animadv num 214. as shal be said also hereafter in the last chapter So if cruel paines molest the patient or gummous tumors or exceeding ulcers be joyned with them Sasaparilla is most profitable which doth discusse the french knobs and easier appease the pains then Guajacum Thus according to the constitution of the Patients and the Nature of the Diseases joyned with it 't is good somtimes to use Guajacum alone somtimes Sarsaparilla somtimes China Root and somtimes to mix al of them in a greater or lesser quantity and somtimes the bark of Guajacum is added somtimes three or four ounces weight to one pound of the wood and they are boyled in fifteen pound of water For examples sake Take Of the wood of Guajacum half a pound of the bark of the same of sarsaparilla each three ounces of China root one ounce and half Infuse them twenty four houres in twelve pound of water afterwards let them be boyled to the consumption of half for a sweating drink Poure on the remainder twelve pound of water let them stand and infuse eight houres afterwards boyl them to a consumption of a third part for drink at meales Or. Take of the Wood of Guajacum one pound the bark of the same Sarsaparilla of each thre ounces Boyl them in sixteen pound of water to the consumption of half Or. Take of the wood of Guajacum China root each one ounce an half Sarsaparilla one ounce infuse them twenty four hours in six poundof water afterwards boyl half away Poure on the residue ten pound of water boyl it to the consumption of three pound Strainit and give it for drink at meales Or Take of wood of Guajacum eight ounces of the bark of the same four ounces sarsaparilla sassafras wood each two ounces Boyl them in twelve pound of water to the consumption of two thirds that there remains four pound towards the end ad four pound of wine Poure to the remainder sixteen pound of water boyl it to theconsumption of half towards the end ad four pound of wine make a drink for meales In this place we must not omit a question concerning the use of purgers Whether purgers ought to be mixt with the decoction whiles the decoction is drank to wit whether they ought to be mixt with the decoction or to be used at the same time with the decoction For some do wholy reject them and hold that purgers are neither to be mixed with the decoction nor to be used apart for this reason because the bodies are wont diligently to be purged before they come to the use of these decoctions next of al because purgers and sweaters do cause contrary motions Others on the contrary do mix purgers with these decoctions that by benefit of them the blood may be purefied and the belly constantly kept loose others do not mix purgers with these decoctions but purge at certain intervals every eighth or tenth day or at a longer distance as need requires which last opinion seemes to me to be trewest For though the body be purged before the use of these decoctions yet some may easily remain and ever and anon be collected and sweating doth purge onely the thinner humors but leaves the thick neither after this manner are there caused contrary motions for that day that purging is ordered sweaters are not administred but if purgers were mixed with the sweaters then there would be contrary motions And besides by the admistion of purgers the decoction being to be used so many weeks it would become nauseous and ingratful Hercules Saxonia also holds de lue Vener Cap. 38. Whether purgers may serve instead of sweaters That purging may be ordered every day to wit in those in whom sweat cannot or ought not to be caused he thinks sweat cannot be provoked in them who either are of such a hard and thick Skin that they can by no means sweat or in those who fal into fainting and swouning fits as soon as sweaters are administred but he thinks they ought not to sweat in whom the Veneral disease possesseth not the Joynts nor the Skin nor the superficies of the body but hath rather taken up its seat about the bowels but this opinion seems not to me to be agreeable to truth for whereas he thinks that some ought to have purgers administred because they cannot sweat by reason of the thickness of their Skin or because they presently fal into swouning fits is agreeable neither to reason nor experience for scarce any one hath so thick a Skin that the pores wil no way open for sweat and though on the first daies sweat doth not prelently follow yet after that the Humors are attenuated by the use of the decoctions the passages and pores are opened then sweat succeeds especially if those Laconick Baths be applied as shal be said hereafter And the Patient may so moderate his sweating that he need not fal into fainting or swouning fits and they that cannot endure sweating wil not easily endure purging Last of al purgers cannot performe the same as those sweaters do But that in some bodies sweaters are not to be administred is salf for though the disease may have its principal seat about the Liver and bowels yet it cannot be but also vitious Humors do abound in the whol body whenas the Liver infected with this disease doth generate virulent blood and distribute it to the whol Body Chap. XIX Of the manner of using these Medicines AS concerning the manner of using these Medicaments The manner of using these Medicines The dose of the decoction first of al the decoction of Guajacum is administred for the most part in the morning and afternoon two hours before Supper In the morning 't is given from five ounces to eight or nine ounces before the evening from three ounces to six ounces the pouder is given to two drams the extract to two scruples Yet somtimes the evening drauft is omitted especially at the begining before the patient is accustomed to the Decoction For what was said above of moderating the quality of the decoction that also is to be observed concerning the quantity of the Decoction to be given that the sick be not offended and overcharged which too much of it which unless it be observed it happens somtimes that the sick fal into Feavers contract Crudities and there is caused a loosness ill habit of body and a Dropsie After the same manner we must give the Decoction of Sarsapatilla China Root and the compound decoctions For though some do prescribe here divers doses yet he shal not erre that shal administer them in the aforesaid manner And indeed after the mornings drauft Sweat we must endeavor that the Patient sweat for expetience teacheth that they that sweat not upon the taking of these Medicaments are â—carce clearly freed from this Disease but that sweat may flow the easier let the Patient sleep one hour after he hath taken the Medicine for so
which there had been boyled the Root of the greater Dock which having drunk up when he could not be cured by any other remedies of the Physitians he made a great deal of white Water his Urine being like Milk and so was freed from all his pains Or Take Sarsaparilla one ounce Sassafras Wood half an ounce the Root of the Clove Tree one ounce Citrine Saunders two drams Infuse all in three pints of Water for twenty four hours and afterward boyl the same and give of this Decoction one draught in the morning either alone or else with Harts horn Topicks The Body being thus in a due manner evacuated Topicks and the Antecedent cause that would have augmented the Disease being once taken away we then come to the very moderating of the pain and the taking away of the Conteining Cause of the pain and swelling and so unto the Topicks But if Topicks shall presently be administred before those Universal and General Remedies shall have been first made use of the Patient shall receive from thence far more hurt then benefit For either the matter which Nature endeavoureth to thrust forth to the Joynts is driven back unto the more inward parts from whence very grievous Symptoms are excited or else it is impacted into the Joynts and so the pain is exasperated or else the part is effeminated and made weak and loosened and so the flux is increased Which being not commonly taken notice of and Topicks being oftentimes most unseasonably and without any caution at al administred the sick persons do for the most part receive more hurt then good from them and from hence it was that the common and received opinion had its first original to wit that the best course is to administer nothing at al unto the pained Joynts And the truth is that it is fir becter to apply nothing call but to commit the whole business to Nature then to make use of such Medicaments as are altogether unfit and improper Now the Topicks that are applied they respect either the pain only or else withall the Cause of the pain to wit the Humor that now and formerly hath flown in exciting both a pain and a swelling Mitigaters of Pain The Pain in this Disease for the most part is a most grievous Symptom Mitigaters of Pain and which is most troublesom to the sick parties and which they most of all Curse and Bann as Lucian hath it in the beginning almost of his Tragopodagra and therefore also it is that they most of all desire the removal thereof And indeed it is altogether necessary that the Physitian should have regard thereunto because that if it be too great it causeth a restlessness dejecteth the strength and by attracting the Humors it augmenteth the Malady and so deservedly draweth our care unto it for its removal as Gaien in the 12. of his Method C. 1. and thereupon it sheweth and pointeth us unto the asswaging thereof by Anodynes Now Anodynes or Mitigaters of pain have likewise this Good and benefit going along with them to wit that by loosning the parts they make that the Humor that before flowed only unto the interiour parts about the Joynts comes now also to flow and be diffused unto the Ambient and fleshy parts And hence it is that the pains in the Gout before the swelling of the part are most Vehement and Intollerable and that so soon as the part affected beings to swel they are much Mitigated But now these Anodynes of what kind they are we have told you elswhere in our Institutions to wit such as mollifie and loosen the part affected and yet do not discuss the very Cause it self And here they may be provided of Goats Milk newly drawn out of their Dugs as also white bread and Milk together with the Yelks of Eggs and a little Saffron as likewise of the Leaves of Marsh-Mallows Mallows Colewort or Cabbage laid upon the place affected as hot as the Patient can wel endure them as also of Mallow Seeds Seeds of Marsh-Mallows Quinces Fleabane and especially the Mucillages of them Cassia newly drawn out of the Pipe with the Decoction or Water of Nightshade which as Avicen tels us is the best Remedy that can be unto which if there flow any hot Humors thereunto we may add some of the Oyl of Roses or Rose water but if the flowing Humors be cold then we are to add thereto the Oyl of Camomil and instead of Cassa out of the Pipe we may likewise make use of the Rob of the Elder Tree of white bread and Wine and indeed if the Humor be more hot red Wane but if cold or betwixt both then white Wine with the pouder of Camomile flowers and Oyl of Roses of Cheese new made of sheeps Milk and imposed upon the pained part and often changed of fresh-made Ox or Cow dung in the first beginning of the Spring as also the Water that is distilled out of it Amost useful Remedy also is the Mucillage of Fleabane Seed extracted with the Water of Roses or Night shade unto which somtimes a little Vinegar may be added and this Medicament is by Serapton and others very much commended In the very first beginning of the Disease Solenander taketh the thick stalks of Hendock and sils them with Salt and then stoppeth them with Clay or Paste and puts them in a moist place that the Salt may dissolve which liquor he keeps in a glass and with Clothes applieth it unto the pained part And he oftentimes also made use of this Cataplasm Take Mallows the whole Herb Root and all cut it into very smal pieces and boyl it in equal parts of Wine and Vinegar in a new Earthen Vessel until a third part be wasted away and then mingle therewith the thicker Bran of Rye as much as will suffice for the making of a Cataplasm and apply this hot unto the grieved part Forrestus relateth that he knew one that added hereunto a little Barly flower and that of the Water Lentile boyled in Milk with Camomile flowers and so reducing them into the form of a Cataplasm he put them upon the part affected with miraculous success as one could judg no other of it And here also very useful is the Yelk of an Egg reduced into the form of a Liniment with the Oyl of Violets and so is also the Water of the Sperm or seed of Frogs which perhaps have in them some kind of Narcotick quality Adrianus Spigelius writes that among the Moravians there is in use a very notable Remedy and noble experiment for the speedy cuting of the Gout-pains to wit the Water of Meadow Sweet distilled with its Roots and Flowers and this water is likewise in frequent use among the Silefians And it is also very convenient to foment the part affected with the Decoction of Parietary or Pellitory of the Wall And very many there be likewise that make use of Oyls and Fat 's But here we are to give you
quality of the liquor for some boyl the wood in water some in Barly water some in distilled waters others in wine others in Whey and others in broth of Flesh L. Septalius lib. 7. adnimadu nu 204. reprehends those who deny that the decoction of this wood may be made in wine only when as nothing is more fit to extract the faculties of medicines than wine and the water of wine he had spoke righter than the spirit of wine and therefore he prepares his decoction with wine which he useth when the disease is inveterate with an evil habit of body and a cold matter predominant after this manner eight ounces of the bark of the best holy wood grossely poudered being infused in forty two physical pints of the best white wine for two days the wine being first heated and alwaies kept hot those two days in a double vessel or in the ashes afterwards with a slow fire boyl it away in a double vessel to the consumption of the third part which let the sick make use of both in the morning instead of a syrup and for his drink at meales let him take in the morning seven ounces an hour after move sweat but at dinner and supper let him not exceed fourteen ounces But though we grant that wine is most commodious to extract the vertues of vegetables yet this cannot be denied that by boyling the strength of wine doth vanish and when the spirit is exhaled there is left a nauseous phlegme less profitable than plain simple water And therefore I am of that opinion that either the wood is to be boyled in water and towards the end the wine is to be added or else the wood is only to be a long while infused in wine or to be boyled in a double vessel that nothing be lost but by no means to the Consumption of the third part Therefore most commonly and rightly the decoction is made in pure water which doth both a little correct the Heat and driness of the Medicine and further the distribution and provocation of sweat yet if the body and especially the stomach be cold and weak and the Patient accustomed to wine Wine is not unprofitably mixt with it as was said even now and shal be said hereafter for by the admistion of Wine the stomach is less hurt and the vertue of the Medicine doth the easier penetrate to al the parts And a different proportion of the wood to the water is observed according to the age constitution of the body and season of the year The proportion of wood to the water and they take to twelve pound of water from three ounces of the wood to twelve for if the season of the year and the body be hot 't is safest to take a less quantity of the wood and in a longer time to perfect the Cure than by too strong a Medicine to damnesie the patient especially at the beginning of the cure and before the superfluous Humors in the body be abated and sweat begin to flow easily and exquisitly and the patient be accustomed to the Decoction afterwards by degrees you may take more of the Wood which unless it be observed the Patient is easily brought into danger And Eustachius Rudius writes Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 13. That he hath seen patients who by this error viz. too great a quantity of the wood given on the first daies have fallen into a Feaver