Culpeper WHat this Treatise concerns the Title shews the Margine shall also shew you what Planet and Sign of the Zodiack every Herb is under all the several parts of the Body handled in this manner open to you my own Moddel of Physick and draw the Curtain which hath so long blinded the Eyes of the Vnderstanding both of ancient and moddern Physicians here is revealed those hidden qualities A Common-wealth is well hope up with such Physicians which they harping at and onely groaping for could never give a reason of like mad men rather then Naturalists But I desire here to be helpful not critical therefore I shall about the Business promised in the Title by him who loves and delights in the Works of the Lord. Nich. Culpeper Spittle Fields Sol 6. Libra 1649. BAum is of a cherishing nature Sol. Leo. and wonderfully resists passions of the Heart faintings â—nd swoonings it makes the man lightsome and â—lithe merry and chearful it comforts and chears â—he spirits and takes away fears cares and destracted thoughts arising from Melancholly or â—ddust Choller It is hot and dry in the second degree strengthens the inward parts exceedingâ—y helps digestion and opens obstructions of the Brain it naturally preserves the vital Spirits Heart and Arteries from melancholly vapours and is profitable in the bloody Flux and a notable meat for such as have the Gout a sovereign Antidote for such as are poisoned by eating Mushromes I suppose it took its name Balm from its sovereignty in curing Wounds Scordium Jupiter Leo. or Water-Germander is of a heating drying and binding quality and provokes both Urine and the Tearms in Women it is a great Antidote against poison and helps the gnawing pains of the Stomach or Sides comming either through cold or obstructions it stops the bloody Flux easeth the Lungs of old Coughs and rotten Phlegm it keeps bodies from putrefaction resisteth Pestilence Small Pox Meazles faint spots Purples and some are of opinion it withstands any Epidemical Disease whatsoever It comforts and strengthens the Heart exceedingly and nothing better to kill Worms whether in the Stomach or Belly boiled in Vinegar and the place bathed with it helpeth the Gout Vipers Bugloss is a deadly enemy to poison Venus Leâ— and poisonous Creatures there grows enough of it about the Castle Walls at Lewis in Sussex whosoever eats of it shall not be hurt by venemous Beasts that day Crollius in his Basilica Chymica will furnish you with enough such notions it chears and comforts the Heart expels sadness and causeless Melancholly it allayes the heat of the Blood and the fury of Agues by cooling the spirits it procures abundance of Milk in Nurses especially the seed of it it mightily easeth pains in the Back and Reins Jupiter Sol. Burnet is hot and dry in the second degree and is a great friend not onely to the Heart and Liver but also to the whole body of man a little of it put in Wine is not onely delightful to the taste but also wholesom for the body It refresheth the heart quickens the Spirits exceedingly driving away melancholly and indeed the opposition of the house of Saturn to Leo shews that the heart and vital Spirits are impeached by nothing so much as by Melancholly it defends the body from all noysom vapors from ill Air and Pestilence and indeed whatever defends from ill Air must needs defend from all Epidemical diseases for it is the Planets corrupting the air nor the A piece of Colledge nonsence in this time of Fluxes Brewers corrupting their drink that causeth Epidemical diseases It is admirable good in fluxes whether they be of blood or humors whether they be internal or external it stops the whites in women belching and vomiting and is a very good wound Herb for all moist sores Venus Taurus Sorrel is cooling and binding drying in the second degree it opposeth the sting and venom of Scorpions so exceedingly that a man can feel no hurt by them It succors the heart and blood as also the Vital Spirits over-pressed with heat whether you take the Root Herb or Seed if any planet from Scorpious cause the malady this is the cure It resisteth putrefaction exceedingly in the blood and restores weak decayed stomachs it stops fluxes and helps the immoderate flowing of the terms it strengthens the Reins and Kidneyes and hinders the breeding of the Stone neither is there a better remedy in the world for Scrophula or the disease called the Kings evil or any other disease in the neck or throat Violets Venus I can give but little reason if I were asked why I set Violets amongst the Cordials unless I should plead tradition All Physicians have reckoned Violets among the Cordial flowers for my part I believe nothing less they cool inflamations be they internal or external they are especially appropriated to inflamations in the neck and throat fundaments and matrix falled down and inflamed they cool the heat of the Reins thereby resisting the Stone and stopping miscarriages Difficult labours in women thence arising they are excellent in Feavers and Plurisies and hot Rhumes and horseness of the throat Strawberries Venus I know no reason why I may not put in Strawberries here as well as either Violets or Sorrel for neither of them are proper in this place for the heart being the original of heat in the Microcosme no cold thing is properly or per se appropriated to it Strawberries are cold in the first degree the fruit cold and moist temperate the root dry and binding in general they refresh the Spirits ready to faint for heat they cool the liver and blood abate the fury of Chollerick diseases help Palpitation of the heart the yellow Jaundies Inflamations whether internal or external they are excellent in sore mouths sore throats Ulcers in the privitives fasten loose teeth Scabs Itch Tetters and other Martial infirmities of the skin Jupiter Leo. Borage and Bugloss their natures being the same I put them both together they are hot and moist and naturally appropriated to keep the vapors of melancholly from the heart and bridle the unruly passions of the vital Spirit which my Theory of Chyrurgery will manifest to you they make the heart joyful and glad cheerful and merry it clarifies the blood exceedingly opens obstructions of the Liver and helps the yellow Jaundies and by clarifying the blood and removing the addust and sharp humors there must needs be a gallant internal remedy for Scabs Itch Pimples and other infirmities thence arising They help swoonings and passions of the heart and restores such as are pined away either by Consumptions or any other lingring sickness Ros-Solis Sundew It is alwayes moist in hot weather Sol. Cancer yea the hotter the sun shines upon it the moister are the leaves thence it took its name It is excellent good for hot salt Rhumes that distill down upon the Lungs Ulcers in the Lungs coughs shortness of
