they are cold and moist Damsins are of the same nature Six or seven Damsins eaten before dinner are good to provoke the appetite they mollifie the belly and are abstersive the skin and stones ablated Of Olives and Capers OLives eaten at the beginning of a refection coroborate the stomach and provoke the appetite Capers do purge Phlegm and cause an appetite Of Spices Ginger GInger heats the Stomach and helps digestion Green Ginger eaten in the morning fasting doth acuate and quicken the memory Of Pepper THere are three sundry kindes of Pepper white black and long Pepper All kindes of them heat the body dissolves Phlegm and Winde helps digestion and causeth to make water Of Cloves and Mace CLoves comforts the sinews dissolve and consume superfluous humors restore nature Mace is a Cordial helps the Chollick and is good against the bloody Flux Of Saffron SAffron comforts the heart and stomach but is too hot for the Liver Of Nutmegs and Cinamon NUtmegs are good for them which have cold in their head and comfort the sight and the brain and the mouth of the stomach and is good for the Spleen Cinamon is a Cordial wherefore some Writers admire why one dies that may eat Cinamon yet it doth stop and is good to restrain Fluxes and the looseness of the body Of Liquorice LIquorice is good to cleanse and open the Lungs and the Breast and to loose Phlegm in cakes with Honey it purges moderately Of Salt SAlt moderately used is very wholesom taken excessive it ingenders Choller dries up the natural moisture and inflames the blood stops the Veins hardens the Stone and gathers together viscus humors causing sharpness of Urine consuming the flesh and fat of the body they which are cold watry and Phlegmatick may feed more plentifully of Salt and of Salt meats but Chollerick and Melancholick persons must eat it moderately and Sanguine persons must take no more of it then lightly to relish their meat By the general consent of Writers it is not nourishing I must in particular dissent from them and affirm that it doth not onely accidentally but essentially nourish accidentally in making the meat more gracious to the stomach hindering putrefaction and drying up superfluous humors essentially in it self as it takes its just and due proportion for our body hath and should have humors of all tastes the finest humor of the body being nothing but salt it self so termed by the best but newest Philosophers which if so will hardly be preserved without eating of salt Of Sugar SUgar is temperate and nourishing good against the Choller of the Stomach admirably useful in preserves conserves sauces c. The ancients term it the Indian salt the kindes hereof are made of the tears of Sugar-Canes so replenished with Juyce as that they crack again there are other wayes of making of Sugar to no purpose to particularize the best sugar is solid hard light exceeding white sweet glistering like snow melting as salt doth speedily in any liquor the Refiners if I am not mistaken in my art feel an unspeakable sweetness in theirs it is their mystery I am unwilling to call it couzenage Sugar is not so hurtful as Honey to Chollerick complexions Gallen writes that it may be given in Agues it delighteth the Stomach pleaseth the Blood and Liver cleanseth the Breast and restores the Lungs and iâ— good for children against the Worms Doctor REASON And Doctor EXPERIENCE Consulted with OR The Mystery of the Skill of PHYSICK made easie Short clear and certain Rules how to discern judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the Body affected the Causes Signs or Symptoms collected and observed from the most approved Authors and constantly practised BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with c. Of the Apoplexy IT is a disease that deprives of sense and motion in the whole body as also of the principal animal functions this disease doth amaze both body and minde and is so dangerous that few recover of it the Brain which is the rock of the Sinews is affected In a weak Apoplexy there is a sudden fall on the earth with outcryes with such a difficulty of breathing that one cannot discern any life in the Patient An Apoplexy is often caused by slimy gross and cold Phlegm as also by crudities and drunkenness so that such as are much addicted to surfeitings especially old men are subject to any Apoplexy This disease if it be great is hard to be cured if the Patient do escape death he either falls into a Palsie of some part or of the whole body The Air the sick person lives in must be somewhat hot his Diet must be temperate instead of Exercise strong Fractions and Ligatures of the extream parts may be used Cupping-glasses must be fastened to the shoulders he should be carried up and down in a hanging bed and after two or three weeks it will be good to bathe Of the Mother THe stopping and choaking of the Womb or Mother is a running back of the Womb or of maligne vapors bred in the Womb unto the higher parts whereby the bowels midriff and stomach are sometimes crushed that they cannot be widened by breathing the Womb in this disease being lifted so high that it drives the other members above it to the higher parts This disease hath some affinity with the Falling-sickness Swounding and Apoplexy The Womb is chiefly affected through menstruous blood or some other humor for the most part queaziness of stomach and loathng of meat and thick breathing follow this disease This disease is sometimes caused from an Impostume in the Womb or by some seed sent into the Womb and therein detained and corrupted The danger of this disease is not so great if the Spirits are not hurt The Air the Patient lives in should be temperate such meats are to be abstained from as increase blood and seed the diet must be sparing wine is not to be drunk except alâ—ayed with water except in case of swounding their Exerc ses are to be moderate their sleeps short and to shun Melancholly Of Melancholly THat which is Hypocondraical is windy oft-times caused by the over-boiling of dreggish blood settled near to the stomach or gristles of the short ribs by a distemper of the liver stomach or miseraical veins the part affected is the brain the signs of this disease are the excessive heat of humors the parts about the heart being inflamed This distemper is caused by the default of the spleen when it doth not draw away the Melancholick blood made by the distemper of the Liver At the first this disease is easily cured but if it grows old it is hardly to be remedied The Patients diet must be moist little broth will suffice because of fluctuations in the stomach he may drink cream of hulled barley with a
even as health and sickness are not of the nature of mans body but even accidents thereto Which being certain let us then consider what an infinite variety of medicines would arise of things the same being used not onely entire but diversly prepared and even corrupted wherein the industry of Alchmistes is verily greatly to be commended and far more excellent then the common Pharmacopolia rather so to be called then Pharmacopoiya by the skill whereof diverse Natures in one thing are so exactly severed every one having a diverse operation Now oft-times because the Humour to be purged is gross and tough and so hardly yieldeth to the Medicine or hath some other evil quality wherewith it might greatly hurt the parts whereby it passeth Nature not forgetting this point hath as abundantly supplied such helps in this behalf as need requireth as for the preparing of Choler Plantine Roses the Verjuice of the Grape Endive Succory Sorrel Sperage c. For Melancholly Violets Borage Bugloss Baulm Fumitory Doddar Ceterach or Fingerfearn c. For Phlegme Fenel Parsley Betony Nep Penerial Thime Savory Germander c. Of these I less stand upon because the preparers of humors are least in controversie although from hence may an argument be drawn not lightly to be passed over to prove the store of purgers seeing nature hath ministred sufficiency of preparers and as it were Harbingers to the purgers of Countrey yield But I will draw to an end and thus much shall suffice for this present purpose to have bin said of Medicines belonging to the cure of all Diseases in the Complexion The other kinde of Diseases are in the frame of the Body and of those if quantity be superfluously increased and that in the whole body medicines which do vehemently waste as those of the third degree hot diminish the same If in the part onely medicines which we call eaters and fretters dispatch the same as Copperas the ashes of Spurge burnt Allom Mercury sublimed and precipitate Verdigreece burnt Salt c. If measure be diminished and that without loss of substance the glewing medicines bring cure whereof our native soil is so stored that for Wounds the Surgeons need neither send into Barbary nor India as Plantine Hounds-tongue the flowers and leafs of Willows Yarrow Carduus Benedictus Betony Scabious Verven Elm-leaves Adders-tongue Moon-wort Herb-turpence Selfheal and these if the wounds be in the fleshy parts If it be breaking of Bones such are joyned with fine flower the brain of a Dog with Wool and the white of an Egg the Holilock-root the moss of the Oke Glew Roses Wormwood c. If there be loss of substance in the fleshy parts either by wound or ulcer Incarnatives fail us not as Barley meal Fenigreek-flower Figbene-meal and to be short all such as be of the first degree hot and dry without eagerness or fellness Now the diseases in the straitness of Passages or Obstructions if they arise of the humors aforesaid and in those places whereto the medicine may conveniently come then are they to be set free by purging If upon other causes or in such places whereto the force of the medicines which purgeth cannot come or hardly entereth or of such causes as be no humours but through some other strange matter or by straitness of the vessels wherethrough the passage is then are other remedies to be used whereof we have great