A Brief COLLECTION Of many Rare SECRETS Most of which are approved and Physical and the rest most Pleasant and Recreative Very necessary for all sorts of People Newly set forth and published by LA FOVNTAIN an Expert Operator living over against Essex House in the Strand near Temple-bar LONDON Printed Anno Dom. 1650. To the Reader I Do not attribute to my self to be sole inventor of these insuring Secrets yet know that here are none concerning Curo but what I have experimented or had from good Authors great imitators of Galen and Hippocrates the famousest men of their calling in the World as for what is recreative herein they need no other testimony but your own judicious application The general acceptance of a little Book of twenty Secreets which I published formerly hath obliged me to present you here with a farre better concealing nor retaining nothing to my self from your view that I think may do you good Here you may have more instructions in the things it treateth off for a couple of pence then you can have of another that is more coveteous then charitable of which there are many now a dayes for twenty shillings I direct this chiefly to the poor that are not able to go to the price of higher matters though others may profit by it However to as many as will accept hereof if possibly it lieth in my power I will study to present them with a better thing hereafter In the mean time my greatest ambition shall be alwayes to deserve the title of your Friend and well wisher EDW. FOUNTAIN A Brief Collection of many Rare Secrets I. How to make ordinary diet drink of which good purging diet drink may be easily made as after you may see very good and necessary for most diseases TAke a good handful of Barley pick and wash it in fair water and a dram of green fennel seed or annise seed and half an ounce of liquorish prepared that is scraped clean and somwhat bruised put all this in a pottle of running water to boile skimme it when it boils while it yields any skimme and then it is boiled enough then take it off let it cool and keep it for your ordinary drink this is good drink for most diseases especially being feverish or hot II. How to make the same drink a most excellent purging diet drink Take a pint of the said drink and steep therein half an ounce of sene and a dram of green fennel tyed at liberty in a little clean linnen cloth or bagge for the purpose over night then strain it and take a good glasseful of it in the morning fasting and half an hour after a messe of clear fresh broth That many thousands have been cured of sundry dangerous diseases hereby I can Justifie it continuing to do the same every morning for three or four dayes together as your Doctor shall think best and your necessity require III. How to make and take a vomit Take about twelve spoonfuls of warme water mingle therein four or five spoonfuls of Sallet-oyle and drink it a little while after thrust your finger or a feather in your throat to make it operate the better if it be necessary note that the best time to take this vomit is when your stomack is full presently after dinner or supper for then your victuals will bring up all the flegme and ill humors from the very bottom of your stomack IV. An excellent purging Glister which may easily be made at any time Take a handful of Barley as much clear bran and a quart of running water boil this a little space as two or three boils then take a pint of the said water strained but not squesed and boil therein half an ounce of Sene one boil or two together with two drams of green Fennel-seed or Annis-seed then strain it through a clean linnen cloth squesing it somewhat softly then take a dish and put therein two or three ounces of good honey and an ounce of the coursest red Sugar and seven or eight spoonfuls of the said water hot mingling or stirring all well together with the rest of the foresaid pint of water which done you shall strain it again and put therein five or six spoonfuls of Sallet-oyle or half a quartern of fresh butter which you shall give warm but not too hot and let the patient retain it as long as he can so it exceed not half a quarter of an hower or thereabout V. An other easie Glister both to refresh cool and purge if need require Take a quart of Whey and boil therein a good big handful of the best great lettis you can find and as much purslain then take a pint of the said liquor strained and put therein a quartern of hony and it is done giving it warm as above VI An Astringent or Stopping Glister Take a pint of new milk and then take a good big piece of any Steel red hot and quench it in the said milk then heat and quench it as before in the same milk continue to heat and quench in the same manner three or four times over then strain it and put therein two ounces of oyle of Quinces with two yolks of Eggs and so give it the Patient VIII An easie remedy for them that are bound in their bodies and will by no means take any Glister as I have seen many Take a dram or two a little more or lesse according to the strong or weak Constitution of the Patient of good Sene half a dram of green Fennel-seeds or Annise-seeds