THE COUNTRY-MANS Physician WHERE Is shew'd by a most plain and easie manner how those that live far from Cities or Market Towns and cannot have the advice of Physicians may be able of themselves by the help of this Book to Cure most Diseases happening to the Body of Man A Work very useful and necessary for all that understand not the Learned Languages LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswel at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1680. TO THE READER I Am not Ignorant that there are several Practices of Physick already Published in the English Tongue but truly they are almost all of them so stuft either with hard terms of Art and difficult Descriptions and Definitions or the Receipts the chief thing design'd indeed for the Buyer all in the Latine Tongue that I cannot at all perceive any or very little difference from their being continued in the Learned Languages they were written in so that they must necessarily be something of Scholars to understand those Books and so of little or no use to those that are none Whereupon taking the Premises into serious Consideration I thought I should do a very acceptable piece of Service to my dear Country-folks that understand no more than their Mother-Tongue if I should write a very plain method for them whereby they might be able by the help thereof to Counsel and Administer to themselves and their friends and neighbours fitting and pertinent Remedies for all manner of Curable Diseases when and where they cannot conveniently have the advice of the Learned Physician or Chyrurgion living perhaps remote from any Market Town or City where such commonly inhabit For the Book it self I can say that as the old Proverb is good Wine needs no Bush so I am confident thou wilt find it will be able to commend it self it being a choice Collection of almost infallible experiments from the most Famous Printed Authors and curious Manuscripts and I have for the Reasons before specified made it so plain and easie that any though no Scholars nor at all vers'd in the Learned Languages cannot erre in following these directions in this Book A TABLE OF THE DISEASES CURES Treated of in this BOOK CHAP. I. OF the Diseases of the Head whether caused from Heat or Cold where likewise of the inveterate pain of the Head Page 1. CHAP. II. Of the Diseases and Pains of the Eyes where of the Chataract p. 2. CHAP. III. Of the Diseases of the Nose as stinking Vlcers thereof where of the bleeding at the Nose p. 13. CHAP. IV. Of the Diseases of the Ears viz. Vlcers Wormes noise in the Ears and Deafness where also how to Cure the Pain in the Ears p. 19. CHAP. V. Of the Diseases of the Mouth as the Vlcers thereof where of a stinking breath of too much and too little spitting likewise of the Diseases and Pains of the Teeth and of the Cure of the Quinsey p. 22. CHAP. VI. Of the Diseases of the Breast as the Coughs shortness of Breath Spitting of Blood and of the Ptysick p. 27. CHAP. VII Of the Diseases of the Side as the Plurisie and of the Pains of the Side p. 33. CHAP. VIII Of the Diseases of the Heart as the feebleness thereof and the beating of the Heart and swooning away p. 35. CHAP. IX Of the Diseases of the Stomack and first of the weakness thereof whether from a hot or cold cause of nauseating meats and loss of taste and appetite where of the Wind in the Stomack whether before or after eating and of the Hiccop Of staying Vomiting whether from an hot or a cold cause and of provoking Vomit if there be occasion and to comfort the Stomack after Vomiting and lastly of the pains of the Stomack p. 37. CHAP. X. Of the Diseases of the Belly and first of the Diseases of the Liver whether from hot or cold causes viz. from Choler or Phlegm c. Where of its obstruction 2. Of the Spleen of the Diseases where of its obstruction likewise and also of the Cure of the three sorts of Jaundies that is yellow green and Black 3. Of the Cholick and Iliac passions 4. Of the pain in the Kidneys and difference between that and the Colick as also of the Cure of their Gravel and Stone and likewise of the Cure of the Stone in the Bladder and difficulty and heat in voiding of Vrine 5. Of the Cure of the Three sorts of Fluxes of the Belly viz. Lientery Diarrhaea and Dissentery 6. Of the Dropsie and Wind and Gripings of the Belly 7. Of the both sorts of Hemorrhoids viz. inward and outward p. 42. CHAP. XI Of the Diseases belonging to Women as of the stopping and provoking their Monthly Courses and of the Curing of the Fits of the Mother as also of the falling down of the Womb Of their Barrenness likewise and of how to prevent miscarriage and how to cause easie Delivery of Women in Child-birth and to ease their Pains after Travel and lastly how to cause plenty and scarcity of Milk in Women that give Suck p. 52. CHAP. XII Of breeding of Wormes and Teeth in Children p. 59. CHAP. XIII Of the Cure of Feavers whether continued Quotidian Tertian or Quartane p. 61. CHAP. XIV Of the Cure of the Pestilence and its Symptoms p 64. CHAP. XV. Of the Cure of the Gout whether in the Hands or Feet or Knees or Hipps p. 66. CHAP. XVI Of the Cure of outward pains in any part of the Body p. 68. CHAP. XVII Of the Cure of bruises in any part of the Body p. 70. CHAP. XVIII Of the Cure of Green Wounds and old Vlcers in any part of the Body p. 71. CHAP. XIX Of the Cure of all sorts of swellings in any part of the Body whether they be hot or cold hard or foft p. 78. by excessive heat or cold and often from the infirmities of other Members in which is contained the Cause of the pain in the head as the Stomach the Kidneys Liver Spleen Womb c. Now the pain is greater in the forehead than elsewhere when it proceeds from Blood behind when from Flegm when from Choler the pain is most on the right side the head and on the left when from Melancholy whereupon Medicines are to be imploy'd to the purpose by opposing hot Remedies to the cold as Flegm and Melancholy and cold to the hot Causes as Blood and Choler The manner to cure the pain from a hot Cause is first to let Blood in the Arm then to apply Linnen Cloaths dipt in Plantain and Rose Water and Vineger or in the Juice of Lettice with Rose-water and Vineger Or Oil of Roses and Poppies and make a Pultis of Bole-Armenac white of Eggs a Roasted Apple and Vineager and apply it to the head and forehead and temples and wash the head with warm water wherein have been boiled Sage Leaves Roses and water Lilly-Flowers and wash the feet with the same if he have no motion of the rheum or a