to be noted first that the Testicles are covered with three Tunicles the first of them takes his original of the skin and is called Scrotum or Purss the second which takes his original of the Peretoneum and is called Dartos the third which is proper to the said Testicle and is called Heritroides these two last do not onely cover the Testicles but also the Spermatick vessels as well they which bring the substance wherewith the Sperm is made which are named Preparans as them which bring the Sperm to the neck of the Bladder which is called Ejaculatores or expelling the which goes up to Ossa pubis Phlebotomy displayed OR Perfect Rules for the letting of Blood GAllen Ipocras and Avicenna and other Masters of Physick accord and say That lettting blood of the Vein and that is called Phleobatomatum or it is ventosing carving or cutting and letting blood of any of these wise is good for mans health of body for Blood immingled with other humors that is too much or else corrupted by the cause of much sickness it is therefore good to know which Veins in a man should be let blood and for what Sickness The Vein in the Forehead is good for the Frenzie and aking of the Head and for the Megrum and for the Morphew and Scab in the Face for the Posthumes in the Eyes both hot and cold The Vein in the Heart is good for a mans minde and for the Rhume that is within the Forehead and for the watering Eyes The Veins in the Temple is good for the Megrum and for the Head-ache of the Eyes and that hath long lasted for the sickness of the Eyes for ache in the Eyes and for the great heat in the Temples The Veins behinde the Ears is good for the Blains and Pimples of the Head for the Megrum and Ache of the Head it helpeth mans minde it is good for Tooth-ache and for the Gums and for all vices in the Mouth and it purgeth the Rhume of the Head The Veins in the corner of the Eyes next the Nose is good for the Megrum for all the sickness of the Eyes and for the Sight Cephica tum prius apta The Vein in the top of the Nose it purgeth the Brain it is good for Ache and Flux of the Eyes and for the Ache of the Nose The Vein in the Cheeks is good for the Megrum and for Spots or Scabs in the Head The vein in the Mold is best for to bleed and for to wash thy Head with the same bloud The Veins of the over Lip and the nether be good for hot Blains in the Mouth and for Aposthumes and for hot evils in the Mouth or Gums The Vein under the Tongue is good for Posthumes and Rhumes of the Head and Gums and all manner of vice of the Eyes Mouth Tongue Tooth-aching and Blains of the Nose Mouth Gums and for the Aposthumes and swellings under the Throat The Veins under the Chin is good for the Kings-evil and for Sauce-flean for Spots and Blains in the Face and other Aches of the Eyes the Gums and for Ache in the Nose The Veins of the Neck before is good for the Squinancy and for all manner of Aposthumes and Swellings that come from the Head to the Ears or to the Gums that causeth the Tooth-ache when the breath beginneth to be short The Vein of Liver that is called Bosilica it is good for the Jaundies and for chafing of the Liver and for all manner of Dropsies and it is good for all evils in the Breast and aking of the Back Shoulders Sides and Stomach and for the Posthume that is called Pleusis The Head Vein that is called Cephanica it is good for the Megrum and for Head-ache and for madness of the minde for ache and all other vices in the Eyes Teeth Tongue the Squinancy and other evils that come to the Throat The Heart Vein that is called Cardiaca ut medium it is gentle Purgacions for it draweth bloud and humors of all the body but namely it is good for the Sickness and Purgations of the Heart Breast Stomach Liver and Lungs The Vein above the Thumb is good against all Feavers and most Feaver quartane and for evils of the Gall and for streightness of the Breast The Vein between the Thumb and the Fore-finger let bloud for the hot Head-ache for Frensie and madness of Wit and for Sickness of the Head Cephanica let the blood of the Vein in the Forehead if it be needful The same vein of the left hand is good for Lithargy and afterward bleed in the Forehead The Vein which is between the little finger and the next thereto is called Salva cella you must let blood in the right hand for Aposthumes and Sicknesse in the Stomach and for all evil humors about the Liver The same Vein on the left hand is for to let bloud for Imposthumes and gathering of evil humors about the Milt and Spleen it is good for the black Jaundies The over Vein in the Yard is good for the Cramp and for Sctatica passio for swelling of the Womb for the Dropsie and for the Stone The nether Vein of the Yard is good for the sides for the Reins Bladder for swelling of the Stones and for the Emerodes The Vein beneath the knee helpeth the knees and it is good for aking of the thighs and the joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Veins beneath the knees both within and without is good for the Liver Sides and Thighs and for the matter that is above and to draw downward The Vein in the Hams is best for holding of Womens Purgations for it is the next matter as saith Aviceri and also it cleanseth mans body The Vein that is under the Knuckle which is called Sophena It is good for Aposthumes Swellings and akings and other evils that comes to mans body from the Head to the Foot it asswageth them it is good for the Stone and letting of urine it helps the Matrice and womens purgations it is good for the Seab that is called Malum mortum de Bassilica The Vein that is under the Knuckle without that is called Sianca it is good for aking that is in the Thighs and goeth down to the Legs and to the Feet and for the Podagar and for the Seab it helpeth most the aking of the Thighs and Joynts that is called Sciatica passio The Vein that cometh to the great Toe on either Foot it is good for the Gout in the Eyes for Blans and Spots in the Face and for Postumes and Evils of the Stones for the Blood for Cankers Festers and Sores in the Thighs and Legs and for withholding of Womens Purgations As for the time of letting Blood to wit that neither in hot weather nor yet in great cold nor in rainy weather nor in misty weather nor in the weather of great tempests nor in the old Moon nor in the new that is to say four dayes before the change
strong what humor it did most abound with whether fasting or after-meals painful or easie Fourthly whether the Spittle is thick or thin mixt with blood corrupt like the humor issuing out at the Nose and if that be blood whether it be red watry or black Lastly it is to be observed what the diet of the Patient hath been before as also in his sickness his age the strength of his body exercise and the air he lives in where he continued longest in his youthful years whether in high or low watry or dry hot or cold Countreys these generals might suffice I shall conclude for the Students better satisfaction with some other from time to time retained tradition which in my judgement some of them are worthy of serious consideration White Urine signifies rawness and indigestion of the Stomach red heat thick like Puddle excessive labour or sickness white or red gravel appearing in the bottom of the Urinal threatens the Stone in the Reins black or green coloured Urine is ominous commonly signifying death Of Vomits IS the expulsion of bad humors contained in the Stomach upward it is accounted if wisely administred as to the mitigation of the violence rightly considered of to be the wholesomest kinde of Physick for those which are gross or full of humors For that which a Purgation leaves behinde a Vomit roots up if the party vomit too much rub his feet with hot and sweet water and if it cease not apply a gourd to the mouth of the Stomach Sometimes without any Physick at all one may fall to a customary vomiting then it proceeds from the hot complexion of the Stomach if from a cold you may help it by a bag of Wormwood dry Mints or Marjoram of each alike one handful of Nutmegs Cloves and Galingal half a dram of each one let all of them be dried and powdered and put betwixt two linnen clothes with Cotten interposed and basted and then let â—hem be applied upon the Stomach or else you may apply the said Herbs alone dried upon a â—ot Tile-stone put betwixt two linen cloths upon the Stomach let the stomach be fortified with â—he syrup of Mints or Wormwood or Lozenges â—f the Vomiting proceeds from a hot complexion you may help it by a Plaister applied to the â—tomach of Oyl of Roses Mints or Barley-flour with the white of an Egg the water of Purslain may be taken in drink to quench the thirst Of the Excrements EXcrements some are necessary and some superfluous as they proceed from too much blood yet nevertheless nourish when other nourishment fails the seed spearm milk or fat which are superfluous and do not proceed from blood nor can nourish but rather being separated from the blood are either moist earthy black melancholly sweat urine proceeds from