which are of Mercury truly prepared for that they do not only duly evacuate but also divert and draw back the humours from the place offended which in truth is a great help to nature Also blood letting where occasion is may be used for diverting and mitigating a stubborn disease but after the use of Mercurial purges it is held of many not to be good to open a vein of which opinion I am without extraordinary reason urge the contrary And further if you intend to repel an Apostume you may make use of this following Cataplasme of Bean meal or wheat meal boyled with water and vinegar a convenient quantity that it be not over sharp adding a little Terebinthine and very warm apply it with also good close ligature and shift renuing the medicine every sixth or eight hours but observing as it is rehearsed that to repel an Apostume slender diet with convenient evacuation of the belly and Phlebotomy are as principals to be used Also a safe Cataplasme to repel an Apostume in the beginning is â„ž farina fabarum or Bean flower and castle sope ana â„¥ j. wine vineger as much as will suffice boyl these one quarter of an hour together and you may mix a little water with the vinegar for fear it break the skin and apply it warm Note further that to an Apostume broken by a causticke I commonly use no other thing then unguentum basilicon warm from the first to the end of the cure or my artificial balm which I much rather commend upon my long experience except some dressings now and then I apply to it onely dry lint and if nature be not beneficial to incarn and help healing to my desire I use a gentle absterfive medicine namely a little precipitate mixed with the said basilicon or else unguentum Aegytiacum very hot but that only for one dressing one time and then to my former course again for certain daies together namely till the Esker be faln and at the least three dressings after which if it give me not good content in hope of amendment then I proceed further one degree namely I use for one dressing of oleum sulphuris per campanam or oleum Vitrioli with which I onely touch the Ulcer within I also give a purge thereupon if the Patient be strong and then to my old form again till nauure be at rest I mean as is said till the Eskar be clean gone and yet five or six daies further but if then I see it be still stubborn I proceed to the next step or degree and crave help from my honest old friend Mercury who if he fail me judiciously applied then I confess I am almost to seek but he seldom failed me performance if my Patient were not the cause the disease being by Art curable The mercurial medicine I most use in such cases you shal find to be rehearsed in the cures of Fistulaes and Ulcers If an Apostume be opened by a caustick medicine the Apostume of it self being concavous I mean having a great hollowness going deep this way or that way strive you not at all either with tents plegents or dorssels to fil the said concavities and to divide the parts asunder which desire unition but only dress the outward or superficial part with warm basilicon artificial Balm or the like convenient medicine putting it a little within the entrance of the orifice of the Apostume upon a little lint on the end of thy Probe until the first second and third dressing after the opening be past and if thou have any of thy Cataplasme remaining with which thou didst ripen the Apostume apply the same very warm if not apply some good Emplaster over it anointing it with balm artificial and tpplying daily thereto a good balm or basilicon warm and fear not if thou make thy applications warm and use good rowling and boulstring which is a principal part of the belly where thou seest cause but thou shalt heal comforably onely forget not if occasion be that sometime thou make injection into the concavity of the Apostume with some fitting mundificative or abstersive medicament namely with a fitting Lotion it will do well but use it warm and charge it not often with it not at all except great cause yet upon due occasion if an Apostume turn to a moist watry concavous Ulcer thou maist then add to thy Lotion Aegyptiacum but be not too busie with such medicines It may be also thou maist think how shall a good healing follow where the sore is not searched and with tents and like medicines A Caution healed first at the bottome my loving Brother in that thou shalt behold the excellency of Nature in our bodies which being once eased of the burden of that vicious and offending humour which was the cause of the disease it will at first seem admirable to thee being a divine work for nature intends healing without thy help first by little and litle she avoideth the dregs of the disease and ever as fast within by Gods providence incarning new flesh as the quitture is outwardly avoided not by means of thy incarnitives I must tell thee whereon I advise thee not to trust albeit they be never so good experience will shew thee that Abstersive medicines namely such as have vertue to scower and exiccate or drie leaving a certain stâ—pticknesse behind them do best incarn judiciously applyed yea and those medicines which are most caustick of all are truly most incarnative for I speak this upon my known experience that upon the true and judicious use of them the Ulcer will soon incarn only with the use of dry lint far more then with any unctious Medicine whatsoever yea though it be Unguentum aureum for it is an infallible rule in An infallible rule that divine mystery of healing who so can dry well can heal well if thou with thy over many causticks following each other or by keeping the parts too much asunder hinder it not for too much exiccation or drying will make work not heal which beware of Some Artists have in use long hard tents this way that way or dorsels or plegents for perpetual keeping open an Apostume for say they I will see a good ground and a sound healing at the bottome ere I take out my tents and then I will begin to shorten them I say such are unworthy Surgions yet I deny not an Apostume or Ulcer may be in such a part of the body as namely in the corner of the eye or in ano which in no wise will safely suffer healing till some caustick medicine have well searched yea and as it were seared the bottom which once effected go on in the name of God with your precedent courses of healing again namely with all soft gentle and speedy healing means as before said For Natura naturans naturat omnia and mark it for by this reason an old wife oftentimes exceedeth a great Artist in healing for she wrestleth not
of the patient as if he had taken a dose of Diaphenicon or confectio Hamech with the usual additaments of decoctions or syrups thereunto as vehicles added Or that a dose of a Panchiagagon of 20. grains be not far more grateful to a sick stomack then an ounce of Diacatholicon de succ Rosarum Confectio Hamech or the like it being daily manifest that the very sight of large doses of medicines although good are nauseous and abhorred of the weak stomack yea that many Patients will endure the disease rather then the medicine whereas on the contrary true prepared Chymick medicines are not onely grateful to be received into the body but also as is said far excel the others in vertue and potent operation and whereas the Chirurgion cannot at all times advise with the learned Physician as fitting and most requisite he should in cases of Physick where such may be had for the health of his patient as namely the Chirurgion being at Sea and upon long Voiages or at land in the Camp or Countrey where learned advice cannot readily be had they have especial reason if they be men provident to be furnished with such medicines as are small of dose and light of portage being also such as do not putrifie nor in one year change their accustomed natures and vertues no nor in any Voiage how long soever all which Chymick medicaments do well perform yea though they be carried in ships and passe the line more then once Whereas few medicines made of Vegetables that are in common practise though sound from the Apothecaries shops will be found serviceable upon just occasion if they go but a six monethes voyage as daily experience sheweth and as the Reader may easily conceive wherefore then how needful precious and how truly valuable such medicines be let any indifferent person judge that being truly made duely administred and their doses and uses observed and known A further explanation of Alchymy containing a division of Natures whole works into three parts viz. Animal Vegetable and Mineral OSwaldus Crollius a learned writer as also Beguinus and divers others with him of that sort do affirm that tota natura inferior sub Sole in tres partes dividitur viz. Animalia Vegetabilia Mineralia The whole inferior work of Nature under the Sun is divided into these three principles viz. into Animal Vegetable and Mineral creatures The Animal Creatures are termed or said to be all whatsoever containeth life the Vegetable creatures are tearmed or meant to be all that which groweth And under the Mineral part is included all metals stones minerals and whatsoever it be that neither vegetateth upon the upper face of the earth nor liveth and from each of these three by learned Authors is taught and by experience is found out that there is again a threefold substance to be extracted and perfectly to be made apparent in every of these creatures and these threefold substances are called Sal Sulphur and Mercury and beginning with the last first their further definitions follow A brief definition of Mercury MErcury is a liquid substance sower or sharp volatile penetrable ayrie and most pure from which all nourishment proceedeth as also all sense motion strength and colour and the keeping back old age from man chiefly next the divine operations of God resteth therein and it agreeth well with the elements of aire and water for to the former it is subject upon every offered occasion to vanish into the soft aire to the latter in that it is very difficultly contained in any straight or certain bound but easily in a vaste or wide capacitie Likewise there are that define Mercury to be a liquid substance that is Eger Porous alwaies moveable often mutable and eaâ—ily penetrable and a body that is most pure and heavenly most subtile and of a lively and spiritual substance being the food of life and yet a shape that is also most mutable concerning his several shapes of all other creatures whereupon Phalopius tearmeth Mercury Miraculum naturae mundo The miracle of Nature in the world In which definition if the Reader may suppose I speak this of the vulgar Mercury viz. Quick-silver and the wonderful Imps of his production he takes me off too short by figure Wherefore I here conclude the definition of Mercury and passe to Sulphur A brief definition of Sulpur SVlphur by the ancient Writers is said to be the balsam of Nature it is sweet oyly and clammy preserving the natural heat of the body being the instrumental cause of all strength of all increasing or generation of all transmutation and the fountain and well-spring of all sents both sweet and stinking and it is compared unto fire by reason of the flame which it easily gathers as other gummy and oyly bodies do and this one thing is proper to it that it hath force of making fit and conglutinating the greatest contraries and Beguinus a famous late writer giveth an example thereof For saith he thou canâ—t never make a fit clay with water and fand unlesse thou mingle Lyme or some other conglutinating body with it so neither fleeting Mercury nor fixed Sal can by any means be forced into one substance and framed into one body but by a band and fetter of Sulphur which participates through the clammy and viscous substance thereof with both the natures of Sal and Mercury and so joyneth them into one to wit it maketh a true accord betwixt the drynesse of Sal and the moystnesse of Mercury by the thicknesse and viscousnesse of Sulphur and so conjoyneth them both joyntly into one body neither may this Sulphâ—r be taken to be meerly Brimstone but rather which in truth it is the fatty and combuftible parts of the body or substance from which it is drawn be it of what quality soever A brief definition of Salt SAlt hath a body that is drie savourie and bitter defending both the mixed and unmixed parts from putrefaction it exceedeth in the faculties of dissolving and discussing coagulating evacuating and scowring and yet from Salt is all the vertue of the two last recited principles borrowed with their tastes and infinite other excellent properties it have so as the analogie of it answereth the earth not because it is merely cold and drie for in truth Minerals generally have no certain temperaments nor can be confined truly under the attributes hot cold dry or moist for that a Mineral is an elementarie body that is of it self firm and fixed and therefore for his operative excellencie is unsearchable specifical and incomprehensible not to be limited or subjugated to any one temperament neither to be comprehended within humane capacitie This may seem unto the Reader but a strange Paradox except by a plainer definition it be explained as namely whether that the Salt here mentioned is â—eally Salt such as is commonly used for salting meat and also to declare that Sulphur is really Brimstone and that Mercury hath the name of Quick silver generally
of Amputating or cutting off of putrid members in the mortified part I after considered with my self that I could not properly proceed therein except by the defining of a Gangrene in the first place because a Gangrene is ever the fore runner of a Sphacelus and the material cause of Amputation either in the general body of Man or in any the particular parts thereof and from the which no Animal creature no not Man himself can decline from Ab initio statutum est omnibus semel mori For from the beginning all men are constituted once to dye and yet there is an interim for each man of not being in health neither really dead but quafi moriens vel semi mortuus dying or half dying In the which iâ—terim or intermission of time a man may by an accident be said to be in such a distemper as he may be gangrenated or in a Gangrena as the Artist tearms it either in part or in all and yet by the permission of God and by the help of Art that supposed dying man or member of man may receive cure and be heaâ—d again although in mans judgment not well versed in the mystery of healing he be supposed to be at the gates of death Even so a Gangrene presaging a Sphacelus may in some cases be cured as daily experience sheweth that divers Gangrenes receive cure so that to conclude a man that hath a Gangrene in one or more parts of his body untill it be taken away that man is evâ—r as it were under the Shadow of Death Nam Mors sequitur ut umbra Death attendeth us as our shadow Thus much briefly by way of Preface touching the Gangrene A Treatise of Gangrena A Definition of a Gangrene and the several causes thereof A Gangrene in his progresse may justly be termed an effect destroying nature and therefore against nature it is a disease woful painful horrible and fearful to man-kind and justly so for that it often endeth in Sphacelus which is the destruction of the part affected if not of the whole body Causes The causes thereof are infinite for number but to speak in brief in one generall term for all how the dâ—sease commeth first to invade mâ—ns body it ever proceedeth ex intemperie which is of distemper ever by force invading nature this intemperies or distemper may be said generally two wayes to be taken either Externally or Internally Externally It may be tearmed external or from without as well when it proceedeth by externall violence of the ayr by thunder and lightning