manifest quality whereby they heat erode refrigerate or stupify by a certain occult propriety and so destroy the substance it self and induce corruption with nauscousness as Cicuta Anchora Napellas Aconitum Sublimatum and many more some are noxious to the whole body as the fore-named others to certain peculiar parts as the Sea-hare to the Lungs Cantharides to the Bladder Wolfs-bane to the Womb Hemlock to the Brain The roborative Roborativum quid or as vulgarly tearmed strengthening Medicament is that which with or by a certain propriety respects Corroborates and conserves some part of our body as Cephalick medicaments to the head Otick to the ears Ophthalmick to the eyes Odentick to the teeth Stomatick to the mouth Stomachick to the stomack Cordial to the heart Hepatick to the liver Splenetick to the spleen Nephritick to the reins Hysterick to the belly Nervical to nerves of which or most shall be spoken to in their places The Cathartick or purgative Medicament is that which extracts a vitious and excrementious humour out of the body Catharticum quid proprie Now that which promiscuously and generally expels all humours out of the body cannot truly be called purgative as Antimonium Cataputia major and the like but such as educes and purges proper and congruent humours to which its faculty is directed and ordained for those more violent Medicaments do often precipitate us to death of which Galen speaks when he * Cap. 2. lib. de vict acut saith that a Purge hath a certain deletary and poysonous quality which Actuarius thus confirmeth Purgative Medicaments in a general notion saith he are accounted to be such as procreate destruction and by most adjudged deletary poysonous and mortiferous but they differ from those which are absolutely poyson or of greater power to hurt in that they kill rather by quantity than corrupting And there is such an antipathy betwixt our nature and Purgations that the very smell of them is inacceptable which no sooner approaches to the nostrils of some persons but it affects the whole body in some it subverts the Ventricle and in others it contracts the belly But of the faculty of Purges how it acts and whence it proceeds shall be largely treated of in the ninth Chapter CHAP. VII Of the first and second Faculties of Medicaments WHereas simple Medicaments have often two sometimes three faculties incorporated we will speak of them in order The first is called Simple and Elementary which arises from the commixtion of the four Elements The second substantial or material which proceeds from a commoderation and consistency of the matter in which the four qualities inhere in a divers proportion And there is something found besides these a third namely purgative which Fernelius calls an occult quality And Sylvius with others of no mean knowledge affirm four qualities to be universally resident in some Medicament whereof he asserts the third to be little known and the fourth altogether unknown yet both these are often taken for one and the same for whatever Medicament acts by any inexplicable or not sufficiently perspicuous property not proceeding from the first or second qualities are said to act from the third qualities or property of the whole substance or occult virtue The first faculty of Medicaments is common The first qualities of Medicaments and as it were the Basis of the rest proceeding immediately from the Elements themselves and it consists chiefly in calefaction refrigeration moystning or drying in every of which it is seen either obscurely as when it acts in the first degree or apparently as in the second or vehemently as in the third or perfectly as in the fourth and that either in the beginning middle or end of every one The several qualities of Medicaments so that there are twelve orders of hot cold moyst and dry Medicaments which take place amongst them that have conjugated faculties which are either hot and moyst or hot and dry or cold and dry for they produce these faculties not onely obscurely manifestly vehemently and perfectly but also gradually and that either in the beginning middle or end of their operation The second qualities are concomitants of the first Elementary or simple by whose help it is that they exist and manifest their virtues for the faculty of Apertion Rarefaction Attraction Attenuation follows Calefaction the faculties of Crassitude Density Occlusion and Repulsion follow Refrigeration of Mollification follows Moysture the faculty of Induration follows Siccity for Siccity obdurates as it is plain with Clay hardned by the North winde or Summers heat and brick with fire As also Humidity mollifies while any moderate heat perseveres for the moysture of Ice becomes hard because it wants heat The second virtues and qualities are also apparent in austere sharp tart bitter opening attenuating resolving contracting repelling mollifying and casing Medicaments and do as evidently perform their operation as the first or elementary qualities CHAP. VIII Of the third Jaculty or occult quality of Medicaments NOW besides the first and second qualities there is a third which being occult and inexplicable no certain account can be rendred of it nor yet any exact knowledge thereof be apprehended but is known onely by experience For why the Jasper stone saith Galen by touching the wound should stop the flux of blood I know not and if I knew perfectly how to find out the nature of every thing particularly I should think my self such an one as I do conceive Esculapius was But some properties can neither be known nor explained for no man can bring any firm and invincible argument or reason why those Spanish flyes or Cantharides should vex the bladder with an inflammation or hot disposition being applyed far from it The property of Sea-crabs or why the ashes of Crabs being of a drying nature should have such an admirable property against the biting of mad Dogs or why being mixed with Gentian or Frankincense it operates better and more effectually than with other Medicaments Galen admiring the never failing success of this Medicament busied himself no little to finde out the cause why and at length promised to publish a Book concerning those things that act by an occuit property but performed not his promise perchance fearing lest it might detract from his great Fame if he should relinquish his Enterprise imperfect or not satisfie himself or his Readers if he did not with his accustomed learning and dexterity replenish and accomplish it The extent of the third faculty Yet this third faculty is very ample containing under it Purgatives curing distempers by a certain occult virtue having respect to certain peculiar parts of which we intend to discourse particularly There is in Aliments an inexplicable quality Neither do we acknowledge this inexplicable property to consist solely in Medicaments and Poysons whereby the one cures and the other kils and sometimes expels diseases but also in Aliments which repair the loss of strength by that continual
tenacious juice and foliated like the greater House-leek It s stalk is a foot high its flowers white and seed like Daffadil its root is single and crass like a stake struck into the earth It grows plentifully in India from whence its juice is brought as also in Arabia and other hot Countryes This Plant will through its tenacious juice live two years and emit new leaves if it be set upon a board but if it be cast on the ground it withers It is by some for its lively nature for it is alwayes green called the Seas Sempervive yet it will soon tabefy if it be not preserved from cold whereof it is very impatient The whole Plant is graveolent and its sapour bitter but especially its juice which out of what part soever it be extracted is very usefull in Medicinal Confections It s liquor concreted and brought to us is of two sorts the one sandy and contaminated with filth which we call Aloe Caballine and use in curing horses and the like the other is coacted like a liver and is thence called Hepatical Aloes or Aloe succotrine or Succo-citrine its powder being of Citrine or Orange colour It is also called by some Socotorine because it comes out of an Island so called The yellow fat clear and friable made up like a liver is the best the black hard sandy and impure is not good It is hot in the first degree dry in the third applyed it condensates astringes exsiccates and glutinates the wounds assumed it opens reserates the passages moves and stimulates the Hemorrhoides roborates the ventricle subduces the belly purges cholerick and phlegmatick humours kills and expells belly-worms