contentment to heale onely with the drinking of a water it beyng of a sweete smel and good of sauour which is taken and drunk without any maner of griefe and so to doe that woorke which sharpe medicines and sirupes of euill sauour and tast cannot doe And such as did drinke wine did water their wine with it thâ—y found themselues well with it In one thing it was seene greately to profite which is in the vse of this water in them that haue lost the lust of their meate insomuch that it is restored to them the lothsomnesse taken from them by the vse of it so that many did amende come to their health quickely And the vse of this water doth cause lust to meate The Souldiers doe coÌ„mend it with suche admiration that some came to leaue it and not to drinke it for because that it caused them to haue so great hunger that they coulde not withstand it And because there was no suche abundance of meates wherwith they might satisfie their hunger which the water was cause of they would not drinke it as not hauing sufficient for their maintenaunce for they did all vse it for a drinke in steede of wine and it was a great remedie for them that by it they became whole as appeareth by them which came from those partes whereas they doe vse it In the Hauana there is a Phisition whom they take for a Man of good vnderstanding in these causes who did cure many of them which came in the Fleete from the newe Spayne sicke with onely the vse of this water without geuing or making for them any other Medicine And it did very well with them for that many were healed therewith and he gaue them to drinke as much as they would all the day and at Dinner and Supper and in the morning he gaue a Cuppe full warmed to them that coulde not goe to stoole with a little Sugar not very white and it wrought very well with them for their going to stoole And to other he gaue Medicines of this water only and Hony it made a good worke I cured heere some that were in cure in the Hauana And being ordered in this maner they which came not wel healed thence were heere fully healed In griefes of the head and in paines thereof being very olde which proceed of any cold cause the taking of this water hot in the morning wel sodden and at dinner and supper and in the day tyme simple with good gouernement as well in the meate that is eaten as in the rest of all other thinges and doing this for many dayes it cureth and healeth them maruellously It is conuenient for him that shal do this that he purge himself first and in the tyme that hee must take it that he receiue certaine Pilles of Hiera simplex he hath no need to keepe himselfe close neither in his chamber nor in his bedde He that shal take this it is ynough that he go wel clothed and that he keepe himselfe from the colde and ayre and that he vse to eate good meates In griefes of the brest caused of colde humors this water doth profite much and openeth the waies of the brest It consumeth moysture and fleames it stayeth the fluxe the running which cometh from the head to the brest It must be taken in the morning hot and drinke continually simple for besides the ordinary drinking in the morning it must bee drunke simplie for a long tyme. For these simple waters as they doe their worke by little and little so it is needful that they be continued for a long season It is good that there be put some suggar too it that it may make the better woorke In griefes of the Stomacke when the cause is colde or windie after that the vniuersal euacuations bee made taking this water in the morning strong as it is sâ—id simple at other tymes it taketh them away and healeth them chiefly if there bee any olde griefe for that I haue giuen it for this effect to men that many yeeres did suffer most grieuous paynes in the stomacke and with taking the water in the morning hot for certaine dayes and continuing with the simple water for a long tyme and taking once euery weeke pilles of Hiera simplex many people were healed therof very wel And thus we haue declared howe that the vse of this water restoreth the appetite lost and giueth lust to meate In the weakenes of the stomacke and in the lacke of natural heate where that which is eaten is not consumed it worketh great effectes and helpeth digestion It consumeth windes which are the cause of indigestion it taketh away a stinking breath and from them that do vomit their meate it taketh away that euil custome so that they eate little and vse continually to drinke this water without wyne And aboue al other thinges it maketh a good breath and a good smel at the mouth In the disease of the stone of the Ridneis and reines the vse of this water hot when they haue this griefe doth greatly profit and much more vsing it continually simple by it self or with wine for that it doeth preserue that the paine come not so continually nor so grieuously And also it maketh him that doeth vse it to cast out much Sande where the stones bee ingendred And also it causeth the stones that are in the reynes to be cast out and staieth the ingendering of them for that it consumeth the fleames of the which they be principally ingendered and the windes that be many tymes the causes of the paines To them which haue the burning of the Urine to such as haue great burning at the tyme that they make their water doe feele great heat vnto such is not conuenient the vse of this water for bicause it is hot Al such should vse of that wood which I haue written of in the first part of this Historie which is excellent for such as suffer the lyke burninges and paines For the stones and sandes for al such euils comming of heate the work is meruellous that it doeth sauing that if there bee any stone in the Bladder from which place proceedeth the lyke burning for in such a case none of these waters doe take effect but only the Surgions Raser when the Stone is greate is that which doeth profite as I haue seene in many And whyle it is sayd it is a stone it is no stone death hath come vnto them that had it whome if they had beene opened in time might haue liued many yeres as we haue seene in diuers of sixtie yeres and more who haue bin opened and liued vntill they came to eighty yeres and more And I aduertise you that this wood which I call of the Uryne and the stone doeth make the water blewe for if it doe not make the water blewe it is not the right wood And now they bring
hath vertue to heate to coole and to dry vp And of this it commeth that some doe say it is hot bycause they see that it maketh workes of heate and others saie that it is colde bycause they see that it doeth workes to make colde the reason whereof is that it is compounded of twoo contrarie beginninges the one hot and the other colde and thereby it seemeth that they may very wel defend themselues who sayde that yron is colde and worketh cold effectes And lykewyse they that sayde it was hot and doth hot effects Whereby it doth appeare that which the one and the other haue spokeÌ„ and treated therof to be true B. Maister Doctor hath very wel ended the controuersie and contrariety that is in this matter discretly and wisely wherby wee are satisfied but there remayneth a doubt if the quicksiluer bee colde as he sayeth that some doe say that it is and to prooue it they say that it sheweth by his strength colour and taste and the effectes which it doeth to make colde seeing that such as doe vse of it it maketh impotent they suffer weakenesse and trembling of sinewes and are vtterly voyde of the vse of their members and many dye all togither of a disease called Apoplexie and all this doeth come of cold causes They which say that the quicksiluer is hot doe prooue it with his effectes for anoynting the iointes and other partes of the body therwith it maketh great workes and effects of heat it inflameth their mouth and throte their gummes rooffe of their mouth with great heat and burning it prouoketh sweat most vehement we see that therof is made that most strong thing like to fire that is called Sublimatum which is most strong fire and burneth wheresoeuer it bee put and all that it taketh it consumeth and fiereth Of it is made that corsiue poyson called pouder Precipitatos in such sorte that the cause is doubtful seeing it hath and doeth the workes so contrary to make colde and to make hot D. The same doubt we haue of it as of the yron and what is that which Maister Burgus wil now haue B. Now that you brought vs out of the first doubte we pray you that you wil bring vs out of the second D. It semeth vnto me that Maister Burgus doth take the matter so earnestly that I must needs do it bicause I meane to content him in al things it shal bee done very quickly the euening commeth vpon vs. The quicksiluer is a metal coÌ„pounded of diuers parts the watery parts that it hath are mingled with earthy things which is thaâ— that giueth it substance and strength It hath also mingled with it fulfery parts which seemeth to be very bright for in chafing the quicksiluer betweene the hands there remaineth in them the perfit smel of brimstone so the quicksiluer iâ— câ—mpounded of diuers things The watery earthy parts giueth it vertue to make colde by meanes whereof is done the vertue which we haue spoken of and by meanes of the sulfure which hath ayery parts it heateth penetrateth openeth and maketh thin and by them it prouoketh sweat it causeth to expel by the mouth and by stooles the humour that doeth abounde by hearing and doing other effectes of heate And therfore it is not to be maruelled that the quicksiluer doth contrary effects seing it hath diuers operations which is the selfesame that we haue spoken of the yron and so the doubt remaineth discouered which was propouÌ„ded by M. Burgus D. I remaine sufficiently satisfied of that which is saide but not so satisfied that there doeth not remaine for me to aske of M. Doctor another thing which is of more weight then all that is saide which is to knowe the vertues that the yron and steele haue in the vse of medicine for their works and effects as I haue hard it reported are many D. It wil be a trouble for me to recken and tel of so many ancient authors as also of late written authors which doe treate of the vertues of yron and of the steele by reason they are many and doe treat of great things And seing that it shal be declared let vs loose no tyme wherby we may the rather make an ende By that which is sayde you haue vnderstood howe the yron and steele are one kinde of metall sauing that the steele is more cleane yron and more fine for this cause it is hard and strong They of old tyme knewe not the steele but onely treated of the yron and to it they attributed the medicinal vertues that wee will speake of and vnder our talke of yron we wil comprise the steele seeing that it differeth not from it in more then in being purer cleaner from superfluities and for this cause the steele doth make cold and dryeth more then the yron For where it is needful to heate and to open the yron hath more force bycause it is not cleane of the sulpherie partes for there is lost much thereof when the steele is made in the forme as it is aboue sayde It is needful before we proceed forwarde whereby wee may the better treate of the vertue of yron that wee vnderstand how it ought to be prepared For if it be not prepared neither can it be administred nor yet wil it worke it effeâ—tâ— bycause â—t is a hard metal and strong And seeing that wee haue M. Burgus here who in his arte is one of the excellentest men of al Spain he may declare vnto vs how it may bee vsed and prepared bicause wee may goe forwarde in this matter B. I haue receiued great pleasure with â—hâ—t as I haue hearde treated of yron and of steele and thought that wee shoulde haue made an ende and not treated any longer of them but seeing that it seemeth good to Maiâ—â—er Doctor that I shoulde speake of the preparing of these metâ—lles I will doe it bycause I woulde say some thing as well for my parte But if Maister Doctor woulde take paynes hee might speake thereof as wel as most men that are in the world seeing he knoweth it and that there is nothing in medicine hidden vnto him but seeing that wee haue of him a good Censor if any thing doe lacke he may speake and supply it The metalles if they bee not corrected and prepared euery one as it is conuenient for them cannot serue in medicine nor worke the effects and vertues which they haue in them bycause they are grosse of substance and strong The Alcumistes haue knowen and do knowe much in correcting and preparing of them seeing that wee see they vse the golde and the siluer in broths that they may be droâ—ke and doe reduce them into pouders as also they do the like with the lead and copper and of other minerals and meâ—als which they doe correct and prepare for to make them into pouders that they may serue in medicyne They doe correct and prepare particularly the yron for this
when he is on his bed and after the oyntmentes are ended a little tyme one houre or twoo after that they are anoynted receiue a common medicine with thinges that haue vertue to euacuate and this medicine shal not lacke euery day when the pouders are not taken for it doeth much import except if there bee not many stooles in such sorte it will bee better that it bee a washing medicine The day which they take not the pouders they may eate sodde meate with some sauce and greene thinges and in the one day and the other drinke little These pouders are giuen many or fewe dayes according to the necessitie of the partie that is sick and as it doth him good for to some 15. dayes are sufficient and to others 20. and to others 30. some there be which do vomit them vp the first twoo or three dayes and they cast vp much choler with them whereby they are notably lightened and doeth iâ— this sort they giue contentmeÌ„t gladnes I know no other medicinall benefite it can do to them There are many Phisitions which doo coÌ„mande to carrie to the mony house which is the house where the money is made a pot of water corporall and spirituall and after he hath done this he doeth moderate it in this manner saying But such which haue not these eates and drinketh without them when they are idle and in pleasure and doe not exercise themselues these people as they haue not heate to constrayne them to drinke colde let them not doe it neither is it conuenient for them to drinke it let them content themselues with colde water as nature hath brought it foorth without putting it too coole in any other thing seeyng that they haue not neede of that which is most colde And foorthwith he sayeth Although they liue idlely and doe no exercise and also without cares if the time were warme or very whot they may drinke the water colde I doe meane that in Countries where it is not colde they may put it too bee made colde so that it bee not vâ—ry colde The selfesame is confirmed by Galen himselfe in his thirde booke of meates and in the booke of the disease of the raynes where hee saith That the vse of colde water cooled with Snowe vnto suche as are very whot and such as are fattâ— and suche as doe excercise themselues and labour muche that suche may drinke very colde chiefly if they be vsed therevnto for such as are accustomed to drinke it doe suffer and carrie yt better and more without hurte then suche as doe not vse it for such ought to drinke it with more respect and consideration And albeit the water hath so greate benefite in it as wee haue sayde for the conseruation of health it hath greater too heale Feuers and other diseases and therevppon Hipocrates and Galen treated very particularly inespecially Galen in the nienth of his Methodâ— doeth reprehende there Erasistratâ— and suche as doe followe him which did forbid the vse of colde water vnto such as were sicke of the Feuers And in his first booke of his Methodo by the like reason doeth reprehende Tesalo and in the seuenth booke he doeth shewe that hee himselfe hath healed many sicke persons that had the griefe of the stomake with most cold water and also made cold with Snow And in the eight nienth tenth and eleuenth of the same Methodo he healeth the Feuers and other diseases with water that is most colde And it is an excellent remedy taken with the conditions that is conuenient In the xl he saith that the sharpe Feuers are cured with letting blood and colde water especially the Feueâ—s of blood or that haue much mixture thereof By that which is said is seene how conuenient it is that water be made cold with snowe where there is not to be founde any so colde as is conuenient for our conseruation contentment for to heale vs of many infirmities Al the which wee haue treated of in briefe whereby it may be a beginning of our pretence that shall follow which is to shew the manner how to make tolde with snow and because that which shall be made colde is the water and vnder is also to be vnderstood the wine al the rest that shal be made cold we will speake of that which shall be treated vnder the water The water is cold two maner of waies one naturally as it commeth forth of the springes and this is as cold as it is conuenient and hath no neede to coole it if it hath as muche coldnesse as will satisfie our necessitie without hauing neede too seâ—ke any thing that may make it colder There is an other water which is not so colde as is conuenient for vs as wel for our conseruation health as for our satisfaction and by reason it is not so colde as it ought to be it is the cause of the hurts it doth that before we haue spoken of Some waters are not so colde as they ought to bee by nature by reason they are in whot countries Now our intent is to treate of them how they ought to be made colde because with their heate they hurte vs and beyng made cold as much as neede requireth they doe satisfy vs so that wee may drinke them and vse them without any hurt that they can doe vs so we wil shew of al the meanes that we may haue to make cold which are vsed at this day in all the worlde and of them wee will choose the best and most sure setting downe the inconuenience that is in euery one There are foure maner of waies to make colde which at this day are vsed in all the worlde that is to say with the aire in the well with salt Peter and with snow euery one of these is vsed at this day The first is to make colde with the ayre although it bee a common thing and vsed in all places yet it hath beene and is most vsed of the Egyptians by reason they haue neither wels nor snowe and that of the salt Peter they neuer knewe Galen maketh a large relation of the manner howe to make cold with the aire and saith thus they of Alexandria and Egypt for to make their water colde that they may drinke it in time of whot wether doe warme it first or doe seeth it then they put it into earthen vessels and set it in the colde aire or deaw in the night in windowes or in the gutters of houses and there they set it all the night and before the Sunne riseth they take it away and washe the saide earthen vesselles in the outside with colde water and then they roule them with the leaues of a Uine tree and of lettice and other fresh herbes and they put them in the grounde in the most colde part of the house that there the cold may conserue it This maner of making colde is vsed at this
