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
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
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
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
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
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
of the humors unto the external parts they may also very easily cause some inconvenience and make the pain longer since that the pain is wont to return again in a short time after As for example Take Barly Meal four ounces the Crumb of Wheaten Bread three ounces Milk as much as will suffice boyl them to the consistence of a Cataplasm and then add of the Oyl of Roses one ounce the Yelks of three Eggs Opium one scruple and mingle them Or Take the soft pith of white Bread as much as wil suffice pour thereon of Cream of Tartar a sufficient quantity and then add Saffron one dram Frankincense half a dram Powder of Earth-worms two drams the Yelks of four Eggs Henbane and white Poppyseed of each three drams let them boyl in a double Vessel for half an hour and make a Cataplasm Or Take Leaves of Henbane three handfuls the Berries of Nightshade one ounce let them be boyled til they be soft and then bruised to a Mash then strew upon it one ounce and half of Barly Meal and a little Oyl of Roses and so make a Cataplasm Or Take Barly Meal the soft Crumb of white Bread of each half a handful Leaves of Henbane Mallows Violets of each one handful Flowers of Camomile Rindes of white Poppy of each half a handful Oyl of Earth-worms and Poppy of each one ounce and make a Cataplasm If you think fit you may also add of Opium and Saffron of each one dram Or Take Roots of Mandâ—ake and Leaves of Henbane of each as much aâ— you think wil suffice boyl and bruise them all to a Mash and then add of Barly Meal and Bean meal with Oyl of Roses a sufficient quantity of each and make a Cataplasm Or Take Crude Vitriol two pound Spirit of Wine three pints the Water of the Elder Tree one Quart Mingle them all well together in a Glass Vessel well Luted and then puting to the Alembick and the Receiver in which there may be put the Seeds of Henbane bruised two ounces the flowers of Mullein Elder and Camomile of each two hand fuls let there be a destillation by degrees until the Glass be Fire hot After the distillation let the spirit with the flegm be separated from the Seeds and flowers and so let it be kept in a Glass for use Or Take Leaves of Henbane one handful Nightshade Sengreen the Heads of Garden Poppyes of each half a handful Mandrake Roots one ounce Flowers of Camomile and Mulleyn of each one pugil Seed of Fleabane one ounce and half of Henbane one dram Let them be boyled in Milk for a Fomentation then let the Remainders be bruised to a mash and then add of the Meal of Lin-seed one ounce Barley Meal and Oyl of Roses of each two ounces and make a Cataplasm And there are some also that refer hither the washing of the grieved part with cold Water and indeed this they do by the authority of Hippocrates who in his 5 Sect. 25. Aphorism writeth in this manner The Gout pains of the Joynts as also Convulsions and many more of these kind of pains are lessened and taken away by the large affusion of cold Water and plentiful pouring of it upon the part that is in pain for a Moderate stupifying and benumming removeth the pain And so likewife Donat. Antonius Ferrus in his 2 Tract of the Gout Chap. 9. writeth that he had oftentimes had experience of this Remedy and that when all other Remedies were to no purpose he betook himself unto the pouring of cold Water upon the part as unto his last shift and that the pain was forthwith asswaged thereby And the very truth is that it cannot indeed be at all denied that cold Water being poured forth upon the pained part doth not only drive back but likewise produce a kind of stupidity and benummedness and thereby asswage the pain but it is to be feared lest that by this means the innate heat of the part be destroyed and so a weakness brought upon the part by reason of which the Malady may afterward be rendred more grievous and moreover the Humor may be impacted into the part and there condensed and thickned or else haply by this violent Repulse the Humors may be made to rush unto the more inward parts Repellers or Medicaments that drive back But now as for Topicks Repellers that are directed unto the Cause and in the first place touching Repelling Medicaments we say that although they are by some commended yet alone they have here scarcely any place at all For seeing that Nature her self hath ordained this Motion and that she endeavoureth to drive forth the vitious Humors from the more internal unto the external parts that are less noble if this motion be hindered and the Humors driven back again unto the internal and more noble and principal parts this cannot be done without the extream hazard of the life and hereupon there will arise the worst and most dangerous Symptoms that will not cease unless Nature again expel forth the vitious Humor unto some other Joynt And moreover when the pain is a little mitigated in regard that the matter is diffused unto the external parts that are about the Joynt if by the Repellers it be driven back unto the internal parts the pain happeneth then to be increased and hence it is also that very many cannot so much as