Medicaments The subject of Pharmacy is the Materials of Medicine Pharmaciam medicinae inservire the end and scope thereof the due composure of the same and the Apothecary that dares to attempt or assay further breaks his bounds and limits and is to be accounted a Mountebank a Quack and Deceiver I have known in France many Apothecaries What Apothecaries are to be looked on as Deceivers amongst whom I found some bold Attempters in the practick part of Physick who with flattery and large promises of great wonders did deceive the richer sort of women whom they did not onely deprive of their money but by exhibiting incongruous Medicines operating contra naturaus without method or due observation left their bodyes more diseased than in statu quo prius And others also who by their cunning sophistry did circumvent certain men of knowledge and repute even the Senators themselves Plin. c. 1. lib. 29. by stiling themselves Phyficians Learned men and the like they would feel the Pulse look upon the Urine and discourse of the Causes Symptomes Prognosticks and Cure of Diseases pretend to great things promise far greater and so assert many ridiculous things and prescribe Medicines that rather augment than abate of the we he mency of the distomper and this they impiously thrust their Sickle into the Physicians harvest and most unjustly exercise Pharmacy to the great prejudice of many by confiding in a bare Recipe without either giving cause or reason why it ought to be administred for we ought not to rest and rely upon the judgement of antient Sciolists who assert meerly upon their bare testimony and single apprehension certain Medicines which may prove benign and agreeable to Constitution at some certain time and thereupon preâ—und to be safely exhibited at all times without advice As for instance [o] [o] [o] Lactucae medicamentum esse potest Alimentum venenum Lettice unseasonably and in too great a quantity administred may as easily kill as Hemlock it is both nutrimeâ—â— and poyson accordingly as 't is used Doth not daily experience manifest that more perish by surfeting than any other distemper Doth not Wine though most agreeable to our nature destroy more than Warâ—â— For though it be very cordial and as it were the 〈◊〉 sanguis senectutis as it were old mens milk and restorative to life yet taken at an unfit season and immoderately proves noxiouâ—â—nd destructive The office therefore of an Apothecary is onely to exercise or compose certain Ingredients to a medicinal form The duty of an Apothecary and to adhibit them 〈◊〉 account manner to salutiferous use according to the prescript of some â—ilfull Physician which that he may with good success accomplish and answer the expectation of the Physician he ought first to select his ingredieâ—ts secondly to prepare them and thirdly to compound them of which we intend to speak in order But before we treat of the first let us enquire what a Medicament is CHAP. III. What a Medicament is and what an Aliment and what a Medium between both THE whole Man is a whole Disease saith Hippocrates Epist ad Damog for such is he when he proceeds into the world from the inquination of the wombe that he is ready for the Physician by reason of his imperfections and diseases which he is liable to either as a consequent from the dissent of the four qualities or from the ill use of such things which Nature appointed forâ—utâ—â—ment but through the abuse thereof causes innumerable Diseases in the Body which the medicinal Art out of a due observation thereof doth infallibly either prevent or cure either by the prescript of a wholsome Diet or by Medicaments either internally assumed or externally applyed as Hippocrates describes Lib. de diata Gal. de sanis And these are either simple which for the most part Hippocrates used or compounded according to Art they are called Simples which remain and are as Nature produced them as Cassia Rhabarb Polipody Colocynth with many others which have onely obtained their natural composition of the four Elements But they are called Compounds which consist of many Simples of divers virtues noited together by Art and Industry Now a Medicament differs from Aliment Medicamentum quid thus for that is called a Medicament which being either internally assumed or externally applyed can work an alteration in our bodyes as Pepper Euphorbium Pelitory c. And that is called Aliment Alimentum quid which internally assumed doth nourish and augment the body as Bread Wine the flesh of all flying and four footed Creatures except ravenous and rapacious for those Creatures that live by rape are of an evil humour and engender ill blood and are to be rejected as unclean And therefore in Divine Writ the Israelites were forbidden to eat either Eagle Vulture Griffon Raven Hawk or the like and we according to this Sacred Decree do prudently abstain from the flesh of Foxes Wolves Lyons and such rapacious Creatures Now the medium between both Alimentum medicamentosum is a medicinal Aliment which sympathetically partakes of both natures for it partly nourisheth and partly altereth the body as Lettice Radish root Gourd Garlick and many such like As there is betwixt Aliment and Medicament a certain medium so also is there betwixt Nutriment and Poyson for the one preserveth refresheth and augmenteth the other destroyes kils and corrupts betwixt both there is a Medicament which doth effect neither CHAP. IV Of the antient use of Simples alone and of their admirable proprieties GAlen observes out of Hippocrates Lib. de Elem. that a man could never be sick if he consisted onely of one Element for then every mans Nature would be one the Effect one the Cause of his return to his natural station one But now the absurdity lyes in this that whereas the species of diseases are infinite so also the remedies both simple and compound that are to be appropriated thereunto are almost influmerable Those Medicaments that are compounded and yet fearmed simple are but comparatively and improperly so stiled in as much as they are referred to others more compound as Oximel simplex Diaprunum simplex and the like but the Rose Endive Psantain Mine Wormwood and all kinde of Vegetables that are created which have received no composition or mixture by Art are properly called Simples by Physicians which they sometimes use alone as the juice of Plantain for astringent Lotions the juice of Water Lillies ad Erysipileta or St. Anthonies fire the juice of Betony the Canker with which it hath an admirable sympathy the juice of Vine-tendress by Galens advice against the Shingles the fresh or meat of Quinces applyed plaisterwise to the region of the stomack against choler and assumed against the bloody flux the body being first purged as also Betony against Cephalalgia as almost all Plants to the expelling of most Diseases That which is recorded of many Plants exceeds credit which produce
other parts but that by a speciall faculty they respect this more than that and that more than another part So that many are called Cephalicks Cephalica or head Medicaments that have their whole substance congruent and familiar to the head So fitted and prepared by the long experience and use of learned men that with a certain kinde of sympathy they may be with safety appropriated thereunto As amongst aromaticks these following Muske Amber Civet Cloves Mace Cinamon Calamus aromaticus Squirant Camphure and amongst other more common simples Betony Rosemary Sage Marjorum Balm Staechados the Mirtle-tree the flowers of Betony Clove-gilliflowers and Orange Ophthalmick or Eye-medicaments are these and such like Ophthalmica Eyebright Salendine Fennil Rue and Clary the grains whereof put under the eye-lids for they are so small that they cause no sense or trouble purge eyes exceedingly from corrupt matter Those are called Odonticks which roborate the teeth Odontica and cleanse them as the Mastick-tree and Mirtle Sage and Bay All dulcid things are agreeable and pleasant to the Lungs yet a certain herb called Lung-wort by a peculiar faculty is more especially attributed to the pains thereof If Foxes Lungs help or any way profit Mens lungs Pulmonica as many of the Antients believed then it must happen through the familiarity of the substances no other reason can be rendred Reysons Figs Jujubees Pistac-nuts Dates and Honey do somewhat refresh and benefit the Lungs and that onely by their sweetness Orrice Maiden hair Hyslop and Horehound onely by attenuation Cardiacks or Cordials are these and such like Gold Silver Cardiaca pretious Stones Cinnamon and other suavolent Aromaticks and also Borage Bugloss Carduus Scabious Goats-beard Meadow-sweet Violets Roses and Saffron Stomachick or Medicaments belonging to the Stomack Stomachica are Nutmegs Mastick Wormwood Mint and Dill for these by a particular property help it and also innumerable more benefit it but that by heat rather than any special virtue as Pepper Ginger Mustard and Wine Hepaticks or Medicaments proper to the Liver are these Tansy Hepatica Egrimony Succory Fumatory Rhabarb Splenick or Medicaments proper to the spleen are Cetrack Splenica Capars Tamarisk Epithymus with many more which for brevities sake I omit Sage Rosemary and Primrose Nervalia by a certain property corroborate the Nerves Ground-Pine the Arteries I shall not hereunto reduce such as respect several parts for even a Critick Reader may be content with these for a grain of Salt is sufficient for him that would know its virtue and learn its taste CHAP. XII Of Amulets which carried or hanged up do cure many Diseases by an occult virtue THose Remedies that are called Periammata Periapta and Amuleta that is tryed and suspended Medicaments appertain to such as cure Diseases by an occult faculty Amulets are of two sorts and they are of two kinds one sort consists solely of characters and words another of simple Medicaments hanged about the neck or any other member of the body Physicians laugh at the former and reject it as a thing fabulous delusive uncertain and incredulous for we finde that neither Physician nor Metaphysician ever spake thereof unless some Cacodemoniack that refers them to his Philosophy But a Physician and Philosopher being a Moralist and an Advancer of Nature who in honesty of life and conversation setting the fear of the Almighty before his eyes assayes nothing but by the just good and lawfull rule prescribed by Nature and doth not go about