outward remedies that you may vse in this strange sicknesse How a man ought to proceede in curing the plague sore WHenas the plague sore appéereth in any of the emunctories it is a signe that Nature by her power would discharge the member principall of that venim which assaileth it and therfore hath she by her prouidence created in the heart the braine and liuer certaine glandalous and spungy parts which are apt to receiue the superfluities that are hurtful to those members For vnder the arme pittes there are certain kernels that serue the heart and these are the emunctories of that member as behinde the eares also there are the like which serue to discharge the braine and in the groines for the liuer And when as the venime inuades any of these principal members nature to warrantize the nobler part dischargeth and sendeth the venime to his proper emunctory wherefore if the hart be attainted with venim the plague sore will soon appéere vnder the arme pits if the braine be infected the sore wil appéere behinde the eares as also if the liuer be indempnified the sore wil breake out in the groine and because it is an expulsion which nature maketh to the exterior and vilder parts to defend the interior principall we ought to take great héed lest by cold repercussiue or astringent medicines we driue the sore inwards but rather bicause the said sore is of a venimous nature it ought to be driuen and forced outward by medicines that draw and are in qualitie hote and fitte to draw the sore to ripenesse and matter if it be possible When as the tumor appeareth in any of the saide emunctories you shall sodainly make incision round about the tumor after the manner of scarification made with the rasor to auoyde the inuenimed bloud and shall sodainely apply a cupping-glasse therevpon to draw out the venimous poison if that place be capable of a cupping-glasse as in the groine and behinde the eares but vnder the arme-pittes very hardly And afterwards you shal apply suppuratiue ripening medicines and such as draw after this forme Take a white onion and cut out the inward kore with your knife and make a sufficient hollow therein fill it with very good treacle or the theriacall powlder of Guidon couer and close it and roast it gently vnder the ashes till it be soft and hote as it comes from the fire or as the patient may indure it apply it to the sore This is one of the best remedies that a man can apply Or take the hearb scabious bruise it betwéene two stones and apply it on the sore either of it selfe or mixed with salted hogges grease You may also make a cataplasme according to this forme folowing take of the roots of white lillies wel cleansed halfe a handfull of the leaues and roots of mallowes and holy-hocks twoo handfulls of fat figges to the number of thirty of linte-séede and fenu-gréek séed of each halfe an ounce of leuaine one ounce of bran halfe a handfull of scabious halfe a handfull boyle al these in water stamp and straine them and afterwards adde vnto them wheate floure of lin-séede and fenugrée séede of each an ounce boyle them as before with a little water and hony Galbanum twoo drachmes armoniac a drachme the yelkes of egges two in number common salt a drachme oyle of white lillies as much as néedeth of hennes grease one ounce of safferne a drachme make a cataplasme of all these and apply it on the sore with fat wooll remoouing it two or thrée times a day This also is very good take the crummes of white bread to the quantitie of halfe a pound fatte figges xxx in number leuan two ounces liue snayles with their shells xx in number fenugréeke séede one ounce seethe all these together in water then beate them together and adde vnto them of salted hogs grease one ounce of oyle of white lillies as much as néedeth make a cataplasme heereof which is very good to ripen and breake an impostume The ancient Phisitions vse the implaster of Diachilon magnum and spread it on the sore of that I haue made proofe For it is a good drawer by reason of the gums that are ingredient It is likewise very allowable to draw out the venime from the sore to take a chicken or cocke and to pull the feathers from his taile and to apply him to the soare for by this meanes he driues out the venome and when he is dead apply another In stead of this remedy some vse to take great pullets and pigeons and cutting them in two along the backe apply them hote as they are vpon the tumor or carbuncle for this is an appropriate remedy both for the one the other When the kore shal be ripe you must open the same with an actual cautery which is better thē the lancet or cold yron because it comforteth the member and driueth out the venome by the actuall heate and violence of the fire I likewise aduise all those that are sicke of the