are unknown to us yet they are not unknown to nature Here riseth another question Namely whether to much Drinking of Tobacco in a Pipe can dry the brain and yet leave the other parts of the body in a good temper For the Negatiue part the Argument is this Because the great or small quantity of the humour of the whole body follows the temperament contracted from the first generation Since therefore the temperament belongs to the whole living Creature and not to one part alone the humour cannot be dried up in the brain nor in any other part of the body but it must also be dried up in the whole body Now that the temperament must be ascribed to the whole body and not to one part only is proved from the 1. and 3. Books of Hippocrates Epidem From the grayness of the eyes sharpness of the voyce and black haire you may conclude that the temperament of the whole body is either hot or cold as if one part could not be hot or cold but the whole body must be so also But Galen is for the contrary part 2. de temper c. ult. where he proves by many arguments that it is not necessary thaâ— all the parts of the body should follow the temper of the whole For though in a temperate body and very well constituted an equall temper may be found over all the body but in others that are different from this exquisite temper and just dispensation it cannot be Universally true for a man may have a large brest and full of haire and therefore like a Lion have a most hot heart and be exceeding bold yet it follows not that allâ—his body over must be so hot So we find daily to pass by other examples that many men have hot livers and yet cold brains and the contrary in others that it is no wonder that if one man who hath the rest of his veins of his body swelling forth have the veins of his head and brain after a sort dried up For Galen addes that this may be done and that the excess of Intemperance in one part may be the cause of the contrary excess in the rest and make them weak or the strength of one part may be answered by the strength or weakeness of another To answer the contrary argument when Hippocrates collects from the colour of the eye or sharpness of the voice what is the temperament of the whole body this may be taken as if he did search for the same things in the equall temperament of the whole body whereof he finds some tokens in the parts or he may be understood thus when other signs in the whole body concurre to signifie the same For example if there be signs of heat in the whole body and a great voyce and large brest be joyned with them it is evident by these signs that the whole body is hot which must also be understoode concerning the complexion of the brain and other parts â—hat must be compared with the temperament of the rest I say that such who for many years and by much taking of it are used to this smoke in their mouth and nostrills to those it doth less harm For custome is nature acquired as Galen saith 2. de motu musc. and 2 de tempament or it is an acquired habit by many actions concerning one thing used for a long time and this habit by custome is made agreeable to nature Whence divine Hippocrates 2. Aphorism 50. speaks thus Those things that we are accustomed to though they be worse yet they do us less harm than those that we are not used to and therefore we must use what we are wonted to This is a most true axiome and cannot be contradicted For all things that are accustomed as they are so are less hurtfull than things we are not wonted to for by custome things that are worse are made familiar to nature and therefore are not dangerous For what nature is acquainted with is wont to be harmless Custome is of such consequence that from that in preserving of health or curing of diseases we may have great indication and not much less than we can from nature as both Hippocrates and Galen intimate in many places For since nature alwaies delights in what it is used to as Galen saith 8. Method it is certain that every one ought to keep his custome for from custome as well as from nature and age great conclusions may be made Since then Hippocrates and Galen affirme that we must hold to what we are wonted to what a great danger would it be to leave off this custome which is confirmed by so many years as this is to smoke Tobacco in a Pipe at the Mouth and Nostrils and to change this to a contrary way especially if it be done suddenly or immediately as I am perswaded all men can easily perceive Whence Celsus also speaks l. 1. c. 3. He is in danger who both once and he that twice eats in a day contrary to his usuall custome Again sudden ease from violent labour and sudden labour from great ease cannot be safe When therefore any man thinks to leave off this drinking of Tobacco for a time he must not rashly nor suddenly change this custome for it is almost as strong as nature Therefore they who use to smoke it easily bear it and they that are not used to it cannot so well away with it Custome makes not only healthfull things to be usefull for us but also it makes those things healthfull which were they not accustomed to us would be the most dangerous For it is of such force that it overcomes the malignity of any thing taken and