Approved Medicines OF Little cost to preserve health and also to cure those that are SICK Provided For the Souldiers Knap-sack and the Country mans Closet Written by RICHARD ELKES Gent. Student in the Art of Physick living at Bagshot in the County of Surry Medicos Chirurgos subinde mutare aegris taedium non levamen est Eccles. 38. 4. The Lord hath created Medicines out of the earth and he that is wise will not abhorre them LONDON Printed for Robert Ibbitson and are to be sold by Tho Vere at the Angel in the Old-Baily 1651. TO THE High and Honourable Court of Parliament Rich. Elkes wisheth health peace and tranquility Right Honourable FOR as much as all men ought in their severall places and callings to endeavour to doe good in that Common-wealth wherein they live your poor Subject hath seen many men both Souldiers and others loose their lives by a carelesse demeanour sometimes ignorantly some times wilfully sometimes for want of a Physitian and Chyrurgeon sometimes neglecting the means when it may be had for the prevention thereof I do here make bold to present unto your view some Defensives and Remedies for all that desire Health In the absence of a Learned Physitian and Chyrurgion these easie Medicines may both cure and preserve health as the learned saith the Physitians duty consisteth in two principall points First To preserve health Secondly To cure the sick which I have and will indeavour to doe according to that Tallent that Almighty God hath bestowed upon me and rest your obedient Servant To Command in all submission and diligence RICHARD ELKES The Directions of an old Souldier in Ireland about forty years since which became a Physitian there AS I travelled through the Countie of Clare I heard of an excellent Physitian which had accomplished manie rare cures but especially the Bloody Flux After some time spent I found the man and conferred with him touching his Art which he seemed willing to impart requesting the like of me and said about fortie years before that time he came out of England a Souldier into that Country which was in Queen Elizabeths daies before a month was expired the Bloodie Flux seized upon him and as he suppofed it came by eating of fresh meat fresh fish lying upon the ground being hot and such like he remembred some directions that was given to him before he came out of England That when you eate give over with an appetite drinke no more but to quench thirst if you drink when you are hot march after it or stirre your body when you rest at your fires sit not upon the cold ground but upon wood straw or such like put off your wet cloathes and especially your Stockings and dry them c. And carrie in your Knap-sacke a peece of steele to heat red hot and quench it in your beer water or milke and as you travel gather the leaves and bark of the Oake and the leaves of the black-Thorn a bagge of Salt and Oatmeale that if the Flux should take you you might helpe your selfe So this old Souldier remembred his directions and observed it diligently when he came to their fires to dry his cloathes and sit upon wood or such like and he cast his peece of steele into the fire to warme his drink and when they had fish or flesh boiled he would cast into the boiler a handfull of Oaken leaves or bark of the Oak or a handful of leaves of Black-Thorn Salt and Oatmeale and grated into his beer some of the Oake bark this being observed cured himselfe and many of his fellow Souldiers The Wars being ended he became a Physitian and gained both monie and credit by curing the Flux and some other infirmities Thus may any Souldier observe and do for their healths in England Ireland and Scotland if need require Also the Souldiers may provide in their Knap-sacks three sorts of Earth that is Terra Lemnia it is called in the Apothecaries shops Terra Sigillata Bolarmonicke and Chalke this Terra Lemnia commeth out of the Island of Lemnos in the Turkes Dominion the quantity of a Bullet swallowed whole or beaten topowder and taken in Broth or other liquor fasting it cureth the Flux and preserveth from the Pestilence the best Bolarmonick commeth out of Spaine and may be taken fasting in like quantity or in some broth the quantity of two Bullets to cure a Flux the common Chalke which we have in England may be beaten to powder and boiled in milke or broth and taken fasting it cureth a Flux if it be often taken the quantity of a spoonfull twice in the day Thus much of medicines with little cost 2 To proceed to the cure of the Flux methodically according to Art YOu must consider what kinds of Flux the parties are grieved with and the complexion that doth predominate first whether it be the Flux Diarrhea Lienteria or Dysenteria if it be Dysenteria which is most dangerous I have read of foure kinds but it requires a long discourse concerning al the sorts but I omit that because the cure differeth but little only this if you find the exhulceration to be in the upper smal guts you must