plague to endure the same notwithstanding it shal affright them somewhat for it is the best and most wholsom remedy that may be giuen as both Albucatus and Auicen do testifie in that place where they discourse of the actuall cautery And instéed of the actuall cautery if the patient will not endure the same you must proceede with familiar ruptories of which the best is that which is made of ashes and quicke lime boyled together till such time as the water is consumed and there remaineth nothing but the ashes and lime incorporated and vnited together which is a strong and excellent ruptory and such a one as worketh his operation without any or very little payne as at diuers times and in many patients I haue approoued And note that in these pestilent tumors you must not exspect the intire maturation thereof but must open the same before it be thorowly ripe to the end that the venome remaine not long time in the body and there thorough steame vp to the principall members and communicate the venome with them to the danger of him that is diseased and therefore it is better to open them sooner than later And whenas the sores or sore is opened you must not thrust bigge tents of lint into them but little ones to the end that the venimous matter may the better issue forth make no stay in the sore And in this case Alexander Benedictus councelleth in the 14. chap. of his booke de peste not to put any tents of linte or other linnen into the sore lest the venime be forced backe and in effect the reason is very good He likewise willeth vs not to bind vp the sore too straight when it is opened thinking the ligature sufficient which kéepeth the plaisters to the sore And for mine owne part I am truly assured that it is far better to vse certaine tents of hollow siluer lead or tinne then of lint altogether to
an egge incorporate with salt and the iuyce of scabious is a singular medicine and very common The simple medicines that are conuenient in this case is scabious pounded betwéeue two stones and applyed the hearbe also which is caled Cauda Equina that is to say horse taile which is a kinde of comfery and Verbascum which the Apoticaries call Tapsus Barbalus the english hearb Mullen is a good remedy The like qualitie is by diuers of our Maisters ascribed to the Saphire which hath the vertue to extinguish the venime of the carbuncle if the sore be diuerse times touched with that stone Mythridate also or treacle are very good to be layd therevnto and old nuttes applied with dryed figges And note that as soone as the carbuncle appéereth it is good to scarifie it round about with the rasor as Galen in the xiiii booke of his Methode saith or to apply horse-leaches to draw the venimous blood outward these are the remedies which you must presently lay vpon the carbuncle But round about the partes that are néere the sore you must apply repercussiue medicines for feare lest the venime attaint them to which effect the vnguent de bolo is the chiefest and most ordinary meanes applyed round about For it conforteth the part and repulseth the venime You shall therefore do thus Take of oyle of roses thrée ounces of rose vineger one ounce of Bole Armenus an ounce and a halfe make an oyntment thereof and apply it round about the carbuncle Or thus take oyle of roses Omphacine made of gréene oliues wine of pomgranats one or two ounces Bole Armenus and Terra Sigillata for the rich of each halfe an ounce make an oyntment thereof and apply it round about the carbuncle Galen maketh a plaster of plantane pomegranets with theyr rindes and houshold bread and boyleth them in strong wine adding lintels vnto them Or take lintells crummes of browne bread and bran and boyle them in vineger make a plaster of them you may make the like also of sowre pomegranets cut into quarters with their rinde and sodde in vineger til they be brought to a pulpe beate them and apply them about the carbuncle Or else thus Take of oyle of roses as much as sufficeth dissolue in it Bole Armenus Sanguis Draconis or beaten galls and make an oyntment to the same vse The whites of egges likewise beaten with rose vineger rosewater and clouts stéeped in that liquor may be ministred round about the sore Then are those medicines that defence the partes from the venime of the carbuncle Hitherto I haue taught both what should be applied vppon and round about the sore it remaineth now to set downe the meanes how to breake the carbuncle which are these Take of Opoponax thrée drachmes of fat figs an ounce of currans as much of leuen halfe an ounce beate and mixe al together and apply it on the carbuncle The doung of a man also is a fit remedy but for that it is filthy vse better yet wanteth it not his effect Take the yelke of an egge and a little salt and incorporate