endure the cold Air from without neither yet somtimes the external Air although it be not so very cold but that there is a Necessity of covering the affected Member if they expect to have their pain Mitigated And furthermore if the matter hath already flown out of the part into the Joynt by the use of Medicaments that drive back and Cool it is made more thick and impacted into the part and so the Malady rendred more difficult to be cured But yet never the less if by the sudden and overgreat afflux of the humors especially such as are more hot the pain be much increased even in the very first beginning of the sit in so much that it seemeth to cal for all the Care and to require that al the means that are used may be for the removal thereof and that therefore we have a mind to moderate it and somwhat to drive it back we may then indeed make use of Repellers but not of them alone and by themselves but mingled with Anodynes Venefection and Purgation having gone before Like as on the Contrary we are not in the beginning to make use of those Medicaments that are over loosening since that they help forward the afflux of the Humors but we ought in the first place to make use of those Medicaments that do somwhat stop and stay the afflux of the Humors And therefore we may then lawfully add Lettice Sengreen Purflaine Violets Plantane Roses and such Compounds as are made out of them as also what Vinegar we think fit As Take Barly Meal three ounces boyl it in 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
two drams Flowers of Sage Hyssop Rosemary Arabian Lavender or Cassidony and Spicknard of each one dram and half the Root of Birthwort and Hermodactyls of each one ounce pour in hereunto of the Spirit of Wine one pint or as much as wil suffice let them be macerated for one whol day and afterwards add of the best Turpentine one pound and half and so distil them in a glass Alembick Alexander Trallianus and others commend this and they assure us that by it not only such as have had the Gout from the flowing of a flegmatick Humor but that likewise many that have had the pains of the Gout from the flux of a Coleâ—ick humor have recovered their health and strength again Take Time Organy Savory and Calaminth of each as much as you think fit and boyl them in the sharpest Vinegar and with the hot Decoction often wash and foment the parts affected For the Knobs or Knots If the matter be now grown into the wonted hard Knobs For the Knots in the Joynts it is indeed a most difficult business to dissolve them but if they be not already become old and inveterate there may be yet some hopes left of curing them Now for the discussing of these knobs and knots we are not only to administer External and Topick Remedies but likewise Internal Remedies The Internal Remedies are those Antidotes above mentioned amongst which the Antidote of Trallianus made of Centanty is more especially useful And the same Trallianus writeth likewise That a certain person troubled with the Gout when the knots began first to appear by the drinking of the Decoction of Groundpine or Herb Ivy he prevented the further generating of them The External and Topick Remedies useful for the dissolving of the Knobs are Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar Or Take the simple Diachylon Emplaster one ounce Ammoniacum Galbanum Bdellium Sagapenum of each one dram Oyl of Orrace and white Lilyes of each half an ounce powder of Orrace one dram and make an Emplaster Or Take Briony Roots Wilde Cowcumber and Orrace Roots of each two ounces Roots of Marsh-Mallows and white lilies roasted under the hot Embers of each four in number the Seed of Nettle Mustard and Water Cresses of each one ounce Let them all be wel mingled and stird about together with Goose Fat and the Oyl of sweet Almonds as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Galen and others do much commend that which is made of old Cheese for the Skin being broken and divided of its own accord without any Section it refresheth and comforteth the Joynts that are from day to day without any hurt at all freed from the Stones Viz. Take Old and tart Cheese three ounces or as much as you think fit dip it in a sufficient quantity of the broth of Salt swines flesh and then after you have sufficiently pounded it in a Mortar let it be imposed upon the part affected Others boyl the Salt Feet of Swine in water until they be very soft and tender and afterwards they mingle with them of old Cheese two parts and Water Cresses one part and so they make an Emplaster which they greatly commend Or Take Juyce of Tobacco three ounces Citrine Wax two ounces Rosin of the Pine Tree one ounce and half Turpentine one ounce Oyl of Camomile as much as wil suffice and make a soft Cerote Or Take Honey Bears Grease and sharp Vinegar of each one pound or pinte Mountain Snakes and Snailes one or two of them boyl them in a Glazed Vessel over a soft fire until the Vinegar be consumed afterwards strein them and add of Wax three ounces Let them then beal dissolved together and kept for use and with this the place affected is to be anointed by the fire side The Dirt that is found in some certain Baths having in them a power to Mollisie and Resolve are here likewise very useful such as are those of St. Peter and Bartholomew in the province of Padua with which the part affected is to be