in the Morning of the Decoction of Wormwood or Mint in white Wine c. The Windiness of the Stomach from the Mouth before eating comes from clammy Flegm or waterish to Purge with Extractum Rudij two Scruples and Pilulae Stomach cum gummi one mixt take three Pills at Night and three in the Morning and you need not keep within doors if it be not extreme cold then take for three or four Mornings two Spoonfulls of Syrup of Wormwood or Mint fasting The Windiness after eating comes from heat of the Stomach and being weak cannot digest the meats for this take Annise Fenel Cummin and Carway seeds Poudred with Sugar or Aromaticum rosatum Dianisum or Diacyminum fasting drinking a little Wine after or two ounces of Wine wherein the seeds before have been boil'd remembring alwayes to keep the Stomach warm as before eat no raw fruits or windy meats and sleep not in the day time To Cure the Hiccup hold the Breath as long as may be sleep long sneez spit stir tell them sad stories and frighten them it proceeds sometimes from fulness so they must be moderate in diet But if it come from weakness of the Stomach after long sickness or flux of Blood or Belly c. you must nourish carefully with Gellies Eggs c. The Stomach Vomits sometimes by the benefit of nature easily what offends it but when by its weakness it causes violent motion and the Patient is in pain as those that have a little and straight Stomach long Neck and Breast or weak sight you must then help nature by giving some warm water and Oil c. put your fingers or feathers dipt in Oil as low as you can on the contrary to stay excessive Vomiting caused from an hot weak Stomach drink Syrup of Roses Quinces c. with water well boil'd and cold if from cold keep the Stomach warm as before and let him Vomit with Crocus Metallorum and see before To comfort the Stomach after Vomiting give Syrup of Mint c. for all pains in the Stomach from any cause take half a pint of Rose water and a quartern of Brandy an Ounce of Cinamon Poudred with enough Sugar let them steep six hours in the Liquors and give it to drink Great pains of the Stomach have been appeas'd by applying a great Cupping Glass upon the Navil sticking on an hour and with hot bread dipt in Oil of Camomile applyed to the pain Drink an hour before eating a glass of good Wine wherein hath steeped two drams of Diacyminum or Dianysum or Mastich in the decoction of Mints with Aniseed or Cumin or a little Castor in good Wine CHAP. X. Of the Diseases of the Belly THe humors which nourish the members of the Body are made by eating and drinking and digested by the natural heat of the Liver aided by that of the Heart but is sometimes hindred to perform its Office through too much heat with much pain coming upon the superfluity of Blood and cholerick humor or through diminishing of the natural heat when flegm which is cold abounds Red Urine quick Pulse spittle sweeter than ordinary shew Blood is the cause if choler 't is yellower and clearer than usual dry and hotter than before and less appetite if Phlegm the Urine that 's whitish and thick causes a heaviness about the Liver the face is pale Now for the Remedies from Blood let Blood in the Arm drink cool drinks as Ptisan c. keep the Belly loose by Clysters or gentle Purges and abstain from flesh but eat meats boil'd with fenel and purslain c. Almond Milk Pease rosted or sodden Apples Prunes c. if Choler cool also take a week together an Ounce of Syrup of Endive or Violets in Ptisan Morning and Night or of Endive Cichory or Sorril water each an Ounce then take half an Ounce of Cassiia new drawn a dram of Rhubarb infus'd all Night in Whey or Endive water or an Ounce of Syrup of Violets instead of Cassia or a Bolus of half an Ounce of Cassia as much Electuary of the Juice of Roses or a dram of Rhubarb or dissolve it in Whey or Endive water After he may take every Morning two or three spoonfuls of this Iulep half a pint of Rose water a quartern of Endive five Ounces of Sugar and to cool more two Ounces of Vineger who hath the Liver cool'd by Phlegm must for a week take fasting Oxymel compound with the Decoction of Parcely and Fenel then Purge with an Ounce of Diaphenicum or Diacarthamum in the decoction of the roots of Parcely and Fenel he may drink strong Ale or Bear or Wine and eat Spices when the pain of the obstruction of the Liver comes from the Stomach 't is cured by laxative medicines and when 't is accompanyed with pain of the Reins and Back by openers as Syrup of Venus hair c. and decoctions of Parcely and Fenel Roots Oft obstructions come to Women by reason of stopping of their motnhs then bleed them in the Arm first after in the Foot if need and take for a week opening decoctions as before with as much white Wine added The Spleen is the receptacle of Melancholy and clearer of the Blood making one jocund but if it be obstructed by too much melancholy all the Body becomes dry 't is known by a pain in the left side after eating and a blackish colour of the face and sadness and cured by letting blood in the Arm and Haemeroid Veins and if the pain be accompanied with drought and loss of tast it shews it proceeds from an hot cause then besides bleeding give cool things as before or decoction or Syrup of Scholopendria and Endive then Purge with half an Ounce of the Juice of Roses and three Ounces of the decoctions of the roots of Capers and Scholopendria with Cassia and Diassenna of each half an Ounce The Jaundies proceed from the Diseases of the Liver and Spleen and as their Diseases are divers so are the Jaundies to wit Yellow Green and Black the last from the Spleen the other from the Liver For the Yellow and Green drink in the Morning Syrup of Violets with House leek water or Syrup of Endive with Cichory water then Purge Choler as before in the Liver let the ordinary drink be Ptisan made with Barly Liquorice and Prunes or Tamarinds Earth worms wash'd and Poudred and given in white Wine is good also the waters or decoction of Venus-hair or Queen of the Medows For the Black Jaundies after all as before clap a large Cupping glass to the Spleen often Night and Morning The Colic is a Violent pain all over the Belly for which first drink a good draught of Scabious water with a little Treacle then give a Clyster made of Mallowes Mercury Violet leaves with Anise and Cassia Hony and Salled Oil and this often and a Purger of Choler as before when 't is caus'd of wind it runs up and down then give to drink Wine or Ale