that afterwards they have been forced to abstaine from the use of the decoction to their great detriment but where there is no such thing to be feared in those of ripe years we commonly add to one pound of the wood rasped or turned smal twelve pound of water in an earthen Vessel glased and let it infuse twenty four hours in a warm place afterwards the vessel being wel covered boyle it with a gentle fire til half or the third part remain and let the decoction cool in this vessel stil covered afterwards strain it Fallopius Lib. de morb Galli cap. 46. After what manner 't is to be boyled disputes whether it be better to boyle it with an open fire or in a double vessel as was said or in Balneo Mariae and reprehends them who hold that the decoction made in Balneo is more dilute or less powerful and that the decoction made in Balneo is more excellent than that which is made with an open fire he endeavors to prove by the example of distilled waters which by the balneum are made most excellent when as there is no adustion in them but the greater eliquation which is made in that hot and moist doth render the decoction more excellent but experience teacheth otherwise which reason also doth confirme For though out of some moister plants as Roses Violets Lilly of the vallies and the like being fresh whose vertue consists in the volatile part as the Chymists speak the best waters are made in balneo without the affusion of water yet in hotter plants especially in Roots and woods whose vertue consists in the oyly part their vertue can never be extracted by the too gentle heat of a Balneum as happens also in many seeds but they must be distilled by a †Vesica through which by the vehicle of the water A chymical Vessel those more fixed parts may be elevated when as then the whol vertue of Guajacum doth consist in that oyly and rozeny part and there is need of strong boyling that that may be extracted the gentle heat of a Bolneum cannot do it but it must be boyled in an open fire which nevertheless causeth no adustion if there be added a sufficient quantity of water Some for the better gust and that the bitterness and acrimony may be abated a little before 't is boyled enough add of Raison and Liquorish of each one ounce and you may add Sugar or some Julep to rellish it Aurelius Minadous de virulen Vener Cap. 4. holds the Decoction ought chiefly to be Dulcorated with Honey for he thinks that a smal quantity of Honey if it be boyled with it and Skimmed wil rebate al the bitterness and the Decoction acquire a greater power to cleanse attenuate open and make fusil the Humors and strengthen the parts which we grant may take place in phlegmatick bodies and especially in a cold stomach so whenas honey doth easily turn to Choller we think it cannot safely be used in chollerick bodies hot and dry but more conveniently and safely Raisons Liquorish or Sugar Some also in those who have a hot and dry Liver do add towards the end of the decoction a root or two of Succory one or two handfuls of Endive Sowthistle but whenas such decoctions are to be continued along while we must have a care least by the admistion of such things they be made ingrateful and provoke nauseousness in the Patient besides whenas for the most part there is boyled at one time Decoction enough for many daies but the
abroad to preserve his strength or when the stomach is weak Yet there may also be prepared out of this Root pouders Electuaries extracts as are from Guajacum CHAP. XV. Of China Root THe Portugal Merchants brought over in the former Age China root from the Country of China a certain Root for the cure of this disease which they called China Root for when as the Venereal disease had invaded that Country also as the Americans shewed the use of Guajacum for the destroying of this disease so the people of China used this Root to cure the same disease and taught others the use of it But the Root is a handbreadth long somtimes pretty thick somtimes thinner knobbed somwhat reddish pretty weighty which being newly digged up they report is so tender that it may be eaten raw and boyled as turnep and rape Roots are with us the which seems not to be very credible whenas our Turneps Rape Roors dryed never attain to so great a hardness they are brought to us divided As concerning its vertues 't is neither strong in smel nor tast and therefore there is no excess of it in heat and cold but 't is rather temperate or if there be any excess in it 't is rather in cold yet 't is dry in the second of thin substance yet with a certain astrictive power and a kind of substantifical moisture so that by the use of it men do grow Fat Whence also the decoction of it doth easily sowr When it was first brought over by the Portugals into France and the neighbouring provinces it was wonderfully cryed up by the Merchants as being of thin parts and having power to digest to more urine and sweat to consum Excrements of al sorts to clense the Bowels free from obstructions clear the blood from corruption to cake away pains in the Joynts to be good for the Venereal disease and because 't is temperate it may safely be given to any age sex any time of the year and to those that are feaverish al which faculties whenas they are not in Guajacum by some of that time it was made use of not only for the cure of other diseases but also for the cure of the pox it was preferred before Guajacum Which very thing caused that Charles the fifth Emperour being sick of a most grievous Gout was the first almost that would make tryal of the use of this Root upon the advice of some Physitians But experience afterwards lessened that same and Jul. Palmarius writes of this business de lue Vener Cap. 14. that many to their great detriment have preferred this root before Guajacum and that he hath found by experience that also in a very strict diet it hath been uneffectual against this disease oftentimes also the stomach is seen to become so moist with the use of its decoction and the Native heat opprest that a great Lientery and crudity hath often followed in those who had but weak Fuell for their implanted heat Besides these discommodities and faults he writes also that it doth oftentimes cause swelling of the Spleen and hardness in those that use it long neither doth he grant it to have extraordinary vertue against this disease either by its whol substance or occult quality when as after the use of it they who thought themselves wel do dayly fal into a relapse of the same Disease The same also is confirmed by Gabriel Fallopius Lib. de Morb. Galli Cap. 60. who writes that he hath used this Root again and again for the Cure of this Disease but could do nothing with it in the interim he writes that he hath used it with happy success for the dropsie to moderate the mobility of the Humors in hot bleared Eyes and in a hot distemper of the stomach and Liver And other Physitians also agree in this that this Root for the Cure of the French Pox is far in feriour to Guajacum and Sarsaparilla although it be profitable to preserve and strengthen the heat of our body and therefore for other diseases And if by chance any one who could not be cured neither by the decoction of Guajacum nor by the unction of Quick-silver hath recovered health by the Decoction of China Jul. Palmarius thinks this is the Cause of it because Nature rejoycing in the Variety of Remedies and weary of the stronger at length is easied by those that are less effectual Yet Garzias ab Horto relates of the Root being fresh that it doth so exceedingly heat that if any one use the pure Decoction of it or drink it hot by reason of the too great heat of the Medicine he wil fal into exceeding heats of the liver Erysipilaes and Phlegmons and other most grievous Symptoms But when as 't is brought over to us insipid and somtimes dusty there is no cause to fear any such thing Neither doth this only happen in this plant but also in many others that the Alimental juyce hath far other vertues then the dryed Plants and therefore though perhaps this Root being fresh in China may have great vertue to Cure the Venereal Disease yet it is not necessary that it retain the same with us But divers prepare the decoction of this root diversly The decoction of China Jul. Palmarius writes that the common way of preparing it is this that to two ounces of the root cut into rounds and put in an earthen pot there is poured four pound of water and let them steep twelve houres afterwards boyl with a gentle fire to the consumption of the one half Fallopius boyles two ounces of the root in twelve pound of water to the consumption of half but according to the nature of the disease the proportion of the root and water may be varied and the root may be boylled from one to three in twelve pound of water Yet Septalius adviseth us here that this decoction is most commodiously prepared if one ounce of the root fresh and not rotten be boyled in ten pound of water two ounces in twelve pound of water For he writes though many physitians to save charges whenas many cannot take al that decoction in one day and they feare if they should keep it another day it would grow sowre do boyl half the portion of China in half the quantity of water and boyl away the half or two thirds thinking that so they have both saved their purse and prepared the decoction as strong yet they are very much deceived and if they have not lost their taste they shal easily know that that first decoction is much more powerful than the second and the reason is ready because 't is not enough to give a proportion of the root to the water but the time of boyling is cheifly to be considered and the action of the heat of the fire and the reaction of the water For whenas foure houres space imagine ought to be allowed to extract the vertue out of a most hard root and communicate it to
the water how much time wil be spent in boyling away six or eight pints of water if taking but the half quantity viz. half an ounce of China with six pints of water we suffer the half to wast or two thirds which wil be consumed in less than two houres space the water being less able to resist the action of the fire nor let any one dare to say that we may prevent this inconveniency by making a less quantity of fire and if it he boyled by a slower fire for to extract this vertue out of a more solid substance there ought also to concur a due quantity of fire Out of the remainders another drink is prepared by some for dinner and supper The Second decoction as out of Guajacum Yet Palmarius thinks that al the vertue of that root is transfused in the liquor at the first boyling and therefore for ordinary drink he boyles three ounces more of the root in eight pound of water til two pints are consumed and he ads raisons and liquarish nay some also drink the first decoction at dinner and supper whenas it is not unpleasant to the tast Some also do admonish us that we provide no more of the decoction at once than may be spent in one day whenas it quickly growes sour when 't is cold therefore they command also that it be kept on warm ashes but experience hath taught us that it wil last four dayes Yet because it growes sour that very thing tels us that this root hath in it somewhat spirituous and alimental which is the cause of fermentation and hence of acidity Consult concerning this with Amatus Lusitamus centur 1. curat 98. and especially centur 2. curat 31. CHAP. XVI Of Sassafras wood THey use also for the cure of the Veneral disease that wood which is connonly called sassafras which is imported form the Island called Florida Sassafras-Wood it is of an aromatical taste like fennel 't is hot and dry in the second degree of a thin substance and endewed with an opening discussive and attenuating faculty Its vertues and therefore is commended by them who have sailed to the Indies against long tertian feavers evil habit of the body and dropsie and to strengthen the stomach and against nephritical paines it is comended also for the gout to move the courses and many other diseases to treat of which is not proper to this place 't is used also for the cure of the French pox yet most physitians agree that 't is less effectual than Guajacum and sarsaparilla and the decoction of it is prepared almost as that of Sarsaparilla Chap. XVII Of Sope-wort Last of al sopewort is commended by some physitians for the cure of this disease which is bitter Soapwors accid and endewed with an abstersive and opening faculty and is praised for the French pox and contumacious paines which cannot be over come by other remedies 'T is reported to be the invention of Zapata a spannish Empirick t is used both in the decoction and in substance the decoction is prepared after this manner Take of green sopewort two handfuls It s decoction infuse them al night in eight pound of water than boyl it â—â—l the sâ—pewort is boyled enough then strain one pound of it with half a pound of water and the harbs now boyled and squeez them and reserve it for a mornings dâ—aught to provoke sweat taking seven or eight ounces But that which remains sweeten with raisons or sugar for drink at meales in summer and Cholerick bodies you may add one handful of Sowthistle or basterd Navel-wort But t is a remedy unpleasing to the tast Eustachius Rudius takes of soap-wort six pugils or more and infuseth it in twelve pound of water and boyles it to the consumption of half But as Septallius hath observed t is too great a quantity of water to so sinal a portion of soap-wort But the Root Cheifly is used in substance The pouder and Rudius doth very much commend it in ancient french pains and out of it he prepares this pouder Take of ground pine two ounces of white dittander one ounce and half of Zedoary six drams of the root of soapwort three drams of pearl prepared half a dram Make a pouder for 9. doses but who can take for one dose almost four drams of pouder and the other medicines do far exceed the soapwort which notwithstanding ought to be the basis CHAP. XVIII Of Compound Alexipharmaca BUt though al the medicines hitherto reckoned up Compouond Alexiphbrmaca in the Veneral disease are good to destroy this disease yet some are more effectual then others and besides some have other qualities for the which they are useful sometimes for this sometimes for that end as was said of the simples and therefore seldom one of these medicines is used but for the most part many of them together Indeed if the disease be simple and none of the bowels be affected nor there is no eminent distemper in any part which may hinder the use of Guajacum that wood is the most excellent of al because it resists this disease both by its occult and manifest qualities but if any disease be joyned with it t is oftentimes most profitable to add sarsaparilla and China and there are added by some manny altering medicines of which whenas we spake before in this place we shal ad nothing of them but this that we must have a care least by the mixture of Succories and endives and cooling medicines which are added to moderate the heat of Guajacum which yet is not so much to be feared they hinder sweating which is only to be desired and which brings more benefit then a little heating can do dammage next of al least by the admixtion of other things the drink be made ungrateful and nauseous therefore passing by these that we may speake somewhat of the mixture of alexipharmaca if the nature of the patient be very hot and dry and the humors violently fal from the head on the lungs breast or other parts Guajacum wood is not commodiously given alone whenas it doth farther heat and dry the parts and by its heat make the humors run and move but then sarsaparilla is safer and China more comodious which doth at once moderate the heat and hath an astrictive power by which it stops defluxions on the contrary if the strength be feeble and there be a weaknes of the sight sarsa is not commodious whenas it loosenss the stomach and duls the fight if there be a great consumption if so be it hath not its original from the Venereal disease for then this disease being taken away as the cause that wasting also ceaseth and the body begins to be nourisht better Guajacum and sarsaparilla are not safe But then china is far more profitable as that which moistens substantifically as they speak Yet Ludiciptalius commends Sasaparilla above al the rest against a consumption lib. 7.