minister medicines at the mouth but if it be at the bigger or lower bowells you must cast in glisters often if the party be without a Feavour give him milke newly milked wherein a gad of steele hath been quenched you may make Suppings or Broth with Quinces Knot-grasse Plantain-leaves Willow-leaves Cumfreyroots and such like you may make Rice-Milke or boile white Starch in Milke eate no flesh but Partridges Culvers or Birds of the mountaine Goates and Hares flesh may be permitted a good diet wel observed the cure is halfe accomplished If strength doe permit you may purge down the vicious humors with two drams of Rubarb infused in halfe a pint of white wine with Currans and sweet Fennell seeds and drink it fasting to purge the vicious humors after purging take a dram of Diascordium thus may you purge every other day for in a week after this make a drink with running water of two quarts put seeds of Sorrell Pumgranat rindes Knot-grasse Cumfery roots Bryer roots Plantain leaves Cinamon Bolarmonicke Dragons blood and Sugar drinke this as an ordinary drinke Likewise you may make a drink with red wine Cinamon Sugar Knotgrasse and Cumfery roots to drink three times a day four spoonfuls at a time 2 To make a Glister glutinous REc three pints of water quench steel in it untill one third part be wasted then boile in it Cumfery roots Knotgrasse Bryer leaves red Rose leaves and Plantain leaves of each a little handfull of Acatia hypocischidis ana ℈ij. Bolarmonack Sanguis Dragonis ana ℈j. the juyce of Quinces ʒj Goates Tallow ℥j. if it may be had and yolkes of three eggs commixe this together and make a Glister administer this as often as you shall see cause 3 For an Implaister REc. of the Oyles of Quinces Roses
doe breed this and many other dangerous diseases for drink made of such water the venome doth purge by the Barme and is in it of which bread is made and he that eateth such bread especially in Cities and Townes may have the Scurvie and Feavers of all sorts for if there be any venome in the drinke it will be in the Barme therefore I wish all men to eate leavened bread if he can have it and drinke made of cleare water ten dayes old at least 9 For the Cure of the Scurvie THe first intention is to keep a good dyet and exercise the body moderately his meat must be meates of the best nourishment as Birds of the Field Mutton or Veale Rabbets and Chickings broath made with Agremony Avins Scabius or Bitony and such like all salt meats must be avoyded the first three dayes let him take a draught of Oximell in the morning fasting and last at night which is to be made in this manner Rec. a quart of cleane water a root or two of Fennell three or foure roots of Parsley a sprigge of Rosemary a little Fumotery if it be to be had Fennell-seeds and Parsley-seeds of each a Dram three spoonfuls of the best Honey let this boyle gently and scum it and in the boyling put into it two spoonfuls of Vinegar after this hath been taken three dayes take of Rubarbe 3ij of Sena 3j 40 Raysons of the Sun stoned a race of Ginger sliced sweet Fennel-seeds Annis-seeds of each 3j let these be infused all night upon Coales the next morning take halfe a pint of this and dissolve in it a Dram of Diacatholicon take this three mornings after this let Bloud if need require the body being thus prepared make your Scurvye-grasse Drinke in this manner Take a peck of Scurviegrasse and a gallon of Water-cresses and a gallon of Brook-limes one handfull of Egremony one handfull of Tamariske or the buds or barke of the Ashe Raysons of the Sunne stoned a pound of Licorish halfe a pound concused Fennell roots peethed and Parsley roots Annis-seeds and Fennell seeds a quarter of a pound put all these into a thin Bagge in five gallons of Beere or Ale put the Bagge into the Barrell when the drinke is ready to be tunned with a stone in the bottome of the Bagge let it hang within three or foure inches of the bottome of the Barrell let this drinke worke with these ingredients in it then stop it close and at eight or ten dayes drinke of it and none other except a little at meate untill the Party be well most especially in the morning drinke a pint and exercise untill the party is ready to sweat and keep him warme after it the spoon-wort is good for the land Scurvie used as before is directed and taken forty dayes together 10 Of the Flux called the Plague in the Guts THis Flux in England which is called by many the Plague in the Guts is contagious as I conceive a venomous matter cleaving to the neather or great Guts for the most part some seeme to have no Feavor other some have a Feavour and complaine most in the middle Ventricle in briefe I suppose the Cure is accomplished by giving Cordials and sweating and by Glisters if the Flux appeare to be bloudy or like scraping of Guts without a Feavour you may proceed as I directed before in the Chapter of the Flux Dysenteria at the first comming of this Flux take a quart of Milke boyle