall Vomit cap. 9. For those that haue no appetite to Meate cap. 10. For those who are troubled with the gnawing of the Guttes or Stomach also for the Collicke and for Winde and all corruption which causeth Winde cap. 11. For the Rheume cap. 12. For the Yellow Iaundise cap. 13. For the stopping of the Liuer cap. 13. For the Blacke Iaundise cap. 14. For the hardnes of the Spleene cap. 14. For the Piles cap. 14. For the Greene sicknesse cap. 15. For the quotidian Ague cap. 16. For the quartane Ague cap. 17. For the tertian Ague cap. 18. For the Plague cap. 19. For the Crampe cap. 20. For Burning or Scalding cap. 21. For a Felon and Whitblow cap. 22. For a Ring-worme Tetter or such like cap. 23. For the Tooth-ach cap. 24. For the disease of English wantons ca. 25. For Wormes of all sortes cap. 26. For presumption of health cap. 27. Three stayes of health cap. 28. FINIS Of a Potion which is to be vsed in sundry cures The first Chapter IN this first Chapter I minde to speake of a Potion or Purgation which in sundrie cures as hereafter doth appeare is to be vsed And whereas Nature hath brought foorth Purgers of diuers kindes according to the diuersitie of corruption in mans body some purging one humor and some another c. I haue made choyce of the best and safest to be taken in euery kind also in such sort prepared and corrected them as they shall be found very fit without all danger paine or vexation whatsoeuer to answere the necessitie of such whose bodyes of any manner of corruption require to be purged I first deuised this Potion about eight yeares since and seeing the gentle working and good successe therof with few I grew in further liking of the same And therevpon hauing giuen it to many and that in sundry diseases I found it to be of such excellencie the vertue thereof so wonderfull and so well pleasing my patienâ—es that I did preferre it before all the rest For it cureth diuers griefes of the Head also red and watering sore Eyes it cleanseth the Stomach cureth the Heart-burning it prouoketh a good appetite helpeth digestion it is good against the Rheume the obstruction of the Lunges the Cough and shortnes of breath it cleanseth those who are troubled with Biles Scabs Itches or such like it cureth the Collicke preuayleth greatly against Wind it is good in the blacke and yellow Iaundise it helpeth the inflamation of the Liuer in the Greene sicknesse it is a present helpe excellent against al Feuers and diuers other Diseases And to conclude my long experience hath so perswaded mee of the goodnesse thereof that I thinke I should do my country-men much wrong if I should any longer keepe froÌ„ them so great a treasure The vse thereof shall be declared in euerie Chapter where I intreat of the Diseases particularly I haue deliuered my Bill for the making of the same and other things vnto Maister Clapham in Fanchurch-street at the signe of the Blew-bell Unicorne Apothecarie of whose good dealing since M Grayes death I haue made very sufficient tryall It may be kept good and in perfect vertue three weekes or a month contrary to the nature of other Purgers If any man minde to carry it farre let him signifie so much to M. Clapham that it may be prouided of purpose And here I haue thought very requisite to shew the causes why I haue not published the manner of making this Potion for that I am charged by some that I haue a yearely benefite by the same and for mine owne gaine doe keepe it from the multitude which is most vntrue For as I haue a fayth vnto God the Apothecarie hath the whole profit thereof Neither is it such as that any man ought to grieue thereat 1 The first cause is for that the composition of Medicines doth properly pertaine to the Apothecarie and that it is great reason euery man haue the benefit of his owne profession 2 The second cause is the ignorance of the multitude in chosing the simples or ingredients wherin is such skill that the Apothecarie himselfe except he be of great iudgement is often deceiued 3 The third cause their ignoraunce
flat poyson The like consideration on the contrary side haue they of cold thinges Whereby you may gather how like alwaies desireth like and abhorreth the contrarie The thinges which are like best agree with the nature of man are good holesome vsuall meates drinkes a dry fresh sweet aire moderate sleepe trauell or labour which although it were allotted to vs as a punishment by God yet mercifully withall he hath made it a meane to preserue our health The things which greatly disagree are wines spices salt meates all very hot things which thou shalt know by taste For either they bite like Pepper fret like Salt or else shew some manifest great heate in the mouth Also on the other side all rawe fruites cold hearbes with diuers things of like nature Much vse of sauces deuised by belly