the Medicine is deduced into act The time of sweating As for the time of sweating first of al it is sufficient if the patient sweat one hour afterwards by degrees let him rise to more But the manner of sweating is various most do suffer their Patients to sweat in bed which that they may do the easier bottles ful of warm water or hot brick wrapt up in Cloaths must be placed under the Arm-pits and sides of the Patient Some provide a wooden Mantle such a one as Andreas Tenzelius hath discribed and set forth in Exeges Chymiatre which manner of sweating is not a little toublesome But not without cause most men do prefer before al kinds of sweating in this disease that which is in a bath or sweating place as that which brings less trouble to the sick when as weak Patients sweating in their bed may use a Bath and a sweating place and the heat of the bath may be made more intense or remiss at pleasure be made dry or moist as the condition of the sick requires yet a moist hath and gently heated by the Vapor of hot water is most commodious whenas that hot vapor of the Water doth open and Lax the pores of the Skin that the sweat flows the easier and without any trouble to the sick but dry baths are altogether laborious and ought not to be used in dry and Melancholy bodies But those sweating baths are twofold Baths twofold first of al those gaeat ones in which a body may walk such as are our baths so commonly called in which many at once may sweat and be washed such though they be used for the cure of this disease by Barbers in Italy yet they ought to be eschewed whenas if one that is lightly infected receive that which exhales from another grievously infected he may be infected more and 't is more commodious that every sick body sweat by himself Then there are baths or smal sweating places in which one alone closed up may sweat such are made of bords of wood Joyned together which again are twofold some which can receive a man upright Without bowing of his body Jul. Palmarius discribes it de lue Vener Cap. 17. of a Square figure seven Foot high and four foot long and broad whose description you may see there With us others are in use made up of boards mutually receiving and received by one another square but oblong of that bredth that a man may without any impediment set and extend his Arms but two stories high one where the Patient sets so high that as he sets he may put forth his Head through a hole of the bords strictly fitted for the neck but the lower part is of that depth that if the Patient setting stretch forth his Feet he cannot reach the lowest board and it hath a little door through which the sick may go into it and a window behind which may be opened upon neceffity and it hath another little door towards the feet through which an Iron or brass Vessel is put in ful of stones or refuse Iron red hot and a Pipe in the upper part of it over against the Vessel through which either plain hot water or some convenient decoction is poured on the stones or dross by degrees as much as the Patient can endure from whence the Vapor exhaling diffused al through the body doth provoke sweat and though after this manner the head be thrust forth yet that doth no hurt neither is it unprofitable even where the head is affected for though it stands forth yet that sweats plentifully enough in the interim the Patient doth not attract again by drawing in his breath those filthy Vapors which do Evaporate from his body but the free and pure ayre by which he is refresht that he doth more easily and happily endure sweating But in what bath soever sweat is provoked after the sweating is over the bath ought to be opened that those filthy Vapors may be blown away and discussed by the free Air. The most convenient time for sweating is the morning When we must sweat yet somtimes we may sweat after noone in which case the strength of the Patient is to be considered for there are some who wil easily endure sweating twice a day other who but once others who are not able to endure sweating once every day But the Medicines which moue sweat must be taken upon an empty stomach and an hour or two after the taking of the Medicine sweat must be urged But we must sweat so long as the strength of the Patient wil bear it How long and if the patient sweat in a bath or sweating place and is not able to endure any longer the heat of the bath he must be laid in his bed in which afterwards sweat wil flow of its own accord and without any loss of strength the sweat must afterwards be wiped of and after sweating the cold ayre must in no wise be admitted But how often we must sweat How often and how long the use of these Medicines is to be continued cannot be defined in general They commonly teach that these decoctions are to be continued for forty daies yet somtimes twenty five daies or thirty do suffice and somtimes in a more grievous Disease we must persist in the use of these Medicines til sixty daies and more For we must sweat so often and so long til the Malignity of the Disease is overcome and the vitious and vitulent Humors are discussed by sweating and al the Symptomes cease especially the running of the Reins and Callous skars For as long as these last We must remain in the use of these Medicines Nay though al the Symptomes do vanish yet it is good so to continue the Medicines for some daies that also the Maligne dispositions of the parts may be taken away that there be no fear of a relapse But after noon though sweat be not moved yet the same decoction given then may insensibly discusse the vitious Humors and destroy the virulent disposition imprest both on the parts and Humors CHAP. XX. Of other common Alexipharmaca BUt some trust not to those Alexipharmaca alone Common Alexipharmaca as Guajacum Sarsaparilla China Root and Sassafras wood but add also common Alexipharmaca This was first done by Fernelius who gave to those that were to drink the decoction half a dram or one dram of this Opiate or Alexipharmacal antidote which is prepared thus Take of the Leaves of water Germander Fernelius his antidote half an ounce Poley of the mount Penny royal white Hore-hound Origanum Calamint St. Johns-wort centory the less French Lavender ground pine Germander Spikenard of each two drams of the Seeds of Anise Fennel Parsly wild carrot Libistick Rue Basile Clary Cresses of the Berries of Bay Juniper of the Seeds of Male Piony of each half a dram of the Roots of round Birth-wort Gentian Dittander Valerian Asarabaccha of each one dram of Nut-megs
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 preparing of it There are some also who think the leaves and fruit of this tree being reduced into Conserves and Electuaries are to be used and they relate that the Indians infected with this disease do use them as Medicines but though the leaves and fruit may do somwhat in a light disease yet they are not sufficient in that which is great and inveterate neither are they able to perform what the wood doth But 't is observed that the fruit of this Tree hath also a power vehemently to loosen the Belly and whenas a fresh and light disease is somtimes cured only with purges 't is no wonder that the Indians may be cured by these purging fruits especial since that al Alexipharmacal vertue against this disease cannot be denyed them CHAP. XIV Of Sarsaparilla NExt to Guajacum Sarsaparilla that Root challengeth the first place in curing the Veneral disease which some call Spartam Parillam some Salsam Parillam the Spaniards Sarsam Parillam by reason of the similitude which it hath with the plant called rough bindweed By reason of its thornes 't is cailed Sarsa for Sarsa in Spanish signifies Bryers or Brambles but by reason of its leaves and boughs Parilla that is to say the thorny vine Nay Fallopius de Morb. Galli Cap. 63. is of that opinion that it is truly the rough bindweed which grows every where in Italy and he writes that by the use of it he hath with happy success freed many from the French Pox. Dioscorides also Lib. 4. Cap. 139. writes thus of the rough bindweed its leaves and fruit being drank before and after are antidotes against deadly poysons and besides 't is delivered that if somwhat of them poudered be given to a new born infant to drink no poyson shal afterwards hurt it But grant it be so that the Italian rough bindweed can do somwhat against this disease as also against other poysons yet he himself grants that there is no light difference betwixt this and the Indian But Sarsaparilla grows in Peru The native place of sarsaparilla in the hedges as rough bindweed the white and black Bryony and hops do in Europe The Root creeps far up and down by the Earth that 't is oftentimes above six cubits long which gathered into bundles is brought over to us The good and fresh is white solid but that which is reddish and poudery when 't is broke is less effectual It s vertue as I have said is very great also in curing this disease The vertue of it and 't is found by experience that many have been cured by the use of it without Guajacum and because 't is more Temperate and moderatly hot and without any acrimony bitterness or astriction or smel but hath a certain obscure sweetness it may safely be given to al constitutions of body and al Ages besides 't is of thin parts provokes sweat dries eminently resists putrefaction wasts superfluous humidity somwaht loosneth the body and therefore is wont in some sort to weaken the stomach but though Guajacum be more powerful and efficacious yet Sarsa in this exceeds that wood that it hath an eminent power to allay the French pains though never so accute and stubborn by reason of its exceeding tenuity penetrating and laxative vertue and Jul. Palmarius writes that no pain can happen so contumacious and so continual which at length it doth not lay asleep and overcome if any one use the decoction of it for a long time and constantly Nay al knotty French Tumors so they be not bony in what part soever they are are Rooted out by the use of it their matter being melted and cast forth by sweats or at the least wasted and emptyed by insensible perspiration and Fallopius writes in the alleaged place that if after the disease is overcome there remain Ulcers Clefts about the ARsehole that Sarsaparilla will heal them sooner by half than the Indian wood and in a short time also the most hard knobs are discussed by it Yet some admonish here that by Guajacum indeed this disease may be perfectly cured and that al things are found in Guajacum which are necessary for the cure of this disease but that sarsa doth not alone but mixt with Guajacum China Root and Sassafras wood cure this disease and for this reason because it loosness the stomach heats less is void of al acrimony and therefore is not so abstersive and being inodorous hath not the power to refresh the spirits But these accusations fetcht from the manifest qualities seem not to be sufficient truly that Guajacum doth challenge the first place in this disease is not to be denied in the interim it hath been observed also by many that somtimes this disease hath been cured by the use of this Root only and if perhaps it do to much lax the stomach that may easily be prevented But this also is given divers waies The manner of giving it for the most part as Guajacum in the decoction concerning which we must note they that wil not spare for cost and desire the decoction should be more effectual they ought to take only the bark as which is the more effectual part of the Root and to cast away the inner piths as that which is less effectual nay as 't is delivered by some 't is more cold and hath a certain astrictive faculty But the Root of Sarsaparilla is taken being sliced thin and to one ounce of it is poured two pound of water The decoction or to two ounces and an half of the Root four pound of Water some pour to four ounces of the Root feven pound of Water others to three ounces ten pound of water Neither can the quantity of the water to the Root be so strictly prescribed but it may be varied according to the Nature of the disease and the condition of the sick and the season of the year For in an inveterate disease there is need of a stronger decoction in a new of a weaker But it is steeped first of al fifteen hours or twenty and afterwards boyled to the Consumption of one half and reasons liquorish and other things are added to the decoction as need requires as in the decoction of Guajacum and because the decoction of Sarsa doth somwhat lax the stomach for the most part mint Betony or somwhat else that strengthens the stomach is to be added or what seems more commodious Guajacum or least the mixture of divers things may breed nauseousness after the taking of the decoction of Sarsaparilla they must take somwhat that strengthens the stomach After the first decoction is prepared The second decoction fifteen pound of water are poured again to the remainders and are boyled til a third is wasted and the decoction is used at dinner and Supper some also add towards the end of the decoction three pound of Wine yet this must be done then only as Fallopius thinks either when the sick body goes