takes away obstructions exarceates putretude and preserves bodyes long from corruption CHAP. VI. Of Seeny or Senna AS all the precepts of Pharmacy were not at first put in practice Senna so neither were all Medicaments at first marshall'd under precepts or indeed brought to light for the Antients had no knowledge of that we call Seeny the Persians Abalzemer than which no purgative now more frequent more usual more usefull It is a siliquous Plant brought to us from the Eastern Countryes much like our Collutea but its leaves better resemble the greater Myrtle Flowers of a dusky colour issue out of the hollow betwixt its stalk and stem appended on tenuious pedicles to which succeed little long plain incurvated leaves gravidated with small brown compressed seeds like Gygars Its roots which are long and slender are useless in Pharmacy especially if its stalk be not long-lived which being impatient of cold lives not above four months in the Western Countryes nor in Raly after Autumn There are two sorts hereof one wild whose leaves are lesser rounder and more useless the other domestical whose leaves are larger more acute and usefull Seeny calefies not so much as some think Vires for it is but hot about the end of the first degree or beginning of the second and dry about the end of the second It purges clemently both cholcrick and crass phlegmatick humours it deterges digests and expurges all viseid humours and adust choler from the brain lungs spleen liver ventricle and mesentery and cures all diseases in those parts arising from these humours It is exhibited either in form of powder Lenitivum as when it ingredes the Electuary of* Diabalzemer or Catholicon or infused and decocted as when purgative Syrupus de pomis or laxative Apozemes are made thereof But seeing in concoction it excites gripings and flatuosity it must be mixed either with Anise or Coriander or Fennel seeds to discuss its flatuosity CHAP. VII Of Mechoacan root ACertain crass root cut into short stakes and dryed hath been of late brought us from the Province of Mechoacan and bears the Provinces name This peregrine root is purgative of a pale colour and crass which puts forth many long and imbecil boughs which without fulciments would lay along the ground but being annexed to perches they grow up and with many involutions amplect them like Briony to which its effigies is very similar but its faculties dissident Differentia inter Brioniam Mechoacam for Briony is sharp and hot Mechoacan almost infipid and voyd of all acrimony The leaves of Briony are broad and quinquangular and divided like Vine leaves but more sharp hirsute and white its flowers small white racemous and congregated like Grapes And Mechoacous leaves are ample but withall tenuious sad-green and mucronated onely on one side not angular like Briony Its fruits are many cohering in bunches about the magnitude of Corianders which come to maturity in Autumn The whitish and freshest root is best Some call this root white Rhabarb others American Scammony the Pharmacopolists Mechoacan root That which is very white or black or worm-eaten is naught It is hot in the first degree and dry in the second it purges and that facilely pituitous and watry humours not debilitating like other purgatives but roborating the parts It should be dissolved rather in wine than in other liquors it may be safely adhibited to old men and boyes it conduces very much to such as are infested withan inveterate cough with colick dolour and with the French disease CHAP. VIII Of Agarick MUshromes are either terrestrial which grow out of the earth or arboreous which adhere to the stocks of trees for there 's scarce an inveterate tree but some kinde of campinion adheres thereunto either blackish and rugous as on Oaks and Wallnut trees or crass dure and whitish as on the Beech tree or white full soft and friable as Agarick that is excerped from the Larix tree Which tree is nobilitated with three sorts of excrements as Larix Rosine which is more humid than others and voyd of all acrimony which is by some sold for Turpentine Laxative Manna which is collected from its effracted boughs and branches and Agarick which grows upon its bole when inveterate The coniferous Larix tree is of eximious procerity assurging with a strait stalk incorticated with a crass bark dehiscing with frequent chinks circumvested with many leaves short soft and tenuious like Pine leaves not aculeated but retuse which numerously cohere together in each tubercle Its apples are small almost like them of the Cypress tree That Agarick that seems to be the impostume of the Larix tree is best which is white rare friable at the first sweet to the gust afterwards bitter and styptical Democritus calls it Medicamentum familiae It grows in Galicia and Cilicia but the best comes from Agaria a region of Samatia whence it derives its denomination Now we have very good from Delphinatus a Province of France and many parts of Italy where procerous Larix trees grow copiously on whose trunks Agarick grows which is no root as Dioscorides and Galen conjectured It is hot in the first degree dry in the second it purges flegm liberates obstructions attenuates deterges dissipates flatuosity and eases us of all diseases proceeding from viscid
that is calld or frigid in the beginning of the second degree he that wants a medicament hot in the end of the second degree may exhibit one that 's hot in the beginning of the third Now since the doses of compounds are deduced from simples according to the deficiency of any simple another may be substituted which is Analogicall to the deficient in the mixtion whereof if the aforesaid Lawes be observed the result in the compound will be no way deficient by substitution CHAP. XVI What Medicaments and when they are rightly substituted LEast our Pharmaceuticall treati should be defective or a patient destitute of praesidy when his auxiliatory Physician prescribes him something that neither the Pharmacopolitans shops nor gardens affoard we will here describe the supplements of such defects which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latins Succedanea Substituta or more vulgarly quid pro quo But as we before observed such substitutes should be similar What substitutes ought not to be allowed of inivertue to those whose place they spply and whose vicegerents they are now if such cannot be found then those must be elected which differ in little and respond in many things For its absurd to call those succedaneous Vicegerents which are mdued with opposite not succedaneous and symbolicall qualities and they write without reason who substitute Euphorbium for Agarick Pellitory for Sorrell and Melliote for a Quince for these have no affinity with each other But when some weaker are substituted in place of better their qualities must be augmented by quantity for quantity reduplicated recompenses the weakness of the quality as on the contrary if the substitute be too valid lesse quantity must be exhibited that thereby its rigour may be diminished Now this should not be done without the advice of some skilfull Doctor which many do not onely despise but themselves prescribe Medicaments to the great damage of their patients but such are for the most part unconstant importunate and talkative knaves who trimly apparelled intrude themselves to the sicks presence and deceive them with fair speeches I speake of that impious rabble who deceive the incautious vulgar but the skilfull and prudent who take nothing rashly but at a Phisicians advice and preception may substitute legitimate Vicegerents in the place of such as want or are decayed Those that without choice and care repose for genuine and good what ever Medicament comes first to their hands will make dangerous Medicaments and substitutions One was wont pleasantly to inculcate that of the Ninivite to such a busy fellow Saepe loco illius quid pono Least therefore any errour be committed in reposition of suppositories we shall here place the substitute in opposition to the deficient You may substitute For Wormwood Origanum or southernwood For Southernwood Origanum For The juice of Acaoia The juice of Cistus or Hypocistis For Bears foot Mallowes For Acorus The root of folefoot or Radix Asari For The true Venus haire The Common For Ameos Anise seed For Amomus Acorus For Gum Amoniack Propolis For Bitter Almonds Persian nuts For Woolfs grease Weasels grease For Harts grease Goats grease For Alum Fossile salt For Althea Mallowes For Arsenick Sublimatum For Rain-water Fountain water For Sea water Saltedwater For Anise Carret For Round