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 presume to be safely exhibited at all times without advice As for instance [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 nutriment 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 War For though it be very cordial and as it were the succus sanguis senectutis as it were old mens milk and restorative to life yet taken at an unfit season and immoderately proves noxious and 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 in a decent manner to salutiferous use according to the prescript of some skilfull Physician which that he may with good success accomplish and answer the expectation of the Physician he ought first to select his Ingredients 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 for nutriment 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 admirable effects for the root of Peony applyed to the head or hung about the neck doth cure the Epilepsy Mint put into milk hinders its coagulation and condensation into Cheese as it hath been proved by men of good credit The herb AEthiopis if Fliny speaks true cap. 4. lib. 26. Herba Ethlopidis
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 Λ 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 pricks Words therefore and Characters are said to be powerfull in the curing of Diseases and Trallian omitted not this way of curing To cure the Gout saith he dig up the herb Henbane before the Sun rise when the Moon is in Aquarius or Pisces and say Adjuro te herba sacra per sancta nomina
after a little refrigeration the severall species must be by little and little added confounded and mixed with a Spatula till it have got its whose 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 dicitur quod cam 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 varia 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 inspissation 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 Colicall dolours Confectiones Colicae 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 for present they mitigate and absolve from paine and griefe For Anodynes are not all of one sort Paregorica quae for some are Paregoricall or leniating which are temperate and most agreeing without heat as Hydreole the root of Lillies boyled in milk and oil of Almonds Others are called Alliotical which leniate the
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 Blandum 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 Ingrata 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 gently move the belly they are measured by drams if potently by scruples if they onely alter by whole or half ounces and when they make up a bath by pounds or handfulls In making Syrups of a great quantity they may be exhibited from â„¥ j. to â„¥ ij or â„¥ iij. in decoctions for one dosis from
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 burn and not be extinguished till all its oleous and fat substance be absumed All Sulphur is not alike in colour for some is green some more luteous some cineritious and some pallid or lucid Whence we may gather That it is of more sorts then two Pliny also enumerates four some whereof are harder others fatter and others more inflammal That Sulphur whereof Alchymists tell many vain and ridiculous stories is not common Sulphur yet it is mixed though they assert that it is a principle of mixture But no more of that in this place There is a certain fat liquor very efficacious Oleum Sulphuris educed out of Sulphur yet such as may not be used imperitely lest it do more harm then good There is a powder also made of Sulphur against the vices of the Lungs whose event demonstrates its excellency That Medicament which Mesue calls Diasulphur is hence denominated Sulphur califies cocts resolves cures Coughs Vires and difficulty of breathing taken in an Egge or burned and its smoke catched moves spittle mixed with butter or swines-grease it mitigates and kills the itch erupting on the whole body and mixed with Turpentine it cures Tetters rough nails and scabs CHAP. 10. Of Amber-grise AMber-grise which was unknown to the Ancients is neither the seed of Balena nor excrement of any other Whale nor yet the dung of any Birds educated in the Isle Maldina with odoriferous herbs which dung is by the sea wash'd of those Rocks as some somniate nor yet any kinde of maritimous Mushrome eradicated by the Sea as many have asserted nor yet any thing made of Ladanum Aloes wood Storax and Civer as Fuschius credited but a certain kinde of Bitumen by storms driven from the Fountains and Chanels of the Sea to the shore where exposed to the air it speedily condenses as many things do which while they are in the water are soft and tender but eructed become dry and hard as Amber Perhaps as it is storied a great quantity of Amber-grise hath been found in a Whales belly but whilest she was alive she had got it and ingested it in the Sea for it is absurd to think that Amber should be the Whales excrement when the best Amber devoured by a Whale loses its bonity and suavity Which Simeon Sethi smelled well enough who asserting that Amber is a kinde of Bitumen flowing out of some Fountains saith That that which is devoured by fishes is the worst that can be Garcias ab Horto seems to assert That it is a kinde of odorate earth seeing there was not onely a