herein havâ— the Minerals and Metals the chief place To thâ— exulcerate Canker belongeth the Wolf whicâ— is naught else but a Canker exulcerated Thâ— Gangrene and Speacelus are cured by the râ—medies of the Canker and Wolf the one beinâ— a degree of an Ulcer in which the parts begin tâ— be mortified the other when they have noâ— lost life altogether The Leprosie is an universâ— Canker and for outward medicines requireth nâ— other Among the inward Plantine Whaâ— Hedgehogs dryed and drunk help greatly Anâ— thus much for Cankers and Leprosies which 〈◊〉 they be diseases hard to be cured by any medâ—cine so receive they as great help by these oâ— home medicines as by any of strange 〈◊〉 The Falling-sickness if it be in such as are age and have been long diseased therewith is a dâ—ease hardly or not at all to be cured But whâ—â— it is curable these medicines be comparâ—â— with the best The root of the Missleto of 〈◊〉 Oak the runnet of an Hare the Peony-roâ— Enula Campana the scalp of a Man and Aâ—hoof Hyssop the milt of an Horse the Stoâ— which are found in the Mawes of the first 〈◊〉 of Swallows five leaved Grass the juyce of tâ— Cowslip the juyce of Horehound with Hoâ— All suffocations of the Matrix are cured 〈◊〉 Plantine Pennirial Herbgrace and by an infinite number of home medicines Worms and that infection is taken away by Coriander-seed Colewort seed Garlike Wormwood and in a manner with all bitter herbs with the juyce of Purslane with the filings of Stags-horn little inferiour in vertue to that which is commonly taken for the Unicorns horn Peach leaves Hyssop Mints Purslane seed Thus much touching medicines against diseases ingendred of venemous causes within the body Now touching such as happen by outward occasions and first of those that by mouth are taken into the body Against which generally it helpeth greatâ—y to drink store of butter instead of oyl with warm water or the decoction of Flax seed Feâ—igreek or Mallows and thereupon a vomit which done Sothernwood the root of Seahulver the seed of Nep the juyce of Horehound the seed of wilde Rue Walnuts Turnips Herb-grace five leaved Grass with an infinite number of native medicines expel the poison and restore the Patient More properly to the poison of Cantharides belong Penerial to Buprestis all kinde of Pears and Womens Milk to the Salamander Chamepitis 〈◊〉 holy roots to the worms of the Pine-tree suâ—◠〈◊〉 â—he poison of Cantharides against the poison of the Toad the roots of Reeds and Cyperus against the Camelion Radish roots and Wormwood against Ephemerum Asses milk or Cows milk hot against Dorycnium Goatâ— milk Asses milk Cockles and Crayfishes against the poison of Aconitum Organ Herb-grace Horehound the decoction of Wormwood Against Chriander Wormwood salt broth made with a Goose or Hen which expeâ— also the poison of Flewort the Poison oâ— Hemlock is cured with Mints Herbgrace Nettle-seed Bay-leaves which also cure the poison of Ugh and Carpasus The poison of that kinde of Crow-foot called Sardonia is cured with drinking store of Mede and Milk Henbane with Nettle-seed wilde Endive Mustard-seed and Rocket Cerus with Mede hot Milk Peach-stones with the decoction of Barley with the decoction of Mallows Quicksilver with store of Milk drunk Mercury sublimed with Chrystal Lime Orpiment Ratsbane and such like with the decoction of Flax-seed and Milk with Mede And to conclude thâ— point there is no kinde of poison but it findeth cure by our Countrey Medicines without borrowing Thus much for the cure of poison taken into the body by eating or drinking oâ— them Pestilences are cured if with any medicine with Angelica Carduus Benedictus Arâ—nike worn about the body the root of Pimpâ—nel of Tormentil Herbgrace Setwal Walnuts the powder of St. Johns-wort Juniper-berries Verven and the chief of all the noble simplâ— Water Germander and the Duarfgentian Foâ— pestilent sores and Carbunkles Scabious Osbâ—â— Lousestrife and the Marigold to the pestilent may be referred the small Pocks and such like which agree in medicine also with the pestilence And thus much for the cure of poisons Against bitings and stingings of venemous beasts and poisoned weapons there are also both general and particular remedies The general are these the ashes of the cuttings of the Vine and of the Fig-tree with Lee Leeks Onions Garlike the sea-Sea-water Mustard-seed Endive Heath the root of the Sea-Hulver Bay-berries Herbgrace Dill Sowse-bread Fennel Penerial the runnet of an Hare the Weasel and these general Particular are such as follow Against the bitings of Phalangium the seed of Sothernwood Aniseed the seed of Trifoly the fruit of Tamarisk Against the Scolopendra wild Rue Thime Calamint against the Scorpion Basil-seed against the biting of a Viper Adder c. Sothernwood Bays green Organ the Bramble the brains of an Hen Cole-seed Against the bitings of a mad Dog Crowgarlike the river Crab Balm an actual cautery the liver of the mad dog broiled the blood of a â—og drunk And thus much for the bitings and stingings of venemous beasts which also serve against poisoned wounds else to be cured with the medicine which respecteth properly the poison wherewith the weapon hath been infected The â—nfection without wound is the French Pocks whereof sufficient having been said before I will here say nothing This then shall suffice to have written of the cure of all diseases rising of â—enemous causes wherein if nature of her own â—ccord as it were and in this great neglect of â—ur Countrey and native medicines hath shewâ—d her self so liberal how large would she be if with set purpose and careful endeavour greater trial of things were had and proof made by learned and discreet men Now follow the diseases which are by the excess or defect of one or two parts of the temper which are hot cold moist and dry simple or compounded which if they be not procured by evil humours then require they altering onely by contrary qualities If by them as Phegm Choler Melancholy then are these humours first to be avoided and diminished Such as require altering are cured by natures of contrary quality not onely generally but even answerable to all degrees of excess And first to begin with hot diseases of the first degree they are cured with such contraries as follow Barley sower Grapes Roses Violets the Oak Quinces Damsins Pellitory of the wall Docks Pears Apples Harts-horn the flowers and whole herb of Mallows of the second degree the water Lilly Ducks meat Knotgrasse Vine leaves the Bramble Plantane Cherries Lead Cerus Barberies Cowcumbers Mellons Gourds Citrals whites of Eggs Medlers and Services Of the third Purslane Housleek Mandrake Henbane Of the fourth Hemlock Poppy Thus much for hot diseases Medicines for cold diseases are these hoâ— which follow Of the first degree Bugloss Borage Fumitory Sage Horse-hoof Lycorice Maiden-hair Butter Lillies Flax-seed Marrow and Fat Cammomile Fenigreek c. Oâ— the second Dill dry Mugwort Parsley Saffron Honey
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
them well and beat them into powder and give a little of the powder inwardly with Muskadel this is a gallant remedy for Children that will not endure any ill-tasted Medicine 30. For a looseness and Diabetes The Pizzle of an Hare dried and beaten into powder and the powder drunk in Wine at night going to bed you may give a dram at a time to a man half a dram is enough for a childe you shall finde it an excellent remedy not onely for a Looseness but also for the Diabetes 31. For the Diabetes The best remedy for a Diabetes that I know is this Take the Bladder of a Goat which I suppose to be best because it is a Beast of Saturn If you cannot get a Goats Bladder get a Bullocks or Sheeps Bladder dry it very well and beat it into powder and take a dram of the powder first in the morning and last at night 32. Caution to the former Receipt In my opinion it were very fitting in the fore-going Medicine that the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were by all meanes carefully dried and administred as before 33. Flux The Maw of a young Hare dried and beaten into powder and made up into Troches with juyce of Plantane and a little Gum Tragacanth is an excellent remedy to keep by you for the Flux and it also strengthens the Stomach exceedingly 34. To stop a Flux Take Plantane-seed and beat it to powder and give a drachm of the powder in red Wine to a childe that is troubled with the Flux and it will stop it 35. For a Flux Take the dung of a Stone-horse that is kept in a Stable and fry it in Muskadel and apply it being so fried to the Navel and it will stop any Flux of the belly whatsoever 36. For one that cannot go to stool Take Salt and Sope and mix them well together and apply them plaisterwise to the belly of one that cannot go to stool and it will move him to stool in a short time 37. Bloody Flux Take the Jaw-bones of a Pike or Jack beat them to powder and take half a drachm of the powder in red Wine morning and evening this hath been known to have helped the Bloody Flux when nothing else could do it 38. For the Bloody Flux Take red Beans and boil them in red Wine till it be thick and let the Patient eat of this morning and evening and in a short time it will help the Bloody Flux be it never so violent 39. For the Flux Take an old Apple cut off the top and pick out the coar then put into the hole a ball of Virgins-wax put on the top again and roast it in the embers mash it all together and take it inwardly as a Medicine for the Flux 40. To break the Stone The Urine of a Boar taken and drunk inwardly is an admirable remedy to break the Stone 41. Another to break the Stone Take the blood of a Fox and anoint the Region of the Bladder near to that place where the Stone lies and it will break the Stone 42. Another to break the Stone Also it is an excellent remedy to break the Stone to drink the blood of a Fox either alone by it self or mixed with white Wine And to make the truth of this appear clearly Caution take a Pebble-stone and put it into the blood of a Fox and it will dissolve it yet in my opinion and my opinion is grounded upon reason if the Stone lie in the Reins it is best to drink the blood of a Fox but for the Stone in the Bladder it is best to inject it with a Siringe 43. To break the Stone Bees dried stings and all and beaten into powder and a drachm of the powder given in white Wine is an excellent remedy for to break the Stone 44. To break the greatest Stone that is Take the green Weed that cometh from the Sea amongst the Oyster washed clean then dry it and beat it into powder drink two drachms of this with Muskadel in the morning fasting an hour after it it will break the greatest Stone that is 45. For the Stone Take Oyl of Christal drawn by the art of the Alchymist let him that is troubled with the Stone take a dram of it at a time in a good draught either of White or Rhennish Wine and it will break the Stone For proof of this take a stone and lay it in the urine of him that hath drunk this Medicine and in twelve hours it will be dissolved 46. Green Wounds The same Oyl of Chrystal is an excellent cure for any green wound 47. Stone Take a Goat and keep him three dayes fasting but you must be sure not to give him meat nor water in the night then put him into a great tub full of holes at the bottom and feed him with nothing but Cammomile Parsley Gromwel Celandine Saxifrage Hawthorn-berries or flowers give him Salt to lick and nothing but white Wine to drink save his water that runs through the holes of the tub into which water put Holly-berries Ivy-berries Hawthorn-berries Juniper-berries parsley-Parsley-seed Fennel-seed gromwel-Gromwel-seed smallage-Smallage-seed the roots of Radishes and Nettles Knee-holly and Sparragas leaves of Water-cresses infuse all these warm in the Urine in a limbeck close stopped then distil it off this Water is held to be the most effectual for the Stone that is for three ounces of it taken at a time breaks the Stone and brings it away without pain 48. Sciatica For the Sciatica take a gallon of urine I suppose it were best of the party that is diseased boil it and scum it well till it be clear then put to it a quart of black Snails suâ—â— as you shall finde in the Meddows without sheâ—â—â— boil them together till it be thick like a Poltiss 〈◊〉 then spread it upon a cloath and apply it to the grieved place 49. Piles Take a quart of Linseed-Oyl and put as many live Crawfish into it as it will hold boil them in it a quarter of an hour then strain them out and bruise them well shells and all boil them well again in the Oyl then strain them out and keep the Oyl for an admirable remedy for the Piles you may use it by moistening a little cotten in it and binding it closs to the place with a truss 50. For the Piles Take Scabious and boil it well in water and let the party sit over the steem of the water that is troubled with the Piles and it will help him 51. For the Piles The Herb Pilewort either applied to the place in an Oyntment or taken inwardly is an approved remedy for the Piles 52. Many other remedies are used by Authours as namely to boil Elder-tops in white Wine and wash the place witâ— the decoction 53. Also to drink the juyce of Dandelion and Dazies in a cup of Ale every morning 54. An excellent remedy for the Piles Another remedy the conceit of which pleases me very well is this Take
powder and let the sick of the bloody Flux take a drachm of it at a time in Milk thickned with flour 91. Against Heat in the Reins An approved remedy for the heat in the Reins which is a thing causeth hard labour and many times abortion to women is to take a fine linnen cloth and dip it in Housleek warm it and apply it to the Reins 92. To ease a woman of her After-pains Take Tar and Barrows-grease of each equal quantities boil them together and in boiling adde a little Pigeons-dung to it spread some of it upon a linen cloth and apply it to the back of a woman newly delivered that is troubled with After-pains and it will give her ease 93. For the same Give a Woman that is troubled with After-pains pains half a dram of Bay-berries beaten in powder and given her to drink in a little Muskadel 94. To cure the swelling of the Cods Stamp Rue and apply it to the Cods that be swelled and it will presently asswage it 95. Take the juyce of Valerian and wet a tent in it and put it into the Wound where any piece of Iron is broken in and stamp the said herb and lay at top of it and it will speedily not onely draw out the iron but also speedily cure the Wound 96. To cure the biting of a mad Dog So soon as a man feels himself bit with a mad Dog or any other venemous Beasts or at least so soon as he can possible get it let him take green Fig-leaves and press out the juyce of them three or four times into the wound if it be at such a time of the year when Fig-trees have no leaves take the rinde of the Fig-tree and bruise it and â—pply it to the Wound 97. For the same They say Mustard made with good Vinegar and applied to the wound works the same effect 98. For a Wound So soon as a man is wounded let him wash the blood clean out of the Wound either with white-Wine or with his own Piss and presently put the juyce of Thapsus Barbatus into it 99. A medicine to drive out the small Pox. Take of distilled Taragon water eight spoonfuls and put thereto six grains of Bezar or Unicorns horn or for want of those two put so much Saffron but the other is the better let it be warm double the portion as you see cause taking nothing an hour before nor an hour after it 100. To avoid Phlegm Take clarified Posset-drink and put thereto sweet Butter the yolk of an Egg and a little small Ginger Hysop red Mints and Sugar seâ— these seethe all together and drink thereof first and last as warm as you can suffer it The Garden Plat OR A very brief account of such Herbs c that excel and are some ofâ— them most useful in Physical and Chyrurgical Cures on emergent and sudden occasions HOundstongue stamped and bruised heals several wounds The Powder of Butter-bur alias Pestilent-wort the leaves in Summer and Roots in Winter expelleth the Plague by sweat drunk in Ale Beer or Wine Fumitory stamped and drink the juyce in Ale Beer or Wine purgeth Choller and doth cleanse the Blood Germander stamped and drunk doth purge womens flowers and helps the Green-sickness Celandine or Fig-wort or Tetter-wort or Pile-wort or Swallow-wort or Marsh-marigold these doth help Tetters Ring-worms Piles and Eye-sight Eye-bright the water helpeth the eyes washed therewith and the Powder eaten with â—hâ— yolk of an Egg and Mace restoreth 〈◊〉 sight The roots of Psillependula beaten and drunk cures the Stone Water-bittary alias Brown-wort stamped and laid to helps old and new sores Pellitory of the Wall steeped and drunk cures the Stone Egremony stamped and drunk helps Lunatick persons Saint-Johns-wort St. Peters-wort and Tutson-leaves stamped helps old sores Mercury the Herb stamped and drunk purgeth women and weak folks Shepherds-purse or Sinkfield stamped and drunk helps the Flux and so doth Plantane and Knotgrass Scabious stamped and drunken helpeth inward Imposthumes Divels-bit stamped and drunken helps the Ague Spown-wort alias Scurvey-grass stamped and drunken helps Dropsies and Scurvey Sanicle stamped and drunk inwardly helpeth Wounds and laid to outwardly Comfrey helpeth the Ruptures stamped and drunken and laid to outwardly it helps wounds and joyns them together Hyssop boiled bruised and drunken helps the Lungs Mints bruised and drunken comforteth the Heart so doth Sage White Horehound or Balm distilled or otherwise helps inward grief Rue expelleth the Plague Fennel Dill and Anniseed and Cummin breaks winde and helps the Stone Saxifrage stampt and drunken and seeds of Gromwel helps Winde and Stone above all others Betony helps the head and stomach Lovage restores the Lungs Pellitory of Spain expelleth the Plague Three Leaves of Arsarabacca stampt and drunken purgeth upward and downward English green Tobacco stampt and mixt with fresh Butter will heal a wound a sore or a scabbed or scald head Dragon-wort stampt and drunken expelleth the Plague or distilled and so doth Arone or Priests-Pintle Cuckow-pintle Centaury purgeth Choller by siege and so doth Rheubarb Elina Campany purgeth melancholly The seeds of Piony helps the falling evil Valerian or Setwal expelleth the Plague stampt and drunken English Galangal comforteth the heart Helleborus called neezing powder purgeth the head Aloe alias Sea-green purgeth Choller Laurel-leaves laid in Vinegar twenty four hours and dried the powder drunk purgeth Choller Phlegm and Melancholly The root of Elder or Danewort stamped and drunken helpeth Dropsies or swoln Legs or Limbs All Elder-leaves Plantane leaves Elm-leaves or all Oak or green leaves stamped and laid to will heal a green wound Ground-Ivy boiled in water and laid to a sore will heal it Wilde Bugloss alias Carpenter-work bruised and laid to healeth the green wound Maiden-hair boiled and drunken heals the Lungs and inward parts Oyl of white Poppy anointed upon the forehead will cause one to sleep The seed of Henbane mixed in a Wax-candle and the mouth holden over when it burneth will draw the Worms out of ones Teeth Sea-holm-roots candied with Sugar called Iringo-roots will restore nature And the powder of them will break Winde and Stone being drunken Yellow Dock-roots boiled and drunken purgeth by Urine and siege Water-cresses stamped or boiled and drunken is good for the Stone Dropsie and Scurvey Tamarisk the small or the rinde of the great Tamarisk boiled and drunken helps the Spleen Barberies in conserve or sirup doth stop the Flux and cool the body Licorice helps the Stone Stomach and Winde Oranges and Lemons helps a hot Stomach in the burning Ague Distilled Water of Oak-leaves stops the Flux Misletoe of the Oak stamped and drunk helps the falling evil Ash-tree â—â—â—ll suffer no Spider or venemous thing to coâ—â—nder the shadow the leaves steeped in Wine and drunk will make one lean An Elder-leaf laid unto a mans feet that is chaffed in going between the Toes or other places will heal it Costemary alias Balsum-mint stampt and bruised will heal a Wound as fast
wonderfully comforts and strengthens the memory This water also preserves youth makes a mix them together and make therewith a pastâ— of the Bole let it dry and powder it again anâ— make paste thereof again with the same waters repeating this over three times and thuâ— you have the Bole-Armonick prepared Chap. 25. A precious water used by the Count Palatine TAke Salviae recentis one ounce and halâ— Nucis moscatae Macis of each one ouncâ— Zinzib albi one ounce and half Gran. Parâ—disi six drams Cinamomi one ounce and an halâ— Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Camphorâ— two drams Rorismarini sem Feniculi of eacâ— one ounce and an half Lavendulae Marjoraâ— Rute of each one ounce Florum Camomilae oâ— ounce Matricariae two drams Rosarum ruâ—m 1. Betonicae one ounce Abrotani four dramâ— Castorei recentis one dram Spicae Indicae twâ— drams Macro-piperis one ounce Olei Laurâ— two drams Aqua vitae one pound and an halâ— Menthae Menchastri of each two drams Powder what is to be powdred cut thaâ— which is to be cut and bruise those thingâ— which are to be bruised and put them all in Cucurbite with a long neck then pour there upon eight pounds of the best Wine close uâ— the vessel and bury it in the Earth thirty dayeâ— then take it up and put it in another Cucurbitâ— placing thereon a Limbeck and distil it in Baâ—neo Mariae three times over alwayes puttinâ— the distilled water again upon the feces A◠〈…〉 you come to distil it the fourth time adde a good quantity of Sage-leaves fresh gathered And when it is so distilled reserve it for your use the older it is the better it is you may use it when you please it hath innumerable vertues against all distempers and infirmities of the body Chap. 26. A precious Compound Water of Life which may be used instead of a natural Balsom TAke Trupentine purified and washed in the best white Wine twelve ounces Honey also clarified with white Wine three pound mix them altogether then adde of Aqua vitae well rectified four pound put them in a Cucurbite afterwards take the Herbs hereafter named cut them small and adde them to the rest in the Cucurbite let them stand so eight dayes the vessel being well luted that it evaporate not afterwards distil it in ashes with great dilligence The Herbs are these Take Buglossae Boraginis Melissae Salviae Lavendulae an m. 1. Hissopi Florum Camomilae Card. Benedicti of each half a handful Rorismarini two handfuls Artemisiae half a handful When these things are distilled then adde these things following well powdred and set them to digest in horse-dung eight dayes or in Balneo three dayes The things which are to be added are these Take Ligni Aloes Xylobalsami Santalorum trium Calami Aromatici Stichados Arabici seminis Citri sileris montani Cimini of each one dram Macis Nucis muscatae Cinamomi electi Garioph Galangae Cubeb Zinzib albi Macro-piperis Croci orientalis Gran. Paradisi Cardamomi minoris an three drams Coriandri praeparati gran Juniperi Bacc. Lauri an half an ounce Bistortae six drams sem Feniculi Liqueritiae Visci quercini sem Anisi an one ounce Amigdal mundalarum passularum recent an one pound Take the glass or distillatory in which the matter is and set it in ashes well luting of it and make thereunto a gentle fire the space of four hours And when you see a clear water pass forth into the receiver take away that receiver and put thereto another luting it well as before and increase the fire until there distil forth a Cytrine Oyl into the receiver which reserve by it self Thirdly when you perceive a black Oyl begin to appear take away that receiver and adde another in which receive the black oyl till it be all distilled which Oyl keep by it self The first water ought to be thus prepared by putting into it Musk and Amber of each one dram leaves of Gold one scruple To comfort all the members of the body Take of Malmsey Wine one ounce adde thereto a spoonful of the first water mix them together till it turn white like Milk drink it fasting and fast two hours after it it wonderfully comforts and fortifies the whole body For pain in the head take one spoonful of the said water in water of Betony it comforts and strengthens the Lungs being taken in Winter-time with Mulbery-water or sage water but in Summer-time take of Endive-water one ounce and of this water one spoonful For infirmities of the Breast and a cold Cough proceeding from a Catarre take of Hyssop-water Borrage or Fennel-water mix them with the aforesaid water For the heart Take Bugloss or Borrage water half an ounce as much of the aforesaid water and as much Balme-water mix them and drink them fasting For the Stomach Give of this water in Mint or Wormwood-water For the Spleen Use the aforesaid water in water of Bugloss or Tamarisk For the Vertigo and Palsie Give the said water with Piony-water or water of the Herb and Root of Saint Johns-wort For the Stone in the Bladder Take Rhadish water one ounce and too spoonfulls of this water For the Strangury Take water of Cresces Parsley or Saxifrage one ounce and one spoonful of this water For overflowing of the tearms Take water of Plantane and drink it morning and evening with one spoonful of this water To provoke the tearms Take mugwort-Mugwort-water or mugwort-Mugwort-seed with one spoonful of this water drink it about that time when the tearms are expected For Women who have received hurt by unskilful Midwives or such as cannot conceive by reason of the coldness of the matrix let them take one spoonful of this water in the morning fasting with water of Valerian Betony or Wilde Roses For the eyes Take water of Fennel and Eyebright of each half an ounce and of this water one dram drink it as aforesaid For Spots or Freckles of the face Take water of Bean-Flowers or Pimpernel-water one ounce and of this first water half an ounce mix them together and wash the face therewith morning and evening and drink of this water in Endive-water twice or thrice a week The second water which is Citrine and the third which is like black Oyl is excellent good against Fistula's Cancers and other Wounds and Sores and may be used instead of a Balsom Chap. 27. An Aqua vitae Composita Against the Vertigo of the Head and the Palsie TAke Salviae nine ounces Florum Lavendulae four ounces Hissopi Menthae an m. 2. Garioph Nucis Muscatae Cinamomi Zinzib albi Granorum Paradisi Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Calami Aromataci one ounce Cran. Juniperi one ounce Granorun Peoniae half an ounce Vini albi eight pound Digest them in horse-dung eight dayes or four dayes in Balneo Mariae afterwards distil them in an Alembick and reserve it for use in a glass close stopt it hath a wonderfull operation against
