these Lieutenant Medicines serve at all turns in the place of the right Medicines for so should Ginger serve the turn of Folefoot to purge by Vomit which it cannot no more then curds of Cow milk can soften and supple like butter or the dung of the Stock-dove purge like Euphorbium or the Dock-root draw phlegme from the Head like Pellitory which Galen notwithstanding maketh substitutes of these Medicines which have such operation I conclude therefore seeing Navigation cannot afford us either the Simples which we seem to need and those which it doth both corrupt and counterfeit in the greatest part we have neither to crave thereof in this point aid much less to trust thereunto Now the Simples being but for the most part bastard Ware how can the Compounds that amount of the same be other then counterfeit Whereupon as Cardanus saith in his Method of Curing The wise Magistrates of Venice have oftentimes forbidden the making of Triacle and Mithridatum because the Simples could not be had whereby they should be compounded Which if Venice the greatest Mart in this part of the World of such Wares cannot a vouch what can we hope for from other places That a man would marvel to see the great store of them in all shops of Apothecaries under the names of Triacle and Mithridatum of Andromachus and it being required in Triacle before it be used it should have a time as it were of mellowing which of Galen in his Book of Triacle to Piso is extended to twelve years and of Paulus Aegineta in his seventh Book by seven years for those that are bitten or stung of venemous beasts or have drunk poison or are infected with the pestilence and in other diseases from â—en years till it be twenty of age I marvel what assurance we have of the age of this Triacle which is ordinary in use or if we have none how we dare use it at adventure knowing by age the vertue thereof hath no small alteration I would these inconveniences were the smallest which I have but briefly and as it were for a taste run over yet were even they sufficient to stay our overhasty use of such strange Merchandize and to move us to betake us to those we know both in the Blade and in the Seed in the Root and in the Fruit and know the Air the Hill the Valley the Meadow where they grow But this trust upon Out-landish Medicines have much more nearly touched us then so If a man would say by his overhasty embracing whatsoever strange Nations do as it were purge over unto us we drink divers times rank Poison instead of wholesom Medicine I think it would justly move us to be advised and not to pass over the enquiry of a reason why such a one should think so being one whose vocation tendeth to the charge of the health of mens bodies The right Hermodactiles are commended for excellent Medicines against all Pains in the Joynts as the Gout the Schyatica and such like from which they purge gross Phlegme Doronicum Romanum hath great commendation for comforting the Heart expelling Poison against the Cough for avoiding of Humours which overcharge the Chest which are great vertues doubtless in them both Now if they 〈◊〉 the shops as they bear the name of these Medicines so carried not with them instead of thesâ— vertues dangerous poison then should I havâ— less cause to exhort our Nation to be take theâ— to their Gardens and Fields and to leave thâ— Banks of Nilus and the Fens of India Thâ— common Hermodactils being a kinde of poyson called Ephemerum so named because with such swiftness it chargeth and overchargeth our vitaâ— spirits that it killeth him that hath taken it iâ— one day The other commonly called Doroticum Romanum and used for an especial Cordial so that it hath place in the electuary of precious Stones in the electuary of Amber in the cordial Powder this Doronicum I say calleâ— of Mathiolus Demoniacum that is to say Divelish noting thereby the vertues thereof is no baser poison then a very kinde of Aconitum by Mathiolus experience which he confesseth himself before having been abused by the common error first to have learned of Jacobus Antonius Cortusus a man very skilful in the nature of Simples which Jacobus taught him the experience by giving it to dogs which it killeth Now if by reason no such danger happeneth to us by the use of them they seeming not so dangerous we are to understand they be given in small quantity and mixed with divers remedies against poison the good Providence of God providing so that otherwise they should not be ministred as in the purging Electuary of Diacnicis Hermodactils are bridled with Cinamon and the powder of Diatragatanthum frigidum where indeed â—t hath somewhat too large scope being better â—empered in Benedicta with Cloves Parsleyâ—eed Galanga and Mace and in the Pills of Herâ—odactils with Aloe Mirobalans Bdellium the â—eed of Herbgrace which have force against poiâ—on the which small quantity of them being â—ndled and dulled with other Medicines especiâ—lly such a resist the force of poisons is not deadly â—nto us although great hurt thereof must needs â—nsue I have stood the longer upon this point â—f strange Medicines in answering the suppy by Navigation the rather because it seemeth most â—o make against us in the maintenance of our â—ome Medicines and breedeth as it were a loathâ—omness of those blessings of God which we daily â—ay at commandment enjoy But hitherto hath â—nely been shewed the corruptions and counterâ—eting of forreign Medicines which belongeth to â—ertain onely and not to all although those â—ertain be the chief and of greatest price and â—hat being foreseen the provision out of strange â—nd far distant Nations may seem well to stand â—ith that Providence we speak of and except â—hey be in respect of their strangeness hurtfull â—r unprofitable unto us the skill of Sailing beâ—â—g a means to present them at our need Naâ—ures care should seem no whit to be blemished â—he reasons which I have before alledged I â—ave to the indifferent Reader to consider of â—nd because I am so far urged I easily stick â—ot to hold that we receive no small hurt â—om all all the kindes of strange Medicines whereof I yield these few reasons which follow Our English Bodies through the nature of the Region our kinde of dyet and nourishment our custome of life are greatly divers from those of strange Nations whereby ariseth great variety of humors and excrements in our bodies from theirs and so the causes of Diseases rising upon breach of diet the diet being of another sort must needs be unlike whereupon although their humors be in kinde and in a generality agreeable to ours as Blood Choler Phlegme Melancholy and such like yet rising upon other matter then the same in us and otherwise framed by a far other state of body by reason of a diverse kinde of life the Medicines which help them
reason sounder which is drawn from that Divine Providence to the practice thereof And if Galen had that religion in him being a Gentile and groping onely in the mist of natural knowledge of God could not satisfie himself with a Psalm or Hymn as he himself calleth it of seventeen staves every staff containing an whole Book for thus he himself calleth his Books of the use of Parts of the wisdom of the most wise God esteeming that duty more acceptable unto him then sacrifices of an hundreth Oxen or the most costly perfumes and incense Let it not be harsh in thine ears gentle Reader to hear now and then the goodness of our God his Wisdom and Providence to be both intreated of and advanced of a Christian Physician and to Christians to whom the Son of righteousness hath shined and scattered those mists of natural darkness and hath given the earnest of immortality And be assured there is no truth in Philosophy but may stand with ye rather may rest and be upholden of Christianity But let us proceed Julius Bassus Nicerates and Petronius Niger as saith Dioscorides thought their countrey Medicines and those which the native soyl yielded most worthy to be exactly intreated of them belike either thinking them sufficient for the inhabitants or more agreeable with them Which homely practice of the Nations where he travelled Dioscorides confesseth to have been the matter whereof he compounded his golden Book of Medicines which at this day remaineth a rich storehouse to all Physicians Now then I would know why we should more be provided of Medicine against one disease then another of our countrey yield Is it because such diseases which require strange Medicines are more dangerous or less If more dangerous then should the remedy for them be more at hand then for other if less why are then the strange Medicines esteemed as most forcible And if we be less subject to such diseases as are cured with them and so the absence of them may seem tollerable why then are Tertian Agues chiefly cured with Thamarines and Rhewbarb Whereof the one cometh out of India and the other for the most part out of Barbary Whatsoever nature is yielded to any Nation it serveth either for nourishment or Medicines or being neither nourishment or Medicine is plain poyson Now a subduction being made of each of these one from the other what part shall we think will nourishments leave to Medicines A far greater doubtless then they themselves be and as they exceed nourishments so greatly do they and beyond all comparison exceed the poysons Wherefore if the most of creatures in every Nation be a fit matter of Medicine greatly no doubt are all Nations stored with them which store declareth that as diseases partly rise of breach of Diet and partly through poysons so Nature would furnish us with Medicines in number answerable to the causes of both which being not sufficient argueth that Nature misseth of her purpose having sufficiently declared her endeavour but Nature alwayes bringeth her works to perfection except in case of Monsters which are not ordinary Wherefore her will she being an instinct of Gods ever going with the execution thereof must needs perform that to us which he pretendeth in the variety But that thou mayest gentle Reader have better hold and greater assurance of the sufficiency of thy Countrey Medicines I will set down briefly according to the variety and sorts of all diseases cured with medicine Medicines taken from our native soyl answerable unto them and effectual to cure them And because Medicines have relation to diseases I will first touch the diseases and thereto joyn the Medicines All diseases are either in the complexion or frame of the body such as are in the complexion are all cured by Medicine which I named in the beginning of this Treatise one of the instruments of Physick Of diseaseâ— in the frame these onely are cured with Medicines Quantity superfluously increased or diminished obstructions over streightness or over largeness of passages in the body These are onely the diseases properly to be cured with medicine other diseases which rise of these either of their own accord vanishing by the cure of these or else to be cured by surgery as evil figure and shape through want of proportional quantity that being restored the figure forthwith returneth or if not rather is to be cured with help of hand And luxation of joynts and evil coupling of parts if they rise of distemper onely that being taken away with medicines returneth oftentimes with it good situation of parts Likewise the situation perverteth through distemper the complexion being restored the other consequently do follow Now having declared in general the diseases which onely require medicine that every disease may have his proper one I will subdivide them more particularly joyning to every disease that medicine which thereto belongeth The diseases in the complexion are either in all the parts of the temper thereof or in one or twain In the whole complexion are such as are ingendred of venemous causes and those either ingendred in the body or happening thereto outwardly they which are ingendred with age in the body are Cankers Leprosies Falling-sickness Suffocation of the matrix through Nature corrupted Swounding through corruption of Worms ingendred in the body and these be the diseases of venemous causes bred in the body Such as happen thereto by outward occasions are either by poison taken into the body or by outward â—ouching procured taken into the body as the poison of Toads Henbane Nightshade Hemâ—ock Ratsbane Quicksilver and such Minerals â—nd last of all infected Airs causing Pestilence â—nd Carbuncles Such as are outwardly procuâ—ed are either without wounds or with wounds without wounds infection passing from one to â—nother as the French Poxs With wounds â—enemous bitings and stingings of beasts as of â—erpents and mad Dogs And these are all the â—iseases said to be in the whole temper of the â—ody which having first shewed to be sufficiâ—ntly cured by home Medicines in like manner â—ill I prosecute the rest And herein gentle â—eader thou art not to look I should set down â—ll Medicines which our native soyl is known to â—estow upon us for cure of these diseases which â—ould grow to an infinite Volume I herein â—eferring thee to the works of those who of purâ—ose have written of the nature of Simples and â—re Authors of Practice but it shall I hope sufâ—â—e for this purpose to pick out amongst a great â—any those of choice for these diseases And â—st to begin with Cankers which being not exâ—cerated but remaining humors are cured if â—ith any medicine by the juyce of Nightshade â—ll the sorts of Endive and Succory with Agrimony with Saint Johns wort wilde Clary called Oculus Cstristi the flesh of Snails boiled Crayfishes green Frogs and to conclude with all kinde of Metals and Minerals and among them Lead howsoever it be used is most sovereign If it be exulcerated then
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