the nose spittle c. Earthy or dry Excrements as Warts Nails Corns and such like Aristotle reckoneth the Marrow of the body amongst the Excrements but as the bones are nourisht by it even as the body is nutrified by the blood it cannot be acknowledged for any other then a nourishment Blood is the very essence of life which diminished the spirits must consequently be dissolved in consideration whereof I counsel them that use any moderate exercise not in any case to be let blood lest that corrupt matter succeed in the place of pure blood but if there be abundance of blood or if it be putrefied or burnt if other medicines avail not this ordination of mine must needs be infringed with better judgement as it may be safer to use Horsleeches especially at the Fundamental Veins which are called the sink of the body By this way the Scurvey Gout Dropsie and Melancholly may be prevented being applied in the Spring or Fall or oftner If the Blood which is let out appear red and white water overflow with it the body is sound if bubbling blood the stomach is diseased if green the heart is afflicted THE TREASURY OF LIFE OR Salves for every Sore Experienced and tryed RECEIPTS the Cure of the Most usual Diseases that our frail BODIES are most subject to whilst we remain in this Life Practised by Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Treasury of Life OR Salves for every Sore Experimental and tried Receipts for the Cure of most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life CHAP. I. For the falling out of the Fundament THe cause of falling out of the Fundament is weakness or relaxation of the Sphineter Muscle and therefore the cure must be by such Medicines as dry and binde 2. A Poltiss made with Pear-tree-leaves and applied to the place is very good 3. But first you must put the Fundament up into its right place again with a warm cloth which may be done without much trouble if it have not been long out 4. If it have been long out many times there follows inflamations and swellings and then it is very difficult to put it up in its right place again yea impossible before the swelling be taken away 5. In such a case you must bathe the place with Oyl of Roses warm or with Oyl of Cammomile or with the decoction of Cammomile if the inflamation be not great 6. If the inflamation be great you may make a Poltiss of Chickweed and Mallows and Endive and Succory with some Malt-flour to make it thick and Sheeps-suet to make it moist and that will allay the inflamation in four and twenty hours time then you may put it up again into its proper place 7. Having put it up again into its place strew upon the place the Powder of burnt Harts-horn 8. A Poltiss made of the leaves of Rosemary and applied to the place is exceeding good 9. To burn Greek Pitch in a close stool whilst the diseased party sits over the smoak of it is an approved cure 10. All such things as are dry and binding are naturally medicinal for the disease amongst which Sinckfoil Bistort and Tormentil are very good CHAP. 2. Of the Liver FOr stoppages of the Liver the Decoction of the Roots of Parsley Fennel Endive and Succory are very good being drunk and also an Oyntment or Plaister made of them applied to the right side is very good 2 Sage constantly eaten is a mighty great strengthner of the Liver inferiour to no Herb growing 3 Take of Agrimony and Liverwort of each two handfuls Harts tongue Bettony and Ribwort of each one handful make a strong Decoction of them and boyl the Decoction into Syrup with Sugar so have you an excellent remedy for the Liver alwayes by you CHAP. 3. Of the Dropsie IN the beginning the Dropsie may easily be cured by drinking but the Decoction of Endive and eating the boyled Herb for a Sallet 2 Ribwort boyled and the Decoction drunk helpeth those that have the Dropsie 3 Also a Plaister made of Plantane
the common saying amongst the people to the great discredit of our Art There is not a purgation but it hath a smack of poison Truth it is no purgation can work without natures annoyance being in part a prick of nature to avoid her excrements but when she is so provoked that she sweateth cold sweats that she giveth over that the patient soundeth not by the excess of purging onely but for the most part through the evil quality of the medicine it is surely an argument it wanted his proper subject to work in If needs we will take unto us the practice of such strange Medicines I call them Medicines according to the common phrase else properly be they matter onely it were to be desired which in part is performed that such Medicines as be so perillous might be planted in our natural countrey that through the familiarity of our soil they might first grow into acquaintance with us before we entertain them not into our bosomes but into our hearts and chamber them with our vital spirits And as it is said of the tree Persea which in Persia being poison translated into Egypt becometh wholesome bearing fruit to be eaten and good for the stomach so those natures receiving such mitigation of our soil might in time better fit us then they do which as it cannot alter their nature being impossible to be done by change of place so doubtless might it purge away that evil quality which annoyeth us and seemeth rather to be an evil complexion and as it were a cacochimy and disease of the thing then any necessary propriety belonging to the nature This which hath been said of Persia is also to be seen in other Simples which in other places are poison and kill with the very shadow yet brought into England and planted with us clean change that venomous quality Ugh called Taxus of Dioscorides is said to be so dangerous and of such venomous nature that in Navar the very shadow thereof poisoneth him that sleepeth under it and Aegenita saith being taken inward it strangleth and swiftly killeth This Taxus notwithstanding being so perillous in other places our English soil hath so reformed that boldly our children do eat of the fruit thereof without danger the like may be verified of our Hemlock which although it be to be numbred among the poisoning Herbs yet it is far behinde that which groweth in Candy or Megara or Cilicia scarce to be accounted poison in comparison of that in those Countreys Now if thou shalt think gentle Reader as the change of a Region altereth some qualities so all and thereby empaireth the vertue of the Medicine thou mayest easily be deceived For as they depend not one upon another so may the one be well without the other though by one common form they seem to be linked together to make one nature Rhewbarb is known to have two qualities one contrary to another of purging the body and stopping yet by steeping may the one be separated from the other the purging vertue being drawn out by steeping and the stopping still remaining in the substance steeped so likewise may the noisom quality of the Medicine be eschewed the wholesome and medicinable vertue notwithstanding being in full force yea greater retained I say greater insomuch as the hurtful quality would hinder the operation of the healthful which being freed and unyoked from the other doth far better accomplish his work Of all kindes of Honey that of Greece and namely of Attica and Hible are most commended the next price is given to the Honey of Spain and Navar yet it is certainly known by experience that the English Honey is most agreeable to our English Bodies and greater quantity thereof may be taken with less annoyance yea none at all to those which are not of too hot a temper the other kindes being more fiery more apt to engender Choler and to inflame the blood and more unfit to loose the body Whereby we may evidently see that Nature useth not one shoe for every foot but either ministreth a divers commodity in kinde or else by the Countrey Air and Soil doth so temper it that greater use may be thereof to the inhabitant of the same Countrey By this