Aristolochy Long. For The flower of Fomgranate The rind thereof For Balsam Limpid Turpentines For Borrage Buglosse For Bettony Parsley For Spinach Arache For Butter Oyle For Calamus Arom Squinant For Cardamomum Cyperus For Calamintha Wild mint For Germander Ground pine For Cinamon Common Cassia For Cinabrium Red Lead For Juice of Citron Limmons juice For Daucus Creticus English carret seed For Dates Massilian figgs For Dittany Sage For A Bears tooth A hogs tooth For Diphryx Burned Brasse For Liquorice Raisons For Wallwort Elder For White Hellebore Elaterium For Blacke Hellebore Lapis Lazuli For Epithyme Epithymbrum For Eruca Erisimum For Agrimony Liverwort For Sea holly Oenone For Fenygreek Orobus For Fennell Smallage For Partridge gall Cothurnix gall For Verdigrease Rust For Fumitory Sowthistle For The hulls of Senny Twice as much of its leaves For Myrtle leaves Its berryes For Galangale Acorus For Galbanum Sagapenum For Gentian Tormentill For Liverwort Agrimony For Helecampare Flower deluce For Hysope Savoury For The juice of Cistus Acacia For Jasmins flowers Rormary Flowers For Jujubs Raisons For Sweet rush Cardomomum For Henbane Poppy For Lettice Garden Succory For Sorrell Black Violet For Laureola Misletoe For Lacca Storax For Sciatick Cresses Cretian Cresses For Loadstone The Phrygian stone For Mallowes Arach For Mandrake Poppy For Honey Sugar For Mumy Pissaphaltum For Spicnard Schaenanthum For Nep Wildmint For Nutmeg Cloves For Water-Lilly Lettice For Sheepsgrease Calfes marrow For Oyle Butter For The juice of unripe grapes Juice of Limons For Opium Lettice juice For Opobalsamum Oyle of Cloves For The juice of panax Gum Amoniake For Ryce Wheat meale For White thorn Gooseberry tree For Poppy juice Mandrake juice For Petty spurge Sea Lettice For Parsley Smallage For Plaintain Mouse-eare For Pompholyx Burned brass oar For Walwort Ground pine For Quinquenerve Plantain For Radish-seed Its juice For Rosemary Majoram For Gooseberryes * Berberryes For Rue Tansey For Sagapene Pyne gum For Sage Calaminthe For Elder Wallwort For Cantonicum Southernwood For New wine Sweet wine For Cuttlebone A pumick stone For Sutureia Thyme For Saxifrage Burnet For Houseleek Nightshade For White spike Lavander For Tansey Feverfew For Sowthistle Succory For Cuckow bread Sower dock For Thyme Satureia For Thimelaea Chamelaea For Tamariske Citrarch For Tussilage Lungwort For Garden Valerian Wild For Masculine betony The famale For White Hellebore Turpethum For Black Violet White For Red Wine White For Sweet Cassia Cynamon For Yylobalsum Radix Ligustici For Ginger Pepper For Civet Musck But because it seldom falls out that one can erre twice in a Medicine let junior Apothecaryes diligently beware least they substitute any thing without the Physicians advice if they do otherwise they may exhibite and sell spurious Medicaments for legititimate as I have 1000. times observed in some ignorant fellowes who without discretion substitute any simple which of its self is deficient CHAP. XVII Of Adulterate Medicaments MEns insatiable avarice hath rapt some to that heighth of iniquity that they exhibite Adulterate Medicaments for true and genuine the dignotion whereof is of great moment in making Medicaments and should be a Physicians and an Apothecaryes imployment accurately to learn that to be their patients may exhibited none but good which may conduce to their adjument and sanity not adulterate whose end is perill and languour These I thought meet to detect least some unskilfull Apothecary be deceived by such circumforaneous prestigiatours who often sell the flowers of Carthamus for Crocus and Ivory for Monocerots horn and similate many more especially rare and precious Medicaments whose use is frequent and vertues eximious Least therefore the Apothecary in whose hand the
Medicinal materials purely for the service of man out of which our Fore fathers by their industry out of regard to their healths found out many occult virtues and thereby prolonged their lives to old age King [h] Cap. 20. l. 4. Reg. Ezechias was sick even to death and was recovered by the prescript of Isaiah with a Plaster made of Figs and applyed to the place affected Mithridates freed himself from all pestilence and poyson with an Antidote of his confection which derived its name from him insomuch that being not able with Poyson he put a period to his dayes with his own Sword Emperours in time past thought it a Princely thing to prepare and carry about them certain convenient Medicaments upon all occasions and accidents Reges olim multa medicamenta parasse and withall to present them to those persons of what degree soever whose favour they sought for as a sufficient inducement to an obligation of gratitude For this end and purpose Cambyses sent Unguents and Spices to the King of Egypt as a Present becoming so sublime a Person therewith to preserve his health For it is more safe for a King or Captain in his Tent to want his Backler and Helmet than salubrious remedies fit and convenient for all accidents of Ware hence many wise men have more estermed of wholsome Medicines than a rich Treasure It is reported of Dariue that he so much valued a certain Balsam that he not onely reposed it amongst his pretious goods but preferred it before all his outward enjoyments We reade the same of the Emperour Tiberius who alwayes carried with him Trochisks a certain epidemical remedy Kings also are wont not onely to command a Box or Bottle of Oil and Balsam to be ready in their Tents but also a whole Apothecaries Shop furnished with variety of operating Medicaments for help and comfort whereby they have oftentimes freed themselves and Army from great perils that would otherwise have accrued and sometimes from death it self Hence Physicians are called Dii Tutelarii Medici Deorumfilii Tutelary Gods or as Galen hath it [i] L. de med c. 3. the Sons of Apolle hence Heraphitus calls [k] L. 6. comp med locis Medicaments Gods omnipresent hand which frees the fick from the danger of their diseases and restores perfect health whence a certain Antidote is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. equal to God because it is endued with power to operate as from a Deity And in Mirepsius another Antidote is called [l] L. 2.45 Sanitas i. e. health Another also by the same Mirepsius is called [m] L. 2.14.2.15.2.16 Theodoretos i. e. the gift of God by reason of its excellent virtue incuring internal and external maladies This medicinal Art doth prepare and afford infinite Medicines of admirable virtue and wonderfull operation which no publick City nor private Family can want without manifest prejudice and great detriment to the preservation of their healths nay it is of such a transcendent worth that God would not have his Tabernacle destitute of this Art and therefore [n] Exod. c. 30. Unguentum sanctum Moses anointed it with holy Oil compounded of Myrrhe Cinamon Calamus Cassia and Oil. Joseph also had Pharmacy in great esteem for when his Father Jacob dyed Gen. 50. he commanded his Servants and Physicians to imbalm his Corps Is this Art therefore to be contemned and despised that is by Holy Writ thus honoured which affords to the sound a preservative to the sick a remedy and to the dead honour and renown CHAP. II. What an Apothecary is and ought to be and what also is his Subject Object and End AS a Chirurgeon takes his denomination from his Vocation Chirurgus quis dicatur quid praestat or Art whereby he cures external distempers dexterously quickly safely and easily so doth the Pharmacopoean derive his name from the Physick which he makes or rather aptly compounds into a convenient Medicine So also is the Druggist nominated from those Simples and Drugs he sels as the Apothecary from the Apothectes or Shop where his Medicines are placed who in times past was called a Seplasiary from Seplasia a Market-place in Capua where the best odoriferous Unguents are made But these names are often used indistinctly and the concertation about the bare denomination is vain and frivolous when the substance is in handling Probity is not so requisite in a Philosopher as an Apothecary Vitae probitan in Pharmacopaeo desideratur whose sole work is to prepare Medicines for the Physicians administration either for preserving or procuring health for in his hands consists health and sickness life and death and he hath free power in the composure of his Physick not onely to obstruct the current of health but also deprive us of life when he is wickedly bent thereunto either out of malice or ignorance so that if Hippocrates be benest and upright it 's no