for a cure if possest therewith The most assured way of preservation is not to communicate with the infected but dwell in a sound place the air cold and dry rather than moist and hot and to remember the commands of our Ancestors citò longè tardè that is to go quickly from the place infected and to go a long way to a healthful place from whence to be slow in returning till all danger be past But if they must remain in an infected place then to prevent if possible the Disease you must Bleed and Purge and Sweat and keep all things sweet and clean and good Diet keep Fires by night if in Summer and all day in Winter burn Frankincense and Benjoin and Storax never go out fasting Take Pill Ruffi 3 or 4 or 6 Pills going to Bed for cure and prevention and Mitridates his Remedy composed only of one Figg and Walnuts and Rue six Leaves and a little Salt beaten together comfortable Wines and Waters and Brandy are good having a care there be not a great Feaver then you must give Juice or Syrrup of Lemmons with Barley-water c. in Bleeding you must have a care not to Let Women Blood in their last Moneth or newly Delivered or weak and decrepid Folks or those that have Swellings In lieu of Bleeding may be used Cupping-glasses to the Shoulders and Thighs after Bleeding give Cassia or Manna the next day Now for outward applications you must here use no repercussive Medicines After Bleeding apply to the Bunch a Pultis made of Figgs Raisins stoned and Leven beaten together with Oyl of Camomil or Bread and Milk and Lilly Roots boiled together or Diachilum cum Gummi or Paracelsus Plaister or Ammoniacum or Galbanum and open the Aposteme before it be quite ripe then dress it with Vnguentum Basilicum with Tents from first to last CHAP. XV. Of the Gout FOr the Gout whether in the Hands or Feet or Knees or Hips the chief remedy is to Let blood in a hot cause more than once if occasion be purge gently as you have been taught before if they be Feaverish and give Clysters and then cool drinks as in Fevers then use Ointments to appease the pain and Cataplasms and Plaisters and Oyl of Roses and Lillies a Pultis of Whitebread and Milk and Oyl of Roses and to boil Hemlock and Henbane in Milk and make a Pultis with Whitebread and Vnguentum Populeon Vnguentum Anodynum and bathe with Milk and warm Water and apply Diapalma Plaister softned with Oyl of Lillies or Roses and Emplastrum de Ranis or if from a cold cause use Paracelsus Plaister and Oxycroceum Diachylon cum gummi cicuta Ointments and Plaisters of Tobacco are excellent in all Gouts and Sciatica's so is Oyl of Exeter and Oyl of Spike and Turpentine CHAP. XVI Of the Cure of outward pains in any part of the Body FOr pain o' th Members the Oyl of Dwarf-elder is very proper anointing the place first therewith if it be from a cold cause and then apply hot Emplaisters as Paracelsus c. as before in the Gout Also Brandy and fresh Butter or Porkgrease never forgetting if the Patient have need to Let blood i' th Arm more than once if there be occasion and to purge gently two or three times together as you have been taught before sufficiently if you be ingenious The Oyl of Elder-flowers and Earth Worms mixt together are excellent good and this following take Pitch and Rosin new Wax of each half an Ounce fresh Butter half a Pound melt them gently over the Fire in an Earthen Glazed Vessel all but the Rozin which is to be cast in in small pieces when the other have boiled a little or begin to boil then stir them well with a Wooden stick to incorporate them with this composition being warm anoint your parts pained and rub them as long as they can endure it then lay an Emplaister of the same thereon and so roul it up if it be in a place that may be rouled after it hath lain on twenty four hours take the Plaister off and anoint and rub it again and lay it on again and do so every twenty four hours till they be well The Ointment and Plaister of Tobacco hath done great good to many CHAP. XVII Of Bruises in any part of the Body FOr Bruises whether from blows or falls or any other cause these remedies following are very good Lupine-meal boil'd a little in Wine to the consistence of a Pultis Bean-meal boil'd in Vinegar Radishes beat with Hony takes away the marks of the Bruise The leaves of Consound mixt with Oyl of Saint-Johns-worth dissolves the clotted Blood in any part of the Body that comes from Bruises This Oyl following is excellent good for all Bruises and shrunk Sinews also Take a young fat Fox take off his Skin then open him and take ouâ— his Garbage then boil him whoâ—… in common Oyl with Bay-berries and Sage-leaves and Marsh-mallow-roots till the Flesh part from the Bones and after you have broke the Bones put them into the Vessel again to boil the Marrow out and let them boil a little then press all hard out and keep it in Earthen Glazed Vessels for your use CHAP. XVIII Of green Wounds and old Sores FOr Wounds from what cause soever you have several cheating Mountebanks that go up and down the Country promising you Infallible Cures by their Balsomes forsooth But if the Wound be of any moment you 'll find them most commonly deceive you and so you have work made for the Chirurgion and that which perhaps if at first artificially handled might with ease have been Cured becomes it may be desperate or difficult