then which hitherto hath been said it is manifest we receive great hurt by the use of strange Medicines and not upon reason onely but from plain experience even with hurt to our own bodies which as it is the greatest price of knowledge so therefore ought we the more to set thereby and more carefully to seek to avoid the danger Again it is evident that the planting of strange Simples frameth them more to our use Wherefore as there be many excellent Gardens in England especially in London replenished with store of strange and outlandish Simples it were to be wished such endeavours were of others followed that so we might acquaint us better with these strangers and by Vsu capio make them our own But what soils will brook all things it is true yet no doubt of those that it will brook which I dare say are four or five hundred this frugality of nature toward us as it is thought might bear a greater show and more safely use them especially the purgers which carry with them greatest anoyance Now if it be objected the force of outlandish Simples are thereby more feeble as we finde the Organ of Candy surpassing ours in strength I mean the same kinde with that of Candy planted in the Gardens which may be said also of other strange Herbs planted by us It cannot be denied but they are so neither can the strange Simples in all points be equal with his kinde keeping his Native soil yet is the difference scarce half a degree under or if it were a degree full out what reason were it to fetch that one degree with much peril and charge as far as Candy Spain or Venice or from another world whereas a little increase of the quantity of the thing would easily supply that want though I mention not the gain of freshness of the same which maketh no small recompence of wanting in the force neither is the nature or vertue of a Medicine to be esteemed by taste or smell neither by the force it hath against the disease the nature of a medicine lying in an equal matching of the cause of the disease which if it overmatch so far off it is from the praise of an wholesome medicine that it becommeth 〈◊〉 cause of a contrary disease wherefore the â—ommendation of a medicine lieth not in force â—â—t in such force And therefore the counsel of â—he best Physicians is if the disease will bear any delay as the most do rather to apply a medicine of weaker force then at once with a vehement â—one to shake the frame of Nature And the weaker medicine being weak either in respect of the nature of the Simple or the small quantity they counsel rather to use that kinde of curing which is by
be made clean or the Nodes taken away and sometimes leave the Bone foul By the which means they purchase to themselves both shame and infamy for within four or five moneths the Ulcers open with great corruption of the Bone Moreover they commit an errour touching the Unction for they anoint the Head the Region of the Heart and other noble parts against all reason and also all the whole body over which is the occasion of many a mans death Therefore to amend these errors when you see that this disease is confirmed and that there are hard Ulcers hard Swelling or Nodes it is the most surest way to mundifie the said Ulcers and to open the Nodes with acaustick then you shall make incision in the Node unto the corruption of the Bone and then apply Praecipitatum or else Pledgets with Basilicon and Praecipitatum mingled together this done you shall take away the corruption of the bone And then after that you may safely use your Unctions made with Axungia Gummes Minerals Oyles and Mercury also if you adde thereto of fine Treacle or Mithridatum it will be the better You shall anoint the Shoulders the Muscles of the Back the Loins the Hips the Thighs the Knees and all the outward members as Legs and Arms. But you must take very good heed that you touch not the Head the Region of the Heart the Somach nor the ridge of the Back Also you must have a good respect to cease your anointing in such order that you bring not too many accidents to the mouth whereby the Patient may utterly lose the use both of his Tongue and Teeth Because that so many ignorant Chyrurgeons have taken upon them this cure without either discretion in applying the Unction or ordering of the Patient I have thought good to write two or three words touching the ordering of the Patient When the body is prepared with apt and meet Medicines as well Syrrups Decoctions Purgings and opening of the Vein according to the disposition of the body the Patient shall be placed in a place naturally hot or else otherwise made warme which must be free from all cold having the doors windows and other open places closely stopt for the cold Air is very hurtful both for the Sinewie parts and also for the working of Medicines for it will diminish and hinder the actions thereof And in this case there are many which commit great errors which are worthy of reprehension for as well in the Winter as in the Summer they anoint the Patients in great and large Chambers where very much Air entreth Wherefore at the beginning of this cure if the place be not very close and warm you shall make a Pavilion with Coverings and such other like round about a fire by the which means you shall keep the cold Air from the Patient But if it be possible it is better to have a little Chamber close and warm and also continually a pan with Coles in the midst of it If it be so that the Patients be so weak that they cannot abide the heat of the fire or would be loath to be seen naked as Women or Maids you shall anoint them lying in their Beds First the Patient shall put out one Arm and then the other and so the rest of the parts shall be anointed one after another And you shall use the Patients from time to time to such a course as is required against the disease The third Error is concerning Wounds piercing into the Breast IT fortuneth oftentimes that the Wounds pierce the hollowness of the Breast so that great quantity of blood doth fall down into the bottom of the same and there doth stay upon the Diaphragma also the heaviness of the said blood oppresseth the Diaphragma Diaphragma is two Muscles which go overthwart the Breast and separateth the Heart from the Liver and putrefieth and ingendreth an evil Qualtity The which putrefaction sending Vapors to the heart causeth a continual Feaver and commonly death within ten dayes Of the which the common Chyrurgeons have no consideration or else by their ignorance they know not the cause and so the Patient is destitute of all help Wherefore when you see that the Wound pierceth into the Thorax or Breast you shall take good advisement in searching out diligently whether the Blood be descended into the lower part of the Diaphragma the which may be known by the stinking of the Breath and by the relation of the Patient which doth feel the Blood quivering or shaking inwardly And also commonly his face will be of a reddish or high colour by reason of the Vapors which ascend up And note that at the which side the blood doth most remain in lying upon the same side the Patient shall feel less pain then upon the other because that the said blood oppresseth the Lungs and the Diaphragma the Chyrurgeon ought to have a good respect to the signâ— above written and whilest that the strength of the Patient is yet remaining it shall be needful to make way for the said blood to be evacuated between the fourth and fifth rib a hand breadth or a little more from the ridge of the back and your Incision-knife being very sharp also you shall do it by little and little very gently in cutting Mesopleuria or the Muscles between the ribs it ought to be done toward the lower part of the said Muscles for the Vein which nourisheth them and the Ligaments which giveth them their moving and feeling are placed more above then below After that the Incision is made you shall let out the corrupted blood by little and little