addition of such Herbs doth cause that the Decoction wil not last so long to prevent this such herbs are to be added not to the whol decoction but to about one pound of it Some not unprofitably especially to those accustomed to it and whose stomach is weak do add towards the end of the decoction three pound of a sweetish white wine some prepare the whol decoction in wine but not so rightly for the best part of the wine doth evaporate in boyling and there is left an ingrateful Flegm as was said before Aurelius Minadous also doth admonish that the decoction of the wood is to be given with a vehicle which may direct the vertue of the Medicine to the parts principally affected and the Head most of al affected we must mix Cephalick things the Reins affected things Nephtitical the Liver Hepatical the Spleen things Splenitick Which as we do not wholly disallow of so we do not alwaies think it necessary whenas the vertue of the decoction doth easily of it self penetrate into the whol body but we must chiefly have a care least by the admistion of such Medicines the decoction be rendered nauseous and ingrateful to the Patient which when he himself also considers he admonisheth rightly that such Medicines are more commodiously taken by themselves reduced into a pouder or Bolus or some other forme than mixt with the decoction but we shal speak hereafter of compound decoctions The Chymists whenas they fear least by the long boyling Distilled water from Guajaum which is to the half or a third part the Spirituous and subtile parts should exhale and be dissipated and so the vertue of the Medicine be diminished prepare this decoction another way so that it loseth nothing of its strength they take the pouder of Guajacum and put it into a retort and pouring a sufficient quantity of water they place the retort in the ashes and apply the receiving vessel and making a fire under it first they make a digestion then distil it to the Consumption of one half of the water they give of the distilled water four ounces yet it were most commodious if the distilled water were mixed with the rest of the decoction in the retort being strained for so they would have al the vertue to that decoction remaining in the retort may be poured more water and let it digest twelve hours afterwards distil it and the liquor distilled may be given for common drink and whenas it happens somtimes that Infants are born infected with the Veneral disease or are infected by their Nurses this distilled and sweetned with Sugar may be given them instead of Juleps Also after that the first decoction prepared the common way The second decoction is strained twelve or eighteen pound of water again is poured to the wood remaining after the first boyling according as the Patient is wont to drink more or less and is boyled to the Consumption of the third part and being strained is given for ordinary drink at dinner and supper if they desire a more pleasant and sweeter drink you may add four ounces or more of Raysons or instead of Raysons one ounce or two of Coriander seed prepared and sweeten the decoction with two or three ounces of Sugar But if any Herbs have been added to the first decoction the decoction for drink at meals must not be made of the remainders of the first decoction because it would be nauseous but you must prepare another fresh decoction but more dilute or a wine of Guajacum which is made thus Wine of Guajacum Take four or five pound of the wood four pound of white Sugar ten pound of white Wine and put the wood into a wooden Vessel and heat the Wine and powr it to it Some boyl the wood the third time and use the decoction to boyl meat in The third decoction the same decoction also may be used to wash the hands to clense the Nostrils and mundisie Ulcers And some give this wood other waies some in the form of a pouder An Electuary of Guajacum others make electuaries of it Thus Nicol. Massa Lib. 2. de Morb. Gal. Cap. 6. he takes of the Indian wood most finely prepared one pound and with Syrup of Fumitory boyles it to the form of an Electuary of which he gives half an ounce or an ounce or take of the wood of Guajacum Sarlaparilla finely poudered of each one ounce of the species of the three saunders and Diarrhodon Abbatis of each two drams Conserve of Succory Roses of each six ounces with Syrup of Succory make an Electuary Others with a convenient Syrup make pills of it But others not without cause do here admonish us that such Medicines are less effectual and that many who were newly infected when as they hoped for health by the use of such Medicaments by that delay and lingring and weakness of the Medicine have fallen into a most grievous evil for as was said such Medicines do less penetrate into the body Yet towards the latter end of the Cure when the evil is almost overcome and 't is only feared that there may remain some evil disposition and the long continued drinking of the decoction of the wood is nauseous to the patient such Medicines may be used to consume the reliques of the disease An extract of this wood is more commodiously prepared and out of that pills An extract of Guajacum or rowles but after the use of it there is need of taking some liquor by whose vehicle the extract may be distributed and carried into the whol body nay these extracts according to the opinion of Hercules Saxonia have scarce so great strength as to overcome this disease if it be very great and ancient but the decoction is deservedly preferred before them Hercules Saxonia de lue Vener cap. 27. writes that the oyl is stronger The oyl of Guajacnm and he thinks the whol Alexipharmacal power of the wood is placed in this Oyl and he relates that he hath proved by experience that by the benefit of this oyl the greatest and ancientest disease hath been overcome But he gives it divers waies in wasted bodies with milk in others of a hotter temperament with Conserve of Roses or whey of Goats in Melancholly with conserve of Burrage or Bugloss in Flegmatick with Conserve of Betony in those that have knobs with Turpentine and two scruples for a dose But doubtless it was not oyl which Saxonia gave but a liquid extract or Tincture as they cal it For no oyl is distilled from this wood by an Alembick but that which is distilled by a retort or descent by an open fire is found to be such that it cannot conveniently be given into the body nay scarce with safety I attribute more to the spirit of Guajacum The spirit of Guajacum the preparation of which is not every bodies work for it requires a longer and more diligent digestion and fermentation for
the preparing of it There are some also who think the leaves and fruit of this tree being reduced into Conserves and Electuaries are to be used and they relate that the Indians infected with this disease do use them as Medicines but though the leaves and fruit may do somwhat in a light disease yet they are not sufficient in that which is great and inveterate neither are they able to perform what the wood doth But 't is observed that the fruit of this Tree hath also a power vehemently to loosen the Belly and whenas a fresh and light disease is somtimes cured only with purges 't is no wonder that the Indians may be cured by these purging fruits especial since that al Alexipharmacal vertue against this disease cannot be denyed them CHAP. XIV Of Sarsaparilla NExt to Guajacum Sarsaparilla that Root challengeth the first place in curing the Veneral disease which some call Spartam Parillam some Salsam Parillam the Spaniards Sarsam Parillam by reason of the similitude which it hath with the plant called rough bindweed By reason of its thornes 't is cailed Sarsa for Sarsa in Spanish signifies Bryers or Brambles but by reason of its leaves and boughs Parilla that is to say the thorny vine Nay Fallopius de Morb. Galli Cap. 63. is of that opinion that it is truly the rough bindweed which grows every where in Italy and he writes that by the use of it he hath with happy success freed many from the French Pox. Dioscorides also Lib. 4. Cap. 139. writes thus of the rough bindweed its leaves and fruit being drank before and after are antidotes against deadly poysons and besides 't is delivered that if somwhat of them poudered be given to a new born infant to drink no poyson shal afterwards hurt it But grant it be so that the Italian rough bindweed can do somwhat against this disease as also against other poysons yet he himself grants that there is no light difference betwixt this and the Indian But Sarsaparilla grows in Peru The native place of sarsaparilla in the hedges as rough bindweed the white and black Bryony and hops do in Europe The Root creeps far up and down by the Earth that 't is oftentimes above six cubits long which gathered into bundles is brought over to us The good and fresh is white solid but that which is reddish and poudery when 't is broke is less effectual It s vertue as I have said is very great also in curing this disease The vertue of it and 't is found by experience that many have been cured by the use of it without Guajacum and because 't is more Temperate and moderatly hot and without any acrimony bitterness or astriction or smel but hath a certain obscure sweetness it may safely be given to al constitutions of body and al Ages besides 't is of thin parts provokes sweat dries eminently resists putrefaction wasts superfluous humidity somwaht loosneth the body and therefore is wont in some sort to weaken the stomach but though Guajacum be more powerful and efficacious yet Sarsa in this exceeds that wood that it hath an eminent power to allay the French pains though never so accute and stubborn by reason of its exceeding tenuity penetrating and laxative vertue and Jul. Palmarius writes that no pain can happen so contumacious and so continual which at length it doth not lay asleep and overcome if any one use the decoction of it for a long time and constantly Nay al knotty French Tumors so they be not bony in what part soever they are are Rooted out by the use of it their matter being melted and cast forth by sweats or at the least wasted and emptyed by insensible perspiration and Fallopius writes in the alleaged place that if after the disease is overcome there remain Ulcers Clefts about the ARsehole that Sarsaparilla will heal them sooner by half than the Indian wood and in a short time also the most hard knobs are discussed by it Yet some admonish here that by Guajacum indeed this disease may be perfectly cured and that al things are found in Guajacum which are necessary for the cure of this disease but that sarsa doth not alone but mixt with Guajacum China Root and Sassafras wood cure this disease and for this reason because it loosness the stomach heats less is void of al acrimony and therefore is not so abstersive and being inodorous hath not the power to refresh the spirits But these accusations fetcht from the manifest qualities seem not to be sufficient truly that Guajacum doth challenge the first place in this disease is not to be denied in the interim it hath been observed also by many that somtimes this disease hath been cured by the use of this Root only and if perhaps it do to much lax the stomach that may easily be prevented But this also is given divers waies The manner of giving it for the most part as Guajacum in the decoction concerning which we must note they that wil not spare for cost and desire the decoction should be more effectual they ought to take only the bark as which is the more effectual part of the Root and to cast away the inner piths as that which is less effectual nay as 't is delivered by some 't is more cold and hath a certain astrictive faculty But the Root of Sarsaparilla is taken being sliced thin and to one ounce of it is poured two pound of water The decoction or to two ounces and an half of the Root four pound of Water some pour to four ounces of the Root feven pound of Water others to three ounces ten pound of water Neither can the quantity of the water to the Root be so strictly prescribed but it may be varied according to the Nature of the disease and the condition of the sick and the season of the year For in an inveterate disease there is need of a stronger decoction in a new of a weaker But it is steeped first of al fifteen hours or twenty and afterwards boyled to the Consumption of one half and reasons liquorish and other things are added to the decoction as need requires as in the decoction of Guajacum and because the decoction of Sarsa doth somwhat lax the stomach for the most part mint Betony or somwhat else that strengthens the stomach is to be added or what seems more commodious Guajacum or least the mixture of divers things may breed nauseousness after the taking of the decoction of Sarsaparilla they must take somwhat that strengthens the stomach After the first decoction is prepared The second decoction fifteen pound of water are poured again to the remainders and are boyled til a third is wasted and the decoction is used at dinner and Supper some also add towards the end of the decoction three pound of Wine yet this must be done then only as Fallopius thinks either when the sick body goes
