be melted and rub your teeth with it Probatum W To take away a Wen. Take the pouder of unslak'd Lime and mix it well with black Sope and annoint the Wen therewith and this will waste it and when the root is come out annoint it well with Oyle of Balsome and this will heal it FINIS The Printer to the Reader THis Treatise hath pass'd the view and â—pprobation both of juditious Phisitians and Chirurgians and hath been judged worthy to have a new vesture put upon him and to be vindicated from the obscurity and darknesse it hath lain involved and eclipsed in this many yeares being collected out of the Authorities of the most excellent both former and later Writers and confirmed strengthened and approved by the late experiences of many well practitioned Chirurgians being formerly commended to publick view by the approbation of a late famous Servant and Chirurgian to King James deceased who seriously considering the sacilenesse of providing the Medicines with their approvednesse in a necessitous time and in places remote both from able Phisitians and Chirurgians the danger of the present Infection requiring speedy help to such as might have occasion to make use of these Medicines not doubting but the charitable intentions of the carefull Authour publishing it on purpose for the publick good shall find the acceptance of so necessitous a work as is wished by A. M. The Author to the Reader Whereas there are divers Receits set down in this Book which are written in Latine in Characters used by Phisitians and Apothecaries which cannot so fitly be brought into our English phrase and because their quantities are set down according to the Latine order observed in the making up their Receits prescribed I have for the better ease and understanding of the Reader set down the signification of their weights and measures according to their Characters A Handfull is written thus M. 1. Half a Handfull thus M. ss A little small Handfull thus P. 1. A Scruple thus ℈ 1. Half a Scruple x. Graines or thus ℈ ss A Drachm thus Ê’ 1. An Ounce thus â„¥ 1. Half an Ounce or half a Drachm â„¥ ss Ê’ ss A Grain thus Gra. 1. A Drop thus Gut 1. The number of any thing thus Nu. 1. c. Half of any thing thus ss A Pound or Pint thus lib. 1. Twenty Graines make a Scruple Three Scruples make a Drachm Eight Drachms make an Ounce Twelve Ounces a Physick Pound Ana. is of either of them so much P. ae is equall parts or parts alike S. a. Secundum Artem according to Art So much as shall suffice is marked thus q. s A defensative against the Plague The first Treatise CHAP. I. What the Plague is THe antient Phisitians in times past have greatly doubted what the essentiall cause of this disease which we commonly call the Plague or Pestilence should be yet all doe agree that it is a pernitious and contagious Fever and reckoned to be one of the number of those which are called Epidemia chiefly proceeding of adusted and melancholy bloud which may be easily perceived by the extream heat and inflammation which inwardly they doe feel that are infected therewith first assaulting the heart and astonishing the vitall spirits as also by the exteriour Carbunkles and botches which it produceth whose malignity is such both in young and old rich and poor noble and ignoble that using all the meanes which by Art can or may be devised yet in some it will in no sort give place untill it hath by death conquered the party infected therewith CHAP. II. Cause of the Plague THere are divers causes whereof this disease may proceed as sundry Writers doe alledge as by over great and unnaturall heat and drought by great rain and inundations of waters or by great store of rotten and stinking bodies both of men and beasts lying upon the face of the earth unburied as in the time of warres hath been seen which doth so corrupt the air as that thereby our Corn Fruits Hearbs and Waters which we daily use for our food and sustenance are infected also it may come by some stinking dunghils filthy and standing pooles of water and unsavory smels which are near the places where we dwell or by thrusting a great company of people into a close narrow or streight room as most commonly we see in Ships common Gaoles and in narrow and close lanes and streets where many people doe dwell together and the places not orderly kept clean and sweet But most commonly in this our time it is dispersed amongst us by accompanying our selves with such as either have or lately have had the disease themselves or at least have been conversant with such as have been infected therewith But for the most part it doth come by receiving into our custody some clothes or such like things that have been used about some infected body wherein the infection may lie hidden a long time as hath been too too often experimented with repentance too late in many places It may also come by Dogs Cats Pigs and Weasels which are prone and apt to receive and carry the infection from place to place But howsoever