Lavender and Sage an three drams and take every morning fasting Diapliris cum moscho Nicholai For deafness drop of this water every morning and evening into the ear and rest upon that ear that it may go out again For Worms in the ears take of this water half an ounce Juyce of Rue two drams or if you cannot get the Juyce take the distilled water thereof adding a little Aloes Epatick subtilly powdred And of this distil a little into the ear morning and evening lying upon the other side and after a little time turn and lie upon that side where the Wormes are and they will come forth and dye For the eyes take of the aforesaid water half an ounce Fennel-water and water of Valerian of each one dram drop thereof into the eyes For filth of the mouth or nose give every day half an ounce thereof with white Wine in which Mints and Roses have been boiled For the Epilepsie drink thereof every day half an ounce with peony-Peony-water one ounce or thus Take the Root and seeds of Peony Viscus Quercinus of each equal parts boil them in white Wine and give them to the Patient with the said water For the Palsie foment all the members with this water and drink thereof every morning one ounce For lost speech take of the said water half an ounce waters of Lavander Peony Sage of each two drams drink it and take of Mithridate one dram with Wine wherein Castoreum hath been boyled Against Melancholly take of the aforesaid water half an ounce with the waters of Bugloss and Balm each two drams waters of Harts-tongue and Borrage each one dram mix them together and drink it three hours before dinner Against the Dropsie take of the said water one part water of Elder-flowers two parts Fennel water three parts mix them together and take for a Dose half an ounce For the Stone take of this water one part Saxifrage-water Wintercherry-water Aqua Millii solis Rhadish-water of each two parts Against Sterrility take of this water two drams of white Wine water of Rosemary and Mother-wort each two drams drink it morning and evening and twice or thrice in a week take Diamargarit sem Avicenna Many other excellent vertues hath this celestial water which I omit here for brevities sake leaving them to manifest themselves by experience FINIS The Table to the several Treatises of the whole Book The English Apothecary The transcendent sufficiency of English Herbs being fundamental Reasons PRoving our Medicines to be most congruent with our bodies and the great prejudice we daily receive by the use of forreign Drugs as also by their sophistication to which Fuchsius Martino Rulandus c. agree page 35 The correcting of Scamony of its malignity page 19 Of Mechoaca and Opium and the prejudice we receive thereby unless well corrected page 21 Of Rhubarb and its properties page 24 The inconveniency of drinking Wine and that of Honey may be made a better and more wholesome drink page 31 Of Milk and its vertues page 41 The cure of Poysons by venomous beasts with Peniroyal Treyfoil c. page 42 The cure of the Prench-Pox not onely with Sarsaparilla but with the essence of Primroses and Cowslips page 43 The rare vertue of Cink-foyl Worms Wood-lice or Sowes Lichenes c. For the cure of Tertian-Agues Falling-sickness Tooth-ach c. page 44 To cure the bitings of venomous beasts by the decoction of Frogs page 44 53 To cure Cankers by the juyce of Nightshade page 49 To cure the Leprosie with Plantane and its vertues page 50 To cure the Falling-sickness with Misleto Peony-root a mans skull c. page 50 The cure of Poysons in particular page 51 52 The cure of the Pestilence page 52 The cure of hot diseases by contrariety page 54 The cure of cold diseases by contrariety ib. The cure of moist diseases page 55 The cure of dry diseases ib. Rules to be observed in cures page 55 56 Of purgations and their manner both by vomit and stool page 56 Preparatives for the Humors before evacuation c. page 60 The cure of Wounds and the broken Bones by Herbs c. page 61 Of Anodines Causticks Emmolients c. page 62 63 The occult properties of sundry Herbs being appropriated to the Head Heart Liver Spleen Stomach Lungs c. ib. That the Brain is comforted by Herbs as well as by Spices page 68 The sovereign vertues of Carduus Benedictus with its use or manner of taking it page 71 Of the sovereign vertues of Angelica with its temperature and use page 79 A discourse shewing what members of the body are governed by the twelve Signs page 82 Of the members of the body and how they are governed by the seven Planets page 184 A brief accompt of some simples appropriated to the Heart page 186 The Chyrurgeons guide or the errors of unskilful Chyrurgeons page 195 The first error of their curing the Lues venerea or French-Pox page 195 The second error when the disease cometh to suppuration page 198 The third error is concerning Wounds in the Breast page 201 4. Of their applications of Trepans Terribelles for fractures of the head page 203 5. Touching the punctures of Nerves page 204 6. Of the abuse by Runners or Cutters of the Stone and Ruptures page 205 Of the eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures page 207 Of the Hernie Intestinale page 208 Of the Hernie Zirbale page 209 Of the relaxation of the Peretoneum called Herni Inquinale page 210 Of the kinds of Hernies which be by similitudes or improperly called page 211 Of Hernie Verequose page 212 Of the Herni Ventose ib. Of the Hernie Humorale page 213 Phlebotomy Displayed or perfect Rules for letting of Blood page 214 With Physical cautions for Blood-letting page 219 Vrinal conjectures or brief observations upon the sick Patients staie or water page 222 Of Vomits page 225 Of the Excrements page 226 The Treasury of health or Salves for every sore with their cures page 227 For the falling out of the Fundament page 229 For the Liver page 231 For the Dropsie page 231 For the Spleen page 333 For the Yellow-Jaundies page 235 For the Stone page 236 For the Strangury page 239 For the Vlcers in the Yard page 241 For the Diabetes page 242 For the Swelling of the Gods page 243 For the Pleurisie page 244 For to provoke the Tearms page 244 For to stop the Tearms page 247 For the Fits of the Mother page 248 For the Swelling of the Breasts page 249 For Child-birth page 251 For the Gout page 453 Foa the Fistula or Vlcer page 256 For the Leprosie page 258 For the Warts page 259 For Thorns Splinters c. page 260 The expert Lapidary or a Physical Treatise of the vertues of Stones page 265 Of Jacinth and its vertues 265. The Saphir 264 Emrald ibid. The Ruby 265 Granat 266. Sardine ibid. Diamond 266 Amethist 267. Bezoar ibid. Topaz 268. Snakes-Stone ibid. Toads-stone 269 Alectorius ibid.
water or a dram of the powder In like manner being drunk it helpeth infants that are troubled with the falling-sickness The decoction taken in wine doth mitigate the pain of the guts and reines and other griefs of the belly it provoketh sweat it killeth the worms and is good against other diseases of the womb The Herb it self as well green as dried both drunk and laid outwardly to the grief doth heal ulcers On such exraordinary occasions it is mingled with the drink made of Guacum wine and water for the French Pox. Thus much Mathiolus Learned Writers affirm that it taketh away the stoppings of the inward bowels it provoketh urine breaketh the stone and helpeth them that are stung of venomous beasts They say also that they are not to be infected that take it in their meat or drink before they come into the evil air that it helpeth them much that are already infected Moreover most agree that it iâ— a remedy against the bitings of Serpents Finally to conclude late writers say That it cureth the pains of the head taketh away giddiness recovereth the memory being taken in meat or drink Also it helpeth festering sores especially of the Paps and Teats if the powder thereof be laid upon it Thus much Fuchsius By this we may in part understand with how great vertue God hath indued and as I may say blessed this herb To sum up all it helpeth the body inwardly and outwardly it strengthens almost all the principall members of the body as the brain the heart the stomach the liver lungs and kidneys I may say it is a preservative against all diseases for it provoketh sweat by which the body is purged of much corruption which breedeth disease It expelleth the venom of infection it consumes ill blood and all naughty humours whereof diseases are ingendred Therefore giving God thanks for his goodness which hath given us this Herb and all other things for the benefit of our health it will in the next place be convenient to consider how to make use of it in the application How Carduus Benedictus may be taken It is to be observed that we may use this herb and enjoy the vertues thereof four wayes First in the green leaf Secondly in the powder Thirdly in the juice And fourthly in the distillation The green leaf may be taken with bread and butter as we use to take Sage and Parsley in a morning to breakfast And if it be too bitter it may be taken with honey instead of butter It may be taken in pottage boiled among other herbs and being shred small it may be drunk with Ale Beer or Wine It is sometims given in Beer with aqua composita and that without harm when the stomach of the patient is weak and he not troubled with any hot disease The juice of it is either outwardly applied the leaf powder and water of it is received in the mouth It may be taken in Pottage also in the green leaf or with Wine which if it be burned and drunk hot it is the better If you please you may boil it with Wine and honey or suger to make it sweet and then drink it very warm The powder may be taken with honey upon a knives point or with bread and honey if you please or else it may be drunk with Ale Beer or Wine The distilled water may be drunk by it self alone or else with white Wine before meat or with Sack after meat especially if the stomach be weak and cold The liquor or broth in the which this herb is boiled may be made thus Take a quart of running water seethe it and scum it then put into it a good handful of the herb and let it boil until the better part of the liquor be consumed then drink it with wine or if you think fit with honey or suger to make it more pleasant in the taste Or else make a Potion thus Take a good handfull of the leaves with a handfull of Raisins of the Sun washed and stoned and some Sugarcandy and Licorice sliced small boil them all together in a quart of Water Ale or Wine If it be too bitter it may be made sweet as is aforesaid It is also to be observed that the Powder and Water of the Herb is most to be regarded and specially the water For they may be long preserved so that one may have them alwayes in a readiness to use as need shall require when aâ— the juice cannot be had nor the green leaf And the Water which onely is void of bitterness may be drunk by it self alone for the stomach and taste will bear it and like of it as well as of rose-Rose-water Notwithstandig if the seed be sown as soon as it is ripe one may have the Herb both winter and summer from the time that it beginneth to grow until the seed wax ripe again Therefore I councel all them that have Gardens to nourish it that they may have it alwayes for their own use and the use of their Neighbours that stand in need of it Of the time and quantity to be observed in taking of Carduus Benedictus Here perhaps some will ask a question of the time and quantity which things are to be considered in taking of medicines As touching the time if it be taken for a preservative it is good to take it in the morning or in the evening before one goes to bed because that is a convenient time to sweat for one that feeleth not himself greatly diseased But if a man take it to expel any ill humours it is good to take it whensoever any grief is felt in the body immediately to go to bed and sweat As touching the quantity one needs not be so careful in taking this Herb as in taking those medicines that do purge vehemently by â—gestion as some term it or by vomit For â—n taking them if great discretion be not used â—n considering the time the quantity and the state of a mans body they may cause present death or otherwise they may much weaken the Patient This I counsel all that use it that when they or any of theirs are diseased they defer not the time but take it presently as soon as it may be had and that they do not think it sufficient to take it once but that they take it three or four times at the least Of the Sovereign Vertues of ANGELICA NOw I have written what is sufficient of Carduus Benedictus I will adde unto it anothe◠〈◊〉 much like it in the vertue called Angelica that if the one be wanting the other may be taken As â—â—uching the name the latest writers in my judgement most to be credited in this matter finde no other name for it neither in English nor in Latine Howsoever I know that some much to be commended for their learning anâ— also for the publishing of the same to the benefit of their countrey have given it other nameâ— but I think erroneously If we
same effect but be sure you take not the Oyl of Vitriol insteâ—â— of Spirit For if you do you will make 〈◊〉 work 63. Aqua Composita mixed with a like quantity of Oyl of Roses helps lame joynts but let them be well rubbed before with warm clothes and then anointed with it 64. The like effect hath Harts-horn boiled to a jelly in Sack 65. Take of Cinnamon three drams Mastick and Pomegranate-rines of each one dram Galangal half a dram make all these being in fine powder into an Electury with clarified honey and taking the quantity of a Hazel-nut of it every morning fasting doth not onely cause a good stomach but also good digestion and resisteth the breeding of ill humours thereby preserving the body in health and the minde in vigour 66. Cinkfoil is an Herb of Jupiter it strengtheneth the Liver and cures being given in powder all Agues I do not intend to treat here of the time of gathering Herbs but reserve that to a Treatise by it self Together with the nature called the Compleat Herbarist 67. Mizaldus Whosoever anoints any part of his body with the grease of a Wolf shall not be hurt by cold 〈◊〉 that part 68. Tortula Gilbertus Vervine stamped and strained in Wine gives speedy deliverance to a woman in travel if she drinks it 69. The like effects hath sweet Bazil in powder and also Cinnamon 70. Take nine Hog-lice commonly called Wood-lice stamp them with a little juyce of Betony strain it and drink it warm in the morning the doing so three mornings together cures the web in the eye 71. Jews-ears a thing that grows upon Elder-trees being either steeped or boiled in Ale helps sore throats if you drink the Ale 72. The middle rinde of a Cherry-tree stamped and strained and the juyce mixed with a little white Wine and warmed and drunk breaks the Stone and avoids the gravel 73. The like effect hath the Gum of a Cherry-tree mixed in like manner as also the juice of Cammomile 74. Cut a Frog through the midst of the back with a knife and take out the Liver Petrus Hispalus which wrap in a Colewort-leaf and burn it in a new Crucible well stopped The ashes given to one that hath the Falling-sickness cures them If once do not do the deed use it oftner 75. Let one that bleeds at the Nose Petrus Hispanus chew the root of a Nettle in his mouth but swallow it not down and the blood will stop 76. Caraway Confects once dipt in Sugar being eaten half a spoonful after meat and a spoonful in the morning fasting do not onely help those that are troubled with winde but also causeth good digestion the better you chew them the better it is 77. The Juyce of Arsesmart mingled with half the quantity of Aqua vitae takes away Aches being anointed with it 78. Seethe a handful of Holly-berries in a pint of Ale till half the Ale be consumed then strain it and put a piece of butter to it stake five or six spoonfuls of it at a time it is an excellent remedy for the Stone 79. Mizaldus Wallwort is an excellent remedy for the Gout either applied outwardly in Oyls and Ointments or inwardly in Syrrups or Electuaries 80. Sallet-oyl Aqua vitae Oyl of Exceter and a Bullocks gall of each a like quantity mixed together make an excellent Oyntment for lame limbs 81. Primrose leaves stamped and laid to any part that bleedeth stayeth the blood 82. Take black Sope and mix it with almost 〈◊〉 much beaten ginger this by anointing with it kills any Tetter or Ring-worm be it never so desperate 83. Dr. Owen It is wonderful beneficial to lame members to bathe them in the decoction of Rue and Rosemary and then wrap them in a Lambs skin the woolly side inmost 84. Take Oyl of Bayes Aqua vitae juice of Sage Vinegar Mustard and Beasts Gall of each a like quantity put them into a bladder that is far too big to hold them tye them up close and then chafe them up and down with your hands an hour and half together and then have you as good an Oyntment for the Gout as the world can afford 85. The Juyces of Henbane Lettice Plantane Poppy Mandrake-leaves Ivy and Mulberry-leaves Hemlock Opium Ivy-berries in powder of each a like quantity mix them well together then put a Spunge into them and let it drink them all up dry the Spunge in the Sun and when you would have any body sleep lay the Spunge at his Nose and he will quickly sleep and when you would have him wake dip another Spunge in Vinegar and hold to his Nose and he will as soon wake 86. Seethe Mallows and red Nettles together and let him that cannot go to stool sit over it when it is hot 87. The roots of red Nettles being drunk in powder a spoonful at a time breaks the Stone 88. A Comb made of the right Horn of a Ram cures the Head-ache if it lie on the right side of the head being combed with it of the left horn for the left side 89. Dip a silk-thread in the blood of a Mouse and let the party swallow it down that is troubled with the Squinancy pain or swelling in the throat and it will cure him 90. For a Pleurisie or any other pain indeed in any other part of the body Emp. Ben. Victorii this do Take of Dialthea two ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds half an ounce mix them together and warm them then anoint the grieved place with it then take Cummin-seed finely powdered and strow upon the anointed place then heat a Colewort-leaf very hot upon coals and wrap the place so used as before binding it fast and you shall soon see the most wonderfull effects appear 91. Ant. Musa Scabious in powder drunk a drachm at a time in small Ale every morning cures Imposthumes 92. Peony is an Herb of the Sun the root of it cures the Falling-sickness 93. The juyce of Ground-Ivy snuffed up into the Nose purgeth the head mightily and takes away the pains thereof though of never so long continuance 94. The Gall of an Oxe and so much flower of Lupines as will thicken it into a Plaister kills the Worms 95. emnius If red hot Gold be quenched in Wine and the wine drunk it chears the vitals cures the plague outwardly used it takes away spots and Leprosie A costly Medicine 96. Mizaldus The water that drops out of a Vine being drunk with white wine breaks and expells the stone in the Reins 97. Pigeons dung stamped with vinegar Macer and applied plaister-wise to the Navel stoppeth presently all Fluxes of the belly 98. Carduus Benedictus seeds stamped and taken easeth pains aches and stitches in the side as also gripings of the belly and guts 99. If any be troubled with Stomach Worms let him hold a piece of an honey-comb in his mouth and the Worms will come out to the
honey 100. Syrup of Borage and Buggloss resist Melancholly and cause light Hearts taking away grief and passions thereof Fragmenta aurea The second Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. Mizaldus THe Roots of Sorrel hung about their necks that have the Swine Pocks doth wonderfully help them 2. Briony Roots boiled in water and the water drunk helps the Dropsie 3. Eyebright is an herb of the Sun and is a wonderful strengthner of the eyes used any way either outwardly or inwardly both the leaves stalks and flowers for it is an herb appropriated to them 4. You may easily know whether a Dropsie be hot or cold thus If it begin below and swell upwards it is hot because the nature of heat is to ascend but if it swell downwards it is cold because the nature of cold is to descend 5. Dry a bullocks sheeps or goats Bladder Galen and beat it into powder and give a dram of it in water vinegar or any convenient liquor to such as cannot hold their water or use to piss in bed and it will help them give it at night or morning according as you see cause 6. Rub a green Marigold leaf between your fingers and put it up into your nose and it will draw away abundance of humours and help Rheum anoying the head 7. The Roots of Elder-trees sod in water and the decoction drunk for common drink cures the Dropsie 8. Garlike and Housleek of each a like quantity stamped and applied plaister-wise to the place will help the Gout be it hot or cold 9. White wine Benenius wherein the ends of a pair of tongs have been quenched being before red hot six or seven times being drunk divers times doth help such as have grieved swelled or diseased Spleens 10. Mizaldus It is a signe of health in a sickness when the Gods begin to itch but take heed then of Venerious acts lest you pay for your pleasure 11. The decoction of Walwort either in wine or water doth admirably by being drunk cure the Dropsie 12. Arnoldus de villa nova coriander-Coriander-seed being beaten into powder and mixed with Honey and applied Plaister-wise either to Carbuncles or Sores helps them 13. Mizaldus The Berries of winter Cherries stamped and the Juyce pressed out and dryed helps both the Stone and Dropsie 14. Elder-leaves made hot between two Tile-stones and applied to the Forehead and Temples ease the pains of the Head 15. Take the buds leaves or inner-rind of an Elder-tree beat it and drop a drop or two of the juice thereof into the Ear it cures not onely Imposthumes there but also Deafness 16. Mizaldus The Brain of a Weazel dried and drunk in Vinegar cures the Falling-sickness 17. Many men are troubled with watry Stomachs much thin fresh water comming out of their mouthes towards morning it usually comes with a proneness to vomit the vulgar call it water-springs for such or any other Rheum whatsoever that molesteth your body take this most excellent though cheap Medicine Take a little stick and tye some old Oken-leaves about the end of it and cut them pretty round then put them into your mouth as far as you can well suffer them and hold the stick fast between your teeth and abundance of Rheum will come out of your mouth hold your mouth over a porringer and you may see how much Then wash the leaves in water and put them in your mouth again do so as often as you think fit If you do so before meat it will help your digestion 18. Earth-worms slit and washed well in white wine and dried and beaten into powder and a spoonful taken of them in any liquor in the morning fasting in a little time cureth the black Jaundies 19. Olibanum mixed with as much Barows-grease beat the Olibanum first into powder and boiled together make an Ointment which will kill the Lice in Childrens heads and such as are subject to breed them will never breed them after A medicine cheap safe and sure which breeds no anoyance to the brain 20. Tormentil boiled in wine Petrus Hisp and the wine drunk for ordinary drink and the Herb it self that was boiled being applied Plaister-wise to the eyes at night helpeth such as are so blinde they cannot see at all 21. Andr. Mathiolus Briony roots boiled in white Wine and a draught of the Wine drunk every night going to bed helps such as have the fits of the Mother 22. The juyce of Coleworts snuffed up the nose purgeth the head marvellously and taketh away the pains thereof though of never so long continuance 23. Mizaldus The Gums of young children being often rubbed with the brains of a Hare or Cunney their teeth will cut easily 24. Pet. Hisp Fine Aloes boiled well with the juyce of Coleworts and made into pills a scruple being taken at a time at night going to bed doth gallantly purge the head and ease the pains thereof 25. Take a good handful of Arsemart wrap it up in a Bur-leaf and take it up being so wrapped first in cold ashes then cover those cold ashes with hot embers those hot embers with hot coles and let it roast and apply it being well roasted to the place grieved with the Gout change it morning and evening and in three dayes you shall see the most wonderfull effects of it 26. If you beat a plate of Gold very thin when â—ol is in Leo Hermes Arnoldus de villa nova Jupiter and Luna in good Aspect â—nd Fortunate it will do wonders for being â—id to the seam of the Head it strengthens the â—rain and helps the infirmities thereof being â—anged against the region of the Heart it helps â—he diseases thereof faintings sownings c. â—nd causeth gladness being hanged to the Back it cools and strengthens them and helps pains in the back 27. Take all the Urine the party makes at one time that hath the Quartain Ague Mizaldus and knead flour and make a cake with it and when it is baked give it to a Dog of the house do so twice or thrice and in so doing the party will be well and the Dog sick Chuse a Dog for a Man but a Bitch for a Woman 28. To swallow down three grains of Mastich every night when one goes to bed Emp. Ben. Vict. delivereth from the pains of the stomach 29. Mark where a Swine rubs himself then cut off a piece of the wood and rub any swoln place with it and it will help it with this proviso that where the Hog rubs his head it helps the swellings of the head and where the neck those of the neck c. If you cannot apply a part of the thing the Hog rubbed against to the grieved place you must apply the grieved place to that 30. The rinde of an Ash-tree boiled in wine anâ— a draught of the wine drunk six or seven mornings together easeth the Spleen 31.