according to your discretion and it shall sufficc to evacuate every dressing five or six ounces this done it shall be very profitable to use the wonted Potions which you shall finde in the writings of learned Practitioners which have largely written of the said potions and by this means above written I healed four in one year The which cures without the aforesaid remedies could never have been done for the which I give unto God most hearty thanks The foruth Error touching the applications of the Traepans Terebelles for fractures of the Head IN the fractures of the Scull there are committed great errors touching the application of the Traepan principally when the bone is broken in many parts for they have no consideration of the shivering of the Scull but apply the Traepan by the which means they press down the shivers of the bone upon the Dura Mater and rent or tear it in such order that it produceth grievous accidents whereby commonly death ensueth Wherefore in this case you shall have a good consideration before that you apply the Traepan for it is better if it be possible in this case to use other Instruments as Eleviatories Cisers Lenticuli or such other like to make way for the bruised matter which depresseth the Dura Mater it shall be the better and less danger for the Patient By this means I
chearful and therefore fortunate Cardanus and Wicker 5. Granate OF this Stone there are two sorts East and West and the West are supposed to be best they are of the quality of the Earth and Fire being worn outwardly or taken inwardly they resist sadness but take away sleep they strengthen the heart but hurt the brain as much they stir the blood and make men angry The Easternly work the same effects but not so violently Cardanus and Wicker 6. Sardine OF Sardine there are three sorts in the Indies to wit red fat and that with silver creases but the best of all come from Babylon being born about one they keep away evil dreams quicken the wit bridle in the blood and choller and make men conquerours in strifes and suits of Law and encrease riches Cardanus Pliny 7. Diamond A Diamond is the hardest of all Stones and most effectual in whatsoever vertue it hath it wonderfully prevails against night-fears therefore must of necessity prevail against melancholly and choller adust or it may do it by strengthning the heart for fear comes through weakness of the vital spirits and is known by the beating or motion of the heart It is reported to make those infortunate that wear them for it is so to the Heart as the Sun is to the Eye though it be light it self yet it dazles the eyes and makes them blinde if you look upon him the best way then to wear them is at a distance from the body they make men undaunted therefore they are best for Cowards to wear they are ill to wear for dishonest people for they make them bold to do mischief Cardanus and Garcias 8. Amethist OF these there are two sorts the one white like Christal and hardly known from it the other of a Violet colour the best are brought out of India they make men staid and watchful being bound to ones Navel they keep him from drunkeness they are profitable in fights and huntings they quicken the wit take away sleep and vapors that flow into the head being laid in Wine all night and the Wine drunk in the morning they make women fruitful and resist poison Cardanus 9. Bezoar THere are two sorts East and West Bezoar the East is best it hath no obnoxious quality with it if you take never so much of it being taken inwardly it is profitable against the bitings of venomous beasts and all melancholly diseases as Leprosie Itch Scabs Quartane Agues Ring-worms c. It hath been known to cure men past hope and left off by Physicians and hath restored them to their former health it resisteth poison a little of it in powder being put upon a Wound made by a venomous Beast sucks out the poison or being made into Lozenges with Rose-water it is a Preservative against all manner of poison Garcias 10. Topaze TOpaze is a Stone of a green colour being rubbed upon a Physical Whetstone to wit a Whetstone of Cypress it produceth an Oyl which will cure diseases in the Eyes also it is helpful for Dropsies and Consumptions If you put it into a vessel of boiling water it cools the water so that you may presently thrust in your hand and take it out without any hurt to your hand Epiphanius Albertus magnus 11. Snakes Stone CAtch a Water-snake and draw a string through his tail and hang him up with his head downwards a vessel of water being under into which he may gape and after certain hours or dayes he will vomit a Stone which falling into the water will drink it all up this Stone being bound to the Belly of one that hath the Dropsie draweth out and drinketh up all the water Hollerius 12. Toad Stone A Todes Stone by gentle touching or stroaking takes away the pain inflamation and swelling from any Wound made by any venomous Creature and instantly draws out the poison therefore if a Rat Bee Wasp Spider Hornet or any other venomous Creature have hurt any part about thee touch the place gently with this Stone and the pain and swelling will cease Take a Toad and tie her up in a purse full of holes and lay it in an Emmet-hill and when the flesh is all eaten away you may finde the Stone if there be any for all Toads have it not If you accidentally get such a one and desire to know whether it be right or no hold it near to a live Toad and if it be good and true she will proffer to take it away Wicker Lemnius 13. Alectorius THis is a Stone found in the ventricle of an old Cock it is of the bigness of a Bean it maketh him that beareth it beloved constant and bold maketh them beloved of Women and strong in the sports of Venus being held under the tongue it quencheth thirst Lemnius Albertus Magnus 14. Jasper IAsper being borne about one stops Bleeding helps Travel in Women stayes Lust cures Agues and Dropsies and chears the heart Garcias Albert. Mag. Mathiolus 15. Nephriticus THis is a stone which being borne about one stayes the pains in the Reins and Stomach expelleth Stone and Gravel A certain man being troubled with the Stone wearing this Stone about him voided so much Gravel that he feared the quantity would do him harme being cast out it was so exceeding great therefore he laid off the Stone and presently he voided no more Gravel but being pained again he wore the Stone and presently the pain ceased and abundance of Gravel and small Stones came from him for it is of that admirable faculty being borne about one next the skin that it preserves from the pain of the Stone and cools the Reins Another of ten years of age was pained with the Stone and wearing a Bracelet of these Stones never was troubled with it afterwards Nich. Monardis Wicker 16. Tiburones IN the Indian sea are caught fish called Tiburones being great strong fighting fish and of a terrible aspect which daily fights with the Sea Wolves in their heads is found three or four Stones and sometimes more very white great and heavy so that sometimes one of them weighs two pound the powder of them cureth the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and difficulty of Urine and is of no taste at all Nich. Monardis 17. Blood-stone THis is a kind of Jasper being worn next the skin it stops bleeding either at the nose or mouth or by wound it stops the Hemorrhoydes or Piles and stayes the Courses in Women this it doth as experience teacheth either by dipping the Stone in cold water and holding it it in the hand or by binding it to the place so it touch the skin N. Monardis 18. Haematites LApis Haematites is binding and a little heating and extenuating it cures Scars and Scurf in the eyes being mingled with Honey and eyes that be Blood-shed being mingled with Womans milk it is given in Wine against difficulty of Urine and overflowing of the Courses in Women and in Juyce of Pomegranates to such as Vomit blood Wicker 19.
