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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	cause_v	disease_n	humour_n	1,824	5	8.2513	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11334	Opiologia: or, A treatise concerning the nature, properties, true preparation and safe vse and administration of opium For the comfort and ease of all such persons as are inwardly afflicted with any extreame griefe, or languishing paine, especially such as depriue the body of all naturall rest, and can be cured by no other meanes or medicine whatsoeuer. Dedicated to the illustrious, high and mighty lords, the estates generall of the vnited prouinces in the Netherlands. By Angelus Sala Vincentinus Venitus. And done into English, and something inlarged by Tho. Bretnor. M. M.	Sala, Angelus, 1576-1637.; Bretnor, Thomas, fl. 1607-1618, tr., ed.	1618 (1618)	STC 21594; ESTC S101645	41,817	118

members suffocation of natural● heate and death in the end But although I cannot like a cunning Logician frame sophisticall Syllogismes or giue such luster to my reasons as many would doe which take greater pleasure in the Flo● of words then in the veritie and realitie o● things notwithstanding if it be lawfull for meere Naturalists in plaine and simple termes to discourse of such things whereof they haue sufficient experience I may vnder correction of those which know these things better then my selfe deliuer my opinion also Opium then is not such a colde thing as they would haue it as I can proue both by reason and experience by reason in regard it is not onely bitter but inflaming and excoriatiue which are euident tokens of its hot qualitie and complexion for so the wisest Physitions in the world iudge of bitter things and the light of Nature it selfe teacheth vs that none of the foure elements doe corrode in●lame or heate but that of fire Againe its nature is knowne by its colour for being of a darkish yellow when it is dryed and powdered it must needs be hot as Aloes and Myrrhe and all things of like colour be especially if they haue any bitter tast adioyned By experience wee may well approue that Opium is not cold in two respects first that when the Turkes eate thereof they become cheerefull couragious and fierce in warre secondly that when one giueth two or three graines thereof to any sick person and couer him warme in his bed it will make him sweate more then any other Diaphoreticke which operations can by no meanes proceed from any cold qualitie it hath But if a man should obiect amongst both these reasons saying first the Turkes being of a hot constitution and liuing in a hot clime become more faint-hearted and cowardlike then those of colder temperatures and therefore Opium tempering that heate maketh him more frolicke and cheerefull accidentally secondly that if a man giue but a cup-full of cold water onely to a sicke man to drinke it will questionlesse make him sweate c. Whereunto I answere that if the Turkes doe acquire force and courage by tempering their heate with cold things they might very well spare that great labour and toyle they take in sowing their Poppie and gathering their Opium seeing that spring and riuer-water might stand them in as great stead being a cold liquor and dispiercing it selfe into all parts of the body as soone as it is drunke but it is so farre short of Opium in quickening the spirits and raysing the courage that it worketh quite contrary effects And whereas they affirme that a cup of water which is apparantly cold will cause any sicke person to sweate I answere that if it cause one that is in a Feuer or pestred with some other hot disease to sweate as many times it doth it proceeds not from any Diaphoreticall or sweating qualitie inherent in it but commeth to passe rather per antiperistasim and accidentally for like as water cast vpon a hot Anuile or burning stone immediately rayseth vp vapours and fumes ●uen so doth water giuen to such a bodie which after condensation nature either expelleth by vrine or sweate nor hath it this operation in all diseases or tempratures whence it is manifest that water naturally cannot procure sweate but by accident onely as is said Now let vs returne to their arguments which goe about to proue that Opium is cold in respect it prouoketh sleepe thickneth the humours and taken too liberally causeth daungerous Symptomes and doubtfull euents which reasons I affirme are of no force in this behalfe for first as Opium prouoketh sleepe to all those which are afflicted with hot diseases so doth it also prouoke the same in all other causes without exception yea although they bee of different qualities as witn●sseth Auicen and others who haue diligently noted the same and as for the humours Opium doth not onely incrafsate and thicken th●se which are of a hot qualitie but those also which are coldest of all as that white and christalline humour which floweth and distilleth from the braine vnto the other parts whence it appeareth that a man cannot produce such a necessarie consequence of the operation of Opium as those men goe about to doe for it we were tyed of necessitie to adhere and stand to the sence of the former arguments it would consequently follow that all colde things would procure sleepe to the diseased where no other thing