increased the Sinews feebled the natural Moisture and Heat of the body overhastily wasted and swift old Age brought upon us with an infinite number of discommodites besides Which the Nations finding where we have it do so delay it that rather they seem to drink wined Water then watered Wine except the aged or such as are feeble stomached And divers Nations which may have of the best because they would be sure to banish the use of it count it sacriledge to taste it as the Turks at this day who use instead thereof a distilled water of Rice steeped in Milk thereby supplying the use of Wine Neither do we finde this discommodity of Wine by the abuse of drunkenness or surfeting onely but even keeping within the three cups that Eubolus powreth out to wise men whereof the first is of health and nourishment the second of mirth and joy of heart and the third of sleep so that a draught or twain doth marvellously distemper our bodies which inconvenience we finde not by our ordinary drink yea though it be stronger then wine If I should compare our Mede with the best Wine and the Metheglin of the Welchmen with Malmsie I could take great arguments from the nature of Honey to prove it Especially being tempered with certain wholesome Herbs which have vertue to strengthen the parts of the body And by experience it is known that Honey mixed with water turneth in time to a wholesome liquor in taste much like to Wine Whereupon Pena in his Chapter of Honey folio 22. doubteth not to affirm that the Mede of the Polonians and Muscovites and the Metheglin of the Welchmen are more wholesome and pleasant then many of the best kindes of Wines he himself being a French man and therefore in his judgement less partial Wherefore to conclude this argument seeing Wine which is the glory of strange Merchandise is but an hurtful superfluity the rest must needs be far other then necessaries But Medicines being such as without which our health and life runneth into infinite perils by causes inward and outward through breach of Diet unwholesomness of Meat Wounds Bitings of venemous Beasts Infections of the Air and such like it followeth necessarily that they be not such as God would have one Nation gratifie another with which if they were greater reason were it to charge the neighbour Nations therewith that thereby their mindes might with performance of such mutual duties so necessary be in streighter amity and peace linked who cease not for the enlarging of limits to vex one another rather then the Nations so far distant who have neither fellowship of love nor quarel of hatred equal with the Borderers Neither would I be so taken as though I knew not at sometimes that one Naâ—ion hath need of another even in things necessary as the supply made by Joseph to his â—ather Jacob and other Nations out of the store of Egypt but the controversie is of an ordinaâ—y course which the Lord useth in bestowing his â—lessings wherewith he doth fully satisfie â—he need of all Nations with things necessary â—aving when he punisheth with Famine or â—â—ant of Victuals which is extraordinary in reâ—pect of his accustomed course of preserving his â—â—eatures Now if the strange Medicines for he most part hot should seem rather in the whole kinde then by reason of abundance superfluous to them and so more fit for us being of a colder temper we are to consider the use of them is manifold to the inhabitants and not onely to warne them as the Ethyopians called Troglodites although they be parched with vehement heat of the Sun are said to live with Pepper not to correct the distemper of theâ— Bodies which would rather increase it then diminish but to correct their evil Waters and waterish Fruits wherewith they in part do live Again we are to understand that the disease which is most agreeable with Age Sex Region Custome Complexion is alwayes most dangerous as ingendred by an exceeding vehemenâ— of the cause whereto Nature hath yielded anâ— so requireth a like vehement Medicine wherefore if the Arabian the Indian the Spaniard fall into cold diseases or such as follow cold no marvel though Nature hath ministred unto them plenty of strong Wines and Spices whiâ—â— the Northren Nations need not Who as thâ— be more apt to fall into such diseases then theâ— their temper thereto agreeing the Air and Râ—gion furthering the same so are they not therâ—of so dangerously sick as they of the Soâ— Countries and therefore require not so forâ—able a Medicine But I minde not to stand 〈◊〉 shew the use which foreign Nations have of thâ— Commodities let them see to it Hitherto hâ— been shewed both that they be hurtful unto 〈◊〉 and that it is not absurd for hot Regions to 〈◊〉 bound with hot Simples the use of them beâ— divers both in respect of curing their Bodies and other uses without the compass of Physick These be the reasons which move me to suspect the use of strange Drugs and drive me to think that Nature hath better provided for us and as the Indian Arabian Spaniard have their Indish Arabian and Spanish Medicines so also the Germane hath his the French man his and the English man his own proper belonging to each of them I know gentle Reader nothing doth more hinder the accepting of truth divers times especially with such as see with other mens eyes then the person of him who first propoundeth the matter being taken rather to be an opinion of one then an undoubted truth to be cherished of all as who have interest therein Wherefore that such might be satisfied I will adde to my former reasons taken from the Nature of the thing the authority of moe Doctors then one who agreeing with this which I hold may be a means to draw the gentle Reader the more seriously to consider of this matter and truth may take some strength thereby and win the more credit Pliny in his four and twenty Book of his History and first Chapter hath this Sentence thus much in English Nature would that such onely should be Medicines that is to say which easily might be come by of the common people easie to be found out without charge taken from the things whereby we live but in process of time the craft of men and sleights of their wits found out these shops of strange drugs in which a sale of mens lives is offered whereupon confectious and infinite mixtures began to be extolled India and Arabia a man would think he were in them and for a little gall or small ulcer a medicine must be fetched from the Red Sea whereas every day the poorest do sup with true medicines And in his two and twenty Book and four and twenty Chapter We do not meddle saith he with the medicines taken from the merchandise of India and Arabia or of the New World they are not fit for medicines and remedies they grow too far off they are not
yet declareth the patching that the medicine is rather by force constrained then naturally yieldeth it self to the remedy and so of it self unmeet Wherefore as well the matter thereof is to be changed as the medicine it self And if those corrections need also correction what then I will not say that all simples need their correctours although it be avouched of some and such as carry great authority for their skill in Physick Thus have I gentle Reader for thy benefit I hope made a way to the greater use of our home medicines wherein if I have said freely my minde against strange drugs thou mayest understand that otherwise the way were stopped to our English medicines â—nd blame me not if I say as much for ours as the strangers say for theirs And if as yet by custom â—t seem hard to alter the common course let each practicer look to that I set no laws to any onely â— crave liberty in this point both pleasant and profitable to English men Wherein I have examples of excellent Philosophers and learned Physicians neither broach I any idle conceits of my own Of this minde is Plinius Secundus Fuchsius Rulandus Symphorianus Campegius Octavianus Horatianus Physician to Valentinian the Emperour that all Countreys have sufficient medicines for all diseases I know much more might be said of this point but this I thought sufficient The End The Sovereign Vertues of Carduus Benedictus In English The Blessed Thistle which for the Operation and great Efficacy that God hath given unto it may be rightly so named As also of the rare Vertues of ANGELICA It is excellent for the Head and the parts thereof THis Herb eaten or the Powder or Juice of it drunk keepeth a man from the Head-ache and Megrum it also driveth it away Being taken in meat or drink it is good against Dizziness and the swiming giddiness of the Head It comforteth Brain sharpneth the Wit strengthneth the Memory it is a singular remedy against Deafness for it amendeth the thickness of the Hearing and provokes Sleep The juyce of it laid to the Eyes quickneth the Sight Also the water in the which the Powder or Herb dryed is steeped hath the same effect if the eyes be washed therewith The Herb eaten is good for the the same purpose The Water or Juyce dropped into the eyes cureth the redness bloud-shotten and itching of them Some write that it doth strengthen the Teeth they being washed and rubbed with a cloth dipped in the water or juyce thereof The pouder stauncheth bloud that floweth out of the Nose being applyed to the place It Comforteth the Stomach The Broth of the Herb otherwise called the decoction drunk in wine is good for an evil stomach it helpeth a weak stomach and causeth an appetite to meat Also the wine wherein it hath been boiled doth cleanse and mundifie the infected stomack The powder thereof eaten with Honey or drunk in Wine doth ripe and digest cold Phlegme purgeth and bringeth up that which is in the breast scouring the same of gross humours and causeth to breathe more easily The Herb chewed in the mouth healeth the stench of the breath It helpeth the Heart The powder being taken before a man is infected preserveth him from the Pestilence And a dram of it or a walnut-shell full taken immediately after a man feeleth himself infected expelleth the venom of the Pestilent infection from the heart so that if man sweat afterward he may be preserved The same effect hath the herb boiled in wine or in the urine of a healthful man-childe drunk I mean the decoction or liquor from the which the herb is strained after that it hath been boiled therein The leaves powder juice or water of the herb drunk the patient well covered with clothes sweating three hours expelleth poison taken in at the mouth and other corruption or infection that may hurt and annoy the Heart It helpeth the Liver Lungs and other parts of the body This herb boiled in wine and drunk hot about a quarter of an hour before the fit and the patient afterward well covered in the bed driveth away the Ague The powder and water of this herb drunk with wine hath the same effect The juice drunk with wine is good against shortness of Breath and the diseases of the Lungs It strengthneth the members and is good against the ache of the body This herb boiled in the urine of a healthful manchilde and drunk doth help the Dropsie breaketh all Aposthumes mastereth the Falling-sickness The powder eaten or drunk helpeth against the stitches in the side It is also good for them that begin to have the Consumption called the Ptysick The herb eaten doth strengthen the trembling and Palsie members The powder ministred in a Glyster helpeth the Cholick and other diseases of the guts The water drunk hath the same effect The juice drunk with wine or the herb boiled in wine and drunk hot breaketh the stone and driveth out gravel being sodden in water and the patient sitting over it so that the hot vapour may come unto the diseased place it helpeth against the same infirmity After the same manner being used it is good against the Green sickness Also it healeth the griping pains of the belly it openeth the stopping of the members pierceth and causeth urine The leaves boiled in wine and drunk as is aforesaid provoke sweats consumes the evil blood and ingenders good Also the wine or water in the which this herb is boiled being drunk consumeth the evil humours and preserveth the good It is excellent for one that is bruised with a fall or otherwise The leaves juice broth powder and water of the herb is very good to heal the canker and old rotten festered sores The leaves bruised or pounded and laid to are good against burnings hot swellings carbuncles and sores that are hard to be cured especially for them of the Pestilence and also they are good to heal the bitings of venomous worms and serpents or creeping beasts Finally the doun coming of the flowers thereof when the seed is ripe doth heal cuts and new wounds without pain Thus much of Carduus Benedictus gathered out of the Herbals of divers learned men which although it may be sufficient yet I have thought good here to set down that which two painful and skilful Physicians Matthiolus and Fuchsius have written hereof in Latine whose words as perhaps they may bring some credit to that which is already written so in them something more may be learned or at the least something â—s uttered for the better understanding of that â—foresaid Their words in English are as folâ—oweth Carduus Benedictus is a Plant of great vertue especially against the Pestilence and also against deadly poysons aswel taken inwardly or laid outwardly to the stingings and bitings of venemous Beasts They are healed with this Herb that are sick of a Quarten or other Agues that come with a cold and that by the drinking of the decoction or stilled
beaten into powder of them every morning fasting in white wine to one that is bursten and let him fast an hour after and if that cure hâ—â— not give him nine more 34. Knotgrass is an herb of the 〈◊〉 Mizaldus and cures diseases of the heart and back stone-cholick burstness and resisteth the pestilence 35. The paring of an Apple cut sâ—mewhat thick and the inside laid to eyes troubled with a hot Rheum and bound on at night when they go to bed gives speedy help contrary to expectation 36. They say Piece-grease such as is fried out of Shoe-makers Leather is an excellent remedy for the Gout 37. Shell-snails dryed in an oven and a drachm of the powder of them taken at a time doth in nine or ten dayes cure the black Jaundies It must be taken in Ale in the morning fasting 38. Butter Aqua vitae and Beasts Gall of each a like quantity mixed together cures any Ache or Stitch being anointed with it every morning and evening 39. Galen Gesner The powder of mans bones cure the Falling-sickness according to Galen but Gesner avoucheth he hath done it often with the * Cranium humanum Scull of a man not buried which is the most probable although the other may be true 40. The powder of Stone-pitch given in small Beer two or three mornings together is a notable remedy for such as are bruised and cheap enough too 41. The root of Vervine hanged about the neck of one that hath the Kings-evil gives a strange and unhoped for cure The reason of it is because Vervine is the herb of Venus and Taurus is her house For the time of gathering this and other Herbs I refer you to other Treatises where the matter is particularly handled 42. The tender horns of Bucks Cribonius largus whilest they be covered with a thin hairy skin being sliced and put into a new pot well covered and so dryed in an oven that they may be beaten into powder and some of it given in wine with pepper and mirrhe gives speedy ease for the Chollick 43. Pains of the Bladder and Cods as also the Chollick will be cured if you apply to it once or twice Pellitory of the wall bruised 44. A Hedge-sparrow is of a notable vertue Aetius Egeneta Mizaldus and Experience for the guts detracted and the feathers taken off and so either kept in Salt or converted into Mummy and eaten the Birds I mean not the guts nor feathers it will break the stone either in the Reins or Bladder and bring it forth 45. The Roots of white Lillies boiled in water â—nd the Face washed with the water takes away â—he redness thereof 46. Mizaldus Galen A green jasper hung about the neck of one that hath a weak stomach so that it touch the skin near the region of the mouth of the stomach doth wonderfully strengthen it 47. If you stamp Hariff a little and lay it in soak in spring-water four and twenty hours and then wash any scald or scabby place with it quickly heals it 48. If you boil Parsley and Time well in white wine and in a draught of it put a spoonful of white Sope I suppose Castle sope scraped small and this being drunk up causeth one speedily to make water and is a precious medicine for the Stone 49. Arnoldus Carduus Benedictus stamped and boiled with Barrows-grease Wine and Wheat-flour to an Ointment this is so sovereign that it cures all Ulcers Fistula's and Sores yea though the very Bones be bare 50. Mizaldus A handful of Mugwort stamped and boiled in sweet Sallet-oyl till the juyce be consumed makes an oyl which gives speedy ease to the Gout 51. If your nose bleed on the right side crush the little finger of the right hand Mizaldus if on the leâ—â— side of the left hand and it will cease 52. If you give ten grains of red Corrall in â—owder to a Childe in Breast-Milk for the â—rst sustenance it takes Arnoldus de villâ novâ and it will never â—e troubled with the Falling Sicknesse It â—ems by this it mightily strengthens the â—rain 53. There is an Herb called Speregrass Cupton stamp 〈◊〉 and fill a Walnut-shell full of it and â—pply it to the place pained with the Gout â—nde it on and within six or eight hours it â—ill draw a Blister which cut and let out the â—ater and keep a Colewort-leaf to it till the â—alady be remedied this hath been known to â—re such as have been troubled with this disease â—enty years 54. Boyl the Lees of Oyl till half be consumed G. Vâ—rrâ— Caâ—o â—th which anoint the bottom-corners and feet 〈◊〉 a Chest or Press you put clothes in and 〈◊〉 Moths will trouble them but you had â—t let it be dry before you put your clothes 55. Take a handfull of green Rue gathered in hour of Sol he being strong ten Figs as â—ny Walnuts an ounce of Juniper-berries â—t all these well together with a little Bayâ— and take the quantity of a Hazel-nut â—ry morning it defends the body from â—ilence Poison or any Sickness even â—xtream old age Mithridates Mithreâ—ates was the Authour of it and therefore let him have the credit of it besides with this onely and the blessing of God upon it have I cured such of the Ptysick or Consumption of the Lungs that have been so weak they could not walk about a chamber without leading 56. Some men are so gross and fat that they can hardly walk or do any business let such eat three or four cloves of Garlick every morning with Bread and Butter and fast two hours after it and let their drink be water wherein Fennel hath been boiled it will in a very small time ease them 57. That which is shorn from Scarlet being well died and dried in an oven or otherwise that it may be beaten into powder and half a spoonful of the powder given at a time in red wine will quickly cure the Bloody-Flux 58. If you anoint your temples where the Arteries pass Simeon Sethi once a moneth with the gall of a Partridge it mightily strengthens the memory 59. Rhazis Albertus A Saphire tyed about the neck so as it toucâ— the Region of the heart preserves the beare from poison and the plague and abateth thâ— heat in Feavers and Agues 60. Petrus Hispanus The soles of the Feet rubbed with gooâ— Mustard helps forgetfulness and quickens tâ— motion A man might draw from hence that forgetful persons are usually dull 61. Seethe Ivy-berries in Vinegar and supyour mouth full of it as hot as you can and when it is cold spit it out again and take another sup and do likewise a few such sups will cure the pain of the Teeth 62. Also if you put a little Spirit of Vitriol into the pained tooth Which you may get done by a little Lint tyed to the top of a Bodkin or Wire it works the
Pains of the Spleen trouble a man most after meat 32. Egg-shells dried and beaten into powder and given in white wine break the stone 33. Mizaldus Mice-dung with the ashes of burnt Wasps and burnt Hazel-nuts made into an Ointment with vinegar of Roses do trimly deck a bald-â—ead with hairs being anointed with it 34. Six cloves of Garlike stamped and strained into a draught of Rhenish wine and drunk up is a present râ—medy for the stone strangury and chollick 35. Gather Elder-flowers on a Midsummer-day dry them and beat them into powder and take a spoonful of it in borage-Borage-water every morning and evening it restores Youth and conserves it 36. Burn horsleaches into powder and mix them with vinegar and therewithal rub the place where you would have Hair grow no more and you shall have your desire 37. Drinking much Butter-milk makes one laxâ—â—ive 38. The stone of a Swallow beaten into powder Petrus Hispanus and given in drink to such as have the Falling-sickness cures them 39. Mingle two spoonfuls of water with one spoonful of clarified Honey and give it to a woman when she goeth to sleep if she feel gripings and pains in her belly she is conceived with childe else not 40. Green Nettles steeped in the urine of one that is sick twenty four hours Mizaldus if they remain green and fresh the sick will live else not 41. The berries of white Thorns taken in white Wine are of great force to break and expel the Stone 42. Plantane is given with good success to such as have the Plague 43. Wormwood stamped with the white of an egg and applied to the eyes by way of a Plaister is a notable way to take away the redness and bloodiness of them 44. A Garland made of Ivy-leaves Mizaldus laid to the breasts of women that hang flagging gathers them up together decently and makes them round the like will Ivy-leaves do if they be beaten and applied to them 45. Mizaldus If you wash wounds with Wine wherein Agrimony hath been sodden it cleanseth them of their filth and putrefaction 46. Also stamp Agrimony and apply it to wounds that are ill knit or joyned and it will open them again 47. Mizaldus The juyce of Rue mixed with clarified Honey and a drop dropped into the eye at a time takes away dimness of sight 48 A head of Garlick the skins being pulled off bruised and applied in equal parts to the foles of the feet where they are hollow helps them with speed that are pained with the Tooth-ache especially if it come of a cold cause and lie in the nether jaw 49. Mizaldus If you rub Warts with the leaves of a Fig-tree and bury the leaves in the earth the warts will insensibly consume away 50. Briony-berries dried and beaten into powder and drunk in the decoction of Water-cresses doth wonderfull help the Strangury 51. Benedictus Victorius Faventinus Emp. Take of venice Treacle one scruple of liquorice and Cinnamon in powder of each three grains of White Wine an ounce and an half mix all these together and make of them a Potion If a Woman take such a drink as this is every other morning about a fortnight or three weaks before her delivery it will make her labour very easie My Authour saith she will bring forth her childe without any pain at all 52. Take of Yarrow and Plantane of each a like quantity beat them and strain the juyce of them into red Wine a good draught of which being drunk morning and evening will stop a bloody Flux 53. If a Woman desire to know whether she be with childe or not Mizaldus let her make water in a clean copper or brazen vessel at night when she goes to bed and put a Nettle in it if the Nettle have red spots in it next morning she is with childe else not 54. Oxen Kine Bullocks or Horses Absertus will not be troubled with any disease if you hang a Harts-horn upon them 55. Put two or three of the seeds of Oculus Christi into your eye and within a while after you shall not feel them whereby you will think they are not there at last they will drop 〈◊〉 of themselves compassed about with slimy 〈◊〉 which doth hinder the sight If you 〈◊〉 this now and then it will clear your eyes wonderfully 56. Warts rubbed with a piece of raw Beef and the beef buried in the ground the warts will consume away as the beaf rots in the ground 57. Take the inner rinde of an Oak-tree and boil it well in fair water then bathe any sore with it whether new or old three or four times morning and evening and then anoint it with fresh butter and flour of brimstone well mixed and you shall see a speedy cure 58. Take a Bur-root the bigger the better and scrape it clean then put it in a Pot of new Ale and the Ale will boyl let it stand twenty four hours close stopped and then let one that hath the yellow Jaundies drink a good draught of it and in doing so two or three mornings he will be cured 59. Let him that hath the Strangury drink a draught of small Ale wherein the inner Rind of the young branches of a Hazel-tree hath been boiled first in the morning and last at night and it help him in few dayes 60. Lay a thin piece of raw beaf to the forehead of them that have lost their voices and remove it not all night and in two or three nights it will help them 61. Take the bones of Horses and wash them clean then dry them in the sun then break them and boil them in a Caldron of water a long time and save the fat which cometh from them which is an excellent Oyntment either for Gout or Palsie 62. The ashes of burnt Snails put into the eye take away the spots thereof 63. A piece of raw Beef of an indifferent thickness put in steep all day in good Aqua vitae and laid at night to the temples and let lie there all night stops the waterings of the eyes and all rheums that flow down from the head 64. Draw a coard through the tail of a Water-snake and hang her up Hollerius a vessel of water being under her into which she may gape and after a little time will she vomit up a stone which will drink up all the water this stone being tied to the navil in a piece of fine linnen of one that hath the Dropsie quickly draws out all the water 65. An Egg that is laid on a Thursday the white being emptied out and the empty place filled with salt and gently roasted by the fire without burning till it may be beaten into powder and cankered teeth being rubbed with it kills both canker and worms that eat the teeth 66. White Copperis the quantity of hâ—â—f an ounce dissolved in a pint of water kills all Tetters and ringworms that are washed with
