the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
shall onely treat of that pain that doth follow asharp disease by the inflamation of the inner skin for if the inflamation be in the outward Muscles or if the pain be great because of windiness this is but a basterd Pleurisie and the Patient is without a Feaver The signs of this disease besides the difficulty of breathing and a vehement Cough is a pricking pain which plainly doth demonstrate that the membranes and some other tender parts are affected this pricking pain sometimes spreads it self over the sides and breast sometimes to the short Ribs to the Channel-bone of the Throat so that the Patient is forced to breath short and thick also there is a continual Feaver because the inflamation doth border on the heart the Pulse is thick not too great hard and unequal and by that means tough and like to a saw a cough also cometh withal the first day and then nothing cometh at length spettle is voided and comes up coloured according to the nature of the excrements and it is also moister there are many other signs the cause for the most part is blood running from the hollow Veins into the Ribs thin Veins sometimes it is caused by Phlegmy blood and then the disease is longer of continuance and the spettle frothy and white sometimes the blood is Chollerick and then a sharper disease is caused The suppression of the Hemrhoides or monethly tearms will cause a Pleurisie this disease is dangerous to old men to Women with childe and such as have been sick twice or thrice of it it vexes the Patient more in the night then day time whosoever is sick of a Pleurisie and is not cleansed in fourteen dayes they turn to supuratiâ—â— This disease kills by choaking or too mâ—ch pain or by the translation of the matter into the Lungs whereby the Consumption of them is caused and also Ulcers The air the Patient lives in must be temperate somewhat inclining to heat his meat easie of digestion he is not to drink Wine till the disease be abated he may be permitted longer then ordinary sleep his belly must be kept loose Of the Bleeding at the Nose THe Bleeding at the nose called Hemorrhagia doth signifie a Bleeding at the Nose whether it doth come immediately from the Nostrills carried thither by the Veins of the palate through which for the most part nature doth expel the superfluous blood of many or else whether it comes from the Veins of the Head further off but in general it doth signifie any bleeding whether it be of Nose Womb or any other part of the body when blood comes forth moderately in the beginning of a Pleurisie Impostume Squinancy Burning Feaver Small Poxs it is alwayes for the best yet this Bleeding in some other diseases is Critical foreshewing death the Nostrills are chiefly affected but not alwayes the essence of the Nostrils but they are affected by the consent of some other part the Veins by which this blood is cast out at the Nose run from the palate and Mouth into the Nostrills and sometimes from the head when too much blood is voided the colour of the face waxeth pale the body is of a leaden colour the outward parts are cold and a swooning follows and many times after death Oftentimes bleeding at the Nose is caused by nature which doth by this means expel the excrements and which is troublesome to the body Sometimes it is caused by the evil affection of the Veins wherein the blood is contained and the blood runs out of the Veins the Veins being opened by the plenty of blood which they could not contain There are sundry other causes If bleeding have continued long swooning weakness and too much cooling of the Liver Lachexia or the Dropsie is to be feared Bleeding at the Nose without coldness of the outwards parts is mortal The air the Patient should live in must be somewhat cold his meat must be such as doth nourish well and easie of digestion he must avoid exercise and speak little he must avoid all passions of the minde especially anger Of the Falling-sickness THe Falling-sickness is a Convulsion of all the parts of the body not continual but that which cometh by distances of time the minde and senses being thereby hurt This disease doth either happen when the brain hath the cause of the disease in it self which is usual or by the evil effect of the mouth of the stomach or from some other part underneath by which the venemous effect creepeth into the brain through secret passages the Patient feels the cause of this Disease like a vapour of cold winde to be carried to the brain by the continuity of the other parts from the part of the body wherein the Disease is chiefly seated the cause of this Disease being for the most part a venomous vapour carried up from some lower part of the body into the brain and then the Patient doth suddenly fall with a Convulsion The brain is the part affected either by it self or by the consent of the stomach or by some other parts The fit comes oftentimes suddenly with much foam which because it is slimy may be drawn out at length yet in a gentler Falling-sickness this doth not appear when the Patient is deprived of his senses he falls to the ground with a violent shaking of his body his face is wrested his eyes turned upwards his chin somewhat driven to his shoulder and oftentimes he voids seed and ordure against his will his Muscles are loosened all these are signs of a strong fâ—t Sometimes their teeth are so fast closed together that they are in danger of stifling paleness of the face inordinate motion of the tongue pain and heaviness of the head forgetfulness sadness troublesome dreams are ushers to this Disease the Patient being taken with a giddiness sometimes darkness and divers dim glisterings appear before his eyes This Disease is for the most part caused by abundance of melancholâ—ck and phlegmatick humors from whence corâ—upt venomous and stinking vapors break out whereby obstructions are caused in the passages â—f the brain and the passages of the spirits are â—â—ereby hindred by this means the brain and the roots of the Sinnews shrink and as it were tremble in the expelling of that which is obnoxious whether it be vapor or humor This disease frequents children because they are of a moister brain then yong men next to these men oâ— a full growth and old men least of all This Disease is more incident to men then women and usually it doth stick close to the Patient unless it be taken away by medicines in the minority If the Disease be vehement and come often on the Patient it is incurable but if a quartane Ague or any longer Feaver surprize him iâ— portends health The air wherein the Patienâ— lives must be hot and dry his meat mixed with such things as do dissolve and extenuate the humors exercise of the body and frication of thâ— head are prevalent