Gods whom God hath puniâ—hed as much by want of appetite hauing meate at will as the poore by want of meate hauing good appetite To liue in a thicke or foggie Ayre to liue idlely and to exceed in eating drinking sleeping watching or venerie I would not haue any man to thinke that I doe vtterly condemne all very hot and cold thinges but seeing they are rather of the nature of medicine then nutriment I wish them to bee very discreetly and moderately vsed for hot things are to be vsed when a mans bodie is ouer cold and cold things when his body is ouer hot but to vse either the body being not distempered is meere madnesse Now further for so much as all men are subiect vnto death and our bodies as yeelding thereunto from time to time alwaies gather corruption to preserue our health as much as may be vntill we haue run that race which God hath appoynted I commende vnto you this receipt Take Borage Parselie in like quantitie boyle them in Whey clarified and keepe it in some earthen vessell Use of it warme in the Spring especially euery morning fasting a good draught and in euery draught take so much of my Potion as will giue thee two stooles a day more then ordinarie Some may vse it ten dayes together others fifteene or twentie as the body doth require By this meanes thou maist preuent many diseases and keepe thy body in very good state It maketh women apt to conceiue if during the taking hereof they liue chast and it hath many other speciall vertues which for breuitie sake I will omit FINIS Here followeth an Addition by the same Author wherein be declared three speciall stayes of health The first by the vse of a new kind of Worme-wood wine The second by Bathing The third by Annointing of the body The first Chapter FOr that Lignum Aloes is one of the chiefest Simples which is vsed in the making of this Worme-wood Wine and such as yeeldeth the greatest vertue thereto I may not let to speake yet in briefe sort what I read therof Lignum Aloes is the wood of a tree which according to some writers groweth in diuers partes of Babylon and others affirme that it is one of the Trees of Paradise growing by one of the waters there whose armes â—alling into the waters are carried by the swiftnesse thereof into other places farre from thence where the inhabitantes find them and send them into diuers partes of the world Being cut in small Chips and laid vpon roles this wood yeeldeth a fume somwhat pleasant and most healthfull For it comforteth the Braine and all the senses woonderfullie Also entering into the Lunges with the breath preserueth the same and expelleth al euill and infectious ayre It hath beene euer verie rare of great value and in effect of the same price with siluer weight for weight Princes and great States did vse long since to burne it in their Chambers and to Perfume their bedding therewâ—th to the intent that sleeping they might draw the sauour of the same into their bodies Also the great Prelates who neueâ— were behinde for preseruation of them selues vsed the like in Perfuming the 〈◊〉 and the vestments which they weare and gaue the meaner sort-leaue to vse onlâ— Frankincense being a thing of far lesse value I found in a booke made by a Frier an Englishman in Magdalen colledge Librarie in Oxford a great discourse touching the nature and vertues of Lignum aloes which hee preferreth farre before all the knowne simples of the world Hee commendeth it wonderfullie being steeped in Wine and so taken Further hee writeth of an Oyle made therewith which was sent from Prince to Prince for a most pretious Iewell but in exceeding small quantitie The making thereof hee sheweth not which somewhat greeued me and I thinke therein he was ignorant He reporteth of certeaine Priests which had it where with they would annoint the Noses and Lips of such as by sicknesse were in great extreamitie vsing also deuout Praiers and often thereby onely reuiued them wherevpon in the sight of the People they were thought to worke great miracles and were had in maruellous estimation for they were deeâ—ed very Holy Men and to worke these â—ffects cheefely by their praiers which was 〈◊〉 be attributed vnto the Oyle and yet as 〈◊〉 naturall meane prouided by God For â—he wonderfull vertue thereof entering at the Nostrils and Mouth directly vnto the Lungs Heart the two principall Members of Mans Common wealth I meane his Body maketh a very strong supplie in the conflict betweene Nature and the Disease which is the cause of so sodaine reâ—ouerie There came at the length of this Oyle vnto the â—ope who kept it as a wonderfull treasure and sent thereof to diuers great Princes whose vertue indeede was suâ—h while it was well and truely maâ—e that both the fame and price thereof was great But after within a short time it 〈◊〉 counterfaited that there was 〈…〉 who le