Pot-Herbs the flowers either green or dried are often used in Possets Broths and Drinks as a comforter for the Spirits and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality gathered near thereunto the Syrup and Conserve made of the fresh flowers are used for some purposes to the same effect Of Pennyroyal and Hyssop PEnnyroyal purges melancholly and comforts the Stomach and Spirits Hyssop cleanseth viscus Phlegm is good for the Breast and Lungs Of Rosemary and Roses ROsemary is good for Palsies for the Falling-sickness and for a Cough good against cold Roses are a Cordial they comfort the heart and brain Of Fennel and Annis THese Herbs are seldome used but their seeds Fennel-seed is used to break Urine good against Poyson Annis-seed cleanses the Bladder and the Reins of the back provokes Urine and causeth a sweet Breath Of Sage SAge is good to help a woman to conceive it provokes Urine and sleep it is good in an Ague or Feaver and against the Falling-sickness this Herb is of excellent Vertue Of Violets VIolets comforts the brain preserve against drunkenness the syrup of them cools the Reins and is very good against the Falling-sickness Of Watercresses WAtercresses are very wholesome in the Spring-time they comfort the Sinnews and are hot and dry Of Tansie TAnsie purges the Ague dries the Sinnews and is good against the Worms Of Rue THere are two kindes of Rue the one of the Garden another of the Field it is good against Infection abates Lust is excellent for the Sight that of the Field is hot and dry in the fourth degree that of the Garden is hot and dry in the second degree Of Wormwood THere are several sorts of Wormwoods those of the Sea are not of that goodness in quality as the common and aromatical bitter sorts are nâ—vertheless because they are not so bitter as the common sorts which renders them more acceptable to many persons that desire to please their pallates rather then to be cured of their diseases by bitter medicines our Physicians and Apothecaries feeding their humor for their own profit and to please their Patients There are many other Herbs used in Pottage Broths Possets Sallets Sauces Tansies c. from most of which small nourishment is received Of the vertues of those which are of the highest concernment having already discoursed of in the first part of this Volume I shall here omit them Of Figs. A Vicen writes that Figs nourish more then any other fruit when they are eaten with blanched Almonds they are good roasted and stewed they cleanse the Breast and the Lungs open the opilations of the Liver and the Spleen they provoke to Venerious acts as they augment and encrease the seed of generation they cause sweating wherefore they ingender Lice Of great Raisins GReat Raisins are nutritive especially if the stones are out they make the stomach firm and cause a good appetite if a few of them be eaten before meat Of small Raisins of Currâ—â—â— SMall Raisins of Currans are good for the Reins of the back they do provoke urine howbeit they are not good for the Spleen they cause opilation Of Grapes GRapes sweet and new are nutritive and stumulate the flesh they comfort the Stomach and the Liver avoid opilations but they do repleat the stomach with winde Of Peaches of Medlers and Cervices PEaches mollifie the belly and are cold Medlers taken superfluously ingender melancholly Cervices are of the same operation Of Strawberries and Cherries STrawberries are praised above all Berries they qualifie the heat of the Liver ingender good blood eaten with Sugar Cherries mollifie the belly and are cold Of Nuts great and small THe Walnut and Banock are of one operation they are slow of digestion yet they comfort the brain if the pith or skin be pulled off they are nutritive Filberts are better then Hazzle-nuts if they are new taken from the â—ree and the skin or the pith pulled off they are â—utritive and encrease fatness if they are old they should be eaten with great Raisins New Nuts are better then old for old Nuts are cholâ—erick and naught for the head and evil for old persons as they ingender the Palsie in the Tongue immoderately taken or eaten ingender corruptions as biles blains and such putrefaction Of Pease and Beans PEase which are young are nutritive Beans are not so good as Pease they are more windy although the skins or husks be ablated yet they are a strong meat and doth provoke Venery Of Pears and Apples PEars which are mellow and not stony doth encrease fat and ingender waterish blood they are full of ventosity Wardons roasted â—tewed or bak't are nutritive comfort the stomach especially if they are eaten with Comfits Apples are good after a frost hath taken them â—or when they are old especially red Apples and those of good odour and mellow they should â—e eaten with Sugar or Comfits or with Fennel-seed or Anniseed because of their ventosity they comfort the stomach and cause good digestion especially if they are roasted and bak't Of Pomegranates and Quinces POmegranates are nutritive and good for the stomach Quinces bak't the coar pulled out mollifie the belly help digestion and preserve a man from drunkenness Of Dates and Milons DAtes moderately eaten are nutritive but they cause opilations of the Liver and of the Spleen Milons ingender bad humors Of Gourds of Cowcumbers and Pepones GOurds are of bad nourishment Cowcumbers restrain Venery as they are cold and moist corrupt the stomach and if they are not well ordered and moderately eaten ingender thick and gross humors and are within few degrees of poison to persons of a weak digestion Of Apricocks APricocks quickly corrupt and ingenderâ— chollerick and whayish excrements cause pestilent Agues stop the Liver and Spleen and breed ill juyce Of Barberries BArberries preserved refresh hot stomachs kept in pickle they serve for Sallets and the garnishing of Meat Of Citrons and Lemons CItrons the juyce of them are good against poison and qualifie humors putrefied in the body cause a sweet breath and cure burning Agues Lemons approach their nature is cold and dry in the third degree their seed temperate the juyce eat alone causes gripings of the guts but the peel with the pulp as nature hath united them together the heat of the one corrects the rawness of the other and both of them comfort the heart Of Mulberries MUlberries are hot in the first degree cold in the second best before meat they please the stomach cause a looseness of the body and provoke urine Of Raspis RAspis are like the Black-berry or Dew-berry but not so astringent cold stomachs cannot convert them into good juyce Of Goose-berries GOose-berries ripe are as nourishing as they are sweet they should be eaten first not last because they are so light a fruit The red Goose-berries are more cold dry and astringent by one degree because those in our countrey are not sweet Of Prunes and Damsins PRunes are used in medicine for
CVLPEPER'S School of Physick OR THE Experimental Practice of the whole Art Wherein are contained all inward Diseases from the Head to the Foot with their proper and effectuall Cures such Diet set down as ought to be observed in Sickness or in Health With other safe wayes for preserving of Life in excellent Aphorismes and approved Medicines so plainly and easily treated of that the Free-born Student rightly understanding this Method may judge of the Practice of Physick so far as it concernes himself or the Cure of others c. A Work never before Publisht very necessary for all that desire to be rightly informed in Physick Chyrurgery Chymistry c. Nosce teipsum By Nich. Culpeper late Student in Physick and Astrology The Narrative of the Authors Life is prefixed with his Nativity Calculated together with the Testimony of his late Wife Mrs. Alice Culpeper and 〈◊〉 The general Contents of this Work are in the next 〈◊〉 With two perfect Tables very useful to the 〈◊〉 London Printed for N. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1659. The general Contents of the several Treatises 1. THe School of Physick or the English Apothecary a Treatise of the transcendent sufficiency of our English Herbs as they may be rightly used in Medicine being a brief account of the whole concernment of the Herbary Art as also the excellency of our English home Physick p. 1. 2. The Sovereign Vertues of Carduus Benedictus in English The Blessed Thistle which for the operation and great efficacy that God hath given to it may be rightly so named as also of the rare Vertues of Angelica p. 71. 3. Fragmenta Aurea Four Golden Centuries of Chymical Physical Judicial Aphorismes and Admirable Secrets p. 87. 4. The Garden Plat or a very brief account of such Herbs c. that excel and are some of them most useful in Physical and Chyrurgical Cures on emergent and sudden occasions p. 156. 5. The Celestial Governours or a Discourse in which is pâ—â—iny declared what Members of the Body are governed by the twelve Signs and of the Diseases to them appropriate p. 182. 6. How the Members of the Body are governed by the seven Planets and of the Diseases to them appropriate p. â—8â— 7. Cardiaca Simplicia a brief Account of 〈◊〉 Choice Simples as are chiefly appropriate to the Hearâ— A Treatise left unfinisht by the Author p. 186. 8. The Chyrurgeons Guide or the Eâ—â—â—â—â— of some Vnskilful Practicioners in Chyrâ— corrected p â—â—5 9. Phlebotomy displayed or perfect Ru◠〈◊〉 the letting of Blood p. 214. 10. Vrinal Conjectures brief Observations with some probable Predictions on the sick Patients Stale or Water p. 222. 11. The Treasury of Life or Salves for every Sore experienced and tried Receipts for the Cure of the most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life p. 229. 12. The Expert Lapidary or a Physical Treatise of the secret Vertues of Stones p. 263. 13. Doctor Diets Directory or the Physicians Vade Mecum short but safe Rules to preserve Health in a Methodical way passing by the impertinences and niceties of former Physicians treating onely of familiar and the most useful things in Diet which chiefly nourish and maintain Life 279. 14 Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with or the mystery of the Skill of Physick made easie short clear and certain Rules how to perceive judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the body affected the Causes Signs or Symptomes collected from the most approved Authors and constantly practised by Mr. Nicholas Culpeper p. 345. 15. Chymical Institutions discovering Natures choice Secrets in experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art p. 405 M rs Alice Culpepers Testimony and Approbation of this Book Ingenious Reader HAving an Orphan or Posthumus in my protection and being sollicited by divers for the propagation of the publick good in its Publication for its better entertainment I appeare to tell the World it is a Legitimate Childe of Mr. Nicholas Culpeper my deceased Husband And as I promise you it is the Genuine and Ingenious Off-spring of his Brain so I question not it will with the rest of his laborious Pieces help to blow louder the Trumpet of his never dying Fame I need not much endeavoar to attest that this Tractate is his for it will evidently appear at first sight that it is the Childe of such a Father which will be commendation enough both for the one and the other and that is the reason I refused to seek a Patron for it since I know his bare Name will sufficiently serve for a Patronage I follow the new Mode of the Times by disallowing of Godfathers yet the Bookseller thought it inconvenient that this Treatise should wander up and down the World without a Name and therefore it is Christned The School of Physick If it shall please any one to cast their affections on this Fatherless Childe him shall I esteem as my Gossip Expect from me to say no more at present because I would willingly cross an old Saying Women are never silent till dead I am in in all vertuous Endeavours for the Publique Good Yours ALICE CULPEPER Novemb. 15. 1658. From my House in Spittle-fields next Door to the Red Lion The Preface To all Students in Physick Chyrurgery and Chymestry THough that those which look for an eternall life set but light by a temporary as they are truly sensible here below to meet with a mass and accumulation of sins and sorrows nevertheless since we finde long life to be one of those blessings so often promised in the old Law as also that the beloved Disciple of our blessed Saviour survived the other Disciples and many of the Fathers of the Church were long lived we Mortals as we are too prone on Earth to esteem it our chiefest good cannot at least but enroll it amongst others of the choice and great favours we receive from Heaven The old saying is Vita brevis Ars longa Life is short and Art is long therefore in all ages it hath been the ambitious task of Learned men if it were possible to perfect Art so as to prolong life even to the length of dayes indeed the best of them found there inquiries too difficult some of them having carefully scrutinized and searcht the matter of the reparation but none yet living ever attained to the manner it being an agreed of Truth that in the declining of age there is an unequal reparation some parts are repaired easily some with difficulty and loss the Spirits Blood Flesh and Fat are even after the declining of years easily repaired but the drier and more poreous parts the Membranes all the Tunicles Sinnews Arteries Veins Bones Cartilages most of the Bowels in a word all the organical parts are hardly repairable and to their loss Now these hardly repairable parts to use the same words of one of the
Balm Salt c. The third Annise Folefoot Calamint Commine Fennel Hyssop Mints c. The fourth Garlick Cresses Mustard Celandine the great For moist diseases these medicines are good Of the first degree dry Cabbage Beats Cammomile Fennel Beans Fenigreek c. Of the second Dill Mugwort Shepheards-pouch Dodder Lintils Honey Rosemary Of the third Wormwood Germarder Hyssop Juniper five-leaved Grass Organ Horehound c. Of the fourth Garlick Cresses Mustard-seed wilde Rue Dry diseases have these medicines Bugloss Mallows Turnips Endive for the first degree The second Violets water Lilly Lettice Purslane c. The third and fourth degrees as these are evil supplied by strange simples so are they recompensed by increase of quantities of moist in the two first degrees And thus much touching medicines belonging to the cure of diseases in one part of the temper which being in two parts and without humour require either temperings the simple qualities aforesaid in divers simples or natures wherein such two do exceed which because they be as plentiful as those I have before mentioned and that hereof none makes doubt I will not touch If this double distemper rise of humour as for the most part it doth then is that humour to be diminished or altogether to be voided out of the body and then the distemper remaining to be altered The humors are properly to be voided by purgation otherwise there be diverse as exercise fastings sweating urine and such like But properly the vacuation of Phlegm Choler Melancholly which are the causes of this double distemper belonging to purging medicines which purgations as the greatest doubt is of natures provision in them so they being supplied by our own Countrey Soil the greatest part of this controversie may seem to be decided Purgations are either by vomit or by stool by vomit our native soil ministreth great choice as very gently The Radish roots with the seed the Pepon root and Nettle-seed with more vehemency Folefoot leaf and root the middle bark of the Walnut-tree and the long blossoms thereof and yet most vehemently the seeds of Broom and the flowers thereof and these for vomit By the stool and first to purge choller the flowers and leaves of the Peach-tree Violet flowers and seeds comparable with Rhewbarb the great garden Dock called the Munks Rhewbarb Damask-roses wilde Saffron the powder of Fetherfew all the kinde of spurges the root of the wild Cowcomber the root of Briony and Coloquintida Melancholly is purged with Coloquintida the Oak Fern the juice of Mandrake the flowers of Broom Barefoot and Antimony Phlegm and water are purged with Coloquintida the juice of Rhineberries the