Fogges or Mists and the nocturnall obscuritie then to take it in the morning with a draught of good Wine for it being aboundantly diffused presently ouer all the Body filles vp the passages thereof and strengheneth it in a moment For Water if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Aire we must wholly shun and auoid Raine-water because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Aire Wherefore the Water of Springs and of the deepest Welles are thought best But if the malignitie proceed from the vapours contained in the Earth you must make choyse of Raine-water Yet it 's more safe to digest euerie sort of Water by boyling it and to preferre that Water before other which is pure and cleerer to the sight and without either tast or smell and which besides suddainly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold CHAP. VII Of the Cordiall Remedies by which we may preserue our Bodyes in feare of the Plague and cure those already infected there-with SVch as cannot eat without much labour exercise and hunger and who are no louers of Breakefasts hauing euacuated their Excrements before they goe from home must strengthen the Heart with some Antidote against the virulencie of the Infection Amongst which Aqua Theriacalis or Treacle Water two Ounces with the like quantitie of Sacke is much commended being drunke and rubbing the Nose-thrils Mouth and Eares with the same for the Treacle Water strengthens the Heart expels Poyson and is not onely good for a preseruatiue but also to cure the Disease it selfe For by sweat it driues forth the Poyson contained within It should be made in Iune at which time all simple Medicines by the vitall heat of the Sunne are in their greatest efficacie The composition whereof is thus Take the Roots of Gentian Cyperus Tormentill Diptam or Fraxinella Elecampaine of each one Ounce the Leaues of Mullet Carduus Benedictus Diuels-bit Burnet Scabious Sheepes Sorrell of each halfe a Handfull of the tops of Rue a little quantitie Mirtle Berries one Ounce of Red Rose Leaues the Flowres of Buglosse Borage and S t Iohns Wurt of each one Ounce let them be all cleansed dryed and macerated for the space of 24 houres in one pound of White Wine or Malmsey and of Rose Water or Sorrell Water then let them be put in a Vessell of Glasse and add thereto of Treacle and Methridate of each foure Ounces then distill them in Balneo Mariae and let the distilled Water be receiued in a Glasse Viall and let there be added thereto of Saffron two Drammes of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Yellow Sanders Shauings of Iuorie and Harts-horne of each halfe an Ounce then let the Glasse be well stopped and set in the Sunne for the space of eight or tenne dayes Let the prescribed quantitie be taken euerie morning so oft as shall be needfull It may be giuen without hurt to sucking Children and to Women great with Child But that it may be the more pleasant it must be strayned thorough an Hippocras Bagge adding thereto some Sugar and Cynnamon Some thinke themselues sufficiently defended with a Root of Elecampaine Zedoarie or Angelica rowled in their Mouth or chawed betweene their Teeth Others drinke euerie morning one Dramme of the Root of Gentian brused being macerated for the space of one night in two Ounces of White Wine Others doe take Worme-wood Wine Others sup vp in a rere Egge one Dramme of Terra Sigillata or of Harts-horne with a little Saffron and drinke two Ounces of Wine after it There be some that doe infuse Bole Armenicke the Roots of Gentian Tormentill Diptam the Berryes of Iuniper Cloues Mace Cynnamon Saffron and such like in Aqua Vitae and strong White Wine and so distill it in Balneo Mariae This Cordiall Water that followeth is of great virtue Take of the Roots of the long and round Aristolochia Tormentill Diptam of each three Drammes of Zedoarie two Drammes Lignum Aloes Yellow Sanders of each one Dramme of the Leaues of Scordium S t Iohns Wurt Sorrell Rue Sage of each halfe an Ounce of Bay and Iuniper Berryes of each three Drammes Cytron Seeds one Dramme of Cloues Mace Nutmegs of each two Drammes of Masticke Olibanum Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Shauings of Harts-horne and Iuorie of each one Ounce of Saffron one Scruple of the Conserues of Roses Buglosse Flowers Water Lillyes and old Treacle of each one Ounce of Camphire halfe a Dramme of Aqua Vitae halfe a pint of White Wine two pints and a halfe make thereof a distillation in Balneo Mariae The vse of this distilled Water is euen as Treacle Water is The Electuarie following is verie effectuall Take of the best Treacle three Ounces Iuniper berries and Carduus Seeds of each one Dramme and a halfe of Bole Armenicke prepared halfe an Ounce of the Powder of the Electuarie De Gemmis and Diamargariton Frigidum the Powder of Harts-horne and Red Corall of each one Dramme mixe them with the Sirrupe of the Rinds and Iuyce of Pome-citrons as much as shall suffice and make thereof a liquid Electuarie in the forme of an Opiate let them take euerie morning the quantitie of a Filberd drinking after it two Drammes of the Water of Scabions Cherryes Carduus Benedictus and of some such like cordiall things or of strong Wine The following Opiate is also verie profitable which also may be made into Tablets Take of the Roots of Angelica Gentian Zedoarie Elecampaine of each two Drammes of Cytron and Sorrell Seeds of each halfe a Dramme of the dryed Rinds of Cytrous Cinnamon Bay and Iuniper Berryes and Saffron of each one Scruple of Conserue of Roses and Buglosse of each one Ounce of fine hard Sugar as much as is sufficient make thereof Tablets of the weight of halfe a Dramme let him take one of them two houres before meat Or make thereof an Opiate with equall parts of Conserues of Buglosse and Mel Anthosatum and so adding all the rest dry and in Powder Or take of the Roots of Valerian Tormentill Diptam of the Leaues of Rue of