them with the iuyce of scabious and minister it Or do after this maner Take strong leuen one ounce of scabious and the greater comfery of each one ounce of smal reasins without their stones half an ounce Cantarides sixe in number of sparrowes doung thrée drachmes incorporate all with oyle of white lillies This also is good Take of fatte figges thrée ounces of leuen two ounces of mustard seede the leaues of rew common salt the roots of Aristologe the round of ech an ounce and a halfe of the meale of wheate and fenugreeke of each an ounce of common hony as much as sufficeth mixe al together and apply it To make the Eschare or dead flesh to fall out of the carbuncle TAke fresh butter and capons greace of each one ounce and the yelke of an egge mix them together and minister it you may likewise adde an ounce of Basilicon take also of the roots of holihockes two handfulls of buglosse a handfull séethe them in water and beat them togither and straine them and adde vnto them of the powlder of fenugréeke and lin-séed of each an ounce of fresh butter washed in water of fresh hogs-greace of each an ounce make an oyntment Or take of holi-hocke roots of beare-foote of mallowes and Herbe Robert called storcks-bill of each a handfull séethe them together in water stamp and strain them mixe them with fresh butter and capons greace apply them to the sore till the eschare fall Rasis made a plaster of hony and Sarcacoll of each a like and ministred the same After the Eschare is falne you must mundifie the vlcer with one of those mundifiers which are described in the twentieth chapter and then when the carbuncle shal be well purged from matter and corruption and yéeldeth no more incarnate the same with this vnguent folowing Take of mastike full of gum white incense Aristoloch the round mirrh of the flowre of Orobus Litharge Ceruse Aloes of each a like of déere suet as much as sufficeth a little oyle of roses make an oyntment of these according to art and apply it till the sore be thorowly cicatrized And because in carbuncles there ordinary happeneth some deformed cicatrice after they are healed to repaire and correct the same you may vse these remedies following take of Borax two drachmes of Camphire one drachme of white corall halfe an ounce of gumme dragacanth starch cristall of the stone called Dentalis white incense common salt of each thrée drachmes of white marble twoo drachmes Let the gumme dragant be beaten in a marble morter and the rest be beaten and serced afterwards adde hogges-greace clarified goats-greace capons-greace of each an ounce and a halfe melt al together in a leaden vessell and straine it thorow a cloath and after mixe the powlders except the Camphire and Borax séeth all together on a gentle fire stirring it often with a spatula and when it beginneth to séethe put to the camphire and when they are all of them well incorporated together kéepe this oyntment in a vessell of lead for it hath a maruelous effect For the poore to the saide intent you may take fresh chéese mixed with hony and a little powlder of Ceruse Likewise take hogges grease to the value of a pound prepared after this manner boyle it in a little white wine and afterwardes straine it thorow a cloth and incorporate the same in a marble morter with goates milke or plantane water then adde vnto it litharge of gold vnmelted brimstone of each three ounces of white incense one ounce of quicke siluer quenched and killed in the iuyce of limons halfe an ounce of Borax two drachmes of Camphire a drachme make an oyntment hereof Take likewise as much lime as you list that is quenched and slacked in water wash it sixe times in plantane or raine water vntill such time as all the sharpenesse thereof be
the end that by the hollow tents the venime may the better and the sooner be euacuated and not stayed within which is the intention that a good and aduised Surgeon ought to haue And this may serue for aduise and counsaile hence forward although that diuers will thinke this matter somwhat strange vnto them who are accustomed to vse an other fashion but the truth in all things ought to haue place and should not be any wayes disguised After that the sore is opened you must mundifie the same with these cleansing abstersiue medicines folowing and note that you ought to kéepe these sores open a long time and to suffer them to purge out their venime by the vse of these cleansing medicines following Take of the mundification of rozen and put it vppon the saide sores within them by hollow tents or take barley meale sod in water and honny an ounce or two incorporate with good honny of roses annexing the roote of the lilly of Florence and a little salt make a clensing medicine hereof or take Sarcocolla beaten to powlder sodden honny of each