or otherwise by the mighty and immediate hand of God as it doth to many or by feavours violent contagious or pestilential as Anthrace the small Pox or the like whose secret causes with the reasons thereof are hidden in God and therefore â—y mans wisdome are not to be found out although some affirm the Conjunction or Opposition of the Planets have power or give cause hereunto according to the Poet Astra regunt homines sedregit Astra Dâ—us The Stars govern mans body and God governeth the starres or it proceedeth of outward violence namely sometime by mans hand his intention or invention as by great wounds whereof great hemorrage and so as by a just consequent a Gangerne followeth as also by a violent contusion given either by violence of weapons as by wounds made by Gun-shot Swords Speares knives c. And oftentimes by obstructions in the blood sometimes caused by stripes c. whereby fractures of bones distortions of joynts contusious inflammations Convulsions great and sudden fears and other distempers proceed among which great accidents Gangrena is to be feared will be one and not the least although it may be called one of the last and it may also happen by the fall of a house a tree any weighty thing yea by a tyle a stone by the bite of any venemous Beast of a Dog and innumerable other accidents according to Gods secret appointment or permission Nam Accidit in puncto quod non reparatur in anno That may happen in a moment that cannot be repaired in a year And further a distemper may fall out to be a disease of the similar parts deprived of their naturall and proper temperament this deprivation 1. What a distemper is Simple distemper Compound distemper is caused two wayes either by a simple distemper by reason of the excesse of one quality viz. of heat cold dry or moisture or by a compound distemper by reason of the extuberance or over bearing of the two qualities together hot and moist hot and dry cold and moist and cold and dry again a distemper is either a fault of the meer quality Phlogosis alone viz. an inflammation or it hath an adjuâ—ct fâ—ult of the humours as a Phlegmon again many times a Gangrene proceedeth Phlegmon from a surfeir or a distemper of fulnesse or inanition which may proceed Intemperies by starving or recessus of dew nutriment to satisfie nature A second definition of a Gangrene Second definition of the Gangrene A Gangrene is a beginning of putrefaction being a dreadful Symptome of a disease in any member of the body and sheweth it self for the most part by inflammation with great dolour the grieved How to know it part often appearing of a sad dusky reddish colour or livid though not alwaies and being for the most part tumifieed or swollen the pain being to the judgment of the Patient so intolerable as if there were a fire-coal burning therein or the like in effect and for that reason the German Writers call this by the violent heat of the disease the Heisbrant or the hot burning coal for in truth a Gangrene is of a burning sudden fierce destroying nature and therefore against nature being a disease dreadful to mankind as is said and justly so for that it menaceth to the part affected if not to the whole body eminent destruction yea death it self except speedy remedy by Gods mercy be at hand The causes of this disease as aforesaid are many for number whereof The causes of Gangrene I will set down but part viz. It may proceed either from great hemorrage mentioned that is exceeding effusion of blood and spirits or by a distemper of the four humours proceeding either by Repletion or Inanition Or by extream erosion or corrosion of caustick Medicines or corrosive humours By imbecillity of nature as by weaknesse of infants and old age by a venemous and poysoned blood as in contagious times and namely when the small Pox or Plague reigneth Small Pox or Plague may prâ—ducâ— Gangrena's causing sudden putrefaction of humours also it may proceed by great burnings and scaldings by over-much hunger and thirst by the pricking of a nerve or of nerves by a Feavour precedent by a Frost and also by extream cold by the bitings of venemous Beasts or Wormes or mad Dogs by want of good concoction or humours by obstructions of or from any
the facility thereof and for the saving of blood and spirits I have thought fit to commend to your consideration this new method as to the discretion of the Artist shall be esteemed fit Also I have observed that in surfeited delicate bodies of great personages such as are over-pomper'd with pleasure ease and fulnesse if by any way or accidents such happen to have a Gangrene seldome one of them escapeth death especially if they be ancient and have the dropsie or Scorbute and on the contrary amongst those which are weak poor indigent and miserable people which have bin by long continued ulcers fistulaes or other grievous maladies spent to extream weaknesse although seeming half dead before the work begin scarce two of ten dye amongst them upon amputation if the work be judiciously and in a fit way and time performed for I by practice have often observed that where an infirmity hath pulled down a Patient low and almost past hope of recovery especially if the disease proceeded by any outward violence that such bodies have bin by my experience found to be generally most hopeful of recovery either by amputation in the one or the other kind as the occasion will most fittest bear and on the contrary persons that are to be dismembred in full strength if it be to be acted in the sound part bear a far greater venture of their lives then the miserable dejected wretches do as aforesaid except it can be effected in the putrid part And one observation more to be by all men had in regard namely that our God in Naturehath created in mans body such a strong antipathie betwixt the living and the dead parts thereof that when by any violence in Nature either by distemperature from within testified by Feavours Pestilential or others or by the outward violence of Engines of Warre or other incident mischances as by Fractures Contusions c. whereby one part or limb of mans body becommeth sphacelated and dead before the other it is manifest that the living parts do as it were either in fear or disdain of the dead parts or for some other secret cause in Nature though not without great pain and grief notably withdraw themselves each from the other as in disdain leaving neither warmth not at all any comfort motion nor sense either by blood or spirits or ought else moving in the dead Veines Nerves nor Arteries neither any sense in the Periostcon that sensible Panicle that covereth the bones but as by a comparison of a Snail may in part be explained they wholly withdraw themselves for the Snail having by the vertue of natural warmth stretched her self out of her shell either for her necessity nourishment or delight in a moment apprehending cold or danger retyres into her shell and with all her force by her own slime shuts her self close up again and so rests her self in a supposed safety with her no doubt content even so all the living instruments faculties or vessels of Nature as in a nauseous disdain contempt or fear of the dead parts forsake the sphacelated parts and leave them utterly desperate and impotent and by vertue of the Radical Balsam of Nature contracts and shrowds her relict living parts as Artists may judge by the mortified toes of children but much the better where Art is at hand to aid Nature so that thereby the dead parts become as a noysome and heavy burthen to the living parts so as if you wound the sphacelated part it is not onely senselesse but also it is without blood or spirits at all neither doth blood or humours run any more nor so much as move in the sphacelated or putrid Veines at all and whilest lively Nature is as aforesaid shutting her dead enemy out of her living doores by stopping up all the breaches that she may hold the relict of her own if animal Art have not the charity to take her dead enemy from her yet vital agility assisted by natural motion and will in his due time doth efficiate what fairly can be expected for the assisting of Nature and supplying all defects proceeding ex intemperie all which excellent offices in Nature no question proceed de praesciencia Dei Here followeth a brief relation of amputation or of dismembring in general but more particularly being for the taking off of members in the rotten or mortified places which haâ—h in many cases been approved by the Authour thereof by his own long experience FOr brevity sake in this place I will not spend time to write of the general diseases causes or reasons that might urge the amputation of any member having elsewhere written somewhat thereof onely my intent for the present is to aquaint the younger sort with my long experienced practice for the manner of dismembring in a mortified part where just cause is offered having undertakeen it meerly for the publique good by informing the younger sort of Surgeons as well for their incouragements in the safe and warrantable putting in practice my pactical Method therein as also to shew and fore warn them from being over-much mis-led in the insisting upon old errours and traditions of their Masters Patrons and Predecessours too punctually As for example A Chirurgical â—ase put betwixt two Surgeons Suppose the younger Surgeon in consultation with his Friend or Brother Surgeon by way of asking advice should put the case and say I have a Patient that hath the toes of his feet putrefied fistulated and many wayes perforated with foul bones therein so that it is unsound even almost to the joynts of the ankle or the like and I have endeavoured by Art and with advice the best I can to heal him and cannot prevail in the Cure Wherefore since the toes of the foot cannot be cured the rest of the foot as unprofitable were as I suppose best to be taken away and no lesse of the legge also for it will be but a hinderance to the Patient considering that he cannot stand thereon and is full of grievous pain I will therefore conclude according to custome to take all off a little below the Gartering place leaving a fit room for the stilt to rest the body upon The which his said friend admitteth of as good practice and so he proceedeth to the work as being a rational and fair course and warrantable If the rest of his suggestion or indications be answerable The Chirurgical case answered and admitted unto the aforesaid allegation the work is doubtlesse good and so I my self would heretofore have done untill my practice taught me better things but now by my own practice which I much rather would ground on then upon ipse dixit I take a shorter course For if the bones of the toes of the feet onely were foul fistulated c. as is suggested yea and therefore incurable for so stands the suggestion as being so by reason of some great contusion wound or ulcer or otherwise as aforesaid with divers fragments of foul bones in them or the
death waiteth at the dore The third pleadeth in this manner following and saith the former The third supposition answered supposition granted yet for my patient although his wounds received be desperate as formerly is suggested it would be held great rashnesse and unadvised cruelty in me if I should but offer to take off this member especially in the wounded part yeâ— or elsewhere at the least before it be brought to digestion wherefore I hold it my safest way to follow a rational method by joyning the parts fitting to be joyned as aforesaid and to proceed in the cure the which if by Art I could effect I should rejoyce though my patient were left with an unprofitable limb but if the hope of healing came short then I should hold it fit if it must be taken off to do it in a sound part and not in a putrid according to the now general practice in that kind which is warrantable But yet let the The resolution young Artist take this note from me that when he apparently seeth that a limb cannot be saved without amputation that whilest his patient is yet in strength as afore is expressed that he do his duty first to shew the patient his opinion grounded upon Art and good reason and if his patient give way to it then in the Name of God the sooner he taketh it off he better but if the patient do not approve of the motion good reasons tbeing given him the errour rests in him but if he consent to the work let him take it off in the wounded part although it be not wholly gangrenated circular regarding that memorable old verse Principiis obsta serò medicina paratur Quum mata per longas invaluere moras And further let the understanding Artist consider as followeth that if the bullet have taken away one full third part of a legge or arm in the circumference thereof with the breach of both the bones the great contusion and laceration considered with also the losse of blood and spirits thereby happening it may be feared justly that the limb although the party live will hardly or never be saved but howsoever it will be no way serviceable being done by a contused wound lacerated so that if ever it be healed the wound must come to suppuration and thereby to digestion so that by that reason some part more will be spent and lost by quitture and by consequent if by the part taken away the part contused so fall out that the half limb with the office and vigour thereof be lost or come away by the just course of Art in the healing scarce one often scape with life by reason of the pain and great expence of blood and spirits incident as is said and by reason of the long continuance of the griefe so that it falleth out that for the most part Nature is tyred out and the Patient dyeth in Marasmus or hecticke and such an end is more to be feared at Sea where want of fitting nourishment is then at Land So much I held fit to expresse of my experience and opinion for young Artists to ruminate on And now forward again to my yet unfinished scope of dismembring in the mortified part in the prosecution whereof let me as by the way yet again put the Reader in mind once more of the old document or phrase viz. That there is no general rule but may admit an exception even so in this case there are divers times places and causes Amputation in a mortâ—fied part in some casâ—s forbidden wherein amputation in a mortified part is utterly forbidden as namely the Patient being in a violent Feavour or in a Delirium for one case and yet even then neither is it wholly desperate and so to be utterly inhibited but onely during that paroxisme for if by Gods mercy through the help of the expert Surgeon or Physician the prefent fit I mean the Delirium be but removed and the Feavour taken away if there be any way to save the life of the Patient such amputation I mean in the mortified part is in my opinion the most safe easie and rational way being of all other the most likely way to preserve the life of the Patient for by that the Artist without pain or effusion of the blood may ipso facto remove impurum à puro the putrid from the sound and utterly alter the so much imagineâ— or suggested corrosion or venomous quality thereof so as justly it may be said then it is in this effected Causa ablata est ergo tollitur effectus the cause is taken away and therefore the effect ceaseth A second inhibition Another inhibition is when an amputation is to be done and there is no mortified place to do it in which in the most happeneth and then in such a case the Reader will grant the expert Surgeon is freely admitted to chuse his place so that he chuse it secundum Artem according to Art and so proceed and such occasions are very frequent as namely for one when the occasions of dismembring proceed from corrosive putrid or fistulous Ulcers in Joynts or by foul bones or by fractured bones or by dislocated bones or members distorted or otherwise by diseases incurable and unsufferable when and whereas no mortified place can fitting be found the Surgeon then must be left to take the convenientest whole place A third inhibition Another inhibition generally is when an occasion hapneth in a putrid body where Gangrenous and livid spots or otherwise discoloured spots happen here and there to and fro upon the body presaging a hidden and venomous humour or violence or otherwise deficiency in Nature from within him Gangrenes do proceed de abdita causa Naturae by occult causes in Nature or when a dissolution in the harmony of Nature manifestly appeareth to be at hand or when Pestilential or Carbunculous spots happen upon a Patient which many times mortifie even to the bone and yet such Pestilential Gangrenous spots after separate of themselves and the Patient liveth and is healed for that often in such cases the patients receive an ordinary Cure which my eyes have seen more then one so escape and cured in the Plague time and many other occasions may hinder such amputations which are not now in the apprehension of my memory to unfold Onely I desire that younger Artists would observe to hold the general rule in wounds made with Gun-shot formerly touched namely that they foresee where they cannot save a Limb to be serviceable that they with the approbation of the Patient and likewise by Advice for younger Artists in the cure of Gun-shot by amputation good advice they take it away in time whilest Nature is in her strength and if they have a fit mortified place then to do it there if possibly they can and the rather because there the work is in part done to their hand not regarding though the stump fall out somewhat too long for