fomented for an hour and better every Morning and Evening and afterwards to be washed with the Bath-Water Erasistratus Sicyonius provided this excellent and effectual Remedy against these knobs and knots Take Oake Missletoe one pound and half Frankincense Wax Fat Torches and Rosin of the Pine Tree of each one pound Those things that were dissolveable he melted and stird them wel about throughly mingling them with the Fat Torches from the which when all the Fat was flown forth he took the Liquor from the fire and strained it and then beating the Frankincense into a very sine powder he put it â—hereâ—nto dayly stirring it about until he had brought it into a Mass that would not foul or stick to his Hands See more of this in Trallianus his Eleventh B. Chap. 6. Of the Sciatick Pain THe pain of the Hips commonly called the Sciatica in indeed a kinde of the Gout The Sciatick Pain so that there may nothing seem needful to be spoken as touching it besides what hath been already said But seeing that both in regard of the part affected it hath somthing peculiar and that in the Cure there is something that is proper thereunto to be observed we shall therefore speak a little further thereof There are indeed some who by the Ischiadick or Sciatica pain understand some other affect differing from the Gout which is to be accounted among the Chronical affects and this happeneth also unto those that never were troubled with the Gout either in the Feet or in the hands from excrements there heaped up together or flowing into that part and this for the most part a little now and then and by degrees But it is not our purpose here to treat of that affect in regard that it pertaineth unto the impotency and inability in walking by reason of something amiss in the Hip and extendeth it self further then the Gout of which only our purpose is here to Treat and therefore we shall here handle the Sciatica pain only as it is Arthritick that is to say a species or kind of the Gout of which we have been hitherto speaking But now as touching the place affected there is here some kind of Disagreement among the learned Physitians Aetius Tetrab 3. Serm. 4. Chap. 1. out of Archigenes writeth thus They are properly saith he to be accounted â—schiadick or Sciaâ—ick persons that have a pain afflicting them about some certain Joynt of the veâ—tebrae But somtimes there goeth before this Malady and as it were to Vsher it in a pain of the Muscles lying neer and especially the Loyns but somtimes again the beginning of the affect is from the very Joynt it self but now somtimes it so happeneth that the pain of the Vertebrae being almost taken away the grief sticketh only about the Ham and in some neer unto the Ankles but in others the whole Leg is equally afflicted with pain and many also have this pain fixed about their Groyns and
be often fomented with a linnen cloth wet in the decoction of guajacum and sarsaparila for the same the alum water even now described is very good or if the evil be stubborn some ointment must be laid upon them with pouder of precipitate such as were proposed before or precipitate mixt with foure times as much of the white of an eg which layed upon such excrescenses of the arsehole in 24. houres space extracts and roots them out after wards drying and cooling things must be layed on Some cut off the french warts with Scissers and afterwards take out the root with the medicines even now proposed also if the extream part of the wart be toucht with oyl of vitriol it dries up and falls off Falling of the Hair The falling of the haire wich is joyned with this disease doth happen rather from the knawing off of the roots of the hair than from other causes Falling af the hair both in the head and beard which that it may be cured generals being premized first the hair must be shaved off if the patient wil allow it for al do not admit of it especially religious men whose diseases must be kept private as Hercules Saxonia writes de lue Vener Cap. 38. then astringent things must not be used by the use of which the evil is made worse and ulcers and paines of the head do follow upon it the matter being retained but those things rather are to be used which do discuss and clense away that vitious matter which eates of the haires as a lye in which have bin boyled Guajacum and its bark farsaparilla leaves of fumitory betony scabious southernwood wormwood penyroyal asarabaca agrick and if the skin be dry mallowsmarshmallowes pellitory of the wal must be added then the other medicines must be applied which are propounded lib. 5. pract par 3. sect 2. cap. 3. and 4. al which if they satisfie not particular suffumigation for the head and face must be prepared of quick-silver and cinnabar by which remedy in the space of six or nine dayes the falling of the haire is stayed But for the most part if universal purgers and emptiers be applied and the matterknawing the haires be taken away and proper lotions be used afterwards haire doth succed of its owne accord in the place of that that fel away see more in the place alledged de Alope et Capil deflu Pains Also most grievous pains do often afflict those who are sick of the Venereal Disease The Cure of pains but they are most commodiously taken away by medicines proper to this disease but Sarsaparilla is chiefly good to take them away therefore if the pains be very