gross bark of the Elm the juice of the root of Walwort of Elder the garden Flowerdeluce root juiced The dry leaves of Laurel the Seawithwinde scurby weed These are a show of our English store of Purgers which if they be too strong then are they to be ministred in smaller quantity mixed with those of feebler working if too weak then are they to be sharpned with quicker If they offend any part they are to be corrected partly with cordials and partly with medicines respecting such parts as they annoy Which wants are not onely to be charged upon our Countrey medicines seeing even the best of forreign purgers are to be touched with the same As Scammony is corrected with Quinces otherwise it troubleth the stomach with a griping and gnawing it purgeth over vehemently it hurteth the liver and is an enemy to the heart and doth exulcerate where it passeth and procureth dysenteries that is to say ulcers in the guts Turpeth is corrected with Ginger and long Pepper Mastick with oil of sweet Almonds and Sugar else overthroweth it the stomach troubleth and overdrieth the body Coloquintida with oil of sweet Almonds Gum Tragacanth or Mastick else troubleth it vehemently the whole body procureth the bloody Flix and miserably tormenteth the guts So Agarick requireth to be steeped in wine with Ginger and Cloves yet scarce abstaineth it from overthrowing the stomach Cassia marreth the stomach and requireth to be mixed there with stomach medicines The excessive driness and binding of Rhewbarb is corrected with some moistning syrup Aloe requireth Mastick and Gum Tragacanth to mitigate the fretting thereof Sene marreth the stomach and either through windiness or through vehemency of scouring tormenteth the body and therefore needeth Ginger Cinamon or Spike sweet Prunes fat Broth and Raisins Hermodactiles offend the stomach and cause winde and require Ginger Cumine or Spike and to be short there is no purger of strange drugs which requireth not correction of great faults which correction is taken from such medicines as respect those parts chiefly which the purgation doth annoy whereof such is our store that in all parts we be sufficiently armed therewith but of these shall hereafter be spoken Now if any man think for want of Cassia Manna Sene Rhewbarb these humors cannot be voided or not so well let me then know how the Grecians wanted them and yet found no lack using onely Scammony Helleborus and Colocynthis Aloes and Agarick for their chief purgations The other being brought in of late in comparison by the Arabians who both in knowledge of Physick and in the works thereof were far inferiour to the Grecians to whom I say I mean the ancient of them in Galens time and before neither Manna nor Cassia nor Sene nor Rhewbarb nor Hermodactyles were known either at all or at the uttermost for purgers and as for Manna Fuchsius saith that certain having been about the mount Libanus made report that the inhabitants of that mountain having eaten their fill thereof neither feel themselves any whit troubled therewith nor their bodies loosed but use it for an ordinary sustenance whereby again appeareth a great diversity of working of strange medicines according to the variety of Countreys But what should we say of the nature of Purgers it is doubtless one of the hardest points at this day in all natural Philosophy neither minde I at this present to deal therein but this may I say as by preparation one nature may according to the variety thereof receive divers yea contrary vertues so seemeth it to me that this vertue of purging may be procured to natures of themselves destitute thereof by preparation Divers and in a manner all the mettals and minerals being burnt and washed give over their fretting nature And Quicksilver which of it self is not sublimed or precipitated becometh a vehement scouring medicine so likewise Antimony before it be turned into glass or oyl is not known to purge the body which being done is greatly commended against the Dropsie the French Pox Melancholly and divers other diseases which it cureth by purging so that it seemeth art of preparation as it maketh no nature that being a work of the universal nature so may it not onely be a preparer but even a maker of medicines which medicines are not natures as hath been before declared but qualities in natures
have many times forborn the applying of the Traepan to the profit of my Patients and my good Name and Estimation Moreover there be many ignorant Chyrurgeons which without consideration apply the Traepan upon all parts of the Head as well upon the comistures or seams as other places which is the cause of the death of many Patients Wherefore they ought to have a great consideration and to be very diligent in this respect and for to use their Art according to this true Method prescribed them The fifth Error touching the Punctures of Nerves WHen it chanceth that any is hurt by the Punctures of Nerves if he be not speedily helped by some cunning and expert Chyrurgeon he is in great danger to fall into Convulsions which is the occasion of many a mans death which commonly hapneth to them that are drest by the ignorant and common Chyrurgeons For when they begin the cure they make Fomentation with hot water wherein hath been boiled Mallows Violets and such like then after the Fomentation they apply an Appeaser of pain made with the crumbs of white Bread being mingled with the yolk of an Egg Oyl of Cammomile and Oyl of Roses the which things are altogether contrary to the Punctures of Nerves Forasmuch as their application doth moisten too much the nervous places and retaineth or keepeth in the matter which is already come to the place and if there be any Aposthume it doth augment and encrease it and causeth the matter to ascend up to the Brain whereby ensusueth Convulsions or Death Wherefore to avoid this danger and to follow the cure methodically you shall have first a regard to the evacuation of the body and if the strength of the Patient be good to use Flebetonice Revolsive or according to the cause of the grief Then to take away that which is ready conjunct you shall enlarge the Orofice â—o the end that the Medicine may the better penetrate to the bottom and take away the sharpness of the humor In this case I have found very profitable the Oyl of Hippiricon prepared in this form that is to say with Venice Turpentine and for one ounce of the said Oyl you shall take half a scruple of Euphorbium which shall be applied very hot with Pledgets and upon that a Plaister made with Propolis Gum Ammoniack and Wax as much as shall suffice By this means the matter which is drunk into the Nerves or Tendons shall be drawn out to the outward parts Also for this intent I have found profitable Lin-seed Oyl and Euphorbium of each alike with the twentieth part of Sulpher being very finely poudred with Perosin and Wax as much as shall suffice to make an Unguent This Unguent doth heat moderately attract and dissicate and is of a subtle faculty with the which by the help of God the Chyrurgeons shall get both honour and profit The sixth Error is touching the abuse of the Runners about called Cutters for the Stone and Ruptures AMong the common Runners about which use to cut the Stone and Ruptures there is a great error of theirs to be lamented of any Christian heart for under this cure of cutting the Hernies they do miserably take away the Stone as well in the Hernia aquosa or ventosa as in all the rest the which is inhumanely and against the will of God and they do not onely use it in men but most of all in little Children therefore it should be very good for the Parents which have their Children troubled with any kinde of Hernies that before they commit their Children to lose their stones and sometimes their lives by any of these Runnagates for so may I well term them that they shew them to some learned Chyrurgeon to the end that he may see what kinde of Hernies they have and so to discern the Aquosa or Ventosa from Intestinale or Omentales For certainly I have seen Hernies in Children which came by the relaxation or division of the Peretoneum have been perfectly healed by the apt applying of glutinative Medicines and such other like without cutting or taking away of the Testicle But such is the covetous desire of these Persons which make the Parents believe that it cannot be helped without their butcherly cutting and for to get money which they are as greedy after it as Vultures after their prey not having the fear of God before their eyes but like covetous Gripers catch what they may for the time and care not what become of them afterwards whether they live or die we know by woeful experience what harm they have done both by the murthering cruelly and also lameness and continual pain These Fellows rush into England and have such a great name at the first coming but after when their works are tried and then the proof of them seen the peoble for the most part are quickly weary of them and many a fatherless Child and Widdow which they have made may curse the time that ever they knew them I dare affirm they never did any cure in England but that there are English Men which have done the like and greater Such is the foolish fantasies of our English Nation that if he be a stranger he shall have more favourers then an English man though the English mans knowledge doth far pass the others as experience therein hath shewed and this I will stand to the proof of that there are English men that shall in all things do as much both by learning and experience as any of them all That they may not deceive the common people with their fair promises I resolve by Gods permission to write of all the kinds of Ruptures or Burstings and how to know every one of them to the end that if any Chyrurgeon which hath not the right knowledge may streight at the first sight know what to do I will begin to treat of the kinds of Ruptures and first of the division of them in general and then particularly Of the eight kinds of Hernies THere are eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures whereof some have their proper names and the others by similitude the proper Hernies do most commonly come by the Relaxation or Rupture of the Proteneum insomuch that the Intestines and Epiplocon or Zerbus doth lose their natural place and of these are seven kinds that is Enterocele otherwise called Herni intestinale Epiplocele or Herni Zirbale Bubonocele or Herni Inguinale The Hernies by similitude are when there is some tumour against nature in the Cods or in some part of the Groin without the coming forth of the Intestines or Zirbus and of these there are five kinds the first is called Herni Aqueuse and of the Greeks Hidrocele the second Herni Carneuse or Sarcocele the third Variquese the fourth Venteuse which is called of the Greeks Pneumatocele the fifth Humorale which shall be spoken of particularly in order and first we will begin with the proper kinds Of the Hernie Intestinale FOr because that the Hernie Intestinale
to be noted first that the Testicles are covered with three Tunicles the first of them takes his original of the skin and is called Scrotum or Purss the second which takes his original of the Peretoneum and is called Dartos the third which is proper to the said Testicle and is called Heritroides these two last do not onely cover the Testicles but also the Spermatick vessels as well they which bring the substance wherewith the Sperm is made which are named Preparans as them which bring the Sperm to the neck of the Bladder which is called Ejaculatores or expelling the which goes up to Ossa pubis Phlebotomy displayed OR Perfect Rules for the letting of Blood GAllen Ipocras and Avicenna and other Masters of Physick accord and say That lettting blood of the Vein and that is called Phleobatomatum or it is ventosing carving or cutting and letting blood of any of these wise is good for mans health of body for Blood immingled with other humors that is too much or else corrupted by the cause of much sickness it is therefore good to know which Veins in a man should be let blood and for what Sickness The Vein in the Forehead is good for the Frenzie and aking of the Head and for the Megrum and for the Morphew and Scab in the Face for the Posthumes in the Eyes both hot and cold The Vein in the Heart is good for a mans minde and for the Rhume that is within the Forehead and for the watering Eyes The Veins in the Temple is good for the Megrum and for the Head-ache of the Eyes and that hath long lasted for the sickness of the Eyes for ache in the Eyes and for the great heat in the Temples The Veins behinde the Ears is good for the Blains and Pimples of the Head for the Megrum and Ache of the Head it helpeth mans minde it is good for Tooth-ache and for the Gums and for all vices in the Mouth and it purgeth the Rhume of the Head The Veins in the corner of the Eyes next the Nose is good for the Megrum for all the sickness of the Eyes and for the Sight Cephica tum prius apta The Vein in the top of the Nose it purgeth the Brain it is good for Ache and Flux of the Eyes and for the Ache of the Nose The Vein in the Cheeks is good for the Megrum and for Spots or Scabs in the Head The vein in the Mold is best for to bleed and for to wash thy Head with the same bloud The Veins of the over Lip and the nether be good for hot Blains in the Mouth and for Aposthumes and for hot evils in the Mouth or Gums The Vein under the Tongue is good for Posthumes and Rhumes of the Head and Gums and all manner of vice of the Eyes Mouth Tongue Tooth-aching and Blains of the Nose Mouth Gums and for the Aposthumes and swellings under the Throat The Veins under the Chin is good for the Kings-evil and for Sauce-flean for Spots and Blains in the Face and other Aches of the Eyes the Gums and for Ache in the Nose The Veins of the Neck before is good for the Squinancy and for all manner of Aposthumes and Swellings that come from the Head to the Ears or to the Gums that causeth the Tooth-ache when the breath beginneth to be short The Vein of Liver that is called Bosilica it is good for the Jaundies and for chafing of the Liver and for all manner of Dropsies and it is good for all evils in the Breast and aking of the Back Shoulders Sides and Stomach and for the Posthume that is called Pleusis The Head Vein that is called Cephanica it is good for the Megrum and for Head-ache and for madness of the minde for ache and all other vices in the Eyes Teeth Tongue the Squinancy and other evils that come to the Throat The Heart Vein that is called Cardiaca ut medium it is gentle Purgacions for it draweth bloud and humors of all the body but namely it is good for the Sickness and Purgations of the Heart Breast Stomach Liver and Lungs The Vein above the Thumb is good against all Feavers and most Feaver quartane and for evils of the Gall and for streightness of the Breast The Vein between the Thumb and the Fore-finger let bloud for the hot Head-ache for Frensie and madness of Wit and for Sickness of