to deceive the ignorant and illiterate people with vain toyes and unlawfull Arts but studies the knowledge of things by their natural causes for Knowledge is the understanding of a thing by its cause and happy sure is he that knows the causes of things Whence Galen concludes that Medicine is not made for the Disease but for the morbificous cause which being removed Periammata the effect is hindred But Amulets neither take away the cause the disease nor symptomes as those falsly perswade themselves to whom they have been suspended being deceived by their perswasion who worship and invoke Devils who also imagine that all things may be done in their name and by their virtue without any other cause Of which and such like impious fellows the Poet thus writes Gens invisa diis maculandi calida coeli Quae nunc stare polos fulmina mittere novit Aethera sub terras adigit montésque revellit Which they perform two manner of wayes for some by the virtue of most Divine names invoke and compell evil spirits and that because every Creature fears and reverenceth his name that created yet others more impious than these wicked men submit themselves offer sacrifice and worship Devils The reason why Witches use onely evil spirits is manifest for good Angels are very seldome Cur cacodaemones ab improbis viris invocentur and not without great difficulty obtained because they wait on Gods command and accompany none but such as are of a clear heart and pious conversation But evil spirits do yield themselves prompt and ready to be invoked falsly favouring and feigning Divinity they are alwayes present that they may deceive and that they may be worshipped and adored Out of this Shop of Devil-adoring Witches issued all those Books of Darkness which Ulpianus by no means will allow to be read Libri improbatae lectiones qui. but ordains that forthwith they be burned The first Founder whereof was as it is recorded one Zabulus that was addicted to the illicite Arts. Afterwards succeeded one Barnabas a Cyprian and in our times Cornelius Agrippa and many other impious men amongst which Crew Paracelsus deserves not to have the lowest seat Paracelsi impietas whose impiety was accompanied with the baseness of all vices Now since that these Characters and Amulets have issued out of these impious mens Shops being grounded on no reason Characteres inde prodterint and pestiferous to Mankinde not onely Physicians but also all Worshippers of God ought to reject and abhor them Yet Fernelius that excellent Physician and Philosopher yea the most famous of our times attributes great virtue to Words and Amulets And certainly if we assent to the Hebrews Vis verborum secundum Hebraeos the best Authors of Virtue and Discipline they tell us we shall finde greater power in words than natural things For say they whatsoever is in the minde voice word or speech all that is in Scripture the letters whereof are full of beavenly mysteries are according to the position of the Stars whence the great Creator of all things will have himself named by two letters Α Ω. Furthermore the more critical Matchiavels of the Hebrews Literarum figura do profess and promise to explain all things by the figure of Letters and by the simplicity composition crookedness defect abundance colligation revolution coronation apertion order and transmutation of letters points and
crassitude equall Sugar also must be prepared before it receive powders for it should be dissolved in stillatitious water or other fit liquour Electuarium siccum faciendi modus and then be despumed and boyled softly on a fire till it be thicker than 〈◊〉 syrup and till a drop thereof will not dilate it self and after a little refrâ—geration the severall species must be by little and little added confounded and mixed with a Spatula till it have got its whoâ—e solidity and equability then it must be laid on a marble before it be cold and with the Spatula dilated and planed when it is cold it may be cut into Lozenges square or round of one two or three dramms weight which after they be brought to the hardness of sugar must be laid in boxes or Chests Of what consistency soever the Electuary be whether solid or soft it preserves the strength of the simples well and long Yet doth the soft preserve it longer than the solid because its humidity being greater it more constraines the faculty of the Medicaments and hinders them from being dissipated by the air By how much an Electuary is more gratefull to the Palate by so much the sooner doth its energy and faculty decay for its efficacie will scarce endure a year bitter and ingratefull will endure two or three years and the Antidote against wild beasts bitings or poysons sometimes ten years without damage CHAP. XII Of Hiera HIerae differ little from the Opiate Hiera pierae unde habeant nomen Opiates from liquid Electuaries for they have all the same consistency and often the same purging faculty yet Electuaries and Opiates do sometimes purge neither molesting the belly nor displeasing the palate with their sapour but Hierae besides their purging faculty which they alwayes have are very bitter and unacceptable which their name shewes for they are called Picrae for their exceeding bitterness as Hiera i. e. holy for their excellent effects They are compounded of loosening and bitter yet Medicaments good for the stomack which incide and gently purge grosse and flegmatick humours out of the first region of the body Hiera picra Galeni dâ—citur quod eam emendarit and especially those that are called Galens Hierae because changed and mended by him Cap. 11. lib. 8. comp med local which saith he are the best remedy for the Melanchollicke affections of the belly for many stomachicall Maladyes have been cured by him in one day therewith for since Aloes is mixed hereunto which is very good for the stomack and Cynamon which is effectuall in opening exterging and attenuating for it is of very thin parts they may be exhibited usefully for all grosse and viscous humours Quib us conveniat quibus non and all affections about the belly and stomach proceeding from vicious juice but not if they proceed from a sharp fever Hiera whose faculty is to calefy and exiccate may not be securely used in those fevers whereby humours are accended in the vessells and whereby the whole body is inflamed though by Galens advice they may safely be used in fevers that are not vehement there are besides Galens Picrae Hierae variae descriptae Hierae variously described various compositions which from their effects are called Hierae and from their sapours Picrae as from that matter which in composition quantitie or qualitie is preheminent one Hiera is called the Colloquintidan Hiera others are confected under the names of Logadius Pacchus or Myrepfius either because they first invented their compositions or else altered augmented and corrected them The descriptious composition and powers of every one shall be largely treated of taught and explained in our book tearmed the shop some Hierae have their purgative power onely from Aloes and that not potent and Galen cap. 2. lib. 4. de loc affect saith that they scarce condescend to the places about the Liver unlesse they be taken in a more ample weight they may be commodiously given for the suffusion or web in the eye because they rather educe noxious humours from the brain than from the stomack but such as admit of Coloquintida or Agarick or both or scammony do potently move the belly and draw hurtfull humours from all the parts of the body and purge them out CHAP. XIII Of Opiates in general OPiates are reckoned amongst liquid Electuaries and so called because they have Opium in their mixture or from their similitude to Hypnoticall Medicaments or from their consistency presently after their inspâ—ssation or peradventure from their Colour which in Opium or the juice of black poppy and in liquid Antidotes whether Cordiall or opening is the same And although the Ancients call those Medicaments onely Opiates too strictly which admit of Opium in their mixture of what consistency soever whether solid as the Alcumists Ladanum and Pills of Cynoglosson or soft as the Roman Philonium yet are they in a larger sense taken for any soft Confections Cordiall altering Opiatarum appellatio amplissima purging or narcoticall whether they admit Opium as Antidotes against venemous beasts or they consist only in cordial and altering ingredients as Alkermes and the confection of violets or of purging ingredients as Triphera Diaprunum and such like which are oftner called by the names of Electuaries and Confections than Opiates Now Opiates were invented by Physicians of ancient note Gal. Opiatae cur inventae cap. 2. lib. 2. de loc affect Aet c. 12. lib. 2. de sign caus diut morb to leniate the rigour of griefes for griefe being a sad passion Dolor quid grievous to nature and hard to be indured it doth variously exagitate humours corrupt the blood accend a fever and deject the spirits Ejus affectus so that the Physician is sometimes compelled to relinquish the former disease that he may cure this great symptome with these presidies which though they take not away the cause of the disease yet they so refresh the senses and spirits by conciliating ease and sleepe that the strength of the symptomes being debated they may afterwards extrude the causes of the disease more easily The vehemencie therefore of grief is to be deceived Doloris vehementia desperationis interdum parens sometimes with Narcoticall Medicaments which is sometimes so prevalent that it drives men to that Madnesse that they had rather dye than live and therefore lay violent hands upon themselves Galen hath observed Cap. 5. lib. 7. comp med loc such vehehement vexations and torments in Coâ—icall dolours Confectiones Coliâ—ae which might be leniated by severall Medicaments that he described certain Narcoticall Opiates and left them to posterity which he called Colical confections which may mitigate the vehemency of the symptome stay the motion of humours and stupify the senses hence they are called Narcoticall opiates because they bring to the parts a certain necrosy or mortification and they are called Annodyna i. e. grief-absolving Medicines because