that some Phisitions either for ignoraÌ„ce or for malice do speak euil of her not perceiuing what so many lerned meÌ„ haue treated said of the great vtility profit which she doth to many as experience doth shew all people doe vnderstand chiefly when they doe drinke their drink most cold with the benefit which doth remaine to them thereof they do praise extol her Moreouer she saith that she forceth no persoÌ„ to vse her but if any wil vse her shee can geue such order maner to make cold the drinke as is coÌ„uenient for al persons geuing the degrees of coldenesse which euery one would haue which doeth best appertayn to them this with all assurance with onely leauing or placing the vessel whâ—rein the drinke is ioyned nere to her the which none of the olde writers nor of the late did speake against or forbid And especially let this maner of making cold not be done with stinking water of a well nor with the most burning Saltpeter but with pure water beyng cleane and cleare These coÌ„plaintes many other the faire lillie white Snow hath vttered vnto me in the end she lastly saide to me that since that I had praysed her so much and taken in hande to fauour hâ—r that I should ly the fire hath no mixture of other Elementes and amongest these Elements the ayre is very principall which is deuided into three parts one is the supreame and neere to the Râ—gion of the efire which is whotte and drie for the felowshippe that it hath therewith taking muche of his qualitie which is cleere and pure from whence doe not proceede anye wyndes nor cloudes and this they call the celestiall Region and the partes more lowe which are neere too the water and earth be greaâ— and troubled full of Uapours pearced and visited with the beames of the Sunne whereby it commeth too bee whotte and the supreame and middle Region of the ayre doeth come too bee very colde because it standeth in the middest of the twoo extremities beeyng so whotte And in it is increased the colde as in the middle parte fleing from the extreme partes of heate as we haue spoken of before This middle parte hath partes more or lesse colde for the parte that is ioyning neere vnto vs is not so cold as that which is neere to the superiour partes of the fire And how much more the vapours do rise vp on height the more they doe congele and hold fast In the middle region of the ayre doe ingender the clowdes the small raynes the droppes the frost the rayne the Snowe the Hayle and other impressions as the Thunder lightnings and sharpe showers and comets The Clowdes be the principal matter which doe ingender the Rayne the Snowe and the Hayle and the other impressions which wee haue spoken of that are made of many Uapours which doe rise vp from the lower partes vnto the middle Region of the ayre and so being ioyned they make one body and they waxe thicke with the colde of the saide place and for this the clowd is like to a mother and is the common matter of all the impressions that are made in the ayre And so it is of the snowe as a thing ingendred of it in the middle Region of the ayre And the Snowe is no other thing but a Uapour colde and moyst which came into the middle Region of the ayre beeing ingendred in the bodie of the Clowde with a meane coldenesse which is not so strong as that which doeth cause the Hayle nor so soft as that which doeth cause the water and in the like Uapour before it be made water it both congeale and freese and doeth fall broken in peeces and are white because there doe rayne in them more colde then in the water The which Galen doeth shewe vnto vs in the booke of the Philosophicall hystory of Anaximenes the Philosopher Of the congealed ayre he saieth that the cloudes are made and of the same beeyng more thicke the rayne is ingendred and the same is congealed and frosen and by the coldenesse of the Ayre it is made Snowe and beeyng more congealed it is made Hayle And the same Galen doeth say in his booke de Vtilitate respirationis the Clowdes congealed are made Snowe which is the matter that the rayne is made of the Snowe doeth fall in the highe places which of their owne nature are colde places and thereby it is muche conserued and very seldome it falleth in the Ualleyes and if it doe fall there it is very smal foorthwith it dissolueth It falleth in the Sea but seldom times by reason of the heat which it hath for the winds that are continually in it for heat moisture are coÌ„traries much more the wind accoÌ„panied with the sunne Galen in the nienth of his simples saieth that there were Philosophers that saide the snow had hot parts for being takeÌ„ in the hand it heateth burneth like to fire And so the saide Galen in the 4. of the sayd Bookes sayeth as he went vpon snow his feet did burne the cause of this is not that the snow is whot nor that it hath whot parts but with his cold it doth shut the pores of the handes or feete and causeth that the heate which is in the inner partes haue not wher to come forth so being shut in do cause so great a kindlying that seemeth to burne the which we see contrary if the handes doe burne be put into whot water as the pores drinking of the coldest water they were healed as Galen sayth in the 7. of his Methodâ— that he sawe in one day yeâ— in one houre with a draught of colde water many diseases were healed and some of these were weake of stomake not only with colde water of a fountaine but with water cooled in snowe and in Roâ—â—e it is vsed And so Cornelio Celso in his first booke vnto such as were weake of stomake commanded them to drinke after they had eaten the coldest water they could get and in cholerike stooles should be dronke water that was most cold and in runnings of whot humors it shoulde bee vsed for to stay the fluxe Auicen in the sayde chapter saith that the cold water doth coÌ„fort all the â—ertues in his workes that is to say the vertue disgestiue attractiue reteÌ„tiue and expulsiue And so he goeth declaring euery one of them giuing vs to vnderstand how much the colde water doth corroborate and make strong al these vertues whereby they doe their workes the better And the said Auicen in the second of his first treatie of water saieth the colde water is the best of all waters and it is conuenient for them which are whole for it giueth lust to meate maketh the stomake strong And a little before hee saieth that which is not colde doeth corrupt disgestion and causeth the meate to swim in the stomake it taketh not away the
satisfie our necessity it geueth paine and griefe and other hurts that he which doeth vse it shall quickely feele them in himselfe The which is contrary to them that do drinke colde being cold of his owne nature or made colde with snow for that it doth coÌ„fort the stomak if it be weake streÌ„gtheneth it doth stay the flixe runninges of whot humors to it therefore it taketh a way stooles and vomits being cholerike it doth comfort all the 4. vertues it taketh away the driche it geueth lust to eate it maketh the disgestion better you drinke lesse that with more contentment gladnes satisfiing vs more to a little cold drink then much which is whot It doth let the ingendring of the stone vnto theÌ„ which are whot of coÌ„plection it maketh teÌ„perate the heat of the liner it taketh away the kindling of the fire of them that are too hot or inflamed of what cause soeuer it be it tempereth the excessiue heate of the summer it preserueth from the plague in the time of it and being taken vppon meate it strengtheneth natural heat that it may make better his disgestion worke it taketh away the sharp paines which commeth of any hot cause it taketh away the trembling of the hearte it maketh glad them that are melancholie it taketh from wine his furie vapours the fruits put in snowe cause that they doe not corrupt hee that drinketh cold doth enioy the daintinesse of the colde that it doth make which is a thing that cannot be expressed and the vnderstanding of man cannot comprehend it They which may liberally drinke cold being made cold with snow are such as be temperate of coÌ„plection full of flesh those which are of a cholerike complection hot inffamed the which are whot of the liuer and of the stomake they which are sanguine and doe exercise theÌ„selues and labour as men of great buzinesse they which haue many cares the gouernours of cities common weâ—lthes the ministers of them which do participate of the like cares and troubles they which doe exercise themselues in warlike affayres and other great busines they which goe much and haue laboured much they which doe suffer burning Agues and euils of great heate and inflammations aboue al those which are accustomed to drink it herein let euery man drink cold or most colde as he hath necessity and as it is most conuenient for him to such as it is not conuenient to drink cold nor most colde are they that are very old and such as doe liue idlely without exercise and without care they which haue rawnesse in their stomakes they which suffer griefes of cold humors they which are sicke in the breast they which haue diseases of the sinewes they which cannot tast that they eate for humors or colde causes they which doe suffer mucâ— ventosity children and such as are of young age and others to whom time and vse haue shewed what is conuenient for them And thus we enâ— our Apologie Finis Meâ—icines thâ—t our Occidentall Indias doe send vs. Aristotle The discouery of the Indias Of the Copal Hiâ—torie What Anime is Hâ—w it diâ—fereth from ours Of the congeled amber Heâ—mâ—â—auâ— A â—arbaâ—ian authâ—ur A place that is callâ—d Animitin where our Aâ—ime is gathered The veâ—tue therof The complexion that it hath Of the Tacamahaca How the Indians vse it The propertie that it hath Good for the diseases of the Mother In any manner of grief The vertue therof In the tooth-ache It coÌ„forteth the stomack In the griefe of the hâ—ad In the Sciatica In the griefe of the ioints In the hurtes of Sinewes In al griefes The complexion therof Caranna The vertues It healeth an olde griefe of the shoulder In the griefes of the ioints In swellings In griefes of Sinewes In newe woundes It staieth the running of the eyes Note Oyle of the Figge tree How this oyle is made The vertues and effectes Cures in generall It taketh away paine It healeth a windy dropsy In griefes of the stomacke and Colike In griefes of the Iointes It healeth soares Historie It vndoeth opilations It maketh them goe to the stoole For theÌ„ that haue lost their hearing In griefes of the Ioyntes For the members drawen together It taketh away the Morphewe markes or signes of the face The coÌ„plexioÌ„ therof Bitumen Napta The vertues What liquid Amber is Historie The vse of it The workes and effectes of it A meruellous plaister Of the Oyle of Liquide Amber and how it is takeÌ„ The vse of it in medicine Note The estimation that it iâ— had in Note Note Of the berbe Iohn Iâ—fante for wouâ—des The wood of the Indias The names that they gaue to thâ— euil treâ— Opinions of this euill Guaiacan an Indian name The description of the Guaiacan How the water of the woodde iâ— made The manner of taking it The diseases that this water doth heale China of our Indias Historie Historie The manner how to giue the water of the China Howe it must be taken Note The disease that be healed by this water The complexion thereof Note The tyme since that the Sarcapillia came vnto vs. The description of the Sarcaparillia Sarcaparillia of the Hunduras The choosing of it Of the name Hâ—w it was vsed in the beginnâ—â—g Take this for three daies The â—â—sâ—â—on how it is now vsed and geuen The maner how to geuâ—â—t A Sirupe or drink of Sarcaparilla most excelleÌ„t The description of the Sirupe or drinke The diseases that this drinke doeth profit in Another drinke of the Sarcaparillia The diseases that this drinke healeth Sarcaparillia in pouder The Salte Fleume is cured herewith The vertue of the water of Sarparillia Of the blood stone The stone for the disease of the grauel stone in the kidnies or reineâ— A propertie hidden The diseases which it cureth How the water is made Of the IndiaÌ„ Peper The description of the Plante The vse of it The vertues that it hath Note Canafistola The description of it The vertue of the Canafistola Of the purgatiue Nuttes What these Nuttes doe purge The dâ—scription oâ—â—he Nâ—â—â—es Ben. The description of them How they purge How they bee taken Beanes like to ours How they bee tâ—ken Historie Note Their workâ— and effectes Of the Pinâ—pinichi How it is takâ—n Note Mechoacan The riches and increase The sâ—â—â—ation of Mechoacan Historie Ruibarbe of the Indias Historie The vse in all partes of the MechoacaÌ„s The grâ—ate quantity of Mechoacan that is vsed Historie of the Plant of Mechoacan The description of the Mechoacan The manner of the roote The electioÌ„s of the Mechoacan That it be fresh The complection thereof Easie to take and easie to workâ— It is giuen to children and olde people The woorkâ—â— and effectes be meruellous of this roote In griefes of Women In griefes of the Poxe Note In agewes Note Note The order that ought to be kept in takiâ—g of it It is conuenient that