a like quantitie incorporate them togither and make an ointment thereof for it is a mundifier But amongst all other vnguents that cleanse loathsome vlcers and such as are of a venimous and euill quality I haue not found any more excellent or that cleanseth the loathsome stinking and euil matter then this which I composed my selfe and haue often vsed and tried the same with good effect Take of the iuices of daffadill and wormewood of each foure ounces of hony of roses clarified eight ounces boyle these together vntil the iuices be consumed then adde thervnto of turpentine of Venice washed in rose water or aqua vitae foure ounces of the rootes of the Florentine lilly and Aristolochia the round of ech thrée drachms of the flower of Lupins two drachms make an oyntment of these in truth I can assure you that I haue séene this medicine work admirable effect in the vlcers of the french pox and such like cleansing them very purely not only of their grosse and euil matter but of the dead flesh and kores inclosed in the said vlcers as I haue often times tried Or do thus Take of Venice turpentine washed in aqua vitae in winter and barley water in summer halfe a pound of oyle of roses three ounces of honny of roses foure ounces of good and gummy mirrh aloes mastike Aristolochia the round of ech one drachme and a halfe of barly meale thrée drachmes make an oyntment hereof to mundify these vlcers for it is very good Sée here the order of cleansing ointments After the vlcer is wel mundified a long time you must skinne with the emplaister of Diacaletheos or the plaister of Seruse or the red desiccatiue plaster of Tutia but this is the best Take betony centory the lesse agrimony Aristolochia the round of ech one ounce of déere suet halfe an ounce of masticke thrée drachmes of aloes halfe an ounce of new waxe two ounces séethe the hearbs in good red wine and straine them then adde the pitch the wax and sewet and séethe it againe and in the end adde Aloes and masticke and make a good incarnatiue hereof And note that if the sore be very painefull you must asswage the griefe therof with a cataplasme of bread crums boyled in milke and afterward with the yelkes of egs saffron and oyle of roses as much as sufficeth apply it to the painefull sore Or foment the place with the decoction of mallows holihocks camomile and melilote floures and branne sodde in water and apply it in way of fomentation to the pained place Lo héere the cure of the plague sore it followeth that we intreate of the carbuncle Of the cure of the Carbuncle THE Carbuncle is a malignant pustule procéeding from bloud very hote and grosse in substance which causeth the adustion thereof an vlcer with an Eschare or crust in the skin swelling and red raising thorow the inflammation thereof those partes that are néere about it and procuring excéeding paine in him that is possessed therewith Which by Galen in his second booke ad Glauconem the sixt chapter hath very learnedly taught And of these though euery sort of carbuncle be malignant and dangerous as testifieth the same Author in his third comentarie on the the third booke of Hippocrates his Epidemes the xii Aphorisme yet notwithstanding those that haue not with them a contagious and pestilent venime intermixed are not so dangerous of death as they that raine in the time of the plague by reason of the venome which is introduced into the humors and masse of blood infected by the euil quality of the aire which maketh such pustules ouer and aboue their naturall malitiousnesse more maligne dangerous deadly and accompanied with great and mortall accidents And therefore in such pustules it is necessary to take great care and diligence in curing them readily and rooting out and extinguishing their venime as soone as may be possible which by the meanes heerevnder written may be orderly performed according to methode When as therefore the carbuncle shall appéere in any part of any person the most soueraigne remedy is by actuall fire applied vpon to pustull to consume and abate the venome for there is not any thing that sooner mortifieth and extinguisheth the venime than fier And therefore the actuall cautery applied vpon the pustull is the souerainty and sure remedy to cure the same But diuers fearefull patients wil not endure the same instéede thereof therefore you shall apply vpon the carbuncle these folowing remedies which haue a cautsike vertue Take an olde nutte or two barly flowre small reasins without their stones fat figges dried of each one ounce beate them all together in a morter and afterward séethe them in wine and oyle of poppy and apply it vpon the carbuncle for it mortifieth the venome and helpeth to rotte the euill flesh Take also two or thrée yelks of egges of pepper a drachme of