fore-part of all manner of beasts and fowls are more hotter and lighter of digestion then the hinder parts are The marrow of all beasts are hot and moist are nutritive if well digested they mollifie the stomach and take away the appetite wherefore one should eat Pepper with it The blood of all beasts and fowls are not wholesome but hard of digestion All the inwards of beasts and of fowls as the heart the liver the lungs tripes trilibubs with all the entrails is hard of digestion and doth encrease gross humors The fat of flesh is not so much nutritive as the lean it is best when lean and fat is mixt one with another The tongues of beasts are hard of digestion and of little nourishment The stones of a Cockrel and stones of other beasts are very nourishing Of roasted boiled bak't fried meats BEyond Sea at the Universities boiled meat is used at dinner and roast to supper as boiled meat is lighter of digestion Broiled meats are hard of digestion and naught for the Stone fried meat is harder of digestion then broiled it ingenders Choller and Melancholly Bak't meat buried in paste is not praised in Physick All manner of flesh which is inclined to humidity should be roasted and all flesh which is dry should be boiled Fish may be sod roasted broiled and baken every one after their kinde and use and fashion of the Countrey as the Cook and the Physician may agree and devise For a good Cook is half a Physician Of the Roots of Borage and Bugloss THe Roots of Borage and Bugloss sod tender and made in a succade do ingender good blood and a wholesom temperance Of Elisaunder and Elina Campane THe Root of Alisaunder sod tender and made in a succade is good for to destroy the Stone in the Reins of the Back and Bladder the Roots of Elina Campane sod tender in a succade is good for the breast for the lungs and for all the interial members of man Of Parsley and Fennel THe Roots of Parsley sod tender and made in succade are good for the Stone and to make a man piss Fennel sod is good for the lungs and the sight Of Turnips and Parsnips TUrnips boiled and eaten with flesh augments the seed if they be eaten raw and moderately they provoke a good appetite Parsnips sod doth encrease nature and are nutritive and expels urine Of Raddish and Carrets RAddish roots doth break winde and do provoke urine but they be not good for those which have the Gout Carrets sod augment and encrease nature and cause urine Of the Roots of Rapes RApe roots if they be well boiled nourish if they be moderately eaten immoderately they ingender ventosity and offend the stomach Of Onions ONions provoke to Venery and Sleep and if a man drink sundry drinks they rectifie and reform the variety of the operation of them they cause a good appetite Of Leeks LEeks open the breast and provoke urine cause and encrease bad blood Of Garlick GArlick of all roots is much used in France and some other Countreys it opens the breast and it doth kill wormes in the belly which the Lumbrici Ascarides and Cutuibicini which are small little long worms that tickle in the fundament it also heats the body and desolves gross winds Of Cabbage CAto in his book De re rustica writes too highly in praise of Cabbages as he judges them to be a sufficient medicine against all diseases some are of opinion if they are eat raw before meat with Vinegar that they preserve the stomach from Surfeits and the brain from drunkenness this I am certain of that if they are constantly eat they injure the sight except the eyes are very moist they cause and break winde the opinion of most writers is that they are not so wholesom as Lettice being hot in the first and dry in the second degree Of Asparagrass NO kinde of Herbs nourish more being freed from their bitterness and eaten hot they are temperately moist and exceed not in heat the first degree they increase Venery strengthen the Liver and help conception Of Musk Melons MUsk Melons are not so moist or cold as the ordinary sort of Melons are they ingender better blood and descend more speedily into the belly fruits of this kinde are dangerous not to be eaten presently out of the ground but rather let them lie a week though that they are ripe that there watrish moisture may be abated Garden Pompeons and Melons may lie in a warm Kitching till Christmas Of Potata Roots POtata roots nourish mightily either Sod Bak't or rosted the newest and heaviest are the best they ingender much flesh blood and seed Of Raddishes RAddishes cause rank belchings are hardly digested they burn the blood ingender Lice cause Leanness spoil the eye-sight and corrupt the whole mass of nourishment Of Skirret Roots SKirret Roots have a long string within them which taken away before they are sod makes them eat exceeding sweet they are of a milde and temperate nature agreeing with complexions did we know all the vertues of them they would be more nourished then they are in our Gardens Of Borage and Bugloss BOrage doth comfort the heart ingender good blood and causeth mirth so doth Bugloss which is taken of more vigour strength and efficacy Of Artechokes and Rokat THere is nothing usually to be eaten of Artechokes but the heads of them when they are almost ripe sodden tender in the broth of Beef or with Beef eat them at dinner they increase nature and provoke Venery Rokat doth increase the seed stumulate the flesh and doth help digestion Of Succory and Endive SUccory doth help the Stomach and keep the head in temper and qualifie Choller Endive is good for them which have hot and dry hot Stomachs Of white Beets and Purslane WHite Beets are good for the Liver and for the Spleen are abstercine Purslane doth abate the ardor of lasciviousness and mittigates heat in the inward parts of the head and eyes if preserved in brine it heats and purges the stomach it is cold in the third degree and moist in the second Of Time and Parsley TIme breaketh the Stone desolves winde and causeth Urine Parsley breaks the Stone causeth Urine is good for the Stomach and causeth a sweet breath Of Lettice and Sorrel LEttice extincts Venery causeth milk in womens Breasts it is good for a hot Stomach provokes sleep increases blood temperates it Sorrel is good for a hot Liver and also for the Stomach being sod it looseth the belly in the time of the Plague taken fasting sucking or chewing some of the Leaves it preserues against infection the seeds thereof brewed and drunk with Wine and water are good against the Chollick and the stopping of Fluxes excellent against overcharged Stomachs Sorrel possets are soveraign in sundry distempers This Herb is cold in the third and dry in the second degree Of Marigolds MArigolds the Herb and Flowers are of great use with us amongst other