could effect the same Item that they onely appeased all inward grieses incrassed euery humour hot cold or how s●btill socuer and in briefe had the very same vertues that Opium before is described to haue whereas ou the contrarie part no hot things could effect the same but experience proueth it farre otherwise for if Quick-siluer the Magisterie of Lead compared to Saturne Salt-peter or Allome salts of a cold temprature or the water de Sper Ran which is thought to coagulate or congeale the bloud by its extreame frigidi●ie if none of these I fay perform those effects which Opium doth nor Ice nor Snow themselues rationally administred in neuer so large a dose can procure sleepe or cease paines but rather for the most part cause more vehement fits Yet I will not deny that cold things may sometimes and vpon some occasions procure rest though not alwaies when neede is nor so surely at any time as Opium well prepared And as for hot things they are for the most part so farre from causing disquietnesse to mens bodies or subtilizing grosse humours that quite contrary a man may finde many that will prouoke sleepe and thicken subtill and virulent humours rather and sooner then other of a colder qualitie as we may plainely perceiue by Mirrhe Aloes Storax Olibanum Worme-wood Betonie Safran and such other yea Sulphur it self the very fire of nature doth not onely prouoke sleepe in some reasonable measure but doth also in such wise coagulate and condense the subtill and hot humours that it auaileth much the Pthysicall in staying their defluxions and it is a thing most manifest amongst Spagirists that Sulphur can coagulate water wine or Aqua-vitae in such sort that a man may beate them to powder in a morter and after reduce them to that naturall forme they were in before I am not ignorant that a man may tell mee that things of a cold or hot nature doe worke diuersely in bodies according to the diuersitie of the subiect they light vpon as the fire which hardneth clay and softneth waxe and so of cold things in like manner that Opium being extreamely cold by that extremitie worketh in bodies where other things of an inferiour degree cannot in any wise but neither of the two reasons reach to the deapth of our dispute for first Opium the subiect of our discourse worketh not in mens bodies in this or that manner by election according to the diuersitie of their tempratures and complexions but doth indifferently prouoke sleepe and

of them in manner as followeth The Obiections 1 First that Laudanum being principally composed of Opium and still re●eyning its Somniferous propertie might consequently suffocate naturall heate and benum and stup●fie all the senses 2 Seeing Laudanum doth incrassate thicken the subtill humors it followed that although it did cease paine for the time yet afterwards it made the cause of the sicknesse malignant fixed and incurable 3 That it hath beene obserued that some sicke people haue died some few houres after the taking of Laudanū inconsideration wherof we should abstaine from its vse altogether The Answere Concerning the first obiection I am of opinion that if such men as goe about to propose any such thing would either giue place to the authority of great Physitions or experience-self both which assuring vs that c●ude Opium taken in small quantity neither suffocateth naturall hea●e nor dulleth the senses as hath beene already sufficiently proued in the beginning of this discourse they would neither blame nor so basely esteeme of it but suppose that a very smal Dose of crude Opium did produce such effects must it therefore doe the same when it is depriued of the superfluity of its narcotical Sulphur his Acrimonie corrected and after mixed with such Bezoardick and Cordiall things as aforesaid No man of iudgement or of any experience in the Mysteries of nature can deny that Opiū the principall ingredience or Basis of Laudanum being thus altered both in forme and substance becōmeth likewise changed in its vertues and operations and therefore can with no reason censure so hardly thereof as when it is crude And notwithstanding that Laudanū doth prouoke the diseased to sleepe yet daily experience teacheth vs that it doth not suffocate naturall heate but rather preserue it when it is about to consume and in danger to be suddainely extinct by reason of its violent motion extreame paines and extraordinary watching whereby it is as rudely handled as a lampe or burning-torch is in a mightie tempest which causeth a greater wasting of oyle and losse of light then it would doe if it were defended from such an accident 2 For the second obiection Laudanum is so farre from aggrauating impairing or making worse the causes of the disease by reason of its incrassating faculty that quite contrary it prepareth some offending humours and maketh them far more apt and easie to be expelled as in the 21. passage before cōcerning Gouts we haue something declared For is it not the consent and verdict of the best Physitions in the world that the preparation of humors before purgation doth chiefly consist in two operations that is in subtilizing and attenuating of those which are Viscouse thick and clammy and incrassating and thickning indifferently those which are too subtill virulent windy vagant in the body