bruise them and boil them well in a quart of Milk strain the Milk through a woollen strainer and let the sick drink thereof this hath helped those that have been sixteen years sick of this Disease and could not be cured 3. For the Jaundies For the Jaundies boil good store of Hemp-seed bruised well in good strong Ale or Beer and let the sick drink no other drink 4. For Children that have the Jaundies If they be young Children that have the Jaundies or people of riper-years at the first beginning of them this Remedy will be sufficient Take an Apple and cut off the top then pick out the coar with a knife and put into the hollow place a penniworth of whole Saffron and a drachm of Turmerick in powder put on the top again and roast it then mash it all to pieces and eat it up at night going to bed this doing a few nights together will help them you may adde a little Butter to it if you please 5. For the Black Jaundies The Black Jaundies hath been known to have been cured oftentimes with this medicine Take the inner bark of a Walnut-tree and boil it very well in Ale or Beer and when you have done so quench red hot steal in it at least forty times drink a quarter of a pint of this hot morning and evening 6. For the Yellow Jaundies The inner bark of a Barberry-tree boiled in White Wine and the decoction drunk is an excellent remedy for the Yellow Jaundies so also are the roots of Celandine 7. The Pleurisie As in all Inflammations so also in Pleurisies blood-letting is not to be neglected in the beginning 8. For the Pleurisie Such as have the Pleurisie must forbear eating flesh and drinking wine and strong beer but must be content with cold broaths and to drink Barley-water or Almond-Milk if they be rich 9. For the Pleurisie Take three ounces of carduus-Carduus-water a spoonfull of white Wine and six whites of Eggs well beaten mix all these together and dip a cloath in them the which lay as hot as it can be suffered to the pained side of one that hath the Pleurisie and it will give him speedy ease 10. For the Pleurisie Also another most admirable remedy for one that hath the Pleurisie is to take an Apple and make it hollow as I told you before in the yelow Jaundies then put into it a drachm or a drachm and a half of Olibanum roast it as before put some Butter to it and eat it up last at night 11. For a Cough A good remedy for an inveterate cough is this take a handful of Figs and boil them in Beer till they be very tender then take them out and bruise them and put them into a linnen bag and apply them warm to your stomach and when they are cold take them off and warm them in the same liquor again 12. To strengthen the Lungs A Syrup made or a Spirit drawn from those whitish Thistles which are commonly called our Ladies Thistles is a great strengthner of the Lungs the like may be said of Hysop 13. For an Imposthume in the Lungs For an Imposthume in the Lungs drink the decoction of Cammomile twice a day and but two ounces at a time gives help to admiration 14. For heat and driness of the Lungs Heat and driness of the Lungs is quickly cheaply and safely cured by drinking no other drink but Plantane water 15. For the Chollick Take Winter-savory and boil it well in white Wine and the decoction drunk very hot rids the belly of the Winde-chollick as though it were swept out with a broom My Authour saith he hath known divers have been helped with this remedy that have had it so extreamly that they have swooned several times in a day yet I confess some of the following remedies please me better 16. For the Chollick Apply cupping-glasses to the navel this remedy pleaseth me very well both for bastard and true Chollick for the Navil vessels though they be of little use after the infant is born yet they still remain hollow and pass to all the chief vessels of the Abdomen 17. Chollick Take Rosemary Sage and Bay-salt and roast them well between two hot Tile-sherds and 〈◊〉 â—y â—em hot to the Navel it is a present remedy to the Chollick especially to the Bastard-Chollick 18. Chollick You may easily know a Bastard-Chollâ—â—◠〈…〉 a true Chollick thus 〈◊〉 Bastard-Chollic◠〈◊〉 belly is so sore 〈…〉 cannot endur◠〈◊〉 have it toucht 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 in a true Choâ—lick 1◠〈◊〉 â—hollick Take Emmets Eggs 〈◊〉 them 〈…〉 â—ven and beat them to pow◠〈…〉 the â—â—wder at a time in any 〈…〉 't is as admirable a remedy for a 〈◊〉 Chollick as any is and will make a man fart as though he had got a Patent for it 20. Strangury Take a good big Onion cut off the top and pick a pretty big hole in it with 〈◊〉 Knife the which hole fill with Betony and Centaury in powder of each equal quantities putting a little Butter amongst theâ— then put on the top again and roast it amongst the embers bruise it being roast 〈◊〉 and apply it being bruised as hot as you 〈◊〉 endure it to your Navel and you shall 〈◊〉 it an excellent remedy for the strangury 21. Chollick Take Hâ—â—p-seed and dry it and beat it into 〈…〉 say this being drunk in Wine is a 〈…〉 â—â—â—llâ—â—k the like they say 〈…〉 manner 't is very 〈◊〉 â—e the◠〈…〉 â—d in a real Cholâ—â—â—k but 〈◊〉 For the 〈…〉 â—â—â—llick It is 〈…〉 take 〈…〉 inwardly fo◠〈◊〉 bastaâ—◠〈…〉 â—st â—se not so eâ— catâ—ous 〈…〉 â—s therefore let sucâ— as h◠〈…〉 â—ick â—pply a Plaister 〈◊〉 Cumm◠〈…〉 â—r â—â—â—ly 23. For the Chollick Take a Lapwing and burn her in a Crucible feathers and all very well till the ashes be white a scruple of these ashes being given in a little warmed Wine to drink at one time is an excellent remedy for the Chollick 24. Worms Garlick either eaten or boiled and the decoction drunk kills the Worms 25. For the Worms Take Worm-seed and beat it into very fine powder and make it up into Troches with juyce of Lavender Cotten and Gum Tragacanth dry them and so have you an excellent remedy for the Worms alwayes by you 26. For the Worms Zedoary beaten into powder and half a dram of the powder drunk in the morning fasting in a little Muskedel not onely kills the Worms but also strengthens the Heart 27. For the Worms Take Garlick Wormwood Featherfew and Mints stamped very small and heat very well with the gall of an Oxe and a little vinegar and applied to the belly plaister-wise and it will kill the Worms and bring them forth 28. For the Worms Another remedy for the Worms and less tedious too is to take the gall of a Bull and warm it then dip a little wool in it and binde the wool to the Navel 29. For the Worms for Children Take Orange-pills and dry
82. For the same To drink the juyce of Marigold-leaves is as gallant a remedy for an Imposthume as any is 83. Murren in Hogs Water Betony given as a drench is a present cure for the Murren in Hogs 84. For Diseases coming of Repletion Fasting three dayes and three nights without meat or drink is a most admirable remedy for all diseases coming of Repletion 85. The Chin-cough The Chin-cough is easily cured if the party troubled with it spit three or four times into a Frogs mouth but it must be into the mouth of the same Frog you may easily keep her alive in a little water 86. For a swelled Leg. For a swelled Leg that is broken and almost mortified bathe it with the decoction of Nettles made with water and it will give ease and cure to admiration 87. Defluxion of Humours If there be a great defluxion of humours to any part of the body be it in wounds or else where it matters not neither whether with pain or without Opiats will be found to be the best cure when all is done 88. To help Digestion The inner skin of the Gizzard of a Hare dried and beaten to powder and taken inwardly is the greatest strengthner of a weak stomach and helper of digestion that is 89. To make Children speak quickly The way to make a childe speak quickly is to rub its tongue often with Salgem and Honey 90. Stuttering The same Medicine for ought I know will help one of riper years that stutters 91. To quench thirst Washing the mouth with Vinegar and spitting it out again presently quencheth the thirst of one that is a dry the reason is because the Pallat of the mouth which is the seat of thirst being moistened and cooled is satisfied and that â—s the reason why men when they are hot get hurt by drinking because the stomach is over-â—loyed before the Pallat be cooled 92. A Suppository A little piece of Salgem cut in a fitting form â—nd put up the Fundament is one of the best Suppositors in the world and will last a man almost his life time 93. For a Wound If you would cure a Wound without a scar anoint it with Venus her spittle 94. For the Pearl There is a certain Trefoyl that hath a white spot in it like a Pearl this herb is an excellent cure for the pearl in the eye 95. If a Cow hath a sore Udder boil her owâ— dung in her own Milk and apply to it 96. Shingles Take the juyce of Archangel and dip a cloth in it and apply it to that inflamation in thâ— Neck commonly called the Shingles and it wilâ— help it 97. Another approved remedy for the same disease is to anoint the place with the blood of 〈◊〉 Cat. 98. An Ache. For an Ache coming of cold or an oâ— bruise take a quart of Muskadel a good hanâ—ful of Onions pilled and bruised an ounce 〈◊〉 Pepper finely beaten and boil all these together till they be thick then spread it upon a cloth and apply it to the grieved place 99. For an Ache in the Legs For an Ache in the Legs take the Gall of an Oxe and boil it well over the fire with Neats-foot-Oyl and dip a cloth in it and apply it to the grieved Leg. 100. Witchcraft The best remedy for Witch-craft that I know in the world is this take a stalk of Amara dulcis leaves and all and let the party bewitched wear it about their middles next their skin Fragmenta Aurea The fourth Golden Century of Chymical Physical and Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. Bruise TAke a good big handful of Rue Yolks and Whites of five Eggs a handful of wheat-flour bruise the Rue very well then temper them all together heat them hot by the fire spread them upon a piece of cloth like a Poltiss and apply them to any bruised place changing it once in 24. hours and it will speedily heal it 2. A Caution concerning Bruises Concerning all Bruises let me give you this caution Be sure you cure them well and soundly at the first else you may feel those bruises at fourscore years of age which you got at fifteen 3. Swelling An excellent remedy to asswage a Swelling is this Take two handfuls of Penerial and boil it in the strongest Ale you can get till it be tender then strain it dip a cloth in the Ale and apply it warm to the swelling and in two or three dayes it will help you new dipping the cloth twice a day 4. An Excellent Salve to cleanse and heal a Sore Take the juyce of Betony Plantane and Smallage of each equal quantities let there be a pound of them all together four ounces of Wax two ounces of Frankincense two ounces of Pitch and two ounces of Rosin melt the things that are to be melted over a gentle fire by themselves then pour in the Juyces and boil it till they be consumed keeping it alwayes stiring then strain it through a clean cloth and keep it for use so have you an excellent Salve both to cleanse and heal a sore 5. I like this Medicine the better because it hath no oyly quality in it experience teaching that all unctious Medicines to raw flesh are inimical 6. An admirable remedy to cleanse and cure Wounds Oyl of Mirrh is one of the best remedies that I know to cleanse and cure wounds for it will do it so speedily as is to be admired 7. For an inflamed Wound If there be any inflamation in a Wound take Camphire and mix it with Hogs-grease and anoint the place with it and it will very speedily remedy it 8. To increase or diminish the Flesh of Wound In Wounds sometimes the flesh rises too fast and sometimes too slowly a remedy for both these is this Take the Lungs of a Sheep and heat them very hot and apply them to the place as hot as you can endure it do this twice a day 9. The Itch. The Itch is a disease which infesteth the skin onely therefore beware you strike it not in lest you infest the body also 10. For the same A strong decoction of Scabious or Devils-bit which you can get you shall finde it an admirable drink for such as are troubled with the Itch you may also anoint the body with Oyntment of Tobacco 11. Falling Sickness Take Wormwood and Rue of each equal quantities in powder and blow some of it into the nose of him that falleth of the Falling-sickness and it will instantly recover him 12. For the same One experience of my own let me quote I have cured one lately of the Falling-sickness that Lad had it above seven years every new and full Moon by giving of him Mustard-seed in powder made up into Pills with Mithridate 13. Convulsions Misletoe gathered in the hour of Sun when the Sun is in Aries and the Moon in trine to him from Leo this being bruised and infused warm in white Wine and distilled off in an Alimbeck eight or
through the back with a sharp knife pull out all the bowels and wipe him clean with a cloth break all the bones and put him into an Alimbeck and distil him with a pottle of Sack and as much red Cows Milk so will you have an excellent spirit for a Cough or Consumption of the Lungs if you take three or four spoonfuls of it in the morning fasting 65. For heat in the Reins Let such as are troubled with heat in the Reins lay to the place a fine cloth dipped in Rose-water juyce of Plantane and the Milk of a Woman which brought forth a Girl 66. An excellent remedy for those that are subject to vomiting Take Wormwood Spearmints and red Rose-leaves of each a handful chop them small and boil them to a Poltiss with red Rose-water and Vinegar of each equal quantities thicken it with Rie-bread grated spread it upon a cloth and apply it to the Stomach of him that is subject to vomiting as hot as he can endure it 67. For an Ague of the Breast Let such Women as are troubled with that inflamation commonly called the Ague in the Breast apply to the place a fomentation made with Rosemary-tops boiled in their urine apply it hot for three or four hours and it will help it 68. For the running in the Reins The Marrow of an Oxes back being dried and beaten into powder and a dram of it taken in the morning in a little red Wine is an excellent remedy for the running of the Reins 69. To take away Freckles from the Hands or Face Such as are troubled with Freckles either upon their hands or face or Sun-burning may easily help themselves if they wash the place with a little juyce of Lemmons wherein Bay-salt hath been dissolved wash the place often and let it dry in of it self 70. Against any Swelling Take Cammomile-flowers and Rose-leaves of each a like quantity boil them in white Wine to a Poltiss and apply it as hot as can be suffered to a swelling and it will presently ease the pain and asswage the swelling 71. Against Deafness Stop the ears of one that is deaf with good dried Sewet it many times gives help when nothing else will 72. To stop bleeding Take powder of Earth-worms and put upon a Wound that bleeds and it will instantly stop the bleeding 73. For the same Take the ear of a Hare dry it and beat it to powder and put that powder upon a Wound and it will do the like 74. For him that spits Blood Take the juyce of Betony and temper two spoonfuls of it with four spoonfuls of good Milk and let him that spits blood drink the same quantity four mornings together and by that time he will be whole 75. For a Flux Let him that is troubled with the Flux take the seeds of Trefoyl bruise them well and drink half a dram of them in the morning fasting in white Wine if he be curable it will cure him in three dayes if he be not curable he knows the worst of it it is but dying 76. To stop the bleeding of a Vein being cut If a Vein be cut and you cannot stop the bleeding take Rue and boil it in water then stamp it and apply it to the place and binde some wool over that which was never washed 77. For Veins that are sprung For Veins that are sprung take Beans and husk them then boil them in vinegar and bruise them and apply them Plaister-wise to the place 78. For those that piss Blood Take Garlike bruise it and boil it in water till the third part be consumed a little of this water being drunk presently helps them that piss Blood 79. To cause easie Delivery Let a woman that is with childe and near her time drink a decoction of Betony every morning and she shall be delivered without much pain 80. For the same and to expel the after-birth A decoction of Hyssop made with water and drunk very hot giveth speedy delivery to women in travel yea though the Childe be dead in her womb so soon as she is delivered of a dead childe if you suppose any of the After-birth be left behinde let her keep drinking the same decoction till her body be cleansed 81. For the same Savory used in like manner hath the same effects 82. For the same Also another good remedy to give speedy delivery to women in travel is this Take wilde Tansie or Silver-weed and bruise it and apply it to her nostrils 83. For the same Also another remedy is to take the Roots of Polypodium and stamp them and apply them to the soles of the feet Plaister-wise the childe will quickly come away be it alive or dead 84. For a Surfeit Take the bottom of a wheaten-loaf tost it very well till it be dry and hard then dip it in good Spirit of Wine and wrap it up in a single linen cloth and apply it to the Brest of one that hath surfeited and cannot digest his meat apply it warm and let it lie to the place all night and it will speedily help him and cause him either to vomit up or purge out the evil humors which the Surfeit hath contracted in his body 85. To cure hot Rhume in the Eyes Take twelve or sixteen woodlice some call them sows or slugs wash them clean then stamp them and put three or four spoonfuls of Ale to them and mix them well together in a morter then strain it and let him that is troubled with a hot Rhume in his eyes drink it in the morning fasting and as much at night going to bed and in a few times using it will cure him 86. An admirable Poltiss for any swelling Take Violet-leaves Groundsel Mallows and Chickweed of each a handful chop these small and boil them well in water to a Poltiss thicken it with Barley-meal adding a little rough sheeps suet to it to make it moist so have you an admirable Poltiss for any swelling or inflamation in a wound or ulcer 87. For scabby Heads of Children Take white Wine and Butter of each a like weight boil them together till they come to a salve and you shall finde it an excellent Oyntment for Childrens scabby heads 88. For the Falling-sickness or Convulsion Take the dung of a Peacock dry it and beat it into very fine powder and give the party troubled either with the Falling-sickness or Convulsion so much of it at a time in Succory-water as will well lye upon a shilling if it be a child half so much will serve the turn or less if the childe be very young 89. To cure Tetters or Ring-worms An excellent way to cure Tetters and Ring-worms is to wash the place often with Tanners Woofs 90. Against the bloody Flux Take the bone of a Gammon of bacon set it an end in the middle of a Charcole fire and let it burn till it be as white as choak both in the outside and inside then take it and beat it to
as Balsome or Sanicle laid unto it Ditony of Candy or Ditony or Herb of Deliverance stamped and drunk is good to deliver a Woman in Travel with Childe and for want thereof Wood-betony will do the same To heal a scalding or burning quickly Take Sallet Oyl Olive and clear water beaten together and therewith anoint the grieved place till it be whole To heal a Tetter or Ring-worm or Chop or crush in ones Palm of the Hand Take Bay-salt finely beaten to powder and mix it with sweet Sallet Oyl Olive together that the Oyl be very salt and with that Oyl and Salt fret and rub away scurf and so use it till he be whole and purge him with the root Mechoakam To heal a bruised Thumb Finger or cut in the Leg Take the leaves of an Elm and stamp them together it will both binde and heal quickly and knit the bones together that is dispersed To stanch blood in a Wound take Sage and beat it together with Wheat-flour and lay it to it will stanch presently and heal the Wound so will Shepherds-purse Plantane Knot-grass Vnguentum album with Lint laid in a wound or old sore and a Plaister of Gratia Dei thereon will heal it very quickly Pestilent-wort boiled in Milk and made in a Posset with Sack will cause one to sweat extreamly and drive out the Plague and heal them and heal also the Ague Lay the Herb and curd unto the sore Sanicle Sanamonda alias Hedge Avince that beareth a yellow flower but not the red Scurvey-grass Fumitory and Sorrel stampt and strained into Ale or Beer and drunk inwardly doth cure the foresaid Diseases of Tetter Ring-worms Scurfs Scabs proceeing of the heat of the Liver which doth most commonly come or break out at the Spring or fall of the Leaf Beat Bay-salt to powder and put it into Beer or Ale that it be as salt as Brine and drink it three times in three mornings it will put away any Ague the strongest Ague that is The water of Oaken-leaves distilled and drunken will stop the bloody Flux Elder leaves stampt and laid to any sore or wound will draw very fast at first then mix therewith the fresh Fat of a Hog unsalted and it will heal it very quickly The Celestial Governours OR A Discourse in which is plainly declared what Members of the Body are governed by the twelve Signs and of the Diseases to them appropriate ARies Aries is of the East Masculine fiery and chollerick and governeth the Head Face Eyes and Ears c. And of Sicknesses The Apoplexy Mamnia Wounds and Spots in the Face Abortisements and other impitious diseases Ring-worms and Morphews Taurus Taurus is of the South Feminine earthly and melancholly and governeth the Neck Throat and Voice And of Sicknesses Squinancies Scrophulus Cattares and Hoarseness Gemini Gemini is of the West Masculine airy and sanguine and ruleth the Shoulders Arms and Hands And of Sicknesses Phlegmonies Ferruncula and other proceeding of blood in the said places Cancer Cancer is of the North Feminine watry and phlegmatick and ruleth the Breast Ribs Paps of Women Lungs Liver Spleen And of Sickness Alopesia watry Eyes Cotogses and Rheums Scabs and Leprosie Leo Leo. is of the East Masculine fiery and chollerick and ruleth the Heart Stomach Back Sides and the Midrift with Virgo And of Sickness Cardiaca trembling of the Heart and sounding Virgo Virgo is of the South Feminine earthy and melancholly and ruleth the Belly Guts and Midriff with Leo. Of Sicknesses Illiaca cotica passio opilations of the Spleen and black Jaundies Libra Libra is of the West Masculine airy and sanguine and ruleth the Loins Navel Reins Buttocks and Bladder with Scorpio And of Sicknesses all filthy scabs and spots in the Face loss of sight Canker and Hemeroides Leprosie Alopesia and Chollick Scorpius Scorpius is of the North Feminine watry Phlegmatick and ruleth the secret Members the Fundament and Bladder with Libra And of Sicknesses all filthy scabs and spots in the Face loss of sight Canker and Hemerods Leprosie Alopesia and the French Pox. Sagitarius Sagitarius is of the East Masculine fiery and chollerick and ruleth the Thighs and Hips And of Sicknesses hot Feavers Optsaluva and blear Eyes and falls from high places and from Horses Capricornus Capricornus is of the South Feminine earthy and melancholly and ruleth the Knees And of Sicknesses Aches in the Knees Deafness loss of speech and sight Itch Scabs and foulness of the skin Aquarius Aquarius is of the West Masculine airy and sanguine and ruleth the Legs And of Sicknesses Feaver Quartanes black Jaundies Swelling of the Legs and Varices Pisces Pisces is of the North Feminine watry and phlegmatick and ruleth the Feet And of Sicknesses Gowt Scabs Leprosie and Palsie How the Members of the Body are governed by the seven Planets and of the Diseases to them appropriate SAturn Saturn governeth the Bones Teeth the right Ear and Spleen and the Bladder with the Moon And of Sicknesses Leprosie Canker Feaver Quartane Palsie Consumption black Jaundies Illiaca passionis Dropsie Cattare Gowt in the Feet Scrophulus Jupiter Jupiter ruleth the Lungs the Grizzles the Liver and Spearm with Venus the Arteries and Pulse And of Sicknesses Peripneumonia Apoplexy Pleurisie Cramp the Cardaca with the Sun Squinancy numness of the sinnews and stinking of the mouth Mars Mars ruleth the left Ear the Gall Veins Yard and Stones and the Reins with Venus And of Sicknesses the Pestilence hot Feavers yellow Jaundies Shingles Carbuncles Fistula's Chollerick Fluxes Feaver Tertians and Quotidians all Wounds specially on the Face and the Falling-sickness with the Moon and Mercury Sol Sol. ruleth the Heart the right Eye the sight the sinnews and the Brain with the Moon and Mercury Of sicknesses swooning Cramp Opthalima Rheuming Eyes and the Cardiaca with Jupiter Venus Venus ruleth the Genitores Dugs Throat Loins the Liver and Spearm with Jupiter and the Reins with Mars Of sicknesses all Diseases of the Matrix Gomorhea passio Flux of urine Priapismus weakness of the stomach and Liver French Pox Flux of the Bowels and the menstrual sickness with the Moon Mercury Mercury ruleth the Spirits Imagination Memory the Tongue Hands and Fingers and the Brain with the Sun and Moon Of sickness Madness loss of the common sences foolish doting lisping and stammering Cough and Horseness the Falling-sickness with the Moon and Mars The Moon ruleth the left Eye of a Man Luna and the right Eye of a Woman the Belly and Guts the Brain with the Sun and Mercury and the Bladder with Saturn And of sicknesses Collica passio Phlegmatick Aposthumes all manner of Opilations the Falling-sickness with Mars and Mercury the Palsie with Saturn and the Menstrual sickness with Venus Cardiaca Simplicia OR A brief Account of some choice Simples as are chiefly appropriated to the Heart Left unfinished by Nich.