they are cold and moist Damsins are of the same nature Six or seven Damsins eaten before dinner are good to provoke the appetite they mollifie the belly and are abstersive the skin and stones ablated Of Olives and Capers OLives eaten at the beginning of a refection coroborate the stomach and provoke the appetite Capers do purge Phlegm and cause an appetite Of Spices Ginger GInger heats the Stomach and helps digestion Green Ginger eaten in the morning fasting doth acuate and quicken the memory Of Pepper THere are three sundry kindes of Pepper white black and long Pepper All kindes of them heat the body dissolves Phlegm and Winde helps digestion and causeth to make water Of Cloves and Mace CLoves comforts the sinews dissolve and consume superfluous humors restore nature Mace is a Cordial helps the Chollick and is good against the bloody Flux Of Saffron SAffron comforts the heart and stomach but is too hot for the Liver Of Nutmegs and Cinamon NUtmegs are good for them which have cold in their head and comfort the sight and the brain and the mouth of the stomach and is good for the Spleen Cinamon is a Cordial wherefore some Writers admire why one dies that may eat Cinamon yet it doth stop and is good to restrain Fluxes and the looseness of the body Of Liquorice LIquorice is good to cleanse and open the Lungs and the Breast and to loose Phlegm in cakes with Honey it purges moderately Of Salt SAlt moderately used is very wholesom taken excessive it ingenders Choller dries up the natural moisture and inflames the blood stops the Veins hardens the Stone and gathers together viscus humors causing sharpness of Urine consuming the flesh and fat of the body they which are cold watry and Phlegmatick may feed more plentifully of Salt and of Salt meats but Chollerick and Melancholick persons must eat it moderately and Sanguine persons must take no more of it then lightly to relish their meat By the general consent of Writers it is not nourishing I must in particular dissent from them and affirm that it doth not onely accidentally but essentially nourish accidentally in making the meat more gracious to the stomach hindering putrefaction and drying up superfluous humors essentially in it self as it takes its just and due proportion for our body hath and should have humors of all tastes the finest humor of the body being nothing but salt it self so termed by the best but newest Philosophers which if so will hardly be preserved without eating of salt Of Sugar SUgar is temperate and nourishing good against the Choller of the Stomach admirably useful in preserves conserves sauces c. The ancients term it the Indian salt the kindes hereof are made of the tears of Sugar-Canes so replenished with Juyce as that they crack again there are other wayes of making of Sugar to no purpose to particularize the best sugar is solid hard light exceeding white sweet glistering like snow melting as salt doth speedily in any liquor the Refiners if I am not mistaken in my art feel an unspeakable sweetness in theirs it is their mystery I am unwilling to call it couzenage Sugar is not so hurtful as Honey to Chollerick complexions Gallen writes that it may be given in Agues it delighteth the Stomach pleaseth the Blood and Liver cleanseth the Breast and restores the Lungs and iâ— good for children against the Worms Doctor REASON And Doctor EXPERIENCE Consulted with OR The Mystery of the Skill of PHYSICK made easie Short clear and certain Rules how to discern judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the Body affected the Causes Signs or Symptoms collected and observed from the most approved Authors and constantly practised BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with c. Of the Apoplexy IT is a disease that deprives of sense and motion in the whole body as also of the principal animal functions this disease doth amaze both body and minde and is so dangerous that few recover of it the Brain which is the rock of the Sinews is affected In a weak Apoplexy there is a sudden fall on the earth with outcryes with such a difficulty of breathing that one cannot discern any life in the Patient An Apoplexy is often caused by slimy gross and cold Phlegm as also by crudities and drunkenness so that such as are much addicted to surfeitings especially old men are subject to any Apoplexy This disease if it be great is hard to be cured if the Patient do escape death he either falls into a Palsie of some part or of the whole body The Air the sick person lives in must be somewhat hot his Diet must be temperate instead of Exercise strong Fractions and Ligatures of the extream parts may be used Cupping-glasses must be fastened to the shoulders he should be carried up and down in a hanging bed and after two or three weeks it will be good to bathe Of the Mother THe stopping and choaking of the Womb or Mother is a running back of the Womb or of maligne vapors bred in the Womb unto the higher parts whereby the bowels midriff and stomach are sometimes crushed that they cannot be widened by breathing the Womb in this disease being lifted so high that it drives the other members above it to the higher parts This disease hath some affinity with the Falling-sickness Swounding and Apoplexy The Womb is chiefly affected through menstruous blood or some other humor for the most part queaziness of stomach and loathng of meat and thick breathing follow this disease This disease is sometimes caused from an Impostume in the Womb or by some seed sent into the Womb and therein detained and corrupted The danger of this disease is not so great if the Spirits are not hurt The Air the Patient lives in should be temperate such meats are to be abstained from as increase blood and seed the diet must be sparing wine is not to be drunk except alâ—ayed with water except in case of swounding their Exerc ses are to be moderate their sleeps short and to shun Melancholly Of Melancholly THat which is Hypocondraical is windy oft-times caused by the over-boiling of dreggish blood settled near to the stomach or gristles of the short ribs by a distemper of the liver stomach or miseraical veins the part affected is the brain the signs of this disease are the excessive heat of humors the parts about the heart being inflamed This distemper is caused by the default of the spleen when it doth not draw away the Melancholick blood made by the distemper of the Liver At the first this disease is easily cured but if it grows old it is hardly to be remedied The Patients diet must be moist little broth will suffice because of fluctuations in the stomach he may drink cream of hulled barley with a