worldes and the Priestes 〈…〉 had of it from Rome 〈◊〉 the Priestes vsed as a very holy 〈…〉 vnto those that were sicke but 〈◊〉 vertue being gone they ceased to worke 〈…〉 thereby And yet continuing their 〈◊〉 of extreame vnction which they 〈…〉 vnctionis 〈…〉 diuers Prayers did annoynt 〈…〉 mouth eares eyes the palmes 〈…〉 handâ—s the soales of the feete and 〈…〉 of the sicke body For these are 〈…〉 whereby sinne entereth 〈◊〉 sâ—ule of man But to conclude who 〈◊〉 will know more of the nature of 〈◊〉 Aloes let him read the old writers in Physicke This Chapter intreateth of the nature of Worme-wood wine and how it is to be vsed The second Chapter THe vertues of this Worme wood-wine are both great and many First it keepeth the body solubâ—e and is good for such as seldome goe to the Stoole it cleanseth the Stomach openeth the Liuer and the Spâ—eene and causeth a good and cleere Complection it strengthneth the Heart and mâ—keth 〈…〉 it cleanseth the Braine and kâ—epeth all the senses perfect also preserueth the Memorie it is good for womens weake backs it is generally an excellent and most â—amiliar Medicine
and cleanseth the Body of such corrupt humours as gather therein from time to time It is a very good preseruatiue against the Plague and may be taken from the quantitie of halfe a pint or better at one time vnto the quantitie of a quarter of a pint or lesse it is good to fast one houre after it and to vse it onely in the morning which being obserued I restraine you from no further libertie Maister Clapham the Apothecarie hath direction for the making hereof The 3. Chapter OUr Fathers long since were wont to vse a very sleight kind of Bathing Now and then they boyled Hearbes in water and therewith did bath and rubbe their bodyes towardes bed which now is greatly neglected It is a farre greater meane to preserue our health then that we should so lightly esteeme thereof For it taketh away such corruption as Nature casteth out by the pores which otherwise would happily cause Scabs Itches or such like and keepeth the body sweete from all rancke sauors of sweate Wherefore I prescribe one generall Bath in this sort and to that effect Take Rosemarie Balme Isop and Mallowes of each two handfuls boile these in foure gallons of Spring water vntill there be a third part consumed then straine and put thereto one gallon of new Milke bathe your body herewith warme by the fireâ— side two or three houres after supper It is very good to vse it foure times in the yeare at the least and in the Sommer once or twice euery month The 4. Chapter AFter your Bathing rub your body very dry with a Linnen cloth and presently vpon annoint it ouer very lightly with this Oyntment yet vse no more but that you may easily dry in Take Balme greene in the beginning of Iune or in May when you shall find it in chiefest strength and chop it very small take further very sweete Oyle and the fact of a Bucke killed in the chiefe of Sommer or that which is better the fatte of a Stagge in equall quantitie let these stand in a very gentle heate together eight or tenne houres then straine and keepe the Oyntment in some cleaâ—e vessell It keepeth the Ioyntes souple making the Sinewes nimble and plainâ— also it cureth the drinesse of the Skinne They which vse it after Bathing as before shall find themselues the stronger and more lustie For it defendeth the body from coldnesse of the ayre and thereupon auoydeth Aches of the Ioyntes and Sinewes FINIS The Hammer for the Stone So named for that it sheweth the most excellent remedie that euer was knowne for the same Imprinted at London by W. White for the companie of Stationers 1609. TO THE READER COnsidering with my selfe gentle reader how common a disease the Stone is and how little helpe the parties grieued haue by vsuall meanes in this our time and of long time haue had and also hearing it diuers times obiected that the most learned PhysitiaÌ„ can neither preuent the Stone in those who naturally are inclined thervnto neither cure it in those in whom it is ingendred I did indeauour my selfe with all studie and diligence to finde out some speciall thing which might farre excell the remedies now daily vsed for the cure of that grieuous disease Whereupon taking mine inuention froÌ„ Etius who vsed very much the powder of Goates blood for cure of the same also being further perswaded thereunto by authoritie of diuers writing of the nature of Goates blood I did draw a pure cleere liquor out of the blood of the male Goate which I haue thought good to name the Quintessence for the Stone And hauing made experience thereof now two yeares and better with diuers I thought good to publish the same to the reliefe of many which are grieued with that infirmitie and that in such sort as it shal appeare vnto the world that I rather seeke herein to benefit