Axungia Porcina IT is called Axungia of anointing the Axle-tree to make the wheeles turn easier about for which cause many use it to this day It is liquid flowing like oyl with warmeth it hath a lenifying and anodine quality and therefore it is not unprofitably used for mitigation of sharp humours asswaging of pain healing of burnings with fire and very fitly mixed with Cataplasmes appointed for those effects Axungia Cervi THis Axungia is of a hot nature doth asswage aches resolveth and mollifieth hard tumours in any part of the body And by experience is found very good administred in Glisters to heal the excoriations of the Intestinum rectum for it is anodine and very sanative The manner to use it is somewhat touched in some other my instructions elsewhere Mel simplex ENglish honey being yellow the favour and odour pleasant sharpe pure sincere clear fast or stiffe yeelding little spume in decocting is good and very profitable for those that are costive also for the stomack if one drink it with water it helpeth the bladder and reins it is good for the eyes mundifieth openeth and healeth As for burnings and scaldings it cureth them without scar and is very good to heal ulcers of the ears and saith Dioscorides drunk with water is wholesome for the belly and stomack it helpeth such as are pained in the kidnies and bladder It is also good to anoint the eyes with to clear the dimnesse of sight in them it hath an abstergent or cleansing force it openeth the mouthes of veins whereby it also draweth out fordid matter or quiâ—tur from fetide ulcers But the best honey of all other is that which is gathered in Lituania a Province of Polonia where the Bees breed onely in high trees and gather their honey from a certain flower growing on trees called in Latine Flos Tiliae or Tili in the Germane tongue Lindâ—n holt This honey is white hard and very fragant or odoriferous Of the vertues and uses of sundry Cordial waters FOrasmuch as compound cordial waters truly made of the Spirit of wine with the addition of divers especial costly and medicinal spices drugs and other precious additaments now much in use have been found very available and comfortable by many experiences not onely at Sea and in the very remotest parts of the earth either hot or cold to our nation and others in their travels but also here at home upon many occasions have ministred great help and comfort both in preserving the body in health from diseases and also in curing many great infirmities especially when they have proceeded of cold causes I thought it a thing not unnecessary briefly to set down the vertues and uses of some of the principal of them for the benefit of young Surgeons Aqua Caelestis MAthiolus in his Commentaries upon Dioscorides setteth down this excellent water as a principal Antidote or preservative against all poysons or poysoned and infectious aires whatsoever for that either received into the body or but onely smelled unto it helpeth very much against infections and that it doth very admirably restore again one fallen either of the dead palsie or falling sicknesse and is also good either in the Collick or any gripings of the guts as also in any the weaknesses of the stomack and against any cold fluxes of the guts or belly two spoonfuls thereof given in a glister and hath many more especial good uses and vertues there set down which for brevity I must passe over D r. Steevens his water THis Water needeth no man to describe his vertues being a thing so common and ancient in use composed by that learned Physitian of worthy memory so named Experience hath found it to be a notable cordial water for comforting the head and heart yea and all the principal faculties of the body both animal vital and natural if it be truly prepared and of this there needeth no question if you will but believe the seller thereof Rosa solis THis Rosa solis or rather Rossolis taketh his name of an herb so called which herb is very medicinable as namely against consumptions it hath been often approved and found a certain remedy But the Rosa Solis composition being without deceit made is far more precious for it comforteth the stomack and brain helpeth digestion strengtheneth the appetite openeth obstructions is good against the palsie and falling sicknesse and hath many other vertues Cynamon Water THis Water doth comfort and strengthen the stomack the liver the milt the lungs the heart the brain and the sinewes sharpneth the sight is good against venoms as also the stingings and bitings of venemous beasts helpeth a bad or evil savouring breath is good against loathing of the stomack and where you desire to warm to open to attenuate digest or corroborate in all such cases this precious liquour excelleth witnesse Johannes Jacobus Weekerus alledging Mathiolus yea and divers other famous Writers beside experience it self Limon Water THis is the tincture and chief essence drawn by the spirit of wine from the rindes of Limons which is a great restorative to mans nature and a precious Cordial which not onely aromatizeth the stomack but much strengthneth the feebled spirits and is as an healing balsame to all the inward parts of the body and doth open obstructions and break the wind in the stomack exceedingly Juyce of Limons is touched elsewhere in the cure of Scurvy Rosemary Water THis is a great comforter of the brain sharpneth the sight helpeth the weaknesse of the stomack preserveth from vomiting is very good against the disease Dysentery or the bloody flix the cause proceeding of cold either drunk or three spoonfuls taken in a Glister when you are ready to administer the same It hath very many other good properties too long here to recite Sassafras Water THe spirit of this precious root is a great opener of all obstructions or stoppings in the body namely of the liver the lungs the kidnies and of the spleen and therby it is found by many experiences excellent against the Scurvy the French disease and the yellow jaundise it is an approved remedy also against cold fevers and the dropsie or for those which are inclining thereto for it provoketh urine and sweat in a very mild and natural manner and driveth out many diseases by the pores of the skin It hath infinite more vertues ascribed unto it the best of these roots grow in Virginia You may read Monardus of the vertues of this root more at large in his Treatise of New Spain Aniseed-water THis water as the former and also those which follow have all their substances from the Spirit of wine and must therefore being truly so made retain the manifold good vertues thereof and besides having therein the whole vertues of the Anise-seeds it is found very excellent against wind in the stomack or else-where in the body and against Asma the Tisick and shortnesse of breath it also breaketh flegme and warmeth the stomack Worm
Succus Acatiae SUccus Acatiae is a forrein medicine for which we use the juice of Sloes it doth refrigerate binde and repell it stayeth all fluxes of the belly healeth excoriations of the intrals strengtheneth much the stomack helpeth appetite healeth ulcerations in the intrals either used in Glisters or eaten in agelly The dose whereof may safely be ℥ i. at one time or 2. ℥ cannot offend but I hold the infusion thereof or the decoction of it to be the aptest medicine because of the grossnesse of the sustance thereof Succus Glycirrhizae SUccus Glycirrhizae or juyce of Licorice in all his qualities is temperate but exceeding in heat somewhat it doth lenifie the throat and mitigate the asperities of the arteries cleanseth the bladder and is good for the cough moveth expectoration and is very profitable against all vices of the lungs and throat Succus Limonum SUccus Limonum or juyce of Limons expelling and refrigerating cleareth the skin of morphew killeth handworms and is of special use to bridle the heat of melancholy to help sharpe and contagious fevers is good to cause a pleasant tast in potions c. and Cordials It is very cordial of it self and the most precious help that ever was discovered against the Scurvy to be drunk at all times for it mightily openeth all obstructions and refresheth and restoreth nature Pulpa Tamarindorum PUlpa Tamarindorum the pulpe or juice of Tamarinds is a medicament excellent and well approved of against Scurvy as well for opening the obstructions of the liver and spleen as for comforting and refreshing the blood and spirits decayed or stopped Also it purgeth choler allayeth the heat and fury of blood cureth sharpe fevers and the Kings evil extinguisheth thirst and all heat of the stomack and liver stoppeth vomiting and is good for the Chollick Pilulae Aggregativae PIlulae Aggregativae so called either from the Agaricum or the aggregation of many vertues that are said to be therein for they are profitable for many affections of the head stomack and liver they purge flegme choler and melancholy and therefore are of very good use against continual fevers and inveterate diseases It is described by Mesues whose dose is from two scruples to a dram and a half But beware of the use of these pils where the flux raigneth for Agaricum in such bodies as are incident thereto is a dangerous medicine I speakthis of experience wherefore remember it Pilulae Aureae PIlulae Aureae or golden pils being in colour like aurum or gold because of the saffron in them they are cholagogall attracting choler yea and flegme too from the inferiour and superiour venter and therefore purge the head senses and eyes and restore the eye sight They were first made known by Nicolaus Myrepsus who was the first inventer of them their dose is like that of the pils Aggregative Pilulae Cochiae PIlulae Cochiae deriving their name from a Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a grain pils being formed small and round like grains of Cicers do purge both choler and flegme from the head the liver and from all other parts wherein such humours are contained and are found described first by Dr. Rhasis who is their supposed Author The dose is divers as before sometimes great sometimes small but ʒ i. is the ordinary dose Pilulae de Euporbio PIlulae de Euphorbio pils of Euphorbium receiving Mesues for their Patron are vertuous against the dropsie and Scurvy for they calefie the stomack and intrails purge water abundantly prevail also in removing the cause of tumours and bring aide for the pain of the loines and gout proceeding from too much humidity they are effectual in the quantity of one scruple or half a dram and may be mixed with Pilulae Cochiae Pilulae Cambogiae PIls of Cambogia are good to cleanse the head and refresh the sight to purge choler flegme or melancholy from the stomack or spleen they open obstructions and thereby profit well in the cure of the dropsie and scurvy and for the cure of Icteritia flava or the yellow Jaundise they are very good This Cambogia is much used in Holland and Germany and Doctor Harvey of St. Bartholomews Hospital calleth it purging saffron and giveth it in pils per se in which manner given it purgeth both wayes forcibly but the pils here mentioned purge onely downwards very gently their dose is ʒ ss their composition shall be mentioned in his due place Pilulae Ruffi PIlulae Ruffi or Pestilentiales Ruffi subscribing to Ruffus their inventer a famous Physition and fitting for the pestilence and plague do rather prevent infection then cure the infected for by reason of the aloes the body is freed from excrements by myrrha from putrefaction and by Saffron the vital faculties are quickned but infection once possessed is not alwayes by such light cordials and gentle laxatives removed their dose agreeth with that of Pilulae Aureae they are very stomachal for they refresh much the stomack and in any oppressions of the stomack where gentle purging is required they excell Benedicta laxativa BEnedicta laxativa or the blessed laxative doth mightily open obstructions purgeth choler flegme and all clammy humours from the joynts reins and bladder and is termed Benedicta because it benignely looseth the belly The dose is ʒ ii Pulvis Arthriticus Paracelsi THis is a laxative powder made onely of four vegetables and one Animal simplex with the addition of sugar to give it the more grateful tast the dose is to ʒ i. at the utmost besides the sugar I can speak of the pleasure and profit I have had by this mean purging powder I say pleasure for that it is so pleasant and easie to be taken and profit to me many wayes for it is my general purging medicine when I would purge downwards upon any repletion of the body or general cause of evacuation downwards and I find it indifferent in purging any offending humour according to the commendations the Author giveth of it I can no more misse this plain and harmlesse ready purge then I can misse my Salvatory Oswaldus Crollius a most learned late Writer hath set down this onely purge for the cure of the Podagra giving it this breif commendation It purgeth safely and gently all podagrical defluctions and in truth whosoever shall have occasion of the use thereof will have cause to commend it and knowing it will find small need of Pulvis Hollandicus or Pulvis sanctus whose dose at sea must be at the least two drames being nauseous and unsavoury whereas ʒ ss of this will do as much with great facility and without tortions or gripings of the guts which other compositions cause I use to give it to strong bodies in white wine to weaker in sack but at sea for a need it may be given in fair water and some sirupe to help the tast thereof which neverethelesse is not ungrateful of it self Trochiscus de Absinthio TRochiscus de Absinthio or of
