Countrey-people Tetter-berries may with good successe be applied to them The root cleanseth the skin from the Morphew Leprosie all running Scabs and Manginesse if a Bath be made thereof or the juice applied thereunto A Pessary made of the root bringeth downe the courses in Women and bringeth forth the After-birth and dead Child A Bath made hereof cleanseth the Womb from filthinesse and uncleannesse The root hung about the Neck is good against the Falling Sicknesse and Convulsion The root bruised and boyled in Vineger being applyed to the swollen Genitalls of men helpeth the same A decoction of the leaves or roots mingled with Honey and the mouth and throat washed therewith cureth Vlcers and sorenesse thereof The distilled water of the root worketh the same effect but more weakly yet the water is used for freckles and spots in the face Against hardnesse and stopping of the Spleene Take what quantity you will of the green root of Brionie bruise it with Figs and apply it to the Spleen adding thereunto a little Oyle of Capers Or Take Ammoniacum dissolved in Vineger Oyntment Dialtheae or of Marsh-mallows Plaister of Melilot of each halfe an ounce Brionie root and Orris in powder of each halfe an ounce Ducks-grease Goose grease and Hens-grease of each three drams Bdellium and Galbanum of each a dram and a halfe Oyle of Orris-root one ounce and a halfe of the Mussilage of Linseede and Fenugreeke a sufficient quantity of each dissolve the gums and boyle them gently together and add thereto of Wax four ounces of Turpintine and Rosin of each one ounce and a halfe make all into a Cerat according to art Against corrupt and fretting sores in the Legs Take the leaves or root of White Brionie bruise them with Salt and Vineger and apply it Against the Gout and Sciatica Take of Brionie-root green bruise it and apply it with Hogs-grease The hurtfull Quality with the correcting means The root of White Brionie doth much trouble the Stomach head and other parts therefore it must not be given to delicate bodies nor where the spirits are low for though it have a specifick vertue for the Diseases of the Brain before mentioned yet it offends the weak The hurtfull Quality hereof is taken away in part by adding to it Ginger Cinamon Quince or such like The same is also very dangerous for Women with Child however it be given for it causeth Abortion or miscarrying These things are made of Brionie 1. The Extract thereof 2. Faeces vel Faculae Brioniae 3. Water of Brionie 4. Oyntment of Brionie 5. Vnguentum Agrippae The Dose The Dose of the root in substance is from a scruple to a dram in infusion from two drams to halfe an ounce The juice of the root is given from a dram to two drams or more in strong bodies The faeces or dregs thereof are given from five graines to twenty Cambogia see Gutta Gummi CHAP. XII De Camphora Of Camphor or Campher CAmphor is a Gum or liquor of a Tree growing in India and other places partly distilling forth of its owne accord but chiefly by incision and commeth forth clear and white without any spot therein of a very strong sent and of thin parts so that being but a while expos'd to the air both sent and substance vanisheth away The Names It is called in Latine Camphora Caphura in English Camphire Camfire Camphor and Campher The temperament Some will have it to be cold and dry in the third degree others esteem it to be hot but of this more hereafter The best kinde The best is white shining clear as Crystall not full of spots easie to be broken and brittle also being set on fire it burneth and is not easily quenched and hath also a strong sent The Duration It will keep good many years some say forty years but it must be kept from the air and in Flax-seed or Fleawort-seed otherwise it will evaporate and consume to nothing The inward Vse It resisteth putrifaction and venome therefore it is frequently used in the Pestilence contagious diseases and in Feavers It extinguisheth venery or the lust of the body Camphora venenis strenuè resistit cardiacon est Joubert de peste f. 72 Vide Thoner observat l. 3. observat 8. fol. 187. and is good for the running of the Reins as also against the Whites in Women and for the rising of the Mother being dissolved in Balm-water and so taken It cools the heat of the Liver Backe and all hot inflamations in the body The manner of Administring it It is given in Electuaries in Powders Potions c. An Electuary against the Pestilence Take Myrrhe Saffron the bone of a Stags heart or Harts-horne in powder of each two scruples and a halfe of Dittany in powder two drams of white Ginger in powder halfe an ounce of Zedorie in powder two drams and a halfe of Tormentill-roots in powder a dram of Campher in powder or dissolved in Aqua vitae two drams Mithridate and London Treacle of each three ounces with a little Aqua vitae make an Electuary Take thereof morning and evening as much as a small Nut. A powder for the Pestilence Take of Zedoary White Dittany root Gentian-root Scordium Carduus Sorrell of each two drams make them into powder The Dose is a dram in a morning in carduus-Carduus-water or in the winter let it be given in White-wine This is a good preservative in times of infection Or Take of white Sugar-Candy a dram white Ginger two scruples Camphor halfe a scruple make them in powder and give it in two or three ounces of scabious-Scabious-water or angelica-Angelica-water Or Take Angelica-root Bay-berries of each halfe an ounce round Aristolochia or Birthwort two drams Gentian-root Nutmeg of each a dram Camphor halfe a scruple make all into powder The Dose is a dram or more in carduus-Carduus-water A Potion against the Pestilence Take of Treacle called Diatessaron a dram Angelica-root in powder halfe a dram or a dram of Rose-Vineger a dram Campher three grains carduus-Carduus-water two ounces Dissolve the Campher and the rest that is to be dissolved in the water and make a potion give it and let the party sweat after it This may be given divers times if need be Note That Campher will not be made into powder alone without a blanched Almond or some other such like unctious thing which hereby will be brought into fine powder neither will it easily dissolve in cold water but by warmth it will or with any syrupe it will soon dissolve The outward Vse It helpeth pain of the head and heat thereof if it be mixed with yellow Sanders and red Rose-water and the Temples and Forehead bath'd therewith It stoppeth blood that floweth out of the nostrills if it be smelled to and refresheth the brain It is used against Phlegmous and Erysipelas or Wilde-fire also against heat or inflamations of the eyes it is good in Wounds and Vlcers to abate the heat thereof and is of much
in powder stirring them well together till it become a fit masse for pils The Dose is from ten grains to fifteen Freitag Aur. Med. f. 337. The external use A decoction of Coloquintida made with Veniger easeth the paine of the Teeth if they be washed therewith The powder thereof with Honey applyed to the Navill killeth wormes Being infused in Vineger it cureth the Morphew Leprosie Elephansie dry scurfe and scabs if the places be often rubbed therewith A bath made of Coloquintida and the feet and other parts fomented therewith bringeth downe the Courses in Women The juyce boyled with Hogs-greese and applyed to the hip easeth the Sciatica An oyle made of Coloquintida and dropped into the ear take's away the noyse and singing thereof and is good against baldnes and falling of the hair Coloquintida is used in Glisters and Suppositories A Glister Take of the Pulpe of Coloquintida two drams Camomel flowers a handfull Anniseed Cuminseed of each halfe an ounce Make a decoction in fair water straine it and in a pint of the decoction desolve honey of Roses oyl of Camomel of each three or four ounces and make a Glister A Suppository Take of Coloquintida in powder a scruple species Hiera simplex halfe a dram Salgem halfe a scruple with a sufficient quantity of Honey make a Suppository A Ball made of Coloquintida which purgeth onely by smelling to it Take of Colocynthis and Esula or pine spurge in powder Aloes and Myrrhe in powder of each a dram with the juice of Coriander make two bals to hold in each hand one and being warmed therewith smell often to them The hurtfull quality with the correcting means Coloquintida hurts the heart liver and stomach by its strong operation it opens the mouthes of the veines whereby many times after the taking of it blood is voided both upward and downeward It also excoriats the bowels and passages of the Urine and bringeth great gripings and tearing pains Therefore it must not be given to women with child for being but applyed to the wombe it killeth the child nor to children aged persons or such as are weake neither to any that have the Plurisie Hectich Feaver or any inflamation It is not safe to give it alone but being well corrected it may be given to strong and rustick bodies It is corrected with Hepaticall Cardiacall Stomachicall and other gentle means as Tragacanth oyle of sweet Almonds Ginger or Mastich Some adde Bdellium and other astringent things But surely those things that binde make the operation of the Medicine afterwards more strong for though the binding faculty of such things may hinder the operation for a time yet it will at length bring forth and worke more violently Sagapenum is counted a good corrector of Coloquintida because of it's clammy faculty whereby it preserves the bowels from gripings The Dose The Dose in powder is from five graines to ten or fifteen These things following are made of Coloquintida First Pils of Coloquintida 2 Pilulae Alhandal 3 Extract of Coloquintida 4 Trosses of Alhandal 5 Chimicall oyle of Coloquintida 6 Oyle by infusion of Coloquintida 7 Wine and Vineger of Coloquintida CHAP. XVIII De Corallio Rubro Of red Coral REd Coral is a hard stony substance growing on the Rocks in the Sea The Names Coral is called in Latine Corallium Coralium and Coralium this Corallium rubrum in English Red Coral The temperament Red Coral is cold and dry in the second degree The best kinde The best is that which is smooth clear and red for the redder it is the better it is The Duration It will keep good ten or twenty years The inward Vse Red Coral doth dry cool and bind it strengthneth the heart stomach and liver purifieth the blood and is therefore very usefull in the Pestilence against venome and all pestilent Feavers and malignant diseases it cheares the heart and is good against Melancholy helpeth such as spit blood or that bleed at the mouth or the nose as also stoppeth the Fluxe of blood in man or woman and being taken in wine or other liquor frequâ—ntly it taketh away the hardnesse and stopping of the Spleen it stayeth the Gonorrhaea or running of the reins in men and the whites in women helpeth conception by its binding faculty and is good for the stopping of of the Urine and paines of the Stone in the bladder if the powder when it is burnt be taken in Whitewine or Posset drinke the powder taken in Wine oâ— distilled Water brings rest to such as have an Ague and is good for such as have Cramps It is much commended in the falling sicknesse or to prevent it if a Childe so soon as it is borne take ten graines thereof in black-Cherry-water or in the Mothers miâ—ke Some affirme that it causeth an easie delivery of the birth which fit doe it is by a specifick vertue for experience doth manifest it to be of a binding nature The Chymicall oyle of Coral is commended against the Falling-sicknesse in children and others as also in all Fluxes of the belly and spitting of blood The manner of administring it It is given in Electuary powder c. An Electuary against the Flux of the belly Take of red Coral in powder three drams of Marmeâ—â—â—de of Quinces two ounces and a halfe species Diamargariton frigidum two drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Quinces make an Electuary take of it a little before meat An Electuary against vomiting of blood by reason of a bruise or fall Take of red Coral in powder a dram conserve of red Roses conserve of Comfry of each one ounce Bâ—le Armoniack washed in Rose water and in powder Blood stone in powder of each a dram Acacia Myrtle-Berries of each a dram Suger Pellets halfe an ounce with an ounce of Suger dissolved in Rose-water make an Electuary The Dose is three drams or halfe an ounce with red Wine in the morning and before meat A Powder against Ruptures Take of Myrtle-berries Cinamon and Nutmeg of each two drams of Knot-grasse dry halfe an ounce seeds of Plantaine and Purslaine of each three drams and the seeds of Garden Cresses a dram of red Corall a dram and a halfe make all into powder adding so much Sugar as will make it sweet The Dose is from halfe a dram to a dram in red Wine every morning or second morning for a Months space if need require A Powder against the Fluxe of the belly Take of red Coral a scruple roots of Tormentil two scruples Mirrhe a scruple Gum Tragacanth a dram Plantaine-seeds halfe a dram Dragons blood a dram trosses of Spodium a dram Bole Armoniack and Harts-horne burnt of each a dram make them into powder The Dose is a dram in Plantaine-water The outward Vse It helpeth sore Gums and Ulcers in the mouth and healeth up soul hollow Ulcers in other parts and filleth with flesh and is used in medicines for the eyes to stay the Flux of Rheume and takes away the heat and rednesse thereof
not so dangerous as some Authors fabulously report for Women to stride over or but to touch it It is not to be given without correcting helpe Now the correcting meanes are Mel Passulatum or Honey of Raisons Manna Mastick Syrup of Quinces or with species Diarrhodon Abbatis or with Oxymel and Hydromel or in powder it may be given with Chicken broth or Veale broth The Dose The Dose in substance is from a dram to a dram and a halfe The juyce is given from a dram to two drams or three drams Of such Medicines as are made of Sowbread First Vnguentum de Arthanita majus 2Vng de Arthanita minus CHAP. XXIV De Dactylis Of Dates DAtes are long and round fruits growing in the East and West Indies and in other places from whence we have them They abound in Indiae Syria Aegypt Arabia and such hot places The Names They are called in English Dates The best are called Cariotae and Phaenicobalanis which were also called Regiae because they were fittest for the dyet of Kings The Temperament Dates are hot and dry almost in the second degree and astringent or binding especially when they are not through ripe being through ripe they are hot and moist in the second degree some say hot and moist in the first degree The best sort The best Dates are such as are Yellowish in colour sweet ripe within new uncorrupt not worme-eaten and having their caps on therefore called Cap Dates for if the Caps fall off they soon decay The Duration Dates will not keep good long especially in the Summer time some will keep halfe a year or longer The inward Vse Dates yeeld a grosse and clammy and fatty or impingnating nourishment therefore they are used against Consumptions and wasting of the body they helpe the hoarsenesse and roughnesse of the throat the sharpe Cough by reason of sharpe rheume falling on the breast and lungs The decoction of them taken alayeth the force of hot Agues and stayeth spitting of blood the paine in the stomach and bowels by reason of a Flux and boyled in water and honey and taken doth refresh the spirits they somewhat provoke to Venery the decoction helpeth the weaknesse and paines in the back and bladder they strengthen the weaknesse of the Liver and Spleen being mixed with other convenient medicines They are used in broth 's against Consumptions and pining diseases and are counted restorative especially the sweet ones Dry Dates being eaten doe stop the belly and stay vomiting of women with childe and helpe against miscarying they stay womens courses and the bleeding and falling downe of the Fundament and Piles being taken in red Wine The manner of administring them They are given in brothes Decoctions and Electuaries A decoction against the Cough shortnesse of breath and the Plurisie Take of Dates six in number Figs four French Barley an ounce Raisons of the Sun stoned an ounce Sebesten and Jujubes of each fifteen Licoris halfe an ounce Maiden-haire Hysop Scabious Colts-foot of each halfe a handfull Cut the herbs and fruits and bruise the Licoris then boyle them in three pints of spring water to a quart straine it and drink of the clearest morning and evening seven or eight spoonfulls warme The outward Vse Dates made into a Poultis alone or with other things and applied to the stomack and belly stayeth the vomiting of Women with child The Decoction of Dates or the leaves of the Date-tree maketh the haireblack being often used and stayeth fretting Vlcers Being mixed with Wax and Saffron they helpe the black and blew marks remaining after stripes or blowes and reduceth the skin to its naturall colour Date stones being burnt and washed serve instead of Spodium to binde and restraine the fluent humours into the eyes and to consume the Pin and Web in them and to dry up Pushes being used with Spikenard it it stayeth the falling of the hair from the eye brows being mingled with wine and used it helpeth any Excressences of the flesh as Wens and such like and bringeth foul Vlcers to Cicatrising and stayeth the spreading of Vlcers A Poultis made of them and applyed helpeth any luxation or joynts out of place and they are used in astringent Cataplasmes or Pultises The hurtfull quality They breed ill and grosse humours and thick blood in the body and are hard of concoction especially in such as are of a hot constitution bring the head-ach obstruct the Liver and breed winde therefore they are not to be used by such as are troubled with the head-ach Collick or hot Livers These Medicines following are made of Dates First the Electuary Diaphoenicon mesuae 2 Diaphoenicon solidum 3 Electuarium resumptivum 4 Lohoch e Pino 5 Lohoch sanum experium Diagredium seu Scammonium CHAP. XXV De Dictamno Cretico Of Dittany of Creete or Candy DIttany of Crete is an hearb much like unto Penny-royal but hath greater leaves and hoary covered over with a soft downe and white woollen Cotten growing in Candy The Names It is called in Latine Dictamum and Dictamus or Dictamnum creticum also Dictamnus creticus and it is so called a dicte promontorio Cretae because plenty of it grows there in that mount in English Dittanie and Dittanie of Candy The temperament Dittany is hot and dry in the third degree of a biting nature especially being green The best kind The best is that which is newest white and not too full of strings The Duration It will keep a year or longer The inward Vse Dittany provokes the Courses hasteneth the birth and bringeth away the dead child and after birth It profits those that have the Dropsie Spleen swollen The juice drunken with wine is a present remedy for those that are bitten or stung by any venemous creature nay the herbe is so effectuall against the poyson of all beasts that are venemous that the very smell drives them away or if they do but touch the herbe The powder being mixed with hony and taken easeth the Cough an killeth Wormes and a decoction thereof taken is profitable in the Jaundies The distilled water is commended against the Pestilence if three ounces be drank morning and evening and sixe ounces thereof against Venome also three ounces thereof taken in a morning is profitable against the Stone The manner of administring it It is given in powder Electuary c. Powder to bring away the dead Childe Take of Dittany of Crete a dram of Saffron five grains make them in powder and give it in wine An Electuary against Venome Take Dittany of Candy round Birth-worth in powder of each halfe an ounce with six ounces of honey make an Electuary The Dose is from a scruple to a dram in wine or Carduus water The outward Vse A Pessarie made of the juice and the powder bringeth away the dead child and after birth being applyed A Bath or decoction made thereof and used all over cures the Jaundies The juice mixed with the powder help 's the
it The Names In Latine 'tis called Fumaria and Fumus terrae in English Fumittery The temperament It is hot in the first degree and dry in the second and not cold as the Vulgar conceive for its bitternesse sheweth it to be hot The duration The Hearb will keep good a year and the juice may be kept a year with Oyle of Olives powred on it The inward use Fumiterry purgeth gently Melancholly and salt humours it is opening cleansing and strengthening it purgeth the impurity of the blood and is usefull in obstructions and stoppings of the Liver Spleen and Entrals and doth corrobate or strengthen those parts It purgeth Chollerick humours by Urine and avails in the Itch Scab Leprosie Cancer Fistulaes and foule Diseases of the skin arising from adust humours as also in the French Disease It is profitable in Feavers arising from choller both yellow and black in the Jaundise Quartaine Ague Scorbute or Scurvie killeth Worms and prevails in Chronicall Diseases arising from stoppings of the viscerous parts and in affects of the Hypochonders The powder saith Brasavola of the dryed Hearb given for some time together hath cured a Melancholly person The distilled water cures the yellow Jaundise if three or four ounces be drunk morning and evening for certaine dayes together and avails against the Scab Itch and such like Diseases and being constantly taken it preserveth from the Leprosie Being taken with London Treacle and Bole Armoniack it is good in the Pestilence as a dram or two of Treacle and a scruple of Bole Armoniack mixed in two ounces of the water and so taken Also it dissolveth congealed blood and tumours and provoketh the Termes or Courses in Women The manner of administring it It is given in Potion Decoction in juice and in Powder A Potion against Melancholly and Choller Take of Sene two drams Fumiterry and Wormwood of each as much as you can hold between two or three fingers of Cinamon bruised a dram infuse them in Succory-water and a little Wine for a night strain it and in the strained liquour infuse or steep of Rubarbe cut in thin slices halfe a dram or a dram five or six hours then strain it again and add to it of the Electuary called Diacatholicon halfe an ounce make a Potion A Potion against Melancholly Take of Fumiterry tops of Hops of each halfe a handfull Raisons of the sun stoned halfe an ounce Polypodium of the Oak green bruised halfe an ounce Dodder Epithymum of each three drams Anniseed and Licoris bruised of each halfe a dram Make a decoction in a sufficient quantity of water strain it and infuse or steep therein of Sene two or three drams strain it and dissolve in it Diacatholicon an ounce and as much syrupe of Violets A Potion against the Dropsie Take of the juice of Fumiterry two or three ounces of the powder of the root of Esula prepared eight or ten grains elder-Elder-water an ounce with a little Suger make a Potion A delicate Potion to purge the blood Take of the decoction of Fumiterry made with Whey or Posset-drink five ounces steep therein on hot embers a whole night of Sene halfe an ounce Rubarbe a dram strain it and dissolve in it of syrupe of Roses Laxative or of Manna an ounce make a Potion Against the Scorbute or Scurvy Take the juice of Fumiterry and Scurvygrasse of each two ounces give it in the Spring time in Goats Whey A decoction of Fumiterry made with Posset-drink and four or five ounces thereof taken morning and evening in the Spring time doth much purifie and cleanse the blood Against the Jaundise Take Fumiterry Wormwood of each a handfull boyle it in Posset-drink or Whey and being strained drink of it four ounces morning and evening Or Take two or three ounces of the juice of Fumiterry and give it in two ounces of ceterach-Ceterach-water Against the Joynt-Gout Take of the juice of Fumiterry three ounces of Hermodactilles in powder two scruples mingle them together and give it in a morning fasting Against the Scab Itch and Leprosie Take of the juice of Fumiterry two ounces and a halfe or three ounces warm it over the fire and scum it then add a little sugar and half a dram of Fennellseed to it and give it in a morning The outward use The juice dropped into the eyes doth clear the eyes and quicken the sight but at the first it will cause the eyes to water the juice also mingled with Gum Arabicke and applied to the lids will cause that the haire that hath once been pulled off shall not grow again A decoction thereof made and the feet bathed therewith cures the Gout or boyled in Wine and so applyed doth the like the juice mixed with the juice of Docks and Oxymel or Vineger cureth the Morphew being anointed therewith Also a Bath made of the same with Mallowes Violets and Dock roots with Barly Bran and Nep cureth the Scab and Itch. The juice mingled with Oyle of Nuts and Vineger cures maligne Scabs and the Leprosie being noynted therewith The distilled water helpeth sores and Ulcers of the mouth being therewith washed and gargled especially if you take four ounces of the water adding thereto one ounce of honey of Roses and wash the mouth therewith The hurtfull quality It is somwhat flatulent or windy therefore 't is good to mix with the juice or decoction some Anniseed or Fennelseed and infused in Whey or given with infusion of Sene it doth work the better The Dose The juice is given from halfe an ounce to two or three ounces The Powder from two drams to foure drams The decoction from three ounces to five or six ounces Of such things as are made thereof The Water The Juice The Conserve The Syrupe both simple and compound Pills of Fumiterry and the Oyle distilled from the dry hearb CHAP. XXX De Galanga Of Galingall GAlingale is a small root of a reddish colour both within and without and smelleth somwhat sweet and groweth in China The Names It is called in Latine Galanga in English Galingall The temperament It is hot and dry in the second or third degree The sorts or kinds There are two sorts the greater and the lesser but the lesser is most in use The best kinde The best is that which is of a reddish colour or brownish within and without heavy and aromaticall or smelling sweet especially being bruised of a hot tast and full of smal holes The Duration It will keep good three or four years The inward Vse Galingal is profitable in all cold diseases of the stomach braine and wombe help 's concoction expels winde and crudities and strengthens the stomach being boyled in wine and taken morning and evening It strengthneth especially a moist brain helps the Vertigo or swimming of the head and avails against the palpitation or beating of the heart and is very usefull in the gnawing of the stomach and easeth the Collick which proceedeth of winde and in the diseases of the Mother