which is more to be wondred at the very violence and virulency of poysons is conquered by it and it spoils them of their malignity so I read of a maid that was fed with Wolfs-bane and in time by degrees shee used it for her nourishment Galen 3. simpl c. 18. speaks of an old woman of Athens who beginning from a small quantity of Hemlock proceeding by degrees learned to feed on it in great quantity and found no harm by it We read also of a certain Maiden at Collen who when she was but three years old would catch the Spiders creeping upon the walls and eat them and being delighted with that kind of diet grew exceedingly Mithridates King of Pontus taking poyson daily made it so familiar to him that when he would have poysoned himselfe that he might not fall into Pompeys hands he drank deadly poyson without any harme Oft Mithridates eating Poyson got That the most cruell Poysons hurt him not Sleydan lib. 9. Writes that Pope Clement the 7. being old died of a great pain of his stomach having changed his diet by the advice of Curtiuâ— his Physician What should I say much of a thing confirmed of daily examples We see that they who use to purg often have need of stronger physick
I understand was lately done by them may collect above thirty thousand franks yearly at their pleasure by the only custome upon Tobacco for the publick treasure from the Merchants that are carefull to bring it from the Indies unto us But to return again from whence we digressed I said that this sume can draw forth watâ—y and cold humours from the head yet Hippocrates his Doctrine seems to be against this 5. Apharism 28. Sweet Aromaticall smells will provoke the terms and the same would be often good for other matters did they not cause the head to ake Where he teacheth Galen subscribing in his commentary that the whole body being duly fume will send forth by the Matrix in all cold and moyst dispositions were it not that we are affraid of that heaviness of the head which proceeds from these fumes Since then for a Flegmatique matter lying in the head those things are not requisite which load and fill the head but rather those things that send ease and lighten it fumigations that are made of things that fill the head as Galen himself teacheth cannot be good to be used in such a disposition of the brain nor yet in any other But there are many most grave Authours for the other part who exercise their practise with great praise and teach and highly commend fumigations in such or the like accidents and to these men not only daily experience but also most strong reason subscribes For to cut and consume a cold and moyst humours collected in the brain no fitter Remedies than those can be found which have power to strengthen attenuate and dry the brain and it is certain that the sume of Tobacco hath such a faculty For it heats cuts attenuates opens and resolves Therefore this smoke drawn in by the Mouth and Nose to dry and heat the cold and moyst excrements of the brain may be proper and usefull To answer the former argument that is against it observe that it is very necessary to consider for the use of this remedy what the temper of the brain is as I said and what the humour is that abounds in it for if it be hot it will be much filled and burdned with the smoke of Tobacco and the cause of this event lyeth in the heat of the part for heat naturally attracts heat and also in the largness of the passages of a hot head whereby it easily admits the Vapours that ascend but if the braine be over cold and moyst and then heap up such excrements it will not be filled with this fume but will rather be refreshed and dried unless perhaps by reason of so great naturall weakness or weakness contracted by a disease it can admit no vapours without pain and heaviness These things premised I answer to the contrary Argument that Hippocrates in the quoted Aphorism must be understood concerning those who have a brain that is very hot and moist and weake withall and that easily is offended with pain and heaviness For a cold and moist brain filled with cold and moist Excrements a hot and drying fume such as is the smoke of Tobacco is most convenient especially drawn in by a Pipe the way I mentioned before Yet I think they ought to abstain from it whose heads are not only weak but are also of a delicate nature and are easily disturbep and pain'd not only with fumes but with the most temperate smels Here follows another question namely whether the fume of Tobacco swallowed into the Stomach which custome I find to be in continuall use with many men but chiefly amongst our Sea men can draw and purge superfluous humours out of the head and brain Reasons are very forcible for the affirmative part The first is taken out of the 7. Aphorisme 30. of Hippocrates who say thus Whosoever they be that in a diarrhaea void frothy excrements by stool those excrements flow from the head and from thence it is inferred that humours may be drawn from the head to the stomach by the faculties of purging medicaments being derived by the tunnel The second is taken from Actuarius Mâ—sues and other approved Authoursâ— who commend Agarick to purge flegmatique humours contain'd in the head and the brest which