the vse of it as often as it is needefull It is necessary in the seethinges that are vsed to bee made for Glisters to put into them with the other things the Leaues of this hearbe for that they shal profit much and likewise for Fomentations and Plaisters that they shall make In griefes of windes they worke the like effect taking away the paines that come of the windinesse applying the leaues after the same sorte as is aboue saide In the griefe of women which is called the euill of the Mother laying too one leafe of this hearbe Tabaco very hotte in the manner as it is sayde it doth manifestly profite and it must bee layde vppon the Nauell And vnder it some doe vse to put first of al thinges of good smell vpon the Nauel and then vpon that they lay the leafe In that which they finde most profit is to lay the Tacamahaca or the oyle of liquid Amber and Balsamo and Caranna or any of these vnto the Nauel and to kepe it too it continually that it may cleaue vnto it and this worketh manifest profit in griefes of the Mother In one thing the women that dwel in the Indias doe celebrate this hearbe that is in the euill breathing at the mouth of children when they are ouer filled with meate and also of olde people anoynting their bellies with lampe oyle and laying some of those leaues in ashes hotte to their bellies also to theyr shoulders for it doeth take away ther naughty breathing and maketh them goe to the stoole applying it vnto the fundement at what tyme it is needfull and if the leaues bee ashed it is the better Wormes of all kindes of them it killeth and expelleth them maruellously the seething of the hearbe made into a Syrope delicately beeing taken in very little quantitie the ioyce thereof put on the nauel It is needful after this be done to giue a Glister that may auoyde them and expell them out of the guttes In griefes of the Iointes comming of a colde cause it maketh a maruellous worke the Leaues of this Tabaco being laid hotte vpon the griefe the lyke doth the Ioyce layde vpon a little cloth hotte for that it doeth dissolue the humor taketh away the paines therof If it come of a hot cause it doth hurt sauing when the humor hath bene hot and the subtil part is dissolued and the grosse remayneth then it doeth profite as if the cause were colde and it is to be vnderstood that the leaues being layde where as is griefe of the sayde cause in any part of the body it profiteth much In swellings or in cold Impostumes it doth dissolue and vndoe them washing them with the hotte Iuyce and laying the beaten leaues after they be stampt or the leaues beeing whole of the sayde Tabaco vpon it In the Toothache when the griefe commeth of a colde cause or of colde Rumes putting to it a little ball made of the leafe of the Tabaco washing first the tooth with a small cloth wet in the Iuyce it taketh away the payne and stayeth it that the putrifaction goe not forwarde in hot causes it doth not profite and this remedy is so common that it healeth euery one This hearbe doth maruellously heale Chilblaines rubbing them with the stamped leaues and after putting the handes and Feete in hot water with Salt and keping them warme this is done with great experience in many In Uenom and venomous wounds our Tabaco hath great commendation which hath beene knowne but a shorte tyme since for when the wilde people of the Indias which eate mans fleshe doe shoote their Arrowes they annointe them with an hearbe or Composition made of many poysons with the which they shoote at all thinges that they would kill and this Uenom is so strong and pernicious that it killeth without remedie and they that bee hurte dye with great paynes and accidents and with madnes vnlesse that their be found remedie for so great an euill A fewe yeeres past they laid to their wounds Sublimatum and so were remedied and surely in those partes they haue suffered much with this vexation of poyson A little whiles past certaine wild people going in their Bootes to S. Iohn De puerto Rico to shoote at IndiaÌ„s or Spaniards if that they might find theÌ„ came to a place and killed certain Indians Spaniards did hurt many as by chaunce there was no Sublimatum at that place to heale them they remembred to lay vpon the wounds the Ioyce of the Tabaco the leaues stamped And God would that laying it vpon the hurtes the griefs madnes accidents wherwith they dyed were mittigated and in such sort they were deliuered of that euill that the strength of the Uenom was taken away and the wounds were healed of the which there was greate admiration Which thing being knowen to theÌ„ of the Ilande they vse it also in other hurtes and woundes which they take when they fight with the wilde people nowe they stande in no feare of them by reason they haue founde so great a remedy in a case so desperate This Hearbe hath also vertue against the hearbe called of the Crosseboweshooter which our hunters doe vse to kil the wilde beastes withall which heathe is Uenom most strong and doeth kill without remedie which the Kinges pleasure was to prooue and commaunded to make experience thereof and they wounded a little dogge in the throate and put foorthwith into the wound the hearbe of the Crosseboweshooter and after a little while they powred into the selfe same wounde that they had annoynted with the Crossebowe shooters hearbe a good quantitie of the Iuyce of Tabaco and layde the stamped leaues vpon it and they tied vp the dogge and hee escaped not without great admiration of al men that sawe him Of the which the excellent Phisition of the Chamber of his maiestie Doctor Barnarde in the margent of this booke that sawe it by the commaundement of his Maiestie wryteth these wordes I made this experience by the commaundement of the kinges Maiesty I wounded the dogge with a knife after I put the Crossebowe shooters hearbe into the wounde and the hearbe was chosen and the dogge was taken of the hearbe and the Tabaco and his Iuyce being put into the wounde the dogge escaped and remained whole In the venomous Carbuncles the Tabaco being applied in maner as is aforesaid doth extinguish the malice of the venom doth that which al the woorkes of Surgery can doe vntil it be whole The same effect it worketh in bytinges of venomous beastes for it killeth and extinguisheth the malice of the venom and healeth them In woundes newely hurt and cuttes strokes prickes or any other manner of wounde our Tabaco worketh maruellous effectes for that it doeth heale them and maketh them souâ—d The wound must be washed with wine procure to annoynt the
a wood which maketh the water yellowe and this is not it which doeth profite but that which maketh the water blewe and this hath the couetousnesse of them caused that bring it because they haue seene that it is wel solde in this citie for the manifest profites that it doeth in these griefes of the Urine by tempering the Reines and the Liuer and procuring many other benefits they bring of all the wood that they finde and sell it for wood of the stone The same hath happened in the Mechoacan which when it came to be worth twentie Ducates the pounde they laded so much from thence of it some not being rype other not being right that when it is come hither it woorketh not the effect that thâ— good and wel seasoned wâ—s wont to doe Wherefore it is needfull to see to that which is taken that it bee the same and that it bee well seasoned That which is very whyte is not such as the yellowe is in myne opinion for that which is yellowe wee see that it mâ—keth the better woorke it may bee that the very whyte is not of it or hath not the perfection that the good hath And comming to our water of Sassafras it prouoketh Urine it maketh them to Uryne well which haue the impediment of it chiefly if it come by humors of colâ—e causes I did knowe a Priest which came in this flâ—ete from the Florida who being in those parts did make water very euil and cast from him stones some tymes with very much griefe and some of them did put him in hazard of his life when hee was in the Florida as hee dranke of the water of Sassafras ordinarily as many other did in the place of wyne hee auoided many great smal stones without any paines and after that hither vnto hee hath founde himselfe whole and very well of this euill by drinking the simple wâ—ter of this wood ordinarily and watering his wyâ—e therewith Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose and they cast out much Sande and doe finde themselues cured therewiâ—h In them that bee lame or creeples and in them that are not able to goe nor to moue themselues as for the most part that infirmitie commeth of colde humours by taking this water hot in the morning and procuring sweate all that hee can eating things of diet and drinking the simple water continually and vsing it many dayes wee haue seene many healed And it is to bee noted that in taking of this water there is nothing to bee obserued as in other waters but when they shal take it hotte if any sweate come to keepe it and after this they may ryse and goe well clothed it is not needefull of any thing els but of this and good order and to eate good meates and if they sweate not it maketh no greate matter but if they sweate not they shal be healed I knowe a Captaine one of them which came from the Florida and hee certified mee that hee was so weake in all his body that his Soldiours carried him vppon their shoulders for that in any other manner he coulde not stirre and hee was in a place where the tree of Sassafras was not and he sent for it and toke the water and therewith sweate for certaine dayes and afterward he tooke it simply and hee was restored to his perfect health and I did see him whole and well In the toothache this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued and leauing that which is chewed in the hole of the tooth which is grieued if it haue any hollownesse and although that it haue none yet it taketh away the paines meruellously with experience done vpon many In the euil of the Poxe it worketh the same effectes that the rest of the waters of the holy wood the China and the Sarcaparillia doeth taking it as these waters bee taken with sweates putting vp more or lesse the decoction of the water and the quantitie of the wood as the complexion is and the disease of him that shall take it For that in colde humours Flegmatike it maketh a better woorke then in them that bee Cholerike and so in the Poxe that bee of a long tyme it maketh a better and greater woorke than in them that be of smal continuance and more where there bee knobbes and moisture of matter old griefes of the head with the order as is aforesayd And in these euils the simple water is continually taken for a great tyme and it worketh greate effectes chiefly in them that bee leane which be altogether weakened debilited with the vse of many Medicines Many which haue the Gout haue vsed and doe vse to drinke of the Water of this tree some of them taking it hotte as wee haue sayde and others simple continually by it self and watering their wyne therewith That which I haue seene is that which in the olde kinde of Goutes doeth neither good nor euil and if it doe any good it is to comfort the stomacke and to dissolue winâ—inesse to giue them some lust to their meate the rest of the benefite that it bringeth is to them that hâ—ue bin sicke but short time if the cause proceede of cold vnto whome it procureth notable profite but if the humour and cause be hot it doth them no good but hurteâ—h them inflâ—ming and causiâ—g them to haue greater paynes In one thing I haue seene it in many people to bring notable profit with the continual vse of this water and it is in them which haue foule diseased handes which cannot exercise them as they were wont to doe I healed a Gentleman which could not write that when he went to write his hande fell downe by little and little and the penne also after hee had begon to write not past fiue or sixe letters And hee toke a Cuppe full of that which was last sodden in the morning and after he dranke it hee continued twoo houres in his bedde and after he rose and went about his businesse And he did eate at his dinner good meates and at his Supper vsed diet and dranke the simple water of the self same Sassafras and he was healed very wel hauing spent a great somme of money on Phisitions and Medicines which did not profite him any thing vntil he came to be remedied in the order as is aforesaide Many did certifie mee that which nowe I finde by experience and learned of them that were sicke in the Hauana and could not goe to the stoole that the Phisition which is there did cause them to take in the morning fasting a good Cuppe full hotte of the water of the Sassafras and it did soften the belly and they went to the stoole very well which we haue seene heere to bee true by experience And there was a Soldiour which certifâ—ed mee and prooued it with others of his companie that hauing stooles by
the vse of it doeth breake the stone from the bladder if the Stones bee soft that they may bee dissolued with taking very little quantitie of it and of this they haue so many examples that they cause mee to maruell at it because I thinke that the stone in the bladder cannot bee expelled but onely to cut it out is the remedie for that no Phisicke can dissolue him They say that taking the seede grounde with some water made for the purpose causeth it to bee cast out in Clay and being come foorth it returneth to be congeled and turneth it self into a stone Only to a yong man I sawe this happen who had a stone in the bladder and I beeing certified of it by the Maister Surgions that had felt him and of the accidents which hee had caused him to bee caried at the beginning of the Sommer vnto the Fountaine of the stone and in twoo monethes after that hee was there hee came whole from thence and brought in a paper all the clay which hee had voyded from him at tymes being of stone dissolued into peeces We wil sowe the seedes although very little onely to see the effect wrought by them which as they say is in a cause so greate and if it doe growe we wil vse of it Of the flowres of blood I Sowed a seede which they brought mee from the Peru more to see the fairenesse thereof then for any Medicinall vertues that it hath The hearbe commeth to bee of the height of twoo spannes litle more or lesse bowes it casteth out straight with certaine rounde leaues very greene and thinne in the hiest of the bowes there groweth a flower being yeallow very high in colour and onely it beareth fiue leaues and in the middest of euery leafe there is figured a droppe of blood so red and so firmely kindled in colour that it can not be more This flower hath at the foote of it a stalke very long which commeth out a good space from the flower It is a flower very beautifull which doeth adornate gardens it groweth very wel of the seede or of the plante and beeing tasted it hath the same sauour and taste that the Mastuesso hath it is notable hotte A rinde of a tree for the Rewme AMongst the thinges with they sent mee froÌ„ the Peru there is a thicke rinde which seemeth to bee of a great tree and being tasted hath a sharpnes of tast with some drynesse the trees growe at the side of a riuer where this rinde is taken of which is twentie and sixe Leagues from Lima and they are not founde in other partes of the Indias but onely there The tree is after the fashion of an â—ime as wel in the greatnes as in the leafe The Indians when they feele themselues laden with Reumes or haue the Cough or any paynes of the head they make pouder very small of the rinde of the tree and take it in at their noses and it causeth them to purge much at them and with this they cleare themselues of the euil which we haue experimented by taking the pouder in at the nose and it maketh them to purge notably It seemeth to be more then hot in the second degree Of the Pacal IN the same Riuer there groweth an other tree which the Indians call Pacal which tree is lesser then that wee haue spoken of before the Indians doe vse it made in Ashes mingled with Soye it taketh away any maner of sore or skabbe in the head howe grieuous soeuer it bee as wel those which growe in the head as in the bodie as also it taketh away the markes of the sayde skabbes or sores being neuer so olde Hether they sent mee a little of the wood wherewith the Ashes are made that we might make experience of it Of the Paico THey sent mee an hearbe which in the Peru they call Payco they bee certaine leaues after the manner of the leaues of Planten of that making and greatnesse and as they come dry they are very thinne and being tasted they haue a notable bityng so that thereby they seeme to bee very hotte And being made into pouder and taken in wyne they take away the griefe of the stone in the kidneis which commeth of windinesse or cold causes and being sodden and made into a plaister and laide vpon the griefe they take it away also An hearbe for the euill of the Reines LIkewise they sent mee another hearbe which profiteth much in the euill of the reines when it commeth of a hotte cause The Iuyce mingled with the oyntment of Roses amongst it and one of the leaues or more if it bee needful laide vpon it is good for an inflaÌ„mation the iuyce thereof being put and it profiteth much for it doth resist the inflammation and mittigate the payne The leaues which they sent me bee lyke to small Lettice with the same greatnesse and being tasted they are of an euill savour it seemeth to be some hearbe notable cold ¶ Of a fruite which groweth vnder the ground THey sent me from the Peru a fruite very good that groweth vnder the earth and very faire to beholde and of a very good taste in eating This fruite hath no roote nor doeth produce any plante nor plante doth produce it but that it groweth vnder the ground as the Turmas doe grow vnder the earth which are called the Turmas of the earth It is of the greatnesse of halfe a finger rounde and rounde about it is wrought with a very fayre worke it is of a bay colour It hath within it a little kernel which when it is dry maketh a sounde within lyke to an Almonde the rinde of it is tawny and somwhat white parted into twoo partes lyke vnto an Almonde It is a fruite of goood sauour and taste and eating of it it seemeth that you eate Nuttes This fruite groweth vnder the earth in the coast of the Riuer of Maronnon and it is not in any other part of al the Indias It is to be eaten greene and dry and the beste way is to toste it It is eaten alwaies after meates as fruite eaten last of all because it dryeth much the stomacke and leaueth it satisfied but if you eate much of it then it bringeth heauinesse to the head It is a fruite in great reputation as wel amongst the Indians as the Spaniardes and with greate reason for I haue eaten of them which they haue brought mee and they haue a good taste It seemeth to be a temperate fruite Of the fruite called Leucoma THey brought mee likewyse a fruite of a tree which the Indians call Leucoma which is like vnto a Chestnutte of these of ours as wel in colour as in the greatnesse as also in the whytenesse that the Chestnutte hath It seemeth that within it is another thing I did not breake it to see what it was because they brought me but twoo of them the one I haue sowen