plenty as softners loosers and such as enlarge the pores of the body of which sort are such as be not above the first degree hot as Camomile Lilies new Butter Swines-grease Lin-seed Fenigreek Briony-root all Marrows Also Medicines which make the matter thin or cut it and divide it into sundry parts of which sort are they of the second degree hot to the third degree as Dill Pennerial Savery Organ Thime Marjoran Saint-Johns wort Worm-wood c. Now if the humour prepared be to be voided by place medicine then Salt Salt-water Lye Ashes Allom and Lime take place and if more vehemency be needful Calamint wilde Cresses Treacle Mustard Garden Cresses Mustard-seed Nettles Dragons all the Spurges are to be numbred among the best and if these serve not the root of Crowfoot will make the supply If the humour cannot be voided conveniently except it be altered into another matter of which sort is pent blood out of the veins then are ripening medicines first to be applied as Butter Wheat-flower Sorel Horse-hoof Lilies Marsh-mallows Onions roasted which are all singular ripeners If the matter be tough and clammy the scourers avoid that inconvenience Endive Succory red Roses Plantine Housleek Agrimony Betony Honey Horehound Wormwood Baulm Pimpernel Watergermander c. Now if the matter which stoppeth be the stone as in the Kidneys or Bladder then are these Medicines most convenient for that use Grummel-seed Goats-blood the juice of Mugwort Seahulver-root the stones found in the great Snails heads Radish-roots Saxifrage c. If any hard matter be in other parts the softners and wasters and dissolvers are to be applied Thus much touching the cure of Obstructions and strait Passages which according to the variety of place where they light cause sundry Diseases or rather take to them sundry names As in the Brain the Apoplexy in the bladder of Gall the yellow Jaundies in the Spleen the black in the Sinnews of motion the Palsie or trembling in the Lungs Asthma c. Now if these Passages be too large they are to be stopped and straitned with cooling and drying medicines of which sort in a manner are all of sharp and sowre taste as Vine leaves the Bryer and Bramble Barberries Medlers and Services Quinces and such as are of themselves or by mixture with liquor clammy as Wheat-flower Bean-flower the white of an Egge Plaister washed Lime Litharge and Ceruse Now moreover because in all good cure not onely the cause of the Diseases is to be oppugned but the part also to be strengthned which must needs partly by the cause of the disease and partly even by the conflict of the same cause with the medicine be feebled that nothing be wanting unto us for the restoring of health nature hath provided even speciall munition for every part of the body that the whole furniture against all diseases might be compleat As for the Head Anniseeds Folefoot Betony Calamint Eyebright Lavander Bayes Marjoran Piony Sage Rue or Herbgrace Lettice the Leaves and Flowers of Water-lilies Roses Garden Nightshade For the Lungs Calamint Dragons Licorice Enula campana Hyssope Linseed Horehound the Lungs of a Fox Scabious Water Germander Barley garden Poppy Violets Horsehoof For the Heart Bugloss Borage Saffron Baulm Basil Rosemary Violets the bone of a Stags heart Roses For the Stomach Wormwood Mints Betony Baulm Mint Quinces Medlers Sorrel Purslane For the Liver Dartspine or Chamepitys Germander Agrimony Fenel Endive Succory Liverwort Barbaries For the Spleen Maidenhair Sperage Fingerfearn Doâ—der Dâ—â—der of Thime Hops the bark of the Ash-tree For the Kidneys Seahulver Grumel
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
be made clean or the Nodes taken away and sometimes leave the Bone foul By the which means they purchase to themselves both shame and infamy for within four or five moneths the Ulcers open with great corruption of the Bone Moreover they commit an errour touching the Unction for they anoint the Head the Region of the Heart and other noble parts against all reason and also all the whole body over which is the occasion of many a mans death Therefore to amend these errors when you see that this disease is confirmed and that there are hard Ulcers hard Swelling or Nodes it is the most surest way to mundifie the said Ulcers and to open the Nodes with acaustick then you shall make incision in the Node unto the corruption of the Bone and then apply Praecipitatum or else Pledgets with Basilicon and Praecipitatum mingled together this done you shall take away the corruption of the bone And then after that you may safely use your Unctions made with Axungia Gummes Minerals Oyles and Mercury also if you adde thereto of fine Treacle or Mithridatum it will be the better You shall anoint the Shoulders the Muscles of the Back the Loins the Hips the Thighs the Knees and all the outward members as Legs and Arms. But you must take very good heed that you touch not the Head the Region of the Heart the Somach nor the ridge of the Back Also you must have a good respect to cease your anointing in such order that you bring not too many accidents to the mouth whereby the Patient may utterly lose the use both of his Tongue and Teeth Because that so many ignorant Chyrurgeons have taken upon them this cure without either discretion in applying the Unction or ordering of the Patient I have thought good to write two or three words touching the ordering of the Patient When the body is prepared with apt and meet Medicines as well Syrrups Decoctions Purgings and opening of the Vein according to the disposition of the body the Patient shall be placed in a place naturally hot or else otherwise made warme which must be free from all cold having the doors windows and other open places closely stopt for the cold Air is very hurtful both for the Sinewie parts and also for the working of Medicines for it will diminish and hinder the actions thereof And in this case there are many which commit great errors which are worthy of reprehension for as well in the Winter as in the Summer they anoint the Patients in great and large Chambers where very much Air entreth Wherefore at the beginning of this cure if the place be not very close and warm you shall make a Pavilion with Coverings and such other like round about a fire by the which means you shall keep the cold Air from the Patient But if it be possible it is better to have a little Chamber close and warm and also continually a pan with Coles in the midst of it If it be so that the Patients be so weak that they cannot abide the heat of the fire or would be loath to be seen naked as Women or Maids you shall anoint them lying in their Beds First the Patient shall put out one Arm and then the other and so the rest of the parts shall be anointed one after another And you shall use the Patients from time to time to such a course as is required against the disease The third Error is concerning Wounds piercing into the Breast IT fortuneth oftentimes that the Wounds pierce the hollowness of the Breast so that great quantity of blood doth fall down into the bottom of the same and there doth stay upon the Diaphragma also the heaviness of the said blood oppresseth the Diaphragma Diaphragma is two Muscles which go overthwart the Breast and separateth the Heart from the Liver and putrefieth and ingendreth an evil Qualtity The which putrefaction sending Vapors to the heart causeth a continual Feaver and commonly death within ten dayes Of the which the common Chyrurgeons have no consideration or else by their ignorance they know not the cause and so the Patient is destitute of all help Wherefore when you see that the Wound pierceth into the Thorax or Breast you shall take good advisement in searching out diligently whether the Blood be descended into the lower part of the Diaphragma the which may be known by the stinking of the Breath and by the relation of the Patient which doth feel the Blood quivering or shaking inwardly And also commonly his face will be of a reddish or high colour by reason of the Vapors which ascend up And note that at the which side the blood doth most remain in lying upon the same side the Patient shall feel less pain then upon the other because that the said blood oppresseth the Lungs and the Diaphragma the Chyrurgeon ought to have a good respect to the signâ— above written and whilest that the strength of the Patient is yet remaining it shall be needful to make way for the said blood to be evacuated between the fourth and fifth rib a hand breadth or a little more from the ridge of the back and your Incision-knife being very sharp also you shall do it by little and little very gently in cutting Mesopleuria or the Muscles between the ribs it ought to be done toward the lower part of the said Muscles for the Vein which nourisheth them and the Ligaments which giveth them their moving and feeling are placed more above then below After that the Incision is made you shall let out the corrupted blood by little and little according to your discretion and it shall sufficc to evacuate every dressing five or six ounces this done it shall be very profitable to use the wonted Potions which you shall finde in the writings of learned Practitioners which have largely written of the said potions and by this means above written I healed four in one year The which cures without the aforesaid remedies could never have been done for the which I give unto God most hearty thanks The foruth Error touching the applications of the Traepans Terebelles for fractures of the Head IN the fractures of the Scull there are committed great errors touching the application of the Traepan principally when the bone is broken in many parts for they have no consideration of the shivering of the Scull but apply the Traepan by the which means they press down the shivers of the bone upon the Dura Mater and rent or tear it in such order that it produceth grievous accidents whereby commonly death ensueth Wherefore in this case you shall have a good consideration before that you apply the Traepan for it is better if it be possible in this case to use other Instruments as Eleviatories Cisers Lenticuli or such other like to make way for the bruised matter which depresseth the Dura Mater it shall be the better and less danger for the Patient By this means I