put them in a Porrenger and powre thereon four or five spoonfuls of clear water more or lesse according to the quantity of Sene that you use and if the Patient be not troubled with a Cough poure an equal quantity of juice of Lemons and water instead of water alone cover the said Porrenger and put it upon the hot ashes with few or no sinders there let all infuse or steep together an hour or there about then strain and squese it a little through a clean cloth put thereto twice or thrice as much clear broth without salt finally let the Patient take this in the morning fasting two or three hours before he eat any thing this is likewise a very good purge for many diseases and may be taken by young or old or women with child without any perril or danger using discretion VIII An excellent remedy for either Quartan Tertian or Quotidian Ague It is good first to be let blood and purged before you take this insuing Medicine yet I have cured many hereby without either take Roch-allum cut or scrape them round as near as you can in fashion of Pills as big as you think you can swallow them let them that are very young very old or very weak take three of these Pills in three spoonfuls of Angellica-water the stronger Constitution may take five in the same manner the time to take them is when you begin to feel the fit a coming on
and drink not if you can help it during the cold fiâ— but during the hot fit which ordinarily cometh after drink as much Carduus benedictus Posset drink as you please it is best hot to provoke sweat if your drouth can possibly indure it if not better cold then not at all this will much weaken your Ague at the first taking and at the second or third taking totally cure you God willing IX How to procure Rest and Sleep to them that are hindered there from by head-ach or any such like pain Take Violet-oyle with the yolk of an Egge and bâ—east-milk of each a like quantity which being well mingled apply like a plaister upon the forhead and temples this will appease the pain and bring on rest and sleep suddenly X. A good and easie remedy for Children troubled with Worms Take of the finest wheat flower you can yet very well sifted as much as a six pence will hold three times covered over then mingle as much fountain-water with the said flower in a glasse as will make it looke like milk which you shall give the Child to drink and soon after you shall see the worms come out dead in the Childs excrement XI How to cure any swelling in ones head caused by a fall a blow or the like very suddenly Take an ounce of salt three ounces of ordinary honey three ounces of Cummin two ounces of Turpentine all which you shall mingle well together about a quarter of an hour upon a soft fire in any clean thing then spread it like a plaister upon a clean piece of linnen cloth and apply it hot upon the swelled place a better cure can hardly be had for this purpose XII How to increase milk in a Womans breast if need require Take a good handful of green Fennel picked from the great stalks and boil it very well in a pottle of white wine or strong ale either being very good for that purpose then keep it up close and let it be your ordinary drink at meals and other times the longer you continue to drink of the said drink the more your milk will increase in this I never saw any to fail XIII An approved remedy to cure Warts Take any piece of Gold or Gold-ring without any stone heat it red hot in the fire and lâ—y â—t as hot as ever you can indure it upon each wâ—rt until they be well cauterized thereby instead of Gold you may use Iron or a red coal in the same manner then wash them with good strong Lye do this three times a day or several dayes if you will it importeth not much whether lastly take Radishes and cut them into thin slices in a platter and strew over them a reasonable quantity of salt then lay on another bed of sliced Raddishes upon that and salt as before and so three or four times let all this lye and steep over night in the said platter and in the morning you shall find the salt melted and the vertue of the said Raddishes in it with which water you shall often wash the warts and lay a linnen rag or cotten dipd in the said water upon them in which doing they will in few dayes fall or at the least be easily drawne off likewise any scratching black or blew spots got by fighting or she like the said water will suddenly cure using it as above said XIV How to cure any kind of Itch though ever so bad either inward or outward with a sweet water very cheape and very easie to be done then the which there is nothing better as I can justifie both for this and divers other diseases Take a quartern of plantain-Plantain-water half as much Rose water halfe a wine-glasse of Lemond or Orenge flower water and an ounce of Sublimatum beaten into very fine powder all which you shall mingle in a clean skillet upon the fire and there let it boile for a quarter of an hour then let it cool and keep it close in a viol for your use then wash the place or places where you have the itch with the said water and let it dry of it self your convenientest time will be when you are