forthwith a double linnen cloth vpon it wette in the same Balsamo and so bounde that the lippes goe not a sunder and keeping diet and vsing letting of blood if it be needful and not vnbinding it vntill the fourth day and they shall finde the wounde comforted except that there bee any accident which causeth it to bee vndone before And when the cause is such that it requireth to bee dressed euery day by reiterating the wette Linnen cloth in the Balsamo it wil bee healed for the vertue of this Balsamo is to cause that there bee no matter engendered in the woundes and especially this Balsamo doeth profite in woundes where there hath beene cuttinges of bones taking them out that haue beene diuided one from another and not touching the rest for that the vertue of the Balsamo will caste them out and hauing so done wil heale the wounde One of the thinges wherein this Balsamo worketh greate effectes is in woundes and ioyntes and in cuttinges of Sinewes in al prickes for in all these kindes of woundes it maketh a maruellous woorke curing and preseruing them from extreame colde and from running together of Sinewes that they remayne not lame The woundes which doe penetrate are healed with this Balsamo being mingled with whyte wyne and spouting it into them and after three houres taking it out again This must be done in wounds or prickes once euery daâ— that it may goe with a moderate heat Likewyse this Balsamo serueth to be applied where haue beene giuen dry blowes or brusinges and for al workes of Surgerie where is no notable inflammation which beeing taken away with the Medicines that are conuenient for it the Balsamo may then bee vsed In euilles which belong not to Surgerie this Balsamo doth profit much as in him that hath the shortnes of breath by taking a fewe droppes in whyte wyne it profiteth him much it taketh away the grief of the head coÌ„ming of a colde cause and a litle Plaister being laide vpon the griefe and wette therewith to the Temples of the head taketh away all runnings by those partes and in especially the euilles of the eyes and Reumes that runne into them beeing layde to the foreparte of the head and it must be good and hot It taketh away the paynes of it and comforteth it and remedieth the Palsie Some that haue beene in a Consumption haue vsed it taking some droppes in the morning licking them out of the Palme of the hande and they haue felt notable profit And it maketh cleane the brest very wel it is good to take some droppes with Aqua vitae hot before any maner of colde in a Quarterne Ague or of a long importunate tertian Ague annoynting with the same Balsamo mingled with Oyle of Ruda the Temples of the head good and hot before the colde doeth come If with the Balsamo they annoint themselues from the mouth of the stomacke to the Nauâ—l it comforteth the stomacke it giueth a lust to meate it helpeth digestion it dissolueth Windes it taketh away the paines of the stomacke and it worketh farre better these effects if the halfe of the Balsamo be mingled with another halfe of Oyle of Spike Nardâ— compounded or simple and so it is better applyed There is great experience of it in the Indias for Swellinges that are in the maner of Dropsies and mingling it with oyntment disopilatiue of equal parts and annointing the belly therewith chiefly the parte neere the Lunges there are seene wrought therewith great effects it dissolueth any maner of swelling or hardnes that is in any parte of the body and being laide vpon any paine that commeth of a colde cause although it be of long continuance it taketh it away bringing it to be so smal vntil it fal of it self the same it doeth wheresoeuer is any winde And if it bee in the belly or in any parte of the body wetting a Linen cloth hot in Aqua vitae of the best and applying it to the place where the griefe of the Stone is and mingled with Oyle made for the purpose it maketh a great woorke it taketh away the paynes of the Sinewes and when they bee shronke together in a very hot weather rubbing them with it it dissolueth them The euil called the Lamparones that are open or shutte it healeth Many other effectes this maruellous licour worketh which I haue not knowen but these which I haue knowen I doe manifest to al the worlde that they may take profite by so maruellous a Medicine which hath so many vertues as you haue hearde and euery day the tyme wil discouer other greater The ende of the thirde and last parte The Table of the thinges that these three bookes doe containe In the first Booke OF the Anime Copal fol. 1. Of the Tacamahaca fol. 2. Of the Caranna fol. 4. Of the oyle of the Figge tree fol. 5. Of the Gumme fol. 6. Of the Liquid Ambar and the oyle thereof fol. 6. Of the Balsamo fol. 7. Of GuaiacaÌ„ holy wood 12. Of the China fol. 13. Of the Sarcaparillia fol. 15. Of the blood stone and the stone for the disease of the stone fol. 18. Of the woode for the Urine fol. 19. Of the Peper of the Indias fol. 20. Of the Canafistola fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Nuttes fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Pinons fol. 22. Of the Purgatiue Beanes fol. 22. Of the Milke of Pinipinichi fol. 23. Of the Mechoacan fol. 23 Of the Quicke Sulphure fol. 30 Of Arromatike wood 31 In the second Booke OF the Tabaco fo 34 Of the Sassafras Of the Carlo Sancto fol. 57. Of saint Elens Bedes 59. Of the Guacatane fol. 60. Of the smal Barlie fol. 62. The Epistle from the Peru. fol. 64. Of the blood of Drago 71. Of the Armadilio fol. 73. Of the flower of Mechoacan fol. 75. Of the Fruite of Balsamo fol. 76. Of the long Peper fol. 77. Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquil fol. 79. Of Ambar grise fol. 82. In the thirde Booke OF the Cinamon of our Indias fol. 88 Of the Ginger 89. Of the Ruibarbe of the Indias fol. 89 Of the Pinnas fol. 90 Of the Guaiauas fol. 90 Of the Cachos fol. 91 Of the flowers of blood 92 Of the Rinde of a tree for Reumes fol. 92 Of the Pacal ibid. Of the Paico ibid. Of an hearbe for the euill of the Raines ibid. Of the fruite which groweth vnder the ground 93 Of a fruite called Leucoma fol. 93 Of the washing Bead stones fol. 94 Of the Crabbes of that couÌ„trie fol. 94 Of the Cardones fol. 94 Of an hearbe good for them that are broken fol. 95 Of the Ueruaine fol. ibid. Of the Masluerso fol. 96 Of the wilde Lettise fol. 96 Of the licour called Ambia fol. 96 Of a Tree which sheweth whether one shall lyue or die fol. 97 Of the Granadillia fol. 97 Of the hearbe of the Sunne fol. 98 Of a Gumme that is taken out froÌ„ vnder the ground fol. 98 Of the Bezaar
woulde bee incurable and without anye remedy of which thinges although that some haue knowledge yet they be not common too all people for which cause I did pretend to treate and to write of all things that they bring from our Indias apperteyning to the arte and vse of Medicine and the remedie of the hurtes and diseases that wee doe suffer and endure whereof no small profite doeth followe to those of our time and also vntoo them that shall come after vs in the bewraying whereof I shall be the first that the rather the followers may adde herevnto with this beginning that which they shal more knowe and by experience hereafter finde out And as in this Citie of Seuill which is the Porte and skale of all the Occidentall Indias we doe knowe of them more then in any other partes of all Spayne for bicause that al things come first hither where by better intelligence and greater experience it is learned so doe I with practice and vse of them this fourtie yeeres that which I doe cure in this Citie where I haue informed my selfe of them that haue brought these thinges out of those partes with muche care and I haue made experience thereof with many and diuers persons with all diligence and foresight possible and with much happy successe Of the Anime and Copall THey do bring from the new Spaine 2. kinds of Rosine that be both much alike one to the other the one is called Copall and the other Anime The Copall is a Rosine verie white and of muche brightnesse it is brought in certaine great peeces which are like too peeces of Diacitron very cleare it hath an indifferent smell but not so good as the Anime with this Copall the Indians did make perfumes in their sacrifices so the vse thereof was frequented in the Temples by their Priestes And when the first Spaniardes went too those partes the Priestes went out to receiue them with little firepots burning in them this Copall and geuing to them the smoke of it at their noses wee doe vse heere to perfume with it in diseases rising vpon coldenesse of the head in the place of Incence or Anime it is hotte in the seconde degree and moyst in the first it is resoluatiue and softneth by some watrish partes that it hath The Anime is a gumme or Rosine of a greate Tree it is white it draweth neere to the coulour of Incence it is more oyly then the Copall is it commeth in graines as the Incence doeth although somewhat greater and beyng broken it hath a yellowe collour as Rosine hath it is of a very acceptable and pleasaunt smell and put vppon burning coales it doth consume very quickely It differeth from our Anime that is brought from Leuante which is not so white nor so bright insomuche that some doe say that it is spice of Charabe or Succino which is called Amber congeled wherwith they doe make Beades but it is not so for that the Charabe is a kinde of Pitche that is founde in the Germayne Sea and it is taken out of the Sea in great peeces with a dragge of Iron so that it seemeth to come foorth of some Fountaines into the Sea after the maner of pitch and beeing come foorthe vnto the colde ayre it congeleth for because there is sâ—ene in the same peeces of stickes other superfluities of the Sea cleaning vnto it and in this they shall see the errour of them that say that it is Gumme of Alamo and of others that it is of the Pinetree Of our Anime Hermolaus Barbarus a man most excellently learned doeth saie that it is gatherâ—d about the place where Incence is founde and that lande or soile is called Amintin and therefore the thing is called Anime That which is brought from the newe Spaine is gathered from certaine Trees of a reasonable greatnesse by way of incision as the Incence and Almasiga are gaâ—hered we do vse thereof for many infirmities and principally for the griefe of the head and paines therof caused of humours or of colde causes and for sluffyng in the head that thereof doeth proceede after euacuation perfuming therewith the chambers in the Winter season and where as are generall infirmities it doeth purifie and correct the Aire and they doe perfume therewith their head kerchers when that they doe goe to sleepe for them that doe suffer paines in the head and occasions thereof it doeth profite to perfume the head of him that is so diseased it doeth comforte the head vnto such as haue it debilited or weakened and doe suffer paines by occasion thereof they doe put it also in plaisters and in seere clothes where as is neede of comfort and to dissolue especially cold humours or windinesse they doe vse it also in place of Incence as well in the perfumes as in the aforesaide It doeth comfort the braine applied in the forme of a plaister and euen so likewise the stomacke and all partes being full of Sinewes made after the fashion of a Sere cloth with the third parte of Waxe it taketh out the cold of any member whatsoeuer being applied therevntoo for a long time with refreshing it It is hotte in the second degree and moist in the first Of the gumme called Tacamahaca AND also they doe bring out of the newe Spaine an other kinde of Gumme or Rosine which the Indians doe call Tacamahaca and the same name did our Spaniardes giue it it is Rosine taken out by incision of a tree being as great as a Willow tree and is of a verie sweete smell it bringeth foorth a red fruite as the seede of Pionia This Rosine or Gumme the Indians doe much vse in their infirmities chiefly in swellinges in any part of the bodie wheresoeuer they bee ingendred for that it dissolueth ripeneth and maruellously desolueth them And euen so it taketh awaie any manner of greefe that is come of a colde cause as humours and windinesse this the Indians doe vse very commonly and familiarly And for this effect the Spaniardes hath brought it The colour is as the colour of Galuano and some doe say that it is the same it hath white partes like to Amoniaco it is of a good smel and the tast is like insomuch that being cast vpon hotte burning coles and giuing the smoke thereof at the nose of a woman that doth swoone or els hath lost her feeling by suffocation of the Mother it doeth cause her to come quickely and easily to her selfe And the Rosine putte to her nâ—uell after the manner of a plaister causeth the Mother to keepe in her place and the vse thereof is so much amongest women that the most parte which is spent thereof is for this effect for that they doe finde themselues very much eased by it taking awaie from them all manner of chokinges of the Mother and comforting the stomacke Some that bee curious doe adde thereuntoo Amber and
chiefly if it come of any colde cause or windines for that in this it maketh a meruellous woorke dissoluing greate windinesse wheresoeuer it bee and especially in the belly and with this they do heale a windy Dropsie lykewyse al kinds therof annoyuting there withal the Belly and Stomacke taking some droppes therof with wine or other licour appropriated that it may auoyde the citrine water and make the winde to be expelled and if they doe put it in any maner Glister or Medicine geuen so it doeth auoyde out the citrine water and doth expell Windes with more assuraunce than any other Medicine In the griefes of the Stomacke of cold humors and windes and Colicke it worketh great effect anointing therewith and taking some droppes thereof and principally they do this in that mortall disease called the Ileon which is a cetrayne filthines that purgeth at the mouth It doeth auoyde fleame principally in griefes of the Iointes certain droppes of this oyle taken with the broth of some fat foule it doeth empt away the humour that causeth the paine it doeth heale the olde sores of the head that doth yelde much matter A Gentleman that did vomit his meate the space of many yeeres did anoynt his stomack with this oyle and therewith did recouer neuer vâ—mitted again It doth vndoe Opilations of the inner parts of the body of the stomacke of the Mother anoynting it therewith And vnto yong children and Boyes that cannot goe to the Stoole anoynting the lower parte of the Nauill with this oyle it doeth prouoke them to the stoole and if they haue wormes it doeth expell and kille them chiefly if they giue them a droppe or twoo with milke or with some fat grosse thing And for those that haue lost their hearing it causeth it to be restored to them with a maruellous worke as it hath beene seene by many experiences In griefes of Iointes and in griefes of swellinges so that they come not of a very hotte cause it taketh them away and doeth dissolue them any of the meÌ„bers beeing drawen together and annoynted with this Oyle they doe extende and the Sinowes are mollified with it taking away the griefe if that there bee any it taketh away any markes or signes wheresoeuer they bee in the face principally and the Morphewe which women many tymes bee troubled withall the anoynting with this Oyle doeth take it away and consumeth it not with litle conteÌ„t to them that vse it It is hotte in the first parte of the thirde degree and moyst in the second Of the BitumeÌ„ which is a kind of pitch THere is in the Islande of Cuba certaine Fountaines at the Sea side that do cast from them a kinde of blacke Pitch of a strong smell which the Indians doe vse in their cold infirmities Our people doe vse it there to pitche theyr Shippes withall for it is well neere lyke vnto Tarre and they doe mingle therewith Tallowe to make it Pitch the better I doe beleeue that this is Napta which the auncient wryters doe speake of Possidonio sayeth that there are twoo Fountaynes thereof in Babylon one whyte and the other blacke That which is brought froÌ„ the Indias we do vse against griefes of the Mother for that it doeth reduce the Mother to her place And if it rise