each halfe an Ounce of Saffron Mace Nutmegs of each halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke prepared halfe an Ounce of Conserue of Roses and Sirupe of Lemons as much as will be sufficient to make thereof an Opiate liquid enough Or take of the Roots of both the Aristolochia's of Gentian Tormentill Diptam of each one Dramme and a halfe of Ginger three Drammes of the Leaues of Rue Sage Mints and Peny-royall of each two Drammes of Bay and Iuniper Berries Citron Seeds of each foure Scruples of Mace Nutmegs Cloues Cinnamon of each two Drammes of Lignum Aloes and Yellow Saunders of each one Dramme of Male Frankincense i. Olibanum Masticke shauings of Harts-horne and Iuorie of each two Scruples of Saffron halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Red Corall Pearle of each one Dramme of Conserues of Roses Buglosse Flowers Water Lillyes and old Treacle of each one Ounce of Loafe
be obserued and first of the choyce of Meats THE order of Dyet in a Pestilent disease ought to be cooling and drying not slender but some-what full Because by this kind of Disease there commeth wasting of the Spirits and exolution of the Faculties which inferreth often swounding therefore that losse must be repaired as soone as may be with more quantitie of Meats that are of easie concoction and digestion Therefore I neuer saw any being infected with the Pestilence that kept a slender dyet that recouered his health but dyed and few that had a good stomacke and fed well dyed Sweet grosse moyst and clammy Meats which are altogether and exquisitely of subtile parts are to be auoyded for the sweet doe easily take Fier and are soone inflamed the moyst will putrefie the grosse and clammy obstruct and therefore ingender putrefaction those meats that are of subtile parts ouer-much attenuate the humors and inflame them and doe stirre vp hot and sharpe vapors into the Brayne whereof commeth the Feauer Therefore we must eschew Garlike Onions Mustard Salted and spiced Meats and all kinds of Puls must also be auoyded because they ingender grosse winds which are the authors of obstruction but the decoction of them is not alwayes to be refused because it is a prouoker of Vrine Therefore let this be their order of Dyet Let their Bread be of Wheat or Barly well wrought well leauened and salted neither too new nor too stale Let them be fed with such Meat as may be easily concocted and digested and may engender much laudable iuyce and verie little excrementall as are the Flesh of Weather Lambes Calues Kidds Leuerets Pullets Partriches Pigeons Thrushes Larkes Quailes Blacke Birds Turtle Doues Moore Hennes Phesants and such like auoyding Water Foules Let the Flesh be moystned in Veriuyce of vn-ripe Grapes Vineger or the iuyce of Lemmons Oranges Cytrons tart Pomegranats Barberyes Gooseberryes or red Currance or of Garden and wild Sorrell for all these sowre things are verie wholesome in this kind of Disease for they doe stirre vp the appetite resist the venomous qualitie and putrefaction of the humours restraine the heat of the Feauer and prohibite the corruption of the meats in the stomacke Although that those that haue a more weake stomacke and are endewed with a more exact sence are subiect to the Cough and Diseases of the Lungs must not vse these vnlesse they be mixed with Sugar and Cynnamon If the Patient at any time be fed with sodden Meats let the Broathes be made with Lettuce Purslaine Succorie Borage Sorrell Hoppes Buglosse Cresses Burnet Marigolds Cheruill the cooling Seeds Barley and Oates cleansed with a little Saffron for Saffron doth engender many Spirits and resisteth Poyson To these opening Roots may be added for to auoyd obstruction yet much Broath must be refused by reason of moysture The Fruit of Capers being eaten in the beginning of the Meale prouoke the appetite and prohibite obstructions but they ought not to be seasoned with ouer-much Oyle Salt they may also with good successe be put in Broathes Fishes are altogether to be auoyded because they doe soone corrupt in the Stomacke but if the Patient be delighted with them those that liue in stony places must be chosen that is to say those that doe liue in pure and sandy Water and about Rocks and Stones as are Trowts Pikes Pearches Gudgions and Crauises boiled in Milke Wilks and such like And concerning Sea-Fish he may be fed with Giltheads Gurnarts with all the kinds of Cod-fish Whitings not seasoned with Salt and Turbuts Fagges potched and eaten with the iuyce of Sorrell are very good Likewise Barley Water seasoned with the Graynes of a tart Pomegranate and if the Feauer be vehement with the Seeds of white Poppey Such Barley Water is easie to be concocted and digested it cleanses greatly and moystens and mollifies the Belly But in some it procures an appetite to vomit and paine of the Head and those must abstaine from it But in stead of Barley Water they may vse Pappe and Bread crummed in the decoction of a Capon For the second course let him haue Raysons of the Sun newly sodden in Rose Water with Sugar soure Damaske Prunes tart Cherryes Pippins and Katherine Peares And in the latter end of the Meale Quinces rosted in Embers Marmelate of Quinces Conserues of Buglosse or of Roses and such like may be taken Or else this Powder following Take of Coriander Seeds prepared two Drammes of Pearle Rose Leaues shauings of Harts-Horne and Iuory of each halfe a Dramme of Amber two Scruples of Cynnamon one Scruple of Vnicornes Horne and the Bone in a Stagges Heart of each halfe a Scruple of Sugar of Roses foure Ounces Make thereof a Powder and vse it after Meats If the Patient be some-what weake he must be fed with Gelly made of the Flesh of a Capon and Veale sodden together in the Water of Sorrell Carduus Benedictus with a little quantitie of Rose Vineger Cynnamon Sugar and other such like as the present necessitie shall seeme to require In the night season for all euents and