have many times forborn the applying of the Traepan to the profit of my Patients and my good Name and Estimation Moreover there be many ignorant Chyrurgeons which without consideration apply the Traepan upon all parts of the Head as well upon the comistures or seams as other places which is the cause of the death of many Patients Wherefore they ought to have a great consideration and to be very diligent in this respect and for to use their Art according to this true Method prescribed them The fifth Error touching the Punctures of Nerves WHen it chanceth that any is hurt by the Punctures of Nerves if he be not speedily helped by some cunning and expert Chyrurgeon he is in great danger to fall into Convulsions which is the occasion of many a mans death which commonly hapneth to them that are drest by the ignorant and common Chyrurgeons For when they begin the cure they make Fomentation with hot water wherein hath been boiled Mallows Violets and such like then after the Fomentation they apply an Appeaser of pain made with the crumbs of white Bread being mingled with the yolk of an Egg Oyl of Cammomile and Oyl of Roses the which things are altogether contrary to the Punctures of Nerves Forasmuch as their application doth moisten too much the nervous places and retaineth or keepeth in the matter which is already come to the place and if there be any Aposthume it doth augment and encrease it and causeth the matter to ascend up to the Brain whereby ensusueth Convulsions or Death Wherefore to avoid this danger and to follow the cure methodically you shall have first a regard to the evacuation of the body and if the strength of the Patient be good to use Flebetonice Revolsive or according to the cause of the grief Then to take away that which is ready conjunct you shall enlarge the Orofice â—o the end that the Medicine may the better penetrate to the bottom and take away the sharpness of the humor In this case I have found very profitable the Oyl of Hippiricon prepared in this form that is to say with Venice Turpentine and for one ounce of the said Oyl you shall take half a scruple of Euphorbium which shall be applied very hot with Pledgets and upon that a Plaister made with Propolis Gum Ammoniack and Wax as much as shall suffice By this means the matter which is drunk into the Nerves or Tendons shall be drawn out to the outward parts Also for this intent I have found profitable Lin-seed Oyl and Euphorbium of each alike with the twentieth part of Sulpher being very finely poudred with Perosin and Wax as much as shall suffice to make an Unguent This Unguent doth heat moderately attract and dissicate and is of a subtle faculty with the which by the help of God the Chyrurgeons shall get both honour and profit The sixth Error is touching the abuse of the Runners about called Cutters for the Stone and Ruptures AMong the common Runners about which use to cut the Stone and Ruptures there is a great error of theirs to be lamented of any Christian heart for under this cure of cutting the Hernies they do miserably take away the Stone as well in the Hernia aquosa or ventosa as in all the rest the which is inhumanely and against the will of God and they do not onely use it in men but most of all in little Children therefore it should be very good for the Parents which have their Children troubled with any kinde of Hernies that before they commit their Children to lose their stones and sometimes their lives by any of these Runnagates for so may I well term them that they shew them to some learned Chyrurgeon to the end that he may see what kinde of Hernies they have and so to discern the Aquosa or Ventosa from Intestinale or Omentales For certainly I have seen Hernies in Children which came by the relaxation or division of the Peretoneum have been perfectly healed by the apt applying of glutinative Medicines and such other like without cutting or taking away of the Testicle But such is the covetous desire of these Persons which make the Parents believe that it cannot be helped without their butcherly cutting and for to get money which they are as greedy after it as Vultures after their prey not having the fear of God before their eyes but like covetous Gripers catch what they may for the time and care not what become of them afterwards whether they live or die we know by woeful experience what harm they have done both by the murthering cruelly and also lameness and continual pain These Fellows rush into England and have such a great name at the first coming but after when their works are tried and then the proof of them seen the peoble for the most part are quickly weary of them and many a fatherless Child and Widdow which they have made may curse the time that ever they knew them I dare affirm they never did any cure in England but that there are English Men which have done the like and greater Such is the foolish fantasies of our English Nation that if he be a stranger he shall have more favourers then an English man though the English mans knowledge doth far pass the others as experience therein hath shewed and this I will stand to the proof of that there are English men that shall in all things do as much both by learning and experience as any of them all That they may not deceive the common people with their fair promises I resolve by Gods permission to write of all the kinds of Ruptures or Burstings and how to know every one of them to the end that if any Chyrurgeon which hath not the right knowledge may streight at the first sight know what to do I will begin to treat of the kinds of Ruptures and first of the division of them in general and then particularly Of the eight kinds of Hernies THere are eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures whereof some have their proper names and the others by similitude the proper Hernies do most commonly come by the Relaxation or Rupture of the Proteneum insomuch that the Intestines and Epiplocon or Zerbus doth lose their natural place and of these are seven kinds that is Enterocele otherwise called Herni intestinale Epiplocele or Herni Zirbale Bubonocele or Herni Inguinale The Hernies by similitude are when there is some tumour against nature in the Cods or in some part of the Groin without the coming forth of the Intestines or Zirbus and of these there are five kinds the first is called Herni Aqueuse and of the Greeks Hidrocele the second Herni Carneuse or Sarcocele the third Variquese the fourth Venteuse which is called of the Greeks Pneumatocele the fifth Humorale which shall be spoken of particularly in order and first we will begin with the proper kinds Of the Hernie Intestinale FOr because that the Hernie Intestinale
to be noted first that the Testicles are covered with three Tunicles the first of them takes his original of the skin and is called Scrotum or Purss the second which takes his original of the Peretoneum and is called Dartos the third which is proper to the said Testicle and is called Heritroides these two last do not onely cover the Testicles but also the Spermatick vessels as well they which bring the substance wherewith the Sperm is made which are named Preparans as them which bring the Sperm to the neck of the Bladder which is called Ejaculatores or expelling the which goes up to Ossa pubis Phlebotomy displayed OR Perfect Rules for the letting of Blood GAllen Ipocras and Avicenna and other Masters of Physick accord and say That lettting blood of the Vein and that is called Phleobatomatum or it is ventosing carving or cutting and letting blood of any of these wise is good for mans health of body for Blood immingled with other humors that is too much or else corrupted by the cause of much sickness it is therefore good to know which Veins in a man should be let blood and for what Sickness The Vein in the Forehead is good for the Frenzie and aking of the Head and for the Megrum and for the Morphew and Scab in the Face for the Posthumes in the Eyes both hot and cold The Vein in the Heart is good for a mans minde and for the Rhume that is within the Forehead and for the watering Eyes The Veins in the Temple is good for the Megrum and for the Head-ache of the Eyes and that hath long lasted for the sickness of the Eyes for ache in the Eyes and for the great heat in the Temples The Veins behinde the Ears is good for the Blains and Pimples of the Head for the Megrum and Ache of the Head it helpeth mans minde it is good for Tooth-ache and for the Gums and for all vices in the Mouth and it purgeth the Rhume of the Head The Veins in the corner of the Eyes next the Nose is good for the Megrum for all the sickness of the Eyes and for the Sight Cephica tum prius apta The Vein in the top of the Nose it purgeth the Brain it is good for Ache and Flux of the Eyes and for the Ache of the Nose The Vein in the Cheeks is good for the Megrum and for Spots or Scabs in the Head The vein in the Mold is best for to bleed and for to wash thy Head with the same bloud The Veins of the over Lip and the nether be good for hot Blains in the Mouth and for Aposthumes and for hot evils in the Mouth or Gums The Vein under the Tongue is good for Posthumes and Rhumes of the Head and Gums and all manner of vice of the Eyes Mouth Tongue Tooth-aching and Blains of the Nose Mouth Gums and for the Aposthumes and swellings under the Throat The Veins under the Chin is good for the Kings-evil and for Sauce-flean for Spots and Blains in the Face and other Aches of the Eyes the Gums and for Ache in the Nose The Veins of the Neck before is good for the Squinancy and for all manner of Aposthumes and Swellings that come from the Head to the Ears or to