injection and potion it helps the concoction of the stomach quenches thirst appeases dolours throwing of the belly with Colick and Iliack passions it purifies the bloud kills and expells all kynd of wormes chases away all fevers cleanses the skin of pustles and skabs be lotion bathing it louses the belly if bound taking away the obstructions from the gal which sends forth its choler or bilis the only stimulus foecum in jejunum intestinum wherewith being sharpned casts out the foeces therein contained it restraines the fluxes of the belly by corroborating the retentive facultie drying the intestins and makes them slow to expell the humors being drawn by the force of the water to the reins and bladder and so it works proportionably according to the necessity of nature as an excellent instrument appointed by Gods providence for the health of mankinde They also carry with them out of the body diverse wayes the cold and watry bloud with other excrementitious humors of choler pituite melancholy Our Hydropotae pisse much their expulsive facultie being helped through the diuretick quality of our water their grosse excrements are black or greenish because the salt of minerals be its precipitating vertue facit deseendere terrestreitatem ad fundum some vomites voyding their stomach of superfluous humors some sweats sending forth their obstructions by the pores for all diuretick things are also diaphoretick the urine and sweat being of natures little different These clear pure waters gratious both to palate and eyes provoke so many and divers evacuations which scarce any medicament grievous to the smell horrible to the sight and loathsome to the taste could effectuate they agree with both sexes all ages restoring health lost preserving in integritie the present Wee have used all kynd of tryalls for examination of the Petrean water and have found as we are able to demonstrate that these waters carry with them the tincture of vitriol and of mettals not perfect nor altogether solide but crude begun growing to a solide mettall if every day a part were not carryed away with the waters As for the vertues and qualities of vitriol they are so renowned by many of the ancients and all our moderne writers that purposely I omit them to a more fit occasion then the brevity of this peece can permit And if I shal but point at the generation of vitriol within the earth the understanding reader shall quickly perceave its nature and operation which is thus There ariseth a sulfureous exhalation be the action of the subterranean heat which mixed with water makes a sharp corrosive juyce proper to corrode and drink up a part of copper and yron and to collect and coagulate it self in one which we cal Vitriol So that the principles and elements of vitriol are sulfur water the two mettals of yron and copper and some little portion of the minerall clay adhering either to the mettals as seldome they remain in the bowels of the earth without some slimy matter or else in the water with which was mixed the sulfureous salsuginous exhalation which things we see in the anatomy of vitriol be destillatiō First the watry part being volatile ariseth in making of Colcothar then that sulfureous salsuginous exhalation which being by cold condensed in the recipient turns in oyl the hypostasis or sediment being puluerised washed dryed and liquified with borax secundum artem shall produce a metallick substance Out of which considerations A. Guntherus hath defined it to be sulfureae salsuginis aeratae ferrataeque coagulum And albeit evidently ad sensum we can see no more mettals but copper and yron yet certainly it is coagulum omnium metallorum autcorum sal Whence some have taken occasion to make an allusion to the letters of Vitriolum Visitando interiora terrae rectificando invenies occultum lapidem veram medicinam As for the mettals the Chimique Philosophers say that their proxima materia Mercurie engendred of the first matter of minerals well mixed to wit that viscous humiditie subtilly incorporate to incombustible earth equally mixed with the least parts in the minerall concavities of the earth And seeing that kinde of matter can not produce self nature hath given it a proper agent sulphur a certain fatnesse of the earth engendred in its own bowels by temperate coction for concocting digesting and converting the forsaid Mercurie in forme of mettall the sulphur having relation to the mercurie as the male to the female and as the proper agent to its proper matter this is proximae materia metallorum As in the generation of man the aliment is a nearer mater then the elements the bloud then the food the seed then the bloud and in end after a long and continuall digestion the matter receaves humane forme so in the generation of mettals there ariseth vapors of the elements these vapors being condensed turn in a viscous and ponderous liquor mixed with subtile and sulfureous earth which is called mercurie whereof as of its proxima materia bee the mixtion and action of sulphur is made gold silver yron or any other mettall according as nature hath digested it lesse or more for there is no difference betwixt gold and yron but that gold hath happened to bee better and longer concocted then the other Some striving to imitate