the moderate use of Venery is healthful his excrements must be voided iâ— due time and if Nature be deficient herein Arâ— must be used his sleep must be moderate and his minde pleased Of Rheum RHeum in Latine called Catarrhus is a distillation commonly taking a deflux of humors and excrements from the head or brain into the other parts of the body and because thâ— brain is of a cold and a moist nature and dotâ— want plenty of nourishment by reason of thâ— largeness thereof so likewise it doth breed many excrements and the slight distemper being cold and moist will further it for vapors senâ— from the lower parts get up thither and these being thickned by reason of the brains thinness are entertained and even as these superfluous humors are sent back again to some one or other part of the body oftentimes in the first Ventricle if they do not offend much in quantity and then they are soonest purged by the Pallat sometimes they spread through divers places when they flow too much and then they are voided at the Nose Pallat Ears or Eyes and they do often fall into the Stomach and Lungs from whence several diseases are occasioned The Brain is most affected as may appear by those things which are voided at the Mouth Nose and Pallat and then it is a more continual disease neither is any hurt of any other part perceived whereby it may be cherisht but while it is caused by other parts of the body it will the better be known by its proper signs This is an affection which is caused by moderate excretion if the excrements of the head fall on the Lungs it doth cause for the most part hardness of breathing and a great Cough and Hoarseness bringing pain and soreness to the aforenamed places the hot distemper of the brain is sometimes the cause the great weakness thereof being oftentimes the cause sometimes it is occasioned from the brains cold and moist distemper for then the nutriments conveighed to the brain are not well digested whereby many superfluities are gathered and store of excrements lodged in the brain Surfeits and too much fulness encreases this Disease or by too much sleep also by the weakness of the digestive and expulsive faculty of the brain If the humor fall from the head to the nose it is but a small grief if to the throat worse if to the lungs worst of all for the lungs are in danger of being exulcerated from whence comes a Consumption the Winter season is very obnoxious to this disease because of the uncertainty of the weather The air the Patient lives in should be moderately hot and rainy weather as also Northern and Southern blasts must be avoided his meat must be very easie of digestion and such as breeds good blood his sleep must be moderate and sometimes in the day time his head must be so covered that neither too much cold nor too much heat offend it his body must daily either by art or nature be emptied of excrements he must use moderate exercise and shun the passions of minde Of the Pain of the Stomach THe pain of the Stomach called Cardialgia is a painful sense of the mouth of the stomach caused by a biting matter This distemper hath an affinity with the Disease called Cardaica passio which is in like manner a Disease oâ— the mouth of the stomach caused by corrupt humors and such as are biting and violent which either came from some other place or else werâ— there generated and gathered together Thâ— Cardaica passio differs from this Disease becausâ— this is caused by biting humors but that is caused by virulent humors venomous and so malign that a very hot and sharp Feaver accompanies it The mouth of the Stomach is primarily affected the heart being hereby hurt because of the nearness a pinching pain with biting and fretting being felt under the Breasts grissels In this Disease there is a gnawing biting and pricking of the stomach there is an oppressing pain there whereby the Patient breaths with difficulty sometimes the belly doth cast out the chollerick stuff and sometimes he doth vomit choller a Feaver seldom comes with this In this Disease the appetite is abated the Patient is in more pain before then after meat this Disease is often caused by sadness for by those causes Choller comes into the stomach whereby bitings and gnawings are caused sometimes by inflamation or by sharp or phlegmy humors if this Disease comes without a Feaver it is less dangerous Let the air the Patient lives in be cold either by art or nature his meat easie of digestion and such as is least subject to corruption rest asswages the pain his sleep must be moderate â—is belly must be rendred answerable to nature â—erturbations of his minde are to be shunned especially choller Of the Gout THe Joynt-Gout is a feebleness of the Joynts and pain coming upon them at several diâ—â—ances of time for the most part it is caused by 〈◊〉 Flux which windeth it self betwixt the Ligaments Films and Tendons of the Joynts for in this disease the Joynts do first receive the Humor which at length doth insinuate into the Films adjoyning sometimes there is a Gout in the fingers sometimes in the knee sometimes in the hips from whence it spreads it self to the Thighs Calves of the Legs and to the end of the Feet yet this Gout sticks not in the Hip but is fastned above the Hip at the toâ— of the Buttock if the Gout stick in the feet ' tiâ— called Podagra or the Feet-Gout whether it bâ— in the ankles soles of the feet or great toeâ— joynt sometimes it seizes on the shoulder-joynts and turning-joynts of the Back-bone oâ— Chine sometimes not any knitting of thâ— bones is free from this pain The parts affecteâ— are the joynts tendons ligaments films of thâ— parts of the body which either knit or inviron the bones are here affected and sometimes thâ— Membranes are filled and stretcht the Patient iâ— tormented for a long space when this Diseasâ— doth first surprize him yet the pain is but little by the use of evil diet almost all the joynts oâ— his body suffering alike sometimes not one parâ— of the body being free from this Disease In thâ— Feet or Hip-Gout for the most part no swellinâ— doth appear but in the Hand and Knee-Gout swelling redness and heat by extream pains aâ— easily to be perceived sometimes an inflamatâ—on is caused and then the appetite is lost anâ— the Patient is troubled with watchings and Feaver The cause of every Joynt-Gout is foâ— the most part great store of phlegmatick humors or some other humors overflowing in the greater Veins the Liver and Head so that the parts are therewith surcharged and that these parts may likewise be free of this burthen they do cast these excrements upon the joynts ligaments and tendons and films whereby they are filled stretcht and weakned There are four causes of these superfluities of humors the
immoderate use of strong Wine Venery crudities and feebleness of the parts to which may be added the relinquishing of accustomed exercises and suppression of evacuation This disease is an an hereditary Disease The pains of the Feet-gout trouble the Patient at the Spring time and Autumn if this Disease be not cured before the Patient comes to his perfect growth it will not be pefectly cured The air the Patient lives in must be temperate inclining to heat and driness such meats as do moderately nourish are good and such they must eat but sparingly when their Disease hath left them they may use exercises otherwise not their sleep must be moderate for too long sleep cherishes this Disease his belly must alwayes be kept loose the use of Venery is hurtful all perturbations of the minde are to be avoided Of Congelation COngelation called Catalepsis is a sudden detaining both of soul and body with the which whosoever is taken the same figure of body doth neverthelesse remain he abides sitting or lying if he did either sit or lie when the fit took him By some this disease is stiled an awaking amazement because the disease takes away sense and motion in all parts of the body this disease agrees in some things but differs very much in others from an Apoplexy In this disease the brains hinder-part is chiefly affected the animal part being hurt as well imaginative as sensitive and motive In this disease the Patient is dumb his body is bereft of sense and motion and though he retain the form of one being awake yet his minde and senses are