heath that groweth creeping vp by certaine little Canes it hath a sadde greene colour it carrieth certayne leaues that the greatnesse of them may be of the greatnesse of a good Porenge dish which are in compasse round with a little point the leafe hath his little Sienewes it is small well neere without moysture the stalke is of the colour of a cleere Tawnie. They say that it casteth foorth certayne Clusters with little Grapes of the greatnesse of a Coriander seede which are the fruite and doe waxe rype by the Moneth of September it casteth out many Bowes which doth stretche a long vppon the Earth and if you put any thing neere to it it goeth creeping vpon it The Roote of the Mechoacan is vnsauerie and without byting or anie sharpenesse of tast That which wee doe see at this present of our Mechoacan is a roote which they bring from the new Spayne from the Prouince of Mechoacan made in greate and little peeces of them cutte in peeces of them broken with their handes It is a white Roote somewhat strong and mighty it appeareth that the peeces be of a great roote without any heart The conditions or elections that it must haue for to be good and perfect is that it be freshe which may be knowne if that it be not worme eaten nor blacke and that it be somewhat white but the very white is not so good and if it bee somewhat russet so that it be the vttermost parte of the root for that the inner parte is somewhat white In the tasting or chewing of it it is without sauour or any manner of byting tast It importeth to make his worke the better if so be that it be freshe for that the fresher it is the better it is and the greater the peeces are the better they are conserued And it is true that that which is brought in pouder is not so good for that it doeth putrifie and lose much of the vertue and operation As also we doe see if we make pouder and keepe it it doeth not make so good woorke as when the roote is ground and then forthwith taken The roote beyng old doth turne blacke and it will be worme eaten with holes and become very light It will keepe well rouled in Sere cloth It is gathered in the moneth of October and it neuer loseth his leafe The Complection thereof is hot in the first degree and drie in the seconde for that it hath subtill partes with some bynding whereby it seemeth that his woorke beyng done it leaueth the interiour Members strengthened without debilitation and weakenesse which the other Purgatiue Medicines doe leaue them in but rather those that doe purge themselues therewith doe remayne after they be purged more strong and harde then before they were purged It hath no neede of rectification for that wee doe not see in this roote any notable hurt onely the Wine is vnto it a corroboration for the woorke for being taken with Wine it maketh a better worke then with any other Licour for that it doth not cause vomite and it woorketh the better It is giuen at all tymes and in all Ages it doeth his woorke without molestation and without the accidentes that the other Medicines soluatiue are woont to procure It is a Medicine easie to bee taken for that it hath no euil cast Onely it hath the sauour of that with the which it is taken for that it is of it selfe without sauour and so it is easie for Children for that they may take it without feeling what it is it is so lykewyse for persons that caÌ„not take Medicines for it hath neyther smell nor taste I haue purged therewith many Children and many very olde persons haue giuen it to men of more then 80. yeeres of age and it maketh in them very sure and good woorke with no maner of alteration nor chaunge of body and without being debilited or weakened This Roote doeth auoyde cholerike humors grosse mixt and also flegmatike Humors of what kind soeuer they be and humors putrified and rotten and of both coloâ—rs it doeth euacuate the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie with much easines The principall respect thereof is to the Liuer making it cleane and comforting it and the Members neere adioyning to it as the stomacke and the inner partes It doeth cure all Opilations of the same partes and all diseases caused of them As the Dropsie the Iaundies and ioyntly with his good woorke it rectifieth the euill complexion of the Liuer it dâ—ssolueth windinesse and with easinâ—sse it expelleth it and doeth open all the hardnesse of the Liuer and of the Lunges and of the stomacke It taketh away olde griefes of tâ—e head and mundifieth the brayne and tâ—e Sinewes and empâ—ieth out the humors that bee in the head or pâ—râ—es thereof In the disease called the Lampaâ—ones which is the Ringes Euill it maketh a good woorke in olde griâ—feâ— of the head called the Megrim and the Falling sicknesse and in all Distillations or olde runninges in paynes of â—he Ioyntes both particular and vniuersal as in the â—ouâ— Arthetica in paynes of the stomacke emptying the cause and consuming windines Also in paynes of the Uryne Bladder in paynes of the stone and Colicke of what kynde soeuer it bee it maketh a meruellous woorke It cureth the paynes of women and especially the Mother by emptying and taking away the cause as namely those causes which come of cold humors windinesse and in the griefes of the brest as of an olde cough shortnes of breath for vsing this roote oftentymes it taketh it away and healeth it Also in griefes of the Reynes caused of grosse Humors for it doeth emptie and expell them In griefes of the Poxe it maketh a greate worke And it seemeth that for these griefes our Lord did ordaine it emptying the humors of them which for the moste parte are colde and especially when they be waxen olde of long tyme it purgeth them and doeth expel them without any paynes by multiplying the taking thereof as many tymes as is necessarie for that in these infirmities that bee olde and of long continuance one euacuation is not sufficient but it is necessary to haue many euacuations which may be done without daunger with this Roote and it is not to bee maruelled at if that with one euâ—cuation therewith doeth not follow the health that is wished for but that many tymes it is needful to make often repetition to the intent to roote vp and expel the euil and naughtie humors that are the cause of the saide disease This roote doeth maruellously empty foorth the cause of the lâ—rge Feuers and importunate and all Feuers compounded and chiefly in olde Feuers as Tertians Quotidians flegmatike and in sâ—ch diseases as commonly come of opilacions vsing thereof at the tyme that is needefull for that in the lyke large and importunate diseases the Phisition must not bee
contentment to heale onely with the drinking of a water it beyng of a sweete smel and good of sauour which is taken and drunk without any maner of griefe and so to doe that woorke which sharpe medicines and sirupes of euill sauour and tast cannot doe And such as did drinke wine did water their wine with it thâ—y found themselues well with it In one thing it was seene greately to profite which is in the vse of this water in them that haue lost the lust of their meate insomuch that it is restored to them the lothsomnesse taken from them by the vse of it so that many did amende come to their health quickely And the vse of this water doth cause lust to meate The Souldiers doe coÌ„mend it with suche admiration that some came to leaue it and not to drinke it for because that it caused them to haue so great hunger that they coulde not withstand it And because there was no suche abundance of meates wherwith they might satisfie their hunger which the water was cause of they would not drinke it as not hauing sufficient for their maintenaunce for they did all vse it for a drinke in steede of wine and it was a great remedie for them that by it they became whole as appeareth by them which came from those partes whereas they doe vse it In the Hauana there is a Phisition whom they take for a Man of good vnderstanding in these causes who did cure many of them which came in the Fleete from the newe Spayne sicke with onely the vse of this water without geuing or making for them any other Medicine And it did very well with them for that many were healed therewith and he gaue them to drinke as much as they would all the day and at Dinner and Supper and in the morning he gaue a Cuppe full warmed to them that coulde not goe to stoole with a little Sugar not very white and it wrought very well with them for their going to stoole And to other he gaue Medicines of this water only and Hony it made a good worke I cured heere some that were in cure in the Hauana And being ordered in this maner they which came not wel healed thence were heere fully healed In griefes of the head and in paines thereof being very olde which proceed of any cold cause the taking of this water hot in the morning wel sodden and at dinner and supper and in the day tyme simple with good gouernement as well in the meate that is eaten as in the rest of all other thinges and doing this for many dayes it cureth and healeth them maruellously It is conuenient for him that shal do this that he purge himself first and in the tyme that hee must take it that he receiue certaine Pilles of Hiera simplex he hath no need to keepe himselfe close neither in his chamber nor in his bedde He that shal take this it is ynough that he go wel clothed and that he keepe himselfe from the colde and ayre and that he vse to eate good meates In griefes of the brest caused of colde humors this water doth profite much and openeth the waies of the brest It consumeth moysture and fleames it stayeth the fluxe the running which cometh from the head to the brest It must be taken in the morning hot and drinke continually simple for besides the ordinary drinking in the morning it must bee drunke simplie for a long tyme. For these simple waters as they doe their worke by little and little so it is needful that they be continued for a long season It is good that there be put some suggar too it that it may make the better woorke In griefes of the Stomacke when the cause is colde or windie after that the vniuersal euacuations bee made taking this water in the morning strong as it is sâ—id simple at other tymes it taketh them away and healeth them chiefly if there bee any olde griefe for that I haue giuen it for this effect to men that many yeeres did suffer most grieuous paynes in the stomacke and with taking the water in the morning hot for certaine dayes and continuing with the simple water for a long tyme and taking once euery weeke