they would never have done if the head and brest could not be vacuated by the belly The Argument for the Negative part is because according to Aristo 1. Sect. Probl. Quest 42. When medicaments come to the belly and are resolved they are presently carried to the Veins by the same way that the meat is and when they cannot be concocted but remain conquerours they slip back again and carry with them those things that stay by them and that is called purging And from the stomach to the brain or brest there are no passages found whereby a purging medicament can passe to allure the humours to it Therefore the humour that is contain'd in the brain or thorax cannot be drawn forth by the fume of Tobacco as by a purgative medicament which opinion also of Aristotle the most Learned Fernelius 3. Meth. c 7. seems to defend Note therefore for the resolving of this difficulty that the more corpulent substance of this fume doth not pass from the stomach to purge the brain but stayeth in it or sticks in the Intestins and from thence it draws forth those humours that are agreeing to it which may be proved many waies First because medicaments applyed outwardly as to the Navel therefore called Navel-medicaments to the palme of the hand or to the soles of the feet and sometimes applyed to the Nostrils will purge the body and yet they cannot proceed so far as to purge the humours Secondly Because we often observe that medicaments and pils are voided almost whole after purgation which could not be if they passed all the body over to draw unto them such humours as are familiar to them Thirdly Serapiows argument proves the same for saith he if a medicament should pass to a humour that is farre off from it it would joyn lovingly with it and would never draw forth that it delights in the society of as the Loadstone joyned to the Iron doth not draw the iron to some other place but detains and holds it there Wherefore we must confesse that some thin fumie substance doth rise from the stomach by the veins and other secret passages not only to the brain but also is diffused we cannot say how to all parts of the body Hence it is clear that Aristotle said not right that purgatives pass all the body over and so draw the peccant humour as taken captive into the stomach Those things being thus observed we answer to the difficulty that purgatives do not pass through the body to attract humours that agree with them but they stay in the stomach and by their force and Vertue they draw them unto them from all parts of the body by waies that though they
rubbed in the morning upon the place of the Spleen obstructed or hardened from a cold cause softneth and dissolveth it but after annâ—inting you â—ust apply a leaf to it roasted in the embers or a cloath wet in the juyce of the leaves Others use instead of this unguents proper to this Disease with which they mingle the juyce of the leaves and adde also the leaves themselves and by this means it is found out that hard and inveterate humours may be dissolved The distilled water drank daily upon an empty stomach wonderfully helps hydrophical persons Moreover if you put the dry leaves of Tobacco upon the live Coles in a Kettle and so roste them and draw in the smoke of them by your mouth with a Pipe or Reed or Tunnell haveving your head and throat close covered you shall spit out so much flegme and clammy humours that you shall be so lank as if you had fasted a long time Wherefore it seems that a Dropsy not yet confirmed may be cured by this fume since it chiefly doth good to Aâ—â—hmaticall shortâ—winded people and such as are vexed with an old cold and with Rhumes for it makes them to spit out much thick and clammy matter The juyce of the Leaves of Tobacco Clarified and with Sugar â—ade into a Syrup and taken in the Morning in a small quantity drives forth Stomack and Belly Worms yet you must bruise the Leaves and wrap them in a Cloth and lay them to the Navel of the Patient and give him a Clyster of Milk and Sugar Also the powder of the same alone or mingled with other Leâ—itives is a present remedy for the Emrods for it perfectly cures them The Leaves heat under the Embers as I shewed before do with no less force drive away pains of the Matrix if they be laid to the Navell but it must be first Annoynted with Oyle wherein the juyce of the Leaves is boyled But the suffocation of the Matrix is taken away by receiving the fume of the Leaves by the privities Hip Goâ—t it abated if you rub it with Oyle of Olives and apply one Leafe of Tobacco Rosted at the fire This is good for any Gout coming from Cold Some bid the Patient chew every Morning fasting some of the â—eaves to free him from pains of the Gout This will draw much Flâ—gme into his Moâ—th and hinder it from running down upon the lower parts Wherefore the powder of the dryed Leaves will preserve men from pains of the Gout of the Feet that came at certain times if they use to Snufâ— up this Powder often into both Nostrils Likewise they that are now in pain with it shall manifestly find an abatement of it and the Disease to decline if they Snuff up the Powder into their Noses and in time often using it they will be freed from it Also the Powder may be