asleep and that on such a sudden that the lookers on are amazed This disease in so vehemently seizing on the Patient that he rather thinks he is transported to heaven then dead the minde is assaulted so violently that the person in this distemper remains in the same figure wherein he was when he was stricken he can neither void excrements make water by reason of the senses dulness his pulse beating little and faintly but in the mean time equal This affect is caused by a cold and weak distemper of the brain whereby the brain and animal spirits are congealed and dried up not onely cooled A cold and dry matter causeth this disease as melancholly the air cold and dry the mixture of Phlegm and Choller when both overflow they are in great hazzard of life that are taken with this disease if this disease be strong it is hardly to be cured The air the Patient lives in must be hot and moist his meat Ptisan Cream his drink small white Wine and somewhat a stringent Of the Frenzy A Right Frenzy is an inflamation of the brain and the films thereof bringing with it a sharp Feaver doating and alienation of minde it is a kinde of a madness both dreadful and dangerous because this disease is generated in part which is the chief sense of the faculties of the Soul and because a true Frenzie hath its beginning from a false it will be convenient first to treat of a false Frenzie It is an alienation of the minde with disquietness without an impostume of the brain and it doth follow a Feaver caused by Blood or Choller doatings do not fret and grieve so much as they do that are possest with a true Frenzie and as the Feaver doth increase or decrease so the fate of the Frenzie is increased or decreased especially in the hour of the Crisis or conflict betwixt Nature and the Disease In these Feavers dry Vapors get up into the Brain whereby the animal parts are disquieted sometimes Impostumes are the cause of this disease The parts affected are the Pia mater or dura mater In this distemper there is a continual and dry Feaver and as the Patient sleeps very disquietly so his watchings are more troublesome he breaths by fits he will if he be not lookt to start out of his bed suddainly he will weep sing and cry out the Patients tongue is withered black he is very thirsty his Urine is thin and fiery sometimes white and thin then he is in great danger This distemper is caused with too much blood and such a one is mad with Laughter yet he dotes less and is not so Feaverish but when it is caused by burnt Choller then is the Patient stark mad and must needs be bound as he is in this distemper very strong A Feaver is the inseparable companion of this disease this is a most sharp and dangerous distemper and speedily kills if present remedy are not given for all kindes of Frenzies are mortal being bred in the place where the souls principal part is resident The air the Patient remains in must be temperate and bright no variety of Pictures must remain in his sight his diet must be such as may moisten and cool the body he must avoid too much motion frictions on the lower parts are to be used especially when the disease is milder sleep must be procured by Local Medicines and such as are received in at the mouth the Excrements of the Belly must be evacuated for if they are kept in they do encrease the disease perturbations of his minde are to be avoided Of the Dropsie THe Dropsie is such a passion that it is not without plenty of watry humors because the blood-making-faculty is vitiated it is a long disease for the most part caused by the coldness of the Liver There are three kindes of Dropsies Anasarca which is a dispersing of Phlegmy humors over the whole body In this Disease the body increaseth most unnaturally for it is all over swelled and an humor mixed with Phlegmy Blood is spread over all the body between the skin and the flesh and the body doth suck it up even as a sponge sucks up water and by reason of this an ill colour passes over the whole body The second sort of Dropsie called Ascites is that when great store of windes but greater of water are gathered together in one place which doth lie between the Guts and the Stomach In this Disease first the belly and Abdomen by little and little then the Thighs are swelled and all the other parts of the body by little and little wax lean but when there is a greater store of winde then water whereby the Abdomen is stretcht beyond measure called Timpanites then rather a noise of winde then water is perceived if the belly be strook for there is the sound of a Tabor from whence this Disease hath its name The natural colour of the face in this Disease is not altered the Liver is the part affected for hereby the blood is generated and from this the Dropsie is caused by the primary affect of the Liver and then the Cough comes withal because the hugeness of the Liver causeth the obstructions of the Lungs also the Excrements are not very liquid Sometimes this Disease is caused by the consent of the Misentery Spleen Stomach Meseraick Veins and Jejunium intestinum whereof
these Lieutenant Medicines serve at all turns in the place of the right Medicines for so should Ginger serve the turn of Folefoot to purge by Vomit which it cannot no more then curds of Cow milk can soften and supple like butter or the dung of the Stock-dove purge like Euphorbium or the Dock-root draw phlegme from the Head like Pellitory which Galen notwithstanding maketh substitutes of these Medicines which have such operation I conclude therefore seeing Navigation cannot afford us either the Simples which we seem to need and those which it doth both corrupt and counterfeit in the greatest part we have neither to crave thereof in this point aid much less to trust thereunto Now the Simples being but for the most part bastard Ware how can the Compounds that amount of the same be other then counterfeit Whereupon as Cardanus saith in his Method of Curing The wise Magistrates of Venice have oftentimes forbidden the making of Triacle and Mithridatum because the Simples could not be had whereby they should be compounded Which if Venice the greatest Mart in this part of the World of such Wares cannot a vouch what can we hope for from other places That a man would marvel to see the great store of them in all shops of Apothecaries under the names of Triacle and Mithridatum of Andromachus and it being required in Triacle before it be used it should have a time as it were of mellowing which of Galen in his Book of Triacle to Piso is extended to twelve years and of Paulus Aegineta in his seventh Book by seven years for those that are bitten or stung of venemous beasts or have drunk poison or are infected with the pestilence and in other diseases from â—en years till it be twenty of age I marvel what assurance we have of the age of this Triacle which is ordinary in use or if we have none how we dare use it at adventure knowing by age the vertue thereof hath no small alteration I would these inconveniences were the smallest which I have but briefly and as it were for a taste run over yet were even they sufficient to stay our overhasty use of such strange Merchandize and to move us to betake us to those we know both in the Blade and in the Seed in the Root and in the Fruit and know the Air the Hill the Valley the Meadow where they grow But this trust upon Out-landish Medicines have much more nearly touched us then so If a man would say by his overhasty embracing whatsoever strange Nations do as it were purge over unto us we drink divers