Cloves Pepper Saffron of each four scruples of Cinamone Myrrh Castor Styrax Calamite of each three drams of good Honey as much as is Sufficient make an Opiate Jul. Palmarius Fernelius his Scholer followed him who as was said before in Lib. 1. de lue Vener Cap. 7. writes that Fernelius was most averse from the use of Quick-silver and first dared to promise the Cure of this Disease without the help of that and did take care for the compounding of many Alexiphatmaca at his House which he administred against the Mischeif of this Disease with Guajacum and also without it two of the which which he found to be most excellent and efficatious he describes the first was discribed even now the other is this Take of Divils-bit Scabious Burnet flowers of Marigold Mullein Plantane Balme Rue Broom Origanum Rosemary flowers Red Roses of each three drams of the Seeds of Citron Sorrel Fennel blessed Thistle of the Roots of Dittander Gilliflowers Tormentil round Birthwort Gentian Zedoary Roman Woolfesbane of each two drams Hartshorn shavings of Ivory Wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders Choice Cinamome of each half an ounce Saffron Cloves Nutmeg of each two drams And he relates that he called the first composition the greatet Opiate the other the less and that he gave for a dose half a dram of either with the like quantity of conserve of Bugloss and half a scruple of Mithridate and somtime without Mithridate but that he after Fernelius departed this life out of them both did compleat one adding also certain other Medicines which he found to be prevalent against poysons and most fit to provoke sweat the description of which is this Take of water germander half an ounce of divels-bit scabious burnet Palmarius his antidote Poley Mount peneroyal calamint white sweet smelling Horehound origanum mint St. Johns-wort centory the less French Lavender Germander Ground Pine Plantane Balme rue Time Elder each two drams of Hyssop the lesser Sage Oake Ferne vervin both speedwels each two drams Flowers of Betony Marigould Mullen Broome Rosemary Jasmin Sage Red Roses St. Johns wort Bugloss Burrage Violets Water Lilies of each three drams Seeds of Anis both Parsleys wild Carot Scarlet Graines St Johns Wort Libistick Rue Lovage Basil Berries of Bay Juniper seeds of both Pionies Hartwort of each on dram and half Seeds of citron Sorel Blessed Thistle Fennel of each three drams of the roots of male Piony Round Birthwort Gentian Sweet cane Flowerdeluce of Florence Sweet Cyprus each one dram of Angelico Dittander Gilliflowers tormentil Zedoary Romane Woolfesbane of each three drams and an half of choice perle three drams and hal of Harts horn Shavings of Ivory each one ounce wood of aloes yellow saunders bone of the heart of a hart both currals each half an ounce choice cinamon one dram and half Balsome wood if it may be had one ounce of al pretious stones each half a dram of Nutmeg mace loves myrrh styrax Calamite Benjamin Saffron Castor each half a dram juice of liquorish one ounce oyl of the seeds of Fennel Anise of Sage mint juniper Nutmeg Cloves red opobalsamum brought out of America if it be to be had of each one dram Let al the the herbs flowers and rootes be gathered at that time they are of greatest strength let them be dryed and kept in paper cases then al of them being reduced into a most fine pouder let them be mixt with wine and honey and be boyled into an electuary til it comes to the thickness of wel prepared mithridate yet the flowers may be candied and kept with sugar that they may be mixt with the other things towards the end of their boyling to one pound of honey mix two ounces of the pouder Let it be kept in a most large earthen vessel whose third part may be empty least it swel up and grow hot neither let it come to that use we shal by and by speake of before it be three years old He ads there also a cordial water and an alexipharmacal pouder their discriptions are these the Cordial water Take Of the leaves of sage mint marioram rue hysop origanum Galmarius his Cordiol water the tops of betony each one handful Bruise them al and put them in a great earthen vessel in a warm place and cover them with the water of blessed thistle that they be under it every day stir them with a stick and before they soure which wil he the fourth or fifth day after Strein out the liquor and keep it casting away the Faeces Again Take of plantane leaves marigold balme mullein St. Johnswort centory the less burnet each two handfuls After they have beensteeped four dayes and streined cast them away and take again of water germander Bivels-bit fennel parsly bugloss burage angelico of each one handful Which also being steeped so many dayes streined and then cast away Take of the roots of angelico dittander tormentil betony Zedoary each half an ounce of galangal three drams Nutmegs Cloves each one dram seeds of Fenel Citron Sorrel Blessed thistle Juniper berries each two drams Shavings of Ivory harts horn wood of aloes Yellow Saunders cinamon each one dram Safforn half a dram make a pouder of it and mixe it with the Liquor streined then weigh out of the amulet against this disease and of choice mithridate each one pound and half of old treacle foure drams and being mixt with the said liquor and pouder and put up in a glass alembick or an earthen one glazed expose them six or eight dayes to the heat of June til they grow hot and be perfectly fermented and at length distil them in a double vessel with a most gentle fire If the same simples be put into a new pot with the water of bastard saffron and be heated fifteen dayes in warm horse-dung there wil be extracted a more excellent Water Take of the aforesaid water three ounces Syrup of Lemmons and Violets of each six drams Make a dose A Description of the Pouder Take of the shavings of Ivory Palmarius his Alexipharmacal Pouder the younger Harts-horn Choice Pearles of each half a dram wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders the bone of the heart of a Hart of each one scruple Seeds of Fennel Coriander prepared of each one dram the Leaves of Mint Plantane Vervin Burnet of each two scruples the Roots of Tormentil Betony Zedoary of each half a dram the dryed flowers of Betony Marigold Broom of each half a dram Sugar of Roses three times as much Make a fine Pouder The dose is one spoonful beforemeat and before a drauft of the sweating drink if the Patient refuse the use of the Opiate And in cap. 13. Lib. de lue Vener where he disputes whether this Disease may be perfectly cured by the use of Guajacum alone or whether there be need of the assistance of other Medicines joyned with it at last he concludes with a distinction that the vertue of Guajacum is neither so great that that
guarded with a defensive Oyntment the Ulcer must be washt with the Decoction of Scabious Horehound and especially Soape-wort and Guajacum afterwards let the Ulcer be anointed with some convenient unguent those Oyntments are chiefly profitable which have Mercury in them either a live or sublimate or precipitate or Cinnabar And in Ulcers of the Yard and rottenness of the Nut as they speak Hercules Saxonia writes there is no Medicine yet found out more profitable then precipitate yet it ought not to be applied but where there is a thick filth but in clean Ulcers t is not to be used Eustachius Rudius Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 19. commends two Oyntments especially The first is Take of Oyl of Roses sweet Almonds of each half an ounce The Mercurial Vnguent Oyntment of Rozin which is made of pure oyl Rozin of the Pine Turpentine and Yellow Wax six drams Mercury Precipitate one dram a little Wax Mix al over the fire except the Mercury precipitate and taking them of the fire stir them carefully til they are cool then add the precipitate yet according to the Nature of of the Vlcer and the part affected with it you may add more or less of the mercury precipitate The other is this Take of Oyl of sweet Almonds Oyntment of Roses of each three ounces new wax one ounce Mercury precipitate half an ounce Mix them And those Oyntments are good not only for the Ulcers of the Yard but for French Ulcers of other parts for the Disease called Ficus swellings in the Fundaments and Crusts The Balsame of Mercury also is good which is thus prepared Take of Quick silver dissolved in spirit of Nitre to one pound of this dissolution pour of Oyl of Olives three ounces Let them stand and digest eight daies afterwards separate the oyl and keep it for your use Or Take the Yelk of one Egg boyled hard Honey one ounce Mix them over a gentle fire let them boyl and add of Mercury Sublimate half a dram After mundification this Oyntment also may be used Take of the best aloe half an ounce Crocus Martis two drams Frankincense red Lead of each one dram Honey half an ounce Turpentine two drams the Yelk of an Egg. Mix them But occult and hidden ulcers are wont to lie hid either bound up under the foreskin Hidden Vlcers or else are in the internal passage of the Yard if the Ulcer be under the fore-skin contracted either a convenient medicine is to be injected by a syringe and afterwards a tent dipt in oyntment is with a probe to be applied to the part affected or the fore-skin must be cut long waies and necessary Medicines be layed to it But if the ulcers be in the very passage of a mans Yard Vlcers in the passage of the Yard they are hard to be cured and have caruncles joyned with them or fleshy excressences which hinder the emission of the urine therefore in a slight ulcer we must inject Plantane water in which Alum litharge and white Lead have been boyled but in more grieous ulcers use this Liniment Take of Mercury precipitate one ounce Mercury sublimate one dram burnt lead two drams Grind them on a Marble stone wash them often with rose-Rose-water and let them dry in the shade Afterwards take of Hogs Fat six ounces White Wax two drams Let them be dissolved over the fire and add the pouder and two scruples of Camphire Make a Limment which must be besmeared over a Candle made of five ounces of White Wax and one ounce of Turpentine and let the Candle be put up into the Vrinary passage or let some convenient plaister wrapt over a smal probe be thrust in the Caruncle being taken away a drying and consolidating oyntment must be cast in But if there be an ulcer in the womb In the womb and that sordid and creeping the evil is incurable but the slighter are cured by injections of Alum waters in which Guajacum and Sarsaparilla is boyled or with pessaries of the juyce of Plantane with pouder of Aloes Bole Armenick white Lead and the like In a very sordid ulcer the Oyntment Aegyptiacum may be added or some Mercurial unguent and at last a drying and consolidating Oyntment may be used as that of Tutty or the like In more grieous ulcers suffumigations of the Womb are most profitable but whenas the Pipes are overheated by the coals these candels of Hercules Saxonia are good for a fume Take of Styrax Calamite Beniamin of each six drams wood of Aloes seven scruples white Frankincense one ounce Ladanum one dram and an half Orrice Cloves of each two drams Damask Roses six drams Cinnabar two drams coales of Willow half a pound Aqua Vitae as much as is sufficient Make Candels By the same Medicines the ulcers of the Guts are Cured But to the ulcers of the jaws whenas such Medicines cannot be applied make a Gargarisme of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla Vlcer of the Jaws the bark of Guajacum the Leaves of plantane scabious mittle red roses pomegranate pil sumach to which ad a little alume the decoction may be made in water and towards the end ad a little austere wine after they are washt the ulcers must be clensed with oyl of sulphur adding a convenient liquor or the compound water of alum which is thus prepared Take of mercury sublimate roch allum each one ounce The compound water of alum Grind them on marble stone then ad to them juyce of Lemons three ounces plantane water one pound and an half rose water nine ounces Boyl them in a glass to the consumption of the fifth part But you must have a care that no part of such medicines be swallowed down butter of antimony so called is very efficacious if the ulcer be gently touched with a piece of cotton moistned with the butter but there is need of the same caution here but whenas it cannot alwaies be prevented but somewhat wil slide into the stomach and so such medicines cannot be given safely enough but on the contrary other more gentle medicines are of little efficacy these ulcers are hard to be cured nay oftentimes are incurable the solution of gold is more safely applied to these ulcers prepared after this manner Take fifteen leaves of Gold roch alume nitere Salt each one ounce grind them on marble and poure to it some drops of spirits of vitriol afterwards poure on it spirits of wine two fingers bredth above it and let them stand in warm ashes last of al boyl that the leaves of the gold may be dissolved and the spirits of wine grow yellow Seperate the Spirits of wine by distillation then poure more on again and digest it and do this so often til the spirits of wine dissolve the gold and the salts be left at the bottom at last seperate the spirits of wine by distillation till t is dry and pour on spirits of turpintine and digest it eight dayes in a warm