pilles of Hiera simplex many people were healed therof very wel And thus we haue declared howe that the vse of this water restoreth the appetite lost and giueth lust to meate In the weakenes of the stomacke and in the lacke of natural heate where that which is eaten is not consumed it worketh great effectes and helpeth digestion It consumeth windes which are the cause of indigestion it taketh away a stinking breath and from them that do vomit their meate it taketh away that euil custome so that they eate little and vse continually to drinke this water without wyne And aboue al other thinges it maketh a good breath and a good smel at the mouth In the disease of the stone of the Ridneis and reines the vse of this water hot when they haue this griefe doth greatly profit and much more vsing it continually simple by it self or with wine for that it doeth preserue that the paine come not so continually nor so grieuously And also it maketh him that doeth vse it to cast out much Sande where the stones bee ingendred And also it causeth the stones that are in the reynes to be cast out and staieth the ingendering of them for that it consumeth the fleames of the which they be principally ingendered and the windes that be many tymes the causes of the paines To them which haue the burning of the Urine to such as haue great burning at the tyme that they make their water doe feele great heat vnto such is not conuenient the vse of this water for bicause it is hot Al such should vse of that wood which I haue written of in the first part of this Historie which is excellent for such as suffer the lyke burninges and paines For the stones and sandes for al such euils comming of heate the work is meruellous that it doeth sauing that if there bee any stone in the Bladder from which place proceedeth the lyke burning for in such a case none of these waters doe take effect but only the Surgions Raser when the Stone is greate is that which doeth profite as I haue seene in many And whyle it is sayd it is a stone it is no stone death hath come vnto them that had it whome if they had beene opened in time might haue liued many yeres as we haue seene in diuers of sixtie yeres and more who haue bin opened and liued vntill they came to eighty yeres and more And I aduertise you that this wood which I call of the Uryne and the stone doeth make the water blewe for if it doe not make the water blewe it is not the right wood And now they bring
a wood which maketh the water yellowe and this is not it which doeth profite but that which maketh the water blewe and this hath the couetousnesse of them caused that bring it because they haue seene that it is wel solde in this citie for the manifest profites that it doeth in these griefes of the Urine by tempering the Reines and the Liuer and procuring many other benefits they bring of all the wood that they finde and sell it for wood of the stone The same hath happened in the Mechoacan which when it came to be worth twentie Ducates the pounde they laded so much from thence of it some not being rype other not being right that when it is come hither it woorketh not the effect that thâ— good and wel seasoned wâ—s wont to doe Wherefore it is needfull to see to that which is taken that it bee the same and that it bee well seasoned That which is very whyte is not such as the yellowe is in myne opinion for that which is yellowe wee see that it mâ—keth the better woorke it may bee that the very whyte is not of it or hath not the perfection that the good hath And comming to our water of Sassafras it prouoketh Urine it maketh them to Uryne well which haue the impediment of it chiefly if it come by humors of colâ—e causes I did knowe a Priest which came in this flâ—ete from the Florida who being in those parts did make water very euil and cast from him stones some tymes with very much griefe and some of them did put him in hazard of his life when hee was in the Florida as hee dranke of the water of Sassafras ordinarily as many other did in the place of wyne hee auoided many great smal stones without any paines and after that hither vnto hee hath founde himselfe whole and very well of this euill by drinking the simple wâ—ter of this wood ordinarily and watering his wyâ—e therewith Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose and they cast out much Sande and doe finde themselues cured therewiâ—h In them that bee lame or creeples and in them that are not able to goe nor to moue themselues as for the most part that infirmitie commeth of colde humours by taking this water hot in the morning and procuring sweate all that hee can eating things of diet and drinking the simple water continually and vsing it many dayes wee haue seene many healed And it is to bee noted that in taking of this water there is nothing to bee obserued as in other waters but when they shal take it hotte if any sweate come to keepe it and after this they may ryse and goe well clothed it is not needefull of any thing els but of this and good order and to eate good meates and if they sweate not it maketh no greate matter but if they sweate not they shal be healed I knowe a Captaine one of them which came from the Florida and hee certified mee that hee was so weake in all his body that his Soldiours carried him vppon their shoulders for that in any other manner he coulde not stirre and hee was in a place where the tree of Sassafras was not and he sent for it and toke the water and therewith sweate for certaine dayes and afterward he tooke it simply and hee was restored to his perfect health and I did see him whole and well In the toothache this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued and leauing that which is chewed in the hole of the tooth which is grieued if it haue any hollownesse and although that it haue none yet it taketh away the paines meruellously with experience done vpon many In the euil of the Poxe it worketh the same effectes that the rest of the waters of the holy wood the China and the Sarcaparillia doeth taking it as these waters bee taken with sweates putting vp more or lesse the decoction of the water and the quantitie of the wood as the complexion is and the disease of him that shall take it For that in colde humours Flegmatike it maketh a better woorke then in them that bee Cholerike and so in the Poxe that bee of a long tyme it maketh a better and greater woorke than in them that be of smal continuance and more where there bee knobbes and moisture of matter old griefes of the head with the order as is aforesayd And in these euils the simple water is continually taken for a great tyme and it worketh greate effectes chiefly in them that bee leane which be altogether weakened debilited with the vse of many Medicines Many which haue the Gout haue vsed and doe vse to drinke of the Water of this tree some of them taking it hotte as wee haue sayde and others simple continually by it self and watering their wyne therewith That which I haue seene is that which in the olde kinde of Goutes doeth neither good nor euil and if it doe any good it is to comfort the stomacke and to dissolue winâ—inesse to giue them some lust to their meate the rest of the benefite that it bringeth is to them that hâ—ue bin sicke but short time if the cause proceede of cold vnto whome it procureth notable profite but if the humour and cause be hot it doth them no good but hurteâ—h them inflâ—ming and causiâ—g them to haue greater paynes In one thing I haue seene it in many people to bring notable profit with the continual vse of this water and it is in them which haue foule diseased handes which cannot exercise them as they were wont to doe I healed a Gentleman which could not write that when he went to write his hande fell downe by little and little and the penne also after hee had begon to write not past fiue or sixe letters And hee toke a Cuppe full of that which was last sodden in the morning and after he dranke it hee continued twoo houres in his bedde and after he rose and went about his businesse And he did eate at his dinner good meates and at his Supper vsed diet and dranke the simple water of the self same Sassafras and he was healed very wel hauing spent a great somme of money on Phisitions and Medicines which did not profite him any thing vntil he came to be remedied in the order as is aforesaide Many did certifie mee that which nowe I finde by experience and learned of them that were sicke in the Hauana and could not goe to the stoole that the Phisition which is there did cause them to take in the morning fasting a good Cuppe full hotte of the water of the Sassafras and it did soften the belly and they went to the stoole very well which we haue seene heere to bee true by experience And there was a Soldiour which certifâ—ed mee and prooued it with others of his companie that hauing stooles by
effect but with greate difference from all other metalles as Bulcasis sheweth very learnedly being a Phisitiâ—n and a Moore who in particular doth shew the manner which ought to bee had for to prepare the yron and hee sayeth in this manner the fyling of the yron which is most pure must bee taken without other mixture for if it bee mingled with Copper or Lead or Glasse and if it bee giuen so mingled to any person for to drinke it wil kill them you may take the quantity you list of that which is fyled being most pure and let it be wâ—shed and after it is wel washed let it be put into a cleane vessell And let there bee put to it vineger and put it vnder some thing so that it bee well couered let it so remayne thirty dayes or at the 〈◊〉 seâ—en and after that tyme take it foorth and you shall finde that which is filed of the coullour of Uerdegrece the which must be dryâ—d and after it is drye it must be grounde and being well ground you may vse thereof Some there bee that do washe it with fresh water or with vineger and do strayne it through a linnen cloth and then put it vnder a vessell vntil it waxe rotten and after they â—ash it and keepe it That which this Moore doeth say seâ—meth to be of Aueroyes in the fifth of his gathering where he setteth downe the preparation thereof in this forme After the Iron is ground very small let it be put many tymes in to vineger or into Gotes milke when it is cruddye This he would should be the preparation And Christopher de honestis following this in the commentaries which he made vpon Mesue sayeth Let the fyling of the Steele be put into vinegre many dayes for in any other wise the vse of it will not profite