Root of Zedarie 8. Of Cardus Benedictus 9. Of Garlina 10. Take the herb called Scordium in small powder the quantity of a dram either in a soft mass made with sodden honey and vineger or with some surrup as of Lemons or in Opiat the bigness of a Chesnut or of a small Pease with wine in winter in summer with Rose water or with the juce of Sorrell 11. Sorrell alone or with Pimpernell in Vineger and drink of it in the morning 12. Or the juce of them wherewith you may make a taste in summer 13. Or Juniper berries the leaves of green Pimpernell of Bittany of Pulegion of Sorrell of each a like quantity brayed together and sodden in honey put thereto a little Vineger like a conserve CHAP. 36. Another rare Medicine Take Juniper berries bole Armoniack of each two drams or of both alike quantity being stamped lay it in sweet oyl and Vineger or in Oxmillite in the mean form either Opiat or mass If it be Opiat take as much as a Chestnut if it be Mass take one great Pill and drink after it a little Hidromill or Oximill or wine CHAP. 37. It is requisite to speak something of a savour and sweet smell as powders balls waters and perfumes and first of a powder for many purposes Take four ounces of Ivise Florientiana of Margrom Cloves and Red Roses of each an ounce of Millissophilie Nucise Odoratee or Muscate Zedorie Cinamon Agallochi yellow Sanders Mastick Storax Calamita and Bengroin half an ounce of each and two scruples of Juncus odoratus Calami odoravie Syici Nardiradicise one dram of each Make of these a powder to smell to be beaten of broken in some piece of fine silke or a peece of fine linnen cloth beat all these things grosly for to perfume and wash your head and beard or let them lye a time in white wine and Rose water and strain them keeping the water to use when you please or you may still them in a double vessell that they may be Aqua Aromatica this being laid upon the coals is to perfume your chamber twice every day morning and evening it is good also to wear about you or to put in a little bag and lay it amongst linnen or woollen cloathes CHAP. 38. Another sweet smelling ball Take two ounces of pure Labdanum one ounce and a half of Bengroine one ounce of Willow coals of Storax Calamita six drams two drams a peece of Marjoram and yellow or red Sanders of red Roses and Calainus Aramaticus two scruples a peece then take six drams of oyl of sweet Almonds and as much of Bengroin with half an ounce of Storax Calamita sithe these things together then put thereto six drams of Rose water Then strain it and let that which is strained be soft made with two ounces of white wax and put to it of Storax liquida one dram make it like as Cereatum or plaister incorporate these together with a hot pestle putting thereto a dram and a half of musk CHAP. 39. Another sweet ball more sweet for the summer Take three ounces and a half a peece of Roses and Violets with an ounce a peece of the berries and leaves of Mirtle and the coals of Willow six drams a peece of Juniper berries and Oringe pills two drams of red Sanders one dram of Bengroin with two scruples of Camphere make a powder of these then take an ounce and a half of oyl of Roses with two drams a peece of Storax Calamita and Bengroine with an ounce of Rose water with two ounces of white wax beat all the rest together with a hot pestle put to it a little musk and use it CHAP. 40. Of five outward Remedies to purge the Aire the presentest and easiest and of smallest price for persons low in estate and condition First take Juniper berries with some of the root cloven asunder and dried with some of the forementioned drugs and make thereof a perfume this is good to purge the Air. Secondly sprinkle your Chamber with Vineger alone or mixed with Rose water Thirdly when you are to go out into company put into your mouth the Pill or seed of a Cittorn or Cinamon or Cloves or the Roots of Angelica or Zedoarie or such as are before mentioned hold these in your mouth and chaw them for you shall finde that they will give a good odour Fourthly if you desire to smell to a spunge or to a Hancherchief both day and night Malmsey or other strong wine and sweet such as are Muscadell alone or else with Rose water wherein there hath been tempered some Aromaticall drug already spoken of and also Cloves and Nutmukes are very good for this purpose Fifthly if it be in summer take a little Camphere with a little cold water and twice so much Vineger this is also very good Chap. 41. Eight Câ—usions for the whole sum of governing of mans body especially in the time of the Plague 1. It is necessary that you keep every thing neat and clean in your house often washing and cleansing the same and that as much as in you lyeth you do avoid going into all evil Aire 2. Besure that you flye all excess of Riot and superfluity of intemperate eating and drinking and with all the carnall company of women 3. When you travell walk moderately and overheat not your self neither sleep in the day time but moderately in the night avoid as much as you may inordinate watching Chap 42. A soverain powder against the venome of the Plague fit for Princes and Rich people Take Saphire Hiacinthe Smaragdus of one or two or of all of these one dram of pearls bole Armoniack of the best with the seeds of Oxalise of each of these two drams of the scrapings of Ivory two scruples of