to labour and frequent purgation or pestered with many obstructions whereas the soft and slender bodyes of women and children which are either dry or macilent as also of pregnant women and persons newly recovered from diseases will not endure strong ones The species also and plenty of the humour Frigidus crassus humor tardius purgatur varyes the quantity of the Medicament for a viscid grosse frigid Melanchollicke pituitous and tenaciously adhering humour will hardly be deduced but requires a more valid and potent catharticke for its exclusion a thin calid and chollerick humour will sometimes be ejected by spontaneous vomit very easily by a purgative Medicament Furthermore the state of the heavens the nature of the region and the condition of the season of the year require a different quantity of Medicament for seeing the belly is obdurate in a cold season Aphor. 5. lib. 3 and a rigid Winter coartactes and condenses the body especially in the frigid region or climate the humour then tenaciously adhering is not propelled save either by a strong Medicament once or a gentle one often and in abundance exhibited and as the year for the most part causes diseases according to its own constitution Aphor. 5. lib. 3. so according to the species of the humour causing the disease and its greater or lesser progresse it is requisite that not only the kind but quantity of the Medicament be changed which must be more copious if by reason of the body humour state of the heavens region or custome purgation be difficult as on the contrary if purgation be easy in lesser quantity as shall appear hereafter CHAP. IX Of such as must be prescribed in small quantity EVery purgative Medicament hath either a strong or a weak facultie which by a particular propriety respect the gentle or potent eduction of this rather than another humour Now that Medicament I call gentle or weak â—landum medicamentum quale which assumed in an indifferent quantitie moves the ventricle benignely and educes moderately but superfluously assumed educes superabundantly For if an immoderate quantitie of Rhabarb or Cassia which are of the most familiar Medicaments to nature be assumed as an ounce and a half of the former or half a pound of the later it will move either stoole or vomit or both with a great and immoderate turbation of the ventricle and agitation of the humours That I call a potent purgative Potenter purgans which in small quantity as that that 's weighed by grains causes a copious and great dejection which must be given in small quantity as also all such as are ingratefull rare dear indued with potent efficacious vertue or partaker of any malignant quality Those are ingratefull Ingrâ—ta qualia which by their odour grievously affect our nose or brain as Castor Sagapenum and Assa-foetida which being a stinking gum the Germans call the Devills dung or by their sapour such as are bitter Medicaments as Colocynthis the lesser Centory sharp as Euphorbium Bartram most acid as the Oil of Sulphur Vitriol a few drops whereof in a due proportion mixed with the syrup violets make it of a red shining colour and somewhat acid of taste and thereby very pleasant to the eyes and palate A certain Court Doctor at his first coming gave this syrup thus altered by Art equally for all diseases with his own hands who deceiving the vulgar with his ostentations called it the secret of secrets Those that are rare and dear as Gems Precious-stones Pearle Balsam Precious Aromatas Amber Musck Civet and such as work an alteration in the body by their calidity or frigidity in the fourth degree must be prescribed in small quantity Those which by a certain antipathy Qua magna cautela sumenda and speciall potency impaire the principles of life spirit and heat consume the flesh and destroy the integrity of sanity must not be exhibited without extraordinary care and prudence as Vipers flesh against the pestilence or leprosy the reins or rather the flesh of the loines of Stincus to provoke to Venery Cantharides against the retention and obstruction of urine for these Cantharides rightly prepared and mixed with fit Medicaments and administred in a small quantity do move urine without harm but in a great quantity they stay it and impensly calefy the bladder Rondeletius Minerals also and all such as have more efficacious faculties must be taken sparingly such as are more remiss liberally Furthermore those that conduce to the dulcoration correction or deduction of other Medicaments must be mixed alwayes in a small quantity as Cynamon Sanders or Squinant to conciliate suavity of odour or sapour in the Medicament Ginger to the castigation of Agarick Saffron of Opium opening and mciding Medicaments to the dilation of the quality of other Medicaments to the parts to be cured But nothing doth so much dehort from a great quantity of any Medicament as its effrenate prepotent and malign quality which as soon as it is educed into act doth grievously disturb Nature and excites a Troop of symptomes Those which are rare and by their price fit Princes and rich men if necessity require may be prescribed in small quantity CHAP. X. In what quantity Simples must be mixed for composition FEW Compounds are found to confist of many Simples equal in proportion but two or more exceed the quantity of the rest They exceed which are the matters Vicegerents and induce an apt form to the Medicaments as Oil Wax Lithargy in Salves and Unguents or which are most potent in action and constitute the basis in composition as Aloes in many Pills as also such as have but weak faculties in great quantity or are adhibited for the preservation of others as Honey and Sugar in Electuaries and Syrups This rule is chiefly to be observed in the proportion of Medicaments to be compounded that that which brings more utility to the Medicament should be adhibited in greater quantity in composition They which are symbolical whose matter is equally apt to induce the form of the Medicament and which are in their faculties equally averse to the cause and symptome of the part affected should be mixed in equal weight which seems to be observed in the Tetrapharmacal Unguent which consists of equal portions of Wax Rosine Pitch and Bulls fat And also in Justinus his Electuary which by Nic. Mirepsius his description cap. 403. receives an equal portion of thirty Simples all which are thought by a certain propriety to break stones and clear the urinal passage To these is added Honey and Sugar in a different proportion that the Electuary may acquire a convenient form and apt consistency and be fitter for long preservation Some portion of simple Medicaments is measured by number some by weight others by both some in measures some in handfulls others in pugils The quantity of roots are variously measured for their dosis according to their various virtue and efficacy in operation If their faculty
some factitious Alomes as Catinum which is made of the ashes of Kali and vulgar Soda as squamous Alome which is made of a specular stone pellucid like glasse as Lees-Alome which is made of Wine-Lees burned and albified I think it superfluous to describe the manner of confecting these Alomes since they are now of no use All Alome is of crasse parts Vires bindes much whence it is called Stypterion because it is styptical or astrictive it califies moderately cleanses emends putrid Ulcers dries humid ones absumes excrescent flesh takes away itching cures the scab and accedes usefully to many Medicaments made for Ulcers CHAP. 7. Of Salt AS nothing is more common nothing more frequent so nothing more known then Salt without which Beasts can but we cannot subsist Whereof there are many sorts as Sea-salt Fossile-salt Lake-salt and River-salt Sea-salt is most common and best which is solely used in France Fossile-salt which shop-men call Gemme-salt is broken and effoded out of Mynes like stones it is splendent like Chrystal This cast into the fire doth not crack like the rest but ignifies like Iron There is also Indian-salt which Mesue uses in the confection of Pills of Azure-stone but this being wanting we substitute gemmeous Salt They mistake that think that Mesue means by Indian-salt that Sugar which he calls Tabarzet we White for the Indians have their Salt which they effode from the Mount Oromenus in great lumps in whose stead our gemmeous Salt will serve well as in acuating the slower faculty of Agarick and Polypody Ammoniack or Armeniack-salt being very ingrateful both in sapour and colour and gifted with no eximious faculties is judged incommodious it concretes into broad plates under the Cyranium sands with black veins extrinsecally in colour it comes near Alome we call Schiston as also the Salt we call Alkali and Catinum Dioscorides commends Lake-salt and Phrygian-salt but we preferre our own The flower of Salt which flows upon Nilus is neither seen of nor desired by us it is as it were the Spawn of a certain River as also the broth of Salt and the flower of the spamous Sea in Dioscorides There is another kinde of Salt they call Nitre denoted with a double difference the first is the light Nitre of Dioscorides and the Ancients its colour is roseous or white it gapes with some holes like a spunge it ceases now to be brought to us the other is more vulgar called Salnitre or Saltpeter which ingredes the confection of that powder which is made of many nitrous waters in France for warlike Instruments While it is laboured with much coction it eructates Aphronitrum or spume of Nitre different from that which the Ancients mention which is thought to be native not artificial as also a certain friable lanuginous matter white and saltish which adheres to many walls which is thought to be the flower of Nitre I shall not now speak of the confection of Nitre because it appertains not to Apothecaries The faculties of Salt are great many and very useful to man but not so necessary in Pharmacy as many think who praedicate many wonderful and vain things of Salt educed by Chymical Art for they mordaciously assert that there is a purgative faculty in Medicaments because of Salt and when they have got some extract from any Medicament they averre they have got its Salt However Salt is very conservative it astringes absterges purges discusses represses extenuates and vindicates from putretude yet some Salt is better then other Seeing Brine is its liquor it exhibits the same effects Vires it is mixed with Glysters to excite the expulsive faculty which is flow in such as are infested with the Lethargy and Apoplexy CHAP. 8. Of Bitumen BItumen which the Greeks call Asphaltos is as it were the fatness of