place till the gold be dissolved with this solution wash the part affected twice every day Ulcers of the nose are cured by errhines or infusions by pouders strewed on it Of the nose by suffumigations made of Guajacum and cinnabar Clefts of the bands and feet If there be chaps and clefts in the palmes of the hands and soles of the feet Clefts of the hands and feet let them be washt with the decoction of Guajacum its barke scabious water germander cinquefoile and if there be hardness with it take also marsh mallowes or the root of wild cowcumber afterwards use an ointment of butter goose-grease or hens ammoniacum bdellium apples to which ad alittle of unflaked loome or precipitate or the oyntment proposed before Or Take of hogs-grease as much as you please and put as much oyl of tartar to it that by it the oyntment may be made sharpe If the evil yeeld not to these apply a particular suffumigation of cinnabar Hercules Saxonia de lue vener Cap. 30. writes that he hath observed a certain woman who for eight years together had clefts in her hands and had used the help of al the Venetian and Padua doctors to no purpose was in a short time easily cured with the juce of an herb which some cal mugwort others tansie being carefully dropt with a feather into al the clefts and forbearing to wash her hands at al and that he hath found the same juyce profitable in ringworms and Crusty Uloers Buboes Concerning buboes which are wont often to break forth in the groines in the Venereal disease we must hold fast this in general that we do our endeavor The cure of buboes to help the expulsion of that matter which nature assayes and indeavors to thrust forth to the more ignoble parts whenas sometimes by this evacuation nature is wont to free her self from al that disease therefore if a buboe break not forth enough and increaseth but tendeth not to suppuration we must use our endeavor to draw it forth and suppurate it Therefore the thigh of the same side must be rubbed and scatified about the lower part or else a vein must be opened about that place but on the bubo it self there must be layd strong drawing medicines As Take of sagapen Ammoniacum each three drams opoponax Bdellium each two drams mustard pepper Pellitory of spain of each one dram blacke sope half one ounce mix them and with wax and pitch make an emplaster Yet if nature be opprest with the plenty of virulent matter that it cannot expel it al then 't is good to give a purge that part of the butthen being taken off nature may the easier expel the rest When the tumor hath broke forth enough we must take care it be speedily opened and be kept open a long while that it may suppurate we must lay on it those maturatives which are wont to be applied in inflamations of the mucilage of mallows marsh-mallows wheat and flax seed figs hogs-grease goose-grease and the like or the simples diachyled or that compound with gums when 't is mattered we must not expect that the bubo should open of it self but it must be opened betimes least the virulent humor detained there do hurt other parts the tumor being opened the forementioned digestives and abstersives must be layd on to which there wil be need sometimes to ad a little of mercury precipitate and the ulcer must be kept open a long time Yet in cold buboes there is no such feare that the matter should ascend to other parts but if purgers and sweaters and proper alexipharmaca be applied sometimes the bubo doth wholly vanish without any danger Gummosities and Nodes Truely Such tumors and nodes which do rise in places void of flesh as the forehead the skul and the outward part of the legs do oftentimes vanish if the disease be perfectly cured especially after the use of sarsaparilla which is most effectual in discussing of these diseases and after the use of mercurial unctions which are applied to such tumors yet if after the cure is inded such tumors and nodes remain things emmollient attenuating and digesting must be laid udon them and that are strong as the rootsof wild cowcumber bdellium sagapen opoponax and cheifly ammoniacum or diachylon with gums or a mercurial cerote this is good and proved by experience Take Of the plaister diachylum with gums one ounce fimple diachylum half an ounce mercury killed with spittle one ounce oyl of guajacum as much as is sufficient make aplaster Or Take of Ammoniacum Opoponax Gume of ivy dissolved in aqua vitae hens and goose grease each one ounce and half the marow of a calfs leg one ounce ladanum styrax calamite and liquid each two drams the pouder of hermodactil roots orrice each three drams cinnabar one dram quick silver mix with turpintine six drams oyl of lillies and wax as much as is sfficient make acerote Also the lavatories made of mercury mentioned before are good in these tumors If these things do not satisfie the tumors must be opened with causticks especially if they be not in the joynts nerves tendons and the place must be kept open and the bone underneath which for the most part is hurt must be seraped Smal Bunchings and pustles Bunchings also and smal pustles thymi verrucae favi Bunchings and pustles as in other parts of the body so especially they are wont to rise in the head about the arsehole yard and privities in the french pox which though sometimes after a universal cure they vanish of their own accord yet sometimes also they require a peculiar cure This sort of bunchings which are in the head must be washed often with the decoction of guajacum and cheifly of the barke of it and sarsaparilla some use oyl of scorpions and vipers to which if they yeeld not they must be anointed with some mercurial unguent or the compound water of allum prepared of roch allum and mercury sublimate which some also prepare thus Take Of roch allum Mercury sublimate each two drams grind them ad of plantane and rose water each one pound Boyl them in a glass to the consumption of half afterwards let them stand fifteen dayes that the allum and mercury may sink to the bottom and let the cleare water be poured off and kept for your use If the pustles be in the mouth use washing of the mouth with the decoction of guajacum or if there be an inflamation with chalybeate whey to which may be added roses and plantane and if the pustles be soule ad scabious and ten graines of alum to every pint of the whey or decoction The compound alum water even now described is most profitable yet in pustles of the mouth t is not safe to use that alone but it must be diluted with a treble or quadruple quantity of rose and plentane water But the pustles of the arsehole and yard must every day
this Caution and good cause there is also for it that these Oyls and Fat 's are warily and carefully to be made use of For in regard that the Gout hath often some kind of alliance with the Erysipelas as to the cause thereof and that it is a thing generally wel known how that all fat things that stop up the pores in the Erysipelas do more hurt than benefit the very same seemeth likewise to be feared in the Gout lest that the Pores being stopt up by these fats the humor being detained within the pain may be augmented and this even very experience testifieth And it was related unto me by a certain honest Neighbor of mine that he himself in the asswaging of the Gout pains in his own Body found nothing to be better than Cheese of Sheeps Milk new and fresh made and laid on but often renewed For no sooner did the Cheese begin being made hot by the heat of the part to become fat and to drop forth butter as it were but as he said his pain was thereupon very much increased Take the Pith of wheaten Bread half a pound and boyl it in as much new Milk as wil serve to make a Cataplasm and then add of the mucilage of Marshmallow seeds two ounces the meal of Linseeds and Fenugreek of each two drams Powder of Camomil flowers and Melilote of each one ounce Saffron one dram Oyl of Roses and Camomil of each half an ounce and mingle them wel together Or Take Milk newly come from the Cow one ounce and half Crumbs of white Bread five drams Barly meal one ounce and half the common Hermodactyles six drams Saffron one dram Oyl of Camomile as much as wil suffice and make hereof a Cataplasm Or Take white Bread six ounces Milk as much as wil suffice and mingle them wel at the fire and then add the Yelks of two Eggs Electuary of Roses two ounces Saffron one scruple and mingle them Or Take the Meal of Barly of Beans of the bitter Vetch Orobus of each one ounce of Linseed six drams the Powder of Camomile flowers three drams of Melilote two drams of Saffron one scruple boyl them in a sufficient quantity of the Water of Camomile flowers then add the Yelks of two Eggs Oyl of Camomile and Roses of each one ounce and mingle them Or Take the soft Crumbs of Wheaten Bread one ounce Powder of the Mullein flowers two ounces boyl them in Milk and then add of the flower of Cassia one ounce and mingle them Or Take of Linseeds and Fenugreek seeds equal parts of each let the Mucilage be drawn out of them with rose-Rose-water and then add the yelks of two Eggs and a little Vinegar and then sprinkle in Bean Meal and make a Cataplasm Or Take Meal of Barly of Linseed of Fenugreek of Beans Powder of Camomile flowers of each half an ounce Marsh-mallow Roots one ounce Oyl of Roses and Camomile of each one ounce and half Yelks of three Eggs the Rob of Wine one ounce mingle them and make a Cataplasm Or Take the flowers of Mulleyn as much as you think fit infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Red Wine for two months and then let them be distilled let the place be fomented with the distilled water and then after anoynted with the Oyl or Liquor of Mulleyn flowers that is in the Summer time collected by the Sun-beams in a Glass close stopped Or Take the yong and tender buds of the Hazel Tree press the Oyl out of them after the same manner as it is wont to be made of Linseed The Body of it that remaineth after the pressing forth of the Oyl let it be burnt and out of the Ashes let there be the Salt drawn forth with pure spring water and let this be mingled with the aforesaid Oyl The Oyl when it is mingled with the Salt let it be clarified by pouring and passing it through a Box of Wood as Painters are wont to clarifie the Oyl of Linseed for their own use and so it becomes a very excellent Medicament for the mitigating of pains But now these very Anodynes themselves may be somwhat varied according to the quality of the humor and in a humor that is more hot there may be added some certain things that are cooling as Roses and the Water that cometh from them Plantane Water and the like But in a cold Cause the Flowers of Camomile and Melilote Wormwood Linseed and Fenugreek may be added Narcoticks If Anodynes be not sufficient for the aforesaid purpose Narcoticks then Narcoticks are to be made use of which in regard that they bring a certain kind of numness upon the part they do not only forth with asswage the pain but they likewise by their heat which they obtain do also withal resolve the humors and so with benefit and safety and without any danger at al as it is thought they may be made use of as Platerus writeth in the 2. B. of his Practice and therfore he as likewise many others have done much commendeth the Leaves of Henbant and Mandâ—ake and Poppy if while they be new they be first bruised or boyled and so laid upon the part and their Oyls are also very useful and so is the Juyce also that is pressed forth of them and used for a fomentation as likewise the Root of Mandtake and Henbane seed applied together with other things in the form of a Cataplasm The new and fresh Leaves likewise of Tobacco bruised and laid upon the pained part do asswage the pain And the same Platerus as likewise other Authors have here recourse unto Opium also and they mingle it together with other Anodynes and unto two ounces of these they add a dram of Opium And he writeth also that if it be dissolved in the infusion of the Spirit of Wine alone or the infusion of Saffron four ounces of the yellowest of it and one scruple of Camphyre with a dram of Opium and the part where the pain is be wel washed or bathed with the said Liquor it is a most efficacious and soveraign Remedy And so likewise the Opiate Antidores as Treacle Mithridate Philonium may be added while they are new especially in case the quantity of the Opium may be augmented And yet notwithstanding we are not to continue long in the use of these Opiates in regard that they are enemies unto the native heat and Nerves And yet nevertheless the same Platerus tels us in the first B. of his Practice Chap. 5. of the burting of the Touch that he could never find that the Skin could be made stupid and sensless of pain by any external Narcotick applied thereunto albeit that so he might know somwhat of a certainty he had applied a Mass of Opium when he had first softened it unto the part pained with the Gout But the truth indeed is that Narcoticks when they are administred do very easily asswage the pain but then withal it being so that they hinder the motion
Oxycrate then add the Yelks of two Eggs Saffron one scruple and mingle them Or Take Mucillage of the Seed of Fleabane extracted with Rose Water two ounces Mucillage of Marsh Mallow Seeds one ounce Barly Meal as much as will suffice the yelk of one Egge and so make a Cataplasm Or Take The water of the Sperm of Frogs four ounces Water of Nightshade of the flowers of Elder and of Plantane of each two ounces Camphire half a scruple and mingle them well together If you think fit the Mucillage of the Seed of Fleabane and of Quinces of each one ounce may be added Or Take Juyce of Henbane Sengreen Lettice of each two ounces Barly Meal one ounce the Yelk of one Egg and Oyl of Roses two ounces Mingle them well together Or Take Red Roses â—ne handful the Meal of Fenugreek Seed Beans and Barly of each one ounce Red Sanders one dram and half Camomile flowers one pugil when they are boyled and throughly bruised you are to add the Yelks of two Eggs Vinegar four ounces Oyl of Roses as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Or. Take Water of Night-shade of Plantane of the Sperm of Frogs of each two ounces Oyl of Roses and Camomile of each one ounce Cows Milk three ounces the Meal of Beans Marsh-Mallows and Barly of each one ounce or as much as will suffice Saffron one scruple the yelks of two Eggs Smallage two scruples Make a Cataplasm Some there are that steep Harts-born burnt and prepared in the Water of Mulleyn flowers or else they boyl it in the same Water and in the streyning they wet and soak Linen Clothes and these they lay upon the part that is pained Or Take Mulleyn new and fresh gathered six pound Wine one Quart Let them be Macerated for three whole daies and then afterwards let them be destilled Or Take The Flowers of Mulleyn and fill a Glass bâ—ttle ful of them and then stopping the month thereof very close set it in the Sun for so they dissolve as it were into a liquor wherein you are to wet a Linen Cloath and lay it upon the part affected for the asswaging of the pain If you judget sitter to make use of Oyls Then Take Frogs five of them in Number Earth-worms washed in Wine three ounces boyl them in the Oyl of Roses and strain them Discussing Medicaments But now when the force and violence of the fluxion is once past and gone Discussives and the part become swoln then those things are withall to be mingled which do cal forth the Humor and gently discuss the same and so take away some part of the Cause But now here Physitiaus are wont for the most part of them to be very long and Tedious in reckoning up and distinguishing the several Medicaments which of them are fit and proper in a hot Cause and which of them when the Cause is cold yea and which of them are most convenient for all kind of Humors But although we deny not but that we are in some kind of manner to have respect unto the Condition of the Humor that floweth in unto the Joynts yet nevertheless our chief and main Care ought to be that the ferous and sharp wheyish Humor which is the nighest and most principal Cause of the pain may be called forth of the more deep and close parts in the Joynts unto the external parts and that they be insensibly discussed and yet that this may the more conveniently be so done we may likewise as we said but now have some regard unto those Humors that the aforesaid serous and