with hazard of Life or Limb So that I thought good to give you this caution and withal to give you the most approved way of Curing green Wounds and Ulcers and old Sores First Then if any one happen to be wounded be sure to have in a readiness always i' th house that most incomparable Balsom called by the name of Linimentum Arcei to be had at the Apothecaries and if the wound be not hallow spread some of it upon Lint and apply to the wound and bind it up but if it be hollow you must melt it in a Spoon and pour it warm into the wound or dissolve some in Oyl of Turpentine and pour it in or inject it in with a Syringe or you may make this Sovereign Balsome your self thus Take Gum Elemi and Turpentine of each an Ounce and a half Rams Suet old and tried two Ounces old Hogs Fat tried one Ounce the manner of making this Liniment is this dissolve the Gum in Sack and let the Sack cimmer away gently over the fire then put in the Fat 's and lastly the Turpentine Others make great esteem of Tobacco in the Cure of green Wounds and old Sores either boiling the Leaves or Juice alone thereof in Wine and Oyl or by adding Turpentine Wax and Gum and
Bag of Roses dipt in Rose-water or Cloaths dipt in the whites of Eggs very well beaten with Rose-water Let them drink Cichory Endive Purslain-waters c. mixt together or one alone or Barly-water with a little Liquorice Boil'd in it And to the intent that your Remedies may be the more Beneficial you must keep the Belly loose by Glisters or Suppositories or loosening Medicines as Syrups of Violets and Roses of each half an ounce or so or Cassia Lenitive Electuary or Diaprunes or Catholicon c. For a cold cause apply to the forehead and jaws wild Time or Vervain or Rue steept or dipt in Vineger and Honey of Roses or Tobacco or Mint or water-Cresses or rub the head with Asarabac-leaves or the Juice of Melilot mixt with Vineger and Oil of Roses To drink water wherein Betony hath been boil'd applying the Leaves to the Temples To snuff up into the Nose the juice of sow-Bread or Gith steept in Vineger and Powder of Pellitory of the Wall to make Sneeze and make a Bag with hot Herbs and Flowers as Melilot Sage Betony Rosemary of white Snakeweed the said Herbs and Flowers having been Perfum'd with the Vapors of Betony and Balm put upon a Plate of Iron or hot and cast thereon Vineger and Rose-water Perfume likewise the head with dry things as Roses and Mastich or with Red-Roses and Salt but it must be when the spitting comes not for then for fear of stopping the breath you must be content to Perfume the head Cloaths only applying them hot to the head and if the pain ceases not by these Remedies then use hotter things as Bags made of Marjoram Rue Bays Juniper-Berries or a fomentation of the decoction of the said things or else anoint the head with Oil of Camomile and Dill one or both together or Oil of Rue Spike Castor adding to them a little Pepper or Mustard Poudred to draw up into the Nose the Juice of Marjoram or Fenel is an Excellent Remedy After the Application of these Remedies before spoken of you must make a Cap of Taffaty doubled lined with Cotton which you shall stuff with Flowers of Marjoram Camomile Red-Roses Rosemary Cinamon Nutmeg Cloves c. finely Poudred and if there be a Catarrh use Mirtle Berries Frank-incense and the Gum of the Juniper Tree The Inveterate pain of the head is cured by Roasting a piece of the outer pill of an Onion under the Cindres and steeping it in Oil of Bays and Roses and put into the Ear where the pain of the Head is Bleeding and Purging first and you must alwayes keep a Temperate diet without which all is in vain Eat no windy nor salt Meats be quiet in his mind not Write nor Read but bear patiently his pain CHAP. II. Of the Diseases of the Eyes FOr the Diseases of the Eyes you must purge the Brain forasmuch as the greater part of the inward Diseases proceed from the Brain distilling its superfluous and malignant Humors upon them or the lower parts furnishing with Causes whereby the sight is diminished and the Eye pained and this is the Physicians business to discern the particular Humors that cause the Diseases and to evacuate them by proper Purgations as Pills Glysters Potions c. And for what concerns the outward means you must keep the Head dry and clean rubbing it well behind every morning by that means diverting the Humors which fall from the Brain upon the Eyes it makes much likewise for the preservation of the sight to keep the Feet dry moderately hot and not moist 't is likewise good for the same purpose not to sleep in the day nor hold the Head much down to be bound in the Belly is bad for the sight wherefore you must keep it soluble you must shun the Wind the Cold Heat too much looking upon the Sun and much Light or great Fire much Reading and Writing Weeping to Sleep or Wake much As to Eating and Drinking you must Eat Meats of good nourishment not Windy Salt nor Spicy little or no strong Drink The use of Eye-bright is very good against all maladies of the Eyes Boiled in Pottage or Drink the Pouder or Boil it in the Drink The Film or Cataract is Cured by the Pouder of Sugar-Candy Tutty white Coperas mixt equal parts and searc'd and put into the Eye Night and Morning the Pouder alone of white Beans hath the same Property To this end serves likewise a Water made of half an Ounce of Tutty a quarter of an Ounce of Mace Poudred and Infused in white Wine and Rose-water of each half a Pint putting them in a Glass and let them stand in the Sun in Summer about a Month keeping it from Rain and Dew shaking the Glass often Another for the same purpose Take a couple of new laid Eggs Rosted hard under the Cinders take away their shells cut them in the middle and take away the Yelk and fill up the place with Sugar-candy and Tutty equal parts then joyning them together with a thread steep them in Rose-water in a little Vessel when they have stood twenty four Hours Strein and Press them through a Linnen Cloath of which Liquor drop a few drops into the Eye Night and Morning The Distilled Water of these things following cures the Cataract