mischances the Patient must haue ready prepared Broath of Meats of good digestion with a little of the iuyce of Citrons or Pomegranates This Restauratiue that followeth may serue for all Take of the Conserue of Buglosse Borage Violets Water Lillyes and Succory of each two Ounces of the Powder of the Electuarie Diamargaritum Frigidum of the Trochisces of Camphire of each three drams of Citron seedes Carduus seedes Sorrell seedes the rootes of Diptamnus Tormentill of each two drams of the broth of a young Capon made with Lettuce Purselaine Buglosse and Borraged boile in it sixe pintes put them in a Lembecke of glasse with the flesh of two Pullets of so manie Partridges and with fifteene leaues of pure gold make thereof a distillation ouer a soft fier Then take of the distilled liquor halfe a pinte straine it through a woollen bagge with two ounces of white Sugar and halfe a dram of Cinamon let the patient vse this when he is thirstie Or else put the flesh of one old Capon and of a legge of Veale two minced Partridges and two drams of whole Cinamon without anie liquor in a lembecke of glasse well luted and couered and so let them boile in Balueo Mariae vnto the perfect concoction For so the fleshes will be boiled in their owne iuice without any hurt of the fier then let the iuice bee pressed out therehence with a presse giue the patient for euery dose one ounce of the iuice with some cordiall waters some Trisantalum and Diamargaritum frigidum The preserues of sweete fruits are to bee auoided because that sweete things turne into cholor but the confections of tart Prunes Cherries and such like may be fitly vsed But because there is no kinde of sickenesse that so weakens the strength as the Plague it is alwaies necessarie but yet sparingly and often to feede the patient still hauing
respect vnto his custome age the region and the time for through emptinesse there is great danger lest that the venomous matter that is driuen out to the superficiall parts of the bodie should be called backe vnto the inward parts by an hungrie stomacke and the stomacke it selfe should bee filled with choloricke hot thinne and sharpe excrementall humors whereof commeth biting of the stomacke and gripings in the guttes CHAP. XIV What drinke the Patient infected ought to vse IF the Feauer be great and burning the patient must abstain from wine vnlesse that he be subiect to swounding and he may drink the Oxymell following in stead thereof Take of fair water three quarts wherin boile foure ounces of hony vntill the third part bee consumed scumming it continually then straine it and put it into a clean vessell and adde thereto foure ounces of vineger and as much cynamon as will suffice to giue it a taste Or else a sugered water as followeth Take two quarts of fair water of hard sugar sixe ounces of cynamon two ounces straine it through a woollen bagge or cloth without anie boiling and when the patient will vse it put thereto a little of the iuice of Citrons The syrupe of the iuce of Citrons excelleth amongst all others that are vsed against the Pestilence The vse of the Iulep following is also verie wholesome Take of the iuice of Sorrell well clarified halfe a pinte of the iuice of Lettuce so clarified foure ounces of the best hard Sugar one pound boile them together vnto a perfection let them be strained and clarified adding a little before the end a little vineger let it be vsed betweene meales with boyled water or with equall portions of the water of Sorrell Lettuce Scabious and Buglosse or take of this former described Iulep strained and clarified foure ounces let it be mixed with one pound of the forenamed cordiall waters and boile them together a little And when they are taken from the fire put thereto of yellow Sanders one dram of beaten Cinamon halfe a dram straine it through a cloth when it is cold let it bee giuen vnto the patient to drinke with the iuice of Citrons Those that haue accustomed to drinke Sider Perrie Beere or Ale ought to vse that drinke still so that it be clear transparent and thinne and made of those fruits that are somewhat tarte for troubled and dreggish drinke doth not onely engender grosse humors but also crudities windinesse and obstructions of the first region of the bodie whereof comes a feauer Oxycrate being giuen in manner following doth asswage the heate of the feauer and represse the putrefaction of the humors and the fiercenesse of the venome and also expelleth the water through the veines if so be that the patients are not troubled with spitting of bloud cough yexing and altogether weake of stomacke for such must auoid all tart things Take of faire water one quart of white or red Vineger three ounces of fine Suger foure ounces of Sirup of Roses two ounces boile them alittle and then giue the patient thereof to drinke Or Take of the iuice of Lemons and Citrons of each halfe an ounce of iuice of soure Pomegranats two ounces of the water of Sorrell and Roses of each one ounce of fair water boiled as much as shall suffice make therof a Iulep and vse it between meales Or take of Sirup of Lemons and of red Currance of each one ounce of the water of Lillies foure ounces of faire water boiled halfe a pinte make therof a Iulep Or Take of the syrups of water Lillies and Vineger of each halfe an ounce dissolve it in fiue ounces of the water of sorrell of faire water one pinte make thereof a Iulep But if the patient bee young and haue a strong and good stomacke and choloricke by natnre I thinke it not vnmeete for him to drinke a full and large draught of fountaine water cold for that is effectuall to restraine and quench the heate of the feauer and contrariwise they that drinke cold water often and a verie small quantitie at a time as the Smith doth sprinkle water on the fire at his forge doe increse the heate and burning and thereby make it endure the longer Therefore by the iudgement of Celsus when the disease is in