poyson and is good to cure wounds The herbe root and water are in use It is much used in the pestilence and other malignant diseases as small pox measles spotted feavers and purples driving forth by sweat any contagion especially if a flux of the belly be joyned with these diseases It is usefull in Catarrhes to dry up rheumes and in the French disease It cureth the bloody flux and all other fluxes of the belly and stoppeth the spitting of blood pissing of blood vomiting and the over-flowing of womens courses The powder of the root or the decoction thereof is very available against Ruptures bruises or fals and dissolveth congealed blood and easeth the paines that happen thereupon It helpeth also the stoppings and hurts of the lungs and liver and is good against the Jaundise and cureth the tertian Ague The decoction of the root in wine being drunk hindereth abortion or miscarrying in women with childe the leaves killeth wormes in children and it is a great help to such as cannot keep their water if they put thereto some juyce of Plantain A dram of rhe root in powder taken in water wherein red hot iron or steel hath been quenched is a good remedy for such as have the running of the reines especially the body being first well purged The leaves seeds or roots are good to put in decoctions for wound-drinks In a word it is most excellent in â—he time of the plague or pestilence The distilled water of Tormentill taken in a morning fasting is lent against venome or any contagion and is a good preservative in times of infection The dose is two or three ounces The same taken morning and evening cures all inward ulcers in the body stayeth the flux of the belly especially the Dysentery or bloudy flix It doth comfort the brain heart stomach liver and spleen as also the whole body and cureth most Agues The best way to still the water is to steep the herb all night in wine and then distil it Balneo Mariae The manner of administring it It is given in Powder Electuary Potions and Decoctions A powder against the Pestilence Take Tormentil root Dyttany of each a dram Sorrel and Citron-seed of each a dram and a half Ginger Cynamon Saffron white and red Sanders of each half a scruple Bole Armoniack and terra sigillata or sealed earth of each four scruples Make all into powder and give half a dram thereof or more in carduus-Carduus-water and let them sweat after it An Electuary against the Pestilence Take of Tormentil-root in powder two drams of the three kindes of Sanders in powder of each a scruple Wood-Aloes in powder half of a scruple Angelica-root in powder a dram conserve of Red Roses and of Rosemary of each two ounces and a half with syrup of Gillowflowers make an Electuary Give of it morning and evening about a dram A Potion against Infection Take of Tormentil-root in powder half a dram London-Treacle a Dram Carduus-water an ounce and a halfe mix them together and give it warm let the party sweat after it The outward use The decoction of the root is good to cleanse sores and wounds and to dry them up the root or the juice may be put into ointments for Wounds and Ulcers The root of Tormentil and Pellitory of Spain and burnt Allome of each a like quantity made up into a paste and put into a hollow tooth doth not only asswage the pain but stayeth the flux of humours which was the cause thereof The decoction thereof helpeth rotten Sores and Ulcers of the mouth or secret parts It dissolveth all Knots Kernels and Hardnesse about the Eares Throat Jawes and the Kings Evill if the leaves and roots be bruised and laid thereunto The same also easeth the pains of the Hip-gowt by restraining the sharp humours that flow thereunto The juice of the leaves and roots used with a little vineger is a speciall remedy against the running sores in the head or other parts scabs also and the itch or any such eruptions in the skin proceeding of salt and sharp humours the same is effectual for the Hemorrhoides or Piles if they be washed and bathed therewith or with the distilled water of the herb and roots It dryeth up sharp Rheumes that fall from the head to the eyes and cause rednesse pain and watering itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the distilled water hereof The powder of the root doth wonderfully stay the bleeding of the nose or any wound or vomiting The same mixed with Vineger Oile of Roses and a little Wax being made into a plaister and laid to the back doth prevent Abortion in Women or miscarrying If women sit over the decoction thereof it is a good help to prevent miscarrying especially if after the use thereof they make a plaister with the powder and Honey laying it to the navel and back The distilled water being injected doth much help to cure the Whites or Reds in Women The powder of the root mixed with Oil of Camomile easeth the pains of the joynts The distilled water doth cleanse Wounds Fistulaes Cankers and Sores being washed therewith and doth much help to the speedy cure of them and the water also alone doth cleer the sight and stay the flux of Rheume being washed therewith A Plaister to prevent miscarrying in Women Take of the plaister called Emplastrum contra rupturam two ounces the root of Tormentill in powder two drams Oile of Roses or Quinces half an ounce make a plaister thereof and lay it to the back warm The hurtfull quality It must not be given in very dry bodies nor to such as are much bound in their bodies The Dose The Dose in powder is from a scruple to a dram in decoction from a dram to three drams Of such things as are made thereof The distilled Water Dioscorâ—ium c. CHAP. 65. De Turpetho of Turbith TVrbith is the root of a certain plant brought us from beyond the Sea neither have any set down certainly what it is The names It is called in Latine Turpethum Turpetum Turbitum Turbith in English also Turbith quasi turbatorium because it troubleth the stomach The temperament It is hot in the third degree and dry in the second or hot and dry in the second degree The best kinde The best is that which is white within and hollow like a Cane or Reed Gummy with an ash-coloured bark or out-side smooth and not rugged easie to be broken fresh not worm-eaten and not very great or thick which is not so good The duration It will keep good three or four yeers The inward use Turbith purgeth thick viscid and flegmatick humours from the stomach veins joynts nerves and breast moreover it draweth away water in the Dropsie It is profitable in the Gowt in long continued Agues comming from grosse and tough humours and in all diseases arising of thick flegm Some say it purgeth first and primarily flegm and then somewhat
adust humours therefore it is used in the French pox Elephansie Leprosie Morphew and also in madnesse The manner of administring it It is given in decoction or in substance In decoction Take of Betony a handful Turbith three drams Citron-seed Long-Pepper of each half a dram make a decoction in a sufficient quantity of water strain it and add thereunto Honey of Roses solutive one ounce and a half make a potion Massar f. 481. In substance Take of Turbith in powder a dram and a half mix it with posset-drink wherein hath been boiled Betony Ivy Anise-seed c. and give it It may be given in broth wherein hath been boiled Raisons and Figs. It will endure boiling indifferent well but especially if it be first infused it is better The externall use The powder of Turbith being mingled with honey and applyed eateth and consumeth dead flesh in ulcers and wounds and is profitable in Gangrenes The hurtfull quality with the corrective means Turbith hath three hurtfull qualities first it is slow and weak in operation so that except it be quickened with something it oftentimes draweth away thin flegme and leaves the thick behind Secondly it offends and troubleth the stomach bringing a nauseousness thereof and many times causeth vomiting according to the verse Nolo damnosum Turbith mea viscera turbet Thirdly it macerates or consumes the body and brings leannesse and Consumption It is corrected with Ginger Cynamon Anise-seed Mastick and the like Also oil of sweet Almonds is a good corrective for it especially in lean bodies it is not safe to give it to women that are with child old and weak persons or to children After the use of Turbith the eating of fish is forbidden and also you must avoid the South-winde Heurn Prax. Med. fol. 266. Tretag Auror. Med. fol. 322. Sennert Instit fol. 857. The Dose The Dose in powder is from a dram to two drams in decoction two drams to halfe an ounce The compound Medicines made of Turbith Extract of Twrbith Species Diaturbith with Rubarbe Pils of Turbith Vineger of Turbith Deo soli gloria CHAP. 66. De Agrimonia of Agrimonie The names IT is called in Latine Eupatorium from Eapator the first finder of it and Agrimonia some also call it Hepatoxium because it is a good help to the Liver In English Agrimonie and Egrimonie The Temperament It is hot and doth moderately binde and is of a temperate drinesse it cutteth and scoureth and is of subtill parts The Duration It will keep good a yeare being well dryed The inward use It openeth the stoppings of the Liver and cleanseth it it helpeth the Jaundise and strengthneth the inward parts and is good for the Bowells and healeth their inward woundings and bruises or hurts and qualifieth all inward distempers that grow therein A decoction of the herbe made with wine and drunk is good against the sting and biting of Serpents and helpeth them that have foule or troubled and Bloody Waters and is usefull in long continued Fluxes of the Liver especially in old people It is good for the Strangury and helpeth also the Collick it helpeth the Cough and clenseth the Breast It is good help to ridde a Quartaine or Tertian Ague if a draught of the Decoction be taken warme before the fit the leaves and seeds stop the the Bloody flixe being taken in wine The roots or leaves boyled in wine and drunke helpeth such as have the Palsey It is accounted a good herbe against the Spleene being stopt as also against the Pestilence and the biting of a mad Dog The distilled water helpeth the Jaundies Cough and killeth wormes if two ounces thereof be taken Morning and Evening and it is esteemed a secret experiment against the Quartaine Ague if foure ounces thereof be taken Morning and Evening for many dayes together but I rather approve of the Decoction The leaves or roots are good in the Dropsey and Green-sicknesse The manner of administring it It is chiefly given in Decoction A Decoction against the Jaundes Take of Hore-hound two handfulls Elecampane root Buglosse and Agrimony of each a dram and a halfe of Rubarbe and wood Aloes of each a dram Bruise the wood Aloes and the roots boyle them in three pints of White-wine to a quart Note that the Rubarbe must not be put in till the rest be almost boyled Take of this two ounces Morning and Evening If there be a feaver boyle it in Water The outward use It helpeth old Sores Cankers and Ulcers that are of hard Curation being stamped with old Swines grease and applyed for it cleanseth and afterwards healeth them in the same manner also applyed it draweth forth thornes or splinters of wood Nayles or such like that is gotten into the flesh and helpeth to strengthen Members that be out of joynt it helpeth also foule impostumed eares being bruised and applyed or the juyce dropped into them The leaves bruised and applyed to the biting of a mad Dog helpeth the same and the juyce mingled with Vineger taketh away warts being laid thereon The distilled water of the herbe is good for all the purposes aforesaid and to cure Ulcers and sores of the mouth and throat being gargled or washed therewith Of such Medicines as are made thereof These following are made of Agrimonie Syrup of Agrimonie Pils of Agrimonie Trosses of Agrimonie Water of Agrimonie The Dose The leaves are given in Powder from a scruple to a dram CHAP. 67. De Agno Casto of the chaste Tree The Names IT is called Castus that is chast because the Athenian matrons in their Thesmophoria did use these leaves as Sheets to lye upon thereby to preserve their chastity In Latine it is called Agnus castus and vitex also Salix Marina or Salix Amerina in English Chast tree The Temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree and of a very thin essence or substance sharp also and binding The Duration It will keepe good a yeare the seede will keep longer The inward use It is a singular good remedy for all such as desire to live chaste for withstandeth all filthy desires to Venery or Lust and dryeth up the seed of generation in any manner used and taken The seeds being drunke resisteth the bitings of venemous Beasts Spiders or the like and helpeth the Dropsy and those that are troubled with the Spleen it also procureth milke in womens Breasts it procureth their courses and urine stopped and helpeth the windinesse of the Stomach and Belly and is usefull in the stoppings of the Liver A dram of the seed given in Powder causeth sleepe The decoction of the herbe and seeds is good for women troubled with the paines of the Mother or inflamation thereof and is said to help an Ague if a draught thereof be taken before the fit The manner of Administring it It is given in Decoction powder electuary Trosses c. An Electuary to coole and abate Lust Take conserve of Water Lillyes and conserve of mints of each one ounce
mixe them together lay it to the soles of the feet at night warme The hurtfull quality Garlick especially eaten raw maketh the eyes dim offendeth the head hurteth the stomach over liberally taken causeth thirst hurteth the Kidneys heateth and burneth the blood yeildeth no nourishment to the body and is hurtfull to Young men and to such as are hot and cholerick and in hot seasons and hurteth Women with Childe and such as give suck it is onely good for such as are cold and moist and abound with Flegmatick grosse and tough humours for old persons and in cold seasons The best way is to boyle it throughly and to eate it with Oyle Vineger or such like Of such things as are made thereoof The distilled water of Garlick The electuary of Garlick which is made thus Take of Garlick foure or five cloves bruise it well with two or three drams of Hony and as much Mithridate then adde of Parmacitty Juniper berries of each a scruple Castor two scruples Pellitory of the wall in powder a scruple with Oximell Squillitick make in Electuary and give of it Morning and Evening as much as a Nut. It is excellent in the Chollick and against winde Whether Garlick and Onions be convenient in the Pestilence Concerning Garlick and Onions there is some question whether they be convenient and profitable in the Pestilence Gallen 1. de Differ Feb. cap. 1. among foode of ill juyce and nourishment doth mention Garlick and Onions and many other Physitians doe forbid the use of them because they increase hot humours whereby a Feaver is soon bred But Galen also saith that Garlick is the Country-mans Treacle and doth commend it against the biting of a mad Dog and other venemous creatures But this may soone be decided thus If we say that Garlick and Onions are profitable and usefull not as aliment or food but as a Medicine For as it is certaine that it yeilds no good nourishment so it is as certaine that it is excellent against Venome and Poyson being used in a small quantity as before is shewed and very usefull in the Pestilence CHAP. 70. De Allumine of Allum The Names and kindes IT is called in Latine Allumen or Salfugo Terrae Antonius Musa mentions foure sorts of Allum Exam. Terrarum Fol. 459. Schroderus writes of five sorts Schroder Pharm Med. Chym. lib. 3. cap. 24. fol. 143. But we have but two sorts ordinarily among us Roch Allum and common Allum true Roch Allum is rare and hard to be got The Temperament It is hot and dry in the third or fourth degree The Duration It will keepe good many yeares The best kinde The best is that which is clearest white and pure and is brought out of Aegypt The inward use Plinie saith it is taken in Pills for the stoppings and hardnesse of the Spleene driveth away the Itch and bringeth forth corrupt blood by urine The vulgar use to make Possets of it as thus to take a pint of milke and a piece of Allum as big as a Wallnut and boyle it then take off the curd and drinke of the clearest a good draught before the fit of an Ague The outward use It is astringent or binding yet cleansing and is good in putrified Ulcers takes away proud flesh cureth the Itch and Scab cleareth the Sight and is usefull in lotions for the mouth throat or elsewhere mixed with a litle Vineger it cleanseth the Gums rotten Teeth and fastneth loose Teeth being washed therewith It stauncheth blood and used with Vineger into any place where the haire hath been plucked up it causeth that which cometh againe to be but soft and in manner of a downe With the juyce of Pomgranat it is good for the infirmities of the eares and amends the fleshinesse growing about the Nailes and helpeth Kibes Mixed with the juyce of Beets it cleanseth the Leprosie Boyled in water and used it kills Nits Lice and such venome breeding in the head and cures the Dandraffe In a Glister it is very good for the Bloody-flix Burnt Allum in Powder is chiefly used to take away spongious Flesh to dry up Ulcers and to procure a Cicatrize A Water against filthy eating Vlcers Take of Plantaine and red Rose water of each halfe a pound Alum two ounces Sugar one ounce boyle them together to the melting of the Sugar and Allum then reserve it to use A Water against the ill smell of the Armeholes and Feet Take of Allum one pound Boyle it in about a gallon of Water and wash the parts therewith Of such things as are made thereof Burnt Allum Spirit of Allum Magister of Allum c. Allum water Magistrall CHAP. 71. De Althaea of Marsh-Mallowes The Names IT is called in Latine Althaeae Bismalra because it is twice as good in effect as the other sorts are in English Marsh-Mallow Morish-Mallow and White Mallow from the colour of the leaves The Temperament It is moderately hot but dryer then the other Mallowes and of a mollifying and softning Nature the roots and seeds are more dry and of thinner parts The Duration The leaves will keep a yeare the roots longer The inward use The roots are in the most use A decoction thereof doth ease the gripings of the Belly bringeth away Gravell and the Stone easeth such as are short winded and is good in all diseases of the Brest and Lungs as Coughes hoarsenesse of the Throat and Voice Plurisy and such like The roots and seeds boyled in wine or water is usefull for them that have any Excorations or frettings in the guts or Bloudy-flix and this it doth by qualifying the sharp Cholerick humours that are cause thereof and by the Sliminesse easing the paines and healing the sorenesse and in some sort stayeth the further eruption of blood It it profitably taken of them that are troubled with Ruptures Sciatica Cramps or Convulsion of the Sinews The dryed roots boyled in milke and drunke are good for the chin-Cough The roots boyled in wine are good for such as have fallen and bruised themselves and for those that have any bone or member out of joynt and for such as have any swelling paine or Ach in the Muscles Sinewes or Arteries of the Body and cures such as are stung with Bees or the like The distilled water is good for the aforesaid purposes The syrop of Marsh-Mallow is chiefly used for the Collick Stone or Gravell in Blader or Kidneyes the Dose is a spoonfull or two in Posset drinke or with Wine in a morning The manner of Administring it Both leaves seeds and roots are used in decoction A decoction provoking urine Take of Marsh-Mallow root halfe an ounce Licorish two drams Fennell root and Parsely roote and Kneeholme of each one ounce Parsely seede and Gromell seede of each two drams Bruise them all and boyle them in a sufficient quantity of Water or Posset drinke straine it and adde Sugar to it Drinke a good draught thereof Morning and Evening warme The outward use The leaves or
naturall seed of generation and quickeneth the sight The leaves of Rue first boiled then laid in pickle is by some eaten as sawce for the dimness of sight and to warm a cold stomach The manner of administring it It is given in powder in decoction and electuary Mithridates his Antidote against Poison Take twenty leaves of Rue a little Salt a couple of Wal-nuts and a couple of Figs beat them together into a masse This is for every day The outward use It helpeth tht swelling of the cods if it be boiled with Bay-leaves and they bathed therewith The juice mixed with Honey and the juice of Fennel helpeth dim eyes being dropped therein being boiled or infused in Oile it is good to help the winde-collick or the swelling hardnesse or windinesse of the Mother and freeth women from the strangling or suffocation of the Mother if the shares and parts thereabouts be anointed therewith It helpeth the Gowt or pains in the joints of hands feet or knees and also the Sciatica applied thereunto the same with Figs helpeth the Dropsie It cureth the Morphew and taketh away all sorts of Warts on the Hands Face Nose or any other parts if it be boiled in Wine with some Pepper and Nitre and the places rubbed therewith and with Allome and Honey helpeth the dry Scab or any Tetter The juice dropped into the eares easeth the pains thereof It is good against the bitings of venomous beasts and to be laid to Carbuncles A fomentation against the running Sores of Childrens heads Take of green Copperas two ounces of Rue and Sage of each a handful boil them in a quart of water to half and wash the head therewith The hurtfull quality It is hurtful for women with childe and destroyeth the ability of getting children The Dose The Dose in powder is from a scruple to thirty grains Medicines made thereof The distilled water Chymicall Oile Oile by infusion Salt Vineger of Rue and Balsame CHAP. 154. De Saccharo of Sugar The Names and temperament IT is called Saccharum Sacchar Succharum Mel Arundinaceum Mel Cannae it is Honey of the Cane because it grows in Canes in English Sugar It is hot and moist in the first degree or temperately hot and moist and is abstersive or cleansing The best sort Some commend the coarsest or brownest Sugar before the other but sure the whitest refined Sugar being made up without adulteration or deceit is the best and most wholesome for nourishment The duration It will keep good many yeers The inward use Sugar is good for the diseases of the breast cleanseth and strengtheneth the Lungs is convenient for the stomach helpeth the roughnesse and drinesse of the mouth and throat also thirst and drought in Feavers especially being mixed with water and so taken and it is very profitable for the Reins and Bladder The outward use Sugar or white Candy being put into the eye taketh away the dimnesse thereof and the bloud shotten therein and strewed into foul sores it cleanseth them A Water against an Ulcer in the Bladder Take of the water of Milk distilled half a pound of white Sugar five ounces mix them at the fire and inject it hot with a Syringe A Water against rednesse of the Eyes Take of white Sugar and Aloes of each five drams Tutia or Tutty in powder half a scruple White Wine rose-Rose-water and fennel-Fennel-water of each half an ounce Put them together in a glasse vessell and let them infuse six or seven houres then use it as need requires The hurtfull quality Sugar soon turns to choler causeth thirst and is hurtful to hot constitutions being over-much used it produceth dangerous effects in the body for it heateth the bloud breedeth the Jaundise Stoppings the Green-sicknesse and Consumptions rotteth the teeth and maketh them black withall causing also many times a loathsome stinking breath And therefore let young persons especially beware how they meddle too much with it lest they have for their sweet meat sower sawce I knew a young maiden whose mother was so indulgent over her that she gave her all the sweet meats she desired and that for many yeers together till at length her teeth were so corrupt and her breath so stanck that she was loathsome to company then followed Apostumation of her teeth and gums the Kings Evil and so continued a long time Of such things as are made thereof White Sugar-Candy Red Sugar-Candy or Brown Sugar-Candy Sugar-Pellets Sugar of Roses Sugar of Violets Oil and Salt of Sugar CHAP. 155. De Sale of Salt The Names and temperament IT is call'd in Latine Sal in English Salt it is hot in the second degree and dry in the third it is of a cleansing digesting attenuating drying consuming and somewhat also of an astringent faculty The duration and kindes Salt will keep good many yeers There are two sorts in use White and Bay Salt The inward use Salt may most justly be called Condimentum condimentorum Sawce of sawces as being necessary for seasoning and preserving of meats that we cannot well live without it For it is a custome among us to set it first at the table and to take it away last It maketh thin grosse and clammy humours resisteth venome preventeth and correcteth putrefaction by drying and consuming all crude and moist superfluities stirreth up Venery strengtheneth weak and loose parts helpeth digestion especially in a cold and moist stomach consumeth all corrupt humours and is very profitable in stoppings of the urine and belly as also in the Collick The manner of administring it It is used chiefly in powder A powder to help concoction Take of common Salt one ounce and a half Pepper six drams Cummin-seed half an ounce Caraway-seed Cynamon Zedoarie of each three drams Ginger and Mace of each two drams and a half make all into a fine powder and let it be eaten with meat The outward use It is used in rotten and putrid Ulcers as also in creeping Ulcers and simple Tumours in the Itch Scab Tetters or Ringworme in the Gowt cold Aches pain of the Teeth Head-ach Collick and to take away the skin growing over the Eye It is good also in Gangrenes and in Burnings to draw out the heat A Lotion against the Gowt Take of common Salt three or four handfuls boil it in water to the consumption of half with which bathe the parts affected warm Against pains of the Eares Take Salt and dry it make it in powder and being put into a bag apply it warm to the eares A Suppository gently to provoke siege Take of Honey half an ounce of common Salt a dram boil it gently to a due light and form and being cold anoint it with Oile or Butter and put it up The hurtfull quality Salt used too much dryeth up the humours of the body wasteth seed burneth the Liver and Bloud ingenders sharp and biting humours causeth Itch and Scabs annoyeth the stomach dimmeth the sight destroyeth the radicall moisture corrupteth and spoileth the habit of the
offends the head by raising up vapours which cause drowsinesse and sleepinesse Absinthium ingratum suum saporem deponit si prius per ferventem aquaÌ„ trahatur radix ejus dulcis penè insipida cum exignâ quâdam salfedine Camerarius in Horto It is not safe to use it in the Consumption of the Lungs Falling-sicknesse Arthritick paines Apoplexie Lethargie and continuall Feavers Where the Stomach is hot forbear the use of it especially being inflamed Of such things as are made of Wormwood There are many Medicines made of Wormwood as 1. Wormwood-water both hot and cold 2. Juice of Wormwood 3. Spirit of Wormwood 4. Wormwood-wine 5. Extract of Wormwood 6. Conserve of Wormwood This is excellent against the Dropsie and Green-sicknesse 7. Syrupe of Wormwood 8. Trosses of Wormwood 9. Salt of Wormwood Good in malignant and Pestilent Feavers 10. Chymicall Oyle 11. Oyle of Wormwood by infusion The Dose The powder is given from a dram and a halfe to two drams or three drams The juice from two drams to halfe an ounce The decoction from four ounces to six ounces or more CHAP. II. De Agarico Of Agaricke AGaricke is a Mushrome or spungeous substance growing in the Larir-tree The Names It is called in Latine Agaricus and Agaricum either because it was first used in Agaria or because the best commeth from thence It is called by Democratus and others Medicamentum familiae because it is usefull and profitable in a Family Massaria fol. 479. Freitag aur med c. 28. fol. 313. Renodaeus dispens f. 355. The Temperament Agaricke is hot in the first-degree and dry in the second or third degree The Kindes There are two kinds of Agaricke one called Male the other Female the Male is rejected and the Female onely in use The best Agaricke is that which is very white light friable or easie to be broken very loose and spungie in tast at the first sweet hard and well compact but that which is heavy blackish close clammie and conteining in it little threads as it were sinews is counted venomous and deadly The Duration Agaricke will keep good three or four years The Inward Vse Agaricke purgeth primarily Flegme and Viscuous humours from the breast mesentery and stomach and also from remote parts as from the Brain Nerves Muscles Purgaâ— pituiâ—am tennem aquosam non autem viscosam Lentam sed exhaustis tenuioribus partibus hanc difficiliorem reddit Heurn prax med fol. 262. Liver Spleen Reins Womb and Joynts It provokes the courses in Women killeth Worms is profitable against the Jaundise Arthriticall paines Falling sicknesse Quartaine Ague Stopping of the Vrin and Diuturnall or long continued Agues by purging away the offensive matter It is good against venome and all flegmatick Diseases and takes away the pale colour in women caused by the staying of their courses It helpeth to cure the Dropsie Hip-Gout Cough Shortnesse of breath and Consumption of the Lungs Spitting of bloud the pains of the Mother as also such as have fallen or are bruised and have Ruptures Some commend it in the Collicke and pain of the belly but it causeth gripings rather then easeth such The manner of Administring it It is in Potions in Pills in Boles in infusion and decoction though by reason of its light substance it will not endure any long decocting or boyling It is rarely given by it selfe A purging Potion that cleanseth the Breast Take of Raisons of the Sun stoned halfe an ounce Figs ten in number Agarick cut in thin slices two drams Ginger bruised halfe a scruple boyle them in fair water gently strain it and take thereof four ounces hot in which dissolve of the best Manna one ounce and as much syrupe of Roses make a Potion and take it Pills to purge Flegme Take Agaricke in powder one dram Salgem in powder one scruple Cinamon half a scruple with syrupe of Roses make Pils and take them in a morning A Bole to purge Flegme and Choller Take of Cassia that is new drawn one ounce Trosses of Agaricke in powder a dram and a half mix them and make a Bole take it in the morning A Potion that purgeth Choller and Flegme Take of Manna Honey of Roses Laxative of each a dram and a half Trosses of Agarick two drams in powder dissolve the Manna in two ounces of Succory-water and make a Potion Or thus Take Trosses of Agarick one dram and a halfe of Succory-water three ounces infuse or steep it all night in the water then add one ounce of syrupe of Roses and make a potion adding thereto Diaphoenicon two drams Against shortnesse of Breath and Wormes Take Trosses of Agaricke two drams Oxymel simplex two ounces mix them well together and take it Massaria observeth that Agaricke being infused or steeped doth little or nothing purge Massar fol. 479. The Externall Vse It is used outwardly against the blacknesse of the skin Figs in the Fundament and against Fistulaes also against the biting of venomous beasts which hurt with cold poyson A lye made thereof and with other hearbs cureth the Dandraffe or Scurfe if the head be washed therewith also boyled with hearbs convenient it comforteth the brain and memory stayes Rheumes and Catarrhes Against the Tooth-ach Take a piece of Agarick and wet it in Oyle of Cloves or Oyle of Camphor and put it into a hollow tooth this will ease the pain thereof Against the Figge in the Fundament Take of Agaricke in powder two drams mix it with the juice of Sow-bread and a little Oyle Apply it Against Fistulaes Take of Salt burnt Tartar Agaricke in powder of each a like quantity mix them with Honey and apply it to Fistulaes The hurtfull Quality with the Correcting helpe Agaricke is offensive to the Stomach and many times causeth vomiting therefore that it offend not the Stomach the third part of Cloves Nutmeg Ginger Hyssop Galingall and Mastich may be put to it or that it may better purge Salgem and Ginger may be mixed with it It may also be given with Oxymell Scilliticum or Simplex Agarick is not to be given without it be well corrected except you give it to cause vomiting In all Burning Feavers and Inflamations Agaricke is very hurtfull as also in the Collicke The Compound Medicines made of Agaricke 1. Syrupe of Roses solutive with Agaricke 2. Pills of Agaricke 3. Pil. Hierae cum Agarico 4. Trosses of Agaricke 5. Extract of Agaricke The Dose The Dose in substance is from two scruples to a dram and a halfe In decoction from a dram to halfe an ounce CHAP. III. De Aloe Of Alloes Or Aloe succotrina ALoe is the juice of an Hearb like the Sea Onion which after it is pressed out is dryed and kept for to use as neede requireth The Names It is called in Latine Aloes succotrina in English Aloes Hearb Aloes and Sea Housteeke The Temperament Alces is hot in the first or second degree and dry in the third and very bitter