Now the greatest part of extreame paines and inward heates proceeding from some dissolued matter that is either salt sharpe or corroding or from such as doth excoriate inflame and alter the member affected whereby malignant vapors arise which passing vnto the adioyning parts doe by consent produce sūdry tormēts many euil accidents as by experience is manifest what better course can a man obserue then by meanes of Laudanum to thicken and digest the sayd humors sequestring consuming the aforesayd vapours in such sort that they can by no means exercise their cruelty as before And in case of superfluity if it be any waies requisite to be purged a man may doe it afterwards farre more warily and safely then in the former estate is not this represented to any mans vnderstanding by sundry outward vlcers which being inflamed and distilling from some subtill and corrosiue humour cause great Pricking Dolour and paines and oftentimes by consent a Feuer to the Patient so that the true remedie in such a case to take away such accidents is some excellent Anodyne which may mitigate and asswage that vnnaturall heate and suddenly ripen and indifferently thicken the offending humor which was so subtill and corrosiue which being done al other Symptomes cease whatsoeuer Laudanum then not onely producing these effects by its naturall propertie but also mundifying resisting putrifaction and healing and comforting the weakened parts as it were Balsame may by good consequence take away or extinguish the cause of many euill Symptomes rather then impaire and make them incureable for although it doth moderately incrassate yet notwithstanding it doth not coagulate the bloud nor fixe the substances which in their owne proper nature are liquid in stone nor soder or glue the parts together as Gypsum doth for which cause onely men should blame it in such maner as before 3 Thirdly we will not deny but that some sick person may chance to die soone after the receipt of Laudanum but that Lauda●um was the cause of their death that in regard therof its vse is vtterly to be abandoned and forsaken is the matter now in question First therefore it is very apparant by our former discourse that Laudanum is not a thing of such a venemous quality as will cause death to the receiuer for albeit the obseruation be true that some haue died soone after the taking thereof yet that ought not to supersede all other reasons attestations experience concerning the good effects and safe vse of Laudanum for as it is an absurd and foolish thing for a man to say ● did see certaine graines of Bezoar-stone Vnicornes-horne Pearles or such like pretious Cordials giuen to a sicke person who died not long after ergo that was the cause of his death and therf●re take heed of vsing any such thing hereafter or I saw one giue a Clister to such a sicke person who died soone after Ergo Clisters are dangerous remedies and ought not to be vsed as many simple people are accustomed to argue Euen so it is as absurd a thing to hold Laudanum in suspition because such a one tooke it after dy●d for although it doe principally and speedily cause all torments to cease and prouoke the diseased to sleepe yet that is no consequence that it can preserue a man from death when by God his secret decree his houre is come for neither that nor no other Medicine in the world can doe sleepe and exemption from paines are necessary things as well for sound as sicke men the one with distinction the other without all exception but that these two doe sometimes serue for the maintenance and strengthening of mans life and other sometimes are vnnecessary and of no vse this proceeds not through any fault in themselues but in nature which doth not receiue them for her owne good and benefit as other times she vseth to doe which thing is liuely represented vnto vs by the vse of meate drinke and all other things called Medicines not naturall which sometimes are good and profitable to the bodie and sometimes quite contrary euen as nature disposeth of them for our good or euill howsoeuer in themselues they

impart Thy secrets best to him thou art not coy That 's of an honest and a friendly heart What wight from such a one would euer part Witnesse thy bookes abroade and notes beside For which to thee some priuate friends are ti'd For what 's in Physick more to be desir'd Then knowledge how to vse a Medicine well What in that worthy art to be requir'd More then o' th vertue and safe vse to tell Wherein than others many dost excell For how to strengthen vomit sweat and rest Is taught by thee as well as by the best Let Carping Criticks that in corners lurke Blaspheme detract and vtter what they can Let some of them divulge me such a worke And I will say he quits him like a man If not I wish him hold his peace till then For sure I am that he that fault doth find Will come at least a bow and halfe behind THO. BETNOR M.M. Mod●s extrahendi papaueris succum AMong those powerfull guifts to man infus'd What better is thē knowledge of those plants Which for two thousand yeares were only vs'd As meate and sustinance to humaine Saints For neither flesh nor fish the Highe● gra●ts Till cataclismed world so weake wa● growne That fruit and hearbs could not suffice alone And yet we find in basest plants that grew 