although that some do put it into milke of Gotes and some into oyle of sweete Almondes and in this sort they take it The same preparation Clement Clementino doth giue It seemeth a harde thing to beleeue that the Iron or Steele is penetrate and doth waxe soft with any of these things onely the strong vinegre is that which doth penetrate and soften it whereby it may be well grounde for to vse of it And for the more certeintie I will shewe howe I do prepare it I do take of Steele the purest and whitest I can get as also Iron and do cause it to be fyled as small as may be and when it is so fyled I cause it to be washed in water many times vntill the water do come foorth cleare and then I put it into a cleane glassed vessell and do cast to it as much strong white vinegre as may be sufficient to wet thorough the sayde fyling and the vâ—ssell being stopped put iâ—to a close place I do let it stande xx dayes stirryng it well twice euery weeke and putting to it some vineger if it bâ—e needefull and after the twentie dayes when it is well sâ—kened I take it out of that and put it into some other brodeâ— vessell or vppon a table that it may dry in the shadowe and after it is drie I doe grynde it in a morter of metall sifting it twise through a thicke siue of silke and so beeing made into Pouder I put it into a fine earthen paynted pot then with a Pestle I beate it small agayne in suche sort that being taken betweene the fingers it seemeth not too haue anie maner of substance neither is it felt between theÌ„ And if it be not done in this sort they are neuer well grounâ—e for it is a thing that they take most care of so that therby it may worke the effect the better And beyng made into pouder in this sort it ought to be kept in a glassed vessel Some doe wet it with Gumme Dragagaunt and make it in rowles and it liketh mee very well because they be the better conserued and the gumme Dragagant taketh away some parte of their drithe And seeing that I haue made an ende of the preparing of the steele and Iron that it doeth the effect when it is needâ—ful as though it were the steele it selfe let Maister Doctor shewe vnto vs the woorkes and vertues that it doeth D. I doe reioyce very much to heare the good order of the preparation that Maister Burgus hath geuen and set downe to be vsed with these metals And seeyng that I am bound to declare the vertues and medicinal works which they haue I wil speake of it the best that I know as well that which I haue knowen and read as that which experience hath taught me and the vse of so many yeeres These two metalles doe serue in medicine two manner of wayes the one is that of them may be made instrumentes to worke with in causes of Surgery without the which the Surgions cannot worke their works and effectes nor the Barbours without them cannot do their occupations To declare what instrumentes those are which serue for the one and for the other occupations it wil be to tedious The yron and steele doe serue in medicine with great effectes and maruellous workes by curing and healing diuers diseases and so Plinie in his booke of the naturall historie treting of this matter of yron after he wrote great things of it as well in that which doeth profite in the seruice of man as other curious thinges hee treateth of â—he vertâ—es and woorkes which it doeth in medicine shewing first the qualities of it saying The yron hath vertue too drie vp too retayne and too holde fast it is good for suche as doe lacke theyr heare that it may growe beeyng prepared and mingled with some licour prepared and made for the same purpose it taketh away the roughnesse of the cheekes mingled with Uineger and beyng made in an oyntment with oyle of of Myrtiles and waxe it taketh away the blisters of all the vodie the pouder of it mingled with Uineger doeth heale the disease called Saint Anthonies fire as also all maner of skabbes it healeth the little sores between the nayle and the finger the pouders therof being applyed thervnto with a linnen cloath It healeth also the fluxe of women of what sorte soeuer it be beyng put therevnto with wooll or with â—otton wool and also if they be applied therevnto after the mannâ—r of a Tent in the lower partes the pouder beeyng mingled with mirrhe and put to the sores or wounds newe hurte doeth soder them and healeth them and beeyng mingled with Uineger and put vpon the pilâ—s it dissolueth them It is a great remedy for such as are gowtie beeyng applyed with thinges made for the purpose vpoÌ„ the griefe It stenâ—heth the blood of such as are wounded which is for the most part made of Iron It is geuen to be drunke to suche as are diseased of the lungs for it consumeth the disease and healeth him that is sicke it stayeth any manner of fluxe
fashion of ours sauing that they be somewhat lesse and of the colour and making of ours they haue in the middest of the Beane that doth deuide the two halues one little thinne skinne lyke to the skinne of an oynion They doe take them from theyr shale and from the inner thinne skinne and toste them and make them into pouder and take them 〈◊〉 Wyne and beeing made into pouder and mingled with Sugar one sponeful of the pouder is taken and vppon that a little draught of wyne They doe purge without molestation Choler and Fleame and grosse mixt humors And amongst the Indians they are of great estimation for the easinesse that they haue in the taking of them Many Spaniardes doe purge with them with much securitie and it is a Medicine more easie and gentle than that aforesaide I haue seene many that haue come from those partes purge them therewith and it succeedeth with them very well and purgeth without griefe But they must be aduysed that there be taken from them that little skinne that is in the middest of the twoo halfes of the Beanes For if they take that the strength of it is so much greater and vehement of Uomites and stooles that they put in great hasarde him that shall take them And also they must haue care to coste them for that it doeth prepare thâ—m and delayeth much of the sharpenes and fearsenes which is generall in this Medicine and in all the rest for that to tost them is the true preparation of them After the taking of any of the foresaide Medicines the patient must not sleepe at al it is needful that he keep great watch being purged and in all thinges which in a man purged may be conuenient The Beanes be geuen prepared in Feuers being large and importunate and in diseases of mixt humours beeyng grosse and in the paynes of the ioynts they are an vniuersall Purgation they be hotte in the second degree dry in the first there bee geuen of them from foure too sixe tosâ—ed more or lesse as the obedience and sufferance of the bellie is of him that shall take them Of the milke Pinipinichi IN all the coast of the firme land they take out a certaine kind of milke froÌ„ little trees like to Apple trees which the Indians cal Pinipinichâ— of the which cutting one bough ther commeth forth whereas it is cut a certayne kind of milke somewhat thicke clammy and taking three or foure drops therof it doth purge valiantly by the stoole principally Cholerike Humors and Citrine water and it doth work with much vehemencie and force It must be taken in Wyne or dried into pouder in little quantitie for that the worke thereof is of most strength It hath one property that in eating or drinking of broth or wine or other thing foorthwith it woorketh no longer and he that doth take it hath need to keepe good watch and good order It is hot and dry in the third degree All these Medicines which we haue spoken of be violent and of great force they haue not beene muche vsed sithence the Mechoacan hath come for that in it there is founde a woorke more sure and vnto this not onely we but all the Indians haue runne as vnto a purge most excellent of the which we will treate now Of the Mechoacan THe Mechoacan is a root that it may bee about xxx yeeres that it was discouered in the prouince of the new Spain in the Indias of the Occean Seas it is brought from a Country that is beyonde the greate city of Mexico more then 40. leagues is called Mechoacan the which Sir Fernando Curtes did conquere in the yeere of our Lorde 1524. This is a countrie of much riches of Gold and chiefly of siluer and it is vnderstoode that in all that Countrie is much siluer For more then 200. leagues here those Mynes be so celebrated and of so great riches that they bee called the Cacatecas euery day they discouer in the lande verie riche mines of siluer and some of Golde It is a countrie of good and holesome ayre and doeth bring foorth healthfull hearbes for to heale many diseases insomuch that at the time the Indians had the gouernment therof the inhabiters there rounde about that Prouince came thither too heale their diseases and infirmities For the said causes it is a couÌ„trie very fruitfull and of great abundance of bread wilde foule and fruites It hath many fountaines and some of sweet waters which haue much abundance of fish the Indians of that countrie are of a tauller grouth of better faces than the Borderers are and much more healthfull The Principall place of that Prouince the Indians doe cal in their language Chincicila and the Spaniardes do cal it as they cal that Realme Mechoacan it is a great towne of Indians situated neere to a lake which is of sweete water abounding with very much Fish The same Lake is in fashion of the making of an horseshoe and in the midst therof standeth the Towne the which at this dâ—y hath greate trade of buying and selling for the great Mynes of Plate that are in all that countrie As soone as that Prouince was gotten from the Indians there went thither certain Friers of Sainct Frances order as in a Countrie so far distaunt from theyr naturall soyle some of them fell sicke amongest whom the Warden who was the chief Fryer of the house was one with whome Caconcin Casique an Indian Lorde a man of great power in that Countrie had very great friendship who was Lorde of al that Countrie The father Warden had a long sicknes and was brought in great danger of life the Casique as hee sawe his disease proceede forwarde saide that hee woulde bring him an Indian of his which was a Phisition with whome he did cure himself it might be that he would giue him remedy of his disease The which being hearde of the Frier and seing the little helpe that hee had there and the want of a Phisition with other thinges of benefite he thanked him and desired him that hee woulde bring him vnto him who beeing come and seeing his disease saiâ—e to the Casique that if hee tooke a pouder that he would giue him of a roote that it woulde heale him The which beeing knowen to the Fryer with the desire that he had of health he accepted his offer and tooke the pouder that the Indian Phisition gaue him the nexte day in a little wyne with the which hee did purge so much and wiâ—hout paynes that the same day hee was much lightned and much more from that tyme forward in such sort that he was healed of his infirmitie The rest of the Fryers which were sicke and some Spaniardes that were sicke also did follow the father Wardens cure tooke of the selfesame pouder once or twise as oft as they had neede of it