on high then put it to the Nosethrilles and if it come downe to the lower partes putting thereto a wet tent with this Pitche it causeth it to go vpwarde to her place and likewise it doeth profite being applied to cold Infirmities as the other Medicines do which we haue spoken of It is hotte in the second degree moist in the first Of liquid Amber the Oyle therof FRom the newe Spaine they doe bring a Rosine that we call Liquid Amber and one like Oyle that wee call Oyle of Liquid Amber that is to say a thing that wee doe most set by and as precious as Amber or Oyle thereof both of them being of sweete smell of good sauour and especially the Oyle of Liquid Amber which is of sauour more delicate and sweete than Amber A Rosine taken out by incision from certaine trees very great and faire and full of leaues which are like to Iuie and the Indians doe call them Ococol They carrie a thicke rinde of the colour of Ashes this rinde being cut doth cast out the Liquid Amber thicke and so they doe gather it and because the rinde hath a smell very sweete they do breake and mingle it with the Rosine and when it is burned it hath a better smell in so much wheresoeuer the trees are there is a most sweete smell through all the fields When the Spaniardes came the first time to that place where it groweth and did feele such a sweete smell they thought that there had beene spices and trees thereof There is brought much quantitie of Liquid Amber into Spaine insomuch that they do bring many Pipes and Barelles full thereof to sell for Merchaundise for heere they raise profite thereof to perfume in thinges of sweete smelles wasting it in place of Storax for that the smoke and smell doeth seeme to be the same and also they doe put it into other confections of sweete smelles to burne and suche like thinges It casteth from it so muche smell without burning of it that wheresoeuer it be it cannot be hidden but doth penetrate many houses and streetes with the sweete smell when there iâ— quantity of it It serueth much in medicine doth therein greate effect for that it healeth comforteth dissolueth and mittigateth payne applied vnto the Moulde of the heades by it selfe or mingled with other thinges Aromaticall it doth comfort the braines and taketh away the paines of any manner of griefe proceeding of a coulde cause layed after the manner of a Playster therevnto it doeth also mitigate and take away the paynes griefes of the stomake wherein it doth a marueilous â—ffect applied after the maner of a Stomacher For that it doth comfort the Stomake and doeth dissolue windes and helpe digestion and take away rawnesse it causeth the meate to be well digested it geueth lust to eate it is made of Liquide Amber spreade abroade vpon a sheeps skinne in the forme of a breastplate mingled with a little Storax Amber and Muske it is a Playster which doeth profite muche in all that I haue sayed There is knowne of this playster very great experience in this Citie for the good effect that it worketh it is hot in the ende of the second degree and moyst in the first Out of this Liquid Amber is taken the Oyle that is called the oyle of Liquide Amber the which in his smel is more sweet it is taken out of the Liquide Amber when it is newly gathered putting it in parte where it may distill of it selfe the more subtill is the perfectest and best of all Others there be
with lesse quantity of wood The like shall be done in the hot or cold times in the age of the person or the most causes making to this respect and proportion And for the more light I will here set downe the maner how this water ought to be vsed the which shall serue to shew how that they may rise or fal therein coÌ„formably to the opinion which shall seeme good to euery one For in these infirmities that be very cold they must set vp the water in quillates both in seething and also in quantity of the wood And in the diseases that are not so colde or that doe participate of any heate they must set the water lower in Quillats seething it lesse putting in lesse wood the maner and order of the preparing it is this You shall choose the freshest wood that may be had and that which hath a rynde For that wood which hath not the rinde is not good nor taketh effect you must procure that it be of the roote for that is the best of the tree for these effects and cures and for the diseases which we haue spoken of And if in case there be no roote then the bowes are the best that growe in the higher part of the Trees and in case the boweâ— lacke then is the tree good if so be that the one and the other haue the rinde of the roote let there be taken lesse in quantity therof more of the bowes much more of the tree which must be double to the quantitie of the roote Nowe let vs speake of the bowes as of a thing in the middest betweene the roote and the tree beeyng that which continually they doe bring of the which you shall take halfe an Ounce and cut it as small as may be And it must be put into three Pottelles of water in a newe Earthen pot and there lie a steeping two howres and after it must bee sodden at a fire of Coales vntill the two partes bee consumed and tâ—e one remâ—yne And after it is colde let it be strayned and kepte in a glassed vessell and vpon those small cuttinges of wood that haue beene already sodden let there be poured other three Pottels of water and let it seeth vntil halfe a Pottell bee consumed and no more after that it is colde let it be strayned and kept in a glassed vessell Let the first water be taken in the morning fasting halfe a Pint hot and then keepe your selfe warme and procure sweate then change your selfe into hot clothing and wipe your selfe from the sweate And eate of a Hen rosted dry fruite and Conserua and drinke of the second water at Dinner and Supper and in the day time And then rise and goe well clothed and flie from all things which may offend you And at night make a light Supper and eate drie fruite and Conserua but eate no flesh at night and drinke of the second water And this you may doe for as many dayes as you finde your selfe greeued and if you finde your selfe well with the vse of this water taken in this maner proceed forward vntill you be whole if not then coÌ„tinue in taking of the strong water euery third day drink of the simple water coÌ„tinually After this order it may be geuen in all diseases that we haue treated of and it will profite But many will not submit themselues to this labour which truely is the best of all others that which is most conuenient They may make â—he simple water in this forme Let there be taken halfe an ounce of the wood little more or lesse with the conditions aforesaide and let it be made into small peeces and seeth it in three Pottels of water vntill halfe be sodden away rather more then lesse And of this water you may drinke continually at Dinner and at Supper and in the day time and surely taken in this order it doeth and hath done mauellous woorkes and moste greaâ—e Cures in long diseases and importunate taking it and â—eeping a good gouernemâ—nt in yâ—ur Meate and other thinges prohibited And howsoeuer it bee beyng drunke so simple it procureth great profite They that cannot forbeare tâ—e drinking of wine may water their wine therewiâ—h for it will rather make it of a better tast and sweetnesse for this water hath a most sweete smell and tast and aboue all it worketh maruellous effectes as we haue seene and do see in diuers and sundrie diseases in the which ordinary remedies of Phisicke doe not profit with the greate examples which we haue hereof And it is to be considered that principally it doeth profite in longe and colde diseases and where there is wyndines other euils that run this course which shal be knowne foorthwith by him that shall haue need of it vse it And one thing is to be vnderstoode that vsing it in the order as is aforesaid although that he which taketh it haue no neede thereof it can doe him no hurte but rather if it be well considered it wil manifestly profite him in the time that he shall take it yea although he leaue the taking of it when he seeth that he findeth not the profite which hee desireth nor that it hath done him any hurt or harme during the time that hee hath taken it CARLO SANCTO ¶ Of the Carlo Sancto a roote brought from the new Spaine THey bring from the newe Spayne within this three yeeres a mauellous roote of great vertues which is called Carlo Sancto the which a father of S. Francis order discouâ—red and published in the prouince of Mechoacan beyng taught by an Indian of that countrie that was verie wise in such thinges and a man of greate â—xperience in the vertues of them In the firâ—te parte wee haue declaâ—ed that there bee many Medicinadle Hâ—arâ—es which haue greate secretes and vertues This â—ur Carlo Sancto groweth in that Prouince in places which are vâ—rie tâ—mperate which â—e not drie nor verâ— moyst The forme and figure thereoâ— is like to our wilde Hopâ— of Spaine for it câ—rrieth a Lease as they doe and it râ—nnâ—th vp by any otâ—er tâ—ing that is neere vnto it and if it haue nothing to leaâ—e vâ—to then it câ—eepeth all along vppon the grounde the coloâ—r is a sadde grâ—ene it carâ—ieth neither flowâ—e nor fruâ—t the smell that it hath is little and acceptable to some Out of the Roote sâ—riâ—geth a grosse tree and it casteth foorth other Rootes of the greatnesse of a finger it is white in colour and hath a Rinde which falleth from the inner parte the hearte of it is meruellously wrought for it is compounded of certayne small boordes very thinne and they may be deuided by one and one the roote hath a pleasant smell and beeyng chewed it hath a notable bitternesse wiâ—h some sharpnesse of tast this roote hath his vertue in the Rinde In the ships that he
being taken by it self or mingled with Lignaloe Muske in maner of pouders or pilles For that the Muske as Anerois sayeth comforteth more then al other sweete smelles that are in the worlde for that the sweete fauour and comforting smell thereof preuayleth more then al other smelles In what maner of way soeuer the Ambar is applyed by it self or with other things in infirmities of the harte it profiteth much applyed thereunto outwardly and in any maner of sorte taken it doeth comfort and strengthen and dissolue any humour that is in the body I doe cause Ambar to bee ground which being wel mingled with yeallowe wax molted and made into a thynne cake and layde to the harte doeth profite much in the euilles of the harte chiefly if they come first of windinesse Melancholie or of any other cause whatsoeuer so that it be not hotte The Ambar is very profitable for them that be Melancholike for it maketh them very merie taking awaye the causes of the euill and dissoluing the windinesse thereof which there are very many grieued with al and vnto such it is good to bee ministered and to vse it after the manner of Medicine mingled as we haue saide in the morninges and also to vse it laide vpon the harte and vpon the braines and in meates for surely I haue seene great effectes wrought in them that haue frequented it Where there is corruption of ayre the Ambar doeth rectifie it by it self or mingled with things of sweete smel the place beeing perfumed with it where men shoulde remaine principally in the tyme of winter and vnto such as doe suffer colde Rewmes in cold tymes chiefly perfuming their kercheifes wherein they sleepe with it or with some mixture thereof perfuming the Chamber likewise for it is a maruellous thing to see the good woorke it doeth make And likewise it doeth good to them which haue the palsey or weakenesse of Sinewes perfuming themselues with it or with the mixture therof Those that haue the Falling sicknesse by giuing to them at their noses when they bee in their traunce or paroxismos the smoke thereof it maketh to awake and wearing it about them smelling to it continually the traunce doth not come so quickly nor so strong And vnto those which suffer the disease of the Palseye by anoynting their head with it and all the vpper part of the skull it bringeth manifest profite for that the Ambar is a thing that comforteth the Sinewes and brayne more then any thing that wee knowe One propertie the Ambar hath that bringeth admiratioÌ„ and Simeon Secto a Greeke authour doeth reporte that if any smell to it before hee drinke wyne it maketh him stand as if he were dronken and if it bee put into the wine it maketh him dronke indeede in such sorte that a little wyne mingled with Ambâ—r causeth dronkennesse which I haue seene by experience in the house of a great Lorde of this Realme where for delicatenesse and daintinesse they had a Sâ—lte seller of Ambar as also Salte to cast into meates and to a Iester there was Ambar cast into his wyne and hee was made very drâ—nke with it Many other things â—here were to treate of Ambar but because I would not passe the limites of my purpose I leaue 〈◊〉 wryte of them and the râ—ther for that in the thirde parte wee wil declare that which we meane farther to say of them The ende of the second parte THE THIRD PARTE OF THE MEdicinall Historie which treateth of the thinges that are brought from our Occidentall Indias seruing for the vse of Medicine Wherein there is mention made of many things Medicinall that haue great secrets and vertues ¶ Nowe newely set foorth by the sayde Doctor Monardes after that he had made the first and second partes ¶ Of the Cinamon of our Jndias IN the yeere of our Lorde 1540. Francis Pissarro prouided to make towarde his brother Gonsalo Pissarro gouernour of the prouince of Quito the Spaniards weÌ„t thither with a good will they went also vnto the couÌ„trie that was called the country of the CinamoÌ„ with is an other prouince beyond Quito and the Cinamon was much spoken of amongst the Spaniardes for it was vnderstood of the Indians that it was a thing of great riches Gonsalo Pissarro departed with 200. Spaniards and it happened to him euil in his iorney for it was a sharpe countrie without vittaile with great trauel they came to that prouince called of the Indians Somaca where the Cinamon groweth which is right vnder the Equinoctiall line The trees which beare it are of reasonable greatenesse they carrie a Leafe like to Laurel they be al the yâ—re greene and they neuer loose the leafe which is a thing common to all the trees of the Indias They beare their fruite vnto the likenesse of a little Hatte that hath his Cup and sides as greate as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer which is foure Shillinges and some greater it is of the colour of a darke tawnie as well without as within it is smooth in the inner parte and sharpe in the vtter in the highest part of the Cuppe it hath a stalke whereby it hangeth in the tree it is as thicke in the side as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer and the vppermost parte is fuller of bodie and being tasted it hath the same pleasauntnesse of tast that the same Cinamon hath which they bring from the India of Portugall and in like sorte there râ—mayneâ—h in the mouth the same sweete smell and tast that the same Cinamon of the East India hath there remayneth in the mouth the same sweete smell and tast with some drinesse the selfe-same it doeth being ground respiring out from it the same smell which the most fine Cinamon hath And in the meates wherin it is put it geueth the same tast sauour that the Cinamon of the East India hath The trees haue a grosse rynd but without tast sauour or smell of the Cinamon I cannnot tell if the little inner rynd haue any onely the rynde I haue seen with the fruite as it is described they say that the leaues beyng beaten geue out sâ—me smel of Cinamon onely the vertue sweet smel and tast is in the fruite which is contrary to â—he Cinamon that is brought from the Orientall Indias for onely the Rynde of the tree is that which hath the sweete sauour and pleasant smell as we doe all see And true it is that some is better and of more sweete smell and tast than othersome is For although that they are all one sorte of trees which bring forth the Cinamon yet some haue the rinde thinne and that is the best Cinamon and others haue it grosse and this is not so good and thereof it hath come that there bee some which doe distinguish the Cinamon into diuers kindes For one sort they call Cassia and an other Cinamon and an other