the Gums that causeth the Tooth-ache when the breath beginneth to be short The Vein of Liver that is called Bosilica it is good for the Jaundies and for chafing of the Liver and for all manner of Dropsies and it is good for all evils in the Breast and aking of the Back Shoulders Sides and Stomach and for the Posthume that is called Pleusis The Head Vein that is called Cephanica it is good for the Megrum and for Head-ache and for madness of the minde for ache and all other vices in the Eyes Teeth Tongue the Squinancy and other evils that come to the Throat The Heart Vein that is called Cardiaca ut medium it is gentle Purgacions for it draweth bloud and humors of all the body but namely it is good for the Sickness and Purgations of the Heart Breast Stomach Liver and Lungs The Vein above the Thumb is good against all Feavers and most Feaver quartane and for evils of the Gall and for streightness of the Breast The Vein between the Thumb and the Fore-finger let bloud for the hot Head-ache for Frensie and madness of Wit and for Sickness of the Head Cephanica let the blood of the Vein in the Forehead if it be needful The same vein of the left hand is good for Lithargy and afterward bleed in the Forehead The Vein which is between the little finger and the next thereto is called Salva cella you must let blood in the right hand for Aposthumes and Sicknesse in the Stomach and for all evil humors about the Liver The same Vein on the left hand is for to let bloud for Imposthumes and gathering of evil humors about the Milt and Spleen it is good for the black Jaundies The over Vein in the Yard is good for the Cramp and for Sctatica passio for swelling of the Womb for the Dropsie and for the Stone The nether Vein of the Yard is good for the sides for the Reins Bladder for swelling of the Stones and for the Emerodes The Vein beneath the knee helpeth the knees and it is good for aking of the thighs and the joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Veins beneath the knees both within and without is good for the Liver Sides and Thighs and for the matter that is above and to draw downward The Vein in the Hams is best for holding of Womens Purgations for it is the next matter as saith Aviceri and also it cleanseth mans body The Vein that is under the Knuckle which is called Sophena It is good for Aposthumes Swellings and akings and other evils that comes to mans body from the Head to the Foot it asswageth them it is good for the Stone and letting of urine it helps the Matrice and womens purgations it is good for the Seab that is called Malum mortum de Bassilica The Vein that is under the Knuckle without that is called Sianca it is good for aking that is in the Thighs and goeth down to the Legs and to the Feet and for the Podagar and for the Seab it helpeth most the aking of the Thighs and Joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Vein that cometh to the great Toe on either Foot it is good for the Gout in the Eyes for Blans and Spots in the Face and for Postumes and Evils of the Stones for the Blood for Cankers Festers and Sores in the Thighs and Legs and for withholding of Womens Purgations As for the time of letting Blood to wit that neither in hot weather nor yet in great cold nor in rainy weather nor in misty weather nor in the weather of great tempests nor in the old Moon nor in the new that is to say four dayes before the change
and Ribwort or a Poltis made of the same with a little Barley-meal and Vinegar if withal you exercise your body much and apply this to the Region of the Liver you shall finde it an excellent cure 4 Fill a Pot almost full with the Juyce of Plantane and binde a Linnen cloth over the Pot and upon the Linnen cloth put wood-ashes in that manner set it over the fire and let it boyl till half be consumed strain out what remains unconsumed and give three or four spoonfulls of it every morning to them that are afflicted with the Dropsie and you shall see the wonderful effects of it 5 Goats blood dried on the fire and a drachm of it given at a time in the morning in any convenient Liquor will soon help the Dropsie 6 Take the Juyce of white Briony Roots and mix it with its double weight of Honey 't is an excellent Purge for such as have the Dropsie but give not too much at a time 7 The Bark of the Root of an Elder-tree is a very good remedy for the Dropsie being boyled in Water and the Decoction drunk and yet in all probability the Bark of the Root of Dwarf Elder is better then it if you cannot with convenience get the Bark of the Root take the Bark of the Branches there cannot be much difference if there be any at all 8 Mustard-seed dried and beaten into powder a drachm of it taken every morning in good Wine helpeth the Dropsie it is a gentle remedy and usually sure yet this is certain one remedy will not cure one disease in all Bodies if it would there need be but one remedy for one Disease 9 Hyssop boyled in Wine and the Decoction drunk not onely cureth the Hidropical humors but also hindreth them that they cannot ingender again 10 If those that have the Dropsie be anointed with common durt such as is found in cart wayes or upon cart wheels in a very short time it cureth them 11. The speedy and quaint way to cure the Dropsie is to let the Patient drink every morning a spoonful of the Piss of a Black Goat if you cannot with convenience get a Black Goat get a Black Sheep and let him drink a spoonful of his piss in the Decoction of Spikenard 12 A man 's own Urine being drunk is very good in this Disease 13 The fat of a Dolphin melted and drunk with Wine helpeth such as are sick of the Dropsie 14 The powder of a Load-stone drunk with Milk cureth the Disease CHAP. 4. Of the Spleen THe Spleen is a small member in the body of Man lying in the left Hippocondria but it is an exceeding troublesome part and often subject to Diseases and when it is iseased it disturbs the whole body 2 The decoction of the inner Rinde of an Ash-tree being made in White Wine and a good draught of it drunk in the morning whilst the stomach is empty is a certain remedy for such as are troubled with the Spleen 3 A Poltis made with Goats dung and strong Vinegar and moistened with a little Sheeps suet and applied to the left side and often renewed makes the Patient whole 4 Make a Decoction with Harts-tongue Cetrarh and White Wine and let the Patient drink of it thirty mornings together and it will help them of the Spleen 5 The leaves of a Willow-tree or if the season of the year afford ye not the leaves take the Bark stamp it with Salt and apply it Plaisterwise to the left side it appeaseth the ache and grief of the Spleen 6 Ivy-leaves used in like manner work the same effect 7 Harts-tongue Agrimony the leaves of Willows and Ivy being boyled in Water and Honey and the decoction drunk easeth the hardness and other ill qualities of the Spleen 8 The powder of a Fox dried upon hot coles if it be given to drink doth utterly waste the Spleen 9 The Twigs of Willows boyled and the Decoction drunk for common drink doth the like 10 Penniroyal boyled with Salt and applyed to the grief taketh away the ill humors of thâ— Spleen 11 That plaister which is called Amoniacum cum Cicuta being spread upon Leather and applied to the Region of the Spleen is an excellent good remedy 12 Bind the Spleen of a Dog to the Region of the Spleen of the Patient and it will help him in one night CHAP. 5. For the Yellow Jaundies TAke an Apple and cut off the top and pick out the Core then put into the Apple a drachm of Turmerick powder and ten or twelve grains of Saffron whole put on the top again roste it by a gentle fire then take it off and adding a little butter to it mash it all together and eat it last at night going to bed this doing in few nights will cure you 2 A Medicine for the Yellow Jaundies which seldome fails is this to swallow down Lice alive you may swallow them down in what you please 3 The Urine of the Patient drunk with Juyce of Horehound helpeth the Jaundies 4 Ivory in powder is a very good help for the Jaundies 5 Yet in my opinion Spodium which is nothing else but burnt Ivory is far better because it strengtheneth the Liver exceedingly and it is impossible the body should be afflicted with the Yellow Jaundies and not both Liver and Spleen exceedingly weakened 6 The proper cause of the Yellow Jaundies is a stoppage in the Biliar pores 7 The Juyce of Cammomile given to drink to the Patient diseased with the Yellow Jaundies is a presenr remedy CHAP. 6. Of the Stone THe cause of the Stone either in the Kidneys or Bladder is the heat of either part which hardneth the gross slimy substance into a Stone 2 Goats Blood dried and beaten into powder being taken inwardly is a very good remedy 3 The powder of Burnt Grashoppers is also very Good 4 If the Region of the Bladder be anointed often with the Blood of a Fox the Stone will break incontinently as appears for if you put a Stone into the Blood of a Fox it will break in three dayes time 5 And here take notice by the way that many times people in avoiding gravel have some great Stone stick by the way in the passage of the Yard which is many times forced to be taken out by cutting in such a case if the party did but hold his Yard in the warm Blood of a Fox it would in a short time be made small enough to come out of it self without any such troublesome or painful remedy 6 And although it is very probable the Blood of a Fox is not alwayes at present to be had yet it may be dried and kept for use whereby it may be alwayes had at present and may be dissolved in any convenient Liquor when there is need of its use and of all Liquors I suppose Vinegar to be the best because of its piercing quality 7 Take nine Ivy berries and beat them into powder and give them to