sides of it taking away that which is superfluous then powre into it the Iuyce of this hearbe lay vpon it the stamped leaues and being well bound it shal coÌ„tinue on vntil the next day that thou shalt returne to dresse it After the same fashion the patientes shall keepe good order in their meate vsing the diet necessary and if it be needful of any euacuation by stoole the cause being greate let it be done what shal be conuenient And with this order they shal be healed without any neede of any more Surgerie theÌ„ this hearbe only Here in this Country in this City they know not what other to doe hauing cut or hurt themselues but to runne to the Tabaco as to a most readie remedie It doth maruellous workes without any need of other Surgery but this only hearbe In restrayning the fluxe of blood of the wounds it procureth most maruellous workes for that the Iuyce and the Leaues being stamped are sufficient to restraine any fluxe of blood In olde Sores it is maruellous the woorkes and the effects that this hearbe doeth for it healeth them wonderfully making cleane and mundifying them of all humors that are superfluous and of the rottennes that they haue bringeth vp the flesh reducing them to perfite health the which is so common in this Citie that euery man doeth knowe it and I hauing ministred it to many people as well men as women in great number and being grieued of tenne and of twentie yeeres haue healed olde rotten sores in legges and other partes of the body with this remedy only to the great admiration of all men The order of the Cure that is to bee wrought with this hearbe is this following For the olde rotten sores although they bee cankered let the sicke man bee purged with the counsell of a Phisition and let him blood if it be needfull and then take this hearbe and pounde it in a Morter and wring out the Iuyce and put it into the Sore and then after the maner of a Plaister laie the stamped leaues vpon it which are the Leaues that the Iuyce is taken out of and this doe once euery day eating good Meates and not exceeding in any disorder for otherwyse it will not profite And doing this it wil make cleane the euil flesh that is rotten and superfluous vntil it come to the whole flesh and it is not to be maruelled at if the wounde bee made very greate For the euil must bee eaten vp vntil it come to the good and in the same cure putting in lesse quantitie of iuyce it wil incarnate and reduce it to parfit health in such sort that it accomplisheth al the workes of Surgery that all the Medicines of the worlde are able to doe without hauing neede of any other maner of medicine This woorke doeth cure olde Sores with very great admiration and not onely in men but in brute beastes also As at this day in all partes of the Indias where there are any cattel hauing woundes or gaules and the countrie beeing hotte and moyst ouer much doeth soone rotte them and very quickly they come to bee cankered and for this cause much great cattel doe dye To remedy this and the wormes that doe increase in the sores they had for remedy to put into the sores Sublimatum for that in this remedy they did â—â—â—de more benefite than in any other that they had vsed And for that the Sublimatum beares there so high a price mâ—â—y tymes it was more woorth then the cattel that it healâ—â— For this cause and for hauing founde in the Tabaco so much vertue too heale newe woundes and rotten they did accorde and agree together to vse the Tabaco in the healing of beastes as they had done in the cure and remedy of men powring the Iuyce of the Tabaco into the woundes washing them therwith laying vpon them the stamped leaues of the Tabaco after that the Iuyce is taken from them And it is of so greate efficacie and vertue that it killeth the wormes and maketh cleane the sore eating away the euill fleshe and ingendering newe vntill it be whole as in the other thinges which wee haue spoken of The like it doth in the gaules of the beasts of Cariege the iuyce being powred in the beateÌ„ leaues wherout the iuyce commeth of the Tabaco as it is sayde although they be cankered it doeth make them cleane and incarnate them and cureth and helpeth them And so the Indians doe carry it when they iourney for this purpose and effect and it procureth the like profite that the iuyce doeth I sawe a man that had certayne olde sores in his nose wherby he did cast out from him much matter which dayly did rotte and canker inwarde and I caused him to take at his nose the iuyce of this Tabaco and so he did and at the seconde tyme hee cast out from him more then twenty little wormes and afterwarde a fewe more vntill that he remayned cleane of them and vsing it so certayne dayes hee was healed of the sores that hee had in the inner part of his nose and if he had taried any longer I thinke that there had remayned nothing of his nose but al had bene eaten away as it happeneth to many which we see without them And beeing wryting of this a daughter of a Gentleman of this Citie had many yeres a certaine kinde of drieskabbes or wel neere skuruie in her head I had her in cure and did vnto her many benefits vniuersal and particular and also Maisters of Surgerie had done their diligence and al did not profite And a Gentlewoman which had the charge of her as sâ—e heard me speake one day much good of the Tabaco that 〈◊〉 did good and profitable for so many infirmities shâ—e sent for it and did rubbe hard the disease that the wench had that day shee was very euill and as though she had bene fooliâ—h and the gentlewoman did not let in seing her after that sorâ— to rubbe her harder and then the wench did not feele so much griefe but the dry skabbes begâ—n to fall and the whyte scurffe of her head in such sorte that it made cleane and healed her head with dooing so certaine dayes so that shee was healed of her scuruie disease very well without knowing what she did One of the meruâ—lles of this hearbe and that which bringeth most admiration is the maner howe the Priâ—stes of the Indias did vse it which was in this manner when there was emongest the Iâ—dians any manner of businâ—sse of greate importaunce in the which the chiefe Gentlâ—men called Casiques or any of the principall people of the countrie had necessitie to consult with their Priestes in any businesse of importance then they went and propounded their matter to their chiefe Priest foorthwith in their presence he tooke certayne leaues of the Tabaco and cast them into the fire and did
indisgestion and rawnesse of stomacke for want of heate it tooke them away with taking of one good cupfull of this water euery morning fasting and so with drinking it continually but that which he dranke euery morning he dranke it cold and yâ—t neuerthelesse hee was healed very well of the flixe which he had many yeeres Iâ— griefes of women the water of Sassafras doeth greatly profite and in especially in that which is called the euil of the Mother and where there is windinesse it consumeth dissâ—â—â—eth it and also any maner of colde of the belâ—y and it dissolueth the swelling of it curing any manner of disease which proceedeth of the Mother And this is so experimented and so put in vse that many haue beene healed with this water that neuer thought to haue recouered health And in the withhelding the Monethly course that commeth not to women this water maketh a meruellous woorke by prouoking and making it come in them that wholie doe lacke it taking one Cuppe ful of this water in the morning drinking it ordinarily at dinner and at supper and in the day tyme being more simple then that in the morning vsing good regiment and dooing other thinges which may helpe the water that it may bee prouoked And vnto them also to whome it doeth not come wel it bringeth manifest profite taking the water in forme as is aforesaide keeping them the tyme that they take it from such thinges as may offende them and beeing vsed it doeth disopilate and make a good colour in the face as it is seene by the experience of them that doe vse it hauing need of it Let them beware if they haue much heate or bee of a hotte complexion in such case let them moderate the quantitie of the wood and the seething of the water as is conuenient and this is easie to be done by seing howe it goeth with them at the beginning with the vse of it and according thereunto they may ryse or fal as it seemeth to be necessarie Some women doe vse of this water for to make them with childe and in some it hath wrought the effect as it is wel knowen That which I can say is that a gentlewoman beeing many yeeres married without hauing children tooke this water for that her husbande vsed it for certayne euilles of Opilations and of an agewe that helde hâ—m with certayne sittes of a double tercian which he had and hee continued with the taking of it in the Morning hotte and at Dinner simple and at Supper and in the day tyme keeping a good gouernement whereby it came to passe that she was with childe and brought foorth a sonne And I vnderstande that one of the principall vertues that this water hath is to dryue away the Mother for this effect for the most parte of women that haue no children is for the greate colde that is ingendered within the Mother which doeth hinder the cause of generation and as the water ryseth it consumeth it comforting the place and dissoluing the windes that are the let of it I am sure that it will manifestly profite as we haue seene in them which doe not bring forth childreÌ„ for hauing too much heate and drieth to whome permit not the vse of this water for because it will not profite them and if they do take it and feele hurt thereof let them not put the fault in the water but in their complexions seing that it is not conuenient for them The vse of this water doeth make fatte and this is certainly knowen for we haue seene many