likewise Plantain and little and tender Pomegranate flowers red Roses sprigs of Fenel of each an handful crums of white Bread hot out of the Oven one Pound mix them together and steep them six hours in white Wine then Distill them To the same purpose Distill this Water Take of Fenel Rue Verben Eye-bright Endive Betony red-Roses Venus-hair equal parts steeping them before twenty four Hours in white Wine the Liver of a Buck three Ounces Distill them thrice in Balneo Mariae and the last Water will be very proper for Cataracts and all other Maladies of the Eye preserving the sight to Old Age. Another very Excellent one Take Snails and Distill them in Balneo Mariae washing them well first and in eight Ounces of their Water infuse one of Tutty prepar'd Sugar-candy white Dung of a Lizard dryed Bones two Drams of each red Coral Aloes Sal Armoniac of each one Dram being all well Poudred and put into the Water must be put into an Alimbec and the Water that comes from them serves Effectually as before and also to clear the Eyes of all spots and Redness preserving the sight so well and so long that Antient People have seen as well as if they had been but 30. This Unguent following is very good for the Eyes Curing their inflammation and Redness staying the sharp Defluxions which make them Blear-Ey'd Annointing them Night and Morning Take half an Ounce of Tutty finely Poudred in a Bel-metal Morter then Grind it on a Marble with Rose-Water as Painters do then dry it in the Sun then Grind it again with fresh Rose-water do thus seven or eight times then mix it with the same weight of fresh Butter and your Ointment is
the Tree alone or together Against the noise in the Ears proceeding from wind or other Causes 't is good to put into the Ear a tent dipt in Oil of Rue Castor or Spike with juice of Leeks also in a Morning fasting 't is very healthful to receive the Vapor by a Funnel putting into the Ear water wherein hath long boiled Marjoram wild Mint Sage Camomile flowers Aniseeds and Fenelseeds and a Coloquintida Apple and to the end the Vapor penetrate the further let the Patient have some hard thing between his Teeth as Pease or Beans chewing them with force the same will be good at Night going to Bed and having received it put in the Ear one drop of Oil of Coloquintida then stop the Ear with Cotten dipt in the said Oil and lye down thereupon Deafness is cured by means of an Unguent made of two Ounces of Goose-grease melted with a gentle fire and two drams of Aloes Soccotrine in Pouder incorporated applyed with Cotton putting it into the Ear or the juice of Radishes mixed with Oil of Roses or with the fat of an Eel and Oil of bitter Almonds or the juice of an Onion mixed with Honey or by the Pouder of Aloes dissolv'd in white wine Instill'd warm into the Ear and after make him sneeze with some Pouder of Tobacco or by the fume of the wood of Oak which you may do by lighting a stick at one end and putting the other into the hollow of the Ear but you must have a branch of a tender one of one years growth without knots CHAP. V. Of the Diseases of the Mouth THe Vlcers of the Mouth are Cured by washing the Mouth with a Decoction of the Herbs of Mouseear Consound and Golden Rod or Pomegranate flowers Sumach Plantain Agrimony and Roses adding a little Alum towards the end or with Wine wherein have Boil'd Aniseeds and Cloves or with the Distill'd water of Scolopendrium or with Treacle water and the like quantity of Rose-Vineger and Brandy wherein hath been dissolved a little Bole-Armenac or with Honey of Roses by rubbing the Ulcerate places of the Palate or the Tongue The Decoction of the Herb Speedwell in Wine gargariz'd dryes the Ulcers of the Mouth and wash therewith in fevers And for a singular Remedy touch the Ulcer with a drop of Oil of Vitriol The Super abundance of Spittle is corrected by using astringent and drying Gargarisms made by boiling Roses Pomegranate flowers Plantain and Alum in Water and Wine 't is also good to Eat Bisquet and dry Rosted meats and Mustard to eat Cubebs and green Ginger On the contrary to provoke Spitting chew Sage or Mastick or Tobacco fasting or at other times For the Curing a Stinking Breath from what Cause soever wash the Mouth with Vineger of Squils or a Decoction of Mint Balm Fenel and Aniseed chew Nutmeg Cloves Oris Root hold in the Mouth a Pill made as followeth Gum-dragon one Ounce Dragons Blood two drams steep them in Rose-water for two dayes then put them in a Marble Morter with six drams of Sugar three of Cinamon five of Starch a scruple of Musk all dissolv'd in Rose-water mixt together with a Pestle after it is dry make Pills to hold in the Mouth To take away the smell of Onions or Garlick c. chew Cloves Aniseeds Fenelseeds c. or wash the Mouth with Rose-water c. The Diseases of the Teeth spring from divers causes hot and cold if from cold do as followeth wash them with one of these Decoctions Wormwood boil'd in strong Vineger the Leaves of Ivy in red Wine with Lavender Sage and Marjoram Cypress Leaves and Nuts and Juniper-Berries Roses Mirtle Leaves in white-Wine Oil of Cloves Sage c. are good dipt in Lint or Cotton to put into the Tooth if hollow If the pain proceed from a hot cause then apply the Oil of Poppy Mandrake Henbane or their Decoctions in Wine or Henbane root boil'd in Rose-water and Vineger or hold Vineger in your Mouth wherein hath been boiled Camphor And from what cause soever the pain proceeds it will be appeas'd by the Oil of Henbaneseed made after this manner Besprinkle Henbaneseed with Brandy then put it in a Glass Viol which stop very well and make this boil in a Pot of water twenty four hours then take off the Phiol and pour out the Seeds while it is yet hot put them in a Cloath and strain them with a Press and so your Oil is made Hold Milfoil-root between your Teeth or Pellitory or Agrimony or chew Mastick incorporated with new Wax To preserve the Teeth wash your Mouth every Morning in fair water if they be loose rub them with this Pouder Compos'd of Myrrh Cinamon Alum burnt Pumice stone burnt all in equal parts apart finely Poudred