9. Of the Diabetes WHether the cause of this disease be the immoderate attraction of the Reins or the weakness of the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder or both of them we will not dispute the point out here howsoever this is certain there follows as well great thirst as pissing against ones will 2. Against this disease give the Patient the Bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep or else of a Bull beaten into powder let him drink half a dram of it in any convenient liquor at night going to bed 3. I suppose the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were sufficient if it were converted into Mummy and beaten into powder for it will be found to be a very difficult thing to beat the whole Bladder into powder besides it is the Sphinater Muscle which is in fault in our Bladder therefore if that onely of the Sheeps or Goats Bladder be used the Remedy is agreeable to the Disease 4. I remember once I cured a great Lubber that could not lye all night without pissing a bed nor remain a quarter of an hour in the day time without pissing by onely advising him to drink no other drink then what had been tied up twelve hours in a sheeps bladder and as â— have been since informed he is perfectly cured by it 5. Give him for three dayes in the Wane oâ— the Moon the Bladder of a fresh-water fish 6. The Brain of a Hare converted to Mummy and given in Wine to drink causeth the Patient to hold his water 7. Galangal taken inwardly is a good remedy to stop the involuntary flowing of the water if it come of a cold cause as I am of opinion it alwayes doth 8. The Lungs of a Kid bound warm under the Navel withholdeth the distillation of urine saith my Authour yet my opinion is that if they be medicinable for the disease the best way is to apply them to the Neck of the Bladder 9. My own Childe was troubled with this disease when very young whom I cured with these remedies First I got Alehoof and chopped it very small but washed it not and having sprinkled it with strong white Wine Vinegar applied to her Wrests Then I took three Holly-leaves the fullest of prickles I could get and boiled them in her drink These medicines I learned of an Italian which indeed cured her CHAP. 10. Of swelling of the Cods THis disease cometh sometimes of humors falling down into the Scrotum and sometimes onely winde gathering there 2. Take Bean-flour make it into the thickness of a Poltiss with juyce of Dwarf-Elder and common Oyl and apply it warm to the Cods it will presently allay the Swelling 3. A Poltiss made of the bark or leaves of Elder or dwarf-Elder will do the like 4. Goats-dung dissolved in Wine and the Cods bathed therewith takes away the swelling 5. The decoction of Marjoram also doth the like if it be used in like manner 6. But before all these I prefer the decoction of Vervine and Plantane to bathe the place with CHAP. 11. Of the Priapismus THe Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard is a disease exceeding painful and dangerous proceeding usually from a superabundance of hot and moist windy vapors possessing the seminal vessels 2. Let such as are subject to this disease use cool and moist diet especially let them eat much Purslane and Lettice 3. Hemlock bound to the Privities presently asswageth the disease 4. Let such as are subject to this disease avoid all Venerial thoughts for nothing in the world stirs the body to action more then thoughts do CHAP. 12. To provoke the Tearms A Plaister made of Galbanum and applied to the Navel doth mightily provoke them 2. Herbs medicinal to provoke them are Calamint Penerial Betony Sage Marjoram Savory Mugwort c. 3. The powder of Calamint works very violently upon the Feminine parts and therefore a dram of it taken in white Wine every morning is a very probable remedy to provoke them onely have a special care you give it not to women with childe because it destroyes the fruit of her Womb. 4. One caution let me give you before I go any further whatsoever you give to provoke the Tearms give it the Moon encreasing and the nearer the full the better for you will finde it an Herculian task to bring them down in the Wane of the Moon especially in such as never yet had them 5. The root of a white Lilly roasted soft in the embers and stamped with Oyl and applâ—ed to the Matrix it mightily openeth the passages thereof and brings down not onely the Tearms but also the dead childe 6. A Pessary made of Wool dipped in the juyce of Sage is a very good remedy to provoke the Tearms and indeed so is Sage taken any way and it is very probable that the use of drinking Sage-Ale took its rise from hence 7. It is good to make a bathe of all such things as provoke the Tearms and having put it in a Close-stool let the diseased party sit over it 8. Cinnamon and Cassia Lignea provoke the Tearms exceedingly and would be more used were they not so common 9. Bitter Almonds stamped being first blanched and used as a Pessary not onely to provoke the Tearms but also cleanse the Womb of ill humours 10. Half a dram of the powder of Steel given in the morning in white Wine will bring them down 11. I knew once a young Virgin in Service in London who was broken out all about her body her face and all in rough bunches not much unlike those of the French Disease and she lay under that scandal that she had that disease I was sent for to see her and examining the matter found that she never had the Tearms I presently conceived that to be the cause and by administring onely such Medicines as provoke them cured her in a short time 12. Once I had a Patient aged about thirty a Widow in whom they were stopped by reason of grief and when I could provoke them no other way about the full of the Moon I advised her to drink a gallon of Posset drink made with white Wine in two hours time before she went to bed I think she drank a pottle at least within the time and the next day they came down the reason is clear CHAP. 13. To stop the Tearms BEfore I come to Medicines I thought good to give notice of this that those things which strengthen the Womb both provoke the Tearms when they are stopped and also stop them when they flow immoderately such be stinking Arrach Cinnamon Cassia Lignea c. 2. Therefore the extract of Arrach made into Pills with the powder of the same Herb is excellent good both to provoke them and also to stop them 3. If the cause of their immoderate flowing be some vein broken as sometimes it is then to take the syrup of Clounswound-wort inwardly is an excellent remedy 4. Neither do I think the syrup of Comfrey or
kinde of Excrement is common to all living Creatures as well Beasts as Men for which cause Nature as a wise Mother hath provided that every concoction hath its excrement or superfluity the Stomach sends out dung the Liver Urine the Veins Sweat so after the third and last concoction which is done in every part of the body that is nourished there is left some profitable blood reserved by Nature for Procreation which blood we call the Generative Seed the timely evacuation whereof avails much for the bodies health for by it the body is made light and disburthened of Phlegm and other superfluous humors which otherwise would wax rank as may be observed in ancient Maids and some chaste Schollers for besides their secret flames and imbridled affections which dispose their mindes to extravigant imaginations we see them also ill complexioned by reason of such vaporous fumes which ascend up towards their cloudy brains To pass over other inconveniences they are subject to as the Green-sickness the Night-mare the Spleen the palpitation and trembling of the heart and their polluted dreams the best advice I can give such persons is to marry in the fear of God and chiefly those are required who are Sanguine or lean for such persons abound with blood Physicians hold the Winter to be the best time for Carnal Copulation and in the Spring-time when Nature is desirous without the help of Arts and Drugs and at night when the stomach is full and the body somewhat warm that sleep immediately after it may lenifie the Lassitude caused through the action thereof In the Summer in May and July when the Spittle thickens on the ground it cannot be so wholesome nor in frosty wâ—ather Immoderate Venery weakeneth the strength hurts the brain extinguisheth radical moisture and hasteneth on old age and death the Spâ—rm or Seed of generation being one of the greatest comforters of life which being wilfully shed or lost hurteth more then if he should bleed forty times as much That Batchelors and Maids may drive away their unclean dreams at nights let them refrain from Wine and Venerious Imaginations not use to lie in soft Beds let them read the Bible and moral Philosophers use exercises let them eat Agnus Castus in English Park and they shall finde a strange effect to follow Of Bathing BAthing in cold Water so that the same be clear clear from Rain or a silver colour'd Brook in the summer time before meats doth wonderfully delight nature provoke the appetite and is very good against Rhumes the Dropsie and Gout and causes digestion you shall finde it wonderful expedient sometimes to bathe the head with hot Lee made of ashes after which you must cause one presently to pour three or four quarts of cold water then let the head be dried with cold Towels the suddain powring down of the water stirs up the natural heat of the body quickneth the memory keepeth from baldness In the summer washing of the hands often doth much avail the eye-sight In the Winter time when the Water is cold and Frozen this kinde of artificial Bath is very expedient and wholsome take two pounds of Turpentine four ounces of the Juyce of Wormwood and Wilde Mallows one ounce of fresh â—â—cor one dram of Saffron mingle them and seethe them a pretty while and being hot wet four Linnen cloathes therein and therewith bathe your self or else make a Bath after this manner take Fumitory Enula Compana Leaves Sage Fetherfue Rosemary and Wormwood of each a handful or two seethe them in a sufficient quantity of water till they be soft and put as much as a Walnut of Allom and a little Brimstone powder and