in it a handfull of Marigold Flowers Sage and Rosemary Bryer leaves and knot grasse this being boyled take one pint of this put into it surrup of Slowes surrup of Gilly-flowers anna ℥j. the yolke of an egge and a dram of Diascordium give this bloud warme the next day if strength permit give the other pint of Milke in a Glister as before is directed but after the first Glister hath done working give a Cordiall thus prepared take of the water fo Burrage Scabius and Marygolds ana ℥j. Diascordium ℥j. Confectio Alcermis ℈j. Mithridates ℈ ss. surrup of Violets surrup of Gillo-flowers ana ℥j. commix all this together and drinke it warme presently after let the sick be covered warme to sweat two houres if strength permit in sweating drinke Posset wherein Saffron is boyled this being used three times may cure it for it hath recovered many of the above named Flux keeping a good dyet without flesh thus briefly of the Pestilence which destroyeth many if meanes be not used to prevent it in time 11. The cure of the Itch and Lice FOr cure thereof Methodically is first to observe a good dyet that is to say you must eate and drinke such things that breed good bloud and to avoyd all things that breeds evill and rotten humours as you may see in the Chapters before going then purge the body with pilule de fumo terrae or pilule Inde haly which you may have at any Apothecaries the second day let bloud in the Basiliske veine then make this water following Rec. A gallon of running water or the water that Smiths use and quench in it a gad of steele red hot untill halfe the water be wasted then boyle in it a quarter of a pound of leafe Tobacco of Dock roots Willow leaves and leaves of the Birch of each a handfull of Brimstone tyed in a Cloath 3 ij wash the sore places twice in the day and you shall be cured except the Itch be incorrigible which with long continuance doth bring it to passe also if you make so much of this water as will wet your shirt twice in the weeke the shirt being cleane washed and dryed then dipped in this liquor and dry it againe it will both kill the Itch and destroy the Lyce that are about you I have read a story of some Souldiers that would boyle Saffron Pepper and Graines in running water and in that liquor dip their shirts twice in the weeke it will make the shirt yellow but it destroyed Lice and Itch others of the inferiour sort would boyle Staveacre and Tobacco in water and dip their shirts in it and cure both Itch and Lice Many more Medicines for the Itch have been used as Brimstone pounded to Powder with Ginger and tyed in a cloath and infused in fallet Oyle nine dayes in the Sun annoynt the sore places with this oyle and be whole but this will smell also Mercury sublimate ℥ ss. beaten to powder and put into a quart of Running water three or four dayes then with a little cloth wet the sore places it may cure the Itch but it is dangerous and must not be used unto raw places for it may poyson the blood therefore I wish that none would use it without the advice of his Chyrurgion So I come to speake of the incorrigible Scab called by some the Naopolitan disease which happen and hardly found out the first cure as Vigo saith of this foul disease is called Morbus Gallicus I wil speak little of
the cure in this place because divers have written largely of it and the maledy being Chronicled it wil require a long time to perfect I will onely give you some cautions to preserve from the infection if you be infected before it be confirmed to expell it The infection of this evill commeth cheifly 4 wayes but seldome or never by eating and drinking with the diseased as many think the most dangerous way of catching this Maledie is by a clean body carnally acting with an unclean body the next way of taking it is man and man or woman and woman lying in bed the one cleane the other uncleane the heate of their bodies do as it were participate of each others Itch Scab Pox or Pestilence The third way of taking this Infection is by approaching so near the diseased party as to draw in its corrupt breath as in the Pestilence The fourth way is Infants sucking an unclean woman Signes how to know this disease if it be newly taken not so easily discerned if of long continuance the face of some will be wan and pale the eies hollow and blew some scabs about the nose sometime Vlcers sometimes no Ulcers a full paine in the head great paines in the joynts especially in the night the Shin bones continually pained the Vvula and neck swoln the Spade bone and sinewes in pain Lazy and Lumpish Gonorrhea swelling in the Arme-pits little Knobs or Ulcers about the privy Members and Fundament sometimes Scabs over all the body with many more 12 For cure hereof newly taken and not confirmed FIrst of all you shal observe a good dyet that is eate Veale Mutton rosted Birds of the Mountaine Hens Chickings Partridges or Phesants and such like All salt meat is hurtful al fish but Cra-fish Garlicke Onyons Salt