times rank Poison instead of wholesom Medicine I think it would justly move us to be advised and not to pass over the enquiry of a reason why such a one should think so being one whose vocation tendeth to the charge of the health of mens bodies The right Hermodactiles are commended for excellent Medicines against all Pains in the Joynts as the Gout the Schyatica and such like from which they purge gross Phlegme Doronicum Romanum hath great commendation for comforting the Heart expelling Poison against the Cough for avoiding of Humours which overcharge the Chest which are great vertues doubtless in them both Now if they 〈◊〉 the shops as they bear the name of these Medicines so carried not with them instead of thesâ— vertues dangerous poison then should I havâ— less cause to exhort our Nation to be take theâ— to their Gardens and Fields and to leave thâ— Banks of Nilus and the Fens of India Thâ— common Hermodactils being a kinde of poyson called Ephemerum so named because with such swiftness it chargeth and overchargeth our vitaâ— spirits that it killeth him that hath taken it iâ— one day The other commonly called Doroticum Romanum and used for an especial Cordial so that it hath place in the electuary of precious Stones in the electuary of Amber in the cordial Powder this Doronicum I say calleâ— of Mathiolus Demoniacum that is to say Divelish noting thereby the vertues thereof is no baser poison then a very kinde of Aconitum by Mathiolus experience which he confesseth himself before having been abused by the common error first to have learned of Jacobus Antonius Cortusus a man very skilful in the nature of Simples which Jacobus taught him the experience by giving it to dogs which it killeth Now if by reason no such danger happeneth to us by the use of them they seeming not so dangerous we are to understand they be given in small quantity and mixed with divers remedies against poison the good Providence of God providing so that otherwise they should not be ministred as in the purging Electuary of Diacnicis Hermodactils are bridled with Cinamon and the powder of Diatragatanthum frigidum where indeed â—t hath somewhat too large scope being better â—empered in Benedicta with Cloves Parsleyâ—eed Galanga and Mace and in the Pills of Herâ—odactils with Aloe Mirobalans Bdellium the â—eed of Herbgrace which have force against poiâ—on the which small quantity of them being â—ndled and dulled with other Medicines especiâ—lly such a resist the force of poisons is not deadly â—nto us although great hurt thereof must needs â—nsue I have stood the longer upon this point â—f strange Medicines in answering the suppy by Navigation the rather because it seemeth most â—o make against us in the maintenance of our â—ome Medicines and breedeth as it were a loathâ—omness of those blessings of God which we daily â—ay at commandment enjoy But hitherto hath â—nely been shewed the corruptions and counterâ—eting of forreign Medicines which belongeth to â—ertain onely and not to all although those â—ertain be the chief and of greatest price and â—hat being foreseen the provision out of strange â—nd far distant Nations may seem well to stand â—ith that Providence we speak of and except â—hey be in respect of their strangeness hurtfull â—r unprofitable unto us the skill of Sailing beâ—â—g a means to present them at our need Naâ—ures care should seem no whit to be blemished â—he reasons which I have before alledged I â—ave to the indifferent Reader to consider of â—nd because I am so far urged I easily stick â—ot to hold that we receive no small hurt â—om all all the kindes of strange Medicines whereof I yield these few reasons which follow Our English Bodies through the nature of the Region our kinde of dyet and nourishment our custome of life are greatly divers from those of strange Nations whereby ariseth great variety of humors and excrements in our bodies from theirs and so the causes of Diseases rising upon breach of diet the diet being of another sort must needs be unlike whereupon although their humors be in kinde and in a generality agreeable to ours as Blood Choler Phlegme Melancholy and such like yet rising upon other matter then the same in us and otherwise framed by a far other state of body by reason of a diverse kinde of life the Medicines which help them
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
have many times forborn the applying of the Traepan to the profit of my Patients and my good Name and Estimation Moreover there be many ignorant Chyrurgeons which without consideration apply the Traepan upon all parts of the Head as well upon the comistures or seams as other places which is the cause of the death of many Patients Wherefore they ought to have a great consideration and to be very diligent in this respect and for to use their Art according to this true Method prescribed them The fifth Error touching the Punctures of Nerves WHen it chanceth that any is hurt by the Punctures of Nerves if he be not speedily helped by some cunning and expert Chyrurgeon he is in great danger to fall into Convulsions which is the occasion of many a mans death which commonly hapneth to them that are drest by the ignorant and common Chyrurgeons For when they begin the cure they make Fomentation with hot water wherein hath been boiled Mallows Violets and such like then after the Fomentation they apply an Appeaser of pain made with the crumbs of white Bread being mingled with the yolk of an Egg Oyl of Cammomile and Oyl of Roses the which things are altogether contrary to the Punctures of Nerves Forasmuch as their application doth moisten too much the nervous places and retaineth or keepeth in the matter which is already come to the place and if there be any Aposthume it doth augment and encrease it and causeth the matter to ascend up to the Brain whereby ensusueth Convulsions or Death Wherefore to avoid this danger and to follow the cure methodically you shall have first a regard to the evacuation of the body and if the strength of the Patient be good to use Flebetonice Revolsive or according to the cause of the grief Then to take away that which is ready conjunct you shall enlarge the Orofice â—o the end that the Medicine may the better penetrate to the bottom and take away the sharpness of the humor In this case I have found very profitable the Oyl of Hippiricon prepared in this form that is to say with Venice Turpentine and for one ounce of the said Oyl you shall take half a scruple of Euphorbium which shall be applied very hot with Pledgets and upon that a Plaister made with Propolis Gum Ammoniack and Wax as much as shall suffice By this means the matter which is drunk into the Nerves or Tendons shall be drawn out to the outward parts Also for this intent I have found profitable Lin-seed Oyl and Euphorbium of each alike with the twentieth part of Sulpher being very finely poudred with Perosin and Wax as much as shall suffice to make an Unguent This Unguent doth heat moderately attract and dissicate and is of a subtle faculty with the which by the help of God the Chyrurgeons shall get both honour and profit The sixth Error is touching the abuse of the Runners about called Cutters for the Stone and Ruptures AMong the common Runners about which use to cut the Stone and Ruptures there is a great error of theirs to be lamented of any Christian heart for under this cure of cutting the Hernies they do miserably take away the Stone as well in the Hernia aquosa or ventosa as in all the rest the which is inhumanely and