Learning to us which shew us divers Confections some purge Choler some Flegm and some Melancholy so that we must all conclude that they are good in all cholerick flegmatick and melancholick Diseases so after their manner have I invented this incomparable Apozem And although all our Fathers of Physick being excellent men have left their Receipts behind for composing all sorts of Physick for all Constitutions and Complexions yet I trust we who as it were stand upon their shoulders may see farther than they if we do strive and be industrious in those Studies Now if we give this Apozem to strong Bodies we give a greater quantity and oftner in weak Bodies less is required If we are to cure the Head or Stomach we order to take our Apozem an hour before they rise that it may continue the longer in the place where the corruption is and so it will work effectually whereas if one walketh presently after the taking of it it slippeth away being liquid and leaveth the work undone Wherefore this Apozem being of a thin substance gathers it self easily with the corruption which it findeth in the Stomach and dissolves the same whereas Pills and other Compositions require first to be dissolved themselves which is a great trouble to Nature and so many times works upon Nature two or three days after leaving bad Symptoms behind them which you shall never find by taking this my Apozem Although this Apozem is a very great cleanser of the Body from filthy corrupt Humours yet I confess it is no Universal Medicine for all Diseases as your Triobolary Empiricks declare for this requires help as you shall see in the Chapter following to as much brevity as can be required by few yet select Medicines and what no Artist I imagine dares contradict as you may see by the speedy cure I hate multiplicity on the other side made by Chymists and Galenists now a days and some that are neither of the two most of which Medicines are as Clouds without Rain A fair Tongue and a Plush Coat must needs do well but for Vertue away with it Ibis Homere foras Homer himself must sing Ballads The publishing of this my Book is onely to shew what Artists can and may do I would have them take more pains to find the right way of practising Physick and not to fill the Bodies of poor Souls with a Mass of hotch-potch one mess contrary to another and never see the operation of any thing and not Quack-like carry a Box of Pills in their Pockets to cure all Diseases and so for a little filthy lucre called money as too many use now a days thinking with themselves there is no Day of Judgment What shall I say then Shall we so continue in this Sin God forbid CHAP. III. Directions 1. COncerning the taking of this my precious Apozem You need not be so strict in keeping your Chamber as you do in taking other Physick you may walk abroad if your distemper will permit you but keep your self warm and forbear drinking 2. You may take it at any time when you find it requisite either hot or cold as your Stomach can bear it 3. Children must take little for a small Vessel is sooner emptied than a great and likewise the humours are more fluxible 4. Those that are full of ill humours may take it a week or more both Spring and Fall 5. Always take somewhat that is warm in two hours after for it will help the operation of the Medicine 6. If it work not the first time you may take more the next day safely And if thy Body be always loose take the lesser quantity 7. A spoonful of this Apozem will in most Bodies give one stool now you may take three or four or five or more spoonfuls at a time as you think fit 8. When you take this Apozem abstain from all sorts of Wine hot Spices salt Meats and raw Fruits and green Herbs and all cold things 9. Take it not at the change and full of the Moon for then Nature is weak CHAP. IV. Concerning the Diseases of the Head and Face 1. THe Head-ach proceeds from many Causes as sometimes from Heat and sometimes from Cold both which being kown is easily prevented so that they happen seldom and do not stay long 2. The Head-ach proceeds from fulness c. when men live idly and fill their Bodies excessively as like a Bladder blown up 3. The Head-ach proceeds from filthy corrupt humours which abounds in great quantity in the Body which two last are thus perfectly cured as easie as a man can wash his hands with a Bason of Water Take four or five spoonfuls of this my Apozem every morning for six or seven days together for so by that means thou shalt cleanse thy self of all filthy corrupt Humours that remain in thy Body but observe the Directions prescribed in the third Chapter After the same manner is cured the Giddiness of the Head and red sore watery Eyes 4. The Head-ach proceeds sometimes from the fume of corrupt Humours and not from the humours themselves for the corruption lying long in the Stomach casteth up to the brain evil vapours which offend it it being of all parts most sensible