it doth come let us assure our selves that it is a just punishment of God laid upon us for our manifold sins and transgressions against his divine Majesty for as Seneca saith Quicquid patimur ab alto venit What crosses or afflictions soever we suffer it cometh from the Lord either for a triall of our faith or a punishment for our sins Wherefore to distinguish any farther thereof I think it needlesse for my intent is in breif sort so exactly as I can to shew the meanes how to prevent the same as also how to cure it when we are infected But before I enter to treat thereof I think it not amisse to shew what forewarnings and tokens are given us before hand of the coming thereof thereby the better to prevent the same by prayer and repentance CHAP. III. Warnings of the Plague to come AVicen a noble Physitian saith that when wee see the naturall course of the ayre and seasons of the year to be altered as when the spring time is cold clowdy and dry the harvest time stormy and tempestuous the mornings and evenings to be very cold and at noon extream hot these do foreshew the Plague to come Also when we see fiery impressions in the firmament especially in the end of summer as comets and such like and that in the beginning of harvest we see great store of little frogs red toades and myse on the earth abounding extraordinarily or when in summer we see great store of toades creeping on the earth having long tailes of an ashy color on their backs and their bellies spotted and of divers colours and when we see great store of gnats swiming on the waters or flying in great companies together or when our trees and hearbs do abound with Caterpillars Spiders Moaths c. which devoure the leaves on the trees
water is best and in the Spring Scabios or Carduus Benedictus water Also so much Triacle of Andromachus description eaten every morning as a bean with a little conserve of Roses is a very excellent good preservative Valetius doth greatly commend the taking of three or four grains of the Bezar stone every morning in a spoonfull of Scabios water I cannot here sufficiently commend the Electuarie called Dioscordium which is not onely good to resist the infection but doth also expell the venemous matter of those which are infected being taken every morning and evening the quantity of a bean and drinke a draught of Rennish or White wine after it in winter season but in Summer a draught of Beer or Ale is best In strong and rusticall bodies and such as are dayly labourers Garlick onely eaten in the morning with some Butter and Salt at breakfast drinking a cup of beer or ale after it hath been found to be very good which is greatly commended by Galen who calleth it the poor mans Triacle but in the sanguine daintie and idle bodies it may not be used because it over-heateth the bloud causeth head-ach and universally inflameth the whole body CHAP. VI. NOw when you have taken any of the foresaid Preservatives it were good and necessary to wear upon the Region of the heart some sweet Bag or quilt that hath power to resist venome and also to carry in your hand some sweet Pomander Nodule or Nosegay that will comfort the heart resist venom and recreate the vitall spirits as here following is specified and set down An excellent quilt or Bag. ℞ Arsenike cristaline ℥ i. Diamargaritum frigidum ℈ ii Diambrae ℈ i. You must grinde the Arsenike in small powder and then with some of the infusion of Gum Dragagant in Rose water you must make a paste then spread it on a cloth which must be six inches long and five inches broad and spread it thick then cover it with another cloth and so quilt it together which being done fasten it in another bag of crimson taffetie or Sarsenet and so wear it against the heart all the day time but at night leave it off and here you must take heed that when you sweat you doe take it away for otherwise it will cause the skin to amper a little There are some writers which doe utterly forbid the wearing of Arsenike but thus much I can say that I have given this bag unto divers to wear with most happie and good successe for never did I yet know any one that hath worn this bag and used any of the Electuaries aforesaid that hath been infected with the plague but for any inconvenience or accident that hath happened thereby I never found any hitherto other then the ampring of the skin as aforesaid Another Bag. ℞ Ireos ℥ ss Calamus aromat Ciperus ana ʒ i. ss Storax Calam. root of Angelica ana ʒ iii Cloves Mace anaʒ i. Red roses dried ʒ iii. Pellemountain Penniroyall Calamint Elder floures ana ʒ i ss Nutmegs Cinnamon Yellow Sanders anaʒ i. Nardi Italicae ʒ i. Amber greece and Musk ana six grains You must pound all these in powder and then quilt them in a bag of Crimson Taffatie as aforesaid A Pomander good in the Summer time ℞ The rind of Citrons Red Roses Nenuphare Roses Yellow sanders anaʒ ss Storax liquid Benjamin ana ʒ i. Myrrh ℈ ii Ladanum ʒ i. ss Musk and Amber ana six grains Powder all