strong what humor it did most abound with whether fasting or after-meals painful or easie Fourthly whether the Spittle is thick or thin mixt with blood corrupt like the humor issuing out at the Nose and if that be blood whether it be red watry or black Lastly it is to be observed what the diet of the Patient hath been before as also in his sickness his age the strength of his body exercise and the air he lives in where he continued longest in his youthful years whether in high or low watry or dry hot or cold Countreys these generals might suffice I shall conclude for the Students better satisfaction with some other from time to time retained tradition which in my judgement some of them are worthy of serious consideration White Urine signifies rawness and indigestion of the Stomach red heat thick like Puddle excessive labour or sickness white or red gravel appearing in the bottom of the Urinal threatens the Stone in the Reins black or green coloured Urine is ominous commonly signifying death Of Vomits IS the expulsion of bad humors contained in the Stomach upward it is accounted if wisely administred as to the mitigation of the violence rightly considered of to be the wholesomest kinde of Physick for those which are gross or full of humors For that which a Purgation leaves behinde a Vomit roots up if the party vomit too much rub his feet with hot and sweet water and if it cease not apply a gourd to the mouth of the Stomach Sometimes without any Physick at all one may fall to a customary vomiting then it proceeds from the hot complexion of the Stomach if from a cold you may help it by a bag of Wormwood dry Mints or Marjoram of each alike one handful of Nutmegs Cloves and Galingal half a dram of each one let all of them be dried and powdered and put betwixt two linnen clothes with Cotten interposed and basted and then let â—hem be applied upon the Stomach or else you may apply the said Herbs alone dried upon a â—ot Tile-stone put betwixt two linen cloths upon the Stomach let the stomach be fortified with â—he syrup of Mints or Wormwood or Lozenges â—f the Vomiting proceeds from a hot complexion you may help it by a Plaister applied to the â—tomach of Oyl of Roses Mints or Barley-flour with the white of an Egg the water of Purslain may be taken in drink to quench the thirst Of the Excrements EXcrements some are necessary and some superfluous as they proceed from too much blood yet nevertheless nourish when other nourishment fails the seed spearm milk or fat which are superfluous and do not proceed from blood nor can nourish but rather being separated from the blood are either moist earthy black melancholly sweat urine proceeds from the nose spittle c. Earthy or dry Excrements as Warts Nails Corns and such like Aristotle reckoneth the Marrow of the body amongst the Excrements but as the bones are nourisht by it even as the body is nutrified by the blood it cannot be acknowledged for any other then a nourishment Blood is the very essence of life which diminished the spirits must consequently be dissolved in consideration whereof I counsel them that use any moderate exercise not in any case to be let blood lest that corrupt matter succeed in the place of pure blood but if there be abundance of blood or if it be putrefied or burnt if other medicines avail not this ordination of mine must needs be infringed with better judgement as it may be safer to use Horsleeches especially at the Fundamental Veins which are called the sink of the body By this way the Scurvey Gout Dropsie and Melancholly may be prevented being applied in the Spring or Fall or oftner If the Blood which is let out appear red and white water overflow with it the body is sound if bubbling blood the stomach is diseased if green the heart is afflicted THE TREASURY OF LIFE OR Salves for every Sore Experienced and tryed RECEIPTS the Cure of the Most usual Diseases that our frail BODIES are most subject to whilst we remain in this Life Practised by Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Treasury of Life OR Salves for every Sore Experimental and tried Receipts for the Cure of most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life CHAP. I. For the falling out of the Fundament THe cause of falling out of the Fundament is weakness or relaxation of the Sphineter Muscle and therefore the cure must be by such Medicines as dry and binde 2. A Poltiss made with Pear-tree-leaves and applied to the place is very good 3. But first you must put the Fundament up into its right place again with a warm cloth which may be done without much trouble if it have not been long out 4. If it have been long out many times there follows inflamations and swellings and then it is very difficult to put it up in its right place again yea impossible before the swelling be taken away 5. In such a case you must bathe the place with Oyl of Roses warm or with Oyl of Cammomile or with the decoction of Cammomile if the inflamation be not great 6. If the inflamation be great you may make a Poltiss of Chickweed and Mallows and Endive and Succory with some Malt-flour to make it thick and Sheeps-suet to make it moist and that will allay the inflamation in four and twenty hours time then you may put it up again into its proper place 7. Having put it up again into its place strew upon the place the Powder of burnt Harts-horn 8. A Poltiss made of the leaves of Rosemary and applied to the place is exceeding good 9. To burn Greek Pitch in a close stool whilst the diseased party sits over the smoak of it is an approved cure 10. All such things as are dry and binding are naturally medicinal for the disease amongst which Sinckfoil Bistort and Tormentil are very good CHAP. 2. Of the Liver FOr stoppages of the Liver the Decoction of the Roots of Parsley Fennel Endive and Succory are very good being drunk and also an Oyntment or Plaister made of them applied to the right side is very good 2 Sage constantly eaten is a mighty great strengthner of the Liver inferiour to no Herb growing 3 Take of Agrimony and Liverwort of each two handfuls Harts tongue Bettony and Ribwort of each one handful make a strong Decoction of them and boyl the Decoction into Syrup with Sugar so have you an excellent remedy for the Liver alwayes by you CHAP. 3. Of the Dropsie IN the beginning the Dropsie may easily be cured by drinking but the Decoction of Endive and eating the boyled Herb for a Sallet 2 Ribwort boyled and the Decoction drunk helpeth those that have the Dropsie 3 Also a Plaister made of Plantane
9. Of the Diabetes WHether the cause of this disease be the immoderate attraction of the Reins or the weakness of the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder or both of them we will not dispute the point out here howsoever this is certain there follows as well great thirst as pissing against ones will 2. Against this disease give the Patient the Bladder of a Goat or of a black Sheep or else of a Bull beaten into powder let him drink half a dram of it in any convenient liquor at night going to bed 3. I suppose the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were sufficient if it were converted into Mummy and beaten into powder for it will be found to be a very difficult thing to beat the whole Bladder into powder besides it is the Sphinater Muscle which is in fault in our Bladder therefore if that onely of the Sheeps or Goats Bladder be used the Remedy is agreeable to the Disease 4. I remember once I cured a great Lubber that could not lye all night without pissing a bed nor remain a quarter of an hour in the day time without pissing by onely advising him to drink no other drink then what had been tied up twelve hours in a sheeps bladder and as â— have been since informed he is perfectly cured by it 5. Give him for three dayes in the Wane oâ— the Moon the Bladder of a fresh-water fish 6. The Brain of a Hare converted to Mummy and given in Wine to drink causeth the Patient to hold his water 7. Galangal taken inwardly is a good remedy to stop the involuntary flowing of the water if it come of a cold cause as I am of opinion it alwayes doth 8. The Lungs of a Kid bound warm under the Navel withholdeth the distillation of urine saith my Authour yet my opinion is that if they be medicinable for the disease the best way is to apply them to the Neck of the Bladder 9. My own Childe was troubled with this disease when very young whom I cured with these remedies First I got Alehoof and chopped it very small but washed it not and having sprinkled it with strong white Wine Vinegar applied to her Wrests Then I took three Holly-leaves the fullest of prickles I could get and boiled them in her drink These medicines I learned of an Italian which indeed cured her CHAP. 10. Of swelling of the Cods THis disease cometh sometimes of humors falling down into the Scrotum and sometimes onely winde gathering there 2. Take Bean-flour make it into the thickness of a Poltiss with juyce of Dwarf-Elder and common Oyl and apply it warm to the Cods it will presently allay the Swelling 3. A Poltiss made of the bark or leaves of Elder or dwarf-Elder will do the like 4. Goats-dung dissolved in Wine and the Cods bathed therewith takes away the swelling 5. The decoction of Marjoram also doth the like if it be used in like manner 6. But before all these I prefer the decoction of Vervine and Plantane to bathe the place with CHAP. 11. Of the Priapismus THe Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard is a disease exceeding painful and dangerous proceeding usually from a superabundance of hot and moist windy vapors possessing the seminal vessels 2. Let such as are subject to this disease use cool and moist diet especially let them eat much Purslane and Lettice 3. Hemlock bound to the Privities presently asswageth the disease 4. Let such as are subject to this disease avoid all Venerial thoughts for nothing in the world stirs the body to action more then thoughts do CHAP. 12. To provoke the Tearms A Plaister made of Galbanum and applied to the Navel doth mightily provoke them 2. Herbs medicinal to provoke them are Calamint Penerial Betony Sage Marjoram Savory Mugwort c. 3. The powder of Calamint works very violently upon the Feminine parts and therefore a dram of it taken in white Wine every morning is a very probable remedy to provoke them onely have a special care you give it not to women with childe because it destroyes the fruit of her Womb. 4. One caution let me give you before I go any further whatsoever you give to provoke the Tearms give it the Moon encreasing and the nearer the full the better for you will finde it an Herculian task to bring them down in the Wane of the Moon especially in such as never yet had them 5. The root of a white Lilly roasted soft in the embers and stamped with Oyl and applâ—ed to the Matrix it mightily openeth the passages thereof and brings down not onely the Tearms but also the dead childe 6. A Pessary made of Wool dipped in the juyce of Sage is a very good remedy to provoke the Tearms and indeed so is Sage taken any way and it is very probable that the use of drinking Sage-Ale took its rise from hence 7. It is good to make a bathe of all such things as provoke the Tearms and having put it in a Close-stool let the diseased party sit over it 8. Cinnamon and Cassia Lignea provoke the Tearms exceedingly and would be more used were they not so common 9. Bitter Almonds stamped being first blanched and used as a Pessary not onely to provoke the Tearms but also cleanse the Womb of ill humours 10. Half a dram of the powder of Steel given in the morning in white Wine will bring them down 11. I knew once a young Virgin in Service in London who was broken out all about her body her face and all in rough bunches not much unlike those of the French Disease and she lay under that scandal that she had that disease I was sent for to see her and examining the matter found that she never had the Tearms I presently conceived that to be the cause and by administring onely such Medicines as provoke them cured her in a short time 12. Once I had a Patient aged about thirty a Widow in whom they were stopped by reason of grief and when I could provoke them no other way about the full of the Moon I advised her to drink a gallon of Posset drink made with white Wine in two hours time before she went to bed I think she drank a pottle at least within the time and the next day they came down the reason is clear CHAP. 13. To stop the Tearms BEfore I come to Medicines I thought good to give notice of this that those things which strengthen the Womb both provoke the Tearms when they are stopped and also stop them when they flow immoderately such be stinking Arrach Cinnamon Cassia Lignea c. 2. Therefore the extract of Arrach made into Pills with the powder of the same Herb is excellent good both to provoke them and also to stop them 3. If the cause of their immoderate flowing be some vein broken as sometimes it is then to take the syrup of Clounswound-wort inwardly is an excellent remedy 4. Neither do I think the syrup of Comfrey or
of Solomons-seal to come much behinde it 5. Make a Pessary or Goats-dung and the juice of Shepheards purse or Ribwort or Plantane and Yarrow and Pomgranate-flowers it helps mightily in this case 6. Make a bathe of Plantane Ribwort Teazle Shepheards-purse Pomegranate flowers the rinde of an Oak put it in a Close-stool and let the diseased Woman sit over it 7 As many Grains as a Woman doth drink of Corriander-seed so many dayes shall the tearms be stopped saith my author I set it down rather for the oddness of the conceit rather then to perswade any one of the truth of it 8. Red Corral being drunk stops the tearms 9. The ashes of burnt A corns cast up the 〈◊〉 trix stops the tearms and rids the Womb of all filthy noysom humors 10. The Decoction of Ribwort drunk is a most excellent remedy to stop the tearms 11. The water that is found in a hollow Oak is very good being drunk to stop the tearms 12. Dried Acorns beaten into powder and Acorn Cups and Comfry Roots and the Roots of Solomons-seal of Bistort Tormentil and Cinkfoyl are very good to take inwardly 13. The herb St. Johns-wort being beaten into powder and drunk doth stop both White and Red Flux 14. Also Dragons blood is much commended for it 15. The Flowers of Red Archangel or dead Nettles stop the Red Flux the Flowers of White the Whites 16. Many times this Flux comes upon women in Labour especially such as fall in Labour before their time and then it is exceeding dangerous in such a case the speediest cure for there must be no dallying is to force away the conception 17. If you can save them and dry them and give them her down back again it may do wonders CHAP. 14. For the fits of the Mother THe cause is cleerly windy vapors ascending from the Womb upwards 2. Stamp nettles and apply them to the matrix is very good 3. Apply a plaister of Galbanum to the Navel it is a most admirable remedy to restrain those noysom vapours I never yet knâ—w it fail 4. It is a strange thing that many that lie sick of this infirmity though their speech be even taken away yet their pulse gives no indication of any sickness at all 5. Therefore if you finde any Woman in that case especially if they fetch their breath short do not say they counterfeit but judge the disease to be the fits of the Mother 6. Let her receive stinking Vapors at her Nose and sweet vapors at her Privities for the Womb draws to all sweet things and flies from all stinking 7. Nettle-feed beaten into powder and drunk in Wine doth asswage all pains of the Womb and takes away the windiness thereof 8. Take of extract of Arrach half an ounce Assa-foetida two drachms make them up into Pills with powder of Arrach and let the diseased Woman take a scruple morning and evening 9. The Leaves of Burs draw the Womb which way you please therefore in this disease apply them to the soles of the feet but in falling out of the Womb apply them to the crown of the head 10. Bur-seeds do the like CHAP. 15. Of swellings of the Breasts and Nipples THe cause may be either cold taken at the Breasts which causeth inflamations there such as women call the Ague in the breast 2. Or else the curdling of the Milk there when it is turned into a substance like Cheese 3. Sometimes the nipples are so swelled through superfluity of Milk that the childe cannot draw them 4. In such a case take Bean flowers and mix it with the white of an Egg and apply unto them 5. Nettles boiled in Vinegar and applied to them instantly helps them 6. Crumbs of Bread mixed with the juyce of Smallage and applied unto the Breasts helps them when the Milk is curdled in them 7. If there be any hollow Ulcer in the Breast Goats-dung mixed with Honey soon easily and gently cleanseth out all the filth and healeth it 8. A Poltiss made of Mallows Chickweed Malt-flour and Sheeps-suet takes away the Ague in the Breast without breaking 9. Goats-dung mixed with Vinegar and applied plaister-wise dissolves the curdled Milk 10. The ashes made of a Dogs Head helps cankrous Ulcers of the Breast 11. Pigeons-dung mixed with Honey is of great efficacy in knotted Breasts 12. Knot-grass being carried about the person takes away the swelling of the Nipples incontinently 13. The Breasts anointed with the grease of a Hedge-hog helps the curdling of Milk and opens the Pores exceedingly also if the Nipples be swelled anoint them with it it instantly helps them 14. The shells of Partridges Eggs stamped and mingled with Tar helps the Nipples when they are so chapped that they are ready to fall off Crab-claws taken inwardly are very good in all diseases of the Breast yet my opinion at present is that the whole Crab converted into Mummy and taken a drachm at a time is better CHAP. 16. Of Childe-birth DAte stones beaten into powder and given in Wine doth give most wonderful ease to women in labour 2. Dip a linen cloth in the juyce of Parsley and put it up the Privities it causeth the deliverance of the dead childe 3. The same being drunk brings away the After-birth 4. It is also it very good thing being taken inwardly to cleanse the Womb of ill humors and therefore a syrup of it ought to be kept alwayes in the House it furthers conception much 5. Polipodium stamped well and applied to the feet of a woman in travel bringeth away the childe whether it be alive or dead 6. Castorium or the spirit of it taken inwardly is held to be very good 7. The ashes of an Asses-hoof mixed with Oyl and the Privitives anointed with it is a very good and easie remedy 8. Also give unto a Woman in this case another Womans Milk to drink it causeth speedy delivery 9. The decoction or rather the juyce of Vervine given to drink to a woman in travel causeth speedy deliverance also 10. A dram of Myrrh given in powder to drink in any convenient liquor bringeth the childe away whether it be alive or dead 11. Boil Mugwort in water till it be a Poltis and apply it hot to the Thighs of a woman labouring with childe it causeth both birth to come away and if you let it tarry long there it will bring the Womb away also 12. Dittony in powder given a dram at a time to a woman labouring with a dead childe bringeth it away 13. Take Peony-seed in powder mix it with so much Oyl that you may make it into a Plaister and apply to the small of the back of a woman in labour according to the opinion of my Authour it causeth delivery without pain 14. A suffumigation made of the Horns and Hooss of a Goat being put in a Close-stool the woman sitting over it wonderfully moveth the Womb to deliverance 15. Betony is held to be a precious herb to be taken
inwardly in this case 16. It is reported but whether it be true or no I know not that if there be any Pears in the room where a woman is in labour they wonderfully hinder delivery 17. Juniper-berries eaten or rather the distilled spirit of them drunk causeth delivery both of the childe and after-burthen 18. Dissolve a Swallows-nest in water strain it and let the woman labouring with child drink the water a good draught of it at a time it causeth the birth of the childe to be very easie CHAP. 17. Of the Gout TOwn cresses stamped and made in a Poltiss adding a little Sheeps-suet to it to keep it moist and applied to the place is a very good remedy 2. The place being anointed continually with Rape-seed-oyl will in time help the disease without any other remedy 3. The root of a Hollyhock or else of a Marsh-mallow being stamped and mixed with the grease of an old Dog and applied to the place will help the Gout in three dayes time 4. The seed of Plantane being beaten into powder and mixed with Hogs-grease and applied to the place is a great help against the Gout Take Mustard seed Figs and Honey a little Bread and a little Vinegar beat them all together and binde them to the grief Take the flesh of a fat Cat the grease of a Goose of a Badger and of a Fox Ivy-berries Sage Rue Virgins-wax Frankincense the Yolks of rosted Eggs and snails put all these in an earthen pot that hath a hole made in the bottom for the purpose lute the top of it close with paste that no Air may go out nor in and put the bottom of this pot into the mouth of another whole pot that is fit to receive it and lute them close together then dig a hole in the earth fit to receive the undermost pot and cover it up close with earth then make a fire about the uppermost and there will distill out of it a most excellent Oyntment to cure the Gout 7. Take six Bats or Flittermice boyl them in rain-water with a few sprigs of Willow it makes an excellent Bath to cure the Gout 8. The Gouty place being anointed with Oyl of Henbane takes away the pain 9. Take Snails and bruise them and apply them to the place is a most admirable remedy 10. Kill a puppy dog that is not thirty dayes old and anoint the grieved place with its blood 11. Take a whelp of the age aforesaid and roste him and when he is half rosted cut him through the midst and apply him hot to the grieved place 12. Henbane heat hot between two Tile-sherds and applied to the place helps the disease 13. Make a plaister with Opium Saffron and the Yolks of Eggs and apply to the place 14. Make an Oyntment with Emmets and their Eggs and Hogs-grease adding a little Bay-salt to it and anoint the grieved place with it 15. The distilled Spirit of Misletoe the grieved place being bathed with it is as excellent a remedy for the Gout as most is 16. The ashes of burnt Time mingled with the White of an Egg and plaistered upon the place helpeth the Gout 17. A Bath made with Water wherein Emmets and their Eggs being first bruised have been boyled doth quickly help the oldest Gout that is 18. A most admirable remedy for the Gout but that is very difficult to be gotten in these parts is to anoint the place with the grease of a Lion 19. Gallen saith that the ashes of Coleworts being mixed with Hogs-grease will help the Gout in three dayes time if it be anointed with it 20. The dung of a Stork mixed with Hogs-grease helpeth the Gout though of long continuance 21. An Oyntment made of Rosa Solis and Hogs-grease is an excellent remedy 22. Hermodactils beaten into powder and made with an Oyntment in to Hogs-grease is very good 23. Pigeons-dung boyled in Wine till the Wine be consumed and used as a plaister helpeth the Gout 24. Take a pound of wax five pound of good Oyl a pound of good Wine boyl them together till the Wine be consumed afterwards mingle therewith two drachms of Euphorbium in powder make an Oyntment thereof the effects thereof hath been proved in Gouts of all sorts 25. A drachm of the Juyce of the rinde of a Popplar-tree being drunk every morning is an excellent remedy if you cannot get a drachm of the Juyce bruise the Bark and make a strong Decoction of it and of that you may drink a quarter of a pint CHAP. 18. For the Fistula and other hollow Vlcers MIngle the Milk of Spurge with Hogs-grease and boyl them together till they be well incorporated then put a little powder of Myrrh to them anoint the tent with this Oyntment and put it into the hole of the Fistula and it will cleanse it of all manner of filth 2. Take of Plantane Ribwort Primrose-Leaves and Dazies dry them and beat them into powder and let him that hath a Fistula take three drachms of this powder in a day inward in any convenient Liquor viz. one in the morning another at noon and the third at night it is a sovereign cure for all sorts of Fistula's and hollow Ulcers if they be cureable if not my Author saith the Patient will vomit up the Medicine again 3. The ashes made of a Dogs-head being burnt in a new pot helpeth any Fistula or Canker and cleanseth the hollow Uâ—cer of all his filthiness 4. If the Fistula have many holes or if there be but one and that one be so straight that it will not admit of a Tent as many times it happens by reason of hardness of the lips in such a case there is no better remedy then this take Goats-dung and boyl it well with Honey then strain it when it is hot and drop a little of it warm into the hole it taketh away the Swelling and draweth out the Filth and Corruption purgeth away the rotteness and healeth up the Fistula 5. If the Fistula be outwards put thereto the Juyce of Doves-foot and it will heal it if it be inward drink it inwardly and it will do the like 6. Let such as are troubled with Fistula's take a drachm of Myrobalans in powder every morning if the cause come of Melancholly let him take the powder of Indian Myrobalans but if it proceed of Choller use Citron Myrobaâ—ans 7. If it be a woman that have the Fistula drop into it the Juyce of a Cows turd but if it be a man that hath it let it be Juyce of a Bulls â—urd 8. The Juyce of Plantane put into the holâ—owness of the Fistula will help it 9. The Juyce of Ribwort and the Juyce of Pimpernel will do the like 10. If the Fistula be clean a Tent made of Lead being put into it will cure it you may pull 〈◊〉 out now and then if you please and put it in â—gain 11. Let such as are troubled with Ulcers or Fistula's use Avens in their ordinary drink 12.