the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
Aqua â—â—tis the space of ten dayes that it may be well â—â—citated afterwards grinde it again upon a â—arble and imbibe it with the same Phlegm â—â—d distil it in an Alimbeck till in the matter â—ou shall perceive white little stones like salt â—issolve this salt again with the water you have â—istilled and when it is dissolved distil it again â—epeating it so often untill the earth lose all its 〈◊〉 pure and terrene colour and become white 〈◊〉 Virgins wax and then it is truly rectified There is also another more subtil way to reâ—â—ce and bring every Element into his chief subâ—â—ance and Quintessence it being presupposed â—â—at every Element is first rectified then let it â—e taken and put in a Circulatory Vessel and 〈◊〉 in Horse-dung or in Balneo Mariae thirty â—â—yes and afterwards distil it again then its â—ody being as it were a gross matter will be â—â—nged into a spirit or most substil substance There are some who operate after a more â—â—sie manner by taking four parts of Earth and â—â—e part of one of the four Elements which you â—â—ll and digest them in forme aforesaid and cirâ—â—late them thirty dayes by a frequent ascension â—â—d descension of the matter which is done in â—â—e Circulatory in that space of time so as every â—â—e of the Elements is converted into a Quinâ—â—â—sence and when you perceive the Quintesâ—â—â—ce to swim above the other matter then it is circulated enough and thus you have thâ— way to extract the Quintessence of Chelidonia it follows now to declare the virtues thereof The Element therefore of Water or thâ— Phlegm conduces to expel all diseases of the body whether hot or cold for it temperates thâ— veins about the heart and expells all poisoâ— therefrom it cures all accidental diseases of thâ— Lungs purifies the blood and preserves the natural virtue of man from all corruption anâ— abateth the malignity of any infirmity The Element of fire is like Oyl and hath theâ— virtues it confirmes and preserves youth in iâ— strength and beauty because it suffers not anâ— blood to putrifie it expells all salt Phlegâ— and Melancholly and wonderfully takes awaâ— all Adust Choller The Element of fire the quantity of oâ— Grain thereof being taken and incorporatâ— with good Wine and applyed to the Neck 〈◊〉 one that is sick nay a dying hath this efficacy it recovers and restores again all the lost powâ— and strength of the body it penetrates unâ— the heart and calefies it and expells all poisoâ— and superfluous moisture from the heart if yoâ— give a man a grain of this Oyl that is an Agâ—ny of death it will immediately revive him 〈◊〉 a miraculous manner saith Lullyus There are also others who do likewise extract a Quint essence from Chelidonia after aâ—other manner by taking the Herb Rooâ— and Flower of Celandine and weigh it reseâ—ving the weight for its time then cut it smaâ—â— and infuse it in Fountain-water then boil it till it is reduced to its former weight this being done beat it in a stone Mortar and strain out the juyce take away the Feces and boil the rest unto the thickness of Honey and then the matter will be prepared to separate the four Elements one from another which to do put it in a â—ucurbite filling him half full and lute an Alimbeck upon it the best way you can and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that the water may be separated from the matter Then place the Distillatory in ashes and another water will be separated from it which is like oyl and when you see the oyl swim on the top the third time remove the receiver and apply another to receive that Oyl which is the fire And thus you have the three Elements separated viz. Water Air and Fire and the Earthly substance remains in the bottom of the vessel as it were a combust matter now reserve every one of these Elements in a vessel by its self and when you would rectifie any one of them to make it medicinal distil the water seven times in an Alembick and in every distillation wash the Cucurbite from its remaining Feces and admix them with the earthly Element and distil them in Balneo Mariae and let the vessel wherein that water is reserved be well luted After this manner you may also rectifie the Air by a seplenary reiteration in ashes alwayes mixing the Feces with the Earth so likewise may you temperate and rectifie the fiery Element and this is the third Oyl which must also be kept in a vessel close shut and so musâ— all the rest The work being thus done and perfected wâ— proceed to demonstrate and shew the nature and vertues thereof The vertue and quality of the watry substance is to expel all venomous heaâ— from the Breast and to mundifie the Blood to open all oppilations of the Lungs and Liver to evacuate Phlegm and superfluous humours The Oyl of the Air conserves youth strength and beauty suffers not the blood to putrifie noâ— Melancholly to rule nor Choller to burn noâ— Phlegm to abound in mans body but increases the blood and disperses it through all the members of the body it is very penetrating It is good also if any one be in danger of losing the sight of an Eye drop a drop oâ— two thereof into the Eye every day and in thirty dayes you shall see a wonderful effect But the quality of the fiery Oyl is of much more efficacy and vertue then the two other it wonderfully preserves old men and keeps back old age calefies the blood recreates the heart preserves a man from death and restores youth And if it be taken with Aqua Sîliginis it is said to be the Elixer of life The earthly matter being rectified three times by dissolutions coagulations and calcinations is a subtle salt of earth with which all Metals may be transmâ—â—ted into Stone and wherewith all Spirits are fixed having radical moisture The manner of taking this Medicine is this Take Ignis Chelidoniae gutta 3. Aqua Rosarum coclearia 3. sumantur stomacho jejuno If the infirmity be cold give it in Wine if the party exceed twenty four years of age give it in Aqua vitae but in burning Feavers in no wise administer to the Patient Chap. 17. To extract a Quintessence from Mans Blood Eggs Flesh or the like TO extract a Quintessence of humane blood take the blood of a man of a sanguine Complexion or Chollerick that is sound and healthy of Middle-age and one that drinks good Wine when he is newly phlebotomized and when the blood resides in the bottom of the vessel separate the water from the blood and labour it in a convenient vessel with its tenth part of common Salt and labour them well together and inclose it in a Pellican Afterwards set it in a bed of Horse-dung and Calx viva about five foot deep and two foot broad having one laying of the Calx and another of