For the Cure of which Take four spoonfuls of this Apozem an hour before you rise and sleep not so do it for three days 5. The Headach comes by reason of the Excrements tarrying too long in the Body for when thou hast taken thy Dinner or the like first Nature taketh to its self for its nourishment the thin and purest part and leaves the rest as gross and corrupt and then these Excrements tarrying longer than usual sendeth noysome vapours to the Brain and offends it so that he that is much costive can never be long in Health For Cure of which Take such a quantity of this Apozem as will give thee one stool a day more then ordinary and likewise take a spoonful an hour before Supper for in so doing thou shalt toll Nature to do her work without help So now by what hath been said concerning the Headach and sore Eyes you may if you will endeavour to know a little more than is told you you may with a little Addition to this Apozem cure Apoplexies Palsies Epilepsies Incubus Frenzy Lethargy and what not if it belongs to the Head CHAP. V. For Red Faces Pimples and other Corruption arising in them and likewise the Morphew IT is a strange thing that the Face which is the grace and beauty of a man should be so greatly disgraced by corrupt blood and all the rest of the parts of the Body clean and fair The common saying is The Liver is inflamed which in many I think is the only cause some have it from their Parents and some by drinking and sotting and others that are mighty bashful and their blood being corrupt withal so the Blood hath oft recourse to their Faces as a witness to testifie and so returning away
and better then strain it out and put some Sugar in it and the next morning drink a good draught of this hot and keep your bed and sweat three or four hours and in your sweating drink off the rest After that let him take fasting two spoonfuls of my Apozem and let him continue it so till his body be soluble and that his excrement be not dry or stay too long in his body Now my Friends the White-wine thus ordered and taken and sweating withal openeth the first Veins and maketh a passage into the body The Apozem of mine draweth down gently the excrement and bringeth Nature to her usual course to all admiration and cleanseth the stomach of that corruption which is the very cause of this disease CHAP. XII For want of Appetite FIrst when the first veins do not suck which is their natural action by the which they receive food for the nourishment of the whole body secondly fat and gross bodies which are always stuffed and so full that Nature seemeth to be contented with what she hath and hath little desire of more For cure of this remember these Observations small but pithy Take for some days three spoonfuls every morning of this harmless Apozem and in little time thou wilt find thy self exceeding hungry it may be Beef will go down when Chicken would not before but if thou hast not an appetite presently after taking of this Medicine then take the White-wine as is mentioned in the foregoing Chapter after the same Directions CHAP. XIII For Catarrhs and Rheums MAny people are troubled with this disease but especially Scholars and other Students idle persons and those Trades-men that stir little Now the fashion is to have an issue or two nay these issues are to have many pease in them which things were forbidden in the Levitical Law as much as if he had the Plague but now there is great alteration I shall prescribe you a way if you will hear reason to cure your self without these nasty Eylet-holes in your skin and I imagine a great deal more wholsomer and better for your health for the future My Brethren the cure consisteth more in your own good Government than in much taking of Physick which I utterly abhor and I trust many discreet people with me Now for this distemper observe these infallible Rules 1. Use labour and exercise for by 〈◊〉 thou shalt stir up natural heat and consumâ—… those watry humours which causeth thiâ— Rheum and Distillations if thou canst noâ— walk abroad busie thy self with some action in the house this will prevent crudities and it is the principal way in part to prevent and cure this grief for those that labour much are seldom or never troubled with it as is evidently seen which to those that use little stirring or motion of their bodies are most subject unto for the outward parts of their bodies are cold so that their blood together with the humours remain within neither have they any evacuation by the pores of the body as Naturrequireth to consume this Rheumatick humour which then seeketh another passage Then the Patient spits much or else a continual running at the Nose or else it slily trickles downs upon his Lungs and causeth Coughs Ptisicks Consumptions of the Lungs and Ulcerations you must needs confess what I say is really true 2. I advise you to eat hot meat at meals and especially well rested for I tell you