'Mongst those accompted weeds of witlesse men Such strange effects that farre surpasse we know The sence and reason of the learned'st pen More is the blindnesse of our nature then Witnesse the Poppie whereby Greeke and Turke By planting profit and do wonders worke T.B. M.M. OPIOLOGIA CHAPTER 1. The opinion of Ancient Physitions concerning the naturall proprietie and vertues of Opium OPIVM as ancient Physitions testifie and moderne confirme is a certaine iuyce or viscous liquor which one time of the yeares destilleth or ●sue●● from the tops of white or blacke Popp●e by me●nes of a little gash or incision made in the outtermost rind of them as witnesseth Discordes in his fourth booke of Simples Chap. 60. the which liquor after due condensation is reserued and layd vp for necessary vses as may not only appeare by the History aforesaid but by that of Peter Bellon hereafter recited Good Opium as Diescordes and other Ancient Physitions affirme is weightie and ponderous bitter in tast and is quickly dissolued in water it is smooth and whitish and not rugged or lumpish and being streined it doth not like waxe melt against the sun being kindled it causeth not a blackish flame and being quenched or put out it alwaies retaineth its naturall smell They vse many times to sophisticate or mixe Opium with Glaucium Gum or the iuyce of wild lettice but that which is sophisticated with Glaucium is easily discerned for being cut into small peeces it becommeth yellow in like manner if it be mixed with the iuyce of wild Lettice it becommeth more rugged and tart and hath little or no smell at all but if it be counterfeited with Gum it will be bright shyning in colour but weake in operation Opium taken crude and raw as asoresayd to the quantitie of an Orobus or wild Fitch appeaseth all Aches or paines helpeth digestion stayeth all Coughes and Destillations or Rheumes which fall from the braine into the stomack it is excellent against all kinde of Head-ach if the temples bee anointed and chaffed with the same and oyle of roses being dropped or instilled into the eares with the oyle of bitter Almonds Mirrhe and Saffran it healeth and recouereth Hearing and the sooner being applied with the yolke of an egge hard rosted in the imbers it auaileth much against inflammation of the eyes and being mixed with vinegar is very good against Saint Anthonies fire and healeth olde vlcers with saffran and womans milke it is singular in gouts and being mixed with Supposatories it prouoketh sleepe Diagoras Aetius and Mnesidemus disproue and finde fault with the vsage of Opium in the diseases afore-named by reason of its stupefactiue qualitie but Diescordes affirming the lawfull vse thereof maintaineth the contrary and proueth their opinion to bee idle and false seeing that the propertie of Opium is quite of another operation yet hee ingeniously else-where confesseth that the indiscreet and super●●uous vsage thereof produceth no small detriment to the patient making him fall into a Lethargie whereby death commonly insues the which he further confirmeth in his sixth Booke and seuenteeth Chapter of Poysons and their remedies where hee reckoneth vp the Symptomes which it causeth in those bodies which haue eaten too much thereof Nicander and Aetius haue written of the great annoyances that come thereby and Gallen also in his second and third bookes D● Comp. Med. describeth Opium to bee a daungerous Medicine saying that it mortifieth the senses and causeth deadly Symptomes in regard whereof hee wisheth that no man should vse it vnlesse his Patient bee in danger of death through the extremitie of his paine and hereunto assenteth Plinie and diuers others notwithstanding there bee no small number of moderne Physitions quite of another minde The cause of those dangerous effects and Symptomes which crude Opium by its too much vse is said to procure is attributed to its exceeding coldnesse for most Physitions hold that it is not vnfitly ranged among things that are cold in the fourth degree A Small Tract of Opium taken out of the 13 Booke and 15 Chapter of Peter Bellon his Historie of the singularities of some memorable things found in Greece Asia and other Countries A Man can hardly find saith hee any thing more worthy of obseruation then Opium which they prepare now a daies in Turkie and especially at Achara Carachara Spartade Emetelinde and in other Cities bordering vpon Cappadocia Paphlagonie and Cilicia They sow their fields with white Poppie as we do with corne and are so circumspect in the sowing thereof that euery Paysant or Husbandman shall sow no more then he can procure people to gather the same in due time for when the Poppie is growne to be headed they cut a small hole or make incision therein whence issueth forth certaine milkish drops which they suffer to thicken or congeale some one of these Peasa●ts will gather may chance ten pounds another sixe another more or lesse according to the number of people hee sets aworke for it bootes nothing to sow a great deale of ground vnlesse he can get people enough to gather it Wee verily beleeue that vnlesse the Turkes vsed it much themselues it would be as vnusually vended among Merchants as other vnknowne drugges are but it is so common among thē that there is not a Turke but buyethmore or lesse thereof for if he be worth but an Asper in all the world hee will bestow halfe thereof in Opium and carry the same at all times about as well in Peace as Warre A certaine Iewish Merchant of the country of Natolia assured vs that there passed no yeares wherein there were not fiftie Camels laden out of Paphlagonia