The distilled water of Night-shade is excellent good to wash hollow Ulcers but in my opinion the Spirit of the Herb is ten times better CHAP. 19. Of the Leprosie TAke an adder cut off the Head and Tail and cleanse him of his Skin and Entrails then boyl him in Wine and make him into Troches with a few crumbs of bread of which let the Patient take a drachm every morning in a quarter of a pint of the Wine wherein he was boyled if this begin to make his body swell take him to a Hot-house and let him sweat and after sweating let his whole body be anointed with the liquor wherein the Adder was boiled and you shall finde the whole flesh and skin will be renewed and the Patient perfectly cured 2. Viper Wine if it be well made must needs also be very good in this case 3. Make a strong Decoction of Adders in water then let Corn lie in steep in the water certain dayes and feed Hens with the same Corn let them eat no other meat nor drink no other drink but the water it was steeped in and in few dayes you shall see their Feathers will fall off when all their feathers are off then kill them and boil them and let the Leoprous person eat them and drink the water wherein they were sodden and bathe his body in it or at least wise so much of it as is troubled with the Leprosie 4 Take a Snake and roste her with salt afterwards burn her in a pot well closed while she may be all brought into powder of which we may give a drachm at a time in any convenient Liquor to him that hath the Leprosie CHAP. 20. Of Warts THough Warts themselves be no terrible disease yet are they but an ill savoured Ornament to the hands and a worse to the face 2. Put the feet of Hens in hot Embers till the scales thereof be separated and shrunk from her Legs and with the same scales while they be warm rub your warts and in three or four dayes so doing it will drive them away 3. The rinde of a Willow-tree burnt and the ashes tempered with Vinegar and applied plaister-wise to the warts takes them away 4 Agrimony stamped with Vinegar and applied to them doth the like 5. Purslane rubbed upon Warts hath this property that it will pluck them up by the roots 6. Take a red Snail and cut her overthwart the back and save the liquor that cometh from her the which blend with a little Bay-salt being first dryed and beaten into powder and apply it to the Warts and it will instantly kill them 7. The Milk of a Fig-tree if a little of it be put upon Warts it takes them away by the Roots without any pain at all CHAP. 21. To draw any Thorn or Splinter out of the Body SOuthernwood made into an Oyntment with Hogs-grease of its own property draweth out any Splinter or thorn or Iron out of the body of man 2. Goose-dung mingled with the Juyce of Betony doth the like 3. The ashes of burnt Swallows mixed with Vinegar and applied hath the like operation 4. Polipodium stamped with Hogs-grease and applyed to the grief is very good also 5. The root of Gladen being stamped and applied to the place is good in the same operation for it draweth out not onely Thorns and Splinters but also pieces of broken Bones 6. Also if it he drunk inwardly it is exceeding good in all manner of bruises 7. Betony being made into an Oyntment with Hogs-grease is excellent good to draw out pieces of broken bones especially in the head 8. Stamp the Root of Elecampany with the grease of a Hedge-hog and a little Honey and apply it to the place it draweth out Thorns or any thing else that is fastened in the body of man 9. Snails bruised and applyed to the place is a remedy inferiour to none The Expert LAPIDARY OR A Physical Treatise OF THE SECRET VERTUES OF STONES BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Expert Lapidary OR A Physicall Treatise of the secret Vertues of Stones 1. Jacinth OF these there are two kindes red which is the best the other like a Carbuncle which is presently changed by the fire and of a small bigness This Stone being carried about a man preserveth a man from hurt by lightning and preserveth him from the plague if it be brought near to any that hath the plague it loseth its lustre splendor and brightness so it doth being brought near to any poison being beaten into powder and so taken inwardly or born whole about a man it provoketh sleep and encreaseth honour and wisedom Authors for this Cardanus and Wicker 2. Saphire THis being born about one helps all diseases of the skin as Morphew Itch Scabs Ring-worms c. keeps back sweating makes men chaste causeth strength and a good colour takes away vain fears helps Necromancy and troubles by Necromantick Apparitions by divine gift it makes the minde quiet godly and safe being drunk inwardly it helps such as are bit by venomous Beasts and Scorpions inward Ulcers Poyson and Pestilence flesh growing in the Eyes strengthneth and maketh glad the heart being mixed with other Medicines for the same purpose it asswageth Carbuncles by being touched with it being worn it defends from the Pestilence inwardly taken it helps Ulcers in the inner parts and burstness Authors for this Albertus magnus Garcias Cardanus Dioscorides and Gallen 3. Emerald OF Emeralds there are three sorts the best comes from Scilicia and is the softest the next from Peru which is harder and not so deep a colour but more perspicuous and glistering the third which is the worst comes from the West Indies and is of a dull colour scarce to be seen through scarce any that come from Peru are without spots They rejoyce most in their own light and are of more force by night then by day no Stone more safe to carry about one then this the Saphire and Jacinth This Stone stayeth lust and according to Cardanus and Albertus magnus they will break if they be about a man when he deflours a Virgin Being born about one it stayes the Vertigo or dizziness in the head strengthens the memory stayes inordinate passions and affections helps the sight causeth love of Study encreaseth riches being held under the tongue it is good to divine with it causeth eloquence Being taken inwardly it cureth the Falling-sickness bloody Flux it resisteth Poison and helps vain fears as of Fairies Night-Hags Devils c. it helps folly and anger and brings a good condition Cardanus Albertus Magnus Garcias and Aristotle 4. Ruby RUby is a red Stone shining like fire it restraineth lust being born about one but most of all being taken inwardly it resisteth the Pestilence preserveth the body sound strengthens the vital spirits thereby taking away evil thoughts and making the man nimble-witted
chearful and therefore fortunate Cardanus and Wicker 5. Granate OF this Stone there are two sorts East and West and the West are supposed to be best they are of the quality of the Earth and Fire being worn outwardly or taken inwardly they resist sadness but take away sleep they strengthen the heart but hurt the brain as much they stir the blood and make men angry The Easternly work the same effects but not so violently Cardanus and Wicker 6. Sardine OF Sardine there are three sorts in the Indies to wit red fat and that with silver creases but the best of all come from Babylon being born about one they keep away evil dreams quicken the wit bridle in the blood and choller and make men conquerours in strifes and suits of Law and encrease riches Cardanus Pliny 7. Diamond A Diamond is the hardest of all Stones and most effectual in whatsoever vertue it hath it wonderfully prevails against night-fears therefore must of necessity prevail against melancholly and choller adust or it may do it by strengthning the heart for fear comes through weakness of the vital spirits and is known by the beating or motion of the heart It is reported to make those infortunate that wear them for it is so to the Heart as the Sun is to the Eye though it be light it self yet it dazles the eyes and makes them blinde if you look upon him the best way then to wear them is at a distance from the body they make men undaunted therefore they are best for Cowards to wear they are ill to wear for dishonest people for they make them bold to do mischief Cardanus and Garcias 8. Amethist OF these there are two sorts the one white like Christal and hardly known from it the other of a Violet colour the best are brought out of India they make men staid and watchful being bound to ones Navel they keep him from drunkeness they are profitable in fights and huntings they quicken the wit take away sleep and vapors that flow into the head being laid in Wine all night and the Wine drunk in the morning they make women fruitful and resist poison Cardanus 9. Bezoar THere are two sorts East and West Bezoar the East is best it hath no obnoxious quality with it if you take never so much of it being taken inwardly it is profitable against the bitings of venomous beasts and all melancholly diseases as Leprosie Itch Scabs Quartane Agues Ring-worms c. It hath been known to cure men past hope and left off by Physicians and hath restored them to their former health it resisteth poison a little of it in powder being put upon a Wound made by a venomous Beast sucks out the poison or being made into Lozenges with Rose-water it is a Preservative against all manner of poison Garcias 10. Topaze TOpaze is a Stone of a green colour being rubbed upon a Physical Whetstone to wit a Whetstone of Cypress it produceth an Oyl which will cure diseases in the Eyes also it is helpful for Dropsies and Consumptions If you put it into a vessel of boiling water it cools the water so that you may presently thrust in your hand and take it out without any hurt to your hand Epiphanius Albertus magnus 11. Snakes Stone CAtch a Water-snake and draw a string through his tail and hang him up with his head downwards a vessel of water being under into which he may gape and after certain hours or dayes he will vomit a Stone which falling into the water will drink it all up this Stone being bound to the Belly of one that hath the Dropsie draweth out and drinketh up all the water Hollerius 12. Toad Stone A Todes Stone by gentle touching or stroaking takes away the pain inflamation and swelling from any Wound made by any venomous Creature and instantly draws out the poison therefore if a Rat Bee Wasp Spider Hornet or any other venomous Creature have hurt any part about thee touch the place gently with this Stone and the pain and swelling will cease Take a Toad and tie her up in a purse full of holes and lay it in an Emmet-hill and when the flesh is all eaten away you may finde the Stone if there be any for all Toads have it not If you accidentally get such a one and desire to know whether it be right or no hold it near to a live Toad and if it be good and true she will proffer to take it away Wicker Lemnius 13. Alectorius THis is a Stone found in the ventricle of an old Cock it is of the bigness of a Bean it maketh him that beareth it beloved constant and bold maketh them beloved of Women and strong in the sports of Venus being held under the tongue it quencheth thirst Lemnius Albertus Magnus 14. Jasper IAsper being borne about one stops Bleeding helps Travel in Women stayes Lust cures Agues and Dropsies and chears the heart Garcias Albert. Mag. Mathiolus 15. Nephriticus THis is a stone which being borne about one stayes the pains in the Reins and Stomach expelleth Stone and Gravel A certain man being troubled with the Stone wearing this Stone about him voided so much Gravel that he feared the quantity would do him harme being cast out it was so exceeding great therefore he laid off the Stone and presently he voided no more Gravel but being pained again he wore the Stone and presently the pain ceased and abundance of Gravel and small Stones came from him for it is of that admirable faculty being borne about one next the skin that it preserves from the pain of the Stone and cools the Reins Another of ten years of age was pained with the Stone and wearing a Bracelet of these Stones never was troubled with it afterwards Nich. Monardis Wicker 16. Tiburones IN the Indian sea are caught fish called Tiburones being great strong fighting fish and of a terrible aspect which daily fights with the Sea Wolves in their heads is found three or four Stones and sometimes more very white great and heavy so that sometimes one of them weighs two pound the powder of them cureth the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and difficulty of Urine and is of no taste at all Nich. Monardis 17. Blood-stone THis is a kind of Jasper being worn next the skin it stops bleeding either at the nose or mouth or by wound it stops the Hemorrhoydes or Piles and stayes the Courses in Women this it doth as experience teacheth either by dipping the Stone in cold water and holding it it in the hand or by binding it to the place so it touch the skin N. Monardis 18. Haematites LApis Haematites is binding and a little heating and extenuating it cures Scars and Scurf in the eyes being mingled with Honey and eyes that be Blood-shed being mingled with Womans milk it is given in Wine against difficulty of Urine and overflowing of the Courses in Women and in Juyce of Pomegranates to such as Vomit blood Wicker 19.
Sea Sand. IF a man that hath the Dropsie stand up to the neck in Sea-sand by the Sea-side in a hot day it will drink up all the water and cure the Disease Wicker 20. Whetstone of Cypress A Whetstone of Cypress that which comes off from it by whetting stayes the falling off of Hair and causeth it to grow in bald places it keeps the breasts of Virgins from growing being drunk with Vinegar it consumes the Milt and cures the Falling sickness Wicker 21. Aetites THere are four sorts of these but the best comes from Affrick and are found in an Eagles nest which is very little and soft having another little one within it and is thought to be the female The Male come from Arabia and is hard like a Gaul having another hard Stone within it and is of a reddish colour The third comes from Cypress and is like that which comes from Affrick but is bigger and hath sand and little stones within it The fourth is called Taphiusius from the place whence it comes and is found in Rivers it is white and round in form this is the worst of all These all joyntly are called Lapis pregnans or a Stone with Childe because it carries another Stone within it If this Stone be given to a thief in bread he cannot swallow it down or if you boil it in any thing and give the Decoction to any that hath stollen any thing from you he cannor drink it though the Stone be out Being bound to the Neck or Arm of a Woman it strengthens conception and stayes miscarriage in the time of her Labour if it be bound to the inner part of her Thigh near the place of conception it causeth her to have an easie labour almost without any pain but be sure you take it away so soon as she is delivered for fear of further mischief Pliny Disocorides Lemnius 22. Chelidonius IF you take young Swallows out of their nest before the full Moon you shall finde two little Stones in their Ventricles the one reddish the other black these ought never to touch the earth but be kept close wrapped up in Bullocks or Stags leather the former being bound under the Armeholes helps the Falling-sickness the other Feavers Thus Albertus Magnus Some say if you prick out their eyes the Old one will bring a Stone which will recover their sight and some say she doth it by Celandine the Stone will remain in their Ventricle I have tried this I pricked out the eyes of some in a nest and not of others and I found the Reddish-stone in the Ventricle of one whose eyes I pricked out and she could see again but in those whose eyes were not pricked out there was none but I never observed the Lunation Also they say if you break their Legs she will bring a Stone which will instantly cure them which Stone will be found in the nest 23. Lincyrius LApis Lincyrius being cast among burning coles quencheth them and if you wrap it up in a Linnen cloth not onely that but the cloth also will remain unburned even in the midst of the hottest fire It wonderfully helps forward the Travail of Women Epiphanius 24. Jet 25. Amber IEt being beaten into a very fine powder and given to a Woman fasting in White Wine will presently make manifest whether she be a Virgin or no for if she presenlty make Water her Virginity is lost if not the contrary The same effect also hath Amber both of them or either of them being hung about ones Neck are profitable against distillation of Phlegm into the Throat and Lungs Baptista Porta Mathiolus 26. Lapis Lazuli IT is a Stone of a Sky colour the best of them have spots in them like stars of gold and are found in Gold Mines being given inwardly they purge Melancholly notably So they do meanly being carried about one they make the bearer of them merry fortunate and rich Dioscorides Cardanus Med. Florentini 27. Blatta Bizantia BEing beaten into powder and snuffed up into the Nose helps the fits of the Mother and such as have the Falling sickness being taken inwardly it looseneth the Belly Dioscorides Medici Coloniensis 28. Pearls PEarls help trembling in Old men Convulsions and Frenzies preserve the body sound and restore lost health both amend and increase milk in Nurses correct the seed and failings in the parts of generation helps eating Ulcers Cankers and the Hemorrhoydes Dardanus Wicker 29. Corral OF Corral there are three sorts Black White Red the first is most rare the second most common the third most excellent Let a Childe newly born take ten grains of Red Corral in powder in a little Breast Milk before it taste any other food and it will never have the Falling-sickness Generally it takes away all inward griefs restores weak and sick bodies by strengthning the heart resisteth all Diseases growing in children by strengthening nature cureth all Fluxes in Men Women and Children it stops blood flowing from any part it stops the Tearms in Women if they be immoderate else not and brings their bodies to good temperature Arnoldus Mathiolus Wicker 30. Turkey Stone THis Stone being worn in a Ring as sickness comes or death draws nigh so it loseth its lustre it looks perfectly blew in sickness pale a little before death perfect white and so it looks if brought neer to any Poyson This Treatise was revised and for want of time left to posterity without addition Nich. Culpeper Sol. 18. Aquar 1652. Doctor Diets DIRECTORY OR THE Physicians Vade Mecum OR Short but safe Rules to preserve Health in a Methodical way passing by the Impertinencies and Niceties of former Physicians treating onely of familiar and the most useful things in Diet such as chiefly nourish and continue Life BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor DIETS Directory OR The Physicians Vade mecum OR Short but safe Rules to preserve Health in a Methodical way passing by the Impertinencies and Niceties of former Physicians treating onely of familiar and the most useful things in Diet such as chiefly nourish and continue Life Courteous Reader HAving to my no small grief observed what a stir and a pudder most Writers have made about Diet and there Common-place Practice I thought fit to reduce their tedious deviations into this Epitome that the diligent Student having recourse to these three Doctors Diet Reason and Experience might with the other assistance of the Doctors Dispensatory be so clearly informed as to rest ingeniously satisfied Nicholas Culpeper Of Diet. BY Diet is to be understood the ministring of Meat and Drink according to the accustomed natural ordering of it for the substance and temperature an exact order of it in labour Meat Drink Sleep and Venery There is none but if they rightly understand themselves but may in some respects be their own Physicians if they will but rightly consider of those things
much drink and meat that the Liver which is the fire under the pot is suppressed that he cannot naturally nor truly decoct or digest the superabundance of meat and drink the which is in the pot or stomach wherefore divers times these Impediments do follow The tongue is deprived of his office to speak the wits or senses be dull and obnubulated from reason sloath and sluggishness consequently followeth The appetite is withdrawn the head is light and akes full of fantasies and divers times some be so sopited that the Malt-worm playeth the devil so fast in the head that all the world runneth round about on wheels then doth the principal members and the official members fail of their strength yet the pulses be full of agility Such Repletions especially such Gurgitations do ingender divers infirmities through which brevity and shortness of life follows For the wise man saith That Surfeits do kill many men and Temperance doth prolong the life And also it is written Ecclus 37. That there doth die many more by Surfeit then there doth by the Sword For as surfeiting ingendreth many Infirmities as the Dropsies the Gouts Phlegm Pimples in the face vehement Impressions undigest Humors Opilations Feavers Putrefaction It perturbates the head the eyes the tongue and the stomach with many other infirmities Gallen saith overmuch repletion or surfeiting causeth strangulation and sudden death for as I said the stomach is so inforced and the Liver is so sore oppressed that natural heat and the powers are extinct wherefore abstinence for this matter is the best and the perfectest Medicine the Patient being in no wise to eat meat until the stomach be evacuated of all evil humors by vomit or other convenient wayes for else crude and raw undigested humors will encrease in the body Two Meals a day is sufficient for a resident person A labourer may eat three times a day I advertise that the first refection or meal be digested ere he do eat the second for there is nothing more hurtful for mans body then to lay meat upon meat undigested for the last refection or meal will hinder the digestion of the first refection or meal Also sundry meats of divers operations eaten at one refection or meal is unwholesome nor is it good to sit long at dinner and supper An hour is sufficient to sit at dinner not so long at supper We English have an evil use in sitting long at dinner and at supper at the beginning of dinner and supper we feed on grosse meats and the best which are wholesome nutritive and light of digestion are kept for servants for when the good meat comes to the table through feeding upon gross meat the appetite is extinct I am unwilling to be too large on this Subject and therefore I shall refer thee Courteous Reader to the other two Doctors of Reason and Experience Of several sorts of Drinks WAter is one of the four Elements of the which divers Liquors or Drinks for mans sustenance are made taking their original and substance of it as Ale Beer Mead and Methegline Water is unwholesome alone by it self for an English man considering the contrary usage which is not concurrant with nature Water is cold slow and slack of digestion The best Water is Rain Water if so be that it is clean and purely taken Next to it is running water the which doth swiftly run from the East into the West upon stones or pibbles the third Water to be praised is River or Brook Water which is clear running on pibbles and gravel Standing Waters which are refreshed with a fresh Spring are good but standing Waters and Well Waters on which the sun hath no reflection although they be lighter then other running Waters are yet they are not commendable And let every one beware of all Waters which are standing and putrefied with froath docknet and mud for if they bake or brew or dress meat with it it will ingender many infirmities The Water which every man ought to dress his meat withal or shall use baking or brewing let it be running and put it in vessels that it may stand there two or three hours strain the upper part through a thick linen cloth and cast the inferial part away If any do use to drink water with wine let it be purely strained and then seethe it and after it is cold put it into his wine but it is better to drink with wine stilled waters especially the water of Strawberries of Bugloss of Borage of Endive of Succory or the water of Sow-thistle and Dandelion and if any one is troubled with the Stone or doth burn in the pudibunde places let him use to drink with white Wine the water of Haws and the water of Milk Of Wine WInes are of Grapes except Respis which is made of a berry Chuse your Wine after this sort it must be fine fair and clear to the eye fragrant and redolent having a good odor and flavour in the nose it must sparkle in the glass when it is drawn or put out of the pot into the glass it should be cold and pleasant in the mouth strong and subtile of substance moderately drunk it doth accuate and quicken the wits comfort the heart scoure the Liver especially if it be white Wine it doth rejoyce all the powers and nourish them it ingenders good blood it doth comfort and cherish the brain and it dissolveth Phleghm it ingendreth heat is good against heaviness and penvesiness and is full of agility it is medicinable especially white Wine for it doth mundifie and cleanse wounds and sores The better the Wine is the better humors it doth ingender Wine ought not to be too new nor to old high Wines as Malmesey may be kept long because Wine is full of fumosity it is good sometimes to allay it with water French Wines and specially Renish Wine that is fined is good at meat especially Claret Wine It is not good to drink Wine nor Beer before one doth eat though there be old-fantastical sayings to the contrary Also these hot Wines as Malmesey Corse Greke Romanisk Romney Sack Alygant Bastard Tyre Osay Muscadel Caprick Tent Roberdavy with other hot Wines are not good to drink with meat but after meat with Oysters with Salads with Fruit a draught or two may be allowed Old men may drink high Wines at their pleasure all sweet and gross Wines cause fatness Of Ale ALe is made of Malt and Water and they which do put any other thing into Ale except Yest or Barme do sophistick their Ale Ale for an English man is a natural drink Ale must have these properties it must be fresh and clear not ropy it must have no Weft nor Tail Ale should not be drunk under five dayes old new Ale is unwholsome sowre Ale and dead and Ale which do stand atilt is most unwholesome Barley Malt maketh better Ale then Oaten Malt or any other corn it ingenders grose humors but it causeth strength Of Beer