therewith bathe the affected places of the body he that uses these bathes in convenient time may live healthfully for by them superfluous excrements are extracted in sweat But with this caution I commend Baths that no person that is distempered through Venery Gluttony Fasting Watching or violent Exercise do enter into them Diet for a Feaver and Ague I Do advertise every one that hath a Feaver or an Ague to eat no meat six hours before his fit doth take him and in no wise as long as the Ague doth endure to put off his shirt or dublet nor to rise out of the bed but when need shall require and in any wise not to go nor take the open Air for such provision may be had that at the uttermost at the third fit he may be delivered of the Feaver Let the Patient beware of casting his hands and arms at any time or to spraul with his Legs out of the bed it is good for the space of three fits to wear continually Gloves and not to wash the hands He is to eat little and those temperate meats to refrain from Wine Beer and Cider and all other things whatsoever that are not of a very light digestion Diet for the Chollick and the Stone THe Iliack and Chollick are ingendred of ventosity the which is intrused or inclosed in two Guts the one is called Ilia and the other is called Colon for these two infirmities one must beware of cold and it is not good to be long fasting and necessary to be laxative but in no wise to be constupate These things following are not good for those which have these aforesaid infirmities new bread stale bread new ale they must abstain also from drinking of Beer of Cider of Red Wine and Cinamon also refrain from all meats that Honey is in from eating of cold Herbs Beans Pease Pottage beware of fruits and of all things the which do ingender winde For the Stone abstain from eating of Red herring Martilmas-beef and Bacon salt fish salt meats Beware of going cold about the middle especially about the Reins of the back and make no restriction of wine and water nor seege that water would expel Diet for several kindes of the Gout They which are troubled with the Gout or any kinde of it I do advertise them not to sit too long forgetting to exonerate the bladder and the belly when need shall require and also to beware the Legs hang not without some stay nor that the Boots or Shoes be not over strait Whosoever hath the Gout must refrain from drinking of new Ale of Beer and Red Wine Also he must not eat new Bread Eggs fresh Salmon Eels Fresh Herring Pilcherds Oysters all shell fish he must avoid the eating of fresh Beef of Goose of Duck and of Pigeons he must beware of taking of cold in his Legs or riding or going wetshod Beware of Venerous acts after refection or after or upon a full stomach from all things that ingender evil humors and are inflative Diet for the Lepors HE that is infected with any of the four kindes of Leprosie must refrain from all manner of Wines and from new drinks and strong Ale let him beware of riot and surfeiting let him abstain from eating of Spices Dates from Tripes Puddings and all inwards of Beasts Fish
much drink and meat that the Liver which is the fire under the pot is suppressed that he cannot naturally nor truly decoct or digest the superabundance of meat and drink the which is in the pot or stomach wherefore divers times these Impediments do follow The tongue is deprived of his office to speak the wits or senses be dull and obnubulated from reason sloath and sluggishness consequently followeth The appetite is withdrawn the head is light and akes full of fantasies and divers times some be so sopited that the Malt-worm playeth the devil so fast in the head that all the world runneth round about on wheels then doth the principal members and the official members fail of their strength yet the pulses be full of agility Such Repletions especially such Gurgitations do ingender divers infirmities through which brevity and shortness of life follows For the wise man saith That Surfeits do kill many men and Temperance doth prolong the life And also it is written Ecclus 37. That there doth die many more by Surfeit then there doth by the Sword For as surfeiting ingendreth many Infirmities as the Dropsies the Gouts Phlegm Pimples in the face vehement Impressions undigest Humors Opilations Feavers Putrefaction It perturbates the head the eyes the tongue and the stomach with many other infirmities Gallen saith overmuch repletion or surfeiting causeth strangulation and sudden death for as I said the stomach is so inforced and the Liver is so sore oppressed that natural heat and the powers are extinct wherefore abstinence for this matter is the best and the perfectest Medicine the Patient being in no wise to eat meat until the stomach be evacuated of all evil humors by vomit or other convenient wayes for else crude and raw undigested humors will encrease in the body Two Meals a day is sufficient for a resident person A labourer may eat three times a day I advertise that the first refection or meal be digested ere he do eat the second for there is nothing more hurtful for mans body then to lay meat upon meat undigested for the last refection or meal will hinder the digestion of the first refection or meal Also sundry meats of divers operations eaten at one refection or meal is unwholesome nor is it good to sit long at dinner and supper An hour is sufficient to sit at dinner not so long at supper We English have an evil use in sitting long at dinner and at supper at the beginning of dinner and supper we feed on grosse meats and the best which are wholesome nutritive and light of digestion are kept for servants for when the good meat comes to the table through feeding upon gross meat the appetite is extinct I am unwilling to be too large on this Subject and therefore I shall refer thee Courteous Reader to the other two Doctors of Reason and Experience Of several sorts of Drinks WAter is one of the four Elements of the which divers Liquors or Drinks for mans sustenance are made taking their original and substance of it as Ale Beer Mead and Methegline Water is unwholesome alone by it self for an English man considering the contrary usage which is not concurrant with nature Water is cold slow and slack of digestion The best Water is Rain Water if so be that it is clean and purely taken Next to it is running water the which doth swiftly run from the East into the West upon stones or pibbles the third Water to be praised is River or Brook Water which is clear running on pibbles and gravel Standing Waters which are refreshed with a fresh Spring are good but standing Waters and Well Waters on which the sun hath no reflection although they be lighter then other running Waters are yet they are not commendable And let every one beware of all Waters which are standing and putrefied with froath docknet and mud for if they bake or brew or dress meat with it it will ingender many infirmities The Water which every man ought to dress his meat withal or shall use baking or brewing let it be running and put it in vessels that it may stand there two or three hours strain the upper part through a thick linen cloth and cast the inferial part away If any do use to drink water with wine let it be purely strained and then seethe it and after it is cold put it into his wine but it is better to drink with wine stilled waters especially the water of Strawberries of Bugloss of Borage of Endive of Succory or the water of Sow-thistle and Dandelion and if any one is troubled with the Stone or doth burn in the pudibunde places let him use to drink with white Wine the water of Haws and the water of Milk Of Wine WInes are of Grapes except Respis which is made of a berry Chuse your Wine after this sort it must be fine fair and clear to the eye fragrant and redolent having a good odor and flavour in the nose it must sparkle in the glass when it is drawn or put out of the pot into the glass it should be cold and pleasant in the mouth strong and subtile of substance moderately drunk it doth accuate and quicken the wits comfort the heart scoure the Liver especially if it be white Wine it doth rejoyce all the powers and nourish them it ingenders good blood it doth comfort and cherish the brain and it dissolveth Phleghm it ingendreth heat is good against heaviness and penvesiness and is full of agility it is medicinable especially white Wine for it doth mundifie and cleanse wounds and sores The better the Wine is the better humors it doth ingender Wine ought not to be too new nor to old high Wines as Malmesey may be kept long because Wine is full of fumosity it is good sometimes to allay it with water French Wines and specially Renish Wine that is fined is good at meat especially Claret Wine It is not good to drink Wine nor Beer before one doth eat though there be old-fantastical sayings to the contrary Also these hot Wines as Malmesey Corse Greke Romanisk Romney Sack Alygant Bastard Tyre Osay Muscadel Caprick Tent Roberdavy with other hot Wines are not good to drink with meat but after meat with Oysters with Salads with Fruit a draught or two may be allowed Old men may drink high Wines at their pleasure all sweet and gross Wines cause fatness Of Ale ALe is made of Malt and Water and they which do put any other thing into Ale except Yest or Barme do sophistick their Ale Ale for an English man is a natural drink Ale must have these properties it must be fresh and clear not ropy it must have no Weft nor Tail Ale should not be drunk under five dayes old new Ale is unwholsome sowre Ale and dead and Ale which do stand atilt is most unwholesome Barley Malt maketh better Ale then Oaten Malt or any other corn it ingenders grose humors but it causeth strength Of Beer