reason of the Gout and draweth forth Thornes Splinter or the like if it be dissolved with Vineger but it is more effectuall if it be mixed with Honey Birthworth and Saffron It consumes Strumas or swellings called the Kings Evill and ripeneth all kind of Imposthumes being applyed on Wool that is not greasie Being applyed to tumours of the Breast of Women it dissolveth them and brings them to maturity or ripenesse and mixed with Vineger it decreaseth the Milk and keepeth it from coagulating or curdling in the Breast being thereunto applied Being mixed with Honey and applied to the Throat it helpeth the Quinsie and swelling in the Neck or Throat It taketh away spots of the eyes being mixed with Womans Milk and it cleanseth the sight being mixed in Medicines for the eyes Ammoniacum and Frankinsence dissolved in Vineger and applied helpeth Ringwormes A Plaister for the hardnesse of the Spleene Take of Gum Ammoniacum one ounce Myrrhe Frankinsence Bdellium of each halfe an ounce dissolve them in Vineger of Rue and adde thereunto of the flowers of Camomill in powder a dram make a Plaister thereof and lay it warme to the Spleene Weichardus Thes pharmacent fol. 243. Or Take Garden mints Rue and Melilot in powder of each halfe an ounce Niter Salgem of each three drams Ammoniacum dissolved in wine one ounce with a little Wax and Oyle of Capers make a Plaster Or Take of Ammoniacum dissolved in Vineger halfe an ounce Vnguenium dialtheae compositum or Oyntment of Marsh-mallowes compound two ounces with a sufficient quantity of Wax make a Plaister Heurnius doth much commend this Plaister following against hardnesse of the Spleene Take of Hemlocke foure handfulls of Ammoniacum halfe a pound infuse them together eight dayes adding thereto three or foure ounces of strong Wine Vineger or more the Hemlocke also must be bruised Then having stood eight dayes dissolve the Gum by boyling it gently strain it forth boyle the strained liqour againe till the moysture be well consumed then with some Wax and Oyle of sweet Almonds make a Plaister or Oyntment A Cerot to dissolve all manner of hard knots and ganglious tumours Take of Ammoniacum six ounces Marsh mallow-roote and white Bryonie-root in powder of each an ounce of Turbith minerall halfe an ounce of fresh Butter one ounce and a halfe dissolve the Gums in Vineger and mix them all together and with one ounce of Wax make a Cerot Against Wormes Take of Ammoniacum one ounce dissolve it in Vineger and adde of the juice of Wormwood halfe an ounce boyle them a little and make a Plaister thereof warm it and lap it to the Navill The hurtfull quality Ammoniacum may not safely be given to pregnant Women or Women with Child for it will cause them to miscarry And though it provoke Urin yet if too great a quantity thereof be given it will cause one to pisse bloud These things following are made of Ammoniacum 1. Pills of Ammoniacum 2. Syrupe of Ammoniacum 3. Extract of Ammoniacum 4. Chymicall Oyle of Ammoniacum 5. A Plaster of Ammoniacum 6. Emplast ex cicuta cum Ammoniaco 7. Ceratum ex Ammoniaco The Dose The Dose is from a dram to four scruples CHAP. V. De Amygdalis Of Almonds ALmonds are of two sorts bitter and sweet of sweet some are bigger called Jordan Almonds others lesse called Valence Almonds and Barbary Almonds The Names The Almond-tree saith Plinie is the first that blossometh in the moneth of January and by March the Almond is ripe Plinie Nat. Hist lib. 16. cap. 25. In Latine Amygdalum and Amygdala The Temperament Sweet Almonds are hot and moist in the first degree but the bitter are hot and dry in the second degree The best sort The best are such as are yellow full and sound not broken nor rotten but hard and dry white within of a good smell and taste The Duration They will keep good two or three years The inward Vse The sweet Almonds are most pleasing to the tast and they yield good and plentifull nourishment to the body therefore they are good for weak and macerated persons or such as are leane They open and cleanse the breast provoke spitting and are good in the Pleurisy and shortnesse of breath they open the passages of Urin cleanse the Kidneyes and provoke sleep They increase geniture or seed both in men and women open the stoppings of the Liver and Spleen and help the sight Being blanched and dryed that they may be made into powder and so taken by it self or with other things stayeth the loosnesse of the belly The Oyle of sweet Almonds cleanseth the Reins and is good for such as are troubled with the Stone easeth the pain by opening and making slippery the passages thereof it is good for Women that are newly delivered for it helpeth throwes and after pains Being mingled with Sugar-candy and taken it helps the Cough and Hoarsnesse If you give two or three drams of it to Children that are newly borne that are troubled with Gripings and mingle Sugar Pellets or white candy therewith it will much prevaile Bitter Almonds open the stoppings of the Liver and Spleene cleanse the Lungs from grosse and tough flegme cleanse the Kidneyes and provoke Urine They take away flatulent or windy humours in the body and provoke the courses in Women Being taken with Amylum or Starch and Mints they are good against spitting of bloud and taken with water they are good for paines in the back and the inflamation of the Lungs They preserve from Drunkennesse if five or six be eaten in a morning fasting The Oyle of bitter Almonds being taken killeth Wormes helpeth the paines suffocations and tortions of the womb Being drunken with wine it mittigateth the Cough and brings away the stone or gravell in the Kidneyes It is reported that if bitter Almonds be given to a Fox he dieth thereof The manner of administring them Almonds are eaten alone or made into milk or emulsion lohoch or March panes An Emulsion for the Diseases of the Breast or Lungs Take of sweet Almonds one ounce of Pine-kernell halfe an ounce of the seeds of Citrull Gourds Melon and Bombar-seed or Cotten-tree of each a dram blanch the Almonds and prepare the Seeds Beat them in a Morter with a pound of the decoction of Jujubes and Raisons of the Sun beating them first and putting the water in by degrees then add four ounces of Sugar make an emulsion for four or five Doses Renodaeus dispens med fol 226. An Emulsion to extinguish the heat of the Reines and to help the sharpnesse of the Vrin Take Gourd Citrull Melon and Cucumer-seeds of each halfe an ounce Lettice and white Poppy-seed of each two drams Beat them in a Morter with a pint of violet-Violet-water then add syrupe of Water-Lillies three ounces make an Emulsion for three Doses or three times taking Almond-Milk much in use by Practitioners and others Take of sweet Almonds blanched which is soon done by casting them into warm water two
ounces of Gourd Cutrub Cucumer and Melon-seeds cleansed of each two drams Lettice and white Poppy-seed of each a dram make it according to art into an Emulsion or milk with a pint of Rose-water or Barly-water Heurnius prax med fol. 21. A March-pane against leannesse or also for the Diseases of the Breast and Lungs Take of sweet Almonds blanched three drams of Pine-kernels steeped in Scabious water 9 or 10 hours half an ounce of Pistack-kernells steeped in scabious-Scabious-water a whole day one ounce Gum Tragacanth and Arabicke of each halfe a dram of white Starch in powder as much the pulp of Dates and Sebestens of each halfe an ounce of the whitest Sugar dissolved in rose-Rose-water so much as is sufficient to make it up into a March-pane Make it into small Cakes or Trosses and eat of them at any time Gorraeus form remed cap. 15. fol. 445. For the Stone and Gravell Take of Oyle of sweet Almonds fresh two ounces syrupe of Marsh mallowes one ounce mingle them together Give it in a morning fasting The outward Vse The Oyle both of bitter and sweet Almonds is good to cleanse the skin from roughnesse and spots but the bitter is most effectuall Being mixed with Oyle of Roses and Oyle of Capers and the Spleen annoynted therewith it helpeth the hardnesse thereof It cures deafnesse and noyse in the ears if it be dropped into the ears and helpeth the skurfinesse of the head and sores thereof If the Temples be annoynted therewith it easeth the paines of the head and brings rest or boyle bitter Almonds with Vineger of Roses and Rose-leaves apply it to the Temples Being bruised with Honey they are good against the biting of a mad Dog The powder of the Almond Cakes after the Oyle is pressed from them doth cleanse the hands or skin in any place far better then Sope and to supple the parts as also to make them smooth If the Oyle be mixed with Honey powder of Licoris Oyle of Roses and white Wax and the eyes therewith annoynted it clears them and helpeth dimnesse thereof To cleanse the skin and to beautifie the Face Take of Oyle of Tartar one ounce Oyle of sweet Almonds and of bitter Almonds one ounce and a halfe mix them together wash the face often therewith The hurtfull Quality It is not safe to give them to those that have hot chollerick stomachs and that have hot chollerick Feavers least they turne into heat and choller They also cause head-ach and fill the head with fumes and vapours Of such things as are made of Almonds 1. Confectio Amygdal dule 2. Oyle of sweet Almonds 3. Oyle of bitter Almonds 4. Lohoch de Papavere 5. Lohoch de Pino 6. Lohoch sanum expertum The Dose The Oyle of sweet Almonds is given from two drams to three ounces The Almonds themselves are eaten ad libitum or as men please at any time CHAP. VI. De Aristolochia longa rotunda Of long rooted Birth-wort and round rooted Birth-wort THese are long and round roots whitish within and rugged without well known to those that are Artists The Names It is called in Latine Aristolochia longa rotunda In English Round rooted Birthwort and Long rooted Birthwort or Hartworth The Temperament These roots are hot in the second degree and dry in the third degree or they are hot in the third degree and dry in the second The round hath lesse earthly substance and more tenuity of parts in it the long hath lesse tenuity of parts in it The round is most effectuall in all Diseases The Duration It will keep good two or three years The inward Vse Although all mention not the purging faculty that is in Aristolochia or Birthwort yet the Arabians and other Physitians say they purge first Flegme and then Choller and that without trouble or commotion to the body and strengthen the inward parts and are void of any maligne quality which is chiefly to be found in the round root Now because it doth attenuate and purge flegme and discusse windinesse it avails in the affects of the Brain Nerves Breast Stomach intestine Spleen and womb It is good in the Falling Sicknesse Cramp Convulsion Ruptures shortnesse of Breath paine of the Side Hicket gnawing of the Stomach Collicke and especially comming of Flegme or winde swelling of the Spleen It brings downe the After-Birth and provokes the courses and helps the impurity of the Womb. It is used with profit in the Joynt Gout against venome and poyson against cold Agues and against stoppings and rebellious humours that are the cause of long Agues It is excellent for Women that are near their time or especially in Travell for it causeth a speedy and easie delivery and clears the uterine parts of what is offensive to nature also it brings away the dead Child It killeth Worms and resisteth putrifaction It is given with Oxymel or Hydromel against the contusions of the Nerves and Muscles The long roots infused and taken helpe to dry up Scab and Itch. The manner of Administring it It is given in substance or in decoction A Powder against the Epilepsie or Falling-Sicknesse Take of round Aristolochia or Birthwort six drams of Piony-seed two drams make them in powder and add one ounce of fine Sugar The Dose is a dram at a time in Blackcherry-water A Powder against the Joynt-Gout Take Germander Ground-pine Centory the lesser Sage Betony Gentian round Birth-wort of each halfe an ounce of the wood called Lignum vitae or Guajacum seven ounces make them into powder Give hereof a dram every day in water of Honey for certaine moneths together if need require Freitag aur med fol. 286. A Potion against winde in the Stomach and paine thereof Take of round Birthwort halfe an ounce Anni-seed and Carraway-seed of each five drams Agaricke trochiscated two drams and a halfe Camomill flowers Centory the lesser of each two handfulls of Saffron ten grains boyle them in broth made with meat and make a drink for divers Doses taking a draught thereof morning and evening adding a little Sugar thereunto Or Take of Treacle of Andromachus two scruples of Mithridate a scruple of round Birth-wort halfe a dram make the Birthwort in powder and dissolve it with the rest in Sack and give it Pills having a cleansing and deterging faculty good against the Falling-Sicknesse Palsie Shortnesse of Breath Old Cough Hardnesse of the Liver beginning and in the stopping of the Courses bringing away the Birth and After-Birth being most convenient in the winter season for such as are of moist Constitutions and to be used after the Body is purged Take of round Birthwort one ounce Gentian-root Myrrhe of each three drams Aloes and Cinamon of each half an ounce Ginger a dram make them all into fine Powder and with Oyle of sweet Almonds make it into a masse or lump for Pills The Dose is a dram and a halfe taking Broth presently after them Fervel meth med lib. 7. fol. 192. Against paine of the side Take
of Birthwort root a dram Myrrhe in powder ten graines make the other in powder and with water of Honey or Carduus water make a Potion and give it Against the swelling of the Spleene Take of round Birthwort in powder a dram or of the Extract of round Birthwort halfe a dram Give it with Oxymel Acoratum or Carduus water Against the impurity of the Womb to provoke the courses expell the After-Birth and to bring away the dead Child Take of round Birthwort in powder a dram Myrrhe in powder twenty graines white Pepper in powder ten graines mix them together and give them in Savine water In Decoction Take of round Birthwort bruised two drams boyle it in Posset-drink and being strained give it Against Botium gulae or strumous swellings about the Throat Take round Birthwort Radish-root and stinking Gladwin of each a dram Pimpinell or Burnet Mouseare Rue of each two drams Figwort Droppewort of each halfe an ounce Anni seede two drams Ginger a dram Turbith and Sene of each three drams make them all into a fine powder and add thereto of white Sugar four ounces The Dose is one spoonfull every morning in White-wine or broom-Broom-water The outward Vse It is used in old rotten and maligne Vlcers and Fistulaes especially being mixed with Oris powder and Honey for thus used it cleanseth and incarneth It cures Vlcers of the secret parts if you wash them with the decoction thereof The powder hereof doth cleanse the teeth and make them white being rubbed therewith It easeth the Gout being mingled with Honey and Salt and applied It draweth forth Thorns and Splinters of bones that are broken being applyed with Terpintine It helpeth the biting of venomous Beasts being boyled in Wine and laid on or let the powder thereof be mixed with the juice of Rue and so applyed to the Wound Being mingled with the powder of Aloes Lime or Chalke and Honey into an Oyntment adding a little Wine it cures the Cancer in the Nose and Polypus if tents be made thereof and put up and make an Oyntment for the said purpose with the powder of round Birthwort Cypresse and Honey and use it as the former The powder thereof tempered with Honey cures the Vlcers of the mouth and gums A Pessary made hereof and with Myrrhe provokes the terms in Women It healeth all Wounds in the Head the fume thereof or the powder in a quilted Cap stayeth all Fluxes and distillations of thin Rheume from the head An Oyntment to procure flesh in Vlcers Take the powder of round Birthwort and Oris of each a dram roots of Reeds and Peucedanum or Hoggs Fennell in powder of each a dram and a halfe Francumsence Mastich and Myrrhe in powder of each two drams of the Oyntment called Vnguentum Comitissae three ounces Honey of Roses so much as is sufficent make all into an Oyntment An Oyle usefull in the Palsie and Epilepsie or Falling Sicknesse Take of round Birthworth two ounces bruise it Euphorbium and Castor of each a dram and a halfe boyle these in Oyle Olive twelve ounces strain it and anoint the spina dorsi from the Neck to the Buttocks or shutting of the Hips do thus for the space of a fortnight or three weeks The hurtfull Quality It is not to be given to Women with Child because it brings Abortion or causeth miscarrying Of such things as are made of Birthwort long and round 1. The Distilled Water Usefull against creeping Vlcers and Pustules of the Genitalls both in men and women being therewith washed or linnen cloaths dipt in the same and laid on the place all night 2. Pils of Aristolochia Fernel 3. Extract thereof 4. Diatessaron or Theriaca Diatessaron The Dose The Dose in powder is from a scruple to a dram In decoction from a dram to two drams or three drams CHAP. VII De Assa Foetida Of Assa Fetida ASsa Fetida is a Gum comming from the Plant called Laser or Sylphyum growing in Media Libia and Syria and not of Laserpitium of Diascorides the juice of which is unknown to Modern Writers Johan Schroder pharmac med chym lib. 4. fol. 180. Others will have it to come from Laserpitium The Names In Latine Laser medicum foetidum and Assa Foetida or Asa foetida It is so ill sented that the Germans call it Teuffelz drech that is Diaboli stercus Devils durt or dung The Temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree The best sort The best is that which is clear smelling somwhat like Garlicke tough and not dry or foul with sticks in colour like the best Myrrhe The Duration It will keep good many years It is adulterated by mixing Meal Bran and the Gum Sagapenum together The Inward use It is profitable for Women that are troubled with the rising of the Mother and Diseases of the Womb It bringeth downe the courses in Women and expells the secundine or After-Birth being taken with Pepper and Myrrhe It is usefull in Diseases of the Breast Nerves and Brain and being taken in an Egge that is soft it helps Hoarsnesse and given with Oxymel it helpeth the Cough Jaundise and Dropsie Given with Vineger of Squills or Mulsa that is Wine and Honey boyled together it helps the Falling Sicknesse Being given in Wine or Angelica water it helpeth against Venome and Poyson of venomous Beasts where any are stung therewith It cures the Quartaine Ague and Feavers of long continuance Taken with Oxymel it dissolveth coagulated milk in the breast it killeth Worms and expelleth wind it is used also to take away the loathing of the stomach to meat by the Indians and to strengthen the weaknesse of it also and is much in use by them to provoke unto Venery The manner of administring it It is given in Pils or in powder but hardly made into powder because of its moistnesse or it is given in wine or other liquor being first dissolved in the same A powder against the Quartaine Ague Take Assa Fetida Rue long Pepper of each two drams make them into powder and mix it with a little Honey Give a dram or a dram and a halfe of it in any convenient liquor before the fit commeth Wecher syntax fol. 248. 348. Note here that except the Assa Fetida be very dry you cannot make it into powder therefore you may dissolve it in honey or wine and so take it There is an Electuary made of Assa Fetida Pepper Ginger Rue Salniter and Honey which is commended against the Quartaine Ague and Chronicall Feavers or Agues of long continuance It is so much commended against wind that Mr Parkinson in his Herball tells a Story from Gartias of a Portugall that tried it upon a Horse whom the King of Bisnager would have bought but that he was over subject to break wind but after the Portugall had cured him thereof the King bought him and asking how he cured him he answered with Assa Fetida given in his Provender no marvaile said the King if he
a dram in infusion from two drams to halfe an ounce Brassica Marina see Soldanella or Sea bind weed CHAP. IX De Bdellio Of Gum Bdellium BDellium is a Gum flowing from a tree growing in Arabia in India and Media but it chiefly groweth in Arabia The Names It is called in Latine Bdellium The Temperament Bdellium is hot in the second degree and moist in the first of a mollifying and discussing nature The best kinde The best say Authours is clear like glew fat on the inside easily melting or dissolving pure or clear from drosse sweet in the burning and bitter in tast but that we have is not to be found so for we find little bitternesse in any and lesse sweetnesse in the burning of it but strong and unpleasant rather neither is it easie to be dissolved without warmth and ours is of a sad brown colour somwhat like Glew and much like unto Myrrhe in colour insomuch that some erroneously judge the purer part of this Gum to be Bdellium and the grosser to be Myrrhe The Duration It will keep good ten or twelve years The inward Vse It provokes Urine and the courses in Women breaks the Stone it is good for those that have the Cough and are bitten by Serpents or venomous Beasts It helpeth to discusse the windinesse of the Spleen and pains of the side it helpeth Ruptures mollifieth the hardnesse of the Mother and dryeth up the moysture thereof and draweth forth the dead Child It provokes sweat stoppeth the overflowing of the menses or courses in Women and also of the womb as some affirm which if it doe both surely 't is by its Arcanum or hidden property It is given against a super-purgation after the taking of a sharp Medicine that is when a Purge worketh more then is meet The manner of administring it It is chiefly used in Pills but it may be dissolved in wine or any other liquour and so taken Pills of Bdellium that are good against the Hemroids or Piles and the overflowing of the courses Take of Bdellium one ounce and a halfe Myrobalans Chebuls Black Myrobalans Bellericks and Emblicks Concha Venerea burnt which is a Sea-shell of each two drams and a halfe Ammios-seed three drams Amber two drams and a halfe make those things in powder that are to be powdered then macerate and dissolve the Bdellium in juice of Leeks and with a sufficient quantity of syrupe made of the juice of Leeks make it into a masse or lump for Pills The Dose is from halfe a dram to four scruples Pills against the Hemroids Take of the former Pills two drams of Sene Rubarbe Agarick trochiscated in powder of each a dram with a sufficient quantity of syrupe of Roses make a masse for Pills of which take a dram at a time in the morning for divers dayes together if need require Riverius observat med cent 3. fol. 236. The Externall Vse It is outwardly used against Convulsions and Ruptures against swellings of the Throat it dissolveth hard tumours and nodes of the Joynts it openeth obstructions of the Womb mollifieth the hardnesse thereof and dryeth up its moistnesse either applied or a fume thereof received the same is good against swellings and apostumes of the genitalls or privy members A Plaister dissolving hard tumours Take of Bdellium one ounce of Sagapenum four ounces of Ammoniacum three ounces Galbanum Euphorbium of each two drams Dissolve the Gums in Sacke then add thereto Oyle of white Lillies and Oyle of sweet Almonds of each an ounce Propolis which is found in Bee hives four ounces and a halfe make them into a Plaister A Plaister against Nodes and glandulous tumours Take of Bdellium and Lupines of each two drams of Cow-dung two ounces of Colewort-root Capar bark Sea Onion pulp of Figs of each halfe an ounce make those in powder that are to be powdered dissolve the Bdellium in Wine and with a sufficient quantity of Honey Vineger Hogs-greace and Old Oyle make a Plaister apply it as need requireth The Hurtfull Quality It is not to be given to Women with Child The Dose The Dose is from a dram to two drams These following are made of Bdellium 1. Pills of Bdellium 2. Oyntment of Bdellium 3. Vnguentum Apostolorum CHAP. X. De Bistorta Of Bistort-root BIstort is a thick short knobbed root blackish without and somewhat reddish within a little crooked or turned together of a harsh or binding tast with divers blackish fibres or hairie threds growing thereat and hath leaves like Dock's but smaller The Names It is called in Latine Bistorta because the root is writhed in the likenesse of a Serpent in English Bistort or Snake-weede The Temperament It doth coole and dry in the third degree and is very astringent or binding The Duration It will keep good a year or two The inward Vse Bistort-root is excellent to resist all poyson and venom A dram of it in powder taken in Wine or Angelica-water expelleth the venome of the Plague or Pestilence the Small Pox Measles Purples or any other infectious Disease the same in powder or the decoction in Wine being drunk stayeth all manner of inward bleeding or spitting of blood as also any Fluxes of the body and moreover such as are troubled with vomiting The powder or the decoction being drunk helpeth Ruptures and is available against all bruises or falls and dissolveth the congealed bloud and easeth the paines that happen thereupon the same helpeth the Jaundise and hindereth Abortion or miscarrying in Women killeth Worms and is profitable for such as cannot hold their water especially if the juice of Plantaine be added thereto A dram of the powder taken in the water thereof wherein some Iron or Steel being red hot hath been quenched is an admirable help in the Gonorrhaea or running of the Reins so that the body be first purged It is very usefull in decoctions for Wounds being taken into the body the same stayeth the flowing of the courses in Women The manner of administring it It is given in powder in electuary and in decoction An Electuary against Womens Flux or the overflowing of their Courses Take of old Conserve of red Roses one ounce and a halfe Bole Armenick in powder two scruples red Corall in powder a scruple Bistort root in powder a dram with a sufficient quantity of syrupe of Mirtles or syrupe of Quinces make an Electuary Take often of it especially a little before meat the quantity of a Nutmeg and after meat as much An Electuary against the Pestilence Take of LONDON Treacle halfe an ounce Mithridate 3. drams Angelica root and Bistort root in powder of each halfe a scruple Cardamoms five grains Camphor four grains Cinamon in powder halfe a scruple Let the Camphor be dissolved in a little syrupe of Lemons and the rest being in powder make it into an Electuary The Dose is a dram or more morning and evening by it selfe or in carduus-Carduus-water In Decoction Take of Bistort root bruised two drams boyle it in