and mixt Crums of Bread with Salt after Eating to rub with and then wash them with fair water and a little Vineger or red-Wine Perles both Corals Ivory Crystal white Marble Alabaster Cubebs Harts-horn Mastick dryed Bones Tartar white Copporas Sal-gemm Crabs Eyes Eggs-shels Snails-shels Oisters-shels dry'd Roses Orris Tamaris Spikenard Dragons-blood Venice-hair Pomegranate-flowers Sumach c. all Poudred apart and mixt For the Quincey 't is good to gargle the Mouth with water of Speedwell distill'd in Balneo Mariae or its Flower boiled in Vineger and Honey or Mint Sage Rue and Coriander boil'd in Cows or Sheeps Milk or the Decoction of Figs and Cinquefoil in Water dissolves the Tumor or the ashes of a Swallows Nest burnt with the young ones made into a Pultis with Oil of Camomile and sweet Almonds is excellent Peach-Gum boil'd in Vineger with a little Saffron or a Liniment made of Bores Teeth Poudred with Linseed Oil or to drink a dram of the Pouder in Carduus Benedictus water Here you must send for a Chyrurgion and the first thing you do let Blood it may be more than once CHAP. VI. Of the Diseases of the Breast FIrst when one speaks low and with pain take at Night going to Bed two Ounces of Wine wherein have boil'd Figs and Raisins with Sugar Cloves and Cinamon and the Tablets of Diarios given Morning and Evening clears the Voice and Syrup of Iujubs So doth the decoction of Enula Campana or Oximel wherein Liquorice hath been boil'd For a Sovereign Remedy is this Liquor taken at Night going to Bed put an Ounce of Pouder'd Sugar in a Porringer and pour thereon as much Brandy as will cover it or a little more put it upon the Coals then light your Brandy with a Paper lighting as often as it goes out till it will take fire no more then let the Patient take it all at once To Cure a Cough the Remedies before are good but especially these boil in water Raisins and Figs Hysop Anise and Fenel-seed till the third part be wasted and of this give Night and Morning two hours before meals 2 or 3 spoonfuls after eating a Tablet of Diaireos or Diapenidion or take Night and Morning a
wherein Anise and Fenel and Cumin Seeds have been boil'd or the water or decoction of Camomile also the Pouder of old Acorns or Chesnuts in white Wine The pain of the Kidnies which comes from the Stone or Gravel is like the Colic in that in both is Vomiting and binding in the Belly and wind but the Colic begins in the lower part of the right side going to the higher part of the left side of the belly inclining more before than behind but the Reins begin contrary and the pain is stronger before than after eating the contrary in the Colic and it commonly comes suddenly but the reins by degrees with a pain of the back and difficulty to make water To cure which use opening things to void the stone if little for there are no Medicines in the world to break it but first loosen the belly by an ounce of Cassia and Clysters made with Mallows and Marsh-mallows and Beets giving Syrups and Decoctions thereof also at mouth Turpentine Pills taken with White-wine or the Decoction of Camomil flowers in wine and water Difficulty of Vrine is cured by the same means and Heat of Urine by a Bolus of an ounce of Cassia and a dram of Prunel and drinking cooling Emulsions of the four cold Seeds and Almonds with Barley water and note that in all these distempers of the Reins and almost in all other the cure depends for the most part chiefly upon a good order of Diet. The Fluxes of the Belly are three whereof the most dangerous is called Lienteria which is when meats are voided in the same sort they were taken at mouth with very little alteration and without any stink and Diarrhaea when there is a Flux of flegmy and waterish humours only Lastly Dissenteria when blood is voided alone or with excrements For the first you must quickly consult the Physician in the mean time let only comfortable things be given with Syrup of Woormwood Mugwort with Honey of Roses of each a spoonful or dissolved in Betony Fenel or Mugwort-water or provoke vomiting by taking an ounce of Oxymel of Squils and as much Syrup of Wormwood or two ounces of Oxymel then take Marmelad of Quinces before he eat or Aromaticum Rosatum For the Diarrhaea note it is sometime beneficial to nature when it is without Fever and quickly gone and Bloody-flux not feared so that you may let it alone for three or four days then if you shall spie a few drops of blood threatning a Dissentery or the Patient be feverish then give astringent Clysters made of Sage Mint Borage c. In the streining put some juice of the Shepherds purse or Bole-armenac without any Sugar or Syrup and in little quantities For Dissentery in the beginning let blood in the arm and give lenitive Clysters made of milk wherein steel hath been quenched or with two or three yelks of eggs give three or four a day then purge with a dram of Rubarb infus'd in Endive or Cychory-water strein'd and putting thereto half a dram of torrified Rubarb then eat Marmalad of Quinces Rice-milk Sheeps and Calves feet and Red wine alone or with Steel-water The Dropsie is a moist swelling beginning in the feet then the legs and thighs then in the belly and if neglected mounts to the heart It is known by pressing the part with your fingers and if a mark remain it is the Dropsie else not For cure you must purge first for which nothing is better than Jalap a dram more or less in pouder with White-wine then drink White-wine with Anniseeds poudred eat bisket and meats dry rosted drink as little as may be forbearing all broths and fruits and liquid meats sleep as little as may be walk much rise early For Gripes and Pains in the belly drink of the decoction of Mint wormwood Camomile Roots Herbs and Flowers in White-wine and water or each alone Here note for a general rule that if you boil any things in white or other wine you must infuse them first over hot coals letting them boil a walm or two first and so stand then boiling them very little again strein them out for the wine loses its virtue by boiling Touching the Hemorrhoids they are inward or outward flowing