against the will of God and they do not onely use it in men but most of all in little Children therefore it should be very good for the Parents which have their Children troubled with any kinde of Hernies that before they commit their Children to lose their stones and sometimes their lives by any of these Runnagates for so may I well term them that they shew them to some learned Chyrurgeon to the end that he may see what kinde of Hernies they have and so to discern the Aquosa or Ventosa from Intestinale or Omentales For certainly I have seen Hernies in Children which came by the relaxation or division of the Peretoneum have been perfectly healed by the apt applying of glutinative Medicines and such other like without cutting or taking away of the Testicle But such is the covetous desire of these Persons which make the Parents believe that it cannot be helped without their butcherly cutting and for to get money which they are as greedy after it as Vultures after their prey not having the fear of God before their eyes but like covetous Gripers catch what they may for the time and care not what become of them afterwards whether they live or die we know by woeful experience what harm they have done both by the murthering cruelly and also lameness and continual pain These Fellows rush into England and have such a great name at the first coming but after when their works are tried and then the proof of them seen the peoble for the most part are quickly weary of them and many a fatherless Child and Widdow which they have made may curse the time that ever they knew them I dare affirm they never did any cure in England but that there are English Men which have done the like and greater Such is the foolish fantasies of our English Nation that if he be a stranger he shall have more favourers then an English man though the English mans knowledge doth far pass the others as experience therein hath shewed and this I will stand to the proof of that there are English men that shall in all things do as much both by learning and experience as any of them all That they may not deceive the common people with their fair promises I resolve by Gods permission to write of all the kinds of Ruptures or Burstings and how to know every one of them to the end that if any Chyrurgeon which hath not the right knowledge may streight at the first sight know what to do I will begin to treat of the kinds of Ruptures and first of the division of them in general and then particularly Of the eight kinds of Hernies THere are eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures whereof some have their proper names and the others by similitude the proper Hernies do most commonly come by the Relaxation or Rupture of the Proteneum insomuch that the Intestines and Epiplocon or Zerbus doth lose their natural place and of these are seven kinds that is Enterocele otherwise called Herni intestinale Epiplocele or Herni Zirbale Bubonocele or Herni Inguinale The Hernies by similitude are when there is some tumour against nature in the Cods or in some part of the Groin without the coming forth of the Intestines or Zirbus and of these there are five kinds the first is called Herni Aqueuse and of the Greeks Hidrocele the second Herni Carneuse or Sarcocele the third Variquese the fourth Venteuse which is called of the Greeks Pneumatocele the fifth Humorale which shall be spoken of particularly in order and first we will begin with the proper kinds Of the Hernie Intestinale FOr because that the Hernie Intestinale
9. Of the Diabetes WHether the cause of this disease be the immoderate attraction of the Reins or the weakness of the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder or both of them we will not dispute the point out here howsoever this is certain there follows as well great thirst as pissing against ones will 2. Against this disease give the Patient the Bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep or else of a Bull beaten into powder let him drink half a dram of it in any convenient liquor at night going to bed 3. I suppose the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were sufficient if it were converted into Mummy and beaten into powder for it will be found to be a very difficult thing to beat the whole Bladder into powder besides it is the Sphinater Muscle which is in fault in our Bladder therefore if that onely of the Sheeps or Goats Bladder be used the Remedy is agreeable to the Disease 4. I remember once I cured a great Lubber that could not lye all night without pissing a bed nor remain a quarter of an hour in the day time without pissing by onely advising him to drink no other drink then what had been tied up twelve hours in a sheeps bladder and as â— have been since informed he is perfectly cured by it 5. Give him for three dayes in the Wane oâ— the Moon the Bladder of a fresh-water fish 6. The Brain of a Hare converted to Mummy and given in Wine to drink causeth the Patient to hold his water 7. Galangal taken inwardly is a good remedy to stop the involuntary flowing of the water if it come of a cold cause as I am of opinion it alwayes doth 8. The Lungs of a Kid bound warm under the Navel withholdeth the distillation of urine saith my Authour yet my opinion is that if they be medicinable for the disease the best way is to apply them to the Neck of the Bladder 9. My own Childe was troubled with this disease when very young whom I cured with these remedies First I got Alehoof and chopped it very small but washed it not and having sprinkled it with strong white Wine Vinegar applied to her Wrests Then I took three Holly-leaves the fullest of prickles I could get and boiled them in her drink These medicines I learned of an Italian which indeed cured her CHAP. 10. Of swelling of the Cods THis disease cometh sometimes of humors falling down into the Scrotum and sometimes onely winde gathering there 2. Take Bean-flour make it into the thickness of a Poltiss with juyce of Dwarf-Elder and common Oyl and apply it warm to the Cods it will presently allay the Swelling 3. A Poltiss made of the bark or leaves of Elder or dwarf-Elder will do the like 4. Goats-dung dissolved in Wine and the Cods bathed therewith takes away the swelling 5. The decoction of Marjoram also doth the like if it be used in like manner 6. But before all these I prefer the decoction of Vervine and Plantane to bathe the place with CHAP. 11. Of the Priapismus THe Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard is a disease exceeding painful and dangerous proceeding usually from a superabundance of hot and moist windy vapors possessing the seminal vessels 2. Let such as are subject to this disease use cool and moist diet especially let them eat much Purslane and Lettice 3. Hemlock bound to the Privities presently asswageth the disease 4. Let such as are subject to this disease avoid all Venerial thoughts for nothing in the world stirs the body to action more then thoughts do CHAP. 12. To provoke the Tearms A Plaister made of Galbanum and applied to the Navel doth mightily provoke them 2. Herbs medicinal to provoke them are Calamint Penerial Betony Sage Marjoram Savory Mugwort c. 3. The powder of Calamint works very violently upon the Feminine parts and therefore a dram of it taken in white Wine every morning is a very probable remedy to provoke them onely have a special care you give it not to women with childe because it destroyes the fruit of her Womb. 4. One caution let me give you before I go any further whatsoever you give to