the earth swimming above the water which cast upon the shore condensates concretes and becomes hard tenacious and inflammable As long as Bitumen swims on the water it is soft but when it is off it becomes spisse and harder then and resembles dry Pitch yet easily liquescible at the fire Many Lakes are bituminous but especially one in Judaea Sodomeus Lacus thence called Asphalites and The dead Sea because of its vastity and because its water remains almost immovable not stormy but heavy falt crass and foetid wherein neither Plants nor Animals breed neither doth it nourish such as are injected or admit them into its bowels Some enumerate a kinde of Fossile terrene matter Carbo petrae which some call but falsly The Earth Ampelitis others better Stone-coal which seems to be a kinde of Jet of which they make Beads and Images which strangers wear in their Hats amongst solid Bituments All Bitumen is not solid and hard but some there is perpetually liquid and fluid called Naphta which is the colature of Babylonian Bitumen white of colour and most capacious of fire for there is so much cognation betwixt this and fire that it will presently leap into it when near it There is also black Bitumen As the true and native Bitumen of Judaea and Sodome come not to us in whose stead we use Pissaphaltus or factitious Bitumen made of Petreol Pitch and other things so neither the true Naphta in whose stead we assume a certain liquor that falls from the fields near Modena which they call Petreol as if it were Oyl educed out of a Rock for both have the same cansistency colour and vertue But Pissaphaltus is the commixion of Pitch and Bitumen as its name designs which some use for Mumy of which hereafter All Bitumen discusses mollifies glutinates defends from inflammation by obfaction suffumigation or imposition emends the Proptosis and strangulation of the Uterus but our Bitumen is seldome right Naphta extenuates incides digests penetrates absumes frigid and crasse humours in all parts of the body and cures the resolution of the Nerves Palsey and diseases in the arteries from a cold cause Some yet recenseate more bitumens as that furfurous pinguetude which some call Whales-sperm Sperma Caeti quid others White-Amber and many The flower of the Sea for it is collected on the Sea whose fat spume or innatant flower it is Many think it is Dioscorides his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. 9. Of Sulphur SUlphur is either native and fossile called Brimstone and Quick-sulphur or factitious the native is naturally generated of a certain fat portion of earth much whereof is in Lipara Melos and such places where the factitious is made the splendent pellucid and not saxous is best whose colour without is subcincritious within subluteous Many Mountains are very sulphureous as Aetna which eructates perpetual flames The factitious is made of some fat Glebes which are effoded out of sulphureous Mynes The manner of its confection I leave to such Rusticks as are exercised therein the green and fat is best Sulphur hath much cognation with fire for if it be cast upon coals it will
binding our Apothecaries have seldom the right Acatia but instead thereof use the juyce of Sloes Accended burned Access a fit of an Ague Gout c. Accelerator in plain English an hastener Physically it is used for the Muscle that opens the passage of the Seed and Urine Acerb sowr or sharp Acetum Vinegar of Beer Acetaries Sallets or Herbs mixed with Vinegar to stir up appetite Acetum Vini Vinegar of Wine Acetum destillatum Distilled Vinegar Acetabula see Cotylidones Achor vel tinea or scald-head is a Disease possessing the musculous skin of the head or hairy scalp and eating thereinto like a Moth. Accidents something necessarily accompanying a Disease Acquires obtains Acrimony sharpness or freting of any sharp or corrosive water or humour of the body Aconite a venemous herb having a root like to a Scorpion shining within like Alabaster Acuminated sharp pointed Acute Diseases such as are sharp and violent but of short continuance Adamant A pretious stone commonly called a Diamond brought from Arabia and Cyprus It s the hardest of all stones insomuch that it cutteth Glass and yieldeth neither to the hammer nor fire yet it may be dissolved with warme Goats-blood Adeps farness Adjacent neer adjoyning Adjection casting or adding to Adimpleates fills up Adjuvant causes such as are subservient to the principal causes Adjument help and relief Adjuncts qualities dispositions and symptomes annexed to a Disease Adjutorious helpful Admixtion mingling together Adscitious false counterfeit Adulation flattery Adust the blood is then said to be adust when by reason of extraordinary heat the thinner parts are evaporated and the thicker remain black and dreggy Adustion burning of the blood Adulterate corrupt or counterfeit Adventitious not natural but proceeding from some Cause existing without the proper body Adstriction binding or shutting up the pores of the skin Aegilops fistala lacrymalis a tumor in the great corner of the Eye by the root of the Nose Aeftuary an hot-house or Stove Affectus unimi affectionis motions or passions of the mind Affected troubled or distempered Afflux flowing to any particular part Agaric a kind of Mushrom or Toad-stool of great use in Physick it grows upon the Larch tree in Italy and is white light brittle and spungeous it purgeth phlegm and opens obstructions in the Liver Agitation shaking any liquor together in a glass Ahenum a brass skillet with a cover Ablution is exaltation clensing impure things by often infusion reducing them to purity Albation is the abstraction of Dust moths gret cleaving to a thing with a Hares foot feather spather or such like Albugo is the white spot in the Eye called pin and web Alacrity chearfulness Alchimy is an art dissolving natural congealed substances and likewise congealed substances dissolved for the more grateful wholsom safe preparing of Medicines for mans body an art which produces magisterial and essential medicines from mixed bodies Alkakengie winter Cherries the red round berries whereof are good against obstructions of the Liver the stone and divers diseases of the Kidnies and Bladder Alcolismus is an operation by calcination ribellation and other means which reduceth a matter into Allcool the finest pouder that is Alexipharmaca Medicines to resist the plague and poyson Aliment food nourishment Aliotica altering Medicines Alopecia a falling off of the hair Alumen raw Allum Alamen combustum burnt Allum Aloes Zoccatrina it s brought from India the best is clear and red like the liver it s an excellent medicine to purge choler and proper to be taken by them that are troubled with the Emrods Allantois the skin that holds the Urine of the Child during the time it abides in the womb Allauded praised commended Alteratives medicines changing the humor and temper of the body Amalgamation is the putting together solution or calcination of familiar vessels by argentum vivum Amaritude bitterness Amaurosis Gutta serena A disease in the eyes viz. when the sight is gone and no fault to be seen Ammoniac a gum like frankincense so called because it grows in Lybia where the Temple of Ammon stood Hence is also a Salt so called found in Affrick under the sand Amnios the inner skin that compasseth the Child round in the womb Amputation dismembring or cutting off the arm leg c. Amulet any thing hang'd about the neck to preserve one from inchantment Analeptica restorative Medicines Analogical answerable in every particular Anastomasis an opening of the mouths of the veins Anastomaticum Medicine opening obstructions Anatomy is an artificial cutting of the outward inward parts Aneurism a swelling caused by the breaking the internal coat of an Artery the external being whole Anfractures turning and winding Angina a swelling in the throat which hinders breathing and swallowing and yet no defect in the lungs or breasts Animosity courage stoutness Anodines Medicines to aswage pain Anorexia a loathing of meat caus'd from abundance of crude and raw humors Anthera a Compound medicine used for sore mouths Anthrax a Carbuncle coming from blood which is black thick and filthy burning exceeding hot Anthonies fire the shingles Antidote a Medicine against poyson or any medicine which serves to amend any distemper of the body Antimony a Mineral like to Lead Antimonii vitrum Glass of Antimony or Stibium Antimonii Regulus Antimony preciptiate Antinomasia a naming before or that of any sort which is most excellent as Barbary gold Orient pearl c. Anus the fundament Apertion opening Apophlegmatisms Medicines which draw Flegm from the head Apoplexy a deep steep wherein there is a total privation of sense and motion except breathing Apostema Hepatis the Aposthume of the Liver which comes from a fall bruise or being too strait laced Appellations Names Apothects an Apothecaries-shop Apozem a Drink made with Water and divers herbs and spices used in stead of a syrup A prique place where the Sun shines Appropinquating adjoyning bordering near Neighbourhood Aptha certain Ulcers bred in the uppermost part of the mouth Aqua fortis strong Water made of Copperas Allum and salt-peter Aqua Regis a Water which divides Gold made after the manner of Aqua fortis only adding sal Armoniack Aquatical Which grows in the Water Aranea tunica the cobweb coat or tunicle Arbuscle a little shrub Arceates drives away Ardent burning or heating Arid dry Aromata Spices and sweet-smelling drugs or perfumes Aromatical smelling sweet like spice Aromatized spiced or perfumed Aromatization is an artificial manner of preparation whereby Medicaments are made more sweet to the smell and acceptable to the taste and more comfortable to the heart it is done by spices commonly Arsenicum Arsenick many wayes a good healer Arteries proceed from the heart are in a continual motion quicken the body they carry the vital blood to every part of the body their motion is that which is called the Pulse you may feel it at your Temples Wrist Groin c. Arthetical Medicines proper for the joynts especially for the heart Arthritis is a pain in the joynts