the Head Cephanica let the blood of the Vein in the Forehead if it be needful The same vein of the left hand is good for Lithargy and afterward bleed in the Forehead The Vein which is between the little finger and the next thereto is called Salva cella you must let blood in the right hand for Aposthumes and Sicknesse in the Stomach and for all evil humors about the Liver The same Vein on the left hand is for to let bloud for Imposthumes and gathering of evil humors about the Milt and Spleen it is good for the black Jaundies The over Vein in the Yard is good for the Cramp and for Sctatica passio for swelling of the Womb for the Dropsie and for the Stone The nether Vein of the Yard is good for the sides for the Reins Bladder for swelling of the Stones and for the Emerodes The Vein beneath the knee helpeth the knees and it is good for aking of the thighs and the joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Veins beneath the knees both within and without is good for the Liver Sides and Thighs and for the matter that is above and to draw downward The Vein in the Hams is best for holding of Womens Purgations for it is the next matter as saith Aviceri and also it cleanseth mans body The Vein that is under the Knuckle which is called Sophena It is good for Aposthumes Swellings and akings and other evils that comes to mans body from the Head to the Foot it asswageth them it is good for the Stone and letting of urine it helps the Matrice and womens purgations it is good for the Seab that is called Malum mortum de Bassilica The Vein that is under the Knuckle without that is called Sianca it is good for aking that is in the Thighs and goeth down to the Legs and to the Feet and for the Podagar and for the Seab it helpeth most the aking of the Thighs and Joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Vein that cometh to the great Toe on either Foot it is good for the Gout in the Eyes for Blans and Spots in the Face and for Postumes and Evils of the Stones for the Blood for Cankers Festers and Sores in the Thighs and Legs and for withholding of Womens Purgations As for the time of letting Blood to wit that neither in hot weather nor yet in great cold nor in rainy weather nor in misty weather nor in the weather of great tempests nor in the old Moon nor in the new that is to say four dayes before the change
strong what humor it did most abound with whether fasting or after-meals painful or easie Fourthly whether the Spittle is thick or thin mixt with blood corrupt like the humor issuing out at the Nose and if that be blood whether it be red watry or black Lastly it is to be observed what the diet of the Patient hath been before as also in his sickness his age the strength of his body exercise and the air he lives in where he continued longest in his youthful years whether in high or low watry or dry hot or cold Countreys these generals might suffice I shall conclude for the Students better satisfaction with some other from time to time retained tradition which in my judgement some of them are worthy of serious consideration White Urine signifies rawness and indigestion of the Stomach red heat thick like Puddle excessive labour or sickness white or red gravel appearing in the bottom of the Urinal threatens the Stone in the Reins black or green coloured Urine is ominous commonly signifying death Of Vomits IS the expulsion of bad humors contained in the Stomach upward it is accounted if wisely administred as to the mitigation of the violence rightly considered of to be the wholesomest kinde of Physick for those which are gross or full of humors For that which a Purgation leaves behinde a Vomit roots up if the party vomit too much rub his feet with hot and sweet water and if it cease not apply a gourd to the mouth of the Stomach Sometimes without any Physick at all one may fall to a customary vomiting then it proceeds from the hot complexion of the Stomach if from a cold you may help it by a bag of Wormwood dry Mints or Marjoram of each alike one handful of Nutmegs Cloves and Galingal half a dram of each one let all of them be dried and powdered and put betwixt two linnen clothes with Cotten interposed and basted and then let â—hem be applied upon the Stomach or else you may apply the said Herbs alone dried upon a â—ot Tile-stone put betwixt two linen cloths upon the Stomach let the stomach be fortified with â—he syrup of Mints or Wormwood or Lozenges â—f the Vomiting proceeds from a hot complexion you may help it by a Plaister applied to the â—tomach of Oyl of Roses Mints or Barley-flour with the white of an Egg the water of Purslain may be taken in drink to quench the thirst Of the Excrements EXcrements some are necessary and some superfluous as they proceed from too much blood yet nevertheless nourish when other nourishment fails the seed spearm milk or fat which are superfluous and do not proceed from blood nor can nourish but rather being separated from the blood are either moist earthy black melancholly sweat urine proceeds from the nose spittle c. Earthy or dry Excrements as Warts Nails Corns and such like Aristotle reckoneth the Marrow of the body amongst the Excrements but as the bones are nourisht by it even as the body is nutrified by the blood it cannot be acknowledged for any other then a nourishment Blood is the very essence of life which diminished the spirits must consequently be dissolved in consideration whereof I counsel them that use any moderate exercise not in any case to be let blood lest that corrupt matter succeed in the place of pure blood but if there be abundance of blood or if it be putrefied or burnt if other medicines avail not this ordination of mine must needs be infringed with better judgement as it may be safer to use Horsleeches especially at the Fundamental Veins which are called the sink of the body By this way the Scurvey Gout Dropsie and Melancholly may be prevented being applied in the Spring or Fall or oftner If the Blood which is let out appear red and white water overflow with it the body is sound if bubbling blood the stomach is diseased if green the heart is afflicted THE TREASURY OF LIFE OR Salves for every Sore Experienced and tryed RECEIPTS the Cure of the Most usual Diseases that our frail BODIES are most subject to whilst we remain in this Life Practised by Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Treasury of Life OR Salves for every Sore Experimental and tried Receipts for the Cure of most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life CHAP. I. For the falling out of the Fundament THe cause of falling out of the Fundament is weakness or relaxation of the Sphineter Muscle and therefore the cure must be by such Medicines as dry and binde 2. A Poltiss made with Pear-tree-leaves and applied to the place is very good 3. But first you must put the Fundament up into its right place again with a warm cloth which may be done without much trouble if it have not been long out 4. If it have been long out many times there follows inflamations and swellings and then it is very difficult to put it up in its right place again yea impossible before the swelling be taken away 5. In such a case you must bathe the place with Oyl of Roses warm or with Oyl of Cammomile or with the decoction of Cammomile if the inflamation be not great 6. If the inflamation be great you may make a Poltiss of Chickweed and Mallows and Endive and Succory with some Malt-flour to make it thick and Sheeps-suet to make it moist and that will allay the inflamation in four and twenty hours time then you may put it up again into its proper place 7. Having put it up again into its place strew upon the place the Powder of burnt Harts-horn 8. A Poltiss made of the leaves of Rosemary and applied to the place is exceeding good 9. To burn Greek Pitch in a close stool whilst the diseased party sits over the smoak of it is an approved cure 10. All such things as are dry and binding are naturally medicinal for the disease amongst which Sinckfoil Bistort and Tormentil are very good CHAP. 2. Of the Liver FOr stoppages of the Liver the Decoction of the Roots of Parsley Fennel Endive and Succory are very good being drunk and also an Oyntment or Plaister made of them applied to the right side is very good 2 Sage constantly eaten is a mighty great strengthner of the Liver inferiour to no Herb growing 3 Take of Agrimony and Liverwort of each two handfuls Harts tongue Bettony and Ribwort of each one handful make a strong Decoction of them and boyl the Decoction into Syrup with Sugar so have you an excellent remedy for the Liver alwayes by you CHAP. 3. Of the Dropsie IN the beginning the Dropsie may easily be cured by drinking but the Decoction of Endive and eating the boyled Herb for a Sallet 2 Ribwort boyled and the Decoction drunk helpeth those that have the Dropsie 3 Also a Plaister made of Plantane
and Ribwort or a Poltis made of the same with a little Barley-meal and Vinegar if withal you exercise your body much and apply this to the Region of the Liver you shall finde it an excellent cure 4 Fill a Pot almost full with the Juyce of Plantane and binde a Linnen cloth over the Pot and upon the Linnen cloth put wood-ashes in that manner set it over the fire and let it boyl till half be consumed strain out what remains unconsumed and give three or four spoonfulls of it every morning to them that are afflicted with the Dropsie and you shall see the wonderful effects of it 5 Goats blood dried on the fire and a drachm of it given at a time in the morning in any convenient Liquor will soon help the Dropsie 6 Take the Juyce of white Briony Roots and mix it with its double weight of Honey 't is an excellent Purge for such as have the Dropsie but give not too much at a time 7 The Bark of the Root of an Elder-tree is a very good remedy for the Dropsie being boyled in Water and the Decoction drunk and yet in all probability the Bark of the Root of Dwarf Elder is better then it if you cannot with convenience get the Bark of the Root take the Bark of the Branches there cannot be much difference if there be any at all 8 Mustard-seed dried and beaten into powder a drachm of it taken every morning in good Wine helpeth the Dropsie it is a gentle remedy and usually sure yet this is certain one remedy will not cure one disease in all Bodies if it would there need be but one remedy for one Disease 9 Hyssop boyled in Wine and the Decoction drunk not onely cureth the Hidropical humors but also hindreth them that they cannot ingender again 10 If those that have the Dropsie be anointed with common durt such as is found in cart wayes or upon cart wheels in a very short time it cureth them 11. The speedy and quaint way to cure the Dropsie is to let the Patient drink every morning a spoonful of the Piss of a Black Goat if you cannot with convenience get a Black Goat get a Black Sheep and let him drink a spoonful of his piss in the Decoction of Spikenard 12 A man 's own Urine being drunk is very good in this Disease 13 The fat of a Dolphin melted and drunk with Wine helpeth such as are sick of the Dropsie 14 The powder of a Load-stone drunk with Milk cureth the Disease CHAP. 4. Of the Spleen THe Spleen is a small member in the body of Man lying in the left Hippocondria but it is an exceeding troublesome part and often subject to Diseases and when it is iseased it disturbs the whole body 2 The decoction of the inner Rinde of an Ash-tree being made in White Wine and a good draught of it drunk in the morning whilst the stomach is empty is a certain remedy for such as are troubled with the Spleen 3 A Poltis made with Goats dung and strong Vinegar and moistened with a little Sheeps suet and applied to the left side and often renewed makes the Patient whole 4 Make a Decoction with Harts-tongue Cetrarh and White Wine and let the Patient drink of it thirty mornings together and it will help them of the Spleen 5 The leaves of a Willow-tree or if the season of the year afford ye not the leaves take the Bark stamp it with Salt and apply it Plaisterwise to the left side it appeaseth the ache and grief of the Spleen 6 Ivy-leaves used in like manner work the same effect 7 Harts-tongue Agrimony the leaves of Willows and Ivy being boyled in Water and Honey and the decoction drunk easeth the hardness and other ill qualities of the Spleen 8 The powder of a Fox dried upon hot coles if it be given to drink doth utterly waste the Spleen 9 The Twigs of Willows boyled and the Decoction drunk for common drink doth the like 10 Penniroyal boyled with Salt and applyed to the grief taketh away the ill humors of thâ— Spleen 11 That plaister which is called Amoniacum cum Cicuta being spread upon Leather and applied to the Region of the Spleen is an excellent good remedy 12 Bind the Spleen of a Dog to the Region of the Spleen of the Patient and it will help him in one night CHAP. 5. For the Yellow Jaundies TAke an Apple and cut off the top and pick out the Core then put into the Apple a drachm of Turmerick powder and ten or twelve grains of Saffron whole put on the top again roste it by a gentle fire then take it off and adding a little butter to it mash it all together and eat it last at night going to bed this doing in few nights will cure you 2 A Medicine for the Yellow Jaundies which seldome fails is this to swallow down Lice alive you may swallow them down in what you please 3 The Urine of the Patient drunk with Juyce of Horehound helpeth the Jaundies 4 Ivory in powder is a very good help for the Jaundies 5 Yet in my opinion Spodium which is nothing else but burnt Ivory is far better because it strengtheneth the Liver exceedingly and it is impossible the body should be afflicted with the Yellow Jaundies and not both Liver and Spleen exceedingly weakened 6 The proper cause of the Yellow Jaundies is a stoppage in the Biliar pores 7 The Juyce of Cammomile given to drink to the Patient diseased with the Yellow Jaundies is a presenr remedy CHAP. 6. Of the Stone THe cause of the Stone either in the Kidneys or Bladder is the heat of either part which hardneth the gross slimy substance into a Stone 2 Goats Blood dried and beaten into powder being taken inwardly is a very good remedy 3 The powder of Burnt Grashoppers is also very Good 4 If the Region of the Bladder be anointed often with the Blood of a Fox the Stone will break incontinently as appears for if you put a Stone into the Blood of a Fox it will break in three dayes time 5 And here take notice by the way that many times people in avoiding gravel have some great Stone stick by the way in the passage of the Yard which is many times forced to be taken out by cutting in such a case if the party did but hold his Yard in the warm Blood of a Fox it would in a short time be made small enough to come out of it self without any such troublesome or painful remedy 6 And although it is very probable the Blood of a Fox is not alwayes at present to be had yet it may be dried and kept for use whereby it may be alwayes had at present and may be dissolved in any convenient Liquor when there is need of its use and of all Liquors I suppose Vinegar to be the best because of its piercing quality 7 Take nine Ivy berries and beat them into powder and give them to