leane and sicke that haue taken it and haue healed of their euils and haue recouered much more flesh better colour as those people that come from the Florida do praise it very much they they al say that the vse of this water doeth make fat and it happeneth so to many and not onely it healeth them of their diseases but also maketh theÌ„ remaine with a good colour And so it seemeth by theÌ„ that come from that country for that they come al fatte and of a good colour who I beleeue as they wâ—re very sick so that they were very leane yellow when as they were healed of their infirmities which they had they gathered fleshe and became of a good colour ingendering in the Liuer good blood by the which the members were â—etter maintayned than when they were sicke And surely it iâ— a greate thing that this water shoulde woorke this effect coâ—sidering that it is hot and â—rye if it were not for the causes that are aboue sayd And I haue seene many that entered iâ— to taâ—e the water of the wood leane and with an euil colour to come foorth strong and fatte and of a good colour eating no otâ—er thing then Resâ—nges Almondes and Bisket In pestilent and contagious diseases which we haue seen in the time of the Pestilence past there were many that desired to drinke it to preserue them from that euill And we did see that none of them which vsed it were wounded of the disease that then reigned Many did vse to carry a peece of the Roote of the Wood with them to smell to it continually as to a Pomander For with the smell so acceptable it did rectifie the infected ayre I carried with mee a peece a great time and to my seeming I found great profite in it For with it with the chewing of the rind of the Cidron nor of the Lemmon in the morning and in the day time to preserue health it haâ—h a great strength and property And it seemeth to me that I was deliuered by the helpe of God from the fire in the which wee that were Phisitions went in blessed be our Lord GOD that deliuered vs from so great euill and gaue vs this most excellent tree called Sassafras which hath so great vertues and worketh such maruellous effectes as we haue spoken of and more which Time wil shewe vs which is the discouerer of all thinges It shall doe well to shewe the quantitie of the wood and also the quantitie of water wherein it shall be sodden to prescribe a rule in waight and measure in effectes and temperatures for them that are hot and others that are colde I will tell you the order that ought to bee kept in taâ—ing the water of this excellent wood which must bee made conformably to the disease of him that shall take it and accordinâ— to the quantitie and compâ—exion of the sicke bodie For vâ—to the Cholerike Person the water ought to bee geuen lesse sodden and with lesse quanâ—itie of wood and to the flegmatike more sodden and with more quantitie of woode So the diseases should be considered of Uâ—to them that are very cold the water ought to be geuen more sodden and with more quantitie of Wood. And vnto them thâ—t be not so colâ—e but doe participate of some heate the water ought to be geuen lesse sodden
de Quinatna Duenas beeyng Aburgales who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of â—eare of a browne colour very small and hee had in a Paper more then twice as much which hee had cast vp two houres before and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all more then the alteration that hee had to see that he had cast vp such stuffe Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition and verie well learned saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake did cast out many peeces of glasse and peeces of Earthen Platters and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis but that which I do most maruel at was that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bellie so that no medicine coulde profite him did cut his owne throate with a knife and after that he was dead they opened him fouÌ„d in his belly great quantity of heare the like wherof he that I haue spokeÌ„ of did vomit with many other peeces of yron These things I do attribute to the works of the Diuel for that they caÌ„not be reduced vnto natural causes The Ueruaine is like that of Spaine all the yeere it is greene Of the Mastuerco I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru which they call Mastuerco it is a little hearbe doth carry certain small leaues that are round which beeing beaten in a morter and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound doth refresh comfort and heale curing it foorthwith and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce and laying the beaten leaues to them and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot Of the small wild Lettice LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe which they call wilde Lettice the leaues bee like to Lettice the colour is a sadde greene it hath vertue too take away the Tooth-ache receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues and holding it in the parte where the griefe is and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth which is greeued for so it taketh away the paines yâ— leaues which are staÌ„ped after the iuyce is taken out must be laid vpon it being tasted it is most bitter It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree Of the licour which is called Ambia IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side it is of the colour of honie as thin the smel is like the Tacamabaca they say and also they write that it hath great medicinall vertues chiefly in the healing of olde diseases and those which come of colde causes It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie proceeding of colde or of windinesse It taketh away the colde in what part soeuer it be it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling and it worketh all the effectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe and so they vse it in those parts in steede of them you may not touch nor handle it with your hands vnlesse you haue them wet and wheresoeuer it be put it sticketh fast that it cannot be taken away vnlesse it be wasted with long time They sent me this little for a shew bicause they doe esteem it greatly therfore they sent it as a thing very precious It seemeth to me hot in the third degree with notable clammines ¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die IN the yere of our Lord 1562. WheÌ„ the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru he had there a gentlewomaÌ„ which was married that serued him her husband waxed sicke of a grieuous disease an Indian of great reputatioÌ„ seeing her to be in much sorow saide to her if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe that shee should take in her left hand and hold it fast for a good while and if he should line then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse with holding the Bowe in her hande and if he should die then she should shew much sadnesse And the Indian sent her the Bow and she did as he had willed her to do and the bowe being put into her hand she tooke so much sadnesse and sorrowe that she threw it away from her thinking that she should haue died thereof and so he died within a fewe daies I was desirous to know if that it were so and a Gentleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth that the Indians did this with their sicke people It hath put me in admiration and in much consideration ¶ Of the Granadillia FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow Graâ—aâ—illias and this name the Spaniards did giue them for the likenes fashion that they haue to our Granaâ—as which wee call they sent me is of a red colour somewhat darke and it hath a good smell Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru. ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru for that they haue beene sent me by the first discouerer of them the best of as many as from those partes haue come yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them which he sent me for knowledge saying that because I wrote of them they had knoâ—ledge of them and the booke which I wrote of them was the guide to finde and discouer them as we haue sayd as he sheweth by his letter which we haue set in the second parte Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie excellent in their coullour making and greatenesse whereof I haue broken some and finde them as excellent as those of the East India and so they prooue in pouder or in one little graine as the other doe and in coullour well neere they are the same Truth it is that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes that are fedde in the Mountaynes for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes are not so good nor haue any Medicinall vertues because the Beastes aâ—e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes whereby these stones are ingendered for as they bee Beastes and chewe thaâ— which they eate of the iuyce that proceedeth from the herbs the stones are ingendered Which thing that Gentleman gaue well to vnderstande who was the first discouerer of them who did see where they lay