fore-part of all manner of beasts and fowls are more hotter and lighter of digestion then the hinder parts are The marrow of all beasts are hot and moist are nutritive if well digested they mollifie the stomach and take away the appetite wherefore one should eat Pepper with it The blood of all beasts and fowls are not wholesome but hard of digestion All the inwards of beasts and of fowls as the heart the liver the lungs tripes trilibubs with all the entrails is hard of digestion and doth encrease gross humors The fat of flesh is not so much nutritive as the lean it is best when lean and fat is mixt one with another The tongues of beasts are hard of digestion and of little nourishment The stones of a Cockrel and stones of other beasts are very nourishing Of roasted boiled bak't fried meats BEyond Sea at the Universities boiled meat is used at dinner and roast to supper as boiled meat is lighter of digestion Broiled meats are hard of digestion and naught for the Stone fried meat is harder of digestion then broiled it ingenders Choller and Melancholly Bak't meat buried in paste is not praised in Physick All manner of flesh which is inclined to humidity should be roasted and all flesh which is dry should be boiled Fish may be sod roasted broiled and baken every one after their kinde and use and fashion of the Countrey as the Cook and the Physician may agree and devise For a good Cook is half a Physician Of the Roots of Borage and Bugloss THe Roots of Borage and Bugloss sod tender and made in a succade do ingender good blood and a wholesom temperance Of Elisaunder and Elina Campane THe Root of Alisaunder sod tender and made in a succade is good for to destroy the Stone in the Reins of the Back and Bladder the Roots of Elina Campane sod tender in a succade is good for the breast for the lungs and for all the interial members of man Of Parsley and Fennel THe Roots of Parsley sod tender and made in succade are good for the Stone and to make a man piss Fennel sod is good for the lungs and the sight Of Turnips and Parsnips TUrnips boiled and eaten with flesh augments the seed if they be eaten raw and moderately they provoke a good appetite Parsnips sod doth encrease nature and are nutritive and expels urine Of Raddish and Carrets RAddish roots doth break winde and do provoke urine but they be not good for those which have the Gout Carrets sod augment and encrease nature and cause urine Of the Roots of Rapes RApe roots if they be well boiled nourish if they be moderately eaten immoderately they ingender ventosity and offend the stomach Of Onions ONions provoke to Venery and Sleep and if a man drink sundry drinks they rectifie and reform the variety of the operation of them they cause a good appetite Of Leeks LEeks open the breast and provoke urine cause and encrease bad blood Of Garlick GArlick of all roots is much used in France and some other Countreys it opens the breast and it doth kill wormes in the belly which the Lumbrici Ascarides and Cutuibicini which are small little long worms that tickle in the fundament it also heats the body and desolves gross winds Of Cabbage CAto in his book De re rustica writes too highly in praise of Cabbages as he judges them to be a sufficient medicine against all diseases some are of opinion if they are eat raw before meat with Vinegar that they preserve the stomach from Surfeits and the brain from drunkenness this I am certain of that if they are constantly eat they injure the sight except the eyes are very moist they cause and break winde the opinion of most writers is that they are not so wholesom as Lettice being hot in the first and dry in the second degree Of Asparagrass NO kinde of Herbs nourish more being freed from their bitterness and eaten hot they are temperately moist and exceed not in heat the first degree they increase Venery strengthen the Liver and help conception Of Musk Melons MUsk Melons are not so moist or cold as the ordinary sort of Melons are they ingender better blood and descend more speedily into the belly fruits of this kinde are dangerous not to be eaten presently out of the ground but rather let them lie a week though that they are ripe that there watrish moisture may be abated Garden Pompeons and Melons may lie in a warm Kitching till Christmas Of Potata Roots POtata roots nourish mightily either Sod Bak't or rosted the newest and heaviest are the best they ingender much flesh blood and seed Of Raddishes RAddishes cause rank belchings are hardly digested they burn the blood ingender Lice cause Leanness spoil the eye-sight and corrupt the whole mass of nourishment Of Skirret Roots SKirret Roots have a long string within them which taken away before they are sod makes them eat exceeding sweet they are of a milde and temperate nature agreeing with complexions did we know all the vertues of them they would be more nourished then they are in our Gardens Of Borage and Bugloss BOrage doth comfort the heart ingender good blood and causeth mirth so doth Bugloss which is taken of more vigour strength and efficacy Of Artechokes and Rokat THere is nothing usually to be eaten of Artechokes but the heads of them when they are almost ripe sodden tender in the broth of Beef or with Beef eat them at dinner they increase nature and provoke Venery Rokat doth increase the seed stumulate the flesh and doth help digestion Of Succory and Endive SUccory doth help the Stomach and keep the head in temper and qualifie Choller Endive is good for them which have hot and dry hot Stomachs Of white Beets and Purslane WHite Beets are good for the Liver and for the Spleen are abstercine Purslane doth abate the ardor of lasciviousness and mittigates heat in the inward parts of the head and eyes if preserved in brine it heats and purges the stomach it is cold in the third degree and moist in the second Of Time and Parsley TIme breaketh the Stone desolves winde and causeth Urine Parsley breaks the Stone causeth Urine is good for the Stomach and causeth a sweet breath Of Lettice and Sorrel LEttice extincts Venery causeth milk in womens Breasts it is good for a hot Stomach provokes sleep increases blood temperates it Sorrel is good for a hot Liver and also for the Stomach being sod it looseth the belly in the time of the Plague taken fasting sucking or chewing some of the Leaves it preserues against infection the seeds thereof brewed and drunk with Wine and water are good against the Chollick and the stopping of Fluxes excellent against overcharged Stomachs Sorrel possets are soveraign in sundry distempers This Herb is cold in the third and dry in the second degree Of Marigolds MArigolds the Herb and Flowers are of great use with us amongst other
they are cold and moist Damsins are of the same nature Six or seven Damsins eaten before dinner are good to provoke the appetite they mollifie the belly and are abstersive the skin and stones ablated Of Olives and Capers OLives eaten at the beginning of a refection coroborate the stomach and provoke the appetite Capers do purge Phlegm and cause an appetite Of Spices Ginger GInger heats the Stomach and helps digestion Green Ginger eaten in the morning fasting doth acuate and quicken the memory Of Pepper THere are three sundry kindes of Pepper white black and long Pepper All kindes of them heat the body dissolves Phlegm and Winde helps digestion and causeth to make water Of Cloves and Mace CLoves comforts the sinews dissolve and consume superfluous humors restore nature Mace is a Cordial helps the Chollick and is good against the bloody Flux Of Saffron SAffron comforts the heart and stomach but is too hot for the Liver Of Nutmegs and Cinamon NUtmegs are good for them which have cold in their head and comfort the sight and the brain and the mouth of the stomach and is good for the Spleen Cinamon is a Cordial wherefore some Writers admire why one dies that may eat Cinamon yet it doth stop and is good to restrain Fluxes and the looseness of the body Of Liquorice LIquorice is good to cleanse and open the Lungs and the Breast and to loose Phlegm in cakes with Honey it purges moderately Of Salt SAlt moderately used is very wholesom taken excessive it ingenders Choller dries up the natural moisture and inflames the blood stops the Veins hardens the Stone and gathers together viscus humors causing sharpness of Urine consuming the flesh and fat of the body they which are cold watry and Phlegmatick may feed more plentifully of Salt and of Salt meats but Chollerick and Melancholick persons must eat it moderately and Sanguine persons must take no more of it then lightly to relish their meat By the general consent of Writers it is not nourishing I must in particular dissent from them and affirm that it doth not onely accidentally but essentially nourish accidentally in making the meat more gracious to the stomach hindering putrefaction and drying up superfluous humors essentially in it self as it takes its just and due proportion for our body hath and should have humors of all tastes the finest humor of the body being nothing but salt it self so termed by the best but newest Philosophers which if so will hardly be preserved without eating of salt Of Sugar SUgar is temperate and nourishing good against the Choller of the Stomach admirably useful in preserves conserves sauces c. The ancients term it the Indian salt the kindes hereof are made of the tears of Sugar-Canes so replenished with Juyce as that they crack again there are other wayes of making of Sugar to no purpose to particularize the best sugar is solid hard light exceeding white sweet glistering like snow melting as salt doth speedily in any liquor the Refiners if I am not mistaken in my art feel an unspeakable sweetness in theirs it is their mystery I am unwilling to call it couzenage Sugar is not so hurtful as Honey to Chollerick complexions Gallen writes that it may be given in Agues it delighteth the Stomach pleaseth the Blood and Liver cleanseth the Breast and restores the Lungs and iâ— good for children against the Worms Doctor REASON And Doctor EXPERIENCE Consulted with OR The Mystery of the Skill of PHYSICK made easie Short clear and certain Rules how to discern judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the Body affected the Causes Signs or Symptoms collected and observed from the most approved Authors and constantly practised BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with c. Of the Apoplexy IT is a disease that deprives of sense and motion in the whole body as also of the principal animal functions this disease doth amaze both body and minde and is so dangerous that few recover of it the Brain which is the rock of the Sinews is affected In a weak Apoplexy there is a sudden fall on the earth with outcryes with such a difficulty of breathing that one cannot discern any life in the Patient An Apoplexy is often caused by slimy gross and cold Phlegm as also by crudities and drunkenness so that such as are much addicted to surfeitings especially old men are subject to any Apoplexy This disease if it be great is hard to be cured if the Patient do escape death he either falls into a Palsie of some part or of the whole body The Air the sick person lives in must be somewhat hot his Diet must be temperate instead of Exercise strong Fractions and Ligatures of the extream parts may be used Cupping-glasses must be fastened to the shoulders he should be carried up and down in a hanging bed and after two or three weeks it will be good to bathe Of the Mother THe stopping and choaking of the Womb or Mother is a running back of the Womb or of maligne vapors bred in the Womb unto the higher parts whereby the bowels midriff and stomach are sometimes crushed that they cannot be widened by breathing the Womb in this disease being lifted so high that it drives the other members above it to the higher parts This disease hath some affinity with the Falling-sickness Swounding and Apoplexy The Womb is chiefly affected through menstruous blood or some other humor for the most part queaziness of stomach and loathng of meat and thick breathing follow this disease This disease is sometimes caused from an Impostume in the Womb or by some seed sent into the Womb and therein detained and corrupted The danger of this disease is not so great if the Spirits are not hurt The Air the Patient lives in should be temperate such meats are to be abstained from as increase blood and seed the diet must be sparing wine is not to be drunk except alâ—ayed with water except in case of swounding their Exerc ses are to be moderate their sleeps short and to shun Melancholly Of Melancholly THat which is Hypocondraical is windy oft-times caused by the over-boiling of dreggish blood settled near to the stomach or gristles of the short ribs by a distemper of the liver stomach or miseraical veins the part affected is the brain the signs of this disease are the excessive heat of humors the parts about the heart being inflamed This distemper is caused by the default of the spleen when it doth not draw away the Melancholick blood made by the distemper of the Liver At the first this disease is easily cured but if it grows old it is hardly to be remedied The Patients diet must be moist little broth will suffice because of fluctuations in the stomach he may drink cream of hulled barley with a
the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
dry and binde it ought to be of a slimy substance he must eat sparingly he may drink wine and water mixed together he must shun all exercise he must breath very gently for violent breathing is offensive he must not sleep in the day time his sleep at night must be moderate his belly must be kept loose by art or nature perturbations of his minde must be avoided especially anger The Postscript COurteous Student observing my indisposition of Health to encrease and still seize more powerfully on me I have so ordered through the trust I have imposed in some of my best Friends that these Papers preserserved for the publique good should out-live me in which as the old Saying is I have inclosed Homerâ— Iliads in a Nut-shel in these few Pages epitomized the Mystery of the Skill of Physick in this small Looking-glass representing to thy clear view above forty of the most dangerous and desperate Diseases that chiefly in this Life afflict ouâ— frail Bodies It cannot be expected that having confined my self to such narrow limits that I should have annexed there more particular Cures they having been so seriously and I hope through Gods Blessing successfully treated of in my foregoing Treatises I acknowledge in these my last Endeavors that I have in part made use of an excellent Manuscript amongst others some years since that came happily to my perusual whether it were 〈◊〉 Original a Coppy a Translation or the Authors Name I know not but whosoever he were I so approved of his admirable Reason that I thought it fit to joyn the best Experience of my own continued Practice to it Vis unita fortior It is â—â—t out of any arrogance or prerogative of my own fancy that I have stiled these three Diet Reaâ—on and Experience Doctors those that know 〈◊〉 rightly can determine that I was never so inmoured with that Title but onely to inform my â—istaken Countrey-men that it is not the Cowl â—â—at makes the Munk the shaking of the Vrinal â—e stroaking of the Beard hard Words the Plush â—loak a large House with a Monster in the first â—â—om to amaze the Patient but deep grounded Reaâ—â—â—n and tried Experience that commences a Physiâ—an with Diet Reason and Experience The three â—â—re-mentioned Authentick Doctors I have conâ—lted I commend their Advice to the well affectâ—â— and judicious for others I care not Nicholas Culpeper Chymical INSTITUTIONS DESCRIBING Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several Degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Chymical Institutions Describing Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art Chap. 1. Vinegar of Squills TAke of Squills the outward skins and hard root at the bottom being cast away one pound slice them with an Ivory or Bone Knife for Iron spoils them then put them into three quarts of strong Vinegar stop them close and in one moneth they will be ready for use and then if you please with Honey you may make them into a Syrup * According to the quality of the Patient strength of nature of the disease so let the Dose be 3 and therefore no certain Dose can generally be determined The Dose is one spoonful in the morning â—sting and walking an hour after it It preserveth the body in health even till exâ—eam old age as Samius recorded by Gallen â—oved whom he affirmed to live one hundred â—â—d seventeen Years in health using no other â—edicine but onely this It causeth good digestion long winde clear â—â—ce acute sight good hearing it expelleth winde and makes a good colour it suffers no offensive thing to remain in the body Winde Choller Phlegm Dung nor Urine but bringeth them forth brings out filth though it lies in the bones it hath been known to cure such as have been given over by all Doctors it cures hardness of the Liver and Spleen takes away Gouts and all swelling of the Limbs In a word I commend it for a wholesome Medicine for soundness of body conservation of health and vigor of minde The Colledge of Physicians of London laid all their heads together to hammer out the time when this Squill must be gathered or taken out of the earth and the result of all their consultations was this That it must be gathered at the rising of the Dog-star and so they very learnedly quoted it in that stately piece of Wit their Pharmacopeia but which of the two Dog-stars they mean whether Cyrius or Procyon or whaâ— rising whether Comiscal Acronychal or Heliacal I know not I nor I think themselves neither so that a childe in Astrology cannot chuse buâ— admire at their learned ignorance Chap. 2. Elixir Vitae TAke of Cloves Nutmegs Zedoary Giâ—ger Galangal Pepper white and blacâ— Juniper-berries Citron pills Orange pills Sagâ— Basil Rosemary Mints Marjoram Bay-berrieâ— Penniroyal Gentian Calamint Elder leave Roses white and red Spicknard Cubebs Aloe Hapatique the seeds of Mugwort and Marjoram of each two drams Figs Raisins Dates Almonds Pine-nuts of each six ounces white Honey a pound Musk one dram fine Sugar four pound bruise the things that may be bruised and infuse them all together in fifteen pints of Aqua vitae for ten dayes or thereabouts afterwards still it in a bathe till the feces be dry Take this water and stop it close in a glass let it stand in Horse-dung two Moneths then have you the first water good Then take out the feces and distil them in sand with a strong fire and there will come out a water red like blood and thick which will stink admirably place this in Horse-dung as the former this is the second water of the nature of fire The first water if a childe take a dram of it every third day in the morning it keeps its body sound from diseases it cureth wounds at three times washing with it or four at the most it helps all infirmities in the eyes a drop being put into them the face and breast being washed with it it preserveth Youth being taken inâ—ardly it provoketh Lust and makes barren women fruitful The latter water a spoonful will recover and revive a man that is half dead it helps pains in the Matrix and cures Pleurisies being used by â—nction it cures pains of the Chollick helpeth â—ardness of the Spleen pains in the teeth stinkâ—ng breath Feavers of all sorts being taken inwardly and powerfully prevails against humors of all sorts if any one be so sick that he cannot speak give him a drachm of this with a drachm of the former water and so soon as it is in his mouth he will speak This Dr. Floravantus saith he hath proved an hundred times yet if it lack not above half the number it is no matter Chap. 3. Aqua Mirabilis TAke of Turpentine one
ounce Olibanum two ounces Aloes Hepatique Mastick Cloves Galangal Cinnamon Saffron Nutmegs Cubebs one ounce Gum of Ivy five ounces beat what can be beaten into very fine powder and still them in an Alembick with a gentle fire The first water will be clear and white when it begins to change colour take away the first water and receive the second The second water will be of the colour of Saffron and thick when the colour changeth again take away the second water and receive the third The third water will be like Honey then distil the feces dry The first water cureth Fistula's and noise in the ears a drop or two being put into them * Mark the quality of the disease and give the hottest water in the coldest disease or at least qualifie them one with another The second cureth infirmities in the eyes they being washed with it The third water cureth ulcers and scabs in any part of the body and swellings of the eyes it presently easeth pains of the teeth it resisteth cold poisons as Toads Spiders Serpents Scorpions c. Neither can any sting hurt one a drop of this Oyl being warmed and applied to the place it cureth all ulcers lie they never so deep in the flesh nerves or bones and that without any tent in nine days be they never so foul fistulated or cankered it cures wounds with a stone or fall or shot a linen rag being wet in it and laid upon it it strengtheneth the nerves and sinnews helps swellings of the Legs Joynts or any place coming of a cold cause or corrupt blood It is so hot in operation that nothing can be found hotter and of such a piercing quality that warm a drop thereof and lay it on your hand it will presently soak in and you shall not feel it If you would try the vertue of it take a Capon or any other Fowl the feathers being plucked off and the guts being taken out then heat him so hot as you can well hold him in your hand then anoint him with this Oyl and lay him in the Sun two hours to dry then anoint him again and dry him as before then lay him where you will he will never putrifie Chap. 4. A Precious Water TAke of Aqua vitae many times distilled over a gallon Sperma caeti Ambergrease Rheubarb two drams Musk one dram put the Aqua vitae in a glass then tie up all the aforesaid species in a linnen cloath and hang the Nodulus in the water by a string it being close stopped lest the spirit evaporate with Wax and Parchment putting a little Cinamon into the Nodulus so shall you have an excellent water of the colour of Gold This is indeed a precious water and I am of opinion that if an Astrological time were observed for the beginning of the business it would be ten times better It expelleth Poyson a drop of it being taken in any convenient substance resisteth both pestilence and putrefaction if any be infected with the pestilence or any other Feaver coming of putrefaction or inflamation of blood or humors as most Feavers if not all do six or seven drops given in any cordial cures them Chap. 5. An Apprehension worth experience TAke of the Juyce of Chelondine which was gathered when the Sun was in Leo which is called his own house let him be free from Malevolent Beams and if he apply to the aspect of Benevolents 't is the better let the Moon be strong applying to the Sun and encreasing in light let the Angles of the Heavens be clear from the bodies of Saturn Mars or the Dragons tail from this Juyce draw the Elements apart and rectifie them all severally the triplicity the Patient was born under and his Disease being known and discretion in the administration accordingly used why may not it alone cure all Diseases though not in all people Chap. 6. A Balsam TAke of Turpentine one pound Oyl of Bayes four ounces Galbanum three ounces Gum-arabick four ounces Frankinsence Mirrhe Gum of Ivy Wood of Aloes of each three ounces Galanglal Cloves Comfrey-roots Nutmegs Cinamon Ginger Zedoary Diptany of Creet one ounce Musk Amber-greece one dram the things being in powder which may be beaten put them into a Retort and put to them Aqua vitae six pints then wet a rag in Aqua vitae and set fire to them let it burn stopping it close and after nine dayes still it in sand first with a gentle fire At the first will come out a clear water with Oyl amongst it let the fire be gentle till you see it begin to look black When it changeth colour then change your receiver and separate the Oyl from the first water then increase the fire and perfect the distillation Keep the last water also apart which being suffered to stand and settle will have a liquor which may be separated from that which is called the Balsam it self The first is called water of Balsam The Oyl is called Oyl of Balsam The last water mother of Balsam And the residence in the bottom of the last water is the Balsam it self and is the most precious of all The first water cleanseth the eyes causeth a clear sight the face being washed with it makes it fair it preserveth Youth breaks the Stone in the Reins brings forth Urine stopped by carnosity or fleshiness it marvellously cureth all sort of wounds being washed with it and a Lint dipped in it and put into them it also helpeth Hecktique Feavers and Coughs The Mother of Balsam helps Scabs Itches Tetters Ring-worms and Leprosie The Oyl of Balsam helps many Diseases as Wounds in the Head though the Skull be broken a drachm of it at a time being drunk in water helps Pleurisies wonderfull speedily The Balsam it self is the wonder of the world two drachms of it being taken easeth any pain it helps Coughs Hoarseness infirmities either hot or cold being used in unction it pierceth to the utmost extream parts curing thereby old Aches and bruises it cures Quartane Agues all the body being anointed with it once a day Chap. 7. A Balsam for the Stone TAke of Turpentine a pound old Oyl six ounces Oyl of Bayes four ounces Cinamon Spikenard of each two ounces Bricks well burnt eight ounces still them altogether in an Alembick It provokes Urine breaks the Stone kills Worms helps noise in the Ears the Palsie Gouts of all sorts all pains in the Joynts either by drinking of it or anointing with it but you must use but very little of it at a time inwardly mixed with apt things for the disease you take it for Chap. 8. A Balsam for the Palsie TAke of Galbanum a pound Gum of Ivy three ounces bruise them and still them in Balneo mix the liquor with Oyl of Bayes one ounce Turpentine a pound still them again then separate the Oyl from the water and keep the Oyl for your use For the dead Palsie Convulsion Apoplexy Shaking-palsie or any disease of the
Aqua â—â—tis the space of ten dayes that it may be well â—â—citated afterwards grinde it again upon a â—arble and imbibe it with the same Phlegm â—â—d distil it in an Alimbeck till in the matter â—ou shall perceive white little stones like salt â—issolve this salt again with the water you have â—istilled and when it is dissolved distil it again â—epeating it so often untill the earth lose all its 〈◊〉 pure and terrene colour and become white 〈◊〉 Virgins wax and then it is truly rectified There is also another more subtil way to reâ—â—ce and bring every Element into his chief subâ—â—ance and Quintessence it being presupposed â—â—at every Element is first rectified then let it â—e taken and put in a Circulatory Vessel and 〈◊〉 in Horse-dung or in Balneo Mariae thirty â—â—yes and afterwards distil it again then its â—ody being as it were a gross matter will be â—â—nged into a spirit or most substil substance There are some who operate after a more â—â—sie manner by taking four parts of Earth and â—â—e part of one of the four Elements which you â—â—ll and digest them in forme aforesaid and cirâ—â—late them thirty dayes by a frequent ascension â—â—d descension of the matter which is done in â—â—e Circulatory in that space of time so as every â—â—e of the Elements is converted into a Quinâ—â—â—sence and when you perceive the Quintesâ—â—â—ce to swim above the other matter then it is circulated enough and thus you have thâ— way to extract the Quintessence of Chelidonia it follows now to declare the virtues thereof The Element therefore of Water or thâ— Phlegm conduces to expel all diseases of the body whether hot or cold for it temperates thâ— veins about the heart and expells all poisoâ— therefrom it cures all accidental diseases of thâ— Lungs purifies the blood and preserves the natural virtue of man from all corruption anâ— abateth the malignity of any infirmity The Element of fire is like Oyl and hath theâ— virtues it confirmes and preserves youth in iâ— strength and beauty because it suffers not anâ— blood to putrifie it expells all salt Phlegâ— and Melancholly and wonderfully takes awaâ— all Adust Choller The Element of fire the quantity of oâ— Grain thereof being taken and incorporatâ— with good Wine and applyed to the Neck 〈◊〉 one that is sick nay a dying hath this efficacy it recovers and restores again all the lost powâ— and strength of the body it penetrates unâ— the heart and calefies it and expells all poisoâ— and superfluous moisture from the heart if yoâ— give a man a grain of this Oyl that is an Agâ—ny of death it will immediately revive him 〈◊〉 a miraculous manner saith Lullyus There are also others who do likewise extract a Quint essence from Chelidonia after aâ—other manner by taking the Herb Rooâ— and Flower of Celandine and weigh it reseâ—ving the weight for its time then cut it smaâ—â— and infuse it in Fountain-water then boil it till it is reduced to its former weight this being done beat it in a stone Mortar and strain out the juyce take away the Feces and boil the rest unto the thickness of Honey and then the matter will be prepared to separate the four Elements one from another which to do put it in a â—ucurbite filling him half full and lute an Alimbeck upon it the best way you can and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that the water may be separated from the matter Then place the Distillatory in ashes and another water will be separated from it which is like oyl and when you see the oyl swim on the top the third time remove the receiver and apply another to receive that Oyl which is the fire And thus you have the three Elements separated viz. Water Air and Fire and the Earthly substance remains in the bottom of the vessel as it were a combust matter now reserve every one of these Elements in a vessel by its self and when you would rectifie any one of them to make it medicinal distil the water seven times in an Alembick and in every distillation wash the Cucurbite from its remaining Feces and admix them with the earthly Element and distil them in Balneo Mariae and let the vessel wherein that water is reserved be well luted After this manner you may also rectifie the Air by a seplenary reiteration in ashes alwayes mixing the Feces with the Earth so likewise may you temperate and rectifie the fiery Element and this is the third Oyl which must also be kept in a vessel close shut and so musâ— all the rest The work being thus done and perfected wâ— proceed to demonstrate and shew the nature and vertues thereof The vertue and quality of the watry substance is to expel all venomous heaâ— from the Breast and to mundifie the Blood to open all oppilations of the Lungs and Liver to evacuate Phlegm and superfluous humours The Oyl of the Air conserves youth strength and beauty suffers not the blood to putrifie noâ— Melancholly to rule nor Choller to burn noâ— Phlegm to abound in mans body but increases the blood and disperses it through all the members of the body it is very penetrating It is good also if any one be in danger of losing the sight of an Eye drop a drop oâ— two thereof into the Eye every day and in thirty dayes you shall see a wonderful effect But the quality of the fiery Oyl is of much more efficacy and vertue then the two other it wonderfully preserves old men and keeps back old age calefies the blood recreates the heart preserves a man from death and restores youth And if it be taken with Aqua Sîliginis it is said to be the Elixer of life The earthly matter being rectified three times by dissolutions coagulations and calcinations is a subtle salt of earth with which all Metals may be transmâ—â—ted into Stone and wherewith all Spirits are fixed having radical moisture The manner of taking this Medicine is this Take Ignis Chelidoniae gutta 3. Aqua Rosarum coclearia 3. sumantur stomacho jejuno If the infirmity be cold give it in Wine if the party exceed twenty four years of age give it in Aqua vitae but in burning Feavers in no wise administer to the Patient Chap. 17. To extract a Quintessence from Mans Blood Eggs Flesh or the like TO extract a Quintessence of humane blood take the blood of a man of a sanguine Complexion or Chollerick that is sound and healthy of Middle-age and one that drinks good Wine when he is newly phlebotomized and when the blood resides in the bottom of the vessel separate the water from the blood and labour it in a convenient vessel with its tenth part of common Salt and labour them well together and inclose it in a Pellican Afterwards set it in a bed of Horse-dung and Calx viva about five foot deep and two foot broad having one laying of the Calx and another of