held in the Mouth instead of an Apophlegmatism for either way it draws much Humours from the head and directs them from falling down upon the parts affected by reason of Defluxions Lastly The fresh Leaves of Tobacco laid on hot to resolve the cold are good for any part of the body affected from a cold cause for they take away the pains and forcibly resolve them either applyed by themselves or with other Remedies good for the same Diseases where there needs strong resolving means Take Sagupenuâ— Bdelliâ—m Griâ—â—â—lâ—â—y of each one Dram dissolve them in Vinegar and about the end adde of the Leaves of powder of Tobacco dried one ounce Oyle of Camomile one ounce wax what is sufficient make a Plaister according to art for this most powerfully resolves and abates pain Also you may make it thus Take Tacamahaâ— Caranna of each three Drams dissolve them according to art in Wine or a little of the strongest Vinegar after this adde powder of Tobacco six Drams Oyle of Lillies and of Wall Flowers five Drams wax what is sufficient make an Emâ—plaister according to art To these adde Tumours Impostumes Inflations and Childrens kibe heels or any sort of Itch for the Leaves of Tobacco laid to them or the juyce warm with Rags or Lint wet therein cure them for they resolve the Humours and ease the pains To cure Kibes the part affected must be Annoynted with the juyce and be rubed with Linnen Raggs but first putting the Feet or Hands if the cold be in them into very hot water wherein you have put a little Salt for this is often proved to do good It is tried that Tobacco will cure Burns A certain drunken Companion had a Glass of Beer in his hand and he stumbling and loth to break the Glass fell into the fire and burned his hand Women laid their heads together and they after an howre or two laid on some Clay This did no way ease the pain for he could not sleep by day nor by night wherefore being no longer able to endure the pain he comes to a Matron of Antwerp and asks her advice who as he had heard knew the Vertues of Tobacco Shee strewing the brims of the burnt place with the powder of Tobacco attempted to help him but for three daies little good was done by it When therefore he grew impatient he murmured at the Woman secretly because he came to her to be cured and Shee went to make experiment of the Vertues of Tobacco upon him and he commanded that such Medicaments as are gentle should be applied but the pain being nothing lessened with this he comes back to the Matron desiring her to go on with the cure as Shee began and Shee as Shee was a very good Woman strewed the Powder on again and in three daies made him well Moreover for inveterate Wounds malignant cancerous and spreading Ulcers Scabs Noli me tangere Itch Tetters Scrophula's Bubo's Impostumes fleshy Excrescences and the like almost innumerable Diseases it is very effectuall if the juyce be applied with rags or lint Green Wounds if they are not to deep are cured in one day by the juyce of the Leves and Lint But if the Wound be very deep it may be washed with Wine and be bound with bands wet in the juyce And it is excellent to heal a Wound quickly to wash it with the juyce of the Leaves the Inflammation being over Not long after that the Embassadour came to have the knowledg of Tobacco at Lisbon one of his Cooks had almost cut off his whole Thumb the Steward presently runs for Tobâ—cco which being sometimes applied to the Wound the Cook was well cured And thus this Herb grew to be so much esteemed at Lisborn where the Court them was and it began to be called the Embassadours Herb. It is as good for contusions and all hurts to which nothing else useth to be applied besides the juyce with Rags and the part affected must be swathed with a Roller But diet must be chiefly obâ—erved and if need be the Patient
doth presently ease the pain of the teeth coming from cold or wind and takes away all corruption but this remedy is nothing worth if the pain proceed from a hot cause Also it is good to rub aking teeth with the diâ—â—lled water of Tobacco To cure the Thrush and Ulcers of the Gums a mixture is made with Honey of Roses and the juyce of sour Pomgranats which maudifies scoures and breeds flesh The leaves of Tobacco roâ—sted under the hot embers applyed to the pained part ease the pains of the Throat over-cooled by rheume and all other Diseases of the body proceeding from cold causes And a gargarism may be made of the decoction of this Herb alone or mingled with other Herbs proper for this Disease It wonderfully helps Diseases of the brest and those that spit bloody matter Also for short breath and other inveterate Diseases if a decoction of it be made with Sugar and the Stomach being first purged it be taken for somâ— daies together So the leaves of Tobacco boyled in water and Sugar put to the decoction Or rather juyce of the leaves pressâ—d forth and boyled into a syrrup Apozeme or Julep taken daily upon an empty stomach two or three ounces 〈◊〉 a time abates the difficulty of breathing and an old cough It brings forth thick clammy corrupt humours but the sick must be first well purged and generally his body must be well emptied by Physick Also a Syrrup may be made of other