nature in perfecting of mettals meaning to bring them to their perfection Gold have used many artificiall operations in making their Philosophers stone so much searched First they calcine the matter without diminishing the body they attenuate the grosnesse and solidity of the calcined matter by solution and reduce it to its prima materia which they call minerall water whereof gold is the father silver the mother and quicksilver the proxeneta that makes the mariage and union this done they separate the foure elements in two parts one superior and celestiall which is the spirit that quickens another inferior and terrestriall which must bee enlived by the spirit making the combination with the soule and body for that first part is a soul inspired they conjoyn the water and aire with the earth and fire they putrifie the matter bee a moist heat after putrefaction comes coagulation cibation sublimation fermentation exaltation augmentation and lastly projection upon imperfect mettals changing them into perfect gold and silver It is certain that the chief end of the ancient Philosophers who traveiled and laboured about this stone was to compose an universall balsamick medicine to roborate and conserve the radicall balsame and nectar of our life in a good and laudable temperament which great and incomparable medicine they searched in minerals and knowing that gold the perfection of minerals could not have action in our bodys be reason of its compact and firme composition they have endevoured to break its hardest bonds and to reduce it to its first matter that it may be dissolved in all liquors and communicate to them that excellent and balsamick perfection of our life and nature The transmutation of mettals in
same beauty When the Petrean waters are to be taken GEnerally all seasons when the weather is good and the aire dry and clear are convenient to drink of this water abstaining when the air is ful of hanging clouds threatning us with rain or foggy mists In winter there is more strength in our water then any other time because then the subterranean heat is greater per antiperistasin sending forth in greater abundance the tinctures of what is there included But because in May Iune Iuly August ordinarly their is fairest and hotest weather and longest dayes giving opportunitie to walk and use exercise for helping the digestion of the waters these months are thought fittest for drinking notwithstanding that all kinde of medicine in the canicular dayes with many be odious founding on that aphorisme of Hippocrates exoriente cane ante canis exortum perdifficiles sunt purgationes meaning that the great and burning heat of that time is able to cast us in fevers after any kinde of immoderate evacuation by medicine Yet Hippocrates doth not altogether forbid the use of medicine about that time but tells us only that it is difficult The medicaments used in his time were Hellebore without any good preparation or some such other violent medicament which we in this our age will use in no time of the year without great and exquisite preparation For if he had known the use of Cassia manna Rubarbe syrup rosat c. he had never mentioned any danger in the canicular dayes You must also distingush the place he lived in a hote countrey we in a cold The most part of physicians affirme that the spring and automne are the most proper times for medicine because then the aire is most temperate without pearcing cold or scorching heat we in Scotland are troubled at no time with heat the summer distinguished chiefly from the winter by the longer sojourning of the sun in our horizon wherefore it is most agreable with reason to take medicine in Scotland in our hottest season When the air is too hote remain in a cold chamber if cold cause it become warme with fire and in so doing you may safely purge phlebotomise sweat bath and so forth any time or season in the year How the Petrean waters are to be taken HE who is to drink of this water either for curing disease restoring health lost or to preserve it being present avoyding future inconveniences shal come to this Wel in a convenient tyme of the year whereof now I have spoken resting the first day after arrivall the next day purge with fit and convenient medicines either powders potions pilles syrups juleps c. cum regimine by the advise of some Medicin because diversity of diseases require diverse medicaments since some have their stomach and intestines oppressed with tough and glewie phlegme some their liver and gall obstructed some their melt hardned with melancholy juyce some their reins and bladder burdened with sand stones pituite viscide and tartareous humors and so forth Therefore let the medicament be proper having respec to the humor which is peccant The day following purgation let him come to the Well neither fear any Hypercatharsis early in the morning yet after the sun rising and drink so much even the first day while he finde his stomach full not loadned walking a little betwixt every two or three glasses taking in the mean tyme some confected anise coriander cinamom or some good tablets proper for the disease or tobacco to help the stomach to daunt and vanquish the actuall coldnesse of the water which done walk ride or exercise your self with goafing bowling or some such other exercise for the Petrean fields are as the Elisian for such exercises whilst the most part of the waters bee voyded which will be so soone as the urine doth begin to bee coloured Then dine with meats of good digestion let the better sort drink wine moderatly others ale or beere Afternoon beguile the time with reading talking walking dauncing singing dicing carding c. Then sup lightly with a tosty of bread some raisins of the sun or some such other thing of good and easie digestion Use this kynd of doing 20. 