matter if Socrates be a Knave But first of all What conversation an Apothecary ought to be of an Apothecary ought to be a Lover of Piety one that fears God voyd of Envy and Malice of a found judgement well skilled in Grammar of a good competency not covetous patient of labour of great industry not given to corpulency and epicurism one that makes conscienceof his actions for an Atheist as he doth not respect the Creator so neither the Creature and an envious man repines at another mans good and a foolish man hath an inseparable property in him viz. a desire to hurt and the unskilfull thinks nothings right but what he doth himself and the covetous man is good to nooe worst to himself and a poor man is easily corrupted for need will compell him to deal distonestry They also are unworthy of the name and dignity of the Profession who are by natural jaclination Scoffers Drunkards Jesters Voluptuous Frroneous Garrulous Impostors Jugglers Day lurkers and Deceivers who with gilded pretences do deceive the Vulgar with trifles guiles boastings vain promises adulation and lyes cheat them of their moneys deprive them of their health and by their delusion bring their lives in jeopardy Therefore nothingis more noxious to the Republick of a greater stain and blemish to the honour of the Profession and scandalous to good Letters than these kinde of men who ought to be eschewed as the vilest of Creatures and their company avoyded as pestilentious But whereas the subject of Pharmacy and Medicine is all one viz. mans body as it is capable of health or sickness the Physician and Apothecary ought to participate of many good qualities as prudence experience diligence and knowledge of Medicaments The subject of Pharmacy is the Materials of Medicine Pharmaciam medicinae inservire the end and scope thereof the due composure of the same and the Apothecary that dares to attempt or assay further breaks his bounds and limits and is to be accounted a Mountebank a Quack and Deceiver I have
perfection Digestion is a simple Maturation whereby things incocted and untractable are cocted and made more milde and tractable by a digestative heat Circulation is an exaltation of pure Liquor by a circular solution Circulatio Gradatio by the help of the heat in Mercuries or Pelicans Cup. Gradation appertains properly to Metals for it is an exaltation of them to a greater degree of bonity and perfection whereby their weight colour and consistency is brought to a more excellent degree But that I may no longer digress from my purpose I will leave their Chymical Preparations to themselves for this Treatise of Distillation compelled me briefly to touch of these and paint it on the margin as a Work by the by The end of the second Book OF MEDICAMENTAL INSTITUTIONS The third Book Of the composition of general Medicaments CHAP. I. Why Medicaments are compounded AS Simplicity in Nature is before Composition so are simple Medicaments before compound and the antient Physicians as Pliny relates cap. 2. lib. 26. Nat. Histor first prescribed onely Simples to cure Diseases as Diocles Praxagoras Chrysippus and Eristratus Hippocrates also who first laid the foundations of the medicinal Art and gave Laws thereto cured almost all Diseases with simple Medicaments alone Yet saith Aetius cap. 25. tetr 4. serm 2. necessity constrained the exercised Medicks to seek new remedies and compound some Simples because Simples cannot alwayes cure for saith Galen cap. 5. lib. 1. comp med general if Simples onely could preternaturally cure all affections there would be no need of Compounds but this no Simple can do The use therefore of Composition in Medicine is necessary especially for such Diseases as require at once contrary faculties in Medicaments which cannot be in Simples The causes why Medicaments should be compounded are many Serapio cap. lib. 7. first Multas esse causas compositionum medicamemorum when in curing or expelling a disease there is no one simple Medicament altogether contrary to it then must some compound be used which may supply the defect of the simple as when we would moderately cleanse an ulcer we mixe two simple Medicaments the one whereof would do it too potently the other too negligently now from the concourse and commistion of these two will proceed one moderate detersory the second cause of composition is that the violence of the Medicament may be obtunded or its ignavy excited now its violence is obtunded by the admixtion of a more benigne or an opposite Medicament as when with sharp we mixe mild with bitter sweet with calid refrigerating with maligne Cordiall Medicaments The third cause or reason is drawn from the variety of the Maladies to be cured for to every part affected and noxious humour a Medicament that is Analogicall and destinated to the same must be prescribed for it is meet that Medicament must be given to the Brain Lungs or other parts ill affected which hath respect to such parts and will free from such a mortificall cause the situation also and dignity of the parts affected demonstrate composition to be necessary for some part doth not onely require roboration which indeed is a principall effect as the brain by Cephalicks and the heart by Cordialls as Galen commands Cap. 1. lib. 1. comp med gener But also oftentimes alteration and a vindication from the noxious humour which one simple Medicament cannot effect furthermore a part situated farre from the remedy speaks composition to be necessary for some attenuating Medicament must be mixed with these remedies that the quality thereof may permeate to the part affected as Galen declares lib. 1. de comp per gener There are also other lesse necessary causes of composition as when Medicaments are dulcorated with sugar or honey that they may be more acceptable to the palate and heart or when they are condited with Cynamon and other sweet spices or washed in convenient decoctions or composed into the forme of a bole or solid Electuary for many Medicaments are conjoyned mixed and united together for odour sapour colour or jucundities sake and also for preservation to future uses CHAP. II. Of Syrups in Generall WHereas many Plants cannot always be had in readiness and integrall but either their leaves will be fallen or their Roots hidden in the ground as in Winter or their vertue decayed their leaves and flowers being scattered or they will not be found when urgent necessity requires juices are extracted out of them for future uses or their decoctions condited with a sufficient quantity of sugar or honey or both together are prepared so as they may be kept a long time without impairing their strength and vertue after great coction till they acquire the the consistency of a syrup Now a syrup is a certain liquid Medicament of juices or decoctions so long cocted with honey or sugar Syrupus quid for sapour and conservations sake till it attain a just consistency which may be known if one drop of it dropped on a marble stone dilate not but cleave together or taken betwixt ones fingers dwawne out in threads or teats Syrups were invented by the Arabians which Avicena lib. 5. serm 1. tract 6. calls decoctions or juices thickned with sweetnes according to the Arabick word Scarab Sharab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which denotes a certain drink but sweet or Srab which signifies sweet wine or rather a Syrup or potion prepared after our manner the Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ancients by all these often understood Oinomel or sweet potions for the name syrup and the preparation thereof was scarce known to antient Graecians But some hold that the name syrup is more probably derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 juice and and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to draw Nominis syrupietymologia as it were a juice extracted or that they were derived from Syria or from that which Alexander Aphrodiseus calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wine boyled to the half new wine wine boyled to the third part or a sweet potion of wine and honey Syrups are perfectly cocted with honey or sugar that they may not corrupt but be usefull for a whole yeare and they therefore have a thicker consistency a meane betwixt wine boyled to the third and a julep as an Apozeme betwixt a julep and a syrup for a syrup is not so thick as sapa nor a julep as a syrup nor an Apozeme as a julep for as syrups which because thicker may be kept longer safer so Apozemes and Juleps being thinner may not be kept long and safely for they will not keep one week and therefore Physicians are wont to prescribe them to present use and have them made so oft as necessity requires but we shall treat more largely of these in the next book for now we shall speak of such as may be kept by the Apothecaries for a long time of which for present use