never saw any of those fat and therefore I suspect their goodness certain it is old Pikes are hard and tough to digest young ones called Jacks are too waterish and moist one of the middle growth is the most likely to nourish Of Roaches ROches according to the old Proverb a sound as a Roach are accounted incapable of any disease hence we account them wholesome they are full of bones which make them the less regarded Of Salmon SAlmon is a fat tender short and sweet flesh it soon glutteth and fills the stomach they are most commended which go furthest up iâ— fresh Rivers those worst which are taken nearest the Sea salt Salmon loseth a double goodness one of a good taste the other of a good nourishment Of Smelts SMelts so called because they smell so sweet their flesh is of the finest lightest softest and best juyce of any fish their excellency is in the Winter when they are full of spawns The Western are most esteemed Of Trouts TRouts in Northumberland are very large others smaller they are very pleasant and good meat for sound persons Of wilde tame Fowl and small Birds That a Partridge of all Fowls is soonest digested it is a restorative meat comforts the brain and the stomach augments carnal lust The woodcock is a meat of good temperature quails Plovers and Lapwings nourish but little for they ingender melancholy humors yong turtle Doves and Pheasants ingender good blood A Crane is hard of digestion and doth ingender evil blood A young Hernsew is lighter of digestion then a Crane A Buzzard well killed and ordered is very nutritive The Bittour is not so hard of digestion as is the Hernsew A Shoveler is lighter of digestion then a Bittour All these are noisome except they be well ordered and dressed A Pheasant-hen a Moor-cock and a Moor-hen except they do sit are very nutritive All manner of wilde Fowl which live by the water are hard of digestion Of tame domestical Fowl OF all tame Fowl a Capon is best is most nourishing and is soonest digested A Hen in Winter is good and nutritive and so are Chickens in Summer especially Cockrels and Pullets the which are untrod the flesh of a Cock is hard of digestion the broth or gelly of 〈◊〉 Cock is restorative Pigeons are good for cholâ—erick and melanchollick persons Geese and Ducks except the green Geese are not of easie digestion Young Pea-chickens half a year old breed good nourishment Of small Birds All manner of small Birds are good and light of digestion except Sparrows Titmouses Colmouses and Wrens the which eat Spiders and Poison are not commendable Of all small Birds the Lark is best the Black-bird the Thrush Rasis and Isaack praise yong Stares but I do conclude because they are bitter in eating that they ingender Choller Of Beef BEef is an excellent meat if the Beast be yong and is not Cow-flesh for old Beef and Cow-flesh do ingender melancholly and gross humors If it be moderately powdred that the gross blood by salt is exhausted it doth make an English man strong Martinmas-beef which is called hanged Beef in the smoak is not wholesome it may fill the belly and cause one to drink but it is naught for the Stone and evâ—â— of digestion and makes no good juyce Of Mutton and Lamb. MUtton with Rasis and Averroyes is good meat but Gallen doth not commend it and surely they hint at some reason considering that this Beast is so soon infected nor dotâ— there happen so great a Murren and Sickness to any four-footed Beast as doth to the Sheep Notwithstanding if the Sheep be fed in a good Pasture and fat and do not flavour of the Wool it is good for sick persons for it doth ingender excellent blood Lamb is moist and phlegmatick it is not good for old persons except of a melancholly complexion nor for phlegmatick men to feed except very moderately Of Veal VEal is a nourishing meat for it is soon digested Whereupon many Authors hold the opinion that it is the best flesh and the most nutritive meat that can be for mans sustenance Of Pork and Bacon WHereas Gallen with other ancient and approved Doctors praise Pork in holy Scripture it is not allowed for a Swine is an unclean Beast and doth lie upon stinking and filthy soils and with stercorous matter Pork if it be of an old Hog not clean kept it ingenders gross blood humects too much the stomach if the Pork be young it is nutritive Bacon is good for Carters and Plough-men which labour but if they have the Stone and use to eat it they will endure great misery Of Brawn BRawn is an usual meat in Winter amongst Englishmen it is hard of digestion The Brawn of a wilde Boar is much better then the Brawn of a tame one Of Pigs PIgs especially Sow-pigs are nutritive and made in a gelly is a restorative if the Pig be fleaed the skin taken off and then stewed with restoratives as a Cock is stewed to make a gelly A young fat Pig is wholesome if it be well ordered in the roasting the skin not eaten Of Kid. YOung Kids flesh is praised above all other flesh as Avicen Rasis and Averroys affirm it is temperate and nutritive although it be somewhat dry Of wilde Beasts THe opinion of all ancient Physicians was and is that Venison is not good to eat principally for two causes The first is that this Beast doth live in fear and his timerosity causes melancholly humors The second cause is as it doth ingender chollerick humors it is a Lords dish good for an Englishman for it doth animate him to be as he is which is strong and hardy Of the Hare A Hare maketh a Gentleman good pastime and better for the Hounds or Dogs to eat the Hare after they have killed it then man for it is not praised The Scripture saith The Hare is an unclean Beast In Physick Hares flesh is dry and doth ingender melancholly humors Of Rabbits COneys flesh is good but Rabbits flesh is best of all wilde Beasts for it is temperate and doth nourish and singularly praised in Physick for all things the which doth suck is nutritive Of the Head Brains Fat Skins Fins Marrow Blood Tongues Stones and Inwards of Flesh or Fish THe Heads of Fish and the Fat especially of Salmon and Conger is not good for them which are disposed to Rheum the heads of Lampries and Lamprons and the string which is within them is not good to eat refrain from eating of the skins of flesh and fish and burned and brown meat it ingenders viscus humors and Choller and Melancholly and makes opilations The Brains of any beast are not wholesome except the brains of a Kid for they are evil of digestion and hurt the appetite and stomach they are cold moist and viscus A hot stomach may eat them but they ingender gross humors The brains of a Woodcock and of a Snipe and such like are commestible the
fore-part of all manner of beasts and fowls are more hotter and lighter of digestion then the hinder parts are The marrow of all beasts are hot and moist are nutritive if well digested they mollifie the stomach and take away the appetite wherefore one should eat Pepper with it The blood of all beasts and fowls are not wholesome but hard of digestion All the inwards of beasts and of fowls as the heart the liver the lungs tripes trilibubs with all the entrails is hard of digestion and doth encrease gross humors The fat of flesh is not so much nutritive as the lean it is best when lean and fat is mixt one with another The tongues of beasts are hard of digestion and of little nourishment The stones of a Cockrel and stones of other beasts are very nourishing Of roasted boiled bak't fried meats BEyond Sea at the Universities boiled meat is used at dinner and roast to supper as boiled meat is lighter of digestion Broiled meats are hard of digestion and naught for the Stone fried meat is harder of digestion then broiled it ingenders Choller and Melancholly Bak't meat buried in paste is not praised in Physick All manner of flesh which is inclined to humidity should be roasted and all flesh which is dry should be boiled Fish may be sod roasted broiled and baken every one after their kinde and use and fashion of the Countrey as the Cook and the Physician may agree and devise For a good Cook is half a Physician Of the Roots of Borage and Bugloss THe Roots of Borage and Bugloss sod tender and made in a succade do ingender good blood and a wholesom temperance Of Elisaunder and Elina Campane THe Root of Alisaunder sod tender and made in a succade is good for to destroy the Stone in the Reins of the Back and Bladder the Roots of Elina Campane sod tender in a succade is good for the breast for the lungs and for all the interial members of man Of Parsley and Fennel THe Roots of Parsley sod tender and made in succade are good for the Stone and to make a man piss Fennel sod is good for the lungs and the sight Of Turnips and Parsnips TUrnips boiled and eaten with flesh augments the seed if they be eaten raw and moderately they provoke a good appetite Parsnips sod doth encrease nature and are nutritive and expels urine Of Raddish and Carrets RAddish roots doth break winde and do provoke urine but they be not good for those which have the Gout Carrets sod augment and encrease nature and cause urine Of the Roots of Rapes RApe roots if they be well boiled nourish if they be moderately eaten immoderately they ingender ventosity and offend the stomach Of Onions ONions provoke to Venery and Sleep and if a man drink sundry drinks they rectifie and reform the variety of the operation of them they cause a good appetite Of Leeks LEeks open the breast and provoke urine cause and encrease bad blood Of Garlick GArlick of all roots is much used in France and some other Countreys it opens the breast and it doth kill wormes in the belly which the Lumbrici Ascarides and Cutuibicini which are small little long worms that tickle in the fundament it also heats the body and desolves gross winds Of Cabbage CAto in his book De re rustica writes too highly in praise of Cabbages as he judges them to be a sufficient medicine against all diseases some are of opinion if they are eat raw before meat with Vinegar that they preserve the stomach from Surfeits and the brain from drunkenness this I am certain of that if they are constantly eat they injure the sight except the eyes are very moist they cause and break winde the opinion of most writers is that they are not so wholesom as Lettice being