sharp Humor forcibly draweth along with it and which by Reason of the pain are together attracted to the part that is pained and which are very commonly taken for the highest and most immediate Cause of the Gout Yea and moreover that very serous Humor it self the prime and principal Cause of this Evil is in some more and in others less hot And therefore if the flowing Humor be more hot then the discussing Medicaments ought to be so ordered that they may indeed gently disperse the Humor but yet so that they give no occasion at all for any new afflux And such a like hot Humor inregard that it is withall moveable and thin is easily discussed neither needeth it any stronger Medicaments But if the Humor be less hot or somwhat cold then we may very safely administer Medicaments that are more hot Neither will there be any Cause to fear that then a new flux may easily be excited and therefore for the dispersing of such a like Humor there are necessarily required such Medicaments as are more hot then ordinary But now with what Medicaments that wheyish and as it is so called by the Chymists Tartarous Humore is to be drawn forth and discussed we are here and that for very good Reason diligently to make inquiry For we have elswhere told you viz. in our Tract of Chymic Confil. Diss Chap. 15. that the Medicaments ought in their own kind to be like unto the Cause For there is not any thing that suffereth from every thing neither is there any thing that may be united unto every thing Gum Arabick and Tragacanth and the Gum of Cherry Trees are dissolved by Water because of the neer alliance and agreement in their Natures but but so is not Sulphur and other things of a Sulphurous Nature and those things that are Oyly Sulphur is dissolved by Oyl but not by Aqua Fortis although the said Water is able to dissolve silver and other Metals The hands when they are all foul with Pitch or Turpentine are not to be made clean with Water but with Oyl or some thing else that is fat In burnings we use not to administer cold Water but Linseed Oyl Vernish and the like that may draw forth that fire and burning are to be applied And so in the Erysipelas or other wise called Rosa we ought not to impose those things that are fat and Oyly but ley tempered with Oyl and Sope that is dissolved in Elder Water and the Like which do not at al shut the pores but yet nevertheless they draw forth and discuss that subtile and hot Humor And the very same is the case in the Gout and since that it hath its Original not from a Watery Humor neither yet also from that which is Oyly or Sulphurous as the Chymists speak but from a Humor that is sharp and Salt for the drawing forth and dissipating of this Humor those things that contain in them a volatile and flitting Salt are rather to be administred then those things that are fat and Oyly And experience hath already taught many that the Gout pains are increased by such things as are fat And hence it is that the Chymists do so much commend and not without cause Salt Armoniack oftentimes sublimated dissolved in Wine or some other convenient liquor and so imposed upon the pained part Others commend the Salt of Urine
as for the brine which at length he findeth melted in the pot he gathereth it all together and this he keepeth to anoint the joynts when they are pained But because that it vehemently drieth and discusseth and wonderfully strengtheneth the part that is made loose by the Humor he tels us therefore that it is best to use it in the very first beginning of the pain and before it hath gotten unto any heighth or else in the end and declining of the Paroxysm to consume the matter and to add strength and firmness unto the part and more especially if there be now and then interposed a fomentation and washing of the parts with the Decoction of Mulleyn Wormwood Camomile Bears-ears or French Cowslips Sage Ground-pine or Herb Ivy Mugwort Rosemary Melilot and others of this kind that have a power to cut cleanse discuss meanly to dry and strengthen And this Plaister is likewise very much commended Take Gum Caranna one ounce and half Gum Tacamahaca six drams the Oxycreccum Emplaster nine ounces White Wax five drams Powder of the greater Consound two drams With the Oyl of Camomile make an Emplaster according to Art which being applied unto the pained part doth greatly draw forth the matter and ease the pain And of such Kind of Medicaments as these there are many more in great abundance to be found in Platerus his second Book of Practice and elswhere in others And yet notwithstanding I think it not amiss here to give you notice of this that in the applying of all manner of Topicks we are diligently to heed the signs of those that benefit and those that hurt and offend For albeit the nighest Cause of the Gout be a wheyish salt and tartarous humor or cal it by what name soever you please yet nevertheless it is not for nothing that the Chymists give us notice as we shal further shew you below in the sixth Question that there are in the Earth and Plants divers kinds of Salts or as Platerus speaketh that the humor the Cause of the Gout is mingled with the Ichores of the excrementitious humors which render the same more vehement and violent And hence it is that not only in divers and several Persons but likewise in one and the same Person according to his several ages the nature of the pain is different and not evermore one and the same And then lastly for the discussing of the Reliques and Remainders there may be made fomentations of Mugwort Organy Wormwood Betony Calamint Flowers of Arabian Staechas Lavender Camomile Melilote boyled in Wine and Water which withal strengthen the part But here Crato doth rightly advise us in his Consil 240 that we weâ— the Feet as little as may be but that the vapor be only received by the Feet And indeed such like fomentations are most convenient And yet notwithstanding if there be a few more Plants boyled in the Water and a little salt added or else if a Lixivium or Ley be poured thereunto there is no discommodity to be expected from the humectation or if we do at all fear any hurt lest that the waterish humidity should after the hath be left in the part affected the following Trochisks may be cast upon the Coals of Fire and the smoak received by the part affected Take Gum Juniper and Frankincense of each two drams Ladanum and Benzoin of each one ounce Cinnamom Cloves and Nutmeg of each half a dram make them into a Powder and incorporate them with Gum Tragacanth and then make Trochisks thereof There is likewise very much commended a Bath of Juniper Wood as also of the Decoction of a whol Fox adding thereto Frogs and Earth-worms and the Heths before recited Or else let the Feet be anoynted with some convenient Liniment or Unguent Galen in his 2. B. of simple Medic. Chap. 18. as likewise many other Authors do much commed the Chafing and Rubbing of salted Oyl into the part affected For in all those saith Aetius tetrab 3. serm 4. Cap. 21. that are chafed in this manner the Natural innate heat is augmented that which is preternatural is dispersed the Excrements are consumed and the affected Members are rendred more strong so that they are no further obnoxious and subject unto pains especially if from day to day all their whol life long they be diligent in the use of this Remedy every morning and evening Touching which Philagrius very confidently and without doubt Hyperbolically is bold to pronounce as Aetius writeth in the place alleadged that even this one Remedy alone is sufficient for them that either most of all transgress in matter of Dyet or such as are immoderately cooled or sick with over hard labor or such as have been excessive in the use of Venery or such lastly as have run into any other error and excess But now because that the Oyl and Salt are not easily mingled the Salt is first of all to be moistened in hot Wine and afterward in a Mortar to be diligently mingled with the Oyl and alwaies before this Liniment be put unto use the Salt is throughly to be mingled with the Oyl Neither is it sufficient only to anoynt but the Joynts are also to be wel â—ubbed that so the force and virtue of the Medicament may the better penetrate Take Castoreum and Frankincense of each one dram and half Marrow of a Hart the fat of a Goose of each three drams Oyl of Mastich and Mints of each two ounces and half Bdellium and Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar of each half an ounce the meal of Linseed and Fenugreek of each three drams and half Wax as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm The Remedy of Flavius Clemens by the use of which as it is reparted men that have been destroyed in their whol body by the Gout Podagra and Chiragra have been so well recovered that they have walked without any hurt or hinderance is described by Galen in his 7. B. of the Composit of Medicam according to their kind Chapt. 12. where he hath also other Receipts of this Nature and so likewise in his 10. B. of the Compofit of Medicaments according to the place Chap. 2. Or Take Gum of the Pine Tree one ounce black Pitch two ounces Wax one ounce and half the fat of an old Cock two ounces pouder of Hermodactyls and live Sulphur of each three ounces Let there be an Emplaster made thereof and renewed the third day These Remedies immediately following are prescribed by Henricus Stapedius in Consil Scholtzii Consil 238. Take Juniper berries and Marsh-mallows of each two ounces the Leaves of Lawrel Myrtil Sage Betony Cassidony or French Lavender Organy Calaminth Marjoram and Rosemary of each of these half a handful Linseed and Fenugreek of each two ounces Make a Decoction in the Lye of the tender shoots of the Vine adding thereto of common Salt one pound Afterward let them be anointed with the following Oyl Take Roots of Pellitory Nutmeg and Cloves bruised of each
be understood of an insufficient Purgation And here Vomitories seem to be more commodious then Purgers by the Belly in regard that they evacuate the vitious Humors by a place more remote from the part affected But Repellers have here no place at al because that it may Justly be feared lest by the use of these the blood and other Humors may be driven back toward the part affected and may be there heaped up Having first made use of General and Universal Remedies we come then to the imposing of Medicaments that attract and resolve and these ought to be of the stronger sort that they may call forth into the Superficies the Humor that is gotten into a deep place which kind of Medicaments are provided of Herbs that discuss viz. The Leaves of Eldern Danewort or Wallwort Lawrell Rue Betony Camomil Ground pine Rosemary Melilote Mustard Seed and Stavesacre as also the flies Cantharides Pitch Sulphur Turpentine Ammoniacum Galbanum Bdellium Opopanax and Euphorbium Excellent likewise is that Medicament that is made of Sciatica Cresses of which we made mention above as also of Water Cresses and the Herb Piperites or Pepper-wort as some call it As Take Sciatica Cresses Dittander or Pepperwort and Water Cresses of all or one of them four handfuls boyl them in Wine and sprinkle upon them the Meal of Lupines Beans and the bitter Vetch Orobus of each one ounce the powder of dry Rue two drams Flowers of Camomile one dram Costus Root a dram and half Oyl of Turpentine half an ounce Oyl of Earth-worms as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Or Take Mustard seed dissolved in the sharpest Vinegar two ounces sharp and sowr Leaven half an ounce Powder of Hermodactyls two drams Honey three ounces Turpentine four ounces Oyl of Lawrel and Spike of each two ounces the meal of Fenugreek seed one ounce and half Earth of the Antâ—hill with the Ants Eggs one pound Leaves of Lawrel Sage Rue and Rosemary of each half a handful Earth-worms prepared half a pound let the Ants Earth and Eggs with the Earth-worms and Herbs be boyled in white Wine and then being strained let the rest of the Ingredients be mingled therewith Or Take Roots of our Ladies seal which being cut and applied to the Hip are much commended for the removing of the Ischiadick pain six drams the Emplaster Diachylon simplâ—x half an ounce Saffron dissolved in the Spirit of Wine two drams Turpentine one ounce Oyl of Spike as much as is sufficient and make a Cataplasm Or Take Citrine Wax and Turpentine of the Fir Tree of each three ounces let them dissolve together when they shal be cold ad the Powder of Nettle seed and Hermodactyls of each two drams Roots of round Aristolochy or Birthwort Camomile Flowers and Florentine Flower-de-luce of each two drams and half Mirh two drams Saffron four scrupleâ— let them be moulded with the hands being first anoynted with Hogs Grease and make an Emplaster Or Take Wax Missletoe of the Oak Turpentine dry Orrace Mirrh and Galbanum and with the Oyl of Earth-worms make a Cerot Unto which it he pain give not place but stil continue then apply Cupping-glasses with much flame or else Vesicatories But if the Malady wil not yet by these be taken away then we are according to the counsel of Hippocrates in the sixth Sect. of his Aphor. Aphor. 