going to bed do this three times leaving four and twenty houers respite between each time the first and second time will bring them all forth and the third time will dry and take them quite off thus leaving aside all stinking ointments and inward physick whatsoever you may have a safe sweet speedy and infallible cure for your itch Likewise using this water as above said it will draw out all kind of foul corrupted humors and leave the skin clear and white what vertue the said water may have to cure the Pox and other soul diseases being rightly used I leave to the judicious Artists censure XV How to cure one that spits blood having some broken vein in his brest Take Mice-dung dried and beaten into powder as much as a sixpence will hold at a time in half a wine-glasseful of juyce of Plantain with a little sugar drink this every morning fasting and as much every night when you go to bed for a week or there abouts and this with Gods help will cure you XVI For the Squinsie Take two or three drops of oile of Vitriol in a glasse of white wine gargle often your mouth and throat therewith this hath cured many and this you see is very easie to be done XVII An excellent Remedy to Cure the Evil Take four ounces of Ceruse otherwise called White-lead in fine powder and boile it five or six houers in half a pint of Sallet oyle or until all be very black stirring it continually whâ—le it is on the fire then spread of this upon a piece of leather or clean linnen cloth and apply it upon the Sore and if the Sore runs using this often it will heal it if not it will first dissolve it and afterwards perfectly heal it if it be not too inveterate XVIII How to cure a Cough or Cold either old or new Take Brimstone well powdered half an ounce and mingle it with a new laid Egge boiled soft and half a scruple of Beniamen softly reduced to powder Take this in the morning fasting and as much going to bed at night and you shall be cured thereby at the second or third taking But if your Cough be very inveterate you must take it oftener XIX An assured Remedy for the Plague approved of throughout Venice in the year 1504. Take of a healthy Male young childs water fine Treacle and Annise seed-water of each a like quantity mingle them and give about a quarter of a pint or a little more at a time of it to the Patient in the morning fasting for three mornings together this hath cured many XX An infallible remedy for any Burning or Scalding Cut an ounce of the newest wax you can get in thin slices and melt it in two ounces of Sallet oyle then take it off the fire and mingle well therein two
yolks of Eggs rosted hard under hot ashes spread a little of this very thin being cold upon a clean linnen cloth and apply it upon the Sore changing the same twice a day this will in very short time appease the pain and heal without leaving any scarre at all this is the onely thing I have alwayes used for this purpose not without good successe XXI An excellent Perfume in a Chamber to drive away all ill aire Take ten or twelve Cloaves somwhat bruised and three or four little slices of Orenge or Lemond pill put these in a clean porrenger with six or seven spoonfuls of Rosewater upon a few cinders or coals in a chasingdish about the middle of the room and it will perfume the place and expel away the ill aire XXII How to cure a strong Breath proceeding from the Stomack Take Sage-leaves dryed and powdered an ounce Rosemary flowers in the same manner three ounces Cloaves beaten into powder half an ounce Cinamon beaten two dramms two Nutmegs grated very small and two graines of Muske incorporate all this with as much clarified honey as will make it into a soft paste then put it in a box five or six dayes together where the Sun may shine most upon it and it suffiseth Take of this every morning half an ounce fasting and as much after supper going to bed this will keep what you have eaten from putrifying over night in your stomack and continuing thus a while you shall by Gods help be delivered from all strong or stinking breath whatsoever XXIII A present remedy for them that are much troubled with the Hickock Eat every morning that you fear to be troubled with the Hickock three hours before dinner time a good piece of green Ginger and drink thereon two good draughts of Malmsie and you shall be soon cured thereof God willing XXIV How to be never troubled with the Colick Take two pounds of the outward thickest skin of Raddishes and four pound of good honey boile all this together untill half the honey be consumed then mingle therein Cinamond Cloaves Mace Nutmegge and Pepper of each two drams beaten to powder which done set it up in a vessel for your use finally take of the said Raddish skins thus prepared half an ounce every morning they that use this remedy are never troubled with the Colick XXV How to make Red or Gray haire black Take five flaggons of Rain water as much Oake-ashes or other good strong ashes as will make Lye thereof six ounces of litharge of Gold Sage and black-figtree-leaves of each a handful if you cannot get this last take the more Sage boil this together until the fourth part of the