provoke the Tearms give it the Moon encreasing and the nearer the full the better for you will finde it an Herculian task to bring them down in the Wane of the Moon especially in such as never yet had them 5. The root of a white Lilly roasted soft in the embers and stamped with Oyl and applâ—ed to the Matrix it mightily openeth the passages thereof and brings down not onely the Tearms but also the dead childe 6. A Pessary made of Wool dipped in the juyce of Sage is a very good remedy to provoke the Tearms and indeed so is Sage taken any way and it is very probable that the use of drinking Sage-Ale took its rise from hence 7. It is good to make a bathe of all such things as provoke the Tearms and having put it in a Close-stool let the diseased party sit over it 8. Cinnamon and Cassia Lignea provoke the Tearms exceedingly and would be more used were they not so common 9. Bitter Almonds stamped being first blanched and used as a Pessary not onely to provoke the Tearms but also cleanse the Womb of ill humours 10. Half a dram of the powder of Steel given in the morning in white Wine will bring them down 11. I knew once a young Virgin in Service in London who was broken out all about her body her face and all in rough bunches not much unlike those of the French Disease and she lay under that scandal that she had that disease I was sent for to see her and examining the matter found that she never had the Tearms I presently conceived that to be the cause and by administring onely such Medicines as provoke them cured her in a short time 12. Once I had a Patient aged about thirty a Widow in whom they were stopped by reason of grief and when I could provoke them no other way about the full of the Moon I advised her to drink a gallon of Posset drink made with white Wine in two hours time before she went to bed I think she drank a pottle at least within the time and the next day they came down the reason is clear CHAP. 13. To stop the Tearms BEfore I come to Medicines I thought good to give notice of this that those things which strengthen the Womb both provoke the Tearms when they are stopped and also stop them when they flow immoderately such be stinking Arrach Cinnamon Cassia Lignea c. 2. Therefore the extract of Arrach made into Pills with the powder of the same Herb is excellent good both to provoke them and also to stop them 3. If the cause of their immoderate flowing be some vein broken as sometimes it is then to take the syrup of Clounswound-wort inwardly is an excellent remedy 4. Neither do I think the syrup of Comfrey or
fore-part of all manner of beasts and fowls are more hotter and lighter of digestion then the hinder parts are The marrow of all beasts are hot and moist are nutritive if well digested they mollifie the stomach and take away the appetite wherefore one should eat Pepper with it The blood of all beasts and fowls are not wholesome but hard of digestion All the inwards of beasts and of fowls as the heart the liver the lungs tripes trilibubs with all the entrails is hard of digestion and doth encrease gross humors The fat of flesh is not so much nutritive as the lean it is best when lean and fat is mixt one with another The tongues of beasts are hard of digestion and of little nourishment The stones of a Cockrel and stones of other beasts are very nourishing Of roasted boiled bak't fried meats BEyond Sea at the Universities boiled meat is used at dinner and roast to supper as boiled meat is lighter of digestion Broiled meats are hard of digestion and naught for the Stone fried meat is harder of digestion then broiled it ingenders Choller and Melancholly Bak't meat buried in paste is not praised in Physick All manner of flesh which is inclined to humidity should be roasted and all flesh which is dry should be boiled Fish may be sod roasted broiled and baken every one after their kinde and use and fashion of the Countrey as the Cook and the Physician may agree and devise For a good Cook is half a Physician Of the Roots of Borage and Bugloss THe Roots of Borage and Bugloss sod tender and made in a succade do ingender good blood and a wholesom temperance Of Elisaunder and Elina Campane THe Root of Alisaunder sod tender and made in a succade is good for to destroy the Stone in the Reins of the Back and Bladder the Roots of Elina Campane sod tender in a succade is good for the breast for the lungs and for all the interial members of man Of Parsley and Fennel THe Roots of Parsley sod tender and made in succade are good for the Stone and to make a man piss Fennel sod is good for the lungs and the sight Of Turnips and Parsnips TUrnips boiled and eaten with flesh augments the seed if they be eaten raw and moderately they provoke a good appetite Parsnips sod doth encrease nature and are nutritive and expels urine Of Raddish and Carrets RAddish roots doth break winde and do provoke urine but they be not good for those which have the Gout Carrets sod augment and encrease nature and cause urine Of the Roots of Rapes RApe roots if they be well boiled nourish if they be moderately eaten immoderately they ingender ventosity and offend the stomach Of Onions ONions provoke to Venery and Sleep and if a man drink sundry drinks they rectifie and reform the variety of the operation of them they cause a good appetite Of Leeks LEeks open the breast and provoke urine cause and encrease bad blood Of Garlick GArlick of all roots is much used in France and some other Countreys it opens the breast and it doth kill wormes in the belly which the Lumbrici Ascarides and Cutuibicini which are small little long worms that tickle in the fundament it also heats the body and desolves gross winds Of Cabbage CAto in his book De re rustica writes too highly in praise of Cabbages as he judges them to be a sufficient medicine against all diseases some are of opinion if they are eat raw before meat with Vinegar that they preserve the stomach from Surfeits and the brain from drunkenness this I am certain of that if they are constantly eat they injure the sight except the eyes are very moist they cause and break winde the opinion of most writers is that they are not so wholesom as Lettice being hot in the first and dry in the second degree Of Asparagrass NO kinde of Herbs nourish more being freed from their bitterness and eaten hot they are temperately moist and exceed not in heat the first degree they increase Venery strengthen the Liver and help conception Of Musk Melons MUsk Melons are not so moist or cold as the ordinary sort of Melons are they ingender better blood and descend more speedily into the belly fruits of this kinde are dangerous not to be eaten presently out of the ground but rather let them lie a week though that they are ripe that there watrish moisture may be abated Garden Pompeons and Melons may lie in a warm Kitching till Christmas Of Potata Roots POtata roots nourish mightily either Sod Bak't or rosted the newest and heaviest are the best they ingender much flesh blood and seed Of Raddishes RAddishes cause rank belchings are hardly digested they burn the blood ingender Lice cause Leanness spoil the eye-sight and corrupt the whole mass of nourishment Of Skirret Roots SKirret Roots have a long string within them which taken away before they are sod makes them eat exceeding sweet they are of a milde and temperate nature agreeing with complexions did we know all the vertues of them they would be more nourished then they are in our Gardens Of Borage and Bugloss BOrage doth comfort the heart ingender good