60. to burn the part affected and Celsus likewise approveth of this advice whilest in his 4. B. and Chap. 12. he writeth in this manner It is saith he the last shift and in old diseases also a most efficacious Remedy with glowing hot Irons to exulcerate the Skin in three or four places above the Hip. This Remedy by heating the part dissolveth and evacuateth the thick and viscid humors and if the Ulcers be kept open as they ought to be the vitious matter floweth forth by them As for the manner of burning see more in Paul Aegineta his sixth Book and Chap. 76. and Albucas Part 1. Chap. 43. And some there are likewise that make mention of the Gout of the Verrebrae of the Back in special and we grant indeed that now and then some such kind of Gout there is and this hath also the very same Causes and so requireth the same kind of Cure with the other Gouts But we are here to look wel about us and to have a care that we be not deceived in mistaking every pain of the Back for the Gout For oftentimes it so happeneth that from the serous and wheyish matter flowing down from the Head and descending along the Back and especially according to the Conveyance of the Cucullar Muscle and sticking at the Spina Dorsi in the end of the said Muscle a pain may be excited which yet nevertheless is not the Gout in regard that it happeneth not in the parts pertaining to the Joynt and it is oftentimes likewise of a very short continuance and afflicteth the sick Persons in their sleep but when they awake and arise from their sleep it leaveth them and vanisheth which never happeneth in the true Gout Chap. 7 Of the VVay and Means to prevent the Gout MAny there are that mind only this one thing to wit The way to prevent the Gout that they may be freed from the present pains of the Gout but being freed they take no care at all how they may obtain that they be no more troubled with the same pains neither do they make use of those Medicaments by which they might prevent this Evil nor at all refrain from the Errors of their Dyet and so they suffer the Malady again to arise and so to continue and grow old with them and therefore it is no wonder that there are so few perfectly recovered of the Gout But a precaution and prevention is altogether as necessary as the Cure in special so called Now this Consisteth in three things In what things it consisteth The first is this that there be care taken that there be no matter suffered to gather together which may flow unto the Joynts The second that if any matter be gotten together it be taken away before it rush unto the Joynts And the third is this that the Joynts may not easily receive the same Now if as many do any one shal make it his business only to strengthen the Joynts and in the mean time shal permit the heaping up of the vitious matter in the Body the Patient shal hence reap more burt than good For if there shal be a vitious Matter present in the Body and this not thrust forth unto the Joynts after the usual and accustomed manner being retained in the Body it may flow unto other of the more noble parts and be the Cause of most grievous Diseases And therefore we are here first of all to commend unto the Patient a good course of Dyet and Medicaments that correct the distemper of the Bowels the first intention being best performed by this The second thing
Issues do likewise dayly evacuate some of the serous humor Issues or a certain kind of Sanies and thin Excrement but Experience doth testifie that this Remedy is not in the least to be compared with Sweats and insensible transpiration and it is wel known that many have had some of these Issues made and yet nevertheless they have been afflicted with the Gout in regard that they are not sufficient to draw forth that whol humor that is in the Vessels and much less can they evacuate that which is from day to day collected about the Bowels and is afterwards by the Veins poured forth into the Joynts and especially if there be committed any errors in the Course of Dyet and chiefly if there be an excess in Drinking But yet nevertheless if the Gout hath its Original from some old and long continued Ulcer that is consolidated in the Thighs and the suppressed Evacuation of the Ichor that was wont to flow forth thereby then in this case it wil not be amiss but to very good purpose to make an Issue in the Thigh And so likewise if upon sudden stopping and healing of an Issue in the Arm there happen any fits of the Gout to arise the Issue is then again to be opened What things they are that strengthen the Joynts The third head of preventing the Gout consisteth in the strengthening of the Joynts as most Physitians tell us that so they may not too readily and easily receive the humor flowing unto them The third Member of pre servaetion is the strengthening of the Joynts Whether it be necessary or not But Carolus Piso as we likewise told you above thinks that here in this thing much pains may be taken to little or no pupose it being not within our power would we never so fain since that as he conceiveth that weakness doth not consist in any distemper or nollowness and loosness but in the Natural conformation and termination of the Vessels into the extream Joynts And although that even by this means also we may hinder and prevent that humor from flowing into the Joynts yet he determineth that the sick Person is so far from receiving any benefic from hence that he may also by this means be brought into great peril and hazard of his life the matter being transtated unto the Lungs or some other noble Bowel But in very good earnest it is not a thing to be sleighted and nothing accounted of that the humors chiefly flow into the Joynts in regard that the Vessels are terminated into them and if the matter that was wont to flow into the Joynts be transferred into the more noble Members the sick Person may then be cast into great dangers and as we told you above among the Prognosticks it is a very il sign it the matter that was wont to flow unto the Joynts subsist and abide stil in the Body And therefore we are not wholly to rest and confide in this Remedy or manner of preventing the Gout without using the utmost of our endeavor that those vitious humors may not be generated in the Body or if they be already bred there that they may be frequently evacuated And yet however this is also a certain Truth that if the Joynts be weak and ill disposed the sick Persons are then the more frequently troubled with the fits and not so easily freed from them But now in what this weakness of the Joynts especially consisteth we have shewn you above and we shal likewise shew you further in the eighth Question And therfore if there be any thing in the Joynts either left there after the Paroxysm or collected from some vitious Nutriment it is to be consumed and so the Joynt hath its own Constitution and Natural temperament restored and thus it is said to be strengthened And therefore the Medicaments that are here useful must be Astringent and moderately hearing and drying And yet notwithstanding such Medicaments as these are not to be administred until al the pain and swelling be wholly vanished and that the hard knobs likewise disappear For whilest these are in being Astringents do more hurt than good in regard that they drive the humor into the part affected and there harden it But now for the strengthening of the Joynts The benefit arising from Grape Kernels in the strengthening of the Joynts and the consuming of the Reliques of the humors that are in them the use of Grape Kernels is by many commended as that which affordeth much benefit touching which since that Antonius Donatus ab altomari hath written a whol Book the Reader may consult the same if he please for his further satisfaction This only we shal desire him to take notice of that they are most convenienely used in the Vintage time while they are new and they must be such as are taken out of Grapes that are throughly ripe of the which seeing that in many places there is no great store other Medicaments may be made use of instead of them Yet notwithstanding there are some that likewise use these Grape-stones dried and they boyl them in red Wine and Water and while they are boyling they add to them Sage Betony Germander Primrose and other such like Herbs as also Earth-worms Baths do likewise corroborate the Jovnts Baths strengthning the Joynts For although they be by some rejected in regard that by their actual humidity and heat they attract the humors unto the feet yet nevertheless this inconvenience may easily be prevented if Plants that heat and dry and strengthen the feet be boyled in the Water such as are Betony Sage Germander Roses Cranes-bil Heath Oak Leaves the Wood and betries of Juniper and the Fruit of the Mountain or wild Pine-tree Andemacus his washing of the Feet which as he writeth hath profited many that have made trial thereof is in this manner Take Lye made of the Ashes of the Beech which is to be strained three or four times and then add thereto as much Wine and Allum two ounces and heat them at the fire Or Take Mugwort Wormwood Organy and Camomile slowers of each two handfuls Allum and Salt of each one handful Lye of the ashes of Beech as much as wil suffice and boyl them together for a bath And so likewise for the strengthening of the Joynts very good and useful is a Bath of Juniper Wood if the branches thereof be boyled in Chaly beat Water until the Water be dyed and colored thereby and hath even gotten the color of the Lye And yet nevertheless there may also be added some ounces of Salt or Allum After the Bath the Joynts are to be anointed with the Oyl that is pressed forth out of the Grape Ketnels or the Oyl of Myrtle or Roses or some other such Oyl touching which more anon But hot Baths are by many most especially commended Hot baths strengthen the Joynts although they be disallowed of by others of which we shal speak further in the twelfth
Question And so likewise the Baths that proceed from Sulphur Salt Nitre Vitriol and partly also Baths of Allum Water are very useful if they be made use of in a due and right manner For if the Allum abound the Baths are then to be made use of with great Caution in regard that they shut the pores of the Body and render it unfit to sweat a thing altogether necessary in such as are troubled with the Gout and if there remain any thing in the part affected which may exhale and be dispersed by insensible transpiration they thrust this forth unto the Nervous and Membranous parts and so renew the pain the same that happened to Fabricius in his 5. Century Observat 83. Among the rest the Hirschergensian and Laudeccensian hot Baths in Silesia the Caroline in Bohemia the Badensian in Austria the Martiate now called the Wisbadensian baths the baths not far from Mentz and those likewise at Emsen upon the River Lanus as also those of Aquisgran are al of them very useful for those that have the Gout But the Dirt or Clay of some certain Baths is chiefly to be made use of for the wasting away of the matter that sticketh in these parts and strengtheneth the said parts Where such baths are wanting Fomentations and artificial baths may be made The Lotions or washings of Allum Water are very much commended but yet it is far better that there be Salt and Sulphur added unto the Allum that so if there be yet any of the matter left behind it may be resolved Or Take Flowers of Arabian Orrace of Sage Thyme Cranesbil of each one handful boyl them in common Water or which is better in Water wherein Iron hath been oft-times quenched and to the straining add Sulphur and Nitre of each two ounces Allum one ounce Let them be boyled again and the parts fomented with the Decoction Or Take Leaves of Germander and Betony of each one handful Flowers of wild Roses Arabian Orrace Bears Ears or French Cowslips the common Doves foot of each two handfuls white Vitriol one ounce boyl them for a Fomentation or a Bath But the most ordinary and usual Remedy that is made use of by many is the Unguent we mentioned also before Vnguents and Emplasters where we spake of the Cure which is made of Salt torrefied or dried to a pouder others are rather for the Salt of Juniper and a sufficient quantity of common Oyl or Oyl of Roles mingled into the form of an Unguent with which the Joynts are to be wel rubbed Solenander maketh use of this Liniment after the Lotions Take Oyl Omphacine two ounces Oyl of Mastich one ounce Salt dwed to a pouder two drams Bole Armenick three drams Dragons blood and Hypecistis Frankincense and Mastich of each two drams and half Let every one of these be first beaten into a fine Pouder by themselves and then let them be mingled together with the Oyls in a Mortar into the form of a Liniment The Emplaster Diachalciteos or as some cal it the Emplaster Diapalma laid on is here likewise very useful And this Emplaster is fit and proper in al the joynts whatsoever the humor be that floweth unto them And Solenander in his 4. Sect. Confil. 25. writeth That he knew divers who before were wont very frequently to be troubled with fits of the Gout that by the continual use of this Emplaster and by taking Purges now and then were for the space of five whol yeers freed from those pains And this Emplaster it neither desrleth the part whereon it is laid neither doth it cause any atch or raise pushes nor is it at al offensive either in its smel or any other quality Now it is fitted to the form of the Member In the Feet shoes are made of thin Leather but the Fox skin is more approved of which within are to be covered over with the Emplaster Diachalcitis and so they are fitted to the feet The same Leather spread over with this Emplaster may be applied unto the Knees Hand-wrists and other parts And Linnen Socks likewise washed in Wine with Water then dryed and drawn upon the Feet are very useful and convenient Thomas Erasius commendeth the Sand stone the Latin Physicians cal it Lapis Sabuli if it be mingled with the Oyl of Myrtle and Gentian Roots reduced into a Pouder and laid on in the form of a Cataplasm But yet the same Erastus adviseth us not to use it until it shal manifestly appear that there is no Excrement remaining in the Joynts that may be hardened into a Tophus And therefore he perswadeth us first of al before we use it to lay on once or twice the Cerote of Briony desctibed by Aetius tetrab 3. Serm. 4. chapt 43. that so there may be the less danger and this Aetius very much commendeth But now as touching al manner of Topicks for the strengthening of the feer this is to be observed that for such as wil keep no orderly not regular course of Dyet neither use convenient purgations and other evacuations these Topicks if they be administred it wil be without any benefit at al yea oftentimes to their great detriment and hurt but unto such as live temperately and use fit and proper Evacuations they are administred with singular benefit and success Aetius in the place alleadged Cutting out of the Veins Chap. 24 for the preventing of the Gout commendeth also the cutting forth of the Veins that are from the superior parts cartied down into the feet done after the same manner as the Varices or crooked Veins in the Thighs are somtimes wont to be cut forth But as Hieronymus Fabricius ab Aquapendente tels us rightly in his B. of Chirurgical Operations the extraction and excision of the Varices is not only harsh and difficult but that for the most part also it succeedeth unhappily by teason of the blood flowing out And moreover from this cutting forth of the Veins the lower parts are soon brought into a wasting and withering condition And besides al this although these Veins be cut forth yet there is but very little benefit to be expected from thence For if vitious Humors be heaped up in the Body and be accustomed to flow unto the feet their way and passage being shut up they are carried unto some noble part and there they may excite some other affect far more dangerous There may likewise for the strengthening of the Joynts internal Medicaments be administred to wit those which are appropriate unto them as Germander Ground-pine or Herb Ivy Betony Primrose Sage Rosemary and others of this kind as we mentioned them before And this is the way and means to prevent the Gout as Rhases seems in few words to comprise it whilst he thus writeth If the person troubled with the Gout shall observe a good and orderly course of Dyet and govorn himself as he ought in the fix things not Natural and shall somtimes use Mithridate or somthing else that may