or not For the inward swelling apply a Cataplasm of the white bread and milk with two yelks of eggs a little Safron and Vnguentum Populeon but above all other a Pultis made of Verbaseum and Trifolium Hemorrhoidale with fresh Butter whether they be inward or outward If you will have them flow apply Horse-leeches and if they flow too much apply a Pultis of the white of an Egg and Bole-armenack or burnt Paper or Tinder or pouder of red Coral a dram in Plantan water or Red-wine inwardly or the decoction of Yarrow and Rest-beef CHAP. XI Of the Diseases belonging to Women TO provoke Womens Courses drink a dram of yellow Ambar poudred fasting in White-wine use moderate exercise drink a dram of the pouder of the root of Dittany in the decoction of the herb a dram of the Troches of Myrrh in White-wine These will do ordinarily but if not you must consult the learned Physician To stay their too much flowing what I said in Bloody-fluxes may be good here or drink a dram of the troches of white Amber in Plantan-water and Beer You must not stir much but sleep much rub the arms and shoulders well apply Cupping-glasses to the dugs eat little and often keep the belly loose For the Fits of the Mother rub and tye the thighs and legs well let her smell stinking things Wooll Partridg feathers burnt Assa soetida but below sweet perfumes of Civet Roses and Musk c. Give her Mithridate to drink dissolved in Wormwood-water or Peony-seeds poudred in White-wine For the Falling of the Womb use contrary Remedies to cause it to remount to its place to wit sweet scents at nose stinking ones below for the Womb and so quite contrary in all the rest Vomiting is here requisite afterwards give pouder of Harts-horn or Bay-leaves to drink in Red-wine But because from the Womb proceed most diseases in women in any difficulty neglect not to advise with the learned Physician as likewise in case of Barrenness of women in time of fertility for conservation of Mankind under the benediction of God and forasmuch as their barrenness proceeds for the most part from cold causes we will begin with that leaving the search of other causes both of men and women to the Physician After she hath been well purged the Womb must be fomented and perfumed with the decoction of Mugwort Wormwood Savin c. the day after take Electuar Aaromatick Nutmeg and Sugar of each one dram or take night end morning in good wine a Tablet of the pouders of Mugwort roots of Bistort Nutmeg incorporated together with Sugar dissolv'd in Balm-water The women accustomed to miscarry ought to use often the Conserves of Orange and Sage-flowers Marmelade of Quinces Dates c.
appear after the cure First then as soon as 't is burnt anoint it with Salad-oil and Water beaten well together and strew thereon Wheat-flower and dip Linnen clothes or Flax Tow in the said Oil and Water and lay them on or Rose or common water with the whites of Eggs beaten to water and oil of Roses or Lillies or Poppies or for all use Snow-water if you have it and indeed you should never be without it If notwithstanding all this through the malice of fire blisters shall arise you must then cut them with Cisers and lay thereon fresh butter boil'd oil of Roses and yelks of Eggs beaten together The Vnguentum Basilicum will cure them perfectly or this Unguent following Take half a pound of fresh Butter well boil'd and strein'd Ceruse and Tutty washed both in Plantan or Rose-water of each half an ounce burnt Lead a quarter of an ounce with four yelks of Eggs mix them all together to the form of an Unguent A Pultis made of the leaves of Bur-dock with the whites of Eggs cures burns also Hen-dung mixt well with hony of Roses or oil of Roses The decoction of Mallow leaves and fresh Butter beaten a great while together and applied in manner of a Liniment with a Colewort leaf a little warm is good to separate the burnt crusts if any so are yelks of Eggs with oil of Violets mixt together To appease the pain coming from burns imply this Unguent Take old Bacon grease melted in an earthen glazed Vessel and pour it into Rose-water then strein it through a linnen Cloth then wash it five or six times in Plantan-water to four ounces of Lard so prepar'd add two yelks of Eggs and make them into an Ointment The oil of the yelks of Eggs is singular to appease the pains and that the marks of the burn may not be seen after the cure you must wash the part often with Plantan water with a little Allum dissolved therein To remove such Cicatrices likewise a Liniment made of the herb call'd Porks bread beaten with Housleek is very proper CHAP. XXI Of a Scald-head THis is a loathsome disease and requires skill to cure it well Out of many sound Experiments make use of these following Take two handfuls of the herb Celandine four ounces of Bay salt and as much quick Brimstone finely poudred beat the herb well in a stone or wooden Mortar with a wooden Pestle that done boil them in sweet Oil altogether then take them from the fire and strein them through a Linnen Cloth to extract their substance wherewith anoint the head of the Patient night and morning Another Remedy After having wash'd the head with Beef Piss and rubbing it therewith till blood come almost then lay on the pouder of Hens-dung dried in the Oven and thereon an Emplaster made of the Soot of a Furnace mingled with strong White-wine Vinegar Another is this Take two ounces of common Turpentine well wash'd first in common water then in Fumitary water fresh Butter one ounce wash'd in Rose-water Bay-salt half an ounce two Yelks of Eggs the Juice of Limons and Oil of Roses of each one ounce a scruple of Camphir and mix them together and make an Ointment Another for the same is made of Roch-allum Vitriol and Verdigreese and quick Brimstone Soot of a Furnace of each three drams Camphir two drams Oil of sweet Almonds and Porks Marrow of each half an ounce incorporate them well together and make them into an Unguent Sometimes it happens that we search for that a great way off which is nigh at hand and that Medicines of a small price do as much good as dear Drugs or as we say in