of maturation or no also by depressing the cutis a little with your finger When an Apostume will suppurâ—â—e Hâ—ppocrat cap. 2. lib. 47. Mark also out of the words of the Ancients to know when an Apostume will proceed to suppuration Hippocrates lib. 47. cap. 2. hath these words that whilest Pus is in making paines and feavers do afflict but Pus being made paines and feavers do decline And to Tagalt Instit confirm the former words Tagaltius in his Institutions cap. 3. hath these following verses Duritia longa pulsus dolor calor aucti Signant pus fieri sed facto dicta remissa Sub digito undans albescens pars acuta The fourth time of an Apostume The declination of Apostumes I cannot stand to amplifie but I refer you as before to Mr. Galles Institution of a Chirurgion as also to Johannes Vigo and other good writers for a more ample doctrine in that point onely note that when the tumour or apostume is ripe mine opinion is rather it be opened by a potential caustick medicine then by actual incision when it may be as conveniently effected and that for many good reasons and one sufficient reason in mine opinion is if you use incision you must needs put in tents dossels or the like with medicines to keep open the orifice and also to enlarge it which doing you stop the passage of natures true evacuation twixt each dressing offending the parts adjacent and hinder the unition of the disjoyned parts against conscience detracting good healing yea and thereby hazard divers evil accidents to follow as fistulaes c. from Caustick incision commended all which by caustick incision you are freed and fear not at all the application of a convenient potential caustick medicine in due time and place especially the impostume being ripe and the skin thin for you can pierce no further then thorow the cutis though you would for being onely thorow the skin the matter will choak your caustick or corrasive medicine neither doubt at all that your work shall succeed otherwise then well for nature will provide remedy speedily easily and safely to heal your patient provided you be also careful to use your endeavour with good warm medicines duly applyed and with also the use of good ligature which is one principall good help good diet and other reasonable means likewise had for I have ever observed in my practise that a hot tumour in any outward part of the body growing either by repletion obstruction fever or by the evil disposition of the bloud for the most part yea even in pestilential and venemous Fevers in good bodies not being pocky nor too too old are easily healed by any understanding Artist that can joyn reason and experience together many several wayes namely for one if you perceive a beginning or 〈◊〉 of humours together in any part of the body consider what might be the cause thereof as near as you can if you find it to be fulnesse of the body or costivenesse you have divers present remedies that way to flye unto Laxative Medicines fitting viz. at the first make the Patient a suppository then give him a glyster if need be and a Laxative medicine also according as you shall see cause regarding the quality and quantity of the humour abounding but remember where the body is costive you were best to begin as is said with a suppository first and that having caused one stoole proceed with a purge if you see further cause or a glyster for often onely one suppository doth what you require also good fomentations that may by the pores of the skin help to breathe some part of the matter will do well and so the rest by discussing and mollifying medicines the easier be cured If the grief begin in the head or throat you may use phlebotomy either under the tongue on the forehead or on the arm in the head vein or median vein but if you perceive that by emptying the body artificially and cooling the blood with convenient medicines as also answerable slender diet and opening a vein that the collected peccant humours will not be discussed nor put back then may you proceed to attraction and suppuration as you see cause for it were most grosse to seek to detain that which Nature hath resolved to cast forth wherefore if you see cause to bring forward any Apostume you may then consider by the quality thereof what course to take namely by attractive alterative or suppurative Medicines as touching attractive medicines good attractives at Sea to be had are Gum Elemni of it self spread on lether and 〈◊〉 applied and Galbanum also is very good provided it be dissolved in wine and not in vineger Mellilot plaister will well bring forward an Apostume hot or cold and helpeth suppuration Commonpitch is a good attractive Burgundy pitch is also good Of these the discreet Chirurgions Mate may use the fittest in his discretion and if he desire violent attraction of any slothful cold tumour let him set a large cupping glasse thereon Maturatives or alterative Medicines in the 〈◊〉 Chest and Ship to be had are very many yea more then I can call to mind at this time wherefore to be brief Emplastrum Diachylon cum Gummis I put for the principal for it is for that purpose only Paraâ—elsus Plaisters applyed thick spread the place first anointed with oyl of Lillies will do well But where time and place is convenient in my opinion a mean Cataplasme warm and thick applyed suppurateth best and easiest viz. make a decoction of Althaea roots or Line seeds and the cause being cold add Fenigreek a little to this decoction adde Bean or Barley meal oyl of Camomil Dill and Lillies of each a small quantity Dialthaea a little or Axungia porcina and apply it warm and shift it twice in 24 houres Or â„ž flowers of Camomil Mellilote and of Elders an a M. ss Wormwood M. ss Althaea roots bruised â„¥ ss make a decoction thereof in fair water a sufficient quantity adding of Bean meal or Barley meal M. j. and being boyled into a due form of a Cataplasme adde oyl of Camomil or Dill â„¥ iiij Axungia porcina â„¥ ij In want of some one of these flowers another for need will serve and if none of them were to be had yet there is many other meaner helps to bring forward an Apostume which time will not now permit me to rehearse When you have an intent to bring any tumour to suppuration you must neither purge nor bleed your Patient neither appoint him a thin dyet When you would an Apostume should go back if it be above the navil in the breast back or head then let your purging Medicines be such as purge downward onely but if it be below the navil or in the arms or legs vomitive Medicines do best except some especial hinderances as Asthma or the like And to those uses none are so effectual as those
purge water very much both by stool and urine and because as is said extreme costivenes is great hurt to the body the Chirurgion must by his best care to the Patient seek to prevent it both by teaching him to doe his best for his own health and to amend the same by observing good customes and diet by customes namely that he fail not daily once a day at the least to offer himself to stoole and doe his best to urge some excrement to come and somewhat to force his body thereunto if occasion be and to keep one and the same houre daily as near as he can I know by proofe it helpeth much and for diet to use also as near as he can those things which he findeth procure an inward slipperines and loosness in the guts pease oatmeal and rice do somewhat thereunto provided A caution they be very well boyled and the adding currants thereto is the better and oyle and butter are good helps but at land where The third rule ceaseth the Marrinâ—r â—â— shore it may be had all kinds of fresh diet almost are good in that case for by the leaving onely Sea diet the body refresheth it selfe suddenly through benefit of nature and the fresh Aire and easily becommeth naturally loose and then the difficultie is ended The eating of East India Tamarinds is likewise a good thing in that case What I have written here plainly touching mean and simple glisters I would not be mistaken as if I did it out of ignorance or disdain of better medicines for I were worse then foolish if I would reject detract or disswade from the good use of decoctions of hearbs seeds c. with the additions of Electuaries Laxative Syrups and the like which I have in dayly use at home upon each just occasion yet many of the ancient Artists of worthy memorie which I could rehearse have in former ages used for glisters onely water and salt with oyle and some other have added honey and it is manifest that new milk alone is a good comfortable glister with the yolke of an egge and a little course sugar added And you may also many times save a labour in giving a gliâ—ter by a suppositorie which is either to be made of a long piece of Allum scraped smooth or of a candles end or of a piece of hard sope or of honey and salt sodden till it be so hard that it will break being cold which being yet hot may be rolled and made up of the greatnesse of a finger and administred of any of these I say you may make a suppositorie as long and big as a finger or lesse and thrust it up into Ano and let the partie keep this medicine one houre at the least in his body if he possibly can Further note this general rule concerning glysters The quantitie of a glister to be regarded let a glyster never exceed the quantitie of one wine pint let it rather want one quarter especially when you give it to a costive body or a full body he shall be much the abler and the willinger to keep it the The true temper if the glister to be administred just time Further beware it be not too hot nor too cold for the guts are tender parts so hot as pisse new made or a very little rather warmer is the true temper But if you perceive the Intestinum rectum or Arse-gut to be excoriated or inflamed in such a case use no salt nor salt broaths nor strong Laxatives as Euphorbium Agaricum Hiera Pigra Colâ—quintida or the like If you find the Longanum or Arse-gut How to deliver a glister of the Longâ—num be stopped to be clung or hard stopped with excrement you may put a small greasie or oily clout on the end of your glister-pipe onely over the holes thereof when you put it into the body and thruâ—t it into the head of the pipe then draw back a little your hand and deliver in your medicine and if you see cause and that it will not easily deliver force it somewhat Also when your medicine is all in and that you would draw out your instrument again do it quickly and let the party turn him on his back and he shall keep the medicine in the better In cases of excoriations or inflammations of the intrails in glisters use A glister for inflammation and excoriation in the guts Deer suet â„¥ ij for one glister and in want thereof Axungia ovini vel porcini I mean sheep or swines fat and let the decoction whereof the glister is made be onely of bran and without any other addition and give now and then such a glister I mean once a day for two or three daies after you may add thereto some smâ—ll astringent medicines as Succus Acatiae â„¥ j. or Gales Ê’ij or Balustians â„¥ ss or Myrabolans Ê’iij even as you see cause for these help to heal the guts well Of Lotions COncerning Lotions to the mouth and throat of the diseased they must be sharp and very astringent I mean them especially which concern the cure of the gums in the Scurvie if the gums therefore be swolne that they hang over the teeth stinke or be putrified they must be very well lanced or scarified and after hard rubbed with a The cure of the gums muâ—h swoln stâ—nking and putrified linnen or wollen cloth wrapped about the fore finger and wet in some strong restringent or Stiptick Lotion very hot as is the ordinary Lotion of Allum Honey and Hearbs adding thereto a double quantity of Allum and a little Salt peter or gun-powder for a need is good and if it be not sufficiently strong make a stronger decoction of coperas in water adding Salt-peter with a little honey if you have it or Mel Rosarum with also a little strong vineger you may also put oyle of Vitriol a little thereto but that it hath one evil qualitie in hurting and softning the teeth wherefore beware of it and if you use it do but onely touch the gummes with it once and no more and it wil do much good and if you please also Aqua Fallopie is good but because it is made with sublimed Mercurie it is not without danger and is also a loathsome taste to smel and offendeth the stomack very much but I know it to be held by many for a great secret but as for my self for reasons rehearsed I usâ— it not but advise rather that which is strong either of the Coperas Allum or Salt-peter for they hurt not the teeth at all as doth the oyle of Vitriol and so doth Aqâ—a fortis very much or you may make a Lotion thus â„ž Coperas white green or blew â„¥ ij water one pound or there about Hony one spoonful boyle these to the consumption of one third or half then take of Lapis Medicamentosus or Salt-peter â„¥ ss and if you have no Honey take Sugar or juice of Licorice or Licorice boyled
of Rubarb as is said in the cure of Diarrhoea or a Decoction of myrabulans and also a good Barly-water the second good help is a Glister which may be proper against sharp If the Patient want rest give him a Glister humors and after to conclude the cure with a dose of Laudanum Paracelsi but if the partie be in great weaknesse and want of rest give him some comfortable glister first next that an Opiate I mean the Landanum one dose you may begin in weak bodies first with Opiate medicines in that there is most need of ease and if you find after rest it help not use a Glister or a purge as you see cause for though the Laudanum at first cure not yet it giveth rest whereby the partie afterwards it is likely will be the stronger to indure cure by other reasosonable The oft repeating of Laudanum râ—quireth this caution medicines which done if that answer not thy desire thou maist return to Laudanum again and again alwayes remembring as is said there be foure houres at the least distance betwixt each dose and if the disease proceed of heat seek to coole the bloud by a decoction of Plantane and cold hearbs or seeds if they be to be had or at Sea with such medicines as are used to quench heat and are not merely sharp and yet Oyle of Vitriol is much commended to be taken certain dayes together in any kinde of distilled waters either Plantane Sorrell Straw-berries or the like whilest the said waters are good and sweet or with Aqua Sparnolae if it be at hand also a Barley water with a little Allum or Galls in powder is singular good so is Bole but the finer the Bole is the better and Terra Sigillata Syrup of Quinces is good also in that case and so are all the medicines Laudanum laude dignum made of sloes after some due evacuation as in thy discretion thou shalt see reasonable but to conclude a dose of Laudanum Opiate is best to finish the work for that goeth before or rather exceedeth all other medicines in fluxes for that swageth all pains and causeth quiet sleep which often even alone is the true perfection of the How to restore the patient very weak by Disentery cure And further if it 〈◊〉 appear that this disease have so gotten the upper hand that the 〈◊〉 is grown very feeble his bloud being wasted appoint him 〈◊〉 that may warm and comfort the stomack namely at land if it may be had Broths of chickins or the like with some Spices therein and Egs and Sugar and a little Rose water but not Honey for that increaseth gripings and cawdles with egs wine and spices according to good discretion will do well if they may be A glister against excoriation had and give him if thou see cause a glister if there be fear of excoriations in the guts namely a decoction of Barley or Bran or of Bran onely with Deer suet â„¥ ij let not your decoction be too slimy of the Bran and adde if you can get it the yolk of one egge for egges comfort much and swage pain the yolk of the egge must be well beaten with the decoction by little and little so taken very warm or if the party have gripings in his guts make this glyster following and for want of Bran take a little wheat flowre and with camomile Centaury Worm-wood St. Johns wort or some of these make a decoction