ingenerall become not only more able bodied and stronger thereby but also more apt and able to eate and digest diuers things which the tender and nice Christians cannot iudure and that the truth is so Let vs but consider a little the difference of naturall toughnes and strength betweene a Christian Paysant or Carle here amongst vs and a Gentleman or Citizen do not we see I pray you that the Paysant can more easily indure a purgation made of White Hellebore Tithymalls Euphorbium or Colocynthis which are accompted violent and venemous Medicines then these tender sparkes aforesayd can brooke Rheubarbe Mechoacan Sena Aloes or the Damaske rose But why the Turkes deuoure Opium on this fashion ought rather to be imputed vnto an ordinarie custome and common vsage among them then to any other cause whatsoeuer euen as the Indians are accustomed to take Tobacco which is a plant not onely Narcoticke and stupefactiue but of a violent and extreame vomitiue quality also Notwithstanding we see that Christians all Europe ouer by little and little haue brought themselues into such a custome and habit thereunto that they feele no alteration or preiudice at all as they thinke by the vse thereof I make no question but a man might finde a number of people among Christians that if they cannot alreadie could easily accustome themselues to eate Opium as familiarly as they take Tobacco although they could not vse ●t in such quantitie nor so often in regard it is a pure essence and extract which Nature hath seperated from its plant For essentiall things are alwaies farre more effectuall then grosse bee for confirmation whereof we neede not doubt that if a man should separate the rosinous and sulphurous substance of Tobaccao and bring it into such a consistence as Opium is and afterwards giue it vnto such as vsually take Toba●co they could not possibly indure the tenth part so much of this as of the leaues as hath beene alreadie practised and tried There be some Empericks I know which giue crude Opium to their Patiens in as great or greater quantitie at a time then Discorides hath limitted and that without any great daunger or hazard of life at all onely correcting it a little with the powder of Caraway-seed and in case of necessitie I my selfe would not sticke or make any scruple to vse it yea I durst if neede were take two or three graines thereof at a time my selfe for although I neuer did eate thereof hitherto indeed yet haue I often tasted the same and also receiued great quantitie of the sulphurous vapours both into my stomacke and head in time of the preparation thereof without any perceiuance or the least touch of any offence in the world neuerthelesse it is not my counsell that any Physition should vse it crude in this maner seeing we haue Art and meanes to prepare it otherwise The second assurance that wee haue concerning the vse of Opium is in that wee finde and see that the most expert and wisest Physitions of olde found it good and therefore prescribed this Medicine as a principall ingredient and as one of the most important bases in their chiefest compositions Alexiteries Diaphoretickes Anodynes Cordialls which naturally resist the most grieuous and violent diseases that can any waies happen to humaine bodies for which cause they vsually call them Opiate Confections as that of their Tre●cle of Andromachus their Mithridate of Danocrates their Triphera magna Aurea Alexandrina Philomuim romanum Requies Nicholai and others which they haue vsed as principall Medicines for these many hundred yeares and yet doe for they are indeed the most pretious and necessarie compositions their ordinarie Apothecaries haue The causes which moued Ancient Physitions to put Opium vnto the foresayd confections are not few seeing that its properties are to asswage all inward paines strengthē the passages conduits which are open loose disbanded precipitate disperse and consume these venemous vapours which are raised from one part to another incrassat and thicken al subtill corros●ue humors by correcting their malignitie and acrimonie stop and stay all fluxes as well Dysenterick as Menstruall appease and extinguish all extremities in burning Feuers prouoke naturall rest and sleepe to Distressed and Lunaticke persons and finally like a Balme defend the partes from corruption which operations and effects are required in all compositions which are generally ordayned to resist the violence of diuerse diseases in appeasing and repelling whereof some of these properties before named are ordinarily desired as Quercetanus in his Pharmacop●a intreating of the vetues of Opium affirmeth in these wordes saying Pauci en●m sunt morbi qui non simul complacentur vel ardoribus vel inflammationibus vel inquietudinibus commotiomibus la●guoribus oppressionibus vigilijs de●luxionibus vel var●● generis doloribus capitis pectoris ventricul● ventris vel cu●scunque alterius Patris ad quorum omnium Symptomatum ferociam compescendam