is rasped and that being masticated doth bite and leave a bitterness behind it and whiles it is cut it appeare solid with an even superficies not rough and ful of holes the wood is good The Bark of this wood is endewed with great acrimony and bitterness The bark of Guajacum and therefore dries attenuates and digests more powerfully than the wood but because that occult vertue which is opposite to this disease is rather in that fatty and moist and balsamical substance the wood is alwaies preferred before the bark and besides the bark is not so conveniently given in hot and dry bodies As concerning the vertues of Guajacum it is hot and dry as may be perceived from its tast smel and acrimony and that in the second degree The vertues of Guajacum and 't is also of thin parts whence it hath power to attenuate crass things to cut and cleanse clammy humors to open obstructions to move sweat and urine and to dissipate and wast superfluous cold humors but this pockwood is not chiefly given for those qualities whenas there are found in Europe medicaments endewed with those qualities that there was no need to transport them out of the Indies but principally for that peculiar and occult power By which it is opposed to the Veneral virulency and truly al physitians almost doe agree that pockwood doth deserve the first place amongst the alexiplarmaca of the veneral disease for though Fernelius would somewhat lessen its vertue because al that are affected with this disease are not cured by the use of it yet this is no sufficient cause since there is found no such alexipharmacum or other medicine which can cure diseases past hope But this wood is by an occult quality and propriety opposite to the Veneral virulency it self and is a friend to the radical moisture and natural balsom which doth most of al suffer by this virulency inimicous to the nutritive faculty and doth so strengthen it that it hath been observed that those also who had a liver and whol habit of body hot and dry and who have been almost consumed with the veneral disease as was said before by the use of the decoction of this wood though by its heat and dryness adverse to them have been restored and become better habited and more corpulent Some indeed have dared to write that the decoction of this wood doth nourish as much as chicken broath but these seem to me to be excessive in the praise of this wood for though it be a vegetable and perhaps may leave some alimental juyce in the decoction yet I think no body that is in his right mind wil easily deny that a chicken hath not more convenient nourishment for a man than Guajacum Whether pock-wood do nourish but that some after this disease become more corpulent is accidental for whenas by reason of the Veneral virulency nutrition was hurt in the whol body when that is discussed and extinguisht the body begins again to be nourisht wel and to be augmented the like of which happens also in some other diseases especially in feavers before which whenas men were not wel flesht by reason of evil nourishment the vitious humors being waisted by the disease afterwards they begin to be nourisht wel and become more corpulent Fr. Arcaeus also lib. de curand vulner rat gives the †Whether the decoction of Guajacum sarsaparilla sassafras China root do fatten Decoction of Guajacum for ulcers of the Lungs and the ptisick and he writes that bodies though they be wasted are not offended by it but rather grow fat upon it nay there are some who attribute a nutritive power to Guajacum and write that it is no less nourishing than chicken broath The same vertues also others do attribute * The decoction of Guajacum Sarsa Sassasras China root nourish not but by accident to Sarsaparilla Sassafras and especially to China root but indeed though it be found by experience that in the ptisick Veneral disease scab and other diseases bodies extenuated have been restored again and made fat by the use of these decoctions yet this comes to pass not of it self because these decoctions have a nutritive faculty as other nourishments but by accident in as much as they take away the cause of leanness In ptisick bodies the case is plain for whenas that wasting of the body proceeds from an ulcer of the Lungs the ulcer being dried up by the use of Guajacum the body begins to be wel nourisht again the same happens in other diseases as the French the Scab and the like For whenas that leanness and consumption doth proceed from bad nourishment but bad nourishment for the most part from acrid and falt humors which do both consume the good blood and hinder the agglutination of it to the body those vitious humors being wasted by the decoctions and discussed by sweats the bodies begin to be nourisht wel again nay grow fat But this wood hath not only an alterative power and by its occult quality to extinguish that malignity of the Veneral virulency imprinted both on the humors and the solid parts but also to evacuate both sensibly by sweating and insensibly by insensible transpiration and therefore the way of curing the French disease by Guajacum and medicines of affinity with that is most in use For though by reason of the length of the cure and the pains of sweating and the slender dyet it cause some trouble to them yet it is far safer than that way which is by quicksilver where if there be an error the patient is in no smal danger But there are prepared out of Guajacum divers medicaments Medicines made out of Guajacum and those either in a liquid forme or in a solid and in substance but those given in a liquid forme are most effectual whenas they are easily deduced into act and penetrate into the whol body and do irritae the expulsive faculty of al parts to cast off what is hurtful but in a solid forme whenas that part in which the vertue of the medicine doth chiefly reside is not yet separated from the earthy and thick part 't is not so easily deduced into act The decoction therefore as most convenient is most in use yet if any by reason of the continued use of this medicine be weary of it and nevertheless do feare least there be some reliques of the evil humor remaining or their course of life wil no longer admit of the use of the decoction as it ought to be taken to such medicines made out of this wood may be given in another form Amongst which extracts and spirits as shal be said are most efficacious and far more excellent than pouders But the manner of boy ling this wood is various The manner of preparing a decoction of the wood Whether it ought to be boyled in Wine both in respect of the liquor in which the decoction is made and of the
the purge upon the head of the part affected As for example if the pain be in the Hand the defensive is to be placed upon the Shoulder and this may be made and provided of the Flowers of Roser Pomâ—granate flowers Roots of Bistort Tormentill the greater Consound the Rinds of Pomegraâ—ateâ— â—ole-Armenick mingled with the white of an Egg and Rose water or Vinegar Aâ—dâ—ner this Cataplasm being dried and so made hard may not excite Pains and thereby further provoke the flux a little of the Countesses Vnguent or of the Oyl of 〈◊〉 Omphacine is to be added thereto Or else instead of the Cataplasm a swathe that is long enough may be wet in posset in which Oak-moss Red Roses or other Astringents even now mentioned have been boyled and drawn over the upper part as for instance in the Gout of the Feet upon the part above the Knees And those Defensives are to be continued so long as the Purgation lasteth yea for the whole day as we see occasion But now we cannot in general desine with what kind of Medicaments this purgation is to be performed in regard of the great variety there is in Bodies For although the Humor the nighest cause of the Gout be wheyish Salt and Tartarous yet nevertheless this very Humor is in divers Bodies constituted after a different manner and hurrieth along with it other Humors also that abound in the Body Yea and in one and the same Body the same Medicaments are not alwaies fit and proper because that the stare of the Body is not evermore one and the same And therefore the Physitian ought to be present with the Patient when he prescribeth such like Remedies Now for the Evacuating of Serous Humors and Cholerick Ichores such as these following ought to be provided viz. Syr. of Roses solutive de Spina Cervma commonly called the Domestick Syrup Manna Mechoacan Sene the Seeds of wild Saffron and the compounds from any of these as also Electuar Diacatholic Triphera Persica de Succo Rosarum And so likewise in the stronger kind of Medicaments those are of special use that are made of Hermodactiles and among them the Caryocostine Electuary of Bayrus of which we shal anon make surther mention when we come to speak of the Preservation from the Gout Or Take The Choycest Turbith and Hermodactiles of each three drams Diagridium one dram and half Ginger and Mastick of each a dram Sugar six drams make a Pouder hereof the Dose whereof is one dram or a dram and half with flesh broth Or Else let the Patient make use of the Pills of Rhases which as he writeth in his 9. B. to Mansor Chap. 90. will presently make and enable those that keep their Beds to Rise stir and walk up and down and they are in this manner to be Compounded Take Aloes one dram Scammeny half a half peny weight red Roses a double quantity to the former Hermodact half a dram Make pills thereof and give them all at once and yet not without regard unto the strength of the Patient But now although the serous or wheyish Humor be the nighest cause of the Gout yet notwithstanding because that this Humor doth also violently carry along with it other vitious Humors in the Body and especially when the pain cometh the Physitian therefore ought to be present with the Patient when he is to prescribe such various purging Medicaments for the present occasion of the sick Person Vomitories A Vomit is likewise very useful in such as are accustomed thereunto A Vomit and seeing that it may Evacuate the Humor by a shorter way there is no such cause to fear the rushing of the Humors unto the part affected And yet not withstanding we dare not here give such strong Vomitories that may evacuate the Humors out of the very Veins but it will be sufficient if such be administred that do evacuate the first waies and the parts neer unto the Stomach For if there be many vitious Humors residing about the Stomach Spleen and the hollow of the Liver and in the places neer thereunto it may very easily come to pass that these Humors being stird up and down throughout the whole Body they may both penetrate unto the Veins and rush unto the part affected And purges may be likewise appointed unto the sick person after his vomiting yea and if one purgation will not serve the turn it is again a Second time to be repeated Franciscus India in his 2 B. of the Gout and the Third Chapt. doth here wonderfully extol a Vomitory that he maketh of Butchers Broom a sufficient quantity of the pouder thereof given with the defilled Water of unripe Oranges a little warm which as he writeth can with special benefit unto the sick person Evacuate both the Choler and the Flegm not only upwards but downwards also Sudorificks or Sweaters The Body being sufficiently purged Sweaters we are to endeavour that sweat may be provolâ—ed either of its own accord or else by administring of Medicaments For as Crain writeth truly in his 24. Cons if the sweat be at all deteined within and hindered from coming forth especially if the Patient hath been accustomed thereunto it will not be long ere a fit of the Gout come yea and without all doubt the Paroxysm will be much augmented and provoked if in it the sweat be deteined and if the remainders of the wheyish Humor in the Veins be not discussed and Scattered and on the contrary the Paroxysm wil be the shorter if the Serum or Whey be by sweat dispersed But since that in the first invasion of the Gout there is as it were a certain kind of boyling of the Humors and that for the most part there is likewise present a Feaver Sweaters of what kind they must be in this regard hot sweaters such as are Treacle Mithridate and the like are here scarcely fit and convenient because that by them the Humors may be the more inflamed But yet Harts-born either crude or prepared without any burning may be very fitly exhibited either alone or with the Water of Carduus Benedictus And so likewise Diaphoretick Antimony is very useful But if the Constitution of the Body and the disposition of the Humors wil bear it the Decoction of Sassaphrass or Sarsaparilla or Chyna may be administred which yet nevertheless we ought to temper with Succory Endive Sowthitle and Dandelion or Lions Tooth But yet al those things that are useful in the Paroxysms for the discussing of the Humors either sensibly or insensibly they have not all of them their place here in the Cure And so likewise the Decoction of the greater Dock or Burr in regard that it cutteth discusseth moveth sweats and Urms is very useful and Forrestus relateth that Vastellius a Pensioner at Mechlin when he was forced to keep his Bed by reason of the pains of his Joynts insomuch that he was not able to move or stir any one Member he drank warm Beer in the