blood and causeth mirth so doth Bugloss which is taken of more vigour strength and efficacy Of Artechokes and Rokat THere is nothing usually to be eaten of Artechokes but the heads of them when they are almost ripe sodden tender in the broth of Beef or with Beef eat them at dinner they increase nature and provoke Venery Rokat doth increase the seed stumulate the flesh and doth help digestion Of Succory and Endive SUccory doth help the Stomach and keep the head in temper and qualifie Choller Endive is good for them which have hot and dry hot Stomachs Of white Beets and Purslane WHite Beets are good for the Liver and for the Spleen are abstercine Purslane doth abate the ardor of lasciviousness and mittigates heat in the inward parts of the head and eyes if preserved in brine it heats and purges the stomach it is cold in the third degree and moist in the second Of Time and Parsley TIme breaketh the Stone desolves winde and causeth Urine Parsley breaks the Stone causeth Urine is good for the Stomach and causeth a sweet breath Of Lettice and Sorrel LEttice extincts Venery causeth milk in womens Breasts it is good for a hot Stomach provokes sleep increases blood temperates it Sorrel is good for a hot Liver and also for the Stomach being sod it looseth the belly in the time of the Plague taken fasting sucking or chewing some of the Leaves it preserues against infection the seeds thereof brewed and drunk with Wine and water are good against the Chollick and the stopping of Fluxes excellent against overcharged Stomachs Sorrel possets are soveraign in sundry distempers This Herb is cold in the third and dry in the second degree Of Marigolds MArigolds the Herb and Flowers are of great use with us amongst other
accompanied with a loathing of meat frequent belchings and extream pains in the Reins The cause of this Stone is a gravelly and sandy constitution and immoderate heat of the Kidneys for the most part of a gross and slimy humor Those that are troubled with this Disease are loose bodied and do often vomit this Disease in old men is hardly cured The air where the Patient lives must be clear and bright his diet moderate he may drink small Wine he must avoid exercise his belly must be kept loose he may sleep more then ordinary his minde being free from perturbations Of thickness of Hearing SUch men as cannot understand a loud voice such men we say are deaf sometimes the cause of this effect is in it self sometimes by accident when as the Brain or Nerve through which this faculty is conveighed is hurt This Disease is known by the Patients complaints and answers this Disease is sometimes caused by the distemper of the Brain by gross or cold humors thrust into the ears and there fastned this Disease if it slowly increase in process of time brings with it an incureable deafness The air for the Patient to live in must be hot and dry he is to abstain as much as may be from meat especially from those that breed gross vapors his drink must be small Wine his exercise moderate his belly kept loose by art or nature Of Madness MAdness or Fury is an inflamation of melancholly to the great fierceness and alienation of the mind Such as have this Disease rage like beasts Madness differs from a Phrenzie as a Feaver is the companion of a Phrenzie from which madness is free the part affected is the Brain which doth appear by the hurt of the principal functions of the minde The signs of this disease are various sometimes laughing singing then sad fearful rash doating crying out threatning skipping leaping then serious c. This Disease doth chiefly arise from the distemper of the Brain from hot or melancholly humors so much sometimes dried up as to turn to black Choller sometimes by yellow Choller over-burnt or the boiling of the blood Young persons are most subject to it it is an ill sign if the Patient have no stomach a good if Ulcers arise in the face The air the person lives in must be temperate his diet liquid broths and moistners of the body his drink Barley-water by no means Wine except his disease came by fear moderate exercise more then usual sleep strangers must not see him Of Shortness of Breathing CAlled the Asthma it is a thick and a fast breathing without a Feaver such as is usual to them which run this disease often pestreth the Patient so that he cannot breath except he hold his neck streight up and if he lies down it almost choaks him in this distemper the Wind-pipes branches scattered into the Lungs distance are affected The Patient in this distemper findes a heaviness at his breast and feels a straitness and shrinkings coughs often and voids nothing in old men this disease is never cured hardly in young men The air the Patient breaths must be hot and dry he must forbear such meat as breed gross and slimy matter his exercises must be little his sleeps in the day time those in the night very moderate his mind not perturbed Of the Worms THis disease is for the most part caused by the stopping of the passages of the vessels through which the Gall is conveyed from the Liver and Spleen into the Bowels by reason of gross humors which do heat the Liver and generate plenty of Gall therein these Worms which do breed in the Bowels are called Lumbrici or Belly Worms there are others which are called Ascarides like to Mites which breed in rotten Cheese It is evident that Worms are of several kindes as they breed in many parts of the body in rotten Ulcers in Teeth in Ears and Kidneys but the Guts are for the most affected Those that are troubled with the Ascarides have an extream itch in their fundament and narrow Guts have a desire to go often to the stool after they have voided somewhat they are not so much troubled The cause of worms commonly is rottenness or gross Phlegmy and slimy matter apt to corrupt with a putrefying heat which accompanies all these which doth prepare this matter and then it is wrought by the perfusion of natural heat which gives life to the Worms many persons of age and stature have slighted the Worms till their Guts have been fretted and brought into danger of death For the remedy the air must be temperate the meat such as breed good Juyce Let the Patient eat largely or else the Worms will gnaw their Gutts for wants of sustenance the excrements of the Belly must be kept loose Of the Plague THe Plague is caused by unusual and pernicious putrefaction sometimes the constitution of the body is so different from the natural temperature that it is altogether changed into a pernicious and poysonous quality This disease is sometimes caused by corrupt and poysonous exhalations by Carrion by the evil influence of the Stars which is then the immediate hand of God and properly called the pestilence when it proceeds from outward causes 't is called a pestilent Feaver or the Plague the air infected first gets into the heart the air being subtle thin and apt to get into the pores it first infects the Genital Spirits then the Radical Moisture at last the whole substance of the body This disease first begins to discover it self by the Patients unquietness loss of his appetite the members dull and heavy the head aking the stomach pained the spirits decayed strength failing especially the Vital with many other Symptomes except the disease be supernatural and then the signs are so gentle that they can scarcely be perceived the infected air which is a great cause doth not onely weaken the humors and spirits of the body but also the sollid substance of the heart The Plague of all other diseases is most dangerous for although the signs are good yet suddenly the Patient dies the danger is the greater if no Pushes or Carbuncles break forth it is also as dangerous if they break and run in again this disease is consummated and brought to its full ripeness in four and twenty hours if a cold sweat arise on the body the face and eyes look black the spirits are cast down extraordinarily and the Patients excrements that are voided diversly coloured it is a sign of death The air must be rectified by sweet perfumes every day they must not be spared At the beginning of the disease the diet must be cooling the sleep short for by long sleeping the corrupt matter turns again to the heart Venery must be eschewed the belly kept loose and the minde freed from all careful perturbations Catarracta or Suffusion IS when the sight is by little and little dulled by a slimy humor frozen from Ice and droping over the eyes