abroad to preserve his strength or when the stomach is weak Yet there may also be prepared out of this Root pouders Electuaries extracts as are from Guajacum CHAP. XV. Of China Root THe Portugal Merchants brought over in the former Age China root from the Country of China a certain Root for the cure of this disease which they called China Root for when as the Venereal disease had invaded that Country also as the Americans shewed the use of Guajacum for the destroying of this disease so the people of China used this Root to cure the same disease and taught others the use of it But the Root is a handbreadth long somtimes pretty thick somtimes thinner knobbed somwhat reddish pretty weighty which being newly digged up they report is so tender that it may be eaten raw and boyled as turnep and rape Roots are with us the which seems not to be very credible whenas our Turneps Rape Roors dryed never attain to so great a hardness they are brought to us divided As concerning its vertues 't is neither strong in smel nor tast and therefore there is no excess of it in heat and cold but 't is rather temperate or if there be any excess in it 't is rather in cold yet 't is dry in the second of thin substance yet with a certain astrictive power and a kind of substantifical moisture so that by the use of it men do grow Fat Whence also the decoction of it doth easily sowr When it was first brought over by the Portugals into France and the neighbouring provinces it was wonderfully cryed up by the Merchants as being of thin parts and having power to digest to more urine and sweat to consum Excrements of al sorts to clense the Bowels free from obstructions clear the blood from corruption to cake away pains in the Joynts to be good for the Venereal disease and because 't is temperate it may safely be given to any age sex any time of the year and to those that are feaverish al which faculties whenas they are not in Guajacum by some of that time it was made use of not only for the cure of other diseases but also for the cure of the pox it was preferred before Guajacum Which very thing caused that Charles the fifth Emperour being sick of a most grievous Gout was the first almost that would make tryal of the use of this Root upon the advice of some Physitians But experience afterwards lessened that same and Jul. Palmarius writes of this business de lue Vener Cap. 14. that many to their great detriment have preferred this root before Guajacum and that he hath found by experience that also in a very strict diet it hath been uneffectual against this disease oftentimes also the stomach is seen to become so moist with the use of its decoction and the Native heat opprest that a great Lientery and crudity hath often followed in those who had but weak Fuell for their implanted heat Besides these discommodities and faults he writes also that it doth oftentimes cause swelling of the Spleen and hardness in those that use it long neither doth he grant it to have extraordinary vertue against this disease either by its whol substance or occult quality when as after the use of it they who thought themselves wel do dayly fal into a relapse of the same Disease The same also is confirmed by Gabriel Fallopius Lib. de Morb. Galli Cap. 60. who writes that he hath used this Root again and again for the Cure of this Disease but could do nothing with it in the interim he writes that he hath used it with happy success for the dropsie to moderate the mobility of the Humors in hot bleared Eyes and in a hot distemper of the stomach and Liver And other Physitians also agree in this that this Root for the Cure of the French Pox is far in feriour to Guajacum and Sarsaparilla although it be profitable to preserve and strengthen the heat of our body and therefore for other diseases And if by chance any one who could not be cured neither by the decoction of Guajacum nor by the unction of Quick-silver hath recovered health by the Decoction of China Jul. Palmarius thinks this is the Cause of it because Nature rejoycing in the Variety of Remedies and weary of the stronger at length is easied by those that are less effectual Yet Garzias ab Horto relates of the Root being fresh that it doth so exceedingly heat that if any one use the pure Decoction of it or drink it hot by reason of the too great heat of the Medicine he wil fal into exceeding heats of the liver Erysipilaes and Phlegmons and other most grievous Symptoms But when as 't is brought over to us insipid and somtimes dusty there is no cause to fear any such thing Neither doth this only happen in this plant but also in many others that the Alimental juyce hath far other vertues then the dryed Plants and therefore though perhaps this Root being fresh in China may have great vertue to Cure the Venereal Disease yet it is not necessary that it retain the same with us But divers prepare the decoction of this root diversly The decoction of China Jul. Palmarius writes that the common way of preparing it is this that to two ounces of the root cut into rounds and put in an earthen pot there is poured four pound of water and let them steep twelve houres afterwards boyl with a gentle fire to the consumption of the one half Fallopius boyles two ounces of the root in twelve pound of water to the consumption of half but according to the nature of the disease the proportion of the root and water may be varied and the root may be boylled from one to three in twelve pound of water Yet Septalius adviseth us here that this decoction is most commodiously prepared if one ounce of the root fresh and not rotten be boyled in ten pound of water two ounces in twelve pound of water For he writes though many physitians to save charges whenas many cannot take al that decoction in one day and they feare if they should keep it another day it would grow sowre do boyl half the portion of China in half the quantity of water and boyl away the half or two thirds thinking that so they have both saved their purse and prepared the decoction as strong yet they are very much deceived and if they have not lost their taste they shal easily know that that first decoction is much more powerful than the second and the reason is ready because 't is not enough to give a proportion of the root to the water but the time of boyling is cheifly to be considered and the action of the heat of the fire and the reaction of the water For whenas foure houres space imagine ought to be allowed to extract the vertue out of a most hard root and communicate it to
the water how much time wil be spent in boyling away six or eight pints of water if taking but the half quantity viz. half an ounce of China with six pints of water we suffer the half to wast or two thirds which wil be consumed in less than two houres space the water being less able to resist the action of the fire nor let any one dare to say that we may prevent this inconveniency by making a less quantity of fire and if it he boyled by a slower fire for to extract this vertue out of a more solid substance there ought also to concur a due quantity of fire Out of the remainders another drink is prepared by some for dinner and supper The Second decoction as out of Guajacum Yet Palmarius thinks that al the vertue of that root is transfused in the liquor at the first boyling and therefore for ordinary drink he boyles three ounces more of the root in eight pound of water til two pints are consumed and he ads raisons and liquarish nay some also drink the first decoction at dinner and supper whenas it is not unpleasant to the tast Some also do admonish us that we provide no more of the decoction at once than may be spent in one day whenas it quickly growes sour when 't is cold therefore they command also that it be kept on warm ashes but experience hath taught us that it wil last four dayes Yet because it growes sour that very thing tels us that this root hath in it somewhat spirituous and alimental which is the cause of fermentation and hence of acidity Consult concerning this with Amatus Lusitamus centur 1. curat 98. and especially centur 2. curat 31. CHAP. XVI Of Sassafras wood THey use also for the cure of the Veneral disease that wood which is connonly called sassafras which is imported form the Island called Florida Sassafras-Wood it is of an aromatical taste like fennel 't is hot and dry in the second degree of a thin substance and endewed with an opening discussive and attenuating faculty Its vertues and therefore is commended by them who have sailed to the Indies against long tertian feavers evil habit of the body and dropsie and to strengthen the stomach and against nephritical paines it is comended also for the gout to move the courses and many other diseases to treat of which is not proper to this place 't is used also for the cure of the French pox yet most physitians agree that 't is less effectual than Guajacum and sarsaparilla and the decoction of it is prepared almost as that of Sarsaparilla Chap. XVII Of Sope-wort Last of al sopewort is commended by some physitians for the cure of this disease which is bitter Soapwors accid and endewed with an abstersive and opening faculty and is praised for the French pox and contumacious paines which cannot be over come by other remedies 'T is reported to be the invention of Zapata a spannish Empirick t is used both in the decoction and in substance the decoction is prepared after this manner Take of green sopewort two handfuls It s decoction infuse them al night in eight pound of water than boyl it â—â—l the sâ—pewort is boyled enough then strain one pound of it with half a pound of water and the harbs now boyled and squeez them and reserve it for a mornings dâ—aught to provoke sweat taking seven or eight ounces But that which remains sweeten with raisons or sugar for drink at meales in summer and Cholerick bodies you may add one handful of Sowthistle or basterd Navel-wort But t is a remedy unpleasing to the tast Eustachius Rudius takes of soap-wort six pugils or more and infuseth it in twelve pound of water and boyles it to the consumption of half But as Septallius hath observed t is too great a quantity of water to so sinal a portion of soap-wort But the Root Cheifly is used in substance The pouder and Rudius doth very much commend it in ancient french pains and out of it he prepares this pouder Take of ground pine two ounces of white dittander one ounce and half of Zedoary six drams of the root of soapwort three drams of pearl prepared half a dram Make a pouder for 9. doses but who can take for one dose almost four drams of pouder and the other medicines do far exceed the soapwort which notwithstanding ought to be the basis CHAP. XVIII Of Compound Alexipharmaca BUt though al the medicines hitherto reckoned up Compouond Alexiphbrmaca in the Veneral disease are good to destroy this disease yet some are more effectual then others and besides some have other qualities for the which they are useful sometimes for this sometimes for that end as was said of the simples and therefore seldom one of these medicines is used but for the most part many of them together Indeed if the disease be simple and none of the bowels be affected nor there is no eminent distemper in any part which may hinder the use of Guajacum that wood is the most excellent of al because it resists this disease both by its occult and manifest qualities but if any disease be joyned with it t is oftentimes most profitable to add sarsaparilla and China and there are added by some manny altering medicines of which whenas we spake before in this place we shal ad nothing of them but this that we must have a care least by the mixture of Succories and endives and cooling medicines which are added to moderate the heat of Guajacum which yet is not so much to be feared they hinder sweating which is only to be desired and which brings more benefit then a little heating can do dammage next of al least by the admixtion of other things the drink be made ungrateful and nauseous therefore passing by these that we may speake somewhat of the mixture of alexipharmaca if the nature of the patient be very hot and dry and the humors violently fal from the head on the lungs breast or other parts Guajacum wood is not commodiously given alone whenas it doth farther heat and dry the parts and by its heat make the humors run and move but then sarsaparilla is safer and China more comodious which doth at once moderate the heat and hath an astrictive power by which it stops defluxions on the contrary if the strength be feeble and there be a weaknes of the sight sarsa is not commodious whenas it loosenss the stomach and duls the fight if there be a great consumption if so be it hath not its original from the Venereal disease for then this disease being taken away as the cause that wasting also ceaseth and the body begins to be nourisht better Guajacum and sarsaparilla are not safe But then china is far more profitable as that which moistens substantifically as they speak Yet Ludiciptalius commends Sasaparilla above al the rest against a consumption lib. 7.