the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good which is an excellent purge and delicate for they take the small Canes which are growing of a small time and seeth them in Sugar and with the seething and Sugar is taken from them the sharpenesse and the drinesse which they haue and they are made tender and softe and of a very good sauour These beyng taken make a very good woorke and purge without griefe or molestation and without all accidentes and faintnesse that purges are vsed to procure for that they are full of good tast at the taking of them and light of woorking They are geuen from two Ounces to three I haue geuen them many times with very good successe and haue taken them beyng sicke and they haue wrought verie well with mee Of these Conseruas they bring hither euery yeere from Sancto Domingo and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full The Canafistola that is perfect and rype is the moste excellent Medicine for to purge withall of as many as haue been knowne to this day and that doeth his woorke best in that which it serueth for and with most assuraunce as it is wel knowne not onely to Phisitions but also to all the world and doeth his worke without the hurtes and accidents which other Purgatiue Medicines are vsed too doe and it is a generall Medicine and amongst them that are called blessed is the most blessed of all whose vertues and properties wee doe treate of particularly in the first part and that which we haue spoken heere hath beene to geue relation of the leaues and flowers of it which they haue now brought mee One thing I would they should be aduertised of that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola to lighten and soften the bellie and that the common matters may bee voyded downe is ment that they shoulde take it a smal tyme before meate be eaten at the most halfe an houre before for the meate being mingled ioyntly with it worketh with it and in this order it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth very wel without paines which is not done with that which is taken any long time before meate as two or three houres before as now many doe vse it for that the meate beeing dilated it maketh an ende of woorking And as it is a thing without strength and weake it goeth al into vapours and so sheadeth it selfe abroade throughout al the body if it tarry long it is conuerted into meate and substaunce which I haue seene by experience many yeeres wherein I haue practised that alwayes as I gaue it halfe an houre before meate at the most it maketh a good worke and if it be giuen many houres before meate it purgeth and euacuateth little Concerning mingling of medicines which doe purge with the meate Hipocrates treateth of it in many partes and Galene in his Commentaries And trueth it is that when we wil that the Canafistola should not euacuate but that the vapours shoulde bee spred abroade by the reines and all the body wee geue it many houres before meate and then not working it performeth the effect that wee haue spoken of Of the Balsamo of Tolu THey newly bring now from the Firme lande from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena Numbre de Dios which the Indians call Tolu a Balsaâ—o or licour that is the best thing and of greatest vertues of as many thinges as come from these partes They gather it from certaine trees which are after the manner of litle Pines which cast out many bowes to al partes It carrieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona al the yeere it is greene they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled This Balsâ—mo the Indians doe gather by way of incision gyâ—ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree for it is thinnâ— and soft and they set vnderneath it neere vnto the tree thinges like to dishes made of waxe which is in that country blacke which they take out of Hiues that certaine blacke Bees doe make in the chappinges of the grounde I haue seene brought much of this Waxe into Spainâ— and it was spent in Torches but it was forbidden that none of it should be spent for the smoke which it cast from it had so euil a smel that it coulde not bee suffered They did vse this waxe in matters of Medicine for therof were made Cereclâ—thes which wrought very good effects in mittigating griefe of any colde cause it dissolueth any maner of swellinges and woorketh many other good effectes Of this waxe the Indians doe make vessels lyke to a spoone and set them close to the tree that they may receiue the licour that commeth out of it by the places where the cuttingâ— are made and from thence they receyue it into those vesselles and it is needfull that it be done in tyme of great heate that the cuttinges may cast out the licour and in this tyme lykewyse there soketh out of the ioyntes of the sayde tree some licour and it is lost because it is so little and falleth into the grounde in the night time there commeth forth none This licour or Balsamo is very much esteemed amongst the Indians and is of greate value and with the notable woorkes which therewith are done and the Spaniardes haue learned and by seeing the great woorkes which it maketh they haue brought it hether as a thing of great estimation and such a thing as they buy there for a great price and they haue reason so to doe for one of the best thinges that haue come from those partes which haue beene brought for Medicine is this Balsamo which seemeth to be better then that of the newe Spaine and in it selfe appeareth to haue more vertues It is of an Alborne colour very neere lyke to a thing that is gilt it is not very thinne nor very thicke it clyngeth faste wheresoeuer it bee layde and it hath the taste and sauour sweete and although it bee taken it maketh not any horriblenesse as the other Balsamo doeth it hath a most excellent smell lyke to Limons insomuch that wheresoeuer it bee the good smell thereof giueth greate contentment and it can not bee hidden for a little of it smelleth much and if you rubbe your hande therewith there remayneth a maruellous smel The woorkes thereof are excellent and very greate for that it is licour which is taken out by incision as they tooke out in olde tyme the Balsamo in Egypt and for al those diseases for which that was good this of ours is as good It healeth al fresh woundes comforting the partes and ioyning them without making any matter and without leauing any signe of them The superfluitie that is in the wouÌ„d must be taken away of what sort soeuer it be washed with wine ioyned wel in the lippes parts therof and then the Balsamo laid to it when the coldnesse is out of it and
they and inward and outward burning that it seemeth to them they are fired It is also necessary to know what venome they tooke for too see the vomite and what they doe cast vp withall to iudge by the colour what Uenome it was and beeyng knowen by this way or by Relation or otherwayes beeyng apparaunt it must bee remedied by his contrary for to estinguish and kill the malice thereof as all the auncient Phisitions haue sufficiently written of as well in generall agaynst all as in particular against euery one of them for that euery one hath his contrary effectes for to remedie the malice thereof The tokens that hee most euill in them that haue taken Uenome be often soundinges and to cast vp the white of their eyes they doe waxe very red and put out their tongue very great and blacke and the pulse faâ—â— colde sweete vniuersally throughout all their body chiefly in the extreeme partes and in their brestes and they are desirous to vomit but cannot and they haue their vnderstanding troubled and this is in al kinde of venom being taken or by bytings of venomous beastes in so much that they talke ydlely as though they had the frensie which is a mortal signe It is needfull for the better knowledge what Uenom it was that it bee seene if there did remayne any thing of that which they had eaten or dronken and to see what was that which was mingled therewith iudging it by the colour the smel and the taste or geuing it to a Dogge a Hen or a Catt and marke howe it woorketh with them For if any of them waxe sadde or heauie it is a token that there is venom and if they dye it is a token that the venom was strong And being knowen to bee venomed the first thing that is to bee procured is that hee which is sicke doe vomit which is the thing that doeth most profit bycause there should be no tyme for the venom to enter by the vaynes and arteires for to come to the hart for if it come thither it is past all mans helpe and therefore it is conuenient that this remedie of Uomite be done with all speede that it may bee expelled before it passe from the Stomake And for to cause Uomite there must bee procured thinges that in very shorte time will prouoke it as to put the fingers in hotte water and the moste common thing is sweete Oyle drinking muche quantitie thereof in suche sorte that they fill theyr Bellies therewith that it may the better bee expelled the which hauing receyued they shall with theyr Fingers or feather prouoke them to vomite which must be done vntill that you perceyue that all that be expelled and cast out which was eaten or drunken which did hurt And if the Oyle bee not sufficient too doe this there may bee madâ— thinges for to cause Uomite beginning by the moste Weake as the seething of Dill the Seede of Radishe of Camamell and other like thinges that doe prouoke Uomite adding to the seetâ—ing if it bee needefull a Dramme of Agarico the which although it doe prouoke vomite strongly it hath also the Propertie to breake the strength of the venome Some for a greate secrete doe geue a Pint of Water of the Flowers of Orenges warme which although it doeth prouoke Uomite it hath also a particular vertue too extinguishe and kill the strength of the Uenome it muste bee geuen hotte the quantitie of a Pynte And heâ—reof it commeth that the Water taken out of the Flowers of Orenges which is a kynde of Cydron hath greate vertue agaynst Uenome as wee haue written in a little Booke which is printed with others of myne in Latine that doeth treate of Orenges It is verie good that with the thing which prouoketh Uomite there bee mingled thinges that haue vertue agaynst venome as Triacle Methridato and other like thinges the which heereafter wee will treate of muâ—t bee geuen the remedies that are too bee done for the Cures and Diseases that the venome is cause of not forgetting the principall cause which is to kill and to destroy the malice that is the cause thereof with the medicines and Remedies that I will speake of heereafter If hee that hath taken venome doe not perceyue nor knowe what manner of venome it was that he tooke nor the Accidentes thereof doe shewe It is to be thought that it was of the venomes which doe theyr woorke of theyr owne propertie which is the woorst of all kynde of venomes then it is conuenient that there bee had more care procuring vomite and that it bee effectually done as it is aforesayde And if any bee discended inâ—o the Guttes let him haue a gentle Glister that in all properties hath a knowne vertue agaynst venome which remedies are called Bezaarticas the which must bee vsed at all times with his meate and drinke procuring the inwarde and outwarde comforting of the principall members and vsing meates of substaunce that may geue great strength taken out by a small presse and in any other sorte that is needefull in the which there muste bee put thinges that haue vâ—rtue agaynst all kynde of venome of the which wee will trâ—ate of heereafter And this muste bee done not onely in them that bee venomed with vnknowne Uenome which woorketh the malice of it owne propertie but in suche as haue taken knowne Uenome which woorketh by qualitie for that the Uenome is a thing that doeth moste of all pull downe and weaken nature making leane verie quickly and ouerthrowing the vertue and strength thereof These medicines which haue this vertue and speciall propertie against these venomes are many some bee simples and other compoundes and bycause there are many of the one and of the other I will speake of them that are most vsed and where is seene greater experieÌ„ce of theÌ„ which are compounded The principal is the triacle that Andromacho wrote of the which if it bee well made is the most principal medicine of as many as euer haue beene compounded agaynst al kinde of venom And although it bee of a true composition yet there lacketh some medicines alwaies to doe that which is possible wee doe see that in this case it doeth maruellous effectes and not onely being taken with some water made for the purpose but also beeing put into prickes or bytings of venomous beastes and lykewise in Apostomes ful of poyson which are made in the tyme of the Plague The Methridate is of very great effect in this case and doeth serue sometymes for triacle That of Cidrons and Emeraldes doe make a meruellous woorke in al venome The earth Sâ—gillata hath a prerogatiue aboue them especially in feuers which haue an euil qualitie The triacle Diathesaron is for the purpose in colde venoms and in bytinges of venomous beastes and in especially in the byting of a beast that is made And so you haue many other compounded medicines that haue vertue and