Unicorns horn one scruple of the seed of Ocinum half a scruple yellow or red Sanders Agalocchi or Xilaloes of the best Doronicie Cinamon exquisite Safforone of each three grains six grains of Musk make of these a fine powder and leave out the musk for them that love it not the use of the said powder and others that follow shall be declared hereafter if God permit Chap. 43. How to make a powder for the poorer sort of people Take two drams of bole Armoniack with three drams of the Seeds of Oxalis Aloes Epeticum Lotum and Red Corrall of each of these a dram the powder of Diatrio Santalon eight scruples with the pills of dry Oringes Cloves Cinamon and Safforone of each of these five drams make of these a fine powder you may use the same with conserves or without them with sirrups or with distilled waters but much rather with juces and such convenient licquors as is before named Chap. 44. How with little cost to make a drink for the poor Take of the powder prescribed for the Poor Conditirosatie or conserve of Roses Condii boraginis or rather Coraginis of each a dram and a half two ounces of the Suck of Oxalis two ounces
Succi avantii Coragares extract with Rose water and of good white wine vineger of each an ounce and make thereof a drink Chap 45. A drink that hath been proved good against the Plague Take two drams of the powder of Mugwort of the first and second sort the seeds of Sanctie or of Oringes of Mirrhe of each a dram the scrapings of Harts horn a dram beat them well and mixe them together you must drink this of white viniger before a fire and as soon as there appeareth any swelling in the groine or flank or under the Arm-pits or any where else the remedy must be ready for the medicine provoketh great sweat whereby the venome or infection avoideth every part The patient thus swearing by the fire his infected sweat must be rubed and dried with hot linnen cloathes which must be always changed untill the savour of the sweat be gone with rubbing CHAP. 46. How opiate is made Take of the first or second powder Oringe pills conserved of each an ounce and a half the conserve of Roses the conserve of Bugloss two ounces of each of the sirrup of the juce of Cittorns Oringes or Lemons or else of Oxalis or â—mphacini sufficient make of it a licquid Electuary in form of an Opiate whereof take an ounce or more and drink some of the foresaid liquors and such as here follow you may mingle an ounce of purslane with the said liquor Chap. 47. How to make a drink meat after the taking of Opiate or to be mixed with the Opiate for the strongest or meanest men according to the time and place To do this take the juce of Cittorne or Lemons three ounces of the wine of swore Oringes with good white and clear vineger and Rose water of each of these an ounce and mixe these all together Chap. 48. How to make a good drink for the poor Take three ounces of the juce of Sorrell that is very clear of bitter anâ— swore oringes with white and clear vineger and Rose water of each of these an ounce make thereof a drink mixe it with a little suger to make it pleasant Chap. 49. How to make a drink to cause one to sweat Take a dram of good Triacle or a dram of Mithridatum with hole Armoniack of the best of the powder of one of the herbs called Cardiacee described before half a dram Scabious water two ounces water of Oxalise Bugloss Borage of each an ounce and make a drink thereof Chap. 50. How to to make a drink easie for the poor of low price Take the decoction of Scabious and of the flowers of red popâ—ge a glass full with a little suger or a little white vineger or a ptisane made with barley and Aniseeds and the roots of Parsley the roots of Suckrey the one or the other decoction with sharp sirrup two ounces or a little white vineger You must understand that these foresaid drinks be taken hot the patient being well covered in his bed the Triacle and Mithridate although they be of great efficacy yet are they not meet for women with childe nor for young children the use of them ought not to be often nor in great quantities when the Fevor is great some mens advice is to mingle the medicine for sweating with some distilled water or with the decoction of herbs concerning the part to which the venomous matter hath its course now if a man knoweth that the mater goeth to the head let the patient take it with some distilled waters or with the decoction Bitony but if it go to the vital parts or to tha brest and heart with the water of the decoction of Borage which is very Bugloss if it go to the belly and bowels with liquor of wormwood if to the Liver then with the decoction water of Egrimony which is the true and Real Zupatorium Chap. 51. How to provoke sweat and heal the Plague Take of the herb called Rape with the roots of the lesser Planton and knot grass of each half a handfull bray them well and boyle them in vineger then strain them through a linnen cloath give the sick person of this to drink when he goeth to bed it will cause him to sweat out all the ill humers Chap. 52. An excellent preseruative against the Plague Take one ounce of the juce of green nuts half an ounce of the juce of Agrimony three drams of the juce of Rue three ounces of the juce of Issope four ounces of the juce of hemp mingle them altogether then take half an ounce of the said mixture with half a dram of mumea and