the qualities of all flowers perish with their odour sapour and colour But I am of opinion that Roses which of all flowers retain their suavity longest as also all such as by their gratious odour exhilarate the spirits are most cordial for all suaveolent flowers whether herbal as the Lilly of the Valley or arbustal or arboral as the flowers of Orange trees are cordial and may with success be used in medicinary business The flowers of Chamemile Melilote and Anise are accounted cordial but I prefer as more excellent the flowers of Oranges Jasmine Deluce Sage Rosemary Betony Clove-gilliflowers and many others which with their fragrancy delight the nose and recreate the spirits The hairs or capillary herbs are five Herbe capillares quinque Maidens-hair commonly called Mompiensian hair common Adiantium Polytricum Citrarch or Wall-fern Rue on the wall without all reason called Salvia vitae to which we may adde Epithymum and Woodbind The common mollifying herbs are four Mallows Marsh-mallows Emmollientes berbae octo black Violet Garden Bear-foot or brank Ursine whereunto four more are adjoyned Mercury Pelitory of the wall Beet and Arache all which are used in making the decoction of Clysters and laxative Cataplasms There are many pretious Fragments Fragmentae pretiosa quinque but five artificially in use among Physicians as of Saphire Granate Emerald Hyacinth Sardis The Vulgar know onely four kinds of Cordial Waters and cannot be perswaded to a fifth to wit of Endive Succory Bugloss and Borrage but I finde eight besides these that are more cordial to wit the Water of Carduus Scabiose Marigold Devils bit Wood-sorrel Goats-beard Sorrel and Water-lillyes Some conduce to the roboration of the brain Quatuor aquae cephalicae and are therefore called Cephalical Waters which are four to wit the Water of Betony Balm Roses and Orange tree flowers There are also in Shops four hot Unguents as Ung. Aregon Quatuor unguenta calida quatuor frigida Martiatum Altheae and Agrippae and as many frigid ones to wit Ung. Album Rosatum Populeum Citrinum CHAP. XV. Of succedaneous Medicaments PHysicians should not use Succedaneous Medicaments unless they be thereunto compelled either having not knowledge or having not trial of the requisite Medicament yet an Apothecary by the Medicks advice may substitute a convenient Medicament instead of another that is so rare as it cannot be had or so dear as it cannot be purchased yet so that the succedaneous be in species kinde and virtue very similar and answerable to the deficient and if it may be a simple Medicament should be put for a simple and a compound for a compound as A Plant for a Plant A Root for a Root A Bark for a Bark Seed for Seed Liquor for Liquor Gum for Gum Rosine for Rosine Oil for Oil Mineral for Mineral Salt for Salt Earth for Earth Stone for Stone Gem for Gem Metal for Metal Animal for Animal Part for Part. The same Law must be observed in compounds but not so strictly for powder must be put for powder eclegme for eclegme electuary for electuary syrup for syrup Yet there is often such affinity in quality betwixt Medicaments of different consistencies that a substitution may be easily admitted For if any hath an aversation to a bechicall eclegme he may without danger assume syrup of jujubs and he that refuses pills why may he not assume some other catharticke of equall vertue in a potion Thus Physicians do oft indulge their Patients by prescribing liquids to such as nauseate solids and on the contrary Yet a simple Medicament is not always substituted for a simple one for since one can scarce find two simples alike in all things for the want of one to which no single one responds we substitute two or more whose concourse exhibite the similar vertues whether in elementary qualities as heat cold humiditie and siccitie or in secundary qualities which follow the modification of the matter For it is enough if the substituted Medicament effect that which the genuine and deficient promised For one that wants a rare and precious Medicament calefying or refrigerating in the seoend degree and hath other two the one hot or cold in the third degree the other in the first may by putting these two together acquire one accommodate to his purpose to wit calefying or refrigerating in the second recesse which rule is of use in mixing attenuating incrassating and other simples But because the soile and the heavens change the qualities of simples as we have observed in the Persian tree we must with diligence observe which are fittest for substitution for there is much difference betwixt our flower deluce and that of Florence for their is Cephalicall and Bechicall our Phlegmagogous and strongly purgative And as Canary wine is more noble than Spanish and Spanish than French wine so the grapes from which they are expressed are of distinct qualities sapours and degrees of heat and therefore simples of the same kind and species have not alwayes got the same temperature and degree of qualities for what growes in a hotter soil is hotter and in a colder colder When therefore a Medicament is prescribed which because of its soil is hotter Quamado gradu tertio aut quarto calidum substituitur pro minus calids and cannot be got another of the same kind may be substituted through the colder if in greater quantity For that which is hot in the fourth degree may be taken in such a quantity as it may only calefie in the third degree as for example if you take but about four grains of Euphorbium it will calefy onely in the third degree which in greater quantitie would calefy in the fourth and by how much you take lesse by so much it calefies lesse but every Medicament hath a determinate dosis else so small a portion might be given that though it were fire yet would it neither burn nor calefie and Cloves which are hot in the third degree if lesse than three grains of them be administred they calefy not to the third degree and so of all qualities in their degrees Now there are in every degree three parts or mansions Cujusque gradus tres partes beginning middle and end which are so constituted that the beginning of one degree coincidates with the end of another as the beginning of the fourth with the end of the fift So the end of Winter differs little from the beginning of the spring The usuall dosis of such as calefy in the fourth degree is of four grains whereof there being three mansions Dosis callidorum in quarto gradu the chief dosis which attains the end of that same grade is of twelve grains that which attains the middle sixteen and the beginning twenty grains which is the dosis of such as calefy in the end of the third degree Wherefore when any want a Medicament that califies or frigifies in the end of the first degree he may substitute one
the Hemorrhoides â„ž Mullein m. ij Marsh-mallows m. j. Linseed â„¥ ss boyl them in milk and whil'st they are hot put them in a stool-pan and sit upon it that the vapour may ingrede the fundament CHAP. IV. Of an Hypocaust or Sudatory AN Hypocaust is a place made like a little Fornace Hypocaustum quid wherein sweat is procured by dry heat ascending through like Spiracles from the fire set under it It is called by another name to wit Unde dicatur Laconicum Ejus usus Laconicum because the Laconians chiefly used it as the Romanes did baths It conduces much in frigid and diuturnal diseases for seeing its fervid and sharp heat doth not onely calefy the external habit of the body but the very praecordia and internals also it potently opens the passages calefies melts and by sweat educes the humours But seeing this external calour continually thus occurring and insinuating it self into the internals doth speedily project the humours it can scarce be tolerated one quarter of an hour without dissipation of the spirits and loss of strength whereupon swoundings often follow but the more delicate and such also whose bodyes are loaden with impure excrements are chiefly in danger of this delinquency Quae ingressum bypocausti praecedere debent He therefore that consults his sanity should never enter these Sudatories till he have by purge and phlebotomy if need be exonerated his body for so the reliques of those humours that infest his body may be easily projected by sudour The Rusticks custome is irreproveable who being destitute of an Hypocaust extracted by due and artificial industry