urgent on the first daies you must take a greater quantity of Sarsaparilla and a less of Guajacum and though the matter being dissolved and melted the pains be encreased til the second week because Sarsa hath an extraordinary attenuating faculty without any astriction of the bowels yet we must not desist from the use of it but the patient must be told of it afterwards when the pain is ceased we may encrease the quantity of Guajacum and China Root may be added also to mitigate those pains but by intervals almost every week give proper purging medicines but to the places pained apply fomentations of Guajacum Leaves of Penyroyal Sage Rosemary Chamomel flowers Oyl of white Lillies also of Rue Scorpions Vipers Guajacum are good if the pain be very urgent we may give also Laudanum Opiate Upon the use of al which if the pain depart not those mercurial Unguents which we propounded before in the universal Cure must be anointed on the places pained or by the addition of wax make Cerotes of them and lay them on the parts pained or some other plaisters above propounded to which also may be added Castor Hermodactil Roots Orice and other Arthritical Medicines especially Vigo's Cerote of Frogs is of good use to lay asleep those pains and this Cerot of Platerus is good too Take of Quick-silver three ounces stir it with one ounce of Turpentine washt with Aqua vitae adding Bears grease the marrow of a Calves Legg of each an ounce and half Oyl of white Lillies Chamomel Dill bayes worms or Foxes of each half an ounce Spike or Turpentine two drams Euphorbium Frankincense of each half an ounce Liquid Styrax six drams Hermodactils two drams Castor one dram Wax as much as is sufficient Make a Cerote Also the aforesaid Lavatories prepared of Mercury formerly propounded applied to the parts pained especially the Legs do allay the pains The Running of the Reins The Running of the Reins The Cure of the Running of the Reins which also is frequent in this Disease is not to be stopt at the beginning nor rashly whenas Nature doth endeavor to purge the virulent matter through that place which if it be supprest flies up to the Head nay infects the whol Body but if it do not stop when the decoction hath been used til the third week let the Region of the Loyns and Perinaeum be anointed with astringent Oyls made of Mastich Mint Roses Mirtle But let Medicines be given of the seed of the Chast-tree Lettice Hemp to which add a double quantity of the pouder of Sarsaparilla and those Medicines may be given either in the form of a pouder or with Syrup of Water of Lillies be reduced into the form of an Electuary 'T is good also if every day there be given two or three drams of Water-lillies with one or two scruples of Turpentine Some also do give for this Running of the Reins green Mercury precipitate or the Rozin of Guajacum and Turpentine which is washt with Violet Water and adding the Yolk of an Egg and the Decoction of Sarsaparilla 't is reduced into the form of a Potion A Consumption At last it often happens A Consumption that either by the violence of the Disease or the Cure not rightly ordered the sick come into a deep Consumption For the Cure of which the common Medicines for a Consumption wil not suffice but there is need of Specificks Which kind of Remedy Audovicus Septalius animadvers Lib 7. n. 214. doth propound and writes that by it he hath wholly freed very many from this disease and from such a Consumption But 't is prepared thus Take of choice Sarsaparilla cut smal six ounces infuse it twenty four hours in fifteen pound of warm water in a warm place in a vessel shut afterwards boyl it with a gentle fire till five pound be wasted then with a spoon perforated take out the Sarsaparilla and bruise it in a marble morter then cast it into the same water again adding two pound of lean Veal Coriander seed prepared one ounce or instead of it so much of the shavings of Guajacum or three drams of yellow Sanders sliced according to the condition of the Patients body and humors and the vessel being covered let it boyl again with a gentle fire till
it is that the former of these is more easily separated either in the Stomach or in the Liver and so is thrust forth either by the belly with the rest of the excrements or else it is voided by Urine but this other being mingled with the spirit of the Wine passeth into the very Mass of the blood and so penetrateth into the most inward parts of the body And that those Salts that were fixed may be made Volatile the Distillations of Chymists do sufficiently prove and that the Tartar may be made as it were Spiritual and elevated by the Alembick this we are taught by the Tartarized Spirit of Wine yea and Metals may also be so dissolved in strong Waters and Spirits that they may not only be strained through paper but that they may likewise be elevated into the Alemâ—ick But yet nevertheless in regard that this Salt although it be subtile is altogether unfit for the nourishing of the body as partaking of a Mineral Nature which is not fit for the nourishment of living Creatures albeit it doth together with the blood penetrate into the Veins yet not withstanding as superfluous and useless it is at length by Nature cast forth of the Veins and Arteries and thrust out unto the Joynts And therefore whether or no Wine be apt to generate and cause the Gout we are in the first