and fatty not ranced being put into water if it swim it is to be cast away The Duration The seeds will keep good three years The inward use The seeds purge Flegme and watery humors by vomit and siege It is a specifick remedy against the Collick It helpeth also the diseases of the breast and hypoconders openeth the obstructions of the viscerous parts and avails in the Dropsie and Jaundies Being made into a Loloch or licking Electuary with Sugar and Honey a few Almonds and Pine Kernels it cleanseth the lungs of Flegme sticking therein wonderfully causing it to be easily spit forth it also cleareth the voice and increaseth sperme by the often use of it With Honey it is excellent against the Cough Being bruised and strained into Milke it makes it to curdle and is usefull to open and loosen the belly Parrots doe eat of this seed yet it doth not loosen them at all The manner of administring it It is given in Emulsions in Tabulats in Electuaries in Pulpe c. An Emulsion or milke purging safely and gently Take of Mechoaehan white Turbith of each one ounce Anni-seed Fennel-seed Cinamon of each a dram bruise them and make a Decoction thereof Take of this Decoction eleven ounces of sweet Almonds blanched half an ounce of Cinamon-water half an ounce or five drams make it into an Emulsion or milkie substance Tabulats purging or square Cakes Take of Diagredium Turbith of each one ounce of the Pulpe of Carthamus-seed half a dram Cinamon Ginger species of Diatragacanthum frigidum of each two drams Citron Pill the Pulpe of preserved Quinces of each a dram of Sugar nine ounces of white Sugar-candy one ounce Powder what is to be powdered and make Tabulats or Cakes thereof and dry them The Dose is from a dram and a halfe to three drams Freitag Aur. med fol. 282. Against the Jaundies Take of the Pulpe of Carthamus seeds a dram Syrup of Worm-wood an ounce of Succory water an ounce mixe them together and give it For the same Take of the flowers of Carthamus in powder a dram give it in Hydromel or Water and Honey or in Barley water The outward use The water of Carthamus is commended against wilde-fire if clouts be dipped therein and applyed The hurtfull quality There are two hurtfull properties in Carthamus the one that it offends the stomack and provokes to vomit to help this it must be given with Anni-seed Fennel-seed Galingal Cinamon Ginger Mastick or such like The other is that it works but slowly and stirreth up the humors to help this it may be given with Cardamoms Salgem and such like The Dose The Dose of the Pulpe is from a dram to two drams though it be rarely given by it selfe because of its viscosity or sliminesse In infusion from three drams to six drams or more Of those Medicines that are made of Carthamus First extract of Carthamus 2 Syrup of Carthamus 3 Electuary Diacarthamum 4 Species of Carthamus 5 The distilled water 6 Olium e enico expressum which being taken with Muskadel is excellent against the Collick 7 Oyle of the seed of Carthamus three drams of which being taken with powder of Anniseed and Cinamon doth purge flegm as saith Brassarolus CHAP. XIV De Cassia lignea Cinamomo Of Cassia Lignea and Cinamon BEcause these are so little differing from each other I shall joyne them together yet speake severally of their vertues They are both barks of trees brought to us from the East-Indies The Names Cinamon is called in Latine Cinnamomum Cinamomum in English Cinnamome and Cinamon I know no other names in use for the other but Cassia Lignea The Temperament Cinamon is hot and dry in the third degree or hot in the third-degree and dry in the second Cassia lignea is hot and dry in the third degree The best sort The best Cinamon is that which is of a reddish colour smelling fragrantly and of a sharp and biting tast usually the thin barks or rindes are the best The difference between Cassia lignea and Cinamon The Cinamon rinde is much bigger the Cassia lignea is in very small rindes or barkes besides there is a manifest difference in the tast for the Cinamon hath a rough tast but the Cassia lignea is very slippery upon the tongue The Duration They will keep good eight or ten years as some report which I somewhat doubt of especially of Cinamon The inward Vse Cinamon is of subtill parts and very Aromaticall it comforteth the heart and vitall parts corroborateth and strengthneth the stomack braine nerves and other cold parts of the body it easeth the pains of the Wind Collick provokes the Courses and Vrine hastneth the birth it preventeth and correcteth putrifaction of humours resisteth poyson stayeth vomiting and helpeth nauseousnesse of the stomach it is frequently used in Cardiack passions or passions of the heart faintings of the spirits and in trembling of the heart it causeth sweetnesse of the breath and brings a good colour in the face it strengthneth the retentive faculty of all the parts by drying up and consuming the moisture thereof It is used in the Dropsie and Cough proceeding from moisture In brief it avails in all cold diseases of the head stomack and womb and is most convenient for cold and moist bodies and is much used in Lasks or Loosnesse of the body Note That Cinamon is most fragrant about the full of the Moon and hath the best taste and is then fittest for any medicine especially for oyle Cassia lignea comforteth the Stomack Liver and all the principall parts openeth obstructions or stoppings disperseth grosse humour repelleth winde provokes urine brings downe the menses or termes in women and doth much facilitate or hasten the birth The Vse of Oyle and Water of Cinamon There is a Chymicall Oyle drawne from Cinamon which is most excellent for these Diseases It comforteth the Stomach Brain Heart and all the principall parts it helpeth a stinking Breath resisteth putrifaction provokes the menses and helpeth Women in hard labours easeth the Cough arising from cold and all cold pains of the head it is a singular help in fainting of the spirits and stayeth too much vomiting after the taking of Antimony if two or three drops thereof be taken in mint-Mint-water Good cinamon-Cinamon-water hath the same vertues The manner of administring them They are given in Powder in Potions Electuaries and in Pills A Powder to hasten the Birth Take of Cinamon a dram Saffron halfe a dram Cassia lignea two scruples make them all in powder Or Take Cinamon Saffron of each a scruple of Borax four scruples make them in powder and give it in a little mugwort-Mugwort-water A Potion to hasten the Birth Take of Cassia lignea in powder a dram Saffron in powder a scruple syrupe of Mugwort halfe an ounce savin-Savin-water three ounces mingle them together and give it Pills to hasten the Birth Take of Cassia lignea or Cinamon a dram Castor six grains Storax calamita
themselves about herbs the one growing upon Time the other upon Flax or Line The Names Epithymum is called Time or laced Time Cuscutha is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cuscutha Cussutha Cassutha and Cassytha in English Dodder The Temperament Epithymum is hot and dry in the third degree Dodder is hot in the first degree and dry in the second The best The best is that which is fresh and new not too old the tops and flowers are most effectuall The best is that which comes from Crete The Duration They will keep good a year The inward Vse Epithymum purgeth Melancholy and adust Choller as also Flegme from the braine heart spleen and hypochonders It avails against Melancholy old and inveterate pains of the head swimming of the head madnesse falling-sicknesse faintings Quartaine Ague Hypochondriack passions Scirrhues or hardnesse of the Spleen and windinesse thereof stoppings of the Kidnies and is very usefull in the Scab and Itch Leprosie Elephansie malignant Vlcers and Cancers as also the French-Pox It cleanseth the blood very much from Melancholy and adust humours Avicen commends it against the Cramp It is profitable in the Jaundies in opening stoppings of the Gall. It hath also a strengthning property besides its purging quality as in Rubarbe and a very safe Medicine for the stoppings as well of the Liver as Spleen purging the Veins of flegmatick and chollerick humours and helpeth Childrens Agues if a little Wormseed be put to it Taken with Lapis lazul it cures the Quartaine Ague Note That it will not endure any long decocting or boyling Cuscuthe or Dodder is very profitable in stoppings of the Liver Gall and Spleen cleanseth the blood from Melancholly and is usefull in the Jaundise provokes Urine and cleanseth the Veins of Chollerick and Flegmatick humours Being taken with Wormwood it purgeth Choller If halfe a pint or lesse of the decoction be taken with halfe an ounce of Sugar it cures Children of Agues Moreover it hath the same vertues as Epithymum hath though not so fully only some will have Cuscutha more proper for the Liver and Epithymum for the Spleen But the Cuscutha is more or lesse effectuall according to the vertues of those hearbs on which it groweth For that which groweth on Nettles and Broom provokes Urine that which growes on Tares which is the most common is not so good for Tares are of hard digestion and bind the belly and breed thick and Melancholly blood The seeds drunk with Wine and Sage ease the Hip-Gout The distilled water of Cuscutha taken helps the effects of the Liver and Lungs by cleansing and strengthening also cures the Jaundise expells the stone of the Bladder and easeth gripings in the belly helps to bring downe the Courses in Women and swellings about the Navill and cures Agues in Children The Dose is three or four ounces morning and evening to Children give lesse The manner of administring them They are chiefly given in Potions and Powders A Potion against Melancholly Take of Epithymum halfe an ounce of Sene one ounce and a halfe Anni-seed two drams Licoris a dram Damask Prunes ten or twelve Bruise the Licoris and Anni-seed and cut the Prunes then infuse them on hot embers five or six hours with half a pint of Posset-drink strain it and give the clearest Or Take the flowers of Balme Rosemary Borrage and Buglosse of each halfe a handfull of the outside of yellow Myrobalans half an ounce Epithymum Time Sene Polypodium of each two drams or halfe an ounce boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water till about halfe be consumed strain it and add syrupe of Roses an ounce make a Potion and give it Or Take Epithymum Cuscutha Sene Origanum or Wild Marjoram of each two drams of red Ciches a dram make a decoction in a sufficient quantity of water strain it and in the clearest infuse or steep of Agarick trochiscated a dram of Cinamon halfe a dram let them stand one night then strain it and to the strained liquor add Confectio Hamech two drams or halfe an ounce and make all into a Potion The externall use The distilled water of Cuscutha or Dodder clears the fight if it be dropped into the eyes the leaves made into a Pultis and applied to the Spleen doth ease the pain thereof also boyled with Oyle and Wine and applied to the Flanks helpeth the Strangury The hurtfull quality They are not convenient for hot and dry bodies neither is the use of them so safe in Summer as in Winter The too frequent use of them offends the stomach and causeth dry'th And because they are weak in operation use them with Salgem Ginger or black Hellebor and to mitigate the drynesse of them give them with Posset-Ale or with a decoction of Raisons Violets and Borrage The Dose The Dose in substance is from two drams to three drams or halfe an ounce in infusion or decoction from an ounce to an ounce and a halfe or two ounces and let this be in the winter time for in hot weather you must give lesse in quantity Of such things as are made of them 1. The distilled water of Epithymum and Dodder 2. Syrupe of Epithymum 3. Decoction of Epithymum 4. Syrupe of Apples Magistrall Esula minor or Tithymall see Cataputia minor CHAP. XXVIII De Euphorbio Of Gum Euphorbium EVphorbium is a Gum of a brown yellowish colour in small grains like Mastich and comes from a certain plant growing in Lybia and in Barbary The Names It is called in Latine Euphorbium from a famous Physitian whose name was Euphorbius Brother to Antonius Musa who was also Physitian to Juba King of the Mauritanians or Moors and first found out the vertue of this Gum. In English 't is called also Gum Euforbium or the Gum Thistle or the Gum of the burning thorny plant The temperament Euphorbium is hot and dry in the fourth degree The best kinde The best is the clearest of a brown yellowish colour but whiter within and without filth That which is pale is to be rejected The Duration It will keep good four or five years Some affirme that it will keep its vertue forty years The inward use Euphorbium purgeth thick and tough flegme but chiefly and more strongly watery humours from the Joynts and remote parts of the body Therefore it helpeth the Dropsie and any kind of Gout It purgeth flegme and water from the Brain and Nervous parts and also thick flegme from the stomach It is profitable in the Apoplexie Palsly Lethargie and in all soporiferous or sleepy Diseases and cold Diseases of the Brain and resolution of the Nerves in Convulsions and tremblings And because it draweth tough and thick humours from the Joynts it is used in the French Pox and by some it is counted available in the Pestilence Also it is esteemed a present help against Apostumes and painfull Nodes or Bunches of the Joynts It speedily helps the Collick proceeding from tough and glassie flegme especially when the tunicles
for then it would burn and heat more in the mouth then it doth nor is it likely to be made of Rubarbe for it hath neither the taste nor qualities of Rubarbe besides Rubarbe is a stranger in those places from whence this is brought There are many other opinions about it which I will not trouble the Reader with It is brought unto us here in England from the East-Indies and some say from China The names Among all simples minerals or vegetables I have not observed many to have more names given it then this It is called Cambochia Cambogia Cambugio Gummi de Goa Gummi gutta Gummi Gith Gemon Gummi Indicum Gummi ad Podagram Gummi Peruanum Gutta Geman Gemu Gutta Gamandra Gutta Munda Chattajemon Ghittajemon Ghittajaman Catta Ganma Succus Gambici Succus Crambici crocuspurgans The Temperament It is hot and dry in the first degree The best kinde The best sort is that which looks yellow being pure without any filth or mixture and being wet with water or spittle lookes of a yellow colour and makes the water or spittle very yellow The Duration It will keep good many yeers The inward use It purgeth chiefly water and ferous humours and that without any great violence therefore it is useful in the Dropsy and any kinde of Gout as also in the yellow Jaundise and obstructions of the liver and spleen Many time it provokes to vomit sometimes it workes up and down It is used also against scab itch and such like The manner of administring it It is given in divers formes as in Pils Potions Powders Boles c. Pils Take of Gutta Gummi fifteen grains Species Diambrae three grains oile of Fennell three drops with a little Syrupe of Roses make six or seven Pils Pils against the Jaundise Take of the best Rubarbe in powder a dram of Cambogia six grains with syrup of Succory make Pils A Potion against the tertian Ague Take of Cambogia eight grains syrup of Roses solutive one ounce and a half endive-Endive-water two or three ounces make a Potion and give it before the third fit with physicall observation A Powder against Arthriticall paines Take of creame of Tartar two scruples and a half or a dramme Gutta Gummi foure graines Galingall and Cynamon of each four graines make all into powder and give it in any convenient liquour A Bole usefull in the Yellow Jaundise Take of Gutta gummi ten or twelve graines Conserve of Red Roses two drams make a Bole and give it in a morning fasting drinking a draught of posset-drink after it This I have used with good successe Tabulats or Rolls Take of Gutta gummi seven grains Trosses Ahandale four grains Oil of Anise-seeds two drops with Sugar dissolved in cynamon-Cynamon-water make Rolls or little Cakes It may be given in broth or other convenient liquour As Take of Cambogia twelve or sixteen grains Creame of Tartar a scruple give it in broth with a little Sugar Against shortnesse of Breath in a Childe Take of Gutta gummi three or four grains Oxymel of Squils half an ounce or an ounce mingle them together and give it If you mix it with salt of Wormwood or with black salt of Ash and give it in the Dropsie you will finde it to work effectually The externall use It was in use with Painters and Picture-drawers before Physicians used it It is useful in Ointments and liniment for the Dropsie The hurtful qualities with the meanes to help it It worketh many times very churlishly and doth much trouble the stomack therefore it is given with Oile of Mace Chymicall or with Oile of Cynamon with species Diambrae with Conserve of Roses c. Also you may give it with Cream of Tartar or Tartar vitriolated in broth as is declared above It must be given with caution in hot and cholerick bodies These things are made of Gutta gummi Extract or Magister of gum Gutta Ghitta Jemu corrected by spirit of Vitriol or Tartar Minderi The Dose The Dose is from five grains to twelve or to a scruple CHAP. 36. De Helleboro albo of white Hellebore WHite Hellebore hath broad leaves with ribs or sinews like unto great Plantain leaves or Gentian the root being dry is black without and white within some as long as ones finger and some shorter The Names It is called in Arabick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Charic from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Charac rupit corrupit and well it may for it is a tearing Medicine and soon breaks the veins in a mans body In Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Copā quòd esu perimat In Latine Helleborus albus Helleborum veratrum album now it is called veratrum à verando unde veratores veraculi and because such Prophets were counted mad and out of their wits therefore it was so called for that it cureth such or quòd mentem vertat Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 25. c. 5. f. 218 In English 't is called white Hellebore or Neese-wort The Temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree The best kinde The best is the whitest not too hot and biting in tast nor provoking spittle for such doth sooner suffocate and being broken it seemes to smoak or send dust from it the best part is that which is towards the nether end for the uppermost part of the root which is thickest and bulbous like to an Onion-head is good only for Dogs The duration It will keep good many yeers some say thirty yeers The inward use The roots are only in use They are usefull against madnesse and melancholy also against the swimming of the head Falling Sickness Leprosie Cancer Elephancie and foule diseases of the skin as also the quartan Ague It brings down the courses and kils the childe in the wombe it helps the old Cough Dropsie Sciatica Gowt Cramp pains of the joynts and sinews It killeth Mice or Rats being boyled in milke or mingled with flower and Honey or Butter or boyled in milk and set where Flyes Wasps Gnats c. do much resort it kils as many as touch it The manner of administring it It is given in decoction in infusion and in substance take one example in substance Take of white Hellebore in powder a scruple give it in broth milk or Grewell but you were better let it alone Heurnius mentions an Electuary made of white Hellebore which you may finde in his Praxis Medicin f. 242. The outward use It is used to provoke sneesing being put into the nostrils and purgeth the head of superfluous humours and is good in the Lethargie and such like sleepy diseases especially if Marjoram be put to it and made in powder and so snuffed up into the nose it cures the Leprosie Scab Itch and such like foul diseases of the skin being used with Hogs-grease or mixed in oyntments The juice of the root dropped into the eares helps the noise and singing thereof and the root mixed with other things helps the dimnesse of the sight Being boiled
and joints heart and liver and binde all other loose or fluent humours in the parts of the body and are very effectuall for the trembling of the heart and to stir up the appetite stay vomiting and restraineth the fury and belching of choler qualifieth the great heat of the inward parts and allayeth thirst giveth ease to those that are troubled with the Hemorrhoides or Piles by restraining the fiercenesse of choler flowing into them and for this last effect the Citrine are most used The Indies or black Myrobalans do purge Melancholy and black or a dust choller and therefore are available for the quartane Ague the Leprie and all Paraliticall diseases and they cause a good colour of the face They are brought over unto us preserved especially the Chebules and Emblicks whereof the Chebules are more used physically for such purposes as are before set downe then the Emblicks are Note that the rinde is to be used when you finde them in any receipt and not the stone The manner of administring them They are given in decoction in infusion and in powder but the decoction or infusion doth purge better then any way else yet so gently that they binde and strengthen the stomach liver and heart but given in powder they binde more then they purge A Potion against the Dysenterie flux Take of red Roses of Plantaine of each two drams of Licoris bruised halfe an ounce Raisons of the Sun stoned and Tamarinds of each six drams of yellow Myrobalans halfe an ounce boile them gently in a sufficient quantity of water and Honey strain it in which steep or infuse of Rubarbe foure scruples of Spicknard half a scruple let them stand five or six houres straine it and adde syrup of Quinces or syrup of red Roses an ounce make a Potion and give it Against a loosenesse of the body Take and burne a pinte of Clarret wine with a little Rose-mary and Sugar in which put to steep all night a dram of Rubarbe a little dryed at the fire and halfe a dram of Chebule Myrobalanes which standing by the fire all night and strained forth in the morning is to be taken at two severall times a draught in the morning fasting which if it help not sufficiently the first time being renued and taken two dayes more will certainly stay the laske wholly if the malignity and sharpnesse of the humours be not too strong that scarce any medicine will cure it Parkinson in his Herball folio 248. The outward use The Citrine are used in Collyries or medicines for the eyes with the juice of Fennell or Rose-water and against the inflammations and flowing of humours to the eyes the powder thereof with Mastick or Rose-water is used in Ulcers to heale them and dry them The powder of the kernels is used against dimnesse of the eyes or to take away the web therein or the powder thereof infused in Rose-water and dryed and then infused two or three times more and dry them then make it in powder and use it The Bellerick stay the flowing of the Hemorrhoides and help the falling of the haire the affected place being bathed with the decoction thereof and the powder strewed on afterwards and it makes the haire become blacker The hurtfull quality with the corrective help Although these may be given without any danger or detriment yet they are not to be used in obstructions or stoppings of the inward parts nor where the body is much bound nor in feavers They are profitably infused in Whey or Posset-drink or in the juice of Fumitory or juice of Worme-wood adding a little Spikenard or Honey thereto That they offend not the stomach being stopt they may be infused in Oile of sweet Almonds and rubbed with ones hands and then dryed Some give them in fat broth as with the pulp of Raisons or with Honey and Raisons of the Sun boiled together Others give them with Manna Cassia Conserve or syrup of Violets Others mixe a little Scammonie with them to quicken their slow operation They may be given also with infusion of Sene Hydromel or water and Honey or with opening and diureticall things or such things as provoke urine Note that the infusion of Myrobalanes doth only purge and little or nothing binde the body the decoction there of doth both purge and binde the powder of them doth also purge and binde but more binde then purge and being dried and so given they only constringe or binde the body The Dose The dose of them in infusion and decoction is from three drams to six drams or to an ounce in substance the dose is from halfe a dram to two drams or more Of the compounds made of Myrobalanes Pils of Myrobalans extract of Myrobalans Syrup of the five kinds Myrobalanes preserved CHAP. 48. De Myrrha of Myrrhe Myrrhe is a gum or concreted gummie juice of a certaine tree growing in Arabia Aethiopia and other places of a reddish colour Stacte is the purer part of Myrrhe or liquid Myrrhe sweating out from the tree of its owne accord before the tree be cut The names It is called in Latine Myrrha in English Myrrhe The temperament Myrrhe is hot and dry in the third degree The best kinde The best is that which is pinguous or fatty reddish and cleare having some whitish veines in it very bitter and light That which is heavy and blacke is to be rejected The difference between Bdellium and Myrrhe Bdellium in sight is somewhat like to Myrrhe but may be distinguished thus Myrrhe is extreame bitter so is not Bdellium againe Myrrhe is easier to be broken and of a more quick sharp sent The duration Myrrhe will keep good many yeares Platearius saith it will keep good a hundred yeares The inward use Myrrhe is opening discussing glutinative and drying it resisteth putrefaction and is usefull in stoppings of the wombe brings down the courses and expells the childe living or dead being taken with a decoction of Lupines ane the juice of Rue It helpeth stoppings of the Breast and Lungs and hoarsenesse as also the cough and is usefull in the Quinsey Pleurisy or paines of the side in the Collick in fluxes of the belly and killeth wormes It mollifieth the hardnesse of the Matrix and is good against rheumatick distillations It taketh away the shivering fits of Agues being taken an houre or two before the fit commeth especially of Quartane Agues as if a dram or lesse be taken in Muscadine warme two or three times before the fit come and sweat after it this cured Matthiolus of a quartane Ague Mathiol Com. in lib. Diascor Cap. 68. f. 78. Pils made thereof with Treacle and Birth-wort-root are effectuall for the same purpose to take one or two at a time as big as a Pease an houre before the fits for many dayes together it is also a great preservative in the Plague or pestilence and against the venome or poison of Serpents and venomous creatures therefore it is put into Antidotes and Counterpoisons it is
Opopanax Some commend it against the dimnesse of the sight being mixed with other things Opopanax doth much help to the curing of old ulcers and Fistulaes breeds good flesh and especially where the bones are bare and naked and that by a peculiar vertue It is with profit applied to the biting of any venomous creature The hurtfull Quality It must not be given to Women with childe for it destroyes the birth nor to such as have hot diseases It is corrected with Spiknard Mastick c. The Dose The Dose is from halfe a dram to a dram or a dram and a halfe Of such compounds as are made of Opopanax Extract of Opopanax Pills of Opopanax Oile of Opopanax CHAP. 51. De Polypodio of Polypodie POlipodium is a root generally knowne growing on the roots of Trees chiefly on Okes sometimes upon houses and old walls The names It is called in Latine Polipodium also â—ilicula quasi parva filix because the leaves are like Ferne. In English Polipodie and Oke-ferne The temperament Polypodie is hot and dry in the second degree The best kinde The best rootes are those that are fairest or biggest and full of nodes which groweth on Okes and is therefore called Polypodium quercinum The duration These roots will keep good a yeare or two Note that the hotter the Region is where it growes the better it is The inward use Polypodie purgeth adust choler or melancholie and flegme though but gently Therefore it is commended against melancholy as in affects of the Hypochonders quartane Ague also in stoppings of the Liver and Spleen Jaundise Scurvy or Scorbute and in any kinde of Gowt in the Leprosie Scab and foule diseases of the skin It doth much prevaile in the Collick arising from a cold cause and that by a specifick vertue The distilled water both of rootes and leaves is much commended against the quartane Ague being taken many dayes together as also against melancholie troublesome sleep and fearefull dreames And taken with some Sugar-Candy dissolved therein it is good against all the ill affects or diseases of the Lungs Also this water helps the pale colour of the face and purgeth the blood The Salt and Oile of Polypodie are used in the Pleurisie and paines of the side The manner of administring it It is given in decoction broth or infusions for it can hardly be made into powder alone By infusion Take of Sene. Raisons of the sun stoned of each halfe an ounce Maiden-haire Polypodie white Tartar of each three drams of fumitorie-Fumitorie-water Carduus water buglosse-Buglosse-water of each two ounces let them infuse one night in the morning boile them gently then straine it and to foure ounces of the clearest add Honey of Roses Solutive or Manna two drams or halfe an ounce mixe them together and give it it purgeth gently Freitag aur med f. 256. Against hardnesse of the spleen and melancholy winde it may be given with Epithymum and Salindum or the decoction of an old Cock with Polypodie Sene Epithymum Thyme Dodder black Hellebore Buglosse Creame of Tartar Anise-seed Fennell-seed Raisons of the sun and such like is much commended In diseases of the breast use Polypodie with Figs Raisons of the sun Elecampane Hyssop Maydenhaire Hore-hound c. In the Collick boile it with Anise-seed Fennell-seed c. In the scab arising from burnt choler boile it in Posset-drink or Whey The outward use The juice of the green root or the powder of the root snuffed up into the nose cureth the disease called Polypus A plaister made of the roots and Honey helpeth luxations or bones out of joynt Ruptures chaps of the fingers and the Piles If the root be steeped in Wine foure and twenty houres made sharp with a little spirit of sulphur and then dryed it may be used for a Dentifrice or medicine to make the teeth white and cleane being rubbed therewith The hurtfull quality It is judged by many to be windy and to offend the stomach but daily experience doth manifest the contrary and that it is a safe and gentle medicine fit for all sorts of persons and may be given in any season It is given with Anise-seed Fennel-seed Ginger c. Not because it offends the stomach or hurteth the other inward parts but to help its energie or force Let the Polypodium you use be new for if it be too old it bindes the body Heurn prax med f. 271. The Dose It is given in decoction or infusion from halfe an ounce to two ounces or more Compounds made of Polypodie Salt of Polypodium Extract of Polypodium Syrup of Polypodium Oile of Polypodium CHAP. 52. De Psyllio of Flea-wort FLea-wort is an herb that riseth up with a stalk two foot high or more full of joynts and branches on every side up to the top and at every joynt two small long and narrow whitish green leaves somewhat hairie the seeds are small and black lâ—ke to Fleas in bignesse and colour The names It is called in Latine Psyllium Pulicaria harba and â—ulicaria because it is like unto Fleas and not because it driveth away Fleas for that it will not do In English Flea-wort not Flea-bane The temperament The seeds are cold and moist in the second degree The best seeds The best are the biggest and the fairest heavy that being put into the water they sinke The duration They will keep good a yeare or two in the seeds The inward use The seeds are chiefly in use the missilage or infusion whereof being made with Rose-water or Barley-water and taken with syrups of Violets syrup of Roses or Sugar purgeth choler and thick flegme and is usefull in hot burning Feavers in great thirst and helps to â—eâ—ifie the drynesse of the mouth and throat it helpeth also the hoarsnesse of the voice and diseases of the breast and lungs caused by heat as the Pleurisie and such like It helpeth all inflammations of the head and all hot paines of the joynts The muccilage of the seed made into an Electuary with Marmalade of Quinces with Popie-seed and Sugar-pellets or Sugar-Candy and so taken doth temper the heat and roughnesse of the throat and tongue and stayeth hot fluxions or rheumes flowing downe In hot burning Agues it quencheth thirst and abates heat being taken with syrup of Violets or Barley-water and purgeth also choler gently The seeds torrified or dryed and taken with Plantaine-water stayeth the flux of the belly and helpeth the corrosions or gripings of the belly that come by reason of hot cholerick sharp and malignant humours or by the super-purgation or over-working of any violent medicine such as cammonie or the like The seeds being kept on the tongue easeth the cough and helpeth the drynesse thereof proceeding from heat It dothnso wonderfully coole that saith Fernelius being cast into hot boyling water it presently cooleth it Fernel meth med lib. 6. cap. 1. fol. 143. The outward use The seeds bruised or the herbe and mixed with the juice of House-leeke or