place till the gold be dissolved with this solution wash the part affected twice every day Ulcers of the nose are cured by errhines or infusions by pouders strewed on it Of the nose by suffumigations made of Guajacum and cinnabar Clefts of the bands and feet If there be chaps and clefts in the palmes of the hands and soles of the feet Clefts of the hands and feet let them be washt with the decoction of Guajacum its barke scabious water germander cinquefoile and if there be hardness with it take also marsh mallowes or the root of wild cowcumber afterwards use an ointment of butter goose-grease or hens ammoniacum bdellium apples to which ad alittle of unflaked loome or precipitate or the oyntment proposed before Or Take of hogs-grease as much as you please and put as much oyl of tartar to it that by it the oyntment may be made sharpe If the evil yeeld not to these apply a particular suffumigation of cinnabar Hercules Saxonia de lue vener Cap. 30. writes that he hath observed a certain woman who for eight years together had clefts in her hands and had used the help of al the Venetian and Padua doctors to no purpose was in a short time easily cured with the juce of an herb which some cal mugwort others tansie being carefully dropt with a feather into al the clefts and forbearing to wash her hands at al and that he hath found the same juyce profitable in ringworms and Crusty Uloers Buboes Concerning buboes which are wont often to break forth in the groines in the Venereal disease we must hold fast this in general that we do our endeavor The cure of buboes to help the expulsion of that matter which nature assayes and indeavors to thrust forth to the more ignoble parts whenas sometimes by this evacuation nature is wont to free her self from al that disease therefore if a buboe break not forth enough and increaseth but tendeth not to suppuration we must use our endeavor to draw it forth and suppurate it Therefore the thigh of the same side must be rubbed and scatified about the lower part or else a vein must be opened about that place but on the bubo it self there must be layd strong drawing medicines As Take of sagapen Ammoniacum each three drams opoponax Bdellium each two drams mustard pepper Pellitory of spain of each one dram blacke sope half one ounce mix them and with wax and pitch make an emplaster Yet if nature be opprest with the plenty of virulent matter that it cannot expel it al then 't is good to give a purge that part of the butthen being taken off nature may the easier expel the rest When the tumor hath broke forth enough we must take care it be speedily opened and be kept open a long while that it may suppurate we must lay on it those maturatives which are wont to be applied in inflamations of the mucilage of mallows marsh-mallows wheat and flax seed figs hogs-grease goose-grease and the like or the simples diachyled or that compound with gums when 't is mattered we must not expect that the bubo should open of it self but it must be opened betimes least the virulent humor detained there do hurt other parts the tumor being opened the forementioned digestives and abstersives must be layd on to which there wil be need sometimes to ad a little of mercury precipitate and the ulcer must be kept open a long time Yet in cold buboes there is no such feare that the matter should ascend to other parts but if purgers and sweaters and proper alexipharmaca be applied sometimes the bubo doth wholly vanish without any danger Gummosities and Nodes Truely Such tumors and nodes which do rise in places void of flesh as the forehead the skul and the outward part of the legs do oftentimes vanish if the disease be perfectly cured especially after the use of sarsaparilla which is most effectual in discussing of these diseases and after the use of mercurial unctions which are applied to such tumors yet if after the cure is inded such tumors and nodes remain things emmollient attenuating and digesting must be laid udon them and that are strong as the rootsof wild cowcumber bdellium sagapen opoponax and cheifly ammoniacum or diachylon with gums or a mercurial cerote this is good and proved by experience Take Of the plaister diachylum with gums one ounce fimple diachylum half an ounce mercury killed with spittle one ounce oyl of guajacum as much as is sufficient make aplaster Or Take of Ammoniacum Opoponax Gume of ivy dissolved in aqua vitae hens and goose grease each one ounce and half the marow of a calfs leg one ounce ladanum styrax calamite and liquid each two drams the pouder of hermodactil roots orrice each three drams cinnabar one dram quick silver mix with turpintine six drams oyl of lillies and wax as much as is sfficient make acerote Also the lavatories made of mercury mentioned before are good in these tumors If these things do not satisfie the tumors must be opened with causticks especially if they be not in the joynts nerves tendons and the place must be kept open and the bone underneath which for the most part is hurt must be seraped Smal Bunchings and pustles Bunchings also and smal pustles thymi verrucae favi Bunchings and pustles as in other parts of the body so especially they are wont to rise in the head about the arsehole yard and privities in the french pox which though sometimes after a universal cure they vanish of their own accord yet sometimes also they require a peculiar cure This sort of bunchings which are in the head must be washed often with the decoction of guajacum and cheifly of the barke of it and sarsaparilla some use oyl of scorpions and vipers to which if they yeeld not they must be anointed with some mercurial unguent or the compound water of allum prepared of roch allum and mercury sublimate which some also prepare thus Take Of roch allum Mercury sublimate each two drams grind them ad of plantane and rose water each one pound Boyl them in a glass to the consumption of half afterwards let them stand fifteen dayes that the allum and mercury may sink to the bottom and let the cleare water be poured off and kept for your use If the pustles be in the mouth use washing of the mouth with the decoction of guajacum or if there be an inflamation with chalybeate whey to which may be added roses and plantane and if the pustles be soule ad scabious and ten graines of alum to every pint of the whey or decoction The compound alum water even now described is most profitable yet in pustles of the mouth t is not safe to use that alone but it must be diluted with a treble or quadruple quantity of rose and plentane water But the pustles of the arsehole and yard must every day
which there had been boyled the Root of the greater Dock which having drunk up when he could not be cured by any other remedies of the Physitians he made a great deal of white Water his Urine being like Milk and so was freed from all his pains Or Take Sarsaparilla one ounce Sassafras Wood half an ounce the Root of the Clove Tree one ounce Citrine Saunders two drams Infuse all in three pints of Water for twenty four hours and afterward boyl the same and give of this Decoction one draught in the morning either alone or else with Harts horn Topicks The Body being thus in a due manner evacuated Topicks and the Antecedent cause that would have augmented the Disease being once taken away we then come to the very moderating of the pain and the taking away of the Conteining Cause of the pain and swelling and so unto the Topicks But if Topicks shall presently be administred before those Universal and General Remedies shall have been first made use of the Patient shall receive from thence far more hurt then benefit For either the matter which Nature endeavoureth to thrust forth to the Joynts is driven back unto the more inward parts from whence very grievous Symptoms are excited or else it is impacted into the Joynts and so the pain is exasperated or else the part is effeminated and made weak and loosened and so the flux is increased Which being not commonly taken notice of and Topicks being oftentimes most unseasonably and without any caution at al administred the sick persons do for the most part receive more hurt then good from them and from hence it was that the common and received opinion had its first original to wit that the best course is to administer nothing at al unto the pained Joynts And the truth is that it is fir becter to apply nothing call but to commit the whole business to Nature then to make use of such Medicaments as are altogether unfit and improper Now the Topicks that are applied they respect either the pain only or else withall the Cause of the pain to wit the Humor that now and formerly hath flown in exciting both a pain and a swelling Mitigaters of Pain The Pain in this Disease for the most part is a most grievous Symptom Mitigaters of Pain and which is most troublesom to the sick parties and which they most of all Curse and Bann as Lucian hath it in the beginning almost of his Tragopodagra and therefore also it is that they most of all desire the removal thereof And indeed it is altogether necessary that the Physitian should have regard thereunto because that if it be too great it causeth a restlessness dejecteth the strength and by attracting the Humors it augmenteth the Malady and so deservedly draweth our care unto it for its removal as Gaien in the 12. of his Method C. 1. and thereupon it sheweth and pointeth us unto the asswaging thereof by Anodynes Now Anodynes or Mitigaters of pain have likewise this Good and benefit going along with them to wit that by loosning the parts they make that the Humor that before flowed only unto the interiour parts about the Joynts comes now also to flow and be diffused unto the Ambient and fleshy parts And hence it is that the pains in the Gout before the swelling of the part are most Vehement and Intollerable and that so soon as the part affected beings to swel they are much Mitigated But now these Anodynes of what kind they are we have told you elswhere in our Institutions to wit such as mollifie and loosen the part affected and yet do not discuss the very Cause it self And here they may be provided of Goats Milk newly drawn out of their Dugs as also white bread and Milk together with the Yelks of Eggs and a little Saffron as likewise of the Leaves of Marsh-Mallows Mallows Colewort or Cabbage laid upon the place affected as hot as the Patient can wel endure them as also of Mallow Seeds Seeds of Marsh-Mallows Quinces Fleabane and especially the Mucillages of them Cassia newly drawn out of the Pipe with the Decoction or Water of Nightshade which as Avicen tels us is the best Remedy that can be unto which if there flow any hot Humors thereunto we may add some of the Oyl of Roses or Rose water but if the flowing Humors be cold then we are to add thereto the Oyl of Camomil and instead of Cassa out of the Pipe we may likewise make use of the Rob of the Elder Tree of white bread and Wine and indeed if the Humor be more hot red Wane but if cold or betwixt both then white Wine with the pouder of Camomile flowers and Oyl of Roses