such parts as naturally ought to be united so every wound or ulcer is called a solution of continuity Sonitus Aurium noise in the ears caused by windy vapors Sorb-Apple a service-berry Sorbicle broth suppings Sorditude filth dross dregs Sparadrap an old linnen rag dipped all over in any kind of plaister melted Spasmus Cramp or Cunvulsion an involuntary retraction of the Nerves and Muscles towards their original Species-Laetificantes a pouder whereby the heart is mightily cheared and exhilerated Species retained in the mind are the shapes ideas or patterns of things either seen or felt or heard or tasted or smelt Specifick quality a peculiar hidden property or effect for which no reason can be rendred according to the received Maxims of the schools Specifical virtue that is the proper essential virtue peculiar to one particular simple and no other Species of objects representations of things seen for the visible things themselves do not enter into the eye but certain figures and ideas of them Speculum oris an instrument to hold open the mouth that the Physitian may view the diseased parts of the throat Sperm the seed of men or Women Sperma coeti it 's common with all Apothecaries being mixt with other things it 's used for blood clotted in the body by a bruise or any other accident Sphacelus deadness of any part when the flesh and bone are dead Sphacelation the same as before Sphacelus or mortification in the brain is a suppuration or corruption of the matter or substance of the brain and is called a Gangrene Syderation or blasting of the brain Sphincter the muscle of the arse Spinal of or belonging to the back bone Spinalus a Carbuncle Spinous prickly thorny Spiracles breathing-holes Spissating thickening Splenetick troubled with the spleen Splenetica medicines good for the cure of the spleen it signifies also the vessel of the spleen Splen the Milt Spiritus acousticus that portion of the Animal spirit which in the ears discerneth sounds Spiritus vini spirit of Wine a pure essential liquor distilled from Wine cordial and of infinite other virtues Spiritus vitales the vital spirits the seat wherof is in the heart and arteries Spondilia the bones of the back Spontaneous free willingly without constraint agreeable Spume foam or froth Spurious counterfeit not true Sputation spitting Squalor lothsomness nastiness Squallid filthy unwholsome Squinancy the squinzy and inflamation in the throat State of a disease is when it is come to the worst or highest extremity Steeled liquor wherein steel hath been quenched or infused Stegnotica things stopping or that cause obstructions Stercus Caninus Dogs turd Sternon the great bone of the breast Sternutation sneezing a swift motion of the brain whereby the breath is forced out of the nose Sternutatories medicines to snuff up into the nose to provoke sneezing Stillatitious distilled liquors either waters vinegar or any thing that is capable of dropping Stimulates thrusts forward provokes Stomachicals medicines peculiar to the stomach Stranguria the strangury Strangulation choaking Strenuously stoutly Stupefactives medicines that benumn and stupifie the part whereto they are applied Stupes pledgets of lint tow or cotton wool Stupifying taking away the sense of feeling benumning Stuphes stoves or hot houses to sweat in Stupid benumned besotted that hath no feeling or sense Stupor dulness Styptick medicines binders Suaveolent sweet smell Subacted kneaded together with the hands Subduction is an abstraction of juyces oyls and other liquid matters by straining or filtring Subeth Arabum a sleepy disease or dead sleep Subject a Logical term signifying any thing that hath somewhat adjoyned or annexed to it Subjected put under Sublevated carried upward as the vapors and spirits in distilation or the dew when the Sun riseth Sublimation is a Chymical operation when the elevated matter in distillation being carried to the highest part of the helm and finding no passage forth sticks to the sides thereof Subsident that which in extracts and dissolutions settles to the botom of a thicker consistency than all the rest Substitute put instead Subtiliation the dissolving and separating the thin parts from the thick Subvertio ventriculi the destruction or loss of appetite Succe juyce vital moisture either of a plant or of an humane body Succedaneous that take place or succed in the room of others Succinum Album white Amber Succinum Citrinum yellow Amber Succoraceous juycie Sudoroficks medicines to procure sweating Sudour sweat Suffocated choak'd smothered Suffocation stifling choaking smothering Suffruticious between a shrub and an herb Suffusion a spreading upon any thing it 's commonly used to signifie a pin and web in the eye Sugacious full of juyce Sulphur Brimstone it 's of a discussive healing drying virtue good to preserve the natural heat of the body Sulphur Philosophorum God knows what the Chymists mean by it it signifies most commonly an universal medicine Superfaetation is the conception of a second child in the womb before the first be come to the birth Superficial sleight shallow thin Superficies the out-side of any thing Superfluous needless unnecessary that doth more hurt than good Suppository a little knob or roll of some saltish sharp tickling stuffe that may provoke to stool being thrust up into the fundament there are also Suppositories to he thrust into the Womb for divers causes Suppression stopping of the terms Suppeditates affords Suppressto Nocturna the night Mare Supurated a tumor is said to be supurated when it 's ripened ready to break Surcles yong twigs or branches Suspirious broken winded Sutura is a joyning of bones or anything else as the bones of the scull are joyned it signifies properly a sticking together the futures of the scull are the seams thereof where its pieces are joyned together Silvestrian such things as delight to grow in woods Symbolical eminent distinguishing marks or tokens to know any thing by Sympathy when things agree one with another by an hidden property it signifies a fellow-feeling also diseases are said to be by sympathy when the principal cause is in some other part wherewith the part offending holds a correspondency so pains in the head caused by evil humors in the stomach are said to come by sympathy and sickness of the stomach caused by the stone in the kidnies is a disease of the stomach by sympathy Symptoms evil dispositions of the body which depend on and accompany a disease as heat thirst head-ach want of sleep sickness at stomach fainting swooning c. Syncope swooning a distruction of all feeling and stirring of the whole body with extream faintness Synchonochosis is a joyning together by a cartilage or gristle Synciput the fore-part of the head Syneurosis a joyning together by a ligament Synulotica medicines to dry up a sore or to bring it to a Cicatrice Systol and Dyastol are the motions of the pulse forward and backward the Diastol is that which the Artery thrusting it self forth doth as it were smite upon the finger of him that feels the pulse and
not altogether manifest for Rhabarb differs much from choler Agarick from flegm and Senna from melancholy Although all Catharticks do attract humours Quae purgant trahendo yet some of them do purge more especially by attraction to wit such as are of a more potent force and have an excrementious humour saith Mesue as Scammony Turbith and Euphorbium others by repression Quae comprimendo as all the five Myrobalans and Rhabarb others by loosning and mollifying the belly as Cassia Tamurinds and others Quae lubricando which onely by leniating and solving the belly educe humours as the herb Orage Violets Mallows Sorrel and many Pot-herbs CHAP. X. Of Medicaments which besides their solution of the Belly cure many diseases by an occult poperty MEdicinall Materialls are as well innumerable as admirable which assumed at the mouth or applyed to the externall parts by a certain occult vertue and specifiall propriety perfectly cureth and undoubtedly preventeth present and future distempers or produceth other admirable effects as before in some few we have demonstrated This occult faculty also is not only discernable in plants but also in animalls and minerals For it is recorded that Pirrhus his thumb by touching such as laboured under the distempers of the spleen cured them and that most Christian and potent Monarch of France cured the Kings Evill with the touch of his hand this occult and most effectuall quality Os Aurum trabens is also seen in dead bodyes for Simplicius affirmes that the mouth of the fish Milvus doth draw Gold to which also Scaliger sets seal Exercit 102. 112 The reines of Scincus Marinus pulverized and drunk with wine or commixed with fit conserves and so taken doth cause stiffness of the yard and powerfully provoketh to Lechery A Harts pizzle dryed pulverized and drunk with Coltfoot or Carduus water is much commended against the Plurisy A Boares tooth pulverized and drunk worketh the same effect especially if taken at the beginning of the disease The Monocerces his horn doth admirably defend the heart from poysons and is much available in pestilent distempers The same effects are performed in the use of Harts horn and Rhinoceroes his horn The huckle bone of an Oxe pulverized and drunk with Oxymell doth mitigate the spleen The flesh of Hares burnt sifted and drunk doth break and expell stones out of the bladder The skin of a Viper pulverized and Applyed to a bald place doth admirably cause haires to grow where naturall humidity is not too much decayed The same effect is wrought by rosted Mice and anointing the place with honey A Cocks combe rosted or boyled and often eaten of doth much and effectually help such as are possessed with Chollicks passions Galen lib. de Therias A Goates hoof or its bladder or Egg-shells burned and taken in drink help those that pisse their beds Galen lib. 8. comp med Local writes that a Wolfs liver by a certain specificall property will helpe diseases in the Liver An Aspes skin dryed and pulverized and mixed with honey will cleer the eye sight The excrements of animalls by an occult property Creatures Excrements expell certain diseases as the dung of Peacocks the Epilepsy the dung of Swallows and Doggs the Quinsy Let these few examples suffice that are assumed from animalls That I may omit such as are hurtfull as the Sea Hare the Crampe-fish For the one by an obscure vertue affecting the Nerves stupifies them the other hurts the Lungs As Cantharides by Inflammation hurts the bladder and stops the urine or causes the strangury We may observe also which is most to be admired this same occult quality in many vegetables and plants as