de Quinatna Duenas beeyng Aburgales who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of â—eare of a browne colour very small and hee had in a Paper more then twice as much which hee had cast vp two houres before and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all more then the alteration that hee had to see that he had cast vp such stuffe Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition and verie well learned saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake did cast out many peeces of glasse and peeces of Earthen Platters and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis but that which I do most maruel at was that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bellie so that no medicine coulde profite him did cut his owne throate with a knife and after that he was dead they opened him fouÌ„d in his belly great quantity of heare the like wherof he that I haue spokeÌ„ of did vomit with many other peeces of yron These things I do attribute to the works of the Diuel for that they caÌ„not be reduced vnto natural causes The Ueruaine is like that of Spaine all the yeere it is greene Of the Mastuerco I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru which they call Mastuerco it is a little hearbe doth carry certain small leaues that are round which beeing beaten in a morter and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound doth refresh comfort and heale curing it foorthwith and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce and laying the beaten leaues to them and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot Of the small wild Lettice LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe which they call wilde Lettice the leaues bee like to Lettice the colour is a sadde greene it hath vertue too take away the Tooth-ache receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues and holding it in the parte where the griefe is and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth which is greeued for so it taketh away the paines yâ— leaues which are staÌ„ped after the iuyce is taken out must be laid vpon it being tasted it is most bitter It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree Of the licour which is called Ambia IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side it is of the colour of honie as thin the smel is like the Tacamabaca they say and also they write that it hath great medicinall vertues chiefly in the healing of olde diseases and those which come of colde causes It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie proceeding of colde or of windinesse It taketh away the colde in what part soeuer it be it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling and it worketh all the effectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe and so they vse it in those parts in steede of them you may not touch nor handle it with your hands vnlesse you haue them wet and wheresoeuer it be put it sticketh fast that it cannot be taken away vnlesse it be wasted with long time They sent me this little for a shew bicause they doe esteem it greatly therfore they sent it as a thing very precious It seemeth to me hot in the third degree with notable clammines ¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die IN the yere of our Lord 1562. WheÌ„ the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru he had there a gentlewomaÌ„ which was married that serued him her husband waxed sicke of a grieuous disease an Indian of great reputatioÌ„ seeing her to be in much sorow saide to her if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe that shee should take in her left hand and hold it fast for a good while and if he should line then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse with holding the Bowe in her hande and if he should die then she should shew much sadnesse And the Indian sent her the Bow and she did as he had willed her to do and the bowe being put into her hand she tooke so much sadnesse and sorrowe that she threw it away from her thinking that she should haue died thereof and so he died within a fewe daies I was desirous to know if that it were so and a Gentleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth that the Indians did this with their sicke people It hath put me in admiration and in much consideration ¶ Of the Granadillia FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow Graâ—aâ—illias and this name the Spaniards did giue them for the likenes fashion that they haue to our Granaâ—as which wee call they sent me is of a red colour somewhat darke and it hath a good smell Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru. ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru for that they haue beene sent me by the first discouerer of them the best of as many as from those partes haue come yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them which he sent me for knowledge saying that because I wrote of them they had knoâ—ledge of them and the booke which I wrote of them was the guide to finde and discouer them as we haue sayd as he sheweth by his letter which we haue set in the second parte Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie excellent in their coullour making and greatenesse whereof I haue broken some and finde them as excellent as those of the East India and so they prooue in pouder or in one little graine as the other doe and in coullour well neere they are the same Truth it is that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes that are fedde in the Mountaynes for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes are not so good nor haue any Medicinall vertues because the Beastes aâ—e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes whereby these stones are ingendered for as they bee Beastes and chewe thaâ— which they eate of the iuyce that proceedeth from the herbs the stones are ingendered Which thing that Gentleman gaue well to vnderstande who was the first discouerer of them who did see where they lay
the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good which is an excellent purge and delicate for they take the small Canes which are growing of a small time and seeth them in Sugar and with the seething and Sugar is taken from them the sharpenesse and the drinesse which they haue and they are made tender and softe and of a very good sauour These beyng taken make a very good woorke and purge without griefe or molestation and without all accidentes and faintnesse that purges are vsed to procure for that they are full of good tast at the taking of them and light of woorking They are geuen from two Ounces to three I haue geuen them many times with very good successe and haue taken them beyng sicke and they haue wrought verie well with mee Of these Conseruas they bring hither euery yeere from Sancto Domingo and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full The Canafistola that is perfect and rype is the moste excellent Medicine for to purge withall of as many as haue been knowne to this day and that doeth his woorke best in that which it serueth for and with most assuraunce as it is wel knowne not onely to Phisitions but also to all the world and doeth his worke without the hurtes and accidents which other Purgatiue Medicines are vsed too doe and it is a generall Medicine and amongst them that are called blessed is the most blessed of all whose vertues and properties wee doe treate of particularly in the first part and that which we haue spoken heere hath beene to geue relation of the leaues and flowers of it which they haue now brought mee One thing I would they should be aduertised of that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola to lighten and soften the bellie and that the common matters may bee voyded downe is ment that they shoulde take it a smal tyme before meate be eaten at the most halfe an houre before for the meate being mingled ioyntly with it worketh with it and in this order it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth very wel without paines which is not done with that which is taken any long time before meate as two or three houres before as now many doe vse it for that the meate beeing dilated it maketh an ende of woorking And as it is a thing without strength and weake it goeth al into vapours and so sheadeth it selfe abroade throughout al the body if it tarry long it is conuerted into meate and substaunce which I haue seene by experience many yeeres wherein I haue practised that alwayes as I gaue it halfe an houre before meate at the most it maketh a good worke and if it be giuen many houres before meate it purgeth and euacuateth little Concerning mingling of medicines which doe purge with the meate Hipocrates treateth of it in many partes and Galene in his Commentaries And trueth it is that when we wil that the Canafistola should not euacuate but that the vapours shoulde bee spred abroade by the reines and all the body wee geue it many houres before meate and then not working it performeth the effect that wee haue spoken of Of the Balsamo of Tolu THey newly bring now from the Firme lande from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena Numbre de Dios which the Indians call Tolu a Balsaâ—o or licour that is the best thing and of greatest vertues of as many thinges as come from these partes They gather it from certaine trees which are after the manner of litle Pines which cast out many bowes to al partes It carrieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona al the yeere it is greene they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled This Balsâ—mo the Indians doe gather by way of incision gyâ—ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree for it is thinnâ— and soft and they set vnderneath it neere vnto the tree thinges like to dishes made of waxe which is in that country blacke which they take out of Hiues that certaine blacke Bees doe make in the chappinges of the grounde I haue seene brought much of this Waxe into Spainâ— and it was spent in Torches but it was forbidden that none of it should be spent for the smoke which it cast from it had so euil a smel that it coulde not bee suffered They did vse this waxe in matters of Medicine for therof were made Cereclâ—thes which wrought very good effects in mittigating griefe of any colde cause it dissolueth any maner of swellinges and woorketh many other good effectes Of this waxe the Indians doe make vessels lyke to a spoone and set them close to the tree that they may receiue the licour that commeth out of it by the places where the cuttingâ— are made and from thence they receyue it into those vesselles and it is needfull that it be done in tyme of great heate that the cuttinges may cast out the licour and in this tyme lykewyse there soketh out of the ioyntes of the sayde tree some licour and it is lost because it is so little and falleth into the grounde in the night time there commeth forth none This licour or Balsamo is very much esteemed amongst the Indians and is of greate value and with the notable woorkes which therewith are done and the Spaniardes haue learned and by seeing the great woorkes which it maketh they haue brought it hether as a thing of great estimation and such a thing as they buy there for a great price and they haue reason so to doe for one of the best thinges that haue come from those partes which haue beene brought for Medicine is this Balsamo which seemeth to be better then that of the newe Spaine and in it selfe appeareth to haue more vertues It is of an Alborne colour very neere lyke to a thing that is gilt it is not very thinne nor very thicke it clyngeth faste wheresoeuer it bee layde and it hath the taste and sauour sweete and although it bee taken it maketh not any horriblenesse as the other Balsamo doeth it hath a most excellent smell lyke to Limons insomuch that wheresoeuer it bee the good smell thereof giueth greate contentment and it can not bee hidden for a little of it smelleth much and if you rubbe your hande therewith there remayneth a maruellous smel The woorkes thereof are excellent and very greate for that it is licour which is taken out by incision as they tooke out in olde tyme the Balsamo in Egypt and for al those diseases for which that was good this of ours is as good It healeth al fresh woundes comforting the partes and ioyning them without making any matter and without leauing any signe of them The superfluitie that is in the wouÌ„d must be taken away of what sort soeuer it be washed with wine ioyned wel in the lippes parts therof and then the Balsamo laid to it when the coldnesse is out of it and
they and inward and outward burning that it seemeth to them they are fired It is also necessary to know what venome they tooke for too see the vomite and what they doe cast vp withall to iudge by the colour what Uenome it was and beeyng knowen by this way or by Relation or otherwayes beeyng apparaunt it must bee remedied by his contrary for to estinguish and kill the malice thereof as all the auncient Phisitions haue sufficiently written of as well in generall agaynst all as in particular against euery one of them for that euery one hath his contrary effectes for to remedie the malice thereof The tokens that hee most euill in them that haue taken Uenome be often soundinges and to cast vp the white of their eyes they doe waxe very red and put out their tongue very great and blacke and the pulse faâ—â— colde sweete vniuersally throughout all their body chiefly in the extreeme partes and in their brestes and they are desirous to vomit but cannot and they haue their vnderstanding troubled and this is in al kinde of venom being taken or by bytings of venomous beastes in so much that they talke ydlely as though they had the frensie which is a mortal signe It is needfull for the better knowledge what Uenom it was that it bee seene if there did remayne any thing of that which they had eaten or dronken and to see what was that which was mingled therewith iudging it by the colour the smel and the taste or geuing it to a Dogge a Hen or a Catt and marke howe it woorketh with them For if any of them waxe sadde or heauie it is a token that there is venom and if they dye it is a token that the venom was strong And being knowen to bee venomed the first thing that is to bee procured is that hee which is sicke doe vomit which is the thing that doeth most profit bycause there should be no tyme for the venom to enter by the vaynes and arteires for to come to the hart for if it come thither it is past all mans helpe and therefore it is conuenient that this remedie of Uomite be done with all speede that it may bee expelled before it passe from the Stomake And for to cause Uomite there must bee procured thinges that in very shorte time will prouoke it as to put the fingers in hotte water and the moste common thing is sweete Oyle drinking muche quantitie thereof in suche sorte that they fill theyr Bellies therewith that it may the better bee expelled the which hauing receyued they shall with theyr Fingers or feather prouoke them to vomite which must be done vntill that you perceyue that all that be expelled and cast out which was eaten or drunken which did hurt And if the Oyle bee not sufficient too doe this there may bee madâ— thinges for to cause Uomite beginning by the moste Weake as the seething of Dill the Seede of Radishe of Camamell and other like thinges that doe prouoke Uomite adding to the seetâ—ing if it bee needefull a Dramme of Agarico the which although it doe prouoke vomite strongly it hath also the Propertie to breake the strength of the venome Some for a greate secrete doe geue a Pint of Water of the Flowers of Orenges warme which although it doeth prouoke Uomite it hath also a particular vertue too extinguishe and kill the strength of the Uenome it muste bee geuen hotte the quantitie of a Pynte And heâ—reof it commeth that the Water taken out of the Flowers of Orenges which is a kynde of Cydron hath greate vertue agaynst Uenome as wee haue written in a little Booke which is printed with others of myne in Latine that doeth treate of Orenges It is verie good that with the thing which prouoketh Uomite there bee mingled thinges that haue vertue agaynst venome as Triacle Methridato and other like thinges the which heereafter wee will treate of muâ—t bee geuen the remedies that are too bee done for the Cures and Diseases that the venome is cause of not forgetting the principall cause which is to kill and to destroy the malice that is the cause thereof with the medicines and Remedies that I will speake of heereafter If hee that hath taken venome doe not perceyue nor knowe what manner of venome it was that he tooke nor the Accidentes thereof doe shewe It is to be thought that it was of the venomes which doe theyr woorke of theyr owne propertie which is the woorst of all kynde of venomes then it is conuenient that there bee had more care procuring vomite and that it bee effectually done as it is aforesayde And if any bee discended inâ—o the Guttes let him haue a gentle Glister that in all properties hath a knowne vertue agaynst venome which remedies are called Bezaarticas the which must bee vsed at all times with his meate and drinke procuring the inwarde and outwarde comforting of the principall members and vsing meates of substaunce that may geue great strength taken out by a small presse and in any other sorte that is needefull in the which there muste bee put thinges that haue vâ—rtue agaynst all kynde of venome of the which wee will trâ—ate of heereafter And this muste bee done not onely in them that bee venomed with vnknowne Uenome which woorketh the malice of it owne propertie but in suche as haue taken knowne Uenome which woorketh by qualitie for that the Uenome is a thing that doeth moste of all pull downe and weaken nature making leane verie quickly and ouerthrowing the vertue and strength thereof These medicines which haue this vertue and speciall propertie against these venomes are many some bee simples and other compoundes and bycause there are many of the one and of the other I will speake of them that are most vsed and where is seene greater experieÌ„ce of theÌ„ which are compounded The principal is the triacle that Andromacho wrote of the which if it bee well made is the most principal medicine of as many as euer haue beene compounded agaynst al kinde of venom And although it bee of a true composition yet there lacketh some medicines alwaies to doe that which is possible wee doe see that in this case it doeth maruellous effectes and not onely being taken with some water made for the purpose but also beeing put into prickes or bytings of venomous beastes and lykewise in Apostomes ful of poyson which are made in the tyme of the Plague The Methridate is of very great effect in this case and doeth serue sometymes for triacle That of Cidrons and Emeraldes doe make a meruellous woorke in al venome The earth Sâ—gillata hath a prerogatiue aboue them especially in feuers which haue an euil qualitie The triacle Diathesaron is for the purpose in colde venoms and in bytinges of venomous beastes and in especially in the byting of a beast that is made And so you haue many other compounded medicines that haue vertue and