half an ounce of Suger Candy and one dram of suger of Roses an Electuary thereof and dissolve the quantity of a Chestnut of it in good wine and drink thereof when you rise and when you go to bed Chap. 53. Another against the Plague Take of the roots of Turmentill finely powdered one dram with half a dram of Triacle dissolve it in sorrell water and give it the diseased Chap. 54. How to make another preservative against the Plague Take two egges and make a hole upon the top of each of them then take out the whites put into them so much whole Safforne as will half fill up the egge to the middle cover them with other egge shells boyl them till they become red then bray them with all the shells and put thereunto of white Diptamue and Turmevill of each three drams of vomiting nuts one dram and a half of the seeds of Rockit the quantity of the beaten eggs bray them all together the second time then put thereunto of good Triacle the weight of the other things except the eggs and make an electuary of the which give two drams in the morning when the patient riseth before he goes to labour Chap. 55. Another preservative against the Plague Take Safforne of Setwell of Turmentill of Diptamus of each of these one ounce of Triacle of Mithridate of suger of Bugloss of each eight drams with the sirrup of the pills of pomecitterns make a lectuary of the which to preserve the party according to his age if he be above the age of fifteen years give him two drams in the morning before meat with white wine and after it give him two Mastick Corlander seeds if he be but 14 years of age give him but one dram and a half being under the age of 8 years give him one dram when he goeth out of the house let him hold in his mouth a little of the electuary in the curing the plague the foresaid confection must be given as soon as he feeleth himself to have the Ague within the space of 24 hours with the which the water of Sumak the quantity aforesaid according unto age it helpeth all cold infirmities or griefs ministred with wine or with Aquavitae having first made the universall Remedies of purging letting of blood and such like Chap. 56 How to make a good water against the Plague or Surfeite Take Red sage Celendine Rosemary Herbgrass Wormwood Mugwort Pimpernell Dragons Scabius Tyromony Rosasolis and Balm of each of these a handfull or like quantity by weight wash and swing them in a linnen cloth shred them and put them into a galon of white wine with a quarter of an ounce of Gentian roots and of Angelica roots the like quantity let it stand two days and two nights close covered and distill it at your pleasure that glass in which you keep it be stopt very close Chap. 57. How to purifie the Air in a Plague time Take an ounce of balsum one ounce of the flower of Sulpher with an ounce of mirrhe powder all these together put thereto as much perno as will make them into a stiffe past then make it into little cakes then in the time of a pestilence every day or every other day put one or two of these upon a chasing dish of coals this is good saith mine Author to purifie the Air. FINIS
the hearb called Sanguinaria dactillon of some Dens Canis of Dioscordious it is called Coronopus that is to say Crows foot some take it to be Dandelion take therewith the roots of Turmiltill and white Dittany of each of these an Ounce stamp all well then put them in a pot or violl with clear water at your discretion rather too much then too little till it pass three handfulls above the other things in the pot then boyle it with a clear fire without smoak untill one third part be deminished then strain it softly into a clean glass and it will be of the colour of wine when necessity doth require you may give the patient a glass full in the morning and another at night two hours before supper but it must be very hot then cover him well in his bed and make him sweat when the Marks come forth he shall become like a Lazer or a Lepper and by Gods blessing shall recover in a short time and be perfectly whole CHAP. 20. Against the mortality of the Pestilence an approved remedy Take Gentian Seduaria roots of Turmentile of each of them two Ounces Red Sandal white and Recent Ditany Harts horn burnd white pearl bole Armoniack round Aristolochia of each of them an Ounce half an Ounce of Camphere two Ounces of white Suger of all these things beaten together into powder you shall take at every time a dram with three Ounces as Endive water or Sorrell water mixe the water and the Suger with the bigness of a Walnut of fine Triacle you must minister this Medicine before the sickness have continued with the person twelve hours for it is the surer if the patient be an infant then give him but half a dram of it with an Ounce and a half of one of the said waters and with the like quantity of Triacle this drink is neither solvable nor laxative nor doth cause any grief to the patient but onely killeth the poyson if any person have drunk or eaten any poyson it is a very good Medicine for him it is also very good against a hot fevor or Ague note also that if it be possible the patient must be let bloud before he take this or suddenly after CHAP. 21. To make little round balls good against the Plague Take of Labdanum half an Ounce Storax Calamica one Ounce Diambre two grains of Camphere fifteen grains of Cloves Nutmukes and Mace of each of