my Country then any priuate gaine to my selfe For wheras no man troubled with that disease can haue the helpe of the Physitian without his great charge I haue deuised that meane that any man so diseased may haue such ease with very small charge as I dare boldly auouch can not be had by any vsuall meanes Butâ— for the commendation hereof I leaue it rather to be commended by the helpe ease of those who feare feele the passions of that most terrible disease then vse any long rethorical perswasioÌ„s knowing that the good Wine needeth no Garland and that the fairest Garland can be no long credit to sower Wine And now that this my Quintessence may take the better effect I thinke it very necessarie to signifie vnto such as are inclined to the Stone and to those that are already troubled with the same First the causes of the Stone and whereof it is ingendered Secondly the difference of Stones ingendred in mans body Thirdly the vsuall way both to preuent cure the Stone And fourthly the way or meane now late deuised for preuenting and curing of the same Wherein being somewhat instructed they shall be the better able to gouerne themselues in auoyding and curing the disease as not needing the Physitians continuall counsell but being Physitians to themselues Yet I would not haue any man think that I minde to make any long or curious discourse of the Stone touching all the deepest poynts of the same as indeauouring to make the readers perfect Physitians herein but onely to shew them a superficiall knowledge sufficient to direct them in the taking of my Quintessence And thus gentle Reader haue I deuided that whereof I minde to write into foure partes wherein I will not indeuour my selfe to speake whatsoeuer may conueniently be spokeÌ„ but rather to speake nothing that may conueniently be leâ—t out W. C. The Author to those that are vexed with the Stone in verse as followeth 1 THy Siluer Gold thy pretious Stone Thy Mucke thy worldly wealth Nought helpeth now thy greeuous grone No ease it giues to Health Now doest thou lie 2 Amidst thy friendes a prisoner a peece of pining Clay Thy hope for want of heartes desire Doth fayle and vade away Thou seek'st to die 3 Thy friends eye-teares thy hearts drops blood Thy limmes and ioyntes doe quake Thy stomach vomites that is good Whose force makes bedstead shake An endlesse woe 4 Thy dolefull life is but a death And death were life to thee For paine deth cease with thy last breath But life heapes miserie Come death why so 5 What what sendes God a maladie And not a meane for ease No Physicke good No remedie This raging griefe t' appease Though Physicke faile 6 Behold a faythfull friend vnknowne To doe his Countrie good Will ease this griefe and heauie grone With water of Goates blood Then doe not quaile 7 Though dreadfull Death an actien brought This Goate thy bale will bee And though the cause be slily wrought The verdict goes with thee Lift vp thy heart 8 His harme thy hope his woe thy wealth His heart
in making the Potion yea though happily they haue good Simples But because some dwelling farre from London finde themselues grieued that they cannot haue the Potion conueniently without great charge hauing sudden occasiō to vse it neither keepe it so long good as they would I haue now deuised a Sirup of Lignum aloes which may be kept one whole yeare and longer in perfect strength and vertue This Sirup is of the like nature with the Potion and is to be vsed as the Potion But by the addition of diuers thinges it is of greater vertue especially against Melancholy the infirmities of the Spleene and the Diseases proceeding of wind For the vse hereof and the quantitie I referre thee to the obseruations in the third chapter and especially to the 12. Obseruation Onely this I will thee not to forget that now being a Sirup it must be dissolued in some liquor and taken warme either in Broth Wine or Ale clarified in Ale or Broth made thin and without all Spices when the disease is hot cholericke when the patient is grosse and full of Flegme in Wine also in like sort when the patient is cold dry and full of dead melancholy Answers to such Obiections as may be made against the vse of this Potion The second Chapter IT will perhaps be obiected against me that it is very vnlikely that one Medicine should be good for so many diseases To which I answere that we haue receiued of our old and excellent Writers diuers Confections wherein are conteined sundry Purgers whereof some purge Flegme some Choler and others Melancholy So that I conclude of necessitie they are good in al flegmaticke cholericke and melancholicke Diseases which are infinite And following their example I haue made my Potion of like nature 2 Further it may be obiected that some require to be purged with strong Purgations others with gentle for children and