hot meat warms the stomach and stirs up natural heat through the whole body and so digesteth the humours but withal talk and be merry at the Table 3. Be sure to keep thy head and neck warm and thy feet likewise dry and warm 4. Drink sparingly and touching thy Drink observe these few Rules 1. Let thy Drink be somewhat strong and not small for small beer is waterish and so it will add to thy disease 2. If thou drink drink only at the end of thy meals for in so doing thou wilt suppress that moisture which would ascend 3. Let thy Drink be not over stale sowr or sharp 4. Drink neither White nor Rhenish Wine 5. If thou drink take a Glass of good Claret well Sugered in the midst of thy meat 5. Fast and watch for these dry the body I would not have you rise early fast long eat little and sit up late but in stead of those eat freely and drink little sleep hard but lie warm for then thy body will be as if thou didst labour or exercise Now dear Hearts watching is unnatural it makes a dry senseless brain it causeth sore eyes and a cold waterish stomach which is worse than all 6. Go into a warm air and keep thy felt warm 7. Hold your breath now and then hard for this forceth the blood to the outward parts of the body and causeth a stronger Circulation which turneth with the stream the course of these Rheumatick humours Now for cure If any man will follow these Rules that so he may continue his health or else it is vain to seek help first I advise you to take six spoonfuls of my Apozem an hour before he riseth so do for two days the third day at night going to Bed burn half a Pint of Canary with a branch or two of Rosemary brew it with some Sugar and the Yolk of a New-laid Egge and drink it off hot and lie hot all night this will digest and consume those Rheumatick humours Drink this Wine so prepared three nights together Note if the party be lean and full of Blood in stead of Sack use Ale for Sack will inflame the Blood CHAP. XIV For the Yellow Jaundise and all Obstructions of the Liver THe Yellow Jaundise proceedeth of Choler mixed with Blood and so dispersed over the whole body There are divers causes of this disease but I shall only treat of what is most usual and only name the rest 1. The biting of a Venomous Beast will cause it 2. The going away of an hot Feaver will do the like 3. The Inflammation of the Liver will make shew of the same 4. The weakness of the Gall which is not able to draw from the Liver those Cholerick humours but suffereth them to be carried with the blood through the body and so colours it yellow 5. The Jaundise is usually caused by obstruction of those Vessels that are between the Liver and the Gall which being stopped the Cholerick humour cannot pass into the Gall but is carried with the blood into the body and so staineth it yellow 6. It is commonly through the obstruction of the passage from the Gall to the Bowels for that being stopped the Gall is not able to employ it self but the excrementitious Choler is repelled and returneth into the body which otherwise should colour and stain the excrement yellow In these three last sorts the excrement is white and the Patient seeleth an heaviness in his right side and these are common and are thus infallibly to be cured first cleanse your body
suddenly leaveth some gross corruption behind which Nature there casteth out For the Cure of which take these Directions which never failed First for three or four days take five spoonfuls of this Apozem which will draw the course of humours from thy Face and then I prescribe thee an Oyntment which is admirable good for the same you shall have it made by Mr. Fisher aforesaid And pray use it after this manner Anoint your Face where the Pimples and corrupt Blood lodgeth every night gently with this Oyntment cold with your Finger the next morning moisten your Face with a little new Milk and wipe it gently use this way a fortnight and you shall find an alteration After the same manner you may cure the Morphew for it cleanseth and purifieth the Skin wonderfully CHAP. VI. For the Itch and Scabs Byles c. Leprosie Small Pox Measles SOme are troubled with this having it by Nature from their Parents some by long and bad Diet others by infection as by keeping company with those that have their Bodies inclined to Byles Scabs and Itches Now the way of curing by our Artists so called now a days is to purge first and then bleed and after to use some Mercurial Ointment and in many Bodies all this will not do if it doth the next Spring they are most commonly worser than they were before Now I will shew thee Art it self as it was at first instituted and thou shalt as easily cure this distemper by small means as when thou art a dry to drink a Cup of Beer to quench thy thirst First Take this Apozem about four spoonfuls every morning for three days and take something that is hot two hours after The fourth day take of white Briony-Root half an