Opium specificam peculiarem quandam habet proprietatem qua vel vnum exhis Symptomatis seorsim vel plura cum malo coniuncta Simul cum admirabili astantium ipsorum aegrorum admiratione euincit ac subigit vnde saepeumerò in e●usmodi casibus tam mirandos sanationum effectus prodere videmus Theriacam Muhridatium Antidotos Esdrae similes quae Opium exciiunt c. For there bee very few diseases which are not either accompained with heates inflammations inquietude preturbation languishing oppressions watching fluxes c. for mitigating and ●epressing of which Symptomes Opium hath a specificall and a certaine peculiar proprietie c. And this may serue to assure vs that wee may boldly vse Opium inwardly without any preiudice to life yea rather for its better conseruation being administred with iudgement and discretion as all other Medicines whatsoeuer ought to be CHAP. III. Concerning the good and euill affects which Opium may produce in mens bodies THat Opium as aforesaid being wisely administred to the diseased produceth in them many good effects and contrariwise abused exciteth diuers dangerous and mortall accidents is in no sort doubted among discreet Physitions but touching the cause why Opium doth worke these effects in mens bodies is disputable for most Physitions impute it to that extremitie of the fourth degree of coldnesse wherewith it is endowed and for proofe and confirmation hereof they produce an argument drawne from the effects of its operation in this manner Opium say they prouoketh a vigilant or watchfull man to sleepe and incrasseth thin and subtill humours vigilancie then proceeding for the most part from a hot and drie cause with matter or without and the dissolution also of the humours from the like distemprature Opium therefore contrarying and impugning the causes of these effects must needes bee of the qualitie aforesayd and for the further confirmation hereof they alledge Galen Plini● and others who in like manner witnesse that when Opium is vndiscreetly vsed it causeth Lethargicke sleepe priuation of sense stupe● faction of

in my Laudanum then you see not onely because I find the foresayd tincture of Gold to bee as sufficient and auaileable as all the rest but for some other rationall considerations which here I spare to speake of 5 And for the Amber-grise put therein I neuer knew any woman troubled with the suffocation of the Mother feele any manifest nuisance alteration or offence thereby ●s some imagine but if any man doubt therof let him but onely touch the Pill intended ●o be giuen vpon such occasion with a little ●yle of Charabes or Amber These are the Laudanums or Opiating ●ompositions which I haue bin contented to describe in this booke which indeed are all ●ery good and excellent in their operations ●lthough they differ something one from another in composition and diuersitie of ingrediences yet the principal base common to them all is meerely Opium The reason why I ●aue not set downe the preparation of this Medicine in so ample and plaine a maner and forme as euery particular Reader might desire to make himselfe Master of the Mysterie is in regard I would not wrong any priuate person who by his great ●abour cost and industrie hath purchased and gotten a more peculiar interrest therein as hauing sufficient vnderstanding knowledge and experience in the whole Art of Physick For although I am willing to make euery man that shall read this Treatise acquainted with the vtilitie and profit which may redound and accrew by the vse of such a Medicine yet is it not my intention for all that to giue occasion to many presumptuous persons which rashly and without any true ground other then their owne priuate gain● making practise in Physicke will take in hand with a thing of so great consideration and importance as Laudanum is And this is the reason also wherefore I doe so freely admonish and counsell euery one that loues his owne life or the preseruation of his health more then the sparing of a sew scald pence not to take this Medicine for any inward vse at any mans hand but onely of such as haue good knowledge therein and will faithfully communicate the same not giuing quid for quo as some vnworthy Mercenaries doe who commonly gape after their owne benefit and commodite rather then the good and safetie of their sick patient Furthermore I am not ignorant though a man may finde many Spagirists vaunting and bragging they haue this and that La●danum and other excellent Anodynes composed without any Opium at all some saying they can make Laudanum with mixtion only of certaine Cordialls others would make the world beleeue they haue a certaine embrionated Sulphur of Vitriall which is a most rare pretious medicine and Somniferous Anodyne but these are nothing but vaine ostentations seeing that without Opium or some other things of equiualen● and semblable faculties it is impossible for ●ny man to prepare any generall true or cer●aine Anodyne how be it I deny not but by permixtion of certaine things differing one ●rom another in tast smel and qualitie a man may compose a handsome counterfeit Lauda●um seeing that I my selfe can prepare such a Medicine of Nutmegs Mace Myrrhe Saf●ron Amber Maske Aqua-vita Quintessence of Sulphur c. without any Opi●● the onely smell whereof will prouoke