that is to be powdered and then work them together in a hot morter with a hot pestell adding unto it in the working some of the Musselage of dragagant dissolved in sweet Rosewater or Rosevinegar and so make your Pomander Another good one for the winter time ℞ Storax liquid Benjamin Storax calamint Ladanum and Myrrh ana half a drachm Cloves one scruple Nutmegs Cinnamon of each half a scruple Red Roses Yellow Sanders Ligum aloes and Ireos of each half a dram Calamus aromaticus rind of a Citron ana four grains Amber greece Musk and Civet of each six grains You may make up this as the other before with some Musselage of the infusion of Gum dragagant infused in Rose-water A good Nodule for the Summer season ℞ Floures of Violets red Roses and Nenuphare of each one drachm Red White and Yellow sanders of each half a drachm Camphire xii graines Cause all these to be beaten in grosse powder then knit them all together in a peece of Taffetie and when you will use it then wet it in Rosewater and a little Vinegar and so smell to it Another Nodule for the Winter season ℞ The dried leaves of Mints Majoram Thime Penniroyall Lavender Pellemountain and Balm of each a little handfull Nutmegs Cloves Cinnamon Angelica roots Lignum aloes of each one drachm Saffron two scruples Cause all these to be infused in Rose-water and Vinegar one whole night then wet a spunge in the liquor thereof and knit it in a peece of Taffaty or your handkerchief whereunto you must smell oftentimes A Nosegay for the same purpose ℞ Hearb grace three branches Rosemary Majoram Mints and Thime of either one branch Red-Rose buds and Carnations of either three or four Make your nosegay herewith then sprinkle him over with Rose-water and some rose-Vinegar and smell often unto it Also when you suspect to go into any dangerous or infected company do you alwaies carry in your mouth a peice of the root of Angelica the rind of a Citron dried or a great Clove which must be first infused or steeped one whole night in rose-water and Vinegar CHAP. VII FOr that there is not a greater enemy to the health of our bodies then costiveness both in the time of the Plague and otherwise I have here set down how and by what meanes you may keep your self soluble which you must use once four and twenty hours if otherwise you have not the benefit of nature by custome A Suppository Take two spoonfulls of Honey and one spoonfull of Bay-Salt small pounded boyle them together untill it grow thick alwaies stirring it in the boyling then take it from the fire and if you list you may add one drachm of Ihera picra simplex unto it and so stirre them well together and when it is almost cold make up your suppositories of what length and bignesse you list and when you minister any you must first annoint it with Butter or Sallet oyle you may keep these a whole year if you put them in Barrowes mort or grease and so cover them up close therein A good Glister ℞ Mallowes Mercury Beets Violets Red-Fennell of either one handfull Seeds of Fennell Annis Coriander of either one drachm Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of Water untill half the water be consumed them straine it and keep it in a glasse close stopt untill you need for it will keep a whole week Take of the same decoction a pint ℞ Mel Rosarum or common Honey one spoonfull Oyle of Violets
when the botch is opened the flesh within doth look blew and that then there appear not any matter or quitture in the wound but as it were a spume or froth issuing out thereof are ill and deadly signes When the botch waxeth so hard that by no means it will come to suppuration but resisteth whatsoever is done unto it for the furthering thereof and so returneth in againe into the inward parts suddenly is a token of sudden death at hand and so it is if either before or after it is broken it look of a blewish colour or of divers colours like the Rainbow round about it When the Carbunckle or Blain doth suddenly dry up as if it were scorcht with the fire and that the place round about it doth shew to be of a wannish blew colour is a deadly sign if in the skin appear green or black spots the excrements of divers colours with worms in it either dead or living having a vile stinking savour and spitteth stinking and bloudy matter doth betoken death When the sick complaines of great and extream heat in the inward parts and yet cold outwardly the eyes staring or weeping the face terrible the said excrements or urin passing away and the party not knowing thereof are evill signes When in the fourth or seventh day they are taken with a frensie or do fall into an extream bleeding at nose or have a great flux with a continuall vomiting or a desire to vomit and do it not extream pain at the heart watchfullness and the strength clean gone are deadly signes When the party being very sick yet saith he feeleth himself well his eyes sunk deep in his head and full of tears when he thinks all things do stink his nailes looking