common salt a drachme and a halfe of soot of the chimny or ouen halfe a drachme mixe al together and make an oyntment thereof or this Take of the leaues of rew halfe a little handfull of fat figges sixe in number of pepper a drachme of soote of chimny or ouen halfe an ounce two yelks of egges of safforne halfe a drachme of fresh capons greace without salt one ounce and with the Iuice of scabious make an oyntment which is very excellent For it suffereth not the venime to procéede any further but openeth the carbuncle very quickly and maketh a good eschare Or do thus take of fat figs halfe a pound of mustard-séed thrée ounces of oyle of white lillies as much as sufficeth to incorporate them make a plaster hereof and apply it vpon the carbuncle The oyntment called Basilicon mixed with halfe an ounce of good treacle of mythridate and the iuyce of Scabious is maruellous good and appropriate as also the yelke of
eache halfe an ounce let all these 〈◊〉 beaten to a fine powder and searsed and then incorporate the whole with liquide Storax adding therevnto of Muske â—nd Amber of each a dramme of Ciuet two drammes make â—â—aste hereof with the infection of Gumme Tragacents in â—ose water â— prettie preseruatiue to be carried in a mans mouth during the time of infection which procureth a sauoury and sweete breath TAke of fine Sugar one ounce of Orace halfe an ounce of the shell of an Egge the inward skin being taken away halfe an ounce put the shell of the Egge into Muske Rose water till it be mollified for the space of eight dayes beat 〈◊〉 these to a fine powder and with Rose water wherin Gum Tracagant hath bene infused make prettie Pellets according so what bignesse you please These are very wholesome and make the breath swéete and comfort the heart inwardly and are of a temperat qualitie which you may kéep in your mouth some thrée houres An admirable and excellent defensatiue in forme of an oyntment to defend the heart in time of infection profitable both for the healthy and diseased and of admirable effects TAke of the best Treacle you can get or in stead thereof Methridate but Treacle is the better take I say two ounces The iuice of sixe Limons mixed together and put them into a litle glassed pipkin and let them boyle therein till halfe the iuice be consumed Then suffer it to coole and afterwards take two drams of beaten Saffron of Caroline and white Diptamy of each two drammes incorporate all these things together after they are well pounded and bring them to the forme of an ointment wherwith euery day annoint the region of the heart vnder the left pappe making a circle with the same round about the pap Afterward take an ounce of Christaline pure Arsenick and wrap it in Gossapine Cotton and red Taffata after the forme of a litle bag carry the same about you being bounde vnderneath or hard vpon your left pap by this meanes each man may be assured that he shall not be infected if so be he vse those interior remedies which I shal set downe and haue heretofore declared for the good of my Country An other excellent preseruatiue against the Plague TAke of the leaues of Mary-golds which the Latines call Calendula of Uerveine Scabious and Sorrell of each a handfull of the rootes of Gentian Zedoary and white Diptamy of each two drams boyle them all together for two houres space in good and pure fountain-fountaine-water from the value of a quart to a pinte adde thervnto the iuice of sixe Limons and as much Sugar as shal be sufficient make a sirope hereof and aromatise it with Cinamom and take thereof euery morning foure or fiue spoonefulls A singular water both for the healthy and diseased in the time of the sicknesse whereof they may take an ounce euery morning with much comfort TAke Ualerian Carline Zedoary good Mirrhe Bole Armenus Gentian of round Birtwoort of Aristolochia of Calamus Aromaticus of white Diptamy Imperatoria of each one ounce and a halfe of fiue Aloes two drams of Saffron a scruple beate all these to a fine powder and afterwards stéepe them in fiue pintes of excellently wel râ—ctified spirit of Wine and let them inâ—use therein sixe houres and sée the body wherein you put them be well luted After the sixe houres be past adde thervnto fiue pintes of good Malmessie and straine the same or rather you may leaue the simples in the bottome and dreine it clearly and gently Of this water euery morning fasting take two or thrée spoonefulls for it is an excellent and well approued remedy Excellent Pilles against the Plague TAke of Aloes one ounce of Mirrh and Saffron of each thrée drammes of Bole Armenus Terra Sigillata Zodoarie white Diptamus the rootes of Tormentil of each a dramme make Pilles of these being all of them well poudered and mixed with the iuice of Mary-goldes or redde Coleworts