pectoral means adding the leaves of Tobacco to them or Liquorish Reasins Jububes Figges Prunes Dates and Herbs fit for this use as Maydenhair Scabious Horehound and the like Take Maydenhairs white and black Horehound Coltsfoot of each one handfull Tobacco leaves two or three Reasins without stones whole Barley of each one Pugill Liquorish scraped two drammes make a decoction to a pint sweeten it with Sugar and Honey what is sufficient Another that attenuates and cuts more Take Scabious Horehound Maydenhairs Wall-Ruâ— of each one handfull and half Figgs ten Reasins one ounce Tobacco leaves five Liquorish scraped two drammes make a decoction in a pound of Hoâ—ied water untill two parts be consumed Adde to the strained Liquor of simple Oxymel Syrrup of Maydenhair of each two ounces Oxymel compound one ounce mingle them Water of Tobacco with Eybright water drank daily upon an empty stomach doth the same as Doctor Iarnacus Goverour of Rochel hath proved who was an intimate acquaintance of Nicotilus and private to the counsels and businesses of the French King and whom he chiefly desired to communicate the Knowledg of this Plant to This man being at a Banquet of the Kings with the Embassodour professed that by this means he cured one of an Asthma I saith Nicolaus Monardus observed some men troubled with an Asthma returning from the WestIndies or from Peru chewing Tobacco leaves in their mouthes and swallowing the juyce of them to make them spit forth corrupt matter but though these men were drunk by it it appears they found much good by it to bring out matter and flegm that stuck in their stomachâ— The dry powder of Tobbacco performs the same if you hold as much of it as you can take between the top of your fore-finger and thumb at the root of your tongue near your palate taking care that you swallow not the powder for in a short space you shall perceive great plenty of flegmatique humours to run forth at your mouth and this will endure untill that you may fill a small dish with flegme When you think this watry huâ—our is come forth in sufficient quantity wash your mouth with some good white Wine Do this every morning upon an empty stomach If this be to troublesome do it every third day alwaies according to art premising universals The same way it is profitable for the Diseases of the Brest and the parts adjoyning as the Lungs Wesand Throat offended by afflux of humours It is wonderfull good for pains proceeding from a defluxion of humours upon the mouth of the stomach or bred there and for all old paines of it or preternatural long-during paines of the Reins and for contractions of parts from chronical and lasting Diseases to chew the powder of dry leaves of Tobacco in the mouth to make an Apophâ—egmatism with them The women of the West-Indies mightily commend the leaves of Tobacco because they take away the crudities of the stomachs of young and old and dispell winds restore concoction soften the belly if it be first annointed with oyl of Olives and the leaves being made hot under hot embers be applyed to the region of the belly and be renewed as oft as occasion is The ashes must not be wiped off but more must be laid on to make it more effectual Also if you lay the said leaves so prepared to one that is surfeitted with meat or drink you shall very much remove his Crapula and repletion The same reason serves for the powder of the dry Herb if you put so much of it as you can hold between your finger and thumb into a spoonfull or two of Aqua vitae when you go to bed For it takes away your surfet and makes you sleep and resolves flegm They that swound away presently recover their former strength if the smoak of the leaves come into their mouthes or nostrils drawn by a Pipe or Reed Tobacco wonderfully helps the torments of the Guts and Belly and pain of the Colick and other paines proceeding from wind or cold if you lay the leaves on very hot and change them often untill the pain abate The powder of the leaves dried is good for the same use taken in white Wine or some other liquor when you go to bed about half a dram or a dram weight or thereabouts The leaves used the same way cure the wringing of the small Guts and it is proper to put this Herb with others in decoctions for Clysters as also to use them for Plasters and Fomentations that will do great service For Example take Mercury Râ—e Marsh Mallows Little Centâ—ury of each one handfull Hysop Calamint Wormwood of each one handfull and an half Tobacco leaves six roots of Marsh-mallows half an ounce Linseed Fenegrek of each three drams Cumminseed Anniseed of each one dram and half let them boâ—l in sufficient quantity of water untill the third paâ—t be consumed then take of the liquor boil'd and strained one pound Hiera Picra half â—n ounce Benedicta Laxativa â—ix drams fresh Butter Honey of Roseâ— strained of each six drams Oyl of Rue and Dill of each one ounce and half common Salt one dram Mingle them all and make a Clyster If Tobacco leaves be distilled with Fumitary it wonderfully helps all Diseases of the Liver But observe you must take less quantity of Fumitary then of Tobacco The juyce of the leaves of Tobacco bruised with a little Vineger or the Oyntment of them