adding A glyster for gripâ—ng through Dysentery also Anniseed Fennel Dill â—or Cummin-seeds or the like or some of these at the least adding after the boyling some two or three spoonfuls of Rosasolis or good Aqua-vitae or some strong cordial waters if you see there be cause to comfort and warm and adding also as is said Deer suet â„¥ ii with wax â„¥ ss Another glyster Also glysters of milk and egges onely are very good to swage gripings and pains where they may be had also as is said warm cloths to the belly and fundament applyed are very good and note still that rest procured is a principal help in curing all fluxes Another glyster For excoriations of the guts make a glyster with a decoction of dry Centaury Hipericon Worm-wood or Balm with barly adding of Deer suet â„¥ ij and a little dried Galls in powder or cut in slices or succus acatiae or Cortices granatorum or dried red roses if you have them or Balausties which are flowers of Pomegranats Note what powders so ever you give in glysters let them be exceeding finely powder'd otherwise they are very dangerous fear not to administer an opiat as I have said provided that there be four or five hours distance of time twixt each dose also you may give a dose of Rubarb namely ℈ ii or Ê’ ss parched and powdered fine for so it doth best taken either alone or with Sanguis prunellorum one small spoonful in wine and a little Cinamon water or in any other convenient drink as the prsent state of the sick shall cause thee or for want of wine beer or water you may give the sicke also conserve of roses or quinces after which if cause be to give rhe Laudanum again you may safely do it Furthermore in this case as also in all kind of fluxes fumigations are very good medicines namely sitting over a close stool provided the sick be very warm kept and not too hot to which purpose a well burned brick heat very hot and put under the stool laying two cold bricks under it for burning the stool and then sprinkle often the hot brick with vinegar if the disease be hot or with vinegar and Aqua vitae mixed if it be cold and for want of bricks some great pieces of old iron will serve as it is already rehearsed also a decoction of cinamon or cloves or both together or nutmegs set under the stool that the warm steam of the spices may come up into the body of the patient is very good Note further that where you fear a flux of the belly may follow that you purge not the party with Coloquintida Trochis de Alhandal Agaricum nor Diagredion And remember ever when you give Rubarb that you give cinamon or ginger or anniseeds a little there with which correcteth the flatuous diposition thereof If this disease of the flux shall shew it self to proceed of any contagiousnesse of the aire as sometimes it doth this is certainly the All diseases proceed from God most fearful of the rest for although all diseases have their original from the hand of the Almighty yet then we have all reason to call to our remembrances the words which the Prophet David speaketh God must be sought unto in the Psalmes whither shall I flie from thee O my God when therefore the aire which we are forced to receive into our bodies shall threaten us then if ever it is high time for Chirurgion and patient to cry
Dysenteria Galen s rule if the Dysenteria proceed from humours proceeds of mauy humours or having and ill quality the cure as Galen witnesseth hath one chief and most common intention to that which is contrary to the disposition to be taken away Therefore let there be given Myrabolans which in this case are most excellent for they correct the acrimony of the humours and strengthen the ventricle and the intestines in want whereof Rubarb may be as well given being dried a little But if the flux be pestilential let the matter be purged presently by sweating as is said not respecting the concoction of humours Of Laudanum Opiat Paracelsi and the Vertues thereof THere are many diseases which can hardly be cured without Anodine medicines therefore in the Cure of such diseases I mean where want of rest through extream pain or other the great disquiet of nature doth foretel an imminent danger of death if rest be not speedily procured in all such cases Anodine medicines may doubtless with great reason and good warrant be inwardly given To procure therefore safe and quiet rest sheweth great skill in the Artist and to the Patient is more precious in his grievous infirmitie then much treasure but in no one infirmitie have such medicine more shewed their admirable vertues then that noble medicine The chief vertue of Laudanum called Laudanum Opiat Paracelsi hath done in the cure of that lamentable disease called Dysenterie or the bloudy Fluxe as witnesseth divers of our Nation coming from the East Indies upon good proofe as also being no lesse approved of not onely by ancient and modern Writers but by every expert Chirurgion coming from those countries of their own too many experiences thereof have been made The vertues of this precious Anodine to be I mean here recited as they are noted and set down very learnedly by that famous Writer Oswaldus Crollius late Physitian to Matthias the third Emperour of Ozwaldus 〈◊〉 Crossiâ—e 〈◊〉 of the vertues of Laudanum Germany in his book called Bazilica Chymica and not by him onely but also by divers good Authors of credit which have written of the same medicine before which vertues being very many may seem almost incredible though many of them my self am witness of to be true out of my daily practise onely they are meant by the true composition according as Theophrastus Paracelsus hath prescribed it and is the same composition which the said Writer mentioneth Touching the virtues of the Medicine Ozwaldus concerning Laudanum THis Laudable medicine saith Ozwaldus Crollius deserveth rightly his name although thou call it Laudanum for in all sharp pains whatsoever hot or cold within the body or without the body yea even when through extreamitie of pain the parties are at deaths doore or almost mad with the vehemencie of the same this precious medicine giveth ease presently yea and quiet sleep and that Laudanum more efficâ—cious if the body be soluble safely but much better the body being first soluble either by nature or Art and you may give it safely provoking first onely one stoolâ— by a suppositorie or a glister were better in the collick with Mint-water it easeth the gripings forthwith In the pains and gravel of the kidnies likewise it giveth present ease In the plurisie it presently and safely giveth ease In pains of the joints it is verie good In the staying of rheumes as tooth-ache and other like defluxions in the beginnings it is a singular good medicine as namely in the tooth-ache dissolve foure graines thereof in Plantane water and put it into the eare on the aking side and take three grains into the body and lie to rest it is a sure help In all fluxes of the belly whether they proceed of sharp or slipperie humours or whatsoever else offending cause taken with mastick Terra Sigillata fine Bole or with any other appropriate good medicine it is exceeding sure for it fortifieth the other medicines and doubleth their forces adding his own also thereto In extream watchings and want of rest either inwardly or outwardly taken it is profitable if outwardly you would use it take foure or six grains with three drops of oyl of Nutmeggs which is pressed out mixed together and binde it in two little clouts and put it into the nostrils it will marvellously asswage pains in the head and cause quiet rest In the extream bleedings of the nose called Hemoragie it is an approved secret that sixteen grains thereof divided into two pils and thrust up into the nostrils into each nostril one part helpeth the same In all kinds of Fevers it is good to be given with water of Worm-wood or pill-wise alone and if the heat remain after sixe houres you may give it the second time and after that again in like time safely not exceeding the dose yet let your own experience lead you that where you see three grains will not cause rest in the next potion you give one grain more and so increase paulatim but increase not but upon good deliberation In burning Fevers it asswageth thirst and provoketh sleep chiefly in those Fevers in which the partie seemeth to have some shew of rest with tedious dreams and slumbrings mixed In the disease called Asthma and in the Tysick if it be used in water of Hyssope it will preserve the diseased Patient a long time It conserveth the natural heat strengthneth the spirits repaireth strength lost It is also effectual to be given to melancholy people which are void of reason and are troubled with the passions of the heart It is likewise used with good effect against vomiting and the Hickcock proceeding of wind faintnesse or debilitie of the Ventricle In the superfluous defluxions of the excremental or menstrual bloud it is an excellent remedy with Crocus Martis or red coral In phrensies and madnesse both in wardly and outwardly it is good mixed with Aqua vitae and the temples anointed therewith In the falling sicknesse with spirit of Vitriol or the quintessence of Camphire with also oyle of Almonds it is usually taken The dose of this opiate medicine is two or three or foure grains if there be loosnesse of the belly as is rehearsed it worketh much the better Note that in some parts of the world this medicine in the mentioned dose will doe no ease wherefore when you finde that by experience in the next Patient give more but not to the same Patient without great reason It is best given in any occasion accompanied with waters or The best way to administer it other medicines which are most appropriate to the diseases land parts diseased and yet may very well be given alone in a pill which I willingly do for that the Patient then is least troubled with the taste thereof A caution remarkable But beware you use not this medicine to any which are feeble through a great cough being oppressed with tough phlegme and shortnesse of breath for there it is not
with the Quick-silver which Quic-silver flieth up to the top of the helm or head of the Still together with the spirits of salt leaving the substance of the salt as also the Colcother in the The subtile quality of Quick-silver bottome of the glasse which is thereby said to be sublimed yet neverthelesse though it seem easily to be made let none attempt to make this medicine without good direction or experience for there is no small danger in the working thereof and yet it is a good medicine well used and hath much helped the Surgeon in the outward cures of desperate diseases as namely fistulaes and rebellious ulcers Of Precipitate How Precipitate is made PRecipitate is also Quick-silver distilled in Aqua fortis which by reason of the strong spirits contained in the violent and fierce vapors of the Aqua fortis or strong water it is coloured red or glistering or yellowish as experience sheweth the vapors proceeding from this kind of preparation are also dangerous and so are the medicines made therewith being often without due respect admiÌ„nistred yea â„¥ j. of Praecipitate one dosse often Pilâ— wise by Eâ—peâ—icks And again some others which would be esteemed more excellent for invention have this medicine a little removed And then they style it Turâ—â—th mineral attributing thereto the perfect cure of the Pox perswading themselves none can do like wonders to themselves but they are children in understanding and know iâ— not onely they are opinionated and The subtilty of Mercury bold and more often kill or spoil then heal as their consciences know for mercury is a fox and will be too crafty for fools yea and will oft leave them to their disgrace whâ—n they relying upon so uncertain a medicine promise health and in the stead of healing make their Patient worsethen before Of Sinabar Whereof Sinabrium is made and the use and abuse thereof SInabar which is used in fumes for the Pox is a deadly medicine made half of quick-silver and half of Brimstone by Art of fire I mean by distillation I know the abuse of these three recited medicines hath done unspeakable harm in the Common-wealth of England and daily doth more and more working the utter infamy and destruction of many an innocent man woman and child which I would my wits or diliÌ„gence knew to help for every horse-leech and bawd now upon each triâ—â—e will procure a Mercurial flux yea many a pitiful one whereby divers innocent people are dangerously deluded yea perpetually defamed and ruinated both of their good names goods healths and lives and that without remedy Me thinks I could spend much time if I had it even in setting down the good and bad things of quick-silver and yet I confess I am too weak to to describe the tenth part of his wonders In Laudem Mercurii OR IN PRAISE OF Quick-silver or Mercurie VVHereto shall I thy worth compare whose actions so admired are No medicine known is like to thee in strength in vertue and degree Thou to each Artist wise art found a secret rare ye safe and sound And valiantly thou plai'st thy part to cheerup many a doleful heart Yet makest thy patient seem like death with ugly 〈◊〉 with stinking breath But thou to health him soon restores although he have a thousand sores The perfect'st cure proceeds from thee for Pox for Gout for Leprosie For scabs for itch of any sort These cures with thee are but a sport Thou humors canst force to sublime and them throw down when thou seest time Yea from each end diseases flie when thou art prest thy force to try Sweat to provoke thou goest before and urine thou canst move good store To vomit for diversion best in purging down thou guid'st the rest Mans body dry thou canst humeckt performing it with respect And being too moyst thou mak'st it dry who can that secret cause descry Quid non men term thee wot's thou why thou canst be faithful yet wilt lye Thy temperament unequal strange is ever subject unto change For thou art moist all men may see and thou art dry in th' highest degree Thou' rt hot and cold even when thou please and at thy will giv'st pain in ease Yet thou hast faults for I dare say thou heal'st and kil'st men every day For which I will not thee excuse nor hold them wise that thee abuse But for my self I do protest as trusty friend within my brest Thy secrets rare most safe to hold esteeming them as finest gold And why thou art the Surgeons friend his work thou canst begin and end For tumours cure yea hot or cold thou art the best be it new or old For recent wounds who knoweth thee hath got a peerlesse mystery A Caustick thou art strong and sure what callous flesh can thee indure In maturation where 't is dew thou art the best I ever knew For repercussion thou win'st praise by dissolution thou giv'st ease What 's virulent thou do'st defie and sordid Ulcers dost descry Yea fistulaes profound and fell thou searchest out and curest well No ulcer can thy force indure for in digestion thou art sure Mundification comes from thee and incarnation thou hast free To sigillate thou do'st not fail and left strange symptoms should assail The grief late heal'd thou canst convay th' offending cause another way The Alchymist by Vulcan sought from volatile thee fixt t' have wrought But thou defiest his trumpery and changest him to beggery Had I but all thy healing Art it would so much advance my heart I should not doubt equal to be In wealth to Lords of high degree But from thy ve nemous vapours vile thy corrosive sting that bones defile Thy noysome savors full of pain God give me grace free to remain For when thou ragest Bird nor Tree nor fish nor fowl can withstand thee What mineral so stout can say she can withstand thy force one day In Saturns brest thou seem'st to dwell by Jupiter foyl thou dost excel Thou Lion-like surprisest Mars rich Sol thou mak'st as pale as ash Thou Venus beauty canst allay thou Hydrage dost Elipse Luna And though thou seem'st to wrong all six not one without thee can be fix Thou art their Mother so sayes Fame which gives them cause t' adore thy name Ready thou art as women be to help poor men in misery Humble to dust and ash at will water and oyl from thee men still Tost up and down in fire thou art yet subtil Mercurie plaies her part Meek as a Lamb manly cake soft as the Wool Tiger like Millions in one one in a Million Male and Female in thy pavillion Thou Hermaphrodite as Fathers know seeming solid truly not so Thou 'lt be in all none rests in thee thy boldnesse brings Calâ—mitie Thou Idoll of the Chymists old who shall thy secrets all unfold Swift is thy wing none can thee stay when thou seem'st dead thou' rt flown away If thou be in all things as men say daily