of Cheese new made of sheeps Milk and imposed upon the pained part and often changed of fresh-made Ox or Cow dung in the first beginning of the Spring as also the Water that is distilled out of it Amost useful Remedy also is the Mucillage of Fleabane Seed extracted with the Water of Roses or Night shade unto which somtimes a little Vinegar may be added and this Medicament is by Serapton and others very much commended In the very first beginning of the Disease Solenander taketh the thick stalks of Hendock and sils them with Salt and then stoppeth them with Clay or Paste and puts them in a moist place that the Salt may dissolve which liquor he keeps in a glass and with Clothes applieth it unto the pained part And he oftentimes also made use of this Cataplasm Take Mallows the whole Herb Root and all cut it into very smal pieces and boyl it in equal parts of Wine and Vinegar in a new Earthen Vessel until a third part be wasted away and then mingle therewith the thicker Bran of Rye as much as will suffice for the making of a Cataplasm and apply this hot unto the grieved part Forrestus relateth that he knew one that added hereunto a little Barly flower and that of the Water Lentile boyled in Milk with Camomile flowers and so reducing them into the form of a Cataplasm he put them upon the part affected with miraculous success as one could judg no other of it And here also very useful is the Yelk of an Egg reduced into the form of a Liniment with the Oyl of Violets and so is also the Water of the Sperm or seed of Frogs which perhaps have in them some kind of Narcotick quality Adrianus Spigelius writes that among the Moravians there is in use a very notable Remedy and noble experiment for the speedy cuting of the Gout-pains to wit the Water of Meadow Sweet distilled with its Roots and Flowers and this water is likewise in frequent use among the Silefians And it is also very convenient to foment the part affected with the Decoction of Parietary or Pellitory of the Wall And very many there be likewise that make use of Oyls and Fat 's But here we are to give you
treat of those things which most Physitians have hitherto used and which long experience hath now confirmed to be alexipharmaca of this disease by the use of which it hath been a long time observed that not only the vitious humors have been emptied and the symptomes destroyed but the very roots of the disease have been pulled up that it could no more returne Of which sort are your pockâ—wood sarsaparilla China root Sassafras-wood of which we wil now speak Chap. XIII Of the Indian Wood and Guajacum ANd first of al we wil treat of the Indian wood The Indian wood as being that which challengeth the cheife place amongst the remedies of this disease For whenas this disease is reported to be endemious in the Indies the chiefe remedy is also fetcht from thence which they cal the Indian wood but this sort of wood Two fold Guajacum The holy wood as appeares by Consalvus Oviedus a noble Spaniard who writes of things in the Indies is two fold the one which is commonly known called Guajacum the other which is called the holy wood For though by many these two woods are taken for one and the same yet the forementioned Author doth distinguish them both by their marks and places concerning which see Fallopius de morb Gal. cap. 39. yet whenas both woods have the same force to overcome the French disease though it be reported that the holy wood be of greater force against articular diseases and others and the holy wood is now a days seldom brought over to us we shal only speak of Guajacum Amongst other new Islands found out in former Ages there is one also which the Spaniards the discoverers have called by the name of Hispaniola whenas the Veneral disease was reported to be indemious there and the decoction of a certain wood is esteemed there the only remedy of that disease which at this day is called guajacum by the inhabitants is pronounced with gaping Huajacum The Spaniards infected with the same disease having found the same decoction to be helpful did afterwards discover its vertue to others the tree is reported to be leaved like ash the color of the wood within is blackish the wood it self is heavy and ponderous it floates not in water but sinks 't is ful of rozin and while it burnes it sends forth no ingrateful scent its tast is somewhat bitter with a light accrimony pricking the tongue There is some doubt amongst physitians concerning the choice of it The Choice of Guajacum some are of opinion that which is whitish is to be preferred before the rest whenas by how much the lesser 't is in years by so much the whiter it is but the older it is by so much the blacker it is but that which is older is dryer and that which is yonger is more moist and more abounding with juyce and therefore more powerful But indeed whenas there is a two fould humor in living things the one primogenious the subject of innate heate or the implanted spirit apt to take fire the other alimentary more watrish and less apt to be set on fire the vertues of this wood as also of other plants are not to be judged from the alimentary and more watrish humor but from that implanted heat and primogenious humidity which whenas in ' its tender age both in infants and in plants 't is overwhelmed and obscured by much moisture many actions in that age are infirm and weak which afterwards that moisture being somewhat wasted and the heat become more vigorous in progress of time they become more strong and this heat the cheif instrument ofal actions is wont to consist unchanged til it comes to its ful age and heigth and therefore though the same innate heat and radical moisture be alwaies in Guajacum on which its vertues do depend yet because in the yong and tender wood that vertue is as it were over whelmed and restrained by the abundance of moisture that wood which is the yonger is less efficacious than that which is now of a ful confirmed growth and therefore for the cure of this disease we must not chuse that wood which is yellowish or that is of a box colour or that which is cut of a tree not ful grown or from the boughs as being less efficacious but rather that which is somewhat black because that is more roziny and abounds with that fat and balsomy substance How the age of this wood is to be discerned in which doth chiefly reside that vertue opposite to veneral virulency It is good therefore to know the age of this wood that we may choose the most effectual For that indeed which hath the inward part black and is long waies divided with clefts as it were with certain lines of a duskish colour gathered into blackish rounds that is efficacious but yet 't is such as is cut off either from the arms of trees or certainly hath not yet attained its ful maturity and therefore 't is of less efficacy for those kind of Lines do therefore appeare because that fatty substance which doth chiefly reside in the middle trunk of the tree is not yet so plentiful as to fil up al the internal parts of the wood but that which is black al over the internal parts the superficies only being whitish that if it be sound weighty and odorous and prick the tongue with a light acrimony and either is not divided with any lines or else with those ful of rozin and therefore while it burnes besides the grateful smel it sends forth it also yeelds a blackish rozin that hath attained the highest degree of maturity and is cut off from the body of the tree and is therfore most effectual but if it be divided with lines and ful of holes and neither weighty nor odorous nor acrimonious and being lighted yeelds no rozin it is a sign that that is now old and therefore its vertues are grown dul L. Septalius also doth admonish us here that there is a certain sort of Guajacum which is never to be brought into use which hath no true blackness in the middle of it but is of a somewhat darke and greenish colour which makes the decoction very thick that it wil never be cleare and by its exceeding acrimony it causeth a heat both in the throat and jaws and by reason of its thick and earthy parts for the most part it causeth obstructions in the spleen sometimes also in the liver Empiricks cal it the wild holy wood but whereas he finds no where in Authors this twofould difference of domestick and wild he rather thinks it acquires these qualities from the nature of the soil Also if the barke be thick and cleave so to the wood that it can scarce be pulled and parted from it the wood is good but if the Bark be easily separated from the wood either 't is old or perisht by salt water also if the wood appear fatty whiles it
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
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
alone can wholly Extirpate the Roots and whol malice of the Venereal poyson nor so weak that it can perform nothing without the help of others that by the use of that only the Humors be wasted al Symptomes wil at length be allaied and wholly lie hid but yet the taint of the disease which hath already taken possession of the solid parts cannot in most bodies be wholly overcome and extinguisht by that remedy Rondeletius Rondeletius his Treacle Water doubtless followed these men also who de morb Itali commend his Treacle water which provokes sweat in the inveterate Italian Disease and takes away the pains the description of which is this Take of Treacle one pound of Sorrel three handfuls of the flowers of Chamomel Peny-royal Pomegranates blessed Thistle of each two ounces Mix them al in white wine and distil them Of which water give three ounces to drink with three ounces of Sorrel and Bugloss water when the Patient goes into his bed or hot house Platerus also thinks that it is confirmed by experience that the decoctions of other plants besides Guajacum Sarsaparilla China Sassafras can performe the same in this disease as they do and therefore fals into this opinion but evilly That the late mentioned Medicines which are accounted alexipharmaca of this disease do work rather in the cure of this disease by moving sweat then by an occult quality and therefore he thinks that not only a decoction of box wood Juniper Cedar Cypress and Savin Agallochus Rose-wood but also the decoction and Treacle water which are given in Pestilent Feavers are profitable also here Aurelius Minadous de lue Vener cap. 53. Whether treacle be good in the Venereal disease when he had spoken many things in the praise of Treacle at length concludes that Treacle also may be used against the venereal virulency as a most excellent Alexiterum not as if it were to be numbered amongst them which of themselves are said to expel this virulency but amongst them which expel it by accident in as much as it doth strengthen the spirits by a Conformable proportion to them so that they being now made strong are able as the principal agent together with the Treacle as their instrument to overcome the malignity of the venereal virulency The same Author cap. 44. Trochisks Cypheos commends Trochisks Cypheos in this Disease as being such