sleepe and being administred will appease diuers griefes yet for all that it is nothing so generall or auaileable an Anodyne that it may be compared in any sort with that prepared of Opium or if it were a man might doubtlesse make as great scruple to take that as the other for if Opium can indanger the body by its naturall som●iferous qualitie why should not another Aromaticall Cordiall do the same which by art hath acquired the like facultie Moreouer concerning the foresayd sulphurous Anodyne although Paracelsus tells wonders of such a one in the seuenth Chap. of his booke De re● natur wherein he discourseth of diuers minerall Sulphurs it is so ingeniously with Crollius I confesse that I neuer saw any such medicine for hauing try●d conclusions and wrought long time vpor Vitrioll I could neuer perceiue it had any such substance in it which had like operation to that of Opium as I haue plainely manifested in my booke intituled Anatomia Vitriol● divulged fiue yeares since in regard wherof those are much deceiued which by meanes of its precipitation with salt of Tartar by boyling in an yron pot or by meanes of sublimation doe separate a greenish powder from Vitriol calling it Sulphur ●mbryonatum Vitriol● which being put to Vulcans Test a man may quickly find it to be nothing but Copper or being administred altereth the stomack and rather prouoketh vomit then either comfort or disposition to sleepe it is therefore apparant that Paracelsus intēded some other thing in this proiect then he vouchsafed to discouer to vs. Hence you may behold the reasons wherfore we ought not to mis-prise and vilipend certaine things for vncertain but content our selues with the aforesayd Laudanums or such like with thankesgiuing to the Author of all goodnesse not suffering our vnderstandings to bee abused by the vaine florishes or idle fantasies of any other CHAP. IX Concerning the vertues and vse of all opiating Laudanums aswell in generall as particular HAuing alreadie set downe the manner how to prep●●e Opium well and to make excellent compositions thereof called Laudanums it behoueth vs now to declare their vertues and vse for the better direction and aduertise●ent to them which shall haue occasion to vse the same The properties of euery Laudanum which is well prepared and corrected as beforesayd are principally sixe 1 The first is to giue ease or to cease all inward paines proceeding of what cause soeuer and that at all times and to all persons without exception of what complexion temprature age or constit●tion of bodie soeuer onely hauing regard to the Dose and other circumstances which are requisit for the Physition to obser●e 2 To prouoke those to sleepe which are destitute thereof by reason of any corporall disease or alteration of spirit which things it effecteth without dulling or benumming the senses weakning the members constipating the bodie or producing any euill accidents at all in them as other Somniferous things doe which are naturally cold and il prepared 3 To stop all vehement subtill and corroding Cathurrous distillations falling from the braine vpon the lower parts thickening them by little and little strenthening the braine and repressing the grosse vapors which rise from the stomacke vpwards which are ordinarily the causes of such defluxions 4 To stay naturally the Haemorrhagie dyssenterie and menstruall fluxes as also the Dyarrhaea and fluxe of the belly proceeding frō the great distemprature of inward heate or some sharpe and biting humour 5 To consummate and cease all burning Feuers and praeternaturall heate proceeding from any wound or vlcer or frō the fermentation or ripening of any cholerick humor or any causticke or venemous matter 6 To roborate and strengthen the bowels and all

the relaxed and feeble conduits and those whose vertue retentiue is weakened by reason of some long sicknesse or by the too much vse of purgatiue medicines Laudanum is more particularly vsed with good successe in these diseases following 1 Against all maner of head-ach as inueterate Megrims Cephalalgia or any other kind of excessiue paine hauing regard that the stomacke bee first clensed from all grosse and corrupt humours the Dose is one small Pill to bee taken at bed-time some two houres after supper either in the water or syrrup of sweet Maioran B●tony or some other Cephalick liquor as the Physitions shall thinke good or otherwise a man may take it in ale or broth or swallow it dry as it is continuing the same as long as need shall require that is vntill the paine be so tamed that Laudanum is needlesse which order must be obserued in all other diseases wherein it is vsed 2 Against all subtill Catarrhons Destillations which fall from the braine vnto the eyes teeth or eares or vpon the inferiour parts as the lungs brest stomack c. wherein Laudanum is vsed as aforesaid keeping the Patients head in the meane time neither too hot nor too cold nor suffering him to drink any wine stale beere or other strong drinke as also to forbeare eating of mustard garlick onions all spices and other things of a hot and drie qualitie which further and prouoke too much the foresaid distillation If it bee conuenient to open the body you must vse no other purgatiue then that of Aloes washed in rose-water and thickned with