take a Hogshead of a just magnitude and calefy it either by a fire or by setting it over a pan full of burned coals or a vessel full of hot water and set therein sweating profusely and with case without any danger of swourding Some will sit in an oven where bread is but lately drawn out put their heads onely out at the mouth thereof and so sweat abundantly Chirurgions have invented a certain Aestuary of a vimineous texture like a Bird-cage wherein they excite such to sweat as are infested with the French disease which they properly call a Cage wherein the Birds do not nourish but are nourished These miserable Wretches are included herein with hot bricks and almost suffocated till they sweat abundantly in every part of their bodyes having before drunk of the Decoction of Lignum sanctum or Sarsaparilla or some other Alexitery which will both move sweat and deleate the French disease CHAP. V. Of Fomentations FOments are so commodious that no part of the body is averse to their sanative operations Aetius prescribes this Medicament to fore eyes Trallian initio lib. 6. to the ears to the flux of the belly yea he thinks them convenient to asswage any dolour Celsus cap. 12. lib. 3. admits of Foments in Feavers and thinks they should not be omitted but by all means applyed to pleuritical hepatical splenical and arthritical persons as also to the calculative or other parts affected where the ulcer hath not dissolved the continuity nor divided the integrity For Oribasius cap. 29. lib. 9. saith they rarify the skin for transpiration attenuate the blood discuss part thereof and so operate that the parts affected are not so dolorous Foments therefore are made for many purposes as thus to roborate the ventricle â„ž Wormwood both the Mints tops of Dill Roses of each m. ij A Foment roborating the stomack Penniroyal Marjorum of each m. j. Balaustians Cyperus nuts bruised of each â„¥ j. boyl them in water with a fourth part of wine added towards the end of the Coction and foment the ventricle with sponges dipped therein as hot as can be suffered Trallian prescribes many Foments to the splenetick affections which consist of such things as roborate it or as incide and digest the humours or as change and alter its intemperance This Foment after purgation doth remove obstructions and roborate it â„ž Cetrarch or Spleen-wort Roman Wormwood Staechados A Fotus for the spleen Tamaris of each m. ij Broom flowers Jasmine of each m. j. boyl them in water and wine for a good space and to every pint of the Decoction adde Oil of Capars â„¥ iij. with which foment the part affected either with sponges or bladders filled and applyed This Foment is very good to cure the Pleurisy â„ž For the Plenrisy Marsh-mallows Mallows Violets of each m. ij the flowers of Melilot and Chemomile tops of Dill of each m. j. Linseed â„¥ j. boyl these either in water or milk and foment the side either with cloaths or spunges dipped therein After the foment liniate the part with some lenitive Oil as Oil of Lillyes Almonds or Violets or else with new Butter This foment for the diseased of the Stone must be applyed to the region of the reins â„ž Fotus pro calculosis Water-cresses Pelitory Beets Violets of each m. ij Faenugreek â„¥ ij boyl them in Hydromel and foment the reins therewith CHAP. VI. Of Epithemaes SOme make no difference betwixt a Foment and an Epithema but Fernalius rightly asserts them to be different Medicaments Differentia inter fotum epithema both from their forms and their efficacy seeing a Foment endued with many qualities may be constituted many wayes and applyed to many parts But an Epithema is chiefly eximious for two qualities to wit alterative whereby it emends some distemper and roborative or alexiterial whereby it strengthens the heart and oppugns some kinde of poyson and for the most part applyed onely to the regions of the heart and liver They consist of distilled Epithematum materia cordial and alterative waters or liquid decoctions mixed with powders of fingular virtues wherein the proportion of powder is of one scruple or half a dram to every ounce of water which we mix with a little vinegar Some Alexipharmacal Confection is sometimes diluted in stead of powders as in some pestilent season or in some malignant distemper which impairs the strength of the heart and faculties of the diseased for in such a case it is most secure to mix some Antidote or Mithridate with the Epithema This Epithema doth refrigerate and roborate the liver inflamed with a Feaver â„ž An Epithema cooling the liver of the waters of Succory Endive Water-lillyes and Plantain of each â„¥ iij. Vinegar of RosesÊ’ j. Pulvis Triasant â„¥ j. ss Diarrhadon AbbatisÊ’ j. Troches of CamphorÊ’ ss fiat Epithema and with a cloth dipped in it bathe the region of the liver An Epitheme thus confected will muniate and preserve the heart and strength of the vital faculties â„ž An Epithema to comfort the heart of the waters of Bugloss Scabious Cardaus Sorrel Roses of each â„¥ iij. spec diamarg. frigid Triasant of eachÊ’ j. ss Powder of Tormentill Gentian Dictamus and grains of Kermes of eachÊ’ ss with which besprinkle a linnen cloth and apply it hot to the region of the heart The Antients
fluviatilibus as also Matthiolus upon Dioscorides For it is enough for us to mention these and to treat more copiously of such things as do but sometimes accede to Medicine CHAP. 30. Of Vipers VIpers flesh siccates Vires and digests potently and califies moderately its faculty hastens it to the skin propelling the excrements and poyson of the body if any thither whence we make it into Theriacal Trochisks as we have shewed in our Antidotary and of them we make that famous Theriacal confection so much commended against venenated affections Now those are call'd Theriacal Medicaments which cure the poysonous bitings of venenate Animals or heal such as have received harm by the biting breathing licking or touching of venenate Animals They are also called Alexipharmacal Medicaments which arceate peril by poyson but others will have them onely so called which by introsumption at the mouth cure poysons Now Theriacal comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is from wilde and venenate Animals rather then from some certain sort of Serpents though a Viper whose Male is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Female 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sometimes by the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it being the most notorious of Serpents and wilde Beasts it vendicates this name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Medicament which admits of its flesh is nevertheless denominated Theriacal from its efficacy in curing the bites and poysons of wilde beasts and not because of that ingredient A Viper is ordinarily of a cubits length and often longer of a subflave colour maculated with many round spots the male is by the Greeks called Echis its head is angust and acute its neck crasser and body slenderer then the Female its tail like that of other Serpents grows more gracile by degrees and not on a sudden as that of the Female it hath sharper scales at the end of its tail which when moved it erects just as an angry Cock doth his Plumes in fighting He hath two Canine teeth the Female more according to that of the Poet Huic gemini apparent dentes in carne venenum Fundentes verubus sed Foemina pluribus atrox He also hath a passage in his tail neerer his belly then that of the Females he goes also more stoutly The Female Vipers are of a yellowish colour with an elated neck reddish eyes and lucent of an inverecund and fierce aspect their heads are broad their tails short macilent squamous and all a like gracile not gradually so their passages neerer their tails their bellies more prominent and their pace flower The Latines call it Vipera because Vi parit that is it is forced to bring forth or else because Vivum parit that is it brings forth living young contrary to the mode of other Serpents which first lay eggs and the Viper indeed procreates eggs like them of fishes but every egge hath a young living Viper involved onely in a membrane Yet it sometimes happens that the last seeking egress before the first and impatient of longer delay erodes his Parents belly and sides and so it is produced a Matricide but that as seldom happens as when the Male thrusts his head into the Females mouth in copulation the Female satiated with the sweetness of the pleasure obtruncabes the Male which I think is never When other Serpents in winter run into caverns Vipers onely absoond themselves