which do principally strengthen the Liver which in this Disease is chiefly affected and free it from Excrementitious Humors which are collected in this Disease being powerful to concoct cleanse and dry up the Excrement and therefore as Galen thought this Composition was to be preferred before al other Medicines written by Asclepias Andromachus and other most Famous Physitians for the affects of the Liver so he thinks the same is to be used and Magnified beyond al others in this Disease But as I wil not disswade any one from the use of such common Alexipharmaca in the cure of this Disease whenas in other cases it is a custome when any one hath drank poyson or any waies taken it and knows not what it is to give treacle and common Alexipharmaca so I wil counsel no body that he confide only in these Medicines and neglect those proper ones And I see it done by very few Physitians as being taught by experience that this Disease cannot wholly be extirpated without Guajacum Sarsaparilla and the like neither doth it follow that therefore because some sick of an incurable French Pox could not be cured by Guajacum wood that we must place more hope in these Medicaments For they that could not be cured by those proper Alexipharmaca wil much less be cured by these common ones CHAP. XXI Of the Cure by Quick-silver ANd this is the chief kind of Medicine for the cure of the Venereal disease Of the cure by Quick-silver and this is the chief manner of curing it For there is also another way of curing the same Disease by quick-silver which was first brought into use by Chyrurgions and barbers afterwards also was applyed by learned Physitians For whenas as was said before by Fracastorius certain Barbars had found out amongst the Medicines of our ancestors for the filthy scab joyned with the pains of the joynts unguents compounded of Mercury and Sulphur other Medicines profiting little they began to use them The use of which being not altogether unsuccessful afterwards quick-silver was used in the cure of this Disease by many learned Physitians But though it be not my purpose in this place to treat of quick-silver which the Chymists cal Mercury but rather of the use of it in curing this disease yet I shal admonish you of a few things in general Quick-silver is reckoned amongst the mettals and 't is called Silver from its color in which it resembles silver Quicksilver whence so called It s wonderful Nature but quick because t is alwaies moveable and its Nature is altogether wonderful which many learned men admire and which hath tortered the wits of many Chymists and deluded their pains For though it be mortified fixed or what way soever it oftentimes seems to be changed yet it is easily reduced to its former quick Nature And though it be reduced into the smallest bodies and transmitted through leather or be otherwise reduced into atomes and a strong form yet it retaines in them its whol Nature and essence and returns to its former quick body Naturalists and Physitians differ concerning its temperament Whether Quicksilver be hot or cold whiles some hold it to be cold others hot Matthias Vnzerus hath collected the arguments of both in Anatom Spagyr Mercu. to alleage al which at large in this place is not our intent for you may consult with him on that business in the alleaged place yet by and by we shal make mention of some of them but Vnzerus himself cap. 12. goes the middle way and holds Matthias Vnzerus his opinion that some natural things have oftentimes in them diverse and wholly contrary vertues and faculties and some of them are manifest others occult and that these depend on the specifick form those on the first qualities of the Elements which he proves by the examples of Wormwood Rhubarb Vineger and others and he thinks Mercury is to be reckoned in the number of these which may be considered both as crude and as prepared the crude he thinks hath mixt qualities and is partly hot partly cold and that diversity is to be attributed to the divers parts of the matter of which it consists some of which are very thin Subtile pure and Spirituous but some are thick earthy and feculent but he thinks that Mercury prepared hath no longer any cold quality but they are wholly taken away by the outward help of fire or by the Application of the menstrua and therefore that it is very hot Hercules Saxonia Hercules Saxonia holds the same de lue Vener Cap. 39. Whiles he
grease be most exactly mixed with the mercury then ad the mastick finelypoudered together with the oyl of mastick and Safforn and afterwards the aples through ripe cleansed from the parings and core Or Take of mercury killed with spitle three ounces old oyl four ounces of Frankincense prepared as common mastick two ounces mastick one ounce hogs-greese two ounces and half oyl of bayes one ounce and half virgins wax two ounces ointment of diaitbaea one ounce and half sagapen one ounce of wax as much as is sufficient Make an Ointment Or Take of mercury two ounces of hogsgrease three ounces turpentine one ounce pouder of orice franqincense mastickeach two drams oyl of chamemel white lillies bayes of each two aunces Stirax half an ounce mix them Or Take of hens hogs and beares greace each one ounce oyl of white lillies bayes each two ounces mercury six ounces mix the greases in a morter after wards ad the mercury and stir them an houre in the morter then ad of frankincense mastick myrrh amoniacum stirax pouder of Arabick lavinder each half a dram make an ungnent The Places which are anointed are the joynts and the spaces between and the less fleshy parts in the hands elbows feet knees sometimes in strong bodies the emunctories of the liver are anointed and the backbone Fallopius expects the hands and first of al anoints the feet transversly about the begining of the feet afterwards the spaces between the joynts of the leg then the midle of the thighs The time for anointing the middle of the Elbow bones and the midle of the Armes afterwards the whole back The most commodious time for anointing is the spring and autum the winter and summer are less convenient and the unction is to be performed in the morning upon an empty stomach in a close and warm place beginning at the lower parts and so passing to the upper unction is seldom ordered twice on the sameday The patient anointed must either be ropped up in linnen or the parts anointed be covered with course flax or hemp and so the patient be placed in his bed How long unction is to be continued But the unction is to be continued so long til salivation or a loosness or some other evaccuation succeed and the symptomes be lessened and cease and truely if a loosness follow it is not suddenly to be supprest yet we must have a care least the guts suffer any hurt casting in by Clyster chaly beat milk or the juyce of ptisan with milk or the decoction of barley and afterwards if need require come to astringent meanes Some think that sweat alsoought to be moved but if nature tend to salivation t is not convenient to move sweat least there be contrary motions caused but if nature of her own accord tend to sweat t is not to be hindered yet unction is scarce to be continued above three dayes at one time sometimes also there presently follow greivous symptomes as great ulcers of the mouth swellings and inflamation of the tongue and jawes the swallowing is hurt the teeth loosened an extraordinary flux of virulent humors from the mouth a diaâ—rhy or dicentery and then we must presently forbear anointing yet sometimes it hapens but very sildom that no such greivous symptom followes But only sweats and pustles are multeplied al over the body When unction is now perfected and the spitle runs wel What is to be done after unction let the parts anointed be washt with wine in which sage Arabick lavender flowers rosmary grownd pine bayleaves calamint origanum have bin boyled afterwards lay upon them some plaister for the nerves At last when the unction is past we must use our endeavor that the mercury be not left in the body and that no evil be contracted neither in the mouth nor other parts and therefore we must move sweat in a Laconick bath keep gold money in the mouth shaveings of gold must be dranke or bullets or pils made up of lease gold must be swallowed for the mercury is imbibed by the gold and with it is emptied out of the body and so al evil that might happen is prevented To asswage pain the mouth and jawes must be washed with warme milk or the Decoction of Barley to hinder inflamation let the patient use the decoction of plantaine or plantaine water or of Vine leaves with the syrup of Mulberries and dry roses the teeth must be washed with the decoction of sage or with Sage columbine water or austere wine after unction we must not presently desist from the cure but the decoction of Guajacum as being the alexipharmacum of this disease must be drank stil for certain days which if it be intermitted a relapse is wont easily to follow upon it Secondly Mercurial plaisters emplasters made of mercury are wont to be applyed in this disease which though they cause less trouble yet they are less effectual to empty by spitting They are prepared of the same matter of which the ointments are to which also we may ad cinnabar but quicksilver either is mixt with usual plaisters as diachylum Ireatum melilot or new ones are compounded The plaister called de ranis with mercury is also in use These plaisters are spred upon linnen cloth leather and are applyed to the same places as the ointments especially to the hands and feet also to the emunctories and somtimes to the back bone and they are worne continually night and day and every third or fourth day are renewed this cure is less troublesome and upon faire daies the patient may go abroad yet the cure is not so perfect and therefore must be continued longer Thirdly Lavatoris of mercury Linnen clothes wet in mercury water are applyed to the same places in the forme of an epitheme and because sublimate is most commodiously dissolved in water the same places which are wont to be anointed are besmeared with mercury dissolved in this manner which medicines are commonly called lavatories which are prepared of mercurius sublimate one ounce which is disolved in two pound of some liquor For Examples sake Take of Mercury sublimate one ounce of Scabious Rose Fumitory water each eight ounces Sage water four ounces Let them boyl and be mixed The use of it is this with a cloth wet in this liquor let the knees and feet be besmeared and the armes from the elbow towards the hands and that must be done in the morning and towards the evening in a warme place and continued for ten days til spitting follow Fourthly Mercurial girdles and bracelets Girdles and bracelets are made of Mercury killed with spittle and mixt with the white of an egg which mixture is spred upon cotton and that is sowed into leather or cloath and of that girdles or bracelets are made Fiftly Also this disease is cured by suffumigations made of quicksilver but this way of cure is more dangerous than that by unction Suffumigations of mercury nay it