the chiefe increase and the patient hath endured thirst for the space of three or foure dayes cold water must be giuen vnto him in great quantitie so that hee may drinke past his satietie that when his belly and stomacke are filled beyond measure and sufficiently cooled he may vomit Some doe not drinke so much thereof as may cause them to vomite but do drinke euen vnto satietie and so vse it for a cooling medicine but when either of these is done the patient must be couered with many clothes and so placed that he may sleepe and for the most part after long thirst and watching and after long fulnesse and long and great heate sound sleepe commeth by which great sweat is sent out and that is a present helpe But thirst must sometimes bee quenched with little peeces of Melons Gourds Cucumbers with the leaues of Lettuce Sorrell and purslane made moist or soked in cold water or with a little square peece of a Citron Lemon or Orange macerated in Rose water and sprinkled with sugar and so held in the mouth and then changed But if the patient be aged his strength weake phlegmaticke by nature and giuen to wine when the state of the feauer is somewhat past and the chiefe heate beginning to asswage he may drinke wine verie much delayed at his meate for to restore his strength and to supply the want of the wasted Spirits The patient ought not by anie meanes to suffer great thirst but must mitigate it by drinking or else allay it by washing his mouth with Oxicrate and such like and hee may therein also wash his hands and his face for that doth recreate the strength If the Fluxe or Laske troubel him he may verie well vse to drinke steeled water and also boiled milke wherein many stones comming red hot out of the fire haue beene manie times quenched For the drinesse and roughnesse of the mouth it is verie good to haue a cooling moistening and lenifying lotion of the mucilaginous water of the infusion of the seedes of Quinces Psilium id est Flea-wurt adding thereto a little Camphyre with the water of Plantaine and Roses then cleanse and wipe out the filth and then moisten the mouth by holding therein a little oyle of sweete Almonds mixed with a little sirup of Violets If the roughnesse doe breede or degenerate into Vlcers they must be touched with the water of the infusion of sublimate or Aqua fortis CHAP. XV. Of Antidotes to be vsed in the Plague NOw we must entreate of the proper cure of this disease which must bee vsed as soone as may bee possible because this kinde of poison in swiftnesse exceedes the celeritie of the medicine
Therefore it is better to erre in this that you should thinke euerie disease to be pestilent in a pestilent season and to cure it as the Pestilence because that so long as the ayre is polluted with the seedes of the Pestilence the humors in the bodie are soone infected with the vicinitie of such an ayre so that then there happeneth no disease void of the Pestilence that is to say which is not pestilent from the beginning by his owne nature or which is not made pestilent Manie begin the cure with bloud-letting some with purging and some with Antidotes We taking a consideration of the substance of that part that is assaulted first of all begin the cure with an Antidote beeause that by its specificke propertie it defends the heart from poison as much as it is offended therewith Although there are also other Antidotes which preserue and keep the heart and the patient from the danger of Poison and the Pestilence not onely because they doe infringe the power of the poison in their whole substance but also because they driue it and expell it out of all the bodie by sweate vomiting scouring and such other kindes of euacuations The Antidote must be giuen in such a quantitie as may bee sufficient to ouercome the poison but because it is not good to vse it in greater quantitie than neederh lest it should ouerthrow our nature for whose preseruation only it is vsed therefore that which cannot bee taken together and at once must bee taken at seuerall times that some portion thereof may daily be vsed so long vntill all the accidents effects and impressions of the poison be past and that there bee nothing to be feared Some of those Antidotes consist of portions of venomous things being tempered together and mixed in an apt proportion with other medicines whose power is contrarie to the venom as Treacle which hath for an ingredient the flesh of Vipers that it being thereto mixed may serue as guide to bring all the Antidote vnto the place where the venenate malignitie hath made the chiefe impression because by the similitude of nature and sympathie one poison is sodainly snatched and carried vnto another There are other absolute poisonous which neuerthelesse are Antidotes one vnto another as a Scorpion himselfe cureth the pricke of a Scorpion But Treacle and Mithridate excell all other Antidotes for by strenthening the noblest part and the mansion of life they repaire and recreate the wasted Spirits and ouercome the poyson not onely being taken inwardly but also applied outwardly to the region of the heart Botches and Carbuncles for by an hidden propertie they draw the poisons vnto them as Amber doth Chaffe and digest it when it is drawne and spoile and robbe it of all its deadly force as it is declared at large by Galen in his booke de Theriaca ad Pisonem by most true reasons and experiments But you will say that these things are hote and that the Plague is often accompanied with a burning Feauer But therereto I answer there is not so great danger in the Feauer as in the Pestilence although in the giuing of Treacle I would not altogether seeme to neglect the Feauer but thinke it good to minister or apply it mixed with cordiall cooling medicines as with the Trochisces of Camphire Sirup of Lemmons of water Lillies the water of Sorrell and such like And for the same cause wee ought not to choose old Treacle but that which is