9. Of the Diabetes WHether the cause of this disease be the immoderate attraction of the Reins or the weakness of the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder or both of them we will not dispute the point out here howsoever this is certain there follows as well great thirst as pissing against ones will 2. Against this disease give the Patient the Bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep or else of a Bull beaten into powder let him drink half a dram of it in any convenient liquor at night going to bed 3. I suppose the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were sufficient if it were converted into Mummy and beaten into powder for it will be found to be a very difficult thing to beat the whole Bladder into powder besides it is the Sphinater Muscle which is in fault in our Bladder therefore if that onely of the Sheeps or Goats Bladder be used the Remedy is agreeable to the Disease 4. I remember once I cured a great Lubber that could not lye all night without pissing a bed nor remain a quarter of an hour in the day time without pissing by onely advising him to drink no other drink then what had been tied up twelve hours in a sheeps bladder and as â— have been since informed he is perfectly cured by it 5. Give him for three dayes in the Wane oâ— the Moon the Bladder of a fresh-water fish 6. The Brain of a Hare converted to Mummy and given in Wine to drink causeth the Patient to hold his water 7. Galangal taken inwardly is a good remedy to stop the involuntary flowing of the water if it come of a cold cause as I am of opinion it alwayes doth 8. The Lungs of a Kid bound warm under the Navel withholdeth the distillation of urine saith my Authour yet my opinion is that if they be medicinable for the disease the best way is to apply them to the Neck of the Bladder 9. My own Childe was troubled with this disease when very young whom I cured with these remedies First I got Alehoof and chopped it very small but washed it not and having sprinkled it with strong white Wine Vinegar applied to her Wrests Then I took three Holly-leaves the fullest of prickles I could get and boiled them in her drink These medicines I learned of an Italian which indeed cured her CHAP. 10. Of swelling of the Cods THis disease cometh sometimes of humors falling down into the Scrotum and sometimes onely winde gathering there 2. Take Bean-flour make it into the thickness of a Poltiss with juyce of Dwarf-Elder and common Oyl and apply it warm to the Cods it will presently allay the Swelling 3. A Poltiss made of the bark or leaves of Elder or dwarf-Elder will do the like 4. Goats-dung dissolved in Wine and the Cods bathed therewith takes away the swelling 5. The decoction of Marjoram also doth the like if it be used in like manner 6. But before all these I prefer the decoction of Vervine and Plantane to bathe the place with CHAP. 11. Of the Priapismus THe Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard is a disease exceeding painful and dangerous proceeding usually from a superabundance of hot and moist windy vapors possessing the seminal vessels 2. Let such as are subject to this disease use cool and moist diet especially let them eat much Purslane and Lettice 3. Hemlock bound to the Privities presently asswageth the disease 4. Let such as are subject to this disease avoid all Venerial thoughts for nothing in the world stirs the body to action more then thoughts do CHAP. 12. To provoke the Tearms A Plaister made of Galbanum and applied to the Navel doth mightily provoke them 2. Herbs medicinal to provoke them are Calamint Penerial Betony Sage Marjoram Savory Mugwort c. 3. The powder of Calamint works very violently upon the Feminine parts and therefore a dram of it taken in white Wine every morning is a very probable remedy to provoke them onely have a special care you give it not to women with childe because it destroyes the fruit of her Womb. 4. One caution let me give you before I go any further whatsoever you give to provoke the Tearms give it the Moon encreasing and the nearer the full the better for you will finde it an Herculian task to bring them down in the Wane of the Moon especially in such as never yet had them 5. The root of a white Lilly roasted soft in the embers and stamped with Oyl and applâ—ed to the Matrix it mightily openeth the passages thereof and brings down not onely the Tearms but also the dead childe 6. A Pessary made of Wool dipped in the juyce of Sage is a very good remedy to provoke the Tearms and indeed so is Sage taken any way and it is very probable that the use of drinking Sage-Ale took its rise from hence 7. It is good to make a bathe of all such things as provoke the Tearms and having put it in a Close-stool let the diseased party sit over it 8. Cinnamon and Cassia Lignea provoke the Tearms exceedingly and would be more used were they not so common 9. Bitter Almonds stamped being first blanched and used as a Pessary not onely to provoke the Tearms but also cleanse the Womb of ill humours 10. Half a dram of the powder of Steel given in the morning in white Wine will bring them down 11. I knew once a young Virgin in Service in London who was broken out all about her body her face and all in rough bunches not much unlike those of the French Disease and she lay under that scandal that she had that disease I was sent for to see her and examining the matter found that she never had the Tearms I presently conceived that to be the cause and by administring onely such Medicines as provoke them cured her in a short time 12. Once I had a Patient aged about thirty a Widow in whom they were stopped by reason of grief and when I could provoke them no other way about the full of the Moon I advised her to drink a gallon of Posset drink made with white Wine in two hours time before she went to bed I think she drank a pottle at least within the time and the next day they came down the reason is clear CHAP. 13. To stop the Tearms BEfore I come to Medicines I thought good to give notice of this that those things which strengthen the Womb both provoke the Tearms when they are stopped and also stop them when they flow immoderately such be stinking Arrach Cinnamon Cassia Lignea c. 2. Therefore the extract of Arrach made into Pills with the powder of the same Herb is excellent good both to provoke them and also to stop them 3. If the cause of their immoderate flowing be some vein broken as sometimes it is then to take the syrup of Clounswound-wort inwardly is an excellent remedy 4. Neither do I think the syrup of Comfrey or
they are cold and moist Damsins are of the same nature Six or seven Damsins eaten before dinner are good to provoke the appetite they mollifie the belly and are abstersive the skin and stones ablated Of Olives and Capers OLives eaten at the beginning of a refection coroborate the stomach and provoke the appetite Capers do purge Phlegm and cause an appetite Of Spices Ginger GInger heats the Stomach and helps digestion Green Ginger eaten in the morning fasting doth acuate and quicken the memory Of Pepper THere are three sundry kindes of Pepper white black and long Pepper All kindes of them heat the body dissolves Phlegm and Winde helps digestion and causeth to make water Of Cloves and Mace CLoves comforts the sinews dissolve and consume superfluous humors restore nature Mace is a Cordial helps the Chollick and is good against the bloody Flux Of Saffron SAffron comforts the heart and stomach but is too hot for the Liver Of Nutmegs and Cinamon NUtmegs are good for them which have cold in their head and comfort the sight and the brain and the mouth of the stomach and is good for the Spleen Cinamon is a Cordial wherefore some Writers admire why one dies that may eat Cinamon yet it doth stop and is good to restrain Fluxes and the looseness of the body Of Liquorice LIquorice is good to cleanse and open the Lungs and the Breast and to loose Phlegm in cakes with Honey it purges moderately Of Salt SAlt moderately used is very wholesom taken excessive it ingenders Choller dries up the natural moisture and inflames the blood stops the Veins hardens the Stone and gathers together viscus humors causing sharpness of Urine consuming the flesh and fat of the body they which are cold watry and Phlegmatick may feed more plentifully of Salt and of Salt meats but Chollerick and Melancholick persons must eat it moderately and Sanguine persons must take no more of it then lightly to relish their meat By the general consent of Writers it is not nourishing I must in particular dissent from them and affirm that it doth not onely accidentally but essentially nourish accidentally in making the meat more gracious to the stomach hindering putrefaction and drying up superfluous humors essentially in it self as it takes its just and due proportion for our body hath and should have humors of all tastes the finest humor of the body being nothing but salt it self so termed by the best but newest Philosophers which if so will hardly be preserved without eating of salt Of Sugar SUgar is temperate and nourishing good against the Choller of the Stomach admirably useful in preserves conserves sauces c. The ancients term it the Indian salt the kindes hereof are made of the tears of Sugar-Canes so replenished with Juyce as that they crack again there are other wayes of making of Sugar to no purpose to particularize the best sugar is solid hard light exceeding white sweet glistering like snow melting as salt doth speedily in any liquor the Refiners if I am not mistaken in my art feel an unspeakable sweetness in theirs it is their mystery I am unwilling to call it couzenage Sugar is not so hurtful as Honey to Chollerick complexions Gallen writes that it may be given in Agues it delighteth the Stomach pleaseth the Blood and Liver cleanseth the Breast and restores the Lungs and iâ— good for children against the Worms Doctor REASON And Doctor EXPERIENCE Consulted with OR The Mystery of the Skill of PHYSICK made easie Short clear and certain Rules how to discern judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the Body affected the Causes Signs or Symptoms collected and observed from the most approved Authors and constantly practised BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with c. Of the Apoplexy IT is a disease that deprives of sense and motion in the whole body as also of the principal animal functions this disease doth amaze both body and minde and is so dangerous that few recover of it the Brain which is the rock of the Sinews is affected In a weak Apoplexy there is a sudden fall on the earth with outcryes with such a difficulty of breathing that one cannot discern any life in the Patient An Apoplexy is often caused by slimy gross and cold Phlegm as also by crudities and drunkenness so that such as are much addicted to surfeitings especially old men are subject to any Apoplexy This disease if it be great is hard to be cured if the Patient do escape death he either falls into a Palsie of some part or of the whole body The Air the sick person lives in must be somewhat hot his Diet must be temperate instead of Exercise strong Fractions and Ligatures of the extream parts may be used Cupping-glasses must be fastened to the shoulders he should be carried up and down in a hanging bed and after two or three weeks it will be good to bathe Of the Mother THe stopping and choaking of the Womb or Mother is a running back of the Womb or of maligne vapors bred in the Womb unto the higher parts whereby the bowels midriff and stomach are sometimes crushed that they cannot be widened by breathing the Womb in this disease being lifted so high that it drives the other members above it to the higher parts This disease hath some affinity with the Falling-sickness Swounding and Apoplexy The Womb is chiefly affected through menstruous blood or some other humor for the most part queaziness of stomach and loathng of meat and thick breathing follow this disease This disease is sometimes caused from an Impostume in the Womb or by some seed sent into the Womb and therein detained and corrupted The danger of this disease is not so great if the Spirits are not hurt The Air the Patient lives in should be temperate such meats are to be abstained from as increase blood and seed the diet must be sparing wine is not to be drunk except alâ—ayed with water except in case of swounding their Exerc ses are to be moderate their sleeps short and to shun Melancholly Of Melancholly THat which is Hypocondraical is windy oft-times caused by the over-boiling of dreggish blood settled near to the stomach or gristles of the short ribs by a distemper of the liver stomach or miseraical veins the part affected is the brain the signs of this disease are the excessive heat of humors the parts about the heart being inflamed This distemper is caused by the default of the spleen when it doth not draw away the Melancholick blood made by the distemper of the Liver At the first this disease is easily cured but if it grows old it is hardly to be remedied The Patients diet must be moist little broth will suffice because of fluctuations in the stomach he may drink cream of hulled barley with a