them an eight part a scruple of Damask Roses half a dram of Sinamon fifteen grains of Spignard Musk and Civit of each of them eight grains half a dram of fine Violets four grains of Lignum Aloes the bigness of a bean of Calomie Aromanticie four grains of fine Amber the bigness of a bean of Mirrhe first stamp the Labdanum with a hot Pestle then stamp well the Storax Calatimae and all the other things each by it self and then mixe all together and stamp them still with a pestle ading to it at every time Sorax laquide and Rose water untill all the said things be well incorporated and then make round bal's thereof to smell to or use at your own discretion CHAP. 22. A very perfect oyl Against the Plague and all manner of poyson Take of the oldest oyl you can get and boyl it the space of an hour and for every pound of the said oyl put in fifty Scorpians or as many as you can get put all this in a pot uncovered set the pot in a Kettle of boyling water untill the third part of the oyl or somewhat less be consumed then take out the Scorpions and strain the oyl into another pot then stop it close and set it in the Sun three moneths or by the fire on hot Ashes the space of four days but first put in two Ounces of Unicorns horn one Ounce of Triacle three Ounces of Aquavitae when any person feeleth himself infected with the Plague or poyson let him be annointed with the said oyl about the heart and pulses and he shall finde a marvelous effect CHAP. 23. A marvelous secret for to preserve a man from the Plague and hath been proved in England of all the Physicians in that great and vehement Plague in the year 1348 and in the year 1625 in London that in the year 1348 crept throughout all the known world and Authors affirm that there was never any person that used this secret but was by Gods grace preserved from the Plague Take Aloe Epaticum or Cicotrim fine Sinamon of each of these three drams Cloves Mace Lignum Aloe Mastick bole Armoniake of each of them half a dram let all these things be well stamped together in a Morter then mingle them together then keep it in a close vessel and take thereof every morning two penny weight in half a glassfull of white wine with a little water drink it in the morning at the dawning of the day and so you may by the grace of God go hardily into all infection of the Aire and receive no damage by the Plague CHAP. 24. A very sure and perfect remedy to cure a man of the Pestilence Take the berries of Ivie that groweth on trees or walls and not of them that are found on the ground you must gather the said berries very ripe and toward the north if it be possible if not take them as you can get them although they be not very ripe dry them in the shadow and keep them in a wooden box as a most precious thing and if any be infected with the Pestilence beat the said berries to powder in a clean Morter and give the patient the said powder in a glass full of white wine as much as will lye upon a groat or more then cover him in his bed and cause him to sweat then change his shirt sheets and all the coverings of his bed if it be possible if not at least change shirt and sheets some having taken this over night have found themselves well in the morning and cured My Author affirmeth that in the year 1523 he saw in Aleppo Amilanos that had two Plague sores one under his thigh and another under his left arm and having taken the said powder morning and evening he found that the said sores brake of themselves by virtue of this excellent Medicine sent and blest by God himself who giveth understanding unto man it is good for all persons to have so easie a thing ready by them CHAP. 25. A present remedy to heal the Pestilence by drawing out the venome from the sore approved Take a quick Hen and pluck the Rump and place where she layeth egges quite bare then set her so that the bare place may be upon the grief that she may be held upon the sore a great while the Hen draweth all the poyson to her self or at least so much as will ease the patient shortly after she will dye you may do this with three or four several Hens immediately one after another they will draw all the
A COLLECTION OF Seven and Fifty approved RECEIPTS Good against the PLAGUE Taken out of the Five Books of that Renowned Dr. DON ALEXES Secrets for the benefit of the poorer sort of people of these Nations By W. J. Gent. LONDON Printed by Peter Lillicrap for John Wingfield at the Bible and Anchor in Tower-street near Mark-lane end 1665. The Author to the READER Courteous Reader I Through Gods divine providence have had at severall times great occasion to make use of Medicines for the health of my own body as namely in the year 1642 for Cuts and Shots where then I came acquainted and into familiarity with Master George Dunne Chyrurgion Master Leadbeater the Apothecary Master Guye Master Hicks and Master Nicholas Culpepper by whose familiarity I lost nothing in the end of September 1663 our house was visited with the Plague one died before we knew what it was the family was five in number I lay in the same bedding the deceased dyed out of he dyed full of the marks I had a Boyle in my Groyne that never brake but went away by purging and vomiting my fellow had one that brake yet none dyed but the first I helpt to Coffin about six persons in one family at that time yet by Gods providence am yet