liquor be consumed in boiling with which you shall wash your head twice a weeke and when your haire is dry take Sage juyce four ounces Tartar of Redwine in powder one ounce and of litharge of Gold reduced to powder likewise halfe an ounce mingle these three last things together and there with anoint a Lead-combe with which you shall combe your haire often and they will become black in a short time XXVI Likewise if you take oile of Tartar and warm it a little and anoint your Combe in combing your haire well before the Sun two or three times a day for a whole week after you have washed and dryed your haire as before it is an approved remedy to make haire of any colour black If you think all these things too tedious or troublesom take twenty or thirty Horse-leaches or as many as you can get and put them to steep and rot in a violl with half a pint or a little more of course Red wine for two moneths together which done anoint and combe your haire often therewith before the Sun and they will soon become browne at the least if not quite black XXVIII An infallible way to make a Gray beard black by once anointing it which is not so convenient for the hair of the head by reason of the care which ought to be had in using it Take half an ounce of Aqua fortis in a Viall put therein to dissolve by the fire side the quantity of three pence or a groat in silver and when you would use this anoint the roots of the hair a little with oile of Roses then wet the haire well with a little spunge dipt in the said Aqua fortis having a care not to touch the skin but as little as may be for that it is apt to raise a blister then let it dry and finally wash it over with a little Lye wherein hath been boiled a little Red-roses and Pomgranet-flowers this Secret as well as many others in this little Book is a rare experiment easie useful and profitable for my greatest envyers but I stick not to let them know that my ambition is to restore good for evil rather then seek revenge XXIX An infallible remedy for them that are come to age to have a beard yet want it so nature do but co operate ever so little Shave the place often where you would have haire to grow then presently anoint the place shaved with a little spirit of Honey or oile of Tartar either being very good and best for that use of any thing that ever nature hath produced I am confident of it the best time to use this is during the increase of the Moon in the spring season going to bedward to make the hair of your head grow in a short time fair long thick and curled use the same wearing a Periwigge or a leather Cap with borders to it which is far better by reason that a Periwigge for the most part is too hot for that use and doth often hinder somwhat therefore the growth of the haire more then a Cap and Borders doth XXX How to take Wrinkles out of ones Face Forehead or any other part Take a little of the wood of a white Vine that is such as bears white Grapes or a little Briony and beat it well in a Morter with a good big Fig or two such as you may buy at the Grocers which done anoint the wrinkled place therewith and walk thereupon until you sweat otherwise the Vine wood will take of the skin or the Briony make it black XXXI How to soften hard Hair and to hinder the groweth of it Take Bean-cods bruise them and apply them like a poultice over night upon the place where you would hinder the grouth of hair or at least to soften it the next morning wash the place with water wherein beans have boiled the best time to use this is during the decrease of the Moon and the oftener you do it the sooner you shall obtain your desire herein if some find that no hair will ever grow upon the foresaid place yet I cannot affirme that it will do the same to all for I am of opinion that it is not easie to change the ordinary course of Nature in this particular XXXII How to take out Freckles or other
March then substract that surplus from 30. and the rest is the day of the moneth that it will be new Moon and adding unto it 14. you shall have the full Moon XLII How to find at any time which way the wind is in ones Chamber without going abroad Upon the planching or floor of a Chambeâ— Parlor or Hall that you intend to have this device let there come down from the top of the house a hollow post in which place an Iron-rod that it ascend above the house ten or six foot with a Vane or a Scouchen at it to shew the winds without and at the lower end of this rod of Iron place a dart which may by the moving of the Vane with the wind without turn this dart which is within about which upon the plaister must be described a circle divided into the 32 points of the Mariners compasse pointed and distinguished to that end then may it be marked by placing a Compasse by it for having noted the North point the East and so forth it is easie to note out all the rest of the points and so at any time coming into this roome you have nothing to do but to look up to the dart which will point you out what way the winde bloweth at that instant XLIII How to practice excellently the re-animation of Simples in case the plants may not be transported to be