of a middle age as of one or two yeares old to those that are strong you may giue halfe a dramme and to those that are more weake a dramme The patient ought to walke presently after that he hath taken Treacle Mithridate or anie other Antidote but yet as moderately as he can not like vnto many which when they perceiue themselues to be infected do not cease to course and runne vp and downe vntill they haue no strength to sustaine their bodies for so they doe dissolue nature so that it cannot suffice to ouercome the contagion After moderate walking the patient must be put warme to bedde and couered with manie clothes and warme brick-bats or tiles applied to the soles of his feete or in stead thereof you may vse swines bladders filled with hot water and apply them to the grindes and arme-holes to prouoke sweate for sweating in this disease is a most excellent remedie both for to euacuate the humors in the Feauer and also to driue forth the malignitie in the Pestilence although euerie sweate brings not forth the fruit of health For George Agricola saith that he saw a woman at Misnia in Germanie that did sweat so for the space of three dayes that the bloud came forth at her head and breast and yet neuerthelesse she died This potion following will prouoke sweate Take the roots of China shaued in thinne peeces one ounce and halfe of Guaiacum two ounces of the barke of Tamariske one ounce of Angelica rootes two drams of the shauings of Harts-horne one ounce of Iuniper berries three drams put them into a viall of glasse that will containe sixe quarts put therto foure quarts of rūning or riuer water that is pure and clear macerate them for the space of one whole night on the hot ashes and in the morning boile them all in Balneo Mariae vntill the halfe be consumed which will be done in the space of sixe houres then let them be strained through a bagge and then strained againe but let that be with sixe ounces of sugar of Roses and a little Treacle let the patient take eight ounces or fewer of that liquor and it will prouoke sweat The pouder following is also verie profitable Take of the leaues of Dictamnus the rootes of Tormentill Betoni of each halfe an ounce of bole Armenicke prepared one ounce of Terra Sigillata three drams of Aloes and Mirrhe of each halfe a dram of Saffron one dram of Masticke two drammes pouder them all according to Arte and giue one dram thereof dissolued in Rose-water or the water of wilde sorrell and let the patient walke so soone as he hath taken that pouder then let him be laid in his bed to sweate as I haue shewed before The water following is greatly commended against poyson Take the roots of Gentian and Cyperus of each three drams of Carduus benedictus Burnet of each one handfull of Sorrell seedes and Diuels-bit of each two pugils of Ivie and Iuniper berries of each halfe an ounce of the flowers of Buglosse Violets and red Roses of each two pugils pouder them somewhat grossely then soake or steepe them for a night in white wine and Rose water then adde thereto of Bole Armenicke one ounce of Treacle halfe an ounce distill them all in Balneo Mariae and keepe the distilled liquor in a viall of glasse well couered or close stopped for your vse let the patient take sixe ounces thereof with Sugar and a little Cinamon and Saffron then let him walke and then sweate as
Sugar one pound and a quarter A little before the end of the making it vp add two Drammes of Confectio Alkermes and of Camphire dissolued in Rose Water one Scruple make thereof an Opiate according to Art the Dose thereof is from halfe a Dramme to halfe a Scruple Treacle and Mithridate saithfully compounded excell all other Cordiall Medicines adding for euerie halfe ounce of each of them one Ounce and a halfe of Conserues of Roses or of Buglosse or of Violets and three Drammes of Bole Armenicke prepared Of these being mixed with stirring and incorporated together make a Conserue It must be taken in the morning the quantitie of a Filberd You must choose that Treacle that is not lesse then foure yeeres old nor aboue twelue That which is some-what new is iudged to be most meet for Cholericke persons but that which is old for Flegmaticke and old Men. For at the beginning the strength of the Opium that enters into the composition thereof remaines in its full vertue for a yeere but afterwards the more yeeres old it waxeth the strength thereof is more abolished so that at length the whole composition becommeth verie hot The Confection of Alkermes is verie effectuall both for a preseruatiue against this Disease and also for the Cure The quantitie of a Filberd of Rubarbe with one Cloue chawed or rowled in the Mouth is supposed to repell the comming of the pestilent Aire As also this composition following Take of preserued Citron and Orange Pilles of each one Dramme of Conserue of Roses and of the Roots of Buglosse of each three Drammes of Citron Seeds halfe an Ounce of Annice Seeds and Fennell Seeds of each one Dramme of Angelica Roots foure Scruples Sugar of Roses as much as suffices Make a Confection and couer it with Leaues of Gold and take a little of it out of a Spoone before you goe abroad euerie morning Or take of Pine Apple Kernels and Fisticke Nuts infused for the space of sixe houres in the Water of Scabious and Roses of each two Ounces of Almonds blanched in the fore-named Waters halfe a Pound of preferued Citron and Orange Pilles of each one Dramme and a halfe of Angelica Roots foure Scruples Make them according to Art vnto the forme of March-pane or of any other such like Confection And hold a little piece thereof often in your Mouth The Tablets following are most effectuall in such a case Take of the Roots of Diptam Tormentill Valerian Elecampaine Eringoes of each halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata of each one Scruple of Camphire Cinnamon Sorrell Seeds and Zedoarie of each one Scruple of thē Species of the