Unto all which I answer They are And yet as is said they are not merely so â—or that as concerning Salt each creature hath his peculiar Salt and each peculiar his appropriate and different facultie and vertue And here I desire tâ— inform the younger men that are Chiâ—urgions by way of digression for their better knowledge in avoiding of dangers that they be exceeding cautelous and warie in the inward use of all Mineral medicines whose preparations they are not tâ—uely versed in but chiefly of that great and wonderfull Idol Mercury not in regard of the great good it daily doth by the judicious use thereof for it is a gracious good thing but rather I speak in respect of the great hurt and mischief it daily produceth by the abusive preparation and administration thereof but for as much as Mineral medicines have their due denominations according to the seven Planets it will not be impertinent for the younger sort of Chirurgions that in brief I write somewhat of the seven prime Metals ascribed to the seven Planets A briefe Chymicall Narration concerning the seven principle Metals denominated according to the seven Planets MAny of the prime Authors of the Chymick art have and that not unfitly ascribed the seven principle Metals into seven Planets as namely they have ascribed Gold unto Sâ—l â—ilver to Luna Copper to Venus Iron to Mars Tynne to Jupiter Mercury to Quicksilver and Saturn to Lead and have nominated them accordingly and so in generalll explanations of all the learned Chymists they stand to this day known by the aforesaid attributes The anâ—ient Philosophers Chvmists also have ascribed to each of these seven metals or rather to the medicines made of them a certain specificall or more peculiar operative power or facultie in the curing of the diseases of some one part of mans body more then of another and namely unto Sol or Gold and his medicine is ascribed a specificall facultie or hidden vertue more exquisite in the cures of the disease of the heart unto Luna or Silver the cures of the infirmities of the head and chiefly of the brain are ascribed and to Jupiter or Tin is referred the help of the diseases of the Lungs unto Mercury or Quick-silver is ascribed an especiall priviledge in the cures of the disease of the Liver unto Saturn or Lead is appointed the healing of the infirmities of the Spleen Mars or Iron is said to cure the griefe of the Kidneyes best and unto Venus or Copper is left to heale the defects of the Genitals and this is not onely so esteemed but also practised accordingly and that by Authoritie of many famous Writers ratified as of Josephus Quercitanus Tho. Muffetus Jacobus Swinglerus and very many other worthy Authors in that Art the number of which it would be tedious to repeat in regard that all and each of these Minerals have their severall medicines proceeding or made out of them which although they all doe nâ—t alwayes bear the proper name of the Originall Metall from whence they proceed yet in some sort they doe and namely from Sol or Gold proceedeth Elixer vitae Aurum Potabile Aurum Tinctura Aurum Solutivum Aurum vitae Meum Aurum vitae Theophrasti and many more And from Saturn or Lead proceedeth Oleum Saturni lac virginis Saccarum Saturni Vâ—guentum Minii Emplastrum de Minio Lithergerie Auri Argenti Plumbi Saccâ—rum Saturni Plumbum album Cerusse and many other good Sanative medicines And the like of the rest of the seven Minerals in use too long to repeat and here as by the way you may take notice concerning Saturne or Lead that all sorts of Lithergie they are no other thing then Lead meerly and to be reduced into Lead again even so Mercury or Quick-silver which hath these following medicines and many other profitable preparations descending from it viz Essentiade Mercurio Turbith Minerale Mercurius vitae which is vomative Balsamuâ— Mercurii a sanative Mercurius Diaphoretic provoking Sweat Mercurius Diaureticus provoking Urine Mercurius Laxativus purging per secessuâ— Beazor Minerale which is different two wayes viz. Laxance Vomative Mercurius Dulcis Specifical in operation Mercurius cum Jove Lac Mercurii Sublimatum in it self Corrosive desiccative Pracipitatum suspected to have been the death of many a man Aqua Mercurii ex Mercur Sublimat ex praeâ—ipitat Ablutio Mercurii vitae Oleum Mercurial Sinabrium and divers other preparations And yet to all these apparantly in use may be added divers waters oyles liquors c. proceeding from this wonder of nature Mercury and yet neverthelesse there is scarce one of these medicines but may be reduced or turned again in his prima substantia that is to say those that are really of Argentâ—m vivum into plain Quicksilver in despite of the old wife that killed it with faâ—ting spittle And Sinabrium is a Dog of the same Mercurial kind being made of Brimstone and Quicksilver sublimed together and therefore a Coarse and far more dangerous medicine then the medicâ—nes of mere Quicksilver in my apprehension for by the only once subliming thereof with ☿ Sulphur it begetteth a Corrosive or venemous qualitie as all experienced Artists well know Mercurius sublimate doth and that a fierce onâ— therefore though some have counselled to themselves that supposed safe but most pernitious medicine that they have found as a rare devised secret by the mutation of Mercury into Sinabrium let them know be they old or young Artists that it is a divellish deadly coarse medicine no way safe nor fitting to enter in or to be put into mans body I fear I may trouble your patience in dwelling too long upon this false fellow Mercury whom fully to discover with all his miraculous effects especially if I should unfold all his perfidious clusions and treacheries against the poore Patients that are under his dominion that onely subject would fill a large Volume and yet I must ever confess as I have said elsewhere I have found him my good friend many times at a pinch yet let no Artist that truely feareth God be too bold with him for that Mercury under the Rose be it spoken is a cruel Man-slaier and hath wounded defamed yea and murthered thousands in corners yea and doth play the Devil daily both in Citie and Countrie and that under a vizard of vertue yea and sometimes under the Rose doth it Cum privilegio Magistraâ—is upon whose guiltlesse corps so transferred into Abrahams bosome no earthly Jurie passeth For it is then too late to call to mind whether Art or Nature were too blame or by which the errour proceeded for under favour be it spoken sometimes it is cast upon the knave Mercury which then he ever retorts it upon the Imposer and he the Impostor like a jugler blames poore Venus with the cause but how true God knoweth yet she prettie poore shamefast soul being amazed and abashed knowing her selfe to be a sinner yet conceiving it unmercifull that her sweet lover and friend should
it Solo visu interficit hominem onely by his sight killeth mankind but faith he with a limitation as not simply done Actualiter per se per speciâ—m visibilem not by the act it self and visible species of the creature but by reason of the aqueous and humid substance thereof Moreover the body of the Creature being as the Author affirmeth very porous and hollow there are sent out of it such vapours as infect the ayr which infected ayr so soon as it is drawn into mans body it doth immediately kill him in like manner this Monster in mankind the Plague killeth those whom it breatheth upon so that no man can account himself safe the disease proceeding from the influence of the Heavens as many of the most learned Writers testifie it doth so that by their great distemperatures the ayr being poysoned and infected which we are enforced to receive into the secret closets of our bodies which undoubtedly hath its original De Praescientia Dei What safety have we then or what can be a more fearful enemy to mankind then l estilential Vapours which seize upon mankind as a Thief and invade him at unawares which lurk in every corner of the house yea in his most secret chambers threatning to take away his life when he least mistrusts yea when he is in his quiet sleep as is said such is this horrid disease from the which God of his infinite Mercy deliver us and our land Of the parts of Mans body that this Disease chiefly invadeth Of the parts of man most subject to infection The parts of the body of man that this Disease chiefly delighteth to invade or seize upon are the three principall and most noble parts of man viz the Animal vital and the natural faculties which have their Three parts especially several seats in the brain the heart and the liver upon one or all these principal parts this infection useth to take hold and being on entred therein as it were in a moment of time it surpriseth subjugateth captivateth yea and triumpheth over the whole body of man and over all the faculties thereof to his utter ruine and destruction if God be not the more merciful unto him in his preservation and howsoever as it is said that the disease chiefly doth seize upon the three principal parts of mans body aforenamed yet having first so done it feareth not to shew his subtil fury all over the body and sets its mark every where without order or control Whether the Plague may be called a Feaver or not There hath been much dispute amongst ancient Writers whether the Plague be a Fever or no by reason of the subtility and unequality thereof but for what I can gather by my experience I am out of doubt The Plague a Fever that he which hath the plague is not without a Fever neither is he ever freed from the danger of that Fever untill one or more then one Crisis happen for untill either Botch Carbuncle Blayne or Spots called pestities do manifest themselves no just indication can be had what will become of the patient but that he is alwayes in expectation of Death the distemper continuing But if upon production of any the former Symptomes a digestion in nature follow as is said namely the Feaver cease the sicke person take moderate rest a Botch come to good suppuratiâ—n a Carbuncle to separation or a Blayne to yeeld his usâ—al â—nindigested quitture Symtones of recovery with mitigation of the dolour or that the Blaynes drying and withering by Gods mercy through cordial Diaphoreticks or the like that a chearfulnesse in the sicke appeare or but some one of these good signes shewing it selfe in a favourable manner there is great hope and the fear is almost past And let no man so much flatter himselfe in his owne coneir in the time of contagion when he perceiveth the ayre to be manifestly infected the disease being popular as to think with himselfe that because the Disease perhaps at the first beginneth slowly and the distemper yet dull and not much outwardly apparent upon the patient that he hath no feaver nor danger and that he may take time till the next day to consider wheather he will use remedies or no let no wise man so presume for I have seene very many strucken even at the heart when the disease could not be adjudged dangerous neither by the pulse urine nor any other certaine indicateon save onely by the complaint of the patient who under favour in that disease is not alwayes sensible of his own danger and againe how many have at the very first an apparent fierce Feaver which can no way be removed but by some of the former wayes of digestion or by Death whereby it is manifest the Plague is never without a Feaver and so all men will adjudge it that either have had it or that have followed the cure thereof in others Of the supernatural causes of this Disease The first cause Six The material causes thereof as is already declared are in part and in the prime place esteemed to be our sinnes which draw Gods wrath upon us as witnesse the Prophet Amos where he saith Shall there be evill in a City and the Lord hath not done it c. Whereby we may justly gather that when the Almighty will shew him selfe in his fury against dust and ashes he can put the Hoast of Heaven in his order to fight against us in which case we have no way to escape his judgment but by Prayer or unfained Repentance and as for all other natural or efficient causes they have as their subordinated dependances and effects from the former and are constellated put on and put off by Divine Providence viz. ex Praescientia Dei By the fore-knowledge of God Nam astraregunt homines regit astra Deus As the Poets say and the very Heathens conclude no lesse that the starres govern mans body and God governs the starres and also experience tells us that when any of the foure seasons of the yeare prove unnatural mens bodies accordingly become unnatural as sometimes by pestilential diseases wherefore to multiply words further of the primitive causes of this disease were but to detract good time and the truth thereof is manifest to all men in that this furious disease as it were disdaines any generall Method or order of cure after mans intention as it is said when it is in Rage Quicquid facimus mortale genus Quicquid patimur venit ab altâ— Which may be thus Englished That whatsover man doth or whatsoever man suffereth all proceedeth from above Of the natural causes of the Plagues by the judgment of the most ancient and moderne Writers The terrestrial causes thereof are by common consent of most writers as followeth Venemous and stincking vapors arising from Fens The causes of the Plague standing ponds or pooles Ditches Lakes Dunghils Sinckes Channels Vaults or the like as also uncleane