it although it bee not my profession for beeing a thing touching yron I shal reioyce therein D. For to content you I wil owne iudgement And that wee may more apparantly see the same I will speake of such that holde the one opinion and also of those that are of the other and the parties being heard wee will iudge that which shall seeme best vnto vs. Let vs speak first of those that affirme Iron to be colde and let Galen be the first who doeth saye that all those metals of their nature are drye and so they haue great vertue and strength to drye vp and that that hath moste vertue strength to doe this aâ—ong all of them is the Iron as also with this vertue to drye vp it hath also vertue to make colde He doeth compare it to the stone saying that the substance of the stone is constant and stedfast for the colde and dryeth that it hath Euen so is the Iron in such sorte that it hath the nature of the stone the which is colde and drye And this which hee sayeth in the nynth of his Methodo hee doeth confirme in that of the naturall faculties The harde bodies do shewe to haâ—e more earthly partes and as the Iron is most harde it hath more then all other thinges whereby it commeth to be colde and drye Aueroyes doeth confirme the same in the fifth of his Câ—liget and sayeth things which are made harde of heate with the dominion of earthly partes ought to be colde and drye as the Iron is Alberto Magno in the booke of the Metheuros sayeth the Iron when it is kindled maketh it selfe very reade for because in his principall qualitie it hath earthly partes the same hee doth confirme in the bookâ— which he made of metals Conciliador in the difference 155. sayeth in the Iron is not founde that vertue which is expressely actiue but in the ende it is colde and drye The same wordes are sayde in the difference 128. Gentill in the same question which he made de Actuatione medicinarum sayeth that the Iron is colde and drye Herculano in the chapter de Vomitu confirmeth the same Iacobus de partibus vpon the second of the first sayth that the yron is colde and dry Wee do see that the waters which haue quenched hot yron or steele are colde and dry Auicen in the seconde of the first sayeth that they doe restrayne the colour and take away dryeth and the heat chiefly in time of very hot weather And following after this Menardo saith that the water which hath cooled hot steele is colde seing that it taketh away the drieth and doth mittigate the heate in tyme of hot weather and the drieth being taken away causeth that the putrefaction of the feuers do cease and where they are with stooles it maketh an excellent woorke Albucasis in the booke which hee made of cering instrumentes sayeth that those instrumentes wherewith the head shoulde be cered ought to be of golde bicause it is most temperate that in no manner of wyse they be of yron bycause the yron is colde of nature Brasauola in his booke of the Frenche disease sayeth that the yron is colde and dry which as he sayeth doth shewe wel in his colour and manner of substance and in the darkenes and waight it hath for these thinges doe alwaies appeare and come into earthly substance as that which is light in to hot and ayery substance which is knowen to bee colde and dry for his effectes seeing that it taketh away and doeth represse the cholerike stooles it withholdeth the fluxe and hot runnings That which this doeth alwayes is colde and dry Sanauarola putteth the degrees of the coldnes which the yron hath and sayeth that it is colde in the seconde degree and dry in the third B. Maister Doctor I pray you to passe forwarde for vnto mee that which is spoken is sufficient for I haue no doubt therof but that the yron is colde and dry and alwayes I haue vnderstood it to be so and now with the confirmation of such authors I holde it for more certaine and firme D. Maister Burgus hath very quickly and determination of this controuersie We haue sayde with the opinion of Auicen and the rest of the authors that al metals are made of sulfur and quicksiluer the sulfur as the father and the quicksiluer as the mother the one as the maker and the other as the matter and being so the matter whereof the yron is made is of these twoo things and of these twoo beginninges of the most hot sulfur and of the most colde quicksiluer The which nature hath placed in the inner partes of the earth and made them metals and where there was these twoo beginninges most pure it was made golde and lykewyse of that which was grosse and vnpure according to the degree and qualitie of euery one there was ingendred and made the metal conformably to the purenesse or grosnesse that it had and where these metals are more vnpure more grosse and more darke the yron did ingender The which being of beginnings not pure nor cleane but grosse and filthy became to be a metall more harde then al other metals so that by meanes of it strength there might bee some who might make it easie and subiect to bee wrought as also it might bee a necessary instrument that thereof men might profite themselues And whereas the yron is made and ingendred of these twoo beginnings which are sulfur and quicksiluer the one hot and the other colde so it hath the complection and temperature and doeth participate of both qualities therfore it is so dry and for this cause hard and strong By meanes of the sulfur it heateth it consumeth it dryeth it openeth it comforteth it prouoketh appetite and maketh the meruellous woorkes that we will speake of heereafter and al is done by meanes of the heate which it hath And by meanes of the quicksiluer being grosse and vnpure and being formed with earthly vertue wherewith it is mingled it cooleth it retayneth it thickeneth it congeleth it withdraweth and detayneth any maner of fluxe or runninges by binding it taketh away stooles it cooleth and tempereth the heate and it doeth many other effects which are all done by meanes of the coldnes that it hath in such sorte that as by the aforesaide is seene the effects are contrarie which the yron doth the cause wherof is by reason it is compounded of things that haue contrary qualities which are rooted in it and do worke conformably to the subiect where they doe worke For where it is need to open it openeth and where it is neede to shut it shutteth Trueth it is that besides these qualities the yron hath an other most principal which is that it is most dry more then all other metals by meanes whereof it doeth many of these effectes and workes which wee haue spoken of and also it
drithe it causeth the dropsie by reason it corrupteth the first disgestiâ—n consumeth the body with his heate Auicen himselfe confirmeth this in the thirde of the first part saying the colde water is conuenient for them that haue a temperate complection for being whot it causeth the stomake to be sicke Isaac Aliabas and Rasis say the same that Auicen saith the which he did let to wryte of bycause hee woulde not bee long in his sayings One thing Auicen would haue in the thirde of the first parte that hee which shoulde drinke very cold must first make a good foundation eating first a good portioÌ„ of meate before he drinke Also he saith that the cold drinke may not be dronke much at one draught but by litle and litle by reason it doth bring two benefits which is that there is taken more taste in that which is drâ—nke and it doâ—th not kill the natural heat as it is seene by the pot that boyleth if you cast into it much water at one tyme it doeth cease boyling but if it be cast by litle and litle it ceaseth not his working And therfore Auicen himselfe sayeth when that you will drinke colde that you drinke with a vessell which hath a straight mouth that the drinke run not in hastily the said vessel beeing a limet or a yewre with a poynt surely it is a greate benefit for them which are affectioned to drinke with the lyke â—esselles if they ought first to take out the winde or not I do remit me to the Doctor Villalabos who treateth largely of this matter And by that it is seene howe Auicen woulde that those which woulde drinke very colde they shoulde not drinke foorthwith at the beginning of their meate For sâ—me there bee that as soone as they begin to eate foorthwith they will drinke that as is very colde the stomacke beeing empty without meate which cannot choose but hurte and so the hurt which doth come to them by this they doe attribute it foorthwith to the colde of the drinke and not to their euil order the which Auicen sayth speaking of cold water that to drinke it without order is the cause of many diseases if it be dronke in order as wel in time as in quantity it profiteth as he hath said Therfore let euery one loke to that which is conuenient for him and let him make experience in himself and if that it be conuenient for him to drinke colde that hee may beare it without that it doe offende him that doe it for therof wil follow the benefites which we haue spoken of but if he bee sicke and fall into any disease whereby hee saith that the drinking of colde drinke doeth offende him in such case let him not vse it for my intent is to shâ—w and perswade them that doe drinke colde that if it doe them no hurt nor offende them that they drinke it so aâ—d such as doe vse it of custome and haue experience that it doe not offende theÌ„ vnto such iâ— they drinke not that which they drinke cold the lust of their meate is taken away from theÌ„ for they take no taste in that which they eate and they eate it with grief and with an euil wil for that which they drinke doth not satisfie them the whot drinke doth fil the stomake full of windinesse and cannot make therewith a good disgestion But what is hee that hath a reasonable health being in the tyme of great heate or in the whot summer that comming to eate being weary of exercyse or of greate labour hauing the tongue dry the breath shorte that doeth let to drinke colde seeing that to doe it there doe followe the benefites that I haue sayde and doeth succor his necessity and remayne content and glad without hauing offended his disposition and health Unto the which Galen doeth animate and exhorte vâ— in the booke which hee made of good and euil meates saying In the tyme of hot weather when our bodies are whot and somtymes inflamed then we must vse of thinges that may refreshe vs although that they bee euill meates as Plummes Apples Cheries Melons Goords of other colde fruytes in these lyke tymes Galen saith that wee may vse colde meates as the feete of a pigge or hogge sodden in vinegre and crudded milke and the same meates must be made colde and likewyse the drinke must bee made colde as the water and the wyne watered with colde water or made cold in snowe the one and the other must be made colde in the most cold water of a fountaine and if it be not to be had let it bee made colde in snow chiefly the drinke And after that Galen hath made a large digression as it is conuenient so much in the tyme of greate heate to eate and to drinke colde things hee doeth describe who they are that should drinke colde and saith in this sorte those that should drinke cold are such as haue much buzines and haue care of many things as those which are gouerners of cities and common wealthes and the ministers which doe helpe them and doe participate of such cares and troubles and those that are much exercised in bodily buzines in especially the sowldierlyke exercises or other great exercises and they which doe iorney and inespecially long iorneyes giuing to vnderstand all corporal exercises Here I doe see many being sicke and hauing great occasions of sicknes after that they drinke cold they are whole and when they vse it not they become sicke agayne And although experience doe shewe it yet Galen doeth teach it vs in many places being the Prince of Phisicke For in the thirde degree of the substance of meates he saith that vnto them which are whot of stomake it is conuenient that their drinke be made colde with snowe the same he doth confirme in the booke of good and euil meates And in the 7. of his Methodo it hath beene seene as he saith that diseases haue beene healed and the griefes of the stomake with colde water made colde with snowe and in the 6. of the Epidimias hee doeth vse much of water first sodden and after cooled with snow and in many partes hee doeth put to coole in snowe the medicines which he doeth vse of and the same doe the Arabiens for that as it is sayde it doeth seeme that the snowe was had in reuerence by the ancient wryters and that they did vse of it in the preseruation of their health and in the healing of their diseases for that it was the best maner how to nake it cold more cleane and more without scruple For the cold that proceedeth of snow is healthful without receyuing hurt by that which is cooled with it nor causeth any alteration bycause it is a very good congeled water and doeth make cold Truthe it is that it is not conuenient to vse of the sayde snowe continually if it be not in tyme