Electuarie Diamargariton Frigidum two Scruples of Conserue of Roses Buglosse preserued Citron Pilles Mithridate Treacle of each one Dramme of fine Sugar dissolued in Scabious and Carduus Water as much as shall suffice Make thereof Tablets of the weight of a Dramme or halfe a Dramme take them in the morning before you eat The Pilles of Ruffus are accounted most effectuall preseruatiues so that Ruffus himselfe saith that he neuer knew any to be infected that vsed them The composition of them is thus Take of the best Aloes halfe a Dramme of Gumme Ammoniacum two Drammes of Mirrhe two Drammes and an halfe of Masticke two Drammes of Saffron seuen Granes Put them altogether and incorporate them with the Iuice of Citrons or the Sirupe of Limons and make thereof a Masse and let it be kept in Leather Let the Patient take the weight of halfe a Dramme euery morning two or three houres before Meat and let him drinke the Water of Sorrell after it which through its tartnesse and the thinness of its parts doth infringe the force and power of the malignitie or putrefaction For experience hath taught vs that Sorrell being eaten or chawed in the Mouth doth make the pricking of Scorpions vnhurtfull And for those Ingredients which doe enter into the composition of those Pilles Aloes doth clense and purge Myrrhe resisteth putrefaction Masticke strengthens Saffron exhilarates and makes liuely the Spirits that gouerne the Body especially the Vitall and Animall Those Pilles that follow are also much approued Take of Aloes one Ounce of Myrrhe halfe an Ounce of Saffron one Scruple of Agaricke in Trochisces two Drammes of Rubarbe in powder one Dramme of Cinnamon two Scruples of Masticke one Dramme and a halfe of Citron Seeds twelue Graines Powder them all as is requisite and make thereof a Masse with the Sirupe of Maiden Haire Let it be vsed as afore-said If the Masse begin to waxe hard the Pilles that must presently be taken must be mollified with the Sirupe of Lemons Take of washed Aloes two Ounces of Saffron one Dramme of Myrrhe halfe an Ounce of Ammoniacum dissolued in White Wine one Ounce of Honey of Roses Zedoarie Red Saunders of each one Dramme of Bole Armenicke prepared two Drammes of Red Corall halfe an Ounce of Camphire halfe a Scruple Make thereof Pilles according to Art But those that are subiect or apt to the Haemorrhoides ought not at all or verie seldome to vse those kinds of Pilles that doe receiue much Aloes They say that King Mithridates affirmed by his owne writing that whosoeuer tooke the quantitie of an Hasell Nut of the preseruatine following and dranke a little Wine after it should be free from Poyson that day Take two Wall-Nuts those that be verie dry two Figges twentie Leaues of Rue and three Graines of Salt beat them and incorporate them together and let them be vsed as is afore-said This remedy is also said to be profitable for those that are bitten or stung by some venomous Beast and for this onely because it hath Rue in the composition thereof But you must forbid Women that are with Child the vse of this Medicine for Rue is hot and dry in the third degree and therefore it is said to purge the Wombe and prouoke the Flowers whereby the nourishment is drawne away from the Child Of such varietie of Medicines euerie one may make choyse of that that is most agreeable to his tast and as much thereof as shall be sufficient CHAP. VIII Of Locall Medicines to be applyed outwardly THose Medicines that haue proper and excellent vertues against the Pestilence are not to be neglected to be applyed outwardly or carried in the Hand And such are all aromaticall astringent or spirituous things which therefore are endewed with vertue to repell the venomous and pestiferous Aire from comming and entring into the Body and to strengthen the Heart and the Braine Of this kind are Rue Baulme Rosemary Scordium Sage Worme-wood Cloues Nutmegs Saffron the Roots of Angelica and Louage and such like which must be macerated one night in sharpe Vineger and Aqua Vitae and then tyed in a knot as bigge as an Egge Or rather let it be carryed in a Sponge made wet or soaked in the said Infusion For there is nothing that doth sooner and better hold the spirituous vertue and strength
tied with bands and sponges wet in Oxycrate must be put vnder the arme-holes cupping-glasses must be applied vnto the dugges the region of the liuer and spleene and you must put into the nostrels the doune of the Willow tree or anie other astringent medicine incorporated with the haires pluckt from the flanke belly or throat of a Hare bole Armenicke Terra sigillata the iuice of Plantain and Knotgrasse mixed together and furthermore the patient must be placed or laied in a coole place But if the pain be nothing mitigated notwithstanding all these fluxes of bloud wee must come to medicines that procure sleepe whose formes are these Take of greene Lettuce one handfull flowers of water Lillies and Violets of each two pugils one head of white Poppy bruised of the foure cold seedes of each two drams of Liquoris and Raisons of each one dramme make thereof a decoction and in the straining dissolue one ounce and an halfe of Diacodion make thereof a large potion to bee giuen when they goe to rest Also a Barly-creame may bee prepared in the water of water Lillies and Sorrell of each two ounces adding thereto sixe or eight graines of Opium of the foure cold seedes and of white Poppie seedes of each halfe an ounce and let the same bee boiled in broths with Lettuce and Purslane also the Pils de Cynoglosso idest Hounds tongue may be giuen Clisters that prouoke sleepe must be vsed which may be thus prepared Take of Barly-water halfe a pinte oile of Violets and water-Lillies of each two ounces of the water of Plantaine and Purselaine or rather of their iuices three ounces of Camphire seuen graines and the whites of three egges make thereof a Clister The head must be fomented with Rose-vineger the