done with speed before the hurt doe enter the inner partes for if it once doe come to the harte the cure will goe harde and this must bee vniuersally in al prickinges or bytings of venomous beastes And if the wound bee smal it is needful to open it with a smal cut or some other way and if it be newe let the cuttinges bee smal and if it bee of a long tyme then let the incision bee deepe for that with the much blood that geeth out thereof there goe out a greate parte of the venom also And after the cutting let there bee applyed such things as may drawe out strongly the venom still adding thereunto that as shal be needful Some there bee that doe sucke out the venom of the prickes or woundes with their mouth but it is dangerous to them that so doe for some haue dyed therof it is better to râ—medie it with ventosities or to put too it the hinder parte of a Cocke or a Chicken or a Pigeon beeing aliue vppon the pricke or wâ—unde the fethers being plucked fâ—om the hindâ—r part therâ—of and vse it so often as shal bee needful vntill yâ—u perceiue that they haue taken out the venom that is in the wounde and euery one of them must be applyed thereto so long tyme vntil that you may perceiue that hee doeth waxe faynt or vntill he bee readie to dye Also it is a good remedie to put them that bee a liue opened at the back and let thâ—m be there as long time as they haue any heate and beginning to waxe colde then take them away put others to and the venom being taken out by these meanes let there bee put vpon the wouâ—d a medicine that hath vertue to keepe the wounde open Some do vse in the cuttinges or incisions an actuall thing to burne called a cauterie which doth very much good extinguishing the venom and comforting the hurte The same â—ffect doâ—th the cawterie potentiall in killing the venâ—me but it is not so good as the actuall but thereby it doeth cause that the wounde doe not close which is very necessary for the cure The iuyce of the herbe Escuerçonera doeth profit very much being put on venomous â—ytings or prickings by it selfe or mingled with other medicines that haue vertue to take away the streÌ„gth of the venom as treacle methridato other medicines like to these and if the Bezaar stone might be had casting the pouder therof vpoÌ„ the wound it wil worke a maruellous effect While they are in this case they must be kept with good order good gouernement in al thinges that are contrary to them and vsing euacuations such as is conuenient with wholesome medicines and there must bee mingled with them medicines that are against venom and when time serueth vse letting of blood and in the rest to goe to the cure of the disease and vnto euery one of them as it is conuenient vniuersally and particularly hauing alwayes care to giue to them that are sicke in the morning fasting the conserua of the roote of the Escuerçonera and his water or the Bezaar stone or the pouder as it is said or Bolearmenike prepared hee must haue care to annoynt the harte with things which are temperate that may comforte with pouders and cordiall waters amongest the which let there bee put the herbe Escuerçonera And besides the vertues that the herbe Escuerçonera hath against the bytinges of these beastes in particular and for the remedie of all in vniuersal it hath also other particular vertues the vse whereof hath beene shewed vnto vs it is very good against sowndinges of the harte and for them that haue the falling sicknes and for women whose matrix are suffocated or stopped by taking the conserua made of the roote and drinking the iuyce of the hearbe clarified or the water of it distilled It doeth profit much when the soundinges are come but much more before they doe come when they feele that they begin to sownde let them take the roote therof with the water and it doeth hinder the comming therof and if it do come it is much lesse and it doeth not woorke so vehemently as when it is taken after Unto them that haue the gidinesse in the head it doeth good and being continually taken it maketh the hart merrie it doeth take away the sadnes which is the cause therof the iuyce taken out of the leaues and clarified and set in Sunne for certaine dayes taking the cleerest thereof and put into the eyes doeth clarifie the sight and taketh away the dimnesse therof if it be mingled with a litle good hony it is good for them that feare themselues to bee poysoned The conserua of the roote beeing taken and the water in the morning that day by Gods grace they shal bee safe The vse and experience of this hearbe hath bin taught without any auctor for to this day we knowe not with what name the authors doe terme it Iohn Odoricus Mechiorius an Almayne PhisitioÌ„ doth wryte in an Epistle to Andrew Mathiolo saying that Peter Carniser a Catalan Phisition sent to him the herbe Escuerçonera dry into Germany this Phisition did aske of Mathiolo what herbe it was Mathiolo did not know what hearbe it was neither did any other vntil now that it hath bin spoken or written of Some that are curious wil say that it is the CoÌ„drillia a spice of Succory which Dioscorides doth make mention of in the second booke in the 122. chapter although that it hath some likenesse therof it differeth much in the roote for the Condrillia hath it very wooddie and vnprofitable and very smal and in the flowers but they differ not in their vertues for both of them are good for the bytings of adders And whatsoeuer that our Escuerçonera is wee see that his effectes are greate as well against the bytinges of the Escuerços which is so euill a beast and venomous as for other diseases which we haue spoken of which seeing that in so fewe yeres there hath bene so much thereof discouered I do trust that much more wil be hereafter by wise men that there may be added to this which I haue discouered and written of it And seeing that we haue treated briefly and the best that we can of these twoo medicines so precious to wit the Bezaar stone and the hearbe Escuerçonera which are twoo things so precious and of so greate effectes against venom now haue we to treate of the last parte which wee promised to doe â—nd how we ought to keepe and preserue our selues not to fal into so greate a danger as of them is declared for that it is better to keepe our selues from daunger theÌ„ to fal therein Heerein the ancient wryters haue bin very circumspect Amongest the rest it hath beene an ancient custome in Princes Courts other greate estates to haue their tasters as wel of their meate as of their drinke for the eschewing of poyson and so by
them that do regard their health It is good to haue a peece of a right Unicornes horne in a smal cheyne of golde that it may bee swilled continually in the water that shal bee dronke It would doe well for not onely it taketh away the suspition of the venom but doeth put to the drinke a meruellous cordiall vertue Also you must not stand by the fire that is made with venomous wood for the smoke doeth poyson as if you should take poyson and to set in the chamber coales when they doe begin to kindle many haue dyed therwith let your apparell be kept by such as you haue trust in for in them may bee put things that may do notable hurte and for al that as is said it doeth much profit to haue trustie seruants and that they bee such whome you may trust and that they be of a good parentage and sticke not to reward them wel And aboue al other let the Phisition that hath the charge of your health bee learned and experimented discrete and of a good iudgemeÌ„t and that he be riche and of a good kinred and beeing such a one he wil not doe any thing that he ought not to doe seing that in his handes is the life and health of the Mayster and Lorde FINIS THE DIALOGVE OF YRON WHICH TREATETH OF THE greatnesse thereof and howe it is the most excellent metall of all others and the thing most necessary for the seruice of man and of the greate Medicinall vertues which it hath An Eccho for the Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill In Seuill in the House of Alonso Escriuano ¶ To the most Excellent Lorde the Duke of Alcala c. my Lorde the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health c. FOrasmuch as the metall called yron is of so great importance in the worlde and so necessary for the seruice of man it moued me to make this Dialogue which doeth treate of the greatnesse and maruellous workes thereof Which if they be well considered they will bring admiration vnto all that shall reade them by reason it is so necâ—ssary for all states and manners of liuing It hath also greate and mediâ—inall vertues and likewise with worthinesse and greatnesse it is an Instrument and meane whereby the most worthy haue gotten great Titles and fame as we see many of those which in times past haue attayned vnto among whom the Predecâ—ssors of your excellencie with theyr noble mindes and strong armes the Sâ—eare in the fist and the sworde in the hande by ouercomming battels by getting townes and places the name and fame of them haue byn immortall to this day And for to augment and increase this the more and to geue to your excellencie and to your chiâ—dâ—â—n and successours gâ—eater