of which euery day take one and once euery moneth a dramme An excellent and approued remedie allowed by diuers learned mens experience TAke the rootes of Tormentil and of white Diptamus the rootes of Ualerian and white Daises and if it be possible to get them gréene it shal be the better Take these aboue named rootes as much of the one as of the other pound them and make a fine pouder of them Then take the decoction of Sorrel and let the aboue named pouder be infused in the same then let it be taken out and dried in the Sunne Afterwards beate it to pouder againe and infuse it anew and afterwards dry it in the Sunne as before which when you haue done thrée or foure times reserue the same pouder clearly in some conuenient vessell and when as any one feeleth himselfe strooken with the Plague giue him presently halfe an ounce of this pouder in Rose water or Scabious water or in nine houres after he shall séele himselfe infected This remedy in diuers persons and very oftentimes hath bene experimented and hath wrought wonderfull effects if it were giuen within the time prescribed A singular and secret Remedie the which I receiued from a worthy man of Venice admirable for his learning in all Sciences who of curtesie imparted the same vnto me with protestation that he had seene wonderfull effects of the same TAke of the Rootes of Tormentil and white Diptamy as much of the one as of the other of Bole Armenus washt in Rose water the quantitie of a great Chestnut of orientall Pearles one dramme of the sharings of Iuory one dramme and a halfe beate all these into a fine powder and incorporate them with conserue of Roses in a marble Morter reserue this confection in a vessell of glasse well couered Take hereof the quantitie of a great Nut in the Morning and drinke a spoonefull of the Iuice of Mary-golds or Lemons with Sugar after it The Gentleman that gaue me this assured mée that hée had giuen it to many in the time of the great Plague in Venice who though continually conuersant in the houses of those that were infected receiued no infection or preiudice by them A Remedie worthy the vse and noting An Opiate against the Plague extracted partly out of Galen partly out of Dioscorides and others of excellent effect TAke twentie common Nuttes of dried Figges to the number of 15. and of Rue and Scabious of each twentie leaues Of the rootes of both sorts of Aristolochia the round and long of each halfe an ounce of Tormentil white Diptamy Pimpernell Bay Berries Borage flowers the Kinde of the roote of Capres of each two drammes a halfe of Galingale Harts horne Mace and Mirrhe of eache two drammes of Bole Armenus Terra Sigillata common Salt of each two scruples beat all these to fine pouder and incorporate them with two pound of pure clarified Hony and make an Opiate therof wherof in the morning take the quantitie of a Nut
sirrop of violets And if the patient wil not drinke barly water let him drinke fountaine water or raine water boiled and mixed with the sirrops aforesaide The patient likewise may in this feuer drinke water very fréely and his fill to the intent he may extinguish the inward heate of the pestilent feuer and not by little and little but fréely as Paulus Aegineta and Auicen thinke necessary in this disposition For which cause let this serue both to aduise the sicke his kéeper to alow drinke fréely the vse of water after which let the patient be wel couered to prouoke sweate which is one of the best euacuations that profiteth in this sicknes Chap. XII Rules as touching bloud-letting the potions and Euacuations which are necessary for him that is sicke of the plague AS soone as the sicke man by the signes aforesaid féels himselfe strooken he ought very spéedily séeke out for some remedy for this sickenesse neither leasure nor delay without danger of death by reason of the malignitie thereof opposed against mans life wherefore we ought with all diligent care to withstand the same and prohibit the venime and breake the forces thereof lest it woorke the vtter ruine of our bodies As soone therefore as any one féeleth himselfe seazed giue him this potion Take of the iuice of marigolds the quantity of two or thrée ounces giue it the patient to drinke with a little white wine or sorrel-water and couer him wel that he may sweat This Iuice maketh a man frée and assured from the venime as testifieth Alexander Benedictus in his treatise of the plague and it is a most tryed and notable secret And if he sweat after he hath taken the same hée shall be assured by the grace of God of perfect health In stead of the said hearbe you may take the iuice of veruine in like quantity or the Iuice of the hearbe called Scabious which hath great force and efficacy in this case giue two ounces of the said Iuice