slaughter-houses of Beasts dead carkasses of men as in time of Warre and of stincking fish fowl or any thing that hath contained life and is putrid as also more particularly in great Cities as in London the unclean keeping of houses Lanes Allies and streets from those recited and the like infectious venemous vapors by warmth of the Sun exhaled are apt and able to infect the living bodies of men and thereby to produce the Plague which once produced is too apt by infection to spread it selfe The corruption of the Ayre a cause and become popular as experiene too much sheweth and as by corrupt meats and drinkes mens bodies are corrupted and infected even so by corrupt ayre as I have said which we can no way avoid to draw into the secretest parts of our bodies the spirits are likewise infected and poysoned to the production both of sicknesse and death if God be not the more merciful unto us for where the disease once beginneth there are many unhappy evils incident as causes conducing to Want of food a cause the increase thereof besides Vapors and one not of the least is it bringeth scarcity of food with it and that brings emptinesse of the belly and where emptinesse is there evill aire is not wanting and that aboundeth too much with the poorer sort and also where food is wanting all kinds of food how infectious or pernitious soever is used in necessity namely all raw fruits as plums peaches yea musty Corn and many things of far wilder condition and so by consequent lack of food is a great cause of the increase of the Plague so that in the Vâ—wholsome food a cause sicknesse time it is by experience dayly found that far more of the poorer fort usually have dyed then of the richer for where emptinesse and unwholsome food is in use as is repeated there the corrupt ayre doth the most harme And likewise genreally observe that where war is for the most part there is famine and those two conclude to make up a third evill namely the pestilence which God be praised we have bin long freed from the two first Thus much in brief of the Terrestrial causes of the Plague Of the precedent and accidentall signes of the Plague The precedent and accidential fignes notable in the Disease of the Plague are various and uncertaine because in truth they are seldome in any one person as in another but to speak as of the most general first appearance of the Plague it beginneth cold and with pain in the head and stomach and sometimes in the backe and if so then it is commonly taken for an Ague and therefore at first little feared Again some begin to complain of pain in the backe and such kinds of beginning are more generally hopeful of healing then when it beginneth hot in my opinion in some also it beginneth hot with pain and giddinesse of the head and pain in the stomach others at the first stroak or touch find a general discouragement and weaknesse over all the whole body others at the first being taken in the head their senses are stupified and dulled in others it beginneth with a raging and fierce fevour so that their countenance is changed their speech fayling or fainting their eyes strangely turning to and fro in a feareful manner Again others complaine of an extraordinary pain with extreame heat inward in the stomach and intrals when the outward parts are chil and cold and ready to shake again some in the beginning complain of great thirst others complain of shortnesse of breath and paine in breathing others swelling and sorenesse of their throats which being sought into no cause appeareth Others have the Almonds or Glandules of their throat much swelled and inflamed Also many are taken with great defire to sleep and with frequent yawnings and it is unsafe in my judgment to permit such to sleep before a Diaphoretick or sweating Medicine have by the patient bin taken and that it hath breathed out some of the venemous vapours by sweat with keeping them waking till the medicine have wrought his effect Others are subject to great watchfulnesse and commonly those are in their slumbers oppressed with grievous and fearful dreames and fantasies Others it beginneth with sweatings with pain of the back and a stinking of the breath and such are ever of very doubtful cure and in my opinion such have inward Carbuncles Others have swellings in the brest some also have losse of appetite evill digestion and faintnesse and some are troubled with deep hickcoks and hollow belchings Others from the beginning to the end of their sicknesse and till death have neither swelling sores nor spots also upon some at first there appeare diverse spots of a duskish colour their countenance of an unequal aspect the one cheek red the other pale Others with sweat drops on their noses a fierce countenance with grinding of the teeth And to be briefe touching signes and accidents in this most feareful disease I perswade my selfe that no man can speak of any No symptome of any disease but is incident to the infected of the Plague terrible symptome signe or indication of any disease whatsoever that hath befallen any man but that the like hath been seen and observed in some one person or more sick of the Plague for the fiercenesse thereof in some persons forceth Hemorrhage both from the greater and lesser veines and some it afflicteth with a Dissenteria Diarraea Lienteria all these from the belly and from the head it produceth Apoplexia Paralysis Lythergi Vertigo Mania with diverse other symptomes also from the throat Squinancia Angina c. Also obstructions of the bowels retention of Urine Colica and Iliaca Passio Singultus Gangrena Convulsions Contractions of Nerves and what not this fierce disease produceth to devoure poore mankind by and surely for that cause I am perswaded it is vulgarly called the sicknesse as comprehending and including all other sicknesse in it selfe Accidental signes which in this disease commonly presage death to the partie are these that follow Signes that presage death Namely when the Patient is possessed with sounding and faintings with cold and clammie sweats often changing of the countenance vomiting of slimie sharp and ill-coloured flegme either greenish yellowish blackish or bloud-coloured sanies or avoiding of Excrements disordered and discoloured either fattie blackish unctious or unnaturally stinking Convulsions Contractions of the Nerves graveling and pidling with the fingers plucking up the Bed-clothes a sudden flux of the belly of stinking matter of rustie or greenish colour a sudden going back of an Apostume Carbuncle or Bubo also when the Patient is insensible of the departure of his Urine and Excrements And yet to Gods glory I here affirme that notwithstanding the aforesaid signes or some one of them I have seene I say some one or more of the afore-named symptomes appear and that the sicke hath even in mans judgment bin as at the point of
preservative Medicines inwardly to be taken THe several Medicines in this Treatise to be taken into the body for preservatives are also Cordials being indeed such Cordials as have vertue to open the pores of the body and by sweating to give breathing to nature and thereby to defend mans body from Contagion being such also as heretofore have been prescribed to be taken by men of the best judgments in Physick for the defending curing and driving out the disease from the principal parts Sweating Medicâ—â—es the best by sweat for without all doubt no Medicine can be generally so safe for the first intention and entrance upon this cure of the plague as is a true Diaphoretick or sweat-provoking Cordial Medicine whether it be taken by way of a Preservative or as a curative Medicine as ancient Writers testifie Galen's Opinion of Diaphoretick Medicines And namely Galen the Prince of Physicians attributeth unto Antidotes the whole Cure of the disease of the Plague and by Antidotes he meaneth Medicines Cordial and Preservatives such as by opening the pores provoke sweat But as there is no general rule but may admit an exception even so this excellent course may not be alwayes safe and warrantable at the first in respect of the wonderful varieties this fearful disease produceth as well in the beginning as in the progresse thereof Sweating sometime to be â—â—itted For it may upon occasion as of fulnesse or of obstructions of the body so come to passe that evacuation general or particular must as in due course precede either by Blood-letting Vomit Purging Glister or Suppository or some one or more of these I say where just cause is they may as of necessity precede for which cause it will ever be safe to use expert advice if such may be had onely remember by the way what is said of purging Medicines and their danger if first taken in the Cure of the Plague Here following I mean to set down several sorts of the chief of the compound Cordial Medicines mentioned in this Treatise following or otherwise in frequent use which are inwardly to be taken into the body to prevent the coming of the disease or being received by sweating best for the expelling of the Venome so received into the body with the dose orquantity reasonable of each of them to be taken by way of preservative to pre vent the disease before it cometh as also what quantity may be fitly taken for the safe provoking of sweat when any one feeleth himself evil disposed and vehemently suspecteth himself to be fallen or entring into the disease by any of the symptomes or signes before expressed or otherwise The chief Cordials in general use are these that follow Cordials against the Plague THeriac Andromach or the true Venice Treacle and not inferiour to it is Mithridate Democrat both of which are now truly made in London Also London Treacle is a very good Antidote or preservative well approved and Electuar dâ— Ovo or the Electuary of the Egge is also a very sure good Cordial also Theriaâ— Diatessar by the ancient Writers called the poor mans Treacle by my self much experienced and approved to be good all these and every of them in their natures either mixed or given each perse or by it self are very good being Diaphoreticks or Medicines provoking sweat more or lesse and thereby opening obstructions and by evaporation expurging venom and refreshing nature and so by consequent curing the Plague Purgatives usefull Hereunto may also be well added some appropriate purgatives to be taken both as preservatives and as curatives where just occasion is namely Pilul Pestilentiales Râ—ffi Pil. Praeservan t Joh. Bahini one dram of any one of them for a purge is a just quantity for an able body and he or she may safely take it any time either at night or morning when there is just reason and for the dose or quantity by way of preservative to be taken at one time is one pill about the bignesse of a Pease or in weight about 12. or 14. grains or at the most 20. gr which is termed a scruple once in a day or once in two or three dayes either at evening or in the morning but I conceive it is best to bed-ward and he or she who taketh it ought to observe that if it make him or her have but one loose stool it is sufficient Much laxâ—ty unsafe For it is not safe for any person to keep his body loose alwayes in times of general infection or contagion for that that is recited elsewhere for where emptinesse is evil vapours have place of entrance Also as touching the first of the forenamed Cordials one dramme for a Dose and namely of Andremach Treacle or Venice Treacle and a like Dose of any the other three specâ—fied Preservatives to be taken by way of a Curative course but by way of a Preservative at any one time for a strong body 20 grains may suffice and may be taken without offence which is one scruple or a lesse quantity to a weaker body and to a strong body infected to provoke him to sweat Ê’ j. and se or Ê’ ij by a strong man of any of them either in Cordiall waters or Wine as is said may be safely received into the body Except of the Electuary of the Egge the Dose whereof is one Drach at the utmost And whereas divers Writers prescribe such Antidotes to be taken in distilled waters as of Carduus Angelica Dragon-water or the like which in time of contagion are not onely scarce but fraudulent and seldom or by few truly made But yet I' must say being truly How to administer preservatives made they do excell many other Liquors Yet for reasons aforesaid in their wants I hold it safe to administer Mithridate London Treacle or Diatessaroâ— or any such Medicine in good French Wine and sometimes in Spanish Wine if the disease begin cold or in posset-drink made with wine or without wine as reason shall guide And note that it would ever be fittest to give these Medicines or any of them in the most cordial Liquors that may be had but if the sick will as willingly take them in a Bolus I mean in a lump namely as it is of it self he may safely do it yet if the stomach of the sick will not so admit of it then it may not be amisse to give him a draught of warm posset drink made with Carduus Benedictus Burrage or Buglosse or Sorrel water and a little Sugar boyled therein or in want of those herbs a plain posset and three spoonfuls of Spanish wine added thereto where the Artist shall see it so necessary which may time enough be added when the Posset is taken from the fire if the Patient be taken cold as is said but if the Disease begin burning then let Sorrel or Violet leaves or Strawberry leaves or some other cordial roots Herbs or Flowers as is already rehearsed be put
incommodi quam commodi adferunt Huc accidit quod Cathartica hujusmodi Medicamenta quae fortia acuta sunt per se venenosa censentur non est autem venenum veneno apponendum omne enim tale addituns suo tali ut est communis Regula facit illud magis tale Major probatur ex Joh. Mesue de consolatione Medicinarum â—bi inquit Omnis Medicina laxativa est de genere venenosarum rerum cujus excessum Natura non patitur nullo propterea Cathartico Pestis tempore corpora vacuanda sunt Quandoquidem Medicus pro suo officio doctrina quam profitetur minister custos imitator Naturae dicitur Natura autâ—m in Peste à Centro ad superficiem conatur veâ—â—num pellere ergo Medicus riâ—e imitatur Naturae ductum juxtâ— Aphorism Hippocrat Libr. 21. Aphorism 1. Quo Naturae vergit ad loca conferentia eo ducere oportet c. Et quia Cathartica innata sua vi crudelitate Naturam regetivam totius corporis prosternunt qua ob Pest is quoque acuitatem impetum languida infirma est virtus vero hoc tâ—mpore conservanda qua prestrata periclitatur aeger ergo nullum Pharmacum dandum est The precedent Caveat touching purging Medicines Englished is in effect as followeth ONe Petrus Sibyllenius a learned Physician of his time in his Treatise De Peste doth write touching the use of Catharticke or purging Medicines in the case of the Plague as followeth and reciteth his reasons and authority for the same in these words Solutives forbidden in the cure of the Plague Concerning the opinion which some Physicians hold that solutive and purging Medicaments are convenient in the beginning of this most sharp sicknesse the Plague and that the venemous humour is to be driven out of the bodies infected with the Plague by their force and heat The censures of Galen and Avicen by strong arguments are repugnant to their opinions And Hippocrates confirmeth their anthorities in his L b. 4. de Dieta or of Diet which is to be used in sharp sicknesses where he saith when in any sharp sicknesse the opening of a Vein or solutive Medicaments are necessary the Vein is first to be opened And Avensoar in the Lib. 3. de Theisir saith before But in our Climate that Rule is not in gâ—â—â—ral gâ—od but is list to fit occasion and due time any purgation be he would advise that a general evacuation might be made meaning that letting blood is fit to be done And because saith he the use of laxative and purging Medicaments are ill hurtfull and dangerous to the body by reason of many evident cases therefore he likewise condemneth the errour of the unlearned and barbarous Physicians and Mountebanks of his times which would drive away the cause of the disease by violent purging Medicines as namely with Mercurius praecipitate which red powder they call falsly a precious Cathartick or purging Medicine which having a great force of heat in them they do draw forcibly and swiftly both the blood and humours which are in the Veines and do drive them out to the prejudice of Nature by which commission Nature which governeth the body is disabled stupified and beaten down in her endeavour touching her Crisis her working and contending with the poysonous vapours so as for the most part it hapneth that thereupon proceedeth a symptomatical expulsion which is not far from death it self And therefore such Medicines are not fit to be used in the beginning of the sicknesse namely the Plague Moreover all purging Medicaments draw the humours to the inward parts that is from the superficies or outward parts to the centre of the body which is the heart and the effects follow deadly for in venemous diseases the venomeought to be driven from the centre to the outwards therefore Cathartick or purging Medicines being ministred in the beginning of this sicknesse do more hurt then good And in