little cynamon and seed of Annis white wine mixt with water musick is good in this disease and such means must be used as may cause sleep Of Melancholly of black Choller THis disease is a kinde of doting without a feaver arising from such maligne and melancholick humors which distrub the seat of the Minde The signs of melancholly are fear and sadness evil thoughts without any cause proceeding from such vapors of black Choller as darken the mind and over-cloud the brain Melancholy which seizes on the essence of the brain and continues there long is altogether incureable The Air where the Patient resides must be of a wholesom smell moist and temperate his diet moist but of good juyce easie of digestion Let him drink white wine and exercise himself moderately his sleep should be somewhat longer then ordinary he is to be cherisht with mirth and good hopes perturbations of minde being wholly avoided Of the overflowing of the monethly Tearms THe superfluous flux of moneths is when it doth tend to be the hurt rather then the good of the woman by reason that they are purged more then they should but in such women as are of a moist constitution that have good diet and much ease the moneths may be suffered to flow more then ordinarily they use The womb is the part chiefly affected sometimes the whole body sympathizeth this affection is an accident which appertains to the immoderate excretion it is not altogether against nature as it is in the bleeding of the nose and other bleedings for here onely too great a quantity of the monethly flux is unnatural This distemper takes away the appetite hinders digestion breeds crudities weakens the whole body the colour of the face is changed feaverish heats arise in the body sometimes the feet are swelled and a dropsie follows one cause is by reason of the heat thinness or abundance of blood more then is requisite or else because of the continual motion for when these concur Nature is defeated Immoderate fluxes caused by the birth of a large Infant are less dangerous because they will stay of themselves This disease is to be feared if the body be weakned or the colour of the face changed the woman being reduced to such coldness faintness of heart swoundings and sometimes death The Air that this Patient lives in should be temperate the meat binding and thickning exercise is forbidden her rest and sleep must be moderate her minde pleased Of the suppression of the Moneths AS the overflowing is dangerous so the retention on the contrary is as dangerous and unnatural if they be of age unless they have conceived the womb is chiefly affected in regard of the fatness thereof whereby the veins are crushed together and so the flux is hindred In this disease the forepart of the head is pained spreads it self to the neck shoulders and loins her appetite is taken away her minde unquiet her stomach queasie she loathes meat her face discoloured she is troubled with phlegm and taken with a trembling her urine is thick red and muddy sometimes blackish with a red watry substance in the bottom the chief cause is gross and phlegmy matter mixed with blood which stops the veins leading to the womb whereby the straitness of the veins doth happen or else from the inflammation of the womb if the Tearms are stopt other diseases must of necessity follow The Air she is to breathe must incline to heat her meat must be heating she must not sleep too long her minde must not be disquieted Of the Obstruction of the Liver THe Obstruction of the Liver is a binding or straitning of the Veins or Liver passages The Liver is the Store-house of blood from which all parts of the body draw nourishment and together with purer blood gross and slimy humors are generated in the Liver seeing that the branches of the hollow Veins are knit unto the Vena Porta in such sort that the knitting and combination doth not come within the compass of our sight as also that all the nutriments of the body must be conveighed through the port Veins and the hollow Veins ends which are very small where they end in the Liver substance so that it is no wonder that by reason of the passages and straitness Obstructions are oftner caused in the Liver then in any other Bowel This Disease doth breed in the extream parts of the vessels of the hollow part and Veins and they are terminated in the Livers substance with thin ends knit one into another with little bones the universal nourishment of the whole body being to be made through these This Disease is to be discerned by a heaviness and stretching pain in the right side then most to be perceived when the Patient is exercised presently after meat The narrowness of the Liver and Veins passages is the cause of this Disease The air for the Patient must be hot and clear his diet such as may heat not stopping he must shun bathing and exercise after meat his diet moderate he may sleep in the day time but not too long at night not at the most above seven hours his belly must be kept loose and his minde delighted The Hicket THe Hicket called Singultus is a violent or vehement motion of the Stomach whereby it doth endeavour to expel such things as rest in the Tunicles and in the Body and also such as do stick fast thereto The Hicket though it much resemble vomiting yet this Disease is rather stirred up then vomit when the humors are strongest the part affected is the mouth of the Stomach sometimes the inflamation of the Liver This Disease comes often for the most part by fits as the Cough doth with a swooning the cause of the swooning in this disease is the straitness of the passage of the air which is contained in the stomach it being often caused by fulness and superfluous moisture by which the Patient is either loaded â—or in a manner shrunk together If this disease be caused by fulness if a sneezing come the Patient will soon be rid of it if it be accompanied with wringing in the guts commonly called Illiaca passia it is a bad Omen but if it follow doating swooning or convulsion it is mortal A temperate air is best for the Patient his meat must be such as doth heat and dry a small quantity of Wine may be permitted Of the Stone THe Stone of the Kidneys is a hard substance bred like a Sand-stone in the Reins from whence by the force of the Urine it is often conveighed through the straight pipes into the Bladder if it be not too great which doth so stretch the passages of the Urine that great pain doth follow the settled pain is in the Veins and sometimes the right side or the left is affected or both at one time even as the right or left Kidney is affected for the gravel is bred in the mouth of the Kidney or substance of them This Disease is
of the Patient sometimes it sticks so fast over the ball of the eye or betwixt the Christal Humors and the Tunickle Rhagois so as to tender the sight in the beginning of this disease certain fumes and Spirits do present themselves to the sight this disease is caused from cold and moist humors that fall on the Optick Nerve If this disease be of long continuance it cannot be cured but if that which is congealed by rubbing be rent asunder and doth not remain so long but grows together again and is of a sad white colour there is still left some hopes of the cure Of the French-Pox THe French-Pox it is a fowl and contagious disease which often proceeds from the immoderate use of Venery the beginnings of this disease are small but in time it vitiates the humors spirits membranes tendons flesh and bones and perverts the temperature and substance of the whole body the Liver is chiefly affected as appears from the bad Concoction of the Stomach the not propension to Venery laziness falling off of the hair it begins in the groins and privy members with little pushes in the Urine which in time do send forth clammy and corrupt blood heat of Urine effusion of seed several coloured spots appearing in the upper part of the body a pain in the sinews heaviness in the head hard swellings appear in the forehead and other parts which at last become great Ulcers so as to corrupt the bones The cause of this disease is a filthy quality communicated by touching but for the most part by the act of Venery as the privy members have a thin and rare substance taken in time this disease admits of cure but otherwise is incureable For the cure of this disease the air must be moderately hot for cold hinders the operation of the medicines the Patients diet must be sparing his bread twice bak't he must feed on the best fowl when he purges sod meats are best for him such as are windy breed gross humors those which inflame the blood are bad for him he must exercise himself till he sweats to expel the moist matter he must purge twice a week his sleep moderate he must abstain from Venery and shun all perturbations of mind Of the weakness of the Stomach THe weakness of the Stomach in Latine called Debilitas Ventriculi is a disposition of the alterative faculty wherein either the nourishment is not altered or not well concocted the faculty of the Stomach failing the crudity of the Stomach doth follow by some external cause The sign of a difficult concoction is when the Stomach doth not boil after the accustomed manner or is surcharged with fumes and vapors sometimes weakness after a disease is the cause The indigestion of the Stomach thus weakned raw humors must needs be gathered together either hot or cold disturbing the Stomach by some outward quality which is followed with a loathing of meat and a loading of the Stomach belchings vomitings caused by Phlegmy and putrified humors the relish then communicated to the pallate being sweet and watrish and much spettle voided without coughing or heming that crudity is worst which is caused by ill nourishment and very bad in those which do abound with Choller The air the Patient breaths should incline to heat as he ought to be kept warm his diet must be easie of digestion and moderate neither must he receive any other meat till the former be digested he may drink good Wine his head laid high and his sleep not to be disturbed he ought to be moderately merry and to avoid all perturbations of mind Of the Squinancy THis Disease is an inflamation of the Throat or of the highest part of the Gullet hindering the breath and swallowing when the fault is neither in the breathing nor swallowing This Disease by reason the upper part of the Gullet is choakt up doth threaten present danger by strangling If the inner parts of the Throat are affected then the Patient is in great danger this pain is sharp and the Patient breaths with difficulty he swallows with difficulty and that which he drinks doth often run out at his Nose This Disease is caused by blood which is carried thither by the Ingular Veins for in these Veins there is plenty of blood If the inflamation be in the inward Muscles that Squinancy is very dangerous within three or four dayes it is very likely to kill the party and although that the Patient may think himself well yet he is taken away with a sudden suffocation The air where the Patient resides must be temperate free from wind his diet liquid and soft he must shun those things that may heat his blood he must abstain from Wine and Exercise speak little his sleep shorter then ordinary it used to be if it be too long those that watch with him must awake him out of it his belly must be loosened and his minde kept merry Of involuntary Pissing INvoluntary pissing called Diarberes is a default of the Kidneys a swift passage the drink being nothing altered through the body an inmeasurable thirst following In this Disease the Kidneys are affected it is known by the heat felt in the Reins and the insatiable thirst If the Patient strives to hold his urine his Stones Hips and Loins swell such heat felt in those inward parts as if the Bowels were burnt This distemper is sometimes caused by sharp humors in the Kidneys by brinish Phlegm or a pernicious quality fixt to the blood or humors fastned to the Reins This distemper causeth a great driness and consumption of the body If the person have a burning Feaver he cannot be cured because his radical moisture is wasted The air in which this Patient lives must incline to cold and moist his diet such as will breed good but thick juyce such as will qualifie the sharpness of the humors salt and sharp meats as also such as provoke urine are not good the belly must be kept loose by art or nature Rest is best for this Patient because it stayes the motion of the humors Of the Inflamation of the Eyes THe Inflamation of the Eyes called Opthalmia is an inflamation of the Tunicle or Membrane growing close to the eye spread over all the Membrane from the corners of the eyes This evil takes its beginning from the Pericranium from whence Veins are conveighed to the eyes through the forehead and temples The part affected is chiefly the eye where redness appears and it is oftentimes swelled so that the Tunicles and parts near adjoyning are sore stretched this is either caused by the fulness of blood by which the Membrane growing next to the eye is filled or stretcht or else by phlegmatick blood and then it is not so stretcht or else by thin sharp Choller running from the temple and corner veins secretly into the eye-veins then such tears gush out of the eyes that the next parts seem burnt the Pupilla is in danger of being exulcerated if
shall onely treat of that pain that doth follow asharp disease by the inflamation of the inner skin for if the inflamation be in the outward Muscles or if the pain be great because of windiness this is but a basterd Pleurisie and the Patient is without a Feaver The signs of this disease besides the difficulty of breathing and a vehement Cough is a pricking pain which plainly doth demonstrate that the membranes and some other tender parts are affected this pricking pain sometimes spreads it self over the sides and breast sometimes to the short Ribs to the Channel-bone of the Throat so that the Patient is forced to breath short and thick also there is a continual Feaver because the inflamation doth border on the heart the Pulse is thick not too great hard and unequal and by that means tough and like to a saw a cough also cometh withal the first day and then nothing cometh at length spettle is voided and comes up coloured according to the nature of the excrements and it is also moister there are many other signs the cause for the most part is blood running from the hollow Veins into the Ribs thin Veins sometimes it is caused by Phlegmy blood and then the disease is longer of continuance and the spettle frothy and white sometimes the blood is Chollerick and then a sharper disease is caused The suppression of the Hemrhoides or monethly tearms will cause a Pleurisie this disease is dangerous to old men to Women with childe and such as have been sick twice or thrice of it it vexes the Patient more in the night then day time whosoever is sick of a Pleurisie and is not cleansed in fourteen dayes they turn to supuratiâ—â— This disease kills by choaking or too mâ—ch pain or by the translation of the matter into the Lungs whereby the Consumption of them is caused and also Ulcers The air the Patient lives in must be temperate somewhat inclining to heat his meat easie of digestion he is not to drink Wine till the disease be abated he may be permitted longer then ordinary sleep his belly must be kept loose Of the Bleeding at the Nose THe Bleeding at the nose called Hemorrhagia doth signifie a Bleeding at the Nose whether it doth come immediately from the Nostrills carried thither by the Veins of the palate through which for the most part nature doth expel the superfluous blood of many or else whether it comes from the Veins of the Head further off but in general it doth signifie any bleeding whether it be of Nose Womb or any other part of the body when blood comes forth moderately in the beginning of a Pleurisie Impostume Squinancy Burning Feaver Small Poxs it is alwayes for the best yet this Bleeding in some other diseases is Critical foreshewing death the Nostrills are chiefly affected but not alwayes the essence of the Nostrils but they are affected by the consent of some other part the Veins by which this blood is cast out at the Nose run from the palate and Mouth into the Nostrills and sometimes from the head when too much blood is voided the colour of the face waxeth pale the body is of a leaden colour the outward parts are cold and a swooning follows and many times after death Oftentimes bleeding at the Nose is caused by nature which doth by this means expel the excrements and which