haire being first shauen away leauing a double cloth wet therein on the same and often renewed Sheepes lungs taken warme out of the bodies may bee applied to the head as long as they are warme Cupping-glasses with scarrification and without scarrification may be applied vnto the necke and shoulder-blades The armes and legges must bee strongly bound being first well rubbed to diuert the sharpe vapours and humors from the head Frontals may also bee made on this manner Take of the oyle of Roses and water-Lillies of each two ounces of the oile of Poppey halfe an ounce of Opium one dramme of Rose-vineger one ounce of Camphire halfe a dram mixe them together Also Nodules may bee made of the flowers of Poppies Henbane water-Lillies Mandrakes beaten in rose-Rose-water with a little Vineger and a little Camphire and let them be often applied to the nostrels for this purpose Cataplasmes also may bee laid to the forehead As Take of the mucilage of the seedes of Psilium id est Fleawort and Quince seedes extracted in rose-Rose-water three ounces of Barly meale foure ounces of the pouder of Rose leaues the flowers of water-Lillies and Violets of each halfe an ounce of the seedes of Poppies and Purflaine of each two ounces of the water and vineger of Roses of each three ounces make thereof a Cataplasine and apply it warme vnto the head Or Take of the iuice of Lettuce water-Lillies Henbaine Purselaine of each halfe a pinte of Rose leaues in pouder the seedes of Poppie of each halfe an ounce oyle of Roses three ounces of Vineger two ounces of Barly meale as much as shall suffice make thereof a Cataplasme in the forme of a liquid Pultis When the heate of the head is mitigated by these medicines the inflammation of the braine asswaged we must come vnto digesting and resoluing fomentations which may disperse the matter of the vapours But commonly in paine of the head they doe vse to binde the forehead and hinder part of the head verie strongly which in this case must bee auoided CHAP. XIX Of the Erruptiou and spotts which commonly are called by the name of Purples and Tokens IN Pestilent feauers the skinne is marked and variegated in diuerse places with spotts like vnto the bitings of Fleas or Gnats which are not alwaies simple but many times arise in forme like vnto a graine of millet The more spots appeare the better it is for the patient they are of diuerse colours according to the virulency of the malignity and condition of the matter as red yellow browne violet or purpule blew blacke And because for the most part they are of a purple colour therefore wee callthem Purples Others call them Lenticulae because they haue the colour and forme of lentills They are also called Papiliones i Butterflies because they doe suddainly seaze or fall vpon diuerse regions of the body like vnto winged Butterflies sometimes the face sometimes the armes and leggs and sometimes all the whole body oftentimes they doe not onely affect the vpper part of the skinne but goe deeper into the flesh specially when they proceed of matter that is grosse and adust They doe sometimes appeare great and broad affecting the whole arme legge or face like vnto an Erysipelas to conclude they are diuerse according to the variety of the humour that offends in quality or quantity If they are of a purple or blacke colour with often sounding and sinke in sodainly without any manifest cause they foreshew death The cause of the breaking out of those spotts is the working or heate of the bloud by reason of the cruelty of the venom receiued or admitted They often arise at the beginning of a Pestilent feauer many times before the breaking out of the Sore or Botch or Carbuncle and many times after but then they shew so greata corruption of the humors in the body that neither the Sores nor Carbuncles will suffice to receaue them and therefore they appeare as fore-runners of death Sometimes they breake out alone without a Botch or Carbuncle which if they be redde and haue no euill Symptomes ioyned with them they are not wont to proue deadly they appeare for the most part on the third or fourth day of the dissease and sometimes later and sometimes they appeare not before the patient bee dead because the working or heate of the humors being the ofspring of putrefaction is not as yet restrayned and ceased Wherefore then principally the putrid heate which is greatest a little before the death of the patient driues the excrementall humors which are the matter of the spotts vnto the skin or else because nature in the last conflict hath contended with some greater endeuour then before which is common to all things that are ready to dye a little before the instant time of death the Pestilent humor being presently driuen vnto the skinne and nature thus weakened by this extreame conflict falleth downe prostrate and is quite ouerthrowne by the remnant of the matter CHAP. XX. Of the cure of Eruptions and Spotts YOu must first of all take heede lest you driue in the humor that is comming outwards with repercussiues Therefore beware of cold all purging things Phlebotomy and drowsie or sound