glory you tooke to wise the excellent Duches the Ladie Iuâ—na Curtes that at this day doeâ—h beautifiâ— the whole worlde with â—er woorthinesse eâ—timation qualitie and grâ—atâ—esse daughter to that valiaunt and reâ—owmed Prince Don â—ernando Curtes who with his greatnâ—sse and infinite Labours is a shorter way and fewe people will be there It seemeth to mee that the greate hall of the treasurie house is sâ—utt â—t may bee that whiles I go vp to see the sicke person they will open it Burgus Your worship may go in Gods name I will tarrye here for you and seeing the great hall is not opened I will sitt downe vppon the benche and will see what doeth passe vntill you come Doctour Master Burgus I praye you pardon mee if I haue tarryed long for the qualitie of the cause hath caused mee to tarry Burgus Rather I woulde haue beene glad that you had tarryed longer because I would haue seene more Doctour What haue you seene whiles I was absent Burgus The great hall being shutt and the parde full of people and I looking vppon them earnestly it seemeth to mee that they are people of estimation but to my iudgement full of cares for in them I haue seene so variable and diuerse likenesses of countenance that I maruel at it Some of them talking to them selues others being alone with their heads hanging downe and with great imagination Others talking by two and two together Others in clusters treating of the sales of their merchaundize Maryners and souldiours carrying for their paymentes Others carrying away their porcions of siluer which they had taken out running with it as though they had stolen it Others there were with the Notaries about their suites Others in the office of the treasourer amongest the Registers There was also a greate noyse of much people deliuering and receiuing parcels of siluer but they were in a great strife therevppon The Iudges were in counsell and many people tarrying for them in such sort that I was in greate admiration I being there onely to beholde and all the rest to do their businesse And it was to mee as one that did beholde them without greefe as a comedye with many Pageants And that which did make mee maruell more was to see that none were merrye nor content rather they seemed to haue great care and troubles Doctour Master Burgus I am glad you haue seene what doeth passe in that house with so much attention for all that which you haue seene that Gold and siluer is cause thereof which with so great good will you came to see and this is it which is the cause of their troubles and cares and not onely it bringeth such as you sawe there amazed and astonied but many others for they are at this daye the instrument of all these things Some they put downe others they rayse vp whereby they haue rule and dominion in the worlde These mortall men haue put so much felicitie in them that they haue and do procure them by the losse of their lyues and shedding of their bloud and after they haue them they conserue them with much labour and with greater care keepe them and with much misery they spend them and with great euill fortune they lose them These are they that take away quietnesse and rest They take awaye sleape and many passe the day to keepe them and to increase their afflictions and cares In the night also they rest with feare and care there are in them so many snares and hazardes as wee see euery day Burgus For all this I woulde see the Golde the siluer and the Emeraldes Doctour What master Burgus haue you neuer seene Golde siluer and Emeraldes Burgus Yea I haue seene them but in little quantitie Doctour What do you thinke is there in seeing of little or much but to see much earth or little earth and moste of all without the profite of man of as many as nature hath created And if you haue so great desire to see precious metals I will carrye you to a place where you shall see one metall much more of price of greater estimation then the golde siluer yâ— you were so desirous to see better of more profit beginning and
it although it bee not my profession for beeing a thing touching yron I shal reioyce therein D. For to content you I wil owne iudgement And that wee may more apparantly see the same I will speake of such that holde the one opinion and also of those that are of the other and the parties being heard wee will iudge that which shall seeme best vnto vs. Let vs speak first of those that affirme Iron to be colde and let Galen be the first who doeth saye that all those metals of their nature are drye and so they haue great vertue and strength to drye vp and that that hath moste vertue strength to doe this aâ—ong all of them is the Iron as also with this vertue to drye vp it hath also vertue to make colde He doeth compare it to the stone saying that the substance of the stone is constant and stedfast for the colde and dryeth that it hath Euen so is the Iron in such sorte that it hath the nature of the stone the which is colde and drye And this which hee sayeth in the nynth of his Methodo hee doeth confirme in that of the naturall faculties The harde bodies do shewe to haâ—e more earthly partes and as the Iron is most harde it hath more then all other thinges whereby it commeth to be colde and drye Aueroyes doeth confirme the same in the fifth of his Câ—liget and sayeth things which are made harde of heate with the dominion of earthly partes ought to be colde and drye as the Iron is Alberto Magno in the booke of the Metheuros sayeth the Iron when it is kindled maketh it selfe very reade for because in his principall qualitie it hath earthly partes the same hee doth confirme in the bookâ— which he made of metals Conciliador in the difference 155. sayeth in the Iron is not founde that vertue which is expressely actiue but in the ende it is colde and drye The same wordes are sayde in the difference 128. Gentill in the same question which he made de Actuatione medicinarum sayeth that the Iron is colde and drye Herculano in the chapter de Vomitu confirmeth the same Iacobus de partibus vpon the second of the first sayth that the yron is colde and dry Wee do see that the waters which haue quenched hot yron or steele are colde and dry Auicen in the seconde of the first sayeth that they doe restrayne the colour and take away dryeth and the heat chiefly in time of very hot weather And following after this Menardo saith that the water which hath cooled hot steele is colde seing that it taketh away the drieth and doth mittigate the heate in tyme of hot weather and the drieth being taken away causeth that the putrefaction of the feuers do cease and where they are with stooles it maketh an excellent woorke Albucasis in the booke which hee made of cering instrumentes sayeth that those instrumentes wherewith the head shoulde be cered ought to be of golde bicause it is most temperate that in no manner of wyse they be of yron bycause the yron is colde of nature Brasauola in his booke of the Frenche disease sayeth that the yron is colde and dry which as he sayeth doth shewe wel in his colour and manner of substance and in the darkenes and waight it hath for these thinges doe alwaies appeare and come into earthly substance as that which is light in to hot and ayery substance which is knowen to bee colde and dry for his effectes seeing that it taketh away and doeth represse the cholerike stooles it withholdeth the fluxe and hot runnings That which this doeth alwayes is colde and dry Sanauarola putteth the degrees of the coldnes which the yron hath and sayeth that it is colde in the seconde degree and dry in the third B. Maister Doctor I pray you to passe forwarde for vnto mee that which is spoken is sufficient for I haue no doubt therof but that the yron is colde and dry and alwayes I haue vnderstood it to be so and now with the confirmation of such authors I holde it for more certaine and firme D. Maister Burgus hath very quickly and determination of this controuersie We haue sayde with the opinion of Auicen and the rest of the authors that al metals are made of sulfur and quicksiluer the sulfur as the father and the quicksiluer as the mother the one as the maker and the other as the matter and being so the matter whereof the yron is made is of these twoo things and of these twoo beginninges of the most hot sulfur and of the most colde quicksiluer The which nature hath placed in the inner partes of the earth and made them metals and where there was these twoo beginninges most pure it was made golde and lykewyse of that which was grosse and vnpure according to the degree and qualitie of euery one there was ingendred and made the metal conformably to the purenesse or grosnesse that it had and where these metals are more vnpure more grosse and more darke the yron did ingender The which being of beginnings not pure nor cleane but grosse and filthy became to be a metall more harde then al other metals so that by meanes of it strength there might bee some who might make it easie and subiect to bee wrought as also it might bee a necessary instrument that thereof men might profite themselues And whereas the yron is made and ingendred of these twoo beginnings which are sulfur and quicksiluer the one hot and the other colde so it hath the complection and temperature and doeth participate of both qualities therfore it is so dry and for this cause hard and strong By meanes of the sulfur it heateth it consumeth it dryeth it openeth it comforteth it prouoketh appetite and maketh the meruellous woorkes that we will speake of heereafter and al is done by meanes of the heate which it hath And by meanes of the quicksiluer being grosse and vnpure and being formed with earthly vertue wherewith it is mingled it cooleth it retayneth it thickeneth it congeleth it withdraweth and detayneth any maner of fluxe or runninges by binding it taketh away stooles it cooleth and tempereth the heate and it doeth many other effects which are all done by meanes of the coldnes that it hath in such sorte that as by the aforesaide is seene the effects are contrarie which the yron doth the cause wherof is by reason it is compounded of things that haue contrary qualities which are rooted in it and do worke conformably to the subiect where they doe worke For where it is need to open it openeth and where it is neede to shut it shutteth Trueth it is that besides these qualities the yron hath an other most principal which is that it is most dry more then all other metals by meanes whereof it doeth many of these effectes and workes which wee haue spoken of and also it