under stones and depose their old age like other Reptiles Vipers are preferred before all other Serpents in the confection of this Theriack because when compounded of others its vertue is more tabifical Gal Cap. 10. Lib. de Theriaca The Heads and tails which contain the most virulent poyson must be abscinded for the Viper hath the most pernicious head of all venenate beasts Dioscorides holds it ridiculous that any set certain measure of the Head and tail should be prescinded The internals Spina Dorsi and the belly must likewise be abjected There are both in Italy and France very idoneous Vipers for this solemn confection as in the Pictavian fields whence many are brought to Paris of whose flesh we make Pastils and use their fat in Vigo his emplaster whose extraction and preparation is easie The fat must first be taken with its skins and washed in clear cold water till it be sincere then may the membranes be separated then must the fat be melted in a double vessel and continually agitated with a wooden stick when it is melted it must be percolated into cold water which may be abjected and the fat kept and reposed in a convenient vessel some wash it again that it may depose all its poyson I can scarce assent to their opinion who believe that such live long as eat Vipers flesh for it procreates very ill succe and digests and siccates vehemently so that they who eat it are grievously cruciated with thirst and thence cognominated Dipsades Galen saith that some are of opinion that such as are bitten by Vipers cannot be cured by drinking but will burst ere they can quench their thirst Galen proves by many Histories that Vipers conduce to the Leprous There was saith he a Leper in Asia who was foetid to look on and graveolent who at first was conversant and did eat with his companions till some of his company began to be inquinated and he of such a horrid and detestable a form as none could indure to look on him then they bound him in a Cottage neer the river and gave him daily aliment The next Summer about the rising of the Dog-star when a servant brought fragrant wine to the reapers and set the pot by the river-side when they came to drink the Boy poured out the wine into a cup and with the wine a dead Viper the reapers being therewithal afrighted quenched their thirst with water and sent the wine to the Leper pitying his condition and judging it better for him to die therewith then to live in that misery but he drinking thereof was unexpectedly cured his skin falling off like a shell from a locust And another event not much unlike this happened in Mysia not far from our City There was a rich man but Leprous who was in love with his maid that was beautiful but she hating so descormed a man clandestinely kept other lovers company the diseased in hopes of recovery betook himself to some Fountains of hot water wherewith the vicine parts abounded which were squalid and full of Vipers one whereof crept into his wine pot the wench perceiving that a Viper was there suffocated was glad she had such an opportunity put into her hands she then gives a cup of it to her Master who drinking of it was perfectly cured as the precedent Galen recenseates more stories whereby he proves that Vipers cure the Leprosie We have shewed in our Antidotary how it must be prepared before it ingrede the confection of the Theriack CHAP. 31. Of Scinks THe flesh of the Reins of this Beast is a special Antidote against
and extinguishes the venereous poyson The Indians use its juice to cure the venereous disease which to them is natural and endemial CHAP. XXVI Of Chyna root I May not omit this other Antidote against the Indian disease to wit that excellent Root which as also the whole Plant hath its name from Chyna but in its native foyl retains its Countryes name to wit Lompatau It grows in the vast region of Chyna which terminates upon the East-Indies and Scythia not in mountainous and dry ground as some have conjectured but in fens and moyst places like a reed as about the sea-shore or head of some fountain It s root is crass and nodous as red 〈◊〉 hard also and tuberous like the Brambles root and rubeous and tortuous like Bistorts root Slender and imbecil cauls crupt out of its root which are circumcinged with very rare leaves which though low require fulciments that they may be strait This root is now vulgar which the Antients either knew not or oscitantly pretermitted but now it is so notorions that no Barber or young Apprentice but he will talk thereof The Indians use this Medicament as panpharmacal to all diseases and especially to such as cannot be cured by other remedies It is very prevalent in curing the Indian Pox Vires it helps the Vertigo cures the pain of the stomack helps the hydroptical cures the colical colour and affections of the uterus removes obstructions opens the passages moves urine causes sudour helps in convulsions and palsey and eases the dolour of the articles for Charles the fifth Emperour of that name found no ease from other Medicaments but much from Chyna against the Gout which handled him very ill Some say that it is good for such as are tabid but I think too hot to cure the consumption to emend a dry distemper and resarciate it Garcias used it against the heat of the liver so long that his body was almost wholly inflamed It s use is now more rare than formerly it hath been SECTION IV. Of Indigenous Calefactives The Preface WE have many hot Plants which will not grow in forreign Countryes of which we intend to speak distinctly in this fourth Section And they are such as either grow spontaneously in the Fields or by culture in Gardens Wherein we shall observe this method first touch upon those that are hottest then such as are hotter and lastly those that are moderately hot all which we shall run over with brevity yet not so but that their qualities may be distinctly known And therefore we shall begin with such as have a fiery kinde of quality as CHAP. I. Of Bartram or Pellitory BArtram or Pyrethrum is so called from that igneous quality which its chewed root leaves in the gustative organ the Vulgar call it Alexander's foot the Latines from the abundance of spittle it causes in the mouth call it Herba salinaris It is an herb of a cubits height or more in its caul and leaves emulating the wild Daucus or vulgar Carret are multifariously divided and sected into small capillaments like Fennel its flower that erupts out of the summities of its surcles is fair broad and patulous like a Marigold but larger subluteous in its orb and circumdated with little angust long leaves supernally whitish and on the contrary fide of a purple colour in the middle of its orb and between the leaves issues a small long and odorate seed It s root is crass long and of a blackish red colour It grows in many places of Italy and Spain and fruticates flourishes and perfects its seed when it is sown in Gardens in Holland but it grows more copiously and floridly in hot and Eastern Regions and we enumerate it amongst our indigenous Plants because we have it in Europe and the Western Countryes-pretty plentifull There is another Plant which by its acrimonious odour moves sternutation which Apothecaries call wild Pyrethrum because by its vellicative sapour it moves the gust like Bartram and promotes spittle which grows in mountainous and incultivated places also in meadows and hedges Pyrethrum's root is hot in the fourth degree detained in the mouth it projects flegm copiously and therefore it helps the tooth-ache proceeding from a frigid cause it helps also the diuturnal head-ache the Apoplexy Epilepsy Palsey and all affections arising from flegm congested in the head CHAP. II. Of Mustard MUstard is no Aliment sometimes a Medicament often a Condiment for it is most conveniently admixed to viscid and glutinous dishes especially in winter that their viscidity may be corrected and the ventricle thereby roborated for it admirably helps such as have dull palats and nauseate their meat But because by its acrimony it importunely affects the gust it is not onely grinded with vinegar to mitigate its fervour but mixed with sweet wine to obdulcorate its acrimony and so is made a gratefull Condiment which many for its vulgarity disestimate Mustard is either sative or spontaneous the sative is of two sorts the one hath leaves like Rape but lesser and more sharp with a round hispid sharp stalk of two cubits height or more brachiated with many boughs about which erupt luteous flowers orderly disposed to which long thin and sharp husks succeed wherein a little round seed is included of a yellow colour