guarded with a defensive Oyntment the Ulcer must be washt with the Decoction of Scabious Horehound and especially Soape-wort and Guajacum afterwards let the Ulcer be anointed with some convenient unguent those Oyntments are chiefly profitable which have Mercury in them either a live or sublimate or precipitate or Cinnabar And in Ulcers of the Yard and rottenness of the Nut as they speak Hercules Saxonia writes there is no Medicine yet found out more profitable then precipitate yet it ought not to be applied but where there is a thick filth but in clean Ulcers t is not to be used Eustachius Rudius Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 19. commends two Oyntments especially The first is Take of Oyl of Roses sweet Almonds of each half an ounce The Mercurial Vnguent Oyntment of Rozin which is made of pure oyl Rozin of the Pine Turpentine and Yellow Wax six drams Mercury Precipitate one dram a little Wax Mix al over the fire except the Mercury precipitate and taking them of the fire stir them carefully til they are cool then add the precipitate yet according to the Nature of of the Vlcer and the part affected with it you may add more or less of the mercury precipitate The other is this Take of Oyl of sweet Almonds Oyntment of Roses of each three ounces new wax one ounce Mercury precipitate half an ounce Mix them And those Oyntments are good not only for the Ulcers of the Yard but for French Ulcers of other parts for the Disease called Ficus swellings in the Fundaments and Crusts The Balsame of Mercury also is good which is thus prepared Take of Quick silver dissolved in spirit of Nitre to one pound of this dissolution pour of Oyl of Olives three ounces Let them stand and digest eight daies afterwards separate the oyl and keep it for your use Or Take the Yelk of one Egg boyled hard Honey one ounce Mix them over a gentle fire let them boyl and add of Mercury Sublimate half a dram After mundification this Oyntment also may be used Take of the best aloe half an ounce Crocus Martis two drams Frankincense red Lead of each one dram Honey half an ounce Turpentine two drams the Yelk of an Egg. Mix them But occult and hidden ulcers are wont to lie hid either bound up under the foreskin Hidden Vlcers or else are in the internal passage of the Yard if the Ulcer be under the fore-skin contracted either a convenient medicine is to be injected by a syringe and afterwards a tent dipt in oyntment is with a probe to be applied to the part affected or the fore-skin must be cut long waies and necessary Medicines be layed to it But if the ulcers be in the very passage of a mans Yard Vlcers in the passage of the Yard they are hard to be cured and have caruncles joyned with them or fleshy excressences which hinder the emission of the urine therefore in a slight ulcer we must inject Plantane water in which Alum litharge and white Lead have been boyled but in more grieous ulcers use this Liniment Take of Mercury precipitate one ounce Mercury sublimate one dram burnt lead two drams Grind them on a Marble stone wash them often with Rose-water and let them dry in the shade Afterwards take of Hogs Fat six ounces White Wax two drams Let them be dissolved over the fire and add the pouder and two scruples of Camphire Make a Limment which must be besmeared over a Candle made of five ounces of White Wax and one ounce of Turpentine and let the Candle be put up into the Vrinary passage or let some convenient plaister wrapt over a smal probe be thrust in the Caruncle being taken away a drying and consolidating oyntment must be cast in But if there be an ulcer in the womb In the womb and that sordid and creeping the evil is incurable but the slighter are cured by injections of Alum waters in which Guajacum and Sarsaparilla is boyled or with pessaries of the juyce of Plantane with pouder of Aloes Bole Armenick white Lead and the like In a very sordid ulcer the Oyntment Aegyptiacum may be added or some Mercurial unguent and at last a drying and consolidating Oyntment may be used as that of Tutty or the like In more grieous ulcers suffumigations of the Womb are most profitable but whenas the Pipes are overheated by the coals these candels of Hercules Saxonia are good for a fume Take of Styrax Calamite Beniamin of each six drams wood of Aloes seven scruples white Frankincense one ounce Ladanum one dram and an half Orrice Cloves of each two drams Damask Roses six drams Cinnabar two drams coales of Willow half a pound Aqua Vitae as much as is sufficient Make Candels By the same Medicines the ulcers of the Guts are Cured But to the ulcers of the jaws whenas such Medicines cannot be applied make a Gargarisme of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla Vlcer of the Jaws the bark of Guajacum the Leaves of plantane scabious mittle red roses pomegranate pil sumach to which ad a little alume the decoction may be made in water and towards the end ad a little austere wine after they are washt the ulcers must be clensed with oyl of sulphur adding a convenient liquor or the compound water of alum which is thus prepared Take of mercury sublimate roch allum each one ounce The compound water of alum Grind them on marble stone then ad to them juyce of Lemons three ounces plantane water one pound and an half rose water nine ounces Boyl them in a glass to the consumption of the fifth part But you must have a care that no part of such medicines be swallowed down butter of antimony so called is very efficacious if the ulcer be gently touched with a piece of cotton moistned with the butter but there is need of the same caution here but whenas it cannot alwaies be prevented but somewhat wil slide into the stomach and so such medicines cannot be given safely enough but on the contrary other more gentle medicines are of little efficacy these ulcers are hard to be cured nay oftentimes are incurable the solution of gold is more safely applied to these ulcers prepared after this manner Take fifteen leaves of Gold roch alume nitere Salt each one ounce grind them on marble and poure to it some drops of spirits of vitriol afterwards poure on it spirits of wine two fingers bredth above it and let them stand in warm ashes last of al boyl that the leaves of the gold may be dissolved and the spirits of wine grow yellow Seperate the Spirits of wine by distillation then poure more on again and digest it and do this so often til the spirits of wine dissolve the gold and the salts be left at the bottom at last seperate the spirits of wine by distillation till t is dry and pour on spirits of turpintine and digest it eight dayes in a warm
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
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
be understood of an insufficient Purgation And here Vomitories seem to be more commodious then Purgers by the Belly in regard that they evacuate the vitious Humors by a place more remote from the part affected But Repellers have here no place at al because that it may Justly be feared lest by the use of these the blood and other Humors may be driven back toward the part affected and may be there heaped up Having first made use of General and Universal Remedies we come then to the imposing of Medicaments that attract and resolve and these ought to be of the stronger sort that they may call forth into the Superficies the Humor that is gotten into a deep place which kind of Medicaments are provided of Herbs that discuss viz. The Leaves of Eldern Danewort or Wallwort Lawrell Rue Betony Camomil Ground pine Rosemary Melilote Mustard Seed and Stavesacre as also the flies Cantharides Pitch Sulphur Turpentine Ammoniacum Galbanum Bdellium Opopanax and Euphorbium Excellent likewise is that Medicament that is made of Sciatica Cresses of which we made mention above as also of Water Cresses and the Herb Piperites or Pepper-wort as some call it As Take Sciatica Cresses Dittander or Pepperwort and Water Cresses of all or one of them four handfuls boyl them in Wine and sprinkle upon them the Meal of Lupines Beans and the bitter Vetch Orobus of each one ounce the powder of dry Rue two drams Flowers of Camomile one dram Costus Root a dram and half Oyl of Turpentine half an ounce Oyl of Earth-worms as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Or Take Mustard seed dissolved in the sharpest Vinegar two ounces sharp and sowr Leaven half an ounce Powder of Hermodactyls two drams Honey three ounces Turpentine four ounces Oyl of Lawrel and Spike of each two ounces the meal of Fenugreek seed one ounce and half Earth of the Antâ—hill with the Ants Eggs one pound Leaves of Lawrel Sage Rue and Rosemary of each half a handful Earth-worms prepared half a pound let the Ants Earth and Eggs with the Earth-worms and Herbs be boyled in white Wine and then being strained let the rest of the Ingredients be mingled therewith Or Take Roots of our Ladies seal which being cut and applied to the Hip are much commended for the removing of the Ischiadick pain six drams the Emplaster Diachylon simplâ—x half an ounce Saffron dissolved in the Spirit of Wine two drams Turpentine one ounce Oyl of Spike as much as is sufficient and make a Cataplasm Or Take Citrine Wax and Turpentine of the Fir Tree of each three ounces let them dissolve together when they shal be cold ad the Powder of Nettle seed and Hermodactyls of each two drams Roots of round Aristolochy or Birthwort Camomile Flowers and Florentine Flower-de-luce of each two drams and half Mirh two drams Saffron four scrupleâ— let them be moulded with the hands being first anoynted with Hogs Grease and make an Emplaster Or Take Wax Missletoe of the Oak Turpentine dry Orrace Mirrh and Galbanum and with the Oyl of Earth-worms make a Cerot Unto which it he pain give not place but stil continue then apply Cupping-glasses with much flame or else Vesicatories But if the Malady wil not yet by these be taken away then we are according to the counsel of Hippocrates in the sixth Sect. of his Aphor. Aphor. 