with white Wine Rose-water or Sorrel-water and you shall sée a wonderfull effect But these remedies ought to be giuen sodainly For if the sicke man dally a day or two before he complaine they haue no effect or force Of Blood-letting AS soone as the sicke féeleth himselfe strucken if he be sanguine yong and full you ought to let him bloud by those rules that ensue hereafter If the signe or tumor appeare not as yet you ought to let him bloud in the Mediana of the right arme rather than of the left to prouide lest the venime haue recourse to the hart and to take blood according to the repletion and vertue of the patient Or to worke more surely wée may take the veine in the foote called Saphena to diuert the venime from the noble parts or instéede of letting bloud apply cupping-glasses with scarification on his shoulders and buttocks From the strong able and well complexioned you may take some sixe ounces of bloud or at the least thrée or foure but for such as are weake they must not be dealt with And note that in this sickenesse we ought not to be busie in taking bloud although bloud-letting be necessarie because bloud is the treasury of life whose assistance nature néedeth to combate with the venime As also for that by much letting bloud mens forces are weakened and the venime worketh with more aduantage as shal be hereafter declared And whenas the patient is letten bloud wee ought to cause him kéepe in his mouth either a little péece of an orenge or a lemmon or a cloue or some cinnamon or else a little rose vineger and rose water mixed together to comfort his heart and vitall spirites But if the markes or botch do appeare the blood is to be drawne on that side of the body on which the tumor sheweth it selfe namely if the swelling beginneth to shew behinde the right eare drawe blood in the Cephalica of the right arme and so of the left If the signe appéere vnder the arme pits you shal cut the median of the same side namely on the right arm if the impostume be vnder the right armehole and that on the left likewise when the impostume sheweth it selfe vnder the left arme hole But in trueth the surest way is rather in this case to open the veines of the féete then of the armes to the end you may draw the venime farthest off if the signe appéere vnder the groyne strike the Saphena on the same side or rather the inward veine of the ham if it may be found the like ought also to be done in the carbuncle when it appéereth yet ought not the bloodletting be redoubled but onely vsed on that side where the carbuncle appéereth But note in this case of bloodletting that it ought to be done before the patient hath remained infected foure and twenty houres for after the terme is past blood letting is both hurtfull and pernicious because that by the same the contagion is inwardly drawne into the body and heart Whence it happeneth that the most part of those that are let blood doe die as by Hierome Fracastorius an excellent and noted Phisitian is sufficiently testified in his treatise of the Plague the third Booke and fift chapter who testifieth that all they who in the pestilent yéeres of 1505. and 1528. were let blood died all of them by the reason aforesaide because that where the interior séede of the venime is scattered and mixed with the blood and humors of the body which is done in two daies space or thereabout after a man féeleth himselfe infected letting blood is greatly harmefull because it causeth agitation of the blood and augmenteth by this means the putrifaction and by such agitation and motion the contagion doth more inwardly mixe it selfe with the humors and maketh them of pure and sincere corrupt and infected after no other maner than whenas stincking mud is mooued it venteth out the more and maketh the aire infected and stincking as is séene by experience or whenas a man shaketh or shoggeth a vessel full of salt or bitter water the water becommeth more bitter and salt than if it had béen suffered to be settled without moouing it For euery matter that is mooued is worse then that which remaineth in quiet as testifieth Galen in his fift booke de Symptomatum causis And by these reasons the said Fracastorius and Fernelius likewise men both of them excellently learned are of opinion that blood is not to be let in this case to whose iudgements I subscribe And for mine owne part and in trueth I finde it more expedient instéede of letting blood to vse cupping glasses with scarrification for after the second day is past phlebotomy is to be omitted Sée héere our instruction as touching blood-letting Of Purging AS touching purgation it ought to be administred in the beginning but rather with gentle and pleasing medicines than violent which doe weaken and force Nature and with them we ought to mixe