Sarsaperilla Lignum vitae Sasafras and China all which by a specificall property availe much in the cure of Lues venerea Ragwort or Satirion and the hearb Kocket The occult property of plants causes the yard to stand irritates Lust and frequent copulations The Chast tre Vitex aut Agnus Castus and water Lyllyes on the contrary doth allay the ardor of Lust extinguish seed and hinder the excretion of the Stones Opium mitigates frensy and madness and procures sleep though it be taken in a very little quantity Misleto of the Oak pulverised and drunk doth effectually cure the Epilepsy Dry grapes by a certaine sympathy are very commodious to the Liver Staves-acre by vertue not well known kills Lice so Fleabane Gantts Coleworth and Ivy cures Drunkenness Ptarmica provokes to sneezing As also both kinds of Hellebor Dittany by an occult property pulls out thornes and pricks if thereunto applyed The Ash tree drives away serpents and cures their bitings Stone-crop Saxifrage and Goates blood expell stones Savine brings down the monthly tearmes and the fruit of the wombe whether alive or dead The greater Comfrey doth speedily close wounds Betony doth search maligne ulcers and accellerate their cure Turpentine is the best Balsam to wounds and doth both speedily and easily cure them But that which is most strange is this Variety of effects in the selfe same plant that one plant in a certain part should have one effect in another a different or contrary one as Chamomile flowers which help the head-ach by smelling to them whose leaves are very hurtfull if we credit Galen lib. 2. comp Med. cap. 2. Sorrell relaxes the Belly the seed makes it costick The decoction of Colewort solves the belly But the Colwort it self eaten either binds it or makes it more adust As also Cock-broth moves the belly whilst its flesh binds and Gal lib. de Ther. cap. 6. assertes the same of Oysters and Cockles The wheyish or Butterish part of milk dissolves the belly the cheesy part constraines and makes it costick Gallen thinks it a miracle that the decoction of Trefoile applyed plaisterwise to the bitings of Serpents and Vipers should presently asswage the paine thereof and take out the poyson whereas being applyed to a sound part it provokes paines yet the reason of this effect doth not seeme very obscure nor far different from the nature and temperament of other hearbs For it is no wonder if the Medicine by whose help the corrupt part was cured and from which it drew some malignity or other being applyed to a sound part should leave an impression there of that malignity whereof it participated But we intend to discourse more particularly and largely of the specificall and admirable vertue of Quicksilver in curing the Venerian disease and of the occult and almost divine vertues of other mineralls CHAP. XI Of simple Medicaments which by a specificall property have respect to certain peculiar parts MAny simples are adjoyned with such a sympathy to certaine Parts that either assumed or applyed or often by their very smell help refresh and free us from diseases Yet I cannot conceive that they are for this sympathy and correspondency so devoted to particular members as thereon to spend all their effects or not to confer any upon
Also the cure of the bitings of Tarantula Curatio morsus venenati per musicam a beast like a Lizard hath respect to this discourse which may not be cured by Medicaments but onely by Musick I have known and heard of many such like cures which I omit for brevity sake CHAP. XIII Of Poysons THere is also an occult quality in Poysons of which Physiologers and searchers of natural things do sometimes speak as also impious Witches the Physiologers that they might acknowledge the prudence and sagacity of the Omnipotent Nature in good as well as pernicious things and contemplate the Ornament of the World but those Witches more pestilent than Pestilence it self and most pernicious Enemies of Mankinde that they might exanimate and extirpate out of the world all those whose life and fortunes they envy or hate For they most artificially adulterate the taste odour and colour of Poysons which they so craftily convey into Meats and Medicaments that they may deceive the most wise and wary and in stead of Bread give them a Stone in stead of a Fish a Scorpion instead of Sugar a sugared Poyson And so good men are not so safe from evil men as all men from Scorpions and other destructive Beasts Of which the Physician speaks as the Logician of Sophisms and Fallacies which he admonishes us to observe and avoyd as the Theologer speaks of Vice which he perswades us to shun Neither doth he treat of evil that thence good might follow wherein he differs from the Physician who disalloweth of poysonfull Sorcerers and yet treats of Poysons either as they are generated or by ill luck ingested into our bodyes or else as they are requisite to the curing of malign diseases otherwise to discourse of them or use them is pernicious And indeed Galen cap. 42. lib. 2. de Antidot reproves them that teach composition of Poysons Improbantur qui venena compenunt as Horummendesius Aratus Heliodorus the Athenian and Orpheus Yet doth he himself write largely concerning poysonous Simples as before him Dioscorides and after both Nicander that they might be known avoyded and by the advice of a learned and skilfull Physician used in some diseases For Arsenick is sometimes applyed to the dead flesh in Ulcers Vipers oil to Pocks-marks pimples and corrupt swellings Scorpions oil to their stings a hair of a mad Dog to the wound made by his own teeth Trochisks made of Vipers both internally assumed and externally applyed to all poysonous affections and diseases Poysons also are not onely put into Venena in corpore hominis interdum genita but sometimes generated in the body as Galen cap. 5. lib. 6. loc aff which produces both like affections and effects as those that come by pernicious poyson drunk or otherwise assumed for a Plague is a Poyson which is sometimes generated in the body without any manifest cause and the Sperm retained in Histerick women is partaker of a poysonous quality Dogs also in the heat of Summer easily become mad But these things are to be fore-known by Physicians that they may preserve health without fault and drive away all diseases And although Poysons be destructive Venena aliquando nutrire Historia yet by custome they become nutritive for I think the story of the Girl is sufficiently known of which Avicenna Rufus and Gentilis speak who being fed with Poyson onely from her Infancy was so infectious that her breath was pestiferous and destructive to such as came near her Another woman lived at Coleyn in Germany who as Albertus relates did usually eat Spiders whereas one Spider bruised in Wine would kill many One Porus King of India did daily eat Snakes and Poysons Rex anguirus who being a long time nourished with this kinde of Aliment was so poysonfull that he would kill men by his touch or breath or by his spitting as a Serpent or any other poysonous Creature There is a certain kinde of men in the Hellespont Ophiogenes who are nourished with Poysons onely and thence they are fitly called Ophiogenes that is to say generated of Serpents The Marsians and Psyllians delighted much in the same nutriment who feared not at all the bitings and poysons of Serpents which was experienced in one of that Family Exagon by name who by the Decree of the Roman Consuls was put into a Hogshead filled with Serpents who nevertheless escaped without detriment Plin. cap. 29. lib. 6. Athenageras the Grecian as it is related could not be hurt by Scorpions The same is affirmed of the Ethiopians that inhabit near the River Hydaspes Galen makes mention lib. 3. simp cap. 13. of a certain Athenian woman which had often eat a great quantity of Hemlock without any prejudice to her health Sext. Emperic hath the same story of another old woman 'T is generally reported of Lysis that she would eat Opium in a great quantity without impairing her health and I saw a woman of Nemaxium who daily took half a dram of the same A certain maid of Crete did kill several with her looks and bring boyes into a consumption What need of more they that are accustomed to Poysons are free from the mischief of them Poysons are drawn either from Plants Whence Poyson proceeds Animals or Minerals From Plants as from all kinds of Poppy from Henbane and Mandrakes whose qualities though they be poysonous yet often times effectual for curing many Diseases And those very things which sometimes are present poyson both to man and beast yet being rightly handled prepared and applyed they are a secure help The herb Wolfs bane is poyson Poysons sometimes are mecamental yet it is added to Ophthalmick Medicaments and Hemlock though poysonous yet effectual in extinguishing Tetters Ulcers and Leprous spots Nerium also drunk in Wine is good against the bitings of Serpents House-leek killeth the Ringworm and spreading soars All kinds of Night-shade rightly applyed doth mitigate any pain But all these according to Dioscorides are poysonous as also Ranunculus Esula Hermodactylus yet the use thereof is not onely wholsome but effectual in many distempers As also Aconitus Herba Paris yea Antimony and Stibium and many others are both medicamental and poysonous for they both cure and kill Mushtooms also are not altogether Medicaments but sometimes Aliment and sometimes Poyson for by the use of these five young Students of Paris were killed and yet Courtiers are much taken with such Dishes I shall not here renumerate other poysonous Plants which are daily and fortunately put to medicinal uses for it may suffice that I have touched upon a few because it is not necessary neither can they all be comprehended in one Chapter Medicaments also are taken from poysonfull Animals Medicines daily assumed from poysonous Animals for the flesh of Stinci marini is often given to decayed Nature to excite Venery Vipers do admirably benefit such as are leprous as also Snakes whose flesh rightly prepared is a sure Antidote against