bole purging flegme and usefull in the Dropsie Take of the juice of Elder berries halfe an ounce powder of Seabinde-weed a dram Oile of Cynamon foure drops make a bole or lump rolle it up in Sugar and take it in a morning drinking some Posset-drink after it A decoction against the Quartane Ague and Quotidian Take of Elder-bark with the root of each an ounce of Asarum three drams Cynamon a dram and a halfe boile them in milk and give halfe of it This will work upward and downward Take it before the fit commeth once or twice if need be Vide Blochwitius Anotomiâ Sambuci The outward use A decoction of the roots of either mollifieth the hardnesse of the wombe if women do sit therein and openeth the veines and bringeth downe the courses The leaves boiled and laid hot upon any hot and painefull Apostumes especially in the more remote and sinewie parts doth both coole the heat and inflammation of them and ease the paines The juice of the leaves snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the tunicles of the brain The juice of the green leaves applyed to hot inflammations of the eyes asswageth them The juice of the berries boiled with a little Honey and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them A decoction of the root maketh the haire black if it be washed therewith the leaves boiled till they be tender then beaten and mixed with Barley-meale and applyed to hot inflammations asswageth them and helpeth places that are burnt either by fire or water cureth Fistulous Ulcers being laid thereupon and easeth the paines of the Gowt being beaten and boiled with tallow of a Bull or Goat and laid warme thereon The young buds and leaves of the Elder and as much of the roots of Plantaine beaten together and boiled in Hogs-grease this being laid warme upon the place pained with the Gowt doth give present ease thereto the leaves also burnt and the powder of them put up into the Nostrils stayeth the bleeding once or twice used The leaves of Elders boiled tender and applied warme to the fundament easeth the paines of the Piles if they be once or twice renewed growing cold The pitch in the middle of the Elder stalkes being dried and put into the cavernous or hollovv holes of Fistulous Ulcers that are ready to close openeth and dilateth the Orifices whereby injections may be used and other remedies applied for the cure of them The Mushromes called Jewes-eares helpeth the inflammation of the eyes being macerated or steeped in Rose-water or Plantaine-water and the eyes washed therewith The dryed Jewes-eares steeped in Rose-water and applied to the Temples and forehead do ease the paines of the head or head-ach The distilled water of the flowers of Elder is of much use to cleare the skin from Sun-burning Freckles Morphew or the like and both the fore-part and hinder-part of the head being bathed therewith it taketh away all manner of head-ach that commeth of a cold cause The same water taketh away the heat and inflammation of the eyes and helpeth them when they are blood-shotten The hands being washed morning and evening with the same vvater of the flovver doth much help and ease them that have the Palsy in them and cannot keep them from shaking The foule inflamed or old Ulcers and sores of the leggs being often vvashed vvith the vvater of the leaves or of the flovvers distilled in the middle of the moneth of Maey doth heale them in a short space The water also helpeth the paine of the side if a linnen cloth be vvet therein and the side bathed therevvith vvarme Oile of Elder-flovvers doth assvvage paine cleanse and mundifie the skin profiteth in stoppings of the Liver and spleene and is good for the paines of the joynts and nerves and is very usefull in burning and wild-fire An ointment made of the green leaves of Dan-wort May butter made in the Moneth of May is accounted with many a sovereigne remedy for all outward paines aches and cramps in the joynts nerves or sinewes for starcknesse and lamenesse by cold and other casualties and generally to warme comfort and strengthen all the outward parts ill-affected as also to mollifie the hardnesse and to open the obstructions of the spleen the grieved parts anointed therewith Against burning by Fire or Water Take one pound of the inner bark of Elder bruise it or cut it small and put it into two pound of pure Sallet-Oile or Oile-Olive that hath been first washed oftentimes with the distilled water of Elder-flowers let them boile gently a good while together and afterwards straine forth the Oile pressing it very hard set this Oile on the fire againe and put thereto foure ounces of the juice of the young branches and leaves of the Elder-tree and as much new Wax let them boile to the Consumption of the juice after vvhich being taken from the fire put presently thereto two ounces of liquid Vernish such as Joyners use to vernish Bed-steds Cubboards c. and afterwards of Olibanum in fine powder foure ounces and the whites of two Egges being first well beaten by themselves all these being well stirred and mixed together put it up into a cleane pot and keep it for to use when occasion serveth Parkinson Treatise of Plantes fol. 210 211. taken out of Matthiolus Against the Tooth-ach Take of the root of Elder cut in thin slices two ounces and a halfe Vineger of Elder or White Wine halfe a pinte boile them together then wash the mouth and teeth therewith Or Take of the middle rinde of Elder and flowers thereof of each a handfull of Jewes-eares one or two boyle them in a sufficient quantity of Vineger and Wine use it as the former An Ointment against the hardnesse or scirrhus of the Spleene Take Oile of Elder an ounce Ammoniacum dissolved in Vineger of Elders two drams boile them to the Consumption of the watery substance then add a little wax and make an ointment Two or three drams of Wax will be sufficient With this Ointment anoint the spleen morning and evening warme laying a warme cloth on A Cataplasme or pultis against bruises Take of Elder-flowers in powder two ounces Camomill and Worme-wood in powder of each halfe an ounce mix them with a sufficient quantity of Oile of Elder and apply it warme to the bruised parts For the Piles or Hemorrhoides Take a handfull or two of Elder-leaves and boile them in water till they be tender take them out of the water and mix a little Linseed-Oile therewith then apply it warme upon a red cloth or a piece of Scarlet to the Piles there letting it lye till it be almost cold then apply fresh do thus for the space of an houre or two if need require and let it be bound up having the party to his warme bed This saith Gerard hath not failed at the first dressing to cure the said disease Ger. Herball fol. 1423. The hurtfull quality Both Elder and Dane-wort offend the head are
accord when it is broken gathered and dried and afterwards relented or made soft and laid as a plaister to the bottom of the belly draweth forth watery humours by siege The hurtfull quality and the corrective meanes Diascorides and some of the Ancient write that it is an enemy to the stomach and sharp in taste and therefore adviseth that it be boiled in broth of fat meat to hinder the strength of its working and they say it must be given only to strong bodies And happily it might operate so with them by reason of the climate where it did grow But that which we use now is a most safe medicine and may be given to children and weak persons as daily experience doth manifest It may be given with Cynamon Ginger Anise-seed Mastich or Sugar also with Rubarbe and Cubebs for Rubarbe is counted an excellent consort for it In decoction it is given with Raisons and Anise-seed The Dose In powder it is given from halfe a dram to a dram and a halfe or two drams In decoction from halfe an ounce to an ounce and a halfe The juice is given from two drams to halfe an ounce Of such things as are made thereof Extract of Seabinde-weed Succus inspissatus CHAP. 62. De Succino of Amber PLinie saith Amber issueth forth from trees like as Gum in Cherrie-trees and Rosin in Pines Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 37. Cap. 3. f. 607. But it is generally taken for a kinde of liquid Butimen whose springs and fountaines are in the Germane Seas and running into pieces some greater and lesser then others and is taken up with Iron-hooks being soft under water but hardning in the Aire like Corall The names In Latine Electrum Chrysolectrum Glessum Resina terrae but the usuall Latine names are Succum Carabe Charabe and Karabe in English 't is called Amber The temperament Amber is hot in the first degree and dry in the second The best kinde Although Authors mention three sorts yet there are but two sorts in shops the white and the yellow the best is the whitest and that which is most cleare and being rubb'd will draw straws unto it and gives a sent like Bitumen The duration It will keep good many yeares The inward use Amber strengtheneth the heart and stomach stayeth vomiting dryeth up moist humours in the stomach and hinders the breeding thereof and stayeth the flux of the belly It is usefull in cardiack passions and palpitations or beatings of the heart It recreates or refresheth the braine and is profitable in Rheumes or Catarrhes in the Falling Sicknesse Apoplexie Lethargie Swiming of the head suffocation and inflation or windinesse of the Mother It stayeth the flowing of blood and seed provokes the termes in women and causeth a speedy delivery It helpeth women that have the whites and men that have the running of the Reines for it stoppeth the flux and strengthneth the parts very much Being taken in Saxifrage-water it is a sure remedy for such as have their urine stopped It is very good for old coughs and those that are falling into a Consumption being mixed with conserve of Red Roses and so taken morning and evening and is profitable for joynt-aches and the running Gowt if it be taken vvith tvvo or three ounces of the decoction of Lignum vitae The chymicall oile of Amber taken inwardly availeth against the Pestilence and contagious aire if three or foure drops be taken for divers mornings together in Carduus or Angelica-water It helpeth the biting of a mad Dog and is excellent to preserve from the Apoplexie Falling Sicknesse svviming of the head and Night-mare taken in Piony-water Betony-vvater Lavender Rosemary black-Cherry-vvater or in Lily Convally-vvater or Sage-vvater or taken in Wine especially if it be taken about the nevv of the Moone in the morning fasting for this oile is a singular secret to comfort the animall vitall and naturall spirits If five or six drops be taken in Sage-water it restoreth the speech lost It dryeth up Rheumes and sharpneth the sight being taken in Fennel-water or Eye-bright-vvater It helpeth trembling of the heart and faintings of the spirits shortnesse of breath taken vvith Horehound-vvater and the Pleurisie vvith vvater of Sage of Jerusalem It helpeth spitting of blood taken vvith Tornentill-vvater It helpeth a cold stomach and vomiting being taken vvith Mint-vvater It helpeth the intemperate frigidity or coldnesse of the Liver and Spleene taken in Spleenwort-water or Wormwood-water and helpeth such as are melancholy if it be taken in Borrage or Buglosse-water Given in Endive-water or a few drops thereof taken in the pap of a roasted Apple with a leafe of Gold cureth the Jaundise It doth wonderfully ease the stone and urine stopt in the Kidneys or Bladder if a few drops be given in Saxifrage or Parsley-water It stirs up to Venery taken with Diasatyrion in Wine It helpeth the Running of the Reins taken with water or syrup of Purslan It easeth the Collick taken with Cynamon-water or Aqua-vitae It cureth the Dysentery or bloudy Flux taken in Tormentil-water It killeth Wormes taken in Tansey-water It helpeth the joynt-Gowt and Sciatica or Hip-Gowt taken with the decoction or Lignum sanctum as also trembling and the cramp It much helpeth the affects of the wombe as the suffocation and precipitation or â—aâ—ling down thereof as also barrennesse taken in Minch or Penny-royall-water or Anise-seed-water and easeth paines in travell bringeth away the childe and after-birth provoketh the termes and bringeth avvay the dead childe given in Savin-vvater especially if five or six drops thereof be given and then as much more vvithin halfe an hour if need require The manner of administring it It is given in povvder in Electuaries c. A powder to hasten the birth Take of Cynamon halfe a dram or a dram Cassia lignea tvvo scruples Saffron half 〈◊〉 dram of white Amber a scruple make all into powder and gâ—eâ— in savin-Savin-water An Electuary against the pain and heat of the stomach c. Take of conserve of red Roses two ounces Marmelate of Quinces an ounce Mastick in powder two drams red Corall in powder a dram a half oile of Amber a scruple with syrup of Quinces make an Electuary Take of it morning and evening before meat and after meat It is excellent also to stay vomiting and the flux of the belly Doring de ol succinii viribus f. 73. The outward use Amber being burned on hot coals and the fume thereof received to the head doth help moist distillations thereof falling on the eyes teeth nose or stomach The fume thereof saith Doringius cured an old man of the Apoplexie that was judged to be certainly dead Doring de ol Succinii viribus f. 71. Being worn about the neck it cures Agues and helpeth swellings of the throat and almonds and is good in times of infection especially used with salt and hinders defluxions A fume thereof doth much help to cure the Falling Sicknesse and is good in the Pestilence made into powder and mixed with Honey
Spleene or Liver to be applied to the places the juyce of Mallowes boyled in old Oyle and applied taketh away all roughnesse of the Skin as also the falling of the Haire the Scurfe Dandruffe or dry Scabs in the Head or other parts if they be anoynted therewith or washed with the Decoction the same also is effectuall against Scaldings or Burnings and to helpe wild fire and all other hot red and painfull Swellings in any part of the Body The flowers boyled in water and a little Hony added is a good Gargle for any sore mouth or throat If the feet be bathed with the Decoction of the Leaves Roots and flowers it helpeth the flowing downe of rheume from the Head which rose out of the stomack the greene Leaves beaten with niter and applied draweth out thornes or prickes in the flesh A Fomentation against winde Take of the Leaves and roots of mallowes a handfull of Camomill and Melilot flowers a handfull Linseede one Ounce Aniseede halfe an Ounce Figges in number forty Boyle them in water and fill a bladder with the hot Decoction apply it Once or twice to the side or part affected Of those things that are made thereof The distilled water The conserve of the flowers CHAP. 122. De Melle of Honey The Names and temperament IT is called in Latine Mel in English Hony and is hot and dry in the second degree The Duration It wil keepe good two or three yeares The best Kinde The best Honey is very sweet pleasant in smell of a cleare yellowish colour indifferent firme and stiffe yeelding but little scum on the top when it is boyled The inward Vse Honey is profitable in many Diseases of the breast as Cough Shortnesse of Breath Pleurisy Cold Rheumes and doth cleanse the Breast and Lungs of flegmatick and Rheumatick humours it helpeth such as are costine or bound openeth the stoppings of the Liver and Spleene strengthneth weake Parts helpeth the Bladder and Reines and is good in the Dropsey It resisteth putrifaction and as Pliny saith suffereth no dead Bodies to putrify and is very profitable for old Age and flegmatick persons The Roman Pollio being asked by Augustus the Emperour by what meanes hee had prolonged his Life to an hundred Yeares Answered that hee had used Honey within and Oyle without It is better boyled then Raw. Pliny Nat. Hist Lib. 22. Cap. 24. The manner of Administring it It is chiefly used in manner of an Electuary or mixed with other things An Electuary for the Cough Take of pure Honey foure Ounces oâ— Elecampane in Powder two Drams of Licoris in Powder a Dramme mixe them together and take often of it especially Morning and Evening The outward use It is good in the Quinsie Sore Mouthes and Throates being used in Mouth-water or otherwise but if choller abound forbeare the use of it It cures Burnings and Scaldings without Scarre and healeth Ulcers of the Eares and good also to cleanse and heale other filthy Ulcers Being dropped into the Eyes it helpeth the Dimnesse of them and cureth Cornes in the Feete If it be mixed with a little Camphor and used it taketh away Spots or Pimples in the Face It is used in Supposittories The hurtfull quality It is hurtfull for hot stomacks cholerick Bodies and young persons for it inflames the Bloud increaseth Choller and hurteth such as have hot Livers And though it bee of a cleansing and opening Faculty yet being too much used it stoppeth the Body puffeth up the Stomack taketh away the appetite to Meate and must not be used in very windy Bodies Of such Medicines as are made of Honey Oxymel simple and compound Water of Honey Essence of Honey Tincture of Honey Hydromel that is Water and Honey boyled together Meade Methegline and many others CHAP. 123. De Meliloto of Melilot The Names and Temperament IT is called in Latine Melilotus in English Melilot Kings Claver and Hearts Claver because if it grow where Stagges and Deere resort they will greedilie feede thereon Now it is called Melilot from a Lotus that smelleth sweete like Honey It is Hot and Dry in the first Degree and hath a binding Quality besides a Wasting and Ripening Faculty The duration The Herbe and flowers will keepe good a Yeare The inward use The Herbe boyled in Wine and taken provoketh Urine breaketh the Stone and asswageth the paine of the Kidnies Bladder and Belly and ripeneth flegme The manner of administring it It is given in Decoction The outward use It mollifieth hard Tumours and Inflammations that happen in the Eyes or other parts of the Body as the Seate or Fundament and the privy Parts of Man or Woman being boyled in Wine and laid to the place and sometimes the Yolke of a roasted Egge or the powder of Fenigreeke or Linseede or fine flower or Poppy-seede or Endive is added unto it It easeth the paine of the Side or Stomack applied either fresh or boyled with any other of the aforenamed things The juyce dropped in the eyes cleareth the sight and taketh away the Web Pearle or spots therein it helpeth also the paines of the eares being dropped into them and steeped in Vineger or Rose-water it easeth the Head-ach the flowers of Melilot and Camomill are much used in Glysters to expell winde and to ease paines as also in Pultises that are made for the same purpose and to asswage swellings or tumours that happen in the Spleene or other parts It helpeth Wens being applyed after it is boyled in water and also running Ulcers of the head if it be applyed with Chalke Wine and Galls The plaster of Melilot dissolveth hard tumours and swellings of the Spleene and cureth greene wounds A quilt or bag to ease the paine of the side Take Melilot flowers Camomill Rosemary and Elder flowers of each halfe a handfull of Branne a handfull of Anisseed Fennell-seed and Carawey seed bruised of each two ounces make a quilted bag for the side sprinkle it with wine and being made hot apply it Of those things that are made thereof The distilled Water Plaster of Melilot both simple and compound CHAP. 124. De Melissa of Baulme or Bawme The Names IT is called in Latine Milissophillum and Melissa because Bees delight much in it and of the effect being good for Bees in English Bawme and Baulme from the singular effects therein in imitation of the true naturall Baulme The temperament It is hot and dry in the second degree The Duration It will keep good a yeare The inward use It is excellent against the Diseases of the Braine Stomach Heart Wombe as in Melancholly troublesome sleepe Palsie Apoplexie Falling sicknesse Swimming of the head and to revive the fainting heart falling into swimmings It is good for a cold stomach and to help digestion as also among other things for the Plague or Pestilence and the water thereof is used for the same purposes It provoketh the courses helpeth a stinking breath and good for the rising of the Mother A decoction of
make some of it stiffe and put up into the Nose The hurtfull quality It is not safe to give the juice of Damask Roses to women with childe because it provokes their courses and the water also thereof is hurtfull to such as are troubled with the head-ach The dose The leaves and seeds are given from a scruple to two scruples The juice is given from one ounce to two ounces Syrup of Roses laxative is given from one ounce to 3. or 4 ounces The electuary of the juice of Roses is given from two drams to six drams Of those Medicines that are made of Roses The distilled water of Damask red and white Roses Conserve both of Damask and red Roses Sugar of Roses or Sugar-roset Oile chymicall and spirit of Roses Species Aromaticum Rosatum Diarrhodon Abbatis Rosata novella Syrup of Roses solutive Syrup of the juice of Roses Syrup of Roses with Agarick Syrup of Roses solutive with Hellebore Syrup of Roses solutive with Sene. Syrup of red Roses dry Honey of Roses Tincture of Roses Oile of Roses by infusion Ointment of Roses Vineger of Roses Balsam c. CHAP. 151. De Rosmarino of Rosemary The names and temperament IT is called in Latine Rosmarinus Rosmarinum quasi Rosa marina English Rosemary It is hot and dry in the second degree and also of an astringent or binding quality yet of subtil or thin parts it is best for cold and moist seasons for the age flegmatick and rheumatick The duration It will keep good a yeare or two being dryed The inward use It helpeth all cold diseases of the head stomach Liver belly and wombe A decoction thereof in Wine helpeth the cold distillations of the braine into the eyes and the giddinesse or swimming of the braine drowsinesse or dulnesse of the minde and senses like a stupidnesse the dumbe Palsie or losse of speech the Lethargie Apoplexie and Falling Sicknesse it helpeth the paines in the Gums and teeth by rheume falling into them or by putrefaction causing an evill smell from them or a stinking breath it helpeth a weak memory by heating and drying up the cold moistures of the brain and quikening the senses It is a good remedy for windinesse in the stomach or bowels as also the Hypochondriack passion and winde in the spleen It helpeth those that are Liver-growne by opening the stoppings thereof by warming the coldnesse making thin the grossenesse and afterwards binding and strengthening the weaknesse thereof it helpeth dim Eyes and to quicken the sight as also the yellow Jandise and the whites in women and the rising of the Mother if the flowers or leaves be daily taken in decoction or in powder The dried leaves shred small and taken in a Pipe as Tobacco is taken help the Cough or Tissick and Consumption by warming and drying the thin rheum which causeth those diseases The Chymicall oile is good for the aforesaid diseases if two or three drops thereof be taken in Beere or other Liquor The flowers and the conserve made thereof doth comfort the braine and heart and is good to expel the contagion of the pestilence If you steep or infuse a few Cloves Mace and Anise-seed in the distilled water of the flowers for certaine dayes and take morning and evening thereof it helpeth a stinking breath and mouth The manner of administring it It is given in decoction or in powder The outward use It helpeth the cold diseases of the head if a decoction thereof be made and the temples and neck bathed therewith The leaves are much used in bathings and made into Ointments or Oiles is singular good to help cold benummed joints sinews or members the herb burned in houses and chambers in time of infection is good to correct the aire in them The Herb is much used in powders and quilts to dry up rheume and to strengthen the wombe The Chymical oil is good for the cold diseases of the braines if the temples nostrils and nape of the neck be anointed therewith An Epitheme for the cold head-ach Take Rose-mary Sage Camomil Melilot Betony and Bryonie-root of each a handfull Boile them in water and with a spnge or soft linen clothes made wet therein apply it hot to the forehead The hurtfull quality It must not be used in very hot and dry bodies The Dose It is gven in powder from a scruple to two scruples Of such Medi ines as are made thereof The distilled water Chymical Oile Conserve of the flowers Species Dianthos Balsame CHAP. 152. De Rusco of Knee-holme The Names and temperament IT is called in Latine Ruscus Ruscum and Bruscus in English Butchers Broom and Knee-holme It is hot in the second degree and dry in the first with some tenuity or thinnesse of parts It is one of the five opening roots The duration The roots will keep good a yeer or two The inward use A decoction of the roots made in Wine and taken openeth stoppings provoketh urine and amendeth the strong smell thereof helpeth to expel gravel and the Stone Strangury and Womens courses the same also helpeth the yellow Jaundise and the Head-ach and with some Sugar or Honey put thereunto helpeth to bring away flegme and to cleanse the chest of much clammy humours gathered therein The juice of the leaves taken with Sugar helpeth spitting of bloud and cleanseth the wombe The manner of administring it It is given in decoction or in powder A Powder against Winde and gripings of the belly Take the roots of Knee-holme Anise-seed and Fennel-seed of each half an ounce make them in powder and mix therewith half an ounce of Sugar take every morning thereof as much as will lye on a shilling in White Wine or Posset-drink The outward use The juice thereof taketh away the stink of the mouth and Gums being washed therewith and the powder of the root cleanseth Wounds and preventeth a Gangrene being strewed therein The Dose It may be given from half a dram to a dram CHAP. 153. De Ruta of Rue The Names and temperament IT is called in Latine Ruta and Ruta hortensis in English Rue and Herb-grace or Herb of Grace it is hot and dry in the third degree The duration It will keep good a yeer The inward use Rue provoketh urine and womens courses expelleth all venome and poyson and is most excellent in time of the Plague or sicknesse the seed also taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counterpoison against all dangerous Medicines or deadly poisons A decoction made thereof with some dried Dil-leaves and flowers easeth all pains and gripeings in the body The same being drunk helpeth the pains both of the chest and sides as also Coughs hardnesse or difficulty of breathing the inflammations of the Lungs as also the shaking of Agues to take a draught before the fit come It killeth Wormes being boiled in Wine and Honey and taken The juice taken with Wine purgeth women after their deliverance bringeth away the dead childe and after-birth It dryeth up the milk and the