blew the nose sharp and as it were crooked the breath thick and short with a cold sweat in the brest and face and turning and playing with the clothes the pulse creeping or scarcely to be felt and greivous unto him to speak these are infallible signes of death at hand Some before any of these signes are perceived do dy and some likewise which have divers of them appearing and yet do escape such is the uncertainty of this disease there are many other symptoms which do happen in this contagious disease which would be too tedious to declare but these as the chiefest may suffice The end of the first Treatise The Second Treatise shewing the meanes how to cure the Plague CHAP. I. VVHen we perceive any to be infected with this contagious disease we must with all possible speed seek all the meanes we can how to prevent the malignity thereof whose property is at the first to assault the principall part which is the heart and therefore requires present help for unlesse something be done within eight or four and twenty houres little will it then prevail to attempt it for by that time nature is either subdued and clean overthrown or else hath thrust the same to the exterior parts or otherwise digested it yet may we not neglect at any time to use all the meanes we can in helping and furthering of nature to the uttermost of our indeavour because we doe oftentimes see nature so wearied and weakened in expelling of this venemous matter that unlesse some help be added to assist and comfort her the party for lack thereof dyeth which otherwise might be saved For I have oftentimes seen by diligent helping of nature that to be effected and brought to good passe which I have judged most desperate There are foure intentions required for the curing thereof that is by bloud-letting Cordials sweat and purging but the manner how to execute the same hath bred great contention both amongst the old and later Writers which here to treat of were too tedious for unto the learned it were needlesse and for the commonalty little would it availe them therefore in breif will I shew you what I have observed touching the cure First if it be in a Plethorick sanguine and strong body and hath pain in the head great heat at the heart thirstnesse the pulse strong and labouring or beating strongly and hath great and large veines appearing these ought presently to be let bloud in that side where yee perceive the greif doth proffer it selfe to come forth and not visibly appearing tending to maturation For then we may not draw bloud but use all other meanes we can devise in helping nature to expell it neither may you draw bloud if the party have a flix or lask which is an evill sign in the beginning of the disease for by that meanes you shall hinder nature greatly but onely give the party Cordials neither may you stop the flix in the beginning but if it be extream and that it stay not the second day then must you give some purgation which may leave an astringency behind it as hereafter in the cure of the flix shall be shewed For as Hyppocrates in his first book and one and twentieth Aphorisme doth admonish us we must consider and mark how nature doth incline her self for that will teach us what we are to doe Now if you perceive the botch or carbunkle to appear underneath the chin about the throat then presently draw bloud in both veines under the tongue and immediately after that apply a cupping glasse with scarification in one side of the neck next unto the sore thereby to draw it from the throat for fear least suddenly it choke him up and then apply Chickens rumps or Hens rumps to the botch the feathers being first pluckt away from the rump and a grain of Salt put into the tewell and so hold the bare place to the greif untill the Chicken die which will be within half an hour and then apply another and so continue in changing them so long as they doe die and lastly apply a mollificative Cataplasme or plaister to the same place as in the fift Chapter following is shewed which is made with Vnguentum basillicon and to the botch apply the Epithemation and Cataplasme in the seventh Chapter following But if it be in the neck he doth complain then let him bloud in the Cephallica vein in the arm of the same side where he complaineth If in the groin or flanke he doth complain then let him bloud in the foot on the same side and open the vein called Maleola or Saphena the quantity must be according as the age and strength of the party requireth but at most draw not above six or eight ounces For Avicen willeth us to preserve bloud as the treasure of nature But in a weak spare and cachochimious body as Galen teacheth us we may not draw bloud at all for thereby should you greatly indanger the Patient but help such by Cordials and sweat And here you shall understand that unlesse Phlebotomy be done at the first that is within six or eight houres at most it will be too late to attempt it neither may you doe it if the sore doe appear