30. 40. 50. dayes or so long as the disease requireth or affaires can permit Aday after you leave off the drinking of water take some other good purgative medicine resting aday after then take journey to go whither you list Live temperatly a long time after the drinking of the water in a clear pure wholesome aire to breath on eating meats of good digestion to suffice nature not greedie appetit sleeping to refresh not to dull your spirits waking to drive away stupiditie dulnesse and drowsineesse from your braines not to wast consume and dry your bodies using exercise for recreation not to weary taking rest for a remeed to your wearinesse restoring strength that your bodies may be made more fit to indure new travels and labours avoyde repletion of the belly intestins and veins by moderate evacuation of nature and if slow make help by art neither violent to resolve your spirits or to evacuate with excrements your souls Flee perturbations of the minde and in so doing by the grace of God you shall continue healthful even to your lives end To which I pray GOD happily to bring us all throgh IESUS CHRIST Amen We have thought good to insert in this place some approved receiptes fitto be taken before after and in the mean tyme of drinking of our Petrean waters A potion R. of sene vnc ss Cinamom drag ss of the marrow of Cassia fistula vnc 1. salt of tartar drag ss which infuse in lib. ss of the Petrean water cold 12 hours straine it and dissolve therein of suggar rosat vnc 1 syrop of pale roses vnc ss which give discretly to all kinde of persons young men and maides old men and babes It is harmelesse pleasant to the taste and purges well and strongly Another Take of manna syrop of pale roses an Vnc. 2. crystall tartar drag 1. dissolve them in abroth A good electuary Take of electuar lenit vnc 2. pul sen vnc ss cryst tartar drag vi mixe them with the syrop of pale roses A potion Take of the cold infusion of cassia fistula in the Petrean water vnc vi mixe with it of pul sen laxat Ruland drag 1. ss Syrup benedictus Take of the whole Cichory of Celidone an manip iij of lig vitae of sarsa parill ana vnc 2. of sasafras of crystall tartar pul nostri emetici benedict an vnc 1. boyle these things in agood sufficient quantity of the Petrean water to the consumption of two parts wherein put sufficient quantity of suggar Adde thereto of Venice theriack vnc 1. confect alkerm. drag 2. The effects of this blessed syrop are moâ—â— nor ordinary in extirping the roots of deplorable diseases it purgeth up and down without violence and may be given safely to all ages and sexes with discretion For expelling the stone Take of the barke of the ash tree lib. 2. Iuniper feed lib. 3. Venice turpentine lib 2. ss mixe them with three pints of the Petrean water and distil it after the manner of other oyls This oyl being taken in the mean time or before the drinking of our waters breaks and expells the stone Another Take of tartar vitriolate vnc ss of Iulep rosat vnc iij. cannel water vnc 1 mixe them and you shall finde an efficacious and profitable detersive of the reins For the jaundise Boyl in the Petrean water of Rad. Flor. Chelid Hyperic an M. 1. ebor of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an drag 3. of safran drag ss of suggar-candi vnc 1. whereof make 3. doses for 3 dayes together FINIS
tota credidit antiquitas inquit Fabet Cap. 17. Pallad spag The sediment which remained after separation of the water by inclination being again tried in the fire proved to be a confused masse of not perfectly cancocted mettals But none can speak more by experience of the goodnesse and vertue of this fountaine then the gentleman I have named and another gentleman of good worth M. Thomas Aikinhead Commissar of Edinburgh who in August last An. 1635. did find in this Well as much worth as they found in any of the forementioned exotick Wells having tryed both And not only those but many other gentlemen of good respect can testifie these things to be true which in this booke I have written concerning the medicinall vertues of this fountaine which good reader I hope you may patiently read and thank God if diseased you reap any benefit from hence Neither had I intention to have published this treatise being conscious of my own weaknesse if I had not been animated and encouraged thereto by a letter which I receaved from my learned Master whom I shall reverence with a filial respect so long as breath shall delay to expire Io Adamsonus An. Moro S. D. PErgratae fuerunt tuae ad me literae pergratus libellus utraque vel quod à te ex utrisque amorem satis antea perspectum sed ex hoc industriam quà scrutinio quodam accurato nobis videris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thesaurum