The Kindes Constantinus Affricanus mentioneth three kindes of Aloes one reddish which groweth in an Island called Scheta another sort which is black and is found in Persia a third kinde yellow which is found in Arabia Constant Affric de grad fol. 355. Schroderus saith there are four sorts in use now First A blackish sort called Aloe caballina because it is fit only for Horses Secondly Another sort more purer in colour like the Liver called Aloe Hepatica Thirdly A sort called Aloe succotrina because the powder thereof is of a citrine or yellow colour or because there is great plenty of it in the Island Socotra Fourthly The fourth kinde is the purest part of the juice and is called Aloe lucida because being held up against the beams of the Sun it sheweth very clear like a kinde of red glasse Schroder Parmac med Chym. l. 4. fol. 240. The best is that which is most clear and transparent of a reddish or yellow colour being easie to break and very bitter The Duration It will keep good nine or ten years being kept dry and from the wind and Sun The Inward Vse Aloes purgeth first Choller then Flegme not from all parts but chiefly from the stomach and belly therefore saith Gallen Est eustomachicum plus omnibus catharticis Gal. Alter de dinamid fol. 76. It is more proper for the Stomach then all other purging Medicines And by its adstrictive faculty it strengthneth the stomach It much helpeth a crude moist and nauseous stomach It is profitable in these Diseases in the Head-ach when vapours arise from the stomach in the Night-Mare in the Scorbute or Scurvy in the Falling sicknesse in Rheumes It resisteth putrifaction killeth worms of all sorts whether in the belly or stomach nay it is a speciall Antidote against Worms It preventeth Arthriticall paines or paines of the Joynts it quickneth the senses by purging obnoxious humours from the braine It provoketh womens courses and the Hemrods or Piles The use of Aloes doth preserve the body from many dangerous Diseases it helpeth those that have a pale colour and is used against the Jaundise Aloe doth hardly draw humours from any part above the Liver Fernel Meth. medend fol. 112. The manner of administring it and the time Aloes is given in powder in the pap of an Apple which is very frequent or in pils It is most convenient for Flegmatick persons and may be given before meat or after meat and in the morning fasting It is better to give it before meat then after meat Aloe is the basis of most pils for there are but few purgative pils which have it not as one chiefe ingredient Pils excellent for the Stomach Take of Aloes three ounces of Rubarbe in powder three drams mix them and infuse or steep them in a sufficient quantity of endive-Endive-water let it stand a night and a day then straine it out and boyle away the crudity of it and make a masse for Pills The Dose is halfe a dram or two scruples Pills to purge Choller Take of Rubarbe in powder one scruple Aloes and Mastich of each halfe a scruple Diagnieium six graines Spikneard and Nutmeg of each three graines with syrupe of Roses Laxative make Pills and take them all in a morning fasting with Physicall observation that is fasting and then to take some warm Broth and to keep your selfe warm but you must fast two or three hours first De Aloe Lota Rosata Aloes being washed looseth part of its purgative faculty and doth more strengthen then purge Gallen saith it may be given in Feavers so that the Feaver be gentle as in a Quotidian Feaver Gal. de compos pharmac fol. 710. Aloe Rosata is a Medicine very safe and gentle it may be given to all sorts of persons before or after meat It purgeth the stomach of Choller and other offensive humours openeth stoppings is good in the Jaundise and strengthneth the stomach and is thus made Take of pure Aloes in powder four ounces of the juice of Damuske Roses clarified one pound mix them together and digest in the Sun or in a Bath till all the moisture be exhaled or taken away then infuse it again in so much more of the juice and evaporate away the juice again doe thus four times then keep the masse or lump for your use The 〈◊〉 â—all Vse Aloes being outwardly applied hath a consolidating faculty to heal green Wounds and drieth as also mundifieth or cleanseth and takes away all putrifaction in Wounds It healeth Wounds of the Testicles and Privities it cures the rednesse of the eyes and consumes spots growing therein It is good in inflamations of the Eyes and Apostumes of the Lips Nose and Eyes It healeth Vlcers that are hardly brought to cicatrize and especially those in the Fundament and privy members Being mixed with Oxe-Gall or the juice of Wormwood it killeth Wormes If it be dissolved with wine and used it helpeth the falling or shedding of the hair Being made in powder and put on the Hemroids it stayeth the bleeding thereof mixed with honey and used it takes away blacknesse and spots Aloes in powder being mixed with Myrrhe and Dragons bloud and cast into putrified Wounds or Vlcers eateth out spungious flesh without pain A Plaister for Wormes Take of Aloes in fine powder a dram and a halfe of Mithridate three drams Oyle of Savin or Oyle of Wormwood two or three drams mix them together make a Plaister lay it on the Belly The Hurtfull Quality The daily and too frequent use of Aloes is much forbidden for being much and often taken it doth fret and excoriat the stomach and bowells Constant Affric de grad fol. 355. Aloes is hurtfull to old men Gal. de sanitat tuend fol. 365. Massaria fol. 72. Freitag aur med fol. 215. Fernel meth med fol. 112. Aloe openeth the Orifices or mouths of the Vaines therefore it is hurtfull to such as have the Hemroids or Piles Flux of the Womb Belly or any other Bloudy Flux as also to Women with Child to those that have the Hectick Feaver Burning Feaver and to all hot and dry and macerated or lean bodies It is very hurtfull to those that have hot Livers especially given in a large quantity which though some deny yet experience makes it good And Scaliger Exercitat 160. Sect. 3. saith they which deny Aloe to offend the Liver Experientiae scutica digni sunt hoc per annos quadraginta compertum habemus 'T is not to be given often to Children especially such as are of a hot and dry Constitution When the season is extream hot or very cold 't is not so safe to give Aloes for then it will cause one to void bloud Antonius Musa saith that after the taking of Aloes in the depth of Winter he was so troubled that he could not sit for the space of a week A. Musa exam simpl med 4o. 355. Wecher Antid spec 4o. 222. Cinamon Mace Nutmeg Cloves Mastich and Gum Tragacanth are the best
were cured with the Gods meâ—t yea rather with the Devils said the Portugall but softly and in his owne language for fear of being over-heard The outward use If it be mingled with Rue Salniter and Honey it breaketh Carbuncles and Pestilentiall sores being thereto applied and in the same manner used it helpeth Cornes and draweth them forth Being applied with Garlicke and the white of an egge it helps Felons and white flaes of the fingers It clears the fight and helpeth suffusions or spots in the eyes being mixed with Honey and dropped in It cures the stinging of venomous Beasts being applied and the swelling of the Spleen being laid on as a Plaister A perfume thereof is good for the rising of the Mother also a fume thereof and of Goats horne prevents or much mitigates the fit of the Falling-Sicknesse if the party hold his head over it when he feels the fit come upon him It helpeth the Tooth-ach being put into a hollow tooth Plinie lib. 22. cap. 23. forbiddeth it thus to be used and saith he knew one that tried it in the same manner threw himselfe headlong from an high loft and brake his neck but surely this was by accident the party having a cachecticall or plethorick body and so it stirred up the humours The hurtfull quality Give it not to women with Child nor to such as have very hot and dry bodies These things following are made of Assa Fetida 1. Pills of Assa Fetida 2. Extract of Assa Fetida The Dose The Dose is from halfe a scruple to a dram CHAP. VIII De Asaro Of Asarabacca ASarum or Asarabacca is an hearb that hath a round leafe like Ivy but more round and tenderer the roots are many small and slender of a sweet and pleasing smell and a little biting the tongue It growes in many Gardens The Names It is called in Latine Asarum in English Asarabacca Asarobacca and Folefoot The temperament Asarum is hot and dry in the second degree or as some in the third degree The roots are hotter then the leaves The duration The roots will keep a year or two The leaves are best green which may be had almost all the year The inward use Asarum purgeth strongly by vomit and sometimes by stoole It draweth away thick Flegme and Choller both yellow and cruginous or green It is profitable for them that have the Dropsie Jaundise and that have Tertian and Quartaine Agues as also the Green-sicknesse Paine of the head arising of vapours from the Stomach It provokes sweat the Courses in Women and Urine therefore it is good in the Strangury and stopping of the Urine and also in the Hip-Gout and in Asthmatick persons or such as are short-winded It helpeth stoppings of the Liver Gall and Spleen The roots are effectuall against the biting of Serpents and therefore is put with other simples both into Mithridate and Treacle of Andromachus saith Mr Parkinson in his Herball but I find it only put into Mithridate It helpeth Chronicall or long continued Agues upon a double ground First Because it purgeth away thick Flegme and Choller of all sorts from the Stomach and parts adjacent as also whatsoever is of long continuance in the viscerous parts which is the cause of these Diuturnall or long-continued Agues now by vomit the humours aforesaid are taken away Secondly Because it provoketh sweat and so expelleth obnoxious humous from those parts by the ports of the skin The manner of administring it The leaves and roots are given by infusion decoction and in substance The green leaves are most effectuall to provoke one to vomit the roots more effectuall to purge by siege by Urine and to provoke sweat Neither the leaves nor roots will abide any long boyling for thereby the chiefest strength thereof vanisheth and is lost If you give it in fine powder it doth provoke vomit and Urine If you give it in course powder it purgeth downwards Before the fit of an Ague Take of the roots of Asarum or Asarabacca in powder a dram of white-wine four ounces mingle them together and give it before the fit commeth This taketh away the shaking fit and causeth the hot fit to be more remisse or gentle Or thus Take of Asarabacca-root a dram of Radish-root one ounce of Orach-seed halfe an ounce boyle them in Hydromel or water and honey straine it and give six ounces thereof as before Or Take of root of Asarabacca in powder Broome-flowers Broome-seeds of each halfe a dram in powder give it in Barly-water Against the Green-sicknesse Dropsie Jaundise c. Take of the green leaves of Asarabacca five six or seaven bruise them and steep them in Hydromel or Posset-drink all night in the morning straine it and give the clearest when it works take Posset-drink and keep your selfe warm To provoke the termes or courses in Women Take Myrrhe Cinamon of each a dram Savin halfe a dram Smalladge-seed and Parsly-seed Spiknard Asarum Squinanth or sweet Rush of each a scruple make all into powder and give hereof a dram in the juice of Sea-Holly or in the juice of Rue Freitag â—ur med fol. 325. Against the Quartaine Ague and Agues of long continuance Take of the distilled water of Asarabacca three or four ounces give it in a morning fasting or before the fit commeth This may be given divers times if need be The externall use The leaves bruised and applied outwardly cure creeping and cancerous Vlcers as also the swelling thereof and hinder their growth and increase They cleanse Wounds and sores If the head be washed with a lie made thereof it strengthneth the braine being molested with cold and quickneth the memory The juice and the water thereof with Pompholigos helpeth the dimnesse of the sight The leaves bruised and applied to the forehead and temples doe ease the pain thereof comming of cold There is an Oyle made thereof with which if the ridge of the back be nointed it provoketh sweat and taketh away the shaking fits of Agues The leaves also bruised and applied to Womens Breasts are good to dry up the milk and is good to be laid to the Disease called the Wilde fire especially at the beginning The hurtfull Quality It is not safe to give it to weak and tender bodies nor to Women with Child for though Fernelius saith in his Method medend l. 5. 117. it be free from any malignant quality and therfore may safely be given to women with Child especially if it be not given in fine powder yet Theodor. Dorstenius Botanic fol. 14. saith that both the decoction and water thereof driveth forth the Child living or dead and therefore may not safely be given to Women great with Child Of such things as are made of Asarabacca These following are made of Asarum 1. Diasarum Fernelij 2. Extract of Asarum or Coagulum Asari 3. Distilled Water of Asarum both of the leaves and roots 4. Oyle of Asarum The Dose The Dose in substance is from halfe a dram to two scruples or
Vvula fallen being nointed therewith also the juyce mixed with womans milk taketh away the pain of the ears being put therein The root of Dittany and Acorus root in powder being snuffed up into the nostrils purgeth the brain The powder of Ditanie and Castor mixed with the juice of Rue and put up into the nose is good for those that have the falling-sicknes If a weak member be rubbed with the juice thereof it strengthneth the same It draweth forth thorns or splintes out of the feet or other parts being applyed It is reported that the wild Goats in Candy being wounded by the hunters with arrows doe by eating this herb drive them forth The juice is a present remedy for all wounds made with iron beeng put therein it doth mundifie and cleanse the same especially 't is commended for wounds made with venemous weapons The juice hath a purging faculty being anointed or applyed with Barley meal The hurtfull quality Beware of giving it to Women with child for it will soon cause them to miscarry 't is not for hot chollerick and dry bodies nor to be much used in hot seasons The Dose The powder is given from a scruple to a dram Of such things as are made of Dittanie First Distilled water of Dittanie 2. Diadictamnum Ebor seu cornu cervinum Ebulus seu Sambucus CHAP. XXVI De Elaterio Of Elaterium or the juice of wilde Cucumber ELaterium is the juice of wilde Cucumber dryed The Names It is called in Latine Elaterium and Elacterium The Temperament Elaterium is hot and dry in the second degree or as some hold in the third The best kinde The best Elaterium is that which is whitish 〈◊〉 gray light and bitter in tast The Duration Threophrastus lib. 9. cap. 14. saith that a Physician kept some Elaterium that was two hundred years old which notwithstanding was of much vertue I have kept some seven years and longer and I conceive that if it be well prepared and kept close from the aire it may keep ten years The inward use Elaterium purgeth Flegme Choller but chiefly water from the Abdomen or belly from the braine joynts nerves and veines It is profitable therefore in the Dropsie Green-sicknesse and joynt Gout in the head-ach whether Hemicrania or Cephalaea in the Falling-sicknesse Gout Shortnesse of breath Jaundies obstructions of the Liver and Spleen stoppings of the Courses and Hemrods as also in the Palsey and Quinsey The manner of administring it It is given in Pils Powder in Boles and in Potions Pils against the Dropsie Take of Pils called Alephanginae a scruple Elaterium three graines or four in a very strong body Mixe them together and make Pils Give them with Physicall observation Massaria fol. 481. Or Take of Pils of Rubarbe two scruples Pils Aggregative a scruple and a halfe Elaterium three graines with the juice of Ireos make pils Or Take Pils of Rubarbe Agarick trochiscated and in powder of each a scruple Rubarbe in powder halfe a scruple Elaterium three graines with the juice of Wormwood make Pils and take them as before Pils purging water and flegme from the joynts Take Pils Alephanginae halfe a scruple Pils Aggregative and Pils of Hermodactyls of each a scruple of Elaterium two or three grains with a little extract of Wormwood make pils thereof give these only to strong bodies A Powder against the Dropsie Take of Mechoachan in powder two scruples and a halfe speciâ— of Diaturbith 〈◊〉 â—ubarbe halfe a scruple Elaterium two or three grains Aâ—â—â—â—â—â— five grains Mastick three grains make a Powder hereof Or Take of Elaterium 6 grains of Soldanella or Sea-bindweed Ginger of each a scruple Galangal Cloves and Cinamon of each ten grains make a powder hereof for two Doses give it in any convenient liquor A Bole. Take of Elaterium two graines Diagredium two graines with a little conserve of Roses make a Bole. A Potion Take of Sene two drams Polypodium of the Oake three drams Damaask Prunes fix Anniseed sweet Fennel-seed Licoris bruised of each a dram bruise the Polypodium and make an infusion in strong Beer straine it and adde of Syrup of Roses laxative one one ounce of Elaterium two gaines make a Potion The externall use Elaterium boyled with Barley-meal and the yolke of an Egge or Eggs being applyed to Imposthumes ripeneth them and bringeth them to maturity and applyed with Terpentine it breaks them Also being mingled with Honey and Goats dung it dissolveth white swellings struma'es and other hard tumours if it be applyed thereunto Being mingled with Beane-flower and the juice of Fumitory it takes away spots and freckles of the face Elaterium boyled with the oyle of Lillies and Linseed-oyle cureth the Hemorrhoides that are much swollen An oyle made thereof is profitable for the nerves Palsey and trembling of the hands and being put into the ears it cures deafnesse It bringeth down Womens Courses that are stayed and killeth th the birth if it be applyed to the secret parts A Plaister against the Dropsie Take of the root of wilde Cucumbers bruised a pound macerate or steep it in a sufficient quantity of Vineger of Squils for the space of four and twenty hours then adde of Honey clarified two pound boyl them to the thicknesse of a Cerote then adde of Cummin-seed in fine powder four ounces make a Plaister and apply it to the belly warme An Oyntment for the Dropsie Take of the juice of wild Cucumber and of the juice of Walwort of each three ounces oyl of Sesanum seeds oyle of Orris of each two ounces Wax an ounce and two drams make an oyntment according to art with which annoynt the belly morning and evening warme The hurtful quality with the correcting means Elaterium hurts the inward parts provokes to vomit opens the mouths of the veins brings great gripings and torments in the belly killeth the birth though but outwardly applyed to the secret parts therefore it must not be given to women with child weak persons nor to such as have any inward inflammation or Ulcer in the bowels The best correctors of it are things that mitigate and allay the sharpenesse and acrimony of it and not such as are astringent but such as are a little cooling and moistning as Gum iragacanth Amylum and water of Honey sweet milk or Creame or conserve of Roses Violets juice of Licoris and with posset drink or with some cordiall spices It is not fafe to give it alone nor to any but such as have very strong and able bodies Of such things as are made of the juice of wilde Cucumber First an extract thereof 2 Syrup of the root of wild Cucumber Freitag aur med f. 343. 3 Oyle 4 Vnguentum Agrippae 5. Vnguentum Aregon The Dose The Dose is from two graines to four graines or five at the most CHAP. XXVII De Epithimo Cuscutha Of Dodder of Time and Dodder EPithymum and Dodder are plants like unto threads very much snarled or wrapped together confusedly winding
Dog Take of Gentian root bruised a dram or two drams boile it in about half a pinte of water and honey til neer half be consumed strain it and adde of Myrrhe in powder two scruples or a dram of Crabs-eyes burnt and in powder two drams mix them together and give it at four times morning and evening wash also the wound with vineger and salt water and apply Cupping-glasses thereto to draw out the venome Or Take of the root in powder two scruples or a dram give it in Carduus water Or Take of Gentian in powder thirty graines of Rue in powder a scruple of Pepper powdered five graines give it in Angelica-water The externall use The juice or powder of the root healeth fresh wounds and is very effectuall for all sorts of foul putrid or rotten ulcers wheresoever yea though hollow or fistulous cancrous fretting or running for it doth very much cleanse dry and heale up also the same applyed to ulcers knots or kernels of the neck or throat which is called the Kings evill healeth them safely and speedily as also the painfull swellings of the hemorrhoidall veines called the Piles when they are fallen down and grow ulcerous or sore The juice being put into the eyes takes away inflammations and rednesse therein and cleares them from skins and films growing upon them The root is in use among Chirurgions to inlarge the orifice of any wound or sore The fresh root or the dryed made into a Pessary and put into the Matrix expelleth the dead childe and after-birth for it throughly worketh upon those parts The juice root or herbe or decoction thereof is given to cattel to drink to free them from Bottes and Wormes and many other diseases as also when they begin to swell being poisoned by any venomous worme or ticke which they often licke up with the grasse as also when they are bitten or stung by the udders or other tender places which presently thereupon swel and put the cattel to much pain making them forbear their meat which being perceived the Countrey-people presently bruise the leaves of any kinde of Gentian and take the juice thereof and stroke the udder or bitten place which doth soon help them The distilled water of Gentian cleanseth the face from freckles morphew or other spots and discolourings of the skin being often lightly washed therewith Against Bruises Take of Gentian root in powder an ounce mix with it a little Oil-olive and apply it warm The hurtfull quality It must not be given to women with childe for it will cause them to miscarry neither is it to be used in hot and dry bodies The Dose It is given in powder from a scruple to a dram in decoction from a dram to three drams Of those things that are made of Gentian The distilled water of the leaves and root The extract of Gentian The thickned juice a dram whereof is excellent against intermittent Agues being taken before the fit Diatessaron CHAP. 34. De Gratiola of Hedge-Hyssope GRatiola is an herbe that hath leaves like common Hyssope but a little shorter and broader The names It is called in Latine Gratiola Gratia Dei in English Hedge-Hyssope Now it is called Gratiola per Antiphrasin because it is in no wise gratefull and pleasant to those that take it for it is very bitter and of violent operation The Temperament It is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree or in the end of the second in taste very bitter and somewhat astringent The Duration It will keep good a yeare The inward use It purgeth choler and flegme but especially waterish humours Therefore it is profitable in the Dropsie Green-sicknesse obstructions of the liver and spleen in the Hip-gowt quartane Agues and long continued Feavers as also in quotidian Agues It prevails much against putrefaction and killeth Wormes It worketh both by vomit and stool Some commend it in the French Pox Scorbute or Scurvy and against the pestilence The manner of administring it It is given in Potions Powders Pils c. A Potion Take of Hedge Hyssope half a handfull Sene half an ounce Raisons of the Sun six drams Anise-seed Cynamon bruised of each half a dram boyl them in a pinte of Renish wine to half a pinte then straine it and being sweetned with sugar give it to drink in a morning fasting with physicall observation A Powder Take of Hedg Hysop in powder two drams Cynamon Anise-seed in powder of each a scruple of pure Sugar half an ounce mix them well together Give a dram or a dram and a half hereof in broth Pils excellent in the Dropsie Take extract of Hedge Hysop extract of Mechoacan of each a scruple Salt of Hedge Hysop six grains mix them together and make Pils thereof Jo. Hartmanus pract Chym. f. 246. Melichius mentions Saccharum Gratiolae magistrale in his Dispensatory which is not made with the flowers but of the leaves with Sugar not by boyling it but by setting it in the Sun and often stirring it together The Dose is from six drams to an ounce in strong bodies He saith that it worketh without any trouble Melich Dispensat f. 119. He doth not mention what quantity is to be taken but I conceive at least as much Sugar as leaves or as much more The externall use The powder of the herb or the juice thereof cureth green wounds and cleanseth old and rotten sores It may be put into Oiles and Ointments that are made to cleanse and heal wounds and old ulcers The hurtfull quality and the correcting help It worketh churlishly and troubleth the stomack therefore it must be given with Cynamon Anise-seed Liquorish Sugar Honey decoction of Cicers or in posset-drink Some macerate or steep it in vineger then dry it afterwards they infuse or steep it in milk and dry it again then they give it in powder The Dose It is given in powder to a scruple in decoction from half an ounce to an ounce but the extract thereof is more commodious then either the Dose of which is from a scruple to half a dram These compounds following are made of Gratiola or Hedge Hysope The extract Salt of Hedge Hysop Conserve of Hedge Hysop CHAP. 35. De Gutta gummi of Gum gutta or Cambogia GUtta gummi or Cambogia is a concreted or hardened juice rather then a gum made up into hard rolls yellow both within and without and being moistned it gives a yellow colour What it is made of none hath yet certainly determined some conceive it to be the juice of Spurge condensed or dryed and mixed with a little Saffron or Turmerick others judge it to be made of Scammonie and Tithymal others judge it to be made of Rubarbe others of Euphorbium others think it to be made of one kinde of Aloes But sure they are deceived that judge it to be made up of Aloes and that because it is not bitter as Aloes is moreover it purgeth rather water than choler Neither can it be made of Euphorbium
three grains make an infusion in water or white wine according to art of which being streined give three ounces In substance Take of black Hellebore-root prepared and in powder give it in Oxymel Or Take a dram of black Hellebore-root of Anise-seed Fennell-seed Cynamon Mastick of each ten graine make them into powder and give it in broth The externall use It is outwardly used against the Leprosie Morphew Scab Itch Warts and Pushes of the skin being boyled with vineger and bathed therewith The powder put into Fistulaes or hollow Ulcers doth soon heal them and if there be callons or hard flesh grown in the Fistula the root left in it for two or three dayes will consume it quite and put into a wound where dead or spongious flesh is it consumes it and preserves the flesh from putrefaction A decoction thereof helpeth the tooth-ach and the sores of the mouth being gargled and being put into the eares it helpeth the noyse thereof A Pessary made of the root and put up prevailes wonderfully to bring down the termes or courses in women A Cataplasme or Poultis made of the root with Barley-meale and wine is good to be applyed to the bellies of such as have the Dropsy In time of the Pestilence it is usefully applyed to or in any sores either in the groine or under the arme or an issue made and a piece of the root put in to keep it open doth much avail to draw sorth corrupt humours out of the body The root is in use to rowell cattel withall and to help them of the cough Being put upon the swollen Hemorrhoides it cleanseth them Against the Gowt Boyle the herbe or root in salt water and bath with it also lay the herb or root boyled to the affected part For wormes in the ears Take of the powder of black Hellebore-root half an ounce of the juice of Rue or Assmart four ounces mix them together and put thereof into the eares For the scurffe of the head Boyl the roots of Lupines in vineger and adde to it powder of black Hellebore and anoint with it wash the head after with warme water The hurtfull quality with its corrective help The ancient Writers counted it very dangerous though not so dangerous as the white yet that it worketh not without trouble and difficulty therefore it is not to be given but to robustick and strong bodies because it bringeth convulsions which happily may be spoken concerning Hellebore in substance of such as did grow in hotter clymates then ours is or of some other kinde then we now use for we do not finde any such great danger in any of that which is now in use with us yet 't is not safe to give it to children women with childe or weak persons It is corrected with Mastick Cynamon Anise-seed Origanum c. to a dram of Hellebore adde half a scruple of any of these It is given more safely in decoction or in infusion then in substance The Antients did infuse the root a day and night in vineger and then used it Macerate or steep the bark casting away the middle three dayes in Quince-wine or Muskadell dry it and keep it for your use It may be given also in broth with some seeds as before mentioned Also you may give it in wine of Raisons Oxymel syrupe of Quinces or with juice of Quinces Some give it with Scammonie to quicken its vertue Note that all preparations of Hellebore vvhich are made by sharp and acute liquours such as are spirit of wine anise-seed-Anise-seed-water or spirit of Anise-seed Aromatickes or oile of such also the putting Hellebore into Radish-root and so to take it except you desire a vomiting or turbatory medicine to be made of white or black Hellebore are to be rejected The Dose The dose in substance is from a scruple to two scruples in infusion or decoction from a dram to two drams or more Such Medicines as are made of black Hellebore The distilled water of black Hellebore both of the leaves and roots The extract thereof Syrup of Roses solutive with Hellebore Oxymel Helleboratum CHAP. 38. De Hermodactylis of Hermodactiles HErmodactyles are whitish roots about the bignesse of a Chesnut smooth flattish and sharp at the one end but somewhat fuller at the other growing upon I know not what plant comming from I know not what place and truly may be called opprobrium medicorum the shame or disgrace of Physicians The names This root is called in Latine Hermodactylus in English Hermodactyle and Hermodactyles The temperament They are hot and dry in the second degree The best kinde The best are such as are white both within and without of some good bignesse which being lightly bruised and made in powder look like wheat-flower and of a pleasant and sweet taste Such as are worm-eaten are to be rejected The duration They will keep good three or four yeers The inward use They purge chiefly thick and tough flegme from the joynts therefore they profit in any kinde of Gowt yea they are so available in the Gowt that this root is called Theriaca Arthritidis Treacle for the Gowt It is used also in the French Pox The manner of administring They are given in potions drinks Pils c. A Potion Take of Hermodactyles cut in thin slices or bruised Sene Epithymum of each two drams Raisons of the Sun stoned half an ounce licorish bruised a dram Ginger bruised half a dram make an infusion in a sufficient quantity of water upon hot embers all night strain it to which add of syrup of Roses one ounce A purging Drink against watery humours Take of Hermodactyles of Lignum vitae of each three ounces Mechoacan foure ounces Ginger two drams Sarsaparilla Licorish of each two ounces of Nutmegs two drams of Seabind-weed one ounce a half cut and bruise those those things that are to be cut bruised put them all in a vessell with three gallons of new Beer in a bag adding thereto of Seue an ounce After six dayes take a draught of it in the morning and before supper D. Sadlerus Prax. Med. f. 205 The externall use They are outerwardly used in the Gowt to ease pain they are also good to cleanse wounds and to consume proud flesh therein as also to heal old wounds and Ulcers A Poultes to ease the Gowt Take of new milk a quart Barley-meal a pinte or more Harmodactyles in powder three ounces the yolks of foure Eggs Saffron in powder two drams crumbs of bread so much as is sufficient to make a poultes apply it warm Or Take new Cow-dung a pound and a halfe Hogs-grease half a pound or twelve ounces Hermodactyles in powder two ounces and a half make a poultes and apply it The hurtfull quality and the corrective means There are two things in the use of Hermodactyles to be minded First that the hurtfull quality may be taken away for it troubleth the stomach and causeth windinesse now to help this let it be mixed with