they which are brought to great weakenes either by age or by sicknesse must be mildly vsed but others as the person disease require more roughly Wherefore how can one Potion serue for both Hath it two contrary natures Is it both strong and gentle I answere that where the disease or person require a strong Purgation I giue it in the greater quantitie and the oftner 〈◊〉 where a gentle Purgation is required I giue the lesse as hereafter doth appeare 3 Thirdly it may be obiected that in some diseases of the Stomach especially the patient is to be purged with Pilles Electuaries or such like which being of more grosse substance then a Potion continue longer in the place where the corruption is and worke effectually whereas a thin Potion slippeth away leauing the worke vndone I answere when I prescribe my Potion for purging the Stomach I wish my patient to take it one houre before he rise for lying in his bed it cannot more suddainly passe the Stomach then your grosser sort of purgers and then no doubt it will farre excell Pilles Electuaries c. For being a thinne substaunce it will very easily ioyne with the corruption which it findeth in the Stomach and dissolue the same whereas these grosser Medicines require first to be dissolued themselues which is no small trouble to nature 4 Fourthly it may be obiected that I preferre my Potion before the Receiptes of diuers excellent famous men which haue been alwayes esteemed euen as Fathers of Physicke I must needs confesse that whatsoeuer I haue I haue it from them But notwithstanding I hope no man thinketh nature barren or that she hath spent her self in our Fathers left nothing for their Children I haue read practised according to that which I found in these excellent men and haue herein only added to their inuentions So that if you receiue any benefite by this Potion or by ought else which here you shall find ascribe the honour vnto them I craue nothing but accept my labour as a sufficient recompence for my paines Certaine Obseruations The third Chapter IN taking of my Potion thou needest not keepe thy Chamber nor House strictly as in strong Purgations but mayst walke abrode if otherwise thy Disease be no let vnto thee 2 Thou needest not make any curious obseruation of times for the taking thereof I onely aduise thee to forbeare euery change and full of the Moone in which are conteined the Eclipses For the Eclipse of the Sunne is but the change of the Moone although of more force then the ordinarie change neither the Eclipse of the Moone other then the perfect opposition or full 3 It may be taken cold of such whose stomaches cannot beare the sauour of physicke but haue their natures glutted with often taking of Medicines 4 If a Child and an elder body be sicke both of one Disease in which the Potion is to be taken let the Child take lesse and haue fewer stooles but the elder more For as a small Uessell is sooner emptied then a greater conteining a greater quantitie euen so is the body of a Child sooner purged then the body of one of riper yeares specially for that in a Child the humours are more moyst and fluxible 5 They whose bodyes are full and as it were loden with corruption shal find wonderfull ease if they take it ten dayes in the fall and ten dayes in the spring as also now then one good spoonfull before supper which will gather togither the relicks of digestion with other corruption cause the patient to haue the next morning one great stoole 6 Take some broth within two houres or lesse after the taking of the Potion or a Cawdle or some like supping 7 The Patient ought not to sleepe within three houres after the taking of the Potion 8 A child of three yeares old may take of it very safely 9 If it offende thy taste vse Sugar or wash thy mouth with Wine or some other like thing which I referre to thine owne discretion 10 If thy body be dry and such as a Purgation will hardly worke withall thou must take the greater quantitie 11 If thy body be very moyst and ouer apt to be purged thou canst not take too little 12 To finde a proportion betweene thy body and the Potion take thou first three foure or fiue spoonefuls fasting marke how many Stooles that quantitie giueth thee If it giue thee more than thou wouldest haue take lesse the next day if it giue thee fewer take more By this meane when I shall hereafter in any Disease aduise thee to take so much as shall giue thee foure fiue or sixe stooles more or lesse thou shalt be able by this rule to prescribe thy selfe the quantitie But for the most part thy body being neither very dry and melancholy neither ouer moyst and exceeding easie to be purged euery good spoonefull will cause and prouoke one stoole 13 During the time of taking the Potion especially if thou take it long to cause a generall euacuation of thy body abstaine from those