is troublesome to the body Sometimes it is caused by the evil affection of the Veins wherein the blood is contained and the blood runs out of the Veins the Veins being opened by the plenty of blood which they could not contain There are sundry other causes If bleeding have continued long swooning weakness and too much cooling of the Liver Lachexia or the Dropsie is to be feared Bleeding at the Nose without coldness of the outwards parts is mortal The air the Patient should live in must be somewhat cold his meat must be such as doth nourish well and easie of digestion he must avoid exercise and speak little he must avoid all passions of the minde especially anger Of the Falling-sickness THe Falling-sickness is a Convulsion of all the parts of the body not continual but that which cometh by distances of time the minde and senses being thereby hurt This disease doth either happen when the brain hath the cause of the disease in it self which is usual or by the evil effect of the mouth of the stomach or from some other part underneath by which the venemous effect creepeth into the brain through secret passages the Patient feels the cause of this Disease like a vapour of cold winde to be carried to the brain by the continuity of the other parts from the part of the body wherein the Disease is chiefly seated the cause of this Disease being for the most part a venomous vapour carried up from some lower part of the body into the brain and then the Patient doth suddenly fall with a Convulsion The brain is the part affected either by it self or by the consent of the stomach or by some other parts The fit comes oftentimes suddenly with much foam which because it is slimy may be drawn out at length yet in a gentler Falling-sickness this doth not appear when the Patient is deprived of his senses he falls to the ground with a violent shaking of his body his face is wrested his eyes turned upwards his chin somewhat driven to his shoulder and oftentimes he voids seed and ordure against his will his Muscles are loosened all these are signs of a strong fâ—t Sometimes their teeth are so fast closed together that they are in danger of stifling paleness of the face inordinate motion of the tongue pain and heaviness of the head forgetfulness sadness troublesome dreams are ushers to this Disease the Patient being taken with a giddiness sometimes darkness and divers dim glisterings appear before his eyes This Disease is for the most part caused by abundance of melancholâ—ck and phlegmatick humors from whence corâ—upt venomous and stinking vapors break out whereby obstructions are caused in the passages â—f the brain and the passages of the spirits are â—â—ereby hindred by this means the brain and the roots of the Sinnews shrink and as it were tremble in the expelling of that which is obnoxious whether it be vapor or humor This disease frequents children because they are of a moister brain then yong men next to these men oâ— a full growth and old men least of all This Disease is more incident to men then women and usually it doth stick close to the Patient unless it be taken away by medicines in the minority If the Disease be vehement and come often on the Patient it is incurable but if a quartane Ague or any longer Feaver surprize him iâ— portends health The air wherein the Patienâ— lives must be hot and dry his meat mixed with such things as do dissolve and extenuate the humors exercise of the body and frication of thâ— head are prevalent
the moderate use of Venery is healthful his excrements must be voided iâ— due time and if Nature be deficient herein Arâ— must be used his sleep must be moderate and his minde pleased Of Rheum RHeum in Latine called Catarrhus is a distillation commonly taking a deflux of humors and excrements from the head or brain into the other parts of the body and because thâ— brain is of a cold and a moist nature and dotâ— want plenty of nourishment by reason of thâ— largeness thereof so likewise it doth breed many excrements and the slight distemper being cold and moist will further it for vapors senâ— from the lower parts get up thither and these being thickned by reason of the brains thinness are entertained and even as these superfluous humors are sent back again to some one or other part of the body oftentimes in the first Ventricle if they do not offend much in quantity and then they are soonest purged by the Pallat sometimes they spread through divers places when they flow too much and then they are voided at the Nose Pallat Ears or Eyes and they do often fall into the Stomach and Lungs from whence several diseases are occasioned The Brain is most affected as may appear by those things which are voided at the Mouth Nose and Pallat and then it is a more continual disease neither is any hurt of any other part perceived whereby it may be cherisht but while it is caused by other parts of the body it will the better be known by its proper signs This is an affection which is caused by moderate excretion if the excrements of the head fall on the Lungs it doth cause for the most part hardness of breathing and a great Cough and Hoarseness bringing pain and soreness to the aforenamed places the hot distemper of the brain is sometimes the cause the great weakness thereof being oftentimes the cause sometimes it is occasioned from the brains cold and moist distemper for then the nutriments conveighed to the brain are not well digested whereby many superfluities are gathered and store of excrements lodged in the brain Surfeits and too much fulness encreases this Disease or by too much sleep also by the weakness of the digestive and expulsive faculty of the brain If the humor fall from the head to the nose it is but a small grief if to the throat worse if to the lungs worst of all for the lungs are in danger of being exulcerated from whence comes a Consumption the Winter season is very obnoxious to this disease because of the uncertainty of the weather The air the Patient lives in should be moderately hot and rainy weather as also Northern and Southern blasts must be avoided his meat must be very easie of digestion and such as breeds good blood his sleep must be moderate and sometimes in the day time his head must be so covered that neither too much cold nor too much heat offend it his body must daily either by art or nature be emptied of excrements he must use moderate exercise and shun the passions of minde Of the Pain of the Stomach THe pain of the Stomach called Cardialgia is a painful sense of the mouth of the stomach caused by a biting matter This distemper hath an affinity with the Disease called Cardaica passio which is in like manner a Disease oâ— the mouth of the stomach caused by corrupt humors and such as are biting and violent which either came from some other place or else werâ— there generated and gathered together Thâ— Cardaica passio differs from this Disease becausâ— this is caused by biting humors but that is caused by virulent humors venomous and so malign that a very hot and sharp Feaver accompanies it The mouth of the Stomach is primarily affected the heart being hereby hurt because of the nearness a pinching pain with biting and fretting being felt under the Breasts grissels In this Disease there is a gnawing biting and pricking of the stomach there is an oppressing pain there whereby the Patient breaths with difficulty sometimes the belly doth cast out the chollerick stuff and sometimes he doth vomit choller a Feaver seldom comes with this In this Disease the appetite is abated the Patient is in more pain before then after meat this Disease is often caused by sadness for by those causes Choller comes into the stomach whereby bitings and gnawings are caused sometimes by inflamation or by sharp or phlegmy humors if this Disease comes without a Feaver it is less dangerous Let the air the Patient lives in be cold either by art or nature his meat easie of digestion and such as is least subject to corruption rest asswages the pain his sleep must be moderate â—is belly must be rendred answerable to nature â—erturbations of his minde are to be shunned especially choller Of the Gout THe Joynt-Gout is a feebleness of the Joynts and pain coming upon them at several diâ—â—ances of time for the most part it is caused by 〈◊〉 Flux which windeth it self betwixt the Ligaments Films and Tendons of the Joynts for in this disease the Joynts do first receive the Humor which at length doth insinuate into the Films adjoyning sometimes there is a Gout in the fingers sometimes in the knee sometimes in the hips from whence it spreads it self to the Thighs Calves of the Legs and to the end of the Feet yet this Gout sticks not in the Hip but is fastned above the Hip at the toâ— of the Buttock if the Gout stick in the feet ' tiâ— called Podagra or the Feet-Gout whether it bâ— in the ankles soles of the feet or great toeâ— joynt sometimes it seizes on the shoulder-joynts and turning-joynts of the Back-bone oâ— Chine sometimes not any knitting of thâ— bones is free from this pain The parts affecteâ— are the joynts tendons ligaments films of thâ— parts of the body which either knit or inviron the bones are here affected and sometimes thâ— Membranes are filled and stretcht the Patient iâ— tormented for a long space when this Diseasâ— doth first surprize him yet the pain is but little by the use of evil diet almost all the joynts oâ— his body suffering alike sometimes not one parâ— of the body being free from this Disease In thâ— Feet or Hip-Gout for the most part no swellinâ— doth appear but in the Hand and Knee-Gout swelling redness and heat by extream pains aâ— easily to be perceived sometimes an inflamatâ—on is caused and then the appetite is lost anâ— the Patient is troubled with watchings and Feaver The cause of every Joynt-Gout is foâ— the most part great store of phlegmatick humors or some other humors overflowing in the greater Veins the Liver and Head so that the parts are therewith surcharged and that these parts may likewise be free of this burthen they do cast these excrements upon the joynts ligaments and tendons and films whereby they are filled stretcht and weakned There are four causes of these superfluities of humors the
a weakness of such Veins doth follow as did convey food to the Liver and then Excrements are heaped together in the lower parts untill they are corrupted and so surcharge the body and afflict the Patient with a Lax. The Patient in this disease is for the most part troubled with a Feaver and doth thirst very much especially if he be troubled with Ascites and because of Salt and putrefied humors he loaths meat The colour of the face is whitish hardness of breathing and heaviness of the body concurs also Swellings of the Feet because of the far distance of the heart In Anasarca the whole body is weakened and doth Faint and Swell equally yet for the most part the Swelling is in the Shins and the Feet so that if the Fingers are thrust into the flesh the prints of them will remain a long time The great coolings of the Veins and Liver is the cause of this long sore disease this happens to the Liver by it self or else by the coldness of the Spleen Guts Misentery Midriff which sometimes because of their obstruction somtimes because of their weakness draw not unto them too much blood also it is caused by the Bleeding at the Nose by immoderate running or by staying of the monethly Courses or Hemrhoids for so the natural heat is choaked by the loss of Spirits in the blood sometimes it is caused by the Flux of the belly or stomach if they do last long for the natural spirits and native heat are scattered There are many other causes if ulcers arise in the body by water that is between the flesh because of the great plenty of humor it is hardly cured He who is supurated or have a Dropsie when he is cut or burnt if that water or matter doth run out he dies presently also if a Cough doth seize on him he is in great danger Of all these Dropsies the Timpanites is the worst He that is in a consumption many times fall into a Dropsie because the evil is communicated to the Liver for matter and venomous filth having found a way into the Liver gets in and sticks fast therein and so doth corrupt the substance of it The air where the Patient lives should be clear and somewhat inclining to heat and driness moist and windy air do increase this Disease In this distemper a supper of roast meat is better then sod his meat must be easie of concoction flesh broth must not be given except the Patient takes Purges he may drink thin Wine but not sweet because this will not quench his thirst as it is good in this Disease to indure hunger so to thirst long is dangerous moderate exercise frictions and the Baths are good he may sleep in the night time but not much the Excrements must be answerable to nature he must abstain from Venery and even as fear and sadness do hurt very much because they hinder digestion so anger and some of the other passions will be very good for him Of spitting of Blood SPitting of Blood is any avoiding of Blood at the mouth Blood is also voided from many other places of the body here care ought to be had in observing whether the Patient was wont to Bleed at the Nose or no for from thence it doth fall into the Stomach and Throat and from thence into the Lungs but for the most part it doth turn and harden into a cold if then one spit blood and yet did not Bleed at the Nose formerly then it comes from some peculiar part blood is often voided from the Gums and Mouth it self and then the Spittle is of a bloody colour and very little is voided out and that without a Cough if it do come from the Throat or Weezel-pipe then it is voided by Hemmings not by Cough and the continuated parts of these places do appear loosened if the Tongue be thrust out but if it did come from the Head a pain of the Head and heaviness went before a noise in the Ears the Forehead Veins rise they have a kinde of a heat and blood in the Mouth and a tickling is felt in the Palate if it doth run into the Throat from whence by often Hemming it is cast out oftentimes the Patient hath a desire to Cough but cannot but if the blood doth come from the Lungs then is the blood foamy and then it is voided by frequent Coughing and without pain and at sundry times and as oft as blood is voided because some great Vein is burst then plenty of blood is cast up no cause except that known it being as it were cast up by Vomit but if blood be cast up because some Vein in the Lungs is gnawn which is oft caused by a sharp humor falling down then it is voided by degrees a little now and a little then unless some great Vein be fretted asunder for then it runs out in great abundance for this is very dangerous for then follows a Cough or a Feaver sometimes some part of the Lungs being rotted is voided by a Cough and this is the surest sign of the Lungs exulceration much more might be written of the peculiar parts affected and of the signs This distemper is often caused by fulness and by a great quantity of blood which doth offend the body and some peculiar parts of the body more particularly so that hereby the vessels mouths are opened Of this is a good habit of body immoderate use of hot nutriments and Wine suppression of tearms and then there is no pain but rather a lightsomness of the body which before was dull and then also there is not too great a quantity thereof and it is not very foamy or red Women without any danger of Consumption have been eased by this shedding of blood in the suppression of their tearms To omit other causes that might be rendred of this distemper it will be very necessary to take notice that if the Lungs are ulcerated there is danger for then there is danger of a Supuration and Consumption when a Vein in the Lungs is opened and burst yet there is some hope if the substance of the Lungs be sound yet a Consumption signifies danger if the blood which comes out of the rupture of a vein falling upon the Lungs be there detained by which means the Lungs are inflamed and putrefied for at length the substance of the Lungs will be corrupted and putrefied there is also danger when a great Vâ—â—â— is opened or broke for that the heart may be suffocated from the plenty of blood voided from thence Spitting of blood if it be caused by a corrosion of the Lungs is incuâ—able if from the Breast there is less danger Spitting of matter it is a sign the Lungs are exulcerated this disease if it continue long will turn into a Consumption The air the Patient lives in should be somewhat inclining to cold and dry the Patient must avoid sun-shine and a bright fire his meat must be such as doth cool