this further is to be added that such purging Medicines as are so strong and sharp are esteemed to be venemous of themselves and there is no venome or poyson to be put to poyson for every such thing as is added to his like as the general Rule saith maketh that more such The Major is proved by Joh. Mesues de consolatione Medicinarum where he saith that all laxative Medicines are of the sort of venemous things whose excesse nature cannot endure therefore in time of the Plague the diseased bodies are not to be made empty by purgations The Office of a Physician seeing that a Physician is called by reason of his office and Learning which he professeth a Minister a keeper and an imitator of Nature The help of Nature in the Plague Nature in the Plague endeavours as much as in her is to expel the venome to the superficies of the body Therefore a Physician ought to follow the tract of Nature according to the Aphorisme of Hippocrates 21. Lib. 1. Aphoris Where Nature aymes his course thither it behoves the Physician to intend his Artificial help A reason of the danger of laxative Medicines And because Cathartick means by their innate force and cruelty do overthrow Nature the ruler of the whole body which also is made weak by reason of the sharpnesse and force of the Plague Nature is to be preserved and no laxative Medicine to be given Of variety of particulars for Brothes to be made for the sick according to mens several abilities or necessities and as the time and place hath to be added more or in part forborn upon each just occasion Of herbs convenient for Brothes ANd first for herbs fittest to be used in Brothes in this disease they are Buglosse Borage Endive Succory Strawberry leaves Marigolds Parsely Betony Violet leaves Sorrel Wood-Sorrel Plantane any of these are very good and so is Rosemary and Tyme so that you take not too much of any of them remembring also for the seasoning and relishing of Brothes as also for Sawce you may safely make use of Sugar Cynamon Currants Citrons Oranges Limons juice of Limons ripe and unripe Grapes preserved Barberries Cherries and Prunes Wine Vineger Verjuice Mace Cloves Nutmegs Saffron and Wine if occasion be to refresh the spirits for as I have said I esteem it far above any the simple waters of hearbs for a Vehicle in the disease of the Plague Necessary meats to be boyled in Broth. Also you may make your Brothes either of a Cock orrather of a Cock Chicken or of Mutton or Veal or for the meaner sort of what else their means will reach unto for many things that be held unsavoury nauseous yea and dangerous to the dainty are found to be very conveniene wholesome comfortable and precious to the poorer sort as Garlick Leekes Onions Chyves Wormwood Centory Angelica Bay-berries Gentian and divers others whose tastes are harsh A Cordial Drink to cool and contemperate the blood being a China broth if the Patient please to be
in a Coperas water and let it dry again and lay that lint drie upon the proud flesh sometimes for a dressing or two and then againe to your former method doubt not but it will without pain verie well cicatrize any new wound I write this for that by the unskillfulness yea Surgeons wilfulness as well as unskilfulnes blame-worthy and sometimes by the idleness of evill minded and base Empericks I have seen men lamed by the needless use of caustick medicines even in slight wounds to which if an old wife had openly applied her one salve for all sores no such thing had happened yet I am not so simple to denie the just use of such noble medicines in wounds ulcers and fistulaes or otherwise where need is but I onely here advise the young Artist Note that he may not be too rash in the use of them and likewise doe advise him that having used them once he first pause again at the least eight dayes namely till the first Esker be fallen and certain daies after ere he use any caustick powder again for with the use of corroding medicines Two evils to be avoided one immediately after another many Ulcers are made more painfull and rebellious then they were and the bones sometimes made foule which were otherwise clean which fault is too frequent now adaies and amongst many grosse faults daily committed by unexpert Empericks this one is to be lamented namely the use of keeping open penetrating wounds too forcibly and too long by the use of hard tents armed with caustick powders whereby nature can make no true unition but is forced into much disorder which I wish young men to make a conscience of and to be carefull not to erre in that kind The Lavatorie This Instrument is set down else where Of the Uvula spoone THis Instrument is made to put pepper and salt in or fine bole pepper or salt or some other the like medicine and to hold the same right under the Uvula which is for to blow up into the concavitie behinde the same and no other great or especiall use I know it hath in Surgerie except it may be used to warm a medicine in Thus much of those necessaries which properly deserve the names of instruments in the Surgeons Chest Now a word or two of such other Appendixes which in their kind are as necessarie as the former The Cupping-glasses or Ventoses The use is divers THere are many necessarie works in Surgery performed by Cupping-glasses namely sometimes they are used to set upon a Bubo or botch to bring it forward and therein they are very good Sometimes also to set in the nodell and on the upper part of the shoulder-blades to draw back humours which oppresse the head the eyes or teeth or against Lethargie or on the thighes against aches or pains there or for the cure of the Sciatica they are very good or sometimes to draw bloud and spirits to The end why they are set without scarifying Why with scarifying a member withered or benummed in all these and divers more griefs the Cupping-glasses are very needfull Sometimes also they are set without scarifying onely to attract humours to the place Another time it may be in other cases they are used with scarifying to take away bloud and choler which offendeth the part Some set them on with The divers setting of them The best manner of setting them towe some with a small wax light set under them some onely with the flame of a great candle which my self use and is not offensive nor painfull at all whereas the other waies the flame excoriateth often the part and maketh new unseemly work for the better doing whereof I use to place my candle close to the place where the Cups should be set the place being first wet and rubbed well with hot water and a spunge and Note the Cupping-glasses also wet Hold your Cupping-glasses over the flame a little and then clap it quickly on the place whilest yet the steame of the light is in it and it will be fast and draw hard but you must have your Cups fit and not too wide for the place you would set them on or else they will not take any hold Further when you perceive they have drawn well which by the blackness and rising of the skin you may sasily Scarification must be light and sudden and with a Lanncet see then if you hold it fitting you may lightly and quickly scarifie it with a fine Launcet which truely is the best and profitablest instrument for that use and then wetting your Cupping-glasses againe with the flame onely of the candle set them on where they stood before setting When to take the cupping-glasses away What to be done after they be taken away Deep scarifying evil as many cups and drawing as much bloud as you see good and when no more bloud will come and that you thinke it time to take them away which is known by a yellow water which cometh at the last then I say it is time to wash the places with faire water where the cups stood and drie them with a spunge or cloth and onely anoint them with Ung. Album once and they will bee whole The overdeep scarifying it is not onely dangerous but also painfull and not art-like for if you note well the cutis it hath many capillar veines in it yea and some great veines and is porous so that the Artist may by force draw humiditie sufficient from farre if so occasion bee to use their utmost force Large and with cups are fittest on the thighes lesser on the arms and the least for the hands or feet Of tho Brasse Bason Friend learn good by ill I Have nothing to write concerning it but that at the least the Surgeons Mate have one if not two and if he finde no use for it let him sell it for good liquor at Bantham as a Surgeons Mate lately did one of mine Of the Blood Poringers The quantity of blood Imitation with out discretion is idle Blood poringers necessary BLood Poringers are necessary at Sea to be the more certain of the quantity of blood which is let for since the blood of man is so precious it is to be well weighed what quantity is taken And although the German Surgeons do ever let blood into a bason yet I hold it not good for the Surgeons Mate to imitate first except he be of good judgement indeed to judge of the quantity The blood Poringers which are made for that purpose being full hold just three ounces and The constitution of the body is to be regarded in Phlebotomy somewhat more For my own practice I hold this course if one chance to come to me of himself or by advice of a Physician to be let blood though he have a strong body I never take from him more then two poringers and a half at the most but often lesse If
the party be not strong except it be in case of a Pleurisie or some like urgent cause I take lesse For in that work except my reason give me good satisfaction to do the contrary I will rather offeud in too little then in too much Too little rather then too much blood is to be taken away taking of blood away for I have seen much hurt to have ensued by great quantity of blood taken away at one time 7. or 8. ounces I hold a strong body may bear to lose having good nourishment to recover it again and that without harm but if you grow to ten ounces you may many wayes do harm in the body except your warrant be good I speak not this to discourage young Surgeons from a work so behovefull but admonish them to warinesse in a point so dangerous Of the Dyet Pot. The use THe Dyet Pot is not alone to be used in cases of dyet drink seething for the pox and not otherwise for as a learned Doctor upon occasion lately reasoned there is difference betwixt the Dyet and a Dyet though in both kinds there is even Quot homines tot sententiae so many men so many minds Wherefore concerning descriptions of several Dyet drinks for the pox I will refer the Surgeons Mate to other Authors for in truth I must defer that point till fitter oppertunity I mean till I write touching the cure of that disease And yet methinks to speak somewhat A docoction for the Calenture of a drink is the case of the Calenture or any other unnatural hot fever to be made at Sea to qualifie the heat of the blood were not amisse which may be done as followeth â„ž French barley â„¥ iiij Fresh water 2. gallons Licorice â„¥ i. Cloves n o. 12. In want of Licorice tak juice of Licorice half an ounce In want of french barley take other barley or for a need wheat flower boyle this gently to 4. or 5. quarts then clear it and if it may be keep it not in How to keep it The composition of this drink if the heat be over great causeth head-ach The colour and taste of the drink is to be observed the brasse pot but in some earthen or glasse vessel and if the party his heat be great and have pain in his head add thereto so many drops of oyl or spirit of Vitriol as will a little change the tast and make it sowerish but not too tart in any wise and if into all his drink you put of Rose-water of wine-vinegar or Rose vinegar and Cinamon-water of each onely one spoonful if you have it it will do well to mend the tast if not the matter is not great let the Patient drink often hereof Further you The drink composed for a Laske may if you think good add surrupe or juice of Limons Ê’ 4. If it be for one which is loose in his belly you may infuse of your succus Acatiae herein some 2. or 3. Ê’ and being cleared let him drink of the drink plentifully as he hath thirst but you must cut your Acatiae first and dissolve it in a little of the drink warmed and so put it into the rest Also in want of Acatia if you put therein Galls in powder a little it will do well Of other necessaries THe next instruments in order to be remembred are these following viz. Skillet Chafing dish Glister pot Funnel Cups to give potions in One Board knife to spread plasters Morter and peâ—tel Weights and Scales Sives Searces Strayners Splents Junks Tape Towe Spunges Clouts Rowlers Gray paper White paper Empty pots and glasses Thred and Needles Wax Candles Lanthorne Tinder box furnished Inke and quills One close-stoole One bed pan One brasse paile 20 Well burned bricks Pipkins Empty baggs I shall not need to spend much time to set down the uses of all these necessary implements only two or three of the most needful to be noted I will remember and then to the uses of the medicines within the Chest Of Weight and Scales VVEights and Scales are necessary things often times lightly regarded and yet how many mens lives hang in the ballance it is plain enough For Sea-Surgeons familiarly give Stibium by the grain The use is divers namely from 4. to 8. grains yea and to 12. grains by your leave when in truth few of them have waights and Scales which can weigh one grain A great fault in weights and scales It is a dangerous thing for a Surgeon at Sea to be unprovided of neat weights and Scales which will turn with half a grain for how can they give either Laudanum Paracelsi Stibium or other Chimical medicines safely or almost any medicine inward without small weights and Scales Wherefore two pair of weights and Scales are very needful for the Surgeons Chest namely one for ounces and another for grains for larger Scales the ship is furnished It is also to be understood here for instruction of children in Art that xvi ounces make a A direction iâ— weights pound each ounce 8. drams each dram 3. scruples each scruple 20. grains for the grain a full barley corne will well serve or a good wheat corne though a large wheat corne be somewhat too big an ordinary pepper corn will also serve for a grain Of the Close-stoole with the Paile of Brasse and the Bricks ALthough I know before hand that I am to undergo many witty and Eloquent flouts from young gallants of my own profession for mentioning so base an instrument to belong to the Surgeons charge as this last mentioned Close-stoole with his appurtenances yet let them Mean things sometimes are of great moment know that neither can my book blush neither shall my self I hope have cause for I nothing doubt to yeeld each honest young Artist a sufficient reason for to satisfie him herein and in a word my reason for appointing to each ship bound for the East-Indies at the least one of these is because the bloody or other flixes are so dangerous diseases and so deadly amongst our men that I hold it my duty to advise even the good None worthy to be reputed â—rtists who disdain the meanest office of their profession use of a Close-stoole and I have caused the stoole to have one door on the one side that thereby either things to foment fumigate or otherwise to comfort the weak part might be the better applied the Patient sitting at his ease thereon The use of the Close-stool The need of it is great Also one especial reason why I have appointed it is that a poor weak man in his extremities should not continually go to the shrouds or beak-head to ease himself nor by noysome to his fellowes but might by the help of his Mate through this mean instrument find comfort in his most pitiful distresse whose miseries I heartily compassionate Wherefore I admonish the Surgeons Mate in general in the fear of God