the iuice of Rheubarb Manna Syrrupe of Roses or with a conuenient Clister which indeed is much better for all other kind of purgatiue dry and attractiue medicines are very dangerous in such accidents 3 Against all paines of the eares with noise and flatulent tingling be it by reason of certaine wind inclosed in the braine or of any other vapours arising from the stomack this medicine is best taken in the water of Fennel Sage or a little white wine going to bed as aforesayd 4 Against the ayrie Epilepsie I speake vnto Naturalists whose sits happen with great ebullition of bloud and afflict the Patient with an Haemorrhagic and great head-ach we vse to giue Laudanum in the water of Paeonie wild Poppy or other appropriat liquor before or after the fit and this must be giuen once euery quarter of the Moone in the morning before Sun-rise causing the patient to keepe a good diet and to bee let bloud in due season and oportunity 5 Against tooth-ach caused through any hot and subtill destillation we vse to dissolue a little Laudanum in Vinegar a few drops whereof the sicke patient must take and hold in his mouth a while and after spit it out and so take more and more in that fashion vntill the paine cease 7 To those which cannot sleepe by any means we commonly giue a little La●danum with a spoon-ful of the water of Hypericon or Balme some twice or thrice a weeke as long as need shall require 7 To those which haue any great fluxe of bloud at the nose or mouth after due inquisition of the precedent cause to the end Phlebotomie Cupping-glasses or other means for revulsion-sake may be vsed which taking no effect we should instantly giue the patient a little Laudanum in the water of Plaintaine bursa pastoris Tormentill or rather as most effectuall in Aqua spermatis ranarum per descensum distillat And if the bloud issue from the nose we put a little lint therein that is soaked in the sayd water and Laudanum mixed and also apply some dipped therein to the fore-head by meanes whereof the flux will immediatly stay But if the partie hath bled much alreadie vse no more Phlebotomie but presently haue recourse to this remedie 8 To those which are subiect to too much vomiting and cannot brooke any meat on their stomack by reason of some offensive matter there heaped congealed it is necessary that expulsion of the aforesaid matter be first made by the fittest Emunctory either vpward or downward as occasion shal require or if the vomiting proceed through the abudance of wind or vapors inclosed in the bowels by reason of some obstruction in the reins as often it falleth out or of some other part in such case these obstructions should be opened with some good Diureticke Diaphoretick other conuenient medicines otherwise if the vomiting proceed from the particular debility of the stomack f●ō some vlcer or any other cause then those aforenamed In such case a man may administer Laudanum in the Syrrup of Quinces or Betony reiterating the same as often as need shall require 9 Against burning malignant and pestilent Feuers after conuenient vse of vomits Bezoardicks and other remedies fit to euacuate grosse humors or purifie the bloud if it be needfull a man may giue the Patient Laudanū in the water of Carduus-be●ed ctus Veronica Celondine or such●like for in such cases it doth precipitate and consume the venemous vapors which arise frō the center of the body to the braine causing madnesse rage phrensey and diuers other dangerous accidents which by this means may be preuented for it asswageth the extreame heat in Feuers comforteth the body and recreateth the spirits 10 In intermitting Feuers after due euacuation of the offending and grosse humors by vomit or siege appropriate and the subtil and thin by conuen●ent Diaphoretickes as also by giuing respiration to the star of Microcosmick-fi●e by Phlebotomie if need require after which intentions if the Feuer cease not a man may bouldly administer Laudanum in the water of Centory Carduus-be●edictus Mouseare or others appropriat an houre or two before the fit by which meanes twice or thrice vsed I haue seene many Aguish people cured when no other remedie preuailed yet I will not affirme this to bee an infallible cure in all for intermitting Feuers fall out to bee such many times that the best Physitions in the world know not what to say vnto them seeing they mock and scorne as it were both them and their medicines 11 Against the Collicke and all griping in the bellie hauing regard that the bodie be alwaies kept soluble by some Clyster or Laxatiue Medicine we commonly giue Laudanum in a spoone-full of good white-wine but the paine falling out too violent and intellerable we stay for no other remedies but vse this at the very beginning and the griefe being ceased the Physition may happily proceed in his cure by remouing the offending cause otherwise if hee shall see occasion 12 In extreame paines and pinches which proceed from the small guts called Iliaca p●ssi● we administer Laudanum in the oyle of sweet Almonds or Muscilage of Quince-seed 13 Against paines of the Matrix we giue Landanum in the water of Chamomill or Mugwort but if the paines doe particularly proceed from retention of the menstrues then must the cause bee taken away by prouoking them with conuenient medicines