Brain Chollick Winde in the Bowels c. lay the Patient upon his Back and pour a little of this Oyl being warmed upon his Navel and you shall presently see the wonderful operation appear more divine then natural Chap. 9. Of the Quintessence of every Simple Matter WE are in the first place to learn what is the Quintessence of every thing or simple matter which being known the other secrets of this Art will more easily manifest themselves unto us for every thing which hath its institution from another thing ought to have its definition declared that the original may be understood Know therefore that Quintessence is the fifth part of every thing having forme and substance and a most subtil spirit drawn from its body as from a more gross and crasse matter and superfluity of four Elements by a most subtil and extream distillation as we shall hereafter teach But let it not seem wonderfull to any one that this Art hath for the most part lien absconded and shut up from the common knowledge and vulgar capacities of men for many of the Ancient Philosophers have so laboured in this art that thereby they have nourished and preserved the life of man to an extream old age and have spun out the thread of life to the end of nature and ultimate time ordained and appointed by God Qui statuit omnibus semel mori But as by a corruptible Medicine life cannot alwayes be preserved incorrupted so a Medicine having neer affinity to incorruption may preserve the power of nature to an extream old age And the best Antidote conducing hereunto is the Quintessence which is no elementary thing but a certain secret soul drawn from its body so that whatsoever it is admixed withal seems in a manner incorruptible for it comforts and restores all the powers and spirits of mans body by the excrements of the Elements evacuated and wasted and it is a spirit of life for it digesteth all indigestible things and cutteth away and digesteth all superfluous qualities For it preserveth flesh from corruption it comforts the Elements restoreth decayed Youth vivifies the spirit soft things it hardens hard it mollifies thick and gross things it rarifies thin substances it conduces and makes thick the lean it makes fat fatness it extenuates it cooleth the hot and heateth the cold drieth up moisture and moistneth driness and repelleth every complexion adverse to the body Further it extinguishes all the noxious matter of superfluous humors and restoreth natural heat so that the greatest Philosophers never found out any thing more conducing to the sustentation of life Now although the Quintessence may sometimes have the complexion of some other thing adjoyned unto it for unto what complexionated thing soever it be joyned it draweth the complexion thereof unto it self yet solely by it self it hath none of the four qualities in it to wit Airy Watry Fiery nor Earthly which could be discerned or discovered by the judicious inquisition of the most skilfull Philosophers Lastly know that the Quintessence hath not in it any thing of the earthly Element Cold or Dry because it cures melancholly diseases which are cold and dry Therefore for a conclusion observe that it is neither hot nor cold nor moist nor dry but is a thing of a temperate nature exceeding all the Elements which are under Heaven For when it is administred unto any one it maketh that body temperate neither doth it recede from its temporancy by assuming any Qualities or Complexions Neither doth it follow that it is a Medicine for cold infirmities because it is hot nor that it cures hot diseases because it is cold for two contraries cannot exist in one body because one contrary is expelled by the other Therefore we see it ought not to be called hot or cold nor dry or moist because it cures such as are Physical which are hot and dry and the Hidropical which are moist and cold but all the four qualities are in it corrupted and altogether sublated And although it is not an Element nevertheless it is a temperate Matter purified by the Elements themselves and extracted from the Feces of the four Elements which are the most powerful causes of the corruption These Feces therefore are segregated as a most gross body from its matter as it were from a most subtil soul by the Science and Art of distillations And because the Quintessence is the Commune vocabulum of all things which have a form and species to extract it from and although chiefly it is to be understood of Wine yet nevertheless there are very many other things from which it may be drawn and educed as from all mettals from all fruits from flesh eggs roots and many other things as we shall shortly declare and it excelleth all other things because of its great subtilty and therefore by very many Philosophers it hath been called Coelum Philosophorum For the Heaven is of it self distinct towards the four Elements so the Coelum Philosophorum viz. The Quintessence hath it self against the â—our qualities of humane bodies which are composed of those Elements It is called also by some Aqua ardens a burnâ—ng water because untill it be brought to its perfection and utmost distillation it burneth in the fire leaving no superfluous humidity in the vessel By some it is also called the soul of Wine for as the soul is more noble then the body so is the Quintessence which is extracted by true distillation more noble then the body of Wine from whence it is educed It is named also by other Aqua vitae or the Water of life because it doth conserve humane life from corruption as we see when it is administred to those that have the Syncope passion and because it is divers wayes and from divers things extracted we shall begin with the first in order Chap. 10. How the Quintessence of Wine is to be extracted by a distallatory HAving delivered what the Quintessence is and to what it conduces we are now to perpend and consider by how many wayes it may be extracted and from what things and because it is drawn from things moist dry hot and cold we shall in the first declare how it may be drawn from moist things as from Wine after this manner Take of the best red Wine a little inclining to sweetness and which is perfect naturaâ— without mixture or sophistication not too neâ—â— nor too old but of a temperate age or if yoâ— cannot get red Wine take white Wine the besâ— what quantity you please and place it in a Câ—â—curbite so that two parts may be full and thâ— third remain empty then put it upon a Liâ—â—beck with a head and receiver and let theâ— be all well luted with lute made of paper maâ—â— defied or meal and whites of Eggs mixed tâ— the thickness of Honey It may also be madâ— according to Raymund Lully with Olibanuâ— or Mastick mollisted or with powder of Calviva incorporated with the white of an Egg. And
must needs hurt us not finding the like cause to drive with and this no doubt is the cause why we are not able to bear such dose oâ— quantity of their Medicines as those Nations are to whom they be native Besides they workâ— in our Bodies after a far more unkinde manneâ— then they report them to do in theirs nay they destroy us and help them which is an argument to me that every Medicine hath a relation to the Diseases of the inhabitant which if it bâ— profitable to strangers yet doth it by a constraint and not half so kindly The Greeks aâ— it may appear by Dioscorides in his fourth Book and Chapter one hundred fifty and two treating of Scammony are able to bear a greater quantity yea double then we of Scammony whicâ— is an ordinary purger with us Who saith thirtâ— grains thereof may be given with twenty of black Heleborus and sixty of Aloe to make a just purgation and of Scammony alone sixty grains Now common experience teacheth us the great odds betwixt Scammony raw as they call it and the same corrected which we name Dacrydium both in vehemency of purging and tormenting the body yet hardly dare we pass above twenty grains of the same and this mixed with Cordials and stomach Medicines Moreover their slender correcting of it doth argue it to be far less noisom to them then to us who correct it onely or at the least are contented with the correction thereof by a little Salt and and Pepper or a little Ginger who for the plenty of excellent Simples which we both want and know not and for their skill in the nature of those we correct with might as well have qualified it as we who first wash it in Rose-water wherein Cytrea Myrobalanus Spike and Cinamon have been boiled in which also we let it steep four and twenty hours then dry it then mix it again with oyl of sweet Almonds and some Goom for Tragacantha and last of all bake it in a Quince covered round with paste Who hath not horror of the torments which both the Hellebores brings to the body yet saith Paulus Aegineta in his seventh Book and fourth Chapter The black Helleborus purgeth yellow Choler from the whole body without pain which canndt be verified of our bodies howsoever it be in theirs and therefore we fear to minister the Powder thereof in any sort but the steeping onely of the barks of the roots from twenty grains to sixty they being bold to take a whole dram thereof in substance which is more then treble the quantity for one dose These strange workings of these forreign Drugs in our Bodies and a more gentle and kinde working in theirs doth it not manifestly declare unto us that they were not created for us do they not force us oftentimes with peril of our lives to give them over that the Patient knoweth not divers times whether he should stand rather to the courtesie of his Disease then of his Potion There is a Simple which hath not many years been in use brought out of India and highly commended called Mechoaca it purgeth gently say they without vexing or grieving the body without anoying the stomach greatly and ceaseth purging at your pleasure with a little supping These be great vertues doubtless and I wish we could finde them in Mechoaca for Experience the touchstone hath bewrayed it in our bodies to be of a far other operation it tormenteth the body it annoyeth the stomach much neither doth a supping stay the vehemency of purging and this have I partly by mine own experience found in Mechoaca and partly by the experience of my friends who upon the use thereof have much complained of these accidents That juyce or rather milk of Poppy which is brought out of Asia named Opium it is not unknown to all the World what a marvellous force it hath in benumming the sense of Feeling and utterly extinguishing the natural Heat of the body so that we fear to give thereof into the body above the weight of two grains and those corrected with Saffron Castorium and such like lest it cast the Patient into such a deep sleep as he needeth the trump of the Archangel to awake him Now the same Opium being taken of the Turks Moors and Persians bringeth to their wearied and over-travelled bodies a marvellous recreation in such sort as they ordinarily use it therefore as a present remedy not in the quantity of two grains or twenty but even an whole ounce or twain at once And Hollerius in his Scholia upon his Chapter of Phrensey saith That Rondelet a learned Physician and the French Kings Professor at Montpellier reported unto him that he had seen a Spaniard take thereof into his body half an ounce at one time without hurt Wherefore if the difference of our bodies from those of strange Nations be so great that the thing which helpeth them destroyeth us that â—ureth them without annoyance doth vehementâ—y torment us I would wish us to be better advised then to be so ready to embrace them as â—o contemn in comparison of them the Mediâ—ines which receive as it were a taming and â—re broken unto us by our own soil neither art â—hou here to look the Wisdom of the Physician should consider the variety and divers dispositions of the Bodies by Age Complexion Region Sex c. and thereafter to temper these Medicines and so to avoid the dangers for â—he question is not of the manner of using these things for then should such consideration have place but even of the very nature which no manner of use can alter Yet are these Simples most excellent creatures of God made for the use of men but not for all men and although we may receive help from them by a certain generall community that our bodies have with those of Arabia Barbary and the rest yet no doubt as I have shewed in a few so we receive by the use of them so much the less good by them as we most differ from them and that which wanteth of the performance of good to us must needs turn us to much harm the unhelping part as I may call it always working and so ever harming Neither do I see why the Medicines of India or Egypt should be laid upon us more then the Indian or Egyptian diet which is to eat Lyzards Dragons and Crocodiles for if the proper Medicine doth alwayes regard his proper adversary which causeth the disease as no doubt it should do then there being a great difference betwixt our humors and theirs as much in a maner as is betwixt the flesh of a Crocodile and of a tender Capon our medicines which are to fit us must needs be of another kinde then theirs which in our bodies not finding such humors and excrements as that strange diet doth ingender must needs seize upon the very substance of our bodies to have somewhat to work on which painful working especially of the purgers causeth