60. to burn the part affected and Celsus likewise approveth of this advice whilest in his 4. B. and Chap. 12. he writeth in this manner It is saith he the last shift and in old diseases also a most efficacious Remedy with glowing hot Irons to exulcerate the Skin in three or four places above the Hip. This Remedy by heating the part dissolveth and evacuateth the thick and viscid humors and if the Ulcers be kept open as they ought to be the vitious matter floweth forth by them As for the manner of burning see more in Paul Aegineta his sixth Book and Chap. 76. and Albucas Part 1. Chap. 43. And some there are likewise that make mention of the Gout of the Verrebrae of the Back in special and we grant indeed that now and then some such kind of Gout there is and this hath also the very same Causes and so requireth the same kind of Cure with the other Gouts But we are here to look wel about us and to have a care that we be not deceived in mistaking every pain of the Back for the Gout For oftentimes it so happeneth that from the serous and wheyish matter flowing down from the Head and descending along the Back and especially according to the Conveyance of the Cucullar Muscle and sticking at the Spina Dorsi in the end of the said Muscle a pain may be excited which yet nevertheless is not the Gout in regard that it happeneth not in the parts pertaining to the Joynt and it is oftentimes likewise of a very short continuance and afflicteth the sick Persons in their sleep but when they awake and arise from their sleep it leaveth them and vanisheth which never happeneth in the true Gout Chap. 7 Of the VVay and Means to prevent the Gout MAny there are that mind only this one thing to wit The way to prevent the Gout that they may be freed from the present pains of the Gout but being freed they take no care at all how they may obtain that they be no more troubled with the same pains neither do they make use of those Medicaments by which they might prevent this Evil nor at all refrain from the Errors of their Dyet and so they suffer the Malady again to arise and so to continue and grow old with them and therefore it is no wonder that there are so few perfectly recovered of the Gout But a precaution and prevention is altogether as necessary as the Cure in special so called Now this Consisteth in three things In what things it consisteth The first is this that there be care taken that there be no matter suffered to gather together which may flow unto the Joynts The second that if any matter be gotten together it be taken away before it rush unto the Joynts And the third is this that the Joynts may not easily receive the same Now if as many do any one shal make it his business only to strengthen the Joynts and in the mean time shal permit the heaping up of the vitious matter in the Body the Patient shal hence reap more burt than good For if there shal be a vitious Matter present in the Body and this not thrust forth unto the Joynts after the usual and accustomed manner being retained in the Body it may flow unto other of the more noble parts and be the Cause of most grievous Diseases And therefore we are here first of all to commend unto the Patient a good course of Dyet and Medicaments that correct the distemper of the Bowels the first intention being best performed by this The second thing
fully touching this Decoction of Groundpine and the advice given by the Physitians of Genoa as we may see in his Epistle to Joachimus Roelandus touching the China Root about the end thereof We think it not amiss neither our time ill spent to give you his words at large as we find them in the said Epistle No man saith he can blame me for administring at a fit and convenient time that Medicament which I find commended by the prime Genoa Physitians as divine and as if it were some Deity and which with the greatest promises that might be of the perpetual banishment of the Articular Disease was some months since sent unto Doctor Marsillus Colla Master of the Horse to the Emperour and one that for his many extraordinary parts and endowments of mind is worthy of more health then what at present he enjoyeth and now again also so brought unto Caesar that for the future we may most certainly conclude and promise him that he shal never more hence forward be troubled with the pain in his Joynts if he please but to make use of this Medicaments Now in very truth the whole description hereof is sufficiently Empirical and containeth in it nothing else but that at the first and in the very beginning of the Malady a purgation is to be administred and then afterwards the Leaves of Ground-pine some call it Herb Ivy or the little and low Oak be cut in pieces whilest they be yet green if they may then be had but I for my own part would rather have it dry and as in all other Herbs that have in them a faculty of drying I prefer it before that which is green and newly gathered and then boiled in white wine and of this Decoction one Cup given in the morning three hours before dinner although in the mean time however it be added that the longer before dinner the Decoction aforesaid be taken and drunk so much the more benefit is to be expected from it In reference to the course of Dyet whosoever maketh use hereof must abstain from all meats that are sharp sour and Salt and the drinking of that Wine is prescribed for sixty daies with this addition that the distilled Liquor or Water of the aforesaid Herb will add and confer much unto the strength of the said wine which seemeth unto me very ridiculous and that therefore for such as are not pleased with the Decoction they are to have the Water given them As for any thing else we find nothing in the whole sheet sent hither unto us besides a great and swelling Title and a large Catalogue underneath of those persons who by the use thereof lived free from the Disease of the Joynts for some years and of such as made use thereof when it was sent unto them in which Catalogue we find Cardinal Dorias to be the first and foremost Thus far Vesalius From whose words it evidently appeareth that he himself gave not his ful consent unto the praise and commendation of this Decoction And very credible it is that it did not benefit al that drank it and yet notwithstanding if we shall well weigh the virtues thereof as they are before propounded it wil from thence manifestly appear that it is indeed a very excellent and precious Remedy in the Gout But this Vesalius rightly tels us and gives us notice of it that the distilled Water cannot in probability add any thing unto the Decoction in regard that the distilled Waters as many falsly think have not all the faculties and virtues of the simple for all the parts thereof are not elevated into the Alembick But now this Herb Ground-pine may be drawn into use many several waies Ground-pine may he used many ways Some take a pottle of Rhenish Wine the purest Water one pint Honey of Roses the fourth or sixth part of a quart Boyl all upon the Coals in an Earthen Vessel and scum them then add of Ground-Pine four handfuls Germander two handfuls Bears Ears or French Cowslips one handful boyl them in a double Vessel for three hours Others take of Groundpine gathered when it first beginneth to flourish and well kept o te handful Wine three pints boyl them in a double Vessel five hours and then strain them But it were far better if the Herb aforesaid were tund up with the new Wine and there let lie that so in this manner a Chamaedryte Wine may be provided without any boy ling at all And if any fear the Wine he may in the like manner prepare an Hydromel or a Chamaedeyte beer likewise Now the use of this Wine is to be continued and so likewise of the Hydromel or the Beer for threescore daies the Body being first well purged and every day during the time one draught is to be taken in the morning And the like may also be made of the Essence of Ground-pine as they cal it and this must be made use of for many daies But it is not here my meaning that any should be kept and held unto certain forms but I would have those Medicaments to be made up and compounded Simple Medicaments according as occasion and the Constitution of the sick person shall require The chief and principal Simples out of which these Medicaments are compounded as appeareth by the forms hitherto prescribed are Germander most useful in all the Affects of the loynts and therefore by some it is also called the Arthretick or Gout Ivy and Lobelius of one dram hereof with Turpentine maketh Pills and greatly commendeth them in all Gouts whatsoever and then in the next place Groundpine of the Virtues whereof we have before spoken St. Johns wort Round and long Aristolochy the lesser Centaury the true Rhapontick Gentian Spignel and the Root of â—lugwort if in stead of the Parsley Roots it be boyled with meat by the use of which a lone many have been freed from the pains of the joynts as Abraham Seylerus writeth in Scholtzius his Consilia Consil 335. unto which may be added the Bones of a Man Coral Crabs Eyes with the rest that have been already mentioned according to every ones constitution For Aetius doth here rightly admonish us as touching Treacle and the like hot Medicaments that they do not only not benefit those that are of a more hot Constitution and temperament but that they likewise oftentimes produce Resolutions that prove incureable But here indeed there are some that determine this to be understood only of such as are hot in the highest degree because that Galen also in his fisth Book of the presentation of health expounding the words of Hippocrates in which he forbiddeth the drinking of Wine unto those that are hot writeth that this is not intended of all absolutely that are hot but that Hippocrates spake it of such as were hot in the highest degree but yet most certain it is that great heed is here to be taken unto the diversity of Bodies and temperaments and that hot Medicantents are
Question And so likewise the Baths that proceed from Sulphur Salt Nitre Vitriol and partly also Baths of Allum Water are very useful if they be made use of in a due and right manner For if the Allum abound the Baths are then to be made use of with great Caution in regard that they shut the pores of the Body and render it unfit to sweat a thing altogether necessary in such as are troubled with the Gout and if there remain any thing in the part affected which may exhale and be dispersed by insensible transpiration they thrust this forth unto the Nervous and Membranous parts and so renew the pain the same that happened to Fabricius in his 5. Century Observat 83. Among the rest the Hirschergensian and Laudeccensian hot Baths in Silesia the Caroline in Bohemia the Badensian in Austria the Martiate now called the Wisbadensian baths the baths not far from Mentz and those likewise at Emsen upon the River Lanus as also those of Aquisgran are al of them very useful for those that have the Gout But the Dirt or Clay of some certain Baths is chiefly to be made use of for the wasting away of the matter that sticketh in these parts and strengtheneth the said parts Where such baths are wanting Fomentations and artificial baths may be made The Lotions or washings of Allum Water are very much commended but yet it is far better that there be Salt and Sulphur added unto the Allum that so if there be yet any of the matter left behind it may be resolved Or Take Flowers of Arabian Orrace of Sage Thyme Cranesbil of each one handful boyl them in common Water or which is better in Water wherein Iron hath been oft-times quenched and to the straining add Sulphur and Nitre of each two ounces Allum one ounce Let them be boyled again and the parts fomented with the Decoction Or Take Leaves of Germander and Betony of each one handful Flowers of wild Roses Arabian Orrace Bears Ears or French Cowslips the common Doves foot of each two handfuls white Vitriol one ounce boyl them for a Fomentation or a Bath But the most ordinary and usual Remedy that is made use of by many is the Unguent we mentioned also before Vnguents and Emplasters where we spake of the Cure which is made of Salt torrefied or dried to a pouder others are rather for the Salt of Juniper and a sufficient quantity of common Oyl or Oyl of Roles mingled into the form of an Unguent with which the Joynts are to be wel rubbed Solenander maketh use of this Liniment after the Lotions Take Oyl Omphacine two ounces Oyl of Mastich one ounce Salt dwed to a pouder two drams Bole Armenick three drams Dragons blood and Hypecistis Frankincense and Mastich of each two drams and half Let every one of these be first beaten into a fine Pouder by themselves and then let them be mingled together with the Oyls in a Mortar into the form of a Liniment The Emplaster Diachalciteos or as some cal it the Emplaster Diapalma laid on is here likewise very useful And this Emplaster is fit and proper in al the joynts whatsoever the humor be that floweth unto them And Solenander in his 4. Sect. Confil. 