fragment of three thousand pounds weight of Amber found in the earth but whole Islands of pure Amber and he proves the probability hereof from the infinite varieties of earth in colour and qualities and seeing in this general acception Bitumen may be called a kinde of Earth I do nor impugn the verisimilitude of his assertion especially finding it called Precious Earth Thus have I briefly related the whole history of Amber for I will neither undertake neither will my short annotations bear the discussion of such opinions as have been published about Amber That Amber which is most odorate devoid of filth perforated with a needle emits much fat succe that which is cineritious and not black is good that which is black or very candid is not good It calefies Vires resolves recreates the heart brain and principal parts refreshes the spirits cureth swoundings erects the strength exhilarates the mind and cures palpitation CHAP. 11. Of yellow Amber or Electrum ORange-coloured Amber is variously denominated the Greeks call it Electrum the Persians and Mauritanians Charabe that is catch-straw the Germans Glesum that is Glasse because it is splendent the Romans Succinum because it is the product of succe or Sea-bitumen concreted but not the succe of Pine or black Poplar as many have asserted for it is found in the deeps and upon Sea-shores concreted of the fat juyce of the Sea and Earth This matter whilest lent viscid and fat before it be obdurated and dryed catches and detains many Flies Gnats Ants and such like Insects which dye dry and odorate together with the Amber This Amber is either white or flave the white which is more odorate and lighter is good so also is the flave if pellucid and such as may be made by attrition to smell like Rosemary and attract chaff or straw It s Powder given in convenient liquor cohibits the flux of blood roborates the bowels and is good against the white fluor of the womb one dragm thereof taken in a soft Egge will stay the flux of Sperm and will help such as are tabid infested with hardness of intestines difficulty of breathing and long Coughs
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 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
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 many Poysons That which is asserted de Dracone marino Sea-dragon is both Poyson and Aliment exceeds credit for he hath a sharp pointed bone upon his back so noxious to man that whomsoever he pricks is precipitated to death unless he be helped in time yet his flesh is both pleasant and wholsome nutriment
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 three things he is most expert in his Art to wit to select prepare and compound Medicaments now Election denotes knowledge for no man can well select and discerne this good from that evill unlesse he have known both preparation also presupposes an industrious artificer who being long exercised in the Art doth correct
poyson very efficacious to excite lust in men for it causes stiffness of the Yard whence it justly ingredes the confection of Diasatyrium It is a small four-footed Animal tected with small frequent and subluteous scales with a long head little thicker then its neck a high belly a round tayl like a Lizard but shorter and crooked towards the end with a grey line from its head to the end of its tayl Dioscorides saith It is the product either of Aegypt or India or of the Red-sea though it is seen in Lydia of Mauritania Some do erroneously take it for the Salamander Pliny calls it the Land-Crocodile for it very much resembles the Crocodile of Nilus But there is no proportion in their dimensions for this is alwayes small scarce exceeding a cubit in length whereas the Crocodile of Nilus attains two and twenty cubits and yet no term of his concretion though his original is from an Egge no bigger then a Gooses Egge He lives both upon the land and water his eyes are like Swines eyes his sight in the water is dull but out very quick This Animal alone except the Parrer moves his upper jaw he hath a small rongue adhering to his under-jaw his legs come out of his side his feet are small in reference to his body his claws strong his skin squamous crustaceous and impenetrable save under his belly which is soft This Animal lives sixty years layes sixty Egges in sixty dayes sits upon its Egges sixty dayes before young ones be excluded it hath sixty joynts in its backbone and as many teeth in its head as it will lye dayes in winter in some Cavern without meat The more curious Scrutator may have a fuller description of the Crocodile in Aristotle Pliny and later Writers who have lustrated Aegypt and the Oriental Coasts CHAP. 32. Of Scorpions THey make an Oyl of dead Scorpions infused in Oyl which they cognominate from the same for many uses in Medicine for by way of liniment it breaks and expels the stones in the Reins and Bladder and moves Urine it cures the bitings of Vipers Serpents and other venenate Beasts if it be adhibited to the arm-holes and groins in time of Pestilence it will either preserve the user from 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 them to provoke Urine Aristotle calls them Putrid Animals because they are produced of putrid matter They are procreated nourished and found in many shrubs as the Bramble and in many tall trees as the