English 't is called Black Mechoacan or Jalap The temperament It seemeth to be like Mechoacan in quality The best sort The best is that vvhich is hard and solid not too old The duration It will keep good two or three yeares The inward use It purgeth Flegmatick Cholerick and Melancholick humours but chiefly watery humours Therefore it is profitable in the Dropsie and cachecticall diseases that is such as are subject to the Green sicknesse It strengtheneth the Liver Spleen and stomach The manner of administring it It is given in Powder in Pils in Boles and in Potions In Powder Take of Jalap in powder two scruples or a dram creame of Tartar a scruple Oile of Cynamon and Anise-seed of each a drop mixe them together and give it in succorie-Succorie-water Or Take Jalap and Creame of Tartar of each two scruples make them in powder and give it as before In Pils Take of Jalap in powder two scruples of Scammonie three or four graines Oile of Cynamon a drop with syrup of Roses make Pils and give them In a Bole or lump Take of Jalap in powder two scruples Creame of Tartar in powder a scruple Oile of Anise-seed two drops Conserve of Roses halfe an ounce make a Bole and give it In a Potion Take Sene Polipodium of the Oke bruised of each two drams Jalap cut in thin slices a dram and a halfe Anise-seed and Fennell-seed bruised of each a drame make an infusion in halfe a pinte of strong beere upon Embers all night then straine it and adde to the clear of the electuary Diaphoenicon two drams syrup of Roses halfe an ounce make a Potion and give it The hurtfull quality It many times troubleth the stomach and causeth a Nauseousnes thereof or inclination to vomit therefore the safest way is to give it with some Oile of Anise-seed Cynamon Mint or with Anise-seed and Ginger It workes well in white Wine To quicken it you may mixe therewith a few graines of Scammonie or the extract of Scammonie Of those compounds made of Jalap There are made thereof extract of Jalap Magister of Jalap The Dose The dose in powder is from a scruple to a dram in infusion from a dram and a halfe to two drams and a halfe CHAP. 41. De Jride of Flower de Luce or Orris IRis is a root long and knobbie with many strings hanging at the end but being dry it is without them and white The names It is called in Latine Jris Jreos now it is called Jris à Coelestis arcûs similitudine from the Raine-bowe whose various colours the flower thereof doth represent In English 't is called Flower de Luce. The temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree but the root being green is hotter then when 't is dry and hot in the mouth and Throat The duration The roots dry will keep good a yeare or two The inward Vse The fresh jucie of the root of Flower de Luce ' purgeth Choler Flegme and watery humours and worketh both upward and downevvard It is chiefly usefull in the Dropsey Jaundise and quotidian Agues Being boyled in water and vineger and drunken it helpeth the stinging and biting of venomous creatures If it be boyled in Wine and drunk it provoketh urine helpeth the Colick and bringeth dovvn the courses in vvomen It is much commended in the Cough and shortnesse of breath and to help expectoration or spitting It helpeth the diseases of the Liver and Spleen the wormes in the belly and easeth gripings and stitches of the side as also the shakings of Agues it is good in Cramps and convulsions that arise from cold humours for it vvarmeth and comforteth the parts Some say it helpeth those vvhose sperme passeth from them unavvares others conceive it consumes and vvastes the sperm The manner of administring it It is given in Potions in Pils c. But the fresh juice is most in use Take the juice of Ireos three drams or halfe an ounce syrup of Roses Solutive an ounce Cynamon in povvder a scruple mixe them together make a potion and give it Or Take of the juice of Ireos three drams Elaterium six graines or rather but three mingle them together and take it in the morning fasting D. Sadler prax mea f. 203. The externall use The juice being put up into the nostrils provoketh neesing and thereby purgeth the head of flegme It gives ease to such as have the Piles and easeth the paine of the head and procures rest if it be applyed vvith Rose-cake and vineger it cleanseth spots in the eyes and helpeth vvatery eyes by cleansing them It helpeth the paine and svvelling of the Cods being thus used Take of the roots in povvder halfe an ounce Cynamon and Dill of each tvvo drams Saffron a scruple mix them vvell together lay them on a scarlet-cloth moistned in vvhite Wine and apply it vvarme to the Cods The roots are effectuall to vvarme and comfort all cold joynts and sinevvs as also to ease the Gowt and Sciatica and mollifieth dissolveth and consumeth all scrophulous rumours and svvellings especially made into an Oile called Oleum Irinum vvhich Oile also helpeth the Cramp and Convulsion the rheume that is cold and distilling from the head and being nointed on the brest it helpeth to extenuate or make thin tough and cold flegme making it more easie to spit out it he peth the stench of the nostrils the paine and noise in the eares and much easeth the painfull Piles The root it selfe green or in powder doth cleanse heale and incarnate wounds and covers with flesh the naked bones that Ulcers have made bare and is also good to cleanse and heaâ—e up Fistulaes and Cancers that are hard to be cured The green roots bruised and applyed to black and blew markes in the skin taketh them away and all other discolourings of the skin whether morphew or the like but it is better to apply it with red-Rose-water and a little Lin-seed-oile or oile of Parmacity as the vulgar call it in manner of a poultes A decoction of the rooâ—s gargled in the mouth easeth the Tooth ach and helpeth a strong or stinking breath The hurtfull quality with the corrective meanes Jreos offendeth the stomach and causeth blood to be voided if given in too great a dose and to weak persons It is not safe to give it to women with childe because it bringeth down the courses yea a Pessary made of the juice with Honey and put up into the body bringeth away the birth therefore it is not safe to give it alone but with good correctives In gripings of the bowels give it with Mastick in the joynt-gowt with Castor in the Dropsie give it with Honey of Roses That it offend not the Liver give it with Rubarbe juice of Agrimony Species Diarrhodon c. It may be given with a little Wine and Cynamon adding thereto a little Manna or Honey of Roses or the juice may be given with a decoction of Raisons of the Sun
hurtfull to the stomach and liver that is hot as also bringeth gripings weakneth the body let them be given with Anise-seed Carraway-seed Cynamon Mace c. Wal-wort is not to be given but to such as have strong bodies The dose The juice of the leaves or rinde is given from halfe an ounce to an ounce or two ounces The juice of the berries from two drams to six drams The seeds from halfe a dram to a dram The distilled water from two ounces to four ounces The powder of the bark or rinde from halfe a dram to a dram Of such things as are made of them From the flowers of Elder are made these following The distilled water both of the flowers and leaves Spirit of Elder-flowers Wine of Elder-flowers Syrupus acetosus Sambucinus Honey of Elder Conserve of Elder Oile both by infusion and distillation From the berries Rob-Sambuci or Pulp of the berries Tincture Extract Wine Spirit water distilled Oile From the tender branches Conserve From the leaves middle rinde roots and Jewes-eares Distilled water Syrup Oile From Dane-wort are made the distilled water the spirit from the flowers Rob-Ebuli or the pulp of the berries Tincture or essence CHAP. 57. De Santalis of Sanders THese are woods that are brought to us from the Indies The names and kindes There are three sorts of Sanders white red and yellow The white is called in Latine Santalum and Sandalum album the red Santalum rubrum the yellow Santalum citrinum or flavum Difference betweene Brasill-wood and red Sanders They differ thus 1 They grow farre one from the other 2 Sanders is neither sweet in taste nor giveth any dye as the Brasil doth 3 Red-Sanders is more ponderous and weighty then Brasil and vvill sink in vvater 4 It is a harder and shorter grained vvood and more brittle in breaking short The temperament They are cold and dry in the second or third degree Some say they are hot the red is more cooling and binding The yellow is the best the next is the vvhite the red is least of use The duration They vvill keep good three or foure yeares or longer The inward use They are Cephalicall Hepaticall and Cardiacall that is good for the Head Liver and Heart to open the obstructions of the Liver and to coole the heat thereof and to ease the paine of the head especially the white and the yellovv They are good for faintings of the heart and paâ—pitation o beating thereof also for weak and faint stomackes which comes through heat good against melancholy and procureth mirth and alacrity They are used to stay and binde the spermaticall flux in men and women for which purpose either the powder taken in a reare Egge or mixed with other things for the purpose or steeped in red Wine and kept in a hot Balneo or in hot Embers close stopped all night and strained forth and drunk in the morning and evening both stay the Gonorrhea or running of the Reines in men and the whites in women They are good in hot diseases as in burning Fevers inflammations of the Liver and such like The Indians saith Gerarde do use the decoction made in water against hot burning Agues and the overflowing of the courses Erisipelas the Gowt and all inflammations especially if it be mixed with the juice of Night-shade House-leek or Purslane They are put in Collises and Jellies and all delicate meats which are good to strengthen and revive the spirits The red Sanders have an astrictive and strengthning faculty but are not cordiall as the other two they are used in divers Medicines and meats both for their faculty and pleasing red colour which they give to them as in savvces Pies c. The red is often used to stay defluxions of thin rheume from the head and to coole hot inflammations hot Gowts and to temper the heat of hot Agues The manner of administring them They are given in Powder Electuary and Pils A powder against the Pestilence Take of the three Sanders of each two drams Cloves and Cynamon of each a dram Harts-horn two drams make them into a fine powder and take thereof morning and evening half a dram in Carduus-Water An Electuary against the Whites in Women Take of old Conserve of Red-Roses four ounces White and Red Sanders in powder a dram and a half with syrup of Water-lillies make an Electuary and take of it morning and evening as much as a Nutmeg The outward use It is used outwardly in Catarrhes or Rheumes pains of the head against vomiting and in Epithemes and Fomentations against the intemperate heat of the Liver They are used against the Gowt and hot inflammations with the juice of Purslane and Plantain or Housleek Applied with rose-Rose-water to the temples it giveth ease to the head-ach and keepeth back the flowing of humours to the eyes Being applyed to the breasts of Maids or Women mixed with the juice of Purslane abateth their greatnesse and hindereth their over-much growing The Dose The Dose is from a scruple to two scruples Of such things as are made of Sanders Extractum gummosum Species Diatrion santalon Trosses of Sanders Ointment of Sanders Cerote of Sanders CHAP. 58. De Sarcocolla of Sarcocoll SArcocolla is a Gum of a plant growing in Persia bitter in taste and in very small pieces and powder like the small pieces of Frankincense and little bigger then Poppy-seed The names In Latine Sarcocolla in English Sarcocoll The temperament It is hot and dry in the first degree or hot in the second degree and dry almost in the same The best kinde The best is that which is new inclining to white for being old it waxeth reddish or of a pale colour bitter in taste of a porous substance viscous and easie to be dissolved in water The duration It will keep good five or six yeers The inward use It purgeth flegme both crude and tough chiefly from the brain eyes nerves joynts breast and lungs therefore it profits and avails in coughs and shortnesse of breath especially in old persons that are flegmatick also in all pains of the joynts It is thought by some to fatten the body and to increase sperm or seed The manner of administring it It is given in powder or in pils The externall use It is used outwardly against inflammations of the eyes with milk and the white of an Egg and to stay Rheumes and Catarrhes Defluxions and Rednesse thereof also against all spots in the Eyes It cleanseth corrupt Ulcers and incarnateth or breedeth good flesh also closeth up Wounds and Ulcers A fume made thereof is profitable aganist Tenesmus a disease when one is often provoked to go to stool Being mixed with Saffron and Honey it heals Scrophulaes or hard swellings called the Kings Evill in the neck after they are sufficiently drawn It is used against bleeding of the Nose or to stay the bleeding of Wounds and healeth Ulcers in the Eares being mixed with Hydromel or Water and Honey and instilled therein A powder for
of Lettice stalkes candyed sixe drams of the seeds of Agnus Castus a dram and a halfe of Rue seede halfe a dram of Corall a dram of Crystall halfe a dram of Camphor a scruple make those things in powder that are to be powdered and with syrupe of Purslane make an electuary Take often of it as much as a nut The outward use It helpeth hardnesse stoppings Apostumations and Ulcers of the Matrix if women sit in the Decoction thereof or receive the hot fume thereof The leaves with butter dissolve the swelling of the Cods being applyed applied to the head it easeth the paine thereof and is good in the Lethargy being boyled in salt water with Sage and Smallage and the hinder part of the head washed therewith the same used to the limbs taketh away wearinesse upon travaile or labour the leaves are good for wounds The seeds used with Barly meale doth mollifie hard swellings and break Impostumes and with Niter and Vineger it helpeth freckles of the face used with Hony it helpeth the sores in the mouth and throat With Vineger and Oyle it is good for the Frensy and Lethargy The Leaves used in a fume and also strowed drive away Serpents and being laid on cure their bitings Also strowed in the bed or carried about neere the skin it causeth chastnesse The seeds laid on with water doth heale the clifts of the fundament The hurtfull quality It troubleth the head and bringeth paine thereof especially when it is greene The Dose The seede is given from a scruple to a dram Medicines made thereof Syrupe of Agnus Castus Trosses of Agnus Castus CHAP. 68. De Erugine of Verdigrease VErdigrease is the rust of Copper or Brasse of a greene colour The Names It is called in Latine Aerugo Aes viride and Flos aeris in English Verdigrease The Temperament It is hot and dry in the fourth degree The best kinde The best is that which is greenest and cleane from drosse The Duration It will keepe good many years The outward use It is of a sharp corroding quality stoppeth freting spreading soars taketh away superfluous flesh in any Ulcer or Fistula and eateth out the callous or hard flesh thereof and is good in Ulcers sores of the Eyes mixed with Hony and used it consumes the fleshinesse in the nose called Polypus and helps the Disease in the fundament called a Fig. It cures Cankers and sores in the mouth being used with Hony and Plantaine water for a Gargarisme It is thought Achilles first used this Medicine in the cure of Telephus and therefore Achilles is commonly painted scraping off the rust of his Spheare head with his Sword into the wound of the said Telephus It is a drying astringent and corrosive Medicine It cures Kibes in cattell being mixed with Soap or Hogs-greace Pliny Nat. Hist lib. 25. cap. 5. fo 216. A water against Vlcers of the Privities Take of Raine water foure pints of white Candy halfe a pound Boyle them a little then adde of Verdy-grease in powder two ounces and keep it to use An Oyntment for the same Take of white Camphor oyntment foure ounces of Aloes an ounce burnt Allum a dram and a halfe Verdigrease a dram Oyle of Roses one ounce Tutty three drams Camphon sixe graines let those things that are to be powdered be made in powder and make all into an Oyntment The hurtfull quality It is a sharp corroding and burning Medicine therefore there must be care in the use of it Of such Medicines as are made thereof Vnguentum viride Vnguentum Apostolorum Vnguentum Aegyptiacum Greene Treat Tinctura viridis c. CHAP. 69. De Allio of Garlick The Names IT is called in Latine Allium in Egnlish Garlicke and poore mans Treacle The Temperament It is hot and dry in the fourth degree and raiseth Blisters being applyed to the Skinne The Duration It will keep a yeare or longer being taken up dry The inward use Garlick being eaten heateth the Body maketh thin thick and grosse humours cutteth such as are tough and clammie digesteth and consumeth them also openeth obstructions or stoppings and is an enemy to cold poysons and to the biting of venemous Beasts and therefore is by Gallen and others rightly called The Country-mans Treacle It taketh away the roughnesse of the throat helpeth an old Chugh provoketh Urine killeth Wormes expelleth Winde helpeth the Collick cures the Dropsy proceeding from a cold cause provoketh the courses in women and stirreth up Venus or Lust but dryeth the seed of Generation and is most excellent for a cold and moist stomach and to stir up naturall heate Zacutus Lucitanus de Prax. Med. Admir lib. 2. Obser 11. relates of an old man who in the winter season lying in the cold some time had the innate or naturall heate of his stomach almost gon and his appetite even lost and decayed who after many hot Medicines used yet all in vaine at length he was cured with Garlick and Hony It is a good Preservative against the contagious and pestilent ayre A Decoction thereof made with Origan and Wine being drunke killeth Wormes Lice and Nits It is profitable against the biting of a mad Dog and for such as are inclined to the Palsey for shortnesse of breath and to dry up Rhume and also for the cold Head-ach It is commended against the Consumption of the Lungs pissing of blood and for such as cannot hold their water The distilled water is good for the same Diseases and for the Quinsey The milke wherein Garlick hath been boyled is good for wormes in Children Give two ounces of the water Morning and Evening for a week if need be The outward use The Decoction thereof used for a Bath or Fume to sit over brings downe the flowers and after-birth It cureth the bitings of mad Dogs or the biting of any other venimous creature being bruised with Rue and applyed It taketh away the Morphew Tetters and cures scabbed heads in Children Dandraffe and Scurfe tempered with Hony and the parts anoynted therewith The juyce killeth Lice and Nits if the head be noynted therewith The ashes of Garlick being strowed in Ulcers cureth them The smell of Garlick driveth away venimous creatures and applyed with Figs and Cummin it cures the bitings of the Mouse called a Shrew A clove of Garlick put into a hollow tooth that aketh easeth the paine thereof or stamp it with Safforn and Pepper and hold it between the teeth being bruised and applyed to the throat it helpeth the Quinsie and swelling thereof it helpeth the Gout being stamped with House-leeke and applyed The juyce mixed with Safforn and Goose-grease cures the noyse of the eares being put therein Garlicke burned and the ashes mingled with Hony and laid to black and blew markes after bruises taketh them away and helpeth wilde fire and Scabs being bruised and applyed They usually cure the Pip in poultery with Garlicke Against the Cough in Children Take one ounce of Hogs grease and halfe an ounce of Garlick bruise it and
they sweat before the fit come will in twice or thrice taking rid it quite away it helpeth also digestion in the Stomach and is a good remedy for a Surfet It helpeth the Collick the Strangury and stoppings of the Urine procureth womens courses and expelleth the after-birth easeth and discusseth all inward tumours and windinesse it openeth the stoppings of the Liver and Spleene cureth the bitings of mad Dogs and all other venemous creatures The roote taken dry or in any other drinke will abate the rage of Lust in young pâ—rsons The root being used greene helpeth such as be short breathed and be troubled with stuffings in their Stomach The root also steeped in Vineger and a little of the same taken fasting is a good preservative in time of contagion The decoction taken helpeth inward bruises and congealed blood and strengthneth the Stomach and is effectuall for the suffocation of the Mother The distilled water is good for the aforesaid Diseases especially if the roots and leaves be steeped in wine and distilled in a glasse The Dose is two or three spoonfulls at a time and doth much ease cold or gripings that come of cold or winde so as the body be not bound The said water taken with a scruple of the root in powder helpeth the Plurisie being taken at the beginning as also all other diseases of the Lungs and breast as Coughs shortnesse of the breath and such like The manner of Administring it It is given in Decoction in powder Electuary Potion c. In Decoction Take of the leaves of Angelica a handfull of Angelica roots two drams boyle them in a pint and a halfe of water or Posset drinke to a pinte straine it and give a good draught thereof Morning and Evening A Potion against the Pestilence Take of Angellica root in powder of London Treacle of each a dram Angellica water three ounces wine Vineger halfe an ounce mixe them together take it and sweat upon it A Potion against faintnesse of the heart Take of Angellica root in powder thirty graines Angelica water one ounce Cinamon water a spoonfull mixe them together and give it divers times if need require The outward use The juyce or the water dropped into the eyes cleareth them takes away filmes or skins therein and helpeth deafnesse if dropped into the eares the juyce put into hollow teeth easeth the paine The roots in powder made up with a little Pitch into a Plaister and laid on the biting of a mad Dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully helpe them the juyce or the water dropped or tents wet therein and put into old and filthy deepe ulcers or the powder of the roote in want of the other doth cleanse them and cause them to heale quickly by covering the naked bones with flesh The distilled water applied to places pained with the Gout or Sciatica doth give a great deale of ease The root smelled to or held in the Mouth is a good preservative in the times of contagion The Dose The root or leaves are given in powder from halfe a dram to a dram Of such things as are made thereof The distilled water The juyce The extract thereof The Stalkes and roots canded Oyle Balsam of Angelica CHAP. 75. De Antimonio of Antimony or Stibium The Names IT is called in Latine Antimonium Antimonium Hyacinthinum vitrem Antimonii Stibium and Stiâ—â—mi in English Antimony and glasse of Antimony The Temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree The best kinde The best is the clearest glasse without drosse or earthy substance and of a red colour and brittle or easy to breake The Duration It will keepe good many years The inward use Antimony is a strong Medicine and worketh strongly both by Vomit and Stoole It is profitable in old paines of the head Catarrhes or Râ—umes paines of the Stomack arising from Malignant humours in the Dropsey Green-sicknesse shortnesse of breath Palsey Falling-sicknesse in the Tertian or Quartaine Ague in the French-pox Melancholly and madnesse in stoppings of the Liver and Spleene in the Leprosy Elephansy Scab Itch and foule Diseases of the skin It is most excellent in the Pestilence especially at the beginning The manner of administring it It is given in Substance or by Infusion In Substance Take of Stibium or glasse of Antimony in fine powder three or four graines of Sugar in powder two drams or halfe an ounce mixe them together and take it in a Morning fasting with Physicall observation Or thus Take of Stibium in fine powder three graines Sugar of Roses two drams or as much conserve of red Roses mixe them togther and take it as before A Bole good in the Dropsey Take of Antimony in very fine Powder three graines London Treacle a dram conserve of red Roses two drams being well mixed take it as before In Pills Take of Antimony in Powder three graines Pilula Alephanginae a scruple make Pills and cover them with leafe Gold Sed fraus honesta latet By Infusion Take of Stibium in powder three or foure graines white wine four ounces let them stand all night in the Morning poure off the clearest and give it The outward use Stibium is used in Medicines to cleare the sight and against Ulcers Festulas thereof or also to take away proud flesh in sores and procureth a cicatrice in Ulcers Being mixed with sope used it helpeth to cure Cankers and the fleshinesse growing in the Nostrills Plinie saith t stoppeth the bleeding of any fresh wound being strewed therein and singular to heale the bitings of Dogs but this I conceive is spoken of crude Antimony Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 33. cap. 6. fol. 473. A water to take away spots in the eyes and to dry up superfluous moysture Take of cleare Antimony in powder ten graines red Rose water three ounces mixe them together and let them stand foure and twenty houres then drop foure or five drops of the clearest into the eyes twice in a day The hurtfull quality Stibium is a strong and violent Medicine and brings Convulsions Cramps Faintings of the Spirits and many times sodaine death therefore take these cautions Cautions in the use of Antimony Give it onely to strong and able bodies Let it not be given where the body is much bound till a glister hath been administred Give it not to women with childe nor to weake persons nor to any that are in a Consumption or to such as spit blood or have bad Lungs Give it not to any immediately before or presently after bleeding When any doe take it let them keepe their beds while it workes and take warme Posset drinke having a care they take no cold Fabricius mentions two Matrons that after the taking of Antimony the one lost her hearing and the other became foolish Cent. 5. Obser 12. If anâ— desire to know more of the nature of Antimony let them read these following Authors Matthiol in lib. 5. Diascor cap. 59. f. 837. 838. Massar lib.