replanted by reason of distance of places Take what simple you please burn it and take the ashes of it and let it be calcinated two hours between two creusets well luted and extract the salt that is to put water into it in moving of it then let it settle and do it two or three times afterwards evaporate it that is let the water be boiled in some vessel until it be all consumed then there will remain a salt at the bottom which you shall afterwards sow in good ground well prepared such as the Theater of husbandry sheweth and you shall have your desire XLIV Of the admirable invention of making the Philosophers tree which one may see with his eye to grow by little and little Take two ounces of Aqua fortis and dissolve in it half an once of fine Silver refined in a Capel then take an ounce of Aqua fortis and two drams of quick-silver which put in it and mixe these two dissolved things together then cast it into a Viol of half a pound of water which may be well stopped for then every day you may see it grow both in the Tree and in the Branch This liquour serves to black hair which is red or white without fading until they fall But here is to be noted that great care ought to be had in anointing the hair for fear of touching the flesh for this composition is very corrosive or scarching that as soon as it toucheth the flesh it raiseth blisters and bladders very painful XLV How to rost a Capon carried in a budget at a Saddle bow in the space of riding five or six miles Having made it ready and larded it stuff it with butter then heat a piece of steel which may be formed round according to the length of the Capon and big enough to fill the belly of it and then stop it with butter then wrap it up well and inclose it in a box in the budget and you shall have your desire It is said that Count Mansfield served himself with no others but such as were made ready in this kinde for that it looseth none of its substance and it is dressed very equally XLVI How to make two Marmousets one of which shall light a Candle and the other put it out Upon the side of a Wall make the figure of a Marmouset or other animal or form and right against it on the other Wall make another in the mouth of each put a quill or pipe so artificially that it be not perceived in one of which place Saltpeter very fine and dry and pulverised and at the end set a little match of paper in the other place sulpher beaten small then holding a candle lighted in your hand say to one of these images by way of command blow out the candle then lighting the paper with the candle the Saltpeter will blow out the candle immediately and going to the other image before the match of the candle be out touch the sulphur with it and say light the candle and it will immediately be lighted which will cause an admiration to these which see the action if it be done with a secret dexterity I have some things extraordinary which I cannot communicate to any but them that have need of my help and will make use of me What I have writ here is very good and necessary yet know my manual operation excels them beyond proportion in which I presume to be as expert in as any man in Europe whatsoever he be as the approbation of some of the best Doctors of this age shall justifie if need repaires I glory not in knowing or doing much but in doing well that little which I undertake and the things which I undertake are these First I draw out hollow Teeth or roots though ever so short with wonderful dexterity facility and ease I make even smooth and plain Teeth that are extravagant or sharper longer or ruggeder then the rest Hollow Teeth that for some reason you would not have drawn as the falling in of the cheek or an invincible apprehension or fear or the like I can stop them so that they shall neither ake putrifie nor smell ill I have the best secret in the world absolutely and infallibly to make Teeth most perfectly white and clean though they be ever so black or rusty Fore-teeth that are loose I can fasten very well in lesse then half an hour I can set in Artificiall Teeth so well that none can possibly know them from natural ones Finally I cannot choose but convince their ignorance that are against drawing hollow Teeth or roots their common foolish objection is that I do it more for my own profit then the Patients ease I say they may as well object the same against all other Arts Sciences or Trades in the world for it is evident and clear that the drawing of Teeth from others is as necessary for them as the profit is for me by reason that all the Art in the world cannot make a perished Tooth sound again nor hinder it from infecting the next adjoyning teeth in time Besides hollow teeth breed often a stinking breath a canker in the mouth and other diseases in the body and their intolerable aking is able to make a body fall into a dangerous Feavours all which inconveniences may be shunned by having such teeth and roots neatly drawn Lastly if it be true that it is good to take the broken from the whole or that one scabbed sheep may spoyl a whole flock or that it is good and necessary to repaire imperperfections of nature with art