sleeping For all such things do draw the humors inwardly and worke contrary to nature But it is better to prouoke the motion of nature outwardly by applying of drawing medicines outwardly and ministring medicines to prouoke sweate inwardly for otherwise by repelling and stopping the matter of the eruptions there will be great danger lest the heart be oppressed with the aboundance of the venome flowing backe or else by turning into the belly it inferres a mortall bloody flixe which discommodities that they may be auoyded I haue thought good to set downe this remedy whose Efficacy I haue knowne and proued many times and on diuerse persons when by reason of the weaknes of the expulsiue faculty and the thicknes of the skinne the matter of the spotts cannot breake forth but is constrayned to surke vnder the skinne lifting it vp into bunches and knobbes I was brought vnto the inuention of this remedy by comparison of the like For when I vnderstood that the essence of the French Poxs and likewise of the Pestilence consisted in a certaine hidden virulency and venemous quality I soone descended vnto that opinion that euen as by the anoynting of the body with the vnguent compounded of Quicksiluer the grosse clammie humors which are fixed in the bones and vnmoueable are dissolued relaxed and drawen from the center into the superficiall parts of the body by strengthening and stirring vp the expulsiue faculty and euacuated by sweating and fluxing at the mouth That so it should come to passe in Pestilent feauers that nature being strengthened with the same kind of vnction might vnloade her selfe of some portion of the venemous and Pestilent humor by opening the pores and passages and letting it breake forth into spotts and pustles and into all kinde of eruptions Therefore I haue annoynted many in whom nature seemed to make passage for the venemous matter very slowly first loosing their belly with a Clister and then giuing them Treacle water to drinke which might defend the vitall faculty of the heart but yet not distende the stomacke as though they had had the French Poxe and I obtained my expected purpose in stead of the Treacle water you may vse the decoction of Guaiacum which doth heate dry prouoke sweat and repell putrefaction adding thereto also vineger that by the subtletie thereof it may pearce the better and withstand the putrefaction This is the description of the vnguent Take of Hoggs grease one pound boyle it a little with the leaues of Sage Time Rosmary of each halfe an handfull straine it and in the straining extinguish fiue ounces of Quicksiluer which hath bin first boyled in Vineger with the forenamed herbs of Sal Nitrum 3 drams the yelkes of three eggs boyled vntill they be hard of Treacle and Mithridate of each halfe an ounce of Venice Turpentine oile of Scorpions and Bayes of each three ounces incorporate them altogether in a morter and make thereof an vnguent wherewith annoynt the patients arme-hooles and groine auoyding the parts that belong to the head breast and backe bone then let him be layed in his bed and couered warme and let him sweat there for the space of two houres and then let his body be wiped and clensed and if it may bee let him be layed in another bed and there let him be refreshed with the broth of the decoction of a Capon reare Eggs and with such like meates of good iuyce that are easie to be concocted and digested let him be anointed the second and the third day vnlesse the spotts appeare before If the patient fluxe at the mouth it must not be stopped when the spotts and pustles doe all appeare and the patient hath made an end of sweating it shall be conuenient to vse diureticke medicines for by these the remainant of the matter of the spotts which happely could not all breath forth may easily be purged and auoyded by the vrine If any noble or gentlemen refuse to be annoynted with this vnguent let them be inclosed in the body of a Mule or Horse that is newly killed and when that is cold let them be layed in another vntill the pustles and eruptions doe breake forth being drawne by that naturall heate For so Matthiolus writeth that Valentinus the sonne of Pope Alexander the sixt was deliuered from the danger of most deadly poyson which he had drunke CHAP. XXI Of a Pestilent Bubo or Plague-sore A Pestilent Bubo is a tumor at the beginning long and moueable and in the state and full perfection copped and with a sharpe head vnmoueable and fixed deepely in the glandules or kernels by which the braine exonerates it selfe of the venemous and pestiferous matter into the kernells that are behinde the eares and in the necke the heart into those that are in the arme-hooles and the liuer into those that are in the groine that is when all the matter is grosse and clammy so that it cannot bee drawen out by spotts and pustles breaking out on the skin and so the matter of a Carbuncle is sharpe and so feruent that it maketh an Eschar on the place where it is fixed In the beginning while the Bubo is breeding it maketh the patient to feele as it were a coard or rope stretched in the place or a hardened nerue with pricking payne and shortly after the matter is raised vp as it were into a knob and by little and little it groweth bigger and is enflamed these accidents before mentioned accompanying it If the tumor be red and encrease by little and little it is a good and salutary signe but if it be liuide or blacke and come very slowly vnto its iust bigness it is a deadly signe It is also a deadly signe if it encrease sodainly and come vnto his iust bigness as it were with a swift violence as in a moment haue all the Symptomes in the highest excesse as pain swelling and burning Buboes or Sores appeare sometimes of a naturall colour like vnto the skinne and in all other things like vnto an oedematous tumor which notwithstanding will sodainly bring the patient to destruction like those that are liuide and blacke wherefore it is not good to trust too much to those kindes of tumors CHAP. XXII Of the cure of Buboes or Plague-sores SO soone as the Bubo appeares apply a Cupping-glasse with a great flame vnto it vnlesse it bee that kinde of Bubo which will sodainly haue all the accidents of burning and swelling in the highest nature but first the skinne must be annointed with oyle of Lillies that so it beeing made more loose the Cupping-glasse may draw the stronger and more powerfully it ought to sticke to the part for the space of a quarter of an houre and to bee renewed and applied againe euerie three quarters of an houre for so at the length the venome shall bee the better drawne forth from anie noble part that is weake and the worke of suppuration or resolution whichsoeuer nature hath assaied will the better and sooner be