of need by the way of medicine for the vse of the sayde snowe dronke in water or in wyne or putting the snowe into them doth ingender many kind of diseases which if presently they bee not felt they come to be felt in age Of the which Galen doeth make a large relation in the booke of diseases of the raynes and in the booke of good and euil meates And bycause that Auicen did expound them I wil shew what he wryteth in the third part of the first booke in the 8. chapter He which doth drinke snow and the water that doth proceed out of the same snowe if hee doe vse it continually there will followe much hurt thereby it doth offend the sinewes and it is naught for the brest and for the inner members and especially for the breathing and there is none that doe vse to drinke it but it wil do them hurte vnlesse hee be of a sanguine complection which if hee doe not feele hurt presently hee shall feele it afterwarde Whereby it appeareth howe euill the vse of the sayde snowe is and the water which doeth come out of it if it bee not by the way of medicine onely so it may bee vsed to coole therewith for in such sorte it doeth not offende as is sayde For in this neither the auncient wryters did put any doubt of hurt nor any scruple and nowe wee see that it hurteth not but bringeth health and benefit as wee haue sayde And as Plinie also sayth of the delight and dayntinesse of the colde without offence of any malice of the Snowe And Martiall doeth shewe the same in the 4. booke where hee sayth the snowe must not be dronke but that licor which is made very colde with it And this was shewed and taught vnto vs by the most ingenious drithe And vnto such as are very colde it commeth not well to pas for them to drinke that which is made cold with snow or that which is very colde if hee bee not accustomed theretoo for by custome they may vse and drinke it without any offence to them but it is good that they moderate themselues in drinking that which is very colde and that they conâ—ent themselues that it bee made colde after a meane sorte although it bee with snowe Also it is not conuenient for children nor boyes that their drinke be made cold with snowe for the weakenes of the sinewes and interiour parts and for the tendernesse of their age and chiefly they may drinke no wyne but water for that their age doeth not suffer that they may drinke it and drinking water very colde it doeth them very much hurte The wyne which is made colde with snowe doeth not offende so much as the water which is made colde one of the things which taketh away the fury and strength of the Wyne is the making of it colde And so there are three thinges which doe abate the fury of the wyne that is to water it a good tyme before you drinke it Also to cast a peece of bread into it that it may sucke the vapours and subtiltie of the wyne The third is to put it to coole some reasonable time in water that is most colde or in snowe for the more it is cooled the more the strength and vapours are repressed and so it will lesse offend the head and it will lesse penetrate the ioyntes which is seene in the sayde wyne and beeing made colde there is abated much of his strength in so much that if it bee very colde it seemeth as though that it were water Some people there are which doe say and publish much euil of the cooling with snowe without knowing if it be good or euill and as it is a newe thing and especially in this Countrie they feare that there will come hurt to them by the vse of it And I beeing at the table of a Lorde there was brought a platter full of Cheries with snowe vppon them and there was a Gentleman that durst not take any one of them saying that they would hurt him bycause that they were made colde with Snowe And as it was a thing vsed a long time to cast snowe vppon fruite as Galen doeth say that it was cast vpon the Mulbery the cause of this is for lacke of the vse thereof by reason it hath not bene vsed nor seene in these partes and alwayes they take it for suspicious And heere are none that doe vse it but the noble men and not al but such as haue beene Courtiers and such as haue proued the benefit and commodity that doth followe of it for the rest say that without know they haue loued and without it they wil pas on their tyme. And they do not consider that to liue they may passe with Beefe and Garlyke and Leekes but these kinde of meates doe ingender euil humours for it is one thing to eate the partridge the veale at his time and mutton byrds at another tyme. And there is differiÌ„ce to eate the flesh with sauce the partridge with a Lemon for the one is to eate without taste rustically and the other is to eate as men doe choycely and delicately And so it is in the drinking of cold or whot for of the drinke that is made colde with snow there foloweth health taste contentment and of the drinke that is whot commeth euill diseases distylâ—ing discontentment Let vs consider vow the old wryters tooke great felicitie to drinke colde and chiefly that which was made cold with snow and they were people both wyse and discrete and with much care that preserued their health For in this and in their estimations in their maner of subtile liuing they did put their whole felicitie seeing that they with so much care as we haue before declared did drinke that which they made colde with snowe in countries that was of lesser heate then this wherfore shoulde we not inioy this benefit and contâ—ntment seing that therof cannot followe vnto vs but greate benefit of health vsing therof as I haue said Let euery one looke to that it is conuenieÌ„t for his health age vse and custome and let him haue respect to that which doth agree with him for the vse wil shew him what hee shall do seeing that of the hurt or benefit he may soone perceiue if it ought to be vsed or no he must be aduised that at the beâ—inning when he doth vse to drinke cold that which is made cold with snow the first daies hee shal feele in the day tyme drithe but being past 7. or .8 dayes it is taken away rather they goe betweene dinner and supper without drith without hauing any need to drinke They do bring the snow to this countrie from the mouÌ„tains wheras is much snow 6. leagues beyond Granado The snow hath many things to preserue it because the way is long and it commeth by a whot country by reason whereof
Muske and so it is better then alone It is alwaies fixed without melting of it selfe vntill that it bee al wholie wasted And where it doeth most profite is for to take awaie any manner of griefe caused of colde humours and windie and beeing applied vnto them in manner of a plaister it taketh them away and dissolueth them with greate admiration it doeth cleane in such sorte that vntill it hath done and wrought his effect it can not bee taken away and the selfe same it doeth being laide vppon swellinges for that it consumeth and desolueth them and if there bee any desire to ripen them it doeth it and that very quickly It is also a remedie verified and experimented that it doeth profite much in Reumes and Runnings wheresoeuer they goe for it taketh them awaie putting a small peece of linnen cloth with this Rosine behinde both the eares or the eare on the parte which runneth for that it doeth restraine the running of them and applied vnto the temples of the head in manner of a plaister it doeth withholde the runnings and the fluxe that runneth to the eyes and to the partes of the face it takethaway the tothe ache although that the tothe bee hollowe by putting a little of this Rosine into the hollowe and if therewith the rotten tothe be burned it maketh that the corruption goeth no further and being laide after the maner of a plaister in the hollownesse of the necke or griefe of the shoulders it taketh away the paynes mingled with the thirde parte of storax and a little Amber made in a plaister for the stomacke it doeth comfort it and causeth appetite to meate it helpeth digestion and dissolueth windines after the same sort put vpon the moulde of the head it comforteth and taketh away the paines thereof In the Sciatica or paynes of the hippes put therevnto the effect thereof is greate and likewise it is so in all paynes of the ioyntes and in any payne of the body whersoeuer it be chiefly if it come of cold humours or mixt For because with his resolution it hath partes of binding which doe giue a maruellous comforting in ioyntes or in hurtes of Sinewes putting that alone it doeth heale and cure them for greate is the experience that wee haue of it iâ—genderyng foorth with matter it taketh away an extreeme colde ordinarily it is applyed to all griefes I doe mingle therewith the thirde parte of yellowe Waxe for that will be applied the better and the vse thereof is so celebrated that the people knowe no other remedy for any grief but only the vse of this Rosine so that it bee not inflamations very hotte and also in them after the first furie is past and the fearcenesse thereof it doth profite much for to dissolue the rest it is hotte in the beginning of the third degree and drie in the second Of the Gumme Caranna THey doe bring from the firme Lande by the waie of Cartagena and number de Dios A Rosin of the coulour of Tacamahaca somewhat cleare and thinne called in the Indians language Caranna and this woorde and name our Spaniardes haue geuen it and it hath in maner the smel of the Tacamahaca although it bee somewhat more strong of smell it is very oylie and it cleaueth fast without melting for the clamminesse that it hath It is a newe Medicine and brought hither about a tenne yeeres past and the Indians doe vse it in their infirmities against swellinges and in all manner of griefes and now in our partes it is much esteemed for the great effects that it doth worke It doth profit and heale the same infirmities that the Tacamahaca doth but it woorketh more speedily so that many infirmities wherein the Tacamahaca doth not so much effect the Caranna doth easily heale There was one that did suffer paines in his shoulders the which paines hee had suffered a long time in such sort that he could not stirre his Armes hauing vsed a great time the Tacamahaca yet hee was not healed vntil hee had put thereunto the Caranna and thereby in three daies he was made whole In the griefes of the Iointes and the Goâ—t Arthetica it hath a maruellous effect being applied vnto the grief so that it be not an inflammation of very hotte humour for it taketh it awaie with much easinesse In old swellinges as well in humours as in windes it dissolueth in griefes caused by defluxe or running of cold humours or mixed it worketh a meruellous â—ffect in all paines of the Sinowes and griefes of the head and griefes that thereof do proceede it profiteth much Surely it is a medicine to dissolue and to take away griefs of great efficacie and doth make his worke with great certaintie in new greene wounds especially of the Sinewes it doeth much profit and greatly in ioyntes in the which I haue seene done only therewith very great workes it is an intercepting to state the fluxe and running of the eyes and other partes applied behinde the eares and in the temples of the head It is very fattie and oylie and hot more then in the second degree And it is to be noted that all these Rosines the Indians doe gather by way of Incision by geuing cuttes in the Trees of which forthwith the licour doth droppe out and from thence they gather it Of the Oyle of the Figge tree of Hell FRom Gelisco a Prouince in the newe Spaine they bring an Oyle or Licour that the Spaniards haue called oyle of the Fig tree of Hell for that it is taken from a tree that is no more nor lesse theÌ„ our Fig tree of Hel aswel in the Leafe as in the Fruite it is the same that wee doe commonlie call Chatapucia or Cherua it is also milkish as ours is for that it is more burning in the Indias for the grosnes of the earth The Indians doe make this oyle as Dioscorides doeth shewe in the first booke the xxx Chapter that is do pounde the seede seeth it in water and after it is sodden then they gather the Oyle that swimmeth vppon it with a Spoone and this is the maner to make Oyle of fruite and Seedes and Bowes of trees It is verie much frequented and vsed of the Indians As for expression or wringing out the iuice they doe not knowe how to doe it for lacke of knowledge this kind of oyle principally is better drawen out this way than by expression This Oyle hath greate vertues as by the vse thereof hath beene seene as well in the Indias as in our partes and all that I will say is of very greate experience and much vse thereof in many persons it doeth heale and cure all infirmities caused of cold humours and windines it doth dissolue al hardnes with mollification and all inflammations being windie it taketh away all manner of paine in what parte soeuer it bee
indisgestion and rawnesse of stomacke for want of heate it tooke them away with taking of one good cupfull of this water euery morning fasting and so with drinking it continually but that which he dranke euery morning he dranke it cold and yâ—t neuerthelesse hee was healed very well of the flixe which he had many yeeres Iâ— griefes of women the water of Sassafras doeth greatly profite and in especially in that which is called the euil of the Mother and where there is windinesse it consumeth dissâ—â—â—eth it and also any maner of colde of the belâ—y and it dissolueth the swelling of it curing any manner of disease which proceedeth of the Mother And this is so experimented and so put in vse that many haue beene healed with this water that neuer thought to haue recouered health And in the withhelding the Monethly course that commeth not to women this water maketh a meruellous woorke by prouoking and making it come in them that wholie doe lacke it taking one Cuppe ful of this water in the morning drinking it ordinarily at dinner and at supper and in the day tyme being more simple then that in the morning vsing good regiment and dooing other thinges which may helpe the water that it may bee prouoked And vnto them also to whome it doeth not come wel it bringeth manifest profite taking the water in forme as is aforesaide keeping them the tyme that they take it from such thinges as may offende them and beeing vsed it doeth disopilate and make a good colour in the face as it is seene by the experience of them that doe vse it hauing need of it Let them beware if they haue much heate or bee of a hotte complexion in such case let them moderate the quantitie of the wood and the seething of the water as is conuenient and this is easie to be done by seing howe it goeth with them at the beginning with the vse of it and according thereunto they may ryse or fal as it seemeth to be necessarie Some women doe vse of this water for to make them with childe and in some it hath wrought the effect as it is wel knowen That which I can say is that a gentlewoman beeing many yeeres married without hauing children tooke this water for that her husbande vsed it for certayne euilles of Opilations and of an agewe that helde hâ—m with certayne sittes of a double tercian which he had and hee continued with the taking of it in the Morning hotte and at Dinner simple and at Supper and in the day tyme keeping a good gouernement whereby it came to passe that she was with childe and brought foorth a sonne And I vnderstande that one of the principall vertues that this water hath is to dryue away the Mother for this effect for the most parte of women that haue no children is for the greate colde that is ingendered within the Mother which doeth hinder the cause of generation and as the water ryseth it consumeth it comforting the place and dissoluing the windes that are the let of it I am sure that it will manifestly profite as we haue seene in them which doe not bring forth childreÌ„ for hauing too much heate and drieth to whome permit not the vse of this water for because it will not profite them and if they do take it and feele hurt thereof let them not put the fault in the water but in their complexions seing that it is not conuenient for them The vse of this water doeth make fatte and this is certainly knowen for we haue seene many leane and sicke that haue taken it and haue healed of their euils and haue recouered much more flesh better colour as those people that come from the Florida do praise it very much they they al say that the vse of this water doeth make fat and it happeneth so to many and not onely it healeth them of their diseases but also maketh theÌ„ remaine with a good colour And so it seemeth by theÌ„ that come from that country for that they come al fatte and of a good colour who I beleeue as they wâ—re very sick so that they were very leane yellow when as they were healed of their infirmities which they had they gathered fleshe and became of a good colour ingendering in the Liuer good blood by the which the members were â—etter maintayned than when they were sicke And surely it iâ— a greate thing that this water shoulde woorke this effect coâ—sidering that it is hot and â—rye if it were not for the causes that are aboue sayd And I haue seene many that entered iâ— to taâ—e the water of the wood leane and with an euil colour to come foorth strong and fatte and of a good colour eating no otâ—er thing then Resâ—nges Almondes and Bisket In pestilent and contagious diseases which we haue seen in the time of the Pestilence past there were many that desired to drinke it to preserue them from that euill And we did see that none of them which vsed it were wounded of the disease that then reigned Many did vse to carry a peece of the Roote of the Wood with them to smell to it continually as to a Pomander For with the smell so acceptable it did rectifie the infected ayre I carried with mee a peece a great time and to my seeming I found great profite in it For with it with the chewing of the rind of the Cidron nor of the Lemmon in the morning and in the day time to preserue health it haâ—h a great strength and property And it seemeth to me that I was deliuered by the helpe of God from the fire in the which wee that were Phisitions went in blessed be our Lord GOD that deliuered vs from so great euill and gaue vs this most excellent tree called Sassafras which hath so great vertues and worketh such maruellous effectes as we haue spoken of and more which Time wil shewe vs which is the discouerer of all thinges It shall doe well to shewe the quantitie of the wood and also the quantitie of water wherein it shall be sodden to prescribe a rule in waight and measure in effectes and temperatures for them that are hot and others that are colde I will tell you the order that ought to bee kept in taâ—ing the water of this excellent wood which must bee made conformably to the disease of him that shall take it and accordinâ— to the quantitie and compâ—exion of the sicke bodie For vâ—to the Cholerike Person the water ought to bee geuen lesse sodden and with lesse quanâ—itie of wood and to the flegmatike more sodden and with more quantitie of woode So the diseases should be considered of Uâ—to them that are very cold the water ought to be geuen more sodden and with more quantitie of Wood. And vnto them thâ—t be not so colâ—e but doe participate of some heate the water ought to be geuen lesse sodden