place to judg of this by the place where it groweth and its effect and then next of al by the strength therof For by how much the stronger Wines are by so much the more exactly and subtilly is this Salt mingled with them and becometh more spiritual like as it appeareth in the Spirit of Wine that is Tartarizated which is more strong than the simple Spirit of Wine All which notwithstanding is thus to be taken if by reason of the distemper and weakness of the Bowels as we also said before that which in the Wine is Excrementitious and Tartarous may not be separated For if it may be separated the Wine wil then be wholsom and without any hurt in it Yea and if any such Wine could be had that having but little of such a like Tartarous matter in it should yet strengthen the weak Bowels that do not wel separate these Excrements and so shal help the Concoction and promote the separation and evacuation of the Excrements we grant that this would prove to be not only harmless but likewise very useful and profitable if moderately drunk And some tel us that the Pucine Wine is such and therefore they commend it for the prevention of the Gout But I much doubt whether this Wine be in al respects answerable unto what hath been said and therefore I conceive that it is good first to make trial and to consult with Experience We have indeed above spoken somthing as touching the cause for which certain Wines breed and cause the Gout wine how it doth generate the gout but yet nevertheless my desire and purpose is here to explain the thing and so to make the matter somwhat more cleerly to appear I think it to be a very plain and cleer truth that Wine produceth the Gout not as it is Wine but as it containeth in it somthing that is unfit and somthing likewise that is extraneous and unuseful unto our bodies which is therefore by Nature thrust forth unto the Joynts And this appeareth if by nothing else yet by this That there are some certain Wines that do not generate the Gout and such are our Gorubergensian Wines and many others also that here in these Regions grow in Sandy places For albeit these Wines be drunk for a dayly and ordinary drink and that not scantly but very plentifully yet there was never any that from hence contracted the Gout But on the contrary the Moravian Bohemian Austrian Hungarian and likewise very many more Wines of other Regions are most apt to breed the Gout Yea and not only the Wines but even the Waters of some places dogenerate the Gout And so it was related unto me by that eminent Physitian Dn. D. Tobias Knoblochius In certain places waters also generate the gout that at Iglavia in Moravia where he had practised Physick there for some yeers that not only the Wealthier sort of People that drank Wine but even the poor who hardly ever tasted a Cup of Wine were al of them very subject unto the Gout Colick and Falling-sickness Diseases Epidemical in that place But now What that is that maketh that certain wines are apt to breed the gout Inquiry is to be made What that should be which maketh that certain Wines are apt to generate the Gout Where we are first of al to take notice that nothing doth nourish touching which we have spoken elswhere but what proceedeth from things animated or enlivened And therefore al other things as Minerals Metals and divers kinds of Earths are unapt to nourish our bodies and thereupon if they be at any time taken in they are again to be evacuated either by the Urine or else by the belly and this if it be not done they are then by Nature thrust into the Joynts and so they there generate the Gout And therefore those Vines that grow in a sandy Earth that is not at al fat and rank have nothing that they may attract and draw unto them besides the Alimentary Juyce but those that grow in Clayish grounds or any other fat Earths do not attract unto themselves only a vegetable juyce but also a Mineral juyce as it were and such as is wholly unuseful for our bodies which is not unfitly termed Tartar a substance to wit that consisteth of a fixed and volatile Salt and of an Earthy and almost Mineral matter such as not only sticketh fast unto the sides of Casks but is likewise throughly mingled with the substance of the Wine And this is altogether the Nature of Salts that they reduce other bodies into the smallest Atomes and then do associate the Atomes unto themselves We may see an Experiment of this in the dissolving of Metals in strong Waters in which the Metals bodies otherwise thick are so united unto the salt of the Waters that dissolve them that they may pass through a Card or Paper And the very same we likewise see in the dissolving of Pearls Margarites Cerals and Crabs Eyes which sticking fast unto the Salt of the Vinegar are throughly mingled with the Water and may be strained through a Card but being precipitated they will dissolve no further We have likewise an Example hereof in Vitriol which being dissolved in Water may likewise be strained through a Card but when the vitriol is Calcined and the Salt drawn forth of it there remaineth an Earth that is not dissolveable by any liquor whatsoever And so in hot Baths of Water there is an Earthy substance so exactly mingled therewithal that it cannot possily be discovered by any sense But yet when this afterwards shall stick fast unto the wooden
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