and mordaceous gust The other sative Mustard is so like the former that they seem onely to dissent in colour of their seeds which in the former is luteous in this a blackish red the leaves of this are somewhat more like Rocket than the other in all other things they are the same The wild grows spontaneously in any dry place and sometimes in humid places brinks and hedges it is less than the former bearing lesser leaves jagged almost like Shepherds-purse but more acute it emits luteous quadrifolious flowers it afterwards puts forth its seed in husks which it varies sometimes bearing white sometimes red seed This Plant denominates a noble Medicament they call Synapismum which is celebrated to many uses as to inveterate Head-achs Epilepsy Vertigo difficulty of breathing distillations and the Gout Mustard is hot and dry in the fourth degree it incides attenuates Vires extracts detained in the mouth it moves flegm brayed and snuffed up the nose it causes sternutation it excites women suffocated with the histerical passion but such as have imbecil and caliginous eyes should altogether eschew it CHAP. III. Of Thlaspi or Treacle-Mustard MUstard and Thlaspi are rightly described in the same series for both agree if not in effigies yet much in qualities so that Thlaspi is commonly called Countrey Species or Treacle-Mustard There are many kinds of Thlaspis whereof three are most noted one greater another lesser and another mean whereunto all the rest of that name are referred The first grows plentifully both in cultivated and incultivated Fields with large long crisped leaves acute towards the end its caul is about half a foot long emitting boughs circumcinged with flowers at
first white which are frequent at the beginning of Summer not unlike Shepherds-purse which convolving themselves into two valvuls produce a blackish hot and sharp seed in sapour like Mustard or Nasturtium The second hath a ramous caul of a foot high its leaves are lesser angust acuminated and subverted its flowers white seed small sharp and hot like Nasturtium The third and less Thlaspi is an Herb with angust leaves of a fingers length converting themselves downwards and a little incided in their extremities its flowers are whitish caul slender and ramous of a foot high whereon many small plain husks like little Lentils on small pedicles do depend in an excellent series wherein a small seed affecting the mouth and tongue with a sharp sapour like Mustard is enclosed It grows in incultivated stony mountainous hot and dry places as on many walls and houses whence some Herbalists call it Tectorium Nasturtium and sometimes Countrey-Mustard It s seed is used in Antidotes yet he shall not much erre that in defect thereof usurps other seeds Many referr many more Plants bearing sharp and servent seed to the Thlaspi but feeing they dissent much in effigies others referr them rather to Plants more affine in form for the Thlaspi of Crateva which seems to be a latifolious Violet called Bolbonac as also Draba by some called Thlaspi have little or no affinity with the rest of that name Vires It s seed is not and dry in the fourth degree it breaks impostumes moves flowers kills the young in the uterus helps the sciatical infunded at the fundament it evacuates blood and pollicitates many more commodities if rightly and opportunely usurped It is mixed with some Antidotes CHAP. IV. Of Rockett ROcket which the Greeks call Euxomon is sown in Gardens for Condiments sake for it is both good and usefull in Sallets and Pottage for such whose internal calour languishes and whose lust to venery is dull for Rotlet revokes venery and accelerates the husband slow to congress whence Poets call it Herba salas the Salacious Herb. It rises a cubit high with angust long leaves lacinated on both sides with deep but rare incisures with palid and sometimes hueous and quadrifolious flowers seed like Turnep seed and a white and dure root it grows sometimes spomaneously among branches and other rough and incultivated places There is also erratical and wild Rocket which grows in squalid places near high wayes and town walls with leaves like Sow-thistles but more slender and small with flowers of a luteous colour like them of Brassica which erupt in the middle of Summer Bank-creffes which some call Irio others Tortela do so much resemble Rocket both in gust and form that they call it Rocket yet seeing Galen reposes Erysimum amongst alimental Plants I will scarce enumerate it among wild Rockets Eruca is also the name of a certain Insect as well as an Heth whereof there are many differences desumed from their dissidency in colour and magnitude whereof we neither will nor ought now to treat it being our purpose to speak onely of such Simples as are Ingredients necessary to Compositions in Pharmacopolies Rocket calefies and siccates in the third degree Vires extenuates the spleen cures the bitings of Mice and Spiders excites venery moves urine deleates black skars if illited with Oxe-gail and emaculates freckles CHAP. V. Of Nettle THere are two general differences of Nettles Species one whose leaves are improbously mordacious and surcle hurting the contrectants hands with its pungent down the other innoxious which may be handled without molestation The former is by the Greeks called sometimes Acalyphe because it is injucund to the tact sometimes Cnide because it punges mordaciously commonly called Quick-Nettle the other is called Lamium and Anonium as also white or dead Nettle There be also three sorts of quick Nettles the two greater and one lesser all wild and spontaneous Some call these wild ones masculine and seminine Nettles as superating one another in procerity The Romanes call that Masculine in the first place which emits round surcles of half a cubits height and sometimes longer cave and hollow with broad mucronated simbrious crisped leaves rough and mordaceous on both sides which by their contact excite lumps and ustion and rubefy the skin The seed is included in small pills round and hispid which proceed out of the root of the leaves That Feminine in the second which produces seed not globularly but racemously like Grape clusters after the manner of the feminine Mercury its caul is higher and more ramous its leaves broader and all its parts mordacious The third sort is the least and yet most ramous mordacious and graveolent producing its seed racemously but not after the manner of the former for many grains erupt out of the surcie at the foot of the leaves together but each one hath a pedicle like the masculine Nettle This third sort is called Dog-Nettle and is most of all mordaeious They all grow in incultivated places about hedges dams and old walls and sometimes in Gardens and in fat soyls All Nettles siccate exceedingly but calefie not so much for though Urtica be ab urendo Nettle from burning yet they are not ustive from their heat but by cansing such a pain from their pungent down for Macer c. 2. l. 2. Nettles decocted are very ignavely hot they help the orthopnoical moves urine and flowers their feed stimulates to venery and is a present Antidote against the poyson of Hemlock It helps also against the malignant quality of Henbane Mushromes and Quick-filver as also the bitings of Serpents and poysonous Beasts The seed of the mascussine Nettle is thought best Here we may not omit To help those that are slung with Nettles that Oil conduces much to the ease of those pustuls and dolours excitated by Nettles as also Elder leaves bruised and adhibited which by a special propriety respect this affection Many other Plants are reposed amongst Nettles which are sometimes called Lamia sometimes dead Nettles whereunto another Plant is referred which the Romanes call Labio which some think is Agripalma or Cardiack others Galeopsis and Galeobdolon The first sort of these dead Nettles are those that assurge to a cubital procerity with Nettle leaves soft and crisped sometimes of a whitish sometimes reddish colour The second very like the former but not so ramous with flowers like Spurge but purpureous issuing out of the genicles of its surcles The third is lesser more imbecil and fetid with rounder leaves which is seldome if at all used in Medicinal Confections Some now of late make a syrup of the flowers of other Nettles for the affections of the lungs and breast which they call Syrupus de Lamis but its effect doth not celebrate it CHAP. VI. Of Flower de luce or Orris ACertain Lilly whose flower in its variegated colour emulates the Rain-bow painted in an opake cloud opposite to the Sun is thence called Iris whereof I have