or such like Of Medicines made thereof Bole Armony washed or prepared Vnguentum Ophthalmicum Vnguentum rubrum siccativum c. CHAP. 83. De Borragine of Borrage The Names IT is called in Latine Borrago and Borago in English Borrage and Borage The Temperament It is hot and moist in the first degree The inward use The Leaves Flowers and Seeds all of them or any of them are very cordiall and helpe to expell sadnesse and melancholly arising without manifest cause whereof came the saying Ego Borrago gaudia semper ago I Borrage bring alwaies Courage It is good in Pestilentiall Feavers and to resist any venome and poyson as also to clarifie the blood and to mitigate the heate in Feavers The Flowers or Seeds breed and increase milke in Nurses The syrupe prevaileth for all the purposes aforesaid and is put with other cooling opening and cleansing hearbs to open stoppings and to helpe the yellow Jaundise to coole and cleanse the blood and temper the heate and sharpnesse thereof especially with Fumitry and thereby to helpe the Itch Ringwormes or other spreading Scabs or Sores that arise from a dust and sharpe humours The conserve is used to comfort the heart and Spirits and for such as are weake and in a Consumption The distilled water is good for the aforesaid Diseases Borrage must be used while it is greene for it will not keep dry The manner of Administring it It is chiefly used in decoction juyce and syrup The outward use The leaves or ashes boyled in water and hony is available against Inflamations and Ulcers in the mouth or throat The distilled water being applyed with a linnen cloth dipt therein helpeth the venome of a Spider or Waspe Of such Medicines as are made thereof Borrage water Conserve Syrupe of Borrage The juyce CHAP. 84. De Calamo Aromatico of Aromaticall reed The Names IT is called in Latine Calamus Aromaticus and Acorus in English Aromaticall reed and the sweet smelling flagge The Temperament It is hot and dry in the second degree and of thin parts The Duration Is will keep good two or three yeares The inward use A decoction of this root availes to provoke urine to ease the paine of the side to bring downe womens courses to open the stoppings of the Liver and Spleen and Breast and helpeth Convulsions gripings burstings bruises and such as pisse by drops It prevailes in the Dropsie and against Poison and is put into Electuaries for such as have raw and cold humours in their Lungs or chest Halfe a scâ—uple thereof in powder taken in a little beer doth help the Collick and expell winde It helpeth the Palsie and swimming of the head The manner of Administring it It is given in Decoction Electuary and in powder The outward use The juice mixed with a little Hony and used helpeth drynesse The root boyled in wine stamped and applyed into the Cods abates the swelling thereof and helpeth all hardnesse and collections of humours in any place The fume thereof used provokes the courses The fume thâ—reof also taken by the mouth in a pipe alone or with dryed Turpentine helpeth Coughs It maketh a sweet breath being chewed in the Mouth and is used in perfumes The Dose The Dose in powder is halfe a dram to a dram in decoction from a dram to three drams Of such Medicines as are made thereof The distelled water of the root steeped fi st in wine The root preserved The Extract A scruple of which being taken helpeth the Collick El. Diacorum Oâ— e. CHAP. 85. De Calendula of Marigolds The Names IT is called in Latine Calendula Caliha Chrysanthemum and that from the golden Colour of the flowers in English Marigolds The Temperament The flowers are hot in the second degree The Duration The flowers will keep good being dry a yeare or two The inward use The flowers comfort and strengthen the heart provoke sweat and the courses and expelleth the afterbirth withstandeth poyson and venery good in Pestilent and contagious Fevers as also in the Jaundise The conserve made of the flowers taken Morning and Evening helpeth the trembling of the heart and is usefull in time of the Plague or Pestilence and corruption of the ayre The distilled water is good for the aforesaid purposes The manner of Administring it It is chiefly used in decoction As Take a small handfull of Marigold flowers and boyle them in a pint and a halfe of cleare Posset drinke to a pint straine it and drink off the clearest The outward use The juyce helpeth the Toothach being washed therewith and if warts be rubbed therewith it taketh them away A fume of the decoction used hot helpeth to expell the secondine or afterbirth The juyce dropped into the eares killeth wormes The water helpeth red and watery eyes being washed therewith Of such things as are made thereof The distilled water Vineger of the flowers conserve CHAP. 86. De Chamomilla of Camomill The Names IT is called in Latine Chamomilla Camomilla and Chamaemelum in English Camomill and Cammomill and that because the flowers have the smell of an Apple or Quince The Temperament It is hot and dry in the first or second degree and is of thin parts The Duration The herbe will keep good a yeare and the flowers longer The inward use The decoction of Camomill made and drunke helpeth all paines and Stiches in the side the Chollick Stone and winde in the Belly or Stomach and expelleth tough and clammy flegme as also cold humours provoketh swâ—at brings downe the courses in women and provokes urine It is very profitable for Agues that come of flegme or melancholly or from an inflamation of the bowells and for the Hypochonders that is the sides and that part where the Liver and Spleene lye It moderately comforteth all parts that have need of warmth and digesteth and dissolveth whatsoever hath need thereof by a wonderfull speedy property The flowers boyled in Posset drinke provoketh sweat and helpeth to expell cold Aches and paines wheresoever A syrup made of the juyce with the flowers and White-wine is a good remedy against the Jaundes and Dropsie that comets by the evill disposition of the Spleene A decoction made with White-wine and taken expelleth the dead Childe and brings away the afterbirth speedily and cleanseth those parts The manner of administring it It is used chiefly in decoctions The outward use It is used in decoctions for Glisters against winde and the Collick A decoction thereof being used taketh away wearinesse and easeth the paines to what part of the body soever it be applyed and comforteth the sinews that are overstrained mollifieth all swellings and those that are not over hard and rarefieth or maketh thin those that are bound together The flowers boyled in lye is good to wash the head and to comfort both it and the braine It helpeth paines in the side and Stiches as also the Chollick being applyed and wasteth away raw and undigested humours The Oyle made of the flowers is used
or in Decoction as in the Chapter of Mugwort The outward use The greene herbe bruised and applyed is good against hot swellings as Wilde-fire Plague-sores Botches and it is good also to be laid upon the bitings of mad Dogs Serpents Spiders Bees or Wasps or any other venemous creature The powder stoppeth blood at the nose being applyed The juyce thereof cleareth the sight being put in and taketh away the rednesse thereof so doth the water Being bruised with a little Hogs grease and a little wheate flower mixed therewith It cures stubborne and rebellious Ulcers if it be applyed thereto It is used against the Gangreene also The Dose It is given in powder from halfe a dram to a dram Of such Medicines as are made thereof Carduus water Spirit Extract Syrupe Oyle and Conserve CHAP. 91. De Caryophyllis of Cloves The Names THey are called in Latine Caryophylli and Garyophylli in English Cloves The Temperament They are hot and dry in the second or third degree The Duration They will keepe good many yeares The inward use Cloves comfort the Head Heart Stomach and Liver help the Memory the eye sight and concoction and strengthen nature they break winde provoke urine and if halfe a dram thereof be taken in milke they stir up Venery or bodily Lust They are good against fainting sounding as also against the Plague and any infectious Disease against all Fluxes of the belly proceeding of cold humours strengthen the retentive faculty and make the breath sweet they stay also vomiting They are much used in the Kitchin both for sauces and sticking of meate The chymicall Oyle of Cloves is good in a Quartaine Ague in long weaknesse and debility of the Stomach for it doth take away crudity and expell winde in Fluxes of the belly and very usefull for the aforesaid Diseases if two or three drops be given in beere or wine The manner of Administring it It is given in powder and in Electuary The outward use Cloves in powder being put into the Eyes taketh away the web therein and cleareth the sight so doth the chymicall Oyle and also cleanseth filthy Ulcers especially such as are moist being put therein A few drops thereof put into a hollow Tooth that aketh with a little Lint doth ease the paine thereof They are used in sweet powders and sweet waters c. The hurtfull quality They are hurtfull for young people and cholerick complexions they are profitable for old persons and phlegmatick and such as are rheumetick and that in the winter season The Dose The Dose in powder is from a scruple to two scruples Of such Medicines as are made thereof Oyle of Cloves Extract Salt Aromaticum Caryophyllatum CHAP. 92. De Castorio Of Castor The Names IT is called in Latine Castorium and Castoreum in English Castor and Bever-cod The temperament It is hot in the third degree and dry in the second The duration It will keepe good two or three years The inward Vse It openeth discusseth winde strengthneth the Head and Nervous parts quickneth the animall spirits resisteth poyson and provoketh the Courses in Women It is most excellent in the Lethargy Apoplexy Falling Sickness Palsy Swimming of the Head in trembling of the joynts and in defluxions of the humours to the joynts in fits of the Mother and in the Collick It helps to bring away the birth and after-Birth The spirit of Castor is good for the aforesaid Diseases The manner of Administring it It is given in powder or Electuary The outward use Being smelt to it availes in the fits of the Mother and put up into the Nostrills it provokes sneesing and helps the cold effects thereof If a piece bee put into a hollow aking Tooth it easeth the paine thereof and helpeth deafnesse or Noyse in the Eares comming from colde being mixed with a little Oyle of bitter Almonds and put therein Oyle of Castor helpes all cold effects of the Braines and Nerves as the Palsie Cramps Convulsions Lethargy and such like It prevents the strong shaking of Agues if the spine of the backe be therewith anoynted before the fit come A Pessary to provoke the Courses Take of Castor in powder halfe a dram Sage in powder two drams Myrrhe and Nigella Seede in powder of each three drams with the juyce of Mercury or a little Hony make a Pessary The hurtfull quality It must not be used to very hot and dry bodies The Dose It is given from halfe a scruple to a scruple Of such Medicines as are made thereof Spirit of Castor Oyle by Distillation Extract Electuary of Castor CHAP. 93. De Centaurio of Centory The Names and Kindes THere are two sorts of Centory chiefly in use the great and the small the great is called in Latine Centaurium magnum and Centaurium majus vulgare in English great Centory the small is called Centaurium parvum and Centaurium minus in English small Centory little or common Centaury The Temperament The great Centory is hot and dry in the third degree the lesser is hot and dry in the second degree and very bitter The Duration They will keepe good a yeare The inward use The lesser Centory purgeth Flegme and Choller and provokes sweate It is usefull in the Sciatica in Agues for it openeth the stoppings of the Liver Gall and Spleene helping the Jaundies and easing the paines in the side making thin both the bloud and humours by the cleansing and bitter qualities therein it helpeth those that have the Dropsy or Greenesicknesse It killeth Wormes and dryeth up rheumes A Decoction thereof also is good against the Collick and to bring downe Womens Courses helpeth to avoid the dead Birth and easeth the paines of the Mother and is very effectuall in all paines of the joynts as the Gout Cramp or Convulsions A dram of the powder taken in Wine is a good helpe against the biting or poyson of Adder or Viper The tops of the stalkes with the flowers are most in use The great Centory roots being steeped in VVine or the powder thereof given in VVine is good for such as have the Dropsy or Jaundes or are troubled with the stoppings of the Liver two drams of the root in powder taken in VVine or water helpeth those that spit Bloud or that bleed much at the mouth It is also used for Ruptures Cramps and Pleurises and for an old Cough shortnesse of Breath Gripings in the belly and paines of the Mother It helpeth the Strangury and Stone The manner of Administring them They are given in Decoction or in powder The outward use The Juyce of the lesser Centory mixed with a little Hony is good to cleare the Eyes from dimnesse mistes or cloudes that hinder the sight and is singular good for greene or fresh wounds and also for old Vlcers and Sores to close up the one and clense the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be Fistulous and Hollow the greene herbe especially being bruised and laid to the Decoction dropped into the Eares
handful Roch-Allome half an ounce boil them in a quarter of a pinte of strong Wine Vineger to the wasting of half then add to the strained liquour a spoonful of Honey and two drams of white Mercury boil them a little and reserve it The Dose The Dose is from half a dram to two scruples Medicines made thereof The distilled water Extract of Cinquefoile CHAP. 142. De Pimpinella of Burnet The Names and temperament IT is call'd in Latine Pimpinella and Sanguisorba in English Burnet Pimpinell It is hot and dry in the second degree say some others will have it to be cold in the second degree and dry in the third The duration It will keep good a yeer being dry The inward use It is a friend to the Heart Liver and other principall parts two or three of the stalks with leaves put into a cup of Wine especially Claret as all know give a wonderfull fine relish to it and besides do quicken the spirits refresh the heart and make it merry driving away melancholy it is a speciall help to defend the heart from noysome vapours and from the infection of the Plague or Pestilence and all other contagious diseases for which purpose 't is of grear effect the juice thereof being taken in some drink and they either laid to sweat thereupon or wrapped and kept very warm It is available in all manner of fluxes of bloud or humours to stanch inward bleedings laskes or scourings the bloudy flix Womans too abundant courses and the Whites also and cholerick belchings and castings of the stomach and is singular good for inward Wounds The powder of the herb taken in Comfrey-water is excellent for such as have falne or are bruised The Water hath the same effects being taken The manner of administring it It is given in decoction in powder or in Electuary An Electuary against the Consumption of the Lungs Take of Burnet in fine powder two ounces fine Sugar an ounce with a sufficient quantity of Pimpinel-water make an Electuary of which take morning and evening the quantity of a Nutmeg The outward use It is an excellent herb for all sorts of Wounds both of the head and body for all old Ulcers or running Cancers and moist sores which are of hard curation either the juice of decoction of the herb or the powder of the herb used or else made into Oile or Ointment by it self or with other things to be kept The seed dryeth up moist sores being put therein in powder The distilled Water maketh the face and hands fair being washed therewith An ointment to dry over moist Wounds Take four good handfuls of Burnet of May-butter or fresh Butter a pound cut the Burnet and boil them gently at the fire until the herb wax black then strain and reserve it The Dose Take half a dram of the herb or root at a time Of those Medicines that are made thereof The distilled water conserve made of the seed the root candied Oile Salt of Burnet CHAP. 143. De Pipere of Pepper The Names and sorts THere are three sorts of Pepper chiefly in use white Pepper called Piper album long Pepper called Piper longum and black Pepper called Piper nigrum and this last is most in use The temperament It is hot and dry in the third degree or neer the fourth degree of a heating and resolving quality The duration They will keep good many yeers â—he inward use The black pepper is most in use for sawce and meats They are all usâ—d to warm cold stomachs and to stirre up an appetite and to consume â—rude and moist humours therein or distilling from the head they also help to break and dissolve winde in the stomach or bowels to provoke urine to help the cough and other diseases of the breast and are effectuall against the bitings of Serpents and other poisons are therefore put into the great Antidotes They are given before the fits of Agues to abate the rigour and shaking thereof and are used in the Quinsie with Honey They strongly heat the sinews and musâ—les and all cold parts Pepper must not be too small beaten for fear of inflaming the bloud and other profitable humours of the body â—hey help the dimnesse of the sight and stirre up Venery If five or six grains of black or white Pepper be taken for certain dayes together it doth help a cold and raw stomach and such as are subject to the Collick The chymical oile of Pepper is good for the aforesaid diseases and especially against a tertian Ague if three drops thereof be taken with a scruple of Myrrhe two houres before the fit commeth Pepper is best for cold moist and grosse meats for cold and moist seasons for the aged and flegmatick for such as have cold weak and windy stomacks and that are subject to distillations The manner of administring them They are given in powder or in Electuary An Electuary against winde in the stomack and belly Take black white and long Pepper of each a dram and a half of Ginger Amse-seed and Thyme of each half a dram make them into a grosse powder and with six ounces of Honey or conserve of red Roses make an Electuary and take often of it as much as a Nutmeg The outward use It is used outwardly against Agues mixed with Honey and laid to the Wrists and against the Quinsie and disperseth the kernels as well in the throat as in any other part of the body it easeth the tooth-ach being put into a clout tied up and chewed on and snuffed up into the nostrils it provoketh neesing A Medicine to help the tooth-ach Take of Mastich an ounce Pepper Pellitory of Spain of each a dram and a half make them in powder and with Honey make a paste of which take about the bignesse of a small Bean and hold in the mouth by the space of half an houre fasting The hurtfull quality Pepper is hurtful to hot cholerick and dry bodies in hot weather and hot Countreys consumeth the seed and burneth the bloud if it be immoderately used The Dose It is given from half a scruple to thirty grains Medicines made thereof Species Diatrion pipereon Chymical Oile Oile by decoction CHAP. 144. De Plantagine of Plantaine The Names and temperament IT is called in Latine Plantage in English Plantaine It is cold and dry in the second degree The duration It will keep good a yeer The inward use The juice of Plantaine clarified and drunk for divers dayes together either of it self or in other drink prevaileth wonderfully against all torments and frettings in the guts helpeth the distillations of Rheume from the head and stayeth all manner of fluxes in man or woman even the courses also in Women it is good to stay spitting of bloud and all other bleedings at the mouth by having a vein broken in the stomach and that maketh bloudy or foul water by any Ulcer in the Reins or Bladder it is held also an especial remedy for those
halfe a scruple Myrrhe ten grains make them into powder adding of Savin in powder a dram and a halfe and with a little Honey make a masse or lump for Pills Give them as need requireth An Electuary against Fluxes of the Belly Take of Cinamon in powder two drams old conserve of red Roses two ounces red Corall in powder two scruples with syrupe of Quinces make an Electuary of which take morning evening and before dinner the quantity of a small Nut. Note That it is best to make Cinamon in powder only when you use it and not to keep it powdered The outward Vse Cinamon being mixed in Collyries that is Medicines for the eyes quickens the sight and dryeth up the moisture thereof mingled with Honey and Vineger and the place noynted therewith it helpeth Ring-Wormes or Tetters and taketh away spots or freckles The powder is commended against clefts of the lips and other sores being put therein Oyle of Cinamon is commended for all green Wounds and Vlcers if it be dropped therein and doth much corroborate and warm cold parts of the body being noynted therewith and mixed with Honey it takes away spots from the face being therewith anointed Cassia lignea being cast on coles and the smoak taken at the Nose dryeth up Rheumes and Catarrhes that proceed from cold and moist humours Also a Suffumigation thereof helpeth the paine of the Womb and the stoppings thereof Being mixed with Honey and applied it dissolveth swellings and hard tumours A decoction of Cassia lignea made with White-wine and Rose-water is commended against the stinking of the Arm holes if the place be bath'd therewith and the same is good to wash soar mouths and Gums The hurtfull quality Cinamon is hurtfull to those that have hot and chollerick bodies for in such it inflames the Liver and blood and the inward parts neither may such as have Feavers be too busie with it nor Women with Child The same cautions are to be used in taking of Cassia lignea These best agree with cold and moist bodies and weak stomachs and is more usefull in Winter then in Summer The Dose The Dose in powder of either is from a dram to a dram and a halfe The Dose of the Chymicall Oyle is two three or four drops in any convenient liquor The Dose of the Cinamon-water is halfe a spoonfull or one spoonfull at a time in Beer or such like Of those Medicines that are made of Cinamon 1. Cinamon Water 2. Tincture or Extract 3. Elixir of Cinamon 4. Oyle of Cinamon 5. Salt of Cinamon 6. Balsum of Cinamon 7. Syrupe of Cinamon 8. Magister of Cinamon 9. Species Diacinamomu Whether Cinamon be rightly used to stay Womens Fluxes or the Menstru s in Women It is very common among many that when Women are troubled with the overflowing of the Menses or Courses or any other Flux of the body then to prescribe Cinamon and they think it a great binder of the body They usually burne Claret Wine with Cinamon and give them Cinamon in powder with Milk Now in that Flux of the body called Diarrhaea and other Fluxes I deny not but it may be used and that with good successe for it strengthneth the stomach and entralls the imbecillity or weaknes whereof is the cause of such Fluxes but to give it to Women to stay their Courses is contrary to reason and experience for it will rather bring them downe and cause them more to flow as is before manifested Therefore I would advise Women to leave this inveterate custome CHAP. XV. De Cassia Fistula Of Cassia in Canes CAssia Fistula is a black Cane having a black substance therein with seeds like Peony-seeds It was unknowne to former Writers or not regarded and esteemed by them The Names It is called in Latine Cassia solutiva Cassia or Cassia Fistula now it is called Cassia as some think from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod coriaceum vocant because the Cods or Canes are like Leather or as others conceive from the sweetnesse of the flowers like unto Cassia aromatica or Odorata In English 't is called Pudding-pipe because the Cod is like a Pudding The temperament Cassia is hot and moist in the first degree The b st kinde The best sort of Cassia is that which is taken out of the most heavy Canes and that are fullest and shine without but such Canes as are light and make a sound or rattle are not to be chosen but to be rejected The Duration It will keep good in the Canes two or three years The inward use Cassia purgeth first choller then Flegmatick humours It is profitable for such as are troubled with hot Feavers Pleurisy Jaundise or heat of the Liver mixed with convenient liquours It is good for the heat of the Reins and Kidneyes it bringeth forth Gravell and the Stone and is a good preservative against the Stone taken with a decoction of Licoris or Parsly roots It profiteth in inflamations of the Lungs Breast and Trachea arterie or rough arterie easing those parts very much It tempers the heat of the bloud and takes away the acrimony or sharpnesse of the bloud and choller and quencheth thirst in Feavers It profits in the Quinsie and in the running of the Reines with Licoris Rubarbe and Anni-seed as also in sharp Rheumes and distillations It is a safe Medicine and may be given to Women with Child and that at any time either in the morning before dinner supper Non diu ante cibum exhibere debet aliâs in nutrimentum ea abutitur natura Sennert instit f. 953. or at night The manner of administring it It is given in Boles or in Potions but the best way to take it is in a Bole. A Bole. Take of Cassia newly drawne ten drams Anni-seed or Fennel-seed in powder halfe a dram with a little Sugar make a Bole. Or Take of Cassia newly drawne one ounce of the species of Hiera picra a dram or two drams mix them together and make a Bole. Take it in the morning and within an hour after take a messe of Broth or some Posset-drink A Bole to purge Choller Take of the pulp of new Cassia one ounce of the pulp of Tamarinds halfe an ounce mix them together and take it as before A Bole purging Choller from the head Take of the pulp of Cassia new drawne seven drams of Electuary of the juice of Roses two drams mix them together and make a Bole. A Bole purging Flegme from the head Take of Agarick trochiscated a dram and a halfe Stoechados in powder a scruple of Cassia newly drawne an ounce mix them together for a Bole. A Potion Take of Cassia newly drawne ten drams of the decoction of Succory and Anni-seed three ounces dissolve the Cassia and make a Potion Or Take of Tamarinds one ounce and a halfe or two ounces infuse or steep it eight or ten hours in Whey or Posset-drink then strain it and add to it of Cassia newly drawne