à nemine hactenus ved quaesitum vel inventum demonstrasse O te felicem cui coelitus obtigit tam eximium thesaurum invenisse in salutem humani generis prodidisse Sed ego hujus felicitatis non vacuus abiero cui contigit discipulum habuisse tam industrium tam doctum disertum qui talis thesauri vires usum tam eruditè concinnè patriae suae aperuerit Tu perge ut facis virtuti litare amantem me tui redamare Vale. Edinb Cal. Mart 1636. De Fonte Petraeo ejusque reclusore ANDREA MORO Cùm gelidus fons est nitidis argenteus undis Vulcanum admoveas aurea lympha siet Est auro argentoque simul praestantior omni Quâ reparent vires languida membra suas Ergo aegri vivis libate è fontibus undas Et manibus puris sumite sultis aquas Atque Deo coeli grates persolvite dignas Qui facit ut tantas petra refundat opes Et Mori ingenium voto laudate benigno Qui facit ut tantas penna recludat opes I. A. Ad Andream Morum Petraei fontis detectorem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PEtraei laticis gratas languentibus undas Detegis tanti quae sit origo boni Si tanta utilitas insit vulgaribus undis Hasce sibi ut vulgus commoda prima putet Quanta o Petraeo debetur gloria fonti Omnigenis obstat quae Panacèa malis Nymphae monstratis meruerunt Orgia lymphis Quanta erit inventi gloria More tui T. CRAFORDIUS S. PETERS WELL OR THE WELL OF Peter-head MEdicinall waters differ much in savour and taste some of them being sulfureous some vitriolate some saltish yet all of them communi nomine are called acidi from the taste which acidity or sharpnesse comes partly from vitrioll and partly from the salt of minerals or they are called minerall waters because passing through the concavities of the earth they carry with thē the tinctures of what they renconter and are impregnate with the quintessence of those minerals by which they passe whether it bee terra lemnia bol armen chalk or congeled liquors an juyces as allome succin sulphur nitre vitriol c. or mettals as gold silver yron c. or stones as christall marble load-stone c they are also called medicinall waters for their rare and admirable vertues in curing diseases and preserving of health Many of these waters are found out by the diligent searching and industrious labour of the learned endevouring to find out the secrets of nature most easie for the help of mankind as the wel of Spaw in Germany the wells of Burbon of Pouges of Forges in France of Porrecta in Italy of Tunbridge and Knesbrough in England with many others of infinite vertues as Plinius recordeth in many passages of his books especially in the 2. chap. of his 31. book And I would that any reader who doubts of the excellent vertues of infinite diversity of waters should read that chapter And now our waters of Peter-head called be our forefathers Saint Peters wel thinking that it was S. Peter that sent from Rome a facultie of curing diseases to these waters because hee himself could not come being imployed about more necessary affaires at Rome for the time Pope Wherefore to gratify this holy Apostle they have built a temple which to this day is called S. Peters church They used to come to the well on S. Peters day assembling themselves in great mulitudes on which day as yet we have a great faire at this place But this is meer superstition like that of the heathen who as Plinius testifieth lib. 31. chap. 2. denominate their rare and medicinall waters from diverse of there gods S. Peters well may be compared with Spaw waters being nothing inferiour to them in medicinal vertues and far excells any other as yet found out in Europe It is certain that this Petrean water for so hereafter shal it be called passes through minerals but with what proportion they are mixed in these subterranean cells it is impossible to know or whether it be hote or cold moist or dry some thinges from whence it flows being hote some cold some temperate seeming rather that it is temperate well mixed as its effects shows yet alwayes this water while it is drunken humectates and refrigerates incontinent being daunted through the heat of the stomach heats and dryes For the vertues of our water it cleanseth and wasteth viscide Tartareous humors extenuats pituite it voyds the liver melt mesaraicks and other our entrails of whatsoever obstructions is troublesome to them it strengthens the stomach so be its astriction that none can complain of harme by its actuall coldnesse It gives strength to the nerves tempers the heat of the kidneys cleansing and expelling their gravell sand and stones more forceably then any other medicament because it is diuretick simple naturall voyd of all arte made by the hand of God alone and most gracious to the taste it hinders the concretion or coagulation of sand resisting the generation of confirmed stones and if confirmed diminishes them it purgeth the bladder and mundifies the stone of viscide pituit and mucositie wherewith it is environed prepairing it to be easily taken out by cutting it is most profitable for the ulcer of the reins and carnosities in the urinal passage cast in be injection it certainly helps the venerean Virulent Gonorhea and all other diseases of that sort applyed with out for their ulcers chancres poulanes pustules within by