the English Proverb Far fought and dear bought is good for Ladies as may be seen in this matter for Juniper-berries boil'd in Vinegar and Honey and apply'd in manner of a Pultis is excellent good In Infants it is much more easie to cure the Scald-head than in those of riper years and in these more easie than in old folks the time rendring it incurable wherefore it is very convenient to distinguish between age and age and remedy and remedy to go artificially to work that is to say for the young use gentle remedies and to others stronger Note here that in little children this Disease is commonly healthful it delivering them from the Falling sickness and Convulsions and other fearful distempers by purging them from the impure blood they contracted in their Mothers womb The difficult sort of Scald-heads are distinguished into dry ones and moist ones For the dry one begin with this decoction Take two handfuls of Fumitary Monks-rubarb and roots of Mallows flowers of Melilot and Camomile of each two small handfuls Linseed Beans and Lupines of each a quarter of a pound boil them in Lee made of the ashes of a Vine-tree or Fig-tree bathe and wash the head therewith twice a day then anoint it with this Unguent following Take a pound of Lard Fumitary Monks-rubarb and Ivy one handful slice them very small then add two ounces of oil of Bays four ounces of oil of Mastick half an ounce of Turpentine four ounces of the juice of Colâ—…orts beat all these well together and then let them steep twenty four hours then let them boil till the juice be consum'd then strein it and anoint the head therewith laying on after a Colewort leaf For the moist Scald-head wash and bathe it with a decoction as before wherein you have dissolv'd Roch-Allum then anoint it with the Unguent call'd Vnguentum de minio to be had at the Apothecaries then take Verdegreese with Allum Honey and Vinegar of each two ounces a dram of Arsenic two of Sublimate all in pouder boil them together till they begin to be thick enough for an Ointment and you will find this a miraculous Ointment Here you must remember to cut the hair close or shave it away first of all some apply a Cap of pitch to tear it up by the roots CHAP. XXII For the Scabs and Itch in the hands FOr these in the hands the water of a Smiths Forge to wash and bathe the hands well in is good or Allum-water or the juice of Limons alone the brine of salt Bacon or brine of Pickle-herring or Anchoves the Lee made of Oak-ashes then anoint with Vnguentum Nicotianum or Enulatum cum Mercurio or flower of Brimstone mixt with either of them and so if the whole body letting blood first and purging use those Ointments to anoint withal using a temperate diet and drinking as little strong drink as may be CHAP. XXIII Of the Tetters and Ring-worms THey are an unhandsom sight and therefore to quit your self of them note that against them are employ'd divers Remedies according to the diversity of the nature of them those that are not rebellious may be cured with gentle and mild remedies but the rebellious and malignant with more difficulty by application of more violent and stronger remedies as in the Chapter before For the not rebellious do thus wash and bathe them in the decoction of Beans and Wheat in Vinegar or take a thin slice of Veal Beef or Mutton lay it upon the coals or Gridiron then beat it with Vinegar and Mustard and apply this to the Tetter Or take Frankincense Oil of Roses and Vinegar and make an Ointment and anoint Now if these will not do being first applyed to rebellious ones then apply your self to these following First wash and bathe them with a decoction of Lupines and Marsh-mallow roots made in Vinegar to the consumption of half or with Plantan-water wherein hath been infused white Vitriol and burnt Alum Or make an Unguent of two drams of Aloes dissolv'd in distill'd Vinegar Oil of Wheat alone is excellent for this purpose it is made by putting Wheat between two hot irons and the Oil will drop out or else thus Take some Wheat beaten and put it into a glass Vessel and stop it close and put it into a Kettle of water upon the coals to keep the water hot and not to make it boil and so let stand three days together at the end thereof take out the pouder and you will find it moist the which put into a Linnen Cloth and press the oil hard out CHAP. XXIV Of Corns in the feet and toes THese often hinder people from going in ease and so ought to be considered and to have remedies laid down for their help for which are divers used but these following may prove most effectual some bathe and wash them first in a Decoction of herbs and then cut them with a sharp Penknife or Razor as far as they can possibly go then apply a Plaster of soft Wax red or green having been first steep'd 24 hours in strong White-wine Vinegar for the Cinabar and Verdigreese wherewith these Waxes are coloured will kill and take away the roots of the Corns The same will these remedies following do effectually sometimes one sometimes another according to their divers properties of which you may choose which will be best for your purpose and make use of them Galbanum and new wax mixt together some take Lilly roots well boil'd and then beaten with Porks marrow and apply it some use onely Emplastrum de ranis cum mercurio CHAP. XXV Of the Ruffness and Chops in the hands and lips THe Chops in the hands and lips coming from cold winds or other causes inward or outward are cured by these Remedies following having first washed them with Barly-water then anoint them with Vnguentum rosatum or Pomatum at the Apothecaries or Capons Grease or Oil of Wax is excellent for it will cure them in a short time CHAP. XXVI Of Warts in any part of the body THe juice of Limons kill Warts in any part of the body or the same juice distill'd or distill'd Vinegar or the juice of the leaves and flowers of white Mullein Oil of Vitriol Brimstone are infallible but you must use them warily The juice of the stocks of Purselain and Housleek bruised in a Mortar with Bay-salt and the Warts rub'd therewith often cures them in three or four days FINIS