Pepper Swines-flesh and White-meates and Venus is forbidden sometimes the Patient may use Burrage Lettis White beets in Rice broth when he is wearyed with meat dry rosted The second intention is to digest the corrupt Matter with surrup of Violets surrup of Fumotary of each halfe an ounce water of Endiffe and Maiden haire a spoonfull of Vineger let this be taken over night the next morning give him this potion take a handfull of Burrage Flowers a handfull of Mary-goldes 40 Raysons of the sun stoned boile them in a quart of water to a pinte then take a dram of Rubarh and insuse in it all night in that pinte of liquor dissolve of Diacatholicon and Diaphenicon of each half an ounce in the same liquor and take it fasting and fast two houres in the interim provide some thin Broth to drinke as he Purgeth after purging give some Cordial surrups with Diascordium the second day Purge againe the fourth day Sweat 4 hours the sixth day Sweat 4 houres and the eight day sweat 4 houres in this interim provide this drink take of Lignum vite li. j. of the Barke of the said wood li ss. Raisons of the Sun stoned li. j. Chinaroot â„¥ij Sassafras â„¥vj Salsaperilla â„¥ix Cardus Benedictus and Maiden-haire Mj. of Liquorish and Annyseeds li ss. of each and 16 pintes of water put all these in a pot very close stopped and let it stand upon the coales 24 hours to infuse then let it boyl 24 houres gently in the boiling put in of white wine quart scum it and save the scum to apply to the scabby or soate places strein this liquor and keep it in a vessel close stopped drink this drink and no other 40 dayes except at meate a little small drink may be permitted thus havel cured many at the first before the evil be confirmed also this drink wil cure al diseases of the Liver as the Dropsie c. if rightly used Further if the party be Scabby or Itchy make this Bath following Rec. of the Roots and Leaves of Docks Chick-weed Fumoterry of each a little bundle Lentils and Lupins four handfuls bruised Elicampane Roots Walwort or the roots instead of Walwort Elder li ij Black helibor â„¥iiij. Kneeholme li ij Brimstone li ij boyle all these in so much water as will bath a man when the third part is wasted then let the diseased Bath and sweat in it two or three times in a week after Bathing let the patient go to bed and keepe warme and drinke the aforesaid drinke this hath cured many but if the Scab be more inveterate use this unction Rec. of Quick-silver killed with fasting spittle â„¥j in a readinesse then take the Oyle of Bayes and Masticke of each an ounce and of the liquor of the Bath aforenamed a pinte of fresh Butter and Swines grease â„¥iij. of each seeth all these until the liquor be wasted then adde clear Turpentine â„¥j. of Storax liquidam â„¥ ss. White wax â„¥iiij. iiij Rock Allum burnt â„¥j. Litarge of gold and silver â„¥ij. ij of each of Myrrh and Frankensence ana â„¥ij. juyce of Lemons â„¥iij. commixe all these together with the Quick-silver quenched and annoynt the Scabs this will cure if you annoynt and sweat untill the Flux be moved but if this evill be confirmed and ulcerated it will require a longer discourse which you may have hereafter if time permit thus briefly I thought good to direct the Souldier and others to prevent the danger thereof I have read that Charles the eighth King of France comming to Rome and Naples with his Souldiers they brought this Disease into France the Spaniard instead of Silver and Gold brought it from the Indies but I hope better of our Country-men and rest c. 13. Of the Flux of bloud in wounds and the remedies thereof IF the Flux be little it is the easier restrained but if it flow out abundantly there must be speedy remedy for bloud is the treasure of life sometimes it chanceth in the inward parts sometimes outwardly inwardly by violent moving and such like may breake a veine outwardly by Swords Guns Pikes and other Instruments also it doth happen by venomous medicines applyed to wounds corrupting the veines which cause a Flux if the Flux happen in the inward parts as in the Liver Lungs Reines and Bladder it is of hard curation yet it must not be neglected for which purpose all stipticke and conglutinating things must be used as Cumfrey roots knot-grasse roots Gum Dragagante Terra Lemnia Bolearmoniacke Rice Quinces Lentils Pomgranats and such other cooling drinkes are best and broths made with the above-named simples may help forward the cure but this Medicine following I have proved Rec. Pomgranat Rindes â„¥j. Pulveris. Bolearmonack â„¥ ss. Terra Sigillata â„¥ij. Knot-grasse and Cumphrey roots pounded and the juyce pressed out Gum Dragagante â„¥ ss. intused in that juyce make the said Powders into Pills like little Bullets with this infusion and give the sick six of them in a day three fasting in the morning and three of them last at night continuing this ten dayes and it will make you whole 14 The Flux in outward wounds ARe chiefly two if it flow from the