ounce a sprig or two of Mace boil this gently in a pint of Ale strain it out and sweeten it with Sugar drink a good draught of this well warmed in thy Bed and sweat three or four hours upon it and in thy sweat drink off the rest of the Pint hot if a Child less as age doth require Use this way three days together longer if the Disease have been of long continuance and let the Patient in sweating rub his Body with warm Cloths to take such corruption as cometh out by sweating after this manner the Scabs will fall off miraculously You may cure the Leprosie all scald Heads Scurffs and likewise prevent any one from having the Small Pox or Measles that they shall not have them at all I would have all men take notice that this way is the only Galenical way in practising the true Physick and not to fill their Bodies with Drugs or with Mercurial or Antimonial Preparations And you shall see in every Chapter a contrary method to all Authors extant CHAP. VII For a Cough or shortness of Breath For Surfeits by taking Heat and Cold. For People that are very flegmatick and stuffed up with Flegm and for those that are entring into a Consumption GAlen would have a cold distemper of the Instrument of Breathing to be the only cause of the Cough sometimes a Humor distilling from the Head to the Trachea Arteria and sharpness only of the Cuticle of Trachea Arteria going about within doth provoke the Cough sometimes it is caused through cold and flegm descending upon the Lungs sometimes it happens through heat dissolving the superfluous matter of the Brain and so through a Catarrhal Distillation the Cough is excited Now my Brethren we all know that Cold is most commonly the original of most Diseases for if the Body be full of gross corrupt Humours having taken a great cold presently there ariseth a putrid Feaver sometimes malignant and sometimes pestilential Now judge you if a Medicine will disburthen and carry out of the body this flegmatick corruption without weakning of Nature and in the highest Feavers I trust you will grant to me it is the onliest means to be used Then take two spoonfuls of this my Apozem every day in the morning or if occasion permit once in two days this will I will assure you unlade the body sweetly of this corruption And now will I give thee a Pectoral Drink which thou mayst drink as often as thou wilt which will quench thy thirst bring thy body to its natural heat and cure thee of thy cold Take of Coltsfoot an handful Hysop half an handful Angelica roots bruised a dram Liquorish scraped and bruised two ounces Anniseed half an ounce boil this in two quarts of Spring-water gently half an hour strain it out and put two ounces of fine Sugar drink freely of it warm when occasion serves by taking this Pectoral Drink hot mornings and evenings the flegm will come up easily and is a wonderful Preserver for the Lungs keeping them from putrefaction Now good people there are many in this City of London that are troubled with the shortness of breath and have their Lungs very dry so that it is a continual pain and labour for them to breathe or as the saying is to fetch their wind First I advise them to take for three or four days three or four spoonfuls of this my Apozem which will cleanse the inward parts of most of the corruption then take this Pectoral Drink named before in this manner following Take a quarter of a pint of the Pectoral Drink and put therein the yolk of a new-laid Egg and drink it fasting and fast an hour after it if thou hast been troubled with this grief many years by using the Medicines so will open and moisten thy Lungs and help thee you cannot use it too long for it is both Meat and Medicine After the same manner are cured all those that are entring into a Consumption But with this Proviso they must abstain from all Spices Salt Meats and all Wines for they fret and inflame their Bodies and withal let them take care they over-heat not their Bodies with any violent exercise that they strain not their Lungs by violent Coughing wherefore avoid all Chesnuts and all raw fruits as inimical to them for this Disease is difficult and therefore great care is to be used in their Diet c. Now if any man by violent exercise heat his body excessively and when he is so hot suddenly cool himself by drinking by rest or any other ways so that this man falleth sick even unto death and it he escape he remaineth weak and sickly during his life Now my Friends Nature misliketh nothing more than a sudden change from one contrary to another to wit from heat to cold Wherefore I conclude by reason and experience that the best way to cure a man in this extremity is to bring his body orderly again to the same heat wherein it was when he took cold which thou shalt do after this manner Take half a Pint of the aforenamed Pectoral Drink and dissolve in it two drams of Venice-Treacle let the Patient drink half of it hot fasting and sweat four or