a live in the year 1649 I had along sickness from Midsomer till Christmas of that miserable disease called the griping or plague of the Guts which caused me to search all publick means for cure and having spent what means I had upon Doctors like the woman that had the bloudy Issue And all gave me over for dead I betook me to search for directions in books and after the reading of many providence guided me to light upon the most excellent and approved Works of that famous Doctor named DON ALEXES a man well skilled in the Latine Greek Hebrew Chaldee and Arabick tongues and of divers other Nations and Countreys he being naturally inclined and took a singular pleasure in Phylosophy and in the secrets of nature he travelled seven and twenty years to gain knowledge the five books were translated into English by Master William Ward and Master Richard Andrews and Dedicated unto the Right honourable Francis Lord Russell Earl of Bedford but lest I should make my Porch greater then my building I do refer those that would be further satisfied unto those five books aforesaid where they shall finde every one inserted I gathered them at first for my own perticular private use but considering the scarcity of the books and altogether at an extraordinary dear rate I have for the publick benefit of all men exposed them to the care of the Printer to serve for publick use June 12. 1665. W. J. A Collection of Seven and fifty Receipts good against the Plague CHAP. I. An approved Remedy against the Pestilence be it never so vehement TAke an Ounion and cut him overthwart then make a little hole in each peece the which you shall fill with fine Triacle then set the peices together again as they were before then wrap them in a white linnen cloth Puting it so to Roast in the Embers and Ashes then when it is Roasted enough press out all the juice of it and give the patient a spoonful thereof to drink and so by Gods help he shall feel ease and most undoubtedly be healed CHAP. 2. A very good perfume against the Plague TAke Mastick Cyprus Incence Mace Wormwood Mirrhe Lignum Aloe Tegname Musk Ambergreise Timioma Nutmugges Mirtle-tree Bay-tree Rosemary Saige Roses Elder Cloves Juniper Rue Pitch and a kind of Raw-pitch called in Latine Rasise stamp all these together mixe them well set them on the embers or Coles and so perfume the Chamber CHAP. 3. Another very good Remedy against the Plague TAke the Ripe berries of a Baytree then pill off the black skin that is upon them beat them into powder with a little Salt and as soon as the party perceiveth himself infected with the Plague and that he begin to have a hot Fevor he must take a spoonfull of the said powder mixt with a little Vineger and water let him heat it a little and drinke it and then covering himself warm sleep sleeping soundly by Gods help he shall be cured in a short time but if the Fevor come with a cold instead of Vineger he must take wine and then do as is said before this hath been experimented on many in the last great Plague time CHAP. 4. For him that is sick of the Plague TAke white Dittany Turmentill white Corall Genitine Bole Armoniack Terra sigilata and Endive water of Scabius and the Accedent coming upon him this must be made at least four hours before it be used take of the said things stamped each one by it self and put them severally inglasses and make of all of them a drink at your own discretion making the Vineger mount in the glass a little above the other things and let the patient take it hot covering himself hot in his bed untill he sweat and by Gods help he shall undoubtedly be Cured CHAP. 5. A marvellous preservative against the Plague TO make this take white Dicany round Aristolochia with Crocodilium otherwise called Cardina or Cordua with Voruine Gentian Zeduarise an hearb called in Latine per muli of each of them two Ounces stamp all these together with a handful of Rue then take a glass that holdeth at least three quarts and fill it with the best wine you can find whereinto you shall put all the foresaid things and let it stand so in your house and in dangerous times take every morning a glass full of the said wine before you go out of your house but first observe to eat a Walnut a Fige and a branch or two of Rue do this every morning CHAP. 6. An approved good ointment to make an Impostume break and the Plague sone to fall off TO make this take a quantity of Oyl of Olive and set it on the fire in some firme vessell put thereto fine Cerus or White Lead well stamped together literage of silver very fine and thine with a quantity of Common wax set it on the fire untill you may spread it with your finger upon a smooth stone then take it from the fire and power a little Vineger upon it but have a care of your face then make a Plaister of this ointment as big as all the sore and make a hole in the midst thereof the breadth of a penny make then a little plaister of suppling ointment the bigness of the hole then make another plaister of the same bigness and lay it on the suppling plaister the mortifying plaister be between both let this lye twenty four hours then change onely the middle plaister leting it so lye twenty four hours longer but remember to annoint the top of the sore with some Hogs suite or Hen or Capons grease to mollifie it so it will be hard in the middle and round about it will be tender