hot in the first and dry in the second degree Of Asparagrass NO kinde of Herbs nourish more being freed from their bitterness and eaten hot they are temperately moist and exceed not in heat the first degree they increase Venery strengthen the Liver and help conception Of Musk Melons MUsk Melons are not so moist or cold as the ordinary sort of Melons are they ingender better blood and descend more speedily into the belly fruits of this kinde are dangerous not to be eaten presently out of the ground but rather let them lie a week though that they are ripe that there watrish moisture may be abated Garden Pompeons and Melons may lie in a warm Kitching till Christmas Of Potata Roots POtata roots nourish mightily either Sod Bak't or rosted the newest and heaviest are the best they ingender much flesh blood and seed Of Raddishes RAddishes cause rank belchings are hardly digested they burn the blood ingender Lice cause Leanness spoil the eye-sight and corrupt the whole mass of nourishment Of Skirret Roots SKirret Roots have a long string within them which taken away before they are sod makes them eat exceeding sweet they are of a milde and temperate nature agreeing with complexions did we know all the vertues of them they would be more nourished then they are in our Gardens Of Borage and Bugloss BOrage doth comfort the heart ingender good blood and causeth mirth so doth Bugloss which is taken of more vigour strength and efficacy Of Artechokes and Rokat THere is nothing usually to be eaten of Artechokes but the heads of them when they are almost ripe sodden tender in the broth of Beef or with Beef eat them at dinner they increase nature and provoke Venery Rokat doth increase the seed stumulate the flesh and doth help digestion Of Succory and Endive SUccory doth help the Stomach and keep the head in temper and qualifie Choller Endive is good for them which have hot and dry hot Stomachs Of white Beets and Purslane WHite Beets are good for the Liver and for the Spleen are abstercine Purslane doth abate the ardor of lasciviousness and mittigates heat in the inward parts of the head and eyes if preserved in brine it heats and purges the stomach it is cold in the third degree and moist in the second Of Time and Parsley TIme breaketh the Stone desolves winde and causeth Urine Parsley breaks the Stone causeth Urine is good for the Stomach and causeth a sweet breath Of Lettice and Sorrel LEttice extincts Venery causeth milk in womens Breasts it is good for a hot Stomach provokes sleep increases blood temperates it Sorrel is good for a hot Liver and also for the Stomach being sod it looseth the belly in the time of the Plague taken fasting sucking or chewing some of the Leaves it preserues against infection the seeds thereof brewed and drunk with Wine and water are good against the Chollick and the stopping of Fluxes excellent against overcharged Stomachs Sorrel possets are soveraign in sundry distempers This Herb is cold in the third and dry in the second degree Of Marigolds MArigolds the Herb and Flowers are of great use with us amongst other
Pot-Herbs the flowers either green or dried are often used in Possets Broths and Drinks as a comforter for the Spirits and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality gathered near thereunto the Syrup and Conserve made of the fresh flowers are used for some purposes to the same effect Of Pennyroyal and Hyssop PEnnyroyal purges melancholly and comforts the Stomach and Spirits Hyssop cleanseth viscus Phlegm is good for the Breast and Lungs Of Rosemary and Roses ROsemary is good for Palsies for the Falling-sickness and for a Cough good against cold Roses are a Cordial they comfort the heart and brain Of Fennel and Annis THese Herbs are seldome used but their seeds Fennel-seed is used to break Urine good against Poyson Annis-seed cleanses the Bladder and the Reins of the back provokes Urine and causeth a sweet Breath Of Sage SAge is good to help a woman to conceive it provokes Urine and sleep it is good in an Ague or Feaver and against the Falling-sickness this Herb is of excellent Vertue Of Violets VIolets comforts the brain preserve against drunkenness the syrup of them cools the Reins and is very good against the Falling-sickness Of Watercresses WAtercresses are very wholesome in the Spring-time they comfort the Sinnews and are hot and dry Of Tansie TAnsie purges the Ague dries the Sinnews and is good against the Worms Of Rue THere are two kindes of Rue the one of the Garden another of the Field it is good against Infection abates Lust is excellent for the Sight that of the Field is hot and dry in the fourth degree that of the Garden is hot and dry in the second degree Of Wormwood THere are several sorts of Wormwoods those of the Sea are not of that goodness in quality as the common and aromatical bitter sorts are nâ—vertheless because they are not so bitter as the common sorts which renders them more acceptable to many persons that desire to please their pallates rather then to be cured of their diseases by bitter medicines our Physicians and Apothecaries feeding their humor for their own profit and to please their Patients There are many other Herbs used in Pottage Broths Possets Sallets Sauces Tansies c. from most of which small nourishment is received Of the vertues of those which are of the highest concernment having already discoursed of in the first part of this Volume I shall here omit them Of Figs. A Vicen writes that Figs nourish more then any other fruit when they are eaten with blanched Almonds they are good roasted and stewed they cleanse the Breast and the Lungs open the opilations of the Liver and the Spleen they provoke to Venerious acts as they augment and encrease the seed of generation they cause sweating wherefore they ingender Lice Of great Raisins GReat Raisins are nutritive especially if the stones are out they make the stomach firm and cause a good appetite if a few of them be eaten before meat Of small Raisins of Currâ—â—â— SMall Raisins of Currans are good for the Reins of the back they do provoke urine howbeit they are not good for the Spleen they cause opilation Of Grapes GRapes sweet and new are nutritive and stumulate the flesh they comfort the Stomach and the Liver avoid opilations but they do repleat the stomach with winde Of Peaches of Medlers and Cervices PEaches mollifie the belly and are cold Medlers taken superfluously ingender melancholly Cervices are of the same operation Of Strawberries and Cherries STrawberries are praised above all Berries they qualifie the heat of the Liver ingender good blood eaten with Sugar Cherries mollifie the belly and are cold Of Nuts great and small THe Walnut and Banock are of one operation they are slow of digestion yet they comfort the brain if the pith or skin be pulled off they are nutritive Filberts are better then Hazzle-nuts if they are new taken from the â—ree and the skin or the pith pulled off they are â—utritive and encrease fatness if they are old they should be eaten with great Raisins New Nuts are better then old for old Nuts are cholâ—erick and naught for the head and evil for old persons as they ingender the Palsie in the Tongue immoderately taken or eaten ingender corruptions as biles blains and such putrefaction Of Pease and Beans PEase which are young are nutritive Beans are not so good as Pease they are more windy although the skins or husks be ablated yet they are a strong meat and doth provoke Venery Of Pears and Apples PEars which are mellow and not stony doth encrease fat and ingender waterish blood they are full of ventosity Wardons roasted â—tewed or bak't are nutritive comfort the stomach especially if they are eaten with Comfits Apples are good after a frost hath taken them â—or when they are old especially red Apples and those of good odour and mellow they should â—e eaten with Sugar or Comfits or with Fennel-seed or Anniseed because of their ventosity they comfort the stomach and cause good digestion especially if they are roasted and bak't Of Pomegranates and Quinces POmegranates are nutritive and good for the stomach Quinces bak't the coar pulled out mollifie the belly help digestion and preserve a man from drunkenness Of Dates and Milons DAtes moderately eaten are nutritive but they cause opilations of the Liver and of the Spleen Milons ingender bad humors Of Gourds of Cowcumbers and Pepones GOurds are of bad nourishment Cowcumbers restrain Venery as they are cold and moist corrupt the stomach and if they are not well ordered and moderately eaten ingender thick and gross humors and are within few degrees of poison to persons of a weak digestion Of Apricocks APricocks quickly corrupt and ingenderâ— chollerick and whayish excrements cause pestilent Agues stop the Liver and Spleen and breed ill juyce Of Barberries BArberries preserved refresh hot stomachs kept in pickle they serve for Sallets and the garnishing of Meat Of Citrons and Lemons CItrons the juyce of them are good against poison and qualifie humors putrefied in the body cause a sweet breath and cure burning Agues Lemons approach their nature is cold and dry in the third degree their seed temperate the juyce eat alone causes gripings of the guts but the peel with the pulp as nature hath united them together the heat of the one corrects the rawness of the other and both of them comfort the heart Of Mulberries MUlberries are hot in the first degree cold in the second best before meat they please the stomach cause a looseness of the body and provoke urine Of Raspis RAspis are like the Black-berry or Dew-berry but not so astringent cold stomachs cannot convert them into good juyce Of Goose-berries GOose-berries ripe are as nourishing as they are sweet they should be eaten first not last because they are so light a fruit The red Goose-berries are more cold dry and astringent by one degree because those in our countrey are not sweet Of Prunes and Damsins PRunes are used in medicine for