must receive the dregs of blood and his more earthy and impure parts This Disease so stops the Midriff that it cannot be raised up or thrust down when it should serve for breathing whereby great sighings are caused in the sleep as also great difficulty of breathing The part affected is the Spleen which may be perceived by the loading pain in the Spleens region This Disease is plainly discerned by the loading pain in the Spleens region and by reason of the plenty of matter This Disease is for the most part caused by melancholly humors which are the dregs of the blood and are caught into the Spleen by the dregs of the body and there remain for a long time or else are caused because the Veins of the body do flow with such melanchollick blood at the first whilest the tumor is increasing the cure may be performed but if it be once ripened it is incurable The air the patient lives in must be clear and bright his meat must be such as hath an opening force that is soon concocted and breeds good blood his diet must be sparing his exercise before meat his sleep moderate and his minde pleased Of the Lethargy THe Lethargy called Lethargia is such a necessity of sleeping as cannot by any means be avoided or it is an oblivious Disease caused by a cold imposthume of the brain the substance thereof being affected chiefly the hinder part but not the ventricles as may appear by the offended functions of the brain It is such a Disease whereby Reason Memory and the Imaginations of the other Senses are annoyed in this Disease as hath been said an urgent necessity of oblivion with sleeping doth possess the Patient together with a lingring and continual Feaver The causes of this Disease proceed from a cold and a moist distemper of the brain and abundance of phlegmy humors so putrefied that they bring a Feaver with them This Disease speedily kills the Patient if it be not met withal in time for the space of seven dayes he is in danger of death if he escape them there are hopes of recovery The air he lives in must be hot and dry if otherwise it may be rectified with Juniper-wood Rosemary and Bay-leaves his diet must be such as may extenuate his sleep must be hindered as much as may be with pricking and pulling of his â—air or with smoak of Brimstone Beaver-stone Galbanum Sagapenum placed under his Nose that he may be forced to draw it up his Nostrils to which pupose his Nose must be rubbed and chafed with Vinegar the excrements of his body must be brought down with a Glister or Suppository instead of exercise frictions and ligatures of the exterior parts viz. the hands and feet must be used Of the Yellow Jaundies THe Yellow Jaundies called Icteritia is an effusion sometimes of yellow Choller sometimes black sometimes both over the whole body and this is incident to Maids also this chollerick blood is spread over the whole body with the blood because the excrements are not daily or not at all voided In this disease the same place or part is not alwayes affected for sometimes the Liver is in fault when it is too hot or else imposthumed and then both the Urine and the Stool are stained with a yellow colour Sometimes the Feaver doth concur with a certain pain in some obscure place of the Liver whereby the colour of the face is changed sometimes the bladder of the gall is affected and then heaviness is felt in the right side of the Heart-walls This Disease is manifested to the eyes by the colour the Patients appetite is diminished a bitterness increases in his mouth because of heat and yet for the most part it is without a Feaver but looseness and Head-ache of the body ensue the Urine is like to Saffron also muddy and thick and sometimes it is stopt the excrements are white if the bladder of the galls passage is stopt little is voided and that little by little and little This Disease comes sometimes by encrease of Choller through the Livers too hot distemper for hereby such store of Choller is generated that the Gall cannot contain it sometimes this Disease is caused by the Inflamation of the whole Liver in which case the whole body is stained with gally excrements by reason of the great heat of the blood If this Disease continue long it threatens the danger of a Dropsie The air the Patient lives in must be temperate his diet such as may cool moisten and extenuate the humors and easie of digestion such as binde and multiply Choller are to be avoided Baths and Frictions in the Winter time are good his exercise is to be small his sleep moderate his excrements voided in due season his minde is to be furnisht with pleasing objects Of Giddiness or the Vertigo GIddines is a Disease whereby the head and all other parts of the body seem to be turned circularly about so disturbing the brains and senses that the Patient oft tumbles down unless he be held up by some stay near at hand This Disease is of near kin to the Falling-sickness onely herein they differ that the giddy party is not deprived of his senses neither is he burried this way and that way as Convulsions afflict their Patients The chief part affected is the Brain which doth appear by the functions which are hurt for the animal faculty is grieved but the brain is affected the Head-ache the forerunner a heaviness and dulness thereof with an annoyance of smell and taste and a ringing in the ears A sign of this Disease is that the Patient cannot endure those that turn about in their sight being so depraved that all things seem to turn round This Disease is caused by the abundance of spirits and boiling blood if it be not voided at the Nose when it is ready to run out this Disease is also caused by crude raw venemous humors often generated in the head or in some of the inferiour parts especially in the stomach If this Giddiness lasts long it is next to an Apoplexy and Falling-sickness The air the Patient remains in should be temperate bright and clear his diet such as breeds good juyce pleasing to the stomach and not windy his exercise and sleep moderate for the head the voiding of his excrements if they come not from him naturally must be furthered by art his minde in no case to be disturbed Of the Palsie THe Palsie called Paralysis is depriving of senses and motion not in the whole body as in an Apoplexy but when one side or all parts of the body under the head or any other limb is deprived of sense or motion as the Jaw Hand Lip Feet Arm. It also falls out that some part is deprived of the sensitive faculty the motive faculty not being hurt Contrarywise the motive dies when as the sensitive is found sound sometimes it happens that sense or motion is not quite taken away but onely was