25. writeth That he knew divers who before were wont very frequently to be troubled with fits of the Gout that by the continual use of this Emplaster and by taking Purges now and then were for the space of five whol yeers freed from those pains And this Emplaster it neither desrleth the part whereon it is laid neither doth it cause any atch or raise pushes nor is it at al offensive either in its smel or any other quality Now it is fitted to the form of the Member In the Feet shoes are made of thin Leather but the Fox skin is more approved of which within are to be covered over with the Emplaster Diachalcitis and so they are fitted to the feet The same Leather spread over with this Emplaster may be applied unto the Knees Hand-wrists and other parts And Linnen Socks likewise washed in Wine with Water then dryed and drawn upon the Feet are very useful and convenient Thomas Erasius commendeth the Sand stone the Latin Physicians cal it Lapis Sabuli if it be mingled with the Oyl of Myrtle and Gentian Roots reduced into a Pouder and laid on in the form of a Cataplasm But yet the same Erastus adviseth us not to use it until it shal manifestly appear that there is no Excrement remaining in the Joynts that may be hardened into a Tophus And therefore he perswadeth us first of al before we use it to lay on once or twice the Cerote of Briony desctibed by Aetius tetrab 3. Serm. 4. chapt 43. that so there may be the less danger and this Aetius very much commendeth But now as touching al manner of Topicks for the strengthening of the feer this is to be observed that for such as wil keep no orderly not regular course of Dyet neither use convenient purgations and other evacuations these Topicks if they be administred it wil be without any benefit at al yea oftentimes to their great detriment and hurt but unto such as live temperately and use fit and proper Evacuations they are administred with singular benefit and success Aetius in the place alleadged Cutting out of the Veins Chap. 24 for the preventing of the Gout commendeth also the cutting forth of the Veins that are from the superior parts cartied down into the feet done after the same manner as the Varices or crooked Veins in the Thighs are somtimes wont to be cut forth But as Hieronymus Fabricius ab Aquapendente tels us rightly in his B. of Chirurgical Operations the extraction and excision of the Varices is not only harsh and difficult but that for the most part also it succeedeth unhappily by teason of the blood flowing out And moreover from this cutting forth of the Veins the lower parts are soon brought into a wasting and withering condition And besides al this although these Veins be cut forth yet there is but very little benefit to be expected from thence For if vitious Humors be heaped up in the Body and be accustomed to flow unto the feet their way and passage being shut up they are carried unto some noble part and there they may excite some other affect far more dangerous There may likewise for the strengthening of the Joynts internal Medicaments be administred to wit those which are appropriate unto them as Germander Ground-pine or Herb Ivy Betony Primrose Sage Rosemary and others of this kind as we mentioned them before And this is the way and means to prevent the Gout as Rhases seems in few words to comprise it whilst he thus writeth If the person troubled with the Gout shall observe a good and orderly course of Dyet and govorn himself as he ought in the fix things not Natural and shall somtimes use Mithridate or somthing else that may
is rasped and that being masticated doth bite and leave a bitterness behind it and whiles it is cut it appeare solid with an even superficies not rough and ful of holes the wood is good The Bark of this wood is endewed with great acrimony and bitterness The bark of Guajacum and therefore dries attenuates and digests more powerfully than the wood but because that occult vertue which is opposite to this disease is rather in that fatty and moist and balsamical substance the wood is alwaies preferred before the bark and besides the bark is not so conveniently given in hot and dry bodies As concerning the vertues of Guajacum it is hot and dry as may be perceived from its tast smel and acrimony and that in the second degree The vertues of Guajacum and 't is also of thin parts whence it hath power to attenuate crass things to cut and cleanse clammy humors to open obstructions to move sweat and urine and to dissipate and wast superfluous cold humors but this pockwood is not chiefly given for those qualities whenas there are found in Europe medicaments endewed with those qualities that there was no need to transport them out of the Indies but principally for that peculiar and occult power By which it is opposed to the Veneral virulency and truly al physitians almost doe agree that pockwood doth deserve the first place amongst the alexiplarmaca of the veneral disease for though Fernelius would somewhat lessen its vertue because al that are affected with this disease are not cured by the use of it yet this is no sufficient cause since there is found no such alexipharmacum or other medicine which can cure diseases past hope But this wood is by an occult quality and propriety opposite to the Veneral virulency it self and is a friend to the radical moisture and natural balsom which doth most of al suffer by this virulency inimicous to the nutritive faculty and doth so strengthen it that it hath been observed that those also who had a liver and whol habit of body hot and dry and who have been almost consumed with the veneral disease as was said before by the use of the decoction of this wood though by its heat and dryness adverse to them have been restored and become better habited and more corpulent Some indeed have dared to write that the decoction of this wood doth nourish as much as chicken broath but these seem to me to be excessive in the praise of this wood for though it be a vegetable and perhaps may leave some alimental juyce in the decoction yet I think no body that is in his right mind wil easily deny that a chicken hath not more convenient nourishment for a man than Guajacum Whether pock-wood do nourish but that some after this disease become more corpulent is accidental for whenas by reason of the Veneral virulency nutrition was hurt in the whol body when that is discussed and extinguisht the body begins again to be nourisht wel and to be augmented the like of which happens also in some other diseases especially in feavers before which whenas men were not wel flesht by reason of evil nourishment the vitious humors being waisted by the disease afterwards they begin to be nourisht wel and become more corpulent Fr. Arcaeus also lib. de curand vulner rat gives the †Whether the decoction of Guajacum sarsaparilla sassafras China root do fatten Decoction of Guajacum for ulcers of the Lungs and the ptisick and he writes that bodies though they be wasted are not offended by it but rather grow fat upon it nay there are some who attribute a nutritive power to Guajacum and write that it is no less nourishing than chicken broath The same vertues also others do attribute * The decoction of Guajacum Sarsa Sassasras China root nourish not but by accident to Sarsaparilla Sassafras and especially to China root but indeed though it be found by experience that in the ptisick Veneral disease scab and other diseases bodies extenuated have been restored again and made fat by the use of these decoctions yet this comes to pass not of it self because these decoctions have a nutritive faculty as other nourishments but by accident in as much as they take away the cause of leanness In ptisick bodies the case is plain for whenas that wasting of the body proceeds from an ulcer of the Lungs the ulcer being dried up by the use of Guajacum the body begins to be wel nourisht again the same happens in other diseases as the French the Scab and the like For whenas that leanness and consumption doth proceed from bad nourishment but bad nourishment for the most part from acrid and falt humors which do both consume the good blood and hinder the agglutination of it to the body those vitious humors being wasted by the decoctions and discussed by sweats the bodies begin to be nourisht wel again nay grow fat But this wood hath not only an alterative power and by its occult quality to extinguish that malignity of the Veneral virulency imprinted both on the humors and the solid parts but also to evacuate both sensibly by sweating and insensibly by insensible transpiration and therefore the way of curing the French disease by Guajacum and medicines of affinity with that is most in use For though by reason of the length of the cure and the pains of sweating and the slender dyet it cause some trouble to them yet it is far safer than that way which is by quicksilver where if there be an error the patient is in no smal danger But there are prepared out of Guajacum divers medicaments Medicines made out of Guajacum and those either in a liquid forme or in a solid and in substance but those given in a liquid forme are most effectual whenas they are easily deduced into act and penetrate into the whol body and do irritae the expulsive faculty of al parts to cast off what is hurtful but in a solid forme whenas that part in which the vertue of the medicine doth chiefly reside is not yet separated from the earthy and thick part 't is not so easily deduced into act The decoction therefore as most convenient is most in use yet if any by reason of the continued use of this medicine be weary of it and nevertheless do feare least there be some reliques of the evil humor remaining or their course of life wil no longer admit of the use of the decoction as it ought to be taken to such medicines made out of this wood may be given in another form Amongst which extracts and spirits as shal be said are most efficacious and far more excellent than pouders But the manner of boy ling this wood is various The manner of preparing a decoction of the wood Whether it ought to be boyled in Wine both in respect of the liquor in which the decoction is made and of the