repell by a refrigerating quality only as water and other such repercussours Galen lib. 14. Method but according to Galen and Oribasius all repelling Medicaments are onely to be used in the beginning of a fluxe That is called Helcticum or Epispasticum which draweth the humors downwards and it is contrary to repelling Medicaments for it is hot and thin but repercussives cold and grosse Galen lib. 10. compos Med. loc cap. 25. lib. 1. sympos c. 16. lib. 5. simplic And every hot Medicament draweth every cold one repells That which is hot in the second degree doth apparently draw that which is hot in the third partly drawes and partly disposes and it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now there are foure different kinds of attracting Medicaments Atrahentia quadruplicia Some draw by an Elementary quality which are hot in the second degree Others by accident as in putrefaction and of this sort Leaven hath the strongest attractive quality others by a certain similitude as poysons attract poyson others by an occult property As Dittany attracts and extracts pricks and darts the Loadstone Iron That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which whether internally assumed or externally applyed doth not only open the passages by attenuation and scowring but which cutts divides and resolves obvious humours by sweat or breath Of which there are two kindes some weaker called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is relaxing which indeed are hot and subtill but doe not dry up which rather dispose the humors for resolution than resolve them The matter of resolving Medicament is abundant for all those that are moderately hot in the second and hot in the third degree and subtil resolve That which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is stopping or obstructing is contrary to that which is called Anastomoticum for it obstructs the entry of the vessells and hinders evacuations because its substance is grosse and therefore obstructive That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is closing which hath power but more unable and weak to obstruct and it onely closes the pores of the skin as Stegnoticum doth the orifices of the veines That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is clammy which applyed to any place sticks tenaciously and obstructs the pores of the skin and fils them with much stuffe as Rosin or Gum. Some are also called Emphrastica which obstruct the pores with a glewish humour and fill them with clammy matter A condensing Medicament called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is that which makes liquid and subtill juices more grosse its power consists in grosse and terrestriall matter void of all Acrimony The Med. called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is contrary to this which attenuates grosse and compact humour and variously dissolves them It is of a very subtill substance whether cold as vinegar or hot as Aqua vitae otherwise called Aqua vini and by many Alcumists an Elixir or quintessence That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a pore-opening Medicament which delivers the passages from viscid and clammy humors its faculty is various according to the various manner of the humour causing obstruction for that obstruction which proceeds from a glewish juice must be dissolved by an attenuating and cutting Ecphracticke that obstruction which is hard withall must be resolved by a mollifying quality That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is mollifying which mollifies a hard body as a hard boyle and reduces it to its naturall state and it is at least hot in the second degree and temperate both in humidity and siccity cap. 4. 8. lib. 5. simpl that which is more temperate in heat is rather a cause of imposthumes But that which is applyed to a hard swelling caused by siccity should be both more moist and moderate in heat as oyle of much marrow That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a suppuratory which is most congruent and like to our nature and as it were a symmetry of heat and moisture c. 5.7 8. lib. 5. simpl whence if our finger be put to any part where we desire to change the matter into corruption if it be long therein detained it shall easily make a suppuration but mollifying Medicaments are hotter yet not so hot that they discusse by that quality their exuperant humidity and therefore suppurating Medicaments performe what they may rather by quantity and mollifying by quality than any other thing To the former 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is very simular but taken strictly it is a Medicament which concocts the humour Diapyeticum is that which changes it into corruption That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or cleansing which purges out all grosse and subtill humours and all filth whence it is called a purgative Medicament It is altogether bitter of taste full of salt and drying that is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is applied to green wounds it is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a blood stenching Medicament That Medicament is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or incarnative which is effectuall in regenerating flesh and it is dry in the first degree and cleanseth moderately and without paine cap. 15. lib. 5. simpl 3. Method That Medicament is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or glutinatory which conjoynes and agglutinates parts disjoyned that they may returne to their naturall unity when it is applyed to bloody wounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some Symphyticum Aggregativum That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is effectuall in solidating broken bones and in conjoyning flesh-pores That is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Synuloticum which makes a skar in the ulcer which it doth by its most efficacious siccity and astriction for this is dry in the third degree Coleticum in the second and Sarcoticum in the first onely That Medicament is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which consumes the superfluous flesh to which it is applyed and reduces the part to its native superficies whence it is called of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is hot in the third degree That Med. is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which by burning the part to which it is applyed by its most vehement and fiery heat it leaves a pill or crust upon it as sublimate or a Caustick That Medicament is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is putrifying which partakes of some maligne quality and destroyes and putrifies the place it touches by induring its stink and ill quallity as Sandarach the Monks hood and such like Some are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which take away hard thick skin and these may easily be used in their stead which are called Catharetica that is superfluous flesh-consuming Medicaments And since these are the chief names taken from the ffects of Medicamentall faculties we will omit those that are of lesse use CHAP. XV. Of the choice of purging Medicaments in generall IF an Apothecary sufficiently know these
it or cure him of it it will also cure a wound inflicted by a Scorpion and so will its own body bruised and applied A Scorpion is a terrestrial Animal with a long and nodous tayl whose end is armed with a long and oblique sting perviated with a small hole through which it effunds its poyson into the part pricked it hath arms and fore-cleyes bisulcated its tayl is alwayes ready for a stroke it never le ts slip an opportunity it strikes obliquely The Masculine Scorpion is maculated on the belly and forecleys and its poyson is more pernicious the Females more milde though some write contrary There are eight kindes of Scorpions the first is white which they say is not lethiferous the second yellowish whose stroke is seconded with vehement ardour and an inextinguishable thirst the third is blackish whose stroke depraves the members of motion and makes men mad causing foolish laughter the fourth is somewhat green it hath seven knots in his tayl perpetual and great cold though in the heat of Summer follows upon its stroke the fifth is pale and livid and infects the percussed with tumours in his groins the sixth is like a little Sea Crab-fish the seventh hath greater Cleys and is very like the Crab we call Pagurus the eighth is of a Honey-colour it hath wings like a Locust and the last knot of its tayl is black Winged Scorpions are very rare with us but frequent and great in India and Aphrica with seven knots in their tayls If we reckon the variety of Scorpions by the variety of their colours some are called flave Scorpions some yellow some cineritious some green some ferrugineous some vinous some white and others fuliginous The smitings of Scorpions are farre more perillous to women then men and especially to Virgins for they are alwayes lethal to such unless they be presently helped and such Scorpions as have seven knots in their tayls are judged most cruel They procreate and sit upon Vernicles like Egges Vires and they produce a progeny which coming to perfection drives them away and thus Scorpions are said to be killed by their young ones But these things respect not Pharmacy and therefore not for my purpose CHAP. 33. Of Worms MAny small Animals are generated of Worms and Worms of many great Animals yea this progeny springs from all altered and putrid matter stones bones wood fruit cheese flesh and all things seem at first to turn into worms for mans own flesh is absumed by worms and his clothes by moths And though cold things much resist putretude yet worms are generated in the coldest snow and some are procreated of salt they are also generated in Animals daily their body abounding with putrid humours for there worms are generated where putretude resides for Corruption is their Mother I saw a worm of a palms length come out with the blood of the vein of ones arm opened They are still generated in the intestines and other parts of mans body and also in Harts heads Every Insect generates a worm except the Butterfly which is procreated of another dissimilar Insect as the Poet Et fio volucris qui modo vermis eram The family of Worms being thus ample I shall onely speak of Earth-worms which are used in Medicine for these washed in white-wine prepared macerated in Oyl and duly elixated in a double vessel afford us an Oyl very conducible in nervous affections They are also assumed at the mouth after due preparation to wit when they are washed dryed levigated and mixed with other Powders to cure Virgins pale colours Many call them the Earths Intestines others Earth-worms others