afterwards circulate it in a pellican forty dayes and reserve it for your use others distil it oftner and it is the better Chap. 21. To make an Aqua vitae Composita for men of a cold Complexion or Region HAving already discoursed at large of Aqua vitae Simplex we now proceed to give you the way of preparing several compound waters and first of such as ought to be administred unto men of a cold complexion or unto such as labour under any disease proceeding from a cold cause which is this Take Zuiziberis albi Cinamomi Cubeb Recent Gariâ—ph Nucis Muscati Macis electi Cardamomi Zedoari Galangae Piperis longi of each equal parts bruise them grosly and to one part of these Species adde six parts of simple Aqua vitae put them in a long Cucurbite placing thereon a blinde Alimbeck and let it stand to digest fourteen dayes afterwards distil in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire then put the feces again upon the distilled matter and let it digest eight dayes more It may also be distilled without an Alimbeck but that way is not so good And when it hath been distilled three times the first water is called Aqua benedicta the second Aqua vitae composita and the third Aqua balsami Some also adde to the composition hereof Fol. salviae Rutae Castorei recentis Corticis Citri Baccarum lauri Florum Lavendulae Florum Rorismarini ana two drams these are all to be distilled with the aforesaid species alwayes adding to one part of species six parts of simple Aqua vitae This water is good for all diseases of the head proceeding from phlegmatick humors to be taken in the morning the quantity of two drams in one ounce of the best Wine Some use to dip a crust of bread in this water and others to anoint the head with this water adding to half an ounce hereof Betony water one ounce But beware that you do not give this water in any disease or grief of the head proceeding from a hot cause unless some cold Medicine be mixed therewith which may temperate the heat of this water This water doth strengthen the memory being drunk fasting the quantity of half an ounce mixed with Rosemary water and the hinder part of the head being anointed or washed therewith and let dry of it self it is good also against madness if you cut off the hair of the head and apply to the head clothes wet in this water mixed with water of Marjoram and Rosemary you shall perceive a wonderful operation It is also good for the Palsie being mixed with Sage-water and the members often bathed therewith and it being drunk upon an empty stomach with water of Lavander-flowers It is good to take away all spots of the face and all infirmities of the eyes It hath a marvellous operation to take away all pains in the Teeth A Comb being dipped herein and the head combed therewith it adorns the hair and preserves them from becoming hairy it cures all scabs in the head recovers lost hearing Bombast being dipped therein and applied to the Ear. Wounds being washed therewith it heals them wonderfully and suffers no putrified flesh in a Wound Being taken fasting it is powerful against all Poyson against all Cankers Fistula's and the Dropsie and the Stone in the Bladder it helps Conception in a Woman being taken fasting if the obstruction thereof proceed from a cold cause Being drunk with Galangal and Gentiana and Bombaste wet therein and applied to the Matrix provokes the Tearms If this Water be put upon Fish Flesh or any other Meats they will not corrupt nor putrifie neither will flies blow thereon If the body be fomented therewith it is good against the Jaundies and all trembling of the Members and against all filthiness of the mouth and nose A Cloath being dipt herein and applied to the Stomach wonderfully helps digestion A Cloath wet therein and applied to the Stomach helps Convulsion fits Let those who labor under the Iliack passion drink often thereof it is good also against the Falling-sickness and the Hemerhodes It is much praised by Albertus Magnus for its wonderful operations in the Palsie Chap. 22. An excellent Compound Water used by the Emperour Frederick the Third TAke Aq. Vita simp rectificat four pound vini opt four pound Cinamomi three ounces Garioph nucis moscatae ana one ounce Zuizib albi one ounce and half Macis half an ounce Zedoariae half an ounce Galangae 2. drams Cubeb Hys an half an ounce Radicis benedictae 1. ounce Salviae florum Lavendulae an half an ounce Melissae iris Balsamithae an one ounce Rosarum albarum one ounce and half Bruise all these and put them in a great Cucurbite which will hold fifteen or sixteen pound adding Zachari albi three ounces Passular ficuum pinguium an six ounces Camphorae half an ounce Aquar Rosarum Endiviae florum Sambuci an two pound put them altogether into the Cucurbite luting it well and set it in the â—un twenty dayes viz. ten dayes before Midsummer day and ten dayes after Then strain out the water and distil it by an Alembick and keep it in a dry place it is a soveraign Cordial for a cold stomach and wonderfully preserves the whose body in health The Dose is the quantity of half a spoonful but let it not be given to a Woman when she hath her Menstrue Chap. 23. An excellent Compound Water against all Vlcers and Poyson c. TAke Salviae twelve ounces Nucis Muscat Gariop Zuizib albi Gran. Paradisi Cinamomi an four drams Ol. Laurini one ounce Castorei recentis one dram Spinae Indicae Rorismarini an half a dram florum Rorismar one dram Folior Rutae one ounce Fol. Majoranae one dram Corticis Citri two drams Let all these be new if you can get them but if you have them not new then take the old dried flowers and pulverize them and put to them the best white Wine you can get then set them in a digestive to putrifie a moneth This digestion may be made in Balneo Mariae in the first degree of heat afterwards distil it by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae then adde the water again to the Feces and distil it in Balneo again twice over afterwards distil it in ashes and reserve the water carefully in a glass close stopt The Vertues of this Water ANy Meat wet in this Water retains an excellent sapour and odour It is good against pestilentious airs and expels the venom thereof out of the body it cures all infirmities of the Eyes and defects of the Sight It marvellously cures Wounds they being washed therewith it dryeth up all hidropical humors It is good against all diseases of the Lungs Spleen and Milt of the intestines and of the head it takes away all spots out of the face filth of the Mouth and Nose mitigates the pain of the Teeth procures good digestion purifies the blood and consumes corrupt blood and
the Palsie and Vertigo of the Head Chap. 28. A Precious Water for the Head Brain and Memory c. THis following Water was found out by a learned German it is an excellent and noble Water of Life having many egregious operations to comfort and preserve the whole body from Diseases especially the Head Brain and all the inward parts of the Head to expel and dissolve all infirmities proceeding from coldness and moisture to exhilerate the Instruments of the Soul and quicken the five Senses for it marvellously comforts the four pincipal Members with the Reins and Intestines It procures also the best digestion in the Stomach gives great comfort to the outward Members by its onely odour by taking one part of this Water and two parts of the Water of of Sage Lavander and Rosemary mixed together and wet a spunge therein and foment the Members therewith morning and evening and let it dry in of it self Or if you drink three or four drops thereof in a glass of Wine a little before dinner or supper it comforts the Stomach It is good also to comfort the Head take of this Water one dram with half an ounce of Betony-Water and drink it morning and evening or dip a Crust of Bread in that Water and eat it every morning fasting For the Brain and Memory take of this Water one dram Waters of Rosemary and Marjoram of each half an ounce and use it in like manner as he last For the Breast take of this Water one dram Water of Hysop and Maiden-hair each two drams use it in like manner For the Heart take of this Water one dram of Borage and Bugloss Water each two drams take it as the former For the Stomach take of this Water one dram of Mint and Wormwood-water each two drams use it in manner aforesaid For the Lungs take of this Water one dram adde to it Cycory-Water one ounce and use it as the former For the Spleen take of this Water one dram Waters of Tamarisk and Scolopendrie of each one ounce use it in like manner To comfort all the Members of the Body use one part of this Water in four parts of Wine The way to make this Water is thus Take pul Diamargarit frigid Diarrhodon Abbatis species Diambrae Dianthos laetificans Galleni an two drams Cassiae fistulae noviter extract Zacchari candidi an half an ounce Syrup de Liqueritiâ one ounce Syrup Stechados half an ounce florum R rismarini one dram Moschi Alexandrini one scruple Upon these Species pour two pound of simple Aqua vitae well rectified by a treble distillation in Balneg Mariae distil them in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that you may tell six or seven between every drop the Musk ought to be tied in a piece of Silk and put into the vial with the distilled water and is not to be distilled with the rest Some putrifie with the aforesaid Species Bugloss-water one pound Balm-water half a pound Rosemary-water two ounces and afterwards distil it in Balneo Mariae Chap. 29. To make a Celestial Precious Water called the Secret of Secrets WE come now to declare unto you the Secret of Secrets a most precious Water called Celestial by the Philosophers because of its heavenly operation the way to make it is thus Take Salviae cum floribus suis Rorismarini Darseni Zinzib albi Garioph Nucis Muscatae gran Paradisi Galangae Calami Aromatici Macro-pip Zedoar an half an ounce Macis Cardamoni Cubeb fol. Rutae fol. Majoranae flor Lavendulae Ros Rub. an two drams Theriac Andromachi Mithridat an a dram and a half Ol. Laurini cort Citri florum Buglossae Borraginis Rorismarini Angelicae Rapentici gran Juniperi Mentastri Menthae Matricariae an a dram and a half Castorei verbeciae cum flor suis Betonicae Ligni Aloes Spicae Indicae gran Peoniae seminis Feniculi Ceori an half a dram Ambrae Moschi an half a scruple Let all these things following be put to digest with Aqua vitae in Balneo Maria four dayes and as many nights viz. Sage Rosemary Rue Marjoram Lavander Roses Mithridate Treacle Oyl of Bayes Bugloss Borrage Angelica Rapontick Juniper-berries Mint Calamint Mother-wort Vervain Betony Castoreum And when they are putrified distil them in a Limbeck in ashes with a gentle fire so that you may number one two three between every drop when these are distilled take the other things viz. Cinamon Mace Nutmegs Grains of paradise Galangal Calamus Aromat Pepper Zedory Cubebs Cardamomi Lignum Aloes Citron Pills Spikenard Piony-roots and seeds Coriander prepared pulverize all these grosly and put them into the distilled water and let them digest together fourten dayes then distil them again by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae afterwards adde the Camphire Rhubarb Saffron Amber and Musk. If you would have the water yet better and more costly adde Pul. Diamargarit Nicholai Diapliris cum moscho Nicholai Diarrhodon Abbatis Diamoschi Mesnae Spec. Diambrae Letificans Galeni pul Dialigni Aloes an half a dram adde twenty leaves of Gold white Sugar half a pound let them stand three dayes in Balneo Mariae keeping the water of the Bath warm afterwards distil it by filter in glass Retorts let one glass stand somewhat higher then the other cut small forms of a filter and hang therein and by them the matter will be distilled let the glass be well luted that no Air may evapâ—rate and this is the most excellent way of distillation of all others There are some Physicians who to comfort the Stomach have invented a green water which they use with the Aqua viae above prescribed or with the Claret following The green water is made on this manner Take Aqua vitae four times distilled by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae four pound Balm dryed three ounces Balsamint two ounces infuse the Herbs in the Aqua vitae eight dayes and then use thereof Note that the Herbs are not to be dryed in the Sun for then the water will be obscure but in the shade and the water will be of a fair green colour and pleasant to the drinker The Claret is made in this manner Take of the best white Wine four pound fine hard Sugar four ounces Cinamon one ounce Coryander prepared three drams Cloves two drams Grains of Paradise and white Ginger of each one dram and a half black Pepper two scruples Zedory half a dram Make them all into powder and afterwards use it as you make Hypocras This some use to take with the Water before prescribed The Vertues of this Water are these IT is good for the memory taking every day half an ounce mixed with Rosemary-water half an ounce water of Marjoram and Balm of each two drams For madness or grief in the brain proceeding from cold take of this water half an ounce Betony-water two drams dip a Linnen cloth therein and apply it to the head For the Vertigo of the head take hereof half an ounce water of
a gray Cat and cut her throat then flea her and roast her and save her grease boil the blood and the grease together and anoint the Piles with it as hot as you can endure it this seems to me pretty rational because a Cat is a Beast of Saturn 55. Swelling of the Wrists For aking and swelling of the Wrists take Plantane-leaves and stamp them well with a little Salt and apply them to the place I know no reason but why this may cure any other swelling in the joynts 56. Ache. For any Ache take Venice Treacle and spread it upon a cloth and lay it to the place like a Plaister 57. Gout Take Bur-roots bruise them aâ—d boil them very well in piss and when you have made a very strong decoction strain it out and adde to the piss that is left as much Sallet Oyl boil it together to an Oyl and if you use it you shall see it do wonders in curing the Gout 58. For the Gout Take the Yolk of Eggs and make them into a Poltiss with a little womans Milk and a little Saffron and apply it to the place grieved with the Gout 59. For the Gout Take Nettles and stamp them with salt and apply it to the place grieved with the Gout and it will dry up the humors in a short time 60. For the Gout Take of black Sope the quantity of a Walnut juyce of Rew and of Celandine of each as much as the Sope comes to mix them altogether spread them upon a piece of Sheeps-leather and apply them plaisterwise to the place grieved with the Gout aâ—d in three dayes it will give help 61. For the Gout Take a pint and a half of good Ale half a pound of black Sope a handful of Bay-salt beaten very small boil them till half be consumed then mix with it four spoonfuls of Aqua vitae stir them well together then dip a cloth in it and apply it to the place grieved with the Gout as hot as you can endure it 62. An excellent remedy for the Gout Take a Badger the fattest you can get kill him and scald him like a Pig then make a hole in on◠〈◊〉 his sides take out his guts garbage and all â—â—d put into his belly Nettles two handfuls two ounces of Brimstone four yolks of Eggs and four ounces of Turpentine incorporated well together then sow up his belly close and roast him and save the dripping for an excellent remedy for the Gout 63. Cramp The fore-going remedy is not available onely against the Gout but also against the Cramp and all infirmities of the Sinnews and Joynts 64. Cramp If you cannot get a Badger take a fat young Puppy-dog and use him in like manner 65. A special remedy for the Gout Take a young Whelp in March kill him and flea him and pull out his guts and fill up his belly with Water-frogs sow up his belly close again then roast him and save the dripping for a special remedy for the Gout 66. For a Burn or Scald Take unslaked Lime and slake it in common Oyl then take it out again as dry as you can and make it into an Oyntment with Oyl of Roses this Oyl will cure any burn or scald without a scar and that in eight or ten dayes time 67. For one that is burned with a Match take the same Match wherewith he was burned and burn it to ashes and strow the ashes upon the place and it will heal it in a very short time to admiration It is a very pretty sympathetical remedy and I quoted it not onely to cure burning by a Match which happens scarce once to a mans knowledge in his life time but for burning with any other thing whatsoever For example If a man be burnt with Iron apply Crocus Martis to the place 68. For a burn with Gunpowder Take Sheeps-dung and Sheeps-suet and fry them both together till they be thick like an Oyntment then anoint the place that is burned with Gunpowder twice a day neither change the Medicine nor yet wash the sore for that part of the Medicine which sticks on will readily fail off so soon as it is well 69. To stop a bleeding wound Take Bur-leaves and bruise them and apply them to the bleeding of a wound and it instantly stops it I fancy the Medicine much because Burs is an herb of Venus and the wound is caused by Mars 70. For the same Another remedy of the same nature is this Put the powder of dried Vervine to the wound 71. To cleanse a Wound If you would cleanse a wound neatly that is filled with congealed blood stamp red Nettles and apply them to the place 72. For bleeding at the Nose If a man bleed at the Nose take a leathern point or lace and tye it hard about his Testicles or Yard and that will make the blood leave Mars and run to look after Venus 73. Morphew If you anoint the face all over with Mustard it is an excellent remedy for the Morphew 74. Palsie Sage eaten or used any way is an excellent remedy for the Palsie in the Limbs 75. The Shaking Palsie is caused no way sooner nor more ordinarily then by leading a tippling life 76. A Preservative against the Palsie A gallant Preservative I have been told against the Palsie whether it be to be found in any of my other writings I know not well is this every night when you go to bed rub your fingers between your toes and smell to them 77. A Felon Take Groundsel and stamp it very well and mix it with a little Oyl of Roses and apply it to a Malady in the fingers which they usually call a Felon and it will speedily cure it 78. For the same Take the yolk of an Egg mix it with a little Bay-salt in powder spread it upon a cloth and apply it to the place and it will speedily cuâ—e a Felon 79. Imposthume or hard swelling in the Belly Take young Walnuts before they have shells stamp them and binde them to the Navel it will presently break any Imposthume or hard swelling in the belly and not onely break it but also draw it out 80. For hard swellings of the Belly Because you cannot get such green Walnuts all the year you may take the pains to pickle them up in vinegar when you can have them yet because I am of opinion that there are other people negligent as well as my self and therefore may neglect the getting of them at that time Take the Kernels of Walnuts and stamp them with Rue and apply them plaisterwise to the Navel this is an admirable remedy also for all hard swellings of the belly 81. Imposthume Take two handfuls of Clot-bur-roots wash them clean and bruise them very well then boil them in a pottle of good Ale till half be consumed strain it and let him that hath an Imposthume in his body drink of it morning and evening and in three dayes so doing it will cure him
little cynamon and seed of Annis white wine mixt with water musick is good in this disease and such means must be used as may cause sleep Of Melancholly of black Choller THis disease is a kinde of doting without a feaver arising from such maligne and melancholick humors which distrub the seat of the Minde The signs of melancholly are fear and sadness evil thoughts without any cause proceeding from such vapors of black Choller as darken the mind and over-cloud the brain Melancholy which seizes on the essence of the brain and continues there long is altogether incureable The Air where the Patient resides must be of a wholesom smell moist and temperate his diet moist but of good juyce easie of digestion Let him drink white wine and exercise himself moderately his sleep should be somewhat longer then ordinary he is to be cherisht with mirth and good hopes perturbations of minde being wholly avoided Of the overflowing of the monethly Tearms THe superfluous flux of moneths is when it doth tend to be the hurt rather then the good of the woman by reason that they are purged more then they should but in such women as are of a moist constitution that have good diet and much ease the moneths may be suffered to flow more then ordinarily they use The womb is the part chiefly affected sometimes the whole body sympathizeth this affection is an accident which appertains to the immoderate excretion it is not altogether against nature as it is in the bleeding of the nose and other bleedings for here onely too great a quantity of the monethly flux is unnatural This distemper takes away the appetite hinders digestion breeds crudities weakens the whole body the colour of the face is changed feaverish heats arise in the body sometimes the feet are swelled and a dropsie follows one cause is by reason of the heat thinness or abundance of blood more then is requisite or else because of the continual motion for when these concur Nature is defeated Immoderate fluxes caused by the birth of a large Infant are less dangerous because they will stay of themselves This disease is to be feared if the body be weakned or the colour of the face changed the woman being reduced to such coldness faintness of heart swoundings and sometimes death The Air that this Patient lives in should be temperate the meat binding and thickning exercise is forbidden her rest and sleep must be moderate her minde pleased Of the suppression of the Moneths AS the overflowing is dangerous so the retention on the contrary is as dangerous and unnatural if they be of age unless they have conceived the womb is chiefly affected in regard of the fatness thereof whereby the veins are crushed together and so the flux is hindred In this disease the forepart of the head is pained spreads it self to the neck shoulders and loins her appetite is taken away her minde unquiet her stomach queasie she loathes meat her face discoloured she is troubled with phlegm and taken with a trembling her urine is thick red and muddy sometimes blackish with a red watry substance in the bottom the chief cause is gross and phlegmy matter mixed with blood which stops the veins leading to the womb whereby the straitness of the veins doth happen or else from the inflammation of the womb if the Tearms are stopt other diseases must of necessity follow The Air she is to breathe must incline to heat her meat must be heating she must not sleep too long her minde must not be disquieted Of the Obstruction of the Liver THe Obstruction of the Liver is a binding or straitning of the Veins or Liver passages The Liver is the Store-house of blood from which all parts of the body draw nourishment and together with purer blood gross and slimy humors are generated in the Liver seeing that the branches of the hollow Veins are knit unto the Vena Porta in such sort that the knitting and combination doth not come within the compass of our sight as also that all the nutriments of the body must be conveighed through the port Veins and the hollow Veins ends which are very small where they end in the Liver substance so that it is no wonder that by reason of the passages and straitness Obstructions are oftner caused in the Liver then in any other Bowel This Disease doth breed in the extream parts of the vessels of the hollow part and Veins and they are terminated in the Livers substance with thin ends knit one into another with little bones the universal nourishment of the whole body being to be made through these This Disease is to be discerned by a heaviness and stretching pain in the right side then most to be perceived when the Patient is exercised presently after meat The narrowness of the Liver and Veins passages is the cause of this Disease The air for the Patient must be hot and clear his diet such as may heat not stopping he must shun bathing and exercise after meat his diet moderate he may sleep in the day time but not too long at night not at the most above seven hours his belly must be kept loose and his minde delighted The Hicket THe Hicket called Singultus is a violent or vehement motion of the Stomach whereby it doth endeavour to expel such things as rest in the Tunicles and in the Body and also such as do stick fast thereto The Hicket though it much resemble vomiting yet this Disease is rather stirred up then vomit when the humors are strongest the part affected is the mouth of the Stomach sometimes the inflamation of the Liver This Disease comes often for the most part by fits as the Cough doth with a swooning the cause of the swooning in this disease is the straitness of the passage of the air which is contained in the stomach it being often caused by fulness and superfluous moisture by which the Patient is either loaded â—or in a manner shrunk together If this disease be caused by fulness if a sneezing come the Patient will soon be rid of it if it be accompanied with wringing in the guts commonly called Illiaca passia it is a bad Omen but if it follow doating swooning or convulsion it is mortal A temperate air is best for the Patient his meat must be such as doth heat and dry a small quantity of Wine may be permitted Of the Stone THe Stone of the Kidneys is a hard substance bred like a Sand-stone in the Reins from whence by the force of the Urine it is often conveighed through the straight pipes into the Bladder if it be not too great which doth so stretch the passages of the Urine that great pain doth follow the settled pain is in the Veins and sometimes the right side or the left is affected or both at one time even as the right or left Kidney is affected for the gravel is bred in the mouth of the Kidney or substance of them This Disease is