Earth-lumbricks they have a long round body with neither bone eye nor ear They go so that the precedent part draws the consequent in their locomotion They are procreated of the mud of the earth and animated by the same cause that other Insects are They are destitute of eyes ears feet members and are like oblong fibres whose parts are not discriminated save by some knots and denervations a little beyond their middles Spring or Winter-showers if not glacial elicite them they are neither liberally nor copiously generated in the earth much trodden upon but frequently in fat and waste ground Vires These bruised and applied conglutinate prescinded Nerves and fresh wounds CHAP. 34. Of Spanish-Flies or Beetles THese Flyes have onely a nominal affinity with Beetles for they are often used in Medicine Beetles never Galen hath experienced them good against scabs and Leprosies and Physicians finde â—hem to provoke Urine Aristotle calls them Putrid Animals because they are produced â—f putrid matter They are procreated nourished and found in â—any shrubs as the Bramble and in many tall trees as the Ash shose that are found in Corn are versicolorate and have transâ—erse lines in their wings with an oblong body and are very good But they will be more fit for use if they be injected into an earthen vessel whose orifice is covered with a rare linen cloth and turned downwards that by the halite of sharp vinegar they may be exanimated then dryed reposed in wooden boxes glass or earthen vessels and kept for the space of two years They are mixed but in small quantity to Medicaments that provoke Urine by Galens advise who would have them injected whole but the later Writers would have their legs and wings abscinded and abjected When a Noble Matron of Paris was holden with a continual Feaver accompanied with the heat of the Reins and other grievous symptomes and had committed the care of her cure to Mr. Martin a learned and perite Parisian Medick by the perswasion of some she call'd one Rivierius a courtly Medick who feeling her pulse said If she had called him a little sooner he would have applyed a dragm of French flies to the region most affected and have presently restored her to sanity so he left the Matron grieved and her ordinary Medick astonished at his humour manners words and actions who was so far from adhibiting such a company of these flies that he applyed not one and yet restored her to health for this flie being most dry and light it is credible one weighing not above a grain what were it less then carnifice to adhibite sixty of them which weigh but a dragm to the aesture of the Reins But take this obiter not because I am incensed against the man but that I might shew that these flies are very noxious to the Bladder Reins and other parts by inducing inflammations yet very good mixed with other Medicaments in a small quantity CHAP. 35. Of Ants. PHarmacopolies are not destitute of Ants which afford an oyle commended to many received uses for it califies the generative parts being too frigid and reduces them to a better state Ants are the most laborious and officious of insects which exercise their labours not onely on the day but on the night also in full Moon alwayes treading the same pathes bringing
chusing of simples according to time and season Electuary a soft form of medicine made sometimes purging sometimes not Elephantiasis a kind of white scals or leprosie over the whole body of the patient making it like the side of an elephant Elevation is when subtil things are forced from those which are thick Elicite make choice of Elixar a quintessense or medicinal liquor refined by distillation to the highest purity and exalted to its utmost degree of vertue Elixation gentle boyling by a moderate heat Elution the preparation of common Bole by pulverization calcination lotion c. as Talcum Crocus martis Terra-lemnia Emanates proceeds from Embrocated moistened sprinckled wash'd or bathed Emends cures or takes away Emetos or Emesia vomiting a depraved motion of the stomach Emetica vomiting Medicines Emphrastica medicines that clog up the pores of the skin by their clamminess Empirick a Mountebank or Quacksalver that administreth Physick without any regard to rule or art Emollient softening or dissolving oyntments Emollition a softening by steeping Emollient herbs are four mallows marsh-mallows black violet and bears breech Empasms medicinal pouders used to allay inflamations and to scarifie the extremity of the skin Emplasters are a Composition of several Simples for several diseases according to the Physitians discretion Emplaistick medicines all such kind of food which is of a clammy glutinous substance Empneumasis Windiness in the stomach Emprostotonos A kind of Cramp Empyema corruption or quittour lying between the Breast and Lungs after a plurisie Empyici are such as have an imposthume or bladder broken in the side of the Lungs Emulgent veins those passages whereby the wheyish excrements of the bloud is conveyed through the kidneys into the bladder Emulsions the steeping or dissolution by steeping of any seeds or kernels in liquor till it come to the thickness of a jelly Emunctories certain passages whereby nature clenseth the body from many hurtful peccant humors which are certain kernels in the groins and under the arms where risings most commonly happen in pestilential and venemous diseases Enecated killed Eneorema the clouds that hang in distilled waters or in urins especially when the Disease is breaking away Energetical very forcible and strong Enchanthis an immoderate encrease and swelling of the caruncle or little flesh in the corner of the eye coming from the abundance of bloud in that part Encomium praise commendation Entrals the bowels Euntiates signifies Ephemera febris a light Fever that lasts but one day Ephractica medicines opening the pores of the skin Epicrasis a leasurely evacuacuation of evil humors Epidemical diseases are such as are universally spread over a whole Nation or Country such are the plague small pox fluxes sweating sicknesse c. Epidemia the plague Epiglottis is a gristle and a cover of the cleft of the Larynx made to fall upon it when we swallow that nothing should slip into the weason Epilepsia the falling sickness which is a convulsion of the whole body not continually but by fits with an hinderance both of the mind and senses Epiphora involuntary weeping Epispastick blistering plaisters or any other strong drawing plaister they are also called vesicatories Epithems bags of dried herbs pouders or spices sometimes moistened with rose-water wine or vinegar sometimes applied dry to the region of the stomach heart liver spleen or brain Epuloticks pouders or other medicines that dry up ulcers and sores Eradicate plucked up by the roots Eraded scraped off or raked away Erector in plain english A lifter up physically the muscle that makes the yard to stand Eroded rusted canker'd or eaten asunder Erumnies griefs miseries Errhins sneezing medicines to be snuft up into the head to purge the brain Erugates Takes away wrinckles Eruption a breaking or bursting out Erysipelas chollerick humors or swellings Escheoticks potential cauteries see Cauteries Esculents whatever things may be eaten Essences or chymical extracts being the most refined and spiritual part of any matter or substance Essential accidents of a Disease without which they could not be said to be as heat in a Fever leanness in a Consumption c. Eviscerate to unbowel or draw out the bowels Euphorpium a gum or tear of a strange Plant growing on the mount Atlas in Libia its yellow clear and brittle it 's good against palsies and shrinking of sinews Exhalation is when the spirit of any matter solid or in pouder is lifted up through heat and vanisheth into the air Evacuation purging or discharging the body of what is dangerous or superfluous Evaporation consumption by steem caused by a gentle heat in evaporations of liquors the flatter broader your vessel is that holds your liquor the sooner will the Operation be effected Eventilated fanned cooled or clensed by the wind as musty corn is made sweet by casting to and again abroad in the air Euchima good blood or a good habit of body Evocative that calls forth or brings forth any offensive matter or humor Euphony sound pronuntiaon Exacts drives away Exanthemata the small pox are pustules and the measles spots which arise in the top of the skin from the impurity of the corrupt bloud sent thither by force of nature Exaltation a chymical preparation whereby any thing is brought to its highest vertue and purity Exanimate drive out the life Exiccate to make dry or dry up Exasperate provoked to be more painful fell and angry than before Excavated hollow Excite stir up provokes Excrement the dregs or residence of the nourishment of the body voyded by dung sweat and urine Excrementitious that which is mixed with any impure or unnecessary excrementitious humor Excorticated fleyed or pieled Excreta things voided out of the body Exenterated having the bowels plucked out Exestuate destroy the heat of any part Exhalation vapors drawn by the Sun upwards off the face of the earth and waters Exhausted drawn dry spent Exhibited given administred Exhilerate make chearful enlighten revive Exiccation drying Exigent a streight or necessity an eminent peril Exiguity meanness littleness smalness Eximious excellent eminent exceeding admirable great Exonerate disburthen discharge Exotick strange forreign Expetible desirable worthy to be wish'd for or sought after Expel to drive forth Expectorate to help an easie spitting out of flegm Expressed squeezed out Expletes empties Expulsion the driving forth of excrements dung urine sweat or any hurtful humor offending the body Expurged clensed Exquisite perfectly perfect Extension stretching forth Extenuation leanness a consumption Extergeth clenseth Extinct dead or put out like a candle Extraction pulling or drawing out Extranous strange forreign from without Extrinsecal from without Extruct build set up Extrudes drives out Exucce without juyce Exulcerate make sore Exuperant over abounding exceeding F Fabrick the whole composition or frame of the body Fabrication building Factitious counterfeit Faculty of a medicine is a certain cause or quality whereon its properaction or vertue depends as the faculty of Aloes is to purge Faex vini the lees of wine Fames Canina Boulimia dogs appetite